For over a month, the atmosphere across Zhongzhou has been both lively and tense.
So many major events have occurred during this period that, with the impending Medicine Clan Pharmacopoeia, the situation in Zhongzhou has become increasingly uncertain.
First, it was discovered that the top leaders of the Alchemy Alliance, the dominant power that had abolished the Soul Palace, had vanished. Even the Dan Tower, the Flower Sect, and the Sound Valley, who were close to Chen Guan, had vanished.
Before even the most discerning experts could grasp the cause, the Medicine World suddenly vanished, and no further news of the situation surfaced.
Then, the ripples of a great battle erupted from the Ancient Saint City. The strongest of the ancient races, Soul Emperor and Gu Yuan, engaged in an intermittent battle that stretched for a full month, stretching from the eastern region of Zhongzhou all the way to the Shennong Mountains in the southern region.
It was also around this time that the forces affiliated with the Alchemy Alliance began to emerge. The scale of the conflict was so immense that even ordinary Dou Shengs wouldn't dare approach.
But everyone knew that things were about to change in Zhongzhou!
Finally, on this day, the medicine world opened up, and Chen Guan and his group reappeared. A battle even more intense than the one between Emperor Hun Tian and Gu Yuan broke out.
"Incredible! I witnessed a miracle with my own eyes. On that day of the Shennong Mountains battle, Alliance Leader Chen single-handedly dealt a heavy blow to Emperor Hun Tian. This was the patriarch of the Soul Clan, famous for thousands of years, yet now he's fleeing like a lost dog."
"I've heard some gossip that the Medicine Clan's pharmacopoeia was a shocking conspiracy orchestrated by Emperor Hun Tian and Void Devouring Flame. Unfortunately, they were a step behind and didn't anticipate that Alliance Leader Chen and the powerful Ancient Dragon Clan were also involved. In the end, they ended up making things easier for Alliance Leader Chen."
"Who told you that?"
"Among the survivors of the Medicine Clan, one is a good friend of the cousin of a good friend of my sect's young leader."
...
"This matter isn't over yet. Emperor Hun Tian is not dead. I heard that Alliance Leader Chen has taken Gu Yuan to hunt him down. I hope they can kill him in one fell swoop. Otherwise, such a powerful culprit hiding in the dark will be a disaster for Zhongzhou."
"This is true. Everyone heard their conversation at the time."
"Don't worry. With his severe injuries, Emperor Hun Tian is no match for any of them right now, let alone two Nine-Star Dou Shengs. This time, Emperor Hun Tian is doomed!"
"Hahaha, well done! Without the support of the Soul Clan, how could the Soul Palace have wreaked havoc on the continent for so many years! Junior Sister, you can finally rest in peace in your grave!"
...
"Feel that? It's a disturbance coming from the north. Hahaha, it looks like Emperor Hun Tian has been found again. He was in the west yesterday, and now he's gone north. You can imagine how utterly devastated he must be!"
"Everyone in Zhongzhou wants him dead. As long as he's in Zhongzhou, everyone is the eyes and ears of Alliance Leader Chen and Clan Leader Gu. Emperor Hun Tian has no chance to breathe."
...
In any city across Zhongzhou, you can hear large crowds gathered, the atmosphere heated beyond imagination.
The root cause is not only their innate tendency to enjoy watching the show, but also the long-standing suffering of the Soul Clan in Zhongzhou.
The more powerful the force, the more they know.
The so-called Soul Palace is nothing more than a pawn of the Soul Clan.
The Soul Clan was the biggest cancer!
And now, finally, the clouds have cleared and the moon has appeared. The behemoth Soul Clan collapsed overnight, and no one needs to worry about mentioning it again.
Like a rat crossing the street, everyone is shouting and beating it!
Compared to the outside world, the situation within the three remaining ancient clans is quite different.
Lei Ying and Yan Jin had just emerged from the Medicine Realm when they received a clan message announcing the loss of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade.
This was a bolt from the blue for both of them.
The Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade held secrets related to Emperor Cheng.
They had thought that by guarding the ancient jade, they would at least have some say in dealing with both Emperor Hun Tian and Chen Guan. But they hadn't expected it to rain even harder.
Having just suffered a heavy blow in the Medicine Realm, they had lost their last remaining trump card.
Returning to their clan, Yan Jin and Lei Ying listened to the reports from the clan elders. Like Gu Yuan, they quickly determined that Chen Guan was the undisputed winner!
Having personally experienced the myriad things in the medicine world, they understood Chen Guan's ambitions better than Gu Yuan!
