//Wishing everyone a Happy New Year! May 2026 bring you joy, health, and countless blessings!
Word Count: 3,291 Words
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The charcoal-blackened body of Gu Yao crashed to the ground with a heavy thud. The hand that had unleashed the Great Silent Destruction Finger shattered on impact, crumbling into dust like burnt wood.
Xiao Yan had said he was holding back, and indeed, he had.
"Gu Yao!"
Elders Gu Qian and Gu Xu rushed to his side. Both men drew sharp, horrified breaths at the sight before them. Gu Yao's body had been burned to a crisp, his hair completely singed away, and his features were utterly unrecognizable.
"Such grievous injuries! That detestable Xiao Clan brat... how ruthless!" Gu Yao was the pride of their lineage. Even if he couldn't become Young Clan Leader or Clan Head, they had hoped he could at least contend for the position of Black Submerged King.
Now, with injuries this severe, not only was entering the Heavenly Tomb impossible, but his foundation might be permanently damaged.
"Pills!"
"He's already been given one."
"No, I mean Xiao Yan… he took a pill!"
!?
Across the plaza, Xiao Yan stood alone, retrieving a tier 8 Dou Qi recovery pill from his storage ring. The pupils of many in the older generation contracted, especially those who sensed something was amiss.
Xiao Yan cultivated the Flame Mantra, which had already reached the Intermediate Tian Class. Though he had just unleashed two major techniques consecutively, the Dou Qi reserves granted by his Qi Method were terrifyingly vast. He had only consumed about a tenth of his power. Unless he was unleashing a full-power eleven-colored fire lotus, he had little reason to worry about his Dou Qi.
Yet he chose this moment to consume a pill, and a tier 8 one at that. The meaning behind this action was quite thought-provoking.
After all, Gu Yao was already defeated, and Xiao Yan remained unscathed. He could have recovered his energy naturally, without any rush.
"Is this fellow really going to...?" Huo Xuan smiled faintly as he watched Xiao Yan absorb the pill's energy, then shifted his gaze toward First General Gu Qing Yang standing not far away.
Mang Tian Chi's eyelid twitched as he muttered helplessly, "This young fellow has quite the ambition. He's trying to swallow the sky in one bite."
The three Gu Clan elders exchanged glances, each arriving at the same conclusion about Xiao Yan's intentions.
The pill refined quickly. After all, it was one he had created himself. After a soft exhale, Xiao Yan's calm gaze settled on Gu Qing Yang in the distance. Though his expression remained tranquil, a storm brewed in the depths of his eyes. This was merely the calm before it broke.
Gu Yao had never been Xiao Yan's true target!
Had Gu Yao not provoked him, Xiao Yan would have ignored him entirely, just as he had the Fifth Commander. He would have been too lazy to even make a move.
As he had stated from the beginning, Gu Yao and Lin Xiu belonged to the same category: incidental figures not part of his original plan.
Only after arriving at the Gu Clan did Xiao Yan learn that the Gu Yao mentioned by Ling Ying wasn't the strongest of the younger generation, merely the most ardent of Xun Er's pursuers.
In reality, the strongest was Gu Qing Yang!
Just as Xiao Yan suspected, the candidate for the Gu Clan's Young Clan Leader had never truly been Xun Er; her temperament wasn't suited for leading the clan. Whether for the next Black Submerged King or Young Clan Leader, the figure with the most resounding support within the Gu Clan was Gu Qing Yang.
Naturally, he was also the one most supported to marry Xun Er. In terms of Dou God Bloodline, strength, and standing, he ranked among the Gu Clan's finest.
Gu Zhen quickly stood as he noticed Xiao Yan's stare. "Brother Xiao Yan, you've already proven with your strength that even without a Dou God Bloodline, you're invincible among peers. There's no need to prove anything more."
Xiao Yan ignored Gu Zhen, his eyes as deep and calm as an ancient well.
All eyes turned to Gu Qing Yang, awaiting his response.
Gu Qing Yang hesitated briefly before cupping his hands toward Xiao Yan. "Brother Xiao Yan, I have no desire to interfere in matters between you and Xun Er. Besides..." He glanced at Xiao Yan with a wry smile. "When I was an 8-star Dou Venerate, I wasn't nearly as powerful as you are now."
"Big Brother!" Gu Hua and Gu Xing looked at him in shock. How could he praise an outsider at a time like this!
But Gu Qing Yang raised his hand to stop their protests.
"Don't question it. Even I, though perhaps able to defeat Gu Yao when I was an 8-star Dou Venerate, could never have done so as cleanly and decisively as Brother Xiao Yan." Gu Qing Yang graciously admitted that at the same level, he was no match for Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan smiled faintly and shook his head. "You should understand. Even though I defeated Gu Yao, I remain an outsider. You, on the other hand, are the 'hope' of the Gu Clan."
Gu Qing Yang's heart trembled at these words. He understood Xiao Yan's meaning.
"Even now, many still place their hopes in you. Being invincible among peers means nothing. Which Dou Saint elder in your Gu Clan wasn't once invincible among their peers?"
"The great trend is not something you or I can stop."
Though spoken calmly, his words landed like thunder in everyone's ears.
Mang Tian Chi stroked his beard, a smile playing on his lips. "This kid sees things with remarkable clarity."
Xun Er's lovely eyes shimmered with heartache, and clear tears welled at their corners. Xiao Yan was doing all of this for her.
He was trying to shoulder her burden, to completely eliminate the pressure placed upon her by the Gu Clan's upper echelons!
Xiao Yan had indeed proven his talent and strength, but it was only enough to grant some temporary relief. Once the opening of the Heavenly Tomb concluded, Xun Er would still have to face the doubts of the clan elders.
Gu Qing Yang was stronger than Gu Yao, and perhaps even stronger than Xiao Yan. Such voices of skepticism wouldn't simply disappear.
These questions and debates would persist, especially since Xiao Yan was an outsider, while Gu Qing Yang was the First General of the Black Submerged Army, the sole candidate for Young Clan Leader, a possessor of a Grade 9 Dou God Bloodline, and a man of steady temperament with illustrious military achievements to his name.
In the eyes of the Gu Clan, the one truly suited for Xun Er was neither Gu Yao nor Xiao Yan. It was Gu Qing Yang!
Xiao Yan didn't know if the ancient story of the general whose soldiers draped the imperial yellow robe over his shoulders existed on the Dou Qi Continent, but he understood its meaning. Sometimes, even if you didn't want something, when your friends, subordinates, and elders all wanted it for you, you would eventually be forced to accept.
Gu Qing Yang truly had no romantic interest in Xun Er, but the great trend of the clan was beyond his control.
As Xiao Yan's quiet words echoed, a hush fell over the Gu Clan and all the spectators. Even Gu Yao, who had just regained consciousness, found himself silent.
He knew full well that even if he had defeated Xiao Yan, his chances of marrying Xun Er were zero. The vast majority of clan elders supported Gu Qing Yang, a man he didn't even possess the courage to challenge.
Gu Qing Yang embodied the Gu Clan's 'great trend.'
"Xiao Yan, if you want a fight, then fight me! There's no need for Big Brother to act!" Second General Gu Hua stepped forward, fighting spirit blazing in his eyes.
Xiao Yan shook his head. The loyalty of Gu Hua and Gu Xing made it obvious how deeply Gu Qing Yang commanded the hearts of his people. In their eyes, Xiao Yan was nothing more than an invader, a thief come to steal one of their own!
"One move or ten, it makes no difference." Xiao Yan didn't even look at Gu Hua. Even if this man was stronger than Gu Yao, it would only be a matter of a few more exchanges.
Though his words were arrogant, Gu Hua found himself unable to refute them.
Gu Qing Yang patted Gu Hua's shoulder and took a step forward, sighing as he shook his head. "Those words—'the great trend is not something you or I can change'—are not false."
With a single fluid stride, he appeared at the center of the plaza. The two men faced each other, their eyes holding neither hostility nor hatred. Sometimes, a battle needed no reason beyond the irresistible force of circumstance.
The moment Gu Qing Yang took the stage, the atmosphere crackled to life. The younger generation of the Gu Clan, in particular, shed their previous gloom as their spirits soared. Many shot to their feet, fists clenched and faces flushed with excitement!
From the Gu Clan's perspective, Xiao Yan was the villain here!
"It's finally starting!"
"A clash between two of the greatest geniuses on the Dou Qi Continent today!"
The members of the other Dou God Clans watched with rapt curiosity, mentally comparing their own top prodigies to the two men in the arena.
"I heard our Young Clan Leader Lei Dong once made a marriage proposal to the Gu Clan and even gained the support of some elders," a prodigy from the Lei Clan said suddenly.
Mang Tian Chi shot a sidelong glance at the fellow who clearly couldn't read the atmosphere. To say such a thing at a time like this was simply asking for a beating!
Gu Qing Yang cupped his hands toward Xiao Yan. "Brother Xiao Yan, I'm a One-Change Dou Venerate with a Grade 9 Dou God Bloodline. Though it may seem an unfair advantage... I won't hold back."
Having stepped onto the stage, he now bore the honor of the Gu Clan. There would be no mercy.
"A warrior doesn't shy from a challenge." Xiao Yan maintained his characteristic confidence, smiling as he replied, "I too won't hold back. I carry burdens I cannot set down."
Against an ordinary One-Change Dou Venerate, Xiao Yan would feel no fear; he was confident even against a Two-Change or Three-Change. But this was Gu Qing Yang.
"Xiao Yan ge-ge..." Xun Er bit her lip gently, her fists tightening within her sleeves.
Gu Qing Yang smiled with genuine appreciation. "I'm truly happy for Xun Er to have someone who loves her as you do."
"The openness of true gentlemen! This is a battle between men of honor." Even some of the older Gu Clan members were moved. "This isn't about hatred or a struggle for gain. I haven't seen such a contest in a very long time."
"Geniuses are geniuses for a reason. These two share certain qualities," one of the three presiding elders sighed from a distance. "They exist on a level beyond ordinary folks like us. Compared to them, that Gu Yao... alas."
The impending battle between Xiao Yan and Gu Qing Yang sent a thrill through the crowd. This wasn't about grudges; it was pure, unadulterated combat!
"Perhaps in ancient times, when the Dou Gods themselves were young, their duels were just like this," an elder hidden within the void murmured with a sigh. "A pity about the great trend."
"Even if they don't become sworn brothers after this, they'll certainly respect each other deeply."
"It's about to begin!"
The floor of the ceremonial plaza began to tremble. Grains of sand and tiny pebbles danced upon the stone slabs as the two men circulated their Dou Qi. Terrifying power rose from their bodies, swirling higher and higher until it formed a looming storm.
The prodigies of the younger generation stared unblinking, determined not to miss a single moment. This was a battle from which they could learn immensely!
Their auras locked. In an instant, both sets of eyes sharpened. Twin booms echoed as they slammed their feet into the floor, leaving deep depressions in the stone. In the next heartbeat, both figures vanished. A heavy thud resounded as their fists collided in midair.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The terrifying Dou Qi shockwave tore the surrounding space asunder, revealing large, gaping patches of black void that refused to heal!
Snap! Snap!!
The defensive barrier around the plaza flickered violently, straining under the force of the blow.
"That… that's pure physical strength?!"
"Impossible! Xiao Yan's physical strength actually matches Brother Qing Yang's!" Gu Hua's expression changed. He knew exactly how powerful Gu Qing Yang's tempered body was, yet he had never imagined Xiao Yan would be his equal!
Gu Qing Yang wasn't Gu Yao. His strength didn't come merely from his Dou God Bloodline; his will was like iron, and he had never once slacked in the harsh tempering of his physical body.
Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed as his right leg lashed out like a whip toward Gu Qing Yang's face. Gu Qing Yang instantly blocked with his left hand while simultaneously launching a leaping front kick in a seamless counter. Unflustered, Xiao Yan withdrew his leg and dodged with fluid precision.
Gu Qing Yang's foot struck the ground with a thunderous stomp. Xiao Yan brought his five fingers together into a cutting palm and sliced down. The sheer force of the blow, without any Dou Qi, created a swirling blade of air that carved a deep scar into the stone floor.
Boom, boom, boom!
They traded dozens of blows in a flash. Relying on nothing but perception and physical might, the intensity of their battle already far surpassed that of most Dou Venerate experts.
Knee strikes, elbows aimed for the head, precise kicks and blocks. Their close-quarters melee shook the ground, filling the air with a continuous roar of thunderous impacts.
Another explosive punch sent both men flying apart.
Xiao Yan knew Gu Qing Yang had refrained from using Dou Techniques out of respect for his lower cultivation level.
Drawing a slow breath, his eyes flashed. The air twisted as overwhelmingly intense heat poured from his body.
Skyfire Three Mysterious Change—Six-Flame Fusion!
Xiao Yan roared in his heart. Six Heavenly Flames merged in pairs, forming even more powerful new flames!
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
Heavenly Flames erupted from his body, burning the space around him and causing faces throughout the crowd to drain of color.
"That's the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change created by Xiao Xuan!"
"Heavens, Xiao Yan's cultivation! Peak 9-star Dou Venerate?! How could it rise so much?!"
"The Burning Flame Valley also has the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change, but isn't it only a High Di Class technique? How can it provide such a massive boost!"
As he activated the technique, a complex mark flickered briefly on his forehead before vanishing.
'That pattern…' Gu Qing Yang frowned, but he had no time to ponder it. Xiao Yan was already upon him.
Lightning crackled at Xiao Yan's feet as he transformed into a blur of thunder and fire, charging with his full power unleashed. He was done holding back!
"Octane Blast!"
He closed the distance in a heartbeat. With focused eyes, his fists crashed down like hammers. The empty space shattered as tyrannical fist-force erupted like a tempest, sending a roaring fire dragon blasting forward.
Gu Qing Yang shrouded his arms in dense Dou Qi and crossed them to block. A dragon's roar erupted as the eightfold hidden force of the Octane Blast detonated. Sensing the dragon aura and layered power within the punch, Gu Qing Yang's eyes narrowed, and he leaped backward to dissipate the explosive impact.
"Ha!" A wild, excited smile broke across Gu Qing Yang's face, his fighting spirit blazing. He stomped hard upon the ground.
"Space Rend!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
Space detonated like a chain of volcanic eruptions as violent turbulence tore across the world. With a single kick that seemed to cross the distance instantly, a region of space collapsed. A chaotic torrent of spatial energy rushed forth, which Gu Qing Yang masterfully controlled, shaping it into a storm of invisible blades that tore in all directions, surging toward Xiao Yan!
The momentum was unstoppable, powerful enough to shatter mountains and suppress rivers.
"Well done!" Xiao Yan shouted, genuinely admiring the masterful spatial control. He had to admit that when it came to manipulating space, he was no match for a prodigy of the Gu Clan.
But he wouldn't pit his weakness against another's strength. With a single thought, his Heavenly Flames answered his call.
A black and a white flame enveloped his body like the dual extremes of Yin and Yang, creating a domain that decomposed the surrounding space.
Heavenly Flame Dou Technique!
With a hearty laugh, Xiao Yan soared upward, shielded by the Yin-Yang Twin Flame. His mastery over fire was second to none.
Wreathed in flames, he thrust out a hand that seemed to blot out the sky, meeting the spatial turbulence head-on. The flame-wreathed hand tore through the void. No matter how sharp the spatial blades were, they were incinerated and crushed by his grip.
At that moment, Xiao Yan truly resembled a Flame Emperor. He wielded black and white flames with his bare hands and tore the spatial storm asunder.
The crowd watched in awe as he charged forward, ripping through the turbulence as if it were paper.
Gu Qing Yang held nothing back. The full might of his One-Change Dou Venerate cultivation erupted, shaking the sky and causing countless faces to pale. Under his control, space warped and tore, unleashing a torrent of spatial slashes and whips that lashed out like a world-ending cataclysm.
Xiao Yan leaped to meet the crushing power of space. His fists, blazing with Heavenly Flames, punched out again and again, each blow's terrifying force shattering the void. His figure flickered and jumped, each punch landing furiously upon the surrounding space, forging a path through the chaos straight for Gu Qing Yang!
"Gu Qing Yang's spatial mastery is incredible! If Xiao Yan didn't have his Heavenly Flames, this would be impossible to handle."
"But he does."
A sly smile touched Xiao Yan's lips. His Spiritual Strength surged, and a massive soul palm print blasted toward Gu Qing Yang.
Even Gu Qing Yang was startled by the spiritual attack. He hastily executed an agility technique to dodge. The soul palm slammed into the ground where he had just stood, leaving a deep, scorched imprint.
"Holy crap! A Soul Skill?!"
Several experts from the Dou God Clans were stunned, their expressions turning strange. For someone from the Xiao Clan to be using Soul Skills was truly...
"It's not so strange. Xiao Yan is an alchemist and the champion of the Pill Gathering. The Pill Tower has Soul Skill inheritances. Besides, in the old days, it was the Xiao Clan that killed more Hun Clan members than anyone." A Gu Clan elder commented, unperturbed. He naturally assumed the Xiao Clan still had some legacies from their past.
"Hmph. Just an ordinary Xuan Class Soul Skill," Hun Ya muttered, unable to hide the sour envy in his tone. The power of that attack had been undeniably strong.
The soul palm print was merely a Xuan Class Soul Skill that Xiao Yan had secretly learned from Cao Ying. However, he possessed Heavenly State Spiritual Strength. With such power, even a Huang Class Soul Skill would be terrifyingly destructive in his hands.
Xiao Yan smiled as he watched Gu Qing Yang hastily dodge his attack. His challenge wasn't a hopeless endeavor. He possessed a Heavenly State soul!