The next day, as warm sunlight poured into the quiet room through the windows, Xiao Yan, who had been meditating in lotus position, gradually opened his eyes, sensing the change. At the very moment he opened them, a peculiar ripple of energy surged around him, flowing steadily into the center of his forehead, and eventually merging into his soul. "With this 'Tao Yi Soul Technique,' my progress in soul cultivation has been remarkably swift," Xiao Yan remarked, his face brightening with admiration. During this period, he had diligently practiced the technique every time he found time, and the results were truly impressive—spirits that once proved difficult to absorb now flowed automatically into his body simply by activating the Tao Yi Soul Technique. Indeed, this ancient method was no ordinary achievement. With a gentle smile, Xiao Yan stood up from the bed, stretched slightly, and pushed open the door. After locating the small physician and the others, the group departed from the pavilion. Now, this grand manor was bustling with numerous powerful individuals from all directions—these strong ones either possessed formidable strength themselves or were backed by influential forces. When such figures came together, the atmosphere naturally became vibrant and lively. Xiao Yan and his companions strolled around the manor for a while before settling at a spacious wine hall that occupied a considerable area. At the heart of the hall stood a massive stone platform, where the flow of qi surged intensely, and two figures engaged in lightning-fast combat. The thrilling exchange drew continuous rounds of applause from the onlookers. The two figures on stage were both at the level of six-star Dao Sect cultivators, recognized as strong contenders outside the realm, yet they failed to impress Xiao Yan. With Xiao Yan and the small medical sage's party settling at a spot by the window of the tavern, he glanced around, noticing several individuals of considerable strength. "Have you heard anything about the Black Annihilation Army?" After the serving maid respectfully presented him with tea, Xiao Yan glanced at the ongoing match and spoke softly. Now that he was aiming to establish contact with the ancient clan, he naturally needed to learn more about them. The Black Annihilation Army, reportedly, was a gathering of the clan's most formidable warriors, renowned for their exceptionally powerful combat prowess—information he needed to gather. "Um…" The young physician smiled and nodded, meeting the gaze of the Heavenly Fire Sovereign before speaking softly, "The Black Annihilation Army holds a high status within the Ancient Clan, as their selection criteria are quite rigorous. Not only must they demonstrate absolute loyalty to the clan, but they also need to achieve a specific Dao level within a certain age range. It's said that the army conducts annual evaluations, and those who fail to meet the standards are eliminated. This is precisely what ensures the high caliber of the Black Annihilation Army." Hearing this, Xiao Yan slowly nodded as well. From the sight of the black-armored guards stationed at the city gate, it was clear that these soldiers were no ordinary ones—indeed, if placed in the outside world, they would be among the rarest and most talented warriors. "Within the Black Annihilation Army, there exists a highly rigid hierarchy. Among its ranks are eight Grand Commanders, and the two we saw yesterday—Ling Quan and the Fifth Commander—are among them. However, Ling Quan holds only the seventh rank." The Celestial Fire Sovereign smiled beside him. "Ling Quan is only seventh, then?" Xiang Yan's eyes narrowed slightly. Ling Quan possesses the strength of a One-Star Battle Sovereign, while the Fifth Commander is a Three-Star Battle Sovereign. Thus, the Grand Commander of the Black Annihilation Army must at least be a Six-Star Battle Sovereign, if not higher. "Indeed, the ancient clan deserves this praise." Xiang Yan nodded gently. Among the younger generation, achieving a Six-Star Battle Sovereign rank is truly a rare talent. Though the members of the ancient clan carry the Bloodline of Battle Emperor, this alone speaks volumes about their strength. "Right now, in the eyes of these young prodigies from the ancient clans, you're not exactly well-liked—some even consider you their... rival. As for the future of the ancient realm, I suspect you'll be quite vexed by this." Xiao Yixian smiled lightly, covering her mouth. "I'd think, the number of people in the ancient clans who know of my relationship with Xun'er isn't very large, is it?" Xiao Yan furrowed his brows. "In the past, it wasn't—though according to what I've learned, now this matter is nearly universally known, thanks to Xun'er herself admitting your bond during the elder council meeting." Xiao Yixian chuckled. Xiao Yan was stunned, then broke into a quiet smile, saying, "This girl certainly