The plain gray-robed man Fan Sanyuan also glanced at the white-clothed youth standing at the edge. “The territory of our Xiafeng Ancient Kingdom is boundless, with countless powerful figures. Even if you combine all four Black Demon Kingdoms, they are but a tiny corner compared to our Xiafeng Ancient Kingdom. As one of the three great clans of Xiafeng, we have the guidance of many Cosmic Gods, treasures to aid us, and the most direct and supreme secret techniques to reach the pinnacle! If we can’t even defeat a youngster from the Black Demon Kingdoms, it would truly be a disgrace to our younger generation of the Fan Clan.”
Fan Sanyuan, though gentle in demeanor, harbored deep arrogance in his heart. His temperament was more akin to that of a ‘Xia Clan disciple’—he disliked wanton slaughter, yet he held an instinctive disdain for those from foreign lands. To be inferior to outsiders would be a humiliation!
“Fan Yiqian excels in breaking techniques with sheer force, which counters him perfectly. Let’s use this opportunity to gauge his strength,” Fan Sanyuan mused silently.
Soon.
Lord Kuichen led the five back to their residence, landing atop the mountain.
“In a few months, the Three-Clan Contest will begin,” Lord Kuichen swept his gaze over them. “You must give it your all. As for you two guest elders, if you fail, the promised rewards will be drastically reduced.”
Dongbo Xueying and King Salong both burned with fighting spirit. Naturally, they would strive for success.
The original agreement was that they would receive ten thousand grand merits only upon completion of the task. The Fan Clan’s rule was clear—whether retainers or guest elders, if a task was completed, the full reward would be granted. But if they failed, the Fan Clan would not be so generous. Typically, failure meant no merits at all. Some tasks, however, were special, where even failure might earn a token reward. In this case, if Dongbo Xueying and King Salong failed, they would receive only one-tenth of the promised grand merits!
With that, Lord Kuichen transformed into a streak of light and departed.
Dongbo Xueying turned and returned to his courtyard.
King Salong did the same.
Meanwhile, the three core disciples of the Fan Clan exchanged glances.
“King Salong,” the lean, green-armored man Fan Yiqian called out, striding directly into King Salong’s courtyard. King Salong, standing in the yard, looked at the intruder with confusion. “What is it?”
“Heh, from the Ice Plains tribes, huh? Supposedly quite strong? Dare to spar with me?” Fan Yiqian sneered, his face naturally exuding contempt. This wasn’t deliberate provocation—it was simply his nature.
King Salong’s expression darkened slightly, a glint of ferocity flashing in his eyes.
Having roamed the Ice Plains and battled numerous Cosmic Gods, he hadn’t faced such disrespect in a long, long time.
But this was the Fan Clan—one of the most formidable great clans in the entire Heart Realm Continent. King Salong had been keeping a low profile.
Yet, if someone stepped on his pride, how could he back down?
“Fine,” King Salong replied with a low, grinning voice. “I’ll humor you.”
“Hah, splendid!”
Fan Yiqian roared, summoning an ancient bronze staff into his hand. With a swing, thunder surged along the staff, and in an instant, it was already crashing toward King Salong’s face.
…
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A brutal and savage battle ensued.
One was the most domineering and ferocious among the Fan Clan’s Chaos Realm experts, renowned for his sheer force—far surpassing even Fan Tianchong!
The other was a veteran of the Ice Plains, his reputation forged through bloodshed, even earning an invitation from the Fan Clan’s higher-ups.
…
“Hmm?” In his courtyard, Dongbo Xueying’s ears twitched as he sensed the violent commotion in King Salong’s nearby residence. However, the courtyard’s formation activated, containing all the shockwaves and preventing any leakage.
“If Fan Sanyuan and Fan Mozhu are outside, then the one fighting King Salong must be Fan Yiqian,” Dongbo Xueying deduced. “Fan Yiqian practices some mysterious thunder-based supreme technique.”
He knew the origins of Fan Sanyuan and Fan Mozhu’s techniques.
Fan Sanyuan’s *Formless Profound Art* was created by Patriarch Fan.
Fan Mozhu’s *Three Thousand Swords* was devised by Emperor Xia.
As for Fan Yiqian, his technique wasn’t documented in external intelligence reports. It was only known to be an incredibly overpowered thunder-based method, famed for its sheer brutality.
In the Heart Realm Continent, there were indeed many secret techniques—some left behind by fallen supreme beings. If the creator’s name wasn’t recorded, their identity remained unknown. The most critical techniques of great clans like the Fan Clan were often shrouded in mystery, with little information available to outsiders.
Names undisclosed! Creators unknown! Their terrifying aspects hidden! Only through combat could one begin to guess their true power.
…
Creak.
The gate to King Salong’s courtyard swung open.
