As that resounding voice descended gradually, three ancient clan elders, dressed with great formality, rose solemnly from their distant seats and approached the central plaza. There, various ceremonial items were already in place—ancient clan rites were notably elaborate, as in the clan, only after completing the coming-of-age ceremony could one be considered truly mature. Only then could the younger generations become the core of the clan, and even marriage ceremonies were required to take place only after this rite. "The true strength of the ancient clan has yet to emerge..." Xiao Yan's gaze swept across this special area. Aside from a few elders, he did not see any figures of the clan chief's rank. Clearly, even at such a moment, these prominent figures were reluctant to appear. Yet he remained uncertain as to which of the clan's senior members had issued that voice, radiating the pressure of a Battle Saint. "Though they haven't personally appeared, there's a subtle presence lingering in the heavens—seeming to indicate that these important figures are indeed paying close attention, merely choosing not to make an appearance." With his sharp spiritual perception, Xiao Yan detected the unusual fluctuations in the sky after a brief investigation, and this gave him a clearer sense of understanding. "The ceremony begins, Lin Quan!" While Xiao Yan was pondering, the three ancient clan elders on the plaza had prepared themselves and, in accordance with the list, recited the first name that resonated deeply with Xiao Yan. Hearing the voices of the three elders, Ling Quan quickly rose to his feet, moved with spirited grace into the center of the arena, and respectfully bowed to the elders. While the number of adult young people in the ancient clan was naturally substantial, only a few had the honor of participating in such a coming-of-age ceremony—those few were undoubtedly the outstanding talents among the younger generation. It was therefore no surprise that Ling Quan carried a subtle sense of pride on his face. Upon seeing these six stars, the elder of the ancient clan nodded and then roared loudly, "Ling Quan, Seventh Commander of the Hei Yan Army, with one-star Dou Zun strength and Sixth Rank bloodline qualification. By resolution of the Elder Council, he shall be granted a Golden Clan Seal!" "Indeed a Golden Clan Seal—no wonder he holds the rank of Seventh Commander," murmured the crowd of ancient clan members, their voices filled with admiration and envy. At these words, Ling Quan's eyes sparkled with joy, and he knelt single-kneed, then raised his head. An ancient clan elder, holding a brush that shimmered with golden light, swept his arm in graceful motions, leaving behind a series of fleeting shadows. Instantly, a profound seal appeared upon Ling Quan's forehead, radiating a burst of golden light and pulsing with a distinct energy surge. "Sixth Rank bloodline? Golden Clan Seal? What are these exactly?" Xiao Yan, unfamiliar with these terms, furrowed his brows and turned to Xun'er for explanation. "The ancestral bloodline is divided into ten ranks, with the first rank being the lowest and the tenth the highest... However, generally speaking, only those with bloodline rank at or above the fourth rank are eligible to participate in the coming-of-age ceremony. Lingquan achieving the sixth rank is already quite commendable." Xun'er smiled slightly and explained, "As for the golden clan mark, it is the final evaluation based on all the aforementioned criteria. This mark has been passed down since ancient times among the ancient clans, enabling the bloodpower within a clan member's body to surge temporarily during critical moments, thus turning potential crises into successes. There are four grades of this mark—silver, gold, purple gold, and seven-color gold—distinguished by color. Lingquan's clan mark is the third grade, the golden one." "Indeed, the clan mark has such remarkable effects?" Xiao Yan's eyes flashed with surprise. "Um, it's said to have been created by the ancient ancestors of our clan—the one who reached the Battle Emperor stage. However, after acquiring the clan seal, it will still require about a month of nurturing before it can fully manifest its abilities." Xun'er smiled and said. Xiao Yan nodded slightly, having initially thought the ancient clan ritual was merely a formality. He hadn't expected such benefits—now he understood why the clan members placed so much emphasis on the coming-of-age ceremony. The key reason, after all, was undoubtedly the clan seal itself. "Then, does Xun'er's bloodline reach the tenth rank? Can she obtain a seven-colored golden clan seal?" Xiao Yan asked with a smile. "Since I last went into seclusion, I haven't tested it again. The tenth-rank bloodline is considered a divine-grade one—rare indeed, with the ancient clan having not seen such a level in nearly a thousand years. I suspect Xun'er won't quite reach that standard. As for the seven-colored golden seal, there's likely only one in the entire clan today, and even that one has been stored away