《BTTH: From Genius to Invincible》 Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Never Not a Genius Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Never Not a Genius ? "Dou Practitioner, 3-Star!" Gazing at the bright, almost dazzling three characters on the Magical Testing Monument, the young man remained expressionless. However, upon closer inspection, one could discern a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips. Don''t be fooled by the young man''s smiling face; deep inside, he was already cursing. His Low Huang Qi Method was dragging him down to the point where he could hardly stand it! The young man made a graceful turn, his right hand inadvertently brushing his clothes as he waved his sleeve. He didn''t take a strand of cloud away, but he did take the hearts of countless young girls. TL/N: The original phrase is "not taking even a strand of cloud away" from the poem "Saying Goodbye to Cambridge Again" by the Chinese poet Xu Zhimo. "3-star Dou Practitioner! The Little Clan Leader''s test result is that of a 3-star Dou Practitioner!" Beside the Magic Testing Stone Tablet, a middle-aged man glanced at the information displayed on the tablet. His expression was filled with excitement as he cried out, a tear of relief lingering in the corner of his eye. He even forgot to jot down the result in his record book... A genius! The middle-aged man''s words had just escaped his lips when they caused quite a stir in the bustling square. "3-star Dou Practitioner?!!! My goodness, how has the Little Clan Leader cultivated! Wasn''t it said that it gets harder as one progresses?"V/\Issi?T for the b/est novel reading experi/en/ce "I heard from Cousin Xiao Yu that in the admission rating of the Jia Nan Academy, being a 3- star Dou Practitioner under the age of twenty is considered a C grade, and reaching 6-star is the highest, an S grade!" "Hiss! The Little Clan Leader is only fourteen years old this year!" "I''m just trash compared to the Little Clan Leader. I''ve really brought shame to the clan..." "Hmph! If it weren''t for the fact that the Clan Head is his father, how could he cultivate so quickly?" "Hehe, even if the Clan Head is your father, you still wouldn''t be able to cultivate as fast as the Little Clan Leader. Do you know that the Little Clan Leader''s cultivation speed is already unmatched in the history of the clan?" "Do you know how the Little Clan Leader has spent these years? I have heard that he sacrifices sleep and food every day, and often cultivates late into the night." "The young genius famous in Wu Tan City is indeed not just a rumor. Why does the world have to be so unfair?" "Who knows, maybe the Little Clan Leader saved the world in his past life or something..." The exclamations of astonishment and envy that fell upon the young man, who walked like the wind with an indifferent expression on his face, inevitably caused the corners of his mouth to slowly lift. The young man walked back to the square at a leisurely pace. By now, the color of authority was already evident on his face. His gaze was sharp. The majesty of the Little Clan Leader instantly silenced all the hecklers and noisemakers. Not a single person dared to meet his gaze. "Little Clan Leader, you''ve worked hard. There''s no need to wait in line, you can go back to the mansion and rest." "How can I break the rules when I should be setting an example as the Little Clan Leader?" The faint voice reached the ears of the crowd. The young man quietly made his way back to the last row of the line. Even though he was at the end of the line, a star was still a star, shining bright and dazzling. In truth, Xiao Yan''s heart was already about to cry out, ''If it weren''t for cultivating that strange Low Huang Qi Method after reaching the Dou Practitioner realm, I would have been at least a 6-star Dou Practitioner by now!'' The secret that made him so strong was known only to himself-he was not a native of the Dou Qi Continent, but rather a reincarnator. He was unexpectedly reincarnated from a certain blue planet due to an accident. While others were still in their infancy, he, with the experience of a lifetime, deeply understood that cultivation must begin at an early age. He began to cultivate by observing and imitating others in his clan when he was barely able to walk and talk at the age of four. His cultivation journey began at the age of four! Relying on the mindset of someone who had lived two lives, he not only broke the record for the fastest cultivation to the Dou Practitioner realm in the history of the clan, but also became the fastest cultivator in the whole of Wu Tan City since records were kept. It was often said that the path of genius was always tortuous. However, the reality was often quite the opposite. "Ugh, Xiao Yan ge, you''re naturally fast in cultivation because you''re a genius. Not everyone is like..." Before Xiao Mei could finish her sentence, the examiner''s voice rang out over the noisy crowd, announcing the next name. "The next one, Xiao Xun Er!" Upon hearing these two words, even Xiao Yan, who''d been so serious all along, couldn''t help but show a hint of a smile. He slowly lifted his head to look over. The originally heated discussions among the clan members abruptly stopped. All eyes followed the movement of a girl dressed in a purple gown. Even Xiao Yan was not an exception. The girl exuded a cool and indifferent temperament, like that of a pristine lotus in the early stages of blooming. Her pupils were clear and bright. Her delicate willow-like eyebrows and three thousand strands of hair fluttering in the wind were a mesmerizing sight. When it came to beauty and temperament, Xiao Xun Er undoubtedly surpassed Xiao Mei by a few points. It was no wonder that everyone present couldn''t take their eyes off her. The girl named Xiao Xun Er walked up to the Magical Testing Monument. Her delicate hand reached out and gently touched the stone. Her expression was indifferent, as if this test, which was paramount to the clan, meant little to her. Everyone held their breath waiting for the result. If there was anyone who could surpass Xiao Yan as a genius, it was only this girl before them. The glaring light once again burst forth from the monument after a brief moment of silence. "Dou Practitioner, 2-Star!" A moment of silence enveloped the scene as they looked at the characters on the monument. Xiao Yan inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. So close, just a hair''s breadth away from being surpassed! "Oh my great-granduncle! She''s only one star away from the Little Clan Leader!" "Last year, Miss Xun Er was a 1-star Dou Practitioner. To actually break through this year is truly amazing!" After a moment of silence, the surrounding youths involuntarily swallowed a mouthful of saliva. Their eyes were filled with awe. By breaking through from being a 10th-Stage Dou Disciple to becoming a Dou Practitioner, one was qualified to wear a star badge on the chest to showcase one''s strength. Each star was a symbol of strength, a symbol of identity. In Wu Tan City, a Dou Practitioner was a pillar of a clan. At the sight of the glaring words "Dou Practitioner, 2-Star," any trace of pride that had just been rising in Xiao Mei''s heart was completely shattered. She unconsciously released her grip on Xiao Yan''s sleeve. She couldn''t even bring herself to be jealous. TL/N: Keep in mind that the setting of the original work is being used here, i.e. Xiao Yan is a reincarnated person who does not know the plot of this world. Chapter 2: Chapter 2: A Strong Soul Chapter 2: Chapter 2: A Strong Soul ? Looking at the information on the Magical Testing Monument, the middle-aged examiner standing beside it, who had been indifferent, also revealed a rare hint of a smile. He spoke respectfully to the girl, "Miss Xun Er, I believe you will reach the Dou Master realm soon." "Thank you." The young lady nodded slightly, her plain face not showing any joy in response to his praise. She turned quietly and, amidst the admiring and passionate gazes of countless men, walked slowly to the genius youth at the very end of the crowd. The young lady stopped in her tracks and bowed slightly toward Xiao Yan with a gentle tilt of her head. With a smile that curved her eyes and brows, she said, "Xiao Yan ge-ge." Her pretty face broke into an elegant smile, one that made the surrounding girls envious. "Xun Er, I almost got surpassed by you again." Looking at the girl who had grown to be the most dazzling jewel in the clan, no matter how much Xiao Yan''s strength had increased over the years or how mature he had become, the girl in front of him who had been with him since childhood remained the softest spot in his heart. It was true that he often liked to boast and show off his strength, and revel in the cries of adoration and the worship he received from little fans like Xiao Mei. However, his feelings for Xun Er had never changed. "The accomplished lead the way; it looks like I''ll have to call you ''Senior Sister Xun Er'' in the future." "Xiao Yan ge-ge, you''re teasing Xun Er again," Xiao Xun Er''s small face puffed up slightly. Her slightly immature voice was warm and endearing. Xiao Mei watched them flirt. She laughed self-deprecatingly and thought with a hint of resignation, ''I can never compare to her. No matter how hard I try, I just can''t surpass her.'' The fairy is willing, but King Xiang doesn''t dream. The falling flowers are yearning for love, but the heartless brook ripples on. TL/N: Both were idioms to refer to the unrequited love of a woman. "The Little Clan Leader and Miss Xun Er truly seem like a match made in heaven." "Indeed, they''ve been childhood sweethearts, and both of them have such strong strength and are so immensely talented." "Why does everyone like the Little Clan Leader so much? Leave some for us too..." Amidst the envious howls from behind, Xiao Yan and Xun Er walked side by side away from the square. Waiting in line for the results? It was just an excuse; waiting for the beautiful lady was the real purpose. Along the way, Xun Er was constantly amused by Xiao Yan''s jokes and smiled beautifully. Only in front of her did Xiao Yan behave like a carefree, humorous fifteen-year-old boy. The Clan Elders and Clan Head Xiao Zhan watched them intently on the high platform. The branches swayed for a moment as a middle-aged man emerged. Although he was scolding Xiao Yan, an unconcealable smile of satisfaction appeared at the corners of his mouth as he looked at his son standing in the moonlight. The more he looked, the more pleased he became. Giving up halfway or becoming arrogant and self-satisfied was the worst thing to do in cultivation. As a loving father, he was naturally happy to see that his son did not become conceited with his genius status and continued to cultivate with diligence. The man was dressed in luxurious gray clothing. He had an imposing presence as he walked. His thick eyebrows added a touch of boldness to his face. He was the current Clan Head of the Xiao Clan, as well as Xiao Yan''s father, a 5-star Dou Grandmaster, Xiao Zhan! "Father, aren''t you also up late without rest?" Xiao Yan''s mature demeanor disappeared instantly as he looked at the middle-aged man. His smile on his face became even more pronounced. Although he had memories from his previous life, this father before him had showered him with endless affection since his birth. Such actions made Xiao Yan wholeheartedly address him as "father." "You''re already fifteen, right? In another year, we can hold your coming-of-age ceremony, and then you''ll officially become the Little Clan Leader." Although Xiao Yan was already referred to as the Little Clan Leader by the members of the clan, the official announcement would have to wait until his coming-of-age ceremony. "It''s not really a big deal, is it? After all, everybody is already calling me that." "This is different. Once you become a Little Clan Leader, you''ll have access to the more powerful Xuan Class Dou Techniques. Our clan''s highest Dou Techniques are of Xuan Class. Yan Er, if you want to become stronger, having access to more powerful Dou Techniques and Qi Methods is essential. It''s better for you to start training with more advanced Dou Skills as soon as possible." Xiao Yan just smiled and didn''t say much. He touched the ring on his right hand. In truth, he didn''t lack powerful Dou Techniques and Qi Methods. "Alright, enough with the smiling. I''m just here to make sure you go back to rest soon. We have an important guest arriving tomorrow." "Hehe, I''ll practice a little more..." "You little rascal, get back to your room and sleep right now!" ... The next morning, Xiao Yan was stretching his body in his room when an aged voice called from outside, "Third Young Master, the Clan Head requests your presence in the hall!" Xiao Yan was the youngest in the family, with two older brothers above him. However, they had long since gone out to gain experience and would occasionally return home, usually at the end of the year. In general, his two older brothers were quite good to Xiao Yan, this youngest brother of theirs. "Understood," Xiao Yan replied casually and changed into fresh clothes. He then walked out of the room and smiled at an elderly man in a green robe waiting outside, "Let''s go, Steward Mo." Xiao Yan felt a surge of curiosity stirring within him. What kind of important guest could cause his father to make such meticulous preparations? Chapter 3: Chapter 3: The Reasonable Xiao Yan Chapter 3: Chapter 3: The Reasonable Xiao Yan ? Looking at the young man''s tender face, the elderly man in the green robe nodded kindly and said, "The Little Clan Leader''s cultivation seems to have strengthened a bit more." Xiao Yan chuckled slightly, "Steward Mo, I only tested it yesterday. How could it have improved so quickly?" "Ha ha ha, maybe it''s the impression of relentless progress that the Little Clan Leader gives off..." Xiao Yan followed the steward through the back courtyard. Finally, he stopped solemnly in front of the reception hall. He knocked respectfully on the door before gently pushing it open. The hall was spacious and there were quite a few people inside. Sitting at the highest position were Xiao Zhan and the three Clan Elders, whose authority within the clan was no less than that of the Clan Head. To the left of these four sat some of the clan''s most influential and strong elders. Sitting next to them were a few of the younger generation of people who had shown outstanding achievements within the clan. When Xiao Yan arrived, all the younger generation in the hall greeted him with friendly smiles. "Greetings, Little Clan Leader." "Good morning, Little Clan Leader." "The Little Clan Leader''s cultivation has progressed again." "Hehe, Yan Er, you''re here. Come, take a seat." Seeing Xiao Yan arrive, Xiao Zhan nodded towards him and gestured with his hand. Xiao Yan, smiling, nodded and walked straight to a seat just below the Third Elder. His status was now virtually on par with the elders, and he could be considered their equal. Next to Xiao Yan''s position sat Xun Er. Xun Er''s position within the Xiao Clan was quite unique. Although she didn''t hold any official power within the clan, even Clan Head Xiao Zhan treated her with great courtesy. It could be said that she had the freedom to do as she wished within the clan. However, what made Xiao Yan somewhat surprised was that the important guests mentioned by Xiao Zhan turned out to be two elderly men and a young girl who seemed to be around his age. The beauty of the young girl even surpassed that of Xiao Mei by a few points, and perhaps the only person within the clan who could be compared to her was Xiao Xun Er, who was like a blooming green lotus. Green jade pendants hung delicately from the girl''s earlobes. They emitted a crisp jingle with every gentle sway, adding a touch of elegance to her appearance. In addition, three golden stars were embroidered next to the girl''s budding bosom. Xiao Yan''s brow furrowed as he thought, ''A 3-star Dou Practitioner. If this girl hasn''t relied on external objects to enhance her strength, she''s truly an exceptional genius to be on par with my cultivation level.'' ''She really lives up to being a member of the Misty Cloud Sect.'' Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed as he noticed the cloud-patterned silver sword embroidered on the cuff of the girl''s robe and knew that she was from the Misty Cloud Sect. If the Xiao Clan could be considered the hegemon of Wu Tan City, then the Misty Cloud Sect could perhaps be considered the hegemon of the entire Jia Ma Empire. Therefore, the name of the girl in front of him was already on the tip of his tongue. Nalan Yanran. Simply put, she was his fiance?e. ''What is she doing here?'' Xiao Yan scratched his head, completely confused as to why this Nalan Yanran had suddenly come from the Misty Cloud Sect to this remote area for no apparent reason. "This is from Pill King Gu He..." Before Ge Ye could finish, Xiao Zhan curled into fists. A faint green Dou Qi gradually covered his body, finally coalescing into an illusory lion''s head. This was the highest-class Qi Method of the Xiao Clan: Intermediate Xuan Class, Furious Lion Rage! Ge Ye was taken aback when he saw Xiao Zhan''s reaction. His hands curled like eagle claws. Green Dou Qi gathered in them, releasing a subtle but sharp sword intent. Misty Cloud Sect''s Low Xuan Qi Method, Green Wood Sword! As their auras collided, the wooden box in Ge Ye''s hands fell to the ground. A pill the size of a dragon''s eye rolled out of the wooden box. However, unexpectedly, all the members of the Xiao Clan didn''t even spare a glance at the pill that had fallen to the ground. Even the tantalizing fragrance of the pill was overwhelmed by their anger. Ge Ye glanced at the pill on the ground and then at the expressions of everyone around him. In the presence of such a treasure, not a single person showed greed in their eyes. Instead, their expressions were filled with anger. Finally, his gaze shifted to the young man sitting on the side, who had been sipping his tea in silence as if he were an outsider, without uttering a single word this whole time. He, Ge Ye, had misjudged. This young man had actually managed to unite the entire clan. This was such an incredible feat! Even in the Misty Cloud Sect, the various factions within the sect would not all blindly follow the orders of the Sect Leader. "Yanran, why don''t we go back and discuss this matter more thoroughly?" With a loud footfall, Nalan Yanran took a step forward and said with a serious tone, "When I joined the Misty Cloud Sect five years ago and followed the Sect Leader''s teachings I came to understand one thing. How I live my life and who I marry are decisions that I, Nalan Yanran, have to make for myself!" The atmosphere in the hall suddenly fell silent. Even Ge Ye was startled by Nalan Yanran''s resolve. Clap, clap, clap... The sound of clapping suddenly resounded in the hall. Surprisingly, it was Xiao Yan who was applauding. "Taking control of one''s destiny, well said. I, Xiao Yan, also have someone in my heart, and therefore this marriage should indeed be annulled." Xun Er, who was sitting next to Xiao Yan, suddenly blushed when she heard Xiao Yan mention that he had someone in his heart. Her mind began to wander wildly with countless thoughts. Xiao Yan maintained his characteristic confident smile as he rose from his seat to address his ''fiance?e'', "However, by requesting my father to dissolve our engagement in such a public manner, you have put my father''s face as the Clan Head at stake. This act could greatly diminish his authority and become a source of ridicule for him." Xiao Yan''s words were straightforward, and his gaze became cold and intimidating. He wasn''t particularly concerned about the engagement itself, but if they were to dissolve an engagement that had been agreed upon by both parties just like that, how would their Xiao Clan be able to maintain its position in the future? "I, Xiao Yan, am not unreasonable. One move, if you can withstand a single move from me, then this marriage arrangement will be dissolved." Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Misjudged Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Misjudged ? Xiao Yan''s words shocked everyone present. Initially, Ge Ye thought he had misjudged him. Now, he felt he had misjudged him yet again. Ge Ye couldn''t help but shake his head internally, ''Ah, pride gets the best of us. Yanran has been cultivating a High Xuan Qi Method from the sect, and her Green Wood Sword has already achieved a minor level of mastery. A clan from such a remote small city probably doesn''t even possess a High Xuan Qi Method.'' TL/N: In the previous chapter, "Green Wood Sword" is presented as a Qi Method, while here it is used as a Dou Technique. Just assume that both the Qi Method and the Dou Technique are part of a set of techniques with the same name. Ge Ye wasn''t wrong. The highest-class Qi Method in Wu Tan City was only an Intermediate Xuan Class. The higher the class of the Qi Method, the stronger and more profound the Dou Qi cultivated, and naturally, the more powerful the Dou Techniques executed. The saying, "One level higher in rank could crush a person to death," also applied to Qi Methods. However, Ge Ye failed to notice that, upon hearing Xiao Yan propose such an ''unreasonable'' duel, not a single member of the Xiao Clan, including Xiao Zhan and the elders, found it inappropriate. None of them realized at this moment where this underlying confidence came from. A faint smile appeared on Nalan Yanran''s face when she heard his words. She suddenly found him much more agreeable. "Is that true?" Before Xiao Yan could answer, Xiao Mei interjected loudly, "Xiao Yan ge''s word is as good as gold, unlike some people who go back on their word." Nalan Yanran''s eyelid involuntarily twitched. In the Dou Qi Continent, marriage arrangements were akin to ancient times, following the will of parents and matchmakers. Nalan Yanran had come to annul the engagement without even daring to inform her grandfather, Nalan Jie, knowing she was in the wrong. Xiao Yan smiled confidently and nodded, "Of course, it''s true." "However, if you cannot withstand my move, then I will divorce you publicly at your Nalan Mansion." !!!!! "You!" Nalan Yanran was stunned. She wanted to retort but could not find the words to do so. Her face turned slightly pale with anger as she clenched her fists. Because what Xiao Yan had just said was essentially what she was doing herself now. Nalan Yanran''s intentions may have sounded nice, but in reality, they also revealed her spoiled and willful temperament. Xiao Yan did not oppose Nalan Yanran''s pursuit of freedom, but the idea of pursuing her own freedom at the expense of his father was something he could not forgive. Although Xiao Yan spoke with a smile and his tone was gentle, Nalan Yanran could see from his eyes that if she really couldn''t stand his move, he would make good on his words. Xiao Yan was one to hold a grudge. Nalan Yanran took a deep breath, and a pale cyan-colored Dou Qi began to appear around her. The Qi Method she was cultivating was of the Wind Attribute. It was at this moment that Ge Ye realized that the confident smile of the young man in front of him was based on real strength! Xiao Yan''s proposal of a duel wasn''t to offer them a way out, but because he truly believed that Nalan Yanran couldn''t withstand a single move from him. He was for real! The three golden stars reflected the light as Xiao Yan dusted off his clothes. "Make your move. It''s getting late." Nalan Yanran found herself in a difficult position. If she gave in now, she could forget about inheriting her Master''s mantle and becoming the next Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect. It might even shatter her mental state and affect her cultivation. She took a deep breath to calm herself under everyone''s watchful eyes. Her Master''s advice echoed in her ears: be true to your heart. The power of her Green Wood Sword suddenly increased. Ge Ye secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Nalan Yanran''s Green Wood Sword. Putting the same stage aside, Nalan Yanran''s Qi Method and Dou Techniques were top-notch under the guidance of the Sect Leader. In fights at the same stage, the Qi Method and Dou Technique used would be the deciding factors. "Speaking of which, have you guys ever seen the Little Clan Leader fight before?" "With the Little Clan Leader''s cultivation, who would look for such a beating for no reason?" "Although I heard that a few years ago, Cousin Xiao Yu chased the Little Clan Leader around the mountain wanting to fight. At that time, Cousin Xiao Yu had been cultivating for a longer period of time and had a slightly higher cultivation stage than the Little Clan Leader." "It seems like there''s really no matches of the same stage..." Nalan Yanran''s eyes snapped open and her gaze became sharp. She lunged forward with a swift stride that resembled an arrow being released. The wind sword in her hand thrust straight at Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan did not panic in the slightest in the face of this powerful Xuan Class Dou Technique attack. His Dou Qi instantly circulated throughout his body as he roared inwardly, ''Octane Blast: Elbow Strike.'' A powerful shockwave spread throughout the hall. One by one, flower pots and cups shattered as their aura erupted and their attacks collided. The next moment, a delicate figure was sent flying out of the hall, crashing through the wooden doors with a loud bang. Ge Ye had misjudged, yet again! Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Handing Out a Candy Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Handing Out a Candy ? "Yanran!" Ge Ye''s face turned pale as he hurriedly ran out. There''s no doubt that the one who was sent flying was Nalan Yanran! Not just Ge Ye, even Xiao Zhan, the culprit''s father, was shocked to his feet. His son''s combat strength was that strong?! This was a disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect! Moreover, Nalan Yanran wasn''t just an ordinary disciple; she was a genius who had been taken as a disciple by the Sect Leader herself and was supposed to be groomed to become the next Sect Leader. Surprisingly, she couldn''t withstand a single move from someone at the same cultivation stage! Who would believe such a thing? If this news were to spread back to the Misty Cloud Clan, it would shake the entire sect. Ge Ye was quick to give Nalan Yanran a healing pill. Fortunately, her cultivation would not be affected as her meridians were not damaged. Unfortunately, two of her fingers were broken and bent in an unnatural way... The only thing they could do now was to go back and ask Pill King Gu He to refine a Bone Growing Pill for her. Nalan Yanran was so confused at this moment that she even forgot about the pain. She had actually lost and couldn''t even withstand a single move! Xiao Yan was not without injury; the sleeves of his clothes were torn into shreds by the gusting wind, and there was a cut on his right elbow from which a drop of blood fell. He looked at his wound and shook his head in dissatisfaction, "I still need to train more diligently, I ended up getting hurt after all." Nalan Yanran almost choked with anger when she heard his words. He even thought about not getting injured! "The Little Clan Leader is invincible!!" "Little Clan Leader!" "Little Clan Leader!" Echoing shouts of admiration reverberated around like thunder. Xiao Yan was unbeatable in the hearts of the younger generation of the Xiao Clan. They didn''t find anything miraculous about defeating Nalan Yanran with a single move. But the older generation didn''t see it that way. The world operated on logic, not like a game where critical hits were a common occurrence. Xiao Zhan''s gaze became slightly sharp. As the Clan Leader, he knew the Xiao Clan''s resources better than anyone else. The Dou Technique used by Xiao Yan was definitely not from the clan''s repertoire. This Dou Technique was superior to the Low Xuan Class Green Wood Sword, and Xiao Yan had mastered it quite well, suggesting he had been practicing it for some time! Xiao Zhan''s thoughts turned complex as he glanced towards Xun Er''s direction. He wondered, ''Could it be Xun Er?'' However, no one dared to make a move. Instead, they all looked at Xiao Yan, for the pill rightfully belonged to him. When Xiao Yan noticed that everyone was looking at him, he bent down and picked up the pill as if it were a pebble, then gently blew the dust off of it. Xiao Yan sniffed the fragrance of the pill and confidently said, "This is a 4th-tier Qi Gathering Pill." "Qi Gathering Pill!!!" Everyone''s gaze focused on the pill in his hand upon hearing his words. The Grand Elder sniffed and said, "Indeed, it''s a Qi Gathering Pill. And with its fragrance and appearance, it''s definitely a superior product. It is truly worthy to come from the hand of the Pill King." "What is the purpose of a Qi Gathering Pill?" "The purpose of the Qi Gathering Pill is simple. It can enable a 9th-stage Dou Disciple to 100% successfully condense their Dou Qi Cyclone and become a Dou Practitioner!" "Not only that, a good-quality Qi Gathering Pill can even improve one''s cultivation a bit while condensing the Cyclone, thus consolidating the foundation." From the longing in the eyes of the clan disciples, one could see how terribly attractive a medicinal pill was to a cultivator. The profession that countless people aspired to was that of an alchemist who refined such pills. Among those present, only Xiao Yan and Xun Er showed no desire for the pill. The reason was simple: they were already Dou Practitioners, and the pill would be of no use to them. Xiao Yan asked after examining the pill, "Grand Elder, I heard that Xiao Ning is about to break through to the 8th-stage Dou Disciple?" The Grand Elder''s face lit up with joy upon hearing this. He turned to the still-dazed Xiao Ning and shouted, "You little brat, why are you still standing there? Come over here!" Xiao Ning was startled by his grandfather''s shout. He quickly approached the Grand Elder''s side, then cupped his fists and said, "In response to the Little Clan Leader, it won''t be long before I break through to the 8th-stage Dou Disciple. Even though my talent isn''t even a ten- thousandth of the Little Clan Leader, if you give me one more year, I''m sure I''ll be able to break through to the 9th-stage Dou Disciple!" A firm commitment! Even though Xiao Ning was the grandson of the Grand Elder, obtaining this Qi Gathering Pill was not a trivial matter; he had to make a solid promise. Xiao Yan nodded his head in satisfaction and casually tossed the precious Qi Gathering Pill to Xiao Ning as if he were handing out candy to children on Halloween. "Cultivate well and do not let down the expectations that the clan has for you." Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Inheritance Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Inheritance ? "Thank you, Little Clan Leader, thank you, Little Clan Leader, thank you, Little Clan Leader." Xiao Ning continued to bow in gratitude. He would have knelt and kowtowed to Xiao Yan if not for the crowd around. Now, in Xiao Ning''s heart, Xiao Yan was like a father to him! The Second and Third Elders were green with envy. Even though they also had grandsons, in terms of potential, age, and cultivation level, Xiao Ning was indeed the best choice. If Xiao Ning could truly become a 9th-stage Dou Disciple within a year, he would be among the top ten in the history of the Xiao Clan in terms of cultivation speed. The Grand Elder was inwardly beaming with joy, his smile almost reaching his temples.DiiSco?ver new stories on The reason why the Grand Elder was able to identify the pill as a 4th-tier Qi Gathering Pill so quickly was because he had accidentally obtained a half-finished Qi Gathering Pill in his youth. This half-finished Qi Gathering Pill had allowed him to successfully break through to the Dou Practitioner realm. Without the aid of a pill, the condensation of a Qi Cyclone could fail, which would cause one to fall back from the 9th-stage Dou Disciple to the 8th-stage Dou Disciple. This was not only a waste of time, but also a waste of a person''s most precious golden years of cultivation. Undoubtedly, with the Qi Gathering Pill, Xiao Ning''s future advancement to Dou Grandmaster had become almost certain. Becoming a 9-star Dou Grandmaster was no longer a problem, and he might even have a chance to challenge the Dou Spirit realm. No one in Wu Tan City had reached that realm! If the Xiao Clan were to produce a Dou Spirit, the whole of Wu Tan City would belong to them, and even forming a sect might be within the realm of possibility. Xiao Zhan clapped his hands to get everyone''s attention and said with an expression that was neither angry nor authoritative, "Everything that happened today stays within these walls. Anyone who utters a single word about it will have to face severe punishment!" Whether it was the Misty Cloud Sect, Nalan Yanran, or their own Xiao Clan, today''s events were akin to airing dirty laundry. Any leakage of information could be the cause of unnecessary trouble. "Understood, Clan Head!" everyone chorused. "Alright, disperse now," Xiao Zhan waved his hand, and all the clan disciples dispersed in an orderly fashion like a well-disciplined army. Just as Xiao Yan was about to get up and leave as well, a jade-like hand grabbed hold of his sleeve. "Xun Er?" Xun Er took out a bottle of healing ointment and gently applied it to Xiao Yan''s wound while softly asking, "Xiao Yan ge-ge, you..." "Hmm?" Xun Er looked hesitant and shy. It was as if she wanted to ask something. In fact, she wanted to ask if Xiao Yan''s earlier mention of someone in his heart was referring to her. However, she swallowed these words at the last moment. "... When did Xiao Yan ge-ge start cultivating that Dou Technique? It''s so impressive. No wonder you never wanted the Dou Techniques and Qi Methods offered by Xun Er..." The ring didn''t just contain one Dou Technique. The number of Dou Techniques and Qi Methods inside was astounding. The lowest class among them was Xuan Class, many were Di Class, and there were even a few legendary Tian Class Dou Techniques. What made Xiao Yan, this genius boy, shake his head in frustration was that he couldn''t understand them! He wanted to cultivate Di and Tian Class Dou Techniques as well! Most of the Dou Techniques were as indecipherable to him as if they were arcane texts. They were filled with specialized terms and even ancient phrases that made his head spin. Moreover, many Dou Techniques had strict requirements for the user''s cultivation level and even the class and attribute of their Qi Method. It wasn''t that Xiao Yan specifically wanted to cultivate Octane Blast, but it was the only technique that didn''t require a specific Qi Method, didn''t have any cultivation level requirements, and whose cultivation method Xiao Yan could understand. Hence, Octane Blast was his choice. Xiao Yan had once considered asking his father for cultivation guidance, but after some thought, he decided against it. ''Innocent is the jade, guilty is the one who holds it.'' This was a truth that Xiao Yan had understood in his previous life. Should the existence of the Storage Ring become known, not just the Xiao Clan, but the entire Jia Ma Empire might be plunged into a bloody calamity. "I finally have enough materials to try to refine a 2nd-tier Foundation Building Pill today." With a thud, a medicinal cauldron for alchemy was released from the storage ring. This cauldron wasn''t originally part of the ring''s inventory. A low-grade medicinal cauldron like this didn''t qualify to be included in the ring. This was a cauldron that Xiao Yan had purchased himself from the largest auction house in Wu Tan City, the Miteer Auction House. There were strict requirements to become an alchemist. First of all, one had to possess a fire attribute. Moreover, within the fire attribute, there had to be a tiny sliver of wood attribute to act as a catalyst for refining pills! In the Dou Qi Continent, a person''s attribute was determined by their soul. A soul would have only one attribute from birth. It would reject any other attribute. Therefore, it was virtually impossible for a person to have two attributes of varying strengths. However, there were always exceptions. Out of a million people, there would always be one person whose soul was mutated. Among those people with mutated souls, some of them had the potential to become an alchemist! On top of that, an alchemist also needed to have a strong spiritual perception! Xiao Yan seemed like he was born to be an alchemist. He possessed all of these qualities! Moreover, his spiritual perception was ridiculously strong. Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Alchemy Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Alchemy ? ''Three Purple Bluegrass, two Bone Washing Flower, and one Rank 1 Wood Attribute Monster Core.'' Xiao Yan took out all the materials listed in the Foundation Pill Recipe from the storage ring. The Monster Core still had blood stains on it, as it had obviously been extracted from the body of a magical beast not long ago. To be more precise, it was the one Xiao Yan had hunted himself this morning. All alchemy processes required a Monster Core that came from magical beasts as an essential energy source. Besides supervising the morning training of the clan disciples, Xiao Yan would patrol the market with Xun Er. After lunch, he would usually venture into the forest to search for medicinal herbs and hunt magical beasts. In the evening, he would head to the back mountain to practice his Dou Technique and cultivate his Dou Qi. Consistently, day in and day out, for ten years. This was not only because he possessed the talent of an alchemist, but also because his storage ring contained a vast collection of pill recipes, ranging from 1st-tier to 8th-tier pills, providing him with all the necessary requirements for alchemy. Pill recipes, alchemy techniques, a compendium of medicinal herbs, and alchemy insights filled up a large portion of the storage ring. Xiao Yan spent a full ten years reading through all of them. However, while he had read through them, understanding them was another matter altogether. In fact, when Xiao Yan picked up the pill from the ground and immediately recognized it as a Qi Gathering Pill just by smelling it in the morning, it proved that he already had considerable knowledge of medicinal pills.V/\Issi?T for the b/est novel reading experi/en/ce However, his image was just too strong within the Xiao Clan, and since even the Grand Elder knew what a Qi Gathering Pill was, no one doubted that a fourteen-year-old boy shouldn''t know about it. Even Xun Er and Xiao Zhan didn''t think much about it. They just assumed that Xiao Yan might have heard about Qi Gathering Pills from somewhere. An hour later, with a loud bang, the energy within the Monster Core inside the medicinal cauldron suddenly surged. The terrifying high temperature swept through the cauldron, instantly turning the herbs that were still being purified into ashes. The alchemy had failed. "Sigh, refining a 2nd-tier medicinal pill is really too difficult." The man in the black robe swiftly scanned all the items with his Spiritual Strength. He paid special attention to items like jade pendants and checked them multiple times. However, to his bewilderment, after a thorough inspection, he found that none of the items seemed to belong to the Xiao Clan. The Qi Methods and Dou Techniques were not those he knew to be possessed by the Xiao Clan he was familiar with. He had initially heard from his subordinates that there was a Xiao Clan in Wu Tan City, which had produced a young genius. The young man''s fame had even reached the imperial capital of the Jia Ma Empire, prompting him to come here specifically. This was partly due to Nalan Yanran''s grandfather, Nalan Jie. He was quite satisfied with Xiao Yan''s cultivation talent and had often boasted in the capital about having a talented grandson-in-law with the surname Xiao. However, he did not expect that the combination of the words "Xiao" and "genius" would attract such trouble. The man in the black robe had a furrowed brow as he watched Xiao Yan''s desperate struggle. Due to the overexertion of his Spiritual Strength, blood tears began to seep from the corners of his eyes at this moment. The man in the black robe discreetly glanced at the room where Xun Er was. Soon after, his Spiritual Strength subtly swept over everyone in the Xiao Clan territory except Xun Er, but he did not find what he was searching for. He clicked his tongue and released the spiritual restraint. Then he grabbed Xiao Yan by the neck, his voice sinister as he threatened, "Boy, tell me where the ancient jade is, or I''ll annihilate your entire Xiao Clan." "I don''t know what you''re talking about. Return the Bone Chilling Flame to me!" Xiao Yan continued to attack with the Octane Blast. However, the move that had defeated Nalan Yanran couldn''t even tear the black-robed man''s clothes. This terrifying gap in strength made Xiao Yan realize that the man in front of him was likely stronger than a Dou Spirit, perhaps even stronger than a Dou King! "Bone Chilling Flame? This trashy Heavenly Flame?" The black-robed man flicked his finger lightly, and the Bone Chilling Flame, ranked 11th in the Heavenly Flame Ranking and coveted by countless alchemists, was being toyed with in his palm like a child''s plaything. The man in the black robe smiled slightly and temptingly said, "Boy, tell me where the ancient jade is and I can teach you alchemy." Xiao Yan had already given up fighting when he saw the Bone Chilling Flame being toyed with in the palm of the black-robed man''s hand. He wasn''t stupid. He understood that this black- robed man''s strength was far beyond his comprehension, and the only reason he hadn''t killed him was probably because of some reservations. The black-robed man released his grip once he noticed that Xiao Yan had stopped his struggle. He was actually afraid of killing Xiao Yan. In case that person had left some sort of measure on Xiao Yan, it would pose a danger to himself as well. Xiao Yan noted this point as well. The black-robed man had only used his Spiritual Strength and had not dared to use any Dou Qi, as if he was afraid of revealing his Dou Qi fluctuations. He regained his usual calmness, his voice cold as he said, "You''ve seen everything I own. I don''t know what ancient jade you''re talking about. You are also not qualified to teach me alchemy." The man in the black robe laughed as if he had heard the funniest joke, "Jie Jie! Not qualified? Not qualified! I, Hun Huzi, am not qualified to teach you alchemy?!!!" Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Fluttering Butterfly Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Fluttering Butterfly ? "This Soul Ring is nothing more than a relic left behind by an 8th-tier alchemist after his death. Moreover, the spiritual imprint on this storage ring has dissolved, and the soul has already dissipated within the ring. I, Hun Huzi, am the number one alchemist on the Dou Qi Continent. And you say I''m not qualified?" Xiao Yan recalled a treasure identification atlas within the ring that detailed various treasures of the Dou Qi Continent, including the Soul Ring. The so-called Soul Ring was a kind of high-grade Storage Ring. Besides storing inanimate objects like the Storage Ring, the most significant feature of the Soul Ring was its ability to preserve souls! The souls of powerful alchemists were incredibly strong on their own. In the face of mortal danger, they could separate their souls from their bodies and hide within the Soul Ring to preserve themselves. And since this Soul Ring could even preserve the Bone Chilling Flame, it was undoubtedly a rare treasure. Initially, Xiao Yan had thought the ring was an inheritance left by his mother. But after Hun Huzi''s explanation, it seemed his mother might have acquired the Soul Ring from an unknown source. The original owner of the Soul Ring faced a mortal crisis and was forced to flee into the ring to preserve his soul. However, his soul couldn''t resist and ultimately dissipated, leaving the Storage Ring and the Bone Chilling Flame without an owner. Hun Huzi looked at Xiao Yan and revealed a cold smile as he said, "Jie Jie, since you say I am not qualified, let me show you what real alchemy is!" With a whoosh, Hun Huzi used his Spiritual Strength to pinch the air toward the floating Bone Chilling Flame. From it he drew a thread-like flame as thin as a needle. His fingers moved like a conductor''s baton, guiding the pale white thread of the Bone Chilling Flame through several herbs as smoothly as threading a needle. In an instant, as the flame thread passed through the herbs, it meticulously separated the wheat from the chaff. The overwhelming Spiritual Strength extracted all the necessary herbal essences. The remaining impurities in the herbs instantly turned into piles of ashes that fell to the ground.V/\Issi?T for the b/est novel reading experi/en/ce Finally, the flame threads carrying the essence coiled together to form a purple and white colored medicinal pill. It was almost an instant pill formation! Although those herbs were not of a particularly high grade, to refine a medicinal pill in the blink of an eye was like something out of a fairy tale. Who would believe such a story if it were told? "Boy, your attempt at provocation is too immature." With a swoosh, Hun Huzi flicked his finger. The pill turned into a streak of light that forcefully entered Xiao Yan''s throat. "Gag!" Xiao Yan immediately tried to vomit the pill out, but it was already too late. The power of the medicine spread throughout his body, giving him no chance to react. "What did you feed me!" "Jie Jie Jie, it''s merely an ordinary poison pill. If you manage to solve this poison, you''ll be considered worthy to become my disciple. Take this token of mine with you to the Hall of Souls in the Imperial Capital. If you fail, well, heh heh heh. Remember not to provoke others so carelessly in your next life." A black token engraved with the character "Soul" appeared on the table. Soon after, Hun Huzi tore through space and disappeared... "If Xun Er needs me to be her escort, I will naturally not shirk my duty." Upon seeing Xun Er, Xiao Yan couldn''t help but ponder. Could it be that Hun Huzi didn''t dare to kill him because of Xun Er? ... In a mysterious space within the Dou Qi Continent known as the Hun Realm, the once unrivaled Hun Huzi was found kneeling on one knee behind a man. The man, dressed in a white robe, appeared gentle and refined. With a handful of fish food in his hand, he was in the midst of feeding the fish in a pond. He enjoyed watching the fish compete as they eagerly scrambled for the food. After finishing feeding the fish, the man slowly turned around and calmly said, "Stand up." "Yes, Clan Head." The man asked unhurriedly, "How did it go?" Hun Huzi respectfully answered, "Clan Head, it appears that the ancient jade of the Xiao Clan may have fallen into the hands of the Gu Clan." "Hmm?" Upon hearing Hun Huzi''s response, the Head of the Hun Clan, Hun Tiandi, frowned. This was troubling news indeed. Hun Huzi continued, "In the Xiao Clan of the Jia Ma Empire, there is a young girl who possesses the Seed Flame of the Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame. Although I did not directly probe this girl, my Spiritual Strength has scoured the entire Xiao Clan without finding the ancient jade." Hun Tiandi''s gaze turned icy. He knew that the Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame, ranked fourth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, was the Gu Clan''s hereditary flame. Only key members of the Gu Clan could possess the Seed Flame. The fact that a member of the Gu Clan had been found within the Xiao Clan meant that the whereabouts of the ancient jade had already been revealed. "You did well not to use your Spiritual Strength to probe. That girl must be the daughter of Gu Yuan. If you accidentally triggered any measures on her, you would have been burnt to ashes," Hun Tiandi knew the terrifying extent of Gu Yuan''s strength. It was unlikely that Gu Yuan would carelessly leave his daughter in such a remote place. Even from hundreds of thousands of miles away, Gu Yuan could easily annihilate the entire Jia Ma Empire. ''What a classic case of the snipe and the clam fighting while the fisherman benefits. In the end, the ancient jade of the Xiao Clan still falls into your hands, Gu Yuan.'' Hun Huzi asked, "Clan Head, should we capture that girl and exchange her for the ancient jade?" After pondering for a moment, Hun Tiandi shook his head and said, "My injuries from the battle with Xiao Xuan haven''t fully healed yet. Now is not the time to start a war with the Gu Clan. Instruct the Hall of Souls to intensify the collection of powerful soul bodies. We must complete this before the Gu Clan obtains the rest of the ancient jades. We cannot allow the Gu Clan to continue acquiring more ancient jades." "Understood, Clan Head!" As a butterfly gently fluttered its wings, the timeline of fate underwent a significant shift. Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Where Money Flies, Medicinal Ingredients Multiply Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Where Money Flies, Medicinal Ingredients Multiply ? Xiao Yan''s eyes suddenly snapped open, and a strand of deep white flame flashed through them. However, the flame appeared quickly and disappeared just as fast. Sitting up, Xiao Yan slowly exhaled and licked his lips, a look of fascination and intoxication on his face. ''Medicinal pills are truly miraculous. I feel that with another month or two of cultivation, I could break through the 3-star bottleneck and reach the 4-star Dou Practitioner stage.'' It was only recently that Xiao Yan had broken through to become a 3-star Dou Practitioner. This was also the first time he used a pill to enhance his cultivation. ''No wonder alchemists are sought after by everyone in the Dou Qi Continent. Everyone is willing to owe them a favor. This pill is indeed memorable.'' With a whoosh, Xiao Yan condensed his Dou Qi into a ball of flame. Within this flame, there was a faintly visible pale white line, moving like a dragon swimming through the flames. Xiao Yan hadn''t forgotten that the poison pill had merged with a strand of Bone Chilling Flame, which had also been devoured by his Flame Mantra. ''Heavenly Flames... With my current strength, I''m far from capable of devouring the Bone Chilling Flame. I don''t know the whereabouts of other Heavenly Flames. Therefore, my primary task now should be to enhance my cultivation and gather information about Heavenly Flames.'' Xun Er''s melodious, light voice came from outside the door: "Xiao Yan ge-ge, aren''t you up yet?" ''This girl has come here so early in the morning.'' Xiao Yan smiled softly. It had been a while since he last accompanied Xun Er to the market. After a bit of searching in his wardrobe, he put on some presentable clothes and stepped out of the door. At the sight of the young girl waiting outside, he couldn''t help but whistle softly. Today, Xun Er was dressed in a light green-colored cloth. The soft color added an extra touch of innocence to her appearance. A pair of tight pants accentuated her slender, long legs, showcasing her curves. "Xun Er looks really pretty today," Xiao Yan teased. Smiling, Xun Er looked at Xiao Yan and said in a playful and cute manner, "Could it be that Xun Er was not pretty in the eyes of Xiao Yan ge-ge yesterday?" Xiao Yan''s heart skipped a beat at the reminder. His fiance?e showed up yesterday! However, Xiao Yan, who had been the object of many young girls'' affections for more than a day or two, had become quite the seasoned playboy. He gently helped Xun Er tie up her hair and said with a confident smile, "Xun Er is always prettier than the moment before." Xun Er''s cheeks instantly flushed, and she gave Xiao Yan a blank stare that was tinged with a bit of affection. Quite the smooth talker! Xiao Yan was in a good mood after his cultivation improved. He and Xun Er chatted and laughed as they walked outside the clan. On the way, they ran into some clan members who, upon seeing him, stopped what they were doing and bowed at a ninety-degree angle to greet them. His action of giving away a pill the day before had earned him even greater admiration from the entire clan. A 4th-tier medicinal pill, even if it was unusable for him, could be sold for a good sum. Yet, he decided to give it away to Xiao Ning for the future of the clan. "Shall we check out the place across the street?" Xiao Yan suggested. "Across?" The market in Wu Tan City wasn''t only owned by the Xiao Clan. After the Jia Lie Clan and the Ao Ba Clan joined forces, they built an even bigger market not far from the Xiao Clan''s market. For Xiao Yan, the Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan, to visit the rival clans'' market on the other side would undoubtedly cause a stir. Xun Er giggled playfully and said, "Xiao Yan ge-ge, if we go to the market across the street, they might not even let us in." Xiao Yan helplessly shrugged his shoulders, "We''re not there to steal or rob. We''re customers. There''s no reason for them not to let us in." After turning a few corners on the wide streets with Xun Er, they arrived at the large Ao Jia Market. Since it was a market run jointly by two clans, both the decoration of the shops and their facades were incredibly lavish, and the variety of goods on offer was just as extensive. Upon Xiao Yan''s arrival, the two guards at the entrance of the market immediately tensed up. They pointed their long spears at Xiao Yan and asked with trepidation, "You, you... what are you doing here!" The Xiao Clan has come to fight?! Many people heard the guard''s voice, and upon recognizing Xiao Yan, they rushed out of the market. They feared that the Xiao Clan was indeed making a move. Xiao Yan could only respond with helplessness to this scene, while Xun Er stifled a giggle beside him. Even geniuses had their fair share of difficulties. Before Xiao Yan had a chance to speak, a voice called out from the crowd: "Xiao Yan! What are you doing here!" Xiao Yan looked in the direction of the voice, only to see a group of people coming through the market. Among them, a richly dressed young man was being escorted, surrounded by others like stars around the moon. At the sight of the young man, the guards respectfully said, "Young Master Jia Lie Ao." Jia Lie Ao, the young master of the Jia Lie Clan, wore a gold star on his chest. At the age of twenty-one, being a 1-star Dou Practitioner was considered quite talented in Wu Tan City. However, compared to Xiao Yan, he paled in comparison. Xiao Yan glanced at Jia Lie Ao and saw the gold star, then shook his head. Merely a 1-star Dou Practitioner at twenty-one? He had reached that stage before even turning eleven. Jia Lie Ao gritted his teeth in anger when he saw Xiao Yan''s reaction. To be a 1-star Dou Practitioner at the age of twenty-one was already quite strong, okay?! Yet, the achievement he was so proud of seemed so trivial in the eyes of the other party. "What else would I come to the market for, if not to buy things?" Jia Lie Ao shouted, "You''re not welcome here! Leave immediately!" Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Xiao Yan, the Dependent Son-in-Law? Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Xiao Yan, the Dependent Son-in-Law? ? Xiao Yan spread his hands and seemed to speak offhandedly, "Oh, who would have thought that the so-called largest market in Wu Tan City would be one that picks and chooses its customers? Unlike the Xiao Clan''s market across the street, they never turn anyone away. Every customer there is treated as if they were a Dou King." Jia Lie Ao''s face changed dramatically. If this rumor were to spread, the reputation of their market would surely be damaged. "What should we do, young master?" Jia Lie Ao looked at the surrounding customers and merchants. Many of them frowned when they heard Xiao Yan''s words. For merchants, of course, the more customers, the better. They had no reason to drive away customers. Especially someone like Xiao Yan, who was known to be a big spender. Needless to say, the customers also didn''t want to be driven away for no reason the next time they were shopping. Having said that, Xiao Yan ignored Jia Lie Ao''s sullen face and turned to Xun Er, "Xun Er, we should avoid places that drive away customers like this in the future. Let''s go back to our market instead." Xun Er blinked her lively eyes and nodded her head like an obedient child, "Oh, Xun Er understands." Jia Lie Ao''s mouth twitched when he saw Xun Er nod her head in response to Xiao Yan''s words, and the two of them even turned around and prepared to leave. His fists clenched so tightly they creaked. His gaze was dark and venomous as he stared at the talented young man. "Wait a moment!" Jia Lie Ao slowly stepped back, clearing a path, and said through gritted teeth, "Since you''ve come to the market to buy things, then please be my guest." Xiao Yan and Xun Er shared a smile. Xun Er linked her arm with Xiao Yan''s as they walked through the path made by the crowd into the market. Jia Lie Ao watched Xiao Yan''s back with a contorted face, his knuckles cracking in anger. Four years ago, he had been severely beaten up by the then-only ten-year-old Xiao Yan for harassing Xun Er. It was from that incident that Xiao Yan''s reputation as a genius started to spread. In other words, he, Jia Lie Ao, was his stepping stone! However, four years had passed, and he had only become a 1-star Dou Practitioner, while Xiao Yan had already reached the 3-star Dou Practitioner stage. Almost a star per year, such a rate of progress was terrifying! "Have someone follow these two. Since they dared to come alone, there''s a chance..." Jia Lie Ao made a throat-slitting gesture. With his powerful Spiritual Strength, Xiao Yan naturally knew that they were being followed. "Three 7-star Dou Practitioners. They are really underestimating Xiao Yan ge-ge," Xun Er also noticed that they were being followed, but she wasn''t worried. If Jia Lie Ao knew that Xiao Yan had defeated Nalan Yanran, who had learned the Xuan Class Dou Skills of the Misty Cloud Sect, in just one move yesterday, they would never have done such a stupid thing. Not to mention Dou Practitioners, even Dou Masters without Xuan Class Dou Skills would be no match for Xiao Yan. "You''re saying they''re planning to refine and sell medicinal pills?!" Xiao Yan nodded, "I visited our clan''s market this morning and noticed that all the merchants selling medicinal herbs had half of their usual stock of low-grade medicinal ingredients." "And in their market, the merchants have no low-grade medicinal ingredients at all." "Low-grade medicinal ingredients are usually used to refine 1st and 2nd-tier medicinal pills. If it''s 1st-tier pills, it''s still manageable, but 2nd-tier pills would be problematic." Xiao Zhan''s face changed dramatically when he heard his son''s analysis. If the Jia Lie Clan and the Ao Ba Clan truly could refine medicinal pills, it would be a devastating blow to the Xiao Clan! Indeed, the alliance between the two clans was not easy to deal with! Xiao Yan patted his father''s shoulder to comfort him, "Father, don''t worry. A 2nd-tier alchemist wouldn''t just obey the orders of the Jia Lie and Ao Ba Clans." "And if it really comes down to it, we could ask Elder Nalan Jie for help." "So our top priority now is to have the herb gathering team collect more herbs and reduce the sale of those herbs so as not to be swallowed up by others. Having the raw materials in hand also gives us some leverage." Xiao Zhan sighed and nodded. Even though his father and Nalan Jie were life-and-death friends, he had always been reluctant to ask for Nalan Jie''s help. After all, the original agreement was that Xiao Yan would marry Nalan Yanran. If they asked Nalan Jie for help, wouldn''t it look like the Xiao Clan was living off others?! Wouldn''t his son become a dependent son-in-law? As a father, how could he allow his son to bear the stigma of living off others? ... Xiao Yan ventured into a secluded cave on the back mountain alone and brought out a medicinal cauldron along with a large amount of low-grade medicinal ingredients and several monster cores. In truth, the reassurances that Xiao Yan gave to Xiao Zhan were nothing more than words of comfort. The person he cared for wasn''t Nalan Yanran, nor did he wish to become overly involved with the Nalan Clan. Only being strong himself was the true path! ''It seems I need to practice alchemy more frequently now. If they really manage to hire a 2nd- tier alchemist, just being able to refine 1st-tier medicinal pills won''t be enough.'' Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Flame Splitting Tsunami Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Flame Splitting Tsunami ? Xiao Yan sat cross-legged with his eyes closed and took slow breaths to adjust himself to his optimal state. He had been learning alchemy techniques since he was ten years old. It took him over three years to refine a 1st-tier medicinal pill, and he hadn''t been able to refine a 2nd-tier pill in the past year. However, this time around, he was confident he would be able to refine a 2nd-tier medicinal pill within two to three months. Now, his Dou Qi contained a strand of Bone Chilling Flame. This would greatly speed up the purification process of the medicinal pills. His mind continually replayed the scene of Hun Huzi refining a pill from the previous night. Though it lasted only a few seconds, those few seconds were bought with his life on the line. The advantage of having a powerful Spiritual Strength was having a strong memory. It made it possible for one to observe subtle details more clearly. This was especially true when observing alchemy, as alchemy itself relied on Spiritual Strength. Those few seconds were slowed down and played over and over again. It was like watching a movie at ten times slow motion, not willing to miss a single detail. ''Let''s try.'' Xiao Yan placed his hands in front of the medicinal cauldron, gathered a ball of Dou Qi flame, and threw it into the cauldron. He then controlled the intensity of the Dou Qi flame with his Spiritual Strength. Different medicinal ingredients required different temperatures to be purified. Most medicinal pills required their ingredients to be purified and then immediately fused together. There was no room for error. Boom! The temperature was too high and the medicinal ingredients were spoiled.V/\Issi?T for the b/est novel reading experi/en/ce "Again." Boom! Due to a lack of control over the placement of the ingredients during the purification process, a premature fusion occurred and the cauldron exploded. "Again!" Boom! The Spiritual Strength weakened. As a result, the flame could not be controlled properly, causing it to overflow and the cauldron to explode. The Spiritual Strength was depleted in the process. "Damn! I''ll... I''ll try again tomorrow!" Xiao Yan could only resort to the most idiotic method of practice without the hands-on guidance of a master. Day after day, week after week, and month after month. Every day, a young man practiced and taught himself alchemy in this secluded cave. Three months passed in the blink of an eye. ... ''Octane Blast!'' Xiao Yan aimed his right fist at the deepest part of the cave wall, twisted his body, and concentrated all his strength to deliver a powerful punch. Boom boom boom boom! Boom boom boom boom! "2." Whoosh! Xiao Yan swung the Heavy Xuan Ruler. The prerequisite for cultivating the Flame Splitting Tsunami was the ability to swing the Heavy Xuan Ruler freely. If one couldn''t even swing it freely, let alone practice further techniques. Xiao Yan now felt as if he was running with tires tied to him. Not only did he have to move, but he also had to move quickly. Not only did his body have to be strong, but he also had to use his Dou Qi to withstand the suppression of the Heavy Xuan Ruler. As a result, his consumption of Dou Qi was several times higher than usual. With a thunderous sound, his hands trembled on the fiftieth swing and lost his grip, causing the ruler to fall to the ground. He realized his limit was fifty swings as he looked at his trembling hands. Each swing consumed a considerable amount of his Dou Qi. After fifty swings, his Dou Qi was completely depleted. Xiao Yan smiled wryly and shook his head, ''It seems that I can''t continue practicing this Dou Technique today. I''ll recover my Dou Qi first and then focus on alchemy.'' He would not even think of returning home until he had exhausted all his Dou Qi, Spiritual Strength, and physical strength! Xiao Yan set aside the Heavy Xuan Ruler, released the Bone Chilling Flame, and sat down next to it, slowly circulating the Flame Mantra. His daily practice involved using the Flame Mantra to absorb the waves of heat emitted by the Bone Chilling Flame. Now, he could absorb the heat waves from as close as one meter away from the Bone Chilling Flame. ''Huh? Why has the circulation of my Dou Qi accelerated so much?'' Xiao Yan remembered something and looked at the Heavy Xuan Ruler that was embedded in the ground. In his extremely tired state, Xiao Yan could clearly sense that the almost sore muscles and the Dou Qi cyclone inside his body were greedily absorbing the heat waves released by the Bone Chilling Flame. He felt that the explosive power contained within his muscles and cells seemed to have subtly strengthened compared to before. Moreover, he felt he could get even closer to the Bone Chilling Flame. ''It''s a pity. If I could refine a 3rd-tier Qi Recovery Pill and use it in conjunction with my practice, the effects would probably be even better.'' Xiao Yan took out a 2nd-tier Small Recovery Pill and Foundation Building Pill. Although their effects were not as strong as the 3rd-tier Qi Recovery Pill, they could still help him restore his Dou Qi. The Foundation Building Pill could also soothe his muscles and prevent him from getting sore, allowing him to continue his rigorous training the next day. Endure the pain, enjoy the gain. Xiao Yan licked his lips, his eyes burning with fervor as he looked at the Bone Chilling Flame. No medicinal pill could compare to this Heavenly Flame. His strength would surely skyrocket if he could devour this flame with the Flame Mantra! Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Ya Feis Trust Issues Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Ya Fei''s Trust Issues ? The Miteer Auction House was the largest auction house in Wu Tan City. It was also owned by the richest clan in the Jia Ma Empire: the Miteer Clan. Within the Jia Ma Empire, the Miteer Clan was second to none when it came to wealth. The Miteer Clan, along with the Nalan Clan and the Mu Clan, were known as the three largest clans. These three families had their hands in the commercial, military, and various other sectors of the empire. The amount of influence they wielded was immense. "Yan Er, how come you have the time to come to the auction house with your father today?" Xiao Zhan arrived at the Miteer Auction House accompanied by several elders and Xiao Yan. Today, the auction house had a prized item for bid: the High Xuan Qi Method, Hurricane Chant. Xiao Zhan absolutely could not allow this High Xuan Qi Method to fall into the hands of the Jia Lie or Ao Ba Clans. Currently, the highest-class Qi Method possessed by the three clans was only a Mid-Level Xuan Class. Whoever acquired a High Xuan Class Qi Method could potentially raise their entire clan''s strength to a new level. Xiao Yan casually mentioned, "I found a mountain cave outside that was left by someone from the past. I found some items there that I plan to sell." His gaze swept across the opulent and spacious hall before he walked towards a room on the side. The door of the room bore three big characters that shone in a golden color: Treasure Inspection Hall. Upon entering, the room was somewhat empty, with only a middle-aged man sitting boredly at a table. The man''s eyes opened as he looked up at the sound of the door opening. His face immediately changed when he saw that it was Xiao Yan, and he happily said, "Young Master Xiao Yan, are you here to inspect some treasures?" Xiao Yan replied with a smile, "I''ve come across some items and thought to sell them all at this auction." He took out three bottles of Foundation Building Pill from his storage ring and placed them on the appraisal table. Xiao Yan had already refined a 2nd-tier medicinal pill a month ago. However, refining a 2nd- tier medicinal pill did not make one a 2nd-tier alchemist. One also needed to ensure a consistent success rate in order to be recognized as a 2nd-tier alchemist. "What is this?" The middle-aged man blinked in confusion. The middle-aged man carefully picked up a white jade bottle and lightly sniffed at its opening. After a moment, his expression subtly changed. There was a hint of awe in his gaze as he looked back at Xiao Yan: "Young Master Xiao Yan, are you an alchemist?!!" However, after thinking about it for a moment, he shook his head. Xiao Yan was only fifteen years old; the entire Wu Tan City knew about his fifteenth birthday celebration. It would be time for the Xiao Clan''s collective coming-of-age ceremony in another three or four months. A fifteen-year-old with a high cultivation and also an alchemist? How could that be possible? Xiao Yan shook his head and explained, "This is something I discovered in a cave. It''s called Foundation Building Pill. It can increase the cultivation speed of Dou Qi. However, it''s only effective for those below the Dou Practitioner realm." "Moreover, it has no side effects. The medicinal power is mild." Hiss! The appraiser took a deep breath. temptation. Xiao Zhan showed little interest when he heard Ya Fei''s introduction. The Foundation Building Pill was practically useless to him now that his son had already reached the Dou Practitioner realm. He had to save his gold coins to compete for the Hurricane Chant. In the end, the Foundation Building Pills that Xiao Yan refined himself were sold for a total of 105,000 gold coins. Xiao Yan was able to experience firsthand how lucrative being an alchemist could be. Materials that cost less than 10,000 gold coins sold for ten times that amount! In the end, Xiao Zhan was the undisputed winner of the Hurricane Chant. The Jia Lie Clan and the Ao Ba Clan were left seething with frustration in the face of the wealthy Xiao Zhan. After leaving the auction hall, Xiao Yan returned to the Treasure Inspection Hall, where Master Gu Ni and Ya Fei were already waiting for him. The red-clad Ya Fei laughed lightly when she saw Xiao Yan arrive, "Little Brother Xiao Yan, how kind of you to visit your Elder Sister''s auction house." Ya Fei''s pair of watery, slender, beautiful eyes stared directly at Xiao Yan as she walked with cat-like steps, swaying her waist as she approached him. The first time Xiao Yan saw Ya Fei, he even mistook her for a member of the Snake - People Tribe; her waist could twist even more than a snake''s! Xiao Yan cursed inwardly, this fox spirit! "Sister Ya Fei is exceptionally talented. Entrusting the auction to Sister Ya Fei is indeed the best decision." Ya Fei took out a gold card and handed it to Xiao Yan, bending slightly to approach him and whispering, "Little Brother Xiao Yan, how about introducing the alchemist who helped you refine the pill to Elder Sister?" Master Gu Ni had already discovered during the inspection that the Foundation Building Pill was not obtained from a cave as Xiao Yan had claimed, because the pills were still very fresh. Xiao Yan felt a tingling sensation all over his body. If not for his strong will, the enchantress'' whisper alone would have been enough to make any man submit. However, his face remained unchanged as he calmly accepted the gold card and smiled, "Sister Ya Fei, to be honest, I did the refining myself." Ya Fei giggled and covered her mouth, "Don''t tease Elder Sister. You''re only fifteen years old. Even Pill King Gu He was only an apprentice at your age, not even a 1st-tier alchemist. How could you possibly refine a 2nd-tier medicinal pill?" Xiao Yan shrugged and put on an innocent expression as he said, "Since Sister Ya Fei doesn''t believe me, there''s nothing I can do about it." Ya Fei used her index finger to gently lift Xiao Yan''s chin, locking her eyes with his as she said, "If you are a 2nd-tier alchemist, I''ll hand over the auction house to you." Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Xiao Yu Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Xiao Yu ? Ya Fei lifted Xiao Yan''s chin, her eyes conveying unspoken messages as she looked into his. Standing in her red high heels, she stood half a head taller than Xiao Yan, who was still in his growing phase. Master Gu Ni watched this scene and sighed. In all of Wu Tan City, there was no other man other than Xiao Yan who had ever touched the hand of Ya Fei. There was once a wealthy foreign merchant who tried to touch her hand, only to have his own chopped off. But that''s not surprising. Ya Fei''s natural charm could make any man dream of her with a glance or smile. Not only in the remote Wu Tan City, but even in the imperial capital, she was considered a breathtaking beauty, with suitors lining up from east to west. She hated that kind of attention, which was why she had specifically come to Wu Tan City to gain some experience. However, she found that this small Wu Tan City was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Xiao Yan was not only a cultivation genius with extraordinary talent, but also uniquely immune to her charms! The more unattainable a person seemed to be, the more one would want to conquer them. Gradually, the idea of subduing Xiao Yan took root in her heart. Xiao Yan smiled confidently, kissed the back of Ya Fei''s hand gently, and said, "Sister Ya Fei, what good is this huge Miteer Auction House without you?" "Thank you, Sister Ya Fei. I must leave now. I''ll come back to bother you when I find more medicinal pills." Xiao Yan waved his hand and turned to leave with the gold card between his fingers. The smile on Ya Fei''s pretty face slowly faded as she watched Xiao Yan''s back disappear. She frowned slightly and leaned back lazily on the soft sofa. Her perfect curves made it hard for anyone to remain unmoved. Master Gu Ni sighed, "He refused." There were hidden meanings in the conversation. Ya Fei had offered the entire auction house in exchange for the contact information of the alchemist who had helped Xiao Yan with his refinement. Presumably, her goal was the pill recipe. Even Master Gu Ni was surprised by the effect of the Foundation Building Pill. If there was a long-term supply, there would be huge profits from selling the pill in the imperial capital. But Xiao Yan was no ordinary person. Although his words were ambiguous, as if he was expressing affection, in reality, he had realized the trap and refused the offer. Without Ya Fei and the support of the Miteer Clan behind her, the Miteer Auction House would be nothing but a worthless piece of property. "Uncle Gu Ni, could the 2nd-tier medicinal pill really have been refined by him?" Ya Fei asked quietly after a short silence. As soon as she spoke, she rejected the idea in her heart, thinking it was completely unrealistic.Vi?Sit no(v)3lb/!n(.)com for new novels Gu Ni also shook his head, "This is impossible. Even those few little monsters in the Imperial Capital, with the personal guidance of their masters, have not managed to refine a 2nd-tier medicinal pill at the age of fifteen. Alchemy requires not only talent but also vast knowledge imparted by a teacher. He''s only a Dou Practitioner, and the temperature of his Dou Qi flame is not high enough for him to refine a 2nd-tier Monster Core... ... Unless he has a special flame to assist him. The quality of those Foundation Building Pills is also quite high and I doubt I could refine a pill of such high quality myself." Ya Fei''s red little mouth curled slightly as she casually mentioned, "Even with a pill recipe?" Upon hearing Ya Fei''s words, the expression on Gu Ni''s face changed to one of shock, and he hurriedly said, "A pill recipe is a lifeline for every alchemist. Miss must not have any thoughts of targeting an alchemist''s pill recipes. The Cech Family, once famous in the Jia Ma Empire, made the mistake of coveting Pill King Gu He''s recipes. They were eventually wiped out by four Dou Kings he had invited. The incident escalated to the point where even the royal family of the Jia Ma Empire did not dare to intervene!" Looking at the somewhat panicked Gu Ni, Ya Fei hugged a pillow like a fox and muttered, "It would be great if that boy really did refine it himself." Gu Ni looked at Ya Fei and seemed to casually mention, "There are rumors that Nalan Yanran of the Nalan Clan wants to break off their engagement and has even received the consent of the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect." Xiao Yan suddenly felt a chill beside him, but he pretended to be nonchalant. "What would I be looking at? I''m just worried whether there are any issues with Father''s cooperation with the Miteer Clan." At this moment, Xiao Yan suddenly felt a sharp murderous intent. He turned his head to see a beautiful woman dressed in an academy outfit leaning against a large tree, glaring at him with gritted teeth. The woman was tall, especially her pair of round and slender legs that gleamed white in the sunlight, appearing as beautiful and pristine as ivory. "Uh... Xiao Yu!" The usually calm Little Clan Leader Xiao Yan unexpectedly seemed a bit flustered when he saw Xiao Yu approaching step by step. Xun Er giggled from the side, "Xiao Yan ge-ge, it is said that heaven''s misdeeds can be forgiven, but one''s own misdeeds are inexcusable." Xiao Yan rubbed his forehead and explained, "I was really practicing at that time. I didn''t expect the cliff to suddenly give way, and that''s how I ended up falling into the hot spring. It''s not like I intended to see her naked." "I heard that Xiao Yan ge-ge even touched her thigh." "That was a misunderstanding! She was the one who kicked me, and I was merely defending myself." "Was it also a misunderstanding when Xiao Yan ge-ge was in Xun Er''s room when we were little?" Xun Er couldn''t help but blush a captivating shade of red as she remembered that night when she was four years old. Xiao Yan swallowed hard. He is doomed! This time, Xun Er wasn''t going to help him out of this one. "Xiao Yan!!! Go die!!" Xiao Yu drew her sword and thrust it toward Xiao Yan with a clang. Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Coming of Age Ceremony Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Coming of Age Ceremony ? "Little pervert, today I shall execute justice on behalf of the heavens!" Xiao Yu thrust her sword repeatedly toward Xiao Yan. However, as a mere 3-star Dou Practitioner, Xiao Yu''s strength was absolutely no match for him, especially since she was even weaker than Nalan Yanran was a year ago, let alone capable of defeating Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Yu''s angry yet beautiful eyes. All he could do was scratch his head and dodge. His movements were agile and unpredictable. Although it was only a Low Xuan Class Agility-Type Dou Technique, it was already more than enough to dodge the attacks of a Dou Practitioner. "I really didn''t do it on purpose back then; it wasn''t my intention to see your body," Xiao Yan explained as he dodged. When she heard Xiao Yan bring up the past incident in public, Xiao Yu bit her lip tightly, and her pretty eyes glared at Xiao Yan stubbornly. The hatred in her eyes seemed to be increasing rather than decreasing. "Xiao Yan, you little bastard, shut up!" Ya Fei and the others nearby heard the commotion and looked over. Ya Fei laughed, "I never thought that the Xiao Clan''s genius Little Clan Leader would have a day where he''d be chased and slashed." Xiao Zhan and several elders could only smile wryly. In fact, before Xiao Yan, the strongest genius in the clan was Xiao Yu. She had lived up to expectations and successfully entered Jia Nan Academy to continue her studies. She had returned this year to attend the coming-of-age ceremony and to discuss with the clan the upcoming enrollment of Jia Nan Academy, hoping to allow more clan members to enter the academy and increase the clan''s strength. "Alright, that''s enough fun." With a crisp sound, Xiao Yan pinched Xiao Yu''s sword between his two fingers and used his strength to flick the sword away with ease. Xiao Yan''s effortless flicking away of her sword left Xiao Yu''s face pale with anger, her eyes burning with fury. "No matter what, I will not let you off so easily today, you little pervert!" Her words had just fallen when Xiao Yu stepped forward with her left foot, her graceful figure tracing a seductive curve. Surprisingly, her sexy right leg carried a hint of a whistling sound as it viciously aimed for his crotch! Xiao Yan felt displeased at the sight of Xiao Yu''s ruthlessness. It was indeed an accident back then, and he was, after all, the Little Clan Leader. Today''s coming-of-age ceremony would officially announce him as such, yet Xiao Yu showed him no respect at all. Naturally, he felt unhappy in his heart when Xiao Yu made him lose face like this. Facing the kick, Xiao Yan''s gaze became sharper as he directly grabbed her right ankle. Panicked, Xiao Yu hastily covered her skirt with her hands to prevent it from flying up. After struggling fruitlessly for a while, Xiao Yu glared at Xiao Yan, her ample bosom slightly heaving in embarrassment as she scolded, "You little pervert! Let go of me!" Xiao Yan completely ignored her protests. He continued to drag her along the street by her slender right leg as if he were leading a bull. Xiao Yu hopped and bounced with her left foot on the ground as Xiao Yan dragged her along, crying out, "Let go! Let me go!!"Vi?Sit no(v)3lb/!n(.)com for new novels "I am the Little Clan Leader after all. Aren''t you taking me too lightly?" "A pervert like you as the Little Clan Leader? I, Xiao Yu, will never acknowledge it even in death!" Xiao Yan''s eyebrows raised slightly as he said ominously, "Oh? You are challenging me now?" He directly proceeded to remove Xiao Yu''s shoe and took out a piece of grass resembling a foxtail from his storage ring. Guessing what Xiao Yan was about to do, Xiao Yu''s face turned pale and she screamed with a mixture of anger and fear, "Xiao Yan! You... you dare!" Eventually, Xiao Yan became numb to it all and let the elders lead him as they wished. Seeing Xiao Yan''s helpless look, Xun Er''s big watery eyes curved slightly and she smiled, "Xiao Yan ge-ge, these are traditions that have been passed down for generations. Even Uncle Xiao and the others can''t change them." Xiao Yan could only shake his head helplessly and silently vowed that once he became the Clan Head, he would change these outdated practices! The most important part after the coming-of-age ceremony was the strength test. This was especially important for those who had reached the 6th-stage Dou Disciple last year. Whether they could stay in Wu Tan City depended on this test. The ceremony was presided over by Second Elder Xiao Ying. One by one, the Xiao Clan members stepped forward to test their strength. There were about thirty 15-year-olds, half of whom did not meet the standards and were sent to develop new territories. "Xiao Yan, it''s your turn." The Second Elder gently waved to Xiao Yan, who was sitting in the VIP area. Xiao Yan was the last one because Xun Er''s coming-of-age ceremony was not held in the Xiao Clan. So far, the highest cultivation level at the ceremony was Xiao Mei, who had reached the 9th-stage Dou Disciple. This was because Xiao Yan had given her a bottle of Foundation Building Pills, allowing her to become a 9th-stage Dou Disciple. The audience fell silent, and even the previously listless Ya Fei showed interest. In fact, everyone was here to see how much Xiao Yan''s strength had improved. "What do you think Xiao Yan''s cultivation level will be this time?" "A year ago, Xiao Yan was a 3-star Dou Practitioner. Without any fortuitous encounters or the aid of medicinal pills, it would be quite impressive to advance by one star in one year." "Xiao Yan started Qi cultivation at the age of four and became a Dou Practitioner at the age of eleven. It took him seven years to advance ten stages. Although it''s more difficult to advance as a Dou Practitioner, if he used some medicinal pills, it''s possible that he could advance by two stars." On the high wooden platform, a large black stone monument suddenly lit up, with golden characters flying and dancing on its surface. The Second Elder was stunned when he saw the four characters on the monument. "Dou Practitioner, 6-Star!" The crisp sound of tea cups falling to the ground could be heard repeatedly in the VIP seats. Representatives from various factions within Wu Tan City were incredulous at this moment. Looking at the confident young genius at the center of the arena, even the older generation couldn''t help but rub their eyes and think they were seeing things. As Ya Fei looked at the young man, she suddenly regretted having said that she would wrap herself up and give herself to him if he was able to reach the Dou Ancestor. She had the faint feeling that Xiao Yan might actually have the potential to become a Dou Ancestor! "A three stars progression in one year?!!!" Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Talent, Now in Full Bloom Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Talent, Now in Full Bloom ? Crash! Xiao Zhan was so surprised that he couldn''t even hold the teacup in his hand and dropped it on the ground. He was flustered! "A three stars progression in one year? A 6-star Dou Practitioner?!!!" Xiao Yu''s eyes widened in astonishment. The anger she had been holding in her gritted teeth was momentarily forgotten. Now she was rendered speechless by Xiao Yan''s terrifying cultivation level. As a student of Jia Nan Academy herself, Xiao Yu knew about the academy''s entrance assessment. The assessment only took people under the age of twenty into consideration and ranked them from F to S, with S being reserved for those under the age of twenty who had reached the 6-star Dou Practitioner stage. For over a decade, only the Little Witch of the Jia Nan Academy had achieved this feat. Now, considering Xiao Yan had just celebrated his coming-of-age ceremony and was only fifteen, it wasn''t just about breaking records anymore; it was about possessing an unimaginable and terrifying cultivation talent! ''Xiao Yan ge-ge''s talent has finally blossomed.'' A small tear of emotion appeared at the corner of Xun Er''s eye. Given her special status, Xun Er was aware that Xiao Yan''s cultivation speed wasn''t considered fast on the vast Dou Qi Continent. However, she always believed that his talent was far more than just that. The members of the Xiao Clan were even more astonished. This kind of cultivation speed could only be described in three words: terrifying as hell! "With this cultivation speed, perhaps... it''s possible that in a few decades, the Xiao Clan will truly produce an elite Dou Emperor." The people in the VIP seats exchanged glances, all of them simultaneously struck by a somewhat shocking thought. A Dou Emperor. If a small clan in the Jia Ma Empire were to produce an elite Dou Emperor, regardless of their inherent limitations, the status of that clan would instantly skyrocket. At that point, even the three major clans of the Jia Ma Empire would not dare to suppress them. After all, there were only a handful of elite Dou Emperors in this vast empire, each with the power to turn the tide and fight against thousands. No sane empire would choose to offend a Dou Emperor! Although having talent was no guarantee of becoming an elite expert, no one knew how the world would change in a few decades. One could also die during outdoor training, from illness, or simply fade into obscurity. However, there was no denying that Xiao Yan had now received the ticket to the pinnacle of strength. It was only Xiao Yan himself who touched his nose with a bit of embarrassment. He wanted to say that he himself did not know that his cultivation level had actually increased by three stars! ''The Heavenly Flame is truly terrifying,'' he couldn''t help but sigh inwardly. Under normal circumstances, if he relied solely on the Qi Method to absorb the world''s energy and transform it into Dou Qi, he would only be able to improve by one star at most. This year, however, he had two opportunities. One was the medicinal pill refined by Hun Huzi, which he obtained with his life on the line, and the other was the Bone Chilling Flame. Traditionally, there were only two methods to increase one''s cultivation: transforming one''s Dou Qi with the Qi Method, and increasing one''s Dou Qi with medicinal pills. However, there was a third method that Xiao Yan had. He devoured a Heavenly Flame through the special properties of the Flame Mantra and integrated the power of the Heavenly Flame into his Dou Qi. As Xiao Yan would put it, the Flame Mantra devoured Heavenly Flames like a nuclear reactor, maintaining control over them within the body and harnessing their energy. to quietly unfold. - "Father, this is Master Liu Xi, a 1st-tier Alchemist." In a brightly lit hall, Jia Lie Ao introduced a young alchemist standing beside him. The hall was filled with many people dressed not only in the attire of the high-ranking members of the Jia Lie Clan but also in the attire of the Ao Ba Clan. Because of Xiao Yan, the Jia Lie Clan and the Ao Ba Clan had completely formed an alliance of interests to protect themselves from being annexed by the powerful Xiao Clan. Upon the arrival of Liu Xi, both clan heads, Jia Lie Bi and Ao Ba Pa, hurriedly stood up to greet him. "Master Liu Xi truly is a person of outstanding talent." "Hehe, compared to Master Liu Xi, what is a mere Xiao Yan?" Liu Xi opened his fan and slowly said, "Merely cultivating Dou Qi is nothing but the work of brutes. Only those who master the art of alchemy can control everything." // Thanks to everyone who has left Power Stones, comments, and reviews! This introductory arc is meant to parallel the development of the original story, so the pace might feel a little slow to some. I also can''t wait to get to the more exciting parts, so let''s make a win-win deal! The fixed update rate will be 2 chapters per day for these first two weeks. However, if we reach the goal of 100 Power Stones per day, I''ll add an extra chapter for a total of 3 updates per day! Let''s make it happen together! Chapter 16: Chapter 16: The Hardworking Nalan Yanran! Chapter 16: Chapter 16: The Hardworking Nalan Yanran! ? As the most powerful sect in the Jia Ma Empire, the Misty Cloud Sect had its headquarters on a majestic mountain just over a dozen miles from the imperial capital. Due to the name of the sect, this mountain was also known as the Misty Cloud Mountain. Only two miles from the foot of Misty Cloud Mountain, the empire had stationed a garrison of 50,000 horsemen in the name of defending the capital. However, it was clear to everyone that this was a precaution taken by the rulers of the empire to guard against this fierce tiger looming close to the capital. The vegetation of the Cloud Mist Sect was lush and thriving, with an abundance of plant life that had formed forests. Looking around, one could see rolling mountains and even hear the distant sound of waterfalls. The environment was filled with lush greenery that exuded an immensely vigorous vitality. A woman dressed in a moon-white robe formed intricate hand seals while cultivating with her eyes closed. With each inhale and exhale, a perfect cycle was formed. The woman immersed in her cultivation was none other than Nalan Yanran, who had gone to break off her engagement but was defeated by Xiao Yan. She slowly opened her eyes after the final strand of green energy was absorbed into her body. A faint green light flickered across her pupils, and her shoulder-length black hair fluttered slightly without any wind. ''What a domineering medicinal pill. It actually took a whole month to be completely absorbed.'' Nalan Yanran stood at the edge of the cliff, with the mountain breeze blowing directly onto her, causing her moon-white robe to tightly adhere to her exquisite and delicate figure. It had to be said that her beauty and figure were truly deserving of the word ''beautiful.'' "Senior Sister Nalan, Elder Nalan Su has arrived at the Misty Cloud Sect. He has requested your presence," a maid dedicated to serving her said softly. Nalan Yanran drew her sword, and in an instant, her Dou Qi swirled around her as she began to practice her Dou Techniques with great diligence. "I won''t see him!" A year had passed, and Nalan Yanran knew she had been defeated in battle due to her lack of proficiency in Dou Techniques. Therefore, during the past year, she had worked desperately to cultivate her Dou Techniques, even venturing alone into the dangerous Magic Beast Mountain Range to train, all in the hopes of enhancing her Dou Techniques through bloody battles. Nalan Yanran''s refusal left the maid feeling dismayed, but she didn''t dare to contradict her decision and could only convey her words as they were. In one of the halls of the Misty Cloud Sect, Nalan Su''s face turned livid when he heard that his daughter refused to see him. He slammed his palm on the table and said angrily, "This girl is becoming more and more rebellious!" He hadn''t expected that while he was leading the troops stationed in the western part of the empire for only one year, this spoiled daughter of his would dare to secretly annul the marriage arrangement that the old leader had personally arranged! In fact, he, Nalan Su, was the one who was most concerned about the marriage arrangement between the two parties. He had high hopes for Xiao Yan''s talent and had even planned to fully cultivate him with the Nalan Clan''s resources after their marriage. Nalan Yanran, who had joined the Misty Cloud Sect and trained under Yun Yun, was almost guaranteed to become a Dou Emperor. If Xiao Yan also reached the Dou Emperor realm, then the Nalan Clan would have the support of two Dou Emperors in addition to the backing of the Misty Cloud Sect! The repercussions of annulling the engagement would be too significant. And most importantly, Nalan Su wanted this genius son-in-law! Who was Gu He? He immediately saw through the reason for Nalan Su''s anger. After taking a sip of tea, he said, "I''ve also heard about that young man named Xiao Yan. His coming-of- age ceremony a few days ago revealed him to be a 6-star Dou Practitioner. Having reached three stars in one year, his talent is indeed not inferior to Yanran''s." Nalan Su''s face turned sour like a bitter gourd. "But," Gu He''s tone shifted as he turned to look at Nalan Yanran, who was diligently cultivating, "Cultivation doesn''t solely rely on talent. No matter how high one''s talent might be, without a powerful Qi Method, guidance from a master, and the aid of medicinal pills, it is nothing more than that. Even the most skillful housewife can''t cook a meal without rice.*" TL/N: No one can accomplish anything without the necessary means. "Although advancing three stars in a year is indeed fast, there is still some gap compared to Yanran." Nalan Su understood the hidden meaning in Gu He''s words and immediately sensed something. "A 9-star Dou Practitioner?!!!" Gu He nodded approvingly and said, "Yanran has been working very hard this year. The 4th- tier medicinal pill I provided, the Wind Erosion Pill, can speed up the cultivation of wind attribute Dou Qi. However, it constantly subjects one to the torment of wind blades. Yet, Yanran has not uttered a single complaint." "Moreover, half a year ago, Sect Leader Yun Yun took Yanran as her direct disciple and taught her the sect''s Di Class Qi Method, Misty Cloud Heaven Swirling Technique." "That fiasco a year ago was not a bad thing for Yanran. After shedding her arrogance, she has been wholeheartedly devoted to her cultivation." "Once Yun Yun gathers the necessary ingredients, I will be able to refine some 5th-tier medicinal pills for Yanran. Two years later, Yanran''s cultivation level will undoubtedly exceed everyone''s expectations." "Without the guidance of a master, without the aid of medicinal pills, what can he, Xiao Yan, rely on to surpass Yanran?" Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Relying on Oneself Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Relying on Oneself ? Gu He''s statement made Nalan Su''s heart start to waver. He suddenly understood that talent was just that, talent. There had been many talented individuals throughout history, but only a few in the Jia Ma Empire had ever become Dou Emperors. In fact, as Gu He said, the further one progressed in cultivation, the more resources one needed, and the less important talent became. With no resources to aid him, how could Xiao Yan possibly surpass his daughter! If this daughter of his could truly defeat Xiao Yan, then allowing her to choose her own husband might lead her to find someone even stronger. After all, the strong were always drawn to each other. "I would like to thank Master Gu He for clearing up my doubts. If Master Gu He does not mind, I would be honored to have you as my guest at the Nalan Mansion. I, Nalan Su, will make sure that you are warmly welcomed," Nalan Su cupped his fist and said. Gu He waved his hand, "No need, I plan to exchange an item with a powerful figure soon and will be busy preparing a batch of medicinal pills. I really won''t have any spare time." Nalan Su hastily offered, "Is there anything our Nalan Clan can do to help?" Gu He smiled and shook his head, "I don''t think that''s necessary. The individual is a Dou Emperor." Hiss! Dou Emperor! Probably only Pill King Gu He had the capital to trade with a Dou Emperor in the entire Jia Ma Empire. ... At this moment, Xiao Yan, whose protagonist script had been taken away, stood at the edge of a deep pool. With one hand, he picked up the Heavy Xuan Ruler planted in the ground before jumping into the water with a splash. The immense weight of the Heavy Xuan Ruler caused his body to sink quickly. he grabbed the Heavy Xuan Ruler after it hit the bottom of the pool with a thud and swung it continuously. He swept, chopped, stabbed, and lifted. Despite its weight, the Heavy Xuan Ruler seemed to move as if it were an extension of his arm. Weight training! Xiao Yan had been practicing the Flame Splitting Tsunami for more than half a year, and he was already able to wield the Heavy Xuan Ruler at will. However, he felt that this was not enough, so he used the resistance and pressure of the water to intensify his training! Whenever he ran out of oxygen, he would stow away the Heavy Xuan Ruler, surface to breathe, and then dive back down to continue his training. As Xiao Yan''s speed with the Heavy Xuan Ruler increased at the bottom of the pool, he actually stirred up a swirl in the water. This caused the water to churn violently. He suddenly concentrated all his Dou Qi with a focused gaze. The special patterns on the Heavy Xuan Ruler emitted a faint red light. The terrifying heat could not be cooled even underwater, and huge bubbles continued to rise to the surface. "Hurry, hurry, come to the clan meeting hall." Without a chance to escape, Xiao Yan was immediately escorted to the meeting hall by the Second and Third Elders. Finally, he understood what had happened after listening to the raucous discussions in the meeting hall. In summary, the Jia Lie and Ao Ba Clans had somehow managed to invite a 1st- tier alchemist and preemptively monopolized the market for all low-grade medicinal ingredients in Wu Tan City. They had spent a long time preparing and refining two types of 1st-tier medicinal pills and had captured a large portion of the market share. "Little Clan Leader, these are the ''Rejuvenation Powder'' and ''Minor Dou Qi Pill'' sold at the Ao Jia Market." Xiao Yan picked up the bottle labeled ''Rejuvenation Powder,'' poured out some of the powder to smell it, and shook his head, "This is considered a medicinal pill? This is just the lowest grade of 1st-tier medicinal pills, and it can''t even speed up the healing of wounds." The Third Elder said with a bitter smile, "Little Clan Leader, please don''t joke. Normal mercenary groups can only afford this kind of medicinal pill, and as long as it can stop the bleeding and ease the pain, it''s considered good enough." Xiao Yan then picked up the bottle labeled ''Minor Dou Qi Pill'' and poured out a blue pill smaller than a dragon''s eye. He crushed it gently and rubbed the powder between his fingers. "This is slightly better than the Rejuvenation Powder and should be considered an intermediate-grade 1st-tier medicinal pill. It should allow someone whose Dou Qi is depleted to use an Intermediate Huang Class Dou Technique once again." Xiao Yan said as he wiped his hands with a handkerchief, as if the medicinal pill had dirtied his hands. "Yan Er, do you have a way to deal with this?" Xiao Zhan immediately sought Xiao Yan because, about half a year ago, Xiao Yan had already detected the opponent''s intentions and had all clan members prepare in advance. Xiao Yan took a sip of tea to moisten his throat and showed his usual confident smile, "Of course, I do." The Grand Elder quickly said, "Tell us, we will all cooperate with you." Xiao Yan waved his hand and said, "There''s no hurry. As the saying goes, ''Those whom the Heavens wish to destroy, they first deprive of their senses.'' Let''s allow those two clans to enjoy themselves for now." The Second Elder asked in confusion, "Then what should we do?" Xiao Yan looked at the crushed white powder on the ground and said lightly, "For now, let''s just play along with them. Solving their medicinal pill scheme now would at most cause them to lose some money, not enough to cause any serious damage." "To deal with enemies, we must not just defeat them, but cripple them." Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Counterattack Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Counterattack ? Under the direction of the Little Clan Leader Xiao Yan, the Little Clan Leader, the entire Xiao Clan acted as if they were blind and ignored the two types of medicinal pills introduced by the Ao Ba and Jia Lie Clans, which had taken away much of their market share. The disciples of the Xiao Clan continued with their daily activities as before, engaging in regular cultivation, gathering medicinal herbs, and hunting magical beasts for their cores. This situation persisted for two months, during which time business in the Xiao Clan market plummeted. What had once been a bustling market, filled with people and as busy as a road full of traffic, now only saw a few commoners coming to buy daily necessities. Due to the allure of the medicinal pills, all the cultivators had moved from the Xiao Clan Market to the Ao Jia Market. The lure of medicinal pills naturally brought in more customers and increased the sales of other shops. As a result, the daily sales of the Ao Jia market were several to ten times higher than those of the Xiao Clan. "Xiao Yan ge, the Clan Head is looking for you. He wants you to come to the meeting hall," Xiao Mei saw Xiao Yan returning from his cultivation outside and ran up to him. Xiao Yan smiled and replied, "Got it, I''m heading over now." Xiao Mei followed after Xiao Yan with her big eyes fixed on his back. Suddenly curious, she asked, "Brother Xiao Yan, the enrollment for Jia Nan Academy will begin in two months. Do you plan to take the Jia Nan Academy entrance exam?" After thinking for a moment, Xiao Yan replied without turning around, "I don''t know yet. I''ll let you know when the time comes." Xiao Yan and Xiao Mei walked straight into the meeting hall. As Xiao Yan expected, not only was Xiao Zhan present, but the three elders were also there. However, the three elders were like ants on a hot pan, pacing around and looking very anxious. Upon seeing Xiao Yan''s arrival, the most worried Third Elder quickly pulled him aside and asked, "Xiao Yan, it''s been two months. How much longer do we have to wait?" "Damn it, I really can''t take it anymore. Our clan''s profits have dropped by at least sixty percent in these two months. If this continues, all of Xiao Clan''s industries will go bankrupt. Half of the shops in our market have already closed down and moved to their side. If this goes on, we won''t even need to bother renting out the space in our market, we might as well just shut it down," the Second Elder''s face was full of ferocity as he said in an angry tone. "We really can''t put this off any longer," the Grand Elder sighed heavily. "Even though Master Gu Ni of the Miteer Auction House has refined hundreds of bottles of medicine for our clan, the quantity is too small to attract customers. The remaining shop owners in the market are already panicking." Xiao Zhan''s expression was equally grim. Although he had always trusted his son, two months had passed. The Jia Lie and Ao Ba Clans were making more and more profit. The two types of medicinal pills were sold at higher and higher prices, yet the more expensive they became, the more people bought them. They sold out every day. "Yan Er, how much longer do we have to wait? I''m afraid the clan can''t hold out much longer." first sight. His gaze was filled with unabashed greed as it swept over Xun Er''s figure. With a thud, Xiao Ning and one of the other party''s guards exchanged a palm strike. Having recently reached the Dou Practitioner realm, Xiao Ning found himself at a disadvantage in terms of Dou Techniques and was pushed back several steps. "Tsk, a mere 1-star Dou Practitioner dares to step forward." Mocked by Liu Xi, Xiao Ning''s face turned bright red with anger as he glared at him with fiery eyes. Although he had recently broken through to the Dou Practitioner realm after fulfilling his firm commitment upon receiving the Qi Gathering Pill, he was still too young and no match for these guards. On the side, Xiao Yu''s face was icy as she said in a deep voice, "Xiao Ning, withdraw. You are still too weak." Xiao Ning walked over to Xiao Yu with a heart full of unwillingness. Just as Xiao Yu had said, he was still too weak. Becoming a Dou Practitioner was just barely stepping onto the threshold of cultivation. It was worth noting that a 1st-tier alchemist needed at least the strength of a Dou Practitioner to purify medicinal ingredients. A Rank 1 magical beast was also equivalent to a Dou Practitioner. This basically meant that a Dou Disciple was not yet considered an official cultivator, and still fell into the category of ordinary people. Liu Xi''s eyes lit up as they lingered on Xiao Yu''s sensually long and slender legs. He couldn''t help but praise, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, those legs. It seems that my luck is quite good today. I wonder if you two would like to join me for a stroll around? If I''m pleased, perhaps I''ll reward you with a medicinal pill." He deliberately displayed the 1st-tier alchemist badge on his chest. Xiao Yu and Xiao Ning frowned. A 1st-tier alchemist? Wasn''t he the one responsible for refining the Rejuvenation Powder and Minor Dou Qi Pill that caused trouble for the clan? Xiao Yu scoffed coldly, "Just a 1st-tier. I''ve seen higher ones. Xun Er, let''s go." Several burly men appeared from the crowd as they turned to leave. They blocked their path with a smirk on their faces. Xiao Yu''s pretty face darkened as she turned around and addressed Jia Lie Ao with a cold voice, "Blocking the way into our own clan''s market? You are seeking death!" Jia Lie Ao, standing to the side with a smug smile, said, "Hehehe, with the way things are going for you now, it won''t be long before the Xiao Clan Market becomes ours. I''m just here to take an early look at our future property." Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Killing Intent Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Killing Intent ? Liu Xi arrogantly stroked his snow-white sleeves and boasted, "Hehe, what is the Xiao Clan anyway? If I wanted to, I could increase alchemy production, lower compensation for alchemy, and leave your Xiao Clan Market with no business at all. Before long, you will surely go bankrupt, be forced to sell off your properties, and disappear from Wu Tan City forever." Xun Er''s gaze turned icy as she fixed her eyes on Liu Xi. Her delicate lips parted slightly as she retorted, "Idiot. Even if you are an alchemist, you''re still an idiotic alchemist. Trash belongs in the trash can. There''s one over there; jump in yourself and stop polluting the environment." The scene plunged into immediate silence. All eyes were locked on the girl who stood there like a pristine green lotus, in utter disbelief.V/\Issi?T for the b/est novel reading experi/en/ce What happened to the adage of the lotus rising unsullied from the mud, cleansing itself in clear water without being tainted? It seemed Xiao Yan''s influence had transcended the mud itself. Even Xun Er had been led astray. Xiao Yu slapped her own forehead and said with a helpless expression, "Xun Er, remember the saying, ''You are influenced by the company you keep.'' Stay away from that little pervert." Accustomed to being flattered for his status as an alchemist, Liu Xi had never been spoken to in such a demeaning manner. His face instantly darkened and his eyes revealed a thick, lecherous fury as he roared, "Go! Seize these two women and bring them to my residence!" Jia Lie Ao''s eyelids twitched in shock upon hearing this. Was this man really an idiot? How could he openly talk about such things on the street?! Even though Wu Tan City was divided between three major clans, it still had a city lord and ultimately belonged to the Jia Ma Empire! Such actions of kidnapping women were undoubtedly illegal. Couldn''t he have waited to talk about such plans secretly at night? Jia Lie Ao glanced around and gave a meaningful look to the dozen or so Dou Practitioner level strength burly guards around him. The dozen burly guards subtly nodded and formed a circle with their bodies, blocking the view of the onlookers. Xiao Yu''s willowy eyebrows furrowed in anger as she watched the arrogance of the other side. She swiftly drew her sword from her waist and violently slashed at the burly man charging toward her. With a swish, a long gash appeared on the man''s chest, instantly staining his clothes with blood. Although Xiao Yu was a 3-star Dou Practitioner, the strength of the dozen or so burly men was also in the Dou Practitioner realm. Xiao Yu found herself outnumbered and at a disadvantage. After knocking down another burly man with a palm strike that made him spit blood, Xiao Yu turned to Xiao Ning and shouted, "Take Xun Er and run, call that little pervert over here!" "Sigh, can''t you use nicer words on the street? You''re damaging my good name." a leisurely voice came from afar, a voice that was all too familiar in the Xiao Clan Market. Several heavy thuds were heard as soon as the voice fell. The dozen or so burly men who had surrounded Xun Er and the others were sent flying in all directions like petals scattered by the wind. Some ended up hanging from shop signs, others from trees, and a few lay on the ground moaning in pain. Xiao Yan walked over step by step with his hands behind his back. The Xiao Clan Market itself had many guards, but Xiao Yan came alone this time, without a single guard following him. Yet, that was enough. "Having an alchemist like you truly shames all alchemists." Xiao Yan''s gaze was cold as he glanced at Liu Xi and Jia Lie Ao. "It''s Young Master Xiao Yan!" "Wow, he''s so strong. He dealt with so many low-star Dou Practitioners in an instant." Whoosh! Xiao Yan leaped high into the air and concentrated all his strength into his right knee. The most formidable use of the Octane Blast was not with the fist, but with the knee! After all, the strength of the leg was at least five times that of the arm! Octane Blast-Knee Strike! Watching Xiao Yan charging at him like a furious tiger descending the mountain, Zhang Hao felt a sharp killing intent that reminded him of the terror he experienced when a Rank 2 Magical Beast chased him in the past. It was this very incident that led him to join the Jia Lie Clan! Boom! Xiao Yan''s knee collided with Zhang Hao''s iron rod in mid-air. The well-forged, solid iron rod was completely bent, and the eight layers of hidden force crashed into Zhang Hao''s chest like a tidal wave. With the unleashing of the eight layers of hidden force, Zhang Hao spit out blood and fell to the ground like a kite with its string cut. His life and death were unknown. Liu Xi and Jia Lie Ao''s faces had already turned deathly pale. Was he really just a Dou Practitioner?! How could he defeat a Dou Master??? What Dou Technique was he cultivating to be so fierce?! Xun Er frowned as she thought, ''Strange, it''s only been two months. How has Xiao Yan ge- ge''s strength increased again? Could he have taken some powerful medicinal pill? But where would he get such a pill from?'' Jia Lie Ao felt like he was going mad. It had taken him over a year, almost two years, to advance from a 1-star Dou Practitioner to a 3-star Dou Practitioner with the aid of various medicinal pills. He thought that he would be able to challenge Xiao Yan. Yet, two months ago, he was informed that Xiao Yan had reached the 6-star Dou Practitioner at his coming-of-age ceremony. Now he realized that not only was Xiao Yan''s cultivation high, but his mastery of Dou Techniques was also exceptionally profound. His combat power was even stronger than that of a Dou Master! The sight of Xiao Yan dominating his opponent in such a manner left everyone present unable to recover from their shock. Was it really possible to fight across realms like this? Xiao Yan turned his gaze toward Jia Lie Ao and Liu Xi. Even the mercenaries who had been through numerous battles felt a chill in their hearts when they saw the cold and indifferent expression on the young man''s face. The Xiao Yan now seemed entirely different from the one who always greeted everyone with a smile. "Rest in peace. In your next life, remember to keep your mouth clean." Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Raising the Price Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Raising the Price ? Xiao Yan picked up an iron rod and swung it directly at Liu Xi''s pale face with a strong whistling sound. Given his physical strength, even without utilizing any Dou Techniques, this strike would turn Liu Xi''s head into something resembling a smashed watermelon. Xiao Yu and Xiao Ning stood rigidly as they felt the deadly intent behind the swing. Xiao Yan''s decisive, ruthless action was in stark contrast to the gentle image they had of him in their hearts. Xiao Yu could never have imagined that the young man who used to playfully tease and take advantage of her could be so ruthless when truly angered. Absolutely no mercy was shown! Just as the rod was about to hit Liu Xi, a mere half-inch away from him, Xiao Yan sensed an incoming danger with his Spiritual Strength. He immediately abandoned his attack and dodged to the side. In the next instant, a green lightning flashed in front of his forehead. Two strands of hair were cut off and slowly fell to the ground. "Xiao Yan ge-ge!" Xun Er''s heart was in her throat, but she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him dodge the attack. After dodging the attack, Xiao Yan pushed off the ground with his left hand and forcefully performed a one-handed push-up. When his feet hit the ground, he twisted his body and hurled the rod in his right hand toward Jia Lie Ao, who was standing there in a daze. Since he couldn''t kill Liu Xi, he might as well eliminate the stupid Young Master of the Jia Lie Clan. With a snap, a ruthless, iron-like hand reached out from behind Jia Lie Ao and firmly grasped the flying rod. When Jia Lie Ao saw that the iron rod almost pierced his eyeball, he was so scared that his legs gave out and he collapsed to the ground trembling. The rod was still caught by that hand, even though he used the Octane Blast. There was not much that could be done, the cultivation gap between them was too great. Not even a fully mastered High Xuan Dou Technique could bridge such a massive gap in cultivation. "So young, yet harboring such a vicious heart!" After crushing the iron rod, two figures emerged from behind Liu Xi and Jia Lie Ao with a cold laugh. The head of the Jia Lie Clan, Jia Lie Bi, and the head of the Ao Ba Clan, Ao Ba Pa. They were both Dou Grandmasters! "Whether my son is vicious or not is none of your business. This old man likes his boy to take after him. So just butt out." Xiao Zhan, accompanied by the three elders and a group of guards, came up from behind Xiao Yan. "Did you anticipate this, Yan Er?" "Not exactly an anticipation. Let''s head back. It shouldn''t take long for the major medicinal merchants and herb gathering teams from Wu Tan City to come to us. We just have to wait." ... As expected, the largest medicinal merchants and herb gathering teams in Wu Tan City arrived at the Xiao Clan meeting hall that very night, as if by prior arrangement, to discuss the matter of medicinal ingredients with Xiao Zhan. "Brother Xiao Zhan, we''re really sorry this time. I''m afraid we won''t be able to sell you the medicinal ingredients." Xiao Zhan frowned upon hearing this and said in a deep voice, "These medicinal ingredients aren''t rare or precious; they are the lowest grade. Our Xiao Clan not only requires them in large quantities but also offers a price that is 20% higher than the market price. I really don''t understand why you refuse to sell to us?" Everyone looked at each other. Needless to say, none of them wanted to offend Xiao Zhan in their hearts. After all, the Xiao Clan was the strongest clan in Wu Tan City, and no one wanted to make an enemy of them. "Is it because you went to Jia Lie Clan and Ao Ba Clan at noon and told them about our intention to purchase the medicinal ingredients, and they offered a higher price, right?" Xiao Yan, who was fiddling with the lid of his teacup and scraping the tea leaves, spoke softly without looking up. The several major merchants present swallowed hard. While this behavior was not exactly wrong, saying it out loud could potentially offend others. Bang! Xiao Zhan slammed the table as the aura of a Dou Grandmaster filled the entire hall. At the same time, the majestic figure of a green-colored lion head appeared faintly behind him. "No wonder you came to us in the evening after we visited you in the morning. It turns out you had visited the Jia Lie and Ao Ba Clans in between." One of the merchants gave a bitter smile, "Brother Xiao Zhan, doing business isn''t easy for us either. Half a year ago, Clan Head Jia Lie Bi and Clan Head Ao Ba Pa approached us. We''ve been supplying them with medicinal ingredients every month, and they''re willing to pay 30% above the market price. That''s why we-" Xiao Yan interrupted his father just as he was about to burst out in a rage, "There is no need for you guys to panic. Our Xiao Clan is also in business, so we naturally understand your difficulties. Buying and selling has always been about the highest bidder winning." "Let''s put it this way, our Xiao Clan will make another offer, 50% above the market price, and we''ll make a deal with all of you. For the next three years, no matter how many of these four types of medicinal ingredients you have, we''ll take them all, and we can even give you a 10% deposit upfront." Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Everything Within The Grasp Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Everything Within The Grasp ? Hiss! Gasps of astonishment filled the air as the heads of several major medicinal merchants and herb gathering teams stared wide-eyed at Xiao Yan. They all wondered if they had just experienced an auditory hallucination! Xiao Zhan was equally startled, but out of confidence in his son, he suppressed the urge to question Xiao Yan and also put on a calm and confident expression! A middle-aged man stood up and arched his hand toward Xiao Yan as he said, "Little Clan Leader Xiao Yan, it''s not that I don''t believe you, but I would like to ask, do you know how much gold it would take to purchase these medicinal ingredients for a year?" The reason why the major medicinal merchants widened their eyes was simple: the amount mentioned was astronomical! Such a sum could hardly be procured by anyone. Except perhaps the headquarters of the Miteer Auction House, even the Miteer Auction House itself might struggle to come up with that much cash. Medicinal ingredients weren''t necessarily used for alchemy; they could also be used by physicians to compound medicines for treating injuries and illnesses. In Wu Tan City, the vast majority of medicinal ingredients were consumed by physicians for medical purposes. Xiao Yan set down his teacup and said after some mental calculations, "Although these four types of medicinal ingredients are of the lowest grade, they are not cheap. Our Xiao Clan also sells these ingredients, so I have an estimate of your annual production. I''ve done some rough calculations. For the combined cultivation of the medicinal merchants and herb gathering teams of Wu Tan City, each type of ingredient would require about 300,000 gold coins per year. Since our offer is 50% higher than the market price, that would be 450,000 gold coins for each type of ingredient." "So it would take 1.8 million gold coins per year, and for three years, that is 5.4 million gold coins. The deposit is 10%, so if you agree, we can provide you with 540,000 gold coins right away." Xiao Zhan''s heart skipped a beat. In fact, there was still more to consider, as the few major medicinal merchants and gathering teams only accounted for about half of Wu Tan City''s supply. The Miteer Auction House still had the other half! Just last year, the Xiao Clan spent over 400,000 gold coins to acquire a High Xuan Class Qi Method. The clan''s wealth had already been greatly depleted. They were no longer able to produce such a huge amount of money! The medical merchants began a heated discussion upon hearing Xiao Yan''s meticulous calculations. But Xiao Yan impatiently waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright. If you want to discuss, go back and discuss behind closed doors. Give us your answer first thing tomorrow morning." Even Xiao Zhan scratched his head, wondering what his son was up to. He just sent the guests away?? "In that case, we''ll take our leave. We''ll come back tomorrow morning to visit Clan Head Xiao Zhan and Little Clan Leader Xiao Yan." Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when Xiao Yan gave the order to leave. Xiao Zhan asked immediately after everyone had left, "Yan Er, if you let them go like this, they will definitely rush to the Jia Lie and Ao Ba Clans overnight." Xiao Yan smiled and said, "That would be best." "Huh? Yan Er, are you... are you not trying to monopolize the medicinal ingredients to cut off their supply, but to raise their prices instead?!" Xiao Yan didn''t hide anything as he nodded, "Father, if our clan were to cooperate with an alchemist to sell medicinal pills, what would the profit split be?" oblivion. After pondering for a moment, Jia Lie Bi said, "There''s no need to lower the prices. As long as the cost of the medicinal ingredients doesn''t exceed the market price by more than 50%, we can still break even. Once all the shop owners from the Xiao Clan market switch over to us, we will still have the last laugh." "Tell those merchants that we will only offer up to 50% above the normal market price, and not a penny more. However, we can negotiate a five-year contract with them and provide a 20% deposit." "If they refuse, then let them go to the Xiao Clan. We will make a trip to the Miteer Auction House and ensure that they prioritize selling the medicinal ingredients to us." However, they all knew that when it came to cunning merchants, Miteer Ya Fei was the biggest one in Wu Tan City. They presumed that she would also be aware of this situation, and the next time they went to the auction house to purchase medicinal ingredients, those ingredients would likely be priced higher under various pretexts. Jia Lie Bi could only hope the vixen wouldn''t be too ruthless. ... Early the next morning, as Xiao Yan had anticipated, the medicinal merchants visited the Xiao Clan once again. This time, however, Xiao Zhan refused to see them altogether, unwilling to raise the prices any further or even engage in negotiations. And so, the entire Xiao Clan fell into silence once again. Yet, everyone knew this was merely the calm before the storm. Five days later... "Little Clan Leader, the two major clans have already signed contracts with all the medicinal merchants and have paid the deposits," Xiao Ning hurriedly reported as he entered the council hall. Xiao Yan revealed a hint of confidence and waved his hand as he commanded, "Third Elder, find some disciples with unfamiliar faces to disguise themselves as foreign merchants. Sell to the Jia Lie Clan, the Ao Ba Clan, and those few merchants all the low-grade medicinal ingredients our clan hoarded six months ago, except for the few items listed here, at high prices." "Second Elder, immediately take people to various underground places and market squares to spread the news. Just say that the Xiao Clan has obtained the pill recipes for the Rejuvenation Powder and the Minor Dou Qi Pill, and has invited an alchemist to refine these two types of medicinal pills. That''s why we''re competing with the other two major clans for medicinal ingredients. Also, announce that the Clan Head will be visiting the Miteer Auction House to discuss a long-term cooperation." "Grand Elder, have someone post notices in the market and all of our Clan Xiao''s business places. I want the whole city to know that the Xiao Clan Market will soon have medicinal pills for sale, and they will be cheaper and more effective than those at the Ao Jia Market." "Father, please patiently wait until tomorrow, then go to the Miteer Auction House to clarify things with Miss Ya Fei. Just say that the rumors in the streets are false, and we haven''t obtained the pill recipes for the Rejuvenation Powder and Minor Dou Qi Pill. Assure her that we will absolutely not compete with the other two major clans for medicinal ingredients, so the Miteer Auction House can feel confident in cooperating with them. Also, inform her that the Xiao Clan will attend the Miteer Quarterly Auction in three days as invited." With that said, Xiao Yan closed his five fingers together. It was as if everything was within his grasp! Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Perfume Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Perfume ? Not only the younger generation like Xiao Ning, but even Xiao Zhan himself was utterly confused. Spreading rumors only to clear them up later? Everyone exchanged puzzled glances. They were unable to comprehend the Little Clan Leader''s intentions. "Yan Er, you specifically asked me to go to the Miteer Auction House to clear up the rumors and encourage them to boldly cooperate with the other two major clans and supply those low-grade medicinal ingredients. Are you worried that Miteer Ya Fei might have reservations?" Xiao Zhan looked at Xiao Yan who was having breakfast and asked the question in his heart. "One of the reasons, yes. Father, rest assured. I''ll accompany you to the auction in a few days. I happen to have something I want to purchase," Xiao Yan said with a slight smile. That confident smile had never disappeared from him since he was a child. ... In front of the specialized medicinal pill sales window in the Ao Jia Market, the crowd was already buzzing with the sounds of mercenaries yelling, cursing, and fighting, all of which merged into a deafening cacophony that reverberated throughout the market. Behind the counter of the medicinal pill sales window, members of the Jia Lie Clan responsible for selling the pills were looking outside with faces full of amusement, watching the mercenaries fighting fiercely over the healing pills. There was a sense of pride in their smiles. It was as if their status had been elevated by the pills they sold. The person in charge, Jia Lie Ke, narrowed his already small eyes into slits as he smugly chuckled, "Heh, they rant about not buying if the prices go up again, yet they still obediently purchase in the end." "How shameless." Once people got used to a certain level of comfort, it was difficult for them to return to their previous way of life. The sense of security that came from purchasing a dose of healing pills was what all mercenaries needed most. The mercenaries of Wu Tan City had to venture into the outskirts of the forest almost every day to hunt magical beasts and extract their demon cores to earn money. Fighting these magical beasts could be a matter of life and death. A bottle of Rejuvenation Powder could quickly stop the bleeding and ensure that even if a major artery was cut, one wouldn''t die from excessive blood loss. Suddenly, a different kind of murmur began to ripple through the crowd. "Have you heard? The Xiao Clan posted notices in various districts and industries this morning, announcing they will be selling medicinal pills in a few days. They claim their prices will be lower and their effects better." "That''s unlikely, isn''t it?" "Well, it might be true. I''ve heard through the grapevine that the Xiao Clan somehow got their hands on the pill recipes for the Rejuvenation Powder and the Minor Dou Qi Pill. It''s said that they used those pill recipes to make a deal with an alchemist from the Nalan Clan." "I knew it! The merchants have been steadily raising the prices of medicinal ingredients lately. It turns out that they were actually bidding against each other. So it was the Xiao Clan that acquired the pill recipes." "But I heard that the Ao Ba Clan and the Jia Lie Clan have joined forces to buy up the medicinal ingredients from the merchants. Where will the Xiao Clan get their ingredients from?" "Don''t forget about the Miteer Auction House. The quarterly auction is only three days away." As the discussions among the neighbors grew more heated, all the mercenaries and merchants understood one thing: the Xiao Clan was preparing to counterattack! The auction in three days would be the beginning of a bloody storm! ... for the next five years." Normally, business contracts were confidential, but Ya Fei handed the contract signed two days ago directly to Xiao Yan. This was because she felt that this was entirely Xiao Yan''s doing, and hiding it would be pointless. The contract was straightforward. The two major clans had paid a deposit to secure the four types of medicinal ingredients at the same price offered by the medicinal merchants for the next five years. Though it might sound complex, simply put, it was a futures contract. Xiao Yan couldn''t contain his smile when he saw the contract. He knew the two major clans were about to be done for! "Little Brother Xiao Yan, could you tell Elder Sister what kind of medicine you''re brewing inside that gourd-like mind of yours? After all, it was Elder Sister who helped you out," Ya Fei softly uttered as she gracefully rose from her seat and approached Xiao Yan. A stray strand of her hair delicately caressed his cheek, carrying with it a subtle hint of roses that enveloped his senses in a soothing embrace. Xiao Yan couldn''t help but curse this fox spirit in his heart. He calmed down and casually replied, "Although I''d like to have a heart-to-heart talk with Sister Ya Fei, Sister Ya Fei should get ready for the auction as it''s about to start. I''m still waiting to make a purchase." Seeing that Xiao Yan showed little interest in her appearance, Ya Fei couldn''t help but raise her eyebrows in surprise. ''I even used my ''Man-Slayer'' perfume today! And yet, it didn''t work on a fifteen-year-old boy?'' ... It did not take long for Xiao Yan to enter the auction hall. He sat down next to Xiao Zhan and nodded at him. The auction began shortly after. Xiao Yan flipped through the auction catalog, and among the items listed, there was something that happened to be perfect for today''s spectacle. Chapter 23: Chapter 23: I Possess All Abilities, Youre Free to Choose Chapter 23: Chapter 23: I Possess All Abilities, You''re Free to Choose ? Suddenly, the auction stage lit up under the watchful eyes of countless spectators. Ya Fei, dressed in her striking red cheongsam, gracefully stepped onto the stage. Every subtle movement she made captured the attention of the onlookers. The form-fitting attire that accentuated her voluptuous figure immediately drew the fervent gaze of some individuals in the audience. Only Xiao Yu could match those long, slender legs. With just a smile and a few teasing jokes, Ya Fei effortlessly ignited the atmosphere in the entire auction hall. For young boys like Xiao Ning, it would only take a few sweet words from this natural-born enchantress to impulsively bid on useless items in a moment of infatuation. "Ya Fei is deeply grateful to everyone for taking the time out of their busy schedules to attend our Miteer Auction House''s quarterly auction." Ya Fei''s red lips parted slightly as she chuckled slightly before clapping her jade-like hands. One by one, beautiful young women carrying trays walked to the center of the auction stage and displayed the auction items. These items included treasures obtained by mercenary groups and major clans in the wilderness near Wu Tan City, as well as goods that had been passed over in other branches of the Miteer Auction House. There were even high-grade 2nd-tier medicinal pills that Master Gu Ni had personally refined. Even the three bottles of Foundation Building Pill that Xiao Yan had sold to Ya Fei some time ago were included in the lineup. Medicinal pills were always the most sought-after items. Even Xiao Yan himself had purchased two medicinal pills: a 2nd-tier Flame Enhancing Pill to speed up the cultivation speed of fire attribute Qi Methods, and a 2nd-tier Qi Recovering Pill to increase the restoration rate of one''s Dou Qi. Although they were not as expensive as the Qi Gathering Pill, the total price of these two pills was still tens of thousands of gold coins. "Alright, the next auction item is quite interesting. This is a precious item brought from the headquarters, a medicinal cauldron with three openings." Ya Fei clapped her hands, and three burly men brought a green and red medicinal cauldron with three openings onto the stage. Everyone seemed uninterested the moment the medicinal cauldron appeared. This was not surprising. A good cauldron was indeed needed to refine medicinal pills. However, such cauldrons could be passed down from generation to generation and were only needed by alchemists. But the most important reason was that the alchemists were too scarce. "This is a medicinal cauldron with three openings, a superior item among medicinal cauldrons. The starting bid is 100,000 gold coins." Even with Ya Fei''s temperament, her inner thoughts at this moment were filled with curses directed at the shameless old bastards at headquarters. This item was basically unsold goods from the headquarters that were dumped in Wu Tan City. In plain terms, they were trying to see if Ya Fei could hoodwink some naive country bumpkin into buying this thing. But no matter how much Ya Fei shouted, no one was willing to bid. Even though Liu Xi was a 1st-tier alchemist, he had his own medicinal cauldron and was unlikely to switch to a new one. Just as Ya Fei was about to announce the item as unsold, a hand slowly rose. Xiao Yan leisurely asked, "Miss Ya Fei, may I inspect the item?" Ya Fei''s willowy eyebrows furrowed slightly. She felt an unusual ripple within her heart at this moment. "Normally, auction items cannot be touched, but since this is a request from Little Clan Leader Xiao Yan, Ya Fei will make an exception today." Ya Fei''s words were as gentle as a spring breeze. Her tone was perfectly balanced, neither overly flattering nor offensive. "Inspect the item?" "How can one inspect a medicinal cauldron?" The entire auction house exploded with excitement! "Spread the news immediately! The Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan, is an alchemist!" "The Jia Lie Clan and the Ao Ba Clan are finished!" Jia Lie Bi and Ao Ba Pa slumped into their chairs in despair as they felt their entire bodies become utterly weak and powerless. Xiao Yan was more than just an alchemist. His identity as the Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan was the coup de gra?ce! A foreign 1st-tier alchemist like Liu Xi had already thrown Wu Tan City into turmoil. However, Liu Xi didn''t offer his alchemy services for free; he charged exorbitant fees, which resulted in outrageously expensive medicinal pills. But Xiao Yan! He was the Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan! This meant that for every pill sold by the Xiao Clan, after deducting the cost of materials, the rest would all be pure profit! Sheer profit! Absolute sheer profit! The medicinal pills from the Ao Jia Market couldn''t possibly compete with those of the Xiao Clan; the latter naturally had a price advantage. Not to mention, Xiao Yan''s pill recipes and alchemy techniques were superior to Liu Xi''s. From the moment Xiao Yan publicly demonstrated his alchemy skills, this war over medicinal pills had already come to an end. Ya Fei suddenly remembered the five-year herb supply contract that the two major clans had signed. She didn''t need to guess to know that the prices of the specific medicinal ingredients Liu Xi needed would plummet, and his medicinal pills would be endlessly suppressed by those of the Xiao Clan. The medicinal pills from the Ao Jia Market would essentially be unsellable as long as Xiao Yan kept the prices of his medicinal pills within a certain range. Even if they were sold, each sale would result in a loss. Besides, they wouldn''t need that many medicinal ingredients in the first place. It was basically a predatory price-cutting strategy! Xiao Yan now had the capital to do it! Ya Fei knew that in order to procure more medicinal ingredients and prevent the Xiao Clan from monopolizing the supply, the two major clans had mortgaged many of their properties and had already paid deposits to the herb merchants for cooperation. ''This was his plan all along!'' Ya Fei''s small mouth hung open slightly as she looked at Xiao Yan, who was shining like a star, and suddenly understood many things. Xiao Yan wanted to completely ruin the other two major clans and make the Xiao Clan the sole authority in Wu Tan City! Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Heavenly Flame Ranking Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Heavenly Flame Ranking ? "Yan Er, you... when did you learn alchemy!" Xiao Zhan found himself increasingly unable to fathom his own son.Vi?Sit no(v)3lb/!n(.)com for new novels All along, he knew that Xiao Yan was a genius, but that genius was mainly related to his cultivation of Dou Qi. Yet today, his son turned out to be an alchemist as well?!! Xiao Yu stared at Xiao Yan with wide eyes. There were alchemists in Jia Nan Academy, and she had once tried to seek their help for medicinal pills. Alchemists were extremely rare in the academy, and every one of them was proud and haughty, with their noses in the air. She had never imagined that Xiao Yan was actually an alchemist. Moreover, the skilled way he performed suggested that becoming one was not just a matter of a day or two. Xiao Yan touched his nose with a hint of apology and said, "Father, I''m sorry for not telling you sooner. I was waiting until I got more skilled before letting you know." Xiao Zhan touched Xiao Yan''s head and laughed, "Silly boy, how could Father blame you?" The entire auction was naturally ruined by Xiao Yan''s public display of alchemy. No one was in the mood to bid on the remaining items. It was clear to all factions that the power dynamics within Wu Tan City were about to shift, and they needed to be prepared. They would start by distancing themselves from the Jia Lie and Ao Ba Clans. Liu Xi looked at the pale-faced Jia Lie Bi and Ao Ba Pa, then quietly slipped out of the auction house. No matter how stupid he was, he understood that these two clans were done for. Even though he was the lowest 1st-tier alchemist, it was impossible for him to refine pills for these clans without payment. Since these two clans had no more value to offer, he had no reason to stay. ''It''s a pity I couldn''t get that woman,'' he thought regretfully. With his powerful Spiritual Strength, Xiao Yan sensed that Liu Xi had sneaked away. He instructed, "Grand Elder, Second Elder, please lay in ambush at the city gate and bring back Liu Xi''s head." Xiao Ning and some of the younger members swallowed hard when they heard his words. They could sense the intense killing intent in his words. Many knew that Liu Xi had verbally provoked Xun Er that day. They had initially assumed that Xiao Yan would let bygones be bygones after kicking out the other party, but they hadn''t expected him to hold such a grudge! The Grand Elder and the Second Elder solemnly nodded their heads after gauging the situation. Even though killing a disciple of a 4th-tier alchemist posed a significant risk, upon further thought, they realized that Xiao Yan might eventually become a 4th-tier alchemist himself. Moreover, since they had already offended Liu Xi, there was no point in seeking reconciliation. "Father, you all should go back first. I''ll settle the payment for the medicinal cauldron and then go back. You and the elders can handle the rest of the matters," Xiao Yan said with a smile and headed for the VIP room when he saw that the auction could not continue. ... Inside the VIP room, he sat down on the sofa and picked up a piece of fruit from the table in a nonchalant manner. Ya Fei and Master Gu Ni entered with a crisp sound and took a seat across from him. "You little rascal, is this how you treat your Elder Sister? You ruined my auction!" Ya Fei put on an air of indignation, yet there was a hint of coquetry and playfulness in her eyes. The two major clans did not have enough gold coins. Therefore, they used their properties as collateral. Eventually, the Xiao Clan acquired most of the two clans'' properties from the merchants and Ya Fei at a very low price, without even engaging in any battle. From then on, Wu Tan City fell under the sole control of the Xiao Clan. Liu Xi was ultimately killed by the Grand Elder and Second Elder. His body was taken back to the Xiao Clan, where Xiao Yan burned it to ashes with a single flame. ... Three days later, Xiao Yan continuously absorbed the heat released by the Bone Chilling Flame in a cave, and finally reached the 7-star Dou Practitioner stage. His expression was not one of joy at his breakthrough as he looked at the Bone Chilling Flame floating in the air. Instead, his face was etched with worry. ''My cultivation speed has slowed down.'' Xiao Yan distinctly felt that his cultivation speed had slowed down after reaching the 7-star stage. Even though he was now able to get very close to the Bone Chilling Flame, the heat it released was ultimately limited. He required much more energy after reaching the 7-star stage, which resulted in a slower improvement rate. The only way to increase his cultivation speed was to take medicinal pills. However, he lacked the support of high-tier medicinal pills. Wu Tan City was, after all, a frontier city, and the highest-tier alchemist turned out to be himself... ''Heavenly Flame... The best way for me to improve my cultivation is not to take medicinal pills, but to devour a Heavenly Flame.'' He took out an ancient book, and on the cover, three large words were clearly written: . This ancient book listed all the Heavenly Flames on the Dou Qi Continent. There were twenty- three kinds in all. The Bone Chilling Flame was the 11th rank, right in the middle. Chapter 25: Chapter 25: That Blockhead Chapter 25: Chapter 25: That Blockhead ? ''The Bone Chilling Flame was too powerful to be directly devoured by the Flame Mantra. If there were a lower-ranked Heavenly Flame, I could first devour the weaker flame to strengthen myself, and then attempt to devour the Bone Chilling Flame.'' The Flame Mantra was both immensely powerful and mysterious. It was capable of leveling up by devouring Heavenly Flames and incorporating them into the body as a part of oneself to rapidly increase one''s cultivation level. However, the issue was that Xiao Yan''s body could not withstand the terrifying energy of the Bone Chilling Flame. Simply put, his cultivation level was too low, his body too weak, and the energy of the Bone Chilling Flame too strong. Before the Flame Mantra could even begin to devour the Heavenly Flame, his body would be incinerated first. Xiao Yan opened the Heavenly Flame Ranking, whose author he did not know. The ranking detailed the twenty-three kinds of Heavenly Flame on the Dou Qi Continent with extensive illustrations and explanations. Ranked 23rd in the Heavenly Flame Ranking was the Mysterious Yellow Flame. It was born between the Yin and Yang energies of the world. It merged into one, formless yet overwhelming, carrying the weight of the cosmos upon its manifestation. Taking the 22nd position was the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. It was born in lands teeming with the vitality of myriad beasts. It was a fusion of the strength and spirit of countless creatures and had a hue that encompassed the essence of all wildlife. It served as a guardian flame that promoted the vitality and prosperity of all beasts. Positioned on the 21st was the Yin-Yang Twin Flame. It originated in the void between the netherworld and the mortal realm and displayed black and white tones akin to the Yin-Yang symbol floating through the void. These flames embodied the natural laws of creation and destruction, with the Yang Flame capable of saving life and fostering endless growth, while the Yin Flame brought death as it left nothing but ashes. Ranked 20th was the Ghostly Poison Flame. It was born in the ancient poisonous swamps of the netherworld. Over millennia, it absorbed the endless poisonous miasma. It took centuries for its spirit to form and manifest. When fully developed, its greenish hue resembled ghostly fires piercing through the poisonous vapors. Its deadly, poisonous nature made it untouchable by most, and only those with a Woeful Poison Body were able to absorb it. The 19th on the ranking was the Green Lotus Core Flame. It was formed deep underground and had undergone the polishing, fusion, compression, and carving of the planet''s flame. It formed a spirit in ten years, took shape in a hundred years, and transformed into a lotus in a thousand years. When it was fully formed, its color would tilt toward the green side, and the lotus core would form a cluster of green flame called the Green Lotus Core Flame. The power of this flame was unpredictable, as it was capable of controlling the power of volcanoes and forming a destructive force of nature. Xiao Yan focused on the descriptions of the last five kinds of Heavenly Flame. If he wished to quickly devour a Heavenly Flame to increase his strength, these last five would undoubtedly be the best options. He didn''t know who had compiled the Heavenly Flame Ranking, but it was organized according to the strength of the Heavenly Flames. In the storage ring, Xiao Yan found a record, or rather a diary, that detailed the previous owner''s process of subduing the Bone Chilling Flame. The previous owner had consumed a 5th-tier Blood Lotus Essence Pill, and even with his Dou King cultivation realm, he was almost reduced to ashes. It was at the last moment that he managed to subdue the Bone Chilling Flame. This meant that if he wanted to completely devour the Bone Chilling Flame with the Flame Mantra, he would have to refine a 5th-tier Blood Lotus Essence Pill and possess at least the cultivation of a Dou King to stand any chance. The Blood Lotus Essence Pill could form a protective scab of blood within the body that could protect both the interior and exterior from the damage caused by the flames. Xiao Yan had always asked Ya Fei to keep an eye on the medicinal ingredients for the Blood Lotus Essence Pill. The storage ring that Ya Fei had given him contained all the auxiliary ingredients except for some of the main ingredients for the Blood Lotus Essence Pill. ''If I had the Blood Lotus Essence Pill, would I have a chance to devour the last ranked Mysterious Yellow Flame when I become a Dou Spirit? Maybe as a Dou Grandmaster? No, it might even be possible as a peak Dou Master. After all, there''s a trace of the Bone Chilling Flame within my body. If I use it to protect myself, it might just work.'' Xiao Yan kept mulling over this, but soon, he was lying on the ground with a face full of dejection. ''Alas, a 5th-tier medicinal pill... how am I supposed to train for that? In my head? I can''t even refine a 3rd-tier medicinal pill right now.'' Xiao Yan had gained a lot of insight into alchemy and had been able to refine 2nd-tier medicinal pills after witnessing Hun Huzi''s alchemy technique once. However, 3rd-tier medicinal pills were too difficult for him. exceptional beauty. "Xun Er has finally decided to come back." Xun Er heard Xiao Yan''s voice and turned to look, just in time to see him returning from outside the gate. She stuck out her tongue and said with a soft laugh, "Xun Er just finished a closed-door cultivation session. All I heard after coming out of seclusion was about Xiao Yan ge-ge''s glorious deeds." Xun Er was referring, of course, to Xiao Yan''s public display of alchemy and how he had nearly bankrupted the two major clans without shedding a drop of blood. "It''s nothing big, just refining a few medicinal pills. What''s so great about that?" Xiao Yan shrugged nonchalantly. Seeing Xiao Yan''s expression that seemed to be begging for a beating, Xun Er''s laughter was clear and sweet, "Then congratulations to Xiao Yan ge-ge. No matter what tier of alchemist you are or what your cultivation level is, Jia Nan Academy will surely make a special exception for you. Xiao Yan ge-ge, you don''t even need to take the entrance exam to enter the academy." Xiao Yan''s expression showed a hint of hesitation upon hearing about Jia Nan Academy. Xun Er keenly caught this subtle change and asked worriedly, "What''s wrong, Xiao Yan ge- ge? Don''t you want to go to Jia Nan Academy for further studies?" "It''s not exactly that. Rather than cultivating Dou Qi at Jia Nan Academy, I''m now more interested in obtaining a Heavenly Flame right now," Xiao Yan didn''t hide his desire, as a Heavenly Flame was something every alchemist dreamed of. Xun Er blinked when she heard his words, "Heavenly Flame? But Jia Nan Academy has one. Didn''t Cousin Xiao Yu mention it to you?" "????" || "..." "That blockhead!!!" Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Formation Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Formation ? Xiao Yan hurriedly went to ask Xiao Yu about the Heavenly Flame at Jia Nan Academy. Unfortunately, Xiao Yu didn''t know much about it either; she had only heard rumors herself. She had heard that the reason why the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower at Jia Nan Academy was able to increase one''s cultivation speed was due to a Heavenly Flame, but as for which specific Heavenly Flame it was, she was not sure. It was nothing more than a rumor after all. "Why are you asking? I thought you didn''t want to go," Xiao Yu said with her arms crossed and her chin tilted up as she looked at Xiao Yan who had come to inquire. She had once asked Xiao Yan if he wanted to join Jia Nan Academy, but his ambiguous answer led her to believe that he wasn''t interested in going. Her return to the clan this time was mainly for the upcoming Jia Nan Academy enrollment. She wanted to see how many people from the clan planned to take the exam and see if she could help them get in through the back door. As the Little Clan Leader, Xiao Yan''s talent and cultivation level were beyond question. Although Xiao Zhan was reluctant to let Xiao Yan go, he understood the saying, ''Freely can fishes leap as the sea is vast enough and can birds fly as the sky is high enough.'' Wu Tan City was ultimately too small for someone of his son''s caliber. Xiao Yan also understood that he needed to leave Wu Tan City and explore the world to grow stronger. Consequently, he had devised a series of plans to take down the other two major clans before departing. "Come on, I''m an alchemist. Wanting a Heavenly Flame is only natural. Since Jia Nan Academy has one, of course I want to go." Xiao Yu was taken aback and quickly said, "Don''t be reckless, you little pervert. Jia Nan Academy isn''t like Wu Tan City. No one will be able to protect you if you cause trouble there." "The existence of a Heavenly Flame in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower is just a legend. Even if there is one, it belongs to Jia Nan Academy. It''s not something anyone can simply take." Seeing Xiao Yu''s anxious look, Xiao Yan patted her shoulder and took on the air of an exalted hermit. "Relax, I know what I''m doing. As the Little Clan Leader, I''ll ensure the safety of our clan members, even in Jia Nan Academy. This Young Master has your back." ... Half a year had passed in the blink of an eye. Xiao Yan shook his head somewhat helplessly as he looked around at the clan grounds, now noticeably emptier. Today, the recruitment team from Jia Nan Academy was scheduled to arrive in Wu Tan City, and even those in the clan who knew they didn''t qualify had run off to watch, leaving the place deserted. By now, the gates of Wu Tan City were likely blocked by crowds of people. "These folks, passing Jia Nan Academy''s assessment isn''t as easy as just showing up," he muttered as he slowly made his way to the city gate. When Xiao Yan arrived at the main square of Wu Tan City, he couldn''t help but squeeze his temples at the sight of the massive, frenzied crowd. Even the city''s garrison was on duty to maintain order for fear of any conflicts that might arise. After putting away the jade card, Xiao Yu led the way, followed closely by Xiao Mei and Xiao Ning, with Xiao Yan and Xun Er bringing up the rear. ''Huh?'' Xiao Yan felt a coldness on his skin the moment he stepped onto the narrow path. The expressionless soldiers surrounding them emitted a scent of blood from their bodies, causing those who had never experienced such a formation to feel an intense pressure that made it difficult to breathe. ''This is a battle formation?'' He remembered reading about it in a book from the storage ring. After tempering their wills, troops returning from bloody battles could unleash a kind of battle formation that exerted pressure on the soul. Xiao Yan and Xun Er, with their higher cultivation levels, didn''t have much of a problem. However, Xiao Ning, Xiao Mei, and even Xiao Yu, who had relatively lower cultivation levels, were trembling, their faces drained of all color. The short distance of less than ten meters felt like a thousand meters to Xiao Mei and Xiao Ning. Xiao Yan frowned and released his powerful Spiritual Strength. It was worth noting that he was now a 2nd-tier alchemist, capable of refining high-grade 2nd-tier medicinal pills, and also had a strand of Bone Chilling Flame within him. His Spiritual Strength carried a mixture of cold and heat. When Xiao Yan released his Spiritual Strength, all the soldiers felt the mix of cold and heat and involuntarily stepped back. Even the leading officer took half a step back. The entire oppressive formation was dispersed at this moment. Xiao Yu and the others quickly turned to look at Xiao Yan as they felt a wave of warmth from behind and the icy coldness disappearing. There was no doubt it was his doing. All the soldiers looked at Xiao Yan with surprise. Their formation had been shattered by a teenager! "What are you looking at? Hurry up and move. Why are you blocking the path?" Xiao Yan pretended to be oblivious and spoke indifferently. Only then did Xiao Yu come to her senses and hurriedly lead Xiao Ning and the others out of the narrow path. She turned to the middle-aged officer and said, "Senior Ke, did you deliberately try to make things difficult for us?" The middle-aged officer smiled apologetically, turned to Xiao Yan, who remained calm, and said with cupped fists, "This must be the Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan. My actions were merely part of my duty. Please forgive me for any offense." Xiao Yan responded with cupped fists, "No offense taken. It was my misunderstanding." As he watched Xiao Yan and the others leave, the middle-aged officer smiled and said, "It seems that Instructor Ruo Lin will gain an excellent student this year." Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Human Shield Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Human Shield ? Xiao Yu let out a sigh of relief and apologized, "Sorry, I had no idea there was such an arrangement." Xiao Mei said with a shiver of fear, "That scared me to death! Thank goodness Xiao Yan ge was here." Xiao Ning vigorously nodded in agreement. Despite his cultivation being higher than Xiao Mei''s, already at the 1-star Dou Practitioner stage, he had almost collapsed just now. He would have been utterly embarrassed if not for Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan said in an indifferent manner, "I recall someone just now confidently patting her chest and telling us to follow her. Who was that again?" Xiao Yu''s eyes seemed to want to devour someone as she glared at him. Without a word in retort, she snorted coldly and swiftly walked toward an open green tent. "Yu Er! Let this young lady check if you''ve gotten any fatter!" Xiao Yu had just approached the large green tent when a flash of red swiftly pounced toward her. A woman''s laughter immediately reached the ears of Xiao Yan and the others. The woman in red giggled as she wrapped her arms around Xiao Yu. Her hands were like nimble snakes as they roamed around Xiao Yu''s willowy waist and even attempted to slide up her skirt along her thighs. "You lewd girl. Get off me." Xiao Yu hastily covered her skirt and grabbed the unruly jade-like hand as she pushed the woman away from her. After a playful scuffle with the woman in red, Xiao Yu turned around and introduced her to Xiao Yan and the others, "This is my good sister from Jia Nan Academy. She''s called Xue Ni. Her cultivation is even higher than mine, already a 4-star Dou Practitioner." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan finally turned his gaze to the woman in red standing in front of him. Xue Ni''s pretty face was adorned with a radiant smile, her long chestnut-colored hair casually tied into a ponytail. Although her appearance was slightly inferior to Xiao Yu''s, her body was so voluptuously explosive that it could be compared to a nuclear bomb. The pressure generated when she hugged Xiao Yu was enough to make one worry about the durability of her clothes. Her fiery and devilish figure was very alluring to men. Many of the young men who had passed the test couldn''t help but let their eyes sweep over the undulating waves of her bosom in a discreet manner. "Let me introduce you. This is Xun Er, the great beauty of our clan. This is Xiao Mei, the youngest cutie around here. Xiao Ning, my brother who is now a Dou Practitioner. And this one is Xiao Yan." Xue Ni''s face lit up with curiosity upon hearing Xiao Yan''s name. "So you''re Xiao Yan. You''re quite handsome, not at all like how Xiao Yu described you." "Oh?" Xiao Yan uttered as she looked at the flustered Xiao Yu nearby. Xiao Yu quickly covered Xue Ni''s mouth and said, "I haven''t been badmouthing you everywhere. She just overheard me talking in my sleep once." Xiao Yan smirked and teased, "You dream about me? What did you dream about? Surely not..." Xiao Yu''s pretty face turned red, and her long legs instinctively kicked toward Xiao Yan''s crotch. However, the result was the same as before. Xiao Yan easily caught her ankle with one hand. "What, want to do it again?" Xiao Yu immediately became panicked, her voice tinged with a hint of pleading, "No, not here, this isn''t the clan..." Xiao Yan lightly pinched her calf with his other hand, chuckled, and then let go of her leg. Xue Ni teased, "Oh my, a man actually touched Yu Er''s beautiful leg. If the male students at the academy found out, wouldn''t they cry in envy?" "Hehe, the temperament of the new students is getting more and more impetuous these days. It is for their own good to tone down their sharpness a bit, to help them in their future life at the academy. This is the earnest intention of a senior student," Luo Bu said with a hypocritical smile. "You''re talking nonsense! I might not care about others, but you dare to mess with my clan members!" Xiao Yu''s pretty face was icy cold, not buying into his act at all. The members of the Xiao Clan were very protective of each other. "Since the instructor put me in charge of the recruitment, my rules are the rules!" Luo Bu''s mouth twitched. Xiao Yu''s refusal to give him a face in front of everyone also fueled the anger and jealousy in his heart. "You!" Xiao Yu stood in front of Xiao Yan and said, "Don''t bother with him. We''re going to find the instructor right now." "Oh, Brother Luo Bu, seems like there''s some trouble here?" Amidst the ongoing dispute, a group of men emerged from the tent''s shadows, all wearing broad grins on their faces. All these men had golden stars pinned to their chests. "It''s nothing. It''s just that this new student doesn''t want to go out and enjoy the sun," Luo Bu said with a casual laugh, his words dripping with innuendo that everyone picked up on. The group of men exchanged smiles and their gazes towards Xiao Yan turned unfriendly, "Doesn''t want to, huh? Those who don''t know how to respect their seniors have no right to enter the academy. You''d better scram." Xiao Yu was almost at her boiling point. She took a step forward and coldly said, "I''m going in right now. Try to stop me!" Just as Xiao Yu was about to force her way through, Xiao Yan grabbed her arm and gently but firmly pulled her beside Xun Er. In a commanding tone that brooked no argument, he said, "Be obedient." Xiao Yu immediately gave a slight nod like a little wife and fell into silence. Facing Luo Bu and his group of more than a dozen alone, Xiao Yan''s eyes showed neither joy nor sorrow. He hooked his finger and said, "Let me see how you seniors teach the new students." Xiao Yu''s friends were shocked to see Xiao Yan ready to take on more than a dozen opponents by himself. Xue Ni said, "Xiao Yu, quickly stop him! I''m afraid Luo Bu''s strength is probably stronger than mine now, and the rest are all 1-star to 3-star Dou Practitioners! How can he defeat so many people!" Xiao Yu looked at Xiao Yan''s figure and felt a sense of relief wash over her. With the air of watching a show, she said, "How miserable Luo Bu and the others will be today depends on how well that guy slept last night." "If he woke up on the wrong side of the bed, not even the instructor will be able to do much." Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Waking Up on the Grumpy Side of the Bed Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Waking Up on the Grumpy Side of the Bed ? Luo Bu let out a sinister laugh as he looked at Xiao Yan, who stood with one hand behind his back and hooked his finger. After spending several years at Jia Nan Academy, he had seen plenty of defiant new students like Xiao Yan. Once a so-called genius in his hometown, he had also tried to resist, but his end had been rather miserable. Taming the arrogance of new students during recruitment had become an unwritten rule at Jia Nan Academy. Most of these new students were rarely mocked or belittled in their own small territories and entered the academy full of arrogance. Entering Jia Nan Academy, a place brimming with talents, with such an attitude often led to serious setbacks and unnecessary trouble. Therefore, it was seen as both essential and practical to make the new students clearly understand their abilities and to grind away their raw arrogance during the recruitment process. Luo Bu nodded at Ge La, a 1-star Dou Practitioner, who clenched his fists. A faint Dou Qi covered them as he chuckled sinisterly. When Ge La joined Jia Nan Academy last year, he had also relied on his talent to resist. However, a senior with the strength of a 1-star Dou Practitioner had taught him a harsh lesson with just one punch. He was forced to go outside and stand under the scorching sun for half an hour. This humiliating personal experience gave Ge La the perverse pleasure of crushing the spirit of new students whenever he saw them. Now, Xiao Yan''s delusion of challenging everyone seemed like a foolish dream to him. Xiao Yan shook his head and said, "You might as well all come at once. I haven''t even had breakfast yet, and I''m quite hungry." Ge La''s eyelids twitched as anger surged within him upon hearing Xiao Yan''s words. Thinking about breakfast at a time like this?! "Fine! Very well! I''ll make sure you''re well-fed!" Ge La''s body lunged forward as he clenched his right fist. Dou Qi condensed around it, and with a burst of force, he aimed a vicious blow toward Xiao Yan''s head. He had initially thought of just giving Xiao Yan a beating, but now he had changed his mind. He wanted Xiao Yan to be carried out and miss this enrollment altogether! The eyebrows of some of the Jia Nan Academy students who were in charge of recruiting furrowed. This guy even used a Dou Technique! Xiao Yan sighed inwardly as the fist in his vision rapidly expanded. Ignoring his advice would have immediate consequences. Just before the fist could reach him, Xiao Yan reached out a finger and lightly tapped it. "What!" No matter how much force Ge La exerted, the fist remained immovable. It was as if he had struck a mountain. The man in front of him seemed to possess unfathomable strength! Xiao Yan yawned and said slowly, "Your speed is slow. Your strength is lacking. Your Dou Technique is mediocre. Are you really a student of Jia Nan Academy?" A simple kick to Ge La''s chin sent him flying backward like a kite whose string had been cut. This slightly mocking tone left the surrounding crowd dumbfounded. Astonished gazes tightly followed Ge La as he lay unconscious on the ground. It was hard to believe that a new student could so easily defeat a 1-star Dou Practitioner! "Am I dreaming?!" Xiao Yan hadn''t moved an inch from the beginning to the end of the fight! It was all over in a mere ten seconds! A complete domination! "That... Who is that young man?!" Under the scorching sun, the new students looked at the senior students sprawled out on the ground in a dumbfounded manner. Their admiration immediately shifted to the young man standing in the shade. Even Xiao Yu and the others were hearing for the first time that a new student could defeat a senior, let alone take down a whole group of them, in a matter of seconds! Xiao Yu''s friends slowly turned their heads toward her. This is your cousin??? Younger than you?! You had to be kidding! Xue Ni asked with her eyes wide open and her mouth agape, "Xiao Yu, tell me the truth, what is your cousin''s cultivation level? He must be at least a Dou Master, right?" Xiao Yu could only offer a wry smile. During the clan''s coming-of-age ceremony half a year ago, Xiao Yan had been a 6-star Dou Practitioner, but now she had no idea. "Yu Er, you wouldn''t want him since he''s your cousin, right? How about introducing him to me?" Xue Ni raised her eyebrows with a playful smile. "Get lost, in your dreams!" Xiao Yu pushed her away with a blush on her pretty face. In her heart, she inexplicably muttered to herself, ''It''s not as if he and I have much blood relation...'' Xiao Yan was naturally unaware of Xiao Yu''s inner thoughts. He glanced at his slightly scorched sleeve and nodded in satisfaction. ''Truly worthy of a Di Class Dou Technique. Even without using a weapon, a casual flick can unleash such power.'' The Flame Splitting Tsunami hadn''t even unleashed half of its potential yet, but Xiao Yan was already quite satisfied. When used in conjunction with the Heavy Xuan Ruler, there was no doubt that its power would be terrifying. "Hehe, this little guy''s cultivation and talent are very high. It seems like I''ve stumbled upon a treasure this time." A gentle laugh that softened Xiao Yan''s heart echoed out of the tent. As the tent flap slowly opened, a mature woman as gentle as water appeared from within. At the sight of the woman, Xiao Yu and the others also stifled their laughter and respectfully said, "Instructor Ruo Ling." Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Potential Value Classification Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Potential Value Classification ? Xiao Yan''s powerful Spiritual Strength sensed that the gazes of some of the young male students in the tent had quietly become passionate after Instructor Ruo Ling appeared. The looks they were giving her also contained an inexplicable sentiment. He couldn''t help but shiver. Some of the younger ones always seemed to prefer women who were more mature than them... Uh, this must be what they call having a preference for a mature woman.Vi?Sit no(v)3lb/!n(.)com for new novels Xiao Yu and her close friends quickly gathered around the instructor and began to chatter excitedly around her. "Instructor Ruo Ling, hehe, Yu Er has missed you dearly!" Xiao Yu giggled as she rushed to hug her instructor''s waist. Instructor Ruo Ling smiled softly as she gently stroked Xiao Yu''s hair and said, "Hehe, Yu Er, did you enjoy your vacation?" "Except for missing Instructor Ruo Ling every day, everything else was great." "Oh, you, always so sweet with your words." After a brief exchange, Instructor Ruo Ling looked at the fallen students with a speechless expression and shook her head. "You really did make quite a commotion, didn''t you? Take the injured to a shady place and call for a physician to take a look." "The rest of you new students, come into the tent to have your potential evaluated." Upon hearing Instructor Ruo Ling''s words, the new students who had been roasting like suckling pigs under the scorching sun seemed to have seen a savior and entered the tent with joyful faces. Xiao Yan nodded to Xiao Ning and Xiao Mei, signaling them to follow him inside. "Let''s go, Xun Er. We should go in as well." Instructor Ruo Ling watched Xiao Yan, noting his gentle and well-mannered demeanor as he guided the others. In her heart, she felt that she had stumbled upon not only a treasure but probably a troublesome student as well. Instructor Ruo Ling sat at a desk inside the tent. She waved her white hand, causing the ring on her finger to flicker as a green goatskin scroll and an ink brush appeared in her hand. She chuckled and said, "Congratulations to all of you for passing the preliminary test. You are now at the gates of Jia Nan Academy. However, we need to assess your potential to categorize you appropriately. So, I need to know your exact current strength." "Under the age of twenty, an 8th-stage Dou Disciple is considered to have F-class potential. That is the minimum standard for Jia Nan Academy. If you are under the age of eighteen, it is also acceptable to be a 7th-stage Dou Disciple." "Under the age of twenty, a 9th-stage Dou Disciple is considered to have E-class potential." "A 1-star Dou Practitioner is D-class. A 2-star Dou Practitioner is C-class, and so on. The highest class is S-class for a 5-star Dou Practitioner. The younger the age, the higher the classification will be adjusted." Instructor Ruo Ling gently explained the classification standards, which Xiao Yu had already discussed with Xiao Ning and the others. Those who came with Xiao Yu were elites selected by the Xiao Clan. "Hehe, an S-class potential new student is something that Jia Nan Academy has only seen in one person in the past decade or so. Now, this ''Little Witch'' is quite a figure in the academy." At this point, Instructor Ruo Ling''s gaze subtly swept over Xiao Yan and Xun Er. In her perception, these two had the highest potential, although she was not sure of their exact class. Xiao Yan could only smile wryly to himself. Xun Er''s cultivation speed was truly unprecedented. If it were not for his possession of the Flame Mantra and the Bone Chilling Flame, he would have been surpassed long ago. Taking a deep breath, Instructor Ruo Ling wrote an SS-class rating in the register. "I''m giving you an SS-class. Although there is no such class on the scale, you''ve clearly exceeded the S-class. I''ll explain this to the headmaster," Instructor Ruo Ling made an unprecedented exception! "The academy''s Little Witch finally has a match," Xiao Yu muttered to herself. The tent was buzzing with discussions among the new students. They were all openly speculating about Xun Er''s background without any attempt to conceal their fantasies about her. Yet, Xun Er remained as aloof as ever, paying no attention to anyone as she returned directly to Xiao Yan''s side. When Instructor Ruo Ling took a look at the last name on the register, her expression became a bit strange as she looked at Xiao Yan and said, "The next one, Xiao Yan." Xiao Yan slowly stood up, walked over to the desk, and said, "Xiao Yan, sixteen years old, 8- star Dou Practitioner." Pfft!!! In a corner, Luo Bu and Ge La, who had just been healed and awakened, were about to take a sip of water and some medicine when they spat it all out. Both of them had a mixture of horror and astonishment in their eyes and were almost about to fall to their knees. "Sixteen years old??!!" "Impossible! How can an 8-star Dou Practitioner be this powerful!" As soon as Xiao Yan finished speaking, the tent filled with the sound of sharp, cold breaths. Surprised and even fearful glances were directed toward him. They were filled with astonishment at such a terrifying talent. When they saw how easily Xiao Yan had defeated Luo Bu and the others, they all speculated that Xiao Yan must have the cultivation of a Dou Master, and guessed that his age would be close to twenty, similar to that of Xiao Yu. But Xiao Yan was only sixteen! And his cultivation level was not even that of a Dou Master, yet he exhibited the combat power of one! This was even more terrifying than a Dou Master! "An 8-star Dou Practitioner at the age of sixteen... higher than Xun Er, and with extremely formidable combat strength! This is a genius!" Instructor Ruo Ling took a deep breath and her eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at the young man in front of her. His talent and fighting ability were much stronger than that of the Little Witch! Xiao Yu''s close friends had become numb to surprises. Xue Ni asked, "Yu Er, what''s going on with your clan? Each one is more monstrous than the last! Your cousin is just... too monstrous." Xiao Yu''s lips slowly curled into a smile, as if the praise was directed at herself. She amusedly thought to herself, ''If they knew Xiao Yan was also an alchemist, I''m afraid they''d probably faint from shock.'' Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Inner Academy, Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Inner Academy, Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower ? Xiao Yan looked at Instructor Ruo Ling who had dropped her pen on the ground and forgotten to pick it up. He could only spread his hands helplessly. He didn''t intend to be so high-profile; it was just that his strength didn''t allow him to be otherwise! With a gentle smile, Instructor Ruo Ling rolled up the scroll in her hand as she said, "This concludes today''s enrollment. We will stay here for another seven days. Congratulations to the new students who enrolled today, you will soon be a part of Jia Nan Academy. I hope you can all get everything ready within these seven days. After that, Jia Nan Academy''s flying squadron will arrive in Wu Tan City, and then we can fly directly to the academy." Joy spread across the faces of everyone in the tent after hearing this. When Instructor Ruo Ling got up to leave, Xiao Yan stepped forward, scratched his nose in a somewhat embarrassed manner, and chuckled dryly, "Instructor Ruo Ling, I have something else I would like to ask you." "Oh? The little genius Xiao Yan already has something to ask the instructor? What is it?" Instructor Ruo Ling asked curiously. "It''s like this. I heard from Xiao Yu that there is a Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower in Jia Nan Academy. I heard that there is a Heavenly Flame there. Is that true?" Xiao Yan asked in a low voice. Slightly startled, Instructor Ruo Ling''s eyebrows furrowed slightly as she softly replied, "Jia Nan Academy does have a Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, but the Heavenly Flame you mentioned is merely a rumor within the academy. I don''t know if it''s true or not." "Maybe it''s because the effects of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower are related to flames, that''s why such rumors exist." Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed briefly, then he smiled gently and said, "If Instructor Ruo Ling doesn''t mind, you can stay with the Xiao Clan for these seven days. There are many things I''d like to ask you about regarding Jia Nan Academy." Instructor Ruo Ling''s eyebrows curved as she lightly tapped Xiao Yan''s head and chuckled, "You''re quite the clever brat, aren''t you? All right, since you have questions about the academy, as an instructor, it''s only right that I introduce the academy to you." Jia Nan Academy was a highly renowned academy on the Dou Qi Continent. It had immense influence in the Jia Ma Empire. In terms of strength, even the Miteer Auction House paled in comparison.V/\Issi?T for the b/est novel reading experi/en/ce If they could have the recruiting team from Jia Nan Academy stay with the Xiao Clan, even if Xiao Yan and the others left Wu Tan City to study, they would not have to worry about other forces targeting the Xiao Clan. Upon hearing that a Jia Nan Academy instructor would be a guest of the Xiao Clan, all the clan members were overjoyed and welcomed the Jia Nan Academy group with the highest level of hospitality. ... In the hall, Xiao Yan and several elite members of the Xiao Clan who were about to enter the Jia Nan Academy were sitting together. Instructor Ruo Ling began to explain the situation at Jia Nan Academy. ... Seven days passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, Xiao Yan relaxed his cultivation routine. In addition to accompanying his father, Xiao Zhan, he began to refine a large amount of 1st-tier medicinal pills. Since the other two major clans had gone bankrupt, no one dared to arbitrarily raise the prices of low-grade medicinal ingredients. Xiao Yan handed several storage rings filled with medicinal pills to Xiao Zhan as he said, "Father, your son is unfilial for not being able to stay by your side." Xiao Zhan''s aged hand stroked Xiao Yan''s cheek, the corners of his eyes brimming with tears as he said in a pleased manner, "It''s alright, Father is fine. You''ve grown up. It''s time for you to venture out into the outside world. You can''t stay at home forever." Xun Er came over and comforted him, "Uncle Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan ge-ge and I will come back to visit you during the vacation." "Xun Er is a good child. It''s the thought that counts the most. Don''t let it hinder your cultivation." After a few farewells, Xiao Yan and his group boarded the flying squadron of Jia Nan Academy. This so-called flying squadron consisted of tamed flying magical beasts. "Jia Nan Academy is truly the highest-ranking academy in the Dou Qi Continent. That''s a Rank 4 Magical Beast, the Steel Winged Giant Eagle!" Xiao Ning exclaimed in amazement at the sight of the massive creature in front of him. "Students, next we will ride the flying magical beasts, leave the empire from Da Ling City, and then enter the Black-Corner region. Jia Nan Academy is located in the center of the Black- Corner Region, and it will take us about half a day to get there," Instructor Ruo Ling explained the route to all the new students. "Black-Corner Region!" "That lawless land!" Many people were filled with worry and even fear when they heard the words "Black Corner Region". Xiao Yan had also seen descriptions of the Black-Corner Region in the books stored within his mysterious storage ring. Simply put, it was akin to the Golden Triangle, filled with numerous sects and powers, and lawlessness, where burning, killing, and looting were commonplace. It was a world where the law of the jungle governed human society. Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Soul Sacrifice Old Shop Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Soul Sacrifice Old Shop ? Shortly after Xiao Yan and the others boarded the flying beast, the Steel Winged Giant Eagle, its massive wings began to flap slowly. Strands of wind attribute energy swirled beneath it, lifting its enormous body into the sky. With a loud, piercing screech, the Steel Winged Giant Eagle suddenly soared into the sky at the command of the beast tamer and swiftly flew toward the Black-Corner Region. ''It feels like we''re on a plane.'' Sitting in a room on the back of the Steel Winged Giant Eagle, Xiao Yan rested his chin on his hand and gazed out of the window at the faint clouds passing by. Memories from the depths of his mind continued to flash before his eyes. "Wow! We''re flying!" "It''s amazing! To think that someone could tame such a huge flying magical beast!" "I remember that only a Dou Spirit can glide for a short distance, while a Dou King can fly for a long distance!" Ordinary flying magical beasts would take several days to fly out of the Jia Ma Empire, but a Rank 4 magical beast like the Steel Winged Giant Eagle only needed half a day. "Little Clan Leader! Look, we''re actually above the clouds!" "Xiao Yan ge, look, look!" Xiao Mei grabbed Xiao Yan''s clothes and shook them vigorously, the excitement on her face undisguised. Xiao Yan smiled gently and said, "I know, I know. Just sit properly and fasten your seat belts, or you might get thrown off later." "What is a seat belt?" Xiao Mei asked puzzled. "Um... I mean, hold on tightly to your seat and be careful," This was also the first time Xiao Yan had ever ridden on a flying magical beast, and he did not know that there was no such thing as a seat belt in this world. Beside them, Xun Er chuckled and said, "It seems like Xiao Yan ge-ge isn''t riding a flying magical beast for the first time." "It''s Xun Er who doesn''t seem to be riding one for the first time," Xiao Yan retorted with a smile. ... Half a day passed quickly, and the Steel Winged Giant Eagle had already flown out of the Jia Ma Empire''s territory and entered the Black-Corner Region. "Dear students, we have now entered the Black-Corner Region. The teacher must remind you all that under no circumstances should you venture into the Black-Corner Region alone," Instructor Ruo Ling''s tone was unusually serious as she gave a warning. Xiao Yan shrugged indifferently, "Sure, sure, there''s always someone better. Anyway, you''re not one of them." "You!... Once we''re in the academy, you''ll see that being tough on your own doesn''t mean anything!" Luo Bu''s eyes turned cold as he quickly walked toward the accommodations that had been arranged for them. Xiao Yan patted Xun Er''s hand to reassure her. "I''m fine, I just feel a little stiff from sitting for too long. Let''s go, we shouldn''t keep the instructor waiting." His eyes fleetingly glanced at a small alley to his right, but he didn''t enter it. ... In the middle of the night, a figure slipped silently out of the window of the inn where the new students of Jia Nan Academy were staying. Xiao Yan entered the pitch-black alley wearing a large black robe. The complex network of alleys twisted and turned, yet strangely, he moved through it as if he had been there before and confidently made his way deeper. At the end of the alley was a dead end, a place where not a soul, not even the shadow of a ghost, could be found. Yet, paradoxically, in such a ghostly, empty alley, there was an old, dilapidated shop hidden behind a tattered wooden door that creaked with every gust of wind, making one''s skin crawl with fear. Xiao Yan looked up and saw four large words written on the sign: ''Soul Sacrifice Old Shop''. He couldn''t tell how long it had been since the sign was last maintained; it was covered in dust and looked so dilapidated that it might collapse at any moment. He took the pitch-black token from his storage ring. It wasn''t that he had been here before, but this strange token emitted a spiritual fluctuation that led him to this place. This evening, Xiao Yan noticed two spiritual fluctuations scanning him. One was the inspection from Jia Nan Academy, and the other was because of this token! Unknown to him, spatial techniques shielded the depths of this alley, and only those with special items could enter. Even if the headmaster of Jia Nan Academy came, he wouldn''t be able to discover it. Xiao Yan''s brows furrowed; this place didn''t seem like anywhere good at first glance. Moreover, he hadn''t forgotten that this token was from the Hall of Souls, which was far from being a reputable organization. The atmosphere was eerie and terrifying, as if haunted. "Jie Jie Jie, since you''re here, why not enter the shop?" Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Soul Points Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Soul Points ? "Jie Jie Jie, since you''re here, why not enter the shop?" An old and hoarse voice emanated from the shop. The sound resembled that of a demon from the depths of the netherworld evoking a bone-chilling sensation in those who heard it. Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed as his mind began to race. He knew that he was able to come here because of the token, which meant that his safety was at least somewhat assured. Taking a deep breath, he approached without a hint of fear and gently pushed open the dilapidated wooden door to enter. The first impression the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop gave Xiao Yan was that it was not a shop at all. It felt more like entering a graveyard, a haunted place. The interior of the shop was dimly lit, with only a few candles on the counter to illuminate the place. The entire shop was pitifully small; even the smallest shops in the Xiao Clan Market were larger than this. Apart from an old, tattered wooden cabinet of unknown age, there were only a few cobweb- covered shelves on either side, with nothing else in sight. Next to the cabinet was a black curtain. He couldn''t see what was behind the curtain. There was only darkness and he had no way of knowing where it led. At this moment, Xiao Yan''s eyes fell on an old man sitting behind the counter. The old man''s right hand was resting on his chin, and his eyes were closed as if he were dozing off. He was incredibly thin, his body nothing but skin and bones, with sunken eye sockets and only a few sparse strands of hair left on his head. He looked more like a corpse that had been dead for three days than a living person! Had it not been for the voice that had just proven that this old man was still alive, Xiao Yan would have thought that he was looking at a dried-up corpse sitting there. Even someone as brave as Xiao Yan felt goosebumps all over his body in such a place. Even the air was cold and uncomfortable. Gathering his courage, Xiao Yan approached the counter and gently tapped on the tabletop, "Excuse me, old man, may I ask what place this is?" The old man''s body slowly moved upon hearing this question. It was like a mummified corpse coming back to life. His eyelids slowly opened, revealing a pair of ghostly pale green eyes staring back at Xiao Yan. "You dare to come here without even knowing what place this is?" A harsh, deep voice emanated from the old man''s throat. Xiao Yan felt a bit embarrassed by the question and smiled awkwardly as he said, "I was just wandering around and accidentally ended up here." The corners of the old man''s mouth cracked into a smile, revealing a set of yellow teeth, half of which were missing. He spoke slowly, "No one can pass through the spatial barrier to come here without the permission of my clan." After some thought, Xiao Yan didn''t hide anything and took out the black token of unknown material from his pocket. The old man narrowed his eyes slightly and curiously scrutinized Xiao Yan before slowly saying, "Neither a member of my Hun Clan nor affiliated with the Hall of Souls, yet you possess my clan''s Soul Command token. Interesting, very interesting." Xiao Yan touched his nose and said, "This was given to me by someone named Hun Huzi, who claimed I had a talent for alchemy and begged me to join some Hall of Souls in the capital of the Jia Ma Empire." ''No wonder the books record that the people from the Hall of Souls are hunting soul bodies all over the continent.'' Xiao Yan had a moment of realization in his heart. The currency of the Hall of Souls was actually souls! He shrugged his shoulders and said helplessly, "Not to mention a Dou Ancestor, I''m just a Dou Practitioner right now, not even a Dou Master. Forget it, forget it, the items here aren''t suitable for me." Dou Ancestor? Even if a Dou Ancestor was lying on the ground, Xiao Yan wouldn''t be able to harm them in the slightest, even if he exhausted all of his Dou Qi. "Kid, these things are just a drop in the bucket. The items here are all obtained from the Black-Corner Region, mere junk sold by Soul Envoys to exchange for Soul Points." "My Hun Clan''s collection is far beyond this." The old man was thin, but his tone was grand. Xiao Yan couldn''t help but complain in his heart. Why were all the people from the Hall of Souls the same? One said the Bone Chilling Flame was trash, and now this one said everything here was worthless junk. But he finally understood what this Soul Sacrifice Old Shop was for. It was like the black market of the Hall of Souls. Even if you weren''t a member of the Hall of Souls, you could still exchange things here with soul bodies. Moreover, according to what the old man said, the items here were considered useless by the Hall of Souls. The truly valuable items were those exchanged using soul points. As a Little Clan Leader himself, Xiao Yan naturally understood that it was normal for a faction to have its own merit point system. In the Xiao Clan, merit was also required to obtain certain techniques and magic crystal weapons. Just like the Xiao Clan''s medicinal herb gathering team, the more precious herbs they collected, the higher their merits would be. The purpose of such a system was to motivate the disciples within the clan. "What can soul points be exchanged for?" Xiao Yan asked curiously. The old man grinned, "Anything." Xiao Yan''s eyes flickered as he tentatively asked, "Even a Heavenly Flame?" As if guessing Xiao Yan''s desire for a Heavenly Flame, the old man grinned widely and let out a chilling laugh, "Jie Jie Jie, of course! Even specific information about certain Heavenly Flames, their locations, and methods to obtain them, as long as you have enough soul points." "My Hun Clan can provide it for you." Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Hun Lao Gui Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Hun Lao Gui ? Wealthy and powerful! Xiao Yan had no doubts. According to the books in his storage ring, there were two most powerful organizations on the Dou Qi Continent. One was the Hall of Souls, and the other was the Pill Tower, which was formed by all the alchemists who had united to counteract the Hall of Souls'' abduction of alchemists. The Hall of Souls was such a formidable organization that it forced all those haughty alchemists to unite for self-preservation. The Heavenly Flames, which were coveted by every alchemist on the Dou Qi Continent, might indeed be nothing in the eyes of the higher-ups of the Hall of Souls. Undeniably, it was an evil yet terrifyingly powerful organization. Xiao Yan didn''t say much more after hearing the old man''s words, just smiled slightly, thanked him politely, and turned to the wooden door to leave. The old man watched as Xiao Yan prepared to leave and slowly said, "The 2nd-ranked Heavenly Flame, the Nihility Devouring Flame, resides within our clan." !!!!!Vi?Sit no(v)3lb/!n(.)com for new novels Xiao Yan paused in his steps. The Nihility Devouring Flame, 2nd ranked on the Heavenly Flame Ranking was within the Hun Clan?!! The higher the rank on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, the more mysterious the flame, especially the top few flames that only had a picture and a few lines of description. The 2nd Rank Nihility Devouring Flame had even fewer words than the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame. It only mentioned that this Heavenly Flame was born in the void and could devour everything in the world. Not to mention finding it, one wouldn''t even know what it looks like. And the 1st Rank Heavenly Flame was even more mysterious, without even a name, its Heavenly Flame Ranking section was just a blank space. "Jie Jie Jie, since you possess the Soul Command token of Hun Huzi. I might as well tell you that as long as you have enough talent in alchemy, even if you are not from our clan, you can still obtain a Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame," the old man dropped a bombshell. Although Xiao Yan knew that the Hall of Souls was an evil and dangerous place, he couldn''t help but feel the desire to join the Hall of Souls rising in his heart at this moment. The 2nd-ranked Nihility Devouring Flame, who could resist such temptation! Xiao Yan took a deep breath to calm himself, then said with his back to the old man, "As far as I know, Heavenly Flames do not possess what you call ''Seed Flame."" Xiao Yan and the other new students from Wu Tan City naturally formed a class together, while Xiao Yu was in a higher grade. In last year''s Inner Academy examination, Xiao Yu was only a 2-star Dou Practitioner. Naturally, she did not advance to the Inner Academy. "Everyone must be tired. Be on time for the Huang Rank 2nd class tomorrow. I will explain some of the rules of the Outer Academy and the Academy''s credit system." Xiao Yan and the others had already heard from Xiao Yu about some of the systems of the Outer Academy. In the Inner Academy, the most important thing was obtaining the Fire Energy to enter the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, but in the Outer Academy, the most crucial thing was credits. These credits were different from college credits. They were used to exchange for Qi Methods and Dou Techniques, and even for some medicinal pills, magic crystal weapons, and the use of practice rooms. In the Dou Qi Continent, a world where the strong were revered, there was no such thing as a free lunch. One must give something to get something. Jia Nan Academy was not a charitable institution. The academy''s Dou Techniques and Qi Methods were not available for free either. Completing the academy''s tasks earned credits, which could then be exchanged for Dou Techniques and Qi Methods at the Outer Academy Book Pavilion. Even performing daily cleaning tasks for the academy earned a small number of credits, but the quickest way to earn credits was to gather herbs in the academy''s forest. Selling these herbs to the Academy in exchange for credits allowed the exchange of Dou Techniques and Qi Methods. "Instructor Ruo Ling, may I have a moment of your time?" Xiao Yan asked softly. "What is it, little genius?" Instructor Ruo Ling''s mood was undoubtedly good. With Xiao Yan and Xun Er as her trump cards, this year''s Huang Rank Class 2 was bound to be the most dazzling class. "I want to enter the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower as soon as possible." Instructor Ruo Ling was not surprised when he heard Xiao Yan''s words. If it weren''t for this year''s Inner Academy examination having already concluded, with Xiao Yan''s current cultivation level, passing the exam would have been a breeze. The studies in the Outer Academy weren''t particularly beneficial for him, so it was normal for him to want to train in the Inner Academy. Instructor Ruo Ling looked troubled, "Xiao Yan, with your cultivation and strength, it wouldn''t be difficult to pass the next Inner Academy examination. Can''t you wait a year?" Xiao Yan shook his head. One year? It was impossible to waste a year at this moment. Moreover, his goal wasn''t to learn the Qi Methods and Dou Techniques of Jia Nan Academy; his goal was the Heavenly Flame! Even though he knew that the chances of him being able to devour a Heavenly Flame were slim, he wasn''t willing to not try! "Sigh." Instructor Ruo Ling let out a sigh. Genius often came with stubbornness. "Alright, your situation is indeed special. I will discuss with the Deputy Headmaster of the Outer Academy tonight to see how we can handle your case." Being a teacher is so hard! Can''t even take a rest right after getting off the Griffin! Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Challenging the Xuan Rank Class Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Challenging the Xuan Rank Class ? In the office of Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan, Instructor Ruo Ling placed some of Xiao Yan''s information on the desk. "Oh? An 8-star Dou Practitioner?" Hu Gan was very surprised when he saw Xiao Yan''s student information. It was worth noting that his own granddaughter was the same age as Xiao Yan. Yet, even with his guidance, she had only reached the 6-star Dou Practitioner stage. After reaching the Dou Practitioner realm, one could use medicinal pills to aid their cultivation. This would greatly speed up one''s progress. But it was rare to see someone so young reach the 8-star Dou Practitioner stage. Instructor Ruo Ling nodded seriously and continued, "Aye, and this student named Xiao Yan also possesses strong combat abilities. During the recruitment, he had a conflict with a first- year student who was with the recruiting team. As a result, he swept through more than a dozen students ranging from 1-star to 4-star Dou Practitioners with a single move." "Hmm?!" Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan''s eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing this. To be able to defeat more than a dozen low-level Dou Practitioners with a single move, his strength must have reached the Dou Master realm, and that was only possible by using a Xuan Class Dou Technique that had been cultivated to at least a minor level of mastery. "To possess such strength at the age of sixteen is indeed an outstanding talent." Even the Deputy Headmaster commented as such. One could imagine how incredible Xiao Yan''s strength was. Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan stroked his beard and laughed, "I''m afraid he''ll be able to pass the Inner Academy examination and enter the Inner Academy after just one year of cultivation. Hehe, it''s been a long time since a first-year student entered the Inner Academy." Jia Nan Academy was divided into an Outer Academy and an Inner Academy. New students could participate in the annual Inner Academy Qualifying Competition once they reached the Dou Master realm and only the top fifty were qualified to enter the Inner Academy. The Inner and Outer Academies were entirely different worlds. Frankly speaking, the Outer Academy of Jia Nan Academy was merely a place for learning and even just a trading platform. All the resources had to be earned by the students through tasks to earn credits. Only by entering the Inner Academy did one become a true core disciple of the Academy and receive its support. "However... that child has made a request," Instructor Ruo Ling said with a hint of embarrassment. After all, although Xiao Yan was a genius, it was somewhat inappropriate for him to make demands right after enrolling. Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan raised his eyebrows and smiled helplessly while shaking his head, "Really, making demands right after enrolling... Kids these days. Let''s hear it, what is his request?" "He wants to experience the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower." Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan stroked his beard, pondered seriously for a moment, and unexpectedly nodded in agreement, "His wish is understandable. With his talent and strength, nothing in the Outer Academy can really attract him. It''s only logical that he wants to see if the Inner Academy''s training methods and resources can meet his needs." He didn''t find Xiao Yan''s request unreasonable. After all, with Xiao Yan''s talent, the only thing that could really appeal to him was the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower of the Inner Academy. "Are you saying that you agree, Deputy Headmaster?!" Instructor Ruo Ling didn''t hold much hope initially. Although Xiao Yan was a genius, the rules of the academy couldn''t be disregarded for him. "Moreover, the gap between a Dou Master and a Dou Practitioner isn''t as simple as the difference between high and low-star Dou Practitioners. Dou Masters can use their Dou Qi to form a protective energy cloak, which will significantly diminish the effectiveness of your Dou Techniques." "I know." "You...! Fine, I''ll pick a tough one for you to understand." Instructor Ruo Ling was quite irked by Xiao Yan. Would it kill him to show a little weakness?! After Instructor Ruo Ling left in a huff, Xun Er walked up to Xiao Yan and asked, "What''s wrong, Xiao Yan ge-ge?" "Nothing much. I have to defeat a senior Dou Master to enter the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower," Xiao Yan shrugged. Regardless, he had to enter the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower no matter what, so he had to accept this challenge. ... Shortly after the sun dipped below the horizon in the west, a pale red glow enveloped the Outer Academy square, casting a thin red carpet upon the ground. This was a rather secluded dueling ground within the Outer Academy, one of many such areas provided within the academy for students to settle their disputes. A cool breeze blew across the square, giving Xiao Yan a slight chill as he stood there. Xun Er, Xiao Yu, and Instructor Ruo Ling were also present on the sidelines watching the match. Besides the three of them, some bystanders had noticed the duel and sat nearby to enjoy the spectacle. Under the watchful gaze of the onlookers, Xiao Yan smiled slightly and cupped his fists toward a young man standing in the middle of the square, "Please go easy on me later, senior brother." Lu Xing showed a mocking smile as he looked at Xiao Yan and said, "Although bullying new students is not my style, since the academy has issued such a mission, I guess I have to reluctantly do it this time." To ensure fairness, the Deputy Headmaster did not designate a specific student for Xiao Yan to challenge. Instead, he issued a task within the Outer Academy, and whoever accepted the task would be his opponent. "That guy has always been like this, never knowing when to ease up a bit, always choosing to make things difficult for himself! Lu Xing is a 6-star Dou Master, and he''s only an 8-star Dou Practitioner. How is he supposed to fight?" Xiao Yu stomped her foot in frustration, though her eyes betrayed a hint of helpless concern. Chapter 35: Chapter 35: The Might of the Di Class Dou Technique Chapter 35: Chapter 35: The Might of the Di Class Dou Technique ? When the bystanders learned about the task Lu Xing had accepted in the Outer Academy and understood the situation, they couldn''t help but cast some ''admiring'' glances toward Xiao Yan. However, there was also a hint of mockery in their eyes. It was an annual tradition for new students to challenge the older ones upon entering the Outer Academy. Hence, when Lu Xing and others made the new students sunbathe, it was indeed a tradition. Yet, for someone like Xiao Yan to challenge a Xuan Rank class student was unprecedented in many years. "Hmph, I don''t know what backwater this bumpkin crawled out of, thinking this is his backyard." "Idiots like him often tend to die the most miserable deaths." Some first-year students who had come from elsewhere said with a cold snort, "Tch, he really sees himself as some big shot. He ought to take a long hard look in the mirror first!" Many new students were quite dissatisfied with Xiao Yan''s unconventional behavior! After all, most new students were hoping to stand out a bit. Now, on the very first day, he had already stolen the spotlight. As for the person in question, Xiao Yan, he simply didn''t seem to care at all. He stood on the square with his hands behind his back, his face still wearing his usual confident smile. For Xiao Yan to act in such a manner, in the eyes of others, he was either an idiot or even something that did not know how to die! Xun Er''s gaze turned cold upon hearing those murmurs. A flicker of golden flame flashed through her autumn water-like eyes. She wished she could step forward and shut those people up herself. "If the senior brother is proficient with weapons, you may use one," Xiao Yan kindly reminded. Lu Xing''s lips curled into a cold smile. "No need. If I had to use weapons against a student who has just entered the Outer Academy, I wouldn''t know where to put my face. Let''s not waste any more time and get started." Xiao Yan nodded, his expression remaining calm. However, his body was already tense as he secretly circulated his Dou Qi. He knew that someone whose cultivation had reached the 6- star Dou Master stage could not be taken lightly, even if he himself possessed many trump cards. As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Xing''s right foot exerted force and stomped on the ground, leaving a series of long-lasting afterimages. "It''s the High Huang agility-type Dou Technique, Remnant Shadow Step. I didn''t expect Senior Lu Xing to have cultivated it to such an extent that it could produce three afterimages!" Lu Xing quickly approached Xiao Yan with a thud. The afterimages swung their right fists toward Xiao Yan''s face, chest, and abdomen. Even though the afterimages were able to confuse one''s vision, such tricks were child''s play for Xiao Yan, who possessed strong Spiritual Strength. He dodged the punch by sidestepping, then grabbed Lu Xing''s right hand and with a gentle push and pull, using the principle of using a minimum amount of force to move a heavy weight, he threw Lu Xing away. Not stopping there, he took advantage of Lu Xing''s unstable center of gravity and kicked him right in the butt! "Ah!" Lu Xing fell face-first to the ground, performing a textbook face plant. it was impossible for him to dodge with his agility-type Dou Technique. Therefore, he had no choice but to deal with the attack head-on. Lu Xing quickly took out a long spear from his storage ring, grabbed it with both hands, and executed a Dou Technique called ''Immovable Spear Mountain!'' The silver-white spearhead of his spear pierced into the ground, transforming the spear shaft into a shield that merged with the ground to withstand the attack. Not feeling secure enough, pale yellow earth-attribute Dou Qi gradually emerged from his body and eventually formed a thin layer of Dou Qi cloak around him. Catalyzing Dou Qi into an energy cloak that adhered to the body was a hallmark of a Dou Master. This kind of energy cloak not only enhanced the user''s defense, speed, and attack, but also amplified the power of Dou Techniques. A 6-star Dou Master going so far as to use a weapon and unleash a Dou Qi cloak against an 8- star Dou Practitioner showed just how terrifying Xiao Yan''s Octane Blast was. Xiao Yan''s lips curled into a cold smile as he continued to push forward before his strike landed squarely on the long spear. Eight layers of hidden force burst forth! The Octane Blast was a High Xuan Dou Technique and was Xiao Yan''s most proficient technique. When fully mastered, the power of the Octane Blast could be compared to the weakest Di Class Dou Technique. Clang, clang, clang...! The terrifying force of the impact caused Lu Xing to retreat step by step, the long spear digging a deep trench in the ground as waves of hidden force transferred to his body. Xiao Yan shook his head inwardly as he saw Lu Xing almost step out of bounds. Although the other party used a weapon to defend himself, the main reason was his own weaker cultivation. If they were at the same cultivation level, the aftermath of the Octane Blast alone could shatter the Dou Qi cloak. Even Instructor Ruo Ling couldn''t help but change her expression. No matter who it was, no one could deny the strength of Xiao Yan''s attack. He was clearly overpowering his opponent! The fact that Lu Xing had to resort to using a weapon to block this punch spoke volumes. If there hadn''t been a weapon, wouldn''t the opponent have been seriously injured?! Suddenly, a pitch-black giant ruler fell to the ground with a heavy thud, causing the ground to shake. Xiao Yan grabbed the handle of the Heavy Xuan Ruler with both hands, his gaze sharpening as he forcefully pulled it out. "Senior, since you''re using a weapon, then I won''t be polite." There was no trace of respect in his words! Buzz! The mysterious patterns on the Heavy Xuan Ruler suddenly lit up, and a terrifying heat rose from within the ruler. The temperature of the entire square unexpectedly rose by one degree! Flame Splitting Tsunami! Chapter 36: Chapter 36: The Underground Black Tower Chapter 36: Chapter 36: The Underground Black Tower ? A strange and violent energy fluctuation suddenly rippled across the square. The first person to sense this heat wave was Xun Er. Soon after, Instructor Ruo Ling in the judges'' stand sensed it too. Their expressions changed dramatically almost at the same moment. Their gazes shifted abruptly and finally rested on the young man in the center of the square, standing proudly in a black robe while holding the Heavy Xuan Ruler. The source of this violent energy fluctuation was precisely him! "This guy... just how many more tricks does he have up his sleeve?!" A breath of slightly scorching air was inhaled deeply into Xiao Yan''s lungs. Under the gaze of all present, he slowly stepped forward and raised the Heavy Xuan Ruler above his head, his arms bulging with veins that resembled writhing snakes. "Ha!" With a loud shout, a two-meter-high pale red ruler light shot out! "Deflecting Water Mirror!" A graceful figure immediately leaped into the arena. As Instructor Ruo Ling''s words fell, a large amount of pale blue Dou Qi burst forth from her palm. Finally, an oval-shaped blue water mirror formed in front of her, protecting the petrified Lu Xing behind her. The water mirror was more than a meter thick. It resembled a water city wall rather than a mere mirror, as it protected the two of them. Boom! Hiss, hiss, hiss!!! The ruler light from the Flame Splitting Tsunami collided with the water mirror, instantly vaporizing the water and filling the entire square with a thick white mist. The mist obscured everyone''s view, making it impossible to see what was happening in the center of the square. "What the hell just happened?" "Such a powerful fire attribute Dou Technique, it must be at least a Low Xuan Class, right?" "I think it feels more like Intermediate Xuan Class." "It''s so impressive that he has cultivated a Xuan Class Dou Technique to this extent at such a young age!" Some sharp-eyed students had already noticed that Instructor Ruo Ling had intervened, which essentially meant Xiao Yan had won. Shortly after, Instructor Ruo Ling suddenly waved her hand with a whoosh and the surrounding white mist dissipated, revealing the situation inside the arena. Lu Xing was naturally unharmed after being protected by Instructor Ruo Ling. On the other hand, Xiao Yan was extremely pale as he forced himself to stand, gasping for breath. It was only after swallowing a Qi Recovering Pill that he finally managed to catch his breath. ''Using the Flame Splitting Tsunami before reaching the Dou Master might not be a good idea; it completely drained all the Dou Qi in my body.'' The consumption of a Di Class Dou Technique was truly terrifying, emptying his entire reserve of Dou Qi. Furthermore, even after Xiao Yan had exhausted all his Dou Qi, the ruler light he released was only two meters high, not even one-tenth the power of a Di Class Dou Technique.Chee?ck out latest novels on "Xiao Yan ge-ge, are you okay?" Xun Er and Xiao Yu both hurriedly ran into the arena to check on Xiao Yan. Time flew by, and three days had passed in the blink of an eye. The news of Xiao Yan defeating a Xuan class student spread far and wide, accompanied by various rumors. Xiao Yan paid no attention to the rumors swirling around the Outer Academy. His focus was solely on his cultivation as he waited for news from Instructor Ruo Ling. ''Finally,'' Xiao Yan thought as his powerful Spiritual Strength detected Instructor Ruo Ling''s arrival. He immediately stopped his cultivation and hurried out of his dormitory. Instructor Ruo Ling gave Xiao Yan a blank look, "You are quite eager." Xiao Yan shrugged and defended himself, "I was eager to see Instructor Ruo Ling." "Where is Xun Er? Aren''t you two usually inseparable?" "Xun Er is in closed-door cultivation. Instructor Ruo Ling, you didn''t just come to check on the students'' cultivation progress, did you?" Instructor Ruo Ling replied somewhat irritably, "Alright, alright, let''s go. We have to take a griffin to reach the Inner Academy, and we have to return to the Outer Academy today. After all, you''re not an Inner Academy student yet." The Inner Academy and the Outer Academy were not much different overall. The only significant difference was the transition from credits to Fire Energy, with all students having the same goal: to enter and cultivate in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. Xiao Yan followed Instructor Ruo Ling for about ten minutes until they arrived at a sunken area. There was a massive black tower buried deep underground. Only the top of the tower could be seen above the surface. A tower buried underground?! This extremely strange scene intensified the astonishment on Xiao Yan''s face. He murmured, "So this is the so-called ''Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower.'' I didn''t expect it to be buried underground." Instructor Ruo Ling approached an elderly man dressed in simple clothes and respectfully said, "Elder Liu, this is Xiao Yan, who was approved by the Outer Academy three days ago to experience the wonders of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower." Elder Liu opened his eyes to glance at Xiao Yan and slowly nodded, "Young man, you''re quite impressive. It''s wise of you to want to experience it in advance. Very visionary." Xiao Yan touched his nose clumsily, as this had not been his intention at all. "Go ahead with confidence. I will watch over you." Xiao Yan cupped his fists in acknowledgment, "Thank you, Elder Liu." Instructor Ruo Ling asked with a smile after Xiao Yan entered the black door, "Elder Liu, how long do you think this kid can last?" Elder Liu stroked his beard and laughed, "An 8-star Dou Practitioner entering the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower is just looking for trouble. He won''t last more than a minute." Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Decision Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Decision ? Xiao Yan took a deep breath, his heart filled with nervous anticipation as he stood at the entrance of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. Gritting his teeth, he gathered his courage, lifted his foot, and stepped heavily into the darkness beyond the gate. Instantly, his complexion changed dramatically. His once handsome face turned as red as burning charcoal in the blink of an eye. This kind of scene was bizarre to the extreme! !!!! ''What''s happening!'' Xiao Yan''s heart trembled with a hint of fear as he realized that a wisp of colorless Heart Flame had suddenly emerged and was burning within his body! Some of the Inner Academy students who were preparing to leave the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower noticed Xiao Yan froze at the entrance. They saw wisps of faint white mist emanating from his body, accompanied by a sizzling sound akin to roasting meat. They couldn''t help but sneer with disdain. "Heh, yet another clueless rookie who rushed into the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower without bothering to inquire." "The clumsy bird flies early, always thinking they''re so special." "It''s strange, though. Didn''t the Inner Academy examination end last month? Why is this new student entering the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower now?" "Who knows? Maybe all the Fire Energy has been plundered by some older students." The senior students within the tower paid no heed to Xiao Yan whatsoever, nor did they wish to meddle in affairs that weren''t their own. More often than not, their faces were painted with mockery and schadenfreude. At this moment, Xiao Yan couldn''t care less about the outside world because this colorless and formless Heart Flame had suddenly appeared within his body. Moreover, it was surrounding his Qi cyclone. Despite his ability to control fire as a 2nd-tier alchemist, he still couldn''t manipulate this Heart Flame.U//ppTodated fr/o/m He was now desperately trying to prevent the Heart Flame from getting close to his Qi cyclone. If this Heart Flame were to burn his Qi cyclone, he would be ruined! ''That''s not right! Elder Liu and Instructor Ruo Lin are nearby. If there is something wrong with this Heart Flame, they would definitely have intervened to save me!'' ''Could it be that this Heart Flame is the reason why the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower accelerates cultivation?!'' Xiao Yan''s mind quickly raced through the possibilities, and when he calmed down, he immediately understood what was going on. The reason the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower could accelerate cultivation was precisely because of this colorless and formless Heart Flame! Xiao Yan took a deep breath. Although he hadn''t been taught by anyone what to do inside the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, he had a rough idea based on a few scraps of information. ''Since the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower is a place for accelerating cultivation, what I need to do now is to cultivate inside in a normal manner to be on the right path.'' After Xiao Yan left, Elder Liu suddenly realized, ''Huh? That kid regained consciousness on his own after entering the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower for the first time?'' ''Never mind. I guess the Heart Flame at the entrance was too weak, so it didn''t trigger much of a reaction.'' ... In the stillness of the night, as the moon shone like a silver plate and the stars scattered across the sky, Xiao Yan sat alone on a hillside in the forest of the Outer Academy. He lay on the tranquil grass with a blade of grass in his mouth, chewing it lightly and allowing the faint bitterness to spread in his mouth. Back in Wu Tan City, whenever Xiao Yan had something on his mind, he would retreat to the hillside behind the mountain to gaze at the moon and stars. "Xiao Yan ge-ge has the leisure to watch the stars and admire the moon?" Like a purple butterfly, Xun Er gracefully leaped to the hilltop, her delicate figure tracing an enticing arc. Her clear and melodious voice reached Xiao Yan''s ears. Xiao Yan looked at the increasingly radiant and charming girl and smiled slightly, "Have you finished your seclusion?" Xun Er didn''t mind the dirtiness of the lawn and slowly sat down beside him. Her pretty cheeks revealed cute dimples as she smiled gently and asked, "Xiao Yan ge-ge has something on his mind?" Xiao Yan shrugged and looked at the bright moon in the sky, then said lightly, "Xun Er, do you think I''m strong?" Xun Er was startled for a moment, then her eyebrows furrowed as she pondered for a moment before replying, "Xiao Yan ge-ge became an 8-star Dou Practitioner at the age of sixteen. Moreover, your strength is comparable to that of Xuan class students. It''s hard to find someone of your age who can compete with you in Jia Nan Academy." "And what if we consider the entire Dou Qi continent?" Xiao Yan looked at Xun Er with a serious expression, his eyes resembling those of a wise sage seeking answers. Xun Er pondered for a long time before she let out a soft sigh. She did not hide anything as she shook her head gently. "Even though Jia Nan Academy was founded by an elite Half-Saint and has stood unshaken in the Black-Corner Region for countless years, it is still not considered a top faction in the entire Dou Qi continent." Although she did not answer directly, the implication was clear. "I thought as much. After all, the Dou Qi continent is so vast..." Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Joining the Hall of Souls! Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Joining the Hall of Souls! ? Xun Er nodded her head slightly, agreeing with Xiao Yan''s statement. The Dou Qi Continent was indeed vast. The Jia Nan Academy was considered a sacred place in the Black-Corner Region, a sacred place that no one from the three great empires dared to provoke. A sacred place that had remained unshaken for countless years, producing many strong students who were renowned far and wide. Yet, such an educational sacred place was merely a relatively powerful organization in the Dou Qi Continent, far from being a top-tier one. Xiao Yan was, of course, aware of this. The top-tier organizations described in the mysterious storage ring he possessed included One Hall, One Tower, Two Sects, Three Valleys, and Four Pavilions¡ªa total of eleven top-tier organizations and a Jia Nan Academy was not among them. "Xun Er really knows a lot," Xiao Yan said with a smile as he looked at her. Xun Er pretended to admire the scenery around them and didn''t respond to Xiao Yan''s comment. Xiao Zhan had already told Xiao Yan about Xun Er''s situation. Moreover, Xun Er had casually taken out High Xuan Class Dou Techniques several times with the intention of giving them to him. How could he not know that her background was far from simple? He just didn''t know which of the eleven major organizations she belonged to. "Xun Er, I want to go out and explore, to see this vast Dou Qi Continent by myself," Xiao Yan said casually as if it were an offhand remark. Yet, there was a hint of guilt and helplessness in his tone. He wasn''t worried about the dangers of exploring or the possibility of not being able to return. Instead, he struggled with the idea of parting ways with Xun Er. He and Xun Er had agreed early on to attend Jia Nan Academy together for further studies. Now, his sudden desire to leave the academy felt somewhat like breaking a promise. "Is it because of Nalan Yanran, Xiao Yan ge-ge?" Xun Er pouted as she looked at him. After all, she was his fiance?e. Xiao Yan was startled for a moment before he remembered that there was such a person. He quickly waved his hands and said, "How could that be? If you hadn''t reminded me, I would have completely forgotten about that so-called three-year agreement. Oh right, there''s still a little over a year left until three years have passed." He scratched his head with an embarrassed look, having completely forgotten about this matter. Although it was Nalan Yanran who had issued the challenge, Xiao Zhan had also agreed to it. As his son, he couldn''t just stand her up. "It might also be a good opportunity to visit the imperial capital along the way and settle this confusing matter," Xiao Yan said with a wry, helpless smile. The affairs of the past two generations had caused him quite a bit of trouble. Xun Er laughed upon hearing this and said, "I heard that Nalan Yanran has been cultivating diligently every day in the Misty Cloud Sect. Even the Sect Master is amazed by her determination. Xiao Yan ge-ge isn''t allowed to lose." Xiao Yan coughed lightly and said, "I definitely won''t lose, but well, this marriage engagement must be dissolved." Hearing Xiao Yan mention that the engagement should be dissolved, Xun Er pursed her lips, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. It was clear she was satisfied with his response. Tilting her head slightly, Xun Er''s gem-like bright eyes gazed at Xiao Yan beside her, who had a relaxed expression on his face. Her lips curved up in a subtle smile, but suddenly, as if she had thought of something, her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her expression turned somewhat grim. "Xiao Yan ge-ge is young and talented. Who knows, you might encounter all sorts of girls out there and never come back." "Uh... How could that be?" becoming cold. "Miss, the clan wishes for your return," Ling Ying said. After pondering for a moment and remembering her promise with Xiao Yan, Xun Er found an excuse. "Tell the clan that Xiao Xuan allowed the Xiao Clan to stay in the northwest corner of the continent. It might have something to do with the relics of the Tou She Ancient God, and I need some time to investigate." Ling Ying didn''t know whether to cry or laugh. The clan would not necessarily listen to such a ridiculous excuse. "Understood, Miss." Xun Er looked toward the horizon, just in time to spot an eagle soaring in the sky. "The fledgling eagle has grown and is now soaring in the sky! Xiao Yan ge-ge, I believe you can definitely do it." ... Xiao Yan''s flying beast landed in Peace Town. Unlike his previous visit, this time he had set off early and arrived by midday. "Tyrant Trumpet Flower! A high-grade medicinal ingredient that enhances Dou Qi and strengthens the body! Only traded for medicinal pills." "Armor melted from the demon core of a Rank 4 magical beast. It functions as a movable fortress with six layers of defense, tradable only for Intermediate Xuan Class Dou Techniques!" "3rd-Tier Medicinal Pills! I have a small quantity of 3rd-tier Medicinal Pills for sale! All of them were obtained from the excavation of an alchemist''s tomb. They are unopened and priced low. It is a fair deal. Hurry while supplies last!" Peace Town served as a buffer between the Black-Corner Region and Jia Nan City, with many vendors shouting to attract business. The bustling activity did not distract Xiao Yan as he walked directly past various shops to the same alley he had visited the last time. In contrast to that night, rays of sunlight were now streaming through the alley, making it a little less dark. Xiao Yan took out the Soul Command token from his storage ring. He had been pondering from the moment Hun Huzi appeared until today, and he finally made a decision. He, Xiao Yan, would join the Hall of Souls! Chapter 39: Chapter 39: The Trial of the Hall of Souls Chapter 39: Chapter 39: The Trial of the Hall of Souls ? Within the void, there existed a world resembling a nebula. Entering this world greeted one with a faint fragrance that carried a refreshing coolness. Taking a deep breath of this fragrance was incredibly soothing, as it had the ability to nourish the soul. Even the most ordinary practitioner would find their Spiritual Strength greatly enhanced after spending some time here. Such a world existing in the endless void remained undetected by the naked eye without guidance. Unless permitted, even elite Dou Saints might not be able to enter. Deep within this world was a piece of land bustling with many residents, revealing itself as an ancient empire. This was the Hun Realm, a world controlled by the Hun Clan that existed within the void. It was hard to imagine that in such a world, one could actually see the sun hanging high above one''s head, with bright sunlight shining down, a truly inconceivable sight. In the grand hall at the heart of Hun Realm City, a man dressed in a flowing white robe sat elegantly in the highest seat. The man appeared to be in his thirties. He had handsome features and exceptionally bright eyes that seemed to pierce into one''s heart. At first glance, he exuded a scholarly elegance, holding a cup of Fragrant Soul Tea in his right hand and sipping it with utmost grace. "What are you staring at? This Fragrant Soul Tea is made with the Hun Realm''s Nine Nether Ice Spring water. The tea leaves are tender shoots from the thousand-year-old Soul Tea Trees found on Hun Top Ridge, refined through a three-step process by three 8th-tier alchemists. It has the miraculous effect of warming and nourishing one''s Spiritual Strength, and it aids in the cultivation of Soul Skills. Such tea is hard to find outside." Hun Tiandi, the head of the Hun Clan, gently sipped the Fragrant Soul Tea and smiled at the people below. Such a tea was unattainable not only for ordinary people, but even Dou Saints would find it difficult to enjoy a cup. Perhaps only the high-ranking members of the Hun Clan had the privilege of tasting it. "Excellent tea, truly first class!" "Our Hun Clan is indeed thriving under the leadership of our Clan Head!" "The dominance of our Hun Clan over the Dou Qi Continent is just around the corner!" A series of flattering and obsequious comments came from below. Anyone familiar with these old men offering compliments would be deeply shocked. Each of them was an old monster who had lived for hundreds or even thousands of years. Without exception, they were all strong experts in the Dou Saint realm. Any one of them could turn the entire Dou Qi Continent upside down. Yet, in front of this scholarly young man, they all spoke carefully and cautiously, afraid to utter a single wrong word. Hun Tiandi gave a faint smile as he savored the tea, his face bearing a smile that wasn''t quite a smile as he said, "Is that so? Why do I feel that my Hun Clan is not far from extinction?" !!!!!! Everyone below immediately fell to their knees, trembling all over in fear. Hun Tiandi leisurely sipped his tea and said lightly, "Then let''s start with the Ling Clan. Regardless of whether we can obtain all the ancient jades or not, I must ensure that I have enough Dou God bloodline." "The biggest mistake Xiao Xuan made was not being ruthless enough. If he had absorbed the bloodlines of the other Dou God clans back then, he might have truly become a Dou God." The Nihility Devouring Flame fell silent for a moment before saying, "As long as you can obtain that Di Tier Pill, you can become a Dou God just the same. There''s no need for such trouble." "I don''t like to stake everything on one thing. Hun Huzi might not succeed in refining it," Hun Tiandi said indifferently, setting down his teacup and looking at the world beyond the Hun Realm. The Nihility Devouring Flame said, "It''s up to you, but don''t forget the agreement between us." "Of course." ... At this moment, Xiao Yan in Peace Town naturally couldn''t know what was happening in the Hun Realm. Likewise, the two individuals in the Hun Realm could not have imagined that the world''s timeline deviation was becoming more and more severe. Xiao Yan passed through the spatial barrier and once again arrived at the dilapidated Soul Sacrifice Old Shop. As he pushed the door open, the inside remained unchanged, with dust- covered shelves and an old man on the verge of death. Hun Lao Gui slowly opened his eyes when he sensed Xiao Yan''s entrance. A pair of oily green eyes emitted a faint glow, revealing a mouthful of rotten teeth as he smiled, "Boy, it seems you have made your decision." Xiao Yan smiled without a hint of hesitation on his face, his smile as calm and confident as ever, "I want to join your Hall of Souls." He understood that with these words, he was walking on a tightrope with an abyss below him. When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you. If he wanted to take something from the abyss, he had to risk being swallowed by it! Hun Lao Gui''s eyes narrowed as he pointed to the curtain door beside him and said, "Jie Jie Jie, go inside. Our Hall of Souls doesn''t accept trash. Only those who can pass the trials qualify to become the people of our Hall of Souls." Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Hall of Souls Trial Grounds Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Hall of Souls Trial Grounds ? Hun Lao Gui pointed to the curtain door. From the outside, it was impossible to see where the curtain led, only that beyond it was utter darkness, with not a single ray of light able to penetrate. "Where does that door lead?" "To the Hun Realm." "The Hun Realm?" Hun Lao Gui stood up like a zombie and slowly said, "This is a passage to the Hun Realm. Only soul bodies can pass through it. However, you don''t qualify to go to the Hun Realm yet. Therefore, you will be transported to the trial grounds of the Hall of Souls in the Black-Corner Region." "The cultivation in the Hall of Souls is not only about cultivating Dou Qi but also places emphasis on cultivating the soul and practicing Soul Skills. You may also choose to undergo trials in Soul Skills, to battle with the soul." Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed as he looked at Hun Lao Gui. Although he was only sixteen years old, he knew quite a bit thanks to the mysterious storage ring. In addition to Dou Skills, there were also Soul Skills in this world, which were methods specifically designed to cultivate the soul and use Spiritual Strength to fight. However, Soul Skills were extremely rare; even among the numerous collections in the Soul Ring, there were only a handful of books on the soul, and the Soul Skills were limited to a few incomplete volumes that were impossible to cultivate from. For Xiao Yan, who was an alchemist, the strength of his soul was of the utmost importance. He had always wanted to find a suitable Soul Training Method or Soul Skill to cultivate his soul. Yet, not to mention the whole of Wu Tan City, even the biggest trading house in the Jia Ma Empire, the Miteer Clan, did not have any Soul Skills. Not even the Jia Nan Academy was known to have any Soul Training Methods or Soul Skills. He had originally thought that the Soul Training Methods and Soul Skills had been lost in the Dou Qi Continent. Now, it seemed that they were not lost, but rather kept secret and not circulated! Thinking back, Xiao Yan realized that Hun Huzi had never used Dou Qi, but had always used Spiritual Strength. At that time, Hun Huzi was most likely just a soul body, not a physical entity. "Scared?" Xiao Yan just smiled and walked directly into the pitch-black passage. He didn''t ask what would happen if he couldn''t pass the trial; he had thought about it for two years. At one point, he had even considered becoming a frog, hiding at the bottom of the well that was the Jia Ma Empire for the rest of his life, and forgetting about the rest. But as two years passed, his heart gradually filled with a sense of unwillingness. After living a life of mediocrity in his past life, how could he accept defeat again in this life? The moment he entered the Hun Realm passage, the token in his pocket automatically flew up and emitted a spiritual light that illuminated the entire space. Suddenly, his leg muscles bulged with power. He had actually cultivated a Huang Class Agility-Type Dou Technique, which allowed him a moment of explosive speed! Xiao Yan didn''t take him seriously at all and leisurely put the token away. He had already guessed what was going on. "Die!" Zhang Hong Guang felt a sense of triumph seeing that Xiao Yan didn''t react. He was an experienced member of a mercenary group, recommended here by his group leader, who had told him that passing the trials of a relic would reward him with a powerful Dou Technique. With a shout, he unleashed a sword strike that sliced through the air like a raging fire in a ruthless and domineering manner, not holding back at all, aiming to decapitate Xiao Yan with a swift cut to the neck! Xiao Yan stepped forward instead of retreating. Zhang Hong Guang''s movements were as trivial as those of a child in the face of his superior Spiritual Strength. Clenching his five fingers into a fist, he smoothly dodged the incoming blade and struck directly at Zhang Hong Guang''s neck bone. He didn''t hesitate to deliver a fatal blow. He showed no mercy like he would in a clan competition or a duel at Jia Nan Academy. The Hall of Souls was not a place for kindness but rather governed by the most primal law of the jungle. Since you came here out of greed to attack me, I have no reason to spare you. Moreover, he could tell that there was likely no way to surrender on this fighting platform. Zhang Hong Guang trembled on the ground for a few moments. Then he stopped breathing, and a wisp of his formless soul fragment was absorbed into the surrounding space. He couldn''t form a soul body with his Dou Practitioner cultivation. The number on Xiao Yan''s Soul Command changed from 1 to 2. "So these are soul points." Xiao Yan confirmed his speculation. From his conversations with Hun Huzi and Hun Lao Gui, he understood that they were members of the Hun Clan, and the Hall of Souls was a filial organization of the Hun Clan. The Xiao Clan in Wu Tan City had a similar setup. After coming of age, his two older brothers, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, took some basic Dou Techniques and Qi Methods, along with a small number of resources, to form a mercenary group in Rock Desert City. The goal of this mercenary group was to recruit members and send the valuable resources they obtained back to the clan, continuously expanding the clan''s influence. He guessed that the relationship between the Hun Clan and the Hall of Souls was similar. What Xiao Yan didn''t know was that even the Jia Nan Academy was originally founded by a descendant of the Lei Clan, a Dou God Clan. Of course, the Hall of Souls was much larger than any mercenary group, and its influence was probably hidden in every corner of the Dou Qi Continent. It was even possible that traces of the Hall of Souls could be found within the Jia Nan Academy. Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Soul Training Method! Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Soul Training Method! ? ''Is the reward for defeating an opponent always these soul points?'' Xiao Yan pondered as he saw his soul points increase from 2 to 4 after defeating yet another opponent. These soul points were similar to the credits at Jia Nan Academy and could presumably be exchanged for Qi Methods, Dou Techniques, and cultivation resources. He had just defeated another opponent, but this time, the soul points he received were more than before. Xiao Yan speculated that this was likely because his opponent possessed 2 soul points, and by defeating them, he had essentially plundered their points and added them to his own. In the final team competition of the Jia Nan Academy''s Inner Academy examination, one of the tests was to avoid being plundered of Fire Energy by the senior students. He didn''t know what he could exchange these soul points for since he couldn''t leave yet. However, considering this was only the Low Huang Class trial grounds and his opponents so far had been intermediate-star Dou Practitioners, he felt reassured. Both consecutive opponents had been weaker than him. Once his evaluation grade increased, the rewards would surely be better. ''This reminds me of an alchemist''s relic discovered a few years ago.'' A few years ago, an herb-gathering team stumbled upon a relic of a 3rd-tier alchemist in a forest outside of Wu Tan City. The discovery sent shock waves throughout the city, and even the Miteer Auction House had Master Gu Ni personally visit the relic in hopes of acquiring some ancient pill recipes. All the factions in Wu Tan City had united to overcome the mechanisms guarding the alchemist''s relic. Although Xiao Yan did not participate, he learned from Xiao Zhan that many people had died trying to decipher the mechanisms, including some disciples of the Xiao Clan. The trial grounds of the Hall of Souls now seemed like a relic spanning the entire Black- Corner Region, where countless treasure seekers perished in pursuit of its treasures. A humming sound interrupted his thoughts, drawing his attention to a nearby formation that resembled a teleportation array. He thought, ''Oh? Is it time for me to go somewhere else?'' The second fighting platform was completely different from the first; a gust of cold wind made him shiver. ''Ice?!'' Xiao Yan stepped onto the white, vast glacier. Although the area of the glacier was not large, only the size of a football field, it was the same as the first arena in that it was impossible to leave. Roar Roar Roar!!! "Three Rank 1 Ice-Attribute Magical Beasts, Ice Snow Demon Wolves, huh." A Rank 1 Magical Beast was equivalent to the strength of a Dou Practitioner. Although Dou Practitioners could generally use Dou Techniques, the physical bodies of Magical Beasts were much stronger. In the environment where they thrived, cultivators would not stand a chance against them. As he pondered, three Ice Snow Demon Wolves tens of meters away had already begun to open their mouths, and three icy, bone-chilling gusts of cold wind came sweeping in. In an instant, the three gusts of cold wind surged toward Xiao Yan like huge white waves. If he were to be engulfed by the cold wave, he would surely become an ice sculpture. He had a bitter smile on his face. The Hall of Souls might be evil, but it was undeniably strong. At Jia Nan Academy, his talent surpassed that of the Deputy Headmaster''s granddaughter, yet here in the Hall of Souls, he was merely at the Huang Class, not even Xuan Class. If those of Di and Tian Class were sixteen years old, wouldn''t they already be comparable to Dou Grandmasters or even Dou Spirits? ''Let''s first see what this so-called Treasure Hall has to offer.'' Xiao Yan chose to explore the Treasure Hall instead of continuing forward. He wanted to see if the Hall of Souls had any Soul Training Methods or Soul Skills. After entering the teleportation portal, he found himself in a vast, boundless room. The entire white space seemed wall-less, surrounded by floating light clusters encased in energy shields that slowly pulsed, illuminating the room like daylight. ''Do those energy shields contain Dou Techniques and Qi Methods?'' As soon as he spoke, the Soul Command emitted a humming sound and shot out a beam of spiritual light. Streams of soul information entered his mind, similar to a menu. When he looked at those light clusters again, the soul information allowed him to know what Qi Methods and Dou Techniques were inside and how many soul points were needed for the exchange. ''Haha... 10 soul points can only be exchanged for Low Huang Class Qi Methods or Dou Techniques.'' ''No wonder there''s a need to elevate the evaluation grade. Even if you have soul points, Huang Class can only exchange for Huang Class items. Xuan Class Qi Methods or Dou Techniques require reaching a Xuan Class evaluation to qualify for exchange.'' Xiao Yan''s eyebrows suddenly furrowed as he looked toward a light cluster in the middle. ''Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique, High Xuan Class. Cultivating to a perfect mastery can advance the Spiritual State to the Soul State!'' TL/N: The Spiritual State is divided into four levels: The Mortal State, Soul State, Heavenly State, and Emperor State. Chapter 42: Chapter 42: The High Huang Class Trial Chapter 42: Chapter 42: The High Huang Class Trial ? ''Achieving perfect mastery can actually elevate the Spiritual State to the Soul State!'' The Spiritual State was an extremely important indicator for alchemists. Alchemists found that Spiritual Strength became crucial because of the need to control fire precisely. Especially for high-tier alchemists, their control over fire must reach the level of manipulating individual particles. Refining high-tier medicinal ingredients was akin to finding a needle in a haystack, selecting one in a billion from within a single herb. The first requirement to become an 8th-tier alchemist was for the Spiritual State to reach the Soul State. He had learned from some of the alchemy books in his storage ring that the Spiritual State was divided into four levels: Mortal State, Soul State, Heavenly State, and Emperor State. The reason why 8th-tier pills were called Spirit Pills was because they already possessed a certain amount of spirituality. An alchemist''s Spiritual State had to reach the Soul State in order to imbue pills with spirituality. Xiao Yan knew he had come to the right place. The rare Soul Training Method that the world seldom saw was right before his eyes! Moreover, it was a High Xuan Class Soul Training Method that was capable of allowing one to advance to the Soul State upon reaching perfect mastery! This soul method was incredibly important to him. As an alchemist, he needed to strengthen his soul by any means necessary. He was well aware that having a naturally strong soul only provided him with an early advantage. If he did not work hard to improve, he would eventually become one of the many talents that faded into obscurity on the Dou Qi Continent. ''A High Xuan Class Soul Method requires a thousand soul points, and one must reach the Xuan Class evaluation to qualify for the exchange.'' ''Xuan Class...'' Soul points could also be gradually accumulated by selling natural treasures and hunting magical beasts for their monster cores. However, one had to reach the Xuan Class no matter what in order to qualify for this exchange.Vi?Sit no(v)3lb/!n(.)com for new novels ''As a sixteen-year-old 8-star Dou Practitioner, the opponents I encountered in the Low Huang Class trials were either of comparable cultivation to mine or slightly weaker. The Intermediate Huang Class trials, however, are likely to have slightly stronger opponents than me, at most a 1-star Dou Master that I could still handle. The High Huang Class trials should have low to intermediate-star Dou Master stage opponents. But for the Xuan Class, it would at least require overcoming a whole higher level of combat.'' Xiao Yan reflected on his fight a few days ago with Lu Xing from the Xuan Class. Although he had won, the victory hadn''t been easy. The primary reason for Lu Xing''s loss was that his Dou Techniques and Qi Method were too weak. A significant part of the reason he could win was due to his powerful Spiritual Strength and his mastery of Octane Blast, coupled with the Di Class Dou Technique, Flame Splitting Tsunami. These two higher-class Dou Techniques bridged the gap in cultivation. In other words, his victory was largely because Lu Xing''s Dou Techniques were weak and not well-mastered. However, the Hall of Souls was far stronger than Jia Nan Academy and even possessed Soul Skills. He feared that it would not be that simple to cross an entire realm to defeat his opponent. ''I still have to try. Once I break through to Dou Master, challenging a Dou Grandmaster will be a dead end! Now that I am a Dou Practitioner, this is the best opportunity for me.'' Xiao Yan understood in his heart. The further he advanced, the less likely it would be that he would be able to challenge across realms. To reach the Xuan Class evaluation, it was imperative to act early! With resolve, Xiao Yan clenched his teeth and tightly gripped the token as he said, "I will continue to challenge the Intermediate Huang Class trial!" A moment of mental disorientation followed, and the token in front of him flashed with white light. The next second, as the light disappeared, he found himself back in the original trial grounds. "I was just in a soul body state?!" Xiao Yan noticed a bit of frost on his clothes. His body had not moved from its spot at all. It was because of the Soul Command that he had experienced an out-of-body state, allowing him to enter the passage behind him and visit the Treasure Hall! He hadn''t expected the Treasure Hall to actually be within the Hun Realm. Only soul bodies that possessed the Soul Command could pass through the Hun Realm passage, which explained why there was no one else in the Treasure Hall just now. ''Damn it!'' Xiao Yan quickly grabbed the Heavy Xuan Ruler, curled his body into a ball, and used the ruler to shield himself. With a crack, the Black Steel Giant Python bit down on the hard Heavy Xuan Ruler, but with the ruler protecting him, it couldn''t kill him with its bite. The python''s head violently shook the Heavy Xuan Ruler, slamming it into the mountain with a thunderous crash, causing rocks to fall and bury Xiao Yan alive. The Black Steel Giant Python once again vanished into the fog as its triangular pupils showed a hint of mockery. Xiao Yan was like a bright flame in its eyes. It had already seen him sneak out of the mountain and hide behind a giant rock nearby, waiting for an opportunity to launch a sneak attack. The Black Steel Giant Python moved silently above the giant rock, its forked tongue flicking lightly, knowing that its dessert for the day was secured! Hiss! The Black Steel Giant Python let out a screech and lunged violently at the heat source. But at the moment of biting, it froze! There was no human, only a burning piece of clothing! Where was the human?! There was no heat source nearby. Could it be that the human had died?! While the Black Steel Giant Python looked around in confusion, the ground beneath it suddenly burst open. Xiao Yan emerged from underneath and appeared right at the python''s vulnerable spot! "Stupid snake, ever heard of the Icy Heart Pill?" Octane Blast! // Hey everyone, Thanks so much for following and supporting this story. Today is the last day with double updates. Starting tomorrow, the update rate will be normalized to 1 chapter per day. I''m just as eager as you are to get through these first few arcs as quickly as possible, so keep voting with Power Stones for a chance to receive extra chapters at the end of each week. Here are the goals for this week: 2 Extra Chapters = 750 Power Stones 5 Extra Chapters = 1250 Power Stones We''re only 13 chapters away from finishing this first arc. How quickly we get there is up to you! Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Poison Master Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Poison Master ? "Stupid snake, ever heard of the Icy Heart Pill?" Octane Blast! Even with a dirt-covered face, the proud smile on Xiao Yan''s face couldn''t be hidden by the mud. He swiftly closed the distance with all of his strength gathered in this punch. No matter how hard the scales of the Black Steel Giant Python were, they couldn''t protect its scaleless underbelly, nor could it dodge his carefully calculated strike in time. With a long whistle, he unleashed a lethal blow filled with the unstoppable momentum of Octane Blast. The punch landed solidly with a loud bang. Finally, his attack sent the giant Black Steel Giant Python flying into the air, and the eight layers of hidden force struck it eight times before it fell from the sky. With a thud, the Black Steel Giant Python fell heavily to the ground. Blood spurted from its eyes and mouth. All of its bones were shattered by Xiao Yan''s Octane Blast, and its internal organs were turned to mush by the dark force. After twitching a few times, it died unwillingly. Xiao Yan sat on his butt on the body of the Black Steel Giant Python, took out a cloth from his storage ring to wipe the mud off his body, and changed into a new set of clothes. ''Rank 2 Magical Beasts are indeed tough to deal with; I actually had to use an Icy Heart Pill.'' But there wasn''t a rule against using medicinal pills, was there? The Icy Heart Pill was a 2nd-tier medicinal pill with a rather unique effect. Upon ingestion, it immediately generated a cold current that chilled one to the bone. Not only did it cool the mind and help one calm down, but more importantly, the cold current from the Icy Heart Pill rapidly lowered the temperature of the body''s flesh and meridians. This was one of the alternative medicinal pills that he had prepared for devouring a Heavenly Flame. To devour a Heavenly Flame, one could not simply swallow it directly; otherwise, one would be burned to death before even beginning to refine the flame. Xiao Yan discovered from the notes of the previous owner of his storage ring, who had absorbed the Bone Chilling Flame, that three items needed to be prepared in advance in order to increase the success rate of absorbing a Heavenly Flame. The first item was the 5th-tier medicinal pill, Blood Lotus Essence Pill, which could form a continuous bloody layer to protect the body, allowing him to get closer to the Heavenly Flame. The second item was the Acceptance Soul, which Xiao Yan had been lucky enough to find in the mysterious storage ring. The third item was the Ice Spirit Cold Fountain. If the Blood Lotus Essence Pill was for protecting the exterior, then the Ice Spirit Cold Fountain served as a guardian for the interior. It could protect one from being incinerated into nothingness by the destructive temperature of the Heavenly Flame during its refinement. Unfortunately, Xiao Yan was out of luck, because while the Blood Lotus Essence Pill at least had a recipe and could possibly be refined by someone else if necessary, he had never even heard of the Ice Spirit Cold Fountain. Therefore, he refined the lower-tier substitute, the Icy Heart Pill, himself. If he truly couldn''t find the Ice Spirit Cold Fountain and encountered a Heavenly Flame, he planned to use a large quantity of Icy Heart Pills as a replacement. them. Only Poison Masters frequently refined poisons. The profession of Poison Master didn''t have a good reputation on the Dou Qi Continent. Many people were somewhat wary of dealing with Poison Masters because of their stealthy and deadly poisoning methods, which could make any opponent or even a friend uneasy. The Chu Yun Empire, neighboring the Jia Ma Empire, was a nation dominated by Poison Masters. It could even be said that the Chu Yun Empire was a gathering place for them. Every time there was a war between the two empires, many soldiers from the Jia Ma Empire died at the hands of the Poison Masters'' deadly poisons. "Quite perceptive, I am Zhang Chuan Wu from the Chu Yun Empire. Now that you know my name, you can die in peace," Zhang Chuan Wu said with full confidence and a cold smirk. Xiao Yan remained unflustered as he listened to Zhang Chuan Wu''s self-introduction. He glanced at the latter and said in a leisurely manner, "Xiao Yan, from Wu Tan City in the Jia Ma Empire, a 2nd-tier alchemist." !!!! Upon hearing the word ''alchemist,'' Zhang Chuan Wu''s eyes looked as if they wanted to devour someone, filled with deep resentment and bitterness. Xiao Yan had deliberately introduced himself in this manner. Ninety percent of Poison Masters became so because they couldn''t become alchemists. Alchemist was a profession that everyone on the Dou Qi Continent aspired to because of its special requirements that deterred most people. Those with the talent for refining medicine but unable to become alchemists often choose to become doctors, healing the sick and saving lives. Some, however, chose to become Poison Masters out of jealousy and hatred, refining poisons that were the very antithesis of medicinal pills. As an alchemist, Xiao Yan represented what Zhang Chuan Wu had once aspired to but failed to become. It was as if someone had taken the woman he loved and flaunted their affection in front of him. "Kekeke. Fine, very fine. I''ll let you experience how it feels to have all your limbs lose all sensation, leaving only your head clear while someone slowly cuts the flesh off your body piece by piece!" Xiao Yan spread his hands with a look of helplessness and said indifferently, "That is just an anesthetic surgery, though it seems you lack an anesthesiologist''s license." Chapter 44: Chapter 44: The Methods of a Poison Master Chapter 44: Chapter 44: The Methods of a Poison Master ? "Little beast, since you''re courting death, I''ll grant your wish!" Xiao Yan''s words enraged Zhang Chuan Wu beyond measure. With a fierce shout, he waved his hand, scattering a cloud of poison powder while concealing a poison dart that shot out from his sleeve. Xiao Yan leisurely leaped back to avoid the poison powder and slightly tilted his head to dodge the poison dart hidden within. He lightly patted his coat as if the powder had dirtied his clothes. "Where did this mad dog come from? Your verbal skills are much better than your Poison Master skills." Xiao Yan''s tone and demeanor screamed for a beating! Zhang Chuan Wu''s face contorted with rage as he angrily shouted, "Don''t think you''re so great just because you have strong Spiritual Strength! Our Poison Master methods will definitely make you wish you were dead!" Xiao Yan suddenly understood in his heart that the reason Zhang Chuan Wu couldn''t become an alchemist was likely due to insufficient Spiritual Strength. Possessing Dou Qi with both fire and wood attributes was just the foundation for becoming an alchemist; having inherently strong Spiritual Strength was even more crucial. Whether one could possess the Spiritual Strength needed to become an alchemist without the aid of a Soul Training Method was purely up to fate. "Poison Cloud Palm!" Driven by a heart full of jealousy and murderous intent, Zhang Chuan Wu''s entire body surged with poison Dou Qi. He condensed a poison palm with his right hand and pushed it toward Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan waved his hand and unleashed the invisible heat wave of Flame Splitting Tsunami. The high-temperature wave completely incinerated the poison gas of the Poison Cloud Palm, turning Zhang Chuan Wu''s attack into nothing more than harmless vapor. Seeing his Dou Technique so easily countered, Zhang Chuan Wu roared in anger as dark purple Dou Qi surged around his body. "Poison Energy Cloak!" The poison Dou Qi gradually expanded from his body, forming a thin, venomous layer around him. This was far more dangerous than the Dou Qi cloak of Lu Xing from the Xuan Class; touching this poison energy cloak was out of the question. Zhang Chuan Wu, seeing his aggressive approach proving effective, decided to press the attack. Xiao Yan quickly pulled out the Heavy Xuan Ruler to confront him. Even though he had a 2nd-tier detoxification pill, a 2nd-tier detoxification pill couldn''t neutralize all 2nd-tier poisons. Detoxification pills could only be refined as a base. Once an alchemist was poisoned, they needed to treat the specific condition by adding ingredients to the basic detoxification pill, thereby quickly refining a suitable antidote. Zhang Chuan Wu let out a low shout and stomped on the ground in a violent manner. Then, he concentrated strands of poison in his palms to prevent Xiao Yan from breaking his Poison Cloud Palm again. After that, he lunged wildly toward Xiao Yan. His palm strikes were overwhelming. They cunningly and viciously targeted Xiao Yan''s vulnerable areas such as the heart, neck, and face. A single strike that could force the poison into Xiao Yan''s body would ensure his victory! Xiao Yan would inevitably succumb to the poison, a fact that he was confident in with his Poison Cloud Palm. Xiao Yan examined the wound on his fist. Zhang Chuan Wu had a piece of armor on him that blocked part of the Octane Blast''s attack and prevented a fatal blow. He swallowed a pill without a word. This wasn''t for detoxification but to delay the onset of poison until after the fight when he could deal with it. Zhang Chuan Wu looked at Xiao Yan, trembling, then burst into maniacal laughter. "Hahaha, your detoxification pill is useless! My poison has tainted your hands; there''s no escape for you now!" He suddenly began to vomit violently as his voice faded. Countless tiny black poison insects emerged from the vomit and swarmed out like ants. Xiao Yan''s eyebrows furrowed deeply. Even he felt revolted by this sight. Most people cultivated poison attribute Dou Qi in the Chu Yun Empire. Xiao Yan had read about a special poison attribute Qi Method in some books describing Poison Masters. This method involved using one''s poison attribute Qi cyclone as a breeding ground to cultivate poison insects within the body. Much like breeding Gu, these Poison Masters used their bodies as vessels. Although this method could cultivate powerful poison insects, the toxins secreted by these insects would accumulate within the Poison Master''s body, eventually leading to death either from toxin accumulation or from not having enough poison Dou Qi to sustain the poison insects, culminating in being devoured by them. Xiao Yan hadn''t expected to encounter one today. No wonder Zhang Chuan Wu''s complexion was so deathly pale, paler than someone who had been dead for three days. It turned out this was the reason. "Kekeke, my Poison Winged Ants will relentlessly attack any target tainted with poison Dou Qi. Once bitten by a Poison Winged Ant, one would wish for death as the body loses all sensation and then slowly rots away, enduring torment for a whole day and night before dying slowly." Zhang Chuan Wu said as he wiped the vomit from the corner of his mouth, his smile twisted and maniacal. It was enough to send shivers down one''s spine and make one feel nauseous. Countless poison insects spread their wings and covered the sky as they swarmed toward Xiao Yan like ants on a rainy day. Facing the overwhelming swarm of poison insects, Xiao Yan remained calm as he sat down. He flicked his right hand and took out the three-opening medicinal cauldron he had purchased at the auction in Wu Tan City from his storage ring. Dou Qi rushed into the medicinal cauldron and ignited a roaring flame inside with a wave of his hand. Xiao Yan couldn''t produce real flames on his own yet, so he had to rely on the medicinal cauldron. After which, he forcefully threw a Rank 2 Fire Attribute Monster Core into the cauldron. This time, however, he didn''t intend to refine pills, but to detonate the Monster Core!U//ppTodated fr/o/m Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Challenging the Xuan Class Trial Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Challenging the Xuan Class Trial ? The best way to deal with poison insects was through fire. Although Xiao Yan couldn''t yet materialize his Dou Qi flame directly and needed the aid of a medicinal cauldron and a Monster Core to ignite the flame, the skills of an alchemist were nonetheless his own abilities. He violently opened the lid and the Rank 2 Fire Attribute Monster Core, fully ignited by the Dou Qi flame, exploded into terrifying flames with a loud bang! Xiao Yan used his Spiritual Strength to control the flames and transformed them into a fire dragon that charged toward the dense swarm of poison insects. Zhang Chuan Wu laughed instead of panicking when he saw the fire dragon approaching. He had seen the fire of the alchemists'' medicinal cauldrons too many times to be scared. Although he couldn''t refine medicinal pills, he did have a medicinal cauldron, though it was used to refine poison. "Cauldron Fire? Indeed, poison insects fear the most yang of things. But my poison insects have been refined through the Poison Insect Technique and have evolved within my body for three generations. They are all protected by a layer of poison energy cloak. How could the flames of a mere Rank 2 Monster Core harm my poison insects?!!" Puff! The fire dragon opened its mouth and ''swallowed'' all the poison insects in one gulp. Then it coiled in the air and enveloped the countless poison insects as if it were a ball of fire. Buzz, buzz, buzz! Strangely, the poison insects were still moving freely within the fireball, seemingly unafraid of being scorched by the flames. Xiao Yan shook his head, placed his hands over the opening of the medicinal cauldron, and said indifferently, "Unfortunately, the flames I possess are not ordinary flames. Although there are only a few strands, they are, after all, from the Bone Chilling Flame. It''s more than enough to deal with these poison insects." A few strands of bone-white Bone Chilling Flame converged into a long white needle. This move was precisely the ''Needle Threading Flame Control'' technique used by Hun Huzi during the refinement of the poison pill! With just one look, he firmly memorized the technique and succeeded in seizing it! Upon seeing the bone-white Heavenly Flame needle emerge from the fire dragon, all the Poison Winged Ants were startled and immediately turned to flee with a whoosh. Evidently, they were terrified by the needle transformed from the Heavenly Flame.N/ne?w n0vel chap/ers are published o/n It was, after all, the 11th-ranked Heavenly Flame! Heavenly Flames were the most extreme Yang things on the Dou Qi Continent. Born from heaven and earth, they were the nemesis of all poisons! In fact, the Poison Winged Ants that had been nurtured by Zhang Chuan Wu''s poison Dou Qi for years were not afraid of ordinary medicinal cauldron flames, let alone considering Xiao Yan''s lower cultivation level. However, encountering a Heavenly Flame meant facing their ultimate bane. Even if Zhang Chuan Wu was a Dou Grandmaster, and his poison insects were twice as powerful, once touched by the Heavenly Flame, their only fate was death. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!! Under the Heavenly Flame''s needle threading technique, all the poison insects couldn''t resist at all; any poison energy cloak they had was like a mist before the wind. Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength was extraordinary. Even Hun Huzi had praised it. Possessing such Spiritual Strength without any Soul Training Method truly made him a natural-born alchemist. The fire dragon served merely as a seal to prevent the poison insects from escaping. The real deadly move was the needle composed of a few strands of Bone Chilling Flame! "Come back!!" Zhang Chuan Wu''s heart was bleeding; those were his carefully nurtured poison insects! However, Xiao Yan quickly laughed it off and muttered with conviction, "If I can''t even reach the Xuan Class, what face would I have left to return and see Xun Er?" Nevertheless, he was in no hurry. After taking a Qi Recovering Pill to restore his Dou Qi, he reignited the medicinal cauldron, cut his finger to drop a blood droplet into it, and watched as the flame slowly decomposed the blood. He was still poisoned at this moment. ''To refine a Detoxification Pill, one must first know the composition of the poison and the toxins involved.'' Since he had absorbed the poison, he needed to analyze its components in his blood and then use the effects of specific medicinal ingredients to neutralize the toxins. Strictly speaking, this was his first time formally detoxifying. The previous instance with Hun Huzi didn''t count; it was more of a quick-witted solution than a proper detoxification. After a day and a night of painstaking analysis, Xiao Yan finally identified the right medicinal herb to purify the toxins. He refined a Detoxification Pill and successfully removed the poison from his body. "It actually took a whole day just for the detoxification. Killing is easy, saving lives is hard; getting poisoned is easy, detoxifying is hard." Xiao Yan muttered sarcastically, then noticed that everything around him was dead silent, making him feel rather lunatic. "I''ve spent quite some time in this trial ground; it''s time to wrap this up. Let''s challenge the Xuan Class trials!" A buzzing sound rang out, and a door suddenly appeared before him as soon as he spoke. Unlike the previous portals, this door looked tangible and very real. "As expected from the Xuan Class, even the door is different," Xiao Yan mused as he walked through the door. ... In the Hun Realm within the void, thousands of young people practiced Dou Techniques in the cultivation ground of a secluded city. The instructor of the cultivation ground suddenly received a spiritual message. He casually pointed at a young man and said, "Hun Yu Cun, someone from the outside world has applied for the Xuan Class advancement trial. It''s your turn to go." All the Hun Clan descendants present at the cultivation ground showed expressions of envy, jealousy, and resentment upon hearing the instructor''s words. Why did such a good opportunity to gain soul points never fall upon them! "You''re lucky, Yu Cun. One needs one hundred soul points to advance to the Xuan Class. Isn''t facing someone from the outside world practically like being handed points for free?" Hun Yu Cun''s eyes sharpened as he licked his lips and said, "What I enjoy most is hunting down these ignorant fellows from the outside world. My collection is about to increase by one," Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Descendant of the Hun Clan, Hun Yu Cun Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Descendant of the Hun Clan, Hun Yu Cun ? ''This Xuan Class trial is really something else; even the terrain is completely different.'' Xiao Yan stood on a lush green grassland. Although the plain wasn''t very large, it was brimming with vitality, with green trees and riverbanks. If one didn''t know better, one could mistake it for a vacation spot or a class 5A tourist attraction. It was entirely different from the previous fighting platforms, with the greatest difference being the surroundings of the grassland. Void! He looked around. The edge of the grassland plain didn''t have any barrier protection; it looked more like a piece of empty space, somewhat similar to the cosmos he knew. However, unlike the total darkness of space, the surrounding empty space was not entirely black. Instead, it had a hint of ink green, with unknown dust and objects floating around. The entire world seemed somewhat dim, yet paradoxically, this grassland plain seemed to emit its own light that illuminated the area. "What exactly is this place?" He walked to the edge of the grassland plain and looked intently. In fact, this was a grassland plain floating amid the empty space. Falling off would likely turn one into the floating remnants surrounding it. This was the first time Xiao Yan had seen such a place. He couldn''t help but be astonished by the grandeur of the scene. "Hehe, as expected of a native from the outside world, not even knowing what the void is," a voice full of disdain and arrogance sneered from behind him. With his powerful Spiritual Strength, Xiao Yan naturally knew that his opponent had already arrived. He turned around and saw a man about his age stepping out of the door. The man''s eyebrows were filled with pride. "''Soul''? Are you from the Hall of Souls?" Xiao Yan noticed the man was wearing a training outfit embroidered with a silver-white character for "Soul," and guessed that this time''s trial opponent might be a direct disciple of the Hall of Souls or the Hun Clan. He also understood that the Huang Class Qi Methods and Dou Techniques were merely baits to attract cannon fodder, to lure them into exerting effort. Only those who reached the Xuan Class were considered qualified personnel by the Hall of Souls and were eligible to enjoy its Clang! The black ruler and the great sword collided, sending sparks flying and the clear sound of metal clashing echoing slowly in the void. !!!! ''Such a heavy weapon!'' Hun Yu Cun''s hands went numb, and he could barely hold onto his great sword as he forcefully stepped back. His steps left very deep footprints on the ground, showing the weight of Xiao Yan''s Heavy Xuan Ruler. But Xiao Yan wasn''t having an easy time either; his hands also became somewhat numb. Hun Yu Cun''s strength was even greater than Lu Xing''s when he used the Dou Qi cloak. Hun Yu Cun released bursts of powerful invisible energy with a buzzing sound. This was a type of attribute-less Dou Qi and the first time Xiao Yan had encountered such a peculiar Dou Qi. If he had to describe it, it was like a layer of soul body wrapped around one''s entire body. It was actually a cloak composed of both Spiritual Strength and Dou Qi! This type of Dou Qi soul cloak was stronger than the ordinary Dou Qi cloak, as it offered greater strength and enhanced perception! Xiao Yan''s mind tensed as he watched Hun Yu Cun condense this special cloak. Streams of Dou Qi began to flow out from his Qi cyclone and surged through his body, providing him with the necessary strength for battle. "Ha ha ha ha, you indeed have some skills. No wonder you dared to choose the Soul Path trial challenge. You should be proud of yourself for forcing me to use my Dou Qi cloak!" Xiao Yan''s brow furrowed as he vaguely felt he had likely suffered a loss due to his ignorance. Had he unknowingly chosen the hell difficulty mode? "Heh heh, take my strike! Soul Shaking Slash!" Hun Yu Cun leaped high into the air, his right hand gripping the great sword. Xiao Yan wasn''t sure if it was an illusion, but for a moment, he thought he saw a human face emerge on the blade! The blade sang and ghosts wailed as Hun Yu Cun unleashed a downward slash. There was even a burst of spiritual ripples beneath this slash, as if it could slay gods and ghosts alike. Xiao Yan quickly steadied himself, using the Heavy Xuan Ruler to defend against the slash. Sparks flew as the slash landed. Amidst the clashing sound of heavy weapons colliding, a powerful force created a half-meter-wide crater where Xiao Yan stood, causing his feet to sink into the ground. Hun Yu Cun sneered, "You think you can block a High Xuan Class Dou Technique?" Suddenly, a spiritual shockwave blasted through the Heavy Xuan Ruler, striking Xiao Yan''s mind and causing him to spurt a mouthful of blood onto the ruler. Unexpectedly, this Soul Shaking Slash had a second layer of attack, and it was still a spiritual attack that could not be defended against! Chapter 47: Chapter 47: I, Xiao Yan, Am Indomitable! Chapter 47: Chapter 47: I, Xiao Yan, Am Indomitable! ? ''Spiritual Strike! Is this a Soul Skill?!!! Xiao Yan hadn''t expected such a technique that resembled both a Dou Technique and a Soul Skill. The Hun Clan''s development and innovation in Soul Skills had reached such an extent that they had integrated them with Dou Techniques! By using the collision of weapons, they could transmit a spiritual attack through the vibrations, resulting in an undefendable and deadly Spiritual Strike! Boom! Xiao Yan couldn''t block this slash at all. The terrifying force pressed him into the wall of the crater. "Hehe, it seems you do know a bit after all. I thought the outside world no longer knew what Soul Skills were," Hun Yu Cun pressed down violently on the hilt of his sword, trapping Xiao Yan firmly under the Heavy Xuan Ruler with no chance of escape. With just one more slash, he could scatter Xiao Yan''s soul to the winds! The Hun Clan''s greatest strength lay in their use of souls, which was why they ranked at the top of the Eight Ancient Clans. "Farewell, bumpkin. Next time someone makes you an offer, remember to accept it. Perhaps they mean well." Hun Yu Cun''s great sword emitted an endless soul light with a buzzing sound as he prepared for the final blow. Xiao Yan let out a cold laugh, his eyes devoid of any despair: "Don''t underestimate Dou Techniques from the outside. Who doesn''t know a High Xuan Class Dou Technique, you frog in a well!" "Octane Blast! Striking Ox Across the Mountain!!" TL/N: "Striking Ox Across the Mountain (Ge Shan Da Niu)" is a legendary martial arts technique in China described as the ability to attack and knock down an opponent from a distance using only one''s fists or palms. Xiao Yan had been secretly gathering strength for this moment, his fingers spreading from a clenched fist to an open palm. With a deep roar echoing in his heart, Xiao Yan''s aura suddenly became as sharp as a sword drawn from its sheath. The violent energy at the center of his palm produced an extremely sharp whirlwind of Dou Qi. Sensing Xiao Yan''s sudden surge of terrifying aura, the mocking smile on Hun Yu Cun''s face instantly vanished. He hadn''t anticipated that Xiao Yan could unleash such a powerful attack. This bumpkin from the outside world actually knew a High Xuan Class Dou Technique! Moreover, this Dou Technique had clearly been cultivated to a perfect level of mastery! And Xiao Yan was only an 8-star Dou Practitioner! Even for the descendants of the Hun Clan, it would take several years, or even a decade, to cultivate a High Xuan Class Dou Technique to such perfect mastery. Did he start practicing while still in the cradle?! Hun Yu Cun hastily canceled his own Dou Technique and concentrated all his Dou Qi in front of him to form a thicker protective cloak. Xiao Yan''s palm firmly struck the Heavy Xuan Ruler with a loud bang! The Soul Shaking Slash was very similar to the Low Xuan Class sword technique that Hun Yu Cun had initially used. It was more like adding a spiritual strike to the basis of that slash, utilizing the fierceness of the sword technique to increase the strength of the spiritual strike. The strength of the spiritual strike was indeed enhanced, yet the sword technique itself remained at the standard of a Low Xuan Class. It wasn''t particularly profound. If it weren''t for Xiao Yan''s significantly lower cultivation level, he wouldn''t even need to rely on the Octane Blast to increase his strength; he could dodge this straightforward attack by simply relying on his Spiritual Strength and agility. No matter how strong the attack or how peculiar the spiritual strike was, it was meaningless if it didn''t hit the target. Contrasting with Xiao Yan''s inner cold laugh, Hun Yu Cun was cursing inwardly. The weakness of the Soul Shaking Slash was clear, but normally, anyone hit by the slash would have their soul destroyed or, at the very least, suffer severe soul disorientation. He hadn''t expected that Xiao Yan, this freak, could take a hit after being caught off guard and still act as if nothing had happened! "Damn it!" Boom! Hun Yu Cun''s slash hit the ground with a thunderous boom. This time, Xiao Yan didn''t even bother to defend and easily dodged it. "My Hun Clan cannot possibly lose to an outsider bumpkin like you! Absolutely impossible!" Suddenly, Hun Yu Cun''s blood began to boil wildly, and in the next second, his Dou Qi grew stronger and stronger. 7-star Dou Master! 8-star Dou Master! 9-star Dou Master! The peak of a 9-star Dou Master!! Hun Yu Cun''s soul cloak even began to show signs of turning into armor! It should be noted that turning Dou Qi into armor was something only a Dou Grandmaster could do! ''Secret Technique?! A secret technique related to bloodline?!'' Xiao Yan''s gaze became grave. He had seen some temporary strength-enhancing Secret Techniques in his storage ring, but those techniques required specific conditions, so he hadn''t been able to learn them. "Witnessing the power of a Dou God Bloodline is enough for you to feel satisfied even in the afterlife! Go to hell!" Xiao Yan was secretly alarmed; he couldn''t dodge this slash! He didn''t know what this Dou God Bloodline Secret Technique was, but one thing was for sure: Hun Yu Cun had not only increased his cultivation level, but also his Spiritual Strength! The hidden force of the Octane Blast absolutely couldn''t dissipate the concentrated Spiritual Strength! After struggling for a moment, a surge of fury finally rose in Xiao Yan''s heart. A fierce look flashed across his face as he took out a Qi Recovering Pill from his storage ring and threw it into his mouth, while his hands tightly gripped the Heavy Xuan Ruler! "Then let''s see if you can''t withstand my heat wave first, or if my soul can''t withstand your slash!" Flame Splitting Tsunami!! Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Additional Trial Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Additional Trial ? Xiao Yan knew he couldn''t afford to wait for Hun Yu Cun to make the first move, regardless of whether the Dou God Bloodline Secret Technique could be activated again or not. This time, he decided to strike first! With a booming sound, he propelled himself forward, his right foot launching him like a sharp arrow toward Hun Yu Cun. The high-temperature Heavy Xuan Ruler in his hand dragged across the ground, leaving a scorched trail. A path of fire followed him, incinerating the green grass beneath his feet! Even the power of the world began to converge on his Heavy Xuan Ruler. It seemed that only when executing the Flame Splitting Tsunami did the Heavy Xuan Ruler fully awaken, revealing its true form through the mysterious patterns etched on it. An unusual and violent energy fluctuation suddenly rippled across the entire grassland plain. The first to sense this fluctuation was naturally Hun Yu Cun, whose complexion drastically changed. His gaze focused intently on the young man charging toward him with the Heavy Xuan Ruler in hand. The source of that violent energy fluctuation was right there! ''A Dou Technique that can cause the energy of the world to surge... A Di Class?! How is that possible! How could a mere 8-star Dou Practitioner possibly know a Di Class Dou Technique!!!'' Being able to mobilize the power of the world meant that Xiao Yan had indeed initiated a Di Class Dou Technique, and it wasn''t just for show! Hun Yu Cun felt like he was going insane. How could a native from the outside world be proficient in a High Xuan Class Dou Technique and also cultivate a Di Class Dou Technique! What kind of monster could have cultivated these two Dou Techniques at such a young age?! A Di Class Dou Technique! Even he didn''t possess one! It wasn''t that the Hun Clan lacked Di Class Dou Techniques, but the clan had its own system. One had to demonstrate corresponding strength to acquire a Di Class Dou Technique. If everyone could obtain it, then who would put in the effort to cultivate? Encouragement and punishment must complement each other for collective improvement.Chee?ck out latest novels on "Go to hell! Soul Shaking Slash!" Hun Yu Cun cried out. Xiao Yan ran faster and faster, leaving a trail of flames behind him. He leaped into the air, clutching the Heavy Xuan Ruler tightly in his right hand and swinging it in a half-moon arc. "If anyone is to fall into the endless void today, it will definitely be you!" Xiao Yan was not only undaunted, but he also refused to sit back and wait for his death! This time, instead of unleashing waves of fire, he directly smashed down with the Heavy Xuan Ruler. Only by doing so could he ensure a 100% chance of hitting Hun Yu Cun, and a 100% certainty of killing him. He didn''t have enough Dou Qi for a second move. If this strike couldn''t kill Hun Yu Cun or withstand the Soul Shaking Slash, then it meant he had lost. "Flame Splitting Tsunami!!!" The collision between the great sword and the Heavy Xuan Ruler caused a thunderous explosion. The force of their attacks shattered the ground and created a crack nearly half a meter wide that rapidly spread across the grassland, utterly destroying it. Undoubtedly, even though Hun Yu Cun''s cultivation had reached the 9-star Dou Master stage, his Dou Technique was still inferior to the Di Class Flame Splitting Tsunami. directly used his Soul Command to make the exchange. He finally understood why the Hall of Souls hunted soul bodies everywhere; these soul points were simply too tempting! A 4th-tier pill that would cause a frenzy in Wu Tan City could be exchanged for a mere 50 soul points. Moreover, he even got discounted by using the Soul Command, and only needed to spend 40 soul points. The Soul Command released a spiritual fluctuation the moment he completed the exchange. Shortly after, the space tore apart, and a purple-red colored pill flew from the spatial crack into his hand. ''Can this Hun Realm passage really lead anywhere? It''s like a wormhole!'' What Xiao Yan didn''t know was that a Dou Ancestor could briefly control space, a Dou Venerate could seal it, and a Dou Saint could tear through the void, instantly traveling thousands of miles, making the ends of the earth within reach. He immediately swallowed the Soul Strengthening Pill. True to its name, this pill was designed to repair soul damage and increase Spiritual Strength, though it was only effective for those whose Spiritual State was at the Intermediate Mortal State. As soon as the pill went down his throat, it turned into a wave of heat and began to heal the soul injuries he had sustained in the recent battle. A puff of turbid air was expelled from his mouth. Then, he slowly circulated his Qi Method as he took the time to digest the previous events. This battle had been greatly beneficial for him. He realized that there were moves in this world designed to attack the soul in such a sinister manner! How despicable! It was outrageous! How could he not possess such a despicable technique himself! ''I''ve broken through to a 9-star Dou Practitioner?'' Xiao Yan was speechless. He had worked hard on his cultivation and endured the hardships of alchemy, only to find that being beaten up seemed to improve him faster... It was likely because his Spiritual Strength had been tempered to a certain extent, and with the aid of the Soul Strengthening Pill, his strength had also increased by one star. Shaking his head, Xiao Yan patted the dirt off his butt and, while holding the Soul Command, suddenly said, "I want to take an additional trial!" "Challenge the Soul Evaluation Test!" Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Soul Impact Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Soul Impact ? In the secluded cultivation ground of the Hun Realm, within a hall filled with soul candles representing all clan descendants, a candle marked with Hun Yu Cun''s name suddenly extinguished. "Huh? Hun Yu Cun''s soul candle has gone out," a young boy cleaning the area exclaimed in surprise. "Oh, you mean that Hun Yu Cun, right? I heard someone from the outside world challenged the Soul Path, and he went to confront them. I guess he lost and was killed," a middle-aged man glanced over and said with an indifferent expression. "But teacher, shouldn''t we report this? A descendant of the Hun Clan has been killed..." the young boy asked. The elder coldly laughed and scornfully said, "He was just a menial descendant with a Grade 1 Bloodline, a waste who didn''t even qualify to participate in the clan''s coming-of-age ceremony. A disciple without a Clan Mark is not worth bothering about. If he''s dead, he''s dead." The elder waved his hand dismissively. In the Dou God Clans, the concentration of the Dou God Bloodline was everything. Those with low-grade bloodlines were not even considered true members of the clan. ... Elsewhere, in the trials of the Hun Realm''s pathway, Xiao Yan held the Soul Command and said, "I want to take an additional trial! Challenge the Soul Evaluation Test!" Although he was unsure of how many days he had spent inside, he hadn''t forgotten something Hun Lao Gui mentioned upon his entry. The Hall of Souls placed a greater emphasis on cultivating the soul and Soul Skills, thus encouraging him to opt for trials based on Soul Skills to fight with his soul. This meant that from the very beginning, Hun Lao Gui had advised him to take on challenges based on the strength of his soul rather than relying on his cultivation or Dou Techniques. This was simply because his cultivation was too weak. Conversely, he possessed an exceptionally strong soul due to his innate talent. This talent could grant him a favorable rating. Xiao Yan hadn''t initially chosen to challenge the Soul Evaluation Test because he had this exact moment in mind-to take an additional trial. He had thought about it early on: first earn some soul points by exchanging them for a pill that would enhance his Spiritual Strength, then proceed with the Spiritual Strength Challenge. He figured this approach could surely add a little more to his score. If he could directly reach a High Xuan Class and gain a thousand soul points, then the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique would be within his reach! Especially after the battle with Hun Yu Cun, his desire for a Soul Training Method grew even stronger. Buzz~~ The Soul Command emitted a faint, ghostly light as his words fell, causing his mind to blur momentarily. Xiao Yan was no longer surprised by this; the Soul Command possessed the miraculous ability to allow one''s soul to leave the body and traverse the pathways of the Hun Realm. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in another trial area. Before him lay a track with three soul-light membranes serving as obstacles. It didn''t take long for him to grasp the method of using this Soul Skill! Unlike Dou Techniques, this Soul Skill had no levels of proficiency; there was no such thing as a minor or major level of mastery. The effectiveness of the Soul Impact depended entirely on one''s Spiritual Strength. After studying it for a while, Xiao Yan gained a deeper understanding of the light membrane in front of him. Even though the membrane seemed thin, it couldn''t be broken if one''s Spiritual State was weaker than the Intermediate Mortal State. ''This Xuan Class Spiritual Strength challenge involves three light membranes, which presumably correspond to the Low, Intermediate, and High Xuan Class levels. This means that if I want to reach the High Xuan Class rating, I need to break through all three light membranes in succession.'' Xiao Yan patted his forehead. Currently, in his soul body state, using the Soul Impact was basically like headbutting directly through the obstacles! In a way, this Soul Impact effectively made one''s ''head'' tougher... There was no technique behind the Soul Impact; it was just a matter of who had the tougher ''head''! Gritting his teeth, Xiao Yan lunged forward and smashed headfirst into the first light membrane in a straightforward and brute manner. The membrane shattered like glass with a bang, and he immediately felt a counterforce that left his mind slightly dazed. ''So, this is what a Soul Impact feels like? Using Soul Skills carries certain risks to oneself.'' Soul Impact was the most basic of Soul Skills, while the more advanced ones were essentially similar in nature, all involving condensing one''s soul to attack others. Any mishap with a Soul Skill could backlash and affect one''s own soul. Xiao Yan didn''t stop. Instead, he continued with all his might, charging headfirst into the second light membrane. He instantly felt his soul tremble violently as the crisp sound of shattering filled the air. ''I refuse to believe this!'' His fists clenched tightly, and his legs pushed off the ground as he collided with the last light membrane like a cannonball. With a deep, bell-like sound, Xiao Yan was bounced back and landed on the ground. If anyone were to see his condition at this moment, they would be extremely astonished. His soul body was flickering like a malfunctioning television screen, barely able to maintain its shape. [Having completed the Xuan Class Soul Evaluation Test, you are granted the title of High Xuan Class Soul Envoy. You may choose to exit the trial grounds and enter the Treasure Hall to use your soul points to exchange for resources.] Xiao Yan slowly sat up upon hearing this spiritual voice, grinned, and looked toward the light membrane, which surprisingly had a small hole in the middle! "Hey, Hun Huzi, can you hear me? Can you give me some extra points if I refine some pills?" Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Fleecing the Hall of Souls Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Fleecing the Hall of Souls ? "Hey, Hun Huzi, can you hear me? Can you give me some extra points if I refine some pills?" Xiao Yan understood the game well by now. No matter what, his goal now was to squeeze every last advantage out of the Hall of Souls. Once this opportunity was gone, there might not be another one. This might be his only chance to gain soul points through the challenge test. He suspected that if he left now, future challenges wouldn''t be the same. Since it was Hun Huzi who sent him to the Hall of Souls with the Soul Command in the first place, it only made sense to expect some benefits in return, right? [Jie Jie Jie] When Xiao Yan heard that strange laugh coming from the Soul Command, he knew for sure it was the old thing from the Hall of Souls making an appearance. Such a strange habit didn''t seem common among the young ones... "You old fellow haven''t been watching me this whole time, have you?" Xiao Yan, in his soul form, slowly sat up and said. Hun Huzi''s spiritual voice came from all directions: [You used the Soul Command I gave you to challenge the Soul Path, so naturally, I have. ] Xiao Yan merely shrugged his shoulders in an indifferent manner. What could he, a mere Dou Practitioner, say? Even if Hun Huzi suddenly slapped him to death, there was nothing he could do but die in vain. Having lived in this world for sixteen years, he understood all too well that it was a world where the strong were revered and the weak had no say. The space in front of him rippled with a buzzing sound, and Hun Huzi''s soul projection gradually appeared. Xiao Yan unhesitatingly took out the Soul Command and waved it a few times as he said, "Didn''t you say before that as long as I could solve the poison, I could take this token to the Hall of Souls to claim a reward?" "Jie Jie, what I actually said was that if you didn''t die, then I would consider taking you as a disciple," Hun Huzi broke Xiao Yan''s lie in one sentence. Although he was old, he was far from senile and remembered his own words well. Xiao Yan shook his head and declined, "I''ve heard of your Hall of Souls'' deeds. I''d rather not become your disciple. The alchemy techniques I have are sufficient. My joining the Hall of Souls was not for the purpose of learning alchemy from you."Th.e? most uptod/ate novels a/re published on n(0)velbj)n(.)c/o/m Hun Huzi burst into laughter as if he had heard the funniest joke, "Hahaha, to think someone would actually refuse to be taught alchemy by me, Hun Huzi." "Do you realize that I am an alchemist capable of refining a 9th-tier Mysterious Pill?" benefits today! Moreover, agreeing upfront was a no-lose situation. Whether he could actually become a 9th-tier alchemist was uncertain, so why not write this perfectly legal blank check if it cost nothing? Being an old fox himself, Hun Huzi could easily deduce the connotation behind Xiao Yan''s words and said, "The Heavenly Flame is available in the Tian Class Treasure Hall." !!! They really had it! Xiao Yan managed to control his excitement, maintaining a poker face as he calmly said, "Tch, Tian Class. Who knows when I''ll reach the Tian Class rating." Hun Huzi, with a slight smile, made a grand gesture, causing the entire space to vanish in an instant. The next second, Xiao Yan found himself back on the grassland plain, no longer in his soul body state. ''This soul body state is truly marvelous,'' Xiao Yan marveled inwardly. Large organizations certainly had their advantages, much like the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower of Jia Nan Academy. The Soul Path of the Hall of Souls made it easier to better comprehend the mysteries of the soul and increase one''s Spiritual Strength. Hun Huzi''s soul projection stood quietly to the side, and Xiao Yan quickly understood the situation. One must first lay out the bait to lure the fish to the hook. With a loud thud, a three-legged medicinal cauldron appeared in front of him. The best bait, of course, was his alchemy talent! Xiao Yan took out several herbs and a Rank 2 Monster Core from his storage ring. This time, he intended to refine a 3rd-tier medicinal pill. Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Hidden Title (I) Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Hidden Title (I) ? Xiao Yan did not start right away after preparing everything and thoroughly checking the accuracy of the ingredients. Instead, he sat cross-legged and gradually adjusted his emotions while gently circulating his Qi Method to stabilize his Dou Qi. Even with Hun Huzi, such an important figure, watching closely, he seemed completely unfazed. It was only after his Dou Qi, mind, and physical strength had all returned to their optimal states that he prepared to begin the alchemy process. Seeing that Xiao Yan did not become anxious upon hearing that he could obtain a Heavenly Flame and instead quickly calmed down, even Hun Huzi showed a slightly interested expression as he watched. After casting a glance at Hun Huzi, Xiao Yan recalled a 3rd-tier medicinal pill recipe from his storage ring called ''Battle Armor Pill.'' It was well-known that a Dou Grandmaster could use Dou Qi to form armor around their body. As such, the function of the Battle Armor Pill was to allow those below the Dou Grandmaster realm to condense Dou Qi armor to defend themselves. This made it a valuable defensive type of medicinal pill. However, Xiao Yan chose the Battle Armor Pill for another reason¡ªits ingredients did not require extremely high temperatures to extract their essence. After all, he was still only a 9- star Dou Practitioner, and even with a bit of help from the Bone Chilling Flame, it would be difficult for him to burn high-grade ingredients.Upstodatee from With his palm against the opening of the medicinal cauldron, Xiao Yan''s consciousness slowly sank into his body. Strands of Bone Chilling Flame, wrapped in Dou Qi, traveled through his meridians and then through his palm into the medicinal cauldron. Inside the cauldron, a deep yellow flame began to rise and burn with a faint crackle. Upon closer inspection, one could notice a few white flame threads meandering through the deep yellow Dou Qi flame. Xiao Yan watched the erratic flames inside the alchemy cauldron through its reflective surface. After waiting a moment for the cauldron''s initially cool temperature to gradually rise, he extended his spiritual perception out of his body, through his arm, and into the cauldron. Then, he successfully tamed the unruly flames using his powerful Spiritual Strength. He had attempted to refine 3rd-tier medicinal pills before, but he had never succeeded, not even by chance. With a very gentle movement, Xiao Yan picked up a medicinal herb from beside him. After which, he used his Spiritual Strength to sense the temperature within the alchemy cauldron and waited until the temperature was at the right point for processing the herb. Then, with a whoosh, he tossed the herb into the cauldron. One by one, he threw various other herbs into the cauldron as the temperature continued to rise. Each herb had a unique medicinal property and needed to be placed in separate locations within the cauldron to extract their essence. As the surface of the herbs began to show cracks in their charred outer shells, Xiao Yan skillfully manipulated the strands of Bone Chilling Flame, threading them like needles through the cracks and into the herbs'' interiors to draw out droplets of green liquid. The medicinal herbs rapidly shrank as more and more liquid seeped out. Once the last drop of green liquid was extracted, they turned into pitch-black ashes that settled at the bottom of the cauldron. Xiao Yan breathed a sigh of relief. The first step was complete. He then took a Qi Recovering Pill and popped it into his mouth. His cultivation level was his greatest weakness in alchemy, as his Dou Qi reserves were too limited. With a whoosh, he placed a red Rank 2 Monster Core into the cauldron. As the Monster Core was incinerated, a fierce beastly intent burst forth, carrying a grudge with it that sought to destroy everything around. This was the resentment of a magical beast at the time of its death that remained within the Monster Core. If an alchemist couldn''t purify this resentment, they would run the risk of the cauldron exploding. Clan. Although he did not know what a Seed Flame was, if he could obtain even a little bit of the 2nd-Rank Nihility Devouring Flame, he would undoubtedly benefit greatly! ''I have to check it out no matter what!'' ... Just when Xiao Yan thought he had seen enough to not be surprised by anything, he realized he was still far too naive. Passing through the black hole, Xiao Yan was astonished by the scene before him. A dark flame planet, split in the middle, floated in the boundless void. The planet wasn''t very large, only a few thousand kilometers in diameter, but its mere presence in the endless void made his scalp tingle. ''Could this be the birthplace of the Nihility Devouring Flame?!'' Xiao Yan roughly understood where he was when he saw strands of dark flame rising from the surface of the planet. The Heavenly Flame Ranking mentioned that the Nihility Devouring Flame was born in the void, and only the Hun Realm, which had always existed in the void, had the qualification to discover such a place! In fact, just as Xiao Yan had suspected, this was where the Hun Clan first encountered the Nihility Devouring Flame. The Nihility Devouring Flame was a Heavenly Flame born on this dark flame planet within the void! Title: The Birthplace of the Nihility Devouring Flame! Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Hidden Title (II) Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Hidden Title (II) ? Xiao Yan slowly drifted toward the entirely dark planet in his soul body state. The closer he got, the more he felt its terror. Black flames were constantly erupting from the surface of this dark flame planet. The sweeping black flames seemed to suggest that anyone who approached it without permission would be devoured and annihilated by them! Endless black flames surged out of this dark flame planet, with countless leaping across its surface. The massive crack in the middle resembled the entrance to hell, and Xiao Yan couldn''t help but picture an ancient scene in his mind. At the dawn of all things in ancient times, a massive black hole in the void devoured everything into nothingness. It didn''t matter what it was, whether it was alive or dead, not even light could escape. After countless years passed, the black hole eventually became satiated and transformed into a dead, black planet that remained in place. Ages passed, and after an unknown number of years, there was finally a loud explosion and a completely black Heavenly Flame was born in the center of the planet. This marked the birth of the Dark Emperor within the boundless void. ''Nihility Devouring Flame, ranked 2nd in the Heavenly Flame Ranking.'' Xiao Yan swallowed hard. Anyone witnessing such a scene would feel a chill run through their body. Xiao Yan took out the Soul Command and a spiritual light wrapped around his soul body. Without the protection of the Soul Command, not to mention landing, merely approaching this planet would have resulted in being instantly incinerated into nothingness by the lingering Nihility Devouring Flames that hadn''t yet been extinguished. This place was not only the birthplace of the Nihility Devouring Flame but now also served as the highest-level treasury of the Hun Clan. Xiao Yan had learned through the Soul Command''s spiritual information that some of the dark flames on this planet contained items within them.T/his chapter is updat/ed by As a Tian Class-rated individual (through a backdoor), he was eligible to choose one reward from here. "8th-Tier Medicinal Pill: Flame Demon Purifying Profound Pill. For those who cultivate fire attribute Dou Qi, consuming this pill has a chance of causing the Dou Qi to mutate, thereby increasing combat strength." "Low Tian Class Dou Technique: Ten Thousand Souls Bone Armor. Devours the souls of living beings to forge a soul armor integrated into the soul and bones. One hundred souls for minor accomplishment, one thousand souls for major accomplishment, and ten thousand souls for complete accomplishment. A perfected Ten Thousand Souls Bone Armor can withstand attacks from a Dou Saint." "Low Tian Class Soul Technique: Emperor Soul Technique (Part 1). Created by Emperor Hun (Hun Di). One soul extinguishes to give rise to ten thousand souls; ten thousand souls dominate the heavens. When cultivated to perfection, the soul shatters but does not perish, enabling torn pieces of one''s soul to exist independently and bestow the will of the emperor upon all things in the world. This is the Emperor Soul Technique. (Cultivation requirement: Spiritual State must have reached the Soul State.)" With a gulp, Xiao Yan touched the cold sweat on his forehead. This was actually a Soul Technique created by a Dou God! And just the first part alone was rated as Tian Class! Wouldn''t the complete technique be at least High Tian Class, or even beyond Tian Class?!! His own Dou Qi technique was said to be able to evolve infinitely, but whether it could evolve to surpass a technique created by a Dou God, he truly wasn''t sure. After all, the Heavenly Flames in the Dou Qi Continent were limited. A Dou God was considered the strongest being in the Dou Qi Continent. The person who created this Secret Technique must have started from scratch. If not mad, how else could they think of letting a Heavenly Flame erupt within their own body? It was like a handgun; the rapid ejection of the bullet was based on the explosive power of gunpowder. The principle of this Secret Technique was similar to firing a bullet with a handgun. It relied on the explosive power generated by the Heavenly Flame to increase one''s strength. Even handguns couldn''t withstand excessive use without eventually bursting, let alone the human body! ''Only Fire Attribute Dou Qi cultivators can practice it... This doesn''t seem to be a Secret Technique originally from the Hun Clan.'' Although the Secret Technique appeared to be a very powerful High Tian Class, its conditions were too harsh, and its practicality was even lower than that of an 8th-tier medicinal pill. The fact that it didn''t even have a Nihility Devouring Flame protective shield showed how little regard there was for this thing here. With a shake of his head, Xiao Yan didn''t dwell on it much and casually threw the Secret Technique onto a nearby rock. Boom, boom! Suddenly, a thunderous noise echoed as the endless black flames on the planet underwent an abrupt change. Some remnants of the Nihility Devouring Flame burning on the ground began to surge toward a point in the void one after another. Countless black flames rushed toward it like moths to a flame. The space at that point was in a state of constant distortion due to the influx of those countless black flames! It was as if a miniature black hole had formed, absorbing the surrounding black flames. "Could this be!!!" Surprised and delighted by such a scene, Xiao Yan hurriedly ran to the vicinity of the spatial distortion. As his neck craned in anticipation for what seemed like an eternity, a black flame no bigger than a fist finally appeared in front of him with a whooshing sound after absorbing countless other black flames. Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength clearly sensed the presence of the Essence Flame within this black flame! Title: The Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame?! Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Meow~ Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Meow~ ? "The Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame?!" Xiao Yan looked at the small cluster of flame that was as black as ink in front of him and was certain it wasn''t the true Nihility Devouring Flame. Because if it were the actual Nihility Devouring Flame being born, it would be enough to turn an entire nation into nothingness, utterly incinerated into a land of emptiness! However, what surprised him was that this was not a newly born Heavenly Flame. Through his Spiritual Strength, he could sense that although this dark flame was very weak and lacked the terrifying energy of the Bone Chilling Flame, its essence was just as mature. As such, it was certainly not a newborn flame. Moreover, according to the Heavenly Flame Ranking, only one of each of the top three Heavenly Flames existed in the entire world. The Dou Qi Continent could not bear the heaven and earth energy required for another of the top three Heavenly Flames to be born. "There really is such a thing as a Seed Flame... not even the mysterious Heavenly Flame Ranking has a record of it." Initially, Xiao Yan doubted Hun Lao Gui''s mention of a Seed Flame, thinking he was lying. After all, Heavenly Flames weren''t living beings; how could they possibly have offspring! Even if they were living beings, there would be a need for a mate for reproduction, right? The Nihility Devouring Flame was the only one of its kind throughout the entire Dou Qi Continent. Where would a second one come from to reproduce? Yet, Xiao Yan was proven wrong in a spectacular fashion. Not only did such a thing exist, but a Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame appeared right before his eyes! [Jie Jie Jie, I must say, your luck is extraordinary to have encountered it, kid. No one knows when a Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame will condense into existence. ] Hearing Hun Huzi''s spiritual voice, Xiao Yan looked at the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame in front of him and curiously asked, "How is this Seed Flame created? How can it be refined?" [Jie Jie Jie, how the Nihility Devouring Flame produces a Seed Flame is a secret of our clan. As for how to refine it, even though it''s called a Seed Flame, its essence is the same as any Heavenly Flame, and there''s no difference. ] Xiao Yan''s eyes flickered. The production of a Seed Flame was a secret of the Hun Clan? Didn''t that mean the Nihility Devouring Flame''s ability to produce a Seed Flame wasn''t due to its own power but because of the Hun Clan?! With a trepidatious heart, he approached the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame step by step. He already knew the steps to refine a Heavenly Flame from a note in his storage ring and had memorized every step by heart. Now, all he had to do was grasp the Seed Flame and then leave the Treasure Hall to begin the refining process. Xiao Yan''s throat moved up and down, his hands slowly coming together from either side, as careful as when he used to catch fish by the river in his childhood. His movements were very gentle as he slowly lifted the Seed Flame. The first sensation he felt was warmth. The black flame wasn''t scorching hot but had a soft, comfortable warmth. For a moment, Xiao Yan even thought he was holding a newborn black kitten in his hands... entirely. Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed and let out a sly smile, "If that''s how it''s going to be, then don''t blame me." If gentle persuasion didn''t work, he was prepared to switch tactics... Courtesy first, action second! He took out a bottle of Icy Heart Pills and Vein Protecting Pills from his storage ring, popped two pills into his mouth, and placed the bottle on the ground just in case he needed more. These were meridian protection pills that served as a lesser substitute for the various items needed to devour a Heavenly Flame. Even though the Seed Flame felt warm to the touch and didn''t seem to have any malice or resistance toward him, he hadn''t forgotten that its birth involved the absorption of numerous remnants of dark flames. A chilling sensation that caused him to shiver slightly spread from his throat as the Icy Heart Pill entered his body. This coldness quickly melted away the rising restlessness in his heart, much like snowflakes melting away before a blazing fire. Xiao Yan slowly circulated the Flame Mantra, releasing a surge of yellow Dou Qi from his palm that enveloped the Nihility Devouring Flame. As the Flame Mantra operated, the Nihility Devouring Flame turned into a stream of black flame that smoothly entered his Qi cyclone through his meridians and was effortlessly drawn into the Acceptance Soul, where it was quickly refined and even imprinted with his soul mark. The process was so smooth that Xiao Yan himself could hardly believe it. The refinement was successful so quickly?! Without a little bit of resistance?! But he was left dumbfounded in the very next second. With a "meow," the Nihility Devouring Flame in its kitten form nonchalantly sauntered away from the Acceptance Soul and strutted out of his body with great swagger! It didn''t even forget to shake its tail to mock Xiao Yan, as if to say, ''Did you really think your little Acceptance Soul could hold this lord meowjesty captive?'' Xiao Yan learned the first ability of the Nihility Devouring Flame: the freedom to traverse between the void and reality. Meow? The Nihility Devouring Flame meandered over to a bottle of pills on the ground. Seeing the round pills inside, it scooped one out with its paw and began munching on it. !!! Its eyes suddenly brightened. It grabbed all the Icy Heart Pills with one swipe of its paw and gobbled them down. "Oh ho, you like eating pills, huh?" Xiao Yan placed the remaining Vein Protecting Pills into his storage ring, his eyes filled with the mischievous gleam characteristic of a ''bad uncle''. Xiao Yan was secretly thrilled when he saw that the Nihility Devouring Flame Seed didn''t rush into his storage ring to snatch the pills. ''In fact, even though the Nihility Devouring Flame itself is the second-ranked Heavenly Flame, this newly born Seed Flame is still far from being as formidable as the real Bone Chilling Flame and does not dare to approach the storage ring.'' Ordinary Heavenly Flames lacked spiritual intelligence, so it was enough to refine the Essence Flame. However, Heavenly Flames with spiritual intelligence couldn''t be refined by merely absorbing their Essence Flame. Even though refining the Essence Flame was the equivalent of possessing the Heavenly Flame, if the Heavenly Flame had spiritual intelligence and roamed around, it might become troublesome. "From now on, listen to me and don''t wander off. I promise you will live the good life and enjoy the finest and spiciest." Xiao Yan then took out a Rank 2 Magical Beast Monster Core. Sensing the vast energy within the core, the previously hesitant Nihility Devouring Flame could no longer resist and clutched the core to start nibbling on it. After all, it had already accepted Xiao Yan as its ''caretaker,'' so there was no sense in feeling aggrieved! Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Flame Mantra Evolves, Breakthrough Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Flame Mantra Evolves, Breakthrough ? Xiao Yan''s brow furrowed slightly as he watched the Nihility Devouring Flame nibbling at the Monster Core like a cute kitten munching on dried fish. He thought, ''Although this Nihility Devouring Flame is indeed a Heavenly Flame, the energy it contains is far less than that of a true Heavenly Flame.'' ''However, it''s exactly because of this that I can still refine it smoothly even with my current Dou Practitioner strength." Seeing the Nihility Devouring Flame devour an entire Rank 2 Monster Core and swell its belly into a small round ball, there was no doubt that this little creature could grow just like other Heavenly Flames. As recorded in the Heavenly Flame Ranking, the Green Lotus Core Flame took ten years to gain spirit, one hundred years to take shape, and one thousand years to turn into a lotus. When it was fully mature, its color would tilt toward the green side, and the lotus core would form a cluster of green flames called ''Green Lotus Flame.'' It took a thousand years for the Green Lotus Core Flame to be born. However, the Nihility Devouring Flame was extremely unique. Whereas other Heavenly Flames needed special environments and could only grow by absorbing the purest and most special energies from heaven and earth, the Nihility Devouring Flame was like a black hole. It didn''t discriminate and could absorb anything it could consume. Therefore, the growth rate of the Nihility Devouring Flame was extraordinarily fast. Even in a place devoid of anything like the void, the Nihility Devouring Flame could still grow. The Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame naturally shared this trait. Its second characteristic was the ability to devour anything and then transform it into Nihility Black Flame to nourish itself. Xiao Yan didn''t know why, but he always felt like the Hun Clan was using the Nihility Devouring Flame as part of a bigger scheme... "All right, little one, now that you''ve had your fill, it''s time to get to work," Xiao Yan said with a smile as he reached out his finger and stroked the Nihility Devouring Flame. The Nihility Devouring Flame, resembling a noble lazy cat, stepped into the void and entered his Acceptance Soul. ''The ability to transverse the empty space is a skill that only a Dou Ancestor could achieve, yet this newly born Nihility Devouring Flame Seed Flame can already do it.'' ''This thing called talent can be seriously frustrating.'' This little Heavenly Flame was already capable of something that only elite Dou Ancestor could do, which was truly terrifying! Xiao Yan stopped his wandering thoughts and sat cross-legged as he felt the Nihility Devouring Flame enter the Acceptance Soul. The Nihility Devouring Flame had indeed been refined, but the most important step had not yet been completed. The evolution of the Flame Mantra! ''The current level of the Flame Mantra barely reaches the weakest of the High Huang Class Qi Methods. However, the gap between Huang Class and Xuan Class is greater than the sum of the previous three levels combined. I hope the Nihility Devouring Flame can lend a bit of strength, and I would be grateful to the heavens if it could reach the Xuan Class.'' Xiao Yan quickly focused his mind and began to slowly circulate his Qi Method. The Qi cyclone started up like an engine as the Flame Mantra operated. At this moment, the Nihility Devouring Flame inside the Acceptance Soul shed its lazy demeanor and became like an enraged black cat, its fur standing on end as strands of black flame burst forth from within the Acceptance Soul in an explosive manner. Under the circulation of the Flame Mantra, the yellow Qi cyclone began to merge with the strands of black flame! Even the small amount of Bone Chilling Flame present in the Qi cyclone began to merge at this time. After throwing the black flames into the cauldron and feeding it with Dou Qi as fuel, he began to pour in the medicinal ingredients while watching the Nihility Black Flame in the medicinal cauldron obey his control. ''No wonder a Heavenly Flame is the greatest dream of countless alchemists; this speed of refining ingredients is more than twice as fast.'' Even though this was only the Seed Flame giving Xiao Yan some of its fire, not its true form, the speed of refining the ingredients already left him in shock. Some ingredients that couldn''t be melted before were now visibly reduced to ashes by the black flame. Unfortunately, his attempt at alchemy ended in failure. The reason was simple: while using the Nihility Devouring Flame did speed up the process, this accelerated refining speed also meant that he couldn''t keep up with the rhythm, causing the alchemy process to fail. Even though the alchemy attempt failed, Xiao Yan felt only one thing in his heart at this moment: exhilaration! He sprang up with a carp flip, clenched his fists, and threw a few punches into the air. The whooshing sound of the wind underscored how his strength had increased leaps and bounds from before. ''Being a Dou Master is indeed worlds apart from being a Dou Practitioner,'' Xiao Yan couldn''t help but recall the Dou Masters he had defeated despite being in a lower realm. To think that with such physical strength, they still lost. They must have been pretty weak... After advancing to the Dou Master realm, the liquid energy that penetrated every bone and flesh in his body was almost like a transformation, gradually imbuing him with robust strength. This was also why Dou Masters could utilize a Dou Qi cloak. "Octane Blast!" "Flame Splitting Tsunami!" "Black Flame Cloak!" Xiao Yan nodded in satisfaction as he saw a layer of Dou Qi cloak as thin as cicada wings appear around his body, with tiny flames dancing upon it. "From today onwards, I am a true Dou Master!" Becoming a Dou Master meant that he had left the common ranks behind. Although Dou Masters were still considered a relatively lower echelon on the continent, they were undoubtedly much more formidable and higher in status compared to the lowest Dou Practitioners. Most importantly, he was still young. He had plenty of time ahead of him to strive for greater heights! Xiao Yan picked up the Soul Command, which indicated not a Tian Class but a Low Di Class rating. After all, his earlier Tian Class rating was a kind of backdoor entry, part of a Bet-on Agreement with Hun Huzi. He licked his lips. Though he had indeed received the Tian Class rating reward from Hun Huzi, he had reached Di Class on his own strength. The Soul Points he earned were definitely not going to be left unused. "11060. There are so many Soul Points. I might be able to exchange them for something useful." Chapter 55: Chapter 55: News of the Next Heavenly Flame (End of the Arc) Chapter 55: Chapter 55: News of the Next Heavenly Flame (End of the Arc) ? Xiao Yan didn''t proceed further into the Hall of Souls'' Treasure Hall. Instead, he directly exited the test. Now with Soul Points in hand, he could first check the goods outside to see if anything was suitable, and it wouldn''t be too late to exchange them for a Soul Training Method afterward. With a rustling sound, Xiao Yan pushed aside the curtain and emerged from the dark passage. He looked around the dilapidated Soul Sacrifice Old Shop, feeling as if he had finally returned to the real world. "I really didn''t expect you to come back." Recognizing the familiar voice, Xiao Yan knew it was Hun Lao Gui. "How long was I in there?" he asked. There was no concept of time in the Soul Path, nor were there the rising and setting of the sun and moon to keep track of it. He only knew he had indeed spent a significant amount of time inside. "Jie Jie Jie, less than two days." Xiao Yan frowned. "How is that possible? Although I didn''t keep an exact count, I was in there for at least four days. Could it be that time moves differently in the Soul Path than it does on the outside?" Hun Lao Gui revealed his large yellow teeth and mocked, "Why fret over such a trivial function as slowed time flow? The time discrepancy in the Heavenly Tomb is even longer than that of the Soul Path." "Heavenly Tomb?" "Jie Jie Jie, you''ll naturally come to know once you reach a certain level of strength." Xiao Yan couldn''t help but comment when he heard this laughter that resembled that of a ghost, "Has anyone ever told you that your laughter is pretty strange?" Hun Lao Gui slowly opened his eyes, revealing a mouthful of rotten teeth as he smiled and said, "This is a tradition of our Hun Clan. The secrets within are not something you would understand." Xiao Yan could only shrug his shoulders. He didn''t want to pry into others'' affairs too much, especially since his purpose here was to spend. He walked around the few shelves in the old shop, took a close look at the items, and asked, "Don''t you think there are too few items in this old shop of yours?" "This is the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop in the Black-Corner Region. As long as you have Soul Points, the Hall of Souls can help you accomplish anything, even unifying the entire Black- Corner Region. Moreover, the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop is connected to the Treasure Hall. If you want to exchange for items from the Treasure Hall, you can do so here as well." Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed. This was exactly what he had thought. Soul Points were basically the circulating currency of the Hall of Souls. One could even command the people of the Hall of Souls as long as one could afford the cost. Moreover, the Hall of Souls surely had more than just this small amount of influence in the Black-Corner Region. Many factions within the region were likely under the shadow of the Hall of Souls, and anything needed could be traded through the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop. On the surface, it was merely an old shop, but in reality, the network of relationships that this shop had within the Black-Corner Region was probably intricate and complex. Perhaps even the Jia Nan Academy had the lackeys of the Hall of Souls. Xiao Yan threw the Soul Command onto the table with a casual thud and asked, "What can I purchase now?" "Why?" "The Sea Heart Flame is in his possession. My Hun Clan has a Secret Technique that can strip the soul and extract the Heavenly Flame." The Sea Heart Flame, ranked 15th on the Heavenly Flame Ranking!!! Legend had it that this Heavenly Flame was born deep in the ocean, a product of the collision between undersea volcanic eruptions and the immense pressure of the sea. The Sea Heart Flame appeared as a deep blue flame that looked exceedingly mystical. As the flame rose, it slowly spread out like clear sea water, with gentle ripples resembling water waves. This Heavenly Flame could even burn on water and spread upon contact with it, which was quite miraculous. The Fallen Heart Flame was ranked 14th, and the Sea Heart Flame was ranked 15th. Even if Xiao Yan managed to obtain either of them, given his current physical strength, the likelihood of being burned to death was greater... "The methods of your Hall of Souls are truly wicked to the extreme, stripping the soul to transfer the Heavenly Flame," Xiao Yan slowly shook his head, rejecting the suggestion. "Jie Jie Jie, wicked? We in the Hall of Souls do not distinguish between good and evil, only between strong and weak. If you are strong, then you are right." Xiao Yan continued to ask, "Is there anything else, preferably a weaker Heavenly Flame?" "There is indeed. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame." !!!!!!! Xiao Yan suppressed the excitement in his heart. The 22nd-ranked Ten Thousand Beast Flame!!! This Heavenly Flame was perfect for his current Dou Master strength. Ranked 22nd, it was second to last. If even this didn''t work, he would have to wait until his strength increased a bit more. Xiao Yan asked with a calm face, "Where is it?" "Jie Jie Jie, kid, this will cost you Soul Points. But let me warn you, with your strength, you could die at any moment in the place where the Ten Thousand Beast Flame resides." "Just say it. You guys from the Hall of Souls always like to beat around the bush?" Xiao Yan gave him a sidelong glance. After Hun Lao Gui''s finger traced over the Soul Command to deduce the soul points, a spiritual voice was transmitted into Xiao Yan''s mind. "The Magic Beast Mountain Range."N/ne?w n0vel chap/ers are published o/n Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Magic Beast Mountain Range Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Magic Beast Mountain Range ? A spiritual message was transmitted into Xiao Yan''s mind, leaving him with a face that didn''t know whether to cry or laugh. What Soul Sacrifice Old Shop? This was outright a blatant scam! Because the information about the Ten Thousand Beast Flame in the spiritual message was more speculation than factual data! It posited that the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was born in a land brimming with the vitality of myriad beasts, created from the combined force of countless beasts and blended with their spirits, its color mirrored that of ten thousand beasts. It was known as the flame that guarded and promoted the vitality and prosperity of all beasts. The Magic Beast Mountain Range fits the description perfectly, thus leading to speculation that the Ten Thousand Beast Flame might be found there. Xiao Yan was of course familiar with the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Wu Tan City had managed to become one of the major cities in the Jia Ma Empire precisely because it was situated at the foot of the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Otherwise, why would a major commerce house like the Miteer Auction House consider setting up a branch there? He sometimes joined the medicinal herb gathering teams as part of their protection force when they ventured into the Magic Beast Mountain Range. The birthplace of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was said to be the place where the spirits of myriad beasts converged. It could only be born in areas densely populated by magical beasts, where the souls of magical beasts that had died with a protective spirit gradually converged and gathered over the years. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame was then born under the influence of the wishes of countless magical beasts. Hence, it was called the flame that protected and fostered the vitality and prosperity of all beasts. The lands inhabited by magical beasts that possessed this Heavenly Flame tended to be extremely prosperous, with the magical beasts themselves growing very strong. The Magic Beast Mountain Range stretched across the entire Jia Ma Empire and divided the territories of several other empires. It could be seen that its population of magical beasts was terrifyingly vast. If one were to speculate on where the Ten Thousand Beast Flame could possibly be born, the Magic Beast Mountain Range would indeed be the most likely candidate. That was the logic, but the information provided by the Hall of Souls made Xiao Yan curse inwardly. After all, potential birth and actual birth were two entirely different matters. The spiritual message contained not only a detailed map of the Magic Beast Mountain Range but also some dubious intelligence provided by mercenary groups who claimed to have sensed strong fire attribute energy fluctuations deep within the mountain range. Thus, it was speculated that the Ten Thousand Beast Flame had already been born deep within the Magic Beast Mountain Range. The map in the spiritual message marked several locations where intense fire attribute energy had been felt. As Hun Lao Gui had mentioned, these places were all deep within the Magic Beast Mountain Range. There, Rank 3 magical beasts were as common as dogs, Rank 4 roamed freely, Rank 5 were also present, and even Rank 6 magical beasts could be found. With Xiao Yan''s current strength as a 1-star Dou Master, he might not have a problem dealing with Rank 2 magical beasts, but if Rank 3 beasts were in groups, he would have no choice but to run. "Aren''t you guys being a bit too greedy, charging 5,000 Soul Points for such information?" Moreover, is this information even reliable? A small black cat lay on the man''s shoulder, panting with its tongue out, unable to cope with the intense sun. At this moment, it was not yet capable of swallowing the sun... "Mao Wu, can''t you absorb some sunlight to cool down?" Xiao Yan, fully concealed within his black robe, turned to complain to the Seed Flame on his shoulder. Meow~~ Mao Wu shook its cat head, indicating that there was nothing it could do. It was not as if the Heavenly Flames were omnipotent. This Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame resembled a cat, hence it was named Mao Wu. Reaching the base of a tree, Xiao Yan took off his hood to cool down and plopped down in the shade. He took out a bottle of ice water from his storage ring and began to drink in large gulps. In addition to his daily cultivation of the Flame Mantra to increase his Dou Qi, he had also started cultivating the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique. ''Cultivating this Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique is proving to be quite challenging,'' Xiao Yan sat cross-legged and cultivated the technique for a while. A High Xuan Class Dou Technique was not too complex for him, but this was his first encounter with a Soul Training Method. He slowly circulated the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique. His Spiritual Strength sensed the remnant soul particles floating in the air, and through the technique, he captured those remnants with his Spiritual Strength to strengthen his own soul. This process was called Soul Gathering. ''If it weren''t for this Soul Robe, I''m afraid that even the initial progress would be far away.'' The black robe he wore was not a mere light-blocking cloak but a Soul Robe provided by the Hall of Souls. He was rated at the Low Di Class, and his Soul Robe not only provided a certain level of defense, but it could also protect him from the spiritual perception of Mortal State cultivators. Most importantly, the Soul Robe had a certain soul gathering effect, whereby soul light particles would adhere to it, thus accelerating the cultivation of his Soul Training Method. ... Before dusk fell, Xiao Yan finally arrived at Qingshan Town, also known as Magic Beast Town due to its proximity to the Magic Beast Mountain Range. As the saying goes, ''The mountain dweller lives off the mountain, the shore dweller lives off the sea;'' in a town that relied on the Magic Beast Mountain Range, the most common sight was naturally groups of mercenaries. These battle-hardened men moved in packs, linking arms and discussing without restraint which women in the town were the most seductive, which taverns served the strongest liquor, and which magical beasts were the most ferocious. Unfortunately, there was no information about the Heavenly Flame that Xiao Yan was seeking. Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Little Fairy Doctor Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Little Fairy Doctor ? ''Hmm? Is that Blood Lotus Essence?!'' Xiao Yan''s sharp eyes caught sight of a light-yellow colored block-shaped object in the far corner of a transparent counter. He had only come to the medicinal shop in Qingshan Town to see if there were any suitable herbs for his practice. He hadn''t expected to stumble upon Blood Lotus Essence, one of the main ingredients for the Blood Lotus Essence Pill. Blood Lotus Essence was an extremely rare, high-grade medicinal ingredient that typically grew alongside the lower-grade Yellow Lotus Essence. The two were almost identical in appearance. Had it not been for the fact that the Blood Lotus Essence was one of the main ingredients required for the Blood Lotus Essence Pill to refine Heavenly Flames, and the pill''s recipe detailed the method of differentiation, he would have found it difficult to distinguish between the two. After a moment, he licked his lips and approached the counter nonchalantly. With his hands behind his back, he pretended to look around and said in a deep voice, "Shopkeeper." The shopkeeper quickly approached when he saw Xiao Yan''s arrogant demeanor, rubbed his hands together, and asked with a smile, "Young master, how may I help you today?" Xiao Yan gave the shopkeeper a dismissive look and said haughtily, like a young master from a wealthy clan, "My clan needs to wholesale a batch of medicinal herbs. I want to see if you have any good ones here." The shopkeeper was secretly delighted to hear this. Seeing the other party''s wealthy appearance, he began to plan how to fleece him. "He he he, young master truly has a good eye. This is the best medicinal shop in Qingshan Town. Feel free to look around, I''ll give you a discount on whatever you need." Xiao Yan nodded calmly and said, "Show me these," as he casually pointed to several herbs on the counter, naturally including the Blood Lotus Essence. He then pretended to smell and examine the herbs, putting on a novice act that drew chuckles from many bystanders. "Shopkeeper, your herbs aren''t that great. Only this Yellow Lotus Essence is passable." "Young master is discerning indeed. Our Yellow Lotus Essence from Qingshan Town is famously good. Since the young master likes it, even though it''s normally 200 gold coins per pound, I''ll let it go for 180 just for you. How much would you like?" Xiao Yan laughed coldly in his heart upon hearing the shopkeeper''s words. This shopkeeper really thought he was a pig for slaughter. The market price for Yellow Lotus Essence was only between 80 and 100 gold coins per pound, and the other party had nearly doubled it.The? source of this conte/nt n/o/v/(el)bi((n)) "All right, I''ll take whatever amount you have; pack it all up for me." Xiao Yan took about a dozen pounds of Yellow Lotus Essence and swaggered out of the medicinal shop. Both parties scoffed at each other in their hearts, thinking the other a fool. "Too bad it was only this one piece." Xiao Yan found a secluded place to examine the Yellow Lotus Essence he had purchased. Unfortunately, there was only one piece of the precious Blood Lotus Essence. The rest was just ordinary Yellow Lotus Essence. ''Following the team into the Magic Beast Mountain Range could work too. It''s better to be cautious, after all, this isn''t Wu Tan City,'' Xiao Yan thought. He put on his Soul Robe and hood, draped the Heavy Xuan Ruler over his back to suppress his cultivation, and slightly covered his face as he walked toward the registration area. "There''s one last spot left!" The registrar cheerily waved a parchment scroll at the bustling crowd. "I''ll take it!" Xiao Yan''s slightly youthful voice rang out in front of the registrar. Hearing this fifteen or sixteen-year-old''s voice, everyone curiously looked toward Xiao Yan. The Soul Robe only partially obscured his eyes, leaving his overall appearance visible. Seeing his fair skin and youthful looks, the registrar paused before saying, "Young lad, this isn''t a game. You need to be at least a 2-star Dou Practitioner." "Little brother, go home and ask your mommy for milk." "Scram, scram, don''t waste my time; I''m a 2-star Dou Practitioner, I''m joining." Two muscular men, one on either side, surrounded Xiao Yan. Each of them was a head taller than him, making him look particularly diminutive. "Alas, only the fool judges by looks." Xiao Yan''s hands shot out like dragons emerging from the sea, each grabbing a man''s shoulder and pinning them to the ground with a powerful downward push. No matter how much the men struggled, they couldn''t move the hands pinning them down. "Whoa!!" "Awesome, little brother, what incredible strength!" Not just the bystanders, but even the registrar was stunned. To hold down a 2-star Dou Practitioner with each hand-what incredible physical strength! Even the Little Fairy Doctor glanced over, curious about when such a young prodigy had appeared in Qingshan Town. It was exceedingly rare for someone as young as sixteen or seventeen to have already reached the Dou Practitioner realm in Qingshan Town. "Not bad, such a young age and already a Dou Practitioner with such a strong physique. The last spot is yours, little brother." Seeing the last spot snatched by this unknown youngster, the mercenaries who had gathered around could only sullenly depart. They did not forget to cast some strange gazes at Xiao Yan as they left. "This guy seems to be about the same age as the Little Fairy Doctor. Could it be that he''s taken a fancy to her and has come to play the role of her protector?" "Possibly. Little Fairy Doctor''s beauty is well-known even in the neighboring towns. Perhaps he''s a young master from a neighboring town''s clan who''s here to pursue her." Xiao Yan could only touch his nose when he heard these comments. He didn''t bother to explain. After all, he was planning to leave as soon as he entered the Magic Beast Mountain Range to search for the Ten Thousand Beast Flame based on the spiritual map. He likely wouldn''t have any involvement with this Little Fairy Doctor anyway... Chapter 58: Chapter 58: One Less Hair Chapter 58: Chapter 58: One Less Hair ? In the stillness of the forest, the large herb gathering team moved quietly with a soft tread. All the guards scanned the shadowy areas between the trees with vigilant eyes. Their hands firmly gripped the weapons at their waists, ready to deal with any sudden situation. The mercenaries who truly dared to escort the herb gathering team were not just those younglings who had been dazzled by the beauty of the Little Fairy Doctor. Most of them were seasoned veterans who had roamed the Magic Beast Mountain Range for many years and possessed an essential understanding and camaraderie. They could read signals of danger or safety in each other''s eyes with a simple exchange of glances. Xiao Yan trudged along with the Heavy Xuan Ruler on his back. The unimaginable weight of the ruler, combined with its special ability to seal Dou Qi made even he, who had reached the Dou Master realm, laboriously move with every step. Although his breathing was not extremely fast, it was audibly labored. Wiping the sweat from his face, he turned around and glanced at Little Fairy Doctor standing in the center of the team. The team''s route was entirely up to her. Herb gathering teams did not require many people; what they needed was knowledge and a keen eye. Little Fairy Doctor resembled a fragile beauty as she gently wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. Her cheeks were slightly flushed and her breathing was slightly labored, a sight that could easily evoke a sense of protective fondness from those around her. After exchanging a few words with her, a young man in the guard squad flashed a faint smile and waved his hand as he shouted, "Attention, men of the Wolf Head! We are about to enter the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Let''s not screw this up!" "Understood, Young Leader!" Xiao Yan glanced at the young man known as Young Leader and noticed the wolf head badges hanging from the chests of some guards. This badge was precisely the emblem of the Wolf Head Mercenary Company, one of the three major mercenary companies in Qingshan Town. He knew from the mouths of the other mercenaries around him that the young leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Company, Mu Li, had been pursuing Little Fairy Doctor for a long time. Especially recently, his efforts had become more aggressive; wherever Little Fairy Doctor appeared, he would be sure to follow. "Damn it, he''s just relying on the fact that his father is the leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. Does he really think that''s enough to win Little Fairy Doctor''s heart?" "Exactly, Little Fairy Doctor would never fall for such a regular guy." Xiao Yan heard the sour remarks from some of the mercenaries. He merely glanced at them, showing little interest in the relationship between the young man and Little Fairy Doctor. The outskirts of the Magic Beast Mountain Range were relatively calm, as it was predominantly inhabited by Rank 1 magical beasts. Aside from occasional issues with groups of these magical beasts, most situations didn''t even require Xiao Yan to act. A blind-to-danger magical beast lunged at Xiao Yan with a roar. In a fluid motion, he sidestepped and then spun around to deliver a powerful kick that sent the Serpent-Tailed Leopard flying. Watching as the beast slinked away after its unsuccessful attack, Xiao Yan had no intention of pursuing it. Had he wanted to, he could have used the Octane Blast to crush the magical beast with that very kick. "Little brother, that was impressive. You dodged the attack and even kicked the magical beast away!" "Tsk tsk, so strong at such a young age. What will become of him?" "Ha ha, this little guy must be the youngest 2-star Dou Practitioner in the team, right? His strength is truly as rumored." Even Little Fairy Doctor cast a curious look his way. It was impressive for someone so young to dodge an attack from a Rank 1 magical beast and even counterattack. Many 2-star Dou Practitioners might have panicked and gotten injured by the magical beast. A glimmer of hostility flickered in Mu Li''s eyes when he noticed Little Fairy Doctor''s curious expression. Xiao Yan gave a slight smile and reached out to grasp her delicate hand, feeling a warm softness transfer to the palm of his hand. With a gentle pull, he lifted her up onto the cliff in a smooth motion. "Thank you." After her feet gently touched the ground, Little Fairy Doctor whispered a thank you and quickly withdrew her hand from his grip. A flush of shy redness spread across her cheeks, seemingly embarrassed by the physical contact between them. "It''s time to go back; I''ve been out here for a while," she said. Xiao Yan maintained his confident smile and nodded. After Little Fairy Doctor took a step forward, he turned sideways and peered down the cliff, the spot that had just been obscured by her, wanting to see what exactly lay below. Suddenly, Little Fairy Doctor''s gaze hardened, and she quickly turned around and sprinkled a handful of white powder in his direction with her right hand. "Trying a sneak attack, Little Fairy Doctor?" In the face of this sudden attack, Xiao Yan showed neither surprise nor panic, only a cold smile. A black flame suddenly appeared in the air, sucking in all the white powder like a miniature black hole. !!!! Xiao Yan swiftly reached out his hand and grabbed her wrist, deftly twisting her right hand behind her back without a trace of gentleness. "It hurts!" "It''s supposed to hurt." Xiao Yan didn''t fall for the Little Fairy Doctor''s attempt to elicit sympathy. He coldly said, "If you don''t want to end up as a one-armed fairy, then spill the beans and tell me what''s under this cliff." Little Fairy Doctor glared at him and said in a deep voice, "You dare? If I lose a single hair, the Thousand Medicine Pavilion and all the mercenaries will not let you go!" Xiao Yan let out a loud laugh and very handily pulled out a strand of her hair. "I think I really do dare." Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Treasure Hunt in the Cave Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Treasure Hunt in the Cave ? Xiao Yan had his own considerations. Qingshan Town was merely a small town, its overall strength nowhere near that of Wu Tan City. Who was he? The Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan, the biggest clan in Wu Tan City! The first-year genius of Jia Nan Academy! A Low Di Class Soul Envoy of the Hall of Souls!! Would he allow himself to be threatened? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! When Little Fairy Doctor felt Xiao Yan pull out a strand of her hair, she became so angry that tears began to swirl in her eyes! What kind of man are you! Actually pulling a girl''s hair! "You! Just you wait!" The black flames instantly incinerated the strand of hair into nothingness with a whooshing sound. Xiao Yan coolly threatened, "Don''t wait, if you want to stall for time waiting for someone to come save you, I''ll burn your clothes to ashes right now and see how you call for help then." A wisp of black flames danced on his fingertips, seemingly ready to burn the pale blue hem of her skirt to ashes the moment she uttered a single word of dissent. "You are shameless! Despicable! A beast!" "Aye, aye, everything you say is correct. Now tell me, what''s down the cliff that''s worth you coming all this way under the pretense of collecting medicinal ingredients?" Xiao Yan''s tone was tinged with cold indifference, completely disregarding her outrage.N/ne?w n0vel chap/ers are published o/n Little Fairy Doctor could only sigh when she saw that Xiao Yan was completely unyielding. Finally unable to hold on any longer, she had no choice but to reluctantly surrender. "Let go, I can share the things down there with you. But I''m telling you, it''s fifty-fifty. If you try to hog it all, I swear I''ll fight you to the death!" "Don''t worry, I''m not that kind of person." Xiao Yan smiled faintly and loosened his restraint. With his current strength combined with the Nihility Devouring Flame, Little Fairy Doctor had absolutely no chance of resisting. "There''s a cave down below, likely the remnants left behind by a powerful individual." The pair approached the cliff, their eyes simultaneously falling upon a rather peculiar sheer rock face, and true enough, a jet-black cave was concealed by vegetation. "There is indeed a cave." Little Fairy Doctor glanced at the cloaked Xiao Yan and asked, "Why are you wearing this black cloak? Can you even see the path clearly like this?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan also placed his Soul Robe into his storage ring, revealing a refined appearance. Although he did not possess a strikingly handsome appearance, as the Little Clan Head of the Xiao Clan, he had been raised in a position of privilege and naturally possessed a distinct aura. Such an adrenaline-pumping bungee jump with no safety precautions was something Little Doctor had never experienced before. She suddenly plunged headfirst into Xiao Yan''s chest, too scared to look down. If they fell, they would undoubtedly be turned into pulp! Xiao Yan''s right hand gripped the rope tightly, controlling the speed of their descent amidst the rustling sound. In a short time, he held onto the rope and landed in a cave halfway down the cliff. Glancing down at Little Fairy Doctor who was still clinging to him, he teased, "If you keep holding on like this, it''ll be daylight soon." !!! The startled Little Fairy Doctor looked around and then back at Xiao Yan, who acted as if nothing had happened, and exclaimed in astonishment, "Your hands are made of steel?" Xiao Yan couldn''t help but laugh when he heard her words. For him who had cultivated Octane Blast to a major level of mastery, this was nothing but child''s play. The rigorous training of Octane Blast had hardened his body to be as hard as steel; otherwise, rather than killing his opponents, he would have broken his own arms first. He already resembled a humanoid magical beast in the eyes of Little Fairy Doctor. Xiao Yan took out a torch from his storage ring with a rustling sound. The Nihility Devouring Flame had one drawback: it absorbed all light, making it useless as a light source. Hiss! Suddenly, a snake chirping sound echoed from the cave, where a massive Cliff Snake was coiled up. It glared at Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor with a pair of vicious triangular eyes. "A Cliff Snake? What are we going to do? It''s a peak Rank 1 magical beast that usually requires several Dou Practitioners to handle!" Little Fairy Doctor''s delicate body trembled slightly. She had heard of this type of magical beast; every encounter with it had resulted in the deaths of many mercenaries, making it a particularly formidable opponent. Xiao Yan shrugged nonchalantly and said, "What can we do but make a cold dish out of it?" No sooner had he spoken than the Cliff Snake, as if understanding his words, hissed angrily and lunged at him with its gaping maw wide open. Its sharp fangs gleamed with a sinister glow as it sought to swallow him whole. Xiao Yan wrapped his right arm around Little Fairy Doctor''s slender waist and, as if dancing, narrowly dodged the attack by a hair''s breadth. After that, he applied the principle of using minimal force for maximum effect with a gentle tug and pushed the Cliff Snake off the cliff. The movement was fluid and seamless, executed in one smooth motion. With a wave of his sleeves, a snake''s life was taken away. Little Fairy Doctor had not yet recovered from the shock, and she even forgot that Xiao Yan had his arm around her waist. "How can you dodge so well?!" Xiao Yan gently pinched her waist. She jumped away like a startled kitten and glared at him. "Stop asking so many questions, let''s go inside," Xiao Yan smiled and took the lead into the cave. Little Fairy Doctor hesitated for a moment as she looked into the pitch-black interior of the cave. Then, stamping her feet and gritting her teeth, she followed. The cave was very deep, with a faint chill permeating the surroundings. In the quiet passage, only the faint footsteps of the two could be heard. The dark environment around her made Little Fairy Doctor involuntarily hug her arms. She looked up at Xiao Yan walking slowly in front, hesitated slightly, then quickened her pace to follow closely behind him. In this kind of environment, only the young man in front of her could give her a little more sense of security. Just as she really could not stand this silent darkness that could drive people crazy, the young man in front of her suddenly stopped in his tracks. "Ah!" With a scream, her body failed to stop in time. She ended up colliding with Xiao Yan''s back, intimately pressed against it due to the momentum. The close contact made her pretty face blush as she took a sharp step back and said in annoyance, "What are you doing?" "The path has ended." Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Remnants of a Poison Master Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Remnants of a Poison Master ? "Hmm?" Little Fairy Doctor furrowed her brows upon hearing this, and after stepping past Xiao Yan, she saw a thick stone door blocking their path. "This must be it. The room behind this door is likely that of the powerful figure," the Little Fairy Doctor said in a deep voice as she ran her hand over the stone door. Xiao Yan gently tapped the stone door, noting that it wasn''t very hard. A Dou Master should be able to break it forcefully. ''Using the Octane Burst should break the stone door,'' Xiao Yan opened his mouth and asked after making some calculations, "Should we force it open?" Little Fairy Doctor pursed her lips and gave Xiao Yan a sideways glance, "Always resorting to brute force. What if the tomb is rigged with a self-destruct mechanism that activates upon strong vibrations?" She gently tapped on the stone door and found a hidden latch. After carefully turning it, a creaking sound slowly echoed through the cave. Xiao Yan looked at the Little Fairy Doctor with slight surprise and gave her a thumbs up. He hadn''t expected that she was not only proficient in medicine but also knew how to manipulate mechanisms. "It''s nothing special. Just follow along, Xiao-Yan-Zi." TL/N: Xiao-Yan-Zi is a nickname, the Xiao here means "little." "Huh?" ... The two of them walked into the cave a little bit back to back, and inside, numerous, small special gemstones emitted a faint glow. Beyond the stone door was a spacious stone room with a large stone chair in the center, upon which sat a skeleton. In front of the chair, a rather wide and long bluestone table was arranged. Three locked stone containers were neatly placed on it. Besides these, large piles of gold and silver treasures could be seen nearby, roughly estimated to be worth hundreds of thousands of gold coins. However, what truly captured Xiao Yan''s and Little Fairy Doctor''s attention was not these items, but the herb garden behind them, which was filled with all kinds of precious medicinal herbs and exotic flowers. Little Fairy Doctor and Xiao Yan hurried into the garden. The former exclaimed, "Red Star Grass, Celestial Elephant Nine-Leaf Flower, Triple Joint Bamboo! There are many high-grade herbs here! Could this be a tomb of an alchemist?" Her pretty eyes widened in amazement as names representing rare and elusive high-grade medicinal materials tumbled out of her rosy lips. Xiao Yan expanded his Spiritual Strength to sense and shook his head, "This seems to be the tomb of a physician or a poison master; there are no pills here. Typically, an alchemist would have pills and recipes." He looked at the strange herb in the middle of the medicinal garden and said, "I want this Ice Spirit Blazing Grass, and you can have two-thirds of the other herbs." It was only after hearing this that Little Fairy Doctor''s face softened slightly. She nodded lightly and conceded the most precious Ice Spirit Blazing Grass to Xiao Yan. Then, like bandits, they scrambled for the herbs, grabbing whatever they could get their hands on first. "Hey! I saw that one first!" "Finders keepers!" "Are you even a man!" Xiao Yan quickly gathered his share of the herbs and was the first to approach the skeleton. Glancing back at the Little Fairy Doctor, who was carefully picking herbs, he positioned his body to block her line of sight. "What''s wrong?" Mao Wu, appearing from the Acceptance Soul across the void, seemed as if it had encountered an enemy. Its fur bristled as it stared intently at the skeleton. Meow! Suddenly, Mao Wu spat out black flames that instantly enveloped the entire skeleton in a terrifying blaze, as if intending to reduce it to ashes. "What''s wrong?" Xiao Yan noticed that her expression became a bit unnatural the moment she grasped the Seven Colored Poison Scripture. "It''s nothing, I might just be a bit tired." Without giving it much thought, Xiao Yan used the key to open the second stone box. However, he was somewhat disappointed to find that it contained just another scroll with the words "High Xuan Class" barely visible on it. For Xiao Yan, such a level was practically useless. Even the Hall of Souls might not bother to accept such a low-level thing. He turned the black scroll over to check the name after taking it out of the box. However, his pupils slowly dilated in shock the moment he saw it, and he exclaimed in astonishment, "Flying Dou Technique: Eagle Wings?" Too soon, he realized he had spoken too fast! A Flying Dou Technique, as its name suggested, naturally allowed the practitioner to fly. Normally, those at the Dou Spirit realm could only glide briefly, and only Dou Kings could transform their Dou Qi into wings for flight. However, the Flying Dou Technique could break this rule, allowing both Dou Masters and Dou Grandmasters to fly. Seeing Xiao Yan smiling at her, Little Fairy Doctor mimicked him by touching her nose and said, "Alright, this one''s yours." "Hehe, thanks," Xiao Yan grinned, the night''s haul almost splitting his face with joy. He would probably sleep with a smile on his face tonight. "There''s one more. Let''s hurry up and get it done so we can head back," Little Fairy Doctor urged as she turned her attention to the last stone box. "Ke ke, Little Fairy Doctor. Thanks for showing us the way. It seems the information I received was indeed correct!" Just as Xiao Yan was about to insert the key into the lock, loud laughter erupted from outside the door. A large group of people burst through the stone door and quickly surrounded the duo. "Mu Li! How could this be?!" The Little Fairy Doctor immediately gritted her silver-like teeth when she heard this voice. She couldn''t understand how Mu Li could have known! She had even drugged the mercenaries who had been sent by Mu Li to guard her when she had left, and made them pass out! Little Fairy Doctor tugged at Xiao Yan, who was still fiddling with the keys, and asked anxiously, "Xiao Yan, what do we do now?" "I don''t know. The key might have been damaged by the fire earlier; it won''t turn the lock," Xiao Yan didn''t seem to be aware of the danger. He continued to focus on the lock and didn''t even spare a glance at Mu Li. Mu Li''s gaze turned icy as he chuckled darkly, "Ke ke, chop off this kid''s hand. Don''t let him die too easily! And make sure not to hurt Little Fairy Doctor, heh heh, she''s mine." Xiao Yan shook his head and sighed, "Little Fairy Doctor, you take over. This delicate task suits you better." Then, calmly facing the group of mercenaries surrounding them, he drew his Heavy Xuan Ruler and swung it with a whoosh of breaking wind. He said indifferently, "Leave the rough stuff to me." Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Fulfilling Your Requests Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Fulfilling Your Requests ? "Leave the rough stuff to me." Mu Li and the twenty or so members of the Wolf Head Mercenary Company burst out laughing as they saw Xiao Yan standing in front Little Fairy Doctor with the Heavy Xuan Ruler, as if he was going to save her heroically. "Ha ha ha ha, this little kid really thinks he''s the hero saving the beauty." "Ha ha ha, he can''t possibly think that he can beat over twenty of us Dou Practitioners just because he''s a bit strong." Mu Li chuckled with a mocking look in his eyes as he looked at Xiao Yan. "A 2-star Dou Practitioner at such a young age is indeed talented, but unfortunately, geniuses often die young." His gaze swept over the several piles of glittering gold coins in the room, and a flicker of greed flashed through his eyes. He licked his lips and smiled, "All right, whatever you two found here now belongs to the Wolf Head Mercenary Company. Little Fairy Doctor, I might spare your life if you''re willing to become mine. Don''t worry, I will treat you well, unlike that assistant of yours who betrayed you." Little Fairy Doctor trembled upon hearing this. She had no family, and the closest person to her was her medicinal assistant. She had only mentioned the cave to her assistant in passing and never expected to be betrayed by the person closest to her. "Ke ke, that woman was pretty stupid, just a few sweet words and she blurted out everything. But rest assured, I''ve already silenced her forever. She won''t betray you again," Mu Li said with a slight smile, a hint of cruelty in his eyes. "You bastard!" Little Fairy Doctor cursed, not expecting Mu Li to be so ruthless. Mu Li extended his hand like a gentleman and invited, "Come, Little Fairy Doctor, hand over the items to me. I, Mu Li, swear I will never betray you. With these treasures, our Wolf Head Mercenary Company will surely dominate Qingshan Town and even annex the neighboring -cities."Th.e? most uptod/ate novels a/re published on n(0)velbj)n(.)c/o/m At this moment, no one felt more out of place than Xiao Yan. He drew his Heavy Xuan Ruler with a dashing flair and positioned himself in front of Little Fairy Doctor in a stance that suggested he could hold off thousands single-handedly. Yet, no one paid any attention to him. This Mu Li even began his ''villain''s monologue'', and did not put him in his eyes at all. "Alas, have you ever considered that maybe, just maybe, none of you will survive tonight?" Xiao Yan awkwardly scratched his cheek with his finger and uttered the most threatening words in the softest tone. "If you''re in a hurry to die, I can oblige you. Killing a wet-behind-the-ears kid like you wouldn''t be difficult," Mu Li''s smile was filled with murderous intent. Xiao Yan touched his nose, finding the naive nature of the townsfolk in Qingshan Town quite endearing. They actually believed his claim of being a 2-star Dou Practitioner, which made him, the little liar, feel slightly embarrassed. "Ke ke ke, kid, hand over the stuff and I might let you keep a complete corpse," a burly man with three golden stars on his chest stepped in front of Xiao Yan and patted his large cleaver. Xiao Yan shrugged and said indifferently, "No need to leave the whole body, just burn it all up. It''s much easier that way." "Alright, as you wish!" The burly man swung his cleaver, his Dou Qi surging in an instant as The swung it toward his forehead. Xiao Yan remained expressionless as he watched the rapidly descending cleaver. He merely flicked his Heavy Xuan Ruler lightly. The immensely heavy ruler met the cleaver like a stone meeting an egg and shattered it bit by bit. After that, the ruler smashed into the burly man''s body with a thunderous crash. The tremendous force instantly shattered the man''s ribs and arm bones, and his organs, unable to withstand the impact, burst inside him. He was slammed into the wall, dead on impact. Mu Li''s face darkened. He had been supported by his father''s resources his entire life and had only just barely reached the 6-star Dou Practitioner stage at the age of twenty-eight! Compared to Xiao Yan, he was like a piece of trash! "You have the guts not to use Dou Techniques?!" Xiao Yan smiled slightly, hands clasped behind his back, and nodded, "Sure." "Whoever can kill him, no, even injure him, will be allowed to cultivate the company''s Xuan Class Qi Method!" The members of the Wolf Head Mercenary Company exchanged glances, their eyes filled with endless greed. People would die in pursuit of wealth, just like birds would die in pursuit of food. Some things were worth the risk! With great reward comes great courage. Screams of rage rang out as swords slashed toward Xiao Yan like rolling thunder. Xiao Yan''s lips curled into a cold smile as he flicked a large sword off the ground with his right foot and kicked the blade. A flash of white light followed, and four heads rolled neatly off their necks. The remaining dozen or so mercenaries were already terrified. Was this kid even human?!! "If you have the fucking balls, don''t use weapons, Dou Techniques, your arms, and legs!" Xiao Yan looked at Mu Li who was about to collapse with a mocking expression in his eyes, then casually folded his hands behind his back, sat down cross-legged, and said with a grin, "Alright." Even Little Fairy Doctor''s beautiful eyes widened in shock. This was akin to courting death! "Chop him down, all of you!!" A wave of madness swept over all the mercenaries as they heard the order. As a result, they rushed toward Xiao Yan like a tidal wave. Xiao Yan showed no pity as he saw these desperate souls rushing toward him. A hunter who is willing to prey on others must always be prepared to become the hunted. His pitch-black eyes snapped open, and an immense surge of Spiritual Strength erupted from within him. High Huang Class Soul Skill: Soul Impact! Thud, thud, thud! In an instant, all the mercenaries'' eyes rolled back, their mouths frothed, and without a sound, they lost their lives. For Xiao Yan, whose Spiritual State had already reached the great perfection of the Low Mortal State and was about to enter the Intermediate Mortal State, the Spiritual Strength of these mercenaries was practically non-existent. "Do you have any other requests? I can let you die without any regrets." Chapter 62: Chapter 62: The 3rd Stone Box Chapter 62: Chapter 62: The 3rd Stone Box ? The level of Soul Impact was not high, and it was not difficult to cultivate, especially for an alchemist with a particularly strong Spiritual Strength like Xiao Yan. Moreover, the destructive power of Soul Impact had little to do with the user''s proficiency in Dou Techniques; it depended solely on the user''s Spiritual Strength and that of the other party. Facing these mercenaries who knew nothing about Soul Training Methods or Soul Skills, Xiao Yan''s Soul Impact was no longer just an impact, but more like the Grim Reaper himself, a terrifying Soul Skill that harvested lives. All the shouts abruptly ceased and the entire tomb fell silent in an instant. Little Fairy Doctor was so frightened that she took two steps back, her beautiful eyes wide with horror as she looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar figure in front of her. Was this Xiao Yan''s true strength?! Xiao Yan looked at Mu Li, who had collapsed on the ground in fear, and smiled warmly as he approached step by step. "Do you have any other requests? Just speak. I''ve always been generous with the dead." Seeing Xiao Yan approach, Mu Li was so terrified that he wet his pants. In this moment of life and death, he disregarded everything else, his voice both fierce and trembling as he cried out, "You, you, you can''t kill me! My father is the leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Company! He''s a 2-star Dou Master! If you kill me, he will chase you to the ends of the earth. There will be no place for you in Qingshan Town!!" Xiao Yan didn''t care and casually kicked Mu Li out of the stone room with a solid thud. A hidden force erupted as Mu Li flew backward, and his body exploded into a display of red fireworks. Xiao Yan brushed the dust off his clothes, then strolled over to Little Fairy Doctor in a good mood. It would be a lie if Little Fairy Doctor said she wasn''t scared when she saw Xiao Yan coming toward her. Yet, after a moment''s thought, she realized that if Xiao Yan had really intended to kill her to monopolize the tomb, she would have been a corpse by now. "You are definitely more than a 2-star Dou Practitioner," Little Fairy Doctor stated confidently. Xiao Yan gave a faint smile and said, "Your Qingshan Town really is a place of simple folks. I claimed to be a 2-star Dou Practitioner, and you all just believed it." With a disgruntled face, the Little Fairy Doctor replied, "Who would have thought that a teenager of fifteen or sixteen could be so terrifyingly powerful? You''re not an ordinary person, are you?" "I have nothing to hide. I am Xiao Yan, the Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan from Wu Tan City. If you ever come to Wu Tan City, just mention my name to the Xiao Clan. I''ve got your back," Xiao Yan confidently patted his chest. Little Fairy Doctor''s eyebrows furrowed slightly. She had heard about Wu Tan City. After all, it was one of the major cities in the Jia Ma Empire. "Can''t this stone box be opened?" Xiao Yan looked at the unopened stone box. Compared to something like the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, he was more concerned about what might be inside the third box. It seemed that the owner of the tomb likely had the strength of a Dou King. The Seven- Colored Poison Scripture, though unmarked in terms of level, was at least of the High Xuan Class. Moreover, considering the rare Flying Dou Technique, the strength of the tomb owner was certainly not low. Xiao Yan guessed that the third stone box might also contain a High Xuan Class Dou Technique, likely of a particularly special type. Little Fairy Doctor refocused her attention when Xiao Yan asked her about the stone box and began to slowly turn the key. Soon, the stone box opened with a click.Upstodatee from "I have a Rank 1 Blue Eagle that can get us out of here," Little Fairy Doctor pulled out a short bamboo flute from her bosom. She then put it to her lips and blew gently, producing a somewhat strange sound wave that quickly spread from the flute. "You still have a trick up your sleeve?!" "What''s wrong with a girl being a little cautious when she''s out and about?" Not long after, a giant eagle with an azure body appeared in front of the duo. "Let''s fly up and deal with those mercenaries first." They landed at the edge of the cliff, and Xiao Yan casually dispatched the few mercenaries standing guard. The wind ruffled Little Fairy Doctor''s hair as it blew strongly against her, pressing her clothes tightly to her body and subtly outlining her graceful curves. She brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead with her slender fingers and watched Xiao Yan''s back, knowing it was time for them to part ways. "Where do you plan to go?" Xiao Yan asked after dusting off his hands. Little Fairy Doctor smiled faintly, "I''m heading back to the herb gathering team. The influence of the Thousand Medicine House is no weaker than that of the Wolf Head Mercenary Company; they wouldn''t dare to do anything to me." Xiao Yan shrugged. "Alright then, it looks like this is where we say goodbye." Now that he had acquired two High Xuan Class Dou Techniques that suited him perfectly, Xiao Yan needed to focus on cultivating the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique and locating the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. In order to do this, he had to venture deeper into the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Seeing Xiao Yan''s demeanor, the Little Fairy Doctor could only nod her head, leap onto the Blue Eagle, and prepare to fly back to the herb gathering team''s camp. "If you run into anything you can''t handle, send your Blue Eagle to find me deep in the Magic Beast Mountain Range." A faint smile lifted the corners of Little Fairy Doctor''s mouth, and a long-missed warmth rose from within her heart. "Take care of yourself first." She directed the Blue Eagle in the direction of the herb gathering team and flew away, leaving behind words laden with a special meaning. As she soared through the sky, the Little Fairy Doctor suddenly remembered something. She pulled out the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture from her bag and murmured to herself: "Strange, what was that odd feeling the first time I got this Seven-Colored Poison Scripture?" Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Strength Improvement Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Strength Improvement ? Two days later, Xiao Yan followed the spiritual map in his memory and ventured deeper into the Magic Beast Mountains. He leaped over a ravine and slowly approached a steep cliff face. After carefully selecting for quite some time, he finally picked a cave about four to five meters above the ground. Cautiously climbing the somewhat damp and slippery rocks, he moved agilely like a monkey and quickly entered the cave he had previously selected. "This place isn''t bad." The inside of the cave was slightly cool but spacious enough for one person to live comfortably. Xiao Yan finally felt at ease after using his powerful Spiritual Strength to explore the area and confirming there were no traces of magical beasts nearby. He dragged a large rock from below the cliff to block the entrance of the cave. Then, he took a blanket and pillow from his storage ring and constructed a simple single bed using a few wooden sticks. Utilizing a special glowing gemstone to provide light, he created a simple yet functional living space in the cave. Xiao Yan hadn''t arbitrarily chosen this place as his base. The spiritual map from the Hall of Souls had marked three places where the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was believed to be. All of them were not far from this location. He could use this cave as a central point to gradually explore these three areas. Although his current location was not yet at the deepest part of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, he had already encountered Rank 3 magical beasts, thus forcing him to proceed with caution. Xiao Yan gradually circulated the Flame Mantra. The Flame Mantra that had refined the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame had now reached the Low Xuan Class Qi Method, allowing his Dou Qi to condense at a faster rate. ''I''ll cultivate the Flying Dou Technique first; it''s better to master a means of escape.'' Xiao Yan flipped his palm, and a black scroll appeared in his hand. It was the High Xuan Class Flying Dou Technique he had acquired. Flying! What young man has not dreamed of soaring through the skies? Holding the scroll in both hands, Xiao Yan licked his lips and carefully untied the finely bound string before slowly unfolding it. "The name of this Dou Technique is Eagle Wings, also known as Purple Cloud Wings. It took me, the author, and a few friends three years to successfully capture a Purple Cloud Black Fire Eagle. Then, using a secret method to obtain both wings, we were finally able to create this scroll that allows one to learn a flying Dou Technique. Toward the end of my life, I used Dou Qi to create this Dou Technique. Remember, it can only be learned by one person!" Xiao Yan discovered that the pair of Purple Cloud Wings depicted in the Dou Technique scroll had a soul embedded within them. The prerequisite for cultivating this Dou Technique was to be able to withstand a spiritual attack from the wings and successfully integrate the Purple Cloud Wings into one''s own soul. After reading the entire scroll of the Dou Technique, Xiao Yan felt as if this flying technique was tailor-made for him; entering its initial phase seemed far too easy. He slowly extended his hand and touched the pattern on the scroll. Immediately, the scroll unleashed a burst of Spiritual Strength that struck him. ''Playing soul games with me?'' Xiao Yan let out a cold laugh as a spiritual attack erupted from his body. Having cultivated the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique and a Soul Skill, he effortlessly subdued the fragmented fierce soul that had been sealed within the scroll for who knows how long in just a few exchanges. The Purple Cloud Black Fire Eagle also had no choice but to submit to his powerful Spiritual Strength. With a whoosh, the Purple Cloud Wings appeared behind Xiao Yan. He kicked off with both feet, wings unfurling as he glided down the cliff and flew toward the wilderness of the Magic Beast Mountain Range below. "Woo-hoo! Magic Beast Mountain Range, here I come, Xiao Yan!" Roar, roar, roar! Seeing a figure descending, the Rank 2 magical beast, Giant Bear, roared and stood up, swinging its massive paw at him. "Ha ha ha, it looks like bear paw is on the menu tonight! I haven''t had stewed bear paw in a long time!" "Octane Blast!" ... Time flew by, and more than four months had passed, leaving just over half a year until Xiao Yan''s duel with Nalan Yanran. In the deep silence of the night, Xiao Yan was crouching behind a rock, his gaze fixed on the massive mountain not far away. At the top of the mountain, a huge cave entrance was partially visible, obscured by branches. "What a hassle. The last location turns out to be the lair of the Amethyst Winged Lion King." Xiao Yan cautiously peered at the mountaintop from behind the rock, careful not to alert any creatures inside that someone was spying on their lair. In the past four months, thanks to reaching the Xuan Class with his Flame Mantra and a fortuitous encounter with a Fire Attribute Xuan Fruit, Xiao Yan had advanced from a 1-star Dou Master to a 3-star one. He had also investigated the two nearest locations marked on the spiritual map, only to find that both of them were nothing but bullshit. One was an underground magma river that had formed a vein of Xuan Fire Crystals, which could be used as fuel. The other was caused by the death of a Rank 5 fire attribute magical beast. Now, only one location remained on the map, but what made his head hurt was that the cave was completely inaccessible! The Amethyst Winged Lion King, a Rank 6 magical beast with strength comparable to a Dou Emperor, was still very much alive! Even if the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was inside its lair, what could he do? He couldn''t possibly defeat this ''dungeon boss'' at all! //Hey everyone, this week''s event is: 300 PS 1 Extra Chapter How fast we progress in the story is up to you. Let''s see how far we can get! Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Detective Xiao Yan, at Your Service! Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Detective Xiao Yan, at Your Service! ? Xiao Yan lowered the hood of his Soul Robe and tried his best to remain hidden and undetected. To describe his situation in game terms, it was as though he had been stuck at the same level for over a month. However, the past month had not been without its gains, as he had managed to ascertain some details about the lair of the Amethyst Winged Lion King. First, in addition to the Rank 6 Amethyst Winged Lion King itself, there was also a Rank 3, younger Amethyst Winged Lion King residing in the lair. Because of this, there were no Rank 4 magical beasts within several kilometers of the lair, ironically making it a safe haven for him. The Amethyst Winged Lion King only allowed Rank 3 or lower magical beasts to roam around its lair. Furthermore, just as the spiritual information had suggested, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was likely within the lair. Xiao Yan had once seized an opportunity, sneaking close to the lair while the Amethyst Winged Lion King was out hunting, and used his spiritual perception to investigate. He could sense a very dense fire attribute energy within. Moreover, this source of fire attribute energy was not scattered but concentrated, which was most likely a Heavenly Flame! After all, a Rank 6 magical beast had the strength to possess a Heavenly Flame if given the right opportunity! ''Is it truly necessary to spend soul points to hire a Dou Emperor from the Hall of Souls?'' Xiao Yan''s expression turned grave as he pondered his options. Hiring a Dou Emperor would cost around 3,000 soul points, which could alternatively be exchanged for a decent 6th-tier medicinal pill, also sufficient to hire a Dou Emperor. After deducting the soul points spent on information about the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and the Ice Spirit Cold Fountain, he was left with just over 4,000 soul points, indeed enough to hire a low-star Dou Emperor. However, the issue lay in his complete lack of trust in the Soul Envoys and the Protectors of the Hall of Souls. If the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was indeed within the cave, Xiao Yan was certain that he would likely be silenced in the end. Talk of trust with the Hall of Souls? Impossible! In the end, Xiao Yan shook his head. Cultivation was a long journey, and he could not let impatience and eagerness cloud his judgment. ''Let''s head back for now. If I don''t find a suitable opportunity to enter the cave of the Amethyst Winged Lion King soon, I''ll just have to wait until I reach the Dou King realm.'' Xiao Yan slowly stood up and dragged the body of a giant python along the ground as he walked back to his cliffside cave. The python''s soul had been dissipated, and its body bore multiple gashes as if it had been slashed by sharp claws. It was a Rank 3 Earth White Python. Indeed, Xiao Yan could already kill a Rank 3 magical beast with his current strength! He walked to a waterfall near the cave and jumped into the water to wash away the bloodstains left from the fight. After cleaning himself and changing into clean clothes, he lay down on a rock and let out a long sigh of relief. His body felt much lighter now. So far, Xiao Yan had cultivated the Mad Lion Chant to a great extent and was about to reach a major level of mastery. Having cultivated the Octane Blast before cultivating the Mad Lion Chant had greatly improved his progress. Moreover, the past four months of constant training and battling magical beasts in the Magic Beast Mountain Range had further honed his combat skills. The training of Dou Techniques was always inseparable from actual combat. Xiao Yan sat on a rock by the waterfall, basking in the sun for a while before retrieving the medicinal cauldron he had purchased in Wu Tan City from his storage ring. He then arranged a large array of various medicinal ingredients on the surface of a rock. Slowly standing up, he looked toward the direction of the Amethyst Winged Lion King''s cave and muttered to himself, "I''ll wait another month. If there''s still no way in, I''ll have to wait until my strength reaches the Dou Spirit realm, refine the Blood Lotus Essence Pill, and come back after assimilating the Bone Chilling Flame." Xiao Yan no longer needed to absorb the energy emitted by the Bone Chilling Flame; that small amount of energy was no longer of any use to him. He was now waiting to refine the Blood Lotus Essence Pill and increase his strength to the Dou Spirit realm, after which he would directly devour the Bone Chilling Flame! By then, he would possess his first true, fully-formed Heavenly Flame! With the Nihility Devouring Flame in his left hand and the Bone Chilling Flame in his right hand, he, Xiao Yan, would be invincible! Little did he expect the turn of events to come so quickly; just three days later, an opportunity presented itself. ... Roar roar roar! A furious roar thundered from the sky. "Human woman, you are courting death!" The colossal Amethyst Winged Lion King astonishingly spoke in the human tongue as it roared. Xiao Yan hurriedly hid behind a rock not far from the cave, lowering the hood of his Soul Robe to reveal only a small gap through which he could peer into the sky. ''A Dou Emperor has come to challenge the Amethyst Winged Lion King?!'' Xiao Yan observed a female Dou Emperor facing off against the Amethyst Winged Lion King in the opposite direction. She was wearing a plain dress that hugged her voluptuous figure as she wielded a strange- looking long sword that emitted a green-colored light. Her black hair was held in place by a noble-looking phoenix accessory. The beautiful and moving face of hers wore a calm expression. A pair of Dou Qi wings with wind attributes fluttered behind her. The fact that she was still calm in the face of a Rank 6 magical beast spoke volumes about her strength! Xiao Yan''s eyebrows furrowed when he saw this dignified and elegant woman, as he thought The recognized who this woman was. The mountain range where he was located still lay within the borders of the Jia Ma Empire. Among the Ten Strong of the Jia Ma Empire, only three were Dou Emperors, and among them, only one was a female Dou Emperor with the wind attribute Dou Qi. Even in the neighboring Chu Yun Empire, there was no such person. The identity of this Dou Emperor was almost apparent. "She is the current Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect and Nalan Yanran''s Master, Yun Yun!" Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Cooperation Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Cooperation ? Although Xiao Yan''s conclusion was based on his own reasoning and suspicions, he was actually about 90% sure of it. This was because he had once gone to the Miteer Auction House to inquire about Nalan Yanran and the Misty Cloud Sect after she had visited to promote her concept of romantic freedom. According to Ya Fei''s description, the Misty Cloud Sect had once been glorious, with its founder Yun Po Tian possessing unfathomable strength. However, after the death of Yun Po Tian, the sect had been in a state of decline. It was only with the emergence of the current Sect Leader, Yun Yun, that the Misty Cloud Sect began to regain some of its former glory. It wasn''t that Yun Yun''s cultivation was higher than the previous Sect Leader, Yun Shan, but rather her talent. Yun Yun was the fastest among all the Sect Leaders to break through to the Dou Emperor realm. Even Yun Po Tian''s breakthrough speed was not as fast as hers. Although there were no cameras in this world, based on Ya Fei''s descriptions, he was quite certain that the woman in front of him was Yun Yun. ''What is the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect doing here all by herself?'' Xiao Yan furrowed his brow, sensing that the situation was not as simple as it seemed. "I wish to borrow Your Highness''s Purple Spirit Crystal." Yun Yun''s beautiful eyes fixed on the Amethyst Winged Lion King, her red lips parting slightly as she spoke in a voice as clear and melodious as pearls falling onto a jade plate. "Purple Spirit Crystal? My kind only shed a small piece from our bodies every twenty years. Do you think you can just demand it?" the Amethyst Winged Lion King said mockingly. "I can exchange it for something you need." Yun Yun''s voice was moving. "Fine. As long as you bring me a Body Transformation Pill, I''ll give you the Purple Spirit Crystal." The Amethyst Winged Lion King immediately burst out laughing upon hearing this. Xiao Yan rolled his eyes upon hearing the pill the Amethyst Winged Lion King requested. It was true what they said about lions having big appetites. One had to know that the Body Transformation Pill was a 7th-tier medicinal pill. Such a pill was enough to make even elite Dou Ancestors'' hearts flutter. This pill was powerful enough to drive countless Rank 6 and even Rank 7 magical beasts into a frenzy, as possessing just one of these pills would allow them to completely shed their beastly form. From then on, they would have the extended lifespan of a magical beast and the cultivation talents of a human. The combined effects of these two characteristics could potentially elevate a transformed magical beast to the legendary levels of a Dou Venerate or even a Dou Saint! Not to mention, the low-star Dou Emperor Yun Yun couldn''t produce such a pill, and even the entire Misty Cloud Sect couldn''t come up with one. ''If you don''t want to give it, just say so directly. Why beat around the bush?''N/ne?w n0vel chap/ers are published o/n As expected, Yun Yun gently shook her head and said, "I''m sorry, I don''t have a Body Transformation Pill. Could we possibly trade for something else?" Xiao Yan nodded to himself. ''A piece of Purple Spirit Crystal is, at best, worth a 5th-tier medicinal pill. Even that might be stretching its value; how could it possibly be exchanged for a 7th-tier medicinal pill?'' Suddenly, a light bulb went off in his head. He remembered he had a recipe for a 5th-tier medicinal pill called the Purple Crystal Pill in his storage ring, whose main ingredient was Purple Spirit Crystal. Its effect was to allow a 9-star Dou Master to break through directly to the Dou Grandmaster realm. Upon becoming a Dou Grandmaster, the Dou Qi used to form armor would be coated with a layer of purple crystal, significantly enhancing its defense. "Ha ha ha, discovering it now is too late. Let''s see what you can do after I seal your Dou Qi. Amethyst Seal!" The Amethyst Winged Lion King''s deep roar echoed as it suddenly spat out a deep purple light pillar from its mouth, the light containing faint traces of purple crystals. A fierce look flashed in Yun Yun''s eyes. Rising to the position of Sect Leader meant that she was no pushover. "Extreme Wind: Fallen Massacre!" The energy of the world began to surge. Xiao Yan was 100% certain that this was a Di Class Dou Technique! But if one thought about it, it would be strange if the once-glorious Misty Cloud Sect didn''t possess a Di Class Dou Technique. In an instant, a tiny ray of light, almost the size of a thumb, shot out from the tip of the sword. As soon as the light appeared, the space itself trembled! One could imagine how terrifying this attack was. Boom! The two attacks collided. Yun Yun''s ray of light pierced through the Amethyst Seal and slashed a deep, bone-exposing wound across the body of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, from which a copious amount of blood spurted. Just when Xiao Yan thought Yun Yun''s Di Class Dou Technique had prevailed, the purple crystals from the previously dispersed light pillar suddenly flew toward Yun Yun from all directions. In an instant, the purple light engulfed Yun Yun. The next second, all of her Dou Qi was sealed, and the Wind Wings behind her disappeared, causing her to plummet rapidly downward. Yun Yun had surprisingly lost! Xiao Yan furrowed his brows as he looked at the severely injured Amethyst Winged Lion King. Even though the Lion King was badly hurt, killing a Dou Emperor whose Dou Qi had been sealed wouldn''t be difficult. He quickly analyzed the situation in his mind. Yun Yun was a stranger to him, but if he wanted to enter the cave, a Dou Emperor like her would be a good helper! Letting her owe him a favor could mean gaining a free Dou Emperor helper. It was a bet worth taking! Chapter 66: Chapter 66: The Power of the Nihility Devouring Flame Chapter 66: Chapter 66: The Power of the Nihility Devouring Flame ? With a thunderous crash, the Amethyst Winged Lion King slammed heavily into the mountainside. Its claws, glowing like red-hot iron, forcibly cauterized its wounds through the intense heat. "Kill that human woman for this king!!!" The Amethyst Winged Lion King let out a ferocious roar. Its blood-red, giant eyes filled with murderous intent caused the magical beasts that had originally fled in all directions to halt in their tracks. Thousands of them simultaneously turned their gaze toward Yun Yun as she fell from the sky. Countless magical beasts converged from all directions to surround her like sharks smelling blood. Undoubtedly, a Dou Emperor whose Dou Qi had been sealed was no different from a defenseless woman in front of these numerous magical beasts. Even if she didn''t die from the high fall, she would be torn apart by the horde of magical beasts.T/his chapter is updat/ed by A burst of blood energy erupted from Xiao Yan as Dou Qi surged through his body. The terrifying blood-colored energy transformed into the illusory figure of a giant lion that enveloped him entirely. The combined power of a 3-star Dou Master''s Dou Qi and his flesh and blood surged out of every pore. "Get the hell out of my way!" Xiao Yan unleashed the Mad Lion Chant. A massive, charging energy lion burst forth as his shout echoed. The lion''s ferocious roar echoed throughout the forest. Roar! The fearsome blood-colored lion like a runaway tank smashed everything in its path. Trees were shattered, and Rank 1 and 2 magical beasts were instantly pulverized into a mist of blood by the powerful force. After carving a bloody path, Xiao Yan forcefully stomped on the ground with his right foot. A loud boom sounded, and the terrifying force created a small crater in the ground as dirt flew up. Xiao Yan moved swiftly, his body wrapped in a black Soul Robe as he rushed like a ghostly shadow toward the spot where Yun Yun was falling. With a physique that had already been honed to be as formidable as that of a magical beast, he resembled a raging lion under the enhancement of the Mad Lion Chant. Even Rank 3 magical beasts had to avoid his sharp edge. Xiao Yan leaped thirty feet high, and the next second, a pair of black and purple colored Purple Cloud Wings appeared on his back. His Dou Qi condensed, and with a powerful flap of his wings, he shot forward like an arrow released from a bow to catch the falling Yun Yun. Suddenly embraced by a man in a black robe with a hood covering his face, Yun Yun instinctively tried to break free. "Stay still if you don''t want to die!" Xiao Yan shouted sternly. He had no time to soothe her with gentle words as they were still in danger. "Human! You are courting death!!" A searing roar came from behind Xiao Yan. The Amethyst Winged Lion King was badly injured, but not dead. It could still fly! The enraged Amethyst Winged Lion King flapped its wings rapidly. It was closing in on Xiao Yan at high speed. Xiao Yan knew that with his Dou Master''s cultivation, relying on flying techniques would not make him faster than the Rank 6 Amethyst Winged Lion King. A fierce look flashed in his eyes as he held Yun Yun tightly with one arm around her back, pulling her close as their bodies pressed together. "You!" A blush crept across Yun Yun''s cheeks; she had never been so close to a man before! Before Yun Yun had time to react, Xiao Yan instantly spun around in midair, his gaze intensifying as a powerful surge of Spiritual Strength emanated from his body. "Shouldn''t you introduce yourself before asking someone else''s name?" Xiao Yan looked toward Yun Yun with eyes as calm as still water. Yun Yun froze for a moment. She had only ever encountered men who flattered and fawned over her, never a young man as calm and self-assured as Xiao Yan, who had even stepped in to save her life. Her beautiful eyes flickered slightly as she smiled faintly, "My name is Yun Zhi." Xiao Yan''s eyelid twitched as he looked at Yun Yun, who seemed slightly proud of her made- up name. He felt so embarrassed that he almost wanted to find a hole to crawl into. Using a fake name was one thing, but not even changing your last name? "Uh... my name is Yao Yan." What else could he do? Just pretend he didn''t know she was pretending. "Why did you save me?" Yun Yun asked softly. She clearly did not recognize Xiao Yan and could not understand why he would go to such lengths to save her. "I need to enter the lair of the Amethyst Winged Lion King to retrieve something. As a Dou Emperor, you can hold off the Amethyst Winged Lion King," he replied bluntly, not bothering to conceal his motives. His straightforwardness left Yun Yun dumbfounded. Was he really trying to use her as a pawn so openly? A brave hero saving the beauty? Not at all! Xiao Yan was very straightforward, openly admitting he had ulterior motives for saving her. Surprisingly, Yun Yun nodded in response. She herself did not think that Xiao Yan saved her because of her beauty or anything like that. His honesty left a good impression on her. "The Purple Spirit Crystal I need is also likely inside the cave, but my Dou Qi is currently sealed, and I cannot break the seal quickly. If we allow the Amethyst Winged Lion King to recover from its injuries, it won''t be easy to succeed," she said with concern. The Amethyst Winged Lion King was now injured, and entering the lair would be even more difficult if they waited until its wounds fully healed. Moreover, after having been there once, Yun Yun feared that the Amethyst Winged Lion King would guard its lair even more closely next time. Xiao Yan smiled calmly, having already thought of a method to break the seal. He slowly extended his right index finger. With a whoosh, a wisp of black flame appeared at his fingertip. "I can help you break the seal." The Nihility Devouring Flame had the ability to devour anything. He planned to use the characteristics of the Nihility Devouring Flame to gradually devour the seal. Chapter 67: Chapter 67: An Unexpected Joy Chapter 67: Chapter 67: An Unexpected Joy ? "I can help you break the seal." A wisp of black flame emerged from the tip of Xiao Yan''s finger. Even though the Nihility Devouring Flame was still just a Seed Flame, merely a child among Heavenly Flames, it still possessed the miraculous power unique to such flames. Moreover, it was the 2nd-ranked Nihility Devouring Flame. The Amethyst Winged Lion King had merely used its body''s Amethyst Flame to block Yun Yun''s meridians and seal her Dou Qi. If the Nihility Devouring Flame could devour the amethyst crystals within her meridian points, she would naturally regain her Dou Emperor strength. Her physical injuries were of no concern, as Yun Yun herself had medicinal pills to heal her wounds. Yun Yun''s beautiful eyes focused on the black flame on Xiao Yan''s fingertip, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed as she asked in confusion, "Fire condensation requires the skills of at least a 4th-tier alchemist or someone with Dou Spirit cultivation. Your combat power seems to be at the Dou Grandmaster realm, but your cultivation should only be at the Dou Master realm." She was utterly perplexed, the young man in front of her had completely shattered her understanding of what was possible. Only 4th-tier alchemists and those with Dou Spirit or higher cultivation could achieve fire condensation, yet he, a mere Dou Master, had done it. Even the ability to transform Dou Qi into wings, which normally required the strength of a Dou King, had been achieved by him. And now, a seal that she, a Dou Emperor, couldn''t break, he claimed to have a solution for. Was he really a Dou Master? Why did he seem more like a Dou Ancestor? "This black flame of yours is very strange. It feels weak, but somehow it gives off a very dangerous feeling." Yun Yun wasn''t an alchemist and was unaware of the Heavenly Flame Ranking. She knew of the existence of Heavenly Flames, but this black flame seemed too weak compared to the ones she knew, so she hadn''t considered the possibility. "It''s a family heirloom. It may be a bit weak, but it''s very effective," Xiao Yan touched his nose as he lied without batting an eye. "Let me see where the seal of the Amethyst Winged Lion King is. It will take some time to remove it completely." Yun Yun''s body trembled visibly upon hearing Xiao Yan''s words. A blush quickly spread across her cheeks. After pondering for a moment, she gently unfastened the button on the front of her garment. The act of a beauty unbuttoning her clothes made Xiao Yan''s mouth dry. Eventually, a purple-colored rune mark was revealed on the hollow of Yun Yun''s sternum. This rune extended numerous purple threads throughout her meridian points, and it was these threads that were blocking the flow of Dou Qi. Xiao Yan glanced at this purple-colored rune. It was so prominent that even her inner armor could not fully conceal it. This naturally referred to the rune. He took a deep breath, pushed aside all distractions, and focused the Nihility Devouring Flame at his fingertip. After that, he gradually approached the edge of the purple rune threads and gently touched Yun Yun''s snow-white skin. "Ah~" !!!? After calming down and pondering for a long time, a faint smile of secret joy spread across his heart. He considered this extra energy as a kind of ''operation fee.'' Once something reached his hands, how could he possibly let it slip away? Xiao Yan''s mind dug deep and controlled this energy cluster with his Spiritual Strength. After that, he began to circulate it along the path outlined by the Flame Mantra. Only when the energy became somewhat viscous did he finally channel it into his Qi cyclone, where it was integrated into his own Dou Qi cultivation. He couldn''t help but lick his lips; with one or two more such energy clusters, he could break through from a 3-star Dou Master to a 4-star. He had only recently reached three stars and hadn''t expected such a windfall. This added an extra layer of anticipation for breaking Yun Yun''s seal the next day. Why the extra anticipation? That, only Xiao Yan knew. ... Three days later, the purple rune on Yun Yun had been reduced by a large portion, and all the extending purple fire lines had been completely erased. Xiao Yan''s fingers moved like an eraser as he slowly traced down the pattern of the rune. His fingers gradually felt an extraordinary elasticity. Xiao Yan clenched his teeth and muttered to himself, ''Hold on, Xiao Yan, you can''t lose to beauty now. If you make a wrong move, Yun Yun might beat you to death on the spot once her Dou Qi is restored.'' ''Life is important! Xun Er is still waiting for you at Jia Nan Academy! You can''t let her become a widow!'' A powerful aura suddenly awakened as Xiao Yan wrestled with his thoughts. He looked toward Yun Yun who had her eyes closed. That terrifying aura was emanating from within her body. He quickly withdrew his finger and stepped back as a burst of green-colored Dou Qi erupted from her, forcibly breaking through the remaining seal! A pair of green wind wings that resembled phoenix wings appeared behind Yun Yun with a whoosh. This signaled her full recovery! Xiao Yan realized that this play house kind of game was coming to an end when he saw the majestic Yun Yun in front of him. It was time to face the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Before the seal was broken, he could still hold a playing house mentality, but once it came to fighting, he became a different person altogether. Yun Yun''s delicate hand slowly reached out and gently pressed against his back, infusing a surge of Dou Qi energy into the Purple Cloud Wings. Then, a pair of green-colored Purple Cloud Wings appeared on Xiao Yan''s back. "This Dou Qi is enough for you to use your flying technique for one hour. If something uncontrollable happens, leave immediately!" Xiao Yan nodded slightly, his expression instantly turning cold and his gaze sharp as he looked toward the cave of the Amethyst Winged Lion King. The fleeting moments of intimacy from the past few days seemed to be instantly forgotten. For Xiao Yan, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was still the top priority in his heart. Boom! Boom! Two sounds of breaking wind echoed as two green streaks of light, trailing long tails of flame, shot directly toward the cave of the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Ten Thousand Beast Flame? Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Ten Thousand Beast Flame? ? "By the way, exactly how many stars are you as a Dou Emperor?" Xiao Yan asked casually. "Three stars." Xiao Yan frowned, "And what about the Amethyst Winged Lion King? How many stars would it be considered?" "Magical beasts don''t have a clear star classification as we humans do. If we compare it in terms of Dou Techniques and Dou Qi, it could at most compete with a 2-star Dou Emperor. However, magical beasts excel in close combat and rely on their physical strength. The close combat skills of the Amethyst Winged Lion King could rival a 4-star or even a 5-star Dou Emperor." Yun Yun explained as she flew, her gaze fixed ahead, "All things considered, its overall strength might also be equivalent to a 3-star Dou Emperor, about the same as me." "However, I will not lose this time." Xiao Yan and Yun Yun had chosen to confront the Amethyst Winged Lion King at dusk. They knew that the amethyst crystals on the Lion King could absorb sunlight, so by choosing this time when it could not, the Lion King might not be able to match Yun Yun who had cultivated Di Class Dou Techniques. Xiao Yan turned his head to Yun Yun and said with a grin, "Remember to sound a bit fiercer." Yun Yun shot him an annoyed look. Are you the Dou Emperor, or am I? Why should I take orders from you? "Just take care of yourself." After dropping a faint sentence, Yun Yun channeled her Dou Qi and surged forward with a burst of speed toward the cave of the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Her speed as a wind attribute Dou Emperor was terrifyingly unmatched. Moments later, four hundred-meter-high green tornadoes appeared around the Amethyst Winged Lion King''s lair. The terrifying tornadoes engulfed the cave from all sides, wreaking havoc and sweeping all nearby magical beasts into the sky. A Dou Emperor''s strike could be described as earth-shattering. Even a single High Xuan Class Dou Technique could rival the devastating power of nature. "Amethyst Winged Lion King, come out now! This old lady is going to turn your territory upside down today!" Xiao Yan nearly burst out laughing when he heard Yun Yun following his earlier suggestion. Clearly, this was their plan: she would infuriate the Amethyst Winged Lion King, while he would sneak into the cave to search for the Purple Spirit Crystal. "Human woman, you are courting death! Today I will grind your bones to dust!" Yun Yun had launched a direct attack on the entire territory of the Amethyst Winged Lion King. How could it tolerate this as the ruler of this territory? Its furious roar suddenly thundered across the sky. As the roar echoed, a purple figure shot out of the cave with lightning-like speed. Instantly, a burst of light turned the surrounding dense forest into a chaotic wreckage. A blue and a purple light, one chasing the other, shot straight into the sky. Over a thousand meters in the air, they began to collide violently. Xiao Yan immediately wiped the smile off his face when he saw that Yun Yun had successfully distracted the Amethyst Winged Lion King. He donned his black Soul Robe and pulled down the hood, his eyes turning cold and sharp. The Soul Robe concealed both his aura and his soul. Then, after retracting the Purple Cloud Wings, he dove into the dense forest. He knew the Amethyst Winged Lion King would surely try to use its perception to search for him, but the Lion King could never have imagined he possessed an item like the Soul Robe. Moreover, it was difficult to take this ball away. One would either have to dig up the ground and take it along with the Amethyst Stone Platform or use a Purple Spirit Crystal to crack its shell and extract the essence inside. With neither the Ten Thousand Beast Flames nor the Purple Spirit Crystal found, how could he spare attention to this thing? Meow!!! Mao Wu lunged forward and scratched Xiao Yan''s cheek a few times with a look of disdain, hating the iron for not turning into steel. Then, much to Xiao Yan''s amazement, its mouth suddenly opened and turned into a black hole. It swallowed the entire ball whole! "Holy crap! That''s amazing!" Truly worthy of being the Nihility Devouring Flame. It really could devour anything. Just as Xiao Yan was marveling at Mao Wu''s devouring ability, a wisp of blood-red flame suddenly emerged from a gap in the middle of the remaining Amethyst Stone Platform. ''Ten Thousand Beast Flame!'' Xiao Yan rushed toward the flame the moment he saw it. He had never expected the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to be sealed within the Amethyst Stone Platform and used to heat the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence. ''Huh? Something''s not right. Why is this Ten Thousand Beast Flame so weak? And it doesn''t even have an Essence Flame...'' ''Is this really a Ten Thousand Beast Flame?!'' It wasn''t until he got closer that he realized it was indeed the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. However, this was not the Essence Flame, but merely a wisp taken from the main Ten Thousand Beast Flame and sealed onto the Amethyst Stone Platform to heat the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence. Therefore, when he initially entered the cave and swept the area with his Spiritual Strength, he did not detect the wisp of Ten Thousand Beast Flame within the Amethyst Stone Platform because it was too weak and had been sealed inside the stone. Only Mao Wu, also a Heavenly Flame with a bit of spiritual intelligence, could detect it thanks to its nature as a Heavenly Flame. Just as Xiao Yan was inwardly lamenting this, a shadow silently appeared behind him. Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Triggering a Hidden Quest! Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Triggering a Hidden Quest! ? "Alas, it''s just a wisp of flame!" Xiao Yan was on the verge of tears. He had risked his life to save a Dou Emperor, broken into the lair of a Rank 6 magical beast, all for the sake of obtaining the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. He couldn''t accept this outcome! His heart felt weary; the Hall of Souls was truly a den of thieves. Such a shady place! Just as Xiao Yan was thinking about devouring it with the Flame Mantra, since it was still a wisp of Heavenly Flame and was better than nothing, a lion''s roar sounded from behind him, triggering an intense sense of danger within his heart.U//ppTodated fr/o/m A young Amethyst Winged Lion King had appeared from somewhere and was lunging toward him with bared teeth and slashing claws. "Shit!" Xiao Yan cursed. He had been distracted by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and had let his guard down for a moment, not noticing the young Amethyst Winged Lion King approaching from another path. ''Dou Qi Cloak! Mad Lion Guard!'' Clenching his fists, Xiao Yan summoned his Dou Qi Cloak, crossed his arms in front of him, and immediately activated the Dou Technique, Mad Lion Chant. An illusory head of a raging lion appeared, enveloping and protecting his entire body. Boom! The young Amethyst Winged Lion King leaped and viciously struck the illusory lion with its claws. The terrifying strength of the peak Rank 3 magical beast sent him flying directly! Xiao Yan crashed like a cannonball into a pile of gold and jewels nearby. Had it not been for his sturdy physique and the fact that he had cultivated the Mad Lion Chant, this blow alone could have been fatal. "Eat my fist! Octane Blast!" Xiao Yan leaped into the air, his entire body surging with Dou Qi as he charged directly at the young Amethyst Winged Lion King, his right fist condensing the Dou Qi of the Octane Blast. Roar! The young Amethyst Winged Lion King also struck out with a paw, meeting Xiao Yan''s fist head-on. Originally, Xiao Yan''s cultivation had only reached the Dou Master realm, and in physical combat, he was naturally at a disadvantage against the Rank 3 young Amethyst Winged Lion King. As such, he was sent flying once again. ''Hidden force, erupt!'' Xiao Yan sneered coldly. The eight layers of hidden force erupted in succession, catching the young Amethyst Winged Lion King off guard and sending it flying as well. When physical strength was lacking, Dou Techniques would make up for it. ''Huh? Is that Purple Spirit Crystal hanging around its neck?!'' Xiao Yan stood up and noticed a string of purple gemstones around the neck of the young Amethyst Winged Lion King. These gemstones were identical to the Purple Spirit Crystal that Yun Yun had described. It turned out that the Amethyst Winged Lion King had anticipated that Yun Yun wouldn''t let things rest and suspected she and Xiao Yan might sneak into the lair to steal the Purple Spirit Crystals. Therefore, it had turned all the Purple Spirit Crystals into a necklace and hung it around the neck of the young Amethyst Winged Lion King, who remained hidden in a dark corner of the treasure vault, waiting for Xiao Yan, the thief, to arrive. However, the Amethyst Winged Lion King hadn''t expected that Xiao Yan''s main target was the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and that he possessed the Nihility Devouring Flame, which directly swallowed the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence whole. ''This old lion is too cunning! I can''t get the Purple Spirit Crystals without defeating the young Amethyst Winged Lion King first!'' Xiao Yan inwardly cursed the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Roar!!! A scorching stream of Amethyst Flame erupted from the mouth of the young Amethyst Winged Lion King. Although it wasn''t as powerful as that of a Rank 6 Amethyst Winged Lion King, the flame was absolutely capable of incinerating a Rank 3 magical beast! "Mao Wu!" Xiao Yan immediately summoned Mao Wu, who mimicked the action and opened its mouth to spit out a stream of black flames. With a single sweep of the Heavy Xuan Ruler, a streak of black flame split the air. All the Rank 1 and Rank 2 magical beasts at the entrance of the cave were instantly incinerated by the Nihility Devouring Flame. No ashes were left behind. Even Rank 3 magical beasts could not withstand it and had to dodge its edge. "Damn it! How dare you hurt my son. I will not forgive you today!" The roar of the Amethyst Winged Lion King thundered across the area as intense purple flames furiously spewed from the sky. "Hmph." With a cold snort, Yun Yun twisted her jade-like hand slightly in front of her, creating a wildly spinning green tornado that blew away the overwhelming purple flames and covered Xiao Yan as he escaped. When Yun Yun saw Xiao Yan''s safe escape, she did not bother to continue the fight and flew straight into the sky. "Despicable humans!!!" Although the Amethyst Winged Lion King was furious, it did not dare chase after them. It couldn''t leave its territory, especially with its son still inside the cave. Ultimately, the Amethyst Winged Lion King managed to contain its seething rage, turned around, and returned to the cave. Relieved to find its son unharmed, it calmed down. However, upon discovering that the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence had been stolen, it let out a long howl to the sky. "Damned humans!!" The mountains around the cave trembled continuously with its thunderous roar. Dang dang dang. The bottle of Fire Rising Pills slowly rolled to the Amethyst Winged Lion King''s paw due to the tremor. The Amethyst Winged Lion King looked at the bottle in confusion and asked, "Son, who gave you this medicine?" "Roar, roar~" "Was it that man with the black flame? Is he an alchemist? Could it be!" The Amethyst Winged Lion King frowned as it looked back at the Amethyst Stone Platform. Sure enough, the wisp of Ten Thousand Beast Flame that had been sealed inside was gone. The Amethyst Winged Lion King began to recall details about Xiao Yan and finally muttered to itself, "Could that alchemist have come for the Ten Thousand Beast Flame in the Beast Tomb?" Xiao Yan had triggered a hidden quest! Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Farewell, Yun Yun Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Farewell, Yun Yun ? Moments later, after exhausting all the Dou Qi from his Purple Cloud Wings, Xiao Yan finally flew back to the cliff cave where Yun Yun was already waiting. "Mission accomplished." Xiao Yan retracted his Purple Cloud Wings and grinned as he tossed the Purple Spirit Crystal to Yun Yun. Yun Yun caught the Purple Spirit Crystal and her beautiful eyes looked at Xiao Yan, who was panting with exhaustion in front of her, "I didn''t think you would actually manage to get it." When Xiao Yan first suggested that she provoke the Amethyst Winged Lion King while he snuck into the cave to steal the Purple Spirit Crystal, she was highly skeptical. After all, the situation inside the cave was fraught with danger, not to mention the presence of a peak Rank 3 young Amethyst Winged Lion King. Given Xiao Yan''s current Dou Master cultivation level, it seemed like he was just walking into the jaws of death. Yet, against all odds, Xiao Yan managed to obtain the Purple Spirit Crystal and even successfully escape. "You helped me obtain the Purple Spirit Crystal and even saved my life. If there''s anything you want, I can help you within my capabilities," Yun Yun said after a moment of silence. She seldom owed favors to anyone and wasn''t sure how to repay him. "Huh? Yao Yan, are you alright?"T/his chapter is updat/ed by Yun Yun''s delicate eyebrows furrowed as she noticed something was off with Xiao Yan. His breathing was getting faster and faster, and his skin began to redden as an unusual heat surged out of his body. ''Damn it! What the hell is going on with this Ten Thousand Beast Flame!'' Xiao Yan hastily sat on a cold stone and began to circulate his Flame Mantra. But this time, the Flame Mantra didn''t work! He discovered that the bit of Ten Thousand Beast Flame he had just absorbed was completely uncontrollable. After entering the area of his Qi cyclone, it immediately spread throughout his body via his sinews and veins, even beginning to merge with his flesh and bones! ''Damn! This Ten Thousand Beast Flame is merging with my flesh and bones!!!! Xiao Yan realized he had been careless! The Ten Thousand Beast Flame was fundamentally different from the Bone Chilling Flame and the Nihility Devouring Flame''s Seed Flame; its special ability was to merge with the body! He had absorbed other Heavenly Flames before, but the Ten Thousand Beast Flame did not follow the usual pattern! Instead of moving through the meridians, it penetrated directly into the flesh and bones. Seeing Xiao Yan''s body turn increasingly red, even emitting white smoke from the top of his head, Yun Yun quickly moved behind him. She reached out her jade-like hand and gently placed it on his back, which felt as hot as a furnace. "Why is your body so hot?!" "I just absorbed a special flame that is merging with my flesh and bones!" Xiao Yan''s physique was already very strong, but it still fell short compared to magical beasts. Originally, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was used by magical beasts to strengthen their bodies and make them even more formidable. As a result, when Xiao Yan, a human, absorbed just a tiny amount of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, his physique, though robust for a human, seemed rather weak in comparison to that of magical beasts, leading to his current condition. Initially, he had indeed lost consciousness. He hadn''t expected the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to possess the will of ten thousand beasts, which temporarily clouded his mind. However, he possessed the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame, and combined with his strong Spiritual Strength and the aid of Yun Yun''s Dou Qi, he soon regained some consciousness. He had merely pretended to be unconscious just now, and Yun Yun likely knew he was pretending. Xiao Yan sighed as he picked up the Dou Techniques from the ground, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Yun Yun was a Dou Emperor after all. Had he insulted anyone else in such a manner, they might have killed him with a single slap. He placed the two scrolls into his storage ring, sealing the memories of the past few days along with them. He would not recall those memories if fate decreed they would never meet again. For now, he had more pressing matters to attend to. Xiao Yan slowly circulated his Dou Qi after focusing his mind. This time, however, he deliberately directed the Dou Qi from his sinews and veins into his internal organs, bones, and flesh. Boom! his muscles suddenly bulged, and his body instantly became robust. A layer of blood- red flame transformed into a layer of beast scales that covered his body and gave him a fierce appearance. ''Dou Qi armor? No, I''ve seen the Grand Elder use Dou Qi armor, and it wasn''t like this.'' ''The Ten Thousand Beast Flame can transform a human into a magical beast-like body!'' Magical beasts could transform into humans by consuming a Body Transformation Pill, thereby gaining human cultivation talents. However, in this world, there was no pill to transform a human into a magical beast to gain their physique. But the Ten Thousand Beast Flame could do just that! This was the ability of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, to make one''s body as powerful as that of a magical beast. Yun Yun had told him that the strength of the Amethyst Winged Lion King was equivalent to that of a 1-star Dou Emperor, but its physical strength could rival that of a 5-star Dou Emperor. The difference was unimaginably terrifying. This only showed how incredibly powerful the physique of a magical beast was! Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Something Happens Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Something Happens ? Xiao Yan observed the changes in his body. Not only had his physique transformed, but even his bones and cells had undergone profound alterations. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame had merged into every cell in his body, fortifying them to an extraordinary level. He felt a searing energy coursing through him, giving him the urge to unleash destruction. If he were to execute the Octane Blast in his current state, its power could even surpass that of the Flame Splitting Tsunami, a Di Class Dou Technique! "Every Heavenly Flame is indeed mystical. To think one can even merge into the flesh and induce a transformation akin to that of a magical beast, making one''s physique comparable to theirs." However, he soon realized a problem. He had not obtained the true Ten Thousand Beast Flame. The portion that had merged into his flesh would diminish after a few uses, and this small amount would eventually run out. "Using the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to enhance my physique should make it comparable to the young Amethyst Winged Lion King. Although the Ten Thousand Beast Flame can only be used a few more times, it can still serve as a trump card. Combined with Octane Blast and Mad Lion Chant, it should match the combat strength of a 9-star Dou Grandmaster." Xiao Yan licked his lips. Heavenly Flame, oh Heavenly Flame... their power was truly mesmerizing. He had firmly made up his mind--he must visit the Hall of Souls in the imperial capital. He hadn''t forgotten that Hun Huzi initially wanted him to take the Soul Command to the Hall of Souls in the imperial capital. But by some twist of fate, he had gone to the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop in the Black-Corner Region, completed the Soul Path, earned the title of Di Class Soul Envoy, and obtained the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame. The Amethyst Winged Lion King was a rank 6 magical beast, and its cave was deep within the Magic Beast Mountain Range, far from the Black-Corner Region and closer to the Jia Ma Empire''s imperial capital. Perhaps the Hall of Souls in the imperial capital held more detailed information about the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame was undoubtedly hidden deeper within the Magic Beast Mountain Range, but the question was where exactly. He was determined to obtain it! "Mao Wu, where is the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence?" Xiao Yan summoned Mao Wu. He had not forgotten that the latter had swallowed the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence in one gulp. Meow~ o(=nwn=)m??? Mao Wu pretended not to understand human speech and scratched its chin with its hind leg. Xiao Yan picked it up and said leisurely, "I still need that item. If you want to eat higher- grade monster cores and heavenly treasures, you''ll have to give that thing back to me. I need it to refine a type of pill." The Ten Thousand Beast Flame would eventually run out, so Xiao Yan planned to slow its consumption. He wanted to use the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence to refine a Beast Flame Pill, which would provide some Beast Flame during transformations, thereby reducing the consumption of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. Mao Wu''s eyes shifted, and it chose the lesser of two evils. Like a cat coughing up a hairball, it retched and spat out an Amethyst Lion Birth Essence the size of a human head. It seemed Mao Wu guessed Xiao Yan might need it and didn''t dare to keep it for itself. Meow! "Alright, I''ll give you some in a bit, but first, help me open this." Normally, an Amethyst Lion Birth Essence could only be opened using the Purple Spirit Crystal, as its shell could absorb any other impact. But who else could possess the Nihility Devouring Flame? "The imperial capital of the Jia Ma Empire... that is my final destination for this trip. Afterward, I must return to Jia Nan Academy." Xiao Yan couldn''t stay outside forever. He had to return to Jia Nan Academy, especially since Xun Er was still there, along with the Fallen Heart Flame he longed for. Upon considering it, this would be a good opportunity to resolve the matter with Nalan Yanran. "I''ll head to the imperial capital six months from now. Afterward, regardless of whether I''ve acquired the complete form of the Heavenly Flame, I''ll return to Jia Nan Academy and enter the Inner Academy." "That means I still have six months left... Where else could I go to improve my cultivation during that time?" After thinking for a while, Xiao Yan suddenly let out a self-mocking laugh and shook his head as he said to himself, "I really have become obsessed with cultivation. I''m always thinking about training. Wouldn''t it be nice to take a break once in a while?" He realized that he had been too tightly wound, his mind consumed with cultivation, and that would ultimately lead to nothing. He wiped away the words he had drawn on the ground with a sweep of his foot. "It''s been a long time since I''ve seen my two brothers; I wonder how their Mercenary Company is doing in Rock Desert City..." Xiao Yan stretched lazily and looked at the sky from the cave entrance. He decided to take it easy for the remaining six months, and visiting his brothers who were striving in Rock Desert City seemed like a good idea. He glanced back at the cave but did not dwell on the memories of the past few days. With a strong push of his hand, he sealed the cave with a large boulder. Shortly after leaving the cave, an eagle''s cry suddenly sounded overhead. When he looked up, he saw a huge Blue Eagle swooping down in front of him. "Are you Xiao Lan?" Xiao Yan noticed a long slash wound on the Blue Eagle''s body, from which blood was constantly gushing out. His expression immediately darkened. Had something happened to Little Fairy Doctor?! Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Poison Floods Qingshan Town Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Poison Floods Qingshan Town ? Xiao Yan took out some medicinal ointment from his storage ring and carefully applied it to the Blue Eagle''s wound. The fact that the wound was still fresh, having been inflicted recently, gave him a small measure of comfort. Chirp chirp! The Blue Eagle tugged at Xiao Yan''s clothes with its beak, urging him to hurry and save her. Xiao Yan climbed onto the Blue Eagle''s back and said, "Go!" The Blue Eagle flapped its huge wings as his words fell, creating a strong gust of wind as it soared toward Qingshan Town with him on its back. Long after Xiao Yan had flown away, a sudden whirlwind blew through, and a massive creature descended from the sky. The Amethyst Winged Lion King!! "Based on the scent of the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence, it should be here." Xiao Yan had no idea how close he had come to losing his little life. The Amethyst Lion Birth Essence was born alongside the offspring of the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Therefore, the Amethyst Winged Lion King could sense it as soon as its hard shell was broken. Not long ago, Xiao Yan had relied on the Nihility Devouring Flame to crack the shell and had been discovered by the Amethyst Winged Lion King. The Amethyst Winged Lion King looked around and finally came to the cave where Xiao Yan had stayed. After removing the large rock, the young Amethyst Winged Lion King hurried into the cave. Roar~! The young Amethyst Winged Lion King shook its head but signaled to its father that the thief had indeed been there recently, as traces of the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence were still on the ground. But now the place was deserted. The Amethyst Winged Lion King narrowed its eyes and said in a deep voice, "No matter, we will wait here. If his goal is the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, he will definitely return." ... Xiao Yan jumped down from the Blue Eagle not far from Qingshan Town. "You stay up here, I''ll sneak into Qingshan Town to assess the situation, and we''ll talk about rescuing Little Fairy Doctor afterward." Chirp chirp! The Blue Eagle had spent so much time with Little Fairy Doctor that it could understand some human speech It flew up into the sky and circled over Qingshan Town. Xiao Yan put on his Soul Robe and walked through the town once again. Hearing the hustle and bustle around him, he, having been isolated from the world for several months, couldn''t help but sigh a little. Humans were indeed social creatures. King! "Is he heading toward the Thousand Medicine House?" "It seems so... Could it be!" "Quick! Hurry to the Thousand Medicine House! Something big is about to happen!" -- At the entrance of the Thousand Medicine House, more than ten fully armed guards stood watch. Meanwhile, dozens of mercenaries from the Wolf Head Mercenary Company crowded the grounds inside. The entire place was so tightly secured that not even a fly could sneak through. In the room of Mr. Yao, the owner of the Thousand Medicine House, Little Fairy Doctor, who was tied to a chair, glared with extreme anger. She seriously wondered if she had gone blind, as she had trusted the wrong people not once, but twice! "Little Fairy Doctor, you have poisoned all of Qingshan Town. Your crimes are heinous. Hand over the medical compendium you found in the cave so we can prepare an antidote. That''s your only chance for redemption," Mr. Yao said in a deep voice. Little Fairy Doctor gave a cold laugh as she looked disdainfully at the middle-aged man in front of her. The person she once trusted immensely was now conspiring with the Wolf Head Mercenary Company to kill her for the treasures in the cave. "Ha, keep dreaming. I''d rather die than give you anything." Little Fairy Doctor had been very cautious; she had packed everything and sent it away with Xiao Lan as soon as she sensed that something was wrong. Mu She laughed coldly from the side, then his face darkened as he said, "I don''t believe you''ll be so stubborn when you''re about to die. Let''s see if you can keep up this tough talk when you''re on the burning platform." Just then, a mercenary suddenly burst through the door and said urgently, "Leader, that Xiao Yan who killed the young leader has made his way in through the main gate!" "What?" Mu She and Mr. Yao looked at each other in surprise when they heard this. They knew, of course, that Xiao Yan was an accomplice, as he had registered when he joined the guards to enter the Magic Beast Mountain Range. When Little Fairy Doctor and the others returned, he was the only one besides the Wolf Head Mercenary Company who had not returned. Mu She had also sent people into the Magic Beast Mountain to look for him, but the area where he had been in recent months was too deep for the Wolf Head Mercenary Company to reach. Upon hearing news of Xiao Yan, a glimmer of emotion flashed through Little Fairy Doctor''s beautiful eyes, and a smile appeared on her lips. Finally, these eyes of hers had not misjudged. Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Rescue Mission Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Rescue Mission ? "What?" Not only Mu She, but even Mr. Yao was momentarily stunned by this news. Both of them immediately sat up straight. Mu She grabbed the mercenary and demanded, "How many people did he bring?" "Just him alone!" the mercenary replied with a strange expression. "Alone?" Mu She and Mr. Yao''s faces twitched as they exchanged glances, as if they had misheard. Mu She blurted out in disbelief, "Is he crazy or just plain stupid? Not only is the entire compound filled with all the members of our Wolf Head Mercenary Company, but there are also mercenaries from the Thousand Medicine House. And you''re saying he charged in by himself?" The mercenary quickly nodded, then shook his head and clarified, "To be precise, he didn''t charge in. He''s currently at the entrance of the Thousand Medicine House. He took down a few guards and demanded that Mr. Yao and the Company Leader go out to meet him."Upstodatee from "So that''s how it is." A look of realization dawned on Mr. Yao''s face as he smiled. "Mr. Yao, do you know something?" Mu She asked, puzzled. With a smile still on his face, Mr. Yao looked at Little Fairy Doctor and said, "That kid probably came to rescue Little Fairy Doctor out of desperation and had no choice but to show himself." "Out of desperation?" "Based on our estimates, for Xiao Yan to have killed Mu Li, a 6-star Dou Practitioner, and twenty mercenaries back then, his cultivation level must have been at least that of an 8-star or even 9-star Dou Practitioner." Mu She nodded in agreement. His son Mu Li had begun learning a Low Xuan Class Dou Technique. Although he had just started, he was not afraid to face 7-star Dou Practitioners. "That Xiao Yan must have obtained powerful Xuan Class Qi Methods and Dou Techniques from that cave. Even if he hasn''t broken through to the Dou Master realm yet, his strength is definitely not inferior to one. That''s why he dares to come and rescue her." Mu She''s expression turned even more grim. The Xuan Class Qi Methods and Dou Techniques from that cave were supposed to belong to his Wolf Head Mercenary Company! Not only were they taken by someone else, his own son had died a wrongful death! "Escort Little Fairy Doctor away. If that brat is willing to exchange the items from the cave, it''s not as if I can''t spare you two lovebirds," Mu She said in a cold manner. However, the look in his eyes revealed that he had no intention of letting go of his son''s murderer. He strode out of the main hall with a dark expression and ordered icily, "Have someone block the estate''s main gate. I want him to know that this is not a place where he can come and go as he pleases!" "Understood!" The mercenary''s face also flashed a sinister smile before he quickly turned to relay the orders. Little Fairy Doctor remained calm when she heard this. Only she knew what had transpired in the cave that night. That couldn''t really be called a battle; it was a one-sided massacre. Xiao Yan''s strength at the time had definitely surpassed Mu She''s, let alone the Xiao Yan of six months later. "Go ahead." Step by step, Little Fairy Doctor walked through the crowd of mercenaries toward Xiao Yan. He also approached her smiling, as if delivering himself into a trap. "Xiao Lan!" Suddenly, Xiao Yan shouted and threw the Dou Technique scroll into the air to draw everyone''s attention. Chirp chirp!! Xiao Lan dove down from the sky. In a flash, Xiao Yan dashed in front of Little Fairy Doctor, grabbed her, and threw her into the air. Chirp! Xiao Lan transformed into a blue light and steadily caught Little Fairy Doctor. "You guys wait up there for a while, you can come down after I take care of things down here." Xiao Yan even had the leisure to wave at Little Fairy Doctor in the sky. Mu She grabbed the Dou Technique scroll Xiao Yan had tossed. When he opened it and saw it was indeed a genuine technique, he could no longer hide the smile on his face. "Remember, this technique can only be practiced by one person." But when Mu She read the final line of the scroll, his expression instantly went blank. Then, an intense rage erupted from within him as terrifying Dou Qi burst forth. "Ahhhh!!!" "Kill him!!" More and more Wolf Head members poured out from the compound, eventually surrounding Xiao Yan with vicious expressions, their gleaming weapons reflecting a chilling light under the sun. Including the Thousand Medicine House''s own guards, there were about a hundred Dou Practitioners surrounding Xiao Yan. He could only shake his head, seeming a bit helpless. "I, Xiao Yan, am not an unreasonable person. I''ll give you a chance to escape now. Anyone who leaves the compound within ten seconds will be spared, no questions asked." But unfortunately, good advice often falls on deaf ears. No one was willing to listen. Xiao Yan''s eyes flashed with a hint of ruthlessness as he saw those mercenaries charging at him like a pack of ravenous wolves and their eyes filled with greed. "Mad Lion Chant." ROAR!! The sound of a lion''s roar emanated from Xiao Yan''s body as the illusory figure of a blood-red, ferocious lion enveloped him. Fingers curled like claws, he swung his right hand forward in a violent manner. The illusory mad lion behind him also slashed out with a bloody claw, leaving five bloody gashes that tore through all living things before him. In an instant, the bodies of more than a dozen mercenaries were instantly ripped apart, sliced like vegetables with a single swipe. Half a year ago, dealing with a hundred Dou Practitioners, including several 9-star Dou Practitioners and a 2-star Dou Master, would have required a great deal of effort on his part. But things were different now. The Mad Lion Chant provided him with a Dou Technique capable of inflicting widespread damage. If he were to use Octane Blast to fight them one punch at a time, who knows how long it would take. "Blood Fury Mad Lion!" Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Xiao Yans Solution Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Xiao Yan''s Solution ? "Blood Fury Mad Lion!" At this moment, Xiao Yan''s blood was boiling, every drop of his blood energy surging wildly. Even though he hadn''t activated the full power of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, just absorbing a small portion of it had significantly enhanced his physical strength. With his current physical strength, using the Mad Lion Chant made him comparable to an ordinary Rank 3 magical beast! With a thunderous boom, blood-red energy erupted from his entire body. "What kind of Dou Technique is this?!" Mu She and all the mercenaries stared at Xiao Yan in stunned disbelief. Thanks to the body-tempering abilities of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, Xiao Yan, who had originally only cultivated the Mad Lion Chant to a major level of mastery, found his body further refined and his blood energy enhanced by the flame. As a result, he had now advanced the Mad Lion Chant to the pinnacle of perfection! His body became incredibly muscular, instantly transforming into a hulking man over two meters tall. ''Being a giant feels pretty good.'' Xiao Yan''s perspective had completely changed. He swept his hands across the crowd of mercenaries like an autumn breeze sweeping away fallen leaves. Every mercenary touched by Xiao Yan''s large hands had their bones shattered and organs ruptured. Not a single mercenary could withstand even a casual sweep from him. Clang, clang, clang! Weapons struck Xiao Yan''s body, producing crisp, metallic clangs as if striking iron. Forget about injuring him, they couldn''t even leave a scratch on his skin. Shrieks of agony filled the air as the hundred mercenaries seemed as weak as ants before him. Even a Dou Grandmaster like Xiao Zhan wouldn''t dare to charge into a crowd and slaughter opponents while facing an onslaught from a hundred enemies. After all, a Dou Grandmaster was still human and could be injured by blades. Unless one possessed a physique like Xiao Yan''s and the protection of the Mad Lion Chant, it was simply impossible. "This... this... this is too powerful! The Wolf Head Mercenary Company and Thousand Medicine House are finished!" Some spectators watching the massacre from a distance turned deathly pale with fear. It was too brutal! Xiao Yan was like a humanoid magical beast, ruthlessly slaughtering anyone he encountered. The sight chilled everyone to the bone! This wasn''t a rescue; it was a one-sided massacre! Everyone now understood why Xiao Yan had been so polite at the beginning. He was just worried he might accidentally hurt Little Fairy Doctor! Rumble! The ground of the medicine house cracked with a single stomp from his foot. The trees, walls, and buildings in the compound crumbled into rubble. "Run!!" "Quick, run for your lives!" "Help!!" Seeing how terrifyingly powerful Xiao Yan was, the remaining mercenaries didn''t dare to fight him and began fleeing in all directions. A 2-star Dou Master using Dou Techniques could not withstand even a single move from him! Hundreds of mercenaries couldn''t even scratch him! He was ridiculously strong! When it came to killing, he was decisive in wiping out the enemy! None of the mercenaries who raised their hands against him survived. The only survivors were some female servants and miscellaneous staff of the Thousand Medicine House. Xiao Yan turned his gaze to the other side. Mr. Yao had picked up the ancient recipe he had discarded and had long since fled into an underground passage within the compound when he realized that something was amiss. Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed slightly and a meaningful smile appeared on his face at the sight of Mr. Yao''s flight. ... "Monsters! They''re both monsters!" Mr. Yao emerged from the underground passage and ran straight for the Magic Beast Mountain Range. His strength wasn''t even comparable to Mu She''s. "It''s very rude to slander others behind their backs, you know." Xiao Yan''s voice suddenly came from above Mr. Yao''s head. Mr. Yao looked up in horror, only to see Xiao Yan hovering above him with the aid of the Purple Cloud Wings, watching him with a smile. "Don''t kill me, I can give you the Thousand Medicine House, everything will be yours!" Mr. Yao knelt on both knees and kowtowed repeatedly. Xiao Yan''s eyes were calm as he spoke in an even tone, "When you framed Little Fairy Doctor and tried to force her to hand over her treasures, you should have anticipated this day." "It''s not true! I didn''t falsely accuse her! The epidemic was indeed caused by Little Fairy Doctor! I just... I only wanted the medical compendium, that''s all." Smiling, Xiao Yan approached Mr. Yao step by step and said softly, "The truth no longer matters. After you die, the townspeople will find poison and an ancient poison recipe on your body. They will believe that it was you who conspired with the Wolf Head Mercenary Company to frame Little Fairy Doctor in order to obtain the medical compendium." !!!!!!!! With a crack, Xiao Yan twisted Mr. Yao''s neck, leaving a look of utter disbelief on his face. The truth had no meaning whatsoever in this world where the strong reign supreme. The powerful dictate what the truth is. As the Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan understood this principle very early on. Without him, regardless of the actual truth, the entire Qingshan Town would have ended up believing that Little Fairy Doctor had caused the mysterious deaths of the residents under the coercion of the Wolf Head Mercenary Company and the Thousand Medicine House. Now, it was simply that he was stronger. Chapter 75: Chapter 75: The Heart of the Most Benevolent Physician (I) Chapter 75: Chapter 75: The Heart of the Most Benevolent Physician (I) ? In fact, Xiao Yan had already guessed that Mr. Yao probably wasn''t lying. The moment he arrived in Qingshan Town and saw Little Fairy Doctor, he had already noticed something unusual. It was her strength. Xiao Yan''s powerful Spiritual Strength detected that Little Fairy Doctor had already reached the 6-star Dou Practitioner stage! It was precisely because of this extraordinary cultivation advancement, coupled with her ability to concoct poisons using the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture, that allowed her to escape when the Thousand Medicine House and Wolf Head Mercenary Company tried to capture her initially. It should be noted that when Xiao Yan first met Little Fairy Doctor a few months ago, she was only at the Dou Disciple realm. In just a few months, her strength had leaped an entire major realm! This speed was even faster than his own progress. But most importantly, Xiao Yan discovered that Xiao Lan, his Blue Eagle, had also been poisoned. The medicine he applied to Xiao Lan was not just a healing ointment, but also contained detoxifying powder ground from a detoxification pill. Although the toxicity was very mild, prolonged exposure could cause organ failure even in magical beasts. Among the three stone boxes in the cave, what Little Fairy Doctor obtained was actually a poison scripture, not the medical compendium Mr. Yao claimed. Administering poison would be no problem at all for Little Fairy Doctor. However, what puzzled him was why she would want to poison the residents of Qingshan Town. Moreover, even her own Blue Eagle had been poisoned too. After pondering for a moment, Xiao Yan stored Mr. Yao''s corpse into his storage ring and soared into the sky using his Purple Cloud Wings. Little Fairy Doctor''s eyes were filled with resentment and exasperation upon seeing Xiao Yan''s arrival. Because when Xiao Yan tossed her up for Xiao Lan to catch earlier, he hadn''t untied her bonds. Right now, she was trussed up like a bundled quilt, draped over Xiao Lan''s back, completely unable to move. "Sorry, sorry, things were so urgent that I forgot to untie you." Although Xiao Yan apologized, his expression betrayed a stifled laugh. "Still laughing!" ...Th.e? most uptod/ate novels a/re published on n(0)velbj)n(.)c/o/m After Xiao Yan used his Black Flame to burn off the ropes, Little Fairy Doctor asked, "Is everything taken care of?" Xiao Yan nodded and slowly descended into the ruins of the Thousand Medicine House compound with Xiao Lan. Little Fairy Doctor climbed off Xiao Lan''s back and sighed at the sight of the once-thriving compound now reduced to ruins and littered with corpses. After all, this had been her home, and she couldn''t help but feel a pang of sadness in her heart. "By the way, did you find the poison recipe? There are still many people in Qingshan Town waiting to be treated," Little Fairy Doctor suddenly remembered and asked urgently. Little Fairy Doctor sighed softly. With the Thousand Medicine House gone and both Mu She and Mr. Yao dead, all the old grudges had vanished like smoke. She pressed her rosy lips together and said quietly, "I think... I should leave Qingshan Town too." Sitting atop Xiao Lan, she waved at Xiao Yan, "Come on up, I''ll take you to a nice place." "Oh? You discovered another cave?!" ... Under Little Fairy Doctor''s guidance, Xiao Yan flew directly into a misty mountain range from high above. Surprisingly, hidden beneath the clouds was a small, secluded valley! The valley was suffused with a rich, vibrant energy that invigorated Xiao Yan''s spirit as he inhaled deeply. "The wood attribute energy here is incredibly dense and pure, definitely an ideal place to cultivate medicinal herbs and spiritual fruits!" As an alchemist himself, Xiao Yan could tell with just one deep breath. "How do you like it? This small valley is completely isolated from the outside world and shrouded in thick fog. It''s extremely well-concealed. If Xiao Lan hadn''t stumbled upon it a few months ago by chance, this marvelous place might have remained undiscovered." Seeing the look of amazement on Xiao Yan''s face, Little Fairy Doctor let out a slightly proud, delicate giggle. "It is indeed a treasure trove." Just as Xiao Yan suspected, the valley was practically overflowing with medicinal herbs, causing his alchemist eyes to gleam with excitement. Seeing Xiao Yan''s sparkling eyes, as if he wanted to gather every herb in sight, Little Fairy Doctor couldn''t help but smile and said, "Xiao Yan, you are an alchemist, aren''t you?" Xiao Yan shrugged. "You never asked, so I didn''t mention it. I wasn''t trying to hide it from you deliberately." Little Fairy Doctor pondered for a moment and suddenly asked with a serious expression, "Xiao Yan, be honest with me. The poisoning of the Qingshan Town residents actually... it has something to do with me, doesn''t it?" Xiao Yan looked at Little Fairy Doctor''s solemn face and asked in return, "What makes you think that?" "Because you''re terrible at lying." Little Fairy Doctor looked at Xiao Yan with a hint of envy and said, "I never told you this, but my innate Dou Qi attribute is poison. A few months ago, after I obtained the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture in a cave, my cultivation level began increasing at an astonishing rate, sometimes even advancing overnight." "Moreover, all the poisoned residents in Qingshan Town are people who have received my treatment and taken the medicine I prepared in the past few months." "You know something about this, don''t you?" Chapter 76: Chapter 76: The Heart of the Most Benevolent Physician (II) Chapter 76: Chapter 76: The Heart of the Most Benevolent Physician (II) ? Xiao Yan''s lying skills were indeed somewhat lacking. Little Fairy Doctor, being a physician herself, had also investigated why the townspeople were poisoned. Of course, she had looked into Mr. Yao and Mu She as well. However, her investigation revealed that based on their abilities, they did not possess the knowledge to concoct such a subtle poison. Moreover, Xiao Yan claimed that by interrogating the two men, he learned they had poisoned the water source. However, if the water supply had been contaminated, then the entire population of Qingshan Town should have been affected, not just a portion of them. Xiao Yan touched his nose with a hint of bitterness on his face. He couldn''t help it. He wasn''t a scoundrel skilled in lying and deceiving women. When hastily forced to make up a lie, it was bound to have many loopholes. Little Fairy Doctor herself had also vaguely sensed that all the evidence was actually pointing toward her. It was precisely because all the clues implicated her that Mu She and Mr. Yao thought of joining forces against her. While they did want to force her to hand over the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture and the various medicinal materials from the cave, they weren''t actually framing her. "I learned from the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture that there exists a strange physique in this world called the ''Woeful Poison Body''. Those with this physique only need to ingest poison to transform it into poison-attribute Dou Qi and increase their cultivation." "Moreover, when someone with this physique refines medicine, they will cause the medicinal properties of the herbs to change. No matter what herbs they use, the final product will always be poison." Little Fairy Doctor''s beautiful eyes stared into Xiao Yan''s, and as their gazes met, she slowly voiced the suspicions in her heart. The Woeful Poison Body''s process of refining medicine was similar to an alchemist''s method for concocting medicinal pills. Medicinal pills couldn''t be made by just anyone, because they required a combination of fire-attributed and wood-attributed Dou Qi. When alchemists refined pills, the wood-attribute Dou Qi mixed with the fire-attribute Dou Qi acted as a catalyst, causing the medicinal properties of the herbs to transform. This was what made medicinal pills so miraculous. If Xiao Yan''s strong soul made him a natural-born Alchemist, then the Calamity Poison Body made Little Fairy Doctor a natural-born Poison Master. Xiao Yan finally understood why her cultivation had increased so rapidly. It might have been because when concocting healing medicines, she had been testing some on herself, inadvertently ingesting some of the poison and thereby rapidly increasing her poison- attribute Dou Qi.T/his chapter is updat/ed by This was also how she had unintentionally caused the townspeople to be poisoned. Little Fairy Doctor''s pretty face immediately turned bright red upon hearing this. She pouted and gave him a blank look, then waved her little fists and hummed softly, "Don''t think you can take liberties just because my strength is lower. My poison isn''t weak either. Be careful or I might make you lose... certain functions." Xiao Yan gulped and raised his hands in surrender. As he watched the Little Fairy Doctor walk into the thatched hut, the bright smile on his face instantly vanished. Having thoroughly studied countless medicinal recipes and ancient texts, Xiao Yan naturally knew about the Woeful Poison Body constitution. He also realized that Little Fairy Doctor had withheld the most crucial information about it. The Woeful Poison Body would eventually lead to her death. This poison body could indeed increase her poison-attribute Dou Qi by consuming poisons. However, once the accumulation reached a point where the Woeful Poison Body could no longer suppress the poison within her body, the agony of all the poisons devouring her from the inside would cause her to slowly die under the most excruciating torture. When Xiao Yan saw that the Little Fairy Doctor hadn''t shared this with him, he guessed that she was planning to restrain herself from consuming any more poisons to prevent the excessive accumulation of the poison-attribute Dou Qi. Perhaps Little Fairy Doctor was truly the greatest physician in the world. The Bone Chilling Flame was born beneath the icy depths of the Nine Nether Cold Abyss, while the Sea Heart Flame was born within the depths of the sea. Even the Nihility Devouring Flame, which as a flame should illuminate the darkness, was born within the darkness itself and was the only Heavenly Flame devoid of light. When things reach their extremes, they inevitably move in the opposite direction; this too was an ultimate principle of the Dao. Xiao Yan took out a recipe for a 4th-tier medicinal pill from his storage ring - the Hidden Spirit Pill. This was a medicinal pill that he had been planning to refine for a long time, as it was a breakthrough pill that could help the user directly advance from a 9-star Dou Master to a Dou Grandmaster realm. However, as a 4th-tier pill, its effects were not limited to simply breaking through to the Dou Grandmaster realm. After breaking through, the remaining medicinal power would solidify the cultivator''s Dou Qi foundation, preventing it from becoming unstable due to the use of pills. It would also nourish the meridians and heal the hidden injuries accumulated from previous cultivation, laying the foundation for a future breakthrough to the Dou Spirit realm and increasing the success rate of such a breakthrough by 20%. If the goal was only to break through to the Dou Grandmaster realm, a 3rd-tier pill would have sufficed. However, Xiao Yan wasn''t satisfied with a simple breakthrough, as relying on pills to advance often led to unstable Dou Qi. ''Given the abundance of medicinal herbs here, it wouldn''t be a bad idea to stay and practice my alchemy skills until I can successfully refine the Hidden Spirit Pill before leaving.'' ''Sigh, becoming a 7th-tier alchemist... who knows how long that will take. I just hope I can make it in time.'' Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Heavenly Cauldron - Black Demon! Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Heavenly Cauldron - Black Demon! ? ''The terrain here is quite strange. It''s rare to see such a large concentration of precious herbs growing together like this in the outside world. Hopefully, I can refine a 4th-tier medicinal pill within a month.'' Xiao Yan had already made up his mind to improve his alchemy skills to the 4th tier and refine the Hidden Spirit Pill. His Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique had reached the late stage of the minor mastery level several months ago, giving him a Spiritual Strength equivalent to the late stage of the Intermediate Mortal State. This was more than sufficient to refine 4th-tier medicinal pills. Furthermore, with the aid of the Nihility Devouring Flame''s Seed Flame, he had the necessary resources to refine 4th-tier medicinal pills. The only remaining obstacle was his lack of practical experience. Although he possessed the fundamental skills required to refine 4th-tier medicinal pills, what he lacked was the hands-on experience to back it up. Fortunately, the herbs grew quickly in this small, secluded valley, and precious medicinal ingredients were abundant. In addition, Xiao Yan''s months as a wild man in the Magic Beast Mountains had allowed him to collect numerous monster cores, providing him with a ''cost- free opportunity'' to accumulate experience. In the secluded small valley, Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor quietly went about their lives: one focused intently on improving his alchemy skills, while the other diligently studied the Poison Scripture. Aside from playfully teasing each other during mealtimes, their peaceful days were rather leisurely yet fulfilling. Boom! An explosion echoed from the cave, but Little Fairy Doctor, who was studying the Poison Scripture in the thatched hut, merely glanced over. She shook her head in resignation, having long since grown accustomed to such occurrences.T/his chapter is updat/ed by Xiao Yan had been causing explosions almost daily for the past few weeks. Blowing up medicinal cauldrons had become routine. "Cough, cough." Xiao Yan emerged from the black smoke with a soot-covered face. Refining a 4th-tier medicinal pill was no easy feat. He hadn''t successfully refined a single 4th-tier pill in the past ten days. After all, 4th-tier medicinal pills marked the beginning of a significant turning point. While the 1st to 3rd-tier medicinal pills usually had straightforward effects, such as healing injuries or restoring Dou Qi, the 4th-tier medicinal pills and above began to exhibit more extraordinary properties. When a 4th-tier or higher medicinal pill was successfully refined, the air would be filled with a fragrant aroma and a surge of energy fluctuations. "Damn it! The cauldron actually shattered." After the smoke cleared, Xiao Yan entered the cave and discovered that the medicinal cauldron had exploded into pieces! However, it made sense. The cauldron was a mere three-mouthed cauldron that was generally used to refine 3rd-tier medicinal pills. It could no longer withstand the high temperatures of the grown Nihility Devouring Flame''s Seed Flame. Xiao Yan looked at the shattered cauldron on the ground, pondered for a moment, and then took out another cauldron from his storage ring. A solid black-colored medicinal cauldron appeared in front of him. Hun Huzi''s alchemy demonstration back then had profoundly impacted Xiao Yan''s heart. It could be said that it had granted him some insights and brought him a sense of enlightenment. Now, with the aid of the Black Demon, Xiao Yan had fully grasped this understanding. The dark flame danced in an enchanting manner. After a while, a faint medicinal fragrance began to permeate the air. Inside the rolling flames of the medicinal cauldron, a pale blue-colored pill the size of a thumb slowly took shape under the searing heat. At a certain moment, a heart-piercing aroma suddenly wafted out from the medicinal cauldron, and a mist of medicinal fragrance lingered for a long time. Xiao Yan withdrew his Spiritual Strength and made a gesture toward the Black Demon. The pale blue-colored pill was expelled from the cauldron and obediently landed in his palm before he placed it in a pill bottle. He didn''t even glance at the pill. Instead, he casually set it aside and took out more herbs from his storage ring, intending to refine another medicinal pill! With his current strength, refining a single 4th-tier pill was his limit, and attempting to refine another one would undoubtedly lead to overexertion. The instant Xiao Yan shot a wisp of black flame into the Black Demon, the Nihility Devouring Flame within erupted. A torrent of black flames burst forth from the cauldron''s mouth, engulfing the entire cauldron in an overwhelming blaze. !!!! The Nihility Devouring Flame that engulfed the Black Demon was equivalent to isolating it. Freed from the Black Demon''s influence, Xiao Yan abruptly snapped out of his trance. "Ha!" Exhaustion flooded Xiao Yan''s mind, and with his Spiritual Strength severely depleted, he collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. ''That Black Demon is far too dangerous. Thankfully, Mao Wu''s instincts sensed my peril; otherwise, I might have overdrawn my Spiritual Strength.'' Xiao Yan vividly recalled what had just transpired. He fell into a state of utter selflessness after his Spiritual Strength entered the Black Demon. If it wasn''t for the devouring ability of the Nihility Devouring Flame, he feared that he would have completely exhausted his Spiritual Strength. After withdrawing the Nihility Devouring Flame, he glanced at the Black Demon with lingering trepidation. It truly lived up to its reputation as the 8th-ranked cauldron on the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking; its effects were indeed eerie and terrifying. He turned his gaze to the pill bottle on the ground and breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing that the Hidden Spirit Pill had been successfully refined. Once he had successfully refined a 4th-tier pill, subsequent attempts would have a higher chance of success. ''I still need to find another medicinal cauldron. The Black Demon should not be used unless absolutely necessary.'' Chapter 78: Chapter 78: The Pale White Flame Chapter 78: Chapter 78: The Pale White Flame ? Xiao Yan emerged from the cave after stowing away all his belongings. It was high noon, and the scorching sunlight beat down, baking the cliff walls until they were searing hot. He approached a spot beneath the cliff face and gazed up at the blazing sun in the sky. After flexing his ankles slightly, he forcefully stomped his foot on the ground. With a crisp sound of energy exploding, Xiao Yan''s body shot upward like a cannonball. A series of thunderous booms echoed as he continued to propel himself up the sheer cliff face. This was the Intermediate agility-type Dou Technique Yun Yun had left behind-Exploding Steps. It worked by concentrating fire-attribute Dou Qi into a single point beneath the feet, utilizing the explosive force to generate a sudden burst of extreme speed. ''It''s actually somewhat similar to the Octane Blast.'' He flipped and landed, twisting his ankles a bit. Like the Octane Blast, in order to start cultivating the Exploding Steps, one needed to possess a strong body first. Otherwise, the explosive force would break one''s feet before propelling the body forward. For him, whose physical strength had already surpassed his cultivation level, practicing the Exploding Steps was twice as effective with half the effort.U//ppTodated fr/o/m Xiao Yan settled into a daily routine: in the mornings, he dedicated himself to practicing alchemy until his Spiritual Strength was exhausted, then switched to training Dou Techniques. At night he focused on cultivating the Flame Mantra and the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique. This cycle repeated day after day. He continued training until dusk when he happened to encounter Little Fairy Doctor returning with a basket of medicinal herbs she had gathered. In the glow of the setting sun, she stood silhouetted against the twilight, her lonely figure evoking a sense of pity. Upon noticing Xiao Yan, she smiled sweetly while holding her basket and said, "Are you going to eat dinner? Xiao Lan just caught a mountain goat." "Of course. I may know how to refine pills, but don''t count on me to cook a meal..." - Sitting on a nearby rock, Xiao Yan couldn''t help but smile slightly as he watched Little Fairy Doctor humming a tune through her delicate nose while busying herself. Over the past ten days or so, she had gradually come to terms with the events in Qingshan Town. Chop, chop. Xiao Yan picked up his bowl and chopsticks and began to devour his food like a ravenous wolf. After each day''s grueling training session, he had to consume a substantial amount of food to restore his energy. Chirp, chirp! Xiao Lan watched Xiao Yan wolfing down his meal and quickly grabbed a piece of grilled meat for itself, as if saying, ''Don''t eat my share too!'' A smile of contentment gradually appeared at the corner of Little Fairy Doctor''s mouth as she observed Xiao Yan''s voracious appetite. Xiao Yan didn''t mind in the slightest that she was a Poison Master who possessed the Woeful Poison Body. This undoubtedly left a special impression on her heart. Moreover, whenever he needed to refine detoxification pills, he would occasionally ask her to poison him so he could practice his antidote-making skills. Detoxification pills were one of the most unique types of medicinal pills. They tested an alchemist''s ability to adapt on the fly and their extensive knowledge, as they required the creation of medicine tailored to neutralize the specific poison involved. "Oh, right, I should leave here in about ten days or so and head to Desert City. What about you?" Xiao Yan set down his bowl and chopsticks and suddenly asked after a long pause. Little Fairy Doctor, who was clearing up the dishes, paused for a moment, then replied casually, "Oh, as for me, I''m thinking about going to the Chu Yun Empire to take a look. I''ve heard that Poison Masters aren''t as stigmatized there." "The Chu Yun Empire, huh? Well, when I travel the world one day, I''ll be sure to visit the Chu Yun Empire and find you," Xiao Yan said offhandedly as he lay on the ground, gazing up at the starry sky. "I''m sorry, Xiao Yan. I... I couldn''t control myself. I truly deserve to die." Sitting in the chair, Xiao Yan''s mood grew heavy as he listened to the faint, gentle sobs. After pondering for a long while, it seemed as though he had made some kind of decision. He slowly stood up, sat on the edge of the bed, and gently patted her body wrapped in the blanket. "I have a way to help you control the Woeful Poison Body." Little Fairy Doctor lifted the blanket and wiped away a teardrop from the corner of her eye. With a hint of anticipation in her voice, she asked, "Are you telling the truth?" Xiao Yan nodded and took out a dark gray scroll from his storage ring. Little Fairy Doctor opened the scroll. "The Poison Pill Method? It requires an alchemist of the 7th-tier or above to channel their Spiritual Strength into the body, gather all the accumulated poison of the Woeful Poison Body, and finally condense all of it into a Poison Pill within the body. Only when the Poison Pill is formed will the Woeful Poison Body truly become a formidable physique." However, her eyes dimmed when she saw the required materials. She shook her head in self- mockery and said, "The Monster Core of a Rank 7 Sky Poison Dragon Scorpion Beast, the Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva, and three kinds of Heavenly Flames. A Rank 7 magical beast is equivalent to a Dou Ancestor, and the Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva is something I''ve never even heard of." "Not to mention the three kinds of Heavenly Flames. Heavenly Flames are such rare heavenly treasures in the world that finding just one would be an unparalleled opportunity, let alone three. It''s impossible..." Just as Little Fairy Doctor was consumed by utter despair, a sudden whoosh of flames erupted, and a deep white light illuminated the room. She sensed the appearance of the firelight and slowly raised her head to gaze at the pale white flame floating in the air. The flame was breathtakingly beautiful in her eyes. Its cold yet scorching sensation aroused curiosity, and its vast whiteness resembled a snowy landscape. "Mountains are high, yet there are paths for travelers; waters are deep, yet there are boats to cross." "Difficulties may always exist, but solutions will always emerge. See, haven''t we already gathered one kind of Heavenly Flame? And it just so happens that we have an alchemist right here." Xiao Yan''s brilliant smile and the warm firelight gradually cleared the haze in Little Fairy Doctor''s heart and shone a light into the depths of her soul. The events that had transpired over the past few months had long driven this orphaned girl to the brink of collapse. Only she understood the agony brought on by the Woeful Poison Body. Like grasping at a beacon of light in the darkness, Little Fairy Doctor clung tightly to Xiao Yan''s clothes as her tears soaked the fabric. A snow-white butterfly fluttered its wings and landed on the table from outside the window. Xiao Yan could never have foreseen that by revealing the Poison Pill Method to Little Fairy Doctor ahead of time, he had once again caused a severe deviation in the world''s timeline. Chapter 79: Chapter 79: The Hidden Quest Is Here! Chapter 79: Chapter 79: The Hidden Quest Is Here! ? Xiao Yan felt a pang of bitterness in his heart as he listened to Little Fairy Doctor''s sobs. In truth, he hadn''t wanted to reveal the Poison Pill Method to her so soon. Ideally, it would have been best if Little Fairy Doctor could control her craving to consume poison on her own, but reality often went against one''s wishes. By revealing the existence of the Poison Pill Method to Little Fairy Doctor, it was as if he had given her the green light to freely consume poison without fear, knowing that the Poison Pill Method would keep her safe. Xiao Yan''s biggest concern was that without any worries to hold her back, Little Fairy Doctor would no longer suppress her ''appetite'' and continue to consume poison, leading to an excessive accumulation that could cause the Woeful Poison Body to erupt prematurely. Moreover, he knew that this Poison Pill Method was merely a temporary measure and could not completely control the Woeful Poison Body. According to the detailed steps described in the Poison Pill Method scroll, it utilized three kinds of Heavenly Flames to refine the body''s poison, along with the Monster Core of the Sky Poison Dragon Scorpion Beast and the Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva, to form a Poison Pill. It essentially treated the Woeful Poison Body as a medicinal cauldron to perform an alchemy process that condensed all the poison into a single pill. As an alchemist, Xiao Yan naturally understood that the principle behind the Poison Pill Method was essentially a form of alchemy. The method itself was akin to a recipe for a peak 7th-tier medicinal pill. Thus, Xiao Yan further understood that the Poison Pill Method was merely a stopgap measure and could not fully resolve the issues with the Woeful Poison Body. The poison-attribute Dou Qi of the Woeful Poison Body would start to cause problems once it accumulated up to the Dou Ancestor realm, and there would be a constant risk of eruption. A 7th-tier medicinal pill was precisely suitable for Dou Ancestors. In other words, the Poison Pill could only absorb the poison below the peak Dou Ancestor stage. If Little Fairy Doctor''s cultivation surpassed the Dou Ancestor realm and reached the Dou Venerate realm, the Poison Pill would begin to falter. After all, the medicinal pills used by Dou Venerates were of the 8th tier, and the difference between the 7th tier and 8th tier was not small. The refinement of 8th-tier pills required a Spiritual State that had reached the Soul State, which clearly showed the vast gap between them. Xiao Yan had searched through all the books in his storage ring but found no complete solution for the Woeful Poison Body. He dreaded the thought of being helpless in the end, watching Little Fairy Doctor die before his eyes. Gently patting Little Fairy Doctor''s head, Xiao Yan said softly, "Today''s breakfast is a little late, huh?" Little Fairy Doctor came back to her senses after hearing those words. She took two steps back and noticed that Xiao Yan''s clothes were soaked. Her cheeks turned red as she softly said, "Thank you, Xiao Yan." Xiao Yan waved his hand and said, "There''s no need to thank me. We''re still missing too many things, and we''ve only taken the first step. So far, I''ve only succeeded in refining a 4th-tier pill once, and the other two ingredients are still nowhere to be found." "It''s a pity I couldn''t find the Ten Thousand Beast Flame in the Magic Beast Mountain Range this time." Although the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame was also a Heavenly Flame, being newly born, it was still too weak. Its power couldn''t compare to that of the Bone Chilling Flame.Th.e? most uptod/ate novels a/re published on n(0)velbj)n(.)c/o/m Xiao Yan estimated that the Seed Flame would have to grow to the point where it could burn a Rank 6 magical beast to death before it could be considered a true Heavenly Flame. When Little Fairy Doctor heard this, she finally understood why Xiao Yan had come to the Magic Beast Mountain Range. "So you better control yourself and not be too gluttonous. Remember, you have to wait for me to collect the three kinds of Heavenly Flames and reach the 7th-tier alchemist level before I can refine that Poison Pill for you," Xiao Yan advised earnestly. Seeing Xiao Yan''s serious expression as he admonished her, Little Fairy Doctor felt a warm current flow through her heart. She wiped the tears from her pretty face and sniffled before secretly vowing to herself, ''No matter what happens in the future, I will always be the Little Fairy Doctor of Qingshan Town in front of you.'' ... Xiao Yan nodded back with a calm smile but remained silent. "Human, you have some nerve. That Dou Emperor woman is gone, yet you still dare to remain in the Magic Beast Mountain Range! You even stole my Amethyst Lion Birth Essence!!" The Amethyst Winged Lion King''s face was filled with rage, and a terrifying killing intent locked onto Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan simply smiled faintly and said, "If the Lion King merely wanted to kill me to vent its anger, then I wouldn''t have the chance to have this leisurely chat with the Lion King right now. This place would have turned into a hellish scene long ago." "Moreover, although I''m not much, I''m currently a 4th-tier alchemist and have gained some reputation in the Alchemist Association of the Jia Ma Empire. If the Lion King kills me, this Soul Command will transmit the incident through a spiritual transmission directly to the Chairman of the Alchemist Association." "I believe killing a 4th-tier alchemist would be all harm and no benefit for the Lion King." Xiao Yan played with the Soul Command in his fingers. Naturally, the Amethyst Winged Lion King could sense that the object in Xiao Yan''s hand was not ordinary but a soul tool capable of transmitting spiritual information. It had also heard that alchemists could send spiritual transmissions to summon powerful individuals who owed them favors to come to their rescue. Of course, Xiao Yan was just bluffing, or rather, bluffing the Lion King. Although he had indeed successfully refined 4th-tier medicinal pills, he had not joined the Alchemist Association, nor had he undergone any kind of assessment. He didn''t even know who the Chairman of the Jia Ma Empire''s Alchemist Association was. "Ha ha ha! Are you threatening me? A mere 4th-tier alchemist? I don''t believe the Jia Ma Empire would wage war over a 4th-tier alchemist." An immense, terrifying pressure suddenly pressed down on Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan immediately activated the Mad Lion Chant to protect his body and released his Spiritual Strength to withstand the crushing pressure. He faced the Amethyst Winged Lion King''s oppressive aura with his hands clasped behind his back. Although he appeared calm on the surface, he was actually frantically mobilizing his Spiritual Strength to resist. Had it not been for the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique, which had allowed him to reach the late stage of the Middle Mortal State in terms of Spiritual Strength, he might have been forced to kneel by now. Moments later, Little Fairy Doctor''s voice called out from the thatched hut, "Xiao Yan, the tea is ready." Xiao Yan smiled and made a welcoming gesture as he said, "Why not step into my humble abode for some first-class medicinal tea?" After a moment of silence, the Amethyst Winged Lion King''s gaze hardened, but eventually, it slowly retracted its oppressive aura. ''Indeed, the Amethyst Winged Lion King did not come here just for the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence.'' ''Could it be that thing?'' Chapter 80: Chapter 80: The Lion Kings Deal Chapter 80: Chapter 80: The Lion King''s Deal ? Xiao Yan''s mind raced, a suspicion forming in his heart. "This way please, Lion King. Though humble, our abode is not without its charms," Xiao Yan said calmly as he led the way, his face betraying no emotion. He knew he wasn''t just engaging in a battle of wits with the Amethyst Winged Lion King; he was dancing with death itself. One misstep could drag him into the depths of hell. Xiao Yan walked past the Lion King in a calm and collected manner. The Amethyst Winged Lion King''s eyes narrowed slightly as it watched Xiao Yan''s retreating figure before turning its gaze toward a nearby cave. The cave emitted the scent of Amethyst Lion Birth Essence. This was because Xiao Yan regularly provided some to Mao Wu to accelerate its growth. However, what truly captured the Amethyst Winged Lion King''s interest was not the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence, which, frankly speaking, was merely a supplement to aid the Little Lion King in breaking through to Rank 4, equivalent to a 4th-tier medicinal pill. What truly mattered to the Lion King was the wisp of medicinal mist wafting from the cave. The fragrance of a 4th-tier medicinal pill permeated the air, forming a subtle mist imbued with energy fluctuations. Though faint, its presence confirmed that a 4th-tier pill had indeed been refined there recently. This corroborated Xiao Yan''s claim of being a 4th-tier alchemist! ''It seems I was right. The Amethyst Winged Lion King is here for the medicinal pills.'' Xiao Yan''s powerful Spiritual Strength allowed him to sense the Lion King''s attention focused on the cave. This was also intentional on his part; he knew his identity as an alchemist was his only lifeline! While 4th-tier pills were useless to the Amethyst Winged Lion King, they were invaluable to the Little Lion King, who was only at the Rank 3 and could benefit from 3rd and 4th-tier pills. That''s why Xiao Yan had refined the 3rd-tier Fire Rising Pill back then. It was specifically to cater to the Little Lion King''s needs. Little did he know that leaving that Fire Rising Pill for the Little Lion King would set off this chain of events! With a soft hum, a purple light enveloped the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Its massive form originally over ten meters tall gradually shrank to a majestic two-meter lion. It then led the Little Lion King, following Xiao Yan toward the thatched hut. Little Fairy Doctor was stunned to see the Rank 6 Amethyst Winged Lion King actually following Xiao Yan into the thatched hut. While she was skilled in medicine and poison- making, tea brewing was new territory for her. She forced herself to remain calm as she tended to the flickering stove. Meanwhile, Xiao Yan took a seat at the table and gestured for the Lion King and Little Lion King to join him. Little Fairy Doctor poured hot water with her delicate hands to make medicinal tea. She knew nothing about the art of tea brewing; her knowledge came from observing others prepare tea while treating wealthy merchants in Qingshan Town, which she now imitated. The so-called medicinal tea was simply a hasty selection of various fragrant medicinal herbs combined with a few leaves and flowers. Moments later, the air was filled with a gentle medicinal fragrance amidst the misty steam from the boiling water, creating a tranquil atmosphere, so quiet that only the sound of bubbling water and crackling firewood could be heard. Moreover, his calm and collected demeanor, even having Little Fairy Doctor prepare medicinal tea as hospitality, was meant to give the Amethyst Winged Lion King the impression that ''This young master has an impressive background!'' The reason for bringing his ''little wife'' to this small valley was simply to improve his alchemy skills. After a moment of silence between the two parties, the Amethyst Winged Lion King finally released its paw. The Little Lion King''s expression turned to one of wild joy as it jumped onto the table, staring intently at the Purple Flame Pill. Xiao Yan smiled slightly, knowing the Amethyst Winged Lion King had compromised. With a flick of his hand, he tossed the pill into the air with a flick of his hand and the Little Lion King swallowed it in one gulp. Immediately, a surge of scorching fire energy filled its entire body. The Little Lion King hurriedly ran out of the thatched hut and stood under the sun, absorbing sunlight and the energy from the Purple Flame Pill simultaneously. After putting away the remaining Purple Flame Pills, the Amethyst Winged Lion King said in a deep voice, "I want to make a deal with you." The tables had turned! Initially, the Amethyst Winged Lion King had planned to use its strength to intimidate Xiao Yan, and if that failed, to use the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence to coerce him. However, the latter had deftly defused all its attempts and even turned the situation to his advantage in the end! Both Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief when they heard the softer tone of the Lion King. It was as if a knife pressed against their necks had been removed. Xiao Yan''s expression remained relaxed, though with a hint of curiosity, as he asked, "Oh? May I ask what deal the Lion King has in mind?" "I want a Body Transformation Pill." Xiao Yan didn''t know whether to laugh or cry upon hearing what the Amethyst Winged Lion King wanted. It''s not just you who wants it, I want it too. There''s no magical beast who wouldn''t want it. However, his heart nearly stopped and his pupils constricted when he heard its next words. "I can tell you where the Ten Thousand Beast Flame is located." Chapter 81: Chapter 81: The Beast Tomb Chapter 81: Chapter 81: The Beast Tomb ? !!!! Xiao Yan''s heart jolted, his pupils constricting. The Amethyst Winged Lion King truly knew the whereabouts of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame!!! Even with Xiao Yan''s composure, he couldn''t help but breathe a little heavier. If he had not been mentally prepared, he might have blurted out the question of where it was located. Little Fairy Doctor was also extremely astonished. This was supposed to be a life-threatening crisis; how had it suddenly turned into a Heavenly Flame being delivered to their doorstep?! Xiao Yan quickly regained his composure, his fingers lightly tapping the table as he gazed solemnly at the Amethyst Winged Lion King. "I believe the Lion King understands the significance and allure of a Heavenly Flame to an alchemist." "It cannot be denied that any Heavenly Flame holds an unparalleled attraction for alchemists, and I am no exception." Then, his tone shifted subtly as he continued, "However, Lion King, a Body Transformation Pill is a high-grade 7th-tier medicinal pill. It is renowned as the entry ticket for magical beasts to reach Rank 8. Its value is sufficient to move an elite Dou Ancestor. Not to mention that I don''t have a Body Transformation Pill, even if I did, it wouldn''t be possible to trade it for a piece of information whose authenticity is uncertain." The Body Transformation Pill was a treasure coveted by all magical beasts, for it granted them the qualifications to step into Rank 8! All Rank 8 magical beasts could transform, as transformation was a prerequisite for entering that rank. For a magical beast to advance to Rank 8, not only did it need to break through the limitations of its bloodline and enhance its physical form and cultivation, but it also needed to transform. This was analogous to 8th-tier medicinal pills. While low and intermediate-grade 7th-tier pills would induce natural phenomena, and high- grade ones would attract Pill Lightning, 8th-tier medicinal pills possessed something more. This was spiritual intelligence! The presence of a spirit was the defining characteristic of 8th- tier pills; without it, they could only approach but not reach the 8th-tier. The same principle applied to magical beasts. If a magical beast couldn''t transform and gain human-like cultivation talents, it would forever remain at Rank 7. There were numerous methods for a magical beast to transform, but undoubtedly, the simplest was through a Body Transformation Pill. Swallowing a single pill could resolve all their issues. Thus, one could imagine the immense value of the Body Transformation Pill in the hearts of magical beasts. However, Xiao Yan was no fool. Let alone trading just for the location of the Heavenly Flame, even if the Amethyst Winged Lion King directly offered the Ten Thousand Beast Flame in exchange, it might not be enough. The value of a high-grade 7th-tier medicinal pill ranged between seventy and eighty thousand soul points. This could be exchanged for a High Di Class Qi Method, or with proper planning, could even potentially overthrow the imperial family of the Jia Ma Empire. The 22nd-ranked Ten Thousand Beast Flame might not necessarily be worth that much. Of course, it was definitely worth it in Xiao Yan''s heart. If he had a Body Transformation Pill, he would certainly trade it for the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. But trading it for mere information was out of the question. The entire thatched hut fell silent once again as he finished speaking. Only the sounds of Little Fairy Doctor pouring tea and Xiao Yan sipping it could be heard. The Amethyst Winged Lion King had been completely misled by Xiao Yan, subconsciously accepting that he was on equal footing with it. Otherwise, it wouldn''t have been this quiet. Xiao Yan took a sip of the medicinal tea, set the cup down with a soft clank, and said with a smile, "Lion King, as an alchemist, I greatly desire a Heavenly Flame, while you, as a magical beast, crave a Body Transformation Pill. I understand your feelings. I have a proposal, but I don''t know if the Lion King would be willing to hear it." Xiao Yan could barely contain his grin upon hearing these words! Although it seemed like he was still exchanging a Body Transformation Pill for information about the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, he was essentially getting it for free! Xiao Yan had truly mastered the concept of ''financing''. With nothing but his silver tongue, he''d managed to secure valuable resources from others. Five years... who knew what the situation would be like in five years? Alchemists often made verbal agreements with powerful individuals, promising medicinal pills in exchange for their services, only delivering after the task was completed. However, this approach only worked if the alchemist genuinely possessed the ability to refine the promised pill. At present, Xiao Yan lacked this ability and was trading based on his potential future capabilities. Even Hun Tiandi would applaud Xiao Yan for this move. Little Fairy Doctor, who had been quietly listening on the sidelines, was utterly bewildered. The Amethyst Winged Lion King had originally come in a fury to settle a score with Xiao Yan, but somehow, it had ended up giving him the location of the Heavenly Flame? And received nothing in return??? Yet, strangely enough, both Little Fairy Doctor and the Amethyst Winged Lion King felt there was nothing wrong with this arrangement. Xiao Yan slowly stood up and extended his hand. "I look forward to our cooperation." "Now, Lion King, can you tell me why you didn''t refine the Ten Thousand Beast Flame yourself?" The Amethyst Winged Lion King, still unaware that it had been outmaneuvered, replied in a solemn voice, "Because the Ten Thousand Beast Flame is located within the Beast Tomb." "Beast Tomb? A graveyard for magical beasts?" It was the first time Xiao Yan had heard of such a place in the Magic Beast Mountain Range. To his surprise, the Amethyst Winged Lion King shook its head. The mere mention of that place caused even the face of this Rank 6 magical beast to darken. "That is a battlefield, a place where magical beasts and humans once fought to the death." Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Its Your Turn, Mao Wu! Chapter 82: Chapter 82: It''s Your Turn, Mao Wu! ? "A battlefield?" Xiao Yan furrowed his brow, realizing the situation was more complex than it appeared. According to the records in the Heavenly Flame Ranking, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was born from the spiritual energy of countless deceased magical beasts combined with their collective wishes. The conditions for its creation indeed required a place where magical beasts had perished in large numbers. However, having recently absorbed a small portion of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, Xiao Yan sensed that its creation was not that simple. If a war that claimed countless magical beast lives could produce the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, then it would be too easy for such a flame to be born. Moreover, the conditions listed in the Heavenly Flame Ranking were not just one; it was the condensed wishes of the guardian magical beasts that truly formed the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. ''There''s only one answer then-the Ten Thousand Beast Flame in the Beast Tomb is not newly born.'' Xiao Yan quickly concluded in his mind. "The Ten Thousand Beast Flame is the heritage flame of our Magic Beast Mountain Range, controlled by successive generations of Magical Beast Lords. Every decade, we hold a Spirit Flame Body Tempering Convention, where magical beasts of all ranks compete. The victor receives the baptism of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame," the Amethyst Winged Lion King revealed. This secret was unknown to Xiao Yan, and even Little Fairy Doctor, who had lived in Qingshan Town for years, had never heard of it. It made sense though; if the Magic Beast Mountain Range truly possessed the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, it would undoubtedly belong to the magical beasts. With numerous Beast Emperors and an unbroken mountain range abundant with medicinal herbs and spiritual fruits, the presence of Rank 7 magical beasts was not surprising. "Did the Lion King obtain the wisp of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame from the Spirit Flame Body Tempering Convention?" Xiao Yan asked curiously. The Amethyst Winged Lion King shook its head. "The Spirit Flame Body Tempering Convention ended three hundred years ago due to that war." Xiao Yan finally grasped the whole picture as the Amethyst Winged Lion King continued its narration. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame had always been in the possession of the magical beasts of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, controlled by the strongest of each generation. It was precisely because of this flame that the magical beasts of the Magic Beast Mountain Range had always been exceptionally powerful. All surrounding empires and sects, including the Jia Ma Empire, dared not encroach upon their territory. The possession of something as precious as the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence was testament enough to the impact of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame on magical beasts. However, three centuries ago, a 7th-tier alchemist discovered the existence of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and sought to seize it. This alchemist ultimately enlisted three elite Dou Ancestors and planned to forcefully take the Ten Thousand Beast Spiritual Flame from the peak Rank 7 magical beast who was the lord of the Magic Beast Mountain Range. A single 7th-tier alchemist was enough to ignite a war between humans and magical beasts! Xiao Yan felt a chill run through him as he realized the immense influence wielded by alchemists. Especially the high-tier alchemists, a single high-tier medicinal pill from them could make an entire sect serve at their behest. It should be noted that even the Misty Cloud Sect did not have an elite Dou Ancestor at present! Ultimately, the peak Rank 7 lord of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, faced with the onslaught of a 7th-tier alchemist and three Dou Ancestors, fought desperately and dragged the 7th-tier alchemist into the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, resulting in their mutual destruction.T/his chapter is updat/ed by This war also led to the Ten Thousand Beast Flame being tainted by the resentful aura of the battle''s vengeful spirits, rendering it unusable for tempering the bodies of magical beasts. Over the past three centuries, Rank 7 magical beasts had journeyed to the Beast Tomb, intending to inherit the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. However, the contaminated flame, now imbued with the resentment of humans who had perished tragically in the war, could not be refined at all. Furthermore, the countless vengeful spirits from that war transformed the area into what was now known as the Beast Tomb, a place so perilous that even approaching it was extremely difficult for ordinary magical beasts. "Oh, and Lion King! Please bring the medicinal cauldron from your cave''s treasure vault as well. Lend it to me for a while! Mine just happened to break!" Xiao Yan shouted skyward. During his earlier infiltration of the cave, he had spotted a tier 5 alchemy cauldron in the treasure vault and had wanted to steal it, but there hadn''t been enough time. The Amethyst Winged Lion King abruptly halted mid-air upon hearing this. Well, well, even the alchemy cauldron had to be provided by it! Xiao Yan was only responsible for refining the pill, while the Amethyst Winged Lion King had to gather the ingredients for the Sunflame Pill itself. A person with the strength of a Dou Master was actually able to command a Rank 6 magical beast. One could imagine how great the magic word ''alchemist'' was. The smile on Xiao Yan''s face quickly faded as he watched the Amethyst Winged Lion King fly away. The information brought by the Amethyst Winged Lion King this time was definitely a huge opportunity for him. However, the slightest misstep could lead to irreversible disaster. With his palm facing upward, Mao Wu jumped out from the void and stood on his palm. Compared to a few months ago, Mao Wu had grown somewhat, and the black flame fur covering its body had become denser. "Mao Wu, our success or failure this time depends on you." Meow~ (==) Possessing the Nihility Devouring Flame, capable of devouring everything, was the source of Xiao Yan''s confidence in daring to go to the Beast Tomb. Mao Wu''s ability to devour the beast resentment within the Monster Cores and grow stronger was the most effective means to purify the contaminated Ten Thousand Beast Flame. It possessed this ability. The only thing worrying Xiao Yan was that Mao Wu was still too weak. This Seed Flame had come into existence merely half a year ago, and whether it could devour the pollution was still unknown. "Nihility Devouring Flame, ranked second on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, let me see your true power!" Chapter 83: Chapter 83: The Contaminated Ten Thousand Beast Flame Chapter 83: Chapter 83: The Contaminated Ten Thousand Beast Flame ? Xiao Yan took out the Black Demon Cauldron again, but this time, he didn''t plan to refine any medicinal pills. Instead, he intended to smelt more Purple Flame Pills. The Amethyst Lion Birth Essence was reduced to less than half of its original size after smelting five more Purple Flame Pills. Xiao Yan sat quietly in the cave, slowly adjusting his mindset and Spiritual Strength. Soon after, Little Fairy Doctor returned with many medicinal herbs she had collected. Looking at the array of medicinal ingredients laid out in front of him, he smiled slightly at Little Fairy Doctor and said, "See? Heaven never seals off all paths for a person. Who knows, we might just gather two kinds of Heavenly Flames." Little Fairy Doctor became even more worried when she saw his playful attitude. She said with concern, "If it''s really dangerous, let''s think of another way." "Don''t worry, I''m not the kind of person who would act recklessly." "You look exactly like someone who would!" Xiao Yan burst into hearty laughter at her retort. ... Half a day later, the Amethyst Winged Lion King descended again. This time, it was carrying a red and blue medicinal cauldron. The cauldron was filled with various auxiliary medicinal herbs, and a few wooden boxes containing several precious main ingredients. Xiao Yan slowly opened one of the wooden boxes, and a subtle fragrance wafted through the air, instantly invigorating him as if his soul was being nourished. The medicinal pill he planned to refine was called the Soul Guard Pill, a 4th-tier medicinal pill. The difficulty of refining this pill wasn''t particularly high; the hardest part was obtaining the three main ingredients, all of which were extremely rare soul-related medicinal herbs Even the Amethyst Winged Lion King, who controlled a vast area of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, had taken quite some time to gather them all. The effect of the Soul Guard Pill was simple and straightforward: it created a protective shield around the soul, guarding the mind and preventing evil spirits from invading the soul and possessing the consciousness. Xiao Yan cupped his fists in thanks and, without wasting any words, took the medicinal cauldron and all the ingredients into the cave. He already had two experiences refining 4th-tier medicinal pills. The Sunflame Pill was a low-grade 4th-tier medicinal pill and Xiao Yan was confident he could successfully refine it. However, the Soul Guard Pill posed more of a challenge. Although it was also a low-grade 4th-tier medicinal pill, it was his first time refining a soul-related pill. Xiao Yan did not plan to use the Black Demon to refine the Sunflame Pills; instead, he would use the tier 5 medicinal cauldron. Using the Black Demon required Mao Wu to awaken him forcefully each time. If his focused state was forcibly interrupted too many times, he might become unable to enter that state again. The process of refining the Sunflame Pill went very smoothly thanks to the past half month of practice and his previous successes. In the end, he even managed to produce four pills from a single batch, perfectly extracting all the medicinal properties without any waste. After tossing the pills to the Lion King, Xiao Yan pretended to forget and placed the medicinal cauldron directly into the cave without returning it. It was clear he intended to keep someone else''s medicinal cauldron for himself. ''Phew, let''s start cultivating the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique first.'' Xiao Yan had become accustomed to cultivating the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique each time he exhausted his Spiritual Strength, as it could somewhat accelerate his cultivation speed. Yun Yun would never have imagined that after she and Xiao Yan caused a ruckus in the Lion King''s lair a month ago, injuring the Little Lion King and stealing the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence and the Purple Spirit Crystal, the Lion King would now team up with Xiao Yan to obtain the Ten Thousand Beast Flame from the Beast Tomb! The twists and turns of fate were truly unpredictable. Soaring through the sky, Xiao Yan followed closely behind the Amethyst Winged Lion King as they ventured deeper into the Magic Beast Mountain Range toward the easternmost depths. He flew fearlessly through the sky with the protection of the Lion King. The two of them passed through a bank of clouds and arrived at a cliff in the deepest part of the Magic Beast Mountain Range. As Xiao Yan gazed down through the mist, he was completely stunned by the scene before him. In the misty canyon basin below the cliff, bones littered the ground as far as the eye could see, even piling up into mountains. Among these piles of bones were all kinds of skeletal remains -human bones and various magical beast skeletons. Some magical beast skeletons were only the size of a human head, while others towered over ten meters high. Scattered on the ground were numerous weapons, armor, gemstones, medicinal cauldrons, and even Qi Method scrolls. However, all of these items were already in a state of disrepair, reduced to mere scrap. ''Are these all from that battle years ago?'' Xiao Yan''s pupils contracted as he saw the bones covering the ground before him. It was truly terrifying. A single 7th-tier alchemist had caused such a scene! The cliff canyon basin before his eyes might have been the result of that battle three hundred years ago! "Three hundred years ago, nearly all the magical beasts from the entire Magic Beast Mountain Range participated in that war to protect the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. However, the result couldn''t be called a complete victory," the Amethyst Winged Lion King explained. It had also participated in the battle back then, but at that time, it had not yet reached Rank 6 and was not part of the main force. The magical beasts of the entire Magic Beast Mountain Range, and yet they had only narrowly won! Even the Snake-People Tribe, the greatest threat to the Jia Ma Empire, probably paled in comparison to the Magic Beast Mountain Range of that time. "Let''s go in." Xiao Yan took a deep breath and slowly circulated his Dou Qi, his gaze becoming incomparably sharp. "I''m only responsible for bringing you to the Beast Tomb." The Amethyst Winged Lion King directly refused Xiao Yan''s proposal. It had only agreed to provide information about the Ten Thousand Beast Flame''s location, not to help him obtain it. Xiao Yan chuckled and said, "Lion King, you''re not being reasonable. You said you would tell me where the Ten Thousand Beast Flame is located. There''s not even a flicker of flame here. How do I know you''re not deceiving me? At the very least, you should take me to a place where I can see the Ten Thousand Beast Flame." "I won''t intervene in anything that happens along the way." "Don''t worry, I''m not that weak." No sooner had his words fallen than a faint sound suddenly rang out. Wisps of mist gathered behind him and instantly condensed into a human silhouette. This misty figure lunged at him like a ghostly shadow, as if trying to invade his mind and take over. The void suddenly distorted with a humming sound. A mass of black flames twisted around the ghostly figure like a black hole and devoured it in a matter of moments. Even the Amethyst Winged Lion King couldn''t help but be surprised to see Xiao Yan so effortlessly exterminate a ghostly figure. Although this was still the outskirts of the Beast Tomb, where the ghostly figures were formed from the resentment of deceased Dou Masters and Dou Grandmasters, they were not so easily eliminated. "Is something wrong, Lion King? We can proceed now," Xiao Yan smiled nonchalantly. This time, he was determined to obtain the Ten Thousand Beast Flame! Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Underground Cave Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Underground Cave ? The Amethyst Winged Lion King''s eyes narrowed slightly. The fact that Xiao Yan had managed to escape from the claws of the Rank 3 Little Lion King earlier had already proven that his strength was definitely not as simple as that of an ordinary Dou Master. It was just a matter of not knowing the extent of his limits. ''The land here is all dead.'' Xiao Yan walked into the Beast Tomb. Even after three hundred years, not a single blade of grass had grown, and the soil was utterly lifeless. One could imagine how fiercely that battle had been fought. Xiao Yan followed behind the Amethyst Winged Lion King, and just as the Lion King had said, it absolutely would not intervene. If not for the Body Transformation Pill, the Amethyst Winged Lion King would never have cooperated with a human. Or rather, the magical beasts of the entire Magic Beast Mountain Range had no goodwill toward humans whatsoever. Meow! (*) Mao Wu seemed to have entered an all-you-can-eat buffet as it plunged a claw into a ghostly figure''s body. The Nihility Devouring Flame erupted, and in an instant, the ghostly figures born from the resentment of those who had tragically died in the war were devoured by the black flames and reduced to nothingness. Not to mention the ghostly figures of mere Dou Master and Dou Grandmaster, even a Dou Spirit ghostly figure with a human-like appearance could not escape the devouring power of the Nihility Devouring Flame. The more the Amethyst Winged Lion King observed, the more solemn it became. It had guessed that Xiao Yan must have his own trump card to dare enter the Beast Tomb after hearing about the dangers. However, it hadn''t expected this trump card to be so fierce! ''That black flame is no ordinary flame.'' What puzzled the Amethyst Winged Lion King was that the black flame had clearly been very weak. Its temperature was even lower than the Little Lion King''s Amethyst Flame when it first saw the flame in the cave. Although it had grown somewhat now, it was still only equivalent to the Little Lion King''s Amethyst Flame. Yet, it possessed an extremely terrifying devouring ability. Those troublesome ghostly figures, once touched by even a bit of the black flame, could hardly escape the fate of being incinerated completely. It should be known that even the Rank 6 Amethyst Winged Lion King was unwilling to enter the Beast Tomb precisely because these ghostly figures were extremely difficult to deal with. Once they attached themselves to someone, they would inflict excruciating pain on the soul, causing a flood of painful memories to invade the mind. If one accumulated too many of these memories over time, one could lose their sense of self and become someone else entirely. Finally, Xiao Yan arrived at a massive chasm under the guidance of the Amethyst Winged Lion King. This area was once a vast expanse of land, but during the battle of the Dou Ancestors three hundred years ago, it had been shattered, forming a colossal fissure in the ground. Gazing into the distance, the fissure seemed bottomless, resembling an unfathomably deep abyss that stretched for ten miles. The sight of it sent shivers down the spine of anyone who looked upon it. From the barren, lifeless landscape above, Xiao Yan had initially assumed that the underground would be an equally perilous and desolate realm. To his surprise, it turned out to be a hidden cache of treasures! The birthplace of a Heavenly Flame naturally tended to produce various rare treasures. Although this was not the place where the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was born, its presence here for the past three hundred years had nourished the area, making it more conducive to the growth of precious ingredients. Over the past three centuries, numerous magical beasts had ventured into this underground realm in search of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, hoping to temper their bodies and break through their bloodline limitations. These magical beasts often carried seeds of medicinal herbs on their bodies, which took root and flourished in this environment. Coupled with the presence of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, this place became a trove of rare treasures and exotic herbs. For a moment, Xiao Yan was so excited he felt like digging up every inch of soil here. However, just as he was humming a tune, immersed in the joy of his bountiful harvest, a dark figure suddenly and silently emerged from the soil behind him! A venomous snake only as thick as an arm abruptly burst forth, its sharp fangs bared as it lunged toward the back of his neck. "A mere Rank 2 magical beast dares to ambush me?!" Xiao Yan sneered and turned around, his five fingers forming a claw as he grasped the snake''s vital point. Black flames instantly erupted from his palm, the terrifyingly high temperature reducing the Rank 2 venomous snake to charcoal. His Spiritual Strength was already on par with a peak 4th-tier alchemist. Ambushing him was no easy task. Moreover, as an alchemist himself, he knew that magical beasts were sure to be present where heavenly treasures existed. This was especially true in the deepest reaches of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, where the existence of numerous magical beasts was a certainty. "This way." The Amethyst Winged Lion King merely gave a cursory glance before calmly stating those words and heading toward the left. These minor threats were nothing more than child''s play; the true perils still lay ahead. Little did Xiao Yan and the Amethyst Winged Lion King know that at the other end of the Beast Tomb''s chasm, two figures had quietly leaped in... Hey guys, You can now get early access to the first chapters of my second translation project on my Patreon. As of this announcement, 16 chapters have been released for free members. This second project is a Douluo Dalu 2 fanfic called "Glory of the Unrivaled Angel." All you need to do is subscribe as either a free or paid tier member and enter the "collections" tab to access all the chapters currently available for your tier. Once a good number of regular chapters have accumulated, I''ll be publishing the story on other platforms too. I hope you''ll give that great story a chance! Have a great read and thanks for your support! Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Yao Li Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Yao Li ? "What in the world are these things!" Xiao Yan activated his Exploding Steps with a thunderous boom, leaping backward at extreme speed to evade the attack. He was somewhat astonished as he stared at the three different types of magical beasts before him. His Octane Blast had failed to kill these magical beasts with a single punch! If the Amethyst Winged Lion King were to know his thoughts, it would likely scoff at him. A mere Dou Master wanting to one-shot Rank 3 magical beasts? Had he lost his mind?! Even when it came to fighting above one''s realm, there were limits to how far one could push it! "These magical beasts are the ones that entered the Beast Tomb in search of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame over the past three hundred years. Without exception, they all found the flame but were corrupted by its tainted energy. Their souls merged with the ghostly figures of the Beast Tomb, transforming them into beast slaves," the Amethyst Winged Lion King explained as it shrank its body, leaning against the wall and quietly watching Xiao Yan being attacked, showing no intention of lending a hand. It was practically just missing some popcorn to complete its role as a spectator. ''No wonder their bodies are so tough. Even my Octane Blast cultivated to perfection can''t shatter their bodies.'' These magical beasts had reached the location of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and were strengthened by it. However, in the end, they failed to inherit the flame and instead had their spirits erased, becoming slaves of the flame. The might of the Octane Blast cultivated to a perfect mastery was comparable to an entry- level Di Class Dou Technique. Although Xiao Yan''s cultivation level was not high, his combat strength surpassed that of an average Rank 3 magical beast. The explosive hidden force of the Octane Blast could instantly slay some weaker Rank 3 magical beasts.Upstodatee from ad Lion Chant!" A layer of energy resembling a Dou Qi cloak enveloped his entire body. With a flick of his storage ring, the Heavy Xuan Ruler appeared in his hand. His palm tightly gripped the Heavy Xuan Ruler as his concentration intensified. Strands of Dou Qi began to flow out from the Qi cyclone within his body, surging through him to provide the necessary strength for battle. Xiao Yan seemed to transform entirely at this moment. He stood tall and imposing with the Heavy Xuan Ruler in his hand. The immense weight of the ruler made him as immovable as a mountain, unshakable by anything in this world. Roar, roar, roar!! A beast slave resembling a crocodile charged forward on all fours, its scales glinting with a cold light, as if capable of withstanding any attack. Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed as his Spiritual Strength surged outward. The world appeared vastly different in his enhanced perception. The charging beast slave''s movements seemed to slow down, and the flow of its blood vessels became distinctly visible. With a gentle lift, he gripped the Heavy Xuan Ruler tightly with both hands and executed a simple upward slash. There were no fancy techniques-just a straightforward, unadorned upward strike. A tremendously heavy thud resounded as the blow connected with the beast slave''s jaw, launching it into the air and exposing its unarmored belly. In a swift transition, his right hand formed a claw similar to the Black Tiger Steals Heart technique from his previous life and plunged it into the beast slave''s belly. Black flames erupted with a whoosh, and a piercing ghostly wail emanated from within the beast slave. Xiao Yan extracted the ghostly figure from the beast slave''s body and threw it into the air. Mao Wu appeared from above and spat a ball of black flames that enveloped and incinerated the ghostly figure in a relentless manner. These ghostly figures were more human-like than those on the outskirts of the Beast Tomb. They uttered heart-wrenching shrieks and displayed a higher level of intelligence as they were burned by the Nihility Devouring Flame! Two thunderous booms rang out. Xiao Yan executed his Exploding Steps and surged forward in a Z-shaped pattern toward another beast slave. silently calculated. It was at this moment that Xiao Yan suddenly sensed a powerful Spiritual Perception sweeping from the cave ahead. This Spiritual Perception was extremely strong, comparable to that of a 5th-tier alchemist! Without time to ponder, Xiao Yan swiftly withdrew the Nihility Devouring Flame and pulled the hood of his Soul Robe over his head, enveloping his entire body. In an instant, he concealed himself within the shadows of a nearby cave. A mere second after Xiao Yan had hidden himself, two figures appeared as if they had materialized out of thin air. Only when the figures emerged did Xiao Yan clearly discern them. It was an elderly man and a younger man. The young man wore a robe with the character for ''Medicine (Yao)'' embroidered on the chest. ''Medicine? People from the Alchemist Association? No, that''s not right. I remember Sister Ya Fei saying that the Alchemist Association''s robes bear a medicinal cauldron emblem, not characters.'' Xiao Yan furrowed his brows. At that instant, he inexplicably recalled the words Hun Lao Gui had imparted to him via spiritual transmission before he departed from the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop. [If you need a Heavenly Flame, be wary of the Yao Clan and the Yan Clan, those two Dou God Clans.] ''Are these two from the Yao Clan? Here for the Ten Thousand Beast Flame?!!!! The young man wearing the robe with the character ''Yao'' glanced left and right, not putting the Amethyst Winged Lion King not far away in his eyes at all. "Strange, I clearly sensed the fluctuations of a Heavenly Flame with my Spiritual Strength just moments ago. How has it vanished?" the young man muttered to himself, his face etched with bewilderment. "Yao Li, could it be that you sensed the Amethyst Beast Flame of the Amethyst Winged Lion King?" The elderly man cast a sideways glance at the Amethyst Winged Lion King in the distance, his tone indifferent. Waves of spiritual fluctuations swept through the area, but regardless of how meticulously this person named Yao Li attempted to perceive, he came up empty-handed. "Impossible. How could a trash flame like the Amethyst Beast Flame even be mentioned in the same breath as a Heavenly Flame? I am, at the very least, a 5th-tier alchemist. I couldn''t possibly commit such a low-level mistake." Roar!! The Amethyst Winged Lion King let loose a furious bellow: "Brat, do you have a death wish!!" Yao Li responded with a cold chuckle, his words tinged with mockery, "Mu Lao, why can''t I comprehend its utterances?" In an instant, an aura even more terrifying than Yun Yun''s erupted from the old man''s body. An Advanced Dou Emperor! Chapter 86: Chapter 86: The Truth Behind the Beast Tomb Chapter 86: Chapter 86: The Truth Behind the Beast Tomb ? ''Advanced Dou Emperor!!'' Xiao Yan frowned. This elderly man was actually an Advanced Dou Emperor! Although Xiao Yan had never encountered an Advanced Dou Emperor before, he knew about Yun Yun. Yun Yun''s strength was around the 3-star stage, almost reaching the 4-star Dou Emperor stage. The strength of this elderly man surpassed her by a considerable margin. ''At the very least, he''s a 6-star or above Dou Emperor!'' The Amethyst Winged Lion King was a Rank 6 magical beast, its close combat capabilities even comparable to a 5-star Dou Emperor. However, regardless of the circumstances, it stood no chance of defeating an elite Dou Emperor expert of six stars or above. Moreover, when the Amethyst Winged Lion King sensed the terrifying pressure emanating from the old man, it realized that this old man''s true strength was that of a 7-star Dou Emperor. Even if it teamed up with Yun Yun, they would likely be no match for him. Wisps of purple-colored Amethyst Beast Flame emanated from its body. As the Beast Emperor of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, its dignity would not permit it to retreat. "Humans! This is the Magic Beast Mountain Range! It''s no place for you to run wild!" the Amethyst Winged Lion King roared. This was, after all, the depths of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, and it was not the strongest magical beast in the vicinity. There was still a Rank 7 magical beast within the Magic Beast Mountain Range. However, unless absolutely necessary, it had no desire to involve that Rank 7 magical beast. The elderly man addressed as Mu Lao slightly knitted his brows and turned his head to glance at the young man behind him. It was evident that the 5th-tier alchemist behind him held a higher status and position than himself. Yao Li also furrowed his brows. His objective in venturing out from the clan this time was solely for the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. Moreover, he was well aware of the events that transpired three hundred years prior. Even with the combined might of three Dou Ancestor sects and a 7th-tier alchemist, they ultimately failed to seize the Ten Thousand Beast Flame from the countless magical beasts of the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Thus, he had chosen to bring along a 7-star Dou Emperor and stealthily infiltrate to steal the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. If, by chance, a battle with the Amethyst Winged Lion King were to attract a beast tide, it would not align with his intentions. Yao Li, however, did not immediately depart. He incessantly employed his spiritual perception to scan and sense the surroundings, even going so far as to consume a 4th-tier pill to temporarily enhance his Spiritual Strength. However, the outcome remained fruitless. "How can this be? Could it have fled? Impossible. Mu Lao is a 7-star Dou Emperor. For someone to be swifter than him, wouldn''t they need to be a peak Dou Emperor or even a Dou Ancestor?" Yao Li began to question his own judgment. "Perhaps the Amethyst Winged Lion King once borrowed the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to temper its body, causing its Amethyst Beast Flame to contain a hint of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame? That might be why you sensed the fluctuations of a Heavenly Flame," Elder Mu said calmly. After a moment of silence, Yao Li retracted his spiritual perception and said, "Mu Lao, let us depart." Only after the two figures vanished from sight did Xiao Yan finally heave a sigh of relief. ''This Soul Robe truly can shield against spiritual perception below the Soul State!'' Xiao Yan couldn''t help but feel fortunate that he had previously relied on his Spiritual Strength to reach the Di Class evaluation in the Soul Path, earning him the title of Di Class Soul Envoy and this Di Class Soul Robe. If he had been discovered, he wouldn''t have even known how to escape from an Advanced Dou Emperor. The Amethyst Winged Lion King naturally knew Xiao Yan''s precise location. In fact, Xiao Yan''s position was conveniently obscured by its body. Yao Li placed too much trust in his own spiritual perception; had he circled around the Amethyst Winged Lion King, he would have undoubtedly discovered Xiao Yan. "Hmm? We still have quite a way to go. If we''re slower than them, you won''t have a chance to refine the Ten Thousand Beast Flame," the Amethyst Winged Lion King said, puzzled. Xiao Yan''s expression was grave as he looked around the clean tunnels. "We haven''t encountered a single beast slave for a while now." Only then did the Amethyst Winged Lion King realize with a jolt that not a single beast slave had appeared for quite some time. "A coincidence?" "No, that''s not right. There are many fresh traces of magical beasts here, which proves that there should have been quite a number of beast slaves here not long ago." An ominous premonition suddenly gripped Xiao Yan. "Could it be... but that doesn''t make sense either. There are no signs of battle here. Even if that old man had taken action, there should have been traces left behind." At this point, things felt increasingly off as the Amethyst Winged Lion King continued to carry Xiao Yan deeper inside. No matter how far they flew, they didn''t find a single beast slave, as if all the beast slaves in the entire cave had suddenly vanished. "We''re almost there." Xiao Yan covered himself with the Soul Robe and hid on the back of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, letting its fur conceal him. When the Amethyst Winged Lion King flew out of the tunnel emitting a red glow, the scene before them left both Xiao Yan and the Amethyst Winged Lion King dumbfounded. A massive magical beast with red flames radiating all over its body was sleeping peacefully. Xiao Yan could clearly sense that this fire beast was the true form of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. However, what shocked him was not the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, but the sight of countless beast slaves standing densely packed in the spacious underground hall. All the beast slaves stood like soldiers, obediently following the commands of a single man. Yao Li stood facing the fire beast with his back to the Amethyst Winged Lion King in the air. He said indifferently, "Sigh, you''ve done something incredibly foolish. You didn''t really think I wouldn''t dare to kill you, did you, Amethyst Winged Lion King?" Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Very Familiar! Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Very Familiar! ? Xiao Yan could now be certain.Upstodatee from The mystery of why there were no beast slaves along the way was finally solved! All the beast slaves had actually obeyed Yao Li''s commands and gathered at the location of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. That explained why there were neither beast slaves nor signs of battle along the way! Moreover, the 7th-tier alchemist from three hundred years ago hadn''t completely died. He might even have been a member of the Yao Clan and an elder of this Yao Li! He must have found a way to inform Yao Li that he wasn''t dead and provided the location of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. Over the past three hundred years, countless magical beasts had ventured into the Beast Tomb in search of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, hoping to inherit it. Those magical beasts whose souls had been extinguished were actually not victims of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame itself, but rather of that 7th-tier alchemist! The souls of these magical beasts were removed, and their bodies became vessels for the ghostly figures, turning into soldiers for the 7th-tier alchemist! The war that should have ended three hundred years ago was still raging on at this very moment!! ''Soul body! That''s right, the Spiritual Strength of a 7th-tier alchemist is strong enough to form a soul body!'' Generally, a Heavenly Flame, being a heavenly treasure of utmost yang, would instantly incinerate a soul body upon contact. However, there were exceptions. Xiao Yan had once read about an ancient method in his storage ring. By using a Heavenly Flame to envelop the soul body, it could slow the loss of Spiritual Strength. Not only would the soul body not be burned by the Heavenly Flame, it could survive within the flame for a considerable time. All the clues connected at this moment! Xiao Yan fully grasped the situation and cleared up any lingering doubts. During that war three hundred years ago, the then Lord of the Magic Beast Mountain Range had indeed used the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to perish alongside that 7th-tier alchemist. However, that alchemist knew the ancient method of preserving the soul body using a Heavenly Flame. Over the past three centuries, he had dominated the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and even left his soul imprint within it! This explained why countless magical beasts had come to the Beast Tomb to inherit the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, only to fail. Whether they were Rank 6 or even Rank 7 magical beasts, all of them had failed. The weaker ones even had their souls erased and became beast slaves. It was only natural-the ''spirit'' within the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was no longer the spirit of ten thousand beasts but was controlled by the soul body of that 7th-tier alchemist who should have died three hundred years ago. It would be a miracle if a magical beast could inherit the Ten Thousand Beast Flame under such circumstances! Undoubtedly, this Yao Li had received the spiritual transmission and come to retrieve the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, or rather, his ancestor''s soul body! That''s why Yao Li arrived here faster than the Amethyst Winged Lion King-he knew the way! Yao Li stood facing the fire beast with his back to the Amethyst Winged Lion King in the air. He said indifferently, "Sigh, you''ve done something incredibly foolish. You didn''t really think I wouldn''t dare to kill you, did you, Amethyst Winged Lion King?" Although the Amethyst Winged Lion King wasn''t as quick-witted as Xiao Yan and couldn''t grasp the whole situation right away, it knew that things were looking dire! Surrounded by a dense crowd of beast slaves and the strange events unfolding, the situation was definitely grim! The 7-star Dou Emperor Mu Lao had already locked onto the Lion King. Should it turn to flee, a terrifying attack would undoubtedly follow. "Who''s there?!" Yao Li snapped his head around, for he had heard that laugh before! "Jie Jie Jie, I was curious who would dare compete with me for the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. It turns out to be someone from the Yao Clan." Yao Li and Mu Lao followed the voice, only to see a figure entirely shrouded in a black robe standing on the back of the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Yao Li''s pupils dilated upon seeing the black robe. That attire! That laugh!!! "Who... who are you!" Yao Li demanded with false bravado. The black-robed figure directed the Amethyst Winged Lion King to descend. With a light leap, he landed gracefully and approached Yao Li at a leisurely pace. Seeing the black-robed figure getting closer, Yao Li instinctively stepped back. His Spiritual Perception couldn''t penetrate the black robe at all. "Stay back! Who are you?!" "Jie Jie Jie, Hall of Souls, Hun Yan!" Upon hearing the words "Hall of Souls," Yao Li couldn''t stop trembling. Even the face of the 7-star Dou Emperor beside him turned slightly pale. The Hall of Souls! It was actually the Hall of Souls!!! The Yao Clan was one of the Eight Ancient Dou God Clans, possessing the most powerful alchemy techniques in the Dou Qi Continent. Their strength was unparalleled. Even the mighty Gu Clan had to beg them for pills. But of all Dou God Clans, the one they feared most was the Hun Clan! The Hun Clan hunted soul bodies! They didn''t just target alchemists across the Dou Qi Continent; even the alchemists of the Yao Clan were their prey. Alchemists possessed exceptionally strong Spiritual Strength, and the descendants of the Yao Clan, in particular, were born with powerful souls. Yet the Hun Clan specialized in soul cultivation and possessed the most Soul Skills and Soul Training Methods! Natural Nemesis! Whether intentional or not, at that moment, a corner of the token hanging from Xiao Yan''s waist was exposed, revealing a large character for "Soul." An unmistakable spiritual fluctuation permeated this unique soul character. "Soul Command Token!! You possess the Hun Clan insignia?!" Chapter 88: Chapter 88: We of the Hall of Souls Just Love to Seize Things! Chapter 88: Chapter 88: We of the Hall of Souls Just Love to Seize Things! ? "Soul Command Token! You possess the Hun Clan insignia!" Yao Li''s doubts vanished upon glimpsing the Soul Command Token on the black-robed figure. Clan tokens were something the Yao Clan also possessed. Beyond being a symbol of identity, these tokens were tools provided by the clan with various benefits. They not only enabled spiritual communication abilities but could also summon powerful allies. The Yao Clan''s tokens were refined from various precious medicinal ingredients and were extremely valuable. Wearing it could not only ward off poison and evil spirits but also help concentrate the mind when refining pills. Clan tokens were generally only granted to disciples who could participate in the clan''s coming-of-age ceremony.N/ne?w n0vel chap/ers are published o/n ilar to Xiao Yan''s clan, the ceremony wasn''t just a matter of reaching a certain age; one had to reach a certain level of cultivation to qualify. Only those who met the standard would become true clan disciples, while those who didn''t would be sent to remote areas to develop new territories, which essentially meant exile from the clan. The requirements of the Dou God Clans were even more strict. Only disciples with Dou God Bloodlines of Grade 4 or higher could participate. These disciples would not only receive a token representing their identity but also activate their Clan Mark. Although each token had differences in rank, it was undeniable that only those with at least a Grade 4 Dou God Bloodline could possess one. Yao Li himself had a token, but he had barely made the cut with a Grade 4 Dou God Bloodline. For the Dou God Clans, cultivation level wasn''t the most important thing, nor was talent. The Dou God Bloodline was what truly mattered. Even if one''s talent in alchemy was extraordinary, a subpar Dou God Bloodline could still lead to being framed and exiled from the clan. This concept was subtly instilled in the disciples of the Dou God Clans from a young age. Thus, when Yao Li saw the Soul Command Token, he panicked, because the other party''s Dou God Bloodline was at least on par with his own, if not far higher. Moreover, the other party was a member of the Hun Clan. The Hun Clan was inherently stronger than the Yao Clan. Xiao Yan''s lips curled into a smile under the black robe. He knew that he had made the right bet. The Hall of Souls, or rather the Hun Clan, held greater sway than the so-called Yao Clan! And what he had to do was leverage that power! "You mean this?" Xiao Yan casually took out the Soul Command Token from his waist, letting it dangle in his hand. With a nonchalant wave of the Soul Command Token, Xiao Yan gave Yao Li a lazy glance and said slowly, "No wonder your Yao Clan has declined; it turns out it''s filled with worthless trash like you." His words left the nearby Amethyst Winged Lion King and Mu Lao tongue-tied. The Lion King couldn''t help but wail inwardly, ''Brat, you''re just putting on an act! You''re pointing at Yao Li''s nose and cursing him. If you really provoke his anger and he tries to fight you to the death, it''ll be over!'' Except for the Hun Clan. The influence of the Hall of Souls spread throughout the Dou Qi Continent. They had people everywhere. It could be said that among the many Dou God Clans, the Hall of Souls had the most extensive intelligence network. The reason why Hun Lao Gui had warned Xiao Yan was because members of both the Yao Clan and Yan Clan had inquired with the Hall of Souls about the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. Naturally, Yao Li was afraid. After all, this was the Dou Qi Continent, not the Yao Realm. If Xiao Yan used spiritual transmission to call over Dou Ancestors or even Dou Venerates from the Hall of Souls, it would be akin to courting death. Perhaps the Hall of Souls even had a branch hall in the Magic Beast Mountain Range! The Yao Clan''s identity truly held no sway before the Hall of Souls and might even backfire! "Lion King, what are you waiting for? Our agreement was that I would help you eliminate the enemy''s remnant soul to free the soul of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger, and the Ten Thousand Beast Flame would be mine in return." Xiao Yan feigned displeasure as he questioned. Upon receiving Xiao Yan''s cue, the Amethyst Winged Lion King hurriedly flapped its wings and flew toward the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. As expected, neither Yao Li nor Mu Lao dared to obstruct it. Although Yao Li was so angry that he gnashed his teeth, he still didn''t dare to make a move. If things escalated, his life would be in jeopardy. Yao Li had originally wanted to use the power of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to allow his Dou God Bloodline to advance further. But he hadn''t expected to encounter someone from the Hall of Souls! The Amethyst Winged Lion King stood before the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and asked clumsily, "So, how should I help?" Xiao Yan shook his head in exasperation and said, "Since we already know that the Ten Thousand Beast Flame can''t be inherited because it''s being controlled by a soul body, you just need to use your Beast Flame and Spiritual Strength to help the remnant soul of the Eight- Winged Flame Demon Tiger eliminate the other party." The Amethyst Winged Lion King finally understood Xiao Yan''s plan. It was to take advantage of Yao Li''s lack of response, join forces with the remnant soul of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger, and eliminate the soul body of that 7th-tier alchemist. Without the 7th-tier alchemist, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame would be theirs to command! With a beast''s roar, the Amethyst Beast Flame surged into the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. The Beast Emperor of the Magic Beast Mountain Range had been deceived by a mere soul body for so long! Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Seeing Through Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Seeing Through ? With the fusion of the Amethyst Beast Flame and the Spiritual Strength of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, the suppressed remnant soul of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger was instantly activated and began to counterattack, fighting for control over the Ten Thousand Beast Flame! Yao Ao''s pained voice emanated from within the Ten Thousand Beast Flame.Upstodatee from "Yao Li, do not forget the agreement between us!" Yao Ao had endured three hundred years of torment. As time passed and the Spiritual Strength of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger weakened, he finally succeeded in removing most of its soul from the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and leaving his own soul imprint. After that, he notified his Yao Clan descendants through spiritual transmission to come retrieve the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and resurrect him. After suffering for three hundred years, how could he be willing to let the Hall of Souls take away his prize now?! "If you help me resurrect, I will give you all my wealth, alchemy knowledge, pill recipes, and the medicinal pills stored in my alchemy room!" Yao Li''s heart was in turmoil when he these words. Finally, he abruptly turned around and gritted his teeth. People die for wealth, just as birds die for food-he was willing to risk it all! "Mu Lao, go-" Just then, Xiao Yan sighed and interrupted Yao Li. He slowly raised his hand and said, "You''re too slow." Boom!!! With a resounding boom, endless black flames gushed out from his palm. Mao Wu merged into the Ten Thousand Beast Flame along the black flames. Mao Wu was a Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame that possessed spiritual intelligence. The Heavenly Flame itself inherently restrained soul bodies, and a Heavenly Flame like Mao Wu that had a master was absolutely deadly when it attacked a soul body! "Ah!!! What kind of flame is this!!!" The ability of the Nihility Devouring Flame needed no explanation. Even as a fledgling Seed Flame, any soul body that came into contact with it would find it difficult to extinguish. Within the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength could sense three forces currently surrounding another, most powerful force. The soul imprint that had already been branded was now being continuously eroded and devoured by the Nihility Devouring Flame! The Nihility Devouring Flame could devour anything in the world. There was nothing it couldn''t consume, only a difference in speed. Yao Ao''s control over the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was rapidly weakening as the imprint was being frantically devoured. While he could still hold his ground against the intervention of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, Mao Wu''s involvement turned the situation into a game of cat and mouse. Yao Li''s heart trembled the moment the black flames appeared. His face turned deathly pale as he muttered to himself, "Is this a Heavenly Flame Spirit?! But why is it so strange, why is this Heavenly Flame so weak?!" "Just what methods are the Hun Clan hiding?!" Yao Li was utterly shocked. He had never imagined that his own clan elder would try to invade his body and seize it for himself!! With a buzzing sound, a peculiar green pattern appeared on his forehead. Immediately, a medicinal fragrance began to waft out as his Spiritual Strength instantly increased quite a bit. "Hahaha, a Clan Mark? You think a mere Grade 4 Clan Mark can stop me? Don''t forget, I once possessed a Grade 5 Clan Mark!" Yao Ao laughed deviously. This was his plan all along. He had no interest in that puppet body; he not only wanted to resurrect but also wanted the Ten Thousand Beast Flame! How could he hand it over that easily? As a member of the Yao Clan, possessing the body of a fellow clan member was naturally the most suitable choice for him. Although the integration of soul and body after possession would be troublesome, he believed that with his skills as a 7th-tier alchemist, he would find a way to solve it. Boom!! The scarlet Ten Thousand Beast Flame surged into Yao Li from his seven apertures. The light from the Clan Mark couldn''t hinder it at all. Xiao Yan swallowed. This Yao Ao was too ruthless, not even sparing his own clan''s descendant! He was going to directly erase Yao Li''s soul and take over his body! "Three hundred years! I''ve been trapped in this underground without seeing the sun for a full three hundred years! I can finally return to the clan and see the light of day again!!" Yao Li roared into the sky-no, it should be Yao Ao now. Then, a meaningful smile played on his lips as his gaze fixed intently on Xiao Yan. That smile sent a chill down Xiao Yan''s spine. "Your name is Mu Long, right? Have you ever heard of the Mighty Huang Pill?" Mu Long''s eyes narrowed as he exclaimed, "The Mighty Huang Pill that can directly increase the cultivation of a Dou Emperor by one star?!" "Take care of that Amethyst Winged Lion King for me, and I will refine a Mighty Huang Pill for you." Exposed!!! Xiao Yan gritted his teeth in frustration. He knew his cover was likely blown. The eyes of a high-grade 7th-tier alchemist were too sharp. Or perhaps Yao Ao''s Spiritual State had already reached the Soul State, and the Soul Robe couldn''t conceal him, so he was seen through! Yao Li''s cultivation had only reached the Dou Spirit realm. Even if Yao Ao took over his body, it would be difficult to increase his strength significantly in a short period. He definitely wouldn''t be able to reach his original Dou Ancestor realm, and even the Dou Emperor realm would be hard. So the real key lay with that 7-star Dou Emperor. He was the strongest one here! ''This is bad...'' When Xiao Yan saw the greedy and resolute look in Mu Long''s eyes, he once again realized that medicinal pills could truly make people lose their minds and become utterly obedient! Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Xiao Yan vs. Yao Ao Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Xiao Yan vs. Yao Ao ? Xiao Yan''s eyes flickered with uncertainty. If he fled now, there was indeed a chance he could escape, but that would mean giving up on the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. Mao Wu had already completely devoured Yao Ao''s soul imprint. Right now, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was completely ownerless and he could refine it at any time. Moreover, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was ranked twenty-second. Even though he had not been able to refine the 5th-tier Blood Lotus Essence Pill, his body had absorbed some of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and was strengthened by it. Coupled with a whole box of Ice Spirit Cold Fountain in his storage ring, refining the Ten Thousand Beast Flame could be said to be most suitable for him at this moment. The success rate was very high.U//ppTodated fr/o/m Xiao Yan''s eyes sharpened as he glanced at the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and muttered something under his breath. Roar!! Xiao Yan turned around, and a series of beastly roars erupted from his body. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame that he had stolen from the Amethyst Winged Lion King surged out of his flesh and enveloped him in a blood-red flame. His eyes became fierce, his teeth grew into a pair of fangs, and his hair turned sharp and bristly. He looked like a humanoid magical beast. "Oh ho? It seems you had obtained some wisps of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame before." Seeing Xiao Yan''s body undergoing beast transformation, his muscles bulging and physical strength explosively increasing, Yao Ao wasn''t the least bit flustered. He could tell at a glance that Xiao Yan had used a bit of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to temper his body before. Xiao Yan went all out, dumping the entire batch of five Purple Flame Pills straight into his mouth. In an instant, an unbridled and furious flame swept through his five viscera, six bowels, and eight extraordinary meridians, as a horrifying fire-attribute energy slammed into every inch of his body. But that wasn''t all. He directly swallowed several more pills that could temporarily increase his cultivation and physical strength, raising his cultivation to the 1-star Dou Grandmaster stage! Roar! Xiao Yan roared toward Yao Ao as terrifying heat waves erupted from his body. With the combined power of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and the medicinal pills, his physical strength was now comparable to that of a Rank 4 magical beast. Yao Ao had a look of disdain on his face. Up to this point, Xiao Yan had not used the Soul Command Token to summon strong allies, which confirmed to him that Xiao Yan had indeed been bluffing all along. It was useless no matter how much Xiao Yan tried to increase his strength. Yao Ao knew his own strength very well. Even though Yao Li''s original cultivation wasn''t high, with a Soul State soul and half of the power of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, his current combat strength could rival a peak Dou King or even a 1-star Dou Emperor. Just as Xiao Yan seemed ready to risk everything in a fight, a surge of flames suddenly shot into the sky behind him, and a spiritual transmission echoed in his mind. "Human boy, remember what you promised me." Xiao Yan''s lips curled into an almost imperceptible smile upon hearing this spiritual transmission. He turned to look behind him and saw a gigantic eight-winged tiger beast that was tens of meters tall staring back at him. Xiao Yan knew this was actually the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, but because a part of the soul of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger had fused with it, its appearance looked a bit like the Demon Tiger. The Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger turned into a streak of flames, enveloping his entire body before he could react. In an instant, an unfamiliar power gathered on him. "This is the remnant strength of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger?!" The Amethyst Winged Lion King was utterly astonished. The Lord of the Magic Beast Mountain Range had actually chosen a human over it?! How could this be!! It did make sense, though. Yao Ao was a high-grade 7th-tier alchemist. It would be strange if he didn''t have one. The flames solidified! A fire dragon with bared fangs and brandished claws pounced toward Xiao Yan. Facing this terrifying fire dragon, he seemed to lose all reason and actually charged forward to fight it head-on! With a thunderous boom that shook the earth, Xiao Yan''s hands turned into tiger claws and directly grabbed the fire dragon''s claws! The cries of the dragon and the furious roars of ten thousand beasts rang out. Even against the powerful fire dragon, Xiao Yan remained fearless with the gathered power of ten thousand beasts. "Scram!" Xiao Yan shouted. The muscles on his arms bulged, his veins popping out! With a swift motion, he directly flipped the fire dragon 180 degrees and hurled it back at Yao Ao as if it were a mere weight. The sheer strength of his body was overwhelming. Yao Ao''s expression changed drastically upon witnessing Xiao Yan''s immense physical strength. Instantly, a fiery armor enveloped his body as he prepared to withstand Xiao Yan''s counterattack. The cave began to collapse and the ground shattered into countless pieces with a resounding crash. The scene was incredibly spectacular. In contrast, the battle between the Amethyst Winged Lion King and Mu Long, who should have fought more fiercely given their superior strength, seemed more like a lazy scuffle. Especially Mu Long, he completely refrained from attacking with lethal force and just focused on holding back the Amethyst Winged Lion King to prevent it from going to provide support. "Mu Long! Come take care of him!" Yao Ao shouted at Mu Long. However, Mu Long acted as if the battle was too fierce for him to break free. He continued to drift farther and farther away, even giving the impression that he was being slightly suppressed. Even though medicinal pills could enlist the help of elite experts, those hired hands wouldn''t risk their lives for you. True loyalty couldn''t be bought with pills. "Damn it! All beast slaves, attack!!" Yao Ao waved his hand and countless beast slaves awakened. He still had an ace up his sleeve! These measures were originally meant to deal with the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger and to prevent the magical beasts of the Magic Beast Mountain Range from interfering. Chapter 91: Chapter 91: True Art is... Chapter 91: Chapter 91: True Art is... ? Following Yao Ao''s order, all the standby beast slaves let out roars one after another. These magical beasts contained the cultivators from the three major Dou Ancestor sects who had died in that ancient war. They never imagined that even 300 years after their deaths, they would still be forced to participate in battle. A torrent of steel-like beast slaves charged forward, kicking up immense clouds of dust and sand. Only when the horde of beast slaves got closer did Xiao Yan clearly see that these beast slaves were actually the magical beasts of the Magic Beast Mountain Range. The stampeding magical beasts came in all shapes and sizes. Some were like gigantic pythons, extremely thick and over a dozen meters long. Flames coated their entire bodies, leaving a trail of charred black marks on the ground as they slithered. Others resembled crabs with eight legs; though not very large, they moved with lightning-like speed as they darted to the very front. It could be said that over these 300 years, countless strange magical beasts had fallen victim to Yao Ao''s vile methods and been turned into beast slaves. Xiao Yan''s eyes sharpened and he unleashed the Mad Lion Chant. However, unlike before, the illusory figure appearing behind him was not the Blood Fury Mad Lion but the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger. Blood Fury!U//ppTodated fr/o/m Xiao Yan stomped heavily on the ground. The illusory figure of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger behind him mirrored the action with its massive paw. Instantly, eight cracks spread out from where his foot landed as scarlet magma surged forth in all directions. Boom! Boom! Boom!!! The magma''s destructive force was unleashed. The Mad Lion Chant was originally a Dou Technique that combined Dou Qi and physical strength. Now, with the support of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger''s power and the strength of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, even Xiao Yan''s mere wave of his hand possessed immense destructive power. Back then, when Yun Yun had summoned four tornadoes with a wave of her hand, it was only about this level of power. Xiao Yan had now touched upon a bit of the strength of a Dou Emperor. The terrifying magma instantly melted the charging beast slaves the moment it slammed into them. Even bodies that had been enhanced by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame were unable to withstand this blood-red magma. Xiao Yan didn''t stop his offensive momentum as he gazed at Yao Ao who was hiding behind the beast slaves not far away. The Dou Qi within his body circulated as if it had gone berserk while the Ten Thousand Beast Flame continuously condensed! "Mad Demon Blaze!" The eight fiery wings behind him suddenly spread open. Xiao Yan let out a shout and the wings flapped forcefully. The illusory figure of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger behind him opened its mouth wide and spat out an incomparably scorching blaze, just like how the Demon Tiger had unleashed its Beast Skill Demon Blaze in the past. Borrowing the power of Xiao Yan''s Dou Techniques, Dou Qi, and the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, the Beast Skill of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger was recreated in another form! Roar!! The entire cave trembled when the Demon Blaze was unleashed. The former Lord of the Magic Beast Mountain Range could destroy the sky above and the earth below. Even though the power of this Demon Blaze was less than one percent of the original, it was still extremely terrifying. One of the special abilities of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was that it could transform Dou Qi and Dou Techniques to recreate the Beast Skills of ten thousand beasts! Even Mu Long, who had already retreated to the cave entrance and was ready to flee at any moment, couldn''t help but be horrified when he saw such a demonic flame attack. The Eight- Winged Flame Demon Tiger had once been a peak Rank 7 magical beast, and the power of its ultimate Beast Skill made even him tremble a bit. Every kind of Heavenly Flame in this world should never be underestimated. While its inherent power might not be high, its unique abilities were always extraordinarily mystical. Yao Ao''s expression changed drastically when he saw this world-destroying Demon Blaze rushing over. He also controlled the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and used his powerful Spiritual Strength to form a fire shield to protect himself. "Spiritual Medicine Fire Shield!" He couldn''t bring out the special abilities of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and could only use the portion he had snatched away as an ordinary fire source! The power of ten thousand beasts versus a hundred pills! The terrifying Ten Thousand Beast Flame relentlessly melted the pills, while the medicinal effects of the pills worked to quell the flames. Seeing the two energies clashing more and more fiercely until they gradually began to die down, Yao Ao burst out laughing, "Hahaha!! I have the last laugh! How could the remnant soul of a mere Rank 7 magical beast be a match for me, Yao Ao! The Ten Thousand Beast Flame is mine!" Illuminated by the scarlet firelight, Xiao Yan also revealed a smile as he watched the Ten Thousand Beast Flame Wave that was about to be completely extinguished. "You have no other means of defense left, do you?" Yao Ao''s heart skipped a beat when he heard these words. A feeling of extreme unease suddenly welled up in his heart. The underground world that was originally illuminated bright red by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame suddenly saw the appearance of a second color. Bone-white! A bone-white flame slowly rose into the air, and at the sight of it, the pupils of Yao Ao, Mu Long, and the Amethyst Winged Lion King all contracted violently. "Holy crap! You have a second Heavenly Flame?!!" With a crisp sound, Xiao Yan lightly flicked his finger as if he were flicking off cigarette ash. A wisp of black flame rapidly crashed into the Bone Chilling Flame like a tiny spark. The black flame was so faint that it was almost imperceptible. When Xiao Yan first refined the Nihility Devouring Flame, he noticed that Mao Wu did not dare to enter the storage ring to touch the Bone Chilling Flame. The Nihility Devouring Flame could devour anything, even the flames of other Heavenly Flames could be devoured into energy, all except for the Essence Flame of a Heavenly Flame. Because once the Essence Flame of a Heavenly Flame encountered the Essence Flame of another Heavenly Flame, the result would be- "You probably don''t know, but true art is... an explosion." With a snap, the black spark made contact with the Bone Chilling Flame. A beam of dazzling bone-white light replaced everything else as it cast its glow onto Yao Ao''s horrified face. BOOM!!! Chapter 92: Chapter 92: The Harvest! Chapter 92: Chapter 92: The Harvest! ? A thunderous boom rang out. The tiny wisp of Nihility Devouring Flame that Xiao Yan had flicked out seemed to provoke the Bone Chilling Flame. In an instant, a dazzling bone-white radiance exploded outward, instantly illuminating the entire underground cave. An unimaginably terrifying bone-white flame erupted, filling the entire underground passage in a split second. Xiao Yan watched the beautiful bone-white radiance and suddenly recalled a piece of knowledge he had heard in his previous life on Earth. Hydrogen bombs were triggered by the high temperatures generated from a small amount of nuclear fission, which then caused a chain reaction of nuclear fusion. He wondered if using a tiny bit of the Nihility Devouring Flame to trigger the Bone Chilling Flame''s eruption counted as something similar. This was the complete, true Bone Chilling Flame, ranked 11th on the Heavenly Flame Ranking! Even the previous owner of the storage ring needed to reach the peak of the Dou King realm, prepare all kinds of medicinal pills and precious materials, and finally take a gamble with a one-in-ten chance of survival to obtain it. The power of the Bone Chilling Flame''s full-force eruption was probably difficult for even a Dou Emperor to withstand. At this moment, numerous Beast Emperors throughout the Magic Beast Mountain Range sensed the eruption. They raised their heads the moment the Bone Chilling Flame was ignited, and one by one, they looked in the direction of the Beast Tomb. "Is that the aura of a Heavenly Flame?!" Many Rank 6 magical beasts sensed the aura of a Heavenly Flame. When they realized what it was, they gasped. "A Heavenly Flame different from the Ten Thousand Beast Flame! That''s coming from the direction of the Beast Tomb! Someone has entered it?!" The bone-white flames instantly filled all the underground cave passages, flooding them in an instant. The flames even rushed out from the crevice in the ground and engulfed the entire Beast Tomb Canyon in white. Strangely, nothing was burned after the bone-white flames swept through. Instead, the entire area was turned into an icy wasteland! This was the special ability of the Bone Chilling Flame, a peculiar fire that combined extreme cold and extreme heat. After the terrifying wave of flames passed, what followed was a freezing power that could encase everything in the world in ice. It wasn''t just life that it could freeze. It was said that when the Bone Chilling Flame''s power reached its peak during the alternation of day and night, even time and space would be frozen. The Bone Chilling Flame''s freezing power was beyond what ordinary defenses could withstand. The cold energy had a penetrating nature and could even freeze one''s soul. Icy plains and frozen earth. Now, looking down from above, the entire Beast Tomb had completely changed in appearance. What was originally a land of death had now turned into a frozen wasteland. Even the earth itself was encased in ice. At this moment, the battle site was littered with ice sculptures, each one so lifelike. Well, that made sense, since they had all been alive a few seconds ago...Upstodatee from ong all these ice sculptures, only Xiao Yan maintained a calm expression, a faint smile on his face, as if everything had been within his calculations. The instant the Bone Chilling Flame erupted, he had wrapped himself with the eight wings and used the last bit of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger''s power to protect himself. Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle! Meow! (>^w^<) "This time, it''s all thanks to you. Everything here except the Ten Thousand Beast Flame is yours. Devour to your heart''s content!" Mao Wu''s eyes immediately lit up. There were so many things here! There were quite a few remaining beast slaves and ghostly figures. Most importantly, although the soul of this guy Yao Li was gone, his Dou Spirit cultivation still remained. Xiao Yan used his storage ring to retrieve the Bone Chilling Flame. He could sense that the earlier eruption had depleted its energy. It would need time to slowly absorb the energy of the world to recover. Of course, if he dared to swallow it whole, he would still be burned to death all the same. Xiao Yan slowly walked to a massive ice sculpture. It was the image of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and the remnant of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger. All the flames of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame had been exhausted by Xiao Yan. Now was the perfect time to refine it. The illusory figure of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger began to fade as he used the Nihility Devouring Flame to melt the ice. This marked the complete demise of the Magical Beast Lord of a generation. "Human boy, I''ll give you one last bit of fortune. I hope you can keep your promise." The moment the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger finally vanished, it transformed into specks of light that slowly drifted toward Xiao Yan along with the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. Xiao Yan naturally understood when he saw those specks of light. He immediately sat cross-legged and executed the Spirit Heart Soul Gathering Technique. Those specks of light were the last remnants of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger''s Spiritual Strength, and they might even contain the souls of some of the magical beasts that Yao Ao had killed in the past. The specks of light that resembled a starry sky were pulled together by a suction force, nourishing his soul. Xiao Yan, who had already cultivated the Spirit Heart Soul Gathering Technique to the peak of the minor mastery level, very smoothly entered the major mastery level with the help of these specks of light from the magical beasts'' souls. His Spiritual Strength had now fully reached the level of a 5th-tier alchemist! Chapter 93: Chapter 93: Refining the Ten Thousand Beast Flame Chapter 93: Chapter 93: Refining the Ten Thousand Beast Flame ? After absorbing the remaining Spiritual Strength of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger and raising his own Spiritual Strength to the level of a 5th-tier alchemist, Xiao Yan let out a long breath. ''This soul technique thing is truly amazing. It can actually allow Spiritual Strength to increase so quickly. If I were from the Hun Clan, I wouldn''t want to spread it to outsiders either." Soul Training Methods were completely lost on the Dou Qi Continent. Forget about finding one, even that mysterious storage ring didn''t contain any Soul Training Method, which showed just how rare they were. This also indirectly reflected how terrifying the Hun Clan was. Both the Soul Robe and the Soul Training Method belonged to them. It was even possible that every member possessed them, which was truly frightening to think about. Moreover, that Soul Command Token was simply the bane of soul bodies. Even the soul body of a 7th-tier alchemist couldn''t escape from it. ''If the Hun Clan were to turn over a new leaf, they could probably become ghost-catching masters without any issues." Xiao Yan joked to himself as he took out all the things he had prepared in advance from his storage ring. There was a whole box of Ice Spirit Cold Fountain weighing a ton, as well as various kinds of medicinal pills. He didn''t have the ability to refine 5th-tier Blood Lotus Essence Pills yet, so he could only use other things as a substitute for now. With a clatter, Xiao Yan poured ten medicinal pills into his mouth. These pills could all temporarily increase a layer of defense on the outside of his body. They were all 3rd-tier pills that could withstand the attacks of a Dou Grandmaster. Without the Blood Lotus Essence Pill, he had no choice but to rely on his physical body to endure! He slowly stretched out his hand and directly inserted it into the floating Ten Thousand Beast Flame, searching for the Essence Flame. The moment his hand entered the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, it seemed to be startled and the flames suddenly surged. He stared intently at the scorching blood-red flames, his breathing slightly rapid and his forehead covered in sweat. Sweat flowed down his cheeks. Even though his body had been tempered by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame once before and he had the support of various pills, the moment he touched the flame, he felt a piercing pain as his hand was burned. This was actually just the Ten Thousand Beast Flame ranked 22nd! If he were to absorb the Bone Chilling Flame, wouldn''t he be incinerated upon contact? Unlike the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame lacked intelligence and was a pure Heavenly Flame. As such, it was naturally capable of retaliating against him. Xiao Yan hurriedly stabilized his state of mind. The Spiritual Strength of a 5th-tier alchemist came into play, and he quickly found the location of the Essence Flame. He hastily drank another cup of Ice Spirit Cold Fountain as he felt the cold sensation in his body begin to fade. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame continuously wandered through his body, releasing flames to burn his flesh and bones, crazily tempering them. The Amethyst Winged Lion King on the side watched as the skin and flesh on Xiao Yan''s body burned away and grew back over and over again. Just watching the process made it wince. With the experience of refining the Nihility Devouring Flame Seed the first time, refining the Ten Thousand Beast Flame this time was much smoother. Apart from the Ten Thousand Beast Flame''s special ability of strengthening the body by constantly burning and tempering the flesh and bones, making Xiao Yan feel like he was going to die from the pain, there were no major issues. Moreover, his body already contained a bit of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to begin with. He was well-prepared, had previous experience, and had received help from the Eight- Winged Flame Demon Tiger. The refining process, though painful, was without any major mishaps. Very quickly, after circulating through the Flame Mantra, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was completely marked with Xiao Yan''s imprint and fully under his control. A dazzling blood-red flame burst out of his body, enveloping him in a cocoon of flame at the moment of completion. The blood-red flame shield resembled an egg inside the cave. Xiao Yan sensed the changes in his body within the flame barrier. The remnant power of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger had not only raised his soul to the level of a 5th-tier alchemist but also increased his strength by one star, reaching the 6-star Dou Master stage. ''I can still improve further!'' The Spiritual Strength of a 5th-tier alchemist radiated from within the flame barrier. The remnant Ten Thousand Beast Flame on the ground and inside Yao Li''s body were all absorbed by him. The blood-red flames rushed toward him from all directions. Meanwhile, Mao Wu did not remain idle. It erupted with all its power to melt the solid ice, determined to devour everything it could! For a moment, the entire cave displayed two distinct colors. One side was a swirl of blood-red flames, while the other side was a pitch-black hole. Oh, there was also a tiny bit of purple light flickering pitifully in one corner... Xiao Yan frantically absorbed the remaining Ten Thousand Beast Flame, using it to temper his body while circulating the Flame Mantra to convert the energy into Dou Qi. Meanwhile, his charred flesh gradually began to heal. A layer of new skin regenerated. If one took a closer look at it, one would discover that this fair skin was as hard as steel. Even without using the Ten Thousand Beast Flame or any Dou Techniques, Xiao Yan''s current body was now comparable to that of a magical beast. If he were to use the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and Dou Techniques, his physical strength would reach an astonishing level. After three days and nights, Xiao Yan finally transformed all the remnant Ten Thousand Beast Flame into Dou Qi. ''9-star Dou Master?'' A faint smile appeared on Xiao Yan''s face as he sensed his newfound strength. He then took out the Hidden Spirit Pill he had previously refined. Since he had already reached the 9-star Dou Master stage, he might as well charge forward in one go and break through to the Dou Grandmaster realm! Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Xiao Yans Greed Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Xiao Yan''s Greed ? The Hidden Spirit Pill was a 4th-tier medicinal pill. Not only could it allow a 9-star Dou Master to break through to the Dou Grandmaster realm, but it could also suppress the unstable Dou Qi, solidify one''s foundation, and heal all the hidden injuries from previous breakthroughs, laying the groundwork for the next advancement to the Dou Spirit realm. A gentle medicinal power spread out in Xiao Yan''s body as the Hidden Spirit Pill descended into his throat. Having endured so much pain, to suddenly feel the soothing effect of the medicinal pill almost brought tears to his eyes. Medicinal pills were truly the best things in the world! The blood-red flames gradually receded, and the solid ice in the underground cave had all been melted by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. Xiao Yan sat cross-legged with his eyes slightly closed, his eyelids trembling faintly. After a moment, he slowly opened them. Faint blood-red flames lingered in the depths of his ink-black eyes. After a moment, the flame surged violently and covered his pupils entirely. His eyes had actually turned into red, beast-like pupils, emitting a faint demonic aura. However, upon closer inspection, one would discover a hint of black hidden deep within the red. Xiao Yan clenched his fists tightly. He could truly feel the terrifying power contained within this body. Thanks to the medicinal strength of the Hidden Spirit Pill, he had broken through to the Dou Grandmaster realm. Moreover, benefiting from the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, his physical body was now equivalent to a Rank 3 magical beast even in its normal state. His body alone could withstand the attacks of other Dou Grandmasters when his Dou Qi Armor was activated! Xiao Yan twisted his neck slightly, and the sound of his bones cracking resonated smoothly and clearly. He took a deep breath, his face full of comfort and intoxication as he listened to the clear sound. "The feeling of being a Dou Grandmaster is simply amazing." Lowering his head, Xiao Yan glanced at his fair skin and a hint of helplessness appeared on his face. The healthy, wheat-colored skin he had worked so hard to obtain had now reverted back. Looking at his bare body, he gave an embarrassed laugh and hurriedly took out some clothes from his storage ring to put on. ~o(=nwn=)Meow!! Mao Wu emerged from the void and appeared in front of Xiao Yan, a glistening drop of blood floating on its pitch-black paw. "Why did you bring me a drop of blood? Where did it come from?" Xiao Yan looked at the blood on Mao Wu''s paw and sensed it was no ordinary. Meow! Meow~~ "You''re saying you devoured Yao Li''s corpse and extracted this from it?" Xiao Yan had a look of disgust. What are you extracting corpse oil for?! He took out a pill bottle, collected the drop of blood, and tossed the bottle into his storage ring. Just this single drop wasn''t even enough to refine a pill. Xiao Yan stroked Mao Wu''s warm fur. What was originally just a little kitten had now started growing fur. He could clearly feel that the temperature of the black flames resembling fur had become increasingly terrifying. "You''ve gotten stronger, but fortunately you haven''t gone bald." *Meow~ - ''Barely reached the High Xuan Class.'' Xiao Yan circulated his Dou Qi and confirmed that the Flame Mantra had evolved once again. However, what left him unsatisfied was that after refining the complete Ten Thousand Beast Flame, it had only advanced from the Low Xuan Class to the High Xuan Class. These words sounded like a promise on the surface, but in the circumstances of the time, they were also a veiled threat. If I can''t obtain the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, I will become the bane of the Magic Beast Mountain Range in the future! The Amethyst Winged Lion King simply didn''t understand this. It thought that even if it obtained the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, Xiao Yan would still help it deal with Yao Ao. Little did it know that if the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger had chosen it, Xiao Yan would have turned around and fled. The Amethyst Winged Lion King, possessing the power of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger and the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, would no longer need to care about the promise of the Body Transformation Pill. Moreover, Xiao Yan as the weakest party definitely wouldn''t be able to help it deal with Yao Ao and Mu Long. Regardless of whether Yao Ao lived or died in the end, it had nothing to do with Xiao Yan. After all, there was no real enmity between them without the Ten Thousand Beast Flame in his hands. Three hundred years ago, the Magic Beast Mountain Range couldn''t even withstand a single 7th-tier alchemist. Xiao Yan would have waited until he reached the 7th-tier alchemist before returning to take the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. Thus, giving the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to the Amethyst Winged Lion King would have been a dead end! Although the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger seemed to have many choices, in reality, there was only one. That was to give the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to Xiao Yan and help him eliminate Yao Ao. Once Xiao Yan had figured everything out, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was already in his pocket. He had been gambling not for the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, but for the soul body of a high-grade 7th-tier alchemist. He was betting that his hidden trump card, the Bone Chilling Flame, would be able to freeze Yao Ao''s soul body! Xiao Yan was very greedy. He would be going to the Imperial Capital in half a year. If he had the soul body of a 7th-tier alchemist, he could exchange it for some good items from the Hall of Souls. What he wanted was an attack-type Di Class Soul Skill! In the end, his greed paid off and his gamble succeeded. "Let''s head back. Little Fairy Doctor has been waiting for a long time." Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Dont Talk Too Much (END OF VOL 1) Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Don''t Talk Too Much (END OF VOL 1) ? As Xiao Yan walked out from the underground cave, a beam of dazzling sunlight shone upon him. He could see that the entire Beast Tomb Canyon had turned into an ice valley. The freezing effect of the Bone Chilling Flame relied on sunlight. Without any external forces, this solid ice would likely take one to two years to melt. "Surprisingly no magical beasts came to investigate?" Xiao Yan looked around at the empty surroundings and asked curiously. "Those Beast Emperors heard that the alchemist Yao Ao from back then had been revived, and all this ice was caused by a Heavenly Flame. They were so frightened that they all retreated. Who would dare to come in now?" "And what about the matter of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame?" "They don''t know yet. But once that Rank 7 magical beast awakens, it will likely enter the underground and discover that the Ten Thousand Beast Flame is missing." Xiao Yan shrugged his shoulders. Whatever happens, happens. In any case, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was in his hands now. There was no need to worry excessively. After determining the direction, he flew straight toward the small valley. Having obtained the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and upgraded the Flame Mantra to the High Xuan Class, Xiao Yan''s Dou Qi consumption when using the Eagle Wings had decreased significantly. Moreover, even if he used the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to accelerate, he was able to sustain it for a good while. Xiao Yan followed behind the Amethyst Winged Lion King. With a flip of his hand, a ball of black and red flames appeared in his palm. This flame was neither the Ten Thousand Beast Flame nor the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame, but a special flame formed by the merging of the two. With a swipe of his finger, the black and red flame in his palm split into two, separating the black flame and the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. To be precise, he now possessed three kinds of flames. The weakest one at the moment was the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame, followed by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. Finally, there was the new Heavenly Flame formed by the merging of the two. "Who on earth invented the Flame Mantra? Originally, those Heavenly Flames were so volatile that they would erupt upon contact. Now they can actually merge together." Xiao Yan hadn''t forgotten the eruption of the Bone Chilling Flame, yet the Flame Mantra could actually merge allow Heavenly Flames to merge and separate at any time! It was just that using this merged Heavenly Flame required a terrifying amount of Dou Qi. Soon, Xiao Yan and the Amethyst Winged Lion King returned to the small valley. When the Little Fairy Doctor saw Xiao Yan safe and sound, she was finally completely relieved. Two days ago, the Amethyst Winged Lion King had come back and briefly explained the situation to her, mentioning that Xiao Yan was cultivating and would return in a few days. But only when she truly saw him did she feel at ease. A ball of blood-red flames burst out from Xiao Yan''s palm with a whoosh. It seemed as if ten thousand beasts were stampeding within the flames, emitting roars that resounded in the surroundings. "Mission accomplished. We''re one step closer now." Xiao Yan walked over to Little Fairy Doctor, grinning as he showed off his gains from this trip. Now, only one of the three kinds of Heavenly Flames required for the Poison Pill remained. Once he gathered the Monster Core and the main ingredients, he could start refining the Poison Pill after reaching the 7th-tier alchemist. Despite Xiao Yan''s bright smile, Little Fairy Doctor couldn''t bring herself to smile back. Because two days ago, she had already heard a rough account from the Amethyst Winged Lion King about what had happened. Even though it was described in very general terms with just a few sentences, Little Fairy Doctor broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing it. A 7-star Dou Emperor, the soul body of a 7th-tier alchemist, refining a Heavenly Flame! For a Dou Master, encountering any one of these would result in instant death! "I''m not in a hurry. I haven''t consumed any poison these past few days. You can wait until you reach the 7th-tier before going to find the Heavenly Flame. It won''t be too late," Little Fairy Doctor said worriedly. Regardless of whether Xiao Yan was obtaining the Heavenly Flames for himself or for the promise of the Poison Pill, this favor was so immense that she didn''t know how to repay it. "Hahaha, it''s fine. I need the Heavenly Flames for myself too. Have you cooked? It''s been a while since I had your herbal soup. Here are some medicinal ingredients. See if there are any you need." Xiao Yan took out a storage ring. It was Yao Li''s ring. Although all the pills had been used up, there were still quite a few precious medicinal ingredients inside. Killing the enemy and not looting their treasures was against the laws of heaven. The moment Little Fairy Doctor saw the precious medicinal ingredients, her inner physician''s heart lit up with excitement. She hurriedly walked over and began identifying and selecting them.U//ppTodated fr/o/m Three days passed very quickly. During this time, aside from cultivating, Xiao Yan focused on refining 4th-tier pills and familiarizing himself with the Dou Grandmaster realm With a buzzing sound, an old man emerged from the shadows and sighed, "It is true that heroes are born from the young. No wonder the Young Miss has taken a liking to you." "Young Miss? Who are you?" Xiao Yan had a guess in his heart. "My name is Ling Ying. I was sent by Young Miss Xun Er to secretly protect you, Young Master Xiao Yan," the old man said respectfully. Xiao Yan''s heart trembled. Xun Er''s identity was truly not simple, to send such a person to protect him! He waved his hand and said, "Alright, you can go back and protect Xun Er. I don''t want anyone following me." Xiao Yan had come to train and gain experience. If he had a powerful expert following him, he would develop a reliance mentality. Ling Ying felt like crying. Not long ago, Xun Er had used a flimsy excuse to send him on a wild goose chase through the Jia Ma Empire, supposedly looking for traces of a Dou God''s ruins. It was obvious that she didn''t want to return to the clan. Then, after not finding anything, she sent him to protect Xiao Yan. If you don''t want to go back to the clan, don''t drag me into it! As a result, he had just found Xiao Yan''s whereabouts and followed him for a few days before being discovered! This old face of his was lost. He still couldn''t understand how Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Perception was so strong. He was only eighteen years old! Ling Ying wanted to say something more, but after seeing the look in Xiao Yan''s eyes, he ultimately swallowed his words and raised his hand, "Understood, I''ll go back and report to Miss Xun Er right away." "Ahem, also... don''t talk too much about what happened in this small valley," Xiao Yan said while rubbing his nose. "Uh... I''ll try to keep it brief." ? Xiao Yan shook his head to clear his mind of any distracting thoughts after Ling Ying left. Once he was focused again, he spread his Eagle Wings and flew in the opposite direction. Because of Xiao Yan''s arrival and the matter of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, Little Fairy Doctor''s journey to the Chu Yun Empire had completely changed from its original purpose. Unforeseen events were slowly converging on her, and the storm caused by the butterfly effect was gradually expanding. ... ... END OF VOLUME 1 Chapter 96: Chapter 96: I Want It Chapter 96: Chapter 96: I Want It ? Xiao Yan''s next destination was Rock Desert City. His two older brothers had established their own mercenary company there. A warm smile slowly appeared on his face as he recalled the joyful times of his childhood. ''I wonder why Big Brother and Second Brother sent a message home telling me to visit Rock Desert City. I hope it''s not because of some ignorant fool.'' A dangerous glint flashed through Xiao Yan''s eyes. A blood-red light streaked across the sky, leaving a long trail of fire in its wake. Originally, Xiao Yan had planned to take a flying magical beast from Black Rock City, the closest major city to Qingshan Town, to Rock Desert City. He would also get his alchemist badge while there. However, after considering it further, he decided to rely on his own strength to fly to Rock Desert City. As for the alchemist badge, forget it. He was afraid there wouldn''t be anyone in Black Rock City capable of assessing him. With the wisdom gained from living two lifetimes, Xiao Yan had not only thoroughly studied the vast amount of alchemy techniques, pill recipes, and ancient books within his storage ring, but he had also secretly learned some of Hun Huzi''s alchemy methods. Additionally, he had harnessed the power of Heavenly Flames and possessed the Spiritual Strength of a 5th- tier alchemist. He was certainly not an ordinary 4th-tier alchemist. The strongest alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire, Pill King Gu He, was only at the 6th tier. Even the best alchemist in Black Rock City might not be Xiao Yan''s match. Taking the test there would feel more like showing off. Originally, only Dou Spirits could glide for short distances. However, not only could Xiao Yan fly with his Eagle Wings, but after his Qi Method evolved to the High Xuan Class, both the quality and quantity of his Dou Qi took a tremendous leap. High Xuan Class Qi Methods were not something an average advanced Dou Spirit would possess, let alone the fact that Xiao Yan''s Flame Mantra was no ordinary Xuan Class Qi Method. Possessing the power of Heavenly Flames, the purity of his fire-attribute Dou Qi was simply astonishing. Throughout the entire flight, every time his Dou Qi was depleted, he would cultivate and replenish it through the circulation of the Flame Mantra. Even though the Hidden Spirit Pill had solidified his Dou Qi, he still felt uneasy. Therefore, by repeatedly consuming his Dou Qi to the limit before circulating his Qi Method, he aimed to eliminate any unstable Dou Qi. ''So this is Desert City, quite prosperous.'' Xiao Yan saw a massive city built upon a stretch of yellow sand while he was still several thousand meters away. Desert City was the only large city in the Tager Desert. All mercenary companies heading into the Tager Desert to search for treasure would trade for supplies here. Those in need of precious materials produced in the desert would come here to purchase them. However, the most famous commodity in Desert City was not medicinal ingredients, but Snake-Woman slaves. The Dou Qi Continent was a world where the strong were respected, and the weak had no human rights to speak of. Although the Jia Ma Empire did not support human trafficking, enough money could buy anything. Perhaps it was due to the desert, but the weather here was quite dry and hot. The scorching sun shone down from the sky, baking the earth below and causing it to constantly emit a suffocating heat. That heat slowly rose, causing people''s vision to become somewhat distorted and blurry. Xiao Yan didn''t linger for long. He spread his wings with a whooshing sound and planned to fly over Desert City, traversing the desert to reach Rock Desert City, where Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were located. Although called a city, Rock Desert City was actually much smaller than Desert City, more like a town built on a desert oasis that served as a temporary gathering place for mercenary companies. "Oh? What organization are you from?" "That''s not something you need to concern yourself with, old sir." After a moment of silence, the old man said indifferently, "This map fragment is not for sale. Don''t even think about snatching my map. It will not end well for you." The old man slowly lowered his head and once again immersed himself in the unfinished map as soon as he finished speaking. Although his tone was calm, it left no room for argument. The map fragment of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame lay quietly in Xiao Yan''s palm. After a moment of silence, Xiao Yan smiled faintly, his five fingers slowly closing, grasping the map fragment in his hand. He wanted this map fragment! And not even a god could stop him! The door slammed shut with a ''bang'' just as Xiao Yan''s five fingers closed around the map fragment. The old man suddenly erupted with an extremely strong force of icy energy as his ice attribute Dou Qi burst forth from his body. An extremely cold aura instantly engulfed Xiao Yan, turning him into an ice sculpture in a matter of seconds. Xiao Yan''s name should imply a feud with ice, as he often found himself turned into an ice sculpture. The old man''s eyes remained indifferent, showing no change of emotion from killing someone. "I told you, it will not end well for you." Sizzle sizzle! Suddenly! A sound came from within the ice sculpture. Terrifying fire-attribute energy seemed to be awakening. The ice, which should have been impossible to melt with ordinary flames, was rapidly melting, wisps of white vapor rising! Countless ice shards splattered with a thunderous explosion, and the white vapor dissipated. The blood-red Ten Thousand Beast Flame enveloped Xiao Yan''s entire body, his black pupils transforming into a pair of blood-red beast eyes. Beast Transformation State! "I apologize, old sir. But if you only have the strength of a Dou Spirit, I''m afraid I''ll be taking this map fragment with me." The people from the Hall of Souls just love to snatch things! Chapter 97: Chapter 97: Xiao Yan vs. Hai Bodong Chapter 97: Chapter 97: Xiao Yan vs. Hai Bodong ? "Dou Grandmaster? No, your aura feels somewhat like a magical beast... and that flame is..." The old man''s expression turned solemn. His strength was not as simple as it appeared on the surface. His actual strength was that of a 5-star Dou Emperor, but for certain reasons, his Dou Qi had been sealed to the 2-star Dou Spirit stage. Although his Dou Qi was sealed, his Spiritual Strength and Dou Techniques were still genuinely at the Dou Emperor realm. His Qi Method was a High Xuan Class ice-attribute one, and he even knew a Di Class Dou Technique, not to mention a slew of Xuan Class Dou Techniques. And yet, this ice seal of his had been broken by a mere 1-star Dou Grandmaster?! "Who exactly are you? Neither the imperial family nor the Misty Cloud Sect of the Jia Ma Empire could possibly cultivate a talent like you." The old man stared at Xiao Yan with a sharp gaze, a cold and domineering aura spreading out from his body. However, the moment the old man''s icy Dou Qi came in contact with the blood-red flames surrounding the latter, it instantly evaporated into water vapor. Hidden under his black robe, Xiao Yan smiled faintly and said, "I''m just a kid passing through here to visit relatives. If not for this map, I wouldn''t have disturbed you, old sir." His words were gentle, as if bathed in a spring breeze, but the domineering attitude beneath his words was clear to anyone. He was clearly the one barging in and robbing, yet he made it sound as if he was forced to do this. Upon hearing the other party''s twisted logic, the old man suddenly started to laugh, gradually turning into wild laughter: "Hahahahaha! After being sealed by Queen Medusa for over twenty years, I, Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, have now fallen so low as to be bullied by a Dou Grandmaster! How amusing!" Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed. This old man in front of him was actually the Ice Emperor, one of the top three among the Ten Strong of the Jia Ma Empire from back then! He had heard that the Ice Emperor had disappeared for a long time. Rumors said he had died while exploring some ruins, but who would have thought he had his Dou Qi sealed and was hiding in Desert City! A fierce light flashed in Hai Bodong''s eyes. Tiny, needle-like white ice spikes shot out from his palm with a faint whistling sound. The instant his spiritual perception detected the danger, Xiao Yan quickly condensed the Ten Thousand Beast Flame in his right hand and threw a punch at the incoming ice spikes. Three sharp cracks rang out, and his fist felt a cold sensation as a layer of frost formed on it. He circulated his Dou Qi, and the Ten Thousand Beast Flame instantly vaporized the frost. Xiao Yan lightly blew on the remaining ice shards on his fist, his eyes narrowing slightly as a competitive spirit rose within him. After refining the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, he had not had a chance to test it in real combat. Now, he happened to come face to face with a 2-star Dou Spirit who was once a formidable elite Dou Emperor. His hands quickly formed a seal. At this moment, it was as if the former Ice Emperor had returned, filled with unstoppable resolve. Instead of dodging, he met the attack with his own palm strike. His hands quickly formed a seal. At this moment, it was as if the former Ice Emperor filled with an unyielding spirit had returned. Instead of dodging, he met the attack with his own palm strike. "Ice Sky Palm!" Fist and palm collided, and the clash of two opposing energies unleashed a terrifying shockwave that swept through the entire shop. Shelves, books, tables, and chairs were thrown into the air, while maps scattered like leaves in a storm. "Ice Explosion!" "Hidden Force, Erupt!" Two explosions rang out almost simultaneously. The eightfold hidden force of the Octane Blast erupted. Hai Bodong retreated eight steps before stabilizing his body. Meanwhile, Xiao Yan was sent flying but managed to flip in the air and spread his Eagle Wings to stabilize himself. Xiao Yan''s entire right hand turned extremely pale. Even the Nihility Devouring Flame needed some time to devour this ice-cold energy. However, Hai Bodong was not faring any better. The terrifying aspect of the Hidden Force was the internal injuries it caused. In terms of Dou Techniques, Xiao Yan held the advantage with his Ten Thousand Beast Flame-enhanced Octane Blast. But Hai Bodong''s Dou Qi cultivation was at the Dou Spirit realm, so Xiao Yan wasn''t having an easy time either. Hai Bodong stared at Xiao Yan in the air and said in a deep voice, "A flying-type Dou Technique, you really are full of surprises." Xiao Yan took the Heavy Xuan Ruler out of his storage ring and said with a faint smile, "Old Hai is also a precious blade not yet rusted." As a Dou Emperor, Hai Bodong still had a Di Class Dou Technique he hadn''t used yet, but he sensed that Xiao Yan also had hidden cards to play. Most importantly, Hai Bodong actually understood that he probably couldn''t keep Xiao Yan here. This was because Xiao Yan possessed a Heavenly Flame, which severely suppressed his ice attribute Dou Qi. Normally, the cold energy entering the body would be enough to slow down one''s Dou Qi circulation, but the Heavenly Flame could eliminate the cold energy within the body. "If I''m not mistaken, you possess a Heavenly Flame, don''t you? Otherwise, there''s no way a mere Dou Grandmaster like you could dissipate my cold energy so easily." Chapter 98: Chapter 98: The Cunning Xiao Yan Chapter 98: Chapter 98: The Cunning Xiao Yan ?Upstodatee from Upon hearing Hai Bodong''s question, Xiao Yan merely smiled beneath his black robe. Gripping the Heavy Xuan Ruler, he slowly descended from the air and landed on the ground before storing the ruler in his storage ring. His keen Spiritual Strength allowed him to notice that Hai Bodong no longer had any battle intent. Even the circulation of his Dou Qi had slowed down significantly. The reality was indeed as such. After a round of fierce combat and mutual probing, it became apparent that if Xiao Yan really wanted to escape, Hai Bodong might not even be able to match his flight speed with only the strength of a Dou Spirit. Moreover, with the suppressive effect of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame against ice attribute Dou Qi, even though Hai Bodong was more proficient with Dou Techniques and had higher- class Dou Qi, he still couldn''t prevent Xiao Yan from leaving. "Old Hai has good eyes. This is indeed a Heavenly Flame," Xiao Yan said without any concealment. The fact that he was able to suppress Hai Bodong''s ice attribute Dou Qi made the answer self-evident. He was actually quite satisfied with the outcome of this battle. To defeat a former Dou Emperor as a 1-star Dou Grandmaster seemed unrealistic no matter how one looked at it. However, at the very least he now knew that he had the ability to contend against a Dou Spirit. If his opponent was an ordinary low-star Dou Spirit who did not cultivate a High Xuan Class Qi Method and was unfamiliar with Di Class Dou Techniques, he was confident he could even defeat them. He had gained a better understanding of his own strength. A hint of dread flashed through Hai Bodong''s mind when he heard Xiao Yan''s admission. ''Could this kid be from one of those factions?'' As a former Dou Emperor, he had once attempted to leave the Jia Ma Empire and venture to the more central regions of the Dou Qi Continent. There, he had encountered disciples of the continent''s top factions. Di Class Qi Methods were nothing to those top factions. Rumors even said they possessed Tian Class Qi Methods. Elite Dou Ancestors, who were unheard of in the Jia Ma Empire, were not uncommon in those places. Hai Bodong found it difficult to maintain his composure after being shocked by the terrifying strength of those transcendent factions. Moreover, Xiao Yan had mentioned from the beginning that he was collecting these map fragments under the orders of an organization. Of course, Hai Bodong had no way of knowing that Xiao Yan was just trying to intimidate him. But it was precisely this intimidation that made Hai Bodong treat the matter with more caution. "Sigh, I never expected that after hiding here for over twenty years, I would be reduced to such a sorry state by a Dou Grandmaster. It''s quite pathetic." Hai Bodong''s voice was tinged with a hint of desolation. Then his tone suddenly changed as he looked at Xiao Yan and calmly said, "Kid, this map fragment is very important to you, isn''t it?" Xiao Yan fell silent for a moment before nodding. Noticing this, Xiao Yan frowned and asked, "Old Hai, you don''t expect me to refine a pill to break Queen Medusa''s seal, do you?" Hai Bodong nodded and said, "Well, I''ve found a pill recipe that can break this kind of seal over the past twenty years." Xiao Yan''s expression turned exasperated. "Old Hai, as far as I know, Queen Medusa''s strength is that of a peak Rank 6 magical beast. The seal she used to seal you for twenty years can''t possibly be an ordinary one. You would need at least a 6th-tier medicinal pill to break a special seal technique of a Rank 6 magical beast. Wouldn''t it be better to seek out Gu He for that?" "He can''t do it. The first requirement of the pill recipe I found is a Heavenly Flame, and I know that Gu He doesn''t have one," Hai Bodong sighed. He wouldn''t have been sealed for over twenty years if it were that simple. "You possess a Heavenly Flame, and I was hoping you could ask the faction behind you to help refine it," Hai Bodong said. Xiao Yan''s eyes flickered as he understood Hai Bodong''s intention. However, the problem was that he didn''t actually have any faction backing him. The Hall of Souls couldn''t be considered a real faction. It was more like a company. You worked for them, and they paid you. The Hall of Souls took orders from the Hun Clan, and he was not a member of the Hun Clan. The Hun Clan and the Yao Clan were examples of true family-based factions. But! As it turned out, he actually had a way to break the seal! Back when Yun Yun was affected by the Amethyst Winged Lion King''s seal, he relied on the Nihility Devouring Flame to devour the seal entirely! Moreover, Mao Wu was much stronger now than back then. Although Queen Medusa was a peak Rank 6 magical beast, Xiao Yan believed that the Nihility Devouring Flame could still devour the seal. It was just a matter of time. Xiao Yan didn''t need to refine any pills at all. He could directly use the Nihility Devouring Flame to help Hai Bodong break the seal. Hai Bodong could never have imagined that the eighteen-year-old boy in front of him actually possessed the Nihility Devouring Flame, the 2nd-ranked flame on the Heavenly Flame Ranking! ''If this matter is handled properly, it could turn into a lucrative opportunity.'' Xiao Yan''s merchant-like mind had already started calculating how to squeeze Hai Bodong dry! Chapter 99: Chapter 99: The Great Deceiver Chapter 99: Chapter 99: The Great Deceiver ? Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at Hai Bodong with a smile curling on his lips. For some reason, a chill ran down Hai Bodong''s spine from being looked at in this manner. Xiao Yan chuckled and said, "Old Hai, although the faction behind me is powerful, they are not specialized in alchemy. There are indeed higher-tier alchemists, but I am the only one who possesses a Heavenly Flame." "To be honest, although I can only refine 4th-tier pills right now, my innate Spiritual Strength is much higher than the average person''s. It has already reached the level of a 5th- tier alchemist." Hai Bodong suddenly realized something upon hearing these words. He thought to himself, ''No wonder this kid''s attacks are so sharp, almost as if he can see through my moves. His Spiritual Strength is actually comparable to that old fellow Fa Ma!'' Xiao Yan revealed a brilliant smile and said, "Moreover, I''m actually only one step away from becoming a 5th-tier alchemist myself. All I need is to practice refining 5th-tier pills, which means I just need resources to get there quickly." !!!! Hai Bodong''s eyes widened. He originally thought Xiao Yan''s combat strength was already astonishing enough, but he didn''t expect his alchemy skills to be even more astounding! Whose disciple was this?! "Old Hai, I''m confident that I can reach the level of a 6th-tier alchemist within one year at the earliest, or three years at the latest. By then, I will be able to refine the pill you need." If the Amethyst Winged Lion King were here, it would likely curse Xiao Yan for being a great deceiver. How familiar this spiel sounded! But! Xiao Yan''s bluff worked like a charm every single time! Hai Bodong actually started to seriously consider it. The main reason was that Heavenly Flames were extremely difficult to obtain, and it was even rarer to find a 6th-tier alchemist who possessed a Heavenly Flame. Hai Bodong had searched for over twenty years without finding one. Xiao Yan could be said to be the most promising candidate he had encountered in the past two decades. If he missed this opportunity, Hai Bodong might not live long enough to wait for the next one. Most importantly, Xiao Yan was still very young and even possessed a Heavenly Flame. Becoming a 6th-tier alchemist, which was difficult for others to achieve, might not be too challenging for him. Xiao Yan was getting more and more skilled at making these empty promises. His ability to bluff had gone from impressive to downright masterful! "What do you want?" Hai Bodong understood Xiao Yan''s intention to some extent. While he was trying to inflate the value of the map fragment, Xiao Yan was raising his own worth. The two of them were engaged in a subtle game of bargaining. "Old Hai, it''s not about what I want, it''s about what you can offer me," Xiao Yan replied, a fox-like smile spreading across his face. "Alas," Hai Bodong couldn''t help but sigh. He knew that Xiao Yan had him cornered, as he was his only hope to break Queen Medusa''s seal. His hair was already white; he couldn''t afford to wait much longer. "I''ll give you the remaining map fragment." "Not even the Miteer Auction House has it?" "No." Xiao Yan pondered for a moment. He initially wanted to say it wasn''t necessary, but if he said that, not only would he be unable to swindle the pill recipe and medicinal ingredients, but most importantly, he wouldn''t be able to buy himself time. Removing Hai Bodong''s seal wasn''t a problem. The problem was that once it was removed and Hai Bodong regained his Dou Emperor strength, how could he ensure his own safety? Xiao Yan definitely wouldn''t remove Hai Bodong''s seal and allow him to regain his former strength before having the means to protect himself. The one-to-three-year timeframe he mentioned was a stalling tactic to give himself time to grow strong enough to face a Dou Emperor, or at least be able to escape from one. "I can help you find it, but..." Xiao Yan raised his eyebrows. The meaning was very obvious. It would cost extra! "I can give you some intelligence. Just half a year ago, Gu He had secretly led a group into the desert to search for a Heavenly Flame." !!!? A Heavenly Flame in the desert! "Did he find it?" Xiao Yan asked, only to realize it was a stupid question. If Gu He had found a Heavenly Flame, Hai Bodong wouldn''t be in such a predicament. "No, he didn''t. That''s why this intelligence is so valuable. A Heavenly Flame is a natural treasure of Heaven and Earth, and only those who are predestined can possess one. Since you have a Heavenly Flame, it might be able to attract each other and help you find another Heavenly Flame. Gu He couldn''t find it, but maybe you can." Xiao Yan rolled his eyes directly. He had bluffed Hai Bodong, and now Hai Bodong was trying to bluff him back. If Gu He couldn''t find it, it proved that this intelligence was either false or the Heavenly Flame had already been taken by someone else. Even Gu He had come up empty-handed, so what could he possibly do? However, he still agreed in the end because this was something he got for free. He wasn''t going to look for any Sand Datura at all. When his strength had increased, he would come back to remove Hai Bodong''s seal and take the map fragment. This intelligence was just a free gift, so why not accept it? After bidding farewell to Hai Bodong, Xiao Yan unfolded his Purple Cloud Wings and flew directly toward Rock Desert City. Looking at the map in his hand, he saw that it was marked with several circles but contained no other information. Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly. This Hai Bodong was too good at deceiving people, almost as good as himself. Chapter 100: Chapter 100: Carrot Chapter 100: Chapter 100: Carrot ? The vast desert stretched endlessly, its golden sands the sole dominant color. The sound of the howling wind echoed incessantly as it carried the sand across the land and sky. A pair of fiery red wings sliced through the sky above the yellow sands with a rumbling sound of breaking wind. The strong wind carved a trail on the ground that was quickly covered by the shifting dunes. Xiao Yan was flying directly from Desert City to Rock Desert City. For ordinary people, the distance between the two cities was a very long one. To put it in perspective, Desert City was like a port city, while Rock Desert City was like an island in the middle of the sea. However, for Xiao Yan who could fly, it only took him an hour to arrive. As for the map Hai Bodong had given him, he didn''t even spare it a glance. Soon, the outline of Rock Desert City nestled in the Tager Desert faintly appeared in Xiao Yan''s line of sight. The smile on his face grew a few more degrees as he saw the city not far away. When he was still a few hundred meters away, Xiao Yan retracted his Eagle Wings and slowly landed at the city gates, paid the entry fee, and followed the stream of people inside. ''There sure are a lot of people here.'' To his surprise, this city in the desert had a considerable flow of people coming and going. Most of them were fierce-looking mercenaries armed with swords and daggers. There were also a few traveling merchants among them. Rock Desert City had a heavier, more oppressive atmosphere than the cities within the empire. The people who chose to stay here all came for the resources in the desert. Perhaps due to the Snake-People Race, the defenses here were much stricter than in Wu Tan City. Fully armed city guards could be seen patrolling everywhere.N/ne?w n0vel chap/ers are published o/n After entering the city, Xiao Yan casually inquired and easily found out the location of the Desert Metal Mercenary Company. ''It seems Big Brother and Second Brother''s mercenary company has quite a reputation in Rock Desert City.'' Xiao Yan couldn''t help but feel a few traces of curiosity in his heart upon hearing the residents'' evaluation of the Desert Metal Mercenary Company. He walked south, and soon a compound similar in size to the huge compound the Xiao Clan occupied in Wu Tan City appeared before his eyes. At the top of the compound, a flag waved in the wind with the words ''Desert Metal Mercenary Company'' written in large letters. The drawing on the flag faintly emitted a sense of unyielding iron-bloodedness. Xiao Yan felt his anxious heart relax a little as he looked at the huge compound. At least his two older brothers had succeeded in establishing themselves outside. His Big Brother Xiao Ding and Second Brother Xiao Li were his biological elder brothers born to the same parents. "Hahaha! Xiao-Yan-Zi, you finally came. How is it? Does this Desert Metal Mercenary Company pass muster in the eyes of a genius like you?" Xiao Li laughed heartily as he quickly stepped forward, giving Xiao Yan a bear hug and a big pat on the back. His voice was equally filled with excitement and joy. Xiao Yan put his arm around Xiao Li''s shoulder and laughed, "Not bad at all. Their physical condition is pretty good and they have guts too. At least there are no spineless cowards among them. They deserve a reward!" Xiao Yan flicked his storage ring, and ten bottles filled with medicinal pills appeared in his hand with a series of clangs. The eyes of the mercenaries lying on the ground immediately lit up when they saw those bottles brimming with pills. Even Xiao Ding and Xiao Li couldn''t help being a little startled. Their father, Xiao Zhan, had long told them that Xiao Yan was an alchemist who had refined a large number of pills for the clan. This allowed the Xiao Clan to monopolize the entire Wu Tan City and become the sole dominant force. Even so, the sight of Xiao Yan''s generous gift still gave them a shock. "Here are nine bottles of 1st-tier Rejuvenation Pills suitable for Dou Practitioners. They can heal wounds quickly. There''s also a bottle of 2nd-tier Body Recovery Pills suitable for Dou Masters. These pills not only help with external wounds but are also effective for internal injuries." "Second Brother, take care of the distribution." Xiao Yan directly stuffed all the bottles into the arms of a dumbstruck Xiao Li. "Tsk tsk tsk, you really are something..." Xiao Li was at a loss for words. So many pills! Even the biggest medicinal merchant in Rock Desert City probably couldn''t take out this many at once. Standing behind them, Xiao Ding glanced at Xiao Yan and understood his intentions in doing this. Carrot and stick-this move would likely unite the entire Desert Metal Mercenary Company like a solid steel plate. Xiao Yan wasn''t just simply testing the members of the mercenary company, but also raising the standing of his two elder brothers to prevent anyone from becoming a mole for outside mercenary companies. Even moles would turn into their own men with this gesture. Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Truly My Brothers Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Truly My Brothers ? "By the way, Second Brother, what is this lady''s name?" Xiao Yan looked toward a graceful figure leaning on a weapon and panting. This young lady appeared to be around twenty years old. Her pretty face was quite exquisite, but her slightly arched eyebrows faintly carried an untamed feeling, like a young female leopard in the desert. Looking at her disposition, one could imagine that although this desert flower was beautiful, she was also covered in thorns. She dressed boldly and provocatively, her short clothes barely covering her chest and some skin underneath, leaving her bronze-colored, sexy, narrow waist exposed. Below her short leather skirt, a section of long, alluring legs was revealed. Xiao Li chuckled, "Oh ho, Xiao-Yan-Zi, you''ve taken a liking to her already? Her name is Xue Lan, and she''s the flower of our mercenary company." Xue Lan''s cheeks immediately turned red when she heard Xiao Yan''s words. The other mercenaries looked heartbroken but didn''t dare to say anything. Xiao Yan gave Xiao Li an exasperated look and said, "Second Brother, what nonsense are you spouting? Her strength is not bad, her foundation is very good, and she has enough ferocity. Just now, she was the only one who counterattacked." He then looked at Xue Lan and took out a pill bottle from his storage ring. There was only one medicinal pill inside. He said, "Your name is Xue Lan, right? I can tell you''re already a 9-star Dou Practitioner. This is a high-grade 2nd-tier medicinal pill called ''Minor Spirit Pill''. It can increase the success rate of breaking through to the Dou Master realm by 50%. With your foundation and level of Dou Qi, having this pill should guarantee your breakthrough to the Dou Master realm." Xiao Yan casually tossed the pill bottle toward Xue Lan. Seeing such a precious medicinal pill being thrown over like this, not to mention Xue Lan, even the mercenaries beside her scrambled to catch it, turning the entire compound into a chaotic mess once again. Xue Lan caught the medicinal pill and looked at the light blue pill inside with disbelief. He''s just giving it away?! A high-grade 2nd-tier medicinal pill! And an extremely rare one that helps with breakthroughs! In the entire Rock Desert City, not to mention purchasing it, they had never even heard of such a pill! "I... I..." Xiao Yan waved his hand and said, "I don''t like taking back things I''ve given away. Just work hard for the mercenary company in the future."The? source of this conte/nt n/o/v/(el)bi((n)) "Thank you, Third Company Leader! I, Xue Lan, will never forget Third Company Leader''s kindness!" Xue Lan kneeled on one knee and spoke resoundingly. Xiao Ding shook his head, walked up behind Xiao Yan, and patted him on the head. "All right, Xiao-Yan-Zi, we know you''re an alchemist now. Come, let''s go inside and talk." He looked at the young man who was nearly as tall as himself, and a trace of doting and gentleness flashed through his eyes. Unknowingly, Xiao Yan had already grown so tall. When Xiao Li saw that Xiao Ding was dragging Xiao Yan into the compound, he quickly handed the pills to a trusted member of the company and instructed him to distribute one pill to each person as a life-saving measure. Then he hurriedly followed them inside. Looking at the three brothers walking away with their arms around each other''s shoulders, laughing and talking, the mercenaries in the compound clicked their tongues and said, "So that''s the genius younger brother the two Company Leaders often mention." And the Snake-People Race''s women had unparalleled abilities in arousing men''s desires; the two brothers only feared that Xiao Yan might not be able to perform... Xiao Yan naturally noticed the girl named Qing Lin. Although she was only thirteen or fourteen years old, perhaps due to her mixed Snake-People bloodline, her delicate and exquisite figure was curvy where it should be and flat where it should be. These were all fatal temptations for those with certain peculiar tastes. Originally, Xiao Yan thought she was just an ordinary servant. Who would have thought! Xiao Ding naturally overheard the conversation but didn''t deny it. He even glanced at Xiao Yan as if to ask: Is everything still working fine? Need some stimulation tonight? Qing Lin''s face turned red all the way to her ears. She stood to the side holding the wine pot, occasionally stealing glances at Xiao Yan. Xiao Ding had told her about this matter long ago, hoping that she could stay by Xiao Yan''s side and serve him once she came of age. Xiao Yan directly rolled his eyes at his two brothers. "You two are truly my brothers." His words were filled with both helplessness and warmth toward these older brothers of his. "My dear brothers, you didn''t write home six months ago and ask me to come all the way to Rock Desert City just to tell me this, did you?" More than six months ago, before Jia Nan Academy''s recruitment team had arrived, Xiao Ding had written a letter home asking him to come to Rock Desert City. He had replied that he would find time to visit. He never expected it to be for something like this!! Xiao Ding and Xiao Li''s expressions changed immediately upon hearing Xiao Yan''s words. Xiao Li said in a heavy voice, "Qing Lin, you stay. Everyone else, leave." "Understood, Second Leader!" The mercenaries standing guard outside closed the door, and everyone consciously left the vicinity of the compound. Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed when he saw the serious atmosphere. It seemed he had misunderstood. Xiao Ding lowered his voice and said in a very serious manner, "Xiao-Yan-Zi, we have discovered traces of a Heavenly Flame." Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Unification It Is Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Unification It Is ? Xiao Ding lowered his voice and said in a very serious manner, "Xiao-Yan-Zi, we have discovered traces of a Heavenly Flame." !!!!!!?? Xiao Yan''s eyes instantly widened in shock. It was actually news about a Heavenly Flame?!! He looked utterly incredulous, as he had never considered this possibility. His two brothers were only at the Dou Master realm. Such strength had nothing to do with a Heavenly Flame, not to mention how they could have sought one out! Xiao Li saw Xiao Yan''s puzzled and astonished expression and said, "Have you forgotten? Big Brother and I asked you what you wanted as a present on your twelfth birthday. You told us it would be great if you could have a Heavenly Flame." A jolt of realization suddenly surged through Xiao Yan''s mind. With this reminder, he abruptly recalled the events of that year. He was the genius of the clan. When he was just over eleven years old, he broke the record in the entire Wu Tan City and became the youngest Dou Practitioner in the city''s history. One could start cultivating a Qi Method after reaching the Dou Practitioner realm. At that time, because he possessed the Bone Chilling Flame, he chose the Flame Mantra from his storage ring. The result was predictable. The Flame Mantra was merely a Low Huang Class Qi Method. This wasn''t because the Flame Mantra without a Heavenly Flame could only reach the Low Huang Class, but rather because the lowest class for a Qi Method was already Low Huang Class. There was simply nothing lower than that! His cultivation speed ultimately slowed to a crawl after he started cultivating the Flame Mantra. At that time, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were determined to go out and make a name for themselves, so before leaving, they asked him what he wanted.U//ppTodated fr/o/m Xiao Yan had blurted out that he wanted a Heavenly Flame. He never imagined that his two older brothers would remember this casual remark until now! "At first, Big Brother and I didn''t know what a Heavenly Flame was. We only found out how incredible it was after making some inquiries. Later, we heard that there was a Heavenly Flame in the Tager Desert, so we decided to establish a mercenary company here in Rock Desert City. You brat didn''t become an alchemist at twelve, did you? Is that why you wanted a Heavenly Flame?" Xiao Li took a sip of strong liquor and spoke of past events while heartily eating meat. Even Xiao Yan who had experienced two lifetimes couldn''t help but feel his eyes moisten and his nose turn sour when he heard his Second Brother''s words. "Hahaha, Xiao-Yan-Zi, what''s wrong with you? Why are your eyes red?" Xiao Li put an arm around his shoulders and teased him. "Nonsense, it''s just that I drank too much and my eyes are sweating from the heat!" Xiao Yan hurriedly gulped down some wine and replied sheepishly. "Hahaha, your eyes are sweating? Looks like you really are drunk!" Xiao Ding nodded and said, "Don''t worry, we''ve long made preparations. We can dig a hole and enter the underground to search at any time. But the problem is that the place is not far from Rock Desert City, and there''s another mercenary company in the city called the Sand Mercenary Company, whose strength is not inferior to ours. They might come to cause trouble." "The Sand Mercenary Company? How strong are they?" Xiao Yan asked. Xiao Li snorted disdainfully and said angrily, "What strength could those guys have? They were just established earlier than us and rely on their leader being a Dou Grandmaster. Damn it, if they really dare to stop you from searching for the Heavenly Flame, even if I lose face, I''ll go back to the clan and ask a few elders to come over and wipe them out in one fell swoop." Xiao Yan chuckled and said, "There''s no need to trouble the elders of the clan.. As it happens, I also broke through to the Dou Grandmaster realm not long ago." Pfft!!! Xiao Li spat out the wine in his mouth all over Xiao Ding''s face. Xiao Ding didn''t even have time to wipe it off as the two of them stared at Xiao Yan in shock. "You, you, you... Xiao-Yan-Zi, you''re a Dou Grandmaster?!!" Xiao Li''s mouth was wide enough to fit a duck egg. He had thought Xiao Yan was at most a high-star Dou Master, perhaps even a 9-star Dou Master. He never imagined he had already become a Dou Grandmaster!! Was breaking through from Dou Master to Dou Grandmaster really that simple?! "Since I''m already here, we might as well unify all the mercenary companies in Rock Desert City." Xiao Yan took a sip of wine and smiled nonchalantly, not putting any mercenary companies in his eyes at all. Dou Grandmaster? His cultivation might be at the Dou Grandmaster level, but his actual strength had already reached the Dou Spirit realm! As long as there were no advanced Dou Spirits, he could walk sideways in Rock Desert City! After discussing everything, the three Xiao brothers continued to drink for quite a while, chatting late into the night about the amusing events in the clan over the past three years. "Big Brother, Second Brother, I''m going to head back to my room now. See you tomorrow," Xiao Yan said, drunk and swaying slightly. "Qing Lin, help Third Brother back to his room," Xiao Ding said with a nod. Qing Lin''s cheeks instantly turned as red as a ripe apple, even redder than the drunk Xiao Yan! She took Xiao Yan''s hand and placed it on her shoulder, not minding at all that his hand brushed against her somewhat prematurely developed chest. Xiao Yan shuddered and quickly withdrew his hand, "Uh, Qing Lin, you should have your own thoughts and ideas. You don''t need to listen to everything my big brother says. Understand?" Qing Lin fidgeted with her fingers shyly and replied in a low voice, "It was the Company Leader who saved me and brought me back. My life belongs to the Company Leader, so I should listen to him." Xiao Yan looked at the young girl who was only thirteen or fourteen years old in front of him. He didn''t have that kind of peculiar taste! Besides, Xun Er was still waiting for him at Jia Nan Academy. How could he possibly do such a thing while outside? He directly used the Exploding Steps and practically fled back to his room. As he hurried away, he couldn''t help but think that Nalan Yanran''s determination to pursue romantic freedom, even if it meant defying her family and society''s norms, was truly a thousand years ahead of its time on the Dou Qi Continent! Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Just Letting You Know Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Just Letting You Know ?N/ne?w n0vel chap/ers are published o/n Early the next morning, Xiao Yan got up and circulated the Flame Mantra for a full cycle before slowly opening his eyes and looking out the window. ''It feels great to have a higher-class Qi Method. The cultivation speed is nearly ten times faster compared to a Low Xuan Class Qi Method.'' Qi Methods were the lifeline of cultivators. In just over ten days since the Flame Mantra evolved, his cultivation progress had equaled what it would have taken him a hundred days in the past. Even though cultivating as a Dou Grandmaster was more difficult and required more Dou Qi than as a Dou Master, the Dou Qi within his body had already reached the intermediate 1-star stage. He estimated he could break through to the 2-star Dou Grandmaster stage with another month of cultivation. Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed as his Spiritual Strength sensed someone approaching. Knock, knock, knock. There was a knock on the door, followed by Qing Lin''s tender voice coming from outside, "Young Master, I''ve brought hot water for you to wash your face." Xiao Yan got out of bed and said, "Come in." The door opened with a creak, and Qing Lin walked in carrying a basin of hot water. "Young Master, let me help you wash up." She soaked a towel in the water and wrung it out forcefully before walking up to Xiao Yan with a hint of timidity, ready to help him wash his face. Xiao Yan shook his head with a wry smile and said, "No need, I can do it myself. I''m really not used to this kind of life where I need help even for washing my face." He reached out and took the towel from Qing Lin''s hand. Even at home, he wasn''t the type of young master who needed to be waited on hand and foot. Qing Lin''s expression was a bit unnatural as she tugged on her sleeve to cover the snake scales on her wrist. She asked nervously, "Is Young Master bothered that Qing Lin is a dirty snake- human hybrid?" Xiao Yan wiped his face and put the towel back in the basin. Glancing at Qing Lin, who had a trace of tears in the corner of her eyes, he said in a voice as calm as a gentle breeze, "You''re overthinking it. I don''t hold any prejudice against hybrids, Snake-People, or anything like that." "I really should take you to the imperial capital in half a year and introduce you to someone. You always have this inexplicable sense of inferiority, whereas she''s the opposite, always brimming with a mysterious self-confidence." Xiao Yan stretched his neck and body, did a few warm-up exercises, and then walked out of the room. Looking up at the bright, sunny sky, he smiled and said, "Today is a good day to do great things!" Leaving the room, Xiao Yan brought Qing Lin to the training ground in the back courtyard. By the time they arrived at the spacious training ground, the Desert Metal Mercenary Company''s hundred-plus members were lined up like an army, fully equipped and waiting. Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were standing in the middle, waiting for his arrival. Just as Xiao Yan said moments ago, today was a good day to do great things! "Where are they now?" Bang!!! Just as Luo Bu finished speaking, a loud bang suddenly came from the front gate of the mercenary company''s compound. "What happened?!" A mercenary stumbled in and reported, "Leader, Xiao Li, the Second Leader of the Desert Metal Mercenary Company, brought a group of people and just kicked open the front gate!" "This is outrageous! Do they think the Sand Mercenary Company is made of mud?!" Luo Bu slammed the table again and roared, "Immediately gather all our brothers. Today, we fight them to the death!" At this moment, in the front courtyard of the Sand Mercenary Company, the guards were already terrified upon seeing Xiao Li. Some ran, while some even pretended to faint. Xiao Yan directly took out a chair from his storage ring, sat to the side to watch the show, and yawned with a bored look. "Xiao Li! Aren''t you going too far?! Our Sand Mercenary Company has never interfered with your Desert Metal Mercenary Company''s business. What''s the meaning of this?!" Luo Bu led over a hundred people out from the inner courtyard. Xiao Li gripped his long spear and pointed it at Luo Bu with a cold smile. "Luo Bu, even you don''t believe your own words. How many of our hunts and missions have been sabotaged by your Sand Mercenary Company? Today, let''s settle all the old and new grudges." "There will be no Sand Mercenary Company from this day forth! I''m not here to negotiate with you. I''m just letting you know." Luo Bu''s face immediately darkened upon hearing his words. He laughed angrily, "Hahaha, good! Today, I want to see how you plan to ''let me know''! Everyone, attack!" Xiao Li led the charge with his long spear in hand, with all the mercenaries following closely behind. Xiao Yan remained lounging in his chair as he watched the battle unfold. On the way here, Xiao Ding had told him to wait a bit before making a move. Xiao Ding intended to assimilate the Sand Mercenary Company to expand their own company''s power. So he had Xiao Li lead the team to see which people were worth recruiting for their use. After all, once they integrated Rock Desert City''s mercenary industry, they would need a large number of people to support it. ''Big Brother is really... it''s just a mercenary company led by a Dou Grandmaster. Even if we assimilate them, they won''t be of much use.'' Xiao Yan thought as he shook his head slightly. Chapter 104: Chapter 104: One-Move Instant Defeat Chapter 104: Chapter 104: One-Move Instant Defeat ? Xiao Yan found the whole situation rather boring. Wouldn''t it be better if he just took action directly and dealt with that Luo Bu guy? However, excavating the desert and opening up the deeper rock layers would also require some time. He might as well watch the show to pass the time. Even though Xiao Li was only a Dou Master, he still had the ability to fight back against Luo Bu, a Dou Grandmaster. "Triple Lightning Arc Dance!" Xiao Li suddenly let out a low shout. The long spear in his hand jumped with strange, heavy electric arcs, then madly stabbed toward Luo Bu. "In the face of absolute strength, who cares if you have the so-called strongest attacking lightning attribute Dou Qi? Dou Qi Armor!" Luo Bu let out a loud as the electric arcs shot toward him. His Dou Qi crazily condensed and, in an instant, actually formed an energy gauntlet. Then he tightly clenched his fist and suddenly smashed out. The fierce whistling of the wind mixed with the violent energy surged directly collided with the electric arcs. The two forces collided. Luo Bu''s fist almost devastated the three electric arcs like a hot knife through butter. After destroying them, the momentum did not diminish at all as it heavily smashed toward Xiao Li. Xiao Li swiftly twisted his hand and used the long spear to block in front of his chest. Luo Bu''s fist struck the shaft of the spear with a loud clang. His eyes narrowed upon receiving the blow. His feet heavily stepped back over a dozen steps before finally stopping on top of a huge rock at the edge of the front courtyard. Xiao Yan was not surprised. Although his Second Brother had a ruthless personality and his cultivation talent was not bad, his Qi Method and Dou Techniques could not keep up and weren''t enough to allow him to defeat a Dou Grandmaster at a lower realm. When his two brothers had left the clan to make a name for themselves, he had thought about taking out a few High Xuan Class Qi Methods and Dou Techniques from his storage ring to give them. However, he was worried that it might attract unnecessary trouble, so he ultimately did not. ''Once we''ve unified all the mercenary companies in Rock Desert City, Big Brother and Second Brother will have established a decent force and have a certain ability to protect themselves. Possessing High Xuan Class Qi Methods and Dou Techniques shouldn''t be a problem then.'' Xiao Yan had already made plans in his heart. He intended to give his two older brothers a boost in strength before leaving. He definitely could not stay in Rock Desert City forever. Regardless of whether he could obtain a new Heavenly Flame or not, he would certainly leave Rock Desert City for the imperial capital in a few months. Xiao Li exchanged a glance with Xiao Yan. Understanding his meaning, he smiled wryly and shrugged, slowly standing up from the chair. It couldn''t be helped. right now. The limp Luo Bu looked at Xiao Yan with a dazed expression, then looked around at the mercenary members of the former Sand Mercenary Company. The fighting spirit in their eyes had long vanished. The sheer strength of Xiao Yan was enough to drive anyone to despair. Luo Bu said in despair, "The Sand Mercenary Company is hereby disbanded." Xiao Yan merely smiled, then laid back in the chair like a boss and sunbathed, waiting for his Second Brother to finish handling everything. In the end, only one-third of the huge Sand Mercenary Company''s members were qualified to stay. The rest were either too cowardly or their strength was lacking, not meeting the standards to join the Desert Metal Mercenary Company. However, in order to stabilize the former members of the Sand Mercenary Company, Xiao Li even recruited Luo Bu and allowed him to continue managing his own members. In addition, all of the Sand Mercenary Company''s assets, gold coins, Qi Methods, Dou Techniques, and properties were transferred to the Desert Metal Mercenary Company. One could say that the current Desert Metal Mercenary Company''s strength would be considered a second-rate force even in a large city like Wu Tan City. Undoubtedly, the power dynamics in Rock Desert City had changed dramatically. The Desert Metal Mercenary Company was now the sole dominant force, and all mercenary work, including desert expeditions and resource gathering, could only be entrusted to them alone. "Wake up, Xiao-Yan-Zi." Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes, stretched, and looked at Xiao Li. "Second Brother, is everything taken care of?" "Mm, now no one will interfere with our search for the Heavenly Flame," Xiao Li replied with a smile. Xiao Yan naturally had no interest in unifying the mercenary companies. He just didn''t want anyone to cause trouble when he went underground to search for the Heavenly Flame. If someone ruined things while he was looking for the Heavenly Flame, he would definitely go berserk. All hidden dangers had to be eliminated! "Then let''s go. I wonder how Big Brother is doing on his side. Hopefully we''ll have some gains this time." Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Green Lotus Core Flame Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Green Lotus Core Flame ? It was already afternoon by the time Xiao Yan''s group finished dealing with the Sand Mercenary Company and arrived at the location marked on the map. "Big Brother, how''s it going?" Xiao Yan walked into a tent where Xiao Ding was calculating something with a pen. Xiao Ding knew that everything had gone smoothly when he saw Xiao Yan and Xiao Li return. He had more confidence in this genius younger brother of his than anyone else. He shook his head with a smile and said, "Not yet. The desert terrain is easily changed. Back then, we only had a few experienced hands scout the area while keeping it secret from the Sand Mercenary Company. We didn''t investigate too thoroughly." Xiao Yan heard this and could only sit in the tent and wait for news while sipping the iced fruit tea that Qing Lin had carefully prepared. Just as he was cultivating the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique for a while, a figure suddenly ran over from the distance and excitedly shouted, "Company Leader! The third squad seems to have found something!" "Found something?" The three of them heard this and were immediately elated. Xiao Yan quickly withdrew from his cultivation state. "Did they find the passage?" "Hehe, it seems they found some traces. Based on our experience, there''s a high possibility it leads to an underground passage." The mercenary who ran over grinned. "Great! Regardless, your squad will be rewarded when you return!" Xiao Yan laughed heartily and eagerly followed the mercenary. "Thank you, Third Company Leader!" The mercenary was overjoyed to hear this, and his enthusiasm soared as he led Xiao Yan and the others at a brisk pace. "Make way, make way!" The leading mercenary cleared a path with his loud voice. Xiao Yan followed and looked over, pleasantly surprised to see that the mercenaries had already dug a hole about half a meter wide in this sunken desert area. Peering into the hole, he saw only darkness, with a faint heat rising from the inside. Meow~!U//ppTodated fr/o/m The sound of Mao Wu came from his Acceptance Soul, telling him there was a hint of a Heavenly Flame inside. However, Xiao Yan was not overly delighted at this moment because when he used his Spiritual Strength to sense the situation below, he discovered there were many intricate underground passages. It was very similar to the underground passages in the Magic Beast Mountain Range''s Beast Tomb, which meant these underground passages were not naturally formed but created by magical beasts. ''To create passages of this size, it''s likely the work of snake-type magical beasts.'' This was not good news. Although snakes were naturally cold-blooded and feared the Heavenly Flame, there were exceptions, such as fire-attribute snake races. "Should I send someone down to explore carefully before going in?" Xiao Ding looked at the pitch-black passage underground and frowned with worry. Xiao Yan slowly closed his eyes and activated the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique. A powerful surge of Spiritual Strength spread out in all directions. Suddenly, a cluster of emerald-green fire attribute energy appeared in his spiritual perception. He slowly opened his eyes and set Qing Lin down. Then he took out a bottle of Ice Spirit Cold Fountain from his storage ring and handed it to Xiao Ding as he said, "Big Brother, I''m going in. This is a cold fountain that can be used to cool down and save lives if necessary." "Go in? Into the magma? There''s no path here! Don''t tell me you plan to swim across?" Xiao Ding''s expression changed slightly as he softly rebuked. Xiao Yan only smiled faintly. His body suddenly began to float upwards as the Eagle Wings appeared on his back. "Dou Qi Wings?!!! Xiao-Yan-Zi, you''re a Dou King?!" Xiao Li exclaimed in shock. Wasn''t he supposed to be a Dou Grandmaster? How did he become a Dou King?! "This is a flying-type Dou Technique. Big Brother, Second Brother, I''ll be right back!" Just as he was about to turn and fly toward the depths of the magma, a cold little hand suddenly grabbed him. "Young Master, there seems to be something hidden in the magma!" Qing Lin tightly held onto him. At this moment, her eyes emitted a faint emerald-green light, and vague patterns seemed to appear in her pupils. Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes. He naturally sensed a Rank 4 magical beast existing beneath the magma with his 5th-tier alchemist Spiritual Strength. But Qing Lin wasn''t even a Dou Practitioner, yet she had sensed it too! ''This girl Qing Lin is extraordinary.'' He patted the back of her hand lightly and said, "Don''t worry. Your Young Master isn''t stupid enough to not notice there''s a magical beast underneath the magma." The Eagle Wings soared above the magma with a whoosh. The next second, a huge black shadow suddenly appeared in the originally crimson magma, as if something was about to burst out from underneath. Xiao Yan smiled coldly, took out a bottle of Ice Spirit Cold Fountain from his storage ring, and directly threw it down like a grenade. The terrifying freezing power actually froze the magma with a rumble. The originally flowing magma instantly turned into black rock, trapping the mysterious creature underneath. He had no time to deal with this magical beast right now. He wanted to see if the thing at the center of this magma world was really a Heavenly Flame! His powerful Spiritual Strength spread out as he flew. After an indeterminate amount of time, a green lotus suddenly appeared not far away, gracefully standing in the middle of the magma. "Green lotus? Could it be the Green Lotus Core Flame?!" Chapter 106: Chapter 106: Brutal Beating Chapter 106: Chapter 106: Brutal Beating ? "Green Lotus Core Flame?!" Xiao Yan hurriedly looked over, only to discover with some shock that the surrounding fiery red magma had inexplicably turned slightly green at some point. It was as if the green lotus platform within the magma was slowly purifying the magma itself. ''The 19th-ranked on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, Green Lotus Core Flame. Born in the depths of the earth, it has experienced countless temperings, fusions, compressions, and carvings by the earth''s fire. It takes ten years to form a spirit, a hundred years to take shape, and a thousand years to form a lotus. When it is fully formed, its color tilts toward the green side, and a cluster of green flames is born in the lotus core. It is called Green Lotus Flame, also known as Green Lotus Core Flame. The power of this flame is unpredictable, as it is capable of controlling the power of volcanoes and forming a destructive force of nature!'' Xiao Yan quickly recited the introduction of the Green Lotus Core Flame from the Heavenly Flame Ranking in his mind. The Green Lotus Core Flame was a very unique kind of Heavenly Flame. It was different from the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, Bone Chilling Flame, and Nihility Devouring Flame because strictly speaking, it was a special kind of Heavenly Flame nurtured by a special kind of plant! The Green Lotus Core Flame was more like the nectar of that green lotus. Xiao Yan''s eyes gleamed with excitement as he looked at the green lotus platform deep within the magma sea. Not to mention the Green Lotus Core Flame ranked 19th in the Heavenly Flame Ranking, even the lotus platform was a rare natural treasure, and its lotus seeds were also invaluable ingredients for alchemy! ''The lotus platform is still here, so maybe the Heavenly Flame hasn''t been taken away! Am I really about to get this lucky?'' Xiao Yan licked his lips. The lotus platform itself was a kind of heavenly treasure. If it hadn''t been taken away, then perhaps the Green Lotus Core Flame inside the lotus flower was also still there! Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed as the Ten Thousand Beast Flame surged out. It immediately enveloped his body in a protective flame as he entered the Dou Qi Armor state. The green- colored lotus was more than just beautiful. The terrifying high temperature it emitted could instantly melt a person. He took out a bottle of Ice Spirit Cold Fountain in case of emergency and made all the necessary preparations. The Eagle Wings on his flapped and turned him into a streak of blood-red light as he charged forward. The expected scorching heat did not arrive as his body entered the green light of the lotus. Instead, the temperature around him strangely lowered by a lot. "Hmm?" Xiao Yan was bewildered by this strange occurrence. After a moment of confusion, he quickly regained his composure and scanned his surroundings. His gaze finally settled on the green- colored lotus at the central position. The green-colored lotus had eight petals, each like the most perfect green jade that was naturally formed. At a glance, it appeared crystal clear, giving one the urge to hold it and never let go. Within the lotus, there seemed to be a small lotus platform around two to three feet in size. A small fluorescent light emitted from some small holes on the lotus platform. This light seemed to come from the Core-Fire Lotus Seeds that were formed by the agglomeration of the purest fire-type energy. This green lotus was suspended in the endless magma like duckweed floating and drifting in the vast ocean. "Believe in him!" Suddenly, a huge black shadow flew over from the distance at extreme speed and crashed into the rock layer with a loud thud. Snake blood splattered everywhere, even reaching the entrance of the cave. It was actually that Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent! Thrown over by Xiao Yan! "A Rank 4 magical beast?!" Hiss!! Blood oozed from the corners of the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent''s mouth, and large patches of its scales fell off. The once mighty Rank 4 magical beast had been utterly beaten by Xiao Yan without the slightest ability to fight back at all. It was no wonder. The precious Green Lotus Core Flame had actually been snatched away by someone else. It would be strange if Xiao Yan was in a good mood. This pitiful Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent had undoubtedly become the target of his venting. Hovering in the air, Xiao Yan tightly clutched the Heavy Xuan Ruler, his eyes coldly looking at the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent. This serpent could either be a native magical beast or something Queen Medusa had deliberately left here to guard the Core-Fire Lotus Seeds. But regardless, Xiao Yan had no intention of letting it off. The Heavy Xuan Ruler emitted a scorching fire light with a buzzing sound. The roar of ten thousand beasts rang out as Xiao Yan raised it high, preparing to use the Flame Splitting Tsunami to deliver the final blow. "Wait, Young Master Xiao Yan!" Qing Lin suddenly shouted. Xiao Yan looked at Qing Lin in puzzlement and asked, "What''s wrong?" "I feel like I can control it." Xiao Yan noticed at this moment that some of the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent''s blood had accidentally splattered onto Qing Lin''s lips, and her eyes began to emit a strange green light! Chapter 107: Chapter 107: Set the Tiger Against the Wolf Chapter 107: Chapter 107: Set the Tiger Against the Wolf ? ''What is this?!'' Xiao Yan was greatly shocked. Qing Lin''s eyes were now emitting a strange green light. The severely injured and frenzied Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent actually calmed down in a bizarre way upon seeing that green light. Only when Xiao Yan looked carefully did he discover that the huge serpent''s pupils had also turned the same green color as Qing Lin''s! Beside the green serpentine pupils, three small green dots suddenly and abruptly appeared. This time, the three small green dots were very clear. Upon careful observation, one could even see that these three green dots seemed to resemble three tiny flower buds. Similarly, Qing Lin''s eyes had also changed to resemble those of the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent. Her eyes had strangely developed the exact same three emerald green flower buds. Finally, two small green flowers were imprinted on the two heads of the Flame Spirit Serpent. The eerie light in Qing Lin''s eyes gradually faded as soon as the flower imprints appeared. Moments later, the tiny flowers in her pupils quickly dissipated and her eyes returned to their original emerald green. Xiao Li hurriedly caught Qing Lin as her entire body went limp. Xiao Yan also ignored the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent and flew over to the cave entrance to check on the situation. "What happened to Qing Lin?" Xiao Ding asked. After examining her eyes and sensing her condition with his Spiritual Strength, Xiao Yan said, "It''s nothing serious. She''s just exhausted from overusing her Spiritual Strength. She''ll be fine after resting for a bit." Xiao Yan turned his head to look at the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent lying on the ground motionless and dazed like a puppet. His expression was somewhat solemn as he observed the flower imprints on its forehead. He remembered reading about a peculiar physique in the strange tales and ancient records stored in his storage ring called the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. This unique constitution could cause others to experience illusions and could even control opponents. ''This is more than just an illusion.'' Xiao Yan looked at the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent he had brutally beaten. How could this be explained by an illusion? If it were merely an illusion, it would have been broken when Qing Lin fainted. Yet, the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent appeared dull-witted, as if its mind had been completely taken over. This was definitely more than just a simple illusion. Soon after, Mao Wu returned with the stem and root of the green lotus clamped in its mouth. The little cat strutted over the magma with its head held high and its chest puffed out as it approached. Meow! u? (**)u? "Alright, alright. I''ll share the Core-Fire Lotus Seeds with you. But this isn''t the place to enjoy them. Let''s talk about it when we get back." Only then did Mao Wu contentedly hand over the entire green lotus to Xiao Yan. After all, it was a waste to eat those Core-Fire Lotus Seeds raw. It was better to let Xiao Yan, the grandmaster alchemist chef, process them first to make them tastier! "Xiao-Yan-Zi, how did it go? Did you get the Heavenly Flame?" Xiao Ding asked with concern. "Sigh." Xiao Yan spread his hands and shook his head. His sigh said it all. "It was probably taken by Queen Medusa. But at least I brought back a little consolation prize." Xiao Ding and Xiao Li patted Xiao Yan''s shoulders to comfort him. However, the gleam in Xiao Yan''s eyes proved that he was not going to give up as easily as Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had imagined. Qing Lin regained consciousness not long after. But after Xiao Yan''s questioning, even she herself didn''t know what had happened. She only knew that she had established a kind of contractual bond with the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent before her, and through this connection, she could control the serpent''s actions. ''Contract? There''s such a thing in the Dou Qi Continent?'' This was a blind spot in Xiao Yan''s knowledge. None of the various ancient books and scrolls in his storage ring had any records about contracts. the clues you gave me." Xiao Yan said with a grin. Hai Bodong was greatly startled and said in disbelief, "You... you actually found it?!" "I did find it, but I only found the location. The Heavenly Flame was taken away by Queen Medusa half a year ago." Xiao Yan spread his hands. Realization dawned on Hai Bodong. wonder Gu He couldn''t find it no matter how hard he searched. It turned out Queen Medusa had already snatched it. "So your purpose in coming to find me is...?" Hai Bodong frowned. He knew this Xiao Yan was not the type of person who would come looking for him without a good reason, and now that he had come, it definitely meant trouble. "I want to ask you about all the intelligence regarding Queen Medusa over the past half year. I think you should be the person paying the most attention to her," Xiao Yan spoke bluntly, directly jabbing at Hai Bodong''s sore spot. If anyone was most concerned about Queen Medusa, it would undoubtedly be Hai Bodong, who had been sealed by her for over twenty years. "You want information on Queen Medusa? Don''t tell me you''re after the whereabouts of the Heavenly Flame. Are you planning to steal it from her?!!!" Hai Bodong''s eyes widened in shock. But then he considered the backing Xiao Yan had and felt a bit more at ease. "Wait a moment, I''ll look for it." Hai Bodong took out a thick stack of intelligence reports and began flipping through them. Without a doubt, he had been keeping an eye on Queen Medusa''s affairs. "Now that you mention it, the Snake-People Tribe has been unusually quiet for the past six months. There have been no major conflicts during this period!" "And I heard that half a year ago, the First Commander of the Snake-People Tribe went to the Chu Yun Empire to seek medicine. It was probably to help Queen Medusa recover from the injuries caused by the Heavenly Flame. Also, three months ago, two tribes went on an expedition to the Northern Cold Lands and only returned half a month ago. Rumor has it they went to search for the Ice Spirit Cold Fountain." !!!!! Xiao Yan''s expression instantly turned solemn. He seemed to understand why Queen Medusa wanted to find the Heavenly Flame. He sat in the chair, deep in thought for a good while. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed as he looked at Hai Bodong and smiled. That smile made Hai Bodong''s back involuntarily turn cold. "Old Hai, you want to get the medicinal herb and remove the seal as soon as possible, right?" "Just say what you have in mind. I''ll hear you out first." "I want you to find Gu He and tell him that Queen Medusa has obtained the Green Lotus Core Flame. She will soon use the Ice Spirit Cold Fountain to devour the Heavenly Flame and seek the path of bloodline evolution." Hai Bodong abruptly stood up from his chair and exclaimed, "What the hell?! Are you trying to set the tiger against the wolf?!" Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Here Comes Hun Yan! Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Here Comes Hun Yan! ? Hai Bodong immediately understood what Xiao Yan was trying to do. He was planning to pit Queen Medusa and Gu He against each other and then reap the benefits himself! Despite Queen Medusa''s fearsome reputation as a peak Rank 6 magical beast and the immense threat she posed to the Jia Ma Empire-resulting in yearly conflicts where the empire usually ended up losing-there was a crucial factor to consider. If Pill King Gu He were to fully support the Jia Ma Empire, the entire Snake-People Tribe might not be able to resist. Pill King Gu He didn''t take orders from the imperial family of the Jia Ma Empire. In fact, even the king had to treat him with the utmost respect. Such was the power of the empire''s number one alchemist and its only 6th-tier alchemist. As a high-grade 6th-tier alchemist, Pill King Gu He''s influence was in no way inferior to Queen Medusa at the peak of Rank 6. If Gu He wasn''t still relatively young, just over forty, and had spent more time at the 6th-tier, Hai Bodong believed he would be even more terrifying than her. A high-grade 6th-tier alchemist could rival the queen of a magical beast empire. Alchemists were just that frightening. Provoking an alchemist was no different from kicking a hornet''s nest. If the Jia Ma Empire offended Gu He, and he could take out a 6th-tier Zong Breaking Pill, even Queen Medusa would likely take action for him. Xiao Yan didn''t deny it. He simply gave a faint smile and said, "Gu He wants the Heavenly Flame too, doesn''t he? Telling him this won''t offend him. In fact, he might even reward you with some pills." Hai Bodong''s eyelid twitched. If Gu He found out that he was being set up, things would be difficult, even if he regained his strength! "Old Hai, think about it. You just ''happened'' to come across this information. As long as Gu He obtains the Heavenly Flame, he can help you refine the pill you need. All you have to do is tell him, and as a fee for the intelligence, ask him to refine the pill if he gets the flame. He definitely won''t suspect a thing." !!!!! "See, no matter who ends up getting the Heavenly Flame, someone will refine the pill Old Hai needs. If Gu He obtains the Green Lotus Core Flame, not only will you keep the remaining map fragment, but you''ll also immediately get the pill to remove the seal." Xiao Yan''s voice was like the whisper of a demon, precisely grasping Hai Bodong''s inner thoughts. There was no need to guess that Hai Bodong certainly didn''t want to give the remaining map fragment to Xiao Yan, nor did he want to wait several more years. No matter what, he wouldn''t lose out.N/ne?w n0vel chap/ers are published o/n "You brat really aren''t afraid that if that guy Gu He snatches the Heavenly Flame and helps me refine the pill, I won''t give you the map fragment?" Hai Bodong looked at Xiao Yan who was smiling confidently beside him. Was this kid really that sure of himself, that confident? The lotus platform would automatically convert the surrounding natural energy and provide a green-colored fire attribute energy that would increase his cultivation speed several times over. Combined with the High Xuan Class Flame Mantra and the aid of Burning Blood, his cultivation speed simply increased by leaps and bounds. An hour later, Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes and revealed a hint of joy at the corners of his mouth. "2-star Dou Grandmaster already. This Burning Blood is indeed worthy of being a 4th-tier medicinal liquid. Combined with the green fire energy from this lotus platform, it''s truly an unparalleled aid in cultivation." He had originally estimated that it would take him another month to break through to the 2- star Dou Grandmaster stage, but now his speed had directly increased by three to four times! In this half a month, besides waiting for Hai Bodong''s news, Xiao Yan had been making all sorts of preparations. His main focus had been on alchemy. He was capable of refining 4th-tier pills now that he had reached the level of a 4th-tier alchemist, and with the aid of the Heavenly Flame and the Black Demon Cauldron, his success rate was enviably high. With Xiao Yan as their alchemist, the Desert Metal Mercenary Company not only monopolized the entire mercenary industry in Rock Desert City but even began purchasing precious medicinal ingredients from the desert. As a result, Xiao Yan was able to acquire several precious herbs at bargain prices. The Desert Metal Mercenary Company had already become the hegemon of Rock Desert City. Many local powers were aware of the mysterious alchemist behind the company and did not dare to use underhanded tactics against them. Even the 1-star Dou Grandmaster Luo Bu was completely convinced by Xiao Yan. The lure of medicinal pills was something no one could resist. Xiao Yan gently petted Mao Wu, who was lying on the lotus platform like a lazy kitten. The lotus platform had also become Mao Wu''s cat bed. "You seem to have grown again." As for the Core-Fire Lotus Seeds, although Xiao Yan had found a suitable pill recipe, he hadn''t gathered all the required medicinal ingredients and couldn''t refine it yet. Gugu~ Suddenly, a silver-white carrier pigeon flew in through the window. Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes. This was Hai Bodong''s messenger pigeon, a Rank 2 flying magical beast with a very fast flying speed. He opened the letter and revealed a brilliant smile after seeing the contents inside. "Three days later, Holy City." Xiao Yan took out the pitch-black Soul Robe from his storage ring, chuckled, and said. "It''s been a while since Hun Yan has made an appearance. Heavenly Flames should be obtained by those with the ability. Don''t blame me, Queen Medusa." He donned the Soul Robe with a swoosh and left a letter on the table. Then, a figure entirely shrouded in a black robe flew off in the direction of the Snake-People Tribe''s Holy City. Chapter 109: Chapter 109: The Short End of the Stick Chapter 109: Chapter 109: The Short End of the Stick ? "This kid is always like this." Xiao Li shook his head with a helpless smile. Xiao Ding looked at the envelope Qing Lin had hurriedly brought over. He didn''t even need to read the contents inside to know what his younger brother was going to do. "He''s been this way for more than a decade. If he sets his mind on something, he''ll go to any lengths to get it, even if it''s Queen Medusa standing in his way." Xiao Ding casually set the letter aside. "But... that''s Queen Medusa! Will the Young Master be alright?" Qing Lin''s eyes brimmed with tears. She clasped her hands together as if praying for Xiao Yan. "Don''t worry. He''s not the type to die easily. He''ll come back." - Two days later. Xiao Yan, clad in his Soul Robe and ready to navigate these turbulent waters, had been flying for the past two days. He had made several stops along the way, taking quite some time, as the Tager Desert was no longer human territory. Flying non-stop would attract attacks from Rank 4 or even Rank 5 magical beasts. If an ordinary person were to travel on foot, it would probably take half a month to get from Rock Desert City to this place. It was fortunate that the Flame Mantra had evolved, otherwise his Dou Qi would not have been able to sustain such a long flight. Xiao Yan looked at the red dots on the map representing dangerous areas. There were a total of eight such red dots scattered in different directions of the desert. In the Snake-People of the Tager Desert, besides some small and medium-sized tribes, there were Eight Large Tribes represented by the eight red dots on the map. They were the most powerful tribes among the Snake-People, holding extremely high status in the desert. Except for Queen Medusa, they didn''t even acknowledge each other''s authority. The leaders of these Eight Large Tribes were all Rank 5 magical beasts, possessing the strength equivalent to a Dou King. And at the very center of the eight red dots was the Holy City of the Snake-People Tribe, which was also Queen Medusa''s palace. Therefore, if Xiao Yan wanted to reach the Holy City, he had to pass through one of these major tribes. Xiao Yan spread his fingers and peeked through the gaps. He instantly fell on his butt and exclaimed in shock, "Y-You''re a Snake-Person!" He was so frightened that he scrambled to get away, crawling and rolling in his haste. Just then, a snake''s tail wrapped around his ankle with a whoosh. Yue Mei''s eyes, as gentle as spring water, glinted with amusement as she looked at Xiao Yan. After a moment, she covered her red lips with her slender hand and laughed, "Little human boy, do you think you can just leave like that after taking advantage of your elder sister?" "Ah! I-I really didn''t mean to! I just came to get some water!" Xiao Yan put on a face that looked like he was about to cry, his expression a mixture of three parts fear, three parts regret, and four parts lecherousness. His acting skills were worthy of an Oscar-winning performance! "Hehehe, you didn''t mean to? You managed to pass through so many guards outside, and you still claim it wasn''t on purpose?" Yue Mei reached out and gently lifted Xiao Yan''s chin, teasing him. "I''m an alchemist, so my Spiritual Strength is quite strong. That''s how I was able to walk in." "An alchemist?" At the mention of the word ''alchemist,'' Yue Mei''s expression immediately changed and became more serious. Her eyes flashed as she asked, "How can you prove it?" Xiao Yan hurriedly took out a pill bottle from his storage ring and handed it to Yue Mei. She opened the bottle and took a light sniff. A cool and refreshing sensation immediately spread throughout her body. "3rd-tier medicinal pill?!" Yue Mei was shocked. She never expected that the somewhat delicate and immature-looking youth before her was actually a 3rd-tier alchemist! Although a 3rd-tier pill was not particularly useful to her, it was a priceless treasure for Rank 3 Snake-Person. Moreover, if properly nurtured, an alchemist with his potential could reach the 4th or even 5th tier, which could greatly increase the strength of the entire tribe. Especially enticing was the 5th-tier Dou King Pill, which could increase a Dou King''s strength by one star without any side effects. Even she could hardly resist such a temptation. Yue Mei revealed a greedy expression as she looked at Xiao Yan and smiled, "Hehehe, so it turns out you''re an Alchemist. Do you know that although we Snake - People are cold-blooded by nature, our bodies become very hot when we''re in heat? Yue Mei fell for the esteemed alchemist at first sight and is now filled with desire. Don''t believe me? Feel for yourself." Xiao Yan swallowed hard and actually reached out to touch Yue Mei''s arm. An icy coldness instantly transmitted from his fingertips. Yue Mei''s voice, now laced with coldness, rang out, "Hehe, you actually dared to touch me." "Someone, come! Take this ignorant fool back with us!" Ka ka ka, several large blades were pressed against Xiao Yan''s neck from behind. ''Sigh, a 3rd-tier medicinal pill only lets me touch her once. I really got the short end of the stick this time.'' Xiao Yan inwardly sighed at his loss. Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Stirring Up Trouble Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Stirring Up Trouble ? "Lady Yue Mei, should we kill him?" the Snake-Women who had been guarding outside the forest earlier asked. Their gazes were fixed coldly on Xiao Yan. After all, to the Snake-People, humans were the enemy. "Wait, don''t be hasty. This guy is an alchemist. If he can refine pills for our tribe, we can give him some benefits." Yue Mei said with a charming smile. Her snake tail slowly extended from Xiao Yan''s ankle to his thigh. She didn''t mind exposing her naked, delicate body to his eyes. In Yue Mei''s view, even if Xiao Yan wasn''t a dead man, he was at most a male slave. Two figures flashed and appeared behind Yue Mei, draping a black robe over her to conceal the alluring sight that could make any man''s blood boil. "Let''s go back." As soon as Yue Mei finished speaking, with a rumbling sound, a Rank 3 Desert Giant Python burst out from beneath the sand. The giant python had a structure resembling a canopy on its back. Yue Mei grabbed Xiao Yan by his clothes and pulled him onto the python''s back with a flick of her snake tail. The other Snake-People guards also leaped onto the python''s back. With a hissing cry, the Giant Python shot off like a gale, shuttling through the yellow sands toward the tribe Yue Mei ruled. Xiao Yan sat timidly in the corner like a little bride, not daring to make a sound. "Hehehe, don''t be afraid. If you provide enough pills for our tribe, I''ll give you anything you desire." Yue Mei said with a smile as she looked at Xiao Yan, but the gleam in her eyes certainly didn''t match her words. Xiao Yan nodded, appearing terrified on the surface, but inwardly he couldn''t help but snicker, ''You still want me to refine pills for you? Just wait until I get into your tribe, I''ll burn it all down in one go.'' After the Giant Python had sped through the desert for nearly half an hour, a city comparable in size to Rock Desert City gradually appeared in Xiao Yan''s view. ''Finally here. According to the map Hai Bodong gave me, once I pass through this city, I''ll quickly reach the Holy City.'' Xiao Yan secretly rejoiced in his heart. He never thought he would be able to sneak in so smoothly. Now he just had to wait for the key players to arrive and stir things up. !? ''Hmm!? They''re a day early!'' Xiao Yan''s eyelid twitched. His Spiritual Strength had sensed several powerful auras rapidly approaching from the distance. "Hahaha! I said there was a powerful Snake-Person''s aura in this direction. It seems I was right." A hearty laugh carried by Dou Qi resounded through the desert. With several thunderous booms, two figures that had been flashing through the sky at extreme speed suddenly halted. The sharp air currents from their movement sounded like a clap of thunder in the air. ''Two elite Dou Kings. These must be Lion King Yan Shi and Wind Walker Feng Li of the Ten Strongest. Sigh, it seems that old fellow Gu He doesn''t really trust Hai Bodong. He actually moved secretly a day in advance.'' Yue Mei''s pretty face turned extremely solemn as she cast a cold glance at the two men in the air. Before his voice had even faded, Feng Li beside him transformed into a streak of wind and shot toward Yue Mei like a bolt of lightning. "Snake Technique: Division!" Yue Mei''s body suddenly trembled, then, to everyone''s astonishment, abruptly exploded. However, instead of flesh and blood being scattered by the explosion, countless huge snakes of dark green energy poured out from the point of explosion and charged toward all directions like a vast ocean. "What a strange beast technique." Yan Shi casually sent out over a dozen threads of Dou Qi, smashing hundreds of energy snakes into nothingness. Yet, the seemingly endless wave of energy snakes still surged forward. "Forget about her. Let''s move. We can''t afford to delay any longer." The giant beast flapped its wings. Xiao Yan sat on the yellow sand, watching Gu He and the others preparing to force their way through the Mei Snake Tribe''s territory. The only Dou Emperor on the beast gave Xiao Yan a deep, lingering look. Xiao Yan sighed and shook his head as he watched the giant beast grow smaller in the distance. Gu He was a guest elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, so it was natural for him to seek their assistance. Aside from Yan Shi and Feng Li, the rest were all from the Misty Cloud Sect. The elite Dou Emperor among them was naturally the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Yun. Hai Bodong had long ago revealed all the information to Xiao Yan. He knew Yun Yun would come along. When he saw Yun Yun again, memories of past events involuntarily flooded back into his mind, particularly when he had gone berserk. He had tightly embraced Yun Yun and even bitten her at one point. He shook his head, dispelling all these thoughts. He took out the Soul Robe from his storage ring and put it on again. With a whoosh, he summoned Mao Wu and said, "Mao Wu, follow those people." Meow! A green light flashed. Xiao Yan took out a Core-Fire Lotus Seed and fed it to Mao Wu as he instructed, "Do everything according to plan. You follow them. I''ll go to the Holy City''s treasury to find the Heavenly Flame. When the time comes, listen for my spiritual voice transmission. We''ll stir up a big mess for them!" Meow~~~ Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Sowing Discord Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Sowing Discord ? Mao Wu held the Core-Fire Lotus Seed in its mouth as its paws tore through the void, traversing through the empty space while closely following Gu He and his group. The Nihility Devouring Flame was born in the void. Ordinarily, one would need to be at least a Dou Ancestor to grasp even a shred of its mysteries, yet Mao Wu could already travel through the void solely relying on its innate talent. Mao Wu''s tracking was completely undetectable for Gu He and the others, whose strongest expert was only at the Dou Emperor realm. Xiao Yan put on the Soul Robe and expanded the range of his Spiritual Strength as he watched Mao Wu disappear into the void. He slowly closed his eyes and began to perceive his surroundings. ''It seems the Beast Technique from earlier can''t be used so easily. Her strength has actually dropped this much.'' Xiao Yan revealed a faint smile. He sensed Yue Mei hiding beneath the yellow sand, fleeing in a sorry state. He then spread his Eagle Wings and flew low in a specific direction. Following Yue Mei''s trail, a massive tribal fortress gradually appeared on the distant horizon. ''So this is Yue Mei''s Mei Snake Tribe?! If I hadn''t followed Yue Mei, the traps and obstacles along the way would have been enough to give me a headache.'' Lights were shining brightly inside the fortress. However, the intermittent glow and noisy shouts revealed an underlying sense of unease. Xiao Yan could even hear some sounds of chaos coming from the huge city as he flew closer. His heart rejoiced. ''It seems they have indeed begun to force their way through the Mei Snake Tribe.'' A thought flashed through his mind. Xiao Yan followed Yue Mei and entered the tribe through a hidden passage. He roughly swept the area with his Spiritual Strength and felt a slight shock in his heart. Countless arrow towers densely covered the city walls several dozen meters tall. The arrowheads emitted a faint purple glow from the towers. Under the moonlight, they exuded a chilling glow. This defense was like a tightly woven net. Xiao Yan couldn''t help but wipe the cold sweat from his forehead as he looked at it.With this level of defense, even he would likely be riddled with arrows and turned into a human pincushion in an instant if he were careless. "Damn those humans! Immediately gather all the tribe''s warriors! I want those humans to become skeletons in the desert! Notify the other tribe leaders at once and have them send reinforcements!" Yue Mei entered the tribe through the hidden passage and immediately flew up to the tower. She let out a loud cry, and countless Snake-People poured out from within the tribe in response. Xiao Yan almost laughed out loud at the sight of this scene. This tactic of muddying the waters was truly effective. "Queen Medusa, it''s an honor to meet you. I am Gu He of the Jia Ma Empire. I know that Your Majesty has obtained the Green Lotus Core Flame, and I would like to exchange it with you." Xiao Yan smiled slightly under his black robe as he saw that even Queen Medusa had appeared in the distance. He no longer needed to wait. Taking out a small bottle of Ice Spirit Cold Fountain, he drank it down in one gulp. The terrifying ice energy caused his body temperature to drop to a lethal level. The Snake-People''s sensing ability relied on heat perception. As long as his body temperature was lower than the surrounding temperature, those with weaker Spiritual Strength among the Snake-People wouldn''t be able to detect him. ''Mao Wu! Attack them!'' Xiao Yan cried out in his heart. At this moment, Mao Wu, who had been lurking in the void, suddenly opened its eyes and crushed the Core-Fire Lotus Seed with a single bite. Instantly, a surge of wild energy erupted. Almost at the same time, the Heavy Xuan Ruler appeared in Xiao Yan''s hand. He circulated his Dou Qi throughout his body, and the Ten Thousand Beast Flame raged wildly. The Heavy Xuan Ruler was instantly enveloped by blood-red flames, becoming extremely scorching hot. ''Let''s begin! Flame Splitting Tsunami!'' Xiao Yan unleashed his strongest attack. The world''s energy surged, and a blood-red flame wave dozens of meters long was swung out from the Heavy Xuan Ruler. Boom!!! A blaze of fire descended from the sky. The wall of the Holy City was instantly split open by his Flame Splitting Tsunami, creating a huge gaping hole. The terrifying Ten Thousand Beast Flame exploded, sending the surrounding Snake-People guards flying in all directions. "What happened?!!" "The Holy City is under attack!! Someone has entered the Holy City!" Yue Mei and the others all glared at Gu He the moment Holy City was attacked. Queen Medusa''s eyes instantly turned icy cold. Such a devastating attack required at least a Dou Spirit to accomplish, and the prime suspect was naturally Gu He and his group, especially since Gu He had already stated that he was here for the Heavenly Flame. Before Gu He could even explain, Mao Wu opened its mouth in the void. The empty space suddenly tore open, and a green flame shot out from within, charging toward Gu He. "Green Lotus Core Flame?!!" Gu He''s face drastically changed. The only one capable of attacking from the empty space and even using the Green Lotus Core Flame was Queen Medusa herself! Xiao Yan smiled faintly. Regardless of what they would think afterward, he directly flipped over the city wall and slipped inside. Chapter 112: Chapter 112: The Thing Youll Regret Most in This Life (2 in 1) Chapter 112: Chapter 112: The Thing You''ll Regret Most in This Life (2 in 1) ? "Despicable humans! How dare you attack our tribe''s Holy City! Medusa Snake Guards!" Yue Mei''s pretty face turned cold as she turned her head and shouted. "Yes!" A uniform and icy response rang out. Immediately, over a dozen figures used the height of the city walls to their advantage and surrounded Gu He in the blink of an eye. The four peak Dou Spirits from the Misty Cloud Sect all made their moves to defend against the attack. Gu He''s face drastically changed as he said to Queen Medusa, "Your Majesty, please hear my explanation." Yun Yun suddenly stretched out her hand to stop Gu He and said in a deep voice, "She has already left. That''s just an energy projection." !!! Only after hearing this did Gu He dare to sweep his Spiritual Strength over Queen Medusa, and indeed found that this was only an energy projection, not her real body. "Gu He, it''s clear that a third party is involved in this matter, deliberately making things chaotic in an attempt to shift the blame." Walking Wind Feng Li looked at the continuous explosions in the Mei Snake Tribe and the raging flames in the Holy City not far away. He roughly guessed what was happening. There was indeed a third party, and this third party was sowing discord by constantly attacking the Snake-People Tribe to pin the blame on them and divert the Snake-People''s attention. "Just who is it?!" Gu He gritted his teeth. He had spent over half a year and a significant amount of resources to obtain a Body Transformation Pill through his connections with the Alchemist Association, all with the sole intention of negotiating with Queen Medusa. He never expected a third party to suddenly appear and muddy the waters. Even if it was proven that his side wasn''t responsible in the end, Queen Medusa would no longer be willing to make a deal with him. "But this isn''t necessarily a bad thing," Feng Li suddenly said. "Huh? Old Feng, what do you mean?" Gu He hurriedly asked. "Water that is too clear has no fish. If you want to catch fish, you can only do so in muddy waters." Feng Li narrowed his eyes. Gu He''s heart suddenly trembled with realization. Feng Li''s suggestion was to make things even more chaotic and seize the opportunity to snatch the prize! If negotiations were off the table, they could just steal the Heavenly Flame directly and then hide in the Jia Ma Empire! He would still have a Body Transformation Pill left over! "Now that a third party is involved, the Snake-People Tribe may not be able to handle so many issues at once. Moreover, you know why Medusa needs the Heavenly Flame from what Hai Bodong said. She might not even be willing to trade with you. If you really want the Heavenly Flame, the best method is still..." Feng Li made a throat-slitting gesture as he spoke slowly. Gu He looked at Yun Yun beside him, who calmly replied, "I can open a path for you. Whether or not you can snatch the Heavenly Flame amidst this chaos will depend on your own luck." Gu He slightly furrowed his brows and fell into contemplation for a moment before nodding with a solemn expression. He wasn''t the type to dither. When it was time to be decisive, he definitely wouldn''t let a fleeting opportunity slip away due to some trivial questions of morality. If they were going to snatch it, then so be it. Who''s afraid of whom?! "Old Shi, Feng Li, help me hold off the two tribe leaders. Regardless of success or failure this time, I will refine a Dou King Pill for each of you!" Gu He waved his hand, sending out a blue flame that covered the sky, and said in a deep voice. Yan Shi flashed a wide grin, baring his teeth. "Hehehe, you alchemists really know how to get people''s blood boiling with a single sentence!" "Stop right there!" Yue Mei and the other tribe leader Mo Ba Si on the city wall immediately flashed over with grim expressions to obstruct them. "Hehe. Your opponents are us!" Fierce air currents shot toward Yue Mei and Mo Ba Si with a whoosh. Quickly dodging the attacking air currents, Yan Shi and Feng Li swiftly appeared in front of Yue Mei and Mo Ba Si, smiling as they intercepted them. ... Meanwhile, Xiao Yan in the Holy City took advantage of the chaos. He transformed into a shadow and sneaked into the Snake Tribe''s treasury. Looking at the massive, thick iron door before him, he smiled and said, "Nihility Devouring Flame, devour it!" Even though Mao Wu was currently busy setting fires all over Holy City, it had still left some Black Flame in the Acceptance Soul for Xiao Yan to use. The Nihility Devouring Flame surged forth. The moment the thick door came into contact with the Black Flame, it visibly began to be devoured. Before long, a large hole appeared before Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan walked into the treasury and looked at the three-meter-thick door that couldn''t withstand the Nihility Devouring Flame for even a few seconds. He couldn''t help but start pondering, ''If Mao Wu grows even more, maybe it will be able to directly devour the space itself.'' A Dou Ancestor could use some space-related techniques, but only a Dou Venerate could truly control it. However, the Nihility Devouring Flame was innately capable of doing so! "Tsk tsk tsk, this is truly worthy of being the treasury of a Magical Beast Tribe," Xiao Yan murmured as he looked at the piles of gold, silver, and jewels in front of him. Weapons, magical beast bones, pill recipes, Qi Methods, Dou Technique scrolls... The shelves were packed full of them. However, as an alchemist, none of these things held any allure for Xiao Yan. His eyes were only drawn to the precious medicinal ingredients! "Good boy, the Body Transformation Grass used to refine the Body Transformation Pill! It seems Queen Medusa also planned to have someone refine the Body Transformation Pill for her!" "Sand Datura, might as well take this too." "Monster Cores from Rank 5 magical beasts, and so many of them!" Xiao Yan rushed to the depths of the treasury like a mouse in a rice jar. There were simply too many medicinal ingredients in a tribe''s treasury. He knew that his time was limited, so he didn''t aim to take a large quantity, only the most valuable items. ''They''re coming. What a pity I only took a third.'' Xiao Yan had a look of regret on his face. He sensed a large number of Snake-People heading this way and gave up on the idea of continuing his ''zero-gold-coin shopping spree''. He swiftly flew out of the treasury. However, even that third was enough to drive any 5th-tier alchemist mad with envy. will face annihilation." Medusa circled a few times in the sky above before letting out a clear, low cry. Then, she dove headfirst into the cluster of green flames without any hesitation. The giant purple serpent instantly shot downward under Xiao Yan''s intense gaze. Without a moment''s delay, she plunged into the Green Lotus Core Flame in a frantic manner. Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!!! Immediately, Medusa''s shrill screams of agony rang out from within the Green Lotus Core Flame. ''Using the Heavenly Flame to temper her body and activate the ancient bloodline within her is indeed a clever method. If she had used the Ten Thousand Beast Flame or the Bone Chilling Flame with its extreme coldness, the success rate would likely be even higher.'' Seeing Medusa plunge into the Heavenly Flame, intending to use it to temper her body and activate her bloodline to evolve, Xiao Yan no longer concealed himself and emerged from the shadows. With a loud bang, his entire body, including his flesh, bones, and skin, was instantly filled with the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. His muscles swelled, and a pair of blood-red beast pupils appeared. The illusory figure of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger enveloped him, and eight wings sprouted from his back. Ten Thousand Beast Flame-Full Beast Transformation! Xiao Yan approached the Green Lotus Core Flame step by step and calmly said, "Even with the Soul Robe, you should have noticed my presence a long time ago, given your sensitivity to air." "But you didn''t make a move against me. You couldn''t have thought a mere Dou Grandmaster fly wasn''t worth your effort, right?" Xiao Yan had prepared a backup plan to escape far away if Medusa attacked him, but he hadn''t expected her to be so arrogant. The Green Lotus Core Flame had already been provoked into a frenzy by Queen Medusa. Anything that approached within a certain range would be burned into nothingness. The small pool filled with Ice Spirit Cold Fountain was rapidly evaporating. Even its coldness couldn''t withstand the heat. "Not slapping me to death right away is the thing you''ll regret the most in this life." Xiao Yan removed his hood, revealing a youthful and confident face. A mass of black flames erupted from his body the moment his words fell. The Nihility Devouring Flame and the Ten Thousand Beast Flame instantly merged, forming a special kind of flame that enveloped him entirely. He executed the Exploding Steps, and with a resounding boom, propelled himself like an arrow straight into the raging Green Lotus Core Flame! Xiao Yan planned to snatch the Green Lotus Core Flame from Queen Medusa through sheer force! The terrifying green flames pounced toward the approaching Xiao Yan. However, when the green flames touched the flames that had merged with the Nihility Devouring Flame, a large portion of them were devoured. The remaining green flames were isolated by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. As he rushed into the Green Lotus Core Flame, Xiao Yan saw that the once hundred-foot-long giant serpent had already been reduced to a mere thirty feet by the searing flames! The Essence Flame of the Green Lotus Core Flame had already been swallowed by the purple giant serpent. The fact that Medusa had swallowed the Essence Flame weakened the flames, giving Xiao Yan an opening to charge in as well. Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!!! The charred and tattered purple serpent roared furiously at Xiao Yan. She now regretted not slapping him to death when she had the chance. Medusa never imagined that a Dou Grandmaster could actually charge into the frenzied Heavenly Flame. Even more unthinkable was that Xiao Yan possessed both the Nihility Devouring Flame and the Ten Thousand Beast Flame! "That''s not enough! That''s not enough for you to regret!" Xiao Yan took a step forward and the Heavy Xuan Ruler appeared in his hand. He swung the ruler and smashed it directly toward the purple giant serpent''s head. The blow landed with a resounding thud, but even though Medusa needed to suppress the Essence Flame within her body, she was still countless times stronger than Xiao Yan. His attack had no effect whatsoever. Xiao Yan stared at the giant serpent before him, his figure reflected in those serpent eyes. A smug smile appeared on his face as he looked at his reflection in those serpent eyes. "The physical body of a magical beast is indeed formidable. But unfortunately for you, I don''t just rely on Dou Techniques to attack. I also know Soul Skills." !!!!! "Soul Impact!!!" Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Snatching Food from the Serpents Mouth Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Snatching Food from the Serpent''s Mouth ? "Soul Impact!!!" This was Xiao Yan''s ultimate trump card! Magical beasts might have strong physical bodies, but their souls were weak! The Spiritual Strength of a Rank 6 magical beast was far inferior to a 6th-tier alchemist, while Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength had already reached the level of a 5th-tier alchemist! A strange wave of Spiritual Strength surged toward Medusa''s soul. Xiao Yan had put his all into this spiritual attack. The collision of the Soul Impact was so intense that it made Xiao Yan himself feel dizzy, feeling as though the collision had shattered his own soul. Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!!! Medusa let out furious roars. How could she have possibly imagined that this freak Xiao Yan not only possessed a Heavenly Flame but also knew a long-lost Soul Skill! Even though Soul Impact was just the most basic Soul Skill, a mere High Huang Class considered rudimentary and trashy in the Hall of Souls, it had one advantage: its impact strength depended solely on the strength of the user''s soul, not the proficiency in the skill. Right now, Medusa felt as if Xiao Yan had knocked her soul out of her body and she was losing control over it! Medusa gritted her teeth and circulated her Dou Qi, jolting herself awake. Her soul returned to her body in an instant. However, Xiao Yan''s Soul Impact caused the suppressed Essence Flame of the Green Lotus Core Flame to erupt once more. Xiao Yan had been waiting for this moment. For Medusa to evolve, she had to use the Heavenly Flame to refine her bloodline, to burn her body, flesh, bones, and even her soul had to undergo the Heavenly Flame''s refinement before the evolution could be completed. Hiss!! The purple giant serpent suddenly lashed out with its tail. A heavy thud rang out as Xiao Yan hurriedly used the Heavy Xuan Ruler to block. A terrifying force was transmitted from the ruler. Xiao Yan was sent flying like a tennis ball, smashed into the ground by the tail. Medusa had already had many of her bones and flesh burned away by the Green Lotus Core Flame, and she still needed to suppress it within her body. However, she was still a peak Dou Emperor. Even heavily injured, her furious strike was not something Xiao Yan could withstand. With a clatter, Xiao Yan pushed away the rubble, blood streaming down his forehead. ''If it weren''t for the Green Lotus Core Flame burning her, that strike probably would have killed me directly.'' Xiao Yan grinned through gritted teeth. A hint of surprise flashed in Medusa''s serpent eyes upon seeing that Xiao Yan had survived her strike. Even though she was heavily injured, that previous strike should have been enough to kill any Dou Grandmaster! "Soul Impact!!!" With a furious roar, Xiao Yan unleashed another surge of Spiritual Strength, and the two souls collided violently once again. Although Medusa was the primary target of the Lightning Tribulation, Xiao Yan was also affected. A portion of the lightning blasted toward him. "Nihility Devouring Flame! Devour the Lightning Tribulation!" Whoosh!! The merged Heavenly Flame surged out, forming a black hole-like vortex that frantically devoured the Lightning Tribulation to shield him. This was the opportunity Xiao Yan had been waiting for. He fiercely bit the tip of his tongue. The taste of blood and piercing pain jolted his mind. "Soul! Impact!!" Pu! This strike caused blood to stream from his eyes. His entire brain spun wildly. Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!! A serpent''s mournful cry reached his ears. Bang!!!! Almost at the same time, the Green Lotus Core Flame erupted. The terrifying green flames and the summoned lightning collided, producing an extremely violent explosion. The destructive power of this collision was unimaginable. The massive impact produced by the clash between the Lightning Tribulation and the Heavenly Flame instantly pulverized the entire chamber. All the furniture and decor inside were turned to flying ash. "What a terrifying energy!" The shockwave from this terrifying energy formed a fiery barrier that enveloped the entire chamber, making even Gu He, a Dou King, not dare to approach. However, Gu He was unaware that within this fiery barrier, a figure was rushing toward the Essence Flame of the Green Lotus Core Flame. Xiao Yan took out a bottle of 4th-tier medicinal pills and poured them into his mouth like they were free. These were all prepared by him in advance, including pills to restore Dou Qi, replenish Spiritual Strength, and heal injuries. ''Too terrifying. If Medusa hadn''t devoured the Green Lotus Core Flame and suppressed most of its power, it would have burned me to death directly.'' Xiao Yan''s body was severely burned, with not a single inch of skin unscathed. His head was throbbing so much that he could barely walk straight. If it weren''t for the Ten Thousand Beast Flame tempering his body, he estimated he would have turned to flying ash like Medusa. Xiao Yan slapped his head. He wanted to use his spiritual perception to probe for the location of the Green Lotus Core Flame, but he found that he had used Soul Impact too many times and his soul was on the verge of dissipating. "Mao Wu! Help me find the Essence Flame!" The empty space distorted and Mao Wu leaped out, landing on Xiao Yan''s shoulder. "Hmm? Wait, what are you holding in your mouth?!" Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Slipping Away Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Slipping Away ? Xiao Yan took a closer look and realized that Mao Wu was holding a thin, elongated creature in its mouth! "A snake?!! Where did you get that from?!" Xiao Yan was stunned! I asked you to find the Heavenly Flame, what the hell did you bring back?! In Mao Wu''s mouth was a tiny, slender snake about two centimeters long. The tiny snake was covered in fine, seven-colored scales, and its light purple-colored eyes gave off a strange and eerie feeling. What stood out the most was the unusual, sweet fragrance emanating from its body, which made Xiao Yan frown. Because he had smelled this sweet fragrance just a short while ago! The little snake didn''t look particularly fierce. Instead, it was excessively beautiful. Such a lovely creature could likely make many women forget their fear and dislike of snakes. However, Xiao Yan knew that this seven-colored little snake was most likely Queen Medusa!! He muttered, "Seven-colored body, slightly purple eyes, fragrant scent...? This seems a bit similar to the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python recorded among rare magical beasts! Could it be that Queen Medusa''s so-called evolution was actually about evolving her soul and condensing it into a completely new body?!" The souls of magical beasts were inherently weaker than those of humans. The Body Transformation Pill could only grant magical beasts human cultivation talent, but it wouldn''t strengthen their souls. Xiao Yan never imagined that Queen Medusa borrowing the Heavenly Flame to evolve would result in her soul evolving! ''Why do I feel like I have some strange connection with this Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python?!'' What confused him the most was that he actually sensed he had some kind of connection with this Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, as if it were an avatar of himself! ''I didn''t accidentally help Queen Medusa achieve the conditions for her evolution and strengthen her soul, did I...?'' Xiao Yan looked at this slender little snake. Perhaps due to an error in the evolution process, the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python before him was very weak, currently only possessing the strength of a Rank 3 magical beast. ''No, keeping her around might be useful. If Qing Lin can use her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, wouldn''t that allow her to control Queen Medusa?!'' Xiao Yan''s heart trembled as he recalled the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils that Qing Lin possessed! It was a unique constitution that could control snake-type creatures. Although he wasn''t sure if Qing Lin could control the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, it was worth a try! With a flick of his finger, Xiao Yan took out the Green Colored Lotus Platform from his storage ring. Instantly, a green light slowly rose from within and hovered in front of him. Inside that green light was the Green Colored Lotus Platform that looked like a work of art, slowly rotating and emitting a faint energy. The Dou Qi within his body circulated wildly again as his powerful Spiritual Strength enveloped the Purple Cloud Wings. With the merged Heavenly Flame and his late-stage Mortal State Spiritual Strength, Xiao Yan''s speed wasn''t much slower than Gu He''s at the Dou King realm. He even managed to pull ahead a bit. ''Damn it! When did such a powerful Dou King appear in the Jia Ma Empire?!'' Gu He cursed in extreme anger as he watched the black-robed man get further and further away. The Heavenly Flame was clearly right before his eyes! Xiao Yan felt his Dou Qi nearly depleted from maintaining the merged Heavenly Flame and knew Gu He was still relentlessly pursuing him. He inwardly shouted, "Mao Wu! Attack him!!" Mao Wu appeared in the void, and a black skull instantly distorted the empty space. The skull spewed out a green flame produced by the Core-Fire Lotus Seed. With a loud boom, the skull under Mao Wu''s control shot straight at the relentlessly pursuing Gu He. "What the hell is that ghost thing? Monstrous Blue Flame!" Gu He shouted as the eerie skull carrying a bit of the Green Lotus Core Flame slammed over. A pale blue flame abruptly appeared in front of him. With a wave of his hand, the blue flame shot toward the skull condensed by Mao Wu like a vast expanse. The blue and green flames exploded at the same time. Though Gu He was unharmed, the explosion did halt his pursuit. Whoosh! With the sound of air being torn, a black figure instantly overtook Gu He. Its speed was actually several times faster than his! "Leave the rest to me. You guys split up and escape. Let''s regroup in Mo City." The black- robed figure''s voice reached Gu He''s ears. Gu He had no choice but to retreat when he saw Yun Yun make a move. If even a 3-star wind- attribute Dou Emperor couldn''t catch up, then likely no one in the entire Jia Ma Empire could. Xiao Yan knew that it must be Yun Yun catching up to him when he felt a strong pressure coming from behind! Gritting his teeth, he took out a Core-Fire Lotus Seed from his storage ring and threw it into his mouth. As the seed entered his mouth, a surge of green flame energy flooded into his meridians, providing him with an enormous amount of fire-attribute energy. The Purple Cloud Wings instantly erupted with a green light, and his speed increased by another notch. Even though the direct consumption of the Core-Fire Lotus Seed was able to provide him with a tremendous energy boost, the human body wasn''t a machine. Without using a Qi Method to convert the energy into Dou Qi, his tendons and vessels definitely couldn''t withstand it. ''This speed is already comparable to a Dou Emperor.'' Yun Yun''s brows furrowed tightly. Although she couldn''t sense the other party''s strength, based on her experience, the other party''s strength shouldn''t exceed the Dou King realm. Chapter 115: Chapter 115: Relying on Connections Chapter 115: Chapter 115: Relying on Connections ? A black figure flashed across the landscape in the still desert night. A few seconds after the black figure had passed at extreme speed, a sharp sonic boom suddenly rang out. There was no doubt that Xiao Yan''s speed had already surpassed the speed of sound. Just as his figure disappeared, another black figure followed close behind. This figure glided through the air with the grace of a floating willow leaf, combining speed and elegance seamlessly. Yun Yun was worthy of being an elite wind attribute Dou Emperor. She was gradually closing the distance between herself and Xiao Yann, even without exerting her full strength. ''Shit! Yun Yun, you didn''t put in this much effort when fighting the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Why are you pursuing me so relentlessly now?'' Xiao Yan ranted inwardly. Suddenly, Yun Yun''s clear voice transmitted into his mind: "Sir, the Heavenly Flame does not belong to you. If you persist in this folly, don''t blame me for taking action." Xiao Yan turned his head to look back and saw that Yun Yun was already gripping her thin sword. He hadn''t forgotten that it was this very sword that had sliced open the Amethyst Winged Lion King''s belly, leaving a wound deep enough to see bone! With a buzz, a wind vortex condensed around the thin sword in Yun Yun''s hand as she locked onto Xiao Yan not far away, preparing to launch an attack. Xiao Yan''s scalp went numb under the pressure of being locked onto. He couldn''t increase his speed any further. In a rush, he took something out of his storage ring and threw it behind him. Yun Yun''s brow furrowed slightly as she saw the object flying toward her. With a flick of her finger, a gentle breeze rolled up the incoming object. !!!? "This is!" Yun Yun''s mind jolted the moment she saw what it was. It was a scroll, and the words ''Exploding Steps'' were written on it! The ''Exploding Steps'' agility-type Dou Technique wasn''t considered too precious, it was only a copied version from the Misty Cloud Sect, not the only one in existence. However, Yun Yun understood many things from it. ''Yao Yan?! It''s him!'' Yun Yun certainly hadn''t forgotten seeing Xiao Yan being captured by Yue Mei a day ago. She had thought Xiao Yan was caught by coincidence and had already escaped. But now, it seemed that Xiao Yan wasn''t captured at all. He had intentionally allowed himself to be caught, planning to infiltrate the Mei Snake Tribe. This third party was clearly Xiao Yan! Xiao Yan was at his wit''s end. His meridians could barely withstand the power of the Core- Fire Lotus Seed any longer. He needed to stop and circulate the Flame Mantra to transform it into Dou Qi as soon as possible. He could only rely on connections now, hoping that Yun Yun would let him go for the sake of their acquaintance. Yun Yun''s expression changed. After pondering for a moment, she put away her thin sword and ceased her pursuit, watching Xiao Yan disappear into the horizon. A gust of wind blew over, flipping up the hood of the black robe, exposing that exquisite, calm, fair face that stood out stunningly amid the raging sandstorm. felt lingering fear. Soul Impact was indeed very useful. Even Queen Medusa had been caught off guard by it. Moreover, the vast majority of people on the Dou Qi Continent had extremely weak Spiritual Strength. Except when fighting against alchemists, his Spiritual Strength basically crushed his opponents by a whole major level. However, no matter how weak the opponent''s Spiritual Strength was, using Soul Impact still caused some backlash that resulted in damage to his own Spiritual Strength. Xiao Yan had made up his mind. He had to exchange a Tian Class Soul Skill for Yao Ao''s soul body. If utilized well, Soul Skills could be fatal when catching someone off guard. Turning his head to the side, Xiao Yan gazed at the beautiful Green Colored Lotus Platform on the ground, his lips tightly pursed. What surprised Xiao Yan was that, if counting Mao Wu, this was actually the third Heavenly Flame! He had only been out of Jia Nan Academy for half a year, yet he had already obtained three kinds of Heavenly Flames! However, the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame and the Ten Thousand Beast Flame were both due to the Hall of Souls. Only the Green Lotus Core Flame before him was obtained through his own luck, effort, and strategy. ''My Flame Mantra has barely reached the High Xuan Class. I wonder if refining the 19th ranked Green Lotus Core Flame can evolve the Flame Mantra to the Di Class!'' Xiao Yan had not the slightest doubt about the energy contained within a Heavenly Flame. Although the evolution between Qi Method ranks required a terrifying amount of energy dozens of times greater, he believed that the Green Lotus Core Flame definitely possessed this capability! ''Before refining the Green Lotus Core Flame, I should deal with this snake first.'' Xiao Yan opened the lotus platform. By now, the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python had long since awakened. It was seen extending its forked tongue to lick the Green Lotus Core Flame in the center as if eating ice cream. Looking at Mao Wu lying on the lotus platform like a little black cat taking a nap, and the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python raising its body to lick the flame, Xiao Yan thought, ''Great, it looks like I''ve become a beast tamer.'' Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Flame Mantra! Di Class! (2-in-1) Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Flame Mantra! Di Class! (2-in-1) ? Xiao Yan looked at the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python on the Green Colored Lotus Platform as he recalled the information from ancient records. The Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python was an ancient fire-attribute snake-type magical beast. It was clear that the reason Queen Medusa chose to use a Heavenly Flame to evolve and burn her own bloodline was to completely purge the yin-cold attribute and human bloodline within her body in order to restore the pure-blooded lineage of the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python. The snake scale he found on the lotus platform back then also had seven colors, but those colors were very faint, not as rich as the colors on this little seven-colored snake before him. Xiao Yan frowned. Perhaps it was due to the collision between his own soul and Queen Medusa''s soul caused by Soul Impact, coupled with the Lightning Tribulation, that led to a strange connection between him and this little snake. This connection was so strange that even he couldn''t fully understand it. Smiling slightly, Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes and took out some Amethyst Lion Birth Essence from his storage ring. Mao Wu sprang up from its lying position and ran to his side the moment it caught the scent of the crystal. The Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python reacted a bit slower. It slowly turned its head to look at Xiao Yan and moved its body as if it was a little scared, wanting to approach but not daring to. "You can''t handle a Heavenly Flame with your current strength. The Amethyst Lion Birth Essence is more suitable for you." Xiao Yan took out a medicinal cauldron and poured a small cup of Amethyst Lion Birth Essence into it. He also added some fire-attribute medicinal herbs and ingredients that could strengthen the physique of magical beasts and used the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to refine it. He wasn''t making a pill, just extracting the medicinal properties from the herbs and mixing them with the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence. He then poured the newly blended medicinal liquid into two bowls and handed them to Mao Wu and the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python. ''Infused with a trace of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, this should be even better for magical beasts,'' Xiao Yan revealed a faint smile and thought inwardly. Mao Wu grabbed the bowl and disappeared into the void to start slurping it down. The Seed Flame required a tremendous amount of energy to grow. The Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python slowly wriggled to the edge of the bowl, raised its head to look inside, and tentatively licked it. Its eyes immediately lit up as it began to lap it up. After taking care of the two little ones, Xiao Yan finally picked up the Green Colored Lotus Platform and walked deeper into the cave. As Xiao Yan walked away with the lotus platform, the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python gave him a deep look before burying its head back into the bowl and continuing to eat heartily. Holding the Green Colored Lotus Platform in his hands, Xiao Yan gazed at the constantly swirling wisp of green flame with a somewhat intoxicated look. After a moment, a fervent light flashed through his dark eyes. ''The third Heavenly Flame... But strictly speaking, this is the first Heavenly Flame I obtained by my own power.'' His previous two Heavenly Flames relied on the Hall of Souls. Taking a deep breath of the fresh mountain air, Xiao Yan held up the Green Colored Lotus Platform and placed it in front of him. His eyes were fixed on the wisp of green flame in the lotus core that was filled with spirituality. A trace of relief and bitterness flashed across his face. When he opened his storage ring and came into contact with that mysterious black scroll, when he made up his mind to cultivate the Flame Mantra, he understood in his heart that searching for Heavenly Flames would become his lifelong mission. Because only by continuously devouring Heavenly Flames could he gradually ascend to the pinnacle. If he wanted to stand at the apex of the continent''s pyramid and look down on all living beings, he needed that kind of nearly insane dedication! As long as he could refine the Green Lotus Core Flame, he believed that despite the vast gap between the Xuan Class and Di Class Qi Methods, he would still be able to evolve the Flame Mantra to Di Class. Once he possessed a Di Class Qi Method, he was confident he could be invincible against those of the same realm. Even if they were a whole major realm higher, he still had confidence in defeating them. ''Come, Di Class!'' Xiao Yan could be considered experienced in this process, having refined two kinds of Heavenly Flames before. Although he didn''t have Blood Lotus Essence Pills now, with the Ten Thousand Beast Flame strengthening his body, the protective layer it formed was enough to allow him to approach the Essence Flame of the Green Lotus Core Flame. He knew that devouring a Heavenly Flame would cause a huge commotion. So he had Mao Wu set up numerous Nihility Devouring Flames around the entire mountain in advance to suppress the disturbance as much as possible. The moment the Green Colored Lotus Platform was fully opened, a dazzling green light illuminated the entire cave. The Green Lotus Core Flame slowly rose from the lotus platform. In an instant, the temperature inside the cave soared. The originally gentle Green Lotus Core Flame suddenly turned violent, as if it realized it was about to be refined and wanted to desperately resist. Xiao Yan took a deep breath and sat down on the lotus platform in a cross-legged position. The Green Colored Lotus Platform was a precious associate treasure. It helped him remain calm, avoid Qi deviation, and heightened his sensitivity to fire-attribute energy in the surroundings. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame surged out of his entire body. The unique energy of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame temporarily made his body comparable to a high-rank magical beast. Xiao Yan reached his hand into the Green Lotus Core Flame with a focused gaze. The green flames pounced over to bite him. Fortunately, his hand was spared with the protection of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, but it still made his right hand feel a burning pain. With the experience of refining the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, Xiao Yan was much calmer this time around. His late-stage Mortal State Spiritual Strength swept into the Green Lotus Core Flame and instantly found the location of the Essence Flame. He grabbed the Essence Flame and directly pulled it out. After drinking a bottle of Ice Spirit Cold Fountain, he stuffed it into his mouth without any hesitation. Xiao Yan summoned the Nihility Devouring Flame from his Acceptance Soul with a thought. It flowed against the direction of his meridians, forming a large black flame hand that enveloped the Essence Flame and prevented it from running rampant. Mao Wu traversed the void to Xiao Yan''s throat and controlled the Nihility Devouring Flame to wrap around the Essence Flame, ensuring that the Heavenly Flame wouldn''t erupt and burn him to death. After all, this was the Essence Flame of the Green Lotus Core Flame, and even the devouring power of the Nihility Devouring Flame couldn''t completely suppress its terrifyingly high temperature. Enduring the pain of his meridians being burned, Xiao Yan''s mind sank as he concentrated and began circulating the Flame Mantra. ''This Green Lotus Core Flame is even wilder than the Ten Thousand Beast Flame!'' He wasn''t sure if it was because the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was ranked three places higher than the Green Lotus Core Flame, or if it was due to the remnant soul of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger helping when he refined the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. After the Flame Mantra evolved to the Di Class, Xiao Yan discovered that the evolved Qi Method''s paths had clearly become more complex compared to before. However, what was slightly strange was that although the paths became more intricate, the time it took to complete one cycle of the Qi Method was becoming shorter and shorter. The powerful force within his body was already eagerly awaiting its master''s command, ready to fiercely unleash that surging power at any time. With a thought, a set of green Dou Qi armor instantly condensed around his body. Not only did he have the Dou Qi armor, but underneath, his body was also enveloped in the blood-red Ten Thousand Beast Flame, equivalent to having two layers of defense! Moreover, he still had the Nihility Devouring Flame within his body. Even if an opponent''s Dou Technique possessed penetrative power and pierced through his defenses into his body, it would still be devoured by the Nihility Devouring Flame. With his current strength, Xiao Yan estimated that even if the sealed Hai Bodong fought with all his might, he could still defeat him! "Come back into the lotus platform, I want to test out a Dou Technique." Xiao Yan opened the lotus platform and placed the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python and Mao Wu inside. After preparing everything, he walked out of the cave and slowly flew into the sky. Looking at the small mountain peak in front of him, he flicked his finger and the Heavy Xuan Ruler instantly appeared in his palm. ''Now that the Flame Mantra has evolved to the Di Class, the Heavy Xuan Ruler can no longer suppress my Dou Qi!'' The most obvious change from the Flame Mantra''s evolution was that the Heavy Xuan Ruler''s suppression had completely lost effect. The terror of a Di Class Qi Method left even the Heavy Xuan Ruler helpless. ''I heard that a perfected Flame Splitting Tsunami can split mountains and seas. I wonder if a Flame Splitting Tsunami fused with Heavenly Flames and matched with a Di Class Qi Method can achieve that!'' Xiao Yan licked his lips. He had only cultivated the Flame Splitting Tsunami to the minor level, not even to the major level, let alone to perfection. But now he not only had three kinds of Heavenly Flames into him, but also possessed a Di Class Qi Method. He wanted to test the limits of the Flame Splitting Tsunami under these peak conditions! Buzz!!! Dou Qi rapidly surged through his body. With a wild roar, the Heavy Xuan Ruler erupted in terrifying flames. The merged Heavenly Flames gushed from his palm and enveloped the entire ruler. Once the Heavenly Flames emerge, who could contend against them! The Heavy Xuan Ruler in Xiao Yan''s hand was like a sun, scorching hot enough to incinerate everything. In the past, he couldn''t fully unleash the true power of the Heavenly Flames due to his strength at the Dou Grandmaster realm. But now that the Flame Mantra had reached the Di Class, the evolved Flame Mantra could help him bring out even more of the Heavenly Flames'' power. Xiao Yan tightly gripped the handle of the Heavy Xuan Ruler. The entire ruler transformed into a Heavenly Flame heavy sword. Beneath this ruler, everything would be incinerated. "Flame Splitting Tsunami!!" He grabbed the ruler with both hands and swung it down with great force! The Heavy Xuan Ruler descended, and stones exploded upon impact. Amidst the clanging of the ruler, a hundred-meter-long flame light bombarded the small mountain peak that stood hundreds of meters high. The entire small mountain peak was instantly split open. With a thunderous boom, the flame light erupted, and the terrifying blaze transformed into a raging inferno that engulfed everything. When the flames finally dissipated, the pitiful small mountain peak had completely vanished. All the rocks and vegetation had been burned into nothingness by the Heavenly Flames'' terrifying high temperature. Xiao Yan wiped the sweat from his brow and exhaled deeply. ''Phew, although the consumption is immense, a Flame Splitting Tsunami fused with Heavenly Flames should possess the power of a peak Dou Spirit or even a Dou King.'' In actual combat, he wouldn''t be able to match a Dou King with a Di Class Dou Technique, but against those with Xuan Class Dou Techniques, his Flame Splitting Tsunami would surpass them. The gap between Di Class and Xuan Class was vast, akin to a chasm. Xiao Yan was extremely satisfied with the evolution of his Qi Method. ''If I can refine the Fallen Heart Flame from Jia Nan Academy, and then refine the Bone Chilling Flame in my storage ring, will there be a chance for the Flame Mantra to evolve to the Tian Class?'' After all, the Fallen Heart Flame was ranked 14th, even higher than the Green Lotus Core Flame, and the Bone Chilling Flame was ranked even higher at 11th! However, after pondering for a while, Xiao Yan felt it would still be a bit difficult. The Flame Mantra was only at the Low Di Class. It seemed a bit insufficient to reach Tian Class. ''If I could refine the 3rd-ranked Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame...'' Xiao Yan took out the map fragment and looked in the direction of Desert City. Perhaps it was time to find Hai Bodong. Chapter 117: Chapter 117: Instant Kill Chapter 117: Chapter 117: Instant Kill ? ''Never mind, let''s wait a bit longer. Hai Bodong has been waiting this long anyway, a little more time won''t hurt.'' After careful consideration, Xiao Yan decided to put the old fox Hai Bodong aside for now and not break his seal yet, letting him feel empty, lonely, and cold for a while longer. Far away in Desert City, Hai Bodong suddenly sneezed. Xiao Yan turned his gaze toward the northwest, where Rock Desert City was located. ''I''ve been out for almost half a month now. It''s time to head back.'' He set his direction and flew toward Rock Desert City using his Eagle Wings. For Xiao Yan now, having Qing Lin use her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils to control the Seven- Colored Heaven Swallowing Python was the top priority. After the Flame Mantra evolved to a Di Class Qi Method, his speed with the Eagle Wings was almost comparable to a Dou King, since most Dou Kings didn''t have Di Class Qi Methods. If he added the burst power of three kinds of Heavenly Flames and the support of his 5th-tier alchemist''s Spiritual Strength, his flying speed could even rival a Dou Emperor! But even with his flying ability, it still took him a full day of intermittent travel to return to Rock Desert City. The outline of a city that was several sizes smaller than Desert City finally appeared on the horizon. His fiery wings sliced through the dark sky like a meteor as he flew directly into Rock Desert City. ''Huh? How come the flag is gone?'' Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed as he noticed from a distance that the flag of the Desert Metal Mercenary Company that used to hang high above the tallest building was now missing. A sudden sense of foreboding struck him. His Dou Qi circulated rapidly, and with a thunderous sound, he shattered the ground with a single step and instantly landed in front of the main gate. ''Something''s happened!'' The front of the Desert Metal Mercenary Company compound was devastated. The entire main gate had been blasted to pieces, and even a large section of the surrounding walls had collapsed. Xiao Yan swept his Spiritual Strength across the entire compound and immediately flashed over to the collapsed arena. He waved his hand and cleared away all the debris, revealing the barely breathing mercenary company members buried under the ruins. Moreover, Luo Bu was the only 1-star Dou Grandmaster in the mercenary company, whereas the Mo Clan had not only three Dou Grandmasters but also dozens of Dou Masters. The combat strength of the two sides was on completely different levels. "If you want to blame someone, blame yourselves for having a snake person with the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. Our Great Elder doesn''t want certain things to be spread around. So you all have to become dead people who can''t talk." The leading Mo Clan elder, Mo Tian, stroked his beard as he looked at Xiao Ding and the others with a cold smile. Xiao Ding glared at the Mo Clan members with vicious eyes. He never imagined that Qing Lin''s Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils would be discovered, let alone attract the attention of the Mo Clan from Yan City. He forced himself to stand up and laughed coldly instead of getting angry. "The Mo Clan from Yan City, huh? Good, very good. I hope you can bear my Third Brother''s wrath when the time comes." Mo Yi, who had just sent Luo Bu flying, sneered disdainfully, "Your Third Brother? The so- called genius of your mercenary company? Haha, so what if he''s a genius? No matter how amazing your Third Brother is, can he be more formidable than the Misty Cloud Sect? Our Mo Clan has the backing of the Misty Cloud Sect! Do you know the consequences of offending the Misty Cloud Sect?" "Oh, so there are consequences? I offended them once three years ago, but nothing much seemed to happen." Suddenly, a soft voice echoed from all directions, like a demonic whisper that directly penetrated the minds of everyone present. Xiao Ding and Xiao Li heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing this voice. "You brat couldn''t come a little earlier next time? You always have to show up at the last minute," Xiao Li relaxed and immediately started complaining to Xiao Yan. A figure appeared at some point in the hall without anyone noticing. Xiao Yan smiled, took out a few medicinal pills from his storage ring, and handed them to Xiao Ding and Xiao Li. He shrugged, "Just like in the stories, the hero always arrives just in time." The Mo Clan members were all startled by Xiao Yan''s sudden appearance. Mo Yi subtly motioned for everyone to slowly surround him. "Are you the Third Leader of the Desert Metal Mercenary Company?" Xiao Yan turned his back to Mo Yi and looked at the severely injured Luo Bu nearby. He tossed him a medicinal pill and smiled, "Leader Luo, congratulations on your promotion. You''re still a leader, but now you''re the Fourth Leader of the Desert Metal Mercenary Company." Luo Bu stared at this smiling youth with a stunned expression. Coming back to his senses, he said, "Third Leader, be careful! They are all from the Mo Clan, and there are three Dou Grandmaster elders among them. They are very strong. I can''t compete with them." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan finally turned around to look at the several dozen people behind him. He glanced sea of black figures and said in a calm, emotionless tone, "Not anymore." Whoosh!! Suddenly, a massive wave of black flames surged out of the void and engulfed all the Mo Clan members like a tidal wave. In less than half a second, the dozens of Mo Clan members were burned into nothingness by the Nihility Devouring Flame without even a chance to scream. Chapter 118: Chapter 118: Unlocking the NPC-Like Hai Bodong Chapter 118: Chapter 118: Unlocking the NPC-Like Hai Bodong ? At this moment, the black flames disappeared into the void and returned to Mao Wu''s body. In the void, Mao Wu simply rubbed its face and went back to sleep. Only the black charred marks on the ground and the traces left behind by the battle proved that everything that had just happened was real, not a hallucination or near-death experience of the Desert Metal Mercenary Company members. This sudden change left everyone stunned, not just the observing mercenaries from the Desert Metal Mercenary Company, including those from the former Sand Mercenary Company and Luo Bu, but even Xiao Yan''s two older brothers were dumbfounded. This change was simply too shocking. Xiao Ding was directly dazed, unable to come back to his senses for a long time. All the observers were similarly stupefied, almost unable to believe what they had just witnessed! Fifty to sixty Dou Masters and three Dou Grandmasters, all of them were burned into nothingness under this black flame that suddenly appeared. Not even ashes remained! Dou Qi Armor, group formations, Mo Clan''s Qi Methods and Dou Techniques - all of these were insignificant. Under the Nihility Devouring Flame that had absorbed a lot of fire energy and various other things and was already showing its power, everything crumbled into dust and became history. The moment the Nihility Devouring Flame swept across, a Dou King in the City Lord''s Mansion of Rock Desert City suddenly opened his eyes. His deep gaze was terrifying as he murmured, "This youth must not be offended under any circumstances..." It should be known that Rock Desert City was the city closest to the Snake-People Tribe, and the City Lord stationed here possessed unfathomable strength. Although he wasn''t among the Ten Strongest in the Jia Ma Empire, his strength was definitely ranked high. "Pass on my order. The garrison of Rock Desert City must not have any conflicts with the Desert Metal Mercenary Company. Those who disobey will be dealt with by military law!" This scene also shocked all the spectators, including some onlookers from Rock Desert City who were watching from afar. Everyone was left completely astounded. "Third Brother... you, you, you, your strength!!" Xiao Li finally managed to ask after who knows how long. Although Xiao Yan was strong half a month ago, he couldn''t have wiped out so many people, including three Dou Grandmasters, with just a wave of his hand! Xiao Ding narrowed his eyes and asked, "Third Brother, you succeeded?" Xiao Li suddenly remembered why Xiao Yan had left half a month ago when Xiao Ding asked this question. He couldn''t help but gasp! Didn''t this mean that Xiao Yan had really snatched the Heavenly Flame from Queen Medusa''s hands?! He smiled knowingly as he looked in the direction of Desert City. Wasn''t there still an elite Dou Emperor who needed his help? I help you, you help me. Let''s all help each other. Xiao Yan didn''t say anything more and directly left Rock Desert City. It took him a whole afternoon to fly from Rock Desert City to Desert City. It was already evening when he arrived. ''The speed of flying-type Dou Techniques is still too slow. Even with enough Dou Qi, it actually takes half a day to travel between cities.'' Landing at the entrance of the shop, Xiao Yan couldn''t help but sigh in his heart as he looked at the half-closed door. To think that Hai Bodong, the Ice Emperor of the Jia Ma Empire, was actually hiding in such a humble shop with his Dou Qi sealed. As soon as he pushed open the door and stepped inside, Hai Bodong''s voice came from within, "We''re closed." Xiao Yan pursed his lips and impatiently replied, "Fine, fine, you''re closed. Then I''m closed too. Find someone else to break your seal." !!!! Hai Bodong squeezed out a smile and came out from inside, "Hehe, it''s you, little friend. Come, come, have a seat." Xiao Yan didn''t stand on ceremony. He slowly walked into the shop and found a place to sit down. Hai Bodong''s gaze swept over Xiao Yan, and a strange light flashed in his eyes. It had only been a little over a month since they last met, yet he could sense the latter had become much stronger. Taking out a kettle from his storage ring, Xiao Yan flicked his finger and a wisp of green flame appeared on his fingertip. He tossed it into the kettle, instantly boiling the water, and poured himself a cup of hot water. Hai Bodong''s expression changed the moment he saw the green flame. "So it really was you who obtained the Green Lotus Core Flame." He could naturally guess that Xiao Yan had obtained the Green Lotus Core Flame because after Gu He and the others split up to escape, their rendezvous point in Desert City was his shop. After all, he was the one who had provided Gu He and the others with the information. Xiao Yan chuckled, took a sip of hot water, and said with a grin, "It was just luck. I almost got caught by Sect Leader Yun Yun." Hai Bodong shook his head with a wry smile. "To escape from Yun Yun, no matter how it happened, it was due to your ability." After a moment of silence, he asked, "I wonder what brings you here this time...?" Xiao Yan laughed inwardly. Hai Bodong really couldn''t hold back his impatience. But it was understandable. Anyone would be anxious to break the seal after having their Dou Qi sealed for over twenty years. With a click, Xiao Yan put down his teacup, narrowed his eyes, and said with a smile, "I have another way to help you break Queen Medusa''s seal." Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Devouring the Seal Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Devouring the Seal ? !!!! Hai Bodong abruptly stood up upon hearing this, his eyes flashing with a hint of ferocity as he stared intently at Xiao Yan, as if trying to discern the truth from his gaze. "Old Hai, don''t get too excited. Sit down and have some water first," Xiao Yan said with a calm smile. Hai Bodong took a deep breath to calm himself down and asked, "Are you telling the truth?" Xiao Yan took out the Sand Datura from his storage ring, placed it on the table, and said, "It''s true. When I infiltrated the Holy City, I entered the Snake - People Tribe''s treasury to find the Sand Datura for you..." Hai Bodong''s eyes widened. Entering the Snake-People Tribe''s treasury?! Is the treasury that easy to get in?!!! "In the treasury, I discovered a scroll about the sealing technique used by Queen Medusa. I gave the scroll to my elders to examine, and they finally analyzed a way to reverse and break the seal," Xiao Yan told a half-truth, half-lie in a very calm manner. Hai Bodong furrowed his brows, pondering whether what Xiao Yan said was true or false. "However, Old Hai, this method was devised by my clan elders after much effort. And while it can indeed help you break the seal, that 6th-tier pill recipe and medicinal ingredients..." Xiao Yan smiled, his eyes almost narrowing into slits like a cunning fox. How could Hai Bodong not understand the hidden meaning in those words? "The pill recipe and ingredients were meant for breaking the seal in the first place. If you can help me break Medusa''s seal, I can give you both of them." Shaking his head with a wry smile, Hai Bodong took out numerous alchemy ingredients from his storage ring. In his hand, he held a yellowed, ancient sheepskin paper. The pained expression on his face was not feigned. He had endured countless hardships to obtain this pill recipe. After all, this was a 6th-tier pill recipe. Giving it away felt like cutting off a piece of his own flesh. Xiao Yan maintained a gentle smile on his face, though inwardly he was delighted. Even within the mysterious storage ring, pill recipes that could break seals were incredibly rare. Being able to obtain a 6th-tier pill recipe along the way was naturally a great deal. "Of course, I believe Old Hai still remembers our bet from before, right? If I manage to break the seal within a year, you agreed to give me half of the Miteer Auction House, remember?" Xiao Yan said with a smile, not in a hurry to take the pill recipe. Hai Bodong''s eyelid twitched violently. He had originally thought of using the fact that the agreement was to refine a pill to brush it off later, but Xiao Yan had directly brought it up. "I... I remember." Those two words were almost squeezed out through his clenched teeth, revealing the struggle in his heart. Xiao Yan slowly extended his Spiritual Strength from his body, and with a thought, Mao Wu emerged from his Acceptance Soul, its body shrinking to one-tenth the size of a fingernail as it jumped onto his fingertip. His finger then pierced Hai Bodong''s body with a soft sound, sending Mao Wu to the location of the seal. Medusa''s seal was even more vicious than the one on the Amethyst Winged Lion King. It had sealed almost all the acupoints in Hai Bodong''s body. Moreover, the seal had coated his meridians with a layer of poison. To break this kind of seal, not only did the seal need to be devoured, but the poison layer on the meridians also needed to be consumed without damaging the meridians themselves. If it were the Xiao Yan who had just met Yun Yun in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, the success rate wouldn''t have exceeded 50%. But now, not only had his Spiritual Strength increased significantly, but more importantly, Mao Wu had also grown stronger. Under his control, the shrunken Mao Wu fiercely devoured the poison layer in the meridians. Even the deadliest poisons could be devoured by the Nihility Devouring Flame. As Mao Wu continuously traversed the meridians throughout the body, the black flames persistently burned and devoured the poison layers. Hai Bodong could clearly feel his body becoming lighter. That smooth, flowing sensation was returning once again! His aura gradually increased as time passed quietly. Even though he was drenched in sweat from head to toe, the excited smile on his face couldn''t be concealed. ''Just a little more... a little more!'' Hiss! Suddenly, a snake pattern counterattacked. Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed as his soul body instantly emerged and fiercely struck out with a palm. Meanwhile, the Nihility Devouring Flame surged through Hai Bodong''s entire body like a ferocious tiger, devouring the venomous snake with a single bite. The moment the snake pattern was eradicated, Hai Bodong''s tightly closed eyes suddenly opened wide. A burst of spiritual light shot out from his pupils like something tangible, and the power that had been deeply suppressed for nearly decades erupted from within his body. The walls of the secret chamber began to crack under the immense pressure. Xiao Yan hurriedly retreated after sensing this Dou Emperor-level strength. "This damned seal is finally gone! I''ve become a Dou Emperor again!!!" Hai Bodong''s face was filled with ecstatic joy as he threw his head back and laughed maniacally. After a while, he turned his head to look at Xiao Yan, who was sitting calmly on a chair. His eyes narrowed slightly as if contemplating something. Xiao Yan raised his head to look at Hai Bodong in the air and displayed an incredibly confident smile. It was as if the latter posed no threat to him at all. "What''s the matter, Old Hai? Something wrong with your body?" Xiao Yan slowly took out the Soul Command Token from his storage ring and gently placed it on the table. Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Probing (2-in-1!) Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Probing (2-in-1!) ? Xiao Yan feigned a look of sudden realization when he saw Hai Bodong staring intently at the Soul Command. He picked up the token with a smile and said, "This? Oh, it''s a protective talisman given to me by my clan elders. I heard it has the effect of bringing good fortune and avoiding misfortune." Hai Bodong could naturally sense that it was a Soul Communication Tool, not some protective talisman bullshit. Creating such a Soul Communication Tool required extremely powerful Spiritual Strength. Usually only alchemists could make them. The principle was the same as making pill recipes. It was precisely because such items existed that alchemists were referred to as hornets'' nests. Once an alchemist was attacked, they could use this kind of soul tool to send out a distress call for help. [A/N: As Yao Lao had done twice in the original work.] Looking at Xiao Yan, who was smiling, leaning back in his chair with crossed legs, and interlocking his fingers in front of him, Hai Bodong narrowed his eyes and slowly descended from the air. Who was he, Hai Bodong? The former Ice Emperor. He was known for his cold and domineering demeanor. No one had ever dared to take anything from his hands forcibly, yet Xiao Yan had broken this taboo and even extorted him. It would be a lie to say that Hai Bodong hadn''t entertained the thought of snatching back the map fragment after recovering his strength. "It is indeed a good protective talisman." Hai Bodong squeezed out a smile, but never made a move. It was because he recalled Yun Yun''s words from a few days ago and the fact that Gu He and the others had returned empty-handed. A hint of a smile appeared on Xiao Yan''s face as he put the Soul Command Token back into his storage ring. He truly wasn''t worried, because he had already predicted this outcome. He had been probing Hai Bodong from the moment he entered the shop. It started when he deliberately mentioned infiltrating the Snake-People Tribe''s treasury, then lied about finding a beast technique scroll containing Medusa''s sealing technique and giving it to his elders. This was all a test. It wasn''t that he intentionally made up a nonexistent ''powerful elder'' to intimidate Hai Bodong. Rather, he was probing what kind of information Hai Bodong had received after Yun Yun and the others left. Yun Yun had let him escape, so she needed to give Gu He a reason. As a wind-attribute Dou Emperor, Yun Yun was the fastest in the Jia Ma Empire. There was no way she couldn''t have caught up with him. As such, there was only one excuse for her not being able to obtain the Heavenly Flame: she had been intercepted by a second party. Back when they were fighting for the Heavenly Flame in the Mei Snake Tribe, Gu He and the others indeed believed there were two people on Xiao Yan''s side. One was the black-robed man who infiltrated the Holy City to snatch the Heavenly Flame, and the other was the mysterious expert who caused chaos to create a diversion. Thus, Yun Yun''s excuse was perfect. No one would doubt it. It''s just that no one would have imagined that the mysterious expert causing chaos was actually a Fire Spirit that could traverse through space. So Xiao Yan deduced that Yun Yun would use the interference of a mysterious expert as an excuse. When he mentioned having elders Hai Bodong didn''t doubt for a moment whether these supposed ''elders'' truly existed. He only doubted whether the seal could really be removed. At that moment, Xiao Yan confirmed that Yun Yun had indeed claimed a second mysterious expert had blocked her, thus allowing the black-robed man to escape. And Hai Bodong was aware of this information. For this reason, when Xiao Yan offered to break Hai Bodong''s seal, he didn''t beat around the bush or take any secret precautions. He was so confident and quick in breaking the seal. It was as if he wasn''t afraid of Hai Bodong going back on his word at all. After all, he had confirmed through their previous conversations that Hai Bodong wouldn''t dare, especially since he had planted the notion that ''I have powerful elders behind me.'' With a slight smile, Xiao Yan gently stroked his storage ring with his finger and said, "How careless of me, I almost forgot to congratulate Old Hai." He slowly stood up from his seat, cupped his hands in a very standard congratulatory gesture, and said softly, "Junior Xiao Yan congratulates Old Hai on regaining his Dou Emperor strength." His gesture could be said to be flawless. It not only gave Hai Bodong a face but also served as a self-introduction, hinting that he had no intention of being an enemy. "Sigh." Hai Bodong shook his head with a bitter smile on his face. He took out the remaining half of the map fragment from his storage ring and said, "Forget it, forget it. I''ve been looking at this map fragment for over twenty years and haven''t been able to decipher anything. Perhaps you are the one destined to have it. This map fragment is yours now." Xiao Yan reached out to accept this smooth-textured map fragment. As he examined it up and down, a faint sense of antiquity and ancient charm washed over him. It seemed that this map fragment had experienced quite a long history. While holding this small piece of map in his hand, he took out the other small piece he had previously obtained from Hai Bodong from his storage ring. Then he carefully fitted the two pieces together and, after finding that there was no gap at the joint, he finally let out a sigh of relief. "As for half of the Miteer Auction House, I won''t go back on my word. I''ll take you to the auction house to explain this matter whenever you have time. I just hope that you can lend a hand if the auction house encounters any issues in the future." Hai Bodong waved his hand casually. Xiao Yan didn''t push his luck and replied, "Old Hai overestimates me. This junior is just an ordinary alchemist and isn''t skilled in business management and operations. I just hope that the auction house can provide me with the necessary medicinal ingredients when I need them for alchemy. As for daily operations and revenue, I won''t take a single coin." "Cut the crap. Ordinary alchemists don''t have Heavenly Flames. And the medicinal ingredients you need for alchemy, I''m afraid we''d have to turn the entire Jia Ma Empire upside down to find them." Hai Bodong rolled his eyes at him. Not even a ghost would believe his nonsense. The Mo Clan had only one or two more Dou Spirits compared to his Xiao Clan. Now, with Xiao Ding and Xiao Li consolidating the mercenary business in Rock Desert City, coupled with the Xiao Clan dominating the entire Wu Tan City with Xiao Yan''s help a few years ago, it wouldn''t be long before the Xiao Clan''s strength would match or even surpass that of the Mo Clan. In fact, with the inclusion of Xiao Yan, the Mo Clan was already no match for the Xiao Clan. Just as Xiao Yan was about to move forward to enter the city gate, the sound of galloping hooves suddenly came from not far behind him. Several men and women riding fine horses were galloping over. The dust they kicked up on the way enraged the people lined up on the side. However, when their angry glances landed on the leading figure on horseback, they immediately swallowed their grievances and did not dare to make a sound. Xiao Yan glanced over. The leader was a young woman wearing a set of tight red clothes that perfectly accentuated her exquisite figure. A small crystal ornament hung from her clean forehead, swaying slightly and adding a hint of liveliness to her face that carried a pampered and willful air. It wasn''t until the hoofbeats began to fade that a chorus of curses erupted. "Damn it, she thinks she owns the place just because she''s the Second Young Lady of the Mo Clan." Xiao Yan frowned slightly. It seemed that the Mo Clan''s education left a lot to be desired. "If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beams will be crooked. This Mo Clan is rotten from the inside out." "Haha, all big clans are like this. They act like local emperors in their own cities." Hai Bodong laughed. Shaking his head slightly, Xiao Yan entered the largest inn in Yan City with Hai Bodong. After expressing their desire to book two rooms, the rather attractive maid looked them over and replied with a sweet smile, "Sirs, may I ask if you have an invitation from the Mo Clan?" "Invitation?" Xiao Yan frowned and shook his head. "No. Is this Yan City or Mo City? Why do we need an invitation from the Mo Clan?" "Excuse me, sir. All the inns in Yan City are fully booked by the Mo Clan for the next few days. We are only accommodating their guests," the attendant''s smile was quite perfunctory as she replied. "Wow, this Mo Clan is even more domineering than the Misty Cloud Sect." Xiao Yan shook his head and let out a mocking laugh. "Where did this country bumpkin come from, daring to criticize my Mo Clan for being domineering in Yan City?!" Suddenly, a cold, mocking female voice came from behind Xiao Yan. With his powerful Spiritual Strength, Xiao Yan didn''t need to turn around to know it was precisely the Second Young Lady of the Mo Clan who had just ridden in. "Aren''t you just proving how domineering your Mo Clan is?" Xiao Yan retorted with a sneer, not even bothering to turn around. "You little brat are courting death!" Hearing his mocking tone, the Second Young Lady of the Mo Clan, who had always been pampered and treated like a treasure, immediately furrowed her brows. The long whip in her hand transformed into a black shadow with a whoosh, viciously lashing toward Xiao Yan. The onlookers shook their heads in silence, feeling sorry for Xiao Yan. Whoosh! Suddenly, a streak of black flame appeared out of thin air. The Nihility Devouring Flame instantly incinerated the weapon forged from the monster core of a rank 2 magical beast into nothingness. Before anyone could react to what had happened, a large hand shot out like a venomous snake and grabbed the Second Young Lady of the Mo Clan by the throat, lifting her half a meter off the ground. "Three years ago, someone was as arrogant as you. As a result, I broke two of their fingers. Do you want to try it too?" Original Author Note: Regarding Questions About the Green Lotus Core Flame The author did not suppress Xiao Yan''s cultivation level!!! In the original work, refining the Green Lotus Core Flame only increased Xiao Yan''s cultivation level from a 2-star Dou Master to a 4-star Dou Master, a two-star improvement. Now that he is a Dou Grandmaster, he can only increase his stage by one star. Everyone might have forgotten the original setting: refining a Heavenly Flame does not directly increase cultivation levels! [Original setting] Each time Xiao Yan''s cultivation level increased, it was due to the environment where the Heavenly Flame was located and the additional benefits from those scenarios, which provided other things to boost his cultivation. Refining the Heavenly Flame itself does not increase cultivation levels! Chapter 121: Chapter 121: A Fateful Encounter Chapter 121: Chapter 121: A Fateful Encounter ? There was no shortage of knowledgeable people in the hall. Everyone''s expression immediately changed when they saw the flame that could instantly melt even a weapon forged from a Monster Core. Xiao Yan didn''t even use much strength to grab the snow-white neck of the Second Young Lady of the Mo Clan and lift her up. His indifferent voice spread out, without a hint of cherishing a beauty''s jade-like skin. The Second Young Lady of the Mo Clan, Ling Lin, stared at the youth before her in shock, her beautiful eyes filled with terror. Although she had already reached the Dou Master realm, how could a mere Dou Master possibly escape from Xiao Yan''s grasp? Xiao Yan''s cold, indifferent eyes and his voice as calm as water made it seem as if he could kill this Second Young Lady of the Mo Clan at any moment without a second thought. "Sir, please stay your hand!" A middle-aged man hurriedly walked out from the lobby of the inn. The expression on his face was full of worry and tension. Xiao Yan saw the Mo Clan emblem on the middle-aged man''s chest. He thought for a moment before suddenly releasing his grip. Ling Lin fell directly onto her bottom. She coughed a few times and touched her neck, her eyes filled with fear as she looked up at Xiao Yan. Had he applied even a little more force right now, he could have easily crushed her neck bones and left her lifeless on the spot! "Sir, Ling Lin was too impulsive earlier. Please don''t take offense for the sake of my Mo Clan." The middle-aged man''s scalp went numb. Ling Lin had kicked an iron plate this time! The young man in front of him possessed formidable strength, and the old man beside him was even more unfathomable. He was afraid that he had reached the Dou Spirit realm. Ling Lin hurriedly got up from the ground and hid behind the middle-aged man. She also knew that she had kicked an iron plate this time and didn''t dare to shout or make a fuss. "You Mo Clan don''t have that kind of qualification," Xiao Yan said unhurriedly. His voice echoed in the quiet hall. Even Hai Bodong beside him remained silent. The moment she stepped through the front entrance, every man held his breath for a moment. Many of them had their eyes glued to her. The young lady wore a long white robe with wide sleeves and a pale silver belt that cinched her willow-like waist, perfectly accentuating her exquisite thin waistline. Her charming smile exuded subtle elegance and nobility. Though her expression seemed gentle, it carried a distant aloofness that kept people thousands of miles away. Her eyes revealed a unique stubbornness. Even if Xiao Yan were standing here, he might have to ponder for a few seconds to recognize that this young lady was Nalan Yanran, the same person whose two fingers he had broken with a single blow three years ago. She was the same age as Xiao Yan, and the saying ''A girl changes eighteen times between childhood and womanhood'' held true. The Nalan Yanran of today was completely different from the Nalan Yanran of three years ago. "Big Sister Nalan, you''re here too?" Upon seeing Nalan Yanran, Ling Lin set aside her tears and hopped over cheerfully with a giggle, clinging onto her arm. Although Ling Lin was quite pretty, standing next to Nalan Yanran made the difference in their looks all the more apparent, making Ling Lin feel a bit inadequate in comparison. Nalan Yanran only gave a faint smile when she saw Ling Lin''s lively and cheerful appearance. Her smile was restrained yet carried a noble air. It didn''t make people feel that she was cold, but had a sense of keeping others at bay. In any case, after experiencing that incident three years ago, the once willful and impetuous young girl had transformed into a much more mature young lady. The person following behind Nalan Yanran was still Ge Ye, who had accompanied her to break off the engagement with the Xiao Clan back then. Ge Ye''s cultivation had now reached the 2-star Dou Spirit stage. Following the right person had paid off, and with Nalan Yanran''s rising status, he had also reaped significant benefits. His cultivation had increased rapidly over the past three years. Ling Lin affectionately pulled Nalan Yanran''s jade-like, fair hand and said with a delighted smile, "Big Sister Nalan, if Father and the others knew you personally came down from Misty Cloud Mountain, they would definitely be very happy." "Just following my Master''s instructions. Besides, I happened to be returning home during this period to prepare for some matters, so I conveniently came over." Nalan Yanran said in a gentle voice. "Big Sister Nalan, it''s already getting dark today. Why don''t you rest here for the night? This place has rooms specially designed to receive guests of your status." Ling Lin said excitedly. "Mm, I''ll trouble Little Sister Ling Lin then." Nalan Yanran smiled and nodded. Ling Lin smiled shyly and remained silent as she led Nalan Yanran and Ge Ye up the stairs. As the group disappeared at the top of the stairs, the whispering in the hall grew louder, buzzing like a swarm of flies. Xiao Yan, who was in his room, probably never imagined that he would encounter Nalan Yanran upon coming to Yan City! Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Theres a Story! Chapter 122: Chapter 122: There''s a Story! ? After closing the door to the room, Xiao Yan turned around, his face immediately revealing a trace of exhaustion. He rubbed his slightly darkened eye circles and helplessly shrugged at Hai Bodong. Hai Bodong picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and said to Xiao Yan, "I bet that guy''s first move after going back will be to investigate our backgrounds." "Let him be. He''ll probably find out about my background tomorrow anyway. It''s just the Mo Clan. For now, let''s adjust our condition. The journey has been quite mentally exhausting. After recovering, let''s enter the Mo Clan early tomorrow morning to look for Qing Lin." Xiao Yan stretched lazily, preparing to get a good night''s sleep. Long-term flying puts a great strain on both vision and mind. Even if one had sufficient Dou Qi, the mental strain of continuous flight was overwhelming. Just as Xiao Yan was about to wash up and hit the sack, in the corridor outside the room, whether intentionally or by coincidence, Ling Lin led Nalan Yanran to the room directly opposite him. The two women opened the door and slowly walked in. ... The morning sunlight filtered through the patterned windows. Inside the room, Xiao Yan, who had woken up and was sitting cross-legged on the Green Colored Lotus Platform to cultivate, slowly opened his eyes. A faint green light flashed through his pitch-black pupils. He took a deep breath of the cool morning air and immediately felt refreshed and invigorated. ''This Green Colored Lotus Platform can indeed soothe the spirit and refresh the mind. It''s truly a rare treasure.'' Xiao Yan walked out of the room after putting away the Green Colored Lotus Platform. Hai Bodong was already waiting for him. "Let''s go, Old Hai. Today, we''ll sneak in and find Qing Lin first while the Mo Clan is busy. Then we''ll properly ''celebrate'' that old fellow Mo Cheng''s birthday. I''ve already got the perfect gift in mind." "Tsk tsk tsk, poor Mo Clan. I''m afraid their joyous occasion might turn into a funeral today." Hai Bodong said helplessly as he shrugged his shoulders. Xiao Yan''s eyes were filled with killing intent that he didn''t even bother to conceal. Xiao Yan didn''t even feel the need to hide his identity. The Mo Clan was nothing. Without counting the Misty Cloud Sect, the current Xiao Clan was already stronger than the Mo Clan. What was the Mo Clan anyway? He even knew the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect and had joined the Hall of Souls. After leaving the room, Xiao Yan casually closed the door and walked down the stairs along the corridor. And at that very moment! Standing quietly at the inn''s entrance was Nalan Yanran, dressed in a tight, moon-white robe that perfectly accentuated her exquisite and alluring figure. She was smiling and chatting with Ling Lin, while numerous discreet yet heated gazes from the hall kept sweeping over her. As Xiao Yan''s footsteps slowly descended the last flight of stairs, he suddenly raised his head slightly as if sensing something. At the same moment, Nalan Yanran also looked toward the direction of the stairs. "Are you also here to attend the Mo Clan''s birthday banquet?" Xiao Yan furrowed his brows and said noncommittally, "You could say that." To be able to have a woman thinking about him day and night, Xiao Yan could be considered a fairly successful young lad! The atmosphere was excessively quiet for a moment. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the drama to unfold. Just then, Ge Ye stepped forward and cupped his hands toward Xiao Yan, "Little Clan Leader Xiao, long time no see." One doesn''t slap a smiling face. Xiao Yan returned the gesture with a smile and said, "Indeed, it''s been a while, Mr. Ge Ye." Technically, the engagement had not been annulled yet! Moreover, after the incident three years ago, the Nalan Clan had gone crazy trying to stop Nalan Yanran from breaking off the engagement. Furthermore, Ge Ye could vaguely sense that Xiao Yan had already reached the Dou Grandmaster realm! To advance from Dou Practitioner to Dou Grandmaster in three years-such a rate of improvement was no less than Nalan Yanran''s. This left Ge Ye both shocked and terrified! Even with the assistance of Pill King Gu He and the guidance of Sect Leader Yun Yun, Nalan Yanran still couldn''t widen the gap in cultivation between her and Xiao Yan! Such a talent was simply too astonishing! Ge Ye then glanced at Hai Bodong standing next to Xiao Yan, and his pupils immediately contracted. He couldn''t sense Hai Bodong''s strength at all! It was as deep and unfathomable as an abyss! ''I''ve only felt this kind of sensation from the Sect Leader!'' Ge Ye''s heart was filled with dread. Ge Ye cupped his hands and said, "Since that''s the case, why don''t Little Clan Leader Xiao join us in visiting the Mo Clan?" Xiao Yan raised his eyebrows. He had been thinking about how to sneak into the Mo Clan, but now it seemed like he had an inside man! Ge Ye subtly shook his head at Nalan Yanran and whispered, "Yanran, you only broke through to the Dou Grandmaster realm half a year ago using the Purple Crystal Pill given by Elder Gu He. The effects of the Purple Crystal Pill will last for a year, during which your cultivation will progress twice as fast. I suggest you continue cultivating for another three or four months. That would be better for you." Upon hearing Ge Ye''s words, Nalan Yanran actually suppressed her aura. It was evident that these three years had made her more composed. Xiao Yan exchanged a glance with Hai Bodong and then used a spiritual transmission to say, "Old Hai, help me find Qing Lin once we''re inside the Mo Clan. There is a Rank 4 snake-type magical beast by her side. Take her away and leave Mo Cheng to me." Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Is This All Youve Achieved in Three Years? Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Is This All You''ve Achieved in Three Years? ? "Big Sister Nalan, yesterday it was him..." Ling Lin hid behind Nalan Yanran and quietly tattled. The moment she saw Xiao Yan, Nalan Yanran had already guessed that only he would dare to be so ruthless. After all, even she, the direct disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect''s Sect Leader, had two fingers broken by him. This guy did not know how to show mercy at all. Xiao Yan could naturally hear what Ling Lin was saying. He glanced at her and casually remarked, "Someone made the first move. The fact that I didn''t truly retaliate was already giving her face." "You!" "Hmm?!" Xiao Yan''s brows furrowed, immediately frightening Ling Lin into shrinking back, not daring to utter another word. "Junior Sister Yanran, I sincerely apologize. Our clan has been busy these past couple of days, and we almost neglected our esteemed guests." Just then, a clear, bright laugh suddenly rang out from outside the main entrance. Following that, a rather handsome young man walked in with a beaming smile and addressed Nalan Yanran with great familiarity. Xiao Yan glanced at the young man''s grinning face and quickly surmised that this must be one of Nalan Yanran''s suitors. "Senior Brother Mo Li is too polite." Nalan Yanran nodded, her smile reserved. She didn''t soften her expression despite the burning gaze in the young man''s eyes. A brief flash of disappointment flashed through the eyes of the young man named Mo Li when he noticed her lukewarm smile. Although they had known each other for several years, she still didn''t seem to have any special feelings for him, which made him feel somewhat disheartened. Then he smiled and said, "Junior Sister Yanran, why don''t you come with me to the Mo Clan? It''s on the way anyway." Nalan Yanran hesitated slightly upon hearing this. She glanced at Ge Ye, then cast a deep look at Xiao Yan before nodding. Noticing her gaze, Mo Li turned to Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong and asked, "And who might these two be?" Ge Ye quickly replied, "They are friends of mine and Yanran''s who are also here to offer birthday congratulations." "Oh, I see. In that case, let''s go together," Mo Li invited. Hai Bodong felt a little strange inside. After all, Xiao Yan wasn''t here to offer congratulations, but to offer incense at Mo Cheng''s memorial! Wasn''t this akin to inviting a wolf into the house? However, Xiao Yan did not refuse. Since someone was willing to lead him into the Mo Clan, he couldn''t be bothered to sneak in anymore. Before long, the group arrived at the Mo Clan headquarters in a carriage. The Mo Clan truly lived up to its reputation as the most powerful clan in the eastern province of the Jia Ma Empire. The heavily fortified fortress alone must have cost an immense amount of money to build. Xiao Yan used his Spiritual Strength to scan the fortress from above. He sensed at least a dozen surveillance points covering the entire area with no blind spots. If anyone tried to fly in from the air, the countless hidden arrows would likely instantly turn the intruder into a pincushion. But never in a million years did they expect the reality to be entirely different. Mo Cheng gave Mo Li a meaningful look, and he immediately understood. He stepped in front of Nalan Yanran, drew his sword, and said, "Xiao Yan, you are not qualified to challenge Yanran!" "Me, challenge her?" Xiao Yan found this almost laughable. Had the rumors really gotten that wild? With a buzzing sound, Mo Li circulated his Dou Qi and instantly covered his entire body with Dou Qi Armor. The aura of a 3-star Dou Grandmaster erupted as he pointed his sword at Xiao Yan and declared, "My strength is on par with Yanran''s. If you want to challenge her, you''ll have to get past me first!" Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow and looked at Nalan Yanran standing to the side. Because there was something on her body blocking his Spiritual Strength from probing, he didn''t know her exact cultivation level. "Your strength is on par with hers?" "That''s right!" "Interesting." Xiao Yan stroked his chin and looked at Mo Cheng, "Don''t say I didn''t give you a chance. Before I get bored with this situation, if you bring Qing Lin here, I''ll spare your Mo Clan. Otherwise, your joyous occasion will turn into a funeral today." Mo Cheng''s eyes turned cold as he replied with a sinister tone, "Regardless of who you are, the Mo Clan is not a place where you can run wild!" Xiao Yan shook his head. It seemed this person was the type who wouldn''t shed tears until he saw the coffin. He slowly sat down, picked up a cup of hot tea from the table, and took a leisurely sip. In a calm voice, he said, "Before the tea cools is your Mo Clan''s last chance." A flash of murderous intent crossed Mo Li''s eyes when he saw Xiao Yan blatantly ignoring him. Regardless of whether the engagement had been annulled or not, Xiao Yan''s title as Nalan Yanran''s fiance? made his blood boil, making him feel as if he had been cuckolded. "You''ll pay for this! Green Wood Sword!!" Mo Li''s figure shot forward, his long sword transforming into a verdant light that thrust straight at Xiao Yan''s throat. He had no intention of sparring but wanted to kill Xiao Yan! "That''s the Misty Cloud Sect''s Xuan Class Dou Technique, the Green Wood Sword!" "Mo Li truly deserves to be called a genius on par with Nalan Yanran. The Green Wood Sword has actually been cultivated to a major level of mastery!" Clap! To the astonishment of everyone present, a wisp of blood-red flame appeared on Xiao Yan''s fingertip as it lightly pressed against the tip of Mo Li''s sword. Xiao Yan frowned deeply, turned his head to look at Nalan Yanran behind Mo Li, and asked in a slightly puzzled tone, "Is this all you''ve achieved in three years?" Chapter 124: Chapter 124: Strength That Shocks All Sides ? With a condensed partial Dou Qi armor forming around Xiao Yan''s hand and transforming into a fist covered in the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, he used just one finger to block Mo Li''s Dou Technique. No matter how hard Mo Li tried, his sword, even emitting cracking sounds, couldn''t advance even half an inch. "How is this possible!" "He blocked the Green Wood Sword with just one finger?!" The entire hall instantly fell silent. All the initial mocking laughter and noisy voices abruptly stopped as everyone stared at this scene in disbelief! Initially, those in the hall who didn''t know Xiao Yan ridiculed him, thinking that a ''useless'' fiance? figure like him daring to challenge a core disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect and provoke the Mo Clan''s First Elder was simply courting death. Now, their faces had been thoroughly slapped. Even Ge Ye''s mouth dropped open in astonishment. He had initially thought about stepping in to mediate since Xiao Yan had some ties with the Nalan Clan. However, what he didn''t expect was that Xiao Yan would block the Green Wood Sword with a single finger. This revealed his formidable strength! Although Xiao Yan made it look effortless, only he himself knew the actual difficulty involved. This feat required an extreme level of control over the Heavenly Flame in order to compress a large amount of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame into a single point and use its power to perfectly absorb the impact from the Green Wood Sword. While Mo Li and Xiao Yan were both at the 3-star Dou Grandmaster stage, their physical strength and the purity of their Dou Qi were on entirely different levels. Nalan Yanran naturally heard Xiao Yan''s words, and her beautiful eyes were filled with shock. Three years had passed! This young genius who had defeated her with a single punch back then was still just as powerful! "This...this...this is impossible! I''ve already cultivated the Green Wood Sword to a major level of mastery! How can this be! I''m a core disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect!" Mo Li''s eyes were bloodshot, unable to accept this reality! It was this very mastery of the Green Wood Sword Technique that had earned him the position of core disciple during the last Misty Cloud Sect assessment. "So this is what passes for a core disciple? Looks like I made the right choice not joining your Misty Cloud Sect." Xiao Yan applied a bit of force and effortlessly flicked Mo Li''s long sword aside. "Ah! I won''t accept this!!!" Being disdained by Xiao Yan in such a blatant manner made Mo Li tremble with anger. He was a prominent figure in the Misty Cloud Sect, a genius of Yan City! How dare some cultivator from who-knows-where look down on him?! In a fit of rage, Mo Li''s Dou Qi erupted, increasing his strength by one level as his Dou Qi armor formed around his body. He swung his sword with explosive force, breaking through the air as he unleashed a flurry of sword lights that frantically slashed toward Xiao Yan. "Your Misty Cloud Sect is the biggest tyrant here. How can anyone trust you?" Ge Ye''s face turned unnatural as soon these words fell. Compared to someone like Nalan Yanran who wholeheartedly focused on cultivation, he and old foxes like Mo Cheng had joined the Misty Cloud Sect purely for the benefits. Many things were understood without needing to be said aloud. "Time, you say? Of course I''ll give you some. Is the time it takes to drink a cup of tea enough?" Xiao Yan turned his gaze toward the Second Young Lady of the Mo Clan, Ling Lin. Being stared at by the former, Ling Lin immediately hid behind a middle-aged man, afraid he might make a move against her. However, Xiao Yan paid her no heed and instead looked at the middle-aged man, "You must be the head of the Mo Clan. Opportunity is something you have to seize for yourself. Before I kill Mo Cheng, if you can bring me the girl he abducted two days ago, I''ll spare your Mo Clan." "Mo Lan! Gather all members of the Mo Clan immediately! I refuse to believe a mere Dou Grandmaster can do anything to us!" Mo Cheng roared at the middle-aged man. It was evident that within the Mo Clan, even the Clan Head''s status was inferior to Mo Cheng''s. Xiao Yan shrugged. Now that he had confirmed that Qing Lin was still safe, he had no need to be polite. "Looks like it''s still not enough. Old Hai, don''t let anyone interfere." "Rest assured, no one will be able to intervene." Boom! Hai Bodong waved his hand and a thick ice wall appeared in the hall, instantly blocking off the others. "Let me see how much stronger this magical beast transplantation technique of yours has made you!" Roar! The Mad Lion Chant was unleashed, and the Ten Thousand Beast Flame instantly strengthened Xiao Yan''s flesh and bones. He immediately appeared before the stunned Mo Cheng with an explosive sound. His fist landed squarely on the other party''s face! Chapter 125: Chapter 125: The Ruthless Xiao Yan Chapter 125: Chapter 125: The Ruthless Xiao Yan ? "So fast!" Nalan Yanran''s eyes contracted. Xiao Yan''s speed was absurdly fast! Even her wind- attribute Dou Qi at full burst couldn''t match his speed! "Ah!!" Mo Cheng didn''t have time to react. A miserable scream followed by the sickening sound of cracking bones echoed through the hall. The sound was so piercing that it made everyone''s skin crawl. There was no doubt that Xiao Yan''s heavy punch had shattered Mo Cheng''s nasal bone! Such a bone-breaking sound made everyone shudder. A 5-star Dou Spirit like Mo Cheng had his nose bone shattered by a single punch from Xiao Yan, a mere 3-star Dou Grandmaster! Who would believe such a thing! "His physical strength is terrifying!" Ge Ye noticed the key point. Xiao Yan''s punch wasn''t just the power of the Mad Lion Chant Dou Technique, but also relied on his most basic physical strength. It was the combination of the Dou Technique and his powerful physique that resulted in that terrifying punch. "The blood-red flame that appeared on his body is very special. It can enhance his physical attributes." Nalan Yanran narrowed her eyes. As Yun Yun''s direct disciple, her observational skills had improved over the years. She immediately noticed that the blood-red flame Xiao Yan used to instantly defeat Mo Li and now to deal with Mo Cheng was the key. It could enhance his physical strength! "Could it be a Heavenly Flame? I heard from Father that Xiao Yan is also a 1st-tier alchemist," Nalan Yanran muttered to herself. "Impossible. Even Elder Gu He, a 6th-tier alchemist, couldn''t obtain a Heavenly Flame. How could a 1st-tier alchemist like him possibly possess one?" Ge Ye shook his head. He refused to believe that Xiao Yan could possess a Heavenly Flame that even Gu He didn''t have. He merely speculated that it was some kind of special fire seed. He would rather believe Xiao Yan had innate superhuman strength than accept that he possessed a Heavenly Flame. A series of cracking sounds followed as Mo Cheng slowly stood up with a ferocious expression. He twisted his crooked nose back into place, and it miraculously began to heal right before everyone''s eyes. Without a doubt, Mo Cheng had indeed transplanted some magical beast parts onto his body, granting himself extraordinary regenerative abilities. "Your little bit of strength is useless against me! Green Wind Claw!" Mo Cheng transformed into a gust of wind and charged forward, his Dou Qi wildly surging. His right hand actually transformed into a huge wind claw, intending to pierce through Xiao Yan''s chest with a single move. The corners of Xiao Yan''s mouth curled up. He advanced instead of retreating. His right fist clenched as the muscles in his arm instantly bulged with a menacing appearance. Inwardly, he roared: ''Octane Blast-Ten Thousand Beast Collapsing Fist!'' Mo Cheng was, after all, a powerful 5-star Dou Spirit. His cultivation was a whole realm higher than Xiao Yan''s. The moment this Dou Spirit expert made a move, an overwhelming aura surged forth, saturating the entire hall with his powerful Dou Qi. However, Xiao Yan, bolstered by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, was far from an ordinary Dou Grandmaster. Especially after refining the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and tempering his body with its power with the help of the Eight-Winged Flame Tiger, his physique had become extraordinarily formidable. ''Just how did he cultivate during these three years!'' Gritting his teeth, Mo Cheng took a vial of magical beast blood from his storage ring. He poured it onto his severed arm, and a sharp, bone-piercing pain drilled into his heart. The next second, his arm miraculously regenerated and sprouted a new limb. However, this arm was covered in pitch-black scales, four or five times thicker than a normal arm, with fingers more like sharp claws. "The arm of a Rank 4 Black Armored Dragon. This kind of ferocious beast possesses the ability to absorb blood and regenerate severed limbs. You have transplanted its arm bones into your own arm." Xiao Yan, who had thoroughly read the various books in his storage ring, recognized at a glance what kind of magical beast Mo Cheng''s arm belonged to. "Heh heh heh, you know quite a bit." Mo Cheng didn''t deny it. With a tearing sound, eight grayish-white bone spikes suddenly grew out of his back, waving in the air like spider legs. "The legs of a Gray Bone Spider, the back armor of an Iron-Backed Crocodile, the ears of a Wind Galloping Ox... You''ve really transformed yourself into something that''s neither human nor beast." Xiao Yan shook his head with a look of disgust upon seeing Mo Cheng''s appearance. At this moment, everyone present shuddered internally. Whether they were from other Yan City clans or Mo Clan disciples, they all felt a chill run down their spines. They couldn''t help but wonder upon seeing Mo Cheng like this: Is he even human anymore? "Hahaha, with these magical beast transplants, I, Mo Cheng, am unkillable!" Mo Cheng''s voice had even become hoarse. "Unkillable? Your brain must be fried. Didn''t these magical beasts die all the same?" Xiao Yan had no desire to waste any more words with this monstrosity. The Mad Lion Chant erupted with Blood Fury as he took a step forward. "Kill!" Mo Cheng let out a fierce cry and stopped speaking. He swung his various magical beast parts and charged at Xiao Yan with a long howl. The corners of Xiao Yan''s mouth curled up as his eyes narrowed. He had a good method for dealing with magical beasts. ''Soul Impact!'' The Spiritual Strength of a 5th-tier alchemist burst forth from his body. Mo Cheng''s mind exploded with a ''dong'' sound, instantly blinding him and causing him to lose control of his body. Seizing the opportunity, Xiao Yan appeared behind Mo Cheng, grabbing the bone spikes on his back with one hand and stomping on his back with one foot. With a series of snapping sounds, Xiao Yan actually directly pulled out the bone spikes from his back! "Ah ah ah!!!" Mo Cheng''s agonized screams echoed throughout the entire hall. Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Under Attack Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Under Attack ? Blood sprayed as Xiao Yan showed no mercy whatsoever. Since Mo Cheng dared to lay a hand on his people, he would absolutely not let him off. Even his two elder brothers might have suffered calamity if he had not returned in time. Xiao Yan pulled out the eight bone spikes from Mo Cheng''s back one by one. It''s worth noting that these bone spikes were connected to Mo Cheng''s ribs, essentially becoming part of his own skeleton. What Xiao Yan was doing now was equivalent to ripping out his ribs! "Ah ah!!" Xiao Yan''s ruthlessness thoroughly shocked everyone present. Some people with weaker stomachs even began to vomit uncontrollably. Thud! Xiao Yan stomped viciously on Mo Cheng''s back, his eyes sharp and filled with murderous intent. He asked in a deep, menacing voice, "My patience is wearing thin. Where is Qing Lin?" Crack! The sound of breaking bones rang out as he slowly applied pressure. Another anguished scream pierced the air as the unceasing sound of shattering bones resounded once more beneath his foot. "I don''t know what you''re talking about!" Mo Cheng''s face was pressed against the ground, filled with anger and resentment. At the very least, Mo Cheng was still strong in his stubbornness. Mo Lan, the head of the Mo Clan, was horrified. What on earth had Mo Cheng brought back two days ago to provoke such a monster! Mo Cheng, the strongest in the Mo Clan, was now being trampled underfoot! Was this really the Dou Grandmaster he knew? Since when did Dou Grandmasters possess such strength! Mo Lan hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Sir! Please show mercy. I''ll bring the person over right away. Please calm your anger!" "Mo Lan, stop right there! Who gave you permission to release anyone?! Do you have any idea what that girl..." Mo Cheng twisted his head and suddenly raised it to shout angrily. However, Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed slightly before he could finish speaking. A drop of Ten Thousand Beast Flame fell from his hand, instantly turning Mo Cheng''s leg into blackened charcoal with a loud whoosh. The sound of his agonized screams and the smell of burnt flesh spread throughout the hall. Ge Ye hurriedly intervened when she saw that Xiao Yan was about to burn Mo Cheng to death, "Brother Xiao Yan, please show mercy! Spare Mo Cheng''s life for the sake of the Misty Cloud Sect!" Mo Cheng revealed bloodstained teeth as he stared at Xiao Yan fearlessly, "Do you dare to kill me in front of all the leaders of the various factions from the Northeastern Province? The Misty Cloud Sect will surely not let you off!" Xiao Yan fell silent for a moment. Mo Cheng immediately gained courage upon seeing his silence, assuming he was afraid of the Misty Cloud Sect''s retaliation. What no one noticed was that Hai Bodong had quietly disappeared from the scene a short while ago. Moments before, when Mo Lan had secretly sent someone to the secret chamber, Hai Bodong had followed that person to rescue the captive. Even Ge Ye was clueless, but Nalan Yanran, though not an alchemist, had a natural sensitivity to Spiritual Strength. When Xiao Yan had executed his Soul Skill, she had sensed the use of Spiritual Strength! However, because Soul Skills had been lost to time, she didn''t know what it was. Although Xiao Yan wore a warm, sunny smile on his face, everyone who met his gaze immediately turned pale and shrank back in fear. Their frightened eyes darted around aimlessly, not daring to make eye contact with him. Only Nalan Yanran dared to look at him directly. She clenched her jade-like hands tightly as she watched the young man who had single- handedly turned the entire Mo Clan upside down. Her pretty face turned slightly pale as she stared at the slowly approaching young man. Only three months left! She had already been defeated by him three years ago. Could it be that three years later, she was still just as powerless? No one could have imagined that the First Elder of the Mo Clan, who had been making grand plans just an hour ago, would now meet his end right in front of the Little Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect. The stark contrast between these two very different scenes left people in a state of disbelief. Just as Xiao Yan was preparing to welcome Qing Lin, suddenly, an unusual feeling welled up in his heart. He abruptly turned his head toward the outside of the hall. Boom!!! An earth-shattering explosion echoed from not far away. A massive ice wall appeared, only to be shattered shortly after!!! Hai Bodong had actually come under attack!!! The sudden turn of events left everyone in the hall, including Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan, stunned for a moment. Someone actually dared to attack a Dou Emperor??!! Xiao Yan''s face darkened. The Eagle Wings instantly unfurled as he explosively shot toward Hai Bodong''s direction. Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Another Shift in the World Line Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Another Shift in the World Line ? In the instant that everyone was stunned, Xiao Yan explosively shot out from the crowded hall and flew in the direction of the shattered ice wall. ''A Dou King? No, that''s a rare flying-type Dou Technique.'' Nalan Yanran looked deeply at Xiao Yan as he flew away, her fingers clenched so tightly that they had turned white. At this moment, where Hai Bodong was located, a figure in green exchanged a palm strike with him. Hai Bodong was forced to take several steps back, while the figure swiftly extended his arms and scooped up the stunned Qing Lin into their embrace. Hai Bodong''s expression turned grave as he stared at the green figure not far away. Since when had another elite Dou Emperor appeared in the Jia Ma Empire?!! The green figure grabbed Qing Lin and, with a light push off the ground, a pair of green wings sprouted as they attempted to make a rapid escape. "Trying to leave?" A shout rang out. Hai Bodong''s hands rapidly formed seals. Instantly, a chilling aura surged as huge ice coffins descended from the sky one after another, smashing ferociously toward the green figure. The green figure''s wings fluttered as they dodged left and right but couldn''t completely avoid them all. Somewhat helplessly, they shot backwards, deflecting one ice coffin with a palm strike before nimbly leaping onto a nearby rooftop. It was only when the figure stood still that her appearance became clear. It turned out to be a woman dressed in green. Though a green veil concealed her face, the exquisite curves beneath her clothing hinted that her looks might not be lacking. The woman in green glanced at Hai Bodong standing on the ground and giggled, "Oh my, I really didn''t expect a Dou Emperor to appear here. But I''m quite interested in this little girl. I''m afraid I can''t give her to you." "Let me go!" Qing Lin struggled continuously, but with only the strength of a Dou Practitioner, how could she possibly break free from the grasp of a Dou Emperor? "Be good. I have no intention of harming you. Your talent can only truly blossom in our Sky Serpent Mansion." The mysterious woman in green gently flicked her delicate hand against Qing Lin''s forehead. Immediately, the struggling girl fell unconscious. "Release Qing Lin!!" A gust of wind surged as Xiao Yan tightly gripped the Heavy Xuan Ruler. The Flame Splitting Tsunami was chopped down viciously. The woman in green merely smiled faintly as she saw Xiao Yan''s full-power Flame Splitting Tsunami attack coming down. With a single-handed seal, a green energy shield materialized and effortlessly blocked his attack. The woman in green smiled softly and looked up at Hai Bodong as she gently stroked Qing Lin''s small face. As for Xiao Yan, who was only a Dou Grandmaster, she completely ignored him. Smiling, she said, "Had I known a Dou Emperor would show up, I would have acted sooner. That so-called transplantation technique of the Mo Clan isn''t as miraculous as I thought. I secretly learned a bit of it, and it turns out it wasn''t worth the effort." "Who are you? Why are you trying to abduct Qing Lin?" Xiao Yan stared at the green-clad woman''s actions, his eyes narrowing as he coldly demanded. The woman in green''s face alternated between dark and unsettled expressions. She bit her tongue to activate a secret technique. In an instant, she unexpectedly traversed a segment of the empty space and appeared a hundred meters away, breaking through their encirclement. Then she spread her wings and rapidly soared toward the horizon. "A Spatial Secret Technique?! After her!" Xiao Yan immediately spread out his wings like a great roc and soared into the sky in pursuit of the green figure. Meanwhile, Nalan Yanran who was still in the hall had her eyes fixed on Xiao Yan flying into the distance. At this moment, who knew what she was thinking in her heart. "Yanran... why don''t we just forget about that three-year agreement? We can find another way to deal with the marriage arrangement," Ge Ye tried to persuade as he walked over to her side. Although Xiao Yan''s cultivation was only at the 3-star Dou Grandmaster stage, the same as Nalan Yanran''s, and the 5th-tier Purple Crystal Pill provided by Gu He could allow her to cultivate twice as effectively within a year... But this wasn''t just a matter of cultivation level! Xiao Yan was a complete cultivation deceiver! His actual strength definitely reached the high- star Dou Spirit stage, and the Dou Techniques he cultivated were ridiculously powerful! "I have spent these past three years training with my Master, delving into a secret realm, venturing alone into the Magic Beast Mountain Range to temper myself, following my grandfather to the borders to fight and kill enemies... all for the sake of defeating him after three years." Nalan Yanran spoke in a flat tone, as if these experiences belonged to someone else. Ge Ye fell silent for a moment. Nalan Yanran''s progress over the past three years was not merely due to the medicinal pills that enhanced her strength; she had also put in a tremendous amount of effort herself. Moreover, her talent was originally high to begin with. Although Mo Li had claimed that his strength was on par with Nalan Yanran''s, that was just him flattering himself because their cultivation levels were the same. Their actual combat power was not even in the same league. Looking at where Xiao Yan had disappeared into the distance, Nalan Yanran made a decision beyond anyone''s imagination. "Uncle Ge, I want to enter the Gate of Life and Death." It was precisely this decision by Nalan Yanran that caused the world line to deviate once again. No one could have predicted at this moment that the secrets of the Misty Cloud Sect would later lead to a major turning point in Xiao Yan''s life! Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Youve Got Some Nerve Chapter 128: Chapter 128: You''ve Got Some Nerve ? "You want to enter the Gate of Life and Death?!!" Ge Ye''s face turned pale upon hearing Nalan Yanran''s words. He knew exactly what kind of place the Gate of Life and Death was. The Gate of Life and Death was equivalent to a private training ground owned by the Misty Cloud Sect, or more accurately, a secret realm of the sect. The reason it was named the Gate of Life and Death was because that place was extremely dangerous. One''s life would hang in the balance once inside. Many talented disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect had attempted to enter the Gate of Life and Death, hoping to gain benefits from it. However, the vast majority went in and were never heard from again. "That place requires at least a Dou Spirit realm to enter! Although you are the only one in this generation who can resonate with the Gate of Life and Death, it''s too dangerous to go in now," Ge Ye said in shock, trying to dissuade her. "I need to increase my strength. Otherwise, I''m afraid I won''t be able to defeat him with my current abilities. My current strength is already enough to fight a low-star Dou Spirit. The Gate of Life and Death is the resting place of the past Sect Leaders of the Misty Cloud Sect. As a member of the sect, I believe I will be protected by them," Nalan Yanran shook her head and said quietly, her gaze lingering on the sky where Xiao Yan had disappeared. Ge Ye frowned deeply and tried to persuade her, "Although Elder Gu He couldn''t obtain the Heavenly Flame and thus can''t refine the highest quality Three Lines Green Spirit Pill, he has already agreed to go to the Chu Yun Empire to acquire the recipe for the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill. This 4th-tier pill can increase the strength of a Dou Grandmaster by one star, and it can even be taken twice in succession." "Yanran, you''re already a 3-star Dou Grandmaster, and you''ve mastered the first form of the Wind''s Peak Sword Technique. If you can master the second form, Killer Meteorite, you''ll be able to display the true power of a Di Class Dou Technique. You may not necessarily lose to him." Nalan Yanran turned her head to look at Mo Cheng''s corpse not far away and said in an even tone, "If my strength reached the 5-star Dou Grandmaster stage and I mastered the Wind''s Peak: Killer Meteorite, perhaps I could have killed Mo Cheng too. But it definitely wouldn''t have been as effortless." "Can you tell how Mo Cheng died in the end, Uncle Ge? Just relying on those things is far from enough." Ge Ye remained silent for a moment as he stared at the stubborn Nalan Yanran. Ever since he had accompanied her to the Xiao Clan to annul the engagement three years ago, he knew she was a very headstrong girl. She was as unyielding as an ox; no one could make her budge. Her father and grandfather were nearly driven mad by her stubbornness. He could only sigh and nod, shaking his head as he said, "The Gate of Life and Death is supposed to be the final trial for the successor of the Misty Cloud Sect before becoming the Sect Leader. Currently, there''s still a lot of controversy within the sect regarding your position as the Little Sect Leader. If you insist on entering, I''m afraid it won''t be easy to get past the First Elder." Nalan Yanran turned and walked toward the hall''s exit, leaving behind only a faint sentence: "I will discuss this matter personally with Master." ... Meanwhile, on the other side, three powerful auras swept across the azure sky. Under this terrifying pressure, Yan City below was instantly thrown into turmoil. beasts. Shortly after the whistle was sent out, a rumbling sound suddenly arose from a distant forest. Immediately, an enormous serpent, about thirty meters long, suddenly soared into the sky. Its massive shadow covered a large area of the ground. The serpent''s body was entirely black, adorned with strange, colorful patterns that gave it a rather peculiar appearance. On either side of its body were eight black wings tinted with purple, and a dark, spiraling horn protruded from its head. Its triangular pupils did not exhibit a beast-like nature but instead held a cunning and shrewdness akin to that of a human. "Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor?!!" Hai Bodong cried out in shock. He recognized this magical beast. Xiao Yan recognized it as well. When a Winged Black Serpent grew eight wings, it meant it had cultivated to the Rank 6. If it also grew a crown, then its strength had reached the peak of the Rank 6! A peak Rank 6 magical beast!! The same level as Queen Medusa! "Lu Man, haha. I can''t believe you got chased around by a mere 1-star Dou Emperor and a little brat. If word got back, they might laugh themselves to death!" The huge triangular pupils stared at Hai Bodong, similarly ignoring Xiao Yan. Its mouth emitted an ear-splitting laugh. The woman in green did not retort. Instead, she slowly moved closer to the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor and said in a low voice, "Do not underestimate this little Dou Grandmaster. His Spiritual Strength is formidable, and he even knows Soul Skills." !!!!!!!! "Soul Skills?!!" Upon hearing the words ''Soul Skills,'' the expression of the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor changed. It cast a grave look at Xiao Yan. Those two words represented too much. In the worst case, it was something their entire Sky Serpent Mansion couldn''t afford to provoke. Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed as he slowly approached the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor. Even though the two elite Dou Emperors opposite him could turn him to ashes with a single breath, he advanced instead of retreating and stopped only ten meters away from the massive beast. He then looked up at the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor, his gaze devoid of fear, and even showed a hint of a smile. "You dare to snatch something the Hall of Souls has set its eyes on? The Sky Serpent Mansion certainly has some nerve." Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Creating a Soul Communication Tool Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Creating a Soul Communication Tool ? Hai Bodong looked at Xiao Yan with a hint of confusion in his eyes. According to what Nalan Yanran and Mo Li had said, Xiao Yan should have come from a clan in a remote city of the Jia Ma Empire. However, the fact that Gu He and others had failed at his hands, and even Yun Yun had returned empty-handed, indicated that he indeed had powerful backing. Hai Bodong had once ventured beyond the Jia Ma Empire to the Central Plains. Although his time there was brief, it had broadened his horizons. Yet, he had never heard of a faction called the Hall of Souls. He only knew of other powerful first-rate factions such as the Wind Lightning Pavilion, the Profound Sky Sect, and the Pill Tower. It was no wonder that Hai Bodong had never heard of it. Although the Hall of Souls was spread throughout the Dou Qi Continent, their methods were insidious and treacherous, and they always operated from the shadows. Those who knew about the Hall of Souls wouldn''t dare to speak of it openly. "Hall of Souls! You''re from the Hall of Souls?" The Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor''s expression changed dramatically. This was the last thing it wanted to hear. After all, the waters of the Hall of Souls ran incredibly deep. While most of its members were relatively weak Soul Envoys, if a mere Protector from the Hall of Souls appeared, they could easily turn the two of them into specimens. Although the Hall of Souls wasn''t the only organization knowledgeable about Soul Skills, as alchemists from the Pill Tower had also obtained some Soul Training Methods and Soul Skills from ancient ruins, the Pill Tower openly opposed the Hall of Souls and naturally wasn''t afraid of their retaliation. Xiao Yan had never been to the Central Plains, so he naturally didn''t know t that some large sects and clans had exclusive Qi Methods and Dou Techniques that couldn''t be taught to outsiders. If someone was found to have learned these techniques without permission, that person would be hunted to the ends of the earth. That was why the woman called Lu Man was so shocked when she saw Xiao Yan use a Soul Skill. Xiao Yan revealed a cold smile and sneered, "What, the Hall of Souls cannot have handsome- looking men?" Lu Man and the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor exchanged a glance, as if communicating through some secret serpent technique. In fact, they were already half convinced. The main reason was that despite Xiao Yan''s mere 3-star Dou Grandmaster cultivation, he could use a Soul Skill that could momentarily shake a Dou Emperor like Lu Man. Even if it was only a momentary disturbance, it was still a disturbance. Although Lu Man''s Spiritual Strength as a magical beast was relatively weaker compared to humans, she was still a Dou Emperor. This meant that Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength was at least equivalent to that of a 5th-tier alchemist. Possessing such an outrageous Spiritual Strength that spanned two major cultivation realms was something that not even the Pill Tower could necessarily cultivate. Only the Hall of Souls, which specialized in soul cultivation, could possibly achieve that. Moreover, it made sense for the Hall of Souls to be interested in the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, as it was one of the most powerful physiques on the Dou Qi Continent. Lu Man explained in a somewhat irritated tone, "Although the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils can indeed forcibly establish contracts and even control snake-type magical beasts through blood, Miss Qing Lin''s pupils are still in a dormant state. Controlling ancient magical beasts like me and Bai Ya is beyond her current abilities." It made sense. If the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils could control any snake-type magical beast with just a glance, it would be too invincible. If even an ancient beast like the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor couldn''t be controlled, then controlling Queen Medusa, who had the pure bloodline of the Seven-Colored Heaven- Swallowing Python, would be even more of a pipe dream. Qing Lin didn''t believe it and tried nonetheless, but the result was indeed as expected. She couldn''t control them. "It''s alright, Qing Lin. Listen to me carefully now. You''ll be going with them to a place where you can learn how to use the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils and increase your strength," Xiao Yan explained patiently. Although Qing Lin was young, she quickly understood the current situation. She sensed the strength of those around her, as well as a hint of helplessness in Xiao Yan''s tone, and understood the predicament they were in. "Mm, Qing Lin understands. Qing Lin will definitely learn well and grow stronger." She held back her tears and fear of the unknown as she nodded her head bravely. Xiao Yan sighed softly and patted her head gently, "Before you leave, I have something for you. If you find yourself in a situation where you can''t bear it anymore, use this to contact me." He took out a Rank 5 Monster Core from his storage ring that he had ''borrowed'' from the treasury of the Snake-People Tribe in the Holy City. The blood-red Ten Thousand Beast Flame spewed out from his palm with a whoosh. It immediately enveloped the Monster Core and began to refine it. "Heavenly Flame?!!" The Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor was shocked. Xiao Yan actually possessed Heavenly Flame! The Monster Core rapidly condensed as Xiao Yan compressed and preserved its energy. With a humming sound, he injected a wisp of his Spiritual Strength into it, then took out a piece of string and fashioned it into a pendant, which he hung around Qing Lin''s neck. "This is a Soul Jade Pendant. Crush it, and you''ll be able to contact me. If anyone mistreats you, just crush it, and no matter where you are, I will come to save you." A Soul Communication Tool. This was something Xiao Yan had thought of creating for his two older brothers after they were attacked a few days ago. Xiao Yan could naturally create such an item with his Spiritual State at the Late Mortal State. It just required expending some Spiritual Strength. Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Heavenly Flame Nuke Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Heavenly Flame Nuke ? Qing Lin received the jade pendant with great care and nodded her head firmly. "I understand, Young Master. No matter what happens in the future, you will always be my Young Master, forever Qing Lin''s Young Master." Xiao Yan''s figure slowly moved back and gradually descended to the ground. He nodded slightly at Qing Lin and gently waved his hand, "Go on." Qing Lin stood on the massive body of the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor. The eight wings behind the Serpent Emperor flapped, carrying her as they flew toward the horizon. "You should know the consequences of deceiving me." Xiao Yan''s threatening words echoed in the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor''s mind. Although Xiao Yan was only a mere Dou Grandmaster, the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor felt a chill in its heart. It didn''t dare to retort and left the border of the Jia Ma Empire with its tail between its legs. Hai Bodong walked over to Xiao Yan and offered words of comfort as he watched the Eight- Winged Black Serpent Emperor leave, "Perhaps following them will be better for that little girl. There is an inheritance suitable for her there." The inheritance of a Dou Saint! Coupled with the unique physique of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, one could foresee that in a few years, a powerful elite expert with the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils was bound to emerge. "Hopefully. Otherwise..." A hint of sharp killing intent flashed through Xiao Yan''s eyes. At this moment, a crack suddenly appeared in the empty space. Mao Wu drilled out from the void. In addition to Mao Wu, there was also a small exquisite skeleton head in the void. The skull contained the Essence Flame of the Green Lotus Core Flame! The Essence Flame was being controlled by Xiao Yan''s immense Spiritual Strength to prevent it from erupting. He had never used the Green Lotus Core Flame during this confrontation. It wasn''t that he didn''t want to use it, but rather, he had handed it over to Mao Wu to hide it in the void. Even a small spark could trigger the Bone Chilling Flame to erupt and freeze the entire underground world. If the Essence Flames of the Green Lotus Core Flame and the Nihility Devouring Flame were to collide, what kind of scene would it produce! This was Xiao Yan''s final trump card. If they really couldn''t come to an agreement in the end, then the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor would have found out just how devastating the consequences could be. Xiao Yan used his Spiritual Strength to retrieve the Green Lotus Core Flame back into his Acceptance Soul. Although Hai Bodong didn''t know what the black cat was, his Dou Emperor''s sense of danger told him that if they hadn''t come to an agreement just now, something very terrifying would have happened!! "You brat, just how many more hidden cards do you have..." Hai Bodong looked at Xiao Yan as if he had just survived a close call. No one would believe it if he told them that a mere Dou Grandmaster had repeatedly made him, a Dou Emperor, feel a mortal threat. "Old Hai, I hope you can keep this matter a secret." Xiao Yan withdrew his gaze and turned to look at Hai Bodong beside him. Hai Bodong waved his hand, "Alright, alright. This old man has just recovered to the Dou Emperor realm. I don''t want to get involved in any more inexplicable matters now. I just want to properly recover my strength. This old man was once a 5-star Dou Emperor, you know." "I really want to throw you off." ... After returning to Rock Desert City, Xiao Yan didn''t reveal everything to Xiao Ding and Xiao Li. He only gave a rough explanation that Qing Lin had been taken to a cultivation ground and would not be returning to the Jia Ma Empire for the time being. Xiao Yan had exhausted his Spiritual Strength to an extreme degree. He had to cultivate the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique for an entire night before finally recovering. As for Hai Bodong, he naturally traveled between various cities to start searching for the ingredients to refine the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill. ''The fusion and collision of Heavenly Flame Essences is like a nuclear fusion reaction. Under conditions of high temperature, high pressure, and high density, two light atomic nuclei combine to form a single heavier one while releasing massive amounts of energy during the reaction.'' Xiao Yan looked at the two flames floating above his left and right hands-the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and the Green Lotus Core Flame. These two were the true Heavenly Flames he had refined. Mao Wu was, after all, just a Seed Flame. Its power was still not comparable to a true Heavenly Flame for the time being. This move, originally intended as a last resort, came from a piece of knowledge about nuclear fusion from his previous life. ''If I want to truly make the two fuse, I need to use Spiritual Strength to create a ''reactor'' to control the Heavenly Flames. This has very high requirements for my Spiritual Strength and fire control.'' ''If the Heavenly Flame is too far away from me, it will be very difficult to control. If it''s too close, the explosion will kill me.'' ''If Mao Wu could use its Devouring Power to control one Heavenly Flame and I only needed to control one, it would be much simpler. Mao Wu can also traverse the void, solving the distance problem.'' A sudden image appeared in Xiao Yan''s mind: he enveloped the Heavenly Flame with his Spiritual Strength, and Mao Wu carried the ''Heavenly Flame Nuke'' through the void to the enemy''s rear, then-boom!-it exploded. It would be like launching a guided missile, catching the enemy completely off guard! Chapter 131: Chapter 131: Angry Buddha Lotus Flame Chapter 131: Chapter 131: Angry Buddha Lotus Flame ? Xiao Yan immediately grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and began to make some sketches and calculations. ''Even though I''ve refined the Heavenly Flame Essence, it''s not necessary to directly use it to cause a collision. It''s too difficult to control the collision between Essence Flames. What if I just extract a small portion of the flames, use my Spiritual Strength to control them, and then remove the Spiritual Strength barrier like nitroglycerin, it might cause an explosive reaction upon contact...'' It was as if something clicked in Xiao Yan''s mind at this moment. He entered a state of wondrous epiphany as he continued to scribble incomprehensible notes on the paper. ''Extracting the Heavenly Flame requires powerful fire control ability, and controlling the fusion of the flames demands immense Spiritual Strength. But wait, that alone won''t be enough power, it needs more fuel.'' ''Dou Qi! That''s right, Dou Qi! It is fundamental when unleashing Dou Techniques. How could I have forgotten? By infusing a large amount of Dou Qi into the Spiritual Strength, the fusion of the Heavenly Flames will become more intense with the addition of Dou Qi.'' Xiao Yan didn''t realize it, but he was in the process of creating an entirely new Dou Technique. Usually, only old monsters would create Dou Techniques based on their own experiences, yet Xiao Yan was only eighteen years old! He secluded himself in his room for a full day and night before finally designing the prototype of the Dou Technique! ''Lotus! The lotus petals are formed by extracting and compressing the Heavenly Flames, while the lotus platform made of Spiritual Strength is used to stabilize and separate the Heavenly Flame petals. Then the Dou Qi is compressed into a Dou Qi lotus seed and fixed onto the lotus platform!'' Xiao Yan looked at a draft paper on the table, on which was drawn an exquisite lotus. The lotus was composed of petals, a lotus platform, and lotus seeds, exactly corresponding to the three elements he had just described! ''A lotus formed from Heavenly Flames... This move shall be called ''Angry Buddha Lotus Flame.'' Xiao Yan let out a long, contented sigh. Only then did he realize that he had been pondering for three days and three nights. After taking a pill to alleviate his hunger, he slowly stood up and stretched. Whenever he had a thought in his mind, he would immediately act on it. With a childlike grin, he eagerly made his way to the training ground. He wanted to test the power of his first self-invented Dou Technique! "You''ve come out at just the right time," Hai Bodong descended from the sky and handed him several ornate boxes filled with medicinal ingredients. "I''ve scoured every medicinal shop in both Rock Desert City and Desert City, but there are still many ingredients for the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill that I couldn''t find. I think we''ll have to head to the Miteer Auction House in the imperial capital and the Alchemist Association headquarters to find the rest." Hai Bodong had been frantically searching for the ingredients listed in the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill recipe over the past few days. However, Rock Desert City and Desert City were not cities known for medicinal materials. He could only find a few stalks of the ingredients needed for the 5th-tier pill. ''Huh? Can alchemists really possess two Heavenly Flames at the same time?'' Hai Bodong was a bit puzzled. However, he wasn''t very knowledgeable about Heavenly Flames. Xiao Yan looked at the two wisps of flame in his palm and pondered, ''How much flame would be appropriate...? Let''s start with the amount needed to refine a 4th-tier pill.'' Once Xiao Yan decided on the amount of flame, the terrifying fire control brought by the Flame Mantra allowed him to control the Heavenly Flames with utmost precision. The small flames that were initially like those from a lighter instantly grew larger. In an instant, his Spiritual Strength and Dou Qi burst forth from his body. The Late Mortal State Spiritual Strength acted like a pair of invisible and dexterous large hands as it rapidly changed the shape of the Heavenly Flames. Under the astonished gazes of everyone present, a dazzling and magnificent fire lotus the size of a fist appeared before their eyes. "It''s so beautiful!" "It''s simply a work of art." The fire lotus displayed two colors. One half was blood-red, and faintly, there seemed to be beast spirits running along the petals as they emitted faint beast roars. The other half was emerald-green, crystal-clear, flawless, and pure, looking like the most beautiful jade in the world. "Hmm?" Xiao Yan''s brow furrowed. The moment the fire lotus took shape, he suddenly discovered that the Heavenly Flames, once separated from his body, were no longer affected by the Flame Mantra. A strange connection even formed between the two flames, as if they were hostile to each other and wanted to devour the other. The bit of Spiritual Strength he released couldn''t control them at all. His eyes narrowed, and his terrifying Spiritual Strength poured out like a waterfall, frantically trying to sever this connection. Boom boom boom!!!! Debris flew into the air, while cracks that emitted strong vibrations began to form on the ground where he stood. After all, his Spiritual Strength was at the Late Mortal State, and its full outburst was incredibly terrifying! Xiao Yan suddenly raised his head and looked at Hai Bodong. The latter''s heart trembled. "Hey, hey, hey! Wait a minute!" Xiao Yan had poured in most of his Spiritual Strength to barely maintain control, but he also knew he couldn''t control it for long. Without caring anymore, he threw it directly in Hai Bodong''s direction. Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Huang Class Dou Technique Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Huang Class Dou Technique ? There actually existed an innate special connection between different Heavenly Flames! Heavenly Flames were all heavenly treasures formed by the very essence of the world. Even if a Dou God could produce Dou Qi flames with a temperature higher than Heavenly Flames, they still couldn''t create one. The definition of a Heavenly Flame was that it was born from the world. There had always been a special connection between them. When a Heavenly Flame appeared, all other flames submitted. Xiao Yan realized this fact when the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame was unwilling to approach the Bone Chilling Flame. But he had overlooked it! Because of the Flame Mantra! The miraculous ability of the Flame Mantra was that it allowed Heavenly Flames to perfectly merged with each other, thus eliminating this connection. This led him to forget about it!No?v(el)B\\jnn Xiao Yan hurled the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame in his hand toward Hai Bodong just like throwing a grenade. "Run!!!" When Xiao Ding and Xiao Li saw the fire lotus getting out of control, they shouted in unison and hurriedly fled from the training ground, even running outside the compound. All the mercenaries realized the danger and ran for their lives when they heard the two leaders'' shouts. The entire mercenary company was thrown into chaos! Hai Bodong gritted his teeth as the exquisite fire lotus flew toward him. It even gave a Dou Emperor like him goosebumps. However, if he ran away, how could he still call himself a Dou Emperor! "Mysterious Ice Mirror, form!" He let out a low cry. Immediately, the energy in the space around him began to fluctuate rapidly, and an astonishingly fast wave of cold air condensed at a terrifying speed. Eventually, a Mysterious Ice Mirror dozens of meters wide and several meters thick took shape in front of him. Hai Bodong''s pupils contracted as he stared at the slowly rotating fire lotus through the ice layer. The Spiritual Strength weakened rapidly once it left Xiao Yan''s control, while the Heavenly Flame petals began to release flames that distorted and warped the surrounding light. The moment the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame lightly touched the ice mirror with a soft ''pop,'' the Spiritual Strength instantly formed a spherical cover that merged the Heavenly Flames and Dou Qi seed together. The two Heavenly Flames burned frantically, accompanied by a series of rumbling sounds that made the ground tremble. With a tremendous boom!! The eruption occurred in this split second!! The fusion of two Heavenly Flames combined with Spiritual Strength and Dou Qi resulted in an explosion too powerful to imagine. It was as if a sun had been instantly obliterated, unleashing all the energy hidden within the fire lotus in a single, catastrophic moment. The power of the explosion was beyond what even Xiao Yan, its creator, could have imagined. The terrifyingly fused Heavenly Flames impacted outwards like a huge wave of fire, sweeping towards all directions. The frightening Heavenly Flame storm instantly destroyed all the weapons, rocks, floors, and walls in the training ground. After melting all the facilities in the training ground, the fire wave shot into the sky, followed by a strong shockwave that spread throughout the entire compound! Xiao Yan felt a lingering fear. If the negotiations with the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor a few days ago hadn''t gone well, the result might have been him dying together with it. ''Surprisingly, the amount of flame needed to refine a 4th-tier pill almost completely depleted a 5th-tier alchemist''s Spiritual Strength just to maintain it.'' This experiment had undoubtedly given Xiao Yan an additional trump card, albeit one that could very likely kill him as well. Upon reflection, he concluded that his Angry Buddha Lotus Flame was at most a Huang Class Dou Technique. Because this technique could kill the user, and its power was determined by the flames themselves-strong flames yielded strong results, and weak flames, weak results. Moreover, it also demanded immense fire control ability and Spiritual Strength. There were many limitations and it was extremely dangerous. If he didn''t have two kinds of Heavenly Flames and the Flame Mantra, he wouldn''t want this technique even if it were given to him for free. Xiao Li and Xiao Ding looked at the mercenary company that had turned into ruins around them, then looked at their dust-covered third brother. Xiao Ding sighed and said with a wry smile, "Third Brother, even the Mo Clan couldn''t destroy our Desert Metal Mercenary Company. I never imagined it would be destroyed by your hands." Xiao Li laughed heartily and patted Xiao Yan''s shoulder. "No worries. if it''s destroyed, we''ll just rebuild it. As long as no one is hurt, that''s all that matters. Besides, we just so happened to have merged with Luo Bu''s Sand Mercenary Company, so we can take this opportunity to expand and build an even bigger base." Xiao Ding sighed again and shook his head. "Let''s move to the Sand Mercenary Company''s place for now" Xiao Yan knew he was in the wrong, so he merely smiled sheepishly. He gave the few hundred thousand gold coins he had obtained from the cave to his two elder brothers for reconstruction purposes and then slipped away. It''s unclear whether Xiao Yan did it intentionally or not, but the guest room he was staying in happened to be behind Hai Bodong, so it remained unaffected by the explosion. Xiao Yan quickly shut the door behind him. The reason he wanted to test the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame had another purpose. ''In a while, I''ll be going to the Hall of Souls in the imperial capital. Before that, I still need to resolve the final hidden danger.'' Chapter 133: Chapter 133: The Most Threatening Moment Holds the Greatest Deterrent Power Chapter 133: Chapter 133: The Most Threatening Moment Holds the Greatest Deterrent Power ? "Before leaving, I still need to resolve this hidden danger." Xiao Yan walked to the table and took out the Green Colored Lotus Platform from his storage ring. He slowly opened the petals, revealing a lazy black cat and a small seven-colored snake. The Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python opened its eyes, a wisp of green fire flashing through them as it stared blankly at Xiao Yan. Mao Wu meowed and stretched lazily upon sensing Xiao Yan''s presence. It stood up, shook its head, and used its paw to groom the black flame fur on its face. Mao Wu slept to digest what it had devoured and grow stronger. Meow~~ (>^w^<) (Is it feeding time?) "Is eating all you think about?" Meow! o(^)o (How can I get stronger without eating my fill?) "Alright, alright, just wait a moment. I have some things to discuss with Queen Medusa." !!!!! The atmosphere in the room became tense when those words left Xiao Yan''s mouth. A sharp aura suddenly emanated from the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, completely different from its usual dazed, amnesiac-like appearance. Unsurprised, Xiao Yan sat on a chair and looked at the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python on the lotus platform with a smile, "Although you put on a good act, Queen Medusa, even using the special soul contract formed during evolution as a cover to make me let my guard down... I am sorry to say that I am a cold-hearted person by nature and not so easily trusting of strangers." From beginning to end, he had never believed in any nonsense about amnesia, failed evolution, or the emergence of an extra soul. It was simply because the little seven-colored snake before him was Queen Medusa transformed. No matter how weak the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python''s current strength was, whether there was some special connection or not, or how harmless it appeared, Xiao Yan would never believe it was truly harmless. Compared to her alluring beauty, Queen Medusa''s fearsome reputation was even more well- known. If she could be so easily defeated, the Snake-People Tribe would have been annihilated by the human empires long ago. How could they have survived for so long in the cracks between several empires and even gained such infamy? A flash of light appeared and vanished. The instant after the light appeared, a body that could be described as perfect appeared before Xiao Yan. Her face was stunningly beautiful, almost otherworldly. Her figure was enough to make anyone''s blood boil. In terms of figure, perhaps no one could compare to Queen Medusa-she was sexy, alluring, a natural-born stunner. Just now, Xiao Yan had caused such an explosion without using the Essence Flames. If the two Essence Flames were to fuse, the conclusion was that even Medusa couldn''t withstand it and would be burned to death. Xiao Yan''s meaning was very clear: Death, who isn''t afraid of it? Even you, Queen Medusa, fear it. If you want to kill me, I''ll release both Heavenly Flames before I die and take you down with me. Xiao Yan was actually even more dangerous than Little Fairy Doctor''s Woeful Poison Body. After all, he had three kinds of Heavenly Flames within him! If he were to die, the Flame Mantra would cease to function. Without his Spiritual Strength, the refined Heavenly Flames within his Acceptance Soul would immediately turn into the most terrifying eruption. He knew very well that Medusa absolutely wouldn''t dare to kill him. Because in his previous life, seven billion people worldwide had already proven one thing-when a nuke was about to be launched, that''s when it had the greatest deterrent power. The moment when everyone faced mutual destruction was the moment when peace was most likely. As he and Medusa were now. "No one can threaten me!" "I''m just protecting myself." Xiao Yan wasn''t the least bit flustered. He slowly took out an ancient book from his storage ring and tossed it on the table. "Heavenly Flame Evolution. This is a method created by a Demon Saint in ancient times. It''s only suitable for fire-attribute magical beasts. By borrowing the power of a Heavenly Flame, all other impure bloodlines in the body are incinerated, and finally, the flesh and blood are reconstructed with the Heavenly Flame to complete the evolution." "Not only does it purify the bloodline, but it also allows the Heavenly Flame to be incorporated into the body, using the Heavenly Flame to merge with the bloodline power and reshape the body, thereby achieving perfect evolution. Once the evolution is successful, advancing to Rank 8 is only a matter of time." Xiao Yan glanced at Queen Medusa''s jade-like feet. The current Queen Medusa had human legs instead of a snake tail. This proved that she had completed her human transformation. Having completed the transformation and even purified her bloodline, it was indeed only a matter of time before she became a Rank 8 magical beast. If not for the issue with her physical body, her strength would now be at least that of a middle-level Rank 7 magical beast, equivalent to an intermediate-star Dou Ancestor. Xiao Yan later found the ancient text in his storage ring that recorded this evolution method. The ancient text only had a few brief sentences and didn''t detail the specific evolution process. But based on these few sentences, he understood why Queen Medusa had been following him and why she wanted the Green Lotus Core Flame back. Medusa''s evolution was both a success and a failure. Her bloodline had indeed regressed and been purified, but her body had been burned away. She hadn''t been able to use the Heavenly Flame to reconstruct her body. "But I can tell you with certainty that even if I hadn''t appeared back then, your attempt to use the Green Lotus Core Flame for evolution would definitely have failed!" "Because the Heavenly Flame recorded in the ancient text is not the Green Lotus Core Flame, but the Ten Thousand Beast Flame." Chapter 134: Chapter 134: The Ten Thousand Beast Flame Is with Me Chapter 134: Chapter 134: The Ten Thousand Beast Flame Is with Me ? "The Ten Thousand Beast Flame is the most suitable Heavenly Flame for magical beasts. Not only can it purify a magical beast''s bloodline, but it can also strengthen their physical body, as it is a flame born from the spirits of ten thousand beasts." "You tried to use the Green Lotus Core Flame, which is born from the molten lava deep within the earth, to reconstruct your body. Unless you are a rock-type magical beast, your flesh would only face destruction." Although the ancient text didn''t specify which Heavenly Flame to use for evolution, stating that any Heavenly Flame would suffice, Xiao Yan was certain that the Demon Saint who successfully evolved back then must have used the 22nd-ranked Ten Thousand Beast Flame. Because magical beasts themselves were not proficient in alchemy, they assumed that any Heavenly Flame would do. They overlooked the fact that different Heavenly Flames had unique mystical effects. The power of the flame was only one of the many advantages of a Heavenly Flame. That Queen Medusa could even achieve partial success using the Green Lotus Core Flame only showed that her determination was beyond imagination. However, it was absolutely impossible for her physical body to be fused with the Heavenly Flame and successfully reconstructed. The fact that even a segment of the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python''s flesh remained after being burned only proved how incredibly formidable its bloodline was. Queen Medusa''s elegant eyebrows slightly furrowed as she asked, "What are you trying to say?" "I''m saying that, as it happens, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame is with me." Xiao Yan grinned widely, revealing his white teeth, and pointed to the blood-red flame floating beside him. !!!!!! Queen Medusa almost wanted to rush forward and snatch it, but she restrained herself-after all, it was merely a wisp of flame. She was no alchemist; how could she distinguish which Heavenly Flame was which? All she knew was that both flames filled her with alarm and dread. Narrowing her eyes, she fell silent for a moment before saying, "I will give you the Green Lotus Core Flame, and you will give me the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. Then we''ll call it even." Xiao Yan chuckled and decisively shook his head. "I seized it with my own strength; why should you be the one giving it to me?" Medusa''s pupils widened in shock! How could this man speak such shameless words with such righteous conviction? The coldness in her bright eyes intensified when she heard such shameless words. With her status, no one had ever dared to treat her this way. She fixed her gaze on Xiao Yan, her beautiful eyes filled with killing intent, as if she intended to kill him even at the cost of mutual destruction. "Don''t look at me like that. I know you don''t want to die, and even more, you don''t want your soul to be injured and your cultivation to decrease. If your cultivation decreases, your entire Snake-People Tribe will become a piece of meat to be divided among the major empires. At that time, the fate of the Snake - People will be a miserable one." What he wanted to resolve was the issue with Queen Medusa, as he feared she might suddenly attack him. But if he bluntly said, "I''ll help you restore your body with the Ten Thousand Beast Flame for free," it might arouse her suspicion. "I need to see your sincerity." Clearly, Queen Medusa was moved by Xiao Yan''s offer. Moreover, although she had left messages for her trusted aides not to worry, the tribe could not remain leaderless for long. Xiao Yan smiled calmly and decided not to hold back. He took out the Black Demon Cauldron and a Core-Fire Lotus Seed. There were a total of eleven Core-Fire Lotus Seeds. Including this one, he had already used three of them. He planned to modify the recipe for the 3rd-tier Fire Rising Pill, using the Core-Fire Lotus Seed as the main ingredient and refining the pill with the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. Queen Medusa extended her tender, bright red tongue and lightly licked her rosy lips. when the Core-Fire Lotus Seed appeared. This unintentional action carried an allure that could stir a man''s heart with desire. ''This must be a seed from the lotus platform of the Green Lotus Core Flame, isn''t it? If I hadn''t been seriously injured while retrieving the Green Lotus Core Flame back then, I definitely wouldn''t have left even a bit of such a treasure behind.'' Mao Wu''s eyes flashed with a green, greedy light the moment the Core-Fire Lotus Seed appeared. This was a treasure it also coveted very much. "If you consumed it directly, that would be a great waste of heavenly treasures." With a soft ''poof,'' Xiao Yan ignited the Black Demon Cauldron with the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. In the coming days, he planned to immerse himself in alchemy to improve his alchemy skills. Even if he couldn''t advance to the 5th tier, he intended to at least reach the peak of the 4th tier. Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on the Green Colored Lotus Platform, using its effects to stabilize and calm his mind, and operated the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique to quickly recover his Spiritual Strength. Two blue-red colored pills appeared in the medicinal cauldron after half a day of refining. With a tap on the cauldron, one pill flew toward Queen Medusa, while the other was snatched up and eagerly devoured by Mao Wu, who seemed to thoroughly enjoy it. Holding the pill, Queen Medusa gazed at Xiao Yan with her captivating eyes. Xiao Yan''s alchemy could be described as flawless, his talent frighteningly high. Even a complete novice like her found it pleasing to watch. As the medicinal pill entered her stomach, a green light surged from her body, and she slowly transformed back into her snake form. Heat and coolness intertwined as the Heavenly Flame tempered her body, while a refreshing energy enhanced her physical strength. The Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python slowly closed its eyes and began to cultivate its physical body. At the same time, a spiritual transmission reached Xiao Yan''s mind: "If you can help me regain my peak strength within three years, then the Green Lotus Core Flame will be your reward, and the grievances between us will be written off." Xiao Yan wiped the cold sweat from his brow. He had finally resolved the lingering issue with the Green Lotus Core Flame. He had feared that Queen Medusa might be a madwoman willing to perish together with him no matter what. ''Fortunately, everything went smoothly. Now, when I go to the Hall of Souls in the imperial capital, I have another trump card. If the people from the Hall of Souls try any tricks during the soul body transaction, at least I''ll have some means to counterbalance them.'' ''The capital of the Jia Ma Empire... I wonder what awaits me there.'' Chapter 135: Chapter 135: The Capital City of the Jia Ma Empire Chapter 135: Chapter 135: The Capital City of the Jia Ma Empire ? A month flew by in the blink of an eye. During this time, Xiao Yan enjoyed a rare period of leisure. No longer wandering the world in search of Heavenly Flames, he lived like a graduate student about to complete his studies. Every day, he either refined and perfected his self- created Angry Buddha Lotus Flame Dou Technique, immersed himself in alchemy, or cultivated his Qi Method and Dou Techniques. In the end, he even created his own 4th-tier pill recipe using the Core-Fire Lotus Seed as the main ingredient. This pill not only had the effect of removing fire poison from the body and clearing the mind but also allowed his cultivation to advance by one star, reaching the 4-star Dou Grandmaster stage. What was somewhat regrettable was that his alchemy skills only reached the minimum goal he had set for himself. He achieved the peak of the 4th tier but couldn''t break through to the 5th tier. Currently, with the assistance of the Heavenly Flame and the Black Demon Cauldron, he had a nearly 100% success rate in refining 4th-tier medicinal pills and often produced multiple pills in a single batch. However, he still couldn''t successfully refine 5th-tier pills, and even the weakest 5th-tier pills had never been successful. He had also exhausted the medicinal herbs obtained from the cave of the Poison Scripture and Little Fairy Doctor''s valley. Fortunately, he had taken the opportunity to loot Yao Li''s storage ring and Queen Medusa''s treasury back then. Otherwise, he would now be so poor that he wouldn''t even have any ingredients to practice with. Indeed, being an alchemist was both a money-making and money-draining profession! Earning money was faster than robbery, but losing money made you want to go rob. Night fell, and darkness enveloped the land. In the sky above, the silver moon hung high, its faint moonlight gently dispelling some of the darkness. In a month''s time, the Desert Metal Mercenary Company had been rebuilt. A grand pavilion now stood tall in Rock Desert City. In the tranquil compound, the three brothers lay on comfortable lounge chairs, gazing up at the star-filled sky. Occasionally, they would lift their wine glasses, clink them together, and chat leisurely about life. There seemed to be a tacit understanding among the three brothers-they all knew that Xiao Yan would be leaving the next day. After downing the wine in his cup, Xiao Yan turned to look at his two slightly intoxicated elder brothers and slowly stood up. He took four scrolls from his storage ring and gently placed them on the small table beside Xiao Ding and Xiao Li. Xiao Ding smiled and shook his head, while Xiao Li looked somewhat puzzled. Xiao Yan explained, "Here are two High Xuan Class wood-attribute and lightning-attribute Qi Methods, as well as two Intermediate Xuan Class Dou Techniques without attribute requirements¡ªone is an agility technique, and the other is a defense technique. They happen to be suitable for Big Brother and Second Brother to cultivate." Xiao Yan did not give them any attack-type Dou Techniques; he only hoped that his two elder brothers would stay safe and sound. If they couldn''t win a fight, at least they could escape. Even the slightly drunken eyes of Xiao Ding and Xiao Li suddenly lit up when they heard this. They immediately sat up straight. Just a single High Xuan Class Qi Method was a priceless treasure in the Jia Ma Empire. Although Xiao Zhan had once bought a High Xuan Class ''Hurricane Chant'' at an auction for hundreds of thousands of gold coins, that Qi Method had serious flaws, which was why it was left unsold until it reached Wu Tan City. Adding two more Dou Techniques on top of that, these four ancient scrolls were valuable enough to purchase the entire mercenary company! Although Xiao Ding and Xiao Li hadn''t directly helped him obtain the Heavenly Flame, he knew that if his two elder brothers hadn''t kept his casual words in their hearts, he might not have been able to obtain the Green Lotus Core Flame. The rest of the night was filled with chatter and laughter. ... Early the next morning, Xiao Yan quietly flew away from Rock Desert City and head straight toward the capital city of the Jia Ma Empire with Hai Bodong. Apart from occasionally stopping in large cities along the way to see if there were any medicinal ingredients for the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill, the two of them spent almost all their time flying. Several days later, they gazed upon the majestic city that appeared beneath the clouds and mist-that was Jia Ma Sacred City. Suddenly, Xiao Yan''s gaze suddenly shifted toward the northern part of the capital city. There stood an enormous mountain range that could only be described as majestic, lying like a giant dragon, faintly exuding an aura that soared into the sky. That was the location of the colossal entity of the Jia Ma Empire-the Misty Cloud Sect! However, neither the Jia Ma Empire nor the Misty Cloud Sect was significant. What truly made Xiao Yan somewhat expectant was the Hall of Souls hidden within the Jia Ma Empire! He hadn''t forgotten that the reason Hun Huzi knew about the Xiao Clan back then was because his reputation had reached the ears of the Hall of Souls in the capital at that time. Xiao Yan guessed that the people from the Hall of Souls hidden in Jia Ma Sacred City had come to investigate the Xiao Clan and discovered something. Not daring to act rashly, they reported their findings to their superiors, which eventually led to Hun Huzi''s arrival. As for the specifics, Xiao Yan would have to personally visit the Hall of Souls in Jia Ma Sacred City to find out. "Hall of Souls of the Jia Ma Empire, here I come. Jie Jie Jie." "Why are you laughing so strangely?" "You wouldn''t understand; it''s tradition." Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Thank Me Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Thank Me ? Entering through the massive city gate, Xiao Yan lifted his head to gaze upon the magnificent Jia Ma Sacred City. He couldn''t help but exclaim in admiration. The sheer vastness truly befitted an imperial capital; in terms of both area and prosperity, Jia Ma Sacred City was undoubtedly the foremost city in the empire. "It''s been eight years since I last came here." Xiao Yan clicked his tongue in appreciation, feeling a touch of nostalgia. When he was younger, he would accompany his father to Jia Ma Sacred City every year to visit the Nalan Clan. This continued until eight years ago when Nalan Yanran joined the Misty Cloud Sect and became Yun Yun''s direct disciple. Coupled with the annulment of their engagement, he hadn''t set foot in Jia Ma Sacred City since then. Hai Bodong showed little interest in admiring the ordinary buildings. After scanning the surroundings, he suddenly asked, "By the way, when are you planning to visit the Misty Cloud Sect?" "In about one or two months," Xiao Yan replied after calculating the time remaining until the three-year agreement with Nalan Yanran. "That''s still quite some time away. Let''s head to the auction house first and see if we can find the remaining ingredients for the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill," Hai Bodong suggested. "Sounds good. I''ve never visited the so-called largest auction house in the empire during my previous trips to Jia Ma Sacred City. Hopefully, there will be some good items," Xiao Yan said, rubbing his chin with a smile.No?v(el)B\\jnn Soon, while admiring the bustling prosperity of Jia Ma Sacred City, Xiao Yan finally arrived at his destination. His footsteps gradually slowed as he raised his head to look at the massive building and its distinctive emblem at the end of the street. A look of surprise unconsciously appeared on his face. Xiao Yan sighed, ''Tsk tsk tsk, as expected of the headquarters of the Miteer Auction House. This scale is far beyond what the branch in Wu Tan City could compare to.'' Not only was the de?cor lavish and extravagant, but the entire building was like a seven-story department store. People flowed endlessly from all directions toward this massive structure. Entering the auction house, soft daylight poured down from the skylight in the center. The noisy sounds from the outside world seemed to be isolated by some special force. Though separated by just a door, it felt like stepping into a different world. The moment he stepped inside, Xiao Yan''s keen Spiritual Strength sensed more than a dozen gazes sweeping over him from the shadows, some even belonging to Dou Spirit-level experts. ''No wonder it''s one of the three major clans of the Jia Ma Empire; such grandeur is truly impressive.'' In the first-floor hall, countless crystal display cases were filled with a dazzling array of items. Beside the cases, people moved in an endless stream. Various rare items were displayed within the cases, each marked with a price tag. However, the price of each item was at least over thirty thousand gold coins. Ya Fei was perceptive and nodded slightly. She led Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong up a back staircase to a higher floor. The two of them chatted as they walked, creating a pleasant atmosphere. "Heh heh, Ya Fei, this is where our clan conducts official business. Outsiders aren''t allowed to enter. Don''t you even know this as the acting supervising elder?" Suddenly, a voice from the upper floor interrupted the pleasant mood. A young man looked down at Ya Fei''s perfect figure with a lecherous gaze, his breathing becoming somewhat labored. Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength swept over the young man. For someone of his age to have just reached the Dou Master realm, his talent was acceptable. "I will take responsibility for my actions. Now, please step aside," Ya Fei said coldly. The lecherous young man glanced at Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong behind her and sneered maliciously, "Heh heh heh, I was wondering why you wouldn''t accept my advances. Turns out you have a taste for these delicate pretty boys. Oh, or perhaps you fancy that old man behind him?" Ya Fei''s expression darkened, her fists clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms. However, she didn''t argue and instead planned to bypass him and continue upward. It was evident that this wasn''t the first time this person had deliberately caused trouble. "Idiot, be careful, or you won''t even know how you died," Xiao Yan slowly shook his head and said. "Brat! You''re courting death!" Already dissatisfied with Xiao Yan, the young man seized the opportunity upon hearing his remark and lashed out, reaching directly to grab his clothes. With a muffled ''bang'', a faint wave of fire erupted from Xiao Yan''s body. Like a ferocious wolf, the green flame engulfed the outstretched hand in an instant. Within moments, the entire right hand turned to black charcoal and disintegrated. "Ah ah ah!!! My hand!!!!" Hearing the miserable screams, several guards hurriedly ran over. When they saw the young man lying on the ground wailing in agony, their expressions changed drastically. This was the grandson of a clan elder! Who had dared to burn off his hand?! Xiao Yan calmly looked at the young man who had tumbled down from the second floor, his eyes sharp as he said, "Thank me. I just saved your life." Chapter 137: Chapter 137: I Told You to Thank Me Chapter 137: Chapter 137: I Told You to Thank Me ? Thank you??? You crippled one of his hands and expect him to thank you?? Should he thank you for not crippling the other one too?!" Ya Fei turned to Xiao Yan, utterly astonished after seeing the pale-faced young man wailing in pain. Three years had passed, and this guy was still so ruthless. Even a beauty like Nalan Yanran hadn''t escaped misfortune back then. For a moment, the two guards didn''t know what to do. Arrest Xiao Yan? That was clearly impossible; their strength was even inferior to that of the young man lying on the ground.No?v(el)B\\jnn "Let''s go. This is just a small matter. I came to the auction house this time to buy some things," Xiao Yan urged with a smile. "But..." "No buts. It''s fine. I''m a major shareholder now." Xiao Yan gently pushed Ya Fei''s back with his right hand, leading her upstairs. It was only when Hai Bodong saw Xiao Yan pushing Ya Fei to leave that he withdrew the cold energy in his palm and followed them up the stairs. "You little bastard!! Even if Ya Fei is protecting you today, don''t think you''ll walk out of the auction house in one piece! I swear I''ll take your life!!" Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly as he heard this venomous roar. It seemed a life might indeed be lost today. Eventually, the three of them ascended several floors and arrived at a luxurious VIP room on the sixth floor. The lower five floors were all auction halls or commercial areas, while the sixth and seventh floors were reserved for members of the Miteer Clan and housed the clan''s treasury. "Thank you, Xiao Yan. I know you intervened for my sake." Ya Fei walked around to sit behind the table, her red lips slightly pursed. Letting out a bitter laugh, she said, "That guy is named Lei Le, also a member of our Miteer Clan. He has quite a strong backing, so I usually avoid offending him. "However, it seems that this guy is harboring some disgusting thoughts about me. Ignoring him has only fueled his resentment and anger, leading him to cause me trouble all day long. His grandfather holds some influence in the clan''s Elder Council. Since this whole thing started because of me, I''ll take care of it." Ya Fei brushed aside the hair on her forehead and spoke somewhat wearily. It seemed that this young man named Lei Le had indeed caused her a great deal of trouble. "People like him can''t be dealt with kindly. If he dares to come again, next time it won''t be just one hand." Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, a hint of fierceness flashing within them. A gentle smile like spring water reappeared on Ya Fei''s exquisite face. She gazed at Xiao Yan with endless charm, her voice soft, "Let''s not talk about unpleasant things. What items do you need?" Xiao Yan quickly wrote down the medicinal ingredients for the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill, handed the list to Ya Fei, and said, "Can you help me see if these ingredients can be gathered?" The old man''s entire body exuded a strong aura. He was actually a Dou Spirit! When Xiao Yan saw Lei Le''s venomous gaze, he knew that this kid''s good days had truly come to an end. "Elder Lei Ou, this is the VIP room. Please leave. If there''s any issue, I will explain it clearly to the Clan Head. If you offend our esteemed guests, you won''t be able to bear the consequences," Ya Fei reprimanded in a stern yet hinting tone. Ever since seeing that black card with purple and gold patterns, Ya Fei finally understood why Xiao Yan had such confidence. With an elite Dou King, even if Lei Le was killed, the profit- oriented Miteer Clan would only seek to please the old man and wouldn''t pursue the matter further. How could Lei Ou, who was in a rage, understand Ya Fei''s good intentions? With an angry shout, he actually made a move right away. "You severed my grandson''s arm! Today, I will make you pay it back with interest!!" Lei Ou charged toward Xiao Yan. Dou Qi enveloped his hands as he unleashed a Dou Technique, intending to retaliate in kind. Xiao Yan sat calmly on the sofa and said blandly, "Old Hai, this can be considered your clan''s internal affair. How you handle it is up to you." A whooshing sound rang out as Hai Bodong instantly condensed several ice needles and pinned Lei Ou to the wall without the slightest hesitation, the cold energy instantly freezing his four limbs. After taking a sip of hot tea, he said lightly, "Tell that coward Miteer Tengshan to come see me. Just tell him that I, Hai Bodong, have returned." With her red lips slightly parted, Ya Fei stared dumbfounded at Hai Bodong sitting in the chair. Miteer Tengshan wasn''t just a Dou King in the Jia Ma Empire''s Ten Strongest, but he was also the head of the Miteer Clan! Truly a man of supreme authority! Yet, in the mouth of this old man, he actually became a coward?! "As for how to deal with these two, let that coward Tengshan decide." Lei Le had long since turned pale with fear when he saw Lei Ou''s limbs pinned to the wall. His entire body trembled as he collapsed to the ground. At this moment, he couldn''t help but recall a sentence Xiao Yan had said not long ago: Thank me. I just saved your life. Chapter 138: 138: Really Giving You Half Chapter 138: 138: Really Giving You Half ? //Volume 2 of this story has just concluded on Patreon, with the final 5 chapters each exceeding 3,000 words (double the length of a typical chapter). The upcoming chapters in the next volume will also maintain this 3,000+ word count. Additionally, my other translation project, DD2, will also keep to a standard of 3,000-word chapters until its completion. I don''t plan to split these longer chapters, so I''ll undoubtedly need to adjust the update schedule to maintain consistent releases for both stories. I''ll likely announce the new update schedule in two weeks. This coming week, I''m scheduled for a wisdom tooth extraction on October 7th. I hope to recover within a couple of days. However, please expect some irregular updates during that time. But it''s not all bad news! Let me know if you''re interested in reading my second DD2 project. If we reach at least 10 comments expressing interest, I''ll start publishing chapters on this platform on that same October 7th. I''ve already completed a decent number of chapters on Patreon, but I haven''t released them on other platforms yet, as I''ve been editing the initial chapters to provide the best possible introduction to the story for everyone. So, if many of you want to read it, I''ll hurry to have it ready and schedule the chapters before my surgery! ****** Xiao Yan saw Lei Le looking at him and helplessly spread his hands. Or ''I''m not some unforgivable villain. Both Sister Ya Fei and I warned you, but unfortunately, you let your lust cloud your judgment.'' Of course, Xiao Yan had no intention of saving him either. Such a reckless and foul-mouthed person was indeed detestable. "An... an elite Dou Emperor?!" The cold energy within his body caused thin layers of ice to form on Lei Ou''s hair, and his lips trembled. Although he was merely a Dou Spirit, even when facing a Dou King, he wouldn''t be frozen and pinned to the wall without even seeing the other party make a move. Terrified, Lei Ou stared at Hai Bodong standing before him. He was clear in his heart that only an elite Dou Emperor could possibly achieve this. Everyone except Xiao Yan showed expressions of shock upon hearing those words. This unassuming old man in plain clothes was actually an elite Dou Emperor! "Little Brother Xiao Yan, you really... keep surprising me more and more. To think you know such a super expert." Ya Fei''s beautiful eyes looked at Xiao Yan. Back then, Xiao Yan''s cultivation talent and public alchemy display had already astounded her, and he was only sixteen at that time. Now, after just two short years, he had reached a level where he was associating with a Dou Emperor. "The young man sitting next to me is Xiao Yan, an outstanding alchemist. Because he helped me with a big favor, I promised to transfer half of the Miteer Auction House to him." Hai Bodong''s tone was indifferent, but his words were like a thunderclap, shocking everyone present into a stupor. Give him half!!! Half of the entire Miteer Auction House!!!! The Miteer Clan''s industries weren''t limited to the auction house, but the auction house accounted for over eighty percent of the clan''s income! Without half of the income, the entire Miteer Clan would directly collapse! "Elder Hai, this absolutely cannot be!" Not only did Miteer Tengshan hurriedly try to stop him, but even the other elders, including Lei Ou, stepped forward to persuade. An intense chill suddenly descended with a loud boom, causing everyone to shiver and swallow the words on the tip of their tongues. "I have already decided on this matter. Do not oppose it. Moreover, Xiao Yan is not directly taking away half of the auction house. He won''t be involved in any of the auction house''s revenue or management. He only needs us to provide the medicinal ingredients he requires for alchemy and help him find more ingredients." Hai Bodong''s eyes were ice-cold, his tone brooking no argument. Even though Hai Bodong explained it this way, everyone still felt a pang of pain. Unconditionally providing medicinal ingredients! These could range from cheap to extremely expensive. Just like the ones Xiao Yan had just requested, costing over a million gold coins. The most important thing was that the pills he refined wouldn''t even be for them! Hai Bodong revealed a meaningful smile upon seeing Xiao Yan calmly listening and sipping flower tea. He said lightly, "Your name is Ya Fei, right?" Ya Fei hurriedly walked up to Hai Bodong and respectfully said, "Yes, Elder Hai." "Xiao Yan requires the auction house to supply the medicinal ingredients he needs, and he has agreed to lend a hand if the clan encounters any problems. However, this old man has many affairs to attend to and often wanders around like a lonely cloud and a wild crane. Therefore, I intend to betroth you to him to facilitate communication between Xiao Yan and the auction house. Are you willing?" "Pfff!!!" Xiao Yan immediately spat out a mouthful of flower tea right into that old thing Hai Bodong''s face. Even he was shocked this time and hurriedly refuted, "Hai Bodong! This wasn''t part of our agreement!" Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Young Master Xiao Yan is Here Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Young Master Xiao Yan is Here ? Hai Bodong grinned like an old fox and said, "We agreed earlier that you''d lend a hand to help the clan if any trouble arises. But you''re like a bird without legs. How am I supposed to contact you when the time comes? Besides, when you request medicinal ingredients, there needs to be an intermediary." Xiao Yan stared at Hai Bodong''s sly face and said, "But this isn''t the proper way to make contact, is it?" Hai Bodong used voice transmission to say, "Look at this girl. She has the looks, the figure, and the ability to manage affairs. She''s especially prone to attracting bees and flies. This time it was just a mere Dou Master; what if next time it''s a Dou Emperor and you''re not around? The Miteer Clan won''t be able to handle such matters." Xiao Yan stared blankly at Hai Bodong. He hadn''t expected Hai Bodong to pull such a move! On the Dou Qi Continent, arranged marriages were very common because marriage was the best means of forming alliances. Given Xiao Yan''s status, if it weren''t for his engagement with Nalan Yanran, matchmakers would visit Xiao Zhan every day to extol the virtues of various young ladies. Even prominent clans from neighboring cities would all rush to offer their female descendants to him. It was only because of the marriage alliance with the Nalan Clan, one of the three major clans, that he had been spared from experiencing these things. Xiao Yan transmitted his voice back, "But aren''t you here now?!" "Hehehe, this old man has already given you everything. Naturally, I''m no longer part of the Miteer Clan, and besides, my surname isn''t Miteer," Hai Bodong said while stroking his beard. Xiao Yan stood up with an indignant expression and glanced at Ya Fei, who was now so shocked and at a loss that her mind had seemingly shut down. But alas, there was already a girl in his heart. He angrily looked at Hai Bodong and transmitted his voice, "You''re ruthless. Fine, I don''t want that half anymore!" Xiao Yan didn''t linger any longer. He directly unfolded his Eagle Wings and flew out through the window, his departure feeling a bit like a panicked escape. Everyone present had yet to react when they saw Xiao Yan fly away. So, what does this mean now??? Ya Fei looked at Xiao Yan flying away, and there was actually a strange sensation in her heart. She didn''t know whether to be relieved that she wasn''t casually arranged as a tool for a marriage alliance or disappointed that Xiao Yan didn''t agree. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions. Hai Bodong noticed Ya Fei''s slight disappointment and said lightly, "That kid didn''t actually refuse." Upon hearing Hai Bodong''s words, Ya Fei''s cheeks suddenly flushed red, her hands fidgeting as she didn''t know where to place them. The eloquent Ya Fei on the auction stage seemed to have developed a stutter today, unable to say a word. Miteer Tengshan''s expression changed slightly upon hearing this, a hint of doubt in his heart as he muttered, "Old Hai, even if he has great talent, talent doesn''t necessarily blossom. Isn''t it a bit too risky to tie him down with half of the auction house?" "Hasn''t blossomed? Don''t underestimate his capabilities. If he ever flies into a rage, even I wouldn''t be able to stop him," Hai Bodong said with a solemn face. Whenever he thought of the ''Angry Buddha Lotus Flame'' that Xiao Yan had created before, he felt a tinge of fear in his heart. That power was simply too terrifying. If Xiao Yan reached the Dou Spirit realm, he definitely wouldn''t be able to stop him. Seeing Hai Bodong''s rare grave expression, the elders in the hall and Miteer Tengshan couldn''t help but feel a sense of horror rising in their hearts. Knowing the former''s temperament, they naturally understood that in the entire Jia Ma Empire, fewer than three people could make him treat them in such a manner. But those people were all undying old monsters, while the young man named Xiao Yan was not even twenty years old. When he approached, Xiao Yan was stunned to see that the gate of the Nalan Mansion was crowded with people, and every one of them wore the robes of an alchemist. The lowest level among them was a 2nd-tier alchemist! Many passers-by cast envious glances. After all, even a 1st-tier alchemist would be highly sought after in some remote cities. "What''s going on? Why are there so many alchemists?!" Xiao Yan had no intention of standing in line and planned to enter from the side. He squeezed through the crowd and stepped forward, only to be approached by an elderly man who appeared to be the steward. The steward glanced at Xiao Yan''s chest and noticed the absence of an alchemist''s badge. With a slight doubt in his cloudy old eyes, he asked in a hoarse voice: "Young friend, I am the steward of the Nalan Clan. May I ask, are you an alchemist?" Xiao Yan looked up at the old steward standing on the steps and revealed a bright smile: "I am indeed an alchemist. But Steward Zhao, although we haven''t seen each other for eight years, my appearance hasn''t changed that much, has it?" The old steward''s cloudy eyes gradually cleared upon hearing these words. Seeing that smiling face and those clear, intelligent eyes, he recalled the clever little boy who used to visit with his father in the past. The two faces slowly overlapped in his mind. "Young Master Xiao Yan!!! You''re finally here!!! Quick, pass the word! Tell the Master that Young Master Xiao Yan has arrived!!" The old steward seemed to have a new lease on life, no longer panting for breath or having blurry eyes. He shouted loudly toward the compound. "Quick, pass the word! Young Master Xiao Yan is here!" "Hurry and inform the Master, Young Master Xiao Yan has arrived!" "Young Master Xiao Yan is here~~~" Xiao Yan was immediately startled by this scene. Not only him, but even the alchemists waiting in line all turned to look at Xiao Yan, curious about who this young man was to cause such a stir in the entire Nalan Mansion! "What''s going on? Should I have prepared for something??" Xiao Yan asked in confusion. With a sudden motion, the old steward grabbed Xiao Yan''s arm and said earnestly, "No time to explain, please come with me, Young Master Xiao Yan." The old steward even burst out with Dou Qi, and like a kite pulling a string, he hurriedly dragged him into the mansion. Chapter 140: Chapter 140: Fate Brings Peach Blossoms Chapter 140: Fate Brings Peach Blossoms ? //Enough readers asked for it, so I''ve delivered! The first 5 chapters of my second project, "DD2: Glory of the Unrivaled Angel," have been published on the platform. If you enjoy the concept, you can support the story with your Power Stone and comments! ****** At the same time, situated at the junction where the borders of the Jia Ma Empire and the two neighboring empires met, an ancient academy with a far-reaching reputation quietly stood. With its immense prestige and unparalleled strength, even the three great empires had to treat it with utmost respect and dare not show the slightest disrespect or negligence toward it. On a remote mountain peak of the ancient academy, a young lady in a light green dress stood gracefully by the cliffside. The gentle wind blowing against her caused her waist-length, silky black hair to flutter gently, and as the hem of her skirt swayed, it faintly revealed the perfect contours of her figure. It had been over a year since Xiao Yan left Jia Nan Academy. The freshmen of the past had now become senior students, and even those senior students of the Xuan Class whom Xiao Yan had defeated had already entered the Inner Academy to cultivate. Xun Er quietly gazed in the direction of the Jia Ma Empire. Every time she looked that way, a warm current flowed through her heart, for in that direction was the person she cared about. After a long silence, the young lady suddenly spoke. Her ethereal and pleasant voice gave people a strange feeling of having their souls cleansed. "Old Ling." A black-robed figure mysteriously appeared behind Xun Er, kneeling on one knee and respectfully saying, "Miss, what are your orders?" The black-robed figure was none other than Ling Ying, who had once been discovered and driven away by Xiao Yan after his Spiritual Strength reached the Late Mortal Stage. "I would like Old Ling to make a trip to the imperial capital of the Jia Ma Empire. It''s been over a year since Xiao Yan ge-ge left. Calculating the time, he should have arrived at the imperial capital to fulfill his agreement," Xun Er said in a clear and cold voice. Ling Ying was silent for a moment before he said, "Miss, with Young Master Xiao Yan''s spiritual perception abilities, I''m afraid he will detect me within several hundred meters, even a thousand meters." He felt helpless! Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Perception was too strong, even surpassing that of an average Dou Emperor. He himself possessed dark-attribute Dou Qi. This made him especially adept at concealing his presence. Yet, he had been discovered by a young Dou Grandmaster, an eighteen-year-old boy. Frustrating, truly frustrating! "Then don''t get within a thousand meters," Xun Er said indifferently. Ling Ying was silent for a moment before saying, "Miss, in my opinion, Young Master Xiao Yan doesn''t like being monitored." Nalan Su was momentarily stunned by Xiao Yan''s words and asked, "Didn''t you come because you received the message we sent?" Xiao Yan shook his head and said, "I just happened to arrive in Jia Ma Sacred City and came to visit Uncle Nalan on behalf of my father to extend our greetings." He even lifted the fruit basket in his hand to indicate that he was truly here for a visit and was unaware of what had transpired. "Come with me, and I''ll explain as we walk." After Nalan Su''s explanation, Xiao Yan finally understood the situation. It turned out that several years ago, Nalan Jie had been poisoned with the Searing Poison and had been relying on his Dou King''s Dou Qi to barely suppress it. Recently, the Searing Poison suddenly flared up and nearly claimed his life. Even Pill King Gu He was unable to treat it and could only provide some pills to prolong his life. He mentioned that to completely eradicate the Searing Poison, it would require a Heavenly Flame to enter Nalan Jie''s body and burn the poison away. Not long after, when Nalan Yanran returned and learned about this matter, she recalled the flame that Xiao Yan used when fighting Mo Cheng in Yan City, which resembled a Heavenly Flame, and thus sent people to find him. But they could not find him after searching everywhere. They hadn''t expected that Xiao Yan was actually in Rock Desert City and assumed he was deliberately avoiding them. So when the old steward saw Xiao Yan arriving at the Nalan Mansion, he was so excited, thinking that he had finally forgiven them and had come to save Nalan Jie. Xiao Yan let out a wry laugh after hearing this. Although Nalan Yanran''s annulment of the engagement had been very rude, it didn''t affect the Xiao Clan at all, and he had even beaten her in the end. As he slowly approached the large bed, his gaze fell on the figure lying on it. The once imposing Nalan Jie in his memory was now thin like a bamboo stick, skin clinging to bones. His face was faintly tinged with large patches of grayish-black, actually carrying a hint of deathly aura. "It''s very serious indeed." Chapter 141: Chapter 141: Just a Small Poison Chapter 141: Just a Small Poison ? It should be known that Nalan Jie was the Grand General of the Empire. The Nalan Clan and the Mu Clan, another of the three major clans, both held military power and had risen through warfare. In Xiao Yan''s memory, Nalan Jie had been a robust and imposing figure, broad-shouldered and strong, his voice resonant and spirited. It was a stark contrast to the frail old man lying at death''s door before him now. "Sigh, indeed. Searing Poison is something even an elite Dou Emperor wouldn''t dare to come into contact with carelessly. For the old master to have endured for so many years has already pushed him to his limits," Nalan Su sighed, shaking his head as he followed closely behind. In recent years, the Nalan Clan had searched throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire but failed to find any miraculous medicine to remove the Searing Poison. He then asked cautiously, "Virtuous nephew, do you see any hope for a cure?" "Bring me a basin of clean water. I need to draw some of the old master''s poisoned blood for examination," Xiao Yan said, his brows knitted tightly. "Master Gu He once said that using a Heavenly Flame to enter the body and burn away the Searing Poison could detoxify it..." Nalan Su said. Xiao Yan gave a meaningful smile and replied calmly, "It''s true that the Searing Poison fears Heavenly Flames. In theory, using a Heavenly Flame to enter the body to expel and incinerate the Searing Poison should work. But Gu He doesn''t possess a Heavenly Flame himself; he''s only read about them in ancient texts. How could he know the true terror of a Heavenly Flame? "If I directly use a Heavenly Flame to enter the body and something goes wrong..." Nalan Su was directly stunned. Xiao Yan''s expression and tone didn''t put Gu He in his eyes at all! He even didn''t believe what Gu He said! "If Senior Nalan were in good health, directly using the Heavenly Flame to detoxify him would indeed be feasible. But in his current extremely weakened state, the high temperature of the Heavenly Flame might burn him to death before the poison is expelled." !!!!!! When Xiao Yan had removed the seals for Hai Bodong and Yun Yun, both of them were in good health, with ample Dou Qi and vitality. Moreover, they were both Dou Emperors. But Nalan Jie was barely clinging to life. If the Nihility Devouring Flame entered his body, he might not withstand the intense heat of the Heavenly Flame before the poison was fully purged, potentially causing him to die on the spot. Soon, Xiao Yan completed his analysis of the poison. His time spent with the Little Fairy Doctor had greatly enhanced his understanding of poisons. Seeing how swiftly the black flame completely devoured the Searing Poison, he murmured, "Hmm, this Searing Poison isn''t actually that troublesome." !!!!! The Searing Poison isn''t troublesome??!! traces of it. The terrifying high temperature of the Nihility Devouring Flame caused beads of sweat to form on Nalan Jie''s face. His withered hands clenched tightly, blue veins bulging on his arms. Whoosh!! The entire bed suddenly burst into flames. One could only imagine how high Nalan Jie''s body temperature had risen to be able to ignite the bedding. "So this is a Heavenly Flame! What terrifying heat!" Nalan Su, who was merely at the Dou Spirit realm, couldn''t help but feel both shocked and terrified by the intense heat emanating from Nalan Jie''s body. The frightening nature of the Heavenly Flame, combined with Xiao Yan''s exceptional talent and abilities, left Nalan Su full of admiration. Although Nalan Su was an 8-star Dou Spirit close to reaching the 9-star stage and could easily defeat someone like Mo Cheng, he felt that he might not necessarily be able to triumph over Xiao Yan, who possessed a Heavenly Flame. ''Sigh, Yanran is likely to humiliate herself again.'' Nalan Su naturally knew about the three- year duel his daughter had agreed upon with Xiao Yan. But looking at the situation now, unless Nalan Yanran had some powerful trump card up her sleeve, she was bound to be defeated once more. After about twenty minutes, Xiao Yan finally retracted all the black flames. Nalan Jie''s body deflated like a punctured balloon. His pores rapidly released heat, returning his body to its original state as he gasped for breath. "Wait until his body temperature returns to normal before giving him water. I will refine a pill to rehydrate and restore his physical strength. By tomorrow, he should be able to resume normal activities and diet. If there are no signs of the Searing Poison reappearing after a week, then it has been completely eradicated," Xiao Yan stood up and quickly instructed the old steward. Nalan Su looked at Xiao Yan, who spoke so matter-of-factly, and asked in amazement, "It''s... it''s cleared just like that?" Not only Nalan Su, but even Nalan Jie was astounded. He clenched his fists, feeling the strength of a Dou King coursing through his body once more! His body had never felt so light and refreshed! It was as if even his old internal injuries had been devoured along with the poison. "Just a small poison. Twenty minutes is already slow." Chapter 142: Chapter 142: More and More Like the Hun Clan Chapter 142: More and More Like the Hun Clan ? //Hey guys, I''m still alive! Fortunately, everything went well with the extractions. I just had to deal with a lot of sleepiness and fatigue for the first few days due to the antibiotics, but I''m feeling much better now and hope to resume a regular update schedule starting tomorrow. From this week onward, the update schedule for this story will change to 5 chapters per week! ****** "Observing for a week is merely a precaution in case the Searing Poison has any unknown properties. It''s just to be careful. If the old master feels fine, he can get out of bed and walk around now." "Remember to wait until your body cools down before drinking water. Drinking water now would be like drinking boiling water. It''s only because you still have the Ice Spirit Cold Fountain in your body that you don''t feel the high temperature," Xiao Yan explained, sounding like an experienced and knowledgeable divine physician. Upon hearing this, Nalan Jie actually got out of bed and took a few steps. That feeling of lightness brought tears to his eyes. He hadn''t felt like this in years. "Father, how do you feel?" Nalan Su asked hurriedly. "Great, absolutely great. I feel more relaxed than ever," Nalan Jie said with a smile on his face as he sensed his body''s condition. Then he looked gratefully at Xiao Yan, who was standing calmly nearby. He said with relief, "Little Yan, I''m just a rough old man who doesn''t understand too much about etiquette or formalities. Our Nalan Clan once publicly declared that anyone who could cure the Searing Poison would be given a satisfactory reward." Before Xiao Yan could decline, Nalan Su patted his shoulder and said, "Virtuous nephew, please don''t refuse. The matter with Yanran back then caused our clan to lose credibility. This time, let us fulfill our promise." "You need medicinal ingredients for alchemy, don''t you? Although our Nalan Clan isn''t an alchemist clan, we do have a collection of precious medicinal ingredients and heavenly treasures. Among them are heavenly treasures that can increase Spiritual Strength. You alchemists really need such things, right?" Xiao Yan''s eyes lit up upon hearing that there were heavenly treasures capable of increasing Spiritual Strength. Such treasures were extremely rare and held immense value for alchemists. After all, cultivation methods for Spiritual Strength had been lost on the Dou Qi Continent. The only way for alchemists to increase their Spiritual Strength was through medicinal pills and heavenly treasures. Heavenly treasures that could increase Spiritual Strength were inherently difficult to grow in the first place. Coupled with the fact that all alchemists competed fiercely for them, they became even harder to obtain on the market. Typically, heavenly treasures that could increase Spiritual Strength were valuable enough to be auctioned at the Di class auctions of the Miteer Auction House. Xiao Yan followed Nalan Su as they slowly walked out of the room. Nalan Su said, "Virtuous nephew, why don''t you stay at our mansion for the next few days? Your old room is still available." Just as Xiao Yan was about to decline politely, he saw Nalan Yanran gracefully hurrying over from a distance. She had likely heard of Xiao Yan''s arrival at the mansion and had rushed over in a hurry. "Xiao Yan!" "What''s the matter?" Nalan Su cleared his throat lightly and interrupted, "We''ve arrived. Virtuous nephew, if there''s anything you need here, you can take it without needing anyone''s permission." Upon entering the medicine room and seeing the vast space, Xiao Yan couldn''t help but admire the deep foundation of the Nalan Clan. This wasn''t just a medicine room; it was a full-fledged medicinal ingredient warehouse. Countless shelves were stocked with a wide variety of precious medicinal ingredients. The lowest grade among them was middle-grade; low-grade ingredients didn''t even qualify to be placed here. It could rival the treasury of the Snake-People Tribe. ''Medusa, you sure are poor,'' Xiao Yan muttered to himself. Just like gold, precious medicinal ingredients were also a form of hard currency that could be used to preserve wealth. Some ingredients even became more valuable the longer they were stored. Following Nalan Su all the way inside, they entered a secluded chamber where a plant in a jade flowerpot appeared before Xiao Yan. "This is Seven Magical Green Spirit Saliva!!" Xiao Yan recognized at a glance the rare flower before him. It was a top-grade heavenly treasure. "Virtuous nephew has sharp eyes. This is a heavenly treasure Father came across by chance," Nalan Su explained with a smile. Nalan Yanran swallowed upon seeing the Seven Magical Green Spirit Saliva. Even Gu He had wanted it back then, as it could directly increase Spiritual Strength, but Nalan Jie hadn''t sold it in the end. The entire room was filled with a faint, calming fragrance. This plant was entirely green in color, appearing as if it was carved from top quality green jade. Atop the plant, a flower possessing seven different colors was slowly blooming. Xiao Yan carefully examined the Seven Magical Green Spirit Saliva before him and thought, ''With the help of this Seven Magical Green Spirit Saliva, I might be able to further increase my Spiritual Strength!'' He already had an exceptionally high innate talent for Spiritual Strength. Combined with his cultivation of the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique and the remnant soul of the Eight- Winged Flame Demon Tiger, his Spiritual Strength had reached the level of a high-grade 5th- tier alchemist. He had initially thought that breaking through to tier 6 in Spiritual Strength would take a long time, but he hadn''t expected Nalan Jie to possess the Seven Magical Green Spirit Saliva! ''My Spiritual Strength is so much higher than my Dou Qi cultivation. I''m really becoming more and more like someone from the Hun Clan,'' Xiao Yan couldn''t help but mock the huge disparity between his Dou Qi cultivation and Spiritual Strength. Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Tier 6 Spiritual Strength! Chapter 143: Tier 6 Spiritual Strength! ? Xiao Yan suppressed the excitement in his heart and licked his lips. This item was indeed extremely useful to him. "Hehe, since Virtuous Nephew Xiao Yan cured the old master''s Searing Poison, this Seven Magical Green Spirit Saliva is rightfully yours now," Nalan Su said with a smile, having naturally noticed the eagerness in Xiao Yan''s eyes. "Then you have my utmost gratitude. I do indeed need the Seven Magical Green Spirit Saliva to increase my Spiritual Strength." Xiao Yan didn''t stand on ceremony. Although he hadn''t initially expected any reward, if they were offering it to him, he would of course accept. Xiao Yan cupped his hands in gratitude toward Nalan Su and said nothing else. Stepping forward, he carefully placed the Seven Magical Green Spirit Saliva into his storage ring. "Although this Seven Magical Green Spirit Saliva can be stored in a storage ring, you must expose it to sunlight for an hour every day, or else it will wither away on its own. You must remember this," Nalan Su reminded him. "Mm, I understand," Xiao Yan nodded. Nalan Yanran couldn''t help but feel extremely frustrated as she watched Xiao Yan take away the Seven Magical Green Spirit Saliva. The assistance of Spiritual Strength in battle was not small. Now her chances of victory against him were even slimmer. It was truly disheartening! After making a round in the medicine room and collecting some medicinal ingredients to refine pills for Nalan Jie, Xiao Yan didn''t trouble them further. He walked out of the medicine room and randomly found a courtyard, took out his medicinal cauldron, and was about to start refining pills. "You''re going to refine pills here?!" Nalan Yanran exclaimed in surprise. Don''t alchemists usually find a quiet place to refine pills, afraid of being disturbed by others? And yet, you''re just going to refine pills in this bustling courtyard?! Aren''t you afraid of others spying on your techniques?! Xiao Yan tossed a cluster of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame into the medicinal cauldron with a puff. As he added the medicinal ingredients, he said nonchalantly, "It''s not like it''s some high-tier pill, just a tier 2 Hydrating Pill and a tier 3 Blood Replenishing Pill." !!!? "Tier, tier, tier 3?! Isn''t that high enough?" Nalan Yanran was utterly astonished. She knew of two 3rd-tier alchemists herself. One was the imperial family''s Little Princess Yue Er, the apprentice of the deputy chairman of the Alchemist Association. She was extremely talented and had been exposed to alchemy from a young age, yet even she had only reached tier 3 now. The other was Gu He''s direct disciple Liu Ling, who had followed Gu He since childhood to learn alchemy and was also a 3rd-tier alchemist. These two were both hot contenders for the championship of the Alchemist Grand Meeting!No?v(el)B\\jnn Yet when they refined tier 3 pills, they needed to treat it seriously, and their success rates were not guaranteed to be 100%. As Xiao Yan began refining pills, many of the Nalan Clan''s servants curiously gathered around to watch. "Huh? The Master and Young Miss are both here?" "Wow, who''s that handsome fellow? He''s actually refining pills in the courtyard?" "Why does this young man look so familiar?" through in one go! ... The following few days passed as a rare period of leisure for Xiao Yan. Apart from once when Ya Fei brought a batch of precious medicinal ingredients for him to practice with, he spent every day either cultivating or refining pills. The power of the Di Class Qi Method allowed him to cultivate Dou Qi at an extremely rapid pace. Not long ago, he had just broken through to become a 4-star Dou Grandmaster. Xiao Yan estimated that in one or two more months, he could advance another star. He might even reach the Dou Spirit realm within a year! A 19-year-old Dou Spirit had never appeared in the history of the Jia Ma Empire. Moreover, this was without using any medicinal pills or fortuitous encounters-just purely relying on secluded cultivation at home. If he added the assistance of medicinal pills, Xiao Yan estimated he could reach the Dou Spirit realm in just half a year! But compared to the speed of cultivating Dou Qi with the Di Class Qi Method, the cultivation of his Soul Training Method was not lagging behind in the slightest. "It''s time." Xiao Yan calmed his mind and took out the Black Demon Cauldron and the Seven Magical Green Spirit Saliva. Without any hesitation, he threw the Seven Magical Green Spirit Saliva into the Black Demon Cauldron. Then, he sent in the merged Heavenly Flame formed from his three kinds of Heavenly Flames. The terrifying temperature of the merged Heavenly Flame rapidly melted the Seven Magical Green Spirit Saliva. The reason why the Seven Magical Green Spirit Saliva was considered a heavenly treasure rather than a mere medicinal ingredient was because its medicinal effects alone were comparable to those of medicinal pills! Originally, medicinal pills were made by catalyzing, merging, and refining low-grade medicinal ingredients to grant the pill the efficacy of heavenly treasures. But the Seven Magical Green Spirit Saliva was a heavenly treasure in its own right. Even rare heavenly treasures could hardly withstand the smelting of the merged Heavenly Flame. In no time, a sphere of green spiritual liquid was extracted. Xiao Yan parted his lips slightly and sucked the green spiritual liquid enveloped by the merged Heavenly Flame into his mouth. An intense sensation shot straight into the depths of his mind. Xiao Yan swiftly began to circulate the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique and a large mass of green spiritual light condensed in his dantian under the perception of his Spiritual Strength. As the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique circulated, that large mass of green spiritual light followed the flow of the Soul Training Method and merged into his soul. Finally, the green spiritual light was completely absorbed after Xiao Yan circulated the Soul Training Method nine times. Unknowingly, his Spiritual Strength had already advanced to the level of a 6th-tier alchemist. He slowly opened his eyes. His terrifying Spiritual Perception spread to the extreme. The range of his Spiritual Perception had actually increased tenfold after being increased by a level! The entire Nalan Mansion was within his perception, and he could even clearly ''see'' the streets. ''Hmm? Old Ling? Hadn''t he already returned?'' Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Mysterious Black Fragment Chapter 144: Mysterious Black Fragment ? Xiao Yan detected a suspicious yet familiar figure with his enhanced Spiritual Perception. If it weren''t for his Spiritual Strength advancing by another level, given the distance and the figure''s concealment abilities, he wouldn''t have been able to detect him. Shaking his head helplessly, Xiao Yan quietly opened the window, unfolded his Eagle Wings, enveloped himself with Spiritual Strength to prevent being sensed, and silently flew into the air. At that moment, in an inn a kilometer away, a mysterious figure was secretly observing Xiao Yan''s every move from afar. The figure was entirely wrapped in a pitch-black robe. He slightly raised his head, and the moonlight revealed a swarthy, aged face. This person was none other than Ling Ying, whom Xun Er had dispatched to ''protect'' Xiao Yan. "How has this kid''s Spiritual Strength cultivation improved so quickly?" "Sigh, to monitor a little Dou Grandmaster kid, I have to stay so far away to avoid being detected. Looks like I''m really getting old." Ling Ying gazed from afar. He didn''t even dare to get close to eavesdrop on Xiao Yan''s conversations. "Old Ling is still robust and vigorous. How could you be considered old?" !!!!!! Suddenly, a voice came from above the inn. Ling Ying''s scalp instantly went numb because he recognized whose voice it was! ''How is this possible!! I didn''t even notice!!'' Ling Ying was going crazy! He had been monitoring Xiao Yan all along. Although he couldn''t get too close, his peak Dou Emperor strength allowed him to sense things from very far away. Yet, even at such a distance, Xiao Yan not only discovered him but also stealthily approached without him noticing-even when the other party was right above the inn! Xiao Yan''s voice, infused with Spiritual Strength, drifted over: "Old Ling, would you mind coming up for a chat?" Ling Ying suddenly felt a bit aggrieved. He had flown all the way from Jia Nan Academy to Jia Ma Sacred City. Even as a peak Dou Emperor, it had still taken him two days to arrive. He hadn''t even been monitoring Xiao Yan for two days, and he had already been discovered! How frustrating! He now didn''t even know how he was going to explain this to Xun Er. Xiao Yan nodded and said, "Mm, I want to refine a pill, but I need some hard-to-find medicinal ingredients. So today, I plan to visit the headquarters of the Alchemist Association to see if I can find them, and perhaps pick up some good items." Nalan Jie wiped his sweat and said, "Alright. By the way, I''ve already spoken to the Alchemist Association. In a few days, there will be an internal test. If you''re interested in participating in the Alchemist Grand Meeting, you can go directly to the Alchemist Association for an internal test. If you pass, you can directly enter the final elimination stage." "Got it." Leaving the Nalan Mansion, at the intersection of several streets in Jia Ma Sacred City, an extremely large building shrouded all year round in a faint mist of pill fragrance stood there. The two grand, ancient words ''Alchemist Association,'' written in flamboyant strokes, glowed with a faint silver light, causing passersby to involuntarily cast reverent gazes toward it. As the headquarters of the Alchemist Association in the Jia Ma Empire, even the emperor himself would have to show respect upon arriving here. After all, the power wielded by the residents of this building was enough to shake the entire empire. They belonged to the most esteemed profession on the Dou Qi Continent. Alchemists, who were rarely seen on ordinary days, could be found everywhere here. Their robes of various colors proudly proclaimed their tiers. Xiao Yan even saw several 4th-tier alchemists accompanied by their apprentices, though each of these 4th-tier alchemists was a white-haired elder. Fortunately, the Alchemist Association wasn''t just a gathering place for alchemists; it was also a marketplace where alchemists set up stalls. So ordinary people in need of pills could enter to make purchases. Stepping into the grand entrance of the Alchemist Association, a rich fragrance of medicinal pills wafted over, causing one to involuntarily take a light breath and feel refreshed. Thump!!! The moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Alchemist Association, his heart suddenly pounded, and a throbbing sensation emanated from the depths of his soul. "What is this feeling!?" "The Soul Command Token? No, this isn''t the Soul Command Token." A mysterious heartbeat spread throughout his entire body. It was the first time in his life that he felt such a unique sensation! Following the guidance of this sensation, Xiao Yan walked to a very secluded corner, where a skinny, somewhat wretched-looking man was setting up a stall to sell his wares. On the stall were scattered various worthless medicinal ingredients. Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes and looked at an inconspicuous, black, broken jade fragment placed at the edge of the stone platform. Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Spirit Fusion Pill Chapter 145: Spirit Fusion Pill ? Xiao Yan furrowed his brows as he stared at the item on the table. When his Spiritual Strength swept over the black, broken jade fragment, he was puzzled to find that even his Spiritual Strength couldn''t penetrate it to see what was inside. ''Could this be some kind of tool for storing spiritual information? But why can''t even my Spiritual Strength pass through it?''No?v(el)B\\jnn With his current level of Spiritual Strength, ordinary soul jade pieces could be easily penetrated by him to directly peer into their contents. He had given emergency communication jade pieces of this type to Qing Lin and his two elder brothers. Generally, aside from being used to send spiritual signals, these soul jade pieces could also store spiritual information such as Qi Methods and Dou Techniques. Learning Qi Methods and Dou Skills normally required dedicating time to study and comprehend them oneself. However, soul jade pieces could directly transmit the information into one''s soul via Spiritual Strength. It was akin to sudden enlightenment. This allowed the learner to skip the step of assimilation and comprehension. Therefore, this kind of soul jade piece was extremely precious. "Sir, what can I help you with?" The stall owner asked curiously, noticing that Xiao Yan had been standing in front of his stall for quite some time. Interrupted from his thoughts, Xiao Yan glanced at the man in front of him and smiled as he picked up the black jade fragment. "Boss, how much are you selling this jade piece for?" The jade piece didn''t feel smooth in his hand. Instead, it was covered with tiny granules and appeared as if the material was not very good. Moreover, faint cracks were visible on its surface, and there was even sand and dirt lodged in the crevices. With a simple touch, Xiao Yan could tell that this was likely excavated from some ruins or dug out from the soil. The man''s eyes lit up immediately; Xiao Yan was the first person all morning to inquire about prices. "Um... I... I''d like to trade for a tier 3 medicinal pill to study and improve my alchemy skills. My talent in alchemy isn''t very good; despite practicing for so many years, I''m still just an alchemy apprentice," the man said with an embarrassed laugh. Xiao Yan smiled slightly and retrieved three pills from his storage ring: "Here are three types of medicinal pills, all for healing injuries. They are a tier 1 Blood Clotting Powder, a tier 2 Body Recovery Pill, and a tier 3 Minor Blood Replenishing Pill. This should be enough for you to study and learn from, right?" The receptionist''s face changed drastically when she saw the condensed real fire. She exclaimed in shock, "Real fire! Could it be that you are a 4th-tier alchemist?!" Some passing alchemists glanced over curiously when they heard the receptionist''s exclamation. "A 4th-tier alchemist! Where?!" "You''re saying this seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy is a 4th-tier alchemist? You''ve got to be kidding." "If you''re going to lie, at least make it more believable. Even if he started practicing alchemy in his mother''s womb, it''s impossible for him to be at tier 4." Xiao Yan shrugged, not bothering to explain further, and smiled. "Can I have the handbook now?" The receptionist''s beautiful eyes flashed with a strange color. Regardless of whether Xiao Yan was truly a 4th-tier alchemist or not, being able to condense real fire meant his tier was definitely not low. Xiao Yan accepted the handbook and noticed that it had an address written on it, along with a lipstick kiss mark. Glancing at the bashful expression of the girl in front of him, he smiled wryly and shook his head. With a sweep of his black flame, he swiftly erased the marks before daring to step out of the Alchemist Association. If Old Ling caught wind of this and word got back to Xun Er, there would be hell to pay. As Xiao Yan walked back to the Nalan Mansion, he read through the rules in the handbook. The regulations of the Alchemist Grand Meeting were quite simple. Alchemists under the age of thirty could participate; the first round was the preliminary selection, followed by the second round of elimination matches, and the third round would determine the champion. In addition to becoming an honorary elder of the Alchemist Association, the champion would be rewarded with a tier 6 pill recipe-the Spirit Fusion Pill. "The Spirit Fusion Pill can fuse the soul with the body, rapidly restore Spiritual Strength, and even heal previous soul injuries? That''s quite an exceptional pill recipe, capable of restoring Spiritual Strength and repairing soul damage." Just as Xiao Yan was contemplating whether to participate in the competition to obtain this pill recipe, a cold voice suddenly echoed in his mind. "Boy, get your hands on that Spirit Fusion Pill Recipe for me, and I''ll spare your life in the future!" Chapter 146: Chapter 146: Skyfire Three Mysterious Change? Chapter 146: Skyfire Three Mysterious Change? ? The sudden charming yet cold voice made Xiao Yan roll his eyes. He transmitted back, "I say, Queen Medusa. The path of cultivation isn''t just about fighting and killing; it also involves interpersonal relationships. Is this how you rule as queen? Threatening others at every turn? No wonder your Snake-People Tribe is in decline." Suddenly, a wave of chilling killing intent emanated from the Green Lotus within his storage ring. Clearly, Xiao Yan had angered this queen of the Snake - People Tribe! Sensing Queen Medusa''s icy killing intent, Xiao Yan remained unfazed. He continued walking as he said, "Don''t threaten me. Not only am I not someone who yields to threats in the first place, but even if I were, you wouldn''t be able to intimidate me." At this moment, Xiao Yan''s confidence was through the roof! With his Spiritual Strength reaching the level of a 6th-tier alchemist, he now feared the not-yet-fully-recovered Medusa even less. Medusa needed the Spirit Fusion Pill not only to resolve that unknown soul contract but also because during her evolution, Xiao Yan had injured her soul. She required the Spirit Fusion Pill to heal. Her soul was still injured. What the hell was he still afraid of? Xiao Yan quickly pondered inwardly when he saw Medusa''s lack of response, ''Medusa is still digesting the Core-Fire Lotus Seed. It seems she really needs this Spirit Fusion Pill. I''m probably only a hair''s breadth away from reaching the tier 5. If I require Medusa''s assistance again in the future, perhaps this Spirit Fusion Pill could serve as a bargaining chip.'' If Medusa truly reconstructed her body and broke through to the Dou Ancestor realm, then with a single tier 6 Spirit Fusion Pill, he could enlist the aid of a Dou Ancestor. This was a profitable deal no matter how one looked at it. Xiao Yan immediately made up his mind. Clasping his hands together as if in prayer, he muttered to himself, ''Apologies to all the favorites to win the Alchemist Grand Meeting. I really didn''t want to participate originally, nor did I want to crush your hopes of victory. But alas, that wicked woman Medusa covets the recipe for the Spirit Fusion Pill. If you want to blame someone, blame her. The grudge has a source, the debt has an owner. If you wish to curse someone, curse her.'' After this moment of penitent reflection, Xiao Yan instantly felt much more at ease. He decided to join the Alchemist Grand Meeting and show those pitiful, helpless ''favorites to win'' what true competition looked like. ... Upon returning to the Nalan Mansion, Xiao Yan informed Nalan Jie about his intention to participate in the Alchemist Grand Meeting. "Heh heh, an alchemist possessing a Heavenly Flame, huh? In all the previous editions of the Jia Ma Empire''s Alchemist Grand Meeting, I don''t think there''s ever been one. This year''s tournament will surely be interesting," Nalan Jie said with a chuckle as he stroked his beard. Xiao Yan, however, replied with little enthusiasm, "I think it will be rather boring." "Hahaha, that may be so," Nalan Jie laughed heartily. After bidding farewell to Old Master Nalan Jie, Xiao Yan returned to his room and took out the black jade piece to study it. But no matter whether Xiao Yan used his Spiritual Strength or applied force to it, it remained completely unresponsive. ''How is this thing supposed to be used? It''s different from typical soul tools.'' Moreover, it was even labeled as a High Tian Class Secret Technique back then??!! ''How could this be? How could something from the Hall of Souls appear in the Jia Ma Sacred City? No, wait, the Hall of Souls does have a presence in the Jia Ma Sacred City... but still, would the Hall of Souls'' Tian Class Secret Technique end up in the Jia Ma Empire? Was that man earlier from the Hall of Souls?'' For a moment, countless speculations swirled through Xiao Yan''s mind. Narrowing his eyes, he quickly grasped the essence of the cultivation method after a brief read-through. However, his frown deepened, because the level of this Secret Technique was nowhere near Tian Class, let alone High Tian Class! It absolutely couldn''t reach Tian Class! Xiao Yan estimated it barely qualified as Di Class at most. In the mysterious storage ring, there were also Secret Techniques, but none of them were suitable for him to use, which was why he hadn''t learned them. However, this Skyfire Three Mysterious Change happened to be just right for him. This was because this Secret Technique worked by erupting flames within the body to temporarily enhance one''s Dou Qi. After pondering for a moment, Xiao Yan infused his Spiritual Strength into the words floating in the air. Sensing his Spiritual Strength, all the words instantly transformed into a stream of spiritual information that surged into his mind. The massive influx of information slammed into his mind. Xiao Yan''s face twitched rapidly as he fought against the discomfort. He quickly sat cross-legged and closed his eyes to digest the information containing the Secret Technique''s cultivation method. ''How strange. Although this is only the first change of the Three Mysterious Changes, the cultivation method for the first change is complete. Yet, its effects are far from being of Tian Class... Could something be missing? Or did the Hall of Souls make a mistake?'' ''Impossible. With the Hall of Souls'' capabilities, misjudging a technique''s level is out of the question. Could it be that the latter two changes elevate this Secret Technique to High Tian Class? That seems even more unlikely.'' Xiao Yan was thoroughly puzzled. Logically speaking, it was implausible for there to be such a vast disparity in power levels. For a Secret Technique with three stages like this, one needed to cultivate one stage at a time, and the difficulty of the next stage shouldn''t exceed the previous one by too much; otherwise, it would be impossible to connect them and progress. ''Back then, the scroll in the Hall of Souls introduced it as a Secret Technique created by a peak elite expert of a certain Dou God Clan. It can trigger the eruption of Heavenly Flames within the body, thereby explosively increasing one''s strength for a short period. This technique consists of three changes, each requiring a different kind of Heavenly Flame. When all three changes are activated together, it can change the color of the sky and earth.'' ''But now, the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change in this jade pendant can be used with any flame; it''s just that the power will vary. Could the level of the Secret Technique be influenced by the kind of flame used? Using three kinds of Heavenly Flames could elevate it to High Tian Class?'' ''Is it really that simple?'' Chapter 147: Chapter 147: Destined to be a Tragedy Chapter 147: Destined to be a Tragedy ? Xiao Yan knew that different Heavenly Flames couldn''t coexist within one''s body. Therefore, unless one had the Flame Mantra, possessing three kinds of Heavenly Flames simultaneously would require an unimaginable level of fire control. However, he still didn''t believe that even possessing such formidable fire control abilities, combined with three kinds of Heavenly Flames, could elevate the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change to the High Tian Class. According to his judgment, even if the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change was complete, the effects produced by this Secret Technique would, at best, only reach High Di Class. ''Never mind, no need to overthink. Being able to find a Secret Technique suitable for me is already a huge gain. I''ll consider these things later.'' The Skyfire Three Mysterious Change could be said to be tailor-made for him. The cultivation of this Secret Technique required powerful flames and terrifying fire control-abilities in which Xiao Yan was unrivaled due to his Heavenly Flames and Flame Mantra. Soon, he grasped the method to use this Secret Technique. ''If I use the most powerful Green Lotus Core Flame Dou Qi, I can temporarily increase my strength by four stars, reaching the 8-star Dou Grandmaster stage. If I use the merged Heavenly Flame, it should be comparable to the cultivation level of a Dou Spirit.'' Booming green flames erupted all over Xiao Yan''s body; even his eyes turned a shade of green. The Skyfire Three Mysterious Change not only strengthened his Dou Qi but also unleashed the power of the Heavenly Flames to the extreme. It gave Xiao Yan the illusion that the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change was specifically designed for Heavenly Flames-a Dou Technique belonging to Heavenly Flames. The only issue was that during its execution, his body''s meridians would feel a tearing pain, and once the Secret Technique ended, this intense pain would become even more severe. If the merged Heavenly Flame was used to activate the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change, the pain would be even more excruciating. Withdrawing the Heavenly Flame, Xiao Yan pushed open the door and stepped out. He took a deep breath of fresh air and stretched his body to alleviate the pain. ''Just a little experimentation causes this level of pain. If I truly unleash it fully in battle, I''m afraid it won''t be pleasant.'' Even though the Ten Thousand Beast Flame had strengthened his body, Xiao Yan still acutely felt the pain, which showed how strong the side effects of this Secret Technique were. He had just taken a couple of steps when his gaze suddenly froze upon two figures¡ªa man and a woman¡ªwho were slowly approaching. That graceful figure was naturally Nalan Yanran; the other was a man wearing an alchemist robe with a 3rd-tier alchemist badge hanging from it. The man appeared quite young, with a tall and straight posture. He appeared to be only in his early twenties. His handsome face had lines that seemed to be carved by a knife, giving off a somewhat feminine feeling. Nalan Yanran also noticed Xiao Yan not far away, and her footsteps halted on the spot. The atmosphere became a bit awkward. "Yanran, does he really possess a Heavenly Flame?" Liu Ling couldn''t help but inquire again as he stared in the direction where Xiao Yan had disappeared. "Mm, and his alchemy skills are likely no less than yours. The tier 3 Blood Replenishing Pill he refined was highly praised even by the clan''s alchemists. In terms of alchemy, he''s the only peer I''ve seen in all these years who may surpass you. Oh, wait, no-he''s actually a few years younger than you." Only now did Nalan Yanran recall that Xiao Yan was the same age as her, while Liu Ling was already twenty-four. Thinking about it, Xiao Yan''s talent in alchemy truly surpassed any in the history of the Jia Ma Empire. Frowning slightly as he looked at Nalan Yanran, Liu Ling unconsciously clenched his fists. Although Nalan Yanran was speaking the truth, to Liu Ling''s ears, her words sounded like praise for Xiao Yan. Moreover, he was well aware that Nalan Yanran still had a marriage arrangement with Xiao Yan. Although she used to openly declare her intention to cancel the engagement back in the Misty Cloud Sect, the Nalan Clan had always opposed it. So jealous! If only his grandfather were Xiao Lin! "Will he also participate in the Alchemist Grand Meeting?" Liu Ling asked, his sharp eyes staring intently in the direction Xiao Yan had disappeared. "I heard from Grandfather that he will participate in the internal selection for the Grand Meeting." After saying this, Nalan Yanran brushed aside the strands of hair drifting onto her forehead with her slender fingers. Liu Ling''s eyes showed a trace of fervor upon hearing this. He looked at Nalan Yanran and said, "Yanran, if I can defeat him in the Alchemist Grand Meeting, I hope you can-" Before Liu Ling could finish, Nalan Yanran stopped him with a glance. "You should know that right now I don''t want to discuss these matters. I don''t deny that you''re indeed outstanding at present. However, that has yet to meet my requirements. The man who will stand beside me, Nalan Yanran, absolutely cannot be mediocre." After saying this, for some reason, that scene from three years ago flashed through her mind ¡ªthat man who shattered all her pride with a single punch. "Even so, I will prove that I''m stronger than him!" Liu Ling''s tone carried confidence, and fanaticism flashed in his eyes. As the future leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, Nalan Yanran''s status in the Jia Ma Empire was almost nobler than that of the empire''s princess. With Liu Ling''s pride, he naturally needed to conquer such a woman to prove his excellence. Nalan Yanran just smiled indifferently upon hearing this. She didn''t linger and gracefully headed toward the main hall. Seeing Liu Ling now reminded her of herself three years ago. She had been just as confident back then. In the end, Xiao Yan had become her nightmare, an insurmountable mountain. Not only her mountain; she could foresee that before long, he would also become Liu Ling''s nightmare. "Perhaps being born in the same era as him is destined to be a tragedy." Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Once Chapter 148: Once ? "Wait and see." Liu Ling turned around, staring at the spot where Xiao Yan had disappeared moments ago. With a cold smile, he murmured under his breath, "I''ll make him feel utterly humiliated at the Alchemist Grand Meeting. The disciple of the Pill King is the most outstanding person in the Jia Ma Empire." ... Early the next morning, Xiao Yan once again arrived at the Alchemist Association under the guidance of Steward Zhao. Tomorrow was the official start of the Alchemist Grand Meeting, and today there would be an internal test. As they walked along, Xiao Yan was somewhat surprised to see fully armed troops patrolling the main streets of the city. Clearly, this was due to the upcoming Alchemist Grand Meeting. After all, for such a grand event, it was only natural that ample security measures would be put in place. The colossal Alchemist Association finally came into view after traversing several wide streets. Xiao Yan shook his head with a feeling of helplessness as he looked at the entrance that seemed even more crowded than two days prior. It seemed that alchemists from all over the empire, and even from other empires, were eager to make a name for themselves at this Grand Meeting. Stepping down from the carriage, Xiao Yan smoothly approached the main entrance of the Association under the prestigious banner of the Nalan Clan. Just as he was about to enter through the VIP passage, a commotion suddenly arose not far behind him, and gazes from all around were cast in that direction. ''Hmm? What''s going on?'' Xiao Yan furrowed his brow slightly as he turned to look toward the source of the commotion. A strange beast with blue flames rising from its body was pulling a silver-white carriage. From the carriage, a jade-white slender hand reached out and elegantly grasped the handle of the carriage door. Then, a graceful figure gracefully stepped out, appearing in everyone''s sight. The young lady who emerged was wearing a purple-colored dress that had silver-colored lines embedded in it. Her exquisite features exuded an innate noble temperament. A purple- colored belt was worn on her narrow and delicate waist, displaying the small waist vividly and incisively. She didn''t seem to be very old, probably around seventeen or eighteen, about the same age as Xiao Yan. This young lady, who looked quite ladylike, had a quirky and strange smile flashing across her watery eyes. Clearly, she wasn''t as quiet as she appeared on the surface.No?v(el)B\\jnn Steward Zhao spoke in a low voice, "That is Princess Yue Er of the Jia Ma Imperial Family. Her Master is Qie Mi Er, the Deputy Chairman of the Alchemist Association. Last year, she passed the 3rd-tier alchemist examination. She''s the treasure of the Jia Ma Imperial Family and one of the top contenders for the championship this year." Xiao Yan could only silently mourn for the little princess after hearing the old steward''s words. Because whether one was a 3rd-tier or even a 4th-tier alchemist, to Xiao Yan, who possessed a Heavenly Flame, Tier 6 Spiritual Strength, and peak 4th-tier alchemy skills, they were all mere also-rans. In a thousandth of a second before the Black Iron Spiritual Leaf was about to turn into ashes, strands of green flames rapidly threaded through the disintegrating Black Iron Spiritual Leaf. The medicinal essence was instantly extracted from it. The Black Iron Spiritual Leaf in the medicinal cauldron was reduced to ashes in the blink of an eye. If Xiao Yan had been even a fraction slower, the medicinal essence would have been destroyed along with it. The key to this technique lay in using ultra-high temperature to quickly break down the medicinal ingredient, then using Spiritual Strength to sense a critical point. At the very limit before the ingredient disintegrated, one had to swiftly use Spiritual Strength to extract the medicinal essence. This required not only powerful flames but also extremely strong Spiritual Strength capable of seeing through the medicinal properties of the ingredient. Xiao Yan took out a wooden box from his storage ring, placed the medicinal powder in it, and turned to leave the room. The entire process took less than a minute. Seeing Xiao Yan emerge after just a minute, while some sluggish alchemists were still dawdling in the hall and hadn''t even entered, Deputy Chairman Qie Mi Er smiled and said, "Young friend, there''s no need to come out just to check the hourglass in the hall. There''s an hourglass inside as well, synchronized with the one here. The time before the hourglass runs out is all for refining. The purity will be checked after time''s up. You don''t need to be anxious." It was clear that the Deputy Chairman thought Xiao Yan was overly nervous and unfamiliar with the rules, so he came out to ask. Xiao Yan took out the wooden box, looking drowsy and listless, and said, "I''ve already finished refining." "You''ve already finished refining??!!" The two judges, Qie Mi Er and Master Ao Tuo, both exclaimed in shock. Master Ao Tuo asked, "How many times did you refine it?" "How many times? Once, of course." Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Why Refine Ten Times? Chapter 149: Why Refine Ten Times? ? "Once?!!!" Qie Mi Er''s expression became quite colorful upon hearing Xiao Yan''s response. An ordinary 1st-tier alchemist could perform one refinement; a 2nd-tier alchemist could at least refine it two to three times. What did you mean by just once??? Master Ao Tuo standing nearby walked over, patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder, and comforted, "Young friend, don''t worry. There''s still time. This test is about refining the Black Iron Spiritual Leaf. It''s not enough to refine it just once; you need to enhance the purity through continuous repeated refinements." Only then did Qie Mi Er have a sudden realization. It turned out that what he said just now was not clear enough and caused a misunderstanding. He quickly clarified, "Due to its special nature, each refinement of the Black Iron Spiritual Leaf becomes several times more difficult than the previous one. Even with my 4th-tier alchemist strength, I can only refine it ten times at most. Any more, and it would be futile." Refining medicinal ingredients was nothing more than using flames to heat and decompose them, then employing methods like sublimation, crystallization, filtration, extraction, liquid separation, distillation, percolation and others to obtain high-purity medicinal essences. However, no matter what, refinement could never obtain 100% of the medicinal essences, just like how the highest purity of gold was 999.999, infinitely close to 100. And it was true that the more times it was refined, the higher the purity. Xiao Yan tilted his head, bewildered. He took the wooden box and walked back into the small dark room. He couldn''t help but fall into deep thought as he looked at the pure white powder inside the box. ''This thing can still be refined? If I continue, won''t it be destroyed?'' ''Could it be that the Alchemist Association of the Jia Ma Empire has special techniques that can truly bring the purity of the Black Iron Spiritual Leaf to 100%?!!'' His eyes sharpened as a competitive spirit instantly surged within him. He promptly took out his medicinal cauldron and began experimenting. ... Time passed by swiftly, minute by minute. Thirty minutes later, the first to emerge was, unsurprisingly, Liu Ling. He first glanced around, then looked toward the small room where Xiao Yan was. Noticing that no one else had come out yet, he revealed a cold smile. Shortly after Liu Ling came out, a graceful figure swiftly emerged from behind a black curtain. When she saw Liu Ling already standing in the hall, a trace of disappointment flowed across her exquisite face. She slowly made her way to the center of the hall and mumbled, "Big Brother Liu, I didn''t expect you to be so fast." "Hehe, the Little Princess isn''t slow either," Liu Ling replied with a smile. "Hmph! Even though you came out earlier, the purity of your refined medicinal ingredient might not necessarily be higher than mine!" The Little Princess pouted, raising her snow- white jade fist toward Liu Ling. Very soon, more and more alchemists emerged one after another. The grains of sand in the hourglass were about to run out as the black curtain was continually lifted. However, Ao Tuo and Qie Mi Er''s brows were tightly furrowed because Xiao Yan still hadn''t come out. "Let''s start with you, Liu Ling." Liu Ling calmly approached the testing device under everyone''s gaze. He retrieved a jade bottle from his storage ring, poured some grayish-white powder into the groove, and said to Qie Mi Er with a smile, "This junior''s abilities are limited; I could only refine it six times." Everyone in the hall took a cold breath one after another and then an uproar arose. Not only the participants but even Qie Mi Er and Ao Tuo couldn''t help but look at each other in surprise. Being able to refine the Black Iron Spiritual Leaf five times required at least the peak strength of a 3rd-tier alchemist. Six times?!! That fire control was quite something. In other words, Liu Ling''s fire control was already equivalent to that of a 4th-tier alchemist. After the screen flickered for a moment, a large ''7'' gradually appeared. "Seven points. Congratulations on passing," Qie Mi Er said with a smile. Liu Ling smiled and then stepped to the side. His gaze occasionally drifted toward Xiao Yan standing at the very back from time to time. Regardless of why Xiao Yan was lying, the results would prove that he, Liu Ling, was the strongest! At this moment, Xiao Yan was frowning deeply, his expression extremely odd, as if he had encountered something incomprehensible. Next was Princess Yue Er''s turn. It was a pity that although the Little Princess also refined it six times, her purity was slightly lower than Liu Ling''s. Watching more and more people step forward to test the purity, Xiao Yan couldn''t help but sigh. He finally understood where the problem lay. After everyone had finished testing, Qie Mi Er looked at Xiao Yan and softly said, "Young friend Xiao Yan, please come up and have your material tested." Xiao Yan nodded slightly, holding the small wooden box, and slowly walked to the testing platform. Ao Tuo asked, "You only refined it once?" Xiao Yan nodded and calmly replied, "Yes, only once." Just as the people below were snickering, Qie Mi Er and Ao Tuo gasped the moment they saw Xiao Yan open the wooden box, exclaiming, "Pure white powder?!" Suddenly, dazzling golden light erupted from the screen. The huge ''10'' displayed was like a slap in the face to all those who had mocked him. Xiao Yan looked at Qie Mi Er with a strange expression and asked, "Deputy Chairman, for a medicinal ingredient whose essence can be fully extracted in one go, why would you need to refine it ten times?" Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Stunning Everyone Chapter 150: Stunning Everyone ? Xiao Yan was dumbfounded! He had thought there was some special property of this medicinal ingredient that he wasn''t aware of, and that discovering this special property was the key to passing the test. However, when he saw others pouring out their refined medicinal powders one after another, he couldn''t help but sigh. It wasn''t that there was anything wrong with him refining it once; rather, the problem was that these people needed to refine the ingredient eight or ten times to achieve sufficient purity. It was akin to how in ancient times, forging weapons required repeatedly hammering and quenching iron blocks to remove carbon impurities, only then could high-quality steel be produced. But that was due to the underdeveloped industrial technology of the past. Modern industry no longer required such repeated hammering to obtain refined steel. Xiao Yan possessed a Heavenly Flame, the Flame Mantra, extremely powerful Spiritual Strength, and precise alchemy techniques. This allowed his refining process to be as efficient as modern industry, easily obtaining ultra-high purity medicinal essences. A single refinement achieved perfection. While others needed to refine the Black Iron Spiritual Leaf several times to remove the black impurities, he directly used his Heavenly Flame to destroy the leaf, then extracted the required medicinal properties from the destruction. Hence, when he saw that Liu Ling and Little Princess Yue Er''s powders were grayish-white, and some people''s were even grayish-black, he completely understood. These people''s skills were too lacking! Dead silence. The originally lively hall instantly became silent as a grave, even the sound of breathing lessened. Qie Mi Er and Ao Tuo didn''t even want to answer Xiao Yan''s question. Why refine it so many times? Isn''t that obvious? Without refining it multiple times, the impurities simply couldn''t be removed! This was also the reason why Xiao Yan could often produce multiple pills in a single batch when refining. With his Heavenly Flame, his extraction of medicinal ingredients wasted almost nothing, and the purity was extremely high. As a result, not only was the quality of his pills excellent, but he also saved on medicinal materials. Liu Ling and Little Princess Yue Er abruptly stood up and looked at the white powder on the testing device. As alchemists, they naturally understood how terrifying the purity of that powder was. ''Nearly 100% purity!'' Yue Er gasped, covering her mouth, her beautiful eyes fixed on Xiao Yan. This was a level of purity even the Association Chairman couldn''t achieve! ''How is this possible? I''ve only seen my Master achieve this purity, and that was only with the lowest-grade medicinal ingredients.'' Liu Ling''s heart trembled. Didn''t this mean Xiao Yan already possessed the strength of a 6th-tier alchemist?! As for cheating, that was even less likely. Xiao Yan hadn''t left at all, and even if he had slipped out, who could refine the Black Iron Spiritual Leaf to such a degree?! Just as all the alchemists were utterly astonished and didn''t understand why, it was Liu Ling who provided the answer. "A Heavenly Flame! You truly possess a Heavenly Flame!" He had been somewhat uncertain before; after all, removing the Searing Poison could have been accomplished by other means. But now he was sure. As for whether those alchemists would attribute his success to luck or express admiration, he paid it no mind. He only cared that the tier 6 pill recipe wouldn''t disappoint him. "Did Young Master Xiao Yan''s test go smoothly?" Steward Zhao asked while driving the carriage. "It was alright, not much of a challenge," Xiao Yan looked out at the bustling traffic outside the window and replied indifferently. Steward Zhao heard Xiao Yan''s nonchalant tone and understood that he had likely taken first place. After all, he was one of the few who had witnessed Xiao Yan''s exceptional skills in detoxification and alchemy. "There will be a gathering at the mansion this evening, bringing together clans of all sizes from across the capital to celebrate the Old Master''s recovery. Will Young Master Xiao Yan be attending?" Steward Zhao inquired softly. Xiao Yan''s eyes flickered as he inwardly smirked, ''This is clearly a ''Hongmen Banquet'' to proclaim to all the clans in the capital that Nalan Jie, one of the Ten Strong in the Jia Ma Empire, has recovered and returned, in order to intimidate those clans who have harbored ulterior motives in recent years.'' "Then I''ll attend. I''m also curious to see if any among the younger generation in Jia Ma Sacred City can open my eyes. The younger generation of alchemists isn''t up to much." Xiao Yan merely smiled calmly. The younger generation of alchemists were just so-so. In any case, they didn''t bring him much of a surprise. He could only hope to see what strong individuals might be on the cultivation path. ... As night fell, Xiao Yan awoke from his cultivation and stepped down from the lotus platform. He fed a Purple Flame Pill to Mao Wu, glanced at the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python still asleep as it reconstructed its body, then pushed open the door and headed toward the main hall. He didn''t even bother to change clothes, still wearing the same casual outfit from the morning. Xiao Yan approached slowly. Bursts of lively chatter and laughter mixed with melodious music drifted out from the main hall. The entire hall had become a scene of a joyful gathering. His gaze swept across the hall. He was a bit surprised to find that not only were Liu Ling and Little Princess Yue Er here, but even Ya Fei was among them. At this moment, she was wearing a tight red cheongsam with a snow-white fox fur shawl that added a touch of elegance and opulence. Her beautiful and enchanting figure made many men in the hall secretly cast fiery glances her way. In contrast, as the young lady of the Nalan Clan, Nalan Yanran stood alone in a corner, leaning against a stone pillar and elegantly sipping red wine. She was still wearing the Misty Cloud Sect''s signature silver moon-colored robe, which occasionally accentuated the graceful curves beneath. With such a refined appearance, it was no wonder that many people in the hall were entranced while looking at her. It wasn''t unusual for a woman with such a transcendent temperament to have countless men pursuing her. Ya Fei, perhaps deliberately, smiled upon seeing Xiao Yan and said, "Oh? Isn''t this the first- place finisher of today''s internal test of the Alchemist Grand Meeting?" Instantly, everyone''s eyes turned uniformly toward Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan rolled his eyes at her, shrugged his shoulders, and slowly strode into the main hall. Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Not Giving Face (I) Chapter 151: Not Giving Face (I) ? Xiao Yan wasn''t surprised that Ya Fei knew about the internal test results. Judging from the gazes of the people in the hall, news of him taking first place, refining an ultra-high purity medicinal essence, and possessing a Heavenly Flame had likely already spread throughout the entire Jia Ma Sacred City. Taking a glass of red wine from a nearby servant''s tray, Xiao Yan slowly walked into the hall and said with a smile, "Sister Ya Fei is teasing me. My skills-who knows them better than you?" A collective ''ooh'' echoed through the hall as soon as he said this. Some innocent young ladies even blushed, involuntarily thinking of certain ''skills''. Ya Fei''s pretty face turned a rosy red when she heard Xiao Yan deliberately say this, even the tips of her ears reddened slightly. It was unclear whether it was due to the red wine or some other reason. She cast a charming sidelong glance at Xiao Yan and said softly, "Mr. Xiao Yan is joking. Back then, the young genius Xiao Yan publicly refined pills with astonishing skill in the Miteer Auction House of Wu Tan City, dazzling everyone and making his name echo throughout the city. This humble girl was fortunate enough to witness it. I really didn''t expect Mr. Xiao Yan''s skills to be just as impressive here in Jia Ma Sacred City." Many men present listened to Ya Fei''s explanation and breathed a sigh of relief, their shattered hearts slowly mending. Of course, if they knew what Hai Bodong had said at the auction house not long ago, those young men''s hearts might be crushed even more thoroughly than the Black Iron Spiritual Leaf. Xiao Yan smiled and looked at Ya Fei''s flushed cheeks. With a soft clink, he lightly tapped her wine glass with his own and downed his drink in one gulp. Ya Fei smiled and also finished her glass of red wine in a graceful and bold manner. "Is Old Hai doing well?" Xiao Yan handed his empty glass to the servant beside him, took a fresh one, and asked. "In the past few days, apart from searching everywhere for medicinal ingredients, Elder Hai has been handling some matters. After all, he disappeared for over twenty years, so there are many things to attend to," Ya Fei whispered softly near Xiao Yan''s ear. "That''s good. Please help me convey a message to Old Hai. After the Alchemist Grand Meeting ends, with the authority of an Honorary Elder, I should be able to request those medicinal ingredients from the Alchemist Associations of other empires," Xiao Yan said leisurely. Ya Fei slightly raised her willow-like eyebrows and looked at Xiao Yan with a hint of reproach. "You little rascal, the competition hasn''t even started, and you''re already thinking about winning the championship." Xiao Yan shrugged noncommittally. "Clan Head Miteer Tengshan is also here. He wishes to meet you. Come with me to see him," Ya Fei said with an enchanting smile. Xiao Yan turned his head and said, "Not interested. I just came out for some fresh air. I''ll go back to continue cultivating in a bit." "Please, I''m begging you, great genius. Just go meet him, okay?" Ya Fei''s eyes showed a hint of grievance and pleading, her voice so soft and pitiful it could melt anyone''s heart.No?v(el)B\\jnn Xiao Yan got goosebumps all over upon hearing this. With a look of defeat, he said, "Alright, alright! You win. Let''s go meet him then." Miteer Tengshan said with a smiling face, "In the future, if you need any medicinal ingredients, just find Ya Fei. She will assist you. After all, you two have known each other for quite a long time, haven''t you?" His words and gaze not only hinted at an ambiguous relationship between Xiao Yan and Ya Fei but also subtly reminded Xiao Yan of what Hai Bodong had said before. Ya Fei recalled Hai Bodong mentioning the "intermediary" role. Her pretty face instantly flushed as if she were drunk, even appearing a bit shy. Xiao Yan merely smiled faintly and didn''t say anything. With his powerful Spiritual Strength, Xiao Yan knew that Ling Ying was hiding in a corner of the hall. Xun Er wasn''t here, but there were eyes present. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Xiao Yan and Ya Fei left and walked to the side. Not far away, Nalan Su had been keeping an eye on Xiao Yan all along. Seeing Xiao Yan chatting and laughing with Ya Fei, he turned his head to look at Nalan Yanran and said, "That girl Ya Fei may not have cultivation talent as good as yours, but she certainly has quite a few tricks up her sleeve." Nalan Yanran shot a sideways glance at her father, who was acting so undignified for his age, and said calmly, "Father, if you have something to say, please speak directly." "Ahem, what your father means is that Liu Ling is far inferior to Xiao Yan." Nalan Yanran looked toward Liu Ling''s direction. At this moment, Liu Ling was chatting idly with a group of alchemists who were preparing to participate in the Alchemist Grand Meeting tomorrow, clearly acting as the center of attention. If it weren''t for the fact that Liu Ling''s Master was Pill King Gu He, even though Liu Ling had some talent in alchemy, he wouldn''t be able to act as the leader of the younger generation of alchemists in the Jia Ma Empire. On the other hand, Xiao Yan had fought his way up from a small city and even won first place in the internal test, not to mention possessing a Heavenly Flame. Comparing the two, Xiao Yan was indeed far ahead of Liu Ling. Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Not Giving Face (II) Chapter 152: Not Giving Face (II) ? "Also, Yanran, keep an eye on Liu Ling. He seems to harbor some hostility toward Xiao Yan because of you. Although that kid''s talent in alchemy isn''t bad, his mind is too narrow. If Xiao Yan becomes the champion of the Alchemist Grand Meeting, his status in the alchemist community of the Jia Ma Empire will be on par with Gu He. I don''t think Liu Ling can handle Xiao Yan, and I''m afraid he''ll make a grave mistake." Nalan Su glanced at a small circle of people gathered in the hall with Liu Ling at the center. In the past, Nalan Su thought Liu Ling seemed quite agreeable, but now, the more he looked at him, the more annoying he found him. "Mm, I''ll try my best." Nalan Yanran furrowed her delicate brows and rubbed her temples. This was indeed a troublesome matter. Because of the Misty Cloud Sect, she had known Liu Ling for several years and was naturally familiar with his temperament. This person''s possessiveness was too strong. Just like her father, when Liu Ling was the most outstanding among the younger generation of alchemists, she hadn''t felt that his mind was so narrow. Now that someone more talented than him had appeared, she realized more and more that this person Liu Ling was no good. And the more she looked at him, the more annoying he became. "Won''t you reconsider the marriage engagement?" "Father!" Nalan Yanran shot him a fierce glare. He just had to bring up the most sensitive topic, didn''t he? ... Meanwhile, within a circle in the hall, a slick-haired young man dressed in luxurious robes glanced over to where Xiao Yan stood and said disdainfully, "Big Brother Liu Ling, so that''s the guy who beat you all? He looks quite ordinary, not even as handsome as you." "Hehe, his skills surpassed mine; there was nothing I could do," Liu Ling replied with a smile, holding his wine glass. "Heh, that''s not necessarily true. I heard that guy possesses a Heavenly Flame, and the internal test topic just happened to be refinement. Otherwise, how could Big Brother Liu Ling possibly lose? Big Brother Liu Ling is Grandmaster Gu He''s disciple! When it comes to the official tournament tomorrow, I bet that guy will make a fool of himself," another youth immediately chimed in with a loud laugh Liu Ling just smiled without saying a word. He didn''t offer any defense for Xiao Yan. Such ''kind words'' naturally struck a chord in his heart. People often only hear what they want to hear. "But that guy is quite lucky with the ladies. To think he''s gotten so close with Miss Ya Fei of the Miteer Clan," a man who had once tried to make a move on Ya Fei said sourly, seeing how the two of them were chatting and laughing together. The Little Princess took a delicate sip of red wine, her slender fingers lightly tapping on the surface of the glass, producing a crisp sound. She glanced at Xiao Yan and chuckled, "Perhaps something interesting will happen tonight." "What do you mean?" Liu Ling was taken aback upon hearing this. "Just wait and see. I only hope his cultivation is as impressive as his alchemy skills. Otherwise, things could get quite amusing. He might not even be able to participate in the Alchemist Grand Meeting tomorrow." The Little Princess smiled mysteriously and downed the red wine in her glass. At that moment, at the entrance of the Nalan Mansion, a blood-red horse suddenly charged aggressively from the other side of the street. Pedestrians along the way hurriedly dodged out of the way in a panic. A figure clad in green leaped nimbly from the horse''s back. With a young face and eyes flickering fiercely like a tiger''s, he rushed straight into the Nalan Mansion, knocking aside all the servants in his path. No one dared to stop him. When he burst into the main hall, it immediately caused an uproar. Xiao Yan let out a cold laugh. Abandoning the chopsticks in his hand, he caught Mu Zhan''s fist with a single hand. Mu Zhan''s attack was like a drop in the vast ocean, completely unable to fathom the depths of Xiao Yan''s unfathomable strength. Liu Ling and the Little Princess''s mouths hung open in disbelief as they watched Xiao Yan catch the attack with one hand while still sitting as steady as Mount Tai upon his chair! Is this still an alchemist? How could his combat strength be so formidable?! "Wasn''t it said that Mu Zhan returned from several years of bloody battles on the border, his strength becoming terrifyingly strong? Why does he seem so weak now?" A hint of icy coldness flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes. With a sudden twist, at extreme speed and with immense strength, he snapped Mu Zhan''s wrist with a sickening crack. "Ahhh!!!" A resounding bang echoed as Mu Zhan was directly suppressed by Xiao Yan''s terrifying Spiritual Strength. His entire body sprawled on the ground, completely unable to move a muscle. Xiao Yan, who had originally been sitting, now stood towering over the fallen Mu Zhan. The chilling coldness in his eyes made it seem as if he would kill Mu Zhan in the next second. He was entirely different from the Xiao Yan who had been in the hall just moments before! "Stop!!" A shout came from not far away; it was the Clan Head of the Mu Clan, Mu Xiao. In the next second, the gazes of two Dou Kings locked onto him-Miteer Tengshan and Nalan Jie. "Mu Xiao, don''t you think it''s inappropriate for you to meddle in a battle between juniors?" Nalan Jie slowly walked out from the inner hall and said. Mu Xiao knew it was impossible to act forcefully. This wasn''t the Mu Clan''s territory, and moreover, Xiao Yan''s identity was far from ordinary. "Young friend Xiao Yan, let''s discuss this calmly. Our Mu Clan won''t treat you unfairly." Xiao Yan naturally understood that Mu Xiao was invoking the Mu Clan''s influence. With a faint smile, he looked at Mu Zhan lying on the ground and asked, "So you''re from the Mu Clan, one of the three major clans? If I beat you up, will an elite Dou Wang take action against me?" Mu Zhan gritted his teeth but didn''t dare to deny it, for he had already sensed Xiao Yan''s killing intent! Xiao Yan shook his head when he saw Mu Zhan remaining silent, "I had originally thought you might be a person with some backbone. But it turns out you''re nothing more than a vicious dog relying on your clan''s power to bully others. When you encounter someone even slightly more formidable, you still need your clan''s protection." "Sorry, but I won''t give face to your Mu Clan." Bang! Xiao Yan suddenly exerted force, crushing Mu Zhan''s fist into a pulp as easily as squeezing a tomato! Chapter 153: Chapter 153: The Alchemist Grand Meeting Begins Chapter 153: The Alchemist Grand Meeting Begins ? In an instant, blood splattered everywhere. As it was about to splash onto Xiao Yan, black flames suddenly emerged, and all the blood instantly vanished into nothingness. "Ahhhh!!!" In the hall so quiet that even a pin drop could be heard, only Mu Zhan''s agonized screams echoed. Xiao Yan would never let off anyone who attacked him. Moreover, he had just been quietly sitting there, chatting and drinking, not provoking anyone. Yet this Mu Zhan had come charging over to assault him. If it weren''t for the many people present, the price Mu Zhan would have paid wouldn''t have been limited to just a hand. "You''re not even as good as Nalan Yanran. No strength, no backbone, all you can do is howl," Xiao Yan said indifferently. In fact, since arriving in Jia Ma Sacred City, he had vaguely sensed that besides himself, Nalan Yanran seemed to be the strongest among the younger generation in the Jia Ma Empire, unmatched by others. It was no wonder she had been favored by Yun Yun and had come so arrogantly to annul the engagement. Her confidence stemmed from her strength. It was simply her misfortune to encounter Xiao Yan, this monstrous genius. When Nalan Yanran heard that Xiao Yan was using her as a benchmark for combat strength, she couldn''t help but feel angry. What did he mean by ''not even as good as''?? Why did this guy always speak with such barbed words! Picking up a napkin from the table, Xiao Yan wiped the blood from his hand and said to Ya Fei with a smile, "It seems tonight''s banquet is more or less over. I''ll take my leave now. Sister Ya Fei, enjoy the rest of the night." He then slowly walked over to Nalan Jie and said, "Old Master Nalan, I''ll return to cultivate now, so as not to disturb everyone further." "Why not stay a bit longer? It''s just a small matter," Nalan Jie said. Xiao Yan slowly shook his head. He had come out just to get some fresh air and have something to eat. Now, he was just a step away from reaching a 5th-tier alchemist, and his mind was entirely focused on alchemy. As for Mu Zhan, it was indeed a small matter. With the Mu Clan''s resources, obtaining a pill to regenerate a severed limb wouldn''t be difficult. Nalan Jie fixed a steady gaze on Mu Zhan and said in a deep voice, "Mu Zhan, let me make myself clear. The Xiao Clan has always been an ally of my Nalan Clan. I don''t want to see any harm come to Xiao Yan. Though your Mu Clan may have many madmen, my Nalan Clan is not to be trifled with!" Miteer Tengshan also snorted coldly not far away, "You can give up any notions you have about Ya Fei. A lunatic like you is not welcome in our Miteer Clan." Mu Zhan was dumbfounded. He was clearly the one who had been beaten up here!! Liu Ling''s brow furrowed slightly at the sight of these two heavyweights protecting Xiao Yan, for he did not want Xiao Yan to be so highly regarded. At the side, the Little Princess also knitted her delicate brows. Her eyes passed through the crowd to gaze at Xiao Yan, and she murmured softly, "Even the Clan Head of the Miteer Clan values this Xiao Yan so much? Not hesitating to openly confront the Mu Clan!" "Hahaha, you brat really don''t know the meaning of modesty." "Modesty? I don''t understand. I only know about strength." Sitting in the carriage meticulously prepared by the Nalan Clan, Xiao Yan gazed out the window and saw people lining both sides of the road. Graceful and slender young ladies were laughing and teasing. There were even quite a few girls throwing notes into the window, filled with all kinds of suggestive words that stirred the imagination. "This is insane," Xiao Yan burned all the notes to ashes with a small flame and closed the window. "Those alchemists who can participate in the elimination round are all quite capable. Naturally, they attract attention." Hai Bodong was accustomed to it. He had witnessed women''s madness back when he was just a Dou Spirit. He had quite a wild youth back then. Soon, Xiao Yan''s carriage entered the plaza. Alighting from the carriage, he surveyed the entire plaza. This didn''t resemble a plaza so much as a football stadium. The surrounding area was filled with spectator stands. One could easily imagine that later the stands would be packed with people. As the top performer in the internal test, Xiao Yan also had a designated seat in the VIP area. After entering the VIP area, Hai Bodong walked up behind the white-haired elder sitting in the center and said, "You old fogey still haven''t kicked the bucket?" The high-tier alchemists sitting nearby were startled upon hearing Hai Bodong''s words, because the person he was addressing was none other than Fa Ma, the Chairman of the Alchemist Association! A peak 5th-tier alchemist, only a step away from tier 6. His prestige in the hearts of alchemists even surpassed that of Gu He! Fa Ma was not angry upon hearing Hai Bodong''s words and leisurely said, "Old Bing, it''s a joyous occasion to see you''ve returned." Hai Bodong smiled bitterly and shook his head, "It was by chance. I went through some things, but fortunately, I managed to come back alive. That woman... is truly terrifying." "Hehehe, it''s good that you''re still alive. At least this old man won''t be too lonely." Hai Bodong pulled Xiao Yan over and said, "Let me introduce you. This is Xiao Yan, the champion of this tournament." Xiao Yan rolled his eyes at Hai Bodong. Who introduces someone like that! "Greetings, Chairman Fa Ma. This junior is Xiao Yan, a participant in this tournament," Xiao Yan said politely. Fa Ma looked at Xiao Yan with his cloudy old eyes and smiled, "I know, first place in the internal test. Being able to extract such a high-purity medicinal essence in one go isn''t something that can be achieved just by possessing a Heavenly Flame. You are very talented indeed." Chapter 154: Chapter 154: Comparisons Chapter 154: Comparisons ? "Chairman Fa Ma flatters me. This junior still has much to learn," Xiao Yan said calmly, neither humble nor arrogant. Hai Bodong directly rolled his eyes as soon as these words left his mouth. This guy was too fake, one face in public and another in private. Just moments ago, he had said he already considered the pill recipe as good as in his pocket. Fa Ma nodded with a smile and said nothing more. He slowly closed his eyes to rest, waiting for the competition to begin. "Hehe, Old Hai, you''re quite early today." Upon hearing the laughter, Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong turned to see a white-haired old man dressed in simple linen robes smiling at Hai Bodong. Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength sensed that this person''s cultivation was actually on par with Ling Ying''s, both were 9-star, or even peak Dou Emperors. Naturally, he realized that this was Jia Xing Tian, the guardian of the Jia Ma Imperial Family. Yesterday''s exchange between him and Hai Bodong was meant as a warning. They feared that with Hai Bodong''s return as an elite Dou Emperor, the Miteer Clan, the largest merchant clan, would grow even stronger and potentially threaten the imperial family''s position. This was also one of the reasons Hai Bodong had wanted to transfer his assets to Xiao Yan. The imperial family would never allow a single clan to possess power capable of shaking their foundation. Xiao Yan glanced behind Jia Xing Tian. Following him was naturally the Little Princess Yue Er. After all, like him, she was also a participant in today''s competition. What intrigued Xiao Yan more was the other woman beside Yue Er. She was dressed in luxurious brocade robes and had a tall, slender figure. Her facial features bore some resemblance to the Little Princess, but she possessed an innate cold elegance. Beneath this cold demeanor was a majestic aura cultivated by the imperial family. If Yue Er was a little princess, then this woman was a queen. Perhaps noticing Xiao Yan''s curiosity, Jia Xing Tian smiled and introduced, "Little friend Xiao Yan, you must know Yue Er. Beside her is her elder sister, Yao Ye. The army protecting this Grand Meeting is entirely under her command." Xiao Yan was startled. This was a female marshal! "Yao Ye, this is the little friend Xiao Yan I mentioned to you, the top scorer in the internal test. Moreover, his actual strength is unfathomable. Last night, he defeated Mu Zhan single- handedly. He''s a strong contender for the championship in this Grand Meeting," Jia Xing Tian said with a smile. A flicker of surprise passed through Yao Ye''s eyes upon hearing this. She certainly knew Mu Zhan, who had recently been promoted to commander of the Empire''s Guardian Army. He was a man of considerable strength. Yet he had been defeated single-handedly by this seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth before her?! "Greetings, Mr. Xiao Yan." Yao Ye''s captivating eyes fixed on Xiao Yan as she gracefully extended her jade-like hand, a slight smile on her lips. That fleeting smile caused the noble youths around the VIP seats to become utterly entranced. The usually cold and elegant Grand Princess had never treated anyone like this before. community. "As the Chairman of the Jia Ma Empire''s Alchemist Association, I hereby declare: The Seventh Alchemist Grand Meeting officially begins!" Instantly, the entire venue erupted into a deafening roar of cheers! After a while, Fa Ma turned to look at Yue Er, Liu Ling, and Xiao Yan, who had not yet entered the stage, and said with a smile, "It''s time for you all to enter." Upon hearing this, Liu Ling and the Little Princess were eager to make their appearance. "Then I''ll go ahead." Liu Ling was the first to respond. After a hearty laugh, he lightly tapped the ground, his body soaring to the edge of the high platform. He glanced at the vast plaza below and, with a leap, amidst the astonished gasps from countless people in the VIP seats, he directly jumped down. Two visible pillars of Dou Qi suddenly burst from beneath his feet. Using the cushioning force of the Dou Qi, he landed on the ground unscathed and swiftly walked toward the center of the venue under the fiery gazes of the crowd. The alchemy platforms for the top three in the internal test were arranged at the very center of the plaza. "You''re not the only one who can jump." The Little Princess pouted. Her delicate figure leaped, and she also directly flashed out from the high platform. Her body was like a falling leaf, floating down elegantly and gracefully. That beautiful posture and pure white dress made her seem like a celestial maiden descending to the mortal world. Seeing the Little Princess''s ethereal movement technique, Hai Bodong glanced at Jia Xing Tian and said, "The Imperial Family''s highest-grade agility-type Dou Technique-''Flying Willow.'' You even taught her that?" "She has only learned some superficial aspects of this agility-type Dou Technique, purely pursuing aesthetic beauty. If she were to use it in battle, it wouldn''t do," Jia Xing Tian said, although the smile at the corners of his mouth had long since betrayed his pride. At this moment, all eyes turned toward Xiao Yan, the top scorer in the internal test. Yao Ye and Ya Fei beside him were also curious about how he would make his entrance. Xiao Yan sighed, slowly stood up, and said helplessly, "Honestly, we''re not children anymore. What''s so great about competing like this?" Whoosh!!! With a sound of wind being torn apart, a pair of enormous, blood-red flaming wings that blotted out the sky suddenly appeared behind him. "What the?! A Dou King!!" Chapter 155: Chapter 155: The Boring Alchemist Grand Meeting (I) Chapter 155: The Boring Alchemist Grand Meeting (I) ? Xiao Yan''s Eagle Wings were exaggeratedly enormous, spanning nearly four meters when fully extended. The blood-red Ten Thousand Beast Flame emitted faint beastly roars that caused an involuntary tremble in the hearts of those who heard it. Upon closer inspection, one could even discern lifelike carvings of beast spirits on the fiery wings. The enormous fire wings directly blocked Yao Ye and Ya Fei beside him and even obscured Nalan Yanran not far away. The spectators in the stands were all captivated by the sight of these massive fire wings. At this moment, in the VIP area, not even Association Chairman Fa Ma or the Dou Emperors Hai Bodong and Jia Xing Tian were as eye-catching as Xiao Yan. "Holy shit! Dou Qi forming wings!! Is he a Dou King?!" "An eighteen-year-old Dou King?! How is that possible!!" Whether it was the spectators in the stands or the numerous alchemists in the center of the plaza, all were engaged in heated discussions. The first to notice was naturally Chairman Fa Ma. "No, those aren''t Dou Qi Wings. That''s an exceptionally rare flying-type Dou Technique!" Xiao Yan flapped his wings vigorously and soared straight into the sky with a thunderous boom. Ya Fei''s face was flushed as she hastily held her skirt down to prevent it from being lifted by the gust. A blood-red flame streaked across the sky like a meteor, transforming into a fiery light before slowly descending onto the very center of the plaza, the position reserved for the top scorer in the preliminary test. "He''s the most childish one." Nalan Yanran naturally knew that Xiao Yan possessed a flying- type Dou Technique and that he deliberately expanded the Eagle Wings to their maximum size. Xiao Yan was the one acting most childishly! Without a doubt, Xiao Yan''s enormous fire wings completely ignited the crowd. Waves of cheers, screams, and applause surged like tides. "So handsome!" "Woah!! So cool!" Just those fire wings alone had already enamored countless women present with this young man who was the only one not wearing an alchemist''s robe. "He truly has some genuine skill. No wonder Great-Grandfather holds him in such high regard," Yao Ye murmured softly as she gazed at the youth calmly receiving the countless cheers in the center of the arena. Even Nalan Yanran''s beautiful eyes were fixed on that most dazzling star in the plaza. A rare softness appeared on her pretty face, though it was unclear what she was thinking at this moment. The Mu Clan''s Dou King Mu Chen narrowed his eyes as he stared at Xiao Yan in the arena. After a moment, he turned to Mu Zhan behind him, whose right hand was bandaged, and asked, "Is he the one who severed your hand last night?" "Yes!" Mu Zhan replied viciously. What he found most unbearable was being beaten like that in front of Ya Fei! Chairman Fa Ma''s experienced eyes looked toward Xiao Yan''s cauldron and said calmly, "That black flame gives me a strange feeling. Although it''s not as powerful as that red Heavenly Flame, it''s definitely not as simple as an ordinary flame. That young man probably doesn''t want to take advantage of the benefits of a Heavenly Flame." Fa Ma and the others weren''t wrong. There was indeed a significant difference between the Seed Flame and the main body. Xiao Yan watched the black flames roaring inside the cauldron and didn''t bother to think too much. With a wave of his hand, he tossed all the medicinal ingredients into the cauldron at once. "What?! He threw all the ingredients in at once!" "Each ingredient needs to be refined at a different temperature. Throwing them all in together will just ruin them!" Naturally, Xiao Yan, being the center of attention, caused a stir in the stands when he dumped all the ingredients in at once. Even some of the elders from the Alchemist Association in the VIP seats were puzzled, not understanding why Xiao Yan would do this. Fa Ma nodded silently and explained, "Typically, refining pills involves extracting and refining each ingredient separately using the cauldron, as different ingredients require different temperatures. After refining each ingredient and processing them, they are then fused to form the pill." "This method can lead to potential contamination of the refined medicinal essences by the air, even if the contamination is only one in ten thousand, which can reduce the pill''s quality, though it speeds up the pill formation process." "By doing it Xiao Yan''s way, he can completely isolate the medicinal essences and prevent any contamination. However, this technique demands extremely precise temperature control and extraction accuracy. Without strong fire control and Spiritual Strength, it''s impossible. He must be very confident in his fire control and Spiritual Strength." The group of elders finally understood after hearing Chairman Fa Ma''s explanation. Princess Yao Ye murmured from the side, "His fire control and Spiritual Strength have already reached the level of a 4th-tier alchemist." Even with a precise pill recipe, carefully extracting the ingredients required extreme caution, fearing that the slightest mistake could cause the temperature to be too high. This tier 2 pill recipe only provided a list of ingredients, with no further details. But Xiao Yan hadn''t been refining pills for just a day or two. His alchemy skills were honed through countless experiences and failures over many years. His Spiritual Strength instantly enveloped the cauldron. All the medicinal essences fused according to the correct proportions and sequence. Years of alchemy experience allowed him to see at a glance how these ingredients should be combined to achieve the desired effect. Before long, three distinct clinks rang out as Xiao Yan collected three medicinal pills into a pill bottle. "Three pills in one batch!!" "Is that for real? Is this really his first time refining a Bone Growing Pill? He can extract the medicinal essences so perfectly even with just a handwritten recipe!" Chapter 156: Chapter 156: The Boring Alchemist Grand Meeting (II) Chapter 156: The Boring Alchemist Grand Meeting (II) ? Hearing the three distinct ''clink'' sounds, Liu Ling and Princess Yue Er''s expressions changed as they turned to look at Xiao Yan in the center, their eyes filled with utter disbelief. Xiao Yan smiled faintly upon sensing their gaze. He took out a Bone Growing Pill and said with a chuckle, "Thank you for letting me win." Then, he flicked his finger, and the Bone Growing Pill flew into the testing device before him. Instantly, countless eyes from the spectator stands, the VIP seats, and even the alchemists still refining their pills all turned to this most attention-grabbing spot. Everyone wanted to know how the top seed and hottest contender from the preliminary test had performed. A moment later, a subtle muffled sound rang out. A dazzling green pillar of light suddenly shot up from the stone platform in front of Xiao Yan. The intensity of the color was such that even though others had not yet completed their refinement, they all knew what that rich green represented. That beautiful jade-like color mesmerized everyone in the spectator stands. "Incredible! Some people are still reading the pill recipe, yet he''s already finished refining!" "That''s too fast! Is this really alchemy? Why is his refinement process so different from ordinary people''s?" Fa Ma nodded in the VIP seats. It would be strange if Xiao Yan wasn''t fast using that technique. But despite Xiao Yan''s speed and perfect extraction of medicinal properties, only alchemists of tier 4 and above could understand the difficulty involved. Deputy Chairman Qie Mi Er frowned slightly and said with some concern, "Xiao Yan''s refining speed is so fast; it might not necessarily be a good thing." Sure enough, just after Xiao Yan completed his refinement, some alchemists who couldn''t understand the pill recipe and had exited early began to whisper among themselves. "How could he possibly refine it so quickly without any instructions in the pill recipe!" "Exactly! If he hadn''t practiced beforehand, there''s no way he could be so fast!" "Hmph, so this is the so-called number one seed? He must have known the test questions in advance." "What''s the point of winning the championship by cheating? The Alchemist Association is just this corrupt." For a while, various voices of doubt arose due to Xiao Yan''s excessively fast refining speed. Xiao Yan naturally just smiled faintly upon hearing these doubting voices. Outsiders watch the excitement, insiders look at the skill. Without a certain level of ability, they naturally couldn''t understand how he was able to complete the refinement so quickly. Just as Xiao Yan was about to take out a chair from his storage ring to sit and rest for a while, a beam of light nearly on par with his own shot out from a corner. The second to finish wasn''t Liu Ling or the Little Princess, but an alchemist wearing black robes! "That person..." Fa Ma narrowed his aged eyes, a sharp glint flashing in his cloudy pupils. He lightly tapped his finger on the railing and said in a low voice, "That black-robed man seems rather strong." Even Xiao Yan hadn''t expected that someone else''s speed could rival his own! "Who on earth is this guy?!" Still in the midst of refining, the Little Princess and Liu Ling stared in astonishment at this formidable opponent who had suddenly appeared, their faces full of bewilderment. The first round of the competition wasn''t difficult. Soon, Liu Ling and Yue Er also completed their refinements. However, the beams of light from the two of them were noticeably thinner than those of Xiao Yan and the mysterious man. From the thickness alone, one could tell that the quality of their Bone Growing Pills was inferior to the two of them. This wasn''t an isolated incident. Not long after, another explosion occurred nearby. Soon, more and more alchemists experienced cauldron explosions. Even the Little Princess, Liu Ling, and the mysterious black-robed man beside Xiao Yan all had their cauldrons explode. Liu Ling and the Little Princess''s expressions immediately turned ugly. They slowly exhaled and both looked toward Xiao Yan''s position. Because Xiao Yan had been slow and leisurely, he had only just tossed the ingredients into the cauldron not long ago and hadn''t completed the extraction yet. "Something seems off." In the VIP seats, Ya Fei looked at the alchemists in the plaza, almost all of whom had turned into dumbstruck statues, and said softly. "Indeed, something''s wrong," Nalan Yanran replied, knitting her delicate brows. "Although I''m not an alchemist, I know that refining according to the pill recipe will undoubtedly greatly increase the success rate. But those people below including Liu Ling and the Little Princess all seem to have failed." Princess Yao Ye glanced at the area where the Alchemist Association''s higher-ups were seated. She crossed her slender right leg over her left, gazed at the somewhat strange atmosphere in the plaza, and murmured, "It seems there''s something fishy about this test. I just wonder if that alchemy genius can pass this round." Before long, since no one knew what was happening, they all stopped to study the situation. The originally slow and leisurely Xiao Yan unexpectedly became the fastest again. Just as the medicinal essences were about to fuse into a pill, suddenly there was an energy fluctuation inside the cauldron. A violent energy began to spread outward. Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly and said, "Playing such petty tricks, you people at the Alchemist Association are really childish." "Mao Wu." Whoosh!! Inside the black flame-filled medicinal cauldron, a black cat suddenly appeared and swallowed all the medicinal essences that were about to form into a pill in one gulp. Instantly, the violent energy disappeared. Xiao Yan''s fingers moved nimbly and removed all of an ingredient called ''Thick-soil Ganoderma'' from the other two sets of medicinal essences inside the cauldron. His powerful Spiritual Strength had clearly grasped the entire pill fusion process just now and naturally knew exactly which step had gone wrong. Before long, two crisp clanging sounds were heard as two cyan-green Wind Walking Pills were collected by Xiao Yan into a pill bottle. ''Originally it could have been three pills in one batch, what a pity to waste one.'' Xiao Yan glanced at Liu Ling and the Little Princess who were gaping at him in astonishment, then at the flabbergasted Alchemist Association higher-ups on the stage. His eyes narrowed slightly as he suddenly said out loud, "It seems it''s better not to include the Thick-soil Ganoderma." !!!!! Fa Ma and the others immediately widened their eyes when they heard Xiao Yan reveal the answer to everyone. You''re cheating!! Chapter 157: Chapter 157: The Duel Chapter 157: The Duel ? The elders of the Alchemist Association were utterly dumbfounded. The original purpose of the second round was to test whether alchemists had the courage and boldness to question the pill recipe. By directly revealing the answer like this, what was even the point of testing anymore?! Questioning a pill recipe required considerable courage and boldness. Some traditional alchemists placed too much faith in the orthodoxy of established recipes. No matter how many times they failed, they found it difficult to attribute the problem to the recipe itself, thus failing to innovate. They would only think that they must have made mistakes somewhere in the timing or ingredient extraction process. Those who held such beliefs were undoubtedly destined for complete failure. While Xiao Yan indeed possessed courage and boldness, before that, he possessed absolute strength! In the face of absolute strength, everything else had to step aside. Now, upon hearing his words, even if the other alchemists were reluctant to accept this ''cheating'' information, they had already heard it. What else could they do? Liu Ling and the Little Princess looked at each other helplessly and finally shook their heads. Although they might have eventually discovered the problem on their own, they could only follow what Xiao Yan had said now. Since they already knew the answer, what else could they do? The surrounding alchemists were initially stunned upon hearing Xiao Yan''s words. After a moment, expressions of sheer joy gradually spread across their faces. They cast grateful glances at Xiao Yan and then hurriedly resumed their refining with renewed vigor. Seeing the participants eagerly resuming their work, Xiao Yan calmly placed the Wind Walking Pill on the testing platform. Unsurprisingly, it passed with perfect results once again. Afterward, he sat down on a chair, waiting for the sand in the hourglass to run out. Before long, a beam of green light soared into the sky. Xiao Yan didn''t even need to look to know it was definitely that mysterious black-robed man. Moreover, judging by the speed, he must have started his second refinement before Xiao Yan''s pill was completed, having deduced the issue with the Thick-soil Ganoderma without hearing the answer first. Although the other party had refined twice, Xiao Yan had essentially done the same to succeed. His first attempt at pill formation had also failed; it was just that Mao Wu had swallowed it, preventing the cauldron from exploding. Half an hour later, green lights lit up in front of the Little Princess and Liu Ling. The two placed their pills into jade bottles, glanced at each other, and both breathed a sigh of relief. When they glanced at Xiao Yan again, the look in their eyes had completely changed, no longer harboring any fighting spirit or hostility. Liu Ling raised his head to look at Nalan Yanran''s position in the VIP seats. At this moment, her gaze was fixed on Xiao Yan rather than him. It was painfully clear that he had lost utterly and completely. Even though the Alchemist Grand Meeting had not yet concluded, for him, it was essentially over. After the first and second rounds, some of the more perceptive alchemists had already discovered that this monstrous Xiao Yan was a 4th-tier alchemist! An eighteen-year-old 4th-tier alchemist-this level of talent completely shattered Liu Ling''s pride. Xiao Yan understood upon hearing this. They must have gone to handle issues related to the mysterious black-robed man. "Mr. Xiao Yan, the imperial family will be hosting a banquet tonight for the alchemists who advanced to the third round. Would you honor us with your presence?" Princess Yao Ye asked with a faint smile. Xiao Yan was taken aback, then shook his head with an apologetic smile. "I''m sorry, Princess Yao Ye. I''m really quite exhausted today. The final test is tomorrow, so I''m afraid I won''t be able to spare the time to attend the banquet. I appreciate Your Highness''s kind invitation." Yao Ye nodded slightly. She knew it wouldn''t be easy to invite Xiao Yan. Tonight''s banquet was actually an olive branch extended by the imperial family. The alchemists who made it to the final round were undoubtedly one-in-a-million geniuses. Xiao Yan naturally understood the implication, but he had no desire to join the imperial family, so he directly declined. "I''ll escort you back," Nalan Yanran suddenly spoke up. Ya Fei, who was aware of the history between Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran, had quite a remarkable expression on her face. Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned. He hadn''t expected Nalan Yanran to say that. After a brief consideration, he nodded. After all, he still needed to return to the Nalan Mansion to rest and prepare for tomorrow''s final round. ... Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was uncomfortably quiet. Apart from the sound of Steward Zhao driving up front, the entire carriage was enveloped in silence. Even Xiao Yan, who had traversed the Soul Path, seized Heavenly Flames, and battled Dou Emperors, felt somewhat at a loss in this situation. This was the first time he and Nalan Yanran were alone together, facing each other directly. Nalan Yanran was the first to break the awkward silence. "Would you consider joining the Misty Cloud Sect? You would receive the same special treatment and resource allocation as Elder Gu He," she said softly while looking at him. Unsurprisingly, Xiao Yan shook his head and declined. "I''m sorry, but I have no intention of joining the Misty Cloud Sect." Nalan Yanran wasn''t surprised. She had only asked casually anyway. "Also, could we postpone our duel by a month or two? I''ll be entering the sect''s special training ground in a few days." Based on the date Nalan Yanran had come to annul the engagement back then, the three-year deadline was just about up, just a few days after the Grand Meeting concluded. Chapter 158: Chapter 158: A Familiar Alchemy Method (I) Chapter 158: Chapter 158: A Familiar Alchemy Method (I) ? Xiao Yan looked at the somewhat embarrassed Nalan Yanran with an odd expression and said, "Is this your version of a last-gasp attempt?" Nalan Yanran glared at Xiao Yan with irritation. Did you really have to phrase it like that? "Yes! I truly can''t defeat you right now." Nalan Yanran was quite straightforward, directly admitting her current inability to beat him. Ever since that battle with Mo Cheng, she knew her chances of defeating him were very slim. Even though her cultivation level was not low now, having reached 3-Star Dou Grandmaster, the gap between her and Xiao Yan in terms of trump cards and combat strength was too vast. Xiao Yan now possessed a Di Class Qi Method. Ever since the Flame Mantra had evolved to the Di Class, his cultivation speed had increased significantly. Now, Xiao Yan was a 4-star Dou Grandmaster, and in another month or two, he could reach the 5-star, having long surpassed Nalan Yanran. The evolving Flame Mantra was just like that-it held you back early on but propelled you forward later. Not to mention, Xiao Yan also possessed a Heavenly Flame as well as that formidable Spiritual Strength. Nalan Yanran knew her odds of winning were minuscule.No?v(el)B\\jnn And that''s not even counting Xiao Yan''s medicinal pills. As an alchemist, if Xiao Yan were to use pills he personally refined during their duel, it wouldn''t be against the rules. Even if he didn''t use any pills, she still felt her chances of victory were slim to none. The reality was indeed so. Her odds of winning were even lower than she herself estimated. Xiao Yan shrugged and said, "I don''t really mind, but no matter what, your loss is inevitable." Nalan Yanran glared at him, her eyes flashing with an unyielding light as she said. "Just you wait until I come out of the Gate of Life and Death. You will definitely lose then!" "The Gate of Life and Death? Is that a secret realm of your Misty Cloud Sect?" Xiao Yan asked curiously. "That place is where our Misty Cloud Sect''s past Sect Leaders are laid to rest. It''s also the tomb of our sect''s founder, Yun Po Tian. Inside are the trials left behind by the first Sect Leader. Anyone who can pass those trials will receive special rewards." Nalan Yanran didn''t try to hide this from Xiao Yan. She felt that since she was entering the Gate of Life and Death to train specifically to defeat the man before her, there was no need to be stingy with such information. Xiao Yan frowned. The tombs of past Sect Leaders?! ''Could it be that the soul bodies of the Misty Cloud Sect''s past Sect Leaders are located there? Perhaps that''s where the Hall of Souls is hidden...'' Xiao Yan suddenly thought of this possibility! Although the Misty Cloud Sect was said to be close to Jia Ma Sacred City, in reality, there was still quite a considerable distance between them. Moreover, Xiao Yan had heard that the area surrounding Misty Cloud Mountain, where the sect was located, was essentially equivalent to a city. Misty Cloud City at the foot of the mountain, much like Jia Nan Academy''s Jia Nan City, provided the Misty Cloud Sect''s disciples with their daily necessities. Originally, he wouldn''t have been able to enter the Misty Cloud Sect; after all, it was only open to sect disciples. But as it happened, he had that duel agreement with Nalan Yanran. "Let''s set our duel at the Misty Cloud Sect," Xiao Yan suddenly said. "So, why should I thank you, Old Hai?" Xiao Yan smiled faintly. None of this seemed to be a reason for him to thank Hai Bodong. Reminded by Xiao Yan, Hai Bodong suddenly remembered and quickly said, "Oh, right! Almost forgot. So we have to wait until the Alchemist Grand Meeting is over, and we can''t let him become the champion. Only then can we find an opportunity to kill him. Otherwise, if that Yan Li fellow wins the championship, it''ll be very troublesome for us to deal with him." "That old fox Fa Ma knows your alchemy skills are formidable and believes only you can contend with him for the championship. So I told him that if the Chu Yun Empire''s Alchemist Association tried to bribe you, it would be problematic." Hai Bodong raised his eyebrows at Xiao Yan, who narrowed his eyes and immediately understood. Exaggerate the threat, then leverage it to get benefits! "Heh heh, that old fellow Fa Ma wants you to go to the Alchemist Association now. He said he''ll give you some help to make it easier for you to deal with that guy." Xiao Yan didn''t put on airs either. He cupped his fists and said, "Thanks, Old Hai. I believe I''ll be able to refine the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill before long." "Good that you haven''t forgotten. Go on, go on. Get as much as you can. No need to stand on ceremony with that old fellow Fa Ma. He''s loaded," Hai Bodong said with a grin. ... Although it was already late at night, the Alchemist Association was still brightly lit. When the guards saw Xiao Yan approaching, they immediately straightened and said, "Mr. Xiao Yan, the Chairman has been waiting for you." "Mm." Xiao Yan followed the guard all the way to the top floor of the Alchemist Association and lightly knocked on the door. "Chairman, Junior Xiao Yan apologizes for disturbing you so late at night," he said politely. "Come in," Fa Ma''s voice sounded. Xiao Yan pushed open the door and entered. Sweeping his gaze, he was slightly surprised. The room was extremely spacious but appeared somewhat antiquated. Several rows of bookshelves leaned against the walls, and an ancient-looking desk stood solitary in the center of the room. Xiao Yan gently closed the door. Fa Ma gestured and said, "Sit wherever you like. I assume Hai Bodong has already briefed you on the situation?" Chapter 159: Chapter 159: A Familiar Alchemy Method (II) Chapter 159: Chapter 159: A Familiar Alchemy Method (II) ? "Mm." Xiao Yan nodded and casually pulled out a chair to sit down. He silently stared at the smiling Fa Ma for a moment before chuckling slightly, "Chairman, just say what you need. I shouldn''t refuse if it''s within my capabilities." Fa Ma shook his head with a wry smile when he saw Xiao Yan''s faint smile. " ''Shouldn''t'' is not enough." Or Xiao Yan smiled slightly and spread his hands. "Chairman, even with my confidence, I wouldn''t dare to give you any guarantees in front of the Deputy Chairman of the Chu Yun Empire''s Alchemist Association, a peak 4th-tier alchemist. I''m still an eighteen-year-old kid after all." Fa Ma suddenly paused. Only then did he recall that Xiao Yan was merely eighteen years old! But for some reason, he felt that Xiao Yan was incredibly reliable, not at all like an eighteen- year-old. After pondering for a moment, he said, "As you likely know, the main reason for inviting you to the Alchemist Association this time is because we want you to win the championship." "For tomorrow''s round, we''ve already changed the test format at the last minute. There will be no set topic. Alchemists are free to refine any pill they wish. Whoever produces the highest quality and grade of pill will be the victor. It will depend on each person''s true skill and trump cards." "All materials, including ingredients, must be self-provided. If you don''t have them, then you''re just out of luck." Fa Ma shrugged and chuckled mischievously. It was clear that in order to prevent Yan Li from winning the championship, Fa Ma and the others had not only revealed the test topic in advance, but also dug a pit for him. If he didn''t bring enough materials, his strength would be reduced. "Xiao Yan, be honest with me. What tier is your alchemy skill at?" Although Fa Ma had some guesses, Xiao Yan had never been officially assessed by the Alchemist Association, so only he himself knew his true tier. "Peak tier 4," Xiao Yan replied straightforwardly without concealing it. Even though Fa Ma had some mental preparation, his eyelids still twitched violently upon hearing the words ''peak tier 4'' from his mouth. Damn, he really is peak tier 4! An eighteen-year-old 4th-tier alchemist was already a miracle, but peak tier 4! That was too outrageous! "H-How did you cultivate your Spiritual Strength to possess peak Tier 4 Spiritual Strength at just eighteen years old?" The most challenging aspect for alchemists to improve was their Spiritual Strength. After all, not everyone was like Xiao Yan, born with extremely powerful Spiritual Strength and possessing the High Xuan Class Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique. "Innately powerful Spiritual Strength," Xiao Yan replied simply. Fa Ma tapped the table and asked, "Can you refine tier 5 pills?" "I''ve tried but never succeeded." Xiao Yan pursed his lips. Each time he had been just a step away from success. "Sigh, if my guess is correct, that fellow Yan Li will definitely refine high tier 4 or even a peak tier 4 pill tomorrow," Fa Ma sighed and shook his head. Yan Li was bound to go all out at this critical juncture. "What kind of person?" Fa Ma recalled those three days and gazed out the window at the night sky. "He was a teacher who taught without discrimination." "Even though I was just a novice alchemist with no background or connections at the time, he was still willing to patiently guide and enlighten me." With a swift motion, Xiao Yan snatched the Three Lines Green Spirit Pill recipe from Fa Ma''s hand and said with a chuckle, "I''ll take this one. I''ll refine the Three Lines Green Spirit Pill for tomorrow''s competition." Fa Ma was startled. "The Three Lines Green Spirit Pill has three grades. Each line pattern formed on the pill''s body represents a grade. One line is low tier 4, two lines high tier 4, and three lines peak tier 4!" "If it reaches three lines, when a Dou Grandmaster consumes this pill, there''s a chance of directly increasing their strength by three stars. However, there''s also a risk of medicinal backlash. Those who suffer backlash may have their strength reduced by one to two stars." "Moreover, refining the highest grade ''Three-Lined Green Spirit Pill'' requires three different kinds of flames. Do you have three different flames?!" Fa Ma knew Xiao Yan possessed a blood-red flame and a black flame. Xiao Yan smiled faintly. "Rest assured, I happen to have exactly three." That said, he gripped the recipe scroll in his hand and clasped his hands behind his back. In high spirits, he strode toward the door. Now that he had obtained what he came for, it was time to take his leave. The necessary ingredients could wait until tomorrow for Fa Ma to prepare. "Don''t you want to stay here and practice a bit? I can give you some pointers on the alchemy method!" Fa Ma hurriedly called out to Xiao Yan. He didn''t want to throw a meat bun to a dog. [1] The Three Lines Green Spirit Pill recipe was a treasure whose worth was comparable to a tier 5 pill recipe, as it could produce a medicinal pill capable of directly increasing one''s strength. As he walked out the door, Xiao Yan waved the recipe scroll in his hand without looking back. ''I''m even more familiar with the Three Lines Green Spirit Pill''s alchemy method than you are.'' [1] "Throw a meat bun to a dog " means to give something valuable to someone who will not appreciate it or will waste it. Chapter 160: Chapter 160: The Final Round of the Alchemist Grand Meeting Chapter 160: Chapter 160: The Final Round of the Alchemist Grand Meeting ? The next day, as the faint light of dawn began to creep over the horizon, the bustling city sprang to life in an orderly fashion. Countless streams of people flowed from all directions toward the central Imperial Plaza. Though it was still early, the area outside the Imperial Plaza was already a sea of people. The densely packed crowd stretched as far as the eye could see. Xiao Yan, who had secured first place in every round so far, had naturally become the most sought-after figure in the entire Jia Ma Sacred City. A ray of morning light broke through the clouds'' embrace and shone upon the plaza. The tightly closed gates of the Imperial Plaza slowly swung open. In an instant, the massive crowd outside surged in like a tidal wave. Just like the previous day, Hai Bodong stood guard beside Xiao Yan as their carriage slowly entered the Imperial Plaza. Fa Ma and other higher-ups of the Alchemist Grand Meeting, along with Liu Ling, the Little Princess, and others, had arrived even earlier than Xiao Yan and were already waiting in the resting area. "Here are three sets of ingredients for the Three-Lines Green Spirit Pill. If all three attempts fail, the allotted time should be over by then." Fa Ma handed Xiao Yan a storage ring filled with medicinal ingredients and communicated through spiritual transmission. Without a doubt, Xiao Yan was now the hope of the entire empire. Liu Ling and the Little Princess had also caught wind of Yan Li''s situation. Although they each had prepared their own hidden trump cards and planned to refine the highest-grade pills they could, they knew their chances were slim. "Even when Master participated in the Alchemist Grand Meeting in his late twenties, he could barely refine a low-grade tier 4 pill. If that Yan Li manages to refine a high-grade tier 4 pill, we''re done for," Liu Ling said worriedly. Yue Er nodded. "Perhaps we should try to delay things and find a way to expose him." Fa Ma, Jia Xing Tian, and the others frowned upon hearing this. They all turned their gazes toward Xiao Yan in unison. Chairman Fa Ma asked in a solemn tone, "Xiao Yan, you''re the only one who stands a chance of defeating him now. What are your thoughts on this matter?" Jia Xing Tian nodded. "If you need more time, we can create some unforeseen incidents to delay things for a few days." Xiao Yan waved his hand dismissively and said with a relaxed expression, "Proceed according to the original plan. No matter what pill Yan Li refines today, I''ll make sure he dies without regrets." Everyone smiled wryly and shook their heads. You sure are confident! That''s the Deputy Chairman of the Chu Yun Empire''s Alchemist Association you''re talking about. Hai Bodong grinned and patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder. "Very well. As long as you secure the championship, I, Hai Bodong, guarantee that fellow won''t leave Jia Ma Sacred City alive." Xiao Yan said, "Remember to check if his storage ring contains the medicinal ingredients for the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill." "Rest assured, I''ll bring back everything, including his head." The two of them spoke as if they were plotting a murder and robbery spree. Their words had already sentenced Yan Li to death. Soon, the alchemists participating in the final round began entering the plaza, waiting for the competition to start. As Yan Li made his entrance, the originally lively plaza quieted down noticeably. Numerous gazes filled with various emotions rested upon him. Xiao Yan shook his head speechlessly. Did this fool really think that just because his flame was black, it could compare to the Nihility Devouring Flame? Although Yan Li''s black-colored flame was not a Beast Flame, it was indeed a somewhat special kind of flame. It was slightly stronger than those of Liu Ling and the others. But to compare it to a Heavenly Flame was simply laughable. ''If you''re so eager to compete, then let me show you what a Heavenly Flame truly is!'' Xiao Yan placed his tier 5 medicinal cauldron before him with a resounding thud. Extending his palm, a mass of blood-red flame surged forth. ROAR!!! A deafening beastly roar emanated from the blood-red flame. All the flames in everyone''s hands actually shrank by half the moment the roar resounded. It was as if they were bowing in submission! "Heavenly Flame!!!" Not only the audience but all the alchemists present-including Yan Li and Fa Ma-Jia Xing Tian, and other elite experts, fixed their gazes upon the Ten Thousand Beast Flame dancing in Xiao Yan''s palm. "What kind of flame is that? How can it emit such a powerful beastly roar?" "Amazing! Isn''t that the flame Xiao Yan used yesterday when he displayed his fire wings?" The spectators were stunned as they watched the blood-red flame. They couldn''t help but exclaim in amazement as they noticed all the other flames on the stage shrinking by half. Their excited chatter filled the air. "When the Heavenly Flame appears, all other flames submit!" "This kid has finally unleashed his Heavenly Flame!" "Excellent! With the aid of the Heavenly Flame, Xiao Yan''s chances of winning are even greater!" Fa Ma nearly leaped to his feet in excitement. Although everyone knew Xiao Yan possessed a Heavenly Flame, witnessing him actually use it stirred excitement in all their hearts. Yan Li gritted his teeth and clenched his hands so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He truly regretted coming to the Jia Ma Empire at this moment. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that such a little brat would not only possess exceptional alchemy skills, but also a Heavenly Flame!! ''No, I absolutely cannot die here!'' Chapter 161: Chapter 161: I Dont Like Winning by Just a Little (I) Chapter 161: Chapter 161: I Don''t Like Winning by Just a Little (I) ? Meow! A cat''s cry echoed from within Xiao Yan''s heart. (¨‹¨‹#) "Meow meow meow!" (I''m a Heavenly Flame too, you know!) Using spiritual transmission, Xiao Yan chuckled and replied, "You''ve still got some ways to go. When the day comes that all flames submit the moment you appear, then you''ll have truly matured into a genuine Heavenly Flame." Although Mao Wu was just a Seed Flame, it was the Seed Flame of the 2nd-ranked Nihility Devouring Flame. Its potential, once fully grown, was definitely not weaker than any Heavenly Flame, and might even surpass the lower-ranked ones. Xiao Yan had long anticipated that all the flames in the plaza would submit and bow in worship. With a gentle touch, he placed his palm on the medicinal cauldron, and the Ten Thousand Beast Flame instantly filled its interior. Only when the Ten Thousand Beast Flame entered the cauldron did the flames of all the other alchemists in the plaza return to normal. "This guy is really demoralizing." the Little Princess felt somewhat dejected. She had heard that Xiao Yan possessed a Heavenly Flame but had never witnessed its overwhelming might firsthand. She had always believed that the Dry Blue Water Flame she obtained from a Rank 6 magical beast wouldn''t be much weaker than a Heavenly Flame. But as it turned out, forget about comparing, her Beast Flame had directly knelt in submission before his! Anyone with discerning eyes could see that no matter what kind of flame it was, none could even remotely compare to a Heavenly Flame. Otherwise, such a scene of submission wouldn''t have occurred. Compared to the Little Princess''s bewilderment, Liu Ling''s expression was dark and gloomy. His flame also originated from a powerful magical beast and was intended to be his trump card. He hadn''t expected to lose before the competition even began. ''Hmph, what''s the use of merely possessing a superior flame? Alchemy ultimately tests one''s alchemy skills!'' Yan Li grumbled discontentedly as he poured his black flame into the cauldron. ''Today, I, Yan Li, shall prove that possessing a Heavenly Flame is nothing special!'' Yan Li quickly composed himself as expected of the Deputy Chairman of the Chu Yun Empire''s Alchemist Association. He swiftly placed all the necessary medicinal ingredients into his cauldron. His technique for refining ingredients was not at all slower than Xiao Yan''s method of refining them all at once. Although Yan Li still refined each ingredient separately, he stored the refined essences directly inside the cauldron as soon as he finished with each one. Just like the previous day, Xiao Yan was the slowest to begin. Moreover, this time he didn''t dump all the ingredients into the cauldron together but carefully placed them into it one by one. Undoubtedly, the Little Princess and Liu Ling knew that if they only refined tier 3 pills, even peaktier 3, they would still lose after learning about Yan Li''s situation. If they weren''t aiming for the championship, they might as well have stayed home. So the two of them steeled their resolve and decided to take a risk! Seeing the pills on the cusp of taking shape within their cauldrons, Fa Ma''s expression finally eased somewhat. With a nod of approval, he said, "Two types of tier 4 pills. These two young ones indeed possess talent not inferior to Gu He." "Keh keh keh, you two little brats still wet behind the ears think you can snatch the champion''s throne from my grasp?!" A strange laugh suddenly sounded from the side. Yan Li''s cauldron was burning fiercely, and a faint purple pill mist began to rise from within! "Colored pill fragrance?! That''s indicative of a peaktier 4 pill!!!" All the alchemists who understood what this signified cried out upon seeing the faint purple mist slowly ascending from the cauldron. Fa Ma''s face darkened as he said slowly, "That fellow actually succeeded in refining it!" Even peak4th-tier alchemists had less than a 50% success rate when attempting to refine pills of the same grade. Yet Yan Li had succeeded! It was as if the heavens themselves had aligned in his favor. "This time, I''m afraid we''ve lost for certain." The Little Princess and Liu Ling stared blankly at the faint purple medicinal mist rising from Yan Li''s cauldron. Their faces instantly turned ashen, filled with dejection and despair. In the face of absolute superiority, any excuse would seem utterly feeble. "Keh keh keh! The championship is mine! Just as you cannot afford to fail, neither can I!" Suddenly raising his head and letting out a thunderous roar, Yan Li slammed his palm onto the medicinal cauldron. The lid shot off, and a vast expanse of pitch-black flames surged out like a tidal wave. Countless purple rays of light burst forth from the center of these black flames. A rich, intoxicating purple pill fragrance slowly wafted upward, eventually coalescing into a cloud of purple mist above Yan Li''s head, as if it possessed its own spirit. "Keh keh keh! How could you little brats still wet behind the ears possibly defeat me? Behold, this is my greatest masterpiece!! The Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill!!!" Even Fa Ma''s pupils constricted violently upon hearing the pill''s name. The Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill was a peaktier 4 pill that could rival tier 5 pills!! "It''s over. To think it would actually be the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill..." The entire plaza fell into a deathly silence. Everyone stared in shock and horror at the purple pill floating within Yan Li''s cauldron, their faces filled with despair. "That ''little brats still wet behind the ears'' you mentioned wouldn''t happen to be referring to me, would it?" Just then, the calm voice of Xiao Yan from the other side shattered the grave- like stillness. Chapter 162: Chapter 162: I Dont Like Winning by Just a Little (II) Chapter 162: Chapter 162: I Don''t Like Winning by Just a Little (II) ? Word Count: 2,022 Words ****** At this moment, everyone suddenly remembered that Xiao Yan was the real ace of this competition! Everyone had been drawn to the potential displayed by Liu Ling and the Little Princess, causing them to momentarily forget that Xiao Yan was already a 4th-tier alchemist! All eyes turned toward Xiao Yan''s medicinal cauldron. Inside, two snow-white medicinal pills had already formed. It could be said that the pill condensation was complete. "This brat, such a crucial time and still wants to refine two pills in one batch! If anything goes wrong, both pills will be ruined." Hai Bodong was exasperated with Xiao Yan. At a time like this, wouldn''t it be better to focus on refining a single pill properly? Fa Ma''s eyelids twitched violently. Due to the unique nature of the Three Lines Green Spirit Pill, refining two pills in one batch wasn''t merely a matter of saving medicinal ingredients; it effectively doubled the difficulty. "Has he completed the refinement?" "But why is there no medicinal fragrance? Could it be just a tier 3 pill?!" Just as everyone was puzzled by the lack of any phenomena despite Xiao Yan''s pills having taken shape, Fa Ma said with a solemn expression, "The true challenge of the Three Lines Green Spirit Pill isn''t in the refinement of ingredients or the pill condensation." "The real difficulty lies in forming the pill lines with flames after the pill has taken shape!" Xiao Yan even had the leisure to turn his head and look in Yan Li''s direction. Yan Li, who had been laughing maniacally just moments ago, now had bloodshot eyes as he stared intently at his medicinal cauldron. Because he had realized what kind of pill Xiao Yan was refining! "Impossible! The ''Three-Lined'' Green Spirit Pill requires three kinds of flames, and the level of fire control needed surpasses that of a 5th-tier alchemist. Refining two pills simultaneously is even more impossible! You can''t possibly produce a genuine Three-Lined Green Spirit Pill!!" Yan Li roared hoarsely. He couldn''t and refused to believe it. If the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill was hailed as the most renowned tier 4 pill of the Chu Yun Empire, then the Three-Lined Green Spirit Pill was undoubtedly the most legendary pill of the Jia Ma Empire. It was precisely with the recipe for the Three Lines Green Spirit Pill that Fa Ma became the Chairman of the Alchemist Association. The Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill, a peak tier 4 medicinal pill, was similar to the Three Lines Green Spirit Pill in that they could both directly increase one''s strength. However, its effect was limited to those at the Dou Grandmaster realm. If someone of that realm consumed a Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill, they could not only increase their strength by one star but, most importantly, they could consume two of these pills in succession. In other words, as long as one could obtain two Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pills, one could steadily increase one''s strength by two stars in one fell swoop. "Then open your eyes wide and watch carefully!" Xiao Yan took a deep breath, his Dou Qi circulating frantically within his body. His eyes sharpened as he suddenly slammed both palms onto the medicinal cauldron. Whoooosh!!!!! The next second, terrifying flames gushed out from the medicinal cauldron! Three differently colored flames uncontrollably erupted from the cauldron''s opening, spreading in all directions! "Three kinds of flames?!!" "Oh my heavens, he really has three kinds of flames!!" "Controlling three kinds of flames simultaneously!!" Fa Ma''s eyes widened in shock, because this was not the method used to refine the Three Lines Green Spirit Pill. The ''Three-Lined'' Green Spirit Pill required three kinds of flames, with the switching between flames being particularly critical. If the switch was too slow, the pill''s temperature would drop, causing the lines to fail to form; if too fast, the pill would be directly scorched into charcoal. The control over the flames had to reach an exceedingly stringent level. As for Xiao Yan''s method of simultaneously using three kinds of flames to form the lines, Fa Ma had considered it before, but only in theory. Because it was simply impossible to achieve in practice. Using three kinds of flames in succession and controlling three kinds of flames simultaneously were entirely different concepts. Fa Ma could generate ordinary Dou Qi flames with his own Dou Qi, then produce another flame from the fire seed within his body, and finally use other methods to pre-place a flame into the medicinal cauldron, a process known as ''borrowing fire.'' there. "Don''t forget, Xiao Yan refined two pills in one batch," even Liu Ling couldn''t stand it anymore and spoke up for Xiao Yan. "Exactly! He refined two pills in one go, doubling the difficulty compared to yours," the Little Princess sneered. How did this guy still have the gall to argue? "Hmph, you never mentioned anything about refining two pills in one batch at the beginning of the competition. Your rules only stated that refining a single pill was required, with the winner determined by the pill''s quality and grade." Yan Li stubbornly refused to admit defeat. He knew that if he lost, his life would be unceremoniously snuffed out. Fa Ma narrowed his eyes and said, "Very well, since you''re so unwilling to accept defeat, let''s have someone verify the quality of the pills." Just as Yan Li was about to question the fairness of the judges and indefinitely delay things, Xiao Yan, who had been quietly observing the drama unfold beside his medicinal cauldron, rubbed his cheek and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Um, sorry to interrupt." At the sound of Xiao Yan''s voice, all the alchemists snapped out of their heated argument and turned to look at him. "What''s the matter, Xiao Yan?" Xiao Yan extended a single finger and pointed toward the sky. Seeing his gesture, everyone instinctively raised their heads to gaze upward. !!!!!!!!!! "This is...!!!" A slight smile appeared on Xiao Yan''s face, his calm voice echoing throughout the plaza: "I don''t like winning by just a little in competitions. If I''m going to win, I want it to be an absolute, undisputed triumph." The extraordinarily dense, three-colored medicinal fragrance emanating from the ''Three- Lined Green Spirit Pill'' lingered in the sky, coalescing into a cloud of mist that refused to dissipate! It was even producing tangible energy ripples in the air!! "Colored medicinal fragrance forming clouds!! Could this be... a tier 5 medicinal pill??!!!" Xiao Yan took out a wooden box and placed the pills inside. He looked at Yan Li, whose face had drastically changed, and said, "Who told you I was refining the Three-Lined Green Spirit Pill?" "The reason it''s called the ''Green Spirit Pill'' is because the base color of the pill is green. Now, tell me, is the base color of my pill green?" Only then did Fa Ma suddenly realize that the base color of Xiao Yan''s pill was white!! "Do yourself a favor and look carefully with those old, blurry eyes of yours. See how many lines are actually on this pill." Xiao Yan pointed to the topmost white layer of the pill. Only then did everyone notice that the arrangement of the three visible pill lines was unusual. All three lines curved downward and weren''t evenly distributed across the pill''s surface. With Xiao Yan pointing it out, everyone used their Spiritual Strength to examine the pill. Only then did they abruptly discover that upon the white base was actually another faint, almost imperceptible white pill line!!!! It was just extremely difficult to discern with the naked eye because the base color was also white! "F-F-Four lines!!" Xiao Yan''s lips twisted into a cruel smile as he fixed his gaze upon Yan Li and chuckled, "This is the Four Lines White Spirit Pill, a tier 5 medicinal pill, you dumbass." Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Slightly Modifying the Pill Recipe Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Slightly Modifying the Pill Recipe ? At this moment, Fa Ma suddenly realized something and quickly raised his head to look at the sky. Because the mist originally had a slight white tint, everyone had subconsciously assumed that Xiao Yan''s medicinal mist was tri-colored. However, upon closer inspection, Fa Ma discovered that the white color wasn''t just mist-it was an actual, distinct color! This was a four-colored medicinal cloud, meaning Xiao Yan had employed four different kinds of flames!!!! Hai Bodong''s eyes narrowed in the VIP seating area as he recalled how cautious Xiao Yan had been at the beginning of his pill refinement. "This brat! No wonder he was being so meticulous. He''d planned to refine a tier 5 medicinal pill from the very start!" Although Hai Bodong hadn''t known Xiao Yan for very long, he was well aware that while this fellow appeared humble and unassuming on the outside, he was actually extremely confident and audacious on the inside. Given that Xiao Yan was already just a hair''s breadth away from becoming a 5th-tier alchemist, why would he be so cautious when refining a tier 4 pill? It turned out he had been aiming to refine a tier 5 medicinal pill all along! Princess Yao Ye''s eyes flickered with a solemn expression as she said, "To think he still sought to surpass himself in such an environment. He''s truly a monster." Ya Fei covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes glistening with excitement to the point of tears. It was as if she were happier than Xiao Yan himself at his successful refinement of a tier 5 medicinal pill. Nalan Yanran clenched her fists tightly. She finally understood why Xiao Yan could become so powerful. It was because he constantly pushed his limits and battled against himself at all times. Only by continually challenging oneself could one keep growing stronger! Xiao Yan glanced at Yan Li, whose legs had gone weak and was now trembling uncontrollably on the ground. With a smile, he said, "I believe everyone is clear about the tier of this medicinal pill. There''s no need for further discussion. As for the claim that I didn''t refine it myself, that''s even more absurd. The Four Lines White Spirit Pill is a pill I created by slightly modifying the Three Lines Green Spirit Pill recipe. There are only these two pills in the entire world!" No one dared to raise any further doubts upon hearing these words. There was simply no reason to question him. Xiao Yan explained, "The Four Lines White Spirit Pill, like the Three Lines Green Spirit Pill, has the effect of increasing the strength of a Dou Grandmaster. It can increase strength by three stars, just like the Three Lines Green Spirit Pill. However, it does so with a 100% success rate and without any side effects." Hisssss!!! Everyone gasped in astonishment upon hearing this. Being able to directly increase one''s strength by three stars without any risk or side effects! A single pill could save several years of arduous cultivation! "And moreover..." "There''s more?!!!" Xiao Yan turned to look at the Little Princess who had cried out in surprise and said with a smile, "If it only increased strength by three stars without any side effects, it wouldn''t really be worthy of being classified as a tier 5 pill, now would it?" The Little Princess swallowed hard as she suddenly realized this wasn''t just about adding one more pill line. It had actually reached the level of a tier 5 medicinal pill! "If an 8-star Dou Grandmaster uses it, there will be side effects. It will only increase their strength by two stars." Xiao Yan grinned and held up two fingers. He achieved an indisputable, undeniable victory. No matter how many excuses Yan Li made, they all paled in comparison to those four words ''tier 5 medicinal pill''. He couldn''t even find any semblance of an excuse to cling to anymore. Yan Li collapsed to the ground. His entire body went limp, his spirit was broken, and his eyes were vacant and lifeless. He had already understood the grim fate that awaited him. Fa Ma and the other high-ranking members of the Alchemist Association exchanged glances, each seeing a blazing light in the other''s eyes! Surpass Gu He? With the strength and talent Xiao Yan displayed today, he had already surpassed Gu He! Gu He was indeed a 6th-tier alchemist. However, Xiao Yan''s fire control and Spiritual Strength had already reached a level that was not inferior to a 6th-tier alchemist''s. All he lacked in comparison was experience. In other words, it was merely a matter of time. Moreover, Xiao Yan possessed many things that even Gu He couldn''t obtain. Heavenly Flame, creativity, and youth. Pill King Gu He held a pinnacle status in the Jia Ma Empire. Even Fa Ma was only comparable to Gu He in reputation, but significantly inferior in strength. In the eyes of countless novice alchemists, the four words ''Pill King Gu He'' had once represented an insurmountable peak! But now, Xiao Yan had completely replaced that once unscalable peak. This eighteen-year- old youth had become the new, insurmountable mountain in the hearts of countless alchemists! He was the true Pill King! Regardless of anything else, from this day forward, Xiao Yan''s name would truly resonate throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire! "As the Chairman of the Jia Ma Empire''s Alchemist Association, I hereby announce that the champion of the 7th Alchemist Grand Meeting is-Xiao Yan!!!!" Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Only Xun Er Suffers a Loss? Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Only Xun Er Suffers a Loss? ? The moment Fa Ma''s voice fell, the spectator stands erupted with a deafening cacophony of excited cheers and applause. Countless people stood up excitedly from their seats, their faces flushed with exhilaration, waving whatever they held in their hands with fervor. In an instant, the entire plaza was engulfed in a raucous sea of clamor and elation. It was hardly surprising that the audience would become this excited and swept up in the moment, for this Alchemist Grand Meeting was truly unprecedented. In all the previous tournaments, regardless of the session or whether it was in the Jia Ma Empire, the Chu Yun Empire, or other surrounding empires, no tier 5 medicinal pill had ever appeared in an Alchemist Grand Meeting! It''s worth noting that the Alchemist Grand Meeting was a competition sponsored by the Pill Tower of the Central Plains, aimed at encouraging the younger generation of alchemists. As such, only those under thirty were allowed to participate. And the existence of a tier 5 alchemist under thirty was simply unheard of. Forget about tier 5, even the highest tier ever seen in previous Alchemist Grand Meetings was merely a low-grade 4th-tier alchemist. Even peak tier 4 medicinal pills had only appeared a handful of times. It could be imagined that the title of an eighteen-year-old 5th-tier alchemist would soon spread throughout the entire North-Western Region, and might even reach the Black-Corner Region and Jia Nan Academy! "When he detoxified me back then, I already knew this little fellow would become the final victor." Nalan Jie said with satisfaction as he gazed at the youth in the center of the arena who remained calm and composed amidst countless eyes filled with awe, admiration, and even some adoration. "Mm, he is indeed outstanding," Nalan Yanran couldn''t help but nod slightly, her beautiful eyes fixed on that slender figure in the arena. Her decision to annul the engagement back then hadn''t been due to Xiao Yan''s background or strength. Rather, she simply refused to allow her marriage to be arbitrarily dictated by others. Especially after the annulment incident, perhaps no one understood better than her just how formidable this guy truly was. At this moment, Hai Bodong walked up to Yan Li with a beaming smile and said, "Saves me the trouble of capturing you myself." Jia Xing Tian approached, gave Hai Bodong a sideways glance, and said, "This is a major criminal of the Jia Ma Empire, you know." "You can have the person, but the storage ring stays." "You shameless old man, robbing in broad daylight, aren''t you?" "How can taking spoils from a cultivator be called robbing? Besides, no matter how you put it, Xiao Yan has made a great contribution. It''s only natural that the contents of the storage ring belong to him." Fa Ma could only shake his head in exasperation as he watched the two old men already starting to divvy up the spoils like a pair of squabbling children. With Dou Emperors like these, the fate of the Jia Ma Empire was sure to be a bumpy one. The Four Lines White Spirit Pill not only dramatically accelerated the refinement and condensation of Dou Qi within his body, but the Heavenly Flame energy also worked to clear the blocked and stagnant portions of his meridians. Blood clots from old battle wounds, acupoints blocked due to incorrect cultivation, residual energies from medicinal pills-all of these impurities and blockages were completely incinerated and purged by the four kinds of Heavenly Flames. An unprecedented feeling of clarity and vitality spread throughout his entire body, suffusing every cell with vibrant energy. Finally, all the absorbed energy gathered in his Qi cyclone after circulating through the Flame Mantra. His Dou Qi was rising steadily at this moment, from 4-star to 5-star, 6-star, and finally reaching the 7-star Dou Grandmaster stage! It was no wonder that countless people aspired to become alchemists. The progress that would take several years of arduous cultivation could be achieved with a single medicinal pill. How could one not be envious? Of course, the fact that a Dou Grandmaster could use a tier 5 medicinal pill was enough to make anyone envious. The four-colored flaming tornado that had engulfed him finally dissipated after about ten minutes, and the increase in Dou Qi halted at the 7-star Dou Grandmaster stage. As the flaming tornado dispersed, everyone in the audience stared at Xiao Yan standing in the center of the square with gaping mouths. Each person''s expression was utterly priceless. With a soft thud, the Little Princess, who had been standing closest to Xiao Yan, plopped down on her butt. The usually mischievous and energetic girl was now pale with fright, her eyes filled with disbelief as she gaped at Xiao Yan, utterly stunned. In the VIP seats, Yao Ye, who was sitting with her legs crossed and her chin resting on her hand, revealed a smile at the corner of her mouth. Her beautiful eyes flashed with a strange light as she clicked her tongue in admiration, "Tsk tsk tsk, my heavens, how impressive." Beside her, Ya Fei''s delicate body trembled with a sudden heat at this moment. This kind of visual impact caused her fair, porcelain-like face to flush a deep rosy red, resembling the evening glow. She appeared incredibly alluring. It was a sight that could make one''s soul melt. She couldn''t help but recall the words Hai Bodong had said before. Nalan Yanran, who had always cultivated alongside Yun Yun and had little contact with members of the opposite sex, felt her pupils constrict. She subconsciously swallowed, her throat suddenly dry, and lightly bit down on her lower lip as certain youthful images involuntarily flashed through her mind. If she hadn''t gone to annul the engagement back then, she and Xiao Yan wouldn''t have... Many young women in the audience even swooned with dreamy smiles on their faces. Even Xiao Yan himself hadn''t expected that the energy of the Four Lines White Spirit Pill would be so terrifying as to burn away his clothes! His body, tempered since childhood through cultivating the Octane Blast, was as solid as the finest steel, each muscle honed to perfection. Coupled with the enhancement from the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, his physique, in every aspect, was like that of a ferocious beast! Like a ferocious beast!!! "Ah!!" Xiao Yan instantly took out a robe from his storage ring, donned it, and erupted with a speed that would put even Dou Emperors to shame as he vanished without a trace. Ling Ying, hiding in the shadows, couldn''t help but shake his head with a wry smile, "This is more than just fate bringing peach blossoms. Who would''ve thought the Ten Thousand Beast Flame would have this kind of effect." Xun Er, who was far away at Jia Nan Academy, suddenly suffered a huge loss. Chapter 165: Chapter 165: Xiao Yan Brand Pills Chapter 165: Chapter 165: Xiao Yan Brand Pills ? The Alchemist Grand Meeting had concluded and had become the hottest topic throughout the entire Jia Ma Sacred City. "Have you heard? Rumor has it that the guy who came in second place, Yan Li, is actually the Deputy Chairman of the Alchemist Association from the Chu Yun Empire. He used a pill called the Appearance Recovery Pill to revert his looks to his younger self so he could sneak in. His goal was to disgrace our Jia Ma Empire''s Alchemist Association." "No way! There''s actually such a pill?!" "Don''t get your hopes up. I heard that this Appearance Recovery Pill can only restore youth temporarily, and it''s a peak tier 5, nearly tier 6 medicinal pill. If you''re thinking about turning back the clock, you can keep dreaming." Since Yan Li didn''t win the championship, the imperial family of the Jia Ma Empire soon publicly revealed his true identity and executed him on the spot, not giving the Chu Yun Empire any time to react. The Chu Yun Empire lost a peak 4th-tier alchemist, which was an even greater blow than losing a Dou King. "A Deputy Chairman of the Chu Yun Empire''s Alchemist Association sneaked in by cheating and still lost to Xiao Yan in the end. Tsk tsk tsk, that guy is just too impressive." "Ahem, what aspect of ''impressive'' are you referring to?" In an inn, the two men discussing the matter exchanged glances, their eyes filled with envy. Who wouldn''t want a physique like that? Now, besides holding titles like the youngest 5th-tier alchemist in history and champion of the Alchemist Grand Meeting, the moniker ''Xiao the Hunk'' was also spreading around, especially among women. At this moment, Xiao Yan, who had been hiding all day wearing his Soul Robe, sat dejectedly in a corner, feeling utterly miserable. He had only intended to promote his medicinal pills to sell them for a good price and exchange them for the main ingredients of tier 5 pills. But he hadn''t expected such a thing to happen! Who could he even try to reason with about this?! He could only blame himself for modifying the pill recipe, even changing the alchemy method, using four kinds of Heavenly Flames, and then consuming it without testing! Xiao Yan sighed deeply. There was no point in hiding any longer. He still needed to purchase medicinal ingredients to refine pills. Pulling the brim of his hat low, Xiao Yan left the inn and headed to the Miteer Auction House. He directly took out a token. This was an Elder Token of the Miteer Clan that Hai Bodong had given him. Xiao Yan could now be considered an honorary elder of the Miteer Clan. "An Elder Token! This humble one wasn''t aware of the elder''s arrival," the guard hurriedly said respectfully. Xiao Yan kept his voice low and said, "Take me to see Ya Fei." "Understood!" He followed the guard all the way to the sixth floor of the auction house. After a series of knocks, Ya Fei''s voice came from inside the room, "Come in." Xiao Yan waved the guard away. Pushing open the door, he found Ya Fei alone handling some documents. Only then did he remove his hood. them! After all, he was currently the most renowned person in the Jia Ma Empire. "Little Brother Xiao Yan, how do you plan to sell them? Set prices and place them in the chamber of commerce, or hold an auction?" Ya Fei sat across from Xiao Yan, her eyes revealing a shrewd and capable gaze. "Auction. I don''t want money or anything else; I only want medicinal ingredients." As an alchemist, Xiao Yan naturally understood the value ratio between medicinal ingredients and pills better than anyone. Generally speaking, one tier 4 pill could be exchanged for the main ingredient of a tier 5 pill of the same grade. That''s why he brought out tier 4 pills, because he wanted to obtain precious main ingredients for refining tier 5 pills. Ya Fei lightly tapped her finger on the table, pondering seriously for a moment before saying, "If your goal is medicinal ingredients, then I suggest we start the auction first thing tomorrow morning." "Tomorrow morning?!" Xiao Yan was taken aback. It was already noon, and she wanted to start tomorrow morning! Ya Fei nodded earnestly and said, "Because of the Alchemist Grand Meeting, many alchemists have come from all over the empire to compete. Those alchemists are the ones who possess the most precious medicinal ingredients. Now that the conference has ended, I''m afraid those alchemists are already preparing to leave Jia Ma Sacred City." "Right now, Little Brother Xiao Yan is the champion. Many alchemists will want to purchase one of your pills to take back and study. Perhaps it could spark a bidding frenzy among them, allowing us to earn even more." Xiao Yan looked at Ya Fei in surprise. He hadn''t considered this at all. He originally thought that for better promotion, the longer the time, the better-to spread the word to other cities and wait for the patriarchs of major clans to bring medicinal ingredients to the auction. He had overlooked the fact that it was the alchemists who truly possessed the most precious medicinal ingredients! He hadn''t taken into account the perfect timing and location the Alchemist Grand Meeting provided. Ya Fei felt a tinge of pride in her heart when she saw his astonished expression. There weren''t many things that could surprise Xiao Yan. "Then I''ll leave everything to Sister Ya Fei. I still need to go to the Alchemist Association to collect my championship reward." Xiao Yan put on his Soul Robe and flew out the window with a grin. Ya Fei watched as Xiao Yan flew away through the window once again. She stared at his departing figure in a daze and muttered, "Could he really have taken Elder Hai''s words seriously?" A delicate blush blossomed across her pretty face. She shook her head vigorously and muttered to herself, "What am I thinking? He''s still just a kid." But then she suddenly recalled yesterday''s earth-shattering scene in the square. Seems like... he''s not that much of a kid anymore! Chapter 166: Chapter 166: The Champions Treatment Chapter 166: Chapter 166: The Champion''s Treatment ? Xiao Yan once again arrived at the Alchemist Association, but unlike his previous two visits when he had arrived openly and properly, this time he came in a stealthy manner. After passing through the outermost trading area of the Alchemist Association, he arrived at the main hall. There, he happened to see Grandmaster Ao Tuo from Black Rock City, one of the judges from the Grand Meeting. "Who are you?" Grandmaster Ao Tuo noticed a figure in a black robe approaching and asked suspiciously. Xiao Yan slightly lifted the brim of his hat to reveal a bit of his face and whispered, "Grandmaster Ao Tuo, it''s me." "You''re Xiao..." Before Grandmaster Ao Tuo could finish speaking, Xiao Yan hurriedly stopped him. After all, he was still in a rather awkward situation at this moment. "Oh, oh, I understand. You''ve come to the Alchemist Association to claim your championship rewards, haven''t you?" Grandmaster Ao Tuo held back a laugh and spoke softly. Xiao Yan quickly nodded and said, "May I trouble Grandmaster Ao Tuo to take me to see Chairman Fa Ma?" Grandmaster Ao Tuo nodded. However, instead of directly leading Xiao Yan to the chairman''s room, he arranged for an empty room for him to wait in while he went to summon the chairman. Xiao Yan''s rewards weren''t kept in the chairman''s room, and receiving an important figure like him required Chairman Fa Ma to make proper preparations. Removing his hood, Xiao Yan reclined on the sofa, waiting for Chairman Fa Ma''s arrival. About thirty minutes later, a few knocks sounded on the door. Three figures pushed it open and entered. They were Fa Ma, the Chairman of the Alchemist Association; Jia Xing Tian, the guardian of the Jia Ma Empire''s imperial family; and Xiao Yan''s old friend, Hai Bodong. "You little brat finally decided to show up," Hai Bodong raised an eyebrow and said with a playful smile. "I had no choice but to appear. After all, there are still rewards to claim." Xiao Yan shrugged and shook his head with a wry smile. Losing face wasn''t as bad as being poor. "Hahaha, those are all trivial matters. Although it''s belated, I still have to say congratulations, little fellow! You''ve become the youngest champion in the history of the Jia Ma Empire''s Grand Meeting," Fa Ma and Jia Xing Tian both smiled and cupped their hands toward Xiao Yan sitting on the sofa. In fact, everyone present knew that, according to protocol, Yan Li''s belongings should have been confiscated into the imperial treasury. Yan Li was a peak 4th-tier alchemist, and who knows how many people coveted his possessions. But Jia Xing Tian actually gave them all to him, which clearly showed his intention to curry favor. Xiao Yan also understood Jia Xing Tian''s little scheme. He was worried that Xiao Yan might threaten the imperial family''s position, so he was trying to win him over in advance. "In that case, this junior won''t stand on ceremony." Xiao Yan did not refuse, because rejecting the other party''s goodwill could easily make them think he had ulterior motives. However, he didn''t take everything either. He only selected a few main ingredients for tier 5 medicinal pills, a tier 5 pill recipe, and that Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill. He left the other miscellaneous items untouched. "By the way, Chairman Fa Ma, can you help me check if the association has these medicinal ingredients? I urgently need to refine a tier 5 pill." Xiao Yan wrote down the remaining three precious medicinal ingredients for the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill on a piece of paper. Collecting the medicinal ingredients was the most challenging part of refining the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill. Hai Bodong revealed a hint of gratification in his eyes when he saw that Xiao Yan was attentive to his own matters and had not forgotten. Fortunately, he hadn''t misjudged this person. Fa Ma picked up the white paper and said after glancing at it, "Purple Spirit Flower Nectar, Gastrodia Trifoliata, Black Dew Flower-these are all quite precious tier 5 medicinal ingredients that need to be sourced from higher-level associations. But the price, I''m afraid it won''t be cheap. Moreover, medicinal ingredients of this level cannot be exchanged with gold coins. They likely require pill points from the Alchemist Association for the exchange, which you don''t have, right?" Xiao Yan smiled slightly and said, "No worries, Chairman. As long as you or the other Deputy Chairman have them, that''s fine." Fa Ma gave Xiao Yan a blank look and said in an unhappy tone, "You''re going too far. Even if this old man has them, I wouldn''t just give them to you for free like this." Xiao Yan revealed a meaningful smile and said with a laugh, "Don''t worry, Chairman. Tomorrow, you''ll be chasing after me to give them to me." "Huh?" Not to mention Fa Ma, even Hai Bodong and Jia Xing Tian were left in a fog after hearing this. Chase after you to give you precious medicinal ingredients? Has Fa Ma lost his mind? However, not long after Xiao Yan left the association, an urgent announcement released by the Miteer Auction House quickly spread throughout the entire Jia Ma Sacred City. This explosive news even overshadowed the hotly debated topic of the Alchemist Grand Meeting. "Holy shit! The Tian Class Auction Hall of the Miteer Auction House is opening!" Chapter 167: Chapter 167: An Auction Carried by One Man Chapter 167: Chapter 167: An Auction Carried by One Man ? "Holy shit! The Tian Class Auction Hall of the Miteer Auction House is opening!" Ya Fei understood the significance of Xiao Yan''s matter, not just because of the influence he wielded within the Miteer Clan, but also because she knew that if this was handled well, the Miteer Clan would thoroughly cement a strong relationship with him. This was the champion of the Alchemist Grand Meeting, the most talented alchemist in history, offering pills refined with a Heavenly Flame. And all of this would be managed by their Miteer Auction House. Just the reputation alone was enough to elevate the Miteer Clan to another level. Originally, the balance among the three major clans of Jia Ma Sacred City had long been disrupted. After all, Nalan Yanran was the Little Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, with terrifying and unparalleled talent. Before Xiao Yan''s appearance, she had been the unrivaled figure among the younger generation throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire. Therefore, the Nalan Clan had long surpassed the other two major clans. Now, Xiao Yan''s emergence caused the balance to shift once more. If Ya Fei played her cards right, the Miteer Clan could ride on Xiao Yan''s momentum to catch up to the Nalan Clan and completely leave the Mu Clan in the dust. The three major clans would become two major clans, and these two could even stand shoulder to shoulder with the imperial family, transcending the Jia Ma Empire. Ya Fei understood how immense the opportunity Xiao Yan brought was. She immediately used her authority as the auction house manager to halt all other operations and dedicated everything to Xiao Yan''s auction. The auction house directly closed its doors to spread the news to every corner of the Jia Ma Sacred City as quickly as possible. Everyone focused solely on tomorrow''s auction. It was worth noting that the Miteer Auction House was the largest commercial organization in Jia Ma Sacred City, and the influence it wielded was immense. Almost immediately after Xiao Yan left, countless employees of the Miteer Auction House fanned out across the city with flyers to promote the event. "Extra! Extra! Tomorrow, the Tian Class Auction Hall of the Miteer Auction House will open, auctioning pills personally refined by Grandmaster Xiao Yan, the most powerful alchemist genius in the history of the Jia Ma Empire!" "Breaking news! Tomorrow! Pills from the Alchemist Grand Meeting champion will be publicly auctioned at the Miteer Tian Class Auction Hall! Obtaining pills refined with a Heavenly Flame is no longer just a dream!" "Tomorrow, the Miteer Tian Class Auction Hall will only sell three things: pills, pills, and more pills!! All pills are tier 4 and above. The final pill should be familiar to everyone! That''s right, it''s the legendary Four Lines White Spirit Pill! Don''t miss it!" "Shocking! The Miteer Auction House closed just for this! Why has the vanished genius reappeared? Tomorrow, the Miteer Tian Class Auction Hall will reveal everything to you!" At this moment, in the Nalan Clan residence, Nalan Yanran, who had changed back into her Misty Cloud Sect''s silver moon robe and was preparing to return to the sect with Ge Ye to train in the Gate of Life and Death, had a solemn look in her beautiful eyes as she stared at an auction list in her hand. "There''s even a peak tier 4 Dou Spirit Pill!" Ge Ye''s heart skipped a beat when he saw the Dou Spirit Pill listed in the middle of the list. The Dou Spirit Pill, Dou King Pill, and Mighty Huang Pill all had the same effect-to increase one''s cultivation by one star. The Dou Spirit Pill increased a Dou Spirit, the Dou King Pill a Dou King, and the Mighty Huang Pill a Dou Emperor. Back then, Gu He had used the Dou King Pill to recruit two Dou Kings as his escorts when infiltrating the Snake-People Tribe. One could imagine how tempting it was to raise one''s cultivation by a star. Although one of Xiao Yan''s Four Lines White Spirit Pills could increase cultivation by three stars with 100% certainty, it took more time and energy for a Dou King to advance one star compared to a Dou Grandmaster advancing three stars. As for Nalan Yanran, her beautiful eyes remained fixed on the top two lines of the auction list, especially the first line. Originally, she was supposed to return to the Misty Cloud Sect in two more days. But now, Xiao Yan''s cultivation had already far surpassed hers, reaching the 7-star Dou Grandmaster stage! Meanwhile, she was still a 3-star Dou Grandmaster, a gap of four stars! Although she cultivated the Misty Cloud Sect''s most profound Qi Method, it was only a High Xuan Class Qi Method, ten times inferior to a Di Class one. Now, the only way for her to catch up to Xiao Yan was to consume the Four Lines White Spirit Pill as well! Only by entering the Gate of Life and Death to train afterward would she have a chance to catch up or even surpass him! "Elder Ge, has Master returned to the sect?" "Because you are entering the Gate of Life and Death, the Sect Leader came back early." "Then let''s temporarily hold off on returning to the sect. I''ll inform Master and hope she can come to participate in this auction. With my Nalan Clan''s financial strength, it will likely be very difficult to obtain that Four Lines White Spirit Pill." This auction carried by one man had completely ignited the entire Jia Ma Sacred City. Chapter 168: Chapter 168: The Auction Begins Chapter 168: Chapter 168: The Auction Begins ? The Tian Class Auction Hall was located on the fifth floor of the Miteer Auction House in Jia Ma Sacred City. The entire floor was dedicated to this auction hall. Not only was the Tian Class Auction the largest auction hall in the auction house, but it was also the one accommodating the fewest people. The Tian Class Auction Hall had only ninety-nine private rooms. Each bidder who could enter the auction hall had their own exclusive, lavishly furnished private room. Being able to enter the Tian Class Auction Hall was, in itself, a symbol of status. Only clients possessing more than a million gold coins or those whose strength had reached the Dou King realm were qualified to enter. The entire auction hall was ring-shaped, with the auction stage in the center. Surrounding it were the private rooms for guests participating in the auction, providing an unobstructed view of the items displayed on the stage from almost every angle. "What an impressive lineup! Twelve types of middle-grade tier 4 pills and above, and in quantities greater than just one." "If they were only ordinary tier 4 pills, even the Three Lines Green Spirit Pills wouldn''t be enough for the Miteer Clan to open the Tian Class Auction Hall. But since it''s Xiao Yan, that''s a different matter." Early in the morning, many clans, high-ranking officials, and prominent figures from Jia Ma Sacred City had already entered the auction hall and were waiting. "This seems to be the first time in many years that the Tian Class Auction Hall has been opened for a single person." Before the auction began, some clans who knew each other were chatting in the corridor. "Just think about it, who else has the capability to single-handedly provide all the auction items for the entire Tian Class Auction? Not even Pill King Gu He or Chairman Fa Ma have as much influence as Grandmaster Xiao Yan does now." "That''s true. Look, at least half of the private rooms are filled with alchemists who came to participate in the Alchemist Grand Meeting. This auction was organized so hastily; I guess it''s because Grandmaster Xiao Yan specified that the bidding for the pills would only be in exchange for medicinal ingredients." "The remaining two of the three major clans, the Mu Clan and the Nalan Clan, have both come. Even the Jia Ma Imperial Family is here, as well as Chairman Fa Ma of the Alchemist Association. Tsk tsk, the competition will be fierce this time." "I heard the Misty Cloud Sect has also come and is in the Nalan Clan''s private room." "It''s not surprising. I heard Nalan Yanran has already reached the Dou Grandmaster realm. She''s probably aiming for a Three-Lined Green Spirit Pill or even that Four Lines White Spirit Pill." "Look, isn''t that Fu Zhan, one of the former Ten Strong? What''s he doing here?" "Heh, he has a grandson who is said to be close to reaching the Dou Grandmaster realm. Why do you think he''s here?" "Hu Yuan, Yu Feng... Even these experts from the previous generation''s Ten Strong have shown up?!" By the time Xiao Yan, dressed in a black robe, entered the auction hall through the back door, the auction floor was already abuzz with discussions. Countless clan heads and powerful cultivators were seated in their private rooms, patiently waiting for the auction to commence. stepped onto the stage. Changing her usual demeanor, Ya Fei had her hair coiled up with a wooden hairpin. Every frown and smile appeared elegant and refined, and her seductive demeanor had vanished without a trace! In the eyes of those familiar with Ya Fei, seeing her with a completely different look captivated their souls and stirred up an irrepressible agitation in their hearts. "Ladies and gentlemen, the auction of pills provided by the champion of the Alchemist Grand Meeting, Grandmaster Xiao Yan, will now commence." Ya Fei''s voice was full of magnetism and charm, yet also carrying a hint of freshness. Quite a few people felt their hearts itch upon hearing her voice. They grew even more curious about what other little-known sides this woman possessed. "Now, let''s welcome the first item up for auction." Ya Fei lightly raised an eyebrow, charming yet refined, and gently clapped her hands, causing many hearts to flutter. A wooden box was slowly pushed onto the stage. Ya Fei smiled and said, "This first auction item was not refined by Grandmaster Xiao Yan himself, but rather a last-minute addition he provided." "Not refined by Grandmaster Xiao Yan?" Many people couldn''t help but frown upon hearing this. Many alchemists had come solely for Xiao Yan''s pills; pills made by others held little meaning to them. "But I believe there will still be quite a few people who need it." Ya Fei slowly opened the wooden box, and a faint purple medicinal fragrance gradually wafted out from within. "The Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill!!!" Some who recognized it couldn''t help but exclaim. This was the legendary pill of the Chu Yun Empire''s Alchemist Association. Many had heard of its reputation. "So that''s it; this should be the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill refined during the tournament." Starting the auction with a peak tier 4 Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill immediately raised the bar; truly befitting a Tian Class Auction. For many clans, a peak tier 4 pill was something only the clan head was qualified to use. There were even quite a few clans whose clan heads had never used a peak tier 4 pill before. "The starting bid is a rare main ingredient for a tier 5 pill. Please bid as you see fit. Grandmaster Xiao Yan is backstage and will make his own selection." Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Frenzied Bidding Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Frenzied Bidding ? Even though this wasn''t a pill refined by Xiao Yan, the reputation of the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill still caused the eyes of many major clans present to light up with eagerness. "One stalk of Desolate Star Grass!" a clan leader immediately called out. For major clans, pills that could directly enhance strength were what they valued most. Just like the three major clans of Wu Tan City back then; their overall strengths were roughly the same, with only a one or two-star difference between their experts. Pills that could directly increase cultivation had always been the most sought-after by these clans. "One bottle of Lilong Blossom Nectar!" another prominent figure quickly offered. "Crimson Stamen Stone!" someone else shouted as soon as the previous bid ended. "One tael of Szechuan Lovage Rhizome!" ... Because the auction rules stipulated that only medicinal ingredients could be used for bartering, this was also a test of Xiao Yan''s knowledge of medicinal herbs. He not only needed to identify the various precious herbs amidst the clamorous bidding accurately but also had to mentally calculate the specific value of the quantities each bidder offered. "Many people are just bidding recklessly." Chairman Fa Ma''s sharp eyes flashed within the Alchemist Association''s private room. He could tell that more than half of the bids were just trying their luck. Because many bids either concealed the specific quantity or offered amounts that didn''t match the value. For example, Szechuan Lovage Rhizome was indeed an important main ingredient for tier 5 pills, but refining such a pill required seven taels of it for a complete portion. Bidding only one tael was clearly just trying their luck, betting Xiao Yan would not notice the discrepancy. As if deliberately trying to make things difficult for Xiao Yan, the bidding proceeded at an extremely rapid pace. In just one minute, there were over thirty bids, with the names of various precious medicinal ingredients emerging one after another. Onstage, Ya Fei couldn''t help but break into a cold sweat for Xiao Yan. She had no way to assess the value of the medicinal ingredients for him; he could only rely on himself. Soon, the pace of bidding gradually slowed down. Xiao Yan, sitting backstage, let out a cold laugh. Play these little tricks with him? Did they really think his alchemy skills were based on pure luck? Since the age of four, he had diligently studied the knowledge of various medicinal ingredients in his storage ring. He knew exactly which herbs could produce which effects and what tier of pills they could be used to refine. His storage ring contained numerous tier 5 pill recipes. He was crystal clear about how much of each ingredient was needed for a single portion of those pills. "Seven taels of Szechuan Lovage Rhizome can be accepted for the trade," Xiao Yan''s calm voice came from backstage, directly exposing the issue. Szechuan Lovage Rhizome was the main ingredient for refining the peak tier 5 Emperor Breaking Pill. The effect of the Emperor Breaking Pill was very simple-it increased the chance of breaking through to the Dou Emperor realm by 20%. It was one of the most sought- after tier 5 pills. The old man who had bid one tael of Szechuan Lovage Rhizome heard this and clearly hesitated. He had been hoping that Xiao Yan wouldn''t notice. "Apologies, Grandmaster Xiao Yan, I can only offer up to four taels," the old man still declined. Nalan Jie smiled bitterly and said, "But this way, I''m afraid we won''t have enough capital to compete for the Three-Lined Green Spirit Pill." The Nalan Clan did indeed have deep reserves, but they didn''t possess many tier 5 medicinal ingredients in their collection. The Three-Lined Green Spirit Pill refined by Xiao Yan was definitely worth over twice as much as the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill. It would likely require the main ingredient of a tier 6 pill to have a chance of obtaining it. Their most precious Seven Magical Green Spirit Saliva had already been given to Xiao Yan, and now even their only Dou King Grass used for refining the Dou King Pill had been given to him. Bluntly put, Xiao Yan had already emptied out their Nalan Clan''s coffers! Nalan Jie''s expression became somewhat strange thinking of this. They were clearly planning to annul the engagement with Xiao Yan, so how did it end up with the dowry he prepared for Nalan Yanran all going to him? The bride didn''t marry over, but the dowry went to the groom. With a resounding clang, Ya Fei struck the copper gong and announced with a smile, "The second item up for auction is a middle-grade tier 4 healing pill-the Blood Replenishing Bone Mending Pill." She deliberately paused for a few seconds before continuing, "It was refined by Grandmaster Xiao Yan using a Heavenly Flame." !!!!!!! At these words, many alchemists couldn''t help but sit up straight! Healing-type pills could be considered the least valuable among these pills, but precisely because of their lower value, for alchemists who simply wanted to bid on a pill refined with a Heavenly Flame to take back for research, this was the best auction item. It could be said, the only reason a pill like the Blood Replenishing Bone Mending Pill qualified for auction in the Tian Class Auction House was entirely due to those two words: Xiao Yan. Ya Fei gave a slight smile and said, "Everyone, there''s no need to rush. I''m sure you''re all aware of Grandmaster Xiao Yan''s exceptional alchemy skills. There are a total of three Blood Replenishing Bone Mending Pills; the one being auctioned now is the first." In an instant, the veteran alchemists present could no longer remain seated. They began calling out bids one after another, and the competition grew incredibly fierce. In the end, all three Blood Replenishing Bone Mending Pills were purchased at prices far exceeding their market value. One of them was even acquired by Qie Mi Er, the Deputy Chairman of the Alchemist Association, who exchanged it for the Purple Spirit Flower Nectar, the main ingredient of the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill. Chapter 170: Chapter 170: A Scene of Cutthroat Competition Chapter 170: Chapter 170: A Scene of Cutthroat Competition ? The subsequent pills up for auction were all rare treasures seldom seen in the market. Many of the buyers present were affluent and influential figures; quite a few were veteran alchemists who had been secluded for years, dedicating themselves to refining their alchemy skills. Naturally, their collections were extensive. As a result, the competition became exceptionally fierce. For one or two of the auction items, the bids even surpassed Xiao Yan''s expectations. "Good heavens! Is this necessary? It''s just a high-grade tier 4 pill, yet they''re bidding with Dong Quai Earth Spirit Root, the main ingredient for the Tier 6 Returning Spirit Ointment! Who is that old man? I''ve never heard of him before." "Do you see he''s missing a finger on his right hand? That''s Nine-Fingered Alchemist Lin Zhen, who came second in the Alchemist Grand Meeting the same year as Pill King Gu He. He narrowly lost to Gu He back then. In the final competition round, his medicinal cauldron ended up exploding due to inferior fire control compared to Gu He''s, blasting off his thumb." "To remember that humiliation, Lin Zhen has never restored his severed finger. Moreover, the Fire Control Heart Pill that Xiao Yan is auctioning is no ordinary item. It can help alchemists enhance their fire control abilities. Most importantly, it was refined using a Heavenly Flame, which significantly boosts one''s control over fire. This is equivalent to directly improving one''s alchemy skills!" Many veteran alchemists began placing bids one after another. The intensity of the competition was such that even Xiao Yan sometimes found it difficult to decide. The medicinal ingredients offered were exceedingly precious; he almost wished he could bring out more pills to auction. However, he didn''t put all his pills up for auction. Because he possessed a Heavenly Flame and the Flame Mantra, he could often produce multiple pills in a single batch. Thus, he had only taken out half of his reserves and kept a portion for himself. "Tsk tsk tsk, you little brat will probably be the wealthiest person in the entire Jia Ma Sacred City after today. Even the imperial treasury might not have as many medicinal ingredients as you," Hai Bodong said as he watched the heated bidding in the auction hall. He almost wished he were an alchemist himself. The alchemist profession was truly formidable, especially for an incredibly powerful alchemist like Xiao Yan, who could make a fortune with minimal investment. During the auction, the most extravagant bidder who secured the most items was surprisingly the Mu Clan, with whom Xiao Yan had a bit of a grudge! Mu Chen''s opening bids were often significantly higher than others, fully displaying the Mu Clan''s attitude of ''money is no object.'' As a result, when the Mu Clan made a bid, many people were reluctant to compete with them. Even if they tried, they would likely be outbid. In fact, it was quite simple to understand. Among the three major clans, only the Mu Clan, who had no friendship with Xiao Yan, still had some resources left and hadn''t been depleted. The Nalan Clan had nearly given Xiao Yan the clothes off their backs, and the Miteer Clan was even worse off. Not only had they given half of their auction house to Xiao Yan, but even Ya Fei was about to be thrown in as well. Apart from the Mu Clan''s lavish spending, the only ones with substantial wealth remaining were the Jia Ma Imperial Family and that group of veteran alchemists from the Alchemist Association. Once they set their sights on a medicinal pill, they basically always won the bid. Finally, after every pill was auctioned off, the item that everyone had been eagerly anticipating finally appeared. "Moreover, the lower the consumer''s cultivation, the higher the success rate. If the consumer is only a 1-star Dou Grandmaster, there''s over a 90% chance of success. The success rate decreases by 10% for each additional star in cultivation." "For Dou Grandmasters at seven stars or above, Ya Fei recommends bidding for the Four Lines White Spirit Pill instead." Upon hearing Ya Fei''s words, no one questioned whether Xiao Yan was exaggerating in appraising his own pills. Many present had personally witnessed Xiao Yan refining the Four Lines White Spirit Pill, knew how extraordinary his techniques were, and understood the divine nature of a Heavenly Flame. "The Three-Lined Green Spirit Pills will be auctioned together. Everyone, please place your bids. Grandmaster Xiao Yan will select the four highest offers for the transaction. The Four Lines White Spirit Pill will be auctioned afterward," Ya Fei said slowly. "One stalk of Dou King Grass!" Someone couldn''t wait and called out a bid even before Ya Fei announced the start. "Dou King Grass? Get lost! Our Mu Clan offers a full set of ingredients required to refine the Dou King Pill!" Mu Chen loudly declared. Dou King Grass was only one of the main ingredients of the Dou King Pill. In addition to Dou King Grass, many other auxiliary ingredients were required, many of which were tier 4 medicinal ingredients. Combined, their value was naturally quite significant. If Xiao Yan could refine the Dou King Pill himself, it would be equivalent to exchanging a Tier 4 Three-Lined Green Spirit Pill for a high-grade Tier 5 Dou King Pill! The profit margin was simply astronomical! Originally, Mu Chen had planned to ask Gu He to refine the Dou King Pill, but in the end, when choosing between increasing his own cultivation by one star and giving Mu Zhan a better chance to break through to the Dou King realm, he chose the latter. Although it might seem like a simple matter of increasing cultivation by three stars, the key was the time saved. Mu Zhan had decent talent; if he could rapidly increase his strength during his prime years, the sooner he broke through to the Dou King realm, the greater his future prospects. Hearing the Mu Clan''s bid, all the bidders present understood that one of the four Three- Lined Green Spirit Pills was as good as taken! "Simultaneously auctioning four Three-Lined Green Spirit Pills is truly a brilliant move. It forces them to calculate in their minds where the price for the fourth pill might land, continuously pushing the bids higher," Xiao Yan praised Ya Fei''s clever methods. This was simply a scene of cutthroat competition! Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Domineering Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Domineering ? When the Mu Clan announced a complete set of ingredients for refining the Dou King Pill, many in the auction hall couldn''t help but furrow their brows. The first person to ''eat the crab'' not only gets to taste its delicacies but also sets the precedent. In other words, the Mu Clan had established a pricing benchmark, making everyone feel that the value of a Three-Lined Green Spirit Pill was equivalent to a full set of ingredients for a Dou King Pill. If someone were to bid less than this value, not only might the Mu Clan continue to outbid them, but it could also leave a bad impression on Xiao Yan. They''ve already offered a complete set of ingredients for the Dou King Pill, and you''re offering just a stalk of Dou King Grass? Are you taking this seriously? "This Mu Clan has done you a small favor in secret," Hai Bodong commented thoughtfully from the side. "Indeed. Even though I used a Heavenly Flame to refine it, the value of the Three-Lined Green Spirit Pill truly doesn''t compare to a full set of ingredients for a high-grade tier 5 pill like the Dou King Pill." Xiao Yan nodded. He had a clear understanding of the value of the Three- Lined Green Spirit Pill. Even though he had refined it using a Heavenly Flame, the pill''s effects hadn''t actually changed significantly. The difference in efficacy between a peak tier 4 pill and a low-grade tier 5 pill was already tenfold, not to mention compared to a high-grade tier 5 Dou King Pill. The value gap was likely dozens or even a hundred times greater. Even though it was just a set of ingredients and not the finished pill, the offer still carried a significant premium. "The Mu Clan is likely doing this to show goodwill toward you, perhaps to make amends for what happened with Mu Zhan. Given your current status, I don''t think the Mu Clan dares to harbor any ill intentions toward you." Hai Bodong, being an old fox, had a clear understanding of such matters after so many years of experience. "Do I look like someone who holds petty grudges?" "You certainly look the part." Hai Bodong joked. After a brief moment of stunned silence following the Mu Clan''s bid, the auction hall buzzed back to life as people began calling out their offers. This time, the bids were much more aggressive. Although they hadn''t yet surpassed the Mu Clan''s bid, even the lowest offers were more valuable than Dou King Grass, all reaching the level of main ingredients for peak tier 5 pills. Some even called out bids of two stalks of Dou King Grass. "One Mighty Huang Fruit!" A familiar female voice rang out from one of the topmost private rooms. Dressed in casual attire, Yao Ye sat inside alongside Jia Xing Tian, who was clad in his usual hemp robe. "Holy cow! A Mighty Huang Fruit!! That''s the main ingredient for refining the high-grade tier 6 Mighty Huang Pill!" "Good heavens, do they have to be so intense? Even if the Jia Ma Imperial Family is wealthy, they shouldn''t be throwing money around like that, right? Even if it was refined by Grandmaster Xiao Yan using a Heavenly Flame, it''s still just a peak tier 4 pill. To offer a Mighty Huang Fruit, have they lost their minds?" The bustling auction hall plunged into silence once more. Clearly, the Mighty Huang Fruit had left the other bidders speechless. They had thought that a full set of ingredients for the Dou King Pill was already an astronomical price, but they never expected someone to bid a Mighty Huang Fruit! This offer was even more domineering than the Mu Clan''s. "You just don''t get it. Do you really think this Tian Class auction attracted so many big shots purely because of the pills? For entities like the imperial family, the Alchemist Association, and the three major clans, if they wanted to bid on pills, they could''ve just sent representatives. Why would they need to attend in person?" "All these big players came in person out of respect for Grandmaster Xiao Yan. When Gu He won the championship back then, the imperial family gifted him a peak tier 4 pill as a congratulatory present. The Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill at the beginning was likely given by the imperial family. Now, seeing them offer a Mighty Huang Fruit, it''s evident that compared to Gu He, the imperial family holds even higher expectations for Grandmaster Xiao Yan''s potential and future." Backstage, Hai Bodong could only shake his head with a wry smile upon hearing Yao Ye''s bid of the Mighty Huang Fruit. This Mighty Huang Fruit alone was enough to buy all four pills, or even enough for the Four Lines White Spirit Pill. There was so much meaning embedded in this! from afar. A flash of green light streaked across the sky, vanishing in an instant. The next second, it actually appeared within the auction hall. When Xiao Yan saw that beautiful figure suddenly appear in the Nalan Clan''s private room, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. "Master!" Upon seeing the figure, Nalan Yanran immediately stood up and hugged the woman''s slender waist. "I was held up by some minor matters at the sect. I haven''t arrived too late, have I?" Yun Yun gently stroked Nalan Yanran''s head and said warmly. "Sect Leader Yun!!" Many people in the hall stood up in respect upon seeing Yun Yun''s arrival. Even Jia Xing Tian of the imperial family showed a trace of apprehension. Although Yun Yun was only a 3-star Dou Emperor, she represented the Misty Cloud Sect! Years ago, the previous Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Shan, had reached the strength of a 9-star Dou Emperor. Although Yun Shan had disappeared without a trace for many years, Jia Xing Tian knew that he definitely wasn''t dead. In other words, the Misty Cloud Sect had at least two elite Dou Emperors. "Not at all. They''re just about to auction that tier 5 Four Lines White Spirit Pill," Nalan Yanran replied with a smile. The Nalan Clan''s resources might have been depleted, but the Misty Cloud Sect still had plenty! One must remember that it was the Misty Cloud Sect that had supported Pill King Gu He in reaching the 6th-tier alchemist level. One could imagine how terrifyingly deep their resources ran! Yun Yun cast her gaze toward the Four Lines White Spirit Pill in Ya Fei''s hands. The two women, both possessing the charm of mature ladies, exchanged glances. Yun Yun, who had always been devoted to cultivation, possessed a unique temperament that in no way lost out to Ya Fei. "It is indeed an excellent pill." Yun Yun''s Spiritual Strength swept over it. She realized that the Four Lines White Spirit Pill was just as extraordinary as Nalan Yanran had described. Ya Fei said softly, "Sect Leader Yun, the starting bid is precious tier 5 or higher medicinal ingredients. The current highest bids are two stalks of tier 6 main ingredients from Chairman Fa Ma and a Mighty Huang Fruit from Princess Yao Ye." "It is indeed worth that price." Yun Yun nodded slightly. After pondering for a moment, she said in an even tone, "I bid one stalk of Body Transformation Grass." !!!!!!!!!!!!! Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Youre Doomed Chapter 172: Chapter 172: You''re Doomed ? "Body Transformation Grass!! Sect Leader, this is the main ingredient for refining the high- grade tier 7 Body Transformation Pill!" Ge Ye, who was standing nearby, jolted to his feet upon hearing this. He couldn''t help but feel a surge of agitation as his old eyes widened. "What? Body Transformation Grass?!!" Many alchemists present were moved as soon as Yun Yun spoke. The other alchemists in the hall also abruptly stood up, their eyes wide open. One must know that the most formidable alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire was Gu He, but even he was only a 6th-tier alchemist, and that was thanks to the Misty Cloud Sect''s resources helping him reach that tier. The highest-ranked native alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire was Chairman Fa Ma, but he was only at the peak of tier 5. Tier 6 pills were already akin to myths, let alone high-grade tier 7 pills, which had never appeared in the Jia Ma Empire before. Even Gu He had spent half a year traveling to the large Alchemist Association in the Central Plains and paid a huge price to exchange for a single Body Transformation Pill. No matter how one looked at it, this seemed utterly disproportionate! "Body Transformation Grass is rather special. It can''t be entirely considered the main ingredient for a high-grade tier 7 pill. After all, the peak tier 6 Demon Transformation Pill also requires Body Transformation Grass as its main ingredient. Whether it becomes a Demon Transformation Pill or a Body Transformation Pill depends entirely on the alchemist''s skill," Fa Ma stroked his beard and said slowly. The Body Transformation Grass was very special. It was the main ingredient for two types of legendary pills. However, whether it was the peak tier 6 Demon Transformation Pill or the high-grade tier 7 Body Transformation Pill, both helped magical beasts achieve transformation. The only difference was that the Demon Transformation Pill could only help a magical beast partially transform, equivalent to opening a door. The rest of the process still required the magical beast to comprehend and cultivate on its own. A magical beast must understand transformation in order to reach Rank 8. However, the high-grade tier 7 Body Transformation Pill was incredibly precious. Ordinary Rank 7 magical beasts might not acquire one in their lifetime, and it was not easy even for Rank 8 magical beasts. Therefore, someone developed the Demon Transformation Pill, lowering the alchemy threshold, but it could only achieve partial transformation. Therefore, the Body Transformation Grass was in a rather awkward position. In the hands of a powerful alchemist, it was the extremely precious main ingredient for a high-grade tier 7 pill. But in the hands of an average alchemist, it was only the main ingredient for a peak tier 6 pill. The gap between the two was immense. However, no matter what, the value of the Body Transformation Grass definitely exceeded that of the tier 5 Four Lines White Spirit Pill. Yun Yun''s grand gesture thoroughly shocked everyone. Even Fa Ma and Yao Ye could only shake their heads in resignation. "The Misty Cloud Sect''s foundation remains so deep. Even though they haven''t produced a Dou Ancestor in many years and have fallen to a third-rate power on the continent, their resources are still abundant," Jia Xing Tian shook his head worriedly. He just couldn''t understand. In the past, the Misty Cloud Sect had been at its peak under Yun Po Tian''s leadership; a first-rate power renowned throughout the Dou Qi Continent. Yet they chose to establish their sect in this remote North-Western Region, causing the Jia Ma Empire to have no peace regardless of which dynasty ruled. Hai Bodong looked at the guilt-ridden Xiao Yan with a strange expression. After sizing him up, he said, "Kid, I''ve been around the block. When a man uses the word ''owe'' in regards to a woman, then it''s over; you''re doomed." Xiao Yan rolled his eyes at Hai Bodong and said in an annoyed tone, "Old Hai, what nonsense are you spouting? I truly owe her a debt of gratitude." A glint flashed through Hai Bodong''s eyes as he said with a chuckle, "Heh, just a debt of gratitude? Did nothing else happen between you and Yun Yun?" With Hai Bodong''s words, Xiao Yan couldn''t help but recall those ambiguous days in the cave, the soft sensation when he lifted her seal, and the glimpses of her body when he tore her clothes during his beast transformation. Scene after scene flooded his mind. Hai Bodong seemed to be reminiscing as well. He clicked his tongue, "Tsk tsk, you little brat is really something. Not only do you have an engagement with that girl from the Nalan Clan, but now you''ve gotten involved with her Master too." "Others strive to maintain good relations with their elders, but you''ve taken it a step further and gotten ''involved'' with them instead. Tsk tsk" "But it''s no wonder. Yun Yun is indeed a peerless beauty. For a young lad like you, mature women have a special allure. I heard that part of the reason Gu He was willing to join the Misty Cloud Sect back then was because of Yun Yun." "Tsk tsk tsk, you little pervert. Don''t tell me you''ve already planned it out, embracing one with your left arm and holding the other with your right, enjoying them calling each other ''Master'' and ''Disciple'' to set the mood? No wonder people say you alchemists are experts at refining those kinds of pills. Seems it''s all true." "You little deviant." Xiao Yan looked at Hai Bodong with a horrified expression as the old man slandered his innocence with his monologue. "Old Hai, you''re the real pervert here!" Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Serene Sea Scaly Beast Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Serene Sea Scaly Beast ? Xiao Yan directly ignored that shameless old fellow Hai Bodong. The idea of master and disciple working together and refining some kind of forbidden red pill had never even crossed his mind! In the end, he still chose to proceed with the exchange because, in his heart, he felt that a mere Four Lines White Spirit Pill wasn''t enough to repay Yun Yun for the many times she had helped him. Whether it was with the Ten Thousand Beast Flame or the Green Lotus Core Flame, Yun Yun''s assistance had been crucial. It could be said that she was his benefactor. "Well, well, you little rascal are planning to bring down the Misty Cloud Sect from the inside, aren''t you?" Hai Bodong raised his eyebrows and looked at Xiao Yan with an admiring expression. What generations of emperors in the Jia Ma Empire couldn''t achieve might just be accomplished by this young man. Xiao Yan paid no heed to this old geezer acting in a manner unbecoming of his age. He turned to Hai Bodong and said, "Old Hai, do you still want the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill? We''ve gathered all the medicinal ingredients now." Hai Bodong immediately dropped his wisecracking expression and turned serious when he heard Xiao Yan mention the Spiritual Restoration Purple Pill, "Do you have confidence in refining it successfully?" Refining a pill always carried a chance of failure. The Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill was a high-grade tier 5 pill. If the refinement failed, who knew how long it would take to gather another complete set of ingredients. "If I were to refine it now, the success rate wouldn''t exceed 20%. So I plan to use the medicinal ingredients we''ve obtained this time to gradually familiarize myself with refining tier 5 pills. Then I''ll refine the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill for you," Xiao Yan explained. "Alright, I''ve waited this long already; I don''t mind waiting a bit longer." Hai Bodong revealed a gratified and excited expression upon hearing this. "Rest assured, Old Hai. I will definitely refine the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill before going to the Misty Cloud Sect." Xiao Yan wasn''t worried about the Misty Cloud Sect playing any tricks. What he was concerned about was the Hall of Souls! He was now almost certain that the Hall of Souls was definitely within the Misty Cloud Sect. He had always been very wary of this mysterious and powerful organization. He intended to use the Hall of Souls to become stronger, but this was undoubtedly akin to gazing into the abyss. One misstep, and there would be no turning back. Finally, the auction concluded smoothly. This Tian Class Auction had thoroughly shocked all the alchemists in the Jia Ma Empire with Xiao Yan''s name. Even the older generation of alchemists were convinced by his skills. Especially after they personally witnessed the medicinal pills he had refined, they no longer dared to underestimate this eighteen-year-old champion of the Alchemist Grand Meeting. All the pills were successfully auctioned off without any being passed over. Xiao Yan didn''t go out to meet Yun Yun and simply handed the pills over to Ya Fei to handle. Xiao Yan took the scroll and glanced at the description on it. "This pill is specifically used to heal old injuries in magical beasts, restore their strength, and remove hidden ailments. Could it be that the imperial family possesses a Rank 6 magical beast?" Yao Ye didn''t conceal anything and nodded. "Please come with me, Grandmaster Xiao Yan. Perhaps you will understand once you see it for yourself." The journey took only a few minutes. After smoothly passing through layers of strict security, the two of them arrived at the shore of a huge lake before halting their steps. When Xiao Yan arrived, he immediately spotted Jia Xing Tian, who had been waiting there for some time. The latter also noticed the two of them at the same moment and quickly stepped forward to greet them. Xiao Yan smiled and swept his gaze toward the vast lake. Here, he could vaguely sense a powerful aura concealed in the depths of the lake. "It''s in the lake?" Xiao Yan said slowly. Jia Xing Tian''s eyes revealed a hint of astonishment. Xiao Yan''s spiritual perception was actually this strong! "Great-Grandfather, please summon the Serene Sea Scaly Beast," Yao Ye said with a slight nod. Upon hearing this, Jia Xing Tian''s figure flashed and appeared above the lake. His feet landed on the water''s surface, and then he plunged both hands into the water. Powerful Dou Qi surged forth, and as the Dou Qi poured in, the calm lake surface suddenly seemed to boil, bubbling with countless ripples. On the shore, Xiao Yan could clearly sense that a magical beast aura far surpassing that of the Amethyst Winged Lion King was gradually surging up from the bottom of the lake. Although it wasn''t as strong as Queen Medusa back then, it wasn''t far off. It had probably reached the level of a 7-star Dou Emperor. As if sensing a threat, Xiao Yan felt the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python within the Green Lotus in his storage ring showing signs of awakening. However, it quickly returned to slumber. A massive water pillar suddenly shot up from the lake with a loud boom, and eventually transformed into a rain of water droplets that fell back down. Roar! The water pillar shot into the sky as an unusual, deep beast roar suddenly resounded from the lake. After which, an enormous figure that instantly took over half of the lake emerged. The magical beast that appeared before Xiao Yan had an enormous, meandering body covered in deep blue scales. On its gigantic head was a blue, spiral-patterned single horn. A pair of lantern-like giant eyes made it look quite terrifying to look at. "This is our imperial family''s guardian magical beast, the Serene Sea Scaly Beast." Chapter 174: Chapter 174: How Could I Have the Face! Chapter 174: Chapter 174: How Could I Have the Face! ? "Old Jia, why have you awakened me again? Didn''t I tell you that my strength has greatly diminished and I can''t be of much help? I don''t even possess the strength of a Dou Emperor anymore." The Serene Sea Scaly Beast slightly disgruntled, thunderous voice echoed across the lake as soon as it appeared. Like the Amethyst Winged Lion King, the Serene Sea Scaly Beast could understand human speech and possessed considerable intelligence. Standing atop the lake''s surface, Jia Xing Tian looked up and smiled at the Serene Sea Scaly Beast. "Old friend, I''m not disturbing you without reason. This is Grandmaster Xiao Yan, an alchemist who possesses a Heavenly Flame. He might be able to help you." "Oh? An alchemist with a Heavenly Flame?" Having lived for countless years, the Serene Sea Scaly Beast naturally understood the significance of a Heavenly Flame. An alchemist possessing one was undoubtedly incredibly powerful. "This kid? A tier 6 alchemist?" The Serene Sea Scaly Beast followed Jia Xing Tian''s pointing finger and saw Xiao Yan smiling at it. Immediately, it was filled with doubt. After all, how old could Xiao Yan be? The Mixed Bone Molding Pill was a tier 6 medicinal pill. Even with a Heavenly Flame, could such a young lad possibly refine a tier 6 pill? Xiao Yan smiled and said, "This junior''s name is Xiao Yan, eighteen years old this year. I can barely be considered a 5th-tier alchemist." "Eighteen years old! Tier 5?!!" Even the long-lived Serene Sea Scaly Beast''s pupils contracted in shock upon hearing Xiao Yan''s words. It could hardly believe that an eighteen-year-old youth was already a 5th-tier alchemist! This was too unbelievable! Princess Yao Ye asked, "Grandmaster Xiao Yan, we''d like you to see if there''s any other way to treat the Serene Sea Scaly Beast''s old injuries besides the Mixed Bone Molding Pill." Chairman Fa Ma had naturally examined it before and suggested using the tier 6 Mixed Bone Molding Pill. However, the only person in the entire Jia Ma Empire capable of refining tier 6 pills was Gu He, and he was an Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect. Naturally, he wouldn''t help the imperial family restore the Serene Sea Scaly Beast''s strength. Therefore, Princess Yao Ye wanted to invite Xiao Yan to see if there was any alternative besides the Mixed Bone Molding Pill. Xiao Yan nodded. The terrifying late-stage Mortal State Spiritual Strength burst forth from his body and instantly caused ripples to surge across the entire lake''s surface. "What terrifying Spiritual Strength!" "Why do I feel like this Spiritual Strength might even surpass Chairman Fa Ma''s!" The powerful Spiritual Strength penetrated the Serene Sea Scaly Beast''s entire body and continuously diagnosed it. The incomparably vast Spiritual Strength slowly scanned, thoroughly probing all the hidden injuries and potential problems within its body. The Serene Sea Scaly Beast exclaimed, "You can control my injuries and prevent them from deteriorating further?!" Xiao Yan slowly stretched out his palm with a faint smile, and with a whoosh, a mass of blood-red flame instantly burst forth from his hand. The Serene Sea Scaly Beast, which usually detested flames, looked curiously at the blood-red flame in Xiao Yan''s palm and said, "How odd. Why do I not dislike this flame at all? Instead, I feel a slight sense of closeness to it." "This is the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, a kind of Heavenly Flame. It can strengthen a magical beast''s body and activate its bloodline, so it''s relatively friendly to magical beasts," Xiao Yan explained. He unfurled his Eagle Wings and slowly hovered above the Serene Sea Scaly Beast''s head. "In a moment, I''ll let the Ten Thousand Beast Flame enter your body to stabilize your bloodline and eliminate some stagnant blood. This way, your injuries won''t worsen for the next three years." Xiao Yan was already well-versed in using Heavenly Flames to treat injuries, having done it several times before. The treatment process went smoothly without any mishaps. "Ah, that feels great! Kid, you''re quite capable," the Serene Sea Scaly Beast said with a look of contentment. The pain wracking its body had truly lessened considerably. Witnessing Xiao Yan''s abilities, Yao Ye and Jia Xing Tian exchanged glances and nodded to each other in silent agreement. Yao Ye took out a red scroll from her storage ring and handed it to Xiao Yan. "Grandmaster Xiao Yan, this is the pill recipe for the Mixed Bone Molding Pill that our imperial family obtained from the Alchemist Association at great expense. This storage ring also contains three sets of ingredients for refining the Mixed Bone Molding Pill." "If one day Grandmaster Xiao Yan can refine the Mixed Bone Molding Pill, I hope you can refine one and send it to us. At that time, Yao Ye will surely reward you generously." Xiao Yan looked at the recipe and ingredients before him with a strange expression on his face. He had only come to the imperial palace once, yet someone was giving him a pill recipe and medicinal ingredients again? How could I have the face to accept this! Chapter 175: Chapter 175: Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan! Chapter 175: Chapter 175: Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan! ? Xiao Yan''s current mood was akin to receiving red envelopes during the New Year-outwardly expressing modesty, but inwardly eager to accept. Princess Yao Ye, as the future queen of the Jia Ma Empire, possessed keen insight. Naturally, she saw through Xiao Yan''s inner thoughts with just one glance. And acted decisively! Grasping Xiao Yan''s hand, she firmly placed the storage ring and scroll into his palm as she said, "Yao Ye believes in Grandmaster Xiao Yan''s ability and talent. On behalf of the imperial family, I extend a standing invitation to Grandmaster Xiao Yan." Since she had already placed them in his hand, Xiao Yan coughed lightly and didn''t stand on ceremony. He said, "Then I thank Princess Yao Ye and Elder Jia for your trust. I''ll accept this pill recipe and these medicinal ingredients for now. In the future, I will certainly complete the refinement and have someone deliver the pill, not disappointing Princess Yao Ye''s request." Xiao Yan could only obediently accept since the other party had already said this much. Before coming, he had anticipated that Yao Ye might have something she wanted his help with. Considering he had already received a Mighty Huang Fruit from them, assisting a bit was only appropriate. But he hadn''t expected this. Yao Ye let out a soft laugh and said, "Then Yao Ye will rest assured and await Grandmaster Xiao Yan''s good news. Once the matter is accomplished, the Jia Ma Imperial Family will offer an additional generous reward." Xiao Yan raised his hand in acknowledgment and, without further ado, returned to the Miteer Auction House to begin his alchemy cultivation. Watching Xiao Yan unfold his Fire Wings and fly away, the massive Serene Sea Scaly Beast said, "That kid''s alchemy skills aren''t the only thing that''s extraordinary. Just now, I sensed an extremely powerful force within his body." Jia Xing Tian looked at Yao Ye and said, "I heard that the Miteer Clan was even willing to give half of the auction house''s assets to Xiao Yan and intended to betroth Ya Fei to him, all in order to keep him." Yao Ye''s beautiful eyes gazed at the gradually fading trail of flames in the sky, a strange glint flashing within them. "He''s worth that price." Jia Xing Tian glanced sideways at Yao Ye, "Yao Ye, you''re not that young anymore." A dangerous light flickered in Yao Ye''s eyes as she smiled at Jia Xing Tian. "What is Great Grandfather trying to say?" "I didn''t say anything." -- Shortly after, Xiao Yan returned to the Miteer Auction House. He no longer stayed at the Nalan Clan''s residence. Xiao Yan did exactly as he said for the rest of the time. His primary task each day was to refine tier 5 medicinal pills. He would refine pills until his Dou Qi was exhausted and his Spiritual Strength depleted. Subsequently, he would cultivate the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique and Flame Mantra to replenish his Spiritual Strength and Dou Qi. Any remaining time would be spent practicing Dou Techniques. Xiao Yan had gained some valuable experience in refining tier 5 pills after successfully refining one before. Although failures still outnumbered successes in the first week, his possession of a Heavenly Flame, coupled with formidable fire control and Spiritual Strength, allowed him to extract more essence from the medicinal ingredients, giving him ample material to work with. After a week, Xiao Yan had achieved a certain success rate with low-grade tier 5 pills. In the second week, he began challenging middle-grade tier 5 pills. By the end of the month, he had actually managed to refine a high-grade tier 5 Dou King Pill, and its quality was quite exceptional. Even Chairman Fa Ma couldn''t help but smile wryly upon seeing it. He marveled at the astonishing speed of Xiao Yan''s progress. In a mere month, Xiao Yan had gone from successfully refining his first tier 5 pill to being able to produce a Dou King Pill. Moreover, the quality of the finished product was already not inferior to what he, the Chairman of the Alchemist Association, could refine. Xiao Yan had thoroughly solidified his status as a 5th-tier alchemist in just a short month and a half. He could even refine high-grade tier 5 pills with a high success rate, becoming a genuine high-grade 5th-tier alchemist. into a ''pill-popping pet''. Without further ado, Xiao Yan began refining using his merged Heavenly Flame. The Dou Qi within his body surged continuously. In no time, the temperature inside the Black Demon Cauldron reached an inconceivable level. He placed the medicinal ingredients into the cauldron one by one. As the final ingredient entered, his expression grew solemn as he commenced refining according to the pill recipe. Meanwhile, Hai Bodong waited anxiously in the sixth floor reception room. Although he appeared calm, Ya Fei could tell that he was like a husband pacing outside the delivery room, pretending to be composed when he was actually frantic with worry. Hai Bodong was likely praying fervently in his heart: Don''t fail, Xiao Yan. Don''t fail! Three hours passed. With a creak, the door was pushed open, and a weary-looking Xiao Yan walked in. "How did it go?!" Hai Bodong immediately stood up and asked nervously upon seeing Xiao Yan enter. Xiao Yan couldn''t help but laugh upon seeing his anxious expression. He took out a pill bottle containing a purple-colored medicinal pill from his storage ring and tossed it to Hai Bodong as he said, "A smooth delivery; mother and child are safe." Hai Bodong hurriedly caught the bottle in a fluster and nervously opened it. Instantly, a deep purple medicinal mist wafted out, filling the entire room with a purple haze. From the density of the mist alone, one could tell that the pill''s quality was exceptionally high. It could be said to be a perfect refinement! "Can''t you change this bad habit of tossing pills around?" Hai Bodong grumbled, though relief was evident in his voice. "Hurry up and take it. The medicinal strength of the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill requires time to refine. I plan to head to the Misty Cloud Sect first thing tomorrow morning," Xiao Yan said. "Alright, this old man will accompany you to the Misty Cloud Sect tomorrow morning." Hai Bodong let out a hearty laugh, clutching the pill as he hurried off to find a suitable place to refine its medicinal strength. "Sister Ya Fei, please help me prepare some people and a more luxurious mode of transportation for tomorrow. I want to make a grand entrance." "So ostentatious?" Ya Fei was stunned for a moment. Xiao Yan wasn''t someone who typically liked to show off. "The one going to the Misty Cloud Sect this time isn''t Xiao Yan the alchemist, but Xiao Yan of the Xiao Clan! I cannot let my clan lose face." We are officially entering the final arc of this volume! Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Grand Entrance! Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Grand Entrance! ? Early the next morning, a luxurious palanquin crafted from precious materials was prominently displayed before the grand entrance of the Miteer Auction House. The palanquin was inlaid with various rare gems, its entire body crystal clear and translucent appearing as if carved from jade. One glance was enough to tell it was no ordinary item. Inside the auction house, Ya Fei held an exceptionally exquisite robe in both hands and presented it to Xiao Yan. This robe had been commissioned by the Miteer Auction House and had been made by the most skilled craftsman in the entire Jia Ma Empire over the course of several years. Unlike a Soul Robe or an Alchemist Robe that possessed various special abilities, this garment emphasized only two words: prestige and luxury! Xiao Yan picked up a silver silk cord and tied back his slightly long hair. He had been refining pills for over a month and hadn''t tended to his appearance. Ya Fei gently helped him don the robe with her delicate hands. Outwardly, Xiao Yan had completely shed his usual demeanor and instead exuded the aura of a noble young master from the secular world. There was a touch of indifference and laziness in his eyes that seemed to look down upon the world, fully embodying the bearing of a wealthy clan heir. And indeed, Xiao Yan was a young master from a wealthy clan. One must know that Xiao Yan was born as the son of the Clan Head of the Xiao Clan, one of the three major clans in Wu Tan City. The Xiao Clan''s status in Wu Tan City was equivalent to that of a local emperor. From childhood, he had never worried about food or clothing, possessed outstanding cultivation talent, came from a wealthy household, always had people serving him, and even had a childhood engagement. Even if he were a pig with such a background, he would be a noble pig! This wasn''t Xiao Yan deliberately putting on airs of wealth; he inherently possessed such bearing. It was just that his talent for cultivation and alchemy was so outstanding that everyone had forgotten that he was not only just eighteen years old but also a young master from a wealthy clan. Not to mention he now owned half of the Miteer Auction House. He was simply rolling in wealth! Xiao Yan stood with his hands clasped behind his back, adorned in opulent attire and wearing the most expensive ornament from the Miteer Auction House at his waist. Countless gazes were drawn to him the moment he stepped out of the auction house. At this moment, Xiao Yan had shed his past life''s matters and fully embraced his identity in this life. A noble aura instantly emanated from him. "Holy shit, who is that?!" "Are you blind? That''s clearly Grandmaster Xiao Yan, though he does look a bit different now." "Damn, how did Grandmaster Xiao Yan become like this?" empire. If not for the sect rules established by Yun Po Tian, which stated that they must not seize the emperor''s power, perhaps during several dynasty changes in the empire''s history, the Misty Cloud Sect would have completely taken control of the entire Jia Ma Empire. It was precisely because of this that every generation of the imperial family was extremely wary of this colossal entity right under their noses. It was only in the current Jia Ma Imperial Family''s era, with the protection of Jia Xing Tian, a peak Dou Emperor, and the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, two Dou Emperors, that the imperial family finally had some strength to make even the Misty Cloud Sect somewhat apprehensive. Therefore, the elite army dispatched by the Jia Ma Imperial Family to stand guard at the foot of Misty Cloud Mountain had always remained undisturbed and free from any attacks. At this moment, a palanquin so luxurious that it drew every eye was rapidly approaching from afar. The commander of the elite army had received the news early and opened up a wide path, allowing Xiao Yan to pass directly through the military camp unimpeded! Even Nalan Yanran had never received such treatment. Soon, Xiao Yan''s palanquin appeared in Misty Cloud City at the foot of Misty Cloud Mountain. Xiao Yan was seated in the lavish palanquin, dressed in the most luxurious robes, as it moved along the broad and unobstructed road. The sight of four Dou Spirits channeling their Dou Qi to carry the palanquin made him exceptionally eye-catching, drawing countless astonished gazes from the Misty Cloud Sect disciples. Yet, Xiao Yan acted as if he was oblivious to these stares and continued to rest with his eyes closed. "Holy crap, who is that? He''s way too arrogant. This is Misty Cloud City!" "Look at his direction; he seems to be heading straight to the sect!" "Good heavens! Four Dou Spirits carrying a palanquin to the sect... is he the young master of some super powerful clan?" With the swift pace of the four Dou Spirits, Xiao Yan''s palanquin soon arrived at the foot of Misty Cloud Mountain. Clouds and mist swirled at the end of the long stone staircase. Beyond the clouds was a massive square paved entirely with enormous stones that gave an ancient and majestic appearance. In the center of the square stood a colossal stone tablet that towered imposingly. Inscribed upon it were the names of all past Sect Leaders of the Misty Cloud Sect and those who had made great contributions to the sect. In the middle of the square, Nalan Yanran, dressed in a silver moon robe, sat cross-legged on the ground, a longsword resting on her lap. She slowly opened her eyes, a hint of battle intent flashing in her gaze as she said, "He''s here." Chapter 177: Chapter 177: The Body Reacts?! Chapter 177: Chapter 177: The Body Reacts?! ? The luxurious palanquin gradually came to a halt at the foot of the mountain. Xiao Yan opened his eyes and up at the towering peak that pierced the clouds. A stone staircase that seemed to lead straight to the heavens extended into the cloud layer above, where the renowned Misty Cloud Sect of the Jia Ma Empire was situated. For disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect who wished to descend the mountain to purchase supplies, they had to traverse this sky-reaching stairway. For those with weaker strength, even the return journey proved challenging. Xiao Yan looked at the sect faintly visible sect above the clouds and said calmly, "Announce my arrival. They should know who has come." The moment his words fell, the four Dou Spirits simultaneously circulated the Dou Qi within their bodies and shouted in unison, "The Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan, has arrived at the Misty Cloud Sect!!" The combined Dou Qi-infused roar of the four Dou Spirits thundered like rolling clouds, the sound echoing throughout the entire Misty Cloud Mountain and even reaching Misty Cloud City behind them. Their voices reverberated across the entire sect. Behind Xiao Yan, Jia Xing Tian and the others following him could only shake their heads with wry smiles. "This little fellow truly doesn''t put the Misty Cloud Sect in his eyes at all." "Good grief, it''s been so many years since someone dared to shout so brazenly at the Misty Cloud Sect. This old man has forgotten who the last one was." At this moment, some Dou Practitioner and Dou Master disciples climbing the stone steps up to the Misty Cloud Sect couldn''t help but look downward. "The Xiao Clan? Which clan is that? How dare they be so arrogant, shouting at the Misty Cloud Sect like this!" "Wait a minute, why does the name Xiao Yan sound so familiar?" "I remember now! Isn''t Senior Sister Yanran''s fiance? named Xiao Yan?" "No way!! A few years ago, wasn''t there talk about Senior Sister Yanran wanting to annul the engagement? It''s been years; what happened with that matter? Why was there no follow- up?" "I heard that Senior Sister Yanran emerged from the Gate of Life and Death the day before yesterday, and today there are over a thousand senior brothers and sisters gathered at the square. Even the First Elder and the Sect Leader are present. Could it be related to this matter?" A sense of an impending storm suddenly filled the hearts of all the Misty Cloud Sect disciples. Everyone understood that something significant was about to happen. Many disciples sensed the unusual atmosphere and hurriedly began to make their way toward the sect. At this moment, nearly a thousand people were seated cross-legged in the Misty Cloud Sect''s Dueling Arena. They formed a semicircle, and without exception, all were dressed in moon- white robes. The cloud and sword emblems on their sleeves fluttered in the wind like living creatures, faintly exuding traces of sword intent. At the top of the arena, a series of towering stone seats extended upwards. The higher the seat, the older the occupant tended to be. On the highest stone platform sat Sect Leader Yun Yun with her legs crossed. Below her were over a dozen white-robed elders sitting with their eyes closed in meditation. Although these elders appeared ordinary on the surface, the fact that their robes remained as still as steel despite the blowing wind made it clear to everyone that these elders were not simple figures! Below these white-robed elders was a solitary stone step. Nalan Yanran, dressed in a moon- white gown, had her eyes slightly closed. The gentle breeze pressed her robe tightly against her delicate body, revealing the perfect curves beneath. Her beautiful face was serene and indifferent. Xiao Yan clearly remembered that the cultivation scroll for the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change was in the possession of the Hall of Souls. In the end, he slowly leaned back in the palanquin, a faint smile emerging on his face as he thought, ''It seems this trip to the Misty Cloud Sect wasn''t in vain after all. Things are getting more and more interesting.'' Time passed second by second. Then, at a certain moment, the creaking sound of the palanquin and footsteps suddenly rang out from the stone steps outside the arena. This sound caused a subtle change in the atmosphere within the arena. All the Misty Cloud Sect disciples opened their eyes, their gazes locked onto the stone steps where an exquisitely crafted and extravagantly luxurious palanquin gradually came into view. Nalan Yanran on the stone platform also slowly opened her bright eyes, her gaze settling on that palanquin. In a departure from his usual self, Xiao Yan now resembled a noble young master as he sat in the palanquin with his eyes closed. For some reason, Nalan Yanran''s previously calm heart suddenly began to beat erratically. After all, the cause of this duel was her unsuccessful attempt to annul their engagement, which meant that Xiao Yan was still her fiance?. The footsteps drew closer and closer until even the dozen or so white-robed elders on the stone platform and Yun Yun opened their eyes, all gazes converging on the same spot. When Yun Yun''s eyes fell upon Xiao Yan in the palanquin, her elegant and noble face showed a moment of astonishment before becoming dazed. Her beautiful eyes filled with shock. Yun Yun naturally hadn''t known that Xiao Yan was Yao Yan. Now that she thought about it, Yao Yan Xiao Yan the Alchemist, she immediately understood that this guy had used an alias just like she had! Their gazes met. Xiao Yan awkwardly rubbed his nose, a hint of guilt in his voice as he said to Yun Yun, "Uh... long time no see, Yun Zhi." For a moment, many people present widened their eyes, glancing from Xiao Yan to the stunned Yun Yun, then to the utterly confused Nalan Yanran. All of them gasped inwardly. Complicated! Very complicated! Not only was this triangle stable, but it was also incredibly complex! So complex that even the Pythagorean Theorem could only throw up its hands in defeat! In the shadows, Ling Ying''s eyebrows furrowed upon realizing the situation was far from simple. "This fellow truly has a peach blossom fate," he murmured. Ling Ying had already made up his mind. He would definitely report everything to Xun Er once he returned. Chapter 178: Chapter 178: The Duel Begins! Chapter 178: Chapter 178: The Duel Begins! ? "Yun Zhi? Who is that?" Many people present exchanged puzzled glances upon hearing Xiao Yan''s words. Even the disciples seated cross-legged in the square, forming the combined formation, couldn''t help but be curious. Among them, there was no disciple named Yun Zhi. The shrewd First Elder Yun Leng, however, looked up at Yun Yun. From her flustered expression, he realized that the ''Yun Zhi'' Xiao Yan was referring to was indeed Sect Leader Yun Yun herself. Yun Leng furrowed his brow and thought to himself, ''These two actually know each other already?'' Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Yan, who was scratching his nose with a slightly embarrassed expression. Following his gaze, she turned to look at her Master and discovered that her Master, who had always been as calm as still water, now appeared somewhat at a loss! In the eight years that Nalan Yanran had been cultivating under Yun Yun, she had never seen her Master like this! ''How can this be? Why does Xiao Yan know Master? And their relationship seems more than just simple acquaintances!'' Nalan Yanran was shocked inwardly. As for the onlooker Hai Bodong, he had long known that Xiao Yan and Yun Yun had some connection. He stroked his beard with a smiling expression. Yun Yun had returned to the Misty Cloud Sect long ago, and naturally, she was present for today''s duel involving Nalan Yanran. Hai Bodong had been eager to watch this drama unfold. It was bound to be juicy! "Old Hai, you knew long ago that Xiao Yan and Yun Yun were acquainted?" Fa Ma glanced at Hai Bodong, noticing his look of keen interest. "I heard they know each other, but as for the nature of their relationship, only they would know," Hai Bodong said with a grin. Of course, most of the disciples present hadn''t paid much attention to what Xiao Yan said. In their eyes, Xiao Yan was already seen as their imaginary enemy-someone they envied, were jealous of, and hated. If only their own grandfather was Xiao Lin! If it weren''t for Xiao Yan''s esteemed status now as an unattainable 5th-tier alchemist and the champion of the Alchemist Grand Meeting, the Misty Cloud Sect might have directly exerted pressure to strangle him. Not far from the square, Gu He and Liu Ling were gazing at Xiao Yan in the luxurious palanquin. Gu He said indifferently, "So that''s the champion of this Alchemist Grand Meeting? He possesses a Heavenly Flame, right?" Liu Ling nodded with a wry smile, "Mm, and he even refined a tier 5 medicinal pill. His talent in alchemy far surpasses mine." Eighteen years old, tier 5! And possessing a Heavenly Flame. Not to mention Liu Ling, even Gu He himself felt that his talent was far inferior to Xiao Yan''s. "You are Xiao Yan of the Xiao Clan, the champion of the Alchemist Grand Meeting?" First Elder Yun Leng, seated in the central position, lifted his eyes to glance at Xiao Yan and slowly spoke after a long pause. Xiao Yan heard someone call his name and finally shifted his gaze away from Yun Yun, looked at the white-robed elder, and, leaning lazily against the palanquin, said, "What''s the matter?" "I am Yun Leng, First Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect. Yanran is already our sect''s candidate for the next Sect Leader, so I hope you can annul the engagement with her. Whatever compensation you require, our Misty Cloud Sect can satisfy you," Yun Leng stood up and said proudly. Nalan Jie, who was not far away, sighed and shook his head upon seeing Nalan Yanran like this. He naturally knew how strong-willed this granddaughter of his was. At the age of ten, she had already defeated all her peers, displaying a formidable willpower that led to her being chosen by Yun Yun. Dissatisfied with the engagement, she immediately went to annul it. However, being defeated by Xiao Yan with a single blow three years ago was even more unacceptable to her than the engagement itself. Xiao Yan glanced at Yun Yun, whose eyes were filled with concern. He shrugged his shoulders, slowly stepped down from the palanquin, and said, "Originally, I should go easy on you out of consideration for your Master, but if I hold back like that, you probably wouldn''t be convinced." "So be it then. At worst, I''ll beat you badly and then heal you afterward." His storage ring flashed as soon as he finished speaking. His hand slowly grasped the hilt of the Heavy Xuan Ruler, and with a sudden pull, the ruler summoned an oppressive gust of wind as it pointed diagonally toward the ground. "You''re an Alchemist; you can consume medicinal pills," Nalan Yanran said. "Don''t mention it. Today, I''m not fighting you as a 5th-tier alchemist, but as the Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan-Xiao Yan." "Besides, it seems your strength isn''t enough to force me to take pills anyway." Xiao Yan showed a faint smile, but there was no trace of warmth in his eyes. Knowing your Master is one thing, but asking me to lose-that''s impossible. Nalan Yanran''s eyes narrowed. Her jade-like hand gripped the pale-green longsword tightly. A faint gust of light green wind swirled around the sword''s blade, within which sharp wind blades extended and retracted. A boom sounded as her entire body was enveloped by a whirlwind. Her right foot stomped heavily on the ground, and wind-attribute Dou Qi exploded from her soles and back. Activating Exploding Steps, she transformed into a gust of wind and shot toward Xiao Yan. "Green Wood Sword!" Nalan Yanran made a sudden thrust; a massive green longsword that aimed straight at Xiao Yan suddenly appeared. "It''s been three years, and you''re still using this same move." Chapter 179: Chapter 179: Each Showing Their Trump Cards Chapter 179: Chapter 179: Each Showing Their Trump Cards ? "My goodness! Senior Sister Yanran''s ''Green Wood Sword'' has already reached perfection!" "How is it that Senior Sister Yanran''s ''Green Wood Sword'' seems far more powerful than even some of the elders''?!" Just a single move of the Low Xuan Class ''Green Wood Sword'' unleashed an energy surge that sent the surrounding spectator disciples tumbling in all directions. Xiao Yan let out a shout, circulating the Dou Qi within his body as a terrifying fire-attribute energy erupted forth. "Since you''re using your old move, I''ll respond with the same." Octane Blast-Ten Thousand Beast Collapsing Fist! ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!! Ear-splitting beastly roars erupted from Xiao Yan''s fist. A mass of blood- red flames condensed around his right fist. Just as he had done three years ago, he punched straight toward the gigantic green wind sword. "Holy shit! This guy''s insane! He''s trying to block it with his bare fist!" The blood-red fist slammed heavily into the tip of the wind sword. In the next instant, a fiery mad lion burst forth from the point of impact. The terrifying flaming lion shattered all the Dou Qi, and a hidden force transmitted through Nalan Yanran''s weapon into her body. Nalan Yanran''s expression remained calm as she sensed the incoming hidden force. Xiao Yan''s punch was something she had simulated in her mind countless times, constantly seeking a way to counter it. She narrowed her eyes and, retreating swiftly, withdrew her sword. Leveraging the inherent speed of wind-attribute Dou Qi, she fully unleashed her agility, using softness to overcome hardness. By retreating, she dissipated the force and nullified the impact of the erupting hidden force. The instant she retreated, Nalan Yanran stretched out her left hand and waved her jade-like palm. The whirlwind from the shattered ''Green Wood Sword'' rapidly condensed into numerous small wind swords in the air, all stabbing toward Xiao Yan. Taking advantage of the gap in Xiao Yan''s attack, she recreated the broken Dou Technique in another form. She had long anticipated that Xiao Yan would be able to break through the ''Green Wood Sword''. One could only wonder how many times Nalan Yanran had rehearsed this battle in her mind. Xiao Yan drew out his Heavy Xuan Ruler and thrust it diagonally into the ground with great force as he saw countless wind blades flying toward him like a rain of swords blanketing the sky. Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! The innumerable wind blades struck the Heavy Xuan Ruler one after another like wind swords. The powerful impact force pushed Xiao Yan backward, his feet leaving two deep grooves in the ground. "Break!" Xiao Yan let out a cry as he violently swung the Heavy Xuan Ruler in his hand, instantly shattering all the wind swords. He intended to use Nalan Yanran to intimidate the entire Jia Ma Empire. This Yun Leng had no small ambitions! ''I worked so hard collecting Heavenly Flames to evolve the Flame Mantra to the Di Class, while this girl obtains a Di Class Qi Method just by entering a sect''s secret realm once. It''s really unfair,'' Xiao Yan thought to himself. What concerned him more was the quality of Dou Qi that Nalan Yanran was now emanating. It was definitely not something a High Xuan Class Qi Method could produce, especially that black sword intent. The Qi Method Nalan Yanran was now cultivating likely surpassed even the one Yun Yun cultivated. The unsheathing of the black sword made one''s blood run cold. This wasn''t merely a sword but rather a weapon that seemed to have emerged from the depths of hell itself. When Nalan Yanran grasped this black sword, it appeared to simultaneously activate the Qi Method she cultivated, transforming her into a dark, luminous figure filled with killing intent and the aura of death. It was evident that, much like the Flame Splitting Tsunami, the black sword in her hand was a set with the Qi Method and Dou Technique she cultivated! "Truly worthy of being Yun Po Tian''s companion sword. Its killing intent is overwhelming and terrifying beyond compare." Upon seeing the black sword unsheathed, countless Dou Spirits and even Dou Kings felt a chill run down their spines. This was the true terror of the Misty Cloud Sect, the depth of their foundation. The Misty Cloud Sect had indeed been glorious in the past! Xiao Yan set aside his dismissive gaze upon witnessing Nalan Yanran''s imposing aura. Undoubtedly, this girl had grown immensely after being defeated by him. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have been able to obtain Yun Po Tian''s legacy. In all these years, only she had managed to obtain it within the Misty Cloud Sect! "Very well then, I won''t play around with you anymore." Mad Lion Chant-Blood Fury, Beast Transformation! ROAR!! The Ten Thousand Beast Flame surged out from every cell in Xiao Yan''s body. In an instant, blood-red flames enveloped him entirely, forming the image of a raging blood-red lion. His muscles rapidly bulged as if all the power sealed within him was suddenly unleashed at this moment. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame was fully activated. His hair stood on end like steel needles, revealing a pair of ferocious fangs. His jet-black, pearl-like pupils transformed into beast- like eyes. "A Heavenly Flame!! This is the power of a Heavenly Flame!!" Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Mysterious Power Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Mysterious Power ? A terrifying blood-red aura swept across the entire square. Xiao Yan personally demonstrated to everyone present that Heavenly Flames were not just tools for alchemy; they possessed special abilities that only heaven and earth could bestow! "What kind of flame is this?! It actually turns a person into a magical beast!!" Liu Ling''s face was bathed in the crimson glow, his eyes filled with horror. Could it be that Xiao Yan had taken a reverse Body Transformation Pill?! Gu He''s expression was grave as he recalled a certain Heavenly Flame. He said solemnly, "If I''m not mistaken, the Heavenly Flame Xiao Yan obtained is the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. It''s said that this Heavenly Flame is the fire of magical beasts and can purify a magical beast''s bloodline, enhancing their physique. But I never expected that a human cultivator refining it could transform their body to resemble that of a magical beast!" The Body Transformation Pill was a high-grade tier 7 medicinal pill precisely because it could grant magical beasts, who had strong bodies but weak cultivation talent, the combined advantages of both humans and beasts. That''s what made it worthy of being a high-grade tier 7 pill. And now, Xiao Yan was like a human-shaped magical beast! Wasn''t that equivalent to a magical beast that had taken the Body Transformation Pill?! He possessed the best of both worlds! It was as if the Heavenly Flame came with a complimentary high-grade tier 7 medicinal pill! No wonder Queen Medusa wasn''t willing to exchange a Heavenly Flame for a Body Transformation Pill. Even if she didn''t use it for her own evolution, the value of a Heavenly Flame far surpassed that of any tier 7 medicinal pill! In an instant, the situation in the arena became unpredictable once again. First Elder Yun Leng''s face darkened instantly. He could never have imagined that an alchemist¡ªoften ridiculed as a soft-footed shrimp, weakling, or drone-could possess such formidable strength! Yun Yun clasped her hands tightly as she watched the intense standoff in the square, suddenly unsure of whom she should be more worried about! After activating the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and undergoing beast transformation, Xiao Yan''s heart was filled with raging emotions that he no longer suppressed. Fire wings unfurled behind him as he stomped heavily on the ground. The plaza floor shattered instantly as a blood-red afterimage appeared before Nalan Yanran, and his right hand brought the Heavy Xuan Ruler crashing down! Nalan Yanran''s eyes flashed as she swiftly dodged to the side. The Heavy Xuan Ruler smashed into the ground and created a massive crater with a thunderous boom. "What ferocious power! This single strike is comparable to that of a low-star Dou King. His physical strength must have reached that of a peak Rank 4 magical beast!" In that instant, Nalan Yanran appeared behind Xiao Yan and launched a swift attack. A flash of sword light streaked by in the blink of an eye. Just this single ray of sword light caused the hearts of all the Misty Cloud Sect disciples present to skip a beat, as if it had slashed across their own throats. They subconsciously touched their necks. One must know that Xiao Yan possessed the enhancements of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and the protection of the Mad Lion Chant, along with Dou Qi Armor. Ordinary attacks couldn''t penetrate his tough body. Yet, his shoulder was still pierced under this sword strike! The next second, a thunderous boom resounded as a figure was violently slammed from mid- air into the ground. Xiao Yan clearly had no concept of going easy on the fairer sex and ruthlessly traded injury for injury. The Heavy Xuan Ruler slammed down brutally on Nalan Yanran''s body. He then smiled faintly as he looked at his pierced shoulder. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame flared up, and a searing pain transmitted back as it cauterized the wound! Gazing down from above, Xiao Yan said, "You should surrender. With the enhancement of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, my vitality is even more resilient than that of ordinary magical beasts. But you have a human body. If we continue like this, sooner or later all your bones will be shattered. It''ll be troublesome if I can''t heal you then." The hearts of everyone present skipped a beat. Xiao Yan''s fighting style was simply too ferocious. He brazenly exchanged injuries with Nalan Yanran, relying on the enhancement of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. Though he was pierced by a sword, he had also sent Nalan Yanran flying with a heavy blow. Xiao Yan was like a thick-skinned, brawny tank, while Nalan Yanran could at most be considered an assassin. How could she contend with him like this?! The dust cleared with a whoosh. Nalan Yanran stood in the center of the large pit, looking up at Xiao Yan. After being pummeled by the Heavy Xuan Ruler and sent flying, blood streamed from her forehead, continuously dripping onto her clothes and staining them red. However, Nalan Yanran didn''t even furrow her brows at this moment. Not only did she not furrow her brows, she even revealed a faint smile. That blood-stained smile actually had a unique charm to it. Suddenly, with a buzzing sound, the silver dragon on her black sword emitted a white light that enveloped her entirely. To everyone''s astonishment, the wounds that had left her battered and bruised after Xiao Yan''s attack began visibly healing right before their eyes! "Hmm?! What kind of power is this?!" "Did she secretly consume a medicinal pill just now?" Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes. As an alchemist, he could say with certainty that this was definitely not the effect of any medicinal pill. Nalan Yanran must have obtained something else within the Gate of Life and Death! ''This power... Why does it seem a bit similar to that thing?'' Xiao Yan furrowed his brows deeply, a strange glint flashing through his eyes. Chapter 181: Chapter 181: A Dangerous Thing Chapter 181: Chapter 181: A Dangerous Thing ? Xiao Yan furrowed his brows tightly. The white light that had just emanated from Nalan Yanran might have seemed like the effect of a medicinal pill, Secret Technique, or something similar in the eyes of others. However, with his powerful Spiritual Strength enhancing his perception, he noticed something distinctly different about it. ''Gate of Life and Death, Gate of Life and Death... life and death. Could there really be such coincidences in this world? This seems too far-fetched.'' Xiao Yan felt as if a stampede of alpacas was galloping through his mind at this moment. If it truly was such a coincidence, he would regret the choice he made three years ago to the point of his intestines turning green. In no time, the injuries on Nalan Yanran''s body healed completely at an astonishing speed that shocked even Xiao Yan. "If you think you can defeat me by trading injuries, then your defeat is inevitable," Nalan Yanran raised her head to look at Xiao Yan hovering in the air and said with a serious look in her eyes. Xiao Yan''s brows knitted as he asked, "That power of yours, did you obtain it from the Gate of Life and Death?" As if she had anticipated his interest in this power, Nalan Yanran smiled and replied, "Want to know? Defeat me, and I''ll tell you." Xiao Yan''s expression instantly changed, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes as he said in a deep voice, "Provoking my fighting spirit is a very dangerous thing to do." "Then let life and death be dictated by the heavens." The moment her voice fell, powerful Dou Qi and sharp sword energies burst forth from the massive bluestone square, leaving behind clear, deep gashes on the surrounding solid stone slabs. Everyone held their breath, their gazes following the two indistinct figures as they flickered and shifted. The increasingly intense and heated battle made many people''s hearts leap into their throats as they watched the fierce combat unfold. No one present could predict how the battle would develop. Those who had originally thought Xiao Yan would win were dumbfounded. They hadn''t expected that Nalan Yanran had actually obtained Yun Po Tian''s inheritance from the Gate of Life and Death! Those who believed that such a Nalan Yanran would surely win were also stunned. They hadn''t imagined that an alchemist like Xiao Yan could be so powerful, utilizing the Heavenly Flame and Spiritual Strength to such an exquisite degree that Nalan Yanran''s wind-attribute attacks were repeatedly thwarted. In their view, an alchemist like Xiao Yan should have been defeated with a single blow. However, he actually possessed terrifying physical strength. Relying on extremely fierce close-combat abilities and the aerial superiority granted by his Eagle Wings, his offensive even showed signs of suppressing Nalan Yanran. This left those Misty Cloud Sect disciples who originally thought victory was in the bag utterly speechless. The black longsword slowly rose, pointing at Xiao Yan in the sky. The sword trembled slightly, and suddenly, the sunlight in the sky converged toward the blade. In just an instant, the longsword''s light intensified dramatically, becoming a dazzling radiance that resembled a second sun. "Xiao Yan, let''s decide the victor." Xiao Yan merely smiled faintly and said, "Let''s see what you''ve got then." He knew that Nalan Yanran was about to use a Di Class Dou Technique when he saw the surrounding world energy surging wildly. Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bodong had told him that the Misty Cloud Sect possessed a powerful ultimate move called the ''Wind''s Peak Sword Technique.'' It was a genuine Di Class Dou Technique and the reason why all the surrounding empires feared the Misty Cloud Sect. However, Xiao Yan was not afraid. While others didn''t possess Di Class Dou Techniques, he did. "Wind''s Peak: Dazzling Sunset!" With a clear shout, the terrifying energy fluctuations finally erupted. A sharp sword energy shot toward Xiao Yan, and under the pressure of that sharp sword energy, even the solid ground cracked, forming fissures that extended to the end of the square. "Heavens! Yanran has actually cultivated Dazzling Sunset to minor mastery!" Ge Ye exclaimed in shock as he watched from the sidelines "Then let me show you something as well." "Flame Splitting Tsunami!" The Heavy Xuan Ruler suddenly pointed toward Nalan Yanran, whose aura was as sharp as a sword. As Xiao Yan''s clear voice rang out, the world energy within the arena instantly became extremely turbulent. A terrifying fire-attribute energy that caused even the expressions of the elders in the judges'' seats and elite Dou Emperors like Yun Yun to change drastically erupted at this moment. "He''s stirring the world''s energy! Is this a Di Class Dou Technique?!!" "Moreover, these fluctuations seem even more advanced than Dazzling Sunset!!" Wind''s Peak had two forms. The first form, Dazzling Sunset, could barely be considered Di Class and wasn''t even ranked as a low Di Class Dou Technique. The second form, Killer Meteorite, was the true Di Class Dou Technique. So naturally, Dazzling Sunset was no match for Flame Splitting Tsunami. Chapter 182: Chapter 182: Black Flame Change Chapter 182: Chapter 182: Black Flame Change ? "Di Class!!!" Just the utterance of these two simple words filled even the peak Dou Emperor Jia Xing Tian with shock and disbelief. Although the difference between a High Xuan Class and a Di Class was merely one rank, the gap between them was as vast as the difference between heaven and earth. Most Xuan Class Dou Techniques relied largely on the user''s own strength to exert their power. However, Di Class Dou Techniques could harness the energy of the world to achieve destructive power capable of annihilation. One was merely a person, while the other wielded the power of the world itself. The two were simply incomparable! The current Jia Ma Imperial Family had been able to overthrow the previous dynasty not just by relying on the two elite Dou Emperors, the Serene Sea Scaly Beast and Jia Xing Tian, but also because of a Di Class Dou Technique they had obtained by chance, allowing them to completely seize power. Moreover, Di Class Dou Techniques were not only incredibly rare but also extremely difficult to cultivate. Even with Yun Yun''s personal guidance, Nalan Yanran had to endure great hardships to cultivate just the prerequisite sword technique, Dazzling Sunset. As such, the fact that Xiao Yan had also mastered a Di Class Dou Technique was truly astonishing! An all-encompassing, brilliant golden light, accompanied by an ear-piercing sonic boom, tore through space like lightning and shot straight toward Xiao Yan in the distance. The massive stones in the arena were shattered wherever this sun-like, powerful sword energy passed! Xiao Yan merely smiled faintly in the face of Nalan Yanran''s overwhelming offensive. Any attack would dissipate before his Flame Splitting Tsunami! He raised the Heavy Xuan Ruler high above his head, his arm bulging with veins that looked like wriggling little snakes! All the spectators around the arena held their breath at this moment, their faces flushed with excitement, eager to witness what Xiao Yan''s Di Class Dou Technique would be like. Under countless intently fixed gazes, Xiao Yan''s arm trembled, and the Heavy Xuan Ruler in his hand came crashing down with a thunderous boom!No?v(el)B\\jnn A massive fiery-red blade of light shot out. In the already ruined square, a half-meter-wide fissure rapidly spread under the horrified gazes of the onlookers! Boom!!! Amidst the golden and dark red lights reflected in countless eyes, the two terrifying attacks collided like meteors crashing into each other with a thunderous impact! Blinding, intense light poured down from the sky. As the energy of the world went berserk, the colliding energy spheres instantly exploded with a thunderous bang, unleashing an extremely terrifying storm that swept out from the air. The ground shattered wherever the storm passed, and the entire square seemed to be upheaved. "Strengthen the defensive barrier!" Yun Leng hurriedly shouted to the Misty Cloud Sect disciples, whose faces were pale with fear from the energy shockwaves. "Understood!" The nearly one thousand Misty Cloud Sect disciples present responded in unison. Their orderly shouts actually suppressed the thunderous roars in the sky for a moment. The terrifying energy impact was confined within the square. Thick smoke billowed everywhere, completely obscuring the situation inside. No one knew who had won or lost. "Is it a tie?" "Hard to say. But Nalan Yanran possesses that mysterious recovery ability, while Xiao Yan''s physique is as robust as a magical beast. It''s really hard to predict who will emerge victorious." A wisp of black flame gushed out from the Acceptance Soul at the center of Xiao Yan''s Qi cyclone like an erupting volcano. It then followed a mysterious route to circulate rapidly within his body. As the Nihility Devouring Flame circulated in a strange manner, Xiao Yan abruptly felt a surge of majestic, raging energy rapidly seeping out from various parts of his body amidst the circulating flames! A powerful aura no weaker than that of a Dou Spirit suddenly burst forth from his body. Secret Technique? Who doesn''t know one or two! At this moment, all the fur of the cat on his shoulder stood on end, and endless black flames appeared behind him like a sea of fire. Facing the silver dragon charging toward him, Xiao Yan smiled and gripped the Heavy Xuan Ruler tightly. This time, the Heavy Xuan Ruler did not turn red. Instead, it grew increasingly dark-so dark that even light couldn''t illuminate it. Flame Splitting Tsunami-Nihility Wave! It may sound slow when described, but in reality, all of this happened almost simultaneously. ''This kid has too many trump cards!'' Hai Bodong''s eyes widened. Not only did Xiao Yan have a Secret Technique, but it could actually elevate him from a 7-star Dou Grandmaster to a Dou Spirit! This was too outrageous-an increase of an entire major realm! Boom!!! The black flames transformed into a black dragon, descending from the sky with bared fangs and brandished claws. After which, the two mighty dragons collided with each other in a ferocious display. An explosive impact several times stronger than before erupted in the air. "It''s over! We can''t hold it this time!" The faces of the thousand Misty Cloud Sect disciples maintaining the protective barrier below turned ashen. None of them could understand. Wasn''t this supposed to be a battle between two Dou Grandmasters? How did their attacks reach the full-strength strikes of low-star Dou Kings? And they both used Di Class Dou Techniques? Is this even reasonable! Chapter 183: Chapter 183: The Hidden Object within the Gate of Life and Death Chapter 183: Chapter 183: The Hidden Object within the Gate of Life and Death ? Boom! The barrier had barely taken shape when a terrifying shockwave of energy surged down from the sky and slammed violently against it. The barrier instantly rippled like the surface of a lake struck by a massive stone, with waves spreading outward in continuous succession. However, this time the barrier constructed by the combined efforts of the Misty Cloud Sect disciples could not withstand the impact as it had before. Cracks rapidly appeared on the energy shield, making it seem as if it might shatter at any moment. When the energy collision occurred in the sky, aside from Fa Ma, Jia Xing Tian, Hai Bodong, Yun Yun, Gu He, and other highly skilled and bold individuals, the rest of the spectators perched on the tall trees surrounding the square had already retreated a considerable distance for safety. Even though Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan''s cultivations were only at the high-star Dou Grandmaster stage, after being enhanced by Secret Techniques and both using Di Class Dou Techniques, the energy explosion from their collision was something that even a Dou King wouldn''t dare to face without any protection. "First Elder, you three stabilize one side. Leave the rest to me." Yun Yun''s brows furrowed tightly as she spoke solemnly to Yun Leng and the other two elders. In the next second, she and the three Dou King elders, including Yun Leng, appeared in front of the protective barrier. They frantically injected wind-attribute Dou Qi into the barrier to stabilize it. The square, originally used for duels between the disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect, had undoubtedly been reduced to ruins at this moment, with not even a trace of its former appearance remaining. "That kid possesses a Heavenly Flame and flying-type Dou Techniques. I think he shouldn''t be in much trouble. I just don''t know if Yanran''s strength can withstand such an impact," Elder Yun Sha said, frowning as he gazed at the square still enveloped in energy. "First Elder, this youngster named Xiao Yan is not easy to deal with," Elder Yun Du said, his brows tightly knitted. "Let''s observe the situation first. If Yanran can defeat him, that would be best. If not, we may have to resort to more forceful means. You all understand the importance of certain matters. That Xiao Yan is not only a 5th-tier alchemist but also possesses a Heavenly Flame. He''s even more valuable than Gu He. You should grasp what I mean," Yun Leng said through voice transmission. The other two elders understood when they saw Yun Leng''s gloomy eyes and nodded silently. At this moment, Xiao Yan was in the center of the energy-ravaged square completely enveloped in black flames. He actually ignored the terrifying energy and approached Nalan Yanran step by step as she struggled to resist the energy onslaught. Even with her entire body protected by Dou Qi Armor and defensive Dou Techniques, she found it difficult to withstand this violent energy vortex. When she saw Xiao Yan dare to walk within such a turbulent energy storm, her eyes widened in disbelief! "Don''t push yourself. You can''t defeat me. There''s no denying that your strength is the greatest I''ve seen among our peers, but you''re still not as good as me." Xiao Yan could naturally walk in the energy vortex. To Mao Wu, it was like a glutton entering a dessert shop, ready to eat to its heart''s content. With a buzzing sound, that peculiar white light appeared once again on Nalan Yanran''s Cloud Slaying Black Sword. She planned to rely on this powerful healing energy to endure the energy vortex and battle Xiao Yan once more. Whoosh! Suddenly, wisps of black flame ignited on the Cloud Slaying Black Sword. The white energy that had just emerged was entirely devoured! "How do you know?" Xiao Yan pounded his chest in frustration! Heavenly Flame, ah!!! Ranked 21st on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, the Yin-Yang Twin Flame, also known as the Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame! Black and white flames intertwined, swimming like Yin- Yang fishes. The Yang Flame saves lives, embodying the endless cycle of life; the Yin Flame takes lives, leading to eternal damnation. The Twin Flames controlled life and death, hence the nickname Life and Death Flame. ''Gate of Life and Death, Gate of Life and Death, to hell with your Gate of Life and Death!!'' Xiao Yan hadn''t expected that Yun Po Tian could be so literal in naming! It was called the Gate of Life and Death simply because the Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame was inside. Why was Xiao Yan filled with regret? Because three years ago, when Nalan Yanran came to annul the engagement, Ge Ye had agreed to let him enter the Misty Cloud Sect as a core disciple and enjoy the sect''s top resources. They had practically spoon-fed him the opportunity! In other words, if he had agreed back then, he wouldn''t have needed to risk his life searching everywhere. Although the process ultimately yielded good results, looking back, it was filled with perilous moments where a single misstep could have cost him his life! If the heavens gave Xiao Yan another chance, he would say: Let me enter the Gate of Life and Death! "Your sect has a Heavenly Flame; why did Gu He go to Queen Medusa to find one?" Xiao Yan asked in puzzlement. Wasn''t this seeking far and wide when the answer was right under one''s nose? Nalan Yanran replied with a hint of annoyance, "Not everyone can enter the Gate of Life and Death. Only those who can trigger a reaction from it can enter. I''m the only one in this generation who can do so. Moreover, no one from previous generations who entered the Gate of Life and Death could reach the fifth gate. I''m the first." Nalan Yanran showed a hint of pride at this point. She was indeed the number one genius of the Misty Cloud Sect. Xiao Yan coughed lightly, rubbed his nose somewhat embarrassedly, and asked, "If I want to enter the Gate of Life and Death, I wonder if it''s possible?" "You?!" Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Anticipated Long Ago Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Anticipated Long Ago ? Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Yan with a strange expression. Even if she were stupid, she would understand Xiao Yan''s purpose for wanting to enter the Gate of Life and Death. Wasn''t it just for the Heavenly Flame hidden inside? Xiao Yan''s intentions were as clear as day. Nalan Yanran found it rather odd. Xiao Yan, someone who wasn''t even a disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect, actually wanted to take away treasures within her sect''s secret realm? How could he voice such a request so brazenly! However, she didn''t conceal anything and directly said, "Even Master cannot casually allow others to enter the Gate of Life and Death." "The Gate of Life and Death is the burial ground for the successive Sect Leaders of the Misty Cloud Sect and also the sect''s secret realm. Inside, there are not only various trial stages set up by the first-generation Sect Leader Yun Po Tian but also the inheritances left behind by Sect Leaders before their passing." "However, the Gate of Life and Death doesn''t restrict people from entering. As long as a disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect can trigger a reaction from it, they can enter to train and obtain the inheritances and treasures within." Xiao Yan''s ears immediately perked up when he heard this. He grinned and said, "So that means, as long as I can trigger the Gate of Life and Death, I can also enter it!" Nalan Yanran replied irritably, "But you''re not a disciple of our Misty Cloud Sect." "Hehe, that''s a trivial matter. Just register my name, and that''ll do." Xiao Yan waved his hand dismissively. Enter first, then leave-that would suffice, wouldn''t it? Nalan Yanran''s eyes widened. Are you treating the Misty Cloud Sect like a public restroom, coming and going as you please?! Meow! Mao Wu''s voice transmitted into Xiao Yan''s mind at this moment. "Let''s go. The energy vortex is about to dissipate. There''s still something to attend to next." An imperceptible gleam flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes, as if he had already anticipated what would happen next. Soon, the black flames vanished, and the energy vortex dissipated completely. Xiao Yan looked as if nothing had happened after consuming a medicinal pill. He changed back into his 5th-tier alchemist robe and revealed his signature bright smile as he strutted away. For a moment, the spectators at the scene all wore puzzled expressions as they looked at each other, unsure of who had actually won. Neither of the two in the square seemed like the loser. "Yanran, are you all right?" Yun Yun waved her hand to dispel the protective barrier and asked with concern, then cast a subtle glance at Xiao Yan. Nalan Yanran gave her Master a bitter smile, shook her head, and said, "I''m fine, Master. I''ve already taken a medicinal pill; the side effects of the Secret Technique have lessened considerably." Liu Ling hurriedly asked from the side, "Who actually won?" "I lost," Nalan Yanran stated directly. "Yanran!" First Elder Yun Leng glared at Nalan Yanran. palanquin was parked. "Oh, right, Nalan Yanran, discuss with your Master the matter I mentioned. The price is negotiable. I really need that thing," Xiao Yan said to Nalan Yanran through spiritual voice transmission. He didn''t tell Nalan Yanran that his strength was all thanks to the Heavenly Flames, so obtaining them was something he had to do no matter what. He even had no qualms about giving Nalan Yanran a tier 5 medicinal pill to heal her injuries. Heavenly Flames were too important. What did it matter if he had to give up a few pills? Xiao Yan had calculated that his Flame Mantra was currently at the Low Di Class level. He now had the 11th-ranked Bone Chilling Flame and knew that the 14th-ranked Fallen Heart Flame was in Jia Nan Academy. But even if he obtained the Fallen Heart Flame from Jia Nan Academy and refined both the 11th-ranked Bone Chilling Flame and the 14th-ranked Fallen Heart Flame, it still wouldn''t be enough to evolve the Flame Mantra to the Tian Class. However, if he could obtain the Yin-Yang Twin Flame, there was a possibility of evolving the Flame Mantra to the Tian Class! Tian Class! Those two words held immense allure for Xiao Yan. If he could evolve the Flame Mantra to the Tian Class, then he would fear no one. He could sweep away all enemies! Being able to consecutively use two Di Class Dou Techniques, with his Dou Qi greatly consumed but not depleted, showcased the terror of a Di Class Qi Method. Only a Di Class Qi Method could fully complement Di Class Dou Techniques! If he had a Tian Class Qi Method, Xiao Yan couldn''t even imagine how terrifying his Dou Qi would become. Just as Xiao Yan sat down on the palanquin, a voice suddenly came from not far away. "Mr. Xiao Yan, please wait a moment. My Misty Cloud Sect has a matter that requires an explanation from you." Yun Leng''s voice echoed throughout the entire square. All the spectators standing on the trees furrowed their brows. Even Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran looked at each other because not even they had heard about any explanation required. Not even Yun Yun, the Sect Leader, had issued any orders. Xiao Yan had the calmest expression among everyone present. Reclining leisurely on the cushion of the palanquin, he asked with a smile, "Oh? I wonder what matter this is? First Elder, why don''t you give me a hint? I''ve been busy with alchemy lately and can''t recall too many trivial things." "A few months ago, my Misty Cloud Sect''s External Deacon Mo Cheng. I wonder if Mr. Xiao Yan still remembers him." Yun Leng narrowed his eyes as he stared intently at Xiao Yan. Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Infiltration Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Infiltration ? Not only Hai Bodong, but even Nalan Yanran was dumbfounded upon hearing this. Knowing the ins and outs of the matter concerning Mo Cheng, both of them couldn''t help but wonder if Yun Leng''s brain had been rattled by the recent shockwaves! To cause trouble for Xiao Yan over a mere External Deacon of the Misty Cloud Sect who had already withdrawn from the sect and was merely at the Dou Spirit realm?? And for a dead person at that?! Yun Leng''s relationship with Mo Cheng even made people suspect whether they were father and son! ''Mo Cheng? The Mo Cheng of the Mo Clan in Yan City who was killed a few months ago?'' Jia Xing Tian pondered, recalling that there had indeed been such a report a few months back. At that time, a Dou Emperor from the Sky Serpent Mansion appeared and engaged in a great battle with Hai Bodong, which even drew out the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor. Consequently, both Dou Emperors Jia Xing Tian and Yun Yun were drawn to Yan City. Back then, Jia Xing Tian and Yun Yun had heard that Mo Cheng was killed but hadn''t thoroughly investigated who was responsible. After all, such a trivial matter wasn''t something they would concern themselves with. Only now did they learn that it was Xiao Yan who did it. Hai Bodong furrowed his brows tightly as he looked at First Elder Yun Leng in the arena. He muttered to himself, "Something''s not right. If it were just for the reputation of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Leng wouldn''t unreasonably cause trouble for a 5th-tier alchemist. No matter how you look at it, it''s not worth it!" "Moreover, Xiao Yan doesn''t have a life-and-death feud with the Misty Cloud Sect. This absolutely doesn''t align with the interests of Yun Leng or the Misty Cloud Sect!" Not only Hai Bodong, but even Fa Ma and others sensed that something was off. This was entirely unreasonable. Let''s not even mention that Xiao Yan''s displayed talent was terrifyingly high; just his identity as the champion of the Alchemist Grand Meeting and an Honorary Elder of the Alchemist Association should have been enough to deter Yun Leng from deliberately provoking him! If you''re not going to curry favor, so be it, but to offend him on top of that? Very strange indeed! Some of the older generation present couldn''t help but chuckle inwardly. Anyone could see that Yun Leng was simply grasping at straws to find an excuse to detain Xiao Yan. But with Xiao Yan pointing it out like this, Yun Leng''s old face couldn''t hold up. "That external Mo dog of yours abducted one of my people and wanted to gouge out her eyes. It was reasonable for me to kill him. I haven''t even demanded an explanation from your Misty Cloud Sect, yet you''re turning the tables on me?" Xiao Yan laughed coldly. He didn''t believe that Yun Leng was unaware of the reasons behind this. There were so many witnesses at the time, and Ge Ye had witnessed the whole thing. "First Elder, I, Nalan Yanran, can testify that what Xiao Yan says is true." Yun Leng glanced coldly at Nalan Yanran, "Yanran, you are the Little Sect Leader. You mustn''t speak nonsense." "It''s precisely because I am the Little Sect Leader that I cannot make false claims," Nalan Yanran said with a serious look in her eyes. Yun Leng signaled Ge Ye with his eyes. The latter stepped forward stiffly and said, "Yanran, at that time, it was all based on Xiao Yan''s one-sided account. The woman he spoke of never appeared from beginning to end, so there''s no proof that what he said is true." Nalan Yanran furrowed her brows deeply. Ge Ye was supposed to be on her side. One had to know that Ge Ye had been following her for a long time and had gained many benefits from it. She never imagined that he would turn against her now! Xiao Yan waved his hand from the palanquin, "All right, all right, stop arguing. Even if what Yun Leng and Ge Ye say is true, so what? I killed Mo Cheng, I destroyed the Mo Clan, so what?" Yun Leng laughed confidently and said, "Then today, I, Yun Leng, must invite Mr. Xiao Yan to stay at our Misty Cloud Sect for a few days so we can thoroughly investigate this matter. Go and ''invite'' Mr. Xiao Yan to be our guest at the Misty Cloud Sect." In an instant, dozens of peak Dou Grandmaster core disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect slowly surrounded Xiao Yan. "Not to mention these few Dou Grandmasters of yours can''t do anything to me. I am a dignified 5th-tier alchemist. You think I''ll stay just because you say so?" Xiao Yan didn''t forget to showcase the alchemist robe he wore. The silvery tier 5 badge gleamed dazzlingly under the sunlight. Upon hearing these words, Yun Leng actually revealed a hint of mockery and said, "The Alchemist Association isn''t the most powerful either." Many people''s expressions changed as soon as these words came out. In contrast, Xiao Yan did not refute him, because from their earlier exchange, he had already confirmed that this Yun Leng was a colleague. ''It seems the Misty Cloud Sect has indeed been infiltrated by the Hall of Souls.'' Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Ill Just Sit Here Today Chapter 186: Chapter 186: I''ll Just Sit Here Today ? Upon hearing Yun Leng''s words, Fa Ma, the Chairman of the Alchemist Association, couldn''t help but change his expression. Yun Leng''s words were unpleasant to hear, yet they reflected the truth. He, Fa Ma, could still protect Xiao Yan even if he offended the Jia Ma Imperial Family, but it was a different story when it came to the Misty Cloud Sect. The Misty Cloud Sect was too influential, and the strength of the Alchemist Association was indeed insufficient to oppose them. "Old Fa, aren''t you going to lend a hand? No matter what, Xiao Yan is an Honorary Elder of your Alchemist Association," Jia Xing Tian suddenly turned to Fa Ma and said. "Looking at the current situation, that Yun Leng is determined to detain Xiao Yan. Even if I step forward, I''m afraid he won''t change his mind. Moreover, I''ve heard that Xiao Yan seems to have some deal with your imperial family. Isn''t the Jia Ma Imperial Family going to take action?" Fa Ma asked Jia Xing Tian in return. In their hearts, both genuinely wanted to help Xiao Yan, but the Misty Cloud Sect made them extremely apprehensive. If anything went wrong, the entire Jia Ma Empire could be turned upside down. One must know that the strongest 6th-tier alchemist, Gu He, was a Guest Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect. If the Misty Cloud Sect decided to purge the Alchemist Association, with Gu He''s reputation, many alchemists might side with them. It was just as Yun Leng said. Although the Alchemist Association was powerful, it wasn''t the most powerful. In the Jia Ma Empire, the Misty Cloud Sect stood above all factions, including the Alchemist Association. However, only Xiao Yan truly understood the reasons behind everything at this moment. What gave Yun Leng such confidence was not the Misty Cloud Sect itself but the Hall of Souls hidden behind it, or rather, secretly controlling the entire Misty Cloud Sect. That was Yun Leng''s source of boldness! Xiao Yan''s current status could be described as commanding widespread support. As the most promising 5th-tier alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire, everyone wanted to foster a good relationship with him. Many were even wary of the power he wielded. Far from daring to offend him, they wouldn''t even raise their voices in his presence. But there just happened to be one organization in this world that not only did not fear alchemists but, in their eyes, considered alchemists the best prey. Capturing alchemists not only didn''t bring worries of retaliation but also came with generous rewards! And Xiao Yan knew that this organization was hidden within the Misty Cloud Sect. ''This Yun Leng isn''t that stupid after all. With my current value, if converted into ''Soul Points,'' I''m afraid I''d be worth more than Yao Ao''s soul body.'' Xiao Yan wasn''t bragging about himself. This was simply a fact. Not only did he have astonishing Spiritual Strength, but he also possessed a Heavenly Flame. Such value absolutely surpassed the soul body of a 7th-tier alchemist. One had to know that the Hall of Souls possessed a secret technique to extract Heavenly Flames. Others might not necessarily be able to kill someone and seize their Heavenly Flame, but the Hall of Souls could. To them, an alchemist possessing a Heavenly Flame held immeasurable value. Therefore, as Yun Leng''s ''colleague,'' Xiao Yan deeply understood his crazed recklessness. Xiao Yan glanced at Gu He, who was watching the spectacle from the sidelines, and couldn''t help but feel a bit of sympathy. Although Gu He appeared free and at ease, able to leave the Misty Cloud Sect at any time, in reality, he was like a trapped bird. People from the Hall of Souls would capture him the moment he truly intended to leave the sect. Gu He was safe now only because he still had value to be exploited. "Wind Fire Wood Wall!" The three people let out a low cry. Their palms faced each other from a distance. Three different-colored Dou Qi which appeared like film surged out from them and immediately began to move toward each other in a lightning-like manner. In the blink of an eye, they came into contact with each other at the center. A triangular-shaped energy film was formed between the three of them, enclosing Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong in the middle of it. Hai Bodong transmitted his voice to Xiao Yan, "Don''t just sit there idly. The strength of these three old fellows is all at the advanced Dou King stage. If they combine forces with the attack formation of over a thousand people, even I won''t be able to guarantee your safety. If you can''t persuade Yun Yun to side with you, then while she hasn''t made a move yet, quickly run and leave the Jia Ma Empire." Although Hai Bodong had recovered to a 6-star Dou Emperor, there was definitely a reason why the Misty Cloud Sect could dominate. Xiao Yan gave Hai Bodong a sidelong glance and said, "Old Hai, your ice pillars are very cold. This alchemist robe isn''t warm enough." Hai Bodong almost lost his composure upon hearing Xiao Yan''s teasing words. You''re fucking worried about staying warm at a time like this??? Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly when he saw Hai Bodong''s exasperated look. He took out a wooden box from his storage ring and said, "Old Hai, when have you ever seen an alchemist needing to handle things personally?" With a soft ''snap,'' Xiao Yan gently flicked the lid of the wooden box open with his thumb. The contents inside made all the elite Dou Kings present widen their eyes, revealing expressions of greed! An extremely rich medicinal fragrance actually weakened the cold atmosphere by a few degrees, as if all things were returning to spring. "Dou King Pills?!" Three round and beautiful Dou King Pills were placed in the wooden box like gems, reflecting a luster under the sunlight that made all the Dou Kings drool. Even Gu He''s expression turned solemn upon seeing these three Dou King Pills, for their quality could be described as perfect! "One, two, three. Your Misty Cloud Sect has three advanced Dou Kings, right? Well then, I happen to have three Dou King Pills here. Is there any Dou King willing to take the job? Stop them, and this perfect-quality Dou King Pill will be yours." The hearts of all the Dou Kings present thumped violently as soon as Xiao Yan said this! Hai Bodong was shocked inwardly: Damn! You really don''t plan to make a move at all! Chapter 187: Chapter 187: Xiao Yans Scheme Chapter 187: Chapter 187: Xiao Yan''s Scheme ? There were quite a few Dou Kings from the Jia Ma Empire present to observe the battle. Even Mu Chen of the Mu Clan and Nalan Jie had a glint flash in their eyes at this moment. One must know that back then, Lion King Yan Shi and Walking Wind Feng Li, two of the Jia Ma Empire''s ''Ten Strong'', had risked their lives to escort Gu He in his forceful entry into the Snake-People Tribe to meet Queen Medusa. All this for just one Dou King Pill promised by the latter. At that time, even Hai Bodong with his 5-star Dou Emperor strength had almost died at the hands of Queen Medusa. Therefore, even with Yun Yun accompanying them, mere Dou Kings would only be cannon fodder if anything went wrong. Yet, despite such immense risks, Yan Shi and Feng Li ultimately agreed to Gu He''s request. One could imagine the allure of a Dou King Pill. Yun Leng gritted his teeth as he looked at the pills in Xiao Yan''s hand. He shouted in a deep voice to the Dou Kings whose hearts had been moved, "Today, our Misty Cloud Sect is handling sect affairs. Anyone who dares to interfere will be repaid tenfold by our Misty Cloud Sect in the future!" Yun Leng''s furious voice instantly echoed across the entire square, causing many of the spectating Dou Kings to pause. They all shook their heads, not daring to step forward to help. However, Xiao Yan remained sitting on the palanquin as steady as Mount Tai. He smiled faintly and said, "Yun Leng, if you think you can scare everyone off like this, you''re underestimating the allure of medicinal pills." Just then, three figures with Dou Qi wings suddenly shot over from the distance. The three of them simultaneously launched a Dou Qi palm strike at Yun Leng''s trio of Dou Kings, breaking their combined Dou Technique from the outside. All three of these individuals, without exception, had their faces masked and wore loose cloaks. Moreover, they were all Dou Kings whose strength was not much weaker than Yun Leng''s group. Although these three had their faces covered and wore loose cloaks, Xiao Yan, with his powerful Spiritual Strength, had long noticed that Mu Chen, Fa Ma, and Miteer Tengshan had quietly left the Misty Cloud Sect not long after he took out the Dou King Pills. No one knew where they went. There was no doubt that these three masked individuals were Mu Chen, Fa Ma, and Miteer Tengshan. The reason Xiao Yan could remain so calm was naturally because he understood human nature. The Misty Cloud Sect was the tyrant and overlord of the Jia Ma Empire, an existence that acted domineeringly throughout the land. No one dared to offend them. Not to mention the three major clans, even the Jia Ma Imperial Family and the Alchemist Association were somewhat constrained and even oppressed by them. Xiao Yan was acutely aware of this, which was why he brought out the Dou King Pills. This was not just about hiring Dou Kings with pills; it also gave some people an excuse to rebel. Every uprising needed a reason. Perhaps, aside from the madman Mu Chen who sincerely and purely wanted that Dou King Pill, the others like Miteer Tengshan and Fa Ma were likely using this excuse to join forces against the Misty Cloud Sect or to curry favor with Xiao Yan. pay a visit another day." "What a pity¡ªnot being able to appreciate the beautiful scenery of the Misty Cloud Sect. It''s truly a great regret." He shook his head slightly, his expression as if he genuinely felt it was a pity. Xiao Yan''s pretentious manner and that infuriating tone made even Hai Bodong feel he couldn''t stand it. Would it kill you to say a few fewer words? Why do you have to provoke this old fellow Yun Leng so much? Have some respect for your elders! "Damn it!" Yun Leng cursed under his breath, hurriedly retreating. As his hands waved, thick stone walls continuously appeared in front of him, blocking Fa Ma''s attacks. Taking advantage of this gap, he shouted loudly, "Yun Yun! Don''t forget your identity as the Sect Leader! Now someone is causing a huge disturbance in the Misty Cloud Sect, and you intend to stand by and watch until when?!" At this moment, everyone''s gazes fell on the beautiful Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, who had been a mere spectator all this time. Just as Hai Bodong had said, if the Dou Emperor Yun Yun made a move, the entire situation would change. But to everyone''s surprise, Yun Yun looked at Yun Leng with a calm expression and slowly said, "First Elder, so you still remember that I am the Sect Leader?" Quite a few people present were stunned by these words. It was just as Yun Yun said. If one didn''t know better, one would think this Yun Leng was the Sect Leader, as he had been making decisions on his own from beginning to end without consulting Yun Yun. However, those familiar with the Misty Cloud Sect didn''t find anything unusual about this. To put it bluntly, the reason Yun Yun could become the Sect Leader wasn''t because she had high prestige in the Misty Cloud Sect, but because she was a Dou Emperor. Within the Misty Cloud Sect, the one who truly held power was Yun Leng. All the elders of the older generation took orders from him, not Yun Yun. Many people had hardly even seen Yun Yun a few times. All matters big and small within the sect were managed by Yun Leng. Yun Yun spent most of her time cultivating, serving merely as a nominal Sect Leader. Yun Yun gently patted Nalan Yanran on the shoulder and said, "Yanran, this matter started because of you. Go and escort Grandmaster Xiao Yan down from the Misty Cloud Sect." Chapter 188: Chapter 188: The Terrifying Might of a Dou Ancestor Chapter 188: Chapter 188: The Terrifying Might of a Dou Ancestor ? Upon hearing that Yun Yun not only did not stop Xiao Yan but even instructed Nalan Yanran to escort him away, Yun Leng roared, "Yun Yun!! This is an act of betrayal against the sect!" Yun Yun''s long, silky black hair fluttered in the wind. With her right hand, she gently tucked a strand behind her ear. Her beautiful eyes glanced at Xiao Yan, then turned to Yun Leng and said, "First Elder and all elders and disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect, I, as the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, order you to cease your attacks." "Grandmaster Xiao Yan is an esteemed guest of our Misty Cloud Sect. His visit today is merely to honor an appointment. As for the matter concerning External Deacon Mo Cheng, I will personally investigate thoroughly and provide everyone with an explanation." The first to sigh in relief upon hearing Yun Yun''s words was Jia Xing Tian. If Yun Yun had truly taken action, he might have had to step in to block her attacks. It wasn''t that he was unwilling to help Xiao Yan, but before Xiao Yan called upon him, he could only wait, as the Misty Cloud Sect might still have hidden cards to play. The Serene Sea Scaly Beast was still waiting for Xiao Yan''s medicinal pill to save its life; under no circumstances could he allow Xiao Yan to die in the Misty Cloud Sect. But Jia Xing Tian was also in an awkward position. Fa Ma and the others could mask their faces since they were only at the Dou King realm. There were some retired or wandering Dou Kings in the Jia Ma Empire, so they could simply claim to be former members of the Ten Strong. But he couldn''t! He was the only peak Dou Emperor in the entire Jia Ma Empire; there was no way to conceal his identity. "Yun Yun! You''re betraying the sect!!" Yun Leng was enraged to the core upon hearing Yun Yun''s words. Not only did he not heed Yun Yun''s orders as Sect Leader, but his attacks became even fiercer. Apart from Yun Leng, some elders and deacons of the older generation did not stop their attacks. Only the younger disciples obeyed Yun Yun''s command and ceased their combined attacks against Hai Bodong. Hai Bodong''s figure flickered in the sky after repelling the three low-star Dou King Elders of the Misty Cloud Sect. Mighty, unmatched icy energy surged out, instantly freezing the dozens of resisting Misty Cloud Sect deacons. "Hai Bodong, don''t go too far! You have no idea who you''re making an enemy of!" Yun Leng''s eyes were filled with rage as he glared at Hai Bodong. Hai Bodong let out a cold laugh. He appeared in front of Yun Leng in a flash. His right hand condensed a massive ice pillar, and with a loud boom, he slammed his palm against it, sending Yun Leng flying to the ground. The massive ice pillar pressed down, pinning Yun Leng beneath it. "Yun Leng, you speak as if you were the Sect Leader." Hai Bodong couldn''t resist mocking him. Meanwhile, Nalan Yanran had already walked over to Xiao Yan''s side and said, "I''ll escort you down the mountain. My Master will handle the rest." "It''s that old fellow! He really isn''t dead!" From the depths of Mist Cloud Mountain, a vast and mighty aura descended like an ancient dragon awakening from its slumber, bringing with it an unparalleled pressure! Xiao Yan sensed this terrifying aura, slowly sat up, and calmly said, "It''s not that your Master''s authority was undermined by Yun Leng, nor that she couldn''t compete with him. Rather, someone has never relinquished their power from the very beginning." As this majestic aura awakened, Yun Yun''s serene and ethereal face was now filled with shock. "How is this possible? Yun Leng, why do you have Master''s flute?" Yun Yun stared in astonishment at the white jade flute in Yun Leng''s hand. She found it hard to believe that her own Master would give the flute to Yun Leng instead of herself! The majestic aura reminiscent of a dragon''s awakening enveloped the entire Misty Cloud Mountain in an instant. A pressure that even made Jia Xing Tian tremble spread from deep within the mountain, eventually permeating the square. Immediately, all the younger disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect in the square looked at each other, completely clueless about what was happening. "What''s going on?" "Our sect actually has such a powerful expert!" Compared to the younger generation, the eyes of the older generation of deacons and elders were filled with reverence. They even knelt down on both knees, prostrating themselves in worship. Yun Leng, who was suppressed by Hai Bodong, laughed maniacally, "Hahaha, Hai Bodong, let''s see how you protect this little brat now!" "This is bad... That old monster really isn''t dead!" The moment the aura awakened, Hai Bodong''s face changed drastically. His low voice couldn''t conceal his shock. "And judging by the strength of this aura, it seems he has broken through to the Dou Ancestor realm!!" Hai Bodong''s voice was extremely grim. This was truly disastrous news! Even though a Dou Ancestor couldn''t yet manipulate Spatial Strength like a Dou Venerate, such as effortlessly sealing space with a wave of the hand, they could still utilize Spatial Strength to a small degree. The overwhelming aura caused the space in the entire square to distort. A white figure took a few steps in the sky, and as if a thousand miles were just an arm''s length away, he instantly appeared above the square. "Yun Leng, explain yourself. I said not to disturb my secluded cultivation unless it was an extremely important matter." The previous Sect Leader, Yun Shan, turned his gaze to Yun Leng below and said calmly. Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Winning Over Xiao Yan Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Winning Over Xiao Yan ? Seeing Yun Shan stepping through the air with ghost-like speed-one moment just a black silhouette on the horizon, and with just a single step arriving at the Misty Cloud Sect''s square -everyone present was shocked, their pupils dilating and faces turning pale. "Walking through the air, an elite Dou Ancestor!" Mu Zhan exclaimed from atop a large tree upon witnessing Yun Shan''s seemingly teleportation-like ability. Like Dou Emperors, Dou Ancestors could also condense Dou Qi into wings. However, Dou Ancestors generally didn''t use Dou Qi wings to fly because they could already manipulate subtle Spatial Strength, allowing them to shorten distances between spaces and achieve traveling a thousand miles in a single step. Advancing from a Dou Ancestor to a Dou Venerate was a process of continuously mastering Spatial Strength. "A Dou Ancestor, huh..." Xiao Yan muttered as he sat on the palanquin, his fingers tapping lightly on the wooden frame, producing a crisp sound. He had been almost certain that Yun Shan wasn''t dead. Just as he had deduced earlier, Yun Leng''s ability to wield power wasn''t due to his impressive methods, nor was it because Yun Yun, a Dou Emperor, was foolish. Rather, Yun Shan had never relinquished the position of Sect Leader from the very beginning. The power of the Misty Cloud Sect had always been in Yun Shan''s hands. Yun Leng was merely a puppet during Yun Shan''s secluded cultivation. This hadn''t been just his speculation. He could be so certain because, having joined the Hall of Souls himself, he understood their way of doing things very well. To put it bluntly, an old thing like Yun Leng who lacked both strength and talent wasn''t qualified to join the Hall of Souls at all. If the Hall of Souls wanted to infiltrate the Misty Cloud Sect, they would naturally start with the Sect Leader. But from the earlier conversation, Xiao Yan had confirmed that Yun Yun, the strongest Dou Emperor and current Sect Leader, was actually unaware of the Hall of Souls'' existence. Therefore, there was only one answer. Not only was Yun Shan not dead, but he was also the first to join the Hall of Souls. Yun Shan had always been the true controller of the Misty Cloud Sect. However, Yun Shan reaching the Dou Ancestor realm was something he hadn''t wanted to see, as it would make things much more troublesome. He might even have to stand up now. Yun Shan was dressed in an extremely plain white robe. His robe fluttered as a gentle breeze blew, giving him a rather transcendent and ethereal air. His appearance didn''t seem at all like someone from the same generation as Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bodong. There were no wrinkles that an old man should have on his face. Instead, he looked no more than thirty. "This old fellow''s lifespan has been extended after breaking through to the Dou Ancestor realm, making his body younger," Hai Bodong couldn''t help but click his tongue as he looked at Yun Shan''s appearance, not bothering to conceal the envy in his voice. Hai Bodong didn''t dare to continue suppressing Yun Leng. He flew to Xiao Yan''s side, planning to take him and escape immediately if things really went south. In the square below, Yun Leng got up from the ice shards upon hearing Yun Shan''s questioning and knelt on the ground with a thud. Tears streamed down his face as he cried out, "Sect Leader! If you hadn''t come, the Misty Cloud Sect would have been destroyed by this traitor Yun Yun colluding with outsiders!!" Yun Leng knelt on both knees; his tear-streaked old face and disheveled hair made him look particularly miserable, like a pitiful old man abandoned by his children with no one to rely on. Yun Shan glanced at Yun Yun, then at the square that looked like ruins, and finally locked his gaze on Xiao Yan''s palanquin. At this moment, Xiao Yan slowly put down the wine cup and wine pot in his hands. Sitting on the palanquin, he cupped his hands toward the white figure in the sky and calmly said, "This junior Xiao Yan pays his respects to Old Sect Leader Yun Shan." be the host?" "I think I can be." The atmosphere instantly grew tense. Not only Yun Shan but everyone present was astonished, unsure of what Xiao Yan was up to! Hai Bodong transmitted his voice, "Xiao Yan, although that trump card of yours is powerful, you''re still only at the Dou Grandmaster realm. Yun Shan could kill you with just a flick of his finger. Even if that old thing Jia Xing Tian and I join forces, we can''t stop Yun Shan!" Xiao Yan chuckled, "Old Hai, you''re overthinking it. I hope you can help me hold back Sect Leader Yun Yun, that''s all." Hai Bodong was momentarily stunned. Nalan Yanran beside him was also dumbfounded. Why hold back Yun Yun? Even if she doesn''t help you, she wouldn''t attack you... probably. But soon, the two of them understood. Xiao Yan didn''t want Sect Leader Yun Yun to be caught in a difficult position, torn between two sides. By having Hai Bodong hold her back, then no matter what, she wouldn''t be able to intervene. Hai Bodong gave Xiao Yan a sidelong glance. You''re being so considerate I could cry. When have you ever been this gentle with me? "Are you sure about this?" Hai Bodong couldn''t help but ask. "When have I ever lied?" Xiao Yan replied with a soft laugh. Nalan Yanran furrowed her delicate brows slightly beside him. It seemed he indeed hadn''t. Hai Bodong slowly moved away from Xiao Yan''s palanquin and approached Yun Yun, not in a hurry to attack. Everyone''s attention was focused on Xiao Yan, eager to see what other trump cards he had that made him dare to challenge Yun Shan, an elite Dou Ancestor! "If you''re trying to buy time, there''s no need. You''ll have plenty of time at the Misty Cloud Sect," Yun Shan said as he instantly gathered the surrounding clouds and mist to form a giant hand, reaching out to grab Xiao Yan. Just as the giant hand was about to seize him, a green lotus floated up in front of him. Xiao Yan transmitted his voice, "Queen, if you still want me to use the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to help you refine your body, consolidate your bloodline, and assist in refining the Spirit Fusion Pill, now is a good opportunity to win me over." A voice that could make one''s bones go weak emanated from within the green lotus, "One year. I want to see the Spirit Fusion Pill within one year." Xiao Yan smiled knowingly. "Deal." Chapter 190: Chapter 190: Queen Medusa Reappears Chapter 190: Chapter 190: Queen Medusa Reappears ? Just as Yun Shan''s attack was about to land, terrifying strands of green lotus flames suddenly surged from the Green Colored Lotus Platform. The horrifying high temperature unleashed by the eruption of the Green Lotus Core Flame instantly swept away Yun Shan''s Dou Technique. The appearance of the green flames startled Nalan Yanran, causing her to swiftly leap back several dozen meters. Fortunately, she was not the target of these terrifying flames; otherwise, just these green flames alone could have burned her to death. "What kind of flame is this? Such intense heat!" "Why do I feel that this flame is even more terrifying than Xiao Yan''s red Heavenly Flame?" Gu He''s expression changed dramatically when he saw the green lotus platform and the eruption of green flames. He murmured to himself, "This green flame and that lotus platform... Could it be the Green Lotus Core Flame?!" A thunderous boom rang out. Yun Shan''s cloud-mist giant hand was instantly incinerated by the Green Lotus Core Flame. Then, a graceful silhouette faintly emerged within the green flames. Before everyone could recover their senses, they saw a woman step out from the green flames. She took a step and landed upon the green lotus. There was a soft whoosh of flame as her jade-like feet touched the lotus platform, and the green flames slowly receded back into the lotus platform. As the flames withdrew, Queen Medusa appeared, dressed in an exquisite purple-red gown. Her jade-like feet lightly stepped upon the empty space, and her black-colored hair was so beautiful, so transcendent, like a celestial maiden gracing the world. For a moment, many were entranced, gazing upon her in rapture. Xiao Yan had long anticipated that he might need Queen Medusa''s assistance one day. Therefore, he had previously asked Ya Fei at the Miteer Auction House to select a loose, exquisite, and luxurious long dress for this merciless queen. Of course, the look on Ya Fei''s face when she heard that Xiao Yan wanted a woman''s dress was quite a spectacle. "Old geezer, you can get lost now." An enchanting yet icy voice that could almost make men''s bones go soft slowly echoed across the square. Instantly, those with slightly weaker willpower felt their faces flush as red as sunset clouds. This woman used her own ruthless methods that were in no way inferior to those of iron- blooded emperors to deter several empires near the Tager Desert from rashly initiating wars. Many people used words like terrifying, ruthless, and merciless to describe her. Hai Bodong, who had been puzzled about what methods Xiao Yan might have, now found his curiosity completely transformed into terror. He might have maintained his composure before Yun Shan, but in front of Queen Medusa, he could never conceal the fear gripping his heart. The battle in the desert all those years ago still made his heart tremble to this day. So it turned out Xiao Yan had him step aside because he was going to call out Queen Medusa! Hai Bodong was moved to tears by Xiao Yan''s consideration. ''Could it be that the Green Lotus Core Flame is now in Xiao Yan''s possession? What kind of deal does he have with Queen Medusa?'' Gu He speculated inwardly. The green flames just now were undoubtedly the Green Lotus Core Flame, which originally belonged to Queen Medusa. ''Could it be related to that evolution back then?'' Gu He had indeed guessed correctly. Queen Medusa had been hiding by Xiao Yan''s side all along, and now it seemed there was a certain relationship between them. She was protecting Xiao Yan! "You''ve successfully evolved? No, your current strength is very peculiar. You possess the abilities of a Dou Ancestor, but it seems you haven''t truly reached the Dou Ancestor realm." Yun Shan spoke. He truly was a genuine Dou Ancestor. Even though he was only a 1-star Dou Ancestor and hadn''t been at that realm for long, he still possessed sharp insight. Queen Medusa''s jade-like feet lightly stepping on the air proved that she already had the abilities of a Dou Ancestor. However, her actual strength was only at the half-step Dou Ancestor stage and hadn''t fully reached the Dou Ancestor realm. "Enough to deal with you." Queen Medusa gently brushed aside her hair. Even though her cultivation was currently inferior to Yun Shan''s, she did not fear facing a 1-star Dou Ancestor like him. A strange light flashed in her eyes accompanied by a buzzing sound. Yun Shan suddenly felt a great sense of danger in his heart. Looking down, he saw that grayish-white rock layers had suddenly started creeping up from his feet. "Break!" Yun Shan circulated the Dou Qi within his body and rapidly formed hand seals. The surrounding air transformed into invisible scythes, swiftly clearing away Medusa''s petrification. "Hmph." Yun Shan snorted coldly as he stepped on the empty space. Just as he was about to strike with his palm, a graceful figure suddenly flashed by. A snow-white, jade-like slender hand lightly flicked against his palm. The moment the two made contact, an incredibly fierce and unmatched surge of energy burst forth from the point of impact. Chapter 191: Chapter 191: Borrowing Fire Chapter 191: Borrowing Fire ? "Medusa, if you had truly evolved and reached the Rank 7 magical beast level, I would indeed have to be wary of you. But right now, you''re merely a half-step Dou Ancestor. The gap between you and a true Dou Ancestor isn''t something that can be bridged by bloodline alone!" Yun Shan''s shoulders trembled slightly as he dispelled Medusa''s force. He stared coldly at Medusa, who stood protectively before Xiao Yan. Suddenly, his hands rapidly formed seals, and his body began to shake violently. A strange, black figure emerged from within him as he trembled. Medusa''s delicate brows furrowed as she observed the emerging black figure. She could clearly sense that this black figure was no illusion; it contained an immense amount of energy. And it possessed the strength of a peak Dou Emperor! ''An Avatar with the strength of a Dou Emperor...'' Xiao Yan curled his lips. This Avatar wasn''t just any ordinary technique. He could tell that it infused powerful Spiritual Strength, somewhat resembling a combination of a soul body and Dou Technique. There was no need to even think about it. This was undoubtedly a Dou Technique from the Hall of Souls that allowed one to separate an avatar from oneself. Queen Medusa instantly turned, intending to intercept the Avatar, but Yun Shan''s main body eerily appeared before her, blocking her path. The Avatar flew toward Xiao Yan at extreme speed, with powerful Dou Qi condensed in its hands. It intended to first shatter Xiao Yan''s palanquin and then capture him. But at that moment, an elderly figure appeared before Xiao Yan. "Sigh, your medicinal pills are really not easy to earn," Jia Xing Tian exchanged a palm strike with Yun Shan''s Avatar. The terrifying energy instantly wreaked havoc, causing Xiao Yan''s palanquin to sway violently from side to side. Only when Xiao Yan saw Jia Xing Tian intervene did he retract the Green Lotus Core Flame and the Ten Thousand Beast Flame''s fire seeds back into his body. That Jia Xing Tian would step forward to protect him was something Xiao Yan had not expected. After all, he couldn''t currently produce the Mixed Bone Molding Pill, so his alchemy promise to the imperial family was, for the most part, just a verbal agreement. To offend the Misty Cloud Sect, which now had a Dou Ancestor, for the sake of a verbal promise didn''t seem worthwhile no matter how one thought about it. However, upon careful consideration, Jia Xing Tian''s actions made perfect sense. If Yun Shan hadn''t broken through to the Dou Ancestor realm, the Misty Cloud Sect would just be a fierce tiger capable of threatening the Jia Ma Imperial Family. But now, things were different. Yun Shan had broken through to Dou Ancestor! One had to know that there wasn''t a single Dou Ancestor in the entire Jia Ma Empire. The strongest cultivator and the strongest alchemist were both in the Misty Cloud Sect. The Misty Cloud Sect was no longer just a threat to the Jia Ma Imperial Family; they could easily overthrow the imperial family''s rule at any time. After exchanging several rounds with Medusa, Yun Shan discovered that he was actually unable to defeat her, instantly setting his anger ablaze! His eyes narrowed slightly before he let out a deep shout. The light in his palm suddenly flared as his shout fell. Then, an enormous energy palm dozens of meters in size appeared strangely, carrying a fierce gale as it ruthlessly slapped toward Queen Medusa. Medusa''s pupils contracted as she sensed the surging energy around her. Although magical beasts had stronger physical bodies and longer lifespans than humans, their Dou Techniques were absolutely inferior. Facing a Di Class Dou Technique used by a Dou Ancestor, her expression became extremely solemn. At this moment, a somewhat lazy voice reached her ears: "Your Majesty, this thing is borrowed and must be returned." Sitting on the palanquin, Xiao Yan smiled slightly and waved his hand. An emerald green fire cluster transformed into a stream of light and flew toward Queen Medusa. He saw Yun Shan actually using a Di Class Dou Technique and didn''t bother talking about fairness. He directly lent the fire seed of the Green Lotus Core Flame to Medusa! Medusa looked at the beautiful green flame floating before her like a lotus. She snorted lightly and said, "Hmph, this was originally mine to begin with." She reached out her left hand and gently held up the Green Lotus Heart Flame. The green light illuminated her stunning features, making her look as beautiful as a celestial maiden. Her eyes focused, and she instantly used her Dou Qi to drive the Green Lotus Core Flame. In the next second, endless green flames surged out from the fire cluster, gushing forth like a torrential sea. The sea of green flames instantly enveloped her entire body. The sea of green flames transformed into a green fire python. Facing Yun Shan''s Di Class Dou Technique, Medusa also struck out with a palm. Boom!!! Under the gaze of countless eyes in the square, the two attacks, both containing extremely terrifying power, finally collided with a thunderous impact. At this moment, the ear-piercing sound of the energy explosion echoed across the sky like a thunderclap, causing everyone''s ears to experience brief deafness. The incomparably terrifying high temperature of the Green Lotus Core Flame seemed about to melt the sky itself! The temperature on the square below instantly rose to an unbearable level! The power erupting from the Green Lotus Core Flame driven by the half-step Dou Ancestor Medusa''s Dou Qi was the true might of a Heavenly Flame. Compared to this, Xiao Yan''s Dou Grandmaster level Dou Qi driving it was as weak as a gas stove. Chapter 192: Chapter 192: A Word Alone Is Enough Chapter 192: A Word Alone Is Enough ? Xiao Yan sat on the palanquin feeling rather helpless as he gazed at the green flames occupying half the sky above. One moment cold, the next hot. Did they think they were cooking?! ''It seems that accelerating my Dou Qi cultivation is the way to go. Xiao Yan felt somewhat perplexed. Clearly, he had refined the Heavenly Flame himself, yet others could wield it more powerfully. Although he had indeed fully refined the Essence Flame of the Heavenly Flame, his Dou Qi cultivation was still far from sufficient to fully unleash the Heavenly Flame''s maximum power. This terrifying sea of green flames was not only visible to the spectators on the Misty Cloud Sect''s square but even to the common people in Jia Ma Sacred City. "Quick, look toward the Misty Cloud Sect!" "What on earth is happening there? What''s that green light?" "Didn''t Grandmaster Xiao Yan head to the Misty Cloud Sect early this morning? The Mu Clan, Nalan Clan, and Miteer Clan all went with him!" "Are you saying that Grandmaster Xiao Yan caused this?!" At the Miteer Auction House, Ya Fei raised her head to look in the direction of the Misty Cloud Sect. Her face was full of worry as she clasped her hands together, as if in prayer. At this moment, within the endless sea of green flames, Queen Medusa appeared like an empress controlling the green fire, holding it in her hand and disregarding everything in the world. For the half-step Dou Ancestor Medusa, manipulating the Green Lotus Core Flame was as easy as moving her own arm. The Green Lotus Core Flame felt like an extension of herself. This was not only because it had been refined by Xiao Yan. One must know that this Green Lotus Core Flame had once resided within her body. It was not an exaggeration to say that she had some connection to it. ''Sigh, this Green Lotus Core Flame has fallen into the hands of that cunning human just like that.'' Her beautiful eyes revealed a hint of lament and unwillingness. Her original plan wasn''t as simple as just completing her bloodline evolution. She had also wanted to completely control the Green Lotus Core Flame for her own use. The gap between magical beasts and humans wasn''t just in innate talent; the Dou Techniques of magical beasts were far inferior to those of humans. To bridge the gap in Dou Techniques, she needed to possess a Heavenly Flame. However, Medusa only felt a bit regretful and had no other thoughts. Even without Xiao Yan''s appearance, she wouldn''t have been able to fully realize her initial idea. Using the Green Lotus Core Flame to evolve was destined to fail, and the Ten Thousand Beast Flame had long since fallen into Xiao Yan''s hands. As the green flames dissipated, Queen Medusa''s beautiful eyes looked toward Yun Shan, who wore a solemn expression not far away. She smiled coldly and said, "Heh, it seems this so-called Dou Ancestor of yours doesn''t quite live up to the name." Yun Shan lowered his head to look at his scorched palm. He hadn''t expected that his Di Class Dou Technique used as a Dou Ancestor would not only be neutralized by Medusa, but that his own palm would even be burned by a Heavenly Flame. "A Heavenly Flame, you actually possess two kinds of Heavenly Flames!" Yun Shan''s eyes were cold as he looked toward the calm Xiao Yan sitting below. He never would have thought that Xiao Yan not only possessed two kinds of Heavenly Flames, but Medusa could also control one of them so skillfully! "Oh my, didn''t your guest elder, the most powerful alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire, Pill King Gu He, tell you? Back then, he wanted to go to the Snake- People Tribe to seize Queen Medusa''s Green Lotus Core Flame, but I heroically rescued the beauty and foiled his despicable plan." Xiao Yan spouted nonsense without effort. Even Yun Yun rolled her eyes at Xiao Yan. Him, a hero saving the beauty? He was clearly one of the robbers back then. He really did talk a better game than he played. like chains. "Kid, though Heavenly Flames are powerful, they cannot rival the tens of thousands of disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect," Yun Shan''s voice came from the air. His goal had always been to capture Xiao Yan. The restrained Xiao Yan looked at Yun Shan in the sky and shook his head helplessly, "Sigh, how troublesome." "Old Ling, if I were to ask for your assistance, I wonder what conditions would be required." As soon as he finished speaking, the shadows beside the palanquin suddenly began to writhe in an eerie manner. Moments later, a dark figure gradually emerged. In just an instant, a figure dressed in black robes appeared out of thin air before everyone''s eyes. With the appearance of the dark figure, the expressions of Hai Bodong, Jia Xing Tian, Fa Ma, Yun Leng, and others changed drastically in the blink of an eye. Another Dou Emperor?! Ling Ying slowly bowed and respectfully said, "Young Master Xiao Yan''s word alone is enough." This was the trump card that Xiao Yan had been hiding all along: eating soft rice! It wasn''t that Xiao Yan wanted to eat soft rice, but it was simply too enticing! TL/N: "Eating soft rice" typically refers to a man relying on or living off a woman''s resources or support. "Is that so? Then I''ll have to trouble old Ling." Ling Ying''s eyes focused sharply as his entire body burst forth with Dou Qi. The surrounding world''s energy suddenly went berserk at this moment. ''Open Mountain Seal!'' Chapter 193: Chapter 193: The Final Card Chapter 193: The Final Card ? Under the gazes of countless eyes filled with various emotions, the black-robed elder beside Xiao Yan was at this moment madly circulating his Qi Method within his body. The hand seals in his hands suddenly changed, and an equally vast and formidable energy abruptly surged into the sky! ''Open Mountain Seal!'' As Ling Ying''s low shout echoed in his heart, an enormous energy handprint several meters large suddenly appeared! At the instant this energy handprint manifested, the entire space of the Misty Cloud Sect and even the entire Misty Cloud Mountain began to ripple rapidly like waves. The surrounding natural energy shot straight into the clouds! This terrifying energy fluctuation shocked everyone to their core! "He''s mobilizing the energy of the world! Di Class? No, not just that!" "Such terrifying world energy absolutely isn''t as simple as a Low Di Class Dou Technique!!" Jia Xing Tian and the other Dou Emperors widened their eyes, revealing expressions of shock and fear. As veteran elite Dou Emperors or even peak Dou Emperors, they had more or less cultivated or seen Low Di Class Dou Techniques, but Intermediate or High Di Class Dou Techniques-they had never seen them at all! Generally speaking, it was very difficult for someone who has just entered the Dou Emperor realm to possess Di Class Dou Techniques. Only the older generation of Dou Emperors or even peak Dou Emperors might possibly learn Low Di Class Dou Techniques. As for Intermediate and High Di Class Dou Techniques, those were basically in the realm of Dou Ancestors. Even a 9-star Dou Ancestor would keep a High Di Class Dou Technique as a hidden trump card; those were ultimate moves! Unless one was a Dou Emperor from a major faction, one simply wouldn''t come into contact with Intermediate Di Class or higher Dou Techniques! Xiao Yan looked at Ling Ying in astonishment, his eyes narrowing. Being the closest to Ling Ying, he sensed it most clearly. He could be one hundred percent certain that this was a High Di Class Dou Technique! After all, he himself had cultivated a Low Di Class Qi Method and the Flame Splitting Tsunami. His storage ring even contained High Di Class Dou Techniques, but they just weren''t suitable for him to cultivate. No wonder even Hun Huzi was wary of the forces behind Xun Er. The peak Dou Emperor Ling Ying had actually cultivated a High Di Class Dou Technique! This faction was even more unfathomable than he had imagined! Boom! Ling Ying slammed his palm toward the ground. Instantly, the natural energy of the entire Misty Cloud Mountain seemed to follow his attack, simultaneously blasting toward the mountain! The ground shook and the mountain trembled with a loud rumble. The entire Misty Cloud Mountain seemed about to collapse. Amidst the rumbling, rocks rolled and sand flew; mountains crumbled and the earth cracked. "Though now it seems you truly can''t do anything to him anyway." A pair of black-colored Dou Qi wings appeared behind Ling Ying as he and Medusa surrounded Yun Shan from front and back. Although Ling Ying was only at the peak of the Dou Emperor realm, he had the advantage of following Xun Er for many years and had obtained some powerful Dou Techniques and Qi Methods. His strength was much greater than Jia Xing Tian''s. Coupled with Queen Medusa controlling the Green Lotus Core Flame, even though Yun Shan was a Dou Ancestor, it was hard to say who would win or lose. With a ringing sound, Yun Shan drew out a cyan sharp sword. This was a weapon he had forged himself, a powerful peak Rank 6 weapon. As energies surged, the three almost simultaneously made their moves in the next second. Medusa''s eyes narrowed, and the Green Lotus Core Flame instantly transformed into numerous fire snakes that pounced toward Yun Shan from all directions. Ling Ying concealed his figure, ready to launch a fatal strike at any moment. Bursts of sharp energy collisions erupted in the sky. Even though Yun Shan was a 1-star Dou Ancestor, facing Queen Medusa, who possessed a Heavenly Flame, and Ling Ying, who could launch a sneak attack at any time, the higher-leveled Yun Shan found himself overwhelmed and actually fell into a disadvantage. Xiao Yan propped his face with his hand as he lay on the palanquin, watching the fierce battle in the sky. The aftershocks of the battle turned into gusts of wind that blew over, causing the palanquin to creak rhythmically as it swayed, making him feel a little sleepy! ''It seems there''s really no need for me to make a move.'' Xiao Yan turned his head to look at Nalan Yanran not far behind him. At this moment, Nalan Yanran''s beautiful eyes were also watching the battle above the clouds in surprise. "Hey," Xiao Yan called out. "Uh?" Only then did Nalan Yanran snap out of her daze. She didn''t know why Xiao Yan was calling her. "Does your Misty Cloud Sect have any other trump cards?" ??? Nalan Yanran was stunned. Now that you''ve caused such a commotion in the Misty Cloud Sect, you want me to provide you with intelligence? She rolled her eyes and said irritably, "I don''t know." She really didn''t know. After all, she had only joined the Misty Cloud Sect for eight years and had been the Little Sect Master for just one or two years. The strongest person she knew was Yun Shan. Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, revealing a sly smile as he looked at Yun Shan, who was being beaten. He silently said in his heart, ''Then it seems Yun Shan has only one last card left.'' Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Pouring Wine Chapter 194: Pouring Wine ? After a fierce battle with Yun Shan''s Avatar, a thunderous boom sounded as Jia Xing Tian finally shattered it with a palm strike. After all, the Avatar was not Yun Shan''s real body; without the circulation of a Qi Method, its Dou Qi eventually weakened in the later stages. Xiao Yan saw Jia Xing Tian look at him and used spiritual transmission to say, "Elder Jia, I, Xiao Yan, won''t say unnecessary words. I will forever remember your assistance today. You needn''t worry about the Mixed Bone Molding Pill. Regardless of what happens to the Misty Cloud Sect in the future, I, Xiao Yan, will repay this debt of gratitude." Jia Xing Tian shook his head with a bitter smile. Looking at the intense battle in the sky, his gaze rested on Ling Ying as he said, "Even without my intervention, you have enough strength to deal with Yun Shan, don''t you?" Xiao Yan chuckled and said, "That''s not how it works. Nothing should be considered from hindsight. Even I can''t anticipate everything. Without Elder Jia''s assistance, who knows, perhaps I might have been ambushed and killed by that old thing Yun Shan." Of course, Jia Xing Tian didn''t believe Xiao Yan would be so easily ambushed and killed. Glancing in Hai Bodong''s direction, his bitter smile deepened as he thought, ''No wonder that old fellow Hai Bodong was willing to give up so much, not only handing over half of the Auction House without hesitation but also becoming an enemy of the Misty Cloud Sect without any reservations. Turns out he knew long ago that Xiao Yan has a powerful force backing him.'' He sighed. In fact, he should have guessed it earlier. Otherwise, how could someone under normal circumstances possess such strong alchemy skills and cultivation? Not only did he possess tier 5 alchemy skills and Heavenly Flames, but he also defeated Nalan Yanran, who had received Yun Po Tian''s inheritance. If he didn''t have the support of a major faction behind him, one couldn''t even imagine how astonishing his talent and luck would have to be. Xiao Yan took out three Dou King Pills and said to the black-cloaked figures still restraining Yun Leng and the other two, "Gentlemen, the battle is almost over. To avoid any trouble, would you three ''mysterious'' Dou King seniors please come and take these Dou King Pills?" Xiao Yan struggled to hold back his laughter, pretending not to know who they were. At this point, Yun Leng and the other two Dou Kings were no longer significant threats. In a battle of this level, Dou Kings were merely cannon fodder, unable to affect the overall situation. Fa Ma and the others exchanged glances, then simultaneously used Dou Techniques to distance themselves before flying over to Xiao Yan. Mu Chen raised his hand and unceremoniously took a Dou King Pill before flying away from the Misty Cloud Sect. He was the only one who genuinely wanted the pill. Miteer Tengshan smiled and said, "Grandmaster Xiao Yan, please hand this Dou King Pill to Ya Fei of the Miteer Auction House." Xiao Yan nodded with a smile and said, "Alright then." "And what about this mysterious elite Dou King?" Xiao Yan grinned as he spoke to Fa Ma. "I''ll take it then. If Grandmaster Xiao Yan has time, you''re welcome to visit my humble abode anytime," Fa Ma said as he took the Dou King Pill. The perfect-quality Dou King Pill refined by Xiao Yan would be immensely helpful to improve his own alchemy skills. In the realm of 5th-tier alchemists, Xiao Yan was the most formidable alchemist Fa Ma had ever seen. After the three of them flew away from the Misty Cloud Sect, it wasn''t long before Mu Chen, Miteer Tengshan, and Fa Ma returned under various pretexts to watch the battle. This act of ''covering one''s ears while stealing a bell'' infuriated Yun Leng and the others to the point of nearly grinding their teeth to pieces! ''This old fellow can really endure.'' Xiao Yan looked up to see Yun Shan''s robes burned to tatters by the Green Lotus Core Flame, with several burn injuries on his body. Yet, he still had fighting strength left and refused to admit defeat. adoptive father. Yun Yun took out a low-grade tier 6 healing pill from her storage ring. This was a pill refined by Gu He. Although tier 6 pills were generally used by Dou Emperors while Dou Ancestors used tier 7 pills, it could still have some effect. "Get lost!" Yun Shan slapped away the pill in Yun Yun''s hand and staggered to his feet. Perhaps it was because of Xiao Yan, or maybe it was due to the humiliation of being a Dou Ancestor who couldn''t defeat the half-step Dou Ancestor Medusa, but right now, Yun Shan was like an injured old tiger. "Master..." Yun Yun looked at Yun Shan with a guilty expression. Yun Shan glared at Xiao Yan with a ferocious expression and roared, "Even if you have Queen Medusa''s help and possess Heavenly Flames, so what? There will still be people who can deal with you!" Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed. With his keen Spiritual Strength, he sensed that Yun Shan had just crushed a soul jade piece. "Hahaha! None of you know what you''re up against!" "Hahahahaha!!!" But something strange happened. No matter how much Yun Shan shouted, nothing occurred! The sky remained clear and bright. Everyone present looked at each other in confusion, then back at Yun Shan, wondering if his mind had been rattled by the beating, as he stood there shouting and yelling to himself like a madman. Yun Shan stared blankly at the sky and roared, "Why? Why aren''t they appearing?! You promised me!!" Yun Shan was dumbfounded. He couldn''t fathom why his supposed backup hadn''t shown up! They had actually abandoned him! "Stop yelling. The people from the Hall of Souls won''t appear." Just then, Xiao Yan''s voice resonated in his mind. Yun Shan looked at Xiao Yan sitting on the palanquin in shock and said incredulously, "It''s you... What did you do?!!" Chapter 195: Chapter 195: Everything Under Control Chapter 195: Everything Under Control ? Xiao Yan leaned back against the palanquin and set down his wine cup. At this moment, his eyes narrowed slightly. It seemed as if, in that instant, his gaze could see through everything about Yun Shan, as if under the scrutiny of those eyes, even a Dou Ancestor like Yun Shan was nothing more than a transparent nobody, unable to conceal anything from him. This gaze made Yun Shan feel as if he had been struck by lightning; cold sweat poured down his entire body. Only now did he finally feel the grip of fear. He realized that he was like a mere puppet held in the grasp of an invisible giant hand. He had thought he''d escaped from under the Five Finger Mountain and believed himself to be above others. But in reality, Xiao Yan had seen through him all along. "If your last resort is the Hall of Souls, then congratulations-you won''t need to trouble yourself anymore. You can take a good rest and consider yourself off duty," Xiao Yan said leisurely via spiritual voice transmission. "Who the hell are you, that even Protector Wu does not show up?!" Yun Shan was genuinely terrified now, as he had absolutely no idea why Protector Wu hadn''t appeared! If it was out of fear of the faction behind Xiao Yan, then this Xiao Yan was simply too terrifying! "Me? Didn''t your disciple and grand-disciple tell you? My name is Xiao Yan, from Wu Tan City," Xiao Yan introduced himself using spiritual voice transmission. These words fell on Yun Shan''s ears like Xiao Yan was toying with him, but the next sentence struck him like a bolt from the blue. "I''m also a Di Class Soul Envoy of the Hall of Souls." !!!? Yun Shan''s eyes widened in shock as he stared at Xiao Yan, utterly dumbfounded. He couldn''t comprehend it. Even if Xiao Yan was a Di Class Soul Envoy, that shouldn''t be enough to make someone at the Protector level apprehensive! "Sigh, I''ve been sitting for too long; it''s time to stretch my legs. Since no one has invited me to step off the palanquin, I suppose I''ll have to come down myself." Xiao Yan slowly stepped down from the palanquin and stretched lazily.No?v(el)B\\jnn Only then did everyone realize that Xiao Yan had not even stepped off the palanquin until now!! The entire Misty Cloud Sect, including the Dou Ancestor Yun Shan and even the sect''s protective grand formation, had all made an appearance, yet they still couldn''t do anything to Xiao Yan! In fact, at this moment, everyone''s mouths hung agape. They all stared at Xiao Yan in a daze, feeling that he had suddenly become utterly unfathomable. Only Medusa cast a sidelong glance at Xiao Yan, as if to say, ''You act as if you defeated Yun Shan yourself. Wasn''t it others who did all the work while you merely talked?'' Ling Ying merely smiled without saying anything. Being adept at leveraging others to help oneself was also a form of great wisdom. Xiao Yan slowly approached Yun Shan. A beautiful figure appeared before him. Yun Yun spread her arms to block his path, her eyes pleading as she said, "Xiao Yan, please don''t." When Xiao Yan heard Yun Yun''s imploring voice and saw the entreaty in her eyes, his heart skipped a beat. "Sect Leader Yun Yun, you''ve misunderstood. I''m not here to trouble Old Sect Leader Yun Shan; I''m here to trouble you," he said, pointing at her. Yun Yun was stunned upon hearing this, doubting her own ears. "Sect Leader Yun Yun, your sect''s First Elder, on the basis of unfounded charges, instructed many disciples to attack me. There needs to be an explanation for this, don''t you think?" Xiao Yan said with a grin. Not only was Yun Yun bewildered by this, even Yun Shan didn''t know what Xiao Yan was planning! "Old Hai, I''ve troubled you this time. I''ll come to the auction house to find you later," Xiao Yan said to Hai Bodong via spiritual voice transmission. Hai Bodong frowned and said, "You''re not really planning to stay in the Misty Cloud Sect, are you? If we leave and that old fellow Yun Shan causes trouble..." Xiao Yan chuckled, "It''s fine. Queen Medusa is still here. Even if I can''t defeat him, I can at least escape. Besides, Old Hai, don''t forget I still have an ace up my sleeve." Hai Bodong was startled upon hearing this. He recalled that terrifying fire lotus from before, and according to Xiao Yan, there was even an upgraded version of it. Moreover, with Medusa present, Xiao Yan''s safety was at least guaranteed. He didn''t say much more and took his leave from the Misty Cloud Sect. Seeing that the majority of the people in the square had dispersed, Xiao Yan used his Eagle Wings to fly over to Ling Ying. He retrieved a few brocade boxes and a letter from his storage ring and handed them to him. "Old Ling, please deliver this letter and these items to Xun Er. Tell her that after I settle the members of the Xiao Clan in Jia Ma Sacred City, I will return to Jia Nan Academy. Inside the brocade boxes are a Four Lines White Spirit Pill and some pills for Dou Masters and Dou Practitioners. The letter already explains their uses. Please give them to Xun Er as well." Whenever Xiao Yan mentioned Xun Er, his expression would soften. Seeing the gentle look in Xiao Yan''s eyes, Ling Ying patted his shoulder and said, "Young Miss will surely be very happy to receive Young Master Xiao Yan''s gifts." "By the way, there''s one more thing I need to trouble Old Ling with." Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed slightly, a flash of killing intent passing through them. Although he didn''t say anything, his eyes had already conveyed the message. Ling Ying''s eyes flickered, and he nodded subtly. Of course, he understood that Yun Leng and the other three needed to be thoroughly eliminated. These four had already offended Xiao Yan beyond reconciliation, so let them disappear entirely! Once all the items were put away, Ling Ying melted into the shadows and disappeared. Xiao Yan''s expression immediately changed after confirming with his Spiritual Strength that Ling Ying had truly left. He hadn''t even dared to take out the Soul Command Token with Ling Ying around, fearing that something might happen. His purpose in orchestrating this battle wasn''t merely to establish his dominance; there was an even more profound underlying meaning. ''I didn''t expect that there''s actually a Protector within the Misty Cloud Sect! This is a bit troublesome.'' Xiao Yan slowly shifted his gaze in a particular direction. The reason Yun Shan couldn''t summon the Protector was very simple. When he entered the Misty Cloud Sect, the Soul Command Token had emitted a soul light path. That Protector Wu had likely been aware of his arrival long ago. For others, the matter of the Misty Cloud Sect had already concluded, but for him, this was merely the end of the first act. He took out the Soul Command Token from his storage ring, and a subtle soul light pointed in the direction from which Yun Shan had earlier emerged. ''Looks like I can pay a visit to the Hall of Souls tonight.'' Chapter 196: Chapter 196: The Hall of Souls Within the Misty Cloud Sect Chapter 196: The Hall of Souls Within the Misty Cloud Sect ? "All right, finished with all the farewells?" A soft, alluring voice pulled Xiao Yan out of his contemplation as he gazed in the direction of the Hall of Souls. Turning around, he saw Medusa staring at him with her enchanting eyes. The corners of his mouth twitched into a slightly awkward yet polite smile as he sheepishly asked, "Does Your Majesty need something from me?" Medusa gave a faint smile, her black-colored hair fluttering in the wind with a unique exotic charm. Her snake-like pupils looked at Xiao Yan like a predator sizing up its prey as her snow-white jade hand suddenly extended toward him. After her evolution, Medusa''s skin was as tender as a baby''s. Her fair, delicate hand stirred an impulse in others to take a bite. "What is it?" Xiao Yan looked puzzled, not understanding her intention. "The recipe for the Spirit Fusion Pill," Medusa explained leisurely, dispelling Xiao Yan''s confusion. With a light flick of his storage ring, the scroll containing the Spirit Fusion Pill recipe was casually handed to that jade-white hand. Slender fingers gripped the pill recipe as Medusa''s enchanting face revealed an impatient expression for the first time. She swiftly unrolled the scroll, her beautiful eyes meticulously reading the recorded effects of the Spirit Fusion Pill. Only after a long while did she slowly roll up the scroll. "When can you refine it?" 10r Xiao Yan spread his hands and said, "You think the ingredients for a tier 6 pill are like cabbages on the roadside? Even if I emptied out your tribe''s treasury, I still couldn''t get more than a few ingredients for a tier 6 pill." A flash of murderous intent passed through Medusa''s eyes upon hearing this. She had nearly forgotten that this bandit Xiao Yan had not only snatched away a Heavenly Flame but also plundered many precious medicinal ingredients from her tribe''s treasury. "You really think I wouldn''t dare to kill you!" Xiao Yan shrugged again and replied, "These medicinal ingredients are ultimately going to be used for you. If I die, who will reconstruct the body of the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python for you?" "Moreover, I can make the Heavenly Flames collide and erupt before I die. By then, you''ll either be dead or severely injured. I believe the vast majority of people in the Jia Ma Empire would prefer to see your corpse rather than a living Queen Medusa." "If you fight me to the death and end up seriously injured, even if you don''t die, your Snake-People Tribe will be annihilated by the joint forces of several major empires the very next day. Now that the news of your successful evolution has spread, the Snake-People Tribe will at least enjoy peace for a good while." Seeing Medusa''s expression of barely suppressed anger yet unable to do anything to him, Xiao Yan rubbed his nose, feeling a bit smug inside. He slowly extended his hand, imitating her earlier gesture, and said, "Time to return the Heavenly Flame." Crack, crack, crack. The joints of Medusa''s fingers cracked as a hint of crimson surfaced on her lovely face. This was from sheer rage. In the end, she didn''t make a move against Xiao Yan. After all, she bore the weight of the entire Snake-People Tribe on her shoulders. She was a queen. After retrieving the Heavenly Flame, Xiao Yan said calmly, "Ahem, don''t be so angry. Once we gather all the ingredients, you should have already completed your body reconstruction. By then, you can continue being your queen, and I''ll continue being my impoverished alchemist. We''ll mind our own business and stay out of each other''s way. Doesn''t that sound good?" Xiao Yan slowly descended back to the square. Watching his figure, Medusa slowly closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and after pondering for a moment, could only follow behind him. At this point, she needed his power more than ever. After they slowly landed in the square, which had long been reduced to ruins, there was no one left except Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran. The other uninjured disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect had taken the wounded to the Medicine Hall for treatment. "If you need anything, just find Yanran. She resides in the building on the other mountain peak," Yun Yun said. "So you''ve truly become a servant?" Xiao Yan chuckled. "You... I..." Nalan Yanran wanted to retort, but for a moment, she didn''t know what to say. After all, this was the wager she had made herself. "All right, I''m just kidding. With how clumsy you are, I''d find you more of a hassle than a help." Xiao Yan pushed open the door, walked into the building, and gently closed the door behind him. Seeing Xiao Yan close the door, Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran exchanged glances before taking their leave. As the Sect Leader, Yun Yun had numerous matters to handle in the aftermath of this incident. Once Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength confirmed that the two had departed, the playful expression on his face immediately vanished. "You went to great lengths to cause such a huge commotion in the entire Misty Cloud Sect-not just for a Heavenly Flame, is it?" "If you just wanted to enter the secret realm of the Misty Cloud Sect, you should have had plenty of methods to do so." Medusa sat on a chair and asked softly. "Since when did Her Majesty the Queen become so concerned about me?" Xiao Yan sat across from her, smiled, and casually poured two cups of tea. "I''m only concerned about the pills." Xiao Yan lightly tapped his storage ring, retrieving the Green Colored Lotus Platform, and said, "In a moment, I''ll use the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to refine some pills that will help accelerate the growth of your physical body. With the assistance of the Green Colored Lotus Platform, I believe you''ll be able to return to Rank 7 in less than two years." "Tonight, you can cultivate on the Green Colored Lotus Platform by yourself; you don''t need to follow me." Medusa furrowed her brows and said, "You''re going out?" "Just planning to investigate some matters." In the evening, not long after Nalan Yanran delivered his meal, Xiao Yan, following the guidance of the Soul Command Token, passed through the dense forest and arrived at a wooded area within the Misty Cloud Mountain Range. The strange thing was that the soul light seemed to be abruptly severed, stopping in mid-air. ''An illusion barrier, huh.... The corners of his mouth curved upward. He retrieved the long-unused Soul Robe from his storage ring, donned it, and pulled down the hood to conceal his appearance. When he reached out again, he discovered that his hand actually passed through a layer of barrier and disappeared. ''To think it''s actually a formation that can distort space!'' Chapter 197: Chapter 197: We Meet Again Chapter 197: We Meet Again ? Xiao Yan''s eyes were fixed intently on the empty space half a meter before him. He actually discovered extremely faint wrinkles hidden within the space that were extremely difficult to detect. Following the trail of those barely discernible wrinkles with his gaze, he was startled to find that these spatial folds almost formed a wall-like barrier, concealing the Hall of Souls behind it. He had once read about a barrier in his storage ring that was called ''Space Lock''. It was an exceptionally powerful barrier that only a Dou Venerate expert could establish. ''Could that Protector Wu be a Dou Venerate? If he truly is, then that would be problematic. This Soul Command Token might not be enough to bluff an elite Dou Venerate.'' Xiao Yan furrowed his brows, but after pondering for a moment, he dismissed this conjecture. ''It''s probably not the case. If he truly were a Dou Venerate, Yun Shan wouldn''t have been shouting like that. It''s more likely that Yun Shan is also a Protector, just of a lower rank than Protector Wu.'' While a Dou Venerate could indeed set up a Space Lock, arranging one didn''t necessarily require a Dou Venerate. It could also be achieved using certain items and secret techniques. ''That Protector Wu knows I possess a Soul Command Token. Despite the commotion I caused in the Misty Cloud Sect, he didn''t appear even when Yun Shan crushed his soul jade piece. This proves that the Soul Command Token bestowed by Hun Huzi still holds significant status, likely higher than Yun Shan''s.'' Xiao Yan naturally had his reasons for causing such a scene. Not only did he want to enter the Gate of Life and Death in a manner that wouldn''t arouse Ling Ying''s suspicions, but more importantly, he wanted to gauge the attitude of the Hall of Souls hidden within the Misty Cloud Sect toward him. This wasn''t like attending school. If the Hall of Souls was divided into factions and he inadvertently ended up in an opposing camp, then he would truly meet a wrongful death. However, he dared to come to the Hall of Souls because he had a certain level of confidence and basis. He recalled that three years ago, not long after Nalan Yanran came to annul their engagement, Hun Huzi had mentioned that he came upon hearing about a genius young man surnamed Xiao emerging in this remote Jia Ma Empire. In the end, Hun Huzi even let him take his Soul Command Token to the Hall of Souls in the imperial capital. From this, it could be deduced that the reason Hun Huzi knew about him was because the people of this Hall of Souls had reported it to him, thus prompting his arrival. Therefore, it was plausible that this Hall of Souls was under Hun Huzi''s jurisdiction. Xiao Yan''s gaze sharpened as he proceeded without hesitation. He had carefully considered everything before coming to the Misty Cloud Sect. Clad in his Soul Robe, he walked straight through the Space Lock and entered. This Space Lock could only be accessed by those wearing Soul Robes. Upon closer inspection, within this slightly distorted space lay a stretch of polluted black land. The surface occasionally exposed some pale white objects. Startlingly, they were the skeletal remains of various creatures. The surroundings exuded an eerie and chilling atmosphere. It was a stark contrast to the environment outside. In the heart of this mountain forest stood a silent black hall. At the sight of that pitch-black structure, the words ''Hall of Souls'' surged into Xiao Yan''s mind. Without any introduction, he knew that this was the Hall of Souls within the Misty Cloud Sect! Gazing at the jet-black hall, a sinister and terrifying aura slowly permeated the area, rippling through this sealed space. Upon closer examination, several exceptionally thick black chains extended from the hall and plunged deep into the ground. Swirling clusters of black fog enveloped these chains, vaguely forming human-like shapes. The chains occasionally flickered with a faint luster. to kill them nor uttered a word, simply ignoring them. He wasn''t someone with a saintly heart. The Hall of Souls had branches spread extensively across the Dou Qi Continent; how much could he possibly control? As for the First Elder and the others, they were probably already waiting below. ''So ordinary Soul Envoys without Soul Command Tokens rely on those so-called soul stones to collect souls and exchange them for soul points? It seems that soul points are still used as currency for transactions here,'' Xiao Yan pondered as he made his way toward the hall. Xiao Yan didn''t encounter many people along the way. This Hall of Souls gave him a somewhat desolate feeling. ''Why are there so few people?'' The space concealed by the Space Lock wasn''t very vast. He arrived at the foot of the pitch- black hall after walking for a short while. He raised his head and gazed upward. In the center of the black hall, the words ''Hall of Souls'' were engraved using Spiritual Strength. These characters seemed to emit faint wailing sounds. A few black-robed figures were actually sitting on those thick black chains that bound the Hall of Souls. Xiao Yan''s perception clearly sensed that these individuals were all at the peak Dou Spirit or even Dou King realm, and none of them were from the Misty Cloud Sect. ''Those chains are releasing very strong Spiritual Strength. Could those things accelerate the cultivation of Soul Training Methods?'' This was merely a small branch hall in a remote area, yet it already possessed such a foundation. Those Dou Kings were likely rogue cultivators from the Jia Ma Empire who had passed trials to become Soul Envoys of the Hall of Souls. Xiao Yan surmised that the Hall of Souls had its own system of trials and recruitment methods. The door of the Hall of Souls suddenly opened with a creaking sound. Xiao Yan smiled faintly and, without the slightest hesitation, stepped directly into the hall. The door slammed shut with a resounding thud the moment he entered the Hall of Souls. One candle after another lit up, instantly illuminating the entire hall. A figure wearing a Soul Robe and a mass of black fog stood in the center, as if they had been waiting for him all along. Xiao Yan revealed a smile as he slowly removed his hood. His gaze fell on the person to the right and chuckled, "Jie Jie Jie, Old Sect Leader Yun Shan, we meet again." Chapter 198: Chapter 198: The Function of the Soul Command Token Chapter 198: Chapter 198: The Function of the Soul Command Token ? The black-robed figure on the right also removed his hood, revealing none other than Yun Shan! Surprise and doubt flickered in Yun Shan''s eyes as he scrutinized Xiao Yan from head to toe. He could sense that the Soul Robe Xiao Yan wore was of exceptionally high grade, which meant his rank couldn''t be too low! "Are you a Human Grade Protector?" Yun Shan furrowed his brows as he looked at Xiao Yan. What he most wanted to know now was why Protector Wu, who was an Earth Grade Protector, didn''t make a move against Xiao Yan. The Hall of Souls wasn''t like the alchemists, who foolishly displayed their ranks on their robes. Unless one was acquainted, no one knew the other''s rank. Xiao Yan mused inwardly, ''Human Grade Protector? Could it be that Protector ranks are divided into Heaven, Earth, and Human, while Soul Envoys are divided into Tian, Di, Xuan, and Huang due to their larger numbers?'' He spread his hands and said with a wry smile, "As I said. I''m merely a Di Class Soul Envoy, not a Protector." "Really a Di Class Soul Envoy?!" Yun Shan''s expression was one of astonishment as he turned to look at Protector Wu, who was shrouded in a mass of black fog beside him. Yun Shan had just joined the Hall of Souls and, by virtue of his peak Dou Emperor strength, had become a Tian Class Soul Envoy. After using medicinal pills to break through to the Dou Ancestor realm, he became a Human Grade Protector. So what gave Xiao Yan, a mere Di Class Soul Envoy, such authority?! He couldn''t make sense of it! Just then, a hoarse voice emanated from within the black fog on the other side: "When I learned that the Xiao Clan in Wu Tan City hadn''t been eradicated by that lord, I sensed something was amiss. But I never expected that you would actually join the Hall of Souls." A glint flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes. As expected! So it was this old fellow who caused the trouble! "Defeating the Misty Cloud Sect was the trial given to you by that lord, wasn''t it?" Protector Wu said slowly. Xiao Yan''s heart sank as he thought, ''Hmm? This guy doesn''t know about the Soul Command Token? He thinks my causing a big scene in the Misty Cloud Sect was part of a trial given by Hun Huzi, which is why he didn''t appear. So the one he''s wary of is Hun Huzi?'' ''He can''t see the soul light of the Soul Command Token, but Hun Lao Gui can sense it.'' Countless thoughts raced through Xiao Yan''s mind at this moment. The corners of his mouth curved upward, his eyes gleaming. Actions speak louder than words; why not test it out? With a light flick of his storage ring, an ancient-looking token appeared in his palm. To his surprise, Protector Wu actually looked toward Yun Shan! After a round of explanations, Xiao Yan was left completely speechless. It turned out that after Nalan Yanran sought Yun Yun''s permission to annul the engagement, she came to the Xiao Clan to do so. However, she was utterly crushed by him with absolute superiority in strength. Although Nalan Yanran had intended to conceal this matter, the fact that the future Little Sect Leader was defeated with a single punch by someone from a clan in a remote city naturally reached the ears of the higher-ups of the Misty Cloud Sect. Consequently, Yun Shan learned about a genius young man named Xiao Yan who had defeated Nalan Yanran with a single punch, arousing his suspicions. The Hall of Souls had always had a top-level mission: to find a hidden super clan, the Xiao Clan. Originally, such a small clan in a remote place like Wu Tan City couldn''t possibly have attracted Yun Shan''s attention. But it was precisely Xiao Yan''s instant defeat of Nalan Yanran that made him take notice! Later, when Protector Wu heard about Xiao Yan''s situation, he went to Wu Tan City intending to capture the Clan Head, Xiao Zhan, to claim credit. However, he discovered that the small Xiao Clan in Wu Tan City actually had a peak Dou Emperor expert guarding it. Therefore, he didn''t startle the snake in the grass. Instead, he reported the matter to the highest-level Tiangang Hall of the Hall of Souls. This led to the subsequent series of events. It was also because of the Xiao Clan matter that Protector Wu was promoted from a Human Grade Protector to an Earth Grade Protector. He was even allowed to establish a brand-new branch hall within the Misty Cloud Sect and was put in charge of it. The reason Xiao Yan encountered so few people upon entering was that this branch hall had only been established in recent years. After hearing this, Xiao Yan wished he could travel back three years and give his past self a good beating. Why couldn''t he just properly annul the engagement? Why did he have to show off? The engagement was bound to be annulled anyway! "Hun Huzi looked in the wrong place. I''m not the person the Hall of Souls is searching for. Later, I passed his trial and obtained this Soul Command Token," Xiao Yan said, forcing himself to remain composed. Of course, the first half of that statement was a lie. Back then, he already knew that the Xiao Clan Hun Huzi was searching for was indeed his own Xiao Clan of Wu Tan City. What he hadn''t anticipated was that his clan had once been so powerful that it possessed something the Hall of Souls would stop at nothing to obtain. Chapter 199: Chapter 199: Intelligence on the Hall of Souls Chapter 199: Chapter 199: Intelligence on the Hall of Souls ? "You actually passed that lord''s trial! Could it be that you''re his disciple?" Protector Wu''s tone even carried a hint of change, his voice tinged with a touch of respect. Xiao Yan alone didn''t warrant such respect from a 5-star Dou Ancestor like him. Even if Xiao Yan were a 5th-tier alchemist, it wouldn''t be enough. But Hun Huzi, who could bestow a Soul Command Token upon others, was an existence countless times more powerful than Protector Wu. Protector Wu himself didn''t know how strong Hun Huzi truly was; he only knew that back when he went to make his report, even the Tianzuns treated Hun Huzi with the utmost respect. Protector Wu only knew that Hun Huzi was an alchemist. At that time, he had appeared in the Tiangang Hall because a certain prominent figure had expended a large number of soul points to request his assistance in refining a medicinal pill. Actually, it wasn''t surprising that Protector Wu thought this way. After all, Xiao Yan was also an alchemist and even possessed a Heavenly Flame. Especially having reached the 5th-tier alchemist at such a young age. Such speed was unheard of, even by Protector Wu. Perhaps only the super geniuses of the Pill Tower could progress at such a pace. Being accepted as a disciple by Hun Huzi seemed quite reasonable. Xiao Yan glanced indifferently at Protector Wu''s shocked expression. He slowly attached the Soul Command Token to his waist and calmly said, "He did want to take me as a disciple, but I had no such intention." "Alchemy is merely a side pursuit for me, something I do casually. Cultivation is the true path." Upon hearing these words, Protector Wu inwardly cursed him for showing off. That was an alchemist whom even figures like the Tianzuns would beseech. Tianzuns were at least 7-star Dou Venerates or higher. What kind of monstrous existences were 7-star Dou Venerates and above?! The medicinal pills they required were at least high-grade tier 8 pills, the kind that could attract 7-colored or higher Pill Lightning when refined. Such pills could be called divine pills without exaggeration. An alchemist whom even such people had to treat with courtesy would at least be among the top ten on the entire Dou Qi Continent, right? And such a person wanted to take you as a disciple, yet you weren''t even willing! "Of course, of course. Sir, not only is your alchemy unparalleled, but your cultivation is also invincible. Even Nalan Yanran, who received a Dou Venerate''s inheritance, was easily defeated by you." Protector Wu smiled ingratiatingly, rubbing his hands together like a fly. His fawning demeanor made Yun Shan beside him feel as if he were looking at a stranger! Was this still the same Protector Wu?!!! Xiao Yan nodded lightly and said, "I came to the Misty Cloud Sect not only to complete the trial given by Hun Huzi but also to learn about some matters regarding the Hall of Souls and to exchange some items using soul points." "Below the three Tiangang Halls are the twenty-four Disha Halls, all located on the periphery of the Central Plains, encircling it completely. They are all managed by Honorable Elders." "As for branch halls like ours located outside the Central Plains, their number is too many to count. Each branch hall has at least one Protector, with the main tasks of collecting soul bodies and capturing alchemists." Xiao Yan''s brows furrowed tightly. Protectors were all at the Dou Ancestor realm or higher, yet these branch halls were the weakest?! And there were so many that they couldn''t be counted?! This strength was simply too terrifying! In other words, any one of the weakest branch halls could utterly destroy the Jia Ma Empire! Xiao Yan thought to himself, ''No wonder all the alchemists on the Dou Qi Continent had to unite to establish the Pill Tower. Even places like the Jia Ma Empire, far from the Central Plains, have Alchemist Associations under the protection of the Pill Tower.'' ''The Hall of Souls'' sphere of influence is simply outrageous.'' A group like alchemists, a profession with such rallying power, was ultimately forced by the Hall of Souls to band together for self-preservation! "Are they capturing these alchemists to refine pills?" Xiao Yan noticed that these alchemists hadn''t been killed. If they only needed soul bodies, they could have just killed them and extracted their souls. Since they didn''t kill the alchemists, it could only mean they needed them to refine pills. To Xiao Yan''s surprise, Protector Wu actually shook his head and said, "Aside from the fact that alchemists inherently have strong Spiritual Strength and are more likely to produce soul bodies, more importantly, the Sacred Land needs to select talented alchemists to help refine a certain medicinal pill." A glint flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes. Back then, Hun Huzi had told him the same thing. However, as for what specific pill it was, he needed to truly cultivate his alchemy skills to a certain level before Hun Huzi would tell him. ''It seems this pill is indeed very important if they need to capture alchemists from all over the world to select and cultivate powerful alchemists.'' The three of them finally exited this long prison passageway after walking for quite a while. Perhaps because this branch hall was newly built, there weren''t many people imprisoned here. A vast hall appeared before Xiao Yan after following Protector Wu for a while longer. In the center of the hall stood something resembling an altar, and the surrounding walls were densely packed with various light clusters enveloped in radiance. Xiao Yan recognized these light clusters; he had seen them before in the Treasure Hall. These light clusters contained various treasures, medicinal pills, Qi Methods, and Dou Techniques. Chapter 200: Chapter 200: Returning to the Treasure Hall Chapter 200: Chapter 200: Returning to the Treasure Hall ? "Sir, this is the Treasure Hall of our branch. Some of the items here were bestowed by the headquarters, while others were left by various Soul Envoys who exchanged them for soul points," Protector Wu explained. Xiao Yan once again felt the terrifying grandeur of the Hall of Souls as he looked at the light clusters placed in the stone niches along the walls, densely packed and numbering in the thousands or even tens of thousands. He had entered Queen Medusa''s treasury before, but even her treasury didn''t possess this many treasures. He suspected that even the imperial treasury of the Jia Ma Empire was at most on par with this place. Casually picking up a light cluster, Xiao Yan felt a stream of spiritual information pour into his mind in the next second. "Low Xuan Class wood-attribute Qi Method-Thorny Profound Wood Technique. A wood- attribute Dou Qi cultivation method. Upon cultivating to the Dou Grandmaster realm, one can perform Dou Qi Armor Transformation; the armor can grow wooden spikes to enhance defensive power." "Required soul points: 300." Xiao Yan hadn''t forgotten that the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique he had exchanged for previously had cost him a thousand soul points. Then, the information on the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, the Ice Spirit Cold Fountain, and some medicinal ingredients had cost him several thousand more. Now, he had only a little over four thousand soul points left. He picked up a few more light clusters to examine. The value of Qi Methods was the highest; Qi Methods of the same class were more expensive than Dou Techniques. Normally, a High Xuan Class Dou Technique only required several hundred soul points, but a good High Xuan Class Qi Method needed close to a thousand. Xiao Yan''s Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique was considered quite advanced among High Xuan Class Soul Training Methods. A thousand soul points could already be exchanged for a very good tier 5 medicinal pill! He even saw that Dou King Pills could be exchanged here, although they weren''t as good as the ones he refined himself. A single Dou King Pill was valued at 1,200 soul points. Although he didn''t see peak tier 6 pills like the Mighty Huang Pill, he guessed that one would cost around five to six thousand soul points. Back then, Hun Lao Gui had told him that he could hire three or four low-star Dou Emperors with ten thousand soul points to attack Jia Nan Academy and seize the Fallen Heart Flame. So, the Mighty Huang Pill was probably priced around that much. Of course, the most precious Zong Breaking Pill would likely require seven or eight thousand soul points, or even more. "Do you have any Di Class Soul Skills or Soul Training Methods?" Xiao Yan asked. Just as Xiao Yan had expected, Protector Wu shook his head and replied, "Sir, you may not be aware, but Soul Training Methods and Soul Skills are not shared with outsiders. If you wish to exchange for them, not only do you need soul points, but you also need a certain identity rank. To raise your rank, you must accumulate a specific number of soul points or reach a particular level of strength." "What is this?!" Yun Shan exclaimed in shock. He had never seen such a scene before! "It''s the Soul Command Token! The Soul Command Token is opening a passage!" Protector Wu looked at the changing Soul Offering Altar with an extremely astonished expression! When a beam of soul light projected from the Soul Command Token onto the Soul Offering Altar, some runes actually appeared on its surface. At that moment, the Soul Offering Altar seemed to open a secret gateway. Accompanied by a buzzing sound and a series of reverberations, a pitch-black, ink-like path unfolded at an extremely fast speed. Xiao Yan wasn''t the least bit surprised upon seeing the passage, because this was the Soul Path. ''It seems Protector Wu was right. The Soul Command Token is the key to opening the Soul Path. Only those who possess a Soul Command Token can enter the Hun Realm,'' Xiao Yan silently mused to himself. Ignoring Yun Shan and Protector Wu, Xiao Yan stepped onto the Soul Offering Altar, retrieved his Soul Command Token, and crossed into the Soul Path. With a buzzing sound, Xiao Yan and the Soul Path disappeared without a trace. Both Protector Wu and Yun Shan were stunned when they saw Xiao Yan vanish in an instant, and remained dazed for quite a while before regaining their senses. Yun Shan frowned deeply. He looked at Protector Wu beside him with a hint of solemnity in his eyes and said, "Could it be that the lord named Hun Huzi has discovered something, so he sent him here?" "He''s going to enter the Gate of Life and Death tomorrow?" Protector Wu didn''t answer directly but asked in return. "Yes, I heard it''s for the Heavenly Flame inside the Gate of Life and Death," Yun Shan said. This was something Yun Shan had just learned. After all, ever since he reached the Dou Ancestor realm, he had been in secluded cultivation and didn''t even know that Nalan Yanran had already entered the Gate of Life and Death ahead of time, breaking through to the fifth gate and obtaining Yun Po Tian''s inheritance. It was only a few hours ago that he heard from Yun Yun that there was a Heavenly Flame inside the Gate of Life and Death, and Xiao Yan merely wanted to enter to obtain it. Protector Wu looked in the direction where Xiao Yan had disappeared and fell into deep thought. Chapter 201: Chapter 201: Asura Soul Reaping Technique Chapter 201: Chapter 201: Asura Soul Reaping Technique ? After stepping through the Soul Path, Xiao Yan once again arrived at the familiar Treasure Hall within the Hun Realm. ''So that''s the function of the Soul Command Token. It can open the Soul Path at every branch hall.'' Xiao Yan sighed inwardly. Possessing a Soul Command Token was just like being a direct descendant, whereas those who lacked one were more like outsiders; they could only exchange for resources available in their local branch. But a Soul Command Token granted access to all the resources held by the Hall of Souls'' headquarters and even the entire Hun -Clan. Without further ado, Xiao Yan placed the Soul Command Token on the control panel. "Exchange for soul points." In the next second, Yao Ao''s soul body was released from the Soul Command Token. "This is the Hun Realm?! Let me go!! I''ll do anything you want!!" The moment Yao Ao''s soul body appeared, a light barrier enveloped him before he could even attempt to escape. No matter how much he attacked or shouted, it was of no use. Xiao Yan naturally had no intention of setting him free. You tried to harm me, and now you want me to release you? Do you really think I''m some reincarnated saint? Rays of soul light swept over Yao Ao''s soul body. After just a short while, a series of digits rose above the light cluster that trapped him. Xiao Yan''s eyes went wide in astonishment at the sight of those numbers, and even his breathing grew rapid. ''180,000 soul points?!?!?!'' Even Xiao Yan, who had seen many things, could scarcely maintain his composure before that nearly six-figure number. If 10,000 soul points could hire three or four low-star Dou Emperors, then wouldn''t 100,000 soul points be equivalent to three or four Dou Ancestors or a peak Dou Ancestor?! And this was 180,000! ''If we calculate based on medicinal pills, 100,000 soul points would be roughly equivalent to a peak tier 7 pill. Then wouldn''t 180,000 be enough to exchange for a relatively weak tier 8 pill?!!! Now shrouded in a layer of soul light, Yao Ao himself was no longer visible from the outside. ''Is the soul body of a high-grade 7th-tier alchemist really worth this much? This is just a soul body, not a living alchemist.'' He stared in astonishment at the milky-white light cluster. ''No, the soul body of an ordinary 7th-tier alchemist probably wouldn''t fetch this price. Maybe it''s because he''s an alchemist from that so-called Yao Clan that increases his value.'' ''Sigh, no wonder the books in my storage ring mentioned that the Hall of Souls captures alchemists and hunts for soul bodies everywhere. With such high ''bounties'', it''s hard for people not to be tempted.'' Xiao Yan was certain that such enormously high rewards made the Hall of Souls'' offers far more tempting than anything the Alchemist Association, or even the Pill Tower, might provide. With generous pay, the Hall of Souls had no shortage of brave men willing to run dangerous errands for them.No?v(el)B\\jnn The Alchemist Association, or rather, the Pill Tower, had a similar mechanism to the Hall of Souls. They exchanged medicinal ingredients for pills, and alchemists used pills to exchange for Pill Points from the Alchemist Association. Back when Xiao Yan held the auction, the main ingredient of a tier 5 medicinal pill could be exchanged for a tier 4 medicinal pill. This exchange ratio was, in fact, the standard used by all Alchemist Associations when purchasing medicinal ingredients from outsiders. And yet, cultivating this Dou Skill to perfection could actually enable one to reap Heavenly State souls!! Continuing down the description, Xiao Yan read, "Cultivation requirement: Spiritual State at Late Mortal State or higher. Note: This Soul Skill possesses immense power. Even though it has been perfected to this day, it''s still not without risks. If one cannot control the killing intent during cultivation, the killing intent will shroud the soul and turn one into a prisoner of slaughter. Not recommended for those whose Clan Mark is below Grade 6." "150,000 soul points?!!" Even Xiao Yan was startled upon seeing that six-figure number at the end. This was almost comparable to some weaker Tian Class Dou Techniques! ''It actually requires 150,000 soul points... The High Di Class Soul Training Methods I saw earlier were only a little over 100,000. The soul points needed for this Soul Skill actually exceed those of Soul Training Methods of the same grade?!'' Xiao Yan stared at the light cluster in his palm. Generally speaking, Dou Techniques were cheaper than Qi Methods, and the same applied to Soul Skills being slightly cheaper than Soul Training Methods of the same grade. But the Soul Skill in Xiao Yan''s hand was the opposite. It was even more expensive! Xiao Yan wore an uncommonly solemn expression as he locked his gaze on the light cluster in his hand. ''No, being able to reap Heavenly State souls... This likely reaches the level of a quasi-Tian Class Soul Skill. 180,000 is actually cheap... This thing is a bargain, and I just happen to have enough soul points...'' ''If I''m not mistaken, this Soul Skill might have reached the Tian Class level if it weren''t for the excessive risk.'' ''But I don''t have that so-called Clan Mark.'' Even so, this one was the most fearsome of all the Soul Skills Xiao Yan had ever encountered. The only Soul Skill he had was ''Soul Impact,'' but he was well aware of how trashy it was. ''I''m currently at the Late Mortal state, so I meet the requirements to cultivate the Asura Soul Reaping Technique.'' ''Perhaps... I can use pills to maintain mental clarity while cultivating this Soul Skill.'' With a crisp crack, Xiao Yan clenched his fist, and with a ''pop,'' the light cluster shattered! Chapter 202: Chapter 202: Each With Their Own Agenda Chapter 202: Chapter 202: Each With Their Own Agenda ? With a buzzing sound, space suddenly tore open, revealing a swirling black vortex. A pitch- black passage extended to an unknown destination. Xiao Yan, wearing his Soul Robe, emerged with a single step from the passageway and landed atop the Soul Offering Altar. "Welcome back, Sir. Did you exchange for the items you desired?" Protector Wu hurriedly stepped forward, his aged face squeezing out an ingratiating smile. "It was nothing special. I only exchanged for the main ingredient of a Spirit Rising Pill and some medicinal materials for tier 5 pills," Xiao Yan replied indifferently as he descended from the altar, his gaze calm and unwavering. "Ah, indeed, indeed! For someone your age to have already become a 5th-tier alchemist is truly enviable. If Sir wishes, I can arrange for the Hall of Souls'' stock of medicinal ingredients to be exchanged on your behalf," Protector Wu said with a smile. Xiao Yan cast a sweeping glance at the light clusters around the Hall of Souls. His powerful Spiritual Strength instantly scanned over the medicinal ingredients, after which he responded with a hint of disdain, "Never mind. The medicinal ingredients here are mediocre at best." Naturally, he had no plans to reveal to Protector Wu or Yun Shan that he had exchanged for a High Di Class Soul Skill from the Treasure Hall. The Hall of Souls had an abundance of Qi Methods and Dou Techniques but was severely lacking in pills and medicinal ingredients. This was understandable; offering Qi Methods and Dou Techniques was more enticing to wandering cultivators at the Dou Master, Dou Grandmaster, and Dou Spirit realms, encouraging them to collect remnant souls, soul fragments, and Spiritual Strength. If Xiao Yan didn''t have the Flame Mantra, he might also be running around searching for stronger Qi Methods. Naturally, seeking out Heavenly Flames was essentially the same. Having obtained the Soul Skill, Xiao Yan had already accomplished his original goal. He ignored Yun Shan and Protector Wu and left the Hall of Souls. In truth, his plan had been merely to replace that self-harming ''Soul Impact'' with a Low Di Class Soul Skill. Unexpectedly, Yao Ao turned out to be so valuable. His journey to the Magic Beast Mountain Range could be said to have filled his pockets to the brim. "There''s a faint medicinal fragrance on his hands. It seems he did exchange for medicinal ingredients." Watching Xiao Yan leave, Yun Shan frowned deeply and said worriedly, "If he enters the Gate of Life and Death and actually breaks through the innermost Death Gate and obtains that thing, what should we do?" A plume of black fog burst from Protector Wu''s body. The aura of a 5-star Dou Ancestor shook the entire Hall of Souls until it trembled. "I have wasted so much time and effort on the Gate of Life and Death. No matter what, I can''t possibly let the thing inside fall into someone else''s hands!" "If he''s only after the Heavenly Flame, I can give that to him. But that mysterious inheritance behind the final Death Gate must be mine!" Protector Wu''s eyes were sharp, his tone filled with ruthlessness. No one knew how much he had sacrificed for this. His appearance at the Misty Cloud Sect in the Jia Ma Empire was no mere coincidence. ...No?v(el)B\\jnn After exiting the Space Lock of the Hall of Souls, Xiao Yan stored the Soul Robe in his storage ring and turned his head to look at an unremarkable mountain peak not far away. Upon entering the cultivation room, Xiao Yan didn''t immediately start cultivating the Asura Soul Reaping Technique. Instead, he opened the medicinal cauldron and began refining pills. ''The Asura Soul Reaping Technique can cause the cultivator''s soul to be clouded with killing intent. Although I don''t have that so-called Clan Mark, if I use mind-clearing and spirit- awakening pills, it should offset some of the side effects.'' ''If worst comes to worst, there''s always Mao Wu.'' Xiao Yan stroked Mao Wu. The side effects of the Asura Soul Reaping Technique were somewhat similar to the Black Demon Cauldron, perhaps even more severe. He had indeed exchanged for several main ingredients of tier 5 pills from the Treasure Hall. He intended to refine a high-grade tier 5 pill called the Soul Clarifying Heart Cleansing Pill. This kind of pill was specifically used to treat Qi deviation during cultivation and could prevent the invasion of inner demons. And so, Xiao Yan''s alchemy session lasted the entire night. ... Knock, knock, knock. "Xiao Yan, Master has instructed me to bring you to the Gate of Life and Death." A knocking sound came from outside, accompanied by Nalan Yanran''s voice. Xiao Yan yawned and glanced out the window. It was already daylight. With messy hair and dark circles under his eyes, he tidied up the medicinal cauldron. He had spent the whole night refining pills, all of which were Soul Clarifying Heart Cleansing Pills. It was no wonder he was exhausted. Nalan Yanran felt awkward upon seeing Xiao Yan''s disheveled appearance, which suggested he had overindulged. She said, "Even though you live together with Queen Medusa, you should restrain yourself a little." Xiao Yan smiled wryly and said, "I was refining pills all night and haven''t had time to freshen up. I didn''t do what you''re thinking." Nalan Yanran''s cheeks flushed crimson in an instant. She wished she could find a hole to crawl into. "Lead the way then. How can you not even do a good job of leading the way? At this rate, I''ll have to dock your pay." Xiao Yan casually ran his fingers through his hair, didn''t bother to change clothes, and simply donned his alchemist''s robe. Chapter 203: Chapter 203: An Anomaly at the Gate of Life and Death! Chapter 203: Chapter 203: An Anomaly at the Gate of Life and Death! ? "You!" Nalan Yanran was so angry that she choked on her words. Her beautiful eyes glared at Xiao Yan as she lightly bit her lower lip. She really wanted to teach Xiao Yan a good lesson, but alas, she couldn''t beat him! "Yes, yes, yes. This servant knows her wrongs. Young Master, please this way." Nalan Yanran took a deep breath, bent slightly at the waist, narrowed her eyes with a smile, and made an inviting gesture. Xiao Yan clasped his hands behind his back, adopting the demeanor of a young master, and said, "Lead the way." Perhaps because she had been so thoroughly defeated, Nalan Yanran''s attitude toward Xiao Yan had changed a little. At least now she knew how to joke around. The pair naturally attracted a lot of attention along the way. Nalan Yanran was the Senior Sister of the Misty Cloud Sect and a beautiful candidate for the next Sect Leader. Moreover, Xiao Yan had caused a huge commotion at the Misty Cloud Sect yesterday. Even the Old Sect Leader, Yun Shan, couldn''t do anything about him when he appeared, so he was naturally in the limelight. "Is that Xiao Yan? You''re saying such a young man defeated Old Sect Leader Yun Shan, who has advanced to the Dou Ancestor realm?" "Not defeated; he relied on Queen Medusa to hold off Old Sect Leader Yun Shan." "Relying on others and not his own strength? What''s his cultivation level?" "High-star Dou Grandmaster, the same as Senior Sister Yanran." Xiao Yan maintained a composed and indifferent demeanor upon hearing the gossip along the way. He didn''t mind people saying he relied on Medusa; after all, he really couldn''t defeat a Dou Ancestor on his own. As he followed Nalan Yanran through the various grand halls of the Misty Cloud Sect, he could see collapsed buildings and large cracks in the ground everywhere. Xiao Yan awkwardly rubbed his nose. If he guessed correctly, these were all the result of Ling Ying using the Open Mountain Seal. "This is all your doing." Nalan Yanran glanced at Xiao Yan. "Don''t make false accusations. I don''t have the strength to break your sect''s protective grand formation." Xiao Yan quickly deflected the blame. This was Ling Ying''s doing. Go find him. The pair soon arrived at the back mountain. Glancing at the secluded forest beside them, Xiao Yan knew that on the other side of the peak was a hidden branch hall of the Hall of Souls. Yun Yun and Yun Shan had been waiting there for some time. "The Gate of Life and Death is inside a Space Lock?" Xiao Yan asked leisurely. "You even know about Space Locks?" Nalan Yanran was a bit surprised. This was the domain of a Dou Venerate; generally, even Dou Emperors didn''t know about it! Yun Yun nodded slightly and gently explained, "Mm, this Space Lock was left by the founding Sect Leader, Yun Po Tian. Without the Sect Leader''s Token and a special method, even an elite Dou Ancestor can''t break in." Xiao Yan nodded. He had already experienced a Space Lock last night. Without the Soul Robe, he wouldn''t have been able to enter the Hall of Souls either. The earth shook, and the mountain peak where the Gate of Life and Death was located began to tremble. At first, Yun Yun thought that Xiao Yan was forcefully pushing the stone pillar, but then she found that the tremors were absurdly strong, and the shaking of the land became increasingly intense. Rumble rumble rumble!!! The earth and mountains began to split apart. The stone gate suddenly emitted scorching heat, and even space itself began to distort. In the blink of an eye, a huge fissure appeared before everyone, and the surroundings collapsed in that instant. Many disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect witnessed a terrifying scene. Quite a few mountain peaks and ancient trees within the sect suddenly cracked open, and ancient palaces and buildings collapsed one after another. "What''s happening!" "It''s happening again!" "No, this is even more intense than yesterday!" "Help!!!" Countless disciples, deacons, and elders of the Misty Cloud Sect were frightened out of their wits. Some Dou King elders even took to the air to avoid the sudden collapse of the ground! Yun Yun and the others abruptly looked at Xiao Yan. They sensed that the source of the earthquake was the Gate of Life and Death! "Xiao Yan, what did you do!" Yun Shan shouted. This was the first time such a situation had occurred! Activating the Gate of Life and Death would indeed cause some commotion, but it absolutely couldn''t be this intense. Normally, it would just emit a faint glow. Xiao Yan didn''t answer, because he himself didn''t know what was going on! At this moment, the originally ordinary-looking archway was flickering with a faint light. In the middle was a very thin, almost illusory light membrane that made it seem unreal. Xiao Yan''s expression was extremely solemn as he looked at the Gate of Life and Death before him. It went without saying that normally activating the gate wouldn''t cause such a situation! His eyes sharpened. He didn''t have time to think further; he knew that Protector Wu and Yun Shan were definitely keeping a close watch on him. ''If you encounter people from the Hall of Souls, be careful!!'' Xiao Yan transmitted his voice to Yun Yun before stepping into the Gate of Life and Death. Chapter 204: Chapter 204: The True Purpose of the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change! Chapter 204: Chapter 204: The True Purpose of the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change! ? The instant Xiao Yan stepped into the Gate of Life and Death, an energy hand reached out from behind to seize him. Xiao Yan merely sneered coldly. His spiritual perception had long since detected Yun Shan''s attempt to grab him. He had been paying close attention to Yun Shan''s every move. As for the Soul Command Token, Xiao Yan didn''t believe that a mere token could truly suppress two Protectors. Yun Shan''s presence was merely to monitor Xiao Yan and wait for him to emerge from the Gate of Life and Death. However, neither Protector Wu nor Yun Shan had expected that Xiao Yan would cause such an unforeseen event! "Damn it!" Yun Shan gritted his teeth. He had sensed that something was amiss last night, so today he had planned to keep a close eye on Xiao Yan to prevent any unexpected incidents. After all, Xiao Yan''s actions in coming to the Misty Cloud Sect were simply too strange, always giving him the feeling that he was hiding his true purpose. The faint glow of the gate instantly vanished when Xiao Yan entered the Gate of Life and Death, and the shimmering light membrane disappeared as well. The earth-shattering tremors also quieted down. Xiao Yan was thus transported into the space within the Gate of Life and Death, as if nothing had happened just moments before! However, the cracks visible everywhere proved that something had indeed occurred. "Master, what just happened?" Yun Yun asked in surprise, her beautiful eyes scanning the surroundings before turning to Yun Shan. She didn''t understand why Yun Shan had tried to seize Xiao Yan. Nalan Yanran also approached Yun Yun from the foot of the mountain peak. There hadn''t been such a commotion when she had previously entered the Gate of Life and Death. Even when she had obtained Yun Po Tian''s inheritance, such bizarre events hadn''t occurred. Suddenly, a vast expanse of black fog gushed out from the mountain forest on the other side. This black fog rapidly converged in the sky and eventually formed a dark-colored fog cluster about ten feet wide. Nalan Yanran and Yun Yun stared at the surging black fog, their expressions simultaneously turning solemn. They had no idea what was happening now! Everything that happened today had exceeded their expectations. "Master, what is this..." Nalan Yanran tilted her head toward Yun Yun and asked softly. Yun Yun drew her green sword and shielded Nalan Yanran behind her. Her gaze remained fixed unwaveringly on the mass of black fog, and the swirling gale around her body intensified. "What is this black fog?!" When the black fog appeared in the sky, the disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect, who had yet to recover from their shock, became restless, their eyes filled with astonishment and doubt. They had no idea that such a bizarre thing had been hidden within the sect. Only some of the sect''s elders, deacons, and disciples at the Dou Grandmaster realm showed contemplative expressions. With a whoosh, the black fog arrived in front of the Gate of Life and Death in an instant. "Protector Wu," Yun Shan bowed his head and spoke. Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran''s eyes were filled with shock. They couldn''t believe it! Yun Shan was a Dou Ancestor! Just what kind of person could make a Dou Ancestor bow his head?! ''Could he be the person from the Hall of Souls that Xiao Yan mentioned?'' Yun Yun recalled Xiao Yan''s parting words, and her heart sank. A hoarse and chilling voice came from within the black fog: "Yun Shan, what exactly is going on?!" Cold sweat immediately broke out on Yun Shan''s forehead. He could sense the overwhelming killing intent in Protector Wu''s voice. The entire Misty Cloud Sect could be doomed if this matter was not handled properly! The first time he felt that heartbeat sensation was at the Alchemist Association when he discovered the black jade piece recording the Secret Technique of the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change. The second time was at the foot of Misty Cloud Mountain, where he had almost unleashed the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change. If Xiao Yan couldn''t see the problem with all this, he might as well bang his head against a wall and die. What he didn''t expect was that the Gate of Life and Death would trigger such a massive reaction, and that a voice would resonate in his heart. ''The black jade only recorded the first change of the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change, and the Gate of Life and Death just happens to contain a Heavenly Flame. This can''t be a coincidence.'' ''The only explanation is that someone deliberately left behind the black jade piece recording the cultivation method of the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change and placed the Heavenly Flame here.'' Xiao Yan didn''t believe that such coincidences existed in this world. Too many coincidences coming together meant that there was a necessary connection. Staring at the eight closed gates before him, Xiao Yan''s eyes sharpened as he shouted, "Skyfire Three Mysterious Change!" Boom!! The merged Heavenly Flame circulated along the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change pathway within his body. In the next second, the entire space where he stood was instantly engulfed in flames, as if a spark had ignited a prairie fire. All eight gates were incinerated as the flames swept over. These eight gates were all fake, merely used to mislead those who entered without cultivating the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change. A vivid scene appeared before Xiao Yan''s eyes after the flames had burned through the entire space. He felt as if he were inside a movie at that moment. He stood within a magnificent hall, surrounded by people seated in various positions. ''Is this a memory scene?'' Xiao Yan was unable to touch these figures, as if watching a three- dimensional film. "Clan Head, the Hun Clan has gone too far. In the past two days, several more youths of the Xiao Clan have been ambushed," a middle-aged man sitting in the lower seat said with an angry expression. Xiao Yan''s eyes widened as he exclaimed in astonishment, ''Hun Clan? Xiao Clan?!'' Chapter 205: Chapter 205: Past Events Chapter 205: Chapter 205: Past Events ? ''Hun Clan? Could it be that Hun Clan from the Hall of Souls? Then the Xiao Clan is...'' Xiao Yan''s expression grew solemn. It seemed he had discovered something extraordinary. Before he could think further, another man immediately spoke up: "The Hun Clan is becoming increasingly arrogant. They''re brazenly declaring their intent to seize the ''Tou She Ancient God''s Jade'' from the other seven clans. Oppressing our Xiao Clan, whose bloodline is waning, so blatantly is truly despicable." The light-green-robed man sitting at the head seat kept his eyes slightly closed, remaining silent. Xiao Yan reflected for a moment. The mention of the ''Tou She Ancient God''s Jade'' sparked some thoughts in his mind. He hadn''t forgotten that, back when Hun Huzi first infiltrated the Xiao Clan, he had been searching for something specific. "Clan Head, our Xiao Clan is already at a life-and-death juncture. If this continues, it''s only a matter of time before we''re devoured by the Hun Clan. Only if you break through and become a Dou God can our Xiao Clan''s bloodline be preserved!" The elder sitting beside the green- robed man said solemnly. Everyone''s faces showed visible worry the moment they heard this. Xiao Yan''s heart also skipped a beat. Many years ago, he had heard talk of the clan''s bloodline. During his trial on the Soul Path, that person named Hun Yu Cun had mentioned activating his own Dou God Bloodline to increase his strength! ''Could it be that my clan once had a Dou God?! But why are we in such a desperate state now?'' Xiao Yan murmured inwardly. "Grand Elder, have you considered the consequences of failure?" The middle-aged man who had initially denounced the Hun Clan''s despicable acts spoke solemnly to the elder who had just spoken. "If we succeed, the Xiao Clan will produce another Dou God, and our bloodline power will be preserved. If we fail, whether we become cripples or lose our lives, how is that any different from being completely devoured by the Hun Clan? Rather than becoming the Hun Clan''s dogs, it''s better to stake everything on the future of the Xiao Clan." The elder known as the Grand Elder stroked his white beard and spoke sternly. "The Grand Elder is right. Our Xiao Clan has reached a critical juncture of life and death. No matter success or failure, we must bear it!" Several others voiced their agreement. However, no matter how passionately everyone spoke, the green-robed man sitting at the head remained calm, his eyes slightly closed. "Right now, only your strength holds the possibility of breaking through to the Dou God realm. You are the hope of all of us in the Xiao Clan, Xiao Xuan!" The Grand Elder said loudly. "So that man''s name is Xiao Xuan." Xiao Yan observed the middle-aged figure in front of him, who appeared more like a projection, and spoke in a low voice. All of a sudden, Xiao Xuan''s eyes snapped open, and the piercing gleam within them met Xiao Yan''s gaze head-on. Xiao Yan''s heart trembled. Even though he knew it was merely an illusory scene, for just an instant, that man felt utterly alive, almost as if he had reached across the river of time to look him straight in the eye. "Give me a few more days to consider." Xiao Xuan said in a low voice. Xiao Xuan kept silent, merely returning Hun Tiandi''s gaze with cold eyes. ''Hmm? No one has advanced to Dou God for many years? So there really aren''t any Dou Gods left on the Dou Qi Continent?'' Xiao Yan was taken aback. A being at the Dou God realm was, of course, someone he couldn''t come into contact with. Not to mention Dou Gods, even Dou Saints and Dou Venerates were invincible existences to him. He''d always assumed Dou Gods existed somewhere in the Central Plains. Only now did he realize there might truly be none at all. Hun Tiandi continued unhurriedly, "It''s because the Dou Qi Continent lacks Origin Qi, and Origin Qi is the key to advancing to the Dou God realm!" "I know your Xiao Clan wants to make one final gamble, but have you considered the reality? The Dou Qi Continent no longer has Origin Qi. Even if you muster the last ounce of your bloodline power, you still won''t succeed." Hun Tiandi glanced at the distant sea of busy Xiao Clan members, his tone soft yet carrying a hint of eerie persuasion. "Xiao Xuan, do you really want your entire Xiao Clan to be buried with you?" Xiao Xuan sneered, "You think I don''t know the secret of Origin Qi? Our Xiao Clan is already at a point of no return. We might as well go all out." Hun Tiandi shook his head repeatedly, sighing with a look of deep regret, "Why are you so stubborn? If you hand over the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade, once I gather all eight pieces and unlock the Dou God''s relic, the Essence God Qi and the Di Tier Embryonic Pill inside will help both of us break through to the Dou God realm. Why risk your entire clan for such a desperate bet?" // Hello everyone, I hope you''re all enjoying the holiday season so far! I want to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas-may you spend this day surrounded by your loved ones, sharing warm and joyful moments. Until January 1st, I''m offering an exclusive 45% discount on all Patreon tier memberships. This applies only to your first month. By subscribing, you can gain access to up to: ? 75 additional chapters of BTTH: From Genius to Invincible (approximately 200,000 words) ? 40 additional chapters of DD2: Glory of the Unrivaled Angel (approximately 110,000 words) It''s thanks to all your support that I''ve been able to do this for 2 years, and I hope to continue for a long time to come. We''re only a few chapters away from finishing this volume, and even fewer chapters away from significantly increasing the word count per chapter! Thank you for reading, and once again, Merry Christmas! Chapter 206: Chapter 206: Xiao Xuans Backup Plan Chapter 206: Chapter 206: Xiao Xuan''s Backup Plan ? "Hun Tiandi, do you really think none of the other seven clans can see the ravenous ambitions of you and your Hun Clan? Today, you''re just using slick words to deceive us into handing over the ''Tou She Ancient God''s Jade''. And as for your arrival here, isn''t it solely to stop my advancement? Why bother with all the roundabout talk?" Xiao Xuan made no attempt to hide his disgust toward Hun Tiandi and the entire Hun Clan. Hun Tiandi was not angered by Xiao Xuan laying bare his intentions. Instead, he smiled calmly and said, "In this world, only five of us 9-star Dou Saints stand at that final threshold before the Dou God realm. Among us, you, Xiao Xuan, have the highest talent and stand the greatest chance of reaching Dou God. Today, my Hun Clan shall wipe out your entire Xiao Clan." "Only I can become a Dou God!" Before the echo of his words faded, a thunderous boom erupted from the outer perimeter of the Heavenly Tomb. The intense tremor caused the ground beneath them to quake. Clearly, the battle had already begun outside. "The Gu Clan has been blocked! Now, heed my command-exterminate the Xiao Clan!" At that roar, the hundreds of Hun Clan members behind Hun Tiandi scattered, encircling Xiao Xuan along with their leader. With this formation, they intended to join forces to kill him and seize the ''Tou She Ancient God''s Jade.'' Xiao Yan watched this grim scene with a solemn expression. This battle could no longer be described as merely tragic; it was heroic and cruel. Watching these scenes made Xiao Yan fully grasp the brutal truth of ''survival of the fittest'' on the Dou Qi Continent. Within these images, some fought to become Dou Gods, while others fought to protect their clans. Countless elite experts perished in this colossal struggle, as if thrown into a giant meat grinder. One Tian Class Dou Technique after another ripped through the world, wiping out innumerable powerful individuals in the surging waves of Dou Qi. Most shocking of all was the fight between the two strongest experts, Xiao Xuan and Hun Tiandi, who battled until the very sky and land seemed on the verge of collapse, with the gruesome scene stained red. Though Xiao Yan was merely a spectator standing on the ground, and these were just images from the past that he couldn''t truly feel, he still witnessed this battle that was fought until the land was shattered and the sun and moon lost their light. Xiao Xuan and Hun Tiandi were evenly matched, locked in a furious stalemate. "Skyfire Three Mysterious Change!!" With a thunderous shout, Xiao Xuan''s body simultaneously erupted into three different kinds of flame. Xiao Yan frowned as he scrutinized those flames. He could confirm that one of them, a mixture of black and white, was the Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame, and the other two were definitely Heavenly Flames as well. ''So he used Heavenly Flames to preserve these memory scenes... then left them behind.'' Xiao Yan looked at the other two kinds of flames. One was a purple flame, while the other was a crimson flame. ''A crimson Heavenly Flame... The Ten Thousand Beast Flame isn''t it; its color is based on the spirits of ten thousand beasts and isn''t necessarily red. It should be the Fire Mountain Rock Flame or the Red Lotus Karmic Flame.'' ''The purple one is strange. The Three Thousand Burning Flame is purple-black, not this kind of pure purple. Could it be one of those Heavenly Flames without a fixed color?'' vanished. "Secret Technique, activate!" With a flurry of mysterious hand seals, an ancient incantation was cast. At that moment, a golden glow ignited within every member of the Xiao Clan. The golden radiance formed the Xiao Clan''s distinctive Clan Mark. The golden Clan Marks floated out from the bodies of the clan members and hovered in the hazy sky. Although some of these golden marks were faint, while others were bright, once they gathered together, they brightly lit up the entire sky! The cultivation levels of the Xiao Clan members began to plummet wildly as their bloodline power was drawn away. Some could not endure the strain and directly exploded. All the accumulated power converged within Xiao Xuan, sweeping out in a terrifying surge. "Dou God!" Hun Tiandi''s eyes turned blood-red. "How is this possible? How is this possible?!" Xiao Yan quietly observed these scenes, his expression calm as he watched how his clan''s former glory met its twilight. And the final outcome was indeed as he had anticipated. In the end, Xiao Xuan still couldn''t break through that final barrier. With a clenched palm, Xiao Xuan tore open a spatial passage and, with a sweep of his sleeve, sent the remaining Xiao Clan members inside. "Take the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade and go!" Xiao Xuan stood alone before the spatial passage, confronting a tide of Hun Clan experts and Hun Tiandi himself. This was the tragic final stand of a hero. Not once did Xiao Xuan turn his back on his enemies. "Heavenly Flames, explode!" When his strength was utterly spent, Xiao Xuan self-detonated his Heavenly Flames, killing swathes of the Hun Clan''s elites. In the end, the Yin-Yang Twin Flame also detonated, and the scene came to an abrupt halt at that moment. In the blink of an eye, the room returned to its original expanse of white. After a few moments of silence, Xiao Yan murmured, "So that''s how it is. All of this was left behind by Xiao Xuan, the last Clan Head of the Dou God Xiao Clan-a final backup plan." He turned around, and behind him floated a swirl of black-and-white flames. The outline of the flame vaguely resembled a human figure. Chapter 207: Chapter 207: The Xiao Clans Inheritance Chapter 207: Chapter 207: The Xiao Clan''s Inheritance ? Xiao Yan slowly turned around, his gaze calm as he looked at the Yin-Yang Twin Flame in front of him. He had tried detonating Heavenly Flames himself in the past, but when a Heavenly Flame was detonated, it did not simply vanish, rather, all the energy within its fire seed would be expended. Xiao Xuan''s detonation, however, was even more thorough than his method of colliding and merging two Heavenly Flames. From what Xiao Yan could tell, Xiao Xuan had deliberately detonated his Heavenly Flames in order to hide them from the Hun Clan and secretly send them away, leaving the clan''s descendants one final ray of hope. [I do not know your name, but since you were able to see this scene and hear my voice, you must be a descendant of my Xiao Clan.] [Heaven has not forsaken my Xiao Clan. That is good.] A voice transmitted into Xiao Yan''s soul. Though this voice was hoarse and occasionally cut out, Xiao Yan could recognize it as the voice of Xiao Xuan, the last Clan Head of the Dou God-era Xiao Clan. This was not Xiao Xuan himself, but an imprint he had left inside the Yin-Yang Twin Flame''s fire seed in his final battle. Countless years later, that message had finally found its way to Xiao Yan. [I failed to break through to the Dou God realm. That failure ultimately led to my clan''s Dou God Bloodline being completely exhausted. I am ashamed before our ancestors.] [Though I have perished, I took the final vestige of our clan''s waning Dou God Bloodline and hid it within the Life Flame of the Yin-Yang Twin Flame, preserving it.] Xiao Yan''s heart trembled! He had heard of the Dou God Bloodline, but he hadn''t expected his ancestor to have left behind such a move! Knowing he would fail and die in battle, Xiao Xuan had deliberately hidden the last bit of the Dou God Bloodline inside the Heavenly Flame, then detonated the Heavenly Flame to send out this flame of hope! [I fear that by now our Xiao Clan has completely declined, and our Qi Methods and Dou Techniques have all been lost. Using the final remnant of my Spiritual Strength, I have imprinted within the Death Flame a Secret Technique created by the Dou God of our Xiao Clan.] ''A Secret Technique created by a Dou God?!'' Xiao Yan''s pupils shrank in shock, and he couldn''t help but swallow hard. A Secret Technique created by a Dou God; what grade would that even be? High Tian Class? [This technique is part Qi Method and part Dou Technique. Due to the passage of countless years, it''s unknown whether it''s even complete. At best, I managed to grasp one or two tenths of its true essence. Should a future descendant of my clan comprehend it, they would be invincible among those of the same realm, even up to the Dou Saint realm.] Xiao Yan''s gaze shifted to the black-and-white flames in the air. He never imagined that this would actually be an inheritance left behind by his Xiao Clan ancestors! [The Skyfire Three Mysterious Change was a Secret Technique jointly created by me and my close friend Tang Fen, the founder of Burning Flame Valley. You should have already learned the First Change. I once agreed with Tang Fen that any future descendant of my Xiao Clan could visit Burning Flame Valley to obtain the remaining parts of this Secret Technique.] [The true might of this Secret Technique lies in its ability to merge with our clan''s Clan Mark. By borrowing the Heavenly Flames of heaven and earth, harnessing the power of the world, it allows the weakened Dou God Bloodline to be replenished, thus temporarily compensating for the deficiency in the bloodline.] [Remember, the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change must be performed with the power of Heavenly Flames to unleash its true power. Besides this Yin-Yang Twin Flame, you will also need two other Heavenly Flames. The Yin-Yang Twin Flame will guide you to locate the two flames I sent away when I self-detonated.] receive the final inheritance. These seemingly coincidental events actually had a necessary connection! ''A plan that dresses inevitability up as mere coincidence...'' ''Indeed, otherwise there would be no way to avoid the Hun Clan''s scrutiny. Everything that even hints of a Xiao Clan origin has surely been searched from top to bottom by now.'' Xiao Yan looked at the Yin-Yang Twin Flame before him and couldn''t help but admire, ''As expected of a Clan Head, possessing great wisdom. Unfortunately, his luck was a bit lacking.'' ''Speaking of which, does this count as me defecting to the enemy now?'' Xiao Yan scratched his head. He seemed to be working for the Hun Clan now. Even though it was a relationship of mutual use, and he hadn''t joined the Hun Clan, only the company run by them. ''So, Xun Er''s purpose in coming to the Xiao Clan was for that Tou She Ancient God''s Jade?'' "Ancestor, oh Ancestor, you''ve really left me with a huge problem. I feel like I might lose all my hair from the pressure." Xiao Yan let out a deep sigh. This was a heavy burden! Though enabling the Xiao Clan to live in peace and prosperity was within his current abilities, restoring it to its former glory was another matter entirely. The reason the Xiao Clan hadn''t attracted the Hun Clan''s attention now was mainly because it was too weak. It was impossible for the Hun Clan to associate it with that terrifyingly formidable Dou God Clan. If Xiao Yan hadn''t seen those records, the current Xiao Clan and the Xiao Clan in those scenes where every member was a world-destroying existence were completely different things! Not counting Xiao Yan, the current Clan Head of the Xiao Clan was Xiao Zhan, a mere Dou Grandmaster! While Xiao Xuan had been a half-step Dou God! Moreover, the most important thing was that if the Xiao Clan suddenly reappeared and began to grow stronger, let alone the Hun Clan, even the other six Dou God Clans might not be willing to see someone come and snatch resources and territory. //Hey everyone! I hope you''re all having a fantastic day. For those wondering, the previous two chapters weren''t just invented for this fic. They''re actually based on an extra chapter released by the original author Heavenly Silkworm Potato after the OG work ended. There are some additions to this fic, such as the description of the kinds of flames Xiao Xuan used, and the fact that Xiao Xuan actually had a backup plan for his clan in case of failure... Since I can''t share links here, feel free to check this chapter on my Patreon or on ScribbleHub if you''re interested in the original chapter link. NOTE: The upcoming 24 chapters will be two to three times longer than usual. Also, we''re only five chapters away from the end of Volume 2! Stay tuned, and thank you for reading! Chapter 208: Chapter 208: Calamity Befalls the Misty Cloud Sect Chapter 208: Chapter 208: Calamity Befalls the Misty Cloud Sect ? Word Count: 3,415 Words ****** Xiao Yan slowly extended his hand, and the two black and white koi fish seemed to possess life and spirituality as they swam into his palm. The two fish spiraled up his arm, moving gracefully as if they were dancing with each sway of his movement. Xiao Yan understood that refining the Yin-Yang Twin Flame meant accepting this mission. Originally, the Xiao Clan of Wu Tan City was living peacefully, dominating the city, enjoying a life of plenty as local lords, wanting for nothing. Now, suddenly, they had gained a mortal enemy in the Hun Clan. Moreover, Xiao Yan had just learned that there were eight Dou God Clans, each possessing a piece of the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade. This meant that it wasn''t just the Hun Clan who desired the ancient jade; the other clans coveted it as well. Xiao Yan gently stroked the two little fish with his fingers. The Yin-Yang Twin Flame was already fully matured, and not only that, it had been completely refined by Xiao Xuan. As long as one possessed the Xiao Clan bloodline and had cultivated the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change, refining the Yin-Yang Twin Flame shouldn''t involve any pain. This could be considered one of the inheritances left by his ancestor to his young descendant, the kind one could obtain just by clicking ''confirm'' to sign in. Xiao Yan pondered for a long, long time. At this moment, he was all alone. If possible, he wished there were someone who could offer him some advice. ''Sigh, actually, there''s no choice. Whether it''s the Yin-Yang Twin Flame, the so-called Dou God Bloodline, or the Secret Technique created by a Dou God, I need them all.'' Xiao Yan shook his head with a bitter smile and sighed deeply. The poor have no choice. "Ancestor, I am truly grateful that you think so highly of me. As a member of the Xiao Clan, it is my duty to protect my clan, guard my loved ones, and make the clan prosper." Xiao Yan''s expression became extremely solemn, without a hint of jest, and his voice was firm and resolute. "I, Xiao Yan, may not be able to do better than you did, Ancestor, but I swear to the heavens that as long as I, Xiao Yan, live for a day, I will ensure the continuation of our clan''s bloodline and take the protection of the clan as my own responsibility." "In the name of the Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan, I hereby swear, I shall guard the clan and sweep away our savage foes. If I die one day, I shall become a guardian spirit to bless my Xiao Clan, ensuring its eternal prosperity. Let the sun and moon bear witness to this oath, and heaven and earth serve as my judges!" Xiao Yan extended his hand and swore with his soul, his voice resonating with his spirit to prove his sincerity. The two black and white fish merged together as soon as his voice fell, transforming into a half-black, half-white flame that floated before him. [Good. The people of my Xiao Clan are no cowards.] The Yin-Yang Twin Flame suddenly surged with a booming sound. The black and white flames turned into a sea of fire that completely enveloped Xiao Yan. His entire body felt comfortable at this moment, as if he were soaking in a hot spring. That warm sensation made him drowsy. He closed his eyes contentedly and began to circulate the Flame Mantra, guiding the Yin- Yang Twin Flame. The Yin-Yang Twin Flame seeped into his flesh and blood through his pores, slowly traveling along his meridians toward his Acceptance Soul. Xiao Yan could sense the Dou God Bloodline that Xiao Xuan had mentioned within the Yin- Yang Twin Flame, but this Dou God Bloodline was extremely thin. By the standards of the former Xiao Clan, this bloodline was merely Grade 1-the weakest kind. Forget about activating the Clan Mark; it was practically useless except for slightly enhancing talent. Without the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change, this bit of bloodline power could only marginally improve cultivation aptitude. But that made sense. If the bloodline concentration were too high, how could it have escaped under Hun Tiandi''s nose? - While Xiao Yan was ''receiving a blood transfusion'' inside the Gate of Life and Death, he naturally didn''t know that earth-shattering changes were already occurring within the entire Misty Cloud Sect. "Have you heard? The Misty Cloud Sect has sealed the mountain." "I''ve heard. They say they''re going to hold some sort of ceremony and have closed off Misty Cloud Mountain to avoid disturbances. No one''s allowed in or out." At this point, nearly a day had passed since Xiao Yan entered the Gate of Life and Death to train. Not long after Xiao Yan entered the Gate of Life and Death, Yun Shan announced the sealing of the mountain gate. He even activated the newly restored sect-protecting grand formation to completely seal off the entire Misty Cloud Sect. Forget about entering or leaving; even spiritual perceptions couldn''t penetrate. In the Jia Ma Imperial Palace, upon discovering that something was amiss, Princess Yao Ye hurriedly gathered all the experts who had attended the confrontation between Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan two days prior. "We haven''t discovered anything unusual." Mu Chen shook his head, indicating that he didn''t understand why the Misty Cloud Sect had suddenly done this. "After Xiao Yan caused a commotion in the Misty Cloud Sect, Queen Medusa appeared, leading to Yun Shan''s defeat. Xiao Yan proposed entering the Gate of Life and Death for training as compensation. Everything seemed normal." Nalan Jie also shook his head, having noticed nothing amiss. Fa Ma seemed to recall something. His brows furrowed as he said, "Could it be that the Misty Cloud Sect has a second elite Dou Ancestor, and they''ve sealed the mountain to capture Queen Medusa?" He suddenly remembered Yun Shan''s crazed words at the end. If Yun Shan had been calling for another Dou Ancestor hidden within the Misty Cloud Sect at that time, then it was indeed possible! "A second one?! How is that possible?! How could the Misty Cloud Sect produce two Dou Ancestors?!" Jia Xing Tian exclaimed. If the Misty Cloud Sect truly had two Dou Ancestors, then the entire North-Western Region might fall under their control. The upcoming Great Meeting of Factions of the North-Western Region wouldn''t need to be held. Two Dou Ancestors would be enough to dominate. Hai Bodong sighed and said worriedly, "For now, let''s wait and see. I have a soul jade piece made by Xiao Yan. If something really happens to him, he should crush the jade piece to notify me." ... Over a month passed in the blink of an eye. Since sealing the mountain more than a month ago, the Misty Cloud Sect seemed to have become a sacred land isolated from the world. It was no longer bustling with people coming and going as before. Even the once lively Misty Cloud City had become sparsely populated. At this moment, near the Gate of Life and Death, more than a dozen thick black iron chains coiled around the stone pillars, as if trying to uproot it. The other ends of the iron chains were connected to various altars. Upon closer inspection, one would find that these altars resembled Soul Offering Altars, except that this time, the offerings placed on them were not soul stones or soul tokens but living beings. In just this short week, not only had the disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect who had already joined the Hall of Souls as Soul Envoys gone out hunting, but some rogue cultivators who had joined the Hall of Souls also participated. Together, they captured many cultivators and mercenaries from various cities. The vast majority were Dou Practitioners and Dou Masters. There were also some Dou Grandmasters and Dou Spirits. Even magical beasts and ordinary people were not spared. Protector Wu laughed sinisterly when he saw that the returning Soul Envoys had completed their tasks. "Jie Jie Jie, put all the people into the altars! As long as there are enough of them, I refuse to believe we can''t forcibly uproot this Gate of Life and Death by absorbing their souls!" In an instant, those Soul Envoys wearing Soul Robes threw all the captured ordinary people and cultivators into the altars. The massive platforms immediately became crowded as the various Soul Envoys dumped all the captured beings into them. technique! "Yanran, take the other disciples and leave the Misty Cloud Sect immediately. I''m going to find Master; he must have a way," Yun Yun bit her lower lip and said quickly. Queen Medusa glanced at Yun Yun and said, "Those captives were seized under your Master''s own orders." Yun Yun''s face turned deathly pale upon hearing this. Although she had already suspected something, actually hearing it was still hard to accept. How could the Master who had raised her become like this! Boom! In an instant, Misty Cloud Mountain trembled once again. Protector Wu, whose strength had skyrocketed after using the Secret Technique, grabbed the thick black chains and gave a violent tug upward. "Rise for me!" Protector Wu intended to uproot the Gate of Life and Death along with the secret realm space below! All the Soul Envoys trembled in fear when they saw this terrifying act. Whether Dou Kings or Dou Emperors, they were scared out of their wits, their bodies shaking uncontrollably. After absorbing countless souls, Protector Wu''s strength had reached the peak of a 9-star Dou Ancestor! He had even grasped Spatial Strength! Although he hadn''t achieved the Dou Venerate''s complete mastery of space, he wasn''t far off. Buzz!! Suddenly, the entire Misty Cloud Sect emitted a dazzling light. Wisps of clouds and mist enveloped the area and actually collided with the black fog released by Protector Wu. White mist surged out from the Gate of Life and Death, and silhouettes appeared one after another. Yun Shan''s eyes widened in shock as he exclaimed, "Those are the protective forces left behind by the previous Sect Leaders!" Protector Wu''s eyes turned cold the moment he saw this scene. His tone shifted as his voice echoed across the sky: "Since your Misty Cloud Sect chooses to oppose me, then there is no need to support this sect any longer. Some things should be taken back!" The elders of the Misty Cloud Sect who had joined the Hall of Souls all turned pale when they heard the sinister laughter from within the black fog. Yun Shan seemed to realize something and hurriedly tried to retreat. However, just as they started to move, a strange suction force suddenly erupted from that mass of black fog. This force swept down like a tidal wave. While it didn''t harm ordinary people, those who had joined the Hall of Souls and cultivated its Soul Training Methods suddenly froze. Then their bodies became as stiff as puppets, faces contorted in pain and twisted into hideous grimaces. Even Yun Shan found himself unable to move. "Protector Wu! What are you-?!" "Jie Jie Jie, did you really think I was so kind as to gift you all a Di Class Soul Training Method? The Mother-Child Twin Soul Technique was meant to be used together with the Nine Forest Hundred Soul Devourer all along!" Protector Wu revealed a savage expression. All the Misty Cloud Sect members who had joined the Hall of Souls were under his control. After reporting about the Xiao Clan back then, Protector Wu had received many Soul Points as a reward, allowing him to obtain this technique. "Jie Jie Jie, you''ve accepted the power of my Hall of Souls. Now it''s time for you to pay the price." A chilling laugh emanated from within the black fog. "Come forth!" Protector Wu''s cold shout suddenly resounded. Following that, the bodies of nearly a dozen Misty Cloud Sect Elders and some elite disciples instantly went limp. Illusory soul bodies floated out from the tops of their heads and slowly rose into the air amidst countless shocked and horrified gazes, finally all being sucked into that eerie black fog. Only Yun Shan was desperately resisting, suppressing his soul from being drawn out. With a squelching sound, Yun Shan looked down in horror to see a withered hand piercing through his back, stabbing directly through his heart. "Jie Jie Jie, Yun Shan, this Protector will gladly accept your soul." Protector Wu then pulled, extracting Yun Shan''s soul body and directly tossing it into his mouth to chew. After devouring the souls of Yun Shan and many Misty Cloud Sect elders, Protector Wu''s strength suddenly skyrocketed to an unbelievable level. "Bastard! Give me back my Master''s soul!" Yun Yun''s eyes turned red with tears. A pair of green Dou Qi wings rapidly unfolded behind her. With a powerful flap, she soared into the sky, charging toward that mass of black fog. "Hmph, overestimating yourself!" Protector Wu''s cold laugh echoed from within the black fog. A black energy arrow suddenly shot out, aiming straight for Yun Yun''s forehead. Bang! Queen Medusa suddenly appeared in front of Yun Yun, her hands condensing brilliant seven-colored light. However, the incomparably terrifying power instantly shattered her defense. With just a casual strike, Protector Wu sent both Queen Medusa and Yun Yun flying. "Jie Jie Jie! What this Protector-no, what this Venerable-seeks, none shall hinder! That inheritance belongs to me!" After devouring countless souls, Protector Wu''s strength was infinitely close to that of a Dou Venerate! "That remains to be seen." Suddenly, a familiar voice came from below. Xiao Yan slowly walked out from the Gate of Life and Death, his body enveloped in black and white flames. He surveyed his surroundings, and upon seeing the Soul Offering Altars filled with corpses, he roughly guessed what had happened. Protector Wu''s eyes filled with greed at the sight of Xiao Yan. He casually tossed aside Yun Shan''s corpse as an overwhelming black fog surged forth. "Jie Jie Jie, Xiao Yan, you''ve finally shown yourself. Quickly hand over the inheritance to me, and this Venerable might spare your life!" Xiao Yan looked at Protector Wu, who had amplified his strength through a Secret Technique, with a strange expression. He said, "Do you even know what that inheritance is? And you think you can just take it?" Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Let Me Demonstrate Once Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Let Me Demonstrate Once ? Word Count: 3,472 Words ****** Xiao Yan was utterly speechless. He had just been resting quietly within the Gate of Life and Death, comfortably enjoying the care and affection left behind by his ancestor. After refining the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and the Green Lotus Core Flame, he had always believed that refining a Heavenly Flame was a painful and grueling ordeal. Only now did he realize how blissful it was to be the descendant of a Dou God Clan. Refining the Yin-Yang Twin Flame had felt like soaking in a hot spring, lulling him into a peaceful sleep. Who would have expected a sudden tremor to wake him up? As he stepped out to take a look, good heavens! Protector Wu had turned against his own kin! He had slaughtered Yun Shan! To be honest, Xiao Yan didn''t have any deep grudges against the Misty Cloud Sect. Moreover, he had a special, ambiguous relationship with Yun Yun. Seeing the Misty Cloud Sect like this didn''t make him happy at all. "Jie Jie Jie, this Venerable doesn''t need to know whose inheritance it is. This Venerable only needs to know that back then, when Yun Po Tian acquired only a small fraction of the legacy, he rose to become a Dou Venerable, famous throughout the Dou Qi Continent for his astounding talent. If I can obtain the complete inheritance, then I will definitely become a Tianzun-no, become a Saint of the Hall of Souls!" Protector Wu became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he had already become a Dou Saint. "What you say does make some sense. But you don''t even know whose inheritance it is, and you still want to seize it? If you knew the real origin, you''d probably be scared senseless." Xiao Yan cast a pitying glance at Protector Wu. Xiao Xuan hated the Hun Clan the most, and the Hall of Souls was precisely the power of the Hun Clan. Protector Wu, who cultivated the Soul Training Method of the Hun Clan, was truly seeking death at the doorstep of the King of Hell. "Jie Jie Jie, enough with the nonsense. If you hand over the inheritance, this Venerable can spare your life for the sake of that lord," Protector Wu said. He was still somewhat apprehensive of Hun Huzi, but in the face of immense temptation, even if Xiao Yan was the son of Hun Tiandi, Protector Wu would not let him go. When faced with immense temptation, people might even disregard their own lives! "''This Venerable this, this Venerable that''-do you really think you''re a Dou Venerate? Come on then, let me, Xiao Yan, teach you how to be human-no, teach you how to be a ghost!" Xiao Yan stood tall, provocatively beckoning with his finger as he spoke. His confident demeanor made it seem as if he was the Dou Venerate instead. Even Protector Wu felt some doubt when he saw Xiao Yan''s confident look. He swept his powerful Spiritual Strength over Xiao Yan and thought to himself, ''He broke through to Dou Spirit?'' Xiao Yan had advanced from a 7-star Dou Grandmaster to the Dou Spirit realm in just over a month. That speed was already extremely fast, but to Protector Wu, who had reached Dou Venerate strength through secret techniques, even Dou Emperors were just courting death. Protector Wu nodded, and several Dou Emperor-level Soul Envoys whom he had summoned from elsewhere using soul points surrounded Xiao Yan. Whether he was apprehensive of Hun Huzi''s methods or feared retaliation, Protector Wu had no intention of acting personally. A cold glint flashed through Xiao Yan''s eyes as he looked at the Soul Envoys in the sky, each with Dou Qi wings and at least at the Dou King realm. He laughed, "My clan''s ancestor was truly wise. He had anticipated that such a situation might occur." Buzz!!! Suddenly, the black and white flames on Xiao Yan''s body emitted a kind of spiritual radiance. The dark flames clung tightly to his entire body, obscuring his appearance. Xiao Xuan''s voice resounded in his heart. [This is a Secret Technique that has been passed down in our clan since ancient times. I shall impart it to you now.] Suddenly, the Dou Qi within Xiao Yan''s body began to circulate involuntarily. The Skyfire Three Mysterious Change also automatically activated, and the Yin-Yang Twin Flame rapidly circulated along its pathways. Having inherited a bit of the Dou God Bloodline, Xiao Yan felt his blood boiling within his body at this moment! Although his Dou God Bloodline was only Grade 1, with the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change triggering the Heavenly Flame, the bloodline within his body began to boil, starting to elevate. [This technique requires possessing our clan''s bloodline to perform even a little. Without our clan''s bloodline, it cannot be used at all.] ''Oh, no wonder a bit of the Dou God Bloodline was left behind.'' Suddenly, the Dou Qi, Spiritual Strength, and blood energy within his body were all instantly mobilized. A wondrous feeling arose in his heart, and a kind of enlightenment rushed straight to his mind. Xiao Yan had always thought that learning Qi Methods and Dou Techniques involved either studying from scrolls or using soul tools to learn via spiritual information. He never expected that there would be this kind of ''hands-on'' personal teaching! Even the comprehension of the Secret Technique was transmitted into his mind, just like the legendary ''enlightenment poured into the head''. [This technique was created by our clan''s Dou God, Xiao Zhantian. Now, let me demonstrate it for you once!] It was as if Xiao Xuan had anticipated that his descendants might face threats when they inherited the Heavenly Flame. As such, he left his last bit of strength within the Death Flame so that his descendant could personally experience this move. Xiao Yan, whose entire body was enveloped in black and white flames, began to move involuntarily. His hands formed seals, and he gently pushed forward. [This technique is called... Breaking Through the Heavens!] (TL/N: Po Cangqiong) As the voice sounded in his heart, suddenly, endless profound light erupted from the entire Misty Cloud Sect. Even the area beyond Misty Cloud Mountain that was enveloped by the storm of the sect-protecting grand formation was illuminated. At that instant, it was as if the Misty Cloud Sect had transformed into an immortal realm, bursting with boundless light, like an ascension to the heavens. "What''s happening at the Misty Cloud Sect again!!" "Such dazzling light!" Even in the nearby Jia Ma Sacred City, they could see the piercing light suddenly erupting from the Misty Cloud Sect. Everyone who witnessed this scene was shocked and moved. No one knew what had been happening at the Misty Cloud Sect over the past month, let alone what was happening now. Everything returned to calm when the radiance gradually dissipated. Perhaps Xiao Xuan from a thousand years ago had already anticipated, or even experienced, that every time one entered a relic''s inheritance, it would attract a group of troublesome people. So he deliberately left behind this strike within the Death Flame. At the same time, it also served to demonstrate to Xiao Yan the kind of glory their clan''s Dou God had once achieved. Although it had been a thousand years, and the power was less than a thousandth of Xiao Xuan''s former strength, yet it was... enough. One black Soul Robe after another drifted down slowly from the sky. The people inside had already turned to ashes, their souls scattered. Storage rings, soul stones, weapons, armor, and other items fell from the sky, emitting clinking sounds that pulled the remaining disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect back to reality. At this moment, the remaining Misty Cloud Sect disciples all had pale faces, feeling their hair stand on end. They all felt that Xiao Yan was too terrifying. What exactly was this power!! Queen Medusa looked at Xiao Yan, her beautiful eyes filled with shock and fear. Such power was beyond the comprehension of a Dou Ancestor-it was at least at the Dou Venerate level, or even stronger! Xiao Yan let out a long breath and murmured softly, "Rest assured, Ancestor, I have received this Secret Technique." With a snapping sound, the Yin-Yang Twin Flame fell into his palm, like passing a relay baton. Xiao Xuan could be said to have spared no effort. He had considered every aspect for his clan to have a chance to rise again countless years later. These people had only joined the Misty Cloud Sect to climb the social ladder. Now that the Misty Cloud Sect had fallen, they naturally scattered like monkeys when the tree falls, hurrying back home for fear of retaliation from that mysterious force. The remaining elders and deacons left even more quickly. In just one day, the vast Misty Cloud Sect was almost emptied of people. Only some poor disciples, who had joined the sect with the sole purpose of learning, remained. In the main hall, Yun Yun, Xiao Yan, and Queen Medusa were present. "Master, this is the letter Elder Gu He left behind." Nalan Yanran clenched her fists tightly and felt somewhat indignant. She hadn''t expected Gu He, who had always been kind to her, to leave when the Misty Cloud Sect was at its most difficult time. Only Yun Yun understood that the real reason Gu He left wasn''t because the Misty Cloud Sect had fallen on hard times, but because of her relationship with Xiao Yan. "Yanran, how are the sect''s affairs being arranged?" Yun Yun asked. "Everything has been properly arranged. The deceased on the Soul Offering Altars have been handed over to the army at the foot of Misty Cloud Mountain to record their appearances and help identify them. Master, why do you want to know the identities of those people?" Nalan Yanran asked in confusion. Yun Yun sighed softly and said, "Those people died because of the Misty Cloud Sect; they died within our grounds. As the Sect Leader, I have a responsibility to bear for this. I plan to visit the families of each of these people to seek their forgiveness." "But Master, if you go to visit the families of the deceased, the Misty Cloud Sect cannot be without you." "I will pass the position of Sect Leader to you before I leave." Nalan Yanran hurriedly knelt down upon hearing these words, tears streaming down her face as she said, "Wherever Master goes, Yanran will go." "Yanran, stand up first. The Misty Cloud Sect cannot be dissolved. There are still many poor, background-less disciples who came to the Misty Cloud Sect to learn." Xiao Yan, who had been watching Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran''s deep bond as master and disciple from the side, rubbed his nose and said, "Actually, I have a suggestion." Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran turned to look at him. Even Queen Medusa, who had been quietly sipping tea, curiously glanced over at him, all eager to hear what suggestion he had. Xiao Yan revealed a meaningful smile. ... Two days later, in Rock Desert City. Rock Desert City now looked completely different from a few months ago. There was now an extremely luxurious mercenary company base in the city. This massive building, resembling a modern military base, was the Desert Metal Mercenary Company established by Xiao Yan''s two older brothers. The Desert Metal Mercenary Company was now a behemoth in Rock Desert City. A mercenary company possessing three Dou Grandmasters and dozens of Dou Masters-with such strength, it wasn''t just the strongest mercenary company in Rock Desert City but also the strongest in surrounding cities. "Keep running, all of you! Are you still mercenaries of the Desert Metal Mercenary Company?!" A sexily dressed woman was yelling at those mercenaries lying on the ground, unable to run anymore. The whip in her hand cracked loudly as it struck the ground. "Captain Xue Lan, we really can''t run anymore. You''re a Dou Master while we''re still only at the Dou Practitioner realm." "That''s right, Captain. We really can''t hold on any longer. Let us rest for a bit." Xue Lan gritted her teeth and glared fiercely at these mercenaries. "You useless things! If the Third Company Leader saw you like this, how disappointed would he be in our mercenary company!" Chirp chirp!! Just then, a messenger eagle flew over the Desert Metal Mercenary Company. A letter tied to a stone quickly dropped down. The Dou Qi Continent didn''t have telephones. Communication could only rely on the most primitive methods. Xue Lan picked up the letter from the ground. When she saw the sender, her eyes instantly lit up with pleasant surprise. "Rest in place for ten minutes!" Xue Lan held the letter and hurriedly rushed into Xiao Ding and Xiao Li''s office. Xiao Li put down his pen and said, "Xue Lan, how many times have I told you? No matter how urgent it is, you must remember to knock before entering." "Company Leaders, it''s a letter from the Third Company Leader!" Xue Lan held up the letter in her hand. Upon hearing that it was a letter from Xiao Yan, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li immediately put down their work. Xiao Li snatched the letter. Xiao Ding said unhappily, "Why are you snatching it? What if the letter gets torn? What did Third Brother say? Is he doing well?" Xiao Li read the contents of the letter and exclaimed, "Ah?!" Xiao Ding''s eyes narrowed as he hurriedly asked, "Did something happen to Third Brother?" Xiao Li looked at his older brother with an expression of disbelief and said hesitantly, "Big Brother, Third Brother wants our Xiao Clan to take over the Misty Cloud Sect." Chapter 210: Chapter 210: Alliance Chapter 210: Chapter 210: Alliance ? Word Count: 3,507 Words ****** "Taking over the Misty Cloud Sect?!!!" Xiao Ding was so shocked that his jaw nearly dropped. Rock Desert City was not too far from the Misty Cloud Sect, just the distance of a few cities apart. It was not as remote as from the Black-Corner Region to Jia Ma Sacred City, but even a Dou King would need to fly for a day and a night to reach it. Therefore, the latest news Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had heard was that Yun Shan had broken through to the Dou Ancestor realm. In Xiao Ding and Xiao Li''s minds, the Misty Cloud Sect was still the strongest sect in the Jia Ma Empire, at the peak of its power. Now, they suddenly received a letter from their third brother, asking them to bring their father, the clan elders, high-ranking members, and promising disciples of the Xiao Clan to the Misty Cloud Sect. Xiao Ding snatched the letter from Xiao Li''s hand and quickly read through it. The letter was simple. It mentioned that the Xiao Clan was forming an alliance with the Misty Cloud Sect, with the Xiao Clan taking the lead. The Xiao Clan was officially entering the Misty Cloud Sect! He wanted the two brothers to go to Wu Tan City to bring their father to the Misty Cloud Sect. Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged glances, both seeing the shock in each other''s eyes. "What is Third Brother planning?" "I don''t know, but it definitely isn''t something simple." ... At this moment, Princess Yao Ye had set up a banquet in the imperial palace of the Jia Ma Empire, and invited Xiao Yan, Yun Yun, and Nalan Yanran to the palace. "Elder Jia, Princess Yao Ye, long time no see. May I ask the purpose of today''s invitation?" Xiao Yan smiled and asked after finishing his meal and wiping his mouth. Xiao Yan was feigning ignorance. Jia Xing Tian chuckled and said, "Naturally, it''s to congratulate you." "Oh? Elder Jia, why do you say that? Congratulate me on what?" Xiao Yan blinked, putting on an innocent face. Princess Yao Ye rolled her eyes at Xiao Yan. This guy just loved to play dumb and act innocent. She said, "Grandmaster Xiao Yan, I won''t beat around the bush. As a representative of the Jia Ma Empire''s imperial family, I wish to know the future development plans of the ''Yan Alliance'' formed by your Xiao Clan and the Misty Cloud Sect." After all, Xiao Yan had significant ties with Medusa. They were afraid of another Misty Cloud Sect arising! Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Princess Yao Ye has misunderstood. Although the Yan Alliance is named after me, the relationship among its members is equal. No one is above anyone else. We are not a nation or an organization, and there is no so-called future development plan." "Not an organization? What do you mean, Grandmaster Xiao Yan?" Yao Ye asked, puzzled. Xiao Yan smiled, cleared his throat, and stood up slowly, gazing around the room. He said, "Our Yan Alliance is a free alliance based on mutual treaties. In a manner that does not harm peace, security, and justice, we aim to peacefully resolve any disputes that may involve the Yan Alliance, so that alliance members can avoid threats among the various organizations and nations in the North-Western Region." "Our Yan Alliance follows a model of collective defense." "If any organization or individual launches an attack on any one member of our Yan Alliance, it will be considered an attack on all members. If such an attack occurs, all alliance members will collectively defend and take severe and forceful retaliatory actions and other necessary measures against the attacker." ovo??? Hearing Xiao Yan''s impassioned speech and the specific terms of the Yan Alliance, not only were Princess Yao Ye and Jia Xing Tian left stunned with their mouths agape, but even Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran tilted their heads in confusion, question marks all over their faces. You didn''t mention any of this before?!? "Uh... so, in other words..." Jia Xing Tian''s mind was a bit muddled. "In other words," Xiao Yan''s eyes sharpened as he said, "the Yan Alliance is different from other alliances. We do not interfere in each other''s internal affairs, nor will we have any political or economic ties among our respective factions. Everything remains as it is. However, if any alliance member is attacked by an external faction, all alliance members have the responsibility to step in to protect and collectively retaliate." Princess Yao Ye frowned. She had initially thought that Xiao Yan intended to take over the Misty Cloud Sect for himself, but now it seemed that was not the case. A glint flashed in her eyes as she asked, "Grandmaster Xiao Yan, are you saying that your Yan Alliance truly will not interfere in the internal affairs of its members?" Xiao Yan revealed a smile and said, "Our Yan Alliance is simply a free alliance of a collective defense nature, established solely to resist external hostile factions." "Princess Yao Ye, you also know that the Misty Cloud Sect suffered a catastrophic calamity due to a mysterious faction, bringing it to the brink of destruction. This is to prevent such an event from happening again." "However, once joined, one cannot withdraw at will. After all, if everyone scatters like monkeys when a tree falls upon encountering a strong enemy, then this alliance would be meaningless." Princess Yao Ye couldn''t help but fall into deep thought. There was a hidden message in his words! Seeing that he had said enough, Xiao Yan picked up the napkin from the table, wiped his mouth, and smiled, "Thank you, Princess Yao Ye, for the splendid banquet. I won''t disturb you any longer. Sect Leader Yun Yun and I still have matters to handle regarding the Yan Alliance, so we''ll return to the Misty Cloud Sect." Princess Yao Ye gazed deeply at Xiao Yan''s departing figure. Only after he and Yun Yun left did she speak, "I can say with certainty that although Yun Yun is still the Sect Leader, the internal decisions of the Misty Cloud Sect are now primarily made by Xiao Yan." "I think so too. Just now, the surprised expression on Yun Yun''s face said it all. She didn''t utter a word during the meal," Jia Xing Tian agreed. Although he knew Yun Yun was naturally reserved and not fond of talking, the scene just now seemed more like Xiao Yan was in charge. "Great-grandfather, what do you think of this Yan Alliance?" Princess Yao Ye''s eyes sharpened as she asked in a deep voice. Jia Xing Tian sighed bitterly and shook his head, "No matter what, it''s impossible to completely disband the Misty Cloud Sect now." Due to Yun Shan''s death and most of the elders dying in battle, even the 6th-tier alchemist Gu He had left. With the news of the Misty Cloud Sect sacrificing ordinary people spreading, most of their disciples had run away, and their reputation had plummeted. Tian''s musings. He was currently trying to persuade Medusa. "You want my Snake-People Tribe to join your Yan Alliance?" Medusa''s enchanting snake- like eyes glanced sideways at Xiao Yan not far away, the corners of her mouth curling up into a cold smile. This man was becoming more and more fanciful. Xiao Yan chuckled, rubbed his nose, and nodded, "Our Yan Alliance won''t interfere with the internal operations of the Snake-People Tribe." Medusa stood up slowly, her figure as alluring as ever. She revealed a tempting smile and said, "If the Misty Cloud Sect were still the Misty Cloud Sect of old, then I might have considered it. But now, your so-called collective defense of the Yan Alliance, to put it bluntly, isn''t it just relying on me alone?" Xiao Yan was not embarrassed to have his scheme exposed by Queen Medusa in a single sentence. He continued, "You can''t say it like that. Think about it; I''m at least a high-grade 5th-tier alchemist now and bound to become a Dou Ancestor or Dou Venerate in the future. Forming an alliance now is a guaranteed profit with no loss. Besides, even a broken ship still has three pounds of nails. Yun Yun is a 4-star Dou Emperor, and there''s Nalan Yanran who received Yun Po Tian''s inheritance. Moreover, Old Hai''s Miteer Clan has close ties with me." "Although it''s not confirmed yet, I believe the Jia Ma Imperial Family will be willing to join the Yan Alliance." "In that case, no one will dare to attack your Snake-People Tribe anymore, and it can bring about peace." Queen Medusa glanced at Xiao Yan and thought for a moment before saying, "Heh, my Snake-People Tribe has been at war with you humans for generations, and an indelible blood feud has long been imprinted. Even if I agree, the other snake tribes won''t be willing." Seeing that Medusa was starting to waver, Xiao Yan took out a map without another word, pointed to the Snake-People Tribe''s territory, and said, "As far as I know, there are four empires bordering the Snake-People Tribe. Besides the Jia Ma Empire, there are the Chu Yun Empire, the Mu Lan Empire, and the Luo Yan Empire. These three empires are the ones that most frequently attack your Snake-People Tribe, aren''t they?" The reason was very simple. Among the four empires, the weakest was the Jia Ma Empire. Back then, the Jia Ma Empire didn''t even have a Dou Ancestor. If it weren''t for the Snake- People Tribe in between, these three empires would have swallowed the Jia Ma Empire long ago. "What are you trying to say?" "By joining the Yan Alliance, your Snake-People Tribe will not only have one less enemy but also gain three allies. If these three empires attack your Snake-People Tribe again, we would have the responsibility to assist you and could even help you counterattack them. At that time, you can settle the scores however you want." Xiao Yan dropped a heavy bombshell. Medusa''s brows furrowed. It was undeniable that Xiao Yan''s words were very tempting. She naturally knew the enormous predicament the Snake-People Tribe was currently facing as their queen. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have taken the risk to evolve. Xiao Yan saw that Queen Medusa was somewhat moved. He pointed to the location of the Misty Cloud Sect, drew a circle with his finger, and said, "To show our sincerity, I''ve discussed with Sect Leader Yun Yun. If you, Queen Medusa, are willing to have your Snake - People Tribe join the Yan Alliance, then this area within the Misty Cloud Mountain Range can be given to you." !!! ? ? ? Medusa''s beautiful eyes contracted as she looked at the vast mountain range outlined by Xiao Yan''s finger. "I know your Snake - People only live in the desert out of necessity. Although this mountain range isn''t very large, it can still accommodate nearly half a tribe of Snake - People. As the queen, there''s no reason you wouldn''t know the value of this treasured land of the Misty Cloud Sect." Xiao Yan''s smile was like that of a devil. For a moment, it was hard to tell who was truly the natural charmer. Xiao Yan''s words made Medusa''s breathing quicken, her heart pounding. Snake - People were cold-blooded. They preferred dark, damp, secluded places with lush vegetation. Although there were some snake species that liked dry deserts, they were very few. The Snake-People were forced to establish their tribe in the desert. Back when Xiao Yan went to the Snake People Palace, it was an oasis, and Medusa''s bedchamber was filled with plants. When Medusa saw the grandeur of the Misty Cloud Sect, the envy in her eyes was unmistakable, and Xiao Yan had keenly noticed it. He guessed that Medusa greatly desired a forested wetland. And now, he just happened to have such a condition in his hands. "Are you truly willing to give me this mountain forest and let my people live here?" Medusa''s beautiful eyes looked seriously at Xiao Yan as she asked solemnly. These words had a second layer of meaning. There were, after all, inherent issues between the Snake-People and humans. Allowing the Snake-People to enter was akin to inviting a wolf into the house. While the wolf might not necessarily be bad, there was a chance it could be. Xiao Yan said calmly, "As long as you, Queen Medusa, can manage your people well, this mountain forest is yours." The Misty Cloud Sect was a big piece of fat meat. This wasn''t just about the Dou Techniques, Qi Methods, and resources accumulated by the Misty Cloud Sect; the land itself was equally valuable. And now that the Misty Cloud Sect was emptied of people, it gave Xiao Yan an opportunity to maneuver. There was no way he would let go of this fat piece of meat that was the Misty Cloud Sect. If the Xiao Clan wanted to rise, the Misty Cloud Sect was perfectly suited for that purpose. Chapter 211: Chapter 211: Yan Chapter 211: Chapter 211: Yan ?No?v(el)B\\jnn Word Count: 3,566 Words ****** The entire North-Western Region was filled with numerous sects, and all the prime locations had long been claimed. Not to mention a treasured land with excellent feng shui like the Misty Cloud Mountain. Cultivating Dou Qi in such a place made absorbing the energy of the world much easier. Therefore, the land owned by the Misty Cloud Sect was exceptionally valuable. Medusa''s enchanting eyes stared directly into Xiao Yan''s pitch-black pupils. Her red lips parted slightly as she said, "Very well, I''ll trust you this once and return to inform the other tribe leaders." Xiao Yan chuckled and said, "You''d better not come back saying you couldn''t persuade them." Medusa sneered coldly, "Those who couldn''t be persuaded are already dead." Xiao Yan slowly extended his hand and said, "Then, I wish us a pleasant cooperation, Your Majesty." Looking at Xiao Yan''s outstretched hand, Medusa pondered for a moment before lightly clasping it. Xiao Yan couldn''t help but feel his heart tremble when he felt that soft, seemingly boneless, slightly cool jade-like hand. This was truly a natural-born enchantress. Although reluctant, Xiao Yan didn''t dare to hold her hand for too long. He turned around and prepared to leave. "Hey, what exactly are you planning?" Medusa''s eyes flashed with a hint of curiosity as she gazed at his departing figure and asked softly. Without turning back, Xiao Yan merely shrugged and said lightly, "Who knows?" As the door closed gently behind him, a trace of curiosity appeared in Medusa''s eyes. Perhaps even she hadn''t realized that she was becoming increasingly intrigued by Xiao Yan, even harboring a faint sense of anticipation. ... Early the next morning, Medusa disappeared from the Misty Cloud Sect and returned to the Snake - People Tribe. After a full day and night, she came back, confirming their decision to join the Yan Alliance. When Princess Yao Ye learned that even Medusa''s Snake-People Tribe had joined Xiao Yan''s Yan Alliance, she no longer hesitated and likewise announced her willingness to sign the agreement, officially joining the Yan Alliance. Not long after, the Misty Cloud Sect, the Jia Ma Imperial Family, and the Snake-People Tribe jointly issued a ''Yan Alliance Treaty'' to all neighboring empires, formally establishing a collective defense alliance. The day after the Yan Alliance Treaty was issued, several invading armies from the Chu Yun Empire attacking the Snake - People Tribe''s borders were instantly annihilated by Yun Yun, Jia Xing Tian, Medusa, and Hai Bodong. This action declared that the Yan Alliance Treaty was genuine and effective. The news swept through the entire North-Western Region like a tornado. "The Yan Alliance Treaty? What''s that?!" "The Misty Cloud Sect, the Jia Ma Imperial Family, and the Snake-People Tribe have actually formed an alliance?!" "No way! The armies of the Chu Yun Empire attacked the Snake-People Tribe and were counterattacked by all of them together!" "What''s going on? How did they suddenly form an alliance? Wasn''t the Misty Cloud Sect about to disband? I heard that the Mulan Valley, Luo Yan Sect, and Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate were planning to join forces to raid the Misty Cloud Sect. What''s happening now?" "I heard it''s because of an alchemist who possesses a Heavenly Flame that these factions have united. I think his name is Xiao Yan or something!" Shortly after the Yan Alliance Treaty was issued, the Desert Metal Mercenary Company led by Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, as well as the Xiao Clan from Wu Tan City, finally arrived, albeit a bit late. It wasn''t their fault for being slow; after all, they didn''t have any Dou Kings, let alone Dou Emperors. After receiving Xiao Yan''s letter, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had been traveling non- stop. It took quite some time to fly to Wu Tan City on flying-type magical beasts. Then, flying to the Jia Ma Sacred City took several more days. A few talented mercenaries from the Desert Metal Mercenary Company even got airsick and vowed to cultivate to the Dou King realm so they wouldn''t have to ride slow flying-type magical beasts again! "Uncle Xiao Zhan, this way, please." Nalan Yanran, dressed in the silver-white robes of the Misty Cloud Sect, had been waiting at the mountain gate early. It had been more than two months since Xiao Yan defeated Nalan Yanran. The news had naturally spread to Wu Tan City, and they also knew that Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran had agreed to peacefully cancel their engagement. Xiao Zhan saw Nalan Yanran''s polite and courteous demeanor. In his heart, he still held onto the hope of fulfilling his father''s deathbed wish. "It''s been over three years since we last met. Niece Yanran has grown into a graceful young lady," Xiao Zhan spoke like a kind old man, his gaze gentle. In fact, Xiao Zhan wasn''t that old, only in his forties, but years of toiling for the Xiao Clan had grayed some of his hair, aging his appearance considerably. "Back then, it was Yanran who was immature and acted rashly. I wouldn''t dare ask for Uncle Xiao Zhan''s forgiveness," Nalan Yanran said humbly. Having lost twice and matured significantly over the years, she had become much more sensible. The group from the Xiao Clan followed Nalan Yanran to a residential area filled with pavilions and courtyards. The pleasant climate and magnificent scenery left the Xiao Clan members staring in amazement and exclaiming in admiration. "Look over there! There''s a waterfall cascading down the mountain!" "Wow! That tree is enormous. How many years has it been growing? At least two or three hundred years, right?" "Quick, look at this! The outer walls of this pavilion are actually built with jade stones. This is too extravagant! Truly worthy of the Misty Cloud Sect." Nalan Yanran explained, "This used to be the elders'' residences. Now it has been designated as the Xiao Clan''s area. Xiao Yan is inside. I''ll leave you here." Even the Xiao Clan members, who were like local nobility in Wu Tan City, felt overwhelmed when they saw this extensive area of luxurious residences. "Third Brother has really done something incredible," Xiao Li exclaimed in surprise. There was a time when the Misty Cloud Sect was an existence they couldn''t even dream of approaching. The thoughtful Xiao Ding said, "Third Brother knows we''re not ones to indulge in luxury. He called us here; perhaps he has something to tell us." Just as Xiao Ding finished speaking, the door creaked open, and Xiao Yan emerged from the hall. "Father, Big Brother, Second Brother." Xiao Yan looked at his family in front of him and quickly walked forward. "Grand Elder, Second Elder, Third Elder, everyone, long time no see." Xiao Yan greeted the elders one by one. "Greetings, Little Clan Leader!" "Greetings, Third Company Leader!" Xiao Li grinned from ear to ear, laughing as he put his arm around Xiao Yan''s neck and ruffled his hair. "Hahaha, Xiao-Yan-Zi, I heard you''ve been quite impressive lately. You even came up with something called the Yan Alliance Treaty." Xiao Yan didn''t resist, allowing his second brother to mess his hair into a bird''s nest. He rubbed his nose and said with a wry smile, "I''ll explain this matter to Big Brother and Second Brother later. Let me show you around first. We''ll be living here from now on." Rarely having such leisure time, he enjoyed the happiness of being with his family, chatting Xiao Yan even saw a main ingredient for a tier 8 pill, several main ingredients for tier 7 pills, and quite a few for tier 6 pills. It was worth noting that Gu He was able to go from a 4th-tier alchemist to a 6th-tier alchemist in just over a decade because the Misty Cloud Sect provided medicinal ingredients unconditionally for his practice. The fact that the Misty Cloud Sect could cultivate a 6th-tier alchemist from scratch showed its profound foundation. Xiao Yan originally wanted to refuse. As an upright cultivator who didn''t steal, rob, or deceive, how could he freeload! But after thinking for about a second, he felt that if these medicinal ingredients were left here, they''d be stolen by others anyway. Not only had Gu He, the 6th-tier alchemist, left, but even the only two 5th-tier alchemist elders and those 4th-tier alchemists had all left. Only a few 3rd-tier alchemist disciples remained. Rather than that, he might as well refine the medicinal ingredients into pills before returning to Jia Nan Academy. This way, his big brother could also better cultivate talents, and he would just charge a tiny refining fee. This couldn''t be considered freeloading, right? Thus, Xiao Yan began refining tier 4 and tier 5 pills, while the tier 6 and those few tier 7 and the only tier 8 medicinal ingredients were collected by him with a clear conscience. And through such intense alchemy, frantically consuming Spiritual Strength and Dou Qi, the Dou Qi instability caused by his breakthrough from a 7-star Dou Grandmaster to Dou Spirit was consolidated. It was killing two birds with one stone. The only thing that Xiao Yan found regrettable was that the Flame Mantra hadn''t advanced; it remained at Low Di Class, though now it was infinitely close to Intermediate Di Class. This made him understand that if he wanted to continue improving the Flame Mantra, the Heavenly Flames he sought had to be ranked even higher. There was also one thing that puzzled Xiao Yan immensely: he couldn''t comprehend the Secret Technique ''Breaking Through the Heavens'' created by his clan''s Dou God ancestor! Xiao Xuan had already transmitted all his insights and circulation paths of this Secret Technique to him. But when he tried to execute it again, he understood why Xiao Xuan said this Secret Technique might be incomplete. Because it was too weak. Being able to instantly kill Protector Wu was entirely due to the strength left behind by Xiao Xuan being powerful enough. In fact, this Secret Technique made Xiao Yan feel like something was missing. ''Sigh, Ancestor, you''re really messing with me. Giving me a high Tian Class Dou Technique would have been more practical than anything else.'' Xiao Yan couldn''t help but complain. However, maybe it was because the Death Flame could only store one Secret Technique, so Xiao Xuan chose the Secret Technique created by the Xiao Clan''s Dou God ancestor and didn''t leave behind other Dou Techniques or Qi Methods created by other powerful Xiao Clan members. Just as Xiao Yan was pondering where the problem with the ''Breaking Through the Heavens'' Secret Technique lay, suddenly the Soul Command Token emitted a faint spiritual light. ''They''ve finally come!'' Xiao Yan''s eyes flashed. Donning the Soul Robe, his body transformed into a shadow as he rushed toward the location of the Hall of Souls'' Space Lock. At this time, quite a few Soul Envoys wearing Soul Robes were already standing in the main hall of the Hall of Souls. These were all Soul Envoys belonging to the Hall of Souls branch in the Misty Cloud Sect, personally selected by Protector Wu. Today was also the day when the Hall of Souls Enforcers would come to check on the soul collection situation, so they had all gathered in the main hall. The Hall of Souls had quotas. If the Protector in charge of the branch couldn''t meet the quota, they would be punished. Exceeding the quota would be rewarded with soul points. Therefore, increasing the number of Soul Envoys collecting souls was the most basic method. Some Soul Envoys weren''t at the Misty Cloud Sect at the time, so naturally, they weren''t killed by Xiao Xuan''s technique. "Enforcer Hun Lu, the soul imprint of this branch''s Protector has disappeared. He must have been killed." In the center of the main hall stood three people wearing Soul Robes. The most distinctive was the one in the middle referred to as an Enforcer, because he wore a Soul Command Token at his waist! The Hall of Souls Enforcer named Hun Lu asked, "Hmm? Who was the Protector in charge of this branch?" "Reporting to Enforcer, it was Protector Wu," said another subordinate beside the Enforcer. "Wu? Oh, that Earth Grade Protector who got lucky and received a reward from our clan''s Pill Saint. No wonder this branch is so shabby, and the Soul Envoys are all a bunch of rabble-just a mere Earth Grade." Although Hun Lu''s face couldn''t be seen, his disdainful tone made it clear that his status was much higher than Protector Wu''s. "But he was still one of the Hall of Souls'' Protectors after all. Go to the Soul Offering Altar and use the secret method to investigate who exactly killed him. Use the soul light to guide you to find that person and eliminate them." "Understood!" x2 Creak, creak, creak. At this moment, the main door of the Hall of Souls was slowly pushed open, and a sinister laugh accompanied by a voice came through: "Jie Jie Jie, no need to look. He was disobedient, so I killed him." Xiao Yan pushed the door open and entered, wearing a hood that concealed his appearance. His gaze swept past all the Soul Envoys and focused on the Enforcer at the back. His tone was extremely calm. Hun Lu frowned and asked, "Who are you?" Suddenly, a Soul Command Token flew out from the storage ring, emitting a soul-stirring glow. The character "" (Yan) was engraved on its back. "This intensity of soul light! You are a Heaven Grade Protector?!!!" Hun Lu exclaimed in shock. When did a Heaven Grade Protector arrive in this North-Western Region?! And he even possesses a Soul Command Token?! "Greetings, Protector Yan!" All the Soul Envoys present immediately knelt down and shouted in unison. // Hey guys! Today, January 1st, is the last day to subscribe to any of the memberships with a special New Year''s discount for your first month. If you''ve been enjoying my work and would like to support me, please take a moment to check out my Patreon. Wishing you a very Happy New Year filled with joy, health, and success! Chapter 212: Chapter 212: Protector Yan Chapter 212: Chapter 212: Protector Yan ? Word Count: 3,634 Words ****** A buzzing sound rang out as the entire Hall of Souls erupted in a cacophony of ghostly wails and howls. A Heaven Grade Protector possessed authority over a branch of the Hall of Souls. In addition, one could control the allocation of resources and personnel within it. Originally, this branch hall belonged to Protector Wu. Now that Protector Wu had been killed and his soul imprint had vanished, and with Xiao Yan''s Soul Command Token officially activated and promoted to the Heaven Grade, imprinting his own soul imprint onto this branch hall naturally brought it under his control. Xiao Yan could have activated his Soul Command Token to be promoted to Protector long ago. Two months prior, he had already qualified for promotion when he opened the Soul Path to enter the Treasure Hall and exchanged Yao Ao''s soul body for soul points. The soul body of a 7th-tier alchemist was extremely valuable. Completing a task worth 100,000 soul points at once allowed one to be promoted to Protector. Moreover, Xiao Yan didn''t just obtain 100,000 soul points but 180,000, which directly elevated him to a Heaven Grade Protector. However, he had not imprinted his soul imprint in this Hall of Souls branch. Without leaving a soul imprint, he naturally couldn''t be promoted to Protector or activate the Soul Command Token. Hun Huzi had sent him to the Misty Cloud Sect''s Hall of Souls precisely to have him activate his Soul Command Token here. If he couldn''t even reach the rank of Protector, the trial would be considered a failure. But Xiao Yan had been hesitant. Leaving a soul imprint was akin to leaving traces of his whereabouts. Through the soul imprint and the Soul Command Token, others could locate him, leaving him nowhere to hide. This was an extremely high-risk move. However, after learning the history of the Xiao Clan, he made up his mind to leave his soul imprint in the Hall of Souls. He wanted to use the Hall of Souls to learn about the movements of those so-called Dou God Clans. One cannot obtain the tiger''s cub without entering the tiger''s den! "A Soul Command Token?! You''re a member of my clan?" Hun Lu looked in astonishment at the Soul Command Token floating before Xiao Yan. He could sense that Xiao Yan had just left his own soul imprint in this branch hall, and Xiao Yan''s Soul Command Token was that of a Heaven Grade Protector! This meant that Xiao Yan had directly taken control of this branch. Xiao Yan''s soul imprint formed the character "" (Yan), which also served as his title- Protector Yan! The Soul Command Token slowly fell into Xiao Yan''s palm. When he saw the Soul Envoys prostrate themselves on the ground, he placed his hands behind his back and walked step by step through the crowd. As he approached Hun Lu, the lackeys on either side could no longer bear it. They knelt on one knee and exclaimed, "Greetings, Protector Yan." Only then did Xiao Yan stop, satisfied. A deep voice emanated from within the Soul Robe: "I am not a member of the Hun Clan." "Not of my clan?" Hun Lu frowned. He knew there were only three ways to obtain a Soul Command Token. The first was being a native member of the Hun Clan in the Hun Realm. During the coming- of-age ceremony, if their Dou God Bloodline reached Grade 4, they would not only be granted a clan mark but also bestowed a Soul Command Token. The Xiao Clan had a similar practice. Those who didn''t reach 7th-stage Dou Disciple during their coming-of-age ceremony would be sent to other cities to develop new territories. The second way was for non-clan members who made significant contributions within the Hall of Souls. Powerful experts who reached the Dou Venerate realm could be granted a Soul Command Token, essentially being recruited. The third, and rarest, was being directly bestowed one by a powerful figure within the clan. Hun Lu could sense Xiao Yan''s cultivation level; after all, his Soul Robe was somewhat outdated. He knew Xiao Yan couldn''t be the second type. Since he wasn''t the first type either, he could only be the third. Xiao Yan could hear the doubt and wariness that had appeared in Hun Lu''s tone. He chuckled deeply and said, "It seems someone named Hun Huzi gave it to me." "Given by Lord Pill Saint?!! You''re the alchemist from that plan?!" Hun Lu gasped upon hearing Hun Huzi''s name. As a member of the Hun Clan, he had heard about a mysterious plan within the clan, and the person in charge of this plan was Hun Huzi himself! Moreover, Hun Huzi had indeed once roamed the continent in soul body form in search of outstanding alchemists, during which he bestowed a Soul Command Token upon a talented individual. That person later betrayed his peers, joined the Hall of Souls, and not only became an Honorable Elder of the Hall of Souls but also an 8th-tier alchemist known as Old Mu Gu. With a whoosh, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame appeared in Xiao Yan''s palm. The blood-red Heavenly Flame instantly illuminated much of the hall''s darkness. "A Heavenly Flame!" Hun Lu no longer had any doubts, nor could he entertain any. After all, Xiao Yan could even produce a Soul Command Token. Moreover, what Xiao Yan said was also the truth! "I killed Protector Wu. What will you do about it?" Xiao Yan stood before Hun Lu. From his words, it was clear that even within the Hun Clan, Hun Huzi held an extremely high status. Hun Lu''s throat bobbed up and down as he swallowed hard. According to normal regulations, peers of the same rank shouldn''t kill each other. Though Xiao Yan was Heaven Grade, he was still a Protector. But Xiao Yan had a Soul Command Token! And it was given by Hun Huzi! "Protector Wu Ying committed grave misdeeds, harming his comrades. Fortunately, Protector Yan intervened, sparing the branch from disaster. Protector Yan should naturally be credited for this meritorious deed." Hun Lu was ''sensible''; he waived any investigation and directly pinned all the blame on Protector Wu. Xiao Yan casually tossed Protector Wu''s Soul Stone to Hun Lu and said leisurely, "I plan to appoint someone else to replace Protector Wu''s position and manage this branch on my behalf. There''s no problem with that, is there?" Hun Lu accepted the Soul Stone and laughed, "Jie Jie Jie, of course there''s no problem. Everything in this branch hall belongs to Protector Yan. As long as the required soul bodies are submitted according to regulations, it''s permissible."No?v(el)B\\jnn "Due to Wu Ying''s actions, the Misty Cloud Sect branch''s soul quota won''t be audited this time." Xiao Yan shook his head and said, "No need; proceed according to protocol." Hun Lu was momentarily stunned, then nodded. He led his subordinates to the deepest part of the hall, where the Soul Offering Altar stood. Placing his own Soul Command Token on the altar, it displayed a series of numbers. The moment he saw the numbers, Hun Lu''s expression changed dramatically! Because Xiao Yan had submitted Yao Ao''s soul body at this Soul Offering Altar, the credits naturally counted toward this branch hall''s achievements. "Is it enough?" Xiao Yan asked calmly, having anticipated this. "Enough, enough, more than enough! Protector Yan is truly formidable. This is comparable to some long-established branch halls that have been around for hundreds of years." Hun Lu walked to Xiao Yan''s side and said, "I will have my subordinates deliver the Heaven Grade Protector''s Soul Robe to Protector Yan as soon as possible." "Mm." Xiao Yan merely nodded slightly, not saying anything else. When Hun Lu saw that Xiao Yan paid him no further attention, he gritted his teeth and took out a brocade box from his storage ring. The moment he opened it, a medicinal fragrance that made one''s soul feel refreshed assailed the senses. "This is a peak tier 6 Little Soul Black Purple Pill. It can enhance the Spiritual Strength of cultivators below the Perfected Mortal State. It''s worth 20,000 soul points, even more precious than the Zong Breaking Pill." Xiao Yan''s eyes focused, and he couldn''t help but breathe more rapidly as he gazed at the pill in the brocade box. 20,000 soul points!! That''s not cheap at all! Do the Hun Clan members earn soul points so easily? Moreover, it was a medicinal pill that could directly increase Spiritual Strength. One could imagine how precious it was! Hun Lu reluctantly closed the brocade box, handed it to Xiao Yan, and said, "This is a gift to congratulate Protector Yan on your promotion to Heaven Grade. I only hope that if Protector Yan meets Lord Pill Saint in the future, you might put in a good word for me." Xiao Yan''s expression grew solemn. He once again gained a new understanding of Hun Huzi''s Ling Ying looked helpless. He naturally knew that this was just an excuse. They had been searching for over ten years without finding anything. What was left to search for? "Young Miss, your bloodline has already merged with the Heavenly Flame within your body. The voices in the clan calling for your return are growing louder. I heard that not only the various Clan Elders but even the Three Immortals believe that you shouldn''t continue staying outside. If this goes on, I''m afraid even the Clan Head won''t be able to let you continue being willful," Ling Ying said haltingly. Whoosh!! A golden flame shot out from Xun Er''s finger, landing on the token and instantly melting it. "Old Ling, just pretend you never saw this token," Xun Er said, her back facing Ling Ying as she looked toward the direction of the Jia Ma Empire. Ling Ying smiled bitterly, not knowing what kind of magic that young man possessed to make Xun Er behave like this. ... Day after day passed. After Hun Lu delivered the Soul Robes, it was naturally time to bid farewell. On a mountain peak in the Misty Cloud Mountain Range, Xiao Yan sat on the grass, looking at the scenery of the Misty Cloud Sect. Three years ago, he''d never have imagined he''d take over the Misty Cloud Sect. "You''re leaving?" Yun Yun''s voice drifted from behind. A gentle breeze lifted her hair as she stood elegantly in a white gown. Her jet-black, silky hair cascaded down her fragrant shoulders. As the breeze blew, her clothes fluttered, giving her an otherworldly and serene appearance. "Mm, it''s been over a year since I left Jia Nan Academy. The Xiao Clan has also been settled. It''s time for me to return to Jia Nan Academy to continue my studies." Xiao Yan bit on a blade of grass, letting the bitter juice flow over his tongue. Yun Yun sat beside Xiao Yan, looking at his youthful side profile, a smile appearing on her face. She herself didn''t know what kind of feelings she had for Xiao Yan. She looked closely at that handsome young face. A hint of tenderness appeared in her bright eyes. Compared to when they first met in the cave, Xiao Yan had lost his youthful naivety and gained maturity. "The weather is getting colder. Time to head back. The Misty Cloud Sect now has my eldest brother here. If you feel troubled about what happened to Yun Shan, you can travel around the Jia Ma Empire to take your mind off things. This world is just like this; the weak are preyed upon." Xiao Yan reached out to tuck a strand of Yun Yun''s hair that had been blown astray by the wind behind her ear. His fingers lightly caressed her pretty face. He knew that Yun Yun still couldn''t let go of what happened to Yun Shan. To Yun Yun, Yun Shan was like a foster father. For him to suddenly become like this, no one could accept it. Even her own sect had nearly been destroyed. "Mm, perhaps I''ll travel around the Jia Ma Empire when I have time." Xiao Yan walked down the mountain and saw Nalan Yanran waiting for Yun Yun at the foot of the peak. He smiled and said, "There''s no need to become a servant or slave. Just take good care of your Master." With that, he unfurled his Eagle Wings and soared toward the Xiao Clan''s residence. Watching Xiao Yan fly away, Nalan Yanran looked at Yun Yun beside her and curiously asked, "Master, is there something going on between you two?" A faint blush colored Yun Yun''s cheeks. "What could there be? I only helped him a few times, and he said he owes me, that''s all." Nalan Yanran nodded thoughtfully and agreed, "No wonder I sometimes feel strange when I look at him; turns out I feel like I owe him." ???? Yun Yun looked at her disciple with a strange expression. This seemed a bit off? ... Throughout the entire day, Xiao Yan set aside his alchemy and cultivation to spend time with his family, drinking and chatting with his father and two elder brothers until late at night. When Xiao Yan saw that his brothers and father were drunk, he forced the alcohol out of his system and flew toward the Miteer Auction House. "I thought you''d forgotten about your Elder Sister?" Ya Fei looked at the figure that suddenly appeared at the office door, her beautiful eyes carrying a hint of playful reproach. Xiao Yan slowly walked into the office, spread his hands, and sat in a chair as he said, "That''s why I''ve come to see Sister Ya Fei, haven''t I?" Ya Fei put down the pen in her hand, walked behind Xiao Yan, and gently massaged the acupuncture points on his head. With a touch of concern, she said, "You seem a bit tired." Xiao Yan slowly relaxed his body as he felt that just-right massage and leaned back on the soft chair. He sighed and said wearily, "I''ve encountered some troublesome matters." Ya Fei didn''t say anything more and continued to massage Xiao Yan gently. He didn''t say anything either, just closed his eyes and relaxed his body, enjoying the soothing touch of those delicate hands. ... ... .. END OF VOL 2 /Volume 2 of this story has just concluded! The next volume will be the longest yet, not only in the number of chapters but also in word count. The upcoming chapters will maintain at least 3,000 words for the first nineteen chapters, followed by 2,000+ words thereafter. We''re kicking off the Jia Nan Academy Arc in the next chapter. This arc has just concluded on Patreon (Chapter 286). Let me know in the comments what you think of the story so far! I would greatly appreciate your support through reviews, as they help future readers decide to join us and follow this journey. Thank you for your continued support! Chapter 213: Chapter 213: Returning to Jia Nan Academy Chapter 213: Chapter 213: Returning to Jia Nan Academy ? Word Count: 3,688 Words ****** At the break of dawn, a sliver of sunlight streamed through the window. Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes, surprised to find that he had fallen asleep without realizing it. Turning his head, he saw Ya Fei sleeping soundly, her head resting on the desk. Xiao Yan sighed inwardly. He began to feel that he was fated to attract peach blossoms and easily incur debts of love. He gently lifted Ya Fei into his arms, and a fragrant scent wafted to his nose. Looking down at the exquisite face nestled against his chest, her long, curved eyelashes fluttered slightly. A sense of indebtedness arose in his heart as he gazed at this enchantingly beautiful yet tender and affectionate young lady. He softly placed her on the boudoir bed in the room adjacent to the office. Without lingering further, he quietly closed the door. "Elder Sister will always be here, waiting for you to return." His hand paused. Xiao Yan didn''t dare to look back. He gently closed the door, unfolded his Eagle Wings, and flew out through the office window. He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he would be unwilling to leave. Ya Fei watched as Xiao Yan flew away from the window, his figure gradually disappearing. She gently touched her forehead with her jade-like hand and revealed a sweet smile. Xiao Yan soared boldly over the skies of Jia Ma Sacred City. Perhaps only he dared to act like this in the entire Jia Ma Empire. After all, even if Jia Xing Tian discovered him, he wouldn''t stop him. "That brat, only knowing how to be lovey-dovey with women, not even bothering to say goodbye to me." Hai Bodong stood in the sky, disgruntled as he watched the fiery light fly farther and farther away. He shook his head repeatedly, at a loss for words. Just then, a piece of white paper gently drifted down from the sky, floating in front of Hai Bodong. Curious, he caught the falling paper. On it, a few lines were scrawled messily: [Xiao Yan''s IOU] [Next time I come to the Jia Ma Empire, I will definitely present a Mighty Huang Pill to Old Hai.] [(XVX)] Hai Bodong couldn''t help but be amused as he looked at the paper. He carefully put it away, gazed toward the horizon, and said, "Xiao Yan, lad, the world outside is vast. Be careful this time." At this moment, with his Qi Method frantically circulating within his body, Xiao Yan resembled a fiery meteor streaking across the sky as his Eagle Wings transformed into a pair of blood-red fire wings. ''The Dou Qi of a Dou Spirit is truly profound. My speed has actually increased tenfold!'' This was the first time Xiao Yan had flown at full power since breaking through to the Dou Spirit realm. Combined with the Flame Mantra that had refined the Yin-Yang Twin Flame, he now felt as if his Dou Qi was inexhaustible. Even when fully utilizing the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to boost his speed, his Dou Qi didn''t seem to decrease at all. Suddenly, a graceful figure appeared in his flight path. It was without a doubt Her Majesty Queen Medusa. The only ''debt'' Xiao Yan had not yet repaid was that owed to Medusa. "Oh, Your Majesty, what a coincidence! Are you out for early morning exercise as well?" Xiao Yan said with a grin. He swore he absolutely had no intention of running away and shirking his debt. Medusa''s devastatingly beautiful face looked somewhat grim as she coldly stared at him. Xiao Yan swallowed hard and nervously said, "Your Majesty, please listen to my sophistry-I mean, please allow me to explain." Medusa directly cut him off and asked frostily, "When will you be able to restore my body to the Rank 7?" Xiao Yan immediately took out a scroll from his storage ring to prove his innocence, "I have a Secret Method here. Its original effect is to use three kinds of Heavenly Flames along with a body above the Dou Ancestor realm. Through the Secret Method''s refinement, it can create a Heavenly Flame Body that allows a soul to be resurrected." "I have slightly modified this Secret Method. By using three kinds of Heavenly Flames, I can reconstruct a Heavenly Flame Snake Body for Your Majesty and allow you to truly reach Rank 7. Even Rank 8, 9, or 10 won''t be a problem in the future!" "I''ve genuinely been working hard to help Your Majesty regain your strength. It wasn''t a lie." Xiao Yan spoke eloquently, sounding like a pyramid scheme salesman, almost convincing himself with his own words. Naturally, Medusa didn''t believe it could be as exaggerated as reaching Rank 9 Magical Beast or even Rank 10. She opened the scroll with a hook of her finger to take a look. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. The Heavenly Flame Snake Body that Xiao Yan''s modified Secret Method could condense would indeed allow her to regain a physical body. Moreover, her potential would increase quite a bit. Even if not the Rank 9, breaking through the threshold of the Rank 8 in the future wouldn''t be a problem. Medusa grew even more curious about Xiao Yan. This lad''s talent in alchemy was absurdly high. Modifying pill recipes and Secret Methods was like revising homework for him, and he actually got them right. Her beautiful eyes looked at Xiao Yan, her delicate face softening slightly as she asked, "Where are you heading now?" "Of course, I''m returning to Jia Nan Academy. I''m still a student, you know. I have classes to attend," Xiao Yan displayed an innocent smile. "Tell the truth," Medusa gave him a sidelong glance. Did he really think she''d believe that? "Uh... Jia Nan Academy has a Heavenly Flame. Also, this Secret Method can''t create something out of nothing; it requires an enormous amount of energy. The fire-attributed energy in that Heavenly Flame location is just right," Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and explained. Medusa knew that this boy would never visit a place without a purpose. Jia Nan Academy must have accumulated eight lifetimes of misfortune to have a student like him. She slightly opened her mouth, and a green light flew out. The Green Lotus floated in the air while her body emitted a seven-colored radiance as she transformed back into the Seven- Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, coiling inside the Green Lotus to absorb its energy and accelerate her growth. With Medusa reverting to her snake form, a new problem arose. An exquisitely crafted long dress slowly drifted down. What made Xiao Yan''s blood surge was that a red, triangular piece of fabric floated past his eyes. Xiao Yan instinctively reached out to catch the clothes. His heart pounded violently, comparable to when he first entered the Gate of Life and Death!! It was still warm! But in the next second, a bone-chilling cold that felt like falling into the Nine Nether Hells spread throughout his body. It was as if a cold, giant python had wrapped itself around him and was staring at him with a pair of deadly eyes. Xiao Yan didn''t dare entertain any further thoughts and placed the clothes inside the Green Lotus. Poor Xiao Yan; his own cultivation treasure, the Green Lotus, was thus seized by Medusa. He had always been the one taking advantage of others; since when did he become the one being taken advantage of? After storing the Green Lotus in his storage ring, Xiao Yan silently recited Xun Er''s name in his heart before slowly calming his boiling Dou God Bloodline! Flying at full speed, with his current velocity and the acceleration from the Heavenly Flame, Xiao Yan''s speed was not much slower than that of an ordinary peak Dou King or even a Dou Emperor. He soared over fortress after fortress. All the city guards simply saluted upon recognizing Xiao Yan from afar. Who would dare to stop him? As the overall champion of the Alchemist Grand Meeting and the Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan''s Yan Alliance, there weren''t many people in the Jia Ma Empire who hadn''t seen his portrait. You might not know who the ruler of the Jia Ma Empire is, but you can''t afford not to recognize Xiao Yan! Not long after flying beyond the borders of the Jia Ma Empire, he entered the territory of the Black-Corner Region. Upon arriving in the Black-Corner Region, Xiao Yan couldn''t remain so ostentatious. After all, he still cared about his reputation. He took out a brand-new Soul Robe from his storage ring. In case he encountered someone without eyes, he would still kill if necessary, but he couldn''t do so using his own identity. He couldn''t allow his persona to collapse. returned to the Xiao Clan after the Qualifying Competition ended, and enrollment took place before the start of each new term. "Then you have my thanks." Xiao Yan cupped his hands in gratitude. Although he could fly back directly, Jia Nan Academy certainly didn''t allow flying around at will. "Hehe, it''s nothing. Oh, by the way, Xiao Yan, I should remind you of something before we leave. Even though you haven''t been at the academy, you probably already have quite a few potential rivals there." "I''m sure you know why. A girl as outstanding as Xun Er is immensely attractive to those geniuses in the academy. In just over a year since coming to the academy, her fame has caught up with the ''Little Witch,'' and her suitors are endless." Xiao Yan chuckled lightly upon hearing this, "Oh? Then I really need to experience it myself. I just hope they won''t disappoint me too much." ... Seated on the back of the griffin, Xiao Yan exhaled lightly, raising his head to gaze dreamily at the azure sky. The delicate and elegant face of a young lady gradually surfaced in his mind, filling his heart with longing. ''Xun Er, I can finally see you. Unknowingly, a year and a half has passed.'' This flight lasted nearly the entire night. At dawn the next day, a ray of morning light shot out from the horizon, dispelling all the darkness across the land. ''Jia Nan City... Jia Nan Academy, I, Xiao Yan, have returned!'' Even from high in the sky, he couldn''t take in the entire city with his eyes, showing just how vast this city was. This time, Xiao Yan was determined to enter the Inner Academy. He had heard from Instructor Ruo Ling that the Inner Academy was full of extraordinary talents, especially those students on the ''Strong Ranking''; each of them was astonishingly brilliant. Now, he felt a surge of curiosity and fighting spirit. He wondered just how exceptional these so-called genius students were. "Hehe, Junior Xiao Yan, we''ll be landing the griffin at the city''s flying beast station shortly. At that time, you''ll need to make your own way to the academy. Our Law Enforcement Unit is on duty this week and can''t stay away from Peace Town for too long." The young man from the Law Enforcement Unit turned his head and suddenly realized that Xiao Yan, who had been behind him, was nowhere to be seen. "Many thanks for Senior Brother''s escort along the way. Xiao Yan is immensely grateful." A voice came from below. The young man steering the griffin looked horrified. They were a thousand meters high!!! Is he crazy?! Just as this Senior Brother thought Xiao Yan had lost his mind, a pair of dazzling blood-red fire wings appeared behind the latter. He slowed his descent with a flap; tongues of flame scattered as he landed gracefully on the street like a celestial warrior descending. "Dou Qi Wings?!!" Of course, Xiao Yan paid no attention to what that Senior Brother and the surrounding people thought. Right now, his heart was set on returning, wishing he could fly directly to Xun Er''s side. ''Wait... It''s been over a year. Where does Xun Er live now?'' Xiao Yan froze. He suddenly realized a big problem. Where was Xun Er? Just as Xiao Yan was feeling at a loss, as if Heaven intended for lovers to be reunited, a young man who looked a year or two older than Xiao Yan pointed at him with a shocked and somewhat dumbfounded expression. "Little Clan Leader!!!" Xiao Yan turned his head and said, "Oh, it''s you, Xiao Ning. You came at just the right time." Confirming that it was indeed Xiao Yan, Xiao Ning excitedly rushed over, only to be caught by Xiao Yan, who pinched his cheeks and lifted him slightly. "Li-Li-Little Clan Leader..." "Don''t be so excited. I''m straight." The Xiao Clan disciples who had entered Jia Nan Academy, including Xiao Ning, had known for two months that Xiao Yan would be returning to the academy. This was because most of the large quantity of low-tier pills that he had given to Xun Er were for improving the strength of the clan''s disciples. Xiao Yan was practically revered as a living Bodhisattva among the Xiao Clan disciples at Jia Nan Academy. They had been eagerly awaiting the chance to ''have an audience'' with him. Setting Xiao Ning down, Xiao Yan wiped his hands and said, "We can talk about other matters later. Where is Xun Er?" Xiao Ning didn''t waste words either. Understanding the relationship between Xiao Yan and Xun Er, he led Xiao Yan toward the Xiao Clan''s temporary residence. When Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength detected that familiar figure he had been longing for day and night, he instantly erupted with extreme speed and appeared in a flash outside the door of a building. Sensing Xiao Yan''s arrival at the same time, the door opened with a creak, and their eyes met. Xiao Yan looked at the beautiful young lady standing gracefully before him. That face had long been deeply engraved in the depths of his heart over the years. "Xiao Yan ge-ge..." Xun Er''s heart was filled with a thousand words and ten thousand emotions-joy, happiness, but also some complaints and anger. Tears uncontrollably welled up at the corners of her eyes. After all, Xiao Yan had left her for over a year for the sake of another woman; anyone would feel a bit resentful. But when Xiao Yan opened his arms, she still rushed into his embrace without hesitation. Xiao Yan hugged her tightly and breathed in that familiar fragrance greedily. "I''m sorry I''m late." Xiao Yan slowly lowered his head and kissed her deeply as soon as he finished speaking. All the words and feelings in his heart transformed into this one kiss. The entire square fell silent at the sight of the passionately kissing couple. Faintly, it seemed there were countless sounds of hearts being broken. "It''s over. The academy is going to be turned upside down." Chapter 214: Chapter 214: Getting Carried by the Little Clan Leader Chapter 214: Chapter 214: Getting Carried by the Little Clan Leader ? Word Count: 3,524 Words ****** Similarly, Xiao Yu, Xiao Mei, and other members of the Xiao Clan beside the building were all stunned. They had never expected that the usually reserved and indifferent young lady would take the initiative to embrace Xiao Yan in public, much less that Xiao Yan would be bold enough to make such a move. At this moment, their faces were full of astonishment. Caught off guard by Xiao Yan''s sudden move, Xun Er could only let out a low hum. Her delicate hands tapped lightly against his chest but were soft and powerless, lacking any strength. A faint blush appeared on her snow-white cheeks from his forceful kiss. Finally, she slowly closed her eyes; her beautiful eyes trembled slightly due to nervousness and anxiety. Her tightly closed pearly teeth parted slightly, allowing his domineering invasion to proceed. The two embraced each other tightly, releasing the fiery passion in their hearts. "Cousin Xiao Yan is so bold, doing this in broad daylight." Xiao Mei covered her mouth with both hands as she exclaimed. Her eyes sparkled with the curiosity of a young girl as she watched the scene, seemingly imagining herself in that position. Xiao Yu''s heart tightened as she watched the passionately absorbed couple, and an inexplicable feeling of discomfort suddenly arose within her. Ling Ying, observing from the shadows, broke into a cold sweat. If this got back to the Gu Clan, it would be a big deal! ''No wonder this kid has been training so desperately. He must have sensed that the young miss''s background is extraordinary... But...'' Ling Ying sighed inwardly. If Xiao Yan were the Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan from a few thousand years ago, then no one would dare to oppose him. But the current Xiao Clan was no longer the Xiao Clan of the past. As for those young men who deliberately passed by the door just to catch a glimpse of Xun Er, after recovering from their shock, their faces all turned gloomy. At last, Xiao Yan seemed to sense the countless gazes filled with killing intent. He slowly separated from Xun Er, and as they parted, a thin thread was drawn between them. Looking down, he saw the girl''s flushed face at such close proximity, her hot breath brushing against his own face. Whether it was Xiao Yan or Xun Er, there was only each other in their eyes at this moment. They could see their own reflections in each other''s pupils. His arms tightly encircled that slender waist. Xiao Yan lowered his head to gently inhale the fragrance of her silky black hair. As a man, how could he back down at a time like this?! No explanation could be more powerful than this kiss. Xiao Yan enjoyed the scorching gazes directed at them from all around. "Ahem." Xiao Yu gave a heavy cough. Startled, Xun Er finally came back to her senses. When she realized that countless eyes were staring fixedly at the two of them, even her ears turned bright red. She turned around and slammed the door shut with a bang. Xiao Yan pursed his lips and rubbed his nose upon seeing Xun Er flee in such a flustered manner, unable to hide the smile at the corners of his mouth. Years of bitter cultivation suddenly felt incredibly sweet. "Hmph, big pervert." "Cough." Xiao Yan lightly coughed and forcibly suppressed the silly, smug grin that made him look like a foolish love-struck pig. He turned to look at Xiao Yu not far away and said with a smile, "Oh, isn''t this Cousin Xiao Yu? It''s been over a year, and your legs have grown even longer and fairer." Xiao Yan looked her up and down. He suspected that it might be because they were once a Dou God Clan, but Xiao Yu''s legs were truly more beautiful than white jade chopsticks, with just enough flesh to not appear too thin. Xiao Yu shot him an angry glare and said, "You big pervert! Is that all you can look at?!" Xiao Yan shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands, "Mainly because there''s not much else I can praise you for. Your cultivation level really makes it hard for me to compliment." Xiao Yu was a year older than Xiao Yan and had entered Jia Nan Academy even earlier. However, her talent in cultivation was not very high. Even though two months ago Xiao Yan had Ling Ying bring back many low-tier medicinal pills, her cultivation was still only at the 5- star Dou Master stage. On the contrary, after taking the Qi Gathering Pill to quickly break through to Dou Practitioner, Xiao Ning''s cultivation had actually caught up to Xiao Yu, also reaching the 5- star Dou Master stage. As for Xiao Mei, her progress was the slowest; she was only at the 8-star Dou Practitioner stage. Xiao Yan couldn''t help but feel a surge of helplessness upon seeing Xiao Mei''s slow advancement. Back then, the reason his own progress was slow, aside from being dragged down by the Flame Mantra, was mainly the lack of medicinal pills to assist him. A Dou Practitioner''s advancement speed was faster than that of a Dou Disciple, not only because they could cultivate Qi Methods but also because they could use medicinal pills. "Xiao Mei, with so many medicinal pills to assist you, how come your advancement is still so slow?" Xiao Yan couldn''t help but scold her. "I''m sorry, Cousin Xiao Yan. I will work harder." Xiao Mei lowered her head. Xiao Yan rubbed his forehead, then looked at the two young men standing behind Xiao Yu and asked, "Are you two the Xiao Clan members who enrolled in Jia Nan Academy this year?" Ever since Xiao Yan helped the Xiao Clan dominate Wu Tan City with his alchemy skills a few years ago, the resources for the clan''s disciples had naturally risen accordingly. Plus, with the relationship with the Miteer Clan, the Xiao Clan was no longer like before when they couldn''t even find a single tier 1 medicinal pill. The quality of the clan''s disciples had also improved somewhat, at least meeting the admission standards of Jia Nan Academy. "Yes, Little Clan Leader! My name is Xiao Meng. My potential value during enrollment was F- class." "Reporting to the Little Clan Leader, I am Xiao Yue Liang. My potential value during enrollment was also F-class." This was the normal level for the Xiao Clan. The former Xiao Clan couldn''t even meet the admission standards of Jia Nan Academy; now, having two F-class students was considered not bad. These two were both F-class, meaning they only had the 8th-stage of Dou Disciple when enrolling. But now, after just half a year, they were already 2-star Dou Practitioners. It wasn''t because their talent was high or their progress fast, but because Xiao Yan had been supportive. Among those medicinal pills were some Qi Gathering Pills. In his letter, Xiao Yan had instructed Xun Er that if there were new students from the Xiao Clan this year, and if they were determined and hardworking, to give them the Qi Gathering Pill to help them break through to Dou Practitioner faster. Now, these people could be considered the new rising force of the Xiao Clan. Of course, there was also a group that had gone to the Misty Cloud Sect. Xiao Yan stroked his chin, his eyes flashing as he said, "Is there a place in Jia Nan City where we can spar or practice Dou Techniques? Let me see how your combat strength is now." Cultivation level did not equate to combat strength. Xiao Ning said, "There is a Dou Technique Hall in Jia Nan City, but the price is somewhat high. The larger practice rooms cost a 100 gold coins per day." Xiao Yan waved his hand in a rich and imposing manner, "It''s a trivial matter. Lead the way." At this moment, Xiao Yan in their eyes had transformed from the living Bodhisattva he once was into the living Yama King! "You can go back to your residence to rest. We''ll continue tomorrow morning," Xiao Yan said cheerfully, but his words sounded like those of a demon. Upon hearing they would continue tomorrow, they all felt like dying. Moreover, this was going to last for four months! Would they even survive? Xiao Yan didn''t care about what they were thinking. In any case, he was in a very good mood today. He walked down the street taking light steps. Although he had caused a sensation throughout Jia Nan City today, not many people actually recognized him. Everyone only knew that someone named Xiao Yan had shattered the dreams of countless youths, but they didn''t know what he looked like. Xiao Yan ate as he walked. Helping his clan members improve their strength had made him forget to eat. ''This tastes pretty good. I''ll buy some back for Xun Er.'' Xiao Yan packed a large bag of grilled skewers, happily planning to return and have a heart-to-heart chat with Xun Er over some drinks. As he walked into a sparsely populated area, the quiet night was suddenly interrupted by a flash of white. A figure sprang out, toes lightly tapping tree branches, gracefully leaping onto a pile of rocks not far away, blocking Xiao Yan''s path. Slowly raising his head, Xiao Yan calmly looked at the handsome and upright man dressed in white. "Leave her." The white-clothed man''s voice was calm and ethereal as it slowly drifted out. Instantly, Xiao Yan had the faces of several women flashing through his mind like a scoundrel. Of course, he naturally knew that the man before him was referring to Xun Er. After all, with his actions today, if he didn''t attract some self-righteous men, it would be disrespectful to Xun Er''s beauty. Xiao Yan unhurriedly finished eating the skewers in his hand. A flicker of black flame reduced the wooden sticks to nothingness. He licked his fingers, slightly raised his head, and looked over. Xiao Yan''s youthful face appeared particularly arrogant under the moonlight. "I''m in a good mood today. If you scram now, I can pretend you never appeared." Bai Shan''s anger almost boiled over when he heard Xiao Yan say that he was in a good mood today. How could he not know why Xiao Yan was in such a good mood? "You''re courting death! The weak have no right to possess her!" Bai Shan''s eyes were cold, his face contorted as he glared at Xiao Yan. Without further words, he slightly rotated his hands. Faint silver Dou Qi brewed in his palms, and a bolt of lightning blasted toward Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan paid no attention to the approaching lightning Dou Qi attack and used a toothpick to clean his teeth. The next second, a black flame suddenly appeared and instantly devoured Bai Shan''s attack. Bai Shan sneered coldly as he saw Xiao Yan neutralize his casual strike. "You have some skill, but you''re still not qualified." Dou Qi surged within him, and the glow of a Dou Technique emerged. However, Xiao Yan merely shook his head, for he sensed with his Spiritual Strength that someone was approaching. "Bai Shan! What are you doing!" Instructor Ruo Ling''s reprimanding voice came from afar. This was already the student residential area; naturally, using Dou Techniques to attack was not allowed. Moreover, she knew that Xiao Yan had returned and had caused such a stir. She anticipated that such incidents might occur, so she had come early to wait nearby. Bai Shan slowly withdrew his Dou Qi when he saw the instructor appear. "Nothing much, just wanted to have a friendly spar with Junior Brother Xiao Yan." Bai Shan reverted to his model student demeanor after Instructor Ruo Ling appeared. He cast a cold sidelong glance at Xiao Yan, then smiled faintly, "Instructor Ruo Ling, with Junior Brother Xiao Yan''s abilities, if he can''t even block my casual strike, how can he participate in the Inner Academy Qualifying Competition? If just anyone can participate, people might say that the quality of our Jia Nan Academy students is lacking." Instructor Ruo Ling stood protectively beside Xiao Yan and said softly, "Bai Shan, the academy''s enrollment policies are set by the Headmaster. Who can participate in the Inner Academy Qualifying Competition is decided by the instructors, not by you." Bai Shan''s calm expression changed slightly upon hearing this. He hadn''t expected the gentle Instructor Ruo Ling to say such words. "If you''re a man, don''t hide behind a woman." Bai Shan took a deep breath and coldly glanced at Xiao Yan, the corner of his mouth curling in disdain. Xiao Yan chuckled, held his head high, and said confidently, "If you''re a man, find a woman who can stand in front of you." ???? Bai Shan and Instructor Ruo Ling were momentarily stunned. What kind of logic was that? But somehow, it seemed to make a bit of sense! "You!" Xiao Yan immediately put on a pitiful look, hiding behind Instructor Ruo Ling as he said, "Instructor Ruo Ling, this person is bullying me. I''m so scared." Instructor Ruo Ling gave Xiao Yan an exasperated glance, then turned to Bai Shan and said, "Bai Shan, this isn''t your class''s residential area. If you don''t return, I''ll ask the Deputy Headmaster to cancel your qualification for this year''s Inner Academy Qualifying Competition." Bai Shan clenched his fists tightly. Looking at Xiao Yan''s shameless and despicable appearance, as if he was used to eating soft rice, his anger surged even more. Chapter 215: Chapter 215: Broadening Your Horizons Chapter 215: Chapter 215: Broadening Your Horizons ? Word Count: 3,511 Words ****** "I''ll make you understand the gap between us in the qualifying competition!" Bai Shan had no choice but to drop this harsh line before taking his leave. Xiao Yan watched Bai Shan depart, smiled at Instructor Ruo Ling, and said, "Thank you for your timely assistance, Instructor." Instructor Ruo Ling shook her head. "Even if I hadn''t intervened, you wouldn''t have been in any danger, would you?" She realized she could no longer gauge Xiao Yan''s current level of strength. She herself was a 5-star Dou Grandmaster, yet in a little over a year, just how far had Xiao Yan advanced! Xiao Yan let out a helpless sigh and said, "You can''t put it that way, Instructor Ruo Ling. If you hadn''t come out, I might have accidentally killed him. That would have been troublesome." !!!!!! A chill swept through Instructor Ruo Ling, her entire body turning cold. Though Xiao Yan spoke with a gentle, somewhat aggrieved tone, she believed he meant every word! Had she not been nearby, there was a very real possibility that Xiao Yan would have killed someone outright! Instructor Ruo Ling carefully sized up Xiao Yan and asked, "What''s your current cultivation level?" Xiao Yan picked up a skewer and said while munching on it, "I''m not telling you. A man needs to maintain a sense of mystery." Instructor Ruo Ling''s eyes widened in astonishment. I''m your damn instructor!! Then again, she remembered that she''d never really taught him anything. Perhaps being his instructor in name wasn''t worth fussing over. "I''m tired of trying to rein you in, so do as you will. Four months from now is the Inner Academy Qualifying Competition. I''ll enter your name and Xun Er''s¡ªno problem there, right?" She sighed. Her students had grown up, and it was hard to control them now. Xun Er had actually been qualified to participate in last year''s qualifying competition, but she gave up the opportunity to wait for Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan shook his head and said, "Could I trouble the instructor to also submit the names of Xiao Ning, Xiao Yu, Xiao Mei, Xiao Meng, and Xiao Yue Liang?" All the members of the Xiao Clan had been taken under Instructor Ruo Lin''s tutelage. "Ah?" Instructor Ruo Ling was puzzled upon hearing these words, "Xiao Ning and Xiao Yu are both 5-star Dou Masters, so they could give it a try. But Xiao Mei''s cultivation talent isn''t high, not to mention Xiao Meng and Xiao Yue Liang, who have only been in the academy for less than a year." "They won''t make it into the top fifty." Instructor Ruo Ling was still a Huang Class instructor. An instructor''s rank wasn''t just related to the number of students advancing to the Inner Academy; they had to meet certain quotas within four years, under specific time constraints. Additionally, too many failures would affect promotion. Therefore, each year''s Inner Academy slots had to be allocated very carefully. This year was a critical period for Instructor Ruo Ling''s promotion to Xuan Class instructor. Yet Xiao Yan merely offered a confident smile. "Please rest assured, Instructor Ruo Ling; I, Xiao Yan, don''t make empty boasts." Instructor Ruo Ling suddenly recalled that when Xiao Yan first entered the academy, he had spoken similarly, and in the end, he had indeed accomplished what he promised. "You truly want them to participate in the examination as well?" she asked. "Please be completely assured, Instructor Ruo Ling. As long as they can endure my special training, entering the Inner Academy won''t be a problem," Xiao Yan said with a grin. A strange light flashed in Instructor Ruo Ling''s eyes. If Xiao Meng and Xiao Yue Liang, who had only been in the academy for a year, could enter the Inner Academy, that would be truly astonishing. "Alright, since you''re so confident, I''ll trust you this time." Instructor Ruo Ling herself wasn''t sure where her confidence came from, but when she saw the look in Xiao Yan''s eyes, she knew she hadn''t made the wrong decision. "Thank you, Instructor. If there''s nothing else, I''ll be on my way." Xiao Yan whistled cheerfully, skewers in hand, as he headed toward the pavilion where Xun Er lived. "Hey, the men''s dorm is in the other direction!" "I''m not spending the night." "That still won''t do!" In the end, Xiao Yan couldn''t escape Instructor Ruo Ling''s watch. He wound up simply sitting on top of the building with Xun Er, gazing at the stars, nibbling skewers, reminiscing about old times, their hands softly entwined. ... Over the next few months, Xiao Yan hardly had any free time; if anything, he was even busier. Not only did he have to act as the Little Clan Leader and instruct Xiao Yu and the others in the cultivation of their new Dou Techniques and Qi Methods, he also had to take care of his own cultivation as well. The Asura Soul Reaping Technique, this High Di Class Soul Skill, was extremely challenging to cultivate even with his exceptional comprehension. Xiao Yan was born with Spiritual Strength twice that of others. He had originally thought that cultivating Soul Skills wouldn''t pose too much of a problem, but this High Di Class Soul Skill still hindered him. Three months passed, and he hadn''t even touched upon the entry-level threshold. It was a harsh slap in the face for this genius. Although he was stuck on the Soul Skill, thanks to the power of the Flame Mantra, his cultivation level increased by one star, reaching the 2-star Dou Spirit stage. Even though the Flame Mantra hadn''t been upgraded to an Intermediate Di Class Qi Method, the speed at which his Dou Qi condensed had still increased significantly. Three months of time allowed him to advance by one star. "Ah... you... let go, you big pervert!!" shrieked Xiao Yu, clutching the hem of her skirt. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes shimmered with tears. She glared daggers at Xiao Yan. He had grabbed her ankle and hoisted it up, openly admiring her long legs. "Cousin Xiao Yu, are you getting brazen? You actually dared to challenge me?" Xiao Yu bit her lower lip. She had thought that after over three months of intense cultivation, her strength had improved significantly, and she might at least cause Xiao Yan some trouble. So, she challenged him. But the result was the same as before. She was easily subdued by Xiao Yan and even embarrassed in front of everyone. Just as Xiao Yan was appreciating the beautiful scene before him, a slightly cold voice came from behind. "Xiao Yan ge-ge." !!!! Xiao Yan immediately released his grip, raised his hands in surrender, and turned to look at Xun Er. "Xun Er, you''re free today? What brings you to the Dou Technique Hall?" Xun Er''s bright, captivating eyes glanced at him, sending a flutter through his heart. She said, "Xun Er came to bring something for Xiao Yan ge-ge. Here, it''s what Xiao Yan ge-ge asked for." She took out a piece of sheepskin parchment from her storage ring and handed it to him. Xiao Yan''s spirits lifted upon seeing it. On the parchment was a clearly marked route-it was a map. him that there was an alchemist in the Black-Corner Region who had also set his sights on the Fallen Heart Flame. That person was called Han Feng. ''A peak Dou Emperor... still not enough to threaten Jia Nan Academy, I''d think...'' After pondering for a moment, Xiao Yan said, "Let''s go to the Thousand Medicinal House first and see if there are any precious medicinal ingredients." They slowly walked along the street. Xiao Yan''s gaze continuously swept over the shops on both sides. But what left him somewhat speechless was that before even walking a mere hundred meters on this short street, he had witnessed no fewer than ten incidents of brawling and even bloody knife fights. For a city like this, there was almost only one word to describe it: chaotic! If these people weren''t so weak, Xiao Yan would have used the Soul Command Token to conveniently collect the souls of the deceased. The group followed Xiao Ning''s guidance and soon arrived at the Thousand Medicinal House. As they stepped into this imposing medicinal shop, they were immediately greeted by an aroma mingled with the scents of over a hundred types of medicinal ingredients. The interior of the shop was extremely spacious. Neatly arranged crystal counters were placed in all directions. Within the transparent counters were all kinds of medicinal ingredients. At this moment, quite a few people were stopping in front of these counters, and the noisy chatter echoed continuously. "Not bad," Xiao Yan murmured. Having seen Queen Medusa''s treasury and the Medicine Hall of the Misty Cloud Sect, the Thousand Medicinal House naturally couldn''t surprise Xiao Yan too much. However, Xiao Ning and the others were dazzled. It was their first time seeing so many medicinal ingredients. The prices at the Thousand Medicinal House lived up to its reputation in the Black-Corner Region. Most of the medicinal ingredients were a full three times more expensive than the normal market price. No wonder crime was rampant in the Black-Corner Region; with such prices, how could ordinary people afford to buy anything? In the end, Xiao Yan spent 800,000 gold coins to buy the main ingredient for a tier 5 medicinal pill and then left disappointed. "It''s actually quite a bit larger than the Tian-class auction of the Miteer Clan." Standing on the bustling street, Xiao Yan looked up at the colossal auction house before him and couldn''t help but exclaim in surprise. Back when he saw the headquarters of the Miteer Auction House in the capital city of the Jia Ma Empire, he had been somewhat amazed by its scale. But he hadn''t expected that upon arriving at Black Mark City, he would realize how vast the world truly was. The Jia Ma Empire was merely a weak empire ranked near the bottom in the North-Western Region. At the entrance of the Great Auction Fair, dozens of expressionless men in tight black outfits with sharp weapons at their waists swept their eagle-like gazes over the streams of people coming and going. Judging from the auras faintly emanating from these men, five of them were actually at the Dou Master realm, while the rest were at the peak of the Dou Practitioner stage. Even the gate guards casually assigned were at the Dou Master realm. It seemed the strength of the Eight Gates was truly formidable. "There are so many people at this auction," Xiao Yu furrowed her delicate brows as she stuck close to Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan protected Xun Er in the middle while Xiao Ning and the other two males formed a protective formation, shielding Xiao Yan and the others in the center from the crowd. After following the flow of people into the slightly dim corridor all the way to the end, a colossal auction hall appeared before Xiao Yan''s eyes, causing him to draw in a sharp breath. This auction hall was larger than any he had seen before. The densely packed seats and the auction stage built entirely from dazzling crystals were enough to make one''s eyes spin. "If I''d known earlier, I would have gotten a VIP card. Sitting at the front would be better," Xiao Yan lamented helplessly. He had just learned that one could obtain a VIP card by bidding over a million gold coins. This card not only allowed one to sit in the front VIP seats but also provided access to a VIP passage without having to queue. Xun Er smiled. "I don''t mind sitting anywhere, as long as I''m with Xiao Yan ge-ge." Just as Xiao Yan and the others were chatting in the regular seating area, in the front row of the VIP section, a handsome youth with a pale face dressed in black robes was frowning as he looked at Xiao Yan. "Young Sect Master, what''s wrong?" Beside him, an old man with an equally pale complexion asked in a low voice. The pale-faced handsome youth slowly retracted his gaze upon hearing this. "It''s nothing. I just felt that fellow is a bit strange. Moreover, looking at him, I actually have a strange feeling of... dread in my heart." Fan Ling chuckled at himself and shook his head after saying this. "Hehe, Young Sect Master must have sensed wrongly. Although our Blood Sect''s Qi Methods are extremely cold and naturally fear some extreme flames, flames of that level are possessed by very few people in the entire Black-Corner Region," the old man said with a laugh. "Perhaps it was just my imagination." Fan Ling nodded and stopped his wild thoughts. Turning his gaze to the crystal stage, he muttered in a low voice, "I wonder if that information is true. If it is, Father said that no matter the cost, we must obtain it!" "Hehe, rest assured, Young Sect Master. The Sect Master has already secretly made preparations. Even if that item falls into someone else''s hands, they absolutely won''t get ten miles out of Black Mark City!" the old man chuckled sinisterly. "Good to hear." The corner of Fan Ling''s mouth curled into a cold smile. He gradually closed his eyes and quietly waited for the auction to begin. Just as Fan Ling closed his eyes, Xiao Yan suddenly raised his head and glanced in his direction. With his Spiritual Strength, he could naturally sense that someone had been observing him. However, after a single glance, Xiao Yan didn''t give it much thought. With Fan Ling''s strength, he wasn''t qualified to warrant his attention. After Xiao Yan chatted and laughed with Xun Er, Xiao Yu, and the others for nearly half an hour, a crisp bell chime slowly rang out within the hall. Xiao Yan stopped his idle chatter upon hearing this chime and looked up at the dazzling crystal stage. At this moment, a white-haired old man who seemed to be the auctioneer was already standing on it with a smile. Xiao Yan''s expression instantly turned a bit strange. After all, this was seemingly the first auction he had attended that wasn''t hosted by Ya Fei. Moreover, it was being hosted by an unfamiliar old man. The contrast was a bit too big. "Finally, it''s about to begin. Let''s hope there are some hidden surprises." Xiao Yan murmured under his breath as he looked at the huge hall that was almost filled to the brim, a hint of anticipation in his dark eyes. For some reason, he had a feeling that there would be things beyond his expectations at this auction. Chapter 216: Chapter 216: The Terror of the Dou God Clans Chapter 216: Chapter 216: The Terror of the Dou God Clans ? Word Count: 3,300 Words ****** A massive crystal cabinet slowly rose from the auction stage as the auctioneer''s voice fell. In front of the auctioneer appeared a longsword entirely azure in color. It reflected a chilling gleam under the illumination of the lights. Judging by the energy traces flowing along the blade, it was evident that this was a Monster Core Weapon meticulously forged by a renowned blacksmith. "This sword is called ''Cold Edge''. It is forged from millennium cold metal and is said to be able to cut iron like one would cut soil. Moreover, it is perfectly inlaid with a Rank 3 ice- attribute Monster Core. If wielded by someone cultivating water or ice attributes, their strength would undoubtedly ascend to a higher level. Powerful magical weapons are something that one must bring when venturing out. If any of you are interested, do not be reluctant to spend the money in your bags. Money is precious, of course, but only if you have your life to enjoy it." The old man held the azure longsword in his hand. The body of the sword, and a faint cold aura rose, forming a barely visible white mist. He turned to the audience and said with a smile, "The starting price is 100,000 gold coins. Let the bidding begin." ''A Monster Core Weapon, huh? From the description, it should be a Rank 3 weapon.'' Xiao Yan discreetly used his Spiritual Strength to scan it. Although alchemists and blacksmiths both manipulated flames to create items, Xiao Yan hadn''t studied the art of weapon forging. While he was pondering, the bidding for the Cold Edge sword on the auction stage reached its final price. "150,000 gold coins, going once." "150,000 gold coins, going twice. Are there any other bidders?" The auctioneer knew this was likely the limit. A Rank 3 Monster Core Weapon was suitable for a Dou Grandmaster, and someone at that realm wouldn''t possess immense wealth. Xiao Yan slowly raised his hand and said calmly, "200,000 gold coins." Xun Er was momentarily stunned. She looked at Xiao Yan, who was lazily reclining beside her, and asked, "Xiao Yan ge-ge, do you need a weapon?" Xiao Yan shook his head. "Given Xiao Ning and Xiao Yu''s current cultivation and combat strength, entering the Inner Academy shouldn''t be a problem. However, securing a spot in the top five still has some uncertainties. This longsword happens to suit Xiao Ning." "Can''t be helped. I only know how to refine pills, not forge weapons." He couldn''t personally handle everything. Over the past three months of special training, the siblings Xiao Yu and Xiao Ning were practically dragged along by him. He even provided them with Four Lines White Spirit Pills before barely managing to raise their cultivation levels to the 4-star Dou Grandmaster stage. But this was also his limit. After all, he was currently only a peak 5th-tier alchemist, and his limit was tier 5 medicinal pills. Moreover, in the coming days, Xiao Yu and Xiao Ning needed to address the instability in their cultivation due to the rapid advancement from the pills. In other words, their cultivation levels had reached their peak and couldn''t be increased further. Therefore, he had no choice but to attend the auction to provide them with some external assistance. After Xiao Yan''s bid of 200,000 gold coins, there was naturally no one else competing. This price already exceeded the sword''s value. He couldn''t be bothered to incrementally increase the bid. His time was precious. "Xiao Ning, there are no sword techniques among the Dou Techniques I gave you. Before the Inner Academy Qualifying Competition, find Instructor Ruo Ling and ask her to arrange some basic swordsmanship training for you," Xiao Yan instructed plainly. "I understand, Little Clan Leader. I won''t disappoint your expectations!" Xiao Ning''s eyes flickered with determination. Although he didn''t know how powerful the Xiao Clan had been in the past, he could see that under Xiao Yan''s leadership, the clan would surely prosper! After the smooth conclusion of the first auction item, various dazzling treasures began appearing on the stage: treasure armors, Dou Techniques, Qi Methods, medicinal ingredients, and more. Xiao Yan bid and secured all weapons and defensive gear suitable for Dou Grandmasters use. There was even an auction item that left Xiao Yan somewhat stunned, because it turned out to be a young beauty. She was not very old, appearing perhaps around twenty two to twenty three years old. Her figure, however, had matured till it left one speechless. A small face, which was filled with timidness, instantly ignited the male desires of the men in the auction hall who were accustomed to daily slaughter. One by one, they turned into wolves. Finally, the bidding drove the price up to nearly 130,000 gold coins, causing the white-haired auctioneer on the stage to grin from ear to ear. Sitting on his soft chair, Xiao Yan indifferently watched the unsightliness around him and then closed his eyes slightly. He couldn''t concern himself with such matters. In the early stages of the auction, no truly exciting treasures appeared, and the bidders were mainly those seated at the back. The powerful factions with vast wealth in the front rows hadn''t made a single bid so far. It wasn''t until the latter half of the auction that the auctioneer carefully lifted a scroll made of ancient jade. Only then did Xiao Yan slowly open his eyes. ''That thing...'' Xiao Yan frowned. He had already sensed through his Spiritual Strength what kind of Dou Technique it was. "Ladies and gentlemen, the next item up for auction is something very rare nowadays. It''s a type of Dou Technique, but due to the loss of the crafting method, it has become extremely rare." Upon hearing the auctioneer''s introduction, even the leaders of the major factions in the front rows became interested. "That''s right, it''s the flying-type Dou Technique: Lightning Bat Sky Wings!" The hands of the auctioneer trembled. The scroll suddenly slide down and revealed its contents. At that instant, a pair of small-scaled, black-colored bat wings, which appeared to have a ghostly aura appeared in everyone''s sight. ''It''s indeed a flying-type Dou Technique...'' Xiao Yan exhaled deeply and murmured to himself as he stared at the exquisite pair of bat wings. A faint purplish lightning flickered within the dark bat wings. Some of the arcs appeared to be a substance-like lightning shape, appearing extremely mysterious. Once the so-called Lightning Bat Sky Wings appeared, the entire auction house became somewhat quiet. Those who were unaware appeared a little lost. However, a commotion broke out among those who had heard of flying-type Dou Techniques-such as the Blood Sect and the Black Skeleton Tomb seated at the front. Clearly, this item had caught their interest. After all, possessing this item would allow one to soar into the sky like a Dou King. It was simply an essential tool for killing and escaping! "This thing is interesting. I like it," the Blood Sect''s Young Sect Master Fan Ling muttered softly, his gaze fixed intently on the eerie bat wings as if they would fly out of the jade scroll at any moment. "Young Sect Master, the price of this flying-type Dou Technique probably won''t be less than a million gold coins. If we continue to spend like this, I''m afraid we''ll have trouble competing for the final item," the pale-faced old man beside Fan Ling whispered worriedly. "Why are you so anxious?" Fan Ling glanced at the old man and coldly laughed, "Since Father has already made preparations, that item will end up in our hands regardless of who wins it at the auction. That way, we might even save a large sum of money." "Sigh." The elder known as Elder Luo could only sigh helplessly and remain silent as he saw that his advice was in vain. Meanwhile, Xiao Yan also revealed a smile; he wanted this flying-type Dou Technique as well! Moreover, the upcoming auction items might soon include the Di Class Dou Technique he sought. He needed to create some momentum. "Ke ke, as you all know, flying-type Dou Techniques are extremely rare nowadays. After our deliberation, this Lightning Bat Sky Wings, if classified, should be considered a Low Xuan Class flying-type Dou Technique. Therefore, its starting price is set at one million gold coins. Let the bidding begin," the white-haired auctioneer announced with a smile. As soon as he finished speaking, the Blood Sect''s Young Sect Master Fan Ling stood up and shouted, "1.3 million!" His eyes swept across everyone present, conveying a clear message: Anyone who dares to compete with me will be making an enemy of the Blood Sect. The auction hall buzzed with murmurs. Although auction rules prohibited verbal threats, Fan Ling didn''t need to say anything; standing up was enough to convey everything. Under this price, the entire auction hall fell silent for a moment. Then, a bewitching laughter that seeped directly into one''s bones sounded, "Young Sect Master Fan Ling is indeed generous. However, our Sky Serpent Mansion is also quite interested in the Lightning Bat Sky Wings. Please excuse us. 1.4 million." It was the most renowned and sought-after pill among tier 5 pills! Everyone looked at Xiao Yan as if he were crazy. Using a Dou King Pill to bid for a Low Xuan Class Dou Technique scroll-what could be more extravagant than this? Even alchemists weren''t usually this lavish! "Does your so-called Blood Sect want to bid any higher?" Xiao Yan looked leisurely at Fan Ling, his voice calm and indifferent, as if he were talking about candy rather than a Dou King Pill. Fan Ling''s face was extremely grim at this moment. Although the Blood Sect wasn''t weak, a Dou King Pill wasn''t something he could easily produce. Even if they had one, it would have been immediately distributed. Moreover, the value of a Dou King Pill was too high; it simply wasn''t worth it. "Seems there''s no higher bid. Let''s conclude then," Xiao Yan said slowly. Xiao Yan''s arrogant attitude left people feeling helpless, but with such deep pockets, there was nothing they could do. Only Xun Er who sat beside Xiao Yan remained calm throughout. To her, the Dou King Pill wasn''t particularly valuable. "Xiao Yu, this flying-type Dou Technique is for you." "For me?" Xiao Yu was a bit stunned. That was several million gold coins. She thought Xiao Yan intended to use it himself. "Being able to fly gives you a significant advantage in the early stages." "Oh." Xiao Yu slowly lowered her head at his words, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curving upward. After the auction of the Lightning Bat Sky Wings-the biggest highlight so far-concluded, the subsequent items entered a lull. Although they still sold for decent prices, compared to the massive sums earlier, they could no longer evoke any excitement. Xiao Yan did not make any further bids either. "Ke ke, the thing that is going to be auctioned off next is somewhat strange. This is because even we cannot figure out exactly what its use is. However, after thorough examination by our auction house, we believe it resembles some kind of unknown treasure map." The auctioneer took out a tattered ancient sheepskin parchment. The moment the auctioneer produced the parchment, both Xiao Yan and Xun Er opened their eyes simultaneously. A wisp of black flame and a wisp of golden flame flashed through their pupils respectively. Sensing each other''s reactions, they looked at one another. "Xiao Yan ge-ge?" After pondering for a moment, Xiao Yan used spiritual transmission to say, "Xun Er, do you know what that is?" Xun Er''s delicate brows furrowed slightly. After lightly biting her lower lip, she replied, "If Xun Er hasn''t guessed wrong, that piece of sheepskin should be related to an extremely powerful Heavenly Flame." Xiao Yan sighed softly. These ancient Dou God Clans were truly formidable to even know about this. He no longer concealed anything. He took out the other two map fragments related to the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame from his storage ring and placed them in Xun Er''s hand. Even Xun Er who had shown no interest in any auction items so far displayed a look of surprise upon seeing these two map fragments. "Xiao Yan ge-ge... you... have truly come upon a great opportunity." As a core member of a Dou God Clan, Xun Er naturally understood what the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame represented. This was the Heavenly Flame that all the Dou God Clans were keeping a close eye on. It was a unique, extremely powerful Heavenly Flame in the world. Xiao Yan gently patted the back of her hand and said, "If Xun Er wants it, I''ll give it to you. I haven''t bought anything for you at this auction; this seems just right." A warm current flowed through Xun Er''s heart. As an alchemist, Xiao Yan naturally knew the value of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, yet he was still willing to give the map fragments to her. Xun Er shook her head as she put the map fragments back into his hand and said, "This is Xiao Yan ge-ge''s opportunity. How could Xun Er take it away? However, if Xiao Yan ge-ge wants to obtain the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, you must be extremely cautious. The factions eyeing this Heavenly Flame are incredibly terrifying. Unless Xiao Yan ge-ge reaches the Dou Saint realm, you must not venture there." Xiao Yan''s heart sank upon hearing this. He had initially thought that no one knew the location of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame and that without the map, it would be impossible to reach. But from what Xun Er said, those Dou God Clans likely had the means to monitor the entire Dou Qi Continent. Once something they desired appeared, they would immediately discover and seize it. To these Dou God Clans, perhaps the entire Dou Qi Continent was just a backyard of sorts. Xiao Yan looked at the map fragments in his palm. The map fragments he had obtained through untold hardships turned out to be merely the starting point for others! ''So that means the Hun Clan is also monitoring the appearance of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame? If I could learn what the Hun Clan knows and combine it with the map fragments, perhaps...'' Chapter 217: Chapter 217: Being a Bad Kid Chapter 217: Chapter 217: Being a Bad Kid ? Word Count: 3,729 Words ****** From the scenes of the Heavenly Flames'' memories left by his ancestor Xiao Xuan, Xiao Yan learned that the Dou God Clans did not actually reside on the Dou Qi Continent but lived in self-contained small worlds of their own. Such means were truly terrifying. Meanwhile, on the auction stage, the auctioneer had practically talked himself hoarse in order to highlight the value of the map fragment, yet the hall remained completely silent. This was because the auction house often brought out some unknown junk items to deceive bidders. The silence in the auction hall lasted for nearly five minutes. Finally, the auctioneer sighed and was about to announce that the auction had failed when a voice suddenly rang out. This allowed him to breathe a huge sigh of relief. "110,000." The calm voice broke the silence in the hall. Instantly, countless gazes followed the direction of the voice and finally stopped on Xiao Yan, who was sitting near the front rows. Murmurs arose. "Alchemists really have deep pockets, huh." "Indeed, spending over a hundred thousand gold coins on such a thing." "Heh, I bet this guy doesn''t know how devious the auction house can be. He thinks it''s really something good, not knowing that things like this show up multiple times throughout the year." Fan Ling pondered for a moment, his narrowed eyes fixed on the ancient, tattered piece of cloth swaying slightly in the auctioneer''s hand. He glanced at Xiao Yan again; his eyes flickered, and a crafty, smug smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "130,000 gold coins." Fan Ling looked provocatively at Xiao Yan. "200,000." Xiao Yan did not even look at Fan Ling and said leisurely. This bid immediately made everyone present ready to watch a good show. There was no doubt that a confrontation had begun. But no matter what others thought, Xiao Yan just sat there calmly with a very casual demeanor. "300,000." Fan Ling let out a cold laugh. No matter what, he didn''t want to let Xiao Yan have it easy. "1 million." Xiao Yan said in a relaxed manner, as if this amount was just a number he joked about saying. In reality, he was indeed fabulously wealthy now. The ten million gold coins that Ya Fei had given him were merely pocket change. His true wealth lay in his alchemy skills. The medicinal pills he currently possessed would amount to an astronomical figure if converted into gold coins. At this moment, Xiao Ning and the others beside Xiao Yan were so shocked that their legs went soft. They felt they had truly broadened their horizons! Before Fan Ling could bid again, the elder beside him hurriedly grabbed him and said, "Young Sect Master, you mustn''t!" Fan Ling shook off the elder and said coldly, "1.1 million!" But unexpectedly, Xiao Yan did not continue bidding. Instead, he propped his hand under his chin and looked at Fan Ling. Even though his face was hidden under a hood, anyone could guess the mocking expression beneath. "Since you like it so much, I''ll let you have it." "You!" Fan Ling glared at Xiao Yan. Spending over a million gold coins on a tattered piece of cloth completely exceeded his limit. Even though their Blood Sect had deep pockets, he still had other items he wanted to bid on today. Spending such a huge sum on a piece of junk for no reason would surely get him scolded to death by his father. Xun Er transmitted her voice, "Xiao Yan ge-ge, Xun Er has some more gold coins here." Xiao Yan couldn''t help but smile wryly in his heart. Since childhood, he had been ''kept'' by this rich girl Xun Er, and even now he was still being kept. However, this feeling of being kept was indeed quite nice. "No need. He''ll give it to me eventually." A cold glint flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes. Ignoring Fan Ling''s vicious gaze, Xiao Yan slowly closed his eyes and waited for the appearance of the Di Class Dou Technique. A mere Blood Sect still dared to snatch things from the hands of a Heaven Grade Protector of the Hall of Souls? One should know that there was a branch of the Hall of Souls right here in the Black-Corner Region! Moreover, Xiao Yan currently possessed over 30,000 soul points. They were truly courting death, walking right into the hands of the King of Hell. The auction continued. Apart from bidding on a few precious medicinal ingredients, Xiao Yan showed little interest in the other items. Sometimes, attending an auction was also a kind of torment. At first, Xiao Meng and the others were very excited, but toward the end, they even started feeling a bit drowsy and numb. the auction was about to reach its final phase, a truly weighty auction item finally appeared. It was a scroll of a Dou Technique, or to be precise, an agility-type Dou Technique. "Three Thousand Lightning Movement, agility-type Dou Technique, rank: Low Di Class." The auctioneer knew this was the main highlight and didn''t bother with many superfluous words, only stating the most essential information. Just these brief words instantly caused the noisy auction hall to plunge into silence. Countless bloodshot eyes suddenly turned toward the silver scroll on the crystal platform, and rapid breathing sounds like bellows echoed throughout. Even Xiao Yan couldn''t help himself. After all, the Exploding Steps he was currently using was already lagging behind. ''A Di Class agility-type Dou Technique.'' Xiao Yan took a deep breath. Even he couldn''t help his heart from racing, his gaze filled with astonishment! The Black-Corner Region was truly astonishing. It was said that even last year, there had been Di Class Dou Techniques auctioned here. However, Xiao Yan understood that it wasn''t that Di Class Dou Techniques were as common as cabbages here, but precisely because this was the Black-Corner Region. These were all stolen goods, black market items! When Xun Er heard it was the ''Three Thousand Lightning Movement,'' her delicate brows furrowed slightly as she said, "Xiao Yan ge-ge, this agility-type Dou Technique isn''t that good." "Oh? Is there a flaw in this Dou Technique?" Xiao Yan asked. Xun Er shook her head and said, "It''s not an issue with the Dou Technique itself. In terms of pure speed, this ''Three Thousand Lightning Movement'' can even rival High Di Class agility- type Dou Techniques. The problem lies in its origin." Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed. He had also guessed that this ''Three Thousand Lightning Movement'' must have some background. "This ''Three Thousand Lightning Movement'' comes from the Wind Lightning Pavilion. Although it''s only a Low Di Class Dou Technique, it is the Wind Lightning Pavilion''s signature technique and a prerequisite for cultivating the High Di Class Dou Technique ''Three Thousand Lightning Illusionary Body.'' Therefore, it''s kept extremely secret, and only core disciples of the Inner Pavilion are allowed to cultivate it. If outsiders were to cultivate it... they would face relentless pursuit from the Wind Lightning Pavilion," Xun Er''s face showed a trace of worry. Xun Er knew that the reason why the ''Three Thousand Lightning Illusionary Body.'' was comparable to a Tian Class Dou Technique was because it had some connection with an ancient Dou God Clan- the Lei Clan. There were deep waters involved here. However, not only did Xiao Yan not show any concern upon hearing Xun Er''s words, but he even revealed a trace of excitement. He was just afraid that the Dou Technique wasn''t strong enough. He of course knew what the Wind Lightning Pavilion was. It was one of the top factions on the Dou Qi Continent, one of the Four Pavilions in the Central Plains. But! Never mind the Four Pavilions; Xiao Yan wouldn''t even fear the Three Valleys. Because he was a Heaven Grade Protector of the Hall of Souls. They all wondered if they were dreaming. A Dou Spirit and a Dou Grandmaster could actually form Dou Qi wings, and the two of them dared to rob them! One had to know that Elder Qing was an elite Dou King, and among the rest, there were eight Dou Spirits and fourteen Dou Grandmasters. They began to question their understanding of the world! Xun Er stood beside Xiao Yan, feeling both nervous and excited. Although she knew that robbing was wrong, she couldn''t help but feel a little thrill at breaking the rules. Undeniably, this was a very special experience for Xun Er. Xiao Yan crossed his arms over his chest and said, "What, a Dou Spirit can''t rob a Dou King? Today, I insist on robbing you." Elder Qing''s eyes narrowed as she said sternly, "I don''t care what madness has gotten into you, but daring to rob my Sky Serpent Mansion-we will definitely make you pay the price!" A fierce light flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes as he laughed, "Hahaha, how domineering of the Sky Serpent Mansion. You''re allowed to rob from me, but I''m not allowed to rob from you?" Xiao Yan didn''t just want the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill. More importantly, he wanted revenge! Back then, although the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor had promised to treat Qing Lin well, she had been taken from his hands regardless. Xiao Yan was not someone who let go of grudges! Only now did Elder Qing realize why the other party wanted to rob her. It turned out they were enemies! Xiao Yan used spiritual voice transmission to say, "Xun Er, can you handle those Dou Spirits?" If an ordinary person heard this, they''d probably think Xiao Yan was crazy. How could a Dou Grandmaster defeat a group of Dou Spirits?! Xun Er lightly nodded, "Mm." As soon as she finished speaking, a surge of golden energy erupted from her body, and her cultivation level skyrocketed to peak Dou Spirit in the blink of an eye! This sudden increase in strength left not only the people from the Sky Serpent Mansion stunned but even Xiao Yan was dumbfounded. What an incredible Secret Technique! "Xun Er, does this Secret Technique have any negative effects on your body?" "Rest assured, Xiao Yan ge-ge. This Secret Technique won''t have any side effects on me. It just can''t be used continuously." Xiao Yan felt sour to death hearing this. Life was indeed unfair! Not only was this Secret Technique stronger than the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change, but it also had no side effects?! Xiao Yan sighed inwardly, holding back tears as he silently activated his own incomplete and side-effect-laden ''Skyfire Three Mysterious Change'' created by his ancestor. With a booming sound, a burst of fiery light exploded from his body. In just a few seconds, his aura surged from a 2-star Dou Spirit to an 8-star Dou Spirit, a full increase of six stars! "Xiao Yan ge-ge, is this the ''Skyfire Three Mysterious Change''?" Xun Er''s beautiful eyes were filled with shock as she transmitted her voice. The ''Skyfire Three Mysterious Change'' was a legendary Secret Technique even among the Dou God Clans. The version cultivated by the Burning Flame Valley was actually incomplete, which was why it hadn''t drawn attention. The true ''Skyfire Three Mysterious Change'' could be called a miraculous Secret Technique. "Yeah, I happened to obtain the Secret Technique inheritance of the Burning Flame Valley." Elder Qing finally became a bit nervous when she saw that Xiao Yan''s strength had also received an explosive boost. It was obvious that these two truly intended to rob her! After casually chatting with Xun Er for a while, Xiao Yan looked down at Elder Qing, a fierce light flashing in his eyes as he coldly laughed, "Seems you''re not willing to accept my suggestion." An afterimage was left in his original spot as soon as he finished speaking. The next second, Xiao Yan took the initiative and appeared directly in front of Elder Qing. His right fist condensed with Ten Thousand Beast Flame unleashed the Octane Blast. A thunderous boom sounded! Even though Elder Qing used a Dou Technique for defense, she couldn''t withstand the hidden force of the Octane Blast combined with the physical enhancement from the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and was sent flying skyward by Xiao Yan''s punch. When the Hall of Souls acts, if they want to rob, they rob! Whoosh! A pair of bat wings appeared behind Elder Qing. She was a Dou King and could naturally fly. "Even if you use a Secret Technique to enhance your strength, there is still an insurmountable gap between a Dou King and a Dou Spirit!" A section of a green snake tail emerged from under Elder Qing''s long dress; snake scales appeared on her face along with a pair of sharp fangs. A bright green light surged in her palm. She waved her delicate hand, and a gigantic azure energy serpent lunged toward Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan didn''t waste words. Holding the Heavy Xuan Ruler in his hand, he unleashed the Flame Splitting Tsunami straight into the sky. If he still dawdled after using the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change against an intermediate- star Dou King, that would be too shameful. A booming sound rang out as endless blood-red flames exploded, instantly engulfing the azure energy serpent. Elder Qing''s jade-like hand shone again; an energy shield enveloped her to resist the Flame Splitting Tsunami. "It''s actually a Di Class Dou Technique! Just who is this kid?!" Just as Elder Qing was contemplating retreat, a voice transmitted from within the sea of fire: "Asura Soul Reaping Technique-Soul Chase!" The moment Elder Qing heard this, the Dou Qi within her body was involuntarily cut off. The scene before her began to fracture. She suddenly found herself unable to control her body as the world around her started spinning. Xiao Yan had his methods for dealing with magical beasts. Even though his Asura Soul Reaping Technique hadn''t even reached the entry level and could only exert less than one percent of its power, it was enough to deal with a Rank 5 magical beast. With a swift move, his right hand clasped around Elder Qing''s neck. Looking at Elder Qing, whose eyes were vacant and whose mouth trembled yet unable to move, he coldly whispered in her ear, "Go back and tell Lu Man and Bai Ya that I, Xiao Yan, will personally visit your Sky Serpent Mansion soon to settle the score for what happened with Qing Lin back then." Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Already Have a Way to Die Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Already Have a Way to Die ? Word Count: 3,503 Words ****** Xiao Yan had deliberately revealed his name to Elder Qing. Unfortunately, the Sky Serpent Mansion was truly too far away. It was situated in the center of the North-Western Region, and he currently had no way to learn about Qing Lin''s situation. Xiao Yan felt a pang of guilt each time he thought of that pitiful little girl with a tragic background, and regretted that he had been too weak back then. Even if the inheritance of the Sky Serpent Mansion was truly suitable for Qing Lin, he would prefer to personally visit, ensure there were no issues, and then allow her to join. It wasn''t acceptable for two Dou Emperors to just come and take her away. That was why Xiao Yan had brought Xun Er along to intercept the Sky Serpent Mansion; obtaining the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill was secondary. Displaying his strength and spreading his name to the Sky Serpent Mansion was the main goal. Xiao Yan was no longer the boy without any backing that he once was. On the surface, he was already a 5th-tier alchemist possessing a Heavenly Flame and the initiator of the Yan Alliance Treaty. Although the Yan Alliance couldn''t compare to the Sky Serpent Mansion, having such a background might make some of the Dou Emperors in the Sky Serpent Mansion more cautious in their treatment of Qing Lin. They might consider whether the future of the Yan Alliance could pose a threat to them. Xiao Yan''s purpose in doing this was to give Qing Lin, who was in a foreign land, the background of being ''under the protection of the Yan Alliance.'' At this moment, Elder Qing''s entire world felt shattered. She felt as if her soul was about to be extracted, suppressed by a terrifying force that left her unable to control her body. But she could still hear what Xiao Yan said and think clearly. ''Oh heavens, could this person be the young master that Her Highness Qing Lin mentioned? And the name Xiao Yan-isn''t he that genius 5th-tier alchemist who recently established the Yan Alliance Treaty and possesses a Heavenly Flame?!'' Elder Qing finally understood what was going on. He was warning the Sky Serpent Mansion that he would personally visit. If Qing Lin lost even a single hair, he wouldn''t spare the entire Sky Serpent Mansion! Though she really wanted to say, ''The strength of the Sky Serpent Mansion is not something someone from a remote empire like yours can imagine,'' being grasped by the neck, she wasn''t in a position to say such words. Then, Xiao Yan struck her abdomen with his palm and extracted a brocade box from that spot. If not for his powerful Spiritual Strength, he wouldn''t have discovered that Elder Qing''s abdomen could actually fold and conceal a hidden space. Xiao Yan looked at the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill and internally rationalized, ''Let''s consider this as the passage fee for those two wretched snakes invading the Jia Ma Empire back then.'' He was finding a justifiable reason for his misdeed. Then he gazed at Elder Qing, subdued by his Soul Skill, and couldn''t help but marvel at the mysterious nature of the Soul Skills created by the Hun Clan. Currently, the first move of the Asura Soul Reaping Technique, ''Soul Chase,'' was far from complete. Xiao Yan could subdue Elder Qing entirely due to his powerful Tier 6 Spiritual Strength. If he truly cultivated it to the entry level, then by infusing his killing intent into his Spiritual Strength, he could directly kill Elder Qing from a distance. ''Soul Chase'' not only allowed one''s Spiritual Strength to silently invade the opponent''s body to control or extract their soul but also could leave a soul imprint, allowing for a soul chase over thousands of miles, locking onto the marked soul with nowhere to hide. Xiao Yan had only achieved a tiny fraction of this, using it like a soul seal to suppress the opponent''s soul and prevent them from controlling their body. He was still far from reaching the entry level. But it was still extremely terrifying. Xiao Yan looked toward the battlefield where Xun Er was. Peak Dou Spirit Xun Er was cutting through her opponents like slicing melons and vegetables. Especially when she used a certain energy handprint Dou Technique; even several Dou Spirits working together couldn''t withstand a single light palm strike from her. "This girl is too kind-hearted.'' Xiao Yan smiled wryly. Xun Er was very gentle in her attacks. Forget about killing, she hadn''t even seriously injured anyone. "Alright, take your Elder Qing and leave." Xiao Yan casually tossed the soul-stunned Elder Qing back to the magical beast clansmen who resembled Snake-People. "Elder Qing!!" "Elder Qing has been defeated!" Xiao Yan had defeated Elder Qing so swiftly that the other experts from the Sky Serpent Mansion hadn''t even had time to react. Their gazes toward Xiao Yan changed from initial disdain to fear. Was this truly a Dou Spirit? Not a Dou Emperor in disguise?! Elder Qing slowly regained her senses and said with difficulty, "Let''s... let''s go." Xiao Yan did not stop the people of the Sky Serpent Mansion from leaving. Although he had taken the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill, it was just a pill after all. But if he were to kill them all, that would genuinely offend the Sky Serpent Mansion beyond reconciliation. He did not yet have the ability to overturn the entire Sky Serpent Mansion. "Xiao Yan ge-ge is so amazing, subduing a Dou King so quickly," Xun Er said as she deactivated her Secret Technique, her beautiful eyes filled with curiosity as she looked at Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan''s strength had indeed exceeded her expectations. Even among the younger generation of the Gu Clan, it would be impossible to defeat an intermediate-star Dou King so swiftly. "Don''t tease me. I just took a shortcut. Now my Dou Qi is almost depleted, and deactivating the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change has side effects. Xun Er will have to carry me back when the time comes and I can''t move later." Xiao Yan deactivated the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change with a whoosh. Instantly, a sharp pain and weakness spread through his body. However, in the next second, a wisp of white flame surged from his Acceptance Soul, permeating every cell in his body. A warm sensation spread, rapidly repairing his physical injuries and minimizing the side effects of the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change. ''No wonder Ancestor Xiao Xuan chose the Yin-Yang Twin Flames as one of the Heavenly Flames. The effect of this Life Flame perfectly counteracts the side effects of the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change.'' Xiao Yan began to understand his ancestor''s thoughtful intentions. He hadn''t lied to Xun Er. He was able to defeat Elder Qing so quickly just now entirely because of his powerful Dou Techniques. If not for the evolution of the Flame Mantra, he would have had to collapse after unleashing that string of powerful moves. Whether it was the Octane Blast imbued with the Ten Thousand Beast Flame or the Flame Splitting Tsunami, they both consumed an extreme amount of Dou Qi. He had essentially emptied his ''mana bar'' in one burst of attacks. His only advantage was his powerful Spiritual Strength. Xiao Yan''s throat moved slightly as he stared intently at the cold jade box. His previously calm heart started pounding violently once again. Even his composure was greatly weakened in the face of such a rare treasure. He carefully lifted a small gap in the box''s lid. A ray of golden light immediately shot out. Xiao Yan quickly closed it again when he saw this. His cautious behavior seemed as if he feared attracting some elite experts. After all, under the temptation of a priceless treasure like the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill, most people would be unable to suppress their inner greed and would directly kill to seize the treasure. Only a very small number of experts who had reached a certain level or people with no desires could resist. And such people in the Black-Corner Region were so few they could be ignored. "Xun Er, this Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill is for you." Xiao Yan handed the cold jade brocade box to Xun Er. Xun Er was startled for a moment before asking, "For me?" Xiao Yan nodded and said, "This Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill doesn''t increase strength, but after consuming it, if you ever suffer severe injuries or are on the brink of death in the future, with some luck, this thing can trigger a transformation. Whether it''s your body, soul, or even Dou Qi, all can reach a higher level! "Even if you suffer fatal injuries in the future, you won''t have to worry about your life. It can save you once." Xun Er smiled gently, reaching out to lightly push back the brocade box. Shaking her head, sheNo?v(el)B\\jnn said, "This pill won''t have any effect if Xun Er takes it. Due to certain reasons, Xun Er cannot utilize the effects of the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill, and it won''t allow Xun Er to blood mist shrouding the clearing was directly thinned by the searing aura. Two figures instantly broke through the air. Xiao Yan''s voice transmitted from afar: "Blood Sect, you''d better take good care of that item. Before long, I will personally come to retrieve it." "Hmph, don''t even think about leaving! Bone Melting Blood Decaying Palm!" Fan Lao''s bizarre blood-red palms locked onto the two rapidly fleeing figures. He struck toward the sky. An overwhelming surge of blood energy came crashing down, and the chilling force within the blood mist instantly enveloped their bodies! Xiao Yan was just about to use the Heavy Xuan Ruler to unleash the Flame Splitting Tsunami when he saw the giant bloody energy hand filled with a nauseating stench behind him. But Xun Er made her move first. "Open Mountain Seal!" Xun Er''s hands quickly formed seals. A golden energy handprint condensed in her right hand. Instantly, the energy of the world seemed to go berserk as it madly surged into this golden handprint. Her beautiful eyes focused as she struck out with her palm toward the bloody energy hand. The bloody mist hand halted with a thunderous boom. The golden energy handprint had actually blocked Fan Lao''s Dou Technique! "Run!" Xiao Yan grabbed Xun Er''s delicate hand. Taking advantage of the moment when the Open Mountain Seal blocked the attack, he led her away and disappeared over the horizon. "Damn it!" Fan Lao smashed a large tree beside him with a palm strike. How could he have imagined that, with his Dou Emperor strength, he couldn''t capture two individuals who hadn''t even reached the Dou King realm? If that 2-star Dou Spirit possessing a Heavenly Flame restrained their Blood Sect''s Qi Methods, then the Dou Technique unleashed by that Dou Grandmaster actually managed to briefly obstruct his Bone Melting Blood Decaying Palm. This realization caused his face to darken. Without a doubt, the potential of these two was alarming. At this time, Xiao Yan and Xun Er, who had flown beyond the range of Black Mark City, glanced at each other. Xun Er''s little heart was pounding wildly. This was the first time in her life doing such a thing, so it was natural for her to feel a mix of nervousness and excitement. Though she knew it wasn''t right, she couldn''t help but feel a thrill. "Xun Er, that Dou Technique of yours is truly formidable. It can even block a Dou Emperor''s Dou Technique." Xun Er blinked and said, "If Xiao Yan ge-ge wants to learn it, Xun Er can teach you." "No, no. Dou Techniques of this level definitely can''t be passed on casually. I don''t want Xun Er to get scolded." Xiao Yan waved his hand to refuse. "It''s a pity that the map fragment is still in the hands of the Blood Sect. We couldn''t snatch it." Xun Er had already been led astray by Xiao Yan and actually felt it was a shame they didn''t manage to rob it. "It''s fine. When I reach the Dou King realm, that map fragment will still be mine." A strange light flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes. It was clear he didn''t intend to wait until he reached the Dou King realm to retrieve the map fragment. Not long after, Xiao Yan and Xun Er returned to Jia Nan Academy. The next day, Xiao Ning, Xiao Yu, and the other three also returned safely. ... Three days later, on the pitch-black Great Plains of the Black-Corner Region, there was nothing but monotonous blackness as far as the eye could see. Contrasted against the somewhat dim sky, an oppressive and irritable atmosphere lingered over the plain. It was no wonder that chaotic laws would breed in such an eerie place. The Great Plains of the Black-Corner Region were not only vast but also famous for their Black Storms. Just over a dozen minutes ago, the sky had been clear, but now it was covered by an eerie black fog that obscured the entire horizon. Looking ahead, one''s line of sight was severely obstructed. In the face of the Black Storm, maps were useless, as one would still get lost inside. "Who exactly are you people? Why are you hunting me? I don''t recall ever bearing any grudges with you!" Within the Black Storm, a crimson soul body wavered in the raging winds. At this moment, he faced the darkness, his face twisted with fear and panic. "Jie Jie Jie." Suddenly, a spine-chilling laughter echoed from the darkness. Then, a black chain shot out like a serpent, extremely agile as it coiled around the crimson soul body. "No matter how glorious and powerful you were in life, once you become a soul body, you become a hunting target for my Hall of Souls." No matter how the soul body struggled, it couldn''t escape the binding of the soul chain and was ultimately absorbed into the pitch-black chain. No one knew that hidden within the boundless grasslands of the Great Plain in the Black- Corner Region was a branch hall of the Hall of Souls. At this moment, a black-robed figure slowly walked to an open space and stopped. If one looked closely, they would discover that the space here was folded. A Space Lock existed here. ''This should be the place-the branch hall of the Hall of Souls in the Black-Corner Region.'' Xiao Yan smiled. The branch hall of the Hall of Souls was only a few kilometers away from Black Mark City. ''An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Using evil to combat evil. Blood Sect, since you''ve been ruthless, don''t blame me for using the same methods against you.'' Chapter 219: Chapter 219: Exterminating the Blood Sect Chapter 219: Chapter 219: Exterminating the Blood Sect ? Word Count: 3,363 Words ****** Xiao Yan hesitated no longer and stepped into the Space Lock. A wave of Spiritual Strength swept over his Soul Robe as he entered. Subsequently, a character ''Yan'' formed by Spiritual Strength appeared on his robe. Soul Envoys did not have titles; only those at the Protector rank and above were qualified. A Protector''s Soul Robe would not display their title when outside. Only upon entering the Hall of Souls would the title, written in Spiritual Strength, appear on the Soul Robe for convenient identification. ''There''s quite a difference between the branch hall at the Misty Cloud Sect and this one in the Black-Corner Region,'' Xiao Yan surveyed his surroundings. Compared to the branch hall built atop the mountain at the Misty Cloud Sect, this one was established on vast plains. There were no obstructions as far as the eye could see. Apart from the colossal black Hall of Souls in the distance, there was nothing else, not even a single tree. However, the branch hall in the Black-Corner Region was ''thriving with activity.'' Visible to the naked eye were numerous black-robed Soul Envoys holding black chains, each binding a soul body. Some high-star Dou Spirits could produce soul bodies. Generally, Soul Envoys and Protectors without Soul Command Tokens would use Soul Chains as the standard method to capture soul bodies. These chains, forged using special methods, could not only seal Spiritual Strength to harm soul bodies but also make escape impossible once bound. A large number of murders occurred every day in a chaotic and lawless place like the Black- Corner Region. Such a place was undoubtedly the favorite hunting ground for the Hall of Souls. "Yan? A Protector!! Greetings to Protector Yan!" Xiao Yan passed by a Soul Envoy preparing to head out. The Soul Envoy saw the title on his Soul Robe and immediately dropped to one knee, bowed his head, and called out. Hearing the exclamation, several small teams of Soul Envoys who were preparing to go out hunting soul bodies, or directly kill people to seize their souls, all turned to look at Xiao Yan. When they saw the spiritual character on his Soul Robe, they too knelt down one after another, bowed their heads, and shouted: "Greetings, Protector Yan!!" Wherever Xiao Yan passed, those Soul Envoys who usually hunted soul bodies during the Black Storms all knelt and called out, losing their usual arrogance. Xiao Yan said nothing and merely walked through the crowd, unhurriedly making his way to the grand doors of the Hall of Souls. With a creaking sound, the doors opened automatically, and Xiao Yan stepped inside. Those kneeling Soul Envoys finally stood up one after another when they saw Xiao Yan enter the Hall of Souls. Each of them revealed traces of fear and doubt. "Isn''t this branch hall under the charge of Protector Xuan? How is there another Protector here?" "Perhaps it''s a friend of Protector Xuan who happened to pass by." "Yan... I wonder what rank this Protector Yan is and what he''s here for." There were also some Soul Envoys exchanging soul bodies for Soul Points inside the Hall of Souls. What surprised Xiao Yan was that this branch hall not only imprisoned a large number of soul bodies but even had a Dou Emperor-level soul body bound. ''Even a Dou Emperor''s soul body... If it''s a branch hall where a Heaven Grade Protector resides, wouldn''t they even have Dou Ancestor-level soul bodies?!'' Xiao Yan pondered inwardly. ''There are no alchemists here; perhaps it''s because the Black-Corner Region itself doesn''t have an Alchemist Association.'' Xiao Yan walked toward the innermost Soul Offering Altar while observing the situation of this branch hall. On the altar, an elderly man with a weathered face was sitting cross-legged, cultivating. The Soul Offering Altar emitted waves of soul light. Xiao Yan sensed with his Spiritual Strength that these soul lights were condensed from tiny specks in the air. This was equivalent to accelerating the cultivation of the Soul Training Method. The old man slowly opened his eyes upon sensing Xiao Yan''s arrival. "Yan? Are you a newly promoted Human Grade Protector of this branch hall?" Xiao Yan sneered coldly and took out a Soul Command Token from his storage ring. A ''Heaven'' character shot out from the token. "A Heaven Grade Protector!! And possessing a Soul Command Token!!" Protector Xuan was so frightened that he hurriedly descended from the Soul Offering Altar. "This subordinate didn''t know of Your Excellency''s arrival. Please forgive my lack of a proper welcome." Protector Xuan immediately bent his waist at ninety degrees, knowing when to yield. He knew that generally, a Heaven Grade Protector who possessed a Soul Command Token was close to being promoted to an Honorable Elder. Only exceptionally outstanding Heaven Grade Protectors would be granted a Soul Command Token in advance. "May I ask the purpose of Your Excellency''s visit?" Protector Xuan forced out an ugly smile, slightly raised his head, and inquired. Xiao Yan lowered his voice and said slowly, "Nothing much. I''m gathering some Soul Envoys to help me attack a place." Protector Xuan''s expression changed dramatically upon hearing this. He stammered, "Could it be that Your Excellency intends to attack Jia Nan Academy?!" Only Jia Nan Academy was qualified to make the Hall of Souls take action in the entire Black- Corner Region! "It''s not Jia Nan Academy. The place I want to attack is the Blood Sect. I need a high-star Dou Emperor and five Dou Kings." "Blood Sect??" Protector Xuan looked puzzled. A mere faction with a Dou Emperor-he could easily wipe them out himself. Why would a Heaven Grade Protector need to borrow people? Xiao Yan had already thought of an excuse and calmly said, "The Blood Sect is hiding some things. I can''t make a move casually, or it would arouse suspicion from other factions." "So that''s how it is. If Your Excellency doesn''t mind, this subordinate is willing to contribute to destroying the Blood Sect." Xiao Yan was overjoyed in his heart. Oh boy, the people of the Hall of Souls were really accommodating. He had initially considered asking Queen Medusa for help, but thinking she might not be willing, he ultimately chose to seek assistance elsewhere. "Mm, if this matter succeeds, I will record it as a merit for you." "Thank you, Your Excellency!" ... Half a day later, at the location of the Blood Sect. green-clad young lady smiled slightly and gave an impeccable bow to the handsome young man. "Junior Sister Xun Er truly lives up to being the most promising student of this year''s cohort. I admit defeat." Although he was defeated, the handsome young man remained amiable. He smiled, gazed deeply at the girl as graceful as a green lotus, and then gracefully withdrew. "In this match, Xiao Xun Er wins!" Xiao Yan looked toward the young lady in the arena upon hearing the referee''s announcement. Clearly, Xun Er''s cultivation had already reached the Dou Grandmaster realm, even close to Dou Spirit, but her kind-hearted nature led her to deliberately suppress her strength. She exchanged over a dozen moves with her opponent before defeating him. "Xiao Yan ge-ge." Xun Er walked over slowly, smiling sweetly. Her delightful smile made those around feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze. However, when they saw Xun Er sitting next to Xiao Yan, chatting and laughing, that spring breeze instantly turned into a bloody gale. They silently mouthed curses toward Xiao Yan. If looks could kill, Xiao Yan would have died a thousand times over. At a well-positioned spot in the stands, a white-robed youth looked gloomily at Xiao Yan and said fiercely, "I will defeat him to prove he''s unworthy of Xun Er." This white-robed youth was none other than Bai Shan, who had previously obstructed Xiao Yan. He was a prominent figure among the younger generation of the Outer Academy, with momentum not much weaker than Xun Er''s, and a strong contender for the top five positions. "Tch, so this is the guy Xun Er keeps talking about? He doesn''t look like much, and his strength doesn''t seem impressive either. Following such a guy is worse than following me. What''s so good about these stinking men? They all think with their lower halves." At another prime spot in the stands, a girl in a red dress leaned against an iron pillar with her arms crossed over her chest. Her alluring curves were accentuated by the straight pillar, making her extremely enticing. At this moment, she couldn''t help but curl her lips and sneer with some disdain as she looked toward where Xiao Yan was. Clearly, Xiao Yan had also become something of a celebrity. "Little Witch, sit properly. How can you be so unruly in public? Where are your manners?" Beside the red-dressed girl, an old man with white hair and beard saw her posture and unconventional words and couldn''t help but scold her, his beard bristling with anger. The Deputy Headmaster glanced at Xiao Yan, his eyes showing a trace of peculiarity as he muttered, "Strange, I can''t see through his cultivation level. There''s a very strong Spiritual Strength blocking me. Is that a treasure or..." The red-dressed girl gave this elderly man, who obviously held a high position in Jia Nan Academy, a disdainful look and snorted coldly, "To think you''re the Deputy Headmaster of the Outer Academy. If it were me, I would have kicked that Xiao Yan out of the academy long ago. He disappeared for over a year and never attended a single class. How can he still be a student of our Jia Nan Academy?" The Deputy Headmaster looked at his granddaughter and said, "Don''t be so arrogant. That boy''s strength may not be weaker than yours. He''s the same age as you, and didn''t you claim to be invincible among your peers? I don''t think you can easily defeat him." "Heh, you''re giving him too much credit. Only Xun Er is qualified to compete with me." The Little Witch wore a look of disdain. In her eyes, only Xun Er mattered. The matches in the arena continued. Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength swept across the entire area, his brows slightly furrowed as he looked toward three directions in the plaza. ''This Jia Nan Academy does have some talents. The cultivation levels of these three are higher than Xiao Yu and Xiao Ning. It''s a bit troublesome. Should I secretly eliminate them?'' Xiao Yan pursed his lips, hoping he could encounter these three in the first round. But Heaven didn''t always grant one''s wishes. Xiao Yan''s first-round opponent was a young man at the 9-star Dou Master stage. "So you''re Xiao Yan? Hmph, let me see if you have the strength to be worthy of Junior Sister Xun Er!" A long spear was drawn with a clang. "Cascading Waves!" "Scram." Xiao Yan glanced at him, flicked his finger, and a ball of red flame shot out. With a loud boom, the flame exploded, directly blasting the person out of the arena. Xiao Yan didn''t even bother to look back and directly jumped off the battle platform. He''s not Xun Er; dealing with these Outer Academy students, taking more than one move would count as his loss. He left behind a dumbfounded referee and an audience full of shocked faces. Xiao Yan had never showcased his strength in Jia Nan Academy before, only his sharp tongue. Everyone''s impression of him was that of a lecher, a scoundrel, and someone who lived off women. "So strong!" "Is that real fire!! Has he reached Dou Spirit?!" "Not necessarily. One doesn''t need to be a Dou Spirit or a 4th-tier alchemist to use real fire. Some fire-attribute Dou Qi cultivators can refine fire seeds to borrow fire." "But he defeated him in one move..." In the stands, except for those who knew Xiao Yan like Xiao Yu and the others, the rest who didn''t know him all had their mouths slightly agape, staring in astonishment at the youth who had jumped down from the battle platform after a single strike. Many girls with budding feelings couldn''t help but have stars in their eyes. Who could have imagined that Xue Beng, whose strength was at the 9-star Dou Master stage, would be defeated in just one exchange-no, in just a face-off-even after using his strongest Dou Technique, beaten by a mere flick of a finger! Even the referee forgot to announce the end of the match, resulting in this outcome that left everyone dumbfounded. On the other side of the stands, Bai Shan stood with his arms crossed, frowning slightly as he gazed at the black-robed youth standing straight in the plaza. After a while, he slowly exhaled and said with a faint smile, "Not bad. He indeed has some skill. Now you''re finally worthy of being elevated to a position where I take you seriously. If there''s a chance, I''d like to test you myself." Faced with the exclamations and discussions from the entire plaza, Xiao Yan remained deaf to it all. At this moment, he was solely focused on how to get his clan members into the Inner Academy, or even directly occupy the top five positions and claim the reportedly generous rewards. ''I wonder if using medicinal pills is allowed.'' Chapter 220: Chapter 220: Many Love Rivals Chapter 220: Chapter 220: Many Love Rivals ? Word Count: 3,712 Words ****** However, after observing for a round, Xiao Yan noticed that no one was using medicinal pills during the matches. At most, they would use healing-type pills to recover from injuries afterward. ''It''s probably not allowed. If using pills were permitted, it would simply become a competition of who can afford the most expensive ones.'' Xiao Yan shook his head inwardly, but there was no trace of dejection or disappointment in his eyes. "Xiao Yan ge-ge will definitely make it into the top five." Ever since that day, Xun Er had become much bolder. She nestled closely against Xiao Yan like a little bird. Xiao Yan sighed lightly, "Ah, it''s not a big problem for me to get into the top five, but it''ll be a bit challenging for Xiao Yu and Xiao Ning to break into the top five as well. If only we could use medicinal pills." Instructor Ruo Ling sitting nearby glanced sideways at Xiao Yan, "You rascal still have time to worry about others. Don''t be too careless. That Bai Shan who attacked you before entered the Outer Academy a year earlier than you, and his strength isn''t weak. He''s cultivated several High Xuan Class Dou Techniques. I''ve heard he can already defeat peak Dou Grandmasters. He even once killed a Dou Spirit expert." "There''s also Wu Hao from the Outer Academy''s Law Enforcement Unit. The Law Enforcement Unit faces the vicious villains from the Black-Corner Region. The number of Dou Grandmasters who have died at his hands is countless. Even Dou Spirits have fallen to him. His strength is not to be underestimated." "That red-clothed girl Hu Jia who''s been staring at you is the granddaughter of Hu Gan, the Deputy Headmaster of the Outer Academy. She''s the same age as you and Xun Er, and her strength is not beneath Xun Er''s. Her talent is exceptional; such a high level of talent hasn''t appeared in the Outer Academy for decades." Xiao Yan looked at Instructor Ruo Ling as she talked on and on and couldn''t help but complain about the low quality of Jia Nan Academy''s teaching. He didn''t believe that Hu Jia''s strength was on par with Xun Er''s. Xun Er, this kind-hearted girl, seemed evenly matched with everyone, but only he knew that if she truly unleashed her full power, her real strength might be even more terrifying than his own. "Don''t worry, Instructor Ruo Ling. Whether it''s Bai Shan, Wu Hao, or that tiger girl, I have confidence in defeating them all. The first place in this Outer Academy Qualifying Competition will definitely come from our Huang Class Two." Xiao Yan couldn''t help but comfort her, giving her a boost of confidence. The qualifying competition proceeded one round per day. Although those who could participate in the Inner Academy selection were the elites of each class, after all, students could study in the Outer Academy for four years. Third-year and fourth-year students would also participate, so the number of participants in the competition was around a hundred. The victors of the first round would be paired up. Those who won two consecutive matches would automatically secure a spot in the top fifty, and the same for the losers. Those who lost two consecutive matches would have no chance to enter the Inner Academy. Then, the third round would have those with one win and one loss compete for the final twenty-five spots. In the second round, the first to go on stage was Xiao Mei. Interestingly, Xiao Yan was up right after her, and this time, his opponent was also an alchemist! "Xiao Yan''s opponent is actually Lu Mu? Hey, Yu Er, isn''t that your Lu Mu?" Xue Ni, sitting beside Xiao Yu, laughed as she pressed her twin peaks against Xiao Yu''s arm. Xiao Yan had seen this Xue Ni during the enrollment two years ago. His impression of her was that she had a pair of deadly weapons, quite ample indeed. "Yours, my ass! That guy was just spouting nonsense. I have no relationship with him whatsoever, not even as friends." Xiao Yu hurriedly denied it and glanced at Xiao Yan, who was sitting in front waiting for his turn.No?v(el)B\\jnn Xue Ni revealed a mischievous smile and deliberately said loudly, "Hehe, that Lu Mu is Yu Er''s number one suitor. Back then during enrollment, that guy pretended to be a new student and pulled Yu Er around the academy for most of the day. Later, when Yu Er realized it, she directly kicked him into the pond. Who knew that after being kicked once, that guy would start sticking to Yu Er like glue?" Xiao Yu''s delicate brows furrowed slightly when she saw that Xiao Yan had no reaction. Her slender jade-like leg lightly kicked his back. "Hey, I''m still the Little Clan Leader, you know." Xiao Yan naturally knew Xiao Yu was nudging him with her foot and turned his head to look at her with mild annoyance. "Hmph, what kind of Little Clan Leader are you? Someone''s pestering your people, and you don''t even teach him a lesson." After Xiao Yu finished speaking, a blush immediately appeared on her pretty face, feeling that her words seemed somewhat inappropriate. Xiao Yan sighed and slowly stood up as Xiao Mei was about to defeat her opponent. He said helplessly, "He''s just a one-move nobody. How do you expect me to help you teach him a lesson?" As Xiao Mei''s agile movement landed a palm on her opponent''s neck, knocking them unconscious, the referee shouted, "The match is over! The winner is Xiao Mei!" "Yay!! Cousin Xiao Yan, I''ve advanced!!" Xiao Mei couldn''t contain her joy. Her face revealed a radiant smile as she waved at Xiao Yan. Watching Xiao Mei bouncing up and down excitedly like a little white rabbit, many male students who preferred this cute and petite type revealed silly grins. Xiao Yan smiled and waved gently as he slowly walked down from the spectator stands. "Lu Mu from the Alchemy Department versus Xiao Yan from Huang Class Two!" With the referee''s loud announcement, the noisy plaza quieted down for a moment. Then, countless gazes instantly shifted to Xiao Yan. Those gazes held various emotions, and naturally, there were more unfriendly ones among them. After all, Xiao Yan was surrounded by several beauties. It was hard not to attract envy, especially after that kiss, which directly made Xiao Yan the public enemy of the entire academy. Although she knew Xiao Yan''s strength was very strong, Instructor Ruo Ling couldn''t help but remind him, "Looks like many people are waiting to see you make a fool of yourself. This Lu Mu is not comparable to Xue Beng from yesterday. His strength could be considered among the top ten in the entire Outer Academy. Moreover, as an alchemist, he can control a flame with considerable destructive power. He''s quite tricky to deal with, so be careful." "Xiao Yan ge-ge, good luck," Xun Er playfully encouraged him from the side. Xiao Yan waved his hand. To him, these worries were unnecessary, but they also made him feel gratified. Just moments after he entered the arena, a clear whistle suddenly sounded from outside the plaza. Then, a blue figure instantly swept across the sky above the plaza and finally tapped the pillars surrounding the battle stage with the tip of his toes, flipping through the air and landing on the stage. Xiao Yan watched this flashy entrance and felt embarrassed for him. After this blue-clothed figure appeared, the surrounding stands immediately erupted into tsunami-like cheers. It seemed that in Jia Nan Academy, many people hoped that this Lu Mu could suppress the newly arrived yet extremely domineering Xiao Yan. "This battle should force Xiao Yan to give it his all. That Lu Mu guy isn''t the same as Xue Beng from yesterday." Bai Shan looked indifferently at the two in the arena, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "I want to see what skills you, Xiao Yan, have to be with Xun Er!" "Fight, fight! It''s best if both of them end up half-crippled. Then Xun Er won''t have to be ruined by that Xiao Yan. Otherwise, I''ll have to step in again." In another area of the stands, the red-dressed girl Hu Jia glanced at today''s most attention-grabbing match and curled her lips. The blue-robed youth who appeared before Xiao Yan had his hair casually draped over his shoulders. A hint of laziness hung on his face. His body was tall and straight. Although his appearance wasn''t as handsome as Bai Shan''s, he could still make people feel amiable. His harmless-looking face easily made people lower their guard. No wonder even with Xiao Yu''s temperament, she was tricked by this guy the first time they met. "You are Xiao Yan, the Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan?" While Xiao Yan was sizing up the blue-robed youth, Lu Mu also looked at him with a smile and asked. "Mm." When Xiao Yan saw that this guy did not have the same expression as Bai Shan, he nodded slightly in response. "Hehe, we''re all family here, family! Don''t worry, Brother Xiao Yan. When the match starts later, I''ll go easy on you. I definitely won''t let you get hurt. Otherwise, I''ll be in trouble if Yu Er gets angry." Lu Mu immediately chuckled and spoke warmly when he saw Xiao Yan nod. "Uh..." Xiao Yan was left speechless. This guy was really overly familiar. Meeting for the first time, yet he could pull their relationship to such a level. Truly a character. Xiao Yan shook his head and said, "Then I''m really sorry, but as the Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan, I refuse to allow weaklings into our clan." Lu Mu was stunned. He was a 3-star Dou Grandmaster and also an alchemist. How was that weak? "Let''s begin." At this point, even the referee couldn''t stand it anymore and waved his hand, announcing loudly. the Inner Academy," Xiao Yu nodded in agreement. Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed as he revealed a meaningful smile and said, "How could someone from my Xiao Clan be defeated so easily?" "Use the Secret Technique," Xiao Yan transmitted his voice to Xiao Yue Liang in the arena using his Spiritual Strength. Xiao Yue Liang sighed inwardly upon hearing the Little Clan Leader''s spiritual transmission, feeling remorseful that his cultivation was lacking and he had to rely on external aid to defeat his opponent. "Hahaha! Victory is mine!" Xiao Yue Liang''s opponent took advantage of his momentary distraction and threw a punch at his face. Suddenly, a ball of blood-red flame emerged from Xiao Yue Liang''s body with a buzzing sound. His aura surged rapidly at this moment. "Hmm? Is that a Secret Technique?!" Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan frowned, somewhat uncertain. "Secret Technique, my ass! That brat Xiao Yan hid a bit of Heavenly Flame in Xiao Yue Liang''s body. But if you want to call it a Secret Technique, that works too. The principle of Secret Techniques is also to activate some kind of energy within the body to enhance strength." Others might not recognize it, but Elder Huo, who specialized in fire, could naturally tell. It was the same kind of Heavenly Flame that Xiao Yan used. Roar!! Xiao Yue Liang seemed to have gone berserk at this moment. His eyes turned blood-red and his muscles became robust and bulging. He grabbed his opponent and slammed him onto the ground. The suddenly ferocious Xiao Yue Liang caught his opponent off guard. His punches and kicks were powerful and forceful. After being strengthened by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, the opponent''s Dou Qi Armor could no longer withstand his attacks. In the end, Xiao Yue Liang won by throwing his opponent off the stage. Instructor Ruo Ling watched as Xiao Yan treated Xiao Yue Liang''s injuries. She still hadn''t recovered from the shock. All the members of the Xiao Clan had entered the top fifty-they were all entering the Inner Academy!! Huang Class Two had made a name for themselves. ... After the second day, twenty-five people advanced in the Inner Academy Qualifying Competition, twenty-five were eliminated, and the remaining fifty would compete tomorrow to determine the last twenty-five spots for entering the Inner Academy. Xiao Yan and the others naturally didn''t need to watch anymore; it was equivalent to having a day off. From this day on, the name of Xiao Yan-or rather, the Xiao Clan-began to spread throughout the entire academy. Those who were jealous of Xiao Yan, those who questioned Xun Er''s judgment, gradually began to hold their tongues. On the fourth day, the fifty people who had advanced to the Inner Academy all gathered in the plaza for the final competition to determine the top five and earn the qualification to enter the Book Collection Hall. When Xiao Yan and the others arrived outside the main plaza and saw the human tide that almost blocked the entrance completely, they couldn''t help but feel a bit speechless. In the end, with Instructor Ruo Ling''s connections, they entered the plaza through a heavily guarded passage. Sitting on his chair, Xiao Yan was chatting and laughing softly with Xun Er beside him when he suddenly stopped talking and turned his gaze toward a special passage in the plaza. Over there, surrounded by a group of people like stars surrounding the moon, Bai Shan was looking over. Noticing Xiao Yan''s gaze, a cold smile appeared on his handsome face. His lips moved slightly, and although he made no sound, Xiao Yan could still discern what he was saying. I want to make you lose all face today! Xiao Yan merely glanced at him and paid no further attention. If talking big was all it took, then he could say he wanted to become a Dou God. "You''re Xiao Yan? Do you dare to fight me?!" Just as Xiao Yan was about to say something to Xun Er, someone approached him. Xiao Yan looked over. He remembered this person seemed to be called Wu Hao or something, known as the Blood Shura of the Law Enforcement Unit. All his skills were honed for killing. He had slain countless people; the murderous aura on him was like a dragon, and his entire being reeked of blood. Rumor had it that he was also one of Xun Er''s suitors. "I-" Before Xiao Yan could even get a word out, another voice came from not far away. "Wu Hao, get lost! Xun Er is my woman. I''ll be the one to defeat this Xiao Yan!" A red-clothed girl put her hands on her hips and said in a brash manner. The Little Witch Hu Jia. Xiao Yan had heard this name during the enrollment back then. Wu Hao ignored the Little Witch. Instead, his eyes revealed a sharp battle intent as he stared fixedly at Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan turned his head to look at Xun Er sitting next to him. Helplessly spreading his hands, he said, "Xun Er, you really are a killer of both men and women, huh." Xun Er glanced at Xiao Yan, who was teasing her. It''s not my fault I''m good-looking! Chapter 221: Chapter 221: Battle Power Unit Chapter 221: Chapter 221: Battle Power Unit ? Word Count: 3,570 Words ****** Xiao Yan sat to the side and shook his head helplessly. With deep regret, he said, "Thank you all for acknowledging the beauty of my Xun Er. I also understand that many of you still harbor some fantasies and misconceptions, mistakenly treating Xun Er as the unattainable goddess of your hearts." "I know it''s my responsibility to shatter your illusions, but alas, I don''t get to choose my opponents, they''re assigned by the academy." Xiao Yan shook his head again, feeling a bit regretful that he couldn''t satisfy these people''s masochistic desires all at once. The Little Witch was stunned for a moment before slowly asking, "You don''t know?" "Hmm? Is there something I should know?" Xiao Yan asked back, a puzzled expression on his face. The Little Witch flicked her hair and said, "Today''s competition isn''t one-on-one. They''re using a grand melee mode to determine the top five out of fifty people. The five people remaining on stage will be the top five and will qualify to enter the Book Collection Hall to select their rewards." !!!! Xiao Yan blinked a couple of times. Before he could finish processing this information, Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan''s voice rang out. A resonant voice spiraled into the sky above the plaza like muffled thunder. Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan announced, "Yesterday, the Inner Academy Qualifying Competition selected the final fifty participants. They all have the qualifications to enter the Inner Academy for cultivation. However, within the Inner Academy, there are clear distinctions in rank. If you wish to obtain better cultivation conditions in the Inner Academy, you must strive to achieve the best possible results in this final round of competition. Every improvement in rank will bring you immense benefits. So, give it your all to secure better cultivation conditions!" Hu Gan''s gaze swept over to Xiao Yan, who was staring at him in astonishment, and smiled. "In previous years, the Qualifying Competition used round-based matches. But this year, after discussion in the academy meeting, we''ve slightly altered the format for this final round." "This year, we''re not having round-after-round matches. Instead, we''re holding an exhilarating and passionate grand melee elimination battle. The longer you can persist in this elimination match, the higher your ranking will be, and vice versa." Watching as the numerous participants entered the field one after another, Hu Gan continued with a smile, "Within this plaza, no matter what methods you use, even if you join hands with others to form teams, that''s fine. As long as you can preserve yourself in the chaotic battle, you will have achieved victory." Murmurs arose within the plaza as soon as Hu Gan finished speaking. Clearly, this format that differed from previous years'' competitions had caught them off guard. Aside from a few students like Hu Jia, who had some connections within the academy, others -even Xun Er and Instructor Ruo Ling-had no idea that the rules had changed this year! With a loud ''smack,'' Xiao Yan slapped a thigh and stood up excitedly. "Ah! Why are you slapping my thigh?!" Xiao Yu covered her slightly reddened jade-like thigh and glared at Xiao Yan. If you''re excited and need to slap a thigh, slap your own! Why are you slapping mine?! "Got a bit too excited. I''ll be gentler next time." Xiao Yan grinned sheepishly. Xiao Yu was dumbfounded. There''s a next time? Xiao Yan slowly looked over at the Little Witch and the others. This was truly a case of wishing for something and having it delivered! A grand melee? Then who gets to be in the top five today is up to me, Xiao Yan, to decide! No more pretending. Time to lay it all out. I''m a Dou Spirit; all of you are trash. Xiao Yan licked his lips, his gaze sweeping over the fifty people on the stage-no, forty-three people¡ªlike a predator eyeing its prey. He was already calculating how to take them all out in one fell swoop without causing the match to be halted! Wouldn''t that mean the top five would all be his own people?! What Xiao Yan didn''t know was that the Deputy Headmaster and the other higher-ups had changed the rules precisely to allow the Outer Academy students to join forces against him, to see the extent of his true strength. That''s why they came up with this grand melee. "Do you all understand the competition rules?" When everyone had entered the plaza, Hu Gan''s gaze swept over the battle stage as he asked loudly. "Understood!" The participants in the plaza immediately responded in unison. "Good. Since you all understand, then I hereby announce..." Hu Gan slowly raised his palm. Finally, under the gazes of countless eyes, he brought it down forcefully and declared, "The final elimination match of the Inner Academy Qualifying Competition begins now!" The positions on the plaza shifted dramatically as soon as the Deputy Headmaster''s words fell. Xiao Yan stood in front of Xun Er and the others, facing the remaining forty-three people. "Xiao Yan, are you looking down on us, planning to fight us all alone?" Bai Shan deliberately provoked the emotions of the people on the stage, trying to put a hat on Xiao Yan. "Bai Shan, there''s no need for such boring tricks. Not only do I look down on you, but also on you, and you. None of you are up to par." Xiao Yan pointed at the Little Witch and Wu Hao, wagging his finger. Xiao Yan had been back for four months. Even when he occasionally strolled through Jia Nan City with Xun Er, there were people who dared to run up to Xun Er on the street and confess their love. The thing he heard most was that he wasn''t good enough for Xun Er, that so-and-so was a better match for her. He indeed needed to find an opportunity to declare his sovereignty. The Little Witch, who had been bouncing around, darkened her face when she saw Xiao Yan pointing at her and saying she''s not up to par. As for Wu Hao, who had been pursuing Xun Er all along, there was no need to mention his reaction. He was naturally aloof and lived solely for the sake of slaughter. It wasn''t easy for him to meet a girl he fancied. He wanted to see what kind of man had earned Xun Er''s favor. "Since the Deputy Headmaster has given me such a good opportunity, let''s settle this once and for all. Whether you secretly admire Xun Er or just can''t stand the sight of me, Xiao Yan, come at me all together. Save me the annoyance of hearing people chirping in my ear even after entering the Inner Academy." Xiao Yan placed one hand behind his back and beckoned with a finger, exuding the air of Ip Man ready to take on ten opponents back in the day. "Xiao Yan ge-ge, I can help you deal with some of them." Glancing at the already clearly divided stage, Xun Er tilted her head and smiled sweetly. A pair of beautiful, well-shaped, slender jade-like legs stepped out. Xiao Yu snorted coldly and said, "Hmph, even if you''re really strong, don''t think too little of us. You take care of those three; we can handle some of the others." "Exactly! Little Clan Leader, we can fight too!" In the spectator stands above, countless excited screams echoed through the sky as they saw the plaza split into two distinct groups almost immediately. Many people shouted themselves hoarse, cheering for their favorite participants. "Hehe, it seems this Xiao Yan intends to fight against many alone." An elder in the central seating area said with a smile as he observed the stage. "Well then, let''s see if this Xiao Yan can surpass the top students of our Jia Nan Academy after cultivating outside for over a year." The Deputy Headmaster stroked his beard and said. As tension filled the air, energy fluctuations rippled. In an instant, all the students on the stage simultaneously activated their Qi Methods, and their Dou Qi burst forth. "Xiao Yan, let me show you what a true genius is! You are not worthy of Xun Er!" Amidst the howling wind, Bai Shan was the first to make a move. A silver spear appeared in his palm. A sizzling sound filled the air as the spear transformed into a silver lightning spear. Electric arcs danced along the spear''s body, accompanied by the occasional clap of thunder. The slightest movement of the spear released a terrifying energy that caused the surrounding space to ripple. "Die!" A sinister glint flashed in his eyes. Bai Shan gripped the spear tightly, his feet shifted to the side, and the spear was slowly raised above his head. An instant later, accompanied by the sound of thunder, it smashed heavily onto the hard floor. The ground shook violently as an earth-shattering explosion rang out, drawing everyone''s attention. When they saw Bai Shan glowing like a silver sun and sensed the terrifying power contained within his spear, "W-what''s his cultivation level? He actually defeated the Little Witch Hu Jia, Blood Asura Wu Hao, and Lightning Spear Bai Shan so easily!!" "I don''t know, but that Xiao Yan is incredibly strong!" Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan furrowed his brows and said, "Elder Huo, that Xiao Yan''s strength isn''t just because he possesses a Heavenly Flame, right?" Even the hot-tempered Elder Huo could only smile wryly and shake his head. Looking at Xiao Yan, who stood quietly amid the crowd with no one daring to approach him, he said, "He''s formidable not just in Dou Qi cultivation; even his physical body is unbelievably strong. The Dou Technique he just used to make Wu Hao spit blood with one punch relied solely on physical strength." Xiao Yan felt neither joy nor pride at this moment. He calmly looked at Hu Jia and Wu Hao and commented, "You two are a bit better than that Bai Shan." He turned to the Little Witch Hu Jia and said, "Although you''re not as good as the guy reeking of blood over there, you''re younger. Probably around 0.4." "You''re also at 0.4. If you work a bit harder, you might reach 0.5," Xiao Yan looked at Wu Hao and said slowly. Wu Hao and Hu Jia were completely baffled upon hearing this. What 0.4 and 0.5? What is he talking about? Only Xiao Yan understood what he meant. It was a battle power unit! Anyone weaker than Nalan Yanran was a weakling. Furrowing his brows, Xiao Yan thought to himself, ''Could it be that Nalan Yanran is actually quite strong? Is her talent truly high?'' He began to doubt himself. He had thought that Nalan Yanran''s strength wasn''t considered very high in the North-Western Region or Jia Nan Academy and that she could only throw her weight around in the Jia Ma Empire. But now, seeing that this Little Witch was hailed as a once-in-a-century genius yet was the same age as him and only a 5-Star Dou Grandmaster at nineteen... Wu Hao, known as the Blood Asura of the Law Enforcement Unit, had slaughtered many in the Black-Corner Region, even killing several Dou Spirits. Yet his cultivation was only that of a 6- Star Dou Grandmaster, and his strength was still inferior to Nalan Yanran, who had received Yun Po Tian''s inheritance. After all, the only battle Xiao Yan could truly consider fighting against his peers was against Nalan Yanran alone. Naturally, she had become his ''battle power unit'' when comparing strength with his peers! It was rare for Xiao Yan to fight against people his own age. After battling old monsters for so long, he had almost forgotten he was only nineteen. Precisely because of this, he suddenly realized that Nalan Yanran''s talent and battle power were actually quite high. "Hu Jia, Wu Hao, let''s join forces." At this time, Bai Shan, who had been sent flying by Xiao Yan, had already stood up. He retrieved the silver spear that Xiao Yan had tossed aside with a wave of his hand. Bai Shan gritted his teeth and let out a cold shout. Silver Dou Qi suddenly enveloped his body. With a shake of his silver spear, Dou Qi like electric serpents flickered and danced rapidly at the spear tip. As the spear tip trembled violently, the silver Dou Qi began to condense there, emitting a slight sizzling sound. From the looks of it, he was clearly preparing a powerful Dou Technique, intending to go all out. To the side, Wu Hao and Hu Jia hesitated slightly, but the Dou Qi within their bodies also began to surge rapidly. With their reputations in Jia Nan Academy, their pride made them extremely reluctant to join forces against an opponent. But at this point, Xiao Yan''s overwhelming strength had already forced the three of them to join forces, and naturally, they could no longer choose to hold back. Moreover, it was Xiao Yan-their romantic rival! Dark green and blood-red Dou Qi began to surge wildly from Hu Jia and Wu Hao''s bodies. On their whip and heavy sword, ferocious offensive Dou Techniques were rapidly brewing. After their earlier defeat, they were now preparing to fight back desperately! Xiao Yan smiled slightly when he saw the three of them preparing for a desperate struggle. Out of respect for them, he took out the Heavy Xuan Ruler and said after glancing around, "The rest of you forty-three people can join in as well. Hmm, seems there aren''t forty-three people anymore." Xun Er and the others had just defeated several people; now, there were only a bit over thirty people left on the stage. The silent atmosphere in the arena lasted less than a minute before it was abruptly shattered! "Glorious Thunder!" "Quiet Woods Poisonous Snake Vine!" "Blood Splitting Chop!" In the center of the stage, the eyes of Bai Shan and the other two suddenly widened. The tyrannical Dou Techniques in their hands had finally been brewed to the limit. Their weapons shook violently, and in an instant, three incomparably ferocious energies-one silver, one green, and one red-burst forth. Wherever the three energies passed, the hard floor completely crumbled. Dazzling cracks extended all the way to the edges of the plaza before stopping. Facing these three perfected High Xuan Class Dou Technique attacks, Xiao Yan no longer held back. Dou Qi surged throughout his body as he removed his Spiritual Strength shielding, fully revealing his cultivation level. "Holy shit! This kid is a 2-star Dou Spirit?!!!" Several high-ranking academy officials suddenly stood up, their worldviews seemingly shattered. Nineteen years old and a 2-star Dou Spirit?! Are you kidding me?! But their astonishment wasn''t over yet, because they sensed the energy of the world surging. "Flame Splitting Tsunami!" Chapter 222: Chapter 222: Miscalculation Chapter 222: Chapter 222: Miscalculation ? Word Count: 3,387 Words ****** A smug, somewhat sly smile appeared on Xiao Yan''s face as he glanced at the higher-ups of Jia Nan Academy who had risen from their seats in astonishment. His eyes seemed to silently convey: Didn''t expect that, did you? In an instant, an unusual and violent energy fluctuation rippled through the plaza. The first to sense this wave were the elders on the judges'' platform. Their expressions changed dramatically, and their gazes almost simultaneously fixed upon the black-robed youth standing proudly in the arena, wielding the Heavy Xuan Ruler. The source of this violent energy fluctuation was precisely where he stood! The elders exchanged glances, their throats moving as they swallowed lightly. This energy fluctuation actually stirred fear in their hearts. "A Di Class Dou Technique!!" Elder Huo and the other elders were visibly shocked. They understood all too well that only Di Class or higher Dou Techniques could stir the energy of the world. Even in a chaotic place like the Black-Corner Region, only well-established Dou Emperor factions might possess Di Class Dou Techniques. Otherwise, the auction back then wouldn''t have attracted so many Dou Emperors to appear. Many genius students in the Outer Academy, such as Bai Shan and Wu Hao, who could have entered the Inner Academy the previous year, had deliberately delayed by a year to compete for the top five rewards. This was because they could obtain Di Class Dou Techniques from the Book Collection Hall, and there were even rumors of Di Class Qi Methods! From the Heavy Xuan Ruler, a dark red blade of energy several meters long shot out with unstoppable momentum! The moment the ruler energy shot forth, space rippled like a lake struck by a giant stone. In the already devastated arena, a half-meter-wide fissure rapidly spread along the trajectory of the ruler energy, witnessed by countless horrified gazes! "Quick! Save them!" Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan urgently shouted as he flashed into the plaza. Several elders hurriedly joined forces to cast defensive barriers, preventing the aftermath of Xiao Yan''s Di Class Dou Technique from harming other students still battling in the arena. Undoubtedly, as soon as Xiao Yan unleashed the Flame Splitting Tsunami, even though Bai Shan, Wu Hao, and Hu Jia had used every ounce of their strength, even summoning the strength of their ancestors in their tombs, their Dou Techniques still shattered upon contact. "How... is this possible?" Hu Jia watched as her strongest Dou Technique was instantly evaporated under Xiao Yan''s fiery ruler energy, like a droplet of water falling into a volcano. Her body went limp, stunned in place without any will to resist. Wu Hao still wanted to fight back, attempting to unleash his ultimate technique and even using a Secret Method that consumed his life force to boost his cultivation. But it was like a drop of water in the ocean, unable to stir even the slightest ripple. It wasn''t that they had never defeated a Dou Spirit before. Wu Hao and Bai Shan had even killed Dou Spirits. But those Dou Spirits didn''t possess even High Xuan Class Dou Techniques, let alone a Di Class one. When had they ever faced a Di Class Dou Technique unleashed against them? If they truly encountered one, it would be the day of their death. Boom!!! Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan instantly appeared at the front, flipping his palms and pushing forward. A massive wall of Dou Qi appeared before him. The terrifying fiery waves of the Flame Splitting Tsunami crashed down like a massive mountain. The flames blocked by the Deputy Headmaster didn''t dissipate immediately but surged in all directions. Fortunately, the other elders present had cultivation levels reaching Dou King. They appeared in time to block the residual energy of Xiao Yan''s attack. Xiao Yan put away the Heavy Xuan Ruler with a faint smile. He had anticipated that his attack would be intercepted, so he hadn''t infused his Heavenly Flame into the ruler. "Respected teachers, isn''t this against the rules? This student has already exhausted all his Dou Qi with this move. Oh no, I''m about to faint." Xiao Yan pretended to be suffering from overexertion, swaying as if he might collapse at any moment. Having blocked Xiao Yan''s Flame Splitting Tsunami, Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan looked at Xiao Yan with exasperation and said, "Even though she''s my granddaughter, I wouldn''t show favoritism. I''m just fulfilling my duty as Deputy Headmaster to protect the students'' lives." He glanced at his granddaughter, Hu Jia, shook his head, and said, "Hu Jia, there is always someone stronger. You still need to cultivate diligently." Hu Jia let out a long sigh, looked deeply at Xiao Yan, and declared fiercely, "Xiao Yan, I will definitely defeat you!" Xiao Yan rubbed his nose with an awkward expression. Why did those words sound so familiar? Wu Hao sheathed his heavy sword, looked at Xiao Yan, then glanced at Xun Er. Like a true man, he said earnestly, "You are a better match for her than I am. I, Wu Hao, was blind before. I admit defeat." After saying that, the two didn''t linger and directly leaped off the stage. "No! I won''t admit defeat! I still have a Rank 4 armor! Even without your intervention, I wouldn''t lose!" Bai Shan panicked upon seeing Wu Hao and Hu Jia leave the stage. Because if he lost now, based on the remaining number of people on the stage, he would definitely not make it into the top five. If he failed in the Inner Academy Qualifying Competition, he could participate again next year. But now that he had already secured a spot in the Inner Academy, there was no next year! He, Bai Shan, had stayed in the Outer Academy for three years precisely for the top five rewards-to enter the Book Collection Hall and choose a reward, to obtain the Di Class Dou Techniques inside. He couldn''t accept this outcome. Elder Huo and several teachers frowned. Bai Shan hadn''t acted like this during his three years in the Outer Academy. He had been a model student-respectful to teachers, strong, and talented. How had he become so unseemly now? "Sigh, Student Bai Shan, I, Hu Gan, can say with certainty as a Dou Emperor that you absolutely cannot withstand Student Xiao Yan''s Dou Technique. Even with armor, the only outcome is death." Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan had no choice but to step in and smooth things over. The initial rules indeed didn''t state that teachers could enter the arena to block attacks. But anyone with eyes could see that Xiao Yan''s Dou Technique just now could definitely instantly kill any student. A Rank 4 armor would be utterly useless; even one''s head would be blasted apart. "I don''t believe it! If Xiao Yan can unleash it again and I truly can''t defend against it, then I''ll accept this result!" Bai Shan was betting that Xiao Yan couldn''t use such a powerful Dou Technique twice in one day. "Very well." Buzz!! Suddenly, an incomparably scorching aura erupted from Xiao Yan''s body. He gripped the Heavy Xuan Ruler with one hand and raised it high above his head. In an instant, the ruler turned fiery red, and an aura identical to before burst forth from him. "This is the most bizarre request I''ve ever heard." "Respected teachers, you heard him. He insisted on experiencing it again. Life and death are up to fate now. In your next life, remember not to be so stubborn." Xiao Yan thought that even if Bai Shan were burned to ashes by the Flame Splitting Tsunami, his mouth would remain, just as stubborn as ever. The elders exchanged glances and actually stepped aside. There was no need to mention the other students. They had already retreated far away, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire because of that idiot Bai Shan. Off the stage, Hu Jia mocked mercilessly, "Hmph, this Bai Shan is truly stupid to the extreme." usually stiff face. "Deputy Headmaster, does this... count as Xiao Yan violating the rules?" On the judges'' platform, a middle-aged referee asked cautiously, a wry smile on his face as he looked at those on the main platform. He wouldn''t have had any scruples if Hu Jia hadn''t been involved. But unfortunately, that Little Witch was among them and had been utterly crushed without any chance to fight back, ultimately losing the opportunity to enter the top five. In all his years at Jia Nan Academy, this was truly the first time he had seen someone of the same age group overwhelm Hu Jia. "This competition was not meant to be completely fair in the first place, so Xiao Yan cannot be considered to have violated any rules. After all, we''ve seen his strength clearly." Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan waved his hand and sighed. Clap, clap, clap! Countless students from the Outer Academy were convinced by Xiao Yan''s strength, and bursts of applause echoed throughout the arena. ''This matter isn''t over! The humiliation I suffered today, I, Bai Shan, will make you repay a hundredfold! Xiao Yan, just you wait! Sooner or later, I''ll have you kneeling at my feet!'' Seeing Xiao Yan on stage, the focus of everyone''s attention and admiration, even holding the hand of the goddess in his heart, a flash of resentment passed through Bai Shan''s lowered eyes as he clenched his fists tightly. Compared to physical pain, the psychological blow was what Bai Shan found most difficult to endure. Over the past two years, countless flattering voices had elevated him to become the most prominent figure in the Outer Academy. But today, he had been crushed and shattered by Xiao Yan. In the future, when people at Jia Nan Academy mentioned his name, Bai Shan, they would no longer be filled with the same reverent awe as before. Because above him, there would forever stand someone, a person who truly commanded people''s awe and reverence. For the exceedingly proud Bai Shan, such a situation was undoubtedly more painful than death. Once someone ascended the altar of genius and was worshipped by others, the fall would bring an immense sense of loss. Many couldn''t bear such a fall and would either become despondent or develop a distorted mentality. With his keen Spiritual Strength, Xiao Yan naturally sensed Bai Shan''s resentful gaze, but he merely responded with a cold smile. ... Although the competition had ended, Xiao Yan''s overwhelming strength compelled the academy''s higher-ups to urgently convene a meeting because of him. They even invited Xiao Yan to their office to discuss matters. "Increase the quota for entering the Book Collection Hall by three and let the remaining forty-five people compete again? Sure. Anyway, in yesterday''s competition, when the final seven remained, Xun Er and I were the first to step down from the stage, so we''re sixth and seventh. We have no objections." Xiao Yan grinned as he looked at the various higher-ups in the meeting room. "You... you..." An elder was rendered speechless. Their goal was to allow Wu Hao, Hu Jia, and Bai Shan the three who truly had the strength to enter the top five-to obtain the rewards from the Book Collection Hall. After all, the academy was different from sects and other factions; their purpose was to cultivate students. Wu Hao and the others indeed deserved to receive the academy''s resources. They hadn''t expected Xiao Yan to be so unyielding, even wanting to get two more spots. You''re too greedy! "Then, Student Xiao Yan, what are your thoughts?" Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan said calmly. Xiao Yan looked directly at Hu Gan, naturally understanding that he made this suggestion because he was concerned about his granddaughter. "Since the academy is willing to provide three spots, why not add two more? Xiao Ning and Xiao Yu''s strength is not inferior to Bai Shan and the others. What does the Deputy Headmaster think?" The higher-ups present began to discuss among themselves. It seemed that Xiao Yan was determined to protect those three weaker members of his Xiao Clan. "Although those three are not as strong as Bai Shan and the others, Xiao Meng and Xiao Yue Liang have only been in the Outer Academy for a year and have already reached the 7-star Dou Master stage. And although Xiao Mei has been here for two years, she''s also reached the 9- star Dou Master stage. Their strength is not weak, and they could enter the top five next year anyway." "Indeed, these three have high potential as well. I think it aligns with the Headmaster''s original motto of ''Taking the cultivation of students as our duty."" If Xiao Yan hadn''t felt that his time at Jia Nan Academy wouldn''t be long, he would have let Xiao Mei and the others wait until next year to enter the Inner Academy. He believed that having them enter the Inner Academy together with him would be more beneficial for their cultivation. That was why he had been so eager for them to pass the qualifying competition with him. In the end, the academy actually agreed to his proposal. In their eyes, the person most worthy of cultivation was indeed him. A day later, news that the academy had temporarily increased the quota for entering the Book Collection Hall spread throughout the entire academy, even reaching the Inner Academy. Everyone guessed that this was because of Xiao Yan, and thus, his reputation even spread into the Inner Academy. The final additional competition ended without any surprises. The top five were Wu Hao, Hu Jia, Xiao Yu, Xiao Ning, and Bai Shan. The grandest competition held once a year finally concluded amidst a buzz of discussion. ... At this moment, in the center of the North-Western Region, within the Sky Serpent Mansion -the largest sect in the Sky Serpent Empire. "Xiao Yan of the Yan Alliance? Hmph, I don''t care who he is. Anyone who dares to snatch something from my Sky Serpent Mansion must be tired of living!" Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Shopping Spree Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Shopping Spree ? Word Count: 3,566 Words ****** At the Sky Serpent Mansion, Elder Qing, whose soul had been injured by Xiao Yan, returned to the Sky Serpent Empire after several days of recuperation and a long journey. She relayed Xiao Yan''s exceedingly arrogant words verbatim to the higher-ups of the mansion. The current Mansion Lord of the Sky Serpent Mansion slammed his palm on the table in fury. His gaze was as if he wanted to devour someone, and his inverted triangular snake pupils contracted and expanded in a frightening manner. "Yan Alliance, what a Yan Alliance! Do they think that by unifying the Jia Ma Empire and allying with Queen Medusa''s Snake - People Tribe, they can dominate the entire North- Western Region? Even if Yun Shan of the Misty Cloud Sect were still alive, even if the Yan Alliance had two Dou Ancestors, my Sky Serpent Mansion would have no difficulty wiping them out!" "The Mansion Lord is right. Our Sky Serpent Mansion has sent multiple invitations to Queen Medusa''s Snake-People Tribe, but she has always ignored us. Perhaps it''s time we adopt a tougher stance." As a faction that occupied the central region of the Northwestern Region, the strength of the Sky Serpent Mansion was naturally unfathomable. Within the mansion, there were not just a few peak Dou Emperors like the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor. In addition to the current Mansion Lord, there were former lords who were also Dou Ancestors. The mansion''s numerous elite experts made it the faction most likely to unify the entire North-Western Region. Although it was called the Sky Serpent Mansion, having ''serpent'' in its name, in fact, the Sky Serpent Mansion was not just a gathering of serpent-type magical beasts from across the North-Western Region. In reality, it was a massive faction comprising all types of magical beasts. The term ''Sky Serpent'' signified that their founder, the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint, possessed the Sky Serpent bloodline. Upon hearing Elder Qing''s words, the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor Bai Ya and the Bamboo Leaf Green Snake Emperor Lu Man, who were seated below, exchanged glances. As the ones who had brought Qing Lin back, they naturally knew who Xiao Yan was. Back when they had brought Qing Lin back, they had sent their subordinates to the Jia Ma Empire to investigate Xiao Yan''s background. However, their information about Xiao Yan was still from before he participated in the Alchemist Grand Meeting. After all, the Jia Ma Empire was situated at the edge of the North- Western Region, far from the centrally located Sky Serpent Empire, and information transmission was not well-developed. Now, hearing Xiao Yan''s name again, he had actually become the initiator of the recently prominent Yan Alliance! "Mansion Lord, that Xiao Yan seems to be the person whom Her Highness Qing Lin has always been thinking about. If we act forcefully..." Lu Man stepped forward, hesitating for a moment before speaking. The Mansion Lord glanced at Lu Man with his snake-like pupils, his gaze icy as he said, "So what? Since Qing Lin has joined our Sky Serpent Mansion and has been conferred the title of Princess of the Sky Serpent Empire, she is now a member of our Sky Serpent Mansion and has no relations with anyone from her past." Lu Man felt the pressure of a Dou Ancestor, lowered her head, and retreated sullenly. She transmitted her voice to Bai Ya beside her: "Bai Ya, what should we do now? That foolish girl Qing Lin wants to return to the Jia Ma Empire, to return to that person named Xiao Yan." The Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor gave a deep look at the Mansion Lord seated on the throne and transmitted back, "I''ve heard that the Mansion Lord intends to arrange a marriage for Qing Lin. Many elders in the mansion share this intention, hoping to produce more offspring possessing the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. I''m afraid that once Qing Lin fully receives the inheritance of the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint, they will bring up this matter." Now that Qing Lin had obtained the inheritance of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, how could the Sky Serpent Mansion possibly let her go? Lu Man and Bai Ya understood this reasoning, and naturally, Xiao Yan did as well. The two serpents showed deep worry on their faces because only they-who had directly confronted Xiao Yan-knew that the young man was not someone who made empty threats. He dared to snatch the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill and even dared to have Elder Qing bring back such bold words; that meant he was confident he could carry out his threats. He had already injured their souls back when he was just a mere Dou Grandmaster, and in the end, Bai Ya had even sensed an extremely terrifying aura of destruction emanating from him. Bai Ya knew that if he hadn''t yielded and made certain promises back then, perhaps he wouldn''t be standing here intact. That man was definitely not simple; he had many methods! They were extremely unwilling to see Xiao Yan storming the Sky Serpent Mansion in a rage in the future. "This matter can only be discussed with Qing Lin. Now, there are some elders in the mansion who value her even more, believing that she can lead the Sky Serpent Mansion to unify the entire North-Western Region. Perhaps we can find a way to maneuver." "Agreed. I''ll have people go to the Jia Ma Empire again to investigate this Xiao Yan. Let''s hope we don''t make a grave mistake." The two serpents shook their heads secretly, feeling as if the fate of the Sky Serpent Mansion rested in their hands. ... Three days had passed since the end of the Inner Academy Qualifying Competition. At this moment, Xiao Yan walked through Jia Nan Academy like a star, with ardent gazes and heated discussions constantly reaching his ears. He had only come to the stalls area of Jia Nan Academy to see if there were any good items or medicinal ingredients he could pick up at a bargain, yet he had already received several bouquets of flowers and confession letters. A man receiving flowers-one could imagine how popular Xiao Yan had become. Xiao Yan sighed and placed the flowers at the entrance of the building where the Xiao Clan was staying. Now, a table specifically for placing gifts and a mailbox for letters had been set up at the entrance of their residence. When Xiao Yan walked inside, he saw that Instructor Ruo Ling, Xun Er, Xiao Yu, and others were all present. Before them stood a middle-aged man wearing the academy''s instructor robe. "Hehe, what''s going on here? Everyone''s gathered," Xiao Yan said with a smile as he walked into the living room, his gaze turning to Xun Er. "Xiao Yan ge-ge, this is Instructor Ku Lu." Xun Er smiled as she came forward and casually took Xiao Yan''s outer robe, subtly sniffing it to check if there was any scent of women''s powder or perfume. Only after confirming there wasn''t any did she softly say, "According to the rules, this afternoon is the time for us to enter the Book Collection Hall." Xiao Yan''s steps paused slightly. He was stunned for a moment before nodding with a smile. It had finally come. He had been looking forward to this so-called mysterious Book Collection Hall for a long time. "Then let''s not waste time. Let''s go. I''m quite curious about how extraordinary this legendary Book Collection Hall is, to make so many compete for it." Xiao Yan and his group followed the middle-aged man to the Deputy Headmaster''s office. Bai Shan, Wu Hao, and Hu Jia were already waiting there. The three of them displayed different expressions when they saw Xiao Yan''s arrival. Wu Hao nodded slowly toward Xiao Yan; after all, he had lost fair and square and was sincerely convinced. Hu Jia, on the other hand, bared her teeth and waved her fists at Xiao Yan like a tigress, muttering that after obtaining a Di Class Dou Technique from the Book Collection Hall, she would definitely defeat him. As for Bai Shan, he maintained a smile all along, but the coldness in his eyes was hard to conceal. "Since you''re all here, I won''t waste words. You should already know why you''ve been summoned," Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan said with a smile as he stood up from his chair. "According to the rules, you have the qualifications to enter the Book Collection Hall and try your luck. "The rumors are true. The Book Collection Hall indeed contains Di Class Dou Techniques and Qi Methods, as well as some rare treasures. But what you can obtain depends on your luck and strength." As he spoke, Hu Gan walked to the wall behind him and casually tapped a few times with his palm. A deep rumbling sound arose, and then a pitch-black passage appeared before everyone. Xiao Yan''s eyes flashed with a meaningful smile as he said, "Listen to my instructions and go for the clusters of light." He immediately grasped the rules of the Book Collection Hall. The greater the resistance of the light membrane, the more precious the item inside. Moreover, these light membranes couldn''t prevent his peak Tier 6 Spiritual Strength from probing their contents. All the members of the Xiao Clan quickly caught on. There were ten people present, and seven were from the Xiao Clan! Following his lead, the seven of them split up like hungry wolves, targeting the clusters of light with the strongest resistance. "This one''s no good." "Not this one either." "This is too trashy." "A Sky Jade Fruit! Forget it, its value isn''t even as good as a Dou King Pill. Let''s find another." "Ha ha! A Di Class Dou Technique!" Amidst the whooshing sounds in the room, a joyful laugh suddenly echoed. Xiao Yan turned to see Bai Shan holding a silver cluster of light aloft. Through the faint glow, they could vaguely see something like a scroll inside, with the words "Di Class" faintly visible. It had to be admitted that this fellow Bai Shan had a bit of luck. Just as Bai Shan was about to reach in and take out the item inside, Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed. An imperceptible wave of Spiritual Strength emanated from him. Bai Shan''s mind momentarily blanked, and the cluster of light transformed into a streak of light, disappearing back into the energy wall. Bai Shan was stunned for a moment, and then his face darkened instantly. Letting out an angry roar, he transformed into a white blur and hurled himself at the energy wall. Bang! Bai Shan collided heavily with the wall, but the energy barrier didn''t budge in the slightest. He, however, was thrown back violently, spitting out a mouthful of blood before crashing into the opposite wall. Xiao Yan secretly revealed a cold smile. If not for the academy''s prohibition against killing, Bai Shan would have been a corpse four months ago. He was still boasting about dealing with him in the Inner Academy? Today, Xiao Yan was determined to make him leave empty-handed! "Cousin Xiao Yan, what about this one?" Xiao Mei walked over holding a snow-white cluster of light. "A defensive-type Di Class Dou Technique, Mutual Seal Guardian Shield! This is a good item; it suits you perfectly," Xiao Yan said, pleasantly surprised. Indeed, newcomers often had a bit of luck. "But I can''t take it out," Xiao Mei said somewhat dejectedly. How could her strength possibly break open the light barrier of a Di Class Dou Technique? "It only says each person can take one item; it doesn''t say we can''t help others obtain one." Xiao Yan''s right hand condensed his Heavenly Flame, and the power of a 2-Star Dou Spirit erupted. With a single palm strike, accompanied by a rumbling sound, the light barrier shattered. Breaking the barrier of a Di Class Dou Technique was child''s play for him. Xiao Mei saw Xiao Yan help her break the light barrier and recalled how he had similarly helped her obtain Dou Techniques from the clan''s Dou Technique Pavilion in the past. After handing the scroll to Xiao Mei, Xiao Yan said, "Xiao Mei, you should head out first to avoid anyone eyeing it." "Oh, okay. Cousin Xiao Yan, good luck!" Holding the scroll, Xiao Mei was the first to dash out of the Book Collection Hall. Even Hu Jia felt a twinge of envy when she saw Xiao Yan help his clan member break the light barrier and obtain a Di Class Dou Technique. This was truly spoon-feeding! Even with a Deputy Headmaster grandfather, she didn''t receive this much help! Time ticked by, minute by minute. The Book Collection Hall didn''t allow unlimited time; they only had one hour. And Xiao Yan, this big demon, seemed to have taken control of the entire hall. Given his strength, how could others possibly snatch items before him? "Hey, Xiao Yan, don''t go too far! I saw that first!" Hu Jia shouted angrily. Xiao Yan glanced at the cluster of light in his hand, shook his head, and tossed it to Hu Jia. "This item doesn''t suit us; you can have it." Soon, even Xiao Yu and the others had obtained the rewards they desired and left the Book Collection Hall. Only Xun Er and Xiao Yan remained. Although Wu Hao and Hu Jia had secured some decent items, they still lingered, hoping to find something even better. As for Bai Shan, he was particularly unfortunate. Every time he found a good item, either Xiao Yan snatched it away, or he inexplicably felt dizzy and failed to hold onto the cluster of light, which would then disappear into the energy walls. The number of clusters of light emerging from the energy walls was gradually decreasing. Xiao Yan frowned, feeling a bit frustrated. ''Could it be that there aren''t any Tian Class Dou Techniques? This Jia Nan Academy is far inferior to the Hall of Souls.'' If the two elders outside could hear Xiao Yan''s thoughts, they would probably roll their eyes. If Jia Nan Academy possessed Tian Class Dou Techniques, they would have learned them long ago! Chapter 224: Chapter 224: I Want Them All! Chapter 224: Chapter 224: I Want Them All! ? Word Count: 3,475 Words ****** Saying he wanted a Tian Class Dou Technique, Xiao Yan knew he was being a bit fanciful. Techniques of that level could only be found in places like the Central Plains. However, he did have his own objective in coming to the Book Collection Hall this time-he hoped to find a sonic-type Dou Technique. After consuming the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill, Xiao Yan was fortunate to inherit a trace of faint dragon aura. When he used sonic-type Dou Techniques, they would carry a hint of dragon might that could shake people''s hearts and souls. But within his mysterious storage ring, there were no sonic-type Dou Techniques suitable for him to cultivate. So he planned to try his luck at the Book Collection Hall. ''Is there really nothing else? Only this Lion Tiger Gold Shattering Roar? But it''s just a High Xuan Class Dou Technique.'' Xiao Yan hadn''t failed to find a sonic Dou Technique; it''s just that this sonic Dou Technique was only High Xuan Class. He felt it was a bit too low-level. Now that he was already a 2-star Dou Spirit, the strong enemies he''d encounter in the future would basically be Dou Kings and above. A High Xuan Class technique seemed somewhat inadequate. "Xiao Yan ge-ge, there''s not much time left," Xun Er gently reminded him. Suddenly, a fiery-red light shot out from within the energy wall with a whoosh. The temperature in the massive room rose slightly as soon as the fiery-red light appeared. Bai Shan and the others hurriedly turned their gazes over. Seeing the momentum brought by this fiery-red cluster of light, they were momentarily stunned, then reflexively darted toward it. However, just as they began to move, Xiao Yan, who had noticed the fiery-red light before them, transformed into a dark shadow and suddenly appeared. His palm grabbed the cluster of light, enduring the scorching heat, and scooped it into his hand. He then rapidly retreated while Xun Er cleverly flashed forward, blocking Bai Shan and the other two. "Heh heh." Xiao Yan grinned at Bai Shan and the others, then walked over to Xun Er''s side while holding the fiery-red cluster of light. His gaze swept over the contents within the glow, then he was stunned for a moment, his throat slowly moving as he swallowed. "Not bad, it''s indeed a good item." Within the fiery-red cluster of light in his hand was a pale-red scroll, and that scorching heat was emitted from within it. His gaze penetrated the glow and carefully scanned over the pale- red scroll, vaguely able to see some words on it. "Nine Layer Phoenix Flame Skill, Middle Di Class Qi Method." Just these few simple words made Xiao Yan involuntarily swallow hard. A Middle Di Class Qi Method! The Flame Mantra had devoured so many Heavenly Flames just to reach Low Di Class! And now, he held a scroll of a Middle Di Class fire-attribute Qi Method in his hand. Even if this kind of Qi Method was placed in the Black-Corner Region where stolen or smuggled goods from the continent flowed through, it would definitely be able to set off a sensation. Countless factions would fight over this Qi Method until their heads were broken and blood flowed. Yet now, this invaluable Di Class Qi Method had so simply fallen into his hands. It really was somewhat drama like. Xiao Yan''s palm tossed the extremely light scroll in his hand. His hand, however, felt a somewhat heavy feeling. Something that he couldn''t even dream of obtaining in the past was now casually spat out from this mysterious Book Collection Hall. The vast collection owned by Jia Nan Academy left him endlessly amazed. Xiao Yan sighed inwardly; it was a pity. Now, no matter what, he couldn''t possibly switch to cultivating another Qi Method. If he could obtain the Fallen Heart Flame, combined with the Bone Chilling Flame, he was confident he could evolve the Flame Mantra to the Tian Class! "Xun Er, your Qi Method hasn''t reached the Di Class yet, right? Here, this is for you." Xiao Yan shattered the light barrier with a palm strike and handed the Qi Method to Xun Er. "This guy is really generous. That''s a Di Class Qi Method!" Although Bai Shan and the other two were mainly focused on continuing their search, they still noticed Xiao Yan handing the Qi Method to Xun Er. Especially after hearing what Xiao Yan said, they couldn''t help but be stunned, their expressions turning complex. A Di Class Qi Method was priceless-this guy was a bit too generous, wasn''t he? Seeing Xun Er''s stunned expression, Xiao Yan shrugged and said, "I can''t change my Qi Method now. I noticed yours seems to still be at the Xuan Class." Xun Er looked at Xiao Yan''s sincere face, pursed her lips in a sweet smile, and said, "Alright then, I do need a transitional Qi Method right now. This item is just right." "Xun Er, you head out first. Time is almost up. I''ll take another look. If there''s really nothing good, I''ll just take this Lion Tiger Gold Shattering Roar." Xiao Yan patted Xun Er''s shoulder and gave her a wink. A strange light flashed in Xun Er''s beautiful eyes. She smiled sweetly, nodded, and left the Book Collection Hall with the scroll. When Wu Hao and Hu Jia saw Xun Er leaving and Xiao Yan standing at the entrance with a smile on his face, they glanced at each other and subconsciously swallowed, then quietly left the Book Collection Hall without searching further. In their hearts, they silently prayed for Bai Shan. This fellow still hadn''t realized who was targeting whom. When everyone had left, and only Xiao Yan and Bai Shan remained in the Book Collection Hall, the energy walls emitted a faint glow, and a suction force appeared at the entrance, trying to pull them out. "Damn it! Are there really no other Di Class Dou Techniques?!" Bai Shan was extremely frustrated. He had just seen several clusters of light with strong energy, but failed to obtain any of them because of Xiao Yan. With a buzz, a silver-white cluster of light suddenly flew out from the wall. Bai Shan recognized it as the cluster of light containing the Di Class Dou Technique he had almost grabbed at the very beginning! That''s mine!" Bai Shan let out a loud roar, his entire body erupting with Dou Qi, transforming into a white shadow and charging toward the cluster of light. That cluster of light seemed to be waiting for him, not moving at all. "Got it!" Bai Shan grabbed the cluster of light, but in the next second, his soul felt a piercing pain. The cluster of light in his hand seemed to be stimulated and whooshed out of his grasp, flying back into the energy wall. His face instantly turned pale, full of frustration. "How could this be? What exactly is going on?!" "Senior Brother Bai Shan, I thought you were just pretending to be stupid, but I didn''t expect you to be truly stupid." Xiao Yan crossed his arms, grinning as he looked at the still-confused Bai Shan. Bai Shan abruptly turned to look at Xiao Yan, suddenly realizing what had happened. He exclaimed, "It''s you! This is all your doing!!" Xiao Yan immediately burst into laughter, doubling over as he said, "Didn''t you hear what the Deputy Headmaster said earlier? In the past, there have often been students who obtained no rewards and left empty-handed. Did you think it was because they were greedy?" When Xiao Yan first entered, he had understood. Those students didn''t fail because of greed. They failed because they were obstructed by others. "Jie Jie Jie, if you can take any reward out of this Book Collection Hall, I''ll write my name ''Xiao Yan'' backward." Xiao Yan spread his Eagle Wings; Mao Wu emerged from the void and stood on his shoulder. A powerful black flame enveloped the Eagle Wings, turning them into Black Flame Wings. Xiao Yan hovered silently in the air, looking down at Bai Shan. Though killing was prohibited in the academy, and students couldn''t be severely injured without reason, Xiao Yan could still prevent him from obtaining any resources. Bai Shan was incredibly regretful now. He had been basking in the limelight of the Outer Academy for too long. Xiao Yan had only arrived four months ago and had basically been training Xiao Ning and the others in the Dou Technique Hall, almost like an invisible person. He still hadn''t realized that Xiao Yan was someone he couldn''t afford to offend. No matter how Bai Shan tried to snatch the clusters of light, just as they were about to be in his grasp, the empty space would distort, and a wisp of black flame would shoot out to knock the cluster of light away. Xiao Yan was like a cat playing with a mouse. Since someone didn''t know his place, he naturally had to teach him a good lesson. "Ah! Damn it!!" The suction force grew stronger and stronger, finally pulling away the empty-handed Bai Shan, leaving only his unreconciled roar echoing. At this point, Xiao Yan was also about to be unable to resist the force pulling him out, but the corner of his mouth curled into a meaningful smile. "''No matter how many you can pick up, you can only bring out one item from the Book Collection Hall. Do not be greedy; otherwise, you may end up with nothing...'' I''d like to see whether the rules of your Book Collection Hall are stronger or the power of the Nihility Devouring Flame is stronger." Boom boom boom!! Mao Wu. (ËÄËÄ) Meow! Mao Wu frowned and turned its head away. Those are mine. "Don''t worry, you won''t miss out this time. I promise to refine pills for you." Only after hearing Xiao Yan say this did Mao Wu spit out all the ''loot''-a total of over twenty clusters of light! If the Deputy Headmaster saw this, he''d probably want to kick Xiao Yan out of Jia Nan Academy. This was like letting a mouse loose in a granary! Xiao Yan crushed these clusters of light one by one. None of them contained scrolls; they were all extremely precious medicinal ingredients and two high-tier pill recipes. High-tier pill recipes were equivalent to Di Class Dou Techniques for Xiao Yan. "Middle-Grade Tier 6 Pill-Golden Soul Pill. A pill that can temporarily enhance the soul. After consumption, it adds a golden spiritual layer to the soul, strengthening one''s Spiritual Strength for a period." "High-Grade Tier 7 Pill-Mysterious Flame Red Pill. When consumed by a fire-attribute Dou Ancestor, it can increase their cultivation by one star." Xiao Yan revealed a satisfied smile when he saw the two pill recipes before him. He now only lacked the alchemy experience to advance to Tier 6. He had set goals for himself upon entering the Inner Academy: obtain the Fallen Heart Flame to evolve the Flame Mantra, elevate his alchemy skills to tier 6 and above, cultivate all his Dou Techniques to at least minor mastery, and raise his cultivation to the Dou King realm or higher. Oh right-and also help Queen Medusa condense a physical body. He almost forgot about that. Xiao Yan stored all the pill recipes and medicinal ingredients into his storage ring and toyed with the Lion Tiger Gold Shattering Roar scroll in his hand. He had read the introduction to this Lion Tiger Gold Shattering Roar. It involved condensing Dou Qi in the abdomen and throat, utilizing a special Dou Qi circulation method to attach Dou Qi to one''s voice, thereby producing shockwave attacks against enemies. Because it was a special sound wave, it possessed penetrative power and area-of-effect damage. However, this was only a High Xuan Class technique, which seemed a bit lacking compared to the Di Class Dou Techniques he was currently cultivating. "Sigh, it seems I still need to make a trip to the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop. I have a little over 20,000 soul points left. If that''s not enough, I might have to sell some pills to Hun Lao Gui." If it were just for that trace of dragon aura from the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill, then the Lion Tiger Gold Shattering Roar would suffice. But Xiao Yan discovered a problem. The special ability of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame could amplify that trace of dragon aura. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame could strengthen the power of all magical beasts. If combined with its special ability, the Lion Tiger Gold Shattering Roar wouldn''t be enough to fully utilize it. Since they had two days of rest before entering the Inner Academy, Xiao Yan rested for a day. Early the next morning, after notifying the others, he flew out of Jia Nan City and arrived at Peace Town. ... After donning his Soul Robe, Xiao Yan walked into the small alley that had set him on this path of no return. Now, he knew that this alley had a spatial seal, and it was even more advanced than the Space Lock of the Hall of Souls. After two years, Xiao Yan once again looked up at the dilapidated signboard that seemed like it would collapse at any moment. This time, he pushed the door open without hesitation and entered the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop. Xiao Yan stepped into the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop. The shop remained unchanged. It seemed that no matter how many years or millennia passed, this shop would remain the same, as if nothing on the Dou Qi Continent could affect it. Hun Lao Gui was still the same as two years ago, sitting in his chair as if he hadn''t moved since Xiao Yan left. When Xiao Yan stepped in, the corpse-like Hun Lao Gui suddenly opened his eyes. His yellowed eyes flashed with a glimmer of soul light as they swept over Xiao Yan. "Jie Jie Jie, advancing from a Soul Envoy to a Heaven Grade Protector in just two years. Such speed is rare even within the clan. Moreover..." Hun Lao Gui''s eyes narrowed slightly, as if he had noticed something, and said in a deep voice, "The Dou God Bloodline of the Xiao Clan- though very faint-you now possess it." Having obtained the Yin-Yang Twin Flame, Xiao Yan naturally knew about the matters between the Hun Clan and the Xiao Clan. However, he showed no fear, merely revealing a faint smile. Walking up to Hun Lao Gui, he placed his Soul Command Token on the table and said with a smile, "I don''t know what you''re talking about. I''m just here to purchase something." Hun Lao Gui revealed an unsightly smile and slowly said, "Jie Jie Jie, it''s all the same. Without becoming a Dou God, all are mere mortals." Xiao Yan waved his hand, not wanting to discuss these matters. Currently, what the Hun Clan truly feared was the Gu Clan; they wouldn''t think highly of him at all. "I''m here to exchange for items. Do you have any sonic-type Dou Techniques of Di Class or higher?" Chapter 225: Chapter 225: Rob Them All! Chapter 225: Chapter 225: Rob Them All! ? Word Count: 3,240 Words ****** Upon hearing Xiao Yan''s words, Hun Lao Gui''s eyes drooped slightly, as if he were beginning to feel drowsy. "As long as you can afford the price," Hun Lao Gui replied slowly, his voice sounding weak and listless. Xiao Yan smiled and said, "I still have over 20,000 soul points on my Soul Command Token. If that''s not enough, I can sell some tier 5 medicinal pills. I have both Dou King Pills and Emperor Breaking Pills." "Moreover, I have a High Xuan Class sonic-type Dou Technique scroll, the Lion Tiger Gold Shattering Roar. It hasn''t been read yet, so it should fetch some soul points, right?" Xiao Yan took out two jade bottles containing pills and the Lion Tiger Gold Shattering Roar scroll he had just obtained from the Book Collection Hall. Like pill recipes, Dou Technique scrolls were imprinted with Spiritual Strength; the more they were read, the more blurred the soul imprint became. Since Xiao Yan didn''t plan to cultivate the Lion Tiger Gold Shattering Roar, he might as well sell it. Hun Lao Gui looked at the pills and Dou Technique that Xiao Yan had placed on the table, and this time he did not ridicule his items as junk, but his gaze still didn''t hold them in high regard. After all, the Di Class Dou Technique that Xiao Yan wanted to exchange for was quite valuable. "Even the weaker Low Di Class Dou Techniques are worth over 60,000 soul points. The items you have here add up to only 10,000 to 20,000 soul points at most." Hun Lao Gui glanced at Xiao Yan and shook his head. Sonic-type Dou Techniques were relatively rare to begin with, especially those of Di Class. Only Dou God Clans could probably bring them out. Xiao Yan smiled awkwardly, scratched his cheek with his finger, and said, "Well, uh, is it possible to buy on credit here? Or maybe give me a discount?" Hun Lao Gui seemed amused by his words. Revealing a mouthful of yellowed teeth, he laughed, "The Soul Sacrifice Old Shop never sells on credit." "However, I do have a scroll here that''s relatively cheap and should suit you." Hun Lao Gui slowly raised his withered right hand and reached into the shelf behind him. That withered hand actually passed through the shelf and reached deep inside! Soon, as if pulling something out of a four-dimensional pocket, he retrieved a purple scroll. The moment this scroll appeared, the trace of dragon aura that Xiao Yan had obtained from consuming the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill began to tremble, as if encountering something terrifying, and recoiled. Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed as he stared at the scroll Hun Lao Gui placed on the table. Just the aura emitted by this scroll was impressive! How could such a thing be cheap?! "What kind of Dou Technique is this?" Xiao Yan asked in a deep voice. "Jie Jie Jie, this isn''t a Dou Technique, but a Beast Technique," Hun Lao Gui laughed. "Beast Technique?!" Xiao Yan frowned deeply. He had heard of Beast Techniques before. When Yun Yun had negotiated with the Amethyst Winged Lion King for the Purple Spirit Crystal, she had offered to provide a Dou Technique that magical beasts could cultivate. The Dou Techniques used by magical beasts were called Beast Techniques. As the name implied, Beast Techniques could only be cultivated by magical beasts, so they were much cheaper compared to human Dou Techniques. "You must have consumed the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill and have a trace of dragon aura hidden within your body. This Beast Technique is precisely one cultivated by the Dragon Race," Hun Lao Gui said slowly, flicking his finger to send the scroll flying toward Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan immediately frowned as the scroll landed in his hand. The scroll felt very strange, as if it were made from the hide of a magical beast! "Low Di Class Beast Technique-Ancient Dragon Roar. A Beast Technique that simulates the roar of the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe. When cultivated to perfection, it resembles the roar of an Ancient Void Dragon: sound waves travel thousands of miles, dragon might surges vast and mighty, shattering gold and stone, causing souls to lose focus, even tearing the empty space and annihilating souls." "Note: This Beast Technique simulates the roaring sound of the Ancient Void Dragon. Cultivation requires possessing dragon bloodline and containing dragon aura." Xiao Yan''s heart trembled. This Beast Technique was actually just a simulation of the Ancient Void Dragon''s roar! ''The Ancient Void Dragons are this powerful!'' Xiao Yan had read about some powerful magical beasts in the ancient books stored in his storage ring. According to legend, the Ancient Void Dragons were born with mastery over Spatial Strength and could traverse the void. Their strength was incredibly formidable, making them the undisputed strongest Magical Beast Tribe. Just simulating the dragon roar of the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe constituted a Di Class Beast Technique! No wonder Hun Lao Gui would recommend this Beast Technique to him. Generally speaking, the reason humans couldn''t cultivate Beast Techniques was that they couldn''t meet the cultivation requirements. Where would ordinary people get dragon aura from? Xiao Yan wasn''t a human-dragon hybrid. But due to the miraculous effects of the pill, his body contained a trace of dragon aura. With a puzzled expression, Xiao Yan said, "Are you sure I, as a human, can cultivate this? This isn''t a Dou Technique, and to imitate the Ancient Void Dragon-how could I possibly do that alone?" Hun Lao Gui shook his head and replied, "No one has ever tried. But among Di Class sonic- type Dou Techniques, this is the cheapest. You can''t afford the others." Xiao Yan quickly pondered. ''If it''s just a trace of dragon aura, it might not be enough. But I also have the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. The special ability of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame allows me to beast-transform. Combined with the dragon aura from the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill, perhaps I can cultivate it.'' Half-believing and half-doubting, Xiao Yan looked at Hun Lao Gui and said, "I won''t include the Lion Tiger Gold Shattering Roar. I''ll exchange this Ancient Dragon Roar for the over 20,000 soul points on my Soul Command Token, plus these pills." "Deal." Hun Lao Gui waved his hand, taking away the pills refined by Xiao Yan and deducting all the soul points from his Soul Command Token. Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned. So straightforward?! He felt like he''d been tricked. Could it be that this Beast Technique had been unwanted for a long time, so he was eager to get rid of it?! I''ve been duped! - After returning to Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Yan did not immediately begin cultivating the Ancient Dragon Roar. Instead, he used his Spiritual Strength to read and slowly digest and contemplate the spiritual information contained within the scrolls of the Three Thousand Lightning Movement and the Ancient Dragon Roar. Xiao Yan had considerable experience in cultivating Di Class Dou Techniques. After all, he''d been cultivating the Flame Splitting Tsunami for many years. Without anyone to instruct him, Xiao Yan needed to spend more time pondering the principles of the Dou Techniques to cultivate them successfully. "Oh?" The two elders'' eyes showed a hint of surprise as they also looked at Xiao Yan. To their astonishment, they found that they couldn''t see through his strength. It was blocked by a strange Spiritual Strength! ''He does seem quite extraordinary.'' the two thought in amazement. "Yo, what a beautiful girl! Looks like the Inner Academy''s beauty rankings will have a new addition." Several young men standing behind the elders instantly had their eyes light up as they whistled and laughed. "Silence! If anyone dares to spout nonsense again, I''ll deduct five days of tower cultivation time!" Elder Su turned and scolded sharply. Those young men immediately shut their mouths, their smirks vanishing. Clearly, the so-called deduction of ''tower cultivation time'' was something they greatly feared. After reprimanding that group of young people into silence, Elder Su turned back and slowly said to Xiao Yan and the other new students, "You''re all newcomers here. I hope you can adapt to this place as much as possible. If you do, you''ll reap immense benefits. Look at these rascals. They passed the Outer Academy Qualifying Competition the previous year but only ranked near the bottom. Yet now, after just one year, I dare say their strength could definitely place them in the top ten among you." Xiao Yan smiled slightly upon hearing this. It was natural for one''s cultivation to advance quickly when leveraging the power of the Fallen Heart Flame. That was a Heavenly Flame known as a ''cultivation cheat,'' after all. "Alright, I won''t say much more. Although you''ve passed the Qualifying Competition and obtained the right to enter the Inner Academy, it''s not over yet." Elder Su smiled and raised his hand. A large handful of pitch-black crystal cards appeared in his palm. With a casual flick, the cards shot out, hovering in front of everyone as if they had eyes. When Xiao Yan saw these cards, his eyes narrowed slightly as he revealed a meaningful smile. Similarly, people like Hu Jia, Bai Shan, and Wu Hao carefully stored away their Fire Crystal Cards; they had long heard about the function of these items. Seeing that many people had confused expressions, Elder Su laughed and said, "Some things are troublesome to explain. You''ll understand once you experience them yourselves. I can only tell you that these items and the numbers on them are extremely precious and are the most valuable things in the Inner Academy." "Remember, the numbers on the crystal cards in your hands are immensely tempting to those fellows behind me. Therefore, they will use every means except killing to snatch the Fire Energy from your cards." "As long as you aren''t caught by them and successfully reach the Inner Academy, you''ll receive a final reward. The earlier you arrive, the more abundant the reward." Elder Su suddenly pointed to the dark forest behind him. "In the Inner Academy, we call this forest plunder the ''Fire Energy Hunting Competition."" "Now, I announce that this year''s ''Fire Energy Hunting Competition'' officially begins! Students, begin your escape-" Elder Su hadn''t even finished speaking when a black shadow flashed past the two elders with lightning-like speed. The Inner Academy student who had just whistled at Xun Er didn''t even have time to react before the shadow appeared before him. Boom!!! A loud impact sounded. All the Inner and Outer Academy students-even Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan and the two elders-didn''t have time to react. They turned their heads to look behind them. What they saw was Xiao Yan''s foot fiercely stomping on that Inner Academy student''s face, shattering all his front teeth. Xiao Yan revealed a brilliant smile, turned his head, and said, "Hand over all your Fire Crystal Cards to me!" "Don''t even think about running away. If any of you dare to escape, I''ll break your arms and legs and still take your cards!" Everyone was stunned. Even the two elders were shocked. What are you doing?!!! "You... you!" The Inner Academy students pointed at Xiao Yan, momentarily at a loss for words. Did you get the wrong script?! Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed as he took out the Heavy Xuan Ruler from his storage ring. The aura of a 2-star Dou Spirit erupted fully. "That''s right, this is a robbery." "And you two elders-hand over your Fire Crystal Cards as well." ??????? You''re even robbing the elders?! Chapter 226: Chapter 226: Great Demon Xiao Chapter 226: Chapter 226: Great Demon Xiao ? Everyone present was petrified at this moment. Xiao Yan had defeated one of last year''s top fifty Outer Academy students with ghost-like speed! One must know that these students had been cultivating in the Inner Academy for a whole year. All of them had experienced the accelerated cultivation provided by the Fallen Heart Flame within the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. The weakest among them was at least a Dou Grandmaster, and some were even on par with Bai Shan and Wu Hao. To see the tables turned so drastically was absolutely unprecedented! Such an outrageous scene left the two Inner Academy Elders incredulous. They looked at each other, utterly dumbfounded. Xun Er covered her mouth and chuckled softly. She wasn''t at all surprised by Xiao Yan''s actions. After all, they had done similar ''bad things'' together not long ago. She walked over to his side with graceful steps. Although she didn''t say a word, her actions clearly showed her support for him. The two Inner Academy elders saw Xun Er standing next to Xiao Yan and finally snapped out of their stupor. Their beards bristled in anger as they exclaimed, "You brat are too arrogant! We are elders, after all, and you dare to rob us?" They had never heard of such a thing happening before. Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous! The Outer Academy students were rebelling! Never had they seen someone so audacious. All the elders were once Inner Academy students. Once students reached the Dou King realm, there wasn''t much more that Jia Nan Academy could teach them. They would either leave the academy to make their mark in the outside world or stay to become elders. Just like the two guardians of the Book Collection Hall, who, after serving the students for a certain period, could earn the opportunity to enter the hall and select Qi Methods or Dou Techniques. The elders and Outer Academy instructors received Fire Energy instead. Xiao Yan hefted the Heavy Xuan Ruler onto his shoulder and pursed his lips as he glanced at Bai Shan, "Ah, elders, you should be considerate of us students. This Bai Shan is really unreliable. I thought he could call in some Dou Spirit-level Inner Academy students so I could rob more Fire Energy. Who knew it''d be just this?" Xiao Yan was somewhat puzzled. He had deliberately provoked Bai Shan, intending for him to bring some stronger Inner Academy students to participate in this Fire Energy Hunting Competition. Before him, the twenty or so students were last year''s top fifty in the Inner Academy Qualifying Competition, but they were mostly those who ranked lower. He didn''t even have to look to know that these guys were at the bottom in the Inner Academy. Their Fire Energy probably wasn''t even enough for themselves. Even if he wanted to rob them, there wouldn''t be much to take. He had hoped that this Bai Shan fellow could bring him some big fish. But what frustrated him was that there wasn''t even a single Dou Spirit among them. The highest cultivation among them was only a 7-star Dou Grandmaster. Were they looking down on him, a 2-star Dou Spirit? These senior students must be crazy; they dared to come and rob him? So Xiao Yan had no choice but to set his sights on the two elders. These two elders should have quite a lot of Fire Energy, right? When Bai Shan heard these words, he was momentarily stunned. He realized that he had been outwitted by Xiao Yan! "Xiao Yan! Don''t be too arrogant! My cousin is the captain of the Black Demon Group this time! Their group is guarding the exit! These senior students from last year are nothing compared to the Black Demon Group!" Bai Shan snorted coldly. He wasn''t afraid of Xiao Yan robbing his Fire Energy at all. No matter how much Fire Energy Xiao Yan stole now, once they reached the exit, his cousin Bai Feng would help him take revenge! Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of a smile as he thought to himself, ''Finally, there''s some big fish to catch.'' As an alchemist, obtaining information about the Inner Academy was incredibly easy for him. With just one pill, he could extract all the details from an Inner Academy student. In addition to the twenty or so before him-last year''s top fifty who had the qualification to rob the freshmen''s Fire Energy-there were also ten students known as the ''Black White Evil Stopper,'' who specifically guarded the exit of the forest. Their purpose was to teach a lesson to some of the more rebellious students-the top five, to be exact. That sensible and ever-obedient good kid Xiao Ning immediately squatted down and thoroughly searched the defeated Inner Academy student. From his pocket, he pulled out a blue Fire Crystal Card. "Little Clan Leader, here." Xiao Yan took the blue Fire Crystal Card handed over by Xiao Ning. The number ''27'' flickered on it, causing him to show a disdainful expression. "Only 27? You''ve been in the Inner Academy for a year, and this is all you have? How embarrassing." He shook his head helplessly. Holding both a black and a blue card, he pressed them together firmly. Amidst the flickering light, the number on his black Fire Crystal Card changed from 5 to 23, while the light blue card shrank to 9. "Only able to extract two-thirds? Sigh." Xiao Yan sighed and shook his head. He knew that Fire Energy was the hard currency within the Inner Academy. Whether it was entering the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower or trading with other students, Fire Energy was indispensable. Therefore, he had planned early on to carry out a good round of plundering today. Seeing that Xiao Yan had truly taken away the senior student''s Fire Energy, the remaining twenty or so senior students couldn''t stay calm. How could there be such a monstrous freshman in this year''s Outer Academy?! A Dou Spirit?! Are you kidding?! Clearly, Xiao Yan''s reputation hadn''t spread widely enough. After all, while the students in the Outer Academy wanted to know news about the Inner Academy, how could those students in the Inner Academy who considered themselves high and mighty pay attention to the happenings of the Outer Academy? Xiao Yan licked his lips and smiled. "Alright, you can choose to obediently hand over your Fire Crystal Cards, or you can try to run." Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan watched this scene with twitching eyelids. While there had been cases of the top five new students uniting to resist senior students before, seeing someone like Xiao Yan start an outright robbery single-handedly from the very beginning was a first. "Such arrogance, but I''ve seen many like him before. None ended up doing well in the Inner Academy," a tall and sturdy Inner Academy student sneered. Judging from his position, he seemed to be the leader of the senior students. His skin had a strangely grayish-white color, looking almost like stone. His arms were about a size larger than ordinary people''s, exuding an oppressive sense of strength. Clearly, this youth specialized in powerful physical combat. Last year, he had also seen the top five of his class unite to resist, but they were still beaten into submission by the Inner Academy senior students. "Don''t think you can strut around the Inner Academy just because you''ve reached the Dou Spirit realm. In the Inner Academy, even a 2-star Dou Spirit can''t make it onto the Strong Ranking." Beside him, a youth whose face always wore a slight smile shrugged at Xiao Yan and said, "I admit you''re quite strong, but we don''t intend to fight fairly." "Leng Bai, Xiu Yan, let''s take action together. This kid is a 2-star Dou Spirit. He''s not simple!" "Got it!" Xiao Yan sighed. He found this world rather strange. Why did every so-called genius think that just because they could challenge someone of a higher level once, they could always do so? He didn''t deny that these people could defeat those old, weak, sick, or mediocre Dou Spirits whose cultivation was inflated by medicinal pills, whose Dou Qi was unstable, and who lacked powerful Dou Techniques or Qi Methods. But did he look like that? "Xun Er, help me stop anyone who tries to run." Xiao Yan held the Heavy Xuan Ruler, and a terrifying Dou Qi erupted from his body. !!!!! The faces of those senior students instantly changed dramatically. Their pupils contracted as an indescribable pressure descended upon them. At that moment, they felt as if a demon was gripping their throats, rendering them unable to utter a sound. Even the two Dou King elders'' expressions shifted. "This brat!" Holding the Heavy Xuan Ruler in one hand, Xiao Yan''s voice resonated deeply from his throat, "I originally planned to play a game of hide-and-seek, but I''ve changed my mind. I''ve decided to take your Fire Crystal Cards from your corpses." "Flame Splitting Tsunami!" Without further ado, Xiao Yan unleashed the Flame Splitting Tsunami directly at the twenty- some Inner Academy senior students before him. Even for students on the Inner Academy''s Strong Ranking, earning over a thousand Fire Energy wasn''t an easy feat. "Only a bit over a thousand? You guys are truly useless," Xiao Yan said with extreme disdain. Thirty people, yet they only had a little over a thousand Fire Energy. How shameful. Those senior students heard those words and were so angry that they almost threw their lives away to fight him. Robbing others and then complaining they''re poor?! Xiao Yan slowly turned his gaze toward the freshmen who had been watching from the sidelines and said indifferently, "Enjoyed the show? Time to pay up." !!? All the freshmen were dumbfounded. You''re robbing us too??? "Xiao Yan, we''re all freshmen." "That''s right! We should stand united." Xiao Yan crossed his arms over his chest and replied coolly, "You guys didn''t stand with me just now. How do I know you''re not just fence-sitters?" "Stop wasting words and hand them over quickly. Don''t force me to make a move. Even if my Dou Qi isn''t full right now, dealing with you all is just a trivial matter." If thirty senior students couldn''t defeat Xiao Yan, these forty-three freshmen were even less of a match, especially since he had Xun Er and the others behind him. Xiao Yan was confident in his ability to rob everyone present; that''s why he dared to be so arrogant. "Ahem, Xiao Yan, many things in the Inner Academy can''t be accomplished alone. I suggest you consider forming a faction and recruiting some capable individuals," Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan said lightly from the side. The hint in his words was very obvious. Give this old man some face and don''t target my granddaughter Hu Jia. Xiao Yan glanced at the Deputy Headmaster, thought for a moment, then said, "Hmm, I''ll let Hu Jia and Wu Hao off. You two owe me a favor." These two were practically royalty within the academy after all. One was part of the Law Enforcement Unit, and the other''s grandfather was the Deputy Headmaster. Hu Jia and Wu Hao exchanged glances and smiled bitterly without saying a word. They hadn''t even entered the Inner Academy yet, and this ''Great Demon'' Xiao Yan had already made enemies of both new and senior students. Moreover, if they guessed correctly, Xiao Yan''s next target would be the Black White Evil Stopper. Those two groups were the real fat meat, and Xiao Yan had likely been eyeing them for some time. In the end, there were a total of forty-one freshmen. Each could only get three points of Fire Energy, totaling a measly 123. Xiao Yan looked at the 1,373 on his Fire Crystal Card. He knew that this was actually not much; after all, he still had a clan to support. If he didn''t seize more Fire Energy now, how could he restore the Xiao Clan''s glory after entering the Inner Academy! Seeing Xiao Yan glance over, Elder Su forced a calm expression and said, "Xiao Yan, don''t delay any longer. If you can break through the Black White Evil Stopper and reach the exit, there will be additional rewards." Upon realizing that these two elders were the ones dispensing rewards, Xiao Yan instantly adopted a different demeanor. Grinning, he said, "Rest assured, elders. I will certainly live up to expectations." "Hey, Bai Shan, you have a map, right? Lead the way. I hope that cousin of yours has plenty of Fire Energy. Don''t disappoint me." Bai Shan couldn''t help but swallow hard when he saw Xiao Yan smiling at him. He finally felt regret now. If his cousin Bai Feng couldn''t defeat Xiao Yan, then it was certain that his life in the Inner Academy would be worse than death from now on! ''It''s fine; that won''t happen. Cousin has been in the Inner Academy for years and is an elite 4- star Dou Spirit. There''s no way he can''t beat Xiao Yan. Cousin will definitely win!'' Bai Shan had now pinned all his hopes on his cousin. ... At this moment, deep within the forest, ten Inner Academy senior students dressed in black and white attire sat leisurely on tree branches, chatting. "Bai Feng, why aren''t you properly cultivating in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower and instead came to serve as the captain of the Black Demon Group?? The Fire Energy reward for this task isn''t much, right?" a fair-skinned youth turned to look at a black-clothed young man not far away, whose features somewhat resembled Bai Shan. He had just stepped into the Dou Spirit realm and needed some Fire Energy, but Bai Feng had already reached the 4-star Dou Spirit stage and was striving to enter the Strong Ranking. Why would he bother with these minor tasks to earn Fire Energy? Bai Feng slowly opened his eyes and looked at Luo Hou, the captain of the White Demon Group. He said slowly, "Luo Hou, don''t underestimate them. I''ve heard that this year''s freshmen are particularly strong. It''s said there''s even a 2-star Dou Spirit among them." "A 2-star Dou Spirit?!!!" Not to mention Luo Hou; when the others from the White Demon Group heard this, their faces instantly changed dramatically. A freshman at the 2-star Dou Spirit stage?? They had relied on the acceleration from the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower for so many years to just barely approach Dou Spirit! "So you knew about this and came here on purpose? To save the face of the senior students?" Luo Hou''s expression grew serious. While he believed he could defeat a 2-star Dou Spirit, having Bai Feng around made things more secure. "Hmph, face or not, that guy offended my younger cousin, that''s all." Chapter 227: Chapter 227: Reaping a Bountiful Harvest Chapter 227: Chapter 227: Reaping a Bountiful Harvest ? Word Count: 3,374 Words ****** "You truly are a good cousin." Just as Bai Feng finished speaking, a voice suddenly echoed from the edge of the forest. All ten members of the Black White Evil Stopper turned their gazes toward the source of the voice. Shortly after, the branches within the forest began to shake rapidly. Then, one by one, figures swiftly darted out from the dense woods and landed on one knee under the sunlight. There were many figures-upon careful counting, there were actually no fewer than eighty people. Even Luo Hou and Bai Feng''s expressions changed slightly when they saw such a number. "How did they arrive so quickly?" "Are those people behind them the senior students who entered the forest to hunt?" "And those are freshmen? Why are they together?" The ten members of the Black White Evil Stopper exchanged puzzled glances, not understanding what could have caused such a scene. "Cousin! Save me!!" Bai Feng''s eyes narrowed as he looked at Bai Shan standing in front of Xiao Yan. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes. "So, you are the 2-star Dou Spirit named Xiao Yan that Bai Shan mentioned?" "I didn''t expect you to have gathered all the freshmen together. But even so, today, you have nowhere to escape." Bai Feng was not surprised that last year''s top fifty senior students were defeated by Xiao Yan. After all, those students were ranked near the bottom and hadn''t entered the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower many times during their year in the Inner Academy, as most of their Fire Energy had been exploited by other senior students. Xiao Yan, carrying the Heavy Xuan Ruler that was almost as tall as himself, raised his head slightly. His gaze swept across the field and finally rested on the ten black- and white-clothed youths standing on the tree branches. A hint of greed flashed in his eyes as he smiled, "You seniors must be the Black White Evil Stopper of this year''s Fire Energy Hunting Competition, right?" "White Demon Group, Captain, Luo Hou." The fair-skinned youth''s gaze swept over Xiao Yan, paused for a moment on Xun Er and Hu Jia, then locked tightly onto Xiao Yan in the center, and spoke slowly. In a deep voice, Bai Feng said, "Release my cousin." Xiao Yan smiled slightly and, mimicking Bai Feng''s tone, said in a deep voice, "Of course. Your cousin Bai Shan is truly a good person. He really helped me lure out a big fish like you." ?! Bai Feng frowned tightly. He didn''t understand what Xiao Yan meant. "Luo Hou, Bai Feng, be careful! This guy is very strong! He plans to rob you of your Fire Energy!" a senior student from the Inner Academy shouted. Luo Hou froze instantly. The purpose of the Black White Evil Stopper was to teach a lesson to the unruly freshmen. They didn''t covet the freshmen''s Fire Energy because they looked down on those mere three points. They had task rewards in the form of Fire Energy, initially, they wouldn''t enter the forest to hunt freshmen. Over the years, the Black White Evil Stopper would knock down the top five freshmen who received rewards, beating them until they surrendered and lost their temper. Only then would they clear the path and deliver that classic line: In the Inner Academy, if you''re a dragon, you must coil; if you''re a tiger, you must crouch. Then they would allow them to pass and enter the Inner Academy. After all, freshmen who obtained rewards from the Book Collection Hall were indeed prone to arrogance. They had even forgotten that the Black White Evil Stopper was also considered a team hunting for Fire Energy and could be counter-robbed! "Hmph, as expected of an unruly freshman. If you think that just because you''ve cultivated quickly and reached the Dou Spirit realm, you can run rampant in the Inner Academy, then you are gravely mistaken. You should know that geniuses often die young." The cold air around Bai Feng''s body grew even denser. A powerful aura rose from within him, enveloping the surrounding piles of rocks and trees. Some of the weaker freshmen couldn''t help but change their expressions under the oppressive force of this aura, which was even stronger than iron sand. A hint of seriousness appeared on Xiao Yan''s face as he felt the cold oppressive aura surrounding him. His eyes narrowed slightly. As expected, this guy was a genuine Dou Spirit, and his cultivation was even a bit higher than his own. With this thought, Xiao Yan took a step forward. Immediately, a majestic aura surged out from within his body. The Dou Qi generated by the Flame Mantra not only blocked the cold oppressive aura surrounding him but even pushed it back. Luo Hou''s expression changed upon seeing this scene. He stood beside Bai Feng, and only under their combined auras could they resist the overwhelming scorching aura emitted by Xiao Yan. "So strong!" "It actually takes two Dou Spirit experts joining forces to resist Xiao Yan''s aura!" The freshmen were all stunned. Everyone was a freshman-why was he so powerful? In this initial confrontation, Xiao Yan had actually gained the upper hand over the two captains. "Xun Er, you take Xiao Yu and Xiao Ning to help me hold off those other eight people. After I deal with these two, I''ll come to assist you," Xiao Yan said softly. "Don''t worry, Xiao Yan ge-ge." Xun Er smiled gracefully and nodded. Although the other eight people didn''t have Dou Spirit experts, they were all advanced Dou Grandmasters, and their strength was evident. As Xiao Yan locked onto Luo Hou and Bai Feng, Xun Er and the others beside him also began rapidly circulating their Dou Qi. Waves of powerful aura continuously rose, and their energies locked onto the other eight people nearby. "Hey, Xiao Yan, don''t say I owe you a favor. I can help you hold off one of them." Hu Jia stepped forward and stood beside Xun Er. "I''m repaying your favor." Wu Hao''s eyes were cold as he also stepped forward, intending to lend Xiao Yan a hand. Xiao Yan nodded and felt more at ease. Although Xun Er''s strength was extraordinary, it was naturally best to avoid using Secret Techniques if possible. "Alright, you can each have one of the Fire Energy Cards we seize." Naturally, robbery was not allowed in the Inner Academy. Therefore, this Fire Energy Hunting Competition was Xiao Yan''s only chance to obtain a large amount of Fire Energy at once. When Xiao Yan learned about this Fire Energy Hunting Competition, he understood that it was paving the way for him to obtain the Fallen Heart Flame. "Do you think that Bai Feng and Luo Hou can defeat that ''Great Demon'' Xiao Yan?" On a hillside, Elder Su smiled as he looked down at the two opposing sides below and couldn''t help but ask Elder Qing beside him in a low voice. "Regardless, they have some chance of winning. As for the rest, I can''t say for sure. After all, the Black White Evil Stopper has both individual strength and overall power. Moreover, with Bai Feng actively joining this year, their overall strength has increased quite a bit." "But although that kid Xiao Yan is fighting one against two, and his cultivation is inferior to Bai Feng''s, he has cultivated a Di Class Dou Technique. Even though he has already used it once, I believe he can at least use it one more time. If the two of them can''t withstand Xiao Yan''s burst, they might be defeated by him." Elder Qing shook his head; he was also uncertain He was genuinely strong. "Whirling Cold Spinning Staff!" As Luo Hou''s shout fell, the mist-like cold air swirling around the cold iron staff surged upward. The iron staff spun in a profound arc, sending a crescent-shaped blast of cold energy flying toward Xiao Yan. "Wind Blade Cross Slash!" From front and back, Bai Feng clasped his hands together, and a cyan-colored gale appeared in his palms. In the air, he slashed out a cross-shaped attack toward Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan immediately erupted with blood energy, activating the Mad Lion Chant, forming a blood-red protective layer around his body. Boom! The two Dou Techniques struck his protective layer simultaneously. ''Sigh, although the Flame Mantra has reached the Di Class, and the quality of my Dou Qi has improved significantly, those monsters on the Inner Academy''s Strong Ranking were probably all among the top five back then. They likely also have some Di Class Dou Techniques or Qi Methods.'' As long as one could get into the top five, they could try their luck in the Book Collection Hall. It wasn''t hard to deduce that those who could enter the top ten of the Strong Ranking would likely possess Di Class Qi Methods. If that were the case, then fighting those peak Dou Spirits with Di Class Qi Methods would be much more difficult than facing a Dou King like Elder Qing. It seems that running rampant in the Inner Academy wouldn''t be easy. The foundation of this Jia Nan Academy was not weak. ''Forget it, no need to drag this out. I''ll use the Heavenly Flame,'' Xiao Yan thought to himself after testing and understanding his own strength. Relying solely on Dou Qi without using the power of the Heavenly Flame, he couldn''t easily defeat the two Dou Spirits. Moreover, he felt he couldn''t always depend on his Spiritual Strength. If he were to clash with people from the Hun Clan in the future, how could his soul cultivation possibly be stronger than theirs? ''During my time at Jia Nan Academy, I must quickly improve my Dou Qi cultivation; otherwise, it''ll be troublesome if I encounter people from the Dou God Clans in the Central Plains.'' ''Let''s end this.'' Ten Thousand Beast Flame-Beast Transformation!! Xiao Yan shouted in his heart. A roar erupted from his throat. Transformed like a magical beast, he unleashed terrifying physical strength and turned into a red blur charging toward Bai Feng. Elder Su frowned deeply, his eyes unblinking as he stared at the beast-transformed Xiao Yan. "How did he turn into a form resembling a magical beast?" "I don''t know, but this might be his hidden strength. I heard from Hu Gan that he possesses a kind of Heavenly Flame," Elder Qing replied. "He''s truly a fortunate fellow. Just watch; after today, the power dynamics in the Inner Academy might undergo some changes," Elder Su said softly, without any change in his gaze. The result was no surprise. Using the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to enhance his body, Xiao Yan''s physical strength reached the terrifying level of a Rank 4 magical beast. Boom! With a single stomp, Xiao Yan sent Bai Feng crashing into the ground, announcing the end of this Fire Energy Hunting Competition. At this moment, two green-colored Fire Crystal Cards had appeared in his hands. Each card had over three hundred Fire Energy points! "Tsk tsk tsk, as expected of Dou Spirits. You guys are indeed wealthy." Xiao Yan didn''t hold back. Since they participated in this Fire Energy Hunting Competition, he didn''t care which team they were from; he would rob them all! In the Inner Academy, only with Fire Energy could one have everything. "You eight, what''s it going to be? Will you obediently hand over your Fire Crystal Cards, or do you want to end up like these two, beaten up by me before I take them myself?" Xiao Yan said with a grin. Moments later, looking at nearly three thousand Fire Energy points on his card, even Xiao Yan couldn''t help but grin from ear to ear. When he learned how precious this Fire Energy was, he knew he absolutely couldn''t miss any chance to obtain it. "You little brat, you''ve even robbed the Black White Evil Stopper. If word of this spreads in the Inner Academy, you might provoke public outrage and face a boycott," Elder Su and Elder Qing flew over from afar. "Esteemed Elders, this student has just entered the Inner Academy and is penniless. Moreover, this Fire Energy Hunting Competition is hosted by the academy. I''m merely following the rules," Xiao Yan spread his hands innocently. Asking him to return the Fire Energy was absolutely impossible! "Very well, this is something you''ve earned with your strength. As the victors of this year''s Fire Energy Hunting Competition, all the freshmen present can each receive twenty days'' worth of Fire Energy. As for you, Xiao Yan, Xun Er, Xiao Yu, Xiao Ning, Hu Jia, and Wu Hao- you six performed outstandingly and will be rewarded with green Fire Crystal Cards and an additional thirty days of Fire Energy." "Green Fire Crystal Card?" "Hehe, in the Inner Academy, Fire Crystal Cards are ranked from lowest to highest in five colors: black, blue, green, red, and purple. The black Fire Crystal Cards in your hands are the lowest grade. This kind of Fire Crystal Card only grants qualification to cultivate on the first and second floors of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. Blue Fire Crystal Cards correspond to the third and fourth floors, and so on. The lower the floor, the greater the benefits." Chapter 228: Chapter 228: A New Faction chapter 228: chapter 228: a new faction ? word count: 3,337 words ****** "you need to pay fire energy in exchange to upgrade your fire crystal cards within the inner academy. generally speaking, upgrading from a black fire crystal card to a blue one requires paying one hundred days'' worth of fire energy. upgrading from a blue fire crystal card to a green one requires two hundred days of fire energy, and to upgrade to a red fire crystal card, you need to pay three hundred." "now that you''ve received green fire crystal cards as a reward, that''s equivalent to saving three hundred days of fire energy. that''s not a small amount. among the senior students present, aside from luo hou, who just upgraded his blue crystal card to a green one a week ago, most of the others are still using blue crystal cards," elder su explained with a smile when he saw the confusion on xiao yan and the others'' faces. "three hundred days'' worth of fire energy?!" only after hearing this number did xiao yan and the others understand why the surrounding gazes were filled with envy. xiao yan had thoroughly robbed the senior students and the black white evil stopper in the forest, and even with the addition of this reward, it only amounted to about three thousand. from this, it was evident that obtaining ''fire energy'' within the inner academy wasn''t easy. moreover, xiao yan had to share some with xun er, xiao yu, and the others for their cultivation, so he actually didn''t have much left for himself. xiao yan frowned. according to elder su, if he wanted to get close to the fallen heart flame, he would need to descend to the lowest level, which meant he would need a purple fire crystal card. after elder su finished his explanation, he waved his hand, and six green crystal cards appeared. with a flick of his fingers, the crystal cards shot toward xiao yan and the others, and eventually hovered steadily in front of them. "the rewards are already inside. transfer the fire energy from your black fire crystal cards into these, and then return the black cards to me." wu hao and the others quickly complied. moments later, they handed the now-empty black fire crystal cards back to elder su. xiao yan walked up to elder su, wrapped an arm around his shoulder, and said, "elder su, isn''t this reward a bit too little?" elder su glanced at him, "you know how precious green fire crystal cards are, and you''re still saying it''s not enough?" "besides, didn''t you just rob nearly three thousand fire energy? and you''re still not satisfied? do you know what a huge sum of three thousand fire energy is in the inner academy?!" elder su''s beard bristled in anger. i advise you kid not to be too greedy. xiao yan immediately put on a pitiful face and said, "elder su, you see, this student has already reached the dou spirit realm. since luo hou needed to exchange for a green fire crystal card, doesn''t that mean dou spirits need to enter the fifth and sixth floors for it to be effective?" "i''m not boasting, but i estimate that the floors accessible with the green card might not be my limit," xiao yan said earnestly. things were indeed exactly as xiao yan said. the first floor of the blazing sky qi refining tower was basically for inner academy students below the dou grandmaster realm. the second floor was for low-star dou grandmasters, the third and fourth floors were for intermediate to 9-star dou grandmasters, and the fifth and sixth floors were for 1-star to 6- star dou spirits. only 7-star to peak dou spirits needed to cultivate on the seventh and eighth floors. even the monstrous geniuses in the top ten of the strong ranking didn''t need purple fire crystal cards; they only needed red fire crystal cards to enter the eighth floor, which was the student limit. purple fire crystal cards were generally reserved for the elders. however, people''s constitutions couldn''t be generalized. xiao yan possessed a heavenly flame. with its protection, he could get even closer to the fallen heart flame, meaning he could descend further to accelerate his cultivation. an ordinary 2-star dou spirit would find the green fire crystal card sufficient, but he estimated he could go even lower. elder su furrowed his brows. he knew that xiao yan possessed a heavenly flame. as an elder, he was aware that the fallen heart flame was beneath the blazing sky qi refining tower, and the cultivation acceleration within the tower was due to the emergence of a wisp of heart flame within one''s body, which helped accelerate the refinement of dou qi. ordinary people couldn''t withstand the intense burning of the heart flame to accelerate cultivation, which was why the academy divided the blazing sky qi refining tower into levels. but xiao yan, possessing a heavenly flame, definitely couldn''t be considered ordinary. with a swift motion, elder su flipped his hand, and a red fire crystal card appeared. "although there''s no such rule in jia nan academy, since you defeated the captains of the black white evil stopper with overwhelming strength, a green fire crystal card is indeed insufficient. i''ve decided to award you an even higher-grade red fire crystal card." xiao yan was truly unprecedented. in the past, there had been freshmen who broke through the black white evil stopper and walked out of the forest, but they all relied on schemes. some had freshmen deliberately create a disturbance to lure the tiger away from the mountain, some bribed with medicinal pills, and some even relied on connections. but for someone like xiao yan to crush them purely with strength was a first. grinning, xiao yan accepted the red fire crystal card. after transferring his points, he smiled and said, "thank you, elder." he was secretly glad he hadn''t tried to rob the elders; otherwise, this card might have been out of reach. "don''t try to divert attention. that green fire crystal card needs to be returned," elder su extended his hand. xiao yan pursed his lips; his attempt to shift the focus had failed. he reluctantly returned the green fire crystal card to elder su. the elder nodded slightly and said with a smile, "alright, since you''ve all passed the fire energy hunting competition, follow me into the inner academy." with that, the two elders turned and headed toward a set of stone steps leading up the hillside. ''i can finally enter the inner academy. i must obtain the fallen heart flame.'' staring at elder su''s back, xiao yan silently vowed. he was ready to enter the inner academy and find an opportunity to refine the fallen heart flame. this flame was extremely important to him; whether the flame mantra could reach the tian class depended on it. "let''s go." waving to xun er and the others, xiao yan took the lead. they followed elder su and began ascending the steps outside the forest. the stone staircase wasn''t particularly high. after just a minute or two, xiao yan and the others reached the top. with a small leap, they stood atop the hillside. as their gaze swept forward, the scene that appeared in their field of vision caused them to draw in a breath of cold air. "so this is the inner academy?" soft murmurs escaped from the mouths of the freshmen on the hillside. beyond the hill was an incredibly vast sunken basin. judging from its shape, it looked as if a gigantic meteorite had fallen from the sky and carved it out. within the basin, towering buildings stood densely packed. from their elevated position, they could see black figures darting and leaping atop the structures like fleas. as they extended their sight further, they discovered that the basin''s area was astonishingly vast. even at the limits of their vision, they could still only see towering buildings and lush greenery. it was hard to imagine that such an extraordinary place was hidden within the endless mountains behind jia nan academy! "hehe, little ones, welcome to the core area of jia nan academy: the inner academy!" elder su clapped his hands and laughed as he observed the awe on the freshmen''s faces. "there are so many strong individuals here," wu hao said softly, a hint of fervor flashing across his face. he longed to battle formidable opponents. of course, excluding overwhelmingly powerful ones like xiao yan. "alright, now that the hunting competition is over, all freshmen follow me back to the inner academy. we''ll get you settled in, and then you''ll truly become members of the inner academy. believe me, as long as you can persevere here, you''ll feel that all your progress was worthwhile when you leave." elder su''s gaze lingered on xiao yan and the others as he spoke slowly. not only xiao yu, but even wu hao, hu jia, and elder su were stunned. because even in jia nan academy they had heard of the latter three. it was reasonable for those three to form an alliance, but how did the xiao clan suddenly get involved? what kind of existence was this xiao clan? "could it be that your clan is very powerful?" wu hao asked. "just a small clan from a remote city, nothing special," xiao yan shrugged and explained. as members of the xiao clan, xiao yu and the others knew even better the strength of their own clan. what xiao yan said sounded like a fairy tale. what on earth had happened to cause their small clan from a remote city to form an alliance with those behemoths?! elder su said, "if you want to establish a faction, it will cost quite a bit of fire energy. i advise you to use your fire energy sparingly. although you did acquire quite a lot of fire energy, the inner academy doesn''t have teaching courses. as long as you have enough fire energy, you can enter the blazing sky qi refining tower to cultivate, which is more effective than any course." "furthermore, the inner academy also has places like the ''dou technique hall,'' ''qi method pavilion,'' ''mission hall,'' ''alchemy room,'' and so on. if you want to obtain qi methods or dou techniques, seek alchemy assistance, etc., you can check them out. of course, this is on the premise of having enough ''fire energy'' to exchange for them. compared to the outer academy, the inner academy is actually more free." "if you feel that your ''fire energy'' is insufficient but your hands are itching, you can go to the arena to earn more ''fire energy.'' of course, the prerequisite is that you must have sufficient strength. otherwise, you can only lose until you have nothing left." "so in the inner academy, fire energy is never enough." after pondering for a while, xiao yan transferred two thousand fire energy from his fire crystal card to xun er, then said, "xun er, distribute this fire energy. in a while, you and xiao yu can go with elder su to purchase a plot of land for our base. i want to establish a faction in the inner academy. this amount of fire energy should be enough for now." xun er nodded and asked, "then what should we name our faction in the inner academy?" xiao yan thought for a moment, then, as if recalling something, said, "let''s call it ''xiao hall."" "''xiao hall''??" - early the next morning, xiao yan woke up in the dormitory room arranged by the academy. yesterday, xun er had already rented a large plot of land from the academy. it was estimated that they could move in after a few more days. after washing up, xiao yan came downstairs, only to see, in the open space outside the door, two figures flickering and intertwining. mighty dou qi surged from within both of them, rippling through the hall. seated on a chair in the hall, xun er was smiling as she watched the two figures. when she heard footsteps, she turned around to see xiao yan walking down the stairs, and quickly stood up to greet him with a soft smile, "xiao yan ge-ge slept well?" "mm." xiao yan smiled and nodded, then glanced at the two battling figures and laughed, "what are those two up to again?" "perhaps because of the recent ''hunting competition,'' both wu hao and sister hu jia advanced to 6-star dou grandmasters during last night''s cultivation. when they got up this morning, they wanted to spar, so they started fighting," xun er covered her mouth and chuckled. "oh? they''ve advanced?" xiao yan raised his eyebrows, then shook his head in amazement. these two were indeed outstanding among the outer academy students of jia nan academy; such talent far surpasses ordinary people. "xiao yan ge-ge, are you going to the blazing sky qi refining tower today?" xun er asked. "mm, i''m going to take a look." hearing that xiao yan was going to the blazing sky qi refining tower, wu hao stopped sparring and said, "let''s go together. i also want to see what''s so extraordinary about that legendary tower." xiao yan nodded. the two had just set off together when they suddenly noticed more than a dozen people approaching from afar. xiao yan had a good memory and remembered that these people were all among the top fifty freshmen this year. those dozen or so freshmen saw xiao yan come out. they looked as if they had seen their savior. they surrounded xiao yan with tears in their eyes, and someone even knelt down and hugged his leg. "hey, hey, hey! what are you doing? i''m straight!" xiao yan kicked away the man hugging his leg. "senior xiao yan, big brother! i''m ah tai, a freshman. you must help us freshmen this time!" the one named ah tai, who had hugged xiao yan''s leg, cried out. "tell me what''s going on first," xiao yan said. "the senior students in this inner academy are going too far. yesterday, they made us pay protection fees, two days'' worth of fire energy per person. we knew that as newcomers, we shouldn''t be too confrontational, so we endured it and didn''t say anything, handing over the ''fire energy'' to them. but today they came again, saying that since we passed the competition and received twenty days'' worth of fire energy, we should pay even more," the young man named ah tai gritted his teeth and said indignantly. xiao yan narrowed his eyes slightly, then smiled and said, "i can help you, but why should i?" Chapter 229: Chapter 229: Declaration of War chapter 229: chapter 229: declaration of war ? word count: 3,507 words ****** xiao yan was not someone who would get up early without a benefit. while he had strength, he wasn''t an indiscriminate do-gooder who would roar at every injustice he saw. the freshmen weren''t surprised when they heard his words. after all, they had witnessed xiao yan''s ''utilitarianism'' in the forest-he recognized benefits, not people. he even robbed fellow freshmen. if the elders hadn''t offered him rewards, he might have tried to rob them too. "big brother xiao yan, we came to find you not because we expect you to exempt us from this harassment. we understand that, as newcomers to the inner academy, being bullied by senior students is inevitable. i''ve asked around through friends, and while in previous years freshmen also had to pay this so-called ''freshmen tribute fee,'' it was never as much as what they''re demanding from us. according to my friend, this year''s situation is like this because we freshmen passed the ''fire energy hunting competition'' and received a twenty-day fire energy reward. this has made some senior students who were previously robbed during their hunting competitions feel disgruntled, leading to this situation." ah tai sighed bitterly. people were always like this. it was not about having little, but about inequality; not about being poor, but about unfairness. learning that the freshmen not only weren''t robbed by the senior students but also passed the fire energy hunting competition and received substantial fire energy rewards made many people feel unbalanced. "we''re not blaming you, big brother xiao yan. you helped us freshmen obtain the twenty- day fire energy reward. among this year''s freshmen entering the inner academy, senior xiao yan''s prestige is the highest. so when we encountered such troublesome matters, we could only come to ask you to step forward, hoping you could help us freshmen avoid this endless exploitation. otherwise, we won''t even have enough to pay for cultivating in the ''blazing sky qi refining tower,'' and might even be harassed while trying to cultivate there. how can we talk about improving in the inner academy under such circumstances?" ah tai stared intently at xiao yan and continued, "we heard from big sister xun er yesterday that big brother xiao yan plans to establish a faction. we''re willing to pay you protection fees; we just hope that big brother xiao yan can lend a hand to help us." "oh? now that you put it that way, i''m actually quite interested." xiao yan smiled faintly and rubbed the storage ring on his finger. after pondering for a while, he grinned at ah tai and said, "since there''s business to be done, i''ll naturally take it." "here''s the deal. i''ve just established my own faction, and i need manpower for daily maintenance, guard duty, intelligence gathering, and so on. i won''t take advantage of you guys either. if you''re willing to join my xiao hall, then i, xiao yan, will provide you with protection. you''ll pay ten days'' worth of fire energy every month as your contribution, and you can earn additional fire energy by completing tasks assigned by the xiao hall." ah tai and the others exchanged glances upon hearing these words; it was evident that xiao yan wanted to recruit them. they were actually quite tempted. after all, his strength was evident for all to see; he had easily defeated both luo hou and bai feng. although xiao yan had just established his faction, its potential was imaginable. the dozen or so freshmen nodded. ah tai said, "alright, big brother xiao yan. besides us, there are about a dozen others who have also suffered bullying. i''ll go gather them now." "go ahead. once you''ve gathered them, wait at the entrance of the freshmen dormitory area." xun er and the others heard what happened at the door. after learning that xiao yan wanted to take all the freshmen under his wing, they discussed it and agreed with his approach. "let''s go welcome our new members at the entrance. i want to see who''s so bold as to bully members of my xiao hall." xiao yan waved his hand and strode out the door. behind him, xun er and the others exchanged glances, smiled, and quickly followed. outside the building was a tree-lined avenue. on both sides were the residences of the other freshmen. compared to the small building that xiao yan''s group of nine occupied, their accommodations were slightly more humble. it seemed this kind of treatment wasn''t something everyone enjoyed. as for bai shan, he had left the freshman dormitory early and run off to reside at the white gang''s base. when xiao yan and the others appeared at the dormitory entrance, the freshmen who had already gathered let out cheers and hurriedly made way for them. at the avenue''s exit, eight senior students wearing tower-shaped badges were blocking the way. behind them was a large crowd of senior students watching the show. clearly, they were happy to see the freshmen being put in their place, as many of them had gone through the same thing in their year. facing those eight senior students was ah tai, who had come to seek xiao yan''s help. at this moment, he was leading the freshmen, their faces grim as they confronted the seniors. "there''s no need for more words, kid. the freshmen tribute fee has been an unwritten rule in the inner academy for years. we haven''t been harsh on you, so hand it over obediently. spend money to avoid disaster, don''t you even understand that?" a young man who looked to be around twenty-five smiled as he looked at the scowling ah tai and the others. "hmph! don''t think we freshmen don''t know the rules. freshmen indeed have to pay a ''tribute fee'' to senior students, but the inner academy also has an unwritten rule that freshmen only need to pay up to two factions. after paying those two factions, if other factions still want to collect, they have to discuss it with those two factions. it has nothing to do with us anymore," ah tai retorted coldly. "heh, that''s under normal circumstances. but aren''t you freshmen quite strong this year? in all these years, we''ve never heard of a freshmen team counter-robbing senior student groups in the ''fire energy hunting competition.'' since you''re so unconventional, naturally, the rules for dealing with you have to be a bit special too," that young man grinned. at this moment, xiao yan''s lazy voice came from afar, "since you know about senior students being counter-robbed, yet still dare to come and collect fire energy, are you treating me, xiao yan, as if i''m dead?" "big brother xiao yan!" when ah tai saw xiao yan''s group approaching, it was as if he''d seen a savior. with xiao yan''s appearance, the surrounding freshmen erupted in cheers. through the ''fire energy hunting competition,'' xiao yan''s prestige among the freshmen had soared. now he was practically their idol! the faces of those few senior students sank upon hearing this name. they had inquired about xiao yan and knew that his strength was formidable. he was a 2-star dou spirit who had defeated luo hou and bai feng in a two-on-one fight. and bai feng had even entered the top hundred of the strong ranking before, albeit only for a few days before being knocked off. still, it proved he had some strength.no?v(el)b\\jnn therefore, some of the senior students in the inner academy were somewhat wary of xiao yan. "xiao yan, this is an established rule of the inner academy. we''ve already given you face by not provoking you; don''t bring trouble upon yourself. although you defeated luo hou and bai feng, you should know that in this inner academy, there are many stronger than them! some people you can''t afford to offend!" the young man was unwilling to lose face in public and could only stiffen his neck and snort coldly. xiao yan laughed as if he had heard a hilarious joke. "haha! of course, there are people i can''t afford to offend. but if you''re talking about those cats and dogs on the inner academy''s strong ranking, those peak dou spirits and whatnot, forget it." not just the tough-talking young man, but even those watching from behind had their expressions change dramatically when they heard his arrogant words. his words were practically challenging all the factions in the inner academy! he had insulted all the monstrous geniuses on the strong ranking in one sweep! "you... you''re not only offending my green gang but also challenging everyone in the inner academy!" xiao yan remained completely unafraid of this person''s attempt to escalate the situation and said with a cold smile, "since i, xiao yan, have established the xiao hall, and these freshmen are willing to join us, then whoever dares to bully members of my xiao hall¡ªeven if it''s the entire inner academy-i, xiao yan, will fight my way through!" that senior student''s throat tightened when he saw the cold glint in his eyes, and a bead of cold sweat dripped from his forehead. he could feel a genuine, chilling killing intent in the words of this youth who was much younger than himself. with a whoosh, xiao yan instantly appeared behind the green gang student who had been clamoring. his dou qi condensed into a rope and instantly bound this foolish fellow who was merely a 3-star dou grandmaster. feeling the sudden increase in temperature, xiao yan''s pupils suddenly contracted, and his palms clenched tightly at this moment. what he longed for was inside. "enter the tower!" "let''s go in as well." suppressing the yearning in his heart, xiao yan waved his hand at wu hao and took the lead in striding toward the mysterious black tower that was deeply buried underground. as they drew closer, xiao yan truly sensed the immense size of this black tower. this was only the floor exposed above ground, yet it was equivalent to a two- or three-story building. if the tip of the iceberg was already like this, it was hard to imagine how vast the tower body hidden underground was. the moment xiao yan stepped into the blazing sky qi refining tower, a wisp of invisible heart flame appeared within his body. instantly, white smoke began to sizzle from his body. beside xiao yan, wu hao, who had entered the tower at the same time, now had a flushed face. white mist was also emerging from his body in the same manner. "heh heh, every year there are reckless freshmen who can''t wait to enter the blazing sky qi refining tower. they deserve this suffering." laughter filled with schadenfreude erupted from the crowd. "truly two little fellows who don''t know the immensity of heaven and earth. entering the blazing sky qi refining tower for the first time without reporting in advance-they''re really getting a taste of unnecessary hardship." elder liu on this floor shook his head when he saw xiao yan and wu hao standing still with white smoke rising from their bodies. generally, when freshmen enter, they need to report in advance and even learn how to handle the heart flame and how to cultivate inside the blazing sky qi refining tower. only someone as impatient as xiao yan would rush in like this, and he even led wu hao astray. xiao yan merely smiled faintly when he noticed the appearance of the heart flame. with a "poof," a wisp of black flame emerged and devoured the invisible heart flame. "eh?" elder liu, who was watching from the side, was stunned for a moment. he had been prepared to take action. after all, freshmen entering the blazing sky qi refining tower for the first time lacked experience and didn''t know how to handle the heart flame, so they needed the elders'' assistance. but in just a moment, xiao yan had already recovered! this was completely unlike a freshman. xiao yan shook his head and lightly placed his left hand on wu hao''s shoulder. a wisp of black flame drilled into wu hao''s body and devoured the heart flame. "ha!!" wu hao came to his senses and frantically gulped air. he looked at xiao yan with some fear and said, "what was that just now? i felt like i was being burned alive." "what the fuck?!" elder liu and some of the gloating spectators were dumbfounded upon seeing wu hao also recover. was this still a freshman? xiao yan said to the heavily panting wu hao, "wu hao, you should go to the elder over there to learn the cultivation method." "what about you?" "me? this is only the first floor. how could i possibly stay on the first floor? i''m going to take a look below." with that, xiao yan followed a person with dou spirit strength and went deeper into the blazing sky qi refining tower. wu hao was speechless and muttered, "this guy is truly a freak." as xiao yan followed along, he observed his surroundings. inside the blazing sky qi refining tower were numerous cultivation rooms. they were divided into three types: the outermost rooms were low-grade, the middle ones were middle-grade, and the innermost were high- grade. outside the high-grade cultivation rooms hung plaques bearing the emblems of various factions, likely indicating that they were occupied by those factions. "why are you following me?" a cold, clear voice suddenly sounded. xiao yan looked toward the source of the voice. it came from a young lady with snow-white hair, the dou spirit he had been following. "um..." xiao yan felt a bit embarrassed, as he had indeed been following her. rubbing his nose, he said, "well, i want to go further down, but i don''t know the way." the beautiful young lady''s delicate brows knitted slightly. guessing that xiao yan was a freshman, she shook her head and said, "freshmen, regardless of their strength, need to cultivate on the first floor for a full week before they can enter the next floor." "ah? but the first floor has no effect on me. i think i need to reach the fifth floor for it to be somewhat useful." when the beautiful young lady heard xiao yan''s presumptuous statement, she no longer wanted to continue the conversation and simply said, "to enter the fifth floor, you need a green fire crystal card." xiao yan smiled faintly, took out a fire crystal card from his storage ring, and said, "i wonder if this will do." "a red fire crystal card!! how is this possible?!" han yue''s beautiful eyes widened. in the entire inner academy, those who possessed a red fire crystal card could be counted on one''s fingers, and among them, there was definitely no xiao yan! Chapter 230: Chapter 230: Arriving Just in Time Chapter 230: Chapter 230: Arriving Just in Time ? Word Count: 3,369 Words ****** ''A Red Fire Crystal Card! Who is this person!'' Han Yue was greatly surprised when she saw Xiao Yan take out a red Fire Crystal Card. She began to size him up, speculating about his true identity. Obtaining a Red Fire Crystal Card didn''t necessarily require high strength; as long as one had 600 days'' worth of Fire Energy, one could exchange for it. Moreover, Fire Energy was something that could be traded, meaning that as long as one possessed precious medicinal pills, treasures, or even Qi Methods, one could exchange them for a large amount of Fire Energy. "Hehe, if I''m not mistaken, you must be Xiao Yan, right?" Elder Liu, who had just been at the entrance, walked over upon hearing their conversation and said with a smile. He couldn''t help but look Xiao Yan up and down. Although he wasn''t entirely certain at first, after seeing Xiao Yan take out the Red Fire Crystal Card, he was now one hundred percent sure. It should be noted that shortly after Xiao Yan entered the Inner Academy, First Elder Su Qian, who was in charge of the Inner Academy, had informed all the elders of Xiao Yan''s situation. In particular, the various elders overseeing the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower were specifically told about Xiao Yan''s circumstances. After all, Xiao Yan possessed a Heavenly Flame, and they were concerned that the Heavenly Flame within him might produce some kind of reaction with the Fallen Heart Flame. Xiao Yan smiled, cupped his hands, and said, "Student Xiao Yan pays his respects to Elder Liu." Elder Liu nodded amicably at Xiao Yan, then turned to the silver-robed young lady and asked with a smile, "Yue girl, which floor are you planning to cultivate on this time?" The silver-robed young lady hesitated slightly before replying, "The sixth floor." "The sixth floor?!" Her reply immediately caused waves of astonished exclamations among the surrounding crowd. "That''s a place only accessible to those who have reached the strength of a 6-star Dou Spirit. Has Senior Sister Han Yue already reached that stage?" "Eh?" Elder Liu was also somewhat surprised by Han Yue''s answer. His eyes, containing a hidden gleam, slowly swept over her. After a moment, he sighed, "It seems that in a few years, you girl will be qualified to compete for an elder''s position in the Inner Academy. Such cultivation talent and speed are truly astounding." "It''s all thanks to the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. If I were cultivating on my own, I''m afraid I would have just barely reached the Dou Spirit realm by now," Han Yue shook her head. Elder Liu looked at Xiao Yan and asked, "What about you, little fellow? Which floor are you planning to go to?" Xiao Yan furrowed his brows in thought for a moment before saying, "I''ll also go to the sixth floor." ?! Elder Liu''s eyes flashed, revealing a look of interest. Beside him, Han Yue''s delicate eyebrows knitted slightly as she glanced at Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan quickly waved his hands with a bitter smile and said, "Senior Sister, please don''t misunderstand. I already have someone in my heart. Going to the sixth floor is purely because I believe I can cultivate there, not because I''m following you." Elder Liu smiled. He knew Xiao Yan''s strength and background. Given Xiao Yan''s abilities and possession of a Heavenly Flame, entering the sixth floor was indeed reasonable. Generally speaking, a 2-star Dou Spirit would find the fifth floor most suitable, but for Xiao Yan, who possessed a Heavenly Flame, the sixth floor was actually more appropriate. "If it were someone else, even with the strength of a 6-star Dou Spirit, I wouldn''t allow a freshman to enter the sixth floor. But for you kid, it''s acceptable." Elder Liu didn''t say much more and agreed to Xiao Yan''s request. Even the always elegant and aloof Han Yue showed a hint of shock in her beautiful eyes when she heard Elder Liu confirm that Xiao Yan was a freshman. A freshman?! A freshman who just arrived is entering the sixth floor!! "He-he''s a freshman?!" "Impossible! How could a freshman enter the sixth floor and even possess a Red Fire Crystal Card?!" The surrounding senior students, who were also planning to go to the next floor, immediately began whispering among themselves. Many students in the academy were focused on their own cultivation and hadn''t heard of Xiao Yan''s ''glorious deeds.'' Elder Liu saw more and more people gathering. He waved at Xiao Yan and said, "I''ll show you around the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower first, then we''ll head to the sixth floor." "Then I''ll have to trouble Elder Liu," Xiao Yan cupped his hands and nodded slightly. His etiquette and manners were impeccable, a clear indication that he was the young master of a clan. "Hehe, no need to be so polite." Within the circular space of the tower, cultivation rooms of varying sizes were arranged. As they walked slowly from east to south, Xiao Yan noticed that all the high-grade cultivation rooms seemed to be located near the center of the tower. Around them were the middle-grade cultivation rooms, and further out were the low-grade ones. "In this Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, these high-, middle-, and low-grade cultivation rooms generally need to be obtained through your own strength. The stronger you are, the better cultivation conditions you can secure. Those with weaker strength can only cultivate in the outermost low-grade cultivation rooms," Elder Liu casually explained to Xiao Yan while pointing at a cultivation room labeled as high-grade. Xiao Yan nodded slightly. Suddenly, his steps paused. Following his line of sight ahead, it could be seen that they had already walked to the central area of the tower. "This is...?" Somewhat stunned, he gazed at the bottomless black hole that appeared before him. He slowly walked forward two steps, came to the edge of the hole, and cautiously looked down. The pitch-black darkness extended as far as the eye could see. That kind of eerie darkness with almost no light made his head feel a bit dizzy. This black hole seemed to run through the entire Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. If not for the tower''s spire covering it, this deep, dark abyss might have been visible from the sky at a glance. Carefully sensing within this pitch-black deep hole, one could feel that the air here was much hotter than elsewhere. That feeling... it was as if something at the bottom of the deep hole was continuously emitting heat, supplying the entire Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. Xiao Yan extended his palm and grasped at the scorching air. Something within his body suddenly throbbed violently. ''Could it be that down below is...!'' His throat moved slightly as he stretched his head a little forward, his eyes fixed intently on the deep darkness. After a moment, a wisp of black flame flashed in his pupils. As the black flame surged into his eyes, the endless dark space below suddenly began to distort slightly. Following that, these distorted spaces, like colorless pythons, climbed upward toward the hole''s entrance at an extremely terrifying speed. "Xiao Yan, step back!" Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength was even stronger than Elder Liu''s. Before the latter could take action to save him, he had already taken a quick step back, pulling away from the edge. In the next second, a massive transparent python emerged from the black hole, staring fixedly at him. ''Fallen Heart Flame!'' Xiao Yan''s heart trembled! Meow! A voice suddenly sounded in his mind. Mao Wu confirmed his thoughts. Moreover, this was not just an ordinary Heavenly Flame but one that had already gained intelligence-just like Mao Wu! Following the Flame Mantra, Xiao Yan channeled streams of abundant Dou Qi continuously through his meridians and infused them within. When the Dou Qi reappeared after passing through the Heart Flame, what had been as thick as a thumb now became as thin as a strand of crystalline, transparent hair. ''This condensation speed!'' Xiao Yan''s heart trembled. After a Qi Method absorbed external Dou Qi, it needed to be continuously condensed. The higher one''s cultivation level, the more exaggerated the degree of condensation required, and naturally, the slower the progress. This was why Qi Methods were so important. If a Dou Spirit were still using a Huang Class Qi Method, advancing by one star might take ten years. With a Xuan Class, it might take one or two years. But Xiao Yan was using a Di Class Qi Method! A Dou Spirit using a Di Class Qi Method was like driving an F1 race car! ''I originally thought it would take over half a month to advance to a 3-star Dou Spirit. Now, with this Heart Flame assisting in condensing Dou Qi, perhaps it won''t even take two days to advance by one star!'' Though Xiao Yan had other plans initially, seeing the cultivation speed with the Heart Flame, how could he resist? He immediately sat cross-legged and pushed the Flame Mantra to its limits! Cultivators of other attributes would usually absorb a large amount of energy elsewhere before coming here to use the Heart Flame for condensation. But Xiao Yan was of the fire attribute, so he didn''t need to go elsewhere. The room was filled with abundant fire attribute energy, and with the Heart Flame''s assistance, he didn''t have to worry about impurities. The dense energy in the room now seemed to form a vortex, crazily surging toward Xiao Yan at its center! The astonishing absorption speed even produced a sound like an engine revving. The clusters of Heart Flame visibly decreased. The Dou Qi that flowed in like streams was refined by the Heart Flame into crystal-clear, hair-thin strands. Time flew during cultivation. In the blink of an eye, a day had passed. Xiao Yan suddenly opened his eyes and exhaled a mouthful of turbid air. He glanced at the number on his Fire Crystal Card. ''Twelve points of Fire Energy have been consumed. It''s been over a day.'' ''A Di Class Qi Method paired with the Heart Flame is simply too amazing! If I can refine the Essence Flame of the Fallen Heart Flame and evolve the Flame Mantra to the Tian Class...!'' A hint of boundless greed flashed in his eyes. He didn''t dare to imagine such speed! Wouldn''t that mean he could leap to the peak of Dou Spirit in less than half a year, and then with a medicinal pill, he could become a Dou King?! Moreover, the Dou Qi condensed by the Fallen Heart Flame was incomparably pure and solid without any hollowness. It could be said to be the perfect cheat tool! "Calm down, calm down. The more it''s like this, the more I can''t be impatient. There are two problems to solve if I want to obtain the Fallen Heart Flame." Xiao Yan forced himself to calm down. "First, the Fallen Heart Flame is sealed by a Dou Venerate''s seal. How to deal with this seal?" Meow! Space rippled as a small black cat emerged from the void, pointing at itself. "You mean to cooperate with the Fallen Heart Flame from inside and outside? You tear a gap in the seal, and it might be able to break through on its own?" Xiao Yan asked. ~o(=nwn=)m Mao Wu nodded, indicating that''s exactly the case. Xiao Yan rubbed his chin and muttered to himself, "Borrowing the Fallen Heart Flame''s own strength... This is indeed a good method." "Then there''s the second problem. After breaking the seal, how can the Fallen Heart Flame be handled... Although the seal set by a Dou Venerate isn''t as strong as the Dou Venerate themselves, the fact that even a Dou Venerate''s seal can barely contain it means the Fallen Heart Flame''s strength is at least at the Dou Ancestor realm." "Refining an intelligent Fallen Heart Flame with the strength of a Dou Ancestor-that''s a bit difficult." The Heavenly Flames Xiao Yan had previously refined were all without intelligence. In other words, apart from their extremely high temperature making them difficult to approach, these Heavenly Flames had no offensive power. But the Fallen Heart Flame was different. Having intelligence meant it was akin to a living being and would attack people! ''Should I ask the Protector from the Hall of Souls for help? Not to mention that hiring a Protector would cost at least thirty to forty thousand Soul Points, which I don''t have. Even if I could afford it, bringing someone from the Hall of Souls into Jia Nan Academy wouldn''t be helping; it would be outright robbery.'' ''Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan is already at the peak of Dou Emperor, and there''s also the rumored Dou Ancestor-level First Elder, not to mention those two mysterious Guardians. Could the Black-Corner Region''s branch hall overpower Jia Nan Academy?'' Xiao Yan and Mao Wu both sighed. For the moment, neither had a good solution. Just then! A beam of green light suddenly shot out from Xiao Yan''s storage ring. The Green Lotus slowly floated into the air. As it gradually opened, a seven-colored divine light emanated from within. Dressed in a gorgeous gown, Queen Medusa stood atop the Green Lotus. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly after surveying her surroundings. Looking down at Xiao Yan from above, she coldly said, "When are you going to reconstruct my physical body?" Xiao Yan''s heart surged with immense joy. Isn''t this Dou Ancestor-level combat strength arriving just in time?!! Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Having Bad Intentions Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Having Bad Intentions ? Word Count: 3,345 Words ****** A Dou Ancestor-level strength-wasn''t there one right here! Queen Medusa was as breathtaking as ever, her peerless beauty and figure capable of toppling nations. Even with a cold indifference on her face, it did nothing to diminish her enchanting allure. One could only imagine how captivating she would be if she were to grace the world with a smile. When he saw Queen Medusa appear, a gleam flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes as his mind raced, and an idea suddenly came to him! He immediately crouched by the wall, covering his face as if weeping. Even Mao Wu beside him mimicked his pitiful act. "Your Majesty might not know, but after enduring countless hardships, this humble one has finally managed to infiltrate the Inner Academy of Jia Nan Academy and reach the location of the Fallen Heart Flame. However, I''ve encountered a dilemma and am too ashamed to face Your Majesty. Boo hoo hoo..." "Meow meow meow... (boo hoo hoo...)" Xiao Yan and Mao Wu covered their eyes while sneaking glances at Medusa through their fingers. How could Medusa not see through Xiao Yan''s intentions? Wasn''t he just encountering trouble and hoping she''d help? Her eyes narrowed, and a surge of killing intent burst forth from her. Xiao Yan''s hair stood on end, and he immediately sat upright, assuming a well-behaved posture. "Stop wasting words. Get to the point." Medusa gave a cold stare, still exuding an unrivaled charm. Xiao Yan laughed awkwardly and said, "I believe Your Majesty has sensed the special Heart Flame energy surrounding this tower." Medusa could certainly sense it. A wisp of Heart Flame appeared within her when she first emerged, but she instantly crushed it with her powerful strength. "The Fallen Heart Flame is sealed here, and the entire space is filled with its energy. I originally planned to sneak into the Heavenly Flame space, refine the Fallen Heart Flame, and then use the energy from its space to reconstruct Your Majesty''s physical body. However..." Xiao Yan''s voice trailed off, his expression showing a hint of regret. Medusa quickly asked, "But what?" "Alas." Xiao Yan sighed deeply, expressing immense regret. "But man proposes, and heaven disposes. I never expected that the Fallen Heart Flame had already developed intelligence and transformed into a Fire Spirit." "It almost broke through the seal set by the Dou Venerate. With my strength, how could I possibly defeat a Fallen Heart Flame that has become a Fire Spirit?" Medusa finally understood what kind of medicine Xiao Yan was selling from his gourd-like mind. Turned out he couldn''t defeat the Fallen Heart Flame and wanted her to help subdue it. She knew even better than Xiao Yan how difficult it was to deal with a Heavenly Flame. Back then, even at the peak of the Dou Emperor realm, she had been seriously injured when facing the unintelligent Green Lotus Core Flame. Although part of the reason was that her Yin-cold constitution was restrained by the Heavenly Flame. Now, although her strength had increased and she had evolved into the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, no longer possessing the Yin-cold constitution, the Fallen Heart Flame was not the same as the Green Lotus Core Flame. Not only had it existed for a longer time, but it also had intelligence, and its strength had definitely reached the Dou Ancestor realm. A glint flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes upon seeing Medusa''s hesitation. He said, "Your Majesty used the Green Lotus Core Flame to evolve and temper your soul. If you could reconstruct your physical body using the power of the Fallen Heart Flame, then I could use the Ten Thousand Beast Flame along with a secret technique to activate your bloodline strength and merge your body. At that time, with the combined power of three Heavenly Flames, reaching the Dou Venerate realm would be certain. Given time, you might even ascend to the Dou Saint realm, becoming a legendary Demon Saint remembered throughout the ages." Xiao Yan''s sweet talk was even more melodious than a song; he was already talking big about reaching the Dou Saint realm. But there was no denying that what he said made sense. For someone like Medusa, who longed to pursue higher realms, obtaining greater talent and potential was a dream come true. Xiao Yan saw that Medusa was somewhat moved. He immediately sighed and said sorrowfully, "Alas, if I can''t refine the Fallen Heart Flame, I''ll have to search elsewhere for another Heavenly Flame. But to find another Heavenly Flame space filled with such abundant energy is extremely rare." Back then, the Green Lotus Core Flame didn''t have that much Heavenly Flame energy and only produced eleven Core-Fire Lotus Seeds. After all, it had existed for a short time before being taken by Medusa. However, the Fallen Heart Flame space was filled with violent Heavenly Flame energy, which was perfect for reconstructing her physical body. Medusa cast an annoyed glance at Xiao Yan, her eyes brimming with complex emotions. With a captivating glance, she coldly said, "I can agree to help you subdue the Fallen Heart Flame, but you need to show me some results first." This bewitching beauty, with such a demeanor, made Xiao Yan''s heart flutter. He quickly recited Xun Er''s name in his mind to steady himself and resist the temptation. "Of course, no problem. Although the energy here is a bit lacking and it''s not the most central location, it can still help accelerate Your Majesty''s growth." Just as Xiao Yan was about to use the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to manipulate the surrounding fire attribute energy and perform the secret technique, Medusa gave a cold snort and cast a sidelong glance at him. A flash of seven-colored light, and she reverted to her snake form, letting her clothes float back into the Green Lotus for safekeeping. "Tch!" Xiao Yan clicked his tongue, secretly regretting it. He had intended to use the Heavenly Flame during the secret technique to ''accidentally'' burn her clothes, but she had seen through his intentions! Damn it, it didn''t work after all! He quickly composed himself. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame appeared with a whoosh. Following the secret technique stored in his storage ring, he controlled the flame to envelop Medusa, who had transformed back into the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python. Medusa didn''t remain idle. She slightly opened her mouth and absorbed the surrounding Heavenly Flame energy. After about half an hour, Xiao Yan stopped. It wasn''t that he wanted to stop, but the surrounding Heavenly Flame energy had been completely consumed. He chuckled bitterly and shook his head helplessly. When he first entered, the surrounding energy had filled the entire room, dyeing it a deep red. Now, the entire space was bright and clear, revealing the original luster of the walls. Medusa had entirely consumed all the Heavenly Flame energy in this area. "How is it, Queen Medusa? I didn''t deceive you, did I?" Xiao Yan grinned as he looked at Medusa coiled on the Green Lotus. Medusa''s snake-like eyes stared at Xiao Yan. She could distinctly feel her own growth, but the Heavenly Flame energy here was too weak to significantly accelerate the reconstruction of her physical body. "I will help you. If you dare to deceive me, I will definitely take your head off with my own hands." Her snake pupils flashed with killing intent. Xiao Yan rubbed his hands together like a fly and grinned. "How could that happen? I only wish to obtain the Fallen Heart Flame. Moreover, Your Majesty and I are allies. Your strength is the strength of the Yan Alliance." "Hmph, and don''t forget about the Spirit Fusion Pill!" With that, Medusa retreated back into the Green Lotus to continue her slumber. After putting away the Green Lotus, Xiao Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief. Meow! "Well, at least we have help now. Now we just need to find an opportunity to sneak down to the bottom without being discovered." Just as he was about to continue cultivating for a while, suddenly, there was a loud bang on the stone door of the cultivation room. "Hey, you inside, come out!" Any slight carelessness could result in serious injury. Such a spectacular fight made even the powerful onlookers nod in secret admiration. Although Xiao Yan wanted to use the Flame Splitting Tsunami again, he couldn''t because he sensed that someone was watching him. If his guess was correct, it was First Elder Su Qian, who guarded the Inner Academy. Elder Liu had already informed the First Elder that Xiao Yan had reached the sixth floor. Allowing Xiao Yan to get so close to the Fallen Heart Flame was natural since the First Elder would be watching him to prevent any accidents. ''Sigh, it seems there''s a third problem. I''ll have to shake off this First Elder. He''ll probably be watching me every time I enter the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower in the future.'' The cultivation rooms were built with special materials that prevented the First Elder from peering inside. But once Xiao Yan came out, sneaking into that ''black hole'' would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens. He put away his Fire Crystal Card and turned to leave the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. With the First Elder present, he couldn''t kill this idiot. "Stop right there!" Yao Sheng shouted in a deep voice. Xiao Yan coldly glanced back at Yao Sheng. "If you have the guts, leave your name. You only had the advantage because of your fire attribute Dou Qi, which puts me at a disadvantage here in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. Outside, I, Yao Sheng, will personally find you to avenge this punch." Yao Sheng''s eyes were gloomy. Water attribute Dou Qi was indeed at a disadvantage here. Xiao Yan merely gave a cold smile and said, "Xiao Yan of the Xiao Hall. Outside, you won''t be so lucky." After leaving the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, Xiao Yan stood at the entrance and turned his head to look at this mysterious black tower, of which only a portion of the spire protruded above ground. His eyes gained a hint of determination. He absolutely needed this Fallen Heart Flame, and no one could stop him. ''To refine the Fallen Heart Flame, it would be safer to prepare a Ground Spirit Pill.'' ''Sigh, there''s no shortage of troublesome matters.'' ''Whatever, let''s head back first. I haven''t eaten all day.'' After walking for about forty to fifty minutes, Xiao Yan gradually approached the freshmen''s dormitory area. Just then, a figure suddenly ran out from within, panting heavily. "Cousin Xiao Yan!" Xiao Mei shouted as she ran. The figure of the now adult Xiao Mei was becoming more and more alluring. Her running had quite the visual impact. Xiao Yan asked upon seeing her, "What''s wrong?" "While you were cultivating in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, some factions in the Inner Academy joined forces, claiming we''ve taken all the freshmen and broken the rules. They want to forcibly take people away," Xiao Mei hurriedly explained. "It''s still alright now with Cousin Xun Er holding them off, but I don''t know how long she can hold them." Xiao Yan''s expression darkened slightly, then he smiled and said, "Just in time. We can catch them all at once without so much hassle." ... A large crowd had gathered in an open space in the freshman dormitory area. In the midst of the crowd, two groups were glaring at each other like tigers. "Big Brother Fu Ao, let''s go back. We really can''t afford to offend this Xiao Yan. Even Cousin Bai Feng was defeated by him!" Bai Shan was feeling dizzy at this moment. Even Bai Feng, the second-in-command of their White Gang, had lost to Xiao Yan. It''s better not to get involved in this mess! "Bai Shan, why be afraid? No matter how powerful Xiao Yan is, he''s just one person. He''s now offended more than half of the factions in the Inner Academy. Over a dozen factions with hundreds of people are joining forces to deal with the Xiao Hall he established. We''ll directly crush their arrogance and make it so they can''t even enter the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. Then we''ll see if anyone still stays in that lousy Xiao Hall." A sturdy young man beside Bai Shan sneered. As this young man spoke, his eyes occasionally swept over the curvaceous figures of Xun Er and Hu Jia. Bai Shan fell silent upon hearing Fu Ao''s words. If it were just his White Gang, they would indeed be wary of Xiao Yan. But now, Xiao Yan had offended quite a few senior students. Two days ago, he had even declared that those factions who had taken Fire Energy from the freshmen had to return double the amount. Such audacious actions undoubtedly angered the leaders of those factions that had long been entrenched in the Inner Academy. A mere freshman daring to challenge the authority of senior students easily incited their wrath. "But... but that Xiao Yan is really..." Bai Shan stammered. He was still extremely apprehensive of Xiao Yan. Because the previous few times he faced Xiao Yan, he had been as confident as Fu Ao, but the result was that he was repeatedly slapped in the face, causing him to develop a psychological shadow. "Bai Shan, I really what?" Suddenly, a familiar voice that made Bai Shan tremble came from behind. He jumped like a frightened kitten, leaping far away and looking at the smiling Xiao Yan in horror. "You... you... you... I... I... I didn''t speak ill of you. This has nothing to do with me!" Bai Shan''s teeth were chattering. In his eyes, Xiao Yan''s smiling face had become demonic. Fu Ao looked at Xiao Yan, snorted coldly, and said, "So you''re Xiao Yan. Our White Gang, along with twelve other large and small factions in the Inner Academy, are jointly declaring war on your Xiao Hall." "If you lose, your Xiao Hall must immediately disband, and all the freshmen will join us." "And what if you lose?" Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke. All the senior students looked at each other, momentarily stunned. Clearly, they hadn''t considered the possibility of losing. They believed that with so many people dealing with Xiao Yan, a mere freshman, how could they possibly lose? They could exhaust his Dou Qi through sheer numbers. Chapter 232: Chapter 232: Mysterious Little Girl (I) Chapter 232: Chapter 232: Mysterious Little Girl (I) ? Word Count: 2,069 Words ****** Seeing that they were still discussing among themselves, Xiao Yan directly said, "How about this. If you lose, you give me ten thousand Fire Energy." "Ten thousand?!" Ten thousand Fire Energy was an astronomical figure within the Inner Academy. With the "gold-devouring beast" that was the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, most people couldn''t save up much Fire Energy at all. Take the recent Fire Energy Hunting Competition for example. The top fifty from the previous year had been in the Inner Academy for a whole year, yet their Fire Crystal Cards only held a pitiful ten or twenty days'' worth of Fire Energy. Only Luo Hou and Bai Feng, the two Dou Spirits, had fire energy amounts exceeding three digits. Even if all the members of their dozen or so factions pooled their resources, gathering ten thousand Fire Energy would be a daunting task. "What''s wrong? If you don''t have the means, don''t try to imitate others by initiating faction wars and making bets," Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke. "Big Brother Fu, don''t agree to his terms. That guy has some trump cards, and I always feel his strength isn''t just what it appears to be. I''m afraid even Cousin Bai Cheng might not be able to defeat him. If things go south, our White Gang could be in big trouble without Fire Energy, and lacking Fire Energy will affect this year''s Strong Ranking Grand Competition," Bai Shan hurriedly pulled Fu Ao aside. He was truly terrified of this freak, Xiao Yan. Fu Ao exchanged glances with members of other factions, then coldly snorted, "Hmph, why should we bet with you? All of us together outnumber you freshmen; you definitely won''t be able to withstand us!" Fu Ao was clever; he knew Xiao Yan wasn''t easy to deal with. He planned to target the weaker freshmen, forcing them to leave the Xiao Hall and isolate Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan smiled faintly, and a hint of madness and ferocity flickered in his eyes as he laughed, "Is that so? Then I, Xiao Yan, will do nothing else but wait for the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower to open each day and follow you all. Whichever cultivation rooms you enter, I''ll blast them one by one." "I''m still a freshman with five years ahead of me, but some of you will be graduating this year, won''t you?" Even Fu Ao frowned deeply when he heard Xiao Yan''s mutually destructive approach. If they couldn''t get rid of Xiao Yan, they wouldn''t have an easy time either. Just as both sides were at an impasse, a voice suddenly came from behind. "Competing with him? Our Splitting Mountain is very interested as well." Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed; from the voice, he knew it was Yao Sheng, with whom he''d just had a conflict. There were several other members of the Splitting Mountain besides Yao Sheng. They all followed behind a young woman, seemingly taking her as their leader. The young lady at the forefront wore a snow fox fur dress. Her appearance was quite beautiful. An oval face, cherry-like lips, willow-leaf eyebrows as if drawn, and bright, limpid eyes. All these features combined to give people a pleasing aesthetic experience. No wonder she was so adored. "It''s Lei Na! And Yao Sheng! They''re the second and third-in-command of the Splitting Mountain!" "And in the middle-isn''t that Miss Liu Fei? Could it be that even Liu Qing, ranked third on the Strong Ranking, is going to take action?!" Seeing the effeminate Yao Sheng, the towering Lei Na, and the sweetly smiling Liu Fei, Fu Ao acted as if he had seen his master. He quickly stepped forward respectfully, "Brother Lei Na, Brother Yao Sheng, and Miss Liu Fei, long time no see. How has Brother Liu Qing been lately?" A gentle, sweet smile graced Liu Fei''s face as she softly replied, "Cousin Liu Qing is doing well. He''s currently cultivating for this year''s Strong Ranking Grand Competition and doesn''t have time to come out." Fu Ao was momentarily stunned before exclaiming in surprise, "There''s still over half a year until the Strong Ranking Grand Competition, and Brother Liu Qing is already preparing!" Su Qian''s aged voice turned somewhat somber. "Sigh, I really didn''t expect it. The Fallen Heart Flame allowed our Inner Academy to rise, and now, a little fellow not even twenty years old also possesses such a miraculous treasure alone. It truly makes one envious." "Fellow elders, if you encounter this young man, please accommodate him as much as possible. Perhaps, when the Fallen Heart Flame erupts in the future, we might have to rely on his strength. We must not underestimate the power of a Heavenly Flame. Such rare treasures born from the essence of the world possess destructive capabilities. If we''re not careful, the Inner Academy might face the calamity of destruction," First Elder Su Qian sighed and shook his head. "Understood!" The dozen or so elders, highly revered by the Inner Academy students, all stood up at this moment and respectfully responded. The black-robed First Elder slowly stood up after everyone had left the hall. As he straightened, his body became more and more illusory. By the time he fully rose from his seat, his figure had already mysteriously vanished from the hall. They still didn''t know that this fellow Xiao Yan was up to no good, secretly hoping for the Fallen Heart Flame to erupt sooner. ... Not long after, news of the upcoming faction war between Xiao Yan''s Xiao Hall and the alliance of over a dozen senior student factions spread throughout the Inner Academy. Moreover, Xiao Yan generously covered all the Fire Energy costs for the Xiao Hall''s freshmen to enter the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower during these seven days, allowing them to rapidly enhance their strength. The entire Xiao Hall formed groups to enter the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower to improve their cultivation. Only Xiao Yan, having just advanced by one star, didn''t plan to enter the tower. Instead, he began cultivating his Dou Techniques. "Ahhhh!!!" "Meow meow meow!!!" "What the hell, is this really possible to cultivate?!" Xiao Yan shouted until his throat was nearly hoarse, his voice tinged with raspiness. Forget sounding like a dragon''s roar; it was more like a ghost''s wail. Xiao Yan sat on the ground, panting heavily. He picked up a kettle chilled with Ice Spirit Cold Fountain from the ground and gulped it down. Instantly, a refreshing chill soothed his throat, which felt as if it were on fire. He had left the Inner Academy and had been cultivating his Dou Techniques in the vast forest outside for seven days now. Yet he hadn''t even seen a shadow of the ''Ancient Dragon Roar'' reaching the entry-level stage. Had he not been smart enough to prepare some throat-protecting medicinal liquids himself, he might have lost his voice before mastering the ''Ancient Dragon Roar.'' Xiao Yan picked up the scroll, his mind sinking as his Spiritual Strength delved into its contents. The ''Ancient Dragon Roar'' scroll not only recorded the Dou Qi circulation paths and the methods to fuse dragon aura with Dou Qi but also included a vivid spiritual memory scene. In that memory, an enormous dragon coiled atop mountain ranges. Under the sunlight, its scales shimmered with strands of purple-golden light. A pair of dragon wings blotted out the sky, and its body stretched like mountain ranges, with half of it hidden in the void. Only the boundless void could accommodate such a massive creature. The Ancient Void Dragon seemed to have been provoked by something. Suddenly, its dragon eyes snapped open, and it let out an earth-shattering, soul-stirring roar into the distance. Chapter 233: Chapter 233: Mysterious Little Girl (II) Chapter 233: Chapter 233: Mysterious Little Girl (II) ? Word Count: 2,066 Words ****** As the Ancient Dragon''s Roar resounded, the void shattered, waterfalls flowed backward, and mountain ranges collapsed. The dragon''s roar lasted a full thirty seconds. If not for Xiao Yan''s strong Spiritual Strength, merely this spiritual memory of the Ancient Dragon''s Roar would have been enough to injure him. Even though the scene was only imprinted with Spiritual Strength on the scroll, its power remained formidable. Qi Method and Dou Technique scrolls often contained such scenes to facilitate learning. However, the number of times one could observe them was limited. The scene would disappear once the Spiritual Strength within the scroll was exhausted. Xiao Yan exhaled deeply and slowly withdrew from the vision, his expression filled with puzzlement. Although he had already grasped the Dou Qi circulation route of the Ancient Dragon Roar, he always felt something was missing. His thoughts raced like lightning, yet he still couldn''t find what he needed. He felt disheartened. Whether it was the Asura Soul Reaping Technique or the Ancient Dragon Roar, he couldn''t grasp the essentials at all. In contrast, his cultivation of the Three Thousand Lightning Movement was progressing very smoothly. Each Dou Technique scroll of the Three Thousand Lightning Movement contained a trace of wind and lightning power sealed by the Pavilion Master, and only by absorbing and assimilating this trace could one truly master the Three Thousand Lightning Movement. With his body strengthened by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, the process of tempering his body with wind and lightning felt somewhat like undergoing cupping therapy: slightly painful yet invigorating. The power of lightning could shock the soul, but his soul was exceedingly powerful and withstood it perfectly. Now, so long as he practiced diligently each day, achieving entry-level mastery of the Three Thousand Lightning Movement wouldn''t be difficult. "Let''s continue. You won''t know how good your voice is if you don''t shout," Xiao Yan murmured as he rubbed his throat. Feeling that his throat had recovered significantly, he slowly stood up and resumed shouting. After about ten minutes of shouting, a little girl dressed in white suddenly emerged from the depths of the forest. "Uh? Little sister, are you lost?" Xiao Yan looked puzzled. This was deep in the mountains with magical beasts roaming about. How could there be a little girl who appeared to be only eleven or twelve years old? The moment the little girl saw Xiao Yan, her eyes grew gloomy and a hint of cold killing intent appeared. She roared angrily, "What the hell are you howling for?!!!" Boom!! A terrifying sound wave instantly spread out with the little girl at its center. The rumbling sound of collapsing trees echoed all around. Xiao Yan''s expression changed dramatically as he hurriedly covered his ears, enveloping himself with Spiritual Strength. The angry roar continued for over ten seconds before finally stopping. Xiao Yan stared dumbfounded at the girl before him, utterly astonished. ''What kind of little girl is this? How can her roar be so terrifying? And... a Dou King???'' Xiao Yan was flabbergasted, his eyes wide open. A twelve-year-old Dou King? Are you kidding me? He rubbed his eyes and pinched his cheek, confirming he wasn''t hallucinating or dreaming. Surveying his surroundings, he noticed that the dense forest had become bare. All the surrounding trees had been shattered into splinters by the sound infused with Dou King-level Dou Qi, and large sections of the ground had been torn up. "Um... little sister, you- " Before Xiao Yan could finish, the little girl in white suddenly glared at him. Despite her cute appearance, the eerie aura and formidable strength she exuded made Xiao Yan tense up. The little girl stomped on the ground with a thunderous BANG. Cracks instantly appeared as rubble flew. She transformed into a white shadow and appeared before Xiao Yan in an instant, her small, delicate fist smashing straight toward his face.@@@@ ''What incredible speed!'' Xiao Yan''s heart trembled. He dared not underestimate this mysterious girl. In an instant, he activated the Mad Lion Chant, and a layer of Blood Fury shielded his entire body. Now that he was a Dou Spirit, he no longer needed to use Dou Qi Armor; he directly condensed his Dou Qi into a layer of Blood Fury shield. Seeing Xiao Yan employ a Dou Technique to defend, the corners of the little girl''s mouth curled upward as she sneered coldly. Her small pink fist smashed down, actually penetrating Xiao Yan''s defense! How could Xiao Yan let go of such a great ''training opportunity''? Black flames and red flames slowly surged from his body. In his heart, he shouted, ''Skyfire Three Mysterious Change-Black Flame Change!'' ''Ten Thousand Beast Flame-Beast Transformation!'' Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!! Xiao Yan''s body was enveloped in black flames as his Dou Qi instantly soared to the peak of Dou Spirit, even reaching the half-step Dou King stage. And that wasn''t all. He fused the Ten Thousand Beast Flame into his flesh and blood, elevating his physical strength another level to match that of a Rank 5 magical beast. "Don''t worry, I''ll go easy on you." Hearing Xiao Yan''s provocative words, a hint of battle intent lit in the little girl''s eyes. It had been a long time since she had met an opponent with whom she could have a good fight. Energy surged as a gentle breeze rustled the leaves. The little girl in white moved like a true dragon emerging from the sea. In that instant, she stepped forward, her speed several times faster than before; with one move, she shook the ground and space followed in her wake. With a single punch striking downward, the world seemed to flip upside down. This little girl didn''t use any fancy Dou Techniques when she attacked, nor did she have any powerful movement techniques. It was just a very simple straight punch. Yet this simple straight punch generated a howling wind that rang in Xiao Yan''s ears. The most direct punch, yet it possessed absolute power-strong, domineering, destructive- a single punch designed to defeat the enemy. ''Good!'' Facing such a punch, Xiao Yan couldn''t help but praise inwardly. Equally straightforward, he once again met fist with fist. He didn''t use any Dou Techniques or movement techniques either; he simply threw an ordinary punch. True mastery appears effortless; simplicity hides brilliance. Their fists collided with a loud clang and actually produced sparks upon impact. The bodies of these two had been tempered to the point of being even harder than steel. The sound was as ear-piercing as a volcanic eruption. Bang! Bang! Bang!! This time, not only did Xiao Yan unleash the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change to boost his strength, but he also employed the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. Beneath the seemingly simple punch lay unimaginable power. Even an ordinary Rank 5 magical beast might be sent flying by such a strike. However, neither could overpower the other in this exchange of fists. They continuously exerted force, their terrifying strength generating shockwaves that spread from their fists and uprooted the surrounding grass. "Ha!" The little girl let out a shout as she took a step forward, and Xiao Yan''s eyes widened in surprise as he was forced to retreat repeatedly by her immense strength! Even after strengthening himself with the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, his physique still wasn''t as strong as the little girl''s. This greatly astonished him; it was the first time he had encountered someone so terrifying. He couldn''t help but draw a sharp breath. He had cultivated step by step, beginning with the entry-level techniques of the Octane Blast and tempering his body from the age of four. His foundation was extremely solid. In terms of physical confrontations, he had never feared anyone. But today, not only had he failed to shake this little girl, she actually pushed him back. However, he wasn''t discouraged. While he excelled in close combat, it wasn''t solely due to his physical strength. Although he had lost in physical strength, he still had powerful Dou Techniques at his disposal. ''Octane Blast-Ten Thousand Beast Collapsing Fist!'' Chapter 234: Chapter 234: True Insight Through Actual Combat Chapter 234: Chapter 234: True Insight Through Actual Combat ? Word Count: 2,001 Words ****** "Take another punch!" Xiao Yan rapidly circulated the Flame Mantra. The Dou Qi within his body surged like an unbridled wild horse. Seizing the moment, he stepped forward swiftly and threw another punch. This time, his fist was engulfed in a mass of blood-red flames. His Dou Qi condensed, transforming his fist into a miniature Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger. The muscles and veins on his right arm bulged prominently as he smashed forward. Xiao Yan even locked onto the little girl in white with his Spiritual Strength. No matter how fast she moved or where she tried to escape, his gaze was fixed on her. The little girl giggled, revealing adorable dimples. Steeling herself, she let out a long howl. An extremely faint purple light shimmered from her body as her blood and Qi surged, and she met Xiao Yan''s punch with one of her own. A thunderous clang resounded. It could be said that Xiao Yan attacked with his full strength this time. His physical power erupted to its peak as he not only utilized the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change but also employed the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. One must know that this was a Heavenly Flame, an unparalleled treasure. Yet, under the little girl''s all-out punch, even with the hidden force of the Octane Blast erupting, he still couldn''t withstand the terrifying, immense force and was unable to break through her punch. Boom! The hidden force of the Octane Blast combined with the eruption of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to produce a tremendous explosion. Terrifying flames swept outward. Although Xiao Yan had counterattacked using a Dou Technique, his entire body was sent flying like a falling meteor, crashing heavily into a pile of rocks and creating a crater. Amidst the clatter of flying debris, he waved his hand to clear away the stones and crawled out from the rubble. At this point, he was in quite a sorry state. There was no doubt that he was no match for the mysterious little girl in close-combat exchanges. When he saw that the little girl had not even taken a step back and was still standing in her original spot, he couldn''t help but sigh wistfully. ''I thought that after obtaining the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, my physical strength would be unshakable by anyone at the same stage or even higher. Only today did I realize I''ve been a frog at the bottom of a well.'' Xiao Yan''s current physical strength certainly surpassed that of many Rank 5 magical beasts. With the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, he was never afraid to engage in physical combat with magical beasts, let alone while using Dou Techniques as he did now. As a result, he learned a lesson today. His eyes focused as he looked at the mysterious little girl and said, "Little sister, you''re not human, are you?" Although his words carried a note of impoliteness, the little girl did not get angry. Instead, she placed her hands on her hips and laughed, "That''s right, I''m a magical beast." "You''re only at the Dou King realm, yet you can take human form?" Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes and asked. Magical beasts could indeed rely on their own strength to transform, but even someone like Medusa, who had evolved her bloodline and possessed an exceptionally high lineage, needed to reach the Dou Ancestor realm to achieve transformation. "I just accidentally ate an extremely rare Body Transformation Grass, and then I became like this and can no longer change back." The little girl frowned, her expression displaying disheartenment as she spoke; her mouth pouted, and she looked very unhappy. "Body Transformation Grass? No wonder..." Xiao Yan felt a bit enlightened upon hearing this. Body Transformation Grass was the main ingredient for refining Body Transformation Pills, so it naturally had some effects similar to the pill. However, if one ate it directly without refining, such incomplete transformation problems would occur. "Where are your parents?" Xiao Yan asked casually. "Don''t have any." The little girl replied impatiently, "Are you going to keep fighting or not? Stop asking so many questions!" Xiao Yan smiled slightly. With a comforting expression, he lightly tapped his storage ring, and the Heavy Xuan Ruler appeared in his hand. "Of course we''ll fight! Just don''t blame me for lacking martial virtue." The little girl giggled and assumed a fighting stance. "My body is my weapon. I''m not afraid even if you use one." Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yan used Exploding Steps to surge forward once again. With the Heavy Xuan Ruler in hand, he executed a sweeping strike.@@@@ The pitch-black Heavy Xuan Ruler drew a semicircular arc as it swept out mightily. Even though he didn''t employ the Flame Splitting Tsunami, the Heavy Xuan Ruler itself was astonishingly heavy, akin to a towering mountain bearing down. This sweep produced a sonic boom, and although it was more than a meter above the ground, it generated a whirlwind below. In the face of Xiao Yan''s offensive, the little girl decided not to clash head on again. As the Heavy Xuan Ruler swept toward her, she lightly pressed her hands against it, borrowing its force to spin gracefully in the air and effortlessly evade his attack. with a punch. At that time, he had thought she had used some kind of Dou Technique. But now, it seemed she had manipulated Spatial Strength to punch through empty space and attack! Under his astonished gaze, the little girl flipped her hands and pushed forward. The ruler light from the Flame Splitting Tsunami suddenly distorted, or more precisely, the surrounding space distorted. In the next moment, she revealed a slightly proud smile and said, "Hee hee, you dummy! Take it back!" Boom! Boom! Boom!!! The next instant, Xiao Yan experienced firsthand the feeling of those who had been attacked by his Flame Splitting Tsunami before! The blood-red ruler light reversed instantly, and the Ten Thousand Beast Flame within surged toward him like ten thousand galloping horses. ''Holy shit...?!'' Xiao Yan''s mind reeled as he saw the Flame Splitting Tsunami surge toward him like a tsunami. Hesitating only for a split second, he abandoned defense and forced himself to circulate the Three Thousand Lightning Movement at his fastest speed! Xiao Yan always had his methods for dealing with magical beasts. But this time, battling the little girl was not about defeating her. He intended to use actual combat to temper himself. He rarely encountered such a powerful opponent. At this critical moment, his foot landed, silver light flashed, and his body suddenly exhibited a strange, illusory sensation. If someone with sharp eyesight were present, they would have seen a black line flash through space the instant his body became illusory. With a boom, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame engulfed the spot where ''Xiao Yan'' had stood. But the little girl''s gaze shifted to a spot about twenty meters away. On the grass, a figure quietly emerged like a ghost. Upon revealing himself, the first thing Xiao Yan did was urgently turn around. Seeing the faint black, illusory afterimage being engulfed by the Flame Splitting Tsunami twenty meters behind him, he couldn''t contain his joy! "Success! Lightning Flash!!!" A surge of wild excitement appeared on Xiao Yan''s face as he looked at the black shadow being engulfed. In just seven days, he had managed to execute ''Lightning Flash'' from the Low Di Class agility-type Dou Technique, Three Thousand Lightning Movement! Although he could not say it was fully mastered, as perhaps it was just a lucky execution, this was like alchemy. Once you succeeded the first time and remembered that feeling, you could quickly and truly enter the gate! This was absolutely a miracle. With talent, tenacity, hard work, and most importantly, the daring spirit to take risks, what path was there for him besides success? Chapter 235: Chapter 235: Zi Yan Chapter 235: Chapter 235: Zi Yan ? Word Count: 2,256 Words ****** "Yay!! I finally pulled off Lightning Flash!!" Even Xiao Yan couldn''t contain his excitement and jumped up. Being able to execute Lightning Flash in just seven days would be considered legendary, even a miracle, within the Wind Lightning Pavilion. Cultivating the Three Thousand Lightning Movement to the point of using Lightning Flash signified entry-level mastery. Minor mastery would be Instant Lightning, and major mastery would be Three Thousand Lightning, which allowed one to traverse three kilometers in an instant. Upon reaching perfection, one could begin cultivating the Wind Lightning Pavilion''s treasured Three Thousand Lightning Illusionary Body. The little girl in white looked utterly puzzled, completely unable to understand what was so thrilling about this. Wasn''t it just using an agility-type Dou Technique to dodge an attack? "Hey, what''s there to be so happy about?" the little girl blinked and asked. Xiao Yan turned his head to look at her and said with a smile, "Mastering an agility-type Dou Technique is naturally something to be happy about! Come on, let''s continue fighting!" "Three Thousand Lightning Movement-Lightning Flash!" Xiao Yan once again circulated his Dou Qi. Fortunately, his Flame Mantra had evolved to the Di Class; otherwise, such frequent use of Di Class Dou Techniques and Heavenly Flames would have long depleted his Dou Qi. His figure flickered with a whooshing sound, but this time something went wrong. His foot slipped, and he ended up face-planting right next to the little girl, leaving her speechless. Is this guy an idiot? Obviously, succeeding once didn''t guarantee a second success. Xiao Yan still needed much more practice. "Hehe, just a mishap." Xiao Yan hurriedly got up and awkwardly brushed the dirt off his butt. Afterward, he and the mysterious little girl engaged in combat once again. Fortunately, she didn''t intend to take his life and could hold back her strength. Xiao Yan repeatedly experimented with Dou Techniques and failed multiple times. In the end, the duration of his Skyfire Three Mysterious Change ran out, and he collapsed on the ground in intense pain, defeated with his Dou Qi exhausted. Xiao Yan gasped heavily as he lay on the ground. Even though he used the Life Flame to mitigate the side effects of the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change, his entire body still ached intensely. "Hey, hey, you''re not dead, are you? It would be very troublesome for me if you died." The little girl in white walked over to Xiao Yan and nudged his arm with her foot. While she showed some concern, it wasn''t much. Xiao Yan moved his arm with difficulty and took out a healing pill from his storage ring. It was a peak tier 5 healing pill, which he promptly tossed into his mouth.@@@@ Instantly, the medicinal strength transformed into a warm current flowing throughout his body. It not only began to alleviate the side effects but also started healing some of his bruises and abrasions while continuously replenishing his Dou Qi. "A medicinal pill! You''re an alchemist?" The little girl saw Xiao Yan take out the pill and stared eagerly at him as she asked. After exhaling, Xiao Yan sat up and looked puzzled at the little girl who seemed deep in thought. He had interacted with many magical beasts before, and this expression seemed familiar. "Don''t tell me you want me to refine a Body Transformation Pill for you so that you can freely switch between human form and beast form..." Xiao Yan asked, somewhat affirmatively, as he looked at the little girl. The little girl''s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but she nodded. "If I want to transform on my own now, I''d need to reach at least Rank 6 or even Rank 7 to transform freely. But with a Body Transformation Pill, it would be much faster." Xiao Yan rolled his eyes and said somewhat irritably, "Do you know... uh, what''s your name?" "My name is Zi Yan. And you?" "I''m Xiao Yan." After introducing themselves, Xiao Yan got back to the point and said, "Well then, little sister Zi Yan, let''s not mention that I''m currently only close to being a 6th-tier alchemist and not yet tier 7, so I can''t refine a Tier 7 Body Transformation Pill. Even if I could, high-grade tier 7 pills like the Body Transformation Pill are so valuable that they could make a high-level Rank 7 magical beast act on my behalf once." Refining tier 7 pills had never been an easy task. Not only was Xiao Yan''s alchemy skill insufficient, but even his Spiritual Strength hadn''t reached tier 7. Let alone refining the considerably high-grade Body Transformation Pill among tier 7 pills. Zi Yan appeared dejected upon hearing Xiao Yan''s words. She hung her head low, curled up her legs, hugged her knees, and bit her lip tightly with her neat, snow-white teeth, looking quite pitiful. Xiao Yan couldn''t help but feel some sympathy when he saw Zi Yan''s pitiable appearance. However, sympathy alone couldn''t make him unconditionally refine pills for others. He slowly stood up, patted her head, and said, "I have a faction battle to participate in later and need to return to the Inner Academy. How about this? If you''re willing to spar with me and help me cultivate Dou Techniques, I can refine tier 5 and below pills for you for free. With the assistance of medicinal pills, your improvement should be faster. I can even refine Dou King Pills for you." "As for the tier 7 Body Transformation Pill, I would like to have one too, but there''s nothing I can do for now." Zi Yan heard that Xiao Yan wanted to cultivate Dou Techniques and suddenly thought of something. She stood up, looked at Xiao Yan, and said, "If you promise to help me refine a Body Transformation Pill, I''ll tell you why you couldn''t successfully cultivate that howling Dou Technique from earlier." the admiration of the crowd. "Yao Sheng, if you lose, it won''t just be your own face that''s lost. You understand?" Liu Fei said to Yao Sheng, who was sharpening his blade beside her. "Don''t worry, Fei''er. Although only Lei Na and I from the Splitting Mountain are participating this time, even if it were just me alone, there''s no way we''d lose." Yao Sheng''s lips curled into a sinister smile on his slightly effeminate face. On the other side, the White Gang, which was the main force this time, had mobilized everyone except for Bai Shan. Even the gang leader Bai Cheng was participating. "Bai Shan, are you sure you''re not participating?" Bai Cheng looked at his cousin with a puzzled expression. Based on what he knew about his cousin, how could he possibly pass up such a chance for revenge? After thinking for a long time, Bai Shan still shook his head and said, "Cousin, I... I think maybe we from the White Gang should just forget about it." "Forget about it?! Bai Shan, did getting beaten by Xiao Yan scramble your brains?" Bai Feng, who had been defeated by Xiao Yan once, said angrily. He had only been defeated by Xiao Yan once and knew that he couldn''t beat him, but now, with so many people and Yao Sheng from the Splitting Mountain, victory was guaranteed no matter how one looked at it. Bai Shan hesitated for a long time but ultimately shook his head, not daring to step forward. Fu Ao glanced in the direction of Xun Er and the others and sneered, "But from the looks of it, we might not even need to fight. That Xiao Yan has probably run off and is hiding." His voice wasn''t soft, and many people heard him. Seeing that Xiao Yan hadn''t shown up yet, many began to discuss among themselves. "Xun Er, that guy still hasn''t returned. Should we ask the elders for a postponement?" Beside Xun Er, Hu Jia, dressed in a red gown, saw the morale of the Xiao Hall members in the arena dwindling due to Xiao Yan''s absence and couldn''t help but show a wry smile on her pretty face. Xun Er''s delicate hand slowly clenched, her clear eyes narrowing slightly as she softly said, "It''s fine. If it comes to that, I''ll take Xiao Yan ge-ge''s place. This is the faction Xiao Yan ge- ge established. I absolutely won''t allow anyone to destroy it!" After a while, Elder Liu walked over and asked, "Well, it''s already past the agreed time. That Xiao Yan fellow still hasn''t shown up?" Xun Er shook her head, slowly stood up, and said, "Thank you for your concern, elder. Let''s begin. We don''t need Xiao Yan ge-ge to deal with them." Elder Liu and the two elders beside him couldn''t help but smile wryly. Is arrogance contagious? How is it that even Xun Er is like this? "Very well then. Do you choose to have one-on-one sequential matches, or a group battle?" Elder Liu asked. "Let them all come at once." Just then, a voice tinged with laughter came from the sky! Hearing the voice, everyone quickly looked up to see Xiao Yan standing in the air with a pair of fire wings! "Dou Qi Wings?!" Bai Cheng, Yao Sheng, and the others all stood up abruptly. Had Xiao Yan become a Dou King in just seven days?!!! "No, that''s a flying-type Dou Technique. Xiao Yan hasn''t reached the Dou King realm yet." "But wait, who''s that little girl beside Xiao Yan? Why does she look somewhat familiar?" Xiao Yan slowly descended with Zi Yan to Xun Er''s side, then said to Elder Liu, "Sorry I''m late." Chapter 236: Chapter 236: Ancient Dragon Roar! Chapter 236: Chapter 236: Ancient Dragon Roar! ? Word Count: 2,042 Words ****** The sound of tearing through the air echoed. The petite and adorable Zi Yan perched on Xiao Yan''s shoulder. Together, they suddenly shot down from the sky. The students of the Inner Academy were mostly in their early twenties, and reaching the Dou Spirit realm was already quite commendable; however, advancing to the Dou King realm and manifesting Dou Qi Wings remained a distant goal. Hence, many senior students revealed expressions of astonishment when they saw Xiao Yan arrive with Zi Yan using what appeared to be Dou Qi Wings. However, some knowledgeable students, or those who had seen Xiao Yu use a flying-type Dou Technique, quickly understood what it was. After all, advancing from a 3-star Dou Spirit to Dou King in seven days was impossible no matter how one thought about it. "Sorry, I''m late." Xiao Yan''s calm voice resounded like thunder, echoing in the ears of everyone around the arena. The sudden voice instantly silenced the murmurs that had just arisen. For a moment, the entire arena was deathly silent. All eyes turned to the black-eyed, black-haired young man. Everyone present knew that the outcome of this faction battle hinged on him. If Xiao Yan could easily defeat the two experts, Yao Sheng and Bai Cheng, as well as some low-star Dou Spirits, then numbers would not matter as much. "Hmph, who does he think he is? Does he think he''s Cousin Liu Qing?" Liu Fei''s pretty face immediately showed displeasure upon hearing people discuss that Xiao Yan might win. Her beautiful eyes then noticed something amiss with Yao Sheng beside her. She frowned and asked, "Yao Sheng, what''s with this panic-stricken look? Where''s your composure?" Ever since Xiao Yan had appeared, Yao Sheng''s face had turned deathly pale, and his body trembled. He pointed a shaky finger in Xiao Yan''s direction, so shocked that he could not speak for a moment. "Brute... Brute... Brute... Brute Force Queen!!!" Yao Sheng''s teeth chattered. Yet, it was not Xiao Yan he feared; it was the white-clothed little girl, Zi Yan, who had jumped down from his shoulder! Not only Yao Sheng, but even Bai Cheng-another ranked individual on the Strong Ranking- was so frightened that cold sweat streamed down his face. His eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost, and his legs shook. Bai Shan immediately noticed that something was wrong and asked, "Cousin? What''s wrong?" "That girl!" Bai Cheng''s face changed dramatically. He confirmed it countless times, hoping he was mistaken, but reality proved otherwise. "What about that girl?" Bai Shan and the other members of the White Gang also looked curiously at the little girl beside Xiao Yan. "She is the Brute Force Queen! Number one on the Strong Ranking!" When Bai Cheng shouted ''Number one on the Strong Ranking,'' his voice was extremely loud, practically echoing throughout the entire arena. Everyone heard his words. Naturally, Xiao Yan could not possibly be the number one on the Strong Ranking, as this year''s Strong Ranking Grand Competition had not even started yet. There was only one possibility! Xiao Yu and the others naturally heard Bai Cheng''s words and simultaneously looked at Zi Yan, who appeared to be only eleven or twelve years old. This little girl is the number one on the Strong Ranking?! Only Xiao Yan, who had sparred with Zi Yan, secretly nodded. Zi Yan possessed Dou King strength and had given him a thorough thrashing. It was not surprising that she held the top spot on the Strong Ranking. Xiao Mei tilted her head and asked puzzledly, "She''s the number one on the Strong Ranking? "This little girl?" "Got a problem with that, big-breasted woman?" Zi Yan''s eyes narrowed as she coldly snorted. Due to the Body Transformation Grass, coupled with the long lifespans and inherently slow growth of magical beasts, her figure had always been flat and petite. Xiao Mei''s pretty face instantly flushed red. It wasn''t her fault she was well-developed! Hu Jia and the others observed the three elders wearing wry smiles without any objection. They understood that Zi Yan was indeed the mysterious number one on the Strong Ranking; in other words, she was the strongest student in the Inner Academy! "What''s this!" "Why do I feel that Xiao Yan is exuding dragon might???" The three referee elders sprang to their feet and exchanged shocked glances. Could he be a descendant of dragons?! A thunderous boom sounded as the dragon might erupted under the urging of Dou Qi and the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, overwhelming the entire arena! Even the three elders present could not help but feel their legs tremble slightly. Those seated in the audience, many of whom were merely 1- or 2-star Dou Grandmasters at the bottom tier, began to lose their composure as their bodies trembled uncontrollably. They were completely suppressed under the dragon might strengthened by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. Had they been magical beasts rather than human, they would likely have been forced to prostrate themselves on the ground. "What''s happening!" In an instant, the charging senior students trembled, overwhelmed by an instinctive fear from the depths of their hearts! Under this aura, they all felt as insignificant as ants, and when they looked at Xiao Yan again, he appeared to have grown larger! The next second, blood-red flames surged out from Xiao Yan''s body, with the flames towering like a tsunami. If one looked closely, one would notice that within the sea of blood- red flames, a coiling dragon seemed to be hiding! "Dragon might! Why does Xiao Yan possess dragon might!" Yao Sheng cried out in shock as he sensed this aura. Dragons¡ªeven magical beasts with just a trace of dragon bloodline were existences that commanded awe in their territories! "Not good!" Bai Cheng and the others were horrified as they sensed the eruption of dragon might. But it was too late. "A bunch of idiots." Zi Yan bit off the main ingredient of a tier 5 medicinal pill with a crunch, munching as if she were eating candy. Her eyes glanced indifferently toward the arena. She hadn''t joined this battle not because she was unacquainted with Xiao Yan; on the contrary, if Xiao Yan needed her help, she would undoubtedly step in. The reason for this outcome was that Xiao Yan didn''t need her assistance. These people served perfectly as test subjects to gauge the power of his Dou Technique. Xiao Yan''s eyes sharpened, and within the flames of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, a fire dragon seemed to open its eyes simultaneously. ROOOAR!!! At this instant, the Ancient Dragon Roar shook the sky and earth. It was as if an invincible, true dragon had awakened within the sea of flames formed by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and let out an earth-shattering roar. The dragon''s roar surged forward, infused with a dragon might capable of destroying everything. The domineering dragon might swept across the surroundings. At this moment, in this instant, the weapons, armor, and Dou Qi Armors of the senior students all shattered with a bang. The weapons and armor could not withstand this sonic attack and crumbled one after another. The senior students below the Dou Spirit realm rolled their eyes back and lost consciousness; their knees hit the ground with a thud as their heads tilted back, with white foam appearing at the corners of their mouths. The senior students at the Dou Spirit realm all gritted their teeth and fully activated their Dou Qi defenses. Dou Spirits could condense Dou Qi, and the Dou Qi within their bodies provided some protection. However, facing the Di Class Ancient Dragon Roar, a sonic Dou Technique that could penetrate defenses, and coupled with the dragon might, they were not faring well either. Quite a few Dou Spirit-level senior students had traces of blood seeping from their ears. It seemed that the more they resisted, the stronger the attack became! Those who had fainted were spared from the influence of the Ancient Dragon Roar instead. Chapter 237: Chapter 237: Invincible! Chapter 237: Chapter 237: Invincible! ? Word Count: 2,404 Words@@@@ ****** "What is that sound? Has a true dragon appeared?!" Everyone in various parts of the Inner Academy was greatly startled, including those who had not come to watch the battle and were still cultivating in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. "Why is a dragon''s roar echoing throughout the Inner Academy???" There were very few rooms on the seventh floor of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, only ten in total. Each cultivation room had a number inscribed on its door, from one to ten. These were exclusive rooms reserved for the top ten on the Strong Ranking. Each room represented power and status! At this moment, in Room No. 3, a man who was cultivating suddenly opened his eyes. It was Liu Qing, the founder of the Splitting Mountain, renowned for his Mountain Splitting Spear. "This is a dragon''s roar? Has a true dragon emerged?!" Liu Qing frowned deeply. Hearing such a sound here meant it was very close to the Inner Academy. Liu Qing retrieved his Fire Energy Card, opened the door, and prepared to leave the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower to find out what was happening. The door of Room No. 2 next to Liu Qing slowly opened with a creak. A scholarly-looking man in white robes walked out as well. "Lin Xiuya, you heard it too?" Liu Qing asked in a deep voice. Lin Xiuya nodded slightly and said, "I once encountered a Rank 6 dragon beast with a dragon bloodline. Its dragon roar was very similar to this one." Soon after, Yan Hao from Room No. 5, Qin Zhen from Room No. 6, Qian Mo from Room No. 8, and Lin Yan from Room No. 9, all of whom were still cultivating in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower and ranked on the Strong Ranking, walked out of their cultivation rooms one after another. These people had known each other from the previous Strong Ranking Grand Competition. They nodded to each other and unanimously left the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, intending to investigate. By this time, the dragon''s roar had vanished, and the blood-red sea of flames had disappeared as well. Only the shattered ground and some senior students, half-kneeling on the ground, proved that what had just occurred was not an illusion. Drip, drip, the sound of blood dripping echoed. Although those 1- or 2-star Dou Spirits had not lost consciousness, blood was silently flowing from their ears and noses, proving how powerful the damage inflicted by the sonic Dou Technique had been on their souls and bodies. Sonic Dou Techniques were different from traditional Dou Techniques. They specialized in penetrating defenses, which meant they would cause internal injuries. Moreover, with the addition of dragon aura and the Heavenly Flame, enemies felt a burning pain in their souls, as if their internal organs were on fire. This sudden change left all the spectators, as well as all the members of Xiao Hall, stunned. Even Xun Er was momentarily dazed. Such a scene was truly shocking. ''The sound of this sonic Dou Technique... why does it resemble that race...'' Xun Er lightly furrowed her brows, her beautiful eyes watching Xiao Yan in the distance. He was panting heavily yet had a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. When she was young and had returned to her clan, she had followed her father to meet a legendary dragon tribe. Their roars were somewhat similar to what Xiao Yan had just produced. Although not exactly the same, Xun Er could tell that it was indeed the roar of the Ancient Void Dragon. The three referee elders were all dumbfounded, unable to regain their senses for a long time. All the spectators were similarly stunned. Out of the two hundred senior students whose cultivations were above Dou Grandmaster, comparable to a small faction in the Black-Corner Region, over half had collapsed under Xiao Yan''s single roar. Those who remained standing had suffered varying degrees of internal injuries, and their souls trembled. Even Yao Sheng, ranked 17th on the Strong Ranking, was shaking after the dragon roar. Although he was strong and had not suffered severe internal injuries, his internal organs now felt a burning sensation. The circulation of Dou Qi was disrupted and could not flow smoothly due to the damage inflicted on his soul. Fortunately, the arena had a protective barrier; otherwise, the spectators sitting opposite Xiao Yan would have suffered an unwarranted disaster. "Dragon might, and extremely potent dragon might at that," Elder Liu finally muttered after who knew how long. Dragon might. Many practitioners had heard the term but had never witnessed its true power. Today, Xiao Yan, a human cultivator, had actually used it, and it shocked the entire Inner Academy. In the distance, even the First Elder Su Qian, who had witnessed everything, revealed a shocked expression and murmured, "How does this little fellow have dragon aura within his body?" "That blood-red flame... Could it be that the Heavenly Flame he possesses is the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, the inherited flame of the magical beast race?" At this moment, the arena was silent for a full three minutes. This was Xiao Yan''s first time using the Ancient Dragon Roar, and its Dou Qi consumption was even more terrifying than he had imagined. After all, the Ancient Dragon Roar was a large-scale sonic attack. It could be said to be unrivaled in clearing out small fry. Xiao Yan regulated his breathing and turned his head to look at Zi Yan, who was munching on medicinal ingredients beside him. She noticed him looking over and proudly raised her chin, as if to say, ''See? I was right.'' After experiencing Xiao Yan''s earlier sonic Dou Technique, they realized how terrifying he was. They no longer spoke of fair one-on-one duels and instead directly attacked with a two- -on-one formation! Naturally, Xiao Yan would not underestimate these two. They were 6-star and 7-star Dou Spirit experts and ranked fighters on the Strong Ranking, and their strength was definitely not to be taken lightly! He activated the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change once more. Since it was his second use today, Xiao Yan had to adapt by using the Life Flame of the Yin-Yang Twin Flame to execute it. His strength increased by three stars, pushing him to the 6-star Dou Spirit stage. Bringing out the Heavy Xuan Ruler to meet the attack, the originally extremely heavy ruler danced in his hands even more nimbly than Bai Cheng''s long spear. Under his fierce, powerful momentum, Bai Cheng and Yao Sheng were caught off guard and appeared somewhat flustered. Lightning flashed, and Xiao Yan left behind an afterimage. After Bai Cheng''s spear pierced the afterimage generated by the Three Thousand Lightning Movement, Xiao Yan appeared behind him. The Heavy Xuan Ruler then fiercely smacked his butt, sending him flying into the air. Two ''clang'' sounds echoed as Xiao Yan blocked Yao Sheng''s sneaky dagger attack. He revealed a faint smile, opened his mouth, and a dragon roar emerged. Though not as intense as the initial one, it still caused Yao Sheng to cough up blood. After training with Zi Yan, Xiao Yan could not claim to use the Three Thousand Lightning Movement and Ancient Dragon Roar with complete ease, yet he could still display some of their power in battle. Using multiple Di Class Dou Techniques, Xiao Yan actually gained the upper hand when facing the joint attacks of Yao Sheng and Bai Cheng! Elder Liu smiled and nodded. "That boy is indeed very strong." Seated in the audience, Han Yue slightly furrowed her delicate brows and agreed, murmuring to herself, "Although Bai Cheng and Yao Sheng''s Dou Qi cultivation is on par with Xiao Yan''s, boosted by a Secret Technique, his movement techniques are extremely powerful. Moreover, that sonic Dou Technique is too strange. A slight carelessness and they will be hit, suffering severe soul injuries." "Furthermore, from the very beginning, that sonic Dou Technique had already inflicted soul damage on them, causing their Dou Qi circulation to become sluggish." "Their only chance of winning is if Xiao Yan''s Secret Technique wears off and his Dou Qi is exhausted." Elder Liu shook his head and said, "No, the senior students'' side cannot hold out until Xiao Yan''s Dou Qi is depleted." Han Yue''s beautiful eyes sharpened, and only then did she notice that the dozen or so Dou Spirit-level senior students were already struggling to hold on! Not to mention the other weaker senior students. Even the strongest among them, Lei Na and Fu Ao, though middle-stage Dou Spirits, had their souls injured by Xiao Yan''s Ancient Dragon Roar. They could not even use Dou Techniques, and the Dou Qi within their bodies had been scattered by the dragon might, making it difficult to gather. With Xun Er having reached the Dou Spirit realm, she was practically overwhelming those senior students. Even Xiao Yu, Xiao Ning, and the others could steadily suppress the injured Dou Spirit senior students. In the end, neither Bai Cheng nor Yao Sheng managed to hold out until Xiao Yan''s Dou Qi was exhausted. Xun Er, having dealt with Lei Na and Fu Ao, joined forces with Xiao Yan. With a palm strike each, they sent the two tumbling off the arena, spewing blood. "Great teamwork, Xun Er." "It''s all because Xiao Yan ge-ge is powerful." Chapter 238: Chapter 238: Fame Spreads Through the Inner Academy Chapter 238: Chapter 238: Fame Spreads Through the Inner Academy ? Word Count: 2,175 Words ****** "See? I told you not to make an enemy of him," whispered Bai Shan, the only member of the White Gang who had not taken the field. Although the White Gang had lost and was forced to compensate several hundred days'' worth of Fire Energy, Bai Shan still felt a bit pleased. At least it proved that his judgment was correct. You lost, didn''t you? Doesn''t that prove I was right? Looking at Bai Cheng and Yao Sheng, who had been defeated by the combined efforts of Xiao Yan and Xun Er, the entire plaza fell into an eerie silence. Many people had not yet recovered from their shock. The remaining senior students on the stage had lost their will to fight and raised their hands in surrender. Bai Cheng, a 6-star Dou Spirit ranked 30th on the Strong Ranking, and Yao Sheng, ranked even 17th, had actually lost to two freshmen who had entered the Inner Academy less than a month ago! Although some had predicted this outcome from the beginning of the battle, when it became apparent, they still found it hard to believe. "Those freshmen really defeated so many senior students!" "Defeated my ass! If it weren''t for Xiao Yan using that bizarre sonic Dou Technique to instantly take out a large number and injure many more, how could those freshmen, who were barely Dou Grandmasters, have defeated senior students five times their number?" Everyone fell silent because, no matter how one looked at it, this battle was unwinnable. The senior students had an overwhelming advantage in terms of cultivation levels and numbers. But they had been injured both in body and soul by Xiao Yan''s strange sonic Dou Technique, which left those Dou Spirits unable to use their Dou Techniques and made it difficult for them to gather their Dou Qi. This kind of sonic Dou Technique, capable of directly striking the soul and penetrating defenses, was something no one in the Inner Academy had ever seen before. All the senior students understood that Xiao Yan had won this battle single-handedly. He had carried all the freshmen; even after consuming a large amount of Dou Qi, he still withstood the pincer attack from Yao Sheng and Bai Cheng, waiting until Xun Er finished dealing with the remaining opponents and came to his aid. What was even more terrifying was that even though everyone knew Xiao Yan relied on a large-scale sonic Dou Technique, even if the senior student alliance tried again, victory would still be unattainable because there was simply no way to defend against such an attack. Elder Liu rose from the referee''s seat with a smile. His gaze swept across the arena, and after a moment, he slowly announced, "In this faction battle, the winner is the Xiao Hall of Xiao Yan!" Applause instantly resounded throughout the arena as Elder Liu''s announcement fell. The gazes directed at the black-robed youth in the field held undisguised awe and reverence. The strength Xiao Yan had displayed had completely convinced them. With a 3-star Dou Spirit, boasting a powerful sonic Dou Technique, a flying-type Dou Technique, a Secret Technique that could temporarily boost his strength, and many other trump cards, Xiao Yan''s combat power was probably already sufficient to challenge those monsters in the top ten of the Strong Ranking. Whether he could win, however, would depend on the circumstances. Xiao Yan smiled and turned his gaze to the green-clad young lady beside him. A subtle smile and tenderness shone in Xun Er''s beautiful eyes. "Was it you who unleashed that dragon roar?" A voice came from the entrance of the plaza. Although soft, when transmitted with powerful Dou Qi, it was even louder than the applause in the arena. The spectators instinctively stopped applauding and all looked toward the entrance. "That''s Lin Xiuya, ranked 2nd on the Strong Ranking!!" "And there''s Liu Qing ranked 3rd, Yan Hao ranked 5th, Qin Zhen ranked 6th, Qian Mo ranked 8th, and Lin Yan ranked 9th!" "What''s going on? Why have so many of the top ten experts on the Strong Ranking, who rarely show themselves, all appeared at once?" "Oh right, the sonic Dou Technique Xiao Yan used earlier probably reached the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower!" Liu Qing frowned. He saw his cousin Liu Fei among the crowd and noticed many members of his Splitting Mountain were present as well; however, two were not among the cheering audience but were groaning in pain in the arena. Only then did he recall that a few days ago his cousin had told him that someone had provoked their Splitting Mountain and that Yao Sheng and Lei Na were preparing to deal with them. Just imagine, if one day Xiao Mei or the younger members of the clan were bullied, wouldn''t we have to stand up for them just as Liu Qing did? "The same goes for all members of the Xiao Hall. Even if we become stronger, we must not bully the weak. We should love peace and develop together, ensuring that the Xiao Hall doesn''t change its nature, color, or essence. Understood?" "Understood!" all the members of the Xiao Hall shouted in unison. Liu Fei heard these words and angrily retorted, "You''re using me as a negative example! Who do you think you are? Just because you defeated Yao Sheng, you think you can compare to my cousin Liu Qing?" Xiao Mei appeared to be lost in thought as she listened to Liu Fei repeat ''cousin'' over and over. ... After Xiao Yan led the freshmen to defeat the senior student alliance, all voices questioning the Xiao Hall fell silent. Especially after Xiao Yan obtained ten thousand days'' worth of Fire Energy from the bet, all the Inner Academy students realized one thing: with such resources, the Xiao Hall would one day stand alongside Wolf Teeth, Splitting Mountain, and Medicine Gang. As for Xiao Yan''s name, it resounded throughout the Inner Academy. There was no one who did not know of him. However, Xiao Yan did not hog the ten thousand days'' worth of Fire Energy for himself. He distributed one hundred days'' worth of Fire Energy to each of the forty new students who had participated in the battle. Hu Jia, Wu Hao, Xiao Mei, Xiao Yu, and Xiao Ning each received four hundred days, totaling six thousand days'' worth of Fire Energy. Of the remaining four thousand days'' worth of Fire Energy, two thousand were kept for the development of the Xiao Hall, while Xiao Yan and Xun Er, who had contributed the most, each received one thousand. Even though Xiao Yan now had an additional thousand days'' worth of Fire Energy, consumption increased the deeper one went into the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. Xiao Yan inquired with Zi Yan and learned that on the seventh floor, her exclusive No. 1 Cultivation Room, assigned to the first-ranked student on the Strong Ranking, actually required thirty days'' worth of Fire Energy per day! Even though the academy provided free Fire Energy to the top ten on the Strong Ranking each month, with Zi Yan receiving three hundred days'' worth per month, it still was not enough to support her cultivation in the No. 1 room every day. - Time passed quickly. Two months had gone by since the faction battle. Boom! Xiao Yan was punched out of the sky by Zi Yan and crashed to the ground, creating a large pit. "Holy shit, that physical strength of yours is too much. I can''t beat it, I can''t beat it," Xiao Yan lay in the pit with his hands raised in surrender. Chapter 239: Chapter 239: Flirting and Bantering Chapter 239: Chapter 239: Flirting and Bantering ? Word Count: 2,196 Words ****** Over the course of two months, with more than a thousand days'' worth of Fire Energy, Xiao Yan spent his time soaking in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. Coupled with his Di Class Qi Method, his cultivation advanced by two stars, reaching the 5-star Dou Spirit stage.@@@@ Therefore, as soon as he left the tower, he sought out Zi Yan for a sparring match. The result was still the same. He couldn''t defeat this cute little girl. Her physical strength was terrifyingly immense. Xiao Yan estimated that her strength rivaled that of an exceptionally powerful Rank 5 magical beast. Just the explosive power from her body alone was equivalent to a 5-star Dou King. Moreover, Zi Yan possessed some strange Spatial Strength. As a result, regardless of all his improvements, he still could not overcome her. "Hmph! Of course! You think my position as number one on the Strong Ranking was just for show?" Zi Yan retracted her purple Dou Qi Wings and slowly descended beside Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan patted the dust off his clothes and stood up slowly. He had already decided to participate in this year''s Strong Ranking Grand Competition and aimed to secure a spot in the top ten. Because as long as he could enter the top ten in this competition, he would qualify to become an elder candidate. Additionally, he would gain the opportunity to enter the ninth floor of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower to undergo the Essence Heart Flame Body Forging! Essence Heart Flame-Xiao Yan immediately understood what this was upon hearing it. The Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower had ten floors in total. Even someone like Zi Yan, who was ranked first on the Strong Ranking, could only reach up to the seventh floor, while the eighth floor was essentially reserved for elders. As for the purple Fire Crystal Cards, only elite Dou Emperors at the Dean level could possess them¡ªfor example, the peak Dou Emperor Hu Gan, the Deputy Headmaster of the Outer Academy, and Su Qian, the First Elder of the Inner Academy who possessed Dou Ancestor strength. Because after reaching the Dou Emperor realm, only the essence of the Fallen Heart Flame could accelerate their Dou Qi cultivation. Simply put, after undergoing the Essence Heart Flame Body Forging, as long as one wasn''t extremely unlucky, it was equivalent to obtaining a pass to advance to the Dou King realm, with a high chance to break through to Dou Emperor. That''s why so many coveted a spot in the top ten of the Strong Ranking. "Just what is your background, little girl? I''ve advanced to a 5-star Dou Spirit, and I''ve reached the entry level in the Di Class Dou Techniques I''ve learned, yet I still can''t defeat you." It was one of the few times in his life that Xiao Yan felt puzzled. Currently, he could skillfully use ''Lightning Flash,'' the entry-level technique of the Three Thousand Lightning Movement, which allowed him to flash over thirty meters instantly, and he was diligently working toward achieving ''Instant Lightning'' at the minor mastery level. After Zi Yan''s guidance, he had also learned to utilize the Ancient Dragon Roar with his soul. Although it was still at the entry level and could only unleash large-scale roars or target enemies directly in front of him, once he reached minor mastery he would be able to modulate the sound. If he reached major mastery, he could even condense the sound waves into a single line, achieving the terrifying effect of shattering an enemy''s soul from a hundred miles away. But even with all these techniques, he still couldn''t defeat Zi Yan. "I don''t know either. It would be great if I did." Zi Yan pouted, then reached into the void and produced three tier 5 medicinal herbs, which she tossed to Xiao Yan. "Help me make them taste good. I''m going back into the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower to cultivate." Xiao Yan caught the medicinal ingredients with a smile and nodded. He waved his hand to summon his medicinal cauldron and placed the herbs into it one by one. Then he added some sugar, vanilla, rose petals, and other ingredients. He refined several large bottles of candy-like pills. The cultivation of magical beasts was different from that of humans. They didn''t cultivate Qi Methods; their bloodlines were innate Qi Methods that allowed them to absorb the energy of the world through their bloodline strength to grow. To accelerate growth, they needed to consume and digest medicinal ingredients. Every month, Zi Yan would spend considerable time searching deep mountains and forests for Heavenly Treasures. After consuming them, she would enter the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower and use the Fallen Heart Flame to quickly digest the medicinal properties, accelerating her growth. According to Zi Yan, she could sense places with abundant energy, which helped her find these treasures. She had a natural talent for treasure hunting! Xiao Yan had also gone treasure hunting with her, but the problem was that although she could indeed sense places with abundant energy-and those places did have heavenly treasures they were guarded by magical beasts, and extremely powerful ones at that. After obtaining the jade bottles, Zi Yan quickly poured out a golden pill. Ignoring its residual heat, she popped it into her mouth and chewed vigorously. Xiao Yan gently wrapped his hands around her slender waist and lightly kissed her silky hair. Feeling his warmth, a faint blush appeared on Xun Er''s fair and delicate cheeks. This shy demeanor was entirely different from her usual calm and composed self. One couldn''t deny that Xun Er at this moment was extraordinarily charming. "Xun Er..." With a man and a woman alone in a room, it was easy for thoughts to turn to less wholesome matters. Xun Er''s cheeks reddened as she quickly stepped back and shyly said, "Didn''t Xiao Yan ge-ge say he wanted to go for a stroll in the Inner Academy? Let''s go." Xiao Yan cleared his throat lightly. After all, it was broad daylight, not the appropriate time for anything too... adult. Holding her soft, jade-like hand, the two walked toward the Inner Academy''s trading area while chatting and laughing along the way. The Inner Academy was extremely vast, and it took Xiao Yan half an hour to reach the trading area. However, he wasn''t in a hurry, as he chatted endlessly with Xun Er about everything under the sun. "Ugh, I don''t want it." Xun Er looked at the stinky tofu Xiao Yan handed her with a face full of distaste, pinching her nose. "I''m not lying to you. Although this thing smells bad, it tastes delicious. Try it if you don''t believe me." "No way!" In the trading plaza, numerous stone platforms were set up, filled with a dazzling array of items. Crowds hustled about outside the platforms. The lively atmosphere made Xiao Yan click his tongue in amazement. However, the intimate appearance of Xiao Yan and Xun Er attracted countless gazes. Of course, most onlookers wished they could strangle Xiao Yan. As they walked, their gazes continually swept over the items on the stone platforms on both sides. The more he looked, the more surprised Xiao Yan became. He discovered that some of the items for sale here were on par with those found in the major cities of the Black-Corner Region. Perhaps because the Inner Academy lay deep in vast mountains, some rare items here were hard to find even in the shops of the Black-Corner Region. "There are quite a few treasures here." Xiao Yan squatted down and examined the fine items at a stall in front of him. Xun Er, on the other hand, seemed less interested and was instead contemplating the stinky tofu in her hand. Eating this thing was more challenging for her than defeating a Dou King. After walking a while longer, Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed as he looked toward a particular stall. ''Isn''t that Lin Yan, ranked ninth on the Strong Ranking?'' Xiao Yan recognized the stall owner; they had met during the faction battle. Dressed in gray, Lin Yan noticed Xiao Yan''s approach. He raised his head, and his blood-red eyes made Xiao Yan frown. ''Those eyes... Fire poison invading the heart?'' Xiao Yan was indeed a peak 5th-tier alchemist. He could tell at a glance that Lin Yan had stayed in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower for too long and had accidentally gone into cultivation deviation, allowing fire poison to invade his heart. However, his attention was quickly drawn to a medicinal ingredient at Lin Yan''s stall. "Green Wood Celestial Vine! One of the main ingredients for the Ground Spirit Pill!" Chapter 240: Chapter 240: The Old Method Still Works Chapter 240: Chapter 240: The Old Method Still Works ? Word Count: 2,055 Words ****** The Green Wood Celestial Vine was a key ingredient for refining the Ground Spirit Pill. Encountering it here by chance was truly a stroke of incredible luck! Suppressing the surge of joy in his heart, Xiao Yan squeezed through the crowd and slowly approached this somewhat special stone platform. The surrounding people, observing his actions, could not help but halt their steps. Their gazes carried a hint of anticipation for some excitement. After all, even though two months had passed, Xiao Yan''s reputation remained significant. Some busybodies had already considered him a contender for the top ten in this year''s Strong Ranking Grand Competition. And the person in front of him, Lin Yan, had been ranked 9th in the previous Strong Ranking. It was evident that the encounter between these two would undoubtedly be a good show. "Xiao Yan ge-ge?" Xun Er softly called upon sensing his movement. Xiao Yan halted in front of the stone platform. His eyes remained fixed directly on the Green Wood Celestial Vine. After a moment''s hesitation, he reached out his hand toward it. Just as his hand was about to touch the vine, a sharp gust of wind suddenly tore through the air. The force was so intense that it even made the fine hairs on his arm stand up slightly. A faint smile curled at the corner of Xiao Yan''s mouth as he sensed the sharpness of that force. With a thought, a wisp of blood-red flame instantly surged from his Acceptance Soul, swiftly traversing several meridians, and finally burst out of his body as his hand retracted rapidly. "Huh?" The moment the blood-red flame wrapped around his hand, a surprised exclamation sounded. Immediately after, that sharp gust of wind was completely incinerated by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. Having been warned by the stall owner, Xiao Yan did not forcibly take the Green Wood Celestial Vine. Instead, he withdrew his hand and lifted his head to look at the gray-robed man before him. By now, Lin Yan had opened his eyes and looked at Xiao Yan with slight surprise. His brows furrowed as he asked, "You''re Xiao Yan?" Xiao Yan nodded slightly and smiled. "Hello." He was not unfamiliar with the red glow in Lin Yan''s eyes. Anyone who spent long periods cultivating in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower would develop this condition, commonly known as ''fire poison invasion.'' Even someone as special as Xiao Yan would inevitably have some fire poison lingering in his body if he stayed too long, requiring the power of the Nihility Devouring Flame to cleanse it. However, the red glow he usually saw in others'' eyes was just a faint trace, whereas Lin Yan''s eyes were almost entirely filled with red light. Evidently, the fire poison had already invaded his heart. "If you''re not buying, don''t touch as you please. Others might fear you, Xiao Yan, but I, Lin Yan, do not." Lin Yan cast a cold glance at Xiao Yan with his reddened eyes. "Who said I''m not buying? You haven''t even set a price." Xiao Yan crossed his arms over his chest, displaying an air of wealth. And indeed, it was so. Who did not know that Xiao Yan had earned ten thousand days'' worth of Fire Energy two months ago and had become a veritable tycoon in the Inner Academy? Lin Yan sneered coldly, "Four hundred days of Fire Energy." The entire area suddenly fell silent as soon as these words left his mouth. People looked at him as if he were a madman. A sum like four hundred was enormous; some might not accumulate that much in a whole year or even two. It was unclear whether Lin Yan was intentionally quoting a high price or not. Xiao Yan pursed his lips in dissatisfaction. "Hey, hey, isn''t this daylight robbery? Although this thing is somewhat special, it''s not worth four hundred days of Fire Energy." In his heart, however, he agreed with Lin Yan''s asking price. Though four hundred days of Fire Energy seemed expensive, this was the main ingredient for a tier 6 pill, equivalent in value to a tier 5 pill. Four hundred days of Fire Energy was not unreasonable. "Although I don''t know exactly what this green vine is, the fact that two Dou King-level magical beasts fought to the death over it proves its value is definitely not low. Moreover, I almost lost my life obtaining it. So, four hundred days of Fire Energy isn''t expensive. If you can''t afford it, then move along and stop delaying my business." Lin Yan cast a sidelong glance at Xiao Yan and waved dismissively. Even though Lin Yan spoke casually, his words still caused a stir among the surrounding crowd. Snatching something from two Dou King-level magical beasts-this Lin Yan truly lived up to his reputation as the craziest person in the Inner Academy. Xun Er''s eyes narrowed with displeasure when she heard Lin Yan''s contemptuous words toward Xiao Yan. She retrieved a Fire Crystal Card from her storage ring and said coldly, "I''ll buy it." Even Lin Yan was momentarily stunned when he saw Xun Er take out a green Fire Crystal Card with a four-digit number displayed on it. A rich lady indeed! The gazes cast toward Xiao Yan were filled with astonishment. This Xiao Yan was actually an alchemist?!? All the senior students knew only of Xiao Yan''s formidable strength, but they had not expected him to be an alchemist as well! Lin Yan slowly exhaled, his facial expressions shifting several times before he calmed down. Regaining his composure, he gave Xiao Yan a cold look and said, "Why should I believe you have this ability? The fire poison in my body was examined by the top talents in the Inner Academy''s Alchemy Department, and they all said it was incurable. What makes you different?" Xiao Yan chuckled, "The Alchemy Department? Don''t lump me in with those alchemists. I once removed the Searing Poison from a Dou King. Is your fire poison more troublesome than that?" Though Xiao Yan spoke with a smile, his absolute confidence in his alchemy skills shone in his eyes. After pondering for a moment, Lin Yan said, "How about this? If you really can completely expel the fire poison from my body, then with an additional hundred Fire Energy this green vine will be yours. How about that?" Xiao Yan lightly shook his head and replied, "You''re the one in need of my help now. If you''re unwilling, I can still buy it for four hundred Fire Energy. I am not lacking in Fire Energy anyway." His eyes narrowed slightly as he was certain Lin Yan would agree. Xiao Yan was all too familiar with this kind of situation! Back then, wasn''t it the same with Nalan Jie and Hai Bodong? The method might be old, but as long as it works, it works! Lin Yan''s eyes sharpened as he nodded heavily. "Fine! But you must completely remove the fire poison from my body; not a trace can remain. Even a little residue is unacceptable. Only then will I give you the green vine." Xiao Yan waved his sleeve dismissively. "Come find me at the Xiao Hall tonight. I still want to stroll around with Xun Er." "Huh? You''re not going to remove the fire poison now?" "Your matter is just a small matter for me." With that said, Xiao Yan took Xun Er''s hand and continued to wander the trading area, leaving Lin Yan standing dumbfounded in the cold wind. If he did not coax Xun Er now, this girl would be harder to deal with than the fire poison. After all, he planned to enter closed-door cultivation in the No. 1 cultivation room ten days later when Zi Yan came out, and incidentally help Queen Medusa condense a Heavenly Flame Body. Xiao Yan and Xun Er spent most of the day browsing the trading area and even enjoyed a delightful dinner outside before returning intimately. Lin Yan, who had been pacing back and forth at the door for half a day, hurried over and exclaimed when he saw that Xiao Yan and Xun Er had finally returned, "You''re finally back! If you hadn''t returned, I was about to go find you in the trading area." Lin Yan was on the verge of tears. This is a matter of life and death for me! Can''t you postpone your flirting for a while? Chapter 241: Chapter 241: Energy Rampage Chapter 241: Chapter 241: Energy Rampage ? Word Count: 2,156 Words ****** Seeing that Lin Yan was on the verge of tears, Xun Er decided to be considerate and softly said, "Xun Er should get back to cultivating; otherwise, the gap with Xiao Yan ge-ge will only widen." Xiao Yan affectionately stroked her silky hair and then cupped her delicate face in his hands. A warm sensation spread from his palms. Gazing at Xun Er''s rosy lips, he couldn''t help but swallow. Xun Er''s cheeks flushed crimson. She lowered her head slightly and murmured, "Xun Er will head back first." Before Xiao Yan could speak, Xun Er, giving him no chance to misbehave, swiftly dashed back to her courtyard. Xiao Yan gave a faint smile as he watched Xun Er run away shyly. Indeed, public displays weren''t appropriate, and besides, that fellow Ling Ying was watching. Meanwhile, Lin Yan stood to the side, staring blankly at Xiao Yan. Big brother, there''s still someone else here! Could you be a bit more mindful!! Glancing at this third wheel, Xiao Yan said, "Come with me." ... Inside Xiao Yan''s room. Xiao Yan began examining Lin Yan, who was seated before him, and asked, "How long has the fire poison been accumulating in your body?" He needed to understand the situation clearly before helping to expel the poison. Lin Yan''s expression turned somewhat grim as he replied, "Around a year and a half." The fire poison had already deeply affected his mind, making him extremely irritable. "Back then, I was desperate to improve my strength, so I went into closed-door cultivation in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower for one or two months at a stretch. The fire poison kept accumulating and, by the time I realized it, had become tightly intertwined with my Dou Qi and couldn''t be separated." Xiao Yan couldn''t help but look down on Lin Yan. Isn''t it just closed-door cultivation in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower for one or two months? Xiao Yan said calmly, "In a moment, bear with it. I''ll use flames to enter your body and burn away the fire poison." Lin Yan was stunned. I''m afflicted with fire poison, not ice poison! You''re adding more fire? Isn''t that like adding fuel to the fire?! Xiao Yan noticed Lin Yan''s skeptical look and replied flatly, "If you don''t trust me, you can still choose to take four hundred days'' worth of Fire Energy. I can give it to you right now." "Heh heh, how could I not trust you? I trust you, I trust you." Lin Yan had no other choice. Even if he had the Fire Energy, he wouldn''t be alive to use it. Right now, Xiao Yan was his only lifeline. Turning his back to Xiao Yan, Lin Yan nervously asked, "Brother Xiao Yan, what''s your success rate?" Placing his palm on Lin Yan''s back, Xiao Yan said with a confident smile, "Someone asked me the same question before, and my answer is still the same." Whoosh! A burst of energy shattered Lin Yan''s robe into powder, exposing a muscular body. "One hundred percent." Xiao Yan instantly activated the Flame Mantra. The Nihility Devouring Flame flowed through his meridians to his palm, and with his immensely powerful Spiritual Strength, he guided the black flame to drill into Lin Yan''s body. With a thud, Lin Yan''s body suddenly trembled. His already muscular physique swelled as if inflated, doubling in size! His entire skin turned bright red, resembling a cooked prawn. "Ahhh!!!" Even a madman like Lin Yan who disregarded his own life couldn''t help but let out an agonized howl at this moment. Clenching his teeth tightly, despite his crazed willpower, he couldn''t suppress his screams. Xiao Yan didn''t waste time after entering the cultivation room. He took out a Fire Crystal Card and tapped it. ''Thirty... truly an astronomical price, but worth every bit.'' With a flash of green light, the Green Lotus flew out from his storage ring. The snake-bodied Medusa poked her head out from the lotus platform and looked around, "The energy here is much denser." "The price is quite steep too. You should first absorb the Heavenly Flame energy to condense your snake body. On the last day, I''ll use the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to help you refine the Heavenly Flame energy." "Mm." Not wasting any more time, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on the stone platform and began frantically circulating the Flame Mantra to cultivate. Medusa coiled atop the Green Lotus and greedily absorbed the fire-attribute energy floating within the No. 1 cultivation room. One person and one snake became like two vortices, voraciously absorbing. Large clusters of Heart Flame appeared within Xiao Yan, being purified into strands of exceedingly pure Dou Qi. Cultivation knew no day or night. In the blink of an eye, twenty days passed. The terrifying environment of the No. 1 cultivation room allowed Xiao Yan to advance another star in just twenty days, reaching the 6-star Dou Spirit stage! By now, the Heavenly Flame energy within the No. 1 cultivation room had visibly thinned; fortunately, this was the No. 1 cultivation room, so the energy replenished quickly. Sitting cross-legged on the stone platform, a ball of blood-red flames continuously refined under Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength. Through that special soul contract with Medusa, he transmitted the Heart Flame drawn from the stone platform to her, using the pure Heart Flame to accelerate the formation of her Heavenly Flame Snake Body. ''This time, Medusa should achieve Dou Ancestor-level combat strength.'' Although Medusa''s body had not yet grown to its complete form, the Heavenly Flame Snake Body Xiao Yan was refining for her had brought her strength close to the Dou Ancestor realm. Just as Xiao Yan was secretly delighted at soon having a Dou Ancestor-level ally, an unexpected change occurred! Boom! Boom! Boom!!! Suddenly, the entire cultivation room began to tremble. "What''s going on? Is the Fallen Heart Flame acting up? No, this is-!" Xiao Yan''s eyes sharpened as he looked at the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python within the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. He sensed that this tremor was caused by its energy outburst. "Energy rampage?! Hey, Medusa, are you alright?!" Xiao Yan''s heart tightened. He had never used a Heavenly Flame to help someone condense a physical body before, and he had no idea what might happen! Suddenly, the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python within the Ten Thousand Beast Flame opened its eyes and stared fixedly at Xiao Yan. Its eyes glowed with a blood-red intensity, just like Lin Yan''s. ''You''ve got to be kidding me! How did someone at the Dou Emperor level get fire poisoned!!'' Xiao Yan was greatly alarmed. He could handle Lin Yan, but how was he supposed to deal with a Dou Ancestor-level Medusa!! A seven-colored divine light abruptly erupted from the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python''s body. An immense force violently flung Xiao Yan away, and with a heavy thud, his entire body slammed against the wall. Shaking his head to clear his dizziness, Xiao Yan found his hands suddenly seized and pinned against the wall before he could react. In his bewildered state, he felt something soft press against his lips. Xiao Yan''s entire body jolted! His pupils widened dramatically. It was as if he had been struck by lightning. His body went rigid as he stared at the blushing beauty before him. He let out a muffled, (My first time is meant for Xun Er!) tragic wail... Chapter 242: Chapter 242: Taking Some Things Chapter 242: Chapter 242: Taking Some Things ? Xiao Yan''s entire body suddenly stiffened, and although he wanted to make a sound, his sealed mouth allowed only muffled "mmm mmm" noises to escape. Medusa''s seemingly boneless, jade-like hands pinned his arms firmly, and no matter how much strength he exerted, he could not move them an inch. Although his physical strength was formidable, he was no match for Medusa, and he could not break free from her restraint at all! Xiao Yan stared wide-eyed at the enchanting beauty before him. In Medusa''s eyes, aside from the blood-red glow from the fire poison, there was a special kind of light hidden deep within. This caused his heart to tighten. He thought to himself, ''The Fallen Heart Flame can generate Heart Flames within one''s heart, drawing out the deepest hidden desires. But Medusa is a magical beast, and moreover, she has evolved into the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python using a Heavenly Flame. How could she be affected by such a small amount of Heavenly Flame energy?'' This was only the seventh floor; even Zi Yan and Liu Qing experienced no issues, while Lin Yan, at the Dou Spirit realm, had only begun feeling the fire poison after more than two months of closed-door cultivation. Although Medusa had absorbed a massive amount of Heavenly Flame energy, it had only been a little over ten days, and logically speaking, she should not be exhibiting such a condition! It might be possible if they were on the tenth floor, where the Fallen Heart Flame''s essence could ignite desires from within; but since they were only on the seventh floor, this should not be happening no matter how he thought about it. Xiao Yan looked at Medusa before him. She was wild and domineering like a beast, as if she could not wait to devour him whole. ''Fuck, could it be... the Ten Thousand Beast Flame!!!'' Xiao Yan suddenly recalled the first time he saw Medusa. Back then, he had infiltrated the palace, and just by seeing her veiled figure from behind, a surge of evil fire rose within him, as if his soul were hooked by her, and the most primal desire for procreation suddenly surged. Only now did he understand why that had happened. Medusa''s bedchamber contained her snake poison! That snake poison was a Beast Technique rooted in her bloodline. Medusa''s snake poison possessed the effect of arousing primal desires! Furthermore, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame could activate and strengthen magical beasts'' bloodline strength. It was the inheritance flame of magical beasts, and inheritance naturally involved reproduction! The Fallen Heart Flame already had the ability to evoke the hidden desires within one''s heart. Coupled with Medusa''s special bloodline talent as a member of the Snake-People Tribe and further enhanced by the stimulation from the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, it caused Medusa to lose control, or rather, to go into heat! "Wake up!" At this point, he was truly afraid that in her moment of lost rationality, she might go all the way! Xiao Yan''s eyes sharpened. He could not afford to enjoy this sudden bliss any longer. He shouted inwardly as his Spiritual Strength surged instantly: ''Asura Soul Reaping Technique, Soul Chase, Shock!'' Boom! A burst of spiritual vibration caused Medusa''s body to shudder, and her enchanting eyes gradually regained clarity. Her gaze cleared as she regained her senses. At the sight of Xiao Yan''s face, a hint of panic flashed in her eyes. The two of them stared wide-eyed at each other for two seconds. Xiao Yan awkwardly chuckled and began, "You-" SLAP! A slap came flying over, directly stunning Xiao Yan. Was this his fault? Was he in the wrong? Why was he the one being slapped? Clearly, he was the one who suffered the loss! "Why did you hit me!" Xiao Yan exclaimed angrily. She knew that Xiao Yan wasn''t lying. The reason she had lost her rationality just now was precisely because her body, relying on the power of the Heavenly Flame, had recovered to Rank 6. It was precisely because her body had recovered to Rank 6 that she entered maturity. With her body now mature, coupled with the fire poison of the Fallen Heart Flame, it had led to the recent incident. This proved that the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was effective. It had made the snake poison in her body stronger than ever before, to the point that she herself was poisoned by it. "No need. Let''s continue using the Ten Thousand Beast Flame," Medusa said as she slowly shook her head. The effects of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame were something she was unwilling to give up. If her body continued to be strengthened by it, by the time it was complete, she would definitely surpass all previous Medusas. Xiao Yan coughed lightly and glanced at the enchanting beauty before him, "You don''t need to worry so much. I''m now a 6th-tier alchemist after all. I can concoct some medicinal liquid. When using the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to condense your body, you can soak in it to help stabilize your mind." A strange light flashed in Medusa''s eyes. She hadn''t expected that Xiao Yan, instead of taking advantage while she lost rationality, would be willing to refine medicinal liquid for her. This made her feel somewhat incredulous. Could there really be a man who could resist her charm?! Seeing Medusa''s surprised expression, Xiao Yan rubbed his hands together and grinned, "Of course, if you feel indebted, you could give me some of your poison; that would be great." Medusa''s poison possessed the effect of igniting desires in people''s hearts. If it could be used for alchemy, it would be a miraculous pill that countless men would pay fortunes for. Just as Medusa was still puzzled about why Xiao Yan wanted her poison, a voice came from outside the door. "Hey, Xiao Yan, why aren''t you coming out yet?" Zi Yan called. After all, this was Zi Yan''s cultivation room. She had only lent it to Xiao Yan when it was vacant, and now, it had been twenty days. Medusa slipped into the Green Lotus with a flash of green light and was stored in the storage ring. Xiao Yan took out his Fire Crystal Card, tapped it, and then pushed open the stone door. "Sorry, sorry, I lost track of time," Xiao Yan said with a smile. "It''s fine. Just help me refine these medicinal ingredients." Zi Yan revealed her adorable little tiger teeth and smiled as she took out five extremely high-quality medicinal ingredients and handed them to Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan was slightly surprised as he looked at the five high-quality medicinal ingredients before him. "You got quite a haul this time. There are so many!" Zi Yan giggled and said, "I only found three in the forest myself. The other two medicinal ingredients I took from the Inner Academy''s Medicinal Warehouse. The energy from just three ingredients wasn''t enough." "''''Took''?" Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow at the word. "Tell me where you ''took'' them from; I''d like to go ''take'' some too," Xiao Yan said as he stared into Zi Yan''s eyes. Zi Yan felt somewhat guilty under his gaze and sheepishly replied, "Well... you probably can''t take any. You need to be able to pass through the protective barrier to get them." Isn''t that just stealing! How is that ''taking''!! Chapter 243: Chapter 243: Feeling a Bit Guilty Chapter 243: Chapter 243: Feeling a Bit Guilty ? Word Count: 2,071 Words ****** In the end, after refining the medicinal ingredients into candies for Zi Yan, Xiao Yan curiously followed her outside a warehouse. He learned through Zi Yan''s introduction that this was the Medicinal Warehouse of the Inner Academy, overseen by Elder Hao. It stored all the medicinal ingredients acquired by the academy. When students gathered medicinal ingredients from the wild, they could choose either to sell them themselves in the trading area or to directly sell them to the Inner Academy in exchange for Fire Energy or even acquire Qi Methods and Dou Techniques. A vast collection of medicinal ingredients had accumulated over time. As the Inner Academy''s storage facility for precious medicinal materials, this Medicinal Warehouse had rather strict defenses. Not only was it overseen by the elite Dou King Elder Hao, but over a dozen instructors also patrolled around the clock. Generally, students were forbidden from entering this area. However, Zi Yan''s special ability allowed her to manipulate space. She tore open the barrier and secretly slipped into the warehouse! Xiao Yan was now one hundred percent certain that Zi Yan''s bloodline strength allowed her to traverse the void, bearing some similarities to the abilities of the Nihility Devouring Flame! He glanced around as he followed Zi Yan inside. Amazement gradually appeared on his face. The inner walls of the entire room were wrapped in a layer of milky-white jade. Even the floor beneath their feet was composed of neatly arranged, seam-free pieces of white jade. Faint fluorescent light emanated from these white jade pieces. ''What a grand gesture, as expected of the Inner Academy''s Medicinal Warehouse,'' Xiao Yan clicked his tongue. These white jade pieces were extremely expensive, yet they were highly effective in preserving medicinal ingredients. In this airtight environment, these valuable ingredients retained even the slightest medicinal properties, and their storage time was greatly extended. Such an arrangement was far beyond what he could achieve by storing ingredients in his storage ring. Back then, only the Misty Cloud Sect''s medicinal warehouse had such grandeur. Medusa''s impoverished treasury couldn''t compare at all. The spacious room that was surrounded by white jade had a couple built-in walkways. On both sides of the walkways stood tall, large shelves made of white jade. Xiao Yan casually walked toward one of them, his gaze drifting over the shelves. Various unique medicinal ingredients, which one could identify as being extremely rare at a glance, were quietly placed there, their distinct medicinal fragrances faintly drifting through the air. "Yin Magical Flame Grass... Purple Spirit Plastic Flower... Hmm, this seems to be the... Cold Blood Fruit?" Xiao Yan walked along the walkways beside the shelves as he slowly made his way around. The variety of unique medicinal ingredients deepened the shock on his face. In the end, he was unable to name some of them. However, from the medicinal fragrances they emitted, one could tell that they belonged to a category of spiritual medicines so rare that one might not find one in ten thousand medicinal ingredients. However, all these medicinal ingredients were enveloped by energy shields. "Do you want some?" Zi Yan''s jade-like hand passed unimpeded through the energy shield as it retrieved a stalk of Dou King Grass. Xiao Yan''s throat moved as he swallowed a mouthful of saliva. Were it not for his remaining rationality, he might have been unable to resist collecting all these medicinal ingredients into his storage ring. However, the thought flashed through his mind and was quickly suppressed. If he really did such a thing, he probably wouldn''t be able to remain in the Inner Academy; in that case, the matter of obtaining the Fallen Heart Flame would also fall through. No matter how rare these medicinal ingredients were, they couldn''t compare to the Fallen Heart Flame. Moreover, he could say with 100% certainty that Zi Yan being able to take medicinal ingredients from here wasn''t just because of her special ability, but likely also the Inner Academy''s way of nurturing her. If he were to take medicinal ingredients from here, there was an eight or nine out of ten chance that he would be discovered. Xiao Yan swallowed and shook his head. "You should take less in the future. If you take too much, I''m afraid-" Just as he was earnestly lecturing Zi Yan, a palm-sized fruit suddenly caught his attention. ''Asparagus Ice Fire Fruit!!! The last main ingredient for the Ground Spirit Pill!'' Xiao Yan was shocked. He hadn''t expected to find it here! Zi Yan raised an eyebrow and smiled knowingly. Her slender little hand appeared as if from thin air as she reached through the protective shield, took out the Asparagus Ice Fire Fruit, and waved it in front of him. "Xiao-Yan-Zi, do you want this fruit?" Zi Yan, with her black hair in double pigtails, revealed a devilish smile on her childish face, especially those little tiger teeth that made her look like a little devil. In Xiao Yan''s eyes, she was indeed a little devil, tempting him to fall together with her! Xiao Yan sighed. He definitely wanted it. At that moment, he couldn''t help but imagine the enchanting curves and valleys hidden beneath the water, envisioning scenes that would make one''s blood boil. A natural stunner! Medusa''s eyes sharpened as she said coldly, "Done looking!" "N-no, I mean, yes, yes, I''m done, I''m done," Xiao Yan stammered, feeling the bone-chilling killing intent as he hurriedly moved behind Medusa and lightly placed his trembling right hand on her smooth back. The moment he touched her skin, even his soul seemed to tremble. ''I''m poisoned, I must be poisoned!'' Xiao Yan shouted in his heart. He was wholeheartedly devoted to Xun Er; this was just the poison taking effect! Medusa had three forms: the serpent form of the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, the human form with black hair, and her true form with a human upper body and a snake lower body, which was the form she had when she attacked him a month ago. Strands of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame flowed into Medusa''s body through her skin, helping her condense the Heavenly Flame energy she had absorbed. About half a day later, Xiao Yan retracted all the flames and let out a long breath. "Your body has now fully recovered to the level of a Rank 6 magical beast, but to reach Rank 7, the energy required is immense. Who knows how long it will take if we rely solely on the Heavenly Flame energy from the No. 1 cultivation room?" A Rank 6 magical beast was equivalent to the Dou Emperor realm. This level far exceeded the strength of Inner Academy students and even surpassed that of the elders. Significant effects would only be noticeable on the ninth or even tenth floors. The energy acceleration from the No. 1 cultivation room was no longer as effective. A seven-colored light flashed as Medusa quickly dressed and transformed back into her human form. Her jade-like feet lightly stepped in the air as she coldly asked, "Can''t we go to the eighth floor?" Xiao Yan gave a wry smile as he looked at the beautiful yet cold Medusa before him. "That''s easy for you to say. Not to mention that only elders can access the eighth floor; even the Fire Energy required is something I can''t afford." He wanted to cry. His Fire Crystal Card had only a little over a hundred Fire Energy left! Forty days in the No. 1 cultivation room had consumed 1,200 Fire Energy, and with the medicinal liquid for the wooden tub, his savings were completely depleted. So pitiful! They said I was supposed to eat soft rice, but why am I the one spending all the money now! Medusa saw Xiao Yan''s pitiful appearance, and the coldness on her beautiful face softened a bit. Suddenly, Xiao Yan abruptly stood up, his eyes showing a hint of panic as he said, "Quick, you need to go back." Medusa glanced toward the doorway and, without saying anything, transformed into a streak of light and returned to the Green Lotus before being stored in his storage ring. With a clap of Xiao Yan''s hands, the Nihility Devouring Flame whooshed out, turning the wooden tub into nothingness. Then, he looked around nervously, hurriedly took out his medicinal cauldron, and extracted bursts of medicinal fragrance from several medicinal ingredients. Knock, knock, knock. A knocking sound came from the door. "Xiao Yan ge-ge, are you free right now?" Hearing Xun Er''s voice, Xiao Yan hastily straightened his clothes while laughing bitterly in his heart. ''I clearly didn''t do anything! Why am I feeling guilty?'' Chapter 244: Chapter 244: Black-hearted Chapter 244: Chapter 244: Black-hearted ? Word Count: 2,228 Words ****** Xiao Yan hurried to the door and opened it with a creak. Standing behind it was Xun Er, dressed in a simple white dress. "What''s the matter, Xun Er? It''s so late." Xiao Yan flashed a confident smile. Xun Er blinked her beautiful eyes at him and pointed outside. "It''s morning now, Xiao Yan ge-ge." Xiao Yan''s heart skipped a beat! He had spent half a day helping Medusa condense her body. What was originally nighttime had naturally turned into morning! "Oh, right. Look at me-immersed in cultivation, I''ve lost track of time and didn''t realize half a day has passed." Xiao Yan suppressed the panic in his heart and smiled politely. Xun Er''s eyes flashed with a hint of insight as she gazed into his eyes. Then she tilted her head to peer into the room, wearing a smile that wasn''t quite a smile. "Won''t Xiao Yan ge-ge invite me in to sit for a while?" Gulp. Xiao Yan swallowed hard. Was this the famed woman''s sixth sense?? He laughed, "Haha, Xun Er, really now... If you''re tired, come in and rest for a bit." Xun Er smiled and entered Xiao Yan''s room with graceful, lotus-like steps. She looked left and right, but aside from a medicinal cauldron currently refining medicinal ingredients, there was nothing else. The entire room was filled with the scent of medicinal ingredients. "My room is filled with the smell of medicinal residue. If it gets on Xun Er''s clothes, I''d feel terrible," Xiao Yan hastily explained. Xun Er looked at his smile, blinked her beautiful eyes, and without saying more, took out a storage ring and handed it to him. "Here is a large batch of medicinal ingredients purchased using the Xiao Hall''s Fire Energy. Is Xiao Yan ge-ge planning to refine pills?" Xiao Yan spread his hands helplessly and said, "I''m out of Fire Energy. Cultivating in the No. 1 cultivation room costs thirty Fire Energy per day. Moreover, the Xiao Hall has just gotten on track; income and expenses have only just balanced out. The money I need to spend can only be earned by myself." Poverty was always a big problem; even Xiao Yan was not immune. Fortunately, he had a big money-making weapon called alchemy. In the Dou Qi Continent, medicinal pills were precious commodities everywhere and acted as hard currency. So he used the spare Fire Energy he had left in the Xiao Hall to purchase a batch of medicinal ingredients for tier 3 pills. In the Inner Academy, most were Dou Grandmasters, and even low-star Dou Dou Spirits could use tier 3 pills, so tier 3 pills were the best sellers. Xiao Yan suddenly thought of something and asked, "By the way, Xun Er, are there others in the Inner Academy selling medicinal pills?" At this, Xun Er''s delicate brows furrowed slightly. She smiled wryly and nodded. "There are indeed others selling pills, and not just one person but an entire faction." "A faction?" Xiao Yan was a bit surprised. "This faction is called the Medicine Gang. All its members are alchemists who entered the Inner Academy from the Alchemy Department. That Lu Mu, who once pursued Cousin Xiao Yu, has joined the Medicine Gang," Xun Er explained thoughtfully. Not all freshmen joined the Xiao Hall; only those without backgrounds joined to seek Xiao Yan''s protection. Xun Er continued, "This Medicine Gang has almost monopolized ninety percent of the medicinal pill sales in the Inner Academy. Other scattered alchemists find it hard to compete with them. It''s said that the leader of the Medicine Gang is a high-grade 4th-tier alchemist." "If Xiao Yan ge-ge also wants to sell medicinal pills, I''m afraid there will be a direct conflict with this Medicine Gang." Xiao Yan smiled faintly, took the storage ring Xun Er handed over, gently stroked her jade- like hand, and said confidently, "Just a 4th-tier alchemist? I, Xiao Yan, may not yet be the strongest in the Inner Academy, but when it comes to alchemy, I can confidently say that I am the strongest alchemist here!" When it came to alchemy, it was hard for him to keep a low profile. Since he was young, he had obtained a mysterious storage ring containing a powerful alchemist''s inheritance. He had studied various herbal classics and memorized entire volumes of medicinal texts. He possessed a Heavenly Flame and the Flame Mantra, and his Spiritual Strength had reached the peak of Tier 6. Not long ago, he had even refined a tier 6 pill with the help of the Black Demon Cauldron. Xiao Yan was truly the number one alchemist in the Inner Academy. They all knew that Xiao Yan planned to refine pills to sell and had been waiting in the living room. Xiao Yan slowly walked out under their gaze. Although his handsome face showed some fatigue, the joy between his brows was unmistakable. "You''ve only been refining pills for two hours. Is that enough? The Medicine Gang has dozens of alchemists refining together." As usual, Xiao Yu''s short skirt revealed those slender, long legs that were still so eye-catching. Xiao Yan couldn''t help but take a good look. Only when Xiao Yu''s cheeks flushed did he withdraw his gaze. He tossed storage rings containing the pills to Hu Jia, Xiao Yu, and Xun Er, and said, "Hu Jia, your storage ring contains the Qi Returning Pills, which can restore Dou Qi for Dou Grandmasters. You, along with Wu Hao and the other brothers, go to the arena. That''s where they''ll need pills that can quickly restore Dou Qi the most." "Xiao Yu, you, along with Xiao Ning, Xiao Mei, Xiao Yue Liang, and Xiao Meng, take the Minor Blood Recovery Pills to the Mission Hall to sell. Those heading out need these kinds of injury-healing pills the most." "As for the third type, the Marrow Washing Cold Spirit Liquid, this spirit liquid can clear fire poison from the body. I''ll go with Xun Er to the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower to sell it. The Inner Academy students who cultivate there need this the most." Everyone was stunned for a moment upon hearing about the effects of the Marrow Washing Cold Spirit Liquid and exclaimed, "It can remove fire poison!" Wu Hao said excitedly, "Even the Medicine Gang doesn''t have this! Many people don''t dare to stay in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower for long because they''re afraid of fire poison. We''re going to make a fortune this time." They even wanted some for themselves! "Stop eyeing it greedily. Sell the pills and come back, and I''ll refine better Marrow Washing Cold Spirit Liquid for you. I didn''t put much effort into making these; the quality is just average," Xiao Yan saw through them immediately and gave a straightforward promise. Hu Jia patted her chest confidently and said, "Hmph, you only spent two hours refining these. I''ll help you sell them all in one day." Xiao Yan revealed a meaningful smile and said, "Oh, really? Then I''ll be looking forward to it." Not long after, when Hu Jia sensed the sheer quantity of pills in the storage ring, she cried out that she''d been tricked! ... Without a doubt, as soon as the Marrow Washing Cold Spirit Liquid was launched, it immediately caused a stir throughout the Inner Academy. Students, like parched lands in desperate need of rain, eagerly flocked to learn more. Although many initially doubted whether Xiao Yan''s Marrow Washing Cold Spirit Liquid could actually eliminate fire poison and hesitated to purchase such an expensive spirit liquid, once Xiao Yan brought in Lin Yan as a ''spokesperson,'' all doubts vanished. "What? That madman Lin Yan''s fire poison was really cleared?!" "I remember now! Two months ago, Xiao Yan seemed to have bought a medicinal ingredient from Lin Yan''s stall. I heard that the condition Xiao Yan offered was to clear the fire poison in Lin Yan''s body in exchange!" "You''ve got to be kidding! Wasn''t Lin Yan''s fire poison something that even the entire Alchemy Department was helpless against? I heard even the elders said they had no way!" Immediately, everyone''s gazes were fixed on the small jar of Marrow Washing Cold Spirit Liquid on the stall, as if they were looking at a treasure. A glint flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes as he showed a broad smile, rubbing his thumb and index finger together. "Want the Marrow Washing Cold Spirit Liquid? It''s not expensive. Not ninety-nine, not eighty-eight. Today, for just five days'' worth of Fire Energy, you can buy a jar!" Everyone was stunned. Black-hearted! Chapter 245: Chapter 245: He Understands Marketing Chapter 245: Chapter 245: He Understands Marketing ? Word Count: 2,182 Words ****** "Five days'' worth of Fire Energy is too expensive! The Medicine Gang''s tier 3 pills only cost two days'' worth of Fire Energy each!" "Exactly! Even high-grade tier 3 pills are only three days'' Fire Energy apiece. You''re being too black-hearted!" In the plaza beside the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, Xiao Yan''s stall was already surrounded by people. Everyone frowned upon hearing his asking price. Five days'' worth of Fire Energy! Some of the weaker students would need half a month to earn that much. This small jar of spirit liquid costs five days'' Fire Energy. Many people wanted it but found it hard to part with their resources. A cunning glint flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes. He grabbed Lin Yan and pointed at him, "I think there''s no need for me to introduce who he is, right?" "An expert ranked ninth on the Strong Ranking, tormented by fire poison for years. Otherwise, with Lin Yan''s strength he definitely wouldn''t be just ninth; even Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing wouldn''t be his match." Lin Yan looked at Xiao Yan in horror. Don''t drag me into your boasting! "You only know that his fire poison has been cleared now, but have you forgotten how much precious time he wasted because of it?" "And I believe you''re all aware of how much Fire Energy Lin Yan spent to eliminate the fire poison from his body." "Four hundred! A full four hundred Fire Energy! And that doesn''t even include the Fire Energy he spent earlier hiring alchemists from the Alchemy Department." At this, Xiao Yan showed an expression of deep pain, tears almost welling up. "Back then, our fellow student Lin Yan had no choice. No one in the Inner Academy could refine such a spirit liquid." "But now! You have a choice. You can purchase the Marrow Washing Cold Spirit Liquid to cleanse fire poison and prevent it from invading your body. Five days'' worth of Fire Energy; it''s worth it!" The onlookers glanced at Xiao Yan''s ''sincere'' expression, then at Lin Yan, and many were moved. After all, who in the Inner Academy wasn''t afraid of fire poison? Even Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing, ranked second and third on the Strong Ranking, didn''t dare to stay in the cultivation rooms for extended periods. Lin Yan put his arm around Xiao Yan and whispered, "Hey, hey, hey, pulling me out like this isn''t appropriate, and my fire poison wasn''t cleared using this spirit liquid." Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow and said, "That''s because your fire poison had already penetrated deep into your internal organs. If it was in the early stages, this spirit liquid would suffice. As long as you play the role of ''spokesperson'' well, I can refine an even higher-grade spirit liquid for you." "Deal." The two exchanged glances, a wicked ''Jie Jie Jie'' laughter echoing in their hearts. What a pair of black-hearted accomplices. At this moment, someone who had just exited the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower approached and asked, "Is this spirit liquid usable by everyone?" Xiao Yan explained, "For those on the fourth floor and below of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower who haven''t stayed in the tower for more than a month, you can pour the spirit liquid into water and soak for an hour to clear the fire poison from your body. You can immediately re-enter the tower afterward." "If you''ve stayed for more than a month but less than two months, then you''ll need three jars, used continuously for three days." Just then, someone who had just exited the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower approached and asked, "Is this spirit liquid usable by everyone?" Xiao Yan explained, "For those on the fourth floor and below of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower who haven''t stayed in the tower for more than a month, you can pour the spirit liquid into water and soak for an hour to clear the fire poison from your body. You can immediately re-enter the tower afterward." "If you''ve stayed for more than a month but less than two months, then you''ll need three jars, used continuously for three days." He sighed with regret and said, "Alas, I know the Strong Ranking Grand Competition is only a few months away, and everyone is intensifying their cultivation. Unfortunately, the medicinal ingredients for this Marrow Washing Cold Spirit Liquid are hard to find, and the refining process is very time-consuming. I can only produce ten jars a day." Scarcity marketing. He, Xiao Yan, was skilled at it! Hearing his words, many who were already inclined to buy couldn''t help but feel even more eager. "I want a jar!" "I''ll take one too!" "Me! Me! I want one as well!" Xun Er covered her mouth and giggled as she stood behind Xiao Yan. The storage ring he had given her contained at least several hundred jars of Marrow Washing Cold Spirit Liquid in stock, after Xiao Yan had spent a thousand Fire Energy practically sweeping through all the medicinal ingredients in the Inner Academy. Seeing the booming business, the boss lady, Xun Er, stepped forward. Gently tugging at Xiao Yan''s sleeve with a tender, compassionate expression, she softly said, "Xiao Yan ge-ge, since everyone wants the Marrow Washing Cold Spirit Liquid, why don''t we bring out those jars you refined a few days ago to reward the members of the Xiao Hall?" After all, some prime locations in the Inner Academy required fees. Xiao Yan intended to snatch the Medicine Gang''s business. Fire Energy was the unique currency of the Inner Academy, but in fact, gold coins and other items could also be used for transactions. In reality, the Inner Academy''s market was even larger than it appeared. For example, the White Gang had the backing of the Bai Clan, to which Bai Shan and Bai Cheng belonged. Liu Qing of the Splitting Mountain also had his clan''s support. Otherwise, did Liu Qing really earn all his Fire Energy by himself? They could bring in resources from outside to exchange in the Inner Academy or even trade directly with Jia Nan Academy. Therefore, many people had Fire Energy. "Everyone, no need to rush. The Xiao Hall has medicinal pills available every day. Honest dealings, and our quality is definitely better than what''s outside." "Qi Returning Pills and Minor Blood Recovery Pills are still in stock, and we guarantee that the price will never increase!" In less than three days, the Xiao Hall brand pills became known even in the Outer Academy and the Black-Corner Region. A genius alchemist had suddenly emerged in the Inner Academy. There were also students in the Inner Academy who chose not to cultivate in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, instead exchanging their Fire Energy for resources to sell in the Black- Corner Region for profit. ... On a hillside behind the Inner Academy, Xiao Yan was chewing on a blade of grass under the shade of a large tree, his head comfortably resting on Xun Er''s lap as he enjoyed that special softness. Xun Er gently stroked his hair and said softly, "Does Xiao Yan ge-ge need to purchase more medicinal ingredients? After these past few days of sales, our pill inventory has decreased by a quarter. We''ve already recouped the Fire Energy and made quite a profit." Xiao Yan kept his eyes closed and replied calmly, "Is Xun Er worried that the Medicine Gang might hurt themselves by trying to harm us, monopolizing the Inner Academy''s medicinal ingredient market at high prices and leaving us without ingredients to refine pills?" "Mm." Xiao Yan smiled slightly and said, "Xun Er, have you forgotten what happened to those who tried to monopolize medicinal ingredients in Wu Tan City? That so-called Medicine Gang is just like those two clans, a bunch of clowns. When there''s no tiger in the mountain, the monkey calls himself king. If they behave themselves, I''ll stop refining so many pills once I''ve earned enough Fire Energy and leave them some soup to drink." "But if they don''t know what''s good for them, they can''t blame me." A gust of wind blew as soon as Xiao Yan finished speaking, and a figure quickly approached from not far away. Xiao Yu flew over on her Lightning Bat Sky Wings and exclaimed, "Why are you still lying here? Those people from the Medicine Gang are causing trouble!" Xiao Yan opened his eyes and saw her slender, fair, beautiful legs in front of him. His gaze slowly traveled upward, and he smiled, "Saw it." Xiao Yu''s pretty face turned red as she covered her skirt and said through gritted teeth, "You big pervert! How can you still joke around at a time like this!" Xiao Yan sprang up like a carp and said, "It''s just the Medicine Gang. Did you expect me to take them seriously?" "Besides, you''re the one flying around in front of me wearing a skirt. I''m beginning to suspect you''re deliberately trying to seduce me." Chapter 246: Chapter 246: Xiao Yans Intention Chapter 246: Chapter 246: Xiao Yan''s Intention ? Word Count: 2,106 Words ****** Xiao Yu was so furious that she repeatedly stomped her foot. Did this guy have any sense of shame! Xiao Yan chuckled and gave her butt a light smack with a crisp ''pa'' sound. He laughed, "What are you standing there for? Lead the way." "You jerk!" "Well, well, isn''t this the renowned Xiao Ning? Bringing so many people here today, are you trying to give me, Han Xian, a show of force?" In the headquarters of the Medicine Gang, Han Xian-the gang''s leader, dressed in an alchemist''s robe-stood at the forefront of his group with arms crossed, laughing mockingly at Xiao Ning across from him. Behind him stood many others also wearing alchemist robes. Quite a few were 3rd-tier alchemists, and Han Xian himself was even a 4th-tier alchemist! "Han Xian, not only have you started monopolizing medicinal ingredients at high prices, but you''re also selling pills at low prices. Are you planning to harm us at your own expense? Do you intend to bring us both down?" Xiao Ning''s face was somewhat gloomy, and the coldness in his voice was evident to all. As a diligent male member of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Ning naturally earned Xiao Yan''s trust. In the absence of major issues, the Xiao Hall was managed by Xiao Ning, Xiao Yue Liang, and Xiao Meng. "There are no restrictions on competition in the Inner Academy. The herb-gathering teams and major factions are all willing to sell their medicinal ingredients to our Medicine Gang. Who can you blame for that? If anything, you''ve offended too many senior students, causing them to be unwilling to cooperate with you. "As for selling pills at low prices, we like it that way. What can you do about it? If you want to blame someone, blame your own lack of strength. You have only one alchemist and still want to compete with us? Your appetite is too big. Be careful not to choke to death." Han Xian glanced at them disdainfully. The Medicine Gang had been operating in the Inner Academy for many years and possessed an astonishing network of connections and resources. It could be said that they controlled half of the Inner Academy''s assets. If they weren''t all focused on alchemy and disinterested in entering the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, they could have stayed in the tower every day just by using Fire Energy to trade for medicinal ingredients. "Thanks for the reminder, but whether we choke or not, you can''t stop us." Xiao Ning merely gave a cold laugh at the subtle warning and threat in Han Xian''s words. Han Xian''s expression darkened slightly as he shouted coldly, "Don''t think you can run rampant just because you have Lin Yan, ranked ninth on the Strong Ranking. Even if Xiao Yan is powerful, there are still people stronger than him. I, Han Xian, can still invite such people!" "That''s true. There are certainly people stronger than Lin Yan and me. For example, Senior Sister Zi Yan. I just wonder if you can get Senior Sister Zi Yan to deal with me." At this moment, laughter came from not far away as Xiao Yan and Xun Er slowly walked into the crowd. "Little Clan Leader!" Upon seeing Xiao Yan appear, Xiao Ning and the others immediately felt reassured. "Oh my, I forgot. Senior Sister Zi Yan is still cultivating in the No. 1 cultivation room. How about I help you ask her?" Xiao Yan imitated Han Xian''s previous expression, his face darkening as he shouted coldly, "Don''t think you can run rampant just because you can invite those ranked second to eighth on the Strong Ranking. There are still people stronger than them. I, Xiao Yan, can also invite such people!" "You!" Han Xian pointed at Xiao Yan, trembling with anger. He had completely forgotten that Zi Yan, ranked first on the Strong Ranking, had a very good relationship with Xiao Yan! Han Xian was so furious that his cheeks turned red. Having his own words used against him- what could be more humiliating than this?! "Xiao Yan, so what if you have a good relationship with Senior Sister Zi Yan? The largest herb-gathering teams in the Inner Academy belong to the top factions. Among them, the White Gang and the Splitting Mountain definitely won''t sell medicinal ingredients to you. Let''s see how you refine pills without ingredients!" "Little Clan Leader''s alchemy skills are unrivaled!" "Awesome! Boss is incredible!" Behind Xiao Yan, the members of the Xiao Hall cheered with pride. This was what it meant to be invincible-showing dominance from the very first move! The onlookers began to understand that the Medicine Gang had suffered a crushing defeat. It was even possible that their alchemists might defect to the Xiao Hall. The outcome was already decided. Han Xian took a deep breath and stood up when he heard the surrounding discussions. He still had some pride as an alchemist. He gave a cold, proud smile and said, "Xiao Yan, you''ve merely obtained some precious pill recipes. This time, you''ve won, but I still want to turn the tables! Alchemy has always been my greatest skill! Do you dare to have an alchemy competition with me?!" "An alchemy competition?" Xiao Yan couldn''t help but laugh as he looked at Han Xian. "It seems you''re very confident in your alchemy skills." When it came to alchemy, Han Xian''s demeanor became imposing. He laughed proudly, raising his head high, and said, "Do you dare to compete with me? If I lose, I, Han Xian, and the Medicine Gang will no longer obstruct your Xiao Hall! If you don''t dare to compete, so be it. I, Han Xian, can afford to lose!" Han Xian''s words made many people involuntarily surprised and even shocked. Few expected him to use such a tactic. It would be entirely reasonable for Xiao Yan to decline; with such a significant advantage now, why would he need to compete? "Is this supposed to be a provocation?" Xiao Yan looked calmly at the proud Han Xian and smiled. Han Xian laughed arrogantly, "Think whatever you like; whether it''s a provocation or not. In short, if I lose to you in alchemy, I will accept defeat wholeheartedly. Otherwise, no matter what, I, Han Xian, will not be convinced!" Many onlookers held their breath as they waited for Xiao Yan''s decision. If it were anyone else, they would definitely refuse to compete under such circumstances. Xiao Yan currently held an absolute advantage; possessing those pill recipes, he was already in an invincible position! With such an absolute advantage, there was nothing more to say. "Interesting." A glint flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes as he stroked his chin and laughed. "Sure, how do you want to compete?" Xiao Yan''s choice left many people dumbfounded. Such an approach was simply too audacious, giving up his absolute advantage! "This shows that Xiao Yan has immense confidence in his alchemy skills." "Indeed, since he can refine tier 4 spirit liquids, he''s definitely a 4th-tier alchemist. There''s no need for him to back down!" Han Xian narrowed his eyes and secretly rejoiced upon hearing Xiao Yan agree. He said, "Very well. If you lose the competition, not only will the Xiao Hall be prohibited from selling pills in the future, but you must also hand over the pill recipes for the Qi Returning Pill, Minor Blood Recovery Pill, and Marrow Washing Ice Spirit Liquid to me. If I lose, not only will I not obstruct you, but I''ll also compensate you with ten thousand Fire Energy!" Xiao Yan chuckled, "Seems you''re after my pill recipes." "Hmph, otherwise, if you keep refining the Marrow Washing Ice Spirit Liquid while our Medicine Gang cannot, the result will be the same." Han Xian wasn''t stupid. He knew the key lay in the pill recipes Xiao Yan possessed. To turn the tables, he needed to obtain those recipes. "Since we''re gambling, both sides should be on equal terms. If I lose, I''ll do as you say and hand over the recipes unconditionally. But if you lose, then your Medicine Gang will merge into my Xiao Hall, with me, Xiao Yan, as the leader. Moreover, all members of the Medicine Gang cannot leave until graduation!" Xiao Yan said with a smile. At this moment, everyone suddenly looked at Xiao Yan. Good boy, so this was your intention all along! Chapter 247: Chapter 247: The Alchemy Bet Begins Chapter 247: Chapter 247: The Alchemy Bet Begins ? A collective gasp spread through the crowd of students upon hearing Xiao Yan''s wager. Good heavens! Han Xian was eyeing Xiao Yan''s pill recipes, yet Xiao Yan was targeting the entire Medicine Gang! Among the numerous factions within the Inner Academy, who wasn''t coveting the Medicine Gang? Even Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing had attempted to form alliances with them, only to be unequivocally rejected by Han Xian. After all, alchemists were proud and aloof by nature, so it was only natural that they wouldn''t agree to such propositions. Thus, until now, no one had been able to absorb the Medicine Gang. "Since it''s a bet, both sides should have something to gain," Xiao Yan said with a smile. "What you''ve proposed is merely what I deserve. Even if we don''t wager, there''s nothing you can do to stop me. As for ten thousand Fire Energy, I have no worries about earning that." In truth, Xiao Yan was already secretly delighted. He knew that he couldn''t keep refining pills endlessly, for alchemy consumed his mental energy. Even if his Dou Qi was sufficient, after refining pills he would feel exhausted and just want to lie down instead of cultivating. Therefore, he understood that he couldn''t always rely on alchemy to earn Fire Energy. If he could bring the Medicine Gang, this money-making machine, under his wing and absorb it, he wouldn''t have to worry about running out of Fire Energy. "Gang Leader, accept the bet!" "Yeah! We believe in you, Gang Leader! You will definitely win!" "Exactly! He''s just relying on pill recipes. In terms of true strength, Gang Leader Han will definitely defeat him!" When Han Xian heard the fervent shouts from his gang members, his confidence surged. His eyes flashed with determination as he declared in a deep voice, "Very well! Then we''ll use the same pill recipe, and after the pills are completed, we''ll see whose pill quality is superior!" Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "Alright, but whose pill recipe will we use?" Han Xian said calmly, "Whichever pill recipe we use from either of us would likely cause suspicion from the other party. Therefore, I suggest we use a pill recipe from the Inner Academy''s collection. It just so happens that I''m acquainted with Elder Hao, who is in charge of the Pill Recipe Repository. This time, we can borrow a pill recipe from him and invite him to serve as our judge and notary. What do you think?" "Fine by me," Xiao Yan replied casually. "Then, three days from now, at the Northern Plaza, we''ll determine the victor through alchemy!" - Three days passed in a flash. Finally, under the eager anticipation of many, the day of the alchemy duel between Xiao Yan and Han Xian arrived. Many students had gathered at the designated plaza early, especially the alchemists of the Inner Academy, who had arrived even earlier. No alchemist would miss such a pinnacle showdown. Otherwise, it would be a lifelong regret! Outside the plaza, people were packed so tightly that not even water could trickle through. Even in the distant sky, several Dou King elders with Dou Qi wings had come to watch. One could imagine the immense sensation this alchemy duel had caused. "Who do you think will win?" "Definitely Han Xian! Do you think he just became a 4th-tier alchemist? He was already a 4th-tier alchemist three years ago. Now, after three more years, he should at least be at the middle or even high grade of the 4th tier." "That''s true. I''ve seen the spirit liquid that Xiao Yan refined. The quality was actually average; it''s just that the pill recipe was excellent, so the efficacy was good. I think his skill is probably at the low-grade 4th-tier at best." Amidst the chatter in the plaza, the first to appear was Elder Hao, who was presiding over the bet. He had prepared the medicinal ingredients and pill recipes for both parties. The two sets of ingredients were meticulously selected; whether in age, appearance, or potency, they were nearly identical, leaving no room for discrepancy. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Han Xian arrived on time, escorted by a group from the Medicine Gang. His demeanor was outstanding as his robe fluttered, and the 4th-tier badge on his alchemist robe was particularly eye-catching. Han Xian was full of vigor and confidence after receiving the medicinal ingredients. He took a deep breath, and his entire being became sharp and imposing. He stared at Xiao Yan and said, "Now, let''s begin the refinement." "Hmm? ''Let''s''? You go ahead first." Xiao Yan yawned and said, "I know you''re very confident in your alchemy skills. If we refine at the same time, I''m afraid you might even struggle to control your flame. To avoid you making excuses later, I''ll let you start first. I''ll begin after you successfully refine the Dragon Strength Pill." Xiao Yan didn''t want to refine pills at the same time as Han Xian. If his Heavenly Flame influenced Han Xian''s flame, and Han Xian later accused him of interference and refused to accept the result, wouldn''t that be unjust? "You!" Han Xian felt deeply insulted by Xiao Yan''s words, his face flushing red with anger. He had absolute confidence in his alchemy skills and had always been considered the most talented alchemist in the Inner Academy, even expected to become an elder in the Alchemy Department in the future! How could he not be furious? The spectators felt that Xiao Yan''s words were too arrogant. Although many acknowledged his formidable cultivation talent and impressive feats, such as leading the freshmen to defeat numerous senior students and maintaining a close relationship with Zi Yan, the top ranker on the Strong Ranking, even the 5th-tier alchemist elders of the Alchemy Department didn''t dare underestimate Han Xian''s alchemy skills. Yet now, Xiao Yan actually didn''t put Han Xian in his eyes at all? Han Xian took a deep breath, quickly suppressing his anger and regaining his composure. He said seriously, "Fine, then I''ll respectfully comply! I will make you admit defeat wholeheartedly!" It had to be said that Han Xian was indeed worthy of being a genius who had reached the 4th tier in his early twenties. He managed to calm his anger in such a short time. Xiao Yan secretly nodded. No wonder the Medicine Gang was thriving under his leadership. Han Xian snorted coldly as he saw Xiao Yan really step off the plaza and sit aside. With a wave of his hand, a golden-yellow medicinal cauldron appeared. Sunlight reflected off its surface, emitting dazzling brilliance that forced people to avert their gaze. But that wasn''t all. In the next moment, a golden flame emerged from his palm. Although this flame was far inferior to a Heavenly Flame, it was the highest-grade flame Xiao Yan had seen apart from Heavenly Flames. It was even slightly stronger than the Beast Flame of the Rank 6 Amethyst Winged Lion King. Han Xian couldn''t help but feel proud when he noticed Xiao Yan''s slightly surprised expression. He declared loudly, "This flame of mine is called the ''Illusionary Golden Flame''. It remains in the shell of a Rank 7 Illusionary Fire Scorpion Dragon Beast after its hatchling breaks out." "Rank 7!!" "Damn! Han Xian actually possesses such a beast flame!" Not only did the students below react with shock, but even Elder Hao and some elders showed signs of astonishment upon hearing the name. Rank 7! That was equivalent to an elite Dou Ancestor! Who would have thought that this flamboyantly brilliant golden flame had such an origin? But then, remembering that this freak Xiao Yan even possessed a Heavenly Flame, Elder Hao and the others could only shake their heads helplessly. No wonder Xiao Yan let him go first. When the Heavenly Flame appears, all other flames submit. Even a Rank 7 Beast Flame was no exception. "Ha!" Han Xian slapped the Illusionary Golden Flame into the medicinal cauldron and began adding the ingredients. His movements were swift and fluid, indeed showcasing some skill. Chapter 248: Chapter 248: The Miserable Han Xian Chapter 248: Chapter 248: The Miserable Han Xian ? Word Count: 2,017 Words ****** From the moment Han Xian began adding ingredients to the cauldron and progressed through the stages of refinement, fire control, and spiritual perception, every one of his movements flowed seamlessly as if he had refined the Dragon Strength Pill countless times before. Although his alchemy techniques were concealed by the medicinal cauldron and the Illusionary Golden Flame, which prevented onlookers from observing his specific methods, just witnessing his every movement was enough to inspire awe. The alchemists watching intently from the sidelines were especially engrossed as they tirelessly studied and learned from Han Xian''s fluid and masterful alchemy process. Even if they couldn''t directly see his alchemy methods, alchemy wasn''t solely about the methods used; the alchemist''s movements during the process were also crucial. Refining pills under the scrutiny of so many eyes could easily unsettle one''s mental state, yet Han Xian remained composed and unhurried. He seemed to have complete mastery over each of his actions, and every change in the medicinal ingredients was as familiar to him as the back of his hand. Such skill and mental fortitude made many alchemists sigh in admiration. Some felt that this was no longer mere alchemy but the creation of a work of art. However, even with such proficiency, Han Xian still failed on his first attempt. After all, the Dragon Strength Pill was a tier 5 medicinal pill, a realm he hadn''t yet fully stepped into. Moreover, it was his first time working with this pill recipe, and a slight misinterpretation of minute details led to failure. But he merely exhaled a long breath. The failure didn''t discourage him; instead, it increased his confidence. He knew that he would definitely succeed on the second attempt. Finally, the critical moment arrived. Han Xian was about to add the Rank 5 Monster Core. The Dragon Strength Pill bore ''Dragon'' in its name because it required a Rank 5 Monster Core from a magical beast with a dragon bloodline! When the Monster Core was placed into the medicinal cauldron, its amber-like luster captivated everyone''s hearts. Dominant, ferocious dragon roars emanated from within the cauldron, as if a dragon beast were about to emerge and wreak havoc upon the world. This was a Monster Core from a Rank 5 magical beast with a trace of dragon bloodline. "Cease your rampage!" Han Xian stomped on the ground, and instantly, Dou Qi surged madly from his entire body into the medicinal cauldron, as the Illusionary Golden Flame transformed into a golden Scorpion Dragon Beast! Two ferocious beasts fought intensely within the cauldron as Han Xian leveraged the advantage of his flame. "Not bad. His fire control has reached the level of a 5th-tier alchemist," some of the elder alchemists couldn''t help but exclaim upon witnessing Han Xian''s display. They all understood that Han Xian''s Spiritual Strength and fire control had reached tier 5. His abilities were sufficient; now, success depended on a bit of luck. After an indeterminate amount of time, the beastly roars from within the cauldron gradually faded away. Soon, a wisp of medicinal mist wafted out from the medicinal cauldron. "Medicinal mist!!!" "Holy shit! Colored medicinal mist!" "Is it about to succeed?!" "Open!!" A loud clang rang out, and Han Xian''s expression turned solemn as he shouted deeply and struck the medicinal cauldron with his palm. Instantly, a pill the size of a dragon''s eye, enveloped in Illusionary Golden Flames, floated above the cauldron. "Heavens!!" "No way! Han Xian can refine tier 5 medicinal pills now!!" "Incredible! Han Xian seems to have never successfully refined a tier 5 pill before! He''s surpassed himself!" Excitement spread contagiously among the crowd, and many began cheering for Han Xian. The elders hovering in the sky stroked their beards and nodded approvingly. "Han Xian is only twenty-five years old. He truly is a genius to be able to refine a tier 5 pill at such an age." "Elder Hao, please have a look." Han Xian placed the pill into a jade bottle and handed it to Elder Hao. Elder Hao nodded repeatedly and said, "It is indeed the Dragon Strength Pill. The quality is quite good too." For a moment, numerous Dou King-level elders couldn''t help but salivate. After all, the Dragon Strength Pill was specifically intended for Dou Kings. Such pills, which could directly increase combat strength, were even more precious than healing pills. "Xiao Yan, it''s your turn!" Han Xian''s heart filled with joy after receiving Elder Hao''s confirmation. He turned around and said in a deep voice. The most time-consuming step of handling the Monster Core had become a delicious snack for Mao Wu. Finally, the Monster Core completely melted and transformed into an extremely pure energy that slowly fused with all the other medicinal essences. Xiao Yan brought his hands together and, with a clap, withdrew all the flames. An overwhelming medicinal fragrance permeated the entire plaza as the medicinal cauldron released a surge of golden medicinal mist. This phenomenon was countless times more magnificent than what Han Xian had produced! Xiao Yan lightly patted the medicinal cauldron, and with three consecutive ''pop'' sounds, three golden Dragon Strength Pills floated into the air, as dazzling as three miniature suns. The entire alchemy process was extremely swift. Compared to Han Xian''s, it was over ten times faster. "How can it be so fast?!" "And he even refined three pills in one batch?!" For a moment, not only were the spectators and young alchemists like Han Xian stunned, but even the elders in the sky and the 5th-tier alchemists from the Alchemist Department were utterly dumbfounded. They couldn''t comprehend how this was possible. The speed was as if he had activated a cheat. Moreover, he was able to refine three pills in one go with fluid and flawless movements, without a single unnecessary action or failure. "Is it because of the Heavenly Flame?" "It''s not just because of the Heavenly Flame. While the rapid refining speed might be related to the Heavenly Flame, simultaneously refining so many medicinal ingredients requires a level of fire control beyond what we can achieve. Moreover, the precise extraction and fusion, the flawless refinement of the Dragon Strength Pill on his first attempt without a single mistake... His Spiritual Strength is unparalleled." In stark contrast to the cheers that erupted when Han Xian succeeded, the entire plaza now resembled a silent graveyard. No one spoke, no one cheered, no one whispered. Because they couldn''t fathom it. They had no idea how such a feat was possible. Everyone aside from Xun Er had only one thought in their minds: Unbelievable!! By now, Han Xian''s face was ashen. He could no longer maintain the confident demeanor he had at the beginning. His entire being seemed lost and dazed. He had surpassed himself, pushing his limits to refine a tier 5 pill. Yet, in Xiao Yan''s eyes, it was nothing more than casual practice, akin to a rough draft he might refine when bored. Xiao Yan stored two Dragon Strength Pills in jade bottles with a wave of his hand. He gently flicked his finger, and one pill flew toward Elder Hao. "The pill recipe and medicinal ingredients were all provided by the elder. Junior Xiao Yan wouldn''t dare take advantage of the elder''s generosity. This Dragon Strength Pill is for you." Xiao Yan didn''t even mention the outcome of the bet, because anyone with a bit of sense could tell that this duel had been meaningless from the start. One could say it was Xiao Yan''s scheme, or that Han Xian had kicked an iron plate himself. After examining the pill, Elder Hao''s eyes gleamed. The quality was exceptionally high. "This... how is this possible... You... Who exactly are you!" Han Xian stared at Xiao Yan, his face pale. Xiao Yan shrugged. From his storage ring, he took out his alchemist robe and donned it with a flourish. Five golden and white horizontal stripes vividly adorned it. "A 5th-tier alchemist!" Chapter 249: Chapter 249: Refining the Ground Spirit Pill Chapter 249: Chapter 249: Refining the Ground Spirit Pill ? Word Count: 2,213 Words ****** Xiao Yan hadn''t originally planned to don the robe, but as dusk approached and the air grew chilly, he found himself in need of an outer garment to prevent catching a cold. When everyone saw Xiao Yan take out the 5th-tier alchemist robe and put it on, all doubts vanished instantly. Possessing a Heavenly Flame and being a 5th-tier alchemist, he clearly had the qualifications necessary to refine a low-grade tier 5 Dragon Strength Pill. Everyone felt relieved and finally understood.@@@@ This was clearly a trap set by Xiao Yan! "No wonder. This Xiao Yan not only possesses a Heavenly Flame but is also a 5th-tier alchemist. No wonder he''s so formidable." "Exactly! He has a Heavenly Flame!" "Heavenly Flames are truly incredible." All the alchemists present knew about Heavenly Flames. They knew that Heavenly Flames were the kings among flames and had all heard the saying: ''When a Heavenly Flame appears, all other flames submit.'' But none of them had ever seen an alchemist who possessed a Heavenly Flame, let alone witnessed someone using it to refine pills. They weren''t clear on exactly how a Heavenly Flame benefited an alchemist; they just knew it must provide significant advantages. So they attributed everything to the power of the Heavenly Flame. Xiao Yan didn''t mind how others viewed it. Whether it was the Heavenly Flame or his powerful Spiritual Strength, these were all his own, part of his strength. Han Xian''s face turned pale as he stared at Xiao Yan with hollow eyes. He had no excuses; this was an absolute suppression of strength. Xiao Yan shrugged and said, "There are always mountains beyond mountains, and people beyond people. Of all the alchemists I''ve met, you''re actually one of the most talented." Among the numerous alchemists he had encountered, perhaps only the Little Princess could refine a tier 5 pill by the age of twenty-five, while Yao Li might be comparable to Han Xian. In terms of talent among alchemists of the same generation, Han Xian could indeed rank in the top three of those Xiao Yan had met. "Well said. There are always higher mountains and people beyond people," Han Xian said, letting out a bitter laugh as he shook his head wryly. "Xiao Yan, you indeed have the ability. Today, I, Han Xian, accept my defeat wholeheartedly. However, the Medicine Gang doesn''t belong to me alone. I, Han Xian, will withdraw from the Medicine Gang and join your Xiao Hall, but I cannot command its members," Han Xian stood up and said solemnly. He had already decided that if he truly lost, he would bear the consequences alone. He would join the Xiao Hall and help them refine pills until he graduated from the Inner Academy. Xiao Yan smiled as he patted Han Xian''s shoulder and said, "As the gang leader, how can you hog all the benefits for yourself?" "Uh?" Han Xian was completely baffled, not understanding why he said this. Xiao Yan turned to face the members of the Medicine Gang, waved his sleeve, and said loudly, "To all Medicine Gang members, those who follow Han Xian and merge into my Xiao Hall will not only be able to learn the pill recipes for the Qi Returning Pill and the Minor Blood Recovering Pill, but once you reach tier 4, I, Xiao Yan, will personally teach you how to refine the Marrow Washing Ice Spirit Liquid." Everyone was momentarily puzzled, not immediately reacting to Xiao Yan''s words. Han Xian was the first to react and asked in astonishment, "You''re willing to teach us alchemy?!" The expressions of all the Medicine Gang members immediately changed. A 5th-tier Grandmaster personally teaching alchemy! For a moment, they began discussing excitedly among themselves. They had all witnessed Xiao Yan''s formidable alchemy skills, and if they could receive his guidance, their own alchemy skills would surely improve! "That doesn''t sound bad at all." "Yeah! Even if we merge into the Xiao Hall, improving our alchemy skills before graduation is worth it. The profits from refining pills can be considered as tuition fees." "Most importantly, we can learn three types of pill recipes that are not low level and witness Grandmaster Xiao Yan using a Heavenly Flame to refine pills up close!" "Watching alchemy performed with a Heavenly Flame is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!" Xiao Yan looked at Han Xian and said, "Go back and tally up the numbers. I believe quite a few will be willing to follow you. Moreover, my Xiao Hall isn''t a black-hearted organization. We won''t strip you of all your alchemy profits; we''ll only charge a small patent fee for the pill recipes." Discussions erupted among the Inner Academy students in the plaza. They all understood that Xiao Yan''s tactic of employing both carrot and stick would definitely be effective. After all, the Medicine Gang had originally united due to Han Xian''s exceptional alchemy skills, as following him meant gaining the opportunity to learn from him. By the end, his voice had lowered considerably, but judging from his tightly clenched fist, one could imagine the anger and hatred in his heart. -- Time passed swiftly, and another two months went by. During these two months, Xiao Yan naturally no longer needed to worry about Fire Energy after absorbing the Medicine Gang. He spent twenty days each month in the No. 1 cultivation room. In addition to improving his own cultivation, he also assisted Medusa in condensing her physical body, accelerating the process as much as possible. However, after reaching the 7-star Dou Spirit stage, Xiao Yan clearly felt that even the speed boost provided by the No. 1 cultivation room had significantly slowed down. Therefore, he focused intensely on refining pills during the remaining time and successfully integrated himself into the ranks of the elders. Under the pretext of helping to refine tier 5 pills, he acquired large quantities of main ingredients for tier 6 pills. Alchemists capable of refining tier 5 pills were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns in the Inner Academy. They seldom refined pills for others. But now, Xiao Yan was ''doing good for the people.'' As long as they provided tier 6 medicinal ingredients, he would help refine tier 5 pills and even use a Heavenly Flame to do so. Moreover, his success rate and the quality of the pills were exceptionally high. This attracted even Dou Kings from the Black-Corner Region who were willing to pay hefty prices to request his alchemy services. Xiao Yan began to improve his alchemy skills using the tier 6 medicinal ingredients he obtained from refining pills, creating a beneficial cycle. After spending over a month focusing solely on alchemy, Xiao Yan had truly reached the level of a low-grade 6th-tier alchemist. He could now refine low-grade tier 6 pills with an extremely high success rate. ... On a mountain peak in the outer forests of the Inner Academy, Xiao Yan adjusted his breathing for about ten minutes, bringing himself to his optimal state. The moment he opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashed within them. ''Less than two months remain until the Strong Ranking Grand Competition.'' Xiao Yan took out all the ingredients for the Ground Spirit Pill and also brought out the Black Demon Cauldron. The Ground Spirit Pill wasn''t a low-grade tier 6 pill; it was a high-grade tier 6 pill. Even with Xiao Yan''s current abilities, he had to utilize the power of the Black Demon Cauldron. The greatest benefit of the Black Demon Cauldron was that it could elevate an alchemist''s abilities by a level, allowing a low-grade 6th-tier alchemist to refine middle-grade or even high-grade pills with a relatively high success rate. Only with such a miraculous effect of improving an alchemist''s skill could it be called a Heavenly Cauldron. Xiao Yan was about to challenge his limits by attempting to refine the high-grade tier 6 Ground Spirit Pill! Chapter 250: Chapter 250: A Visit from the First Elder Chapter 250: Chapter 250: A Visit from the First Elder ? Word Count: 2,109 Words ****** Meow! Mao Wu suddenly leaped from the void and perched on Xiao Yan''s shoulder. Usually, Mao Wu did not need to appear during alchemy sessions; it only needed to devour beast souls when extracting them from Monster Cores. However, Xiao Yan was pushing his limits this time. Mao Wu was a Fire Spirit, the spirit of a Heavenly Flame. It could help him control the flames more precisely, penetrate into the depths of the medicinal cauldron, and, through Spiritual Strength, inform him of the most subtle changes in both the medicinal ingredients and the flames. This would further enhance the success rate of alchemy. It could be said that Xiao Yan was truly giving his all. After all, he was not entirely confident about refining the Ground Spirit Pill and had only one set of ingredients; if he failed, he would probably have to visit the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop to exchange for more. He wasn''t even sure if he had enough soul points to make the exchange. An exceptionally unique flame appeared in Xiao Yan''s palm with a whoosh. It was neither the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, nor the Green Lotus Core Flame, nor the Yin-Yang Twin Flame; this was the merged Heavenly Flame that Xiao Yan had produced by merging four kinds of Heavenly Flames using the Flame Mantra. Its power and temperature were so terrifying that even he found it frightening. He didn''t dare to use it in normal battles, for fear that he might accidentally vaporize someone. But this time, he was refining a high-grade tier 6 medicinal pill. Whether he was extracting the medicinal ingredients or processing the Rank 6 Monster Core, both tasks were extremely difficult. Being only a 7-star Dou Spirit, he would have found it absolutely impossible to refine a tier 6 pill without the merged Heavenly Flame, as even extracting the medicinal ingredients would have been challenging. Xiao Yan held a tier 5 Mighty Qi Pill in his mouth. Similar to the Qi Returning Pill, it was used to restore Dou Qi. He was worried that he might run out of Dou Qi during the alchemy. "Let''s begin." Once all preparations were complete, he waved his hand, and the merged Heavenly Flame instantly surged into the medicinal cauldron. In an instant, raging flames erupted from within! At the same time, Mao Wu traversed through the void into the medicinal cauldron and merged with the Heavenly Flame, transforming into the Fire Spirit and enhancing Xiao Yan''s control over the flame. Refining a high-grade tier 6 pill was arguably the most pressure Xiao Yan had ever faced in alchemy. The first medicinal ingredient entered the cauldron, where the merged Heavenly Flame pounced on it like a ravenous wolf, devouring it entirely. In a flash, the ingredient began to wither rapidly. Xiao Yan fixed his gaze intently inside the cauldron. Although the flames burned fiercely, he controlled the temperature precisely, keeping it just below the critical point. The medicinal ingredient gradually withered, and tiny droplets of liquid seeped from its surface. Xiao Yan meticulously completed the extraction of the first main ingredient in about thirty minutes. Subsequently, the second and third stalks of medicinal ingredients gradually transformed into medicinal liquids and powders under his extremely careful and focused refinement. Meow! Mao Wu suddenly called out from within the medicinal cauldron. "I understand." Prompted by Mao Wu''s reminder, Xiao Yan manipulated the flame to form a small knife and made an incision in the Green Wood Celestial Vine, revealing a worm hole inside. During the burning process, Mao Wu had noticed something amiss with the Green Wood Celestial Vine and hurriedly alerted Xiao Yan. The quality of the medicinal ingredients greatly affected the quality of the medicinal pill. Sometimes, issues like insect infestations could even cause the pill fusion to fail. Needless to say, refining a high-grade tier 6 medicinal pill was an extremely meticulous and exhausting task. Just extracting the medicinal ingredients consumed nearly an entire day. Fortunately, Xiao Yan was a patient person. Even after refining nonstop for a whole day, he showed no signs of fatigue; his eyes remained clear, and his Spiritual Strength was still incomparably strong. Early the next morning, as the sun rose, the Rank 6 Monster Core was completely refined by Xiao Yan into a pile of azure powder. The beast soul within the Monster Core had even started to resemble a spiritual entity, as it was capable of launching tangible attacks. Fortunately, with Mao Wu present as the Fire Spirit, it autonomously battled the beast soul within the Monster Core without hindering Xiao Yan''s alchemy.@@@@ After another half a day, the embryonic form of the medicinal pill finally appeared under Xiao Yan''s control! At the moment the pill''s embryonic form took shape, Xiao Yan clearly felt the surrounding natural energy fluctuate violently, as if a massive stone had been thrown into a calm lake, causing huge waves to surge. The pale blue embryonic pill, initially slightly irregular, gradually became more rounded over time, with brilliant light emanating from within that made it resemble a blue gemstone. Elder." "Do you know that there''s a Heavenly Flame sealed within the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower?" the First Elder asked solemnly while standing before Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan nodded; he couldn''t possibly say he didn''t know, for denying it would only arouse suspicion. The First Elder sighed and murmured, "Alas, the Heart Flame within the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower originates from the Heavenly Flame known as the Fallen Heart Flame. Now, the Fallen Heart Flame is growing increasingly powerful and violent, constantly impacting the seal." "It now surges almost every month. If not for the collective efforts of the elders in maintaining energy barriers, I''m afraid the students cultivating within the tower would suffer great casualties." As a possessor of a Heavenly Flame himself, Xiao Yan naturally sensed the increasingly evident eruptions of the Fallen Heart Flame, especially during the times when he was cultivating in the No. 1 cultivation room, where he could clearly feel it. The First Elder let out a soft sigh, "Back when the Headmaster discovered the Fallen Heart Flame here, he established the Inner Academy. At that time, he said that suppression and sealing could only be temporary; in fact, the stronger the seal, the more terrifying the eventual eruption would be. Judging from the traces of this Heavenly Flame''s recent outbreaks, it is indeed very powerful. If we''re even slightly careless, I''m afraid the entire Inner Academy could be destroyed." Xiao Yan frowned deeply; he hadn''t expected the Fallen Heart Flame to be even stronger than he had imagined! If it could potentially destroy the entire Inner Academy, its strength must be at least that of a high-star Dou Ancestor! If the Fallen Heart Flame had already reached such a level of power, then he definitely couldn''t handle this tough bone alone. "First Elder''s meaning is..." Xiao Yan''s brows slightly furrowed as he asked. The First Elder appeared somewhat embarrassed as he said, "Xiao Yan, since you can refine high-grade tier 6 pills, your Spiritual Strength and fire control should be quite formidable, right?" Xiao Yan nodded. "If one day the Fallen Heart Flame erupts, I hope you can assist us in suppressing it and safeguarding the Inner Academy." A glint flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes, but he didn''t let it show. Instead, he pondered for a moment before saying, "I understand First Elder''s meaning, but regarding this matter... please allow this student to think it through carefully before giving an answer." "Very well. I understand this matter is very dangerous. Take your time to rest; this area remains within the academy''s grounds, so no one will disturb you." With that, the First Elder departed from the mountain peak. Xiao Yan revealed a contemplative expression as he watched the First Elder disappear into the horizon. Meow!! "I know. The First Elder''s strength is even slightly above that of Queen Medusa, and the Inner Academy has numerous elders at the Dou King and Dou Emperor realms. If I can secure their assistance, it''s indeed possible to refine the Fallen Heart Flame." "But the Inner Academy would never allow me to absorb the Fallen Heart Flame for myself. This matter requires careful planning. At the very least, I need to find a suitable excuse." Chapter 251: Chapter 251: Lending a Hand Chapter 251: Chapter 251: Lending a Hand ? Word Count: 2,164 Words ****** Xiao Yan did not immediately return to the Inner Academy but began to cultivate on the spot. On his shoulder, Mao Wu sat with its legs crossed in a similar manner. A high-grade tier 6 medicinal pill had just been refined here, and Xiao Yan, who had received nine years of compulsory education in his previous life, knew that molecules were always in motion. The blue pillar of light that had soared into the sky was composed of medicinal mist, and the rich medicinal fragrance that assailed one''s nostrils was actually a form of energy dispersed from the pill. He began circulating the Flame Mantra to absorb the medicinal mist lingering in the air, adhering to the principle of not letting anything go to waste. This could still be considered a form of pure energy. Mao Wu usually grew by pitifully consuming these ''leftovers.'' Xiao Yan continued cultivating until the sun set and night fell. Only then did he slowly open his eyes, a hint of flame flashing through them as he exhaled gently. ''My Spiritual Strength is stuck at the peak of Tier 6...'' Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength had been at tier 6 for some time now, and he had even consumed a tier 6 medicinal pill to enhance it. However, even with the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique to cultivate his Spiritual Strength, he remained stuck at tier 6. ''After all, this is merely a High Xuan Class Soul Training Method. Although cultivating it to perfection gives me a chance to break through to the Soul State, it''s somewhat difficult for a High Xuan Class Soul Training Method to advance Spiritual Strength from tier 6 to tier 7.'' Xiao Yan was well aware of the importance of cultivation methods. A High Xuan Class method would start to become insufficient once one reached the Dou Emperor realm, so it was understandable that advancing Spiritual Strength beyond tier 7 would become even more difficult. His Spiritual Strength had previously soared like a rocket, mainly because his level was still low. A High Xuan Class Soul Training Method could easily increase Spiritual Strength at that stage, and his innate Spiritual Strength was already powerful to begin with, which made his progress even faster. But after reaching the peak of tier 6, the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique was starting to feel somewhat inadequate. Xiao Yan had initially chosen it chiefly because cultivating it to perfection would give him a chance to break through to the Soul State, allowing his soul to transform from mortal to spiritual. The more soul energy he gathered, the greater his chances of breaking through to the Soul State when he reached the peak of tier 7. Xiao Yan slowly stood up. He was not anxious, because enhancing Spiritual Strength was like improving his cultivation; one didn''t necessarily have to rely solely on cultivation methods but could also use medicinal pills and natural treasures. Otherwise, wouldn''t alchemists who did not cultivate Soul Training Methods be unable to enhance their Spiritual Strength for their entire lives? Meow~~~ "It''s time to head back!" Xiao Yan stretched lazily and prepared to depart. Not all cultivation methods could evolve like the Flame Mantra. Seeking stronger methods was something every cultivator often pondered. Just as Xiao Yan was about to spread his Eagle Wings and leave, an ear-splitting roar from a beast suddenly rang out like thunder from the distant mountains. ''What a powerful roar. Just from the sound alone, it must be at least a Dou King level magical beast!'' Xiao Yan was startled by the sudden roar. He quickly looked toward the distant mountains and exclaimed. A look of curiosity flashed across his face. Feeling somewhat refreshed after having just refined the pill, he smiled and said, "Shall we go take a look?" Meow!! Mao Wu raised its head and called out. Xiao Yan smiled upon hearing this. Wings shot out from his back and, with a slight flap, his figure soared into the air, then streaked toward the source of the beast roar. When he reached the outskirts of a small valley, he discovered a white, giant ape standing upright, its sturdy body towering about nine to twelve meters tall. The ape''s entire form exuded a sharp, cold aura; its arms were quite long, and its claws were as large as two human heads. Occasionally, when it waved its claws, several blasts of powerful wind shot out. The giant beast''s pair of blood-red eyes brimmed with frenzy and killing intent as it glared fiercely at the six human figures surrounding it. ''Hmm? This is a Snow Demon Sky Ape. Judging from its aura, it''s at least a 3-star Dou King,'' Xiao Yan thought in surprise when he first caught sight of the giant ape at the valley entrance. ''How interesting. Those six fellows are truly bold and reckless.'' "Although the berserk bloodline can push one''s physical strength to the limit, it also causes a loss of rationality. Everyone, I''ll hold it off for a while. Whether we can successfully obtain the Core Quenching Body Milk will depend on your efforts!" Xiao Yan took a step forward and spoke using communication. The six individuals exchanged glances and silently nodded. They had originally presumed they would return empty-handed, but unexpectedly, Xiao Yan had appeared at the last moment. "Roar!" The Snow Demon Sky Ape beat its chest with resounding thumps. Its entire body erupted with blood energy as it immediately locked onto Xiao Yan, who had disrupted its plans. It transformed into a red shadow and charged forward at extreme speed, intending to smash Xiao Yan into pulp with a single punch. In an instant, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame erupted within Xiao Yan''s body, activating and strengthening the dragon aura inside him. Taking a deep breath, he let out an ear-splitting dragon roar toward the charging Snow Demon Sky Ape. "ROOOAR!!!" Boom! Boom! Boom! The terrifying dragon roar blasted toward the Snow Demon Sky Ape like a shockwave. The Ancient Dragon Roar already containing dragon aura and further amplified by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame sounded exactly like the furious cry of a real Ancient Void Dragon. The crimson-eyed Snow Demon Sky Ape, which had lost its rationality, actually showed a hint of terror in its eyes and covered its ears in pain. "Blue Cyclone Massacre-Twister!" "Ice Mountain Crash!" The other six saw that Xiao Yan''s roar had halted the berserk Snow Demon Sky Ape and knew they could not miss this opportunity. They exhausted all their Dou Qi to unleash their strongest Dou Techniques. They were all top-ranking experts in the Inner Academy and had received abundant resources. Lin Xiuya''s Dou Technique even vaguely displayed Di Class power. "Octane Blast!" Xiao Yan took a step forward and struck the Snow Demon Sky Ape''s heart with a powerful punch that directly sealed the victory! Even Lin Xiuya, who had reached the half-step Dou King stage, could not help but cheer when he saw the giant ape fall. "Excellent!" "You little fellow are truly formidable. No wonder you can lead the entire Medicine Gang." All the experts on the Strong Ranking sized up Xiao Yan. They had not expected that in just half a year, his cultivation would reach such a level. It seemed that the Strong Ranking Grand Competition a month later would now feature another formidable competitor. Han Yue sighed softly, her beautiful eyes fixed on Xiao Yan. "Half a year ago, you were still a freshman. I didn''t expect that your strength would surpass even mine now." She remembered that, half a year ago, Xiao Yan didn''t even know how to descend the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. Now, his strength had undoubtedly surpassed hers. Han Yue advanced one star every half year with the help of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, while Xiao Yan not only possessed astonishing alchemy skills but had also increased his cultivation from a 3-star Dou Spirit to a 7-star Dou Spirit. This was four times faster than her! Facing this renowned beauty of the Inner Academy, Xiao Yan merely smiled faintly. "Let''s not say more. It''s time to reap the rewards." Chapter 252: Chapter 252: Big Gains Chapter 252: Chapter 252: Big Gains ? Word Count: 2,115 Words ****** In the end, Xiao Yan unceremoniously stored the corpse of the Snow Demon Sky Ape in his storage ring. Standing upright, he looked at the valley before him, smiled faintly, and said slowly, "Now that we''ve slain the magical beast, it''s time for us to reap our rewards." Even the six people who were among the top ranks of the Inner Academy''s Strong Ranking couldn''t help but reveal joyful smiles upon hearing these words. This had nothing to do with greed. Where there was effort, there should be reward. They had initially responded to Han Yue''s call, experienced a life-and-death battle, and indeed deserved a generous reward. After all, without any reward, who would be willing to risk their lives in battle? This was human nature. Han Yue only knew from Zi Yan that the cave of the Snow Demon Sky Ape contained Core Quenching Body Milk, but even she wasn''t sure of the exact situation. Even someone like Lin Xiuya, a half-step Dou King who had experienced countless trials and seen many treasures, was still looking forward to obtaining the Core Quenching Body Milk. Xiao Yan and the others finally entered the valley smoothly. With the aid of firelight, he discovered that the area within the valley was surprisingly spacious. The valley was overgrown with trees and strewn with rocks, but there were no other living creatures. Obviously, they had been driven away by the Snow Demon Sky Ape. "This should be the place," Han Yue said softly. Xiao Yan sniffed and noticed that the size of the cave matched exactly the size of the demon ape''s body; this must be its dwelling place. The seven people cautiously walked into the cave. After about ten minutes, their feet stepped out of the dark tunnel and Xiao Yan suddenly felt his eyes brighten. He looked around after slightly adjusting to the light, and a hint of astonishment appeared on his face upon seeing the surrounding environment. What appeared before him was an underground world filled with stalactites. Looking around, milky-white stalactites stretched endlessly to the edge of his vision. A faint white glow that completely dispelled the darkness emanated from them. Stalactites grew everywhere; some hung from the cave ceiling above, some even reaching up to a hundred meters in length. At a glance, the cave ceiling was densely covered with huge stalactites, and occasionally, droplets of white liquid dripped down, splashing milky-white water spots on the ground. "What an impressive underground world." "Are those the Core Quenching Body Milk?" "Doesn''t seem like it. The energy in these is a bit weak." When the seven of them continued forward for a while, a crystal pillar over a hundred meters long and wide enough for two people to wrap their arms around appeared before everyone. At the bottom of the pillar was a groove that seemed to have been worn away by dripping water over time. About two inches of milky-white liquid sat in the groove. A faint white mist floated above the liquid, which was quite strange. No matter how it drifted, it never dispersed. Xiao Yan took a light breath and instantly felt a strange sensation as if all the bones in his body had gone numb. Even without Xiao Yan saying anything, everyone knew that this was the Core Quenching Body Milk. Their eyes were fixed on the milky-white liquid in the groove. Xiao Yan couldn''t help but swallow; a hint of excitement surged on his face. What he needed now was precisely heavenly treasures like the Core Quenching Body Milk that could enhance his physical body. He deeply realized his physical strength was still far from being truly strong only after battling with Zi Yan. The seven of them looked at each other. As the organizer of this endeavor, Han Yue took the lead and said, "Everyone will have a share in today''s feast. However, before we distribute it, I have a request. The reason we were able to defeat the Snow Demon Sky Ape this time was thanks to Xiao Yan, so I think it''s most appropriate for him to take the first share." "I have no objections. Today, Brother Xiao Yan indeed made the greatest contribution," Lin Xiuya said with a nod. "Hahaha, I, Yan Hao, am not such a petty person. Today, we indeed relied on Brother Xiao Yan. Letting Brother Xiao Yan take the first share is only natural." Yan Hao and the others also expressed their agreement one after another. "I merely took advantage of the situation. You all fought for a long time, but because of my involvement, the share was divided among one more person," Xiao Yan said modestly. "Go ahead and take it. If you don''t make a move, everyone can only stand here and watch." Xiao Yan smiled faintly and didn''t stand on ceremony. His Spiritual Perception extended, and with a wave of his hand, a wisp of milky-white liquid floated up. He swiftly took out a jade bottle and collected the Core Quenching Body Milk into it. He took neither too much nor too little, just the right one-seventh. The others saw his thoughtfulness in taking only one-seventh and secretly admired him. "Alright, this should be enough." Just this tub of spiritual liquid alone would probably make even Dou Emperor experts drool with envy. Normally, even Dou Kings would find it difficult to endure. It was only because Xiao Yan''s physique was inherently strong and he possessed the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to protect his body that he dared to use so much Core Quenching Body Milk. Xiao Yan removed his clothes and let the spiritual liquid soak his entire body. Instantly, a bone-chilling sensation that made his skin tingle spread throughout his body. He endured the stinging pain and began circulating the Flame Mantra and the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. In the next second, the energy from the spiritual liquid rushed into every bone in his body. Wherever the energy passed, the bones would instantly transform into a five-colored hue. Xiao Yan could vaguely feel something invading his bones and blending with the marrow inside. As the energy tempered his body and refined his bones, a burning pain that penetrated deep into his marrow rapidly spread, eventually expanding to every corner of his body. Even someone as strong-willed as Xiao Yan couldn''t help but grit his teeth in pain, veins bulging all over his body. If he hadn''t previously undergone body tempering with the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, he feared he might have cried out in pain. Xiao Yan endured the pain and circulated the Flame Mantra to control the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, cooperating with the spiritual liquid in a two-pronged approach! He wanted his physical body to reach the level of a Rank 5 magical beast even in his normal state! In the remaining time, Xiao Yan no longer entered the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower to cultivate because even the No. 1 cultivation room no longer had much effect on him. With less than two months remaining, he split his time between using the Core Quenching Body Milk to strengthen his body and practicing Dou Techniques while circulating the Flame Mantra. He not only transformed his bones but also significantly improved his Dou Qi under the immense energy of the Core Quenching Body Milk. In the end, he reached the 8-star Dou Spirit stage as expected. Xiao Yan stood up from the wooden basin with a splashing sound. After a month had passed, the basin had long turned into a puddle of clear water. He lightly clenched his fist and felt the power erupting from his body. "So powerful. Even without using the Ten Thousand Beast Flame for enhancement, my current physique is equivalent to a Rank 5 magical beast." His bones, meridians, and other parts of his body faintly emitted a soft glow, appearing like white jade. This appearance seemed to conceal boundless power. "Hahaha, at the Strong Ranking Grand Competition, I, Xiao Yan, will definitely be number one!" A hint of fighting spirit flashed through his eyes. He knew that to be number one, he had to defeat Zi Yan! Chapter 253: Chapter 253: The Grand Competition Begins Chapter 253: Chapter 253: The Grand Competition Begins Word Count: 2,060 Words ****** The Strong Ranking Grand Competition was the most intense tournament within the Inner Academy and the highest-level event at Jia Nan Academy, much like the Inner Academy Qualifying Competition held by the Outer Academy. Those who could stand out in such a grand competition were dragons and phoenixes among people, possessing truly astonishing talent. The top ten of each generation''s Strong Ranking Grand Competition invariably made illustrious names for themselves across the continent. Even the least among them would reach at least the Dou King realm and dominate a region. The atmosphere within the Inner Academy gradually intensified as the time for the Strong Ranking Grand Competition drew nearer. Every corner buzzed with discussions about the upcoming competition. Amidst the eager anticipation of countless individuals in the Inner Academy, the day of the Strong Ranking Grand Competition finally arrived. A ray of morning light cascaded down. An ancient bell chime quietly echoed from the depths of the Inner Academy, spreading throughout its entirety. When the nine chimes from the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower resounded, students across the Inner Academy suddenly opened their tightly shut eyes. Though varying in appearance, they all exuded formidable auras. Sharp gleams mixed with fervent battle intent flashed within their eyes! Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on his bed and slowly opened his jet-black eyes. He turned his head slightly and gazed out of the window, sensing the overwhelming auras surging from various corners of the Inner Academy. The corners of his mouth slowly curved into a smile as scalding battle intent surged within his chest. By the time he descended the stairs, Xun Er, Xiao Yu, and other members of the Xiao Clan were already waiting at the door. "Good morning, Little Clan Leader!" Xiao Yan smiled gently and nodded, "Good morning, everyone." "You big pervert! If you didn''t show up soon, the Strong Ranking Grand Competition would have started without you." Xiao Yu, as usual, wore the Jia Nan Academy uniform that made her pair of rounded, shapely legs extremely eye-catching. Xiao Yan turned his head to look, and as usual, his gaze first lingered on her legs before moving up to her face. He grinned and said, "Hey now, I''m the Little Clan Leader after all. As a member of the Xiao Clan, you''re not showing me much respect. Believe it or not, I''ll go complain to your dad." "You dare!" Xiao Yu instantly gritted her teeth and stomped her foot but was helpless against him. Xiao Yan shrugged his shoulders and then turned to the graceful figure standing beside him. Her delicate body was wrapped in a light green dress that outlined her lovely curves. She tilted her head and smiled sweetly at him. "Xiao Yan ge-ge, Xun Er is really looking forward to your performance today." Xiao Yan sighed in an exaggerated manner and said, "I just hope I don''t run into you today, Xun Er. Otherwise, I might get eliminated early." "How could that be? Xiao Yan ge-ge is much stronger than Xun Er. This year''s first place in the Strong Ranking must be none other than you." Her light smile, coupled with that pure and beautiful face, held even more confidence than Xiao Yan himself. "I don''t dare to be certain about being first. After all, a lion still uses all its strength to catch a rabbit. That Liu Qing and Lin Xiuya are no ordinary individuals, not to mention that girl Zi Yan." Xiao Yan smiled, then glanced at Xun Er. "However, if Xun Er were to use all of her means, I''m afraid even I wouldn''t be able to contend with you." With a smile, Xun Er blinked her beautiful eyes. She neither confirmed nor denied his words, her expression saying, ''Don''t try to guess a woman''s thoughts.'' ... Upon arriving at the fighting arena, Xiao Yan and the others saw some familiar faces. "Hehe, Xiao Yan, let''s hope we don''t run into each other at the beginning of the competition. That would be rather awkward." Lin Xiuya was like the protagonist no matter where he stood with his charismatic presence. Beside Lin Xiuya were the same group from before. Especially the silver-haired Han Yue, who attracted even more attention. "Senior Brother Lin is ranked second on the Strong Ranking. Besides Zi Yan, those who can match you are few and far between. If we were to meet at the start, it would just be my bad luck," Xiao Yan chuckled modestly. When he was a 3-star Dou Practitioner, Xun Er was a 2-star Dou Practitioner. Now, even after he had desperately cultivated and received the help of the Core Quenching Body Milk and medicinal pills, he still hadn''t widened the gap at all. Xiao Yan even suspected that back when they ''did bad things'' and robbed the Sky Serpent Mansion, that still wasn''t Xun Er''s true strength. Xun Er''s beautiful eyes stared blankly at the curious baby in front of her. After a moment, she broke into a radiant smile. That pure and flawless smile was so breathtaking that those around them held their breaths, feeling a sense of suffocation. "Does Xiao Yan ge-ge want to see?" Xun Er stood gracefully, her dark hair casually tied with a light purple ribbon. At this moment, the face that always carried a faint smile slowly revealed a touch of noble pride! This hint of pride and confidence made even Xiao Yan momentarily lose his focus. "Though I''d love to see Xun Er''s true strength, it''ll have to wait for now." Xiao Yan slowly stood up from his chair. Just as he stood, First Elder Su Qian''s voice resounded: "Next match, Liu Qing versus Xiao Yan!" The entire arena fell silent. The spectators looked at each other in disbelief. They never expected that Xiao Yan and Liu Qing, these two hot favorites, would actually meet in the third round! "Wait a minute! It''s only the third round with over a dozen contestants. If either Xiao Yan or Liu Qing loses, doesn''t that mean they won''t make it into the top ten?" "No, no. The loser in the third round falls into the loser''s bracket. The top three from the loser''s bracket will then be ranked eighth, ninth, and tenth on the Strong Ranking." Liu Qing heard the First Elder announce the matchup and was the first to move. He slowly stood up and strode to the edge of the high platform under Liu Fei''s adoring gaze before leaping onto the battle stage. His eyes fixed on Xiao Yan''s position. The battle intent within them was so intense that even the spectators could clearly feel it. "Hey, Xiao Yan, how about I swap with you? I''ll help you beat Liu Qing until he can''t compete anymore. That way, you can directly advance to the top ten," Zi Yan said with a grin as she swung her ponytail and raised her little fist at Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan looked at this adorable little girl and a hint of battle intent flashed in his eyes. He grinned and said, "You''re underestimating me too much. My goal in this Strong Ranking Grand Competition is to be first." A purple light flashed in Zi Yan''s eyes. She smiled sweetly. "Then you''ll have to defeat me." "Of course. Don''t expect me to hold back." Zi Yan raised her small fist. "Even if it''s you, I''ll still make you lie flat on the ground." "Oh oh, I''m really looking forward to it." Xiao Yan smiled and slowly headed toward the battle stage in the square. Just as he said, his target wasn''t Liu Qing but the strongest on the Strong Ranking, Zi Yan! Since he was participating in the Strong Ranking Grand Competition, his goal was naturally to become number one! "Xiao Yan ge-ge, good luck." Behind him came Xun Er''s gentle cheering voice. Liu Qing had naturally heard what Xiao Yan had just said. His eyes narrowed as he said, "Having confidence is good, but you will lose to me." Xiao Yan tilted his neck slightly. "I hope you can help me warm up. The previous matches ended too quickly, and I''ve gotten stiff from waiting so long." Chapter 254: Chapter 254: Invincible Strength Chapter 254: Chapter 254: Invincible Strength Word Count: 2,187 Words ****** "Then let''s begin!" Liu Qing heard Xiao Yan''s words and his expression turned icy cold. A powerful whirlwind of Dou Qi formed around him as soon as he finished speaking. The terrifying aura caused the audience to momentarily hold their breath. "So strong!" "A peak Dou Spirit? No, this has already reached the half-step Dou King!" "He already possesses the might of a Dou King! Although there''s still some distance to becoming a true Dou King, with such profound Dou Qi and imposing presence, even actual Dou Kings might find themselves lacking in comparison." The elders on the judges'' platform couldn''t help but be moved as they murmured among themselves, seeing Liu Qing''s astonishing Dou Qi and aura. Xiao Yan smiled slightly and asked, "You''re not using your weapon?" "The Mountain Splitting Spear is only used against opponents who are worthy. I hope you''ll qualify for that soon," Liu Qing replied coldly. Xiao Yan merely smiled. Whatever you say. The First Elder saw that both sides were ready and shouted, "Both sides, prepare. The match begins!" The voice of the First Elder had just faded away when Liu Qing swung his hand violently toward Xiao Yan. His five fingers formed into a claw, and a massive golden energy claw materialized out of thin air. Wherever the energy claw passed, cracks appeared on the ground. "That''s Liu Qing''s signature Dou Technique, the Intermediate Xuan Class ''Golden Demon Claw''!" "So powerful! As expected of a Dou Technique cultivated to the major level!" Xiao Yan''s expression remained as calm as still water when faced with this terrifying golden claw several meters high, but inwardly, he couldn''t help but give some praise. From this Dou Technique alone, one could see that Liu Qing had put intense effort into cultivating his techniques. "If that''s the case, then I should give you appropriate respect." The Dou Qi within Xiao Yan''s body circulated wildly. A blood-red flame instantly enveloped his entire body as he shouted in his heart, ''Mad Lion Chant!'' A thunderous boom rang out as Liu Qing''s Golden Demon Claw collided with a crimson lion''s head. With a furious roar, the blood-colored lion shattered the golden giant claw with a single swipe. Xiao Yan slowly raised his gaze, looking at Liu Qing, whose body was covered in golden Dou Qi. Suddenly, he shot toward Liu Qing with an unstoppable and ferocious momentum amidst countless heated gazes! The distance of several dozen meters was crossed in the blink of an eye. On the stage, the two instantly closed in on each other. Their eyes met, and the suppressed battle intent finally erupted and boiled over. Xiao Yan did not use any Dou Techniques. His fist, enveloped in Heavenly Flame, smashed toward Liu Qing. Liu Qing sidestepped to dodge and countered with a punch. Xiao Yan tilted his head to avoid it, relying on his powerful Spiritual Strength. He then grabbed Liu Qing''s arm with both hands, twisted his body suddenly, stomped one foot on the ground causing rubble to fly, and used his strength to throw the sturdy Liu Qing away. Liu Qing spun in midair, his feet skidding across the ground with a hissing sound, carving two deep marks before coming to a stop. But how could Xiao Yan give Liu Qing a chance to catch his breath? His right foot stomped on the ground, and with a terrifying burst of physical strength, he transformed into a crimson shadow charging toward Liu Qing. Although Liu Qing had studied close combat and understood it better than Xiao Yan, the latter''s Spiritual Strength far surpassed the former''s, his perception was more outstanding, and coupled with the fact that he had used the genuine Core Quenching Body Milk, his physical strength was terrifyingly powerful. "Am I seeing things? Liu Qing is actually being suppressed in close combat!" Yan Hao rubbed his eyes. Being in the same cohort as Liu Qing, he knew that Liu Qing''s burly physique wasn''t just for show. Liu Qing''s physical body was second only to Zi Yan''s. Back when he lost to Lin Xiuya, it was only in Dou Techniques and weapon skills. Even Lin Xiuya didn''t dare to confront him head-on in close combat. Otherwise, Lin Xiuya wouldn''t have wanted to obtain the Core Quenching Body Milk to enhance his physique. Lin Xiuya''s expression was solemn as he said, "Why do I feel like the Core Quenching Body Milk that Xiao Yan used isn''t the same as ours? His physical body has become much stronger." Her face turned pale. She never thought Liu Qing would actually be no match for Xiao Yan! Liu Qing slowly pointed his heavy spear at Xiao Yan under everyone''s gaze. His deep voice echoed throughout the arena: "You''re very strong, even stronger than I imagined." "But I won''t admit defeat easily. Let me use the strongest move of this Mountain Splitting Spear to end this match!" ''Liu Qing is going to use the Mountain Splitting Spear...'' Lin Xiuya sighed lightly on the high platform as he looked at the pitch-black heavy spear in Liu Qing''s hand. With a ''dong'' sound, a dark shadow appeared from Xiao Yan''s storage ring. He grasped the Heavy Xuan Ruler, pointed it at Liu Qing, and said, "Then I''ll also use this move to end this match." "A final move to decide the victory." A somewhat stiff smile appeared on Liu Qing''s usually calm face. The Mountain Splitting Spear slashed diagonally through the air, leaving a faint golden trace of Dou Qi in the empty space. "This was my trump card against Lin Xiuya, but given the situation now, I''ll have to use it on you first." Dazzling golden light instantly burst from Liu Qing''s body, growing more and more intense. In the end, it almost completely enveloped him. This imposing aura even had a hint of Di Class. This Dou Technique was probably infinitely close to Di Class! Xiao Yan saw Liu Qing''s body shrouded in golden light and didn''t hold back either. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame surged from his palm, and the entire Heavy Xuan Ruler emitted waves of beastly roars. An unusual, wild energy fluctuation suddenly rippled across the square. The elders on the judges'' platform were the first to sense this fluctuation, and their expressions changed dramatically. "A Di Class Dou Technique..." Although the Book Collection Hall indeed had Di Class Dou Techniques, what Liu Qing obtained was a technique infinitely close to Di Class; he hadn''t obtained an actual Di Class Dou Technique. "This guy... just how many trump cards does he have?" At this moment, even the elders couldn''t help but feel troubled. How could Xiao Yan be filled with treasures all over? Below the stage, Lin Xiuya and the others also sensed something. Yan Hao gulped and said in shock, "Di... Di Class... And this imposing aura doesn''t seem to be just entry-level." A trace of solemnity appeared in Lin Xiuya''s eyes. He was contemplating whether he could defeat Xiao Yan if they fought. And the answer was exactly the same as the result of this match. Liu Qing shouted loudly, "Cleaving Coffin Claw!" A thunderous roar suddenly rang out. From the tip of the Mountain Splitting Spear, golden light erupted like a flood! Xiao Yan''s eyes remained emotionless and calm like still water while watching the golden light shooting over. Just as he had said at the beginning, the opponent he wanted to fight was that little monster, Zi Yan. "Flame Splitting Tsunami!" The Heavy Xuan Ruler chopped down. Having already reached the major level of mastery, the Flame Splitting Tsunami could be said to be Xiao Yan''s killing move. An incomparably terrifying sea of flames instantly engulfed Liu Qing''s Cleaving Coffin Claw. In front of the Flame Splitting Tsunami, no matter what Xuan Class Dou Technique Liu Qing used, there was only one outcome, and that was utter annihilation. The battle stage in front of Xiao Yan completely evaporated under the Flame Splitting Tsunami, leaving only devastation and charred remnants. It was fortunate that Xiao Yan had strong control; otherwise, even the nearby spectator stands might have been destroyed. First Elder Su Qian caught Liu Qing and stood in midair. He looked down at Xiao Yan and announced, "The victor¡ªXiao Yan!" Chapter 255: Chapter 255: Battle Against Zi Yan Chapter 255: Chapter 255: Battle Against Zi Yan Word Count: 2,167 Words ****** The First Elder gently set Liu Qing down. The latter looked at Xiao Yan standing in the center of the square and sighed, his heart filled with mixed emotions. The First Elder glanced at the dejected Liu Qing and said softly, "What he surpasses you in is not just powerful Dou Techniques and Qi Methods, but also that desperate determination to risk his life in pursuit of great strength." "Such a divine object of heaven and earth as a Heavenly Flame is not something that can be obtained by mere luck. Xiao Yan couldn''t have possessed one without surviving countless life-and-death trials. The dangers involved are beyond what ordinary people can endure." Liu Qing''s body trembled upon hearing the First Elder''s words. Everyone was plunged into silence at this moment. A star of the Inner Academy, a once-in-a-generation genius, had been defeated just like that. Such an outcome left people sighing. Even the members of the Splitting Mountain and Liu Fei had nothing to say. Liu Qing had lost. There was no one else within Splitting Mountain, or even in the Inner Academy apart from Zi Yan, who could contend with Xiao Yan. Not even Lin Xiuya could. Yan Hao and the others looked at Lin Xiuya on another part of the spectator stands. They saw him sigh lightly, shake his head, and say, "I''m confident I can defeat Liu Qing, but it would still be a hard battle. Xiao Yan hasn''t even used that sonic-type Dou Technique yet. To be honest, I have no way to defend against his Di Class Dou Technique." Lin Xiuya candidly admitted that he currently had no way to defeat Xiao Yan. Unless he could break through to the Dou King realm, only then might he have a chance. The fact that Liu Qing had actually fallen into the loser''s bracket and was defeated by a freshman who had just entered the Inner Academy this year made many people feel as if the world had changed. However, after the arena was repaired, what plunged everyone into silence once again was the next match.@@@@ Lin Xiuya versus Xiao Xun Er Throughout the entire match, there wasn''t a single cheer, no applause, not even any murmurs, because in their understanding, this battle couldn''t even be called a battle. Xun Er took only ten minutes, using her agile and ethereal movement techniques to evade all of Lin Xiuya''s attacks. Throughout the battle, Lin Xiuya didn''t even touch the hem of her garment, yet he was beaten black and blue by her counterattacks. Even his trump card attack was effortlessly dodged by Xun Er using an inexplicable movement technique, and with a light palm strike, she sent him flying out of the arena. Such an outcome rendered even the elders in the spectator seats deathly silent. Even these elders with Dou King strength couldn''t comprehend what they had just witnessed. "Sigh, people from that clan are still as terrifying as ever. I''m afraid even Zi Yan might not necessarily be able to defeat her," the First Elder murmured to himself as he watched Xun Er''s figure slowly walk off the square. Zi Yan gazed solemnly at Xun Er, who was descending the stage with a gentle smile. Her innate crisis sense as a magical beast told her that this woman''s strength was extremely frightening! Xun Er saw Zi Yan''s vigilant gaze and merely nodded slightly without saying anything. She walked up to Xiao Yan, bent slightly, and with a smile said, "Xiao Yan ge-ge, how is Xun Er''s strength?" Xiao Yan''s eyelids twitched violently. The movement technique Xun Er had just displayed was profound and unfathomable, surpassing the Three Thousand Lightning Movement by who knows how many times. Compared to Xun Er''s movement technique, the Three Thousand Lightning Movement was mere trash. And if he wasn''t mistaken, the palm imprint Dou Technique Xun Er used was the same Open Mountain Seal that Ling Ying had used when fighting Yun Shan back then. "How on earth are you able to cultivate so many profound Dou Techniques?" What puzzled Xiao Yan the most was that high-level Dou Techniques were extremely difficult to cultivate. Even reaching the entry level required several years or even a decade, let alone achieving minor or major mastery. Moreover, without sufficient cultivation level, one couldn''t cultivate them at all. Just possessing a high-level Di Class Dou Technique didn''t mean one could cultivate and master it. Not to mention that Xun Er had cultivated them to minor or even major levels of mastery. That should have been impossible. Otherwise, with so many Di Class Dou Techniques in the mysterious storage ring, Xiao Yan would have long cultivated a body of divine skills, rather than selectively choosing only the Octane Blast and Flame Splitting Tsunami after careful consideration. Only these two Dou Techniques had cultivation thresholds that didn''t require too high a cultivation level. Xun Er smiled gently and said, "That''s a woman''s secret." "What kind of Dou Technique is this?!" "This isn''t a Dou Technique! It''s simply that Senior Sister Zi Yan''s strength is too overwhelming!" Zi Yan''s all-out strike shocked the entire audience. Even the various elders were startled. That stomp was caused purely by raw strength. "Break!" Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed. He also stomped his foot down to counter. The stage shattered with a thunderous boom. The domineering force was like a storm, threatening to overturn everything. The two forces collided, and the floor tiles at the center of the square were simultaneously sent flying into the sky like scattered petals. Xiao Yan took a step forward. His body flickered with lightning; his speed was so fast that it was hard to discern with the naked eye, as if he had vanished. Roar!! A furious dragon''s roar resounded. At this moment, it seemed as if a thunder dragon surging forward with unstoppable momentum appeared behind Zi Yan. Upon closer look, they realized it was actually Xiao Yan kicking out. Just a single kick produced a sonic boom. "Bring it on!" Zi Yan''s battle intent soared. She laughed loudly, met the attack head-on with her small hands, and instantly caught Xiao Yan''s ankle. No matter how fast Xiao Yan was, he was still grabbed by Zi Yan and then flung away. It was hard to imagine that such terrifying strength was contained within her petite body. With one hand, she lifted and flung Xiao Yan away. As he was thrown, Xiao Yan immediately unfolded his Eagle Wings to adjust himself in midair. Zi Yan stomped the ground barehanded and chased after Xiao Yan whom she had just thrown. At this moment, Zi Yan was like a rampaging dragon, not using any Dou Techniques, just relentlessly pursuing Xiao Yan to pummel him. She chased after Xiao Yan, who was using the Three Thousand Lightning Movement, relying purely on her raw strength and speed. "Xiao Yan''s speed is incredibly fast!" Liu Qing''s gaze was solemn. It turned out that his battle with Xiao Yan was really just a warm-up; Xiao Yan hadn''t been serious at all. "But even such a Xiao Yan is being chased and beaten by Senior Sister Zi Yan." Lin Xiuya''s expression was uneasy, even somewhat reluctant to watch. Perhaps he had experienced this himself. Finally, Xiao Yan used the afterimages created by Lightning Flash to put some distance between them. In that split second, Dou Qi wings appeared behind Zi Yan. She transformed into a streak of purple light and leaped forward at an astonishing speed. She threw a punch straight toward Xiao Yan''s face in midair. He didn''t even think and also sent a punch. The two fists instantly collided in the air. It was fist against fist. The force of their punches collided and exploded with a loud boom. Because Xiao Yan was forced into defense, he suffered a loss with this punch and was sent flying. He flipped in midair before stabilizing himself. "How is this possible!" The freshmen led by Xiao Yan couldn''t help but exclaim in disbelief at the scene before them. In their hearts, Xiao Yan was invincible. Xiao Yu was so nervous that her face had turned somewhat pale, her hands tightly clenched into fists. "Believe in Xiao Yan ge-ge," Xun Er said softly as she watched that familiar figure. At this moment, Xiao Yan steadied himself, looked up at the slightly proud Zi Yan in the sky, and slowly said, "Impressive. Zi Yan, you truly are strong!" A rumbling sound emerged as soon as he finished speaking. The illusory figure of an Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger appeared behind him. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame was activated, causing his muscles to bulge, further enhancing his physical strength by another notch. Chapter 256: The Pinnacle Battle Chapter 256 - 256: The Pinnacle Battle Word Count: 2,191 Words ****** First Elder Su Qian noticed that Xiao Yan''s body and appearance began to exhibit features characteristic of magical beasts. His expression grew solemn as he muttered to himself, "The Ten Thousand Beast Flame can strengthen the flesh and blood of magical beasts, enhancing their bloodlines and physiques. I never thought it could work on humans as well." "Again!" Xiao Yan let out a long howl. The illusory figure of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger behind him roared in unison. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame poured forth with overwhelming power in an instant. Scales like those of a magical beast sprouted all over his body as he underwent a transformation. In the eyes of everyone present, a massive Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger sprawled across the square, glaring intently at Zi Yan''s petite figure in the sky. "What... what is that? Why do I feel like Xiao Yan has summoned a demon tiger?" The illusory figure of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger behind Xiao Yan appeared so real that it startled everyone. After all, the original Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger was a Rank 7 magical beast. Although none of them had ever seen one, the tiger before their eyes looked incredibly lifelike. "Could this be another powerful Di Class Dou Technique?" ROAR!! A tiger''s roar shook the sky. The flame beast formed by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame let out a resounding roar. Xiao Yan''s wings vibrated in the next second as a pair of blood-red tiger claws struck toward Zi Yan from both sides. These tiger claws carried a terrifying high temperature, causing even the sunlight to distort. An ordinary Dou King would find it difficult to withstand this strike and might be smashed into pulp by the claws. "Ha!" Zi Yan let out a loud shout. Her body emitted a faint purple glow as she thrust out a palm with each hand to the left and right. A pair of invisible spatial hands appeared instantly. Two loud booms resounded as Zi Yan manipulated Spatial Strength to block Xiao Yan''s twin claws. The Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger''s claws couldn''t advance even half an inch. Crack! Crack! Crack! The tiger claws exerted force at this moment. Even space itself was unable to withstand the pressure under the full power of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and showed signs of melting. In that split second, a pair of flame wings whipped over at incredible speed, so fast that Zi Yan had no time to dodge. The flame wings struck her with a crisp ''bang,'' and her whole body was whipped down from the sky, crashing into the square and creating a large pit. But in the next moment, a flash of purple light emerged from within the pit. Zi Yan wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, bent her legs slightly, and shot up into the sky like a cannonball with a loud ''boom.'' Her hands were enveloped in purple light. Each punch and palm strike manipulated Spatial Strength as she fought. Intangible Spatial Strength clashed fiercely with Xiao Yan''s Heavenly Flame power. Xiao Yan had long grown accustomed to Zi Yan''s mysterious bloodline strength. They battled from the sky to the ground in an incredibly intense fight. A single claw swipe from the flame tiger formed by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame could melt the earth, while Zi Yan''s elusive Spatial Strength was equally unpredictable. Both sides fought until blood splattered. This battle stirred the hearts of all who watched. The audience was utterly captivated. For everyone present, including the Dou King elders, this was undoubtedly the most magnificent battle they had ever witnessed. "Both of them are exceptional talents of their generation. I fear they represent the strongest pinnacle in the history of our Jia Nan Academy!" Even Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan of the Outer Academy couldn''t help but marvel as he watched this earth-shattering battle with his peak Dou Emperor strength. He had to acknowledge the formidable strength of both Xiao Yan and Zi Yan. Even members of the Splitting Mountain and the White Gang couldn''t help but feel admiration upon witnessing the strength Xiao Yan displayed, despite usually being at odds with him. Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing simply couldn''t be mentioned in the same breath as these two. "The most spectacular battle in the history of the Inner Academy." "Unprecedented, and perhaps never to be surpassed." After dozens of intense exchanges, a flash of purple light suddenly appeared in Zi Yan''s eyes. She let out a roar that produced a sonic attack similar to the ''Ancient Dragon Roar,'' causing Xiao Yan''s soul to tremble. In a flash, she appeared behind Xiao Yan, clasped her hands together to form a hammer, and smashed it down onto his back. This extremely tyrannical and heavy hammer seemed to gather an unparalleled amount of Spatial Strength in that split second. The terrifying blow shattered the illusory figure of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger and sent Xiao Yan plummeting from the sky into the center of the square. BOOM!!! The large pit from before expanded even further. Dust and smoke billowed instantly, and rocks flew in all directions. Fortunately, the square was surrounded by protective barriers. Otherwise, the flying debris alone could have injured the spectators. "Don''t worry; Xiao Yan ge-ge has many trump cards," Xun Er comforted the nervous Xiao Yu beside her. Moments later, the dust settled. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame had vanished, his Mad Lion Chant had been broken, and the illusory figure of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger had disappeared. Xiao Yan revealed his original appearance as he stood in the large pit. He spread his Eagle Wings with a wave of his hand and soared once again into the air. Xiao Yan had undoubtedly suffered a big loss just now. Zi Yan''s powerful spatial strike had not only shattered the Beast Spirit manifestation formed by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame but had also torn his back open, with blood flowing profusely. Opposite him, Zi Yan looked somewhat disheveled, although she had not sustained any major injuries. "Hey, Xiao Yan, do you want to take a pill to heal your wounds?" Zi Yan asked. She was still a bit afraid that Xiao Yan might refuse to refine pills for her, forcing her to return to the days of consuming bitter medicinal ingredients. Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Regardless of the outcome, I will still refine pills for you. Use your full strength without worry." "Besides, you''re underestimating me." A white flame ignited on Xiao Yan''s back. From a distance, it seemed as though his back was on fire. Soon, the torn and bloody wounds on his back visibly began to heal and close up. The Life Flame rapidly healed his injuries. Xiao Yan took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on Zi Yan. At this moment, his gaze was profound, his expression calm, his whole being as tranquil as an ancient well. For a strong fighter like him, the stronger the opponent, the calmer he became, and the more his fighting spirit soared. "Hehe, that''s more like it, Xiao-Yan-Zi." Zi Yan''s entire being exuded a majestic aura. At this moment, she was like a boundless ocean, her strength unfathomable. With a buzz, light flashed from Xiao Yan''s storage ring, and the Heavy Xuan Ruler appeared in his hand. The ruler immediately gave off a sense of immense weight that could suppress the world as he grasped it. At this moment, he wielded the Heavy Xuan Ruler, heavy as a great mountain. "I''m going to use a weapon now," Xiao Yan said, holding the Heavy Xuan Ruler. "You know what my weapon is." Zi Yan''s small pink fists bumped against each other, emitting metallic clangs. Her body was her strongest weapon. Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed. The ruler moved, stirring wind and clouds. Countless people gasped in amazement with the emergence of the Heavy Xuan Ruler. This casual downward strike from Xiao Yan already displayed the skill of a grandmaster! Even though Xiao Yan didn''t have any ruler-based Dou Techniques, he had been wielding the Heavy Xuan Ruler since he was young. After years of continuous practice, every swing had reached the pinnacle of proficiency. Zi Yan faced Xiao Yan''s strike. Her fists were like cannons as she met the Heavy Xuan Ruler head-on. Bang! Bang! Bang! Sounds of collision echoed as the battle reignited. Despite Zi Yan''s petite body, her small pink fists produced deep, resonant sounds when they collided with the Heavy Xuan Ruler. Sparks flew in all directions as fists and ruler clashed, clearly visible to the spectators below. "Senior Sister Zi Yan is truly terrifying, contending against a weapon with just her body!" "But even so, Xiao Yan isn''t falling behind; he''s holding his own." "No, Xiao Yan is using a Secret Technique to forcibly elevate his strength to the Dou King realm. In other words, he still needs to defeat Senior Sister Zi Yan within a limited time." Zi Yan was using her fists, making her movements even more agile. She punched the Heavy Xuan Ruler, deflected it, and used incredible speed to throw a punch toward Xiao Yan''s chest. But Xiao Yan was no ordinary person either. The ruler trembled; he moved with it, easily dodging Zi Yan''s heavy punch. For a time, the two battled fiercely in an incredibly spectacular display. One wielded the Heavy Xuan Ruler with grand, sweeping motions; the other unleashed punches like a storm. They exchanged blows back and forth, creating continuous thunderous sounds. Waves of impact from high in the sky spread to the spectator stands. The terrifying energy produced by their collisions even made the broken stones on the ground tremble, and the very earth shook! Gripping the Heavy Xuan Ruler, Xiao Yan finally unleashed his full power. He seemed invincible, extremely impressive. Even First Elder Su Qian couldn''t help but nod secretly, marveling at the immense effort Xiao Yan must have invested in mastering the heavy ruler. "I can sense that behind those swings of the heavy ruler are countless years of hard work," Liu Qing, who also used weapons, commented, his eyes flashing with admiration. "Indeed, those aren''t casual swings. Without painstaking practice, such mastery is impossible," Lin Xiuya agreed with a nod. Xiao Yan''s ruler techniques were incredibly impressive, leaving those who also practiced with weapons in awe. The mastery reflected in his swings, if not unparalleled, was still exceedingly rare. Finally, after a prolonged stalemate, Xiao Yan sensed that the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change was nearing its end. He let out a long shout and swept the Heavy Xuan Ruler horizontally to force Zi Yan back. The Heavy Xuan Ruler in his hands began to turn crimson in that instant. "Xiao Yan is finally going to use his trump card!" Many people present were stirred seeing the Heavy Xuan Ruler turning red. Some powerful individuals even keenly sensed the energy of the world frantically converging, all pouring into the ruler. They understood that Xiao Yan''s Di Class Dou Technique was coming! Flame Splitting Tsunami¡ªTen Thousand Beast Flame Wave! With a shout in his heart, Xiao Yan chopped down with the Heavy Xuan Ruler. A series of ringing sounds erupted as the ruler''s radiance dazzled like sunlight descending upon the world. The majestic ruler light surged overwhelmingly toward Zi Yan. Facing a Di Class Dou Technique, even Zi Yan didn''t dare take it lightly. As the ruler light approached, she let out a long roar. Her entire body erupted with a purple glow. Her fists shone brilliantly as an inexplicable, terrifying power gathered within them. She threw out a punch. Surprisingly, the faint sound of a dragon''s roar could be heard from her fist. It was as if a true dragon had unleashed a punch. The world was submerged in purple light in an instant. The purple-glowing fist clashed head-on with the Heavenly Flame-imbued Flame Splitting Tsunami! BOOM!! It was as if the sun had exploded. Zi Yan''s fist force was melted by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, but Xiao Yan''s Flame Splitting Tsunami was also blasted through, leaving a large hole in its center. As the sea of flames dissipated and the purple light vanished, Xiao Yan exhaled a breath, slowly descended from the sky, and retracted his Eagle Wings. His Dou Qi was nearly exhausted after unleashing the Flame Splitting Tsunami and consuming a large amount of Heavenly Flame, and the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change was about to end. Zi Yan also landed back on the square. A slight sheen of sweat appeared on her forehead, and her breathing began to quicken. Her physical strength was similarly greatly depleted. However, since Zi Yan wasn''t boosting her strength using a Secret Technique, she had more endurance. "This is a Dou Technique I created myself, and it''s also my final move." Xiao Yan opened his palm as a blood-red flame emerged from his core. First Elder Su Qian''s expression turned solemn when he saw the appearance of that flame. Although the flame looked small, it was the Essence Flame of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame! Heavenly Flame Dou Technique¡ªBeast Spirit Descent! Chapter 257: Heavenly Flame Dou Technique Chapter 257 - 257: Heavenly Flame Dou Technique Word Count: 2,057 Words ****** A Heavenly Flame Dou Technique, as the name implied, was a type of Dou Technique specifically designed for use with Heavenly Flames. This was a Dou Technique that Xiao Yan created himself, forming part of a unique series. Back when Xiao Yan first created the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame, he continually modified and refined it, striving to make the technique as perfect as possible. During this process, he discovered an interesting phenomenon. For him, the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame didn''t have stages like ''entry level,'' ''minor mastery,'' ''major mastery,'' or ''perfection.'' As the creator of the Dou Technique, the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame was inherently perfect in his hands. There was no issue of proficiency for him; he only needed to continuously perfect the Dou Technique itself rather than practice it repeatedly. This was the advantage of creating one''s own Dou Technique. For the creator, the technique was naturally the most suitable, and it did not require extensive practice. Who could surpass the creator in understanding and proficiency of a Dou Technique? Moreover, practicing high-level Dou Techniques was incredibly challenging. For instance, after sparring with Zi Yan for half a year, both the Ancient Dragon Roar and the Three Thousand Lightning Movement were still only at the entry level, quite a distance from reaching minor mastery. Even someone with Xiao Yan''s exceptional talent would inevitably take some detours without the guidance of a Master. Therefore, he developed the idea of creating his own Dou Techniques. But creating a Dou Technique out of thin air was extremely difficult; otherwise, everyone would be doing it. So Xiao Yan chose to take a clever shortcut. He decided to create Dou Techniques that relied on Heavenly Flames as their core. Each Heavenly Flame possessed wondrous and mystical abilities. If these abilities could be transformed into Dou Techniques, wouldn''t that result in entirely new techniques? Xiao Yan held the Essence Flame of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame in his hands. Apart from the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame, this was the complete Heavenly Flame he used most frequently. Most importantly, he had once borrowed the remnant Spiritual Strength of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger to unleash an incredibly powerful Beast Technique, which nearly obliterated the soul of Yao Ao, a high-grade 7th-tier alchemist. This experience gave him a spark of inspiration. Heavenly Flame Dou Technique¡ªBeast Spirit Descent! A vast aura suddenly erupted from Xiao Yan''s body with a whooshing sound as he held the Essence Flame of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame aloft. It was Spiritual Strength. No one expected that at this moment of exhaustion, after a massive consumption of Dou Qi, Xiao Yan''s trump card would be something akin to a Soul Skill! In an instant, torrents of Spiritual Strength poured out. Although this Spiritual Strength did not suppress anyone, it was immensely powerful! Even First Elder Su Qian and Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan couldn''t help but feel a tremor. The other students felt a deep reverence emanating from the depths of their souls! Peak Tier 6 Spiritual Strength! Even though First Elder Su Qian had reached Dou Ancestor strength, his Spiritual Strength was not as formidable as Xiao Yan''s. "What powerful Spiritual Strength!" "Oh my! I almost forgot that this guy Xiao Yan is a 6th-tier alchemist!" The elders in the Alchemy Department of the Inner Academy who knew that Xiao Yan could refine tier 6 medicinal pills all slapped their foreheads. They had all forgotten that this freak wasn''t just monstrously strong in battle; his alchemy skills were even more monstrous. He was already a 6th-tier alchemist at the age of twenty-one! This time, even Xun Er''s expression turned solemn. As the young miss of the Gu Clan and one of its core members, she knew better than anyone how terrifying peak Tier 6 Spiritual Strength was. It was even harder to cultivate than Dou Emperor strength. ''Is Xiao Yan ge-ge using a Soul Skill?!'' Xun Er''s delicate brows knitted slightly. She knew that in the current Dou Qi Continent, there were no longer any Soul Skill inheritances. Only the Pill Tower still possessed a small number of Soul Skills obtained from encounters with the Hall of Souls. This was because all other factions that possessed Soul Skills had already been eradicated by the Hall of Souls. ''No, this isn''t a Soul Skill! What kind of Dou Technique is this?'' A serious expression appeared in Xun Er''s eyes. She sensed that Xiao Yan was using a very unique Dou Technique. It not only consumed Dou Qi but also required vast amounts of Spiritual Strength. Even more astonishing was that all this power was fused into the Heavenly Flame, completely different from traditional Dou Techniques! A whooshing sound rang out. The Essence Flame of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame in Xiao Yan''s hands seemed to be satiated, rapidly expanded, and finally transformed into a massive tiger with eight fiery wings! Moreover, this wasn''t an illusory figure but a real, tangible entity! "Is that the soul of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger, the former overlord of the Magic Beast Mountain Range?!" "But it doesn''t seem like a soul body. Although there''s vast Spiritual Strength within the flames, it''s very different from an ordinary soul body!" Zi Yan was utterly stunned. Xiao Yan had actually summoned an incredibly powerful magical beast?! "This isn''t the real Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger. It is already dead, and even its soul has been obliterated. I merely used my memory and sought out the traces it left within the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to bring it back again." Xiao Yan still remembered that during his battle with Yao Ao, the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger had exhausted all its Spiritual Strength to perform its final Beast Technique. Now, although the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger was gone, Xiao Yan still retained its memories. By leveraging his powerful Spiritual Strength, he reassembled the traces preserved within the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. "Come, Zi Yan! The Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger was a Rank 7 magical beast after all. With my current strength, I can only recreate its strongest strike from back then¡ªMad Demon Flame!" Xiao Yan let out a loud shout and waved his hand. The Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger immediately opened its mouth, and an intensely scorching flame burst forth, just like when it had unleashed its Beast Technique and released the demon flame. This was the strike of a Rank 7 magical beast. Even if it was just a recreation, it was still incredibly powerful and terrifying. Zi Yan gritted her teeth as she faced the oncoming scorching flame. A brilliant purple light emanated from her body, and the magical beast blood within her began to boil! A voice echoed in her heart at this moment, telling her that she was the king of magical beasts. No beast could challenge her supreme authority! Suddenly, an extremely subtle yet overwhelming dragon might surged from within her. This aura could only be felt by Xiao Yan, who was facing her directly. It was a dragon might that made his heart tremble. ''Could it be that Zi Yan''s true form is really that race?!'' "Ha!!" Zi Yan made her move in that instant. She threw out a punch; this punch had no variations, no techniques! But the boundless bloodline strength within her condensed into that single punch. It was as if the entire space was at her command. A clash between dragon and tiger! The collision of flame and purple light resulted in an astonishing explosion of energy. A thunderous boom echoed as a terrifying storm swept through the air. Wherever the storm passed, even space itself trembled! First Elder Su Qian''s eyes narrowed as he instantly activated the defensive barrier to protect the spectators in the stands. After a long while, when the storm subsided, First Elder Su Qian''s eyelids twitched violently. Not to mention the battle platform¡ªthe entire square had disappeared, leaving behind only a massive, pitch-black crater. Both Xiao Yan and Zi Yan had been blown away by the shock wave and crashed into the walls on opposite sides. Undoubtedly, both of them were simultaneously knocked out of bounds. First Elder Su Qian sighed helplessly. He manipulated a trace of Spatial Strength to extract Zi Yan and Xiao Yan from the walls and brought them to the judges'' platform. "Take them to the medical room to rest. They''re not seriously injured; they''ve just fainted due to excessive consumption of Dou Qi and bloodline strength." The First Elder looked at the unconscious Xiao Yan, his eyes narrowing slightly. ''This little fellow''s strength is truly unfathomable. I''m afraid these two have already reached the peak of the Dou King stage.'' A gratified smile appeared on his face. The stronger Xiao Yan was, the more confidence they would have when the Fallen Heart Flame erupted. In the end, there was no need for the First Elder to announce the results of the Strong Ranking Grand Competition. Xiao Yan and Zi Yan tied for first place, with Xun Er taking third. Two freshmen who had just entered the Inner Academy this year, one tying with the formidable Zi Yan for first place, and the other easily defeating Lin Xiuya to claim third. This was undoubtedly enough to be recorded in the history of Jia Nan Academy. After the conclusion of the Strong Ranking Grand Competition, the entire Inner Academy was still immersed in the shock brought by that earth-shattering battle. Everywhere in the academy, people were discussing the fights in the competition. Among them, the two battles between Xiao Yan and Zi Yan, and Xun Er and Lin Xiuya, were the most talked about. Especially the former; whenever people mentioned it, their faces still bore expressions of awe and astonishment. .... That evening, Xiao Yan returned to his room after recovering from his injuries. He sat cross-legged in meditation, carefully reflecting on his battle with Zi Yan earlier that day. Wisps of energy seeped from the surroundings, continuously pouring into his body. Suddenly, there was a gentle knock on the door. "Xiao Yan ge-ge, are you asleep?" Xun Er''s soft voice drifted into the room. Xiao Yan heard Xun Er''s voice and a smile unconsciously appeared at the corner of his mouth. He turned over and got out of bed, then opened the door with a soft creak. "What''s the matter, Xun Er? Can''t sleep?" Xiao Yan looked at the elegant and beautiful face before him under the faint reflection of the moonlight streaming through the window. The subtle fragrance wafting toward him made his heart flutter slightly. Upon hearing Xiao Yan''s teasing, Xun Er pouted slightly and gave him a charming sidelong glance. This coquettish demeanor was entirely different from her usual calm and composed self. "Xiao Yan ge-ge still treats me as if I were the little girl from before." Xiao Yan looked her up and down before nodding. "You''ve indeed grown up." A faint blush appeared on Xun Er''s fair and delicate cheeks. She could sense the warmth in his gaze. As his eyes grew increasingly warm, the blush on her cheeks deepened. After a moment, she retrieved a black scroll from her storage ring, stuffed it into his hand, and was about to turn and flee. However, Xiao Yan was quick-eyed and swift-handed. He grabbed her jade-like wrist and, with a gentle pull, brought her into his embrace amidst her soft gasp. Xun Er''s face was almost dripping with redness as her delicate body fell into Xiao Yan''s strong arms, feeling the warmth of his body through his clothes. After a brief moment of struggle, she could only give up futile resistance. Her voice was as soft as a mosquito''s buzz: "Xiao Yan ge-ge, we shouldn''t..." Xiao Yan wrapped his left arm around her slender waist and whispered softly, "We shouldn''t?" as he looked at the shy girl before him, her breath sweet and fragrant. His right hand reached up to gently cup her chin, tilting her face toward him. Xun Er closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling with nervousness at the sight of Xiao Yan slowly leaning toward her. Their lips met in a tender kiss under the glow of the moonlight, their bodies pressed close together. Outside the room, Ling Ying shook his head and sighed. He could only pretend he hadn''t seen anything. Chapter 258: Essence Heart Flame Chapter 258 - 258: Essence Heart Flame Word Count: 2,168 Words ****** A moment passed, and Xiao Yan''s hands began to wander, slowly moving upward. Xun Er''s body suddenly shook as his fingers grazed a soft spot. She forcefully pushed him away. Her cheeks turned a deep red as she breathlessly whispered, "No... we can''t." Xiao Yan calmed down considerably upon hearing her refusal and sighed inwardly. "Xiao Yan ge-ge, due to... certain reasons with my body, right now... right now we still can''t." Xun Er''s face grew even redder as she realized what he intended. Her heart raced and pounded in her chest as she hastily explained. "And this scroll, Xiao Yan ge-ge must keep it safe and not reveal it to anyone else, not even Uncle Xiao Zhan." Xun Er quickly changed the subject, redirecting his attention to the scroll and using it to shield his eyes. Xiao Yan reached out to take the black scroll. Xun Er breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this. Yet a subtle sense of loss lingered in her heart amidst this relief. Xiao Yan frowned as he examined the scroll. Holding it gave a sense of weightiness; this leather was definitely not ordinary. "What is this?" he asked. Xun Er softly replied after regaining her composure, "It''s a Dou Technique that can only be cultivated upon reaching the Dou King realm." "Dou King?!" Xiao Yan''s heart trembled. Although he was already at the peak of the 8-star Dou Spirit stage, just a step away from Dou King, a Dou Technique requiring one to be at the Dou King realm must be Di Class, possibly even intermediate or high Di Class! "This is too precious..." Xiao Yan frowned. Before he could finish speaking, however, he met a pair of reproachful eyes, prompting him to swallow his words awkwardly. "Xiao Yan ge-ge has never accepted a gift from Xun Er before. This time, Xun Er hopes you can accept it." Xun Er sighed softly. Xiao Yan shrugged and said with a grin, "Actually, I''m not someone who refuses to ''eat soft rice.'' But since I''ve accepted it, I hope Xun Er can feed it directly to me." ??? Xun Er tilted her head in confusion. How could this ''soft rice'' be fed directly? Xiao Yan revealed a sly smile. He sat on a chair, suddenly pulled Xun Er over, and amidst her surprised exclamation, she found herself sitting on his lap. "Xiao Yan ge-ge?!" "This Dou Technique, Xun Er has cultivated it before, right? I don''t have a master to guide me, and my talent is poor. Without Xun Er explaining it to me, who knows how long it will take me to learn it." Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, his smile as cunning as a fox. Xun Er couldn''t help but retort with feigned annoyance, "Xiao Yan ge-ge, really! If you consider your talent poor, then many people might as well bang their heads against the wall." Despite her words, she did not refuse his request. She gently leaned against his chest and delicately unfolded the scroll with her jade-like hands. Countless golden characters instantly flowed into Xiao Yan''s mind. Even though he had been mentally prepared, his eyes couldn''t help but flicker with surprise when he saw the level of the Dou Technique recorded on the scroll. Even Xun Er was quite amazed to see that Xiao Yan could absorb such vast amounts of spiritual information without showing any signs of discomfort. "Xiao Yan ge-ge is truly incredible. Even ordinary Dou Kings would experience immense pain trying to absorb so much spiritual information." "Well, strong Spiritual Strength is an alchemist''s fundamental skill, after all." Xiao Yan knew, of course, that this was not just because he was an alchemist, but also because he had cultivated a Soul Training Method. After digesting the spiritual information, Xiao Yan murmured, "God Seal Technique, High Di Class. It is said to have been created by an ancient Dou God. It consists of five distinct styles: Open Mountain Seal, Sea Flipping Seal, Overturning Land Seal, Sky Burying Seal, and Ancient God Seal. Each seal is linked to one another. When one reaches complete mastery of all five seals, one will be able to flip the sea, overturn the oceans, and swallow the Heavens and Earth! It is comparable to a Tian Class Dou Technique when cultivated to perfection! However, one must reach the Dou King realm in order to cultivate this technique. Otherwise, failure to form the seals will bring disaster upon oneself!" "Created by a Dou God?!" Xiao Yan looked down at the beauty in his arms. He had to admit, this ''soft rice'' was truly fragrant! Xun Er revealed a happy smile upon hearing his astonished voice. She swung her slender legs back and forth, looked up at him, and asked, "Is Xiao Yan ge-ge satisfied?" "What do you think..." Xiao Yan was speechless. This was actually comparable to a Tian Class Dou Technique! Although it only contained the Open Mountain Seal and Sea Flipping Seal, these were High Di Class Dou Techniques. When Ling Ying had used them before, it was truly a palm strike that could split mountains! Seeing that Xiao Yan was satisfied, Xun Er began to patiently explain the key points and difficulties of the Open Mountain Seal and Sea Flipping Seal. What surprised Xiao Yan was that Xun Er had already cultivated both hand seals. Her left hand could form the Open Mountain Seal, and her right hand could form the Sea Flipping Seal. Moreover, she was extremely proficient, able to form the seals effortlessly. ''So this is the power of the Dou God Bloodline. Cultivating Dou Techniques is as easy as drinking water. No wonder those clans with Dou God Bloodlines value it so highly. With this bloodline''s aid, it''s hard not to become a powerful expert.'' Xiao Yan gained a deeper understanding of the so-called Dou God Bloodline. He too possessed a trace of the Dou God Bloodline, a smidgen left behind by his ancestor. Although it was very faint, he noticed a slight improvement in his comprehension and cultivation speed since acquiring it. Xun Er talked until she was tired. She didn''t go back to her room. Instead, she snuggled into Xiao Yan''s embrace and quietly fell asleep. Xiao Yan held her delicate, jade-like hands and hugged her as he also drifted off soundly. The two of them fell into a sweet slumber as they leaned against each other. It wasn''t until a ray of sunlight shone through the window that Xun Er left the room with a blushing face. ... In Xun Er''s chambers... "Young Miss, did you really give that scroll to Young Master Xiao Yan?" In the subtly fragrant room, Ling Ying looked somewhat stunned at the young lady holding a teacup. Xun Er''s clear, watery eyes still held an almost imperceptible trace of shyness. Facing Ling Ying''s question, she casually nodded, as if the item she''d given away was just something ordinary. "But... that Dou Technique is of great importance even within the clan." Ling Ying smiled wryly. This was beyond mere generosity. Xun Er smiled faintly, then waved her hand and said, "Old Ling, make sure no one else knows about this, not even Father." "Very well..." Ling Ying hesitated for a moment before sighing helplessly. He knew that if this matter were reported back to the clan, who knew what kind of turmoil it would cause. Just like the Hun Clan and the Wind Lightning Pavilion, the God Seal Technique was forbidden to be passed outside the Gu Clan. Once discovered, it must be retrieved. "Young Miss, there''s news from the clan... they¡ª" Xun Er''s eyes turned cold. She raised her hand to interrupt Ling Ying and said, "Tomorrow is the day for the Essence Heart Flame Body Tempering. Even for me, undergoing the tempering with the Fallen Heart Flame has many benefits. We will discuss this matter after it''s completed." "Understood, Young Miss." With that, Ling Ying disappeared. "Xiao Yan ge-ge, Xun Er has done all she can. The true path to becoming a strong expert now depends on you. I hope that the next time we meet, you''ll have become someone truly powerful, so strong that even Xun Er has to look up to you," Xun Er murmured softly while holding the warm teacup. Her heart was filled with reluctance. ... The next day arrived. It was the day when the top ten of the Inner Academy''s Strong Ranking would enter the bottom of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower to undergo the Essence Heart Flame Body Tempering. "First Elder Su Qian will also be present during the Essence Heart Flame Body Tempering. To be safe, you should wait in the room," Xiao Yan said as he released the Green Lotus. On the Green Lotus, Medusa, transformed into the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, slowly opened her eyes. She shot a cold glance at Xiao Yan before closing them again. Xiao Yan was accustomed to her cold demeanor. After making the arrangements, he left the room. He and Xun Er arrived as scheduled. When they reached the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower, the other eight people had already gathered. Zi Yan snorted coldly upon seeing Xiao Yan. She hadn''t expected to actually tie with him! Xiao Yan smiled and walked over to her. "What''s wrong? Are you upset?" "Hmph, of course not. It was just a tie anyway; you didn''t win." Zi Yan turned her head away and snorted lightly. Clink, clink, clink. Xiao Yan took out a jade bottle from his robe pocket. Inside were ten round pills that looked like candies. Zi Yan instantly resembled a greedy child upon seeing the pill candies, drooling with sparkling eyes. "These are for you. Don''t be angry anymore, okay?" "Mm-hmm, mm-hmm!" Zi Yan nodded vigorously. Everything could be negotiated when there was something tasty. Taking the jade bottle from Xiao Yan, Zi Yan immediately popped a pill into her mouth and enjoyed it blissfully. "Hehe, it seems everyone is here. Then I won''t waste words," First Elder Su Qian glanced around and, without further ado, waved his hand. The heavy tower doors slowly opened with a creaking sound. Each harbored their own thoughts as they followed the First Elder into the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower and descended the spiral staircase. ''This is the eighth floor?'' Xiao Yan silently counted and realized they had already descended below the seventh floor. What surprised him was that the eighth floor was actually the end. There were no more stairs leading downward. Only elders could reach the eighth floor, and even Zi Yan could only access the seventh floor. The surrounding Heavenly Flame energy on the eighth floor was already comparable to that of the No.1 cultivation room. They followed the First Elder through the eighth floor, walking for about ten minutes. "We''ve arrived!" Su Qian quickened his pace toward the end. His calm voice immediately lifted everyone''s spirits, and they hurriedly accelerated their steps, eagerly rushing forward. As they stepped out of the dimly lit passage, the blinding light caused Xiao Yan and the others to instinctively close their eyes. They quickly reopened them and scanned the surroundings with astonished expressions. This was an extremely spacious and empty area within the tower, occupying a vast space. By estimation, it was more expansive than any of the floors above. Moreover, unlike the eighth floor, there were no cultivation rooms here, giving it an empty feeling. The First Elder pointed to ten jade platforms not far away and said, "Each of you find a jade platform and take a seat." Xiao Yan exchanged a nod with Xun Er and found one of the jade platforms to sit on. Immediately, a faint coolness permeated his body. Sitting here seemed to isolate even the external scorching heat. After seeing everyone seated, the First Elder formed hand seals, and an energy barrier enveloped Xiao Yan and the others. ''So there''s a special energy seal here as well. It seems the Inner Academy''s defenses against the Fallen Heart Flame are quite stringent.'' Xiao Yan mused inwardly as he observed the seemingly illusory yet extremely solid energy ripples. When the energy barrier enveloped them, a seemingly transparent flame that could somehow be seen with the naked eye rose up. The moment the formless Heart Flame appeared, the Nihility Devouring Flame within Xiao Yan''s Acceptance Soul let out a cry, eager to emerge and devour it. "Don''t cause trouble. It''ll be problematic if you consume it and I don''t have enough to advance to the Dou King realm." Xiao Yan took out two jade bottles from his robe pocket. Inside were two smooth, round pills. The corners of his mouth curled up. Xiao Yan had grand ambitions. Not only did he plan to undergo the body tempering, but he also intended to seize this opportunity, leveraging the Essence Heart Flame Body Tempering and the aid of the pills, to break through to the Dou King realm in one fell swoop! Chapter 259: Advancing to Dou King! Chapter 259 - 259: Advancing to Dou King! Word Count: 2,189 Words ****** The Dou Spirit Pill was a peak tier 4 medicinal pill. Its effect was similar to the Dou King Pill and the Mighty Huang Pill, as all could increase one''s strength by one star. However, one could only consume one of each in a lifetime. Xiao Yan had never used the Dou Spirit Pill before; he had been waiting for this very moment to use it and advance from an 8-star Dou Spirit to the 9-star stage. An ordinary Dou Spirit Pill might not necessarily allow an 8-star Dou Spirit to reach the 9-star stage. However, Xiao Yan was a 6th-tier alchemist and possessed a Heavenly Flame. The quality of the Dou Spirit Pill he refined for himself was undoubtedly the highest. As for the other pill, it was the main event: the peak Tier 5 Hegemon King Pill. This was the most powerful and precious among tier 5 pills. Although categorized as tier 5, its refinement difficulty was no less than that of ordinary tier 6 pills. The effect of the Hegemon King Pill was simple and singular: it allowed a 9-star Dou Spirit to break through that bottleneck and become a Dou King! Xiao Yan didn''t care at all about the so-called Essence Heart Flame Body Tempering because he possessed the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and had used the genuine Core Quenching Body Milk. This tempering was merely better than nothing for him, just like for Zi Yan, who was already a Dou King and only came here out of boredom. For others like Liu Qing, Lin Xiuya, and Han Yue, undergoing body tempering to pave the way to becoming a Dou King was their pursuit and dream. But for Xiao Yan, Zi Yan, and Xun Er, this was unnecessary; becoming a Dou King was just a matter of time for them. For Xiao Yan, a 6th-tier alchemist, becoming a Dou King was merely a matter of consuming a pill. However, while pills were convenient, they also had a fatal flaw. The Dou Qi gained was prone to becoming unstable, and the foundation may not be solid. Therefore, Xiao Yan came here not for the body tempering itself but to use the Essence Heart Flame to consolidate his Dou Qi, offsetting the side effects of breaking through with pills and making his foundation as a Dou King even more solid! Xiao Yan knew there was no time to delay when he saw that mass of formless Heart Flame beginning to drift, preparing to enter through his forehead. He directly tossed the Dou Spirit Pill into his mouth. Instantly, a surge of powerful energy rushed through all his meridians. The pill''s energy transformed into the purest threads of Dou Qi as it poured into his Qi cyclone. Xiao Yan smoothly advanced to the 9-star stage, having been at the 8-star Dou Spirit stage for quite some time. He even faintly began to approach the peak of the Dou Spirit realm. However, he did not rush to break through to Dou King; instead, he first guided the Essence Heart Flame into his body. An incomparably terrifying scorching heat instantly enveloped his entire body the moment the Heart Flame entered. He resembled a thoroughly cooked prawn¡ªbright red all over, as if ready to be dipped in sauce and eaten. "I wonder how many will successfully endure it this time..." First Elder Su Qian murmured to himself. After glancing at everyone, his attention turned to Xiao Yan. "Why is this kid taking pills? Is he planning to use this to break through to Dou King?!" First Elder Su Qian was initially stunned, then couldn''t help but smile bitterly, sighing inwardly. Alchemists are truly extraordinary; even this is possible. While others were enduring the pain of body tempering, going through countless hardships to pave the way for breaking through to the Dou King realm, for Xiao Yan, it was just a matter of a single pill. ''If Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing find out about this, they''d probably cough up blood in anger.'' At this moment, the excess Dou Qi in Xiao Yan''s body from the Dou Spirit Pill was once again purified and refined by the Essence Heart Flame. The medicinal strength, which was already extremely pure, was forcibly reduced by half. Wisps of white mist seeped from the top of his head. The meridians, bones, and even blood within his body seemed to become transparent at this moment. The formless flames seeped out from every part of his body, clinging to him like maggots on bones, burning anything that could be burned within. Even the Dou Qi hidden within his flesh and blood couldn''t escape this ordeal. Xiao Yan couldn''t observe it directly, but he could feel the Dou Qi hidden throughout his body boiling like hot water, constantly churning. But this was precisely the effect he wanted! His Dou Qi had reached the peak of 9-star Dou Spirit due to the Dou Spirit Pill, but now it was decreasing. Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes and took out the Hegemon King Pill from the jade bottle when it could decrease no further. ''Holy crap, the Hegemon King Pill!'' First Elder Su Qian had sharp eyes and immediately recognized the golden pill in Xiao Yan''s hand. ''Ordinary low-grade 6th-tier alchemists have less than a fifty percent success rate in refining the Hegemon King Pill. This kid Xiao Yan''s alchemy skills are so strong!'' Under his watchful gaze, Xiao Yan swallowed the Hegemon King Pill in one gulp. !!!!!!! Xiao Yan''s pupils contracted as an overwhelmingly powerful energy immediately spread throughout his body, making him seem like an inflating balloon, constantly stretching his meridians! This dual torment made Xiao Yan grit his teeth, with blue veins bulging all over his body, combining the burning of the Essence Heart Flame with the impact of the pill''s energy. Even the First Elder furrowed his brows upon seeing this scene, showing a worried expression. No one had ever tried to break through using the Hegemon King Pill while simultaneously undergoing the Essence Heart Flame Body Tempering before. Xiao Yan''s face appeared slightly purplish due to severe flushing. Bubbles continuously surfaced on his skin. The terrifying energy surging within seemed about to make his entire body explode. In the next moment, the formless Essence Heart Flame began to burn intensely, constantly reducing his Dou Qi. Expansion, burning, contraction; then expansion again, burning again, contraction again. His body was like a balloon, sometimes big, sometimes small. After an unknown amount of time, the student ranked sixth could no longer endure the pain and spat out blood. He slowly opened his eyes, seemingly understanding that he had failed. His gaze was filled with dejection and helplessness. "You should rest on the side for now. It''s common to fail in the Heart Flame Body Tempering; don''t take it too hard." The First Elder opened the barrier and let him rest aside. In the end, the First Elder led a total of two people who failed the body tempering out of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. The Essence Heart Flame Body Tempering was a time-consuming process. They all underwent the burning of the Heart Flame during the following three days. During this time, they could clearly feel significant strengthening within their bodies¡ªtheir meridians, bones, and other aspects all experienced noticeable enhancements. Typically, the Essence Heart Flame Body Tempering took three days, but there were always exceptions. The jade platform where Xun Er was seated dimmed on the second day; the Essence Heart Flame had been completely consumed. First Elder Su Qian wasn''t surprised at all when he saw Xun Er exit the platform ahead of time, since he knew where she came from. "Greetings, First Elder," Xun Er said politely. "Mm, you can return first. They probably need another day." Xun Er gently shook her head. After glancing at Xiao Yan''s position, she sat to the side and began cultivating; she was naturally waiting for him. Not long after, Zi Yan also emerged from her jade platform. Zi Yan had already reached the Dou King realm long ago, and her physical strength was unparalleled. This time, she was merely going through the motions, tempering her body while eating the pill candies Xiao Yan had given her. Once she finished eating, she was done. She glanced at Xiao Yan and, seeing that he was still undergoing body tempering, pouted before turning around to leave the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. Soon another day passed. The first to come out were Lin Yan, Han Yue, and Yan Hao. The First Elder didn''t expect that Han Yue, who had the lowest cultivation, managed to endure through it. Although her cultivation hadn''t increased, it could be imagined that in the near future, she would undoubtedly step into the Dou King realm. The jade platforms where Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing were seated suddenly erupted with the aura of Dou Kings approximately thirty minutes later, almost simultaneously. "Wow! They both broke through to Dou King!" Lin Yan''s eyes widened. He and Yan Hao were both at the peak of the Dou Spirit stage. After the body tempering, they had touched the threshold of Dou King but hadn''t been able to break through! Han Yue softly said, "It''s quite normal. Both of them were already half-step Dou Kings; reaching this point naturally comes as a matter of course." After speaking, she glanced toward Xiao Yan''s position. Two figures flew up from the jade platforms with two booming sounds, each with a pair of Dou Qi wings behind them, proving that they had indeed reached the Dou King realm! Liu Qing and Lin Xiuya flew before the First Elder, who nodded with satisfaction and said, "Good, very good. You two have excellent talent. Advancing to Dou Emperor is probably just a matter of time." Even Lin Xiuya couldn''t help but show a pleased expression upon hearing the First Elder''s praise. Liu Qing remained expressionless as he turned his head to look at Xiao Yan. "Why hasn''t he come out yet?" he asked. The First Elder explained, "That fellow Xiao Yan is also attempting to break through to Dou King." ! ! ! ! ! ! Everyone except Xun Er''s expressions changed dramatically; they looked at Xiao Yan in astonishment, finding it hard to believe. "Isn''t he just an 8-star Dou Spirit?! It''s impossible to reach Dou King in just three days," Lin Yan asked in confusion. Han Yue''s beautiful eyes flickered as she said, "Pills." "Pills?!" "Could it be the peak tier 5 Hegemon King Pill?!" Everyone revealed envious expressions when they saw the First Elder nod. Pills, ah, pills! A single pill had actually surpassed Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing''s over a year of hard work! The Hegemon King Pill''s value exceeded that of many tier 6 pills. Moreover, it was priceless; even if one wanted to buy it, it wouldn''t be available. Lin Yan could only smile bitterly. Back when he first met Xiao Yan, his cultivation was higher. Now, not only was his strength inferior, but even his cultivation level was lower. "But isn''t this taking a bit long? With the aid of pills, there''s no reason he should be slower than Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing." Just as everyone was puzzled, suddenly a change occurred! A tremendous suction force erupted from the jade platform where Xiao Yan was, as if his location had become a massive vortex that was frantically absorbing energy. "What is this?!" "I don''t know, but does breaking through to Dou King usually look like this?!" Misfortunes never come singly. First Elder Su Qian, who had been monitoring below, suddenly had a drastic change in expression at that very instant! "All of you, leave the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower immediately!" With that, his figure immediately disappeared and arrived at the bottom of the tower. In the lowest level of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, a formless energy was impacting the sealing barrier. ''The energy has become so much stronger... Then... these seals, their effectiveness...'' Suddenly recalling something extremely important, the First Elder''s heart turned cold. He planned to immediately gather people to reinforce the seal. Those on the upper floor were startled, realizing that something serious was happening! "Hurry, let''s go!" "What about Xiao Yan? What exactly is he doing now?!" Lin Yan looked toward Xiao Yan''s direction. At this moment, he seemed to have reached a critical juncture. His eyes were tightly closed, and an extremely terrifying energy seemed to be condensing within his body. Xun Er slowly stood up. A hint of golden flame flashed through her beautiful eyes as her cool voice rang out, "You all leave here. I will bring Xiao Yan ge-ge out." With that, she waved her hand and actually pushed the four people out of this space at once. Then, a mass of golden flames appeared out of thin air, sealing the entrance. Xun Er''s expression was solemn. Her eyes flickered with golden flames as she looked downward. It was as if her gaze could penetrate and see the main body of the Fallen Heart Flame below. "Xiao Yan ge-ge still needs some time..." Chapter 260: Visitors from the Gu Clan Chapter 260 - 260: Visitors from the Gu Clan Word Count: 2,308 Words ****** The dark red magma in the endless magma world suddenly began to churn violently, and an extremely raging energy permeated from within. As the magma surged, it was as if something was about to break through the surface. After a moment, the boiling magma abruptly calmed down. However, Su Qian''s gaze did not relax, as he could clearly sense that the raging energy was getting closer and closer to the magma''s surface. A thunderous boom echoed as a nearly transparent fire python burst through the magma. Its full body remained hidden from view. Its head alone, measuring ten feet across and wreathed in formless flames, emanated an overwhelming energy that made even space itself tremble violently as it appeared before Su Qian''s solemn gaze. The triangular pupils enveloped by the formless flames locked tightly onto Su Qian at the entrance of the deep cavern! "This is bad! This beast is going to attack the seal!" Su Qian''s expression changed drastically. He tapped his toes on the edge, and his figure flashed like lightning outside the energy barrier. His hands rapidly formed seals. Energy abruptly surged at the entrance of the deep cavern, finally forming a multicolored energy shield that tightly sealed the opening! The Fallen Heart Flame sensed that Su Qian had strengthened the seal to prevent it from breaking through and immediately let out an angry screech as it violently slammed into the seal. Bang! A single collision caused cracks to appear in the seal, and wisps of transparent Heart Flame seeped from the barrier. This was the unpurified Fallen Heart Flame! It was not meant for cultivation but for killing! This kind of Heart Flame was colorless and shapeless as it floated in the air. Even spiritual perception couldn''t detect it. It would directly burrow into the human body and start burning from within! "Not good!" The First Elder felt the Fallen Heart Flame escaping through the cracks in the barrier and sensed that things were going awry. Even the slightest bit of Heart Flame could instantly kill a Dou Spirit expert, and it was impossible to guard against. Even Dou Qi defenses couldn''t block the bizarre Fallen Heart Flame. The First Elder finished forming seals with his hands. A thunderous shout suddenly erupted from his mouth that resonated mightily throughout the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower and across the entire Inner Academy''s sky. "All elders, proceed to the tower immediately! All students, evacuate to at least one hundred meters away from the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower!" The entire Inner Academy heard the thunderous shout echoing in the sky and fell completely silent at this moment. The First Elder sent a spiritual transmission to Xun Er and said in a deep voice, "Xun Er, immediately take Xiao Yan away from here. He''s too close to the Fallen Heart Flame and will become its target!" Xun Er looked up at Xiao Yan, who was gritting his teeth and frantically condensing something. She knew he was just a hair''s breadth away. It was the most critical moment. If she took him away now, not only would his previous efforts be wasted, but he might also suffer a backlash. A resolute look flashed in her eyes. A golden light emerged from her body in the next second, and golden flames flickered in her eyes. Xun Er gently raised her jade-like hand, and a brilliant golden flame appeared in her palm, as if something had broken free from its shackles. Faint multicolored glows flickered within her body. Her face instantly turned pale after summoning the golden flame. It was evident that even she had difficulty controlling this flame. "Go!" Xun Er waved her hand as though scattering beans to create soldiers, and countless golden flames flew out, instantly transforming into a golden sea of fire. The entire ninth floor was covered with golden flames. Those formless Heart Flames that came into contact with the golden flames unleashed by Xun Er were like water droplets encountering fire. With just a touch, the Heart Flames were instantly incinerated! Even the jade platforms on the ninth floor couldn''t withstand the burning of these golden flames and melted into pools of liquid. The ground of the ninth floor, constructed from precious materials, began to show signs of melting. Controlling these golden flames was evidently not easy. After just a minute, beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. At this moment, Xiao Yan seemed to sense that Xun Er was supporting him. He suddenly opened his eyes, and an earth-shattering Spiritual Strength exploded from his body. "Let''s go!" He didn''t have time to explain. Dou Qi fire wings appeared behind him as he grabbed Xun Er''s hand and whisked her away from the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. With his speed, they flew out of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower in less than three breaths and arrived at an open space. The First Elder sensed that Xiao Yan and Xun Er had both left and let out a loud shout, displaying the strength of a Dou Ancestor to forcibly suppress the Fallen Heart Flame. When the other Elders arrived, the entire Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower was sealed off. Meanwhile, Xiao Yan''s eyes flickered with unknown thoughts as he looked at the sealed tower. "Xiao Yan ge-ge, you''ve broken through to Dou King?!" Xun Er''s beautiful eyes revealed surprise and joy. She couldn''t help but feel happy for his rapid breakthrough. Xiao Yan revealed a slight smile, gently stroking her silky hair, and said tenderly, "It''s all thanks to Xun Er helping me buy some time." In fact, he had already broken through to the Dou King realm. After all, he had the help of the Hegemon King Pill. What he had just been doing wasn''t increasing his cultivation; he had been using the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique to gather spiritual essence. And this spiritual essence was the Heavenly Flame''s essence scattered in this space by the Fallen Heart Flame. Xiao Yan wanted to break through to the Perfected Mortal State in one go¡ªthat is, achieve the Spiritual Strength of a 7th-tier alchemist! But unfortunately, due to the eruption of the Fallen Heart Flame, he only had enough time to break through to half-step Tier 7 and couldn''t completely step into the Perfected Mortal State. Nevertheless, he was extremely satisfied with the current results. Not only did he use the Essence Heart Flame to temper his Dou Qi and consolidate his foundation, but he also broke through from an 8-star Dou Spirit to a Dou King in one go, and his Spiritual Strength had increased to half-step Tier 7. These results nearly made him grin from ear to ear. "Hey, Xiao Yan, do you know what happened in the tower?" Lin Yan walked over from a distance with a grin on his face, having seen Xiao Yan flying out. Xiao Yan was slightly stunned upon hearing this, then smiled and shook his head. Seeing Xiao Yan shake his head, Lin Yan felt a bit smug and was about to spill some information. However, Zi Yan disdainfully interrupted him, having flown over upon sensing the eruption of the Heavenly Flame. She curled her lips and said in her childish voice, "Isn''t it just that flame at the bottom of the tower acting up? This kind of thing hasn''t just happened once or twice over these past few years." A hint of surprise flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes. Zi Yan actually knew about the flame sealed at the bottom of the tower? Lin Yan chuckled awkwardly, then frowned at Xiao Yan and said, "But this time seems a bit different. Although there have been energy upheavals in the tower in previous years, I''ve never seen the First Elder so solemn." "Forget it. These matters aren''t for us to meddle with. There shouldn''t be any problems with the strength of the First Elder and the other elders," Xiao Yan said with a light laugh. Whether he truly thought this way in his heart was unknown. The confrontation between Jia Nan Academy and the Fallen Heart Flame wouldn''t yield results in a short time. As such, Xiao Yan and Xun Er returned to the Xiao Hall. The entire Xiao Hall erupted in celebration upon hearing the news that Xiao Yan had broken through to Dou King, with people shouting ''Hooray!'' and ''Invincible!'' After resting for a day, Xiao Yan felt the terrifying power within his body and sighed, "Below Dou King, all are ants. These words are not false!" He felt fortunate about the Dou Kings he had defeated in the past. Luckily, those Dou Kings were relatively weak. It would have been troublesome if he had encountered Dou Kings from the Dou God Clans. ... At sunset, on a slightly sloping grassy ground, lush green grass spread like a verdant carpet to the horizon. Not far below, there was an extremely wide mountain gorge, very deep, with faint clouds and mist winding within, appearing like a celestial realm. Xiao Yan and Xun Er reclined quietly on the grass, holding hands and appreciating the afterglow of the setting sun. Xun Er slightly tilted her head. Her gem-like bright eyes gazed at the black-robed youth beside her, who had his eyes closed and wore a leisurely expression. The corners of her small mouth slowly curved into a subtle arc. After a moment, as if thinking of something, her eyes dimmed slightly, and she said softly, "Xiao Yan ge-ge, you must diligently practice that scroll Xun Er gave you." Xiao Yan opened his eyes upon hearing her voice, turned to look at her, and smiled. "Of course. This is a Dou Technique Xun Er gave me. I won''t rest until I''ve mastered it completely." When Xun Er heard this, she finally smiled sweetly, her laughter crisp and pleasant like a mountain spring hitting rocks. Just as Xiao Yan was about to ask why she had suddenly given him a Dou Technique, his half-step Tier 7 Spiritual Strength instantly sensed that a large number of powerful auras were rapidly approaching. These auras were extremely strong, and their target was the two of them! Xun Er saw the sharp look in Xiao Yan''s eyes and also sensed something. She suddenly stood up and looked toward the horizon. Her eyes filled with anxiety after that. She hurriedly pushed Xiao Yan behind a large tree and said urgently, "Xiao Yan ge-ge, wrap yourself with your Spiritual Strength, and no matter what, do not come out." "What''s going on? Are these people coming for you?" A cold glint flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes. Xun Er was the most important person in his heart. "No, but Xun Er doesn''t have time to explain now. Xiao Yan ge-ge, please hide first." Xiao Yan could only nod when he saw her anxious expression. He used his Spiritual Strength to conceal himself. Shortly after he concealed himself, over a dozen black dots suddenly appeared on the horizon. These black dots had a clear target, heading straight toward Xun Er''s location. As they approached, it became clear that these black dots were people. They wore black armor, and the one-horned flying horses they rode were also clad in black battle armor, presenting an imposing sight. Especially the leader, whose strength had reached the Dou Emperor realm. Moreover, his aura was absolutely not that of an ordinary Dou Emperor. Perhaps even Hai Bodong or Jia Xing Tian wouldn''t be his match! "I am Ling Quan, the newly appointed Deputy Commander of the Black Submerged Army. By order of the Clan Head, I have come to escort the Young Miss back!" The man who called himself Ling Quan stood atop a four-winged unicorn. He respectfully cupped his fists toward Xun Er and spoke in a deferential voice. Xiao Yan''s heart sank, and his eyes narrowed slightly. He finally understood Xun Er''s unusual behavior recently, and why she had given him the God Seal Technique. "I said I would return on my own. Why did you need to come all this way?" The arrival of Ling Quan and the others made Xun Er''s face rather cold, and even her words carried a chill. "It was an order from the Elder Council. We can only obey." Ling Quan smiled faintly and was about to continue when his gaze suddenly froze. He saw that Xiao Yan had actually walked out from behind the tree. "Who are you?!" Xiao Yan ignored him and walked up the hillside step by step, his expression extremely grim. A suppressed voice emerged from his throat, "Xun Er, are you returning voluntarily?" The other nine black-armored members of the Black Submerged Army beside Ling Quan immediately surrounded Xiao Yan with several swooshing sounds. "All of you, stand down!" Xun Er shouted coldly. Xiao Yan stopped in his tracks and asked once again, "Xun Er, are you returning voluntarily?" Xun Er''s heart ached as if twisted when she saw the sharp expression on his face. How could she want to leave? But she bore the clan''s mission on her shoulders, and after this departure, she didn''t know when she would be able to leave the clan again. Ling Ying saw Xun Er''s heart-wrenching pain and appeared from the shadows. He sighed and said, "The Young Miss bears the clan''s mission. The clan requires her to return, and she has no choice but to comply." Xiao Yan immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Xun Er hadn''t chosen to leave on her own. Then, a heavy black ruler appeared in his hand with a whoosh. His gaze was like a fierce spear as he locked onto Ling Quan. Xiao Yan neither roared nor shouted. He appeared exceptionally calm. However, that gaze made people''s hearts shudder. "Today, as long as I stand here, I''d like to see who can take her away!" Chapter 261: The Reason for Becoming Stronger Chapter 261 - 261: The Reason for Becoming Stronger Word Count: 2,192 Words ****** Xiao Yan held the Heavy Xuan Ruler in one hand, and though his gaze appeared calm like an ancient well, turbulent currents surged within. He meant every word he said! He knew that these ten so-called Black Submerged Army members before him were very strong. Nine of them were Dou Kings, and one was a Dou Emperor. Moreover, they were from a Dou God Clan, so their strength was definitely not as simple as ordinary Dou Kings and Dou Emperors. They had likely been cultivating Di Class Qi Methods and Dou Techniques since childhood. Just this group alone could probably sweep through all the factions in the Black-Corner Region. "Xiao Yan ge-ge..." Xun Er''s eyes revealed reluctance and distress at his words, yet she also felt a kind of bliss at being protected. "Xiao Yan? Oh, I was wondering who was talking so big. It turns out you''re that so-called ''genius'' young master of a fallen clan. Heh, if your Xiao Clan hadn''t been destroyed, perhaps you really could speak so boldly. But now, the Xiao Clan is merely a ruined, declining clan of the lower realm." Ling Quan narrowed his eyes with a mocking smile tugging at his lips. Xiao Yan''s face gradually turned icy as he heard Ling Quan''s cold ridicule toward the former Xiao Clan. His hand slowly gripped the hilt of the Heavy Xuan Ruler. It was true that the Xiao Clan had been destroyed, and the current Xiao Clan could be said to have no connection to its former self. But that didn''t give others the right to make snide remarks. "Ling Quan, shut up! The Xiao Clan has an alliance with our clan. How dare you insult them?" Xun Er''s heart tightened as she noticed Xiao Yan''s darkening expression, and she reprimanded Ling Quan in a stern voice. "Hehe, please don''t be angry, Young Miss. I merely spoke my mind too bluntly," Ling Quan said with a chuckle. Then, as if recalling something, he added, "Before we set out, several elders instructed that if we happened to meet Young Master Xiao Yan, we should ''appropriately'' inquire as to the whereabouts of the Xiao Clan''s portion of the key." Before Xiao Yan could speak, Xun Er retorted, "I''ve stayed in the Xiao Clan for many years without ever hearing any news about this ''key.'' Are you implying that I have deliberately concealed it and deceived the clan?" Ling Quan''s eyelids twitched, and he hastily lowered his head to apologize. "This subordinate did not mean that. This subordinate was being foolish. Young Miss, please return now. The clan has urged this many times already." Xiao Yan couldn''t help but sigh upon seeing this scene, "Ah, you really seem to think I don''t exist." He slowly shook his head, revealing a faint smile, but that smile was as cold as the Nine Nether. In the next second, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame roiled within him, and a towering dragon might burst forth from his body. "Dragon might?!" The members of the Black Submerged Army surrounding Xiao Yan all had drastic changes in their expressions as they looked at him in astonishment. None of them could have imagined that a Dou King from a fallen clan would actually possess dragon might within his body. Moreover, this dragon might was not weak at all. Under such terrifying dragon might, their legs were already weakening. It was as if they were not facing a human but a true dragon! Xiao Yan didn''t give these people a chance to react. The Flame Mantra circulated wildly like a rampaging engine. Already infinitely close to Intermediate Di Class, it was circulating slightly faster than usual at this moment. In his heart, he roared, ''Ancient Dragon Roar!'' Space shook, and the earth trembled. Even the wind and clouds above surged like wild waves in all directions. A wave of sound burst from him, like a flood capable of obliterating everything. At the echo of that deep dragon roar, a soul-penetrating sonic attack slammed into the nine Dou King members of the Black Submerged Army. "Ahh!!" The nine Dou King-level Black Submerged Army members clutched their ears with both hands. Their faces contorted as they shut their eyes. They only felt a dragon''s roar penetrating their minds and shaking their souls. In their consciousness, it was as if a giant dragon was raging uncontrollably. Not even their Dou Qi defenses could stop it. Trickles of fresh blood flowed from their ears. Compared to the year before, Xiao Yan''s Ancient Dragon Roar was on a completely different level. Back then, he was only a 3-star Dou Spirit; the Ancient Dragon Roar hadn''t even reached entry level. Now, he was a Dou King who had spent a year cultivating it, and more importantly, his Spiritual Strength was incomparable to before. "Ahhh!! What is this?!" "My ears!!" Cracking sounds echoed as fissures appeared on the armor of the Black Submerged Army members. The dragon roar echoed throughout the Inner Academy and even reached the Outer Academy. "Hmm? Is that Xiao Yan''s sonic-type Dou Technique?" In the distance, Lin Yan looked toward the source of the sound. "Xiao Yan? Is he fighting with Zi Yan again?" Lin Xiuya slowly opened his eyes from his cultivation and looked into the distance. Meanwhile, Zi Yan was searching for natural treasures in the forest outside the Inner Academy when she heard the Ancient Dragon Roar. A purple light flickered in her eyes as she muttered, "That roar is filled with anger... he''s fighting someone? No, I have to check on him." She spread her wings and hurriedly flew toward Xiao Yan''s direction. The Ancient Dragon Roar was a Di Class sonic-type Dou Technique. Its terrifying destructive power caused countless cracks to appear on the entire hillside. Xiao Yan''s eyes hardened, and his body erupted with the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to enhance his physical strength. He unleashed Mad Lion Chant. By relying on Three Thousand Lightning Movement, he flashed forward while the Black Submerged Army members were still dazed. The Heavy Xuan Ruler descended with a thunderous crash, instantly shattering both the armor and the body of one of them, sending blood spraying everywhere as bone snapped. The Heavy Xuan Ruler weighed thousands of pounds, and coupled with Xiao Yan''s monstrously strong physique, this strike was unimaginably devastating. Even if these Dou Kings hadn''t been shaken by the Ancient Dragon Roar, they still would not have been able to withstand this. The gruesome sound of bones shattering rang out as that man slammed into the earth, flung so far that no one knew where his body would land. Xiao Yan followed with several more horizontal sweeps of the Heavy Xuan Ruler, painting the ground red. Many of the Black Submerged Army members now lay collapsed in the distance, barely able to move. Even if they weren''t dead, they were severely injured beyond recovery. Ling Ying watched with wide-eyed shock. Xiao Yan was only a 1-star Dou King, while the weakest of these Black Submerged Army members were 5-star Dou Kings. Yet four of them were instantly dealt with and beaten to the point where their life or death was unknown, without even a chance to fight back. One of the more advanced Dou Kings clenched his teeth to endure the severe pain and pulled out a square sky halberd. Just as he was about to summon a Dou Technique, the dragon aura within the Ancient Dragon Roar caused his soul to tremble, making it impossible to unleash any techniques! Octane Blast! Xiao Yan turned around as this person stood shocked at his inability to use Dou Techniques. His left fist condensed with the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and, facing the thrusting square sky halberd, he punched out directly. BOOM BOOM BOOM!!! That Rank 5 Monster Core Weapon was actually shattered by his single punch. The terrifying Ten Thousand Beast Flame, combined with hidden force, instantly engulfed this Dou King. His chest caved in directly, blood spurting from his mouth as he flew backward like a kite with a broken string. "Form the Four-Directions Formation!" The remaining four men shook their heads vigorously. Ferocious expressions appeared on their faces as they attacked Xiao Yan simultaneously from all directions. Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength instantly saw through their flaws. With a whoosh, he threw the Heavy Xuan Ruler into the air. In the next second, the weapons in the four men''s hands instantly pierced through his body. Sizzle sizzle sizzle! Sparks crackled as lightning flashed. Xiao Yan''s body turned into a lightning afterimage. Instant Lightning! A flash of lightning streaked through the middle of the four men. That speed was truly like lightning, as fast as a thunderbolt. In the next instant, a figure appeared behind one of the Black Submerged Army members. Xiao Yan caught the falling Heavy Xuan Ruler, his eyes cold like the Grim Reaper harvesting lives. Flame Splitting Tsunami!! A thunderous boom sounded as the Low Di Class Flame Splitting Tsunami, cultivated to major mastery, was unleashed at close range. Even these Black Submerged Army members from the Gu Clan, being only at the Dou King realm, found it not easy to obtain Di Class Dou Techniques, let alone cultivate them to major mastery. The four Black Submerged Army members enveloped by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame could hardly believe it. How could a young master from an outside fallen clan not only reach Dou King at such a young age but also have cultivated so many Di Class Dou Techniques! And even possessed a Heavenly Flame! The terrifying explosion turned the small hillside into a massive crater. The last four Black Submerged Army members were blasted away like charred logs. Their black armor could only barely preserve their lives. Clap. Clap. In the middle of that crimson sea of fire, a man holding a black ruler walked steadily forward, as though emerging from the depths of the underworld. Xiao Yan''s face remained composed, and his eyes were calm. Yet anyone looking at him now could tell what kind of mood he was in. The Flame Mantra was erupting like never before, absorbing the surrounding energy at high speed into Xiao Yan''s body, quickly replenishing the Dou Qi he had just consumed. Even Ling Ying held his breath. At this moment, anyone would need to carefully consider whether they could withstand Xiao Yan in his current state. Xiao Yan raised the Heavy Xuan Ruler. His killing intent was chilling, and he looked imposing from every angle. He had been desperately cultivating for this very day, so that when someone tried to take away what was precious to him, he could use his fists to tell them: Today, as long as I stand here, I''d like to see who can take her away! Ling Ying fell silent. Those Black Submerged Army had a cool name, but to put it bluntly, they were equivalent to the clan''s guard corps. All the Gu Clan members who joined the Black Submerged Army were people whose Dou God Bloodline was below Grade 4 but had reached the Dou King realm in strength. But even if their Dou God Bloodline was below Grade 4, they still possessed the Dou God Bloodline. Whether in cultivation speed or Dou Qi, they would be stronger than ordinary Dou Kings, not to mention the Gu Clan''s abundant resources. It was unimaginable that they would be instantly crushed by a 1-star Dou King! "Haha, a bit interesting. Even though those people were just new recruits of the Black Submerged Army with lowly bloodlines, you were able to defeat them so easily. If I''m not mistaken, you have received the inheritance of the Xiao Clan, right?" Ling Quan sneered coldly. In spite of Xiao Yan''s imposing approach, his look of disdain remained. Upon hearing this, Ling Ying''s heart suddenly trembled, and his pupils filled with shock! Because at this moment, he finally understood why Xiao Yan did this, why he left Jia Nan Academy four years ago to roam the world, and why he so desperately pursued strength! It was all for this day! ''He had long anticipated that this day would come! Anticipated that the Gu Clan would send people to take the Young Miss away!'' Ling Ying, who had been shadowing Xiao Yan all along, had always harbored a doubt in his heart: what was Xiao Yan''s reason for wanting to become stronger? Now he knew. Xiao Yan had risked his life to obtain Heavenly Flames and seek strength, all for the purpose of today! It was not to forcibly keep Xun Er, but to tell those elders behind her: He, Xiao Yan, could defeat the people of their Gu Clan. He possessed limitless potential and was worthy of Xun Er. To tell the Gu Clan: The Xiao Clan was not gone! He, Xiao Yan, would someday lead the Xiao Clan to the glory it once had! This battle was a signal to the Gu Clan that, regardless of whether they sent the so-called Black Submerged Army''s Deputy Commander, he, Xiao Yan of the Xiao Clan, could still cross realms to defeat them! Chapter 262: Battle Against Ling Quan Chapter 262 - 262: Battle Against Ling Quan Word Count: 2,264 Words ****** Ling Ying once again scrutinized the young man he had been shadowing for quite some time. He realized that despite following Xiao Yan for so long, he did not truly understand him at all. Xiao Yan, deeply calculating, had risked his life venturing into perilous places to obtain Heavenly Flames and power so that the Gu Clan would acknowledge his relationship with Xun Er. This battle was not him acting on impulse. Four years ago, when Hun Huzi appeared in the Xiao Clan, he already understood. If he wanted to be with Xun Er, the resistance he would face would be tremendous, for the power behind her was beyond his imagination. That was why he decided to join the Hall of Souls at that time. He needed strength, strength that would even make the Gu Clan acknowledge him. Joining the Hall of Souls, leaving Jia Nan Academy to seek Heavenly Flames, delving deep into the Snake-People Tribe at the risk of his life... all of this was so that today, he could display his greatest potential and make those people of the Gu Clan recognize him, the young master of a fallen clan! Today was his battle of proof. He wanted to show the Gu Clan through actual deeds that even without the Dou God Bloodline, he could still transcend realms to defeat those who possessed it! Xun Er, standing to the side, finally understood why Xiao Yan had been willing to leave her for two whole years to grow stronger. She realized the feelings driving him. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she covered her face with both hands. "So what if your Xiao Clan still has some leftover Dou Techniques! Without the Dou God Bloodline, you''re ultimately just trash! Don''t lump me, Ling Quan, in with those who don''t even possess a clan token!" Ling Quan released a terrifying aura with a resounding boom. Although he was only a 3-star Dou Emperor, weaker in rank than Hai Bodong or Jia Xing Tian, the thickness of his Dou Qi was incomparable to theirs. He was not merely a part of the Black Submerged Army; he was their Deputy Commander! His Dou God Bloodline had reached Grade 5! Additionally, he had cultivated a High Di Class Qi Method. Whether in terms of cultivation level or Dou Qi quality, he far surpassed Xiao Yan! Xiao Yan halted his footsteps and looked at Ling Quan in midair, who was standing upon the one-horned flying horse. Instead of fear, a gratified smile surfaced on his face. "If it weren''t like this, defeating you would be meaningless." He was well aware that the Gu Clan''s strength was by no means limited to what he had seen here. He also knew that Ling Quan could not be the Gu Clan''s strongest among the younger generation. He had not even reached the level to be granted a clan surname. But his goal was to defeat this person across realms. That way, it would prove that if they were on the same level, no matter what Gu Clan genius he faced, he, Xiao Yan, could still prevail! Xiao Yan took a few jade bottles out of his storage ring with several crisp clinks, opened them all, and poured multiple precious medicinal pills into his mouth. There was the Tier 5 Dragon Strength Pill, which increased power, the Mighty Qi Pill to restore Dou Qi, the Blood Lotus Essence Pill that formed a layer of protective blood scab on the skin, and the Mighty Blood Pill that restored injuries. "Hahaha, do you think pills alone can close the gap between us¡ª" Before Ling Quan could finish speaking, Xiao Yan showed a meaningful smile. In his heart, he roared: Skyfire Three Mysterious Change¡ªHeavenly Flame Change! With that, he activated his strongest power. The ultimate Heavenly Flame, formed by merging four kinds of Heavenly Flames, instantly burst out from his Acceptance Soul! He had used Skyfire Three Mysterious Change multiple times before, but never with a merged Heavenly Flame. It wasn''t that he didn''t want to, but that he couldn''t! A boundlessly violent and scorching energy erupted from his body and surged skyward. Even though the four kinds of Heavenly Flames he had refined were all ranked relatively low, and one was a newly born Seed Flame, the blazing heat still covered the land for a hundred miles. The vegetation on the small hill ignited into flame in mere moments, and even Xun Er''s own flame displayed a trace of wariness, as if it had encountered a Heavenly Flame that could match it. One must remember, the Heavenly Flame in Xun Er''s body was the Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame, ranked fourth on the Heavenly Flame Raking! "What in the world! How did Xiao Yan''s aura become this strong?!" In the distance, Lin Yan and the others who had come to watch were all shocked and stared incredulously in Xiao Yan''s direction. "This is so powerful. It''s much stronger than even some of our elders!" Lin Xiuya felt his scalp tingle. Xiao Yan had just broken through to the Dou King realm; how could his Secret Technique raise his strength that much?! Zi Yan was even more solemn. Having fought against Xiao Yan multiple times, she knew that the Secret Technique he used inflicted severe harm on his body. Merely raising himself by five stars back in the Dou Spirit realm had wracked him with agony, yet now his aura was actually pressing toward the Dou Emperor realm! An entire major realm increase¡ªthe price for using such a Secret Technique was no longer as simple as consuming Dou Qi! "Xiao Yan? What happened? Who forced him into this state?!" The First Elder felt his heart tighten as he maintained the seal, but he couldn''t leave at the moment. Xiao Yan''s entire body was now enveloped in a bizarre flame. Not to mention Ling Ying and Ling Quan, even Xun Er couldn''t recognize what kind of Heavenly Flame he was using! In the blink of an eye, he appeared like a ravenous beast unleashed, his gaze brimming with killing intent as he locked onto Ling Quan. "Skyfire Three Mysterious Change? Hahaha, as expected, you''ve gotten hold of the Xiao Clan''s inheritance. That means the key must be on you!" Ling Quan was momentarily startled, then broke into frenzied laughter. He knew that if he found the key and brought it back to the clan, he would be lavishly rewarded and rapidly ascend through the ranks! "That is not something a lower realm clan like yours should possess. Hand over the key!" Ling Quan had barely finished speaking when a black silhouette appeared before his eyes. Lightning and flames flashed side by side. Before the sound followed, Xiao Yan''s gaze, laced with killing intent, was already upon Ling Quan. In that instant, Xiao Yan''s fist, enveloped in the Heavenly Flame, demolished his face with a harsh crackling of bone. BANG! Ling Quan''s body was knocked backward at a speed surpassing even that of sound! Only when Ling Quan''s figure was blown away did a massive rumble erupt at Xiao Yan''s original position. The ground shattered, sending rocks spraying in all directions. The afterimage Xiao Yan left behind was still clearly visible. His speed at this moment was several times faster than sound! "So fast! What kind of speed is this!" Lin Xiuya prided himself on speed, but despite being a newly advanced Dou King, he could not clearly see Xiao Yan''s movements! The next second, a splatter rang out. Blood burst from Xiao Yan''s left arm as though his flesh had been torn open by the terrifying force inside him. A ribbon of blood also trickled from the corner of his left eye. "Xiao Yan ge-ge!" Xun Er''s heart clenched with worry. Xiao Yan was overexerting himself! A buzz sounded, and a thread of white flame ignited around the wound, the Life Flame of the Yin-Yang Twin Flame working together with the pills'' restorative power to mend his injury. Xiao Yan remained silent. Another soft sound rang out, and an enormous pair of Dou Qi fire wings abruptly unfurled on his back. In a single beat, his figure vanished in a streak of fire, chasing after Ling Quan! Zi Yan glanced at Xun Er, then likewise spread her wings to follow. Lin Xiuya, Liu Qing, and anyone else capable of manifesting Dou Qi wings gave chase. Ling Ying sighed and turned to the distraught-looking Xun Er. "Young Miss, Young Master Xiao Yan knows how powerful the force behind you is, so he''s going all out for the clan''s acknowledgment. It''s just a pity..." Neither Ling Ying nor Xun Er realized that four years earlier, after Xiao Yan''s single-move defeat of Nalan Yanran, Hun Huzi of the Hun Clan had made contact with him, making him aware in advance of the Dou God Clans and the immense power behind her. That contact had sparked the events leading to this battle! The subtle influence of a butterfly''s wings had caused events to diverge toward unforeseeable consequences. On the battlefield, Xiao Yan caught up to Ling Quan who had been knocked away, gripped the Heavy Xuan Ruler in his right hand, and unleashed a forceful slash. "You''re just a lowly descendant of the fallen Xiao Clan from the lower realm!!" Blood trickled from Ling Quan''s nose as he glared with rage. He was the newly appointed Deputy Commander of the Black Submerged Army, yet was being beaten black and blue by someone from a lower realm clan! This was what he found most unacceptable! Ling Quan retrieved a black halberd from his storage ring and collided violently with the Heavy Xuan Ruler. Sparks flew from the clash, and the force caused both men to rebound apart. He was indeed worthy of being the Gu Clan''s Black Submerged Army Deputy Commander. His aura soared like a king dominating the earth with black halberd in hand and black armor on his body. Xiao Yan took a deep breath. The Dou Qi within him raged like an angry true dragon. In that instant, his Heavy Xuan Ruler struck forth, and as it moved, the Heavenly Flame accompanied it. One slash tore through the sky like it could scorch everything. His Heavy Xuan Ruler had no fancy techniques; it was a simple downward chop. Yet the power of the Heavenly Flame roared, searing the space and boiling the seas. The most direct strike, yet imbued with a Heavenly Flame that even the Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame felt slightly wary of. It possessed absolute power, ferocious, tyrannical, annihilating! "So what if you have a Heavenly Flame! I, Ling Quan, possess the Dou God Bloodline!" Ling Quan roared as he circulated his Qi Method, unleashing his Dou Emperor strength. He swept the black halberd in a broad horizontal stroke. Clang! Ruler and halberd clashed head-on with a resounding clang. Sparks scattered, and a shockwave tore through the sky, even dispersing the clouds. Under the collision of their powers, both men staggered back once more! Ling Quan steadied himself and drew a sharp breath. He was a Gu Clan member with Grade 5 Dou God Bloodline. His foundation was rock-solid, and in head-on contests, he had never feared anyone. But today, it was actually a fifty-fifty match in a clash with a Dou King from the lower realm?! "Take this!" Ling Quan''s eyes turned savage. He reversed his grip on the black halberd and lashed out, and at this moment, the black halberd seemed to extend like a whip. Xiao Yan sensed the move with his Spiritual Strength and steeled himself. He raised the Heavy Xuan Ruler as a shield to block. A piercing clang boomed. Though his Heavy Xuan Ruler was no ordinary weapon, Ling Quan''s black halberd was similarly formidable. The terrifying force of impact traveled from the Heavy Xuan Ruler into his body. Bang! A muffled bang echoed as the overwhelming force once again caused him to spew fresh blood. The Skyfire Three Mysterious Change should originally have had three changes stacked on top of each other to avoid the situation where the Heavenly Flame was too strong for the body to withstand. Yet Xiao Yan did not have all three changes! Clang clang clang!!! Terrifying collisions rang out one after another as Xiao Yan defended while using the Heavenly Flame to retaliate. His gaze sharpened. The Heavy Xuan Ruler in his hands began to glow a deep crimson, drawing upon the energy of the world. Flame Splitting Tsunami! "A Low Di Class Dou Technique? Hahaha, don''t think that Di Class Dou Techniques are invincible! In our clan, Low Di Class Dou Techniques are merely standard! Star River Mysterious Dragon Halberd!" A fiery wave crashed toward Ling Quan. He thrust his black halberd forward, and a black dragon shot out, colliding with Xiao Yan''s Flame Splitting Tsunami. Boom! A tremendous blast erupted. Although Xiao Yan''s Flame Splitting Tsunami held its ground, both techniques wiped each other out in the end. The fierce shockwave blew him away like a falling meteor, sending him crashing heavily into a large mountain outside the Inner Academy and blasting open a massive crater upon impact. Debris scattered, and Xiao Yan climbed up from the crater with a thoroughly battered appearance. He slowly shut his eyes. When he opened them again, both eyes had changed. His left eye flickered with Death Flame, and his right eye flickered with Life Flame. If one looked carefully, there were two carp-like figures, one black and one white, swimming in his pupils. Chapter 263: Yin-Yang Domain Chapter 263 - 263: Yin-Yang Domain Word Count: 2,059 Words ****** At this critical moment, two clusters of flames¡ªone black and one white¡ªemerged around Xiao Yan. The flames flowed endlessly like rivers and circulated incessantly like yin-yang fish. Heavenly Flame Dou Technique¡ªYin-Yang Dual Extremes! A resonant hum echoed as black and white flames intertwined around Xiao Yan, swirling continuously like a yin-yang taiji pattern. Suddenly, the black and white twin flames around him transformed. With a soft buzz, the flames leaped like carp over the Dragon Gate, turning into two coiling black and white dragons. When Xun Er saw the yin-yang twin fish transform into black and white dragons, she immediately recognized the kind of Heavenly Flame it was. "The Yin-Yang Twin Flame! This is one of the three kinds of Heavenly Flames possessed by Xiao Xuan, the last Clan Head of the Xiao Clan!" While it was not impossible for the same kind of Heavenly Flame to exist elsewhere on the Dou Qi Continent, the chance of two mature Heavenly Flames appearing in the same era was exceedingly rare. After all, the conditions for the birth of a Heavenly Flame were incredibly stringent. Take the Green Lotus Core Flame, for instance¡ªit required not only a suitable environment but also a thousand years of undisturbed time for a single flame to form. Therefore, it was more plausible that this was the inherited Heavenly Flame left behind by Xiao Xuan, as factions like the Gu Clan, Burning Flame Valley, and the Pill Tower had Heavenly Flames passed down through generations. Ling Ying''s expression grew grave as he muttered to himself, "Young Master Xiao Yan possesses two kinds of Heavenly Flames? But generally, alchemists can only control one kind!" Of course, there were exceptions to everything. Ling Ying knew that in the Yan Clan, there was a strong figure who also possessed two kinds of Heavenly Flames and forcibly merged them with his immense strength, creating a power that could rival the 4th-ranked Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame. But that person was a Dou Saint! Whereas Xiao Yan was just a Dou King! "Petty tricks!" Ling Quan''s face twisted with malice as he gripped his black halberd and dove down. In that instant, his Dou Emperor aura erupted wildly as it pressed down like a world-destroying flood. Xiao Yan advanced instead of retreating. His Dou Qi wings flapped, propelling him skyward to confront Ling Quan head-on! With a buzz, the black dragon formed from the Death Flame coiled around the Heavy Xuan Ruler in Xiao Yan''s hand as he collided once again with Ling Quan''s black halberd. A thunderous boom resounded as both were shaken apart. However, it was clear that Ling Quan''s strength was greater, as he only stepped back half a pace. "Hahaha! You''re ultimately just from a fallen lower realm clan!" A trace of ferocious killing intent flashed in Ling Quan''s eyes. He aimed his black halberd at Xiao Yan''s body and violently stabbed downward. He had naturally noticed the intimate interactions between Xiao Yan and Xun Er earlier. The jealousy in his heart had completely erupted. Facing this strike imbued with Dou Emperor power, a sharp light flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes. Astonishingly, he did not dodge in the slightest. Leaving himself wide open, willing to exchange injury for injury, he swept the Heavy Xuan Ruler fiercely in a horizontal arc, making no attempt to defend. Ling Quan grinned wickedly as he saw Xiao Yan''s vulnerable stance and the heavy ruler aiming for his own head. "Fool! A Dou Emperor can harness the energy of the world." In an instant, Ling Quan circulated his Dou Qi, and the energy of the world coalesced to form a Dou Qi shield at his side. Although it wasn''t as strong as a Di Class defensive-type Dou Technique, it possessed power comparable to a Low Xuan Class one. Puff! Thud! Two sounds rang out simultaneously. Although Xiao Yan had slightly twisted his body, relying on his Spiritual Strength to avoid a fatal wound, the black halberd still pierced his side, with a large chunk of flesh even hanging from it. Meanwhile, his Heavy Xuan Ruler was blocked by the Dou Qi shield. "Hand over the key, and I can spare your life!" Ling Quan said smugly, completely oblivious to the absence of despair in Xiao Yan''s eyes. ROAR!! The Death Flame on the Heavy Xuan Ruler erupted. Endless Death Flames transformed into a sea of fire, attempting to engulf Ling Quan. Ling Quan withdrew his halberd to defend upon seeing the Heavenly Flame surge toward him. The black halberd in his hand spun rapidly, releasing a Dou Qi shield. The high-speed spinning halberd turned into a whirlwind that prevented the Death Flame from approaching. Just as Ling Quan felt triumphant, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his hands. Looking down, he saw that his hands were rapidly withering, resembling those of an elderly man. His life force was draining at an alarming rate! "How can this be!" Ling Quan''s expression changed dramatically. Instantly, he executed his movement technique, traversing several hundred meters to distance himself. After Ling Quan retreated, the Death Flame transformed back into a black dragon coiling around Xiao Yan, while the white Life Flame enveloped his wound. Miraculously, his injuries had completely healed, as if they had never existed! "That Death Flame can seize life force to heal injuries. The cycle of yin and yang is endless. What a bizarre Heavenly Flame! Or rather, it''s precisely because it''s a Heavenly Flame that it''s so marvelous." Ling Ying''s eyes narrowed. Observing the two flame dragons coiling around Xiao Yan, he quickly deduced the effect of his Dou Technique. It was equivalent to Xiao Yan having a Yin-Yang Domain around him. The more severe his injuries, the more life force the Death Flame could seize to restore him. This kind of unimaginable power was the true might of Heavenly Flames. There was a reason why Xiao Xuan chose the 21st-ranked Yin-Yang Twin Flame as his Heavenly Flame back then. Xiao Yan''s eyes sharpened, and he instantly expanded the Yin-Yang Domain. With the fiery wings behind him, he directly chased after Ling Quan. The Heavy Xuan Ruler transformed into yin and yang with a downward slash, carrying black and white flames as it crashed into Ling Quan. "Get lost! Black Wind Sweep!" Ling Quan did not dodge. Instead, he let out a long roar. The black halberd in his hand emitted a dark glow as it swept horizontally with immense force. A black hurricane surged forth like a natural disaster. Ling Quan''s attack was chilling to behold. Only a Dou Emperor from a Dou God Clan could unleash such a Dou Technique. Such a strike could instantly annihilate a small city or shatter mountains. It was a truly terrifying offensive-type Dou Technique. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The yin-yang flames collided with the black hurricane with unstoppable momentum. The sound of their clash echoed across the sky above the Inner Academy. The terrifying shockwaves spread outward; even without witnessing it firsthand, one could sense the destructive power. Countless flames were swept away amidst the continuous thunderous sounds. The terrifying black hurricane enveloped Xiao Yan. However, in the next second, lightning and fire flashed. To Ling Quan''s horror, Xiao Yan appeared above him as if he had traversed space. "You!" Ling Quan was utterly stunned. How did Xiao Yan appear above him? Spatial traversal was a power only Dou Ancestors or even Dou Venerates could wield! ROAR!!! The Ancient Dragon Roar was unleashed. A terrifying sonic-type Dou Technique shook Ling Quan''s internal organs, and the dragon might suppress his soul. Ling Quan was not from the Hun Clan; his Spiritual Strength was considerably weaker relative to his cultivation. This was his first encounter with a Dou Technique that directly attacked the soul. Even though he knew Xiao Yan possessed such a sonic-type Dou Technique, he was still caught off guard. Ling Quan clutched his head in agony. He felt as if it would split open. The Death Flame, transformed into a black dragon, seized this opportunity to bite him from behind, frantically absorbing his life force! Even when battling Zi Yan, Xiao Yan had refrained from unleashing the Death Flame because it was a killing move designed to absorb life force. The Death Flame kills, leaving no bones behind! Ling Quan''s skin visibly shriveled. At this moment, Xiao Yan tightly gripped the Heavy Xuan Ruler with both hands, which was enveloped by the blood-red Ten Thousand Beast Flame. ''Flame Splitting Tsunami!'' An incomparably icy killing intent flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes as he roared internally. The energy of the world surged wildly as a hundred-meter-wide crimson flame beam slashed downward. A thunderous explosion resounded as countless flames erupted. The scene was magnificent and shocking, like a massive volcanic eruption. BOOM! Ling Quan took Xiao Yan''s Flame Splitting Tsunami head-on. His entire body was blasted away by the flames and crashed heavily into the ground like a falling star, creating a huge crater. He crawled out of the crater amidst billowing smoke and dust. At this moment, he looked extremely battered; the black armor on his body had completely shattered and fallen off. If not for its high quality, his condition would have been far worse. Grinding his teeth, Ling Quan''s face twisted with rage. He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh. His appearance had aged; much of his life force had been drained by Xiao Yan. That bizarre Death Flame had caused him to suffer a huge loss. Undeniably, under the effects of multiple Heavenly Flames, he was no match for Xiao Yan! "Well done, Xiao Yan! Keep it up!" "Amazing! Is this Xiao Yan''s true strength?" "He''s so strong! That guy in black armor is a Dou Emperor, yet he can''t defeat Xiao Yan?" Ling Quan heard the surrounding Inner Academy students comment that he couldn''t best Xiao Yan. One could imagine his inner rage at this moment. He was so furious that he wished he could cut Xiao Yan into a thousand pieces. Zi Yan, however, wore a worried expression because she knew that Xiao Yan''s Secret Technique couldn''t last much longer, especially since he was now pushing his limits while the opponent still seemed capable of fighting. Xiao Yan''s eyes gleamed sharply. He frantically channeled his Dou Qi to stimulate the Heavenly Flames, which erupted instantly. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame transformed into a sea of fire behind him. The Heavenly Flame Dou Technique ''Beast Spirit Descent'' was activated, and a massive Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger materialized. At this moment, under the urging of Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength, the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger opened its jaws and unleashed a torrent of blazing flames. It was a blazing beam of intense heat that poured down. With the strength of a Dou King and Xiao Yan''s half-step Tier 7 soul, using this move again meant its power was definitely not at the same level as before. The Demon Flame incinerated everything in their path! Even before making contact, the trees on the ground began to spontaneously combust. The terrifying Demon Flame was unstoppable. Even a Dou King could be burned to death instantly. Although the Demon Flame was still some distance from the Inner Academy, everyone there felt as if they were burning. The temperature throughout the Inner Academy suddenly rose by several degrees. "Too terrifying!" Even Lin Xiuya and other Dou Kings shuddered, their faces pale. "This guy Xiao Yan has truly mastered the use of Heavenly Flames!" Ling Quan watched the Demon Flame in the sky resembling a falling sun. A twisted smile appeared on his face, and with a buzzing sound, a pattern manifested on his forehead! The moment the pattern appeared, Xun Er''s expression changed dramatically. She coldly shouted, "Ling Quan! The Xiao Clan is an ally of our clan!" But Ling Quan''s mind was clouded by rage and actually ignored Xun Er''s reprimand. All he wanted now was to kill Xiao Yan! "This is the gap between you and me!" The Dou God Bloodline erupted, and the Clan Mark manifested! An aura that made people involuntarily want to bow in worship emanated. Though the pressure wasn''t overwhelming, it reminded everyone of what a Dou God represented and why the Dou God Clans valued the Dou God Bloodline so highly! Chapter 264: Angry Buddha Lotus Flame Chapter 264 - 264: Angry Buddha Lotus Flame Word Count: 2,023 Words ****** Ling Quan activated his Clan Mark, causing the Dou God Bloodline in his body to boil. Even the life force that had been absorbed began to recover. When Ling Quan stimulated his Dou God Bloodline, the faint trace of the Xiao Clan''s Dou God Bloodline within Xiao Yan also showed a slight reaction! ''Dou God Bloodline...'' Ling Quan let out an angry roar under the gazes of countless onlookers filled with various emotions: "Open Mountain Seal!" Buzz! A sudden buzz sounded as his hand seals shifted. The mark on his forehead radiated an intense light, and an equally vast surge of power violently burst into the sky! A massive energy handprint spanning dozens of meters in height abruptly took shape! The moment it formed, the space around Ling Quan rippled rapidly like water. The colossal energy handprint appeared amid countless stunned gazes. It brought an unusually strong pressure and violent energy fluctuations as it ferociously collided with the Demon Flame hurtling toward it. BOOM! In the blink of an eye, both attacks, each containing incredibly terrifying force, clashed in midair. A thunderous explosion reverberated across the sky, leaving many people''s ears buzzing. Even those prepared for the impact felt their vision blur slightly under the shockwave. At the point of collision, waves of near-tangible energy spread wildly. Even space itself became distorted under such a fearsome confrontation. From this alone, it was clear how formidable the attacks unleashed by both sides were. However, the energy handprint of the Open Mountain Seal soon broke through like a hot knife through butter, pushing back the Demon Flame of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger. Under everyone''s astonished gaze, the Open Mountain Seal struck Xiao Yan directly. BOOM! A resounding boom followed, and the energy light rippled outward. Although the handprint had weakened considerably, it still remained formidable. As a High Di Class Dou Technique, the Open Mountain Seal''s power was dreadfully strong, to the point that even the Heavenly Flame Dou Technique of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame could not stop it! "Xiao Yan ge-ge!!!" Xun Er was worried sick. She wanted to rush into the sky but was held back by Ling Ying. He shook his head and said, "Young Miss must not intervene now. They are watching." "Hahaha! This is the power your Xiao Clan has lost! This is the gap between us!" Ling Quan erupted into wild laughter. A clan that had lost its Dou God Bloodline was nothing more than ants beneath his feet in his eyes. Just as Ling Quan laughed maniacally, a sudden ''pa'' echoed from within the cloud of dust. It sounded a bit like applause, but there was only one. The sound was very faint yet distinctly audible. The dust finally settled. Xiao Yan''s sleeves had been completely shattered, revealing his bare arms. The blood vessels in those arms had ruptured from the aftereffects of the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change, making blood flow freely. Even with the white Life Flame burning to mend the wounds, the injuries were too severe to recover quickly. A trace of blood still lingered at the corner of his mouth, and his face was somewhat pale. Yet his eyes were bright, with a hint of extreme madness flickering deep within. Ling Quan abruptly stopped laughing. Everyone around felt chills prickle their skin in that moment. That bone-chilling sensation sprang from the space between Xiao Yan''s clasped hands! Xiao Yan''s hands were joined together as if in applause, but everyone knew that an earth-shattering energy radiated from his palms. "W-What is that!" Ling Ying sensed an indescribable force held by Xiao Yan, as though it were something truly terrifying. No one knew what it was, but at this moment, they all had only one thought: to flee from this place! BUZZ!!! Xiao Yan slowly spread his palms. His half-step Tier 7 Spiritual Strength was nearly spent, and his face had turned white as paper. All of his Dou Qi was drained, and even the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change had been lifted. He had poured everything into this one strike! BUZZ! BUZZ! BUZZ! BUZZ!!! Four differently colored flames burst forth from his palms: a blood-red Ten Thousand Beast Flame, the green-colored Green Lotus Core Flame, and, entwined in black and white, the Yin-Yang Twin Flame. The moment the three Heavenly Flames came into contact, the surrounding space around Xiao Yan seemed to melt. Light wavered in distortion, and even the ground caught fire! Ling Quan''s face changed drastically. He sensed an unbelievably destructive force brewing from the three differently colored flames before Xiao Yan! "Three kinds of Heavenly Flames!!!" Ling Ying''s face paled. Xiao Yan actually possessed three kinds of Heavenly Flames?!! Even Xun Er was extremely surprised. One person possessing three kinds of Heavenly Flames?! She looked up at Xiao Yan in the sky, about to unleash the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame. She couldn''t imagine how much he had sacrificed during the two years he was away from her to obtain three kinds of Heavenly Flames! A soft hum echoed. An exquisite Fire Lotus shimmered into being before Xiao Yan. Even though he had depleted all his strength to stabilize the lotus, emptying even his Spiritual Strength, his eyes stayed calm, as tranquil as an ancient well. Ling Quan''s expression immediately turned extremely ugly when his gaze fell upon the hovering Fire Lotus in Xiao Yan''s palm. The dreadful energy emanating from that bizarre Fire Lotus made him feel a distinct pressure. ''Impossible! This can''t be! How could I, who possess the Dou God Bloodline, actually feel fear! Impossible!!'' Ling Quan roared angrily in his heart. A vast wave of black Dou Qi suddenly surged out of Ling Quan''s body like a tidal wave. His hair stood on end as if electrified. Ling Quan once again formed hand seals, but this time, he was not using the Open Mountain Seal but the higher-level Sea Flipping Seal! "Sea Flipping Seal!!" Ling Quan shouted, determined to make the first move. An even more powerful energy handprint flew out with a boom. This energy handprint was significantly stronger than the previous Open Mountain Seal! Xiao Yan''s hand seals shifted while the Sea Flipping Seal rushed forward. The Fire Lotus hovering before him radiated a dazzling brilliance, hanging in the sky like a radiant sun. "Go, Angry Buddha Lotus Flame!" With a flick of his finger, the slowly spinning Angry Buddha Lotus Flame transformed into a streak of blurred light, streaking forth like lightning. Though the Fire Lotus brimmed with frightening, volatile power, it traveled soundlessly through space. No energy ripples erupted from it. However, it was precisely this soundless appearance that filled people''s hearts with chilling fear. Xun Er watched without blinking from a small hill in the distance as that blurred light shadow swept across the sky. She could sense the terrifying enormity of energy sealed within the lotus. Her slender jade-like hands curled into fists. She knew that Xiao Yan had at last unveiled his ultimate killing blow. What came next would likely decide the battle''s outcome! Under countless intense stares, the Fire Lotus darted across the sky and, like a tiny meteor, slammed into the Sea Flipping Seal. In size, the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame was minuscule compared to that immense energy handprint. The collision resembled a mayfly trying to topple a towering tree. BOOM! A deafening explosion followed, as if the sun in the sky had burst. A blinding brilliance blanketed the entire Inner Academy, so radiant that everyone had to shut their eyes. Even certain factions in the Black-Corner Region could see the fiery glow glaring in the distant sky. That blazing luminosity seared the eyes from miles away, like the end of the world in miniature. "AHHH!!!" Ling Quan''s miserable screams echoed from within the sea of fire. Clearly, even the God Seal Technique created by a Dou God couldn''t withstand the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame, which consumed half-step Tier 7 Spiritual Strength and merged three kinds of Heavenly Flames! "Sigh, young one of the Xiao Clan, please show some mercy." However, just as the merged Heavenly Flames of Xiao Yan''s Fire Lotus were about to burn Ling Quan to death, a helpless sigh suddenly echoed in Xiao Yan''s mind. As this voice fell, the Heavenly Flames of the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame suddenly solidified. The previously wild Fire Lotus energy became docile at this moment. All the flames transformed back into the state of a Fire Lotus as if time had reversed, then slowly shrank and disappeared. This change caused Xiao Yan''s pupils to contract slightly. Right then, a crack actually opened in the empty space before Xiao Yan, and a stooped, elderly figure in white robes appeared from within! The person who appeared was dressed in a white robe. His hair, beard, and even eyebrows were all snow-white. His somewhat sunken eyes showed no signs of murkiness. Instead, they contained an endless suction like a black hole. When one gazed into them, it was almost impossible not to be drawn in, giving off an extremely mysterious feeling. ''Dou Saint?!'' Xiao Yan could not perceive the elder''s exact strength, but only those two words sprang to mind. This old man had torn open the void from an unknown location. He hadn''t truly appeared here but had merely connected the space where he was to the space where Xun Er was. To wield such power across who knows how many tens of thousands of miles! If one thought that only Ling Ying was guarding Xun Er, that would be a grave mistake. For a Dou Saint, traversing the void was simply child''s play. "Elder Tong Xuan." Upon seeing the old man''s appearance, Xun Er and Ling Ying hurriedly bowed respectfully and greeted him. The old man called Elder Tong Xuan nodded slightly, then shifted his gaze to Xiao Yan and let out a soft sigh. After resolving the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame, Elder Tong Xuan shook his head, seeming to understand what Xiao Yan wanted to do¡ªbut... With a flick of his finger, a gentle energy surged out from his sleeve and completely enveloped Xiao Yan''s body. Under the nurturing effect of this gentle energy, the blood marks on his body rapidly disappeared. All of his external injuries had completely vanished in the blink of an eye! Xiao Yan''s eyes widened. Was the power of a Dou Saint truly this heaven-defying? And this was merely an elder of the Gu Clan?! The old man waved his hand, and an invisible energy enveloped the heavily injured and unconscious Ling Quan and the other members of the Black Submerged Army, pulling them directly into the void. "Xun Er, say your goodbyes. It is time for you to return to the clan," Elder Tong Xuan said softly. A tremor ran through Xun Er''s body as her eyes grew dim. She slowly walked to Xiao Yan and gently brushed her hand across his face. Xiao Yan''s expression kept shifting, while the hand holding her arm trembled slightly. "Xiao Yan ge-ge, Xun Er will wait for you¡ªwait for you to truly become a powerful expert who stands above all others. Xun Er has always believed that you will stand at the pinnacle of the continent. On that day, the once-fallen Xiao Clan will rise again because of you." Feeling Xiao Yan''s grip tighten, Xun Er playfully stuck out her tongue and said, "Xiao Yan ge-ge left Xun Er for two years; now it''s Xun Er''s turn to leave. That makes us even." Xiao Yan''s hand continued to tremble, his emotions becoming as tangled as a knotted skein from her words. After speaking, Xun Er didn''t dare linger any longer, fearing she wouldn''t be able to bear it. She turned around, lightly tapped the ground with her toes, and her slender figure entered the crack in the empty space and disappeared from sight. Once Xun Er disappeared, the sun finally set. At the deepest corner of Xiao Yan''s eyes, a darkness emerged. On the ground where he stood, a wisp of black flame flickered... The ripple effect of a butterfly flapping its wings was far from over... Chapter 265: My Hun Clan Admires You Chapter 265 - 265: My Hun Clan Admires You Word Count: 2,151 Words ****** The great battle had ended, and the spectators from the Inner Academy all looked at one another in confusion. Each glanced around, perplexed. No one had anticipated such an abrupt ending, nor imagined it would conclude in such a manner. "Just now... what was that? How did they disappear all of a sudden?" "It seemed like teleportation. I''ve heard that in the Central Plains, there are Wormholes that can instantly transport people from one city to another." "Did you see what Dou Technique Xiao Yan used just now? It was amazing!" For a moment, countless discussions erupted within the Inner Academy. Many could only grasp the superficial aspects of what had transpired, as this battle had already surpassed the level most could comprehend. Whether it was the Dou God Bloodline, a High Di Class Dou Technique, or possessing three kinds of Heavenly Flames and merging them into the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame¡ªthese things were like myths and legends to the Inner Academy students, most of whom were only at the Dou Spirit or even Dou Grandmaster realms, far beyond their understanding. In their eyes, all they could do was exclaim with awe: Wow, how powerful! Even Dou Kings like Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing couldn''t fully comprehend the battle that had just unfolded. They only knew that if it had been them, Ling Quan could have killed them in an instant. Yet even such a formidable Ling Quan was defeated by Xiao Yan! Xiao Yan''s solitary figure stood silently on the ground scorched black by the Fire Lotus, casting a long shadow under the last rays of the setting sun. Although he had won, his back looked incomparably lonely, tinged with an inexplicable sorrow and grief. Zi Yan tilted her head, gazing at Xiao Yan''s back as she murmured to herself, "Human emotions really are complicated." Many sharp-eyed individuals also noticed that Xun Er had departed Jia Nan Academy, and this battle likely erupted because she was leaving. "Let''s go. Let him be alone for a while." "Sigh, Junior Sister Xun Er left Jia Nan Academy. This is probably quite a blow to Xiao Yan, as well as to the Xiao Clan and Xiao Hall." The setting sun was slowly disappearing, and night was about to fall. Everyone tactfully refrained from disturbing this ''broken-hearted'' man, leaving him plenty of space. Xiao Yan remained fixed on the spot where Xun Er had vanished. No one knew what thoughts were churning through his mind. Darkness slowly engulfed the land as the light faded. The area where Xiao Yan stood was soon overtaken by the night. When darkness completely replaced daylight, and the entire Jia Nan Academy and Black-Corner Region were shrouded in the black of night, wisps of black flames slowly emerged from the charred ground at his feet. These black flames were the same color as the night, making them nearly imperceptible even upon close inspection. The black flames suddenly enveloped the space where Xiao Yan stood in the next instant. He remained completely calm despite being surrounded by black flames, for he knew exactly what this was. A Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame! And it wasn''t the nascent Seed Flame he possessed, but a fully matured one. "Jie Jie Jie, quite an impressive Dou Technique indeed, using powerful Spiritual Strength to balance and merge Heavenly Flames, causing them to collide and utilizing the properties between different Heavenly Flames to create destruction." The black flames dispersed and darkness enveloped everything. The place where Xiao Yan stood was no longer within the Inner Academy but in a nihility of space. The Nihility Devouring Flame had pulled him into the void. Wisps of black flame ignited in Xiao Yan''s eyes. Only when his eyes were enveloped by the black flames could he clearly see his surroundings. Xiao Yan gazed calmly into the distance and said in an even tone, "I thought your Hun Clan would keep hiding forever." Hun Huzi emerged from the darkness. He was not angered by the provocation and merely chuckled, "Jie Jie, although you do hold some value to my Hun Clan, it''s not enough for us to confront the Gu Clan on your behalf." Xiao Yan had used the Soul Command Token given by Hun Huzi to make contact when the Gu Clan had appeared. From the information left by Xiao Xuan, he had learned something crucial: within the cave dwelling of the Tou She Ancient God was a Di Tier Embryonic Pill. Thus, Xiao Yan understood what the Hun Clan had been attempting to achieve, which was why he held some value to them. But just as he had surmised, the Hun Clan would not rush into war with the Gu Clan. Not only was his ''value'' insufficient at the moment, but even if it were greater, the Hun Clan still would not fight the Gu Clan now. Naturally, he had never pinned his hopes on them. Hun Huzi looked Xiao Yan up and down and said, "Advancing from a 3-star Dou Practitioner to the strength of a Dou King in four years, and possessing multiple Heavenly Flames... not bad." Advancing from Dou Practitioner to Dou King in four years, achieving one major realm per year¡ªthat speed was astonishingly terrifying not only in the Jia Ma Empire but even in Jia Nan Academy, the Black-Corner Region, and the entire North-Western Region. But to Hun Huzi, this advancement speed was merely ''not bad.'' Those lower-ranked Heavenly Flames were even less appealing to him. They weren''t worth comparing to fully cultivating a Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame. His eyes narrowed slightly, growing unfathomably deep as he muttered to himself, "Half-step to Perfected Mortal State..." However, the speed at which Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength had improved genuinely surprised him. He naturally knew that Xiao Yan was cultivating only a very ordinary High Xuan Class Soul Training Method. Such a Soul Method could bring improvements, but not significant ones. Moreover, Xiao Yan hadn''t even started cultivating a Soul Training Method four years ago. To be more precise, it was only three years ago that he obtained the right to cultivate one after passing the Hall of Souls'' trial. Yet now, he had already reached the half-step to Perfected Mortal State! Such speed was considered remarkably fast even within the Hun Clan, which specialized in cultivating Spiritual Strength¡ªnot to mention that Xiao Yan lacked an advanced Soul Training Method and didn''t possess the Hun Clan''s Dou God Bloodline. When Hun Huzi first encountered Xiao Yan, he hadn''t even spared a glance at the Bone Chilling Flame. Heavenly Flames held no significance to him. He already possessed the strongest Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame. Gaining a second Heavenly Flame was meaningless to him, as he didn''t cultivate the Flame Mantra. However, Xiao Yan''s innately powerful Spiritual Strength had somewhat surprised him, which was why he had tossed him a Soul Command Token. As it turned out, he hadn''t misjudged. Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength had improved much faster than his Dou Qi cultivation. Compared to cultivating Dou Qi, his talent in cultivating Spiritual Strength was simply terrifying. "Jie Jie Jie, good, very good. Perhaps you truly have the potential to reach the Great Perfection of the Heavenly State, or even surpass it." The Hun Clan''s goal was to turn the Di Tier Embryonic Pill into a complete pill, but Hun Huzi alone wasn''t enough. If there were another alchemist with Spiritual Strength at the Great Perfection of the Heavenly State to assist him, the success rate could increase by at least twenty percent. Even within the Hun Clan, which specialized in cultivating Spiritual Strength, reaching the Great Perfection of the Heavenly State was extremely difficult. Moreover, one had to possess talent as an alchemist. Hun Huzi was the only one in the entire Hun Clan who met these strict criteria. After remaining silent for a long time, Xiao Yan''s eyes suddenly sharpened, an indescribable determination flashing deep within them. No one could have predicted that a small change would lead to such a massive storm. The tempest caused by the flapping of a butterfly''s wings could no longer be halted. Xiao Yan abruptly spread his five fingers like a sword and, in one swift motion, plunged his hand into his own abdomen!! Even Hun Huzi frowned; he couldn''t comprehend what Xiao Yan was suddenly doing. But in the next instant, his expression changed dramatically. The fluctuation of his emotions even caused the surrounding space to shatter; his Spiritual Strength at the Great Perfection of the Heavenly State fractured the void. Because he saw that Xiao Yan had taken something out from within his own body. "The Tou She Ancient God''s Jade!" Staring at the blood-stained ancient jade, even Hun Huzi, who had always dismissed Heavenly Flames with disdain, couldn''t help but have his breathing quicken. If even he, the Hun Clan''s number one alchemist, couldn''t control his emotions, one could imagine what the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade represented. However, Hun Huzi quickly composed himself, his gaze like a torch fixed on Xiao Yan. For a moment, he couldn''t figure out what Xiao Yan was up to. "So, the Ancient Jade wasn''t taken away by the Gu Clan after all..." Hun Huzi wasn''t surprised because he had already noticed some clues from the Ancient Jade. An extremely powerful force sealed this Ancient Jade. Spiritual Strength couldn''t probe it. If he guessed correctly, this was a seal set by Xiao Xuan to prevent others from finding the Ancient Jade. No wonder the Gu Clan couldn''t find the Ancient Jade even after turning the Xiao Clan upside down. Who would have thought that the successive Clan Heads of the Xiao Clan would hide the Ancient Jade within their own bodies! It was simply too crazy! "You actually brought out the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade; then you must know what it represents." Hun Huzi was not in any hurry; the moment Xiao Yan took it out, the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade couldn''t escape. "The key to becoming a Dou God." The Life Flame quickly healed his wound. Xiao Yan toyed with the jade, his tone calm and indifferent. He had learned about the Xiao Clan''s past from the Gate of Life and Death and naturally knew what the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade represented. He also understood that when Ling Quan had referred to the ''key'' earlier, he meant this very jade piece. The Tou She Ancient God''s Jade was the key to opening the cave dwelling of the last Dou God, Tou She Ancient God, where a Di Tier Embryonic Pill was left behind. Whoever obtained the Di Tier Pill would become a Dou God! "Indeed, the key to becoming a Dou God. Jie Jie Jie, our Hun Clan wiped out your Xiao Clan back then for this piece of jade, yet now you''re bringing it out." Hun Huzi spoke without reservation. He had already surmised that Xiao Yan must have learned about the events of the past and had obtained the Xiao Clan''s inheritance. Xiao Yan took out a handkerchief, gently wiped away the bloodstains, and continued playing with the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade in his hand. His eyes were as calm as still water, as if, in his view, this was just an ordinary piece of jade. "To the Gu Clan and your Hun Clan, this is the key to becoming a Dou God. But to the current Xiao Clan, it''s nothing more than a death warrant." Xiao Yan casually tossed the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade to Hun Huzi with a thud, as nonchalantly as if he were throwing a coin. "One must gather all eight pieces of the Ancient Jade to assemble a complete one before being able to open the Tou She Ancient God''s relic. A single piece of the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade is worth less than a gold coin." Even Hun Huzi was momentarily stunned upon hearing these words. Indeed, Xiao Yan was right. An incomplete Ancient Jade not only had no value but would also bring fatal disaster. But! Faced with the temptation of becoming a Dou God, Xiao Yan could actually be so indifferent! "Jie Jie Jie, haha! Interesting. Even the currently weakest Ling Clan and Shi Clan are unwilling to give up the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade. No one can resist the allure of becoming a Dou God." "That''s right. An incomplete Ancient Jade is meaningless. But none of the Dou God Clans has the courage to forsake the hope of becoming a Dou God. Not even your ancestor Xiao Xuan could do that." A strange light flashed in Hun Huzi''s eyes. Looking at Xiao Yan, who possessed such boldness, he revealed a rather twisted grin. "The Gu Clan looks down on you, but I, Hun Huzi¡ªno, my Hun Clan admires you!" Chapter 266: The True Prologue is Now Over Chapter 266 - 266: The True Prologue is Now Over Word Count: 2,297 Words ****** Hun Huzi''s admiration for Xiao Yan was genuine. Xiao Yan could have continued hiding the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade, leading the Hun Clan to believe it had been taken by the Gu Clan, thus diverting disaster toward them. After all, Gu Yuan and Xun Er both knew the Xiao Clan''s location; if they had wanted the Ancient Jade, they would have taken it long ago. No one would suspect that the current Xiao Clan could hide it from the Gu Clan. Moreover, Xiao Yan knew clearly that the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade was the key to entering the relic of a Dou God. Faced with the temptation of becoming a Dou God, no one could resist. Even Hun Huzi himself had considered hiding this piece of Ancient Jade. Yet, Xiao Yan had decisively relinquished the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade. From a rational perspective, Xiao Yan had done nothing wrong. However, in the face of immense temptation, it was impossible for a person to remain entirely rational. In response to Hun Huzi''s words, Xiao Yan slowly said, "You''re mistaken. I don''t possess any such courage; I simply have pursuits beyond becoming a Dou God, that''s all." An unsightly smile gradually surfaced on Hun Huzi''s withered face. He laughed, "Jie Jie Jie, I have a feeling that old fool Tong Xuan will regret not slapping you to death earlier." Hun Huzi appeared behind Xiao Yan like a ghost, his deep voice echoing, "Although my Hun Clan destroyed your Xiao Clan, that was the Xiao Clan of a thousand years ago. If my Hun Clan produces another Dou God, I guarantee that no distinctions among Dou God Clans will remain in this world, and no one will obstruct your matter with that young lady of the Gu Clan." Hun Huzi''s bony finger lightly touched Xiao Yan''s storage ring, and a simple, ancient token slowly floated out. His withered finger brushed the Soul Command Token, and immediately, with a buzzing sound, the token burst forth with a powerful and mysterious spiritual fluctuation! The four characters for ''Heaven Grade Protector'' on the back of the Soul Command Token gradually transformed and disappeared. Eventually, a single character, ''Zun'' (''Honorable/Venerable''), emerged, occupying the entire token. The ''Hun'' (''Soul'') character emblazoned on the token stirred to life; the entire character shifted and changed, writhing with demonic fluidity and otherworldly eeriness. A sinister aura emanated ceaselessly from the token''s surface. With the Soul Command Token floating above his palm, Hun Huzi said in a deep voice, "Come, join my Hun Clan. Rise again from where you fell." Xiao Yan glanced at the Soul Command Token, his eyes narrowing slightly. He looked at Hun Huzi and sneered, "Aren''t you afraid of my Xiao Clan''s resurgence?" Hun Huzi replied, "Jie Jie Jie, your Xiao Clan was defeated by my Hun Clan back then. If we''re afraid even of the current Xiao Clan, what face would my Hun Clan have to achieve the Dou God position!" "I''ll pass on joining your Hun Clan, but... I look forward to our cooperation." A faint smile lifted the corners of Xiao Yan''s mouth as he reached out and grasped the Soul Command Token with a snap. Woo woo woo!!! The moment he grasped the Soul Command Token, it suddenly erupted with ghostly howls. An icy cold yet powerful Spiritual Strength emanated from the token and instantly drilled into the depths of his soul. Xiao Yan could clearly feel the terrifying Spiritual Strength enveloping him. A strange emotion spread throughout his heart. His soul was forming a connection with the Soul Command Token. This was a kind of soul imprint. This power was evil, cold, violent... and above all, powerful! A black ''Hun'' character appeared in his left eye but quickly concealed itself, hiding within his soul. ''So this is the ceremony to activate the Soul Command Token and join the Hun Clan...'' Xiao Yan could now clearly sense his connection to this Soul Command Token. It truly belonged to him now. If he were to die, his soul could even be preserved within the token for thousands of years. The Soul Command Token in his hand was likely more precious than ordinary tokens within the clan. Once activated, it was a supreme treasure! One could glimpse the depth of the Hun Clan''s foundation from this alone. Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength benefited from that powerful force and fully stepped into the Perfected Mortal State, equivalent to the Spiritual Strength of a 7th-tier alchemist. As long as he could cultivate to the Great Perfection of the Mortal State, he could use the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique to break through to the Soul State! If the Gu Clan was a Dou God Clan equivalent to the Hun Clan, then the foundation possessed by the Gu Clan must be astonishing. No wonder even a mere Deputy Commander of the clan''s guard squad dared to be so arrogant. With such a foundation, it was hard not to be arrogant. If it were him, he could be even more arrogant than Ling Quan. "Is that all?" Xiao Yan looked at Hun Huzi. He had handed over the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade to the Hun Clan not only to prevent them from discovering that the Ancient Jade was still with the Xiao Clan, bringing unnecessary calamity, but also because he now needed powerful strength. He had still lost, after all. Four years of effort and desperate struggle had indeed allowed him to defeat Ling Quan, but in the end, he still didn''t gain the Gu Clan''s recognition. Elder Tong Xuan''s head-shaking and sighing had pierced his heart like a sharp blade. The Gu Clan still wouldn''t approve of his and Xun Er''s relationship. His strength was still far too weak. A genius with potential was ultimately just that, potential. No one could say for certain whether that future would come to pass. Moreover, his potential hadn''t even reached a level that would make the Gu Clan take notice. Hun Huzi revealed a meaningful smile and chuckled, "Jie Jie Jie, greed is a good thing. Without greed, how can one make progress?" "Regardless, you handed over this Ancient Jade. This can be considered a great merit. Speak, what is it that you desire?" Back then, who knows how many clan members Hun Tiandi had sacrificed for this single piece of jade, how many Dou Venerates and Dou Saints had died. But in the end, they still didn''t obtain it. Hun Tiandi probably never imagined that a thousand years later, the Xiao Clan''s Ancient Jade would still fall into the hands of the Hun Clan. And it was actually because of the Xiao Clan''s allied clan, the Gu Clan. How wondrous were the affairs of the world. The corner of Xiao Yan''s mouth curved upward slightly, the greed in his eyes completely unconcealed. Such desire for power was the most primal driving force for cultivators. "Emperor Soul Technique." A glint flashed through Hun Huzi''s old eyes upon hearing the three words uttered. He asked in response, "Do you know what the Emperor Soul Technique is?" Xiao Yan recalled the introduction he had seen earlier and said, "A cultivation method created by Emperor Hun. One soul extinguishes to give rise to ten thousand souls; ten thousand souls command the heavens. When cultivated to perfection, the soul shatters but does not perish, allowing fragmented pieces of one''s soul to exist independently and bestow the will of the emperor upon all things in the world. This is the Emperor Soul Technique." Hun Huzi slowly shook his head while his old eyes looked at Xiao Yan. He calmly said, "Your Xiao Clan has indeed lost too much. The reason Dou God Clans value the Dou God Bloodline is not only because it accelerates disciples'' cultivation speed but, more importantly, because the Dou Techniques, Qi Methods, and Secret Techniques created by Dou Gods must be cultivated by those with Dou God Bloodlines, and only they can unleash their true power." ! ? ! ! "What you''ve seen is only the upper volume of the Emperor Soul Technique. The Emperor Soul Technique itself is not divided into upper and lower volumes; it was split because its cultivation requirements are extremely harsh." "Even this split upper volume requires a Grade 6 Dou God Bloodline from the Hun Clan to cultivate. Even within the Hun Clan, only a few dozen people have completed cultivating the upper volume." "The complete Emperor Soul Technique requires a Divine Grade Bloodline to cultivate. In the entire Hun Clan, only four people can cultivate it. The only one who has cultivated it to perfection is the Clan Head, Hun Tiandi." Hun Huzi crooked his finger, and the God Seal Technique that Xun Er had given floated out from Xiao Yan''s storage ring. "This God Seal Technique of yours is merely a degraded version, something the Gu Clan modified from the genuine God Seal Technique over countless years. The authentic God Seal Technique also requires the Gu Clan''s Dou God Bloodline to cultivate. This modified version was created to allow disciples with lower-grade bloodlines to cultivate it." "The true God Seal Technique merges five seals into one, its might reaching the heavens and penetrating the earth. It is a supreme Dou Technique surpassing the Tian Class. Legend has it that in the ancient era of Myriad Emperors, Emperor Gu used the God Seal Technique to slay another Dou God. The God Seal Technique is a Dou God-slaying Dou Technique." ! ! ! ! ! ! Xiao Yan''s pupils trembled in shock. He recalled that Xiao Xuan had desperately wanted to leave behind ''Breaking Through the Heavens,'' and that unknown thing also required the Xiao Clan''s Dou God Bloodline to cultivate! "The Dou Techniques created by Dou Saints like the Yellow Spring Demon Saint and Pure Lotus Demon Saint during ancient times were already High Tian Class. If the creations of Dou Gods were merely Di Class, wouldn''t that be laughable?" Hun Huzi lightly flicked the scroll, sending the so-called God Seal Technique scroll flying in front of Xiao Yan. Even a casual creation by a Dou God couldn''t be as low as Di Class. "This is the true difference in foundation between Dou God Clans and other clans and forces. Without a Dou God Bloodline, one''s body simply can''t withstand the power of these Qi Methods and Dou Techniques. Not only can one not cultivate them, but forcefully doing so is just courting death." "The Tian Class may be the peak of the Dou Qi Continent, but for Dou God Clans who have touched that realm, the Tian Class is not the end." Dou God Clans¡ªnot only did these clans possess small worlds created by Dou Gods, independent from the Dou Qi Continent, living in another space like the legendary Heavenly Court. These clans'' inheritances had been unbroken, passed down from the era of Myriad Emperors until now. They possessed the Qi Methods and Dou Techniques created by Dou Gods. What they had was the foundation of Dou Gods! "If you wish, I can impart my lifetime of alchemy techniques to you, and even refine a tier 9 medicinal pill for you to further improve your alchemy talent..." Just as Hun Huzi was speaking, suddenly, black flames flashed in Xiao Yan''s hand, and a jade bottle appeared. Xiao Yan had grown smarter. He no longer stored truly important items in his storage ring but had Mao Wu, who possessed the Nihility Space, safeguard them. For example, the Flame Mantra and this jade bottle. Xiao Yan using the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame to safeguard items and prevent Spiritual Strength from prying was something even Hun Huzi hadn''t expected. In just three short years, Xiao Yan had begun to grasp the initial abilities of the Seed Flame. When the jade bottle appeared, a cold glint flashed through Hun Huzi''s old eyes. He certainly knew what was contained within! "Do you know that ahead lies an endless abyss?" Hun Huzi''s eyes narrowed slightly. He roughly knew what Xiao Yan intended to do. What the jade bottle contained was precisely that drop of blood Mao Wu had obtained from refining Yao Li. Now, Xiao Yan naturally knew what this was¡ªthe Dou God Bloodline purified by the Nihility Devouring Flame. Xiao Yan remained silent, but Hun Huzi had already seen the answer in his eyes. ¡ªEnter the abyss! With a grin, Hun Huzi turned his hand, and from his own Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame, he took out a dark scroll enveloped by countless souls, occasionally emitting ghostly wails. He flicked it lightly, and it flew toward Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan didn''t immediately open the scroll but stored it within the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame. He currently lacked even the ability to open the Emperor Soul Technique. "Jie Jie Jie, perhaps you resemble my Hun Clan more than my Hun Clan itself." Hun Huzi''s voice gradually faded away. Xiao Yan also returned to the Jia Nan Academy from the Nihility Space with a whooshing sound. With Hun Huzi''s strength, let alone being noticed, he didn''t even leave a single trace. It was as if nothing had happened just now. Xiao Yan slowly raised his head. The bright moon in the sky was particularly dim and lusterless tonight. "Xun Er... wait for me." [The Emperor Soul Technique alone is not enough to qualify you to cooperate with me.] An eerie voice suddenly resonated in Xiao Yan''s heart. Strangely, Xiao Yan was not alarmed upon hearing this voice. He slowly walked down the hillside. "I know." The subtle breeze caused by the fluttering of a butterfly''s wings had now transformed into an apocalyptic hurricane that overturned the world line. Chapter 267: Underhanded Method Chapter 267 - 267: Underhanded Method Word Count: 2,113 Words ****** Within the Hun Realm, there existed a courtyard. It was an ancient place that seemed to have stood since the primordial era. The courtyard bore the marks of antiquity; the timber used in its construction had long since become extinct. Despite this, the courtyard was considered the supreme sacred ground in the hearts of the Hun Clan members. An overwhelming might permeated the courtyard, capable of suppressing all beings. Such a place was inviolable; any existence before it had to prostrate in submission. This was the Soul Court¡ªthe residence where the Hun Clan''s Dou God, Emperor Hun, once lived. Now, it served as the place where successive Clan Heads conducted affairs and resided, equivalent to the imperial court of the Hun Clan. It was the highest symbol within the Hun Realm. "Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan?" A man dressed in white stood by the fish pond in the center of the courtyard, scattering some fish food with his left hand. The koi fish in the pond splashed about, scrambling for the food. These koi were nothing special, just ordinary ornamental fish, not some magical beasts of special bloodlines. From a distance, it looked like he was simply feeding fish, and in reality, he was indeed just feeding fish. Hun Huzi nodded slightly. He had never dared to secretly keep the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade, because the man before him was someone who stood on par with the heavens. Hun Tiandi, the Clan Head of the Hun Clan, was also the only person within the clan who had cultivated the Emperor Soul Technique to perfection. His Spiritual Strength had even surpassed the Great Perfection of the Heavenly State and reached the Emperor State! After emptying the feed, Hun Tiandi toyed with the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade in his hand. He could sense a familiar aura from the past emanating from this ancient jade. "After all the twists and turns, this piece of Ancient Jade has finally fallen into my hands. If Xiao Xuan had been willing to help me back then, perhaps today would be a different story." Hun Tiandi gazed into the pond below, lost in thought. Back then, the Hun Clan wanted to annihilate the Xiao Clan not only because their Dou God Bloodline depletion was the most severe among all Dou God Clans but, more importantly, because Xiao Xuan''s immense strength made Hun Tiandi uneasy. The severe depletion of the Xiao Clan''s bloodline was also for a simple reason. It was because the Xiao Clan''s Dou God had become a Dou God the earliest among all; naturally, their Dou God Bloodline was the earliest to deplete. Legend had it that the Xiao Clan''s Dou God was the first Dou God on the Dou Qi Continent, making their bloodline the oldest Dou God Bloodline, and, naturally, the first to deplete. Slowly shaking his head, Hun Tiandi casually tossed the Xiao Clan''s Tou She Ancient God''s Jade, and with a ''plop,'' it sank into the pond. "Clan Head! Is that Ancient Jade a fake?" Hun Huzi saw Hun Tiandi throw the Ancient Jade into the pond and was suddenly shocked. Hun Tiandi gently shook his head, hands clasped behind his back, revealing a warm smile as he said, "No, it''s genuine." "But just as that young man from the Xiao Clan said, an incomplete Ancient God''s Jade is as useless as a pebble by the roadside. Our clan''s Tou She Ancient God''s Jade is also in this pond." If one looked closely, one would notice that at the bottom of the pond, scattered among various pebbles, there were two pieces that were different from the rest, as they had the texture of jade. Moreover, one of them was already covered in moss; it had likely been in the pond for a very long time. Hun Huzi swallowed hard. That was the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade! To actually put it in such a place?? Although within this courtyard it was absolutely safe, wasn''t this taking it too lightly, using it as a pebble in a fish pond! "Pass on my order. Accelerate the collection of soul bodies to help the Nihility Devouring Flame cultivate the Emperor Soul Technique to perfection and elevate its Spiritual State to the Emperor State!" Hun Tiandi waved his hand, and a Spiritual Strength that covered the entire Hun Realm emanated from the courtyard. A gentle smile appeared on his face, but a gleam of cruelty flashed in his eyes as he said, "An incomplete Ancient God''s Jade is meaningless, so let''s complete it. Ling Clan, Shi Clan¡ªsince you refuse to see reason, don''t blame me." ... News of Xun Er''s departure naturally spread, and coupled with the eruption of the Fallen Heart Flame causing the closure of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower that made most people idle, an uneasy mood spread throughout the Inner Academy. "Sigh, the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower has been closed for a day now. First Elder and the others are inside the tower, and we don''t know what''s going on." "Exactly, what''s happening now?" "I don''t know. Could it be that we won''t be allowed into the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower anymore?" "No way!" Countless Inner Academy students craned their necks and anxiously stared in the direction of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. At this moment, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged in his room, regulating his breath. Thanks to Elder Tong Xuan''s power, his injuries from using the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change had healed, but what he needed to adjust was his own heart. Xiao Yan closed his eyes. In his mind, every smile and gesture of that young lady was deeply etched, as if carved with a knife. He hadn''t felt this way when Xun Er was by his side. Now that she had left, those feelings began crawling out from the depths of his memories, like tangled threads wrapping around his heart. After half a day, he slowly exhaled and opened his eyes. His gaze had returned to its usual calm, but Xun Er''s departure had taken away some of the gentleness. ''Now that I''ve reached the strength of a Dou King, it''s time to leave this Inner Academy.'' With Xun Er gone, Xiao Yan no longer had any attachments here. Only one thing remained unfinished. His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked toward the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. He hadn''t forgotten his purpose in coming to Jia Nan Academy from the very beginning. Meow~! Mao Wu jumped out from the void and gently scratched Xiao Yan''s cheek with its little paw. "Mm, let''s begin." Meow! (Roger!) Mao Wu made a saluting gesture, then tore open the void and disappeared. Xiao Yan turned his head to look at Medusa, who was sitting cross-legged on the Green Lotus, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, it''s time to wake up. Whether you can obtain a Heavenly Flame Body depends on today." Queen Medusa slowly opened her eyes while sitting on the lotus platform. As she gently did so, it was like something out of a dream; her beautiful eyes could captivate one''s soul, carrying the lazy charm of a beauty who had just awakened. If someone with a weaker will saw those eyes, they might have already lost their soul, perhaps even had their mind controlled by her. "Don''t look at me like that; I don''t have much self-control." Xiao Yan smiled, but his gaze remained clear, not the least bit bewitched by Medusa''s naturally enchanting allure. Even though she possessed captivating beauty and an alluring figure, they had no effect on the current Xiao Yan. Medusa glanced at him when she noticed he was unaffected. That clear gaze was something she had never seen in other men. "Since I promised you, I will lend a hand. But my current body has only recovered to the Rank 6. Even if my bloodline evolution is completed, the strength I can exert is only around a 1- or 2-star Dou Ancestor." Gently brushing her hair, Medusa slowly rose from the Green Colored Lotus Platform, her jade-like feet stepping on the empty space. "We aren''t the main force anyway. The foundation of Jia Nan Academy can''t be that shallow. We''ll observe and act accordingly when the time comes." Xiao Yan looked toward the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. At this moment, he already had a comprehensive plan in mind. ... Meanwhile, in Feng City within the Black-Corner Region, Han Feng''s eyes sharpened upon hearing his subordinate''s report. "Is that true?" "Yes. According to information from our contact in the Inner Academy, there was a large-scale eruption in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower more than half a day ago. First Elder Su Qian and all the elders have entered the tower and sealed it off. They haven''t come out yet." Han Feng abruptly stood up, his body erupting with a blue flame as he said in a deep voice, "Good! It''s finally here! I''ve been waiting so long for this moment!" If the Fallen Heart Flame remained trapped, even if he was a peak 6th-tier alchemist and could mobilize the experts of the entire Black Corner region, he wouldn''t be able to forcibly seize it from the Jia Nan Academy. But if the Fallen Heart Flame erupted, then Jia Nan Academy would be besieged from within and without. At that time, he would have a chance to take the Fallen Heart Flame. Such an opportunity might only come once! Generally speaking, no one would want to provoke Jia Nan Academy, but when the interest reached a certain level, people would risk even their lives to gamble, and a Heavenly Flame was worth his gamble. "Han Beng!" he suddenly turned around and shouted in a deep voice. A figure like a phantom flashed out as soon as his voice fell and finally appeared in the bamboo house, kneeling on one knee. Though his voice was hoarse, it was not lacking in respect: "Master, what are your orders?" "Take these tokens and notify the Ground Fire Sect, Eight Gates, Black Skeleton''s Tomb, and have their Sect Leaders come to Feng City within two hours. I have a matter that requires their assistance. Also, these two tokens¡ªdeliver them personally to that place. Invite the two gentlemen ranked first and second on the Black Ranking to come as well. Just say that I, Han Feng, have a request, and the reward is the Zong Breaking Pill." Han Feng casually flicked out several tokens with strange designs and tossed them to the kneeling figure. The latter swiftly caught them and, after storing them into his storage ring, two more tokens¡ªone gold and one silver¡ªwere shot over. Upon receiving the somewhat special gold and silver tokens with both hands, the always expressionless figure showed slight emotion and said in a low voice, "The Zong Breaking Pill! I believe Mister Gold and Mister Silver won''t refuse." Han Feng watched the black figure disappear and slowly exhaled; his eyes filled with fervent anticipation. The forces were in motion! ... At this time, at the bottom of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, the First Elder and all the elders were forming seals to suppress the Fallen Heart Flame. Although the Fallen Heart Flame was indeed formidable, the seal of a Dou Venerate was not so easily broken. The two sides had been in a stalemate for a day and a night, neither able to overcome the other. "First Elder! This eruption of the Fallen Heart Flame is much more intense than before. I''m afraid that if this continues, one day we won''t be able to stop its outbreak!" First Elder Su Qian looked solemnly at the Fallen Heart Flame impacting the seal. Right now, they were just using temporary measures, not addressing the root cause at all. In theory, the Fallen Heart Flame could continue to grow. Once it absorbed enough geothermal energy and reached a certain level, it might become unstoppable. At that time, the entire Inner Academy would become a purgatory! "Let''s suppress the Fallen Heart Flame first before we discuss further!" "Yes!" Just then, in a corner of the tenth floor of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, space slowly distorted, and a small cat''s paw stretched out from the void. With a ''zing,'' several sharp claws extended from the cat paw; these weren''t ordinary claws but rather black flames. The cat paw flicked a bit of black flame with a whoosh. That tiny bit of black flame was like a spark, slowly drifting up and finally landing onto the seal. Like a flame touching tissue paper, a tiny hole appeared in the supposedly impregnable seal! Chapter 268: The Fish-Stealing Cat Chapter 268 - 268: The Fish-Stealing Cat "Screech!" The transparent Fire Python suddenly emitted an extremely sharp hissing sound. An intangible sonic wave spread out abruptly, heavily impacting the surrounding energy walls. Intense ripples immediately began to oscillate on those energy barriers. As the piercing hiss gradually subsided, the transparent Fire Python opened its massive jaws wide. Instantly, a vast surge of colorless flames violently erupted! "Hold on!" "First Elder! We can''t hold on much longer! The seal at the earth''s core is growing increasingly weaker!" The transparent Fire Python let out another shrill hiss upon seeing the dark energy membrane weakening. Even First Elder Su Qian and the others could detect a hint of joy in its cry this time. The Fallen Heart Flame immediately put even more effort into rapidly spewing out that terrifying, matchless colorless flame. Just then, a tiny black spark-like flame slowly passed through the protective barrier and dripped into the magma below. As the saying goes, an ant hole may cause the collapse of a great dike. Once a minuscule breach appeared in the barrier, spiderweb-like cracks swiftly spread out from the fissure. "Damn it! The seal of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower is about to break!" Su Qian''s face was aghast despite his usual composure, and his voice became somewhat shrill. "First Elder, what should we do now?" an elder hurriedly inquired. They all understood the catastrophic consequences if the Fallen Heart Flame broke through the seal. Su Qian''s expression flickered. After a brief moment, he suddenly waved his hand and commanded sternly, "All elders, follow me out of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower immediately! The tower''s seal won''t hold much longer. We can only use the sealing formation left by the Headmaster back then. We''ll attempt to seal it once more by borrowing the Inner Academy''s earth vein!" The First Elder led all the elders through a spatial teleportation array with a grand wave of his hand, and they appeared around the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. Dozens of figures surrounded the tower on all sides in the sky, unfolding their Dou Qi wings as they hovered in the air. Their variously colored wings fluttered slightly, appearing quite brilliant. These figures stood scattered in the sky. Though their positions seemed random, they subtly formed some mysterious patterns! Faint multicolored energy enveloped these figures, and threads of energy invisible to the naked eye quietly spread out. ... "It''s about to break," Xiao Yan murmured softly, gazing toward the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower as if sensing something. As soon as his voice fell, a thunderous explosion that seemed to split mountains and crack the earth suddenly echoed across the sky. The supposedly impregnable spire of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower violently burst apart. A pillar of scorching magma erupted like a volcano under countless shocked gazes! Queen Medusa glanced over at the commotion before turning to Xiao Yan. "Did you have a hand in this?" "What do you mean ''had a hand in this''?" Xiao Yan rolled his eyes at her and righteously said, "I''m about to leave the academy. If the Heavenly Flame were to erupt after I left, the Inner Academy would be doomed. I''m doing this for the good of the Inner Academy." "Heh, making excuses." Medusa couldn''t help but be amused. Only this guy could make scheming sound so righteous. At this moment, an excited and sharp screech suddenly rang out like thunder from the magma flow that had broken through the seal of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. Magma rained down everywhere, and fierce flames rose up wherever it landed. In just a short time, the area within several dozen meters around the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower had transformed into a sea of fire. As the magma scattered, an enormous transparent Fire Python over a hundred meters long shot out from within. Savoring its long-lost freedom, its huge triangular pupils were filled with an almost human-like wild ecstasy. The moment the Fallen Heart Flame appeared, First Elder Su Qian shouted loudly, "All elders, heed my command! Form the Thousand Layer Sealing Formation!" As Su Qian''s shout fell, the several dozen Inner and Outer Academy elders suspended in the sky immediately responded in unison. Majestic Dou Qi surged out explosively, intertwining with one another in a lightning-like manner. As they intertwined, countless fine energy threads were reflected like refracted light. These energies intertwined intricately, and in just a moment, they formed an extremely dense energy web in the sky. This colorful energy web repeatedly reflected. Hence, it was basically covered layer after layer. That manner was as though thousands of layers were superimposed on each other, and they all possessed an extremely shocking defensive strength. The thousand-layer web pulled at the Fallen Heart Flame, attempting to drag it back into the magma-filled depths of the earth. Medusa watched the powerful thousand-layer web wrestling with the gradually suppressed Fallen Heart Flame and asked, "Shall we join forces with those old fellows to subdue that Fire Spirit now?" Xiao Yan slowly shook his head and said, "Don''t underestimate the Heavenly Flame. It''s not the right time yet. Besides, have you ever seen a cat that doesn''t steal fish?" Medusa''s elegant brows knitted slightly, not understanding his meaning. "The fish-stealing cat has arrived." Xiao Yan revealed a meaningful smile as he looked toward the distant horizon, where countless black dots were rapidly approaching. People from a place like the Black-Corner Region would undoubtedly swarm over at the slightest ''whiff of fish''. "Hehe, who would''ve thought the Inner Academy was hiding such a Heavenly Flame? First Elder Su Qian, you''ve kept this quite a secret." As the light laughter fell, the clear sky suddenly rippled. A large group of figures leisurely emerged and hovered in the sky. Immediately, a bloodthirsty aura enveloped the skies above the Inner Academy! Many elders hadn''t even caught their breath. Countless students looked up in bewilderment at the large group that had suddenly appeared in the sky, utterly confused about the current situation. Su Qian''s face darkened as he watched the group that had broken through the Inner Academy''s barrier. His gaze slowly settled on the leading man dressed in an alchemist''s robe. His eyes narrowed slightly as he sneered, "I wondered who it was. So it''s Han Feng, the ''Medicine Emperor'' of the Black-Corner Region." "Hehe, the First Elder is too kind. That title is just something casually bestowed by friends in the Black-Corner Region. It shouldn''t be taken seriously." The man called Han Feng revealed a faint smile on his thin lips and politely replied. "Han Feng, this is Jia Nan Academy''s territory. What is the meaning of coming here uninvited?" Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan''s expression turned rather unsightly as he slowly rose behind Su Qian and shouted in a stern manner. ''So he''s Han Feng, ranked third on the Black Ranking and the strongest alchemist in the Black-Corner Region?'' Xiao Yan furrowed his brows upon hearing the name. His powerful Spiritual Strength allowed him to sense that something seemed to be hidden within Han Feng''s body. Han Feng chuckled lightly and said in a gentle tone, "A Heavenly Flame is a rare natural treasure. Imprisoning it here like this is somewhat too cruel. As alchemists, flames can even be said to be a kind of faith in our hearts. Therefore, I, Han Feng, would like to request the First Elder to release this Heavenly Flame. Please do not continue this act of imprisonment." Su Qian was so angry that he laughed. "You sure know how to talk, Han Feng. If I remember correctly, you yourself have refined a Heavenly Flame. Aren''t you afraid of being ridiculed for saying such things now?" "If you want to snatch the Heavenly Flame, just say it directly. My Jia Nan Academy will take you on." "Hehe, since the First Elder is so straightforward, then I, Han Feng, won''t beat around the bush either. If the First Elder can hand over the Heavenly Flame, I, Han Feng, will reward you generously," Han Feng smiled and said respectfully. "If it were your Master Venerable Yao saying this, I might really have to consider it. But you? Perhaps you should go back and cultivate for a few more decades. My Jia Nan Academy hasn''t stood tall on the Dou Qi Continent for so many years based on empty reputation," First Elder Su Qian shouted. "Prepare for battle!" He left behind more than half of the elders to continue maintaining the seal and prevent the Fallen Heart Flame from breaking through the thousand-layer seal, then deployed the remaining portion to directly face Han Feng and his group. When Han Feng saw the elders of Jia Nan Academy drawing their weapons to fight, the gentleness on his face instantly vanished, replaced by a cruel smile. "Since that''s the case, don''t blame me for being ruthless." As his voice fell, a deep blue flame suddenly rose from within his body like flowing liquid, gradually emitting an intense heat. ''That''s... the Sea Heart Flame ranked fifteenth? How strange. Having two Heavenly Flames in one''s body should cause an explosion. Ordinary people shouldn''t be able to possess two kinds of Heavenly Flames.'' ''This Han Feng''s strength is only at the peak of Dou Emperor. How could he possibly have the strength of Ancestor Xiao Xuan to forcibly control two kinds of Heavenly Flames...'' Xiao Yan''s eyes sharpened as he stared at Han Feng engulfed in blue flames. His instincts told him that this Han Feng was not simple. The fact that he came to seize a second Heavenly Flame meant he could use two kinds of Heavenly Flames. Apart from using immensely powerful strength to forcibly suppress the Heavenly Flames, the only way was through the Flame Mantra. At this time, not only the academy''s elders but also powerful individuals from the Inner Academy like Liu Qing, Lin Xiuya, and Lin Yan all stepped forward to stand with the academy through this crisis. "Mister Gold, Mister Silver, that Su Qian is at the Dou Ancestor realm. I''ll trouble you two to delay him while I obtain the Heavenly Flame. Once I succeed, I''ll naturally provide the pills you desire," Han Feng shouted toward the sky. Subsequently, two mysterious figures appeared, one in golden robes, one in silver robes. A cold light flashed in Su Qian''s eyes upon seeing the Gold Silver Elders. He sneered, "Heh, I''ve long heard that the Gold Silver Elders, twins ranked first and second on the Black Ranking, can contend against a Dou Ancestor when joining forces. Let''s see if you truly have that ability!" The gold-robed elder sneered, "I don''t deny that your strength is formidable, Su Qian. Even we brothers fighting together cannot defeat you. But without you, who else in your Jia Nan Academy can stop the several Dou Emperors from the Black Skeleton''s Tomb, Ground Fire Sect, and Eight Gates?" Su Qian gnashed his teeth. If it weren''t for the Fallen Heart Flame, the Inner Academy had several Dou Emperor elders, not to mention that Hu Gan was at the peak of the Dou Emperor realm. But now, the Fallen Heart Flame had tied up many people. Su Qian''s face turned icy, but he couldn''t be bothered to waste more words. He slowly rotated his palms, and majestic Dou Qi surged out from them, causing even the space to tremble slightly. "First Elder Su Qian, I''ll ask you one last time. Will you hand over the Heavenly Flame or not?" Han Feng''s patience was wearing thin. He gazed at Su Qian and the others and asked coldly. At this moment, a voice rang out from afar before Su Qian could respond, "Hand over my ass!" A pair of blood-red Dou Qi fire wings blotted out the sky. Xiao Yan stood alone behind Han Feng''s group, giving the impression that he alone was surrounding all of them. Chapter 269: The Unmatched Duo of the Inner Academy Chapter 269 - 269: The Unmatched Duo of the Inner Academy Word Count: 2,092 Words ****** The Dou Qi wings formed by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame spread out with a whooshing sound like a sea of fire that obscured the sky. The terrifying heat caused the elite experts from the Black-Corner Region to turn their heads in amazement. "What a formidable flame!" "His aura indicates he''s just a Dou King? Why do I feel this kid is no weaker than a Dou Emperor!" Han Feng''s eyes narrowed slightly upon seeing Xiao Yan''s Dou Qi wings emanating the roars of myriad beasts. He spoke in a deep voice, "A Heavenly Flame... You actually possess a Heavenly Flame!" The Sea Heart Flame on Han Feng''s body erupted as well, as if provoked. One side was a sea of blood-red flames, while the other was ocean blue. The two were like fire and water, diametrically opposed. Undoubtedly, a flame that could remain so dominant in the presence of his Sea Heart Flame could only be another Heavenly Flame, a supreme natural treasure. Xiao Yan looked at Han Feng and smiled faintly. "A flame as deep blue as the ocean, spreading slowly like clear seawater as it rises with gentle ripples resembling waves. If I''m not mistaken, yours is the Sea Heart Flame, ranked fifteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, right?" Han Feng looked at Xiao Yan with more regard upon hearing him accurately identify his Heavenly Flame. After all, not everyone had access to the Heavenly Flame Ranking. His own knowledge of it was taught by his Master, whom he had betrayed and killed. Without a doubt, Xiao Yan must also have a knowledgeable Master. "A flame that echoes with the galloping and roaring of ten thousand beasts. The tail flame takes on beast forms as it rises. If I''m not wrong, the Heavenly Flame you possess is the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, ranked twenty-second on the Heavenly Flame Ranking." Han Feng was not to be outdone. His reputation as a peak 6th-tier alchemist was well-earned. He recognized Xiao Yan''s Ten Thousand Beast Flame at a glance. In the sky, the standoff between Xiao Yan and Han Feng, both possessors of Heavenly Flames, naturally drew the attention of countless Inner Academy students and Black-Corner Region invaders in the distance. Excitement appeared on everyone''s faces. Although they didn''t understand the Heavenly Flame Ranking or know whose flame was stronger, it seemed from the current situation that Xiao Yan had stepped forward to confront the strongest enemy, Han Feng, on behalf of the Inner Academy! "Xiao Yan! Take him down!" "What Medicine Emperor? You''re the Medicine God!" "Kill him! Protect Jia Nan Academy!" For a time, quite a few people felt a sense of admiration for Xiao Yan and even shouted their support. Having cultivated in the Inner Academy for so many years, many grassroots students had developed strong feelings for it, as this place had provided them with strength and resources. Now that powerful enemies were invading, they naturally felt united in facing the external threat. However, due to their limited strength and other reasons, they could only watch helplessly as the battle began, powerless to intervene. But now, the two top-ranked individuals on the Inner Academy''s Strong Ranking had stepped forward. Xiao Yan had even fought and defeated a mysterious Dou Emperor not long ago. Many in the Inner Academy had unwavering faith in his strength. Thunderous cheers erupted from the excited students in the distance. It had to be said that Xiao Yan''s prestige had truly surpassed that of Lin Xiuya, Liu Qing, and others! "So you''re Xiao Yan? That 5th-tier alchemist who possesses a Heavenly Flame?" Han Feng frowned. He had heard of Xiao Yan''s so-called ''Medicine God'' title. After all, many from the Black-Corner Region had approached Xiao Yan with tier 6 medicinal ingredients to request pills. "That''s me. The strongest alchemist in the Inner Academy, ranked first on the Strong Ranking, Xiao Yan!" Xiao Yan flicked his sleeve and declared proudly. Zi Yan was immediately displeased upon hearing this. She shot him a glance. Sensing her gaze, he quickly corrected himself, "Ahem, joint first." A yellow-robed old man, a 1-star Dou Emperor from the Black-Corner Region, flew to Han Feng''s side and said, "Medicine Emperor, leave this brat to me. You go retrieve the Heavenly Flame before any unforeseen complications arise." Han Feng thought for a moment before nodding. The most important thing now was the Fallen Heart Flame. The yellow-robed old man blocked Xiao Yan''s path, grinning to reveal a mouthful of blackened teeth. "Hey, kid, you seem to have quite the reputation among those little brats. But today, I''ll make sure that reputation crumbles to dust. A mere 1-star Dou King dares to act so arrogantly?" This yellow-robed elder fancied himself clever. He volunteered to deal with Xiao Yan because the latter was only a 1-star Dou King. The battle erupted instantly as Han Feng led his men toward the Thousand Layer Sealing Formation. All sorts of Dou Techniques, formations, weapons, and even medicinal pills were unleashed. Explosions echoed throughout the Inner Academy, and the ground and buildings were destroyed one after another. The yellow-robed old man casually waved his hand. A yellowish-brown earth-attribute energy condensed into a stone spear that shot straight at Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed slightly. He condensed the Ten Thousand Beast Flame in his right hand, faced the coldly gleaming stone spear, and shattered it with a single punch using the Octane Blast. Although this yellow-robed old man''s strength was far inferior to Ling Quan and Han Feng, he was still a Dou Emperor after all. Xiao Yan wouldn''t underestimate him. "So what if you have a Heavenly Flame? With your strength, you can''t bring out its power at all." The yellow-robed elder saw Xiao Yan destroy his Xuan Class Dou Technique with one punch and sneered coldly. Earth-attribute energy condensed once more, and moments later, over a dozen brown spears floated in the air. "Die!" A vicious glint appeared in his eyes. Anyone who could rise to Dou Emperor in the Black-Corner Region couldn''t possibly be kind-hearted. His arm suddenly trembled. Immediately, the black spears filled the sky like arrows, piercing through the air with sharp whistling sounds as they shot toward Xiao Yan. Just as Xiao Yan was about to use the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change to boost his strength and defend, three figures flew in from the distance. "Old fool, aren''t you ashamed to fight a Dou King as a Dou Emperor?" As the voice fell, a petite figure abruptly appeared in front of Xiao Yan. She flicked her ponytail. Her slender fist emitted a burst of purple light and struck fiercely forward. Instantly, the space ahead underwent violent fluctuations and compression. A section of space seemed to solidify in that moment. Finally, an invisible air cannon shattered all the stone spears with a bang. The yellow-robed old man''s eyes locked onto the suddenly appearing petite girl like a venomous snake. His face darkened as he shouted, "Are you seeking death?" Zi Yan pouted and threw a few fierce punches in front of her. Low sonic booms formed under her fists. She raised her head and fearlessly met the yellow-robed elder''s gaze. "Old man, if you kill Xiao Yan, who''s going to refine pills for me to eat?" The yellow-robed old man''s face grew increasingly grim. He couldn''t be bothered with more words. With his temperament, he would kill without hesitation if provoked, regardless of whether the person was a little girl or even a baby. Dou Qi energy once again fiercely condensed in his palm. At this time, Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing, who were a step slower, appeared beside Xiao Yan, weapons in hand. Only these four people had reached the Dou King realm in the Inner Academy. The others, including Yan Hao and Lin Yan, were only at the half-step Dou King stage and were unqualified to fight a Dou Emperor. "A great crisis has befallen the Inner Academy; it''s not yours alone to bear." Liu Qing glanced back at Xiao Yan, and there was a hint of subtle admiration in his eyes. "Hehe, Liu Qing is right. This should be the weakest Dou Emperor among them." Lin Xiuya gently shook the slender long sword in his hand and added, "You probably still need to hold back that Medicine Emperor Han Feng. We''ll do our best to help you conserve some Dou Qi." Xiao Yan, who had been planning to use the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change, canceled the Secret Technique and pulled out his Heavy Xuan Ruler. He laughed heartily. "Good! Today, let''s show the people from the Black-Corner Region that Jia Nan Academy''s Dou Kings can kill Dou Emperors!" They all knew Xiao Yan had a Secret Technique that could boost his strength by an entire realm, nearly reaching the Dou Emperor realm. But Secret Techniques had time limits and couldn''t be wasted on such small fry. With Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan unable to take action due to the need to support the Thousand Layer Sealing Formation, they could only rely on Xiao Yan to hold back Han Feng until First Elder Su Qian could free up his hands. "You think you four Dou Kings can hold me back?" The yellow-robed elder sneered coldly. In his heart, however, he felt a little wary, especially toward Zi Yan. That punch of hers had sent chills down his spine. "Old man, you talk a lot." Zi Yan curled her lips. She shouted to Liu Qing and Lin Xiuya beside her, "I''m going in. You two be careful!" Before the two could respond, her petite figure quivered slightly. She shot directly toward the yellow-robed elder not far away, her small fists clenched tightly as a terrifying power emerged. Seeing Zi Yan take action, Xiao Yan gripped his Heavy Xuan Ruler and followed closely. "A bunch of little brats! Today, I''ll have you all buried here!" The yellow-robed old man quickly formed hand seals, his withered palm shaking violently. Dou Qi instantly surged out, and a mountain-like energy palm print came crashing down. Zi Yan''s expression turned serious in the face of a powerful Dou Technique unleashed by a Dou Emperor. Her five fingers clenched abruptly, and with a thunderous boom, an extremely terrifying force shattered the mountain. Shattered stones flew everywhere. A beam of flame light shot out amidst the debris. Xiao Yan seized the opportunity, rushing in front of the yellow-robed old man and bringing the Heavy Xuan Ruler down upon his head. The yellow-robed elder knew the danger facing Xiao Yan, whose physical strength was nearly on par with Zi Yan''s. He crossed his arms to block and shouted, "Mysterious Tortoise Armor Shield!" A rocky shield materialized in front of him. With a ''clang'', the Heavy Xuan Ruler struck the shield, sparking upon impact but failing to break through. "This turtle shell is really tough!" Xiao Yan pursed his lips. "Great Mountain Splitting!" "Blue Cyclone Massacre-Twister!" Liu Qing and Lin Xiuya quietly launched attacks from behind when they saw Xiao Yan engaging the yellow-robed elder. They unleashed their most powerful killing moves from the start. After all, unlike Xiao Yan and Zi Yan, they couldn''t fight opponents a whole realm higher than themselves. The energy of the world surged as the yellow-robed old man let out a cold shout. A wave of yellow Dou Qi fluctuations enveloped his entire body. The attacks of Liu Qing and Lin Xiuya slowed dramatically, as if trapped in a mire. "Heh heh, old man, better watch above your head!" Zi Yan''s voice came from overhead. Zi Yan slightly bent her knees before suddenly pushing off. Her purple Dou Qi wings flapped vigorously behind her. Under this double boost of force, she descended like a purple meteor from the sky. Her right fist condensed with purple light. Have you ever seen a fist technique descending from the sky? The yellow-robed elder sensed the terrifying power of Zi Yan''s punch, and his intestines twisted with regret. These were just students. How could there be such a monster of brute strength among them! "Mountain Armor!" he shouted loudly. He circulated his Dou Qi as brown energy instantly transformed into a giant suit of armor for protection. Xiao Yan''s eyes flashed with a glint, and a cold smile appeared on his lips. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame within his body instantly strengthened his dragon aura, awakening a surge of dragon might. "ROAR!!!" It was far too naive to think that a mere Xuan Class defensive-type Dou Technique could stop him. Chapter 270: The Origin of the Mysterious Ring Chapter 270 - 270: The Origin of the Mysterious Ring Word Count: 2,074 Words ****** Xiao Yan could have directly shattered the Xuan Class defensive Dou Qi shield; he intentionally gave this yellow-robed Dou Emperor the illusion that he could actually block him. He was waiting for the moment when the old man would focus all his attention on Zi Yan. BOOM!! An unparalleled, terrifying dragon roar resounded throughout the entire Inner Academy. Sonic-type Dou Techniques were originally designed to penetrate defensive Dou Techniques, while earth attribute Dou Qi specialized in such techniques. The horrifying dragon might descended instantly. Xiao Yan''s Ancient Dragon Roar shattered the Mysterious Tortoise Armor Shield into pieces in an instant. "Ahhh!! A sonic-type Dou Technique!!" The yellow-robed old man was filled with immense regret at this moment. He specialized in defensive Dou Techniques and feared sonic-type Dou Techniques the most! The horrifying dragon might instantly gave him a splitting headache. Xiao Yan''s sonic-type Dou Technique broke the protective Dou Technique he had just formed. Moreover, the dragon might shook his soul; forget about using Dou Techniques for defense, even circulating Dou Qi became difficult! "Well done, Xiao-Yan-Zi!" Zi Yan revealed her cute little tiger teeth and dimples when she saw the defensive Dou Technique shatter and fail to reform. The purple light on her fist grew even brighter. BOOM!!! Zi Yan let out a mighty shout and swung her fist down heavily. Instantly, the space in front of her underwent violent fluctuations, and an extremely overbearing, terrifying force swept out! A sound like mountains collapsing and the earth splitting echoed across the sky in an instant. Countless people were startled and turned their gazes over. The yellow-robed old man spat out fresh blood, the sound of bones shattering clearly audible. Even for a Dou Emperor, taking Zi Yan''s full-strength punch head-on was life-threatening. A thunderous boom rang out. Zi Yan punched the yellow-robed old man from the sky into the ground, smashing out a large pit. A yellow light shot up into the sky before Zi Yan and the others could react. It was the old man fleeing. He, a dignified Dou Emperor, couldn''t even defeat these few youngsters with mere Dou King strength. ''That bastard Han Feng! How are these brats so strong? No way, this pill isn''t worth my life.'' The yellow-robed old man now only wanted to flee from here. In his heart, he had already cursed Han Feng thousands of times. A flash of lightning appeared as Xiao Yan moved. With Spiritual Strength that had already reached the Perfected Mortal State, he had long sensed the old man''s intent to flee. How could he possibly let a tiger return to the mountain? "Since you''ve come, you might as well stay!" Flame Splitting Tsunami! Xiao Yan''s eyes were icy cold. He wasn''t afraid of a mere 1-star Dou Emperor, but if this man sought revenge against the Xiao Clan''s members, a Dou Emperor would be a calamity for the Xiao Clan. "No, I..." Xiao Yan didn''t give the other party a chance to plead for mercy. Beast roars echoed from the Heavy Xuan Ruler as a flame blade hundreds of meters long slashed down. The endless Heavenly Flame pounced toward the yellow-robed old man like a ferocious tiger, engulfing him instantly. The blood-red Heavenly Flame swept across the sky under countless astonished gazes! At the point where the energies collided, space became severely distorted, deep wrinkles clearly visible, and space itself was nearly burned through. Xiao Yan''s Heavenly Flame was actually so terrifying! The final outcome was beyond doubt. The Heavenly Flame reduced the yellow-robed old man to ashes. Whether it was the Dou Kings and Dou Emperors from the Black-Corner Region or the Inner Academy elders, they were all stunned. They hadn''t expected that Xiao Yan and a few students could kill a Dou Emperor so quickly! "Who exactly is this kid? Not only does he possess a Heavenly Flame, but that Dou Technique just now was at least Low Di Class!" Recalling the majestic aura of the flame blade that seemed capable of burning through space, everyone felt a sudden realization. They then quietly paid more attention to the youth in the distance. At the Dou Emperor realm, ordinary Xuan Class Dou Techniques were no longer very effective if one wanted to truly injure or kill an opponent of similar strength. Only Di Class Dou Techniques could achieve such miraculous effects. Therefore, for elite Dou Kings or Dou Emperors, Di Class Dou Techniques were what posed a genuine threat. "Zi Yan, the three of you be careful. I''m going to meet that so-called Medicine Emperor." Xiao Yan transmitted his voice to Zi Yan and the other two, then turned to look at Han Feng not far away. He had intentionally displayed the Flame Splitting Tsunami earlier. As he expected, he now sensed Han Feng''s sharp gaze fixed on him like a spear. ''So he does know something...'' Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed slightly as he pondered inwardly. Han Feng''s gaze and mindset had completely changed at this moment. A stark contrast from his initial purpose of coming to Jia Nan Academy for the Fallen Heart Flame, and later wanting to seize the Ten Thousand Beast Flame that Xiao Yan possessed, his eyes now showed uncertainty and even horror. Xiao Yan inserted the Heavy Xuan Ruler behind him and slowly flew toward Han Feng. "Why do you know the Flame Splitting Tsunami?" Han Feng''s eyes were filled with shock and disbelief as he stared at Xiao Yan. He already had a guess in his heart. Although Xiao Yan''s expression remained calm, he was also pondering inwardly, ''As expected, this fellow has no small connection with the owner of the mysterious ring.'' He said, "What''s the matter? This is a Dou Technique passed down in my clan. Don''t tell me you want to learn it?" Han Feng let out a cold laugh, his eyes firm as he said, "It''s impossible for this to be a Dou Technique passed down in your clan. This Dou Technique and your Heavy Xuan Ruler were both found by that old thing in an ancient ruin as a complete set of ancient Dou Techniques. There''s only one set in the entire Dou Qi Continent. You couldn''t possibly..." Han Feng suddenly saw the wind blow Xiao Yan''s sleeve before he could finish speaking, revealing the storage ring worn on his right hand. He reacted as if he''d seen a ghost upon seeing the ancient and exquisite storage ring on Xiao Yan''s hand. His eyes filled with terror, and his body began to tremble involuntarily. "The Bone Flame Ring!!! How can it be on your hand!" Han Feng''s breathing noticeably quickened the moment he saw the ring. Xiao Yan frowned and gazed coldly at Han Feng''s ghostly expression. "This is a keepsake from my mother. What, don''t tell me you''re my long-lost brother or some other melodramatic story." Han Feng, mocked by Xiao Yan, pointed at him with a trembling finger while breathing rapidly. After a long while, he muttered to himself, "Impossible. He must be dead. A tier 8 Poison Pill plus a Dou Venerate''s attack, there''s no way he could have survived!" A flash of realization suddenly struck him, as if he had thought of something. He stared intently at Xiao Yan and said, "You obtained his inheritance?! ''That Qi Method'' is inside the Bone Flame Ring!" "No wonder I sensed a familiar aura from you. You and I cultivate the same Qi Method!" Flame Mantra! Back then, Han Feng had not hesitated to secretly poison his own Master in order to obtain the Flame Mantra. However, he did not achieve his goal in the end and only obtained an incomplete Qi Method. Yet, it was precisely this incomplete scroll that allowed him to subdue the Sea Heart Flame and gain his current identity, status, and strength! But just now, when Xiao Yan was fighting, he clearly sensed that the other party''s Qi Method was purer than his! In this world, there was only one Qi Method more pure and orthodox than the incomplete Flame Mantra. That was the complete version of the Flame Mantra. Moreover, the storage ring on Xiao Yan''s hand was none other than the ring of his Master, Venerable Yao! In Han Feng''s heart, a frenzied killing intent toward Xiao Yan surged like a tidal wave! The sudden, chilling killing intent that filled the sky caused many people''s expressions to change. Although they didn''t know exactly what had happened, from Han Feng''s behavior, it was clear he now had an absolute killing intent toward Xiao Yan. First Elder Su Qian waved his sleeve, repelling the Gold Silver Elders who were pouncing like ferocious wolves. He turned his head to look at the black-robed youth in the distant sky and shouted loudly, "Xiao Yan, hold him off for a moment. Once I finish dealing with these two old fellows, I''ll come to assist you." "Hehe, First Elder should just focus on dealing with them. This student isn''t that fragile." Xiao Yan cupped his hands toward Su Qian and laughed heartily. Then, an extremely powerful aura erupted from within his body. The aura didn''t just approach the Dou Emperor realm; it had already reached it! It was even stronger than when he had fought Ling Quan! This was because his Spiritual Strength had already reached the Perfected Mortal State! Thanks to his powerful Spiritual Strength, his body wouldn''t be as strained as before, even when fully activating the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change. First Elder Su Qian sensed the Dou Qi surging and raging within Xiao Yan and smiled meaningfully. "Heh heh, this kid truly lives up to having the strength and courage to repel those people from that clan. This strength..." He sensed the terrifying power hidden within Xiao Yan''s body and was no longer worried. Dou Qi surged wildly from him as he gazed coldly at the solemn-faced Gold Silver Elders opposite him. He let out a cold snort, and his figure flashed like a ghost as he charged forward. The Gold Silver Elders saw his fierce offensive and didn''t dare to be negligent, hurriedly joining forces to meet the attack. With Xiao Yan holding back the strongest Han Feng, Su Qian could put his mind at ease and focus entirely on dealing with these two clowns. Did they really think that joining forces to reach the Dou Ancestor realm meant they could contend with him? "Using a Secret Technique to reach Dou Emperor strength? Keke, junior brother, this senior brother will make sure you are buried here forever. By then, the things inside the Bone Flame Ring will still be mine!!" Han Feng let out a shout. The Sea Heart Flame on his body transformed into a sea of blue flames, and a blue trident appeared in his hand. He looked like a sea god standing atop these blue flames with a trident in hand. "Humph, you think you''re qualified to be mentioned in the same breath as me with that incomplete Qi Method of yours!" The Ten Thousand Beast Flame surged with a boom. Xiao Yan drew out the Heavy Xuan Ruler and pointed it at Han Feng. From their conversation just now, Xiao Yan could confirm that the death of the owner of the mysterious ring was undoubtedly caused by the man before him. Moreover, from what the First Elder had said, this Han Feng''s Master was called ''Venerable Yao'', so it was highly likely that Han Feng had killed his own Master. "Ha! Sea Heart Flame!" Han Feng''s hand seals suddenly moved as he pushed both palms toward Xiao Yan. The Sea Heart Flame immediately surged forth like an overwhelming tide. That sky-covering blue flame swept out layer upon layer like massive waves rolling on a vast ocean. "Humph, I also have a Heavenly Flame. Ten Thousand Beast Flame!" Roar! Roar! Roar!!! The Ten Thousand Beast Flame transformed into ten thousand galloping beasts. They showed no fear in the face of the raging sea waves. One beast spirit after another pounced toward the towering waves. The two Heavenly Flames collided violently, and a thunderous explosion rang out in everyone''s ears. At the moment the flames clashed, even the Inner Academy students could clearly feel the temperature in the entire sky suddenly soaring. Some dry leaves even spontaneously combusted in various places. Just as the two were clashing with their Heavenly Flames, the suppressed Fallen Heart Flame suddenly opened its eyes. Chapter 271: Flame Duel Chapter 271 - 271: Flame Duel // Another series of lengthier Chapters will follow from here. Word Count: 2,557 Words ****** Two extremely terrifying Heavenly Flames collided with each other, one blood-red and the other azure blue. The clash produced intense heat waves that dispersed even the clouds in the sky. Neither Heavenly Flame could gain the slightest advantage over the other. They remained distinctly separate, locked in a stalemate. "What terrifying fire control and Spiritual Strength!" "Xiao Yan is incredible! His fire control can actually rival that of a peak 6th-tier alchemist!" Some individuals from the Black-Corner Region familiar with Han Feng''s strength had their expressions drastically changed. They knew Han Feng could already refine tier 7 pills with some success, and his Spiritual Strength had reached the Perfected Mortal State. Yet Han Feng, possessing a Heavenly Flame and Spiritual Strength at the Perfected Mortal State, was actually evenly matched with a 21 or 22-year-old kid!! Han Feng practically gnashed his teeth in hatred when he saw the Sea Heart Flame under his control couldn''t incinerate Xiao Yan''s Ten Thousand Beast Flame. Clearly, his cultivation was higher, his Heavenly Flame was stronger, and even his alchemy skills surpassed Xiao Yan''s, yet he couldn''t do anything against the other party''s Ten Thousand Beast Flame. ''It''s the Qi Method!'' Xiao Yan, wrapped in the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, controlled it to counterattack the Sea Heart Flame. The flame duel between the two was intense, with neither giving an inch to the other. "Why don''t you give me your Sea Heart Flame, and I''ll exchange it for a High Di Class fire attribute Qi Method? Your current Qi Method is really lacking." Xiao Yan used Spiritual Strength to transmit his voice, not forgetting to mock his ''senior brother''. Han Feng''s Qi Method was extremely poor, even worse than those of the top ten in the Inner Academy. It wasn''t because Han Feng was cultivating an incomplete Flame Mantra, but because the Flame Mantra itself was that trashy. Even after refining the 15th-ranked Sea Heart Flame, the Flame Mantra could barely evolve to High Xuan Class. Think about it. Risking one''s life to obtain a Heavenly Flame, only to have the Flame Mantra evolve to the Xuan Class, not even reaching the Di Class. No matter how one calculated it, it wasn''t worth it. If it weren''t for the Bone Chilling Flame inside his storage ring, Xiao Yan would never have cultivated the Flame Mantra. Han Feng heard Xiao Yan''s words and forcefully surged his Dou Qi, but the Flame Mantra that could barely reach High Xuan Class simply couldn''t provide enough Dou Qi. For Han Feng, who was at the peak of the Dou Emperor realm, his Qi Method could be said to be exceedingly low-level. ''He has refined more than one Heavenly Flame!'' Han Feng quickly guessed as he sensed Xiao Yan''s pure and powerful Dou Qi. ''Could it be... he even obtained that old thing''s Bone Chilling Flame...'' He hated his former Master even more at this thought. "Let me teach you that fire control isn''t just about the Qi Method!" Han Feng let out a fierce shout and suddenly thrust both of his palms forward. The deeply condensed azure flames in his palms erupted with a roaring boom like crashing waves, rumbling as they swept toward Xiao Yan! "Heavenly Flame Materialization! He can actually condense the Heavenly Flame into a tangible form. Han Feng has actually reached this level!" Elder Huo exclaimed solemnly, his expression shifting slightly. Xiao Yan''s expression turned slightly grim as he gazed at the overwhelming azure flames sweeping toward him. He even felt like a lone boat adrift in a vast ocean under this tidal wave of flames. "Is Heavenly Flame Materialization really that difficult?" Heavenly Flame Dou Technique¡ªBeast Spirit Descent! The Ten Thousand Beast Flame surged endlessly. After a few blinks of an eye, an earth-shattering tiger''s roar suddenly emanated from the flames as they transformed into a flame demon tiger with eight wings. Xiao Yan smiled faintly, observing the astonishment in Han Feng''s eyes just a short distance away. With a wave of his sleeve, the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger transformed from the Ten Thousand Beast Flame charged forward with the true might of a beast king and violently collided with Han Feng''s layered waves. BOOM! The instant the two made contact, the entire space seemed to freeze momentarily. Then, a thunderous, earth-shaking explosion resounded across the sky! The red and blue flames intertwined and entangled. The Sea Heart Flame fiercely surged forward, while the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger swung its pair of tiger claws toward the sea of flames. Sky-covering flames swept out in all directions, and wherever the fiery waves passed, even the lofty clouds were shattered into specks of white scattered across the horizon. The sudden eruption of terrifying energy fluctuations in the sky caused the chaotic battlefield to fall briefly silent. Many people secretly clicked their tongues as they sensed the horrifying energy contained within the flame waves. "So this is the destructive power unleashed when Heavenly Flame possessors clash? Truly spine-chilling." "The power of Heavenly Flames is actually this terrifying!" Alchemists generally did not possess strong combat abilities, and Han Feng was no exception. Moreover, Han Feng''s Qi Method was so low-level, but no one dared to underestimate him because he possessed a Heavenly Flame. This was precisely due to the miraculous effects and terrifying temperatures of Heavenly Flames. The flame waves gradually receded, revealing two figures in the sky who had been blasted back nearly dozens of meters by the powerful force. Everyone''s expressions changed when they saw the two of them looking somewhat battered. Xiao Yan shook his wrist. The sleeve on his arm had been completely obliterated, and his palm was adorned with a large area of charred marks. Although he appeared disheveled, Han Feng wasn''t any better off. His robes were tattered and torn, his hair disheveled, and his breathing was heavy. He never imagined that he, a peak Dou Emperor, would fight to a draw with a Dou King who had merely used a Secret Technique to increase his strength! "Damn it! Even in death, you still want to hinder me!!" Han Feng had completely lost his former calm and scholarly demeanor, as if Xiao Yan had touched upon the reality he least wanted to face. After raging at the sky, he clenched his palm, and the deep azure flames rapidly condensed onto the trident in his hand. Han Feng gripped a flame trident over six meters long and his confidence surged once more as he gazed coldly at Xiao Yan. "Sea Flame Trident!!" Instantly, the energy of the world began to surge wildly, and a terrifying power gathered on Han Feng''s trident. As a peak 6th-tier alchemist who had operated in the Black-Corner Region for many years, Han Feng definitely possessed no small number of Di Class Dou Techniques. But what surprised Xiao Yan was that Han Feng''s Di Class Dou Technique was actually of the water attribute! ''Dual attributes? Is this the special ability of the Sea Heart Flame?!'' Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed slightly. Han Feng definitely possessed fire-attribute Dou Qi, yet he could now use water-attribute Dou Techniques! This reminded him of the Bone Chilling Flame. This kind of Heavenly Flame also possessed dual attributes. It was just that he hadn''t expected that because of the Heavenly Flame, one could actually possess Dou Qi of a second attribute! It was known that the reason alchemists were so rare on the Dou Qi Continent was because they required dual-attribute Dou Qi. They needed fire attribute with a hint of wood attribute mixed in. This went against common sense, which was why it was so rare. To think that a Heavenly Flame could even break through this common sense! After a moment, Xiao Yan let out a cold laugh, spread his arms, and then clapped his hands together with a snap. A surge of frenzied fire-attribute energy gushed into his palms. His left hand emitted a red glow, while his right hand unexpectedly held a deep white flame! The Bone Chilling Flame surged out from his mysterious storage ring! Xiao Yan didn''t use Essence Flame Merge but instead extracted a large amount of flames from the storage ring for fusion. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame and the Bone Chilling Flame merged together! Since you''re playing with dual attributes, I''ll accompany you. Ice and fire! With Spiritual Strength at the Perfected Mortal State, coupled with fire control from the Flame Mantra that had evolved four times, such a combination could be said to be invincibly powerful! Xiao Yan slowly released his rubbing hands, and a brilliant light burst forth like a blazing sun. The sudden radiance caused many to turn their gazes over. After a moment, the intense light faded, and the scene within was finally clearly visible. Xiao Yan stood suspended high in the sky, and in front of him floated a red and white lotus flower about two feet wide. This red and white lotus wasn''t particularly eye-catching, much less so compared to the Flame Splitting Tsunami. This fire lotus appeared much more restrained, without the slightest energy leaking out. However, if one looked closely, they would notice the surrounding space bizarrely distorting as the red and white lotus slowly rotated. Moreover, while ordinary people might not sense the terror of this fire lotus, Su Qian and the Gold Silver Elders suddenly halted their fierce battle elsewhere in the sky. They abruptly turned their heads, their eyes focusing on the red and white fire lotus in Xiao Yan''s palm. Their gazes revealed an indescribable shock. This power made even them feel a fear that arose from deep within their hearts! The red and white fire lotus was crystal clear and exquisitely beautiful, as if carved from jade. Yet beneath such a gorgeous exterior lay a power that made even experts of Su Qian''s caliber deeply wary! Xiao Yan held up the fire lotus with both hands as it slowly rotated. A hint of pride appeared in his eyes as he gazed at this exquisitely crafted fire lotus in his hands. He glanced at the dazed Han Feng and said with a smile, "Stop staring. This isn''t a Dou Technique from the storage ring. I created it myself." "Heavenly Flame Combination... Merge of Heavenly Flames. It''s the Flame Mantra; it must be the Flame Mantra!" Han Feng stared at Xiao Yan with venomous eyes, though at this point it wasn''t clear whether he was looking at Xiao Yan or his Master. Han Feng blamed everything on not obtaining the complete Flame Mantra. As an alchemist, he naturally understood that if two flames were merged, their power would multiply exponentially. However, flames were inherently violent and difficult to control, each with its own nature and extremely low compatibility. If one forcibly merged them, one might be the first to die from the backlash, let alone attempting this with Heavenly Flames! Xiao Yan ignored Han Feng''s resentful and hateful gaze. The fire lotus instantly transformed into a streak of fiery light shooting toward Han Feng with a light flick of his finger. "Go to hell along with that old codger!!" Han Feng let out a fierce shout as he watched the rapidly approaching red and white fire lotus. He forcefully thrust his palm forward, and the enormous flame trident spanning the sky shot out immediately. It transformed into a blazing torrent resembling a fiery dragon and crashed straight toward the red and white lotus! The instant Xiao Yan''s fire lotus shot out, Su Qian''s expression changed dramatically. He sent the Gold Silver Elders staggering back with a palm strike, their faces turning pale. He then turned toward the chaotic battle circle not far from Xiao Yan and Han Feng and shouted loudly, "All Inner Academy elders, retreat!" The Inner Academy Elders, though puzzled, immediately moved upon hearing Su Qian''s sudden shout. They abandoned their opponents and swiftly darted toward the ground with lightning-like speed. The various experts from the Black-Corner Region were momentarily stunned by the Inner Academy elders'' sudden retreat. Before they could react, the fire lotus and the colossal trident collided above their heads with a tremendous boom like meteors crashing into each other! Two terrifying energies violently burst forth in the sky. The entire space became extremely distorted, with deep creases appearing like a towel being forcefully wrung. A ring-shaped energy storm mixed with three kinds of Heavenly Flames swept out rapidly from the center as the energies clashed. The flame storm moved at incredible speed, descending upon the somewhat dazed experts of the Black-Corner Region in the sky in just the blink of an eye. Wherever the storm swept, stronger experts could still flee in disarray while being scorched by the flames. However, weaker ones spat blood upon first contact; their clothes instantly turned to dust. If not for their desperate use of Dou Qi to protect their bodies, even their flesh might have been reduced to ashes in that fiery tempest! This terrifying collision of Heavenly Flames even engulfed both Xiao Yan and Han Feng. "Heavens! That''s the move he used to defeat that mysterious Dou Emperor before!" "Good grief, it''s even more terrifying up close!" BOOM!! The mushroom cloud-like explosion directly blasted a deep crater into the ground of the Inner Academy. Just as everyone was wondering who had won, a flash of lightning suddenly flickered across the sky, followed by a metallic clang. A figure suffered a heavy blow and was sent flying backward, blood spewing from his mouth. "It''s Han Feng!!" A loud crash rang out. Xiao Yan''s Heavy Xuan Ruler sent Han Feng flying like a smashed tennis ball. He tumbled across the ground for several hundred meters before coming to a stop. "This guy... actually defeated Han Feng?" People murmured in disbelief, the shock in their voices palpable. It felt as though their world had been turned upside down! Han Feng''s strength had long reached the peak of the Dou Emperor realm, and with the aid of a Heavenly Flame¡ªeven though alchemists were generally weaker in combat¡ªhe wouldn''t be at a disadvantage against ordinary peak Dou Emperors. Throughout the entire Black-Corner Region, only the combined efforts of the Gold Silver Elders could match him. But today, this Medicine Emperor with extremely high prestige in the Black-Corner Region had been defeated so miserably at the hands of a youth who appeared to be only in his early twenties... Even the various elders of Jia Nan Academy, Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan, Su Qian, and others were dumbfounded. "This guy... in just a short year... now, even grandfather might not be his match." Hu Jia stared in astonishment at Xiao Yan hovering in the air. She felt that even her grandfather Hu Gan, who was stronger than Han Feng, might not be able to defeat Xiao Yan. The Gold Silver Elders picked up the bloodied Han Feng. They breathed a sigh of relief only after sensing that he still had vital signs. After all, Han Feng still owed them medicinal pills. "What do we do now?" "What else?! Run! Without Han Feng''s Heavenly Flame, who dares to subdue it?" The Gold Silver Elders carried Han Feng and flew away without another word. Seeing the dire situation, the other Dou Kings and Dou Emperors from the Black-Corner Region also hastily tried to escape. Chapter 272: The Green Lotus Reigns Supreme Chapter 272 - 272: The Green Lotus Reigns Supreme The hot-tempered Elder Huo saw the enemies attempting to flee and shouted loudly, "Chase them!" "Don''t chase. If you go after them, the Inner Academy will be finished," Xiao Yan halted the elders who were about to give chase. Although Xiao Yan also wanted to capture Han Feng, there were more important matters to address at the moment. His attention had never left the Fallen Heart Flame. "Stop pretending. You wouldn''t be a Heavenly Flame Spirit if you could be so easily subdued." Xiao Yan merely stood quietly in the air, not stopping Han Feng from leaving, while gazing at the Fallen Heart Flame immobilized by the Thousand Layer Sealing Formation. How could a Heavenly Flame that had developed intelligence and had been residing in the underground magma region for so long, accumulating vast amounts of energy, possibly be sealed by just over a dozen Dou Kings, a few Dou Emperors, and some advantageous terrain? As soon as Xiao Yan finished speaking, the Fallen Heart Flame suddenly opened its eyes and hissed! A series of screeching sounds echoed! "What!" "Quick! Circulate your Dou Qi!" Before Hu Gan and the others had a chance to reinforce the seal, the Fallen Heart Flame suddenly inhaled sharply. The residual Heavenly Flames from the earlier collision between the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame and the Sea Heart Flame seemed to sprout legs as they all flew into its mouth. A powerful suction force erupted from within the Fallen Heart Flame. Su Qian and the others noticed it. They hurriedly turned their gazes over, and their expressions changed drastically. "Stop it!" Su Qian immediately sprang into action. His figure flickered and appeared like a ghost within ten meters of the Fallen Heart Flame. However, a large cluster of scorching, colorless flames shot toward his face before he could make a move, forcing him to dodge hastily. The Fallen Heart Flame''s devouring speed was terrifying. In the brief moment it took Su Qian to dodge, all the residual Heavenly Flames had been completely consumed by it. An even more violent energy than before slowly swept out from within the Fallen Heart Flame with such a massive amount of fire energy entering its body, and immediately spread throughout the entire Inner Academy. "What is this!!" "Heart Flame?!" In an instant, clusters of colorless Heart Flames suddenly ignited within the hearts of all students and elders in the Inner Academy. The students were no strangers to Heart Flame; after all, they entered the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower to cultivate using these Heart Flames. "This is bad! Everyone, don''t channel Dou Qi through these Heart Flames!!" Xiao Yan shouted as the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame within his body surged out and immediately extinguished the Heart Flame. Although his warning was quick, some impatient students acted as if they were cultivating in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower upon seeing the Heart Flames appear and attempted to channel Dou Qi through them for purification. But they forgot that the reason the Heart Flames in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower could purify Dou Qi was because they were refined and pure Heart Flames. The Heart Flames unleashed by the Fallen Heart Flame, however, were meant to kill! "Ahhh!!" "How can this be! It''s different from the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower!" "Save me! Help!!" In an instant, many weaker students spontaneously combusted; white smoke sizzled from their bodies as they actually caught fire from within! Not only did the students have invisible Heart Flames surging within them, but even the elders were affected, their faces turning beet red! The Fallen Heart Flame seized the moment when the Inner Academy elders were distracted. Its entire body erupted with flames as it impacted the seal. A thunderous boom rang out as it broke through the Thousand Layer Sealing Formation and charged straight toward Xiao Yan in the sky. The greed in its eyes was evident. "Heh, you want to swallow me?" Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed slightly. A hunter must always be prepared to become prey at any moment. Suddenly, a seven-colored divine light shot over from afar! This seven-colored divine light swept across just as the Fallen Heart Flame was about to open its bloody maw and swallow Xiao Yan. Even the Fallen Heart Flame had its flames inexplicably weakened when struck by this divine light, as if some monster had devoured a portion of its energy. "Xiao Yan, are you alright?!" First Elder Su Qian hurriedly approached and struck out with his palm. The power of a Dou Ancestor surged forth. A Dou Ancestor could already utilize a bit of Spatial Strength even without using Dou Techniques. As a result, the Fallen Heart Flame was heavily repelled. Xiao Yan saw Su Qian coming to his aid. He gave a strained smile, but his pale face revealed his current weakness. Although he had defeated Han Feng, he had relied on the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change and consumed a vast amount of Spiritual Strength to produce the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame. Even with Spiritual Strength at the Perfected Mortal State, he was somewhat overwhelmed by the continuous battles and using such a powerful move. "That seven-colored light just now..." The First Elder looked into the distance. That seven-colored light definitely possessed the strength of a Dou Ancestor! Since when did the Inner Academy have another Dou Ancestor without his knowledge?! "That''s my ally, here to help me deal with the Fallen Heart Flame," Xiao Yan stared in the Fallen Heart Flame''s direction and said solemnly. Su Qian''s eyes instantly filled with joy. With another Dou Ancestor to help, they would have even greater confidence in resealing the Fallen Heart Flame! "Xiao Yan, as long as we can protect the Inner Academy students and reseal the Fallen Heart Flame beneath the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, no matter the cost, I, Su Qian, will afford it!" First Elder Su Qian declared boldly, intending to request Queen Medusa''s assistance. Xiao Yan turned to look at the First Elder and said gravely, "First Elder, do you really think we can seal the Fallen Heart Flame back into the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower again?" ! ! ! ! Su Qian looked at the Fallen Heart Flame eyeing them like a tiger watching its prey and sighed inwardly before saying, "If you have any suggestions, feel free to share them." "First Elder, I do have the ability to reseal the Fallen Heart Flame beneath the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, but at most in a year or so, when it has accumulated power again, it will resurface, and it will definitely be even stronger than this time." Xiao Yan looked seriously at the First Elder and said, "This student is already a Dou King and no longer has any attachments at Jia Nan Academy; I will be leaving soon." His words made his point clear. Although Jia Nan Academy had repelled Han Feng this time, and he was confident he could suppress the Fallen Heart Flame again... But he couldn''t remain at Jia Nan Academy forever; in other words, there would be no next time! If he wasn''t here next time, would Jia Nan Academy still have the ability to resist the Black-Corner Region and an even stronger Fallen Heart Flame? The First Elder sighed. How could he not understand? Let alone next time, if not for Xiao Yan defeating Han Feng this time, causing those jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards of the Black-Corner Region to flee in panic... If they had really fought to the end, the ultimate beneficiary would have been the Fallen Heart Flame. The academy would still have been destroyed. "Xiao Yan, you have done much for the academy. Whatever you have to say, just say it directly," the First Elder said seriously. "First Elder, to be honest, my Qi Method is very special and allows me to refine multiple Heavenly Flames. And the condition for my friend''s assistance is to enter the Heavenly Flame space to absorb the Fallen Heart Flame''s energy within and condense a Heavenly Flame body," Xiao Yan said earnestly. How could First Elder Su Qian not understand upon hearing these words? From the very beginning when Xiao Yan enrolled, he had set his sights on the Fallen Heart Flame. That mysterious Dou Ancestor ally even wanted to enter the Heavenly Flame space to absorb energy. Xiao Yan saw the First Elder''s hesitation and solemn expression. He raised his hand and said, "Regardless, I will do my best to help the academy overcome this crisis." The Fallen Heart Flame stared intently at Xiao Yan with piercing eyes but dared not act rashly. It was currently contemplating whether to flee immediately or to swallow Xiao Yan to become even stronger, as he possessed the Essence Flame. "Xiao Yan, are you on the academy''s side?" Su Qian suddenly asked seriously. "No matter what happens in the future, Jia Nan Academy will always be my alma mater," Xiao Yan said earnestly after taking a deep breath. "Sigh, enough. The Headmaster once said that the Fallen Heart Flame couldn''t be trapped forever. Since we''re going to lose it anyway, we might as well give it to you." The First Elder sighed. When the Fallen Heart Flame erupted and broke the seal, he knew it could no longer be contained. Xiao Yan''s eyes lit up with joy. If not for the current atmosphere being inappropriate, he would have shouted, ''The First Elder is wise!'' and perhaps slipped him a few pills as a token of gratitude. "Since you''ve said this much, you must have a comprehensive plan. How should we assist you?" The First Elder asked directly. "I hope the First Elder can assist me in dealing with the Fallen Heart Flame, while the other elders use formations to weaken its power," Xiao Yan said with a grin. The First Elder immediately waved his hand and commanded loudly, "Everyone, switch formations! Use the Heavenly Cold Chain Formation to weaken the Fallen Heart Flame!" His voice boomed. Subsequently, all the elders took their positions and channeled their Dou Qi into the academy''s prearranged formation. A clattering sound echoed as dozens of icy chains shot up from the ground and wrapped around the Fallen Heart Flame in a bizarre manner! Wisps of smoke rose from the Fallen Heart Flame as the icy chains ensnared it. Piercing shrieks echoed endlessly across the sky. Xiao Yan circulated the Flame Mantra madly, seizing the moment while his Skyfire Three Mysterious Change Secret Technique was still active. The Yin-Yang Twin Flame within his Acceptance Soul instantly emerged. ''Heavenly Flame Dou Technique, Yin-Yang Dual Extremes!'' Xiao Yan shouted inwardly as he transformed into a fiery arrow shooting straight toward the Fallen Heart Flame. Hiss!! Seeing that Xiao Yan not only didn''t flee but attacked instead, the Fallen Heart Flame twisted its body violently and lunged at him with a massive bite. ''Death Flame!'' Xiao Yan formed hand seals with both hands and frantically channeled the Death Flame. Instantly, overwhelming black flames surged toward the Fallen Heart Flame like a tidal wave. The black Death Flame enveloped the Fallen Heart Flame and continuously corroded its Heavenly Flame energy. At the same time, the white Life Flame shielded Xiao Yan by isolating him from its Heart Flames. Hiss hiss hiss!!! The Fallen Heart Flame violently shook its body, throwing off the Death Flame, then opened its mouth when only ten meters away from Xiao Yan. "Medusa!" As Xiao Yan''s voice fell, a graceful figure with waterfall-like long black hair stepped through the air. She eyed the transparent Fire Python with her arms crossed over her chest, a cold smile playing at the corner of her mouth. "A mere snake spirit dares to be arrogant before this Queen?" Under everyone''s watchful eyes, she condensed a seven-colored energy imprint in her palm and struck fiercely at the head of the transparent Fire Python. The charging transparent Fire Python collided violently with her seven-colored handprint amidst a thunderous explosion. Medusa''s terrifying energy sent the transparent Fire Python flying with a single palm strike, forcing the Fallen Heart Flame into the magma world beneath the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. Su Qian''s expression changed when he saw Queen Medusa walking through the air, "Is this the legendary Queen Medusa? And her bloodline has successfully evolved. She''s reached the strength of a Dou Ancestor!" Xiao Yan said, "She is my friend, here to help me subdue the Fallen Heart Flame. Let''s go; we''ll enter the underground world." With that, Xiao Yan spread his Dou Qi wings and led the way into the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, which had a huge hole blasted into it. Medusa merely gave Su Qian a faint glance before following Xiao Yan into the underground world. Su Qian could only shake his head helplessly. You still claim innocence? You even brought a Dou Ancestor! The pressure Medusa brought surpassed even that of the Golden Silver Elders. Xiao Yan''s setup was clearly here to seize! ... Upon entering, they were greeted by a crimson red similar to fresh blood. Xiao Yan''s eyes slowly widened as he realized that the redness came from countless streams of magma flowing slowly. Medusa stood beside Xiao Yan, watching the Fallen Heart Flame soaking in the magma and absorbing the earth''s core power. She said, "Hey, this fellow is recovering its strength. Don''t tell me you don''t have any other plan." Xiao Yan smiled faintly and retracted the Yin-Yang Twin Flame back into his Acceptance Soul. He had discovered that the Fallen Heart Flame''s main body resided in an underground magma ocean when he reached the ninth floor earlier. "This is indeed where you were born, but in the world beneath the earth''s core, the Green Lotus reigns supreme!" The Flame Mantra circulated wildly. All the Green Lotus Core Flame that Xiao Yan could mobilize surged out from his body at this moment! The flames condensing above Xiao Yan''s head grew increasingly emerald green as the Green Lotus Core Flame continuously poured out. After a few moments, the flames suddenly wriggled in a strange manner. A lotus entirely formed from the Green Lotus Core Flame emerged moments later. This green fire lotus was as clear as jade, with strands resembling green magma constantly flowing within. It was extremely dazzling. "Ha!" Xiao Yan pressed his palm down forcefully, and all the Green Lotus Core Flame above his head poured into the Green Colored Lotus Platform. Under his mental control, the green lotus drilled into the magma world. Boom boom boom!!! Instantly, the entire magma world began to shake violently, as if an earthquake had occurred. Hiss hiss hiss!!! The transparent Fire Python abruptly burst out from the magma. It looked in horror at the magma world it inhabited and found that it could no longer control the magma power of this earth vein! Poof!! A gigantic green lotus suddenly grew out from the magma ocean, rising unstained from the magma like a lotus emerging from the mud! Born deep within the earth, it had undergone the polishing, fusion, compression, and carving of the planet''s flame. It formed a spirit in ten years, took shape in a hundred years, and transformed into a lotus in a thousand years. When it was fully formed, its color would tilt toward the green side, and a cluster of green flame known as the Green Lotus Flame would be born at its lotus core, also called the Green Lotus Core Flame! In regions near volcanoes, it could even trigger volcanic eruptions, forming a destructive force of nature! Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength surged out. Although this was the birthplace of the Fallen Heart Flame, the power here was no longer under its control. It was being manipulated by him instead! Under his control, the magma transformed into a giant hand that firmly grasped the transparent Fire Python with a snapping sound! "Got you." Xiao Yan stood atop the gigantic green lotus that had grown and made a gripping motion with his right hand. The miraculous abilities of the Green Lotus Core Flame could only be fully displayed in the magma world beneath the earth''s veins. Ordinarily, it might not have any special abilities, but in specific places, its power would become infinitely strong! Chapter 273: The Green Lotus Core Flame Shows Its Might Chapter 273 - 273: The Green Lotus Core Flame Shows Its Might Word Count: 2,899 Words ****** ''Could this be the Green Lotus Core Flame?'' First Elder Su Qian followed closely behind, rushing into the underground area beneath the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. When Su Qian entered, he saw Xiao Yan battling the Fallen Heart Flame! ''How... how many kinds of Heavenly Flames do you have?!'' Su Qian could no longer maintain the composure befitting a First Elder. Looking at Xiao Yan, whose entire body was emitting cyan flames, his eyes filled with shock. He counted on his fingers. Xiao Yan had already used three kinds of Heavenly Flames! Just one Fallen Heart Flame had made Jia Nan Academy renowned throughout the entire Black-Corner Region, allowed the Inner Academy to rise, and produced countless strong experts at the Dou King and Dou Emperor realms. Now, Xiao Yan alone possessed three kinds of Heavenly Flames! How great was his fortune! Hiss!! A screeching sound rang out. At the moment when the transparent Fire Python was grabbed by the magma giant, it suddenly opened its mouth and spat out endless surging Heart Flames that instantly rushed toward Xiao Yan, intending to engulf him. The terrifying Heart Flames poured down like a vast ocean, flooding the entire underground world in an instant. As the Heart Flames were about to engulf Xiao Yan, a seven-colored light appeared not far away. The seven-colored light was crystal clear and translucent, transforming into a long rainbow that, in the blink of an eye, blasted into the fiery waves spewed by the transparent Fire Python. Even the fiery waves unleashed by the Fire Python came to a halt the moment the rainbow pierced through. Rings of light rose and fell, instantly making the entire underground world appear incomparably gorgeous. Xiao Yan knew who had intervened. Seizing the moment while Medusa was blocking the attack, he wasted no time and executed the Three Thousand Lightning Movement, transforming into a flash of lightning and swiftly escaping to her side. Boom!! Even Medusa could not fully withstand the terrifying attack of the Heavenly Flame. The fiery waves from the transparent Fire Python submerged the seven-colored light she had deployed, but by this time, Xiao Yan had already escaped far away. "What is your plan?" Medusa glanced at Xiao Yan with her beautiful eyes. Even though she had reforged her body and become a Heavenly Flame serpent, her strength was probably still inferior to this Heavenly Flame Spirit before them. After all, the Fallen Heart Flame had existed for too long. It was estimated that since the founding of Jia Nan Academy, the Fallen Heart Flame had been continuously absorbing the power of the earth''s magma veins here to grow. First Elder Su Qian also flew to Xiao Yan''s side. Since he had agreed to give the Fallen Heart Flame to Xiao Yan, letting him resolve this calamity threatening the Inner Academy''s destruction, he could only trust him now. A glint of flame flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes. Through the power of the Heavenly Flame, he saw the location of the Heavenly Flame''s Essence Flame. "What''s the plan? Just charge straight into its body, grab its Essence Flame, then swallow and refine it. Simple as that." Xiao Yan spoke bluntly. It was his first time facing a hostile Heavenly Flame Spirit, but as a ''Heavenly Flame Master,'' his methods for dealing with Heavenly Flames remained unchanged. Find the essence, then directly swallow it, relying on the Flame Mantra to forcefully subdue it! He had no plan¡ªor rather, his plan was to use the Flame Mantra to devour the Heavenly Flame! When facing a Heavenly Flame, the Flame Mantra was his greatest reliance. Not to mention First Elder Su Qian, even Medusa couldn''t help but glance at him as if he were an idiot. He actually planned to swallow it raw! The Fallen Heart Flame suddenly seemed enraged, perhaps sensing the killing intent and greed seeping from Xiao Yan''s gaze. It let out sharp, ear-piercing screeches. Xiao Yan lazily stretched his body, raised his head to look at the Fallen Heart Flame, and smiled. "Let''s see today whether you swallow me, or I add another Heavenly Flame to my collection!" As soon as his words fell, terrifying Spiritual Strength erupted from within him. The Green Lotus that was rooted in the magma instantly burst into a surge of emerald light. The originally fiery-red magma gradually turned cyan-green! When Xiao Yan had captured the Green Lotus Core Flame before, he had noticed that the magma around the Green Lotus in the underground world was green, even after the Green Lotus Core Flame had been taken. The faint green glow grew increasingly intense. Xiao Yan knew that the time left for his Skyfire Three Mysterious Change was running out, so he didn''t intend to rely on Dou Techniques and Dou Qi skills to deal with the Fallen Heart Flame. Instead, he kept his remaining Dou Qi to maintain his Dou Qi wings and to use Three Thousand Lightning Movement to dodge attacks. He manipulated the Green Lotus Core Flame with Spiritual Strength at the Perfected Mortal State and his fire control abilities. Those cyan-green magmas were his ''soldiers''; right now, he was the ruler of the underground world! ''Asura Soul Reaping Technique¡ªSoul Chase!'' Xiao Yan shouted in his heart; his eyes flashed with green light. Merging soul into flame! Rumble! The entire earth vein suddenly trembled, accompanied by a deafening sound, presenting a scene of utter destruction. The volcano erupted, spewing endless cyan-green magma. After which, a cyan-green demon actually crawled out from the magma ocean! "What is this?!" Su Qian''s expression changed drastically as he looked at the cyan-green demon before him. Its aura was actually not the slightest bit weaker than his own! A strange glint flashed in Medusa''s eyes. She turned to look at Xiao Yan, whose face was somewhat pale due to overexertion. This was actually created by a mere Dou King!! "Don''t look at me like that. This is the special characteristic of the Green Lotus Core Flame. Only in the volcanic magma veins can such heavenly might erupt. I''m just borrowing the power of the magma veins." Xiao Yan''s face was pale, his body and mind exhausted, but his eyes held surprise and joy. He hadn''t expected that the Green Lotus Core Flame could unleash such terrifying power when erupting within the magma veins! The Fallen Heart Flame could temper one''s body and bones and accelerate cultivation. These were its inherent properties. But this also meant that the Fallen Heart Flame''s nature was not combat-oriented, whereas the Green Lotus Core Flame could indeed borrow the power of the magma veins to unleash heavenly might. Therefore, Xiao Yan executed a Soul Skill, merging his soul into the flame and creating this cyan fire demon. Woo woo!! The cyan fire demon seemed to have crawled out from the nine levels of hell beneath the earth''s core, commanded to reap the life of the Fallen Heart Flame. The cyan fire demon condensed a cyan flame heavy sword in its hand with a swoosh, and under the terrified gaze of the transparent Fire Python, struck heavily upon its body. BOOM! The Fire Python suffered a heavy blow; the intangible Heart Flames scattered. The power of this strike was actually not the slightest bit weaker than that of a Dou Ancestor! The cyan fire demon instantly pounced toward the transparent Fire Python. The two massive Fire Spirits began a fierce battle, clashing like kaijus in a movie. The two genuine Dou Ancestors saw Xiao Yan being so fierce and were dumbfounded. How did you gain the strength of a Dou Ancestor?! Now, are you the Dou Ancestor, or are we?! Although Xiao Yan possessed the Spiritual Strength of a 7th-tier alchemist, Spiritual Strength was different from Dou Qi cultivation. Having Tier 7 Spiritual Strength and a Soul Skill didn''t mean he could possess the strength of a Dou Ancestor. Spiritual Strength required a vessel to unleash its power. With his Dou King body and Dou Qi, even if his Spiritual Strength surpassed ordinary people, he couldn''t possess the strength of a Dou Ancestor. But now it was different. The Green Lotus Core Flame had taken control of this magma sea, allowing his Spiritual Strength to be utilized to its maximum potential! The elders at the edge of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, who were jointly using formations to weaken the Fallen Heart Flame''s power, all stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed. "What kind of Dou Technique is this?!!" Xiao Yan''s move shocked everyone present. Even the older generation couldn''t recognize this Dou Technique. Such power made many hearts skip a beat. Hiss hiss!! Angry screeches rang out again. A jade-like radiance suddenly appeared on the surface of the Fallen Heart Flame. The jade light flowed slowly, as if possessing intelligence. Not long after the jade light appeared, clusters of scorching, intangible flames abruptly surged out from the walls of flame, finally surrounding Xiao Yan from all directions. When the transparent Fire Python spewed endless Heart Flames again, Medusa''s eyes narrowed. "Break for me!" Countless seven-colored rays transformed into seven-colored light serpents. Innumerable serpents charged forward one after another, as if to overturn everything. The fiery waves shattered explosively, creating a spectacular scene beyond description. As the one with the highest cultivation among the three, First Elder Su Qian rapidly formed hand seals and shouted loudly, "Cold Sky Spear Formation!" "Understood!" All the elders at the entrance of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower instantly formed hand seals. The Dou Qi within their bodies merged into one. Guided by Su Qian''s aura and with his arms spread wide, an ice spear instantly condensed in the sky. The temperature of the entire Inner Academy suddenly plummeted. One could imagine what kind of existence the Headmaster of Jia Nan Academy was to have left behind so many formations to deal with the Fallen Heart Flame. Endless cold air gushed out throughout the Inner Academy. In this instant, countless meridian-like lines interwove, guided by the elders, and the spear grew larger and larger in the sky. Bang bang bang!!! The ice spear descended. Under such an ice spear, no one could escape or withstand its power, regardless of who they were. Hiss hiss! The Fallen Heart Flame instantly felt a strong sense of crisis upon seeing that terrifying formation and the ice spear shooting toward it. It intended to retreat into the underground world to evade. Woo woo!! Under Xiao Yan''s control, the cyan fire demon formed from the Green Lotus Core Flame grabbed hold of it. Terrifying cyan flames filled the sky and firmly entangled the Fire Python. Medusa''s eyes narrowed. Seven-colored light appeared, and the light transformed into a long sword that pierced through the transparent Fire Python. The moment Medusa and Xiao Yan entangled the transparent Fire Python, the First Elder and the various elders, acting as the main force, brought down the ice spear. The ice spear pierced through the transparent Fire Python. A terrifying chill spread out. This horrifying icy power even caused some of the magma to freeze! Under the terrifying icy power, even the transparent Fire Python slowly froze, sealed in ice and unable to move. Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed, and his brows furrowed. Hiss! Other Heavenly Flames were actually surging out from within the Fire Python''s body! "Damn, it''s the energy of the Heavenly Flames it absorbed earlier!" It felt as if doomsday had arrived. With the addition of the Fallen Heart Flame, four kinds of Heavenly Flames erupted like the explosion of the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame, detonating a world-shaking blaze within the magma world! BOOM! At the critical moment, Xiao Yan unleashed the most potent power of the Green Lotus Core Flame. The cyan fire demon transformed into a wall of fire and shielded the three of them. Fiery waves roared in all directions, rolling forward with raging Heavenly Flames and unstoppable momentum. Whether it was Medusa''s seven-colored light, First Elder Su Qian''s defenses, or even Xiao Yan''s Green Lotus Core Flame, they were all shattered upon impact. The might of the Fallen Heart Flame''s full-force eruption was terrifying, even more frightening than when Xiao Yan had used the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame. If this strike had erupted within the Inner Academy, one could imagine that the entire academy would have been destroyed in an instant! Boom! Boom! Boom! The three figures, even after joining forces, were sent flying backward like kites with broken strings, crashing into distant walls. As the weakest among them, Xiao Yan spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. Even three layers of defense couldn''t withstand it! ''So strong... This is at least the strength of a high-star Dou Ancestor!'' Xiao Yan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes sharp as he stared at the distant Fallen Heart Flame. Even under such siege, and after being suppressed by the Inner Academy''s elders, consuming much of its Heavenly Flame energy breaking through the Headmaster''s seal, it could still erupt with such a terrifying attack. If it were at full strength, wouldn''t it be at the peak of Dou Ancestor or even half-step Dou Venerate?! Even the always cold, calm, and composed Medusa revealed a trace of solemnity at this moment. This was far more powerful than the Green Lotus Core Flame she had subdued back then; they were not on the same level at all. But it was not surprising. The Green Lotus Core Flame that she had subdued was newly born. Naturally, there was a vast difference compared to this Fallen Heart Flame that had existed for who knows how many years. Xiao Yan slowly flew forward a bit and transmitted his voice to Su Qian and Medusa. "I''m going to charge directly into the body of the Fallen Heart Flame in a moment. Help me distract it for a while." ! ! ! ! ! ! "Are you insane?! Charging directly into the Heavenly Flame¡ªhow is that any different from seeking death?!" Su Qian exclaimed. He knew Xiao Yan was crazy, but he hadn''t expected him to be this crazy! He finally understood how Xiao Yan had gained such powerful strength. He didn''t even value his own life! "Do you have confidence?" Medusa''s gazed at Xiao Yan''s back with her beautiful eyes. For some reason, she felt that his obsession with power was even greater than before. Xiao Yan shook his head. "No, but I have to give it a try." Medusa''s delicate brows knitted slightly. She unexpectedly flew slowly to his side and softly said, "Don''t die." Xiao Yan turned his head to look at her. She remained expressionless and calmly said, "If you die, I won''t get my pills." Xiao Yan twitched the corner of his mouth, a black line appearing on his forehead, and said irritably, "Fine, fine. If I can refine the Fallen Heart Flame, I''ll make your pills right away." He wasted no more words. He knew he didn''t have much time left. Once the effect of the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change disappeared, he would immediately enter a weakened state where his Dou Qi would be difficult to circulate. If he couldn''t refine the Fallen Heart Flame by then, he would have to wait for the next opportunity. Or perhaps there wouldn''t even be a next time. It was likely that as soon as the three of them left, the Fallen Heart Flame would immediately dive into the earth''s magma veins and escape. After all, there was no seal now. Boom! Boom!! Medusa and Xiao Yan both transformed into streaks of light and charged toward the Fallen Heart Flame. First Elder Su Qian sighed, formed hand seals once again, and shot out chains of ice to clear the path! Medusa condensed seven-colored light in her hands and struck violently. The terrifying seven-colored energy hit the body of the transparent Fire Python. This palm strike scattered quite a bit of the intangible Heart Flame on the Fire Python, exposing a large hole. Black flames flickered in Xiao Yan''s eyes. In his vision, the flames on the transparent Fire Python began to change. Within that transparent python''s body, a palm-sized, somewhat milky-white flame serpent was continuously flickering. The little serpent''s pupils were filled with intangible flames, and as its eyes moved, it appeared quite lively. Clearly, this little serpent possessed intelligence. As Xiao Yan stared at the little flame serpent, the latter seemed to notice him as well. Immediately, a fierce light appeared in its snake eyes. Waves of terrifying intangible flames slowly rose from within its body. ''This is the Essence Flame of the Fallen Heart Flame?'' Under the siege of the three of them, the Fallen Heart Flame finally revealed the location of its Essence Flame! Hiss!! Hiss!! As if terrified at being discovered, the transparent Fire Python no longer intended to devour Xiao Yan and attempted to dive into the earth''s magma veins to escape. "Trying to escape!" A massive green lotus suddenly rose from the magma beneath the Fallen Heart Flame. A cluster of cyan flames enveloped the Fallen Heart Flame and sealed it within! With his eyes locked onto the Essence Flame of the Fallen Heart Flame, Xiao Yan used the last of his Dou Qi to execute the Three Thousand Lightning Movement. As long as he could grasp the Essence Flame, he would truly capture the Fallen Heart Flame! Chapter 274: Flame Mantra Evolves Again! Chapter 274 - 274: Flame Mantra Evolves Again! Word Count: 2,693 Words ****** Xiao Yan slowly raised his slender hand, a sly smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Raging cyan flames completely enveloped his hand. He added a layer of powerful Spiritual Strength over the cyan flames. Curving his hand slightly into a claw shape, he smiled coldly toward the spot where the tiny flame serpent was hiding. The tiny flame serpent¡ªinvisible to the naked eye¡ªseemed to sense that something was amiss upon seeing Xiao Yan''s cold smile and grew agitated. It spat out its Essence Heart Flame in a sudden burst. A cluster of Essence Heart Flame shot toward Xiao Yan and instantly appeared within his body, intending to incinerate him from the inside out! Xiao Yan saw the cluster of Essence Heart Flame appear within him, and a hint of black flame flickered in his eyes. He laughed, "Mao Wu, devour it!" (>^¦Ø^<) Meow!!!!!!! Mao Wu''s cry echoed in Xiao Yan''s mind. A cluster of black flame appeared within him, flickering like a lamp''s flame, swaying unsteadily as if it might extinguish at any moment. However, this tiny black flame, flickering as though it might go out at any time, precisely acted as the nemesis of the Fallen Heart Flame. The black flame immediately began to incinerate the intangible Heart Flame as soon as the cluster of Essence Heart Flame from the Fallen Heart Flame approached. If it were the entire Essence Heart Flame, perhaps the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame might not be able to devour it so quickly. However, since it was just a small portion, even the Seed Flame could annihilate it. After all, the Nihility Devouring Flame was ranked second among the Heavenly Flames. The black flame sizzled as it burned the Heart Flame. The incinerated Essence Heart Flame transformed into wisps of intangible energy, which Mao Wu swallowed in one gulp. Xiao Yan''s figure flickered with lightning as his Dou Qi wings propelled him straight into the transparent Fire Python. He was wrapped in the Nihility Devouring Flame, making him unapproachable by any amount or strength of Heart Flame; all were incinerated and devoured by the black flames. He had truly exhausted all his trump cards at this moment. Mao Wu was his final measure. He had kept it hidden all along, waiting for the crucial moment to capture the Fallen Heart Flame and prevent it from escaping. "Come over here!" With his entire body enveloped by the Nihility Devouring Flame, Xiao Yan could see the intangible tiny flame serpent''s every move with exceptional clarity. He smiled coldly as a faint silver light appeared beneath his feet, accompanied by a subtle thunderous sound. His body trembled slightly, and an almost tangible afterimage remained where he stood, while his real figure appeared in a ghostlike manner in front of a flame. Borrowing the power of the Nihility Devouring Flame, his hand passed through a black hole and emerged on the other side, much like Zi Yan''s ability to traverse space! He thrust his hand out fiercely and grabbed the Essence Flame of the Fallen Heart Flame in one swift motion. Truly, fortune favors the bold! The transparent Fire Python let out an earth-shattering screech the moment he grasped the Essence Flame of the Fallen Heart Flame. The entire underground world shook violently. "Xiao Yan!" First Elder Su Qian yanked the ice chains abruptly, trying to trap the transparent Fire Python and prevent it from erupting. But even with the combined strength of all the Inner Academy''s elders, restraining the transparent Fire Python remained difficult. It actually disintegrated, transforming into a volcano and a sea of fire. The terrifying flames bore down heavily on Xiao Yan like a world-destroying tsunami, attempting to submerge him into the magma. This was the Fallen Heart Flame''s final counterattack! Just as Xiao Yan was about to be engulfed by the flames and sink into the magma, a graceful figure suddenly appeared beside him. Seven-colored divine light burst forth from Medusa''s body. The radiant seven-colored light illuminated the entire underground world, dyeing it in a myriad of colors. "Rise!" The light continued to expand and contract. Moments later, a roar that was part lion''s roar, part tiger''s howl, and part dragon''s cry resounded majestically from within the seven-colored light. Shortly after, the dazzling light suddenly intensified. Xiao Yan reflexively closed his eyes under the blinding light. Moments later, he opened them again, only to be shocked to find a hundred-meter-long seven-colored giant serpent hovering in the air. The seven-colored giant serpent''s body was slender yet powerful, exuding a subtle sense of elegant beauty. The seven-colored scales on its body shimmered with an extraordinary luster. This was Medusa''s soul¡ªor rather, the soul form of the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python! Medusa''s physical body hadn''t completed its evolution, but her soul had succeeded. She was now a true ancient magical beast! Without hesitation, she directly used the soul form of the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python to withstand the Fallen Heart Flame! Soul bodies were most vulnerable to Heavenly Flames, but Medusa''s soul body had strong resistance to them because she had used a Heavenly Flame for her evolution. Xiao Yan looked at Medusa beside him. Her beautiful face was tinged with paleness, her eyes solemn. One could imagine the immense pressure she was enduring at this moment. Xiao Yan hadn''t expected that in the end, it would be Medusa who would risk damaging her soul to block the Fallen Heart Flame''s final retaliation for him. "What are you spacing out for?!" Medusa''s inverted triangular snake pupils glanced coldly at Xiao Yan as she scolded. Xiao Yan instantly snapped back to his senses. He softly said, "Thank you," and without further words, took out a Ground Spirit Pill and tossed it directly into his mouth. Then he swallowed the Fallen Heart Flame, which was enveloped by the Nihility Devouring Flame. As the Fallen Heart Flame entered, his body instantly stiffened! The Fallen Heart Flame unleashed an extremely terrifying temperature as soon as it entered his body. Even with the protection of his own Heavenly Flames and the Ground Spirit Pill, his body gradually became scorching hot under such intense heat and began to feel the sting of burns. Although the Essence of the Fallen Heart Flame wasn''t large, its temperature was extraordinary, having taken countless years to form. However, the burning pain that reappeared in his body was not unbearable to Xiao Yan¡ªwho had experienced the excruciating agony of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and the Green Lotus Core Flame, which had made him feel that death would be better than life. He immediately steadied his mind. The four kinds of Heavenly Flames surged out from within his body and formed an inescapable net, surrounding the Fallen Heart Flame that was rampaging inside him from four directions. Four against one! Although the Fallen Heart Flame had been absorbed into Xiao Yan''s body, it clearly still retained its own consciousness. Therefore, it cunningly darted around to evade Xiao Yan''s encirclement. The terrifying high temperature could no longer make Xiao Yan feel unbearable pain, but after a prolonged period, it inevitably made one feel irritable. The Heavenly Flame energy that formed the transparent Fire Python instantly lost its command after losing its Essence Flame and, with a boom, scattered in all directions. "Did... did we succeed?!" The elders stared dumbfounded at Xiao Yan at the center. They could sense that he was currently refining the Fallen Heart Flame. First Elder Su Qian shook his head and said, "Not necessarily. He''s refining it now, but success isn''t guaranteed. Those who can successfully refine a Heavenly Flame are one in ten thousand. However, the spirit of the Fallen Heart Flame should have been eliminated regardless. The crisis of the Inner Academy is thus resolved." The First Elder immediately breathed a sigh of relief. The accumulated Heavenly Flame energy of the Fallen Heart Flame had been completely dispersed in any case, and the terrifying Heavenly Flame energy permeated the entire Heavenly Flame space. This Heavenly Flame energy would be the Heart Flame used to accelerate cultivation in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower once purified. However, without the Essence Flame, this Heavenly Flame energy would be gone and unable to regenerate once used up. The First Elder glanced at Xiao Yan, then looked at Medusa standing beside him. He slowly shook his head and withdrew from this underground world, remembering what Xiao Yan had said. "Seal the entrance temporarily to prevent the Heavenly Flame energy from escaping." The First Elder formed a hand seal, and an energy barrier appeared to block the entrance, preventing energy leakage. "First Elder, what about Xiao Yan and that mysterious Dou Ancestor... how should we handle them?" "Wait. Wait until there''s a result from Xiao Yan refining the Heavenly Flame. As for that mysterious Dou Ancestor, just don''t provoke her." Medusa wasn''t the least bit alarmed when she sensed that the First Elder had sealed the entrance. An energy barrier of that level could be shattered with a single palm strike from her; it was merely to prevent energy from leaking out. ''He actually succeeded...'' Medusa stood suspended in the air, her beautiful eyes studying Xiao Yan, who was sitting cross-legged refining the Fallen Heart Flame. A hint of admiration couldn''t help but appear in her gaze. She had some experience in refining Heavenly Flames herself and understood the pain involved. It wasn''t merely a matter of burning the flesh and meridians; even the soul would be continuously tempered. It was a process both dangerous and excruciating. She shook her head lightly, and her figure flashed as she arrived at the place where the Heavenly Flame energy was most concentrated. The bloodline of the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python within her began to boil. Magical beasts did not cultivate Qi Methods; their methods were their bloodline strengths. Medusa''s red lips parted slightly. She directly opened her mouth and began to swallow, frantically absorbing the Fallen Heart Flame''s Heavenly Flame energy into her body. This rapidly condensed her physical form, striving to elevate her body to Rank 7! Meanwhile, Xiao Yan''s mind gradually calmed. The powers of the four kinds of Heavenly Flames seeped out from various parts of his body and eventually permeated every corner to pursue the Essence of the Fallen Heart Flame. No matter how cunning or clever the Fallen Heart Flame was, it ultimately had nowhere to hide when surrounded by four kinds of Heavenly Flames. Xiao Yan seized the opportunity to use the Nihility Devouring Flame to completely envelop it. Inside his body, the cluster of Fallen Heart Flame did not give up even though it was heavily surrounded by black flames. It struggled violently like a cornered beast, continuously releasing terrifying heat. A hint of pain gradually surfaced on Xiao Yan''s previously calm face under the increasingly intense temperature. Xiao Yan''s mind stirred, enduring the burning pain. The other Heavenly Flames also joined the pursuit, howling within his body. Finally, they surged rapidly and condensed into a four-colored fire lotus. The four lotus petals closed together! Inside the lotus was the Fallen Heart Flame frantically struggling to escape. The Essence of the Fallen Heart Flame could no longer stir up any trouble once enveloped. Xiao Yan smiled coldly, and his Spiritual Strength pierced through the fire lotus like a divine sword, stabbing into the tiny serpent-like Fallen Heart Flame. "I''m giving you two choices now. First, I''ll use my Spiritual Strength to directly erase your intelligence. Second, I can preserve your intelligence if you submit to me and obediently follow the Flame Mantra into the Acceptance Soul." Xiao Yan had previously refined the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame, which possessed intelligence. He naturally knew that when refining a Heavenly Flame, it was possible to preserve its intelligence. However, preserving its intelligence required the other party''s willing submission. If he forcibly devoured it and aroused the Fallen Heart Flame''s resistance, leading to an eruption, the first to suffer would be himself. He knew all too well the consequences of Heavenly Flames colliding. But a Heavenly Flame Spirit was not easily born, and possessing one would be a tremendous help, especially in terms of fire control. Even if Xiao Yan were a Di Tier Alchemist, his control over fire would never match that of a Heavenly Flame Spirit. After all, the Fallen Heart Flame controlling itself was like controlling one''s own arm. The Fallen Heart Flame understood Xiao Yan''s intentions, so it struggled desperately. However, it had become a fish on the chopping block at this point. Whether to kill or flay it was entirely up to Xiao Yan. After a moment, the Fallen Heart Flame ceased its resistance. Having intelligence had this one disadvantage¡ªit feared death. It didn''t want its intelligence to be directly erased. Although becoming a servant hurt its pride, the Fallen Heart Flame lacked that kind of courage in the face of death. Xiao Yan sensed that the Essence of the Fallen Heart Flame had given up resistance and revealed a faint smile. He slowly released the lotus while controlling the four kinds of Heavenly Flames, and the intangible little serpent slowly raised its head. It flicked its tongue, no longer displaying any hostility. Xiao Yan nodded slightly, quite satisfied with this outcome. Being able to preserve its intelligence was naturally the best. With a thought, he circulated the Flame Mantra to guide the Fallen Heart Flame through his meridians. After circulating for one full cycle, it slowly merged into the Acceptance Soul, signifying that Xiao Yan had finally succeeded in refining the Fallen Heart Flame! "Phew..." Xiao Yan let out a long breath. Unaware of the passage of time during cultivation, he had spent a full month chasing and refining the Fallen Heart Flame. ''The Flame Mantra has evolved again.'' The evolution of the Flame Mantra was in line with Xiao Yan''s expectations. After refining the Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame at the Gate of Life and Death, the Flame Mantra had approached the intermediate level of the Di Class. However, the Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame was only ranked 21st, whereas the Fallen Heart Flame was ranked 14th. This directly elevated the Flame Mantra to the high level of the Di Class! ''Di Class high level, huh...'' Xiao Yan''s gaze turned to the enchanting beauty amidst the flames. Looking at the human-bodied, snake-tailed Medusa, he recalled that a month ago, it was entirely thanks to Medusa risking damage to her soul to help him block the Fallen Heart Flame''s final counterattack that he could proceed so smoothly. ''It seems Medusa is progressing well too. Elevating her physical body to Rank 7 is just a matter of time.'' Xiao Yan withdrew his gaze and looked up toward the entrance. First Elder Su Qian had rushed over upon hearing the news. Knowing that Xiao Yan had successfully refined the Heavenly Flame, he revealed a pleased smile. Just as the First Elder was about to open the energy barrier to let Xiao Yan out, a spiritual voice transmitted over: "First Elder, I plan to cultivate here for a while longer." The First Elder was slightly startled but soon nodded inwardly. This Heavenly Flame space was filled with fire poison for others, and staying here for an extended period would inevitably lead to death. But for Xiao Yan, it was an excellent place. However, the First Elder misunderstood Xiao Yan''s intentions. Xiao Yan''s greater purpose for staying wasn''t just to cultivate. He still needed to merge the Heavenly Flames before it could be considered complete. And most importantly, he planned to refine a second Heavenly Flame! Buzz! Xiao Yan spread open his palm, and a cluster of eerie, pale white flames flew out from his mysterious storage ring! Looking at this Heavenly Flame, which was the first one he had obtained and, to date, the highest-ranked complete, mature Heavenly Flame he possessed, he resolved to refine it! ''A Di Class Qi Method isn''t enough. For Dou God Clans like the Gu Clan and the Hun Clan, the Di Class is far from sufficient!'' ''Tian Class!'' ''Flame Mantra, evolve once again!'' Chapter 275: The Descent of a Heavenly Phenomenon Chapter 275 - 275: The Descent of a Heavenly Phenomenon Word Count: 2,712 Words ****** Xiao Yan gazed at the Bone Chilling Flame before him. This Heavenly Flame had accompanied him in a way since his youth. He knew that the Bone Chilling Flame was originally sealed within the Black Demon Cauldron, signifying that the original owner of this storage ring had intentionally left behind an inheritance for a destined person. According to the records within the storage ring, its previous owner had only managed to refine the Bone Chilling Flame upon reaching the peak of the Dou King realm. Xiao Yan had initially planned to do the same. However, he yearned for even greater power because of recent events involving the Gu Clan. A mere Di Class Qi Method was clearly insufficient; he needed a Tian Class one! Now, in this space saturated with Heavenly Flame energy, he could subtly absorb the surrounding energy without wasting cultivation time during the process of refining and merging Heavenly Flames. It was an ideal place. Xiao Yan exhaled a deep breath, and a faint glow appeared on his face. His eyes flickered, and threads of eerie pale white flames spread from the depths of his pupils. His eyes were completely covered by the pale white flames in the blink of an eye. "Then, let the refinement... begin..." He murmured softly to himself. His hand seals changed, and he slowly closed his eyes. After consuming the Blood Lotus Essence Pill, he extended his hand to touch the Bone Chilling Flame. "Although I don''t know who you were, since I''ve received your inheritance, if Han Feng truly betrayed and murdered his master, I will ensure justice is served on your behalf!" Xiao Yan''s tone was calm and unwavering, as if he were murmuring to himself, yet also making a solemn vow to the heavens. Perhaps it was the spirit in heaven, but the Bone Chilling Flame flickered slightly despite the absence of wind. Naturally, the original owner of the storage ring had long since perished, and the Bone Chilling Flame bore no trace of a soul. Otherwise, Hun Huzi would have found it when searching for the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade. The Bone Chilling Flame flowed along his meridians and entered his body as his words faded. Xiao Yan sat cross-legged with eyes closed in the magma world. Waves of terrifying heat continuously radiated from his body. Wisps of pale white flames emerged faintly from his pores, intertwining and enveloping his entire body. His expression was so calm that not a ripple could be seen; he did not notice the changes around him. His mind was entirely immersed in the unique process of refining the Heavenly Flame within his body at this moment. Perhaps because he already controlled five kinds of Heavenly Flames, devouring and refining the Bone Chilling Flame wasn''t as difficult as he''d imagined. Although the Bone Chilling Flame ranked higher than the Fallen Heart Flame, everything proceeded smoothly without any uncontrollable anomalies, perhaps because he''d been exposed to it since childhood. At this rate, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Xiao Yan was confident he could successfully refine the Bone Chilling Flame within a month. By then, he would possess six kinds of Heavenly Flames within his body. Even without counting the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame, he would still have five complete Heavenly Flames! If such an extraordinary feat were to spread, it would likely make many powerful experts envious to the point of madness. For most, obtaining even one Heavenly Flame was already a monumental stroke of fortune; yet Xiao Yan had five! That was indeed somewhat inconceivable. Not to mention how hard Heavenly Flames were to find, even if one did find them, few would dare to harbor five different kinds of such destructive power within their bodies simultaneously. Such an act was no different from swallowing several nuclear bombs. In many people''s eyes, it was simply courting death. However, for Xiao Yan, who cultivated the Flame Mantra, this seemingly impossible feat had become a solid foundation for him to reach the pinnacle of strength. At this moment, Xiao Yan couldn''t help but feel fortunate for choosing to cultivate the Flame Mantra back then. The temperature around his body actually surpassed that of the magma as his refinement gradually entered the right track. Eventually, the terrifying heat even repelled the magma from his vicinity. Under such temperatures, even ordinary elite Dou Emperors wouldn''t dare to stay for long. The violent energy permeating the air, if inhaled, would be enough to cause the Dou Qi within their bodies to erupt uncontrollably. The aura emanating from Xiao Yan''s body gradually intensified as time passed. Waves of vast Dou Qi spread from him like ocean tides, faintly accompanied by the sound of crashing waves. Cultivation made one lose track of time. A month swiftly passed. ... Two graceful figures sat within a stone pavilion in a courtyard belonging to the largest faction within the Inner Academy. Both of their gazes were fixed on a tightly closed stone door at the end of the courtyard at this moment. "It''s been almost two months... Why hasn''t Cousin Xiao Yan come out yet?" Xiao Mei propped her chin with both hands, pouting in boredom as she looked toward the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. Xiao Yu gently shook her head, her beautiful eyes also gazing toward the tower as she said, "First Elder Su Qian said that he successfully refined the Fallen Heart Flame long ago and is just cultivating inside. Nothing should happen with his current abilities. It''s normal for Dou Kings to seclude themselves for a month or two." Despite her words, there was still a hint of worry between her brows. She wouldn''t be concerned if it were ordinary seclusion. But Xiao Yan had entered the magma world to refine a Heavenly Flame. Who knew what unforeseen events might occur? ''Sigh, that guy, really... Always doing things without informing anyone.'' Xiao Yu couldn''t help but complain inwardly. Ever since Xun Er left, although Xiao Yan seemed unchanged on the surface, she could sense that there had been some changes in his heart. He craved power even more intensely. Xiao Yu rose from the stone bench, revealing a pair of shapely legs that the short Academy skirt could barely cover. She exuded a confident yet graceful charm. Next to her, Xiao Mei stretched lazily, curving her waist in a manner that hinted at a languid allure. The women of the Xiao Clan matured early. Undoubtedly, even though the Dou God Bloodline had long since dwindled, certain qualities still subtly influenced them. Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei had become the living emblems of the Xiao Hall since Xun Er''s departure. Just as Xiao Yu was about to leave, a sudden tremor beneath her feet caused her to stumble. She hurriedly grabbed a nearby stone pillar for support, her pretty face filled with astonishment. "What''s happening?! An earthquake?" "Could it be Xiao Yan?!" Xiao Yu''s beautiful eyes abruptly turned toward the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. Although she didn''t know exactly what was happening, her intuition told her that this matter was definitely caused by that big pervert! Such a commotion naturally drew the attention of First Elder Su Qian and several other elders. Xiao Yu unfolded her Lightning Bat Sky Wings and flew directly toward the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. First Elder Su Qian had already sensed something and was waiting calmly above the tower. ''This kid can''t even cultivate quietly.'' The First Elder shook his head helplessly. Circulating his Dou Qi, he announced loudly, "Students, there''s no need to worry. This is just an ordinary earthquake." However, the First Elder regretted his words the next second. This was anything but ordinary! An aura that had been dormant for two months gradually permeated the area, followed by a scorching heat surging straight into the sky! Silhouettes flashed out from various parts of Jia Nan Academy. Numerous figures stood suspended in the air, gazing in astonishment toward the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. Some sharp-eyed individuals were utterly shocked when they sensed the aura emanating from that direction. "Good grief, that''s Xiao Yan''s aura! How has his strength increased so much again?!" Lin Yan felt like tearing his hair out. He had finally broken through to the Dou King realm after two months, but it was evident that Xiao Yan''s cultivation had soared once more. "Does refining a Heavenly Flame have such great benefits for this guy? Or did he consume some miraculous medicinal pill again? How could his strength skyrocket to this extent in just a month or two?" "Hmm? What''s that..." Suddenly, layers of thick, dark clouds rolled across the azure sky. The world was engulfed in fierce winds that howled incessantly. This sudden phenomenon left everyone bewildered and at a loss. "A heavenly phenomenon... This is!" First Elder Su Qian was momentarily stunned by this scene. Moments later, he seemed to realize something, and a hint of disbelief surfaced in his eyes. "This is the emergence of a Tian Class Qi Method? What on earth is that kid up to?!!" Generally speaking, when a heavenly phenomenon occurred, there were roughly three scenarios. The first was the emergence of a tier 8 or higher medicinal pill, which would attract Pill Lightning. The second was when someone broke through to the Dou Venerate realm, which would also trigger such a phenomenon. As for the third, it was the so-called emergence of a Tian Class Qi Method or Tian Class Dou Technique. Here, ''emergence'' didn''t refer to the reappearance of a lost Qi Method or Dou Technique, but rather a kind of creation from nothing. Such a heavenly phenomenon would only be triggered when a Tian Class Qi Method or Dou Technique was created. Currently, the sky wasn''t filled with the fragrance of medicinal pills, so it was obviously not due to pill formation. As for the second scenario, it could be directly ruled out. Although Xiao Yan''s strength had greatly increased, it was still far from sufficient to trigger a heavenly phenomenon. In that case, only the last scenario fit. But this realization left the First Elder utterly bewildered. Could Xiao Yan be creating a Tian Class Qi Method or Dou Technique??? That seemed even more outrageous! Two figures appeared with a whooshing sound. They were the guardians of the Book Collection Hall, the peak Dou Ancestors known as the Qian Bai Two Elders. Even with the composure and insight of the Qian Bai Two Elders, their faces were now filled with solemnity and shock. To create a Tian Class Qi Method or Dou Technique¡ªhow many people on the continent today could achieve such a feat? A twenty-one-year-old youth creating a Tian Class Qi Method or Dou Technique? That was even more preposterous than breaking through to the Dou Venerate realm at twenty-one! By common sense, not to mention Xiao Yan, even the Headmaster likely didn''t have such ability! Within the Fallen Heart Flame''s Heavenly Flame space, Medusa was also startled awake by this phenomenon. She looked at Xiao Yan in the center with astonishment in her beautiful eyes. "Tian Class... How did he..." she murmured softly, her red lips slightly parted. She hadn''t expected that Xiao Yan would actually create a Tian Class Qi Method. This completely exceeded her imagination! The space around Xiao Yan was distorting at this moment. Six different kinds of Heavenly Flames were revolving around his body, and finally, they all surged into him, merging into one! His eyes suddenly snapped open. He had finally completed the refining and fusion of all the Heavenly Flames. He gradually ceased the operation of the Flame Mantra, and the heavenly phenomenon vanished accordingly. "Evolved to low-level Tian Class? No, according to ancient records, once a low-level Tian Class Qi Method is utilized, it can instantly absorb all the energy within three hundred meters for one''s own use. What I sensed earlier still has a slight gap compared to that. It should be considered a quasi-Tian Class Qi Method." Xiao Yan''s face showed a contemplative expression. He hadn''t expected that evolving the Flame Mantra to Tian Class would be so demanding. Even the 11th-ranked Bone Chilling Flame only allowed the Flame Mantra to reach the level of a quasi-Tian Class Qi Method. But it was fine; whether quasi-Tian Class or true Tian Class, stepping into this class meant a leap-like transformation. One could imagine that to surpass the Tian Class, he''d probably have to devour all the Heavenly Flames on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. ''My strength... actually increased by four stars? I''m now at peak 5-star Dou King.'' Xiao Yan frowned. He knew that devouring Heavenly Flames wouldn''t increase his cultivation level. But he quickly understood. It was the Heavenly Flame energy in this space. When he used the Flame Mantra to evolve, he had absorbed the Heavenly Flame energy that originally belonged to the Fallen Heart Flame into his body. Advancing from a 1-star Dou King to a peak 5-star Dou King in two months¡ªsuch speed wouldn''t be achievable even with a Tian Class Qi Method! After all, simply absorbing Heavenly Flames wouldn''t increase one''s cultivation level. The previous increases in cultivation when refining the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and the Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame were due to other reasons. [Author''s Note: Following the original setting from Chapter 232: Refining and absorbing Heavenly Flames does not increase cultivation level; any increase is due to other reasons.] Fortunately, his strength hadn''t increased too rapidly. If it had, various problems might have arisen, and resolving those issues could have required even more time and energy. If others knew that this fellow Xiao Yan was being ungrateful for his good fortune, gaining strength yet not wanting to increase too quickly, they''d probably curse him to death. Xiao Yan turned his head to look at Queen Medusa, who was watching him from not far away. Her face instantly turned cold upon seeing him look over, but deep in her eyes, there was an inexplicable hint of panic, perhaps recalling certain events that happened back in Cultivation Room No. 1. Xiao Yan smiled slightly and asked, "Your Majesty, how is the progress of condensing your Heavenly Flame body?" Medusa glanced at Xiao Yan and replied coldly, "It should take another year or so to reach Rank 7." Xiao Yan looked Medusa up and down. Perhaps due to absorbing the Heavenly Flame to condense her body, Medusa now seemed to have an added touch of allure, making her even more captivating. Even the term ''peerless beauty'' was insufficient to describe her. Her graceful and enchanting figure, her flawless beauty that was hard to capture with words... "Mm?" Xiao Yan''s brows knitted as he sensed something amiss. His heart sank as he discovered a wisp of evil fire rising within him. Meow! The Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame instantly surged within Xiao Yan''s body, and Mao Wu swallowed this flame in one gulp. Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly and thought, ''As expected of the Fallen Heart Flame, called the Heart Flame. Absorbing too much of its Heavenly Flame energy can affect one''s mind. Fortunately, I have the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame for protection.'' Xiao Yan clenched his fist, sensing the powerful strength within his body, and revealed a slight smile. Thinking of that graceful figure, he now had a bit more confidence. If he were to encounter Ling Quan again now, Xiao Yan was confident he could directly blast him to pieces with the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame. Xiao Yan surveyed his surroundings. The Heavenly Flame energy here was still very abundant. Even though Medusa was absorbing it, and even Mao Wu had absorbed much of the residual Heavenly Flame energy from the Fallen Heart Flame, there was still plenty remaining. Undoubtedly, cultivating here, coupled with the Flame Mantra that had evolved into a quasi-Tian Class Qi Method, could allow his cultivation to break through to Dou Emperor within a year. It was even possible for him to reach the high-star Dou Emperor in two years. After pondering for a moment, Xiao Yan''s eyes sharpened. He didn''t plan to stay here for two years, because reaching the high-star Dou Emperor in two years was too slow! Chapter 276: Junior Venerable Hun Yan Chapter 276 - 276: Junior Venerable Hun Yan Word Count: 2,621 Words ****** If Hai Bodong, Jia Xing Tian, the elders outside, or even Medusa knew what Xiao Yan was thinking, they would probably want to strangle him. Reaching the high-star Dou Emperor stage in just two years, and you still think it''s too slow??? Do you have any idea how long it took us to reach Dou Emperor back in our day?! Of course, when Xiao Yan said it was slow, he didn''t mean his cultivation speed was lacking. Rather, staying here would only improve his cultivation level while his Spiritual Strength, alchemy skills, and Dou Techniques would see no improvement at all. He would become someone with abundant Dou Qi but lacking technical skill. Against opponents with cheat-like talents such as the Dou God Bloodline, without diligently honing his Dou Techniques, he wouldn''t stand a chance! Moreover, Xiao Yan hadn''t forgotten that he needed to cultivate the Emperor Soul Technique. To do so, he needed to utilize the power of the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame, which would be like entering hell itself. Medusa remained silent upon seeing Xiao Yan deep in thought. She continued absorbing the Heavenly Flame energy to rapidly condense her body. Although Xiao Yan possessed a quasi-Tian Class Qi Method, she had evolved her bloodline and tempered her soul using the Green Lotus Core Flame, strengthened her bloodline power with the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, and now she was condensing her physical body with the Fallen Heart Flame. If she completed such an astonishing feat and reached Rank 7, her bloodline strength would definitely not be weaker than a Tian Class Qi Method. ''However... before leaving, there are still some matters to handle.'' Xiao Yan slowly spread out his hand. A colorless and formless flame emerged from his palm with a whoosh, gradually transforming into a lazy little snake. "Hiss hiss." The Fallen Heart Flame stuck out its tongue, looking drowsy as if just woken up. It lifted its eyes to glance at Xiao Yan, then smacked its lips, coiled up, and continued to sleep. Xiao Yan''s eyelid twitched violently. This guy... He was also somewhat speechless about himself. A snake, a cat, and two fish. Am I really becoming a beast tamer?! "Wake up! Didn''t you say you had something to tell me!" Xiao Yan used his Spiritual Strength to nudge the Fallen Heart Flame coiled in his palm. The Fallen Heart Flame had communicated through their soul connection that it had something to tell him when he had completely refined it earlier. But at that time, he was about to refine the Bone Chilling Flame, so he had postponed it. Now that he had finished refining the Bone Chilling Flame and was preparing to leave the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower to return to Jia Ma Sacred City to see his father, if it didn''t tell him now, then when? The little Fallen Heart Flame serpent heard Xiao Yan mention this and abruptly raised its head. It jumped up with a flick of its tail and hovered in the air, its eyes instantly sharpening. Then it pointed its tail toward the magma. "Hmm? You''re saying there''s something beneath the magma?" Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, and his Spiritual Strength instantly spread out. However, this magma world was too vast, and since the magma contained natural energy, his Spiritual Strength couldn''t sense very far. Xiao Yan''s eyes flickered, and his expression changed slightly. The Fallen Heart Flame had lived in this magma world for countless years. If it said there was something good below, perhaps there truly was something hidden. This tempted him somewhat. Perhaps there might be something unexpected down there. Xiao Yan licked his lips and narrowed his eyes. This time, it was worth taking the risk! He didn''t disturb Medusa; after all, she wasn''t obliged to act as his bodyguard. The hesitation in his eyes gradually faded, having made up his mind. A solemn expression crossed his face as he looked down at the boundless magma. He didn''t know how deep this underground magma was. To delve into it required exceptionally powerful strength because the scorching temperatures and immense pressure down there were not something ordinary experts could withstand. Based on estimations, diving into the depths of this magma would require at least the strength of a Dou Ancestor. For ordinary Dou Emperors without sufficiently abundant Dou Qi, diving down could have unpredictable consequences. Of course, he was an exception; after all, the former ruler was now by his side. "Heart Flame, lead the way." Xiao Yan stood above the magma, deep in thought for a moment, then waved his hand, and a black robe appeared in his grasp. He hadn''t yet had time to exchange for the black robe used by Honorable Elders; for now, this robe was still that of a Heaven Grade Protector, but it was sufficient to block probing by Spiritual Strength at the Soul State! Soul Chase! Xiao Yan quickly formed hand seals, leaving behind a soul imprint as a coordinate. At the bottom of the magma, visibility would be poor, depth unknown, the magma viscous, and the area vast. If he ventured in haphazardly, who knew which way he''d have to swim to eventually return to the surface? Perhaps if he wandered aimlessly downward, he''d get farther and farther from safety. But with a landmark sensing, even if something went wrong, he could quickly and accurately find his way back and escape. After donning the Soul Robe and pulling up the hood, Hun Yan made his entrance with a ''Jie Jie'' laugh! The Nihility Devouring Flame covered the Soul Robe with a whoosh, and outside that, another layer of Fallen Heart Flame and Green Lotus Core Flame enveloped him. Xiao Yan felt somewhat secure only after fully activating his powerful spiritual perception. After he had made all preparations, the sentient little Fallen Heart Flame serpent transformed into a swimming dragon and darted into the magma with a splash. Xiao Yan no longer hesitated. His body leaped, and he dove headfirst into the viscous magma. A burst of bubbles rose and quickly burst. The seemingly endless magma world once again fell into dead silence. Medusa glanced in the direction where Xiao Yan disappeared but didn''t say anything. Since he didn''t want her help, that saved her the trouble. However, the fact that Xiao Yan didn''t even ask her made her feel somewhat displeased. At this time, the First Elder and others outside the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower were getting quite frustrated. "Why hasn''t that kid come out yet..." ... Scorching heat and immense pressure surged from all directions as Xiao Yan dove into the magma. Fortunately, he had refined the Bone Chilling Flame, and its dual attributes helped cool him down. His Spiritual Strength also isolated the terrifying pressure. If an ordinary person were to dive into the magma world, even if they weren''t burned to death by the magma, they would be crushed into pulp by the horrifying pressure. Xiao Yan''s figure paused slightly. After carefully surveying his surroundings and finding no anomalies, he continued following the Fallen Heart Flame downward. Regarding this magma sea, although Xiao Yan had been cultivating here for two months, he knew little about it. The only thing he knew was that this seemed to be the birthplace of the Fallen Heart Flame. As for whether this magma sea harbored other things, he was entirely unaware. Perhaps even First Elder Su Qian wasn''t very familiar with this underground magma world beneath the Inner Academy. Probably only the mysterious Headmaster, who built the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower above and eventually established Jia Nan Academy, would know something. First Elder Su Qian and the Qian Bai Two Elders had once ventured down, but they retreated in apprehension upon seeing the endless magma. Even peak Dou Ancestors, without the protection of a Heavenly Flame and the guidance of the Fallen Heart Flame, who would be as foolish as Xiao Yan to dive straight down like this? It was no wonder that Medusa''s last glance at him held a faint ''you must be an idiot" sentiment. Time passed bit by bit. Xiao Yan dove deeper and deeper following the Fallen Heart Flame. If not for the Flame Mantra evolving to a quasi-Tian Class, his Dou Qi at the Dou King level would definitely not have been sufficient. ''Sigh... this must be what they call extreme deep-sea dread.'' This magma world wasn''t devoid of life. Xiao Yan saw some creatures that were entirely crimson when he dove to a certain depth. Their scarlet bodies were covered in red scales. Their approximately one-and-a-half-meter-long red tails swayed slightly. The red figures stood upright on two legs. To put it simply, they were red lizards that could walk upright. Xiao Yan paid them no mind. Although these Fire Lizards were quite strong¡ªthe weakest being Dou Spirits, and quite a few Dou Kings among them¡ªbecause they lived in the magma, their eyes had completely degenerated, and they relied on perception to locate enemies. With the Soul Robe and his Perfected Mortal State Spiritual Strength, Xiao Yan feared sensory detection the least. Wrapped in Heavenly Flames, in the eyes of these Fire Lizards, he was just a sinking flame, nothing special. After descending for about ten more minutes, the Fallen Heart Flame suddenly let out an excited cry. "We''ve arrived?!" Xiao Yan couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Continuously descending without knowing when it would end had made him feel somewhat numb. Fortunately, along the way, he had the little Fallen Heart Flame serpent to lead and accompany him, which steadied his heart a bit. ''Eh? Is that a protective barrier?'' Xiao Yan''s eyes flickered, and his gaze suddenly shifted to the transparent halo below. He saw the Fallen Heart Flame swishing its tail and darting into the light shield with a whoosh. After hesitating for a couple of seconds, Xiao Yan''s eyes flashed. His figure twisted and followed the Fallen Heart Flame like lightning. Amazingly, his body passed through without any obstruction. He sensed an unusual fluctuation of Spiritual Strength scanning over his body when his figure broke through that transparent light shield. If not for his exceptionally strong Spiritual Strength, it would have been difficult to detect this subtle spiritual fluctuation. Following the Fallen Heart Flame through the light shield in an instant, his eyes narrowed as he saw a mysterious skeleton suspended in the center of this enigmatic space! ''To be able to tear open space in a place like this? This strength must be at least at the Dou Venerate level...'' Although a Dou Ancestor could already utilize a bit of Spatial Strength, tearing space and creating a Space Lock barrier like this would require at least a Dou Venerate. Hiss hiss hiss!!! The Fallen Heart Flame was like an excited child as it swiftly swam to the top of the skeleton, its tail pointing like an arrow at the side of the bones. There was actually another Fallen Heart Flame there! "A Fallen Heart Flame?! A second one!" The birth of Heavenly Flames was extremely stringent, but it didn''t rule out the possibility of two identical Heavenly Flames being born. Xiao Yan carefully examined this formless flame resembling a candle flame and murmured, "This is an immature Fallen Heart Flame..." This one was worlds apart compared to the fully matured Fallen Heart Flame serpent that possessed intelligence. Even if he refined it, it probably wouldn''t increase his strength by much. It might be just a bit more mature than when the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame was first born. Nurturing this Fallen Heart Flame to maturity would likely require a lot of effort from Xiao Yan. ''One money-eating beast is enough. As for this... let Heart Flame devour it or give it to the academy. If I can make Jia Nan Academy owe me a favor, that wouldn''t be bad.'' He didn''t feel there was anything wrong with taking the Fallen Heart Flame for himself. At this moment, Xiao Yan somewhat understood the feeling Hun Huzi had when he looked down on the Bone Chilling Flame!!! Tasteless to eat, but a pity to discard. However, Xiao Yan didn''t immediately go to retrieve it. Instead, he revealed a meaningful smile as he looked toward the skeleton. "Perhaps I should say, ''Pardon the intrusion.''" Xiao Yan didn''t use Dou Qi but spread his voice using Spiritual Strength, which could prevent exposing that he only had the strength of a Dou King. A dazzling white light suddenly burst forth from within the skeleton as soon as he finished speaking. The sudden change made him furrow his brows as a massive force quietly immobilized him. Xiao Yan didn''t resist this force. He clasped his hands behind his back and quietly waited. Breaking this seal wasn''t difficult for him; he only needed to use a Soul Skill and the Nihility Devouring Flame to do so. The light gradually contracted, wriggled, and finally transformed into the illusory figure of an elderly man. The illusory figure wore a white robe, his beard and hair all snowy white in color. His aged face was composed, and a faint brilliance flickered in his indifferent eyes. Xiao Yan felt a sense of oppression emanating from the depths of his heart as soon as this illusory figure appeared. "So, the Fallen Heart Flame has been subdued by someone after all." The illusory figure glanced at Xiao Yan, then looked at the little serpent that swam to Xiao Yan''s side. His voice carried a hint of indescribable meaning. Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed. He had heard the First Elder say that the Headmaster had once discovered the Fallen Heart Flame here. Initially, he had planned to capture it, but upon seeing that the Fallen Heart Flame already possessed some intelligence and that he himself didn''t really need it, he built the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower instead. Could it be that this Fallen Heart Flame once belonged to the person before him?! The mysterious soul body beckoned with his hand, and the Heart Flame serpent, looking somewhat bewildered, slowly swam to his side. Xiao Yan wasn''t surprised, showed no resistance, and didn''t make any fuss upon seeing this. With the Flame Mantra, he had absolute control over Heavenly Flames. Moreover, a soul body? Heh. Let him act up for a while; let''s see if there''s anything else. "You don''t seem afraid of me taking away the Fallen Heart Flame," the old man''s eyes flashed with a glint as he looked at Xiao Yan. With the Soul Robe on, he couldn''t see through Xiao Yan''s strength. Xiao Yan shrugged, not saying a word. "Rest assured, I won''t snatch your Fallen Heart Flame. Strictly speaking, I have long been a dead man. Over these many years, my soul has been nearly eroded away," the old man said indifferently. The Fallen Heart Flame returned to Xiao Yan''s side on its own with a light wave of his hand. Xiao Yan didn''t believe the old man''s words. His understanding of soul bodies had deepened greatly after joining the Hall of Souls. So, he knew that the person before him wasn''t a remnant soul but a very powerful soul body that was well preserved. "I forgot to introduce myself. This old man is Yao Tian Huo. Others sometimes call me Venerable Tian Huo." The white-robed old man smiled. However, within his smile was a pride that emanated from his very bones. "Oh." Xiao Yan''s tone was neither joyful nor sorrowful. Venerable? He was one too. Junior Xiao Yan of the Xiao Clan. Others sometimes call me Venerable Hun Yan! Of course, his title of Venerable was somewhat inflated. Chapter 277: Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique Chapter 277 - 277: Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique Word Count: 2,737 Words ****** Although Xiao Yan''s title of ''Venerable'' was somewhat inflated, he did possess Peak Mortal Spiritual Strength, six Heavenly Flames, a High Di Class Soul Skill he had begun to grasp, and supreme treasures like the Soul Command Token. While he couldn''t sweep away all soul bodies, he had some confidence when facing a half-crippled Dou Venerate soul body. Venerable Tian Huo gazed silently at Xiao Yan in his Soul Robe. This black-robed man who had subdued the Fallen Heart Flame was simply too calm. Earlier, Venerable Tian Huo had deliberately allowed the Fallen Heart Flame to approach him as a show of strength. This was to prove that despite his current weakness, he still possessed considerable power and to reveal the fact that he was once a Dou Venerate. At the same time, he had lowered his stance to inform Xiao Yan that he was already near death and lacked the ability to harm him. All of this was aimed at negotiating terms with Xiao Yan. After all, he didn''t want to die or remain trapped in this magma world forever. However, Xiao Yan remained utterly composed. Whether it was when he summoned the Fallen Heart Flame or mentioned that he was a Dou Venerate, Xiao Yan acted as if he had everything under control. This made it difficult for Venerable Tian Huo to fathom the depth of this black-robed man. Of course, much of the credit went to the Soul Robe. Protected by this Heaven Grade Protector''s Soul Robe, Venerable Tian Huo naturally couldn''t sense Xiao Yan''s true strength. Although Venerable Tian Huo was the soul body of a Dou Venerate, his Spiritual Strength hadn''t reached the Soul State. He had achieved the Dou Venerate realm in cultivation but wasn''t an 8th-tier alchemist. Xiao Yan saw Venerable Tian Huo''s silence, raised his hand, and said, "Since this is Venerable Tian Huo''s domain, I apologize for the intrusion. I''ll take my leave now." Venerable Tian Huo couldn''t help but frown slightly when he heard that Xiao Yan was leaving without even wanting the immature Fallen Heart Flame. He hurriedly waved his hand, glanced at Xiao Yan, then pointed to the formless, immature flame, and said calmly, "You don''t want this Fallen Heart Flame?" A sly smile appeared under Xiao Yan''s hood. He chuckled and said, "That is something Venerable Tian Huo discovered. I came here only because the Fallen Heart Flame led me." Trying to play mind games with me? Of course, Xiao Yan wouldn''t leave so easily. He was actually negotiating with Venerable Tian Huo. Xiao Yan was bargaining, and so was Venerable Tian Huo. Both were probing each other''s bottom lines and hidden cards. Venerable Tian Huo needed something from Xiao Yan. He wanted Xiao Yan to take him away, but the price he would have to pay was what needed negotiation. Meanwhile, Xiao Yan was calculating how many soul points a Dou Venerate''s soul body could bring him! However, Xiao Yan wasn''t necessarily planning to take Venerable Tian Huo''s soul body back to the Hall of Souls in exchange for soul points. For him, the Hall of Souls was merely a place to trade for benefits. As long as the other party offered more value than the Hall of Souls, he wouldn''t fight. After all, there were risks involved. Even if the other party was just a soul body with incomplete Spiritual Strength, he was still a Dou Venerate. Such an existence definitely couldn''t be underestimated. ''This Venerable Tian Huo''s Spiritual Strength doesn''t seem very strong. It feels similar to Yao Ao''s soul body; probably also at Peak Mortal State. But Yao Ao was from the Yao Clan; his value was naturally much higher.'' ''This Dou Venerate''s soul body might be worth only around 100,000 soul points.'' Venerable Tian Huo probably never imagined that Xiao Yan was already contemplating how to sell him off! Venerable Tian Huo saw that Xiao Yan remained unmoved and sighed inwardly. The immature Fallen Heart Flame floated into his palm with a wave of his hand. "Back then, when I found this place, I discovered traces of the Fallen Heart Flame for the first time. After spending several years, I finally managed to subdue it with great difficulty. The Fallen Heart Flame I subdued is exactly the one inside your body now." Xiao Yan didn''t interrupt and patiently listened to Venerable Tian Huo''s story. "Relying on some abilities, I felt I could roam the world freely. So, after subduing the Fallen Heart Flame, I didn''t leave but instead ventured deeper into this magma world out of curiosity," Venerable Tian Huo said with a hint of regret in his voice, seemingly remorseful of his recklessness back then. "After delving deeper into the magma world, I discovered another Essence Flame seed of the Fallen Heart Flame. This discovery delighted me greatly, so I greedily sought to acquire this Essence Flame seed as well. As a result, when the two Heavenly Flames merged within me, they not only failed to merge perfectly but repelled each other like mortal enemies. That clash of Heavenly Flames left me severely injured, and at that critical moment, I was attacked." Venerable Tian Huo sighed, recounting the cause of his downfall. "Was it those Flame Lizards?" Xiao Yan frowned and asked tentatively. "It seems you''ve also encountered them," Venerable Tian Huo was somewhat surprised upon hearing this. "It wasn''t too bad; I avoided them," Xiao Yan smiled, not explaining how he had done so. A strange light flashed in Venerable Tian Huo''s eyes upon hearing that Xiao Yan could avoid them. Maintaining a neutral expression, he said, "Those Flame Lizards seem to be the indigenous creatures here. Their numbers are vast, and among them are super experts capable of rivaling Dou Venerates. That time, I encountered a Lizard Tribe expert at the Dou Venerate level." Dou Venerate!! Xiao Yan''s heart trembled. A magical beast at the Dou Venerate level would be equivalent to a Rank 8 magical beast! That was even stronger than Medusa in her complete form! ''This Headmaster is really unreliable, building an academy here!'' Xiao Yan inwardly complained about the elusive Headmaster. "Had I been in peak condition, I certainly wouldn''t have feared it. But unfortunately, the conflict between the two Heavenly Flames had already left me severely wounded. You can guess the outcome. I was fatally injured after that great battle. Fortunately, those Lizard Tribe experts didn''t understand Spatial Strength, so they couldn''t find my hiding place." A hint of vivid recollection flashed in Venerable Tian Huo''s eyes, as if that battle had left a deep impression on him. "However, I was unable to leave this place due to my severe injuries, and my physical body gradually collapsed. In my final moments, I released the mature Fallen Heart Flame I had subdued, and my soul attached itself to that Essence Flame seed, hoping to preserve myself this way. But after so many years, my soul has gradually become unsustainable. If no one enters this place within two years, perhaps my soul will completely dissipate." Xiao Yan sneered inwardly upon hearing this, ''As expected, the reason Venerable Tian Huo released the Fallen Heart Flame back then was to lead the next person who subdued it to dive into this magma world, find this place, and take him away.'' As long as the person who subdued the Fallen Heart Flame knew there was treasure beneath the magma world, they would definitely go to great lengths to dive in. This way, there would be a chance to leave this place. The Fallen Heart Flame was the bait! After listening, Xiao Yan maintained a calm demeanor. He held the little Fallen Heart Flame serpent in his left hand, gently stroking it with his right fingers like teasing a pet snake, showing no interest in Venerable Tian Huo''s past. Venerable Tian Huo understood when he saw that Xiao Yan remained unmoved. The black-robed man before him was an old fox who wouldn''t release the hawk without seeing the rabbit. "Sigh, although I don''t know who you are, since you have the ability to dive to the bottom of the magma and reach this place, you naturally have the means to leave. I wish to ask you for a favor. Rest assured, besides this immature Fallen Heart Flame, I will give you sufficient compensation," Venerable Tian Huo sighed. He had no choice but to release the rabbit. A smile appeared at the corner of Xiao Yan''s mouth. Hearing there was a ''rabbit,'' he finally stopped his actions, slowly looked toward Venerable Tian Huo, and said calmly, "Please, go ahead." "I hope you can take me away from here and help me find a medicinal pill to repair my soul. With my current soul, I''m afraid I won''t last another two years before dissipating," Venerable Tian Huo said helplessly. Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed slightly. No wonder they say that the Dou Venerate realm was a dividing line. Such an old monster had been dead for who knows how many years, yet even though his soul had consumed much power, he still had a chance for resurrection. Moreover, he truly had the means to restore Venerable Tian Huo''s Spiritual Strength. He even possessed a Secret Technique that could use three kinds of Heavenly Flames to condense a physical body, allowing a soul body to perfectly merge and be resurrected. "Heh heh, rest assured. As long as you can help this old man repair his soul, I swear on my soul that I will never act against you in the future." Seeing Xiao Yan in contemplation, Venerable Tian Huo smiled and spoke slowly. Then, with a wave of his hand, a snow-white storage ring flew up from the white bones beside him and landed in his palm. With a flick of his finger, a pale scroll appeared before him. On the scroll were illustrations of various birds and beasts enveloped in flames. "This is the Dou Technique that made this old man famous back in the day. It is called the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique." Venerable Tian Huo tossed the scroll to Xiao Yan and said, "As long as you can help this old man, this will be yours. I can even pass on all I''ve learned in my life to you. If you doubt my sincerity, you can take the scroll first. Once you find there are no issues, it won''t be too late to help me repair my soul." Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment before cautiously unrolling the scroll. Instantly, a stream of spiritual information flowed into his mind. He silently recited in his heart: ''Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique, High Di Class. The technique is divided into five levels, each corresponding to a beast: Wolf, Leopard, Lion, Tiger, and Dragon. Each level has its own Fire Spirit. When the technique reaches perfection and the five beasts gather together, it can form the Five Ring Flame Expelling Formation, possessing immense power capable of evaporating seas and scorching the sky.'' His gaze slowly swept over this somewhat brief introduction, and then his eyes settled on the last line of small text. ''If among the five beasts, three are condensed from Heavenly Flames, its power will be unrivaled among Di Class Dou Techniques. If four are condensed from Heavenly Flames, it can rival Tian Class Dou Techniques. If all Fire Spirits are condensed from Heavenly Flames, its power equals that of a Low Tian Class Dou Technique.'' ''Hmm?! Equal to Low Tian Class?!'' Xiao Yan stared intently and took a deep breath. Although there were a few Low Tian Class Dou Techniques in his mysterious storage ring, those techniques either required specific Qi Methods to cultivate or had incompatible Dou Qi attributes. Not a single one was suitable for him. Among all the high-level Dou Techniques he had come into contact with, aside from the unranked method ''Breaking Through the Heavens'' given by his ancestor Xiao Xuan, perhaps the highest was the High Di Class ''God Seal Technique'' given to him by Xun Er. After his mind calmed from the initial shock, Xiao Yan pursed his lips slightly and asked, "Venerable Tian Huo, if this technique requires five kinds of Heavenly Flames to unleash its maximum power, how could a person possibly possess so many Heavenly Flames?" Xiao Yan instantly spotted the problem with this technique. Unless one cultivated something like the Flame Mantra as he did, how could anyone simultaneously possess five kinds of Heavenly Flames? Could it be that the creator of this technique also possessed five kinds of Heavenly Flames? Seemingly anticipating Xiao Yan''s question, Venerable Tian Huo smiled slightly and said, "You misunderstand. The Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique requires the Fire Spirits to be condensed from a Heavenly Flame, but it doesn''t need different Heavenly Flames." "Back then, after I subdued the Fallen Heart Flame, the first four Fire Spirits were all condensed from it. The difficulty of the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique, aside from needing to condense perfect Fire Spirits, lies in learning how to split the Heavenly Flame into two, and then split it further into four. Back then, because I couldn''t split the Fallen Heart Flame into a fifth Fire Spirit, I took the risk of absorbing a second Fallen Heart Flame, leading to my current predicament." Xiao Yan suddenly understood. Indeed, where would an ordinary person find five kinds of Heavenly Flames? Forget five; even two was extremely difficult. In a deep voice, he asked, "Then, what if a person has five kinds of Heavenly Flames?" Venerable Tian Huo chuckled and shook his head as if hearing something amusing. "Generally, one would use the fire seeds of five Beast Flames to substitute for Heavenly Flames. If a person could simultaneously obtain five kinds of Heavenly Flames, then for the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique, they would only need to learn how to condense Fire Spirits and cultivate the technique to entry level to exert its full power." Xiao Yan finally understood. The entry level of the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique involved learning how to refine five different fire seeds into distinct Fire Spirits. At minor mastery, fewer fire seeds would be needed, and reaching perfection allowed a single fire seed to substitute for all five. In other words, as long as one possessed a single Heavenly Flame and cultivated the technique to perfection, the power of this Dou Technique would be equivalent to a Tian Class Dou Technique. Without a Heavenly Flame, it would be merely High Di Class. This was somewhat similar to the God Seal Technique. When the five seals were combined, they unleashed the power of a Tian Class Dou Technique. ''This is indeed a profound technique, able to make one fire seed serve as five,'' Xiao Yan muttered to himself. "Don''t be greedy like me and try to subdue multiple Heavenly Flames. Even if they are of the same kind, Heavenly Flames will conflict and erupt. Moreover, how could anyone possibly possess five kinds of Heavenly Flames? Even a Dou Saint couldn''t simultaneously possess five kinds of Heavenly Flames," Venerable Tian Huo waved his hand, advising Xiao Yan not to aim too high and to cultivate steadily. Xiao Yan merely gave Venerable Tian Huo a faint smile without saying a word. I''ll just smile and say nothing. After carefully rolling up the scroll, Xiao Yan fell into contemplation. He didn''t immediately give Venerable Tian Huo a response. He could sense that there was a seal on the scroll; without Venerable Tian Huo unlocking it, merely possessing the scroll wouldn''t allow him to cultivate the technique. Undoubtedly, the value of this Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique had already exceeded 150,000 soul points. Moreover, Venerable Tian Huo had cultivated it to perfection. With his guidance, Xiao Yan''s cultivation would yield twice the results with half the effort. Furthermore, Xiao Yan possessed five complete Heavenly Flames. This Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique was simply a perfect fit for him. He only needed to reach entry level to unleash Tian Class power, without needing to cultivate it to perfection. However, Venerable Tian Huo had a second condition. He needed help refining medicinal pills to repair his soul. This was the soul of a Dou Venerate! Repairing a Dou Venerate''s soul would require at least a tier 7 medicinal pill, perhaps even a tier 8. That would be a loss. Chapter 278: Counterattack Chapter 278 - 278: Counterattack Word Count: 2,757 Words ****** If he didn''t need to search for a pill to repair the soul, then the value of the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique would indeed surpass selling Venerable Tian Huo''s soul body directly to the Hall of Souls. However, adding the need for a soul-repairing pill... Gently tapping the scroll against his palm, Xiao Yan remained silent for a long while. Venerable Tian Huo didn''t urge him and merely watched him calmly. The silent atmosphere lingered for several minutes. Xiao Yan''s bright eyes glanced at Venerable Tian Huo, then he slowly shook his head. A hint of wariness appeared in Venerable Tian Huo''s eyes upon seeing Xiao Yan shake his head, and a faint, obscure energy began to gather around him. He claimed his soul was about to dissipate, but that was definitely a lie. He just wanted Xiao Yan to lower his guard and take him away. "To be frank, Venerable Tian Huo, you are the soul body of a Dou Venerate. The cost of helping you repair your soul is very high. Just relying on a High Di Class Dou Technique is not enough." Of course, whether it was enough or not was up to Xiao Yan to decide. At this moment, one could say that Xiao Yan had Venerable Tian Huo firmly in his grasp. Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the vigilant Venerable Tian Huo. Then, he unleashed the Asura Soul Reaping Technique. His Spiritual Strength, filled with terrifying killing intent, was like a sharp sword that instantly sliced through the confinement Venerable Tian Huo had cast. Venerable Tian Huo''s eyes suddenly turned sharp upon seeing Xiao Yan''s incomparably terrifying Spiritual Strength. The thing he feared most had happened. The black-robed man before him possessed extraordinary strength and had even cultivated a lost Soul Skill! "You won''t gain anything by killing me. I''ve placed a seal on the scroll. If I die, the spiritual information on the scroll will vanish immediately," Venerable Tian Huo said in a deep voice. Xiao Yan chuckled and waved his hand. "Venerable Tian Huo, you''ve misunderstood. While the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique alone is insufficient, I still very much want it. Why don''t we add another condition?" Venerable Tian Huo was taken aback. Then his eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a smile. "I''m listening." Xiao Yan''s gaze under his hood locked onto Venerable Tian Huo as he softly said, "I have a special refining method that can forge a unique body. This body allows a soul to merge perfectly, achieving resurrection through a borrowed shell." !!!!! Venerable Tian Huo''s pupils contracted upon hearing this, and even his soul body trembled slightly. To be able to achieve resurrection through a borrowed body!! He had originally only wanted Xiao Yan to help restore his Spiritual Strength to stay alive and then slowly search for a way to resurrect himself. But he hadn''t expected that Xiao Yan himself possessed a method to resurrect a soul body!! This was undoubtedly an enormous temptation. "What do you want?" Venerable Tian Huo quickly calmed down. There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world, and since Xiao Yan suddenly raised the stakes, what he wanted must not be small. "Then I''ll speak plainly. I can take you out of here, help you repair your soul, and refine a body for you to achieve resurrection. But I need you to make a soul contract with me. From now on, you will serve me for ten years." Xiao Yan placed his hands behind his back, his bearing matchless like a true Dou Venerate, and directly requested an elite Dou Venerate to serve him. "Serve you for ten years?!" Venerable Tian Huo was stunned for a moment, then his face darkened slightly. "Venerable Tian Huo, don''t think you''re getting the short end of the stick with ten years. Collecting materials to repair your soul and refining a body also take time. With just your current soul body form, what can you offer me?" "The sooner I help you resurrect, the sooner I can gain the service of a Dou Venerate. This way, we share a common goal, don''t we?" Xiao Yan revealed a cunning smile and instantly bound both parties'' interests together. You want to resurrect as soon as possible; I also want you to resurrect sooner so you can serve me. In this way, both parties had the same goal and would be more earnest in facilitating the resurrection without employing underhanded means. Xiao Yan had long understood that the most solid relationships in this world were those based on mutual interest. How could he possibly let a Dou Venerate''s soul body stay by his side without reason? So-called soul oaths were just bullshit. Only when both parties were in the same boat could the relationship be truly stable. As the Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan was well-versed in such matters. "You really aren''t losing out, actually wanting me to serve you. An elite Dou Venerate isn''t someone ordinary people can invite, let alone have serve them," Venerable Tian Huo said, but the gloominess in his eyes dissipated significantly. Xiao Yan''s reasoning did make sense. This way, he would feel more at ease that Xiao Yan wouldn''t play tricks, deliberately delay the restoration of his soul, or even harm him. Having a common goal indeed put him more at ease. Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Although you are a Dou Venerate, right now you are not. You cannot bring me enough value; you need to understand that." In truth, Xiao Yan was lying here. He deliberately said this to make Venerable Tian Huo believe that he was also a Dou Venerate. If Xiao Yan were a Dou Venerate, then a High Di Class Dou Technique would hold little attraction for him. For someone at the level of a Dou Venerate, only Tian Class techniques would be truly tempting; Tian Class was the standard for the Dou Venerate realm. Concealing one''s true abilities and hidden cards was a key negotiation tactic. Undoubtedly, Venerable Tian Huo basically believed that Xiao Yan was also a Dou Venerate after this exchange. Using Venerable Tian Huo''s own words, it was not easy to invite an elite Dou Venerate, let alone have one help collect materials to restore one''s soul. "Ten years; this deal isn''t a loss for you. Moreover, I can even let you achieve resurrection through a borrowed body. Refining such a special body requires three kinds of Heavenly Flames. I think such a body is enough for you to serve me for ten years, right?" Xiao Yan took out a scroll from his storage ring, flicked it lightly, and the scroll flew into Venerable Tian Huo''s hand. A gleam flashed in Venerable Tian Huo''s eyes after seeing the contents of the scroll. The Heavenly Flame Body recorded on it was simply miraculous and unparalleled, able to achieve zero rejection, without the problems associated with seizing someone else''s body, and without any suppression of his strength. Moreover, it required three kinds of Heavenly Flames to refine. This condition was extremely harsh. For the current Venerable Tian Huo, such a body was more precious than Heavenly Flames or Tian Class Qi Methods. "You are quite eloquent, but I can''t deny that your terms are very tempting. Serving you for ten years is reasonable. However, with my current Spiritual Strength, I can only last a few more years," Venerable Tian Huo pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded and said seriously. "Rest assured. Although you are the soul body of a Dou Venerate, I will definitely restore your Spiritual Strength to its peak state within half a year at the earliest or a year at the latest," Xiao Yan said confidently. Not to mention that he had pill recipes to restore Spiritual Strength in his storage ring. Even if alchemy didn''t work, the Hun Clan, as experts in soul matters on the Dou Qi Continent, had countless ways to repair a Dou Venerate''s soul body. At most, it was just a matter of figuring out how to earn soul points. "I hope this old man hasn''t misjudged you." Venerable Tian Huo gave Xiao Yan a deep look, then, without hesitation, tossed the immature Fallen Heart Flame floating in his hand toward Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan didn''t have anything suitable to store this immature Fallen Heart Flame at the moment, so he took out the Black Demon Cauldron and placed the tiny Fallen Heart Flame inside. He could feel how fragile this little being was at the moment. He forcibly suppressed the joy in his heart and placed the Black Demon Cauldron into his storage ring. Only a medicinal cauldron ranked on the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking like the Black Demon Cauldron could be used to store Heavenly Flames. Trying to store Heavenly Flames in other items would be nothing but a dream. Then, under Venerable Tian Huo''s watchful gaze, he also stored the scroll of the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique into his storage ring. Venerable Tian Huo glanced at the pile of bones and sighed, "Please also collect these remains of mine. The bones of an elite Dou Venerate have some special uses." Xiao Yan naturally wouldn''t refuse this small request. With a wave of his hand, a suction force surged out and collected all the bones into his storage ring. Then, the two used soul imprints to establish a mutual contract. This kind of soul contract would explode and damage the soul if violated. Using the same old trick, Xiao Yan wrapped himself in Heavenly Flames and walked out of the barrier. He turned his head to look in the direction of the barrier; this time, he had reaped abundant rewards. Then, black flames flickered in his eyes as he lowered his head to look further down into the magma world. He hadn''t yet reached the bottom. There were still unknown regions in this magma world. The area below remained a sea of darkness, like an endless abyss. "Now that I''m serving you, let me give you a word of advice. Even if your strength is immense, don''t let curiosity drive you to venture further down. Although I don''t know what''s down there, I''ve existed here for a long time and can vaguely sense that there''s something extremely terrifying below. The appearance of these Fire Lizards here might even be related to that thing," Venerable Tian Huo said solemnly after taking a deep breath. Xiao Yan showed a meaningful smile, the black flames flickering in his eyes. However, he didn''t say anything, allowing Venerable Tian Huo to enter the storage ring, and then carried the ring as he swam upward. At this time, the various elders who had been waiting outside for Xiao Yan''s return had long since dispersed. The First Elder, upon learning that Xiao Yan had recklessly dived into the magma world, couldn''t help but curse him as a madman. How could someone with only Dou King strength dare to dive into those terrifying magma depths unless they were insane! Splash! The quiet surface of the magma sea was devoid of wind and waves. There was only the slight sound of bursting bubbles. The entire magma world was still that quiet. Suddenly, the sound of something breaking through the surface of the magma echoed. Immediately, a human figure, whose entire body was wrapped in flames, rushed out of the magma. Finally, the black-robed figure hovered in midair, panting, with an excited smile of having narrowly escaped death etched on his face. Medusa sensed that Xiao Yan had returned from beneath the magma and merely cast a cold glance in his direction. "Finally left that damned place..." Xiao Yan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and involuntarily smiled. Exploring underground this time around had been really risky. However, it was fortunate that he had obtained benefits completely comparable to the risk. Not only had he obtained a Qi Method that, when cultivated to perfection, could rival a Tian Class Dou Technique, but more importantly, he had acquired the soul body of an elite Dou Venerate. As long as Xiao Yan successfully repaired his soul, he would have a Dou Venerate ultimate fighter by his side in the future. Xiao Yan lowered his head and glanced at the snow-white storage ring on his finger that belonged to Venerable Tian Huo, and couldn''t help but grin broadly. "Jie Jie Jie, I''ve really hit the jackpot this time!" Xiao Yan put away his Soul Robe, revealing his true appearance, but the smile at the corner of his mouth couldn''t be concealed. If Venerable Tian Huo were to emerge from the storage ring and see that Xiao Yan was so young, with only the strength of a Dou King, he would definitely cry out that he''d been duped! "That old man came looking for you just now," Medusa said coolly. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan put away his smile, flew over to Medusa, and somewhat brazenly looked at her human upper body and snake-tail lower body. Medusa suddenly opened her eyes, and a seven-colored beam of light blasted him away. "Hey, are you trying to kill someone!" Xiao Yan complained unhappily. "If you act like that again, I will kill you." Medusa''s gaze was icy cold, not sounding like she was joking at all. "Alright, alright, fine. I was just thinking of checking how your body condensation is progressing and whether you need help, but if not, never mind. Hmph." Xiao Yan was in high spirits, pretended to snort coldly, and then slowly flew toward the cave entrance. Whoosh! A dark shadow flew over. Medusa''s jade-like hand gently caught it. It was a jade box. Medusa raised her head, her beautiful eyes looking at Xiao Yan at the cave entrance; her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed. "This is the magma world of the earth veins. Inside are some Core-Fire Lotus Seeds of the Green Lotus Core Flame, which can help you better condense your body and strengthen your bloodline." Having said this, Xiao Yan did not wait for Medusa to respond and flew out of the cave. Medusa''s slender fingers gently opened the jade box with a click. Inside lay seven Core-Fire Lotus Seeds that looked like green gemstones. Each seed had been refined by Xiao Yan using the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. They could be said to be heavenly treasures tailor-made for her. Upon seeing the exquisite Core-Fire Lotus Seeds inside the jade box, her eyes first showed a hint of surprise. Then, a touch of softness appeared, and an almost imperceptible smile graced the corner of her lips. ... Before long, Xiao Yan, who had just flown up from the depths of the earth, hadn''t even had time to catch his breath before arriving at the First Elder''s resting chamber. "This is...!!!" When the First Elder saw the immature Fallen Heart Flame that Xiao Yan took out, his eyes suddenly surged with uncontrollable ecstasy. "The Fallen Heart Flame sensed that there was another immature Heart Flame beneath the magma, so I dove into the magma to retrieve it," Xiao Yan said with a smile. Upon hearing that Xiao Yan had ventured into that dangerous magma world for this, the First Elder''s eyes became somewhat moist. "Xiao Yan... you... the academy is truly fortunate to have you." The First Elder sighed deeply. If Xiao Yan weren''t planning to leave the academy, he would have considered passing his position as First Elder to him. He had never seen such a student who dedicated himself so wholeheartedly to the academy. He was moved to the point of tears! Like a teacher comforting a student, Xiao Yan patted the First Elder''s shoulder and said, "Don''t cry, First Elder. This time, aside from handing over the Heart Flame to you, there''s another matter I''d like your help with." After hastily taking out a precious container to store the Heart Flame, the First Elder asked, "Tell me. As long as I can help, I certainly will." "I want to launch a counterattack against Feng City, where Han Feng is." A sharp killing intent flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes. Since he had made a promise, he would see it through. The First Elder was momentarily stunned. Then his expression turned grim. He took out a few sheets of paper from the table and said, "If the academy hadn''t been overwhelmed with affairs lately, we would have taken action long ago. These are the recent intelligence reports about Han Feng." Chapter 279: Using Pills to Counter Pills Chapter 279 - 279: Using Pills to Counter Pills Word Count: 2,750 Words ****** Xiao Yan smiled upon hearing this, then slightly furrowed his brows and said slowly, "Han Feng hasn''t fled? He''s still in the Black-Corner Region?" "Of course. He controls the entire Feng City and has managed it painstakingly for years. He wouldn''t be willing to leave." Su Qian''s eyes narrowed slightly as a faint cold glint flashed across them. The incident from two months ago, when Han Feng gathered numerous experts to attack the Inner Academy, remained vivid in his memory. "Hehe, that''s good then." Xiao Yan interlocked his fingers and smiled. Although there was no deep grudge between Xiao Yan and Han Feng, and Xiao Yan hadn''t confirmed Han Feng''s guilt in seeking justice for the ring''s previous owner, the greed Han Feng had shown in wanting to hunt him always left Xiao Yan feeling unsettled. Xiao Yan knew Han Feng had always been eyeing his Flame Mantra. As the saying goes, it''s not the thief who steals that''s frightening but the one who keeps thinking about stealing. And Han Feng was precisely that thief. Who knew what Han Feng might secretly do to him? Xiao Yan wasn''t one to show undue mercy. He believed in striking first to gain the upper hand, lest he suffer later. He was determined to eliminate these hidden dangers before leaving Jia Nan Academy. Moreover, Jia Nan Academy''s hatred toward Han Feng was no less than his own. Back then, Han Feng had gathered many Dou Kings and Dou Emperors from the Black-Corner Region to attack the Inner Academy, and some elders had fallen in that battle. Su Qian pondered for a moment before saying, "While you were in the earth''s core refining the Fallen Heart Flame, Han Feng remained in Feng City without leaving." "But you also know that although Han Feng''s strength is only at the peak of Dou Emperor, and Feng City doesn''t have many strong experts, he is nearly a 7th-tier alchemist. You''re an alchemist yourself, so you should understand what that represents." The influence of an alchemist! Just like Xiao Yan himself. When he was attacked, Hai Bodong, the Jia Ma Imperial Family, and even Medusa, who had sought pills from him earlier, had rushed to protect him. Back then, he was only approaching a 6th-tier alchemist, yet wielded such influence. Han Feng had been operating in the Black-Corner Region for many years and was close to becoming a 7th-tier alchemist; his influence would only be greater. Xiao Yan frowned slightly, his fingers gently tapping the table. After a moment, he said softly, "With my improved Spiritual Strength and cultivation, perhaps I can also use medicinal pills to counter those factions from the Black-Corner Region." Xiao Yan revealed a sly smile as he raised his eyebrows and looked at the First Elder. Even Su Qian couldn''t help but feel a chill down his spine when Xiao Yan stared at him like this. "What are you planning?" Su Qian asked warily. "First Elder, don''t you want to get even?" Xiao Yan smiled. A fierce glint flashed in Su Qian''s eyes as he said vehemently, "How could I not? The Inner Academy''s reputation cannot decline on my watch. Moreover, elders have been killed. How will I explain this to the Headmaster when he returns?" "Hehe, the most Han Feng can offer his helpers is probably a Mighty Huang Pill. Although I''m only a low-grade 6th-tier alchemist and haven''t refined a Mighty Huang Pill before, I did successfully refine a high-grade tier 6 Ground Spirit Pill previously. And my abilities now are much greater than before," Xiao Yan said with a grin as he looked at Su Qian. The First Elder was momentarily stunned. He suddenly remembered that this monster had previously refined a high-grade tier 6 pill! Although Xiao Yan''s success rate with high-grade tier 6 pills wasn''t high back then, that was half a year ago. At that time, Xiao Yan was only a Dou Spirit. Now, he was a 5-star Dou King, and his Spiritual Strength had also increased significantly! Most importantly, the Flame Mantra had advanced to quasi-Tian Class! His fire control abilities would definitely not be inferior to those of a 7th-tier alchemist, perhaps even stronger. One could say that what Xiao Yan currently lacked in refining tier 6 pills was just experience. "You mean you want the academy to provide medicinal ingredients so you can refine Mighty Huang Pills to recruit experts from the Black-Corner Region to oppose Han Feng?" The First Elder frowned slightly as he looked at Xiao Yan. "I believe the First Elder understands how dangerous Han Feng, as an alchemist, is to the Inner Academy," Xiao Yan said. "He knows there''s a life-or-death enmity between himself and Jia Nan Academy, with no room for compromise. I''m not asking for the medicinal ingredients for free. If the pills are successfully refined, we can split them fifty-fifty. The academy won''t lose out." Xiao Yan showed his teeth in a cunning smile. Su Qian fell into deep thought. Alchemy wasn''t guaranteed to succeed, especially for someone like Xiao Yan attempting to refine higher-tier pills from a lower alchemist rank. However, he had witnessed Xiao Yan''s alchemy skills firsthand. He had succeeded in refining high-grade tier 6 pills before. Even if his success rate wasn''t very high now, it shouldn''t be too low either. Moreover, if the medicinal ingredients couldn''t be refined into pills, their value would greatly diminish. What Xiao Yan said made sense. The difficulty of refining the Mighty Huang Pill ranked among the top for tier 6 pills. Although classified as high-grade tier 6, calling it a peak tier 6 pill wouldn''t be an exaggeration. After all, this was a medicinal pill that could directly increase a Dou Emperor''s strength by one star. Moreover, compared to the Dou King Pill, which could only be taken once per person, the Mighty Huang Pill could be taken twice. Apart from the Zong Breaking Pill, which could increase the chances of breaking through to Dou Ancestor, and the Emperor Heaven Pill, which allowed a 9-star Dou King to break through to Dou Emperor with 100% certainty, the most precious among tier 6 pills were the Mighty Huang Pill and the Little Soul Black Purple Pill, which could directly increase one''s cultivation or Spiritual Strength. "Alright! Since you''re interested, our Inner Academy will play along with you!" Su Qian heavily slapped the table and laughed heartily. With this exceptionally powerful fellow Xiao Yan joining, coupled with his alchemy skills, he wouldn''t hesitate. He was determined to bring down this so-called Medicine Emperor! "Then, two months from now. Two months should be enough," Xiao Yan put away his playful smile and showed a serious expression. With sufficient medicinal ingredients, one or two months should be enough for him to refine several Mighty Huang Pills. And even if there weren''t enough ingredients for the Mighty Huang Pill, he possessed recipes for many high-grade tier 6 pills. Refining other high-grade tier 6 pills could likewise win people''s hearts! Suddenly, Xiao Yan thought of something and asked, "By the way, I heard the First Elder mention during that battle that Han Feng has a Master called Venerable Yao. Could the First Elder tell me more about this Venerable Yao?" A strange light flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes as he looked at Su Qian. If his guess wasn''t wrong, the owner of the mysterious storage ring he had inherited from his mother should be this Venerable Yao. No wonder there were so many treasures inside; it turned out to be the inheritance of a Dou Venerate, and this Dou Venerate was even an alchemist above tier 8! Su Qian sighed inwardly when he heard Xiao Yan mention that legendary figure. A hint of regret flashed across his eyes. "You don''t need to worry about Han Feng''s Master coming to seek revenge, because Venerable Yao fell many years ago," Su Qian said slowly. He felt it was a great pity that such a legendary figure had fallen. Xiao Yan frowned and asked, "How did he die?" Su Qian shook his head. "No one knows for certain. Back then, Venerable Yao''s death shocked the entire Dou Qi Continent. His direct disciple Han Feng announced that Venerable Yao suffered Qi Deviation during alchemy and was blown apart. No one believed such a statement¡ªafter all, this was Venerable Yao we''re talking about. But even Venerable Feng, Venerable Yao''s closest friend, couldn''t discover anything, so this matter became an unsolved mystery." "What kind of person was he?" Xiao Yan asked softly. "What kind of person?" Su Qian furrowed his brows, then shook his head. "I don''t really know much about Venerable Yao personally. I only heard that he was kind to others, generous in guiding them, and wholeheartedly pursued the path of alchemy." "With the abilities of a 7th-tier alchemist, he once refined a perfect tier 8 pill, defeating geniuses of the Pill Tower like Xuan Kong Zi and Old Monster Huo. He won the championship at the Pill Gathering and became famous throughout the Central Plains." "He was truly a genius alchemist worthy of his reputation." Xiao Yan fell into deep thought upon hearing this. ... For the next two months, Xiao Yan was like a madman, obsessively refining pills every day. Even when he became scruffy with an unkempt beard and disheveled hair, he didn''t care in the slightest. He had already reached the rank of a low-grade 6th-tier alchemist. With the Black Demon Cauldron''s help, refining middle-grade tier 6 pills wasn''t an issue at all. Moreover, with the evolution of the Flame Mantra and his formidable Spiritual Strength, he no longer needed to rely on the Black Demon Cauldron and could achieve an eighty percent success rate in refining middle-grade tier 6 pills after just a few days. The First Elder truly spared no effort in supporting Xiao Yan. Not only did he provide all the tier 6 medicinal ingredients from the Inner Academy''s medicine warehouse for Xiao Yan to refine pills and hone his skills, but he also took out precious herbs from the hidden treasury for Xiao Yan''s alchemy practice. Furthermore, the Inner Academy spent a massive amount of funds sweeping through numerous medicinal shops in the Black-Corner Region. Even the largest medicinal shop there, the Thousand Medicine House, had its entire stock bought out by the Inner Academy. Everyone thought the Inner Academy was trying to prevent Han Feng from refining pills to counter Jia Nan Academy, but only they knew that the Inner Academy was also refining pills. Even with long hours dedicated to intensive alchemy practice, Xiao Yan''s cultivation slowly advanced from the peak of a 5-star Dou King to a 6-star Dou King within a month. After more than a month, he no longer needed to borrow the Black Demon Cauldron''s power to smoothly refine high-grade tier 6 pills. Although the power of the Black Demon Cauldron was formidable and could forcibly enhance one''s alchemy skills, it could cause dependency. Xiao Yan dared not use it for extended periods unless absolutely necessary. ... Two months later. "Pill formed!" BOOM!!!! A towering pillar of energy surged out from the Black Demon Cauldron. The terrifying energy caused even the First Elder to display an expression of shock. Inside the medicinal cauldron, the colorless and formless Fallen Heart Flame was wildly dancing. The moment the pill embryo formed, Xiao Yan clearly sensed the surrounding natural energy suddenly fluctuate. It was as if a giant rock had been thrown into a calm lake, causing huge waves to surge. If the First Elder hadn''t set up a barrier in advance, this terrifying pillar of medicinal mist would have undoubtedly attracted the attention of the Black-Corner Region and Han Feng. "This is too exaggerated..." Elder Huo stared dumbfounded at the astonishing scene before him. He had once been the top alchemist elder of the Inner Academy, a middle-grade 6th-tier alchemist. But in just one short year, not only had his title as the strongest alchemist been taken, but he had been surpassed by an enormous margin. In two months, Xiao Yan could not only smoothly refine high-grade tier 6 pills, but his success rate for pills like the Mighty Huang Pill was also extremely high. Today, he was attempting to challenge the pinnacle of tier 6 pills¡ªone of the supreme pills on par with the Zong Breaking Pill¡ªthe Emperor Heaven Pill! Everyone''s eyes were fixed on the jade-green pill within the light pillar. All the Dou King elders, even Zi Yan, couldn''t help but swallow their saliva. "Heavens, Xiao Yan is such a monster... That''s the Emperor Heaven Pill! A pill that would drive 9-star Dou Kings crazy!" "Damn... If I remember correctly, the value of a single Emperor Heaven Pill already surpasses that of an ordinary Low Di Class Dou Technique." "Indeed." At the very moment when the jade-green pill had just formed, the sky above the Inner Academy suddenly darkened rapidly. Thick layers of dark clouds swiftly gathered, and silver lightning could be seen slithering around like silver snakes within them. This sudden spectacle gave everyone a huge fright. "What the...?! Pill Lightning???" Even the First Elder couldn''t help but exclaim, momentarily losing his composure. "No, although the Emperor Heaven Pill is a peak tier 6 pill, infinitely close to tier 7, it''s still not a tier 7 pill and cannot trigger Pill Lightning." Elder Huo, worthy of being the former top alchemist elder, quickly noticed the anomaly. Sure enough, the dark clouds soon dispersed. They had only gathered, but no Pill Lightning descended. "The quality of his pill is exceptionally high," Elder Huo said as he stroked his beard. "It has already surpassed an ordinary Emperor Heaven Pill and is infinitely close to tier 7, which is why it caused such a phenomenon." Xiao Yan''s powerful Spiritual Strength burst forth from his body. With a beckoning gesture, the jade-green pill swayed and flew into the jade box he had prepared in advance. He couldn''t help but let out a long sigh of relief when he saw the successful completion of the pill. Refining the Emperor Heaven Pill was no simple task. Even now, he still needed to borrow the power of the Black Demon Cauldron, and there was quite a bit of luck involved. Originally, he hadn''t planned to refine the Emperor Heaven Pill. The pills he had prepared to win people over were already sufficient, and he was ready to launch a counterattack on Feng City. But unexpectedly, someone from the Black-Corner Region had sought him two days ago to refine a special tier 6 healing pill, and the payment was actually the main ingredient for the Emperor Heaven Pill. He had managed to gather a set unexpectedly. "Perfect." Xiao Yan couldn''t help but reveal an excited smile. Although he was only a 6-star Dou King, still far from the Dou Emperor realm, one shouldn''t forget his identity as an alchemist. As long as he advanced to an 8-star Dou King, he could use a Dou King Pill to reach 9-star, then directly use the Emperor Heaven Pill to break through to the Dou Emperor realm! In other words, Xiao Yan was now only two stars away from becoming a Dou Emperor! Although he had just advanced a star not long ago, he had not only refined the Essence Flame of the Fallen Heart Flame but also possessed a quasi-Tian Class Qi Method. In just three or four months, Xiao Yan could break through to an 8-star Dou King and then advance to the Dou Emperor realm in one go! "Stop pouting. Here, these are for you." Xiao Yan saw Zi Yan''s craving expression and drooling face, and took out several round pills from the medicinal cauldron. These weren''t medicinal pills but candy pills he had made by mixing sugar with the extra medicinal powders from refining the Emperor Heaven Pill. Although they were just leftover materials, they were from the Emperor Heaven Pill after all. The energy contained within might be unbearable even for a Rank 6 magical beast. Zi Yan caught the pill bottle Xiao Yan tossed over and immediately beamed with a delightful smile. "That''s more like it, hee hee hee." "You''ll have to give it your all tomorrow," Xiao Yan laughed. Zi Yan waved her tiny fists, putting on a fierce yet childish expression. "Of course! I''ll help you beat up all those bad guys tomorrow!" Wherever there was a fight, there would be Zi Yan! Chapter 280: Besieging Feng City Chapter 280 - 280: Besieging Feng City Word Count: 2,799 Words ****** Xiao Yan naturally wouldn''t fight alone. Besides the Inner Academy''s Dou King elders and First Elder Su Qian at the Dou Ancestor realm, the four newly-advanced Dou Kings¡ªLin Yan, Lin Xiuya, Liu Qing, and Yan Hao¡ªalso planned to go to Feng City to avenge the previous battle! In addition to these Dou Kings, more than a dozen Inner Academy students and enforcers at the peak or advanced Dou Spirit stage would also join them. Although Jia Nan Academy had many elders, they were all at the Dou King realm. Students with the potential to reach Dou Emperor typically left to forge their own paths in the outside world. In contrast, the strong experts Han Feng had previously gathered from the Black-Corner Region were leaders of various factions, all of whom were Dou Emperors. Even though the First Elder Su Qian was a Dou Ancestor, the Gold Silver Elders could join forces to hold him back. Otherwise, Jia Nan Academy would have gone to eliminate Han Feng long ago. "First Elder, is everything arranged?" Xiao Yan looked at the nearby First Elder Su Qian and revealed a hint of a cruel smile. A cold light flashed in the First Elder''s eyes upon hearing this. Xiao Yan had refined eight Mighty Huang Pills over the past two months, which he and Jia Nan Academy split fifty-fifty. The academy used three of these pills to hire three Dou Emperor experts from the Black-Corner Region. You think you''re impressive, Han Feng, using Mighty Huang Pills to hire Dou Emperors from the Black-Corner Region? Then we''ll use your own methods against you! We''ll also hire a few Dou Emperors to besiege your Feng City! This was precisely why the First Elder had initially agreed to let Xiao Yan refine the Mighty Huang Pills. Su Qian nodded and said, "Old Yin Gu, the Sect Leader of the Dark Sky Sect; Wu Tie, the Gang Leader of the Wild Lion Gang; and Su Mei of the Luo Sha Gate¡ªthese three have had grudges with Han Feng before, so they didn''t respond to his call back then. Moreover, they are all Dou Emperors." "Tomorrow, when we besiege Feng City, besides us from Jia Nan Academy, these three factions will jointly blockade Feng City from all directions. We won''t let a single person from Feng City or any faction that attacked Jia Nan Academy escape!" Total annihilation! As the First Elder of Jia Nan Academy who could survive in the perilous Black-Corner Region, Su Qian naturally understood the principle of eliminating threats at their roots. Xiao Yan was very satisfied with these ruthless words. "Then I''ll go back and rest for the night. Leave Han Feng to me tomorrow," Xiao Yan said decisively. In the Xiao Hall, Xiao Yu and the others had long been waiting in the main hall for Xiao Yan''s return. Four people from the Xiao Hall would join tomorrow''s battle to besiege Feng City: Hu Jia, Wu Hao, Xiao Ning, and Xiao Yu. After several months of cultivation, both Hu Jia and Wu Hao had reached the Dou Spirit realm. Xiao Ning and Xiao Yu, after receiving Xiao Yan''s Spirit Ascension Pills, had also broken through to Dou Spirit. Now, their cultivation levels were even higher than that of the Clan Head, Xiao Zhan. "Remember, be careful in tomorrow''s battle. Leave those Dou Kings and Dou Emperors to the Academy''s elders. You''re responsible for dealing with the guards of Feng City," Xiao Yan instructed. "Understood! Little Clan Leader!" Xiao Ning shouted loudly. "Do you think I''m stupid? Don''t worry, I''ll avoid anyone whose cultivation surpasses mine," Xiao Yu pouted. Xiao Yan nodded. Finally feeling at ease, he returned to his room. Each time he returned, he would pass by the room where Xun Er had once lived, and each time, a sense of loneliness would well up in his heart. The beauty was gone; seeing her belongings made him think of her. Xiao Yan slowly shook his head and composed himself. After this battle, he would return to the Jia Ma Empire to visit his father and check on the development of the Yan Alliance. He had left the Jia Ma Empire for a year and a half. It was time to see how the Yan Alliance was progressing. If he had to face the Gu Clan in the future, having a strong Yan Alliance wouldn''t be a bad backing. Afterward, his goal would be to visit Burning Flame Valley to seek the complete Three Changes of the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change. Also, as his ancestor had mentioned, the Yin-Yang Twin Flame could guide him to find the other two Heavenly Flames he had released through self-detonation previously. Heavenly Flames! These would always be what Xiao Yan pursued. With Heavenly Flames, he could have everything! After returning to his room, Xiao Yan lightly flicked Venerable Tian Huo''s snow-white storage ring. With a buzzing sound, a wisp of white light emerged from the ring, and the somewhat weakened soul body of Venerable Tian Huo floated out. Xiao Yan took out two items from the storage ring. One was a tier 5 spiritual liquid called Soul Cultivating Saliva. Although only tier 5, this spiritual liquid could nourish a soul body. The other was a medicinal pill called the Little Soul Black Purple Pill that Xiao Yan had obtained before. This kind of pill could increase Spiritual Strength and strengthen the soul body. Xiao Yan had spent quite a few soul points to exchange for the pill recipe of the Little Soul Black Purple Pill from Hun Lao Gui. Fortunately, the Inner Academy had abundant medicinal ingredients. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for him to refine this pill. Not only did he obtain the Little Soul Black Purple Pill recipe, but Xiao Yan also exhausted his remaining soul points and several tier 6 pills to exchange for a low-grade tier 7 pill recipe called the Great Soul Black Purple Pill. From the name, it was clear that this was an advanced version of the Little Soul Black Purple Pill. Its effect was similar, except that it could increase the Spiritual Strength of someone at the Great Perfection of the Mortal State. There was no other way! The drawbacks of Xiao Yan''s low-level Soul Training Method had been fully exposed. His Soul Training Method provided little help now; even though he had cultivated the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique to perfection, the effect was still minimal. He had to rely entirely on the special spiritual fluctuations emitted by the Soul Command Token to slowly increase his Spiritual Strength. Relying solely on the nourishment of the Soul Command Token, it would take him at least three to four years to reach the Great Perfection of the Mortal State, only then would he possibly be able to use the Soul Gathering Burst of the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique to break through to the Soul State. Three or four years! This made Xiao Yan feel quite troubled, so he had to resort to pills to increase his Spiritual Strength. Of course, if other alchemists knew that Xiao Yan could increase his Spiritual Strength this much in just four years, they would probably be so envious they''d grind their teeth. Not appreciating the blessings one has! However, even though Xiao Yan could refine the Emperor Heaven Pill, refining a tier 7 pill was not something that could be achieved overnight. When Venerable Tian Huo emerged from the storage ring and saw Xiao Yan taking out the Soul Cultivating Saliva and the Little Soul Black Purple Pill, what shocked him most was how young Xiao Yan was! "You... you... you''re only a Dou King?!" Venerable Tian Huo was stunned, staring at Xiao Yan, who was only a 6-star Dou King and appeared to be about twenty years old. He was dumbfounded. Has the world changed while I was hiding in the magma world? Do Dou Kings now possess the strength of Dou Ancestors? Otherwise, how could he have entered the magma world! When Venerable Tian Huo sensed that the Little Soul Black Purple Pill Xiao Yan had produced was a high-grade tier 6 pill, and smelled the medicinal fragrance on him, he was even more astonished. Good heavens! This guy is actually a 6th-tier alchemist???! Venerable Tian Huo knew Xiao Yan was an alchemist, but if he were a Dou Ancestor or Dou Venerate, then being a 6th-tier alchemist would be very normal. But now! This was not normal at all! Venerable Tian Huo felt that the world had indeed changed! Xiao Yan saw Venerable Tian Huo''s expression of disbelief, opened the cap of the Soul Cultivating Saliva, and said, "Venerable Tian Huo, my strength doesn''t matter. What''s important is that I can help you resurrect." Venerable Tian Huo came back to his senses. Indeed, Xiao Yan''s cultivation didn''t matter; what mattered was achieving his goal. He slowly absorbed all the Soul Cultivating Saliva, and his somewhat illusory soul body immediately became more substantial. The moment the Little Soul Black Purple Pill touched his soul body, the medicinal pill instantly transformed into a powerful spiritual force that enveloped him. Venerable Tian Huo let out a sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. Although his Spiritual Strength hadn''t fully recovered to its peak, he only needed to gradually absorb all the medicinal strength of the pill to recover sufficiently. "Heh heh, such great kindness need not be expressed in words. By the way, I still don''t know how to address you," Venerable Tian Huo said. Even though he saw that Xiao Yan was only at the Dou King realm, Venerable Tian Huo didn''t dare underestimate the young man before him. He knew that Xiao Yan was proficient in Soul Skills and possessed extremely strong Spiritual Strength. Most importantly, he needed Xiao Yan''s help. "Xiao Yan. I won''t be presumptuous either; I''ll address you as Elder Yao." Xiao Yan raised his hand slightly. He understood propriety. This wasn''t like when he had negotiated with Venerable Tian Huo before; after all, the other party was the soul body of a Dou Venerate. "Very well. If you wish to cultivate the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique or need assistance, just call me. I''ll return to the storage ring to continue refining the medicinal strength," Venerable Tian Huo said before slipping back into the storage ring. With tomorrow''s confrontation with Han Feng approaching, Xiao Yan naturally prepared backup plans. "Han Feng... you covet my Flame Mantra, but don''t I also desire your Sea Heart Flame? I''ve heard that the Hall of Souls has a method to extract Heavenly Flames. Hopefully, the soul of a peak 6th-tier alchemist will be enough to exchange for such a method." A fierce glint flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes. Whether for public or private reasons, he had no intention of letting Han Feng go. The Flame Mantra was now at the quasi-Tian Class level, and the Sea Heart Flame ranked 15th among the Heavenly Flames. Although not ranked very high, it should be enough to push the Flame Mantra forward another half-step, right? Xiao Yan took out the Soul Command Token from the Bone Flame Ring. In tomorrow''s battle, this Soul Command Token would likely collect quite a few souls. The soul bodies of Dou Kings and Dou Emperors were worth quite a number of soul points. ... Early the next morning, before dawn had even broken, Jia Nan Academy was already shrouded in a murderous aura. A large number of Griffins awaited at the landing area, and all the students at the Dou Spirit realm who couldn''t fly were seated on them. Everyone had already gathered at the landing area. Although there weren''t many people from Jia Nan Academy this time¡ªonly a few dozen¡ªthey were all at least Dou Spirits, and half of them were Dou King elders. This force was certainly not weak. "The Dark Sky Sect and the other two factions have secretly mobilized their forces to surround Feng City from three directions. We will attack from the main gate," Su Qian said to all the elders. Su Qian had conducted all of this in secret. Even when Xiao Yan was refining pills, it was done in a sealed chamber with barriers to prevent any information leaks. A cold smile appeared on Xiao Yan''s face, his eyes flashing. "Today, we must catch Han Feng completely off guard!" Moments later, the First Elder suddenly waved his hand and took the lead, striding toward the gate. All the elders and students followed behind him with fervent expressions. Such a large-scale mobilization within the Inner Academy naturally caused quite a stir, but even if Han Feng found out now, it would already be too late. Ignoring the various gazes around them, Xiao Yan and his group headed straight for the Inner Academy''s exit. After passing through the dense forest, they saw that the hidden spatial gate had already been opened. The low roars of Griffins sounded continuously as they flew through the gate. The massive Griffins flew toward Feng City like a black and dense cloud. ... At the same time, in Feng City of the Black-Corner Region... Feng City had undergone significant changes in just these short four months. Because Han Feng had previously attacked Jia Nan Academy, several Dou Emperor-level factions fearing retaliation had established their headquarters here one after another. This transformed the small city into the most renowned in the Black-Corner Region, and present-day Feng City was gradually revealing its prosperity. In the vast area at the very center of the city stood a magnificent manor. Its grand and domineering aura surpassed any other building in the city. It served as both Han Feng''s residence and the meeting place for several major factions. Inside the manor, numerous figures were seated in an extremely spacious hall. The person occupying the highest seat was none other than the Medicine Emperor, Han Feng! Not far from Han Feng''s sides were the Gold Silver Elders, the strongest experts in the Black-Corner Region. Below them were the leaders of various factions participating in the Black Alliance. Any one of these leaders was a formidable figure whose stomp could make the entire Black-Corner Region tremble. However, in such a setting, these powerful individuals could only sit in the lower seats. The atmosphere in the meeting hall was somewhat joyous, and even Han Feng, seated at the head, wore a happy expression. "I won''t waste words on certain matters. All of you responded to my call back then and joined me in attacking Jia Nan Academy. If we don''t unite, we risk being defeated one by one by Jia Nan Academy." "I, Han Feng, shall naturally shoulder some responsibility. Besides the pills I promised you before, here are some tier 6 healing pills as welcome gifts for joining the ''Black Alliance.''" Han Feng nodded to a subordinate beside him, and trays holding medicinal pills were brought out. All the faction leaders revealed greedy and joyful expressions. Although they were initially reluctant to join any Black Alliance and be constrained, if a peak 6th-tier alchemist would refine pills for them, they were more than willing. "Jia Nan Academy has been throwing its weight around for many years. I, Han Feng, hereby promise that any Dou Emperor who joins my Black Alliance and kills an elder of Jia Nan Academy will receive a Mighty Huang Pill refined by me!" "If anyone can capture that Xiao Yan, I, Han Feng, guarantee to give them a satisfactory reward." The Dou Emperors in the hall couldn''t remain calm upon hearing these words. Mighty Huang Pills¡ªthese were deadly temptations for Dou Emperors! "Haha, just a mere Dou King brat relying on the advantage of a Heavenly Flame. Don''t worry, if we join forces, we will definitely capture him." Seeing everyone nod, Han Feng understood what they were thinking but did not refute them. He indeed coveted Xiao Yan''s Heavenly Flames, but what he cared about most was actually the complete version of the ''Flame Mantra'' Qi Method that Xiao Yan cultivated! However, what Han Feng didn''t realize was that while he was plotting against others, others were also plotting against him¡ªand today was the day! At this moment, Feng City had been silently surrounded from all directions. ... Meanwhile, as Xiao Yan, the First Elder, and the others flew away from the Inner Academy toward Feng City, a streak of purple light rapidly approached from afar, flying into the sky above Peace Town, intending to go directly to Jia Nan Academy. "Halt! Flying is prohibited in Peace Town. Entering Jia Nan Academy requires proper procedures," Jia Nan Academy''s law enforcers blocked the way. "I''m here to find someone. May I ask if Xiao Yan is here?" Chapter 281: Weeding Out the Bad Seed Chapter 281 - 281: Weeding Out the Bad Seed Word Count: 2,628 Words ****** The Gold Silver Elders, who had been sitting on either side of the main seat with their eyes half-closed as if dozing, suddenly snapped their eyes open while everyone in the hall began discussing how to deal with Xiao Yan and confront Jia Nan Academy. Their expressions shifted slightly as they directed their gazes toward the southern sky. Han Feng sensed something the moment the expressions of the Gold Silver Elders changed. His gaze shifted from the hall toward the southern sky, where a large number of formidable auras were rapidly approaching. These auras were not unfamiliar to Han Feng, as he had sensed them four months ago. He had been keeping a close eye on Jia Nan Academy over the past four months. The academy had attempted to attack him before, but without much success. The experts of the Black Alliance looked at the sudden change in the expressions of Han Feng and the Gold Silver Elders and were momentarily stunned. Due to their limited strength, they did not possess the keen perception of the former three. "Brother Han, Gold Silver Elders, what''s wrong?" a black-robed old man with Dou Emperor strength cautiously asked. "It seems some people are unwilling to let us off. They''ve come." The gold-robed Mister Gold let out a cold laugh as he stood up from his chair. Everyone was taken aback upon hearing this, then suddenly realized what was happening. They all revealed solemn expressions as they sensed the large number of experts approaching, especially the leading Dou Ancestor aura, which made their faces turn grim. Hadn''t they united precisely because they feared Su Qian''s revenge, that he would kill them one by one with his Dou Ancestor strength? "Those old fogeys from Jia Nan Academy aren''t in the Inner Academy this time. Without the Inner Academy''s formations to help them, I''d like to see how they can stir up any trouble!" Mister Silver suddenly stood up. Now, this was Feng City, their territory. They had plenty of means at their disposal! "Exactly! What''s there to fear on our own turf!" "Let''s go! Kill them all until not a piece of armor remains!" Of course, many were actually thinking that since they were not in the Inner Academy, it would be much easier to escape if they couldn''t win. Han Feng''s brows slowly furrowed as he faced these people with their own agendas. By relying on a certain resonance among Heavenly Flames, he could vaguely sense that among those numerous auras, there seemed to be a particularly familiar scorching aura. Han Feng''s expression gradually turned solemn. He knew that the ''junior brother'' who had once defeated him had arrived. ... "They''re almost here." First Elder Su Qian raised his gaze, a glint of cold light flashing in his eyes. His stern voice suddenly resounded in everyone''s ears: "Elders, instructors, and students of the academy, whether we can wash away the humiliation of those bastards attacking the Inner Academy depends on today!" "Understood!" "Kill!" A series of shouts responded in unison in the sky. Their majestic auras suddenly surged upward. Under the impact of such a massive formation''s aura, even the clouds in the sky were shattered into countless tiny white specks that scattered across the horizon. Whoosh! Whoosh! The sound of wind being torn apart rang out as silhouettes on the distant horizon streaked across the sky like meteors. With their surging auras, they rushed violently toward that city which held such high prestige in the Black-Corner Region! The overwhelming aura released by the experts of the Inner Academy was not concealed at all. The oppressive aura had already enveloped the entire Feng City even before they arrived. In an instant, the originally noisy city fell into silence, and countless shocked gazes turned toward the source of the aura. "Who dares to invade my Feng City!" A large number of figures suddenly broke through the air from Han Feng''s castle in the city center not long after the Inner Academy experts'' aura enveloped Feng City. They hovered in the sky in a scattered formation. The leading figure, dressed in an alchemist''s robe, let out a cold laugh infused with Dou Qi, which spread across the sky like rolling thunder. Feng City immediately began to stir upon seeing the numerous figures appearing in the sky. As the master of Feng City, Han Feng''s reputation here was unmatched. Of course, the people of the Black-Corner Region worshipped the strong, and Han Feng''s reputation stemmed from his alchemy skills. "Han Feng, you attacked the Inner Academy before. Today, let''s settle this grudge once and for all!" The aged yet powerful voice of First Elder Su Qian rolled in from afar as soon as Han Feng appeared. Then, one figure after another finally appeared under countless watchful eyes. Dozens of figures with Dou Qi wings stood in the air, and atop the massive Griffins stood several powerful individuals at the Dou Spirit realm. A vast oppressive aura spread out in an instant, enveloping the entire area and colliding with the aura of Han Feng and his group. Han Feng narrowed his eyes slightly and slowly scanned over the Inner Academy''s experts who had appeared. After a moment, his gaze finally came to an abrupt halt as it landed on the figure he had been ''thinking of day and night''! "Xiao Yan... It seems you refuse to take the road to heaven but come knocking on the gates of hell. Now that you''re not in the Inner Academy, I''d like to see how you''ll leave Feng City today!" Han Feng''s face twitched slightly, and his gloomy voice slowly resounded across the sky. Feng City suddenly lit up with bursts of light as his voice fell; a grand formation appeared within the city. Numerous enormous ballistae on Feng City''s walls were aimed at Xiao Yan. These were Monster Core Weapons that Han Feng had purchased over the past four months. Each one was extraordinarily powerful, equivalent to a strike from a Dou Spirit. This was Han Feng''s territory, after all; the defensive forces were not weak. "Hehe, it''s been a few months. I didn''t expect you''d become even more ostentatious," Xiao Yan said with a smile as he looked at Han Feng''s changing expression. "You were lucky enough to escape four months ago. I wonder if you''ll be as fortunate today." Han Feng became so angry that he laughed when faced with Xiao Yan''s insinuating words. "Good, good! I want to see how you''re going to defeat my Black Alliance today!" Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Immediately, numerous fierce-looking people wielding weapons emerged from every alley and street in Feng City. Moreover, many people flew into the sky with their Dou Qi wings. The number of Dou Kings in Feng City was no less than those on Jia Nan Academy''s side when counted up. Furthermore, not counting Han Feng and the Gold Silver Elders, they had four more elite Dou Emperors. Just the difference in the number of Dou Emperors was enough to completely overturn the situation. The reason Jia Nan Academy had not dared to launch a counterattack against Feng City for the past four months was precisely because of these Dou Emperors from the Black-Corner Region. Those Guardians had to protect the most crucial Book Collection Hall and couldn''t take action. "Kekeke, don''t think the Black-Corner Region will always let Jia Nan Academy trample over us!" "Today, we''ll force Jia Nan Academy to shut its doors forever!" The various impatient leaders of the Black-Corner Region responded boisterously as Han Feng''s shout fell. Majestic auras surged out one after another as they looked at the Jia Nan Academy forces outside the city with ferocious smiles. Originally, they had been wary of Jia Nan Academy''s reputation. However, after Han Feng had shattered that invincible image four months ago, and now seeing that the opponent''s strength was inferior to theirs, many began to become arrogant. Xiao Yan suddenly narrowed his eyes slightly and revealed a meaningful smile. Being looked at by Xiao Yan like this caused unease to well up in Han Feng''s heart for some reason. "How will we defeat your Black Alliance? Don''t think you''re the only one who can use medicinal pills to recruit people," Xiao Yan let out a cold laugh. Then, using spiritual transmission, his voice echoed in Han Feng''s mind: "Don''t forget, you and I are fellow disciples." "How could I not be able to do what you can do?" Suddenly, dust clouds billowed from three other directions. The three major factions that had long been lying in ambush around Feng City simultaneously led several thousand disciples above the Dou Master realm to surround the entire city. The auras of three Dou Emperors locked onto the opposing Dou Emperors. Even the expressions of the Gold Silver Elders changed when they saw the banners of these three forces and sensed those familiar Dou Emperor auras. "Old Yin Gu, Sect Leader of the Dark Sky Sect; Tie Wu, Gang Leader of the Wild Lion Gang; and Su Mei of the Luo Sha Gate! You three are actually helping Jia Nan Academy!!" The only female Dou Emperor, Su Mei, covered her mouth and chuckled softly. "Hehe, if you can help Medicine Emperor Han Feng form a Black Alliance, why can''t we help Jia Nan Academy?" The burly Tie Wu shouted loudly, "Enough with the nonsense! We''re determined to help them today!" Han Feng''s expression turned extremely gloomy upon seeing the resolute stance of Old Yin Gu and the other two, who had even mobilized all their forces to besiege Feng City. However, he forced out an ugly smile and said, "I, Han Feng, did indeed have some conflicts with you three in the past. But it''s better to resolve grudges than to hold onto them. As long as the three of you leave today, I, Han Feng, will surely present tier 6 medicinal pills as a token of gratitude in the future. Why act so impulsively?" Su Mei and the other two revealed mocking smiles. Old Yin Gu, who had been silent until now, said, "How foolish of you, Han Feng. After all the time you''ve been operating in the Black-Corner Region, do you think the three of us have come seeking revenge over the trivial matters from back then?" "Each of us has received a Mighty Huang Pill as payment to completely erase your Feng City from the Black-Corner Region." Mighty Huang Pill!! No one was more shocked by Old Yin Gu''s words than Han Feng himself! "You... you can already refine the Mighty Huang Pill!!!" Han Feng''s face turned pale as he stared at Xiao Yan in horror. His greatest pride was his talent in alchemy; he believed his aptitude as an alchemist surpassed even his Master, Venerable Yao. But even Venerable Yao couldn''t refine the Mighty Huang Pill at the age of twenty! Yet now, this junior brother of his, several decades younger, actually had alchemy skills no weaker than his own!! ''Flame Mantra¡ªit must be the Flame Mantra! The complete Flame Mantra can enhance alchemy skills! It must be like this!'' Han Feng appeared somewhat deranged. He couldn''t accept this reality. First Elder Su Qian saw the Dark Sky Sect and the other two forces encircling Feng City from afar and decided not to delay any longer. "Everyone, back then these bastards attacked the Inner Academy and nearly destroyed it. Such a deep grudge cannot go unavenged! Today is the time to settle this enmity once and for all. If you don''t want to retreat in disgrace again, then fight with your lives!" Su Qian''s breathing was somewhat heavy at this moment, his eyes tinged with blood. When had their Jia Nan Academy ever been attacked? And such a thing had happened during his tenure as First Elder. How could he not be furious? Now, with a powerful helper like Xiao Yan joining, washing away this humiliation was not far off! The faces of the Inner Academy experts instantly flushed red upon hearing Su Qian''s shout. The frustration in their hearts was no less than his. In the past, although there were constant minor disturbances in the Black-Corner Region, no one dared to provoke Jia Nan Academy in this way. But four months ago, they had suffered such a great loss. If they didn''t take revenge, other forces in the Black-Corner Region would no longer take the Inner Academy seriously. To them, this was an absolute humiliation! One formidable aura after another spread out. With the addition of the three Dou Emperors¡ªOld Yin Gu and the other two¡ªand the Dou Kings from their forces, the strength on Jia Nan Academy''s side was now clearly a step above Feng City. "Xiao Yan, I''ll leave Han Feng to you. He''s a crucial figure. If he manages to break free from you, he might sway the outcome of this battle. So, no matter what, you must hold him off until I defeat the Gold Silver Elders!" Su Qian turned his head, speaking to Xiao Yan with utmost solemnity. "Therefore, your role is more important than anyone else''s!" Xiao Yan smiled and nodded. He said to Han Feng, "Come up into the sky for a battle. You want my things, and I happen to want your Sea Heart Flame." His gaze slowly locked onto Han Feng hovering above the city. Using spiritual transmission, a thread-like voice that only the two of them could hear was sent over: "Today, I shall weed out the bad seed!" Han Feng''s eyebrows twitched slightly; a trace of viciousness flashed through his eyes. He slowly raised his palm, pointing at Xiao Yan from afar, then suddenly clenched his fist. "Little junior brother, today you won''t be able to leave here no matter what!" A sinister smile hung on the corners of Han Feng''s mouth. He then slightly tilted his head, his indifferent voice echoing across the sky, completely shattering the tense atmosphere: "Kill them all! Show no mercy!" The great battle was about to erupt. The entire Feng City was now surrounded, and Jia Nan Academy clearly had no intention of negotiating with the factions of the Black Alliance. Those factions knew they had no choice. The Gold Silver Elders were the first to act. Their majestic Dou Qi intertwined, and the two figures seemed to merge into one, transforming into a beam of light that shot toward Su Qian. As they swept across the sky, even the air emitted bursts of low sonic booms. For these two old fellows to become the strongest in such a chaotic place as the Black-Corner Region, they naturally possessed abilities beyond ordinary people. Such an aura was almost comparable to that of an ordinary Dou Ancestor. Su Qian let out a cold laugh as he watched the Gold Silver Elders, whose target was unmistakably him. He had clashed with these two fellows several times before. Although they could contend with him by relying on their tacit cooperation, that was only temporary. He was confident that as long as no one intervened in their battle, he would definitely be able to take care of these two old fellows. Apart from Su Qian''s battlefield at the Dou Ancestor realm, the most crucial battleground was naturally between Xiao Yan and Han Feng. "Little junior brother, as long as you''re willing to hand over the complete ''Flame Mantra'' to me, I can give you the entire Feng City. Aren''t you also an alchemist? I can provide you with many high-tier pill recipes. As long as you agree, no matter what conditions you put forward, I will meet them! How about it?" Han Feng proposed. Xiao Yan revealed a bright smile. "Once you''re dead, all of these will naturally be mine." Chapter 282: Defeating Han Feng Chapter 282 - 282: Defeating Han Feng Word Count: 2,786 Words ****** Uttering the cruelest words with the friendliest smile. Xiao Yan''s smiling face might make those who didn''t know any better think he had a very good relationship with Han Feng. Han Feng took a deep breath, and the ferocity on his face gradually faded. He seemed to revert back to the Han Feng who had ambushed and assassinated his own Master. His eyes stared sinisterly at the smiling Xiao Yan before him. "In that case, I can only capture you. Keke, rest assured, I have many methods," Han Feng said. "When the time comes, I won''t worry about you not handing over the Flame Mantra. Moreover, I will even take the Heavenly Flames within your body, turning you into a complete cripple." "Although Heavenly Flames become imprinted on the soul after being refined, there are some forces in this world that specialize in the soul and can strip away Heavenly Flames." Xiao Yan smiled faintly at Han Feng''s menacing words. "Truth be told, I also have my eye on the Sea Heart Flame in your body. I think it might be what my Flame Mantra needs to evolve to a level I''ve been longing for." "Then let''s see if your strength can back up your talk!" Han Feng let out a sinister laugh. The Dou Qi within his body surged wildly. A deep blue flame erupted from his palm and rushed skyward like a shimmering curtain of water cascading from the heavens, creating a magnificent sight. This sudden surge of towering blue flames immediately caught the attention of countless eyes in Feng City. Gasps of astonishment spread like wildfire and echoed from all directions. "Back then, your Heavenly Flame attack severely injured me, but it also allowed me to touch the threshold of the Dou Ancestor realm, reaching the strength of a half-step Dou Ancestor," Han Feng said as he floated within the deep blue flame curtain hanging from the sky, looking down on Xiao Yan with a cold smile. "I am now much stronger than before. Last time, I merely underestimated that fire lotus of yours. This time, I''m afraid you won''t have such good luck." He wouldn''t give Xiao Yan the time to merge Heavenly Flames to create that terrifying fire lotus again. Xiao Yan responded with a calm smile and made no retort. Instead, he waved a hand and unleashed the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change. Skyfire Three Mysterious Change¡ªTen Thousand Beast Glazed Change! Boom! A thunderous roar reverberated inside Xiao Yan''s body. His fire control ability had reached an inconceivable level after the Flame Mantra evolved to the quasi-Tian Class. Now he could not only separate the different Heavenly Flames within him but even merge a few of them into a brand-new Heavenly Flame. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame, the Fallen Heart Flame, and the Green Lotus Core Flame¡ªthree kinds of Heavenly Flames surged out from his Acceptance Soul, then merged into a brand-new Heavenly Flame under the effect of the Flame Mantra. Even with Xiao Yan''s Tier 7 Spiritual Strength, using six kinds of Heavenly Flames to perform the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change would be too much for him to bear! An extremely terrifying and scorching temperature instantly erupted from within him. His aura surged from a 6-star Dou King, rapidly climbed, and finally surpassed the Dou Emperor realm and reached the 3-star Dou Emperor stage. Such a soaring increase in strength left Han Feng dumbfounded. When Xiao Yan used the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change before, he had only barely reached Dou Emperor strength, and even then, it had been extremely tenuous. But now, Xiao Yan''s strength not only surpassed the Dou Emperor realm, but judging from his demeanor, he still had strength to spare and hadn''t reached his limit! Xiao Yan clenched his fist, feeling the immense power surging within his body. ''Using three kinds of Heavenly Flames for the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change feels just right. Four should be the limit. If it''s five, I''m afraid my body will be unable to sustain it for long like last time.'' Although his current strength was only that of a 3-star Dou Emperor, one must not forget that his Flame Mantra was now at the quasi-Tian Class. In contrast, Han Feng''s Flame Mantra was incomplete, and he had only refined one Heavenly Flame, making it equivalent to an Intermediate Xuan Class. The gap between the two was so great that even differences in cultivation base couldn''t make up for it. Xiao Yan spotted that Han Feng''s Sea Heart Flame seemed a bit subdued and let out a small laugh. "Senior Brother, your Heavenly Flame doesn''t look as strong as mine." "You... you... you refined the Fallen Heart Flame and even merged it successfully?!" Han Feng''s eyes were riveted on the emerald-red flames dancing around Xiao Yan. Although those flames did not appear dominantly violent, his extremely keen spiritual perception allowed him to vaguely sense that the energy contained within them was terrifying. It was likely stronger than any flame he had ever encountered, stronger even than the Bone Chilling Flame! Xiao Yan merely smiled at Han Feng''s astonished expression. A wisp of emerald flame, sprite-like, flickered between his fingertips. The space itself seemed faintly distorted wherever its tail passed. "Let''s end this." Han Feng''s face instantly twisted as if water could be wrung from it. The Sea Heart Flame transformed into a longsword, the tip pointing straight at Xiao Yan as he roared, "I have no regrets about what happened back then! He was the one in the wrong!" "Go to hell!" Boom! Han Feng''s sea-blue Dou Qi wings trembled as he transformed into a blue flame streak shooting straight at Xiao Yan. The longsword formed from flames brought its scorching might down in a sweeping strike. Clang! Xiao Yan reacted swiftly. The Heavy Xuan Ruler smashed head-on into Han Feng''s blazing sword with a ringing impact. A fearsome power that Han Feng had never felt before surged through the blade, sending him spinning away. Xiao Yan pressed his advantage, swinging the ruler toward Han Feng''s face. Yet Han Feng''s battle experience was extensive. With Tier 7 Spiritual Strength of his own, he sensed and evaded Xiao Yan''s blow in time. Flicking his wrist, he spun his longsword in a dazzling flourish and thrust it at Xiao Yan''s throat. Swoosh! A flash of lightning streaked by; all that was skewered was Xiao Yan''s afterimage. Xiao Yan reappeared at Han Feng''s flank in a blur of movement. Also at Tier 7 Spiritual Strength, he remained unflustered. Han Feng lifted an eyebrow, a bit unnerved by Xiao Yan''s quickness. Then he flicked his arm at high speed, causing the longsword of flame to appear as though it had split into countless mirrored blades. Like a driving rainstorm, these blazing swords whooshed through the air in an overwhelming barrage aimed straight at Xiao Yan. Heavenly Flame Dou Technique¡ªBeast Spirit Descent! ROAR!! An Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger''s illusory figure appeared behind Xiao Yan with a mighty roar. A mass of demon flames spewed forth like the world''s end. Under the enhancement of the quasi-Tian Class Qi Method, the quality of Xiao Yan''s Dou Qi had undergone a significant leap. The demon flames blasted through Han Feng''s sword techniques as if crushing dry weeds. Han Feng''s expression changed drastically when he saw his own Heavenly Flame unable to match Xiao Yan''s. With a sudden flip of his body, he dodged the attack in an extremely sorry state. "This guy''s Heavenly Flame... is actually this strong!" Han Feng was greatly alarmed. Despite having a higher cultivation, he couldn''t rival Xiao Yan''s Heavenly Flames! Xiao Yan noticed that his flames had scorched the hem of Han Feng''s alchemist robe. He smiled, then flicked his finger, and a formless, transparent Heavenly Flame separated from the merged Heavenly Flame shrouding his body. "Fallen Heart Flame!" No wonder Han Feng looked so ashen. The Fallen Heart Flame ranked 14th among Heavenly Flames. This alone was of a higher grade than the Sea Heart Flame, not to mention Xiao Yan had also merged other Heavenly Flames! Suddenly, Han Feng felt his body heating up. His body shuddered as the Dou Qi and Spiritual Strength within his body became chaotic. He felt as if he were on fire. Only after sensing with his spiritual perception did he discover that a formless Heart Flame had actually appeared within his body and was burning him! ''This is Heart Flame Invasion!'' Han Feng immediately mobilized the Sea Heart Flame to extinguish the Heavenly Flame within his body. But at the moment Han Feng''s thoughts moved to control his Heavenly Flame, the three-colored fire wings behind Xiao Yan suddenly flared like a jet, propelling him at high speed toward the distracted Han Feng with the Heavy Xuan Ruler raised. Han Feng abruptly looked up to see a black shadow rapidly enlarging before his eyes. There was no time to eliminate the Heart Flame within his body. He hurriedly raised his sword to block. A powerful force caused Han Feng''s arm to go numb with a loud clang! However, this also allowed Han Feng to borrow the force to retreat. After the Sea Heart Flame extinguished the Heart Flame, he suddenly raised his head. His face was filled with ferocious madness. With a furious shout, he launched the massive Dou Qi sphere in his hand like a blazing sun, shooting straight toward Xiao Yan! "Radiant Seal!" A blinding beam of light tore through space. Faintly visible within the light beam was a massive handprint that looked like a blazing sun falling from the horizon, carrying a terrifying energy that made one''s hair stand on end! Xiao Yan''s heart tightened as he thought, ''A Di Class Dou Technique, and it''s already at major mastery.'' He did not hold back either. Flames erupted from the Heavy Xuan Ruler, and the surrounding natural energy converged. The Flame Mantra absorbed and transformed the energy within a radius of several dozen kilometers like a nuclear reactor. "Flame Splitting Tsunami!" Three-colored flames transformed into a crescent-shaped blade and flew out with a momentum as if to cleave the earth. It was an awe-inspiring sight! Under the gaze of both parties, the two energy attacks collided in midair with a thunderous boom. The result was not unexpected. Xiao Yan, who possessed a quasi-Tian Class Qi Method, held an absolute advantage. Moreover, even his Heavenly Flames were of a much higher rank than Han Feng''s. The gap in cultivation between them was completely bridged, and Xiao Yan even gained the upper hand. BOOM!! The blade glow from the Flame Splitting Tsunami actually cleaved Han Feng''s energy handprint apart, and the terrifying fiery energy surged straight toward his face. "What?!" Han Feng was greatly shocked. This was his most powerful Di Class Dou Technique, yet it couldn''t withstand a Dou Technique unleashed by Xiao Yan, a mere Dou King who had used a Secret Technique to boost his strength! Rumble!! A thunderous explosion rippled out the moment that fire connected with Han Feng. The raging Heavenly Flame swelled like a spherical barrier, threatening to burn him alive within it. The violent temperature vaporized the very clouds overhead. "Ha!" Han Feng let out a loud shout within the fiery sphere, and the sound of ocean waves crashing echoed outward. Hissing sounds arose as white steam immediately enveloped the surroundings; water vapor permeated the area. Xiao Yan had known from before that the Sea Heart Flame''s special ability allowed Han Feng to cultivate water-attribute Dou Techniques. Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed slightly. He knew it was impossible to defeat Han Feng relying solely on the Flame Splitting Tsunami. A Low Di Class Dou Technique at major mastery might have been enough to decide victory at the Dou King realm, but against the opponents he now faced, such techniques were somewhat lacking. They were merely foundational moves; to determine victory, he needed a trump card! For example, the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame. Buzz!!! Seizing the moment while Han Feng remained busy fending off the flames, Xiao Yan began molding a fire lotus between his hands. His palm slowly rose, and from within his wide sleeve, a deep emerald glow gradually emerged. In an instant, the green light flew out, and then, a flawless jade-like fire lotus, only the size of a palm, hovered above his hand. ''Phew, even with a quasi-Tian Class Qi Method, creating this thing using just the Essence Flames of two kinds of Heavenly Flames still consumes an enormous amount of Dou Qi and Spiritual Strength.'' Xiao Yan gazed at the jade-like fire lotus, then lifted his head and chuckled at Han Feng in the distance, whose face had suddenly stiffened. Although this time the fire lotus only had two colors, it was crafted using the Essence Flames of the Fallen Heart Flame and the Green Lotus Core Flame. Its terrifying power was unparalleled, even surpassing the one he used last time! "Senior Brother, the same trick nearly finished you off last time. You haven''t learned a thing." Although the fire lotus was only palm-sized, in Han Feng''s eyes, it was even more terrifying than the vast blade glow that had nearly spanned the sky earlier. Four months ago, it was this damned thing that had nearly cost him his life! The entirely jade-like luster of the fire lotus looked even more radiant, yet Han Feng understood that this fire lotus before him was even more terrifying than the one that had almost blown him apart four months ago! Using his tier 7 spiritual perception, Han Feng could vaguely sense the immense power contained within the jade-like fire lotus. Therefore, his expression grew increasingly grim. He knew that if he couldn''t withstand this attack, he would die a gruesome death. "Go." Xiao Yan lightly flicked the fire lotus, and the glazed-colored Angry Buddha Lotus Flame transformed into a streak of fire, shooting toward Han Feng. The trail it burned left visible scorch marks in the very space it passed through. "You cursed brat!" Gritting his teeth hard, Han Feng didn''t dare to be careless any longer. He even swallowed several pills that could temporarily boost his strength. Immediately, deep blue flames surged endlessly from within his body, finally transforming into a vast deep blue sea of flames spanning seventy to eighty feet. Strangely, these flames emitted thunderous sounds like ocean waves crashing against rocks, causing a slight oppression in people''s hearts. That feeling was like facing the boundless sea alone, making one unable to muster any courage to resist. It was evident that Han Feng''s mastery over the Sea Heart Flame was quite profound. "Sea Heart Phantom Beast!" Facing the incoming Angry Buddha Lotus Flame, Han Feng transformed the sea of flames into a gigantic sky-blue beast. The beast''s massive body charged fiercely toward the smaller fire lotus, intending to smash it to pieces. BOOM! Silence lasted only a fleeting moment before a cataclysmic energy storm erupted from the collision point like a tempest! The terrifying fiery energy storm expanded over an area of several hundred meters. Even the groups of Dou Kings battling in the sky were forced to flee hurriedly in all directions. They knew that if they were caught in this maelstrom, even with their strength, they wouldn''t fare well. Like a tornado, the flames swept both Xiao Yan and Han Feng into its vortex in an instant. Upon witnessing the astonishing power of Xiao Yan''s Dou Technique, Lin Yan, who had just slain a Dou King from the Black-Corner Region, couldn''t help but smile bitterly. "This guy is getting more and more terrifying." Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing couldn''t help but feel their gazes dim. It seemed almost impossible to surpass him. "Who won?" Zi Yan murmured to herself after punching back a peak Dou King. Even Su Qian and the Gold Silver Elders paused, for the victor between Xiao Yan and Han Feng would likely decide the overall outcome of the entire battle. "It''s Han Feng! He''s over there!" Moments later, Han Feng''s figure appeared. His alchemist robe was in tatters, blood oozed from the corner of his mouth, and his body was covered in extensive burns. "Where is Xiao Yan?" Just as everyone was puzzled about Xiao Yan''s whereabouts, a mass of black flames suddenly appeared in the empty space. The Heavy Xuan Ruler slashed fiercely toward Han Feng from behind. "Betraying your Master and bringing shame upon your ancestors¡ªtoday, I shall carry out justice in his name!" Caught completely off guard, Han Feng took the heavy blow head-on. A mouthful of fresh blood spurted from his lips, his body hurtling away like a bird with its wings snapped. Chapter 283: The Pitiful Han Feng Chapter 283 - 283: The Pitiful Han Feng ****** Word Count: 2,697 Words ****** Swish! Xiao Yan flicked his sleeve, sending Heavenly Flame transformed into fiery chains flying out from his cuffs. With two piercing sounds, the Heavenly Flame chains directly penetrated through Han Feng''s shoulder blades, skewering him completely. "Ahhhh!!!" Han Feng''s agonized screams tore through the air as the terrifying heat scorched his flesh. Even though he tried to defend with the Sea Heart Flame, it was all in vain. In terms of both Heavenly Flame rank and Qi Method grade, Han Feng was hopelessly outmatched by Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan couldn''t help sighing inwardly. The importance of a Qi Method was truly immense. Although the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change with Heavenly Flames had elevated his strength from a Dou King to a Dou Emperor, what truly decided victory was his possession of the quasi-Tian Class Flame Mantra. The power granted by a quasi-Tian Class Qi Method was intoxicating, even for someone with Xiao Yan''s mental fortitude. That degree of control over energy was incredibly profound and almost inconceivable. Di Class Qi Methods and Dou Techniques could stir the natural energy of the world, but a quasi-Tian Class Qi Method allowed precise dominion over the natural energy within dozens of kilometers. This meant that within this range, one could freely absorb the energy of the entire area. Han Feng''s Xuan Class Qi Method was completely ineffective within Xiao Yan''s domain. Not to mention, after advancing to quasi-Tian Class, the Flame Mantra''s control over Heavenly Flames had become extremely refined. Xiao Yan could effortlessly shape Heavenly Flames at will. "Save Han Feng!" Xiao Yan''s actions were immediately noticed by the experts of the Black Alliance. Their expressions changed drastically, and furious shouts resounded through the air. They knew very well Han Feng''s importance to the entire Black Alliance. If they lost Han Feng, this enormous alliance would likely collapse instantly! Moreover, without Han Feng in this battle, their defeat was certain. "Block them!" At almost the same instant the experts from the Black-Corner Region moved, First Elder Su Qian''s cold command rang out. The group of Inner Academy elders who had been awaiting orders instantly sprang into action, forming a human wall outside Feng City. Powerful auras rose one after another, repelling all those from the Black-Corner Region who attempted to rescue Han Feng. Han Feng suddenly ceased struggling and instead gave Xiao Yan a chilling grin. "Heh heh heh. Xiao Yan, I''ll admit that after obtaining that old thing''s inheritance, you''re indeed stronger than me. But! There are many things in this world that you don''t know, and the sky is much higher than you can imagine!" Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!! Dark clouds rapidly gathered on the distant horizon as soon as his words fell. In a blink, the sky turned pitch-black without any warning. Shortly after, a raging gale howled down from the sky. Some of the physically weaker ordinary people in Feng City began to sway under the gusting wind, grabbing onto anything nearby in fright. The black storm descended from the darkened sky like a devouring demon, consuming everything in its path. That black gale swept in from the horizon, and in just the blink of an eye, it enveloped Xiao Yan. "A Black Storm?!" "How can that be? Why would a Black Storm suddenly appear?!" The Black Storm instantly shrouded the sky, plunging Feng City into darkness. "No! There''s someone within the storm!" "A Dou Ancestor?!" Su Qian abruptly turned his gaze to where Han Feng had been. Everyone had heard Han Feng''s bursts of laughter before this storm arrived. This undoubtedly proved that the Black Storm was not a natural phenomenon but was conjured by someone! As a Dou Ancestor himself, Su Qian was the first to detect something amiss. His eyes were fixed on the eye of the Black Storm. He vaguely sensed that something existed there, but his perception was blocked, as if by some invisible barrier. Especially in the mid-air area where Xiao Yan and Han Feng were¡ªbefore long, it was enveloped by a mass of black fog, completely obscuring their figures. "It''s Han Feng''s reinforcements!!" "The Alliance Leader is formidable!" "Hahaha, your Jia Nan Academy is finished! The Medicine Emperor''s influence is beyond your imagination!" Meanwhile, Han Feng, still skewered by the fiery chains, burst into laughter within the black fog. "Junior Brother, even when that old thing was alive, he never dared to provoke this faction! Let me tell you the real truth. All I did was poison him. He actually died at the hands of a Venerable!" "You have no idea what kind of power you''re up against!" "The Hall of Souls? How could I not know about them?" Surrounded by the black fog, Xiao Yan looked at the darkness around him and revealed a deep smile. "Heh heh heh, it seems you do know a thing or two. Well, that''s normal for an alchemist. On the Dou Qi Continent, alchemists, though exalted, are nothing but prey for the Hall of Souls to hunt! And you''re no exception!" Han Feng looked coldly at Xiao Yan, an expression of having victory within his grasp. Han Feng turned to the black-robed figure at the center of the storm and smiled. "Protector Xuan, this is the Xiao Yan I mentioned, a fellow disciple of mine. Please help me capture him." Right as Han Feng''s words trailed off, the black-robed man in the center of the dark fog opened his eyes. Those eyes were like ghostly lanterns in the dark night, flickering with eerie light. An aura of an advanced Dou Ancestor suddenly erupted from him. Anyone witnessing such a terrifying scene in the dark would have shivered with dread. Yet Xiao Yan maintained a faint smile as he looked at this black-robed man, appearing completely unconcerned. Though enveloped by the Black Storm, the black fog did not affect him at all. "So your backing is a Protector from the Hall of Souls?" Xiao Yan smiled at Han Feng as he spoke. He even generously withdrew the fiery chains. When Han Feng saw the fiery chains disappear from his body, he revealed a smug smile and said, "It''s not too late if you regret now. As long as you hand over the Flame Mantra and the Heavenly Flames in your body, I can spare your life." "Although having your Heavenly Flames forcibly taken will damage your foundation, it''s better than losing your life. Junior Brother, this is one of the few mercies from your Senior Brother. Otherwise, I believe Protector Xuan would be very interested in your soul body!" Han Feng''s eyes were fixed on Xiao Yan. Naturally, he had no intention of letting Xiao Yan go. Once he obtained the Flame Mantra, he would immediately have Protector Xuan kill Xiao Yan. "Why are you so certain that he''s your ally?" Xiao Yan wasn''t angered by Han Feng''s words. Instead, he looked at the elated Han Feng with a playful gaze. "What?! You!" Han Feng''s expression changed dramatically upon hearing this. He abruptly turned to look at Protector Xuan. "Earth Grade Protector Xuan pays respects to Venerable Yan," the black-robed figure suddenly said, lowering his head toward Xiao Yan! "At ease. I haven''t given you any offerings or soul points; this doesn''t conform to the rules." Xiao Yan clasped his hands behind his back and nodded slightly. "You!!!" This time, Han Feng''s face turned as pale as if he''d seen a ghost. He retreated several steps, staring at Xiao Yan in horror. He couldn''t help but exclaim, "How can this be?! Y-you set me up!" "That''s not quite right." Xiao Yan shook his head lightly and said calmly, "I was just taking precautions. I didn''t expect you to actually bring Protector Xuan here. I''ve only recently been promoted to a Venerable of the Hall of Souls, and at first, I didn''t plan to use the Hall of Souls'' power to deal with you. Of course, it''s not because I have such noble character; mainly, you''re not worth it." Protector Xuan instantly locked onto Han Feng and said, "Jie Jie Jie, Han Feng, the price you offered was indeed very tempting, but unfortunately, he''s not someone you can provoke." "You were working together all along!" Han Feng felt like he had been played like a fool. He thought victory was assured with Protector Xuan''s help, but he didn''t expect that Xiao Yan was actually an Honorable Elder of the Hall of Souls! "You jumped into the pit yourself; I couldn''t stop you even if I wanted to." Xiao Yan shook his head. He had long suspected that Han Feng was colluding with the Hall of Souls. Han Feng was a peak 6th-tier alchemist. With his Heavenly Flame and Tier 7 Spiritual Strength, he already had a certain chance of successfully refining low-grade tier 7 medicinal pills. Previously, Xiao Yan had seen a Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill at Hun Lao Gui''s place, and the pill recipe for this kind of medicinal pill was created by Venerable Yao. In this world, only Han Feng could possibly have refined it, or perhaps Venerable Yao had given him one in the past. Therefore, Xiao Yan speculated that Han Feng must have had contact with the Hun Clan, and perhaps that Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill was even used in exchange for a Soul Training Method. So before coming here, Xiao Yan had made a special trip to the Hall of Souls in the Black-Corner Region. Sure enough, Han Feng had cleverly sought out Protector Xuan to assist him. Realizing that Protector Xuan, whom he''d always believed to be on his side, was actually a spy monitoring and even opposing him, Han Feng''s expression turned ugly. In the end, he had been outplayed! "Alright, enough talk. It''s getting late; time to end this." Xiao Yan revealed a faint smile. You can''t beat me, and your backing isn''t stronger than mine. You might as well surrender. Just as Han Feng gritted his teeth and was about to turn and flee, suddenly¡ªwith a clattering sound¡ªa pitch-black iron chain emitting a deep luster abruptly shot out from Protector Xuan''s hand. The chain''s speed was terrifyingly swift; in almost an instant, it reached Han Feng''s back. The tip of the chain was as sharp as a blade, even faintly emitting an eerie cold gleam. Han Feng was instantly pierced through by the iron chain with a squelching sound. A soul-wrenching pain surged through him. "Ah!! You can''t do this to me! My Martial Uncle is Venerable Mu Gu of the Hall of Souls!" Protector Xuan gave a fierce tug on the chain, and Han Feng''s entire body was pulled backward. With a few clattering sounds, he was instantly bound tightly. Xiao Yan''s left hand suddenly clasped Han Feng''s throat with a snap. He revealed a faint smile and said, "Too bad your Master is no longer around. If he were alive, perhaps I might have spared you out of consideration for our relationship as fellow disciples." Attacking the heart before the body! His words immediately conjured up the image of that kindly old man in Han Feng''s mind. Xiao Yan merely smirked coldly. This Han Feng was simply reaping the consequences of his own actions. In an instant, the Asura Soul Reaping Technique was unleashed. A killing intent that pierced straight to the soul erupted from Xiao Yan''s hand. This terrifying Soul Skill even made Protector Xuan beside him feel a chill throughout his body as his soul trembled. Even though Xiao Yan''s strength was only at the Dou King realm, Protector Xuan didn''t dare harbor any other thoughts. With a swift motion, Xiao Yan''s five fingers curved into claws. His Spiritual Strength transformed into ghostly talons that pierced into Han Feng''s body. With a fierce pull, a blue soul body was extracted from Han Feng. Whoosh! Whoosh!! A surge of blue flames instantly scorched Xiao Yan''s left hand. Even at this moment, Han Feng''s will to survive remained strong, but it was destined to be futile. Buzz! Xiao Yan retrieved the Soul Command Token from his Bone Flame Ring. The character ''Yan'' on the token instantly emitted a wave of Spiritual Strength fluctuations. With a whoosh, it absorbed Han Feng''s soul body along with the Sea Heart Flame. Upon seeing Xiao Yan''s Soul Command Token, Protector Xuan subconsciously stepped back. That token was obviously extraordinary at a glance. He had seen Honorable Elders'' Soul Command Tokens before but felt that this one was somewhat different. "I only want his Heavenly Flame. The soul points obtained from Han Feng''s soul body are yours." To be honest, Xiao Yan no longer thought much of the soul points from a 6th-tier soul body. At most, it was only enough for a low Di Class Soul Skill, which wasn''t of great use. "Thank you, Venerable Yan!" "Mm. You may withdraw now." With a wave of his hand, the Black Storm began to recede gradually. Beams of light started pouring in as the first rays of sunlight appeared. The howling gales weakened until they finally dissipated. When the Black Storm inexplicably withdrew, both sides in the fierce battle were momentarily stunned. They all paused and looked up toward Xiao Yan and Han Feng''s position in the sky. But everyone was dumbfounded when they saw clearly what had happened. They saw Xiao Yan standing there completely unharmed, his left hand grasping Han Feng''s throat, while the latter''s head was tilted back, appearing to have lost all signs of life. "Han Feng is dead?!" The Gold Silver Elders, who had been desperately blocking Su Qian from providing assistance, exclaimed with grim expressions. The people from Jia Nan Academy all exchanged bewildered glances. Not only had the helper Han Feng invited failed to defeat Xiao Yan, but Han Feng himself had ended up dead?! Whose helper was this, anyway?! "Where''s that advanced Dou Ancestor?" Su Qian asked. "He ran off. Han Feng couldn''t meet the price, so he just took off." Xiao Yan lied without batting an eye, smiling as he spoke. Everyone in Feng City was stunned when they heard that the helper had fled and Han Feng himself was dead. A sense of fear loomed over them. No longer wanting to continue the fight, they all planned to break through and flee for their lives. "Leave no one alive!" Xiao Yan stored Han Feng''s corpse into his storage ring. His Spiritual Strength instantly locked onto the Gold Silver Elders. He planned to team up with First Elder Su Qian to eliminate these two tumors. The Gold Silver Elders sensed the danger. They exchanged a glance, knowing they couldn''t win against Su Qian and Xiao Yan combined. Abandoning their cooperation, they each used a Secret Technique and burst forth with a speed comparable to a Dou Ancestor as they flew in opposite directions. This sudden move caught even Su Qian off guard, but Xiao Yan, with his powerful Spiritual Strength, narrowed his eyes slightly as dragon aura surged within his body. "ROAR!!" He suddenly let out a roar in the direction of Mister Gold. The terrifying sonic-type Dou Technique caused the Dou Qi within Mister Gold to become chaotic. He couldn''t even use his Dou Qi wings and plummeted from the sky. "First Elder, please capture the one in gold. I''ll chase after the one in silver." After all, the battle in Feng City wasn''t over yet, and Su Qian couldn''t leave the vicinity. "All right. Be careful. If you can''t catch him, so be it." Separated, the Gold Silver Elders'' strength was probably only on par with Han Feng''s. But then, an unexpected change occurred. Just as Xiao Yan was about to unfold his Dou Qi wings and use the Three Thousand Lightning Movement to pursue Mister Silver, a streak of purple light inexplicably flashed across the horizon. A purple flame descended from the sky, directly striking the fleeing Mister Silver, who was too focused on escaping to notice. Xiao Yan abruptly raised his head and saw, not far away, a massive Amethyst Winged Lion King standing proudly in the sky. On the back of the amethyst lion stood that familiar graceful figure. "Little Fairy Doctor?" Chapter 284: Pride Can鈥檛 Fill One鈥檚 Belly Chapter 284 - 284: Pride Can''t Fill One''s Belly Word Count: 2,842 Words ****** The young lady on the back of the Amethyst Winged Lion King appeared to be in her early twenties. Her features were as exquisite as a painting, and her bright eyes resembled crescent moons. The wind lifted her clothes, outlining her enchanting figure. Her willow-like waist was so remarkably slender that it defied belief. Yet this beautiful woman wore an expression cold as ice and snow. Her brow carried a trace of proud aloofness. Clad in white, she resembled a plum blossom standing proudly in the snow, radiating a cool indifference that kept people thousands of miles away. This was Little Fairy Doctor, the possessor of the Woeful Poison Body whom Xiao Yan had met in Qingshan Town after leaving Wu Tan City. They had parted ways when Xiao Yan needed to continue his cultivation journey toward Jia Ma Sacred City. What Xiao Yan never expected was that Little Fairy Doctor would appear in the Black-Corner Region, and moreover, she had just helped him intercept the fleeing Mister Silver. "Damn you! Are you courting death?!" A flicker of silver light erupted as Mister Silver let out a furious shout. He unleashed a powerful palm strike, attempting to force back the Amethyst Winged Lion King blocking his path. "Hmph." The Amethyst Winged Lion King gave a cold snort. Purple light erupted from its body as it flapped its enormous wings and charged straight at Mister Silver. Boom! A thunderous collision rang out when the Amethyst Winged Lion King massive front paw slammed down, colliding head-on with Mister Silver''s attack. Xiao Yan was somewhat surprised. The Amethyst Winged Lion King had grown considerably stronger in the three years since they''d last met. Though it hadn''t yet reached the peak of Rank 6, its powerful physical strength allowed it to match a peak Dou Emperor in close combat. Nevertheless, Mister Silver was a veteran peak Dou Emperor. Even alone, he wasn''t someone the Amethyst Winged Lion King could defeat. Just as Mister Silver repelled the Amethyst Winged Lion King and prepared to flee, his face suddenly turned pale. His Qi and blood surged chaotically, and he coughed up a mouthful of blackish-red blood. "Poison?" Xiao Yan arrived instantly in a flash of lightning. Frowning, he didn''t hesitate. He unleashed the Flame Splitting Tsunami, and the Heavy Xuan Ruler smashed down heavily on Mister Silver''s head. Mister Silver''s strength was reduced to less than a tenth after being poisoned. The terrifying flames broke through his Dou Technique defenses, and the Heavy Xuan Ruler crushed his head like a watermelon. Xiao Yan looked up in surprise at Little Fairy Doctor hovering in mid-air with her Dou Qi wings. "Your poison has become much more potent. You can even poison a Dou Emperor now." A breeze stirred Little Fairy Doctor''s long hair. It seemed only when she saw Xiao Yan did the eternal coldness in her eyes melt a little. "Do you have time right now? There''s something I need to discuss with you," Little Fairy Doctor said quietly, her tone cool and subdued, as though she had a matter weighing on her mind. Xiao Yan''s pupils contracted slightly. "It''s not your Woeful Poison Body erupting prematurely, is it?" With his perfect Mortal State Spiritual Strength, he could naturally sense that Little Fairy Doctor''s strength had increased very rapidly. In just three years, she had leaped from a Dou Master to a 1-star Dou Emperor. There was no doubt that this speed was due to the unique nature of the Woeful Poison Body, which allowed her to absorb vast amounts of poison. If not for the fatal nature of the Woeful Poison Body, just this advancement speed would make people drool with envy. The problem was, he was still some distance away from becoming a 7th-tier alchemist, let alone having gathered any of the materials needed to refine the Poison Pill to suppress the Woeful Poison Body. Little Fairy Doctor''s expression dimmed slightly upon hearing his question. She had experienced much these past few years. But knowing that Xiao Yan still remembered his promise to her, a trace of warmth arose in her heart. To Xiao Yan''s relief, she slowly shook her head and said, "The Woeful Poison Body hasn''t erupted. I came to find you for another matter." "That''s good, then." Xiao Yan exhaled, then offered a grin before adding, "Wait for me here with the Lion King. I just need a little time to wrap things up." "Roar~~" From within the thick mane of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, a small Amethyst Winged Lion poked its head out and called out to Xiao Yan. Clearly, it hadn''t forgotten the ''good person'' who had once fed it pills. "Oh, the Little Lion King is here too. You guys wait for me a moment." With that, Xiao Yan grabbed Mister Silver''s corpse and flew back to the battlefield in Feng City. ... After Han Feng was killed and the Gold Silver Elders were defeated, the so-called Black Alliance immediately fell apart like scattered sand. With the addition of Old Yin Gu and the other two Dou Emperors, along with Zi Yan, that human-shaped fierce beast, the Black Alliance''s Dou Emperors were defeated one after another. When Xiao Yan and Su Qian joined the battle, all the Dou Emperors and Dou Kings who had participated in invading Jia Nan Academy were executed. In the end, neither of the Gold Silver Elders escaped death; Mister Gold died at Su Qian''s hands. Upon seeing the Gold Silver Elders killed, all cultivators in Feng City dropped their weapons and prostrated themselves on the ground. They didn''t dare show the slightest resistance, fearing that the elders of Jia Nan Academy would take out their anger on them. "Xiao Yan, conquering Feng City and letting Jia Nan Academy vent our anger so thoroughly this time... I must thank you on behalf of the academy." First Elder cupped his fists toward Xiao Yan. Undoubtedly, without Xiao Yan refining the Mighty Huang Pills and taking the lead in killing Han Feng, this battle might have been Han Feng''s victory. The figure within the black storm had possessed strength that even made Su Qian somewhat apprehensive. If that Dou Ancestor had joined the Black Alliance''s side, Jia Nan Academy would likely have suffered terrible casualties. Of course, Su Qian knew that Xiao Yan''s story about the helper ''running off after not being paid enough'' was certainly a lie. Yet he couldn''t fathom what method Xiao Yan had used to make that Dou Ancestor withdraw. Xiao Yan quickly waved his hand and politely said, "First Elder is too kind. As a member of the academy, protecting it is what I should do. However, if First Elder doesn''t mind, I''d like Han Feng''s storage ring. Of course, I don''t need the Dou Techniques and Qi Method scrolls inside; I only want the pill recipes and his Heavenly Flame." Hearing this, the First Elder burst into hearty laughter and waved his hand generously. "Since you killed Han Feng, it naturally belongs to you. You''ve refined so many pills for us and even gifted another Fallen Heart Flame to the academy. The academy has already profited considerably. The spoils from the Gold Silver Elders'' storage rings and everything else in Feng City are yours as well." "Then I thank First Elder." In the end, these once-renowned experts of the Black-Corner Region joined the multitude of corpses hanging from the Death Spirit Tree in front of Peace Town. And unbeknownst to anyone, Xiao Yan secretly ''looted the corpses,'' collecting all soul bodies above the Dou King realm into his Soul Command Token, earning a huge fortune. What delighted him most was that Han Feng''s castle contained an herb warehouse filled with treasures and medicinal ingredients accumulated over his decade-plus of operations in the Black-Corner Region. He even found two sets of ingredients for the Zong Breaking Pill, making his eyes light up with excitement. After discussions, he took only the two sets of Zong Breaking Pill ingredients and all medicinal ingredients of tier 6 and above. All other ingredients were given to Jia Nan Academy to replenish what he had consumed during practice two months ago. Naturally, this left Zi Yan quite displeased. She had contributed too; why didn''t she get a share of the medicinal ingredients? Bullying a child, huh! "Relax, I''m just holding them temporarily, not taking them from you. Refining a Body Transformation Pill requires quite a lot of ingredients," Xiao Yan said with a grin. "Only a fool would believe you!" Zi Yan pouted and snorted coldly. Xiao Ning and Xiao Yu walked in from outside. Xiao Ning asked, "Little Clan Leader, how should we handle such a large city as Feng City?" At present, the entire Feng City could be said to be in a state of panic. Those living here were not just members of the Black Alliance; in fact, more were ordinary civilians. These civilians basically only knew how to live in the city and found it difficult to leave. This wasn''t unique to Feng City; even Jia Ma Sacred City and Wu Tan City required large workforces to maintain their operations. These people were mainly engaged in farming, weaving, and other essential activities. Feng City wasn''t just managed by Han Feng; it was also one of the leading cities in the Black-Corner Region for cultivating medicinal herbs. The large quantities of low-grade medicinal ingredients needed for alchemy were obtained through cultivation by ordinary people. And now, the leaders of all the factions in Feng City had been killed by Xiao Yan and Jia Nan Academy, so naturally, it was a case of ''a dragon without a head.'' "You want to incorporate Feng City into our Xiao Clan''s territory?" How could Xiao Yan not know what Xiao Ning was thinking? This guy was becoming more and more shrewd, and his appetite wasn''t small either. Exposed immediately, Xiao Ning chuckled sheepishly and nodded. "Swallowing this piece of fat meat isn''t that easy. This is the Black-Corner Region, after all. Even if I can deter the surrounding factions for now, it''s uncertain in the long run. We''d need to dispatch people to take over," Xiao Yan said. Xiao Ning could only nod regretfully upon hearing this. If the Xiao Clan could control Feng City, it would have been an incredible boon. "I never said we wouldn''t take it." ! ! ! ? Xiao Yan revealed a slight smile and said, "Of course, it''s difficult to swallow the entire Feng City alone. The leaders of the Dark Sky Sect, Wild Lion Gang, and Luo Sha Gate haven''t left Feng City yet, have they?" "Indeed, they haven''t. You mean to cooperate with them?" Xiao Yu asked uncertainly. "Cooperation or otherwise, everything is negotiable. There''s nothing that can''t be agreed upon; it''s just a matter of the right price." ... In the main hall of the castle, the Amethyst Winged Lion King and Little Fairy Doctor sat quietly to one side, waiting for Xiao Yan to finish handling all matters. Old Yin Gu and the other two exchanged glances. They all saw a hint of wariness and unease in each other''s eyes. "What do you think Xiao Yan called us here for?" Tie Wu of the Wild Lion Gang asked. "If I''m not mistaken, that Xiao Yan also wants this Feng City," Su Mei sighed softly. The fact that their three factions hadn''t left even after the great battle made their intentions all too obvious. Moreover, the reason the three of them initially agreed to assist Jia Nan Academy¡ªbesides the Mighty Huang Pills¡ªwas because they thought they could divide Feng City among themselves after Jia Nan Academy defeated Han Feng. After all, there was no way Jia Nan Academy would take over Feng City themselves. So naturally, the unclaimed Feng City would belong to the three of them. However, they hadn''t expected that Xiao Yan would want it too. That man who could even kill Han Feng made them extremely wary. Although their combined strength exceeded Han Feng''s, there was no guarantee they could defeat Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan emerged from the medicinal warehouse with Zi Yan and the others. He first nodded to Little Fairy Doctor before saying, "Thank you for waiting, you three." "May I ask why Medicine God Xiao has summoned the three of us?" Old Yin Gu, the eldest among them, spoke first. Xiao Yan waved his hand and said, "Medicine God is just an exaggeration from the academy''s students. You all have higher cultivation than me; just call me Xiao Yan." "I won''t beat around the bush. The reason I called you here is to discuss Feng City." The three of them exchanged glances, instantly communicating through eye contact. Although they were wary of Xiao Yan, there was no way they would give up without trying. "Everyone, I understand that in the Black-Corner Region, strength is everything. You all have renowned reputations here and are leaders of your respective factions. It''s reasonable that you want Feng City. However, I, Xiao Yan, do not enjoy fighting and killing. There''s nothing in this world that can''t be negotiated, is there?" Even Zi Yan gave him a sideways glance when he claimed he didn''t like fighting and killing. Who was it that had just snapped Han Feng''s neck and smashed Mister Silver''s head with a ruler? Xiao Yan continued, "I wonder if you three have heard of the Yan Alliance?" "The Yan Alliance?! The alliance formed by the Misty Cloud Sect, the imperial family of the Jia Ma Empire, and the Snake-People Tribe?!" Su Mei exclaimed. Old Yin Gu frowned and said, "I heard that besides those three factions, the Yan Alliance also includes a regional clan. It seems it''s called the Xiao Clan. You... you''re from that Xiao Clan?" Xiao Yan sat in Han Feng''s seat, patting his sleeves, and said, "I am Xiao Yan, the Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan." The three couldn''t help but be shocked. They hadn''t expected Xiao Yan to have such a background! If Xiao Yan were merely a student of Jia Nan Academy, they wouldn''t be too worried, but the Yan Alliance had enormous influence. Not to mention the Misty Cloud Sect; just the fact that two nations had joined was enough to demonstrate its might. That was definitely not something their three factions could afford to provoke. "Little Clan Leader Xiao wants to recruit us into the Yan Alliance?" Tie Wu asked bluntly. "No, no. I want your three factions absorbed under my Xiao Clan, to help manage Feng City." Xiao Yan smiled mildly. Upon hearing this, the three''s expressions immediately turned cold. He wanted them to become subordinate forces! "Heh, Little Clan Leader Xiao, that''s not a very funny joke," Su Mei said, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. "I''m not joking at all. I mean every word," Xiao Yan replied earnestly. As soon as his words fell, the three instantly stood together, and the aura of Dou Emperors burst forth from their bodies. "Roar!" The Amethyst Winged Lion King suddenly stood up. Little Fairy Doctor, sitting to the side, glanced at the three. Zi Yan grinned and rolled up her sleeves. The atmosphere in the main hall immediately became tense. Xiao Yan raised his hand helplessly. "No need to be so tense. As I said, I''m not someone who enjoys fighting and killing. Can''t we talk things over? Why resort to violence?" "Hmph, if that''s all Little Clan Leader Xiao has to say, then there''s nothing more to discuss. Though my Wild Lion Gang isn''t some major faction, we still have our pride," Tie Wu roared, a faint lion''s roar emanating from his body. "Hehehe, Little Clan Leader Xiao, there''s no need to discuss this further. The matter of Feng City will resolve itself," Su Mei said with a chilling laugh. Though Old Yin Gu remained silent, his gaze said it all. Xiao Yan blinked and said, "Not even for a Zong Breaking Pill?" ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ? ? ? "You, you, you, you can already refine the Zong Breaking Pill?!" Old Yin Gu, the one with the highest cultivation, exclaimed in a shrill voice. Although the Mighty Huang Pill and the Zong Breaking Pill were both tier 6 pills, and many people called the Mighty Huang Pill a peak tier 6 pill, in reality, there was a huge difference in difficulty between the two. Han Feng could achieve a 70% success rate in refining the Mighty Huang Pill but only a 30% success rate for the Zong Breaking Pill. The Zong Breaking Pill was already close to a tier 7 pill; generally, only 7th-tier alchemists would dare attempt it. 6th-tier alchemists basically wouldn''t touch it. Xiao Yan took out a jade bottle and said, "I haven''t tried refining the Zong Breaking Pill yet, but I have successfully refined the Emperor Heaven Pill." Hiss hiss hiss!! The ''pride'' of the three faction leaders instantly dissolved like smoke on a breeze. Chapter 285: News of the Heavenly Flame Chapter 285 - 285: News of the Heavenly Flame Word Count: 2,787 Words ****** The three leaders gasped sharply, and even the Amethyst Winged Lion King revealed an astonished expression. This guy''s alchemy skills have improved way too fast! It seems he''ll be able to refine the Body Transformation Pill soon! Old Yin Gu and the other two saw intense greed mingled with surprise in each other''s eyes. The Emperor Heaven Pill could allow a 9-star Dou King to break through to the Dou Emperor realm with 100% certainty. The Zong Breaking Pill was of the same tier, both being peak tier 6 pills. However, its effect was to increase the chances of breaking through to the Dou Ancestor realm, typically raising the odds by 10-20%. Combined with one''s own considerable strength, there was a certain chance of breaking through to Dou Ancestor. So although using a high-quality Zong Breaking Pill didn''t guarantee 100% success, the rate wasn''t low either. Generally, Dou Emperor cultivators had four goals throughout this stage. The first goal was to find a Low Di Class Dou Technique. After all, for Dou Emperors, the difference between opponents most likely came down to their Dou Techniques. A Dou Emperor possessing a Di Class Dou Technique was naturally stronger. The second goal was to obtain a Mighty Huang Pill. The earlier one increased their strength and the younger they reached peak 9-star Dou Emperor, the higher their chances of breaking through to Dou Ancestor would naturally be. The third goal was to find a Di Class Qi Method. As seen from the battle between Xiao Yan and Han Feng, the gap between Qi Methods was even more significant than the difference in cultivation level. The disparity between a Di Class Qi Method and a Xuan Class Qi Method was terrifying, as the quality of Dou Qi was on a completely different level. Among advanced Dou Emperors, the side possessing a Di Class Qi Method would utterly crush the one without. And the ultimate aim of Dou Emperors was undoubtedly to break through to Dou Ancestor. Naturally, the Zong Breaking Pill was the ultimate pursuit of all Dou Emperors. Even though none of the three, including Old Yin Gu, had reached 9-star Dou Emperor yet and were still far from being able to use the Zong Breaking Pill, that didn''t stop them from wanting it! Gulp. Tie Wu, the rough and burly leader of the Wild Lion Gang, swallowed nervously and said, "Little Clan Leader Xiao, can you really refine the Zong Breaking Pill?" Xiao Yan put away the Emperor Heaven Pill, smiled faintly, and said, "You don''t need to know whether I can refine the Zong Breaking Pill. You only need to know that I can provide you with one. I, Xiao Yan, don''t dare claim that the pills I refine are the best on the Dou Qi Continent, but since I possess a Heavenly Flame, the Zong Breaking Pill I refine can at least increase your breakthrough success rate by 20%." "Twenty percent!!!" Even Little Fairy Doctor glanced at Xiao Yan with her beautiful eyes when he said this. During her three years of traveling in the Chu Yun Empire, she had heard of the Zong Breaking Pill, but generally, it only increased the success rate by 10%. Some 7th-tier alchemists could at most achieve a 15% increase. "Alas, what a pity. Since Gang Leader Tie Wu has such pride, it seems the matter of Feng City can only be settled with blades." "Xiao Yu, Xiao Ning, see our guests out." Xiao Yan slowly shook his head, sighed in an exaggerated manner, and waved his hand. Xiao Yu gave Xiao Yan a sideways glance but was sensible enough not to make him lose face at this moment. She led Xiao Ning and slowly walked up to the three. "This way, please." "Hehehe, Little Clan Leader Xiao, how could a little woman like me have any pride to speak of?" Su Mei covered her mouth and giggled, then took the opportunity to stand up and give Xiao Yan a bow. As she slightly bent over, she didn''t forget to reveal a bit of her cleavage. Xiao Yan had seen Medusa''s perfect body back when he seized the Green Lotus Core Flame. How could he be moved by such a modest display? Tie Wu quickly laughed heartily, "Ahahaha, just now it was I, Old Tie, who was thoughtless and offended the Little Clan Leader. I''ll punish myself with three cups!" With that, Tie Wu took out a wine gourd from his storage ring and started chugging. Only Old Yin Gu, the eldest and with the highest cultivation, still retained some rationality. He slowly asked, "Little Clan Leader Xiao Yan, the Zong Breaking Pill is indeed very tempting, but for this old man and the entire Dark Sky Sect to merge into your Xiao Clan is still a bit..." He still had some rationality, but not much. Xiao Yan smiled faintly, a confident glint flashing in his eyes. Naturally, when negotiating, one wouldn''t reveal their bottom line at the start. "You three have fought alongside me. I, Xiao Yan, greatly admire your strength. How about this? I''ll take a step back. The Zong Breaking Pill is best used when you reach peak 9-star Dou Emperor. Let''s set peak 9-star Dou Emperor as the boundary." "When you three achieve the cultivation of peak 9-star Dou Emperor, our agreement will end. At that time, I will present each of you with a Zong Breaking Pill as remuneration." The three leaders did not doubt Xiao Yan''s sincerity, as this was the standard practice among alchemists. First, complete the task; then receive the pill. They exchanged subtle glances, especially as Xiao Yan emphasized the words ''Zong Breaking Pill,'' causing their breathing to gradually become heavier. Their faces flushed slightly. The three leaders'' eyes flickered uncertainly, their hearts waging an internal battle. Given their pride from roaming the Black-Corner Region unhindered, relying on others wasn''t something they were willing to do. But the words ''Zong Breaking Pill'' made them waver. Facing the trio''s struggle, Xiao Yan said nothing more. He narrowed his eyes slightly and waited for their final answer. In the end, the three leaders finally returned to their senses from their internal battle. They looked at each other, then finally gritted their teeth and nodded firmly. To hell with it¡ªfortune favors the bold! "Fine, we''ll do as you say!" "A pleasure working with you." Little Fairy Doctor shook her head from the side. She had seen this trick before. The poor Amethyst Winged Lion King still hadn''t received its promised reward even now. Moreover, given these three''s aptitude, by the time they cultivated to peak 9-star Dou Emperor, who knows how strong Xiao Yan would be? By then, Feng City would likely still be beyond their reach. And with the Zong Breaking Pill as his ace, Xiao Yan was in an invincible position in this negotiation. "Stabilizing Feng City won''t be quick. Although we''ve dealt with those three factions, and with their assistance, there shouldn''t be other factions in the Black-Corner Region eyeing Feng City, but managing a city isn''t that simple." "Perhaps we''ll need the clan to send a few elders or have Big Brother and Second Brother come in person." Very soon, Xiao Yan arranged some basic matters concerning Feng City. He had Old Yin Gu and the other three temporarily have their subordinates maintain the city''s operations. Later on, Feng City was even directly renamed Xiao City, but that''s a story for another time. Now, as Old Yin Gu and the other faction leaders withdrew, the main hall suddenly felt much emptier. Seeing that things had been settled, Xiao Yan turned his head to look at Little Fairy Doctor, who had been quietly sitting and sipping tea. "What, got bored of playing in the Chu Yun Empire and ran to the Black-Corner Region to enjoy a change of scenery?" Xiao Yan smiled and teased. He guessed that Little Fairy Doctor had gone to Wu Tan City, learned that he was now at Jia Nan Academy, and so came to the Black-Corner Region. By coincidence, she happened to encounter him and the First Elder jointly besieging Feng City. Little Fairy Doctor put down the teacup in her hand, glanced at Xiao Yan, then mimicked his tone and said, "Oh, it''s nothing much. I just heard some news about a Heavenly Flame in the Chu Yun Empire, so I came specially." ! ! ! ! ? "Heavenly Flame!" Xiao Yan abruptly stood up. He hadn''t expected that Little Fairy Doctor would bring news of a Heavenly Flame! Little Fairy Doctor tilted her head slightly, eyes playful as she said, "Oh my, I wonder what price the famous Little Clan Leader Xiao is willing to pay for this information." The Amethyst Winged Lion King beside them saw Little Fairy Doctor''s expression of having Xiao Yan at her mercy, and a hint of comfort flashed in its eyes. It had followed Little Fairy Doctor for three years, traveling through the Chu Yun Empire together. In those years, it had come to understand just how much of a torment the Woeful Poison Body truly was. Even in the Chu Yun Empire, where Poison Masters were abundant, the Woeful Poison Body was something even they avoided. The constant torment had gradually made Little Fairy Doctor distant and aloof. If it weren''t for Xiao Yan giving her hope back then, perhaps the current Little Fairy Doctor would have already strayed onto the wrong path. Xiao Yan chuckled and rubbed his hands together like a fly. "Well... hehehe, what''s there to discuss? You know how important Heavenly Flames are to me." "How about I refine a Mighty Huang Pill for you? You''re already a Dou Emperor, after all." Little Fairy Doctor gently swept her silky hair behind her ear and said nonchalantly, "I hate increasing my cultivation." Even Xiao Yan couldn''t help but sigh inwardly upon hearing these words. For those with the Woeful Poison Body, increasing their cultivation meant getting closer to the ''Calamity Day''. If not for Xiao Yan telling her back then to endure until he could refine the Poison Pill, Little Fairy Doctor might have already given up on herself, and her cultivation level might even have reached Dou Ancestor by now. Seeing a hint of guilt on Xiao Yan''s face, Little Fairy Doctor covered her mouth and laughed softly. This laugh seemed to brighten the entire hall. "Alright, I won''t tease you anymore. Don''t we need three materials to refine the Poison Pill? First, three different Heavenly Flames; second, the Monster Core of a Rank 7 Sky Poison Dragon Scorpion Beast; third, the Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva." "So, when the Lion King and I traveled through the Chu Yun Empire, we inquired everywhere about where to find these three items and ways to resolve the Woeful Poison Body. Later, we learned from a faction called the Poison Sect in the Chu Yun Empire that a Clear Soul Nether Orchid had appeared in a place called Profound Nether Valley." Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed. The Clear Soul Nether Orchid was an ancient miraculous flower recorded in the ancient rare treasures book within the Bone Flame Ring. This extraordinary flower was said to neutralize all poisons in the world. This kind of heavenly treasure wasn''t a medicinal ingredient and couldn''t be used to refine pills; it could be used directly. Or rather, these heavenly materials were like pills refined by the heavens themselves. Of course, Xiao Yan felt that the so-called ability to neutralize all deadly poisons was an exaggeration, but it was certain that the Clear Soul Nether Orchid could indeed detoxify toxins. No wonder Little Fairy Doctor paid attention to such an item. She hoped to use the Clear Soul Nether Orchid to eliminate the Woeful Poison Body within her, or at least delay its eruption. Little Fairy Doctor continued, "When the Lion King and I arrived there, we couldn''t find the Clear Soul Nether Orchid due to interference from those people of the Poison Sect. However, we unexpectedly discovered a strange flame. The situation was urgent at the time, and we couldn''t see clearly what it was. But it gave me a feeling somewhat similar to that pale white flame you had back then." Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow and asked, "The situation was urgent? When you say you ''inquired'' information from the Poison Sect, you don''t mean you used physical persuasion, do you?" That kind of ''inquiry'' probably involved beating people up! The Amethyst Winged Lion King wore a wry smile and said, "Alas, you can''t blame Little Fairy Doctor for that. When the Poison Sect people heard that she possessed the Woeful Poison Body, they wanted to take her back to the Poison Sect without another word. Little Fairy Doctor refused, so a conflict broke out, and she ended up poisoning several of their disciples to death." "In these three years, we spent half of the time being pursued by the Poison Sect. Later, when we reached the Profound Nether Valley searching for the Clear Soul Nether Orchid, the Poison Sect sent two Dou Emperor elders to hunt us down. Little Fairy Doctor had no choice but to release the suppression on her Woeful Poison Body and absorb the poison techniques of those Poison Sect elders. Only then did we manage to retaliate and escape." Xiao Yan sighed inwardly and couldn''t help feeling a bit of heartache when he looked at the woman quietly sitting aside, not wanting to disturb anyone. He also thought of Qing Lin, who had a similarly pitiable background. The Woeful Poison Body and the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils were both extremely rare special constitutions in the world. To put it simply, a Dou God possessed the ability to seize the power of the heavens, allowing their descendants to inherit special constitutions like the Dou God Bloodline. Meanwhile, the Woeful Poison Body and Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils were heavenly bloodline constitutions, powers bestowed by the heavens. Naturally, this made people covet them immensely, wishing to claim them as their own. "Flying from the Black-Corner Region to the Chu Yun Empire would probably take some time. Will we make it? The Poison Sect''s target is also the Clear Soul Nether Orchid, right?" Xiao Yan asked. Little Fairy Doctor gently shook her head and said, "Profound Nether Valley has a unique poison barrier. This poison barrier only diminishes on specific days; normally, it''s impossible to enter. The next time the poison barrier diminishes is in three months." "That''s good. Three months are enough for me to handle everything here. Let''s make a trip back to the Jia Ma Empire first, then enter the Chu Yun Empire from there." Xiao Yan hadn''t been home for quite a while, and coincidentally, the Chu Yun Empire bordered the Jia Ma Empire, forming a straight route. Zi Yan, who was beside him, became unhappy when she heard that he was leaving. She said discontentedly, "Hey, Xiao-Yan-Zi, what about my Body Transformation Pill if you leave?" The Amethyst Winged Lion King and Little Fairy Doctor turned their heads to seriously examine the little girl who had been eating candies all this time upon hearing the mention of the Body Transformation Pill. She was actually a magical beast? Xiao Yan''s expression became a bit unnatural when Zi Yan brought up the Body Transformation Pill. There were two creditors here! He coughed lightly and said, "Ahem, I haven''t even reached high-grade 7th-tier yet. Besides, I only have one stalk of Body Transformation Grass now. I promised the Lion King first that I would refine a Body Transformation Pill for it." The Amethyst Winged Lion King nodded in satisfaction when it heard that Xiao Yan still remembered his prior promise. It hadn''t invested in the wrong person. "Ah! You stinky big cat, how dare you fight me for the pill!" Zi Yan placed her delicate hands on her small waist and shouted angrily. As her scolding fell, those gem-like eyes were immediately enveloped by hints of purple light. With a flash of purple light, the body of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, a Rank 6 magical beast, suddenly trembled violently and actually prostrated on the ground, unable to move. The Amethyst Winged Lion King felt a strange pressure spreading from the depths of its soul without any warning. This was suppression coming from bloodline! Clearly, Zi Yan''s strength was only at the Dou King realm, inferior to the Amethyst Winged Lion King, but for some reason, the Lion King felt it couldn''t defy her words. A hint of astonishment flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes as he muttered to himself, "This little girl doesn''t seem to be an ordinary dragon beast..." Chapter 286: Departing (End of Jia Nan Academy Arc) Chapter 286 - 286: Departing (End of Jia Nan Academy Arc) Word Count: 3,021 Words ****** When he first met Zi Yan, Xiao Yan was already quite certain that she must be a dragon-type magical beast because she could understand the Dragon Language and had even corrected him. Without her help, he wouldn''t have been able to cultivate the Ancient Dragon Roar successfully. However, many dragon races could understand Dragon Language, so he couldn''t precisely determine what kind of magical beast Zi Yan actually was. But after observing her today, he could confirm that Zi Yan possessed a supremely noble dragon bloodline. Although the Amethyst Winged Lion King wasn''t considered an exceptionally rare magical beast and couldn''t compare to the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, it was undeniably stronger than Zi Yan in terms of cultivation. Moreover, it was not of the dragon race. Yet even so, it found itself overwhelmingly suppressed by her. One could only imagine how extraordinary Zi Yan''s bloodline must be. Xiao Yan reached out and pinched Zi Yan''s fair, tender cheek, grinning as he said, "Zi Yan, stop making a fuss. The Lion King once did me a favor, and besides, when I''m able to refine the Body Transformation Pill, it''s not like I would run off with your pill." With a slap, Zi Yan knocked away the hand that was taking liberties. She rubbed her small face and snorted coldly, "Hmph! Who knows if you humans can be trusted? You''ve all got slippery tongues." A glint flashed in Xiao Yan''s gaze. He narrowed his eyes slightly, thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "If you don''t trust me, there''s a simple solution. Come along with me. That way, you won''t have to worry about me running away, and I can also make pills for you. Besides, with your current strength, staying in the academy doesn''t offer much benefit." Little Fairy Doctor''s expression suddenly became a bit strange. From her angle, Xiao Yan looked exactly like a creepy uncle trying to lure away a little girl. Zi Yan heard these words and was indeed somewhat tempted. If not for Xiao Yan entering the Inner Academy last year, she would have long since grown bored, having been undefeated in the Inner Academy the year before last. Now, her strength surpassed that of many Dou Emperors; staying in the Inner Academy wouldn''t benefit her much, and even the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower held little use for her anymore. Moreover, Xiao Yan was an alchemist, and coupled with her own innate treasure-hunting talent, she would have an even better chance to increase her strength. Xiao Yan saw Little Fairy Doctor''s strange expression and used spiritual voice transmission to say, "Don''t underestimate this little girl. She has a talent for treasure hunting and is particularly sensitive to heavenly treasures. With her help, finding that Clear Soul Nether Orchid will be much easier." With Mao Wu''s help in finding Heavenly Flames and Zi Yan''s assistance in locating heavenly treasures, how could they not succeed? Hearing that, Little Fairy Doctor''s beautiful eyes flickered as she studied the petite Zi Yan, who looked around twelve or thirteen. "Fine, I''ll go back and inform the First Elder," Zi Yan thought for a moment before nodding, agreeing to Xiao Yan''s suggestion. The poor girl failed to notice that Xiao Yan''s shadow behind him looked suspiciously like the silhouette of a fox. ... Having handled all the lingering affairs in the Black-Corner Region, Xiao Yan led Little Fairy Doctor, the Amethyst Winged Lion King, and the others back to the Inner Academy. Standing on the wide pathways of the Inner Academy, Xiao Yan watched the energetic students come and go. His face, which had grown somber from killing Han Feng and executing the Gold Silver Elders, gradually softened. Unknowingly, he had already spent two full years at Jia Nan Academy. From first bringing Xiao Ning and the others to participate in the Inner Academy Qualifying Competition from the Outer Academy, to rising from a mere freshman to tying with Zi Yan for first place on the Strong Ranking within just one year, to entering the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower to refine the Fallen Heart Flame, to finally besieging Feng City and purging the traitor. Indeed, much had happened in those two years. Accompanying Xiao Yan were Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan, as well as the big and small Amethyst Winged Lion Kings. Zi Yan was well-known to the Inner Academy''s students, but Little Fairy Doctor instantly drew countless curious and admiring gazes. Her graceful presence and the subtle aloofness that lingered around her possessed an indescribable allure for these hot-blooded young students living in the academy. Especially some of the older students who found it hard to take their eyes off this serene beauty that seemed to repel people from a thousand miles away. However, Little Fairy Doctor acted as if she didn''t notice the astonished gazes around her. Unlike Medusa''s icy and intimidating aura, her face was merely composed and elegant. Yet an unapproachable indifference seemed to surround her, dissuading even the boldest from trying to start a conversation. Not to mention, who in the Inner Academy didn''t know Xiao Yan''s reputation by now? No one in their right mind would attempt to flirt with the woman walking beside him. Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly. His steps quickened, and in a flash, they disappeared. "Tsk, tsk. Senior Brother Xiao Yan is truly Senior Brother Xiao Yan. Just one trip outside, and he brings back another beauty." "Isn''t that so? Back then, Senior Sister Xun Er already outshone everyone. Plus, there''s also Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei from the Xiao Clan... Tsk, I wish my surname was Xiao too." After recognizing Xiao Yan, many people clicked their tongues and sighed inwardly. Indeed, only heroes could attract such beauties. They also marveled at how his circle of female companions seemed to be growing larger by the day. ... After having Zi Yan take Little Fairy Doctor and the others to settle in at the Xiao Hall, Xiao Yan headed to the study where First Elder Su Qian often spent his time. Su Qian looked up upon hearing his footsteps and couldn''t help but smile faintly when he saw Xiao Yan walking in. "You little rascal! In just one short day, you''ve not only incorporated those three factions into Feng City but also plan to bring Feng City into your Xiao Clan''s sphere of influence?" Xiao Yan smiled calmly, walked slowly into the study, and sat down on the chair in front of Su Qian. How could he not understand the implication in the First Elder''s words? Jia Nan Academy had always been unwilling to see an overly powerful faction emerge in the Black-Corner Region, as it could threaten the academy''s safety. "First Elder, no matter how the Dou Qi Continent changes in the future, I, Xiao Yan, will always be a student of Jia Nan Academy. If the academy ever needs help, this student will certainly provide full assistance," Xiao Yan put away his smile and spoke very seriously. Su Qian was stunned for a moment, then laughed helplessly and shook his head. "You little fellow really are not easy to handle, are you? All right, since you''ve said that... In truth, you have a point. After the incident with Han Feng, Jia Nan Academy really needs to change." "Although Jia Nan Academy has students all over the world, as the saying goes, ''distant water can''t quench a nearby fire.'' Having a friendly faction in the Black-Corner Region means that if something like Han Feng''s matter happens again, we''ll at least have a place for students to evacuate to." After discussing matters related to Feng City, Xiao Yan cut straight to the heart of his visit: "First Elder, this student has come not only to hope that Jia Nan Academy will take extra care of the Xiao Clan, but primarily to bid you farewell." Su Qian sighed. With Xiao Yan''s current strength, there was hardly any room for improvement within the Inner Academy. Moreover, Xiao Yan, who possessed the Essence Flame of the Fallen Heart Flame, no longer needed to use the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. "First Elder, I plan to return to the Jia Ma Empire within the next month," Xiao Yan gazed steadily at Su Qian, his expression gradually becoming solemn. "That makes sense. The Dou Qi Continent is vast, and with your talent, you''re destined to become renowned across the continent. As for that clan''s matter... sigh, never mind. How you handle your affairs can only be decided by you. However, if you need assistance, you can seek out Headmaster Mang Tian Chi," the First Elder sighed, and his expression became grave when he mentioned Xun Er. "Mang Tian Chi? Is that the name of our academy''s Headmaster?" Xiao Yan asked. "Yes, and his clan, like the Gu Clan, is one of the ancient Dou God Clans. He is an elder of the Lei Clan." Xiao Yan''s expression changed. No wonder the First Elder knew about Xun Er''s clan; it was because of the Headmaster! And he''s even an elder! "This is the academy''s letter of certification. If you meet him, this letter will prove your identity." Su Qian then handed him a sealed envelope. A warm feeling spread through Xiao Yan''s heart as he accepted the envelope. Although he had initially come to Jia Nan Academy solely for the Heavenly Flame, after two years, he had gradually come to appreciate the atmosphere and culture here. "Since this student has received such a significant gift from the First Elder, it wouldn''t be appropriate to leave without giving something back to the academy." "Oh? What are you planning to do?" The First Elder looked wary. This kid always makes a big fuss when he does things. As a result, over the next month, Xiao Yan transformed from a student into a teacher, even becoming a teacher to the elders. He decided to impart his alchemy knowledge! His return to Xiao Hall caused an instant uproar among everyone there. They were even more excited when they heard Xiao Yan would teach and answer questions about alchemy. The members of the Medicine Gang were so thrilled they nearly jumped to the rafters, immensely grateful that they had lost to him back then. Not just the Medicine Gang; alchemists from the Alchemy Department came flocking from all directions. In order to accommodate the Outer Academy''s Alchemy Department students, Xiao Yan even announced that he would ''set up an altar and perform the ritual'' in the Outer Academy. Everyone knew how formidable Xiao Yan''s alchemy skills were. There was no need for excessive praise. All the Alchemy Department students at Jia Nan Academy offered their admiration and cheers for Xiao Yan''s selfless generosity and indiscriminate teaching. Xiao Yan''s current prestige in the Inner Academy had reached an unprecedented level. No student from any previous year had ever achieved such heights. "You little rascal caused such a big commotion as soon as you came back. Who knows how many people are waiting outside now to see your grand appearance," Xiao Yu glanced at Xiao Yan sitting in the seat of honor, listened to the commotion outside the pavilion, and couldn''t help but shake her head helplessly. Xiao Yan smiled. He had naturally anticipated that his lectures on alchemy would cause such a stir. Early the next morning, he donned his long-unused 5th-tier alchemist robe and took out the most ordinary tier 5 medicinal cauldron to begin refining pills. This time, he didn''t even use his Heavenly Flame, nor did he conceal his alchemy techniques. Instead, he selected a relatively easy-to-learn alchemy method from the Bone Flame Ring to perform alchemy. Over ten days, Xiao Yan refined and explained pills ranging from tier 1 to low tier 6. Not just the Inner Academy Alchemy Department geniuses from the Medicine Gang but even Little Fairy Doctor, who had no foundational knowledge of alchemy, listened in complete fascination. Xiao Yan''s explanations were very straightforward, without any hidden techniques or secrets. He meticulously explained the alchemy methods, precautions during refinement, and his experiences step by step. After refining the final pill on the last day, Xiao Yan merely flicked his sleeve and quietly departed while everyone was still immersed in his alchemy techniques, their minds continuously recalling and absorbing the knowledge. After an unknown period, Elder Huo, who possessed the highest alchemy skills, was the first to come to his senses. He bowed respectfully toward the platform where Xiao Yan had just refined pills, and subsequently, more and more alchemists from the Alchemy Department paid their respects. Undoubtedly, to all the alchemists who had attended the lectures, Xiao Yan''s selfless actions had bestowed upon him the status of a half-master. That same evening, many people''s alchemy skills improved. Even Elder Huo, a middle-grade 6th-tier alchemist, advanced by a small grade. ... For the remaining twenty days, Xiao Yan didn''t cultivate Dou Qi but instead focused on refining pills and cultivating the God Seal Technique. He also visited the bottom of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower to use the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to strengthen Medusa''s bloodline strength and accelerate the condensation of her serpent body. "Here are a few tier 6 Purifying Fire Ice Spirit Pills. They can effectively cleanse the remnant fire poison in your body." Xiao Yan tossed Medusa a pill bottle containing several tier 6 pills. Medusa lightly raised her finger, and the pill bottle hovered motionlessly in front of her. Her breathtakingly beautiful face, verging on bewitching, possessed an indescribable allure even without her saying a word. Even though Xiao Yan had given her the pills, she acted as if she hadn''t seen them. Her alluring face remained as cold as ice, with that unapproachable indifferent aura still surrounding her body. Seeing Medusa''s still icy demeanor, Xiao Yan could only shrug and say, "I''ll be leaving Jia Nan Academy soon. At your current progress, you should be able to exit the tower in about a year or so. I''ve already informed the First Elder. When you leave, remember to return to the Snake-People Tribe. The Yan Alliance may need you to hold the fort then." By Xiao Yan''s estimation, Medusa''s strength would likely rival that of an advanced Dou Ancestor once she truly completed her Heavenly Flame Serpent Body with the power of three kinds of Heavenly Flames. With her guarding the Yan Alliance, neighboring empires like the Chu Yun Empire and the Luo Yan Empire would have no choice but to submit. Having said his piece, Xiao Yan turned to leave. "Hey." Hearing Medusa''s voice, he turned his head and asked in confusion, "Hmm?" After a moment of silence, Medusa''s eyes narrowed and she said coldly, "Scram." "Uh...???" Xiao Yan was completely baffled. You called me back just to tell me to scram??? What''s that supposed to mean? Unable to figure it out, he unfolded his Dou Qi wings and left the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. Medusa frowned while watching his departing figure and muttered to herself, "What''s happened to him..." In the Xiao Hall, Xiao Yan bid farewell to Hu Jia, Wu Hao, and the others one by one. "Here are some medicinal pills ranging from tier 1 to tier 5 Four Lines White Spirit Pills. In the future, clan members coming from Wu Tan City can be given pills to support their cultivation based on their diligence and potential. I''ll have to rely on you to take care of the Xiao Clan members who come to the academy." Xiao Yan handed Xiao Yu a storage ring containing a large number of pills. Xiao Yu was stunned upon hearing this. Her eyes dimmed slightly as she frowned and said, "You don''t have to push yourself so hard... about Xun Er..." Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and revealed a somewhat forced smile. "Xun Er just went home, that''s all. Besides, as the Little Clan Leader, it''s time for me to return to the Jia Ma Empire to see Father." Xiao Yu felt an inexplicable pang of heartache looking at the brilliant yet sorrowful smile on the young man''s face before her. Having grown up with Xiao Yan, how could she not understand the feelings between him and Xun Er? She slowly walked up to Xiao Yan and looked at this young man who had unknowingly grown to be about the same height as herself. Her slender hand suddenly and boldly caressed his cheek as she said softly, "Big pervert, we all believe in you. Whatever you set your mind to, you will achieve it. No one can stand in your way." Xiao Yan''s eyes flickered, and he twisted his mouth helplessly, "Who are you calling a pervert? Really..." "Hmph, back when you barged into the place where I was bathing, not only did you get handsy, but afterward you claimed you were being chased by a magical beast and stumbled in panic. Did you really think I was that stupid? Your mind was already full of bad thoughts at such a young age. If you''re not a big pervert, then what are you?" Xiao Yu rolled her eyes dramatically at him as her pretty face blushed slightly. "Cough... I was really being chased by a magical beast," Xiao Yan coughed violently. His face flushed slightly for some unknown reason as he tried to clear his name of certain childhood actions. However, while explaining, his gaze inadvertently swept over that pair of slender, well-rounded, sexy legs opposite him. He couldn''t help but shake his head inwardly, wondering which lucky man would eventually enjoy those unforgettable jade-like legs. Though his gaze was subtle, it was still noticed by the perceptive Xiao Yu. A light blush spread across her pretty face as she glared at him fiercely. "Make sure you come back." "Of course, my Xiao Clan''s property is here. I''ll definitely be returning." With a whoosh, Xiao Yan unfolded his Dou Qi fire wings, waved to the people below, and said, "Don''t worry, I won''t say ''if fate allows, we''ll meet again.'' I won''t be gone long. See you soon!" Chapter 287: Returning to the Jia Ma Empire Chapter 287 - 287: Returning to the Jia Ma Empire Word Count: 2,723 Words ****** Medusa slowly lifted her head. With her powerful perception, she naturally sensed that Xiao Yan had already left Jia Nan Academy. She took out the brocade box Xiao Yan had given her. Surprisingly, she hadn''t consumed even a single one of the Core-Fire Lotus Seeds inside. Additionally, a soul jade piece was hidden beneath the lotus seeds at the bottom of the box. "Hmph, does this Queen need your rescue?" Medusa snorted coldly, but she didn''t throw the jade piece into the fire either. Whenever she thought of Xiao Yan, an indescribable emotion seemed to tangle in her heart. "Damn it, it''s all because of that strange soul connection," Medusa gritted her teeth. That soul connection left her unable to fully calm her mind for cultivation. She picked up one of the Core-Fire Lotus Seeds and hesitated for a moment before ultimately consuming it. Instantly, red and green streams of Heavenly Flame energy surged within her body. With a wave of her hand, the infant-stage Fallen Heart Flame slowly floated to her side. The Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower had been rebuilt, but this new Fallen Heart Flame remained weak. It needed to stay sealed within the special Heavenly Flame space, absorbing the residual power left by the original Fallen Heart Flame to grow. Medusa didn''t stand on ceremony with Jia Nan Academy. Although the flame itself was feeble, borrowing the power of the Essence Heart Flame would greatly accelerate the condensation of her Heavenly Flame Serpent Body. Xiao Yan probably hadn''t anticipated that due to his unintended actions, Medusa would emerge from her secluded cultivation sooner than he expected. ... At this moment, Xiao Yan sat on the back of the Little Lion King, while Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan rode the Amethyst Winged Lion King as they flew away from the Inner Academy. "This lion is quite comfortable to ride!" Zi Yan revealed her adorable little tiger teeth as she bounced around on the Amethyst Winged Lion King''s back, very pleased with this mount. Even if the Amethyst Winged Lion King had any complaints, it didn''t dare voice them and could only swallow its grievances in silence. Mao Wu appeared equally content, dozing against the Little Lion King''s warm, soft fur like a kitten while cuddling its own tail. Xiao Yan stroked the Little Lion King''s fur. Its strength had improved quite well. Although far from as astonishing as Little Fairy Doctor''s, it had now reached the peak of Rank 4 and was close to advancing to Rank 5. "Not bad at all, Little Lion King. Three years ago, you were only at Rank 3. Now you''re about to reach Rank 5." Roar roar roar! (All thanks to the good person''s pills.) "Haha, don''t worry. Once we reach our destination, I''ll help you break through to Rank 5." Xiao Yan swept his sleeve in a confident gesture. Roar!! The Little Lion King gave an excited whoop, flapping its wings so vigorously that it spun twice in midair. Xiao Yan smiled and touched the row of storage rings on his fingers. He now looked like a wealthy tycoon, wearing a total of four storage rings! One was the Bone Flame Ring inherited from his mother; another was the golden storage ring Ya Fei had given him to store various medicinal herbs and a large amount of gold coins; the third was Venerable Tian Huo''s pale white ring; and the last was Han Feng''s Serene Sea Storage Ring. With Han Feng dead, that final ring naturally fell into his possession. The soul seal within the storage ring was useless against the Nihility Devouring Flame''s abilities. Han Feng''s Serene Sea Storage Ring matched the quality of both the Bone Flame Ring and the pale white ring. It was an extremely high-quality storage ring with a very large internal space. One could imagine how much wealth Han Feng had accumulated over the years in the Black-Corner Region. However, Xiao Yan had given the miscellaneous Qi Methods and Dou Techniques inside the Serene Sea Storage Ring to Jia Nan Academy, mainly because those were too low-level, and he truly had no interest in them. The only things he kept were two Low Di Class Dou Techniques. He didn''t plan to cultivate them himself but intended to bring them back to enrich the Xiao Clan''s collection. Besides these, the only things left in the Serene Sea Storage Ring were precious medicinal ingredients Han Feng had collected and a medicinal cauldron. This medicinal cauldron was of excellent quality. Although slightly inferior to the Black Demon Cauldron, if Xiao Yan hadn''t judged wrongly, this cauldron was precisely the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron, ranked last on the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking. The Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron was entirely crimson in color and engraved with patterns of roaring ferocious beasts. If one listened closely, one could faintly hear strange howling sounds from within. It was a description that matched Han Feng''s medicinal cauldron exactly. The Black Demon Cauldron was a tier 9 medicinal cauldron capable of reaching middle-grade tier 9, while the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron was a low-grade tier 9 medicinal cauldron. A medicinal cauldron''s tier couldn''t be too low. If it were, it wouldn''t withstand the temperature when refining high-tier pills and would shatter, leading to failed refinement. One needed a tier 9 medicinal cauldron from the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking to refine tier 9 pills. Of course, all of these had now conveniently fallen into Xiao Yan''s hands. Little Fairy Doctor remained serene as ever. She brushed aside the hair tousled by the wind, turned to Xiao Yan, and asked, "Are we heading straight to the Jia Ma Empire?" Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes upon hearing this and looked toward Peace Town. He shook his head and said, "Not yet. Let''s swing by Peace Town first. There''s something I need to sell." He hadn''t forgotten that Han Feng''s soul was still inside the Soul Command Token. Although the Sea Heart Flame ranked only 15th among Heavenly Flames, it was still a juicy piece of meat. ... After descending into Peace Town, Xiao Yan asked Little Fairy Doctor and the others to wait on the street. He donned his Soul Robe and swiftly slipped into the alley leading to the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop. He entered the familiar shop without hesitation. Hun Lao Gui still looked as if he were on the verge of death, resembling an old man at death''s door. Even though his Spiritual Strength had reached the Perfected Mortal State, Xiao Yan still couldn''t see through Hun Lao Gui''s cultivation level. "Jie Jie Jie, it''s you again. Are you buying or selling this time?" Hun Lao Gui revealed a mouthful of rotten teeth, his eyes half-squinted as he looked at Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan took out the Soul Command Token and tossed it casually onto the table. "There are two half-step Dou Ancestor soul bodies inside, four Dou Emperors, and eighteen Dou Kings." "There''s also the soul of a peak 6th-tier alchemist, but he possesses a Heavenly Flame. I want you to help me extract the Heavenly Flame." Hun Lao Gui''s eyes showed no fluctuation even after hearing about so many soul bodies and a Heavenly Flame. Like a pool of dead water, they remained calm, as if these things were ordinary in his eyes. His withered finger lightly touched the Soul Command Token. With a swoosh, the soul bodies of the Gold Silver Elders and the others were instantly released. "Xiao Yan! I won''t let you off even as a ghost!" The slain Mister Silver appeared, glaring at Xiao Yan like a vengeful spirit, his entire being filled with resentment. "Hmph." Hun Lao Gui let out a cold snort. Instantly, a powerful and unparalleled suction force erupted from the curtain leading to the Soul Path. "Ahhh!!" "No, no!!" The Gold Silver Elders and the others were all sucked into the Soul Path amid their wails. The curtain gradually returned to calm, as if nothing had happened. Xiao Yan silently calculated in his heart. Back then, Yao Ao''s soul body¡ªa high-grade 7th-tier alchemist from the Yao Clan¡ªhad been valued at 180,000 soul points. A low-grade 7th-tier alchemist''s soul should be worth around 100,000 soul points. Although the Gold Silver Elders weren''t alchemists, they were at least half-step Dou Ancestors, so each should be worth around 30,000 to 40,000 soul points. Those Black-Corner Region Dou Emperors weren''t weak and should be worth about 10,000 soul points each. As for the Dou Kings, Xiao Yan didn''t even bother calculating; it would be good if each was worth 1,000 soul points. "Not bad, a total of 130,000 soul points." Xiao Yan could only shrug his shoulders upon hearing Hun Lao Gui''s words. If not for Jia Nan Academy also wanting revenge against Han Feng, just those three Mighty Huang Pills would have cost him dearly had he funded them himself. But considering everything, he had still made a small profit. With a tap, Hun Lao Gui lightly touched the Soul Command Token. Suddenly, a terrifying blue flame burst forth and rushed toward his face. Simultaneously, an ethereal soul body swooshed toward the door. It was none other than Han Feng. Xiao Yan smiled coldly and crossed his arms, watching silently with no intention to intervene. If Han Feng could escape from Hun Lao Gui''s grasp, he would immediately loot this place. Hun Lao Gui slowly extended his withered old hand and gently clenched it. The terrifying Sea Heart Flame was instantly extinguished. Han Feng''s soul body became immobilized, and no matter how he tried to wield the Sea Heart Flame, it was all to no avail. "This is the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop! I am Han Feng; Venerable Mu Gu once brought me here!" Han Feng immediately tried to invoke connections. Hun Lao Gui showed no reaction to Han Feng''s pleas. That shriveled hand, like a devil''s claw, ruthlessly pierced into Han Feng''s soul body. A strange Spiritual Strength that even made Xiao Yan furrow his brows began to circulate slowly. "Is this a Soul Training Method? Or a Soul Skill?" Xiao Yan observed all of Hun Lao Gui''s actions. Of course, Han Feng''s screams were automatically filtered out. After about ten minutes, Han Feng''s soul body visibly became more illusory and even shriveled. It wasn''t that Xiao Yan didn''t want Han Feng''s soul body. But he knew that forcibly extracting the Heavenly Flame from Han Feng''s soul would either kill or severely damage it. By then, it wouldn''t be worth much, so he might as well do someone a favor. "Save me... I know I was wrong..." Han Feng''s soul body struggled to raise his hand, pleading with Xiao Yan for help. Xiao Yan merely smiled faintly. "You should put that effort into figuring out what you''re going to say to Venerable Yao when you see him in the afterlife." "No!!" With a muffled sound, Hun Lao Gui abruptly pulled his hand back. A sea-blue flame floated above his palm. The sounds emanating from the Sea Heart Flame weren''t those of burning flames but rather the crashing of ocean waves. As the flame rose, it was accompanied by the sound of waves pounding against reefs. It was a truly wondrous phenomenon. By now, Han Feng''s soul body had completely withered, looking even more miserable than Venerable Tian Huo had back then. "You can handle the soul imprint within the Sea Heart Flame yourself." Hun Lao Gui lightly tossed the Sea Heart Flame toward Xiao Yan. The latter hurriedly retrieved the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron from Han Feng''s storage ring and stored the Sea Heart Flame inside. Soul imprints and seals were trivial matters under the abilities of the Nihility Devouring Flame. After Xiao Yan stored the Sea Heart Flame in the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron, Han Feng''s soul body was ultimately devoured by the Soul Path under his cold gaze. With that, the man once hailed as the ''Medicine Emperor'' of the Black-Corner Region was gone for good. "Credit the soul points from Han Feng''s soul body to Protector Xuan of the Black-Corner Region''s Hall of Souls," Xiao Yan said indifferently. Judging by the state of Han Feng''s soul, it would be worth 10,000 soul points at most. The forced extraction of the Heavenly Flame had caused significant damage to the soul. Hun Lao Gui stated flatly, "The cost for extracting the Heavenly Flame is 100,000 soul points." ! ! ! ! "100,000? Why not just rob someone?" Xiao Yan glanced at Hun Lao Gui. This fellow was a crafty merchant, an old fox! "Jie Jie Jie, this is better than robbing." Hun Lao Gui''s words left Xiao Yan speechless. Indeed, this was better than going through the trouble of robbing someone. "You''re ruthless." Xiao Yan could only grit his teeth and watch as 100,000 points vanished from the 130,000 he had just acquired, leaving him with a meager 30,000. "What technique did you use a moment ago? May I exchange for it?" Xiao Yan asked. Hun Lao Gui revealed a meaningful, eerie smile. His ghostly eyes stared straight at Xiao Yan. "Jie Jie Jie, don''t you already have the Emperor Soul Technique?" !? Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed. He hadn''t expected that what Hun Lao Gui had just used was precisely the Emperor Soul Technique! To think that the Emperor Soul Technique could even accomplish such feats! Truly worthy of being a technique created by Emperor Hun! Hun Lao Gui flipped his hand, and a small bottle appeared before him. The moment this small bottle appeared, even the faint Dou God Bloodline within Xiao Yan began to stir slightly. Xiao Yan took out the drop of Dou God Bloodline from his storage ring, which the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame had refined. He only had one drop, but the bottle that Hun Lao Gui took out contained an entire vial! ''Sure enough, the Hun Clan has a way to extract the Dou God Bloodlines from members of other Dou God Clans to enhance the concentration of their own Dou God Bloodline... Is this the power of the Nihility Devouring Flame?'' The Hun Clan wasn''t merely hunting soul bodies; they were likely secretly hunting members of other Dou God Clans! "Can this bottle of blood qualify me to cultivate the Emperor Soul Technique?" Xiao Yan calmed his emotions and asked casually. "Jie Jie Jie, that''s right. My Hun Clan doesn''t mistreat those who can get things done. Rewards and punishments are clear. And it''s not expensive¡ªjust 10 million soul points." Hun Lao Gui chuckled eerily. "10 million?! Heh, wouldn''t that require the soul body of a peak 9-star Dou Venerate? How could I possibly have that?" Xiao Yan rolled his eyes. This price was exorbitant. "Peak 9-star Dou Venerate? No, even a 9-star ninth-change Dou Venerate wouldn''t suffice. This requires the soul body of a Half-Saint to exchange." Hun Lao Gui shattered Xiao Yan''s fantasy outright. Xiao Yan curled his lips and spread his hands helplessly. "Then forget it. Let''s not even mention that I don''t have one. Even if I did, who knows if what you give has any drugs mixed in? What if you end up brainwashing me?" Xiao Yan waved his hand and took back the Soul Command Token. Just as he was about to leave the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop, he suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, do you have any information about the Clear Soul Nether Orchid?" This time, he didn''t directly ask about the Heavenly Flame, as he already knew where it was. Instead, he inquired about the Clear Soul Nether Orchid to gather additional information. "10,000 soul points." Stifling a sigh, Xiao Yan reluctantly passed him the Soul Command Token again. After deducting the fee, Hun Lao Gui handed him a jade tablet. "The Clear Soul Nether Orchid has appeared in the Profound Nether Valley of the Chu Yun Empire. This contains information about the Clear Soul Nether Orchid and Profound Nether Valley, including some rumors and details on which factions will be heading there." Xiao Yan accepted the jade tablet, and as his Spiritual Strength penetrated it, a stream of spiritual information was transmitted into his mind. After reading all the information, his expression turned a bit strange as he muttered, "The Yao Clan? It''s you guys again?" Chapter 288: Wounded Pride Chapter 288 - 288: Wounded Pride Word Count: 3,028 Words ****** Xiao Yan''s expression turned strange. The spiritual information specifically pointed out that besides the factions from the Chu Yun Empire targeting the Clear Soul Nether Orchid, the Yao Clan, one of the Dou God Clans, had also set their sights on it. After all, even the Yao Realm of the Yao Clan didn''t have such a rare flower. Xiao Yan guessed they aimed to bring it back and cultivate it there. Shaking his head helplessly, he exited the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop. Watching him leave from within the shop, Hun Lao Gui seemed to mumble to himself, "The risk is not small." The moment his words fell, Hun Huzi''s voice echoed through the old shop: "In the face of our clan''s grand plan, some risks must be taken. Never mind that he''s just a descendant of the Xiao Clan. As long as we can refine the Di Tier Pill, we would spare no effort, even if it means resurrecting Xiao Xuan." "Alas, it''s a pity that our clan''s alchemists have dwindled. Otherwise, why would we need to cultivate alchemists from the outside world? Even with an already formed embryonic pill and possessing Lord Nihility Devouring Flame''s power, at the very least, we still need another 9th-tier Golden Pill Guru whose Spiritual State has reached the Emperor State. With only me, it''s not enough." Hun Lao Gui couldn''t help falling silent. Throughout the Dou Qi Continent, alchemists capable of stably refining tier 9 Golden Pills numbered no more than three. Yao Dan, the Clan Head of the Yao Clan, counted as one; perhaps the strongest ancestor of the Pill Tower counted as another; the remaining one was Hun Huzi himself. The first two would never collaborate with Hun Huzi, and their Spiritual States were not necessarily at the Emperor State; they might only be at the Great Perfection of the Heavenly State. It was not the first time that Hun Huzi had selected promising alchemists from the outside world to join them, such as Mu Gu and Han Feng. However, despite joining the Hall of Souls long ago and receiving numerous resources, decades had passed, and Mu Gu was still only an 8th-tier alchemist. Not to mention tier 9 Golden Pills; it was estimated that he would stop at the peak of tier 8 in this lifetime. As for Han Feng, there''s even less to say. His talent might have been slightly higher than Mu Gu''s, but that was all. The threshold of tier 9 remained hopeless; so his death was inconsequential, and no one would care. In contrast, Xiao Yan still held a sliver of hope. "Let''s hope you''re right." ... Meanwhile, Xiao Yan, who had emerged from the alleyway, approached a nearby street stall. "You''re so slow! I''ve been waiting so long that I''m getting impatient." Zi Yan stood with her hands on her hips, her face full of dissatisfaction. "Were you getting impatient from eating, perhaps? Your mouth is covered in oil." Xiao Yan glanced at the grease at the corners of her mouth. Clearly, the group had gone ahead and filled their bellies without him. Little Fairy Doctor took out a packaged box and handed it to him as she softly said, "We saved this for you." Xiao Yan''s eyes immediately lit up. He opened the box and began eating, not concerned at all about whether Little Fairy Doctor might have poisoned it. A faint, barely noticeable smile appeared on her lips as she watched him ravenously devour the food. After eating and drinking their fill, the group boarded the ''Amethyst Winged Lion Express'' and began flying toward the Jia Ma Empire. With the Amethyst Winged Lion King having advanced to Rank 6, its flying speed was even faster than that of ordinary Dou Emperors. It streaked across the sky above the Black-Corner Region like a supersonic jet. "Let''s head to the small valley in the Magic Beast Mountain Range first," Xiao Yan said. He was still holding onto the Sea Heart Flame and hadn''t refined it yet. He was already a bit impatient to make the Sea Heart Flame ''turn over a new leaf.'' Zi Yan immediately looked a bit unhappy, puffing her cheeks in protest, "Weren''t we supposed to hurry and find the Clear Soul Nether Orchid?" "Zi Yan, perhaps you don''t know, but that valley is a treasure trove of medicinal ingredients. The entire valley is filled with various herbs, and Miss Little Fairy Doctor here is the master of that valley," Xiao Yan said with a grin. Zi Yan''s expression instantly changed upon hearing about medicinal ingredients. She put on a sorrowful face, grabbed Little Fairy Doctor''s arm, and said, "Sister Little Fairy Doctor, actually... actually, I grew up without parents and lived each day not knowing if I''d have enough to eat." "Sniff... And when I was little, I accidentally ate a Body Transformation Grass, which caused me to be unable to return to my magical beast form. I can only rely on eating medicinal ingredients to grow quickly, hoping that one day I can return to my true form... Boo hoo..." Xiao Yan looked at Zi Yan with a strange expression. To think you''d go to such lengths just for food! When Little Fairy Doctor heard this, she couldn''t help but feel a sense of kinship. Gently stroking Zi Yan''s silky hair, she comforted, "Though nothing in that valley is unusually precious, if you like it, you''re welcome to eat as much as you want." "Yay! Thank you, Sister Fairy Doctor!" Xiao Yan was stunned! ... Soon, with the speed of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, they flew into the other side of the Magic Beast Mountain Range within half a day, without entering from the Jia Ma Empire''s border. Breaking through the clouds, the Amethyst Winged Lion King slowly descended into the familiar valley that both Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor knew well. Chirp!! A loud eagle cry came from the sky. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Little Fairy Doctor''s pet eagle, Xiao Lan. Seeing Little Fairy Doctor return, Xiao Lan made a sudden dive, joyfully circling and chirping above her head. When she traveled to the Chu Yun Empire, Little Fairy Doctor couldn''t bring the Rank 1 Xiao Lan with her, so she had left it in the valley to guard the place. "Xiao Lan, it''s been so long." Little Fairy Doctor''s eyes glistened with tears as she gently stroked Xiao Lan''s wings. Back in Qingshan Town, Xiao Lan had been her most cherished friend. Chirp! Xiao Yan, Zi Yan, and the others tactfully walked away. After gathering some medicinal ingredients and refining a tier 5 fire-attribute pill for the Little Amethyst Winged Lion King to use for its breakthrough, Xiao Yan retreated into his old cave to prepare to refine the Sea Heart Flame. Meow! Mao Wu leaped out from the void. "Go, devour the soul imprint within the Sea Heart Flame for me." Meow! Mao Wu instantly transformed into a mass of black flames and collided fiercely with the Sea Heart Flame with a loud boom. The Sea Heart Flame sensed the attack of the Nihility Devouring Flame and instinctively counterattacked. Terrifying blue flames surged forth. Fortunately, Xiao Yan reacted quickly and summoned the Yin-Yang Twin Flame. The black and white fishes rotated, forming a yin-yang barrier around the entire cave to prevent the flames from destroying it. Xiao Yan slowly channeled Dou Qi into Mao Wu. The Tian Class Qi Method operated frantically, and a terrifying suction began absorbing the surrounding natural energy. Although the Sea Heart Flame ranked fifteenth among Heavenly Flames, with Han Feng dead, it was now a masterless flame and lacked the strength to continue resisting. Soon, Mao Wu invaded the Sea Heart Flame. Guided by Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength, it quickly found the location of Han Feng''s soul imprint. "So this is where you''ve been hiding..." A cold light flashed in his eyes as black flames erupted, devouring Han Feng''s soul imprint in one gulp. The screams within the soul imprint didn''t even have time to escape before being devoured. Without Han Feng''s soul imprint, the Sea Heart Flame ceased resisting and was smoothly absorbed into Xiao Yan''s body. It took only three days for the Sea Heart Flame to be completely refined and imprinted with Xiao Yan''s own soul mark. An expression of immense excitement bloomed on his face when he sensed that the Flame Mantra had evolved once again. "Low Tian Class!!!" "Hahaha! Finally, it''s at Low Tian Class!!!" Xiao Yan estimated that even among the Dou God Clans like the Gu Clan and the Hun Clan, it would be impossible for a Dou King to possess a Low Tian Class Qi Method. It wasn''t that their clans didn''t have such Qi Methods, but rather that Dou Kings were fundamentally incapable of cultivating Tian Class Qi Methods. Take the God Seal Technique, for example. Even the threshold for cultivating the first seal, Open Mountain Seal, required one to be at least a Dou King, while the second seal required reaching the peak of Dou King or even the Dou Emperor realm. Tian Class Qi Methods could only be cultivated by those at the Dou Emperor or even Dou Ancestor realm at minimum. Only a Qi Method like the Flame Mantra, which started at Low Huang Class and evolved step by step through refining and merging with Heavenly Flames, could have such miraculous effects! Now, when Xiao Yan faced the geniuses from the Dou God Clans again, he had absolute confidence! Xiao Yan instantly summoned all his Heavenly Flames with a wave of his hand. The Nihility Devouring Flame''s Seed Flame, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, the Green Lotus Core Flame, the Yin-Yang Twin Flame, the Fallen Heart Flame, the Bone Chilling Flame, and the Sea Heart Flame! Seven kinds! A full seven Heavenly Flames!! Each of the seven Heavenly Flames had its own distinct appearance. Besides the Nihility Devouring Flame''s Seed Flame, Yin-Yang Twin Flame, and Fallen Heart Flame, which already possessed intelligence and were like living creatures... When the Green Lotus Core Flame rose, it vaguely resembled a green lotus flower. Each time the Ten Thousand Beast Flame surged, it was like ten thousand beasts stampeding. The flames of the Bone Chilling Flame were sharp like ice spikes. The Sea Heart Flame was the most serene, its waves gently undulating like the sea lapping at a beach. With the appearance of the seven Heavenly Flames, not just within the cave, the temperature of the entire valley rose noticeably. With a thought, Xiao Yan altered the forms of the seven Heavenly Flames, transforming them into flame shapes, and then merged them into a mass of nameless fire. Xiao Yan didn''t know what to call this merged Heavenly Flame. The only thing he knew was that the power of this amalgamated nameless fire should be comparable to the top five ranked Heavenly Flames. And most importantly, while the top five Heavenly Flames each had only one mystical ability, his possessed seven! This was something no single Heavenly Flame could compare to. This was also his confidence when facing the Gu Clan in the future! ''But Qi Method and Heavenly Flames alone aren''t enough. I need stronger Dou Techniques.'' Xiao Yan took out two scrolls from his Storage Ring. They were the God Seal Technique and the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique! He planned to spend a month in the valley cultivating these Dou Techniques before leaving. Now, Octane Blast and Mad Lion Chant could only be used to deal with small fry. He would only use them when concealing his true strength. When it came to real battles, even the Flame Splitting Tsunami was no longer sufficient. What would really determine victory or defeat relied on the God Seal Technique, the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique, and self-created Heavenly Flame Dou Techniques. When Xiao Yan had to use the Asura Soul Reaping Technique and Angry Buddha Lotus Flame, it wouldn''t be a battle anymore; it would be fighting desperately when pushed into a corner. Speaking of which, it was quite sad. Xiao Yan had started cultivating from a young age and was almost twenty-one years old, but he had always learned Dou Techniques through self-study. He never had a master to properly teach him. The only one who taught him some ''phonetics'' was Zi Yan, that half-baked Dragon Language Master. This time was different. This time, Venerable Tian Huo was instructing him in the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique. Learning it should be much faster. Then, half a month later, Venerable Tian Huo was completely dumbfounded. He looked at Xiao Yan, who was concentrating on condensing a Fire Spirit before him, and felt that he was unworthy of teaching this monstrous genius. From the moment he learned that Xiao Yan truly possessed five kinds of Heavenly Flames, he''d had a faint feeling that something was amiss. Later, when he saw his proud Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique being altered beyond recognition by Xiao Yan, he no longer knew how to continue teaching. The Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique was a fire-controlling method divided into five levels, distinguished by beast natures: Wolf, Leopard, Lion, Tiger, and Dragon. Each level had its own Fire Spirit. When the technique was mastered, the five beasts would gather to form the Five Ring Flame Expelling Formation, wielding immense power capable of evaporating seas and incinerating the sky. This was how it was supposed to be. In just half a month, Xiao Yan had already managed to condense four Fire Spirits. But this wasn''t because he cultivated extremely fast; rather, he had taken a shortcut. A black flame cat, a blood-red tiger with eight wings, a colorless and formless snake, and a pair of black and white Yin-Yang fishes. Venerable Tian Huo recalled the effort and hardships he had endured back when he cultivated the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique. He instantly covered his face and wept bitterly, his heart filled with sourness. His soul body flickered, and he even had the impulse to just die and be done with it. This person was born possessing four Heavenly Flame Spirits! He hadn''t even started cultivating and had already jumped to the fourth level! In the past half-month, Xiao Yan had been focusing solely on cultivating the fifth level to condense the Fire Dragon! Moreover, this Fire Dragon wasn''t even made of fire. Xiao Yan planned to use the Sea Heart Flame to condense the fifth Fire Spirit, which could be considered a ''Flood Dragon.'' Xiao Yan practiced until he was drenched in sweat. At this moment, the four Fire Spirits floated behind him. The Sea Heart Flame before him was ever-changing. The ocean-like Sea Heart Flame now surged with towering waves, as if something was about to emerge from within. The splashing sounds echoed from the Sea Heart Flame as Xiao Yan manipulated the Heavenly Flame to take shape according to Venerable Tian Huo''s teachings. His terrifying Spiritual Strength and fire control ability were like molding clay, shaping the Heavenly Flame with precision. Time passed minute by minute. Finally, accompanied by a dragon''s roar, a completely blue Flood Dragon broke through the sea and emerged from the center of the Sea Heart Flame''s ocean. The Sea Heart Flame had finally taken the form of a Flood Dragon, completing its shaping. This Flood Dragon''s appearance was very similar to the Serene Sea Scaly Beast that Xiao Yan had seen in the Jia Ma Empire''s imperial palace. Xiao Yan had modeled it based on its appearance. In fact, it was the only flood dragon-type magical beast he had ever seen. "It''s done!" Xiao Yan couldn''t help but become excited. Half a month¡ªfinally, he had molded one! It wasn''t easy! Meow meow meow~~~ Mao Wu called out a few times, clapping its two paws to applaud Xiao Yan. The little Fallen Heart Flame serpent wagged its tail; the Flame Demon Tiger flapped its wings; the Yin-Yang Twin Fishes spun around, forming a heart shape. These four Fire Spirits were obviously different. Their intelligence was even higher than that of the Sea Heart Flame Flood Dragon that Xiao Yan had molded. "Elder Yao, I''ve gathered all five Fire Spirits. Can we start cultivating the Five Ring Flame Expelling Formation now? Elder Yao?" Xiao Yan wiped his sweat and looked excitedly at Venerable Tian Huo. Venerable Tian Huo covered his face and turned his head, not daring to look at Xiao Yan. Condensing a Fire Spirit in half a month was already extremely fast. Back then, it had taken him a year to condense the first Fire Spirit. And now, Xiao Yan had essentially completed the cultivation of all five levels in half a month! Do you have any idea what I went through back then? You don''t know. You only know how to take shortcuts! Ugh, I could cry! Xiao Yan scratched his head. Naturally, he didn''t feel that his cultivation speed was particularly fast. On the contrary, he even felt it was a bit slow. After all, he possessed the Tian Class Flame Mantra! Its fire control ability was incomparably terrifying. Taking half a month to mold one Fire Spirit was already quite slow. "Elder Yao? Is it because I''m cultivating too slowly? I''ll stop cultivating the God Seal Technique for now and focus on mastering the Five Ring Flame Expelling Formation." Xiao Yan swore that he truly thought this way! He believed that cultivating the God Seal Technique while also cultivating the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique had caused him to lack focus. When Venerable Tian Huo heard Xiao Yan say that he was cultivating slowly, he felt as if a sword had pierced his heart. It hurt so much. "Go cultivate on your own! I''m quitting being Venerable Tian Huo. Whoever wants to be him can be him!" With a whoosh, Venerable Tian Huo''s soul body directly fled. Zi Yan saw Venerable Tian Huo run away and asked with a puzzled expression. "What''s wrong with that old guy?" Little Fairy Doctor smiled softly and said, "His self-esteem has taken a hit." Chapter 289: An Old Friend Arrives Chapter 289 - 289: An Old Friend Arrives Word Count: 2,785 Words ****** ''Sigh, this God Seal Technique truly isn''t something humans can cultivate.'' Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly. No wonder the Dou God Clans'' Dou Techniques required the Dou God Bloodline. Even though this God Seal Technique was already a simplified and modified version, its difficulty level was far greater than the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique. At least for Xiao Yan, who possessed the Flame Mantra, the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique was indeed much easier. Just the first seal, Open Mountain Seal, required opening three specific meridians before one could form the hand seals and mobilize Dou Qi to activate the Dou Technique. The meridians within the human body were as numerous and complex as the stars in the sky. Some meridians were minuscule, hard to locate, and extremely fragile. Not to mention opening them; even a slight impact from strong energy could cause them to rupture. The three specific meridians needed for the Open Mountain Seal happened to be located in obscure positions within the right arm. It took Xiao Yan half a month just to open them. And this was under the premise that his physique and Spiritual Strength were exceptionally formidable. Dou Techniques that required opening specific meridians to activate were generally either terrifyingly powerful or belonged to the legendary class. Back when Xiao Yan was cultivating the Flame Splitting Tsunami and the Octane Blast, he didn''t need to specifically open any meridians. From this, one could imagine just how unique the God Seal Technique was. Especially the excruciating pain when opening the meridians made him wonder whether the genuine God Seal Technique was meant for humans to cultivate at all! No wonder that without the Dou God Bloodline, it was impossible to cultivate. Such a cultivation method¡ªif one''s body wasn''t extraordinary¡ªwould simply be courting trouble. After a month of stumbling and hardship, Xiao Yan had barely managed to get a semblance of the Open Mountain Seal. This was all thanks to Xun Er''s extremely detailed explanations about the God Seal Technique back then, coupled with guidance from Venerable Tian Huo, a former Dou Venerate, and complemented by his own powerful Spiritual Strength. Venerable Tian Huo stroked his beard while watching Xiao Yan, who was drenched in sweat and gritting his teeth as he cultivated the God Seal Technique. Seeing Xiao Yan''s struggle made him feel much better. ''That''s more like it. How can a High Di Class Dou Technique be so easy to cultivate?'' Obviously, Venerable Tian Huo conveniently ignored the fact that Xiao Yan was simultaneously cultivating both the God Seal Technique and the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique. Even so, he could still barely grasp the basics. Such talent had already surpassed his own from back then. In terms of pure cultivation talent, Xiao Yan''s had already exceeded that of a Dou Venerate. Xiao Yan himself hadn''t realized that ever since he obtained a bit of his ancestor''s Xiao Clan Dou God Bloodline in the Gate of Life and Death and integrated it into his flesh and blood, his cultivation of Dou Techniques had become even more effortless. His talent had improved! Xiao Yan stood atop a huge rock with a solemn expression. His right hand swiftly formed a strange hand seal, followed by a loud shout: "Open Mountain Seal!" As his shout fell, his robes fluttered without wind. Intense light surged onto his palm, and as the light emerged, he thrust his palm forward. However, the intense light dissipated instantly like a blooming epiphyllum just as his palm moved. The hand seal he pushed out only stirred up a slight gust of wind, producing a soft ''puff'' as it blasted a tiny pit in the ground. Xiao Yan gazed at the pit and shook his head helplessly. The Open Mountain Seal was indeed worthy of being a High Di Class Dou Technique. If not for his Flame Mantra reaching Low Tian Class, the energy required would definitely not be something a Dou King could bear. Even a peak Dou King would be at their limit after using the Open Mountain Seal once. "To think that the Open Mountain Seal is so difficult to cultivate, and this is just the first seal. I really don''t know how terrifying the next four seals will be." Xiao Yan muttered bitterly. Could it be that Dou Techniques from different clans might conflict with each other? Xiao Yan''s cultivation of the Open Mountain Seal still hadn''t made much progress. Its difficulty far exceeded his imagination. To unleash the normal power of the Open Mountain Seal, one had to synchronize the internal circulation of Dou Qi with the formation of the hand seal at the exact same instant. Otherwise, as before, the energy would quickly dissipate due to poor coordination right after appearing, ultimately resulting in a pitiful level of power. "Hey, Xiao Yan, it''s time to go!" Zi Yan shouted loudly at Xiao Yan, who stood atop the huge rock. There was still a month left until the next recession of the poison barrier in the Profound Nether Valley. Xiao Yan planned to take the opportunity to visit his father in the Jia Ma Empire, check on the development of the Yan Alliance, and then enter the Chu Yun Empire from the Jia Ma Empire''s border. After Venerable Tian Huo transformed into a stream of light and returned to the storage ring, Xiao Yan slowly jumped down from the huge rock. "Eh? Zi Yan, your aura seems to have improved quite a bit." Xiao Yan had been occupied with cultivation for the entire month. He only knew that Zi Yan and the Amethyst Winged Lion King had gone out to ''conquer territories.'' The Amethyst Winged Lion King had left the Magic Beast Mountain Range for over three years¡ªalmost four now. Its lair and territory had long been occupied by other magical beasts. Xiao Yan had heard that the Amethyst Winged Lion King had taken the Little Lion King and Zi Yan to reclaim its former territory. If a human were to forcefully seize resources and territories from magical beasts, it might attract the intervention of the mountain range''s overlord to protect the ecological balance. If it provoked a Rank 7 magical beast, that would spell true disaster. But the Amethyst Winged Lion King trio were all magical beasts. Moreover, the Amethyst Winged Lion King had been the former overlord of this area. This turned it into a territorial dispute between old and new overlords¡ªan internal conflict. And with the addition of Zi Yan, this Brute Force Queen, the Amethyst Winged Lion King naturally reclaimed its former territory without any surprises. "Hehehe," Zi Yan giggled mischievously but suddenly shivered and looked warily at Xiao Yan. "Don''t even think about taking my medicinal ingredients this time. They''re all mine." It was obvious that Zi Yan had profited quite a bit from this venture. Presumably, the magical beast that had occupied the Amethyst Winged Lion King''s territory had collected quite a few natural treasures over the years, and now they all fell into her hands. "Ahem, what do you mean by ''taking your medicinal ingredients''? I''m just thinking of refining them into something tastier for you. Isn''t it reasonable for me to receive some compensation for my hard work?" Xiao Yan said with a sly smile. Zi Yan pouted thoughtfully, then nodded, feeling that Xiao Yan made sense. She reached into the void, pulled out some medicinal ingredients, and said, "Help me refine these into candy pills, and I''ll give you one stalk of Dou King Grass." The Nihility Devouring Flame''s Seed Flame could also perform storage in the void. Xiao Yan estimated that if Mao Wu accelerated its growth for a while, or when he reached the Dou Emperor or Dou Ancestor realm, he could use the power of the Nihility Devouring Flame to open wormholes! He had already set soul imprints at Jia Nan Academy and in this small valley. Once Mao Wu matured, he could distort the void, fold space, and achieve the feat of reaching distant places in a single step! By then, traveling back and forth between the Jia Ma Empire and the Black-Corner Region wouldn''t be such a troublesome matter of flying. "Hey, hey, Zi Yan, these are all tier 6 medicinal ingredients. It''s unreasonable for you to only give me one stalk of Dou King Grass. At least share more with me." "In your dreams! These medicinal ingredients are for my growth. I only got these few after a month of effort." "With your treasure-hunting talent and the harvest from the Amethyst Winged Lion King''s lair, you only got this little in a month? I don''t believe it. Final offer, four tier 6 medicinal ingredients." "No way! One stalk." "Come on, at least give me three." "Two, and that''s final. Otherwise, I won''t want your help!" Zi Yan held up two fingers with a determined expression, looking ready to walk away if he didn''t agree. "Alright, alright, but I want these two." Xiao Yan unceremoniously took the two most precious main ingredients. Seeing Zi Yan pout and look a bit angry, he rubbed his nose and laughed. "Aren''t I doing this to quickly improve my alchemy skills so I can refine a Body Transformation Pill for you?" Zi Yan''s expression softened considerably upon hearing that Xiao Yan intended to refine a Body Transformation Pill for her. A glint flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes. He suddenly thought about Gu He who wanted to exchange the Green Lotus Core Flame with Medusa back then, and it seemed that he had prepared a Body Transformation Pill. ''I should find a chance to trick that Gu He fellow and get that Body Transformation Pill.'' Poor Gu He could never have imagined that even after he had already retired and withdrawn from the world, someone was still plotting against him! Soon, Xiao Yan had refined all of Zi Yan''s medicinal ingredients into round, glossy candy-like pills. At that moment, Little Fairy Doctor slowly walked over from the distant herb garden. From afar, holding a basket and wearing a floral dress, she exuded a rustic charm like a village girl returning from picking medicinal herbs. Seeing Xiao Yan curiously appraising her, her pretty face reddened slightly. She said softly, "Although I can''t refine pills, I can still plant medicinal herbs. The environment here is excellent, so I''m trying to grow some and see how they turn out." "That''s great! Plant more, and I''ll come here to get them when I need to refine pills in the future." Little Fairy Doctor shot him a sidelong glance. She had worked hard to plant them, and he wanted to take them just like that? "You wish. Let''s go. Don''t you have things to do in the Jia Ma Sacred City? There''s still a month until the Profound Nether Valley." ... Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan sat on the back of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, while this time, Xiao Yan sat on the back of the Little Lion King, which had already reached Rank 5. He quietly began circulating the Flame Mantra to increase his cultivation. During the past month, he had focused on cultivating Dou Techniques, so naturally, he had less time for the Flame Mantra. However, even with less time than before, the cultivation speed of a Low Tian Class Qi Method remained terrifying. He already faintly felt the sensation of breaking through to a 7-star Dou King. This time, Xiao Yan did not stop again. He only rested briefly in Wu Tan City, had a meal, and took a glance at the former grand mansion of the Xiao Clan. Now, there was no doubt that Wu Tan City was under the control of the Xiao Clan. Although the main base of the Xiao Clan had moved to the Misty Cloud Sect, there were still some members operating businesses in Wu Tan City. Flying straight along the way, Xiao Yan couldn''t help but recall some past events as he looked at the familiar flight route. After all, there were quite a few people and memories in the Jia Ma Sacred City. ... Jia Ma Empire, west of the Imperial Capital. An extremely vast manor stood here. The manor was exceptionally grand, matching the status of the Miteer Clan in the Jia Ma Empire. Deep within the manor, beside a quiet and clear lake, stood a graceful woman in a light purple brocade robe. Although her face couldn''t be seen, just her silhouette alone, with that curvaceous figure, was enough to make one''s imagination run wild. The woman''s gem-like eyes gazed somewhat absentmindedly at the shimmering ripples on the lake. Her classic oval face was alluring and charming. Wrapped in an extravagant brocade robe, her delicate body was caressed by a gust of wind, causing her clothes to cling tightly to her figure, accentuating her curves and exuding the enticing allure of a ripe peach. "Hehe, thinking about that little fellow?" Suddenly, a teasing elderly voice sounded from behind. The woman was startled and quickly turned around. Seeing the smiling old man approaching and hearing him mention that person, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks as she coyly said, "Elder Hai is teasing Ya Fei again." Without a doubt, this woman was Ya Fei, who had a close relationship with Xiao Yan back then. The blue-robed old man was none other than the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, who had been tricked by Xiao Yan into giving up the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame map, ending up as Xiao Yan''s bodyguard for several years and even losing half of his auction house! Hai Bodong approached with a smile, gazing at the rippling pool stirred by the wind. Standing with his hands behind his back, he looked at his reflection in the water. After a moment of silence, he sighed. "I wonder how that little fellow is doing. It''s been about two years since he left the Jia Ma Empire, hasn''t it?" Before leaving, Xiao Yan had refined the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill for him, restoring his strength to that of a 6-star Dou Emperor. Two years had passed since then. Although he hadn''t improved as astonishingly as Xiao Yan, he had advanced from a 6-star Dou Emperor to the formidable strength of a 7-star Dou Emperor. In the Jia Ma Empire, he was now an elite expert second only to Jia Xing Tian. Ya Fei gently nodded and smiled. "Yes, it''s been two years. But that guy has Queen Medusa accompanying him, and he''s just going to Jia Nan Academy to study. He should be fine." Hai Bodong chuckled wryly upon hearing this. "I''m not worried about him getting into trouble; I''m worried about him causing trouble wherever he goes. There''s never peace wherever he is." Ya Fei lightly covered her mouth and giggled. "That''s true. Back then, he turned the Misty Cloud Sect upside down. In the end, a mysterious faction appeared, killing Yun Shan and many elders of the Misty Cloud Sect, almost destroying the sect completely." "Mm, but I heard that there''s been news of Xiao Yan recently." When Xiao Yan captured Feng City, he had sent people to the Misty Cloud Sect to notify Xiao Zhan and the others, asking them to send people with management experience to oversee Feng City. Ya Fei naturally knew about this matter. Over the past two years, all connections and cooperation between the Miteer Clan and the Xiao Clan had been handled by her personally. Of course, she had heard about Xiao Yan capturing a city in the Black-Corner Region two months ago. Even some basic funds, artisans, and manpower were provided by the Miteer Clan. They were already planning to set up another Miteer Auction House in Feng City to compete with other auction houses in the Black-Corner Region, bringing some resources from the Black-Corner Region into the Jia Ma Empire to gradually increase the empire''s strength. A smile slowly appeared on Ya Fei''s lips as Xiao Yan''s figure flashed through her mind. Hai Bodong saw Ya Fei''s expression full of yearning and didn''t disturb her. After all, which young lady doesn''t yearn for love, especially for such an outstanding man like Xiao Yan? Suddenly, his expression changed as he abruptly looked into the distance. "Elder Hai? What''s wrong?" Ya Fei sensed that Hai Bodong''s aura had suddenly intensified. "There are two very strong auras rapidly approaching the Sacred City. A Rank 6 magical beast and a Dou Emperor, and their strengths aren''t weak." A glint flashed in Hai Bodong''s eyes. These were indeed troubled times. As soon as he finished speaking, he unfolded his Ice Wings and flew toward the direction of the auras. Chapter 290: Long Time No See Chapter 290 - 290: Long Time No See Word Count: 2,564 Words ****** "Old Hai, you sensed it too?" Jia Xing Tian''s voice came from behind Hai Bodong. He flashed to Hai Bodong''s side and they flew together toward the main gate of the Jia Ma Sacred City. "Yes. A Rank 6 magical beast with an extremely strong aura, likely even stronger than your guardian beast. There''s also an elite Dou Emperor," Hai Bodong nodded gravely. Such strength was enough to bring disaster upon the Sacred City. Jia Xing Tian''s face grew solemn as he nodded. Although the two of them could handle a Rank 6 magical beast and a Dou Emperor together, what they truly feared was not the force confronting them openly but rather the power backing that magical beast. It was like the situation back in Mo City, when two Dou Emperors, Lu Man and Bai Ya, appeared to take away Qing Lin. They were backed by the Sky Serpent Mansion, one of the hegemonic factions in the North-Western Region. Even if they invaded Jia Ma Empire territory openly, no one could hold them accountable. Moreover, the Great Meeting of Factions of the North-Western Region was about to begin. Empires and factions from everywhere would participate. Previously, the Chu Yun Empire and the Luo Yan Empire had tried to persuade the Jia Ma Empire to join forces with them to prevent being swallowed by the stronger factions at the region''s center. However, Jia Xing Tian and the imperial family ultimately refused. These two empires were longtime rivals of the Jia Ma Empire and both were stronger overall. They knew they couldn''t gain any advantage in such an alliance and might even be annexed or divided. The magical beast''s aura drew closer with extraordinary speed, then gradually slowed. A short while later, a purple glow appeared on the horizon. As it expanded, the massive body of the Amethyst Winged Lion King came into view first. Its body was covered in scales encased in purple crystals that shimmered beautifully under the sunlight. With a gentle flap of its enormous purple wings, it could fly at supersonic speeds, mesmerizing as a meteor streaking across the sky. "Hmm?" "Is that..." As the purple glow drew nearer, Hai Bodong and Jia Xing Tian noticed several figures seated on the back of the Amethyst Winged Lion King. When they recognized the young man in a mysterious black robe at the front, surprise flashed in their eyes. They stood momentarily stunned before their eyes widened. Their aged bodies trembled with excitement, their voices carrying a quiver. "By the heavens! That brat actually came back?!" Jia Xing Tian was naturally thrilled. His guardian beast was counting on Xiao Yan to save its life. "That kid sure knows how to make an entrance. Coming back riding a Rank 6 magical beast, so flamboyant." Hai Bodong''s face showed a gratified smile as he stroked his beard. Xiao Yan decided to stop hiding. He stored the Soul Robe in his storage ring and donned his long-unworn snow-white alchemist robe. Standing on the Amethyst Winged Lion King''s back with his robe fluttering in the wind and hands clasped behind his back, he truly looked the part. As he no longer concealed his presence with the Soul Robe, a powerful aura surpassing all Dou Kings suddenly burst forth. The wave of scorching Dou Qi seemed to raise the temperature of the entire Jia Ma Sacred City by several degrees. When Xiao Yan released his aura to announce his return, not only did Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bodong notice, but leaders of various factions across the empire also sensed this oppressive, fiery Dou Qi. They stared in the same direction, their faces filled with shock. The terrifying and vast Dou Qi mixed with scorching heat made their expressions change dramatically. Such strength seemed to exceed even the old monster Jia Xing Tian. When had such a powerful expert appeared in the Jia Ma Empire? Of course, some people guessed who had arrived. Those familiar with Xiao Yan, like Nalan Jie of the Nalan Clan and Miteer Tengshan, both Dou Kings, speculated that Xiao Yan had returned. "This kid¡ªif he''s back, he''s back. Did he have to make such a fuss as if afraid others wouldn''t notice?" Nalan Jie stroked his beard, looked toward Xiao Yan''s direction, and smiled. Despite possessing only a Dou Master''s cultivation, Ya Fei seemed to sense something. Although her strength couldn''t detect the aura, her heart felt a strange premonition. "He''s back..." Her heart inexplicably fluttered with nervousness. The formidable business queen who controlled the real power of the Miteer Clan was showing such a girlish demeanor that it would likely shock anyone who knew her. Xiao Yan manifested a pair of Dou Qi wings and glided over to Hai Bodong. A genuine smile of happiness lit his face. "Yo, Old Hai, long time no see. Your strength has improved, you''re glowing with health¡ªpractically aging in reverse!" "You little brat, even daring to tease me now." Despite his scolding words, Hai Bodong was clearly happy to see Xiao Yan''s return. Xiao Yan turned and cupped his fist toward the older man beside Hai Bodong in a relatively polite manner. "Elder Jia, long time no see." Without further ado, Xiao Yan took out a medicinal bottle from his storage ring. Inside was a Mixed Bone Molding Pill emitting an unusual fragrance, which he presented to Jia Xing Tian. Jia Xing Tian swallowed hard at the sight of the Mixed Bone Molding Pill. A tier 6 medicinal pill was something only Dou Emperors had the qualifications to use. Within the Jia Ma Empire, apart from the reclusive Gu He, only Fa Ma could produce such pills. Fa Ma had advanced to a 6th-tier alchemist just a year ago after gaining insights from watching Xiao Yan''s alchemy. If Xiao Yan had delayed his return by another year or two, Jia Xing Tian might have been forced to beg Fa Ma for help. "Good, you remembered¡ªit''s good that you remembered." In just two short years, Xiao Yan had advanced from a 5th-tier alchemist to 6th-tier. This speed made Jia Xing Tian''s thoughts run wild¡ªperhaps he should follow Hai Bodong''s example and secure Xiao Yan by marrying Yao Ye off to him. However, both Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bodong soon noticed Little Fairy Doctor quietly sitting on the Amethyst Winged Lion King''s back, reading a book about herb cultivation, and quickly abandoned the idea. This kid truly had a knack for attracting women! How had he managed to bring back another girl? And there was even an eleven or twelve-year-old little girl! Surely not Xiao Yan''s child?! Had he started that early?! Tsk tsk tsk, ptooey, what a scumbag. "Of course I remembered." Xiao Yan naturally didn''t know the myriad thoughts flashing through their minds. He nodded and smiled. "However, this pill''s medicinal strength is too domineering for humans. Only magical beasts with their robust physiques can consume it. Moreover, an alchemist must activate it in a special manner to maximize its effects." Jia Xing Tian was surprised to hear the pill required special activation. He looked at Xiao Yan and said, "In that case, I''m afraid I''ll have to trouble you again, Xiao Yan." "It''s only right. After all, I refined the pill," Xiao Yan replied with a smile. ... Xiao Yan didn''t immediately return to the Misty Cloud Sect to see his family but chose to stay temporarily at the Miteer Clan''s manor in the Jia Ma Sacred City. Although the Xiao Clan now had properties in the Jia Ma Sacred City, he still chose the Miteer Clan for his stay. The implication was self-evident. "Sister Ya Fei, long time no see." Xiao Yan''s voice softened unconsciously upon seeing Ya Fei. Ya Fei''s beautiful eyes brightened when she saw Xiao Yan descend from the sky. Even with her composed demeanor, she struggled to suppress her feelings as she playfully scolded, "So you still remember to come back." A nearly imperceptible hint of grievance colored her tone. Xiao Yan touched his nose in slight embarrassment. "Jia Ma Empire is, after all, where I was born and raised. My Xiao Clan has also resettled on the Misty Cloud Sect''s mountain, so naturally I had to return." Ya Fei gazed at his face, stepping forward when she noticed his slightly disheveled robe. She used her jade-like fingers to smooth it out and said softly, "Your return will likely create quite a stir in the Sacred City. You''re not just an alchemy genius anymore¡ªyou''re also the founder of the Yan Alliance." Xiao Yan''s expression grew awkward at the mention of social affairs. They were not his strong suit. Ya Fei noticed his discomfort and laughed lightly. "We''ll be hosting a banquet for you tonight. Don''t even think about skipping it." Xiao Yan sighed dramatically and rolled his eyes, but he nodded in agreement. When he had taken the position of Little Clan Leader from his father, he''d known such social occasions would be unavoidable. Little Fairy Doctor, who preferred tranquility, naturally wouldn''t accompany him to the banquet. She stayed at the manor with the Amethyst Winged Lion King and the Little Lion King while he went out. Zi Yan was the complete opposite. Having finally escaped from the ''prison'' that was Jia Nan Academy, she naturally wanted to follow Xiao Yan everywhere. ... News that Xiao Yan had returned and that the Miteer Clan was throwing a banquet threw the entire Jia Ma Sacred City into an uproar. Clans large and small scrambled to pull strings just for a chance to see him in person. Established factions like the Nalan Clan, the Mu Clan, and the Alchemist Association naturally attended one after another. When Fa Ma learned that Xiao Yan had successfully refined the Mixed Bone Molding Pill, his eyes gleamed with unusual light. Although the Mixed Bone Molding Pill was only a low tier 6 medicinal pill, it wasn''t easy to refine. Having reached tier 6 only a year ago himself, Fa Ma''s success rate in refining it was less than thirty percent. "Xiao Yan, what tier alchemist are you now?" Fa Ma looked at Xiao Yan with surprise and curiosity. While a low 6th-tier alchemist could refine the Mixed Bone Molding Pill, and Xiao Yan possessed a Heavenly Flame which increased his success rate, he found it hard to believe that Xiao Yan was merely a low 6th-tier alchemist. Advancing from a 5th-tier to a 6th-tier alchemist in just two years was already astonishing. But the young man before him seemed to routinely accomplish such inconceivable feats. What others found unbelievable was merely daily life for him. Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Why don''t you take a guess, Chairman Fa Ma?" Fa Ma gave Xiao Yan a helpless look. "This old man won''t bother guessing. If you don''t tell me your actual tier, how am I supposed to update your alchemist robe?" "No need to update it. It''s too troublesome to keep changing back and forth," Xiao Yan waved his hand to decline. "Changing back and forth???" Before Fa Ma could recover from his shock, Nalan Jie''s voice called out, "Xiao Yan." "Old Master Nalan, long time no see. I hope you''ve been in good health." And so began Xiao Yan''s ''long time no see'' journey. "Clan Head of the Mu Clan, long time no see." "Little Princess, you''ve grown taller! Compete in alchemy? Forget it, I wouldn''t want to bully a girl." "Princess Yao Ye¡ªno, I should address you as Queen Yao Ye now." "Mu Zhan? You still want to fight? If you''re itching for a battle, go find that little girl over there munching on a chicken leg. Yes, her. If you can withstand one punch from her, I''ll spar with you." "What? Your daughter has been poisoned and you want me to take a look? You should seek a physician or the Alchemist Association!" "Your son is an alchemist and wants to become my disciple? I have no plans to take students at the moment." "Your daughter has reached marriageable age? What does that have to do with me!" By the evening''s end, Xiao Yan felt his lips would wear out from talking. It turned out that being a public figure surrounded by incessantly chattering people was truly exhausting! The evening proved more challenging than cultivating the Open Mountain Seal! After the banquet concluded, Xiao Yan brought Zi Yan along and followed Queen Yao Ye to the imperial palace to treat the Serene Sea Scaly Beast. After about half an hour''s journey, their carriage passed smoothly through the heavily guarded imperial city. Upon alighting, Xiao Yan and Zi Yan didn''t linger but followed Yao Ye directly to the vast rear mountains within the palace. Finally, they stopped outside a huge lake atop the mountain. "Oh? There''s actually a big snake in this lake, and its strength isn''t bad. Probably about the same as the big lion, right?" Zi Yan, standing beside Xiao Yan, suddenly exclaimed as she looked toward the enormous lake. Both Jia Xing Tian and Yao Ye were startled by Zi Yan''s observation. They turned to look at this adorable little girl in surprise. It was already quite difficult to sense the presence hidden in such a deep lake, yet this lovely-looking girl could actually describe what was hidden within. How could they not be astonished? Xiao Yan, on the other hand, wasn''t surprised by Zi Yan''s. Her true form was also a magical beast, and her bloodline likely connected to the dragon race. The Serene Sea Scaly Beast was so powerful precisely because it also contained dragon bloodline. Therefore, it wasn''t extraordinary for Zi Yan to sense the magical beast hidden in the lake. "Elder Jia, please summon the Serene Sea Scaly Beast." Jia Xing Tian nodded quickly and disappeared in a flash, landing on the lake''s surface. His hands plunged into the water, and his powerful Dou Qi surged downward. The tranquil lake immediately boiled with bubbles before an enormous figure emerged from the depths. The figure was even larger than the Amethyst Winged Lion King by several degrees. When the Serene Sea Scaly Beast''s huge eyes saw Xiao Yan, its majestic expression instantly turned into one of flattery. "Grandmaster Xiao Yan! Hehehe, you''ve finally come. I''ve been waiting for so long." The Serene Sea Scaly Beast''s mouth curled into a grin as it slowly lowered its head toward Xiao Yan. It had been waiting for him until the flowers had all withered. "How can you be so obsequious? You''re truly disgracing the face of the Dragon Race," Zi Yan immediately mocked upon seeing the ingratiating manner of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast. "Little brat, are you seeking death? How dare a mere Dou King laugh at me!" The Serene Sea Scaly Beast might fawn over Xiao Yan, but it remained an inherently fierce magical beast. It naturally had no fear of a little girl like Zi Yan and immediately let out an angry roar. "Ah?! You want a fight?" Zi Yan''s ears rang from the deafening roar. She placed her hands on her hips and shouted angrily. As her scolding voice fell, those gem-like eyes suddenly shimmered with purple light. The Serene Sea Scaly Beast''s spine went weak the moment the purple light appeared. It then collapsed onto the ground with a thud, resembling a bowing posture. Chapter 291: The Great Meeting of Factions Chapter 291 - 291: The Great Meeting of Factions Word Count: 2,752 Words ****** Splash! Water sprayed in all directions as the Serene Sea Scaly Beast suddenly went limp. Its entire body collapsed vertically to the ground as if all strength had been stripped from it. ! ! ! ! The Serene Sea Scaly Beast quickly regained its strength and shot back up, but that brief moment of powerlessness stirred up raging waves in its heart. Its enormous beastly eyes filled with shock and horror. It could naturally tell with its strength that Zi Yan was merely at the Dou King realm¡ªor rather, just a Rank 5 magical beast. Yet the overwhelming pressure from earlier had indeed emanated from her. It was a suppression stemming from bloodline, an innate fear rooted deep within. Its own bloodline felt a sense of fear facing Zi Yan''s aura, as if an inferior were cowering before a superior. ''This little girl is actually a magical beast?! She made me feel such crushing oppression... Just what exactly is her true form? Could she have inherited an ancient bloodline? A True Dragon?'' The Serene Sea Scaly Beast stared dumbfounded at Zi Yan''s petite figure. It no longer had even a trace of its earlier ferocity, though it wouldn''t go so far as to grovel before her. The Serene Sea Scaly Beast wished for nothing more than to stay far away from this little grand aunt. The sudden collapse of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast naturally left Jia Xing Tian and Yao Ye deeply shaken. They looked in astonishment at the purple-haired little girl beside Xiao Yan. They found it truly unbelievable. The Serene Sea Scaly Beast could be considered a magical beast with a rare and powerful bloodline. Otherwise, it wouldn''t have reached Rank 6. Yet now, just being stared at by Zi Yan caused it to react like this! Zi Yan scrunched her dainty nose with satisfaction when she saw the Serene Sea Scaly Beast yield. She turned and made a playful face at Xiao Yan, letting out a proud little huff. Xiao Yan merely gave a soft chuckle and gently rubbed her small head. It was clear that Zi Yan had at least realized she was connected to the Dragon Race in some way. In fact, back when he had asked Zi Yan to teach him Dragon Language, she only then learned that the language she knew was that of the Dragon Race. Thus, she understood that her true form must be related to dragons. And now she was even more certain. At the very least, her bloodline was definitely nobler than that of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, a flood dragon with an impure lineage. ''Looks like I need to get Zi Yan a Body Transformation Pill sooner rather than later,'' Xiao Yan thought to himself. "Alright, let''s not waste any more time." Xiao Yan dispelled the tense atmosphere with a nod to Jia Xing Tian. He beckoned, and the Mixed Bone Molding Pill floated gently to his side. Glancing at the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, he said, "Are you ready? This might hurt a little at the start." "Sorry to trouble Grandmaster Xiao Yan." After the earlier incident with Zi Yan, the Serene Sea Scaly Beast didn''t dare act impudently even with its fierce temperament. Xiao Yan smiled faintly and focused for a moment. A blood-red wisp of Ten Thousand Beast Flame sprang forth, encasing the pill. He flicked the flame into the air, sending the fire-shrouded pill above the Serene Sea Scaly Beast''s head. Moments later, Xiao Yan''s hand seals suddenly changed. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame abruptly expanded, and under the scorching temperature, a rich blood-colored radiance poured out, eventually enveloping the massive body of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast below like a curtain of water. The Serene Sea Scaly Beast began to writhe with a rather pained expression the instant it was shrouded in the strange light. Deep roars reverberated across the lake, sending large waves rolling across the surface. Jia Xing Tian and Yao Ye watched with quiet anxiety from the side. After all, the Serene Sea Scaly Beast was not just the guardian beast of their imperial family; it was also their family and comrade-in-arms. Of course, their worries were absolutely unnecessary. With Xiao Yan possessing the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, failure was out of the question. Soon, the permeating medicinal fragrance gradually dissipated, and Xiao Yan retracted the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. Roar! Roar! Roar!!! An earth-shattering aura suddenly erupted from within the Serene Sea Scaly Beast. The waters of the lake surged violently. ''Not bad. This aura is comparable to a 7- or even 8-star Dou Emperor. If it fights in water, perhaps even an ordinary 9-star Dou Emperor wouldn''t be its match." Xiao Yan silently assessed the Serene Sea Scaly Beast''s strength. "So noisy!" Zi Yan glared at the Serene Sea Scaly Beast with wide, angry eyes. "Eh heh heh, got a bit excited there. This old injury had troubled me for far too long. Many thanks for your medicinal pill, Grandmaster Xiao Yan; I''m endlessly grateful." The Serene Sea Scaly Beast, having learned its lesson, immediately shifted the topic to Xiao Yan rather than provoking Zi Yan again. With the Serene Sea Scaly Beast''s injury now treated and his promise fulfilled, Xiao Yan did not linger. He brought Zi Yan back to the Miteer Clan''s manor. ... In a pavilion, Xiao Yan looked at Zi Yan sitting atop a rock, her little feet swinging back and forth, and asked, "Zi Yan, your true form should be some kind of magical beast with a dragon bloodline, right?" "It should be. Back when you were cultivating that Dou Technique, I could understand those unique pronunciations. It was then I realized I could comprehend Dragon Language." Zi Yan had first heard the language of the Dragon Race when she met Xiao Yan. After all, there were no pure-blooded dragons in the mountain ranges around Jia Nan Academy. If such creatures existed, the entire Inner Academy wouldn''t be safe. Moreover, she was still very young before consuming the Body Transformation Grass, and her appearance at that time made it impossible to determine her race. Xiao Yan patted her small head and comforted, "Don''t worry. You''ll be able to restore your true form very soon." Zi Yan blinked her bright eyes and pressed her hands to her hips. "Fine. But you said it! You''d better not trick me again. Otherwise, I won''t help you gather medicinal ingredients anymore." "Rest assured. I recall that someone in the Jia Ma Empire has a Body Transformation Pill. I''ll find a way to swindle it into our hands." Xiao Yan licked his lips and grinned slyly. Zi Yan leaped up onto the boulder and threw her arms around Xiao Yan''s neck. "Want this young lady to help you?" "Don''t worry; I can handle it." The two exchanged a smile. Zi Yan loved how crafty Xiao Yan could be. However, Xiao Yan''s troubles were far from over. As the proposer of the Yan Alliance Treaty and the Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan¡ªone of the founding factions of the Yan Alliance¡ªhe had a heap of matters to handle the next day. For instance, issues that had arisen after the formation of the Yan Alliance, obstacles encountered, and forces hostile to the alliance. There were also factions wanting to join, but criteria for admission and other problems hadn''t been established yet. Although there were preliminary regulations, everyone had subconsciously regarded Xiao Yan as the leader of the Yan Alliance. Thus, they were all waiting for his return to decide on major matters. The biggest issue facing the Yan Alliance was the upcoming Great Meeting of Factions of the North-Western Region. In fact, the reason Jia Xing Tian and Queen Medusa had agreed to Xiao Yan establishing the Yan Alliance was precisely for this Great Meeting of Factions. ... "Only half a year left?" Xiao Yan asked. In the main hall, all the high-ranking members of the Yan Alliance were gathered. Queen Yao Ye and Jia Xing Tian represented the Jia Ma Imperial Family, while Xiao Yan and Xiao Ding, who had come down from the Misty Cloud Sect, represented the Xiao Clan. In addition, Yun Shui, the new First Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, represented the sect. Hua She Er and Yue Mei, who rushed over from the Snake-People Tribe upon learning of Xiao Yan''s return, naturally represented the Snake-People Tribe. Queen Yao Ye nodded, but her face carried a hint of worry. "In half a year, the Great Meeting of Factions of the North-Western Region will be held. At that time, all factions in the region will participate." "This meeting is extremely important. If our performance is too poor... it could invite disaster." The Great Meeting of Factions was essentially a platform for each faction to display their strength. In this world where might makes right, insufficient strength would naturally attract invasions or even partitioning by various factions. The Chu Yun Empire, Luo Yan Empire, and Mu Lan Empire bordering the Jia Ma Empire were also countries in the North-Western Region. On the surface, the national borders of these four empires connected, and they stood on equal footing. But in reality, the Jia Ma Empire was the weakest of the four. The other three empires seemed to have a tacit understanding to possibly join forces and invade. The reason was very simple. The Jia Ma Empire had no Dou Ancestor. They had refrained from acting mainly due to their fear of the Misty Cloud Sect, which had once been renowned throughout the Dou Qi Continent. This was also why, two years ago, after Yun Shan died and most of the Misty Cloud Sect''s Elders perished, the Jia Ma Imperial Family was more worried than pleased. Once the strongest faction in the empire¡ªthe Misty Cloud Sect¡ªwas destroyed, the other three empires wouldn''t remain as amicable as before. They would likely join forces, march their armies in, and directly partition the entire Jia Ma Empire. And the Great Meeting of Factions was the critical point. If they failed to show strength and demonstrate powerful high-end combat power at the meeting, the consequences would be dire. Yao Ye and the others secretly sighed. The Great Meeting of Factions felt like a countdown, and until now, they still didn''t have a Dou Ancestor. "I''m afraid that now that we''ve formed an alliance, it will instead cause the Chu Yun Empire, Luo Yan Empire, and Mu Lan Empire to form their own alliance to deal with us." "Ever since the alliance formed, those three empires have been sending troops into the Snake-People Tribe''s territory more and more frequently," Yue Mei added. The Snake-People Tribe''s geographic position was the most precarious. They were located in the middle of the four empires. Although called a nation, their area was very small, consisting of only eight tribes living in the desert. It was only because of Medusa''s iron-fisted methods and formidable strength that they hadn''t been destroyed. Yue Mei continued, "Last month, the Chu Yun Empire and Luo Yan Empire dispatched two Dou Emperors who suddenly appeared at the border. They were likely trying to probe for information about Her Majesty Queen Medusa." The fact that Medusa had left with Xiao Yan was a secret unknown to outsiders. However, her absence for two years naturally aroused suspicion among various factions. "Fortunately, Sect Leader Yun Yun arrived in time to prevent large-scale casualties." Xiao Yan''s eyes sharpened and his brows furrowed upon hearing this. "Sect Leader Yun Yun is currently at the border?" Yun Shui nodded and replied, "Yes, Grandmaster Xiao Yan. The Sect Leader is still at the border, while the Little Sect Leader has entered the Gate of Life and Death to cultivate, aiming to further unlock the inheritance of former Sect Leader Yun Po Tian and striving to break through to the Dou Emperor realm as soon as possible." No wonder Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bodong had been so excited to see Xiao Yan''s return. The Jia Ma Empire was already in imminent danger! Hua She Er and Yue Mei exchanged glances. "Grandmaster Xiao Yan, where is Her Majesty Queen Medusa now?" Hua She Er asked. "Rest assured, Medusa is currently in a secret realm condensing her Heavenly Flame Serpent Body. I believe that in another one or two years, she will complete the process and truly evolve to reach Rank 7. By then, a fully evolved Medusa reaching Rank 8 will only be a matter of time," Xiao Yan replied with a smile. Hiss! Hai Bodong and Jia Xing Tian both sucked in a sharp breath. Rank 8 was only a matter of time?! A Rank 8 magical beast was equivalent to a Dou Venerate! If Medusa could truly step into the Dou Venerate realm, then ruling the entire North-Western Region wouldn''t even be an issue! Hua She Er and Yue Mei''s faces filled with emotion upon hearing this, and tears welled up in their eyes. Their Snake-People Tribe had been forced to live in the desert, and the constant wars left them destitute. Now they finally saw a glimmer of hope! "Don''t celebrate too soon. If the nation falls, even if Medusa returns after fully completing her cultivation, avenging you would be meaningless. What was lost won''t come back," Xiao Ding poured cold water on their enthusiasm. Xiao Yan nodded in agreement with his elder brother. Having lived two lifetimes, he naturally understood the cruelty of war. If the nation was destroyed and families lost, seeking revenge later would be meaningless. What was lost would never return, and the dead would not come back to life. Moreover, he was self-aware. The borders between the Jia Ma Empire and the Snake-People Tribe were vast. No matter how powerful he was, could he alone guard such a long frontier? Even with the power of the Nihility Devouring Flame, he couldn''t defend it all. Furthermore, he couldn''t stay in the Jia Ma Empire forever. Relying on him alone couldn''t protect the Yan Alliance. Xiao Ding exchanged a glance with Xiao Yan and looked at the worried faces in the hall. "Right now, the best solution is the Great Meeting of Factions. If we can achieve outstanding results at the meeting, it will definitely deter other factions from coveting the Jia Ma Empire and the Snake-People Tribe. By then, we''ll just need to wait for Medusa to return; that will be the time for us to counterattack." Yao Ye nodded in agreement with Xiao Ding. "Indeed, in the last Great Meeting of Factions, we also didn''t have a Dou Ancestor. It was Yun Shan who led the delegation. Although our Jia Ma Empire was still rated as second-tier at that time, because Gu He broke through to become a 6th-tier alchemist, we managed to stabilize the situation." "Our empire''s alchemist level has always been top-notch among the four empires. Perhaps this time we can use our previous tactics again." An empire''s strength wasn''t solely determined by its top combat power; alchemists were also a crucial factor. The Alchemist Association was neutral, but alchemists like Xiao Yan and Gu He were not. Especially Xiao Yan¡ªhe was the founder of the Yan Alliance. His status was very important. All eyes turned toward Xiao Yan. Since he could refine the Mixed Bone Molding Pill, he must be at least a 6th-tier alchemist. Xiao Yan contemplated for a while, his fingers lightly tapping the table. Seeing everyone''s expectant expressions, he slowly nodded. "Indeed, I am a 6th-tier alchemist. However, I won''t be able to stay with the Yan Alliance all the time. Our alliance still needs a Dou Ancestor to hold the fort, which can avoid many unnecessary troubles." "Moreover, if we continue to lack a Dou Ancestor, certain matters will be difficult to carry out." Xiao Yan glanced around the room, his gaze settling on Jia Xing Tian, who sat beside Queen Yao Ye. His powerful Tier 7 Spiritual Strength swept over the old man. Sensing something, Jia Xing Tian looked at Xiao Yan in puzzlement, not knowing what he intended. "Elder Jia, based on your cultivation, you''ve been at the peak of the Dou Emperor realm for many years now, correct?" Xiao Yan asked. Jia Xing Tian sighed. "Alas, indeed. I''ve been at the peak of Dou Emperor for a long time but have always been unable to break through that final barrier." Xiao Yan smiled. "Elder Jia, have you ever used a Zong Breaking Pill?" Chapter 292: Updating the Battle Power Unit Chapter 292 - 292: Updating the Battle Power Unit Word Count: 2,813 Words ****** "Zong Breaking Pill!!!" "The Zong Breaking Pill, that peak tier 6 pill on par with a tier 7 pill?!" It was apparent that everyone present had heard of the Zong Breaking Pill''s reputation. Even the elderly Jia Xing Tian flushed, his breathing quickening. Evidently, he had not only heard of it but had even fantasized about it! Yao Ye steadied herself first and asked in a solemn, earnest tone, "Grandmaster Xiao Yan, Elder Jia has indeed never used such a pill before. In fact, our Jia Ma Imperial Family lacks the means to acquire such a precious pill." "Since Grandmaster Xiao Yan is asking, could it be that..." Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bodong stared fixedly at Xiao Yan. Their usual dignified composure maintained in front of others was entirely gone. They seemed to be waiting for Xiao Yan to simply say: Yes, I can refine it. There was no need to elaborate on Jia Xing Tian; he had been yearning for a Zong Breaking Pill. As for Hai Bodong, he was now a 7-star Dou Emperor, and Xiao Yan had previously promised him a Mighty Huang Pill. With that, he could quickly reach the peak of 9-star Dou Emperor. Once he possessed a Zong Breaking Pill, there would be a genuine chance of taking that decisive step into the Dou Ancestor realm! Unfortunately, they first saw Xiao Yan slowly shaking his head. Just as the two were about to sigh¡ªthinking that given Xiao Yan''s young age, refining a Zong Breaking Pill would be impossible¡ªthey heard him calmly say, "I haven''t attempted to refine a Zong Breaking Pill before. If I were to try, I''d estimate about a 30% success rate. It would require some luck and multiple attempts." ! ! ! ! ! Those words made the duo whip their heads up. They fully grasped Xiao Yan''s meaning. One set of ingredients for the Zong Breaking Pill wouldn''t be enough; they might need three sets, along with a bit of luck. When requesting an alchemist to refine pills, preparing two to three sets of ingredients was customary. After all, alchemy wasn''t like cooking; it was not a guaranteed success, and repeated attempts were how one improved the odds. For this reason, the more skillful the alchemist, the higher the success rate¡ªand the more bountiful the return. If one succeeded on the first attempt despite having prepared multiple sets, they earned those extra ingredients along with the commission. This was more than just a profitable business. High-tier alchemists were like treasure hoarders, amassing numerous rare ingredients. Xiao Yan himself didn''t have a single set of ingredients for the Zong Breaking Pill. He estimated that without using the Black Demon Cauldron, his success rate would indeed be around 30%. If not for his Flame Mantra having reached the Low Tian Class, he wouldn''t have dared to make such a bold claim. The Low Tian Class Flame Mantra gave him the fire control equivalent to an 8th-tier alchemist, a downright terrifying level of mastery. "30%... You actually have a 30% success rate!" Yao Ye stared at Xiao Yan with surprise filling her beautiful eyes. She murmured, "Even newly advanced 7th-tier alchemists don''t have a 30% success rate when refining the Zong Breaking Pill." Xiao Yan turned to see Yao Ye staring intently at him. Seeing this queen who usually maintained her regal composure reveal such an expression, he couldn''t help but laugh. Yao Ye''s cheeks flushed slightly when she realized that Xiao Yan found her reaction amusing. She shot him a glance with a hint of girlish annoyance. "Your Majesty Yao Ye, I wonder if the Imperial Family can provide three sets of ingredients for the Zong Breaking Pill," said Xiao Yan seriously. "Since I proposed the Yan Alliance Treaty and have been away for two years, it''s time I contributed something to the alliance." Xiao Yan clearly meant he wouldn''t charge any labor fee for refining the pill, but they would need to provide the necessary ingredients. As for Hai Bodong, there was no need to say more. Xiao Yan had already prepared to give him a Mighty Huang Pill to increase his strength and planned to help him break through to Dou Ancestor in the future. He still felt somewhat guilty for having taken Hai Bodong''s map fragment of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame. Not to mention, Hai Bodong had assisted him many times, even standing by his side against the Dou Emperor from the Sky Serpent Mansion. The value of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame''s map fragment couldn''t be compared to a few Mighty Huang Pills or Zong Breaking Pills. As for the Snake-People Tribe, there was no need to elaborate. Over the past two years, who knew how many pills he had given Medusa? Half of the Core-Fire Lotus Seeds had been consumed by her, and he''d invested great effort to help her refine the Heavenly Flame Serpent Body. Most importantly, he had been taken advantage of! Damn it! Medusa, you owe me a lot! "It can be done!" Yao Ye didn''t hesitate. Even if it meant exhausting the Imperial Treasury and all the resources of the Imperial Family, they would find a way to collect three full sets of ingredients for a Zong Breaking Pill. This was an opportunity that might not come again in a lifetime. "Please give us some time. We''ll gather the three sets for the Zong Breaking Pill as soon as possible!" Yao Ye promised confidently. "Alright. But please do so quickly. In a few days, I need to head to the Chu Yun Empire to attend to some matters," Xiao Yan pondered for a moment before saying. "Seven days... No, three days! We will definitely gather all three sets of ingredients within three days!" After discussing more details about the Yan Alliance and gathering further intelligence on the Chu Yun Empire, the high-level assembly came to an end. Naturally, when it was over, Xiao Yan gave Hai Bodong a Mighty Huang Pill and promised that once the latter''s cultivation reached the required level, he would refine a Zong Breaking Pill for him as well. This made Hai Bodong grin so widely that his mouth went crooked. He inwardly sighed that his beauty trap had been used marvelously. That same day, Xiao Yan left Zi Yan in the care of Little Fairy Doctor. Then, together with Xiao Ding, the two brothers flew toward the Misty Cloud Sect. The current Misty Cloud Sect was almost unrecognizable from when Xiao Yan had first arrived. When he left the Jia Ma Empire, the Misty Cloud Sect was on the verge of disbanding. Panic filled everyone''s hearts; most of the remaining disciples, deacons, and elders had left. Only a few seekers of the Dao without any backing remained. Now, having joined the Yan Alliance and undergone two years of recovery, the sect had regained much vitality. Many shops had reopened throughout Misty Cloud City. After experiencing that great calamity, the Misty Cloud Sect''s atmosphere had changed significantly. Those who had relied on their backgrounds had left. Under Yun Yun''s leadership¡ªfollowing Xiao Ding''s suggestion¡ªthe sect began transforming into a true holy land for cultivation. Admission no longer depended on one''s backing, and even talent and strength were secondary. Instead, diligence and character were prioritized. Although this wouldn''t instantly restore the sect''s previous fame as the number one congregation of geniuses in the Jia Ma Empire... In the long run, the Misty Cloud Sect would become an unbreakable iron fortress, achieving unity from top to bottom. Of course, that was just on the surface. The Hall of Souls hidden within the Misty Cloud Sect remained, with Xiao Li in charge of delivering the required number of souls at regular intervals. As for how these souls were obtained¡ªwhether from the battlefield, dealing with death row prisoners in the Jia Ma Empire, or hunting magical beasts¡ªit didn''t matter. Xiao Yan didn''t inquire about it at all. In this world, benevolence was something only those with absolute strength could afford. Right now, even the Yan Alliance struggled to protect itself. It was rare for the family to reunite. Xiao Yan spent a rare, leisurely time with his elder brothers and father, chatting freely about life and drinking until none remained sober. When Xiao Li inquired about Xun Er, Xiao Yan didn''t conceal anything and briefly recounted what had happened. Learning that she had been taken back by her clan and that even Xiao Yan was helpless against the power behind her, his brothers could only offer their earnest comfort. The time at home allowed Xiao Yan to catch his breath. For two days, he put cultivation aside and stayed at the Xiao Clan''s residence, enjoying a young master''s life, occasionally instructing the clan''s disciples in the courtyard. But soon, his short weekend came to an end. BOOM! From the direction of the Gate of Life and Death within the Misty Cloud Sect, a fierce gust of green wind erupted. A giant whirlwind soared into the sky, and a powerful Dou King aura blasted forth, shaking the entire area. "That''s coming from the Gate of Life and Death!" "This aura... it''s Senior Sister Nalan!" "So strong! What is Senior Sister Nalan''s current cultivation level?!" Looking at the towering cyan whirlwind, Xiao Yan pinched the bridge of his nose with a helpless expression. He guessed that his aura from refining a high-grade tier 6 medicinal pill the previous night might have leaked out. This would have alerted Nalan Yanran, who was cultivating in seclusion within the Gate of Life and Death. Xiao Yan looked toward Nalan Yanran amidst the cyan pillar of light. She gazed back at him while holding Yun Po Tian''s personal sword in her right hand. With a resounding clang, she slashed through the whirlwind, revealing a pair of cyan Dou Qi wings behind her. Without doubt, her cultivation had soared at an astonishing speed with the inheritance of Yun Po Tian. Moreover, two years ago, Xiao Yan had sold her many pills, allowing her cultivation to rise even more rapidly. At that time, her cultivation had been even a star higher than his. ''A 5-star Dou King... Heh, this time, I''m one step ahead.'' Xiao Yan crossed his arms and raised his chin, gazing at Nalan Yanran in midair with a confident smirk. Seeing the look in his eyes, Nalan Yanran knew exactly what he was thinking. She pointed her sword at him and said coldly, "Xiao Yan! Let''s have another duel!" Having a higher cultivation didn''t guarantee victory; hadn''t she lost before even when her cultivation was higher? With Yun Po Tian''s inheritance, her eyes carried a hint of coldness. Her once melodious voice now held a chilling edge, like a sharp blade piercing one''s heart, sending a shiver down the spine. Yun Po Tian''s greatest strength had always been his sword techniques. The fact that the Misty Cloud Sect''s highest-grade Dou Techniques were all sword techniques was testament enough. Nalan Yanran''s bright, gem-like eyes brimmed with battle spirit as she looked at Xiao Yan. She no longer harbored any resentment toward him, but her stubborn nature compelled her to challenge him again. She treated Xiao Yan as the target she must surpass. "This time, I will definitely defeat you." "Confident, aren''t you? Not bad," replied Xiao Yan calmly across the distance. He couldn''t help but chuckle upon hearing her declaration. You''re even more confident than Liu Ling! "I don''t mind sparring with you, but you can''t just challenge me whenever you feel like it. Where would I put my face? Besides, you''ve already lost to me once. We agreed you''d become my servant; how about calling me ''Young Master'' first?" Xiao Yan had seemingly embraced the role of a carefree young master over the past two days, his words carrying a hint of teasing. "I''ll call you that if I lose," Nalan Yanran lifted her proud chin and declared. "How about this? If you win, we''ll write off our previous agreement, and I''ll even give you a Dou King Pill. If I win, you have to help me with something," Xiao Yan''s eyes gleamed as he smiled, as if plotting something. "What is it?" "Never mind that. I promise it won''t be anything immoral." Nalan Yanran''s gaze sharpened. Since she had already lost once, she might as well go all in. With her mind made up, she nodded firmly. "All right!" Confronting her sword-like stare, Xiao Yan merely said in a level tone, "So be it. It''s been two years. Looks like it''s time to update my ''battle power unit.''" Currently, Liu Qing was his battle power unit. However, from what he could see now, Nalan Yanran¡ªwho had received the inheritance of a Dou Venerate¡ªclearly possessed strength surpassing Liu Qing. Moreover, Xiao Yan himself had also received the inheritances of two Dou Venerates¡ªVenerable Yao and Venerable Tian Huo. This was a good opportunity to test just how formidable Venerable Tian Huo''s inheritance was. With a whoosh, black and white Dou Qi wings formed behind Xiao Yan as he slowly ascended into the sky. Since both were Dou Kings, their battlefield naturally shifted to the skies. "Wow, who is that young man? He''s so young, yet already a Dou King!" "Don''t you know? That''s Grandmaster Xiao Yan, the initiator of the Yan Alliance Treaty and the youngest champion of the Alchemist Grand Meeting!" "I heard that Grandmaster Xiao Yan once had a marriage arrangement with Senior Sister Nalan. But after he defeated her in a duel, they agreed to annul the engagement." "What? He broke off an engagement with Senior Sister Nalan? Is he crazy? If it were me, I''d jump at the chance to marry into the Nalan Clan!" Many of the newly admitted disciples in the Misty Cloud Sect gazed upon Xiao Yan with envy or jealousy, especially those self-proclaimed geniuses who admired Nalan Yanran. They considered themselves dragons among men, all vying to become her suitors. However, today, the woman whom countless young men regarded as their dream goddess had not only been defeated before but had her engagement broken off? How could this not make them jealous! "Hmph! This time, Senior Sister Nalan will surely win!" some of the young talents muttered indignantly, unable to hide their grievance. Hovering in midair, Xiao Yan did not underestimate his opponent and took out the Heavy Xuan Ruler. Using Nalan Yanran as his battle power unit wasn''t to belittle her; rather, it was acknowledging her strength. It meant she was formidable enough to make him take her seriously. Using someone as a battle power unit was essentially distinguishing between when to take a fight seriously and when not to. A loud clang rang out as Nalan Yanran gripped the Cloud Slaying Black Sword in both hands. She took a deep breath, and her entire demeanor transformed. Sword intent surged from her, and tiny whirlwinds swirled around her body like tangible blades. They were eerily cold and seemed capable of beheading an opponent in a single stroke! No matter where they went, those at the Dou Venerate realm were respectfully addressed as ''Venerable''. This was a testament to the immense power of that level, a power transcending the realm of mortals. In the blink of an eye, Nalan Yanran vanished from sight, her speed too swift for the naked eye to follow. "What a terrifying agility technique!" The agility technique Nalan Yanran used was definitely not inferior to the Three Thousand Lightning Movement. After all, the Three Thousand Lightning Movement was just the foundational technique of the Wind Lightning Pavilion''s strongest movement skill, the Three Thousand Lightning Illusionary Body. Clang! Sparks flew as her black sword collided with the Heavy Xuan Ruler. Xiao Yan smiled slightly. As fast as she was, she could not escape his Spiritual Strength perception. Clang! Clang! Clang! Three consecutive clashes echoed as Xiao Yan countered with horizontal sweeps, upward strikes, and downward chops. The Heavy Xuan Ruler, weighing as much as a thousand pounds, broke through all techniques, forcing Nalan Yanran to retreat repeatedly! From the Cloud Slaying Black Sword in her hand burst a black glow, dark as midnight yet glaring like a blazing sun. "Wind''s Peak¡ªDazzling Sunset!" Seeing such a sword-intent-laden technique, some of the older Dou King elders of the Misty Cloud Sect were deeply moved, while the younger generation of geniuses all turned pale. "As expected of the Cloud Slaying Black Sword, the personal weapon of Founder Yun Po Tian, capable of cutting down all beings." Many people felt a chill down their spines as they witnessed the terrifying and unparalleled power carried by the black sword thrusting forward. Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes. If she didn''t possess such strength, she wouldn''t be worthy of being his updated battle power unit. "Flames, come forth! Flame Splitting Tsunami!" Chapter 293: Young Master鈥檚 Task Chapter 293 - 293: Young Master''s Task Word Count: 2,777 Words ****** Xiao Yan did not hold back when faced with Nalan Yanran''s attack. The Heavy Xuan Ruler in his hand suddenly flared up with bright flames, emitting a resonant hum. Two streams of black and white light shaped like twin fishes rushed out from his body in an instant, engulfing his figure as they swirled around him in a yin-yang pattern. As these black and white lights circled, the Heavy Xuan Ruler split into two halves: one radiated a majestic, dazzling white flame, while the other emanated a pitch-black glow akin to a bottomless abyss. With his Flame Mantra having reached the Low Tian Class, Xiao Yan''s control over fire had long since reached the pinnacle, especially with Heavenly Flames. He could switch between them with ease, achieving seamless transformations. He could even incorporate the unique properties of Heavenly Flames into his Dou Techniques. The First Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Shui, felt a shock upon seeing this. Being rather discerning, he could tell at a glance that the Heavy Xuan Ruler in Xiao Yan''s hand, now split into black and white, was no ordinary sight. How could he not be deeply moved? "You''re still relying on your same old repertoire. Haven''t you improved at all?" Xiao Yan chuckled. Then, without warning, he unleashed a powerful slash. The flame waves of his Flame Splitting Tsunami turned black and white as they rushed toward the sword light that Nalan Yanran had thrust out. The black and white flame waves formed a gigantic crescent slash the moment his words fell. Although Nalan Yanran''s sword strike pierced through the air quickly and fiercely, her Wind''s Peak: Dazzling Sunset was, after all, only a High Xuan Class Dou Technique. When faced with Xiao Yan''s Flame Splitting Tsunami, it could only resist for an instant before being swallowed up. After swallowing her sword light, the flame torrent transformed into twin dragons of black and white. Endless brilliance poured down from the sky like a heavenly sword, bearing the might to slice clean through mountains. Not to mention a mere Dou King, even a peak Dou King or a low-star Dou Emperor would find it difficult to withstand this strike. Nalan Yanran took action once more upon seeing Xiao Yan break her technique so swiftly. "Wind''s Peak¡ªKiller Meteorite!" The energy of the world surged wildly in that instant. This ''Killer Meteorite'' had clearly reached the Di Class. For a moment, there was neither Nalan Yanran herself nor her Cloud Slaying Black Sword¡ªonly the flash of sword light. She seemed to merge completely with her attack, making everyone''s hearts leap. That split-second sword light pierced through the broad wave of the Flame Splitting Tsunami! Indeed, the Flame Splitting Tsunami had a weakness: its large area of attack. One could break through by striking a single critical point. Over the past two years, Nalan Yanran had clearly devoted much time to analyzing how best to shatter Xiao Yan''s Di Class Dou Technique. Were he at the same level as two years ago, having made no progress and still depending on the same move, Nalan Yanran might very well have turned the tables. Her sword thrust came, directly striking the weakest point of the Flame Splitting Tsunami. In the blink of an eye, Nalan Yanran had captured this nearly imperceptible weak point with incredible speed. Even Xiao Yan was a little taken aback at her swiftness. As expected of wind-attribute Dou Qi; in terms of speed, it was undeniably number one. Her speed was the greatest among those of the same level that he had ever seen. Moreover, the Misty Cloud Sect''s Dou Techniques and Qi Methods placed great emphasis on speed. The swiftness of her sword was such that time seemed to stand still. With a ''puff,'' the sword pierced through the Flame Splitting Tsunami and thrust straight toward his chest. This sword pierced into Xiao Yan''s body, but a smug smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. Zzt! Zzt! His body fizzed with lightning, rapidly turning illusory before disappearing. Three Thousand Lightning Movement! "I haven''t been standing still either." Though Xiao Yan had only cultivated the Three Thousand Lightning Movement to the second level, Instant Lightning, and despite Nalan Yanran''s naturally high spiritual perception, he had managed to deceive her. The moment she pierced through the Flame Splitting Tsunami, he had already set up a lightning clone to fool her senses. The sudden appearance of this lightning clone made Nalan Yanran''s expression change drastically! After all, Xiao Yan hadn''t even cultivated the Three Thousand Lightning Movement two years ago. "Let''s see how you break it this time!" Xiao Yan''s voice came from behind her. Nalan Yanran was greatly startled and turned to look. The muscles on Xiao Yan''s arms were bulging as the Ten Thousand Beast Flame strengthened his body, elevating his physical strength by a large margin to the terrifying level comparable to a Rank 6 magical beast. The simplest and most direct heavy strike! No Dou Technique, just a quick, heavy blow. Once the Ten Thousand Beast Flame emerged, its power could crush mountains and rivers! He swung the Heavy Xuan Ruler down from above. In Nalan Yanran''s eyes, that massive ruler became a towering mountain threatening to swallow her whole. Its sheer weight alone did not need Dou Techniques¡ªit could simply pulverize anything beneath it, making even the earth quake. Her face changed drastically. She instantly shrouded herself in a swirling wind barrier, then raised her sword to block. BOOM! An immense force that Nalan Yanran had never felt before transmitted through the Cloud Slaying Black Sword. Even with the sword''s exceptional quality, it still bent under the strain. Whoosh! Nalan Yanran, like a meteor, slammed from the sky into the ground below, causing a deafening crash. The earth broke open and grit spewed in all directions as dust billowed everywhere. "Senior Sister Nalan!!!" "Quick, go save Senior Sister Nalan!" Meanwhile, in the Xiao Clan''s courtyard, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, along with their father Xiao Zhan, couldn''t help but shake their heads. "Third Brother is still so ruthless," Xiao Ding slowly shook his head. "Hahaha, that''s our Third Brother, all right! How does this guy cultivate? He''s improved so quickly," Xiao Li laughed heartily. Having been in the Misty Cloud Sect all along, he and Xiao Ding naturally knew that Nalan Yanran cultivated diligently every day, and her strength was unrivaled among those of the same level. However, the invincible female swordmaster was completely suppressed whenever she encountered Xiao Yan. Xiao Zhan sighed. He was speechless toward this son of his who didn''t know how to be gentle with women. Now, with Xun Er gone back to her clan and that relationship uncertain, how was he supposed to have a grandchild anytime soon? From Xiao Zhan''s standpoint, he naturally hoped to follow his father''s last wish. Back on the battlefield, a violent whirlwind swept aside the dust hanging in the air. It ground rubble into powder, sending shards of rock flying like shrapnel with a series of whooshing sounds. Nalan Yanran stood visible within the huge crater, wiping blood from the corner of her mouth. In the past two years, she had fought many battles on the border and dispatched numerous Dou King invaders from the three nearby empires¡ªoften cutting them down with a single sword stroke. None had been as powerful as Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan saw her unconvinced expression and smiled. "Don''t feel too discouraged. If this were at Jia Nan Academy, you''d probably rank second in the Inner Academy." [¡ð`§¥¡ð] Nalan Yanran''s cheeks puffed as she bristled. Is that supposed to be encouraging? "Then you''d only be third!" Clang! Her Dou Qi surged madly throughout her body all at once. Winds howled and clouds churned as the energy of the world behind her turned chaotic. Even though she hadn''t made a move yet, one could already feel an absolute killing intent. Under this sword strike, all living beings would tremble! Wind''s Peak Ultimate Sword Technique¡ªOne Sword Shocks the Venerate! Legend had it that when Yun Po Tian roamed the Central Plains, he once used a self-created sword technique as a Dou Ancestor. A single sword stunned the observing Dou Venerates, leaving them in awe. The earlier two sword moves of Wind''s Peak were merely a buildup, paving the way for this ultimate technique. Even Xiao Yan couldn''t help but furrow his brow upon sensing Nalan Yanran''s overwhelming power. This was definitely not an ordinary Low Di Class Dou Technique. Based on the numerous Dou Techniques he had cultivated, this move had probably reached High Di Class! ''A Dou Venerate''s inheritance... Even if it''s only a 1-star Dou Venerate, having a High Di Class Dou Technique is perfectly normal.'' The moment a High Di Class Dou Technique erupted, the sky darkened over Misty Cloud Mountain. Thick black clouds roiled overhead, making it appear from afar as though the entire Misty Cloud Sect was enveloped by a storm. "What''s happening?!" "Is the Misty Cloud Sect in trouble again?!" In the Jia Ma Imperial Palace, Yao Ye¡ªwho was busy collecting medicinal ingredients¡ªcast her gaze toward the distant Misty Cloud Sect. "Good heavens, that girl Nalan Yanran has truly inherited the complete legacy of Yun Po Tian!" Even Jia Xing Tian beside her showed a shocked expression. He knew this was due to a powerful Dou Technique. "Who is she fighting? Who could force her to this extent?" Yao Ye asked with a frown. Jia Xing Tian could only give a wry smile as he replied, "Who else could it be?" Witnessing how much effort Nalan Yanran was pouring in made Xiao Yan decide to respond in kind. Stowing away the Heavy Xuan Ruler, he muttered under his breath, "A Dou Venerate''s finishing move? I have one, too." ''Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique!'' As Xiao Yan''s cold shout echoed in his heart, his hand seals suddenly solidified. His palm gripped tightly as a deep blue flame slowly rose from it. This deep blue flame was naturally Han Feng''s Sea Heart Flame. As it emerged, it rapidly expanded and writhed in a bizarre fashion. Moments later, it coalesced into a massive serpent-like flood dragon, roughly a hundred feet in length. The Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique required controlling five flames that would manifest as a wolf, leopard, lion, tiger, and dragon¡ªfive Fire Spirits combined to form a Five Ring Flame Expelling Formation of devastating power. Moreover, the more Heavenly Flame Fire Spirits used, the more terrifying the Flame Expelling Formation would be. Based on Xiao Yan''s cultivation time, even if he were a genius, he should only be able to condense one Fire Spirit and cultivate it to the first level. However, who said the Fire Spirits had to be condensed by oneself? After condensing the first Fire Spirit, Xiao Yan''s Flame Mantra circulated madly, and four flames instantly appeared from his Acceptance Soul. A black cat, Yin-Yang twin fishes, a transparent python, and a Flame Demon Tiger. Originally, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame had not reached the level of a Fire Spirit, but one must not forget that Xiao Yan''s Heavenly Flame Dou Technique, Beast Spirit Descent, could activate the residual beast spirits within the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, making them ''come alive.'' With Xiao Yan''s current fire control ability, coupled with the Low Tian Class Flame Mantra and the ''cheating'' method using four Fire Spirits, it was enough to meet the requirements of the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique. The condensation of five Fire Spirits was not too difficult for him. If Di Class Dou Techniques could draw upon the energy of the world, then Tian Class Dou Techniques could create heavenly phenomena! Xiao Yan could tell that Nalan Yanran''s technique was a High Di Class Dou Technique because it produced a slight phenomenon. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!! Strange phenomena occurred in the sky the instant the five kinds of Heavenly Flames transformed into Fire Spirits and appeared. The surrounding space suddenly fluctuated violently. The originally calm natural energy became extremely turbulent at this moment, as if drawn by some force. The entire Misty Cloud Sect seemed to have turned into an oven, evaporating moisture from plants and flowers. Xiao Yan''s figure was no longer visible. Instead, five colossal beasts loomed overhead like incarnations of ancient gods descending from the heavens! Although the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique was itself a High Di Class Dou Technique, merging five Heavenly Flames effectively lifted it to the Tian Class. A genuine Tian Class Dou Technique! It looked as though the Sun God himself had arrived, scattering the oppressive black clouds over Misty Cloud Mountain. The powerful wind pressure also vanished, leaving only some wind swirls around Nalan Yanran. Each Heavenly Flame Fire Spirit was alive. Looking up from below, the five Heavenly Flame Fire Spirits seemed like ancient and mysterious beings, like Sun Gods residing in the Ninth Heaven! The five Heavenly Flame Fire Spirits shook the land. Each was accompanied by an ancient and mysterious formation stance. They emitted terrifying and enigmatic auras, as if they were the rulers of the sky! "Heavenly phenomena! You... is this a Tian Class Dou Technique?!" Nalan Yanran was utterly shocked. In truth, she hadn''t fully cultivated the ultimate sword technique of Wind''s Peak. Like Xiao Yan''s Open Mountain Seal, she only had its form and couldn''t unleash its true power. Xiao Yan folded his arms across his chest and raised a brow. "You''re not the only one making progress. I''ve grown stronger these last two years as well." The grayish-white storage ring of Venerable Tian Huo gently vibrated when it sensed Xiao Yan using his signature Dou Technique. There were differences even among Dou Venerate inheritances! Clearly, comparing the signature moves of Venerable Yun and Venerable Tian Huo, Venerable Tian Huo''s was superior! Of course, this also had much to do with the cultivator. If it had been Nalan Yanran from five years ago when she came to annul the engagement, even if she lost, she would have fought desperately. Two years ago, she would have as well, but now... Clang! She sheathed the Cloud Slaying Black Sword and slowly said, "I concede." A hint of surprise appeared on Xiao Yan''s face. Nalan Yanran conceding? Xiao Yan was very confident in his fire control ability, so if Nalan Yanran continued to attack, he was sure he could control the power to avoid burning her to death. But unexpectedly, she conceded directly! Xiao Yan waved his hand and retracted all the Heavenly Flames. All the heavenly phenomena disappeared instantly. Everyone in the Misty Cloud Sect couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Some disciples were so tense that they had forgotten to breathe. "What terrifying Dou Techniques!" "Truly worthy of being Grandmaster Xiao Yan, who once defeated Senior Sister Nalan. Such fire control ability is unparalleled in the world." As Xiao Yan floated back down, Nalan Yanran took a slow breath to steady herself, then spoke without any excuses. "All right. What do you need me to do?" She was genuinely curious. With Xiao Yan''s strength, what could he possibly need her assistance with? The Nalan Clan was far inferior to the current Xiao Clan. Xiao Yan perked up his ears and said in an exaggerated manner. "Hmm? Aren''t you forgetting to say something?" Nalan Yanran''s pretty face instantly turned red. She stamped her foot, crossed her arms, and huffed, "Hmph! ''Young Master'' your head! Don''t push it!" Seeing Nalan Yanran still displaying her spoiled young lady temperament made Xiao Yan chuckle. People were who they were; all sorts of personalities existed in this world. "Alright, I won''t tease you anymore. Are you still in contact with Liu Ling?" "Liu Ling...?" Nalan Yanran tilted her head, puzzled as to why Xiao Yan would inquire after him. ... An hour later, in a forest at the border of the Jia Ma Empire, there stood an elegant and quaint bamboo house. A handsome young man was chopping firewood. It was Liu Ling, who had placed third in the Alchemist Grand Meeting years ago. Suddenly, Liu Ling abruptly looked into the distance where Nalan Yanran, dressed in a moon-white long robe, was slowly walking over. "Yanran! What brings you here!" Liu Ling tossed aside what he was doing and hurried over, eyes bright with excitement. Even if Nalan Yanran''s expression remained cool as ever, he didn''t seem to mind. "I''m here to find Grandmaster Gu He." She cast a glance at the obviously thrilled Liu Ling and felt more than a little helpless. She would not have come were it not for her ''Young Master''s'' task. Chapter 294: A Knack for Educating People Chapter 294 - 294: A Knack for Educating People Word Count: 2,955 Words ****** Nalan Yanran merely glanced at Liu Ling as he ran over excitedly. Ever since the Misty Cloud Sect had nearly been disbanded and Gu He had ultimately chosen to leave, she hadn''t spoken to Liu Ling. The only reason she knew Gu He''s current location was because Liu Ling had sent her a letter detailing where he and his Master would be living. She never imagined that Xiao Yan would ask her to exchange pills with Gu He. When Liu Ling heard that she was here to see his Master, his eyes dimmed slightly, but he quickly ''perked up'' again. "Master is currently refining a pill, but he should be finished soon. Please come in and have a seat." Liu Ling wiped the dirt from his hands, opened the bamboo door, and invited Nalan Yanran inside. Nalan Yanran couldn''t help but furrow her elegant brows. When the Misty Cloud Sect was on the verge of disbanding, Gu He, as the sect''s strongest alchemist, had chosen to leave. This made her feel a twinge of betrayal. Even though Yun Yun had told her that Gu He had other reasons for leaving, she had avoided Liu Ling for the past two years. However, having given her word to Xiao Yan, she nodded once and followed Liu Ling into the courtyard. The entire courtyard was extremely modest, built entirely of bamboo. Moreover, this place was situated deep within remote mountains and forests. It was hard to imagine that a 6th-tier alchemist resided here! "Yanran, how have you and Sect Leader Yun Yun been lately?" Liu Ling poured her a cup of tea, sat down, and inquired with a smile. "We have been fine." Her tone was cool. Nalan Yanran only wanted to meet Gu He, carry out her task, and leave. "Ah, um... I heard you''ve been quite active at the border, slaughtering forces from the three invading empires until they retreated in disarray. They say you even exchanged blows with a Dou Emperor. Is that true?" Liu Ling pressed on. "Mm." "I''ve been cultivating diligently in alchemy under Master''s guidance. Now I can refine peak tier 4 pills, and I believe it won''t be long before I reach tier 5. Tier 5 pills are perfect for Dou Kings, so once I succeed, I can make some healing pills for you. After all, your Misty Cloud Sect has now joined the Yan Alliance, and it''s always dangerous for a girl like you to go to the borders. Having some pills would make things much safer." "No need." "It''s really no trouble. Just wait for me. I''m sure I''ll soon be able to refine a Dou King Pill. If you need, I can ask Master to get one for you." If someone were listening nearby, they would probably sigh inwardly upon hearing such a conversation. Truly heartbreaking! Nalan Yanran couldn''t be bothered to respond. She slowly closed her eyes and began cultivating the new Qi Method she had obtained from the Gate of Life and Death. She was already a 5-star Dou King now. By the time he became a 5th-tier alchemist capable of refining Dou King Pills, she would have long since become a Dou Emperor. Liu Ling saw Nalan Yanran begin cultivating and didn''t persist in his futile efforts. He also started cultivating the Qi Method taught to him by Gu He. Although alchemists mainly hone their alchemy skills, they still need the support of Dou Qi when refining pills. Without a Heavenly Flame, if one''s cultivation was too low, it would be difficult even to extract the essence from medicinal ingredients. Before long, a rich medicinal fragrance suddenly wafted over from another part of the courtyard. The scent permeated the air, and a pillar of medicinal light shot up into the sky. "Success! Master has finally succeeded in refining a high-grade tier 6 pill!!" Liu Ling exclaimed in delight. Nalan Yanran also seemed surprised by the energy that lingered in the air. Just two years ago, Gu He could stably refine only low-grade tier 6 pills. Who would have thought that after two years, he could actually refine high-grade tier 6 pills! In fact, leaving the Misty Cloud Sect had allowed Gu He to devote himself to alchemy wholeheartedly, making his skills improve faster than ever before. "Yanran, how is your Master doing?" Gu He entered the courtyard while holding a jade bottle containing the newly refined pill. With his Tier 6 Spiritual Strength, how could he not sense Nalan Yanran''s arrival? Nalan Yanran naturally didn''t dare to be disrespectful toward the man who had once been hailed as the empire''s number one alchemist¡ªthe Pill King Gu He¡ªand who had once refined pills for her. She stood up, gave a respectful bow, and politely said, "Master is still at the border of the Yan Alliance, but she has sent letters; all is well." "That is good to hear. May I ask what brings you here?" Gu He took the seat offered by Liu Ling, who then poured him a cup of tea. After drinking it in a single gulp, he set his gaze on Nalan Yanran and asked. Nalan Yanran''s eyes shifted slightly as she thought for a moment before saying, "I heard that... Grandmaster Gu He has a Body Transformation Pill, and I''d like to trade for it." Both Gu He and Liu Ling showed puzzled expressions upon hearing this. It wasn''t a secret that he had a Body Transformation Pill, especially when he went to the Snake-People Tribe to negotiate with Medusa; he had loudly proclaimed it himself. Not only had Yun Yun heard it as she stood beside him at the time, but probably the entire Snake-People Tribe knew he had a Body Transformation Pill. In the past, several Grand Elders of the Snake-People Tribe had intended to trade with him for the Body Transformation Pill, but he had refused. It wasn''t that he was particularly attached to the pill, but rather that they couldn''t offer a price tempting enough for him. The Body Transformation Pill was truly not cheap. Gu He had not only exhausted his entire fortune but also owed the Alchemist Association a significant debt in pills before he managed to trade for it. It was only half a year ago that he finally finished refining enough pills to repay his debt to the Alchemist Association. "I do indeed have a Body Transformation Pill, but Yanran, what use do you have for it? This is a pill used by magical beasts. It shouldn''t be suitable for you. This is a high-grade tier 7 pill; even the entire Snake-People Tribe couldn''t afford to exchange for it." Gu He wasn''t looking down on the Misty Cloud Sect. Compared to the Snake-People Tribe located in the desert, the Misty Cloud Sect did have deeper pockets. However, even they couldn''t afford the price of a high-grade tier 7 pill unless they exhausted all their assets. Nalan Yanran naturally wouldn''t haggle, and indeed, this wasn''t something she wanted. She was just being used by Xiao Yan to make the request because she knew Gu He. She didn''t waste words. She took out two items from her storage ring and placed them on the table. "Grandmaster Gu He, here is a scroll of a High Xuan Class Soul Training Method for cultivating the soul, as well as a high-grade tier 6 pill that can increase Spiritual Strength called the Little Soul Black Purple Pill. I wish to trade these for the Body Transformation Pill." It was clear at a glance that these two items did not belong to her. They undoubtedly came from Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan knew he couldn''t get something for nothing, so he had traded for a High Xuan Class Soul Training Method from the Hall of Souls. This wasn''t the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique; it didn''t have the effect of breaking through the Soul State. However, it increased Spiritual Strength faster than the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique and was more suitable for 6th-tier and 7th-tier alchemists to cultivate. As for the Little Soul Black Purple Pill, that was what he had refined yesterday. The Soul Training Methods from the Hall of Souls could only be read once, so the value of such High Xuan Class Soul Training Methods wasn''t actually very high. Using it to trade for a high-grade tier 7 pill was absolutely impossible. After all, the value of a high-grade tier 7 pill was equivalent to a Di Class Qi Method, possibly even requiring an Intermediate Di Class to trade. However, soul techniques were valuable precisely because they were rare. Not just in the Jia Ma Empire but throughout the entire North-Western Region, no one had heard of any methods to cultivate Spiritual Strength. They had long since been lost. Liu Ling''s expression changed dramatically when he heard what Nalan Yanran was offering. If it were just an ordinary high-grade tier 6 pill plus a High Xuan Class Qi Method, he would think she was here just to cause trouble, as the values weren''t equivalent at all! But! The fact that everything was related to soul cultivation made it a different matter entirely. Although the values weren''t equivalent, they were exactly what Gu He needed! Apart from that freak Xiao Yan, ordinary alchemists usually had sufficient alchemy experience but couldn''t increase their tier because their fire control and Spiritual Strength couldn''t keep up. After all, normal people had very few ways to increase their Spiritual Strength. Even Gu He was no exception. The fact that he could refine high-grade tier 6 pills involved a bit of luck. His Spiritual Strength hadn''t actually reached high-grade tier 6. Gu He closed his eyes in thought, then slowly opened them. His gaze carried a bit of helplessness as he said, "This Body Transformation Pill is what he wants, isn''t it?" Liu Ling was startled at first, then suddenly realized whom his Master was referring to. Xiao Yan! Even they had received news of his return! Nalan Yanran instantly became a little flustered. She had rarely ever lied in her life! "I heard he''s going to refine the Zong Breaking Pill for the imperial family?" Gu He asked. "I... I don''t know about that." Nalan Yanran truly didn''t know. She had just come out of seclusion, only to be thoroughly defeated again. However, Gu He knew because Jia Xing Tian and Yao Ye had sought him out and exchanged some of the medicinal ingredients needed for the Zong Breaking Pill. It was clear to him who was planning to refine it. "Take these items back first. Help me relay a message to him. If he can successfully refine the Zong Breaking Pill, then I will trade with him." A strange light flashed in Gu He''s eyes. He refused to believe it! He couldn''t believe that someone who was still a 5th-tier alchemist two years ago could refine the Zong Breaking Pill! He wanted to test fate; he simply could not bring himself to believe it!! ... That evening, Nalan Yanran conveyed Gu He''s words to Xiao Yan. "You''re pretty useless, aren''t you? He figured it all out right away." Xiao Yan shot her an exasperated look. "I... I didn''t do it on purpose! Once he knew it was you who wanted the pill, there was nothing I could say!" Nalan Yanran instantly deflated like a punctured balloon. Why did she always end up at a disadvantage in front of this guy? How strange. Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly. "Well, nothing we can do about it now. I have to refine the pill anyway. Help me go to the palace and find Yao Ye. When the imperial family has gathered all the ingredients for the Zong Breaking Pill, bring them back to the Misty Cloud Sect for me. You can at least handle something this simple, right?" "No problem! I''ll definitely get it done this time!" Nalan Yanran perked up and left Xiao Yan''s room with a determined expression to do better this time. It was only after she walked out and closed the door behind her that she suddenly realized¡ªhow had she ended up running errands? She had unwittingly fallen for Xiao Yan''s tricks again!!! Xiao Yan certainly had a knack for ''educating'' people! ... After a day and night of waiting, Queen Yao Ye did not disappoint¡ªshe had gathered three sets of ingredients for the Zong Breaking Pill! Xiao Yan didn''t know how the Jia Ma Imperial Family had managed it. Perhaps they already had some of the ingredients, or maybe they had paid a hefty price to purchase them from the Alchemist Association. Regardless, now that the ingredients were ready, it was time for him to show his skills. Early the next morning, Xiao Yan had his little errand runner, Nalan Yanran, go inform Gu He to come watch the alchemy. He had no intention of hiding anything. He was going to set up his cauldron at the peak of Misty Cloud Mountain and refine the pill in full view of countless Misty Cloud Sect disciples! Normally, alchemy required a quiet environment, but he actually felt more in his element refining pills in front of many people. Perhaps this was the highest realm of showing off. His gaze slowly swept over the dozens of snow-white jade boxes before him, then around at his surroundings, where he could see many familiar faces. Xiao Yan took a light breath and suppressed the fluctuations in his heart. With a flick of his finger, the massive Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron appeared out of thin air and slammed heavily onto the ground, emitting a deep, resonant hum. "Isn''t that the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron, one of the cauldrons ranked on the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking?" Chairman Fa Ma had naturally come to watch. When he saw the cauldron Xiao Yan was using, he exclaimed in shock. Gu He also narrowed his eyes slightly. As the saying goes, ''Sharpening the axe doesn''t delay the chopping of wood''; having good tools was also a crucial part of alchemy. With eyes slightly narrowed, the alchemy method and various points to note for refining the Zong Breaking Pill flashed through Xiao Yan''s mind once again. After a while, his eyes suddenly opened. In his dark pupils, the Nihility Earth Spirit Flame¡ªformed by merging the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, the Green Lotus Core Flame, and the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame¡ªrose up within the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron. With a subtle sound, a wisp of three-colored flame emerged from his fingertip. With a flick, the flame transformed into a stream of light and shot into the medicinal cauldron like lightning. The moment the flame appeared, the fire seeds within the bodies of alchemists like Gu He couldn''t help but shrink back. "That flame... how..." Gu He was dumbfounded. What kind of flame was that?! How did he have a new fire seed again? What happened to his previous Heavenly Flames?! The flame had only just entered the cauldron when its small form suddenly expanded. In just an instant, the tiny flame transformed into a raging inferno that burned crazily within the cauldron. Xiao Yan''s terrifyingly precise fire control quickly brought the temperature inside the cauldron to a constant level, with fluctuations less than one degree. He waved his hand, and a snow-white jade box emitting a hint of cold was drawn into his grasp. Pinching the Cold Marrow Twig between his fingers, an icy, bone-piercing chill rapidly seeped in through his fingertips, almost numbing his entire arm. But for Xiao Yan, who possessed seven kinds of Heavenly Flames, this kind of cold wasn''t even one-hundredth as potent as the Bone Chilling Flame. The Cold Marrow Twig was thrown with extreme precision into the medicinal cauldron with a light toss of his hand. The flames, like a ferocious maw, devoured it in one gulp. Even with the help of the merged Heavenly Flame, extracting the Cold Marrow Twig still took thirty minutes. As time passed, one medicinal ingredient after another was tossed in. After the numerous ingredients were refined and were just about to make contact and fuse, a violent energy fluctuation erupted. Then, with a low sound, over half of the pure medicinal liquid that had been painstakingly refined actually dissipated from the shock. Feeling the change within the cauldron, Xiao Yan merely smiled lightly and transmitted through his soul, "Lucky you, Mao Wu." Meow! With a sweep of black flame, all the carefully extracted medicinal ingredients were devoured. Many people present secretly felt it was a pity when they saw Xiao Yan''s first refinement attempt fail. Only 6th-tier alchemists like Gu He and Fa Ma could perceive the subtleties, their expressions extremely solemn. "Truly frightening fire control." "It''s not just his fire control. His Spiritual Strength is equally outstanding. His fire control and Spiritual Strength have at least reached tier 7!" Fa Ma and Gu He glanced at each other, both seeing deep helplessness and admiration in the other''s eyes. They understood that Xiao Yan''s alchemy this time would definitely succeed! The first failure was purely due to lack of experience, not ability. With two sets of ingredients remaining, there was no doubt the Zong Breaking Pill would be successfully refined! Sure enough, with the second set, Xiao Yan''s refinement speed was twice as fast as the first. Very quickly, a pill embryo appeared! The corners of his mouth curled up in a smile. The next second, a dazzling light burst from the medicinal cauldron, so bright that everyone couldn''t open their eyes! The Zong Breaking Pill was ready, which meant the Body Transformation Pill was in the bag! Zi Yan''s true form would soon be revealed! Chapter 295: Zi Yan鈥檚 Advancement Chapter 295 - 295: Zi Yan''s Advancement Word Count: 2,750 Words ****** The sudden tremor of the medicinal cauldron caused everyone present to pause momentarily. Subsequently, all eyes within the Misty Cloud Sect converged toward the plaza, where an exceptionally dense energy fluctuation was rapidly taking shape. Even at Miteer Manor, Little Fairy Doctor could sense this fluctuation while reading. A gleam of delight flashed through her beautiful eyes. "It seems the alchemy is about to succeed." Although she wasn''t an alchemist, her experiences over the years had broadened her knowledge considerably. Moreover, she had once been a physician and could even refine poison pills, so she naturally knew that high-tier pills caused quite a commotion when taking shape. "Hmph, it''s not like he''s refining a Body Transformation Pill." Zi Yan sat bored nearby, pouting. Little Fairy Doctor spent every day reading books, and Xiao Yan had been busy refining the Zong Breaking Pill these past few days, so naturally, no one had time to play with her. Just as the two finished speaking, the energy fluctuations soared to a frightening height. Following a resounding boom, a pillar of energy nearly half a foot wide shot out from within Misty Cloud Mountain and streaked directly into the sky. "What an uproar... and this is only a peak tier 6 pill." Little Fairy Doctor stared at the shining energy pillar and murmured in wonder. Because the Poison Pill Method shared certain similarities with conventional alchemy, she personally estimated that creating a Poison Pill might be more difficult than refining something like a high-grade tier 7 Body Transformation Pill. Her Woeful Poison Body would fully erupt when she reached the peak of the Dou Ancestor stage. When the poison gas within her body reached the Dou Venerate level, her Woeful Poison Body would no longer be able to contain it. At that time, if she couldn''t hold on, she would die. Whether it was medicinal pills, cultivators, or even magical beasts, tier 8 was a watershed moment. It represented a transcendence from the mortal realm, which was why one underwent a tribulation. Now, since Xiao Yan could already refine the Zong Breaking Pill, it meant becoming a 7th-tier alchemist was no longer far away. ... Back on the mountaintop plaza of the Misty Cloud Sect, the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron began rocking so violently that it looked as though it might not be able to suppress what was inside. A pill roughly the size of a dragon''s eye had formed! (TL/N: I have seen this question many times before. Here, ''dragon''s eye'' refers to the longan fruit (Dimocarpus longan), a tropical fruit known for its sweet-sour juicy pulp. You can check an image [here].) The sky above the Misty Cloud Sect suddenly darkened at the very moment this pill took shape. Layers upon layers of dark clouds swiftly gathered, and within the clouds, silver lightning snakes slithered around. The sudden scene left everyone within the Misty Cloud Sect, and even all disciples and passersby on Misty Cloud Mountain, utterly stunned as they stared blankly at the overlapping dark clouds above. "Is this... Pill Lightning?!!!" Fa Ma and Gu He cried out simultaneously, their voices filled with unmistakable shock. "No, it hasn''t reached tier 7, but it''s just a hair''s breadth away." Fa Ma gazed solemnly at the white-robed young man in the field. At just twenty-one years of age, he could already refine such a pill. Beyond the Jia Ma Empire and perhaps throughout the entire North-Western Region, one couldn''t find an alchemy genius who could surpass him. "Perhaps... only in the Central Plains'' Pill Tower could one find an alchemy genius comparable to him," Fa Ma murmured in a deep voice. Gu He let out a quiet sigh. This time, he had lost completely and utterly. Just as Yun Yun had told Nalan Yanran, his departure from the Misty Cloud Sect hadn''t been because Yun Shan had died. Rather, feeling like the extra person in a relationship, he had chosen to leave. His two years of dedicated alchemy practice were driven by stubborn pride, aiming to prove his alchemy talent was not inferior to Xiao Yan''s. But today, Xiao Yan had slapped him in the face with a single Zong Breaking Pill. "The Zong Breaking Pill is about to emerge... Grandmaster Xiao Yan actually succeeded?!" Queen Yao Ye''s beautiful eyes filled with shock, amazement repeatedly flashing in her gaze. A man refining pills was truly too captivating! As for Jia Xing Tian, needless to say, a trembling excitement quietly arose in his heart. Everything proceeded smoothly from that point on. Much like when Xiao Yan refined the Emperor Heaven Pill before, the Pill Lightning manifested overhead but did not strike down. Despite this Zong Breaking Pill being of flawless quality, it was, in the end, a tier 6 pill¡ªit had not broken into tier 7. After putting away the pill, Xiao Yan turned to walk toward the crowd. However, instead of handing the Zong Breaking Pill to Jia Xing Tian or Yao Ye, he held it out to Gu He. Everyone instantly held their breath. In their eyes, this was undoubtedly a form of provocation! The new and old Pill Kings of the Jia Ma Empire! "Two years ago, Grandmaster Xiao Yan''s fame indeed matched Pill King Gu He''s, but that was more because he was so young. In terms of actual alchemy skills, he was still inferior to Pill King Gu He." "Mm. But now, after two years, Grandmaster Xiao Yan''s alchemy skills have advanced by leaps and bounds. Perhaps he intends to use this Zong Breaking Pill to challenge Grandmaster Gu He''s prestige." "Do you think Grandmaster Gu He can refine a Zong Breaking Pill now?" Whispers broke out among the younger alchemists of the Misty Cloud Sect as gossip spread quickly through the crowd. "Sigh, you win." Gu He looked at the near-perfect pill inside the jade bottle, fully aware of how formidable Xiao Yan''s alchemy had become. Fa Ma couldn''t help but sigh in admiration. "Xiao Yan¡ªno, Grandmaster Xiao Yan¡ªthis Zong Breaking Pill is the highest quality I''ve ever seen. I''m afraid it can increase the success rate by thirty percent!" Fa Ma''s alchemy skills might not match Gu He''s, but in terms of insight and experience, he surpassed him. He could tell at a glance that this Zong Breaking Pill was of perfect quality. Perhaps even a high-grade 7th-tier alchemist might not necessarily achieve such perfection. Only 8th-tier alchemists capable of refining ''Spirit Pills'' could accomplish this. Gu He took out a brocade box and handed it to Xiao Yan. Without hesitation, Xiao Yan handed over the Qi Method and pill to Gu He and said, "Grandmaster Gu He, the world is vast. Alchemy skills can''t be honed by burying oneself in a room alone. Broadening one''s horizons is necessary as well." A strange light flashed in Gu He''s eyes. He nodded and said, "I''ve learned from you, Grandmaster Xiao Yan. Perhaps it''s time for me to travel and see more of the world." With that, Gu He left the Misty Cloud Sect, and before long, he would depart from the Jia Ma Empire altogether. Xiao Yan slowly opened the brocade box. Inside lay a pill as vibrant as fresh blood. A waft of medicinal fragrance drifted into his nostrils as he sniffed lightly. "This is the Body Transformation Pill?! So this was your goal all along?" Chairman Fa Ma exclaimed in surprise, not expecting that Xiao Yan had aimed for this. "He''s not a magical beast. Keeping this is a waste. The longer it sits, the more its medicinal properties dissipate," Xiao Yan replied with a smile. He then turned to look at the nervous Jia Xing Tian and handed him the Zong Breaking Pill. "Elder Jia, I put extra care into refining this; I promise there was no halfhearted work." "Of course, of course! Everyone saw it with their own eyes!" Jia Xing Tian hurriedly and carefully accepted the pill. This was the Zong Breaking Pill he had dreamed of! "With this Zong Breaking Pill, I believe Elder Jia has an eighty percent chance of breaking through to the Dou Ancestor realm," Xiao Yan said calmly. "Rest assured, I, Jia Xing Tian, swear that this time I will definitely enter the Dou Ancestor realm!" Fa Ma watched this scene with a strange expression. Clearly, Xiao Yan was the junior here, yet Jia Xing Tian seemed to be acting like the junior instead. "Queen Yao Ye, I''ll need you to oversee the affairs of the Yan Alliance while I''m away. I''ll be leaving in a few days but will return before the Great Meeting of Factions." The Yan Alliance was a crucial safeguard for Xiao Yan''s family. Xiao Yan planned to visit the Chu Yun Empire to find the Heavenly Flame that Little Fairy Doctor had mentioned. He intended to use his old method from when he tempered his body with the Essence Heart Flame in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower: using a Dou King Pill to reach 9-star Dou King, then using the Emperor Heaven Pill to directly break through to Dou Emperor, and finally refining the new Heavenly Flame to consolidate his Dou Qi using its power. Using pills to break through was fast, but the issue of unstable Dou Qi could only be addressed by using the power obtained when refining a Heavenly Flame to solidify it. ... Xiao Yan returned to the Miteer Manor after having dinner with his two elder brothers and father. Now that he had the Body Transformation Pill in hand, today he would finally see what kind of extraordinary being this girl Zi Yan truly was, given her incredibly powerful bloodline! "So this is the Body Transformation Pill..." Little Fairy Doctor held the pill from the brocade box and sniffed it lightly, a hint of longing appearing in her eyes. "Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan!!!" Zi Yan''s little feet stomped repeatedly on the ground as she heard Xiao Yan had brought back a Body Transformation Pill. The eagerness in her eyes threatened to burst forth. "Ahem." Xiao Yan coughed lightly and approached the Amethyst Winged Lion King. He awkwardly rubbed his nose before saying, "Lion King, about that..." The Amethyst Winged Lion King smiled and said, "Grandmaster Xiao Yan, there''s no need for formalities. Our agreement was that when you could refine a Body Transformation Pill, you would make one for me. Moreover, Zi Yan''s bloodline talent is even higher; it''s reasonable for her to use the Body Transformation Pill first. I believe that within two years, you will be able to refine another Body Transformation Pill. Waiting two more years is no big deal." Xiao Yan secretly glanced at Zi Yan behind him, whose eyes were glowing with a purple light, and thought to himself, ''Lion King, if you''re being threatened, just blink!'' But as the Amethyst Winged Lion King said, it was indeed best for Zi Yan to use the Body Transformation Pill first. Zi Yan heard the Amethyst Winged Lion King''s words and secretly nodded. This lion was quite sensible. "Xiao Yan, hurry up!" she urged excitedly. "What''s your rush? This Body Transformation Pill has been with Gu He for two years. I''m afraid some of its medicinal properties have dissipated. Let me use the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to replenish its potency first." Xiao Yan took out the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron and tossed the Body Transformation Pill into it. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame slowly enveloped the pill. The excuse of medicinal properties dissipating was just that¡ªan excuse. Xiao Yan worried that Gu He or the original alchemist might have tampered with it. This wasn''t a pill he had refined himself, so being cautious was reasonable. After thirty minutes, the Body Transformation Pill slowly emitted a wisp of medicinal fragrance. This fragrance instantly caused Zi Yan''s body to emit waves of purple light. When Xiao Yan took the Body Transformation Pill from the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron, it was actually trembling slightly, as if having gained a hint of spirituality after being refined by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. "As expected of a high-grade tier 7 pill; it''s already showing initial signs of spirituality." "Zi Yan, just to ask, how large is your true form?" They were, after all, in the Miteer Manor. If Zi Yan''s form was excessively large, even bigger than the Amethyst Winged Lion King, it could cause considerable destruction. "Let me think... It shouldn''t be very big, but I was quite weak back then. I''m not sure about now," Zi Yan shrugged. She just wanted to restore her true form. "Using a Space Lock will suffice." Venerable Tian Huo''s soul body floated out from the grayish-white storage ring at this moment. He had fully absorbed the medicinal properties of the Great Soul Black Purple Pill, and his soul body had finally returned to its previous strength. "A Space Lock used by a Dou Venerate!" Venerable Tian Huo saw Xiao Yan''s astonished look and finally felt a bit proud. He nodded heavily and said, "That''s right. Lend me the Fallen Heart Flame for a bit. I can perform a Space Lock by borrowing its power, creating an expansive space. You can learn this too; once you reach Dou Venerate, you''ll be able to master it quickly." Xiao Yan spread his palm, and the transparent little snake appeared, hissing as it darted before Venerable Tian Huo. In the next second, Venerable Tian Huo''s hand seals moved as quickly as illusions. Whoosh!! Under his control, the Fallen Heart Flame burned through space. With a humming sound, the space around Xiao Yan and the others began to rapidly transform, as if they were in a time machine. The surrounding scenery seemed to stretch! Finally, the illusion stopped, and everyone found themselves in an enormous space. Even Little Fairy Doctor was shocked at this sight. Xiao Yan scanned the area with his Spiritual Strength. This space was incredibly vast, even larger than the entire Miteer Manor! ''The power of a Dou Venerate is truly terrifying!'' "Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan, is it ready yet?" Zi Yan didn''t care about any of this. Once her strength grew, she could do the same. Xiao Yan gave her an exasperated look and flicked the Body Transformation Pill toward her. With a gulp, she swallowed it whole. The moment the Body Transformation Pill entered her mouth, it transformed into a warm current that merged into her bloodline. Instantly, her complexion became exceptionally rosy, and her body grew as hot as a furnace. Xiao Yan frowned upon seeing Zi Yan''s changes. Then, she suddenly fell into a deep slumber while her body floated in the air. A rich purple glow surged from within her, eventually forming a cocoon about ten feet wide that entirely enveloped her body. "This girl, seriously!" Xiao Yan was speechless. This wasn''t the effect of the Body Transformation Pill but rather this girl advancing to a Rank 6 magical beast! Besides allowing magical beasts to transform, the Body Transformation Pill naturally contained immense energy. Magical beasts that consumed it typically saw an increase in cultivation. Zi Yan had already consumed many medicinal ingredients, and Xiao Yan had often given her residual medicinal substances from his alchemy. This led to her directly advancing in rank. Little Fairy Doctor shook her head with a wry smile, also feeling helpless toward this girl. The poison barrier in the Profound Nether Valley would dissipate in just over half a month. "Little Fairy Doctor, you and the Lion King should go out first, lest Sister Ya Fei thinks we''ve disappeared. I''ll stay here and use the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to accelerate this girl''s advancement." Xiao Yan rolled his eyes. She had to pull this stunt at such a time! Without further ado, he sat down, began circulating the Flame Mantra, and released the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. It flew out, treating Zi Yan''s purple cocoon like a pill to refine. It was fortunate that he had the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. Otherwise, he would have had no way to help! Whoosh whoosh whoosh!! The terrifying Ten Thousand Beast Flame burned the purple cocoon intensely, its unique properties aiding Zi Yan''s refinement. The flame slowly permeated the cocoon. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame inherently had the effect of enhancing magical beasts'' bloodlines, strengthening their bodies, and rapidly increasing their cultivation. And so, Xiao Yan continued this refinement process for seven days and seven nights. Chapter 296: Feeding on Phoenixes, Ancient Void Dragon Chapter 296 - 296: Feeding on Phoenixes, Ancient Void Dragon Word Count: 2,652 Words ****** "This girl is just as greedy as I am, actually wanting to transform and advance at the same time!" Xiao Yan couldn''t help but complain. By now, scruff had appeared on his chin. This was the first time he had ever refined continuously for seven days, something he had not even done when refining pills before. One could imagine just how frightening Zi Yan''s innate bloodline strength was, such that even the Ten Thousand Beast Flame struggled to facilitate her transformation. During these seven days, Xiao Yan had been circulating the Flame Mantra to absorb natural energy. As he absorbed more and more, he too advanced¡ªfrom a 6-star to a 7-star Dou King. Meanwhile, the purple cocoon enveloping Zi Yan had thinned considerably. With a humming sound, Little Fairy Doctor entered from outside the Space Lock carrying some food. She saw Xiao Yan still helping Zi Yan refine and said, "Do you want to take a break? You''ve been using the Heavenly Flame to refine for seven days and nights already." If the Flame Mantra hadn''t reached Low Tian Class, using the Heavenly Flame at such high intensity would have completely depleted Xiao Yan''s Dou Qi. "No choice. There''s only half a month left. It would be troublesome if we don''t hurry and something unexpected happens midway." Xiao Yan shook his head, then habitually opened his mouth. Little Fairy Doctor rolled her eyes at him and slowly settled onto the ground. Picking up a spoon, she began feeding him one bite at a time. This Xiao Yan fellow was full of tricks. Just as Little Fairy Doctor was contemplating poisoning this cunning bad man to death, the energy fluctuations inside the Space Lock suddenly intensified. A swirling energy vortex appeared in the air. "That girl has finally absorbed all the medicinal strength from the Body Transformation Pill." With Xiao Yan''s assistance using the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, Zi Yan''s purple cocoon had finally refined all the medicinal strength. Its color became increasingly deep, and mysterious runes gradually appeared on its surface. These runes faintly emitted a glow, appearing quite magical. Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor both slowly stood up and solemnly gazed at the purple cocoon where Zi Yan was enclosed. "What kind of magical beast is this girl really..." Growing excitement filled Xiao Yan''s eyes. This lass was finally about to reveal her true form. Faint cracking sounds began to ring out as the brilliance on the cocoon grew more and more intense. Then, the fine cracks that had spread over the cocoon quietly split open. Countless dazzling purple rays shot into the sky through these cracks. Fortunately, the Space Lock contained them; otherwise, this phenomenon would have attracted considerable attention. More and more cracks appeared. Finally, a large piece of the cocoon shell suddenly fell away. With the first piece''s detachment, the cocoon seemed to trigger a chain reaction and rapidly shattered. A purple pillar of light suddenly shot skyward from within, finally colliding with the Space Lock and causing rippling fluctuations. Then an earth-shattering dragon''s roar emanated from within the purple light. ROAAARRRRR!!!!! Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor had no choice but to use Dou Qi to defend themselves and cover their ears. Even the Space Lock performed by Venerable Tian Huo began to shake violently. This dragon''s roar was so formidable that it nearly broke through the Dou Venerate''s spatial seal! "What is this?!!" Venerable Tian Huo heard the roar even inside the storage ring. He emerged with terror in his eyes as he stared at the dazzling purple light. "A dragon''s roar... and such an aura! This isn''t a mere dragon beast or flood dragon! This is a genuine member of the Dragon Race!" As a former Dou Venerate who had traversed the entire Dou Qi Continent, Venerable Tian Huo was naturally well-informed and instantly recognized the implications. Within the purple light, Zi Yan''s human form began transforming at lightning speed! ROARRRRRR!!! A thunderous sound echoed as a massive dragon suddenly shot through the purple light. It moved with incredible speed, like lightning across the sky. The sight of this enormous dragon soaring through the air made Xiao Yan''s scalp tingle. I knew you were from the Dragon Race, but I never expected you to be this fierce!!! This was a long dragon entirely purple in color. Though the scales covering its body weren''t gleaming gold, the purple scales carried a faint golden sheen. This purple dragon was not a five-clawed dragon but rather a four-clawed one. The dragon aura Zi Yan radiated was already extremely intimidating. It surged forth like raging waves, capable of instantly crushing those with weaker cultivation. One could only imagine its overwhelming power. Looking at the purple dragon, one couldn''t see the end of its body, as more than half of Zi Yan''s massive form was hidden within the void. Zi Yan was born with the ability to manipulate space and freely enter the void. It turned out that her race''s enormous body could only be concealed within the void. "Ancient Void Dragon!" Xiao Yan and Venerable Tian Huo cried out in unison. It was natural for Xiao Yan to know about the Ancient Void Dragon. The ''Ancient Dragon Roar'' he had cultivated was a Dou Technique created by referencing the dragon roar of the Ancient Void Dragon. The spiritual information he received back then included an image of an immensely huge Ancient Void Dragon. However, that Ancient Void Dragon was somewhat different from Zi Yan; currently, Zi Yan had no wings. Xiao Yan turned to Venerable Tian Huo and asked, "Elder Yao, have you encountered an Ancient Void Dragon before?" Venerable Tian Huo shook his head. After reflecting for a moment, he replied, "I''ve never seen the true form of an Ancient Void Dragon, but when I was still a Dou Venerate, I encountered a Dou Venerate from the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe. His strength far surpassed mine. If he hadn''t been disinclined to kill, I might already be dead. Her current aura is very similar to that Ancient Void Dragon Tribe member from back then." "So this is Zi Yan''s true form..." Little Fairy Doctor was witnessing such a spectacle for the first time. Looking up, even though they were at a distance, that gigantic dragon head still seemed right before them. The body length must be around a thousand meters! Having reached Rank 6, Zi Yan could only be considered to have left her infancy and entered her juvenile stage. She had yet to fully mature. One could only imagine how terrifying a fully-grown Ancient Void Dragon might be. At that moment, Zi Yan was also utterly astonished as she examined herself. She turned her head to look at her body, then her rump, tail, and claws. She scratched her belly with her claws, her face full of puzzlement. "What''s wrong, Zi Yan?" Xiao Yan noticed her strange actions and asked. "I''m an Ancient Void Dragon?" Zi Yan scratched her head in a bewildered manner and asked. Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor were both speechless. If you don''t know what you are, who are we supposed to ask? Xiao Yan nodded, "Seems like it. Do you remember the ''Ancient Dragon Roar'' I cultivate? That sonic Dou Technique was created by mimicking the roar of the Ancient Void Dragon. In the spiritual information from the technique scroll, I saw an image of an Ancient Void Dragon with an appearance similar to yours." "Xiao Yan, do you know where the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe lives?" Zi Yan hurriedly asked. Xiao Yan helplessly shook his head. He naturally understood that Zi Yan had always wanted to return home. She had been alone in the Inner Academy, abandoned since childhood with no father or mother. "Though I don''t know the exact location of the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe''s home, the most likely place is the Central Plains," Venerable Tian Huo spoke up. "Central Plains?" "Mm. The Jia Ma Empire is merely at the edge of the Dou Qi Continent where natural energy is scarce. Naturally, it''s hard to produce experts. But in the Central Plains, experts are as numerous as clouds. There, a Dou Ancestor is only considered mid-tier. Even Dou Venerates don''t dare claim invincibility and must act cautiously." Venerable Tian Huo couldn''t help but sigh. Even at his peak, he wouldn''t have dared act arrogantly in the Central Plains. There was always someone stronger out there. Venerable Tian Huo continued, "There are three great tribes among magical beasts: the Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe, the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe, and the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe. These three tribes are the most powerful among magical beasts; no other race can compare to them." "And among them, the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe is the strongest. It''s said that the Ancient Void Dragons feed on phoenixes. Their strength is exceedingly formidable. They innately control Spatial Strength and can traverse the void." A hint of surprise flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes as he looked at Zi Yan. This girl''s background was so profound! He wondered whether the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe was stronger than the Hun Clan or the Gu Clan. "However... in my era, the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe became much more low-key for some unknown reason. There was rarely any news about them, as if they had vanished." Venerable Tian Huo''s expression grew solemn. Such a powerful tribe gradually having no members appear on the Dou Qi Continent and eventually fading into obscurity was definitely not a good sign. It indicated that something major must have happened within the tribe. Both Xiao Yan and the transformed Zi Yan fell silent upon hearing this. Xiao Yan knew that Zi Yan had been abandoned in the forest outside the Inner Academy, living a life of foraging and being hunted by magical beasts. Later, she accidentally ate some Body Transformation Grass and was discovered and brought back to the Inner Academy. If the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe was truly the number one magical beast tribe as Venerable Tian Huo said, then as a tribe member, it was impossible for Zi Yan to have been abandoned outside. Xiao Yan raised his head to look at Zi Yan and said solemnly, "Zi Yan, if you want to return home, we''ll head to the Central Plains eventually. But with your current strength, you might not even have the power to flee if anything happens." "Wait until my strength increases further; then I''ll accompany you back to your tribe. That way, we''ll have each other''s support." "Xiao-Yan-Zi, I''m already a Dou Emperor, while you''re still a pitiful Dou King. Right now, it''s this young lady who''s protecting you!" Though Zi Yan spoke teasingly, warmth flowed through her heart as she felt cared for. "Then this old man shall return first. If you reach the Central Plains, I can point you in the right direction." With that, Venerable Tian Huo returned to the storage ring. Now he was just waiting for Xiao Yan to gather the materials to refine his physical body and be resurrected. "You should change back first. Your commotion is about to shatter the Space Lock. It probably won''t hold much longer. Don''t reveal your true form in front of others unless absolutely necessary. With your current strength, if some major factions discover you''re an Ancient Void Dragon, they might have other intentions toward you." Dragons were walking treasure troves! Moreover, Zi Yan''s strength was only at the Dou Emperor realm. It would spell trouble if powerful factions with Dou Venerates got wind of her. "Mm." Zi Yan didn''t argue. Purple light immediately flickered around her as her body rapidly shrank. The purple light persisted for a moment before fading. Moments later, it completely dissipated, and the figure within appeared directly in Xiao Yan''s line of sight. The moment Zi Yan reappeared in her human form, Xiao Yan was instantly dumbfounded, his eyes glued to her. Her jade-like body was on full display. A faint purple light lingered around her, making her look exceptionally enchanting. Her long, smooth purple hair cascaded down, draping over her perky butt. Compared to Little Fairy Doctor''s figure, she was even more... developed. Was this still that eleven- or twelve-year-old little girl from before?! Indeed, the face was the same cutely familiar one, but having ascended to Rank 6, she had astonishingly become a grown-up Zi Yan! "Y-you... you''ve... changed a lot..." Xiao Yan gaped at this girl whose figure was voluptuous and mature to an extreme degree. It was hard to imagine that the little brat from before could develop into something so alluring. So this was another meaning of magical beasts having powerful physiques? All the while, Zi Yan was stretching in a lazy, carefree manner. This action perfectly accentuated her already enticing curves. She languidly opened her eyes, glanced at the stupefied Xiao Yan, and a mischievous thought arose. She cast him a shy, flirtatious glance filled with hidden charm. Xiao Yan shuddered all over upon receiving this coquettish look. This lass still had a child''s temperament. Little Fairy Doctor immediately covered Xiao Yan''s eyes, took out a set of her own clothes from her storage ring, and tossed them to Zi Yan while saying shyly. "Zi Yan, hurry up and put these on." "Got it." Zi Yan quickly dressed herself, only to wrinkle her brow. "They''re kind of tight." ! ! ! ! Hssss!!! Xiao Yan sucked in a sharp breath! He stole a glance at Little Fairy Doctor. Though her lips curved in a gentle smile, he felt an unmistakable chill! Little Fairy Doctor walked to Zi Yan''s side with a smile and said, "Change back to your previous appearance. You were cuter that way." "Uh, mm, okay." Zi Yan immediately felt a chill down her spine. The Woeful Poison Body was truly frightening! ... Soon after, Xiao Yan emerged from the Space Lock with Zi Yan, who had reached the Dou Emperor realm, and Little Fairy Doctor. The Space Lock then collapsed and vanished. From the outside, it merely appeared as if Zi Yan had advanced in rank. No one could have imagined the major revelations that had occurred within. With Zi Yan''s matter resolved and night having fallen, Xiao Yan planned to leave early the next morning. He would enter the Chu Yun Empire from the border and continue his quest for Heavenly Flames. Damn it, Zi Yan''s overtaken me again! I''d better work harder... In the dead of night at Miteer Manor, Ya Fei''s private chamber remained lit. She was still busy with clan affairs. "Sister Ya Fei, do you have a moment?" "Little Brother Xiao Yan?!" Ya Fei was startled. She glanced at herself wearing a nightgown and couldn''t help but blush. This guy always picks nighttime, doesn''t he? "Come in." She saw Xiao Yan push the door open, slowly rose from her seat, and walked step by step toward him, pouting charmingly. "You''re not here to say goodbye again like last time, are you?" Finding his intentions seen through, Xiao Yan could only resort to his signature move¡ªrubbing his nose in embarrassment. Xiao Yan sat on the sofa, looking somewhat awkward as he said, "I''m not just here to say goodbye. There''s something I''d like to ask for Sister Ya Fei''s help with." "You need my help with something?!" Surprise flickered across Ya Fei''s bright eyes. With Xiao Yan''s current power and resources, she couldn''t imagine what he might need her help with. Xiao Yan was no longer the young boy from Wu Tan City. He had become a formidable figure in his own right. Xiao Yan nodded solemnly, his expression extremely serious. He didn''t speak aloud but used spiritual voice transmission. After hearing his words, Ya Fei''s small mouth opened slightly in surprise. She asked, "This isn''t a simple matter. But why do you want to do this?" Chapter 297: Departing from Jia Ma Chapter 297 - 297: Departing from Jia Ma Word Count: 2,542 Words ****** Even with Xiao Yan''s current abilities, the matter he spoke of still sounded like an outright fantasy. Suddenly, Ya Fei''s beautiful eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Xiao Yan. Her small mouth opened slightly as she asked in astonishment, "So you took over Feng City precisely to gain a foothold in that chaotic Black-Corner Region?!" Xiao Yan nodded lightly, confirming her guess. "The Black-Corner Region is a unique place; its location predestines it to chaos. It''s the center for all black-market transactions across the entire Dou Qi Continent. The daily trade volume there likely surpasses even that of the Central Plains." Ya Fei nodded gently at his words. Although she had never been to the Black-Corner Region, a Miteer Auction House branch had now been established in Feng City. The data and goods transferred from that auction house already offered a glimpse into just how terrifying that region truly was. This was especially true now. Han Feng was dead, and Xiao Yan, the Black-Corner Region''s ''Medicine God,'' had taken over, collaborating with three major local factions for protection. Feng City''s security had risen dramatically, ranking it among the safest and most prominent cities within the Black-Corner Region. "I have a faction at Jia Nan Academy, which includes a subordinate group called the Medicine Gang, composed entirely of alchemists. While I can''t guarantee it, I believe a significant number of Medicine Gang alchemists will head to Feng City... no, to my Xiao City after graduating," Xiao Yan declared with grand ambition. Before leaving Jia Nan Academy, he had demonstrated alchemy techniques and taught students, partly to repay the academy and partly to leave a lasting reputation. He had even hinted to the Medicine Gang members that if they wished to advance their alchemy skills, they should come to Xiao City¡ªhis city. Some Medicine Gang alchemists without strong backgrounds would naturally think of Xiao City first after graduation. Xiao Yan took out a storage ring and placed it on the table. He said slowly, "Inside are some medicinal ingredients I don''t need and pills I''ve refined, ranging from tier 1 to tier 6." "You want me to hold a pill auction at the Miteer Auction House in Xiao City, using your name to attract those Medicine Gang alchemists and the independent alchemists in the Black-Corner Region?" Ya Fei quickly grasped his meaning, living up to her reputation as the woman managing the Miteer Auction House behind the scenes. She also understood the groundwork he was laying with these actions. Xiao Yan smiled and nodded in affirmation. Talking with intelligent people was indeed effortless. His ambitions were vast. He intended to transform Xiao City into a holy land for alchemists in the Black-Corner Region, a place where both the white and black sides could converge! "These matters should ideally be handled by me, but some things would be too conspicuous if I did them myself, so..." Before Xiao Yan could finish, a jade-like finger gently pressed against his lips. Ya Fei softly said, "Since Elder Hai has already given you half of his share in the Miteer Auction House, you certainly have the right to decide its future direction." "Moreover..." Ya Fei''s cheeks flushed with a light pink hue. A similar expression flickered across Xiao Yan''s face as they both recalled Hai Bodong''s previous mention of betrothing her to him. Xiao Yan immediately began to stutter, "About that matter, I..." At that moment, a fragrant breeze wafted over, its delicate scent penetrating deep into one''s heart and lungs. The light fragrance made one feel as if smelling the fresh aroma of early morning, instantly refreshing one''s spirit and invigorating the mind. Ya Fei''s silky hair brushed past the tip of Xiao Yan''s nose as she nestled into his embrace. Xiao Yan keenly felt the soft curves beneath her light night robe as her body pressed intimately against his. Her graceful beauty and voluptuous figure, accentuated by the nightgown, made her appear like a peach blossom fairy. Her delicate hand slid along his cheek, its warmth sending a tremor through his heart. "I know Xun Er is the most important person in your heart. With your talent and strength, the Jia Ma Empire isn''t where you should remain. Elder Sister cannot accompany you on your journeys across the continent, but I am very happy if there are still things I can do to help you." Ya Fei''s voice was soft, each word entering deep into his heart. Her voice was exceedingly gentle, soft and slow, as if afraid of startling him. Xiao Yan lowered his head to gaze at the enchanting woman in his arms. Which man in Wu Tan City hadn''t fantasized about Ya Fei? If others saw this scene, they would be driven mad with jealousy. He was indeed fortunate to be treated this way by such a woman. However, he couldn''t help but sigh inwardly. It was just as Ya Fei said. Xun Er occupied an extremely important place in his heart. Even though Xun Er had left, and perhaps he might never see her again in this lifetime unless he attained the status and strength acknowledged by the Gu Clan... His current objective remained fixed upon the Gu Clan. Seeing the conflict in his expression, Ya Fei stood up gracefully. She knew when to advance and when to retreat. She had already overstepped just now. "I''ll accept this ring for now." "Elder Sister will wait for you in Wu Tan City, until you''ve accomplished everything." Xiao Yan sighed inwardly again and nodded. He didn''t linger any longer and took his leave. Early the next morning, Xiao Yan glanced around but didn''t see Ya Fei coming to see him off. He gathered his companions, boarded the back of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, and flew toward the border of the Yan Alliance, departing from Jia Ma Sacred City. "You''re not going to say goodbye to him?" Hai Bodong asked from his chair in Ya Fei''s office after seeing Xiao Yan off. Ya Fei lightly brushed aside a strand of hair and took out a medicinal pill from her storage ring. It was a tier 6 Youth Preserving Pill, capable of maintaining an ordinary person''s youth and slowing the body''s aging process. "He already told me everything that needed to be said." ... On an endless plain, two incredibly towering mountain ranges pierced the sky. Such lofty peaks were impossible for ordinary people to climb. An enormous fortress stood nestled in the gap between these two ranges, resembling an ancient, fierce beast guarding the main road leading out of the Snake-People Tribe''s territory. This fortress was the most critical defensive line for the Snake-People Tribe. If it were breached, not only the Snake-People Tribe but perhaps even the Jia Ma Empire behind it would face the iron cavalry of the three great empires charging straight in! The fortress''s sheer size was astounding. Its walls, constructed entirely of jet-black volcanic ink rock, possessed terrifying sturdiness capable of withstanding attacks even from Dou Emperors for a considerable time. Densely packed soldiers were visible everywhere on the city walls. Countless huge ballistae stood among them, each loaded with steel bolts as thick as a person''s thigh, ready to unleash devastating power at any moment. Under the defense of these innumerable troops, this defensive line could be called impregnable. Even the combined forces of the three great empires would have to pay a bloody price to breach it! Several figures stood at the central position on the city wall. Their gazes were filled with worry as they looked into the far distance beyond the fortress. There, dense armies stretched out like dark clouds, with no end in sight. Judging from the huge banners rising among those armies, there were surprisingly three different emblems¡ªthe three great empires were attacking together. Of course, their greatest worry was not these ordinary armies, but the elite Dou Emperors hidden among them. In the eyes of true experts, ordinary armies posed little threat. A single Dou King could easily hold off an army of ten thousand, which was precisely why experts on the Dou Qi Continent held a status surpassing even royal authority! On the Dou Qi Continent, the strong reigned supreme; royal authority came second! "Sigh, I heard the leaders this time include the First Elder of the Gold Geese Sect and a Dou Emperor elder from Mulan Valley. The Poison Sect, however, has concealed their information. Rumor has it their First Elder is leading their troops." One of the leaders from the eight great tribes of the Snake-People Tribe sighed after gazing into the distance for a moment and slowly withdrawing his gaze. Now part of the Yan Alliance, the Snake-People Tribe had benefited greatly. Some citizens had moved to live in the mountains owned by the Misty Cloud Sect. Furthermore, trade between the Jia Ma Empire and the Snake-People Tribe brought many goods and pills, significantly improving their lives. But with Medusa absent, the three great empires now eyed the Snake-People Tribe like ravenous tigers, long wanting to devour this fat piece of meat. Initially, there were only minor skirmishes led by Dou Kings. However, the Dou Kings of the three great empires were no match for Nalan Yanran, prompting them to disregard martial ethics and send Dou Emperors into battle. The Yan Alliance had exercised restraint, always meeting opponents with equivalent ranks to prevent the war from escalating. "We sent people to the Jia Ma Empire for assistance yesterday. If they receive the message, they will surely come to our aid," another tribe leader sighed lightly. "But distant water can''t quench immediate thirst. I fear the situation might be entirely different by the time reinforcements arrive." They hadn''t expected the three great empires to act so brazenly with only half a year left until the Great Meeting of Factions. Were they truly not afraid that the war would hinder their performance at the meeting and attract invasions from other empires? After all, strong nations also bordered the three great empires! All the Snake-People tribe leaders couldn''t help but look at the noble, elegant, and regal woman beside them. Currently, she was the only Dou Emperor at the entire border. "Sect Leader Yun, this battle..." Yun Yun gazed at the dense armies ahead, her powerful perception sweeping over them. "Two low-star Dou Emperors." If it were only two low-star Dou Emperors, her current 6-star Dou Emperor strength would be more than enough to handle them. However, one must not forget that the Chu Yun Empire was stronger than the other two, especially with that Poison Sect. It was highly unlikely that they did not have a Dou Emperor of their own. Yun Yun''s talent far surpassed Hai Bodong''s. It took Hai Bodong two years to advance one star to become a 7-star Dou Emperor, whereas Yun Yun had advanced three stars in the same period. After the Xiao Clan took over the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Yun became a hands-off leader, which paradoxically gave her more time to cultivate. The expressions of the several Dou King-level Snake-People chiefs grew serious. The oldest leader, Yin Shi, stated, "If we combine our strength and use the terrain, we should be able to hold back their Dou Kings. But the Dou Emperors... Sect Leader Yun, I''m afraid we can only rely on you." "Now that we are allied, we share a common fate. Loss for one side will lead to destruction for all," Yun Yun said softly. Suddenly, a thunderous booming of war drums reverberated from afar, spreading rapidly across the fortress. "They''re about to attack!" Yun Yun and the others'' expressions turned serious upon hearing the urgent drumbeats. Moments after the drums sounded, the ground began to tremble. The vast, seemingly endless sea of people in the distance surged toward the fortress like a tidal wave. The thunderous sound of their footsteps echoed across the sky like rolling thunder, exerting immense psychological pressure. "All warriors of the Snake-People tribes! Defend our homeland! Kill!!" As the fortress entered a state of readiness, the dark mass of people surged forward amidst sky-shattering battle cries. Above the waves of soldiers, streaks of light flashed¡ªclearly the Dou King experts from the three great empires, the ones who would place the greatest strain on the fortress''s defenses. When the endless dark mass was still nearly a kilometer away, they suddenly halted. Two towering Dou Emperor auras surged forth from their ranks, enveloping the entire fortress! "Keke, the Yan Alliance doesn''t seem like much after all. Why doesn''t your Snake-People Tribe submit to our Luo Yan Empire? As long as you offer a sufficient number of snake slaves each year, we guarantee you''ll live in luxury." An old man dressed in the robes of the Gold Geese Sect spoke, his gaze greedily scanning the female Snake-People warriors on the walls. Another Dou Emperor stared sharply at the central tower of the fortress. His voice, infused with Dou Qi, boomed, "Yun Yun, your disciple killed my disciple! Today, blood must be repaid with blood!" "Shameless bastards! They call themselves Dou Emperors, yet they gang up on one person!" Several Dou Kings from the Misty Cloud Sect who had accompanied Yun Yun glared at the two old men in the sky with ugly expressions, unable to hold back their curses. Yun Yun stopped the enraged elders. "You stay in the fortress and intercept any Dou Kings who try to fly in. I will handle these two." The fortress was designed primarily to stop those below the Dou King level. Experts at Dou King rank and above could fly directly over the walls. Therefore, it was crucial to prevent those Dou Kings from entering the fortress and starting a massacre. The terrifying aura of a 6-star Dou Emperor exploded from Yun Yun''s body as a pair of Wind Wings materialized on her back. In an instant, she soared like a green meteor above the fortress, gripping her sword tightly as her spiritual perception locked onto the two men. "Keke, Sect Leader Yun, don''t blame us for lacking decorum. Your cultivation level surpasses both of ours. If we didn''t join forces, I fear no one could truly handle you." Yan Luo Cai, the elder of the Gold Geese Sect, flapped the golden goose wings on his back slightly as he laughed. Yun Yun remained silent, the sword in her hand slowly stirring up a whirlwind. She was never one for excessive talk. "A 6-star Dou Emperor at such a young age... both you and your disciple possess terrifying talent. But geniuses often meet early ends. Today, I will avenge my disciple!" Mulan Tianhua declared viciously. Unlike the Jia Ma and Chu Yun Empires, the Mulan and Luo Yan Empires were controlled by the strongest sects within their borders¡ªMulan Valley and the Gold Geese Sect, respectively. They were sect-empires. Mulan Tianhua and Yan Luo Cai exchanged glances when they saw Yun Yun''s imposing manner, both seeing a trace of ruthlessness in each other''s eyes. They were only 3-star Dou Emperors; only by combining their strength could they hope to defeat Yun Yun. Whoosh! Whoosh! They burst forward at high speed, weapons in hand, flanking Yun Yun from the left and right. Chapter 298: Entering the Chu Yun Empire Chapter 298 - 298: Entering the Chu Yun Empire Word Count: 2,616 Words ****** Clang! The clash of swords and whistling of blades echoed through the sky as the two Dou Emperors, Mulan Tianhua and Yan Luo Cai, simultaneously launched into battle. One wielded a sword that seemed to dissolve into nothingness, merging with the wind itself, much like Yun Yun''s own wind-attributed sword, creating a symphony of sword winds. The other swung a massive blade that emitted thunderous roars. Bolts of lightning crackled around him, and peals of thunder accompanied each slash. His blade sliced through the air in an overwhelming and commanding manner as he wrapped himself in a cocoon of lightning. These two were well-known Dou Emperors in their respective empires. The surge of their combined Dou Qi filled the sky, forcing nearby Dou Kings to keep their distance to avoid being swept away by the residual shockwaves. However, Yun Yun was no ordinary person. She showed no sign of being rattled even while beset by two Dou Emperors at once. The Cloud Sword in her hand suddenly glowed with dazzling brilliance, sheathed in a swirling wind. Its radiant gleam seemed to illuminate the entire sky. Standing high above, she appeared to hold not a sword, but the sun and moon themselves! Whirlwinds swirled madly around her like stars accompanying the moon. The brilliance of the Cloud Sword in her hand outshone even the real sun, rendering it dim as if replaced. The sword in her grip inspired both awe and dread at this moment! Countless onlookers below felt their hearts pounding. Everyone knew Yun Yun was the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, but they hadn''t expected this peerlessly beautiful Sect Leader to possess such formidable strength, exuding an aura capable of sweeping across all directions. "Ha! Take this slash! Infinite Heaven Blade!" "Single Word Sword Kill!" One Dou Emperor attacked from the left, the other from the right, both channeling their Dou Qi in an instant. The techniques they unleashed were both High Xuan Class Dou Techniques. They were merely low-star Dou Emperors, after all. Their sects might possess Di Class Dou Techniques, but cultivating them was no easy feat. "Wind-Splitting Spiral Dance." Those words left Yun Yun''s lips in a soft whisper as she struck back, making what appeared to be an extremely casual gesture, like a light dance. Yet this seemingly effortless sword strike caused Mulan Tianhua and Yan Luo Cai''s hearts to sink. An intense sense of danger surged within them. Waves rippled subtly in the space before Yun Yun. A dozen or more giant wind blades, each about ten meters long, materialized from thin air. They interlocked in a spiral, bristling like whirling razors, and tore forward as a unified storm of blades. A mere Dou King facing these unleashed wind blades would have no choice but to close their eyes and await death. The two Dou Emperors clung fiercely to their survival instincts, biting their tongues to jolt themselves back to clarity. They raced to muster all their Dou Qi, borrowing the energy of the world to shield themselves while using their weapons to parry. Boom!! As expected, their combined Dou Techniques were no match for Yun Yun''s. Upon collision, their attack shattered like dead wood, and a surge of wind-attributed energy blasted toward them. Boom! Boom! Boom!! The two were sent flying backward hundreds of meters. The spiraling wind shredded their clothes, and fresh blood seeped from cuts all over their bodies. Had they defended a moment too late, they would have been sliced apart rather than merely wounded. "Power on par with a Di Class technique..." Their faces grew gloomier by the second. One blow was enough to show that even working together, they might at best fight Yun Yun to a draw, and even that might be wishful thinking. Yun Yun did not press her advantage. Her real aim was merely to hold them at bay until reinforcements could arrive. At that moment, a sense of danger emanated from above her. A figure appeared, and as he did, an indescribable aura spread instantly across the land. The figure was a middle-aged man who, upon stepping forward, immediately backed up Mulan Tianhua and Yan Luo Cai. Liang Zhongsheng. This middle-aged man was the First Elder of the Poison Sect, a name known throughout the Chu Yun Empire. He had used his poison techniques to suppress multiple Dou Emperors in the previous Great Meeting of Factions, and even peak Dou Emperors were no match for him. Whether or not one knew him by sight, his presence alone announced his extraordinary might. "A peak Dou Emperor..." Those within the fortress couldn''t help but feel a chill as they murmured to themselves. Facing three Dou Emperors, one of whom was a peak Dou Emperor, even someone as formidable as Yun Yun couldn''t possibly hold them off. "As expected of the most talented member of the Misty Cloud Sect. If you ever reach peak Dou Emperor, perhaps even I might not be able to do anything to you. But this is where it ends." Liang Zhongsheng''s gaze locked onto Yun Yun like a tiger eyeing its prey. Yun Yun remained silent, but her expression was extremely grave. She knew she couldn''t retreat. The fortress would be unable to withstand the assault of three Dou Emperors if she did. Not only would the Snake-People Tribe suffer, but even some of the reinforcements from the Yan Alliance would face heavy casualties. Black and white sword shadows flickered in an instant, and domineering blade lights slashed down. Just as Yun Yun was about to forcibly parry their combined attack again, a pungent odor wafted from above. Suddenly, a sharp whip of poisonous gas lashed out with a piercing sound, tearing through the air toward her. The sudden pincer attack caused her expression to change. She gripped her sword in her right hand while her left hand formed a seal. A massive wind-attributed energy handprint shot upward to counter the attack. Her right hand wielded her sword once more and swept horizontally to deflect the combined assault of the other two. Bang! Boom!!! A deafening burst of power echoed across the sky. Under many watching eyes, Yun Yun let out a muffled groan and staggered backward, managing to steady herself only after more than ten paces. She had clearly suffered in that three-versus-one collision. Knitting her brows, she immediately circulated her Dou Qi and used the Cloud Sword to cut her fingertip, forcing out a thread of poisoned blood. The Poison Sect''s cultivation methods were extremely sinister. Their Dou Techniques were imbued with deadly toxins. A single misstep could result in being poisoned. "Now we''ll see how you can possibly stop us!" Yan Luo Cai exulted, bursting into loud, triumphant laughter. Yun Yun didn''t bother to retort. Dou Qi surged within her like a torrential flood. The natural energy of the world began to fluctuate violently in response to her internal Dou Qi. From the looks of it, she was preparing to fight to the death. Observing such resolve, the trio paused momentarily before letting out cold laughs of their own. Each mustered all the Dou Qi in their bodies. Everyone below watched that fierce vortex of swirling energy in the sky, knowing that a terrifying clash at the Dou Emperor level was about to begin! Thunderous roars echoed across the sky. Flashes of swords and blades illuminated the intensity of the clash above. "This is bad. Sect Leader Yun can''t hold off all three of them!" Just as Yun Yun was about to be overwhelmed by the trio''s combined assault, wisps of black flame suddenly emerged from the space behind her, forming a vortex-like passage. A voice called out from within, "You''re not that young anymore; can''t you stop being so reckless? Still thinking of taking on three by yourself..." A large hand suddenly reached out from the black flames, sliding around Yun Yun''s slender waist. She gave a startled cry as she was drawn into a firm embrace. "Xiao Yan!!" Her beautiful eyes widened in disbelief. She wasn''t aware that Xiao Yan had returned to the Jia Ma Empire, as the Yan Alliance''s borders were too distant, making news travel difficult. Xiao Yan gazed softly at the woman before him, memories of those days in the mountain cave surfacing. Just as Hai Bodong had teased him before, when a man felt indebted to a woman, it often led to complications. Although Yun Yun was well past thirty, her outward appearance was that of someone barely in her twenties. She was graceful and refined, and the moonlit armor she wore accentuated her regal bearing. Her most captivating feature was her elegant eyebrows; they were like swords, adding a touch of majesty to her noble demeanor. She seemed like a peerless and graceful natural-born empress. "Three men bullying a woman. How glorious," Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed as a surge of killing intent emanated from him. He had encountered those who had gone to seek reinforcements on his way here. As a result, he had the Amethyst Winged Lion King accelerate to rush over, even directly using the power of the Nihility Devouring Flame to traverse space, arriving here in a single step from several kilometers away. "Traversing space?!" "A 7-star Dou King?!" A 7-star Dou King capable of traversing space? Are you kidding?! Even their Sect Leaders who were Dou Ancestors couldn''t traverse space! A purple light flickered just as the three were questioning reality. The space beside Xiao Yan rapidly distorted, speckled with points of purple light that grew increasingly brilliant. Finally, under their incredulous gazes, ten slender fingers pierced through the empty space like something out of a horror movie. It was as if something was about to crawl out from within, chilling to the extreme! "Open up!" A childish voice called out from the void. Then, Zi Yan directly tore open the empty space with a ripping sound and leaped out! The large and small Lion Kings followed closely, along with Little Fairy Doctor. Even the Amethyst Winged Lion King showed a look of astonishment. They had traversed space from kilometers away! "Hah... bringing extra people along is tough." Zi Yan wiped the sweat from her forehead. Even though she was from the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe and had reached Rank 6, equivalent to a Dou Emperor, bringing others through space was still challenging. Mulan Tianhua and Yan Luo Cai were so shocked their eyes nearly popped out when they saw two more people and two magical beasts emerge from the void. Heavens!! Are these all Dou Venerates?! "The Woeful Poison Body... so you''re indeed with the Yan Alliance!" Liang Zhongsheng unexpectedly shifted his gaze toward Little Fairy Doctor right away! It turned out that when the Poison Sect had previously discovered Little Fairy Doctor''s Woeful Poison Body, they had clashed with her and the Amethyst Winged Lion King. During their escape, she had killed an elder of the Poison Sect, who had placed a tracking mark on her. Although the mark had been eradicated by her Woeful Poison Body, it allowed the Poison Sect to deduce that she might have come from the Jia Ma Empire, the current Yan Alliance! Yun Yun''s cheeks flushed when she saw so many people appearing. She gently extricated herself from Xiao Yan''s embrace. Xiao Yan looked toward the middle-aged man in Poison Sect attire. Their coveting of such a rare physique made him extremely disgusted. This time, he planned to attend the Great Meeting of Factions to see just what kind of faction this so-called Sky Serpent Mansion was. If necessary, he would forcibly bring Qing Lin back! "Since you''re here, you might as well leave something behind." Before Xiao Yan could even make a move after speaking, the newly advanced Zi Yan took the lead. Her fists surged with purple light as she directly targeted the strongest one there: the First Elder of the Poison Sect! She had snatched his target! "Come on! Let me test my strength!" Zi Yan unleashed a spatial heavy punch. Having reached the Dou Emperor realm, her strength was terrifying beyond compare; a single punch caused the entire space to distort. She actually sent the peak Dou Emperor Liang Zhongsheng flying with a single punch. Her pair of purple Dou Qi wings flapped vigorously as she pursued him relentlessly. "Hey, Zi Yan, be careful of that guy''s poison!" Xiao Yan hadn''t even finished his warning before the ever-energetic Zi Yan charged ahead, not caring whether her opponent was from the Poison Sect or elsewhere. "I''ll go with her. Take care of yourself." Little Fairy Doctor nodded gently. When it came to poison, she was certainly no weaker than anyone from the Poison Sect. If she wished, disregarding Xiao Yan''s previous cautions and fully activating her Woeful Poison Body, she could even poison the Sect Leader of the Poison Sect to death. Xiao Yan felt more at ease with Little Fairy Doctor accompanying Zi Yan. He turned to the Amethyst Winged Lion King and said, "Lion King, please assist on the battlefield below with Little Lion King. Don''t hold back!" The Amethyst Winged Lion King''s eyes flashed with fierce light as it heavily nodded. It brought Little Lion King and pounced toward the battlefield below. Reunited after two years, Xiao Yan and Yun Yun exchanged only a quick smile, then wordlessly charged toward Mulan Tianhua and Yan Luo Cai together. "Since you''re here, you might as well stay." Xiao Yan swung his Heavy Xuan Ruler. A mere low-star Dou Emperor dared to cause trouble on the Yan Alliance''s doorstep?! "You''re Xiao Yan of the Yan Alliance!" Yan Luo Cai''s heart trembled. Who hadn''t heard of the renowned Xiao Yan? The initiator of the Yan Alliance Treaty, the youngest and most talented alchemist of the alliance! Even the ''Yan'' in ''Yan Alliance'' was from his name. This hinted that while the Yan Alliance might only be a defensive coalition without an official leader, almost all factions rallied around him. "Correct. Flame Splitting Tsunami!" Since he had guessed right, Xiao Yan ''rewarded'' him with a Di Class Dou Technique! The terrifying Flame Splitting Tsunami surged like a towering inferno. Against such a low-star Dou Emperor, there was no need to use ultimate moves like the Open Mountain Seal. But for Yan Luo Cai, this was already an utterly lethal attack! Boom! An explosive sound echoed. The perfected Di Class Dou Technique, combined with Dou Qi from a Low Tian Class Qi Method, unleashed terrifying power comparable to a peak Dou Emperor''s full-force strike, even without using a Heavenly Flame or exerting full strength. "Pfft!!" A mouthful of blood spurted out. Yan Luo Cai''s entire body was charred black as he plummeted from the sky, crashing into the ground and leaving a massive crater. His life or death was uncertain. Xiao Yan slowly descended. Seeing Yan Luo Cai continuously vomiting blood, he thought he shouldn''t let it go to waste. The Heavy Xuan Ruler ruthlessly smashed down, then he used the Soul Command Token to collect the soul body. ''Two more to go; can''t let them go to waste. I''m running low on soul points.'' In order to obtain Gu He''s Body Transformation Pill, he had exchanged for a High Xuan Class Soul Training Method and purchased medicinal ingredients for refining a Little Soul Black Purple Pill. All of this had strained his already tight finances. Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength instantly locked onto the remaining Dou Kings on the battlefield and the two remaining Dou Emperors in the sky. He couldn''t help but lick his lips. Whether he could become a Tianzun would depend on how much the three great empires could contribute. Chapter 299: Cat Food Chapter 299 - 299: Cat Food Word Count: 2,638 Words ****** "Don''t run away!" Having obtained the Body Transformation Pill, Zi Yan felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her heart. In fact, her playful nature had become even more pronounced. Now that she knew her origins and had a goal, she was no longer lost as before. She unleashed three punches in rapid succession. This girl attacked like a raging storm with an unmatched fiery temperament. Purple light condensed around her fists, each strike flowing seamlessly into the next. Although the First Elder of the Poison Sect, Liang Zhongsheng, was a peak Dou Emperor with extremely sinister poison techniques, who was Zi Yan? She was an Ancient Void Dragon! Reaching Rank 6 meant that Zi Yan had finally emerged from her juvenile stage. More of her bloodline strength had awakened, and various techniques had mysteriously surfaced in her mind. "Damn you! Don''t underestimate me!" Liang Zhongsheng''s eyes narrowed, caught off guard by Zi Yan''s spatial abilities. He roared furiously as his body erupted with a surge of green poisonous mist that enveloped him entirely, unleashing his full poison power! Though he cultivated only a High Xuan Class Qi Method, his poison techniques were incredibly sinister, possessing power comparable to a Di Class technique. "Poison Shrouds the Heavens!" In an instant, the entire space filled with poison gas that soared skyward. Even the natural energy around them fluctuated wildly. The area transformed into a world shrouded in poison. Even high-star Dou Emperors would be poisoned to death and reduced to black liquid upon contact with this mist. Liang Zhongsheng had relied on this Low Di Class poison Dou Technique during the Four Nations War to slay numerous Dou Kings; even some advanced Dou Emperors had met tragic ends at his hands. There was once a sect in the Chu Yun Empire that opposed the Poison Sect. That sect was later exterminated, with more than half its disciples dying miserably in this poison mist. Zi Yan''s expression turned solemn in the face of a peak Dou Emperor''s Di Class poison Dou Technique. She chose not to clash head-on. After all, she had just stepped into the Dou Emperor realm and had yet to fully master many abilities from her Ancient Void Dragon bloodline. A flash of purple light shimmered around her body, and she instantly traversed space, dodging the approaching poison mist. Although she couldn''t neutralize this sinister poison, how could an Ancient Void Dragon capable of space traversal be easily caught? Liang Zhongsheng''s eyes narrowed when he saw he couldn''t harm the girl with such marvelous abilities. He revealed a hideous smile, "You may dodge, but let''s see how those filthy snakes below can escape! Go!" "Quickly, get away!!" The terrifying poison gas suddenly descended from the sky toward the fortress. Zi Yan''s face changed dramatically as she shouted urgently to the Snake-People Tribe warriors engaged in battle with the allied forces of the three empires. But it was already too late. As soon as her words fell, the swiftly moving poison mist surged forward, appearing above the fortress in an instant and crashing down like a tidal wave. Some of the Snake-People warriors standing on the city walls bore the brunt of it, and even the soldiers from the Chu Yun Empire were not spared. Miserable screams rang out as many people collapsed, dying tragically from the deadly poison. At this critical moment, a white-clad figure appeared beneath the poison mist. Little Fairy Doctor''s eyes were cold and emotionless as she slowly extended her hand. Boom!! The terrifying poison mist made a sound like a falling meteor, yet it was astonishingly blocked by her single hand! The poison mist that could easily kill Dou Emperors had no effect on Little Fairy Doctor! Her body emitted a soft glow as faint, mysterious runes appeared on her skin. She slowly opened her mouth and rapidly absorbed all the poison mist. As the poison mist was inhaled, the patterns on her skin became increasingly distinct. These were the runes of the Woeful Poison Body that Xiao Yan had seen before. Soon, the overwhelming poison gas was completely devoured. Liang Zhongsheng could only stare in horror as Little Fairy Doctor activated her Woeful Poison Body and effortlessly absorbed the poison mist he had cultivated for over a decade. His Dou Techniques and Qi Method were part of the same set. The reason the poison mist was so powerful was that it condensed a large amount of his Dou Qi during execution, differing from traditional Dou Techniques. ''So this is the Woeful Poison Body! No wonder the Sect Leader covets it so much. No, this Woeful Poison Body is even more formidable than imagined. I must return and inform the Sect Leader; otherwise, it may bring disaster upon our sect!'' Liang Zhongsheng no longer harbored any intention of capturing Little Fairy Doctor. The Woeful Poison Body was far stronger than anticipated. If they continued to insist on obtaining it, perhaps the entire Poison Sect would be destroyed at the hands of this fairy-like poison lady! However, he hadn''t yet noticed that someone even more troublesome had already set their sights on him. Whoosh! A faint sound of flames came from behind Liang Zhongsheng. Xiao Yan appeared like a ghost, his body enveloped in the Nihility Devouring Flame. His eyes were sharp, his expression grim and terrifying. The Dou Qi within his body surged like tens of thousands of galloping horses as it circulated along a specific path. Open Mountain Seal!" Xiao Yan''s hands rapidly formed seals. The natural energy seemed to boil like water as the surrounding space went wild. By the time Liang Zhongsheng noticed, it was already too late. A black energy handprint materialized before his shocked gaze, immediately exuding a terrifying pressure and powerful energy fluctuations as it smashed ruthlessly into his back! Even though Xiao Yan had yet to cultivate the Open Mountain Seal to the entry level and only had its form, even a weakened version was still a High Di Class Dou Technique created by Emperor Gu. It was a secret technique of the Gu Clan, and its power definitely surpassed many Di Class techniques. One could only imagine how terrifying this strike was. Boom! In an instant, the attack containing horrifying power exploded like a thunderclap. The deafening sound caused many people''s ears to ring, and even their vision blurred slightly. Wave after wave of substantial energy ripples surged outward madly. Even space itself became distorted under the onslaught of such terrifying power. From this, one could see how formidable Xiao Yan''s attack was. Rumble! Liang Zhongsheng plummeted from a thousand meters up like a meteor, crashing into the ground and creating a massive crater. Xiao Yan inwardly shook his head. He had just used the power of the Nihility Devouring Flame''s Seed Flame to create a short-distance spatial passage, concealing his aura with his Spiritual Strength to stealthily appear behind Liang Zhongsheng for a surprise attack. Yet, he had still failed to turn him into a bloody mist with a single palm strike. ''It seems I still need to put more effort into cultivating the God Seal Technique.'' If he could cultivate the Open Mountain Seal to the entry level and combine it with the Tian Class Flame Mantra, he should have turned even a peak Dou Emperor into bloody mist with a single palm, especially one caught off guard. This was the terrifying killing power of a Tian Class Qi Method combined with a High Di Class Dou Technique. "Are you alright?" Xiao Yan flew to Little Fairy Doctor''s side and asked with concern. Little Fairy Doctor gently shook her head and said, "This little poison is nothing; for the Woeful Poison Body, it''s just nourishment." Xiao Yan gave her a stern look, and she lowered her gaze, a hint of guilt flashing across her face. "You know that''s not what I meant. The more potent the poison you absorb, the faster your cultivation increases, and the closer you get to the brink of the poison eruption. That was the poison of a peak Dou Emperor just now." Xiao Yan''s powerful Spiritual Strength swept over her and sensed that the poison Dou Qi within her was beginning to show signs of expansion. Perhaps this time, she could directly advance by two or even three stars. Space tore open, and Zi Yan appeared, looking apologetic. "I''m sorry; I shouldn''t have been so overconfident." Little Fairy Doctor gently stroked her small head and said, "Don''t listen to Xiao Yan''s nonsense. The Woeful Poison Body absorbs the surrounding natural energy every day to increase cultivation. This cannot be suppressed. That bit of poison gas was just a few days'' worth at most." This was half true, half false. The Seven-Colored Poison Sutra Little Fairy Doctor obtained in the mountain cave wasn''t a Qi Method, but rather a book on refining poisons and knowledge about the Woeful Poison Body. Possessing the Woeful Poison Body meant naturally having a Qi Method. A special constitution was like a magical beast''s bloodline. The way they increased their cultivation was different. A special constitution was equivalent to the body itself being the Qi Method, and cultivation nurtured the growth of the constitution. So even if Little Fairy Doctor just ate and slept every day, the surrounding natural energy would automatically enter her body and increase her cultivation. This was uncontrollable. She was cultivating even while sleeping. It would be strange if her speed wasn''t fast. "Zi Yan, go help Yun Yun deal with her opponent. Little Fairy Doctor and I will check if that guy is dead. Matters related to poison are better left to us," Xiao Yan said. "Oh, and bring that guy''s corpse back." Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor slowly descended. After taking Xiao Yan''s Open Mountain Seal head-on, even if Liang Zhongsheng wasn''t dead, he was likely not far from it. "Cough... Today... cough... I''ve witnessed the power of the Yan Alliance leader..." Liang Zhongsheng slowly stood up. His body was cracked all over, resembling a figure made of blood. He stared fixedly at Little Fairy Doctor and Xiao Yan. As he spoke, blood continuously gushed out, making his voice eerie and chilling. Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor observed him. Anyone could see that at this moment, Liang Zhongsheng was at the end of his rope and could die at any time. "Kekeke, I may not escape today, but if you want me dead, you''ll have to pay a bloody price!" Raising his face, Liang Zhongsheng suddenly showed a sinister and cruel smile toward them. His body seemed to boil instantly, countless blood blisters densely appearing on his skin. Churning blood could be seen within the blisters. This horrifying sight not only made one''s hair stand on end but also sent chills down the spine. Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor were both startled upon seeing Liang Zhongsheng in such a state. In an instant, the blood blisters on his body grew larger and larger. When his body swelled to an extreme, a crisp ''pop'' suddenly rang out! Splat! As the sound rang out, a startling black light, swift as a shooting star, abruptly shot out from his mouth just as Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor were about to hastily retreat! This black light wasn''t very large, only about the size of a thumb. However, its speed was so astonishing that it seemed to pierce through space. The tail of the light had just emerged from Liang Zhongsheng''s mouth, yet it had already appeared a hundred meters away, right in front of them! At such an unbelievable speed, almost faster than lightning, Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor had virtually no time to dodge! Unexpectedly, the target of this attack wasn''t Little Fairy Doctor, but was aimed at Xiao Yan beside her! Little Fairy Doctor was greatly shocked upon realizing what this attack was and subconsciously tried to shield Xiao Yan with her own body. Xiao Yan sensed her intention through his Spiritual Strength, swiftly reached out, grabbed her long, flowing hair, and pulled her aside. "Ah!" The very next moment, that black light sank into Xiao Yan''s body. "What are you doing! That''s the Demon Poison Spot! It''s an insidious technique from the Chu Yun Empire used by those who cultivate poison Dou Qi. It condenses all the poison Dou Qi in the body and injects it into the enemy, forming a black spot. This black spot continuously releases poison threads. When these poison threads spread throughout the body''s acupoints, the victim''s meridians rapidly decay, ultimately causing them to suffer endless agony and slowly die!" Little Fairy Doctor rarely showed anger. The Demon Poison Spot was absolutely fatal to ordinary people, but for someone like her with the Woeful Poison Body, it would at most accelerate her cultivation progress. "To remove the Demon Poison Spot, one''s cultivation must be a whole realm higher than the caster''s; at the very least, one must reach the Dou Ancestor realm. Damn it, reaching Dou Ancestor will take me some time." Xiao Yan suddenly burst out laughing when he saw how anxious she was. He flicked her forehead and said with a smile, "You''re worrying unnecessarily. If I can''t even handle this Demon Poison Spot, what qualifications do I have to help you resolve the Woeful Poison Body? Don''t tell me the Woeful Poison Body is simpler than this Demon Poison Spot." Little Fairy Doctor covered her forehead, her beautiful eyes gazing at him in a daze. "Kekeke, keep pretending! This is our Poison Sect''s improved Demon Poison Spot. It''s absolutely impossible to remove without our unique method! Kekeke, having you, the leader of the Yan Alliance, accompany me in death makes it worthwhile." Liang Zhongsheng sneered while rapidly aging. Xiao Yan saw his appearance and couldn''t help but reveal a cold smile. "By forcing me like this, aren''t you afraid I''ll exterminate your Poison Sect?" "But then again, there''s no need to go to such trouble." Whoosh! Terrifying black flames erupted from his body. The Nihility Devouring Flame circulated within him, completely enveloping the Demon Poison Spot. The black spot formed on the back of his hand seemed sealed, firmly locked in place. "You!! You!!" Liang Zhongsheng was utterly shocked. What kind of flame was that?! Meow! Mao Wu emerged from the void. Xiao Yan stroked the adorable little black cat and said, "I was just wondering what to feed it. How considerate of you to offer your lifetime''s cultivation. Let me thank you on behalf of this little one before you die. This Demon Poison Spot doesn''t taste too bad." Liang Zhongsheng''s spirit collapsed when he saw Xiao Yan enveloped in black flames. His ultimate killing move had actually become cat food! Xiao Yan stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he revealed a cruel smile. "Since I''m helping others, I might as well see it through to the end. You''re going to die anyway; might as well not waste your soul." "You... you... don''t come any closer! Aaaah¡ª!" With a muffled sound, Xiao Yan performed the Asura Soul Reaping Technique, extracting Liang Zhongsheng''s soul and storing it in his Soul Command Token. Mao Wu then transformed into a mass of black flames and completely devoured his corpse. Even the body of the Dou Emperor whom Xiao Yan had killed earlier was consumed by Mao Wu. The Nihility Devouring Flame: perfect for erasing corpses and leaving no traces behind! These were all top-quality cat food. Though they might be a bit old, Mao Wu didn''t mind. Soon, under the combined assault of Zi Yan and Yun Yun, the other Dou Emperor had his throat pierced by Yun Yun''s sword. Naturally, his soul was absorbed by the Soul Command Token, and his flesh became cat food. Chapter 300: Profound Nether Valley Chapter 300 - 300: Profound Nether Valley Word Count: 2,755 Words ****** It didn''t take long for the Snake-People Tribe to launch a counterattack with the help of the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Countless soldiers from the allied forces of the three empires were forever left on this battlefield. Once the fighting concluded, Xiao Yan and the others gathered in the fortress''s main hall. "This Demon Poison Spot is quite a bit more formidable than the Branding Poison and Medusa''s seal. Even the power of the Nihility Devouring Flame requires some time to completely refine it." Meow! (Wait until I become stronger, then I can do it faster and faster.) Xiao Yan fiddled with a token in his hand. This wasn''t the Soul Command Token but rather the Poison Sect''s sect token that he had stopped Mao Wu from devouring along with Liang Zhongsheng''s flesh and blood. Xiao Yan glanced at other items like storage rings and weapons and let Mao Wu devour them all as cat food. In any case, it wasn''t a picky eater. "Are you really alright?" Yun Yun looked at the poison spot on the back of Xiao Yan''s hand, her face showing concern. "It''s just a minor poison, rest assured. I am the champion of the Alchemist Grand Meeting, after all," Xiao Yan replied confidently. Yun Yun gave him a sidelong glance before expressing her gratitude, "Thank you for saving me just now." "We are both leaders of the Yan Alliance; helping each other is expected." "Is it only because of the Yan Alliance..." Yun Yun''s voice was very soft, but Xiao Yan naturally heard it with his cultivation level. The atmosphere between the two became somewhat subtle for a moment. Thud! Just then, Zi Yan swaggered in from outside, still gnawing on a large lamb leg. "Xiao Yan, when are we going to the Chu Yun Empire?" This amount of food was naturally insufficient for her terrifying appetite; it was merely to satisfy a craving. To truly eat her fill, she still required heavenly treasures. "You''re leaving?" Yun Yun''s beautiful eyes turned to Xiao Yan as she asked. After a moment of silence, he nodded. "Mm, we''ll leave when night falls. I came here this time intending to enter the Chu Yun Empire from the border. I have some matters to attend to in the Chu Yun Empire." A fleeting trace of gloom flashed across Yun Yun''s eyes. "Huh? Xiao Yan, what''s that thing on your hand?" Zi Yan quickly finished the entire roasted lamb leg and reached toward Xiao Yan with greasy hands. "Aiya, can''t you wash your hands first!" Xiao Yan pushed her face away with a look of disgust before continuing, "This is bait, something I''ll use to fish." "Ah? This can be eaten?" Both Zi Yan and Yun Yun looked puzzled. Wasn''t the thing in Xiao Yan''s hand just a sect token? "Leaving the Poison Sect around is a threat. This three-empire alliance was likely a probing entry initiated by the Poison Sect trying to capture Little Fairy Doctor. It''s a menace that cannot be left alone." A fierce glint flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes. Some things shouldn''t wait until they happen before retaliating; one must prepare beforehand and strike first. Yun Yun''s face showed concern as she said, "It''s rumored that the Sect Leader of the Poison Sect is already a Dou Ancestor... Even the weakest 1-star Dou Ancestor is far stronger than a peak Dou Emperor." Xiao Yan was currently only a 7-star Dou King; the gap between him and a Dou Ancestor was too vast. A single misstep could lead to disaster, not to mention the Poison Sect specialized in poison. Poison was something exceedingly difficult to guard against; one could be poisoned with a moment''s carelessness. "I''m going to the Chu Yun Empire this time precisely to find ways to increase my strength. Besides, I still have medicinal pills to boost my strength. I will wait until I reach the Dou Emperor realm before seeking out the Poison Sect." Although Xiao Yan was a 7-star Dou King, he was actually just a step away from the Dou Emperor realm. Speaking of medicinal pills, he retrieved two brocade boxes from his storage ring and handed them to Yun Yun. "Here are two Mighty Huang Pills. You probably haven''t used them before, right?" The Mighty Huang Pill was different from the Dou King Pill; the Mighty Huang Pill could be used twice. Yun Yun slowly opened the brocade boxes, and instantly, a rich medicinal fragrance filled the entire hall. Her face showed astonishment as she looked at the pale-gold pills and then at Xiao Yan. She hadn''t expected he could already refine Mighty Huang Pills, and he had taken out two at once! "This is too valuable; I cannot accept it." Yun Yun shook her head, closed the brocade boxes, and handed the Mighty Huang Pills back to Xiao Yan. "Give them to me! I want them!" Zi Yan jumped directly onto the table. Anyone who didn''t know better might think Zi Yan''s true form was a monkey, not an Ancient Void Dragon. "Don''t mess around. Mighty Huang Pills aren''t for magical beasts. Eating them won''t directly increase your cultivation." Xiao Yan looked at Yun Yun and said, "You are the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect; the Yan Alliance still needs you. Having too low a cultivation level isn''t good. Besides, how can these Mighty Huang Pills be as precious as the Green Lotus Core Flame?" "Just consider it as me repaying a bit of the favor I owe you." Seeing Xiao Yan''s resolute manner, Yun Yun knew she couldn''t argue with him and accepted the Mighty Huang Pills. After discussing some matters concerning the Yan Alliance, Xiao Yan left with Zi Yan, preparing to head toward the Chu Yun Empire. Yun Yun watched his departing figure, gently stroked the brocade boxes, and murmured, "I never asked you to repay me..." ... Little Fairy Doctor finished absorbing all of Liang Zhongsheng''s poison mist in barely half a day. Her strength surprisingly soared directly to a 4-star Dou Emperor, leaving even Xiao Yan speechless. Having a special physique was like having a cheat code. However, this was also related to Little Fairy Doctor constantly suppressing herself from consuming poisons, resulting in such a significant increase all at once. Finally, after bidding Yun Yun farewell, the group swiftly departed the Snake-People Tribe''s fortress and began flying toward the border of the Chu Yun Empire. Between the borders of the two empires lay a vast buffer zone. Even at the speed of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, it was deep into the night when they finally arrived. Atop a mountain peak on the Chu Yun Empire''s border, two streaks of purple light flashed from the distance, appearing on the summit. They were, impressively, the large and small Amethyst Winged Lion Kings. A man and two women sat on the backs of the two magical beasts. "Ahead is the Chu Yun Empire. Poison Masters run rampant within this empire, so we must act carefully," the Amethyst Winged Lion King said to Zi Yan and Xiao Yan. The first time the three of them entered the Chu Yun Empire, they had suffered quite a few setbacks. This place was entirely different from other empires. "Mm, we''ll be counting on you and Little Fairy Doctor for this trip to the Chu Yun Empire," Xiao Yan said. The Amethyst Winged Lion King nodded with a small smile. "We should hurry. The Profound Nether Valley is situated on the outskirts of a city in the empire''s center, and we''ve still got quite a distance to go." "Mm." The territory of the Chu Yun Empire was much more expansive than that of the Jia Ma Empire. However, compared to the latter, this empire was undoubtedly much more chaotic. Poison Masters, a profession almost universally despised in the Jia Ma Empire, had developed exceptionally well in the Chu Yun Empire. In any city, one could see people wearing Poison Master robes everywhere. In the Chu Yun Empire, there was a scene rarely seen in the Jia Ma Empire: the open sale of poisons. Moreover, apart from the Alchemist Association, the Chu Yun Empire also had a Poison Master Association of equal standing. Because of this, although the Chu Yun Empire had stronger alchemists, their abilities were actually weaker compared to those of the Jia Ma Empire. Back when Xiao Yan competed for the championship in the Alchemist Grand Meeting, his rival Yan Li was the Deputy Chairman of the Chu Yun Empire''s Alchemist Association. Shops specializing in various poisonous items existed in every city of this empire. Anything related to poison could be purchased in these places. The more potent the poison, the higher the price. According to Little Fairy Doctor''s introduction, there were two major factions in the Chu Yun Empire. One was naturally the Poison Sect, a relatively new faction renowned because its Sect Leader was a Dou Ancestor. They controlled one-third of the empire''s territory. The other was the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate, a sect with a long history. Although its Sect Leader was only at the peak of the Dou Emperor realm and not as strong as the Poison Sect, it was rumored that the previous Sect Leader had not died and had broken through to become a Dou Ancestor. Therefore, the Poison Sect and the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate had always been evenly matched and hostile toward each other. Precisely for this reason, the Chu Yun Empire was not ruled by powerful sects like the Luo Yan Empire or the Mulan Empire. Instead, it was ruled by the Chu Yun Empire''s imperial family, making it somewhat similar to the Jia Ma Empire in this regard. It took Xiao Yan''s group nearly seven days of long travel before they finally arrived at the city closest to the Profound Nether Valley: Dark Poison City. Along the journey, Xiao Yan gained some understanding of the chaos within the Chu Yun Empire, especially after witnessing poison mists being scattered everywhere during some brawls. His awareness of the dangers within this empire increased considerably. Thanks to Little Fairy Doctor''s presence, Xiao Yan and the others were able to proceed so smoothly without encountering any mishaps along the way. This city was not under the control of any single faction; rather, it was jointly managed by the Poison Sect, the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate, and the Chu Yun Imperial Family. To ordinary cultivators, the Profound Nether Valley was a land of great peril, but to the Poison Masters of the Chu Yun Empire, it was an unparalleled treasure ground. Undoubtedly, this place was abundant in poisons and various poisonous creatures! Every time the poison barrier of the Profound Nether Valley receded, numerous Poison Masters would come to gather poisonous herbs or cultivate inside to enhance their abilities. Therefore, the Profound Nether Valley was also a treasure ground and holy land for the Chu Yun Empire. Naturally, everyone coveted it, and just as naturally, no one could claim it entirely. "Tsk tsk, this is truly the largest number of Poison Masters I''ve ever seen." Xiao Yan and his companions all donned black robes to conceal their faces as they walked through this city teeming with Poison Masters. Here, not concealing one''s face would actually make one stand out. Poison Masters were not well-regarded, so almost every Poison Master had a robe for concealment. Although the large and small Lion Kings couldn''t take human form, they could shrink their bodies. From a distance, it merely looked like Xiao Yan''s group of three had brought mounts into the city. "Legend says the Profound Nether Valley is the birthplace of the Chu Yun Empire," Little Fairy Doctor softly explained. "There was once a Dou Venerate level Poison Master who was besieged and ultimately perished in the valley because of his identity as a Poison Master. Before dying, that poison Dou Venerate released all his poison Dou Qi, cursing this land. That''s how the terrifying poison barrier and this unique environment, rich in poisonous creatures, were formed." "Let''s find a place to stay first. There are still seven days until the poison barrier recedes, right?" Xiao Yan asked after calculating the time. "Mm, it should be the seventh day. The poison barrier will weaken then, and we can enter the valley to search for the Heavenly Flame and the Clear Soul Nether Orchid," Little Fairy Doctor nodded. Xiao Yan looked at the idle Zi Yan beside him and smiled. "Zi Yan, we''re counting on you this time. As long as you can find those two things, you can have whatever medicinal pills or herbs you want." Zi Yan''s eyes immediately lit up as she nodded vigorously. Although she could now transform, her strength was still too weak. For magical beasts, however, there was no need to worry about issues like unstable Dou Qi; they could digest any amount of energy given to them. Just as the group intended to find an inn to stay, Xiao Yan forgot he was a person with ''great fortune''; wherever he went, chaos followed. Boom! Boom! Boom! Before Little Fairy Doctor had led them through more than a few alleys, the earth suddenly shook, and the sky swayed. The entire Dark Poison City began to tremble. "What''s happening?" The sudden shaking of the entire Dark Poison City startled even Zi Yan. Little Fairy Doctor''s expression changed as she felt the violent trembling beneath her feet. She flew directly into the sky, and the others followed closely behind. In that instant, she looked toward a specific direction. "The direction of the Profound Nether Valley!!" Little Fairy Doctor gazed afar toward the valley''s location, her eyes narrowing. Rumble! A thunderous roar came from the direction of the valley, loud enough for all in Dark Poison City to hear. In the next instant, everyone watched as dense dark-green poison gas erupted skyward, forming a giant vortex that reached the clouds. Then, like a great fountain, it scattered in midair and rained back down, creating a terrifying spectacle! This earth-shattering scene frightened countless people in Dark Poison City. Whether they were Poison Masters who had come from other parts of the Chu Yun Empire or local Poison Masters, they were all shocked by the scene before them. Even Little Fairy Doctor and the large and small Amethyst Winged Lion Kings were dumbfounded. Long after this astonishing phenomenon disappeared, many people still couldn''t regain their senses. No one knew what had happened with this sudden anomaly. Xiao Yan saw the dumbfounded, terrified residents around him, then looked at Little Fairy Doctor and asked with a grave expression, "There hasn''t been such a phenomenon before... right?" Little Fairy Doctor''s fine brows furrowed slightly. She nodded solemnly and said, "The Lion King and I have entered the valley twice, and neither time did such a phenomenon occur... And I have never heard of such a phenomenon happening." Sigh... Xiao Yan felt somewhat helpless. He had just arrived! This couldn''t possibly be blamed on him, right? He hadn''t done anything yet!! Heaven above! I''m being wronged! The Amethyst Winged Lion King asked, "Should we go to the valley to check?" However, there was no need for them to go check the situation at the valley because soon, news spread throughout the entire Dark Poison City. "The poison barrier of the Profound Nether Valley has completely disappeared!!!!" An incredibly shocking piece of news arrived, instantly stunning the entire Dark Poison City. Many people were frightened, including the local residents who had lived in Dark Poison City for generations. "The poison barrier of the Profound Nether Valley completely disappeared? That''s impossible, right?!" Everyone who heard such news was greatly shocked; their first reaction was disbelief. The poison barrier of the Profound Nether Valley would only recede; it absolutely could not disappear completely. For countless ages, they could only wait for the poison barrier to weaken, relying on their own poison skills to endure the barrier and enter to seek fortune. Throughout the history of the Chu Yun Empire, the poison barrier of the Profound Nether Valley had always been incredibly fierce. During normal times, even Dou Ancestors wouldn''t dare to enter. "It''s absolutely true! The Profound Nether Valley no longer has a poison barrier; it''s no longer a perilous land. Anyone can enter without danger!" The young Poison Master who first brought back the news stated with absolute certainty. "This... how can this be possible!" Such news was truly difficult to believe. Chapter 301: The Chu Yun Empire in Turmoil Chapter 301 - 301: The Chu Yun Empire in Turmoil Word Count: 2,769 Words ****** "What should we do now? Should we go in?" the Amethyst Winged Lion King couldn''t help but ask Xiao Yan. Although it had previously teamed up with Little Fairy Doctor to enter the Profound Nether Valley, Xiao Yan was undoubtedly the core of their group. Xiao Yan pondered for a moment. Suddenly, Venerable Tian Huo''s voice came from within the storage ring, "Be careful. I sensed a trace of a Dou Venerate''s aura just now." "A Dou Venerate?! An elite Dou Venerate has appeared!?" Xiao Yan''s heart trembled. Could the strange phenomenon earlier have been caused by a Dou Venerate? "No, it''s not an actual Dou Venerate. This should be the activation of a Dou Venerate''s inheritance. Something has activated that inheritance relic... but it hasn''t fully appeared yet," Venerable Tian Huo said. After hearing these words and contemplating for a while, Xiao Yan slowly shook his head. He said to Little Fairy Doctor and the others, "No, we are not in a hurry. Even without the poison barrier, the Profound Nether Valley is still a perilous place. Let them test the waters first. Besides, I fear this time it won''t be that simple." The poison barrier was merely the first line of defense for the Profound Nether Valley. If the valley only had the poison barrier, then what difference would there be now compared to when the barrier receded? The Profound Nether Valley was rich in poisonous herbs and also abundant with venomous creatures and poisonous insects. It was similar to Zi Yan''s experience in the Inner Academy; obtaining heavenly treasures usually required battling the guarding magical beasts. Since Xiao Yan had spoken, the others naturally had no objections. Dark Poison City, originally overcrowded, emptied by more than half almost in the blink of an eye as everyone scrambled toward the Profound Nether Valley. Xiao Yan and his companions thus found it easy to secure a place to stay. Gradually, more and more news about the Profound Nether Valley trickled back. Firstly, just as Xiao Yan had thought, the valley indeed no longer had the poison barrier. However, the venomous creatures guarding the heavenly treasures were still present. Consequently, many weaker Poison Masters met with misfortune, and quite a few even died. Furthermore, there was no news regarding the Heavenly Flame or the Clear Soul Nether Orchid that concerned him. The news of the anomaly in the Profound Nether Valley and the disappearance of the poison barrier spread from Dark Poison City at extreme speed. It reached the ears of the major factions and even the imperial family of the Chu Yun Empire. Within just a few days, this news had spread throughout the entire Chu Yun Empire, and even the Jia Ma Empire had caught wind of it. This news was simply too shocking. Some Dou King experts even consumed pills to hasten their journey, crossing mountains and rivers to deliver this message to their respective factions as quickly as possible. In fact, the leaders of many factions in the Chu Yun Empire were so stunned by this news that they didn''t hesitate to disturb the powerful experts meditating in seclusion within their clans, ensuring the message reached their ears. Even some old undying experts who were hidden away in seclusion, aiming to break through to higher levels, were shaken by such news. Even the renowned experts of the Chu Yun Empire experienced a drastic change in expression. "The valley''s poison barrier has completely disappeared?!" "Since records began, the Profound Nether Valley has always had its poison barrier. It has always been a perilous land, a place capable of burying even Dou Ancestors. What reason could cause the Profound Nether Valley''s poison barrier to disappear?!" Rumors and speculation spread like wildfire. Some believed it was an omen of great change for the Chu Yun Empire. Even the emperor felt that something big was about to unfold. When some ancient, undying figures heard about the complete disappearance of the poison barrier in the Profound Nether Valley, they couldn''t help but speculate. "Could it be... the inheritance of Venerable You Du is about to open?!" These old monsters knew the reason Dark Poison City was named as such was because the legend was true. A Dou Venerate had indeed once fallen within the Profound Nether Valley, and that Dou Venerate''s title was You Du (Dark Poison)! "Could it be that Venerable You Du''s inheritance is finally seeking a successor, and that''s why the poison barrier disappeared!?" This conjecture wasn''t limited to just one or two individuals. Many powerful experts from factions speculated similarly, knowing that the Profound Nether Valley indeed concealed a Dou Venerate''s ruins. With this conjecture, countless powerful experts from the Chu Yun Empire''s sects instantly became eager to try their luck! They even dispatched large numbers of disciples to Dark Poison City immediately. It was hardly surprising that such a thing happened. A Dou Venerate''s inheritance ruins! It held immense temptation for everyone, regardless of who they were. Even the older generation experts, who had witnessed countless worldly affairs, couldn''t resist such allure. One must know, part of the reason Xiao Yan''s current alchemy skills were so formidable and his cultivation so strong was precisely because he had obtained Venerable Yao''s inheritance. Even disregarding the items in the Bone Flame Ring, just considering Venerable Tian Huo alone: if Venerable Tian Huo had truly perished, then by obtaining his inheritance, Xiao Yan would possess not only Di Class Qi Methods and Dou Techniques but also the Essence Flame of the Fallen Heart Flame. Who wouldn''t desire such things?! If one could enter the inheritance ruins left by a Dou Venerate, many great fortunes would await. Who wouldn''t want to obtain legendary fortuitous encounters and inheritances? Within a short period, many young Poison Masters from the Chu Yun Empire entered Dark Poison City, aiming to gamble for an opportunity. And just on the fifth day after the poison barrier completely disappeared, someone discovered a Space Lock in a certain part of the valley! "A Space Lock?!" "Yes! In one area of the valley, someone discovered a place with traces of spatial distortion. After investigation, it was determined to be a Space Lock seal cast by a Dou Venerate!" "Could it be... the legend is true! This really is the place where a Dou Venerate fell! Could it be that the Dou Venerate left behind an inheritance before dying!!" Instantly, news of the Dou Venerate inheritance spread throughout the entire Dark Poison City, and even beyond its walls. "However, that Space Lock cannot be entered. Even several elite Dou Emperors working together couldn''t break through it. I heard disciples from the Poison Sect and the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate have already gone to request the Dou Ancestor experts within their sects to take action!" "Big news! A 6th-tier alchemist went to that Space Lock. Although he couldn''t open it, he asserted that inside the Space Lock is a massive secret realm, one that has never been discovered before!" The discovery made by the 6th-tier alchemist using his spiritual perception spread quickly. Inside the Space Lock was not only a Dou Venerate''s inheritance but also a secret realm, a treasure land that had never been discovered before. How could this not be utterly shocking? Within a short time, Dark Poison City became even more bustling than it was initially. Countless young Poison Masters dreaming of obtaining the Dou Venerate inheritance and entering the secret realm to seek fortune swarmed into Dark Poison City. Even many renowned sect heirs didn''t hesitate to risk the adventure. Among the Poison Masters entering Dark Poison City, there were also some particularly eye-catching powerful individuals. Poison Granny was one such individual. Clad in a white dress and wearing a white veil, she was seen flying in while stepping on a white lotus. White petals fluttered down when this figure appeared in Dark Poison City, making her appear as pure and holy as a goddess on a pilgrimage. However, seeing the white figure''s appearance clearly instantly made one''s scalp tingle. Beneath the white veil was actually an old woman on the verge of death. Half of her face was rotten from poison, with pus and blood oozing out. It was extremely nauseating. "Be careful of those white petals! Those petals are highly poisonous!" Many Poison Masters who recognized Poison Granny quickly retreated, their faces full of dread. In the Chu Yun Empire, the truly powerful were not necessarily those with high cultivation. Here, being highly skilled in poison techniques was what made one truly formidable. Although Poison Granny only possessed the strength of a 7-star Dou Emperor, it was rumored that she had once poisoned a Dou Ancestor to death! "It''s not surprising that an old monster like Poison Granny came. Even Xie Shan, the Gate Leader of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate, has arrived. And he even brought their mountain-guarding magical beast, the Four Wings Sky Demon Scorpion," said a Poison Master familiar with the situation. Many people were shocked upon hearing this news. "No way, Xie Shan came too! He even brought the Four Wings Sky Demon Scorpion! Is he planning a massacre?!" Just as everyone was discussing the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate, one of the strongest powers in the Chu Yun Empire, a voice laced with Dou Qi spread throughout the entire Dark Poison City. "Such a lively gathering. It seems I haven''t arrived late." It was even more shocking when the voice fell and a person appeared. A figure seemed to flash from the distance, appearing in the sky above Dark Poison City in a single step. Walking through the air¡ªan elite Dou Ancestor! Looking closely, they realized that a short man was standing in the sky above Dark Poison City at this moment. His face looked to be in his early forties, but his height was only one meter thirty. Although this middle-aged man was much shorter than the average person, no one dared to look down on him because of his stature. Because he was none other than the current Sect Leader of the Poison Sect, Dugu Tian Gao. Although Dugu Tian Gao was short, his entire body bulged with muscles; his physique was extremely sturdy. His whole body seemed filled with power, and those iron hands looked capable of tearing anything apart. Especially when his Dou Ancestor aura erupted, everyone in Dark Poison City broke into a cold sweat and swallowed hard. No one dared to utter a single word. "Poison Sect''s Sect Leader Dugu Tian Gao! Heavens, the Gate Leader of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate and the Sect Leader of the Poison Sect have both come!" Many Poison Masters couldn''t help but draw a sharp breath as their faces changed drastically. The leaders of the two strongest factions in the Chu Yun Empire had actually both arrived! "Heh heh, quite the imposing display, Dugu Tian Gao. Someone who didn''t know better might think you''ve already reached the peak Dou Ancestor realm." Thud! A massive scorpion lay across the middle of the street. Xie Shan stood on the back of the Four Wings Sky Demon Scorpion, his hands clasped behind his back, looking faintly at the Poison Sect''s Sect Leader. Others might fear him, but he, Xie Shan, did not. Although Xie Shan was only a peak Dou Emperor, Dugu Tian Gao was merely a 1-star Dou Ancestor. With himself and the Rank 6 Four Wings Sky Demon Scorpion, he was not afraid of facing a 1-star Dou Ancestor. "Heh heh, Xie Shan, why are you the only one here?" Dugu Tian Gao''s eyes narrowed. He slowly asked as his Dou Ancestor perception swept over the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate''s camp. Xie Shan naturally knew what he was looking for and smiled coldly, "Stop looking. The Old Ancestor did not come." Everyone knew that the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate had a long history and once had a Supreme Elder named Xie Bi Yan. This person''s cultivation had long reached the Dou Ancestor realm, but he had disappeared for a long time, and everyone was unsure if he was still alive. The two men''s gazes met, and they instantly reached a consensus. Both were old foxes and understood the proverb ''When a snipe and clam quarrel, the fisherman benefits.'' They planned to first join forces to break the Space Lock and enter that mysterious secret realm before deciding anything else. "Let''s go! The Poison Sect and the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate are joining forces to forcefully attack the Space Lock!" "I heard it''s not just the two of them joining forces. Even experts like Poison Granny plan to team up to break the Space Lock. After all, if you can''t get in, everything else is just empty talk." "Then what are we waiting for? Let''s follow them. Even if they eat the meat, we can drink some soup." Upon learning that the Poison Sect and the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate planned to join forces to break the Space Lock, everyone swarmed after the two major factions. Normally, even a Dou Ancestor couldn''t break a Space Lock set by a Dou Venerate. However, the energy of a Space Lock wasn''t eternal, and now with many experts joining forces, it might be possible. Only Xiao Yan, this ''foreigner,'' calmly sat in the inn drinking tea. "Hey Xiao Yan, how much longer do we have to wait here? Everyone else has left," Zi Yan propped her chin on her hands, looking extremely bored. She wanted to hit someone. Xiao Yan slowly sipped the hot tea, exhaled a puff of white steam, and said calmly, "What''s your hurry? I went to look at that Space Lock. Those Dou Emperors and Dou Ancestors definitely cannot break it. Even if we all attacked together, it would be difficult to break through." "Ah, then what do we do? The things you''re looking for are inside, right?" Xiao Yan poured himself more tea and said, "We wait. That Space Lock doesn''t need to be broken. It will open by itself in another two days. Those guys are just wasting their efforts." Xiao Yan hadn''t actually seen the Space Lock, but Venerable Tian Huo had. Venerable Tian Huo was a Dou Venerate, after all. His understanding of Space Locks was much deeper than Xiao Yan''s or Little Fairy Doctor''s. He quickly discovered that the power of this Space Lock originated from the poison barrier that initially enveloped the valley. Now that the poison barrier had disappeared, the Space Lock would soon run out of energy and vanish. Venerable Tian Huo estimated that the poison barrier was likely absorbed by the secret realm inside the Space Lock, meaning there was indeed something existing within that secret realm. And the reason the Profound Nether Valley''s poison barrier periodically receded was likely due to this reason as well. Two days later would coincidentally be the seventh day since Xiao Yan arrived in Dark Poison City, which was when the poison barrier was originally supposed to recede. Xiao Yan slowly looked toward the distance and murmured, "The Heavenly Flame should be inside that secret realm. What Little Fairy Doctor saw back then might have been the Heavenly Flame inside the Space Lock. Poison barrier... could the Heavenly Flame inside the Space Lock be that one?" Ghostly Poison Flame, ranked 20th on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. Nourished for millennia by the sky-covering poison miasma in the Poison Swamp, the flame consumed endless poison gas. It took a hundred years to gain spirituality, a thousand years to take form. Upon reaching maturity, its color leans toward green, and it would wander through the poisonous miasma like a ghostly fire. Creak. Little Fairy Doctor came in from outside and said, "The medicinal ingredients have been bought. Are you planning to refine pills?" Xiao Yan nodded. "Mm, if I''m not mistaken, the Heavenly Flame you and the Lion King saw back then should be the Ghostly Poison Flame. This kind of Heavenly Flame is different from ordinary ones. To refine it, I need to prepare some Detoxification Pills and Poison Resistance Pills." "Fortunately, Dark Poison City is not only abundant in poisons but also in things that counteract poison. Otherwise, it would have been troublesome." The Ghostly Poison Flame itself was nurtured into a spirit by the poison barrier and contained lethal poison. Merely touching a spark would result in being severely poisoned, thus making it almost impossible to devour and merge with! If Xiao Yan wanted to refine the Ghostly Poison Flame, he first had to figure out how to deal with the potent poison. Chapter 302: The Space Lock Opens! Chapter 302 - 302: The Space Lock Opens! Word Count: 2,711 Words ****** Xiao Yan was accustomed to preparing specific pills to counter the unique properties of each Heavenly Flame he intended to refine. He needed the Blood Lotus Essence Pill when refining the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and relied on the Ground Spirit Pill when refining the Fallen Heart Flame. Without the protection of such pills, these wild and violent Heavenly Flames could easily claim his life. Now that he had refined several Heavenly Flames, he was naturally unafraid of their extreme heat, but he still had to guard against their unique characteristics! "Will there be enough time?" Little Fairy Doctor asked softly. She knew how desperately Xiao Yan needed the Heavenly Flame. Xiao Yan clasped his five fingers together, a confident smile appearing on his face as he said, "Don''t worry. Whether it''s the Heavenly Flame, the Clear Soul Nether Orchid, or Venerable You Du''s inheritance, I want them all!" He had actually known about Venerable You Du for a long time. The intelligence he exchanged for at the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop included mentions of Venerable You Du. However, contrary to rumors, Venerable You Du was not besieged and killed by other Dou Venerates. Instead, he had suddenly disappeared after arriving here. Subsequently, the Profound Nether Valley became inexplicably shrouded in poisonous miasma, leading to the spread of such rumors. Moreover, Xiao Yan had learned from the Hall of Souls that Venerable You Du also possessed the Woeful Poison Body, acquired later in life! After discovering Little Fairy Doctor''s natural Woeful Poison Body, Xiao Yan had searched some ancient texts within the Bone Flame Ring. He found that one could cultivate an ''artificial'' Woeful Poison Body, although it was vastly inferior to the real thing. Such a method merely stored poisonous energy in the body to boost strength; its power was weaker, and it also possessed fatal flaws. Xiao Yan suspected Venerable You Du had perished here due to the eruption of these flaws in his artificially acquired Woeful Poison Body. ''In any case, thorough preparation never hurts.'' Xiao Yan took out the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron and various precious medicinal ingredients from his storage ring. Not only had he acquired the valuable ingredients Han Feng accumulated over the years in Feng City, but when he returned to the Jia Ma Sacred City and revisited the Misty Cloud Sect, how could his hands stay still? In the Jia Ma Sacred City, Ya Fei had already prepared a good number of tier 5 and tier 6 medicinal herbs for him. Furthermore, the major clans, the imperial family, and even the Alchemist Association had traded medicinal ingredients for pills when seeking his services. Xiao Yan took the opportunity to amass a substantial stockpile. Otherwise, advancing to a 7th-tier alchemist would have been difficult for him; even refining Detoxification Pills would pose a challenge now. Zi Yan practically drooled upon seeing Xiao Yan take out so many precious medicinal ingredients. Noticing Zi Yan stealthily reaching out her hand, Xiao Yan cast her a glance and said, "Don''t mess around. These are for refining Detoxification Pills and Poison Resistance Pills." "When we enter the secret realm inside the Space Lock the day after tomorrow, are you afraid there won''t be medicinal ingredients? Just work hard and find them then. Whatever you gather, we''ll split fifty-fifty." This crafty fellow didn''t forget to benefit from Zi Yan''s efforts. "Lion King, help me keep watch outside. I''m about to refine tier 6 pills; make sure no one disturbs me," Xiao Yan instructed. "Understood." Roar! (Understood!) The Little Lion King followed up with its own roar, as it hadn''t yet learned to speak human language. With a thud, Xiao Yan pressed a palm onto the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron. In the blink of an eye, wisps of the Nihility Devouring Flame''s Seed Flame flared inside it while a pill recipe swiftly emerged in his mind. It was for an upgraded version of the Marrow Washing Ice Spirit Liquid sold in the Inner Academy: the high-grade tier 6 Poison Resistance Ice Spirit Pill. This pill had essentially the same effect as the Marrow Washing Ice Spirit Liquid, specifically used to eliminate fire poison. The difference was that upon consumption, this pill could also generate strong resistance to toxins within the body, thereby resisting fire poison. The Poison Resistance Ice Spirit Pill was the same grade as the Ground Spirit Pill and was the highest-grade pill Xiao Yan could currently refine to counter fire poison. He planned to rely on it to resist the Ghostly Poison Flame. Although refining a high-grade tier 6 pill was only slightly simpler than the Mighty Huang Pill, his refinement process flowed smoothly, like drifting clouds and flowing water. His control was precise and skillful, reaching a level of seamless perfection. No other alchemists were present, but Little Fairy Doctor was knowledgeable enough to appreciate his skill. Xiao Yan didn''t conceal his alchemy techniques and displayed them openly for her to observe. Little Fairy Doctor was quite unique. While other girls liked makeup and jewelry, she preferred either refining poisons for self-defense or watching Xiao Yan refine pills and studying how to cultivate medicinal herbs. It couldn''t even be described as mere liking anymore; it had reached the point of obsession. She had clearly become Grandmaster Xiao Yan''s little fangirl. For someone capable of refining both the Zong Breaking Pill and the Emperor Heaven Pill, producing high-grade tier 6 pills no longer posed a real challenge. Even though it was his first time refining this specific pill, his terrifying Spiritual Strength and precise fire control ensured success on the first attempt. However, he did not stop there and continued refining more, as he now had five people who each needed a pill. During his second and third attempts, Xiao Yan achieved the incredible feat of refining two pills in a single batch. As for the Detoxification Pills, those were even easier. They served as insurance against unknowingly being poisoned when encountering dangerous areas within the secret realm. Xiao Yan spent a full two days and one night refining all the required pills. Even with his Tian Class Qi Method and Perfected Mortal State Spiritual Strength, such frenzied refinement of tier 6 pills was taxing. It took him half a day just to recover his Spiritual Strength. The restorative effect of the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique was now minimal, no longer replenishing his Spiritual Strength as rapidly as before. As night fell, the entire Dark Poison City remained bustling. Downstairs in the inn, people chattered noisily about the events of the past two days. "Xiao Yan." Venerable Tian Huo''s voice suddenly came from the storage ring. Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes, a flicker of flame passing through his pupils. He, too, had sensed a faint spiritual fluctuation from afar. "Looks like it''s finally opened." Xiao Yan stood up slowly. Soon, Little Fairy Doctor and the others appeared in his room, having also sensed that the Space Lock had opened. With a soft exhale, Xiao Yan donned the Soul Robe he hadn''t worn in a long time. This Soul Robe was no longer that of a Heaven Grade Protector. During the half-month he stayed in the Jia Ma Empire, the Law Enforcer named Hun Lu had come to audit the soul records and had brought the Honorable Elder''s Soul Robe to him. When Hun Lu learned that Xiao Yan had been promoted to Honorable Elder in just two short years, he was all smiles, feeling he had curried favor with the right person. Though the Honorable Elder''s Soul Robe looked the same externally, its effect was worlds apart. Wearing it meant that one would need at least Perfected Soul State Spiritual Strength to sense him. Although night had fallen, the Profound Nether Valley was brightly lit after the poison barrier receded. Splendid pavilions stood on both sides of the valley, and many major factions from the Chu Yun Empire had set up camps in the area where the Space Lock was located. "It''s open! It''s finally open!" "The Space Lock was breached at last!" "Hurry, let''s go! That''s a Dou Venerate''s inheritance!" The moment the Space Lock opened, a powerful poison formation was immediately laid down, sealing the entrance in an instant. In no time, the entrance was swarmed by a sea of people. Pairs of Dou Qi wings of various colors floated in the sky, but none dared to force their way through the poison formation, as it had been set up by the Poison Sect. The Poison Sect was renowned in the Chu Yun Empire not only because their Sect Leader Dugu Tian Gao was a Dou Ancestor but also because they possessed profound poison formation inheritances. By the time many learned the Space Lock had been breached and rushed over, they were a step too late. Sect Leader Dugu Tian Gao and elite experts like Xie Shan had already stationed numerous experts from their factions to guard the area. Clearly, they intended to monopolize the opportunity! Entering the secret realm now required breaking through the guards and dismantling the poison formation sealing the entrance. Otherwise, no one could get in. Seeing the Poison Sect guarding the entrance, some experts from other sects voiced their dissatisfaction, "Profound Nether Valley belongs to no one! What gives your Poison Sect the right to block the entrance?" "Everyone has misunderstood," an elder said calmly. "The Profound Nether Valley is a treasure of our Chu Yun Empire, belonging to all its citizens. However, to prevent senseless bloodshed over the secret realm''s treasures and inheritance, our sect leader, out of compassion and unwillingness to see everyone slaughter each other, joined with the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate''s Sect Leader Xie Shan, Poison Granny, the Chu Yun Emperor, and other experts to draft a list based on the sects that contributed to opening the Space Lock these past few days." "Only cultivators from contributing factions may allow their disciples to enter the secret realm. Those factions and rogue cultivators who didn''t assist in breaching the Space Lock are prohibited from entering." As the elder presented the list, he simultaneously released the intimidating pressure of his Dou Emperor aura without restraint. The rolling momentum washed over the crowd, causing some weaker Dou King-level factions nearby to seem furious but dare not protest outright. "Hmph! Your Poison Sect has been sealing off the entire valley these past few days!" one Sect Leader retorted coldly. "Do you intend to make enemies of all the Poison Masters in the Chu Yun Empire?" "Exactly! What right do you have to bar our way?" Many elite experts present wished to enter. The Poison Sect''s actions naturally incited discontent among numerous sects and rogue Poison Masters. Faced with this situation, Poison Sect elder Zhang Wan''s attitude hardened. He stated coldly, "If anyone tries to force their way in, don''t blame us for being impolite!" At that moment, another Dou Emperor aura emanated from within the poison formation. An elder wearing the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate''s attire emerged, stroking his beard with a sneer. "Elder Zhang Wan speaks the truth. If anyone wishes to force their way in, our Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate will gladly accompany them." The resolute stance of the Poison Sect and the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate left many present both furious and apprehensive. However, none were willing to act recklessly. After all, the Poison Sect''s poison formation was indeed formidable, and with the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate''s involvement, even ordinary Dou Emperors couldn''t breach it. "Who the hell do you think you are? A mere flimsy formation and two low-star Dou Emperors dare to block my path?" A domineering and leisurely voice suddenly echoed, immediately drawing everyone''s attention. They turned to see two massive shadows slowly approaching from the depths of the valley. On the backs of two lions embedded with amethyst crystals and bearing a pair of giant wings sat three black-robed individuals. It was, without doubt, Xiao Yan''s group. The large and small Amethyst Winged Lion Kings approached with composed majesty, drawing every eye. Using Rank 6 magical beasts as mounts was a shocking sight anywhere. "Sweet heavens, that''s a Rank 6 magical beast, the Amethyst Winged Lion King!" Many Poison Masters went weak at the knees. After all, a Rank 6 magical beast could easily overwhelm a low-star Dou Emperor. Back then, even Yun Yun hadn''t defeated the Amethyst Winged Lion King. If Xiao Yan hadn''t intervened to save her, grass several meters high might be growing over her grave by now. Naturally, Xiao Yan''s arrogant declaration caused the faces of the Poison Sect and Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate members to darken. Zhang Wan was a Dou Emperor second only to the First Elder within the Poison Sect, holding a highly esteemed position. Moreover, his cultivation had reached 3-star Dou Emperor, and he was proficient in poison formations, making his strength highly feared. Otherwise, Dugu Tian Gao wouldn''t have entrusted him with setting up the poison formation to prevent others from entering. Zhang Wan''s face twisted with anger, revealing a ferocious expression. "Hmph! Ignorant beast! Even if you''re a Rank 6 magical beast, I''ll capture you today!" Although he might not defeat the Amethyst Winged Lion King in a direct confrontation, he was confident in the poison formation he had laid. However, rather than enrage the Lion King, his threat stirred a flash of violent glee in Zi Yan''s eyes. She was also a magical beast¡ªand a Rank 6 one at that! "Zi Yan, I''ll leave that poison formation and that old man to you. Lion King, you handle the other Dou Emperor. Little Fairy Doctor and I will go in first; you guys follow afterward," Xiao Yan said softly. "No problem!" Zi Yan shouted in delight. She leaped down from the Amethyst Winged Lion King''s back. Rolling her shoulders, she laughed, "Let me teach you a lesson!" Little Fairy Doctor also jumped down from the Amethyst Winged Lion King but landed on the back of the Little Lion King. For the two of them, the Dou Venerate''s inheritance was secondary; finding the Heavenly Flame and the Clear Soul Nether Orchid was most important. Zi Yan immediately charged forward, cracking her knuckles. This girl became more belligerent than anyone when excited, so seeing the poison formation before her instantly ignited her fighting spirit. Although she was the oldest among them, Zi Yan was akin to an elementary school student for a race like the Ancient Void Dragon. She hadn''t encountered such poison formations in the Inner Academy, so she was naturally thrilled now. A purple light flashed as Zi Yan charged directly into the poison formation. Spatial fluctuations rippled, and the formation, which even Dou Emperors hesitated to breach, began to waver, revealing the entrance to the Space Lock within. Roar! Roar! Roar!! The Amethyst Winged Lion King didn''t hold back either, slamming a paw toward the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate''s Dou Emperor elder. With a thunderous boom, the entire valley quaked, and terrifying power caused the ground to crack open. The Little Lion King carried Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor swiftly toward the entrance. Along the way, disciples at the Dou Grandmaster and Dou Spirit levels were no match for the Rank 5 Little Lion King and couldn''t stop them at all. "Let''s move," Xiao Yan reminded Little Fairy Doctor. "If your Woeful Poison Body shows any sign of trouble, we''ll withdraw immediately. There are rumors that Venerable You Du had an ''artificial'' Woeful Poison Body. The Clear Soul Nether Orchid is important, but not to the point of risking your life. Worst case, we still have the Poison Pill Method." "Mm, don''t worry. I won''t push myself," Little Fairy Doctor nodded gently. "Go, go, go! Let''s follow them in!" The crowd behind Xiao Yan erupted with excitement. In an instant, people surged forward like a tidal wave, all pressing toward the mountain pass ahead. Having someone take the lead easily spurred such a reaction. Chaos reigned for a while. Countless Poison Masters scrambled desperately to enter the mountain pass. Even those only at the Dou Master realm were unwilling to lag behind. Everyone feared missing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; they all aspired to obtain the legendary Dou Venerate''s inheritance. Chapter 303: A Bountiful Harvest Chapter 303 - 303: A Bountiful Harvest Word Count: 2,824 Words ****** Xiao Yan, however, was not in a hurry to rush forward. He deliberately instructed the Little Lion King to fly upward, revealing the entrance to those impatient Poison Masters. Little Fairy Doctor said nothing about his actions and simply sat quietly, completely unworried about these Poison Masters obtaining anything good. This was because Xiao Yan, that fellow, had donned his Soul Robe precisely to facilitate some plundering later. Such a treasure land was absolutely bound to contain numerous heavenly treasures. Everything in a place like this was ownerless. The most primitive law of the jungle applied here: the capable obtained what they desired! Those lacking the strength to secure good items would ultimately only invite disaster upon themselves. Xiao Yan naturally wouldn''t bother discussing righteousness and morality with these people. It was like the Poison Sect and the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate earlier. Though their reasoning sounded somewhat justified¡ªthat those who didn''t contribute couldn''t enter¡ªXiao Yan knew that the Space Lock had opened entirely on its own and had nothing to do with them. The Poison Sect and the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate had merely fabricated an excuse, intending to monopolize the opportunity. Who would have thought they would encounter Xiao Yan, a ruthless fellow who didn''t care about reason and relied solely on the strength of his fist? Had they simply stepped aside, Xiao Yan might have let it go. But since they resorted to such petty means to obstruct him, he no longer felt inclined to be polite. Moreover, his Yan Alliance was already hostile toward the Poison Sect and the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate; they were inherently enemies. Killing another one of their Dou Emperors now meant fewer Yan Alliance members would die later. As the initiator of the alliance treaty, the greater his ability, the greater his responsibility. "Let''s go, Little Lion King. Zi Yan and the other one might need some time. Leave a mark for them to follow. We''ll head in first to check out the situation." Xiao Yan lightly patted the Little Lion King''s fur. Roar! (Alright!) The Little Lion King let out a long, proud roar toward the sky. Opportunities to take charge like this didn''t come often. "Oh right, Zi Yan, remember to bring back the corpses of those two Dou Emperors. Don''t shatter their souls," Xiao Yan said. Immediately, the Little Lion King gave a powerful flap of its wings and flew into the Space Lock. "Why are you collecting the corpses of Dou Emperors?" Little Fairy Doctor looked at Xiao Yan, puzzled. Typically, only practitioners of demonic paths collected corpses. "Dou Emperor soul bodies can be exchanged for medicinal ingredients," Xiao Yan replied flatly. Why wouldn''t he collect the loot dropped by these defeated ''monsters''? Little Fairy Doctor tilted her head. Soul bodies could be exchanged for medicinal ingredients? How did that work? A vibrant life force washed over Xiao Yan the moment he passed through the Space Lock. After the light faded, towering ancient trees were the first things to meet his eyes. The space within the Space Lock was brimming with vitality. It could be said this was the most vibrant place Xiao Yan had ever seen, the previous one being the small valley Little Fairy Doctor had discovered. "The life force in this place is so abundant." Little Fairy Doctor''s beautiful eyes widened in amazement. As someone skilled in cultivating medicinal herbs, she recognized this land as exceptionally suitable for planting. Sitting atop the Little Lion King, they gazed out over the landscape. Rolling mountains undulated, and rivers coiled through the terrain. It was a lush, verdant expanse, covered in vast forests and traversed by a river that snaked through it all. An uninformed person might mistake this place for one of the great forests within the Chu Yun Empire. "Don''t run!" "Quick, get the elder over here! I''ve found a precious tier 4 medicinal herb!" "Hah! You beast dare to block my path!" Eagles soared and beasts roamed here; the forest was dense. However, it was not devoid of powerful magical beasts. Xiao Yan observed many magical beasts living here, and even saw plants capable of attacking people! "Dou King Grass?" Xiao Yan looked down from his high vantage point and saw a Rank 5 magical beast guarding a spiritual herb. He identified it at a glance as Dou King Grass, the main ingredient for refining the Dou King Pill. He merely shook his head, making no move to rush down and seize it. Although Dou King Grass held some value, it meant little to the current Xiao Yan. Forget Dou King Grass; even Dou King Pills themselves weren''t particularly enticing. Unless it was a heavenly treasure of tier 6 or higher, he couldn''t muster much enthusiasm. His mind was currently focused solely on the Heavenly Flame and the Clear Soul Nether Orchid. Some of the Poison Masters from smaller factions and some rogue cultivators who had followed Xiao Yan inside were quite clever. Lacking grand ambitions and merely wanting to earn a small profit, they didn''t venture deep into the lofty mountains and precipitous ridges of this space. Instead, they stayed near the entrance, gathering some low-grade medicinal herbs. This region, with its abundant vitality, was naturally a place rich in spiritual herbs and medicinal plants. The deeper one ventured, the higher the grade of the medicinal ingredients became. However, the more advanced the ingredients, the stronger the magical beasts guarding them. Therefore, for rogue Poison Masters or disciples from small factions, not venturing too deep was the safest course of action. Although a vast number of medicinal herbs grew in this area, practically covering the mountains and plains to the point where one could seemingly pick up wealth just by bending over, Xiao Yan still didn''t pause for a moment. Instead of continuing to fly, he led Little Fairy Doctor and the Little Lion King deeper into the area on foot. In fact, not only Xiao Yan wouldn''t stop here; any cultivators of significant strength, or disciples from Dou Emperor-level factions, wouldn''t linger here either. Their goals aligned with Xiao Yan''s. Beyond just seeking high-grade medicinal ingredients, they sought the Dou Venerate''s inheritance and even more precious resources. How could they possibly waste valuable time on these ordinary spiritual herbs and medicinal plants? As Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor ventured deeper, the spiritual herbs and medicinal plants appearing in the mountain ranges became increasingly precious. After reaching a certain depth, rare tier 6 spiritual herbs began to appear. "Is that a Water Lotus Lingzhi?!" In a small pond grew a sky-blue lingzhi mushroom. This lingzhi was very peculiar; it actually grew in the water, resembling a lotus flower. Little Fairy Doctor couldn''t help but exclaim in pleasant surprise. Just as Little Fairy Doctor intended to move closer for a better look, suddenly, with a splash, the pond water began swirling into a vortex centered around the lingzhi. From within the vortex emerged skeleton after skeleton. The most eerie part was that these skeletons could move; their empty eye sockets glowed with blue flames. !!!! "What is that!" Little Fairy Doctor''s beautiful eyes widened in shock. She instantly gathered a ball of poisonous gas in her hand, ready for battle. Skeletons reviving?! How could this be possible! Xiao Yan''s gaze sharpened slightly. His Spiritual Strength swept across the area, and understanding dawned on him. "Those blue flames are a type of special fungus. It''s likely from the Water Lotus Lingzhi; it''s parasitizing these skeletal remains." As an alchemist, he naturally knew that lingzhi were essentially fungi formed over decades, sometimes centuries. Every unique heavenly treasure possessed its own methods of self-preservation. "Should we leave then?" Little Fairy Doctor asked. "Leave? Why would we? This Water Lotus Lingzhi is the main ingredient for refining the middle-grade tier 6 Water Restoration Pill. The Water Restoration Pill can not only rapidly heal injuries for those below the intermediate-star Dou Emperor stage but also enhances water-attribute Dou Qi for a period. It''s quite valuable." Although Xiao Yan didn''t possess water-attribute Dou Qi, he had the Sea Heart Flame. The Sea Heart Flame, being a dual-attribute Heavenly Flame, functioned as both fire and water attribute when used. It could burn exceptionally well even underwater, a truly wondrous property. With a soft whoosh, the Sea Heart Flame floated above Xiao Yan''s palm. He and Little Fairy Doctor exchanged a glance, instantly understanding each other''s intent. Roar!! Little Fairy Doctor leaped lightly onto the Little Lion King''s back. The Little Lion King didn''t hold back, condensing purple fire in its mouth and spewing it toward the dense mass of skeletons surging from the water. However, even the purple fire of the Amethyst Winged Lion King did not faze these white bones. Having been soaked in this place for a long time, their bones were coated with a special layer of water vapor that effectively resisted fire attacks. Facing the countless skeletons charging through the surrounding purple fire, Little Fairy Doctor casually struck out with her palm. A mass of poison gas transformed into a storm, sweeping up large numbers of skeletons. Following Xiao Yan''s reminder, she knew how to deal with these bizarre skeletons. As long as she poisoned the fungi animating them, the skeletons would lose their ability to move. Her Woeful Poison Body''s poison was perfectly suited for dealing with large numbers of enemies. Naturally, Xiao Yan took advantage of Little Fairy Doctor attracting the skeletons'' attention to move forward and harvest the Water Lotus Lingzhi. Harvesting a Water Lotus Lingzhi differed from harvesting ordinary lingzhi. The true medicinal efficacy wasn''t in the flower-like part visible above the water, but in the root-fruit beneath the stem. This meant one had to dive underwater to retrieve the root-fruit. The Sea Heart Flame enveloped his entire body with a humming sound, and he dove into the water like a leaping dragon. The underwater scene instantly startled Xiao Yan. From above, the pond appeared very small, just an ordinary pool. But once submerged, he discovered that the space below was unbelievably vast. The underwater world seemed bottomless, so dark he couldn''t see his hand in front of his face. A vortex spiraled up from the pond''s depths, carrying skeleton after skeleton upwards, creating a deeply unsettling sight. "As expected, there''s still a guardian." Xiao Yan''s eyes flashed, his body completely wrapped in the Sea Heart Flame. His gaze followed the long, swirling vortex downward. Sure enough, seated cross-legged at the root''s position was an old man. Unlike the surrounding white bones, this old man didn''t resemble a dead person at all. The moment Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength swept over him, the old man''s eyes snapped open. The pond water churned violently as the aura of a Dou Emperor erupted forth. Ordinary lingzhi subsisted on dead or rotting wood, but the Water Lotus Lingzhi fed on the corpses of living beings. "If any other Dou Emperor were in this water, they might truly be helpless against you. But unfortunately for you..." Xiao Yan smiled faintly. The Flame Mantra circulated wildly, his Dou Qi rapidly catalyzing the Sea Heart Flame. Instantly, the surging Sea Heart Flame spread out like clear seawater, creating faint ripples that resembled water waves. Whoosh!! In the next second, the Dou Emperor''s corpse suddenly ignited violently underwater! Burning through water! In this environment, the Sea Heart Flame was like a fish in water. Not only did the water fail to extinguish the Sea Heart Flame, but it could even transmit the flames to burn the opponent directly through the water. Gurgle, gurgle... The old man''s body was mostly consumed by the flames, revealing a hollow interior devoid of organs. Dense blue fungal filaments grew thickly among his bones, an extremely grotesque and nauseating sight. With a thunderous roar, the old man revealed a ferocious and terrifying visage as he charged toward Xiao Yan. Smiling slightly, Xiao Yan drew out the Heavy Xuan Ruler. The Sea Heart Flame surged explosively in the water, vaguely taking the form of a flood dragon. "Let''s consider this a warm-up." After roughly ten minutes of battle, the old man was ultimately incinerated by the fiercely burning Sea Heart Flame, turning into ashes that sank to the bottom of the pond. Xiao Yan put away the Heavy Xuan Ruler, dug out the root-fruit, and left the area. What he found rather regrettable was that the old man''s soul body had long since dissipated, making it useless even as ''cat food''. "You were so slow," Zi Yan said impatiently, sitting on a rock as she watched Xiao Yan emerge from the water. "Wasn''t it because I had to wait for you?" Xiao Yan, being reasonably fair, tossed Zi Yan one of the root-fruits. After all, they were a team; he couldn''t hoard everything. Zi Yan immediately beamed, placing the item into her void storage space. Once her current supply of ''candies'' ran out, she would find Xiao Yan to refine more. The Amethyst Winged Lion King had no need for medicinal ingredients. What he truly desired was the Body Transformation Pill. His current role as Xiao Yan''s enforcer was solely to help gather all the necessary ingredients for the pill, so Xiao Yan could refine it for him. The Nihility Devouring Flame devoured the two Dou Emperor corpses Zi Yan had left on the ground, while Xiao Yan absorbed their soul bodies into the Soul Command Token. The number of soul bodies within Venerable Yan''s Soul Command Token was slowly increasing. "It''s your turn to put in some effort now. Don''t slack off," he said. Zi Yan immediately perked up upon hearing this. Her treasure-hunting ability seemed to have upgraded along with her breakthrough to Rank 6. She could sense treasures even if they were buried hundreds of meters underground. She completely ignored any heavenly treasures below tier 6. "Rebirth Three Leaf Flower! The main ingredient for the tier 6 Revival Pill! We''ll take it!" "Hiss! Azure Wind Fruit! This is good stuff." "Golden Maple Flower, Vermillion Red Fruit, Hundred Herb Leaf! Snatch them all!!" The deeper they ventured, the more numerous the precious heavenly treasures became. Xiao Yan and Zi Yan acted like people who had never seen the world before. Regardless of the rank of the magical beast guarding the treasures, even those at the peak Rank 6 strength found it difficult to withstand the assault of this group. Little Fairy Doctor shook her head. These two were truly bandits. They didn''t even spare the medicinal ingredients obtained by some Dou Emperor-level Poison Masters. Any heavenly treasure they set their sights on was snatched away, perfectly demonstrating the principle of ''might makes right''. "Xiao Yan, there''s a very strong energy fluctuation over there," Zi Yan suddenly pointed into the distance, her eyes sparkling with light. As the group drew closer, they discovered a strangely shaped flower growing on the back of a gigantic black spider. The peculiar flower resembled a ghostly face, and the spider''s back similarly bore a ghostly visage. "Ghost Face Flower?! The main ingredient for refining the middle-grade tier 7 Yin Yang Life Soul Pill!" Xiao Yan''s eyes instantly widened. To refine a Heavenly Flame body and resurrect Venerable Tian Huo, besides needing a body of at least Dou Ancestor level and three kinds of Heavenly Flames, one also required the peak tier 7 Bone Growing Blood Fusing Pill. For the current Xiao Yan, refining a peak tier 7 pill, bordering on tier 8 like the Bone Growing Blood Fusing Pill, was still far too premature. Even he wouldn''t dare confidently predict when he could successfully refine it. However, resurrecting Venerable Tian Huo didn''t necessarily require the Bone Growing Blood Fusing Pill. There was a lower-grade substitute: the Yin Yang Life Soul Pill. The Yin Yang Life Soul Pill was only a middle-grade tier 7 pill. It possessed the effects of fusing the soul and restoring life, similar in medicinal effect to the Bone Growing Blood Fusing Pill, though not as potent. It could still resurrect Venerable Tian Huo, but it would affect the recovery of his cultivation level after rebirth, preventing him from fully regaining his former strength. And the Ghost Face Flower was one of its main ingredients! Xiao Yan transmitted his voice into the storage ring, "Venerable Tian Huo, that Ghost Face Flower is the main ingredient for refining the Yin Yang Life Soul Pill. This time, it''s your turn to act." Upon hearing Xiao Yan''s words, a terrifying surge of Spiritual Strength suddenly erupted from the snow-white storage ring. This Spiritual Strength merged into Xiao Yan''s body, instantly elevating his strength to that of a 7-star Dou Emperor. "Kid, lend me the Fallen Heart Flame for a moment. Let this old man show you the might of the ultimate skill that once made my name resound across the Dou Qi Continent!" Venerable Tian Huo''s heroic spirit soared to the heavens. Chapter 304: Strange Occurrence Chapter 304 - 304: Strange Occurrence Word Count: 2,503 Words ****** "Xiao Yan, watch carefully. This old man will demonstrate this only once." Venerable Tian Huo took a deep breath and extended his palm. The Fallen Heart Flame appeared before him. Venerable Tian Huo, being merely a soul without a physical body, naturally lacked Dou Qi. Therefore, Xiao Yan circulated his Dou Qi in advance, frantically catalyzing the Fallen Heart Flame. "Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique!" The Fallen Heart Flame surged wildly following Venerable Tian Huo''s thunderous shout. His hand seals changed, and the flame split into five portions that began to wriggle and take shape. "Wolf Spirit, condense!" Just a moment later, a sharp cry emanated from ''Xiao Yan''s'' mouth. A wolf-shaped Fire Spirit, formed from the Fallen Heart Flame, rapidly appeared in the sky. "Leopard Spirit, condense!" "Lion Spirit, condense!" "Tiger Spirit, condense!" Xiao Yan felt the Dou Qi within him draining at an alarming rate as four Fire Spirits were rapidly condensed in one go. Then came another shout: "Dragon Spirit, condense!" "Form the Five Ring Flame Expelling Formation!" Venerable Tian Huo''s soul body surged forward, manipulating the five Fire Spirits with his terrifying fire-controlling ability. The spirits augmented one another, and an oppressive heat instantly expanded across the sky. Even the distant dark clouds thinned under the scorching air, while nearby trees withered visibly before finally bursting into ashes with a ''bang''. Xiao Yan was witnessing Venerable Tian Huo''s display of the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique at the closest distance. The five gigantic Fire Spirits formed a strange formation in midair, and Xiao Yan himself stood at its central position. ''So this is the true Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique!'' Xiao Yan could indeed condense five Fire Spirits on his own but had only half-understood how to form them into a formation. He was nowhere near Venerable Tian Huo''s level of mastery. Xiao Yan exhaled deeply, feeling the rapidly depleting Dou Qi within him, and turned his gaze to the five Fire Spirits in formation high in the sky. He realized that this time, Venerable Tian Huo was genuinely imparting all his knowledge without reservation. After all, the old fellow had been wary of Xiao Yan turning out like Han Feng, betraying his master after learning his skills. But when Xiao Yan remembered to help refine pills for his resurrection, he understood that while this fellow Xiao Yan was decisive in killing and wouldn''t give his enemies any chance, he cared deeply for those who had aided him. "Five Ring Flame Expelling Disk!" Venerable Tian Huo didn''t hold back. His hand seals changed again as another sharp cry erupted from Xiao Yan''s mouth. Following that shout, the five massive Fire Spirits around them each howled skyward and suddenly began to spin at high speed. The surrounding space seemed to melt under this terrifying rotation, and enormous black fissures gaped open in midair one after another like monstrous jaws. Boom! Boom! The Fire Spirits spun faster and faster, eventually transforming into an enormous fire disk over two thousand feet wide. The translucent disk hovered above Xiao Yan''s head, rotating with astounding speed and producing wave after wave of sonic booms. Even Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan''s expressions changed at the terrifying energy spreading out. Given Venerable Tian Huo''s current strength, he naturally couldn''t make the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique rival a Tian-class Dou Technique, but it possessed the power of a quasi-Tian-class technique! "Hiss!" The gigantic Ghost Face Black Spider saw Xiao Yan unleash such a terrifying Dou Technique and dared not underestimate him. Its eight compound eyes gathered intense red light, rapidly condensing into a massive energy vortex. The frightening aura of a half-step Dou Ancestor shattered nearby mountain peaks. "What''s happening over there!" "That power! Has it reached the Dou Ancestor level? Is it the Sect Leader of the Poison Sect or maybe the Chief of Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate?" "Probably not. Those two went deeper in with a few other strong experts." "Then who in the world dares make a move on the Ghost Face Black Spider? That''s a half-step Dou Ancestor magical beast!!" Xiao Yan''s actions naturally attracted the attention of many experts from various factions, who all turned to look. "Go!" High in the sky, ''Xiao Yan'' raised his right hand under countless stares, supporting the massive fire disk from afar. He flung his arm with a resonant shout, and the enormous disk rumbled forth like thunder. The Fallen Heart Flame, though formless, possessed fierce heat that melted the very air. It streaked across the sky like a meteor, shooting toward the giant spider below amidst countless shocked stares! With a buzzing sound, the Ghost Face Black Spider let out an enraged screech. A thick red laser beam shot toward Xiao Yan, its attack rivaling that of a Dou Ancestor, leaving a long trail across the sky. "What a terrifying fire disk attack!" "W-what rank of Dou Technique is that?!" Boom! Boom! Boom! The two attacks collided with frightening force. Many strong experts nearby turned pale as they felt the energy fluctuations spilling outward. The leaking aura alone was terrifying; it was hard to imagine what would happen if they were the target. Their bodies would likely be burned to ashes before the attack even arrived. The horrific impact resembled two meteors colliding, unleashing an earth-shattering roar. The entire mountain range quaked, and huge fissures, roughly ten feet wide, branched across the ground like spiderwebs. ''Xiao Yan'' floated calmly in the sky, placed his hands behind his back, and pointed downward. The Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique instantly transformed into a torrent of flames with an explosive rumble, annihilating the Ghost Face Black Spider''s energy wave as if it were paper. Ultimately, the fearsome Fallen Heart Flame swallowed the half-step Dou Ancestor-level magical beast whole. One move! It was utterly annihilated in just one move! Venerable Tian Huo flicked his finger, and the little Fallen Heart Flame serpent safely brought the Ghost Face Flower before Xiao Yan. His soul body then withdrew from Xiao Yan''s body. Clasping his hands behind his back and facing away, he said in a lofty tone, "Xiao Yan, your innate talent is excellent, but you still have quite a way to go before you fully grasp the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique." "Cultivate diligently and do not disappoint the expectations of this old man." If Venerable Tian Huo weren''t a soul body, Xiao Yan would have wanted to kick him in the butt! ... Although Xiao Yan''s group continued to gain some harvests afterward, the highest-grade medicinal ingredients they obtained were only low-grade tier 7, none comparable to the Ghost Face Flower. Dusk gradually descended, and the group made camp to rest. "Hehe, hurry up, Xiao Yan," Zi Yan urged, drooling as she watched him refine candy-like pills for her. With a few clinks, Xiao Yan turned Zi Yan''s ''hard-earned wages'' into candy pills and tossed them to her. After all, they weren''t made of iron. Their Dou Qi would deplete too, so they needed rest. After finishing the meal prepared by Little Fairy Doctor, Xiao Yan asked, "Have any of you noticed something strange about this place?" "Strange? Not at all! There''s a ton of delicious stuff here!" Zi Yan tossed a candy pill into her mouth. How could a place with so much good food possibly be strange? The Amethyst Winged Lion King and the others exchanged glances, also noticing nothing unusual. "You mean we haven''t seen those people from the Poison Sect and Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate?" Little Fairy Doctor pondered for a moment before speaking. "The Poison Sect, Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate, and those experts from the Chu Yun Empire who entered this place in the first batch. We''ve been walking deeper all along, yet we haven''t seen any trace of them." Xiao Yan''s expression was somewhat solemn. It wasn''t as if they moved with great speed. On the contrary, because their group had been collecting the heavenly treasures along the way and battling some magical beasts, they had actually been delayed quite a bit. What puzzled Xiao Yan, however, was that nobody else seemed to have touched the numerous treasures along the way. While a Dou Ancestor like the Poison Sect''s Leader might ignore them, it was odd that the many strong cultivators from the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate would also pass them by. Those who didn''t know might think Xiao Yan''s group was the leading party. "Did they fly straight ahead without any pauses?" the Amethyst Winged Lion King asked. "Seems like it. The question is, what could attract them so much that they''d give up so many resources along the way and desperately fly forward?" Xiao Yan said solemnly. "Could they have discovered an extremely precious heavenly treasure deeper inside and rushed to grab it?" Zi Yan speculated boldly. "Even you didn''t sense any special heavenly treasure. Is their sensing ability stronger than yours?" Xiao Yan shook his head. Could those Dou Ancestors and Dou Emperors from the Poison Sect and Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate perceive something that even Zi Yan of the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe and Venerable Tian Huo couldn''t? "Could it be a Heavenly Flame?" Little Fairy Doctor asked softly. Xiao Yan summoned Mao Wu, who directly shook its head, indicating it hadn''t sensed any aura of a Heavenly Flame. "If even a Heavenly Flame Spirit didn''t sense any of its kind, they shouldn''t be able to detect the location of a Heavenly Flame either." Xiao Yan dismissed Little Fairy Doctor''s guess. The group fell silent for a moment, unable to figure out the reason. "Let''s rest and fully recover our Dou Qi," Xiao Yan said, a serious glint flashing in his eyes. "This time, we won''t collect any more resources. We''ll fly directly to the deepest part of this space." "Ah? But that''s such a waste! Can''t we grab a bit more along the way?" Zi Yan was the first to object. She rarely encountered such a bountiful treasure land filled with medicinal herbs. How could she leave without looting more? "No. This place is too strange. I have an ominous premonition. If anything unexpected happens, Zi Yan, you''ll revert to your true form, and we''ll tear through the void to leave this Space Lock immediately. You can''t expend too much stamina and Dou Qi." Xiao Yan refused Zi Yan''s suggestion in a resolute manner. "All right then." Although unwilling, Zi Yan complied when she saw Xiao Yan''s determination. After resting for about four hours, Xiao Yan and his group once again stood on the back of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, who flapped its wings and soared, flying straight toward the depths of this space. ''This Space Lock is so vast. Could it be that Venerable You Du didn''t actually create it? Was this originally an ancient relic site?'' Xiao Yan was surprised to find they seemed to have left the treasure land abundant with medicinal ingredients and entered another region entirely. Surprisingly, no precious medicinal ingredients grew here. "Xiao Yan, look over there. What is that?" After flying for quite a while, the land ahead began to rise steeply, forming a highland. Xiao Yan sensed with his Spiritual Strength that they had reached the core and deepest part of the space. What puzzled the group, however, was that this place was barren, completely different from the vibrant vitality they encountered upon entering. Forget heavenly treasures; only a few enormous, collapsed buildings stood here, looking as if they had been destroyed. Such a place did not match their expectations. They had imagined the deepest area to be sacred or teeming with life, perhaps with phenomena like earth-gushing immortal springs, resembling a fairyland. However, this highland was barren, like an abandoned wasteland. Just as Xiao Yan''s group set foot on this land, a ray of light suddenly rose from the ruined buildings. From the light emerged a scholarly-looking man with an ethereal demeanor. "I am Venerable You Du. Welcome to my inheritance ground. Pass my trial, and you shall receive my legacy," the man said with a faint smile. "You are Venerable You Du?! You''re... still alive!" Xiao Yan was greatly startled. A Dou Venerate who had lived for who knows how many years?! Although Dou Venerates could live for a very long time, they shouldn''t be able to live this long, right? "Hehe, I haven''t much time left. So I intend to leave behind my inheritance and seek a suitable successor. Anyone who can pass my trial shall obtain all my lifelong knowledge." Venerable You Du chuckled and answered Xiao Yan''s question. Xiao Yan furrowed his brows and glanced at Little Fairy Doctor. She nodded slightly and then slowly closed her eyes. Instantly, her black robe fluttered without wind, and an astonishing aura emanated. A multicolored light burst from within her as the runes of the Woeful Poison Body appeared. Little Fairy Doctor had activated her Woeful Poison Body! Xiao Yan knew that Venerable You Du possessed an acquired Woeful Poison Body. Although acquired artificially, the innate Woeful Poison Body could sense its kind. Seeing the patterns and multicolored light emerging on Little Fairy Doctor, the eyes of the man claiming to be Venerable You Du suddenly flashed with shock as he screamed, "The Woeful Poison Body!!" Little Fairy Doctor''s eyes sharpened as she glanced at him and said in a deep voice, "Not the Woeful Poison Body. You are not Venerable You Du. Who are you?" Exposed by Little Fairy Doctor, the man''s face immediately turned grim. But before he could make a move, Xiao Yan acted first. Xiao Yan, having prepared secretly, waved his hand the moment he heard Little Fairy Doctor''s words. An exquisite three-colored Fire Lotus flew out from the sleeve of his Soul Robe! He had secretly fused a tri-colored Fire Lotus using the concealing effect of the Soul Robe. The Fire Lotus shot straight toward ''Venerable You Du'' under his horrified gaze. Xiao Yan didn''t bother with martial etiquette. He unleashed his ultimate technique right away! Boom!!! A terrifying tri-colored Heavenly Flame erupted as the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame blasted the entire highland to pieces. As the highland shattered and the ground melted, the scene beneath was revealed to Xiao Yan and his companions. It turned out that this ''highland'' was actually the curved rim of a sunken basin. Beneath the shattered land lay something like a colossal open maw shrouded in swirling fog, resembling a giant beast''s yawning jaws. Yet what truly made Xiao Yan''s expression turn grim was the discovery that countless bones were hidden beneath this highland, piled together as though this place were filled to the brim with corpses! Suddenly, he realized why he had felt uneasy. At the very beginning, there had been many skeletons under the Water Lotus Lingzhi''s pond. But this didn''t make sense. This Space Lock was discovered only two days ago! The poison barrier had dissipated seven days prior. So how could there possibly be so many corpses and skeletons here?! Chapter 305: Ling Clan Chapter 305 - 305: Ling Clan Word Count: 2,648 Words ****** Xiao Yan and his companions, high in the sky, couldn''t help but gasp upon witnessing the scene below! They were utterly horrified; just how many beings had perished to create this dense mass of corpses and bones?! Xiao Yan observed carefully and noticed that these countless corpses were definitely not from recent times. Judging by the remnants of clothing and adornments on the bones, they belonged to eras long past! His Spiritual Strength swept over the area and found that the souls and flesh of these corpses had already vanished, seemingly sucked away. The bodies included all sorts of creatures, such as magical beasts of various bizarre shapes and enormous sizes. Xiao Yan even spotted the skeletal remains of the Snake-People Race. However, the vast majority were humans; human corpses accounted for at least eighty percent! "I''m afraid there are tens of millions here. This is like an entire small country wiped out!" The Amethyst Winged Lion King stared wide-eyed and muttered in shock. The population of a vast nation like the Jia Ma Empire undoubtedly exceeded tens of millions. But for a small nation formed by eight tribes, like Medusa''s Snake-People Tribe, the population might only number in the tens of millions. Yet, such a staggering number filled this sunken basin. This was a horrifying sea of corpses; the sight made anyone shudder involuntarily! No one knew why such a sinister mass grave existed within the treasure-filled realm inside Venerable You Du''s Space Lock! This was too eerie! Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed as he gazed toward a place below where smoke and dust swirled. A figure entirely shrouded in black light slowly emerged as the dust gradually dissipated. Xiao Yan''s tri-colored Fire Lotus hadn''t killed the impostor pretending to be Venerable You Du. A defensive Dou Technique had helped him withstand most of the attack, but it had forced him to reveal his true appearance. ''A member of the Ling Clan?'' When the light barrier shattered, Xiao Yan saw the emblem on the person''s clothing and immediately understood. The man was a member of the Ling Clan, one of the seven Dou God Clans! Xiao Yan had learned about such matters after joining the Hall of Souls and obtaining the Soul Command Token, especially after his battle with Ling Quan when he investigated the affairs of the Dou God Clans. Hun Lao Gui had provided him with intelligence not only about the Yao Clan but also about other Dou God Clans who had dispatched teams to this region. "Xiao Yan, what''s going on here? How did so many creatures die?" Even Zi Yan couldn''t help but feel her scalp tingle and goosebumps rise all over. The sheer number was enough to unsettle anyone. Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, looking at the valley below filled with corpses. He said in a deep voice, "If my guess is correct, the poison barrier outside Profound Nether Valley was actually set up by Venerable You Du to prevent anyone from entering this place. The seal on the Space Lock was also established to prevent people from accidentally stumbling into this realm." "This is not Venerable You Du''s inheritance ground at all. It''s likely a feeding trap set by some devil, which Venerable You Du discovered and sealed off!" When Xiao Yan saw the densely packed corpses and considered that the poison barrier in Profound Nether Valley had existed all along, he realized the truth. These corpses were ancient, existing long before Venerable You Du arrived. It was Venerable You Du who had halted the ongoing disaster by sealing the entrance. "Heh heh, your guess isn''t bad, but calling him a ''devil'' is rather disrespectful. This is the dining hall of the great Elder Tun Yuan of the Tunling Clan. Once he is resurrected, he''ll bestow upon me the power of his bloodline. My Dou God Bloodline can then be elevated. At that time, forget advancing to Grade 7; even Grade 8, 9, or Divine Grade will be within reach!" The Ling Clan member, Ling Tian, seemed entranced, speaking with obsessive reverence. "Why is it that the Gu Clan and the Hun Clan can possess such strong Dou God Bloodlines while my Ling Clan''s is so weak, nearing exhaustion? It''s not fair! I''ll seize their Dou God Bloodlines for my own!" Xiao Yan''s brows tightened. He didn''t know what this Tunling Clan was, but it was apparent from this Ling Clan Dou Ancestor''s words that they could somehow absorb others'' Dou God Bloodlines. He had heard of the Ling Clan. Among the remaining seven Dou God Clans, their Dou God Bloodline was the weakest, on the verge of exhaustion, much like the Xiao Clan had been a thousand years ago. That was why the Ling Clan members had remained hidden within their own Ling Realm, preventing their dwindling Dou God Bloodline from being coveted and carved up by other Dou God Clans, just as the Xiao Clan had faced. "Xiao Yan, look over there." Little Fairy Doctor gently tugged his sleeve and pointed to a cliff face within the basin. A pure and pristine orchid was rooted in the rock face there. Without a doubt, it was the Clear Soul Nether Orchid that Little Fairy Doctor had been searching for. Besides that, other unknown heavenly treasures grew there! "What a cunning hunting trap, projecting images of heavenly treasures to lure in treasure-seeking cultivators." Xiao Yan''s heart sank. He hadn''t expected that he would one day become the fish drawn in by bait. "Clear Soul Nether Orchid? Heh heh, rest assured, you''ll all soon become nourishment for it." Ling Tian gave them a cruel grin, a vicious gleam flashing in his eyes. Suddenly, white mist surged from the depths of the sunken valley, blanketing the space in mere moments. Disturbing sounds rang out within the swirling haze. From beneath the endless mountain of corpses, pale figures began crawling upward as though they were white demons emerging from the ground. Each silhouette radiated a chilling aura that made one''s blood run cold. In the blink of an eye, thousands upon thousands of white spectral figures emerged. Each of these malevolent spirits emitted formidable auras. Undoubtedly, these countless specters were extremely powerful. This sight reminded Xiao Yan of the ghosts he had encountered in the Beast Tomb. At the forefront of these countless white resentful spirits stood people Xiao Yan recognized! "That''s Dugu Tian Gao, Sect Leader of the Poison Sect?!" "And Xie Shan, the Chief of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate!" "The other three are renowned experts of the Chu Yun Empire! What''s happened to them?!" Some strong cultivators from the Chu Yun Empire, who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion, were instantly stunned and frightened. Xie Shan and the others had vacant eyes, their gazes lifeless as if their souls had been lost. Seeing this, many experts from the Chu Yun Empire gasped sharply. They seemed to sense that something was amiss and murmured with chills running down their spines, "Are they being controlled?" "Let''s withdraw," Little Fairy Doctor said with a solemn expression. Including that Ling Tian from the Ling Clan, there were already two Dou Ancestors present. Moreover, the countless ghostly beings they led were not weak. This force could sweep across the entire Jia Ma Empire! "We might not be able to leave even if we want to. I just tried to connect with the soul imprint outside by piercing through the void, but I failed. There''s a power interfering," Xiao Yan said. He had attempted to use the power of the Nihility Devouring Flame to create a temporary spatial tunnel but was blocked by a special force. Upon hearing this, Zi Yan''s body emitted a surge of purple light, but she also failed in the end. "There''s a strange power preventing us. Opening a path through the void will require some time," Zi Yan said, her brows tightly knit. After pondering for a moment, Xiao Yan opened his left palm, and a cluster of black flames appeared. With a gentle toss, the black flame transformed into a black cat that perched on Zi Yan''s shoulder. "Zi Yan, you work with it to open a spatial passage. I''ll hold off these ghostly creatures with the others and grab the Clear Soul Nether Orchid. As soon as you''ve opened the void, we''ll leave!" A fierce light flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes. The Clear Soul Nether Orchid could suppress the Woeful Poison within Little Fairy Doctor. Even if it couldn''t completely eliminate the Woeful Poison Body, it could at least buy more time for him to find the Monster Core of a Rank 7 Sky Poison Dragon Scorpion Beast and the Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva. Hiss!! Countless white specters flew out from the basin, but their targets were not Xiao Yan and his companions; instead, they attacked the cultivators in this realm! Undoubtedly, the Tunling Clan''s feeding ritual had begun. "Ahhh! What are these ghostly things?!" "Get away!" The white specters were like evil spirits, pouncing on anyone they saw. After killing their victims, they transported the corpses back to the valley, allowing the blood and flesh to seep into the ground. Miserable screams echoed throughout the realm. This basin piled high with countless corpses had been accumulated in such a manner! One could only imagine how many times such horrific events had occurred in this place! Whoosh!! A pair of massive, bone-white fire wings appeared behind Xiao Yan, freezing any white specters that dared to pounce on him. Instantly, the temperature of the entire space dropped! Although they were clearly flames, they emitted an extreme chill, which was truly bizarre. The Bone Chilling Flame was the highest-ranked among the Heavenly Flames Xiao Yan possessed. "Lion King, you and Little Fairy Doctor go seize the Clear Soul Nether Orchid. Be careful of those five individuals. I''ll hold back that crazy fellow. As soon as Zi Yan opens the spatial passage, we leave!" Xiao Yan said with a serious expression. If it were only these ghostly creatures, Xiao Yan might stand a chance using Venerable Tian Huo''s power. But if his guess was correct, there was an even more formidable being underground! That thing was definitely beyond his ability to defeat. Right now, he could only try to buy time and divert attention! Ling Tian laughed coldly when he saw Xiao Yan flying toward him, "Heh heh heh, a mere Dou King from the lower realms, don''t think that possessing a Heavenly Flame makes you invincible. On the Dou Qi Continent, only those with Dou God Bloodlines stand at the pinnacle!" He advanced with a dark chuckle. "You rejected the path to heaven and barged through the gates of hell instead! Today shall be your day of death!" "Is that so?" Xiao Yan merely gave a faint smile. Instantly, a powerful surge of Spiritual Strength burst forth from the pale-white storage ring, and in the blink of an eye, his cultivation soared to the 7-star Dou Emperor stage. Xiao Yan held nothing back. He took out pills one after another from his storage ring and tossed them into his mouth: pills for recovering from injuries, enhancing strength, increasing defense, accelerating Dou Qi recovery. He used various pills to grant himself all kinds of buffs in one go! ''Skyfire Three Mysterious Change!'' Xiao Yan roared inwardly. A terrifying Heavenly Flame power surged throughout his body, and his cultivation began to climb rapidly. However, the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change was ultimately only at the first change, and Xiao Yan''s current cultivation was much higher than before. Even with the merged Heavenly Flame, the technique could only elevate him to the half-step Dou Ancestor stage. But that was enough! "That''s the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change! How do you know that clan''s Secret Technique?!" Ling Tian''s expression changed dramatically. All the Dou God Clans were aware of the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change because after the Xiao Clan''s downfall, the other clans had deliberated on how to divide the Xiao Realm, their assets, and Dou Techniques. The Secret Technique created by the legendary last Clan Head, Xiao Xuan, had naturally been copied by everyone. "Octane Blast!" Xiao Yan''s demeanor turned cold and stern under the Soul Robe. With a loud roar, his fist, imbued with terrifying force and Heavenly Flame, struck out with the might of a half-step Dou Ancestor. This punch capable of shattering mountains and rivers shook the land. The terrifying fist wind swept forth, enough to crumble great peaks. Ling Tian snorted coldly. His palm manipulated space as he struck out to meet the punch. Boom!! The two powerful forces collided. The eight layers of hidden force, imbued with Heavenly Flame, exploded, pushing Ling Tian back several steps. His palm even showed scorch marks. Xiao Yan didn''t gain any advantage either. Ling Tian was much stronger than Ling Quan and likely possessed a higher-grade Dou God Bloodline. Moreover, his cultivation had reached the 3-star Dou Ancestor stage. The impact made Xiao Yan''s right hand feel numb. If not for the Flame Mantra evolving to Low Tian Class, providing immense Dou Qi, he might have suffered a significant loss from that strike. ''This guy is much stronger than First Elder Su Qian,'' Xiao Yan thought. "Hmph!" Being repelled by someone from the lower realms who relied on a Secret Technique was a humiliation for Ling Tian, who prided himself immensely on being a member of a Dou God Clan. He let out a furious roar that seemed to shatter the ground beneath him. Ling Tian''s entire body erupted with a burst of spiritual light, like a blazing sun, as he instantly charged forward with fierce and unstoppable momentum. Xiao Yan saw Ling Tian charging at him. The dragon aura within his body erupted, and his Dou Qi circulated along special meridian pathways. "Ancient Dragon Roar!" ROOOAR!! An incomparably terrifying dragon''s roar resounded. The horrifying sonic wave blasted toward the oncoming Ling Tian like a colossal dragon. Crack! Crack!! The dragon''s roar echoed, causing the surrounding withered bones and corpses to shatter. "A sonic-type Dou Technique? Hmph! Spiritual Light Protection!" With a buzzing sound, the light around Ling Tian flashed, and he directly charged into Xiao Yan''s sonic wave. The sonic Dou Technique that had even caused Ling Quan and Han Feng''s souls to tremble was ineffective! The dragon aura couldn''t invade at all! ''So the Ling Clan has such traits?'' Just like the Hun Clan and the Yao Clan, as descendants of Dou God Clans, they were influenced by their Dou God Bloodlines, resulting in certain ''specializations''. Xiao Yan''s expression changed, and he hurriedly retrieved the Heavy Xuan Ruler from his storage ring. With a clang, Ling Tian''s palm struck the Heavy Xuan Ruler, transmitting an extremely terrifying force through it. Hiss!! Xiao Yan slid back dozens of meters, his internal Qi and blood surging. This time, he had suffered a slight loss! Buzz! A beam of light slashed down like a whip. Lightning surged beneath Xiao Yan''s feet. With a boom, the light sword created a fissure in the ground, slicing Xiao Yan''s lightning clone directly in half. "Light-attribute Dou Qi?" Xiao Yan''s eyes focused on the light sword formed by Ling Tian''s Dou Qi. This was the first time he had seen light-attribute Dou Qi! "My Ling Clan''s Dou God ancestor possessed light-attribute Dou Qi." Ling Tian couldn''t help but reveal a proud expression when speaking of his light-attribute Dou Qi. Throughout the Dou Qi Continent, cultivators possessing light-attribute Dou Qi were extremely rare, even rarer than alchemists. Beneath the Soul Robe, a smile crept onto Xiao Yan''s lips. Since that was the case, he wouldn''t hold back either. Instantly, a surge of powerful Spiritual Strength erupted from within his own body; this was his own ''spirit''! A monstrous killing intent emerged from his Spiritual Strength! "Asura Soul Reaping Technique¡ªSoul Chase, Slash!" Chapter 306: The Ghostly Poison Flame Appears Chapter 306 - 306: The Ghostly Poison Flame Appears Word Count: 2,631 Words ****** Xiao Yan''s lips curved upward. He raised two fingers like a sword, and in an instant, his Spiritual Strength condensed into a soul blade. His perfected Mortal State soul howled across the sky, as if it were a divine blade cleaving through stars and slashing moons, directly cutting toward Ling Tian. Now that he had cultivated this Soul Skill to the entry level, he could manifest his Spiritual Strength into tangible form. Soul Skills attacked the soul directly, whereas ordinary Dou Techniques could only defend against Dou Qi-based assaults. Most people had no effective way to guard against such bizarre soul attacks. "A Soul Skill!" Ling Tian''s expression changed drastically. The power of his bloodline surged within him, and a Ling Clan Mark appeared on his forehead. Ling Tian was actually forced to use his Clan Mark to activate his Dou God Bloodline for defense! Xiao Yan''s soul sword slashed forth with a resonant sound. Although Spiritual Strength was formless, Ling Tian perceived it as a true divine sword cleaving toward him, penetrating his body to strike his soul directly! Under this single move, the dazzling spiritual light surrounding Ling Tian dimmed noticeably. He suffered a great loss and retreated several steps with heavy thuds. "Pu!" A mouthful of fresh blood spewed from his mouth! "Y-You''re from the Hun Clan!" Ling Tian pointed a trembling finger at Xiao Yan, looking as if he had seen a ghost. Their Ling Clan had always hidden within their own Ling Realm, not daring to come out. Some within the clan had even suggested sealing off their realm entirely to remain hidden. Wasn''t this precisely because they feared the Hun Clan! The Hun Clan were terrifying demons with a precedent! Wasn''t the Xiao Clan destroyed by the Hun Clan? And now, the Ling Clan was the weakest among all the Dou God Clans, yet they still possessed the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade. Some within the clan had once proposed handing the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade over to the Hun Clan. But ultimately, their remaining dignity as a Dou God Clan stopped them from bowing their heads. They believed the other Dou God Clans wouldn''t allow the Hun Clan to eliminate more Dou God Clans or obtain more pieces of the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade. Nevertheless, the fear of the Hun Clan remained deeply etched in their hearts. Now, Xiao Yan had not only drawn upon a formidable Spiritual Strength but also unleashed a strange Soul Skill. Wasn''t this unmistakably someone from the Hun Clan?!! Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed slightly as he noticed Ling Tian''s shock, and a plan formed in his mind. "Jie Jie Jie... It seems the Ling Clan has grown bold indeed, daring to crawl out of your dog hole and come here." Ling Tian recoiled half a step upon hearing the piercing, unpleasant laughter echoing from Xiao Yan''s Soul Robe. That laugh! It was unmistakable!! It was the Hun Clan! Xiao Yan took out the Soul Command Token with a low hum. The character ''Hun'' was prominently displayed on it! "Jie Jie Jie," Xiao Yan laughed strangely, his eyes gleaming. "You dare meddle with the Tunling Clan? It seems you Ling Clan folk don''t take my Hun Clan seriously at all." Ling Tian''s expression shifted rapidly. "Indeed," he finally gritted out, "the Tunling Clan once possessed the unique ability to devour the bloodline strength of other races. All the Dou God Clans had to join forces to destroy them, but that was thousands of years ago... Our Ling Clan''s bloodline has weakened far more than the others. What''s wrong with me borrowing the Tunling Clan''s power!" !!!? Xiao Yan''s heart trembled! The Tunling Clan was so formidable that all the Dou God Clans had to join forces to exterminate them?!! He had initially thought the Tunling Clan were some kind of powerful magical beasts. Only after bluffing Ling Tian into revealing the truth did he discover the Tunling Clan could devour the bloodline strength of other races! ''Then what on earth is that thing below? Weren''t they exterminated? Could one have survived for thousands of years?!!'' Xiao Yan secretly swallowed hard. Were those Dou God Clans so unreliable? How could they have left such a thing behind?! "Hmph, if you don''t want me to inform the other Dou God Clans about this, hand over the Clear Soul Nether Orchid. I''ll leave at once and say nothing," Xiao Yan said in a deep voice. He naturally wanted to avoid a fight if possible. Just then, the ground behind Ling Tian suddenly split open with a sharp crack, and a pair of ghostly hands emerged from the underground. Before the creature had even fully emerged, an ancient and shrill voice rang out: "Assist me in my resurrection, and I shall kill him in your stead. Then no one will learn of this." Xiao Yan and the others felt their hearts skip a beat at this chilling voice. Could this be the so-called remnant of the Tunling Clan?! Ling Tian trembled as a fierce struggle flickered in his eyes. His gaze then turned blood-red as he stared venomously at Xiao Yan. The hoarse voice from underground faded. The ghostly hands stretching out from the fissure suddenly opened. Spherical objects resembling embryonic eggs slowly floated out from the palms one after another. Black light swirled around them. The densely packed black egg-like spheres suddenly exploded. Instantly, sharp, piercing screams echoed through the sky, making one''s scalp tingle. Ominous black shadows poured down from the sky like a torrential downpour, flooding into the entire valley in a frenzy. The targets included not only the Dou King experts who had ventured deep into the valley but even the low-tier alchemists on the outskirts who only intended to pick some ordinary herbs to sell! Everyone''s expression changed drastically as they hurriedly circulated their Dou Qi. However, just as their Dou Qi began to surge, black flashes appeared before their eyes. Many people felt a sharp pain in their chests. Looking down, they found a massive bloody hole where their heart should be, with blood and internal organs gushing out! "Wh-What are these things?!" "Ahh! Save me!" Xiao Yan''s expression turned grim. He froze one of the black shadows with the Bone Chilling Flame and snatched it up. These creatures possessed human-like bodies, but their hollow and blood-red eyes, as well as their beast-like sharp claws, made it evident they were not human at all! ''These things are the Tunling Clan?!'' ''They can devour a person''s flesh, blood, and Dou Qi!'' A chill ran down Xiao Yan''s spine. Were these tiny, imp-like creatures the Tunling Clan that had required all the Dou God Clans to join forces to combat?! The entire mountain range descended into chaos in the face of these bizarre Tunling creatures. Fierce battles raged everywhere, accompanied by ceaseless, anguished screams and scarlet blood staining the earth. Ling Tian watched from mid-air as the mountain range rapidly fell into chaos. His expression turned extremely gloomy. Then, gritting his teeth, he actually released his Dou Qi defenses, spread his arms, and took on the appearance of willingly offering himself! "Kekeke, you have resolve! Rest assured, you''ve given me so many sacrifices. Once I am resurrected, I will naturally seek out other members of the ancient Dou God Clans to absorb their bloodlines. Then I shall restore yours, and even grant you the Divine Grade Bloodline you desire!" Puk! Puk! Puk!!! Countless black Tunling creatures burrowed into Ling Tian''s body as the voice fell and began absorbing his Dou God Bloodline! "Ah!!" Ling Tian let out a piercing scream as his bloodline was drained away. His body shriveled visibly at an astonishing rate. In the blink of an eye, he transformed from a handsome young man into a decrepit old man. Even the Dou Qi within his body was completely drained! "Kill him! Don''t let him carry word to the Hun Clan!" Xiao Yan never dreamed that pretending to be from the Hun Clan would provoke such a reaction! Ling Tian was willing to sacrifice himself just to silence him and prevent him from reporting back! Truthfully, Xiao Yan didn''t understand what the Tunling Clan represented to the Dou God Clans. For them, meddling with such power was tantamount to making enemies of all Dou God Clans. Their Dou God Bloodlines were their very foundation; how could they possibly allow a race capable of absorbing bloodline strength to survive? Once the Tunling creatures returned, the earth rumbled and split apart as a monstrous creature crawled out from underground. This creature possessed an enormous body: an insectoid torso topped with a human head. Six fleshy wings extended from its back, and a massive, pitch-black horn protruded from the top of its head! The entire world seemed to tremble as this monstrous being stood there. It emitted a terrifying aura that vastly surpassed that of a Dou Ancestor!! "Venerable Yao, this isn''t a Dou Venerate, is it?" Xiao Yan felt his scalp tingle slightly; he didn''t want to accept it. After a moment of silence, Venerable Tian Huo''s voice came from the storage ring, delivering grim news. "Although weaker than I was in my prime... it possesses the strength of a 1-star Dou Venerate." Venerable Tian Huo''s voice was heavy. He had once been stronger, but that was in the past. Now, forget about him being just a soul body; even if everyone here joined forces, they would just be serving themselves up. "What... what kind of monster is this?!" "Is that Venerable You Du?!" "Are you stupid? How does that look human at all!" Even some Dou Emperor-level Poison Masters couldn''t help but feel their scalps tingle upon seeing such a creature. Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed as he observed the numerous corpses dangling from the creature''s body. His mind seemed to explode when he saw the emblems on their clothing! These were all members of Dou God Clans! The emblems on their attire even included those of the Gu Clan and the Hun Clan! Moreover, several corpses hadn''t decayed and looked quite ''fresh''. They were likely members from the Yao Clan, Yan Clan, and Shi Clan whom that fellow Ling Tian had lured here! The flesh and blood of these members from the various Dou God Clans had been completely drained! "Has the Ling Clan been raising this thing all along?" Xiao Yan asked solemnly. "No. Judging from its life signature, it doesn''t seem to have been continuously nurtured. It was likely in a severely injured, near-death state, clinging to existence by devouring flesh and blood, gradually transforming into this neither-human-nor-ghost creature. Furthermore, it bears heavy injuries; it hasn''t fully recovered," Venerable Tian Huo denied Xiao Yan''s speculation. And reality was indeed as Venerable Tian Huo described. When the Tunling Clan was exterminated, the remnants fled in all directions. The Ling Clan had participated in the hunt, and this place was one of the battlefields. Ling Tian accidentally discovered this piece of history and found this monster when he came to investigate. This creature could no longer even be called an original Tunling Clan member now; it was more like a demon formed from merging with Tunling remnants! "Kill him! He''s from the Hun Clan; there''s Dou God Bloodline in his body!" Ling Tian shrieked, pointing at Xiao Yan. The monstrous creature called Tun Yuan slowly turned its colossal head and revealed a ghastly grin. "Heh, someone from the Hun Clan. Back then, it was your Hun Clan that killed my clan''s Tunling King. You shall repay that blood debt today!" Xiao Yan was dumbfounded! I''m not from the Hun Clan, I was bluffing! A thunderous boom rang out as the gigantic monster finally made its move. Regardless of whether this monster was still a member of the Tunling Clan or had become something else, it was undeniably a genuine Dou Venerate! No matter what kind of Dou Venerate it was, in Xiao Yan''s eyes, it was an existence capable of destroying the sky and earth! A massive hand swung fiercely toward him. Xiao Yan''s heart jolted. He rapidly circulated Dou Qi through his meridians and roared, "Open Mountain Seal!!!" Xiao Yan finally unleashed the true power of the Open Mountain Seal at the critical moment. A colossal handprint blasted forward and collided with the giant monster''s palm. "Open... Open Mountain Seal! H-How do you know the Gu Clan''s Dou Technique? Who on earth are you?!" Ling Tian was dumbfounded. That was the Gu Clan''s secret Dou Technique; how could someone from the Hun Clan know it! The younger generations of the Dou God Clans often held exchange competitions, so he naturally recognized the Gu Clan''s God Seal Technique. But seeing the God Seal Technique from someone from the Hun Clan??? Unheard of! Although Xiao Yan finally unleashed the true power of the God Seal Technique, his strength as a half-step Dou Ancestor was still no match for a Dou Venerate''s casual blow. He spat out a mouthful of blood as he was sent flying backward, crashing into a distant mountain. "Xiao Yan!" Little Fairy Doctor cried out as she unleashed a burst of poisonous Dou Qi. She immediately shook off her opponent, waved her sleeve to pulverize all the rubble, and pulled him out. "I''m... fine." Xiao Yan forced himself to stand and put a tier 6 healing pill into his mouth. The pill''s medicinal effect quickly began healing his injuries. He glanced into the distance. Through his perception via the Nihility Devouring Flame''s Seed Flame, he knew Zi Yan hadn''t yet managed to create a spatial rift. Whoosh! Before he could think further, the giant monster came sweeping in again. Xiao Yan clasped his hands together and rapidly merged the terrifying Heavenly Flames between his palms. Little Fairy Doctor dared not hold back either. She activated the Woeful Poison Body, causing seven-colored patterns to light across her skin, illuminating everything around her. There was a resounding clang just at that moment. A sword light flashed, piercing through Tun Yuan''s massive hand and pinning it to the ground. A figure then burst out from the ground, instantly appearing above the basin, sword in hand! One person, one sword, stood before Xiao Yan and his companions, their bearing peerless! Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed when he got a clear look at the newcomer''s appearance. This person looked exactly like the Venerable You Du whom Ling Tian had initially impersonated!! Xiao Yan was even more shocked when his Spiritual Strength swept over. This wasn''t a human at all! Rather, it was a manifestation formed from the Ghostly Poison Flame!! Venerable Tian Huo''s voice echoed in Xiao Yan''s mind, "I understand now. No wonder this monster carries such severe wounds. Back then, the real Venerable You Du must have been attracted here by the Clear Soul Nether Orchid, stumbled upon this monster, and ultimately detonated his Woeful Poison Body while using his Heavenly Flame to permanently seal this creature here, intending to use the Ghostly Poison Flame''s power to poison it to death!" "That barrier of poison miasma cutting off this entire valley is the power of the Ghostly Poison Flame." Xiao Yan understood why this area was so desolate, unlike the vibrant place near the entrance. It turned out a Woeful Poison Body explosion had occurred here previously, poisoning the very land! "It was likely awakened by that girl''s Woeful Poison Body, triggering some kind of will hidden within the Ghostly Poison Flame. Perhaps he also guessed that someone in the future might break the seal, so he left behind a contingency!" "You Du!!!" The enormous monster roared furiously upon seeing the figure before it. "Detonating your Woeful Poison Body back then couldn''t kill me! It''s even more impossible now!" Chapter 307: Devour! Chapter 307 - 307: Devour! Word Count: 2,634 Words ****** This voice was imbued with a supreme majesty that penetrated one''s soul, making all who heard it involuntarily want to bow down in submission! From this alone, it was clear that Tun Yuan, the Tunling Clan elder before them, had been incomparably powerful in his prime, very likely a Dou Saint. Yet when the Tunling Clan was eradicated, he was relentlessly hunted by the Ling Clan and eventually cornered in this place. Although he had narrowly escaped death, who would have thought that after clinging to life for a thousand years and finally recovering a fraction of his strength, he would stumble upon the calamity known as Venerable You Du? Devouring Venerable You Du ended up harming himself instead. Under the dual poisons of the Woeful Poison Body''s self-detonation and the Ghostly Poison Flame, Tun Yuan had become the monstrosity he was now, neither human nor ghost. Hatred blazed openly in his eyes the moment he saw the apparition of Venerable You Du. Xiao Yan''s eyelid suddenly twitched as lightning burst out beneath his feet. The ground beneath Little Fairy Doctor split open with a loud boom, and countless tiny Tunling creatures swarmed up from below. Whoosh! A flash of lightning streaked across the air. Xiao Yan, having been vigilant with his Spiritual Strength from the start, immediately used the minor mastery level Three Thousand Lightning Movement. Like a bolt of lightning, he scooped up Little Fairy Doctor and dodged the sneak attack. ''Tsk, this undead old ghost is really cunning!'' Xiao Yan couldn''t help but curse. A dignified Tunling Clan elder had stooped to ambush tactics, hurling angry shouts at Venerable You Du''s will as a diversion when his real target was Little Fairy Doctor all along. He had, however, underestimated Xiao Yan''s vigilance. From the moment Venerable You Du''s will manifested, Xiao Yan had remained on high alert. At first glance, it seemed similar to the situation with the Ten Thousand Beast Flame in the Beast Tomb, where they could join forces with Venerable You Du''s will and the Ghostly Poison Flame to deal with the Tunling Clan. But in reality, this was entirely different. Now, three distinct forces were at a standoff. The appearance of Venerable You Du''s will was entirely triggered by Little Fairy Doctor''s Woeful Poison Body, like a preset command that would activate only upon sensing the Woeful Poison Body. The very reason she had previously encountered the Ghostly Poison Flame was because she had activated her Woeful Poison Body then, poisoning an elder of the Poison Sect. This time was the same. Her activation of the Woeful Poison Body awakened the will of Venerable You Du. But Venerable You Du was not a benevolent figure either. His sole aim was to completely annihilate the Tunling Clan. There was only one way to kill Tun Yuan. Xiao Yan knew it, Venerable You Du knew it, Tun Yuan himself knew it, and Little Fairy Doctor knew it as well. That method was the ultimate, cataclysmic poison eruption of the Woeful Poison Body! Back when Venerable You Du had self-detonated, he realized that his acquired Woeful Poison Body, even combined with the Ghostly Poison Flame, couldn''t fully annihilate Tun Yuan. Thus, he used his lifetime''s worth of poison Dou Qi to form a poison barrier, sealing his will within the Ghostly Poison Flame until a true innate Woeful Poison Body emerged someday. If Little Fairy Doctor were to absorb the Ghostly Poison Flame along with the poison barrier, the Woeful Poison Body eruption she triggered could kill not just a 1-star Dou Venerate; even high-star Dou Venerates would find it hard to escape death. Such was the terrifying nature of the Woeful Poison Body. Even in the vast Central Plains, this physique was considered taboo. Once the Woeful Poison Body erupted, it could obliterate a Dou Venerate-level faction in a flash, rendering the land barren for hundreds or even thousands of years. Therefore, Xiao Yan had always kept his attention on Little Fairy Doctor because the two entities before them both wanted her life! Tun Yuan snorted coldly and did not cease his attack. A loud humming arose as countless tiny Tunling creatures flew out from his body, intent on devouring Little Fairy Doctor before her Woeful Poison Body could fully mature. As long as Little Fairy Doctor died, there would be no way to kill him. After he killed everyone here and escaped, he could hide for decades, then make a comeback, perhaps even becoming the Tunling King and reviving the Tunling Clan! By then, the entire Dou Qi Continent would once again submit to the Tunling Clan! "Flame Splitting Tsunami!" Xiao Yan held Little Fairy Doctor''s hand with his left and swung the Heavy Xuan Ruler with his right. The terrifying Green Lotus Core Flame whirled forward in a raging fire wave, swallowing up those sinister, black, worm-like Tunling creatures. Then, Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed, and he snorted coldly. His formidable Spiritual Strength instantly condensed into an invisible soul blade. ''Hmph! Don''t think being undead means I can''t cut you down!'' Soul Skill¡ªSoul Chase, Slash! A soul blade slashed out, severing the spiritual message that the Ghostly Poison Flame, or rather, Venerable You Du, was transmitting to Little Fairy Doctor. Xiao Yan fixed a frosty gaze on Venerable You Du below, who stood still as a statue. Although he didn''t know what Venerable You Du had told Little Fairy Doctor, there was no way he''d allow her to self-detonate her Woeful Poison Body! "Xiao Yan..." "No way! We''re here to resolve your Woeful Poison Body, not to let you die!" Xiao Yan decisively interrupted Little Fairy Doctor before she could continue. Little Fairy Doctor''s bright eyes flickered for a moment, and she gently tightened her grip on his hand. Heavenly Flame Dou Technique¡ªBeast Spirit Descent! Heavenly Flame Dou Technique¡ªDeath Flame Extinction! Open Mountain Seal! Four-Colored Angry Buddha Lotus Flame! Boom! Boom! Boom!!! The Dou Qi within Xiao Yan surged out frantically, as if he feared it wasn''t depleting fast enough. However, facing the Dou Venerate-level Tunling creature, these Dou Techniques, capable of annihilating Dou Emperors and even killing Dou Ancestors, were all blocked. If Tun Yuan hadn''t been wary of the motionless Venerable You Du beside him, waiting for Little Fairy Doctor to fully activate her Woeful Poison Body and absorb his Ghostly Poison Flame, he would have killed Xiao Yan and the others long ago. Even with the Tian Class Flame Mantra, such frantic release of Dou Techniques was absolutely unsustainable in terms of Dou Qi! "Hey! Hun Huzi! You''ll struggle to find another alchemist like me if I die!" Xiao Yan tried using the Soul Command Token to send a spiritual transmission, but it was like a stone sinking into the sea. "Damn it!" Bang! Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor joined forces to defend but were still knocked back. A lion''s roar rang out as the Amethyst Winged Lion King transformed into a purple light, flying over from the distance and catching the two of them in midair. "Grah! You bastards! Scram!" In the distance, a blazing purple light eclipsed the sky. A gigantic purple dragon appeared in the heavens, its eyes brimming with fury. A dragon claw as massive as a mountain slammed downward. A thunderous boom rang out. Xie Shan, the Chief of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate whose soul had been devoured and controlled by Tun Yuan, was directly smashed into a pulp by Zi Yan''s unleashed bloodline strength. The ground split and mountains crumbled beneath the impact! Deprived of Little Fairy Doctor''s support, the Sect Leader of the Poison Sect and his four companions finally spotted Zi Yan''s hiding place after having hunted down every other cultivator in the region. Xiao Yan watched them find Zi Yan and the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame, and his expression darkened. Even their last path of escape had been cut off! Roooar!! Zi Yan, enraged, fully unleashed the power of an Ancient Void Dragon. Her destructive power in her true form was astonishing, holding her own even against the Dou Ancestor-level Sect Leader of the Poison Sect. "Hmm? A whelp of the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe?" Tun Yuan''s human-faced, insect-bodied visage twisted into a sinister smile. "Kekeke, heaven truly favors me. With the flesh and blood of an Ancient Void Dragon, I''ll be another step closer to full resurrection!" The air filled with the humming of countless smaller Tunling creatures as they instantly changed direction, swarming toward Zi Yan like a dark cloud! "Zi Yan! Watch out!" Zi Yan gritted her dragon teeth. With a mighty sweep of her tail, she sent the Poison Sect''s Sect Leader flying. Then, a deafening rumble emanated from her abdomen, and terrifying purple flames began to spill from the corners of her mouth. Roooaaar!!! From afar, the enormous purple dragon coiled in the sky let out a furious roar. An immense and terrifying true dragon power gathered, a power belonging to the mightiest creature: the dragon! A purple Dragon Breath shot down from thousands of meters high. From a distance, it looked like a divine sword descending from the heavens to pass judgment upon the world. Although Zi Yan was only at Rank 6, she was a Rank 6 Ancient Void Dragon! Even Xiao Yan didn''t know that she could unleash such a breath attack! Zi Yan''s full-powered Dragon Breath instantly engulfed a large number of Tunling creatures. Even though these Tunling creatures could devour Dou Qi and ignore defenses, the ultimate technique of the Ancient Void Dragons still destroyed them! The purple Dragon Breath charged straight into the Tunling army. Under this annihilating dragon breath, it was as if the world had fallen silent. The intense light enveloped the space, making it so that no one could see anything. This Dragon Breath appeared to have returned everything to its primordial state. BOOM!! A mushroom cloud even more terrifying than that of the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame rose into the sky. Horrifying heat waves and hurricanes swept out, tearing up the ground! Xiao Yan was stunned. Were all Ancient Void Dragons this formidable? If this move were measured by Dou Techniques, it absolutely reached Tian Class, not just comparable to Tian Class like the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique, but a true Tian Class technique. Hiss hiss hiss¡ª Zi Yan''s enormous body collapsed with a crashing sound. Her entire form was shrouded in purple mist as she rapidly shrank. That strike had completely exhausted all her strength. Even as a Rank 6, that move was a desperate gambit. "Ancient Void Dragon¡ªhad you reached Rank 7, perhaps you could''ve broken the Space Lock, and I wouldn''t be able to stop you. Unfortunately, you only have the strength of Rank 6!" Tun Yuan''s eyes were solemn. This Ancient Void Dragon seemed much stronger than ordinary ones! However, the stronger Zi Yan was, the more excited he became! Xiao Yan carried Little Fairy Doctor and flew to Zi Yan''s side. He took out his alchemist robe from his storage ring and draped it over the unconscious Zi Yan, placing her atop the blood-soaked Amethyst Winged Lion King. Xiao Yan tightly grasped Little Fairy Doctor''s jade-like hand with his left, fearing that if he let go, she would agree to absorb the Ghostly Poison Flame and then self-detonate. "Kill him! Seize his Dou God Bloodline and give it to me! Hehehe, to have such strength at the Dou King level, his bloodline must not be low!" In the distance, Ling Tian saw that Xiao Yan was at his wit''s end. He already imagined using the Tunling Clan''s power to devour Xiao Yan''s bloodline and claim it for himself. If he knew that Xiao Yan''s Dou God Bloodline was so weak it could be ignored, who knows what he would think. Buzz!! Although Zi Yan had just annihilated a large number of Tunling creatures, those tiny Tunlings were like endless insects. The massive Tun Yuan opened his mouth, and with a whoosh, another batch poured out. Dense black dots formed a tornado and came rushing over! This was the terrifying aspect of the Tunling Clan. The more bloodlines they devoured, and the stronger the bloodline strength they absorbed, the more they could produce these small Tunlings! Xiao Yan gritted his teeth and pushed the Flame Mantra to its limit. Instantly, the energy within dozens of miles began to surge frantically, with him as the center of the vortex! At that moment, another cluster of pitch-black flame appeared on his body, surging from behind to envelop him. "Hmm? This is..." Meow!!! ~o(=¡É¦Ø¡É=)m Accompanied by the crisp meowing of Mao Wu, the Nihility Devouring Flame Seed, the sky full of black flames suddenly began to transform! Slowly, sphere-like objects resembling embryonic eggs descended, with black flames swirling around them. Faint blood-colored light seeped through the black flame clouds and finally entered these embryonic eggs. Bang! Bang! As the blood-colored light poured in, those dense black flame embryos suddenly exploded. In an instant, sharp and piercing screams echoed in the sky. Countless black flame shadows poured down from the sky like a torrential rain, frantically surging toward the mountain range below. Not only Xiao Yan and the others, but even Tun Yuan''s expression changed drastically upon seeing the densely packed black flame shadows sweeping down from the sky! Because those were clearly Tunling creatures! How could black flames possibly produce Tunlings! "What the hell are these things?!" Chitter chitter!! In the end, the two groups of Tunlings collided. These tiny creatures bit each other, devouring one another''s flesh and blood, yet neither could overcome the other! However, although Mao Wu''s transformed Tunlings were fewer in number, the ones enveloped in black flames strangely seemed to have slightly stronger devouring abilities. "You... you possess the power of our clan''s king! Wh-what exactly are you?!" Tun Yuan''s expression changed dramatically upon sensing the familiar aura. What had happened during the thousands of years he had been lurking here? What was that black flame? Why could it produce the power of the Tunling King? Xiao Yan was shocked to the core. Mao Wu was just a Heavenly Flame Spirit and not even the main body of the Nihility Devouring Flame. He didn''t know why this was happening, but in this moment of despair, Mao Wu had brought him a glimmer of hope! "Elder Yao, mind taking a gamble with me?" Xiao Yan took out two pills from his storage ring. One was the highest-quality Dou King Pill he had refined, and the other was the Emperor Heaven Pill! His Flame Mantra was operating like mad at this moment. He planned to forcibly break through to 8-star Dou King, then use the pills to charge directly into the Dou Emperor realm! Although Xiao Yan didn''t know what miraculous effect the so-called power of the Tunling King might have, what if there was some unexpected benefit! "Hahaha, this old man has already died once. What else is there to fear!" As soon as Venerable Tian Huo finished speaking, Xiao Yan grinned and swallowed the two pills without hesitation. Immediately, a violent energy that felt like it was tearing his meridians apart erupted within his body. Venerable Tian Huo didn''t hold back, pouring all his Spiritual Strength into Xiao Yan. "Return!" Xiao Yan commanded in his heart. The Mao Wu that had transformed into Tunlings obediently returned to his body. Whoosh! Whoosh! Instantly, endless Nihility Devouring Flame surged out from his body. Except for the Nihility Devouring Flame, all other Heavenly Flames merged together, circulating along the path of the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change. Relying on the medicinal pills, his cultivation once again soared, charging from half-step Dou Ancestor directly! "Let''s devour him!" ~o(=¡É¦Ø¡É=)m Meow! "Asura Soul Reaping Technique¡ªAbyss Submersion!" Chapter 308: Sharing the Burden Chapter 308 - 308: Sharing the Burden Word Count: 2,683 Words ****** Xiao Yan let out a thunderous roar. His aura soared skyward, exuding dominance and fearless fervor. His Spiritual Strength, in particular, was overwhelming and unmatched, like a ferocious tiger descending from the mountain. Even if he were to bleed out on the spot, he would continue to fight. He had never been one to retreat! Not even when facing the Gu Clan did he ever think of backing down! "Asura Soul Reaping Technique¡ª Abyss Submersion!" In that instant, Xiao Yan formed hand seals. Though his mouth did not move, his voice resonated throughout the entire space. In a flash, it felt as if his vast Spiritual Strength flooded the world. The Flame Mantra circulated madly, seeming to draw the boundless, surrounding natural energy into one point! Although Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength had reached the perfected Mortal State, equivalent to a 7th-tier alchemist''s, Soul Skills alone could not unleash their full power if his Dou Qi realm lagged behind. After all, Spiritual Strength still required a physical body as its vessel. Even a soul body was far weaker than it had been in life. Yet now, relying on the Flame Mantra and medicinal pills, Xiao Yan''s cultivation violently burst into the Dou Emperor realm! The High Di Class Soul Skill finally displayed its terrifying side. He had actually already cultivated the second level of the Asura Soul Reaping Technique but had always been unable to perform it. This was not only because his cultivation was too weak but also because the Asura Soul Reaping Technique was an ''unpopular Soul Skill'' even within the Hun Clan; members of the Hun Clan themselves were unwilling to cultivate it. After all, Abyss Submersion could cause a cultivator to sink into depravity and enter a demonic state! With a sudden rumble, darkness blanketed the sky so swiftly it felt as though an unimaginably ancient demonic god had emerged from the depths of the Nine Nether Underworld. The Nihility Devouring Flame Seed melted the ground beneath Xiao Yan''s feet into a pool of darkness. The power of the Heavenly Flame rampaged wildly across the land! Enveloped in a layer of black flame, his terrifying Spiritual Strength unleashed an unparalleled force that ravaged the surroundings. This horrifying force bore down upon the entire space like a long-slumbering primordial demon awakened, prepared to drag the world itself into the abyss. No one could possibly resist! Boom! Boom!! A relentless series of rumbling sounds rang out. A frightening, high-temperature whirlwind formed where Xiao Yan stood. A dark tornado pierced the sky as black flames raged around him. Crackling sounds echoed as massive bolts of lightning struck down from the clouds above. Xiao Yan currently resembled a demon, a walking cataclysm. This incomparably terrifying disaster seemed intent on destroying the world, tearing apart anything that stood in its path. Then, with a resonant hum, his eyes snapped open and revealed a transformation. The whites of his eyes had become deep black flame while his pupils turned blood red! No longer like black pearls, his eyes were now a pair of incomparably terrifying blood-red orbs. The moment these blood-red eyes opened, anyone who gazed upon them felt their soul shudder as if being dragged into an endless hell! It felt as if his gaze could devour the souls of all beings, sending chills down every spine and instilling absolute dread! From afar, the terrifying black flames surrounding Xiao Yan coalesced into the form of a massive Tunling creature. The originally tiny Tunlings had seamlessly amalgamated into a gigantic being! Unlike the Tunlings released by Tun Yuan, the one formed by the Nihility Devouring Flame Seed was enormous and wore a crown upon its head! At this moment, Xiao Yan seemed to have transformed into a giant, his size almost matching that of the monstrous Tun Yuan. Those with weak willpower might have already prostrated themselves on the ground, worshipping as if facing a supreme monarch! Amid a harsh, tearing sound, the colossal Tunling formed by the Nihility Devouring Flame Seed spread a pair of vast black fire wings that, when unfurled, seemed to blot out the sky. This scene struck deeply into the hearts of Little Fairy Doctor and the others. "Has Xiao Yan been possessed by a demon king?!" The Amethyst Winged Lion King watched in horror. This Xiao Yan was too unfamiliar, almost as if he wasn''t Xiao Yan at all; it felt like he had entered a demonic state! What kind of Dou Technique looked like this! "Devour!!!" Xiao Yan let out a roar. His hands transformed into claws, black lightning flashed beneath his feet, and his dark fire wings shook violently. With Venerable Tian Huo''s added strength, his cultivation level now reached the true Dou Ancestor realm!! His speed was astonishingly swift. The gigantic Tunling charged into the sky in the blink of an eye. The immense demon formed by the black flames opened its bloody maw and, in a single gulp, swallowed the entire swarm of small Tunlings above! "The Tunling King! This is definitely the power of our clan''s king! How dare you devour our king!! Unforgivable!!" Tun Yuan''s eyes turned crimson in rage as he witnessed this. The Tunling King, the source of his greatest pride, had been devoured by someone else, and even its power had been seized! Such a scene was utterly unacceptable to this former elder of the Tunling Clan! A single palm could sever mountains and rivers; both palms together could shatter space. The human-faced, insect-bodied Tun Yuan opened his mouth to reveal sharp teeth. The sheer power of a Dou Venerate cracked space itself as his palms struck toward Xiao Yan. The world trembled, and the entire space quaked under the impact of his blows! A Dou Venerate was indeed a Dou Venerate. The power they wielded simply could not be compensated for by Secret Techniques or medicinal pills! Yet, Xiao Yan had already gone berserk and showed no fear of the Dou Venerate''s might. Incredibly, he even opened his mouth to bite! A thunderous boom rang out as Tun Yuan''s palms were caught in the jaws of the enormous Tunling King, but Xiao Yan was still knocked back several steps. Xiao Yan''s strength had surged as if he were cheating, and though he could not completely resist a Dou Venerate''s power, he was determined to bite off a chunk of flesh with every palm strike he took. The two clashed head-on. The jaws formed by the Nihility Devouring Flame bit into Tun Yuan''s body, and the power of the Tunling King erupted, devouring the bloodline strength within Tun Yuan. However, how could Tun Yuan, a Dou Venerate, allow himself to be bitten without resisting? Countless tiny Tunlings flew out from his body, swarming toward the black flames as if intending to devour both Xiao Yan and Mao Wu! Boom! Boom! A series of explosions echoed ceaselessly. Not only the world shook, but even space itself quivered. Neither side yielded an inch! From afar, it appeared as though a mass of black flames and a mass of black mist were colliding, each devouring and destroying the other! The two sides frantically tore at one another, constantly annihilating the opponent''s Tunlings and transforming them into their own power! While everyone focused on the mutual devouring between Xiao Yan and Tun Yuan, wondering who would ultimately consume whom, a glint flashed in Venerable You Du''s eyes. He had been waiting for Little Fairy Doctor to compromise and trigger her Woeful Poison Body''s eruption. "Kekeke, if you could reach the true Dou Ancestor realm, this battle would indeed be your victory, but you''re still too weak!" Tun Yuan let out a harsh laugh. Endless tiny Tunlings continued to pour out from his body. The terrifying devouring power had already engulfed the Tunling King formed by the Nihility Devouring Flame. Tun Yuan had absorbed not only Ling Tian''s Dou God Bloodline but also the bloodlines of other Dou God Clan members whom Ling Tian had deceived into coming here. All their Dou God Bloodlines were now within him. Moreover, the gap between a Dou Venerate and a Dou Ancestor was simply too vast! In the past, Xiao Yan had indeed been able to fight above his realm by relying on Heavenly Flames and the Flame Mantra, but that was effective only in earlier stages. Even with a Tian Class Qi Method, its advantages diminished significantly at the Dou Venerate level. The gap between a Dou Venerate and a Dou Ancestor was like an insurmountable chasm. It couldn''t be compared to the gap between a Dou Emperor and a Dou Ancestor; even the combined might of the Flame Mantra and Heavenly Flames could not bridge it. Xiao Yan had even unleashed the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique, yet even with so many Heavenly Flames, he could not significantly impact Tun Yuan. Suddenly, his blood-red eyes contracted as he looked sharply behind him! "Little Fairy Doctor, you...!" Little Fairy Doctor had unknowingly poisoned the Amethyst Winged Lion King and its cub unconscious. Now, she stood behind Xiao Yan, her body enveloped in a dark green flame. Xiao Yan knew that was the Ghostly Poison Flame! Little Fairy Doctor''s aura continued to surge. Her once-black hair had turned snow white. Clad in black robes with flowing white hair, she appeared hauntingly beautiful. She had fully activated her Woeful Poison Body, absorbing the Ghostly Poison Flame and all of Venerable You Du''s lifetime accumulation of poison into her body. The Woeful Poison Body grew more terrifying the more potent the poison it absorbed. The 20th-ranked Ghostly Poison Flame combined with the poison left behind by a deceased Dou Venerate formed a poison potent enough to likely kill even a Dou Venerate! "Do not grieve for me. Such is the fate of one born with a Woeful Poison Body; it is only a matter of time." Little Fairy Doctor revealed a faint smile, a smile so tragically beautiful that it tugged at one''s heartstrings. The bewildered Xiao Yan snapped back to reality. His eyes turned blood red again as he erupted with power, hoping desperately to turn the tide and completely devour Tun Yuan. But this wasn''t a fairy tale. Love and courage alone couldn''t increase one''s strength. Little Fairy Doctor gently raised her hand. Seven-colored poison light surged from her palm. When this light shone upon Tun Yuan''s body, it actually rapidly disintegrated his flesh, exposing the densely packed tiny Tunlings inside. "Ahhh!! You! You''re courting death!" Little Fairy Doctor''s current strength had definitely reached the Dou Venerate level. Her Woeful Poison power could even poison those Tunlings from a distance. Countless Tunlings died rapidly, like paper burned to ashes. Grievously wounded by Little Fairy Doctor, Tun Yuan watched his power dwindle further. Seizing the moment, Mao Wu turned the tables. It unleashed a horrifying burst of black flames, devouring everything like a black hole before collapsing into a single, flickering mass in an instant of swirling darkness. All anomalies vanished. The darkness disappeared; the demon king was gone. It was as if everything that had just happened never existed, leaving only a palm-sized cluster of black flames quietly burning in midair. Little Fairy Doctor saw Xiao Yan''s somewhat dumbfounded appearance, and inexplicably let out a light laugh. She seemed strangely unafraid of death. When Xiao Yan tried to reach out to touch her, the terrifying Ghostly Poison Flame lashed out, flicking his hand away. His slightly tanned hand instantly turned pitch-black! Little Fairy Doctor said nothing, knowing that with Xiao Yan''s strength, he could surely neutralize that bit of poison. With a wave of her sleeve, a crack appeared in the empty space, and the unconscious Amethyst Winged Lion King and Zi Yan slowly floated over. "I''ll send you all away from here. It won''t be long before the Woeful Poison Body can no longer hold back its eruption, and the land for a hundred miles around will become a dead zone." Xiao Yan''s eyes were bloodred, and tears shimmered within them. His fists clenched tightly; his nails dug deep into his flesh, yet he felt no pain. "Jie Jie Jie, you cannot resolve even a mere Woeful Poison Body. How are you qualified to refine the Di Tier Pill with me?" Just then! When Xiao Yan was at his wit''s end, a strange laugh echoed in his mind! It was Hun Huzi''s voice! "The Nihility Devouring Flame Seed has evolved into an Earth Seed Flame. Think carefully. That''s a Seed Flame derived from the second-ranked Heavenly Flame." Xiao Yan''s eyes suddenly widened. He had no time to question Hun Huzi further. His heart trembled as he abruptly looked toward the nearby Nihility Devouring Flame Seed! At this moment, Mao Wu hadn''t taken its black cat form but remained in its flame state, burning quietly and steadily! "This is an Earth Seed Flame... Mao Wu, you''ve evolved!" The Nihility Devouring Flame Seed had distinct stages: possessing spiritual awareness, becoming an Earth Seed Flame, and eventually a Heaven Seed Flame. After devouring that massive Tunling creature, Mao Wu had finally evolved! Mao Wu''s power was now definitely no weaker than any lower-ranked Heavenly Flame! Meow! Upon hearing Xiao Yan''s call, the quietly burning black flame began to rise. A black cat leaped out from the flames, jumped onto Xiao Yan''s head, scratched its own chin with a hind leg, and didn''t forget to groom its fur. Though its appearance hadn''t changed, Xiao Yan sensed that the power the Nihility Devouring Flame now possessed was unfathomable! A smile immediately bloomed on his face as he looked at Little Fairy Doctor, who seemed puzzled by what had just happened. Unexpectedly, there was a silver lining! If he hadn''t desperately tried to devour Tun Yuan at the start, Little Fairy Doctor would have had to self-detonate to destroy him. It was precisely because Little Fairy Doctor hadn''t self-detonated that the Nihility Devouring Flame was able to completely devour the Tunling creature and evolve into an Earth Seed Flame! All of this was because he hadn''t retreated from the beginning! Miracles require the courage to attempt foolish things! A chain of thoughts flashed through Xiao Yan''s mind, giving him an idea! "Forgive me, Little Fairy Doctor." Spiritually connected, Mao Wu instantly merged into Xiao Yan''s body, and the Earth Seed Flame enveloped him entirely. Then, under Little Fairy Doctor''s astonished gaze, Xiao Yan took out a pre-prepared Poison Resistance Pill with his left hand and swallowed it. His right hand reached through the Ghostly Poison Flame, pulled her slender waist close, and then... kissed her. "Mm! Mmph!" Little Fairy Doctor''s eyes went wide. She was being taken advantage of! You''re taking advantage of me even when I''m about to die! Is there any humanity left in you! Instantly! The devouring power activated. Mao Wu began to devour the backlash from the Ghostly Poison Flame. Even some of Venerable You Du''s poison gas was absorbed by the unique devouring ability of the Nihility Devouring Flame. Xiao Yan immediately activated the Flame Mantra, actually attempting to refine the Ghostly Poison Flame within Little Fairy Doctor''s body!!! If Venerable Yao were still alive, he would undoubtedly have applauded and given a thumbs up, exclaiming "f*cking awesome!" at this method of refining a Heavenly Flame through a kiss. But this was feasible because Little Fairy Doctor hadn''t fully refined the Ghostly Poison Flame, unlike Han Feng, who had completely refined his and imprinted it with his soul. Little Fairy Doctor''s Woeful Poison Body had only absorbed the Ghostly Poison Flame as if it were mere poison. If the Woeful Poison Body would erupt upon reaching the Dou Venerate level, then siphoning off part of the absorbed poison to suppress her level below Dou Venerate would prevent it from detonating prematurely! Previously, the unevolved Nihility Devouring Flame struggled to devour even a Dou Venerate''s seal. But now, having evolved into an Earth Seed Flame, its true power began to manifest! "Mmph!" Little Fairy Doctor''s body stiffened. She clutched her robes tightly. Her first kiss was gone, taken just like that! Chapter 309: Harvest! Chapter 309 - 309: Harvest! Word Count: 2,768 Words ****** "Mmph!" Little Fairy Doctor''s eyes widened at first, and when she felt her teeth being forcefully pried apart, she tightly shut her eyes as her body went rigid. Her mind was already in turmoil, her heart pounding wildly like a startled fawn. She had long forgotten that her Woeful Poison Body was about to erupt and that she herself was teetering on the brink of death. Her restless hands, unsure of where to go, clutched her robe so tightly that they nearly wrinkled its fabric. Although she understood that Xiao Yan was trying to save her by extracting the Ghostly Poison Flame and a portion of the Dou Venerate''s poison from her body, thereby reducing the burden on her Woeful Poison Body... How could she possibly have the presence of mind to consider such matters now? After all, she was a pure maiden who had never experienced anything like this before. All she could think about was what she had eaten at her last meal, and now she also knew what Xiao Yan had eaten for his... Ordinarily, not even the Nihility Devouring Flame could invade a Woeful Poison Body. After all, such a legendary physique rendered it impossible to purge the poison in the same manner as with Nalan Jie; even Heavenly Flames could hardly withstand the onslaught of the violent poison inherent to a Woeful Poison Body. However, Mao Wu, having evolved into an Earth Seed Flame, utilized Spatial Strength in conjunction with Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength, traversing space to swiftly extract the unabsorbed poison before the Woeful Poison Body could fully assimilate it. The Flame Mantra circulated at extreme speed. The Nihility Devouring Flame exerted its full power, enveloping the Ghostly Poison Flame within Little Fairy Doctor''s body and actually pulling it free from the Woeful Poison Body''s grasp! With Tun Yuan eliminated, Venerable You Du had completely perished. The soul imprint on the Ghostly Poison Flame had also vanished entirely, returning it to an ownerless state. For Xiao Yan, whose Flame Mantra had already reached the Low Tian Class, the difficulty of refining the 20th-ranked Ghostly Poison Flame was significantly reduced! Hoo! Xiao Yan''s gaze focused. He captured the dark green Ghostly Poison Flame with his powerful Spiritual Strength and precise fire control. Gulp. His throat bobbed as he swallowed the flame into his body through his throat. It was fortunate no third party was present. Otherwise, witnessing this intimate exchange would likely cause anyone to blush deeply with embarrassment. Xiao Yan finally released Little Fairy Doctor''s stiff body, though his own condition did not look too good. Although the Ghostly Poison Flame was only ranked 20th, and its temperature was lower than the Green Lotus Core Flame, it was a Poison Flame! Its formidable nature lay not just in its high temperature, but the fierce poison contained within the flame was the reason all alchemists found it difficult to refine. Even Xiao Yan was no exception. His Poison Resistance Pill and Detoxification Pill could only offer assistance; whether he could completely refine it depended on his own fortune. Sensing Xiao Yan release his hold, Little Fairy Doctor''s tense body slowly relaxed after they separated. She gradually opened her eyes. Her cheeks were an unprecedented shade of crimson, even the roots of her ears were pink. Paired with her white hair, it gave her a unique charm! Rather than checking the state of her Woeful Poison Body, the first thing she did was gently touch her reddened lips with her delicate fingers, a trace of girlishness appearing in her eyes. When her beautiful eyes fell upon Xiao Yan¡ªnot far away, as he struggled against the fierce poison of the Ghostly Poison Flame, his body alternating between green and purple while showing clear signs of pain¡ªher expression turned solemn. She lightly bit her fingertip, and a wisp of blood carrying a faint grey-purple glow flowed from the wound. Then, she gently touched his lips with her fingertip and whispered, "This can increase the body''s poison resistance." Sure enough, the symptoms of poisoning within Xiao Yan''s body began to gradually subside. He slowly opened his eyes and, noticing that some of Little Fairy Doctor''s snow-white hair had reverted to its original color, he exhaled a sigh of relief. "You should stabilize the poison in your body first. Even though I''ve drawn out some of the Dou Venerate''s lifelong poison, it''s still extremely potent." "Mm, but first I''ll take care of a small problem." Hearing Little Fairy Doctor''s words, Xiao Yan revealed a slight smile. He understood. Don''t be fooled by Little Fairy Doctor calling herself a ''Fairy Doctor'', usually enjoying reading books and cultivating herbs with a tranquil demeanor. When it was time to act, she could be ruthless! With a flash, Little Fairy Doctor appeared several kilometers away. A bone-chilling cold light flashed in her eyes as she looked down from above at the panickedly fleeing Ling Tian! This was the root of all the trouble. How could Little Fairy Doctor possibly allow him to escape! "No, no... spare me! I can be your ox, your horse. I''ll do anything you ask, just let me live!" Little Fairy Doctor''s eyes held not an ounce of compassion as she observed Ling Tian kneeling and begging for mercy. A wisp of poison surged forth with a mere wave of her hand. "Ahhh!!" Ling Tian immediately collapsed to the ground, white foam spewing from his mouth as he felt his body slowly melting away! Having already been drained of his Dou God Bloodline and most of his flesh and blood by the Tunlings, he didn''t even possess the qualifications to serve as cat food. Finally, under Little Fairy Doctor''s icy gaze, he turned into a pool of blood that gradually soaked into this land. Not long after, Zi Yan, along with the Amethyst Winged Lion King and its cub, awoke one after another. When Zi Yan saw Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor sitting cross-legged in cultivation not far away, she released a weary sigh. "Hey, Xiao Yan, going on adventures with you is just too much trouble." Zi Yan''s first words upon waking were to grumble at Xiao Yan. They were supposed to come rob and plunder, snatch medicinal ingredients from magical beasts, refine Heavenly Flames, inherit a Dou Venerate''s legacy, have a happy trip acting as bandits and robbers, but they ended up nearly losing their little lives! To encounter remnants of the Tunling Clan in this place, a clan that should have been exterminated thousands of years ago, and one that reached the Dou Venerate realm at that! Isn''t this ridiculous? There aren''t even any Dou Venerates in the North-Western Region, yet there just happened to be one here! Although Zi Yan and the others did not know how Xiao Yan had defeated the other party, sensing that Little Fairy Doctor''s cultivation had surged so much, they roughly guessed that their victory hadn''t come easily. The Amethyst Winged Lion King was relieved to see Little Fairy Doctor hadn''t self-detonated. After all, Xiao Yan had entrusted her to its care. If Little Fairy Doctor had died, it wouldn''t know how to face him. By the time Xiao Yan opened his eyes, he saw that Zi Yan, though somewhat exhausted, was otherwise unharmed. He immediately set his mind at ease, then grinned. "Zi Yan ah, now is the time for harvest. The heavenly treasures here and the medicinal ingredients in those people''s storage rings are all ours." At his words, Zi Yan''s eyes brightened with realization. That''s right! There were no living beings left in this land now; they had all been drained of their flesh, blood, and Dou Qi by the small Tunlings released by that Tun Yuan! So now this place was truly littered with treasures! Xiao Yan really knew what was important! This time, quite a few factions from the Chu Yun Empire had been drawn here. The leaders of the Poison Sect and the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate both died here! Although their storage rings might not contain all their belongings, as most were likely kept within their factions, who knew if there might be some unexpected surprises! Moreover, there were several high-grade rare medicinal herbs in this valley. The Clear Soul Nether Orchid was still growing peacefully on the mountain wall! Although Xiao Yan possessed many Heavenly Flames, this time he not only needed to refine a Heavenly Flame but also needed to resolve some Dou Qi issues left behind from forcefully advancing with medicinal pills earlier. Although the Ghostly Poison Flame was only ranked 20th, refining it would grant the body extremely high poison resistance. Now, as Xiao Yan''s consciousness sank into his body, he observed that the dark green flame which had entered earlier had split into countless tiny wisps of flame. These wisps, containing terrifying energy and fierce poison, shuttled chaotically through his meridians. Anything obstructing their path would be instantly incinerated and poisoned into bloody water by them. As these dark green flames shuttled through, although his meridians were protected by the Poison Resistance Pill, coupled with the protection of multiple Heavenly Flames, he was still poisoned to the point of total body weakness and excruciating pain! This was the first time he had felt his entire body numb and unable to move. Even circulating his Dou Qi was extremely difficult. ''Indeed, no Heavenly Flame can be underestimated. This poison can actually paralyze Dou Qi, slowing down the Flame Mantra''s circulation considerably.'' Xiao Yan''s forehead instantly beaded with cold sweat. The Ghostly Poison Flame was different from all previous Heavenly Flames, proving somewhat troublesome even for him, who had refined many Heavenly Flames. The poison flame slowly seeped in. Although the residual heat from this seepage wasn''t particularly scorching, the potent toxin was undoubtedly a devastating blow. Under the dual effects of this high temperature and fierce poison, Xiao Yan''s entire skin began to change various colors like a string of festive lights. Sometimes he felt scorching heat, sometimes bone-chilling cold. Sometimes his whole body felt weak, sometimes feverish and burning. Various sensations alternated; his body seemed to have lost its self-control, experiencing all sorts of poisoning symptoms. The pain caused by the fierce poison made Xiao Yan''s body constantly spasm intermittently. His muscles tensed all over, and blue veins bulged like writhing worms across his deathly pale face, devoid of any blood. These changes persisted for a full seven days and nights before his body gradually began to adapt. Just like when refining the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, some Heavenly Flames could cause physical changes, subtly altering the body. The Ghostly Poison Flame could grant the refiner a body immune to all poisons. Now, ordinary poisons could not affect Xiao Yan at all. Only after his body adapted to the Ghostly Poison Flame''s potent poison did he finally breathe a sigh of relief. He then began circulating the Flame Mantra, guiding the Ghostly Poison Flame into his Acceptance Soul and imprinting his soul imprint upon it. During the seven days of tempering his body with the Ghostly Poison Flame, the medicinal effects of the Dou King Pill and the Emperor Heaven Pill were also finally completely absorbed by Xiao Yan. The medicinal strength, tempered by the Heavenly Flames, became incomparably pure, eliminating concerns about unstable Dou Qi. "Merge!" Xiao Yan''s eyes snapped open. The Low Tian Class Flame Mantra roared like a racing car engine, operating at extreme speed. The natural energy of the entire space surged uncontrollably into his body. Buzz!!! Instantly, within Xiao Yan''s Acceptance Soul, the Nihility Devouring Flame Earth Seed Flame, Ten Thousand Beast Flame, Green Lotus Core Flame, Yin-Yang Twin Flame, Fallen Heart Flame, Bone Chilling Flame, and Sea Heart Flame ¨C seven kinds of Heavenly Flames formed a ring, slowly rotating, like seven big brothers preparing to welcome the arrival of the eighth brother! Soon, the Ghostly Poison Flame gradually joined this big family as the Flame Mantra circulated, taking its place behind the Sea Heart Flame. Time passed unknowingly for another seven days. When Xiao Yan opened his eyes once more, the eight kinds of Heavenly Flames had already merged into a brand-new Heavenly Flame! An incomparably terrifying thermal energy burst forth from Xiao Yan''s body, scorching a hole in the sky above! ''2-star Dou Emperor now.'' Xiao Yan had entered a state of enlightenment these past few days. His cultivation had not only advanced to Dou Emperor through the Emperor Heaven Pill but had also increased by another star in strength! Refining a Heavenly Flame could change Xiao Yan''s physique but couldn''t directly increase his cultivation level. However, there were often additional gains during the Heavenly Flame refinement process. For example, this time, there was still a bit of Venerable You Du''s Dou Qi within the Ghostly Poison Flame. This naturally benefited Xiao Yan, allowing him not only to fix the flaws from his forced breakthrough but also to increase his cultivation by one star, reaching the 2-star Dou Emperor stage. ''The Flame Mantra indeed didn''t evolve further.'' Xiao Yan wasn''t surprised at all. The Flame Mantra had already reached the Low Tian Class. To evolve to the Middle Tian Class, he would need to refine at least one of the top ten Heavenly Flames. Nevertheless, although the Ghostly Poison Flame did not trigger an evolution of the Flame Mantra, it did serve to strengthen it somewhat. "Xiao Yan! Xiao Yan! Xiao Yan!!" Seeing Xiao Yan finally emerge from his cultivation state, Zi Yan couldn''t hold back any longer. She directly traversed the void and appeared before him, her anxious appearance making one wonder if there was some special relationship between them! Then, under Xiao Yan''s eye-rolling expression, she dumped a pile of medicinal ingredients in front of him. Xiao Yan recognized them at a glance. These were all tier 6 medicinal ingredients, and there were even two tier 7 ones! After all, Zi Yan was now a Rank 6 magical beast. Tier 5 medicinal ingredients like the Dou King Grass could no longer help her grow or increase her strength. Gazing at these medicinal ingredients that would drive any 6th-tier alchemist mad, Xiao Yan shot her a sidelong glance and said, "Aren''t you taking a bit too much!" These tier 6 ingredients¡ªhad she perhaps cleared out the entire mountain range? Zi Yan saw his expression, giggled, and took out a basket full of storage rings from her void space. These were all obtained from the Poison Masters, who had died miserably, and they had been collected by her and the Amethyst Winged Lion King over the past half-month. Xiao Yan''s terrifying Spiritual Strength swept over them, only to discover that these storage rings were full of junk. Even the storage rings themselves were very ordinary, incomparable to top-tier rings like the Bone Flame Ring or the Serene Sea Storage Ring. Even the storage ring Ya Fei gave him was higher grade than these. The contents were even more worthless. Apart from some Huang Class and Xuan Class Qi Methods and Dou Techniques, all the medicinal ingredients were below tier 5. "Zi Yan!" Xiao Yan glanced askance at Zi Yan. Are you trying to trick me? Do I look that easy to fool! Realizing Xiao Yan had seen through her trick, Zi Yan showed an awkward yet polite smile and took out another dozen or so storage rings from her void space. These storage rings were clearly of higher quality. Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength swept over them. He guessed these storage rings likely belonged to the Poison Sect Leader, the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate Chief, and other vanguard leaders. Inside, he could find some high-quality weapons, but there wasn''t a single Di Class Qi Method or Dou Technique. They were probably kept as treasures within their respective factions. And there were a few tier 6 medicinal ingredients as well. Xiao Yan pursed his lips. Black flames enveloped his palm, then reached through the void into the storage space Zi Yan had created. He took out all the storage rings and precious medicinal ingredients belonging to those ill-fated members from the Dou God Clans. "Xiao Yan, you can''t take them all!" Zi Yan immediately lunged forward, but Xiao Yan stopped her with a palm against her forehead. In a righteous tone, he then declared, "How can you be so selfish? We''re a team of five, and you want to take everything for yourself? I bet you didn''t even share anything with the Lion King and its cub, did you?" He then delivered a firm slap to her butt as punishment! Chapter 310: Everything Is Ready! Chapter 310 - 310: Everything Is Ready! Word Count: 2,832 Words ****** Zi Yan covered her butt, her lips immediately pouting as she gazed at Xiao Yan with tear©\filled eyes, her face a picture of utter grievance. "Looking at me like that won''t help," Xiao Yan stated. "The Lion King and its cub are also magical beasts, and these heavenly treasures can accelerate their growth. You can''t take them all for yourself." At that, the Lion King hastily stepped forward. "We don''t need them. Just leave everything to Zi Yan. All I want is a Body Transformation Pill." The Lion King didn''t dare offend Zi Yan. Although she had just entered Rank 6, her strength already surpassed its own as an established Rank 6 magical beast. Moreover, she belonged to the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe! How could it possibly afford to offend her? Half a month ago, everyone had witnessed that terrifying Dragon Breath; even now, the scorched marks from that day had not yet cooled! "We can''t consume heavenly treasures as recklessly as Zi Yan does. We don''t need them," added the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Its body and bloodline were inferior to Zi Yan''s. If it consumed as much as she did, its body might explode before it could grow stronger. Hearing the Amethyst Winged Lion King''s tactful response, Zi Yan lifted her chin proudly toward Xiao Yan. "You heard them. It''s only right that I get a bigger share." Xiao Yan looked helplessly at the slightly spoiled Zi Yan. "Fine, I''ll give you more. But leave the detoxifying ingredients for Little Fairy Doctor, and I need the tier 7 and above medicinal ingredients for alchemy. As for the tier 6 ones, I''ll take some as a service fee. We''ll split them fifty-fifty." Zi Yan''s purple eyes widened in disbelief! How could Xiao Yan, surrounded by Heavenly Flames, utter such cold-hearted words! "You''re taking all the tier 7 medicinal ingredients and still want to split the tier 6 ones evenly with me?! No way! Seventy-thirty, or no deal¡ªI get the seventy!" Zi Yan placed her hands on her hips, clearly dissatisfied. "Alright, alright, you get seventy percent," Xiao Yan agreed without hesitation. This immediately made Zi Yan feel that perhaps she had asked for too little! ... Having settled matters with Zi Yan, Xiao Yan made his way over to Little Fairy Doctor. Her strength was skyrocketing, having now reached half a step into the Dou Ancestor realm. And yet, it wasn''t cultivation in the usual sense. She appeared more like someone painstakingly defusing a bomb. She struggled to absorb as little of Venerable You Du''s poison as possible, so that the remainder could disperse and be compressed instead of being wholly devoured by her Woeful Poison Body. "Rest assured," came the voice of Venerable Tian Huo from within the storage ring. "With her current method of gradually releasing the poison as she cultivates, plus the Ghostly Poison Flame and part of the poison already removed by you, she won''t step into the Dou Venerate realm. The Woeful Poison Body shouldn''t erupt prematurely." Xiao Yan felt much more at ease upon hearing Venerable Tian Huo''s assessment. "You should go take a look over there," Venerable Tian Huo suddenly pointed to a distant spot on the cliff where a pure and holy orchid bloomed. Zi Yan knew this flower was reserved for Little Fairy Doctor, so she hadn''t dared touch it, fearing she might harm it. After all, it wasn''t merely a medicinal ingredient but a special, rare flower not meant for alchemy. As Xiao Yan drew closer, he confirmed that the Clear Soul Nether Orchid remained unscathed. He wasn''t sure when he would acquire the Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva and the Monster Core of a Rank 7 Sky Poison Dragon Scorpion Beast, but the Clear Soul Nether Orchid was a treasure capable of delaying the eruption of the Woeful Poison Body. "I wasn''t telling you to look at the Clear Soul Nether Orchid, but to look beside it," Venerable Tian Huo reminded him. Only then did Xiao Yan notice a green storage ring half-buried in the soil. The moment he picked it up, the ring emitted a subtle spiritual fluctuation that caused the Ghostly Poison Flame within his body to stir briefly before settling again. "This must be Venerable You Du''s storage ring!" Naturally, this storage ring had become ownerless after Venerable You Du had completely perished. Xiao Yan sent his Spiritual Strength into the ring and retrieved a letter. After reading its contents thoroughly, he finally understood the whole story. First, the reason why Venerable You Du was willing to self-detonate using his acquired Woeful Poison Body, and even attempting to induce Little Fairy Doctor to activate hers to kill that massive Tunling Clan member named Tun Yuan, was for revenge. It turned out that before the emergence of the Chu Yun Empire, there had been a small empire called You Du. In a sense, the You Du Empire was the predecessor of the Chu Yun Empire, as it too was a nation primarily composed of Poison Masters. Venerable You Du had once been the crown prince of this empire. The tens of millions of corpses Xiao Yan initially saw were those of the former citizens of the You Du Empire. Venerable You Du''s empire had been destroyed by Tun Yuan, who reduced all its citizens to nourishment for his resurrection. The end result was the current situation. Venerable You Du escaped with his life, later found the Ghostly Poison Flame in the south, cultivated the acquired Woeful Poison Body, broke through to the Dou Venerate realm, and returned for revenge, leading to the present outcome. And this storage ring contained Venerable You Du''s legacy! Besides the letter, it held numerous poison recipes, various items, a method for cultivating the acquired Woeful Poison Body, and a rare, poison-type Low Tian Class Dou Technique! Xiao Yan took out the scroll containing the poison-type Dou Technique, gave it a wave, and shot a pointed look at Venerable Tian Huo. "Look at someone else''s Dou Venerate legacy, and then look at yours," Xiao Yan said leisurely. "Cough. My Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique isn''t just a Dou Technique; it''s also a fire control method that enhances one''s fire control ability. Its power is comparable to Tian Class," Venerable Tian Huo replied somewhat indignantly. My legacy isn''t weak either, okay?" Not arguing further, Xiao Yan opened the scroll and began to read. "Woeful Demon Poison Claw, Low Tian Class Dou Technique. The technique is divided into five levels. Each level requires condensing one finger with the poison of the Woeful Poison Body. When all five levels are mastered, the five fingers collectively exert force, and demonic poison descends upon the world, corroding all things. If the poison claw draws blood, even a Dou Venerate will fall!" "This Dou Technique can only be cultivated by those with the Woeful Poison Body." Xiao Yan frowned. This was actually a specialized Dou Technique for the Woeful Poison Body, and an extremely rare poison-type one at that. If injured by the poison claw, even Dou Venerates would perish! "Once cultivated to perfection, just a scratch can cause a Dou Venerate to fall! This Dou Technique is truly vicious!" Xiao Yan swallowed hard. Of course, he understood that its power lay not only in its Low Tian Class ranking but, more importantly, in leveraging the terrifying toxicity of the Woeful Poison Body to its fullest. "Indeed, it''s an extremely ruthless Dou Technique. It''s quite suitable for that little girl to use for self-defense," Venerable Tian Huo nodded in agreement. It appeared that Venerable You Du''s cultivation during his lifetime was by no means weaker than his own. "Hmm? What''s this?" Xiao Yan then took out a sealed wooden box from the storage ring. The Nihility Devouring Flame devoured the seal, and as he slowly opened it, a terrifying aura suddenly surged from within! Peering inside, he saw a Monster Core brimming with violent energy. The moment the box opened, the Monster Core trembled, and the resentful spirit of a massive scorpion-like magical beast leaped out! Fortunately, Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength was formidable, and a Dou Venerate''s soul body was also watching nearby. Venerable Tian Huo snorted coldly and pressed his large hand downward, sealing the beast''s resentful spirit back into the Monster Core. Upon seeing the form of the magical beast, Xiao Yan was overjoyed and exclaimed, "This is the Monster Core of a Rank 7 Sky Poison Dragon Scorpion Beast!" He couldn''t believe his luck. Such a coincidental find! But he soon understood the reason when he found an identical Poison Pill Method scroll in Venerable You Du''s storage ring. "No wonder he sought the Ghostly Poison Flame. He wanted to control the Woeful Poison Body as well," Xiao Yan realized. If one could complete the Poison Pill and fully control the Woeful Poison Body, their cultivation and combat strength would undoubtedly rise to another level. That explained why the storage ring contained a sealed Monster Core of a Sky Poison Dragon Scorpion Beast. However, Xiao Yan speculated Venerable You Du''s acquired Woeful Poison Body was also on the verge of losing control. This left him insufficient time, forcing him to choose self-detonation along with Tun Yuan. This, in turn, directly benefited Little Fairy Doctor! "Great! Now, we only lack the Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva to perform the Poison Pill Method!" Xiao Yan carefully stored away the Sky Poison Dragon Scorpion Beast''s Monster Core. It felt like receiving a pillow just when he was about to doze off. He couldn''t help but reveal a gratified smile as he glanced at Little Fairy Doctor, who was not far away, still suppressing her Woeful Poison Body. The heavens had finally shown a bit of kindness to this pitiful girl. Recalling her determination to self-detonate back then, Xiao Yan felt a pang of heartache. Perhaps she felt that living was too exhausting. Just then, Venerable Tian Huo doused Xiao Yan''s enthusiasm with a bucket of cold water. Casting a sidelong glance at the elated Xiao Yan, he said, "Don''t forget, the Poison Pill Method requires a 7th-tier alchemist. You seem to be only at tier 6." !!!!!! Xiao Yan''s pupils contracted in shock. Fuck! Now he was the one holding things back! He was stunned. He had originally believed that his alchemy skills were the least of his worries regarding the Poison Pill Method. As long as he gathered all the ingredients, he was confident he could help Little Fairy Doctor refine the Poison Pill. But now it seemed that, while only the Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva was missing in terms of ingredients, his alchemy skills hadn''t yet reached tier 7! Moreover, the Poison Pill Method couldn''t be carried out by just any ordinary, low-grade 7th-tier alchemist. To successfully refine a perfect Poison Pill, his alchemy skills definitely needed to be as high as possible! "Never mind. There''s still half a year until the Great Faction Meeting. I''ll advance to tier 7 within that time!" Although Xiao Yan spoke firmly, a tinge of uncertainty crept in. He had successfully refined the Emperor Heaven Pill and the Zong Breaking Pill before, but he had to admit that luck had played a part. In other words, he could barely be considered a peak 6th-tier alchemist. Breaking through to tier 7 within half a year would indeed require both talent and relentless effort. "Also, your Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique has only just condensed a Fire Spirit; you haven''t formed the formation, nor learned the subsequent formation changes." Venerable Tian Huo gave Xiao Yan a disdainful look. He had more tasks than just alchemy. Xiao Yan felt a headache coming on! Now that he was a Dou Emperor, he could cultivate the Sea Flipping Seal, the second seal of the God Seal Technique. However, he had only just begun mastering the first seal, the Open Mountain Seal! "I... I still have half a year!" Xiao Yan firmly believed that hard work could create miracles! ... As the saying goes, ''Sharpening the axe doesn''t delay the work of chopping wood.'' Xiao Yan first refined all of Zi Yan''s tier 6 medicinal ingredients into ''candies''. He then refined tier 5 and tier 6 pills specifically for the Amethyst Winged Lion King and its cub. Only then did he begin his own cultivation. In the subsequent months, Xiao Yan slowed his Dou Qi cultivation to focus on refining his alchemy skills and cultivating Dou Techniques. Especially the Dou Techniques. It wasn''t just the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique and the God Seal Technique he needed to cultivate; he also had to work on the Asura Soul Reaping Technique, the Ancient Dragon Roar, the ''Three Thousand Lightning'' of the Three Thousand Lightning Movement, and create new Heavenly Flame Dou Techniques. All of these required diligent effort. Within this space sealed by a Space Lock, the black-robed youth tirelessly refined pills day and night. After finishing each batch, he would cultivate Dou Techniques. Fortunately, besides Xiao Yan, both Zi Yan and the Amethyst Winged Lion King were Dou Emperors. They could serve as sparring partners for his Dou Technique practice. Having opponents made practicing Dou Techniques progress much faster. "Three Thousand Lightning!" Boom! A thunderous sound echoed. Xiao Yan seemed to traverse space, his speed too fast for the naked eye to follow. Moreover, the lightning clone left behind was indistinguishable from his real body, incredibly lifelike! Xiao Yan wiped the sweat from his forehead. His Three Thousand Lightning Movement had finally been cultivated to perfection. To reach perfection in such a short time would make him a legendary figure in the Wind Lightning Pavilion. "Too bad I don''t have the Three Thousand Lightning Illusory Body," Xiao Yan couldn''t help but feel regret. The Three Thousand Lightning Movement was not just a top-tier Low Di Class agility-type Dou Technique; it was also the prerequisite for the Wind Lightning Pavilion''s secret technique, the Three Thousand Lightning Illusory Body. "The Wind Lightning Pavilion isn''t easy to deal with. Don''t even think about asking them for the Three Thousand Lightning Illusory Body. If they discover you''ve cultivated the Three Thousand Lightning Movement, it''ll be a big problem," Venerable Tian Huo cautioned. Xiao Yan shrugged, not overly concerned about the Wind Lightning Pavilion. He already had a Dou Venerate''s soul body on his side. Once he refined the Yin Yang Life Soul Pill and resurrected Venerable Tian Huo, he would have a Dou Venerate bodyguard bound for ten years. Why would he fear Venerable Lei? Suddenly, the winds and clouds shifted. Xiao Yan''s eyes sharpened as he looked toward Little Fairy Doctor''s location. Her cultivation had finally ceased to increase. "7-star Dou Ancestor... This is... Sigh." Xiao Yan sighed, feeling somewhat overwhelmed. Over the past half-year, he had managed to raise his cultivation by one star, reaching the 3-star Dou Emperor stage thanks to his Tian Class Qi Method. Yet even with a Tian Class Qi Method, he had advanced only one star. Meanwhile, Little Fairy Doctor had leaped over an entire major realm and more in just half a year! "Is this the power of a forbidden physique? Truly enviable," Venerable Tian Huo nodded in agreement. If not for the risk of losing control and self-detonation, such rapid growth would indeed surpass everyone. But precisely because of this, the Woeful Poison Body was both a blessing and a curse. The faster one grew, the sooner disaster struck. Little Fairy Doctor slowly opened her eyes. Sensing her own cultivation level, a hint of melancholy appeared in her gaze. She sighed inwardly when she noticed that her hair had turned completely snow-white. "Had a good rest? You''ve been ''asleep'' for half a year," Xiao Yan and the others gathered around upon her awakening. Seeing Xiao Yan''s face, especially noticing his lips as he spoke, Little Fairy Doctor''s delicate cheeks flushed slightly. "I''m fine, but my Woeful Poison Body likely doesn''t have much time before it erupts," she replied with a bitter smile. Xiao Yan smiled and produced the Clear Soul Nether Orchid along with a box containing the Monster Core of a Sky Poison Dragon Scorpion Beast. "Heaven rewards those who are diligent. There''s a Rank 7 Sky Poison Dragon Scorpion Beast''s Monster Core in Venerable You Du''s storage ring." Little Fairy Doctor''s eyes shone with elation, and her smile¡ªtruly befitting the ''fairy'' in her name¡ªwas captivating. "Thank you, Xiao Yan." Xiao Yan saw her heartfelt smile and was entranced for a moment. He quickly regained his composure and shifted the topic. "Ahem, now besides the Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva, there''s still one more thing." Little Fairy Doctor tilted her head slightly, her delicate brows furrowing. She didn''t quite understand. Wasn''t the Poison Pill Method missing only the Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva? "We still need a skilled 7th-tier alchemist!" With that declaration, Xiao Yan took out the Black Demon Cauldron from his storage ring. Today, he intended to successfully refine a tier 7 medicinal pill! Chapter 311: 7th-Tier Alchemist! Chapter 311 - 311: 7th-Tier Alchemist! Word Count: 2,631 Words ****** Xiao Yan took a deep breath as he gazed at the black medicinal cauldron before him. With a flick of his finger, a terrifying flame born from the merging of eight different Heavenly Flames appeared. Trailing a brilliant tail, it shot straight into the cauldron and erupted inside. Waves of blazing fire churned inside the cauldron. The ever-rising temperature produced by the merging of eight Heavenly Flames was powerful enough to make one shudder. By Xiao Yan''s estimation, the power of this newly merged Heavenly Flame could likely rank between the top eighth and the top fifth among all Heavenly Flames. As the flame emerged, a hint of scorching heat gradually enveloped the surrounding area. Xiao Yan waved his sleeve as the flames blazed upward. Instantly, numerous medicinal ingredients floated out from his storage ring. Wrapped in Dou Qi, they hung in mid-air outside the stone platform like tiny, glowing orbs, creating a dazzling spectacle when seen from below. Little Fairy Doctor noticed Xiao Yan preparing to refine pills, and her beautiful eyes revealed a touch of excitement. She retrieved a small stool and sat in the front row to watch. "The ''Instant Qi Pill'' is a consumable pill that only barely reaches the level of a low-grade tier 7 pill," Xiao Yan explained. "Its effect is to restore a massive amount of Dou Qi in an extremely short time. Even for Dou Ancestors, it is remarkably effective. If used when both sides are exhausted in battle, the restored Dou Qi might just turn the tide." The pill Xiao Yan was refining was the Instant Qi Pill, which instantly replenished an immense amount of Dou Qi. It was typically used by Dou Ancestors or peak Dou Emperors; for others, the sudden surge of Dou Qi might be counterproductive. The main ingredients consisted of four types: three tier 6 medicinal ingredients, one tier 7 medicinal ingredient, and the Monster Core of a Rank 6 magical beast. In addition, over sixty kinds of lower-grade supplementary ingredients were required. Fortunately, those small Tunling Clan members had only absorbed the bloodline strength of magical beasts, leaving behind numerous Monster Cores that he could use for alchemy. Over the past half-year, Xiao Yan had attempted to refine tier 7 pills multiple times, though most attempts ended in failure. On a few occasions, even when he successfully formed a pill, flaws prevented the Pill Lightning from descending. If it were not for the fact that the failed ingredients could be used to make candies for Zi Yan, he might have been scolded to death by her. Among the various tier 7 pills he attempted, the Instant Qi Pill was the one he came closest to successfully refining. Therefore, he planned to use this opportunity to break through and officially become a 7th-tier alchemist! All the intricate details of the Instant Qi Pill recipe slowly surfaced in his mind. He meticulously memorized every critical point without missing a single detail. With nearly seventy types of ingredients, this was the most complex pill Xiao Yan had ever attempted, even surpassing the Zong Breaking Pill and the Emperor Heaven Pill in required materials. Taking several deep breaths, he cleared his mind of distracting thoughts. He raised his head, sensed the temperature inside the cauldron, and nodded slightly. With a subtle motion of his finger, a beam of light swept over and transformed into a small, emerald-green fruit that landed in his hand. Once the fruit was tossed in, the previously dormant flames roared up like ravenous wolves. In just a few breaths, the flames devoured it completely. Refining a tier 7 pill no longer involved extracting ingredients one by one. Some ingredients needed to be refined in pairs or even several at once. Constantly monitoring the changes in the ingredients with Spiritual Strength and adjusting the flame''s temperature were essential. Simultaneously refining so many ingredients placed strict demands on one''s Spiritual Strength and fire control abilities. Fortunately, Xiao Yan now possessed both the qualifications and strength for this task. The ingredients that charged into the flames withered rapidly within a few breaths upon contacting the merged Heavenly Flame. Their main bodies turned to ashes, leaving behind drops of pure medicinal liquid. Under Xiao Yan''s exquisite command of his Spiritual Strength, they fused slightly before dripping evenly onto the sole tier 7 medicinal ingredient, merging with it. Two days and one night had passed by the time all the ingredients were refined. The myriad ingredients required for a tier 7 pill made the process extremely time-consuming. When all the medicinal essences and the Monster Core fused together, the heavy Black Demon Cauldron trembled violently. Had it been an ordinary medicinal cauldron, it might have shattered from the shaking alone. Xiao Yan''s expression fluctuated as he stared at the violent Monster Core inside the cauldron. He let out a cold snort. A mass of black flame surged out from within the merged Heavenly Flame. Under the autonomous control of Mao Wu, the flame directly devoured all the lingering resentment of the magical beast without damaging the Monster Core. Sensing calmness within the liquid cluster with his Spiritual Strength, Xiao Yan breathed a small sigh of relief. The subsequent procedures became much more stable. Judging by the current state, once all the medicinal strengths fully merged, the embryonic form of the pill would gradually condense. And this waiting period lasted another full day! Suddenly, Xiao Yan opened his eyes and looked up at the sky. Faint anomalies appeared as countless clouds began to converge, slowly forming a vortex. "The pill is about to form!" The Amethyst Winged Lion King was startled, raising its head to observe the swirling dark clouds. Without a doubt, this was the phenomenon associated with a tier 7 pill! A tier 7 pill possessed a certain level of spirituality, and when the pill formed, it would cause extremely terrifying phenomena in the world, attracting Pill Lightning. From afar, it looked as if doomsday had arrived. After emerging from the cauldron, if the alchemist were the slightest bit careless, the spiritually aware pill might even fly away. Little Fairy Doctor, Zi Yan, and even Venerable Tian Huo all focused their gazes. If Xiao Yan could truly refine a tier 7 pill, it would mean he had taken a significant step into the realm of 7th-tier alchemists. With further practice, his alchemy skills would only improve. Moreover, his Spiritual Strength and fire control abilities already surpassed those of ordinary 7th-tier alchemists, and his progress would only accelerate! "An ordinary low-grade tier 7 pill attracts one bolt of Pill Lightning, equivalent to a strike from a 3- to 5-star Dou Ancestor..." Venerable Tian Huo''s expression was somewhat solemn. As a Dou Venerate, he had naturally seen tier 7 pills before and understood their wonders. Seeing Little Fairy Doctor wanting to step forward to help, he quickly stopped her. "Your Woeful Poison Body is unstable right now and already at a critical point. It is best if you do not act rashly." Little Fairy Doctor had already reached the 7-star Dou Ancestor stage, which meant she was very close to the eruption of her Woeful Poison Body. Moreover, the Woeful Poison Body could erupt prematurely and did not necessarily wait until one reached the Dou Venerate realm. "Besides, do not underestimate him. He is now a 3-star Dou Emperor. It is time for him to test his skills." Venerable Tian Huo revealed a slight smile, his eyes showing a hint of pride as he looked at the figure, which appeared only as a black dot in the sky. At this moment, five clusters of Heavenly Flames slowly floated around Xiao Yan. In the face of the might of the heavens, he showed no fear whatsoever. This was equivalent only to a strike from a Dou Ancestor, not that of an actual Dou Ancestor. Xiao Yan was not afraid to withstand a single blow. "So this is Pill Lightning..." His gaze locked tightly onto the silver, snake-like lightning dancing within the dark clouds. Sensing the immense power within, a hint of surprise and fervor flashed in his eyes. For countless alchemists, their greatest lifelong aspiration was to refine a high-grade pill that could summon Pill Lightning. In their eyes, it was a supreme honor. Xiao Yan was no exception! "Fire Spirits, manifest!" The Earth Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, the Fallen Heart Flame, the Yin-Yang Twin Flame, and the Sea Heart Flame appeared one after another, standing beside Xiao Yan. "Five Spirits Flame Expelling Formation!" At this moment, Xiao Yan resembled an emperor of flames. With a wave of his hand, the five Heavenly Flames obeyed his command and began to form a mystical formation. A wondrous connection established between the flames. Boom boom boom!! Strange phenomena occurred in the sky the moment the five Heavenly Flames transformed into Fire Spirits and coalesced into the formation. The space around them began to fluctuate violently, and the originally calm natural energy seemed drawn by some force, becoming extremely turbulent. The moisture in the surrounding flowers and grass evaporated. As if angered by this ''Flame Emperor'' Xiao Yan, the lightning in the sky roared like dragons, its rumbling growing increasingly intense. Boom! In the next second, the silver lightning within the dark clouds converged increasingly. Eventually, the entire sky''s atmosphere became extremely oppressive. Suddenly, the dark clouds split open, and a silver lightning bolt about half a foot wide, accompanied by a world-shaking boom, shot out from the clouds like a massive silver python. Its target was clearly the pill the size of a dragon''s eye behind Xiao Yan! A hint of solemnity flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes as he saw the silver lightning crash down. Raising his hand, terrifying Dou Qi and Spiritual Strength surged out from his body! "Five Spirits Flame Shield!" Facing the massive lightning strike, Xiao Yan naturally wouldn''t foolishly clash head-on. His task was to block it, not to challenge the heavens. The Five Spirits Formation activated with a buzzing sound, and a five-colored Heavenly Flame shield instantly appeared before him. A Five Spirits Flame Shield stood between Xiao Yan and the silver lightning. The Five Spirits Flame Shield could both scorch the heavens and ward off heavenly might! Under Xiao Yan''s fervent gaze, the terrifying silver lightning crashed heavily onto the Five Spirits Flame Shield. Boom boom boom!! Sizzle sizzle!! The silver lightning and the Heavenly Flames collided. Instantly, under the impact of the terrifying force, the Five Spirits Flame Shield sank heavily, and tongues of flame from the five Heavenly Flames scattered. Yet the silver lightning fared no better; countless thin lightning arcs scattered, striking the ground with continuous rumbling and blasting holes into the earth. But no matter how fiercely the lightning arcs attacked, they could not break through Xiao Yan''s Five Spirits Flame Expelling Formation. Although this Pill Lightning represented the wrath of the heavens, his Heavenly Flames were also born of the world and remained unafraid! Soon, the silver lightning gradually weakened. After all, this was only a low-grade tier 7 pill, and the Pill Lightning consisted of a single strike. Meanwhile, Xiao Yan possessed a Low Tian Class Qi Method and an endless supply of Dou Qi to support him. When the Pill Lightning weakened to a certain extent, suddenly a cluster of black flame surged out from the Five Spirits Flame Expelling Formation. Mao Wu was bold enough to devour even the might of the heavens! When Mao Wu evolved into the Earth Seed Flame, it dared to swallow heavenly might itself. It let out a satisfied burp that indicated it was quite content. "Trying to escape!" Xiao Yan''s eyes sharpened as his Spiritual Strength surged out, instantly capturing the Instant Qi Pill that was attempting to flee. "I helped you withstand the heavenly tribulation, and you want to run without even a word of thanks!" Xiao Yan flicked his finger, sending the Instant Qi Pill into the jade bottle he had prepared in advance. Preserving a tier 7 pill was an art in itself. Little Fairy Doctor''s beautiful eyes flickered with a strange light as she gazed at Xiao Yan, who was adorned in a silver-white alchemist robe. He had truly reached the level of a 7th-tier alchemist! At just over twenty-two years old, Xiao Yan was already a 7th-tier alchemist! This was too astonishing! Sensing Little Fairy Doctor''s admiring gaze, Xiao Yan''s vanity was greatly satisfied, and he couldn''t help but stand a little taller. "Little Fairy Doctor, I''m giving this pill to you." Xiao Yan coughed lightly and said in a tycoon-like manner with one hand behind his back. "To me?" she exclaimed in surprise. "This Instant Qi Pill is used by Dou Ancestors. Right now, you are the only Dou Ancestor here. If you master that Tian Class Dou Technique, consuming an Instant Qi Pill should allow you to use it one more time. Having enough Dou Qi for an extra use of a Tian Class Dou Technique in battle could be the key to victory," Xiao Yan said solemnly, handing the jade bottle to Little Fairy Doctor. Venerable You Du''s inheritance was not suitable for anyone else. Even Dou Venerate-level Poison Masters would not gain much from it. Many of the items were related to the Woeful Poison Body, and even the strongest Dou Technique could only be cultivated by someone with a Woeful Poison Body. Naturally, it all went to Little Fairy Doctor. Accepting the jade bottle, she did not refuse, and a gentle smile appeared on her face as she nodded. "Xiao Yan, when are we going back?" Zi Yan pouted. She had been confined here for nearly half a year and was going stir-crazy. Xiao Yan pinched her soft cheeks and laughed, "Today!" Excitement flashed across Zi Yan''s face when she heard that he was finally planning to leave this place. Even the Amethyst Winged Lion King and its cub looked thrilled. They could finally return. Xiao Yan chuckled. He needed to return not only because the Great Meeting of Factions was approaching, but also because he had to visit the Hall of Souls. The power of the Nihility Devouring Flame made even his heart tremble. Mao Wu had not only evolved but also devoured that massive Tunling Clan member by using their own power against them. Naturally, he had obtained Dou God Bloodline! The vial that once held only a single drop within the Nihility Devouring Flame''s space was now half full. ''No wonder the Hun Clan''s Dou God Bloodline is so potent, producing one powerful expert after another. The true form of the Nihility Devouring Flame likely obtained the power of the Tunling King...'' Xiao Yan had not forgotten that Hun Lao Gui had taken out a vial full of Dou God Bloodline back then. Now he understood that the Dou God Bloodline was obtained by using the power of the Nihility Devouring Flame to seize the bloodlines of descendants from other Dou God Clans. Moreover, to cultivate the God Seal Technique, he still needed Grade 6 bloodline strength. At present, he only had enough for half. He needed to return to the Hall of Souls and get some answers from Hun Huzi! Removing his alchemist robe, Xiao Yan once again donned the pitch-black Soul Robe and pulled up his hood. His lips curled into a cold smile, and his eyes turned sharp. "It''s time to properly welcome the audience who have been waiting outside for so long." Little Fairy Doctor and the others also put on black robes to conceal their appearances and followed behind Xiao Yan. It was obvious that outside, a large crowd must be waiting for the Space Lock to be lifted again! Chapter 312: Xiao Yan Will Thank Me Later Chapter 312 - 312: Xiao Yan Will Thank Me Later Word Count: 2,854 Words ****** Numerous pavilions and encampments had sprung up in the Profound Nether Valley at this moment. Countless powerful factions from the Chu Yun Empire were gathered here, all waiting impatiently for one thing. The legend of Venerable You Du''s inheritance had attracted countless powerful individuals from the Chu Yun Empire, prompting many powerful factions to dispatch their disciples. Even the mightiest Poison Sect and Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate had sent their leaders. However, the Space Lock unexpectedly closed just a few days after it opened and everyone entered. This closure lasted five months, nearly half a year! "Sigh, our Sect Leader has been inside for almost half a year. Our sect is in chaos." "Don''t mention it. Our sect isn''t faring any better. Although the Sect Leader didn''t enter, most elders and elite disciples did. The sect is splintering. If they don''t return soon, it might split entirely." The disciples from various factions present wore gloomy expressions. They had been ordered to stay here and wait for the Space Lock to open again. "Let''s think positively. Perhaps Venerable You Du''s inheritance has appeared, and our people are undergoing the trial. If someone obtains the Dou Venerate''s inheritance, the Chu Yun Empire could be unified under one faction in the future." "Don''t get your hopes up. Even if the Dou Venerate''s inheritance trial has truly started, the Poison Sect''s Leader is a 1-star Dou Ancestor. Furthermore, the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate sent not only their Sect Leader but also their guardian magical beast. How could it possibly be our sect''s turn?" "That might not be certain. What if Venerable You Du''s inheritance has an age restriction? Those old fogeys might not have as much potential as us young people." "I heard that Nalan Yanran from the Yan Alliance received Yun Po Tian''s inheritance when she was just a Dou Grandmaster. Her strength is terrifying now. Not long ago, five Dou Emperors from the three major empires joined forces to assassinate her but failed. Yun Yun of the Misty Cloud Sect and Ice Emperor Hai Bodong thwarted them, and even a Dou Ancestor appeared to help. In the end, only one of the five Dou Emperors returned; the others all died in Jia Ma Sacred City." The valley buzzed with fervent chatter at the mention of a Dou Venerate''s inheritance. "The Great Meeting of Factions is about to begin. I''m afraid the Yan Alliance will participate this year." "So what if they participate? Even if they have a Dou Ancestor, it''s just a 1-star one. In terms of strength, the Yan Alliance is still far behind the three major empires. Which of those empires doesn''t have elite Dou Ancestors?" "The real headache is the initiator of the Yan Alliance. He''s a 6th-tier alchemist and even younger than Pill King Gu He was back then. Don''t forget, the Great Meeting of Factions isn''t just about strength; it also includes an alchemist competition. That''s how Gu He made his name." None of the faction disciples noticed the subtle shift in the air or that the Space Lock had quietly opened while they continued their lively discussions! Whoosh!!! Suddenly, a surge of intense poison gas seeped out from the Space Lock. The ghostly green poison miasma grew denser, eventually forming a pillar that pierced straight into the sky! "Th-the Profound Nether Poison Miasma!!!" "How can this be! Wasn''t it said that the poison miasma of the Profound Nether Valley had completely dissipated?!!" Everyone''s hearts sank at the sight of the miasma. They had forgotten after nearly half a year that this was the Profound Nether Valley, the most perilous place in the Chu Yun Empire, originally filled with miasma capable of killing even Dou Ancestors! "Run!!!" Instantly, the entire valley filled with screams and the sounds of rushing wind as everyone used their abilities to flee toward the outside. Their factions had ordered them to wait here for their people, but instead of seeing them return, they were met with this deadly poison miasma! "Wait! Look! The poison miasma doesn''t seem to be coming toward us!" Some bolder individuals glanced back and discovered that the poison miasma, which should have sealed the entire valley, actually bypassed them, shooting straight into the sky like a pillar instead. Everyone halted their escape upon seeing this strange scene and looked toward the poison gas pillar. Soon, some powerful cultivators noticed something unusual. "Eh? Look, aren''t there people inside that poison gas pillar!" Everyone looked carefully at this moment and suddenly discovered five black silhouettes within the poison gas pillar, completely unharmed by the poison! Two black-robed individuals sat on the backs of two magical beasts veiled by large black cloths, while another black-robed person stood at the forefront. "Standing unharmed in the poison miasma... Could they have obtained Venerable You Du''s inheritance!!!" "There are two magical beasts. Could one be the scorpion beast from the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate!" "Is the person at the front the Poison Sect''s Leader, Dugu Tian Gao? Then why are they hiding beneath black robes?" "Isn''t it obvious? They must be afraid others will covet the Dou Venerate''s inheritance!" A frigid light glimmered in many eyes at this thought. So many sects had gathered here, and hidden experts from the Chu Yun Empire had emerged. Experts from the Mu Lan Empire, the Luo Yan Empire, and even the Jia Ma Empire had also come. The purpose of these experts was obvious. One didn''t necessarily have to go inside to obtain the Dou Venerate''s inheritance! Many had already secretly locked their sights on Xiao Yan''s group. "I am the head disciple of the Poison Sect. May I ask if the Sect Leader is present?" Several men dressed in Poison Sect attire spread their Dou Qi wings, cupped their fists, and inquired. Seeing the Poison Sect take action, a few individuals wearing Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate attire also slowly ascended and asked, "I am the Sixth Elder of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate. Is our Gate Leader here?" The Poison Sect and the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate were naturally the most likely candidates to obtain Venerable You Du''s inheritance among those who entered the Space Lock, given their evident strength. If they were ruthless enough to poison everyone else, they would become the sole inheritors. The corners of Xiao Yan''s mouth curled into a cold smile beneath his black robe. His formidable Spiritual Strength had long sensed that everyone was targeting his group. Xiao Yan sensed not only Dou Kings and Dou Emperors but also Dou Ancestors, and more than one at that! "Jie Jie Jie, Poison Sect? Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate? Never heard of them." The hearts of the Poison Sect and Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate disciples sank as soon as he spoke. His words implied that their leaders had not obtained Venerable You Du''s inheritance and might even be... dead! The members of the Poison Sect and Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate exchanged glances and slowly retreated. However, they did not withdraw completely, instead forming a subtle encirclement around Xiao Yan''s group. "Sirs, our Sect Leaders are missing. We hope you can provide some information and accompany us to the Poison Sect." "This matter involves many factions of the Chu Yun Empire. If you don''t explain clearly, I''m afraid it will be difficult for you to leave the empire." Instantly, several powerful experts hidden in the shadows stepped forward one after another. Among them were a few peak Dou Emperors and even a 1-star Dou Ancestor! Undoubtedly, the goal of these people was the Dou Venerate''s inheritance! Men die for wealth as birds die for food. "Jie Jie Jie, interesting. When was the last time someone dared to block my path... I forget. But those who stand in my way shall die!" Xiao Yan''s voice was cold. The poison wings formed by the Ghostly Poison Flame suddenly spread out behind him, resembling a boundless sea of poison. Although Xiao Yan''s strength was far inferior to Venerable You Du''s, ordinary Dou Emperors could not easily challenge the poison of the Ghostly Poison Flame. Many people secretly sneered upon sensing that Xiao Yan was only a 3-star Dou Emperor. "A mere Dou Emperor trying to take the Dou Venerate''s inheritance? There''s a path to heaven, yet you refuse to take it; there''s no door to hell, yet you barge right in! Hand over the inheritance if you want to live. Otherwise, this will be your burial ground. You''ll breathe your last here today!" "That''s right! Hand over the Dou Venerate''s inheritance! Or face death!" Xiao Yan didn''t mind. Cultivation in the Dou Qi Continent was a battle for resources. Where there were people, there would always be strife! ''Do you really think I''m a fish on the chopping block?'' Xiao Yan sneered inwardly. He waved his hand, and endless poison miasma surged toward the onlookers like churning sea waves. "Poison? Everyone, take your Detoxification Pills and circulate your Qi Methods to resist!" Some factions with strong foundations quickly deployed their signature defenses against the overwhelming poison gas released by Xiao Yan. They would have fled immediately if it were the poison of a Dou Venerate. But against the poison of a Dou Emperor? Many powerful factions in the Chu Yun Empire possessed special methods to counter it. However, they did not realize this was no ordinary poison gas. The Ghostly Poison Flame possessed dual attributes, much like the Sea Heart Flame and the Bone Chilling Flame! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!!! Suddenly, all living beings instantly burst into flames as the poison miasma enveloped them! "Ah!! What is this!!" "It''s fire! It''s poison and fire at once!" "Use Dou Qi to defend, no, wait, it''s invading through our Dou Qi!" "Run! This poison seeps into the body through any channel! It''s impossible to defend against!" Wherever the Ghostly Poison Flame spread, people ignited like kindling. Such terrifying poison was beyond what the Poison Masters of the Chu Yun Empire could comprehend. This was a poison created by the world itself. It could not only incinerate enemies but also invade their bodies through Dou Qi. Even peak Dou Emperors found it difficult to continue circulating Dou Qi to fight, as their Dou Qi was continuously eroded. Ultimately, even if they didn''t die, their cultivation would be greatly diminished. It was extremely terrifying. The powerful experts watching from the sidelines felt a chill in their hearts witnessing this scene. Many exchanged glances; the Dou Venerate''s inheritance was truly terrifying! Suddenly, space fluctuated, and a black figure instantly appeared above Xiao Yan''s head. It was a Dou Ancestor expert executing a palm strike after teleporting through space! "A Dou Ancestor has made a move!" Xiao Yan didn''t even lift his eyelids when facing the Dou Ancestor aiming for the crown of his head. He gathered the Ghostly Poison Flame in his palm, circulated the Flame Mantra, raised his head, and fiercely struck back with his own palm! Boom boom boom!!! A terrifying shockwave swept out as the two palms collided, forcing both parties back. Xiao Yan lowered his head to look at his palm, which had turned pitch black. The Dou Ancestor''s palm strike had contained lethal poison. "Hehehe, you''ve been hit by my Di Class Dou Technique, Deadly Poison Palm. You''ll melt into a puddle of blood in less than an hour. Hand over Venerable You Du''s inheritance if you want the antidote." The old man revealed a cold smile. To be so careless when fighting a Poison Master... Xiao Yan''s lips curled upwards. This bit of poison could do nothing to him thanks to the Ghostly Poison Flame. He asked disdainfully, "You want me to trade the inheritance for your antidote? Then what will you trade for mine?" The old man was suddenly startled and hurriedly looked at his own palm. His veins had turned ghostly green! The Ghostly Poison Flame had instantly invaded his heart and was spreading throughout his body! Before the old man could speak, a black figure silently appeared behind him. Little Fairy Doctor''s eyes were icy cold, and a voice like that of the grim reaper sounded, "You can pay with your life." A multicolored poison glow flickered on her index finger as she mercilessly executed a Tian Class Dou Technique. Little Fairy Doctor had only practiced the Woeful Demonic Poison Claw for a few days and hadn''t even mastered the first level, managing only to condense the power into half a finger. But it was still a Tian Class Dou Technique, and moreover, it was imbued with terrifying poison! The Dou Ancestor old man tried to use Dou Qi to defend, but when he circulated it, he discovered the Ghostly Poison Flame''s poison made his Dou Qi abnormally sluggish. That momentary slowness cost him his life. With a squelching sound, Little Fairy Doctor''s finger pierced the old man''s heart. The terrifying poison of the Woeful Poison Body erupted, spreading throughout his body in just one second. How could a mere 1-star Dou Ancestor possibly withstand the deadly poison released by a 7-star Dou Ancestor possessing the Woeful Poison Body? He didn''t even have a chance to scream. The terrifying Woeful Poison was lethal upon contact with blood. Not only his flesh and blood but even his soul completely melted within a second. Even the soul could not escape the Woeful Poison Body''s deadly toxin. Seeing a Dou Ancestor''s soul body poisoned to oblivion just like that by Little Fairy Doctor, Venerable Yan, who had intended to do his job properly, couldn''t help but feel some heartache. A Dou Ancestor''s soul body! Even a 1-star one was worth ten thousand soul points! And just like that, it was gone! Xiao Yan sighed and waved his hand, collecting the soul bodies of all those who had charged at him and been killed by the Ghostly Poison Flame into his Soul Command Token. Instantly, after their soul bodies were extracted, dozens of the Chu Yun Empire''s Dou King and Dou Emperor experts turned into blood mist. Their armor and weapons were pulverized into dust under the Ghostly Poison Flame, leaving not even slag behind! For a moment, the world fell silent. Everyone stared dumbfounded. So many experts had perished just like that! A Dou Ancestor had been killed instantly in just two moves! "Too weak. I thought the Poison Masters of the Chu Yun Empire could at least put up some resistance." Xiao Yan gently shook his head as he watched the blood mist disperse, speaking with apparent regret. No one dared to refute him, nor did anyone dare to make another move. Although some present were stronger than a 1-star Dou Ancestor, they all understood Little Fairy Doctor''s strength was definitely that of a high-star Dou Ancestor, and moreover, incredibly poisonous! Even a peak Dou Ancestor would be unwilling to provoke a high-star Dou Ancestor who wielded extreme poison. Since no one else dared to act, Xiao Yan refrained from unnecessary killing. Sitting atop the Lion King, he flew toward the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Xiao Yan did not immediately return to Jia Ma Sacred City but instead went back to that small valley. Do not be fooled by Little Fairy Doctor killing a 1-star Dou Ancestor with a single finger; the more potent the poison of the Woeful Poison Body became, the more precarious her situation grew! Flying at full speed, the Amethyst Winged Lion King returned them to the small valley in two days. The Clear Soul Nether Orchid did not need to be consumed. Just placing it nearby, its clear and elegant orchid fragrance acted as a panacea that could detoxify any poison. However, after observing for a few days, Xiao Yan discovered that not only did it fail to reduce the poison of the Woeful Poison Body, but it couldn''t even halt its progression. It could only slow the development of the Woeful Poison Body, making it more gradual. "I''m fine..." Little Fairy Doctor looked at Xiao Yan''s furrowed brow and smiled. "Sigh, your Woeful Poison Body is already nearing the brink of eruption, yet you say you''re fine." Xiao Yan shook his head. The Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva was still nowhere to be found, and the Clear Soul Nether Orchid could only delay the inevitable. Suddenly, Xiao Yan''s eyebrows furrowed, his expression turning somewhat strange. Before long, Venerable Tian Huo floated out from the storage ring. He gave Xiao Yan a knowing smile and then drifted out of the small house. Xiao Yan looked at the bewildered Little Fairy Doctor and couldn''t help but cough dryly. He stammered, "Um... Venerable Tian Huo just taught me a seal that can delay the Woeful Poison Body''s eruption... However, performing this seal requires... removing all clothing..." Little Fairy Doctor''s cheeks flushed red as soon as these words left his mouth. You''re lying, aren''t you! Floating outside, Venerable Tian Huo clasped his hands behind his back, looked at the sun, and muttered, "It requires using a Heavenly Flame for the seal, after all. Isn''t it common sense that one cannot wear clothes?" "Keke, Xiao Yan will thank me later." Chapter 313: The Rules of the Great Meeting of Factions Chapter 313 - 313: The Rules of the Great Meeting of Factions Word Count: 2,687 Words ****** Little Fairy Doctor''s fair face flushed a deep crimson upon hearing those words. She hastily grabbed a white bedsheet from beside her and draped it over half her face, leaving only her eyes visible. Those beautiful, innocent, yet faintly questioning eyes seemed to ask Xiao Yan: You''re lying, aren''t you? Shrinking under the thin blanket, her lovely eyes looked so red they seemed about to drip water. The sight made Xiao Yan''s heart pound violently, and his body suddenly grew hot. Being stared at like that made him feel rather awkward. He braced himself and said, "I swear, the Secret Technique Venerable Tian Huo passed down to me really does have this requirement. After all, we need to use a Heavenly Flame to draw the seal, and clothes would just burn up." Seeing Xiao Yan''s awkward yet ''sincere'' demeanor, the flush on Little Fairy Doctor''s cheeks actually subsided slightly. She bit her red lips, and then her slender hand, trembling slightly, gently pressed onto the buttons of her clothes. After giving Xiao Yan a fleeting glance with her captivating eyes, she seemed resigned to her fate and began to undo her clothes bit by bit. Her white hair only enhanced her immortal-like beauty, making her appear exquisitely pure. Yet it was not just her face that was beautiful; her figure could also be called flawless. Her shoulders were elegantly sloped, the most alluring Xiao Yan had seen in his twenty-two years. Her willow-like waist was slender and graceful, and her jade-like arms, devoid of any excess flesh, further accentuated her pure beauty. It was hard to imagine how such slender, delicate arms could have poisoned a Dou Ancestor to death with a single finger. Little Fairy Doctor hugged the bedsheet tightly with both hands and turned around, revealing her smooth, snowy back. That mesmerizing sight nearly stole Xiao Yan''s breath, and the man who had boldly sworn an oath moments before felt his composure falter. In such a situation, remaining calm would be unthinkable unless one wasn''t a man. Xiao Yan silently chanted Xun Er''s name in his heart, trying to calm his feverish thoughts. "I''m ready." !!! Those three simple words nearly undid all his resolve! "Lie face down." Xiao Yan bit the tip of his tongue to keep himself focused. After all, this seal concerned Little Fairy Doctor''s life. Little Fairy Doctor hugged a pillow and lay face down on the bed, slowly closing her eyes. "This might hurt a little, but please bear with it." Xiao Yan spoke softly. His finger hovered in midair for a long moment before finally descending to touch the back of her neck. Her smooth, jade-like skin immediately released wisps of white smoke where his fingertip pressed, seemingly laced with faint gray. Low, muffled groans escaped from her lips as the white smoke rose, sounding extremely pitiable and evoking sympathy. A mark formed by the Heavenly Flame gradually appeared where his finger landed. Xiao Yan resisted the allure of her soft skin and carefully guided his finger along the path of the ''All Day Fire Seal,'' moving with extreme caution. More white smoke rose as his fingertip glided downward, and a fiery trail slowly took shape upon that sculpture-like back. This additional fiery trace did not mar the delicate body in the slightest; instead, it added a unique charm. Xiao Yan''s expression grew increasingly serious as his finger continued its course. He needed to maintain the Heavenly Flame at a precise temperature: hot enough to form the seal, yet not so hot as to harm her body. His finger moved lightly across her body like a paintbrush, leaving behind strangely intersecting lines drawn horizontally and vertically. Where these lines met, they faintly revealed a touch of profound mystery. At the same time, countless memories flitted through Xiao Yan''s mind. The time he accidentally glimpsed Xiao Yu bathing in his childhood and scampered away, not daring to do more than look; the unexpected slip in control of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame in the cave of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, which led to a dizzying entanglement with Yun Yun; or the moment in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower''s No. 1 Cultivation Room when Medusa pinned him down under the influence of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. On all those occasions, he was either too rattled or too restrained by circumstance to have a clear recollection afterward. As for Xun Er, there was even less to say. They were young back then, and even as they grew older, their interactions were always tempered by a layer of clothing between them. But today was different. He was completely conscious! Wholly focused! And entirely present! He could swear to the heavens that he would remember every sensation of this moment for as long as he lived. Who knows how much time passed before Xiao Yan finally exhaled and retracted both his finger and the Heavenly Flame. Little Fairy Doctor slowly opened her eyes once his touch disappeared. Her gaze was hazy, her breath faintly fragrant, and her cheeks were flushed¡ªthough whether from the flame''s heat or her own stirred emotions, it was difficult to say. Just as Little Fairy Doctor let out a quiet sigh of relief, Xiao Yan spoke words that made her body tremble involuntarily and turned even the tips of her ears bright red. "There''s still... the front." ... No one knew how long it had been when Xiao Yan finally stepped out from the small wooden house. He looked more tired than when refining a tier 7 pill. His hair was damp with sweat, his steps slightly unsteady, and his eyes somewhat dazed. He could vow to Xun Er that he had upheld that final boundary between them. However, he had undoubtedly grown in other ways, learning quite a bit about ''this and that''! Venerable Tian Huo''s soul body drifted over as soon as Xiao Yan appeared. He raised an eyebrow and gave a meaningful smile. "With your Spiritual Strength and fire control, there''s no reason it should have taken this long." Xiao Yan gave this old fellow who didn''t act his age an irritated glance and retorted, "It concerns Little Fairy Doctor''s life, after all. Is there a problem with me being cautious and meticulous?" "Oh." Venerable Tian Huo instantly understood. Indeed, some areas required caution and meticulousness. In the evening, Little Fairy Doctor prepared a warm meal. However, during dinner, her gaze when looking at Xiao Yan was somewhat evasive, and he too felt a bit awkward. "Um... I''ll refine some pills over the next few days, and then I''ll be heading back to Jia Ma Sacred City," Xiao Yan suddenly said after finishing his meal. Less than a month remained before the Great Meeting of Factions, and that included travel time. The Jia Ma Empire was only on the periphery of the North-Western Region. Although the Great Meeting of Factions didn''t have a fixed venue, it was always held within the empires located in the center of the North-Western Region. When Little Fairy Doctor heard of his departure, she swept her white hair behind her ear and said softly, "I''ll come with you." Unsurprisingly, Xiao Yan shook his head and refused. "Even with the seal in place, your Woeful Poison Body is on the brink. You can''t act recklessly anymore. It''s best for you to stay here. With the suppression of the Clear Soul Nether Orchid and the sealing technique, you should be able to hold on for around three years. I''ll search for the ''Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva'' as quickly as possible so I can refine the Poison Pill that you need." At the mention of the seal, Little Fairy Doctor''s cheeks tinted a faint pink. After silently musing for a moment, she nodded and said, "Alright. I''ll remain here in the small valley and watch over the Yan Alliance for you." She understood very well that even though she was a high-star Dou Ancestor who possessed immense strength, the Woeful Poison Body was like a ticking time bomb. If anything unexpected caused it to erupt prematurely, the resulting poison explosion could even kill Xiao Yan. Even with the Ghostly Poison Flame, it would be hard to resist the ultimate outbreak of the Woeful Poison Body. Over the next few days, Xiao Yan refined various tier 5 and tier 6 pills for the big and small Lion Kings. It was their payment for guarding Little Fairy Doctor. He also refined a tier 7 Detoxification Pill for her to use in case of emergencies. Three days later, Xiao Yan bid farewell to Little Fairy Doctor with complex emotions in his heart and flew toward Jia Ma Sacred City with Zi Yan. A gentle breeze drifted across Little Fairy Doctor''s cheeks as she stood in the valley, gazing at the black dot in the sky marking Xiao Yan and Zi Yan fading into the distance. Her face, usually pallid from the Woeful Poison Body, slowly brightened with a charming, gentle smile. ... With Xiao Yan and Zi Yan''s strength, flying back from Qingshan Town to Jia Ma Sacred City only took half a day. The moment Hai Bodong and the others sensed Xiao Yan''s return, they finally felt their anxious hearts settle. "You brat, you really know how to cut it close! Can''t you be a bit earlier next time? There''s only half a month left now, and reaching the destination requires crossing half the North-Western Region! Even a Dou Emperor needs five to seven days for that!" Hai Bodong grumbled, his beard practically bristling. Xiao Yan truly cut it close every single time. Everyone present shook their heads with wry smiles. They were used to it, quite used to it. Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and quickly changed the subject, "Which empire is hosting the Great Meeting of Factions this time?" Queen Yao Ye, majestic and charming as ever, replied with a somewhat solemn expression, "It''s being held under the jurisdiction of the Sky Serpent Mansion in the Sky Serpent Empire." "Sky Serpent Mansion..." A trace of solemnity flashed through Xiao Yan''s eyes. He hadn''t expected they would actually have to go to the Sky Serpent Empire. He had heard the name ''Sky Serpent Mansion'' many times. Not only did the two snake-type Dou Emperors, Bai Ya and Lu Man, belong to the Sky Serpent Mansion, but even Elder Qing¡ªwho had traveled a great distance to the Black-Corner Region to purchase the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill, only to be robbed by Protector Yan and a certain wicked woman surnamed Gu¡ªwas from there. Of course, the primary reason for his concern was naturally Qing Lin. Upon mentioning the Sky Serpent Mansion, Hai Bodong glanced at Xiao Yan and slowly said, "No need to worry. I gathered some information. That girl Qing Lin is doing quite well now. Word has it she might even be representing the Sky Serpent Mansion in the upcoming competition." "Represent the Sky Serpent Mansion in battle?! Qing Lin''s cultivation has progressed so rapidly! It''s only been a few years!" Xiao Yan was shocked. It had only been four years, right? Guessing that Xiao Yan might have misunderstood, Xiao Ding¡ªrepresenting the Xiao Clan¡ªsmiled and said, "You''ve got it wrong, Third Brother. The Great Meeting of Factions isn''t just about comparing the strongest fighters." "Oh?" Xiao Ding explained, "The original purpose of establishing the Great Meeting of Factions was very simple. It was to find the most powerful and widely recognized faction in the North-Western Region, to unify the entire region and thus gain a foothold among the forces of the Central Plains." "A faction''s strength does not lie solely in its current power but also in its future; in other words, in its ability to cultivate elite experts. If its younger generation is weak, then that faction will lose recognition. The Sky Serpent Mansion faces this issue. If measured solely by the strength of its top experts, the Sky Serpent Mansion is undoubtedly the strongest in the North-Western Region; however, its younger generation is lacking." "In contrast, a faction called the Thunderbolt Sect now has many elite experts, especially its young sect leader whose cultivation talent is extremely high. There''s even a rumor that the Thunderbolt Sect might produce a Dou Venerate within twenty years! That is why they took Qing Lin away for nurturing." Xiao Yan frowned. To think there was a faction suppressing the Sky Serpent Mansion! He knew that the Sky Serpent Mansion''s strength was primarily due to its deep foundation. It was a faction founded by a Dou Saint and had unparalleled prestige on the Dou Qi Continent, though it had declined over time. "So... how do they actually compare factions?" Xiao Yan asked. Sitting off to the side, Yun Yun answered. She had taken part in several of these meetings as the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect. "First, the greatest experts from each faction fight one-on-one in an arena defense format, aiming to determine the most powerful force in the North-Western Region. The Sky Serpent Mansion''s experts have lost by a narrow margin in the past few sessions." Cultivation alone did not always determine superiority in battle, nor did it accurately measure a faction''s overall strength. If one side had a 3-star Dou Ancestor but the other had two 1-star Dou Ancestors, who was truly stronger would be hard to say. And to unify the entire North-Western Region, you must defeat not just one faction but also make every other faction submit. Xiao Yan nodded. This was reasonable. Only when no one dared to challenge you could you truly claim to be the strongest. "The second part," Yun Yun continued, "is the battle for ''renown.'' This requires that the cultivation levels of the competitors do not differ by more than two stars. The more renowned experts a faction has who are invincible among their peers, the stronger the faction is proven to be, rather than relying solely on the faction leader. Battles between renowned experts within similar ranks gave rise to titles like ''Ice Emperor'' for Elder Hai in the Jia Ma Empire." "Ahem." Hai Bodong deliberately coughed lightly a couple of times, as if reminiscing. "Ah, that was over twenty years ago. I once fought two equally ranked Dou Emperors from the Chu Yun Empire simultaneously and won. My old bones are hardly the same now." "And then Medusa sealed you for twenty years right after," Xiao Yan ribbed without missing a beat. Hai Bodong gave Xiao Yan an annoyed glance. His old face flushed, especially since representatives from the Snake-People Tribe¡ªHua She''er and Yue Mei¡ªwere present. Hua She''er was no longer a Dou King but had advanced to a 2-star Dou Emperor, and Yue Mei was an 8-star Dou King. They were both top experts in the Snake-People Tribe. "Then the last is naturally assessing the strength and talent of the younger generation," Xiao Yan surmised. Yun Yun nodded, "Yes, competitions among those under thirty years old, following the same arena defense format, determine the most talented young expert in the North-Western Region." There was a saying that a person''s future could be seen by the age of thirty. Back then, Yun Yun held the title of the youngest Dou Emperor in the Jia Ma Empire, reaching that realm at thirty and making a name for herself at the Great Meeting of Factions. Her prowess made the three surrounding empires hesitate to provoke the Jia Ma Empire for some time. Thinking back, when Xiao Yan first met Yun Yun, she was already a 3-star Dou Emperor. Jia Xing Tian, who had reached a 1-star Dou Ancestor and was sitting beside Yao Ye, looked at Xiao Yan with a strange expression. "It seems you''ve broken Sect Leader Yun''s record." Although the record of becoming a Dou Emperor at thirty was not an unprecedented miracle in the vast North-Western Region, it was still as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. Now, Xiao Yan was only twenty-two years old and had already become a 3-star Dou Emperor! What did you do, eat pills for breakfast?! Chapter 314: The Di Pill Plan Chapter 314 - 314: The Di Pill Plan Word Count: 2,836 Words ****** Of all the people present, no one felt more perplexed than Nalan Yanran. Currently, she was undoubtedly the most prominent rising star in the Jia Ma Empire besides Xiao Yan. Not long ago, the three great empires had secretly dispatched five Dou Emperors to infiltrate Jia Ma Sacred City with the mission of assassinating her. Besieging a single Dou King with five Dou Emperors should have been a sure kill by any measure. Yet she forcibly fought her way out and held on until Hai Bodong and Yun Yun arrived. Eventually, Jia Xing Tian, who had broken through to Dou Ancestor upon emerging from seclusion, jointly slew those Dou Emperors, delivering a heavy blow to the three empires. Moreover, she turned misfortune into fortune after that life-and-death struggle and advanced to a 9-star Dou King. She thought she had at least somewhat closed the gap with Xiao Yan, but unexpectedly, the man''s cultivation had surged directly from 7-star Dou King to 3-star Dou Emperor upon his return! How could she not grind her teeth in frustration! "It''s different for me. I''ve swallowed too many pills, so my Dou Qi is inflated..." Xiao Yan explained wryly, seeing Nalan Yanran gnash her teeth as though she might take a bite out of him. Once again employing his tactic of changing the subject, he hurriedly asked, "Are there any limits on the number of participants?" Xiao Yan finally understood the meaning of the Great Meeting of Factions after the previous explanation. In short, it was a comprehensive evaluation of a faction''s elders, backbone, and younger generation. Only a faction that was vibrant in all aspects, possessing the strongest top experts, core members, and young talents in the entire North-Western Region, could possibly command all the other factions in the region. Although it was called a meeting of ''factions,'' empires like the Jia Ma Empire and the Chu Yun Empire, where multiple powerful factions existed within their territories, would unite and participate together. Just as in the past, most of the Jia Ma Empire''s ''Ten Strong'' were not from a single faction; they responded to a collective call to action. This time, however, was different. Now, it was the newly formed Yan Alliance participating in the Great Meeting of Factions, a debut to make a name for themselves. The Yan Alliance was currently composed of four major powers: the Jia Ma Imperial Family, the Misty Cloud Sect, the Snake-People Tribe, and the Xiao Clan. Naturally, all four forces needed to send participants. The Xiao Clan and the Misty Cloud Sect were considered the weakest of the four major factions. The Xiao Clan would likely send only the Xiao brothers, or four people if Zi Yan were included. The Misty Cloud Sect naturally would have Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran participating. Originally, the Snake-People Tribe should have been the strongest, but since Medusa was still condensing her Heavenly Flame Body beneath the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, the tribe could only send Hua She Er, a Dou Emperor, and Yue Mei, a Dou King. At least on the surface, Jia Xing Tian, who had reached Dou Ancestor, was now the strongest member of the Yan Alliance. "There''s no limit on the number of Dou Ancestors and above in the faction competition," Yao Ye replied upon hearing his question. "''No limit'' in this context means that there can even be none, because having just one Dou Ancestor barely qualifies a faction as first-rate. No faction in the North-Western Region has double-digit Dou Ancestors; even the deeply rooted Sky Serpent Mansion has only four or five." "As for the ''battle for renown'' among same-ranked Dou Kings and Dou Emperors, the limit is ten participants." ''No wonder they''re called the Ten Strong.'' Xiao Yan suddenly realized and shook his head helplessly. He remembered hearing Yan Shi boast about defeating a Dou King from the Snake-People Tribe when he was trying to seize the Green Lotus Core Flame. It was probably related to previous sessions of the Great Meeting of Factions. One could imagine how weak the Jia Ma Empire had been in the past. Among the ''Ten Strong'' there were three Dou Emperors and seven Dou Kings; they couldn''t even gather ten Dou Emperors. Compared to factions like the Sky Serpent Mansion and Thunderbolt Sect, each boasting several Dou Ancestors, it was truly embarrassing. Back then, Hai Bodong''s ability to defeat two equally ranked Dou Emperors was indeed something to be proud of. Of course, the Chu Yun Empire, Luo Yan Empire, and Mulan Empire were merely fringe empires in the North-Western Region. Overall, it was a case of small fry fighting among themselves; they were still no match for the Dou Emperors of the Sky Serpent Mansion and Thunderbolt Sect. "And only one person can be sent for the arena defense competition among the younger generation," Hai Bodong added. "That''s why that little girl might represent the Sky Serpent Mansion. With that kind of physique, her strength definitely won''t be weak." The Sky Serpent Mansion had always harbored ambitions to dominate the North-Western Region. It''s said that they were the ones who initially proposed the Great Meeting of Factions. To achieve total victory in this Great Meeting of Factions, they would likely spare no effort in nurturing Qing Lin. "So I''m supposed to participate in the youth category?" Xiao Yan asked. Xiao Ding shook his head, "No, after discussion, we''ve decided to have Yanran represent us in the youth competition. You, Third Brother, have something else on your plate." Xiao Yan''s eyes shone as he asked, "Alchemist competition?" He had heard before that the Jia Ma Empire was weak and had been on the verge of destruction several times. The reason large-scale wars hadn''t broken out was that in the previous Great Meeting of Factions, Gu He had reached the 6th-tier alchemist level while the three major empires lacked a 6th-tier alchemist, which made them wary. In other words, the Great Meeting of Factions included an alchemist competition. But it made sense when you think about it. A faction''s strength was not just about having powerful cultivators; possessing a powerful alchemist was also a crucial factor in determining its strength. Factions like the Sky Serpent Mansion and Thunderbolt Sect had established empires because they needed alchemists. The alchemist profession was extremely rare. It was hard to find even one among a million people, let alone one with great talent. So the only way was to establish an empire, nurture a large population, and select promising alchemist seedlings for cultivation. The larger the territory and the more citizens there were, the higher the probability of alchemists emerging. One could imagine the status of alchemists. Establishing an empire was done for the sake of producing more alchemists. "Yes, this alchemist competition only appeared in the last few Great Meetings of Factions. It was because a strange faction called the Medicine Bone Sect appeared in the North-Western Region. This faction isn''t strong, and its leader is only a 1-star Dou Ancestor, but he holds another identity, a 7th-tier alchemist." When mentioning the Medicine Bone Sect, those who knew the situation, such as Yun Yun, Jia Xing Tian, and Yao Ye, all displayed strange expressions. Originally, the Great Meeting of Factions had nothing to do with alchemists, but it was precisely because of the emergence of this faction that everyone suddenly realized a powerful alchemist could change so many things. Therefore, it was believed that the strongest faction should also possess a powerful alchemist. No one dared to underestimate the Medicine Bone Sect. Even though their leader''s strength wasn''t impressive and might even be considered weak among his peers, who would dare ignore the influence of a high-tier alchemist? Even the leaders of the Sky Serpent Mansion and Thunderbolt Sect had to show some respect when meeting him. This led to the Great Meeting of Factions becoming increasingly deadlocked with each session. Meeting so many criteria simultaneously was simply an impossible task, even for the strongest factions. That''s why the North-Western Region remained a loose sandpile to this day, with no true overlord emerging. Yao Ye glanced at Yue Er, who was fidgeting beside her, and said, "The alchemist competition at the Great Meeting of Factions is somewhat similar to the Alchemist Grand Meeting. The difference is that two alchemists need to be sent: one under thirty years old to represent the faction''s young alchemists, and one who is the faction''s strongest alchemist." "After discussion, we''ve decided to have Princess Yue Er represent the younger generation, and Grandmaster Xiao Yan, you will represent the Yan Alliance''s highest level in alchemy." After listening to such a complex explanation, Xiao Yan rubbed his temples and shook his head in disbelief. He had never expected that selecting some sort of ''Martial Alliance Leader'' to dominate an entire region would be so complicated. They continued discussing until, in the end, the final list of attendees for the Great Meeting of Factions in the Sky Serpent Empire was decided: Representing the Yan Alliance''s highest level in alchemy was Xiao Yan, and the strongest in cultivation was the Dou Ancestor Jia Xing Tian. The younger generation would be represented by Nalan Yanran and Princess Yue Er. The remaining ten spots included five Dou Emperors: Zi Yan; Hai Bodong, who had reached 8-star Dou Emperor; Yun Yun, a 7-star Dou Emperor; Hua She Er, a 2-star Dou Emperor; and the guardian beast of the Jia Ma Imperial Family, the Serene Sea Scaly Beast. The other five were all Dou Kings: Yue Mei from the Snake-People Tribe; two Dou King elders from the Misty Cloud Sect; and Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, who had reached the Dou King realm thanks to the pills Xiao Yan had given them. "Shouldn''t we leave some people behind to guard the Yan Alliance?" Xiao Yan looked at the roster. Excluding the Amethyst Winged Lion King and Little Fairy Doctor, almost all of the Yan Alliance''s top experts were being dispatched. If the Chu Yun Empire took the opportunity to attack, wouldn''t it be disastrous? "No need to worry. During the Great Meeting of Factions, all empires are prohibited from invading others. Otherwise, they would face joint destruction by all factions and empires." Only then did Xiao Yan feel at ease. ... That night, taking advantage of the late hour when everyone was asleep, Xiao Yan donned his Soul Robe and flew in the direction of the Misty Cloud Sect, or more precisely, toward the Hall of Souls. Misty Cloud Sect''s Hall of Souls. "V-V-Venerable!! Greetings, Venerable Yan!" "Venerable Yan!" "It''s Venerable Yan! Greetings, Venerable Yan!" To facilitate entry into the Space Lock, Xiao Yan hung his Soul Command Token at his waist. Along the way, the Soul Envoys within the Space Lock practically knelt in waves. This branch of the Hall of Souls was under his control. Of course, he was just a hands-off manager; matters concerning the Xiao Clan and the Hall of Souls were primarily managed by his two elder brothers. Xiao Yan paid no attention to these Soul Envoys, for with his Spiritual Strength the Soul Robes they wore could not block his perception. He sensed that a small number of the Soul Envoys here were disciples from the Misty Cloud Sect and the Xiao Clan. From a hierarchical perspective, although Xiao Yan held the status of a Venerable, this branch of the Hall of Souls was still one of the weakest and lowest-level halls, lacking in both numbers and strength. Reaching the front of a pitch-black grand hall, Xiao Yan looked up to see a figure wearing a Protector''s Soul Robe of the Human Grade, sitting cross-legged on one of the dark chains, with occasional flashes of black lightning scintillating around him. Sensing a wave of heat, the lightning-clad figure slowly opened his eyes. A glint of lightning flashed in his pupils, and the ferocity and cruelty in his gaze would make anyone shudder at the mere sight. Yet when the black-robed man saw the Soul Command Token hanging at the other party''s waist and the ''Yan'' character on his Soul Robe, his ferocity and cruelty instantly softened into doting affection. "So you finally decided to come back." The black-robed man ceased his cultivation, jumped down from the chains, and amiably patted Xiao Yan''s shoulder. Without a doubt, the only person here who dared to pat Xiao Yan''s shoulder like this was his second brother, Xiao Li. "I''m back, Second Brother." After sensing his brother''s aura, Xiao Yan was somewhat surprised, "It seems your cultivation has improved quite a bit." Eldest Brother Xiao Ding was the most strategic, while Second Brother Xiao Li had a fierce temperament. In terms of cultivation talent, Xiao Li was higher than Xiao Ding. "Heh heh, it''s all thanks to you. Did you come this time for something?" Xiao Li asked. "Yes, I want to make use of the Soul Offering Altar." Xiao Li saw that Xiao Yan had serious matters to attend to, so he said nothing more and resumed his cultivation. This time, he would be representing the Yan Alliance in the Great Meeting of Factions and naturally couldn''t afford to lose face. Proceeding straight ahead, Xiao Yan soon arrived at the Soul Offering Altar. His Soul Command Token flew onto the altar with a whoosh, and suddenly an eerie black fog surged out from it. "Jie Jie Jie, Xiao Yan," came a voice as the black fog gradually transformed into the figure of an old man. "Hun Huzi." The more powerful Xiao Yan became, the more he realized how unfathomable this self-proclaimed number one alchemist of the Dou Qi Continent was; claiming to be the continent''s top alchemist might have been more than mere boastfulness. Xiao Yan did not plan to engage in small talk with Hun Huzi. A cluster of black flames appeared in his palm as he reached inside to retrieve a vial of blood. "What is the connection between the Nihility Devouring Flame and the Tunling Clan?" he asked directly. "Jie Jie Jie, that''s a secret of my clan, but I suppose you''ve already guessed it," Hun Huzi replied with a sinister laugh, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Xiao Yan. "The Nihility Devouring Flame''s essence once devoured the Tunling King and obtained its power. Thus, the Seed Flames of the Nihility Devouring Flame also possess the power of the Tunling Clan, the ability to absorb bloodline strength." Xiao Yan had figured out some things after that battle. Then, when he saw Hun Huzi''s silence, he continued, "How is this thing used?" Although he possessed this Dou God Bloodline, he didn''t know how to use it! "You want to cultivate the Emperor Soul Technique?" Hun Huzi saw through him at a glance. Xiao Yan had no intention of joining the Hun Clan, but he wanted to cultivate their supreme Soul Training Method. "Of course; otherwise, why would I have traded the Ancient God''s Jade with you?" Looking at Xiao Yan''s composed expression, Hun Huzi was silent for a moment before shaking his head, "You''re not qualified yet. Every Dou God Clan holds a coming-of-age ceremony every year to test the Dou God Bloodline in their members." "The Dou God Bloodline gradually activates as the cultivator grows, and the coming-of-age ceremony is a ritual to assess the bloodline. Reaching Grade 4 allows one to inscribe the Clan Mark; at Grade 6 it goes even further, with the highest being the Divine Grade. My Hun Clan is no exception." "The method to utilize the Dou God Bloodline is very simple: participate in our clan''s coming-of-age ceremony and use the ritual''s secret technique to enhance your bloodline concentration." Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed slightly. When Hun Huzi said he wasn''t qualified, he meant that Xiao Yan wasn''t a member of the Hun Clan and thus wasn''t eligible to participate in their coming-of-age ceremony. Xiao Yan pulled back his hood, revealing a cold smile, and said, "Hun Huzi, no need to beat around the bush. Since your goal is for me to partner with you to refine a certain pill, and that requires my Spiritual Strength to reach the Emperor State, cultivating the Emperor Soul Technique is the only way. So, do you have conditions, or perhaps a trial?" Hun Huzi grinned widely, "Jie Jie Jie, indeed. You''re only one of the candidates for the Di Pill Plan. My clan only needs one person to join hands with me, so you need to defeat the other alchemists to prove you''re truly qualified." "You defeated Han Feng, but he was merely a pawn. His martial uncle, Mu Gu, is an 8th-tier alchemist and one of the candidates for the Di Pill Plan." Han Feng''s martial uncle! That means he''s a fellow disciple of Venerable Yao! "He will participate in the next Pill Gathering hosted by the Pill Tower. I want you to join as well, win the championship, and enter their inner sanctum to retrieve a certain pill recipe!" Chapter 315: Journey to the Sky Serpent Empire Chapter 315 - 315: Journey to the Sky Serpent Empire // The final arc of this volume and the entire North-Western Region has begun. Word Count: 2,762 Words ****** Even someone like Xiao Yan, who grew up in a remote place such as the Jia Ma Empire, was familiar with the term ''Pill Gathering.'' The Pill Gathering, held once every thirty years by the Pill Tower¡ªthe headquarters of the Alchemist Association in the Central Plains¡ªwas designed to discover and nurture young alchemist talents. In fact, the Alchemist Grand Meeting held every four years in the Jia Ma Empire was merely a small-scale imitation of this Pill Gathering. Unlike the Jia Ma Empire''s Alchemist Grand Meeting, the Pill Gathering was a grand event that brought together alchemists from every corner of the Dou Qi Continent to compete. Its scale was on a level that the modest Alchemist Grand Meeting could not hope to match. Moreover, the Pill Gathering required participants to be 5th-tier alchemists or above, and the champion would receive an exceptionally precious prize. Venerable Yao, the former owner of the storage ring in Xiao Yan''s possession, had been the champion of the previous Pill Gathering. Xiao Yan knitted his brows and asked in a deep, measured tone, "Enter the inner sanctum? With your strength, shouldn''t obtaining a pill recipe from the Pill Tower be a simple matter?" Hun Huzi narrowed his eyes with a strange smile. "It''s impossible for me to enter." "Why?" "Jie Jie Jie, because I once studied alchemy in there. Just when I was about to obtain that pill recipe, the then Tower Master discovered my identity as a member of the Hun Clan. I killed him and escaped. Afterwards, the Hall of Souls and the Pill Tower erupted into a great war." Xiao Yan''s scalp tingled upon hearing this. Not only had Hun Huzi once studied alchemy in the inner sanctum, but he had also killed its Tower Master! The Tower Master of the Pill Tower could not have been weak, at least a 9th-tier alchemist with the strength of a Dou Saint, yet he had died at the hands of Hun Huzi. This incident alone revealed just how terrifyingly powerful Hun Huzi was. Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed. He sensed that Hun Huzi was hiding something. The tension between the Pill Tower and the Hun Clan was well known. The Pill Tower had been established to counter the Hall of Souls'' widespread capture of alchemists, uniting all alchemists against the Soul Envoys, Protectors, and Honorable Elders of the Hall of Souls. And since the Hall of Souls itself was an organization established by the Hun Clan, the enmity between them was self-evident. "Your Hun Clan is a Dou God Clan. Can''t you simply exchange for any pill recipe you want from the Yao Clan?" Xiao Yan asked, perplexed. Wasn''t the Yao Clan the clan of Emperor Yao? Could there be pill recipes more powerful than those created by Emperor Yao? "Those fellows from the Yao Clan are stuck in their old ways. They think that what Emperor Yao left behind is unsurpassed. The pill recipes of the Yao Clan have hardly changed over ten thousand years, and their alchemy methods remain the same. Only a scant few are worth referencing. However, the things from the Yao Clan, my Hun Clan will eventually obtain. Jie Jie Jie." Xiao Yan merely shrugged. The Yao Clan also possessed a piece of the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade, and a war was inevitable sooner or later. Without elaboration, it was clear that winning the Pill Gathering championship was meant as a test from the Hun Clan, a trial similar to the one he had undergone to obtain the Soul Command Token. After all, to refine a Di Tier Pill, not to mention that the Pill Tower and Yao Clan lacked the capability, even someone as arrogant as Hun Huzi needed to join forces with another peak alchemist before success was possible. He would clearly be unqualified if he could not even win a mere Pill Gathering championship. As for that Venerable Mu Gu, he was probably also arranged by Hun Huzi to participate in this Pill Gathering to win the championship. Or perhaps Hun Huzi had more confidence in Xiao Yan and deliberately arranged such an 8th-tier alchemist as his opponent. A strange light flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes, which quickly turned somewhat fierce as Hun Huzi finished speaking. Noticing Xiao Yan''s gaze, even Hun Huzi was a bit curious. He asked, "With such an expression, is there something else you desire? Since you''re a candidate for the Di Pill Plan, my clan will naturally provide you with resources befitting your status. Mu Gu and Han Feng, for example, have received rewards that helped them achieve their accomplishments." Hun Huzi had just mentioned that the Di Pill Plan needed only one person. This wasn''t to say that having more than one was impossible, but even for the Hun Clan, assisting someone in breaking through to Emperor State Spiritual Strength was a monumental task; resources simply could not be provided for a second person. "Pill recipes? Alchemy techniques? Pills? Or treasures, Dou Techniques, Qi Methods? With your current potential, you indeed can receive some rewards. Consider them prizes." With a wave of his hand, Hun Huzi conjured various treasures from within the black fog, including Tian Class Dou Techniques and tier 8 pills. Each of them was enough to make one''s heart race. Yet, facing these items, Xiao Yan did not even glance at them. In a deep voice, he said, "The Gu Clan. I want all the information you have on the Gu Clan." Even Hun Huzi showed a hint of astonishment upon hearing this. Faced with so many treasures, he had actually chosen this! "Jie Jie Jie, hahaha! Such obsession¡ªI like it! Then as you wish, accept this. It''s everything my clan has gathered about the Gu Clan." A mass of black fog surged forth, enveloping Xiao Yan as streams of information about the Gu Clan flowed into his mind. It was unknown how much time had passed. When the black fog dissipated, Xiao Yan retrieved his Soul Command Token and left. No one knew what he was thinking. ... Creak! As Xiao Yan walked out from the Hall of Souls, he was greeted by a dense crowd of Soul Envoys wearing lower-grade Soul Robes. "Greetings, Venerable Yan!" A unified shout like thunder pierced the air. Among these people, there were quite a few Dou Kings. Their Dou Qi soared into the sky. This scene left Xiao Yan somewhat stunned. He had only been inside for a short while¡ªwhat was going on! Xiao Li slowly approached from the side and shrugged. "These Soul Envoys heard that you, Venerable Yan, appeared, and all said they wanted to come and see you." Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly, but this wasn''t surprising. An Honorable Elder! That was the status of a Dou Venerate in the Hall of Souls. If a Dou Venerate suddenly appeared in Jia Ma Sacred City, perhaps even the entire city and the imperial family would come to seek an audience. Xiao Yan waved his hand and lowered his voice, "Return to your duties." "Yes, Venerable!" None of the Soul Envoys dared to disobey Xiao Yan''s words. In an instant, everyone dispersed. They had merely wanted to see the legendary Venerable. Even though Xiao Yan was wearing a Soul Robe with his hood up, and they couldn''t see his face, their fanaticism toward someone of his status did not diminish in the slightest. This instead added to Xiao Yan''s mysterious aura. "All done? If there''s anything you need help with, just tell Second Brother. Even though my cultivation isn''t as good as yours now, if there''s anything I can help you with, Second Brother will do his best," Xiao Li said, placing his arm around Xiao Yan''s shoulder with bold camaraderie. Xiao Yan could naturally tell that his second brother genuinely meant it. "Nothing else for now. Just keep an eye out for news about the Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva. If there''s any information, inform me immediately through the soul jade piece. That item is very important," Xiao Yan said seriously. He had previously inquired about the Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva through Hun Lao Gui. It was just that the Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva was related to the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree and was extremely rare, as there was probably only one Bodhisattva Ancient Tree in the entire Dou Qi Continent. Even the Hall of Souls currently did not know the whereabouts of the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree, so there was no news at all. After everyone left, Xiao Yan returned to the Misty Cloud Sect with Xiao Li. After all, they would be heading to the Sky Serpent Empire together the next day. ... Early the next morning, after having breakfast and tea with his father Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan, along with his second brother Xiao Li, flew to the front of the imperial palace in Jia Ma Sacred City. When Xiao Yan and Xiao Li arrived, the others had been waiting for quite some time. In front of the palace stood a massive blue Serene Sea Scaly Beast, attracting astonished gazes from passersby. This time, they were not flying individually to the Sky Serpent Empire but riding the Serene Sea Scaly Beast. As a magical beast, its endurance surpassed that of ordinary Dou Emperors; it could sustain flight for a very long time. Originally, the Serene Sea Scaly Beast had been reluctant to let anyone ride it. However... "Xiao Yan, hurry up! We''re all waiting for you!" Standing atop the Serene Sea Scaly Beast''s head, Zi Yan waved at Xiao Yan. Naturally, she was extremely excited to be going to the Sky Serpent Empire. No matter how many grievances the Serene Sea Scaly Beast had, at this moment, it dared not voice them. After breaking through to Dou Emperor, Zi Yan''s bloodline suppression over it was overwhelming. With just a squint of her eyes, the Serene Sea Scaly Beast would become petrified, completely unable to move. Xiao Yan smiled, flew up to the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, cupped his fists, and said, "Sorry to trouble you this time, Flood Dragon Emperor." "Not at all, not at all! Grandmaster Xiao Yan cured my chronic ailment; this is just a small matter, nothing worth mentioning," the Serene Sea Scaly Beast said in a booming voice. "No need to be polite with it. If this guy dares to refuse, I''ll twist him into a pretzel," Zi Yan raised her small fist, threatening the Serene Sea Scaly Beast. "Absolutely, absolutely! Being able to carry Miss Zi Yan is this old flood dragon''s honor. Hehehe," the Serene Sea Scaly Beast replied in a fawning manner. Seeing the Serene Sea Scaly Beast behaving like this, Queen Yao Ye and Jia Xing Tian couldn''t help but smile wryly. Even when facing Jia Xing Tian, who had broken through to Dou Ancestor, this fellow still maintained his arrogant demeanor. Now, acting like this in front of a little girl who had just entered Dou Emperor¡ªhow could Jia Xing Tian not be speechless? After everyone stood on the Serene Sea Scaly Beast''s back, a pair of huge blue Dou Qi wings grew out from its back. Its strength was not inferior to the Amethyst Winged Lion King. The Serene Sea Scaly Beast, now equivalent to an 8-star Dou Emperor, flapped its wings vigorously, stirring up a gust of air that carried a hint of moisture. It then carried the group of over a dozen people and flew toward the center of the North-Western Region, heading to the Sky Serpent Empire, which possessed the most ancient heritage and the strongest power in the North-Western Region! ... In the distant center of the Black-Corner Region, a massive academy renowned throughout the entire Dou Qi Continent stood. Today was a rather lively day in the Inner Academy of Jia Nan Academy. According to tradition, the Inner Academy would organize an activity every month where all students could enter the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower to cultivate. The students were very supportive of this kind of activity because, on this day, entering the tower to cultivate didn''t require paying any ''Fire Energy.'' And today happened to be this month''s collective cultivation day. Back when Xiao Yan was in the Inner Academy, he had heard of such activities but seldom participated. With his wealthy status, he didn''t need to worry about Fire Energy and naturally didn''t need to compete with so many people for cultivation rooms. Due to Han Feng''s attack on the Inner Academy in the past, there had been some policy changes over the past two years. The number of students had gradually increased, injecting more fresh blood to strengthen the academy''s power. Therefore, the current number of people in the Inner Academy was far more than before. Shortly after the morning bell rang, groups of students began heading toward the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. By the time the sun hung high in the sky, the spacious plaza outside the tower was already packed with a sea of people. Now, the area surrounding the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower had been reconstructed into a huge plaza. In the center of the plaza was the tip of the tower that only protruded a short distance above ground. Moreover, at the tower''s entrance stood a statue. The statue depicted a very young man wearing a black robe and holding a Heavy Xuan Ruler. His expression was as calm as an ancient well, accentuating his handsome and refined face. Almost everyone in the Inner Academy had seen the statue standing at the entrance, so when passing by, they didn''t show expressions of surprise. Occasionally, some students would stop and look at the inscription below the statue that recorded the man''s deeds, and they couldn''t help but marvel at his astonishing achievements. The Inner Academy''s youngest and most talented genius alchemist, the hero who defeated the villain Han Feng who attacked the Inner Academy, the founder of the strongest faction in the Inner Academy... Various titles and achievements were engraved on the inscription. At this moment, a tall and elegant woman stood quietly in front of the statue, her gaze carrying an indescribable emotion as she stared in a daze at the familiar features of the statue. She was quite pretty in her own right, but what most caught people''s attention were her exceptionally long and shapely legs. Male passersby couldn''t help but sneak a glance, though they did so discreetly, not daring to show any disrespect. Because they were well aware of this woman''s identity: a special elder of the Inner Academy, and the cousin of the person depicted in the statue¡ªXiao Yu. "I wonder how you''re doing now," a faint smile appeared on her face as she sighed and murmured. Only when she was alone would she reveal her true thoughts about Xiao Yan. As for news about him, she could only learn bits and pieces through the Miteer Auction House in Xiao City. Now, Xiao City was developing exactly as Xiao Yan had planned. Not only had it become a famous city ranking among the top in the Black-Corner Region, but also because half a year ago, Ya Fei had personally come to hold an auction featuring medicinal pills that Xiao Yan had personally refined. Coupled with the people from the Medicine Gang back then, Xiao City had completely become the gathering center for alchemists in the Black-Corner Region. To seek medicinal pills or request alchemists to refine pills, the best place in the Black-Corner Region was Xiao City. "Cousin Xiao Yu, the First Elder is looking for you." A sweet-looking girl with an astonishingly voluptuous figure walked over from a distance. Her ''weapons of mass destruction'' bounced with every step, causing passersby to swallow hard! Seeing Xiao Mei approaching, Xiao Yu collected her thoughts, nodded, and had just taken a step forward when suddenly, an unexpected change occurred! A terrifyingly hot temperature was rapidly rising from the bottom of the tower! The ground began to tremble, and the entire Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower started to shake. An extremely frightening aura emanated from beneath the tower. "What''s going on?!" "What''s happening?!" Xiao Yu was stunned at first, then thought of something and murmured, "Could it be...!" The First Elder appeared instantly. At this moment, even the First Elder, who possessed the strength of a Dou Ancestor, had an extremely solemn expression. He roughly guessed what was happening, but this aura and level of power were far more terrifying than he had imagined! "How... did her cultivation increase so drastically?!" Chapter 316: The Sky Serpent Empire Chapter 316 - 316: The Sky Serpent Empire Word Count: 2,993 Words ****** A thin layer of sweat glistened on First Elder Su Qian''s forehead. He knew he would be powerless to stop this woman if she decided to attack the Inner Academy with her overwhelming strength. Had he not placed such trust in Xiao Yan, he would never have allowed such a formidable figure to remain beneath the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. Everyone understood the principle that a wise man should not stand beneath a dangerous wall. Initially, Su Qian believed she would merely break through to Rank 7, and if anything went wrong, he could handle it. But now, this aura clearly exceeded that of someone who had just entered the Dou Ancestor realm! Buzz!!! Suddenly, a seven-colored divine light surged from the base of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. The terrifying radiance pierced directly through the tower, through space, and shot into the sky! The entire Inner Academy was bathed in a vibrant seven-colored glow in an instant. Although the light posed no harm to the human body, its sheer scale, enveloping every corner of the academy, struck a primal fear into the hearts of all the students. "Could it be... the Fallen Heart Flame erupting again!" a student who had witnessed the past incident trembled as he spoke. "Are you stupid? Didn''t you read the inscription on the stone tablet? Senior Xiao Yan subdued the Fallen Heart Flame long ago," a fervent fan of Xiao Yan retorted. "But didn''t Senior Xiao Yan find a second flame and donate it to the academy? That''s why the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower can be used again. Maybe it''s that second flame acting up!" "Listen, pal, putting other matters aside, the Fallen Heart Flame isn''t multicolored. Besides, anything Senior Xiao Yan gave to the academy would definitely be safe." Xiao Yan''s fame now surpassed even that of the elusive Headmaster. Moreover, very few people in the entire Inner Academy knew what truly lay beneath the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. "She''s about to come out..." the First Elder muttered, his tone heavy. As soon as his words fell, the seven-colored light pulsed again. A radiant rainbow arc shot into the sky like a celestial bridge piercing the heavens, resembling the emergence of some ancient treasure. One could discern from a distance, however, that the seven-colored light formed the shape of an incomparably massive python, its body stretching thousands of meters long! "What in the world is that thing!" "Look... I think there''s someone inside!" All students of Jia Nan Academy, including those from the Outer Academy, turned their gazes upward. Everyone stood captivated by the seven-colored light erupting from the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. Xiao Mei and Xiao Yu, as core members of the Xiao Clan, naturally knew that Queen Medusa had been cultivating beneath the tower. After all, she was now an ally of their clan. "So... so beautiful." Xiao Mei stared blankly at the graceful figure within the rainbow light. Even though she was a beauty pursued and admired by many in Jia Nan Academy, when she saw Medusa, who had successfully completed her evolution and condensed her Heavenly Flame serpent body, that beauty made her feel utterly outshone. At this moment, Medusa was wearing that noble and magnificent long dress, with streaks of seven-colored rainbow light shimmering behind her, looking exceptionally beautiful. Her figure was absolute perfection¡ªfull, rounded breasts straining against her attire, a slender waist that seemed almost too delicate to be real, and curvaceous hips that swayed with each subtle movement. Her skin glowed with flawless luster under the radiant light, while her delicate face, framed by cascading locks of deep, glossy black hair, carried an air of untouchable nobility. Her jade-like feet stood atop the rainbow as colorful light swirled around her mature, captivating body. Her icy, imperious gaze only amplified her regal demeanor. Already stunningly beautiful and bearing the authority of a queen, her charm carried an aloof dignity that made others instinctively wish to kneel at her feet, bow their heads, and heed her every command. Medusa''s piercing gaze swept across the wide plaza. Surprisingly, her eyes landed first not on First Elder Su Qian, the strongest figure present, nor on the Qian Bai Two Elders hidden in the Book Collection Hall, but on Xiao Yu! Xiao Yu instinctively took half a step back under the weight of that gaze. Yet, for reasons she couldn''t explain, she bit her lower lip, squared her shoulders, and lifted her chin to meet Medusa''s stare directly. However, Medusa quickly retracted her gaze and glanced at the stone statue of Xiao Yan standing on the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. A formidable Spiritual Strength rippled outward, scanning every inch of Jia Nan Academy, yet finding no trace of him. "Xiao Yan left over a year ago and returned to the Jia Ma Empire shortly after. He is not in the Black-Corner Region now," First Elder Su Qian spoke up, having sensed Medusa''s Spiritual Strength sweep across the academy and guessing whom she sought. Queen Medusa cast an indifferent glance his way. Just as she prepared to depart, a cold glint flashed in her eyes. She turned toward Xiao Yan''s statue below, her expression hardening as her lips pressed into a thin line. With a subtle gesture, she squeezed the air before her. Boom! The entire statue instantly turned into powder with a thunderous crash, then vanished, the fragments scattering into nothingness as if they had never existed. As Medusa vanished along with the rainbow light, it seemed as though the vision from moments before had been nothing but a fleeting illusion. First Elder Su Qian sensed her departure and exhaled a long breath of relief. He had initially assumed Queen Medusa''s strength was at most that of someone newly ascended to the Dou Ancestor realm, but unexpectedly, her cultivation had reached the high-star Dou Ancestor stage! 1 to 3 stars was considered low-star, 4 to 6 stars intermediate-star, and high-star was naturally 7 to 9 stars. Even Xiao Yan likely hadn''t anticipated this. He had estimated that Queen Medusa would have just entered the Dou Ancestor realm, with strength equivalent to at most a 3-star Dou Ancestor. However, he had overlooked a crucial factor. After Medusa joined the Yan Alliance, he had spared no effort using the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to continuously awaken her bloodline strength. Additionally, he had given her most of the Core-Fire Lotus Seeds, and with the little Fallen Heart Flame as her companion, Medusa had integrated the powers of three Heavenly Flames into one. After her physical body fully advanced to Rank 7 and completely fused with her soul and bloodline, her strength blossomed like a chemical reaction, yielding extraordinary results. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame activated the bloodline of the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, the Green Lotus Core Flame evolved her soul, and finally, the Fallen Heart Flame refined her body. Even a pig could fly with such a combination! Even Medusa herself hadn''t expected her strength to increase so dramatically after complete fusion. Su Qian shook his head speechlessly as he gazed at the powdered remains of the stone statue. He couldn''t fathom why she held such a grudge against Xiao Yan. Xiao Mei''s eyes lingered on the spot where Medusa had stood while her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her robe. Her gaze dropped briefly to her own figure, specifically to the fullness of her own twin peaks, yet she realized with a subtle pout that she still fell far short of Medusa''s level. There were aspects of maturity and effortless grace in Medusa''s form that she couldn''t yet hope to rival. "Is she blaming Cousin Xiao Yan for not waiting for her?" she murmured. Su Qian had a strange expression and shook his head, "She can''t be that childish, can she?" Only Xiao Yu wore a thoughtful look, her brow furrowed slightly as she stared at the empty space where Medusa had vanished. Naturally, the news of Medusa''s sudden appearance in the Inner Academy spread far and wide. Most people definitely discussed Medusa''s beauty and the matter of her crushing Xiao Yan''s stone statue in the end. Many uninformed students, through rumors and exaggerations, gradually spun the story into one where Senior Xiao Yan had left Jia Nan Academy and dallied outside, attracting such a formidable goddess of wrath. The tale eventually evolved into one of Xiao Yan having a one-night affair and ''knocking someone up,'' with the affected party tracking him down to the academy to demand justice. Naturally, Xiao Yan, who was far away in the Sky Serpent Empire, could not possibly know about Medusa emerging from beneath the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. ... "Phew, we''ve finally arrived." After flying for seven days, the Yan Alliance group finally reached the capital city of the Sky Serpent Empire. The capital was a massive ancient city of incredible prosperity, where diverse races gathered in abundance. Here, the number of magical beasts far exceeded that of humans, and the most numerous here were undoubtedly the Snake Race. Here, one could see all sorts of snake races: the Snake-People Race, Horned Snake Race, Winged Snake Race, Crawling Snake Race, Giant Snake Race, and so on. The interbreeding ability of the Snake Race was definitely not weaker than that of the Dragon Race. As Xiao Yan and his companions approached the capital of the Sky Serpent Empire, they could see from afar a gigantic, jade-green serpent statue in the center of the capital, piercing straight through the clouds. The entire giant serpent was jade-green, not carved from ordinary stone. From a distance, one could only see its body but not its detailed features, as its upper half disappeared into the clouds. An interesting aspect of the capital was that people didn''t use clocks to tell time, but relied on the shadow cast by this enormous statue. The long, dark shadow moved slowly with the sun''s journey, creating an indescribable sense of foreboding¡ªas though, within the Sky Serpent Capital, one was always being watched by a giant serpent in the sky, with nowhere to hide. The Sky Serpent Empire was named after this giant serpent statue. It was once rumored that this giant serpent was the statue of that Dou Saint from the Sky Serpent Mansion, built to commemorate his great achievements. Others said that this giant serpent retained the power of that Dou Saint from the Sky Serpent Mansion, guarding the Sky Serpent Mansion as its guardian deity. Although it was said that the Sky Serpent Empire was protected by this statue, no one had seen this statue display its divine might over so many years. In fact, for a thousand years, the Sky Serpent Empire had been relatively peaceful and tranquil, without major wars, and no one had ever been able to attack the capital. Seeing that giant statue naturally meant they were about to enter the Sky Serpent Capital. Even someone as restless as Zi Yan felt quite fatigued by now, and even Yun Yun, with her calm temperament, showed signs of weariness. She had skipped the previous Great Meeting of Factions, partly because she had already made her name, but mainly because it was simply too far! Xiao Yan couldn''t help but rub his temples. One had to know, the Central Plains were even farther! One had to pass through the Sky Serpent Capital, then travel further, cross the entire North-Western Region, and then fly more to reach the outskirts of the Central Plains! "Let''s land here. Flying is prohibited in the Sky Serpent Capital." Jia Xing Tian patted the scales of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast. With a roar, the Serene Sea Scaly Beast slowly descended onto a grassland outside the Sky Serpent Capital. The massive body of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast landed with a thunderous boom, creating a huge crater in the ground. "What''s that noise!" "Such a strong magical beast! Is that a dragon!" "It looks like a Rank 6 flood dragon. With such an imposing aura, I wonder which faction has arrived riding such a beast." The Sky Serpent Capital was not just the gathering place for the Great Meeting of Factions; it was also the most prosperous city in the entire North-Western Region. Located in the center of the North-Western Region, the Sky Serpent Empire was undoubtedly a necessary route for all other countries in the North-Western Region to conduct business. Many powerful empires would have merchant caravans riding flying magical beasts through various empires, then selling and purchasing goods. After establishing the Yan Alliance and occupying Feng City, the Miteer Auction House had such flying merchant caravans, traveling back and forth between the Snake-People Tribe, the Black-Corner Region, and the Jia Ma Empire. Even in the Sky Serpent Empire, a magical beast with the strength of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast held a prominent position and could serve as an elder in the Sky Serpent Mansion. The Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor that Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong had jointly dealt with in the past was only slightly stronger than the Serene Sea Scaly Beast. The bipedal Serene Sea Scaly Beast strode its massive body slowly toward the city gate. After all, the Sky Serpent Empire was a nation of magical beasts, and the city gates here were more than ten times larger than normal, allowing even the Serene Sea Scaly Beast to pass through smoothly. After sensing the strength of the people on the Serene Sea Scaly Beast''s back, how would the guards dare to stop them? One didn''t need to think to know that this was some first-rate faction coming to participate in the Great Meeting of Factions. "What a powerful aura!" "There must be a Dou Ancestor among them." "I wonder which first-rate faction this is. I don''t think I''ve seen this huge flood dragon before." Nearly a hundred factions participated in each Great Meeting of Factions, and among them, only those with Dou Ancestor experts could be ranked as first-rate. Factions like those from the Chu Yun Empire and the Gold Geese Sect were considered first-rate, while the former Jia Ma Empire and the Snake-People Tribe were regarded as second-rate. When their group stepped into the capital city, their emotions varied. Zi Yan, Yue Er, and Nalan Yanran, being younger and also visiting the capital city for the first time, were extremely excited. Upon entering the capital, Zi Yan couldn''t help but look around in wonder, much like a country bumpkin entering a grand estate. She was especially shocked when she saw that the surroundings were full of magical beasts, and even the vendors and shop assistants were magical beasts. To facilitate trade more conveniently, the magical beasts of the Sky Serpent Empire would all learn human language, making communication completely barrier-free. "It really is mostly magical beasts!" Zi Yan looked around excitedly. It was her first time seeing a city inhabited by magical beasts, and she couldn''t help but feel a sense of kinship. She wondered if her own homeland was also like this, with dragons everywhere! Xiao Yan''s sharp gaze, meanwhile, fixed on the giant statue at the center of the capital. He knew that was where the Sky Serpent Mansion stood, and where Qing Lin would be. Several years had passed, and he still didn''t know how that little girl Qing Lin was doing. "Don''t be anxious. You''ll be able to see that little girl sooner or later. No matter what happens, we should try our best not to offend the Sky Serpent Mansion for now," Hai Bodong reminded Xiao Yan, afraid that he would directly rush into the Sky Serpent Mansion. Xiao Yan nodded. He was not an impulsive person. Moreover, Bai Ya and Lu Man had made a promise back then to definitely give Qing Lin the best inheritance, education, and treatment. If Qing Lin was doing well, then that would be that. Xiao Yan remained silent. Yun Yun and Hai Bodong, who were accompanying him, did not disturb his thoughts. Only Zi Yan, Nalan Yanran, and Yue Er were excitedly looking around, curious about everything. By the time they entered the capital, dusk had begun to settle. Yun Yun suggested, "Shall we find a place to stay first?" Xiao Yan and the others had planned to stay for a while to attend the Great Meeting of Factions, so he wasn''t in a hurry and simply nodded. For factions with strength above the Dou King realm, especially those with Dou Ancestors, the Sky Serpent Mansion had arranged vast courtyards complete with large pools suitable for beasts like the Serene Sea Scaly Beast. "These preparations are quite thoughtful." Xiao Yan was very satisfied. As the host, the Sky Serpent Mansion had done a good job. With over a hundred factions participating, each faction had an independent courtyard. "Xiao Yan! Let''s go out for a walk!" Zi Yan tugged at his sleeve, acting spoiled. Xiao Yan nodded and said, "That''s a good idea. I also happen to need to buy some medicinal ingredients. It would be best if I can buy them here." "Let this old man accompany you. I visited the Sky Serpent Capital in my youth, so I''m quite familiar with it," Hai Bodong offered as he stood up, ready to serve as their guide. "Yanran, you should go too and broaden your horizons," Yun Yun suggested, noticing Nalan Yanran''s desire to join them. "Then what about you, Master?" "I''ll stay here and wait for your return. I feel that my cultivation has reached a bottleneck. Perhaps I can break through to 8-star before the meeting begins," Yun Yun replied with a gentle smile. In the end, Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong took Zi Yan, Yue Er, and Nalan Yanran, these members of the younger generation, toward the bustling streets. Before leaving, Xiao Yan exchanged a discreet nod with Xiao Li and Xiao Ding. Shortly afterward, the two quietly left the courtyard. Chapter 317: Yellow Spring Treasure Pavilion Chapter 317 - 317: Yellow Spring Treasure Pavilion Word Count: 2,927 Words ****** The people and magical beasts living in the capital of the Sky Serpent Empire, the most central and prosperous city of the North-Western Region, were accustomed to all sorts of bizarre happenings. Airships or dragons passed overhead, and colossal apes taller than the city walls roamed outside, yet none of it caused much of a stir. In contrast, Zi Yan, visiting the Sky Serpent Empire for the first time, was utterly astonished. She clearly should have been the most peculiar and highest-bloodline magical beast here; after all, her true form was the legendary Ancient Void Dragon. Now, however, she was more like a country bumpkin, her eyes wide with astonishment, shining brightly as she was dazzled by the array of sights. Countless cultivators poured into the Sky Serpent Empire, especially with only a few days remaining until the Great Meeting of Factions. Visitors from all corners, including all sorts of strange beings, had converged here. Some arrived on flying treasures, others with Dou Qi wings unfurled, and still others rode on an Eight-Eyed Insect King. In comparison, Xiao Yan''s respectable-looking group did not attract much attention. The only thing drawing gazes was the group of stunning beauties accompanying him; even in the North-Western Region, they were dazzling and exceptionally eye-catching. Zi Yan was lively and adorable, Princess Yue Er playful and sprightly, and Nalan Yanran as proud and pure as a solitary plum blossom in winter, resembling a sharp sword that made people admire from afar. As for Yue Mei of the Mei Snake Tribe, her allure needed no elaboration; even in the Sky Serpent Empire, such a stunner was rare. Her exposed snake waist, swaying with each movement, was truly mouth-watering, captivating all who saw it and making the surrounding snake-type magical beasts stare wide-eyed. Xiao Yan himself had not been lacking in luck with beauties, having once been fortunate enough to catch a distant glimpse of that back emerging from the water in the desert. However, he was a man who had ''matured'' since then and would no longer have his mind disturbed by such trivial matters. Surrounded by them, he remained plain and ordinary, calm as an ancient well; though he had no story to tell, his eyes were full of them. The Sky Serpent Empire bustled with heavy traffic. At the same time, countless shops selling all sorts of rare treasures lined the streets, and street vendors and peddlers were even more numerous. Upon entering the Sky Serpent Empire, one would be drowned in the ceaseless rise and fall of hawking cries. "Hegemon Flower! Selling a stalk of Hegemon Flower, the main ingredient for the Hegemon King Pill! Selling cheap now! The effect of a peak tier 5 Hegemon King Pill needs no further explanation. Trading only for pills, requiring a tier 4 or higher pill; will sell if suitable!" On the main street, the sound of hawking rose and fell ceaselessly. "One Ancient Puppet Crafting Scroll, obtained from an ancient ruin! Though it''s only the upper scroll, its grade is definitely no lower than High Xuan Class! Selling cheap!" "A Monster Core of a Rank 6 magical beast and a piece of Rank 6 magical beast essence bone, can be used to forge a set of Monster Core Weapons! Price is negotiable!" In the capital of the Sky Serpent Empire, besides the shops and auction houses established by powerful factions and imperial forces of the North-Western Region, there were also many traveling merchants or locals who would take out their own items to sell or exchange for other things. Powerful sects like the Thunderbolt Sect and the Medicine Bone Sect also had shops in other empires, and Xiao Yan even saw shops belonging to factions from the Central Plains. Of course, there were also quite a few swindlers here; however, most of them could only deceive people who had not seen much of the world. Like Zi Yan, for instance. "Dragon Blood Sacred Grass! After an incomparably powerful Heavenly Dragon fell in ancient times, its essence blood dripped into the earth, ultimately nurturing this stalk of Dragon Blood Sacred Grass! That Heavenly Dragon could once challenge a Dou Saint; its power reached the heavens! Come and see, Dragon Blood Sacred Grass, price is favorable," a street vendor cried out. Upon hearing the words ''dragon blood,'' Zi Yan''s twin ponytails practically jumped up, and she whipped her head to look in the direction of the shout. Seeing Zi Yan''s appearance, never mind the street vendor accustomed to doing business, even Xiao Yan and the others knew she wanted to buy it. "Esteemed young master and young ladies, please look. This Dragon Blood Sacred Grass, this humble one risked his life to obtain it from an ancient, perilous land. This is a heavenly treasure nourished by dragon blood. Just by using it, there''s a certain chance of causing a dragon race''s bloodline to return to its ancestors. Even without a dragon race bloodline, one can obtain the power of the dragon race and change one''s physique." This stall owner carefully took out a brocade box, opened it for Zi Yan to see, and the moment the brocade box was opened, a surge of dragon race blood energy rushed out; suddenly, the stall owner immediately closed it. Sensing that pure dragon blood aura, Zi Yan sucked in a breath, tugged at Xiao Yan''s sleeve, and said urgently, "Xiao Yan! It''s real! Hurry, buy it, buy it!" Even Little Princess Yue Er, who was also an alchemist, revealed a hint of surprise; this was indeed the aura of the dragon race. "What''s the price for this?" Zi Yan asked eagerly. "This young lady, I''m open to negotiation. How about one middle-grade tier 6 pill?" The stall owner''s eyes flashed, and he revealed a beaming smile. Hearing that only a tier 6 pill was required, Zi Yan was overjoyed; after all, Xiao Yan could refine tier 7 pills, so he naturally had tier 6 pills on him! Dang! Xiao Yan landed a hand-chop on Zi Yan''s little head and helplessly transmitted via Spiritual Strength, "You''re really letting down your bloodline; you can even fall for this." He then glanced at the stall owner and said with a faint smile, "Dragon Blood Sacred Grass, you say? I''ve had the fortune of hearing about this one." "The Dragon Blood Sacred Grass does indeed have some history. The tip of the grass is amber-colored, its entire body transparent, with clearly visible veins flowing like blood vessels. When the wind blows, the grass takes the shape of a dragon claw and carries a surging dragon aura. Let me take a look at your Dragon Blood Sacred Grass and see how old it is. If the age is sufficient, a middle-grade tier 6 pill would indeed be worth it." A trace of an arrogant smile played between Xiao Yan''s brows, yet his eyes sternly stared at the stall owner. He had started reading various ancient books and medicinal herb manuals from the Bone Flame Ring at the age of four. After becoming an alchemist, he had thoroughly studied a large number of pill recipes, learning information about many medicinal ingredients from them. Although this Dragon Blood Sacred Grass was rare, he had also read about it in some medicinal texts. The moment Xiao Yan spoke, the stall owner''s expression immediately changed. Without saying another word, he rolled up his stall and turned to leave, not hesitating in the slightest. Having knocked about for so long, the moment Xiao Yan spoke, he knew he had encountered an expert; staying to swindle further would only be asking for trouble. The sudden change left Zi Yan and the others dumbfounded. Zi Yan didn''t even have time to think about teaching that deceiving fellow a lesson before he vanished without a trace. Yue Er said doubtfully, "But... but, just now, there really was dragon aura, and its appearance was also very similar." "This is why I told you to read more books, but you didn''t listen," Xiao Yan said in exasperation. "How long do you think the Sky Serpent Empire has existed? As long as there are people, there will be swindlers. You must be careful in such marketplaces and streets." "Swindling techniques update even faster than alchemy techniques and emerge in endless varieties. Producing a bit of dragon aura is simply too easy." Could Xiao Yan not know that markets had many swindlers? He was the Little Clan Leader of Wu Tan City and had wandered around the markets with his clansmen since childhood; swindlers and thieves were regulars in the marketplaces. With his experience, he could tell who was a swindler and who had genuine goods just by looking at their micro-expressions and eyes. Of course, his most important source of confidence stemmed from possessing extensive knowledge. Along the way, the strange news and odd matters Xiao Yan''s group encountered were not few: those hanging a sheep''s head but selling dog meat, those using ostrich eggs as magical beast eggs, those selling mystery box pills, and those offering lottery-style purchases. After walking the entire street, even Hai Bodong exclaimed that his eyes had been opened. Nalan Yanran shook her head with a wry smile and murmured, "So many people think they can catch a deal, little knowing they are the real catch." "You''re right about that. Don''t think about picking up bargains; if there were any, they would have long been taken by the appraisers and alchemists of those major factions. It wouldn''t be your turn." Nalan Yanran rolled her eyes at him. Which cultivator didn''t hope to stumble upon a treasure? Seeing Xiao Yan turn and enter a quaint, ancient-looking shop, Yue Mei exclaimed, "Yellow Spring Treasure Pavilion! This must be a shop belonging to the Yellow Spring Pavilion!" The Yellow Spring Pavilion was one of the renowned Four Pavilion factions in the Central Plains. They occupied the outskirts of the Central Plains. Moreover, the leaders of the Four Pavilions were all Dou Venerates; never mind a single Sky Serpent Mansion, their strength surpassed that of the entire North-Western Region. This was also the reason why the Sky Serpent Mansion had once aimed to unify the North-Western Region. This shop named the Yellow Spring Treasure Pavilion was extremely large. From the outside, it looked like a single shop, but upon stepping inside, one would discover that the space within was very large; this shop actually contained a barrier somewhat like a Space Lock! Just by looking at this point, this Yellow Spring Treasure Pavilion was definitely no ordinary place. Walking into the Yellow Spring Treasure Pavilion, one would discover that it was an ancient courtyard extremely rich in classical charm. Within this spacious courtyard, various wall shelves and transparent cabinets were arranged, laden with all sorts of treasures: Monster Cores of magical beasts, special divine metals, weapons with extraordinary imposing manner, and even medicinal pills were for sale. It could be said that everything one might expect was available here; this was not a shop that sold only one category of goods. Medicinal ingredients, pills, Dou Technique and Qi Method scrolls, weapons and armor, rare treasures¡ªthey had them all. Perhaps, just as the shop''s name suggested, only treasures were sold here. Sensing the strength of Xiao Yan''s group, the shopkeeper of the Yellow Spring Treasure Pavilion even came to greet them personally. Even though they had the Yellow Spring Pavilion behind them, guests at the Dou Emperor level could not be offended. Especially Xiao Yan; at such a young age, he possessed the strength of a Dou Emperor and was accompanied by beauties. Just by looking, one could tell his identity was not simple! Even the shopkeeper could only stand respectfully by the side with his hands down, not daring to speak rashly for fear of displeasing him. Meanwhile, Zi Yan had her face practically pressed against a cabinet of medicinal herbs, nearly drooling. Xiao Yan gently pulled her back, then handed a piece of paper to the shopkeeper. "Shopkeeper, do you have these medicinal ingredients here?" The shopkeeper received the paper Xiao Yan handed over with both hands. After glancing at the medicinal ingredients listed on it, his expression instantly changed dramatically, and he stared straight at Xiao Yan with wide eyes. Seeing the shopkeeper''s reaction, Little Princess Yue Er stood on tiptoe and craned her neck to look. When she saw the medicinal ingredients on it, her watery big eyes grew even wider. Because almost all the items listed on it were tier 7 medicinal ingredients; even the lowest grade ones were the main ingredients for the Zong Breaking Pill and the Emperor Heaven Pill. At this moment, Yue Er and the shopkeeper both understood at the same time: this... this was a 7th-tier alchemist?! "You... you''ve reached tier 7!!" Yue Er exclaimed. What kind of reincarnated monster are you! It hasn''t even been half a year; never mind his cultivation increasing so much, how have his alchemy skills also broken through to tier 7! Isn''t it said that breaking through from peak tier 6 to tier 7 takes at least eight or ten years, and at most, one might never reach tier 7 in a lifetime! Are you kidding me! Her exclamation drew the attention of other customers and staff, and some whispers began to spread. Realizing her slip, Yue Er hurriedly covered her own mouth. Xiao Yan merely smiled faintly and did not blame Yue Er for anything; his status as a 7th-tier alchemist simply couldn''t be hidden for long. In a few more days, at the Great Meeting of Factions, it would be known. "Shopkeeper?" The shopkeeper snapped out of his daze upon hearing Xiao Yan''s voice and hurriedly said, "This Grandmaster, I am truly very sorry. Our humble shop can only find four of them. For the others, perhaps I need to inquire with our headquarters, but delivery will take three days." The shopkeeper never would have imagined, even in his dreams, that the shop opened by his Yellow Spring Pavilion in the Sky Serpent Empire would one day say it couldn''t find all the items. Moreover, the Yellow Spring Pavilion might not necessarily have these items either, especially that Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva; he was certain they absolutely did not have it. The shopkeeper picked up a pen and drew four circles on the paper, meaning that these medicinal ingredients were all available in their shop and could be obtained as ready stock. Among them, two were the main ingredients for the Emperor Heaven Pill and the Zong Breaking Pill; after all, those two types of pills were hard currency. Xiao Yan could refine some more; even if he didn''t use them himself, placing them in the Yan Alliance as rewards would be fine. Another one was the Body Transformation Grass. Xiao Yan only had one stalk of Body Transformation Grass; he was also a 7th-tier alchemist now and needed to prepare to fulfill his promise to the Amethyst Winged Lion King. In case the refinement failed, he would at least have another chance. And there was one more, which was the medicinal ingredient for refining the Great Soul Black Purple Pill. This low-grade tier 7 pill that could enhance Spiritual Strength was precisely what Xiao Yan needed most right now. His Spiritual Strength improvement had already become very slow; the time needed to reach the Great Perfection of the Mortal State would be very long, and he could only rely on medicinal pills for help. The Great Soul Black Purple Pill not only had a complicated refining method, but its medicinal ingredients were also extremely hard to find. Xiao Yan was just trying his luck and didn''t expect them to actually have it. "No problem. If there are other medicinal ingredients, Shopkeeper, you can come to the residence where the Yan Alliance is temporarily staying to notify me. I want them all." As for the price, the shopkeeper didn''t need to worry at all about Xiao Yan being unable to afford it; these medicinal ingredients undoubtedly all needed to be exchanged for pills. Before long, the shopkeeper returned holding four cold jade treasure boxes, which contained the four medicinal ingredients. Xiao Yan examined them carefully and found no issues. "In total, that comes to the value of one high-grade tier 6 pill or two middle-grade tier 6 pills," the shopkeeper said with a smile. Xiao Yan nodded; the price seemed fair enough. Although the Body Transformation Pill was a high-grade tier 7 pill, the Body Transformation Grass itself wasn''t as valuable as the main ingredient for the Great Soul Black Purple Pill. This was because it also served as a main ingredient for the tier 6 Demon Transformation Pill. Zi Yan''s eyes were filled with deep resentment, her expression practically screaming: I have to risk my little life just to get a few medicinal ingredients, while you make a fortune refining a single pill¡ªand you even swindled me out of so many of mine! "How about I teach you alchemy?" Xiao Yan offered. "Then you could refine pills to trade for medicinal ingredients too." It was a well-known fact that alchemists could make a fortune from a small investment. "Hmph!" Zi Yan simply rolled her eyes at him, snorted, and turned her proud little head away. While their Ancient Void Dragon clan could indeed breathe fire and possessed innate fire-attribute energy, she herself lacked the wood-attribute energy essential for alchemy. Besides, it was common knowledge that magical beasts inherently had weaker Spiritual Strength. Chapter 318: The Snake Tribe鈥檚 Dispute Chapter 318 - 318: The Snake Tribe''s Dispute Word Count: 2,846 Words ****** Since the shopkeeper''s price was fair, Xiao Yan selected a relatively valuable, high-grade tier 6 pill from among those stored in his storage ring; it was a pill of excellent quality. Xiao Yan was that kind of person; if others treated him courteously, he would respond in kind. When the shopkeeper saw the pill that Xiao Yan produced, his face lit up with delight as he repeatedly expressed his gratitude. Because of Xiao Yan''s ''generosity,'' the difference in quality translated into a significant increase in value! Yue Mei stood by, her eyes glimmering when she noticed a stalk of Body Transformation Grass in the jade box. After hesitating for a moment, she finally asked, somewhat awkwardly, "Little Clan Leader Xiao, are you... able to refine the Body Transformation Pill now?" Who wouldn''t desire a Body Transformation Pill? Back then, Gu He had tried to trade a Body Transformation Pill with Queen Medusa for a Heavenly Flame. Xiao Yan believed that Medusa would have agreed to the exchange if she hadn''t known a secret method to evolve using a Heavenly Flame. One could imagine that, in the hearts of magical beasts, the value of the Body Transformation Pill was comparable to that of a Heavenly Flame. Xiao Yan glanced at the beautiful snake-woman before him, who looked a bit embarrassed. He had met Yue Mei even earlier than Medusa, and she had once captured him to take him back as an alchemist slave. He gave a soft chuckle and said, "I can''t refine it yet, but with diligent practice, I might be able to in a few years." "If ''Big Sister'' Yue Mei needs this little alchemist''s help to refine pills, the Yan Alliance has its rules, you know." Yue Mei couldn''t help but roll her eyes at him. This guy still remembered that incident. Undoubtedly, Xiao Yan was now the Yan Alliance''s iconic figure. Half of the alliance''s reward system was supported by him alone. Currently, the Yan Alliance could hire alchemists from the Alchemist Association to refine lower-tier pills, but for any pill above the peak of tier 5, they had to rely entirely on him. In particular, after Xiao Yan gained the ability to refine the Zong Breaking Pill, the Yan Alliance had even enticed one Dou Emperor expert each from the Luo Yan Empire and the Mulan Empire to join them. One could imagine how crucial Xiao Yan was to the Yan Alliance. Suddenly, Nalan Yanran, who had been silent all along, glanced at Xiao Yan and blinked her beautiful eyes. "You owe me an Emperor Breaking Pill." ???? "Huh? When did I owe you a pill?" Xiao Yan was baffled. Although the Emperor Breaking Pill was only a peak tier 5 pill, its effect was similar to the Zong Breaking Pill, increasing a Dou King''s success rate in breaking through to Dou Emperor by 20%. But he wasn''t a philanthropist. How could he give someone a pill for no reason? Even though our relationship isn''t shallow, it''s not that deep either, is it? Just then, Hai Bodong patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder, cleared his throat twice, and said, "Did you think that in the two years since the Yan Alliance was established, you could simply be a hands-off leader with no responsibilities?" "Yanran has spent years fighting off enemies at the alliance''s borders, slaying many Dou Kings in the process. She has accumulated quite a bit of merit and already submitted a request for an Emperor Breaking Pill, and you''re the only one in the entire Yan Alliance who can refine it." !!!!!!! Xiao Yan was startled upon hearing this. He suddenly realized an issue and asked, "I want to ask... are there currently some people in the Yan Alliance who have accumulated a lot of merit and are just waiting to exchange it for pills or request me to refine pills?" At his question, Hai Bodong''s eyes flickered evasively; Nalan Yanran covered her mouth and giggled while nodding; and Yue Mei''s eyes even shone with stars. Only Xiao Yan''s eyes were blank. Princess Yue Er raised her hand and patted his shoulder, her eyes showing sympathy. "It''s not just ''some people.'' All the Dou Kings and above in the Yan Alliance are serving the alliance with the goal of having you refine pills." "Moreover," she added, "when Queen Medusa wanted to join the Yan Alliance, she promised in the Snake-People Tribe that as long as the leaders of the eight major tribes were willing to join the Yan Alliance, once you could refine the Body Transformation Pill, if they gathered the ingredients, they could come to you to have it refined." !!!!!!!!! Only then did Xiao Yan realize that Medusa had sold him out! Did she think the Body Transformation Pill was so easy to refine? That was a high-grade tier 7 pill, and it took several days to refine just one! "Over the past few years, the three major empires have been continually provoking and invading. How could the Jia Ma Empire and the Misty Cloud Sect alone defend against them?" Nalan Yanran had always been in the Yan Alliance, so she knew more about its situation than Xiao Yan did. Indeed, the Yan Alliance had an agreement not to interfere with the administration of other countries. However, if other countries were attacked, the question of who would support them became a problem. Those who went to support risked their lives, and without rewards, how could they be motivated? Moreover, as the Yan Alliance expanded its power, it would gain a great deal, but at present, it was still in a development phase, spending more than it earned. Some low-tier pills were entirely refined by Yue Er. However, she had also received all the cultivation resources of the Yan Alliance; otherwise, how could she have advanced from a peak 3rd-tier alchemist at the Alchemist Grand Meeting to a 5th-tier alchemist in just four or five years? And now, it was Xiao Yan''s turn to repay the debt. He was one of the four leaders of the Yan Alliance. Naturally, he had his responsibilities! "Damn it! That Medusa has also washed her hands of everything! Why am I the only one who has to make up for it!" Xiao Yan gnashed his teeth. Why should he be the one refining pills while Medusa could cultivate peacefully? When she returned, he would definitely teach her a good lesson! "Hey, that sword looks pretty good." Just then, his gaze fell on an exquisitely crafted longsword in one of the display cases. He was about to inspect it more closely when a voice rang out from outside the shop. "Heh heh, isn''t this Yue Mei? It''s been so long, and you''re still a Dou King." "Oh my, how come you still have a snake body? Don''t tell me you haven''t transformed yet," an arrogant voice said as a man stepped into the shop, laughing heartily. To be precise, this was not a man but a snake-person. Unlike Yue Mei, who still had a snake''s lower body, this man had already transformed most of his body. His snake tail had disappeared, replaced by a pair of legs, yet patches of snake scales still marked his face. His eyes were vertical pupils, and he had a pointed, snake-like head with visible venomous fangs. Xiao Yan could tell at a glance that the man had used a Demon Transformation Pill to achieve partial transformation. Generally, magical beasts would use the Demon Transformation Pill to achieve a partial transformation and then rely on their own strength to complete the full transformation when they were strong enough. The reason was very simple; the Body Transformation Pill was just too expensive. Yue Mei''s eyes flashed with anger when she saw him. She ground her teeth and snapped, "Lu Feng, you traitor! How dare you show your face!" The man called Lu Feng sneered coldly and mocked disdainfully, "Ridiculous. This is the Sky Serpent Empire of the Sky Serpent Mansion. Why can''t I show up here?" "Moreover, I''m not a traitor. The Sky Serpent Mansion is the orthodox one. This is the ancestral land of our tribe, not that damn desert." When Xiao Yan''s group had flown to the Sky Serpent Empire on the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, they had heard from Hua She Er and Yue Mei that the relationship between Medusa''s Snake-People Tribe and the Sky Serpent Mansion was not very good and was even somewhat hostile. After all, the Sky Serpent Mansion had great ambitions to unify the entire North-Western Region and invade the Central Plains. Naturally, the only snake-tribe faction in the North-Western Region that refused to join the Sky Serpent Mansion was a thorn in their side. Most importantly, rumors had it that both the Snake-People Tribe and the Sky Serpent Mansion originally lived in the Central Plains. But later, for some unknown reason, both were expelled from the Central Plains and exiled to the North-Western Region, eventually evolving into the current Snake-People Tribe and Sky Serpent Mansion. Presently, the most powerful snake-tribe in the Central Plains was the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe. This was also why the Sky Serpent Mansion had always wanted to return to the Central Plains, because their homeland was there and they wanted to go back. From their conversation, Xiao Yan guessed that the snake-man before them was likely a former tribal leader of the Snake-People Tribe who had defected and joined the Sky Serpent Mansion. This wasn''t anything strange. In the world of magical beasts, such things were all too common. Rather, it was a miracle that Medusa, who only had the strength of a Dou Emperor at that time, could hold on for so long. ''No wonder Medusa was willing to risk her life to evolve. It seems the Snake-People Tribe is in an even more perilous situation than I imagined.'' Xiao Yan couldn''t help but think of that extraordinary woman who risked everything to evolve. Lu Feng glanced at Yue Mei with a hint of aggression in his eyes and said with a smile, "Yue Mei, I heard that Medusa took you all to join some so-called alliance. Ha ha, after so many years, you still haven''t made any progress. How about bringing your Mei Snake Tribe to join my Lu Snake Tribe? I guarantee that if you obediently follow me, you can reach the Dou Emperor realm within two years and even obtain a high-grade tier 6 Demon Transformation Pill. I''m sure you''ll surpass Medusa in no time." "A high-grade tier 6 pill! That lousy Snake-People Tribe of yours doesn''t even have a 5th-tier alchemist!" Hearing his words, Yue Mei could only grit her teeth and remain silent. The Snake-People Tribe was indeed backward and impoverished, and being in the middle of a vast desert, there was nothing they could do. "Hey, you stinky snake! Do you have a death wish?! How dare you bully my people!" Zi Yan immediately puffed out her chest and raised her little fist. As a member of the magical beasts, she naturally regarded herself as the big sister. Moreover, in terms of age, not to mention Yue Mei, even the Amethyst Winged Lion King and the Serene Sea Scaly Beast had to call her ''Little Grand Aunt.'' Lu Feng coldly glanced at the members of the Yan Alliance. Sensing that the strongest among them was only Hai Bodong, an 8-star Dou Emperor, he sneered and said, "Heh heh, so these are the people from your Yan Alliance participating in the Great Meeting of Factions? It seems you''ve indeed declined; you''re not even as strong as Medusa." "Without strength, yet you dare to come to the Yellow Spring Treasure Pavilion." Hai Bodong''s eyes turned cold, and he was about to speak, but Xiao Yan lightly waved his hand and smiled at this guy, who didn''t know the immensity of heaven and earth just because he had joined the Sky Serpent Mansion. "So, you''re saying you want to compete with me for this item?" "Call it what you will. That Rank 7 Monster Core Weapon is indeed a good item. It''ll make a fine gift for the Saintess in a few days." Lu Feng said proudly. He could not help but feel jealousy creeping into his heart upon seeing how young Xiao Yan had already reached 3-star Dou Emperor strength; he himself had once been lauded as the greatest genius after Medusa among the snake-people. And looking at the stunning women around Xiao Yan, how could his vainglorious ego possibly stand it? When Xiao Yan heard the term ''Saintess,'' a subtle glint flashed in his eyes. "Shopkeeper, I''ll take this sword. Send it to the Elder''s Mansion for me!" Lu Feng glanced sideways at Xiao Yan and sneered. Yue Mei saw Lu Feng being so aggressive and was about to speak, but in the end, it turned into a sigh. Originally, since they were once from the same tribe and had fought together, she did not want things to escalate to hostility. However, some matters were beyond her control. Here, her status could be said to be the lowest, and she knew that Lu Feng was just asking for trouble! The shopkeeper looked toward Xiao Yan, wanting a clear signal before deciding anything. After all, Xiao Yan had shown interest in the sword first, and, more importantly, he valued Xiao Yan more. Only if Xiao Yan didn''t want it could he sell it to the next customer. Lu Feng noticed the shopkeeper waiting on Xiao Yan and barked haughtily, "Shopkeeper, ignore who came first or last. Whatever he offers, I''ll outbid him! In any case, I must have this sword today!" Even Nalan Yanran showed a hint of a cold smile when she saw Lu Feng actually planning to crush Xiao Yan with financial power. She stood aside, waiting to watch the show. This guy truly did not know how high the sky was; he probably had even forgotten his own mother''s surname. Competing in wealth with a 7th-tier alchemist? The combined wealth of the entire Jia Ma Empire and Snake-People Tribe could not match his. "Always outbid me?" Xiao Yan smirked and shook his head. "Just based on you¡ªa fellow who can''t even afford a Body Transformation Pill¡ªyou want to snatch something from me? Shopkeeper, I''ll take the sword." Lu Feng, on the verge of retorting, was cut off by Xiao Yan''s calm voice: "I''ll pay with one Mighty Huang Pill." "Mighty Huang Pill!!" the shopkeeper exclaimed in surprise. Although Xiao Yan casually gifted Mighty Huang Pills to Hai Bodong and Yun Yun, the preciousness of the Mighty Huang Pill ranked among the top three in tier 6 medicinal pills. To obtain a Mighty Huang Pill, the three major leaders of the Black-Corner Region had not hesitated to bring all their sect members to fight Han Feng. One could imagine the value of a single Mighty Huang Pill. Earlier, when Xiao Yan had used a high-grade tier 6 pill to exchange for medicinal ingredients, if he had used a Mighty Huang Pill, it would have at least required an additional portion of ingredients in return. "You... you... don''t spout nonsense! Do you think Mighty Huang Pills are like pebbles on the roadside? Can you produce one?" Lu Feng snorted coldly, naturally not believing that Xiao Yan could take out a Mighty Huang Pill. Xiao Yan did not bother wasting words. He merely laughed mockingly, directly took out a pill bottle from his storage ring, and tossed it to the shopkeeper, his casualness as if he were really throwing a pebble. The shopkeeper was nervous and hurriedly caught the pill bottle. When he saw its smooth luster and gently sniffed it, a fragrance that relaxed his entire body wafted out. "It is indeed a Mighty Huang Pill. There''s no mistake." Lu Feng heard the shopkeeper''s confirmation and his face changed dramatically, turning ashen. He glared angrily at Xiao Yan and finally gritted his teeth, "Hmph! It''s just a Mighty Huang Pill; I can provide one too." "No, no. Take a good look. That is the highest quality Mighty Huang Pill, refined using a Heavenly Flame. If you want to outbid me, you''ll need to produce an Emperor Heaven Pill or a Zong Breaking Pill," Xiao Yan said as he gently shook his head and smiled. The shopkeeper nodded lightly and said, "Indeed, this Mighty Huang Pill is of exceptionally high quality, the best I''ve seen in my life. It would be difficult to find a Mighty Huang Pill of higher quality. If you want better, it would require an Emperor Heaven Pill, a Zong Breaking Pill, or a tier 7 medicinal pill." "However, whether it was refined using a Heavenly Flame, this old man cannot determine." As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Yan snapped his fingers, and with a ''snap,'' a cluster of cyan-green flames appeared in front of him. Xiao Yan used practical action to prove it. Heavenly Flames? He had them, and quite a few at that. Chapter 319: Qing Lin is Still the Best Chapter 319 - 319: Qing Lin is Still the Best The old shopkeeper squinted at the gently rising green flame on Xiao Yan''s fingertip, his expression tinged with awe and reverence. He said, "This flame is green in hue, blooming like a lotus, and its rising momentum is like a volcano. If this old man''s guess is correct, the Heavenly Flame under Grandmaster''s control should be the Green Lotus Core Flame, ranked 19th on the Heavenly Flame Ranking." Heavenly Flames were well-known, and many had witnessed alchemists at work. Yet the combination of a Heavenly Flame and an alchemist was something the old shopkeeper had only heard of happening in the Central Plains. For instance, Tang Zhen, the Valley Master of Burning Flame Valley, was such an example. How could he not be astonished, now encountering a real, living alchemist who possessed a Heavenly Flame at such a young age? "So what if it''s refined with a Heavenly Flame! It''s still just a Mighty Huang Pill!" Lu Feng found himself in a difficult position. His face darkened as he spoke coldly. Seeing this elder of the Sky Serpent Mansion displaying such shortsightedness, the old shopkeeper couldn''t help but shake his head and explain, "Elder Lu Feng, if this Mighty Huang Pill was refined using a Heavenly Flame, its value might even exceed that of a low-quality Zong Breaking Pill." "In fact, the Mighty Huang Pill has two effects. First, it can increase a Dou Emperor''s strength by one star. However, a low-quality Mighty Huang Pill only works for low-star Dou Emperors, while this particular pill would be effective even for a high-star Dou Emperor." "The second effect is that it can enhance a Dou Emperor''s physique. This effect is extremely subtle, and since cultivators who reach the Dou Emperor realm generally don''t have weak bodies, many people overlook it. But if refined with a Heavenly Flame, this second effect is significantly amplified." "According to this old man''s appraisal, the value of this Mighty Huang Pill is not lower than that of some low-quality Zong Breaking Pills." The old shopkeeper was indeed worthy of representing the Yellow Spring Pavilion in managing such a large branch of the Treasure Pavilion. His vision, experience, and judgment were truly exceptional. This was also the reason why so many alchemists coveted Heavenly Flames. A superior fire seed not only sped up the refining process and improved overall quality but could also add special enhancements, such as how pills forged by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame could subtly strengthen the bloodline strength of magical beasts. "You!!" Lu Feng''s face turned ashen, and he glared angrily. He felt that the old shopkeeper was playing him. How could a Mighty Huang Pill be worth that much? Yet his anger made no impact; the old shopkeeper remained perfectly calm, as though he had noticed nothing at all. In the end, Lu Feng could only snort heavily before turning and leaving in frustration. He might be able to grit his teeth and produce a Mighty Huang Pill, but he certainly couldn''t come up with a Zong Breaking Pill, let alone a high-quality one. He may be aggressive, but he still understood the most basic principles. The Yellow Spring Treasure Pavilion was backed by the Yellow Spring Pavilion, so even as an elder of the Sky Serpent Mansion, he couldn''t afford to cause trouble here. "Heh, weren''t you the wealthy one? Why aren''t you bidding anymore?" Little Princess Yue Er made a face and called out loudly as Lu Feng left. "What''s so great about a mere Demon Transformation Pill? Just wait until our Yan Alliance can refine the real Body Transformation Pill, and then you''ll be kicking yourself!" Xiao Yan could only roll his eyes at this mischievous little princess. She made it sound as if she would be the one refining the Body Transformation Pills, yet in the end, wouldn''t he be the one doing all the hard work! "If he walks a bit slower, I''ll beat him back to his original form," Zi Yan snorted coldly. Xiao Yan ignored the duo and said to the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, please wrap up that sword for me." However, the old shopkeeper shook his head gently and said, much to Xiao Yan''s surprise, "Though we''re not some renowned shop across the Dou Qi Continent, we still pride ourselves on fair value. This sword barely qualifies as a Rank 7 Monster Core Weapon, so it isn''t worth a pill of such value. If the Grandmaster trusts this old man, in a few days my faction will send over a suitable Monster Core Weapon that matches the worth of this pill. I''ll have it delivered to the Yan Alliance residence, along with those medicinal ingredients." The old shopkeeper returned Xiao Yan''s Mighty Huang Pill with both hands. It had to be said that businessmen were indeed businessmen; every word was a calculated move! Moreover, even though Xiao Yan knew the old shopkeeper''s aim was to befriend him, he had no reason to refuse. "Very well, let''s do it that way," Xiao Yan said. Then he took back the Mighty Huang Pill. A trace of unusual color flashed in his eyes as he asked, seemingly casually, "By the way, I heard that person mention a banquet for some Saintess. Who might this Saintess be?" The old shopkeeper naturally didn''t suspect anything and explained, "Oh, the Grandmaster must be referring to the new Saintess of the Sky Serpent Mansion." "This old man doesn''t know too much about the Saintess either. I only know that a few years ago, Elder Bai Ya and Elder Lu Man brought back an exceptionally talented young snake-woman who received the strong support and cultivation of the Sky Serpent Mansion." "Not long ago, they officially announced that their new Saintess would participate in the Great Meeting of Factions. Seven days from now, they''ll hold a banquet to introduce her, so that must be the Saintess in question." Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong exchanged subtle glances. Then, Hai Bodong asked, "Shopkeeper, do you know this Saintess''s name?" The old shopkeeper frowned thoughtfully for a few seconds. "I believe it''s Qing Lin." ... Back at the Yan Alliance''s temporary residence, Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, and Xiao Yan gathered in the main hall to share the day''s findings. "Third Brother, we''ve been making inquiries all around the Sky Serpent Empire. It''s confirmed that the new Saintess of the Sky Serpent Mansion is Qing Lin. In seven days, they''ll hold a banquet to introduce her to all the elders formally," said the eldest brother, Xiao Ding. Xiao Li drank a mouthful of wine and nibbled on a few peanuts before adding, "Hmm, the influence of the Sky Serpent Mansion is much greater than we imagined. They don''t just control the Sky Serpent Empire; several powerful neighboring empires are also under their sway." "Moreover, the elders of the Sky Serpent Mansion aren''t like those of the Misty Cloud Sect who mainly reach their rank through individual strength. In the Sky Serpent Mansion, an elder''s position is more like that of a general or a feudal lord. For example, that Elder Lu Feng you encountered today obtained his elder position because, over a decade ago, he defected from Medusa''s Snake-People Tribe with his own ''Lu Snake Tribe'' and pledged loyalty to the Sky Serpent Mansion, which earned him that elder position." Xiao Yan''s eyes flashed. No wonder the Sky Serpent Mansion''s influence was so extensive. Those elders didn''t necessarily need to be powerful; possessing a large tribe could also earn them the position. He recalled that, back in Black Mark City''s auction house, there had been a so-called Elder Qing of the Sky Serpent Mansion who was only at the Dou King realm yet still held an elder''s title. Now he understood the reason for it. Xiao Yan picked up his wine cup, took a sip, and let out a long breath. "At least Qing Lin hasn''t been mistreated over the years. Becoming the Saintess proves that those two snakes didn''t lie; they''ve indeed given Qing Lin ample cultivation." He felt a weight lifted off his heart. After all, there were many reasons that led to that result back then, and Qing Lin had agreed to leave with those two due to his own lack of strength. At the very least, the worst-case scenario had been avoided. Xiao Ding pondered for a moment and said, "Third Brother, are you still planning to bring Qing Lin back?" Xiao Ding and Xiao Li both looked at Xiao Yan. The meaning was clear. Currently, Qing Lin''s life wasn''t bad, and it could even be said to be very good. The Saintess of the Sky Serpent Mansion, representing the hegemonic faction in the North-Western Region, had a status far higher than that of a maid. Moreover, what they didn''t voice was that Qing Lin might not be willing to leave the Sky Serpent Mansion now. Xiao Yan picked up a piece of fish, placed it in his mouth, chewed, then took a sip of liquor, and slowly said, "Although Qing Lin and I had an agreement that I would come to bring her back, if she is unwilling now, then I, Xiao Yan, have no reason to force her." "Back then, it was because I didn''t have the ability to defeat those two Dou Emperors that led to that outcome. If Qing Lin is living happily now, then perhaps it''s a blessing in disguise." If Qing Lin was willing to continue staying in the Sky Serpent Mansion, he naturally wouldn''t forcefully take her away. "But... Third Brother, if Qing Lin stays in the Sky Serpent Mansion, it may conflict with your plans. When the time comes..." Xiao Ding was not so optimistic. Xiao Yan''s purpose in establishing the Yan Alliance was to build a powerful force. Besides protecting the clan and revitalizing the Xiao Clan, he also wanted to have enough strength to make the Gu Clan take notice. To strengthen the Yan Alliance, it was necessary to swallow up the entire North-Western Region. Just as the Sky Serpent Mansion intended, to qualify for a foothold in the Central Plains¡ªa place teeming with powerful factions¡ªthey first had to unify the entire North-Western Region. This meant that the Yan Alliance and the Sky Serpent Mansion were, in fact, competitors. Don''t forget, the reason Xiao Yan and his group came to the capital of the Sky Serpent Empire to participate in the Great Meeting of Factions was to make a name for themselves, to gain prestige, so that the three major empires wouldn''t dare to underestimate them or invade casually, thereby buying time to grow stronger. At the very least, they needed to wait until Queen Medusa completed her evolution and Little Fairy Doctor resolved her Woeful Poison Body. Only then would the Yan Alliance have the strength to unify the entire North-Western Region. The Yan Alliance was lying low, biding its time! That meant, eventually, Xiao Yan might have to confront the Sky Serpent Mansion¡ªand naturally, as the Saintess of the Sky Serpent Mansion, Qing Lin might become an opponent. However, Xiao Yan surprised Xiao Ding and Xiao Li by laughing and waving his hand dismissively. "Big Brother, you''re overthinking this." "If the day truly comes when our Yan Alliance must unify the entire North-Western Region by force, as long as the Sky Serpent Mansion isn''t foolish, they won''t stand in our way." "Moreover, while it''s true that Qing Lin possesses the unparalleled Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, I don''t believe I''ll lose." Xiao Yan showed a confident smile. If she''s an opponent, then so be it. The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils were indeed formidable, but he was not from the snake race. Besides, if he couldn''t even defeat the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, how could he revitalize the Xiao Clan and marry the Gu Clan''s young mistress? So what if it''s the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils? He still had the Dou God Bloodline! "Besides... Qing Lin has been focusing solely on increasing her cultivation, lacking actual combat experience. It''s hard to say if she can even beat that person outside." Bang! The door was flung open as Nalan Yanran, dressed in the Misty Cloud Sect''s moon-colored robes, stormed in with two jars of wine in her hands. Thud! Thud! The wine jars were heavily placed on the table, startling Xiao Yan. Nalan Yanran tossed her hair and said tersely, "I''ve bought them!" Xiao Yan rolled his eyes and said irritably, "What, are you expecting us three brothers to drink straight from the jars? Pour the wine into the wine pot. Do I really have to spell out something this simple?" "You!" Nalan Yanran pointed at him, her eyes filled with indignation. I, the dignified Little Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, have already been made to buy wine, and now you want me to pour it too! "Can''t do it? Fine, then forget about the Emperor Heaven Pill." Xiao Yan didn''t indulge her and turned his head to continue enjoying the side dishes. Hearing the words "Emperor Heaven Pill," Nalan Yanran retracted her finger, forced a smile, and said, "Certainly, Young Master Xiao Yan." Originally, her accumulated merit was only enough to exchange for a peak tier 5 Emperor Breaking Pill. Although the effects were similar, the Emperor Heaven Pill was a peak tier 6 pill that could guarantee a 9-star Dou King''s breakthrough to Dou Huang, whereas the Emperor Breaking Pill could only increase the success rate for a peak 9-star Dou King. The difference between them was enormous. The Emperor Heaven Pill was equivalent to directly leveling up and breaking through; even an early-stage 9-star Dou King could use it. But the Emperor Breaking Pill required one to be at the peak of 9-star Dou King and only increased the chance, not providing a 100% guarantee. Xiao Yan was the one who would be refining the pill, and he could refine the Emperor Heaven Pill. The main point was that for some of the Yan Alliance''s battles, defenses, and conquests, it was impossible for him, Venerable Yan, to handle everything personally. The Yan Alliance needed someone to run errands. Xiao Yan glanced at Nalan Yanran''s legs. It would be a pity not to use them for errands. So he deliberately proposed that if she acted as a good maid during the Great Meeting of Factions, he would directly refine the Emperor Heaven Pill for her. As Nalan Yanran poured wine for Xiao Yan, she cursed in her heart, ''I hope you drink yourself to death.'' "If I drink myself to death, who will refine the Emperor Heaven Pill for you?" Xiao Yan said lightly. Nalan Yanran was stunned. You can even read minds! "I can''t read minds, but those words are written all over your face." "Never mind, never mind. You''d better not get in the way of us three brothers chatting. Go stir-fry a few side dishes and bring them over," Xiao Yan waved his hand dismissively. "You¡ª! Hmph!" Nalan Yanran stomped her foot but had no choice. Who told Xiao Yan to be an alchemist while she was now a 9-star Dou King? She stormed out of the room in a huff. Xiao Li put his arm around Xiao Yan''s neck, grinning as he said, "An Emperor Heaven Pill, huh? A peak tier 6 pill. You''re really generous, Young Master Xiao Yan." Xiao Yan responded calmly, "She has quite a reputation among the three major empires. She can serve as a convenient shield for us, so it''s only fair we invest some resources in her." Xiao Li raised an eyebrow and smiled, "It wouldn''t have anything to do with her Master being Sect Leader Yun Yun, would it? You do know Sect Leader Yun Yun''s not married." Xiao Yan''s face didn''t redden, and his heart didn''t skip a beat as he said calmly, "No, that''s not it at all." Xiao Ding interjected at this moment, "I think Third Brother is right. By the way, I heard from Elder Hai that you bought a sword today? What, are you switching to swordsmanship?" "It wouldn''t hurt to try practicing swordsmanship. It''s good to dabble in various martial arts." Xiao Yan''s mouth was the hardest part of his body. Not long after, when Nalan Yanran returned with several scorching-hot dishes, each singed so badly they were nearly black, the three Xiao brothers unanimously agreed that even if they might not know whether she could beat Qing Lin in a fight, in terms of serving others, that little girl Qing Lin was still the most attentive and capable. "Sigh, Qing Lin is still the best." Chapter 320: Mutual Indebtedness Chapter 320 - 320: Mutual Indebtedness Word Count: 2,859 Words ****** Early the next morning, Xiao Yan rose from bed, dedicated two hours to cultivation, and then turned his attention to refining pills. There was still some time before the Great Meeting of Factions commenced, so most members of the Yan Alliance were diligently cultivating and practicing Dou Techniques. But poor Xiao Yan was busy paying for his time spent furthering his studies at Jia Nan Academy. He had to refine pills to settle his debts! However, the pills Xiao Yan needed to refine this time were not exceptionally difficult; they were only tier 5 pills, primarily Dou King Pills and Emperor Breaking Pills. The reason was simple. These were the two kinds of medicinal pills most urgently needed by the Yan Alliance at present. The Jia Ma Empire was not a sect-based empire. Unlike the Sky Serpent Empire, where most strong practitioners belonged to the Sky Serpent Mansion, many cultivators in the Jia Ma Empire were unaffiliated. For example, among the Ten Strong of the Jia Ma Empire in the past, seven were Dou Kings, and half of them were solitary cultivators who hadn''t joined any faction. For instance, Feng Xian and Yan Shi, whom Xiao Yan had met back in the Snake-People Tribe''s Holy City. They had participated in the Great Meeting of Factions merely to make a name for themselves. Now, however, these two had joined the Yan Alliance and agreed to serve the Xiao Clan, largely because they needed medicinal pills, specifically, an Emperor Breaking Pill. Back when Xiao Yan was a Dou Master, they were Dou Kings. Now that Xiao Yan had become a Dou Emperor, they were still Dou Kings. Fortunately, having scaled their way to peak 9-star Dou King, a single Emperor Breaking Pill would likely help them achieve a breakthrough to Dou Emperor if nothing unexpected occurred. Xiao Yan''s brand of medicinal pills was the biggest attraction of the Xiao Clan, or rather of the Yan Alliance. No one would say that the pills refined by Xiao Yan were of poor quality, especially since they were refined using Heavenly Flames. Although the Yan Alliance was loosely structured and did not meddle in others'' internal affairs, Xiao Yan made a big move when he established it by issuing a currency called ''Yan Yuan'' within the alliance. Anyone wishing to buy pills refined by him could only use Yan Yuan, which only the four major leaders were authorized to issue. Yan Yuan could be used in all the affiliated nations of the Yan Alliance. In other words, one had to work for the Yan Alliance to earn Yan Yuan to purchase Xiao Yan''s top-quality medicinal pills, and this Yan Yuan could also be used as regular currency. Therefore, Xiao Yan only needed to know how much ''Yan Yuan'' Yun Yun, the Snake-People Tribe, or Yao Ye had issued to calculate how many pills he now ''owed.'' Moreover, Xiao Yan''s alchemy wasn''t done without benefit to himself. They needed to provide corresponding resources to the Xiao Clan or help train its members in order to obtain Xiao Clan-issued Yan Yuan. The massive piles of medicinal ingredients spread across the table left him somewhat exasperated, although at least the Yan Alliance supplied the ingredients. His only role was to refine the pills. Little Princess Yue Er pulled up a stool and sat nearby, her eyes shining as she watched Xiao Yan. In passing, Xiao Yan was teaching the Little Princess alchemy so that she could help share some of the workload in the future. He did not use the Black Demon Cauldron but instead employed the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron. Whoosh! The Green Lotus Core Flame appeared in his palm and was gently tossed into the medicinal cauldron. For him, tier 5 medicinal pills posed no difficulty at all. Even the Emperor Breaking Pill, which approached tier 6 in difficulty, was a piece of cake. Sometimes he could even produce two or three pills in one batch, his technique both exquisite and flawless. It was simply the sheer quantity that wore him down. Three straight days of almost nonstop refining finally cleared the queue! "Wow! Grandmaster Xiao Yan, so handsome!" The Little Princess''s sweet and tender voice rang out, sounding crisp yet youthful, carrying an indescribable charm. By now, Little Princess Yue Er had grown into a very beautiful young lady. Her features were delicately sculpted, with large, sparkling eyes that were bright and clear. Her petite nose was flawless, and her cherry lips displayed an appealing shade of pink. She had become one of Xiao Yan''s most devoted admirers. "Hey, Young Master Xiao Yan, the shopkeeper from the Yellow Spring Treasure Pavilion has arrived. He''s waiting in the main hall," Nalan Yanran called from afar. The Little Princess watched him leave, her gaze trailing down his back before she recalled an incident from a few years ago. Her cheeks turned rosy as she murmured, "Sister... don''t let it go to waste." Naturally, Xiao Yan could not know what strange thoughts Yue Er was having. To his surprise, the Yellow Spring Pavilion even possessed some very rare soul-type medicinal ingredients, which allowed him to gather materials for two batches of Great Soul Black Purple Pill. Moreover, he also collected the materials for the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill! The larger the faction, the more access it had to various medicinal ingredients and treasures, a truth that was further magnified in a resource-rich land like the Central Plains. After the exchange, he pocketed the ingredients but chose not to refine them immediately. Instead, he left the residence. ... In the mountains outside the Sky Serpent Empire''s capital, the blade-like sound of parted air echoed from atop a peak. From afar, one could glimpse glimmers of swordplay where a graceful figure practiced with a long green sword. "Mm?" Yun Yun was momentarily startled upon sensing someone approaching; when she realized who it was, she shook her head helplessly and said, "I wonder what brings Grandmaster Xiao Yan here?" Her voice was soft yet vibrant, tinged with refined warmth and a hint of femininity, elegant but never cloying. Simply listening to her made one feel mentally refreshed. Just by hearing this voice, one could imagine an elegant woman whose innate gentleness remained intact despite her longstanding position of authority. Xiao Yan strode up to the summit. Yun Yun was wearing a pale-yellow dress today, a small embroidered cloud adorned her bodice. She looked at once refined and mature. Although she was considerably older than Xiao Yan, she looked as if she were in her late twenties, exuding a poised, noble air. If one didn''t know Yun Yun and sensed the mature aura about her, one might think she was a married young woman. Her aura radiated a subtle, unhurried sensuality. Yet beneath that self-possession lay a slender trace of maidenly innocence, conveying the distinct impression that although fully in her womanhood, she still retained a gentle freshness. "An 8-star Dou Emperor?" Xiao Yan raised his eyebrows slightly. Yun Yun sheathed her sword and nodded, "Mm, I just broke through to the 8-star stage yesterday." Hai Bodong would probably faint from frustration. "Looking for me about something?" Yun Yun''s eyes carried a hint of doubt. "Well, I just acquired a pretty good sword and hoped you could teach me a few sword moves." Xiao Yan raised the treasured sword in his hand. Though this sword wasn''t as good as Nalan Yanran''s Cloud Slaying Black Sword, it was still quite decent among the Rank 7 Monster Core Weapons. Yun Yun blinked her beautiful eyes but nodded since Xiao Yan had asked. However, after exchanging a few moves, she discovered that Xiao Yan truly had no foundation at all in swordsmanship. No matter how she taught him, he failed to grasp the moves and continually made countless mistakes. Before long, Xiao Yan waved his hand and spread his hands helplessly, "Forget it, forget it. I really have no talent for the way of the sword; it''s not suitable for me." With a casual toss, he sent the sword spinning toward Yun Yun. She caught it reflexively and looked rather perplexed. "Don''t let it gather dust with me. Take it as payment for the favor you did me back when you let me leave with the Green Lotus Core Flame." Yun Yun was stunned. His acting and excuse were so bad! She smiled faintly, her mature and noble charm making one''s heart flutter. Laughing, she said, "Even if I hadn''t been there back then, you would have managed to leave, wouldn''t you?" Xiao Yan shook his head. "No, if it weren''t for you, I fear I would have had to pay a great price, possibly affecting my subsequent refinement of the Green Lotus Core Flame. The refinement might even have failed." He was not wrong. At that time, he only had two trump cards: the newly born Mao Wu and the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. If he had forcibly used the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to detonate the unrefined Green Lotus Core Flame, even if he didn''t die, he would have been severely injured, possibly damaging his foundation, which would have caused great trouble and potentially affected his future cultivation. Yun Yun gave him a pointed look, walked up, and handed the sword back, "You already repaid everything by helping me save the Misty Cloud Sect back then. If it weren''t for you, the Misty Cloud Sect would have been disbanded and ceased to exist long ago. It certainly wouldn''t be thriving the way it is now." "I can''t accept something so valuable." "Especially considering you''re also refining the Emperor Heaven Pill for Yanran. I owe you too much as it is." Xiao Yan looked at the beauty before him and sighed inwardly. He spread his hands and said, "Alright, since you put it that way, then fulfill a small wish of mine. I haven''t had grilled fish in a long time. Your disciple''s cooking tastes like charcoal." Yun Yun''s cheeks turned bright red the instant he mentioned grilled fish. She was momentarily at a loss. The events that happened in the cave during those days were equally unforgettable for her, especially when Xiao Yan was invaded by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. Recalling those scenes always made her feel a heat she couldn''t suppress. "You! You''d better forget about that!" Yun Yun''s cheeks were red as she pretended to be angry. Xiao Yan burst into laughter, "Hahaha, you still remember it too. You forget it first." In the end, he didn''t get to eat grilled fish and couldn''t avoid being gently chastised by Yun Yun. ... In the remaining few days, Xiao Yan entered a serious state and began refining the low-grade Tier 7 Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill. Although he didn''t know for whom Elder Qing had auctioned off Han Feng''s Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill back then, he planned to refine one to present to Qing Lin as a meeting gift. He intended to attend the banquet hosted by the Sky Serpent Mansion in a few days to see Qing Lin in person and ask her about her thoughts now. The difficulty of refining the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill was undoubtedly high among low-grade tier 7 pills. After all, this was a pill recipe created by Venerable Yao, and even its refining method was quite special. Fortunately, he had obtained all of Venerable Yao''s inheritance, making the refining of the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill a breeze. Within the Space Lock created by Venerable Tian Huo, a dark cloud appeared. Pill Lightning was very mysterious. No matter where one was, it struck like a heavenly punishment. Even if you hid within a Space Lock, the thunderclouds of Pill Lightning would still appear. Upon learning that Xiao Yan was going to refine a tier 7 pill, not only Little Princess Yue Er but everyone in the Yan Alliance, including the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, gathered to watch. "He actually succeeded on the first try!" Jia Xing Tian exclaimed as he gazed at the thundercloud in the sky in amazement. Judging from its intensity, it definitely wielded the power of a 5-star Dou Ancestor''s strike. This meant that the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill refined by Xiao Yan had reached an extremely high quality among low-grade tier 7 pills, and he had succeeded on the first attempt. One could only imagine how astonishing his alchemy skills were. "This guy is even more terrifying than I initially thought." Hai Bodong couldn''t help but sigh. Investing in him back then was truly the most correct decision of his life. There were no surprises. Although the strike of a 5-star Dou Ancestor was terrifying, it was only a single strike. There were many ways to withstand one strike. Xiao Yan still relied on his old method: he used the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique to form a Heavenly Flame shield to block the lightning strike. "Xiao Yan... could it be that your current strength already equals that of a Dou Ancestor?" Jia Xing Tian asked in surprise after seeing Xiao Yan block the Pill Lightning without any injuries. Xiao Yan smiled and shook his head, "Elder Jia, this is just one strike. Without the support of Dou Qi, it lacks sustained power. If a genuine 5-star Dou Ancestor made a move, I could only flee; there''s no way I could defeat them." Of course, he didn''t mention that he might be able to contend with a low-star Dou Ancestor. Without relying on Venerable Tian Huo''s Spiritual Strength, he indeed couldn''t defeat a 5-star Dou Ancestor at present, but as for those 1-star Dou Ancestors without Di Class Qi Methods, that was a different story. "Elder Jia, you are now the face of our Yan Alliance. We''ll need you at tomorrow night''s banquet." Tomorrow night was the banquet hosted by the Sky Serpent Mansion to officially announce Qing Lin''s ascension as the Saintess of the Sky Serpent Mansion. Originally, the Yan Alliance hadn''t received an invitation because, as a second-rate faction established only two or three years ago, it simply didn''t qualify to be taken seriously by the Sky Serpent Mansion. The news of Jia Xing Tian''s breakthrough to Dou Ancestor hadn''t spread as far as the Sky Serpent Empire; only the three major empires were somewhat aware of it. However, Xiao Yan knew the old shopkeeper of the Yellow Spring Treasure Pavilion and, through his connections, had obtained an invitation allowing three to attend. Naturally, the strongest among them, Jia Xing Tian, would accompany them. As for the remaining spot, Xiao Yan chose to bring Zi Yan along. ... After resting for a day, Xiao Yan thought for a moment and donned his alchemist robe. After all, the halo of an alchemist was more dazzling than any formal attire. Xiao Yan''s purpose this time was to approach Qing Lin, so he had Jia Xing Tian lead the team while he followed behind, avoiding drawing attention. In the evening, a luxurious carriage stopped at the gates of the Yan Alliance''s residence. After Xiao Yan and the other two boarded the carriage, they slowly headed toward the enormous serpent statue. If one thought that the Sky Serpent Mansion at the center of the Sky Serpent Empire''s capital was like its periphery, with streets lined with buildings, one would be gravely mistaken. Located at the heart of the capital, the Sky Serpent Mansion was actually a vast expanse of forests and mountains, completely different from the imperial palace of the Jia Ma Empire, because this was a place where snakes lived, not humans! The entire Sky Serpent Mansion was actually an expanse of forests, mountains, and wetlands. Entering the Sky Serpent Mansion was like stepping into a snake''s den, as snakes flicking their tongues could be seen everywhere on the ground and in the trees. Although these were merely ordinary snakes, there was one absolute rule within the Sky Serpent Mansion: no killing of snakes. Even if a snake lunged at you to bite, you could only let it bite you and then seek help from the snake people of the Sky Serpent Mansion to detoxify you. If you killed any of these ordinary snakes within the Sky Serpent Mansion, it would be equivalent to declaring war on the Sky Serpent Mansion. To the Sky Serpent Mansion, these snakes were their subjects. Although there was still some time before the Saintess''s banquet at the Sky Serpent Mansion, the area was already packed with people. Guests poured in from all directions. Even though there was still some time before the Saintess''s banquet at the Sky Serpent Mansion, the area was already packed with people. Guests poured in from all directions. Even factions no weaker than the Sky Serpent Mansion, such as the Thunderbolt Sect, Medicine Bone Sect, and other ancient sect empires, had sent strong experts to attend. ... Meanwhile, in a mountain range inside the Sky Serpent Mansion itself lay an ornate open-air hot spring. A young woman with waist-length green hair sprawled along the pool''s rocky edge, gazing at the bright moon above. She murmured: "Young Master Xiao Yan... why haven''t you come to bring Qing Lin back yet?" Chapter 321: The Serpent Saint Mountain Peak Chapter 321 - 321: The Serpent Saint Mountain Peak Word Count: 2,744 Words ****** Splash! A soft sound of parting water echoed. Qing Lin slowly rose from the hot spring, her jade-like feet stepping onto the bank. Regrettably, no one was fortunate enough to witness this scene. Qing Lin was dressed in an azure gown. Its long, trailing fabric could scarcely conceal her exquisitely beautiful figure. Through the thin, light gauze, one could glimpse her enchanting, snake-like waist. Beneath it, her slender and shapely legs were also fully visible. Especially with the azure gauze half-concealing and half-revealing, she appeared all the more captivating. Her azure upper garment struggled to contain such beauty. It was a sight difficult to describe with mere words. Especially beneath that thin azure gauze, as Qing Lin walked step by step, she was simply far too enticing. Just the sight of her graceful and slender back, her alluring figure, and those captivating curves was enough to stir one''s heartstrings and leave one utterly spellbound. The current Qing Lin was no longer the thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl of the past. Having spent five years at the Sky Serpent Mansion, she had shed her youthful immaturity and blossomed into a graceful young lady. Perhaps it was due to the superior bloodline of the Snake-People Race, but all the snake-people Xiao Yan knew possessed top-tier figures and appearances. Unlike Medusa and Yue Mei, though Qing Lin possessed a soul-stirring figure, her eyes held a touch of limpid innocence. Her eyes had not changed at all from five years ago. A single glance revealed pure innocence, easily evoking a protective instinct in others, much like a timid little sister from next door. Qing Lin waved her hand, her eyes emitting a burst of green light. Subsequently, space distorted, and an immense two-headed snake flew out, plunging headfirst into the hot spring with a loud splash. If Xiao Yan were here, he would have recognized it at a glance. This two-headed snake was none other than the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent from the underground magma sea of the Green Lotus Core Flame! Splash, splash, splash! The Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent thrashed about in the hot spring like a child playing in water. Its two heads playfully nipped at each other, sending water splashing everywhere as it reveled with great delight. "Shuang''er, you''re splashing water all over me!" Qing Lin wiped the water droplets from her face and body. This Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent had been her closest companion for the past five years. Hiss hiss! Hearing Qing Lin''s call, the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent emerged from the hot spring. Its massive heads rested on the ground, its four eyes gazing at Qing Lin as it flicked its forked tongues with repeated hisses. A green flower now bloomed on each forehead of the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent, and its eyes had turned jade-green, the same color as Qing Lin''s. This was not a case of Qing Lin controlling its mind; rather, she was helping it to grow and become stronger more rapidly. The Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent''s strength was no longer at the initial Rank 4, equivalent to a low-star Dou Spirit. Aided by the power of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils and the resources from the Sky Serpent Mansion, it had now reached Rank 6, comparable to a human Dou Emperor. Knock, knock, knock! A series of knocks sounded on the stone door, followed by an old woman''s voice: "Saintess, the banquet is about to begin. The Mansion Lord asks you to get ready and then proceed to the grand hall." Qing Lin heard the urging voice from outside, and a hint of gloom appeared in her eyes. Yet she still mustered her spirits and replied, "I understand. I''ll be there shortly." Over these five years, she had gradually grown more resilient. Qing Lin stroked the scales of the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent and sighed, "Ah, Shuang''er, when do you think Young Master Xiao Yan will finally come?" "Perhaps... we should run away and go back." Hiss hiss~~~ ... The inns and guesthouses surrounding the Sky Serpent Mansion were bustling with extraordinary activity. Many factions rested here before attending the banquet, while some guests, weary of their stay within the Sky Serpent Mansion, ventured out for a breath of fresh air. After all, for humans, such an environment within the Sky Serpent Mansion was indeed unsuitable. Xiao Yan paid no heed to such a lively scene, apparently resting with his eyes closed. Zi Yan poked her head out, curiously observing the surroundings. Finally, the carriage slowly arrived at the main gate of the Sky Serpent Mansion. In truth, the guests arriving at the Sky Serpent Mansion for the banquet were as numerous as carp crossing a river. A group like Xiao Yan''s, in a single carriage mixed among the crowd, did not attract any attention at all. When the carriage reached the base of the Sky Serpent Mansion, Xiao Yan, seated inside, suddenly opened his eyes and gazed toward the Sky Serpent Mansion. The Sky Serpent Mansion, as far as the eye could see, was a stretch of verdant green, with ancient pines growing on sheer cliffs. Anyone who saw this landscape before them would marvel at the magnificence of the scene. This landscape was unlike those in other places. Countless green lights floated in the air above the Sky Serpent Mansion. Each wisp carried an immense life force and appeared incredibly vivid. "Truly worthy of the name Sky Serpent Mansion; it possesses an even better treasured land than the Misty Cloud Sect." Jia Xing Tian could not help but shake his head and sigh in admiration. The more powerful the faction, the richer the natural energy its mountain territory contained. The best-treasured land in the Jia Ma Empire was naturally Misty Cloud Mountain, the seat of the Misty Cloud Sect. Xiao Yan''s formidable Spiritual Strength subtly swept across the entire Sky Serpent Mansion. His eyes then narrowed slightly as, following the terrain, he gazed toward the giant statue that seemed to prop up the sky. Only when Xiao Yan and his companions drew closer to the Sky Serpent Mansion and looked again at its enormous, emerald-green statue did they truly perceive its immensity. It was, in essence, a colossal emerald-green peak thrusting straight into the clouds. Looking up, one simply could not see its summit. After gazing at the enormous statue for a good while, Xiao Yan retracted his gaze and murmured, "This Sky Serpent Mansion... is somewhat interesting." Xiao Yan discovered that the massive statue of the Sky Serpent Mansion was actually connected to the geomantic veins of this mountain range. Creak. The carriage came to a halt. The driver at the front said, "Sirs, we have reached the Sky Serpent Mansion. The carriage can go no further than this." Xiao Yan nodded, and the group alighted from the carriage, taking a deep breath. The Sky Serpent Mansion was indeed a spiritually endowed land for serpents. The air was rich with life force, which was extremely important for magical beasts as it could strengthen their physiques. "Mm! This is a great place!" Zi Yan exclaimed, taking a deep breath and spreading her arms to feel the essence of this land. For a magical beast like her, such a place was truly ideal, perfectly suited for magical beast habitation. "You three, may I ask where you are from? Do you have an invitation?" a Rank 5 Demon Serpent of the Sky Serpent Mansion inquired in human language as Xiao Yan and his two companions approached the tree-formed gate. At the mountain entrance, many Serpent Kings of the Sky Serpent Mansion were tasked with receiving guests from all directions and, of course, preventing any ill-intentioned individuals from sneaking in. As the Sky Serpent Mansion''s Serpent King made his inquiries, he could not help but size up Xiao Yan. Although Jia Xing Tian possessed the most profound cultivation among them, what intrigued the Sky Serpent Mansion''s Serpent King most was Xiao Yan, dressed in the robes of a 5th-tier alchemist. Zi Yan was a magical beast, so her youthful appearance was understandable. Xiao Yan, however, was unmistakably human, and they could tell at a glance that his age was definitely not over thirty, perhaps not even over twenty-five. To be a 5th-tier alchemist at such an age was truly remarkable. And indeed, many people nearby were discreetly observing Xiao Yan, all discussing which faction could have nurtured such a genius alchemist. Jia Xing Tian presented the invitation and said, "We are from the Yan Alliance." "Yan Alliance?" The Serpent King was taken aback. He had never heard of it! However, upon confirming that the invitation was indeed genuine, he said politely, "Welcome, welcome. On behalf of the Sky Serpent Mansion, I welcome your arrival. This way, please." A Rank 5 magical beast only performing reception duties further highlighted the strength of the Sky Serpent Mansion. While leading the way, the Sky Serpent Mansion''s Serpent King said eagerly, "We are truly honored that you have come to celebrate our Sky Serpent Mansion''s new Saintess''s banquet." After some courteous pleasantries, the Serpent King continued, "I wonder, would you prefer to go directly to the banquet hall to await the commencement, or would you like to tour the Sky Serpent Mansion?" Zi Yan heard they still had to wait and instantly displayed a hint of annoyance. Waving her hand, she said, "We still have to wait? How troublesome. What fun places do you have around here?" "In that case, would you all like to visit our Sky Serpent Mansion''s renowned Serpent Saint Mountain Peak?" The guiding Serpent King from the Sky Serpent Mansion pointed to a towering peak in the distance and said to Zi Yan, "Many who come to the Sky Serpent Mansion make it a point to visit the Serpent Saint Mountain Peak. This peak is not only famous within our Sky Serpent Mansion but is also a well-known treasured land throughout the entire North-Western Region." "Serpent Saint Mountain Peak?" At this, Xiao Yan slowly looked over, observing the peak the Serpent King indicated, which resembled a coiled serpent spiraling upwards. "Mm. Legend has it that the Serpent Saint Mountain Peak is where the Demon Saint of our Sky Serpent Mansion attained enlightenment. In the past, the Jade-Green Snake Demon Saint cultivated here. There are even rumors that this place holds a Secret Technique left by the Demon Saint, awaiting a fated individual to obtain it. However, after all this time, no one has succeeded." The Serpent King looked at Xiao Yan''s group and fluently introduced this place of pride for the Sky Serpent Mansion, "Perhaps you might gain some insight on the Serpent Saint Mountain Peak, create an unparalleled Qi Method, or even receive the blessings left behind by the Demon Saint." "Create an unparalleled Qi Method? My current Qi Method is already sufficient," Xiao Yan shook his head. He then glanced at Zi Yan beside him and added, "However, since we are here and the banquet has not yet begun, let''s go up and take a look." Not needing this Serpent King to lead the way, Xiao Yan and his companions immediately unfolded their Dou Qi wings and flew toward the Serpent Saint Mountain Peak. When Xiao Yan and his companions reached the summit of the Serpent Saint Mountain Peak, they saw a massive stone tablet standing there, etched with numerous strange and intricate patterns. These intricate, crisscrossing patterns were not the result of artificial carving but were naturally formed. It seemed this stone tablet bore a long history, shaped by the wind and rain over countless ages. On this huge stone tablet, there was also a black hole, resembling one bored into the rock by insects. Before this very stone tablet, covered in intricate patterns, sat many figures¡ªor more accurately, many serpents. Most belonged to the younger generation of disciples who had joined the Sky Serpent Mansion. From their auras, it was not difficult to discern that these diverse magical beasts were all formidable disciples of the Sky Serpent Mansion. Furthermore, even judging by magical beast aging standards, they were all very young. Many magical beasts were gazing intently up at the stone tablet; some were coiled beneath nearby trees, meditating with closed eyes, while others hovered high in the air, attempting to discern the profound secrets it held. This was also the first time Xiao Yan had witnessed magical beasts cultivating collectively. Of course, to say these magical beasts were cultivating was less accurate than saying they were trying to solve a riddle; all of them were intent on deciphering the meandering patterns on this stone tablet. Even some of the younger generation of humans, who had accompanied their elders to the Great Meeting of Factions, were staring intently at the stone tablet, studying it carefully. Some sat in meditation with closed eyes, attempting to sense the aura fluctuations it emitted. These young elites from various factions were all trying to comprehend the profound mysteries of this stone tablet, hoping for some kind of harvest. Xiao Yan, not one to stand on ceremony, sent his Spiritual Strength coursing into the stone tablet like a fine needle¡ªonly to find that a strange force blocked his spiritual perception. "Hmm, it seems there really is something inside." Although he could not be entirely certain, a force was obstructing his Spiritual Strength perception. Unless the Jade-Green Snake Demon Saint had truly been so bored as to place a mere stone inside and then deliberately shield it with energy. Xiao Yan looked toward Zi Yan. A purple light flashed in her eyes, then she too frowned and shook her head. She also could not see what lay within, mainly because her strength was still a little too weak. In recent times, an unknown number of people had come to the Serpent Saint Mountain Peak to comprehend its secrets, yet there had been no word of anyone making any gains. Waves of visitors came and went from the Serpent Saint Mountain Peak. Even though everyone knew that a visit here was likely a fruitless endeavor, they still refused to give up; not making the attempt felt like having come to the Sky Serpent Mansion for nothing. "Forget it, forget it! There''s absolutely nothing on this stone wall." Just as Xiao Yan''s group arrived at the Serpent Saint Mountain Peak, they heard a young human cultivator remark resentfully as he prepared to leave, having given up. "There must be something inside!" insisted someone with notable talent. "I clearly sensed some fluctuations from within; there''s definitely something in there." "So what if there is? Who doesn''t know there''s something inside?" The human cultivator who was giving up snorted coldly. "Over the centuries, how many geniuses and experts have come here? I heard even the Pavilion Master of the Yellow Spring Pavilion visited, but it was to no avail. Anyway, I reckon I have no chance. I''m off, I''m off." More than just one or two cultivators gave up; even as some departed, new groups would still continue to arrive in droves. Seeing the human cultivators depart, the disciples of the Sky Serpent Mansion revealed disdainful expressions. They were not here to obtain whatever was inside; rather, the life force here was more vigorous, and cultivating in this place and absorbing the natural energy accelerated their growth. Magical beasts did not rely solely on consuming heavenly materials to grow; they also possessed their own unique cultivation methods. This was even more true for a large magical beast faction like the Sky Serpent Mansion. At this moment, Xiao Yan walked up to the stone wall, lowered his head to carefully examine the black hole on it, and remarked somewhat casually, "Since there''s something inside, why not just reach in and take it? Isn''t there a hole right here?" As soon as his words fell, the expressions of many serpents present instantly darkened. They all believed Xiao Yan was mocking their serpent race for lacking hands. Moreover, if something could be taken simply by reaching in, who knew how many centuries ago it might have already been claimed? Of course, there was no lack of a few among them from the serpent race who had reached the Dou King realm and had used Demon Transformation Pills; they naturally possessed hands. And even if they needed to retrieve something, they could also use their tails. "Hmph, an ignorant lout who doesn''t know the immensity of heaven and earth." Chapter 322: Retrieving It As Easily As Reaching Into a Bag Chapter 322 - 322: Retrieving It As Easily As Reaching Into a Bag Word Count: 2,785 Words ****** "Hmph, an ignorant lout who doesn''t know the immensity of heaven and earth." A serpent magical beast that was already half-transformed into human form, with dark skin, immediately turned cold in expression and rebuked, "How could you, a mere human alchemist, comprehend the profound mysteries left by our Demon Saint? Hmph! Even the Chairman of the Alchemist Association of our Sky Serpent Empire couldn''t decipher its secrets. And yet you, a mere 5th-tier alchemist, dare to spout such arrogant words! Step aside and don''t disturb our cultivation here." The Snake-People and humans were, after all, two different races, so it was common for them to view each other unfavorably. This was especially true here in the Sky Serpent Mansion, the holy land of the Snake-People in the North-Western Region. Moreover, Xiao Yan was an alchemist. Because magical beasts generally possessed weaker Spiritual Strength, it was exceedingly rare for their kind to produce alchemists. Thus, it was only natural for them to harbor resentment toward Xiao Yan. Though Xiao Yan had merely voiced his doubts, in the ears of these snake people, his words carried a hint of mockery. They felt he was arrogantly boasting about how impressive it was for humans to produce alchemists. The rebuke was meant to put this human alchemist in his place. Xiao Yan couldn''t be bothered to spare this Serpent Emperor even a glance and simply ignored him. However, the hot-tempered Zi Yan jumped out. "Ah?! Who do you think you are? A mere overgrown, hairy snake! Believe it or not, I''ll smash you with a single punch!" Zi Yan planted her hands on her hips, her cute face displaying a fierce expression, but the powerful magical beast aura emanating from her was no joke. "You''re a magical beast? You''ve taken a Body Transformation Pill?!" The Serpent Emperor''s eyes narrowed; Zi Yan''s transformation was flawless, leaving no doubt she had indeed used a Body Transformation Pill. "None of your damn business!" Zi Yan gave him no face whatsoever. To her, a mere Rank 6 serpent like him was nothing; dealing with him would only take a few punches. Xiao Yan waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away a fly, "Where did this idiot come from? Don''t be an eyesore in front of me." "You...!" The Serpent Emperor''s face turned extremely ugly. He was a dignified Rank 6 magical beast; even within the Sky Serpent Mansion, he was a figure of some status. Yet now, he was being humiliated by a nameless junior. How could he not be furious? "I am the new emperor of the Winged Serpent Clan, the Black-Eyed Serpent Emperor, overseeing a thousand miles of territory within the Sky Serpent Empire¡ª" "Never heard of you." Xiao Yan interrupted the Black-Eyed Serpent Emperor''s self-introduction with a dismissive wave. This attitude made the Serpent Emperor so angry he nearly spat blood; it felt like punching cotton. He had thought revealing his identity would intimidate a nobody like Xiao Yan. Many present shook their heads slightly at Xiao Yan''s arrogant attitude. They all knew that offending the Sky Serpent Mansion here would definitely not end well. Xiao Yan paid no mind to what others thought. Instead, he carefully examined the hole in the stone tablet and asked in a seemingly casual manner, "Since no one has come to take it, does whatever is inside belong to whoever retrieves it?" The Black-Eyed Serpent Emperor sneered upon hearing this. "Everyone in the North-Western Region knows that our Sky Serpent Mansion''s Serpent Saint Mountain Peak is an open treasure land, bestowing blessings upon the entire region. Whoever has the ability to obtain what the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint left behind naturally gets to keep it. Only some ignorant youngsters from remote places wouldn''t know this." As if seizing on Xiao Yan''s vulnerability, the Black-Eyed Serpent Emperor sneered, adding insult to injury and mercilessly ridiculing him. In fact, upon hearing Xiao Yan''s seemingly naive question, Jia Xing Tian, who knew him somewhat, furrowed his brow, sensing that things were not that simple. This kid never does anything without a reason! Having received the Black-Eyed Serpent Emperor''s response, Xiao Yan''s lips curled into a barely noticeable smile. Then, ignoring the disdainful glances and sneers from those around him, he actually reached his hand into that black hole. When the serpent magical beasts present saw Xiao Yan actually trying to fish something out from the hole, they mocked him even more, thinking him a fool. "What an idiot. Over the centuries, countless people have explored this place. This hole was probably left by wind and rain over time, yet he actually intends to use his hand to retrieve something!" a serpent magical beast sneered coldly. "Ha! Truly a frog at the bottom of a well¡ªa country bumpkin to the extreme! Where did this bumpkin come from?" Many burst into mocking laughter when they saw Xiao Yan stick his hand into the hole like a child fishing in a river. But how could Xiao Yan possibly be doing something so foolish? There was, in fact, nothing inside the hole. It was just a cavity about thirty centimeters deep, likely left by some Dou Venerate who had tried to forcibly break open the stone tablet. But this was something left behind by a Dou Saint; how could it be so easily obtained by force? Hence, only a hole remained. Xiao Yan reached his hand inside, not to actually pull something out, but to conceal the deployment of Mao Wu, the Nihility Devouring Flame! Mao Wu emerged from his palm as he deliberately used his Spiritual Strength and body to block the entrance, preventing anyone from noticing. In this small, deep cavity, Mao Wu, now evolved into an Earth Seed Flame, unleashed its full power. Something was indeed inside, sealed by a special force. But how could a mere seal stop Mao Wu? It possessed the abilities of the Nihility Devouring Flame! If Mao Wu had not evolved into the Earth Seed Flame, this might have taken much more time. But now that it had evolved, creating a spatial hole for Xiao Yan''s hand to reach through was not a difficult task. If it evolved into the Heavenly Seed Flame, it wouldn''t be just burning a small hole. Meow!!! Mao Wu activated its Earth Seed Flame abilities at full power. The black flame devoured and burned furiously, and after about two minutes, a fist-sized hole appeared. With a snap, Xiao Yan''s right hand grasped a hard object, and his eyes narrowed as he swiftly pulled out his hand. Xiao Yan initially planned to take the item stealthily, without attracting any attention, but he realized he had been too optimistic. The moment he retrieved the item, a green light erupted from the stone tablet and shot straight into the clouds above. "Uh...? Ah...!" The mocking words of the Black-Eyed Serpent Emperor stuck in his throat. As this phenomenon occurred, his mouth hung wide open, and he was speechless. In fact, at that moment, everyone present was similarly dumbfounded. They all stared blankly at Xiao Yan, or more precisely, at his glowing right hand. The scene was simply too incredible. Countless people''s mouths were wide enough to fit a goose egg. They stood there in astonishment, unable to close their mouths for a long time. Even Jia Xing Tian was stunned. He could hardly believe it. This was simply too unbelievable, too outrageous. Even Dou Venerates had tried and failed; how did he do it?! But the event that everyone had considered impossible had actually happened. Those witnessing this scene atop the Serpent Saint Mountain Peak felt it was utterly bizarre. "This... this is too outrageous! Did he really just... reach in and take it out???" Someone couldn''t believe what they were seeing, thinking they were hallucinating or dreaming. He had actually retrieved something just by reaching in! But while one person''s eyes might deceive them or one person might be dreaming, it was impossible for everyone present to experience the same illusion. This meant that this scene had truly occurred. Finally snapping back to reality, those who had mocked Xiao Yan earlier felt their faces burning with shame. Xiao Yan''s actions had effectively shown everyone from the Sky Serpent Mansion that they couldn''t even retrieve a treasure that was right there. How embarrassing for them! It was as if they had been slapped hard across the face. Their own ancestor''s treasure had been acquired by an outsider, a human no less! When Xiao Yan retrieved the item, the stone tablet collapsed and shattered with a rumbling sound, as if it had lost all its supporting power, and turned into a pile of rubble. At this point, even the stupidest person knew that Xiao Yan had genuinely obtained the item inside. Xiao Yan sighed inwardly. He had hoped to make a fortune quietly, but it seemed trouble was now unavoidable. When the green light shot into the sky, everyone in the entire Sky Serpent Mansion naturally noticed it. "Hmm? What''s that?" "That direction seems to be the Serpent Saint Mountain Peak!" "Could it be! Some disciple has obtained the Qi Method or Dou Technique left by the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint?" "Could it be the new Saintess?" At the same time, Qing Lin, who had just finished bathing and changing clothes, also looked toward the direction of the green light and murmured, "How could this be? The item inside should only be obtainable by someone with the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils." She had been to the Serpent Saint Mountain Peak before. Using her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, she knew this was a test left by the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint. Only when she cultivated her pupils to an extraordinary level and her cultivation reached the high-star Dou Ancestor stage could she obtain the item inside. "Could there be a second person with the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils?" Qing Lin was puzzled. How had someone managed to snatch it away? In a mountain cave dwelling at the very center of the Sky Serpent Mansion, a remarkably handsome man suddenly looked toward the Serpent Saint Mountain Peak. His eyes narrowed slightly as he said, "Was that Qing Lin? No, it shouldn''t be her. She went there not long ago and still couldn''t retrieve the item." This man was none other than She Tianhao, the current Mansion Lord of the Sky Serpent Mansion. "Send someone immediately to investigate the situation!" "Understood!" Meanwhile, back at the Serpent Saint Mountain Peak, Xiao Yan, the center of everyone''s attention, slowly opened his right hand. He knew he couldn''t hide it, so he didn''t bother trying. As he opened his hand, a ring appeared in everyone''s sight. The ring was inlaid with an emerald gemstone, which was evidently extraordinary at first glance. Xiao Yan admired and toyed with this beautiful ring. It wasn''t a storage ring and had no storage space. Moreover, the truly important part wasn''t the ring itself but the emerald gemstone set within it. This was no ordinary gem; even Xiao Yan didn''t know what it was, only that it definitely wasn''t simple. After appreciating it for a moment, Xiao Yan slipped the ring onto his finger. Then, casting a sidelong glance at the Black-Eyed Serpent Emperor, he said lightly, "Who was it that was shouting so loudly just now, saying it was impossible to retrieve the item? Sigh, it was right there in the entrance of the hole, waiting for you to take it. Yet fools like you didn''t even try and instead boasted in front of me about how I didn''t know the immensity of heaven and earth, calling me a frog in a well. If I were your ancestor, I''d probably die of anger. You refused a free gift." Xiao Yan had always had a poisonous tongue, especially since he had refined the Ghostly Poison Flame. Moreover, he was never lenient toward his enemies. Say the most venomous words, deliver the harshest slaps. Since these serpent magical beasts had just tried to mock and humiliate him, Xiao Yan had no qualms about fiercely slapping them back verbally. At this moment, many of those present who had just mocked Xiao Yan felt their old faces burning with shame. So many of them had laughed at him, and now his verbal slap had come back at them. Such swift retribution! Of course, some quick-witted individuals quickly realized that it was absolutely impossible for Xiao Yan to have simply reached in and retrieved the item; he must have done something! "What arrogance!" The Black-Eyed Serpent Emperor''s face darkened. As the leader of the Black-Eyed Serpent Clan and an elder of the Sky Serpent Mansion, how could he swallow the humiliation of being slapped in the face by a nameless junior like Xiao Yan? More importantly, Xiao Yan had obtained a valuable treasure, and he was determined to ensure it remained in the Sky Serpent Mansion. An idea formed in his mind, and he sneered, "Ignorant brat! Do you think you''re invincible just because you''ve obtained a treasure? Allow me, this Emperor, to teach you a lesson on behalf of your elders, so you''ll understand that you human alchemists are also trash." Xiao Yan chuckled coldly, fully understanding his intent. Beckoning the Black-Eyed Serpent Emperor with a finger, he said, "Since you''re asking for a beating, fine. Today, I''ll beat you so badly even your own mother won''t recognize you." Such provocation made the Black-Eyed Serpent Emperor furious. However, he was secretly pleased; as long as he had an excuse to capture Xiao Yan, the rest would be up to the Sky Serpent Mansion. His expression turned vicious as he roared, "Ignorant wretch! I''ll make sure you learn your lesson today!" As soon as his words fell, his five fingers clawed out, and black mist surged like a tidal wave. In that instant, the Black-Eyed Serpent Emperor made his move. His five fingers spread wide, lunging at Xiao Yan''s head like a giant serpent. A terrifying surge of Dou Qi came crashing like a torrent. However, Xiao Yan didn''t move at all. Instead, he stood with his hands clasped behind his back, appearing as if he were letting himself be slaughtered. Of course, he naturally wouldn''t just stand there and take the hit. He knew that when it came to fighting, it was best to leave it to the ''professionals''. "Ha! You stinking snake dare to attack!" Zi Yan was delighted to see the other party launch an attack. In a flash, she appeared beside Xiao Yan, and immediately, a burst of purple light erupted. She grinned and bared her teeth. Her right fist was enveloped in intense purple light, distorting the space around it. "Scram!!" Facing the attack that came like a raging, devouring serpent, Zi Yan laughed heartily. Her right fist shot out violently. Purple light erupted, and a dragon aura surged powerfully. An overwhelming dragon might swept across the mountain range in an extremely domineering and fierce manner. A resounding boom and the sickening crunch of shattering bones rang out. Under Zi Yan''s punch, the Black-Eyed Serpent Emperor''s entire arm instantly turned into a mist of blood. He didn''t even have time to scream before his whole body was sent flying, tracing a beautiful arc in the sky, his life or death unknown. This scene unfolded too quickly, leaving everyone unable to react. One had to know that the Black-Eyed Serpent Emperor was a Dou Emperor of the Sky Serpent Mansion! Even if his strength wasn''t the greatest among the elders, he was still a formidable expert. Yet, facing this adorable little girl, he couldn''t even withstand a single move and had his arm shattered! Zi Yan had only just entered the Dou Emperor realm, so it was a battle between equals, yet the Sky Serpent Mansion''s Dou Emperor couldn''t withstand even one move! If word of this spread, no one would believe it! "Dragon... dragon might?!" "Did I just sense dragon aura?" "My heavens, what is this little girl''s true form?!" Of course, there were many kinds of dragons; possessing dragon might didn''t necessarily make one invincible. There were also magical beasts like the Serene Sea Flood Dragon, which contained a trace of dragon blood in their bodies. But there was no doubt that Zi Yan''s true form was anything but ordinary! Xiao Yan wasn''t surprised at all that Zi Yan defeated the opponent with one punch. If an Ancient Void Dragon couldn''t achieve this, he would look down on the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe instead. He then sensed something and slowly turned his gaze toward the horizon. A meaningful smile appeared on his face when he saw the approaching figures. Chapter 323: Xiao Yan, the White Moonlight Chapter 323 - 323: Xiao Yan, the White Moonlight "So strong!" Witnessing the scene, some of the older generation experts present couldn''t help but draw sharp breaths. Many gazes slowly turned toward Xiao Yan. Though he stood with his hands down, maintaining a calm and composed expression, no one found this inappropriate. Weren''t alchemists always like this, never making a move themselves? Medicinal pills were their best weapons. Moreover, no one dared to harbor any designs on Xiao Yan, not because Jia Xing Tian, this Dou Ancestor, was present, but because this was the Sky Serpent Mansion''s territory. Many people were waiting to watch a good show. The Sky Serpent Mansion had said that whoever could obtain the item inside would own it, but everyone in the entire North-Western Region knew this was merely a tactic used by the Sky Serpent Mansion to lure geniuses from various places to help them retrieve things. If someone truly obtained it, a more benevolent Sky Serpent Mansion might offer some rewards to ''exchange'' for the acquired item. A less scrupulous one would directly threaten, just as the Black-Eyed Serpent Emperor had done earlier. Everyone was waiting for the drama to unfold. Sure enough, shortly after the strange phenomenon disappeared, several powerful auras flew over from the distant main peak. Streaks of splendid Dou Qi wings arrived in the blink of an eye, with the leading figure stepping on empty air. Clearly, this was a Dou Ancestor! Xiao Yan revealed a faint smile when he saw the Dou Ancestor in the lead. There was no helping it; it was an old acquaintance. The Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor wore a somewhat unnatural expression at this moment. He had flown over from the main peak after receiving the Mansion Lord''s orders. Midway, he had even witnessed the Black-Eyed Serpent Emperor spitting blood as he was sent flying backward, and had dispatched an elder to assist him. Bai Ya, originally at the peak of Rank 6, had been rewarded with a Body Transformation Pill for his meritorious service in bringing back the bearer of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. This allowed him to successfully transform into human form and breakthrough to Rank 7, giving him a transcendent status within the Sky Serpent Mansion. However, when he saw Xiao Yan''s face, his scalp tingled and his expression changed drastically. This was the person he least wanted to see. The Hall of Souls! The Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor hadn''t forgotten the young man he and Lu Man had encountered in the Jia Ma Empire when they went to bring back Qing Lin. Over these years, even though Bai Ya and Lu Man''s status in the Sky Serpent Mansion had risen considerably, as they could be said to be second only to the Mansion Lord now, they still treated Qing Lin with great respect, even with some apprehension. The reason was simple: Xiao Yan had once revealed his affiliation with the Hall of Souls. Although Bai Ya and Lu Man had reported bringing Qing Lin back smoothly, merely mentioning that a friendly acquaintance had tried to intervene, only the two of them knew the truth. At the time, it wasn''t that they brought her back; it was that they had negotiated a deal! They could both sense at the time that Xiao Yan still had a trump card he hadn''t used, a deadly finishing move that would result in either death or grievous injury. Ultimately, it was only because Qing Lin herself expressed a desire to enter the Sky Serpent Mansion for further training that they managed to bring her back smoothly. The two had always remained tight-lipped, never revealing anything about Xiao Yan. Within the Sky Serpent Mansion, some Grand Elders had even proposed arranging a marriage between Qing Lin and the Mansion Lord, hoping to produce new bearers of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. Only Bai Ya and Lu Man knew this was merely wishful thinking. They understood that Xiao Yan would eventually come to retrieve Qing Lin, especially after news arrived three years ago that Elder Qing had been robbed of the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill by Xiao Yan. They just hadn''t expected him to arrive so soon and cause such a major incident immediately! Xiao Yan''s gaze roamed over everyone before settling on Bai Ya. With a faint smile, he said, "What, you''ve broken through to Rank 7 and gained some confidence? Are you unconvinced too?" 3-star Dou Emperor! In just five short years, he had progressed from Dou Grandmaster to 3-star Dou Emperor! This speed made even Bai Ya gulp involuntarily. Before Bai Ya could respond, a Six-Winged Serpent Emperor behind him stepped forward with a straightened back. With a cold laugh, he said, "Insolent human brat, this is the Sky Serpent Mansion, yet you dare to injure one of our elders without cause! Your crime deserves death!" "Hmm?" Xiao Yan glanced sideways at this Six-Winged Serpent Emperor and couldn''t help but smile. What happened next surprised everyone. A crisp slap suddenly rang out, and the Six-Winged Serpent Emperor who had just been sneering was struck so hard he spun in place, several of his teeth knocked loose. "You bastard!" Bai Ya''s face instantly contorted with anger as he berated, "Are you blind? Just now, Black-Eye provoked first, attempting to snatch this esteemed alchemist''s item. That''s why he was injured. He brought it upon himself. He would deserve it even if he died!" What????? Everyone present was completely bewildered at this moment. Were they having some kind of bizarre dream? A Dou Ancestor of the Sky Serpent Mansion was actually berating his own people! The Serpent Emperor who had been slapped was even more dumbfounded. Why was I the one who got hit?? Xiao Yan soon understood. Bai Ya must have investigated matters concerning the Hall of Souls. "Protector Bai Ya... this... aren''t we going to take back that ring?" another Snake-clan elder following behind asked cautiously. He couldn''t figure out what tricks this newly promoted Protector was planning; he wasn''t usually like this! "Hmph, this Protector has his own judgment. Since when did it become your place to meddle?" Bai Ya snorted coldly, waving his hand. "Go disperse all other unnecessary people. I will personally talk with him." At these words, everyone''s expressions changed to sudden realization. So he was adopting a conciliatory strategy. Protector Bai Ya was brilliant, employing civility before force. Once everyone on the Serpent Saint Mountain Peak had departed, leaving only Xiao Yan''s group of three, Bai Ya slowly descended from the sky to Xiao Yan''s side. "Grandmaster Xiao Yan, long time no see," Bai Ya cupped his hands and spoke with great politeness. Jia Xing Tian also came to a sudden realization upon seeing this Sky Serpent Mansion Protector being so courteous. No wonder this person had just struck his own subordinate! Seeing the other party being so polite, Xiao Yan naturally wouldn''t act arrogantly. He also raised his hand in greeting and said, "It has been some time, Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor. I wonder where Qing Lin is now?" Xiao Yan hadn''t come to attend any banquet; he was only here to meet Qing Lin. As for the ring, he would decide whether to keep it himself or give it to Qing Lin based on the circumstances. If it was useful to Qing Lin, it would serve as a small meeting gift. Bai Ya wasn''t sure how to respond. As expected, Xiao Yan''s objective was Qing Lin. After pondering for a moment, he used a spiritual voice transmission, "Her Highness the Saintess should currently be waiting in her mountain residence, preparing for this evening''s banquet." Xiao Yan inwardly nodded upon hearing this and replied via spiritual transmission: "Could you take me to see her?" After contemplating for quite some time, Bai Ya finally nodded and said, "The three of you, please follow me. I will take you to Her Highness the Saintess''s residence." Jia Xing Tian had never expected this turn of events. They had originally come to attend a banquet, but now, after all this, they were directly going through the back door! The three followed Bai Ya toward the statue''s direction and stopped at a high peak. The cave residences of the Sky Serpent Mansion''s upper echelons were all located inside mountains, using the natural formations as cover while constructing dwellings within. "This place isn''t bad," Zi Yan looked around. As a magical beast, she could sense that the terrain was situated on an earth vein. Cultivating here would be equivalent to consuming medicinal ingredients daily, greatly accelerating a magical beast''s development and growth. Knock, knock, knock. Bai Ya knocked on the door and said, "Saintess, Bai Ya requests an audience." "Come in." A somewhat stern and cold voice came from inside. Even though many years had passed and the voice had grown much colder, Xiao Yan could still recognize it. This was the little girl from the mercenary group back then, who had always been timid and afraid of others discovering her mixed Snake-People blood. A look of gratification appeared in his eyes at the sound of her voice. The little girl from back then seemed to have truly grown up. With a ''creak'', the stone door opened automatically. Bai Ya was very perceptive; he didn''t enter first but stepped aside, allowing Xiao Yan to enter ahead of him. A delicate fragrance assailed Xiao Yan''s nostrils as soon as he entered the cave dwelling. The first thing that greeted his eyes was a spacious, brightly lit hall. It had everything one might need; not only was there a huge mattress, but also a large pool in the distance. The overall layout was somewhat similar to Medusa''s bedchamber, with plants everywhere. It was clear that snake-like beings preferred a very different living environment from humans. This place resembled more of a forest, with the delicate fragrance coming from the surrounding plants. However, Zi Yan frowned at this. Although she was also a magical beast, she wasn''t a snake and had little interest in being surrounded by plants. She actually preferred resting at the summit of a high mountain, a place from which she could gaze down upon all the lesser peaks. Pushing aside the lush vegetation, Xiao Yan finally saw the little girl from back then who used to call him ''Young Master'' with every breath. At this moment, not only was Qing Lin present, but Lu Man was also there, combing Qing Lin''s hair. A shrunken Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent lay beside Qing Lin''s feet like a pet dog. The Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent sensed someone entering and slowly opened its eyes. When it saw Xiao Yan, it abruptly stood up and let out excited hisses. "Little fellow, you seem to have grown quite well, even reaching the Dou Emperor level." Qing Lin''s body trembled upon hearing his voice. She turned around and, at the far end of the hallway, saw a figure both familiar and strange. With that warm, reassuring smile she knew so well, he strolled down the path toward her. At first, she thought her eyes and ears were playing tricks on her. She instinctively rubbed her eyes, and when she looked again, the white-robed young man had drawn even closer. "It''s... it''s Young Master Xiao Yan!" Qing Lin''s heart quivered, and she was completely stunned. Although she had always believed that Xiao Yan would definitely come to take her away, that he would surely come, her heart still jolted when he truly appeared safely before her. The surprise was simply too overwhelming. Lu Man, at the side, had the same expression as Bai Ya did when she saw Xiao Yan appear. It was as if she had seen a ghost! By the time Qing Lin recovered from her delightful surprise, Xiao Yan was already very close to her. Overcome with ecstasy, she couldn''t help but rush forward and throw herself into Xiao Yan''s embrace, hugging him tightly. Tears of joy streamed down her face as she exclaimed, "Young Master Xiao Yan, you''ve finally come!" Chapter 324: The Great Meeting of Factions Begins Chapter 324 - 324: The Great Meeting of Factions Begins Word Count: 2,134 Words ****** Qing Lin''s enthusiasm even startled Xiao Yan. Originally, he and his two elder brothers were worried that she might prefer to remain at the Sky Serpent Mansion. After all, being the Saintess of the Sky Serpent Mansion was entirely different from returning to the Xiao Clan as a maid. Xiao Yan only remembered that he had once promised Qing Lin he would come to the Sky Serpent Mansion, which was why he made this visit. But one couldn''t blame him for not understanding. In Qing Lin''s heart, the Third Company Leader of the mercenary company who didn''t mind her ''dirty'' bloodline, didn''t care about her lowly status, and was willing to care for her back then, was the ''White Moonlight'' of her heart. To be sure, the Sky Serpent Mansion treated her extremely well: food, lodging, and cultivation resources were all provided. But Qing Lin was not stupid. She naturally knew that the Sky Serpent Mansion was interested in her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, not in her as an individual. Xiao Yan gently stroked her silky hair and spoke softly, "Careful now, you''ll wrinkle that pretty dress of yours." Qing Lin''s pretty face instantly turned bright red. Realizing she had overstepped, she hurriedly took a few steps back, but in her nervousness, her right foot tripped over her left, and she fell flat on her butt. Seeing that Qing Lin remained as timid and easily flustered as ever, Xiao Yan could only give a wry smile and shake his head. Though her body and age had grown, her heart seemed just as naive. Realizing how improper she might appear, Qing Lin jumped up in a panic, lowered her head, and fiddled with her fingers without daring to look at Xiao Yan at all. It was too embarrassing! Off to the side, Bai Ya and Lu Man both sighed inwardly. They knew that over the past five years, even when facing the two of them, Qing Lin had never shown such an expression, let alone in front of the Mansion Lord. The Mansion Lord''s five years of effort couldn''t compare to Xiao Yan''s one-minute appearance. Ah, the allure of the ''White Moonlight''! "By the way, do you want to return to the Jia Ma Empire with me?" Xiao Yan asked. "Yes!" Qing Lin suddenly raised her head, practically blurting out her answer before Xiao Yan had finished speaking. Bai Ya and Lu Man heard this and their expressions immediately changed. Lu Man didn''t quite know what to do. She knew that Xiao Yan was from the Hall of Souls. Although they weren''t clear about how strong the Hall of Souls was or what Xiao Yan''s status within it might be, knowing that it originated from the Central Plains was enough. "B-but... Qing Lin, you still can''t leave," Lu Man said, forcing herself to speak. The Sky Serpent Mansion had invested so many resources, manpower, and material support in her. How could she just leave? At this, Qing Lin actually nodded and said, "I know. Back then, I promised you all that I would help you open the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s inheritance in exchange. But to open the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s inheritance requires passing the trial within the Serpent Saint Mountain Peak and obtaining the token hidden within the stone tablet." "But now that the token has been taken by someone else, you can''t blame me." Bai Ya, Lu Man, and Jia Xing Tian all slowly looked toward Xiao Yan''s finger, or more precisely, at the emerald ring on it. "Are you talking about this token?" Xiao Yan slowly raised his hand and took off the emerald ring. Because she was too excited, Qing Lin hadn''t even noticed it! "Young Master, how did you get it?!" Qing Lin was dumbfounded. Even with the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, one had to reach the Dou Ancestor realm to open that trial. How did you, a Dou Emperor, manage it?! "I just reached in and took it." "Reached in and took it?!" Xiao Yan smiled but didn''t answer directly. Qing Lin saw that her Young Master didn''t answer directly and understood that it wasn''t that simple. ''Young Master Xiao Yan is still as amazing as ever.'' Her admiration for him grew even more at this moment. "Since it''s needed to open the inheritance, then I''ll give this to you." Xiao Yan grabbed Qing Lin''s soft, delicate hand and slowly placed the emerald ring in her palm. "Young Master! Qing Lin can''t accept such a precious item." Qing Lin instantly panicked. This was the token to open a Dou Saint''s inheritance! Its value was absolutely beyond imagination. Even the Sky Serpent Mansion had exhausted countless efforts over numerous generations but had not been able to open it. Xiao Yan slowly shook his head and said, "You keep it. What use do I have for this thing? I can''t enter that Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s ruins anyway, and it''s a magical beast''s inheritance, right? It probably isn''t suitable for me. Once you open it and repay the favor, come back." Qing Ling heard these words, nodded, and accepted it. It was good to repay the favor in advance and return to the Jia Ma Empire sooner. After all, that was her hometown. Now, she was equivalent to studying abroad. Xiao Yan placed the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill down and said, "This was originally a congratulatory gift for you at tonight''s banquet. Since I''ve already seen you, I''m too lazy to attend. Keep this." Qing Lin was about to refuse, but Xiao Yan raised his hand to stop her words and smiled, "All you need to say right now is ''thank you.''" She was stunned for a moment, then a look of excitement spread across her face as she smiled and said, "Thank you for the gift, Young Master." Now that Qing Lin''s intentions had been confirmed, there was naturally no need for Xiao Yan to stay any longer at the Sky Serpent Mansion. He turned his head to look at Zi Yan, who was unceremoniously eating spiritual fruits. "Let''s go, Zi Yan." "Let me eat one more!" When Xiao Yan led Zi Yan and Jia Xing Tian out of the cave dwelling, they were instantly locked onto by numerous spiritual perceptions. Powerful serpent clan members were watching them not only from the sky but also from the mountains, forests, and lakes. Xiao Yan even sensed two Dou Ancestor-level auras, stronger than Bai Ya and Jia Xing Tian. Before he could speak, Bai Ya hurriedly flew into the sky and said in a deep voice, "Elders and Protectors, please return. The Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s token is already in the Saintess''s hands. This person is a benefactor of our Sky Serpent Mansion. Your actions damage the reputation of our Sky Serpent Mansion." Many members of the serpent clan looked at each other in dismay. They hadn''t expected things to take such a 180-degree turn. How did the token end up in the Saintess''s hands? Xiao Yan naturally didn''t care about what these serpent clan members thought. As long as Qing Lin obtained the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s inheritance, wasn''t that equivalent to him obtaining it? In the end, he would be the one to profit the most. Xiao Yan was a shrewd person. How could he possibly do something that would make him suffer a loss? He might make small gains, but he would never lose! Not long after the trio left the Sky Serpent Mansion, the Mansion announced to the outside that the Saintess was unwell and could not attend the banquet. Xiao Yan understood that the real challenge lay ahead! ... Late at night, in the Mansion Lord''s cave dwelling of the Sky Serpent Mansion, Mansion Lord She Tianhao sat at the main seat, with various high-level members of the Sky Serpent Mansion seated below. Including Bai Ya, there were actually six Dou Ancestors present; their strength was even greater than rumors suggested! "Hahaha, this is truly a blessing from the heavens for our Sky Serpent Mansion." Hearing Bai Ya state that the token had been handed over to Qing Lin, all the Protectors present revealed satisfied smiles. "Mm, we originally thought it would take several more years for Qing Lin to reach the Dou Ancestor realm to pass the trial. Now it''s good. I believe it won''t be long before we can open the inheritance left by the Serpent Saint." "Indeed. Even though our Sky Serpent Mansion''s ancestor was only a Half-Saint, the inheritance he left behind will definitely allow our faction to unify the entire North-Western Region. Returning to the Central Plains is just around the corner!" "Hahaha, as for the person who obtained the token, we can look into which faction he comes from. If his faction is decent, we might allow them to merge into our Sky Serpent Mansion and become a powerful nation." Seeing the Protectors below enthusiastically discussing the future, only She Tianhao, sitting at the main seat, scanned over everyone with sharp eyes like a venomous snake, finally fixing his gaze on Bai Ya, who had remained silent all this time. "Bai Ya." "Yes, Mansion Lord." Bai Ya quickly stood up and bowed. Although She Tianhao had used the Body Transformation Pill to fully assume human form, he still retained a pair of yellow snake pupils. Under those cold, snake-like eyes, even Bai Ya broke out in a cold sweat, not daring to breathe heavily. After all, She Tianhao was the supreme ruler in the Sky Serpent Mansion. "That alchemist who obtained the token¡ªwhere does he come from, and what''s his name?" She Tianhao''s voice was as cold as a venomous snake. Bai Ya''s heart sank. He had not expected that the Mansion Lord would notice. He had intentionally concealed Xiao Yan''s name, only reporting that the token was in Qing Lin''s hands and hadn''t mentioned anything else. "Replying to the Mansion Lord, it''s... the Yan Alliance, Xiao Yan." !!!!!!!!! As soon as Bai Ya''s words fell, all the elders present fell silent. They had been chatting and laughing just moments ago, discussing the future, but upon hearing the name ''Xiao Yan,'' they all became quiet. When he heard the name ''Xiao Yan,'' the corners of She Tianhao''s mouth curled into a cold smile. "Xiao Yan. Hahaha, then his purpose in coming to the Sky Serpent Mansion must be to take Qing Lin away, right?" For a moment, Bai Ya did not dare to speak, while the other Protectors frowned and some even showed displeasure. "Hmph, Qing Lin is the Saintess of our Sky Serpent Mansion. How can she be taken away just because he says so?" "What Yan Alliance? Never even heard of it. They''re just trying to seek benefits. Considering his contributions, give him a Zong Breaking Pill and send him off." Many Protectors were disdainful, not taking the Yan Alliance seriously at all. An old woman slowly asked, "What are Qing Lin''s own intentions?" After a moment''s thought, Bai Ya truthfully said, "Qing Lin plans to... return to her hometown after opening the inheritance." For a moment, all the Protectors frowned. If someone came to take Qing Lin away, they would have grounds to object. But if Qing Lin herself wanted to leave, then there was no excuse. After all, they had promised Qing Lin back then that as long as she could open the inheritance, she could do as she wished. But five years had passed, and Qing Lin''s Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils had become increasingly powerful, causing many present to value them even more. They had long regarded Qing Lin as the strength of the Sky Serpent Mansion. Everyone looked toward She Tianhao. The matter of Qing Lin had always been the biggest dispute within the Sky Serpent Mansion. She Tianhao''s eyes narrowed slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "Qing Lin is the Saintess of our Sky Serpent Mansion. This is an indisputable fact. She''s merely been deceived." "If I remember correctly, that Yan Alliance is also participating in this Great Meeting of Factions, right?" Bai Ya nodded and said, "Yes, they are a newly formed alliance, jointly established by the Snake-People Tribe, the Jia Ma Empire, the Misty Cloud Sect, and Xiao Yan''s clan. They will participate in this Great Meeting of Factions." "Qing Lin simply hasn''t recognized reality. She thinks that a small alliance from that tiny place can compare to our Sky Serpent Mansion. The Great Meeting of Factions will be an opportunity for Qing Lin to understand the truth," She Tianhao coldly laughed and waved his hand before continuing, "The Great Meeting of Factions will proceed as scheduled. After the meeting, it will be time for our Sky Serpent Mansion to open the Serpent Saint''s inheritance and unify the entire North-Western Region!" Chapter 325: Two Hearts Are Not Too Many Chapter 325 - 325: Two Hearts Are Not Too Many Word Count: 2,097 Words ****** Within Lu Man''s mountain cave dwelling, Bai Ya, who had just returned from the Sky Serpent Mansion''s high-level meeting, sat alongside her. "So most of the Dou Ancestor Protectors have agreed with She Tianhao''s decision?" Lu Man asked solemnly. Bai Ya sighed and nodded. "They have no intention of giving up the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils." A hint of disdain flashed across Lu Man''s refined features. They had anticipated this long ago. The Half-Saint who founded the Sky Serpent Mansion, the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint, had also possessed the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. Even if she were in the Mansion Lord''s position, she wouldn''t be willing to give it up either. One could say Qing Lin was at the very core of the Sky Serpent Mansion''s future interests. Once there was a clash of interests, whether human or magical beast, neither would relent. It was like how the Gu Clan would never let Xun Er leave the clan to marry Xiao Yan; it would be tantamount to challenging the entire younger generation of the Gu Clan, and the implications would be too great. However, having accompanied Qing Lin for five years, the two of them understood perfectly that while Qing Lin usually remained silent and devoted herself to cultivating and unlocking the Snake Saint''s inheritance, she actually had no interest in the Dou Saint inheritance. Her goal was to become stronger, open the inheritance, and then leave immediately. Qing Lin simply did not want excessive entanglements with the Sky Serpent Mansion. Back then, she had proactively proposed coming to the Sky Serpent Mansion because she realized that if Xiao Yan wanted to save her, he would have to pay a heavy price. She did not want that to happen, so she took the initiative to propose it. Consequently, Lu Man and Bai Ya had long understood that the Sky Serpent Mansion couldn''t keep Qing Lin. She always harbored a longing in her heart. The ''White Moonlight'' in her heart was too radiant; no matter what the Sky Serpent Mansion did, they couldn''t win her over. After some hesitation, Bai Ya finally asked, "Are we really not going to tell the Mansion Lord that Xiao Yan''s backing is the Hall of Souls?" Lu Man gave him a sidelong look and replied slowly, "What good would it do? You went to the Central Plains and investigated the Hall of Souls at the Pill Tower; you should be clear. Given the Hall of Souls'' way of doing things, we would''ve been killed long ago if Xiao Yan were really a Protector of the Hall of Souls." "Even if the Mansion Lord knows that Xiao Yan is from the Hall of Souls, it won''t make him wary; it will only make things more troublesome. Not just humans¡ªeven magical beasts can harbor wishful thinking. We''ve long known that the Mansion Lord would never relinquish the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils." Bai Ya remained silent. It was true that Xiao Yan was from the Hall of Souls, but they didn''t know his exact status. Most importantly, unless Xiao Yan was the son of a Dou Saint from the Hall of Souls, his background wouldn''t make the Sky Serpent Mansion apprehensive. It was similar to how ordinary disciples who joined the Sky Serpent Mansion would not make other factions wary unless they were the Mansion Lord''s offspring. Not to mention, the Sky Serpent Mansion had a conflict of interest with Xiao Yan. People die for wealth just as birds die for food. Back then, even when Xiao Yan revealed his identity from the Hall of Souls, Bai Ya and Lu Man hadn''t given up because of the Sky Serpent Mansion''s reward for bringing Qing Lin back. This showed that the Sky Serpent Mansion, whose interests clearly clash with his, was even less likely to relent. The reason Lu Man and Bai Ya acted as they did was not Xiao Yan''s Hall of Souls identity; it was because of Qing Lin. There had always been two factions within the Sky Serpent Mansion. One faction was the old interest group led by Mansion Lord She Tianhao. They believed that Qing Lin should stay in the Sky Serpent Mansion, thinking it was the most suitable place for her and placing the Mansion''s interests above all. The other faction stood on Qing Lin''s side, prioritizing her wishes. They were serpent clan members who believed in Qing Lin''s future strength and planned to follow her. For example, the old woman who had just inquired about Qing Lin''s intentions was one of them. A subtle smile appeared on Lu Man''s face as she slowly flicked her forked tongue, "Those foolish old fossils still think Qing Lin will definitely stay in the Sky Serpent Mansion. But Qing Lin will certainly leave, and when that happens, conflict will be inevitable." "Our original plan was to assist Qing Lin in leaving the Sky Serpent Mansion and, after her cultivation grew, support her as the new Mansion Lord, expelling She Tianhao and his faction. But now, perhaps we should adjust our plan. It seems that Xiao Yan is a variable. If the Yan Alliance possesses strength comparable to She Tianhao''s faction, we can help Qing Lin become the Mansion Lord sooner. At that time, we will naturally be the meritorious officials of the new Mansion Lord." Bai Ya hesitated, "Is it really appropriate for us to do this?" Lu Man stuck out her forked tongue and said with a smile, "Humans have a saying, ''It''s not too much for one person to have two hearts.''" Even Xiao Yan probably didn''t expect that the small Sky Serpent Mansion would become turbulent because of Qing Lin. Many people were quietly observing this Great Meeting of Factions, as its outcome would influence many things. ... Time passed quickly. Two days later, the Great Meeting of Factions began as scheduled. The Great Meeting of Factions was naturally held within the Sky Serpent Mansion. As the sun rose in the eastern mountain range, the place was already filled with countless experts, and its defenses were as impregnable as iron. Throughout the hundreds and thousands of years since its establishment, the Sky Serpent Mansion has experienced many trials and tribulations. Its reputation gradually rose from successive battles among various forces, finally achieving its current status. Although the Great Meeting of Factions in the North-Western Region couldn''t compare with the Pill Gathering at the Pill Tower, it was still one of the few grand events. This Great Meeting of Factions tested not only the older generation of experts but also the younger generation. Naturally, the young participants representing each major faction in the North-Western Region were the most outstanding among their peers. Every faction regarded these youths as its lifeblood, so they spared no effort in raising them. Under such emphasis, numerous extraordinarily talented individuals naturally emerged among the younger generation. Not only Qing Lin from the Sky Serpent Mansion but also Ting Wanjun, the Young Sect Master of the Thunderbolt Sect; Li Shi from the Medicine Bone Sect; Shi Nian from the Profound Lion Sect; among others. Each had garnered quite a reputation throughout the North-Western Region. Of course, the North-Western Region was vast, and hidden talents were everywhere. No one knew when a dark horse might suddenly appear. Hence, each Great Meeting of Factions attracted many factions and countless confident young experts. Outside the Serpent Mountain Range, a streak of deep blue light flashed across the sky like a meteor before a huge, sky-blue flood dragon descended upon a mountain peak. Its imposing body and aura drew instant attention from onlookers. Standing on the back of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, Xiao Yan and the others looked down at the crowds below, which appeared like ants, and were momentarily stunned. "There are quite a lot of people¡ªprobably more than just a thousand." Jia Xing Tian explained, "Not only have the hundreds of sects and empires from the North-Western Region come, but each Great Meeting also attracts factions from other regions to observe, and even people from the Central Plains, such as the Yellow Springs Pavilion and the Pill Tower. After all, the top alchemist from the factions participating in this Great Meeting is already at the pinnacle of alchemists in the North-Western Region, aside from the Alchemist Association." It was not surprising, considering that the Sect Leader of the Medicine Bone Sect was a 7th-tier alchemist. Even in the Pill Tower, 7th-tier alchemists were not common. "Where is the Yan Alliance''s preliminary competition being held?" Xiao Yan asked. The Great Meeting of Factions had over a hundred factions participating, so it wasn''t possible to have a random draw or a chaotic free-for-all. They divided the North-Western Region into east, south, west, and north areas for the preliminary rounds. On the first day, the preliminary competitions for the younger generation were held. Factions from the four areas drew lots for elimination matches, and finally, the champions from the four areas would compete in one-on-one matches. The final winner would be the most talented young expert under thirty in the North-Western Region. The competition among alchemists under thirty was even simpler. Similar to the previous Alchemist Grand Meeting, all alchemists would refine pills simultaneously, and the one who produced the highest-quality pill would win. "The Yan Alliance belongs to the west area''s factions, along with the Three Great Empires. However, I heard that the Chu Yun Empire didn''t participate this time because their strongest factions, the Poison Sect and the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate, had their leaders and elite members die miserably when they entered a secret realm." At that, Yun Yun gave Xiao Yan a subtle look as if to ask, ''Any idea how that might have happened?'' Xiao Yan merely shrugged and didn''t say anything. It was expected that the Chu Yun Empire wouldn''t participate, given that so many of their experts had perished in the Profound Nether Valley last time. "Yanran, be careful. Don''t push yourself too hard," Yun Yun gently stroked Nalan Yanran''s silky hair. On the first day, it was undoubtedly Nalan Yanran and Princess Yue Er who would be competing. Nalan Yanran''s eyes revealed a strong fighting spirit. She had been anticipating the Great Meeting of Factions for a long time. After all, she had always been in the Jia Ma Empire, interacting with Dou King experts from the Jia Ma Empire and the Three Great Empires. She was eager to know how she would fare in the entire North-Western Region. "Don''t worry, Master. I will definitely not disgrace the Misty Cloud Sect," Nalan Yanran nodded firmly. Then, she turned to look at Xiao Yan and said solemnly, "After I obtain the title of number one in the North-Western Region, I''ll challenge you!" Xiao Yan spread his hands helplessly and said, "It would be good if you could get first in the west area; getting the overall first place might be difficult." He knew that Qing Lin was already a Dou Emperor. Given that Nalan Yanran was currently a 9-star Dou King, her chances of defeating Qing Lin were slim to none. Even if he gave her an Emperor Heaven Pill right now to help her break through to Dou Emperor, she wouldn''t stand a chance. The competition among young alchemists began almost simultaneously. After all, it was a trivial matter for alchemists to spend a day refining pills. The Yan Alliance was still a newly emerging faction, so naturally, they didn''t have their own camp. However, Xiao Yan and the others didn''t care about such things. With the Serene Sea Scaly Beast''s enormous body, standing in mid-air and overlooking the battle stage had its own unique charm. "Is that the Yan Alliance?" She Tianhao looked toward the location of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast and asked. In the VIP seating, top factions such as the Sky Serpent Mansion, Thunderbolt Sect, Medicine Bone Sect, and Profound Lion Sect, which were among the top ten in the North-Western Region, had their exclusive VIP seats. The leaders of these factions sat high up, watching the battles that had just started in the arena. "Yes, Mansion Lord," Bai Ya nodded and replied. "Yan Alliance? What kind of faction is that to make you pay so much attention?" Beside She Tianhao, an old man stroked his beard and glanced in the direction of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast. This old man was Shi Ming, the Sect Leader of the Profound Lion Sect, which he had founded. His strength had reached 7-star Dou Ancestor, on par with She Tianhao. Chapter 326: A Tenth of My Former Flair Chapter 326 - 326: A Tenth of My Former Flair Word Count: 2,142 Words ****** "Could it be that the Yan Alliance is a new faction your Sky Serpent Mansion is supporting?" She Tianhao''s mouth curved into a slight smile at the Profound Lion Sect Leader''s question. "Sect Leader Shi Ming must be joking," he chuckled. "It''s just that the Yan Alliance has some entanglements with my Sky Serpent Mansion, that''s all." "Oh?" Not only did a hint of doubt flash across Shi Ming''s eyes, but even the other sect leaders nearby wore curious expressions. Judging by the fact that the Yan Alliance''s strongest fighter was only a 1-star Dou Ancestor, with the others being merely Dou Emperors or even Dou Kings, their strength could only be considered first-rate at best. This was similar to the Misty Cloud Sect back when Yun Shan had just broken through to the Dou Ancestor realm. With such limited strength, they shouldn''t have any dealings with a hegemonic faction like the Sky Serpent Mansion. Moreover, She Tianhao''s expression and gaze suggested the two sides were far from friendly. "Those are members of the Snake-People Tribe? The Yan Alliance... I recall a previous report saying that the Jia Ma Empire and the Snake-People Tribe joined forces to form a new faction. Could this be that Yan Alliance?" The speaker was a tall, sturdy man who appeared to be in his forties or fifties. This was Ting Hao, the Sect Leader of the Thunderbolt Sect¡ªthe Sky Serpent Mansion''s greatest rival. He wore a silver robe adorned with lightning patterns, and as he spoke, faint ripples of thunder seemed to spread from it. His cultivation had also reached the 7-star Dou Ancestor stage. At Ting Hao''s words, some of the leaders present finally ''understood'' the reason. So it was because of the Snake-People Tribe. After all, everyone knew about the entanglements between the Sky Serpent Mansion and the Snake-People Tribe ruled by Medusa. The Sky Serpent Mansion had always aimed to annex the Snake-People Tribe and truly unify the entire North-Western Region. As a few of them conversed, the temperature around the VIP seating suddenly rose by several degrees. Everyone simultaneously looked up to the sky. Even Xiao Yan, from a distance, sensed it and slowly gazed toward the two figures in the sky. An instant later, everyone watched in amazement as a blazing firestorm wrapped around the pair. The flames towered hundreds of meters high, swirling like a giant, roaring fire dragon before crashing onto the VIP seats with a thunderous boom. "Haha, looks like I''m the one who''s late this time!" The fiery tornado then transformed into countless specks of light that scattered and vanished. Two figures drifted down from the sky, landing gracefully onto the seats. One was a youth, and the other an old man. The youth who had just spoken was Gu Tong, the Sect Leader of the Medicine Bone Sect. Although he looked only eleven or twelve years old, he was older than anyone else present. It was said that Gu Tong had once entered an ancient alchemist''s ruin. Not only did he obtain a powerful alchemist''s inheritance there, but he also acquired a tier 8 pill that completely transformed his body into a physique perfectly suited for alchemy. However, the side effect of this pill was that as his body aged, his physical development regressed. When he eventually regressed to infancy, it would mark the end of his life. Hence, he now appeared as a mere eleven- or twelve-year-old child. Beside Gu Tong stood a short old man dressed in rough linen garments, resembling an inconspicuous elder one might easily overlook in a crowd. Yet the moment he appeared, the gathered leaders all stood and cupped their hands politely. "So it''s Grandmaster Qiu Ping from the Qiu Clan of the Pill Region. A pleasure to meet you." She Tianhao put aside his arrogance and raised his hand to the old man in a very courteous greeting. After all, the Pill Region of the Central Plains was considered the land of alchemists in the entire Dou Qi Continent, gathering a vast number of them. The Pill Region was jointly controlled by five major clans, among which the Qiu Clan was one. Qiu Ping merely nodded, saying little else. He had come this time under the orders of the Pill Tower, serving as a judge and, incidentally, assessing the level of alchemists in the North-Western Region. If any outstanding young talents emerged, he might recommend them for cultivation within the Qiu Clan. "Xiao Yan? Is something wrong?" Yun Yun keenly noticed the change in Xiao Yan''s gaze and asked. "That''s a Heavenly Flame." "Heavenly Flame?!" What could catch Xiao Yan''s attention couldn''t be the Qiu Clan or Gu Tong. Even though they were both 7th-tier alchemists, to Xiao Yan, they were just so-so. What truly interested him was the flame that Gu Tong had just displayed¡ªthe one resembling a giant fire dragon. If he wasn''t mistaken, that was the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame, ranked eighteenth, one position higher than the Green Lotus Core Flame! Born in the eye of a fiery tornado in an ancient desert, this extremely rare flame assumed the shape of a tornado when summoned. It merged wind and fire into a dual-attribute Heavenly Flame. A smile immediately appeared on Xiao Yan''s face. After absorbing the Ghostly Poison Flame more than half a year ago, the Flame Mantra had only improved slightly without advancing. If he could refine the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame, perhaps he could elevate the Flame Mantra to the Intermediate Tian Class. Of course, he could only think about it for now. Even though he was an Honorable Elder of the Hall of Souls, making a move under so many watchful eyes would be biting off more than he could chew. After all, he didn''t possess the strength of a Dou Venerate. "Yanran is up." Whether through coincidence or deliberate arrangement by the Sky Serpent Mansion, the Yan Alliance''s first opponent was actually the Gold Geese Sect of the Luo Yan Empire, one of the three great empires. "That''s Yan Luo Hong, the son of Yan Luo Tian, the Sect Leader of the Gold Geese Sect. His cultivation is the same as Yanran''s; both are 9-star Dou Kings." Jia Xing Tian''s eyes narrowed as he looked at a middle-aged man in a majestic and luxurious golden robe standing on another mountain peak. That was Yan Luo Tian, who had once made the Jia Ma Empire restless day and night. Yan Luo Tian sensed Jia Xing Tian''s gaze. A deep frown appeared between his brows upon seeing that Jia Xing Tian had broken through to the Dou Ancestor realm. In the past, the three great empires dared to jointly bully the Jia Ma Empire precisely because it lacked a Dou Ancestor. But now, Jia Xing Tian had broken through, and he had allied with the Snake-People Tribe. This caused Yan Luo Tian''s heart to sink. ''This old fellow really did break through to Dou Ancestor...'' Yan Luo Tian conveyed by voice transmission to his son, who was waiting beside the battle stage. "Hong''er, you must not lose this battle. If you lose to the Yan Alliance, considering the current miserable state of the Chu Yun Empire, they might end up surrendering to the Yan Alliance. At that point, things will be awful for our Luo Yan Empire." This was the influence of the Great Meeting of Factions, affecting most significantly those factions and empires without a single Dou Ancestor. These second-rate factions all acted based on the favor of the strong. Just as now, the Yan Alliance and the three great empires often had friction; some weaker sects or other factions within the empire naturally needed to choose sides. If the Gold Geese Sect suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Yan Alliance in the Great Meeting of Factions, it would undoubtedly have a ripple effect. The most terrifying possibility was that it could lead to divisions within the entire Luo Yan Empire, with various factions defecting to the Yan Alliance. Back then, Medusa''s Luo Snake Tribe had joined the Sky Serpent Mansion precisely because the Sky Serpent Mansion was too strong. This Great Meeting of Factions was a platform for weaker factions to see the situation clearly, and for stronger powers to incorporate other factions without bloodshed. Yan Luo Hong glanced at Nalan Yanran on the opposite side and laughed, "Don''t worry, Father. That Nalan Yanran has only just entered the 9-star stage, while I''m already at the peak of the 9-star stage. Moreover, I have the Sky Bird Nine Flying Wings personally refined by you, Father. I will definitely win this battle." When the Serpent King in charge of refereeing on the battle stage announced the start, Yan Luo Hong instantly erupted. The aura of a peak 9-star Dou King swept through the surroundings. In particular, when his jade-like, beautiful goose wings spread out, the expressions of many faction geniuses present changed. "Those are the flying wings refined by Yan Luo Tian!" "I heard that''s an exclusive secret of the Gold Geese Sect. The Sect Leader relies on this Dou Technique. Even though he''s only a 2-star Dou Ancestor, his speed surpasses that of high-star Dou Ancestors." With wings spread, Yan Luo Hong''s figure instantly vanished, his speed so fast that the naked eye couldn''t discern it. "Nalan Yanran, you''ve merely obtained your sect''s inheritance. But my Gold Geese Sect''s Sky Bird Nine Flying Wings are unparalleled. Among all the Dou Techniques under the heavens, only speed is unbreakable. In the face of absolute speed, all efforts are futile!" Yan Luo Hong''s voice echoed from all directions. One could only hear his voice without seeing his figure. Such speed was not something a Dou King could match, and even a low-star Dou Emperor would find it difficult to keep up. It wasn''t without reason that the Gold Geese Sect could dominate the entire Luo Yan Empire. "Oh? That''s a flying-type Dou Technique?" Xiao Yan rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He had acquired two scrolls of flying-type Dou Techniques before, but the method to refine them had been lost. "Could it be that the Gold Geese Sect possesses the secret method to refine flying-type Dou Techniques?" Xiao Yan''s eyes blinked in surprise. He hadn''t expected the Gold Geese Sect to have this lost ancient method. "Indeed, the Gold Geese Sect''s Sky Bird Nine Flying Wings secret method should be the technique for refining flying-type Dou Techniques. Moreover, it seems to be no ordinary refining method. I once witnessed Yan Luo Tian''s Sky Bird Nine Flying Wings. That speed was truly fast beyond compare." Jia Xing Tian said with a helpless bitter smile. Although the Jia Ma Imperial Family had some treasured collections, they couldn''t compare at all. Yun Yun covered her mouth and chuckled softly. Looking at Nalan Yanran in the arena, clad in the Misty Cloud Sect''s robe, she smiled and said, "Unfortunately for him, he''s met the wrong opponent." On the stage, Nalan Yanran shook her head. "Your speed isn''t even as fast as his." With a crisp clang, she slowly drew her Cloud Slaying Black Sword. The blade scraped against the scabbard, and the sword''s resonant hum echoed continuously. As the sword left its sheath, Nalan Yanran''s eyes instantly turned sharp. Coldly, she said, "I''ll give you a chance to surrender. Otherwise, once my sword is drawn, blood will be shed." "Hahaha! Save your sleep talk for your dreams!" Yan Luo Hong naturally wouldn''t surrender. His eyes focused; counterattacking was his forte. Using absolute speed to evade attacks, then seizing the opportunity to target vital points for a fatal strike! The Great Meeting of Factions was no joke. This wasn''t a sparring match between students at Jia Nan Academy; victory or defeat could also mean life or death! Nalan Yanran''s eyes instantly turned cold as she channeled Dou Qi through her body. Everyone watching collectively held their breath. Nalan Yanran''s fame was not small in this western area. Having obtained Yun Po Tian''s inheritance, she was renowned for her sword being so fast that once drawn, blood would definitely be seen¡ªoften slaying the enemy with a single strike. She enjoyed an illustrious reputation across the three great empires! A cold light flashed. In the space of a spark from flint or a flash of lightning, Nalan Yanran struck. This sword move was too fast, like chasing light and snatching lightning, so swift that it was difficult for anyone to see clearly how she executed it¡ªa strike as fast as lightning. A sharp cry rang out, followed by a spurt of blood as an arm, along with part of a wing, flew skyward¡ªsevered in one swift motion without the slightest hesitation. Xiao Yan nodded approvingly. "Not bad, not bad. She has about a tenth of my former flair." Chapter 327: The Dedicated Venerable Yan Chapter 327 - 327: The Dedicated Venerable Yan Some individuals with powerful Spiritual Strength could faintly sense Yan Luo Hong''s presence, but very few actually saw Nalan Yanran draw her sword. Most were utterly unable to discern how she had managed to slice off his arm and wing with a single strike. Yun Yun merely shook her head. This outcome was only to be expected. For someone of Yan Luo Hong''s caliber, not to mention experts like Xiao Yan and Zi Yan, he was no different from an ant in Nalan Yanran''s eyes. Recalling the past, when Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan dueled under their three-year agreement atop Misty Cloud Mountain, both were high-star Dou Grandmasters. The brilliance of that battle was unparalleled in the Jia Ma Empire, and their displayed strength left many Dou Spirits ashamed. A mere second-generation heir who relied on wings crafted by his father wasn''t even worth considering in the eyes of Nalan Yanran, who had fought against Xiao Yan. The severed arm and wing dropped to the ground with a loud thud before anyone recovered from the shock. Blood splattered like a fountain immediately after. "Hong''er!" "Ahhh!!" A heart-wrenching scream pierced the skies. By the time everyone regained their senses, they saw Yan Luo Hong''s right arm and wing had been neatly severed from his back. He clutched his bleeding stump, trembling on the ground in agony. "You call that speed?" Nalan Yanran looked down at the wailing Yan Luo Hong. In the world of Dou Techniques, only speed is unbreakable. Nalan Yanran did agree with that saying. But no matter how fast you were, could you possibly be faster than a sword? Moreover, her Spiritual Strength was innately sensitive. Under her perception, such speed was no different from that of a crawling turtle. Everyone watching couldn''t help but hold their breath. Nalan Yanran''s sword strike was too fast, and this strike had actually come from a mere 9-star Dou King! Nalan Yanran shook her head and ignored Yan Luo Hong''s agonized cries. She returned the Cloud Slaying Black Sword to her storage ring and slowly walked off the battle stage while reflecting that this strength was far weaker than Xiao Yan''s when he was a 6-star Dou King a year ago. Seeing Nalan Yanran turn her back to him, a murderous resentment flashed in Yan Luo Hong''s eyes. He circulated his Dou Qi, and his remaining hand transformed into an eagle claw as he roared, "Die, Nalan Yanran!" "Stop, Hong''er!" "What a fool." Clang! A metallic clang reverberated as the energy of the world surged. Yan Luo Hong''s fingers had transformed into claws resembling an eagle''s talons. This sharp Dou Technique seemed capable of tearing through everything. Many shivered when the cold gleam of the eagle claw flickered, feeling as if a dragon''s talon had pierced straight through their hearts, sending a chill to their very souls. The eagle claw struck like lightning, flashing with cold light. It pounced with unstoppable sharpness without any fancy moves. This was actually a Di Class Dou Technique! This made sense. After all, the Gold Geese Sect was a faction with a Dou Ancestor, and as Yan Luo Tian''s son, it was reasonable for him to cultivate a Di Class Dou Technique. Before the Dou Technique even landed, a tearing sound was heard. The terrifying sharp force ripped apart the ground, leaving a deep, long trench. However, Yan Luo Hong had clearly underestimated Nalan Yanran, mistakenly believing that her strength came solely from the Cloud Slaying Black Sword. "Wind''s Peak¡ªKiller Meteorite!" At this critical moment, a buzzing sound accompanied the formation of a sword by Nalan Yanran''s fingers as she suddenly spun around. A slender beam of profound light, barely the size of a thumb, shot out violently in an instant. Space actually trembled a few times the moment the light appeared. There was no doubt that Nalan Yanran had cultivated ''Killer Meteorite'' to the major mastery level! Soon, all was calm again. Nalan Yanran''s sleeve tore with a ripping sound, while on the other side, Yan Luo Hong''s five fingers were severed and a bloody hole appeared in his palm. Through the hole, one could glimpse the terrified expression on his face just before death. He collapsed with a dull thud as blood and brain matter flowed incessantly from the hole in his forehead. This move had directly taken his life. "Tsk, tsk, who knew this fellow could be so ruthless," Xiao Yan clicked his tongue in wonder. In recent days, he had ordered Nalan Yanran around without hesitation, sending her to buy medicinal ingredients, wash clothes, and cook meals, which had made her so angry that she stomped her feet until her shoes wore out. Clearly, Xiao Yan''s battle power unit had been updated quite a bit today. "Hong''er!" Yan Luo Tian flew onto the battle stage. Even if he had tier 6 healing pills, they were useless; tier 6 pills could not resurrect the dead. Nalan Yanran had killed him instantly. The power of a Di Class Dou Technique was likely capable of destroying even the soul. "Ah!!! I''ll have you buried with my son!" Yan Luo Tian''s eyes turned blood-red. The terrifying aura of a Dou Ancestor erupted instantly, aimed straight at Nalan Yanran. Nalan Yanran''s eyes narrowed as she prepared to fight, but at that moment a figure clad in hemp robes appeared before her, stepping on the air. "Yan Luo Tian, if you wish to start a Dou Ancestor battle ahead of schedule, I, Jia Xing Tian, will accompany you." Jia Xing Tian did not hold back. He gathered Dou Qi in his palm and sent out a palm strike. Boom! The forces of two Dou Ancestors collided, and the terrifying impact shattered the entire battle stage. Yan Luo Tian and Jia Xing Tian each retreated three steps with a few thudding sounds. "Old thing, your son deserved to die for lacking strength yet attempting a sneak attack," Xiao Yan''s mocking voice came from the sky. "You''re courting death!!" Yan Luo Tian roared like an enraged tiger, his gaze burning as he glared at the Serene Sea Scaly Beast in the sky. Xiao Yan remained unafraid with arms crossed as he sneered, "Not convinced? Come up here and fight. Today, I''ll make your Gold Geese Sect leaderless!" The Great Meeting of Factions was not a friendly sparring session at an academy; it was a microcosm of the most brutal conflicts in the North-Western Region. Both the Gold Geese Sect and the Yan Alliance had numerous disciples in their younger generation, and over years of warfare, who could say how many lives had been lost between them? Even the Sky Serpent Mansion, as the host, remained indifferent, with no one stepping forward to mediate. Everyone watched coldly. Not to mention that the Luo Yan Empire and the Yan Alliance were already engaged in continuous warfare, each wishing to annihilate the other that day. Even without any disputes, life-and-death battles like this were commonplace at the Great Meeting of Factions. If Nalan Yanran hadn''t been prepared, secretly gathering her Dou Technique, she might have been successfully ambushed. Yan Luo Tian glanced at Jia Xing Tian, who had already reached the Dou Ancestor realm, and then at the numerous Dou Emperors aboard the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, several of whom were nearing peak Dou Emperor. He realized that his Gold Geese Sect was no longer a match for the Yan Alliance. Carrying his son''s corpse, he gave Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan a venomous glare before leaving. "Now that his son is dead, Yan Luo Tian might do something crazy," Xiao Ding reminded from the side. "Our Yan Alliance never planned to spare the three great empires. When Medusa returns, we''ll find an opportunity to sweep through them. As for this Yan Luo Tian..." A gleam flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes, murderous intent fully revealed, his meaning self-evident. Originally, if the three great empires surrendered, the Yan Alliance would not engage in excessive slaughter but would simply incorporate their territories. However, the Gold Geese Sect had made their stance clear. They would never align with the Yan Alliance. Xiao Yan was no benevolent saint. If an opportunity arose during the Great Meeting of Factions, he wouldn''t mind turning Yan Luo Tian into soul points, and even turn all the strong members of the Gold Geese Sect into soul points. If Hun Tiandi knew how dedicated Xiao Yan was, he would probably award him the ''Hall of Souls'' Most Dedicated Honorable Elder of the Year'' prize. Xiao Yan waved to Nalan Yanran. Her expression immediately turned resentful as she walked over to him and said impatiently, "What do you want me to do now?" "Don''t make me sound like some heartless boss. I''m here to fulfill my promise: the Emperor Heaven Pill." Xiao Yan produced a jade bottle from his storage ring, which contained the Emperor Heaven Pill. Nalan Yanran''s small mouth parted slightly. It would be a lie to say she did not want it. She looked at Xiao Yan with suspicion, doubting there was no catch. "Don''t be so cynical. You''ve offended Yan Luo Tian. Breaking through to the Dou Emperor realm would not only benefit your upcoming matches but also give you a chance to escape if he tries something against you." Xiao Yan didn''t want to waste such a good errand runner; the Yan Alliance needed this kind of backbone worker. A hint of concealed joy flashed in Nalan Yanran''s eyes. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, but then she turned her head and snorted, "Hmph, I said I''d only get the Emperor Heaven Pill after claiming first place in the western area. I, Nalan Yanran, am a woman of my word. I''ll take it after defeating all the young geniuses." Xiao Yan looked puzzled. She had previously said she needed the Emperor Breaking Pill to break through to Dou Emperor, and now he was offering the superior Emperor Heaven Pill, yet she refused. What was going on? And next, Nalan Yanran proceeded to show everyone what it meant to be invincible among peers, as long as the opponent wasn''t Xiao Yan. A young lady of peerless grace, yet anyone who saw her wouldn''t focus on her beauty but would be in awe of the sword aura she emitted. Holding the black sword, she resembled an unsheathed blade; standing on the stage, she was a sword goddess. And in the end, Nalan Yanran not only fought her way to the finals but even pulled off a shocking upset, leaping ranks to defeat Li Shi, a 1-star Dou Emperor genius from the Medicine Bone Sect, causing a sensation throughout the entire Great Meeting of Factions! "She... she actually defeated Li Shi?!" "How is that possible? She''s only a 9-star Dou King! How could she leap ranks to defeat Li Shi? He''s the genius of the Medicine Bone Sect!" "Nalan Yanran of the Yan Alliance! What on earth is this Yan Alliance? How have we never heard of it before?" "I''ve found out. I heard the Yan Alliance was established only in recent years, formed by an alliance of the former Jia Ma Imperial Family, the Snake-People Tribe, the Misty Cloud Sect, and a clan called the Xiao Clan. That Nalan Yanran is the Little Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, and it''s said she inherited Yun Po Tian''s legacy!" News of Nalan Yanran''s achievements was quickly uncovered, and along with it, the Yan Alliance caused a sensation throughout the entire Great Meeting of Factions. The news even spread to other parts of the North-Western Region. This was the influence of the Great Meeting of Factions; the eyes of the entire North-Western Region were focused here because the outcome would greatly impact the region''s future trajectory. Some strong individuals from other top-ten factions in the North-Western Region even approached Nalan Yanran, inviting her to switch allegiance, but she decisively declined. Chapter 328: What Does the Qiu Clan Count As? Chapter 328 - 328: What Does the Qiu Clan Count As? Word Count: 2,124 Words ****** At the Yan Alliance''s residence, Xiao Yan couldn''t help but say, "Not bad. You actually managed to take first place in the western area and even leap ranks to beat that fellow named Li Shi." To be honest, he had not expected Nalan Yanran to sweep through all the genius disciples of various sects in the western area, even pulling off a surprising victory over Li Shi. After all, she hadn''t seemed that strong when sparring with him. Jia Xing Tian and the Serene Sea Scaly Beast had not returned together with them. Instead, they stayed at the younger-generation alchemist competition venue because Princess Yue Er was still in the process of refining pills. They had to guard against anyone who might resort to underhanded tactics. Among those competitors were alchemists cultivated by the leading factions of the North-Western Region; even the weakest among them was a 4th-tier alchemist. Meanwhile, Princess Yue Er was attempting to refine a tier 5 pill, so the result would not be known until the following day. Of course, Xiao Yan, being an alchemist himself, naturally served as the team''s ''healer,'' ready to assist anyone who was injured. Nalan Yanran had fought a bloody battle to secure her victory over Li Shi. "Hmph, obviously. I, Nalan Yanran, always keep my word." Nalan Yanran was as proud as ever. "Is that so?" Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, implying that she hadn''t entirely lived up to her word. However, he didn''t continue to tease her. Her talent was indeed not bad. She had merely been unfortunate enough to encounter him in the past. If it had been anyone else, she might have emerged superior long ago. Xiao Yan took out an Emperor Heaven Pill from his storage ring. He was never stingy with those who had made contributions. Without ceremony, Nalan Yanran snatched the Emperor Heaven Pill from his hand, intending to refine it for the final four of the next day. Her three remaining opponents all possessed Dou Emperor strength and hailed from the top ten factions of the North-Western Region as their youngest talents. She would certainly stand no chance if she stayed at the Dou King realm. "Hey, don''t rush. Using a pill to break through can cause unstable Dou Qi. I''ll use my Heavenly Flame to help you refine the medicinal strength, which should firm up the Dou Qi a bit," Xiao Yan said quickly. Although an Emperor Heaven Pill could directly raise a 9-star Dou King to Dou Emperor, it had its fair share of side effects. Nalan Yanran''s pretty face turned slightly red when she heard that he would use his Heavenly Flame. "Using a Heavenly Flame to refine the medicinal strength? You''re not going to do what you did at the Alchemist Grand Meeting or with Grandfather that time, are you?" She hadn''t forgotten how Xiao Yan had appeared when he used the Four Lines White Spirit Pill at the Alchemist Grand Meeting. Moreover, when he helped her grandfather remove the Searing Poison, the Heavenly Flame had seemed rather unruly. It even burned off the clothes. Xiao Yan cleared his throat and shot her an exasperated look. "What do you take the Heavenly Flame for? With my current strength, things like that won''t happen anymore." The Heavenly Flame was for refining pills, not for burning clothes! In the end, Nalan Yanran nodded in agreement. After all, unstable Dou Qi was very troublesome for cultivators. However, after Xiao Yan helped her refine the medicinal effects overnight using the Heavenly Flame, he happened to run into Yun Yun bringing breakfast for Nalan Yanran as he exited the room. The atmosphere immediately grew awkward. Although Yun Yun said nothing, Xiao Yan could tell from her eyes that she thought something had happened. "Yun Zhi, listen to my explanation. I didn''t do anything. I''m innocent!" "No need to explain to me. You and Yanran were engaged to begin with; this kind of thing is perfectly normal. Also, my name is Yun Yun." ????? With a thud, Yun Yun closed the door, leaving the baffled Xiao Yan standing there in the breeze. But that engagement was already canceled! Of course, this was just a small episode. The main events today were not only the emergence of the strongest among the younger generation in the North-Western Region, but also the appearance of the most gifted alchemist. After an entire day and night of alchemy, the alchemist competition grounds had thinned considerably. Previously, more than a hundred alchemists under the age of thirty had begun refining together, but now only a handful remained. Some had failed, and those who succeeded at refining low-grade tier 4 pills had already finished their tasks and left the venue. All that remained were alchemists refining peak tier 4 pills or even tier 5 pills! Outstanding young alchemist disciples were indispensable for any powerful faction. These disciples typically exchanged the pills they refined for faction contribution points, which earned them resources to improve their alchemy skills and personal strength. Such a positive cycle was what every faction longed for. "She Wang Yao from the Sky Serpent Mansion, Huangfu Guangtai from the Thunderbolt Sect, Jian Feixue from the Medicine Bone Sect, Cao Jun from the Profound Lion Sect, and Sima Lin from the Heavenly Snow Gate... I''d guess all of them are refining tier 5 pills." "Tsk, tsk. As expected of the top ten factions of the North-Western Region. Even their alchemy divisions are so formidable. Under thirty and already 5th-tier alchemists, we have only one 5th-tier alchemist in our sect." "That She Wang Yao is simply outrageous. He''s clearly a magical beast, but because his talent in alchemy surpassed everyone else, the Sky Serpent Mansion didn''t hesitate to use a Body Transforming Pill at a young age to help him take human form. Now he''s already a 5th-tier alchemist!" After a day of observation, many keen onlookers had guessed that these individuals were refining tier 5 pills. One had to recall that even a Deputy Chairman of the Alchemist Association in the Chu Yun Empire, who resorted to cheating at the Alchemist Grand Meeting, still couldn''t refine a tier 5 pill. Yet now, at the Great Meeting of Factions in the North-Western Region, so many under-thirty 5th-tier alchemists had appeared! "Huh? Who''s that little girl? Why haven''t we heard of her? And what''s she refining that''s taking so long?" As more and more people departed after completing their peak tier 4 pills, Princess Yue Er, situated in a corner of the grounds due to the Yan Alliance''s lack of status, finally attracted attention. Anyone still refining a pill at this point was either just putting on a show or genuinely working on a tier 5 pill. And it was clear that Yue Er was the latter! Setting aside the anomaly that was Xiao Yan, Yue Er was even a year younger than him, having just turned twenty-two, and yet her alchemy skills had reached tier 5. Such talent was already astonishing in the Jia Ma Empire. It seemed to be the time for pill formation. All six people, including Princess Yue Er, opened their eyes simultaneously. Six waves of colored medicinal fragrance emanated from their cauldrons! "Oh my! All of them are tier 5 pills!" "And they''re about to succeed! It''s already the final step of pill formation!" Just as everyone was increasing their flames in preparation for the pills to finally take shape, Yue Er took a deep breath, placed a pill into her mouth, and then exhaled a mass of purple flame that surged into her medicinal cauldron. The cauldron already contained the blue-colored Serene Sea Flame obtained from the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, and now an additional purple flame was added. This was actually the Amethyst Flame of the Amethyst Winged Lion King! "What on earth?! Why is she adding another flame?!" "No, wait, look again. There''s more!" As if addicted, Yue Er spat out another mass of purple flame, this time much deeper than the beast flame of the Amethyst Winged Lion King. This was Zi Yan''s Ancient Void Dragon Flame! She didn''t stop there; she spat out yet another flame, this time a green one. There was no need to guess; this was Xiao Yan''s Green Lotus Core Flame! Four kinds of flames! This scene had been witnessed at the Alchemist Grand Meeting in the Jia Ma Empire! And back then, Princess Yue Er had been one of the closest spectators! "Four kinds of flames... A pill that requires four kinds of flames, I know! It''s the legendary Four-Lines White Spirit Pill from the Jia Ma Empire!" "So this girl is an alchemist from the Jia Ma Empire? Wait, no, she''s from the Yan Alliance!" "It''s the Yan Alliance again!!!" The appearance of four flames not only drew the attention of the audience outside but also caused the five alchemists within the arena to cast shocked glances. Everyone in Jia Ma Sacred City knew about the Four Lines White Spirit Pill, but the distant empires in the North-Western Region did not. "Hmph, alchemy isn''t about who has more flames!" someone scoffed. "The Four Lines White Spirit Pill? My Cultivation Pill is definitely not inferior," another said confidently. "That green flame seems a bit strange..." someone muttered in puzzlement. Only Princess Yue Er was fully focused on refining her pill at this moment. This was also her first time refining the Four Lines White Spirit Pill. Back then, Xiao Yan had mercilessly dominated the entire Alchemist Grand Meeting, defeating Yan Li with undeniable strength. That scene had left an indelible impression on this young girl. Therefore, for this competition, she also chose to refine the Four Lines White Spirit Pill! "Form the pill!" *6 Almost in unison, all six slapped their cauldrons. Six waves of colored medicinal fragrance instantly filled the entire square, each vying with the others and refusing to concede. For a moment, it was impossible to determine which one reigned supreme. However, if one had to declare a victor, it would undoubtedly be Princess Yue Er, because she was the youngest among them, only twenty-two! After which, Medicine Bone Sect''s Sect Leader Gu Tong, along with Qiu Ping from the Qiu Clan in the Pill Region, stepped down from the VIP seats to inspect the pills. The first person they approached was Yue Er. They glanced at the Four Lines White Spirit Pill before Yue Er and then exchanged looks, seeing the astonishment in each other''s eyes. This was refined by a twenty-two-year-old?! "I am the Sect Leader of the Medicine Bone Sect. We possess an extensive heritage of alchemy. Would you be interested in joining the Medicine Bone Sect? I promise, in my capacity as Sect Leader, you will receive the best of everything. With your talent, there is no need to stay in that sort of small faction." Everyone was stunned. The Sect Leader of the Medicine Bone Sect was personally recruiting!! What shocked them even more was that Princess Yue Er refused without a moment''s hesitation! "No, thank you. I''m very happy in my own country. There''s a very powerful alchemist there," Princess Yue Er politely declined, worthy of her royal upbringing. By now, Jia Xing Tian had appeared beside her as well, ready to shield her in case the other party became angry out of embarrassment. Though a hint of displeasure flashed in Gu Tong''s eyes, he did not lose his temper. Instead, he continued, "If you join our Medicine Bone Sect, you might even have the opportunity to enter the Qiu Clan in the Pill Region. I can recommend you." Hearing his words, even Jia Xing Tian showed a surprised expression. One of the five great clans in the Pill Region of the Central Plains! Not only him, but all the spectators were astonished. The five major clans of the Pill Region in the Central Plains! Their combined strength surpassed even that of the entire North-Western Region, and even the Four Pavilions couldn''t compare. After all, each of the five major clans had 8th-tier alchemists! Beside them, Qiu Ping nodded subtly and said, "Your talent is quite good. A twenty-two-year-old 5th-tier alchemist is considered promising in our Qiu Clan. If you can break through to tier 6 before you turn twenty-eight, we might make an exception to let you join." "Recruiting my people?" Suddenly, a chuckle came from not far away. Clad in an alchemist''s robe, Xiao Yan slowly walked in from the entrance of the venue and said leisurely, "This must be the funniest joke I''ve ever heard." "What does your Qiu Clan count as, anyway? Anyone listening might think your clan head is the number one alchemist in the entire Dou Qi Continent." Chapter 329: The Rise of the Yan Alliance Chapter 329 - 329: The Rise of the Yan Alliance Word Count: 2,190 Words ****** Xiao Yan was genuinely astonished. Did they really dare to poach the alchemists of his Yan Alliance? Forget about the Qiu Clan, one of the five great alchemist clans of the Pill Region. Even if the Pill Tower itself appeared, they wouldn''t be allowed to snatch his alchemists! Although Princess Yue Er was not officially his disciple, he had passed on several techniques to her during his stay in Jia Ma Sacred City. The fire control method used for drawing the four patterns of the Four Lines White Spirit Pill was, in fact, taught by him. Even if not her Master, he could be considered half a mentor. Right now, Xiao Yan''s aura was undeniably imposing, even as he spoke in a casual tone. He appeared more domineering than even Grandmaster Qiu Ping, as though he were the one from the Pill Region instead. This was not surprising. In fact, even though he appeared forceful and arrogant, none of the surrounding spectators felt there was anything wrong with what he said. Not to mention that Xiao Yan was wearing the robe of a 5th-tier alchemist, which alone commanded respect and silence from others. If Yue Er''s ability to refine the tier 5 Four Lines White Spirit Pill could earn the high regard of both the Medicine Bone Sect and the Qiu Clan, then Xiao Yan, only a year older than her, naturally had the same qualifications. Furthermore, at such a young age, he had promoted the formation of the Yan Alliance and issued its treaty. It could be said that he was the de facto leader and spokesperson of the Yan Alliance. He absolutely had the standing to be on equal footing with the Medicine Bone Sect. And this was merely the visible layer. Below it lay even greater reasons for his confidence. Having inherited the legacy of Venerable Yao, the champion of the previous Pill Gathering, and having eliminated Han Feng, he became the sole successor of Venerable Yao. Furthermore, Hun Huzi had provided him with some guidance in alchemy and had already listed him as an important candidate for the Di Pill Plan. What did the Qiu Clan count as compared to that? Of course, the most important factor was his own strength¡ªa 7th-tier alchemist at the age of twenty-three! Even without considering his actual achievements, his visible accomplishments alone were enough to evoke pride. "Young man, to have such achievements at your age is indeed a marvel, enough to call you a genius," Qiu Ping said coldly in response to Xiao Yan''s dismissive words. "However, a 5th-tier alchemist is still just a 5th-tier alchemist. While I won''t deny that you may reach the ranks of a 7th-tier alchemist in the future, geniuses often die young. Along my journey, I''ve seen countless who believed that possessing talent meant possessing everything, but in the end, they became nothing more than decaying bones." "Not to mention, the Central Plains is a land of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, with many alchemists whose talent far surpasses yours." "Those crouching tigers and hidden dragons you speak of, surely you''re not referring to your Qiu Clan, right?" Xiao Yan interrupted Qiu Ping, smiling slightly. "I don''t know how many geniuses or experts your Qiu Clan has, nor do I care how extraordinary your alchemists may be. It''s got nothing to do with me." Qiu Ping spoke in a deep voice, "The geniuses and experts of my Qiu Clan are sufficient to contend with any so-called invincible existence in this small North-Western Region, even surpassing them!" His words sounded domineering and arrogant, treating the entire North-Western Region as insignificant. Yet in reality, that was indeed the case. In the North-Western Region, regardless of faction, empire, or genius expert, no one dared to underestimate the Qiu Clan. Being one of the Five Great Clans of the Pill Region in the Central Plains, that title alone carried enough weight to overlook all others. Although the Qiu Clan might not be the oldest or most powerful among those gathered in the Pill Region, in the North-Western Region it was unquestionably the strongest and most terrifying. Just as Qiu Ping had said, with their heritage the Qiu Clan indeed possessed enough confidence to sweep away every enemy in the North-Western Region. "Quite the domineering tone," Xiao Yan said with a chuckle as he rubbed his chin. "But let me tell you, even if your so-called Qiu Clan were here today and even if the Pill Tower itself appeared, they still wouldn''t be able to poach the alchemists of my Yan Alliance." Qiu Ping''s eyes turned cold. Beside him, Gu Tong, the Sect Leader of the Medicine Bone Sect, grasped the undercurrents and said sternly, "Honest words are harsh to the ear. It''s impressive for someone your age to reach tier 5; you can be called a dragon among men. But with such temperament, your future won''t have a good outcome. Even a genius among geniuses is fated to fall. If you''re wise, it''s not too late to bow your head and admit your mistake now." Xiao Yan waved his hand dismissively, interrupting, "If you''re here to evaluate pills, then do your job properly. If you lack the discernment, then step aside. An old fogey pretending to be a child, what a joke." The moment he heard Xiao Yan accuse him of pretending to be a child, Gu Tong''s face twisted with rage. This was his sore spot! The reason was simple. Due to the side effects of a tier 8 pill he had taken in the past, his physical form had regressed, and he now had the body of a ten-year-old. Although this did not affect his Dou Qi or strength, it did impact certain... functions! He had been seeking a solution, but resolving it required the help of an 8th-tier alchemist. That was why he had attached himself to the Qiu Clan of the Pill Region. "Very well, very well! I would like to see what capabilities your Yan Alliance possesses!" Gu Tong declared, though he did not immediately make a move. Although he was a 7th-tier alchemist, his strength was merely at the 1-star Dou Ancestor stage. But alchemists never fought themselves; this had always been the case. In the end, Qiu Ping naturally went on a tirade as a judge, belittling Yue Er''s Four Lines White Spirit Pill as worthless. Ultimately, Jian Feixue of the Medicine Bone Sect, the one who refined the Cultivation Pill, was awarded first place. However, anyone with keen eyes could see that Yue Er was the most talented alchemist, with immeasurable potential for the future. This was one of the advantages of the Great Meeting of Factions. The judges were not just a few individuals but the entire North-Western Region. Everyone had eyes to see. The Great Meeting was merely a platform for these factions to ''see clearly.'' Meanwhile, the confrontations among the younger generation were even more dramatic. Nalan Yanran broke through to the Dou Emperor realm overnight and once again pulled off an upset by defeating Shi Nian, the genius of the Profound Lion Sect, one of the top ten factions. Qing Lin also lived up to expectations, representing the Sky Serpent Mansion to defeat Ting Wanjun, the Young Sect Master of the Thunderbolt Sect. "This... this... Ting Wanjun actually lost!" "How is this possible? In the previous Great Meeting of Factions, Ting Wanjun reached 1-star Dou Emperor at the age of twenty-five and ultimately defeated the Serpent Emperor from the Sky Serpent Mansion to claim first place. How could he lose this time?!" This was why rumors had spread in the North-Western Region that the Thunderbolt Sect was slightly edging out the Sky Serpent Mansion. Everyone had high hopes that Ting Wanjun would become a Dou Venerate in the future. "Is that the new Saintess of the Sky Serpent Mansion? She''s incredibly strong! How did she cultivate to such a level? Could it be that the Sky Serpent Mansion is truly going to fulfill their ambition to unify the North-Western Region!" "Hey, hey, don''t be so shortsighted. Haven''t you noticed?" "Noticed what?" "The Yan Alliance! Whether it''s that young alchemist or this sword goddess, they''re all from the Yan Alliance, and they''re all extremely young!" Gasps of astonishment echoed! Some who had been slow to realize suddenly noticed. The Yan Alliance seemed to be on the rise! At this moment, atop the Serene Sea Scaly Beast and at Xiao Yan''s insistence, a grilled fish feast was underway. Hai Bodong stood on the beast''s back, looking toward the final stage below, where Nalan Yanran was facing Qing Lin. "Is that really the little girl from back then? How could her cultivation have improved so rapidly!" Hai Bodong stared solemnly at Qing Lin. Even if the Sky Serpent Mansion continuously provided her with pills, her cultivation couldn''t have increased so quickly, could it? He himself was now an 8-star Dou Emperor, yet Qing Lin had already reached the 6-star Dou Emperor stage! And it had only been five years! What kind of pills could make someone advance so rapidly?! Xiao Yan approached with a piece of grilled sea fish Yun Yun had prepared, took a bite, and stared at Qing Lin. He spoke calmly, "She didn''t rely on pills. She hasn''t even used the Mighty Huang Pill." "No pills at all?!" "At least it''s different from those whose Dou Qi is unstable from constantly relying on pills to improve their strength. Qing Lin''s Dou Qi is very solid. Moreover, for some reason, her combat techniques, utilization of Dou Techniques, and battle sense are exceptionally good. One would think she has been continuously fighting." Xiao Yan had naturally watched Qing Lin''s battle against Ting Wanjun. That battle could be described as Qing Lin''s complete domination in all aspects. Ting Wanjun''s cultivation was even higher than Qing Lin''s, already a 7-star Dou Emperor. However, in terms of combat experience and Dou Techniques, he was far inferior to Qing Lin. In the end, without any suspense, he was defeated by Qing Lin using a Di Class Dou Technique cultivated to major mastery. Not only was the Thunderbolt Sect dumbfounded, but even Xiao Yan found it hard to believe. There were many ways to accelerate one''s cultivation, as evidenced by Xiao Yan himself who relied on Heavenly Flames and the Flame Mantra. But the cultivation of Dou Techniques and the honing of battle instincts could not be achieved overnight. Yet in one duel, Qing Lin had used four different serpent-type Di Class Dou Techniques, and each was not merely at entry or minor mastery; all had been cultivated to major mastery, even perfection. Even Xiao Yan required a long time to cultivate a single Di Class Dou Technique. That Qing Lin had cultivated so many was simply impossible. ''Could it be that the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils have other abilities?'' Xiao Yan only knew that Qing Lin''s unique eyes allowed her to control snakes and store them within the special dimension of her pupils. "That swordswoman is definitely going to lose," Zi Yan said as she approached Xiao Yan, her mouth still greasy from eating. She didn''t forget to wipe her hands and mouth on Xiao Yan''s alchemist robe before speaking. Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong both agreed with her assessment. Based solely on the disparity in cultivation levels, Nalan Yanran had no chance of winning. Indeed, the outcome was no surprise. If it were not for Qing Lin''s consideration of Nalan Yanran being from the Yan Alliance, she would have defeated her long ago. "Being able to hold out this long against Qing Lin is already quite good," Xiao Yan said, barely holding back his laughter. Nalan Yanran did not refute. A loss was a loss. She indeed couldn''t defeat Qing Lin. "You know her?" Nalan Yanran asked. Xiao Yan didn''t hide it and nodded, "Back when we were at the Mo Clan, the one who Mo Cheng captured was Qing Lin. Later, two Serpent Emperors from the Sky Serpent Mansion appeared, and Qing Lin was taken to the Sky Serpent Mansion." With Xiao Yan''s reminder, Nalan Yanran suddenly recalled, her eyes widening in astonishment. At that time, Xiao Yan had indeed said that his maid had been captured by Mo Cheng and demanded that Mo Cheng hand her over. In the end, he had crippled Mo Li and killed Mo Cheng. And indeed, an unfamiliar Dou Emperor aura had appeared and snatched the person away! So that was what had happened! All of a sudden, Nalan Yanran seemed to recall something else. She stared at Xiao Yan in shock. "Back then, you said she... she was your maid???" Xiao Yan cast a sidelong glance at her, "What maid? Qing Lin is a member of my Xiao Clan. You were the one who said you''d become a servant if you lost back then. You''re the maid." "I... I''m not! Hmph!" Hai Bodong, Xiao Ding, and Xiao Li exchanged looks, all throwing sideways glances at Xiao Yan. This fellow was something else indeed. How come everyone turned out to be his people? Chapter 330: The Bet Chapter 330 - 330: The Bet Word Count: 2,225 Words ****** It was evening. "That Yan Alliance, who exactly are they? Could they have backing from a faction in the Central Plains?" Shi Nian, the Sect Leader of the Profound Lion Sect, asked with a grave expression. The Sect Leaders of the Profound Lion Sect, Medicine Bone Sect, Thunderbolt Sect, Netherworld Ghost Gate, and other factions had gathered in a secret mansion. Except for the Sky Serpent Mansion, nearly all the prominent factions participating in this Great Meeting of Factions were present. Ting Hao, the Sect Leader of the Thunderbolt Sect, waved his hand dismissively. "That Yan Alliance isn''t worth our concern. While their younger generation shows some promise, they have only a single 1-star Dou Ancestor. The faction we should really be worried about is the Sky Serpent Mansion." Everyone''s expressions grew exceedingly grave at the mention of the Sky Serpent Mansion. The Sky Serpent Mansion possessed the greatest number of Dou Ancestors. Moreover, their Mansion Lord, She Tianhao, was not only a 7-star Dou Ancestor but had nearly defended the stage for the Sky Serpent Mansion in the previous meeting. He had consecutively defeated Ting Hao and Shi Nian, only losing to the leader of the Netherworld Ghost Gate when his Dou Qi was completely exhausted. And today, Qing Lin''s strength was making everyone lose sleep. With such ability and such rapid cultivation speed, she might surpass every person here in fewer than ten years! "It seems the rumors about the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils are true. That new Saintess of the Sky Serpent Mansion truly possesses them!" Shi Nian muttered with a gloomy expression. All the faction heads present harbored ambitions to unite the North-Western Region, so naturally, they disliked seeing a single faction''s strength far exceed their own. "Perhaps we need to form a closer alliance. Otherwise, when that Saintess fully rises, the Sky Serpent Mansion will pick us off one by one." Some leaders, though harboring ulterior motives, could only nod in agreement, if only to prevent the Sky Serpent Mansion from growing even stronger. However, none of these factions, not even the Sky Serpent Mansion, realized that the Yan Alliance''s rise was far from simple. ''Perhaps... I can head to the Central Plains sooner than expected,'' Xiao Yan murmured to himself elsewhere, gazing up at the bright moon in the sky. He had initially believed that he would need another year or two to handle everything on his plate, but now it seemed that wouldn''t be necessary. ... Early the next morning, in the dueling square within the mountain range of the Sky Serpent Mansion, ten massive stages stood towering among the peaks. "Let''s have our Yan Alliance occupy a stage and join in the fun," Xiao Yan said with a smile. What drew the greatest attention in the Great Meeting of Factions were the battles between each faction''s top experts. The previous two days had only featured contests among the younger generation, but from today onward, anyone who could ascend the stage would be considered a true hero of their faction! There were ten stages in total, and each faction could plant its banner on one, thus occupying that stage. If other factions came to challenge, the defenders would dispatch experts of equivalent rank to engage in battle. In the past, Hai Bodong had challenged two stages consecutively, defeating two Dou Emperors of the same level, which led to him being dubbed the ''Ice Emperor''! Stronger factions typically would not take a stage on the first day. They would only ascend in the final days, and if no one could challenge them successfully, the flags on those stages would represent the top ten factions of the North-Western Region for that session. In the end, one ultimate stage would remain. Among the top ten factions, any that wished to claim the title ''Martial Alliance Leader'' would stand upon that final stage, facing challenges from all sides. Should they remain standing at the end, they would be recognized as the strongest faction in the North-Western Region. Originally, the Great Meeting of Factions had only this single stage defense competition, but over time, it gradually evolved to include various other events. As a newly rising faction, the Yan Alliance would naturally plant a banner on the first day to display the strength of their experts and accept all challengers. Zi Yan lit up with excitement at Xiao Yan''s words. She grabbed the Yan Alliance banner and was about to bolt onto the stage when Xiao Yan quickly held her back. "Xiao Yan! What are you doing?!" Xiao Yan shrugged helplessly. "If you go first, how will we handle those at the Dou Emperor realm? Wait until Big Brother and Second Brother have been challenged down. It won''t be too late for you to jump in then." He tossed the banner to Xiao Ding. Besides Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, the Yan Alliance had two Dou King elders from the Misty Cloud Sect, as well as Yue Mei, totaling five Dou Kings. These Dou Kings would be the vanguard. Xiao Ding nodded. He spread his Dou Qi wings behind him and flew onto the nearest stage under countless gazes, planting the Yan Alliance''s banner at the center of the platform. "Which faction does that flame-like emblem represent?" "That''s the Yan Alliance, the faction that''s been making waves these past few days. That alchemist who used four kinds of flames to refine a pill and that runner-up sword goddess are both from this faction." Nobody belittled Xiao Ding simply because he was only a Dou King. After all, it was never the strongest who took the stage at the beginning; Dou Ancestors would appear only in the final segments. What took Xiao Yan by surprise was that the Gold Geese Sect had not yet made a move. Instead, Mulan Valley from the Mulan Empire, one of the three great empires, couldn''t sit still any longer. "Hah, just a mere 2-star Dou King. Let me have a go at you!" An elder wearing the attire of Mulan Valley unfolded his Dou Qi wings and flew onto the stage. His strength was the same as Xiao Ding''s; both were 2-star Dou Kings. Usually, these stage challenges were between those of the same level. If one''s strength was several stars higher than the opponent''s, it wouldn''t be considered honorable. Xiao Yan quietly observed the battle on stage. Xiao Ding was his eldest brother, so naturally, he did not lack Dou Techniques and skill. However, his greatest strength lay in strategy; he was controlling the flow rather than overwhelming his opponent. "Big Brother should be able to win," Xiao Li nodded to himself. "Mm, but it won''t be easy," Xiao Yan agreed. "What about you? Not going up there for some fun?" Xiao Li smiled, patting Xiao Yan''s shoulder. "No thanks. I''ll be heading to the other side to refine pills soon, so I need to conserve some energy." Xiao Yan spread his hands. The alchemist competition was still the same as before: refining pills simultaneously and judging them by grade and quality. Back then, Gu He had been dubbed ''Pill King Gu He'' by enthusiasts in the North-Western Region because he could refine tier 6 pills in his early forties. They believed he might one day match the achievements of Gu Tong. Sure enough, after an intense contest, Xiao Ding emerged victorious by a narrow margin, defeating his opponent at the cost of considerable energy and Dou Techniques. He then stepped down to let a Dou King elder of the Misty Cloud Sect take over. The stage defense wasn''t about one person guarding the stage but a collective effort by the faction. This way, one could roughly gauge the strength gap between two factions. As the Yan Alliance occupied one stage, other stages gradually had factions planting their flags. Xiao Yan did not recognize many of these emblems, and many of their leaders had only peak Dou Emperor strength, lacking any Dou Ancestors, comparable to the former Jia Ma Empire. These sects and empires were bound to fight with everything they had. A poor performance could lead to disaster and possible annexation by nearby powers. Meanwhile, the two Dou King elders of the Misty Cloud Sect weren''t especially strong; a single Dou King elder from Mulan Valley defeated them both consecutively. This was normal. After all, the overall strength of the Misty Cloud Sect was inherently inferior to Mulan Valley. "Hahaha! So this is the Yan Alliance that''s been in the limelight these few days? It doesn''t seem like much!" The Mulan Valley elder laughed heartily onstage. Clutching a silver spear, Xiao Li flickered through arcs of lightning before appearing on the stage. His gaze was cold as he said in a deep voice, "My cultivation is two stars above yours. Defeating you holds no meaning. Let someone else from your faction come forth." Seeing Xiao Li''s formidable, pure lightning-type Dou Qi, Xiao Yan felt completely at ease. Not to mention they still had Yue Mei, a 9-star Dou King, to hold the line. Right now, the fights were only among Dou Kings. When battles advanced to the Dou Emperor realm, having the monstrous Zi Yan around meant there was truly nothing to worry about. Cloaked in his Spiritual Strength, Xiao Yan no longer paid attention to the battles on stage. He slowly walked toward the alchemist competition venue on the other side. That was his battlefield. This location was similar to the venue where Yue Er had competed two days earlier, with numerous stone platforms arranged for alchemists. However, the difference this time was that there were far fewer participants. At a glance, there were only around thirty people. This made sense, because this was not a competition for the younger generation. Rather, it represented the highest level of alchemists among the factions in the North-Western Region. If a faction only had 5th-tier alchemists, it was better not to come and embarrass themselves. The weakest alchemists participating in this competition were peak 5th-tier alchemists, all aiming to challenge tier 6 pills. In other words, if you couldn''t refine a tier 6 pill, you didn''t even qualify to participate. "Hey, look, it''s the Yan Alliance." Xiao Yan leisurely walked into the center of the venue, and the moment he arrived, he became the focus of the crowd perched around the mountainside. These past few days, if any faction had been the hottest topic, it was naturally the Yan Alliance. After all, people loved new things. For a powerful faction like the Sky Serpent Mansion, it was normal for them to take first place; there wasn''t much to discuss. But with the Yan Alliance entering the Great Meeting of Factions for the first time and achieving remarkable results, many were curious to see just how powerful their top talents might be. Could they continue their streak of miracles? Some faction leaders near the three great empires in the western area were even considering whether to join the Yan Alliance. "He''s so young. Could he already be a peak 5th-tier alchemist?" Xiao Yan was currently wearing the robe of a 5th-tier alchemist, and given his young age, naturally, no one would think his strength had reached tier 7. "Hmph, even if you can successfully refine a tier 6 pill, so what? Do you know how many alchemists remain at tier six their entire lives, unable to cross the chasm to tier 7?" A childish voice came from behind Xiao Yan. It was Gu Tong. Xiao Yan turned around and looked down at the elder trapped in a child''s body. He smiled faintly and said, "I don''t know how many alchemists stop at tier 6 forever, but I''m certain that won''t be me." "Boy, don''t spout such conceited words. Be careful you don''t wind up biting your tongue or even losing your life. People should learn to keep a low profile," Gu Tong said, his eyes narrowing. Just as Gu Tong adopted the demeanor of a senior alchemist lecturing a junior, Xiao Yan waved his hand dismissively, interrupting him. "And what if I don''t?" Then he continued with a chuckle, "Brat, you''re just a little kid who hasn''t even grown all your hair, acting all mature and trying to lecture me. What qualifies you to preach?" Boom!! Gu Tong''s eyes turned fierce. A wild wind erupted, searing hot like a fiery dragon circling his body. The fearsome blaze surged toward Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan''s lips curved slightly. With a hum, a burst of green fire likewise erupted from him. The Green Lotus Core Flame took the shape of a cyan lotus that enshrouded him completely. No matter how the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame raged, it couldn''t shake the lotus. A clash of Heavenly Flames! "Green Lotus Core Flame!" This time, Gu Tong was one hundred percent certain. Xiao Yan also possessed a Heavenly Flame, and it was the Green Lotus Core Flame, ranked just below his own Wind and Thunder Fury Flame. A hint of greed flashed in Gu Tong''s eyes. He said, "Boy, since you''re so arrogant, do you dare to make a bet with me?" A glint of surprise and amusement flickered deep in Xiao Yan''s eyes, but his expression remained composed as he said, "What do you want to bet?" "A bet on Heavenly Flames!" Chapter 331: Calmly Refining Pills Chapter 331 - 331: Calmly Refining Pills Word Count: 2,532 Words ****** "That''s... a Heavenly Flame!!" "My goodness, a clash of Heavenly Flames! That alchemist named Xiao Yan also possesses a Heavenly Flame!" The collision of these two flames naturally drew countless gazes, especially since one side was Gu Tong, the Sect Leader of the Medicine Bone Sect and a 7th-tier alchemist, while the other was Xiao Yan, the initiator of the Yan Alliance who had recently been making waves! The Wind and Thunder Fury Flame was born in the eye of a tornado, so its form resembled a whirlwind. Its sandy-yellow color was tinged with faint grayish-white, and what appeared to be swirling winds were actually strands of extremely high-temperature flames. From a distance, it looked like a tornado ferociously colliding with a green lotus. Tongues of fire splashed in every direction as these two formidable forces clashed. The collision of the two Heavenly Flames generated a high-temperature storm that swept outward continuously. The temperature of this mountain range rose with the appearance of the Heavenly Flames, and even the entire Sky Serpent Mansion seemed to grow slightly warmer. "So powerful! That person called Xiao Yan is actually not weaker than Gu Tong!" "Gu Tong possesses the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame, but what is that green-colored Heavenly Flame?" In the spectator stands, the old shopkeeper of the Yellow Spring Treasure Pavilion, seated beside Qiu Ping, stroked his beard and laughed. "The Green Lotus Core Flame and the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame. A duel between two alchemists wielding Heavenly Flames would be a sensational event even in the Central Plains." Qiu Ping narrowed his eyes slightly. He hadn''t expected this Xiao Yan to be hiding so deeply, actually possessing a Heavenly Flame! Moreover, judging by this display, his skill definitely exceeded tier 5; he could very well be tier 6, or even high-grade tier 6! "No wonder he''s so arrogant. He must have a formidable Master guiding him. Without a mentor to lead the way, an alchemist couldn''t possibly reach such heights," Qiu Ping said with absolute conviction, certain that Xiao Yan must have a powerful Master behind him. "Betting Heavenly Flames..." A glint flickered in Xiao Yan''s eyes as he adopted an exceedingly confident and arrogant demeanor. He slowly asked, "Betting Heavenly Flames? How do you propose we wager?" Gu Tong saw Xiao Yan''s over-the-top confidence and was inwardly delighted. "Let today''s alchemy competition decide. Whoever loses will strip the Heavenly Flame from their soul and hand it over to the other!" he said with a beaming smile. Gu Tong was an old fox. Not only had he inherited the legacy of a powerful alchemist and possessed a Heavenly Flame, but his alchemy had also reached tier 7. He had dominated the title of strongest alchemist in several previous Great Meetings of Factions! Consequently, his reputation extended beyond just the North-Western Region; his name was not unknown in the Central Plains either. His confidence in challenging Xiao Yan, even wagering his Heavenly Flame, stemmed precisely from this. All the alchemists present turned to eye Xiao Yan. Among alchemists, it was common to settle matters by comparing alchemy skills. Such things happened frequently. But wagering Heavenly Flames was something they''d never heard of! "If someone insists on giving me a Heavenly Flame, so be it. Let''s have a match." Xiao Yan smiled and dispersed the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame with a casual wave. Both Heavenly Flames gradually receded. In truth, Gu Tong hadn''t initially intended to make such a high-stakes bet. The main reason was that he urgently needed another Heavenly Flame. As rumors suggested, his lifespan was nearing its end. His body would soon revert to that of a child, and at that point, he''d lose mobility, let alone continue his lineage. For this reason, he had ventured to the Central Plains to find an 8th-tier alchemist from the Qiu Clan, hoping the other party would help refine a tier 8 pill to counteract this side effect. He had indeed found such a person, but commissioning an alchemist from the Central Plains, especially a tier 8 one, came at an astronomical price, far beyond what most people in the entire North-Western Region could afford. And obviously, there was one thing that could move an 8th-tier alchemist''s heart. A Heavenly Flame. Therefore, upon discovering that Xiao Yan possessed the Green Lotus Core Flame, Gu Tong repeatedly provoked him. Earlier, he had even attempted to poach Yue Er and verbally taunted Xiao Yan, all to anger him into accepting a wager. He wanted Xiao Yan''s Green Lotus Core Flame to offer to the Qiu Clan as payment for the pill. Gu Tong saw Xiao Yan''s arrogant agreement and inwardly rejoiced. He haughtily said, "I won''t bully you. Today, I''ll refine a tier 6 pill. If you can produce a tier 6 pill superior to mine, then you win." Xiao Yan slowly walked to a stone platform, shook his hands to loosen them, and said nonchalantly, "No need. You go ahead and give it your all. Besides, I''m not refining a tier 6 pill today." Hearing his casual declaration that he wouldn''t be refining a tier 6 pill, everyone''s initial reaction was: ''Huh? What? Only a 5th-tier alchemist?'' Then, as someone finally grasped the implication and exclaimed, a terrifying thought surfaced in everyone''s mind. Not refining a tier 6 pill... could it be tier 7!!! Thud! Qiu Ping, seated in the spectator area, abruptly stood up, even knocking over his chair. At this moment, Qiu Ping, who was accustomed to storms and had some fame in the Pill Region, had a drastic change in expression. It could be said to be shock, even horror! "A twenty-three-year-old 7th-tier alchemist! Impossible! How could some remote corner of the North-Western Region produce someone with that level of talent!" he was unwilling to believe it and didn''t dare to, because a twenty-three-year-old 7th-tier alchemist was a miracle! This wasn''t something that had never happened before. In fact, there was currently such a super genius in the Pill Region of the Central Plains, whose alchemy talent even surpassed Xiao Yan''s. That woman known as the ''Witch'' could refine tier 7 pills at the age of twenty, becoming an insurmountable mountain that made all alchemists in the Pill Region despair. Her name was Cao Ying, the jewel of the Cao Clan, one of the Five Great Clans in the Pill Region. Because of Cao Ying, the Cao Clan was thriving and even showed signs of becoming the leader among the Five Great Clans. And now, what had Qiu Ping witnessed? Another Cao Ying! "No, he might not necessarily be a 7th-tier alchemist; perhaps he''s just a peak 6th-tier alchemist attempting to challenge a tier 7 pill." Qiu Ping kept comforting himself, but even he didn''t quite believe his own words. Because Xiao Yan was too confident! He had agreed to wager Heavenly Flames without hesitation! Looking at it now, was it Gu Tong scheming against Xiao Yan, or Xiao Yan tricking Gu Tong? It was hard to tell! The old shopkeeper from the Yellow Spring Treasure Pavilion was still greatly taken aback upon hearing Xiao Yan say he would refine a tier 7 pill, even though he had mentally prepared himself somewhat. He murmured, "Whether it''s true or not will soon be revealed." Xiao Yan paid no heed to the astonished gazes around him. He produced the Ten Thousand Beasts Cauldron and placed it on the stone platform. Then he retrieved one brocade box after another from his storage ring, several bearing the emblem of the Yellow Spring Treasure Pavilion. These were medicinal ingredients he''d purchased from them. This time, the pill he intended to refine was even more challenging than the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill. The tier 7 Great Soul Black Purple Pill, a medicinal pill of the Hall of Souls! "So many medicinal ingredients!" Everyone present was shocked, staring at the densely packed brocade boxes on Xiao Yan''s platform as if they''d seen a ghost. Their expressions were impossible to describe. "Good heavens, in all my life I''ve never seen a pill recipe requiring so many ingredients. This is insane," an elderly alchemist participating in the competition couldn''t help but utter. At this point, even those who hadn''t refined tier 7 pills knew that using so many ingredients was definitely beyond tier 6; not even a Zong Breaking Pill required this many! For a moment, countless people were drooling, eyes filled with astonishment. It was understandable; after all, to anyone, even faction leaders, a tier 7 pill was priceless. Even some Dou Ancestors might not have the opportunity to consume such a pill, let alone others. Only dominant factions like the Sky Serpent Mansion had the resources to purchase and utilize tier 7 pills. Previously, people might have thought that Xiao Yan accepting Gu Tong''s challenge was not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth, but now, no one could criticize. No wonder he hadn''t participated in the under-thirty alchemist competition. With his strength, entering such a competition would be like playing in the mud, bullying children. Now, he had gone from bullying kids at the Alchemist Grand Meeting in the Jia Ma Empire to bullying the elderly! Princess Yue Er, watching from the side, could only smile wryly. By now, nothing surprised her anymore. In her eyes, Xiao Yan''s alchemy was simply miraculous. The aspects that gave alchemists the biggest headaches and were the hardest to improve¡ªSpiritual Strength and fire control¡ªseemed to advance rapidly for him, as if he were playing. The most unsettled person was Gu Tong. Originally, he had intended to use this opportunity to obtain the Green Lotus Core Flame, but now it seemed victory wasn''t assured! There was a risk of losing! Gu Tong took a deep breath and walked to a stone platform as well. He looked coldly at Xiao Yan and said sinisterly, "Fine, you''ve hidden deeply, but you''re still too young. Today, I''ll make you lose utterly. Your Heavenly Flame will be mine!" After calming down, he regained his confidence. In his view, he had cultivated alchemy for so long. How could someone from the younger generation match him? Even if you are also a 7th-tier alchemist, so what? I have been at tier 7 for many years and have nothing to fear! Gu Tong also took out a large pile of medicinal ingredients, and the amount he took out was even double that of Xiao Yan''s. However, he had three full sets, while Xiao Yan intended to finish the battle with just one set, not planning to leave himself any room for error! In such a level of alchemy competition, there was no need to announce a start; refining pills above tier 6 took several days, and some tier 7 pills required half a month or even longer. Being a few minutes faster or slower made no difference. "Watch carefully with your dog eyes. Even among 7th-tier alchemists, there are differences." Gu Tong sneered at Xiao Yan. With a stomp, he summoned his medicinal cauldron. A thud sounded as a pure white medicinal cauldron landed. From afar, it resembled a crouching white tiger, emitting strands of white light. When these lights flickered, it was as if a white tiger appeared. Although it wasn''t as good as Xiao Yan''s Ten Thousand Beasts Cauldron, this medicinal cauldron was of high quality, estimated to be a tier 8 medicinal cauldron. "This medicinal cauldron isn''t simple." Many knowledgeable experts present realized its extraordinariness, sensing the aura from the cauldron. "That''s the ancient White Tiger Cauldron that Gu Tong obtained from some ruins, a tier 8 medicinal cauldron," an alchemist recognized it at a glance. However, some with keener eyes were fixated on Xiao Yan''s crimson cauldron. As soon as he introduced the Green Lotus Core Flame into it, the myriad beast patterns on the Ten Thousand Beasts Cauldron became vivid, as if coming to life. "That looks a bit like the Ten Thousand Beasts Cauldron from the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking..." But the cauldrons on the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking were exceedingly rare; no one dared to confirm it lightly. Soon, as Xiao Yan and Gu Tong introduced their Heavenly Flames into their respective cauldrons, the cauldrons automatically emitted screens of light to shield their alchemy techniques. A vast light descended, obscuring a space. This was a very common practice to prevent others from spying on one''s methods. Only after the Heavenly Flames had entered the cauldrons did the other alchemists dare to summon their own flames. After all, unless one was a fool, no one would summon their flames in front of a Heavenly Flame; that would be asking for trouble. ... News that Xiao Yan was a 7th-tier alchemist possessing a Heavenly Flame and was wagering it against Gu Tong naturally spread throughout the Sky Serpent Mansion''s mountain range. "Tier 7?!" She Tianhao''s expression changed dramatically. For the first time, he began to take Xiao Yan and the Yan Alliance seriously! If the Yan Alliance relied solely on Jia Xing Tian, a 1-star Dou Ancestor, the Sky Serpent Mansion wouldn''t give them a second thought, let alone let Qing Lin go. But if the Yan Alliance had a 7th-tier alchemist, and such a young one at that, it was entirely different! The influence of a 7th-tier alchemist made him somewhat apprehensive. This was even more dangerous than Gu Tong''s Medicine Bone Sect! "No way, that young man is a 7th-tier alchemist?! Are you kidding me?! Even if he started refining pills from his mother''s womb, it would be impossible!" "It''s true! If you don''t believe me, go see for yourself." "Let''s go, let''s go have a look." Because of Xiao Yan''s actions, the originally large crowd around the arena battles suddenly thinned. Even some factions dispatched their experts to observe. ''Young Master is truly amazing.'' Qing Lin, wearing a green veil in the spectator area, revealed a happy smile upon hearing the news. She naturally knew that Xiao Yan was a 7th-tier alchemist; after all, she had already consumed pills he''d refined. "Mansion Lord, I wish to go watch the alchemy competition," she said softly. She Tianhao''s expression became somewhat unnatural. He knew that Qing Lin wasn''t interested in alchemy itself but rather a certain alchemist! "Hehe, since Sister Qing Lin is interested in alchemy, I''ll accompany you." She Tianhao naturally had no reason to refuse her going to spectate, but he could go along! After a moment of silence, Qing Lin could only nod lightly. In no time, not only the Sky Serpent Mansion made their way over. The Sect Leaders of the Profound Lion Sect, the Thunderbolt Sect, and several other powerful factions also arrived to watch from the skies above the alchemist competition grounds. Among the experts present, there were those with discerning eyes. Even if they couldn''t see Gu Tong''s alchemy techniques, just observing his fluid extraction of medicinal ingredients and his orderly control of flames made it clear that him being a 7th-tier alchemist was no joke! His fire control skills and Spiritual Strength had definitely reached the level of a 7th-tier alchemist! "His fire control is so strong. Does he have some unique fire control method?" Chapter 332: Abyss Submersion Chapter 332 - 332: Abyss Submersion Word Count: 2,604 Words ****** "Mm. Although most of their alchemy techniques have been screened off, one can still glean a bit from some subtle actions. Gu Tong has indeed made significant strides in the realm of 7th-tier alchemists." Qiu Ping stroked his beard, unable to help but offer some praise. In the previous Great Meetings of Factions, the Medicine Bone Sect had surged to fame precisely because Gu Tong had reached tier 7. Although it was only the initial level of tier 7, that was already the pinnacle among the many factions of the North-Western Region. Only the Chairmen of a few top Alchemist Associations in the North-Western Region possessed tier 7 capabilities. Even someone like Gu Tong couldn''t help but feel a sense of pride upon receiving Qiu Ping''s praise. After all, Qiu Ping hailed from the Qiu Clan and was a seasoned 7th-tier alchemist, adept at fire control. The Qiu Clan''s fire control methods, in particular, were exceptionally powerful. Earning his praise was an honor in itself. Gu Tong deliberately revealed parts of his alchemy process, placing medicinal ingredients into the medicinal cauldron one by one in precise order, even refining several types of ingredients simultaneously. Throughout the process, his actions were smooth and practiced, clearly showing his confidence. In fact, Gu Tong wasn''t the only 7th-tier alchemist present. On Xiao Yan''s other side stood an elder of equal skill. He was Sima Lin, representing the Sky Serpent Mansion, also a 7th-tier alchemist. Furthermore, Sima Lin had once served as the Chairman of the Alchemist Association of the Sky Serpent Empire. It was only through an immense expenditure that the Sky Serpent Mansion managed to have Sima Lin join them and represent the Sky Serpent Mansion in the Great Meeting of Factions. Their goal was to surpass the Medicine Bone Sect in alchemy! "That old fellow Sima Lin is really giving it his all this time. It looks like he''s refining the low-grade tier 7 Beast Emperor Body Tempering Pill. This pill is suitable for Rank 7 magical beasts. Not only can it enhance their physical strength, but it also has the chance to increase their bloodline purity. It even has some effects on high-level Rank 7 magical beasts." Given that the Sky Serpent Empire was known as the land of magical beasts, it was no surprise that the pills here were geared more toward them. "Look at the fire seed Sima Lin is using after. That seems to be the Rank 8 beast flame, the Silver Star Dragon Serpent Flame!" "I was wondering why Sima Lin would join the Sky Serpent Mansion. It turns out the Sky Serpent Mansion even brought out something like this. The value of this beast flame is probably comparable to a peak tier 7 pill, maybe even approaching tier 8." In Sima Lin''s hand, silver starlike sparks flickered. When the flames surged, they resembled coiling silver serpents. Although not as potent as a Heavenly Flame, a Rank 8 beast flame possessed a hint of spirituality, and with a Dou Ancestor''s Dou Qi augmenting it, its power wasn''t much weaker than a Heavenly Flame. At the same time, many gazes shifted to the area lit by a green glow. Countless gazes focused on Xiao Yan''s direction. Regardless of who they were, all paid close attention, for the most mysterious and astonishing person present was him. By now, no one doubted that Xiao Yan''s alchemy level was tier 7. After observing for half a day, they saw that he was genuinely refining a tier 7 pill, and at least so far, there was not the slightest sign of failure. Xiao Yan remained calm and unhurried under the watchful eyes of the crowd. Every movement, every subtle change, every act of control was filled with confidence, steady as Mount Tai and methodical. It seemed as if he wasn''t refining a tier 7 pill but leisurely admiring flowers under the moonlight or writing poetry. Such skill and composure left many alchemists in awe, feeling inferior by comparison. "Sigh, to become a 7th-tier alchemist at such a young age truly has its reasons," an elder alchemist couldn''t help but exclaim. Many alchemists, especially those around Xiao Yan''s age, sighed inwardly at the thought that there were always mountains beyond mountains. Compared to him, any so-called genius seemed as stupid as a pig. Some young ladies showed expressions of admiration and infatuation. Such a man naturally captivated a large audience. As for the male alchemists, they felt that if they could reach his level in their lifetime, it would already be remarkable. They didn''t dare to hope for anything more. Time passed minute by minute, day by day. Although the sun rose and set, the mountains outside remained crowded with people, yet it was utterly silent. One could even say that the entire Sky Serpent Mansion was enveloped in stillness. Countless pairs of eyes focused on Xiao Yan, Sima Lin, and Gu Tong. After all, these were tier 7 pills being refined. Everyone was intensely interested, knowing that if any of them succeeded, a pill that would make anyone drool with envy would be produced. Moreover, the other alchemists refining tier 6 pills had long since finished. They didn''t even dare to make a sound, and even the judges were too lazy to look, as everyone knew these three were the key figures in this competition. It could even be said that a major shift in the future power dynamics of the North-Western Region hinged on this alchemy contest. Because of Xiao Yan''s presence, even the arena battles, which should have drawn more spectators, became a topic of little discussion. Hai Bodong stood aside, shaking his head helplessly. Yesterday, he had made a strong comeback, declaring the return of the Ice Emperor by using his exquisite ice-attribute Dou Qi to defeat two 9-star Dou Emperors from the North-Western Region in a one-against-two battle. However, due to Xiao Yan, no one discussed his feat, and even the audience was sparse. Even Zi Yan had single-handedly defeated all the Dou Emperors from Mulan Valley and the Gold Geese Sect while defending the stage. Even the Dou Emperors from the Sky Serpent Mansion and Thunderbolt Sect were no match for her. She had created an unprecedented miracle. Yet she was mentioned only in passing by the onlookers. After all, everyone understood one thing. If Xiao Yan truly won, the Yan Alliance would surpass all Alchemist Associations in the North-Western Region, becoming the holy land in the hearts of all alchemists in the region! At that time, all the rogue alchemists in the North-Western Region would flock to the Yan Alliance. Not to mention anything else, the Yan Alliance would unify the alchemists of the entire region! A faction where both the youngest generation of alchemists and the strongest faction alchemists were under one banner, and all exceptionally young. How terrifying would such a faction be? The reason the Alchemist Association could gather so many alchemists was precisely because it was the holy land in the hearts of alchemists. The strongest alchemists resided there! Most importantly, Xiao Yan was so young. Everyone wanted to know how he could possess such powerful alchemy skills at such an age, so naturally, they would want to join the Yan Alliance, hoping to get closer to the ''Medicine God'' in their hearts! Finally, as time continued to pass, the critical moment arrived¡ªthe final step of adding Monster Cores to condense the pills! Sima Lin and Gu Tong both took out a Monster Core from their storage rings. The moment the Monster Cores were placed into the medicinal cauldrons, the amber-like luster tugged at everyone''s heartstrings. The Monster Cores were burned by the flames, slowly transforming into round shapes, becoming embryonic pills. Roar!!! A thunderous roar burst from inside the medicinal cauldrons the instant the Monster Cores fused with the medicinal essences. It was incredibly brutal like a raging storm, as if some vicious beast was trying to break free and overturn the sky. This was precisely why alchemists also needed to have a certain level of strength. Refining pills was not a harmless task! These were the Monster Cores of Rank 7 magical beasts. The resentment within was not trivial. Rank 7 magical beasts were incredibly ferocious and powerful in life. Even after death, their Monster Cores still contained formidable power. When the Monster Cores entered the medicinal cauldrons, the beast spirits within attempted to overturn the medicinal cauldrons and escape. This was the moment to test an alchemist''s true strength. "Hmph!" Sima Lin''s eyes glinted sharply as his Tier 7 Spiritual Strength erupted. The Silver Star Dragon Serpent Flame instantly transformed into a massive dragon serpent. The dragon serpent coiled around the beast''s resentful spirit, as if trying to strangle it. Gu Tong also exerted himself. The advantage of possessing a Heavenly Flame became evident. A dragon-like roar echoed from within his medicinal cauldron. The Wind and Thunder Fury Flame, resembling a tornado, stretched out a dragon claw that firmly pinned the beast soul. The two 7th-tier alchemists displayed their unique skills, and with the power of their medicinal cauldrons, they quickly subdued the Monster Cores, continuously refining them within. "Eh? That''s strange. Why hasn''t Xiao Yan used a Monster Core yet?" At this point, someone noticed the anomaly and looked toward Xiao Yan''s direction. Xiao Yan had wrapped himself tightly, with the Green Lotus Core Flame resembling a closed lotus, completely concealing his figure. But no matter how he enveloped himself with the Heavenly Flame, once he added a Monster Core, there should be a violent reaction that could be sensed. Yet, strangely, Xiao Yan remained calm, as if nothing had happened. "Could it be that he failed in his refinement?" "That can''t be. That would be too disappointing." However, She Tianhao, Ting Hao, and other high-star Dou Ancestors didn''t think so, because they had just sensed a trace of strange Spiritual Strength fluctuation. Inside the Green Lotus Core Flame, Xiao Yan naturally had not failed. The observers'' guesses were accurate in one sense: he had indeed not added a Monster Core. The reason was very simple. The Great Soul Black Purple Pill didn''t require a Monster Core to begin with. One must know, the Great Soul Black Purple Pill was a pill recipe created by the Hall of Souls, or in other words, it originated from the Hun Clan! The Great Soul Black Purple Pill was a medicinal pill that enhanced Spiritual Strength. It didn''t boost cultivation level, heal injuries, or strengthen physique; this enhanced the soul, so it required energy related to the soul! Xiao Yan took out the Soul Command Token from his storage ring. A glint flashed in his eyes. All the soul bodies he had collected into the Soul Command Token during the battle at Profound Nether Valley were released with a light tap of his finger. Woo woo woo!!! Black mist surged as clusters of ghostly shadows poured out of the Soul Command Token like a flood. In an instant, the entire space was enveloped by these dark soul bodies. Among them were the souls of Poison Sect and Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate disciples who had ambushed Xiao Yan, soul bodies of Rank 5 and above magical beasts, and some remnants of soul bodies devoured by the Tunling Clan. "We''re out!" "Quick, escape!" "Where is this~~" A chorus of wailing and howling ghosts sounded. "Ah! What is this flame!" "Let me leave this place!" Escape, naturally, was impossible. This was also why Xiao Yan used the Green Lotus Core Flame to tightly enclose himself. As for pitying these souls, that was out of the question; these people had all wanted to kill him when they were alive. Xiao Yan instantly donned the Soul Robe, a fierce light flashing in his eyes. He laughed, "Jie Jie Jie, since you''re all going to die anyway, you might as well help me refine a pill." Venerable Yan was never one to spare his enemies. Instantly, he formed a hand seal. The Soul Robe fluttered without wind. The shadow beneath his feet began to writhe strangely, finally turning into what looked like a pool of ink! "Asura Soul Reaping Technique¡ªSecond Form, Abyss Submersion!" A resonant hum followed. The shadow beneath Xiao Yan''s feet seemed to transform into an endless abyss. At this moment, it was as if he stood above a bottomless chasm! What lay beneath his feet was impossible to discern; it was just a vast expanse, a sea of darkness. As Xiao Yan stood above this abyss, waiting quietly, eerie howls emanated from the dark depths below. Even the strongest individuals couldn''t help but shudder at such sinister sounds. Suddenly, clanging sounds echoed. From beneath Xiao Yan''s feet, pitch-black soul chains shot out. These chains seemed to belong to an Asura from beneath the abyss. The chains lashed out, sounding like muffled impacts, accompanied by miserable shrieks. Every soul body in their path was run straight through and disintegrated in an instant, leaving behind only clusters of pure white soul light. Xiao Yan naturally recognized these soul light clusters. When he cultivated the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique, weren''t the soul lights he absorbed just like these? However, these clusters were much larger than typical soul lights. In just a moment, the chains emerging from the abyss had annihilated all the densely packed soul bodies. Those chains swayed in the air. From a distance, it looked as if black tentacles had sprouted from beneath Xiao Yan''s feet, exuding a strange and dreadful aura. The chains continued to sway, seemingly unsatisfied, and finally turned their attention toward Xiao Yan standing above the abyss! A pair of eyes suddenly appeared in the darkness beneath Xiao Yan''s feet, staring intently at him, as if trying to drag him into the endless abyss as well. Without even a second glance, Xiao Yan snorted coldly, "Get back!" Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh! The Flame Mantra circulated, and clusters of Heavenly Flames instantly appeared around Xiao Yan. With a single command from him, they would pounce and annihilate these chains. Even with the appearance of the Heavenly Flames, these chains didn''t immediately retreat. After a momentary standoff, the eyes in the abyss slowly closed, and those chains retracted. As all the chains withdrew, they also took half of the soul light clusters with them, leaving only half for Xiao Yan, as if exacting a price. Retracting all the Heavenly Flames, Xiao Yan could only shake his head helplessly. He had known from the very beginning that this Soul Skill was dangerous and strange. At any moment, it could cause him to fall into a demonic state. And this was merely the second form, Abyss Submersion. If it were the final form, Asura... However, it was undeniable that this Soul Skill was very strong! He needed such strength now. Xiao Yan took a deep breath, calming his emotions once more. Then, his eyes revealed a trace of solemnity as he looked into the medicinal cauldron, which contained a large amount of medicinal essences. With a beckon of his Spiritual Strength, the remaining soul light clusters merged into one large mass. He slowly controlled the large cluster, placing it bit by bit into the medicinal cauldron. This was also why medicinal pills that directly increased Spiritual Strength were exceedingly rare. They required not Monster Cores, but this kind of soul light cluster, which was impossible to obtain without a Soul Training Method. Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, and then the Green Lotus Core Flame suddenly enveloped all the soul light clusters and medicinal essences. "Fuse!" Chapter 333: Soul Pill Chapter 333 - 333: Soul Pill Word Count: 2,423 Words ****** Time flowed on. When Sima Lin and Gu Tong completely refined the Monster Cores, everything changed. Once all the medicinal essences and Monster Cores had fully fused, the entire mountain peak and a radius of ten miles became enveloped in fragrant pill aroma. Two distinct scents continuously wafted from their cauldrons. Within this medicinal fragrance spread a mist that instantly revitalized anyone who inhaled it, bringing about a rejuvenating sensation. It was a truly unique feeling. "Sima Lin''s Beast Emperor Body Tempering Pill enhances physical constitution, but what pill is Gu Tong refining?" As the mist grew denser, faint sounds of dragon roars and elephant trumpets echoed within Gu Tong''s medicinal fragrance. It was as if azure dragons and divine elephants were present, with powerful beastly might emanating from the scent! "The sounds of dragons and elephants, and the medicinal fragrance appears azure-gold in color. Could Gu Tong be refining the Dragon Elephant Prajna Pill?!" "Dragon Elephant Prajna Pill?! Isn''t the recipe for that pill already lost?!" "The pills are about to form." The spectators were even more nervous than the participating alchemists. Regardless of the competition''s outcome, most people hoped these pills would be successfully refined. With a buzzing sound, countless clouds gathered in the sky under everyone''s eager gaze. When these clouds amassed like an ocean, vortices formed above Sima Lin and Gu Tong''s heads and created massive dark clouds. Thunder rumbled within the vortices, growing louder by the moment. "It''s Pill Lightning! The Pill Lightning is coming!! If they can withstand it, the pills will be complete!" An elder alchemist exclaimed upon seeing the ominous clouds swirling in the sky. Not all low-grade tier 7 pills could attract Pill Lightning. Such pills needed sufficient quality with minimal flaws to draw it down. After reaching tier 7, pill quality was judged by what kind of Pill Lightning it attracted and how much. For tier 8 pills, rumors said the Pill Lightning came in colors. The more colors present, the more precious and perfect the pill''s effects. Both Sima Lin''s Beast Emperor Body Tempering Pill and Gu Tong''s Dragon Elephant Prajna Pill were low-grade tier 7 pills, yet both attracted Pill Lightning! "Tier 7 pills that attract Pill Lightning... truly exceptional." Even the composed leaders of the ten great factions couldn''t help but exclaim in surprise, suddenly finding it hard to remain seated. A tier 7 pill capable of drawing Pill Lightning was extremely valuable, even for high-star Dou Ancestors like She Tianhao. "The Dragon Elephant Prajna Pill can permanently imbue the body with the power of dragons and elephants. It not only fortifies one''s physique, but when executing Dou Techniques, the combined force increases their might significantly," an alchemist who had just finished refining a peak tier 6 pill explained. It was similar to the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill, which had given Xiao Yan a trace of dragon aura. However, the primary effect of the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill was to break and rebuild one''s foundation, with the dragon aura as a bonus. The Dragon Elephant Prajna Pill was different. Its main effect was to imbue the body with dragon aura and elephant strength, enhancing the power of Dou Techniques after consumption. Boom boom!!! Two bolts of Pill Lightning fell almost simultaneously and aimed straight for the pills in the cauldrons. Both men let out loud shouts instantly, and simultaneously deployed protective treasures. Their Dou Qi surged as they continuously resisted the Pill Lightning. "The Pill Lightning for both seems about the same. Could it be a tie?" "No, look carefully. Gu Tong''s Pill Lightning is slightly stronger, and his thunderclouds cover a wider area." "It must be the Heavenly Flame. A Heavenly Flame is a fire born of heaven and earth. Using it to refine pills imparts a trace of that power into the pill, sometimes even a hint of the Heavenly Flame itself. Naturally, the quality is higher." The result was no surprise, as both men were of Dou Ancestor strength. Although the Pill Lightning approximated a blow from a 5-star Dou Ancestor, it was only a single strike. Defending against it was usually feasible with proper preparation. "Success!" Many who had been holding their breath finally relaxed. They couldn''t help but cheer and smile happily. "These are wonderful pills!" Sima Lin and Gu Tong weren''t as elated as one might expect even as they each grasped their newly formed pills. Instead, they looked solemnly in Xiao Yan''s direction. "Hmm? That alchemist from the Yan Alliance hasn''t finished refining yet?" "Is he putting on a show? Sima Lin and Gu Tong both failed twice during the refinement process, which slowed them down. How could he be taking longer?" "I guess he failed and is looking for a way to save face." "Hmph, he definitely lost. These two pills attracted Pill Lightning; he''s trying to figure out how to back out." Some people, clearly envious, snorted coldly. However, the older experts in the crowd said nothing, for they had sensed something. Something was brewing within that green-lotus-shaped flame! Suddenly, Sima Lin and Gu Tong, whose Spiritual Strength was the strongest, narrowed their eyes and fixed their gazes on Xiao Yan. The lotus bud opened! Buzz!!! The lotus formed by the Green Lotus Core Flame bloomed petal by petal, like a flower in full bloom. Yet, the anticipated scene of golden light and holy radiance didn''t appear. Instead, a burst of black fog erupted from the center of the flame. Woo woo!!! The black fog surged violently amid unsettling wails, like countless evil spirits being unleashed. It felt ominous¡ªextremely ominous! "What on earth is that?!" "Is this supposed to be medicinal fragrance???" The lingering fragrance from Sima Lin and Gu Tong''s pills vanished in an instant, overwhelmed by the tide of black fog. The entire square and mountain region became shrouded in this eerie darkness. "This stench! What''s going on? Is he refining a poison pill?!" Hai Bodong and the others immediately covered their noses. With a disgusted look, Hai Bodong said, "What is that kid Xiao Yan doing? What is this stuff?" They didn''t doubt Xiao Yan''s alchemy skills, but they couldn''t fathom why his refinement had taken such a bizarre turn. Had some accident occurred? Zi Yan was first to notice something different, having consumed the most medicinal ingredients due to her Ancient Void Dragon heritage. "Hmm?" Her nose twitched, and she blinked in surprise. "Why does it seem to have a hint of fragrance?" Before long, others with keen Spiritual Strength began to notice that within the black fog, there was indeed a hint of fragrance. A mere whiff caused their minds to tremble, as if their souls were about to ascend. This fragrance could only be sensed through one''s Spiritual Strength! "A stench hiding fragrance? What kind of medicinal fragrance is this?!" All the alchemists were dumbfounded for a moment, including Sima Lin and Gu Tong. They had never seen a medicinal fragrance that was black and reeked, yet within the stench was a scent that made their souls quiver. This bizarre medicinal fragrance left them all stunned, unable to fathom what kind of pill Xiao Yan was refining! Xiao Yan''s figure gradually emerged as the black fragrance continuously surged from the cauldron. Draped in a black robe, his hands resembled those of a demon wielding the furnace of the netherworld. The scene was nothing short of terrifying. "Form the pill!" Xiao Yan shouted, slamming a palm onto the cauldron. The lid flew open with a loud bang, and an even denser black fog surged out, shooting straight into the sky! A pitch-black pill adorned with tiny specks of purple light floated within that terrifying black pillar. Even those with no expertise could tell that Xiao Yan had refined no ordinary pill, and moreover, he had succeeded! Thunderclouds rapidly converged in the sky as Xiao Yan struck the medicinal cauldron. They gathered at a speed far surpassing that of the Pill Lightning summoned by Sima Lin and Gu Tong! It seemed as if even the heavens didn''t plan to give him time to prepare. A vortex appeared above Xiao Yan''s head before long, with thunder rumbling louder and louder within. "The Pill Lightning has come." Someone couldn''t help but exclaim, "To witness Pill Lightning three times in such a short period¡ªthis is truly astounding. My horizons have been broadened." Everyone held their breath at this moment, waiting for the Pill Lightning to descend. They all wanted to see if Xiao Yan, who was only a Dou Emperor, could withstand it. "Senior Yao, may I borrow your strength," Xiao Yan communicated with Venerable Tian Huo within the storage ring using spiritual transmission. "Hmm? Can''t you withstand the Pill Lightning on your own?" Venerable Tian Huo asked, puzzled, but his actions didn''t falter. A powerful Spiritual Strength enveloped Xiao Yan, elevating his cultivation to peak Dou Emperor, nearing half-step Dou Ancestor. "I have no choice. Unless I can kill everyone here, it''s better not to reveal that I wield multiple Heavenly Flames too soon. This isn''t the Jia Nan Academy," Xiao Yan explained helplessly. Boom! A powerful and terrifying bolt of lightning descended from the sky in an instant. "Hahaha, bring it on!" Xiao Yan laughed heartily. He bent his knees and suddenly leaped upward, actively charging toward the Pill Lightning. "This guy is insane!" "Heavens! He''s confronting the Pill Lightning head-on?! Even with his enhanced strength, he''s only at half-step Dou Ancestor!" The best way to face Pill Lightning was, of course, to defend and endure it, as Xiao Yan, Gu Tong, and the others had done before. Xiao Yan''s left hand swiftly formed seals. Facing the incoming Pill Lightning, he thrust out his palm, and a massive handprint surged forward. "Open Mountain Seal!" Boom!!! The gigantic handprint collided head-on with the Pill Lightning. The clash generated a terrifying force that radiated in all directions. However, the Open Mountain Seal was clearly insufficient; in just a moment, the Pill Lightning pierced through it like a divine spear. A faint smile appeared at the corner of Xiao Yan''s mouth. This brief moment was enough. His right hand had already completed forming seals, with an immense amount of Dou Qi condensed onto it. "Sea Flipping Seal!" Xiao Yan struck out once again. This time, the palm imprint resembled an apocalyptic tsunami, carrying overwhelming and continuous power¡ªa feeling of using softness to overcome hardness. Rumble!!! The two forces entangled together. The Sea Flipping Seal was like the endless sea, its power vast and unceasing, unlike the sheer force of the Open Mountain Seal. Finally, under Xiao Yan''s radiant smile, both the Pill Lightning and the Sea Flipping Seal dissipated together. "Hmm?" Xiao Yan frowned. He noticed that while the Pill Lightning had vanished, the thunderclouds above hadn''t dispersed! Tier 7 pills weren''t like tier 8. They should only attract a single bolt of Pill Lightning. For middle-grade tier 7 pills, the Pill Lightning would be stronger but not more numerous. Only tier 8 pills attracted colored Pill Lightning, which increased in both quantity and strength. Yet now, the thunderclouds above his head didn''t disperse¡ªin fact, they seemed to be expanding, as if absorbing the remnants of the Pill Lightning from Sima Lin and Gu Tong. Xiao Yan dared not be careless seeing this unexpected development. He silently circulated the Flame Mantra. If necessary, he''d have to use the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change and the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique. Others also realized something was amiss at this moment. The Serene Sea Scaly Beast brought the Yan Alliance members to Xiao Yan''s side. Qing Lin tried to step forward but was blocked by She Tianhao. Qing Lin frowned, about to speak, but She Tianhao spoke first: "Qing Lin, you are the Saintess of the Sky Serpent Mansion. There are matters you shouldn''t involve yourself in." Fortunately, the Pill Lightning that had been delayed in falling finally seemed to reconsider and chose to obediently dissipate. Xiao Yan breathed a sigh of relief. His eyes sharpened as the Green Lotus Core Flame within the cauldron surged with a whoosh, transforming into a lotus that enveloped the Great Soul Black Purple Pill, which was attempting to escape. "I went through all that trouble to help you through the tribulation, and you still want to run?" Xiao Yan nodded to the Yan Alliance members, then slowly descended back to the square. His left hand held the green lotus, a faint smile gracing his lips as he leisurely walked toward the pale-faced Gu Tong. "Grandmaster Xiao Yan, I wonder what effects your pill has. Are you willing to sell it?" An elderly alchemist with white hair called out from the mountains. "What''s the rush? The wager isn''t over yet," Xiao Yan replied leisurely with his signature sunny smile. At this moment, none of the faction leaders dared speak further¡ªnot even those from the Sky Serpent Mansion and Profound Lion Sect. Xiao Yan''s alchemy skills had deeply moved everyone present. The Yan Alliance wasn''t just rising; it was poised to dominate! To rule over all the alchemists in the North-Western Region! Some even cast secret glances at Qiu Ping. Could the Yan Alliance become the sixth great clan in the Pill Region?! "Now then, who wins and who loses?" Xiao Yan looked at Gu Tong, his eyes crinkling with a smile. Gu Tong''s face was already deathly pale. He could no longer maintain his previous lofty demeanor. His entire being appeared dispirited, his expression momentarily dazed. Sima Lin was tactful enough to slowly retreat. From the Pill Lightning alone, he could tell he was definitely ranked third. Moreover, he had no wager with Xiao Yan and was merely a spectator, so there was no need to offend him. Gu Tong stood there like a wooden statue. He had initially aimed to seize Xiao Yan''s Heavenly Flame. If Xiao Yan dared to resist, he would have the perfect excuse to kill him and take it. However, he never expected that the alchemy skills he took such pride in would actually lose to Xiao Yan! From the Pill Lightning, it wasn''t hard to see that the quality of Xiao Yan''s pill had likely reached middle-grade tier 7! Although the Hall of Souls classified the Great Soul Black Purple Pill as a low-grade tier 7 pill, that was the Hall of Souls after all. Their standards had always been exceptionally high. Back when he was with Hun Lao Gui, Xiao Yan had been humbled several times. Chapter 334: Refusing to Admit Defeat Chapter 334 - 334: Refusing to Admit Defeat Word Count: 2,709 Words ****** Furthermore, considering Xiao Yan''s exceptionally precise refinement and the use of the Heavenly Flame, this Great Soul Black Purple Pill absolutely reached the quality of a middle-grade tier 7 pill. If one accounted for its rare effect of enhancing Spiritual Strength at the Mortal State, ordinary middle-grade tier 7 pills couldn''t compare to its value. "You... There''s something wrong with his medicinal cauldron! He cheated!! There''s definitely something off about his pill! How could a tier 7 pill have such a foul medicinal fragrance?! There must be something wrong with his pill, which is why even the Pill Lightning was abnormal!" Gu Tong finally snapped back to his senses and shouted harshly. He could not afford to admit defeat. His Heavenly Flame would be gone once he did. Without it, the Qiu Clan would refuse to refine pills for him, and by then, he would be as good as dead. "Can''t even accept defeat gracefully? Truly pathetic. You should have said earlier that you couldn''t afford to lose. Isn''t it just a Heavenly Flame?" Xiao Yan glanced at him lazily with a faint smile. "It seems that your so-called Medicine Bone Sect, known as the strongest alchemist faction in the North-Western Region, is nothing more than this. Truly a disgrace to our region." Many people were looking at Gu Tong at this moment. They couldn''t help but shake their heads, though they feared offending him and didn''t speak up. If one claimed that Xiao Yan''s medicinal cauldron had something strange and the pill was fake, it was simply impossible for him to cheat under such public scrutiny, given that so many people had witnessed the process with their own eyes. It would be exposed immediately. Moreover, he had even attracted Pill Lightning, which struck toward the pill. They were genuinely curious how someone could cheat to create Pill Lightning. "If you had defeated me with genuine skill, I would have nothing to say." Gu Tong argued stubbornly, his face flushed. "A twenty-something-year-old 7th-tier alchemist? Anyone with a bit of common sense knows that''s impossible. Hmph, in my opinion, it must have been that strange Spiritual Strength earlier¡ªprobably just a smokescreen, and the true refiner was someone else!" "Common sense?" Xiao Yan shot him a sidelong glance and smiled faintly. "Talking about common sense with an alchemist. How did you ever reach tier 7, by luck?" "So what if one is a 7th-tier alchemist in his early twenties? Are you saying the Pill Region or the Pill Tower has never had such people? If that''s the case, I''d be quite disappointed." Xiao Yan''s tone was calm, and he cast a glance at Qiu Ping not far away. Many people turned toward Qiu Ping. Out of everyone here, only he was from the Pill Region in Central Plains, a place where all sorts of alchemy geniuses gathered. Everyone was curious if such talents existed there. Noticing the gazes on him, Qiu Ping frowned, but eventually spoke the truth. "Cao Ying, the young mistress of the Cao Clan, one of the five great clans in the Pill Region, became a 7th-tier alchemist at the age of twenty." "Though 7th-tier alchemists under thirty are uncommon in the Pill Region, they are not exceedingly rare¡ªthey do appear from time to time." Hiss!!! A wave of gasps immediately rose among all the alchemists present. Xiao Yan''s monstrous talent apparently had peers in the Pill Region! And more than one!! What was even more terrifying was that 7th-tier alchemists under thirty would occasionally appear there. This revelation caused the conviction of many young alchemists present to crumble! There truly was a sky beyond the sky, and this sky was so high that it could not even be glimpsed. However, since Gu Tong and Qiu Ping were ultimately on the same side, Qiu Ping added, "But even in the Pill Region, geniuses like Grandmaster Cao Ying are seen only once in a century or even a millennium. She is currently attempting to break through to tier 8, and may very well enter the Pill Tower, becoming an elder or even one of its giants." "During my travels across the Dou Qi Continent, apart from the Pill Region, I haven''t heard of anyone with such talent." Qiu Ping''s implication was clear. While the Pill Region did have geniuses like Xiao Yan, they were exceedingly rare and were nurtured from a young age by great clans, provided with abundant resources and guidance from high-tier alchemists to achieve such accomplishments. He simply refused to believe that an alchemist from the North-Western Region could possess such talent. Once Qiu Ping finished, Gu Tong shouted with renewed confidence, "Hmph! You must have placed a half-finished pill into the cauldron, and that strange soul body completed the final steps!" "No wonder you concealed everything so tightly with your Heavenly Flame. It was to prevent others from seeing that it wasn''t you refining!" Even the old shopkeeper of the Yellow Spring Treasures Pavilion couldn''t stand it anymore and said in a deep voice, "If there truly is a soul body capable of refining a tier 7 pill, its Spiritual Strength must have reached tier 8. No, even Tier 8 Spiritual Strength wouldn''t suffice. It would probably need to be tier 9." Refining pills without a physical body was practically impossible unless one''s Spiritual Strength was dreadfully overwhelming. To refine a tier 7 pill under such conditions meant the Spiritual State had reached the Heavenly State! "Exactly! Find someone who can refine a tier 7 pill as a soul body. Probably only the Pill Tower has such monsters." "That''s right, that''s right!" Even Qiu Ping couldn''t help shaking his head. Claiming that a soul body refined a tier 7 pill was absurd. If such a person existed, they would be at least a 9th-tier alchemist. If Xiao Yan truly had such a 9th-tier alchemist behind him, it would be best to kneel down immediately. Gu Tong''s plan to bring Xiao Yan down had backfired. After all, alchemists revered strength, and it was clear that Xiao Yan''s alchemy skills surpassed his. His face immediately turned beet red as a burning shame washed over him. "If you can''t accept defeat, just say so. I pity you; letting you off is no big deal. It''s just a Heavenly Flame. Why embarrass yourself here?" Xiao Yan cast Gu Tong a casual glance, his voice calm. It''s just a Heavenly Flame, I have many. It doesn''t matter if I don''t get your Wind and Thunder Fury Flame. "You!!" Gu Tong trembled with rage. Now he was caught between a rock and a hard place. Yet he refused to bow his head. Where would he put his face if he yielded to Xiao Yan? Right then, Qiu Ping slowly approached, gave a slight cough and said, "Ahem, the quality of tier 7 pills can be judged by the Pill Lightning. Earlier, both of you attracted Pill Lightning with similar power. In my view, why not call it a tie to preserve harmony?" "That old thing is truly shameless," Qing Lin murmured coldly from not far away. Someone like her rarely uttered such words, but today she couldn''t help herself. Previously, many people had a good impression of the Medicine Bone Sect and the Qiu Clan from the Pill Region. Some even wanted to befriend Qiu Ping, negotiate business with the Medicine Bone Sect, or even form alliances. Being a tier 7 alchemist, Gu Tong was esteemed in the eyes of many as a prominent figure of his generation. But after witnessing his current conduct, those who had such intentions couldn''t help but shake their heads lightly. Indeed, the quality and grade of tier 7 pills were determined by the Pill Lightning. For instance, Sima Lin''s Pill Lightning was the same as Gu Tong''s, both were low-grade tier 7. However, Gu Tong''s thundercloud was larger, so its power was naturally greater. Naturally, Gu Tong''s Dragon Elephant Prajna Pill was of slightly higher grade than Sima Lin''s Beast Emperor Body Tempering Pill. This was basically common knowledge, so the grading of tier 7 pills didn''t require judges. One could discern it with their own eyes. And just now, Xiao Yan''s thundercloud was not only the largest but also gathered at more than twice the speed of the other two. It even caused an anomaly, almost bringing down a second Pill Lightning. Anyone who wasn''t blind could understand that these two instances of Pill Lightning were fundamentally not on the same level. It wouldn''t even be an exaggeration to say that Xiao Yan''s pill was middle-grade tier 7. Still, no one present dared speak on Xiao Yan''s behalf. After all, they truly could not afford to offend the Qiu Clan from the Pill Region. However, contrary to everyone''s expectations, Xiao Yan did not become angry or argue. He simply walked toward Qiu Ping, smiled, and asked, "You can represent the Qiu Clan, is that right?" "Hmph, as a 7th-tier alchemist holding an important position in the Pill Tower, my judgment naturally represents the Qiu Clan," Qiu Ping snorted coldly, naturally displeased at being questioned by a junior like Xiao Yan. He was no ordinary 7th-tier alchemist; he had already reached high-grade tier 7. Moreover, although Xiao Yan''s alchemy talent was high, he knew that Xiao Yan''s chances of breaking through to tier 8 were slim to none. The reason was simple. Without specialized Qi Methods and rare treasures, reaching the Soul State needed for tier 8 was nearly impossible. Countless alchemists had remained stuck at the peak of tier 7 their entire lives. Furthermore, Gu Tong had dealings with the Qiu Clan. Although the transaction wasn''t completed, the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame could be considered half-owned by the Qiu Clan, and he would not allow Xiao Yan to take it. Xiao Yan simply laughed, lightly patted Qiu Ping''s shoulder, and even mischievously ruffled Gu Tong''s head as though the latter were a child, "Alright, since that''s the case, when I visit the Pill Region in the future, I''ll be sure to stop by the Qiu Clan to get a clear understanding." He, Xiao Yan, had already reserved the championship of this Pill Gathering! No matter what Witch or prodigy dared to stand in his way, they would only meet defeat! Everyone present fell silent at these words. "Sigh, setting aside the Medicine Bone Sect, one of the ten great factions, the Qiu Clan is truly not to be provoked." "That Xiao Yan of the Yan Alliance can be considered someone who knows when to yield and when to stand firm." "Hah, in the end, he still has to give the Qiu Clan face. He can''t really think that a bit of talent will let him ignore the Qiu Clan, can he?" Qing Lin, at the side, couldn''t resist a small smile. She understood in her heart that her Young Master was definitely not someone to be trifled with, nor was he afraid of trouble. He absolutely had his own plans. "Xiao Yan, are you really going to let him off like that?" Zi Yan was a bit indignant. She raised her small fists, looking as if she was ready to vent Xiao Yan''s anger for him. "Why the rush? There are so many people here; you can''t make a move now even if you want to. Besides, isn''t the Great Meeting of Factions not over yet? How many have you beaten today?" Xiao Yan chuckled and asked. Zi Yan immediately puffed out her small chest proudly. "I''ve beaten ten today!" "That so-called Beast Emperor of the Sky Serpent Mansion was no match at all," Zi Yan grinned, revealing her pearly-white teeth. With that, Xiao Yan and the members of the Yan Alliance chatted and laughed as they leaped onto the back of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast. The Serene Sea Scaly Beast then carried them all away from the square. On the back of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, Xiao Yan slowly turned his head to look down, a strange glint flashing in his eyes. As he had said, with so many people here, making a move was impractical. He had already placed a soul imprint for tracking. After the Great Meeting of Factions ended, that Heavenly Flame would still end up in his hands. It was just that at that time, he might need to use some slightly more forceful methods. A cold smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. They wanted to renege on a wager with him, Venerable Yan? After the Great Meeting of Factions concluded, he would collect both principal and interest! Once the Serene Sea Scaly Beast disappeared over the horizon, discussions gradually arose throughout the mountain range. Some talked about the recent alchemy competition, some discussed the Yan Alliance, and naturally, some secretly ridiculed Gu Tong for not keeping his word. In short, there were all kinds of discussions. However, there was no doubt that all discussions pointed in one direction: the Yan Alliance! It was not just the Medicine Bone Sect now. Even the leaders of overlord-level factions like the Thunderbolt Sect and the Sky Serpent Mansion had furrowed brows. She Tianhao, Ting Hao, Shi Nian, and the other faction leaders exchanged subtle glances, all seeing a trace of apprehension in each other''s eyes. While a 7th-tier alchemist might amount to no more than adding another Medicine Bone Sect and couldn''t shake their positions as overlords, Xiao Yan was too young! "Tomorrow is the final competition of the Great Meeting of Factions. No matter what, we must defend our arena this time," She Tianhao glanced at Qing Lin, then spoke gravely to the Dou Ancestors like Bai Ya behind him. "Understood, Mansion Lord!" ... Over the past few days, the Dou Emperor-level battles had concluded. The Dou Emperors of various factions had essentially all fought once, and among them, Zi Yan stood out as the undisputed Beast Emperor. Even though her cultivation was only at 3-star Dou Emperor, even the 9-star Dou Emperor from the Sky Serpent Mansion had failed to defeat her! People were also curious about what kind of magical beast Zi Yan''s true form was. Early the next morning, just as Xiao Yan emerged from his cultivation and was preparing to freshen up. "This is bad!" Princess Yue Er burst in at this moment, looking panicked as she spoke to Xiao Yan. "What happened?" Xiao Yan looked at the flustered Yue Er and asked. Yue Er''s voice also attracted others. She hastily said, "It''s Sect Leader Yun Yun! Something happened to her." "What happened to Yun Yun?" Xiao Yan stood up abruptly, his eyes turning sharp. Just moments ago, Yun Yun had been outside practicing Dou Techniques; how could anything have happened?! "I had just gone out intending to purchase some medicinal ingredients for alchemy. Hearing some commotion, I curiously went to see and found Sect Leader Yun Yun surrounded by experts from several factions¡ªthe Medicine Bone Sect, Gold Geese Sect, and Mulan Valley¡ªon a nearby mountain peak," Yue Er said anxiously. A frightful killing intent surged from Xiao Yan, and Yue Er could not help trembling. At that moment, she felt as if Xiao Yan had transformed into a dreadful god of death. "I was originally planning to wait until the Great Meeting of Factions ended to settle accounts, but it seems some people are truly tired of living," Xiao Yan said slowly. Yue Mei and Hua She Er, who had rushed over from outside the door, couldn''t help but shudder. At that moment, they felt as if a terrifying black shadow loomed behind Xiao Yan, making one''s hair stand on end. Once they returned to their senses, they immediately called for the others and followed Xiao Yan. On a mountain peak not far from the Sky Serpent Mansion''s mountain range, Yun Yun was currently surrounded by a group of people. Moreover, most of those surrounding Yun Yun were white-haired seniors of the older generation, all of them Dou Emperors, and among them were even several powerful Dou Ancestor experts! At Yun Yun''s feet lay a corpse. This corpse had its throat slit by a single sword strike. It was none other than the Medicine Bone Sect''s youngest genius, Jian Feixue! Chapter 335: Trap Chapter 335 - 335: Trap Word Count: 2,519 Words ****** The young man dead at Yun Yun''s feet was none other than Jian Feixue¡ªthe same person who had competed alongside Princess Yue Er on the second day of the Great Meeting of Factions. He had also refined a tier 5 pill and ultimately claimed the title of strongest young alchemist in the North-Western Region. Jian Feixue of the Medicine Bone Sect wasn''t just renowned among the younger generation of alchemists; he was a rising star with immense potential. But now, this promising individual lay dead, though not by Yun Yun''s hand. Earlier, while Yun Yun was practicing Dou Techniques in the Yan Alliance''s courtyard, she had sensed someone''s presence and immediately left to investigate. She spotted a Dou Emperor elder from the Medicine Bone Sect behaving suspiciously with another person. That same elder now stood beside Gu Tong, and the person with him then had been Jian Feixue. However, Jian Feixue had already been dead at that time. His body was merely being manipulated to appear as though he were gathering intelligence on the Yan Alliance alongside the Dou Emperor elder. Yun Yun never expected the Medicine Bone Sect to be so audacious with their false accusations, attempting to plant Jian Feixue''s corpse inside the Yan Alliance''s residence where Xiao Yan and the others were staying. But even that Dou Emperor elder from the Medicine Bone Sect hadn''t anticipated that Yun Yun would discover him before he could bring the corpse inside. As events unfolded, when Yun Yun pursued them and found herself surrounded, she immediately realized she had fallen into a trap. But by that point, multiple Dou Ancestors had encircled her, making escape impossible. Such a significant commotion, involving several factions and elite Dou Ancestors, naturally deterred others from speaking recklessly. This matter concerned the Medicine Bone Sect, the Gold Geese Sect, and Mulan Valley, three formidable factions that no one wished to offend. The Medicine Bone Sect had ranked among the top ten factions in previous Great Meetings and commanded tremendous respect throughout the North-Western Region. As for the Gold Geese Sect and Mulan Valley, they stood alongside the Chu Yun Empire as the three great imperial powers, with both factions maintaining complete control over their respective empires. Yun Yun''s expression remained grave as she found herself surrounded by Yan Luo Tian and the Three Mulan Elders. She understood immediately that this was a carefully orchestrated trap. She regretted having stepped into it. Yun Yun realized that this setup wasn''t targeting her but rather Xiao Yan, or more precisely, the entire Yan Alliance. She had merely discovered their scheme along the way, so they adapted their plan to use her. She was, after all, a Sect Leader. She remained composed despite being encircled. Her gaze swept across her surroundings before settling firmly on Gu Tong. "Sect Leader Yun Yun, your heart is truly venomous!" The Dou Emperor elder from the Medicine Bone Sect cried out in anguish. He was Jian Feixue''s Master, "My disciple merely won the championship among the younger generation of alchemists, and because he surpassed your Yan Alliance''s young alchemists, you feared his rise and resorted to such ruthless means!" Elder Zhang of the Medicine Bone Sect appeared utterly grief-stricken at the loss of his ''beloved'' disciple. His words had already named the Yan Alliance as the culprit and even provided a supposed motive for the murder. Many experts who had rushed over couldn''t help but feel a chill down their spines. Killing a disciple of the Medicine Bone Sect was a grave offense, especially when that disciple was the talented young alchemist of his generation. For any faction, this represented a devastating blow! This was a blood feud, a matter that wouldn''t end until one side was annihilated! "Elder Zhang, I didn''t kill your disciple. Don''t falsely accuse me," Yun Yun said in a solemn voice. She was Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, after all, and had weathered countless storms. She remained composed even while surrounded by several Dou Ancestors. "Yun Yun, the evidence is irrefutable! My disciple''s corpse lies at your feet, and he died by a sword wound. Your Misty Cloud Sect is renowned for swordsmanship. Moreover, only your Yan Alliance has a motive to kill my disciple!" Elder Zhang shouted sharply. "Irrefutable evidence?" Yun Yun retorted coldly. "Hmph, plenty of people in the North-Western Region use swords. When I arrived, he was already dead." "Furthermore, your Medicine Bone Sect, Gold Geese Sect, and Mulan Valley seem to be quite collaborative. The three Sect Leaders and their experts conveniently gathered here." Yan Luo Tian immediately snorted. "What are you implying, Sect Leader Yun Yun? The Three Mulan Elders and I visited the Medicine Bone Sect early this morning hoping to request pills. When we heard that their genius alchemist Jian Feixue had gone missing, we offered to help search out of goodwill." The eldest of the Three Mulan Elders nodded. "Exactly. Unfortunately, we arrived a step too late. When we reached here, we witnessed you delivering the fatal blow to Jian Feixue! We all saw it with our own eyes!" "Not even sparing a young man¡ªyour Yan Alliance truly has a ruthless heart!" Yun Yun''s eyes narrowed as she coldly replied, "Hmph, that''s merely your one-sided claim. You say I killed Jian Feixue, but do you have any evidence?" "Is his body not right beside you? How else do you explain Jian Feixue''s corpse being here? Without doubt, you killed him to keep him silent!" Yan Luo Tian pointed at Jian Feixue''s body as he spoke. "Brother Tian, perhaps that Xiao Yan is the mastermind behind all this. He even cheated during the alchemy competition. He likely feared Jian Feixue would surpass him in the future, so he resorted to such cruel means!" Gu Tong added slowly, deliberately shifting the blame onto Xiao Yan. The Three Mulan Elders nodded in agreement. "That must be it! Our three great empires have clashed with the Yan Alliance before, and their methods are sinister and ruthless. Even our Mulan Valley has lost genius disciples to their hands. This aligns with their usual conduct." The onlookers held their breath, none daring to interject. This matter could easily escalate into a life-and-death struggle between factions! Yun Yun''s gaze intensified. She had known their target was Xiao Yan all along but hadn''t expected such blatant tactics. "Heh, I almost pity Jian Feixue. He should have had a bright future ahead of him, yet he was sacrificed as a pawn. Despite being the Medicine Bone Sect''s most talented young alchemist, he was discarded like a chess piece. I truly feel sorry for your sect''s other disciples. He must have died with unresolved grievances." Yun Yun sneered. She shook her head and cast a sympathetic glance at Jian Feixue''s lifeless body beside her. The Medicine Bone Sect was indeed ruthless. The impact wouldn''t have been sufficient if it had been an ordinary disciple. Only Jian Feixue, who had defeated Yue Er to claim the title of top young alchemist, created sufficient conflict with the Yan Alliance. "What do you mean by that, Sect Leader Yun Yun?!" Gu Tong roared angrily. "Your Yan Alliance murders a disciple of my Medicine Bone Sect, and you dare to slander us! Do you truly believe your Yan Alliance is now strong enough to dominate the entire North-Western Region?" "Do you think you can act without restraint just because you have a young 7th-tier alchemist?" Gu Tong''s words were exceedingly insidious. He implied that while the Yan Alliance wasn''t yet strong enough to unify the North-Western Region, they would become uncontrollable in the future, bringing disaster to the region. Many faction leaders exchanged meaningful glances, their eyes flickering with complex emotions as they contemplated these words. "I, Xiao Yan, indeed act without restraint. My Yan Alliance is certainly the strongest and largest in the North-Western Region. What can your Medicine Bone Sect do about it?" A voice echoed from the distance. "Xiao Yan!" Though not especially loud, the voice carried unmistakable anger and coldness that everyone could hear. Some faction leaders had already surmised that Gu Tong had conspired with the Gold Geese Sect and Mulan Valley to strangle the Yan Alliance in its cradle. Gu Tong not only coveted Xiao Yan''s Heavenly Flame but also wanted to prevent the Yan Alliance''s growth. Since he had already torn all cordiality with Xiao Yan, he needed to kill him before Xiao Yan became even stronger. Otherwise, once Xiao Yan reached the peak of tier 7, it would spell disaster for them. The same logic applied to the Gold Geese Sect and Mulan Valley. Their territories bordered the Yan Alliance. Once the Yan Alliance gained enough strength, their empires would be the first to suffer! A massive blue serpentine beast glided through the sky as if swimming through water. Xiao Yan, dressed in his alchemist''s robe, stood atop its head. Behind him were Zi Yan and the others, all wearing solemn expressions. It seemed that some battles were unavoidable. "Xiao Yan!!" Elder Zhang roared furiously upon seeing him. All the Dou Emperors of the Medicine Bone Sect abandoned Yun Yun and instead surrounded the Serene Sea Scaly Beast. Not only them, but in an instant, numerous experts from the Gold Geese Sect and Mulan Valley also surged forward, encircling Xiao Yan so tightly that nothing could get through. Yun Yun, who had been their focus moments before, now found herself abruptly sidelined. Any discerning observer could see that Yun Yun had merely served as bait to lure out Xiao Yan. Jian Feixue was nothing more than a pretext for these three factions to make their move! Many onlookers felt a chill run through them, especially the faction leaders who sensed the ominous atmosphere. "Xiao Yan! You murdered my disciple Jian Feixue. A life for a life, blood must be repaid with blood!" Jian Feixue''s Master cried, his voice filled with sorrow and indignation. Despite being surrounded by numerous Dou Emperors and several Dou Ancestors, Xiao Yan''s face remained calm, as if those surrounding him were mere small fries, not worth mentioning. "Hmm? Jian Feixue? Who''s that?" Xiao Yan thought for a moment, then shook his head slightly, as the name did not ring any bells. This wasn''t him pretending. He genuinely didn''t know who Jian Feixue was. At that time, Yue Er''s competition was like children playing with mud in his eyes. Why would he have paid attention to the winner? Gu Tong spoke with a sinister smile. "Jian Feixue merely defeated your Yan Alliance''s young alchemist to claim the championship. His alchemy talent was outstanding, but you feared he would surpass you, so you instructed Sect Leader Yun Yun to secretly kill him. You''re truly vicious, harming a fellow alchemist. My Medicine Bone Sect and the factions of the North-Western Region will never let you off!!" "Oh, that guy," Xiao Yan laughed leisurely. "A nearly thirty-year-old 5th-tier alchemist? What''s so impressive about that?" "If I wanted him dead, I''d just do it myself. Why would I have to order anyone else? If I''d wanted him gone, he wouldn''t have made it to another morning, so why wait until now?" Xiao Yan folded his arms across his chest, speaking in a cold tone. "Nevertheless, since you''ve all gone to such trouble to create this pretext, it would be discourteous not to play along. Fine then, I killed him. Now, what do you plan to do about it?" Xiao Yan''s face remained composed, as if he had actually committed the murder and was simply admitting it outright. His response momentarily stunned Gu Tong and the others. He admitted it so readily? Without even arguing? Even Yun Yun and some onlookers were taken aback. Why had Xiao Yan confessed? Jia Xing Tian sent a spiritual transmission. "Xiao Yan, that Yan Luo Tian is a 2-star Dou Ancestor. I can barely hold him off. Mulan Valley doesn''t have a Dou Ancestor, but the Three Mulan Elders cultivate the Three Beast Savage Skill, and their combined strength rivals that of a Dou Ancestor. I''m afraid Hai Bodong and the others might not be able to handle them." "No worries. Leave those three old things to Zi Yan," Xiao Yan replied. "The biggest concern remains..." Jia Xing Tian''s expression grew grave as he looked toward the two elders standing beside Gu Tong. As a 7th-tier alchemist, Gu Tong''s personal combat prowess might not be exceptional among Dou Ancestors, but his influence couldn''t be underestimated. Those two elders were his enforcers, both 3-star Dou Ancestors. Including Gu Tong himself, the Medicine Bone Sect truly deserved its status among the top ten factions with three Dou Ancestors in its ranks! "It''s fine. You focus on the Gold Geese Sect and Mulan Valley. I''ll handle Gu Tong and the Medicine Bone Sect." Xiao Yan unfurled a pair of green flame wings and slowly descended beside Yun Yun. "Are you alright?" he asked softly. Yun Yun shook her head gently, concern evident in her eyes. "You shouldn''t have come." Although it seemed that the most formidable opponents were the two 3-star Dou Ancestors of the Medicine Bone Sect and Gu Tong himself, Xiao Yan might still contend with them using Venerable Tian Huo''s power. But were these truly their only adversaries? Of course not. They were already causing such a stir, yet even now the Sky Serpent Mansion, the main host of the Great Meeting of Factions, as well as the Thunderbolt Sect and the Profound Lion Sect, the top three factions in the North-Western Region, had not appeared at all. Those who wished for the Yan Alliance''s destruction and Xiao Yan''s death extended beyond these three factions. The others were likely observing from the shadows, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. "Don''t be ridiculous. Did you expect me to watch you die?" Xiao Yan gave Yun Yun a helpless glance. Yun Yun could only offer a wry smile, though warmth kindled in her heart. "If you are willing to hand over your Heavenly Flame and the alchemist inheritance in your possession, perhaps we can lighten your punishment," Gu Tong said slowly, a greedy glint flashing in his eyes. Xiao Yan merely shrugged. "Why pretend? If you want my Heavenly Flame, just try to take it. Just as I want yours, and planned to settle that matter after the Great Meeting ended." "Didn''t you notice the soul imprint on the back of your head?" At these words, Gu Tong was startled. He concentrated his Spiritual Strength and finally discovered that, unbeknownst to him, Xiao Yan had left a subtle soul imprint on him! Fury immediately overtook him as he glared at Xiao Yan. He never expected that Xiao Yan had been targeting him all along! "Hmph, don''t think you''re the only 7th-tier alchemist with influence. I have people too," Xiao Yan said with a cold snort. No sooner had he spoken than a green light streaked in from the distance. Qing Lin arrived with her green hair fluttering and wings spread wide before landing in front of Xiao Yan. Chapter 336: The Young Should Know the Sweetness of Soft Rice Chapter 336 - 336: The Young Should Know the Sweetness of Soft Rice Word Count: 2,672 Words ****** "Everyone, stop immediately!" Qing Lin spread her arms wide as if shielding Xiao Yan behind her and shouted loudly. "It''s the Saintess of the Sky Serpent Mansion!" "No wonder this Xiao Yan isn''t panicking at all. Turns out he had already aligned himself with the Sky Serpent Mansion!" Everyone was shocked at Qing Lin''s appearance. Her identity as the Saintess of the Sky Serpent Mansion meant she represented the entire faction! "Blood feuds between factions are strictly prohibited during the Great Meeting of Factions. If you wish to fight, then do so on the Great Meeting''s arena!" Qing Lin''s eyes glowed with green light as she stared directly at Gu Tong and the others. This reversal stunned everyone present! "The Sky Serpent Mansion! This..." Yan Luo Tian''s eyes filled with deep apprehension. The Sky Serpent Mansion was definitely not someone their Gold Geese Sect could afford to offend. Although the Sky Serpent Mansion was also known as one of the top ten factions in the North-Western Region, in terms of strength, it actually ranked first. The main reason it hadn''t unified the North-Western Region was that there were still several factions with comparable power. Gu Tong frowned deeply instead. He couldn''t understand what was happening. Just yesterday, he had secretly exchanged views with the leaders of the Thunderbolt Sect, Profound Lion Sect, and Sky Serpent Mansion. Naturally, none of these three major factions wanted to see the Yan Alliance rise. "Could it be that Xiao Yan has already reached an agreement with the Sky Serpent Mansion to bring the Yan Alliance under their banner?!" "No way! If that''s the case, wouldn''t the Sky Serpent Mansion possess the strongest alchemist and the strongest Dou Ancestor? That would be enough to unify the North-Western Region!" "That''s probably it. Otherwise, why would the Saintess of the Sky Serpent Mansion appear here?" The atmosphere across the entire mountain range shifted in an instant. After all, if the Yan Alliance truly merged or allied with the Sky Serpent Mansion, then most factions in the North-Western Region would likely submit. The youngest and strongest alchemist combined with the mightiest faction... no faction in the North-Western Region would dare offend such a combination. Admitting to killing a genius disciple of the Medicine Bone Sect was originally a serious matter. At minimum, it could cost one''s life; at worst, it could bring about the extermination of one''s entire faction. But if the Yan Alliance truly united with the Sky Serpent Mansion, then these major issues would become minor, or even nothing at all. However, the situation reversed once again soon after! "Qing Lin, you should not interfere in this matter." A deep voice resounded from the distance. Everyone looked over to see She Tianhao, the Mansion Lord of the Sky Serpent Mansion! All present were stunned. This reversal happened even faster than in a suspense drama! "What... what''s going on with the Sky Serpent Mansion..." The entire mountain range fell into stunned silence, including Gu Tong and his group. They looked back and forth between Qing Lin and She Tianhao. Was the Sky Serpent Mansion having internal strife??? Qing Lin removed her veil, revealing a face that had matured into captivating beauty. Her eyes gleamed with determination as she stared at She Tianhao. She slowly shook her head. "I''m sorry, Mansion Lord, but Qing Lin cannot stand by and watch while Young Master Xiao Yan is in danger." Hiss!!! The sound of gasping rippled across the entire mountain range, as though everyone had seen a ghost! "Y-Young Master?! Did I hear that right? The Saintess of the Sky Serpent Mansion just addressed Xiao Yan as ''Young Master''?!" "You didn''t mishear. I heard it too!" "How is this possible? She''s the Saintess of the Sky Serpent Mansion! What exactly is their relationship?" "Holy crap, I heard the Sky Serpent Mansion once intended to pair this Saintess with She Tianhao. Not only is Xiao Yan''s Heavenly Flame green, but the hat he''s giving others is green too." "Tsk tsk tsk, this entanglement runs deep. If I were She Tianhao, I absolutely couldn''t tolerate this." She Tianhao''s face darkened so much it seemed water might drip from it when he heard Qing Lin''s defiance. His inverted-triangle snake eyes flashed with murderous light. Without a doubt, he was now in a state of rage. "Xiao Yan, such skillful methods you have, actually bewitching my Sky Serpent Mansion''s Saintess! I don''t know what drug you used to make Qing Lin so devoted to you, but my Sky Serpent Mansion will definitely pursue this matter to the end!" She Tianhao''s voice was terrifyingly cold as he stared daggers at Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan touched his nose, looking somewhat embarrassed. "Saying I bewitched her is going too far. Qing Lin was raised by my Xiao Clan. I didn''t expect her to act like this either." !? The plot reversed yet again as soon as Xiao Yan spoke! All the onlookers'' minds couldn''t process what was happening. Wasn''t it you who called Qing Lin out? You were being so loud about it just now! Qing Lin spoke softly, "Young Master Xiao Yan, I''ll use the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils'' illusion technique in a moment. It can cause temporary dizziness and disorientation in those around us. Young Master Xiao Yan can then lead the Yan Alliance members away." Xiao Yan grabbed Qing Lin''s wrist and pulled her back. "Qing Lin, calm down. With just these stray cats, dogs, and snakes, they don''t have the ability to keep me here if I want to leave." Everyone watching was dumbfounded. Saying such words was simply not putting the Sky Serpent Mansion in his eyes at all. This was too arrogant! Gu Tong, however, revealed a delighted grin. He had been worried that if they pushed the Yan Alliance into a corner, Xiao Yan might join the Sky Serpent Mansion, Thunderbolt Sect, or other factions for protection, which would be troublesome. Now it was perfect. This Xiao Yan had pushed the Sky Serpent Mansion to stand against him. Yan Luo Tian and the others watched eagerly, in no rush to act. After all, someone was more anxious than they were. She Tianhao trembled with rage, fiery anger coursing through his veins. He wanted nothing less than to tear Xiao Yan into pieces! He had always considered Qing Lin his personal property, having long regarded her as part of the Sky Serpent Mansion and thus his woman. Now Xiao Yan was publicly snatching her away, placing such a massive green hat on his head. If he could endure this, then he might as well be from the turtle clan. "Little beast, this seat will grind your bones to dust and scatter your corpse to the winds today!" She Tianhao''s face turned iron-blue from Xiao Yan''s mockery, as ugly as could be. He let out a thunderous roar as a massive serpent silhouette appeared behind him. When he stepped forward, people felt as if the surrounding world was collapsing. The terrifying aura pressed down, giving the sensation that the ground was about to crack apart. Xiao Yan raised his hand with an expression that seemed to say, I know you''re anxious, but don''t be hasty just yet. "Qing Lin is a member of my clan. It was your Sky Serpent Mansion that forcibly took her away back then. Since she is willing to leave with me now, it''s only natural that I take her away. However, your Sky Serpent Mansion did nurture her." Xiao Yan then glanced sideways at Gu Tong, who was watching the show, and sneered. "As for you lot from the Medicine Bone Sect and Gold Geese Sect, you think far too highly of yourselves. You really think I care? In fact, you''re already dead men in my eyes." "I only want to tell you this: you should never, ever have touched my Yan Alliance''s people. I will make sure you die without a burial place!" "Kill them all." Xiao Yan waved his hand grandly, exuding unparalleled confidence. But... The entire mountain range fell into peaceful silence at this moment. You could hear a pin drop, even the cawing of passing crows was audible. Qing Lin, Yun Yun, and the Yan Alliance members behind all slowly turned to look at Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan''s face flushed bright red. He was so embarrassed he wanted to find a hole to crawl into. This was too embarrassing! "Hey! The Yan Alliance is partly yours too. Don''t tell me you want to see it destroyed!" "You have no right to command me." A cold rebuke rang out at this moment! Just then, rays of dazzling colorful light poured from the sky, illuminating the entire Sky Serpent Mansion. It was as though a celestial realm had opened its doors! A woman stood in the sky above, though no one knew when she had appeared. She possessed world-shaking beauty with features that could overthrow cities and nations. Even her loose robes couldn''t conceal her explosive figure. She stood there like a celestial maiden from heaven. Her black hair and ice-cold countenance made people afraid to approach. Everyone was shocked upon seeing this woman, marveling at her peerless beauty. The first to recognize her was naturally Hua She Er, her personal guard. Hua She Er immediately knelt down and shouted, "Your Majesty!" Yue Mei followed suit and knelt as well. That appearance, that aura, that figure! Who else could it be but Medusa! Lu She''s legs went weak behind She Tianhao. His face turned ashen as he collapsed onto the ground, shrieking like someone who had just glimpsed a ghost. "Queen Medusa!!!" Those who didn''t recognize Medusa instantly understood upon hearing Lu She''s scream. The peerlessly beautiful woman standing in the sky was none other than the Iron-Blooded Queen of the Snake-People Tribe! "She''s Medusa from the Snake-People Tribe?! She''s completely transformed!" "No, wait! Not just transformed. Her aura... why do I feel like she''s even stronger than She Tianhao!" Not just She Tianhao, but even Ting Hao of the Thunderbolt Sect and Shi Nian of the Profound Lion Sect, who were watching from afar, showed expressions of shock and fear. "7-star Dou Ancestor?!" "Impossible! How did her strength increase so quickly!" She Tianhao was especially shocked because he was also a 7-star Dou Ancestor, yet he could sense that Medusa''s strength surpassed his own! Then, he suddenly looked toward the smug Xiao Yan. That proud expression made it seem as if he were the 7-star Dou Ancestor. She Tianhao recalled that the Yan Alliance had been established about four years ago. Apart from Medusa''s appearance when the Yan Alliance was first formed, she had been missing the rest of the time. Moreover, with Medusa''s prideful nature, her agreeing to an alliance was simply impossible. She Tianhao had once proposed that the Snake-People Tribe join them, offering incredibly generous conditions, but Medusa hadn''t even acknowledged him. "Could it be because of him!" Xiao Yan was a 7th-tier alchemist! Those who thought alchemists could only refine pills were gravely mistaken! The reason alchemists could become the top, most powerful profession on the Dou Qi Continent wasn''t just pill refinement. They could even bring flesh back to bones and revive the dead, enhance talent, and defy fate itself! The situation on the field reversed once again in an instant. Everyone watching from the mountain range finally understood where Xiao Yan''s confidence came from! He had soft rice to eat! Medusa had, in fact, arrived long ago. With her speed, traveling from Jia Nan Academy back to the Snake-People Tribe took merely half a day. She then learned that Xiao Yan had led the Yan Alliance to the Sky Serpent Empire for the Great Meeting of Factions! So, after handling affairs in the Snake-People Tribe and resolving border issues, she rushed to the Sky Serpent Empire. After achieving the Heavenly Flame Serpent Body, her strength had not only surged dramatically. Her 7-star Dou Ancestor power allowed her to use the Heavenly Flame''s power to deploy a Space Lock, sealing her own space to prevent detection. Let alone the Sky Serpent Mansion''s Dou Ancestors, even Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength couldn''t detect her. If not for the special soul connection between them, he wouldn''t have discovered her either. Xiao Yan''s smugness was justified. The Heavenly Flame Serpent Body was his creation after all! "Don''t let a single person from the Medicine Bone Sect escape!" Xiao Yan shouted loudly. Even Medusa couldn''t stand it anymore. She transmitted her voice, dissatisfied, "Have you always been this shameless?" "Heh heh heh, this isn''t being shameless. I call this being adaptable. If I had the cultivation of a Dou Ancestor, I wouldn''t need you to act." Xiao Yan''s face remained unchanged, without a hint of embarrassment. He didn''t understand what shamelessness meant. He only knew that being able to eat soft rice meant he had ability! Gu Tong and the two Dou Ancestors hired by the Medicine Bone Sect instantly paled upon hearing Xiao Yan''s words. They had no intention of fighting Medusa. That terrifying pressure made them understand that fighting meant certain death. They could only flee! Xiao Yan unfurled his Heavenly Flame wings upon seeing those soul points trying to escape. He shouted, "Don''t let those two Dou Ancestors get away! Leave Gu Tong to me!" A thunderous explosion sounded as Xiao Yan borrowed Venerable Tian Huo''s Spiritual Strength to push his speed to the extreme, chasing directly after Gu Tong. Although Medusa was displeased with Xiao Yan ordering her around, she didn''t deliberately oppose him either. Her hands rapidly formed seals, and a Space Lock instantly trapped those two 3-star Dou Ancestors. Yan Luo Tian and the Three Mulan Elders immediately fled in the opposite direction upon seeing the situation was hopeless, completely abandoning their faction''s disciples. "Trying to run!" Zi Yan laughed loudly. A pair of purple wings spread from her back. Her fists condensed spatial heavy punches as she struck fiercely toward the Three Mulan Elders. Yun Yun also had a belly full of anger. They actually dared to scheme against her! Did they really think Sect Leader Yun had no temper?! Her green sword rang out as she drew it. The blade rose and fell as she charged toward Jian Feixue''s Master. Blood splattered everywhere with one sword thrust. Roar!!! The Serene Sea Scaly Beast roared angrily. Its massive body charged forward, crushing several young genius disciples of the Gold Geese Sect to death with a single stomp. With Medusa holding the line, the Yan Alliance members had no reservations. They pounced like wolves toward the Medicine Bone Sect''s Dou Emperor experts who had just been acting so arrogantly. "I-I-I have dealings with the Qiu Clan''s head. Y-y-you, if you dare kill me, the Qiu Clan of the Pill Region absolutely won''t let you go." Gu Tong was frightened pale at this moment. He was a Dou Ancestor who could manipulate space with extreme speed, yet Xiao Yan''s speed was no less than his! "You overestimate that worthless Qiu Clan far too much." Xiao Yan laughed leisurely while chasing from behind. "The Qiu Clan means nothing to me. Besides, when I reach the Pill Region, I''ll personally ''visit'' that Qiu Clan." "However, you won''t have the chance to see it." A cold glint flashed through Xiao Yan''s eyes. This Gu Tong had not only reneged on their wager but also schemed against him and besieged Yun Yun. He had no reason to spare him. Three Thousand Lightning Movement¡ªThree Thousand Lightning! Boom!! A thunderous sound erupted. Xiao Yan''s feet trod on thin air as lightning sparkled beneath them. Though he was only a Dou Emperor, it appeared as if he was stepping across the sky like a Dou Ancestor! "Three Thousand Lightning Movement! How do you know the Wind Lightning Pavilion''s agility-type Dou Technique!" Gu Tong cried out in shock as a streak of lightning shot past him. Xiao Yan, clutching the Heavy Xuan Ruler, appeared in front of him. Chapter 337: Venerable Yan Is Professional Chapter 337 - 337: Venerable Yan Is Professional Word Count: 2,589 Words ****** "Just practice more and you''ll learn it. Why wait for someone to teach you?" Xiao Yan smiled as he gazed at the terrified Gu Tong. In his eyes, Gu Tong was now nothing more than a Heavenly Flame and tens of thousands of soul points. An ordinary Dou Ancestor''s soul body would yield at least ten thousand soul points, and since this was an alchemist, the amount should be even greater. "You stole the Wind Lightning Pavilion''s agility-type Dou Technique! The Wind Lightning Pavilion will definitely hunt you down! You''re courting death!" Gu Tong shouted sharply, though his eyes darted nervously to the sides. "Hunt me down? Don''t worry, the Wind Lightning Pavilion won''t know." Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed. There was no one else around, and after all, dead men tell no tales. A flicker ran through Gu Tong''s eyes. Suddenly, he twisted his body into a bizarre arc. Then, his foot stomped and his figure cut through the air, executing a strange agility technique. "Trying to run?" Xiao Yan merely smiled when he saw Gu Tong suddenly break away. With his powerful Spiritual Strength, such movements naturally couldn''t escape his perception. Silver light flashed beneath his feet again. An afterimage remained in place while his figure appeared several hundred meters away as if teleporting. Gu Tong''s pupils contracted slightly when he saw Xiao Yan rapidly catching up. The other party''s agility-type Dou Technique was the Three Thousand Lightning Movement cultivated to the major level. Even though he was a Dou Ancestor with a Di Class agility technique of his own, it still fell short compared to the Three Thousand Lightning Movement. Dou Qi erupted violently from within Gu Tong''s body. He suddenly turned around with a sinister smile. His hand, wrapped in golden light, formed a blade and viciously slashed toward Xiao Yan. The golden hand blade tore through space. However, just as it was about to strike Xiao Yan''s face, the latter curved his lips into a cold smile, having already sensed the ambush through his Spiritual Strength. He thrust forward the hand seal he had been maintaining for a long time, dodged the attack, and landed an extremely nimble palm strike on Gu Tong''s chest. Open Mountain Seal! The hand seal landed on Gu Tong''s chest. Xiao Yan''s expression turned icy as a vast and violent energy immediately surged from his palm, pouring into the latter''s body like a torrential flood. The terrifying energy of the Open Mountain Seal poured forth with a thunderous boom. Not only that, the Green Lotus Core Flame simultaneously erupted from Xiao Yan''s palm. A thunderclap-like explosion suddenly resounded across the sky. A visible wave of terrifying energy surged out from where the two figures intersected, then spread madly in all directions. Green flames scattered everywhere. Gu Tong violently spat out a mouthful of blood, a charred palm print marking his chest. He had been injured by someone else''s Heavenly Flame! Though caught somewhat off guard, Gu Tong was still a genuine Dou Ancestor. Relying on his exceptional energy manipulation, brilliant brown flames burst from his body''s surface the instant that powerful force erupted from Xiao Yan''s palm. The Wind and Thunder Fury Flame surged forth, finally forming a heart-protecting mirror that tightly wrapped around his chest area. Even though Gu Tong had summoned his own Heavenly Flame at the critical moment, he still could not withstand the entirety of Xiao Yan''s full-strength strike at such close range. ''How is this kid so strong? What Qi Method is he cultivating!'' Terror filled Gu Tong''s heart. Both Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength and Dou Qi were ridiculously powerful. A typical peak Dou Emperor wouldn''t even be able to get close to him, let alone injure him. Yet Xiao Yan, who had only reached 9-star Dou Emperor through borrowed power, possessed Dou Qi stronger than even his own as a Dou Ancestor! Could he have cultivated a Low Tian Class Qi Method?! "My Wind and Thunder Fury Flame is stronger than your Green Lotus Core Flame!" Gu Tong roared. The Wind and Thunder Fury Flame erupted from his body in a terrifying tornado. Gu Tong truly deserved his reputation as a 7th-tier alchemist; his fire control was truly not weak. Unfortunately, he had met the wrong opponent. "Is that so? Then what about this?" The green flame in Xiao Yan''s hand slowly began to change. The deep green color of the Green Lotus Core Flame, originally like lush foliage, started to fade as if something had diluted it. Finally, the Green Lotus Core Flame transformed into a glazed color, crystal clear like glass. Whoosh! When Xiao Yan''s Glazed Lotus Heart Flame appeared, Gu Tong''s Wind and Thunder Fury Flame actually shrank back, as if encountering a more powerful Heavenly Flame and showing some fear! "You!! What is this! Why did your Heavenly Flame change!" This clearly exceeded Gu Tong''s understanding. Obviously, he didn''t know that Xiao Yan possessed multiple Heavenly Flames, let alone that this glazed-colored Heavenly Flame before him was a new flame formed by merging the Green Lotus Core Flame and Fallen Heart Flame! "This is called the Glazed Lotus Heart Flame, a Heavenly Flame not on the Heavenly Flame Ranking." Xiao Yan smiled, then waved his hand. The overwhelming Glazed Lotus Heart Flame transformed into a giant python that pounced toward the dragon-like Wind and Thunder Fury Flame. Since the other party wished to compete in fire control and Heavenly Flames, he would be more than happy to oblige! Boom!! The two Heavenly Flames collided violently, invading and entangling each other. The Wind and Thunder Fury Flame was indeed one rank higher than the Green Lotus Core Flame, and Gu Tong was a Dou Ancestor. But things were different with the Fallen Heart Flame merged in. If ranked, the Glazed Lotus Heart Flame could probably reach tenth place. Moreover, Xiao Yan''s Flame Mantra had already reached Low Tian Class. In terms of Dou Qi quality and fire control, Xiao Yan completely dominated Gu Tong. "Damn it!" Gu Tong''s face twisted with rage when he sensed that even his fire control was inferior to Xiao Yan''s. "Thinking of running?" Xiao Yan formed a hand seal. The Glazed Lotus Heart Flame instantly separated, with the Green Lotus Core Flame transforming into green chains that locked down the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame. Heavenly Flame Dou Technique¡ªHeart Flame Body Incineration "Ahhh!!! What is this!" The next second, Gu Tong let out a miserable scream just as he was about to execute an agility-type Dou Technique. His entire body turned red like a cooked shrimp, white smoke rising from his body with sizzling sounds. The Fallen Heart Flame had already appeared inside Gu Tong''s body and begun burning. This unpredictable ability was impossible to defend against. "Burning from within the heart, formless and colorless... this is the Fallen Heart Flame! How is this possible! You actually possess two kinds of Heavenly Flames!" Gu Tong felt the world had gone mad! A twenty-three-year-old 7th-tier alchemist who also possessed two Heavenly Flames and had even merged them! Could anything be more outrageous! "Correct answer, but sadly, no prize." Xiao Yan appeared behind Gu Tong wielding the Heavy Xuan Ruler. While the Fallen Heart Flame alone would struggle to burn a Dou Ancestor to death, it could cause a brief moment of paralysis, preventing him from executing defensive Dou Techniques. The Heavy Xuan Ruler came crashing down with a reverberating thunderclap. The Flame Splitting Tsunami struck Gu Tong''s back with devastating force! Suddenly, Xiao Yan''s spiritual perception detected something strange. He revealed a slight smile and murmured, "Quite clever, actually abandoning your physical body and hiding your soul body within the Heavenly Flame to escape." "However, revealing your soul body before an Honorable Elder of the Hall of Souls... you''re truly brave." Xiao Yan waved his hand. The Green Lotus Core Flame immediately exploded, its terrifying green fire spreading like fireworks and instantly covering this patch of sky. Then he swiftly retrieved the Soul Command Token from his storage ring, while allowing his Spiritual Strength to surge in a frenzy. Abyss Submersion! Xiao Yan slammed his palm onto the Soul Command Token. A mass of eerie black fog instantly spurted from it. With clattering sounds, several thick black chains surged out from the black fog. Thud thud thud! A series of dull thuds rang out as those black soul chains passed cleanly through Gu Tong''s body, which was now an empty shell. At Xiao Yan''s command, the Green Lotus Core Flame and Fallen Heart Flame merged again into the Glazed Lotus Heart Flame. With a thunderous sound, the giant python tore and bit through the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame''s tornado barrier, creating an opening and revealing the soul body hiding inside. Deprived of the Heavenly Flame''s protection, the black soul chains met no resistance, latching onto Gu Tong''s soul body with a metallic clatter. "Soul Skill!! You''re from the Hall of Souls!" Gu Tong''s face filled with utter terror when he saw the black chains stabbing toward him. On the Dou Qi Continent, only one force specialized in Soul Skills! The Hall of Souls! "Jie Jie Jie, correct. I am an Honorable Elder of the Hall of Souls. You may call me Venerable Yan." Xiao Yan grinned broadly, revealing his white teeth. "No!!!" Clatter clatter clatter! The black soul chains pierced into Gu Tong''s soul body without any surprises. When it came to dealing with soul bodies, the techniques of the Hall of Souls never disappointed. Black fog frothed and swirled with a powerful yank, drawing the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame and Gu Tong''s soul body alike into the Soul Command Token. Click click click. After being absorbed, Gu Tong seemed to still be struggling within. The Soul Command Token shook slightly a few times but quickly quieted down. "The Hall of Souls truly has exceptional methods for dealing with soul bodies. No wonder they can dominate the Central Plains, forcing even those proud alchemists to unite." Venerable Tian Huo emerged from the storage ring. He naturally knew that Xiao Yan was from the Hall of Souls. He couldn''t help but shake his head with a wry smile as he looked at the Soul Command Token before Xiao Yan. He felt fortunate that he hadn''t harbored thoughts of possessing Xiao Yan''s body back then; otherwise, he would probably have been absorbed into the Soul Command Token by now. Xiao Yan put away the Soul Command Token and wrapped Gu Tong''s corpse in Heavenly Flame. "Elder Yao, while I, Xiao Yan, am neither a saint nor particularly virtuous, I am not ungrateful. You needn''t worry." "Look, Gu Tong''s body is just suitable for your resurrection." Gu Tong''s body was very suitable. Not only was it a Dou Ancestor''s body, but it was also in its teens, extremely young. When the time came, Xiao Yan would use three Heavenly Flames to refine it, replacing all of Gu Tong''s flesh and blood with Venerable Tian Huo''s skeletal remains to eliminate the pill''s side effects. Venerable Tian Huo''s original skeleton was still in the storage ring. Not only would Venerable Tian Huo be resurrected then, he would even regain his youth. Although Venerable Tian Huo''s soul body was already old and naturally couldn''t compare to a truly young person. Venerable Tian Huo felt much more reassured hearing Xiao Yan''s words. With Xiao Yan''s alchemist talent, it wouldn''t be long before he could refine middle-grade tier 7 pills. Once the materials for the Yin Yang Life Soul Pill were gathered and the pill refined, Venerable Tian Huo could be resurrected. The day Venerable Tian Huo was resurrected would be the day the Yan Alliance unified the North-Western Region! "Let''s go. We should head back. Medusa and the others should have dealt with the rest. I just hope the Sky Serpent Mansion can be smart and not do anything foolish. Considering they nurtured Qing Lin, I can at least grant them a bit of goodwill." A strange light flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes. When Xiao Yan leisurely returned, the outcome was undoubtedly settled with Medusa present. There would be no surprises. The Medicine Bone Sect could be considered erased from the North-Western Region. Although there were still Dou Emperor experts in the sect, with Gu Tong, the 7th-tier alchemist, dead, the Medicine Bone Sect would be carved up, or rather, incorporated into the Yan Alliance''s territory. "Too bad that Yan Luo Tian fellow escaped." Jia Xing Tian shook his head helplessly. Even Medusa couldn''t help it. She had to deal with those two Dou Ancestors from the Medicine Bone Sect while remaining vigilant against the Sky Serpent Mansion, Thunderbolt Sect, and Profound Lion Sect. Plus, Yan Luo Tian''s agility technique was indeed fast; Jia Xing Tian simply couldn''t stop him. "The monk may run but the temple remains. We''ll visit the Gold Geese Sect sooner or later." Xiao Yan didn''t mind. He estimated that after the Great Meeting of Factions ended, Yan Luo Tian would bring the entire Luo Yan Empire to surrender to the Yan Alliance. There was no rush. In other words, aside from Yan Luo Tian, those from the Medicine Bone Sect, Gold Geese Sect, and Mulan Valley were almost fully wiped out. Even the Three Mulan Elders, who had once plunged the Jia Ma Empire into bitter warfare, ultimately couldn''t escape their fate of being killed by Zi Yan''s dragon fist. Zi Yan, having completely transformed and reached Rank 6, wielded Spatial Strength even more skillfully than Medusa. The Three Mulan Elders, who barely reached Dou Ancestor level through their combined attack, couldn''t possibly be her match. After one was eliminated, the remaining two were like turtles in a jar. "Add this one and we''re complete." Xiao Yan tossed Gu Tong''s corpse on the ground. All members of the Medicine Bone Sect who came to participate in the Great Meeting of Factions, including Jian Feixue''s body, lay scattered on the ground. They were wiped out in one fell swoop! For a moment, the area fell into utter silence. Both the mountain range and the Sky Serpent Mansion seemed to go dead still, as though not even a snake dared to hiss. Everything grew so quiet that no one dared take a deep breath. Everyone felt a shiver in their hearts. From beginning to end, none of them had expected such an outcome. The Yan Alliance! A newly established alliance force formed by four second-rate or even sub-second-rate factions from remote areas of the North-Western Region. Yet at this Great Meeting of Factions, they had swept through almost everyone. With Jian Feixue dead, Yue Er naturally became first. Qing Lin was also a member of the Xiao Clan. This meant the Yan Alliance had secured both the most talented alchemist and the most promising genius of the younger generation! Not to mention Xiao Yan''s alchemy skills surpassed Gu Tong''s. Everyone looked at each other, then at Queen Medusa who had just killed two 3-star Dou Ancestors. Medusa stood there quietly at this moment, as if killing two 3-star Dou Ancestors wasn''t worth mentioning, nothing significant, just something done casually. "Didn''t you just say that if the Yan Alliance joined forces with the Sky Serpent Mansion, the strongest alchemist plus the strongest expert could dominate the North-Western Region? What about now?" A young spectator turned to ask his companion. The companion swallowed hard and replied with difficulty, "Now... perhaps this Great Meeting of Factions is about to be overturned." Chapter 338: The Magical Beast Tribes Chapter 338 - 338: The Magical Beast Tribes Word Count: 2,606 Words ****** Xiao Yan didn''t stand on ceremony and stored all the corpses in his storage ring. After all, these were renowned experts of the North-Western Region, and they likely carried some good items within their storage rings. Moreover, he couldn''t harvest their souls here. How could he possibly miss the chance to loot? "Qing Lin, let''s head back. I''m afraid today''s remaining arena matches for the Great Meeting of Factions won''t be held." Xiao Yan patted Qing Lin''s small head and smiled. Qing Lin thought for a moment before nodding. She turned to She Tianhao and said, "Mansion Lord, Qing Lin has matters to attend to today and requests leave from the Sky Serpent Mansion for a period of time." A fierce glint flashed in She Tianhao''s eyes as he spoke in a deep voice, "Qing Lin, think carefully. My Sky Serpent Mansion has not treated you poorly." Xiao Yan stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Qing Lin. He smiled and said, "Mansion Lord of the Sky Serpent Mansion, there''s no need to demand repayment for kindness. Qing Lin didn''t receive your Sky Serpent Mansion''s resources for free back then. She''ll fulfill what she promised, thereby repaying your nurturing grace." She Tianhao nearly ground his molars to pieces. His voice was low as he said, "Xiao Yan! Is your Yan Alliance determined to oppose my Sky Serpent Mansion?!" Xiao Yan shrugged indifferently. "The Yan Alliance isn''t mine alone. Why don''t you ask Her Majesty Medusa if she agrees?" Medusa cast a sidelong glance at this thick-skinned fellow before looking at Qing Lin. She slowly said, "She possesses the bloodline of my Snake-People Race and is naturally a subject of my Snake-People Tribe." Medusa''s meaning was clear: Qing Lin would be under her protection, and anyone who dared harm Qing Lin would face her wrath. "Good, good, good! What a Yan Alliance, what a Medusa." She Tianhao waved his hand and coldly glanced at Qing Lin. "Qing Lin, I hope you remember what you promised the Sky Serpent Mansion." Medusa paid no heed at all to his threats. She glanced at Lu She behind She Tianhao, revealing a cold smile before her eyes narrowed slightly. Whoosh! "Ah!" Lu She, who had once betrayed the Snake-People Tribe, suddenly combusted from within with formless heart flames. His entire body instantly turned red, emitting sizzling white smoke. Lu She lost his life within just a few seconds and reverted from his human form to a giant python with deer antlers on its head. Half a minute later, he was burned to charcoal. She had killed a Dou Emperor with just a glance! "This is the fate of those who betray me. No one can save their life." Medusa''s Snake-People Tribe already had poor relations with the Sky Serpent Mansion, and now she had directly executed the traitor. Hua She Er and Yue Mei felt excited seeing Lu She''s death. They naturally harbored extreme hatred for such opportunistic villains. "Hmph!" Venom flashed through She Tianhao''s eyes, but his Sky Serpent Mansion lacked the confidence to wage war against the Yan Alliance at this time. He waved his hand and led all the Sky Serpent Mansion members away. After She Tianhao departed, Medusa waved her sleeve and lightly stepped through the air to stand atop the Serene Sea Scaly Beast''s head. The Serene Sea Scaly Beast could only shrink its head, not daring to voice any complaints. Just moments ago, even two 3-star Dou Ancestors couldn''t escape Medusa''s grasp. If it dared to make a noise, it would only be courting death. Too terrifying! Before long, the Serene Sea Scaly Beast carried everyone from the Yan Alliance away from the area. Though the main players had departed, everyone present understood one thing: the North-Western Region had been turned upside down! "If... if Medusa successfully defends the arena at the final Great Meeting of Factions..." The Yan Alliance was just one step away from ruling the North-Western Region! If Medusa could single-handedly defend against challenges from all the North-Western Region''s faction leaders, it would mean the Yan Alliance ranked first in both the younger generation and alchemists! In fact, it might not even be one step away anymore. Many faction leaders present were already considering whether to join the Yan Alliance. Just like in the previous Great Meeting, not all faction leaders in the North-Western Region would challenge the defending faction. Only the Thunderbolt Sect, Profound Lion Sect, and Medicine Bone Sect had challenged and defeated She Tianhao. After all, no one wanted to needlessly offend such a powerful faction. Who wouldn''t fear retaliation? Therefore, in reality, the Yan Alliance only needed to withstand challenges from the Thunderbolt Sect, Profound Lion Sect, and Sky Serpent Mansion to succeed! Other factions would naturally retreat when faced with difficulty. Sure enough, the Sky Serpent Mansion announced not long later that the Great Meeting of Factions would continue the following day. Though the Yan Alliance was strong, having the Sky Serpent Mansion, Thunderbolt Sect, and Profound Lion Sect submit to them was absolutely impossible. Just like the former Sky Serpent Mansion, they would inevitably face a siege. ... In the Yan Alliance residence, inside Medusa''s room. "If you keep staring, I''ll gouge out your eyes." Medusa''s delicate face was as cold as frost, her beautiful eyes icy as she glared at Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan rolled his eyes at her and spoke with dissatisfaction. "What''s wrong with me looking? Your Heavenly Flame Serpent Body is at least half my contribution, right?" "Besides, your improvement has been too quick. It differs from my calculation. If you suffer any side effects, would that not be problematic?" Xiao Yan examined the beautiful Queen Medusa sitting in the chair from top to bottom, even boldly sweeping over her with his Spiritual Strength. With a crack, the cup on the table shattered instantly as Medusa''s aura erupted uncontrollably. This old lady has tolerated you long enough! "Ahem." Xiao Yan''s throat moved up and down as he shrank his head. "From what I can see, your Heavenly Flame Serpent Body is condensed perfectly. Your rapid improvement should be due to the fusion of Heavenly Flames, which greatly enhanced your cultivation." "Tsk tsk tsk, I didn''t expect you to actually obtain a portion of the Heavenly Flame''s power." Xiao Yan hadn''t forgotten how Medusa had killed Lu She with just a glance, which was a clear display of the Fallen Heart Flame''s ability. However, it was only a small portion of the power. Medusa hadn''t inherited the Fallen Heart Flame''s cultivation acceleration effect. Xiao Yan sat directly across from Medusa without ceremony, pouring himself tea and drinking it on his own. Tap tap tap. His fingers drummed on the table before he asked seriously, "Are you confident you can defeat those fellows from the Sky Serpent Mansion?" Medusa''s elegant brows furrowed slightly. Her beautiful eyes looked at Xiao Yan as she coldly asked, "You want to unify the North-Western Region?" She had little interest in unifying the North-Western Region. She grew stronger only to protect her subjects from warfare. Unlike with the Sky Serpent Mansion, she did not care much about returning to the Central Plains. "It''s not really about unifying the North-Western Region. In another year or two, I''ll probably leave the Jia Ma Empire for the Central Plains to participate in the Pill Gathering. Also, that girl Zi Yan''s tribe is in the Central Plains, so I need to go with her to see their current situation." Xiao Yan didn''t hide anything and spoke directly. "So if we can resolve some hidden dangers, it''s best to do so within these two years." He couldn''t stay long. The next Pill Gathering was in three years, and he still needed to visit the Burning Flame Valley to obtain the complete Skyfire Three Mysterious Change. If the Hall of Souls and Ya Fei still had not found any trace of the Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva in two years, then he would have to take Little Fairy Doctor to the Pill Tower to look for a second method or see if there was some way to buy more time. Medusa thought for a moment before saying, "I am not entirely certain. Those three old fellows are all 7-star Dou Ancestors like me. I haven''t tested my own strength yet." Profound Lion Sect''s Sect Leader Shi Nian, Thunderbolt Sect''s Sect Leader Ting Hao, and She Tianhao were all 7-star Dou Ancestors. To successfully defend the arena, she would need to face these three 7-star Dou Ancestors simultaneously. She was confident she could win against any one of them individually, but against all three at once, it was hard to say. "Then don''t force it. When I can refine middle-grade tier 7 pills, the Yan Alliance should be safe. I''ll feel more at ease going to the Central Plains then." Xiao Yan didn''t insist. Once Venerable Tian Huo was resurrected, the Yan Alliance would have another great general, naturally making Xiao Yan more confident. "What''s Zi Yan''s true form?" Medusa looked at him. She had just witnessed Zi Yan fighting one against three. Zi Yan remained dominant even against the Three Mulan Elders'' combined assault. The purple light and Spatial Strength especially surprised her. A Dou Emperor who could manipulate Spatial Strength with terrifying physical strength stronger than a Dou Ancestor made Medusa curious about Zi Yan''s true form. After thinking, Xiao Yan decided Medusa was trustworthy and said, "That girl''s true form is the Ancient Void Dragon." "Ancient Void Dragon!" Surprise showed in Medusa''s eyes. For someone of her temperament to show such surprise, one could imagine the status of the Ancient Void Dragon in the Magical Beast world. "What''s wrong? You yourself are a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, an ancient magical beast, and you possess the Heavenly Flame Serpent Body. By bloodline, you should not be beneath the Ancient Void Dragons, right?" Xiao Yan felt a bit puzzled. Medusa shook her head and slowly explained, "The Ancient Void Dragon Tribe holds a unique status among magical beasts. The so-called three great magical beast tribes in the Central Plains nowadays¡ªthe Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe and the Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe¡ªare both collateral bloodlines descended from the Ancient Heaven Serpent and the Ancient Heaven Phoenix. They are not direct descendants." Xiao Yan frowned. "You mean, third-generation descendants?" Medusa nodded and continued, "Yes, so they don''t call themselves Heaven Phoenix or Heaven Serpent. Only the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe are direct descendants of the Ancient Dragon, inheriting the Ancient Dragon''s void power, hence their name Ancient Void Dragon Tribe." "Additionally, the Ancient Dragon was the first magical beast to reach Rank 10." "Rank 10?! You mean Dou God!" "Yes. You humans call it Dou God, whereas we magical beasts call it Divine Beast." A solemn feeling rose in Xiao Yan''s heart. These were details he was hearing for the first time. No wonder those three major magical beast tribes were so revered. He had initially assumed they were simply the strongest among magical beasts, hence they were called the three great tribes. Now, with this explanation, it turned out that the three great magical beast tribes were akin to the eight ancient clans among humans; they were all Dou God Clans. But that was not entirely accurate because, from the standpoint of the Dou God Clans, only the Ancient Void Dragon among the magical beasts could be considered a Divine Beast nowadays. Strictly speaking, the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe and the Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe no longer qualified. Xiao Yan speculated that perhaps the Heaven Swallowing Python, like the Ancient Void Dragon, inherited the devouring abilities of the Ancient Heaven Serpent, hence the name Heaven Swallowing Python. Of course, it was also possible that the Heaven Swallowing Python originated from another Divine Beast bloodline. There were more than eight who achieved Dou God in ancient times. It was simply that later, during the Era of Darkness, all Dou Gods suddenly vanished for unknown reasons, and some Dou God factions likewise disappeared into history. "Hey, Xiao Yan! How long are you going to chat? Don''t tell me you''re trying to hog all the medicinal ingredients again!" The impatient Zi Yan, having waited long enough, couldn''t help but come knock on the door. After all, Xiao Yan had taken all the storage rings. She naturally didn''t want the corpses and soul bodies, but she wanted her share of the medicinal ingredients in the storage rings. Medusa glanced at Xiao Yan, seeming to ask: You actually tried to cheat Zi Yan out of medicinal ingredients? Xiao Yan touched his nose sheepishly, opened the door, and said, "Coming, coming. Let''s go divide the spoils." "What spoils? This is called rewarding by merit." Zi Yan stood with her hands on her hips. "Oh, you''ve learned idioms now." This time, Xiao Yan truly reaped immense rewards. Whether it was the Medicine Bone Sect, the Gold Geese Sect, or Mulan Valley, they had all come prepared for the Great Meeting of Factions and the alchemist competition, so they had naturally brought many medicinal ingredients just in case. Especially Gu Tong. Not only had he presented him with a Heavenly Flame and soul points, but now he had also contributed several tier 7 medicinal ingredients. Xiao Yan couldn''t help but be moved to tears. Unfortunately, when he wanted to pocket more medicinal ingredients from Zi Yan, even Medusa couldn''t stand it anymore. She directly used Space Lock to restrain him and gave most of the tier 6 medicinal ingredients to Zi Yan. Xiao Yan was so angry that his teeth itched, but there was nothing he could do since he couldn''t beat Medusa. ''Damn it, Medusa, I''ll definitely get my revenge one day!'' Qing Lin''s return naturally made Xiao Ding and Xiao Li very happy. After all, they had found Qing Lin in the desert and raised her for many years, so they certainly had feelings for her. Though the atmosphere was joyful, Xiao Yan knew the real challenge would come tomorrow. ... Early the next morning, the Great Meeting of Factions continued. However, the atmosphere throughout the Sky Serpent Mansion''s mountain range had clearly changed dramatically from before. The spectators in the mountain range all wore solemn expressions. If the Yan Alliance couldn''t withstand the challenges from the North-Western Region''s major factions, or if they voluntarily gave up unifying the North-Western Region, then the North-Western Region would remain as before. However, if the Yan Alliance successfully defended the arena and defeated the various faction leaders, the result would be a complete reshuffling of the entire North-Western Region. From then on, the North-Western Region would be Yan Alliance territory. All factions would either disband and merge into the Yan Alliance or become subordinate factions, paying annual tribute, with a behemoth controlling their life and death. The original ten arenas were now reduced to just one. There was no need to select the top ten factions anymore. Everyone held their breath, as this single arena battle would determine the fate of all factions! "The Yan Alliance has arrived!" Suddenly, someone in the mountain range exclaimed. Everyone looked toward the horizon where a massive blue flood dragon soared through the clouds, slowly approaching the mountain range. At the sight of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, everyone knew the Yan Alliance had arrived! With a thunderous crash, the Serene Sea Scaly Beast landed heavily in the very center of the grounds, directly on the only remaining arena. The meaning was self-evident. "Everyone, come challenge us! This first place, our Yan Alliance is determined to claim!" Chapter 339: The Dominant Medusa Chapter 339 - 339: The Dominant Medusa Word Count: 3,269 Words ****** Even Yun Yun wore an exasperated expression. Clearly Queen Medusa was the one fighting, yet he was stealing all the spotlight. At this moment, Xiao Yan decided to take his arrogance to the extreme. He waved his hand dramatically, and the Green Lotus Core Flame whooshed forth, laying down a path of Heavenly Flame beneath his feet. This fiery path extended from the head of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, dozens of meters high, all the way to the ground. Walking on such a path of Heavenly Flame made him appear awe-inspiring from every angle. When Heavenly Flame appears, all flames submit. And he stood proudly atop the Heavenly Flame! Xiao Yan wore splendid brocade robes. Endless tongues of Green Lotus Core Flame curled toward the sky from both sides. The temperature across the entire Sky Serpent Mansion rose sharply the instant the Heavenly Flame appeared. He walked forward step by step, as if he were the lord of all flames, capable of boiling seas and burning mountains. He was the Emperor of Flames at this moment. The Heavenly Flame beneath his feet even manifested strange phenomena, making him appear even more mighty and domineering. Many people in the Sky Serpent Mansion couldn''t help but tremble slightly. Even experts who had reached the Dou Ancestor realm felt their hearts palpitate. As for those Dou Kings and Dou Emperors, there was no need to mention them. They all wanted to cry out, ''We pay our respects to Alliance Leader Yan!'' Medusa and Yun Yun, who had no interest in showing off, had already taken their seats early. Only people like Little Princess Yue Er and Zi Yan excitedly followed behind Xiao Yan, their noses nearly pointing to the sky. This feeling of being looked up to by everyone was indeed wonderful! Qing Lin, as Xiao Yan''s first maid, was extremely conscientious. She carried the Yan Alliance''s banner and followed closely behind him. Hai Bodong, meanwhile, took out a small notebook and began jotting things down. He thought that when he reached the Dou Ancestor realm someday and could step on air, he too would make a grand appearance before everyone! Though he didn''t have a Heavenly Flame, he could still create an ice staircase descending from the sky with a wave of his hand. He would descend step by step, listening to others call him Grand Master. That would surely be satisfying! "So, is everyone waiting for my Yan Alliance?" The Heavenly Flame stirred the moment Xiao Yan opened his mouth, as if his soldiers were cheering and shouting. Xiao Yan''s entrance was too domineering, domineering to the point of being outrageous. His appearance simply disregarded all the factions in the North-Western Region. Even the Sky Serpent Mansion during previous Great Meetings of Factions had never been this ostentatious. "Tsk tsk tsk, truly worthy of being the initiator of the Yan Alliance. He is indeed the rightful Alliance Leader. His domineering manner is not without reason." Many in the younger generation couldn''t forget the scene after seeing Xiao Yan act in such a way. He instantly became their idol. In fact, the strongest in the Yan Alliance was Medusa. But as a reincarnator, Xiao Yan deeply understood the importance of packaging oneself. "Hmph, brat, you''re being too arrogant!" Shi Nian, the Sect Leader of the Profound Lion Sect, couldn''t hold back his anger and snorted coldly as soon as Xiao Yan landed on the ground. A massive ghostly lion figure emerged behind Shi Nian, immense beyond compare, its head touching the sky and feet planted firmly on the ground. The Profound Lion Sect was called such precisely because of the Qi Method Shi Nian cultivated, the Profound Lion Skill, an Intermediate Di Class Qi Method! The Profound Lion Sect''s ability to occupy a position in the North-Western Region definitely came from a solid foundation. "Brat, although your Yan Alliance is strong, the North-Western Region isn''t just your Yan Alliance alone. If you want to control the North-Western Region, I''m afraid you''ll have to ask us old bones first." Ting Hao, the Sect Leader of the Thunderbolt Sect, similarly released his aura. His body faintly emitted bursts of thunder. He didn''t conceal his might as a 7-star Dou Ancestor at all, as if his thunder power could shatter the earth. These two were both 7-star Dou Ancestors, and unlike weak Dou Ancestors like the Three Mulan Elders or Gu Tong, these two cultivated Intermediate Di Class Qi Methods and were battle-hardened. Their strength couldn''t be underestimated. She Tianhao, the strongest among them, merely cast a cold glance at Xiao Yan and Qing Lin without saying anything. Xiao Yan had publicly taken Qing Lin away, which could be said to have humiliated the Sky Serpent Mansion. The Sky Serpent Mansion would definitely make a move. For She Tianhao and the Sky Serpent Mansion at this moment, whether Xiao Yan, the Yan Alliance, or Medusa were strong enough no longer mattered. He had to re-establish the Sky Serpent Mansion''s prestige, letting all factions in the North-Western Region know that the Sky Serpent Mansion''s authority couldn''t be challenged by anyone. "Heh, merely 7-star Dou Ancestors, nothing special," Xiao Yan slowly walked toward the Yan Alliance''s seating area, no longer showing off. The Sky Serpent Mansion, Thunderbolt Sect, Profound Lion Sect, and Yan Alliance each occupied one side. Other faction forces had set up camps around the mountain range. Everyone knew this time it was all about these four factions. "The Yan Alliance may have Medusa, but speaking of overall strength, they''re far inferior to the three major factions." Some of the younger generation who couldn''t understand asked. An elder beside them explained, "Don''t just look at the Yan Alliance having only two Dou Ancestors. In reality, the Yan Alliance''s strength is terrifying." "See that purple-haired girl? She defeated the Three Mulan Elders who had cultivated the Three Beast Savage Skill. Also, rumor has it that the Sky Serpent Mansion''s Saintess possesses the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. Most importantly, there''s that Xiao Yan..." "He''s not just a 7th-tier alchemist. Many people didn''t notice yesterday that he single-handedly killed Gu Tong, who had Dou Ancestor strength! He must at least have the strength of one! "Moreover, the Yan Alliance has two 8-star Dou Emperors, plus a magical beast close to 9-star Dou Emperor strength. Combined with Xiao Yan''s alchemy abilities, the Yan Alliance can add three more Dou Ancestors at any time." Many people only realized after hearing this explanation that the Yan Alliance''s apparent strength was already extremely terrifying. It was completely impossible for any faction in the North-Western Region to defeat the Yan Alliance one-on-one! Not to mention the Yan Alliance''s enormous potential. If one were to select the number one faction in the North-Western Region, it would undoubtedly be the Yan Alliance. The question now was whether the Yan Alliance could make all factions in the North-Western Region submit. If they submitted, then one-on-one battles wouldn''t even be discussed. "Alright, everyone''s here now. Do you want to start defending the arena from the Dou King level, or get straight to the point?" Xiao Yan sat boldly in the central position. Medusa sat on his left side, Yun Yun on his right side, and Jia Xing Tian was at the far left. After all, the Yan Alliance was a union of four factions. Medusa didn''t speak. She wasn''t the type who liked to talk in the first place, and she currently had her eyes closed. People like Hai Bodong, Yun Yun, and Zi Yan with Dou Emperor cultivation had already defended the arena a few days ago. However, everyone knew that the real highlight of the Great Meeting of Factions lay in the battles among Dou Ancestors. In the previous session, the Sky Serpent Mansion had tried to rely on having the most Dou Ancestors in their faction, with six Dou Ancestors taking turns defending the arena. But they still couldn''t prevail in the end, and She Tianhao was defeated in the final battle, failing to achieve unification. Ting Hao and Shi Nian both looked at She Tianhao. The Sky Serpent Mansion was, after all, the organizer of this Great Meeting of Factions. But this session was different. This time, Medusa, this goddess of death, had appeared. Using a war of attrition seemed pointless and might even result in her directly killing their faction''s Dou Ancestors. She Tianhao slowly opened his eyes. A fierce glint flashed through them as he stared directly at Xiao Yan. A magical beast''s innate keen intuition told him that everyone present had gotten one thing wrong: they were still underestimating Xiao Yan too much. "Let''s get straight to the point." She Tianhao slowly stood up. To everyone''s surprise, he actually wanted to fight first! "Wow! She Tianhao is fighting first?!" "Huh? Why not let the faction''s Dou Ancestors go first to deplete Medusa''s stamina and Dou Qi? Going straight to the peak battle..." "Has... has She Tianhao gone mad?" Only Xiao Yan revealed a slight smile and muttered, "This She Tianhao is quite perceptive." He shrugged and leaned back in his chair. If She Tianhao or the other two major factions had planned to start from low-star Dou Ancestors, he wouldn''t have been polite and would have struck ruthlessly. Relying on Venerable Tian Huo''s Spiritual Strength and the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change, his cultivation could surge from 3-star Dou Emperor to 3-star Dou Ancestor. Although this wasn''t his own strength and couldn''t be wielded as naturally as his own power... As long as his opponents were below 3-star Dou Ancestor, he was confident he could kill them! ''What a pity. If my strength could truly reach 3-star Dou Ancestor, there wouldn''t be so much trouble.'' Xiao Yan couldn''t help feeling somewhat regretful in his heart. There was definitely a huge difference between borrowed strength and one''s own strength. The use of Dou Techniques would be much worse when relying on Secret Techniques to boost strength. If Xiao Yan''s strength reached 3-star Dou Ancestor naturally without relying on Secret Techniques, let alone killing those at the same level, he would be confident in directly slaying She Tianhao. Medusa slowly opened her beautiful eyes upon hearing She Tianhao''s words. When those yellow inverted-triangle snake eyes opened, everyone who saw them couldn''t help but stiffen, as if petrified! She stepped across space, as if the stars were shifting, and instantly stood in the sky above. The arena on the ground was more of a symbolic thing. How could Dou Ancestor battles possibly be on the ground? The meaning of the arena was that whoever was knocked down from the sky would lose. A loud boom resounded as terrifying green flames surged from Medusa''s body! "That''s...!" She Tianhao and the others couldn''t help looking at Xiao Yan. That was clearly the Green Lotus Core Flame! Xiao Yan spread his hands with an innocent expression. "Don''t look at me. Queen Medusa originally obtained the Green Lotus Core Flame. I''m just borrowing it for alchemy." Xiao Yan, known as the Yan Alliance''s Heavenly Flame Repository! The sky was already shrouded by that incomparably terrifying Green Lotus Core Flame. After completely refining the Heavenly Flame Serpent Body, Medusa could control the Green Lotus Core Flame even more skillfully. Of course, this was all because Xiao Yan was willing to lend the flame. If he wasn''t willing, no one could snatch a Heavenly Flame from the Flame Mantra. Amid the endless sea of green flames stood a woman. Enveloped by the green flames, Medusa possessed a peerless beauty that words could not capture, like a celestial being descending to the mortal realm. She pointed at Ting Hao and Shi Nian below. Her beautiful eyes showed neither joy nor sorrow, but both men felt they had already been locked onto. No words were needed. Medusa had made her intention clear. She would fight all three simultaneously!! "Is she insane? Why fight all three at once? Fighting them one by one would at least give her some hope of winning." "No, you''re too naive. You must understand that the Great Meeting of Factions is actually a microcosm of the major factions in the North-Western Region. If the Yan Alliance is truly determined to unify the North-Western Region, do you think faction wars would be fought one-on-one?" "Moreover, do you think Shi Nian and Ting Hao would follow the rules? If She Tianhao can''t match Medusa, those two would definitely attack her together regardless of everything. She wants to completely subdue all the faction leaders in the entire North-Western Region!" The entire mountain range buzzed with discussion. They hadn''t expected that Medusa could borrow fire from Xiao Yan, much less that she would directly challenge all three opponents! Shi Nian and Ting Hao were also stunned. They indeed hadn''t planned on fighting one-on-one in rotation. If the situation turned unfavorable, they wouldn''t care about face and would join forces against Medusa. This had been agreed upon with She Tianhao from the beginning. Now it was the Sky Serpent Mansion, Profound Lion Sect, and Thunderbolt Sect¡ªthree major factions joining forces against the Yan Alliance! "Good, worthy of the infamously fierce Queen Medusa," Ting Hao laughed loudly, stepping on air and instantly arriving in the sky. "Hmph, if you think you can fight three with just a Heavenly Flame''s help, then you''re too naive," Shi Nian couldn''t help snorting coldly when he saw Medusa treating him as nothing. Only She Tianhao looked deeply at Xiao Yan, who sensed his gaze and merely smiled slightly without saying anything. Then, She Tianhao also slowly rose into the sky. He looked at Queen Medusa wrapped in the Green Lotus Core Flame with a cold expression and said, "If you''re willing, I can share the Sky Serpent Mansion with you. Together, we could definitely return to the Holy Land and rule all serpent tribes across the Dou Qi Continent." "Make your move," Medusa remained unmoved, lifting her beautiful eyes with an ice-cold voice. It was just as Xiao Yan often said. If the Yan Alliance unifies the North-Western Region, your Sky Serpent Mansion will become part of my Snake-People Tribe''s territory. Why would I need to share it with you? "Kill!" The three hesitated no longer. Their Dou Qi erupted as they surrounded Medusa from three directions and attacked. A tremendous roar resounded as wind and clouds surged. The Green Lotus Core Flame whirled about under Medusa''s graceful hand movements, rotating like a terrifying mass of flames as though she held the universe in her palm. The Heavenly Flame went wild with her strike! One blow sent all three flying back! When these four high-star Dou Ancestors clashed, it was as if heaven collapsed and earth split open. The Sky Serpent Mansion''s mountain range could barely withstand it. Mountains and rivers instantly tore apart, creating howling hurricane-force winds. The collision''s energy swept in all directions. The faction experts watching from the mountain range were all shocked. Even the aftershocks were terrifying! "Retreat!" "Quickly get away! Everyone board the flying ships!" After just one collision, the Dou Kings and Dou Emperors understood: this was a battle of immortals where mere mortals would only suffer! "Are they going to level the Sky Serpent Mansion? Are they trying to destroy everything?" Such a strike made the entire Sky Serpent Mansion tremble, and everyone watched in fearful awe! "Profound Lion Roar!" "Thunderbolt Palm!" "Thousand Serpent Five Poison Formation!" The three Dou Ancestors couldn''t afford the slightest relaxation when facing Medusa''s Heavenly Flame attacks. They unleashed Di Class Dou Techniques from the start! Though each technique was only Low Di Class, the simultaneous release of three Di Class Dou Techniques instantly set the natural energy of the entire space boiling! These were signature techniques each had cultivated to major mastery, with terrifying and unmatched power! All attacks targeted Medusa directly! The entire mountain range shook and trembled as the three Di Class Dou Techniques came crashing down. "Break for me!" Medusa held the Green Lotus Core Flame with overwhelming dominance. With the Heavenly Flame in hand, she actually channeled its power to execute Space Lock! The three Di Class Dou Technique attacks seemed to freeze in mid-air, completely unable to advance even half an inch! Boom boom boom boom boom!! Mighty explosions rolled across the sky. The four carried their battle higher, shaking the clouds above and making the sky tremble and the earth quake! The three faction leaders brought out their greatest skills to suppress Medusa, even activating secret methods to enhance their strength and consuming medicinal pills. They held nothing back, using every resource at their disposal. However, Medusa proved even more powerful than they had imagined. More terrifying still, with Heavenly Flame in hand and her unrivaled serpent body, the three 7-star Dou Ancestors couldn''t overcome her despite their combined efforts. Instead, they were gradually being suppressed, not her match at all. "This, this... this is far too powerful." Everyone watching this scene was completely stunned. One against three! This was genuinely one versus three! Without any pretense! "Such dominance. Truly a rare extraordinary woman in this world!" Someone couldn''t help but mutter. Seeing such a peerless woman, they were all mesmerized. Many had already secretly fallen for her. Some young men who admired this type couldn''t help but look at Xiao Yan with resentful eyes. Because from all appearances, wasn''t Medusa clearly fighting for Xiao Yan''s sake? He reaped all the glory while Medusa did all the fighting. In their hearts, they cursed Xiao Yan for being shameless, yet they all wished they could be as shameless as him. "Xiao Yan, can the pretty big sister win?" Zi Yan stood behind Xiao Yan, looking up at the battlefield in the sky as she asked softly. Perhaps only Xiao Yan truly understood Medusa''s real strength. Xiao Yan gave Zi Yan a sidelong glance. Medusa had merely given her some medicinal ingredients, and she was already calling her ''pretty big sister.'' Meanwhile, he had refined countless pills for her, provided her with medicinal ingredients, and even given her a Body Transformation Pill, yet he had never heard a kind word from her. Not even a single thank you! "It''s hard to say. To be honest, evolution using a Heavenly Flame exists only in ancient texts, not to mention Medusa initially used the wrong Heavenly Flame." "Yet she didn''t die, and her soul even evolved successfully, though her physical body was incinerated. In the end, she actually used other Heavenly Flames to re-condense a Heavenly Flame Serpent Body. Combining the power of three Heavenly Flames is probably unprecedented on the Dou Qi continent. No one knows what her limits are now." Xiao Yan couldn''t be certain either. Despite his vast alchemy knowledge and having read numerous ancient texts from his storage ring, the problem was that this situation had never occurred before! Clearly, using the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and the Fallen Heart Flame had given Medusa additional enhancements, exceeding his expectations. Medusa''s early emergence from the tower and her rapidly increasing cultivation proved that this was completely beyond his control. "Those three aren''t pushovers either," Yun Yun said quietly, her gaze fixed on the battle above. "Mm, these three are old foxes of the North-Western Region. Having lived long lives, they undoubtedly possess numerous treasures and powerful Dou Techniques. Especially that She Tianha. With the Sky Serpent Mansion''s ancient heritage, I can''t believe he doesn''t have some trump cards up his sleeve." Xiao Yan''s expression grew serious. In truth, he stood ready to provide support at any moment. Chapter 340: Foundation! Chapter 340 - 340: Foundation! Word Count: 3,198 Words ****** If things really went south, Xiao Yan would exhaust all his Spiritual Strength and hurl a Five-Colored Fire Lotus straight at them. He currently possessed quite a few Heavenly Flames. Even without counting the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame, he had as many as eight kinds. However, his Spiritual Strength was insufficient to maintain a balanced state among all eight. Even with the Low Tian Class Flame Mantra, his current limit was the Five-Colored Fire Lotus. If he risked his life in a self-destructive move, that was a different story altogether. Although the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique also utilized five kinds of Heavenly Flames, the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame that he created was not a mere combined formation of multiple Heavenly Flames. It directly collided them to generate a violent, uncontrollable destruction. The resulting explosion was more terrifying than the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique. However, it was clear that Xiao Yan was worrying needlessly. "Kill!!" Shi Nian let out a roar, seeing Medusa display such ferocity, and exploded into his strongest state. His upper robe tore apart from his bulging muscles, and his right fist condensed into a lion-head shape that smashed forward. A loud bang sounded. Medusa spun around and stomped one foot down. A terrifying burst of Spatial Strength suppressed Shi Nian at once. Before he could react, he was bombarded by a massive force from above and sent crashing to the ground. Simultaneously, Medusa raised her delicate hand and struck out. Instantly, a terrifying seven-colored light burst forth. Ting Hao was startled. He roared and used his most powerful defensive Dou Technique, transforming his Dou Qi into a sea of lightning to shield him. A thunderous crash rang out. Even though Ting Hao had turned his Dou Qi into a sea of lightning, he couldn''t withstand Medusa''s palm strike. As she pressed her jade-like hand forward, the entire sea of lightning fractured. Cracking sounds reverberated as Ting Hao watched helplessly, seeing his protective lightning crumbling to pieces. A terrifying force sent him flying and left him spitting blood. "My heavens!!" The experts watching below were scared out of their wits. How ferocious was this! "Kill! Thousand Serpents Binding Kill Formation!" She Tianhao also understood how powerful the person he was facing was. He could only risk everything in a desperate fight. He unleashed the Thousand Serpents Command, causing countless jade-green shadows to appear. They struck like a Serpent God controlling all serpent tribes. "Scram! Heaven Swallowing Serpent Pupil!" Medusa narrowed her beautiful eyes. A colossal serpent pupil suddenly manifested above. A streak of seven-colored light shot out, bringing wails and howls from the countless green figures as if they were swallowed whole. The Dou Technique that She Tianhao deployed vanished instantly. He suffered a forceful hit that sent him falling from the sky. All who witnessed this scene were struck dumb. Mouths hung open, unable to close for a long time. Not a single word emerged. Invincible! This was the true appearance of invincibility. The moment Medusa acted, she was unstoppable! Even some veteran Dou Ancestors who had been hidden for a long time had drastic changes in their expressions. One could imagine how powerful, how heaven-defying she was. "What on earth was that huge serpent pupil just now?" someone murmured in confusion. "That seems to be a kind of ancient mythical beast that once appeared in antiquity, called the Heaven Swallowing Python." "Heaven Swallowing Python? How come I''ve never heard of it..." After a while, someone finally came back to their senses and muttered, "Is it a branch of the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe?" "No. The Heaven Swallowing Python Tribe is a legendary race," an elderly man who had lived for a long time muttered. "Legend has it that the Heaven Swallowing Python Tribe possessed the ability to swallow the heavens and devour the earth. Their terrifying power even made the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe wary. They stirred up storms, but for some unknown reason, they eventually disappeared without a trace." "That terrifying?! Even the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe was wary!" "Then doesn''t that make Medusa invincible?" a younger practitioner could not help but ask curiously. An older cultivator narrowed his eyes but shook his head. "You would be wrong to underestimate She Tianhao and the other two. They''ve been able to stand firm in the North-Western Region for so long. What''s truly terrifying is the foundation they''ve accumulated." A metallic clang resonated. A blade light suddenly shot straight into the sky. In the distance, Shi Nian, who had been knocked away by Medusa, slowly drew out his great blade. Sunlight glinted across the blade like white snow. When it left the scabbard, it seemed to illuminate the land. Once Shi Nian gripped it, his entire aura changed. It felt as if he could slay anything with a single slash. Even ancient magical beasts would become mere corpses under his blade. When everyone saw Shi Nian holding the long blade, they immediately felt a chill on their necks and couldn''t help but hold their breath. "The Profound Lion Demon Blade! It pairs with the Profound Lion Skill. This is an unparalleled vicious blade! Shi Nian is finally bringing out his trump card!" exclaimed a Dou Ancestor who had traveled here to watch from afar. Those who had crossed blows with Shi Nian before felt a chill in their hearts when they saw him draw that blade. "Very well. Worthy of Queen Medusa. You have earned the right for me to use this!" Ting Hao laughed in extreme anger. Stretching out his hand, he shouted loudly, "Spear, come!" Thunder rumbled. In the distant residence arranged by the Thunderbolt Sect, a divine lightning suddenly descended from the sky. The lightning struck fiercely into the courtyard, and a golden divine spear flew out, crossing multiple mountain ranges in an instant before landing in his grasp. "The Thunderbolt Divine Spear! It''s the Thunderbolt Sect''s ultimate treasure. Rumor says it is a peak Rank 8 weapon!" A faction expert from the same area as the Thunderbolt Sect couldn''t help but exclaim when Ting Hao seized the golden spear. Legend had it that the founder of the Thunderbolt Sect had wielded this spear. His strength was rumored to have reached its zenith, and with this spear, he had battled geniuses across the continent, forging a fearsome reputation. The moment Ting Hao grasped this war spear, his aura erupted like a towering pillar. He exuded a wild, domineering presence, a feeling of singular supremacy, the air of one man holding a pass against ten thousand. No matter how strong an opponent, encountering someone like him would have to retreat. Meanwhile, the exceptionally deep-rooted Sky Serpent Mansion made no immediate move. She Tianhao remained as he was, still fighting barehanded. This was the foundation of a faction. Back then, Ling Quan of the Gu Clan possessed more than just Qi Method and Dou Techniques. The black armor he wore, the halberd he wielded¡ªeach was an exceptionally powerful treasure. Even the Soul Robes of the Hall of Souls were rare treasures. And these were precisely what Medusa, or rather, the Yan Alliance lacked. The Snake-People Tribe had always been weak. Xiao Yan had even ransacked their treasury once, and the conclusion was that it wasn''t even as good as the Misty Cloud Sect''s. At least the Misty Cloud Sect had Yun Po Tian''s legacy weapon, the Cloud Slaying Black Sword, which could be considered a Rank 8 weapon. Shi Nian and the others naturally refused to give Medusa any time to prepare. Faster than words could describe, the three of them attacked again. A ringing cut pierced the air. Shi Nian slashed forth with his blade. All his terrifying Dou Qi poured into his long blade. At the high-star Dou Ancestor stage, merely channeling Dou Qi directly into a weapon was akin to releasing a Di Class Dou Technique, even comparable to Xiao Yan''s Flame Splitting Tsunami. An immense, gleaming blade arc illuminated the entire Sky Serpent Mansion. The single slash pronounced judgment on the netherworld. Everyone who saw this slash couldn''t help but feel the illusion of being cut down, of falling into the netherworld. The might of this single slash was enough to make an ordinary Dou Ancestor go weak all over. "Take my spear as well!" Ting Hao didn''t feel that joining forces was shameful in any way. With a loud shout, he stepped into the air. With a rumble, lightning flashed, and he instantly ascended to the sky. He thrust his Thunderbolt Divine Spear from afar in Medusa''s direction. A thunderous crash sounded as a frightening bolt of lightning erupted from the spear. The lightning was like a sun in the darkness, capable of illuminating the night. She Tianhao, meanwhile, was like a venomous serpent, hidden behind the other two. His Dou Qi circulated covertly within him. Seeing the other two converge their attacks upon Medusa, he shouted, "Colossal Serpent Overturning Heaven!" The mountains of the Sky Serpent Mansion shook and cracked with a deafening rumble, and an enormous black figure burst forth from the ground. From a distance, the black figure looked like a giant black dragon leaping from the earth, instantly soaring high into the sky, pouncing toward Medusa above. This long dragon was extremely massive. When it soared into the sky, it resembled a colossal mountain range. "What in the world is that! Is that a dragon?! A real dragon!" Someone was so frightened they turned pale. Among the countless strong practitioners from various factions present, some disciples were so scared that they collapsed onto their chairs. Even the major figures of the factions had their faces turn pale. Everyone thought it was a real dragon. Zi Yan frowned. She could tell at a glance that it was not of the dragon race at all. Let alone a pure-blooded dragon, it wasn''t even a flood dragon. "No, that''s snake skin!" Finally, someone with sharp eyes discovered it. It was actually She Tianhao''s shed skin! It had been refined into such a form! Facing the combined assault from three directions, Medusa''s expression turned grave. Just as Xiao Yan had worried, foundation was indeed what she lacked. This was a common ailment for all emerging factions and newly advanced experts; they hadn''t had time to accumulate a foundation. But who was Medusa? She instantly formed a hand seal, and with a sweep of her jade-like hand, she took control of all the Green Lotus Core Flame. The boundless Green Lotus Core Flame became hers to command. In a flash, she relied on the Heavenly Flame to resist the attacks from three directions! "Even if you possess a Heavenly Flame, you can''t withstand our combined attack!" Shi Nian shouted loudly. Instantly, blade lights flashed as countless slashes madly struck at Medusa''s Heavenly Flame protection. "Hahaha, if you surrender now and swear that the Yan Alliance won''t attack our three factions, the western area of the North-Western Region will still be your Yan Alliance''s territory." After the earlier collision, Ting Hao also knew that the rise of the Yan Alliance was unstoppable. He might as well concede, dividing the North-Western Region into four parts. The Sky Serpent Mansion, Thunderbolt Sect, Profound Lion Sect, and the Yan Alliance would each occupy a corner. In the future, the North-Western Region would cease to exist, replaced by four major factions. Leaders of the other factions felt their hearts sink as they listened. But there was nothing they could do. After all, weakness was the original sin. No matter whether the Yan Alliance could win or not, the weaker factions would be annexed. The era of dividing the land into four might be coming! At this moment, She Tianhao remained silent. For some reason, he had a strange premonition in his heart. His first instinct was to turn his head and look toward Xiao Yan''s position. His pupils contracted! She Tianhao was shocked to see Xiao Yan sitting very calmly in his seat, chatting and laughing with Yun Yun and the others beside him, showing no signs of worry at all. As if sensing his gaze, Xiao Yan slowly raised his head to look at She Tianhao in the sky, who was currently controlling the giant python made from his shed skin. The corners of Xiao Yan''s mouth curved into a smile. He sent a spiritual message to Medusa, "Don''t hold back anymore. It''s time. Some things can''t be hidden." At this, a very ominous feeling welled up in She Tianhao''s heart. He shouted, "Be careful!" In the next second, a transparent flame suddenly ignited within the hearts of the three. The terrifying flame was so intense that even these three high-star Dou Ancestors had some difficulty withstanding it! However, it was far from over. Medusa''s jade-like hand rotated, and suddenly the space began to distort, as if an invisible, high-temperature flame was spinning around her body, even distorting space due to the intense heat! Fallen Heart Flame! Medusa''s jade hand swept and grasped. The Fallen Heart Flame coiled around, transforming into a transparent fire whip, which she held in her hand. With a flick of her hand, a crisp crack sounded. Under her strike, the transparent fire whip sent the blade lights and spear lightning flying. Without a doubt, the Fallen Heart Flame was far stronger and more terrifying than those weapons. Medusa let out a cold snort. "Hmph!" Her left hand supported the Green Lotus while she unleashed the Green Lotus Core Flame upon the massive black serpent hide. That former scales-turned-giant-python was overwhelmed in an instant. The three men suppressed the heart flame within them with all their might. Just as they were about to counterattack Medusa, they saw her beautiful eyes narrow, and the Fallen Heart Flame once again ignited within their bodies! This extremely bizarre heart flame left the three battle-hardened Dou Ancestors momentarily without a good solution. They had no choice but to retreat abruptly, distancing themselves from Medusa. But how could Medusa possibly let them go? She stepped on the air and chased straight after them as if teleporting. The Fallen Heart Flame in her hand lashed out fiercely. Shi Nian was instantly shocked when he sensed an attack coming. His great blade erupted with dazzling light as he unleashed a Di Class Dou Technique. The two forces collided with a thunderous boom. A loud explosion shook the land, the sound reverberating throughout the entire Sky Serpent Mansion. But even though Shi Nian had counterattacked and defended, he still couldn''t resist Medusa''s attack. Medusa lashed out with two more whips. Even though She Tianhao and Ting Hao used all their skills, they could no longer hold on and were similarly sent flying, crashing into the mountain range. Everyone witnessed a shocking scene. Although they couldn''t see the Fallen Heart Flame, their Spiritual Strength could vaguely perceive that Medusa was holding something in her hand! Now, she controlled the Green Lotus Core Flame and wielded the Fallen Heart Flame. The transparent heart flame tore apart the earth, incinerated all things, and distorted space! Everyone saw Medusa once again repel the three men. The scene was extremely stirring. "Formless and intangible, unseen yet igniting the heart to kill from afar. Is that the Fallen Heart Flame ranked 14th on the Heavenly Flame Ranking!!" In the Sky Serpent Mansion''s camp, the 7th-star alchemist Sima Lin was greatly shocked. He abruptly stood up and exclaimed. Yesterday, when Medusa had burned Lu She to death with a single glance, he had felt it was strange. But at that time, she had only used the power of the Heavenly Flame Serpent Body, not directly using the Fallen Heart Flame. Therefore, he didn''t sense the aura of a Heavenly Flame and thought it was just her bloodline strength. But now, Medusa had directly used the Essence Flame of the Fallen Heart Flame. The terrifying heart flame was not on the same level as the one that burned Lu She to death yesterday. Even Dou Ancestors found it difficult to endure! "Fallen Heart Flame?!" Ting Hao naturally heard Sima Lin''s exclamation. Although he wasn''t an alchemist, he had heard of some Heavenly Flames and knew some of their abilities. Shi Nian was even more flabbergasted. How the hell do you have two Heavenly Flames! Isn''t it said that a person can only possess one Heavenly Flame, and that Heavenly Flames are like enemies when they meet, unable to coexist! You''re cheating! She Tianhao looked gravely at Xiao Yan below. Only he understood that all of this was because of Xiao Yan! And his beast-like intuition was correct. Even if Medusa had condensed a Heavenly Flame Serpent Body, simultaneously commanding two Heavenly Flames should have been impossible. Different Heavenly Flames fought each other on contact or triggered explosive reactions. Xiao Yan knew this better than anyone. Moreover, even if you were given a Heavenly Flame, it would be useless without the ability to control fire. Non-alchemists simply couldn''t control flames. But, who made him Xiao Yan! The Heavenly Flame Repository! Because he had thoroughly refined two Heavenly Flames himself, and maintained a unique soul connection with Medusa, he could share control over the flames with her. Coupled with the fact that she had used these same two Heavenly Flames to evolve her body and soul, she possessed the conditions to control them simultaneously. All the strong practitioners present looked at each other in dismay. Who said the Yan Alliance lacked foundation! Heavenly Flames were the foundation! "This... this... does this mean that the North-Western Region will belong to the Yan Alliance from now on?" "Very likely. Possessing two kinds of Heavenly Flames, such a miracle is probably beyond the foundation even of the Five Great Clans in the Pill Region." She Tianhao''s gaze turned cold as he faced Medusa, who controlled two Heavenly Flames. He said calmly, "You two, if you don''t want your sects to eventually become subordinate factions to others, then we can no longer afford to worry about face." Shi Nian and Ting Hao both felt their hearts sink, and then they nodded heavily. Now was not the time to care about face. If the three of them lost even when fighting together, then when Medusa truly came knocking on their doors, it would be a dead end. "Activate the Demon Saint Heavenly Gate!" With a buzzing sound, a beam of light illuminated the entire mountain range of the Sky Serpent Mansion. It was actually the mansion''s grand formation! Rumbling sounds echoed as dark clouds gathered in the sky. An incomparably colossal heavenly gate descended from above. The space around Medusa was completely sealed, making escape impossible for a time. This heavenly gate seemed intent on suppressing Medusa as it smashed down heavily. She Tianhao and the other two nodded. They appeared on top of the heavenly gate with a flash, then pressed their hands on the lintel of the gate and madly poured in a vast amount of Dou Qi, not intending to give Medusa any chance to resist. "So shameless! They''re even using the mansion''s grand formation!" "Seriously, could the Sky Serpent Mansion be any more despicable!" ------------- ------------- // Get up to 75 Chapters ahead of this story! There''s a 35% discount running on all tiers for the next seven days. Just visit patreon.com/kisshot or use code ''June35'' when subscribing. Thanks for all the support! Chapter 341: Plagiarized! Chapter 341 - 341: Plagiarized! Word Count: 3,046 Words ****** "Shameless? Nonsense! Don''t be fooled by the current peaceful appearance of the Yan Alliance and the three factions sitting down to talk about some arena competition. Under normal circumstances, this would be a direct invasion by the Yan Alliance into the Sky Serpent Mansion," an older-generation cultivator who had experienced sect-destroying wars sneered at the young people beside him. "The reason this never happened before was entirely due to the relative balance among the three major factions, or rather, the ten major factions. Even during the previous Great Meetings of Factions, including the one led by the Old Mansion Lord of the Sky Serpent Mansion, which was the closest they ever came to victory, they still never forced their opponents to this extent." "Medusa, who now controls two Heavenly Flames, is truly terrifying." "Attack! This is our last chance!" She Tianhao shouted in a deep voice. Clang clang clang, boom boom boom!!! The instant his shout fell, the eight directions were sealed and the energy of the world was suppressed. Medusa was completely trapped beneath the Heavenly Gate. That massive gate pressed down heavily. From below, it looked like a gigantic guillotine, as though the heavens themselves had lowered a chopping blade to enact divine punishment. The Heavenly Gate crashed down with Medusa standing at its center. She had no path of escape or retreat in that moment. After all, this was the protective grand formation left behind by the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint! Although he had only been a Half-Saint, he was nevertheless a Dou Saint, and the methods he left behind were absolutely earthshaking. "The might of a Half-Saint..." Yun Yun said quietly, her eyes trembling slightly as she stared at that enormous Heavenly Gate in the sky. Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes. He had seen a Dou Saint before. Excluding Hun Huzi and Hun Lao Gui, who had never openly displayed their strength, just the power of the Gu Clan elder when he fought Ling Quan had left him deeply shaken to this day. The ability to open a spatial channel in an instant, sensing from thousands of miles away and appearing in a flash, was definitely not something a Dou Venerate could perform. "No, though this was left behind by a Dou Saint, it also depends on who is using it. Those three are only Dou Ancestors," Xiao Yan said with a shake of his head. Although this thing didn''t possess the full might of a Dou Saint, its power was likely still unmatched and unstoppable below the Dou Venerate realm! Xiao Yan''s Dou Qi had already begun circulating, and the Flame Mantra within him surged. He had lent two Heavenly Flames to Medusa, but counting the Nihility Devouring Flame''s Seed Flame, he still possessed six types of Heavenly Flames within him. This Heavenly Gate was a powerful sealing formation. He would not allow Medusa to be suppressed. If she could not hold on, he would hurl out a six-colored Destruction Fire Lotus and blast both the Heavenly Gate and the Sky Serpent Mansion to rubble just to save her. As for unifying the North-Western Region, that could be handled later. Although it seemed that the Yan Alliance could unify the North-Western Region by delaying, Xiao Yan knew that in this world, there were always higher mountains and stronger people. Delaying could invite complications in the future. Medusa narrowed her beautiful eyes. A seven-colored radiance immediately rushed high into the sky. A hissing cry resounded as a serpent figure covered in rainbow-like scales flew out from her body. The Seven-Colored Devouring Heaven Python was no ordinary Devouring Heaven Python Tribe member. The seven-colored light it wielded was as fearsome as a mythical five-colored divine ray of light. A loud hiss sounded, followed by a rumble. It resembled a colossal seven-colored serpent defying the heavens from afar, rebelling against the sky''s shackles, as if unwilling to submit to divine judgment. It forcibly slammed into that massive Heavenly Gate. Medusa held nothing back as she unleashed her most powerful bloodline Beast Technique. If one were to classify it, that terrifying rainbow serpent projection would likely be at a quasi-Tian Class level, perhaps even reaching Tian Class outright. Boom boom boom boom!!! The enormous python rammed upward, and the Heavenly Gate actually halted, unable to descend further! "What!" "Damn it, is the Devouring Heaven Python Tribe really this powerful? Even this can be blocked!" "Blood Serpent Secret Technique!" She Tianhao gritted his teeth. He bit his tongue and used a Secret Technique. Using a Secret Technique required paying a price. She Tianhao''s blood surged within him, and he even consumed his own life force to perform this powerful Secret Technique. "Sink for me!" She Tianhao shouted, and a green giant python appeared behind him, pressing heavily onto the Heavenly Gate. Puff! A boom followed. In an extremely brief period, streaks of bloody wounds appeared across Medusa''s body, coloring her clothes red. She clenched her teeth and launched another counterattack. However, not only She Tianhao but Shi Nian and Ting Hao had also gambled everything, unleashing powerful Secret Techniques to forcibly boost their strength. As a result, she still could not overthrow the Heavenly Gate and ended up covered in injuries. "Hold on. If you can''t endure, I''ll blast that gate apart to get you out," Xiao Yan said. He had already begun to employ his Spiritual Strength and fire control ability, preparing to merge six kinds of Heavenly Flames to create a Destruction Fire Lotus that would surpass the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame. Meanwhile, She Tianhao and the others steadily pressed down the Heavenly Gate, unconcerned with speed. Once the gate descended fully, Medusa would be completely sealed. Even though it had not fully caught her yet, the incomparably heavy gate formation was already inflicting serious harm upon her. Such a sight made the onlookers and many experts gasp, their hair standing on end. One Dou Ancestor muttered under his breath, "It hasn''t even pressed down completely, and Queen Medusa is already unable to bear it from so far away. If that were us, we''d have been crushed into meat paste." "Absolute suppression like this... even a peak Dou Ancestor might not escape in one piece," someone murmured in horror. Medusa was a magical beast, and her physical body was incomparably strong. Yet now, before the gate had even fully descended, she was already covered in wounds. How could such a terrifying Heavenly Gate grand formation not make everyone shudder? "Are She Tianhao and the others planning to seal Medusa entirely?" "Likely. If they manage to seal or severely wound her, injuring her foundation so she can''t break through to Dou Venerate in the future, the Yan Alliance won''t be able to unify the North-Western Region. Their ambition would be crushed." "What now?" Zi Yan''s face sank as she saw Medusa trembling, barely able to remain on her feet. "Should we help?" "No. Stay here and watch. I will step in if needed," Xiao Yan said, gently shaking his head. He had made all the necessary preparations. But at this moment, Xiao Yan''s heart suddenly trembled, and an inexplicable feeling arose within him. For a fleeting moment, She Tianhao''s triangular pupils gleamed with mockery, but in the next second, terror surged through him. The moment Medusa''s hands flattened as if to lift something, a cluster of green flame and a transparent flame rose in front of her. The pupils of She Tianhao abruptly contracted. An emotion called shock appeared, extremely human-like, in those serpent eyes. "You... you... what are you trying to do?! Damn it!" She Tianhao seemed to guess Medusa''s intention. After a moment of stunned silence, he let out a shrill cry in midair as if someone had stepped on his tail. As Medusa''s gesture continued, Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong both showed perplexed expressions. This posture, this movement, two Heavenly Flames??! Could it be!! They fixed their eyes on her hands, took a deep breath, and felt as though a storm had been unleashed in their hearts. Colliding Heavenly Flames! Xiao Yan himself needed Spiritual Strength to keep the Heavenly Flames balanced when using the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame, intentionally restraining their power to prevent a runaway explosion. But Medusa was clearly not suppressing anything. She was pouring all her Dou Qi and strength into the Heavenly Flames! Heavenly Flames were intrinsically overbearing and destructive, and multiple flames were as hostile as mortal enemies. Once they clashed, the ultimate outcome would naturally be a dazzling explosion! She was still only a 7-star Dou Ancestor! Xiao Yan sensed at once that Medusa had urged every drop of her Dou Qi into the Fallen Heart Flame and the Green Lotus Core Flame. Their once-docile energy abruptly turned violent. While Xiao Yan and the others were aghast, Medusa offered a faint but breathtaking smile, one tinged with coldness. She employed Spatial Strength to distort the distance, then clasped her hands together within the distortion and pushed forward. She Tianhao and the other two felt as though their scalps would split. "Retreat!" Boom! A destructive force, coupled with the lunge of the rainbow serpent figure, spread out from beneath the Heavenly Gate. Space rippled violently in that instant. Not far away, as the ripple swept over one of the giant gate pillars, the pillar exploded. The broken cross-section was smooth like a mirror. The dazzling blend of green and pale flame erupted across the blue sky and surged like a tidal wave of fire. The temperature of the surroundings soared dramatically in an instant. Deep within the mountains of the Sky Serpent Mansion, countless people lifted their heads in dumbfounded awe at the fiery crash in the sky. Even with the gate''s spatial suppression, everyone was bathed in sweat by the searing heat. The audience on the mountain was silent. Everyone swallowed dryly, a chill spreading from the depths of their hearts. If that wave of fire had been any lower, this place would likely have been scorched flat by now. "What kind of maniac would do this, smashing two Heavenly Flames together like that!" Everyone shuddered in unison, groaning helplessly in their minds. "Look, the Heavenly Gate has been shattered by that serpent figure!" At that moment, the terrifying gate could no longer contain the overwhelming might produced by the collision of two Heavenly Flames. After bursting into fragments, it could not bear the serpent figure''s attack. The sky was flooded with fiery light. Not only Medusa but even She Tianhao and the other two were submerged in the Heavenly Flames. In the azure sky above, wave after wave of fire rippled outward from the center of the explosion. All flora and fauna within the surrounding area suffered devastating blows. At this instant, Xiao Yan could not help but shout inwardly: She plagiarized my signature move! Medusa had followed him for a long time. Back when she threatened him in the mercenary company to hand over the Green Lotus Core Flame, he had counter-threatened with colliding his Heavenly Flames in a self-destructive manner. Eventually, they reached an accord: he would help her condense the Heavenly Flame Serpent Body, and she would protect him and no longer take back the Green Lotus Core Flame. And now, well, she felt that this move was indeed quite threatening. ''This snake beauty is truly insane. Even I wouldn''t dare fully detonate Heavenly Flames at such close range,'' Xiao Yan muttered inwardly, relieved that Medusa was on his side. The Angry Buddha Lotus Flame was no joke, not something to be used so recklessly. Over in the Sky Serpent Mansion''s camp, Lu Man and Bai Ya wore looks of terror. They exchanged glances, then turned toward Xiao Yan in the distance. "Five years ago, maybe he planned to use this trick against us," Bai Ya said, recalling that day when they had taken Qing Lin away. They had both caught a glimpse of the desperate, life-risking gaze in Xiao Yan''s eyes. "That might be it. I remember he also had another red-colored Heavenly Flame besides the Green Lotus Core Flame." "Damn, can that kid spawn Heavenly Flames or something? How could he have so many?" Bai Ya cursed under his breath, while feeling glad he never truly offended Xiao Yan nor leaked his secrets. Otherwise, he would have been completely done for. Back then, they had all felt an ominous premonition. If not for Qing Lin speaking up in time, the outcome would have been hard to predict. The fiery waves gradually extended several thousand meters into the sky before slowly dissipating. In the air, She Tianhao and the other two appeared extremely battered, their flesh blurred, and over half of their bodies charred black. The serpent scales protecting She Tianhao had mostly been blasted away, his skin charred like coal. Fresh blood trickled out nonstop, dripping downward in a steady patter like rain. "Did Medusa blow herself up?" Shi Nian was half-ruined, his flesh scorched away. They had already driven themselves to the limit, wearing themselves out to push the Heavenly Gate. Their Dou Qi was nearly depleted, and none had mounted any significant defense. Who would have anticipated that Medusa would play such a trick? At this moment, their hearts were filled with dread toward Medusa. Suddenly, space distorted, and the three of them simultaneously sensed something. They abruptly raised their heads to look. Medusa was actually still alive! It was just that the current Medusa had changed into a purple dress. Undoubtedly, Little Fairy Doctor was right¡ªHeavenly Flames specialized in burning clothes. Medusa neither shouted nor roared. But everyone could feel her icy coldness. After detonating the Heavenly Flames in such a manner, the Essence Flame would naturally exhaust all flames. Although it could absorb the energy of the world to recover, it required time, so it had already returned to Xiao Yan''s body. Medusa didn''t delay. She appeared in front of Shi Nian in a flash. Her jade-like hand heavily slammed out. Although she no longer had the Heavenly Flames, she still possessed the strength of the Seven-Colored Devouring Heaven Python. Seven-colored radiance burst forth. Her palm slammed onto Shi Nian''s chest, and a series of cracking bones rang out. Already at his limit, Shi Nian fainted outright and crashed to the ground. Bang! She then dodged She Tianhao''s feeble strike with a twist of her body. Her legs turned back into a snake tail, and in a motion akin to a fierce dragon lashing its tail, she smacked Ting Hao''s back as he was about to join hands with She Tianhao. A sickening crunch of snapped bones indicated his spine might have fractured in multiple places. In merely a single exchange of blows, the two powerful experts Shi Nian and Ting Hao were taken down by Medusa. She Tianhao gnashed his teeth as he stared at her. He could sense that she was also running on fumes; her Dou Qi was almost gone, and she could not have escaped that Heavenly Flame detonation unscathed. Yet he himself was no better off. After a brief internal struggle, She Tianhao finally lowered his proud head and said in a deep voice, "I surrender." She Tianhao slowly descended to the ground. Unable to endure his injuries, he spat out a mouthful of blood. With the Heavenly Gate destroyed, he suffered a backlash that also harmed his Spiritual Strength. Continuing to fight would only worsen his condition. Hearing She Tianhao admit defeat, the entire mountain range fell silent. Countless people wore incredulous expressions. "So that means..." "The Yan Alliance... the Yan Alliance has completely won the Great Meeting of Factions?!" "By the heavens!!! The North-Western Region might be renamed the Yan Alliance now!" The experts from the Thunderbolt Sect and Profound Lion Sect finally reacted and rushed to find their respective leaders, administering precious pills in an effort to save them. Meanwhile, the other Dou Ancestors of the Sky Serpent Mansion moved to assist She Tianhao, hastily feeding him medicinal pills. Many of them were glaring at Medusa. If she showed any sign of weakness, they might attack en masse. Yet with Xiao Yan present, they were destined to have no chance. Xiao Yan no longer hid anything. The jade-white Life Flame slowly enveloped Medusa''s body. Instantly, a vast life force poured into her body and began healing her, rapidly healing her wounds. "Your injuries are severe... I don''t have any tier 7 pills on hand. I''ll let the Life Flame heal you a bit first. When we get back, I''ll refine pills for you," Xiao Yan said. He had perceived at once that her body was riddled with wounds from violently detonating the Heavenly Flames. If not for her Heavenly Flame Serpent Body, she would already be dead! "Mm." Medusa didn''t force herself either and nodded. "Your Majesty!" Yue Mei and Hua She Er hastened to support Medusa. Tears had long filled their eyes. Medusa gently brushed away their tears and revealed a rare smile. "I''m fine." Jia Xing Tian and the others naturally remained vigilant against the other Dou Ancestors of the Sky Serpent Mansion, Thunderbolt Sect, and Profound Lion Sect, afraid that they would launch a sneak attack. For a moment, the entire mountain range plunged into a deathly silence once more. None of the previous Great Meetings ever crowned a winner, so there were no judges or awards. The Great Meeting didn''t require declaring a first place; everyone could see for themselves. After the Great Meeting ended, truly earthshaking changes were bound to follow. By then, many of the faction leaders understood that if they did not want their own forces annihilated, if they did not wish for the fearful Queen Medusa to appear at their doors, they at least needed to prepare gifts to curry favor with the Yan Alliance, perhaps even become affiliated factions by submitting. Because now, no one in the North-Western Region could halt the Yan Alliance''s advance! Not even the three greatest factions and their sect-protecting grand formation had managed to overpower Medusa. Who else could stand against her? And so this Great Meeting concluded in silence. One by one, the various factions, including the people of the Yan Alliance, departed quietly, for the time had come to reap their rewards. Chapter 342: Bearing Gifts! Chapter 342 - 342: Bearing Gifts! Word Count: 3,361 Words ****** One day later, in the dead of night, inside Medusa''s room. A pair of piercingly cold, beautiful eyes stared fixedly at Xiao Yan. Medusa''s face was as icy as frost. Despite possessing a Heavenly Flame body, her gaze remained so cold. Xiao Yan didn''t dare look at her. He slowly averted his gaze and defended himself, "You know how it is. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame is unreasonable. It''ll burn all the clothes, and your true form is too large now." Medusa was no longer the little snake that had once been held in Mao Wu''s mouth. After fully condensing her physical body, her true form had grown to an unimaginable size. To use the Ten Thousand Beast Flame for healing and to stimulate her bloodline strength, she could no longer directly burn her true form as she did back at Jia Nan Academy. Being blasted by Heavenly Flames was not something simple pills could heal. Xiao Yan had spent a full day refining medicine to create a tub of medicinal liquid for treating her injuries. Moreover, it required the cooperation of the Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame and the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to achieve better healing results. Medusa''s face grew even colder by a few degrees upon hearing these words. However, Xiao Yan was the alchemist here. Though she was formidable in combat and killing, she knew nothing about alchemy. She tossed a black cloth to Xiao Yan and said coldly, "If you dare use Spiritual Strength to perceive, I will kill you!" Xiao Yan''s expression changed when he saw the black cloth in his hand. Her Majesty was getting fancy! She wanted him blindfolded! Of course, Xiao Yan, whose strength was inferior to Medusa''s, could only comply. He used the black cloth to cover his eyes, withdrew all his Spiritual Strength perception, and even placed Venerable Tian Huo''s storage ring outside. Medusa''s frosty face gradually softened when she saw that Xiao Yan had blindfolded himself. Then a piercing pain caused her exquisite features to twitch involuntarily. Undoubtedly, that battle had been anything but easy for her. After glancing at Xiao Yan once more to ensure he wasn''t peeking, she slowly untied her clothing. Xiao Yan couldn''t help swallowing when he heard the rustling sounds of clothing. Facing Medusa in human form in such a situation, he wouldn''t be a man if he didn''t have fantasies! Xiao Yan silently recited Xun Er''s name to stabilize his mind, keeping his heart as calm as an ancient well. Splash! A splashing water sound rang out. Medusa''s eyes narrowed in pain the instant her wounds contacted the medicinal liquid, but the strong-willed Medusa quickly endured it. She slowly sat in the wooden tub. The scalding medicinal liquid brought her some relief. She tied up her hair and slowly raised her head to look at the man before her. Her beautiful eyes flickered with strange colors as unknown thoughts crossed her mind. "You can start," she said in an icy voice. Xiao Yan didn''t dare make a sound. He only smelled a medicinal fragrance in the air, though it seemed mixed with some enticing aroma that stirred one''s heart. He spread the fingers of his left hand, and a pair of Yin-Yang fish appeared in his palm. The white fish''s Life Flame swam to Medusa''s side. After lightly kissing her cheek, a jade-white flame appeared to heal her wounds, while the black fish''s Death Flame spat out Death Flames to decompose the flesh burned by Heavenly Flames. Then the Life Flame regenerated new flesh. Death and life cycled endlessly. Although Xiao Yan had withdrawn his Spiritual Strength, he knew how serious Medusa''s injuries were through the feedback from the Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame. Her front, back, arms, and snake tail all had extensive burns. Moreover, these were all burns from Heavenly Flames, extremely difficult to heal without special methods. Only after healing the external wounds would he use the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to begin repairing the damage to her bloodline. "I''m sorry. If my strength had reached the Dou Ancestor realm, you wouldn''t have had to suffer such severe injuries." Xiao Yan couldn''t help feeling somewhat guilty. The Yan Alliance was his proposal. To put it bluntly, recruiting Medusa back then was taking advantage of her, utilizing her strength. And now, she had stepped forward to defeat the Sky Serpent Mansion, Thunderbolt Sect, and Profound Lion Sect. Medusa glanced at the somewhat guilty Xiao Yan and merely said indifferently, "I also have a share in the Yan Alliance." Xiao Yan nodded lightly and smiled. "Then from now on, we can be considered companions." "This is an alliance relationship, not partnership!" Queen Medusa''s rosy lips curled as she completely dismissed Xiao Yan''s thoughts of drawing their relationship closer. "An alliance is still an ally relationship, still companions." Xiao Yan shamelessly persisted, then grinned and said, "But since we''re already in an ally relationship, I can''t just call you Medusa directly, right? Isn''t Medusa your race''s name? It''s too easy to cause confusion. How about I give you a name? Otherwise, when I call your name in the future, others will know your identity." "No need for your concern!" Medusa replied coldly to Xiao Yan''s presumptuous suggestion. "How about ''Cai Lin''? It suits you very well." Xiao Yan pondered for a moment before suggesting this, not caring at all whether the name he came up with was corny. He didn''t know why he chose this name. Perhaps it was destiny. Medusa''s beautiful eyes filled with cold intent as she stared at the young man before her. However, when she saw the brilliant warm smile on his face, the anger in her eyes somehow eased slightly for unknown reasons. She said coldly, "Queen Medusa is my name and also my identity. I don''t need you to give me any other name." "But this way it''s easy to cause confusion. What if there''s a second Medusa one day¡ª" "Scram!" Medusa erupted instantly, her patience broken by his chatter. Her eyes narrowed as an imposing force rippled outward like a gust of wind. The rush of air caused the loosely secured black cloth over Xiao Yan''s eyes to drift away. When his vision returned, he saw a sight that tugged at the deepest impulses in a man''s heart. He instantly felt something rising, his blood surging, making him feel a bit dizzy. "It was an accident! This isn''t my fault!" Xiao Yan tried to explain, but words were useless at this moment. "Argh!! You did this on purpose!" "Agh, no, it really was an accident!" "Ow ow ow, that hurts! Why are you in such a rush? It''s not like I haven''t seen it before!" "Aaahhh~~!!" Before long, pitiful cries echoed through the residence. In the adjacent room, which happened to be Yun Yun''s room, upon hearing his series of agonized yet... pleasurable screams, Yun Yun''s cheeks immediately flushed. "Master, wasn''t Medusa the one injured? Why is Xiao Yan the one screaming?" Nalan Yanran asked curiously from within the room. Yun Yun''s face grew even redder. She covered Nalan Yanran''s ears and said, "You''re still too young. Don''t listen." Nalan Yanran was left baffled. Too young?? Yun Yun, meanwhile, could only think, ''I didn''t expect Xiao Yan to have such a... fetish.'' ... Early the next morning, Xiao Yan appeared in the Yan Alliance mansion''s main hall covered in injuries, while Hai Bodong struggled to suppress his laughter. Yun Yun turned her blushing face aside, clearly having misunderstood something. All four leaders of the Yan Alliance were present, including Medusa, because starting yesterday, the Yan Alliance had received numerous visitation requests, hoping to pay their respects at the Yan Alliance mansion. And this was exactly what Xiao Yan, or rather the Yan Alliance, needed! Xiao Yan put away his playful expression and nodded to his elder brother Xiao Ding beside him. Xiao Ding and Xiao Li understood tacitly, and the two walked to the mansion''s front door to welcome guests. Countless people had already gathered outside the Yan Alliance mansion''s gates. These people were all renowned experts of the North-Western Region, powerful figures, and even leaders of various forces. Now, these famous experts all wore nervous or even trembling expressions. They actually took the initiative to line up and wait for the mansion doors to open. Let alone cutting in line, these Dou Emperor and even Dou Ancestor level experts didn''t even dare whisper to each other, only silently waiting. Creak! Nalan Yanran and Qing Lin slowly pulled open the doors. The Yan Alliance mansion slowly opened. Second brother Xiao Li brought out a table and chair, taking out paper and ink to record things. The eldest brother Xiao Ding walked to the front door and revealed a harmless smile, "We thank everyone for thinking highly of our Yan Alliance. Unfortunately, there are too many visitation requests, so we must ask everyone to wait outside for a bit." "Is the Sect Leader of the Tiger Sword Sect present?" Xiao Ding asked with a smile. A peak Dou Emperor expert hurriedly walked up from the back. A hideous scar ran from his forehead to his chin on his face, but this person who should have looked fierce and vicious now approached with a face full of smiles. "Present, present." Tiger Sword Sect''s Sect Leader Hu Tianchou said with a beaming smile. Some onlookers clicked their tongues in amazement seeing Hu Tianchou, who had a notorious reputation for killing without blinking in his empire, behaving like this. But they could understand. Let alone someone with a fierce reputation, even if the sect leaders of the Sky Serpent Mansion, Thunderbolt Sect, and Profound Lion Sect came, they would still have to greet with smiling faces. Simply because this was the Yan Alliance''s territory! Xiao Ding smiled and said, "Sect Leader Hu''s reputation precedes him. This way please." Xiao Ding led Hu Tianchou inside. As they walked, he probed a little, saying things that scared Hu Tianchou so much that his back was drenched in sweat, and he hurriedly denied any wrongdoing. Hu Tianchou followed Xiao Ding into the main hall and saw the four leaders of the Yan Alliance all seated at the head. He was so frightened that his scalp tingled. The Dou Qi Continent was not a civilized society. This was a world where the strong were respected. Just like a few days ago, when the Medicine Bone Sect colluded with the Gold Geese Sect and Mulan Valley to frame Yun Yun, no one spoke up. In the end, Medusa appeared and slaughtered them with a flip of her hand. Xiao Yan even killed Gu Tong. The other disciples of the Gold Geese Sect and Mulan Valley all died, yet no one would condemn them for indiscriminate killing. To put it bluntly, if the Yan Alliance truly wanted to expand its territory, no one would dare to say a word of dissent. Especially when he saw Medusa sitting in the head seat as if nothing had happened, his throat bobbed up and down in fear. "Grandmaster Xiao Yan, this is a thousand-year-old tier 7 Bone Nourishing Grass. I heard Her Majesty the Queen was injured, so I specially came to deliver it." Hu Tianchou hurriedly took out a precious box from his storage ring, wanting to respectfully hand it to Xiao Yan with both hands. However, with just one glance from Medusa, Hu Tianchou stopped in his tracks. Xiao Yan smiled to smooth things over and said, "Sect Leader Hu is too polite. This ordinary low-grade tier 7 medicinal ingredient can be given to Yue Er. This can also serve as a test of her medicine identification abilities." Hu Tianchou''s heart sank. Xiao Yan''s words were very clear: a mere low-grade tier 7 medicinal ingredient wasn''t qualified to be presented to me; you can give it to Princess Yue Er. The implication was: I''m not very satisfied. This frightened Hu Tianchou senseless. However, he was an old fox and naturally had prepared more than one item. He took out another brocade box from his storage ring and handed both to Princess Yue Er, "Princess Yue Er, this is a middle-grade tier 7 Mountain Spirit Grass. It''s a congratulatory gift from our Tiger Sword Sect for the Yan Alliance winning first place at the Great Meeting of Factions." Before Princess Yue Er could even receive the brocade box, Zi Yan snatched it first. As soon as she opened the brocade box, a medicinal fragrance wafted out. She licked her lips, clearly very satisfied. Jia Xing Tian, who was standing nearby, caught on and smiled. "Sect Leader Hu, what other matters bring you here today?" Medusa waved her hand, and only then did Yue Mei slowly bring a cup of tea and place it on the seat. Hu Tianchou finally breathed a sigh of relief. He sat down, took a sip of tea, and began discussing matters related to his sect while also probing the Yan Alliance''s policies. This was exactly the result Xiao Yan and the entire Yan Alliance wanted. Plundering resources, or rather ''receiving gifts''. Over a hundred factions participated in the Great Meeting of Factions. These factions were all renowned in the North-Western Region. Even the weakest were factions established by Dou Emperors. Even the former Snake-People Tribe, Misty Cloud Sect, and Jia Ma Empire were only ranked as second-rate. One could imagine what enormous wealth could be gained from plundering resources from these hundred-plus factions. It should be known that Xiao Yan was now a low-grade 7th-tier alchemist, but if he wanted to advance to middle-grade, high-grade, peak, or even 8th-tier alchemist, the amount of medicinal ingredients needed would be enormous. The Bone Flame Ring only contained pill recipes, not medicinal ingredients. Medicinal ingredients had always been a huge headache for Xiao Yan. The Yan Alliance simply couldn''t afford to support such a big spender like him. Let alone the Yan Alliance, even any one of the three major factions couldn''t afford the medicinal ingredients needed to supply him to tier 8. And this was under the premise that Xiao Yan didn''t need to improve his Spiritual Strength and fire control. For a normal alchemist to reach tier 8, the heavenly treasures required would be enough to severely damage even the Five Major Clans of the Pill Region. To put it in more modern terms, energy is conserved. A large region could only produce one 8th-tier alchemist because this 8th-tier alchemist had already concentrated many resources to grow. This was also why Xiao Yan wanted to unify the North-Western Region. Before he left the North-Western Region to go to the Central Plains to participate in the Pill Gathering, he had to collect enough tier 7 and even tier 8 medicinal ingredients to become an 8th-tier alchemist. The difficulty Hun Huzi had added for Xiao Yan was that Venerable Mu Gu was not only Venerable Yao''s junior brother but also an 8th-tier alchemist. To defeat him at the Pill Gathering, Xiao Yan had to reach tier 8. No matter how capable Xiao Yan was, he couldn''t make bricks without straw. It was impossible for the Yan Alliance to unify the entire North-Western Region overnight, but now, with the complete victory at the Great Meeting of Factions, they could proceed to ''receive gifts''. As long as those faction leaders weren''t stupid, they would understand that currying favor with the Yan Alliance now versus when the Yan Alliance came knocking at their door would have completely different costs. Xiao Ding also suggested the Yan Alliance take a peaceful path. The Yan Alliance would still follow the Yan Alliance Treaty, remaining just a defensive alliance organization that wouldn''t interfere with faction operations. However, factions joining later would need to pay annual ''membership fees''. This was equivalent to becoming subordinate factions in disguise, except the Yan Alliance wouldn''t interfere with their daily affairs. This gift-receiving lasted a full seven days! After all, this involved over a hundred factions. Even if each sect only talked for ten minutes, that would still be a thousand minutes. Although it was tiring, seeing those tier 7 and even tier 8 medicinal ingredients made it hard for Xiao Yan to feel tired. It was just that his cheeks were a bit sore from smiling too much. The Thunderbolt Sect and Profound Lion Sect even specifically offered high prices to request Xiao Yan''s help because their sect leaders had Heavenly Flames invading their bodies and needed them removed. Xiao Yan was naturally very willing. What he wanted were resources and the power to protect his family. After seven days, the medicinal ingredients the Yan Alliance harvested shocked everyone. Even Medusa''s eyes went wide. Those faction experts were truly... so considerate! Xiao Yan was moved to tears. "The Thunderbolt Sect and Profound Lion Sect truly have deep foundations. Low-grade tier 8 pill recipes and two stalks of tier 8 medicinal ingredients." Xiao Yan looked at the two scrolls of low-grade tier 8 pill recipes in his hands. This was the price the Thunderbolt Sect and Profound Lion Sect paid for requesting his help. Even in Venerable Yao''s inheritance, tier 7 pill recipes were already very rare, let alone tier 8 ones, which numbered only a dozen or so. Moreover, if the medicinal ingredients couldn''t be gathered for these pill recipes, they would be equivalent to waste paper. So Xiao Yan indeed needed some new tier 7 and tier 8 pill recipes. "The Thunderbolt Sect and Profound Lion Sect didn''t just come to request pills from you, Third Brother. They also came to observe Queen Medusa''s injuries." Xiao Ding said with a serious expression. Xiao Yan smiled and waved his hand nonchalantly, "Then they''re destined to be disappointed. With me taking action, Cai... Medusa''s injuries are healing very quickly." Zi Yan pouted and looked at Xiao Yan with pleading eyes. "Xiao Yan~" she said in a coquettish tone. "I know, I''ll refine pills for you right away." Xiao Yan smiled and patted her little head. This time was definitely a super harvest. Xiao Yan had also obtained the pill recipe for the Beast Emperor Body Tempering Pill that Sima Lin had refined before. This low-grade tier 7 pill happened to be perfectly suitable for Zi Yan, so he promised to refine it for her. Refining the Beast Emperor Body Tempering Pill wasn''t difficult. Moreover, he specifically used the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to refine it, raising the medicinal properties of this Beast Emperor Body Tempering Pill to another level. Without a doubt, pills refined by Xiao Yan using Heavenly Flames would definitely attract Pill Lightning. Furthermore, he very deliberately didn''t refine it inside the Space Lock but openly refined the pill in full view of the Sky Serpent Mansion. Pill Lightning descended with a rumbling sound. Xiao Yan remained extraordinarily calm facing the Pill Lightning of a tier 7 pill and easily resolved it. He directly tossed the pill to Zi Yan and said, "Here you go." "Yay!" Zi Yan didn''t stand on ceremony and swallowed it in one gulp. Her cheeks instantly turned red, and her body released bursts of purple light. She ran back to her room in a flash to begin refining the medicinal strength. Zi Yan was only Rank 6. Even though she was an Ancient Void Dragon, she still needed some time to refine this tier 7 pill. "Cai Lin, how have things been these past few days?" Xiao Yan looked at Medusa, who was leaning against a stone pillar guarding him while he refined pills, and asked. Medusa''s face darkened when she heard Xiao Yan randomly calling names, but she still answered, "Most of the factions in the North-Western Region have already left the Sky Serpent Empire." "As for the Sky Serpent Mansion," she sneered and said, "During these days while you were refining pills, they sent three Dou Ancestors to secretly observe, presumably to assess my injuries." Xiao Yan smiled and revealed a meaningful expression, "That''s normal. They indeed find it difficult to accept the reality of their defeat for a time. Give them some time, and they will come to understand." Chapter 343: The Inheritance Thief Chapter 343 - 343: The Inheritance Thief Word Count: 3,289 Words ****** At this moment, within the Sky Serpent Mansion. "That Xiao Yan successfully refined a pill?" Elder Yi Jun, a Dou Ancestor of the Sky Serpent Mansion, asked. The Serpent Emperor responsible for monitoring the Sky Serpent Mansion revealed a helpless expression and nodded. "Yes. Xiao Yan made no attempt to conceal his alchemy. It was as if he deliberately wanted us to watch." "What kind of pill did he refine?" Hai Meng Po, the old woman who had once spoken up for Qing Lin, asked softly. "It was the Beast Emperor Body Tempering Pill that Grandmaster Sima Lin refined during the Great Meeting of Factions," the Serpent Emperor replied. "Not a healing pill, but the Beast Emperor Body Tempering Pill? Could Medusa''s injuries have already healed?" Yi Jun''s eyes narrowed as he asked incredulously. "Impossible! Grandmaster Sima Lin has been treating the Mansion Lord''s injuries for nearly half a month, and the Mansion Lord has only just begun to improve. How could Medusa recover that quickly from such a serious battle injury, and one caused by a Heavenly Flame at that?" Hai Meng Po exclaimed in shock. That battle had been so fierce, and the injuries of a Dou Ancestor were not so easily healed, let alone injuries caused by Heavenly Flames. "She should have fully recovered. She still discovered me even when I was hidden. Moreover, Medusa''s aura appeared steady and calm, nothing like someone injured. I can only say that Xiao Yan truly possesses unparalleled talent in alchemy," an elder said slowly. His strength was second only to She Tianhao as a 5-star Dou Ancestor. All the Sky Serpent Mansion elders looked grave upon hearing his confirmation. Not only did they have Medusa, but they also had an alchemy grandmaster like Xiao Yan. Most terrifying was that Medusa had actually defeated the combined forces of three major factions. Even the Sky Serpent Mansion''s protective formation had been used, yet it still failed to stop Medusa. This result was difficult for them to accept. Medusa faintly seemed invincible below the Dou Venerate realm. "Are we really going to submit to Medusa''s Snake-People Tribe?" a Serpent Emperor elder murmured. "Hmph! Medusa only defeated the Mansion Lord, Shi Nian, and Ting Hao. If our three major factions unite, we still have the advantage!" "You think the Thunderbolt Sect and Profound Lion Sect will truly join forces with us? And who would lead that alliance if they did? Do you really believe Shi Nian and Ting Hao are so foolish as to genuinely offend the now-flourishing Yan Alliance?" "Regardless, my Winged Serpent Tribe would rather die fighting than submit to the Snake-People Tribe!" "Exactly! My Horned Serpent Tribe feels the same. I''d rather perish together with the enemy than submit!" "Hmph, if you want to die, don''t drag our Flood Dragon Tribe along. We won''t accompany you." The entire Sky Serpent Mansion main hall erupted into uncontrollable arguments. Merely half a month ago, their Sky Serpent Mansion was still the oldest and strongest faction. Who would have thought that a Yan Alliance would suddenly emerge? Medusa was outrageously powerful, beating all three major factions. Moreover, because she herself was of the serpent race and had some connection to the Sky Serpent Mansion, she had directly shattered the Sky Serpent Mansion from within! Hai Meng Po exchanged glances with Bai Ya and Lu Man as the elders quarreled like fishwives in a marketplace. "Everyone, we don''t necessarily have to fight the Yan Alliance to the death, nor do we have to submit to Medusa. We have another path to take." Lu Man slowly stood up at this moment, looking at the various Serpent Emperors and Serpent Ancestors arguing like they were in a vegetable market. "Lu Man, what good suggestion do you have?" A strange light flashed in Lu Man''s eyes as he slowly said, "Everyone, have you forgotten about Qing Lin?" "Qing Lin? But hasn''t she already made up her mind to leave our Sky Serpent Mansion? With the Yan Alliance so powerful now, how could she possibly return to the Sky Serpent Mansion?" An elder shook his head doubtfully. Bai Ya stood up and said, "You''re wrong. Lu Man and I were the ones who brought Qing Lin back. At that time, though Xiao Yan''s strength was still weak, he risked his own safety to save her. While it''s true that Qing Lin has a good relationship with Xiao Yan of the Yan Alliance, she isn''t without feelings for the Sky Serpent Mansion." "Actually, we don''t necessarily have to submit to the Yan Alliance. If we follow Qing Lin, I believe the Yan Alliance won''t do anything to us. We might even be able to leverage the Yan Alliance''s power." All the elders in the main hall fell silent. Everyone present was a cunning old serpent. How could they not understand what Bai Ya meant? He meant following Qing Lin and making her their leader! Qing Lin not only possessed the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, but she was also now one of the high-ranking members of the Yan Alliance and had an extraordinary relationship with Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan had publicly stated that Qing Lin was a member of his clan and had grown up in his clan since childhood. If they followed Qing Lin, the Sky Serpent Mansion naturally wouldn''t fear being purged and might even bask in the Yan Alliance''s glory. All the elders fell into contemplation for a moment. Now that She Tianhao had been defeated, his prestige was gradually declining. Some elders were also dissatisfied with She Tianhao''s loss to Medusa. Plenty of serpents revered strength, and they had originally joined the Sky Serpent Mansion because it was the mightiest serpent faction in the North-Western Region. Now, with the advent of an even stronger serpent faction, Medusa''s, many were already waffling. "But... She Tianhao''s lineage is very powerful. The old Mansion Lord She Tianhuang isn''t dead yet." "No, according to what I know, the reason She Tianhuang passed the position of Mansion Lord to his son was because he failed to break through to Dou Venerate and his bloodline strength withered. His strength has long since declined to less than one-tenth of his peak, probably only at the 5-star Dou Ancestor stage. Otherwise, he would have appeared at the Great Meeting of Factions," Hai Meng Po dropped a bombshell. The entire main hall fell silent once again. However, this silence was different. From the serpents'' eyes, one could see that something had changed in their gazes. ... Early the next morning, Lu Man and Bai Ya arrived at the Yan Alliance mansion to pay a visit. They stated that they were inviting Xiao Yan and Qing Lin to the Sky Serpent Mansion in a personal capacity, but Xiao Yan declined, using the excuse that he needed to refine pills. Yun Yun asked puzzledly, "They invited you and Qing Lin to the Sky Serpent Mansion. They should be wanting to discuss matters regarding the North-Western Region, right? Why did you decline?" The Yan Alliance''s current strategic goal was naturally to unify the entire North-Western Region without bloodshed if possible. They preferred to avoid war if they could, so Yun Yun didn''t understand why Xiao Yan refused. Xiao Yan looked at Yun Yun''s elegant, noble face and smiled. "Sect Leader Yun doesn''t understand?" Yun Yun rolled her eyes at him when she saw his infuriating expression. "Yeah, I''m pretty stupid." Xiao Yan gave a short laugh. "Just teasing. When Lu Man and Bai Ya extended that invitation, they were doing so personally, which means they''re not speaking on behalf of the Sky Serpent Mansion. It''s likely She Tianhao knows nothing about it." Yun Yun''s delicate brows furrowed slightly, "You mean the Sky Serpent Mansion is now experiencing internal strife?" "Basically. If I''m not mistaken, there should be two positions within the faction. One wants to keep supporting She Tianhao, to stand firm, reject compromise, reject surrender, and look to form alliances with other factions to oppose us," Xiao Yan said. He lifted two fingers to illustrate. "As for the second..." he continued. His gaze shifted to Qing Lin, who was busily wiping tables and sweeping the floor in the hall with a contented look on her face. "They intend to follow Qing Lin, join the Yan Alliance under her leadership, use Qing Lin to strive for maximum benefits, and plan to kick out She Tianhao''s faction." "Isn''t that good for us?" Yun Yun asked. "It''d be meaningless if the whole Sky Serpent Mansion doesn''t submit. A handful of Rank 5 and Rank 6 magical beasts won''t fundamentally improve the Yan Alliance''s overall strength," Xiao Yan said slowly. "It''s a pity. If opening the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s inheritance didn''t require both Qing Lin''s Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils power and the key passed down through generations of the Sky Serpent Mansion, I would have already attacked the Sky Serpent Mansion." Xiao Yan''s calm words carried the domineering air of Venerable Yan. Yun Yun immediately understood upon hearing this. So Xiao Yan had been eyeing the Sky Serpent Mansion''s Dou Saint inheritance all along! She looked at Xiao Yan with a strange expression. This guy had previously set his sights on their Misty Cloud Sect''s Gate of Life and Death, and now he wanted the Sky Serpent Mansion''s inheritance. An inheritance thief! Noticing her strange look, Xiao Yan rubbed his nose awkwardly and coughed lightly. "Ahem, this... this is different from the Gate of Life and Death." "That inheritance is very suitable for Qing Lin. The Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s inheritance is indispensable to fully awaken her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. Moreover, Medusa is already a 7-star Dou Ancestor. Although she has transformed, reaching a Rank 8 magical beast is not an easy task. It would greatly enhance her chances of breaking through to Dou Venerate if we can find things like the blood essence or bones of a serpent Dou Saint inside." Xiao Yan was truly someone who loved to worry. Medusa had just condensed her serpent body, and he was already planning her path to Dou Venerate. "I''ve already had Big Brother and Second Brother spread the word that our Yan Alliance will leave the Sky Serpent Empire and return to the Yan Alliance in a month. Let''s see how long She Tianhao can endure." Xiao Yan revealed a smile. His departure naturally meant Qing Lin would leave. Without Qing Lin, even if the Sky Serpent Mansion had an inheritance, it would be equivalent to not having one. You have the Sky Serpent Mansion''s heirloom, but I have Qing Lin. Let''s see who can hold out longer! As for promises and going back on one''s word, Jie Jie Jie, the Hall of Souls doesn''t talk about promises. During this period, Lu Man and Bai Ya occasionally came to visit, but Xiao Yan refused to visit the Sky Serpent Mansion using alchemy as an excuse. However, he wasn''t entirely lying. Over the past month, he had indeed been refining pills and cultivating the Flame Mantra, though most of his time was spent refining pills needed by the Yan Alliance. For example, peak tier 6 pills like the Mighty Huang Pill, Emperor Heaven Pill, and Zong Breaking Pill. He also taught Yue Er alchemy along the way. After all, once he left the Yan Alliance, she would be solely responsible for supplying the pills. While refining pills and cultivating, he broke through to the 4-star Dou Emperor stage. In just over a month, he had advanced by one star. The terrifying synergy between the Fallen Heart Flame and the Tian Class Qi Method made Hai Bodong grit his teeth in envy. Others took at least one or two years to advance a star in the Dou Emperor realm at the fastest, yet Xiao Yan was doing it in mere months! Moreover, Xiao Yan hadn''t even used the Mighty Huang Pill yet. He still had two Mighty Huang Pills available! ... Time passed quickly, and when the month was nearly up, Xiao Yan had ceased refining pills and now appeared leisurely every day, occasionally teaching Yue Er alchemy, drinking and chatting with his two brothers Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, teasing Nalan Yanran, and preparing to leave the Sky Serpent Empire at any time. While Xiao Yan was relaxed, the Sky Serpent Mansion was in chaos. They completely panicked when they learned that Xiao Yan was about to leave and that the Yan Alliance was refusing all visitors. Even Lu Man and Bai Ya were turned away by Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran when they came to visit. After all, with Medusa present in the Yan Alliance, they had no chance of forcibly taking Qing Lin back if she truly left. This meant the Half-Saint inheritance, which was about to be opened, would completely slip through their fingers. "Damn it!" She Tianhao slammed his fist heavily on the table. After more than a month of healing, he had completely recovered. He naturally understood what Xiao Yan''s purpose was, but he had long considered the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s inheritance as his own. How could he possibly share a piece of the pie with Xiao Yan! "Hao''er." At this moment, an elderly man leaning on a cane slowly walked in from outside. "Father, why have you come?" She Tianhao hurriedly stepped forward to support the elderly man. The newcomer was the previous Mansion Lord of the Sky Serpent Mansion, She Tianhuang. However, because he had failed to break through to Dou Venerate, his bloodline had now withered. He was no longer what he once was, and even his appearance had aged considerably. His strength had dropped from 9-star Dou Ancestor all the way down to 5-star Dou Ancestor. "The Sky Serpent Mansion is no longer what it used to be. Opening the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s inheritance is your only hope of breaking through to Dou Venerate." The elder''s eyes flashed with sharp light as he spoke in a deep voice. "But... are we really going to split the treasures in the inheritance equally with them? I''m not willing!" She Tianhao gritted his teeth. How could he possibly accept this? Originally, as long as Qing Lin opened the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s inheritance, he would obtain the Dou Saint inheritance, break through to the Dou Venerate realm, and unifying the North-Western Region would be just around the corner. But now, a Yan Alliance had suddenly emerged. Not only did they want to take Qing Lin away, but they had also defeated him at the Great Meeting of Factions. Now they even wanted to split his inheritance! In She Tianhao''s heart, this was completely like being cuckolded and then having to share half his family fortune. How could he endure this! She Tianhuang patted his son''s shoulder. His expression was gloomy, and his eyes flashed with sharp light as he said, "Son, if you can''t endure small matters, you''ll ruin great plans. Our Sky Serpent Mansion is the orthodox bloodline of the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint. They are merely outsiders. As long as we obtain the inheritance, it doesn''t matter even if our lineage leaves the Sky Serpent Mansion." "As long as you reach Dou Venerate, our lineage will migrate to the Central Plains Beast Region. That is our homeland." She Tianhao took a deep breath after hearing his father''s words. He finally nodded and said, "I understand, Father. I will endure." Not long after, in the Yan Alliance mansion. "Hmm? That fellow She Tianhao wants to visit?" Xiao Yan smiled when he heard Xiao Ding''s words. Xiao Ding also revealed a smile and nodded. "Yes. This matter has already spread throughout the Sky Serpent Mansion. I heard he''ll personally come soon. He probably can''t endure any longer." Sure enough, not long after, a powerful aura approached from the horizon. She Tianhao stepped through the air, accompanied by several Dou Ancestor elders. From this, it was clear that the Sky Serpent Mansion indeed had the qualifications to dominate. Medusa snorted coldly when she saw She Tianhao appear above the courtyard. With a wave of her hand, spatial suppression pressed down, and a terrifying pressure bore down on everyone from the Sky Serpent Mansion. She Tianhao and the other serpents didn''t continue resisting after sensing Medusa''s extremely terrifying strength. They slowly descended to the street. After all, they hadn''t come to fight this time. Moreover, they had already fought... and lost. The door slowly opened. Xiao Yan smiled insincerely and said, "Hehe, Mansion Lord She, long time no see. I wonder what brings you here today?" She Tianhao''s eyelid twitched at this fellow who was asking despite knowing the answer. However, he could only forcibly suppress the anger in his heart and reveal a smile. "I should have come to visit the leaders of the Yan Alliance earlier, but unfortunately, healing from injuries takes time. I hope I''m not disturbing you." Xiao Yan made an inviting gesture. "Of course not. We''re also planning to depart and return to the Jia Ma Empire soon. We''re free now. Please come in." She Tianhao naturally understood the meaning. If they couldn''t reach an agreement today, Xiao Yan wouldn''t continue staying in the Sky Serpent Empire. There was only one chance. In the main hall, after a round of false pleasantries, She Tianhao took the initiative to say, "I wonder when Grandmaster Xiao Yan will have Qing Lin come to the Sky Serpent Mansion to open the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s inheritance." Xiao Yan smiled and slowly shook his head. He sighed somewhat regretfully, "Ah, Qing Lin''s health has been poor recently. I plan to take her back to the Yan Alliance first. After treating her body, we''ll go to the Sky Serpent Mansion to open the ruins." Even the members of the Yan Alliance found it hard to believe. Qing Lin had been full of energy these past few days, doing laundry and cooking with ease. She didn''t look like she had any issues at all. She Tianhao knew that Xiao Yan wouldn''t release the eagle until he saw the rabbit. He immediately stopped wasting words and said, "Grandmaster Xiao Yan, the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s inheritance contains a separate dimension. There should be some ancient medicines inside." Xiao Yan laughed inwardly and said, "Oh, but I''m not comfortable letting Qing Lin go alone. How about this: Queen Medusa and I will accompany Qing Lin into the ruins. This will also better protect Qing Lin. What do you think?" He also laid his cards on the table. Opening the ruins was fine, but he and Medusa had to enter together. It was impossible to let all the Yan Alliance members enter the inheritance ruins, but with Medusa, who had the strongest strength, present, he believed he wouldn''t be at a disadvantage. The people from the Sky Serpent Mansion became restless when they heard that Medusa would also enter. Everyone could see how strong she was. When the time came to compete for treasures in the ruins, they really might not be able to compete with her. However, to everyone''s surprise, She Tianhao actually agreed immediately. He nodded and said, "I understand. When the inheritance ruins open, everything will depend on Qing Lin." With that said, he took everyone and left the Yan Alliance mansion. This was also something he had already discussed with his father. It was impossible for Xiao Yan not to bring Medusa along. After She Tianhao left, Yun Yun said somewhat worriedly, "With only you, Qing Lin, and Queen Medusa, won''t it be dangerous?" Xiao Yan waved his hand. "Don''t worry. There won''t be any problems with Medusa there. Moreover, we''ll take Qing Lin and leave directly if necessary." Chapter 344: Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils Space Chapter 344 - 344: Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils Space Word Count: 3,063 Words ****** Early the next morning, Xiao Yan handed over some refined tier 6 medicinal pills to Yun Yun before departing with Qing Lin and Medusa toward the Sky Serpent Mansion''s main compound. Meanwhile, Yun Yun, Jia Xing Tian, and the others boarded the Serene Sea Scaly Beast to return to the Jia Ma Empire. The Yan Alliance couldn''t remain unattended for too long. Xiao Yan had visited the Sky Serpent Mansion before and had even been to Qing Lin''s residence, but he had never seen the main compound. "Where exactly is this main compound?" Xiao Yan asked, gazing at the endless mountain range before him. He couldn''t help but admire the Sky Serpent Mansion''s profound heritage. Although called a ''mansion,'' it actually occupied an entire mountain range. "Young Master Xiao Yan, the main compound is actually beneath that giant serpent," Qing Lin explained with a smile, pointing to the towering serpent statue. It was evident that after living in the Sky Serpent Mansion for five years, Qing Lin had developed some affection for the place. "I always felt that statue was somewhat strange," Xiao Yan said as they flew toward the giant serpent statue. He had sensed something unusual about it when they first entered the Sky Serpent Mansion. Qing Lin''s expression immediately turned solemn and serious. "That''s not a statue. It''s the corpse of the first Mansion Lord of the Sky Serpent Mansion, the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint." "What?!" Both Xiao Yan and Medusa couldn''t hide their surprise. That structure towering into the clouds, massive as a mountain range, was actually a snake?! "That''s truly exaggerated. Worthy of a Half-Saint... It should be dead, right?" Xiao Yan asked cautiously. He had experience with such matters; old monsters like this often had a habit of playing dead. Qing Lin nodded. "Yes, it''s dead. However, Half-Saint level experts can create spaces within their bodies. The Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s inheritance lies inside its body." Medusa glanced up toward the clouds and asked slowly, "Has no Dou Venerate ever attempted to force their way in?" "No!" Qing Lin quickly shook her head. "This inheritance is within the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s body. Even a Dou Venerate who forcibly entered would likely face attacks." "Once, the old Mansion Lord invited a Dou Venerate to enter through cracks that appeared during spatial seal fluctuations. They all fled in miserable condition." "Oh?" Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. It seemed that even though this Jade-Eyed Snake Saint was only a Half-Saint, and despite the passage of time, it still couldn''t be underestimated. His gaze swept across the lush, verdant mountains surrounding them. With his keen spiritual perception, he indeed sensed some extremely obscure auras. "Looks like we''ve arrived. Since we''re ''guests'' this time, let''s walk from here," Xiao Yan decided. He was too lazy to provoke She Tianhao any further. His only goal was the inheritance of the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint. "Qing Lin, over here." The ones coming to welcome them were naturally their old acquaintances, Bai Ya and Lu Man. "Sister Lu Man, Uncle Bai Ya," Qing Lin greeted with a smile as she gradually descended onto the mountain. Bai Ya cupped his hands respectfully. "Grandmaster Xiao Yan, Queen Medusa, this way please. The Mansion Lord has been waiting for some time." Since they were being courteous, Xiao Yan wouldn''t act arrogantly. He returned the gesture and nodded. "Then we''ll trouble you to lead the way." When Xiao Yan''s group arrived beneath the giant serpent, the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s body appeared mountain-like in its enormity. Not only could they not see its head above the clouds, but standing below, they could hardly see to either side. It was like a wall reaching to heaven. "There''s a Space Lock above the clouds blocking spiritual perception," Xiao Yan noted. He had tried to use his Spiritual Strength to probe upward but discovered a layer of space that his spiritual power couldn''t penetrate. He guessed that opening this Space Lock would require Qing Lin''s help, and the inheritance probably lay above the clouds. Soon, Xiao Yan''s group encountered She Tianhao and a crowd of Sky Serpent Mansion experts. Counting She Tianhao and Bai Ya, the Sky Serpent Mansion had eight Dou Ancestors present¡ªfour low-star Dou Ancestors like Bai Ya, one 4-star Dou Ancestor, and two 5-star Dou Ancestors. Xiao Yan''s gaze settled on the 5-star Dou Ancestor standing beside She Tianhao. This elderly man hadn''t appeared at the Great Meeting of Factions. ''That must be the previous Mansion Lord, She Tianhuang. His bloodline strength has indeed withered.'' Xiao Yan thought. He had heard rumors about She Tianhao''s lineage from Bai Ya and Lu Man, including the existence of this former mansion lord. Besides those Dou Ancestors, the Sky Serpent Mansion had brought several dozen peak Serpent Kings and Serpent Emperors. Among them were magical beasts like Lu Man who had reached the peak Dou Emperor stage. Such strength indeed gave them the qualifications to dominate. "The Mansion Lord seems quite cautious. The Sky Serpent Mansion truly has no shortage of powerful experts," Xiao Yan said with a smile as he swept a glance at the dense crowd of experts behind She Tianhao. She Tianhao understood Xiao Yan''s meaning and replied calmly, "Better safe than sorry. Besides, there might be serpent puppets inside the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s body. It''s best to be prepared." The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils possessed a formidable ability to induce illusions within serpent-type magical beasts, then control them through it. Although Qing Lin had only reached the 3-star Dou Emperor stage, she could already control peak Dou Emperor serpents, forcing a spiritual connection and pulling them into her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils space to serve as puppets. This was how she had controlled the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent. Such was the ability of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. But the terrifying power of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils didn''t stop there. During his research, Xiao Yan discovered that serpents controlled by Qing Lin would gradually experience a decline in their cultivation, which would be absorbed entirely by her through their soul contract. This ability, reminiscent of a cultivation-stealing technique, astonished both Xiao Yan and Medusa. Controlling serpents was one thing, but actually absorbing their cultivation to enhance one''s own was something else entirely! This explained why Qing Lin''s cultivation had improved so rapidly. Currently, besides the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent, there were two other peak Dou Emperor serpents within her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils space. Such was the frightening potential of a special physique! Naturally, the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint also possessed the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. As a Half-Saint from a thousand years ago, it was possible that serpent tribes had been reproducing within its body all this time. "Let''s go." Without further delay, Xiao Yan waved his hand and took the lead, transforming into a streak of light and shooting toward the colossal corpse. Behind him, Medusa, Qing Lin, She Tianhao, and the others quickly followed. Dozens of figures flew over the corpse of the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint, which was as massive as a mountain. Even the unique chilling atmosphere of the Sky Serpent Mansion was forcibly dispersed under such a terrifying aura. Upon reaching the Space Lock, She Tianhao slowly took out a green scale. This was undoubtedly the token passed down through generations in the Sky Serpent Mansion. Xiao Yan clearly sensed intense fluctuations within the Space Lock when the token appeared. A wave of green light resonated with it. A creaking sound rang out. The Space Lock rippled, and a groove took shape. Xiao Yan instantly recognized the shape of the groove. Wasn''t this identical to the form of that ring found inside the stone? She Tianhao and Qing Lin clearly recognized it as well. Without hesitation, Qing Lin took out the proof of passing the trial and gently placed it into the groove. Buzz!!! Rumble rumble rumble!!! Instantly, a violent tremor swept through the entire Sky Serpent Mansion mountain range, as if something enormous was emerging! Boom!! A sight that made even Xiao Yan''s scalp tingle appeared! A colossal serpent head slowly emerged from above the clouds. "What the hell?!!!" Xiao Yan couldn''t help blurting out. He could not be blamed for this; that head was simply too massive! The serpent was jade-green in color. Several green flower patterns adorned its pair of yellow serpent eyes. Even Medusa''s expression changed dramatically at the sight. The serpent head was like a meteorite, as if the moon were crashing into the earth. All scenery before them was obscured by its enormity. Everyone''s expressions changed drastically at this scene. "This... this is too big!" "How are we supposed to get in?!" In that moment, the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s head appeared to be ten thousand feet high, a dominating presence connecting heaven and earth. The enormous head, obscuring the sky and sun, gave everyone a crushing sensation. All present felt as if the ancient Demon Saint was looking down upon a group of insignificant ants. Everyone held their breath as they watched this unforgettable scene, one that would be etched into their memories forever. Xiao Yan, with his powerful Spiritual Strength, sensed something unusual and quickly turned to look at Qing Lin. Her eyes had become vacant as she received some form of spiritual information. Moments later, her eyes released a burst of green light that shot toward the enormous serpent head. Buzz!!! The serpent head began to fluctuate violently, and those eyes that were as lifeless as gems actually slowly gained luster! The Space Lock also fluctuated wildly, as if it would shatter at any moment. "It''s opening!" She Tianhao exclaimed in excitement. If he could enter the inheritance site and seize what the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint had left behind, especially if he could obtain the essence blood of a Half-Saint, reaching the Dou Venerate realm would be just around the corner! However, Qing Lin''s body began to tremble, and the light in her eyes started to dim. "Not good! Qing Lin''s cultivation is insufficient; she can''t fully activate the inheritance!" Xiao Yan quickly realized as he scanned her with his Spiritual Strength. Qing Lin''s cultivation was simply too weak. Originally, she would have needed to be at least at the Dou Ancestor realm to pass the trial and obtain the ring token. However, due to Xiao Yan''s intervention, she had skipped this prerequisite step. She Tianhao''s excitement plummeted as he observed the glow in the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s eyes weakening. He glared at Qing Lin and roared, "Hurry up! It''s almost there!" Medusa''s eyes narrowed, and a terrifying pressure crashed down upon She Tianhao, causing him to taste blood in his mouth. Feeling Medusa''s anger, he suddenly came to his senses. He forcibly swallowed the blood in his mouth and didn''t dare to say anything more. Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed slightly. He let out a cold snort and walked to Qing Lin''s side. Gently grasping her small hand, he immediately channeled an immensely powerful Spiritual Strength into her body. Along with his Spiritual Strength flowed the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame possessed the power to strengthen and activate magical beast bloodlines. Qing Lin couldn''t open the inheritance because her cultivation and bloodline strength were too weak. "Young... Master..." Qing Lin murmured. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame felt like a warm current through her cold body. "Don''t speak. I''ll help you," Xiao Yan said. He carefully controlled both the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and his Spiritual Strength to help her open the inheritance. Qing Lin nodded slightly. With Xiao Yan''s assistance, the green light in her eyes suddenly intensified, and a powerful aura burst from her body. Buzz buzz buzz buzz!!! Boom! The Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s eyes filled completely with jade-green light. Instantly, the Space Lock before them shattered. "It''s open!" She Tianhuang exclaimed, "Those eyes are the gateway to the inheritance site!" Hearing his father, She Tianhao could no longer contain himself. He immediately took the lead, stepping into the air and flashing into the enormous jade-like serpent pupil, disappearing from sight. The other Sky Serpent Mansion experts followed closely, unwilling to lag behind. One by one, they transformed into streaks of light and entered the serpent pupil. "Aren''t we going in?" Medusa looked at Xiao Yan and asked. "No rush. Let them be the advance party. Qing Lin has overexerted herself. I''ll help her recover first." Xiao Yan held the unconscious Qing Lin, whose face had gone pale from the exertion. He quickly took out two tier 6 medicinal pills¡ªone to restore Dou Qi and another to replenish her spirit and soothe her soul. Combined with the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, color soon returned to Qing Lin''s pale face. "Young Master Xiao Yan," Qing Lin softly called out. Realizing she was nestled in Xiao Yan''s embrace, she immediately blushed and ducked her head. "Rest a bit longer." Xiao Yan carried Qing Lin on his back without further ado. He couldn''t help but feel his heart flutter as he felt the soft and delicate body so warm and supple against him. He then glanced at the colossal serpent pupil in the distance. Together with Medusa, he leapt forward and slipped into it. A flash of white light passed, and as they looked around, they found themselves in an immense forest spanning hundreds of kilometers. Towering trees were everywhere, and they could even hear the angry roars of magical beasts. "A Half-Saint''s body can actually contain such a massive space within it. What a sight," Xiao Yan marveled. A Dou Saint''s corpse remaining intact for a thousand years was shocking enough, but to contain such a vast space inside it was even more astonishing. "This should be the pupil space of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. Ordinary Dou Saints wouldn''t be able to create something this exaggerated," Medusa explained. "Qing Lin, can you sense a specific location?" Xiao Yan turned to ask the girl on his back. A green light flashed in Qing Lin''s eyes. She raised her hand and pointed in a certain direction. "I feel something strange over there." Xiao Yan and Medusa exchanged glances. The direction Qing Lin indicated was precisely where the Sky Serpent Mansion group had gone. "It seems the Sky Serpent Mansion has some knowledge about the inheritance. Even without the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, they appear to know something," Xiao Yan said thoughtfully. "If obtaining a Half-Saint''s inheritance were simply a matter of who arrived first, that would be laughable," Medusa said dismissively. Her Snake-People Tribe also had inheritance grounds, and she herself had received inheritances before. She knew ancient experts would never make it easy for successors. There would definitely be numerous trials along the way. Sure enough, as they followed Qing Lin''s directions, they soon heard the miserable screams of the Sky Serpent Mansion experts. "Sigh, I regret not bringing that girl Zi Yan along. Given that this place has existed for a thousand years, there must be many heavenly treasures," Xiao Yan sighed when they arrived, immediately understanding the cause of the screams. It turned out that a peak Serpent King from the Sky Serpent Mansion had discovered a tier 6 medicinal ingredient. When he attempted to harvest it, he was ambushed by a small, ice-blue snake. Clearly, the Sky Serpent Mansion hadn''t brought so many people just for the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s inheritance. The space within the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils had developed into a primitive treasure trove over the millennium. "Save me!" The peak Serpent King cried out in agony. His body was now covered in pustules, and his flesh had begun to rot. "Qing Lin, do you know this person?" Xiao Yan asked calmly. Qing Lin shook her head. Although she had lived in the Sky Serpent Mansion for five years, she hadn''t befriended everyone and didn''t know most of the serpent tribe members. "Is that so." Xiao Yan was kind-hearted and directly summoned Mao Wu to ''relieve the man''s suffering.'' He didn''t stand on ceremony and casually stored the tier 6 medicinal ingredient into his storage ring. "Let''s go. The real treasures should be deeper inside." The forest was extremely vast. Xiao Yan and his companions flew through it like birds. Along the way, they observed several Serpent Emperor experts from the Sky Serpent Mansion scavenging for treasures. Some even dug three feet into the ground, thoroughly searching the area. Although their actions were somewhat crude, there were indeed some lucky ones who found skeletal remains and obtained scrolls from them. However, the levels of those scrolls weren''t particularly high; the best ones barely reached the Di Class. Xiao Yan had no interest in competing with them. He directly accelerated toward the main inheritance. The Dou Saint inheritance was the true prize. The space within the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils far exceeded Xiao Yan''s expectations. Even with Qing Lin guiding them, it took the trio about ten minutes of flight before the view before them suddenly broadened. After advancing a bit further, a massive ancient palace finally appeared in their sight. The palace was entirely jade-green in color. Countless years had deepened its bronze hue, giving it a profound appearance. An ancient aura emanated from every stone slab, allowing one to feel the weight of countless silent years. The palace was incredibly vast. Standing within it made one feel as insignificant as an ant. In the center of the palace floated ten enormous light clusters. These served the same purpose as those in the Jia Nan Academy''s Book Collection Hall, protecting the items within from the erosion of time. One could faintly discern scrolls, medicinal ingredients, and pill bottles suspended in mid-air within the dazzling radiance. The moment Xiao Yan and the others saw these clusters of light, their hearts began to pound rapidly. Could these be the legendary Demon Saint inheritance treasures? "This is the inheritance ground," Qing Lin said in a low voice while looking around. Xiao Yan nodded slightly. His gaze shifted from the light clusters to the spacious center of the palace. There, numerous figures already stood waiting. It was none other than She Tianhao and the other experts from the Sky Serpent Mansion. ''Tsk, it seems stealing the chicken is impossible now.'' A cold smile appeared on his face as he observed the waiting figures. Chapter 345: The Dead Belong to the Hall of Souls Chapter 345 - 345: The Dead Belong to the Hall of Souls Word Count: 3,080 Words ****** Figures stood scattered throughout the vast hall. The Sky Serpent Mansion''s numbers had diminished significantly. Those Rank 5 Serpent Kings and low-level Rank 6 Serpent Emperors were absent, likely searching for resources in the primeval forest outside. Only the high-star Serpent Emperors and Dou Ancestors remained. The Sky Serpent Mansion clearly had a specific goal¡ªupon entering the ruins, they had headed straight to this place. When Xiao Yan and his companions entered the hall, they immediately drew She Tianhao''s attention. Gazes filled with caution or hostility instantly focused on them. Xiao Yan merely smiled at these looks. His eyes swept over to where She Tianhao and the others stood, their faces dark as they stared at him. They were clearly unwilling to share the inheritance treasures with him. A cold smile appeared at the corner of Xiao Yan''s mouth. He carried Qing Lin forward at a measured pace under the watchful eyes of many and finally stopped in the middle of the hall. "Young Master Xiao Yan, I''m feeling much better now. You can put me down," Qing Lin said, her cheeks flushing red. The medicinal pill''s effects had begun to work, and she had regained some strength. "Oh oh, alright." Xiao Yan felt a slight bit of reluctance in his heart. Upon entering the hall, Xiao Yan discovered more than a dozen figures standing beneath the light clusters. These figures were stone-gray in color and looked like statues from a distance, their eyes tightly shut. They had maintained this posture for countless years. Despite their seemingly inanimate state, these statue-like figures deterred everyone from daring to seize the light clusters. "Hmm? Are these serpent puppets controlled by the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils?" Xiao Yan asked quietly upon seeing these lifeless, statue-like figures. "Yes, and these serpent puppets are already dead, yet even in death they couldn''t escape the illusionary control of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils... If I''m not mistaken, each of these serpent puppets should have the strength of a Dou Ancestor, and some might even reach the level of a 9-star Dou Ancestor." A solemn light flickered in Medusa''s eyes. These puppets could definitely move. There were two pools of blood on the ground, and two giant pythons lay collapsed in those crimson puddles. Clearly, members of the Sky Serpent Mansion had already attempted to seize the treasures. Once they tried, the serpent puppets were activated, resulting in an extremely brutal and bloody confrontation. Moreover, if Xiao Yan''s guess was correct, these dozen or so serpent experts controlled by the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils had likely once been Dou Venerates! Only after these many years had their bloodlines weakened, causing their cultivation to decrease to the Dou Ancestor realm. "So the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils cannot be undone even in death?" A Sky Serpent Mansion expert glanced at Qing Lin, then at the serpent puppets that had been dead for who knows how long, and couldn''t help but feel a chill in his heart. After all, Qing Lin possessed that same Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. Not even death could free one from it. This was akin to a curse from the heavens. She Tianhao and his associates'' expressions changed slightly at these words. Qing Lin was still weak now, but once she truly became powerful, would anyone in the serpent races be able to stand against her? When Qing Lin had served as the Saintess of the Sky Serpent Mansion, they hadn''t considered this a problem. But now, they began to worry. "No wonder the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint was driven out by all serpent races in the Beast Region. This ability would be a nightmare for any race." A Serpent Emperor couldn''t help but shudder. They finally understood why the ancestor of the Sky Serpent Mansion had been expelled back then. Qing Lin''s expression turned a bit downcast at these comments. She naturally knew that her ability was not well-received. Noticing this, Xiao Yan gently patted her head and said softly, "Only the weak fear your ability. Look at Queen Medusa. She doesn''t bat an eye." Medusa glanced at Xiao Yan, then at Qing Lin. Her red lips parted slightly as she said, "Your ability has no effect on me." Such was the confidence of the strong! Xiao Yan used spiritual voice transmission to ask, "Qing Lin, can you control these serpent puppets with your Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils?" As he expected, Qing Lin shook her head and replied, "The gap between their cultivation and mine is too great." Normally, Qing Lin would have needed to reach the Dou Ancestor realm to open this inheritance site. Upon arriving at the hall, she would have been able to counteract the illusions using her pupil ability. Counteracting the illusionary abilities of the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils would have been the final trial of the inheritance. However, as it stood, Qing Lin was only a Dou Emperor. "Then there''s no choice. We''ll take them by force!" Xiao Yan immediately activated the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change, boosting his strength to the 9-star Dou Emperor stage. He took a step forward, eyes locking onto the nearest light cluster. The brilliant fire wings behind him flared powerfully, transforming him into a streak of light as he charged toward it. Simultaneously, those tightly shut-eyed serpent puppets snapped their eyes open. Green light erupted from them, each pupil bearing multiple jade-green flower patterns. That was the hallmark of being controlled by the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. At that moment, a wave of killing intent spread throughout the hall! Once Xiao Yan made a move, Medusa naturally followed suit, targeting a different light cluster. The Sky Serpent Mansion experts, not to be outdone, also sprang into action when they saw Xiao Yan and Medusa move first. The previously quiet but tense hall exploded as if a heavy bomb had been dropped. In an instant, the entire main hall boiled like oil in a wok. The Sky Serpent Mansion still had over twenty people. Everyone desperately rushed toward the light clusters. "Once you''ve secured the treasures, leave immediately and return to the Sky Serpent Mansion!" She Tianhao shouted loudly. They had the advantage of numbers. Light surged brilliantly. After a brief moment of silence in the hall, a sharp scream suddenly echoed. Then endless collision sounds reverberated as waves of powerful Dou Qi erupted throughout the hall. Figures swarmed like locusts, recklessly charging toward the light clusters. However, faced with the onslaught from so many experts, the light clusters appeared to possess intelligence, twisting and weaving to avoid every reaching hand. "Splurt!" Countless figures weaved among one another in mid-air, but those serpent puppets seemed to have received a command. They fiercely guarded the light clusters, attacking anyone who tried to seize them with maddened fury. Sounds of combat echoed continuously in the air, followed by figures spitting blood and crashing heavily onto the hall floor. The dull thuds made many people''s hearts tremble. These serpent puppets had once been Dou Venerates. Although they were now being controlled, their strength was still a notch above Dou Ancestors of the same level. Moreover, being undead, they feared nothing. "Tsk!" Xiao Yan was only a hair''s breadth from grabbing one of the light clusters when a gray silhouette flashed into view. A corroded longsword carrying a ferocious sharp aura cleaved toward him with lightning-like speed. Xiao Yan''s expression shifted slightly upon realizing the puppet had the strength of a 3-star Dou Ancestor. Without hesitation, he drew the Heavy Xuan Ruler and lunged forward. The Ten Thousand Beast Glazed Flame, formed from the merger of the Green Lotus Core Flame, the Fallen Heart Flame, and the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, erupted and enveloped his body. Scorching and vast Dou Qi burst forth from the Heavy Xuan Ruler in his hands. "Flame Splitting Tsunami!" he roared inwardly, unleashing one of his signature techniques. A wave of three-colored flames crashed fiercely onto the serpent puppet. Boom boom boom!!! A series of thunderous explosions shook the entire hall. The three Heavenly Flames combined into a new Heavenly Flame that resembled a doomsday attack, frightening many Serpent Emperors out of their wits. "What a powerful attack!" "Is he really just a Dou Emperor alchemist? How is his strength stronger than an ordinary Dou Ancestor!" Boom! Finally, the Ten Thousand Beast Glazed Flame''s power culminated in a deafening explosion. Everyone from the Sky Serpent Mansion witnessed a shocking scene. The 3-star Dou Ancestor puppet was struck into the earth, forced into the ground by some unstoppable force. In a blink, it had vanished into the depths of a gaping pit. No one knew how long it was before they could finally close their gaping mouths. The Sky Serpent Mansion had never seen Xiao Yan in action before. They hadn''t expected his first move to be so ferocious! Only Xiao Yan remained grim-faced. Sure enough, the next instant, a rumbling sound occurred as dirt and rocks flew. The serpent puppet emerged once more, charging at him as if nothing had happened. "What an incredibly tough body!" Xiao Yan''s heart sank. Although the bloodline strength of these serpent puppets had dried up and their Dou Qi had dropped to the Dou Ancestor realm, their bodies were still genuinely those of Dou Venerates. Their defenses were far tougher than even Rank 8 armors! He couldn''t help but click his tongue but had no time to complain. He quickly dodged the incoming attack. The puppet, having locked onto Xiao Yan, pursued relentlessly. Waves of dark yellow blade light surged forth like a tidal wave. The muscles on its body began to wriggle bizarrely, and a terrifying force rapidly condensed. These serpent puppets could actually use Dou Techniques! Xiao Yan had underestimated the terror of the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint. If it had been an ordinary 3-star Dou Ancestor puppet, he wouldn''t have been concerned. But these serpent puppets were without life, their bodies unbelievably strong, and even his Heavenly Flames couldn''t destroy them. To make matters worse, they retained their Dou Techniques from when they were alive. ''Lifeless yet using the Dou Techniques from when they were alive?'' A sudden inspiration struck Xiao Yan. He thought of something and used a spiritual voice transmission to speak to the trembling Qing Lin on the sidelines. "Qing Lin, can you make these serpent puppets pause for just a moment?" Qing Lin looked at him, startled by the sudden question, and nodded as she replied. "I can." Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed, a hint of a smile appearing. He quickly put away the Heavy Xuan Ruler and moved his hands rapidly as the Spiritual Strength within him began to surge. Even the shadow at his feet began to stir. The puppet lunged toward him, preparing to slice down with its sword. In that instant, Xiao Yan shouted through voice transmission, "Qing Lin, now!" Qing Lin snapped her eyes open, and a streak of green light burst forth. A faint outline of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils pattern glimmered across the puppet''s brow, as though it were locked in a struggle. Its body quaked ceaselessly. A sly grin appeared on Xiao Yan''s face as he saw the serpent puppet momentarily controlled. A strange light flickered in his eyes as he shouted inwardly, "Abyss Submersion!" Swish! Swish! Swish! Clinking sounds echoed as black soul chains flew out from the shadow abyss. These chains pierced into the serpent puppet''s body, ignoring its flesh and stabbing directly into its soul! ''Found it! Just as I thought, the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint controlled these serpent tribes through their souls using the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, thereby controlling their bodies. Puppets created this way not only possess consciousness but can also use Dou Techniques, making them far more troublesome than ordinary puppets.'' Xiao Yan grinned, baring his teeth. No matter how powerful the physical body, a Soul Skill ignored physical defenses entirely and attacked the soul within! "Come out!" The soul chains forcibly extracted a green light cluster from the serpent puppet''s body with a whoosh. Xiao Yan clearly sensed a Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils soul imprint on this soul body. In other words, it was the seal that had kept the puppet under control. Once deprived of its soul body and the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils soul imprint, the serpent puppet ceased all movement. The second move of the Asura Soul Reaping Technique, Abyss Submersion, could directly extract a soul from its body and even seal it! Of course, this required Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength to be powerful enough. ''So that''s how it is. This is the secret behind the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils'' ability to cast illusions and control serpents, a soul-manipulating pupil technique.'' Xiao Yan hadn''t expected to inadvertently uncover the secret of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils! However, he felt a slight regret. Due to the passage of time, even the soul of a Dou Venerate had weakened considerably. Just like Venerable Tian Huo back then, whose Spiritual Strength had been extremely weak even with a Heavenly Flame preserving his soul. The soul body he had just extracted had Spiritual Strength equivalent to that of a 3-star Dou Ancestor, matching the puppet''s current level. Nevertheless, this serpent expert had once been a Dou Venerate. Even at just 3-star Dou Ancestor value, this represented a considerable amount of soul points! And there were more than a dozen such serpent puppets here! Greed flickered in Xiao Yan''s eyes as he gazed at the remaining serpent puppets. His attitude toward them had entirely changed. In Venerable Yan''s eyes, these serpent puppets were more valuable than the light clusters above! Xiao Yan raised his eyebrows, subtly forming a hand seal with his left hand. He flew over and appeared before a Serpent Emperor of the Sky Serpent Mansion, a cold smile on his face. "Trying to snatch my things?" He unleashed the Open Mountain Seal with a palm strike. The Serpent Emperor frantically used a defensive Dou Technique, but he was still sent flying and began coughing up blood. Space distorted, and a small, adorable black cat paw emerged from the twisted space. With a swift motion, it stealthily retrieved the light cluster from behind. She Tianhao paid no mind to his tribe member being sent flying. What concerned him was that Xiao Yan had already secured a light cluster. "All of you, use your lives to hold off those puppets!" She Tianhao let out a loud shout and fiercely charged toward one of the light clusters. This particular light cluster was guarded by a 9-star Dou Ancestor. The item inside was definitely not simple. Xiao Yan merely smiled disdainfully. As long as he accumulated enough soul points, he believed the Hall of Souls definitely had serpent-type Dou Venerate or even Dou Saint essence blood. "Cai Lin, help me keep those serpent puppets busy. I have a way to deal with them." Xiao Yan seemed to have found a great money-making plan and hurriedly transmitted his voice to inform Medusa. However, Medusa seemed not to hear Xiao Yan''s spiritual transmission and continued to engage in combat with a 9-star Dou Ancestor serpent puppet. Xiao Yan had no choice but to try again: "Medusa! My Queen! Your Majesty!" Medusa abruptly shoved the serpent puppet away with a booming palm strike. Using the momentum, she pulled back from the area around that light cluster in a graceful arc. Sensing her retreat, the puppet turned to attack a Sky Serpent Mansion Dou Ancestor trying to sneak an advantage. "You say you have a plan?" Medusa cast her beautiful eyes toward Xiao Yan and asked coolly. A meaningful smile played across Xiao Yan''s lips. "Let''s work together. Don''t let She Tianhao and the others notice. When the time comes, I''ll make them spit out everything they''ve taken." Medusa frowned slightly, not understanding what Xiao Yan had in mind, but she nodded without objection. Two streaks of light shot toward a 5-star Dou Ancestor serpent puppet. Among the dozen or so puppets present, some weren''t guarding light clusters but simply attacked all intruders. Xiao Yan had chosen one that was guarding a light cluster. Seeing the duo suddenly charging toward them, the Sky Serpent Mansion experts trying to seize that light cluster grew tense. They were already struggling against the serpent puppet¡ªif Medusa and Xiao Yan attacked them as well, death would be certain! But to their surprise, Xiao Yan and Medusa didn''t assault them but instead helped block the serpent puppet''s attacks! "What''s going on? They''re not attacking us?" "They must be after the light cluster." Xiao Yan naturally offered no explanation. Suddenly, Medusa burst forth with dazzling seven-colored light, so brilliant it enveloped the entire hall. ''Seven-Colored Serpent Bind!'' Medusa said inwardly. Her eyes focused, and a beam of seven-colored light shot out. The 5-star Dou Ancestor''s body actually stiffened like the legendary petrification. Within this seven-colored radiance, Xiao Yan stealthily appeared behind the puppet. He took out the Soul Command Token, and several black soul chains flew out. Following the same method as before, the soul chains pierced into the 5-star Dou Ancestor serpent puppet. After several seconds, a jade-green soul cluster was drawn into the Soul Command Token! Xiao Yan grabbed the now soulless serpent puppet and pretended to strike it with his palm, sending it flying away. Then, space distorted once more, and the little cat paw reappeared. Meow~o(=¡É¦Ø¡É=)m: Cat paw, grab. Hehe, got it. She Tianhuang, the former Mansion Lord assisting his son, was astonished seeing Xiao Yan defeat two serpent puppets in just a few minutes. "Their strength is truly terrifying!" Naturally, they couldn''t fathom that this was because Xiao Yan had cultivated a Soul Skill from the Hun Clan. Moreover, this Soul Skill was an extremely profound technique even within the Hun Clan. Otherwise, ordinary Soul Skills wouldn''t be able to seize the souls of Dou Ancestors, especially those sealed by the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. "Your Dou Technique is very strange." Even Medusa felt that Xiao Yan''s technique was odd, but she couldn''t pinpoint exactly why. After all, she wasn''t an alchemist and knew nothing of the Hall of Souls. "Jie Jie Jie, as long as they''re dead, they belong to me." Xiao Yan''s gaze swept around. Thirteen serpent puppets remained. If he could collect all their souls, he''d have enough to exchange for a Tian Class Dou Technique! Chapter 346: Hidden Title (I) Chapter 346 - 346: Hidden Title (I) Word Count: 3,206 Words ****** Medusa''s beautiful eyes widened in shock, her face filled with disbelief at how Xiao Yan had effortlessly crushed a 5-star Dou Ancestor serpent puppet with a single palm strike. At that moment, Venerable Tian Huo''s voice echoed in Xiao Yan''s mind, "It is said that those from the Hall of Souls cultivate in a manner completely different from ordinary people. Their Qi Methods and Dou Techniques are all linked to the soul, making them nearly impossible to guard against." Venerable Tian Huo was left speechless as well. Such puppets were not uncommon in ancient ruins. In the distant past, there was once a craze on the Dou Qi Continent for puppet refining, and special secret techniques were used to create them. As long as they had a steady supply of energy, these puppets could guard a ruin or inheritance site for a very long time. Later, the methods for making puppets were lost, which gradually led to their decline. Venerable Tian Huo had also explored ruins when he was alive, competing with others and clashing with puppets. Once, when he was just a Dou Ancestor, he fought a human-form Dou Ancestor puppet. Had it not been for his Fallen Heart Flame, he might not have been able to defeat it. Seeing Xiao Yan resolve the matter so easily made him feel a bit sour! "Heh heh, depends on the person. Not just anyone can master this move," Xiao Yan said, sounding a bit pleased with himself. The Asura Soul Reaping Technique was extremely difficult to cultivate, but Xiao Yan had been born with exceptionally strong Spiritual Strength, affording him a great advantage in soul-related matters. Consequently, his progress with Soul Skills came with relative ease. Moreover, his Spiritual Strength had reached the level of a middle-grade 7th-tier alchemist. While snatching the soul of a living 5-star Dou Ancestor would be difficult, doing so from a puppet dead for countless years with a sealed soul was far simpler. "Let''s continue, Cai Lin... er, Medusa." Xiao Yan was visibly excited. Every soul point within those puppets was ripe for the taking! Immediately, he joined forces with Medusa. She used her bloodline beast techniques to control the serpent puppets, while he employed the Asura Soul Reaping Technique to rip out the sealed souls from each puppet and place them into his Soul Command Token. He then pretended the puppet had died under a Dou Technique. Meanwhile, a small black cat paw quietly reached out from the void and stealthily snatched away a light cluster. Palm strikes, punches, and swings of the Heavy Xuan Ruler rained down. Xiao Yan''s assault was nothing short of earthshaking from afar. Crucially, whenever he struck, the puppets were rendered useless. By the time the Sky Serpent Mansion realized that Xiao Yan seemed to have a special way of handling the puppets, it was already too late. The Sky Serpent Mansion group had used suicidal methods to seize four light clusters, with several Dou Ancestors joining forces and many Serpent Emperors sacrificing themselves as human shields. But Xiao Yan, Medusa, and that sneaky cat paw had taken six! She Tianhao was both stunned and enraged. They had managed only four clusters with so many from the Sky Serpent Mansion risking their lives to intercept the puppets, whereas Xiao Yan''s group of two people and a cat had secured six. Even after taking the treasures, the duo continued to strike down every serpent puppet in sight, whether or not it guarded a light cluster, like a pair of madmen! "How come there''s none left?" Xiao Yan frowned at the many serpent puppet corpses scattered about, feeling unsatisfied. He hadn''t collected enough yet. At this rate, his annual quota would not be met! Xiao Yan sighed inwardly. It seemed that becoming a Tianzun this year was unlikely. Although he had collected quite a few souls from these serpent-type magical beasts, their overall quality was not high. Had they all been Dou Venerates, he might have advanced to the rank of Tianzun! The higher one''s rank in the Hall of Souls, the more precious Qi Methods and Dou Techniques one could obtain. If he had not become a Heaven Grade Protector back then, he would not have been able to exchange for the Asura Soul Reaping Technique at all. One could see how frightening this High Di Class Soul Skill was. It could extract the sealed soul from serpent puppets created by a Half-Saint expert using the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. Who could imagine how terrifying a Tian Class Soul Skill would be? Given the Hun Clan''s deep heritage, Xiao Yan was certain that there would be Tian Class Soul Skills that did not require Dou God bloodlines to cultivate, perhaps even High Tian Class Soul Skills. Yet to exchange for those, he feared he would need to reach the rank of Hall Chief. Even the First Tianzun probably lacked such qualifications! Venerable Yan''s road to promotion was indeed a long one. Xiao Yan''s gaze swept over the remaining experts of the Sky Serpent Mansion. Where once there had been dozens of Serpent Emperors and Serpent Ancestors, only six Dou Ancestors and four peak Serpent Emperors remained. The rest had either left with inheritance treasures or perished at the hands of the puppets. A dark thought began to cross his mind. Perhaps he should combine his own Spiritual Strength with Venerable Tian Huo''s power and slaughter the remaining Sky Serpent Mansion incorrigibles right here and collect more ''contributions''... For a moment, the atmosphere between the two sides grew unbearably tense. Initially, the Sky Serpent Mansion had the advantage in numbers. They had even fantasized that if Medusa were hurt, they could gang up on Xiao Yan and her to finish them off. Now, not only were Medusa and Xiao Yan unharmed, but the Sky Serpent Mansion had suffered serious losses. The situation had changed in an instant! Especially that mysterious power Xiao Yan possessed which could actually deal with 9-star Dou Ancestors. It had left every member of the Sky Serpent Mansion trembling with fear. However, in the end, Xiao Yan exhaled and slowly deactivated the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change. Instantly, searing pain and fatigue struck him, though fortunately not to an intolerable level thanks to his Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame. He had canceled the technique before reaching its absolute limit, sparing himself from the worst aftereffects. He slowly shook his head. After all, this power-up was only temporary. If he were already a Dou Ancestor, he would show these snakes what it truly meant to be Venerable Yan. Moreover, the Asura Soul Reaping Technique was not without cost. His soul was greatly depleted. At best, he could only muster the energy to unleash one more Four-Colored Fire Lotus before his Spiritual Strength would be exhausted. ''What a pity. If only I could reach the Dou Ancestor realm sooner.'' Xiao Yan was currently a 4-star Dou Emperor. Even with the aid of the Tian Class Flame Mantra and the accelerating power of the Fallen Heart Flame, breaking through to Dou Ancestor would still require at least a year or two. The further one progressed, the harder it became to advance. One only needed to look at how long his Spiritual Strength had been stuck at the peak of the Mortal State to understand. The serpents of the Sky Serpent Mansion finally breathed a sigh of relief seeing Xiao Yan cancel his Secret Technique, though She Tianhao still ground his teeth in frustration. Their side had ended up with fewer rewards than Xiao Yan! Moreover, none of the four light clusters he obtained contained any Demon Saint essence blood. This meant Xiao Yan''s side must have obtained the Demon Saint essence blood! According to ancient records, the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint left some Demon Saint essence blood in these inheritance ruins before dying. This essence was meant to help the successor break through from Dou Ancestor to Dou Venerate. Thus, the entire inheritance site was set up to be used by those between Dou Ancestor and Dou Venerate in the first place. She Tianhao''s father, She Tianhuang, leaned close and murmured, "Son, be patient. If I''m not mistaken, none of these light clusters contain the Demon Saint essence blood." !!!! She Tianhao shot Xiao Yan a glance. The latter also glanced toward him and his cohorts. Both sides could see from each other''s eyes that no one had obtained the Demon Saint essence blood. Xiao Yan had managed to obtain two scrolls, a Rank 8 Monster Core, a Rank 8 magical beast bone, a drop of Rank 8 magical beast essence blood, and a high-grade tier 7 medicinal pill. Though he did not recognize the pill''s name, judging by its effects it was akin to a Beast Emperor Tempering Pill¡ªthat is, a pill used by magical beasts. All told, there was no Half-Saint essence blood to be found! It sank in for everyone that the most crucial Half-Saint essence blood was not hidden in any of these light clusters! "Qing Lin, can you sense where the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s essence blood is?" Xiao Yan retreated to Qing Lin''s side and asked in a low voice. "Qing Lin?" Xiao Yan''s brow furrowed as he gazed at Qing Lin sitting cross-legged. After a moment, his pupils suddenly contracted. Qing Lin''s eyes flickered with a cyan-green glow, and she remained completely unresponsive to his calls. A chill suddenly welled up inside his heart! Alarm flashed across his face, immediately drawing the attention of Medusa and the others in the Sky Serpent Mansion. Medusa frowned and asked, "What''s the matter?" Xiao Yan inhaled deeply. A terrible premonition churned in his heart. Finally, he said in a grave voice, "Something''s gone wrong." ?!! The eyes of both She Tianhao and She Tianhuang constricted in the next heartbeat. They both noticed the same thing. The entire Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils space was trembling violently, as though some terrifying power were awakening! "Damn, we need to get out!" She Tianhao reacted quite fast. The very instant he sensed the disturbance, an urgent roar burst from his throat. At the same time, the other experts from the Sky Serpent Mansion stamped their feet and their bodies shot away like lightning. Although the Dou Ancestors among them reacted quickly, some of the Serpent Emperors were caught a beat off guard. After a brief hesitation, they scrambled to retreat using all their agility, but by then it was far too late. Just as they began to withdraw, Qing Lin trembled slightly while seated cross-legged. Then, two faint red glimmers began to pulse intermittently in her hollow cyan-green eyes. "AHHHHHH!" A flash of blood-colored light appeared. Qing Lin abruptly raised her head, and a thunderous roar erupted from her lips and rolled across the entire area like a furious storm! That terrifying howl solidified into a tangible wave, expanding outward from the central stone seat in all directions at lightning speed. Xiao Yan had no time to consider anything else. He instantly executed the Three Thousand Lightning Movement, disappearing hundreds of meters away in a blur. Medusa''s eyes flashed coldly as she launched a palm strike, unleashing a seven-colored radiance that blocked the sound waves for a fleeting moment before she too flickered over to Xiao Yan''s side. Those Sky Serpent Mansion experts who failed to evade were reduced to a bloody mist on the spot, and even their souls were obliterated. This sudden bloody scene snapped all the serpents from the Sky Serpent Mansion to their senses. Their faces filled with dread as they channeled their Dou Qi without reserve and scattered from the hall like frightened dogs. Crack, crack, crack! The serpent puppets whose souls Xiao Yan had extracted suddenly stood up once again with a series of cracking sounds! This time, their eyes shone with a green brilliance even more intense than before! Qing Lin was controlling these serpent puppets now! "Instant kill!" "How can Qing Lin possibly have such fearsome power?!" "Could it be that the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint isn''t actually dead?!" Even She Tianhao and other high-level experts seemed stunned, swallowing hard at the thought. If the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint wasn''t dead, that would be too terrifying. That was a Dou Saint level expert! ''The inheritance trial... has failed.'' Only Xiao Yan roughly guessed what had happened. Inheritance trials were not guaranteed successes. In fact, most of them ended in failure. And in this final trial, Qing Lin had indeed failed! Medusa''s beautiful eyes glinted solemnly as she stared at Qing Lin, who was now guarded by the reanimated serpent puppets. "So the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint is still alive? Or have they taken over Qing Lin?" Xiao Yan swept his Spiritual Strength over and shook his head. "No, the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint is definitely dead. Something else is causing this, but I have no idea what." This final trial was clearly intended for someone who possessed the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. Even Xiao Yan did not know exactly what it entailed. He only knew that Qing Lin had definitely failed, and that failure had led to the current situation. Xiao Yan glanced at She Tianhao and the other serpents standing even further back than him. He understood in his heart that these fellows could not be relied upon. "Medusa, go with them and leave this place," Xiao Yan said through spiritual voice transmission. Medusa frowned and looked at him without a word, then coldly retorted, "You want to stay here?" "I can''t just leave Qing Lin. No matter what, she''s a member of my Xiao Clan, even if she doesn''t have my Xiao Clan''s bloodline," Xiao Yan replied. He offered Medusa a slight smile. "Besides, I have my own means at dealing with this kind of evil situation." "If that roar alone can do so much, I doubt many of us here would survive if Qing Lin actually attacked," a Sky Serpent Mansion expert murmured apprehensively. "Now that we have the inheritance treasures, let''s just go. This place is too strange and too dangerous," someone among the many Sky Serpent Mansion experts said in a low voice, unable to hide the fear in his tone. That power was simply too frightening. Just as She Tianhao was about to leave, he saw Xiao Yan standing in front of him. His expression changed, and he couldn''t help but step forward, also wanting to play the hero. "Son, do not be rash," She Tianhuang voiced a warning. "Father, but..." Rumble rumble rumble!! Suddenly, the space of the pupil technique began to collapse with a thunderous rumble. She Tianhao, who intended to press on, was overcome with shock. He spun around at once. A 5-star Dou Ancestor from the Sky Serpent Mansion spoke urgently before him. "Mansion Lord, please reconsider. Right now, Qing Lin''s mind is muddled, as if under some form of control, and she has those serpent puppets by her side. Even a Dou Venerate might fail to make it past them. Attempting to fight our way through now is sheer suicide. Better to exploit the chance while Xiao Yan and Medusa are holding her attention, and leave quickly." "But... Qing Lin, she..." Rumble rumble!! The ground shuddered violently again, and the earth sank further. The remaining Sky Serpent Mansion experts turned deathly pale. "Mansion Lord! While Qing Lin has not fixed her gaze on us, we must go. If not now, when?" another serpent expert said anxiously. "Mansion Lord, if Xiao Yan and Qing Lin are both buried here, that might actually be a good thing for our Sky Serpent Mansion!" She Tianhao''s face turned cold. "Let''s go!" he shouted, then led the remaining members of the Sky Serpent Mansion in a desperate flight toward the exit. Xiao Yan was not at all surprised that the serpents all fled. In a world ruled by the strong, honor and loyalty held little weight unless one wished to hasten their own death. "Medusa, you should leave now. Since Qing Lin''s trial has failed, the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils space will soon shut. When a Half-Saint''s space closes, even you might not be able to get out," Xiao Yan said solemnly, his eyes fixed on Qing Lin, who seemed to be struggling with a trace of pain in her expression. Alas, Xiao Yan found it difficult to be that so-called smart person who would simply abandon someone. He could not stand idly by and watch Qing Lin die here. He saw Medusa gritting her teeth and added, "Don''t worry. Even if I do end up trapped, I have ways to escape. It may just take some time. Tell them not to concern themselves with me." "Oh, and if a woman named Xun Er comes looking for me, let her know she''ll have to wait a bit longer. I''ll return to her side soon." Xiao Yan took a deep breath and released all his Heavenly Flames at once. Eight different flames swirled around him, causing the surrounding temperature to spike dramatically. His shadow writhed, forming a dark abyss below his feet. Several soul chains slowly rose from the depths. Mao Wu leaped onto his shoulder. With Mao Wu now upgraded to an Earth Seed Flame, if they were truly trapped, the devouring ability of the Nihility Devouring Flame might help them break free eventually, even if not immediately. By slowly wearing down the boundaries of this Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils space, they could find a way out. Now his biggest problem was that he didn''t know what exactly had happened to Qing Lin and how he should help her recover. Just as he prepared to charge toward Qing Lin with every ounce of strength, Medusa suddenly kicked him squarely in the butt, sending him sprawling to the ground. Xiao Yan looked up at her in shock. What on earth are you doing?? Medusa looked down at him from above, her eyes cold. "Don''t misunderstand. That damned soul contract between us still hasn''t been resolved yet. If you die, I might be dragged down as well." Hearing that, Xiao Yan let out a silent huff, then got up to stand shoulder to shoulder with Medusa, both watching Qing Lin with solemn expressions. "Thank you." "Hmph, it''s only because of that soul connection." Xiao Yan popped several pills into his mouth without hesitation, swiftly restoring some of his Dou Qi and marginally boosting his strength. Boom! The Skyfire Three Mysterious Change was reactivated, and with Venerable Tian Huo''s Spiritual Strength added, Xiao Yan forcibly elevated his cultivation to near the 3-star Dou Ancestor stage. ''Flame Splitting Tsunami!'' He clutched the Heavy Xuan Ruler tightly and slammed it down. A three-colored flame wave once again pounced toward that wall of serpent puppets. Hiss hiss hiss!! The moment Xiao Yan made his move, the serpent puppets all rushed him like wild beasts, not bothering to dodge. They simply used their tough bodies to withstand the Flame Splitting Tsunami head-on! Because Xiao Yan had previously extracted their souls, they no longer possessed the Dou Techniques they had in life. At this point, they seemed more like mindless machines powered by nothing but their own formidable flesh, far less threatening than before. ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ Title: Trial Failure ------------------------------------------ Chapter 347: Hidden Title (II) Chapter 347 - 347: Hidden Title (II) Word Count: 3,109 Words ****** Cai Lin''s seven-colored divine light erupted. With a wave of her hand, a surge of seven-colored Dou Qi, even more terrifying than the Flame Splitting Tsunami, blasted forth. The ground cracked under its force, and numerous figures were sent flying in all directions. "Can you still do what you did just now?" Cai Lin asked in a low voice as she watched the serpent puppets, now resembling zombies, rise yet again to charge forward. "No. They no longer have souls within them. They are now controlled solely by Qing Lin''s Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils." Xiao Yan spoke gravely, his gaze fixed on Qing Lin. Taking advantage of the moment when Cai Lin had just blasted a portion of the puppets aside, he activated the Three Thousand Lightning Movement, and his body flashed toward Qing Lin like a bolt of lightning. He needed to first understand why Qing Lin had become like this. "Hmph!" Red light flickered in Qing Lin''s eyes as she watched Xiao Yan approach with vast Dou Qi, his body transformed into a streak of lightning. A fierce glint appeared in her gaze. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and thrust out her hand to grab him. Whoosh! The Dou Qi in her palm erupted and a blast of cyan energy burst forth from her fingers. A giant cyan demonic claw formed with terrifying speed. It tore through the space before it and seemed to teleport right in front of Xiao Yan. "A quasi-Tian Class Dou Technique!!" Xiao Yan felt a chill in his heart as he sensed the terrifying power of this Dou Technique. He dared not hold back. He rapidly formed hand seals and placed his left palm into a special position, gathering all his Dou Qi there before blasting it outward. Open Mountain Seal! Dou Qi condensed in his left hand, and a massive energy palm imprint that could split mountains roared forward. But Xiao Yan knew this was not enough. His right hand formed seals almost in tandem, and he shouted in his heart: Sea Flipping Seal! A vast amount of Dou Qi was consumed. Two High Di Class palm imprints thundered forth one after another. Boom! Boom! Two loud booms echoed when the Open Mountain Seal and the Sea Flipping Seal slammed heavily into the cyan claw. However, Qing Lin''s cyan claw looked delicate, yet it proved so resilient that not even the combined might of both seals could shatter it. Xiao Yan furrowed his brow and hastily withdrew, returning to Cai Lin''s side. She noticed his pensive expression and asked, "Have you figured something out?" "Mm." Xiao Yan''s eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed at Qing Lin in the center of the hall. He spoke gravely, "The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils can not only absorb the Dou Qi cultivation and Spiritual Strength of the enslaved serpents but can also assimilate their Dou Techniques, even their combat instincts and experience." !!!! Cai Lin struck away a puppet with a palm, unable to hide her astonishment upon hearing his words. Is the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils really that outrageous?! "No wonder when Qing Lin fought Nalan Yanran, her cultivation, spiritual perception, Dou Techniques, and even combat experience were superior. It seems the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils can absorb everything possessed by the enslaved serpents," Xiao Yan speculated while fending off the attacks of the serpent puppets. "And this should be the reason for Qing Lin''s loss of control. The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils are not perfect. While absorbing the power of the enslaved serpents, they also draw in the darkness and negative emotions within them. Eventually, when these negative forces accumulate beyond a certain point, they''ll overwhelm the host and cause a loss of control." Xiao Yan was reminded of the Woeful Poison Body, an extremely rare super physique much like the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. Both granted rapid growth. In just a few years, their owners could reach levels that took others decades. If these special physiques had no side effects, they might even be more terrifying than Dou God bloodlines. But the reality was often the opposite. Throughout the history of the Dou Qi Continent, many renowned experts had emerged, but those possessing the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils or the Woeful Poison Body ultimately failed to reach the pinnacle. They struggled to touch even the advanced Dou Saint or ordinary Dou Saint stages, often dying midway. There was always a trade-off; the more terrifying the power, the more severe the side effects. That was the case for the Woeful Poison Body, and it was the same for the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. Xiao Yan even suspected that the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint had absorbed too much negative emotion, leading to a loss of control, which caused the serpent tribes of the Beast Region to join forces to expel them, ultimately resulting in their fall in the North-Western Region. Qing Lin''s final trial was likely about suppressing these negative forces, preventing herself from being overwhelmed by the emotions of the enslaved serpents. It was just that she had failed. "Is there a way?" Xiao Yan couldn''t help but feel regret. If he had the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame now, things would be much easier. The Purifying Lotus Demon Flame possessed the ability to cleanse all things. Its purifying power could eradicate such negative emotions and energies. But he did not have the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame. He only had a few tattered fragments of the map! When one needs fire and finds too little, it''s lamentable! "Cai Lin, help me clear a path." Xiao Yan lightly tapped his finger. The Green Lotus Core Flame and the Fallen Heart Flame instantly merged into the Glazed Lotus Heart Flame, which he flicked toward Cai Lin. Aware of the dire situation, Cai Lin immediately took control of the Heavenly Flame. A burst of seven-colored radiance erupted. At this moment, torrents of colorful light surged from her entire body, her hair flying wildly despite the absence of wind. Simultaneously, the Glazed Lotus Heart Flame hovered above her head, its terrifying heat bearing down. Boom! Boom! Boom! Cai Lin pushed her bloodline strength in tandem with the Heavenly Flame. In an instant, the illusory figure of a Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python emerged from her body; it suddenly opened its gaping maw and swallowed the Glazed Lotus Heart Flame whole! This caused the energy of the Heavenly Flame to be exponentially infused, making her combat strength soar wildly! It was unknown whether she had secretly learned Xiao Yan''s moves through their soul connection, but this actually had similarities to the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change. Cai Lin''s cultivation leaped to the level of a 9-star Dou Ancestor relying on the furious energy of her Heavenly Flame and her perfected Heavenly Flame Serpent Body, nearly reaching the terrifying stage of a half-step Dou Venerate. At the Dou Ancestor realm, even the power of a Heavenly Flame rarely allowed such an immediate elevation of several stars, let alone a cross-realm surge. "Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Technique!" Cai Lin shouted inwardly as she forcefully unleashed the most powerful beast technique within her bloodline. Like Zi Yan, after evolving into the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, she had gained access to exclusive beast techniques inherent in her bloodline. Measured by rank, this Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Technique would certainly not be weaker than a Low Tian Class Dou Technique, requiring one to reach Rank 8 to wield. Cai Lin was holding nothing back, forcing herself to execute it! Boom! A tremendous boom resounded. The illusory figure of the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python opened its massive maw. A colossal beam of seven-colored light blasted out like divine radiance and surged toward the serpent puppets. The pillar of light plummeted with unstoppable momentum. It tore through space and devoured everything, placing Cai Lin''s power in the realm of a Dou Venerate for that fleeting instant. Dazzling light struck down on numerous serpent puppets. The unstoppable brilliance cascaded like a heavenly waterfall, and the bodies of those serpent puppets, once Dou Venerates, began to melt! Even though they were once Dou Venerates, some of the weaker ones who only retained low-star Dou Ancestor strength couldn''t withstand the light beam containing the Heavenly Flame''s power at all. Xiao Yan gritted his teeth upon seeing Cai Lin unhesitatingly overdraw her bloodline strength to unleash such a supreme beast technique. The Three Thousand Lightning Movement flashed, and he charged once again toward Qing Lin. Unable to purify the negative energies without the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, the only option he had was to use the Asura Soul Reaping Technique to attempt to reach the depths of Qing Lin''s soul and see if he could awaken her consciousness. Hiss! Hiss! Hiss! Qing Lin noticed Xiao Yan charging again, her eyes now glowing red. She caused the energy of the world around her to surge. In that instant, she pushed her hand through empty space and transformed her Dou Qi into countless snakes that lunged at Xiao Yan. These Dou Qi snakes were not only as swift as arrows with potent penetrating power, but Xiao Yan could also tell they were poisonous! Xiao Yan knew he couldn''t retreat this time. The Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame''s twin fishes transformed into a Taiji symbol and formed a domain around his body. The Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame continuously repelled the attacks of the Dou Qi snakes, acting like a protective shield. A pure white flame appeared before Xiao Yan with a humming sound. He looked at the Heavenly Flame that had accompanied him the longest and took a deep breath. He intended to let this Heavenly Flame show its most powerful side! Heavenly Flame Dou Technique¡ªMyriad Bones Chilling Fury! The Bone Chilling Flame merged into his palm. In the next second, he slammed his palm onto the ground! Even the energy of the world seemed to stagnate as his Dou Qi surged. The entire great hall and even the nearby primordial forest outside were instantly covered with frost with a tremendous crashing sound. Skeletons carved from ice crawled out from the icy ground one after another. The ice forming their bodies was harder than refined steel, and in their hollow eye sockets floated clusters of deep white flame. As countless ice skeletons emerged, a sizzling sound signaled the terrifying power instantly freezing the entire interior. Even the serpent puppets that Cai Lin hadn''t eliminated were affected. Ice pillars formed under their feet, freezing them in place. Crack! Crack! Several skeletal arms made of ice crystals emerged beneath Qing Lin''s feet with snapping sounds, gripping her legs tightly. After which, more and more ice skeletons began to crawl up her body! Hiss hiss!! Qing Lin let out a serpent-like hiss from her throat. A burst of cyan light flared as she swiftly flicked her hand, unleashing streaks of cyan Dou Qi in powerful arcs. Boom! Boom! Boom! Every ice skeleton near Qing Lin was shattered into fragments, with splinters of ice scattered across the ground. But the ice had no life to begin with. Those shattered ice shards merged back into this icy world and reformed into new skeletons. Crack! Crack! Crack! These ice skeletons seemed intent on encasing Qing Lin entirely in ice, clinging tightly to her legs and gripping her arms. The terrifying chill made it difficult even for Qing Lin to move! The Bone Chilling Flame was a unique flame that combined extreme cold and extreme heat. It could only be encountered once every hundred years, during the sun and moon''s alternation in places of utmost cold and profound yin. Although it was not that fateful time now and the Bone Chilling Flame could not display its full power, it was sufficient to grant Xiao Yan a chance to get closer. Xiao Yan knew that it was impossible to completely subdue Qing Lin with his current cultivation, even enhanced by a Secret Technique. He needed to awaken her consciousness! Sizzle! A bolt of lightning tore through the space with a flash of the Three Thousand Lightning Movement, and he appeared before Qing Lin in just an instant. "You girl, how can you make the young master call you to wake up?" A trace of dark soul light appeared on Xiao Yan''s fingertip. He gently tapped Qing Lin''s forehead, and a slender soul chain shot from his finger, piercing straight into the depths of her soul. "Abyss Submersion!" At this moment, Xiao Yan frantically expended his Spiritual Strength. The overwhelming force sent his robes and hair whipping wildly. Instantly, a cacophony of voices echoed into the depths of his soul. He knew these were the resentment, unwillingness, anger, and other negative emotions of those serpent puppets from when they were alive. There were even fragments of their most profound memories, encompassing not only insights gained through cultivating Dou Techniques but also recollections of sorrow and joy. ''No wonder Qing Lin lost control. This conglomeration of negative energies could easily invade the mind of someone whose willpower isn''t firm enough!'' Xiao Yan''s expression was grave. The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils truly had both formidable advantages and dire drawbacks. "Get out of here!" Xiao Yan growled through gritted teeth. His Spiritual Strength at the perfected Mortal State was pushed to the limit. The soul chain rampaged through Qing Lin''s soul world like a frenzied dragon, unstoppable. He charged straight toward Qing Lin''s trapped soul, relentlessly obliterating those evil energies! At this moment, the malevolent negative energies seemed to sense danger. Qing Lin struggled painfully. Then her red lips parted, and a roar mixed with countless voices erupted from her throat. AHH, AHH, AHHHH!! In that very instant, countless forms of darkness, resentments, ghosts, and shadowy silhouettes surged forth from her mouth in a frenzied rush. Endless darkness cascaded in an instant, as if covering the sky and blinding the sun. The darkness burst through the great hall, but in the blink of an eye, all the dark energy coalesced once more. Moreover, darkness surged from all around the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils'' space! The Jade-Eyed Snake Saint was an elite Half-Saint, and even after thousands of years, considerable dark negative energy still lingered within them. In the end, all that darkness coalesced into an enormous black giant serpent whose appearance was identical to that of the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint! This giant serpent emitted an extremely yin aura. As its presence spread, the terrifying chill was not inferior to the Bone Chilling Flame! "Hey, Qing Lin, wake up!" No matter how Xiao Yan shook her, Qing Lin remained unconscious. Turning his head, he saw that Cai Lin herself was also struggling to continue, having already expended much Dou Qi from seizing the light clusters. Cold sweat dotted her forehead and her breathing came in rapid gasps. The powerful beast technique she had just unleashed had nearly exhausted her strength. Xiao Yan was not much better off. Executing the Heavenly Flame Dou Technique of the Bone Chilling Flame had drained his Dou Qi completely. Even Venerable Tian Huo''s Spiritual Strength was entirely depleted and the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change had reached its limit. A wave of weakness swept over him. Were it not for the Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame, he would be paralyzed from the recoil. When his ancestor created this Secret Technique, it was with the intention that either his opponent would die or he would die. No alternative was considered! Seeing all this, Xiao Yan sighed in his heart and gently set Qing Lin down. He did not blame her for losing control. Entering the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s inheritance ruin had been agreed upon by all members of the Yan Alliance. After all, this ruin was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Who could have foreseen that the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils would have such side effects? Exploring ruins was never without danger. It was only natural that risks arise. Xiao Yan then slowly removed Venerable Tian Huo''s storage ring and tossed it to Cai Lin, saying, "Cai Lin, watch over Qing Lin for me." Cai Lin''s heart trembled. She sensed something through their soul connection and asked in a solemn tone, "What are you planning to do?!" "I''m taking a gamble. If I don''t, we''ll all die here." Xiao Yan had one final trump card. His Dou Qi was exhausted, his body wracked with pain from the side effects of the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change, and even his Dou Qi recovery pills had been consumed. However, he still had one card to play against this aggregate of evil thoughts. Without hesitation, he retrieved a Great Soul Black Purple Pill from his storage ring and tossed it into his mouth! Instantly, his Spiritual Strength began to surge. A powerful spiritual fluctuation started to strengthen his soul. Boom!! Suddenly, an eye opened up in the abyss beneath Xiao Yan''s feet. This eye was different from before. This time, the curve of a smile was revealed. Clang! Clang! Clang! Black soul chains flew out from the abyss. But this time, it was different. These soul chains all pierced into Xiao Yan''s body! Instantly, blue veins bulged on his face, spreading out like a centipede in a fearsome display. With a loud boom, a strange aura rapidly permeated the entire space! Cai Lin''s face showed astonishment. She knew Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength was formidable and that he was skilled in Soul Skills. Back then, hadn''t he relied on Soul Skills to forcibly impact her soul, thereby interrupting her evolution? Yet she had never seen him like this before! "This isn''t good! This old man has battled with people from the Hall of Souls before, but I''ve never seen anything like this!" Venerable Tian Huo drifted out from the storage ring in a weakened state, his expression one of shock as he observed Xiao Yan''s transformation. At this moment, Xiao Yan''s body underwent a terrifying mutation. Boom!! All at once, black energy surged around him. A shadow slowly crawled out of the abyss in the blink of an eye, as if the darkness itself intended to devour him. When the darkness fully merged with Xiao Yan, his body became enveloped in a furious demonic light with tendrils of black energy streaming from him. Even the frozen ground beneath him instantly turned black with a single stomp! Xiao Yan appeared as though he were a demon god. Even the giant black serpent in the sky seemed wary of his fearsome eyes, and the remaining serpent puppets instinctively shrank away! There was no doubt, Xiao Yan had finally released the Asura from the abyss! ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ Title: Asura ------------------------------------------ Chapter 348: Unable to Repay Chapter 348 - 348: Unable to Repay Word Count: 3,337 Words ****** "So this is Asura? Feels pretty good!" At this moment, strands of black light surged from Xiao Yan''s entire body. His eyes were dark crimson, making him look like a demon, resembling a true Asura demon god! There was no longer any trace of fatigue on his face; instead, he appeared somewhat intoxicated, as though savoring it. The Asura Soul Reaping Technique consisted of three styles, but the first two were merely branches. Its true might lay in the final move, unleashed only when the technique was cultivated to perfection. When Xiao Yan first obtained the scroll for the Asura Soul Reaping Technique, he understood why Hun Lao Gui had said that even members of the Hun Clan were reluctant to cultivate this Soul Skill. It possessed immense power, but the price was equally steep. Simply put, cultivating the Asura Soul Reaping Technique was akin to raising a little demon, or rather, nurturing an Asura. The first time Xiao Yan used Abyss Submersion, the Asura in the abyss took away half of his soul light clusters; those were its nourishment. Even during regular cultivation of the Asura Soul Reaping Technique, he would sometimes feel as if his soul was being siphoned away. "Jie Jie Jie! Whether you were a Dou Venerate or a Dou Saint in life, once you''re dead, you still have to be buried under the earth!" Xiao Yan suddenly burst into maniacal laughter, reminiscent of a demon''s cackle. In an instant, dense black energy enveloped his right hand, and he swung a hand chop toward the giant black serpent in the sky. "Soul Reap!" A resounding blade-like hum sounded. Xiao Yan''s hand became a blade, and with one slash, a black blade light sliced through the empty space and transformed into an intangible spiritual fluctuation that directly cleaved at the black giant serpent. Squelch! Hiss! The serpent''s body was instantly torn open, and strands of black energy gushed out from the wound. This black giant serpent was not a physical entity; it was formed from the resentment and negative energies of those serpent puppets enslaved by the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils after their deaths. Roar! A thunderous roar followed. The black giant serpent was now enraged. It opened its mouth once again to devour the essence of the world. The life force of the entire forest was being frantically absorbed, and the serpent puppets were swallowed one by one like tiny beans. "Oh my!" Venerable Tian Huo exclaimed in shock. The strength of this black giant serpent had clearly reached the Dou Venerate level! No wonder Qing Lin could not withstand it. Faced with such overwhelming negative energy, she naturally lost her sense of self. The giant serpent flicked its tongue as though wanting to swallow Xiao Yan in one gulp, attempting to reclaim Qing Lin''s body! Xiao Yan only grinned devilishly and licked his lips. His eyes seemed to already view this black giant serpent as a meal on his plate. This negative energy suited his appetite perfectly. Clang clang clang! Amidst the clanging sounds, dozens of thick black soul chains suddenly flew out from his hands. These hefty soul chains formed massive iron links, and with each clanging sound, they shot toward the giant python in the sky. Xiao Yan clasped his hands, and dozens of thick soul chains formed an inescapable net. Each chain was jet-black, resembling the chains the Hall of Souls used to bind the earth. By the time the black giant serpent realized it, these chains formed from Spiritual Strength had already tightly bound it. "You''re just an embodiment of evil thoughts, get down here!" The chains firmly binding the black giant serpent began to be pulled with creaking and clanking sounds. Black light surged from Xiao Yan''s body, his terrifying Spiritual Strength resembling that of a demonic sovereign''s descent. Originally, his Spiritual Strength had already reached an astounding middle-grade tier 7 level. Then he had consumed the Great Soul Black Purple Pill he personally refined. Now that he had transformed into an Asura, his Spiritual Strength had soared to the Soul State! There were four major realms of Spiritual State: Mortal State, Soul State, Heavenly State, and the elusive Emperor State. The Soul State corresponded to the Spiritual Strength of an 8th-tier alchemist, equivalent to a Dou Venerate! The reason Xiao Yan chose to cultivate the Asura Soul Reaping Technique was because the scroll stated: ''When cultivated to perfection, unleashing the Asura''s killing intent allows one''s soul strength to reap souls at the Heavenly State!'' Although he was still far from perfection, reaping a Soul State spirit without a physical body was absolutely within his capabilities! Boom boom boom!! Deafening roars echoed incessantly. Xiao Yan tugged on the soul chains, his feet seeming to root into the earth. No matter how the black giant serpent struggled, he remained unfazed. For a moment, the two forces were locked in a tug-of-war. However, the black giant serpent was ultimately formed from the power of ancient Dou Venerates enslaved by the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint. It was still a part of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. A loud bang rang out as Xiao Yan''s soul chains finally reached their limit. Snap snap snap! The soul chains began to break one after another. Hiss hiss hiss!! The black giant serpent spat out a special kind of black energy from its mouth. This energy corroded the soul chains, making them fragile and easy to break free from. A fierce glint flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes. If his Spiritual Strength was insufficient, then he would strengthen it! Buzz! A black token drifted out of his storage ring with a low buzz. Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!! A surge of black energy instantly gushed out from the Soul Command Token, accompanied by a tornado-like raging flame. "Hmph!" Xiao Yan let out a cold snort. Mao Wu drilled out from the void, and the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame instantly transformed into a swirling black vortex that swallowed the assault of the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame. Meanwhile, a black silhouette suddenly fled from the other side. Upon closer look, it was the soul body of Gu Tong. At this moment, he no longer cared about the Heavenly Flame; he just wanted to escape as quickly as possible. The corners of Xiao Yan''s mouth curled into a cold smile. The soul body he caught still wanted to escape? Whoosh! He opened his mouth, and a soul chain shot out from his throat, directly piercing through Gu Tong''s soul body. With a fierce pull, a suction force instantly grabbed the fleeing Gu Tong. "No! Xiao Yan, spare me! I can serve you like an ox or a horse!" Gu Tong''s face was filled with terror. He never imagined that Xiao Yan was actually a member of the Hall of Souls! The Hall of Souls capturing alchemists and soul bodies was nothing unusual. A Dou Ancestor-level Protector had once attacked him and only managed to escape by relying on the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame. Originally, Xiao Yan wouldn''t have heeded Gu Tong''s pleas, let alone now that he had transformed into Asura. Xiao Yan opened his mouth, darkness exhaled, and a whirlwind engulfed Gu Tong. "No!!" Gu Tong let out miserable screams as he was directly swallowed! This scene gave Cai Lin and Venerable Tian Huo quite a fright! Devouring soul bodies to increase strength. How did Xiao Yan know such an evil technique?! Chomp chomp chomp! Chewing sounds echoed from Xiao Yan''s mouth, followed by a gulp as his throat moved up and down. Instantly, the demonic light surrounding him intensified, and his Spiritual Strength soared even higher! The Hall of Souls naturally had Secret Techniques to enhance strength, focusing primarily on Spiritual Strength. For example, Protector Wu had devoured the elders of the Misty Cloud Sect and even consumed Yun Shan''s soul body, using a Secret Technique to significantly increase his strength. Although Xiao Yan hadn''t cultivated such soul secret techniques, the Asura Soul Reaping Technique allowed him to achieve a similar effect. Xiao Yan licked his lips as if still unsatisfied and opened his mouth once more. The Soul Command Token trembled madly, and clusters of soul light flew into his mouth like candies! Those were the same ones he and Cai Lin had earlier snatched from the serpent puppets! Now, these soul light clusters had all become delicacies in the Asura''s mouth! Xiao Yan exhaled demonic energy, and suddenly a pair of pitch-black demonic wings sprouted from his back. His legs bent slightly, and with a sudden explosive leap, he shot straight into the sky. Since you won''t come down, then I''ll come up! Xiao Yan extended his demonic hands at the same time. His terrifying Spiritual Strength coalesced into a giant hand capable of supporting the heavens as his hands joined together. It crushed down upon the thousand-meter serpent as if kneading dough! Hiss! Hiss! Black energy spurted from the serpent''s body with a vicious squeeze. This energy was its blood. After all, this serpent wasn''t a physical entity but was formed from various negative energies fused together. Xiao Yan grinned, took a deep breath, and absorbed all the dark energy that had been squeezed out. "If the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint crawled out from the ground, might be interesting. But you? Not worthy!" Xiao Yan sneered coldly. At this moment, he resembled a demon god of the ninth heavens. The Nihility Devouring Flame enveloped his fists as he drove a heavy blow into the black serpent''s head. Hiss!!! A miserable cry rang out. Then the enormous black serpent was violently struck down from the sky with a massive boom! "This... this is too crazy!" Even Venerable Tian Huo was dumbfounded. Xiao Yan''s cultivation was only at the 4-star Dou Emperor stage. Although his Spiritual Strength was extraordinary and he was a middle-grade 7th-tier alchemist, the power he was now exhibiting was simply insane! But it was hardly surprising; Xiao Yan had just devoured numerous soul bodies, all at the Dou Ancestor level. Such Secret Techniques temporarily enhance cultivation through special energies. Clearly, Xiao Yan was now employing one such method. Cai Lin''s expression turned grave with worry instead, for she knew that every Secret Technique came with side effects. To gain great power, one must pay a price, and the cost of using Asura was definitely not small! "Die!" Xiao Yan let out a furious roar. He rained blow after blow on the black serpent below with both hands wrapped in the Nihility Devouring Flame. His attacks tore through the empty space and heavily bombarded the black giant serpent''s body. The terrifying power seemed capable of shattering the sky and earth. If not for being within the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s pupil space, he might have already broken through the sky. Hiss hiss! The black giant serpent swung its tail fiercely, managing to block the attack, but a significant portion of its dark energy was absorbed by Xiao Yan! "Hmph! Asura Soul Reap!" Xiao Yan roared. His hands transformed into blades. As he slashed down on the giant serpent''s tail, demonic light surged into the sky, instantly cleaving through space. With one slash, the sun and moon lost their light, and souls were severed! Whoosh! The giant serpent tail was actually cut off by Xiao Yan! How could he let this opportunity slip? He opened his mouth and took a fierce breath; the severed tail transformed into black energy and was entirely swallowed by him. At this moment, the black giant serpent finally felt fear. The person before it was more terrifying than a demon! It now wanted to escape! But how could Xiao Yan possibly let it go? The demonic wings on his back fluttered as he pounced on the giant black serpent like a mad demon, frantically biting and devouring masses of black energy with each bite. Venerable Tian Huo and Cai Lin both wore grave expressions as they saw Xiao Yan transform into a demon. They understood that the Asura within Xiao Yan had infinitely magnified his desire for power. He had lost himself. "I need to wake him up." Cai Lin gritted her teeth, stood up slowly, and looked resolutely at Xiao Yan. The Asura Soul Reaping Technique not only devoured soul bodies, it also eroded Xiao Yan''s own soul, leading to self-devouring! If this continued, his soul would eventually be consumed by the Asura as well! "You''ll die!" Venerable Tian Huo cried out in alarm. In Xiao Yan''s current state, with Cai Lin''s condition, she couldn''t possibly stop him. This was no different from delivering a sheep into a tiger''s mouth! A determined glint flashed in Cai Lin''s eyes. She said solemnly, "Even if I don''t act, do you think the current Xiao Yan will spare us?" Sure enough, after Xiao Yan completely destroyed the black serpent, he seemed to have an insatiable hunger. His crimson eyes turned toward Venerable Tian Huo and Cai Lin. Although Xiao Yan was desperately trying to control himself, it was clear that his footsteps were gradually drawing closer. Cai Lin''s body erupted once more with a burst of seven-colored light as she saw Xiao Yan approach. Amidst the radiance, a massive figure slowly emerged. A Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, not much smaller than the previous black giant serpent, appeared before Xiao Yan. Cai Lin directly reverted to her true form. Her massive tail swept out fiercely as she hoped that knocking Xiao Yan unconscious might dispel this Soul Skill. The Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python flicked its long tongue, lashing out at Xiao Yan like a whip. But Xiao Yan moved in a ghostlike manner and continuously dodged the strikes. "Xiao Yan!" Cai Lin called out repeatedly through the special soul connection between them. However, it was clear that Xiao Yan had already entered a demonized state and couldn''t hear her. The massive tail swung like a mountain crashing down. Xiao Yan''s hands transformed into claws as he faced this terrifying attack and fiercely grabbed the serpent tail. His ten fingers exerted force, piercing deeply into the flesh with a sickening sound. Then, with a violent pull, he directly tore off a huge piece of scale. Scorching serpent blood splattered all over him. Xiao Yan''s body trembled violently the moment he felt the burning serpent blood, and a hint of clarity returned to his crimson eyes. Cai Lin''s eyes focused on his struggle. Her enormous body instantly coiled around Xiao Yan, wrapping him tightly. Through their soul connection, she continuously called out to him. Xiao Yan let out a heaven-shaking roar. His hands fiercely chopped down, and two hideous, bone-deep wounds instantly appeared on the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python''s body. Boom boom boom! Deafening explosions echoed repeatedly as their battle raged within this space. Cai Lin''s massive serpent head crashed down like a falling meteor, smashing heavily toward Xiao Yan. "Xiao Yan!" "Roar!" Xiao Yan had completely lost his rationality. His hands transformed into demonic claws and his palm strikes surged like tidal waves. He fiercely struck out and actually sent Cai Lin''s enormous body stumbling backward. "Xiao Yan!" Cai Lin gritted her teeth and ignored the wounds covering her body. She pressed down hard on him once more. Clang! Xiao Yan''s right hand formed a seal, and the black flames of the Nihility Devouring Flame merged into the God Seal Technique. An ink-black palm imprint slammed heavily into her abdomen! "Phfft!" Serpent blood poured down like a waterfall. "Xiao Yan!!!" Cai Lin struggled to lift her head. Even with the Heavenly Flame Serpent Body, she couldn''t withstand such ferocious Heavenly Flame attacks. Hiss! Hiss! She flicked her forked tongue weakly, yet her eyes showed no sign of retreat. Even Venerable Tian Huo couldn''t bear to watch. Xiao Yan had willingly transformed into Asura to save everyone, and now Cai Lin was risking her life to bring him back, using her own body to stop him. The sounds of blood gushing and continuous explosions filled the air. Who knew how much time had passed before a familiar and urgent call finally echoed within Xiao Yan''s heart. A surge of scalding warmth began to spread throughout his ice-cold body. By the time Xiao Yan regained his senses, he discovered that he was soaking in a pool of blood. The scorching sensation came from this fresh blood. Cai Lin''s blood was no longer ice-cold like that of ordinary serpents because she had already become a Heavenly Flame Serpent Body. Instead, it was as hot as rolling heatwaves. "Cai Lin!!!!!!!" Xiao Yan immediately summoned the Life Flame and frantically poured in Dou Qi. The white fish began to spew out jade-white flames, enveloping the severely wounded body of the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python. However, Xiao Yan himself was now at the end of his rope. His entire body was numb and wracked with excruciating pain as dizziness clouded his mind. His Dou Qi had long been exhausted. Even continuously circulating the Flame Mantra wasn''t enough to sustain the Life Flame''s healing. Tears instantly flowed from his eyes. At this moment, scenes with Cai Lin flashed through his mind. From their first meeting in the desert palace, to the mercenary company, Jia Nan Academy, the Great Meeting of Factions, and finally to this moment. But soon, he abruptly stood up. A green light descended from the sky in the center of the hall destroyed by their battle. A heavenly ladder appeared before him. Xiao Yan gritted his teeth. Words were meaningless now. He still had one last glimmer of hope! The Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s essence blood! Under normal circumstances, at the end of the inheritance, Qing Lin should have relied on her own willpower to eliminate the dark forces and complete the final trial. Then, this heavenly ladder would appear, leading to the true inheritance of the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint. Moreover, the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint had left behind Demon Saint essence blood for the inheritor to break through to the Dou Venerate realm! "Senior Yao, please look after Qing Lin," Xiao Yan said solemnly. "Your Dou Qi is insufficient to support the Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame! You will die from overexerting your Dou Qi!" Venerable Tian Huo saw that Xiao Yan was still pouring Dou Qi into the Life Flame to sustain Cai Lin''s life and maintain their soul connection, and he couldn''t help but warn him. But clearly, Xiao Yan didn''t heed him. He walked with his severely injured body to the enormous Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, gently stroked those beautiful scales, then moved beneath the giant serpent head. Gritting his teeth, he let out a loud shout, "Rise!" He had no Dou Qi left, no Spiritual Strength remaining, but he still had physical strength! Boom! The several-hundred-meter-long Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python was actually lifted by his sheer physical strength! "If you die, I''ll never be able to repay this debt!" Thud! Thud! Xiao Yan was truly carrying a mountain as he advanced. Each step he took made the earth tremble. Venerable Tian Huo was momentarily stunned as he saw Xiao Yan intending to carry Cai Lin up this seemingly endless heavenly ladder. Then, gritting his teeth, he placed Qing Lin gently atop Cai Lin''s body and slipped the storage ring onto Xiao Yan''s finger. "This old man will accompany you on this journey." Venerable Tian Huo''s Spiritual Strength was also nearly depleted, yet he still continuously transmitted it to Xiao Yan to sustain the Life Flame. Xiao Yan nodded heavily. His eyes showed no confusion or hesitation, only persistence and determination. In his heart, there was only one thought now. He must obtain that Demon Saint essence blood! The heavenly ladder extended upward at a forty-five-degree angle, steeply inclined, with uniformly high steps emitting a faint cyan glow. Usually, when Cai Lin transformed into human form, she relied on her own strength to reduce her weight. Otherwise, with her true mass, each step she took would cause the earth to shake. By the time Xiao Yan had climbed a hundred steps, his entire body was unbearably sore, especially his knees, which had long gone numb. Sweat mixed with the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python''s blood and thoroughly soaked his clothes. Chapter 349: Invisible Protection Chapter 349 - 349: Invisible Protection Word Count: 3,299 Words ****** Xiao Yan took out a Mighty Huang Pill from his storage ring. He no longer cared about the issue of unstable Dou Qi and directly tossed it into his mouth. A violent surge of energy immediately rushed into his meridians. An intense tearing sensation spread through his body as the terrifying medicinal strength caused his meridians to swell painfully. Xiao Yan had no time to refine the medicinal effects. He converted the Mighty Huang Pill''s medicinal strength entirely into Dou Qi and injected it into the Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame. Once the white fish received his Dou Qi, it produced yet more Life Flames to sustain Cai Lin''s life force. But what Xiao Yan was carrying now was the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python!! This ancient magical beast, known for its ability to swallow the heavens and devour the earth, had an extremely terrifying and exaggerated body size close to a thousand meters in length! This was also why it was so difficult for magical beasts to transform into human form. Imagine compressing such a colossal body into just over a meter or two tall; the power required was astonishingly terrifying. No wonder Cai Lin could kill a Dou Ancestor with a mere light kick after transforming. The mass didn''t truly change. Magical beasts used their own cultivation and Dou Qi to lighten their body weight after transforming. It was equivalent to flying at all times. As for Xiao Yan, he was only a 4-star Dou Emperor whose Dou Qi was exhausted, whose Spiritual Strength was overdrawn, and whose body was severely injured. The burden he bore under such extreme conditions far exceeded his own limits. Still, he never paused. The agony coursing through him did not sway his resolute spirit. He continued stepping forward without hesitation. Under normal circumstances, he would have flown upward, but in his condition, he could barely manage a slow walk. From a distance, one could see an enormous seven-colored python creeping at a snail''s pace along the seemingly endless heavenly ladder. If someone were following behind and looked along the staircase emitting emerald green light, they would notice that every step bore a bloody footprint. These bloody footprints contained both Xiao Yan''s and Cai Lin''s blood, now thoroughly mingled and indistinguishable. Although Xiao Yan was persevering solely by physical strength, with the heavy weight pressing down on him, nothing could stop this man''s footsteps. Xiao Yan held up the body of the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python upright with both arms, clenched his teeth and pressed on, leaving a scarlet footprint with every step! Thud! He slipped, and the massive body of the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python pressed down upon him. "Xiao Yan!" Venerable Tian Huo cried out in alarm and was about to lend help when he noticed that the Life Flame inside the Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame had begun to recede. He promptly injected more Spiritual Strength to keep that white fish spitting out healing flames. Time passed slowly. After about half an hour, the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python was slowly lifted again. Xiao Yan stood up once more, letting out a roar. He supported the python''s body with both arms and lifted it up again! One step, two steps, three steps... he had already forgotten how long he had been walking. Due to his exhausted Spiritual Strength and Cai Lin''s body blocking his view, he couldn''t even see how much farther the road ahead was. Yet he remained strong, carrying the mountain-like Cai Lin on his back, walking with his head lowered. Xiao Yan didn''t even know why he was persevering so resolutely now. Perhaps it was just as Cai Lin often said. Blame it on that soul connection. He fell time and again, and stood up time and again. His already overdrawn body was pushed beyond its limits again and again. Eventually, even Venerable Tian Huo''s Spiritual Strength was exhausted. He had no choice but to enter the storage ring to rest. Xiao Yan alone continued forward. He could not say how much time passed. Eventually, even his physical stamina was nearly gone, and it seemed as if his life was approaching its end. Just then, a sudden light appeared ahead. A beam of emerald green light slowly shone down from the sky. It was this little bit of green light that gave him hope. Almost there! "Three Thousand Lightning Movement!" Xiao Yan let out a fierce roar, his face contorted. Boom!! A deafening thunderclap resounded! A flash of lightning streaked by. The massive Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python suddenly burst forth at extreme speed, leaping like a carp over the dragon gate, charging past the staircase. Thud! Thud! Thud! The enormous python crashed heavily onto the ground, while Xiao Yan tumbled across the ground in a series of rolls before coming to a halt. His legs had long since lost all sensation, his meridians and Dou Qi were both fully spent, yet his eyes gleamed brightly. He forced himself forward, crawling ahead on his hands. Not far ahead, a cyan-colored snake about two meters long was coiled as if sleeping. No introduction was needed; aside from being smaller, it was identical to the giant serpent statue. This was certainly the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint! But Xiao Yan had no interest in its inheritance. His eyes were fixed unwaveringly on a floating fist-sized drop of essence blood before him. The energy it emitted made him realize that this was the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s essence blood! Whoosh! A breathy whoosh broke the silence as a glowing red flame enveloped the essence blood. Xiao Yan mustered his last bit of energy and guided it into Cai Lin''s mouth. Buzz! The essence blood entered her mouth, and Cai Lin''s body, which had begun to turn grayish-white, gradually regained its color. Only then did Xiao Yan exhale in relief and murmured, "I''ve finally repaid the favor." Thud! His arms lost all strength. He collapsed hard onto the ground with his eyes sliding shut, on the verge of death. No more trump cards remained. He was completely spent. ''It''s over... I''m going to break my promise to Xun Er for the first time.'' Xiao Yan slowly closed his eyes. Just when he felt he had no hope, an energy hidden within his body suddenly awakened. A gentle power surged from every cell, nourishing his overdrawn body and even replenishing his depleted Spiritual Strength! He felt as if something within was undergoing a metamorphosis, like a cocoon about to split open. Two traces of Yin-Yang Dragon aura wrapped themselves around him. He roared involuntarily, letting dragon might billow skyward! The Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill! Destruction before rebirth! To truly unleash the effects of the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill, it wasn''t just about being severely injured to the point of near-death. If being near death was all it took for rebirth, one could just find someone to beat them half to death. In reality, the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill required one to exhaust all their strength, unleash all their potential, and fight to the limit before entering a near-death state. Only then could the true effects of the pill manifest. This was a pill that stimulated the body''s potential! ''This is... the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill!'' Xiao Yan was astonished. He had nearly forgotten about it; after all, so much time had passed. He had always regarded it as a pill that granted a trace of dragon aura. A trace of gratitude flashed in his eyes. He touched the Bone Flame Ring on his hand and softly said, "Thank you, Master." From a distance, the yin-yang dragon aura of the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill seemed to be protecting Xiao Yan like an invisible pair of large hands. Xiao Yan had refined the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill before and knew that Han Feng''s alchemy skills couldn''t possibly produce it. Only one person in this world could refine the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill. He knew that the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill that Han Feng had placed in the auction house was refined by Venerable Yao. Han Feng had later obtained this pill through treachery and took it to the Black-Corner Region for auction. Who would have thought that it would eventually fall into Xiao Yan''s hands by a twist of fate and even save his life at this moment? A pill refined by someone who had long since passed away had now saved the life of his inheritor. Perhaps fate was just that wondrous. Xiao Yan sat cross-legged and began to silently circulate his Qi Method, using the power of the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill to transform all the potential unleashed in the earlier battle into his own strength. An unprecedented strength gradually emerged within his body. It seemed as if a giant dragon was about to awaken, and darkness was about to descend. Clusters of Heavenly Flames revolved around his body, making him seem like the master of all flames! Time passed, second by second. In the end, three days had gone by. The first to awaken was naturally Qing Lin. She slowly woke up and shook her head. It seemed as if she had a dream where she heard Xiao Yan calling her. "Where is this place..." Qing Lin stood up. Her memories were still stuck at the moment in the grand hall. After Xiao Yan and Cai Lin eliminated all the serpent puppets, Qing Lin heard a spiritual voice announce the beginning of the final trial. Then, countless soul memories flooded her mind. Those memory fragments were filled with evil, anger, and hatred. Gradually, Qing Lin''s memories began to recover. She recalled what had happened. "Young Master Xiao Yan!" Qing Lin exclaimed in shock. It seemed she had lost control, and then Xiao Yan had saved her! Qing Lin unfolded her Dou Qi wings and flew to Xiao Yan, who was sitting cross-legged. Seeing that he was cultivating, she breathed a sigh of relief. Qing Lin, who had been unconscious, naturally didn''t know what had happened afterward. Xiao Yan sensed her awakening and slowly opened his eyes, revealing a smile. In a deep voice, he said, "I''m sorry. Originally that Half-Saint essence blood should have been yours, but I happened to need it to save a life, so I used it." Qing Lin hurriedly waved her hands. "Qing Lin doesn''t dare. Young Master Xiao Yan saved my life; everything of mine belongs to Young Master." "Go ahead. The Demon Saint''s inheritance can only be obtained by you; it''s of no use to me." Xiao Yan looked at the cyan serpent and said. That cyan serpent was the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s inheritance. Qing Lin looked at the cyan serpent but didn''t rush over immediately. She appeared a bit hesitant. Xiao Yan saw at a glance that she already knew about the side effects of her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils and was afraid of losing control again. He smiled and said, "Don''t be afraid. Once I obtain the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, I can help you purify the negative energies brought by the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. Or do you not believe me?" "How could that be? Young Master Xiao Yan is the most powerful. I''m just afraid..." Qing Lin hurriedly waved her hands. In her heart, Xiao Yan was invincible. Xiao Yan''s tone changed to something solemn. "I have a premonition that in the future, when competing for the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, I might need your strength, Qing Lin. So, I hope you can obtain that inheritance and better understand what kind of power the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils truly hold." Qing Lin''s eyes instantly lit up upon hearing that Xiao Yan needed her. She nodded heavily. "I understand, Young Master Xiao Yan." She no longer hesitated. As long as it was something Xiao Yan needed, she would do her best to obtain it, including this inheritance. She approached the cyan serpent of inheritance. Sensing her arrival, the coiled serpent suddenly opened its eyes. Its eyes were exactly the same as Qing Lin''s! The two pairs of eyes met, and Qing Lin''s Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils emitted a green light. The lights intertwined, and a beam of light enveloped her. Then, the light transformed into a spherical shield, encasing her inside. Xiao Yan put his mind at ease seeing Qing Lin begin to inherit the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s legacy. He then looked toward the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python''s direction. Cai Lin had already begun to recover after absorbing the Demon Saint essence blood and would likely awaken soon. Xiao Yan slowly closed his eyes and continued to refine the medicinal strength of the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill. He needed to leverage the medicinal strength to break through, destroying the old to establish the new! Time flew by, and soon half a year had passed. Xiao Yan suddenly opened his eyes at a certain moment, and an incomparably powerful Spiritual Strength erupted from his body. The terrifying fluctuations of Spiritual Strength even caused the space around him to distort! Xiao Yan''s Spiritual Strength had actually reached the peak of the Mortal State! He hadn''t used the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill to break through to the Dou Ancestor realm. Instead, he intended to break through the Mortal State and truly step into the Soul State!!! His Spiritual Strength was originally already at the level of a middle-grade 7th-tier alchemist. Additionally, he had consumed the Great Soul Black Purple Pill to enhance his soul and had devoured so many soul bodies. The medicinal effects of the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill fully brought out all the Spiritual Strength from those soul bodies, allowing his Spiritual Strength to soar and reach the peak of the Mortal State in one leap! Xiao Yan knew that such an opportunity was rare and must not be missed. He quickly formed hand seals and activated the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique! When cultivated to perfection, the greatest function of the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique was that it could provide a chance to break through to the Soul State upon one''s Spiritual Strength reaching the peak of the Mortal State. This was the most significant use of this Soul Training Method! "Spirit Heart Gathering Soul!" Buzz! A series of milky-white soul lights appeared on his body. This was all the soul light he had absorbed using the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique. The soul lights converged from all parts of his body toward his brow! Xiao Yan''s head buzzed loudly. The Spiritual Strength at his brow swelled rapidly at this moment. The swelling was so intense it caused a severe sense of expansion, making his brow feel as if it was about to explode! Xiao Yan''s heart trembled sensing this sudden change. However, he didn''t dare to act recklessly. He could only stabilize his mind and observe the changes within his body. Bang! Xiao Yan''s mind was directly blasted into a daze. His eyes were filled with golden light, and his mind was in chaos. A glint of soul light flashed across his eyes. When Xiao Yan looked at the world again at this moment, it appeared somewhat different. "So this is the Soul State? Marvelous, truly marvelous," Xiao Yan sighed in admiration. Indeed, the Mortal State was the realm of mortals; only by entering the Soul State could one''s Spiritual Strength be considered transcendent. Xiao Yan lowered his head to look at his storage ring. He could see the slumbering Venerable Tian Huo after focusing his Spiritual Strength. Looking at the cyan shield enveloping Qing Lin, he couldn''t see inside, but he could vaguely sense that Qing Lin had completed most of the inheritance and her cultivation was also improving. Finally, he glanced toward Cai Lin. She had long since woken up and had now recovered her human form. She was wearing a loose robe, and her body was enveloped in a blood-red light. Her injuries had fully healed after half a year. She was now fully refining the Demon Saint essence blood, hoping to seize the opportunity to break through to the Dou Venerate realm! Xiao Yan sensed for a moment. His Spiritual Strength had finally reached the Soul State. One must know that even in the Pill Region of Central Plains, those who achieved the Soul State in Spiritual Strength were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. Most were old monster-level alchemists. And Xiao Yan was only twenty-four years old now! What made him regretful was that his cultivation had only improved by two stars, reaching the 6-star Dou Emperor stage. That Mighty Huang Pill was essentially wasted. The Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill didn''t increase his cultivation much since Xiao Yan had concentrated the medicinal strength on breaking through his Spiritual State. However, Xiao Yan''s physical body also benefited from the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill; his physical strength had improved somewhat. ''Qing Lin probably needs another half year.'' Once Qing Lin inherited the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint''s legacy, they could naturally leave this space. Xiao Yan then took out his medicinal cauldron and refined some soul-replenishing medicinal liquid, which he infused into Venerable Tian Huo''s storage ring. He slowly stood up, glanced at his tattered and filthy clothes, and went to a corner to change into clean attire. He didn''t remain idle seeing that Cai Lin and the others still needed some time. He prepared to refine his ninth Heavenly Flame! That''s right, the ninth one! Xiao Yan had swallowed Gu Tong''s soul body along with the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame when he had transformed into Asura. Although the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame hadn''t been refined, he already had eight Heavenly Flames in his body! The Wind and Thunder Fury Flame wanted to wreak havoc but couldn''t. Mao Wu and the other fire spirits were suppressing it inside Xiao Yan''s body, keeping it tightly sealed and unable to escape. Xiao Yan finally had time to deal with this Wind and Thunder Fury Flame now that he had broken through to the Soul State and refined all the medicinal strength of the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill. ''Nine kinds of Heavenly Flames. I wonder if this Wind and Thunder Fury Flame can elevate the Flame Mantra to Intermediate Tian Class.'' A glint flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes; he had some expectations for this Wind and Thunder Fury Flame. He had refined the Ghostly Poison Flame ranked 20th when the Flame Mantra reached Low Tian Class. However, its ranking was still somewhat low and couldn''t advance the Flame Mantra further. And this time, the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame was ranked 18th, one rank higher than the Green Lotus Core Flame. There was still some hope. Xiao Yan sat down cross-legged and began to circulate the Flame Mantra to refine the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame. The eight kinds of Heavenly Flames were like soldiers, almost pressing down on the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame like a criminal, following the path of the Flame Mantra. The Wind and Thunder Fury Flame had once been Gu Tong''s Heavenly Flame and was not an ownerless object. Its temperament was very ''proud'' and even had an unyielding spirit, even though Gu Tong was already dead. Xiao Yan wasn''t anxious. He slowly circulated the Flame Mantra, gradually pushing the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame along. It took him a month to finally tame this wild horse that was the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame. With a buzz, Xiao Yan''s Acceptance Soul now contained nine kinds of Heavenly Flames! Nihility Devouring Flame''s Seed Flame, Ten Thousand Beast Flame, Yin-Yang Twin Flame, Ghostly Poison Flame, Green Lotus Core Flame, Wind and Thunder Fury Flame, Sea Heart Flame, Fallen Heart Flame, Bone Chilling Flame, and now, another member was added, the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame! Chapter 350: Strength Improvement Chapter 350 - 350: Strength Improvement Word Count: 3,176 Words ****** ''Sigh, the Flame Mantra has become incredibly difficult to improve after reaching the Tian Class.'' Xiao Yan felt somewhat disappointed that the Flame Mantra still hadn''t broken through to the intermediate level. However, the quality of his Dou Qi had improved slightly, proving the Flame Mantra had indeed advanced, just not enough to upgrade completely. "You brat, do you really treat Heavenly Flames like meals?" Venerable Tian Huo slowly drifted over, having recovered his Spiritual Strength. He studied Xiao Yan with a peculiar expression. After accompanying him for so long, he''d guessed that Xiao Yan''s Qi Method required devouring Heavenly Flames. Only such a special technique could allow Xiao Yan to recklessly consume so many Heavenly Flames. "Tsk tsk tsk, you really are a freak. Your Spiritual Strength has actually reached the Soul State... Even this old man never achieved that." Venerable Tian Huo was genuinely impressed. He truly couldn''t fathom how Xiao Yan cultivated. He had once been a renowned Dou Venerate, yet even at that level, his Spiritual Strength had never broken through to the Soul State. Xiao Yan shrugged nonchalantly. "Although Soul State Spiritual Strength is nice, I''d still prefer to be a Dou Venerate myself." Indeed, Soul State Spiritual Strength corresponded to the Dou Venerate realm. After all, refining tier 8 pills required Tier 8 Spiritual Strength, and tier 8 pills were also known as Spirit Pills, which needed to possess spirituality. Moreover, tier 8 pills were precisely what Dou Venerates used. However, combat strength was another matter entirely. With Xiao Yan''s current cultivation, even possessing tier 8 Spiritual Strength, he was far inferior to a Dou Venerate. After all, Dou Venerates also had strong Spiritual Strength. Even if they hadn''t reached the Soul State, they wouldn''t be weak. So it couldn''t be calculated on a one-to-one basis. Not to mention he only had one Soul Skill. Relying solely on Spiritual Strength to fight a Dou Venerate would be courting death. Xiao Yan stood up and stretched lazily. His cultivation had slightly improved after refining the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame, reaching the 7-star Dou Emperor stage. Refining Heavenly Flames had never directly improved one''s cultivation, but during the refining process, there were often additional gains, such as entering a state of enlightenment or rapidly improving cultivation by absorbing the energy within the Heavenly Flame space. Xiao Yan felt that advancing one star was already quite good, especially since refining the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame hadn''t been particularly difficult. In fact, it had been relatively easy. "What are your plans now?" Venerable Tian Huo asked. Xiao Yan smiled and raised his eyebrows at him. "Refine pills and help you create a body, Elder Yao." Venerable Tian Huo grinned, showing his teeth, upon hearing that this guy Xiao Yan finally understood his intentions. Wasn''t all his desperate effort precisely because he wanted Xiao Yan to help him resurrect? "Although the materials for the Yin Yang Life Soul Pill aren''t fully gathered yet, we''re almost there. I''ll first help you refine a physical body, Elder Yao, then improve my alchemy skills. By the time we leave here, I should reach the level of a middle-grade or even high-grade 7th-tier alchemist. Once we gather all the materials for the Yin Yang Life Soul Pill, you''ll be able to resurrect!" Xiao Yan displayed a confident expression. His current alchemy level should be at the peak of low-grade tier 7. Advancing to middle-grade wouldn''t be difficult. With some luck, he might even reach high-grade 7th-tier alchemist level before leaving! Fortunately, he had previously accepted ''gifts'' from over a hundred factions at the Great Meeting of Factions. His storage ring now held an abundance of tier 7 medicinal ingredients. Even after giving a portion to Zi Yan, he still possessed a massive amount. Additionally, the vast primeval forest at the base of the heavenly ladder contained some lower-grade medicinal ingredients that could serve as auxiliary materials. This provided perfect conditions for improving his alchemy skills. With a wave of his hand, various brocade boxes flew from his storage ring. They were all filled with tier 7 medicinal ingredients. He sorted them by quality, first reviewing the main ingredients for low-grade tier 7 pills in his mind. After recalling the pill recipes that could use these main ingredients, he flew down the heavenly ladder to search for the required auxiliary ingredients. Naturally, he started by warming up with low-grade tier 7 pills. After a month, Xiao Yan had refined six low-grade tier 7 pills. He only failed once when Cai Lin''s bloodline fluctuations distracted him. The others were all successful, and there were even two instances of refining two pills in one batch. His alchemy talent was so exceptional that it was no wonder even Hun Huzi had taken notice. ''Alright, let''s begin refining middle-grade tier 7 pills.'' Xiao Yan busied himself once more. He already possessed the strength of a middle-grade tier 7 alchemist. Although his success rate wasn''t as high as with low-grade tier 7 pills, the gap between middle-grade and low-grade pills wasn''t that big. With his Heavenly Flames and Soul State Spiritual Strength, when refining some low-grade tier 7 pills, he could even achieve middle-grade quality. "Tsk tsk tsk, Soul State Spiritual Strength truly is formidable. Refining middle-grade tier 7 pills feels like I''m playing on easy mode." When Xiao Yan first began refining middle-grade tier 7 pills, he discovered his Spiritual Strength was frighteningly powerful. When he concentrated his Spiritual Strength, the flames he controlled seemed to move in slow motion. The timing of ingredients cracking from heat, the moments when flame intensity should increase or decrease, the emergence of medicinal properties, the internal structure of ingredients... nothing escaped his perception. Originally, Xiao Yan thought only low-grade tier 7 pills would be so smooth to refine. Who knew that middle-grade tier 7 pills wouldn''t be much harder than low-grade ones? In other words, because his Spiritual Strength had reached the Soul State, the difficulty of refining middle-grade and low-grade tier 7 pills had become nearly identical. This masterful control over Spiritual Strength pleasantly surprised even the composed Xiao Yan. "Of course! Why else do you think Soul State is the benchmark for 8th-tier alchemists?" Venerable Tian Huo stroked his beard. "Back in the Central Plains, pills and heavenly treasures that could improve a 7th-tier alchemist''s Spiritual Strength were always in high demand. Whenever such treasures appeared, countless alchemists would bid like madmen," Venerable Tian Huo explained slowly. There was no helping it. The Hall of Souls had monopolized all Soul Training Methods. Forget about the methods themselves; even pill recipes that could improve Spiritual Strength were extremely rare, even in the Pill Tower. The High Xuan Class Soul Training Method that Xiao Yan had exchanged with Gu He for the Body Transformation Pill was definitely a great opportunity for the latter. Although High Xuan Class wasn''t extremely precious, it could at least help Gu He break through to tier 7. If Xiao Yan hadn''t reached the Honorable Elder rank, he wouldn''t have been able to teach others Soul Training Methods. The Hall of Souls'' methods all had restrictions. Once learned, they couldn''t be passed on. Even so, transactions involving Soul Training Methods remained strictly controlled. Because the Hun Clan understood that as long as they monopolized the Soul Training Methods of the entire Dou Qi Continent, it would be difficult for top-tier experts to emerge on the continent. Then the Hun Clan would be invincible! Although selfish, it had to be admitted, this was extremely clever. After refining middle-grade tier 7 pills for over two months, Xiao Yan''s success rate finally matched that of low-grade tier 7 pills. Occasionally, he could even achieve the remarkable feat of producing two pills in one batch! Venerable Tian Huo shook his head in admiration as Xiao Yan attracted Pill Lightning comparable to a 7-star Dou Ancestor''s attack. Xiao Yan stored the pills and nodded in satisfaction. He then sat cross-legged and began cultivating to restore his Spiritual Strength and Dou Qi. After reaching the Soul State, his Spiritual Strength recovered several times faster than before. In less than half a day, Xiao Yan opened his eyes and exhaled deeply. Through these months of alchemy, his cultivation had also improved considerably, reaching the late stage of 7-star Dou Emperor. Even with a Tian Class Qi Method and the Fallen Heart Flame''s enhancement, advancing one star at the high-star Dou Emperor stage required exponentially more time. However, Xiao Yan wasn''t worried. He still had one unused Mighty Huang Pill. Moreover, based on past experience, the peak tier 5 Hegemon King Pill could guarantee a 9-star Dou Spirit''s breakthrough to Dou King, and the peak tier 6 Emperor Heaven Pill could guarantee a 9-star Dou King''s breakthrough to Dou Emperor. Naturally, a peak tier 7 pill could also guarantee a 9-star Dou Emperor''s breakthrough to Dou Ancestor! Xiao Yan didn''t want to use the Zong Breaking Pill. Not only did it require cultivation at peak 9-star Dou Emperor, but it also merely increased the success rate rather than guaranteeing a breakthrough. Only those like Jia Xing Tian, who had been unable to break through to Dou Ancestor on their own, would use it. What disappointed him was that Venerable Yao''s collection actually lacked a pill recipe that could guarantee breakthrough to Dou Ancestor! Still, he wasn''t anxious. His Spiritual Strength had already reached the Soul State. He could exchange for pill recipes with the Pill Tower. If that didn''t work, he could trade with the Hall of Souls. With his alchemy skills, was he afraid of not obtaining pill recipes? Xiao Yan had always relied on Heavenly Flames to upgrade the Flame Mantra, rapidly improving his cultivation. Then he''d use his alchemy skills to refine higher-grade pills to break through bottlenecks, and finally refine new Heavenly Flames to stabilize his Dou Qi. This leveling combo had accompanied him for a long journey, and he planned to continue using it in the future. Snap! Xiao Yan threw Gu Tong''s corpse from his storage ring onto the ground. Even Venerable Tian Huo''s soul body couldn''t help fluctuating slightly at the sight. He had spent so many years beneath the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, dreaming of resurrection. Now it had finally come to this moment. Besides Gu Tong''s corpse, Xiao Yan also produced a jade bottle containing essence blood from a Rank 7 magical beast. Refining a body required not only a Dou Ancestor expert''s skeleton but also a Rank 7 magical beast''s essence blood. These materials naturally weren''t precious for Xiao Yan, who had harvested from various major factions in the North-Western Region. Additionally, Xiao Yan retrieved another skeleton from his storage ring. This was Venerable Tian Huo''s own remains from the cave. After all, this was a Dou Venerate''s skeleton, and it belonged to Venerable Tian Huo himself. Therefore, Xiao Yan planned to replace the bones and reconstruct the body! After pondering briefly, he summoned the Fallen Heart Flame and Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame. He didn''t use all his Heavenly Flames together for the refinement. More or higher-grade flames didn''t necessarily mean better results; suitability was what mattered most. The Fallen Heart Flame was an obvious choice, as Venerable Tian Huo had once been its owner. For the second flame, Xiao Yan didn''t choose the Ten Thousand Beast Flame since Venerable Tian Huo wasn''t a magical beast. The Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame governed yin-yang and life-death. The black and white fish possessed two kinds of powers: the Life Flame saved lives endlessly while the Death Flame killed without leaving a trace. It was perfectly suitable. Xiao Yan concentrated his Spiritual Strength, and his eyes glowed with soul light. The Death Flame transformed into a surgical scalpel, directly dissecting Gu Tong''s corpse. Without harming the flesh, it burned all two hundred and six bones into nothingness. With a pull of Spiritual Strength, he extracted all of Gu Tong''s blood, leaving only a pale corpse. The jade bottle shattered with a forceful squeeze. A large mass of blood dispersed, and with a wave of his palm, Xiao Yan sprinkled it onto the flame-wrapped corpse. The moment the blood touched the corpse, hissing sounds erupted as the skin rapidly began to decay. This sudden change didn''t faze Xiao Yan. After a casual glance, he controlled the Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame and Fallen Heart Flame to sharply increase temperature. As the flames'' temperature rose, the blood adhering to the corpse began mysteriously seeping inward. The originally pale skin and muscles gradually regained vitality as the essence blood merged with them. After which, the flame-enveloped body floated into Venerable Tian Huo''s skeleton with a wave of his hand. Buzz! Xiao Yan''s fingers swiftly formed seals. The Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame and Fallen Heart Flame fused into the Fallen Life and Death Flame, continuously refining this vessel. The flesh and essence blood merged continuously before their eyes. The flesh seemed to come alive, slowly fusing onto the skeleton, reconstructing itself! Even Venerable Tian Huo, despite his calm temperament, clenched his fists nervously at this sight. A full day and night passed before a body resembling white jade appeared. However, calling it a body at this point was somewhat inaccurate; it more resembled a white object with four limbs and a head, lacking any distinct human features. It would need to wait until Venerable Tian Huo''s soul body fully integrated with it. Then the body would begin forming external features based on his soul. "Elder Yao, store this body in your storage ring. You can slowly shape it with your Spiritual Strength in your spare time. Once I refine the Yin Yang Life Soul Pill, you''ll be able to resurrect." Xiao Yan smiled. This secret method belonged to Venerable Yao. It was his first time condensing a body using Heavenly Flames. Such a resurrection method was indeed miraculous. "Good, very good! Xiao Yan, this old man owes you a favor," Venerable Tian Huo laughed heartily. Xiao Yan shook his head. "We already agreed on this back then, Elder Yao. I won''t be greedy." "Hahaha, no matter. This old man will remember. Even after our ten-year agreement passes, I''ll keep it in my heart." Venerable Tian Huo nodded with a smile. He stored the body in his storage ring and then went back inside to start shaping it. Xiao Yan glanced toward Qing Lin and Cai Lin. Qing Lin was now just one step away from completing the inheritance. Meanwhile, Cai Lin''s cultivation had surged dramatically after obtaining the Half-Saint essence blood. She had now reached 9-star Dou Ancestor and appeared poised to attempt breaking through to Dou Venerate! No wonder the Sky Serpent Mansion had been obsessed with the Demon Saint''s essence blood for generations. For a Dou Ancestor, even for a Dou Venerate, it was a rare treasure. Essence blood wasn''t ordinary blood. It was a magical beast''s core essence. Even Dou Saints possessed very little essence blood within their bodies. Seeing the two women still needed time, Xiao Yan''s eyes flickered as he retrieved a brocade box containing a small herb. Body Transformation Grass! Among the main ingredients for high-grade tier 7 medicinal pills, he possessed the most Body Transformation Grass, the primary ingredient for the Body Transformation Pill. Yun Yun had given him one, he had obtained another in the Black-Corner Region, purchased one from the Yellow Springs Treasure Pavilion, and received several more as gifts. He had rather too many. The Body Transformation Pill was perhaps the most renowned among tier 7 pills. Almost every magical beast desired one. Although the Body Transformation Pill wasn''t the most difficult to refine among high-grade tier 7 pills, it was by no means simple. Alchemists had a saying: if you could refine the Body Transformation Pill, you were considered a genuine high-grade 7th-tier alchemist. It was the benchmark for entering the high-grade tier 7 level. One could imagine the Body Transformation Pill''s difficulty level. ''It''s about time I repay the Lion King''s favor. It''s been overdue for quite a while.'' Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and smiled. He recalled that the first ''investor'' he had ever tricked was the Amethyst Winged Lion King. It was also with the Lion King''s help that he obtained his first complete Heavenly Flame¡ªthe Ten Thousand Beast Flame. CEO Xiao naturally wouldn''t let his shareholders suffer losses! Think about Shareholder Yao, then Shareholder Hai¡ªhadn''t they all profited many times over, principal and interest included? Now it was Shareholder Lion''s turn. Refining the Body Transformation Pill was undoubtedly the most challenging pill Xiao Yan had ever attempted. The auxiliary ingredients alone nearly covered the ground. He even brought out the Black Demon Cauldron. He first borrowed the Black Demon''s energy to refine a Body Transformation Pill to get a feel for it, then used the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron for the actual refinement. Xiao Yan''s rapid alchemy breakthroughs owed much to the Black Demon. The Black Demon''s ability allowed him to successfully refine pills beyond his level earlier and faster, helping him grasp the right feeling. Then he could better refine high-grade pills and break through alchemy bottlenecks. Even with the Black Demon''s help, Xiao Yan spent a full month and failed twice, wasting two Body Transformation Grasses before successfully refining a Body Transformation Pill. He then spent another month continuously honing his skills until he could finally refine the Body Transformation Pill using his own abilities! "Annihilation Lotus Flame!" Xiao Yan let out a cold snort facing the Pill Lightning descending from above. Five-colored Heavenly Flames instantly merged. The terrifying temperature burned a massive hole through the sky itself. After five colors, Xiao Yan had renamed the Fire Lotus the Annihilation Lotus Flame, representing destruction. BOOM!!!! Even within the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils'' space, Pill Lightning was unavoidable. This was a fundamental law. Wherever natural energy existed, refining pills above tier 7 would trigger Pill Lightning. The Pill Lightning, comparable to an 8-star Dou Ancestor''s strike, crashed heavily into Xiao Yan''s Annihilation Lotus Flame. What surprised him was that the flame actually melted the Pill Lightning! When the Pill Lightning reached its critical point, a world-shaking explosion erupted, so terrifying that even Xiao Yan felt somewhat apprehensive. He was now an 8-star Dou Emperor. As his cultivation improved, the Fire Lotus''s power had also increased significantly. Ordinary high-star Dou Emperors needed one or two years to advance a single star even with Di Class Qi Methods. Yet Xiao Yan had been continuously refining pills for half a year and had still advanced one star. This advancement speed was practically cheating! "After reaching the Soul State, even merging Heavenly Flames has become easier. I feel like I could create another Annihilation Flame Lotus right now," Xiao Yan murmured. He raised his head and looked up. The Annihilation Lotus Flame had not only dispersed the Pill Lightning but even scattered the lightning clouds. Its might could only be described in three words: Terrifyingly beyond measure! Chapter 351: Emergence! Chapter 351 - 351: Emergence! ''My current five-colored Annihilation Lotus Flame should rival a High Di Class Dou Technique unleashed by a 7 or 8-star Dou Ancestor.'' Xiao Yan gazed at the massive hole his Annihilation Lotus Flame had blasted through the sky. The surrounding clouds were being frantically sucked into the void while lightning crackled wildly around the edges. He could even faintly glimpse spatial turbulence within! Spatial turbulence was something even Dou Venerates wouldn''t dare face lightly. While they could open wormholes, resisting such destructive chaotic flows was absolutely impossible. The birthplace of the Nihility Devouring Flame was precisely such a void of absolute emptiness! Opening wormholes was a Dou Venerate''s ability, yet Xiao Yan had already managed to blast open spatial cracks! He was still just a Dou Emperor! At the Dou Emperor level, he could still be considered a child! His five-colored Fire Lotus could instantly kill even high-star Dou Ancestors if they were caught off guard! Sizzle, sizzle! The spatial cracks in the sky absorbed the world''s energy and slowly began closing. This was the Dou Qi Continent''s self-repair mechanism at work. Thus, when Dou Venerates opened wormholes, if they didn''t maintain them, the passages would gradually heal on their own. In the North-Western Region and Black-Corner Region cities, some hidden clans had ancestors who''d once reached Dou Venerate and left behind wormholes connecting to the Central Plains. The best way to reach the Central Plains was to pay these clans a usage fee and travel through their wormholes. It was the fastest and most convenient method. Xiao Yan frowned and looked up toward the heavenly ladder. He naturally hadn''t been refining pills on the ladder itself, as that would have disturbed Cai Lin and Qing Lin. He sensed intense spiritual fluctuations emanating from above. ''Looks like they''re about to emerge from seclusion.'' With a wave of his hand, Mao Wu emerged from the void and transformed into a mass of black flame. A vortex-like passage resembling a black hole appeared before him. He stepped through and instantly teleported to the massive platform atop the heavenly ladder. After his Spiritual Strength reached the Soul State, Xiao Yan could now borrow the power of the Nihility Devouring Flame''s Seed Flame to open wormhole passages. Blood-red light surged skyward from Cai Lin''s entire body as an extremely powerful force continuously collided within her. The blood silhouette of a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python roared behind her, as if rebelling against heaven itself in its attempt to break through to the Dou Venerate realm! On the other side, Qing Lin underwent her transformation at almost the same moment. Strands of green light condensed at her forehead, and her cultivation had actually broken through to Dou Ancestor! She''d beaten him by one step! ''Having specialized inheritances really is wonderful. These magical beasts don''t follow any logic when improving their strength.'' Xiao Yan shook his head. He wanted a Heavenly Flame inheritance too! Was there no kind-hearted person willing to give him one? Xiao Yan sat on the ground and pulled out a chicken leg. After Mao Wu breathed out a flame, the leg immediately began sizzling with oil. He sprinkled on some seasoning and started eating. He ate while he waited; there wasn''t much else he could do anyway. ''Here they come!'' After finishing an entire chicken and tossing away the bones, Xiao Yan suddenly stood up. Qing Lin achieved results first. The green light gradually faded as she floated gently upward. Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, revealing a pair of emerald Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. Then, astonishingly, a third pupil opened on her forehead! As the glow slowly receded, the third Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupil vanished like an illusion. But Xiao Yan knew it was absolutely real, not an illusion. Qing Lin must have awakened some kind of ability! Tap, tap, tap. Qing Lin descended from the sky like a graceful fairy with her hair in small braids, bouncing with each step. Walking on air! A 2-star Dou Ancestor! "Young Master Xiao Yan, I succeeded." Qing Lin approached like a little maid seeking praise, her eyes blinking expectantly as if waiting for compliments. Xiao Yan forcefully held back his bitter tears, patted her head, and forced a smile. "Qing Lin is amazing, already a Dou Ancestor." Was he the only one still a Dou Emperor?! At that moment, the blood-red pillar of light around Cai Lin slowly dissipated, and the gigantic serpent shadow merged back into her body. What surprised Xiao Yan, however, was that Cai Lin had actually failed to break through! She remained at peak 9-star Dou Ancestor, unable to advance to a Rank 8 magical beast! Cai Lin furrowed her brows, then looked at Xiao Yan with confusion. He returned her gaze with an equally puzzled frown. When he had helped Cai Lin condense her Heavenly Flame Serpent Body, he had calculated that with the power of three Heavenly Flames and her successful evolution to the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python bloodline, breaking through to Dou Saint might be challenging, but advancing to Dou Venerate shouldn''t have been a problem. She''d already transformed and obtained the Demon Saint''s essence blood. There shouldn''t be any bottlenecks. "Don''t worry. Peak 9-star Dou Ancestor is only one step away from Dou Venerate, and you''ve already transformed. If necessary, once my alchemy reaches peak tier 7, I''ll refine a Venerate Breaking Pill for you. That should do the trick." Xiao Yan comforted her. After all, haste makes waste. Failing once was no big deal. Cai Lin remained silent, merely casting a glance at him. She wasn''t sure how to face this man right now. She had been unconscious at the time but vaguely recalled certain events. Looking back now, she didn''t even understand why she''d fought so desperately. If Xiao Yan died, then he died! Xiao Yan saw Cai Lin ignore him. He rubbed his nose and chuckled awkwardly before turning to Qing Lin. "Qing Lin, where''s the exit?" Qing Lin''s eyes swept their surroundings before she pointed downward. "The exit is at the grand hall! I should be able to open the passage." "Good. We don''t know how many days have passed in here. It''s time to head out. Hopefully nothing major has happened. Some people had better be smart." A fierce light flashed through Xiao Yan''s eyes. He had used up all the soul bodies in his Soul Command Token. If certain people weren''t wise enough, he wouldn''t mind replenishing his collection. Cai Lin''s gaze also turned icy at his words. If some people thought she was dead, then she''d make sure they became the dead ones. After flying down from the heavenly ladder, they arrived at the former grand hall. The once-magnificent structure had become ruins, with the heavenly ladder extending from its center. The exit was located right at this position on the heavenly ladder. Qing Lin raised her hand and gently pressed it against the ground. Green light emanated from her palm, and the heavenly ladder began making creaking sounds. Only then did Xiao Yan realize the heavenly ladder was actually a snake! The enormous sky platform was formed by this snake''s coiled body! Soon, an exit resembling a teleportation array appeared beneath the trio''s feet. With a flash of light, Xiao Yan and the others vanished. ... Meanwhile, in the Jia Ma Empire''s Sacred City at the westernmost edge of the North-Western Region, the entire city was shrouded in dark green poisonous gas. Like a wall of poison, it blocked the massive army not far away! "Father, even you can''t do anything?" She Tianhao gritted his teeth as he looked at the middle-aged man beside him. The once-aging She Tianhuang had somehow regained his vitality and appeared young again! In contrast, She Tianhao had lost an arm that wouldn''t regenerate no matter what pills he used. A strange, deadly poison had nearly claimed his life! And this was merely from a young lady pointing at him from afar! She Tianhuang''s expression was grave. That poison was too terrifying; even he had no solution. "Jie Jie Jie, it''s no surprise you can''t handle it. That''s the Woeful Poison from the Woeful Poison Body. I never expected to find an innate Woeful Poison Body in this small North-Western Region." A black-robed figure wearing a Soul Robe emerged from the void. Upon seeing this person, even the proud father and son, She Tianhao and She Tianhuang, didn''t dare speak loudly. They bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Honorable Elder."