“At last, little Master Yan, Mistress… the appointed hour has come.” In front of the bamboo cottage, Ling Yuan’s aged and solemn face wore a gentle smile directed toward the closed door, as he spoke softly.
“Screeee…” The door answered with a sharp creak. Xiao Yan stepped slowly into view, and as he strode forward, the energies in the surrounding skies subtly stirred with latent excitement. Where he set his obsidian gaze appeared as though a divine ruler beheld all—before such commanding eyes, Ling could not but bow profoundly, while a sincere satisfaction grew more pronounced in the corners of his lips. So long ago, the youth was still fragile, yet in just a score or two of decades, he had ascended to the apex. Even he himself could now gaze in reverence, with none other than admiration.
“Honoring Mistress’ choice was well met.”
Smiling warmly, Ling lifted his gaze and regarded the fair and demure beauty beside Xiao Yan—only alongside the young man’s presence did this gemstone of the Gu Clan restrain her resplendent shine and reveal a soft, dutiful demeanor. Like an emerald robed lass trailing behind a youth decades hence in Wutan City, lips aglow with knowing laughter.
“Time we move on now, Elder Ling,” Xiao Yan nodded towards the peaks ahead. He already sensed many powerful breaths quickly amassing in that direction. More yet could be discerned from two farther reaches in the mountains where distinct spatial ripples now stirred. Beasts and Lightning Clan masters had indeed mobilized…
Without further word exchanged, Xiao Yan seized the fair hand of Xun’er, and his form vanished amid the skies with an instant surge.
“May young Master return triumphant.”
Gazing toward their distant silhouettes, Ling smiled again to voice his solitary blessing.
The skies above Front Peaks already bristled with figures as the duo took formation there. The Gu Clans’ masters hovered aloft, arrayed in orderly ranks whose collective power surged as though unified as one. Even to Xiao Yan, whose soul had ascended imperial dominion, the awe of this spectacle drew momentary awe.
“We arrived.”
With their approach a voice arose beside them; Gu Yuan materialized beside the pair as well, a knowing amusement gleamed in the glance he passed over them.
“Seems a grandpa’s chair is warming quicker than expected…”
His sudden teasing drew stunned silence from Xiao Yan while Xun’er’s cheeks immediately flushed a red so brilliant that likening to a blushing apple barely served it.
“Hmph.”
Amused and unsettled at the elder’s whimsical humor which defied every day’s solemnity. Xiao Yan could but cough politely then shake his head.
“Planning an entire clan muster?” His gaze surveyed across the gathered elite.
“A bit exaggerated though not far off truth. Truly confronting the secretive Hun Clan must draw full might — underestimating such enemies might well lose all.” Gu Yuan’s somber murmur hung in the silence as he explained further.
Xiao Yan gave a slow nod, his gaze sweeping the gathered masters and once again astonished at their might.
Gu Yuan reigned undisputed at the clan’s pinnacle. Below were formidable powers whose strength had been but briefly sampled—such was Lord Hei Yuan Gu Lie, whose strength likely reached early eighth Star Dou圣 levels, inferior slightly to the Lords of Flame and Thunder Clans yet formidable none the same.
Under Hei Yuan ranked Gu clan’s Trinary Sages—their trio stood firm at seventh Star Dou圣, comparable strength-wise to the Hun Clan’s Four Devilsaints—and behind those came multiple Elder custodians whose names escaped Xiao Yan. Many had remained secluded, their countenance hidden long amid prolonged cultivation. Xiao Yan needed only a glancing perusal to recognize not fewer than five whose might neared even to fifth to fourth Star Dou圣 ranks.
Deployed in such fashion, any Central Mainland force would yield—being officially recognized heirs to Eight Clans’ legacy, this supremacy clearly rested on their strength. This stood beyond doubt—provided one set aside those shadow-dwellers known only as the Hun who cloaked their capabilities in mystery and trickery unknown, evading full comprehension even from minds as shrewd as elders among them.
Meanwhile as the young warrior regarded his assembled allies’ ranks, their elders reciprocated his gaze each with courteous nods, undeterred by Xiao Yan’s apparent mere rank as modest sixth Star Dou圣 adept. For in facing that soul of imperial magnitude, a deep apprehension gripped every observer. Swept by his sightless, pitch vision scanning, their essence seemed pierced wide open—little incentive remained to scorn the youth for youthful exterior after that revelation.