“Hahaha…” The lean Fan Yiqian stepped out, his face alight with triumphant laughter.
Inside, King Salong stood unharmed but grim-faced. “To think he’s this strong. If the battlefield had been larger, I could’ve evaded him. In such a confined space, he had the advantage.”
King Salong was a master of evasion, honed in the chaotic Ice Plains.
But this duel had been confined to the courtyard, its formation preventing destruction while limiting their movement.
“Bang.” King Salong glanced at the gate, and it slammed shut.
Outside.
Fan Sanyuan and Fan Mozhu approached. “How was it?”
“I won,” Fan Yiqian declared proudly, though he added reluctantly, “But he’s tough. His sonic attacks disoriented me, and his close combat was tricky. I had to unleash a forbidden technique, flooding the courtyard with overwhelming force until he conceded. In an open space, I might not have won.”
“You forced him to use a forbidden technique?” Fan Sanyuan and Fan Mozhu exchanged shocked glances.
Outsiders didn’t know.
But they did—Fan Yiqian practiced a terrifying supreme technique left behind by the enigmatic ‘Meta.’ Fan Yiqian had been fortunate enough to resonate with it, earning even the envy of the clan’s Paragons. Techniques left by Meta were fickle—without resonance, even Paragons couldn’t cultivate them.
Fan Yiqian’s technique was formidable in its normal state, but when he activated its forbidden arts, it became monstrous. He had once mentioned that the technique had three forbidden levels, but he could only use the first. Attempting the second would shatter his soul and kill him instantly.
“Now, for Ying Shan Xueying,” Fan Yiqian declared, his fighting spirit blazing as he marched to Dongbo Xueying’s courtyard and pounded on the door.
Fan Sanyuan and Fan Mozhu watched.
…
Having just noticed the silence from King Salong’s courtyard, Dongbo Xueying soon heard heavy knocking at his own gate.
He glanced toward the entrance, then at his draconic servant.
The servant opened the door.
Swish.
The green-armored Fan Yiqian strode in boldly, sneering at Dongbo Xueying. “King Salong has fallen to me. Now it’s your turn.”
Dongbo Xueying raised an eyebrow. “King Salong lost to you?”
“Didn’t you hear me? Your turn!” Fan Yiqian scoffed.
“Is this necessary?” Dongbo Xueying sighed. His master had warned him—the three great clans of Xiafeng were ruthless, especially toward outsiders. If he humiliated them too much, it could invite endless trouble. After all, he was merely an external guest elder here.
“Hah, no courage at all?” Fan Yiqian taunted, slamming his bronze staff against the ground. “If you won’t fight, I’ll stay right here. Let’s see how long you can endure, coward!”
“How dare you—” The draconic servant couldn’t hold back.
“Silence!” Fan Yiqian roared, thunder erupting around him and enveloping the servant, who froze under the threat of death. Fan Yiqian bared his teeth. “If you weren’t a guest elder’s servant invited by our Fan Clan, I’d have devoured you for such insolence!”
Dongbo Xueying frowned and stood.
Fan Yiqian grinned eagerly. “What, finally ready to fight?”
“After you,” Dongbo Xueying said calmly.
“You first!” Fan Yiqian brandished his staff, brimming with confidence. He was ready—the moment the Five-Phase Sealing Art came, he’d smash through it!
“Very well.”
Dongbo Xueying nodded. A golden bell materialized at his waist, swaying and chiming.
“Ding-ding-ding-dang~~~”
A mesmerizing melody echoed in Fan Yiqian’s mind, laced with deadly allure.
Fan Yiqian stood dumbfounded, a foolish grin spreading across his face.
It was inevitable.
The ‘Demon Heart Bell’ had two abilities. Dongbo Xueying had mastered the ‘Enthralling Chime’ to its ninth layer—merely an auxiliary lure. But the illusory world within was unleashed at the tenth layer. Combined, they were devastating. Fan Yiqian, renowned for his brute strength, had the weakest soul defense among the three core disciples. He fell instantly.
“Pathetic,” Dongbo Xueying murmured, flicking his hand.
Whoosh.
An invisible force struck Fan Yiqian, sending him flying. He crashed face-first into the ground, mouth full of dirt, his staff clattering beside him.
Only then did Fan Yiqian stir, groggily awakening—had Dongbo Xueying not withdrawn the illusion, he’d still be trapped.
“W-what happened?” Fan Yiqian mumbled, spitting out soil and staring at his disheveled state. “I lost? Pah! Pah! Pah!” He spat repeatedly, then turned to the white-clothed youth in shock. He remembered the enchanting chime… and then nothing.
(Note: The translation maintains the original context, names, and stylistic elements while ensuring readability and coherence in English. Key terms like “Cosmic Gods,” “Chaos Realm,” and “Heart Realm Continent” are preserved as per the fantasy genre conventions.)
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage