Word Count: 3,157 Words
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"What's wrong, not satisfied? If you've got a problem, come and hit me."
Xiao Yan crossed his arms over his chest, gazing arrogantly at this so-called Blood Asura. A mere half-step Dou Venerate dared to call himself an Asura?
"A Dou Venerate?!" The moment Xiao Yan's Dou Venerate aura erupted, the entire crowd exploded in chaos. Some even screamed aloud.
Just half a year ago, wasn't Xiao Yan only a 6-star Dou Ancestor? How had he reached Dou Venerate in just six months!
Referee! I call foul—he's cheating!
"From 6-star Dou Ancestor to Dou Venerate in half a year?! Am I dreaming?" Countless faces turned pale with shock. If he had been a 9-star Dou Ancestor before entering seclusion, breaking through to Dou Venerate in half a year might have been acceptable.
But Xiao Yan had only been a 6-star Dou Ancestor!
'He actually became a Dou Venerate...' A strange light flowed through Cao Ying's beautiful eyes as she watched from behind. Almost no one present knew Xiao Yan's current cultivation level.
They had all assumed that with Venerable Tian Huo having returned to the Yan Alliance from Holy Pill City, Xiao Yan would have no Dou Venerate protectors by his side. Otherwise, the Profound Xuan Sect wouldn't have dared to provoke him even with ten thousand times the courage.
But they simply did not understand Xiao Yan. The moment he confidently sent Venerable Tian Huo back to oversee the Yan Alliance and assist Cai Lin in reclaiming territory, it meant his own power was already no less than Venerable Tian Huo's.
'Although he's only just entered the Dou Venerate realm, there's no mistake... Xiao Yan is a genuine 1-star Dou Venerate, and his Dou Qi is incredibly pure—nothing like someone who forced a breakthrough with pills.' First Elder Qiu Ling was completely dumbfounded. Could the Three Thousand Burning Flame really bring such immense benefits?!
'Big Brother Xiao Yan... is so amazing.' Dan Chen clapped quietly, feeling her earlier worries had been for nothing. With Xiao Yan's current strength and reputation, he truly had nothing to fear from the Profound Sky Sect.
Meanwhile, Yi Chen's already pale face turned a shade of purple, his expression changing drastically. Though only half a step separated a half-step Dou Venerate from a true Dou Venerate, that half-step made a world of difference.
Xiao Yan had once promised his ancestor Xiao Xuan to revitalize the Xiao Clan, return them to the Central Plains, and make even the Dou God Clans look at them with new eyes!
To achieve that goal, the Yan Alliance would need to surpass the Two Sects at minimum.
Xiong Zhan and Xing Tian pressed their advantage, forcing Chen Tian Nan to retreat step by step. In a two-on-one fight, Chen Tian Nan had no hope of victory, let alone any chance to assist Yi Chen.
"Xiao Yan, I can withdraw. Your matter with the Profound Xuan Sect, I can—"
Before Yi Chen could finish, Xiao Yan cut him off. "Spare me the nonsense. Don't treat me like a three-year-old. The grudge between me and the Profound Xuan Sect is fundamentally irreconcilable. One side must yield or be destroyed. The Profound Xuan Sect is one of your Profound Sky Sect's three lower sects. Who's right or wrong doesn't matter here."
"On the Dou Qi Continent, strength is all that matters... isn't that so?"
Having lived his second life for nearly twenty-seven years, Xiao Yan had long since become a 'native' and adapted to local customs. On the Dou Qi Continent, discussions of right and wrong were meaningless.
If the Profound Xuan Sect had merely insulted him or competed with the Yan Alliance for resources, those would be matters of interest that could be resolved through negotiation.
But Chen Tian Nan clearly wouldn't rest until death, determined to avenge his son. If Xiao Yan killed the Profound Xuan Sect's leader, it would be tantamount to declaring war on the Profound Sky Sect.
It was a dead end.
And if someone had to die to break this stalemate, Xiao Yan could only send the Profound Sky Sect on their way.
A low hum resonated as purple-black flames, flecked with shimmering starlight, ignited across Xiao Yan's body.
"The Three Thousand Burning Flame! He really refined the Three Thousand Burning Flame!"
"My heavens, what terrifying power... Are the benefits of refining a Heavenly Flame truly so great?"
"Hmph, could you even find a Heavenly Flame? And even if you did, would you dare swallow it knowing you might die?"