for a long time, rarely achieved by anyone." Xun shook her head, saying, "Hehe. According to the ancient clan's bloodline hierarchy, anyone who reaches the ninth-rank bloodline possesses the potential to advance to the level of Battle Saint. As for divine-rank bloodline—perhaps that potential could carry her all the way to the peak of Battle Saint status... of course, I imagine that would still be quite difficult. Divine-rank bloodline has been rare for many, many years now." Mang Tianchi also turned his head slightly, chuckling warmly. Xiao Yan silently gaped—this was indeed the depth of the ancient clan's heritage. Truly impressive. "Next, Lin Xiu!" As Xiao Yan and Xun were conversing, a new voice rang out in the center of the arena. Immediately, Lin Xiu rose to his feet, his face bright with excitement, and rushed down the platform with eager strides. He then went through the same procedure as before, as翎Quan had demonstrated. However, the stars appearing on the celestial disk remained only six. "Lin Xiu, Third Commander of the Hei Yan Army, Five-Star Battle Sovereign, Sixth-Rank Bloodline—awarded the golden clan seal!" "Upon seeing Lin Xiu, a Five-Star Battle Sovereign, still possessing only golden clan seals, Xiao Yan also sensed the difficulty in bridging the gaps between seal levels—while strength might be a factor, the true determinant was likely the lineage rank. Though both Lin Xiu and Lin Qing held golden seals, the golden hue on Lin Xiu's forehead appeared notably more brilliant, perhaps reflecting the subtle differences in their respective strengths. 'Next...' As one after another of the more accomplished young talents from the ancient clans stepped forward following Lin Qing and Lin Xiu, no one's lineage rank surpassed the Sixth Rank—this further solidified Xiao Yan's realization that achieving higher lineage ranks within the ancient clans was exceptionally difficult. 'Gu Zhen, Commander of the He Yan Army, a Seven-Star Battle Sovereign with a Seventh-Rank lineage power—'" Just as Xiao Yan began to grow slightly impatient due to the prolonged process, the voice from the stage suddenly paused. "Guzhen?" Hearing this name, Xiao Yan's heart stirred, and he raised his head, his gaze fixed on the scene. There, Guzhen was kneeling on one knee, calmly observing the three elders engaged in quiet conversation. As the three elders began to speak, the crowd on the plaza exchanged glances, then their attention gradually shifted to Guzhen—clearly, this man was different from the others. After a brief exchange, the three elders paused. One elder grasped his hand, and a brush of purple-golden hue appeared in his grasp. "It's the Purple-Gold Dragon Brush!" The crowd immediately erupted in exclamations upon seeing the brush. "After deliberation by the Elder Council, Guzhen has demonstrated outstanding achievements and a calm, steady demeanor. Therefore, he is awarded the Purple-Gold Clan Seal!" The elder's face grew stern as he roared loudly. At once, energy surged from his palm, powering the purple-gold pen, which swiftly etched a purple-gold clan seal onto Gu Zhen's forehead. Though the hue of the seal appeared somewhat pale, it did not diminish the admiration from the many onlookers. "By bloodline rank, Gu Zhen actually falls short of achieving a purple-gold seal. However, his reputation within the Black Annihilation Army is exceptionally high—he even rivals the four Grand Commanders. Thus, the Elder Council has made an exception this time." As Xiao Yan gazed at Gu Zhen, a soft voice whispered in his ear—Xun'er explaining to him. Xiao Yan nodded slightly. Having interacted with Gu Zhen before, he knew well that the man was an exceptionally composed and steady personality. Should he rise to a high position within the ancient clan, his accomplishments would surely be outstanding. "Indeed, the Ancient Clan produces outstanding talents—no wonder, after so many generations of continuous legacy, it remains strong and vibrant." On the field, even though he had unexpectedly received the purple-royal seal, the ancient True's face remained calm, and he respectfully bowed to the three elders before rising. With a simple motion, he returned to his seat amidst the admiration of the crowd. As he settled, his gaze drifted toward Xiao Yan's position, where he gave a gentle nod. In response to this courteous gesture, Xiao Yan smiled warmly. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly noticed that the temperature of the world around him had grown cold and still. With his eyes slowly shifting, they finally settled on the figure ahead—a cold, still silhouette. At that moment, one of the Four Commanders of the ancient clan, the War Commander, had quietly risen under the collective attention of the audience, stepping steadily toward the center of the field. "Has he arrived yet..." Feeling the surrounding environment growing quieter and colder, Xiao Yan's eyes slightly narrowed, curiously wondering just how formidable his potential rival truly was—what level of excellence could this individual achieve?