The crowd at the plaza dispersed like a flowing stream, and soon a group of figures dressed in the medicinal clan's robes began to walk in slowly. Their eyes, occasionally strange and laced with disdain, continually swept over Master Yao. Leading the group was an elder whose face carried a somewhat gloomy expression, with thin lips sharp as a blade—this very elder was none other than Yao Wangui, the clan's chief judge who had once held a deep grudge against Master Yao and whom Xiao Yan had first encountered outside the Spirit of the Beast's Realm. "Yao Chen? Hmph. Isn't he just some useless member expelled from our clan?" "A frail old man, yet he refuses to stay quiet—instead, he comes here to humiliate himself." "Indeed, yes. Hah, Elder, what could you possibly have to say to someone of such humble standing?" The figures surrounding Yao Wangui immediately understood, upon hearing his earlier remark, that he held little regard for Xiao Yan and Xiao Li. As a result, the waves of flattery and eager praise began to rise continuously. In the Yao clan, Yao Wangui held an exceptionally high status—securing his approval meant a significant rise in one's standing within the clan. Thus, it was no surprise that a steady stream of such admirers always gathered around him. Yao Wangui himself thoroughly enjoyed this unique sensation of being the center of attention. Consequently, wherever he went within the clan, he was invariably accompanied by a large group of sycophantic followers. Though these followers often didn't even recognize those who offered criticism, they were adept at reading his expressions—whenever Yao Wangui's demeanor turned displeased, they promptly fell silent. After all, within the Yao clan, was there truly anyone daring enough to treat them poorly? When these individuals were merciless toward Xiao Yan and the others, their gaze grew increasingly sharp and critical, as though merely by doing so they could win the recognition of Yao Wan Gui. On the plaza, those who were not of the Yao clan quietly shook their heads. The ancient races, long closed off and indifferent to everything in Zhongzhou, had indeed come from Zhongzhou themselves, and thus were well aware of Yao Chen's reputation and current status—now a towering figure in Zhongzhou. The Tianfu Alliance, a powerful coalition that had even forced the formidable Hundi Palace to relinquish its dominant position, was now the undisputed hegemon of Zhongzhou. Though the Yao clan was strong, many who knew the situation understood that even within the Yao clan, few dared to look down upon the Tianfu Alliance. And no one could forget that, despite his advanced age, Yao Chen's greatest achievement was not his past accomplishments nor the current prominence of the Tianfu Alliance—but rather, his disciples. That disciple had long ago claimed the championship of the Dan-ta Dan Assembly, making his mark across the Central Plains. He then single-handedly orchestrated a coalition, uniting the Dan-ta, the Huā Zōng, and the Fén Yán Gǔ, forming the magnificent Tian-Fu Alliance—its stature rivaling that of the dominant powerhouse, the Hún Pavilion. Over the ensuing years, the Alliance grew strong, emerging as a major force in the Central Plains. In the pivotal "Peak of Collapse" battle six months prior, he faced off directly against the Master of the Hún Pavilion and decisively defeated him—thereby shifting the balance of power in the Central Plains. Such achievements are nothing short of electrifying; a man of such stature and accomplishments is truly a true champion among champions. This disciple’s name is Xiao Yan. "Master Yao, this really seems like self-inflicted suffering..." Some of the onlookers, gazing at the steadily growing coldness in Xiao Yan's smile due to these sharp, mocking remarks, couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and envy. "Is it really you, the one cast aside, who's qualified to have your name inscribed on the clan's memorial stone?" "Hmph. Elder Yao, if you don't mind, why don't you simply go straight to the Elder's Court and have them expel these two—so as not to tarnish your own vision." As soon as they saw Yao Wan Gui showing signs of anger, the group standing beside him erupted into even greater enthusiasm, once again chattering with venomous remarks. "Is that all?" Xiao Yan smiled calmly at the members of the Yao clan, who were now spewing out sharp criticisms, and spoke softly. "You still have the sense to—" A lean man standing close to Yao Wan Gui glanced at Xiao Yan with a sideways expression, but before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly felt a tremendous force pressing down upon his head. His body collapsed instantly, and his head struck the floor with great force, causing the floor to crack and splatter with blood. The sudden turn of events sent everyone gasping. Only when they refocused did they notice a foot lightly resting on the young man's head, and as their gaze rose, a youthful face, smiling faintly, came into view. "Such speed..." Many on the plaza felt a subtle shock. They hadn't even seen how Xiao Yan had moved—by the time they'd finished hearing his voice, his head was already buried in the floor. "Xiao Yan! You're bold indeed! This is my family's territory!" Yao Wangui was equally startled by this scene, his expression quickly darkening as he shouted sharply. "Crack!" Before his voice had fully settled, another man who had previously spoken harshly launched himself into the air, rolling mid-flight, and then expelled a spray of blood mixed with all his teeth. Only upon landing did the crowd see a bloodied palm print on his face—so vivid and chilling it seemed to sear the eyes. Witnessing these two dramatic fates, the crowd around Yao Wan Gui was finally struck with awe, rushing toward him in haste. Yet before they could take a single step, a series of fleeting silhouettes suddenly materialized before them, and in unison, a cascade of crisp palm strikes rang out—so sharp and simultaneous that everyone except Yao Wan Gui was sent flying backward, landing in a trail of blood and scattered teeth, leaving the onlookers gasping in wonder. Almost in the span of a single blink, blood spilled across the ground, and those who had previously shouted insults with unrestrained fury now lay motionless, writhing like dead dogs, clutching their faces and rolling wildly about, emitting sharp, mournful cries. "Xiao Yan!" Watching this scene, Yao Wangui's face darkened, and his eyes burned with intensity. Xiao Yan wasn't merely settling accounts with these young upstarts—he was publicly shaming him, delivering a blow to his dignity right before countless witnesses. Such an offense, Yao Wangui had never encountered before in all these years. "Excellent! Outstanding! Truly a brazen little scoundrel! Don't think that because you have the so-called Heavenly Realm Alliance behind you, you're qualified to challenge our Yao clan! When I ruled across the continent, you were still just a name in some distant corner!" Yao Wangui's furious roar echoed throughout the square. "Yao Clan Iron Guard—seize this brazen one and bring him to me!" Yao Wangui sharply pointed at Xiao Yan and commanded. "Yes!" "As soon as Yao Wan Gui roared, figures on the square surged forth. Dozens of figures clad in black iron armor immediately raised long spears, encircling Xiao Yan. With a single low command, they launched simultaneously, their powerful ki waves striking at his vital points. 'Boom!' The spears flashed, yet before they reached Xiao Yan's body, an overwhelmingly terrifying wave of flame surged forth from within him. The wave swept through, shattering the long spears that had been reinforced by solid ki. The dozen figures were thrown back as if struck by a powerful blow, their black armor instantly reduced to ash, revealing their stunned faces. How strong is this aura! Does he truly rely solely on his own strength to defeat Hun Mie Sheng?" Feeling the terrifying surge of fiery waves, Yao Wangui's eyes narrowed suddenly, then grew increasingly incredulous. When he first saw Xiao Yan, the latter had only reached the level of Two-Star Domain Saint—how could he have advanced so swiftly in just a few years?! "Today, I shall see just what it takes for you to assert yourself within my Yao clan!" "Though his heart was stirred, Yuan Wan Gui, one of the top-tier practitioners within the Yao Clan, was also deeply incensed by Xiao Yan's relentless actions. With a sudden surge of rage, he stepped forward, fully unleashing the formidable aura of a mid-stage Four-Star Battle Saint, which instantly propelled the crowd back several dozen meters. Even the chieftains or Supreme Elders from other sects showed signs of serious concern—though Yuan Wan Gui may not possess the most refined demeanor, his strength was unquestionable.