As the Three Thousand Burning Flame rose from Xiao Yan's body, countless alchemists looked on with awe. Many possessed special Fire Seeds, but most were merely beast flames. Even if they found a Heavenly Flame, few would dare swallow it, only the bravest souls.
As he had done countless times before, Xiao Yan slowly extended a single finger, his eyes devoid of emotion. "One move. If you survive, I'll let you go."
Yi Chen was no fool. He felt the scorching heat of the Heavenly Flame and saw an aura worlds apart from the 'medicine-jar' alchemists who broke through with pills. This man was more terrifying than most 1-star Dou Venerates!
A man who lived on the knife's edge, Yi Chen was acutely sensitive to mortal danger. In that instant, he cast aside all other considerations, bit the tip of his tongue, and spat out a mouthful of blood. The crimson spray transformed into a blood mist that enveloped his body, tearing through space as he fled.
Xiao Yan merely smiled faintly at Yi Chen's escape. The Dou Qi within his body continued circulating at extreme speed, yet strangely, he paid the fleeing man no mind. Instead, he turned and locked his gaze onto Chen Tian Nan!
Though Yi Chen was arrogant, he hadn't actually attacked him. Chen Tian Nan, however, was a different story. He had been Xiao Yan's target from the very beginning!
The moment Xiao Yan's gaze fell upon him, a deep chill ran through Chen Tian Nan's body, as if he were being targeted by the god of death himself. His scalp went numb as an intense sense of crisis washed over him!
A dragon's roar suddenly echoed from within Xiao Yan's body, a cry that sounded remarkably similar to that of the Three Thousand Burning Flame!
A surge of dragon might emanated from him as his dragon aura erupted. He took a sharp breath, his chest instantly puffing out as his mind recalled the dragon breath technique Zi Yan had once used.
If someone had already transformed the Ancient Void Dragon's roar into a Dou Technique, couldn't their breath become one as well!
Xiao Yan roared in his heart, 'Heavenly Flame Dou Technique—Three Thousand Dragon Flame!'
ROAR! BOOM!
Xiao Yan exhaled violently. The purple-black Three Thousand Burning Flame compressed into a beam no thicker than a fist, yet carrying destructive power that terrified even First Elder Qiu Ling as it shot directly toward Chen Tian Nan.
The fearsome flames were compressed to their absolute limit, with all the terrifying Dou Qi from the Flame Mantra poured into the Three Thousand Burning Flame. At that moment, Xiao Yan resembled a human-shaped Ancient Void Dragon.
A tremendous boom echoed across the square. The flame beam shot from his mouth straight into the sky like a true dragon's breath. It instantly locked onto Chen Tian Nan in mid-air and surged toward him.
The skyward-rushing beam possessed unparalleled might, burning space itself into nothingness with the power to shatter everything. The ground beneath Xiao Yan instantly melted while the terrifying shockwave blasted the surrounding spectators backward.
The spectacular scene left everyone gaping in amazement. No one had expected Xiao Yan to possess such means; his fire control was simply incredible!
Only Xiao Yan could wield a Heavenly Flame with such divine mastery, for it required not just the flame itself but the supreme fire control that only the Flame Mantra could provide!
Moreover, as the Three Thousand Dragon Flame shot forward, his Spiritual Strength locked onto Chen Tian Nan. In that instant, no matter how Chen Tian Nan tried to dodge, even tearing open a wormhole would be useless. The terrifying flames would pierce through the void to strike him down.
There was nowhere to hide!
Chen Tian Nan's expression changed drastically as he hastily deployed his Spatial Strength in defense.
Brilliant light blazed as a thunderous boom echoed. The powerful flames seemed to tear through the sky itself before slamming heavily into Chen Tian Nan's body.
The incomparably fierce Three Thousand Burning Flame washed over him like a celestial waterfall, instantly engulfing him completely.
"So... so strong!"
Watching the flames pierce Chen Tian Nan's defenses and swallow him whole, many could imagine that even if he survived such an assault, he would lose at least half his body!
"Truly worthy of being the Pill Gathering champion. Venerable Yan's fire control likely rivals that of Association Head Xuan Kong Zi and Association Head Tian Lei Zi."
The scene was profoundly shocking. The force of the impact, striking upward as if to shatter the sky, made many of the powerful experts present feel that they would be reduced to dust without even a bone fragment remaining if struck by such a flame.
"Cough, cough." As the flames began to disperse, Xiao Yan coughed twice. The Dou Technique was powerful, but it left a burning sensation in his throat.
