Word Count: 2,432 Words
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Jiu Feng sensed something and followed Feng Qing Er's gaze toward the black-robed figure standing at the center of the plaza. That man was undoubtedly the brightest star among the gathered crowd.
All because his name was Xiao Yan!
Xiao Yan's Spiritual Strength had reached the early Heavenly State. Even with his Eight-Change Dou Venerate cultivation, Jiu Feng still couldn't see through Xiao Yan's true power.
His eyes narrowed slightly, and his expression darkened. Though he hid it well, a trace of unmistakable jealousy flickered in his gaze.
A peak 8th-tier alchemist who had even slain the Nine-Change Dou Venerate Tian He Zi!
Jiu Feng believed he too could have killed Tian He Zi. After all, the Nine-Change cultivation method was quite unique. Each 'change' compressed Dou Qi from the peak 9-star Dou Venerate level into a tiny vortex. Ultimately, fusing nine such vortices transformed one into a Saint.
This method, however, had its nuances. Every Dou Venerate's 'change' differed in quality.
How could Xiao Yan's first 'change' of Dou Qi possibly compare to that of an ordinary Dou Venerate? Xiao Yan cultivated the Intermediate Tian Class Flame Mantra. His Dou Qi quality existed in an entirely different league. Besides Xun Er, probably no one else in the Gu Clan had ever successfully cultivated an Intermediate Tian Class Qi Method while still at the Dou Venerate realm.
This explained why some practitioners managed to reach Dou Saint after nine changes, while others became mere Half-Saints, or even remained stuck at the early Half-Saint stage. When the Dou Qi from nine fused changes failed to reach true Dou Saint quality, one could only become a Half-Saint.
Though Xiao Yan had defeated Tian He Zi, as the Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe's future Tribe Leader, Jiu Feng similarly dismissed such a weak Nine-Change practitioner.
But the identity of a peak 8th-tier alchemist was something he could not take lightly.
Anyone with functioning eyes could see Feng Qing Er's beautiful gaze fixed firmly on Xiao Yan. Had they been standing any closer, his reflection would surely have appeared in her pupils.
'Could Feng Qing Er's Desolate Beast Heaven Spirit Pill have come from this Xiao Yan? Did he refine it for her?'
The Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe had suffered catastrophic losses at Saint Zhao Hua's ruins, with only Feng Qing Er escaping alive. She hadn't dared follow Xiao Yan's instructions completely and had merely claimed that their group was ambushed by a mysterious expert, leading to the heavy casualties.
Everyone across the Dou Qi Continent knew that Xiao Yan had ultimately claimed the Great Heaven Creation Palm from those ruins.
Jiu Feng's imagination immediately began weaving an elaborate scenario: Feng Qing Er, grievously wounded and fleeing the ruins, had been on the brink of death when she encountered her former acquaintance Xiao Yan. He rescued her and helped her escape. In the process, romance silently bloomed between them. Finally, as a parting gift, he presented her with a Desolate Beast Heaven Spirit Pill he had personally refined!
Somehow, Jiu Feng's speculation was wrong at the beginning, wrong in the middle... yet spot on at the end!
That Desolate Beast Heaven Spirit Pill had indeed come from Xiao Yan's hands.
For Jiu Feng, preventing Feng Qing Er from surpassing him was imperative. He needed to reach Dou Saint first and secure the Tribe Leader position. Yet he didn't view her as a rival so much as his ideal partner, his exclusive possession that no one else could touch.
After all, among the Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe's younger generation, Feng Qing Er now possessed the highest-grade bloodline, nearly reaching the level of an Ancient Heaven Phoenix.
'Xiao Yan, you'd better remain content as the Gu Clan's son-in-law. If you don't stay away from Feng Qing Er, don't blame me for becoming unfriendly.' Jiu Feng regarded Xiao Yan with cold malice, already having marked him as a romantic rival!
But the truth often defied expectations in the most spectacular ways.
At the plaza's center, Xun Er slowly opened her eyes. The sight of Xiao Yan standing before her brought tender warmth to her beautiful gaze. Her radiant smile bloomed with the grace of a hundred flowers, rendering the entire Ancient Wasteland Region colorless by comparison. Many onlookers found themselves utterly entranced by that single expression.
"Xiao Yan ge-ge, you arrived quite late this time."
Xiao Yan stepped forward, intent on embracing his long-absent beloved, but froze mid-motion. Her smiling eyes weren't focused on him at all. Instead, they looked past him... toward Cai Lin, who herself had become the focus of countless gazes!!
Cold sweat instantly broke out across Xiao Yan's back. He swallowed hard with an audible gulp as a bead of perspiration slid down his forehead. He didn't dare wipe it away.