has courage. Well, let her say it then. Eventually, the truth will have to come out. As for these young talents from the ancient clans, what they think is up to them. From the very beginning, I've known that my life in this ancient realm won't be particularly peaceful." Xiao Yan had long been aware of Xun'er's captivating charm. As a renowned clan famed for its prodigies, it naturally attracted young talents who would seldom favor ordinary women. Thus, Xun'er—both breathtakingly beautiful and possessing extraordinary talent—had naturally become the object of their pursuit. "Among these eight commanders, nearly half of them view you as their most formidable rival. Should you encounter any of them, they will surely find every pretext to challenge and spar with you," smiled Xiao Yi. "Of course, in my opinion, your greatest threat isn't these individuals—it's the Four Grand Commanders." "Four Grand Commanders?" "The true senior leadership of the Hei Yan Army, in general, consists of the Eight Commanders, the Four Grand Commanders, and the two true leaders of the Hei Yan Army—the Hei Yan King himself." Xiao Yixian said, "These Four Grand Commanders are hailed as supreme talents even within the ancient clan, each being exceptionally brilliant and outstanding. While their possession of Dou Di bloodline may not match Xun'er's, they still stand out among the ancient clan, with few able to rival them. Based on their potential, they will undoubtedly become the core figures of the ancient clan in the future." Xiao Yan remained silent, his heart growing increasingly serious. At his age, he had achieved such accomplishments—enough to be considered among the very best in the Zhongzhou region. Yet, now, upon arriving in this clan of such extraordinary talents, he realized that such achievements still fell short of earning him genuine pride. Since the rank of "Douxun" is higher than that of "Lingxun," it must be that even the weakest Douxun is stronger than the Da Lingxun. Thus, considering their collective strength, these four Douxuns likely match the prowess of the Jiutian Zun of the Soul Palace. "Is the power of the Battle Emperor lineage truly that formidable..." Xuanyin exhaled slowly, truly feeling the weight of pressure. While his cultivation pace among peers was already impressive and beyond reach, when compared to these ancient clan's supreme talents, he still seemed slightly weaker. "Beyond men, there are men beyond men—this saying truly holds true." Though I may not know exactly how these four esteemed Douxuns in the ancient clans view you, or what stance they hold toward you, Xun'er, as the clan's foremost prodigy, is especially magnetic to such talents. Therefore, you must remain vigilant. The Little Physician advised. Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, a cold determination flashing across his gaze. No matter how strong these so-called Grand Commanders were, he and Xun'er would never be stopped. Though he currently held only the rank of Five-Star Battle Sovereign, he would not hesitate to face even Seven-Star or Eight-Star Battle Sovereigns should it come to a clash. Thus, he hoped that these four Grand Commanders wouldn't truly treat him as a soft target! "Indeed, inheriting the Emperor of Battle lineage makes cultivation remarkably smooth. Yet this pace only reaches the level of Saint of Battle—before that. Even among ancient lineages like the ancient clan, which boasts many Saint of Battle cultivators, only a few truly attain the Saint of Battle rank. To reach this level, one must rely entirely on their own efforts. At such a time, the Emperor of Battle lineage itself can become a burden. Therefore, do not compare your current achievements with theirs. Perhaps when you eventually reach the rank of Saint of Battle, they will still only be able to attain the level of Saint of Battle cultivator." Tian Huo, stretching lazily, smiled. Xiao Yan nodded slightly. A Saint of Battle cultivator is already among the very elite of the heavens and earth. Though the Emperor of Battle lineage is powerful, it cannot produce such elite cultivators in large numbers—otherwise, it would indeed be too extraordinary. … While Xiao Yan and his companions were chatting and drinking at their own pace, two cold, focused gazes were locked firmly on Xiao Yan. "A man of slightly robust build furrowed his brow. He was precisely the Fifth Commander from yesterday." The young man in green robes spoke with a soft, composed smile. "Rest assured... everything will be perfectly proper." With those words, on the stone platform below, the two combatants had already settled their contest, stepping back to separate. Then, a clear, resonant voice cut through the air, drawing all eyes toward a slender figure who leapt onto the platform and shouted loudly. "Next up: Commander Yang Hao of the Black Annihilation Army, and... the champion of the Dan Assembly, Xiao Yan!"