Word Count: 3,166 Words
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"Even when facing the former Yellow Spring Demon Saint, the Pure Lotus Demon Saint, or the still-existing Bodhisattva Ancient Tree—these supreme existences of the continent—I feel worry and fear. This is simply human nature." Hun Tiandi made no attempt to conceal his own perceived frailties. He spoke as casually as if discussing the weather.
"To say nothing of Tou She Ancient God."
At the mention of that name, the black-robed man's eyes narrowed, a flicker of hatred, anger, and resentment crossing his gaze.
"But what can be done? We simply lack the ability to refine the embryonic pill into its final form." Hun Tiandi shook his head with a sigh, a look of helplessness in his eyes.
Thud!
Hun Huzi suddenly dropped to his knees. Cold sweat streamed down his forehead, and terror was written across his face. "This subordinate is incompetent! I beg the Clan Head to punish me!"
It was difficult to imagine the Hun Clan's Pill Saint, the Dou Qi Continent's number one alchemist, Hun Huzi, displaying such abject fear!
Surprise flashed through Hun Tiandi's eyes, though beneath it lay a layer of cold indifference. He quickly helped Hun Huzi to his feet. "Hun Huzi, what is the meaning of this?"
"You have already rendered great service by finding an alchemist of such talent for our clan. When we acquire the embryonic pill in the future, we will still need your strength."
The black-robed man observed the scene and snorted coldly. "Hmph, even if you can't refine the finished product, you have other methods, don't you?"
"I am the Clan Head of the Hun Clan. How could I resort to such measures?" Hun Tiandi waved his hand dismissively.
Yet both Hun Huzi and the black-robed man understood the truth. If that day ever came, if they obtained the embryonic pill and neither Hun Huzi nor Xiao Yan could refine it, only one outcome awaited.
They knew this man would stop at nothing to become a Dou God.
Buzz!
At that moment, a low hum emanated from Xiao Yan's crystalline-encased body as it trembled violently. Blinding light erupted from within as a powerful, invisible shockwave swept outward like a storm, blanketing the area.
'So this is the perfected Soul State...' Xiao Yan sensed the changes in his body, then glanced toward a spot where he had momentarily felt something unusual.
He shook his head, dismissing it as imagination, and rose slowly to assess his condition. "Not bad. Now I just have to wait for the Hun Clan's coming-of-age ceremony to begin…"
The words had barely left his mouth when the space where he had sensed the anomaly began to ripple and distort. A Soul Path materialized before him.
"Hmm? What is this?"
"Enter. The Soul Path will take you directly to the Hun Realm. Our clan's coming-of-age ceremony is about to begin." Hun Huzi's voice echoed from the void.
Xiao Yan blinked in surprise. Such perfect timing? The ceremony is starting the moment I finish cultivating?
Nevertheless, this worked out perfectly for him. He stepped onto the Soul Path without hesitation and vanished. He could never have guessed the ceremony had been delayed by ten days solely because of him.
Back in the Hun Realm manor, Hun Tiandi watched Xiao Yan enter the Soul Path, a meaningful smile playing at his lips.
"The Xiao Clan... Fate truly toys with people. Who would have thought that a thousand years after the Xiao Clan was destroyed by my Hun Clan, its Little Clan Leader would come to participate in our coming-of-age ceremony?"
"The workings of destiny are truly fascinating."
…
Light flashed, and as Xiao Yan emerged from the Soul Path, he was immediately met with a cacophony of sounds.
'Is this... a city of the Hun Clan?' He surveyed the bustling metropolis, then gazed up at the blue skies and drifting white clouds. It was hard to imagine such a vibrant, prosperous scene could exist in the Hun Realm, the heart of the most feared clan on the continent!
The din of the city pressed in from all sides. Buildings stretched as far as the eye could see, and broad avenues teemed with people. Above them, ancient palaces and divine towers floated among the clouds, each one radiating a brilliant aura. Xiao Yan could even catch the faint scent of pills and rare medicinal herbs on the air.
The streets teemed with people and vehicles, no different from any great city in the outside world.
The only distinction was that even the weakest inhabitants here were at least at the Dou Master realm. Yet these Dou Masters were merely common folk doing menial labor, showing no signs of active cultivation.
'These must be the Hun Clan's common descendants... their Dou God Bloodline is so diluted it's barely detectable.'
Xiao Yan could not help but shake his head ruefully. Even their weakest bloodline was stronger than his. These people reached the Dou Master level without even trying.
No one paid any attention to his sudden appearance from the spatial distortion. In Corpse Soul City, such spatial travel was commonplace!
Xiao Yan took out his Soul Command Token and, sensing its guidance, did not linger. He headed directly toward the ancient plaza at the city's center, which radiated a powerful, ancient soul aura.
To his surprise, there were no guards anywhere in Corpse Soul City. Even this ancient plaza allowed free entry, without so much as a barrier.
More astonishing than the lack of guards was the complete lack of seating! Xiao Yan saw only powerful Hun Clan members sitting cross-legged around the plaza, apparently meditating wherever they pleased!
'This coming-of-age ceremony is a bit too casual, isn't it...'
Xiao Yan felt bemused. Is the Gu Clan's ceremony like this too?
What he did not know was that the ceremony should have begun ten days ago. The participants had no idea what had caused the delay, so they had simply sat down to cultivate while waiting, not daring to leave.
As an outsider, Xiao Yan felt distinctly awkward. What was he supposed to do?
He, the Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan, had snuck into the Hun Clan's coming-of-age ceremony!
Feeling small and helpless, he tiptoed to a random corner. Just as he was preparing to sit cross-legged, an aged voice echoed across the plaza.
"The time has come. Let the ceremony begin."
!!?
Swoosh!
The vast crowd of Hun Clan members, dressed in a variety of attire, rose to their feet. Their expressions were solemn as they faced the three elders in the center of the plaza.
Before these three, no matter how high their bloodline or how strong their cultivation, none of the members present dared to make a sound, because the three of them were Hun Clan elders, all true Dou Saints!
'All Dou Saints... and they seem even stronger than the Third and Second Tianzun.' With his Spiritual Strength now at the perfected Soul State, Xiao Yan could begin to distinguish between different levels of Dou Saints. Though he could not determine their exact star ranking, he could discern their relative strength.
He examined the three elders carefully. The one on the left held a strange compass, the one on the right carried a long box containing a black brush, and the middle elder held a small booklet.
"All descendants under the age of fourteen who have reached the Dou Spirit realm, step forward!"
Rustle!
A sea of Hun Clan common descendants moved to the center of the plaza. Xiao Yan's eyes widened in astonishment at the sight of hundreds upon hundreds of them.
If the Xiao Clan's current coming-of-age ceremony preserved the ancient traditions of Dou God Clans like the Hun Clan, then such ceremonies occurred once a year.
And this one was for those under fourteen, meaning some of these people might be as young as ten, or even younger!
The first youth approached the elder with the compass and placed his hand on it. With a soft hum, the compass emitted a faint light, and two stars slowly rose. No matter how hard the youth tried to force more power, only two stars appeared.
"Shi Qing, 1-star Dou Spirit, Grade 2 bloodline. Unqualified."
Xiao Yan stared in disbelief. A 1-star Dou Spirit under fourteen... is unqualified???
'Good grief... I think I was barely a Dou Practitioner at fourteen.' Xiao Yan was finally beginning to understand Ling Quan's arrogance. Reaching only the Dou King realm by the age of twenty truly was pathetic by these standards!
'Is the Dou God Bloodline really that powerful?'
What followed was even more astonishing. Fresh-faced boys and girls moved forward like products on an assembly line, each being tested in turn. The vast majority failed, receiving Grade 2 or Grade 3 bloodline classifications. Xiao Yan even saw one who had reached the Dou King realm, but because his bloodline was only Grade 3, he was still judged as unqualified.
As for those with a Grade 1 bloodline, Xiao Yan guessed they were merely ordinary geniuses by the Dou Qi Continent's standards, unable to reach Dou Spirit by fourteen.
'The Dou God Bloodline certainly accelerates early cultivation. Combined with the rich energy of the Hun Realm and access to superior techniques, their rapid progress makes sense.'
After the initial shock wore off, Xiao Yan watched calmly. Early speed did not guarantee continued advancement. Ling Quan likely had a high-grade bloodline, allowing him to quickly reach Dou Emperor, but his progress had slowed considerably at the Dou Ancestor realm, which had allowed Xiao Yan to catch up.
