Under the full gaze of the audience, the ancient spirit moved with a cold demeanor and a slow, steady pace, gradually entering the arena. He bowed slightly to the three elders, but did not kneel as the others—Ling Quan, Gu Zhen, and the rest—had done. Instead, he straightened his posture, standing upright like a sharp, frost-kissed spear. The three elders, though less experienced than themselves, were not at all displeased. In the ancient clan, the ancient spirit held a strong reputation, and with his extraordinary prowess, it was entirely natural that he would not bow to them. They exchanged a glance, then with a graceful wave of his sleeve, the star disk—measuring a zhang in size—glided gently to rest before him, its points of glowing light seeping out softly. "Your turn, Ancient Spirit," they said. At the words, the ancient spirit nodded calmly, then, under the watchful eyes of all present, slowly extended his palm and gently touched it to the star disk. The ancient immortal's hand touched the star chart. At first, there was a moment of silence. Then, suddenly, the star chart trembled violently, and a brilliant radiance burst forth from within. One after another, stars emerged on the chart. "One, two, three... eight stars!!" As the eight stars appeared gradually on the chart, a wave of astonishment rippled through the crowd. Even several elders nodded in awe, clearly impressed by the results—this test had exceeded their expectations. "Eightth-rank bloodline cultivation level—no wonder he's one of the Four Grand Commanders." "Back then, when the lady was tested, she only achieved eight stars, didn't she? It seems the ancient immortal commander has now nearly matched her level." "But that was so long ago. Who could have predicted how far the lady's bloodline has advanced in recent times?" The ancient clan members on the plaza began to chat and whisper among themselves, their murmurs spreading swiftly throughout the gathering. "Indeed, he has achieved the power of an Eighth-Rank Bloodline!" Xun'er gazed at the figure on the field and softly exhaled. Xiao Yan's expression remained calm, yet his heart stirred with subtle excitement—compared to the ancient clan prodigies like Ling Quan and Lin Xiu, the reputation of the War General of the Roaring Warriors truly wasn't mere praise. The three elders on the field had been momentarily stunned by the eight stars, regaining their composure after a brief pause, their serious faces now softened with a gentle smile. "Ancient Beast, one of the Four Generals of the Black Yen Army, Eight-Star Battle Sovereign, Eighth-Rank Bloodline Power—awarded the Purple-Jade Clan Seal!" As the announcement fell, one elder's Purple-Jade Dragon pen burst forth with an intensely brilliant glow. A dense surge of energy gathered at the tip of the pen, and as he moved his arm, a profound symbol swiftly materialized upon the ancient beast's forehead. "Hmph!" "The so-called purple-gold clan seal in painting appears to consume an immense amount of qi. When the final stroke was completed, the elder's forehead was slightly damp with sweat, and he exhaled deeply, pausing his hand. Only then did the brilliant glow at the tip of the brush gradually fade. As the elder's hand withdrew, a vividly lifelike purple-gold clan seal emerged upon the ancient beast's forehead—significantly deeper and more profound than the one previously displayed by Gu Zhen. This seal was entirely earned by the ancient beast through its own strength, unlike Gu Zhen's, who had to be granted a special exception to achieve such a seal. At this, the three elders were all taken aback, their brows furrowing slightly as they asked, "What? Do I have the right to challenge anyone at will during my coming-of-age ceremony?" With a calm voice, the ancient spirit spoke, under the watchful eyes of all present. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's hands on the seat clenched tightly—what had been expected had finally arrived. Many in the audience exchanged glances, especially Lin Xiu and Lin Xiu, whose previously patronizing expressions swiftly shifted toward Xiao Yan, clearly anticipating this development. After a moment of hesitation, the three elders nodded in agreement, stating, "According to the rules, during your coming-of-age ceremony, you may challenge any member of our clan. However, if the person you wish to challenge is not from our clan, their consent is required before a match can take place." The ancient beast nodded slowly, then turned around. His hair, strikingly black and white, stood out prominently. Yet at that moment, his piercing, icy gaze locked onto the slender young figure standing at a distance, his voice calm and steady. "You should know I've come for you. If you wish to speak with ease among the ancient clan, then demonstrate your true strength. Otherwise, the eyes of others will always carry scorn and pity..." "Right now, I'm offering you the chance to challenge me. Whether or not you have the courage to do so is entirely up to you. But should you decline, I expect you to leave the Ancient Realm by today." Challenges are typically initiated by the lower-ranking members against the higher ones. Clearly, in the ancient beast's perception, the one who should have issued this challenge is not him—but rather Xiao Yan! With a sharp sound, as the ancient beast finished speaking, the entire audience's gaze instantly settled upon that slender figure, many of them expressing a mixture of patronizing amusement. "He's indeed the disciple from our clan who was overlooked, isn't he? It seems he's quite disliked. However, that ancient beast acts swiftly. I had originally intended to meet him first, to make him understand that the title of 'Dan Conclave Champion' is merely a game for youngsters—something worth little boasting about." From a lofty viewing platform, several figures lounged against the railing. Among them, a man with a medicinal gourd motif on his forehead gazed steadily at the distant slender figure and chuckled. "Don't worry, as long as he survives the ancient beast, you still have a chance—after all, how much real expertise do those external alchemists really possess..." Said a graceful woman beside, clad in revealing attire and with an exceptionally fiery figure. From the special pattern on her brow, it appeared she too belonged to the so-called medicinal clan. "In the special zone, Huo gazed at the figure not far ahead, and sighed softly. 'Moreover, it's an ancient beast who's stepped in—Seems as though Xiao Yan's chances have just dwindled.' The red-clad woman with a veil over her face also spoke gently. 'I wonder if he'll come back when he's stronger. At five-star Domain Sovereign level, he's indeed a rare talent in the Central Plains. But talents of that caliber are quite common within the Ancient Clan itself.' The man with a slightly raised expression nodded in agreement. 'I hope he manages to survive.' "The ancient beast fixed her gaze firmly on Xiao Yan, speaking softly, "As long as he says a single 'no,' this match may be set aside!" Xun'er's face grew cold. How could she not understand that if Xiao Yan truly declined the challenge, in this martial clan, he would immediately be scorned and avoided—considered the most shameful act in their eyes. "Madam, the matter concerning the ancient beast is entirely reasonable. All that matters is the will of the individuals involved," said the ancient mountain elder, whose hair was completely white, speaking calmly at that moment. Xun'er clutched her jade hands tightly, filled with regret. If only she had known that Xiao Yan would face so many difficulties upon arriving at the ancient clan, she would never have agreed to his request to come here!" Amid this strange atmosphere, the smile on Meng Tian's face slightly softened. He twirled his ring on his finger, slightly turned his head, and gazed at the young man standing behind him, silent and motionless. He could do little to help, and he also wanted to observe firsthand how this student—so repeatedly praised by Su Qian—would handle this precarious situation. "Xiao Yan, I've made my statement," said the ancient beast, his voice calm and unwavering, echoing clearly across the arena. "Today's matter cannot be passed on to anyone else. Either fight or retreat—give me your answer!" And now, Xiao Yan is capable of battle—he will not be humiliated! Even if his opponent is this ancient clan's supreme prodigy!