146: Demonstrate martial arts and show off your power, and the Emperor Yan will summon you

The atmosphere in the Yan Emperor City's training grounds instantly solidified. All eyes focused on Xiao Chen, who was slowly walking towards the arena. Yan Xiao's sudden challenge carried a clear provocative meaning, and the mysterious young man from the Pill Tower responded so calmly, which made people even more curious and expectant.

"Brother Xiao, be careful. This Yan Xiao is the grandson of the First Elder, Great Elder of the Yan Clan. His strength is considerable, and his methods are ruthless," Yan Lie whispered from the side, a look of worry in his eyes.

Xiao Chen nodded slightly, his steps steady as he ascended the arena. Dressed in a green robe, his aura was restrained, a stark contrast to Yan Xiao, who was in a crimson battle suit and exuded an arrogant demeanor.

"Pill Tower's Xiao Chen? Hmph, an unknown nobody dares to act wildly in my Yan Clan?" Yan Xiao's chin was slightly raised, his gaze contemptuous. "Today, I'll let you witness what true flame power is!"

Before his voice faded, a crimson Dou Qi erupted from Yan Xiao's body like a volcanic eruption! The pressure of a One-Star Dou Zun in the middle stage was released without reservation, and a scorching heatwave swept across the entire venue! He formed hand seals, and a lifelike phantom of a giant flame lion condensed behind him, letting out a deafening roar!

"Flame Lion Burning Heaven Palm!"

Yan Xiao roared and struck out with a palm! The giant flame lion pounced forward, baring its fangs and claws, carrying a terrifying high temperature that could incinerate everything, instantly enveloping Xiao Chen! Where the palm wind passed, deep ravines were melted into the arena's ground!

This palm strike's power was already close to a Two-star Dou Zun! Yan Xiao clearly intended to establish his authority with a single move and thoroughly humiliate Xiao Chen!

A chorus of exclamations rose from below the stage, and many young Yan Clan disciples showed excitement, as if they had already seen Xiao Chen's miserable state of being sent flying by a single palm. Even the several Yan Clan Elders on the viewing platform nodded slightly, acknowledging Yan Xiao's performance.

However, facing this violent attack, Xiao Chen's expression remained calm. He didn't even use a weapon, merely slowly raised his right hand, his five fingers slightly clenched.

"Om—"

An invisible domain silently spread out with Xiao Chen as its center! Within the domain, the violent flame energy seemed to encounter a king, instantly becoming docile! The pouncing giant flame lion's speed drastically decreased, and its size began to distort and shrink!

"What?!" Yan Xiao's face changed. He felt as if his Dou Qi had fallen into a quagmire, its circulation sluggish!

"Flames are not used like this," Xiao Chen said indifferently, gently pressing his right hand forward.

There was no earth-shattering explosion, no dazzling energy brilliance. The ferocious giant flame lion, upon contact with Xiao Chen's palm, silently dissipated and annihilated like ice and snow meeting the sun! Even the scorching palm wind turned into nothingness along with it!

The entire venue was silent! Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief! Yan Xiao's full-power attack was actually resolved so effortlessly?! How was this possible?!

"You... what kind of sorcery did you use?!" Yan Xiao was both shocked and enraged, feeling immense humiliation!

"Sorcery?" Xiao Chen shook his head slightly. "It's just a deeper understanding of power than yours, that's all."

He took a step, his figure appearing before Yan Xiao like a ghost, and still, he threw out a simple, straightforward punch! This punch, without fancy effects, contained the heaviness of stars, the dominance of a furnace, and the sharpness of creation! Where the punch wind passed, space slightly warped, as if it could suppress all illusions!

"Flame Dragon Body Protection!" Yan Xiao's face paled in horror, frantically channeling his Dou Qi, and a giant flame dragon coiled around his body, forming his strongest defense!

"Crack!"

The punch landed, the dragon shattered! Yan Xiao's protective flame dragon was shattered by a single punch as if it were made of paper! The terrifying punch force penetrated his body, and Yan Xiao was hit hard, spitting out blood as his body flew backward like a broken sack, crashing heavily against the protective barrier at the edge of the arena, and falling unconscious!

One punch! Instant defeat!

