145: In Yandi City, undercurrents surge

Yan Emperor City stood majestically, built entirely of fiery divine crystals, exuding a hot and majestic aura under the illumination of nine fiery great suns.

The city walls were a thousand zhang high, inscribed with countless profound flame runes that subtly formed a massive array enveloping the entire city.

At the city gates, Yan Clan guards, clad in crimson armor and possessing formidable auras, stood watch; their lowest cultivation was at the Dou Huang level, and the leading Commander had even reached the Peak Dou Zong.

"Young Master Yan Lie!" The city gate Commander, seeing Yan Lie, quickly bowed in salute, but his gaze curiously swept over Xiao Chen, carrying a hint of scrutiny.

Clearly, an outsider with a restrained yet unfathomable aura was not common in Yan Emperor City.

"Commander Yan, this is Brother Xiao Chen, my savior, and also an esteemed guest of the Pill Tower," Yan Lie introduced, his tone filled with pride.

"An esteemed guest of the Pill Tower?" A flicker of surprise crossed Commander Yan's eyes, and his attitude immediately became much more respectful.

"So it is Mr. Xiao, my apologies! Please follow me, I will immediately inform the City Lord's Mansion."

Led by Yan Lie, Xiao Chen smoothly entered Yan Emperor City.

The scene inside the city was completely different from the fiery wasteland outside; the streets were wide and clean, and the buildings on both sides had a rough and grand style, mostly constructed from crimson crystals and metal.

The air was filled with dense fire-attribute energy, yet it was not violent; instead, it carried a gentle vitality, clearly having been refined by the city's array formations.

Pedestrians thronged the streets, most wearing crimson clothing, their auras powerful, with the power of flames subtly flowing within their bloodlines.

The entire city was full of vitality and order.

"Brother Xiao, what do you think of my Yan Emperor City?" Yan Lie asked with a smile, his words full of pride.

"A magnificent sight, truly worthy of being the capital of the ancient Yan Clan," Xiao Chen praised sincerely.

He could feel that deep within the city, several vast auras, like volcanoes, lay dormant; one of them even made his heart tremble slightly, likely a Seven-Star Dou Zun or higher existence!

"I'll take you to see my father first, Yan Shan, the Grand Commander of the Yan City Guard," Yan Lie said.

"Father is straightforward and values kindness above all else; knowing you saved us, he will surely treat you well."

Xiao Chen nodded, but his mind was quickly calculating.

Meeting the high-ranking members of the Yan Clan directly was good, but rashly proposing an alliance might arouse suspicion.

He needed to first understand the internal situation of the Yan Clan and proceed slowly.

After passing through several bustling streets, the group arrived in front of a heavily guarded mansion in the west of the city.

The mansion entrance was strictly guarded, and the plaque above it bore the three characters "Yan Shan Mansion" written in a vigorous, flowing script.

"Lie'er! You're back!" As soon as they entered the mansion gate, a voice as clear as a bell rang out.

A burly, iron-tower-like middle-aged man with a rugged face, clad in crimson general's armor, strode out, his aura having clearly reached the early Five-Star Dou Zun!

It was none other than Yan Lie's father, Yan Shan, the Grand Commander of the Yan City Guard!

"Father!" Yan Lie quickly stepped forward and briefly explained his encounter with the Lava Earth Core Lizard and how Xiao Chen had saved him.

Yan Shan's gaze, like lightning, swept towards Xiao Chen, a glint flashing in his eyes: "To contend with a Lava Earth Core Lizard with one hand? And kill it with one punch? Young brother, what skill!

I, Yan Shan, thank you on behalf of my son for saving his life!" His voice was bold and unrestrained as he cupped his fist in salute, without much formality.

"Commander Yan is too polite, I merely acted when I saw injustice," Xiao Chen returned the salute, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Haha, good! Not arrogant or impetuous, you are a true character!" Yan Shan laughed heartily, patting Xiao Chen's shoulder.

"Since you've come to Yan Emperor City, you are my, Yan Shan's, guest! Come, a banquet has been prepared in the mansion to welcome you!"

During the banquet, Yan Shan was very hospitable, constantly urging Xiao Chen to drink.

The Yan Clan's specialty, Fiery Flame Wine, was scorching upon entry, with a powerful aftereffect, containing pure fire energy that was highly beneficial for cultivation.

During the feast, Yan Shan, though seemingly boorish, was actually meticulous, subtly inquiring about Xiao Chen's origins and purpose.

Xiao Chen was well-prepared, only saying that he was a disciple of the Pill Tower, traveling the continent, and had accidentally entered the Yan Realm, curious about the Yan Clan's customs, without directly mentioning the Anti-Alliance.

His conversation was extraordinary, his insights into the path of cultivation unique, and coupled with his formidable strength, he quickly won Yan Shan's favor.

"Young Brother Xiao, at such a young age, to possess such cultivation and insight, your future is limitless!" Yan Shan exclaimed.

"I wonder what young brother thinks of my Yan Clan?"

Xiao Chen pondered for a moment, then said: "The Yan Clan has profound foundations, its people are brave and bold, and their cultivation techniques are incomparably tyrannical, which is admirable.

However... the continent is now undergoing drastic changes, and the Soul Hall is powerful.

I wonder what the Yan Clan intends to do about this?"

At the mention of the Soul Hall, the smile on Yan Shan's face faded slightly, and he snorted coldly: "Soul Hall? A bunch of cowardly rats who hide their heads and tails!

They stir up trouble in the Central Region with some bizarre methods! My Yan Clan has been secluded for a long time and does not wish to meddle in external disputes.

As long as they don't provoke me, let them cause all the trouble they want!"

Xiao Chen's heart sank slightly; Yan Shan's attitude clearly represented the mainstream thinking of the conservative faction within the Yan Clan.

To live in seclusion and protect themselves, unwilling to get involved in disputes.

"Father, the Soul Hall has wolfish ambitions; they have already moved against the Flower Sect, and the next targets will probably be the Pill Tower and Starfall Pavilion!

If they gain power, the continent will surely be plunged into misery, how can my Yan Clan remain uninvolved?" Yan Lie couldn't help but interject; he clearly leaned towards the radical faction.

"Shut up! What do you know!" Yan Shan glared at his son.

"Major clan matters are to be decided by the Clan Head and the Elder Council; it's not your place to speak!"

Yan Lie sullenly shut his mouth, but his eyes were full of defiance.

Xiao Chen observed all of this, understanding clearly.

There was indeed a divergence of opinion within the Yan Clan.

To persuade them to emerge from seclusion, he had to find a breakthrough point.

After the banquet, Yan Shan arranged for Xiao Chen to stay in a quiet courtyard.

That night, Xiao Chen was meditating in his room, consolidating his Four-Star Dou Zun realm and attempting to refine the Earth Core Fire Lotus.

Suddenly, his brow twitched slightly, and his Heavenly Realm Soul Power captured an extremely subtle spatial fluctuation!

"Someone is spying!" Xiao Chen's eyes narrowed, and his soul power silently spread out, covering the entire courtyard like a spider web.

He saw a faint, almost invisible phantom, clinging to the shadows of the courtyard wall like a gecko, a pair of cold eyes peering through the window crack, staring intently at him!

"A spy from the Soul Hall? Or... someone from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion?" Xiao Chen sneered inwardly, remaining calm, continuing to pretend to cultivate, but secretly he had already locked onto the opponent's aura.

The phantom spied for a moment, seemingly discovering no abnormalities, then its figure flickered, intending to merge into the shadows and escape.

"Since you've come, why be in such a hurry to leave?" Xiao Chen's cold voice suddenly rang in the phantom's ear!

At the same time, an invisible force of soul confinement instantly descended, firmly fixing the phantom in place!

The phantom was greatly alarmed, struggling desperately, but it was like an insect trapped in amber, unable to move!

Xiao Chen's figure flashed, and he appeared in the courtyard, his gaze coldly fixed on the confined phantom.

This was a small, thin man with an ordinary face and an extremely well-hidden aura, whose strength was around the early Two-star Dou Zun.

"Speak, who sent you?" Xiao Chen's soul transmission carried an undeniable authority.

A flicker of panic crossed the man's eyes, but he clenched his jaw, not uttering a word.

"Hmph! Soul Search!" Xiao Chen didn't bother with more words; his Heavenly Realm Soul Power directly invaded the opponent's sea of consciousness!

"Ah—!" The man let out a blood-curdling scream, his soul memories forcibly flipped through by Xiao Chen like pages in a book!

A moment later, Xiao Chen's face darkened as he withdrew his soul power.

The man's soul was shattered, his aura annihilated.

"It's indeed a hidden agent of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion!" From the opponent's memory, Xiao Chen learned that this person was a low-ranking deacon of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, planted in Yan Emperor City, ordered to monitor all powerful outsiders, especially those connected to the Pill Tower.

And the one who instructed him to spy on Xiao Chen was none other than Mysterious Mechanism, with whom he had exchanged blows in the Buried God Abyss!

"Xuan Jizi... your reach is truly long!" A cold light flickered in Xiao Chen's eyes.

The Heavenly Secret Pavilion had indeed set its sights on the Yan Realm, and their actions were so swift!

This Xuan Jizi had probably infiltrated Yan Emperor City or was secretly orchestrating things somewhere outside the city.

He disposed of the body and erased all traces, his vigilance heightened.

The Heavenly Secret Pavilion's schemes were hard to guard against.

He had to contact the high-ranking members of the Yan Clan as soon as possible, otherwise, delays would lead to complications.

The next day, Xiao Chen proposed to Yan Shan that he wished to visit the Yan Clan's library to learn about their history and culture.

Yan Shan readily agreed, personally taking him to the library affiliated with the Emperor Yan Hall in the city center.

The Emperor Yan Hall was where the Yan Clan's royal family and core elders held discussions, and it was extremely heavily guarded.

Passing by a magnificent training ground, bursts of cheers and the roar of clashing energies emanated from within.

"Today is the quarterly grand competition for the younger generation of the clan, it's quite lively," Yan Shan said with a smile.

"If young Brother Xiao is interested, you can go and watch.

Our Yan Clan's youths are all excellent!"

Xiao Chen's heart stirred, and he nodded, saying: "I'd like to witness the prowess of the Yan Clan's heroes."

Inside the training ground, the crowd was bustling.

On the huge arena, two young Yan Clan geniuses were fiercely clashing!

One wielded a fiery great axe, his attacks ferocious; the other moved agilely, his fiery palm techniques exquisite.

Both were at the Peak Nine-Star Dou Zong cultivation, with rich combat experience, drawing cheers from the audience below.

Xiao Chen and Yan Shan sat in the front row of the viewing platform, watching silently.

Yan Shan occasionally commented, his tone filled with expectations for the younger generation.

Soon, a match ended, and the victor was full of high spirits.

At this moment, a young man in a luxurious crimson robe with an arrogant expression leaped onto the arena, his gaze sweeping across the entire venue, finally landing on Xiao Chen on the viewing platform.

"I heard that an esteemed guest from the Pill Tower is present today.

I, Yan Xiao of the Yan Clan, would like to request a few pointers from the esteemed guest.

Would you do me the honor?" The young man's voice was loud, carrying an undisguised hint of provocation.

All eyes instantly focused on Xiao Chen!

Yan Xiao was the grandson of the Yan Clan's Great Elder Great Elder of the Yan Clan, exceptionally talented, already at the mid One-Star Dou Zun at only thirty years old, a prominent figure among the younger generation of the clan, known for his arrogant and overbearing personality.

His action was clearly intended to give Xiao Chen a warning, or rather, he was instigated by someone to test Xiao Chen's true strength!

Yan Shan frowned slightly, about to speak to smooth things over.

However, Xiao Chen slowly stood up, looking calmly at Yan Xiao on the arena, and said indifferently: "Since Brother Yan has such an elegant interest, I, Xiao, shall accompany you."

He knew that this battle was inevitable.

It was a good opportunity to display his strength, deter minor troublemakers, and increase his bargaining chips for subsequent contact with the higher-ups!

A contest secretly orchestrated by the Heavenly Secret Pavilion was about to unfold in this Yan Emperor City training ground!

And Xiao Chen would use his fists to tell everyone why he was qualified to represent the Pill Tower and engage in dialogue with the ancient Yan Clan!