"You must be Sister Cai Lin?" Xun Er's smile remained perfectly warm as she stepped right past Xiao Yan, heading directly toward Cai Lin. "Xiao Yan ge-ge mentions you often."
Gu Qing Yang and the others immediately adopted expressions of pure entertainment, folding their arms like spectators settling in for a good show.
Xiao Yan's complicated situation was well-known to many present. While powerful cultivators with long lifespans commonly took multiple wives, Xun Er's status was special!
This was the Gu Clan's goddess, and he still wanted three wives and four concubines?!
Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin had met Xun Er previously at the Ye Clan. Nalan Yanran had encountered her during the engagement annulment incident.
Only Yun Yun and Cai Lin had never met Xun Er before. Particularly Cai Lin.
Her status was equally special.
Though Cai Lin had never seen Xun Er, during the Pill Gathering when she was about to give birth to Xiao Xiao and Xiao Cai, their soul connection had created a miraculous fusion that revealed Xiao Yan's past to her.
Xun Er dominated those memories completely. Her presence filled Xiao Yan's entire childhood with the innocent affection of two childhood sweethearts. If not for the soul embryo and the Gu Clan's complications, Xiao Yan and Xun Er would have married and had children long ago!
Moreover, Cai Lin understood that Xun Er occupied an enormous place in Xiao Yan's heart. From a certain perspective, she herself was somewhat like a third party. That somewhat awkward position left her feeling slightly unnatural, but politeness demanded she give a gentle nod.
Gu Qing Yang draped an arm across Xiao Yan's shoulder with a grin. "I always thought you were just strong in combat and skilled in alchemy. Who knew you'd have such impressive methods in this area too?"
On the other side, Gu Zhen, who had replaced Gu Yao as general, also broke into laughter.
Xiao Yan shot Gu Qing Yang a speechless glare. This fellow really hasn't been beaten enough. Don't think that just because you've accepted the Gu Clan's inheritance and reached Six-Change Dou Venerate, I can't thrash you anymore!
Most of Xiao Yan's companions were women. Apart from the Flower Sect elders, Hai Bodong, and Venerable Tian Huo, every one possessed stunning beauty. As Xun Er approached Cai Lin, the atmosphere grew distinctly peculiar.
Many factions present knew details about Xiao Yan's situation. After a brief moment of thought, they grasped the implications and their expressions turned strange. This Xiao Yan... was he truly planning to enjoy the blessings of having multiple beauties?
Xun Er stopped gracefully before Cai Lin and politely extended her hand. As she did so, the butterfly-shaped Pill Beast adorning her ring-like finger fluttered its wings delicately.
The instant Xiao Yan spotted that ring, sweat poured down his back like rain. His body trembled with tension. He hadn't felt this much pressure even when facing Hun Tiandi!!
Recognizing the Pill Beast Xiao Yan had refined, Hai Bodong and Venerable Tian Huo exchanged knowing glances, thinking in perfect unison: This Xiao-Yan-Zi's harem is about to catch fire!
Cai Lin naturally noticed the Pill Beast Xiao Yan had created. Befitting a true empress, she merely smiled, her gaze as placid as still water, showing neither anger nor agitation. She extended her jade-like hand to meet Xun Er's in a gentle grasp.
The two women, each possessing their own unique beauty, touched hands briefly before parting. Though the handshake lasted mere moments, for Xiao Yan it felt like an eternity. Yet the catastrophe he dreaded most never materialized!
Xun Er's gaze shifted to Little Fairy Doctor standing quietly nearby. She nodded slightly, and Little Fairy Doctor returned the gesture. They had already met long ago.
Then Xun Er turned toward another direction, naturally focusing on the master-disciple pair of Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran.
Cradling her Psychic White Fox, Nalan Yanran couldn't quite meet Xun Er's eyes. She remembered all too well that Xun Er had been present during the engagement annulment. Nalan Yanran hadn't forgotten the mocking look Xun Er had worn at that time.
Subsequent events had proven Xun Er right. She had been knocked flat by Xiao Yan's single punch.
Now, regret lingered in Nalan Yanran's heart.
Yun Yun fared even worse. She couldn't bring herself to meet Xun Er's gaze at all. Though reluctant to admit it, she couldn't let go of Xiao Yan, couldn't forget those ambiguous moments shared with 'Yao Yan' in that mountain cave.
Her disposition had never been particularly assertive, and the guilt of becoming someone else's third party made direct eye contact impossible!
Only Qing Lin greeted Xun Er with genuine delight.
"Qing Lin greets Madam." She bowed respectfully with a slight curtsey. She had always maintained a humble position. Whether Cai Lin or Xun Er, in Qing Lin's heart both were Xiao Yan's wives, while she remained merely an ordinary maid.
