Outside the ancestral hall of the Xiao Clan.
"Elder, the six-month period has ended. Now, all the clansmen except Xiao Xuan have emerged from seclusion in the ancestral hall. Do you think we should awaken him to prevent further trouble?"
Xiao Dingtian and the Grand Elder stood before the ancestral hall, looking at the long-closed stone gate. The former hesitated for a moment before urging them on.
More than half a year has passed since Xiao Yan left the Xiao Clan. Not long ago, the ancestral hall was reopened, and all the clan members who participated in the Clan Ritual have left the ancestral hall. Many of them have greatly improved their cultivation. The young clan leader Xiao Shaojun, has reached the Late-Stage Nine-Star Yuan Zong, only one step away from the Yuan Zun Realm. Xiao Siyu, who was with him, has reached the Eight-Star Yuan Zong. The rest of them have all made improvements of varying degrees. However, so far, only Xiao Xuan has not yet left the ancestral hall.
"Dingtian, be patient. The ancestral hall is connected to the Sacred Blood Crystal, and if it's unharmed, it means the Clan Ritual is proceeding normally. The rest is just a matter of time. Besides, that little guy's ancestor was extraordinary. Perhaps when he emerges from seclusion, he will bring us some unexpected surprises."
The Grand Elder stared intently at the stone gate before him with his cloudy old eyes, as if trying to see through its surface to its essence. After a long while, he stroked his beard with his dry hand before calming down and withdrawing his gaze. Xiao Dingtian, standing to the side, frowned. Since the Grand Elder had spoken, he naturally couldn't interfere any further. However, the fact that Xiao Xuan hadn't emerged from seclusion yet was making him feel a vague sense of unease.
"By the way, has the third brother sent any messages recently?"
In a daze, the Grand Elder seemed to remember something and slowly asked.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Dingtian, then suppressed his emotions and shook his head with a sigh:
"That's not true. The Third Elder has been away from the clan for half a year, and only sent back a message once during that time, claiming that he had gone to the Southern Region. Now it seems that he should be on the border of the continent."
The First Elder frowned. He shouldn't have sent Xiao Mingyuan in the first place, but the latter insisted on going this time, and even the Sixth Elder, Xiao Yuehua, couldn't stop him.
"The third brother harbors resentment about Xiao Yan's matter; he doesn't want to stay in the clan any longer."
The Grand Elder sighed softly, while Xiao Dingtian pursed his lips and hesitated before saying:
"Elder, in my opinion, those outsiders are of mediocre talent. Even if they join our race, they will ultimately amount to little. What use are such freaks to us...?"
"Enough!"
This time, before Xiao Dingtian could finish speaking, Xiao Zhen interrupted him with a shout, a rare look of anger appearing on his old face. After a long while, he said resentfully:
"We share the same roots and origins, why are you being so domineering? Sigh..."
With a long sigh, the Grand Elder shook his head and left. Xiao Dingtian silently curled his lip, then glanced at the tightly closed stone door, snorted coldly, and turned away.
Meanwhile, inside the ancestral hall, in a secret room, Xiao Xuan, dressed in a blue robe, sat cross-legged. Behind him, in a corner, was a pile of Blood Stone. These were discarded here by those who had entered the ancestral hall. However, now, the scarlet Blood Stone had lost their usual color, and the violent energy within them had been completely exhausted.
Before Xiao Xuan stood a stone platform, upon which rested a transparent crystal the size of a pomegranate. At the crystal's core floated a trace of crimson blood. As Xiao Xuan's internal energy rapidly circulated, streams of immense energy surged from the blood, then frantically flowed into his body. Under this continuous infusion of power, Xiao Xuan's aura grew increasingly solid. If anyone else were present, they would likely gasp in astonishment, for Xiao Xuan's aura had already broken through from the Early-Stage Yuan Zong when he entered the ancestral shrine to the Peak Yuan Zong, and judging by his appearance, there seemed to be no sign of stopping...
"Puff!"
The deep earth suddenly cracked open, magma spewed out, and a towering pillar of fire rose high from below. Immediately afterward, a figure soared into the air. Judging from his appearance, it was none other than Xiao Yan!
Now, his aura has successfully broken through, and he has stayed in the magma under the Fire Banyan Tree for several more months, so that his current strength has reached the Mid-Stage Four-Star Yuan Zong. And now, almost a year has passed since he obtained the Fire Banyan Branch.
"Call!"
Taking a deep breath of the scorching heat in his chest, Xiao Yan couldn't help but laugh a few times. The powerful and scorching energy flowing through his meridians made him feel like he wanted to roar to the sky.
His body trembled violently, and the residual power of the crimson energy swept outwards. After looking around and confirming the direction deep in the plain, he immediately leaped up and shot at high speed towards the distant horizon.
Although he has now broken through in strength, it is precisely because of this that Xiao Yan has become even more eager to see the legendary Fire Banyan Ruins. Right now, he is unwilling to linger for even a moment longer and wants to see that treasure land that is so popular with countless people!
The Flowing Fire Plain are vast, and even with Xiao Yan's current strength at the Yuan Zong level, crossing it would be no easy task, even without obstacles. After more than ten days, the landscape before Xiao Yan's eyes began to change. The hills stretched to the horizon, and short rivers could be seen occasionally. This desolate world was finally tinged with some natural colors.
It was only here, with the occasional figures passing by in the mountains and forests, that Xiao Yan felt much more at ease. At least now he could confirm that he was on the right track.
"Laugh..."
The sharp sound of air being torn apart grew louder as Xiao Yan's figure swiftly flew over a forest. This area was a frequent battleground, including fights between high-level Yuan Zong Sect masters. He didn't want to get involved unless absolutely necessary.
However, just as this thought arose in Xiao Yan's mind, a shocking explosion suddenly resounded from somewhere in the mountain forest. As the energy swept through, Xiao Yan's rapidly flying figure abruptly stopped. He turned his gaze and, upon investigation, noticed a slightly familiar aura at the center of the energy explosion.
"You bastards, trying to snatch food from the tiger's mouth? You're seriously underestimating me!"
" The Fen Tian's Wrath!"
In the mountains and forests, a ragged young man stood firm, gritting his teeth and spitting out a mouthful of blood that had been stuck in his throat. He frantically mobilized his internal Origin Qi, and with a flick of his wrist, the Power of the Great Dao condensed into a flaming spear above his head, with fire dragons coiling around it. After a furious roar, he clashed heavily with the combined attack of the four people opposite him.
"Boom!"
Another loud explosion shattered the void, destroyed the mountains and forests, cracked the earth, and gushing lava immediately poured out. After being covered in dust, the young man's body crashed heavily into the distant mountains and forests. Soon after, four figures with slightly chaotic auras caught up with him.
"Damn it, I haven't even seen a glimpse of those ruins yet, and I'm already going to die at the hands of you bunch of bastards!"
The young man was disheveled and his energy had plummeted, but he still managed to get up and glared angrily at the four people in mid-air with a look of resentment.
"Hmph, you only have yourself to blame for being ungrateful. If you had handed over that thing earlier, you would have been fine. Now, consider this the price you paid for your arrogance!"
As the hoarse, cold laugh subsided, one of the four suddenly stepped forward, his five fingers pressed together, slashing fiercely at the youth's throat with a sharp, whistling sound. But at that moment, a clear, cheerful laugh suddenly rang out from the heavens and earth.
"You rascal, what happened to you after all these years?"
As soon as the words fell, just as the four people and the young man were filled with surprise and doubt, a black figure appeared in front of the young man like a ghost, and at the same time, the five fingers curled up and easily grasped the palm blade coming towards them.