The entire training ground was dead silent! You could hear a pin drop! Everyone seemed to be frozen, staring blankly at the figure in the green robe on the arena.

Yan Xiao, a top talent among the younger generation of the Yan Clan, a genius at the mid-stage of One-Star Dou Zun, actually... couldn't even take one punch from his opponent?! What kind of monster was this Xiao Chen from the Pill Tower?!

Yan Lie's mouth hung open, unable to close for a long time. Commander Yan Shan's pupils constricted, and his gaze towards Xiao Chen was filled with shock and solemnity. The several Elders on the viewing platform even stood up abruptly, their faces filled with disbelief!

"Four-Star Dou Zun... and definitely not an ordinary Four-Star Dou Zun!" A white-haired Elder said in a dry voice. He was a late-stage Five-Star Dou Zun powerhouse with keen eyesight. "This child's control over power has reached a profound level! What's even more terrifying is that he seems to... be able to suppress our clan's flame power?!"

At these words, the Elders' expressions changed again! Suppressing the Yan Clan's flames? This was simply unheard of!

Xiao Chen slowly retracted his fist, his gaze calmly sweeping across the entire venue, finally landing on the viewing platform. He cupped his hands and said, "Junior accidentally overstepped; please forgive me, seniors."

His tone was humble, but that composure and power were deeply etched in everyone's hearts.

After a brief silence, the training ground erupted in a thunderous clamor! All the Yan Clan disciples looked at Xiao Chen with awe, curiosity, and even a hint of fanaticism! The strong are respected everywhere!

"Hahaha! Good! What a Xiao Chen of the Pill Tower!" Commander Yan Shan was the first to react, laughing loudly, breaking the awkward atmosphere. "Indeed, heroes emerge from the young! Xiao'er's skills were inferior; his defeat is not unjust! Someone, take Xiao'er down and treat him well!"

Immediately, guards came forward to carry away the unconscious Yan Xiao. The Elders also slowly sat down, exchanging glances, their eyes filled with complex meanings.

Xiao Chen's punch not only defeated Yan Xiao but also struck a heavy warning bell in the hearts of all Yan Clan members! The strength of the Pill Tower and the potential of this young representative far exceeded their imagination!

"Young Brother Xiao, please follow me." Commander Yan Shan personally walked down from the viewing platform and approached Xiao Chen, his attitude even more enthusiastic than before, even carrying a hint of solemnity. "His Majesty Emperor Yan wants to see you."

"His Majesty Emperor Yan?" Xiao Chen's heart stirred. The Flame Emperor, the supreme ruler of the Yan Clan, whose strength was unfathomable, was a key figure in determining the Yan Clan's direction! Being able to meet him so soon was undoubtedly a good thing!

"Thank you for leading the way, Commander," Xiao Chen nodded.

Under the gaze of countless reverent eyes, Xiao Chen followed Yan Shan, leaving the training ground and heading towards the majestic Emperor Yan Hall deep within Yan Emperor City.

The Emperor Yan Hall was located atop a massive active volcano. The entire hall was cast from crimson divine gold, exuding an ancient, primordial aura. Outside the hall, nine dragon-coiled fire pillars soared into the sky, condensing vast flame laws. Guarding the hall's entrance were eight red-armored attendants whose auras were as profound as an abyss, their strength having all reached the Five-Star Dou Zun level!

Feeling those eight substantial gazes sweep over him, Xiao Chen's heart was solemn. The Yan Clan's foundation was indeed unfathomable!

Stepping into the grand hall, the interior space was extremely vast, as if it were a world unto itself. In the center of the hall, there was a crimson-gold throne burning with eternal fire. Upon the throne sat a magnificent figure, clad in a nine-fire dragon robe, wearing the Flame Emperor's crown, his face obscured by a fiery halo!

Just being looked at by that gaze, Xiao Chen felt his soul tremble, as if he were facing a burning universe! His aura was so vast, far surpassing any powerhouse he had ever seen, including the Dragon Emperor of Ancient Dragon Island! He was probably... at the Peak Nine-Star Dou Zun level, or even semi-Emperor tier!

This was the current Flame Emperor—the Flame Emperor!

"Junior Xiao Chen, greets His Majesty Emperor Yan!" Xiao Chen suppressed the shock in his heart, bowed respectfully, neither servile nor overbearing.

"A disciple of Xuan Kongzi of the Pill Tower... a descendant of the Xiao Clan..." The Flame Emperor's voice resonated in the hall like a grand bell, carrying an all-knowing majesty. "You are very good. So young, yet with such cultivation and state of mind. No wonder that old fellow Xuan Kongzi sent you."

Xiao Chen was slightly startled. The Flame Emperor had seen through his background at a glance!

"Your Majesty overpraises me," Xiao Chen said in a deep voice.

"Tell me, what is your purpose in coming to my Yan Realm this time?" The Flame Emperor asked directly, his gaze like torches, as if he could see through people's hearts.

Xiao Chen knew that any concealment was futile before such an existence. He took a deep breath and honestly recounted the Soul Hall's "Emperor Hunting Plan," the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's covert schemes, the Pill Tower's intention to form a "Anti-Alliance," and the crisis facing the continent, from beginning to end.

The hall was silent, with only the crackling sound of the eternal fire. Commander Yan Shan stood respectfully to the side, holding his breath.

After a long while, the Flame Emperor slowly spoke, his voice betraying no emotion: "The Soul Hall... the Heavenly Secret Pavilion... ancient grievances, are they finally to continue to this day?"

His gaze was profound, as if it pierced through endless time and space: "My Yan Clan has lived in seclusion for many years, not out of cowardice, but because we do not wish to be drawn into meaningless disputes again. But if, as you say, the Soul Hall colludes with the Outer Realm Heavenly Demons and intends to subvert the continent, then my Yan Clan... cannot remain aloof."

Xiao Chen's heart stirred, sensing a softening in the Flame Emperor's tone.

"However," the Flame Emperor's tone shifted, "the matter of an alliance concerns the fate of the entire clan; it cannot be decided by this Emperor alone. The Elder Council must be convened for a joint discussion. In the meantime, you shall remain in Yan Emperor City. This Emperor is very interested in you, and perhaps... you can participate in the Yan Ancestor Ceremony three days from now."

"Yan Ancestor Ceremony?" Xiao Chen asked, puzzled.

"It is a grand ceremony where our Yan Clan worships the ancient Yan Ancestor," Yan Shan explained from the side. "During the ceremony, there is a segment called 'Challenging the Yan God Tower,' which is a grand event to test the strength and potential of the clan's disciples. His Majesty inviting you to participate is a great recognition of you!"

Xiao Chen understood. This was an opportunity the Flame Emperor was giving him, a chance to display his strength and gain the Yan Clan's approval! If he could perform outstandingly in this ceremony, it might influence the Elder Council's decision!

"Junior will do his best!" Xiao Chen responded solemnly.

"Very good." The Flame Emperor nodded slightly, and with a flick of his sleeve, a crimson-gold token flew before Xiao Chen. "This is a 'yan guest token.' With this token, you can freely enter most areas of Yan Emperor City, including the top floor of the Yan Clan's library. There, you might find some... ancient secrets you wish to know."

Xiao Chen took the token, his heart filled with joy! The top floor of the Yan Clan's library must contain core secrets about the Eight Ancient Clans, Origin Qi, and even the Outer Realm Heavenly Demons! This was crucial for him to understand the truth and improve his strength!

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xiao Chen bowed and thanked him.

"Go now. Three days later, at the Yan Ancestor Ceremony, this Emperor awaits your performance." The Flame Emperor's voice gradually became ethereal, and his figure slowly merged into the flames of the throne.

Xiao Chen and Yan Shan withdrew from the Emperor Yan Hall.

"Young Brother Xiao, His Majesty clearly favors you greatly!" Yan Shan said with a smile. "This yan guest token is very rarely bestowed upon outsiders!"

Xiao Chen caressed the warm token, his eyes firm. He knew that the Flame Emperor's summons was just the beginning. The real test lay in the Yan Ancestor Ceremony three days later, and the unfathomable Yan God Tower!

And in the shadows, the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's conspiracy would certainly not stop. He had to use these three days to quickly improve his strength and investigate the distribution of power within the Yan Clan, making full preparations to persuade them to join the Anti-Alliance!

A new storm was about to unfold in Yan Emperor City! And Xiao Chen was already at the center of it!