A deafening roar swept across the sky. With this attack, everyone in the sky except for the Yuan Zun experts had to retreat hastily. Such a terrifying explosion, once it reached them, would likely have left even a high-level Yuan Zong severely injured or killed.
After the aftershocks came a series of raging storms and towering waves. Several figures darted rapidly through the fiery waves, and after a few low thuds, both sides quickly retreated from the blast radius of the Fire Lotus.
After a long while, as the energy storm dissipated, the two major clans stood facing each other in the sky. Xiao Yuheng Xiao Yan was protected by Xiao Yuheng and others, while the Northern King stood in front of him, with a group of cold and sharp eyes behind him staring fearlessly at the group of the Bai Clan experts opposite him.
As for Bai Haotang at this moment, he was holding Bai Zijing, who looked like a rag doll, in his hand. His aura was extremely furious, and his soaring killing intent was directly approaching Xiao Yan. Even though he had tried his best to attack earlier, he could only barely pull back Bai Zijing, who was barely breathing. And judging from the current situation, even the chance of survival was slim.
" Xiao Yan..."
With gritted teeth, Bai Haotang spat out two words, his breath trembling violently, his chest seething with rage like a volcano about to erupt.
"Kill!"
With a sudden roar, Bai Haotang was about to charge forward, but at that moment, a hoarse growl from an old man in gray robes beside him suddenly burst out.
"Chieftain, we can't afford to waste any more time today!"
With a loud shout, Bai Haotang's body trembled. Looking back, he saw that the auras of the powerful members of his clan were already chaotic, and many of them had been seriously injured in the previous battle. Even the auras of the two gray-robed elders were fluctuating. On the other hand, when the Xiao Clan looked at him, everyone took a step forward in unison, and their fierce auras immediately swept over him, instantly silencing the oppressive aura of the Bai Clan's powerful members.
At this point in the battle, the outcome was already self-evident.
Xiao Yuheng stepped forward slowly, his gaze sweeping over the Bai Clan members before returning to Bai Haotang. He said calmly:
" Bai Haotang, I advise you to stop as soon as possible. If you continue fighting, I don't mind losing three Yuan Zun experts to the Bai Clan."
"You..."
"Chief!"
Just as Bai Haotang was about to unleash his anger, the two gray-robed elders beside him hurriedly spoke up to stop him, as they were simply too exhausted to continue in this state.
Standing there, Bai Haotang clenched his fists tightly, staring at the dying Bai Zijing in the arms of his clansman. He forcibly suppressed the crimson killing intent in his eyes, flicked his sleeves, and roared with resentment:
"Retreat!"
Seeing the group of fellows slink away, the Xiao Clan members finally breathed a sigh of relief. A smile appeared on Xiao Yan's slightly pale face. He turned to look at Xiao Yuheng beside him, bowed respectfully, and said:
"Many thanks to the clan leader and all the elders for stepping forward this time!"
Seeing this, Xiao Yuheng chuckled and helped Xiao Yan up, saying:
"We're all family, there's no need for thanks."
"As for you, you were the one who blocked that guy earlier. As long as you didn't show yourself, the Bai Clan couldn't force your way in."
Xiao Yuehua's beautiful eyes lingered on Xiao Yan for a moment, then she said with a hint of reproach.
"They've come knocking on my door so brazenly; if I don't show up, wouldn't I be putting myself at a disadvantage?"
Xiao Yan smiled faintly.
"Alright, you can go back now. I will order Xiao City to strengthen its defenses in case of a Bai Clan attack."
Xiao Yuehua shook her head helplessly, turned around and quickly flew towards the city below. In the sky, a group of the Xiao Clan experts left one after another, leaving only Xiao Shaojun and a group of juniors. After giving a few simple instructions, Xiao Yuheng also slowly disappeared into the void.
Looking in the direction where the Bai Clan's powerful figures had left, Xiao Yan slowly clenched his fist. He understood that from this day forward, he and the Bai Clan would be irreconcilably sworn enemies. However, he also knew that in the future, he would not only face experts from the Yuan Zong, but also those of Bai Haotang's caliber. From now on, he would have to be even more careful in his actions in the Central Region.
"Don't worry, although the Bai Clan is strong, they are nothing special in the eyes of my Xiao Clan. After today, they will not dare to invade again."
Seemingly sensing Xiao Yan's concerns, Xiao Shaojun patted his shoulder lightly and smiled.
The earth-shattering battle between Xiao Yan and Bai Zijing above Xiao City made Xiao Yan's name resound throughout the entire Xiao Clan territory. Even among many forces in the Central Region, rumors about him began to circulate. Within the Xiao Clan, countless people spoke of his achievements. Although many were not present at the battle, they recounted it with great enthusiasm as if they had witnessed it firsthand. For a time, among the young people of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan became their role model.
While Xiao Yan was becoming famous everywhere, the latter was quietly cultivating in the back mountains of the Xiao Clan.
After a fierce battle, the physical exertion was naturally enormous, but the result of this extreme depletion was a heightened thirst for power within the body.
Under such relative clashes, Xiao Yan's own strength has also improved somewhat. Although the improvement is quite slow, it is already a great help to him, whose cultivation has only recently been consolidated.
Outside the ancestral hall of the Xiao Clan.
Xiao Yan arrived here full of hope. Recalling his previous experience, a trace of unpleasant emotion flashed through his mind, but he quickly put it out of his mind. The first thing he saw after stepping into the courtyard was a familiar figure.
" Xiao Yang?"
Upon seeing the person before him, Xiao Yan was momentarily surprised. The latter smiled faintly and said coldly:
"Thanks to you, I had the opportunity to participate in the Clan Ritual."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan paused for a moment, then immediately understood what was going on. He shrugged lightly, neither confirming nor denying.
"I heard about what happened a few days ago. You are indeed more terrifying than I imagined. It's just a pity I wasn't in Xiao City that day. By the time I got back, it was already over."
"It's alright. Since you're already here, you didn't come here just to tell me this."
Hearing Xiao Yang's words, which carried a hint of admiration, Xiao Yan smiled slightly. It was truly rare for this guy to say such a thing.
As soon as the two finished speaking, the tightly closed stone door of the ancestral hall deep in the courtyard finally opened slowly, and the person walking out was none other than the First Elder Xiao Zhen.
"Elder!"
Upon seeing the old man, the two dared not be negligent in the slightest. Xiao Zhen nodded in response, his cloudy old eyes lingering briefly on Xiao Yan before glancing at Xiao Yang, and slowly said:
"Come in."
The two exchanged glances, took a deep breath, and stepped into the ancestral hall together. At the same time, a slightly excited emotion surged within Xiao Yan and the other person.
After two years, the Clan Ritual has finally arrived!