He turned to look at Zi Yan, raising an eyebrow as if to ask: How was that? Did I do it justice?
"You haven't even reached a tenth," Zi Yan huffed.
Thud!
A charred body fell from the sky. One had to remember that Xiao Yan possessed the Intermediate Tian Class Flame Mantra and had used the 9th-ranked Three Thousand Burning Flame with his 1-star Dou Venerate cultivation.
Fighting above his level against a 2-star Dou Venerate posed no problem at all. Coupled with Chen Tian Nan being besieged by Xing Tian and Xiong Zhan from the start, leaving no time to prepare defenses, he was defeated by Xiao Yan in a single move.
The dutiful Xing Tian dragged the dying, completely charred Chen Tian Nan before Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan didn't dare take out his Soul Command Token at the Pill Tower. It was currently hidden in his Nihility Space, for fear of discovery by a powerful expert.
"First Elder Qiu Ling, what's the punishment for causing trouble in Holy Pill City?" Xiao Yan clasped his hands behind his back, as if defeating a 2-star Dou Venerate were nothing remarkable.
Qiu Ling snapped back to reality upon hearing his name. Understanding Xiao Yan's meaning, he waved his hand as Holy Pill City guards surrounded the Profound Xuan Sect disciples.
"Those who cause trouble in Holy Pill City shall be sent to the medicine fields for three years of labor! Take them all away!"
Xiao Yan nodded, his profound gaze turning toward a distant point in the sky. Yi Chen was still observing from afar, not daring to approach.
'The Yan Alliance... This youth cannot be allowed to live. Otherwise, he will surely become a great threat in the future.' Yi Chen's eyes narrowed. The Yan Alliance was advancing like splitting bamboo, having already completely absorbed Ice River Valley's territory. Some of the Profound Sky Sect's cities now directly bordered the Yan Alliance's sphere of influence.
Yi Chen departed, rushing back to the Profound Sky Sect without lingering further.
Sensing his departure, Xiao Yan soon retracted his gaze. If the Profound Sky Sect truly intended to wage war against the Yan Alliance, it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.
Territorial expansion inevitably attracted dissatisfaction from other powers. A confrontation was inevitable.
"Big Brother Xiao Yan... are... are you leaving?" Just as everything settled, the spiritually sensitive Dan Chen timidly tugged on Xiao Yan's sleeve.
At her words, Cao Ying's beautiful eyes also turned toward him.
Xiao Yan smiled gently and stroked Dan Chen's small head. Feeling the warmth from his hand, Dan Chen, who had only ever felt the temperature of gloves before, couldn't help but nuzzle slightly like a kitten.
"I have to leave eventually. I still have things to do." Xiao Yan roughly understood her attachment; no one in her clan had ever shown her such warmth.
Nearby, Cao Ying hesitated before her alluring figure, clad in high heels, stepped closer. "Will you come back to Holy Pill City?"
"Of course. I still haven't entered the legendary Small Pill Tower. My strength just isn't sufficient yet, which is why I refused Association Head Xuan Kong Zi's invitation." Xiao Yan shrugged. He would definitely return, though when was hard to say.
"Big Brother Xiao Yan, let's have a competition to see who enters the Small Pill Tower first, okay?" When it came to alchemy, Dan Chen revealed a fighting spirit completely different from her usual self. Even facing Xiao Yan, she didn't believe she would lose and could catch up to surpass him.
"Hehe, little sister Dan Chen, you lost to me at the Pill Gathering, remember? If anyone enters the Small Pill Tower first, it will be me." Cao Ying let out a charming laugh, though her eyes burned with competitive fire as she looked at Dan Chen. The two had always been rivals.
That bone-softening laugh drew many gazes. The sight of the gracefully standing Cao Ying naturally stirred fiery heat in many men's eyes.
Xiao Yan couldn't help but appraise this 'Witch' from head to toe, nodding in appreciation. Her bewitching charm was truly astonishing.
"I'll trouble First Elder Qiu Ling to send my regards to the Association Heads. I, Xiao Yan, still have matters to attend to and won't stay longer. We shall meet again if fate allows." Xiao Yan gave a cupped-hand salute and waved farewell to everyone.
Xiong Zhan tore open a wormhole with Zi Yan. Xiao Yan stepped inside and vanished.
Thus, Xiao Yan's journey to the Pill Gathering came to a perfect conclusion.