"Duan Yong, 1-star Dou Spirit, Grade 3 bloodline. Unqualified."
"Hun Lu, 6-star Dou Spirit, Grade 3 bloodline. Unqualified."
"Guo Dun, 1-star Dou Spirit, Grade 4 bloodline. Qualified. Awarded a silver Clan Mark."
At the elder's announcement, the common descendants behind Guo Dun immediately erupted in envious whispers.
They did not envy his cultivation level but his bloodline quality! Only with a sufficient Dou God Bloodline could they guarantee their path to becoming a powerhouse and cultivating at an incredible speed!
In Dou God Clans, bloodline grade was absolute. For common descendants, even their surname did not matter. As long as they received a Clan Mark, they became true members of the Hun Clan, regardless of whether they bore the Hun name.
The young man called Guo Dun could not hide his delight. He knelt on one knee and lifted his head. The elder holding the long box took out an ink-black brush, his arm moving in a blur of afterimages. In an instant, a profound and mysterious symbol appeared on Guo Dun's forehead, from which a black mist emanated, radiating a special energy fluctuation.
'So that's the Clan Mark...' Xiao Yan felt like a country bumpkin visiting the capital for the first time.
With his own minuscule trace of bloodline, forming a Clan Mark was impossible.
He had only heard that the Clan Mark was equivalent to an extremely strong Secret Technique with no side effects. It could be used to activate the Dou God Bloodline within one's body, boosting their strength during battle.
He had seen Ling Quan use his, and the power boost had been significant.
As the number of participants dwindled, Xiao Yan noted that while these common descendants advanced quickly, as he even saw a 9-star Dou King with a Grade 5 bloodline that left him wide-eyed, the vast majority were deemed unqualified. Only five passed in total: four with Grade 4 bloodlines and one with Grade 5.
These were all members who had reached at least the Dou Spirit realm. Some who had not reached sufficient cultivation, like the Hun Yu Cun whom he had killed, had been unwilling to accept their low bloodline grade. They entered the Soul Path Trial hoping to enhance their bloodline, only to die trying.
Xiao Yan had not forgotten that many members still sat cross-legged around the plaza. These were likely not common descendants but true Hun Clan bloodline heirs, possibly even the children and grandchildren of elders.
Because from several of these figures, he sensed an extremely powerful oppressive force. Their cultivation was all above the Dou Venerate realm, and a few had even reached 8-star Dou Venerate, giving him a feeling of pressure not inferior to that of the Fifth Tianzun, a peak 9-star Dou Venerate.
Moreover, Xiao Yan estimated that this was not the entirety of the Hun Clan's younger generation. They were likely participating in this ceremony not to obtain a Clan Mark, but to upgrade an existing one!
The Dou God Bloodline could not be strengthened through cultivation, but cultivation could further stimulate the bloodline within the body.
Of course, the possibility of people like himself obtaining a vial of blood to increase their bloodline concentration could not be ruled out.
Just like the Xiao Clan's coming-of-age ceremony, those who qualified and received a Clan Mark had the right to challenge the clan's inner members. They could even choose one of the unqualified to challenge, in order to display their strength and status.
'No wonder the Xiao Clan's coming-of-age ceremony was so complicated. So this is what it used to be like. It's just that without the Dou God Bloodline, many things became useless.'
Xiao Yan sighed. He had felt that some of the rituals in his own coming-of-age ceremony were strange. Now, he understood they had been preserved from ancient times but were rendered incomplete due to the missing link of the Clan Mark.
While Xiao Yan was lost in thought, the leading Hun Clan Elder recorded the five qualified names and called out again.
"Next, Hun Gu."
This time, the elder called the name personally. This distinction indicated that the person named Hun Gu had already reached a Grade 4 bloodline or higher and possessed a Clan Mark long ago.
Upon hearing the elder's call, a figure in a black robe rose from the now-empty plaza. With a single movement, he stepped onto the air and soared into the center of the field with a spirited flourish.
Hun Gu bowed respectfully to the three elders. To be called by name was a privilege reserved for a select few, and these individuals were undoubtedly the cream of the crop among the Hun Clan's younger generation.