“SHRUUUMMM!!” Just Xiao Yan recalled focus, a sudden howl tore overhead, splitting the silence abruptly as dark phantoms raced swiftly upon distant skies, assembling themselves en masse over the battlefield’s threshold in unison, unleashing their mighty presences so the world trembled under their collective surge.
“Gu Yuan Chief, Master Yan…Flame clan now stands fully committed for glory!”
Master Yan Bin smiled while respectfully bowing toward the others—directing them to take his formation of several dozen powerful and ancient figures following his silhouette into view above the horizon.
A glance sufficed for Yan’s mind mapping their hierarchy, resting eventually upon a dazzling matriarch adorned in ruby vestments following Yan Bin. Her beauty draped elegance as charm exuded a mature and beguiling mystique. But at first recognition, a fact stood clear—apart the mighty Flame clan emissary beside, stood none other but their might’s second-in-strength—and her aura too resonated at formidable level of seventh Star Dou圣—a might paralleling the Gu Trio.
Upon fixing this enchantress within his sights, Xiao Yan caught her awareness stir—lady eyes lifting upward into an attractive smirk while waves of peculiar aura rippled outward like a song that beckoned one’s mind towards haze-like dizziness.
“Entrance Art of Soul Enticement?”
Recognizing the strange sensation, Xiao Yan showed visible curiosity—technique long known as relic craft from eons prior capable stealthily swaying another’s free will and thoughts, undiscerned. Only against lesser souls however, did this tactic shine its fullest potential; this beauty, while powerful, only bore a sky-tier perfect-level Soul cultivation stage—a domain of spirit which when pitted against an existence who now touched imperial realm boundaries was not quite the edge it appeared.
At thought, a chuckle tugged Xiao’s mouth skyward, amused eyes locked upon hers while unspoken pressure wafted silently from his forehead’s axis, colliding gently with the ripple now streaming from her sightless assault.
“Phsst!!”
The moment they brushed, an almost effortless shatter overtook her aura—a violent jolt surged through her body, while wide eyed and astonished, shock painted her features. Before the sheer force of this opposing Dominion, even her soul quivered—its terror was inescapable.
A Dominion-level Soul!
Despite her worldly reputation, she caught the truth in that singular moment’s clash. Instantaneous alarm passed, giving way only to a mortified humility as she recalled her tricks.
“Hehe. Master Yan—may I present Fire Clan’s Elder Huo Ling…” Master Yan finally spoke after discerning Xiao Yan’s invisible response. He turned and chuckled at the stunned woman, lightly scolding.
“Just as warned—no playing tricks in front Master Yan’s soul realm or you will be left holding burnt flowers, little sister,” he jested knowingly.
“Hmph… it’s Fire Lady Ling, *not* Huo Elder,” the woman snapped indignantly then shifted her sparkling gaze playfully towards Xiao Yan.
“To bear such youthful visage, yet having obtained fabled Dominion Realm… Indeed appearances never judge worth. Once before long did Xiao Xu appeared as an anomaly among Xiao… Yet now you, Xiao Yan! Such divine favor toward the Xiao seems never to wane…”
Behind the sorceress, her Flame brethren were visibly astonished—Dominion Soul. No member their entire clan achieved save possibly not even her Master Yan himself.
“Far too kind, merely a bit fortune’s hand guiding fortune,” Xiao Yan replied evenly, yet his honorific usage of ‘Lady’ earned a more pleased curve upon her lips—clearly delighted.
Each faction leader understood well the urgency behind mobilization this moment—but as Gu Yuan spoke aloud to assemble forces, quiet agreement spread throughout their leaders’ assemblies as murmurs settled—revered was this elder whose voice commanded authority as second most powerful being present save only one.
With the final nods granted acknowledgment of the risks at hand,
“Let the tides break.” Spake Gu Yuan resolutely—he and Xiao exchanging silent resolve before the former’s arm flared wide in a majestic summon, cleaving space apart like curtains drawn apart to bare sky. Stepping forth undaunted he led without pause. Behind came Xun’er and the ever serious-faced youth, while in their trailing wake poured forth the elite trio-clan host through their spatial rift.
As Gu warriors led off, within Mainland’s lands far south, Terra Coven’s capital erupted in bursts of light, countless Coven champions soaring northwestward like celestial streams across endless skies above all directions.
At this great exodus from an organization so formidable, news rippled like wildfire over Central lands, for all were well aware—the only force that could justify this grandest of all gatherings by Terra Coven… would be none other than the mysterious force known as Hun Clans!
Thus, looming specter now cast upon Mainland—the omen of impending war stood undeniable indeed.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage