Chapter 2 This Gama Empire Doesn't Still Belong to the Yun Family.
"Boyuan, to be able to become the front gate guard of the family, it seems you've been cultivating very hard these past years." Zhang Yuan's face showed a warm and welcoming smile.
In the Dou Qi Continent, the strong are respected. The status and strength of a family mansion guard are not only not low, but because they represent the family's face and need to deal with certain special situations, they actually have to be elites.
Wutan City is at the bottom of the Gama Empire, but it is still a large city. As one of the major families in the city with a Great Dou Master in charge, the gatekeeper must at least have the cultivation of a late-stage Dou Zhe.
Xiao Boyuan is only in his twenties. If he has good merits and gets resources, he can expect to become a Dou Master, and with the right opportunity, he might even be able to look forward to becoming a Great Dou Master.
"This subordinate has never forgotten Young Master's teachings. Only by breaking through oneself can one avoid appearing mediocre." Xiao Boyuan straightened his chest, as if greatly encouraged.
He had been Zhang Yuan's personal bodyguard when he was young, until the latter surpassed him and went out to train, only then did he return to the family's guard sequence and take the initiative to ask for a gatekeeper position.
"Not bad, here you go!" Zhang Yuan casually tossed a porcelain bottle to Xiao Boyuan.
"Squads one and two, follow me in. Squad three, guard the Silver Horned Black Rhinoceros at the gate."
Leaving these words behind, Zhang Yuan strode into the Xiao residence.
The guards, recognizing his identity, naturally didn't stop him, but instead remained on high alert!
Only after Zhang Yuan and his group disappeared from sight did they ask Xiao Boyuan, "Brother Boyuan, what kind of pill did Young Master Zhang Yuan give you?"
"What Young Master Zhang Yuan gave you wouldn't be bad, even if it's just a Grade One Healing Blood Pill, it's still a great favor." Xiao Boyuan gave a light rebuke, but still opened the bottle and smelled it.
The next moment, his eyes widened, his heart filled with surprise: "It's actually a Grade Two Thunder Pattern Pill!"
In this Dou Qi Continent, pills are divided into nine grades, with Grade One mostly used for treating external injuries, Grade Two corresponding to Dou Zhe and Dou Shi, and only Grade Three considered true pills.
Slightly higher-grade pills are fourth-grade pills, such as the Qi Gathering Powder, which guarantees a 100% breakthrough for a ninth-stage Dou Qi cultivator, and the Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill, which allows a peak Dou Shi to break through to a Great Dou Shi.
Above these are Dou Ling Pills, Huangji Pills, Breaking Sect Pills, and so on.
The Thunder Pattern Pill is hailed as the strongest second-grade pill because it can increase a peak Dou Shi's breakthrough probability by 30%.
Because its effects aren't particularly good, its refining difficulty is extremely high, and its ingredients are unique and rare, few alchemists attempt to refine it, but its price is undeniably comparable to third-grade pills.
"This, this..."
If he weren't guarding the gate, Xiao Boyuan would have wanted to kowtow to the door several times.
This pill of Zhang Yuan's might change his entire life.
At this moment, a murmur of discussion arose on the street.
"That horse is so big, could it be a magical beast?"
"It's a Silver Horned Black Rhinoceros, a descendant of the second-tier magical beast Silver Horned Rhinoceros and the first-tier magical beast Black Cloud Horse, worth a fortune."
"Hiss, there are dozens of them here, who are these people?"
"You don't even know that? These are the Black Armor Guards, one of the Empire's ten major legions, the elite of the elite, always numbering only ten thousand, directly commanded by a Dou Wang from one of the three major fortresses in the southern border of the Empire, and they have made countless merits."
"Why would the Black Armor Guards come to the Xiao family in Wutan City?"
"You're really hard of hearing, the leader is called Zhang Yuan."
"Zhang Yuan? That name sounds familiar."
"One of the Xiao family's two prodigies, that twelve-year-old Dou Zhe's maternal relative!"