Seeing six stars appear on the compass, even the elder nodded, a hint of a smile on his face. "Not bad. 9-star Dou Ancestor, Grade 6 bloodline. Clan Mark upgraded to gold."
The unqualified Hun Clan descendants in the plaza immediately let out gasps of envy.
A Grade 6 bloodline was like a divine gift, a level they could only dream of achieving.
'Grade 6... so does that mean mine will be gold, too?' Xiao Yan was still unclear on the details. He only knew that to use the Dou God Bloodline, he had to participate in this ceremony.
One after another, more Hun Clan scions took the stage, and without exception, all were Grade 6 or higher. Many possessed Dou Venerate strength, and Xiao Yan even saw a few who had reached a Grade 8 Dou God Bloodline, their cultivation a terrifyingly powerful peak 8-star Dou Venerate.
'With my current cultivation, if that Gu Yao's strength reaches 8-star Dou Venerate and he has a Grade 8 bloodline, it seems I really can't beat him...'
Xiao Yan compared himself to a young man named Hun Ya. Even without the Hun Clan's inherited Dou Techniques or the Clan Mark, just based on his cultivation and aura, Xiao Yan felt immense pressure.
The Gu Clan was on par with the Hun Clan, both being the most powerful Dou God Clans on the continent.
'It seems that before heading to the Gu Realm, I need to raise my cultivation level again... But where can I find a Heavenly Flame now?' Xiao Yan felt troubled. Including Mao Wu's, he now possessed eleven kinds of Heavenly Flames. The Ghostly Poison Flame was with Little Fairy Doctor.
In total, there were only twenty-three Heavenly Flames on the list, most of which were held by the Yan and Yao Clans. The Purifying Lotus Demon Flame was the only one with any sort of clue.
Just as Xiao Yan was worrying about how to raise his cultivation and waiting for his name to be called, an ominous, strange, and malevolent black light erupted from the center of the plaza.
The entire plaza was enveloped by this dark light. The whole area instantly darkened, and a pillar of black light shot into the sky, making even the heavens grow dark!
"Ten... ten stars! A Black Soul Clan Mark?!"
"Divine Grade bloodline!!"
"It's Hun Yu! That guy actually reached a Divine Grade bloodline!"
"Holy crap, he's the same as the Young Clan Leader, Hun Feng! Both have Divine Grade bloodlines!"
Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, looking at the youth in the center of the field who wore a faint, gentle smile. The youth had a somewhat androgynous look, and his face constantly bore a gentle and bright smile.
Hun Yu slowly raised his head and directed his gaze toward a point in space. On the other side of that space, another young man who also possessed a Divine Grade bloodline had a somewhat grim expression.
The Hun Clan, like the Hall of Souls, emphasized strength and Dou God Bloodline above all else, whether for the Young Clan Leader or the elders. The reason Hun Feng could become the Young Clan Leader was solely because he possessed a Divine Grade bloodline, not because he was the Clan Head's son.
Now that a second one had appeared, his position was no longer stable.
Of course, to an outsider like Xiao Yan, the term 'Divine Grade bloodline' was meaningless. It just sounded very impressive!
However, Hun Yu did not challenge Hun Feng. He knew that, with his current strength, he was not yet his opponent.
"Good, not bad. Next... hm? Hall of Souls, Tenth Tianzun?" The leading elder glanced at the name list. The name on the last line actually read the five words 'Hall of Souls Tenth Tianzun'.
When his name was finally called, Xiao Yan felt apprehension surge through him as he took a step and teleported to the center of the plaza.
"Tenth Tianzun? From the Hall of Souls?"
"Hmph, merely a 3-star Dou Venerate. It seems the Hall of Souls grows weaker by the day."
Instantly, the Hun Clan members cast disdainful gazes his way. Just like the Gu Clan, all Dou God Clans looked down on outsiders.
"You do not possess the Dou God Bloodline..." The Hun Clan elder stared. He himself was baffled. How could the name of a Hall of Souls Tianzun appear on the register? You don't have the Dou God Bloodline, so what are you doing here!
"I want to use this."
Xiao Yan said nothing, simply withdrawing the blood vial from his storage ring. The moment it appeared, a wave of greedy stares was directed at him from the crowd.