Even Soul Emperor Tiandi aspired to become an emperor. Chen Guan, now only in his early thirties, had already reached the limit of the realm below the emperor. How could such a person be content to be limited to the Dou Sheng realm?
The loss of the ancient jade left the two clan leaders frustrated.
But more importantly, they felt powerless.
After all, their jade had been stolen by members of the Soul Clan, and Chen Guan's side had merely taken advantage.
Moreover, with Chen Guan's current capabilities, employing such gentle means was a gesture of respect for the two clans.
Otherwise, if force had been used, the two clans would have been helpless and would have suffered even greater damage.
Chen Guan's offer of respect was unavoidable, and they had to accept it.
To accuse Chen Guan of returning the jade would be a sheer disregard for the survival of their race.
After secretly conferring, the two clan leaders reached the same decision almost simultaneously.
They should pretend nothing had happened, accept the reality, and rest and recuperate.
The heavy losses they suffered in the Medicine World had shaken both clans to their foundations. At this point, they could no longer withstand any further turmoil.
"Huo Xuan, Huo Zhi, I know you're dissatisfied with Chen Guan, feeling he's exploiting the Medicine Clan and the Flame Clan to gain power. But put such thoughts aside. The ancient jade is ownerless, and we, the Eight Ancient Clans, are only temporarily in its custody. The strange fire is a divine object of heaven and earth, and it belongs to those with virtue."
What is virtue?
On this continent, strength is virtue!
"Lei Dong, you are the most dazzling talent of my Thunder Clan. You will undoubtedly surpass me in the future. But you must remember this: there is no enmity between us and Chen Guan. On the contrary, we have a good relationship. Mang Tianchi's Canaan Academy has nurtured a remarkable figure, and my Thunder Clan is proud of him!"
"Lei Dong understands,"
the two clan leaders earnestly explained.
In their eyes, Chen Guan was now far more formidable than the Soul Emperor, and they could not afford to be careless.
The only consolation was that Chen Guan's temper didn't seem to be as overbearing as the Soul Emperor.
...
Ancient Realm.
After Gu Yuan led his men in pursuit of Emperor Hun Tian that day, Xiao Yan, his disciples, and Xiao Chen were left alone.
While Xiao Yan and the Ancient Clan hadn't been at odds with each other, they didn't have a deep friendship either.
With the leader gone, Xiao Yan and the other two couldn't find anyone to take them into the Ancient Clan, and no one would volunteer to take them there. Not expelling them from the Ancient Saint City was already a courtesy.
After all, the way Xiao Chen looked at them was always filled with inexplicable hostility.
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Eventually, some members of the clan, fearing Xiao Chen might act madly, reported the matter to Gu Xun'er.
Only then
were the three of them allowed to enter the Ancient Clan for training. However, this move inadvertently strained relations between Xiao Yan and the other two and the Ancient Clan.
After being freed from the Demonic Fire Dimension, Xiao Chen learned of the Xiao Clan's plight and felt extremely resentful of the Ancient Clan. He was tempted to cause trouble, but Xiao Yan and Yao Chen persuaded him with both emotional and logical persuasion.
This didn't mean he had truly let go of his resentment towards the Ancient Clan; rather, practical matters forced him to suppress his resentment.
For the past two or three years, Xiao Chen hadn't had any contact with the Ancient Clan, but now, upon entering the Ancient Realm and witnessing their prosperity and prosperity, contrasted with that of the Xiao Clan...
his pent-up resentment surged uncontrollably, threatening to erupt completely!
For this reason, Xiao Chen hadn't spoken to anyone from the Ancient Clan, fearing that speaking would create an irreversible situation.
He wasn't afraid himself, but he didn't want to implicate Xiao Yan.
This was the future of the Xiao Clan!
Day after day, the news of the Shennong Mountains' events reached the Ancient Clan.
For a moment, everyone was stunned.
Discussions were rife throughout the Ancient Realm,
including among Xiao Yan and his companions.
Many of the younger generation of the Ancient Clan knew that Chen Guan and Xiao Yan had a close relationship, having once entered the Heavenly Tomb together, where Xiao Yan had been well-cared for.
Now that Chen Guan had become unattainable to them, a natural desire to learn more about him arose.
Consequently, Xiao Yan became a hot commodity, with numerous young members of the Ancient Clan inviting him to their gatherings daily.
Xiao Yan's fascination with Chen Guan was no longer as intense as before. Knowing their curiosity, he didn't hold back, and he vividly recounted his past.
Xiao Yan was deeply impressed by Chen Guan, and for this reason, he addressed him as "Brother Guan" and practically described him as the Dou Qi Continent's unrivaled genius.
