Chapter 134: Underlying Currents Surge
Heaven-tier techniques—just those four words alone were enough to drive the world mad.
While Earth-tier techniques could be found with effort and existed in considerable numbers, Heaven-tier techniques were so rare that it bordered on despair. Even Yao Lao, during his prime, had only heard of them. That alone showed how difficult it was to obtain one.
And even if you did find one, it wasn't guaranteed you could cultivate it successfully.
Any technique that reached the Heaven-tier would undoubtedly have extremely demanding cultivation requirements. If you didn't meet them, you'd only end up destroying yourself. Finding one that suited you and could seamlessly replace your current cultivation technique… well, that was the kind of thing only suited for dreams. Life wasn't that kind. And even if you had heaven-defying luck and stumbled upon such a miracle, it still didn't mean you could 100% break through to Dou Sheng.
A Heaven-tier technique merely gave you the chance to step into the Dou Sheng realm. Whether or not you actually could—was another matter entirely.
Every step was a hurdle that blocked 99% of Dou Zun peak experts—just like how many were forever stuck at Dou Huang. The peak of Dou Zun was no different.
Yao Lao's thoughts drifted as he reflected.
He too had long yearned for the Dou Sheng realm. At his peak, he had brushed against the barrier between Dou Zun and Dou Sheng—especially when his soul power neared the Spirit Realm. He could feel the wall between the two realms with stunning clarity. But his carefree nature had held him back. He never joined the Pill Tower—had he done so, he might have gained access to a Heaven-tier technique…
He shook his head. The past was gone. No point dwelling on it.
Smiling softly, he looked at Yao Yan, as if gazing at a beloved junior. "Kid, I may never step into that realm in this life. But you… you're different. With the uniqueness of Flame Mantra and your own talent, that barrier won't stop you."
"No need to say more. I've already said—one day, I'll revive a clan bearing my own surname."
Yao Yan smiled confidently, his tone quiet but firm.
"If that day truly comes, I might just ride your coattails," Yao Lao chuckled. As a member of the Yao Clan, he understood the meaning behind "Dou Di bloodline." His own bloodline was faint, but if Yao Yan really did become a new Dou Di, his diluted bloodline would definitely awaken—granting him a massive boost in strength.
The thought brought an even bigger smile to his face. He never expected that one day he'd pin his hopes on a kid.
Back in his youth, he was just as proud. Every genius believes they're destined for greatness. If he hadn't been gifted, how could he have won the Pill Gathering and become the number one alchemist in Central Plains?
Yao Yan just smiled, saying nothing. Their eyes met and they shared a knowing laugh.
Cai Lin, however, was completely lost. Their conversation went way over her head, touching on things far beyond her understanding. The only part she grasped was that the old man had once been a peak Dou Zun—and both he and Yao Yan were from the same clan, yet both were cast out.
What kind of clan could that be? Did it really have ties to Dou Sheng-level strength?
She pursed her lips, her deep purple eyes showing a trace of complexity. She suddenly felt distant from Yao Yan. He was right beside her, yet felt far away. For the first time, this proud, confident woman felt something like inferiority. It was a strange, unsettling feeling.
Men weren't the only ones who felt inferior—women did too. Especially when the person next to them grew so fast.
Just then, Yuan Yi entered from the courtyard. Yao Lao turned into a wisp of blue smoke and returned to the Bone Flame Ring.
Yuan Yi didn't barge in. He respectfully bowed first. Only when Yao Yan nodded did he step inside, growing more respectful with each step. "Mister Yao, more than ten Dou Huangs have arrived in Black Seal City, including two peak-level Dou Huangs. At this rate, most of the region's experts will gather here…"
He couldn't help licking his dry lips. His heart beat faster.
It had been a long time since the Black-Corner Region was this chaotic. Once the auction ended, a bloody slaughter was inevitable outside the city. As for who would survive in the end… Yuan Yi couldn't help but glance at the youthful Yao Yan again. He hadn't expected such a young man—though that appearance could be a disguise. Who had ever heard of such a young seventh-tier alchemist?