"It's him, I heard that Zhang Yuan died on the battlefield a long time ago?"
"Obviously, that's just a rumor. Not only did he not die, but he also became a Black Armor Guard, which requires at least a seven-star Dou Zhe to join."
"A sixteen-year-old seven-star Dou Zhe? Hiss~"
Hearing these people's comments, the Black Armor Guards responsible for guarding the horses and Xiao Boyuan, who was guarding the gate, both had a look of mockery in their eyes.
Seven-Star Dou Zhe?
They can't even compare to him, how could they possibly rival Zhang Yuan?
Meanwhile, inside the Xiao family's main hall, the Yunlan Sect members exchanged pleasantries with the Xiao family's higher-ups before revealing their purpose. It turned out that when the Xiao family was still a Dou Wang family in the capital, they had a close relationship with the Nalan family, another Dou Wang family, and had even arranged a childhood betrothal for Xiao Yan.
Now, Nalan Yanran, the woman from the Nalan family betrothed to Xiao Yan, had been accepted as a disciple by the Yunlan Sect's sect leader due to her talent, and had come to annul the engagement.
"Annul the engagement?"
Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan's father and the clan leader, clenched his fist, the jade cup in his hand shattering into dust.
The entire hall fell silent, their gazes towards Xiao Yan filled with sympathy, and resentment towards Nalan Yanran and the Yunlan Sect members.
"You annul the engagement is one thing, but to do it so publicly, making our entire clan's higher-ups and elite disciples witness it—isn't this a blatant humiliation and a direct insult?"
The three Xiao family elders beside Xiao Zhan also looked displeased.
Although there were some internal conflicts and competition among them, they were united in their dealings with outsiders.
"Is this the Nalan family's intention, or yours?" Xiao Zhan looked at Nalan Yanran.
The latter's heart skipped a beat, and she dared not look up, burying her head. The answer was obvious.
"Clan Chief Xiao, I know this request is somewhat unreasonable, but for the sake of our sect leader, please dissolve the engagement!" Elder Ge Ye of the Yunlan Sect, who had accompanied Nalan Yanran, spoke with a hint of sympathy.
In a world where strength reigns supreme, how could the Yunlan Sect leader's personal disciple be matched with a pheasant?
"Roar!"
Xiao Zhan did not speak, his fist clenched, a faint blue battle aura covering his body, and a phantom lion's head gradually took shape on his face.
Xiao family's top-level technique: Mid-level Xuan Rank, Raging Lion's Fury!
Ge Ye's expression changed slightly, and his body also gathered blue-purple battle aura, with eagle claw phantoms condensing on his hands, emanating a fine and sharp sword aura.
The Cloud Mist Sect's profound techniques, low-level Xuan rank, the Azure Wood Sword Technique!
The two Great Dou Masters faced off, and the powerful shockwaves made those in the hall with weaker strength turn pale, feeling as if a heavy stone was pressing on their chests.
"Clan Chief!"
Seeing Xiao Zhan's aura growing increasingly intense, the Xiao family's First Elder called out.
While the situation was infuriating, the Xiao family lacked the strength to confront the Yunlan Sect.
Xiao Zhan also knew he was not only Xiao Yan's father but also the clan chief.
Over the years, he had used his power to give Xiao Yan preferential treatment, and at this time, he couldn't neglect the family.
He withdrew his battle aura, appearing much older in an instant. No longer looking at Nalan Yanran, he said calmly, "Niece Nalan, what courage! Nalan Su truly raised a fine daughter!"
Nalan Yanran's delicate body trembled violently, for a moment feeling she had made a mistake.
But thinking of marrying a complete stranger, and her desire to control her own life, she felt she hadn't done anything wrong.
"Thank you for your understanding, Clan Chief Xiao."
Seeing Xiao Zhan's tacit agreement, Ge Ye smiled with satisfaction and said, "The Sect Master knew his request was somewhat impolite, so he instructed me to bring something as an apology to young friend Xiao Yan!"
With that, Ge Ye took out a greenish-blue ancient jade box from his storage ring.
As he opened the box, a unique fragrance quickly filled the hall, attracting the attention of many.
Inside the box was a pill, entirely emerald green and the size of a longan.
The Third Elder of the Xiao family's pupils contracted, exclaiming, "Qi Gathering Powder!"
In the Dou Qi Continent, to become a Dou Zhe, one must first condense a Dou Qi vortex within their body. This is the first step in distinguishing between mortals and ordinary people, blocking half the world's population.
While a ninth-level Dou Qi can condense a Dou Qi vortex, there is a failure rate. Failure will reduce one to the eighth level. If one lacks talent or foundation, or is unlucky, they may fail even after ten or more attempts, not only missing the best time for cultivation but also remaining in this state for life.
The Qi Gathering Powder, however, allows a ninth-level Dou Qi to condense a Dou Qi vortex with 100% success. Truly powerful clans and sects prepare this item for their elite disciples.
With the Xiao family's resources, they could naturally afford it, but compared to the number of disciples, especially elites, within the clan, the difference was vast.
The three elders of the Xiao family were very tempted by the pill, thinking of their direct descendants, but the annulment of the engagement was a wound for Xiao Yan. They couldn't help him, but they wouldn't rub salt into the wound.
No one spoke, but Xiao Zhan's expression grew increasingly ashen.
Xiao Yan, who had been suppressing his anger in the corner, finally stood up, about to explode.
Just then, a thunderous roar suddenly rang out from the doorway.
A purple light flashed, and a figure appeared in the center of the hall.
Apart from Xiao Zhan, Ge Ye, and Xun'er, no one could clearly see the newcomer's movements.
"In this Dou Qi Continent, which family or sect that values propriety doesn't first offer courtesy before resorting to force?"
"Your Yunlan Sect is quite powerful, forcing my Xiao family to annul the engagement first, then offering so-called compensation. What's the difference between this and giving away a beggar?"
"The Yunlan Sect, what great prestige!"
"If you didn't know better, you'd think the Jia Ma Empire was now under the Yun family's control!"
The suddenly appearing person spoke slowly, his voice booming like thunder in everyone's ears.
Everyone from the Xiao family wore a somber expression, realizing the newcomer was right.
Ge Ye's smile froze, the accusation thrown his way too far.
His expression shifted slightly as he said, "Who are you? I'm discussing matters with the Xiao family patriarch; do you have the right to interrupt?"
Xiao Zhan looked at the newcomer, his hands trembling, his tiger-like eyes slightly moist, and said, "Yuan'er, you, you're back!"
"Uncle, long time no see. You look a bit weathered," Zhang Yuan smiled slightly at Xiao Zhan, cupping his fists in greeting.
At this moment, everyone present recognized Zhang Yuan.
"Cousin!" Xiao Yan's face lit up with surprise, forgetting even his anger.
Xun'er, who had been lost in her own world, had somehow raised her head, a smile playing on her lips, her eyes filled with joy.
The young members of the Xiao family were even more excited.
"It's Cousin Zhang Yuan!"
"Cousin Zhang Yuan is back!"
"What Yunlan Sect Master's disciple? In Cousin Zhang Yuan's eyes, they're nothing but chickens and dogs."
"Cousin Zhang Yuan's talent is a rare find in the entire Jia Ma Empire."
"Cousin Zhang Yuan has become even more handsome. I wonder how he's been these past years."
"I wonder what level of Dou Zhe Cousin Zhang Yuan is now, and whether he has broken through to Dou Shi."
The young people were overjoyed, like enthusiastic fans seeing their idol in person.
At this moment, Nalan Yanran, after carefully examining Zhang Yuan, also exclaimed with surprise, "Brother Zhang!"
Ge Ye: ?
Xiao Zhan and the others: ?
Zhang Yuan: "."
(End of Chapter)