Her young master was so outstanding. Three wives and four concubines were far too few!
Hearing Qing Lin address her as 'Madam' before such a large crowd made even Xun Er's pretty face flush red. She had yet to formally wed Xiao Yan or serve tea to Xiao Zhan as his daughter-in-law, but those words naturally delighted her heart.
"Sister Qing Lin, it's been quite some time."
"Thank you for your concern, Madam."
The atmosphere improved noticeably. Xiao Yan mentally gave Qing Lin a huge thumbs-up. His promise to refine a tier 9 pill to help her obtain a Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent had not been in vain. She truly was amazing!
"Ahem." Judging the moment appropriate, Xiao Yan shook off Gu Qing Yang's arm and cleared his throat. "Xun Er, has anything noteworthy happened in the Ancient Wasteland Region recently?"
At the mention of serious business, everyone composed themselves. They understood this wasn't the time for personal matters. None of them were ordinary women; they naturally knew when to set such things aside.
Xun Er knew Xiao Yan had come for the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree.
Her continued calm demeanor only deepened Xiao Yan's guilt. The more unaffected Xun Er acted, the heavier his remorse grew. He understood she simply didn't want these complications creating turmoil or causing him distress.
She was the one who was wronged.
"From here, venturing deeper takes you into the heart of the Ancient Wasteland Region, where the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree stands." Xun Er moved gracefully to Xiao Yan's side, her slender jade finger pointing north from the Ancient Region Stage. "But reaching it will prove extremely difficult. About a hundred miles from here, endless armies of ferocious beasts have sealed the space, completely surrounding the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree and preventing any human cultivators from passing. They've encircled the depths entirely, and to enter, we must break through that ocean of beasts."
"Everyone here has attempted it these past few days, but all have been turned back midway. The beast army is not only terrifying in numbers but also includes several peak Rank 8 super-beasts that are extremely difficult to handle." She tilted her face slightly upward. Sunlight streamed from above, highlighting her upturned nose and creating beautiful contours across her jade-like features. Her skin glowed with a soft, jade-like luster, pure as a lotus yet free of seduction, elegant beyond compare.
"No wonder everyone here carries such a thick scent of blood. So they've all charged the beast horde," Xiao Yan murmured, understanding dawning at last.
"Mm. Currently, no one here can break through that dense beast swarm fighting alone." Xun Er brushed away strands of hair drifting across her forehead, her gaze shifting toward a nearby area as gravity entered her beautiful eyes.
"So you're planning to form an alliance to break through together?" Xiao Yan asked, observing the crowds gathered around them.
Xun Er nodded. "The temporary alliance proposal came from that person. Hun Yu of the Hun Clan, one of the candidates most likely to become their next Clan Head."
At the mention of the Hun Clan, Xun Er's beautiful eyes slowly fixed on Xiao Yan. Feeling her gaze, he coughed lightly and transmitted his thoughts with his expression:
Don't take the act seriously!
Xiao Yan had naturally encountered Hun Yu before and knew he possessed a Divine Grade Bloodline!
Hun Yu's cultivation matched Gu Qing Yang's at the peak of Six-Change Dou Venerate. Measuring by Dou God bloodline standards, Hun Yu's combat strength likely exceeded Gu Qing Yang's!
Of course, among everyone present, Xun Er possessed the highest cultivation. Back in the Heavenly Tomb, she had absorbed a portion of Xiao Xuan's residual Dou Qi, then received the Gu Clan's highest-level inheritance upon leaving. Her cultivation had now reached the peak of the Nine-Change level, requiring only one opportunity, one catalyst, to break through to Dou Saint!
This was precisely why Xun Er had come to the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree. Besides reuniting with Xiao Yan, the tree perfectly suited her needs.
Once she achieved Dou Saint, her Divine Grade bloodline would reach its ultimate potential, making her the most perfectly awakened bloodline holder in Gu Clan history!
As if sensing Xiao Yan's attention, a black-robed man who had been chatting amicably with several powerful experts from unknown factions looked his way.
Meeting Xiao Yan's gaze, Hun Yu revealed a warm smile. If Xiao Yan took this fellow for a kind-hearted person, then he might as well be blind!
Silent dogs bit hardest, and Hun Yu clearly belonged to that category.
For Hun Yu, surpassing Hun Feng required obtaining the Bodhisattva Heart. Only with the Bodhisattva Heart could he defeat Hun Feng and become the next Hun Clan leader.
Of course, only Xiao Yan himself knew that whether it was Hun Feng or Hun Yu, their dreams of becoming Clan Head would likely remain just that—dreams.