A tense silence shattered above the Falling Star Pavilion. Just as the armies of the Nether River Alliance prepared to deliver a final blow, a formidable energy erupted from the mountain pass. The air itself seemed to solidify under an overwhelming pressure. Xiao Yan (萧炎) had emerged, and his aura announced a monumental shift. He was no longer a mere Dou Zun (斗尊). He had transcended into the realm of the Dou Sheng (斗圣), a Dou Saint.
His arrival was a thunderclap. With terrifying efficiency, he eliminated two Half-Saint experts, Tianming Laoyao and the Third Heavenly Respect, as if they were mere practice dummies. His focus then shifted to the skeletal Gu You Saint. Victory seemed absolute. But then, space tore open. A distant, shadowy figure intervened, its power snatching Gu You from the jaws of certain death.
This was the Grand Elder of the Soul Palace (魂殿), a seasoned expert at the peak of the One Star Dou Saint level. He had the power to intervene, yet after saving his subordinate, he retreated just as swiftly. He chose not to challenge the newly ascended Saint. This decision, seemingly illogical, was rooted in a complex web of unspoken rules and calculated risk.
Unspoken Rules
The world of Battle Through the Heavens (斗破苍穹) operates on a delicate balance of power, especially among the ancient clans. The recent, mysterious annihilation of the Ling Clan had sent ripples of paranoia through every major faction. While an explicit agreement forbids any Dou Saint of Five Stars or higher from acting recklessly, in this tense climate, the movements of every single Saint are scrutinized.
The Grand Elder's actions were a masterclass in this cautious dance. He never truly arrived. His physical body remained elsewhere; he merely projected his will across a vast distance to rip space and retrieve his subordinate. This was a statement of intent, not a declaration of all-out war. For the Soul Clan, maintaining a veil of secrecy was more critical than scoring a temporary victory.
Furthermore, the Soul Palace serves as the public face and primary instrument of the shadowy Soul Clan. The Grand Elder is its cornerstone. Had he committed his true body to the battlefield, he would have left the Soul Palace vulnerable. The potential fallout from such a risk was too great. His primary duty was preservation, not provocation. His mission was to rescue a valuable asset in Gu You, not to initiate a conflict that could spiral out of control and invite retaliation from other watchful ancient clans like the Gu or Yao Clan. In this context, his remote intervention was the only logical move.
A Calculated Retreat
From a purely tactical standpoint, the Grand Elder's retreat was a sound judgment. On paper, his cultivation level was superior. He was at the late stage of One Star Dou Saint, while Xiao Yan had just broken through. But levels have never defined Xiao Yan's combat prowess. Even as a Dou Zun, he was known for toppling stronger opponents. Now, as a Dou Saint, his capabilities were an even greater unknown. The Grand Elder had just witnessed him effortlessly dispatch two Half-Saints. What other surprises did this young man hold?
Xiao Yan's arsenal is enough to give any seasoned fighter pause. The legendary Puti Heart (菩提心) bolstered his foundation. His body was a fusion of multiple Abnormal Fires, a feat considered nearly impossible. His signature techniques, the Annihilating Fire Lotus and the Buddha's Fury Reincarnation, possessed destructive power that could bridge the gap between early and late stages of the same Star. The Grand Elder's brief intervention was less an attack and more a probe—a demonstration meant to intimidate. His parting words, a threat regarding Xiao Yan's father Xiao Zhan, were a psychological tactic, an attempt to plant a seed of fear and hesitation.
A Shift in the Wind
This confrontation, though brief, was a watershed moment for the entire Central Plains. The Grand Elder's decision to withdraw was a silent admission of Xiao Yan's newfound power. It signaled that the Soul Palace was not an invincible monolith. A new, formidable force had officially arrived on the stage. Xiao Yan, in his first battle as a Saint, had single-handedly faced four powerful enemies, killed two, and forced the retreat of a top-tier expert. His reputation was instantly cemented.
The battle was more than a personal milestone; it was the first tremor of a coming earthquake. The established power structure of the continent began its inevitable reshuffle. The Falling Star Guild, with Xiao Yan at its helm, was no longer just another faction. It was a rising star, a legitimate challenger capable of altering the fate of the region. The Grand Elder's retreat was not a sign of weakness, but a recognition of this new, volatile reality. The winds of change were blowing, and they heralded a storm that would be named Xiao Yan.