…
Once safely within the spatial passage and away from Holy Pill City, Xiao Yan no longer held back. With a wave of his hand, black flames surged forth, pulling both Chen Tian Nan and Xing Tian into his Nihility Space.
After all, Zi Yan and Xiong Zhan were present. While he trusted Zi Yan completely, he still had reservations about Xiong Zhan.
Inside the Nihility Space, Xing Tian tossed Chen Tian Nan's body aside and sat down quietly.
Meow!
A black cat holding a Soul Command Token emerged from the void. Mao Wu licked its little paw, its claws touching the token. A soul chain, thicker than any before, shot out and pierced into the dying Chen Tian Nan's body with a soft puff.
"Ahhh!!" A miserable scream erupted from within Chen Tian Nan. Though his physical body remained motionless, a strange pulling force attempted to tear his soul from his flesh.
"You!! That's a soul chain... you're an Honorable Elder from the Hall of Souls!!" Chen Tian Nan's soul struggled against the pull, but grievously injured and on the brink of death, even a 2-star Dou Venerate could not resist its force. Bit by bit, his soul was being ripped from his body.
Hearing the question from outside, Xiao Yan sighed and shook his head. "Someone asks that every time."
Of course, this time Xiao Yan didn't answer personally.
Meow, meow, meow! Mao Wu stood on its hind legs, wagging a single claw as if to say, You're wrong. It's Tianzun now, meow!
The outcome was naturally inevitable. This was the Nihility Space possessed by Nihility Devouring Flame, existing in the layer between void and reality. There was no escape, especially for Chen Tian Nan who had already been blasted near death by Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flame Dou Technique. The soul of a 2-star Dou Venerate was collected with ease.
Xiao Yan had great use for these souls. His vial of Dou God Bloodline was only mostly full—not enough yet. He needed sufficient soul points to exchange for the rest.
Although Xiao Yan didn't know the exact entrance to the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe's territory, he at least knew it was in the Beast Region, which lay even beyond the Central Plains. Even with Xiong Zhan in his true form possessing a trace of Ancient Void Dragon bloodline, the journey would still take considerable time.
During the trip, Xiao Yan naturally began cultivating the Great Single Soul Skill. While far inferior to the Emperor Soul Technique, it was still much better than the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique.
His Spiritual Strength was already approaching the late Soul State. He had to reach that level before participating in the Hun Clan's coming-of-age ceremony.
After eating the medicinal candy pills Xiao Yan had refined, Zi Yan slept comfortably on Xiong Zhan's soft, furry back. The cultivation method of magical beasts was simple: find medicinal ingredients, then sleep to digest them.
Time passed, and after three days, Xiao Yan's group finally arrived in the Beast Region.
The instant they entered, the sleeping Zi Yan suddenly stood up, her eyes narrowing as she said in a deep voice: "Big guy, stop for a moment."
Xiao Yan emerged from his cultivation. "Zi Yan, what's wrong?"
She didn't reply but slowly closed her eyes. A very faint purple light emanated from her body as soul-shaking dragon might spread outward from within.
The moment the dragon might appeared, Xiong Zhan instinctively lowered his head, prostrating himself and trembling, not daring to look directly at the Dragon Queen. Even the dragon aura within Xiao Yan's body trembled, and the Three Thousand Burning Flame in his Acceptance Soul shrank slightly.
If not for his powerful Spiritual Strength and intermediate Tian Class Flame Mantra, Xiao Yan too might have been forced to kneel.
With a sharp sound, Zi Yan's eyes snapped open. The entire space around them shattered as if struck by an earthquake, and inch by inch it crumbled. Then, a hidden silver void passage appeared!
"A hidden void passage?! This is the entrance to the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe!" Xiao Yan's expression changed. No wonder no one could find the Dragon Island entrance; it was concealed within the void itself!
Inside the spatial rift stretched a strange passage filled with faint silver light, extending toward an unknown destination. Led by Zi Yan, Xiao Yan and Xiong Zhan flew rapidly through it.
"Worthy of the Ancient Void Dragons, to construct such a long-distance, highly secretive spatial transmission passage."
Xiao Yan looked at the tunnel around them and felt a deep sense of amazement. This was a feat that even ordinary peak Dou Venerates would find difficult to accomplish. Only Dou Saints or the Ancient Dragons, whose mastery over Spatial Strength had reached perfection, could achieve such a thing.
Based on this ability alone, the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe was fully qualified to stand at the pinnacle of all magical beasts.