In the past, such a statement would have caused an uproar, but now, even the arrogant Gu Clan mostly acquiesced.
However, most doesn't mean all.
"I admit that Chen Guan is a truly exceptional talent. At just over thirty years old, he can surpass the Soul Emperor. Even the Clan Leader couldn't do that. But I don't think anyone can surpass him." "
Oh? Brother Gu Ju, do you think there's anyone who can surpass Brother Guan?" Xiao Yan's smile remained, but his face was filled with disbelief.
The young man known as Gu Ju snorted, his chest straightening considerably. He raised his chin slightly and said, "I don't know about the other ancient races, but within the Ancient Clan... I don't mind telling you. Within our clan, there's such an astonishing genius."
"Brother Gu Ju, are you talking about Cousin Xun'er?"
"No, I'm talking about a newborn genius. I haven't seen her, but I've heard my grandfather mention her. Her birth caused such a stir that even the Clan Leader and several of the Supreme Elders were alarmed. They all said her talent was even greater than yours, and with time, she'll surely elevate our clan to new heights!"
Gu Ju's words were convincing, but unfortunately, Xiao Yan didn't believe them at all. It was all just
a fabrication; it wasn't convincing at all.
Seeing Xiao Yan's expression, Gu Ju grew anxious. "I'm not lying. I haven't seen that person, but everyone in our clan could sense the energy fluctuations in the Ancient Realm."
The young people of the Ancient Clan nodded. This was indeed the truth.
Xiao Yan laughed heartily, "I believe it, I believe it."
Gu Ju: "I really didn't lie to you, why don't you believe it?"
"I really believe it, no explanation needed."
The group of young people, chatting loudly, completely failed to notice the complex expression in Xiao Chen's eyes on the distant mountain peak.
If it weren't for that incident a thousand years ago, the Xiao Clan today would definitely not be inferior to the Gu Clan!
If it weren't for the Gu Clan taking advantage but perfunctorily doing things, the Xiao Clan, no matter how poor it was, would not have fallen into its current state!
"Who!"
Sensing a familiar presence approaching, Xiao Chen suddenly turned around and looked.
He saw a mighty and tall old man, smiling.
A six-star Dou Sheng!
Xiao Chen was certain he had never seen this face before, but this aura…
"Are you the black-robed man from the Flame Realm? You must be from the Ancient Dragon Clan, right? Unfortunately, you've arrived too late. The Ancient Clan's jade has long since fallen into the hands of Emperor Hun Tian, and most of the Ancient Clan's powerful members have also returned."
"Haha, I wouldn't dare run wild in the Ancient Clan. I only came with their permission, and I'm not here for the Natuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, but on the orders of Lord Dragon Emperor, to bring a few words to you, Xiao Chen."
The old man smiled nonchalantly.
Xiao Chen, slightly puzzled, waited for the next words.
"Lord Dragon Emperor said that Lord Dragon King will arrive at the Ancient Clan within ten days to fulfill the agreement between you and Xiao Yan."
"That's all? With just one word, I'm afraid there's no need for you to make a personal trip, right?"
The old man remained silent, gazing at the vast halls of the Ancient Clan in the distance.
"Let me tell you a little bit about Lord Longjun. Of course, I also heard it from Lord Longhuang and the others."
"Lord Longjun came from humble origins. He was a member of the royal family of the Northwestern Jiama Empire. They brought him into the household. As Lord Longjun displayed his talent, his status rose. Gradually, Lord Longjun became part of the royal family, treating Jiaxingtian and the Yaoye sisters as family, cultivating a deep bond."
"Just as you now want to protect the Xiao clan, Lord Longjun wants to protect those he cares about, the place that makes him feel warm."
"Unfortunately, there are always those in this world who seek to destroy, whether intentionally or unintentionally, but they're incredibly annoying. And sometimes, you can't really do anything about them. When they're weak, you're wary of them, but when they're strong, you have to worry about other things..."
The old man chattered non-stop.
Fortunately, Xiao Chen was sharp-eyed and not stupid. After listening for a while, he understood the gist of it and finally grasped it.
Xiao Chen suddenly smiled, a rare expression of joy written all over his face.
"Was this his own idea, or the idea of your Lord Dragon Emperor and Medusa and the others, or was it your Excellency's own decision?"
The old man shook his head slightly. "It doesn't matter. Whether it's me, the Lord Dragon Emperor, Her Majesty the Queen, or the others, we are all one with Lord Dragon."
"We rise and fall together!"