Fighting: Practice makes it real, start with a poisonous body.

Chapter 227 Coming-of-Age Ceremony, Clan Crest
Xiao Yan's heart sank. His father's talent was mediocre at best; his current cultivation level was likely artificially boosted by the Soul Clan using elixirs.
But he didn't think the Soul Clan would be so kind; there must be a reason he didn't know.

"Xiao Yan?"

Xiao Zhan slowly opened his eyes. When his gaze fell upon Xiao Yan in the distance, anxiety instantly welled up in his previously cloudy eyes. He shouted in a hoarse voice, "Why are you here? Hurry! Hurry up!"

Xiao Yan's gaze grew even more resolute, his aura solid and unwavering. If he was going to leave, he would take everyone with him!

"He finally came."

The old doctor's voice rang out from the side, his tone complex and difficult to decipher.

His frail soul swayed slightly in the void, like a flickering candle in the wind, in extremely poor condition.

Venerable Feng looked in Xiao Yan's direction, a faint smile appearing on his lips: "When I saw him at the Four Pavilions Conference, I felt that he was somewhat different."

If he were the type to back down at the last minute, you wouldn't have placed all your bets on him back then, would you?

"yes……"

The old doctor sighed. Back then, he made his decision precisely because he valued Xiao Yan's character.

And now, it is this very quality that drives Xiao Yan to come and save them.

"Xiao Yan, save us!"

Xiao Ning's cries could be heard.

He was disheveled, his clothes were tattered, and his exposed skin was covered with scars of varying depths, clearly showing that he had suffered greatly during his imprisonment. His voice was full of pleading.

"Xiao Yan, please, I beg you, think of something quickly!"

Xiao Mei, Xiao Yu, and the three elders of the Xiao family also spoke up, their eyes filled with fear and trepidation, their voices trembling.

Having been trapped for a long time, they were exhausted and their hopes were pinned on Xiao Yan, as if they had grasped the last straw.

Xiao Yan's expression was resolute. He suppressed the surging emotions in his heart, looked directly at Gu Yuan again, and said in a deep voice, "What exactly do you want in order to release them!"

“It’s not that I’m unwilling to let them go, but they are safer in the Ancient Realm.”

Gu Yuan said indifferently, "They are all of the same clan as Ji Bai. Once they appear in the outside world, they will become the target of everyone's criticism just because of their identity."

However, it's not like there's no way out...

Gu Yuan relented, but Xiao Yan did not relax; he did not believe that Gu Yuan would change his mind so easily.

"Prove to me here that you have the ability to protect them!"

Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed, and he asked, "How can you prove it?"

A cold glint flashed in Gu Yuan's eyes. He raised his hand and pointed at Gu Qingyang and the other three, saying, "You defeated the four children of my clan's younger generation."

Gu Qingyang, Gu Hua, Gu Xing, and Gu Yao are the four most outstanding members of the younger generation of our Gu clan, second only to Xun'er.

If you can defeat them, you can lead the Xiao clan and leave the ancient realm.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's tense expression eased slightly.

He didn't know all four of them, but if their strength was comparable to that of the ancient demon, with his current cultivation level, victory shouldn't be too difficult...

Before Xiao Yan could relax for long, Gu Yuan's voice suddenly changed and rang out again.

"but."

Gu Yuan's voice suddenly turned cold: "The competition must be held after the coming-of-age ceremony, and you cannot use that evil magical artifact!"

It wasn't that easy after all!
Xiao Yan clenched his fists, his last bit of hope instantly crushed.

"The coming-of-age ceremony is over?!" Sword Master exclaimed in surprise from the crowd.

"Once they undergo the coming-of-age ceremony, these people will receive clan emblems. With the blessing of these emblems, their combat power will increase by more than one level!"

Moreover, Xiao Yan cannot use that strange flag. Under such restrictions, the difficulty of this competition has reached a frightening level!

Xiao Yan's expression darkened completely; he understood Gu Yuan's plan.

This is clearly an attempt to use this competition to have these four guys defeat them, in order to salvage the face that the ancient race lost in the ancient holy city!

Xiao Yan felt a surge of resentment and anger in his chest, but when he looked at his father, teacher, and the Xiao family members not far away, he finally took a deep breath and suppressed all his emotions.

Now he has no way out.

"I promise you!"

"Very good, worthy of being a descendant of Xiao Xuan."

Gu Yuan smiled faintly, raised his hand and ordered, "In that case, let the coming-of-age ceremony begin."

Gu Yang understood and immediately began organizing the coming-of-age ceremony, testing the aptitude of the younger generation of disciples and engraving the clan emblem upon them.

As the ceremony progressed, the powerful figures from all sides of the continent who were watching truly witnessed the terrifying foundation of the ancient clan as an imperial clan!
The boys and girls who were eligible to be bestowed with clan crests at this coming-of-age ceremony were all Dou Zun powerhouses!
But the oldest of these children is only in his early twenties!
At such a young age, being able to cultivate to the Dou Zong realm in the vast Central Plains would already make one a top genius capable of shaking the entire region!

Even the least talented among the younger generation of the ancient clans before us have cultivation and potential that far surpass those so-called prodigies of the Central Plains!

Amidst gasps of amazement, it was soon time for the ancient demon to step forward and inscribe the clan emblem.

"Ancient demon, eighth-grade bloodline, bestowed with purple-gold clan emblem!"

The ancient clan elder held a gilded long brush, and powerful fighting spirit condensed at the tip of the brush, radiating a faint halo.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz—!"

His skillful hands moved across the ancient demon's smooth forehead, and before long, a mysterious and intricate purple-gold pattern slowly took shape, flowing under the skin as if it were alive.

As soon as the clan emblem was engraved, the aura around the ancient demon suddenly surged, becoming deep and heavy, and the pressure of the imperial bloodline spread out like a tide!
Seeing this, Xiao Yan's hands, which were placed at his sides, clenched tightly, and his expression became increasingly solemn.

Back then, Yao Tian of the Medicine Clan overpowered the three seniors of the Pill Tower by relying on the terrifying amplification of his clan's markings.

If the clan emblems of the ancient races can also bring such a heaven-defying boost to combat power, then the upcoming match against the four ancient demons will be an unprecedentedly fierce battle for him!
As if sensing Xiao Yan's gaze, Gu Yao slowly turned his head, the purple-gold clan mark on his forehead gleaming coldly, his eyes filled with hostility.

"Xiao Yan, just wait! I will use this new power to defeat you with my own hands and avenge my humiliation!"

"Your mouth is much harder than your cultivation."

Xiao Yan returned the gaze coldly.

"Humph!"

Gu Yao snorted coldly and stopped arguing. He had made up his mind that he would crush Xiao Yan under his feet later!

The coming-of-age ceremony is still ongoing.

Following closely behind Gu Yao, Gu Xing, Gu Hua, and Gu Qingyang also stepped forward in turn to have their bloodlines tested and their clan markings inscribed.

Gu Xing and Gu Hua both obtained the Purple Gold Clan Mark thanks to their outstanding bloodline aptitude.

When it was Gu Qingyang's turn, the testing elder announced in public that because his bloodline purity far exceeded that of his peers, he was specially granted the seven-colored clan mark!
"The same color as Yaotian..."

Xiao Yan's breath hitched.

(End of this chapter)