And the guy was ruthless—using Royal Extreme Pills and Breaking Sect Pills to bait the entire region into madness.
Just thinking about it made his scalp tingle.
This move was bold—almost too bold.
"No worries. I'll watch over things. Dou Huangs don't dare act recklessly on Dou Zong territory. If they want to fight, it'll be outside. Black Seal City won't be affected. More importantly—has the Medicine Emperor arrived?"
Yao Yan's eyes flickered as he changed the topic. He had already looked into Han Feng's recent history. Han Feng had acquired the Ocean Heart Flame a few years ago, and his strength had dropped from seven-star Dou Huang to around two or three stars, likely due to the strain of refining the heavenly flame.
Yao Yan was now certain—Han Feng was indeed a talented freak. He had succeeded in cultivating the incomplete Flame Mantra. But clearly, he hadn't fully refined the heavenly flame.
Which made sense. How could a broken version of Flame Mantra fully integrate a heavenly flame?
Only by fully mastering Flame Mantra could one understand its true nature. Put bluntly, if someone killed Yao Yan right now, his body wouldn't even yield a heavenly flame seed—because his essence and the flame were one. Unless he willingly released it—or was confronted by someone like Hun Xuzi—no one could extract it.
"No word yet. Han Feng has been holed up in Maple City ever since refining the Ocean Heart Flame. He hasn't left in years."
Yuan Yi seemed to have sensed the animosity and replied carefully.
"No matter. Let's focus on the auction first."
Yao Yan nodded and spoke calmly.
…
At the same time, elsewhere in Black Seal City, in a secluded courtyard, a black-robed middle-aged man narrowed his eyes, his face darkening as he stared in the direction of the City Lord's Manor. "I thought that old man from the Eight Gates was dead… Seems he's not. And he may have even broken through again."
"Sect Master, should we withdraw?" a subordinate in black asked.
"No need. We're not participating in the auction—just watching... Doesn't this feel familiar to you? This auction is almost identical to how our Black Emperor Sect hosts its own. Same flavor. Seems the Eight Gates is planning to do some black-market butchery, heh."
Mo Tianxing sneered.
In a place like the Black-Corner Region, rules meant nothing. He had advanced to Dou Zong by using this very tactic: baiting Dou Huangs with valuable treasures, then slaughtering them and taking everything they had.
Why bother with "fair" trades when you could just rob everyone?
Not only would he reclaim the auctioned goods—he'd take their lives and possessions too.
The Black-Corner Region was like a breeding ground for poison. The strong grew stronger, the weak died.
"Father, you mean this auction is just a trap?" asked Mo Ya, a young man who had just reached the Dou Huang level.
"Eighty to ninety percent sure. Otherwise, why cause such a stir? And with even the Golden and Silver Elders showing up... If those two team up, I might not even win."
Mo Tianxing's tone grew serious.
He had encountered those two before—their joint techniques and fusion Dou Qi allowed them to temporarily match a true Dou Zong. They were very troublesome to deal with.
After a pause, he added, "I'm not the only Dou Zong drawn here. I can already sense two others hiding in the dark… Clearly, some are also eyeing the Breaking Sect Pill or, like me, hoping to fish in troubled waters."
His expression turned grave. "If things go south, get out immediately. Don't linger. I have a feeling this may turn into a massacre. The entire Black-Corner Region could be reshuffled."
"Yes!"
The two responded with solemn nods.
…
Elsewhere—
Two elders from Canaan Academy were also hiding within Black Seal City, preparing to join the auction. Both the Royal Extreme Pill and Breaking Sect Pill held immense appeal for them.
These two were none other than Outer Dean Hu Qian and the Outer Academy's Third Elder. Both were Dou Huangs, with Hu Qian stuck at the peak for years.
"Dean, if the Head Elder finds out we snuck out, he'll definitely scold us."
The Third Elder chuckled.
"You think that old guy doesn't know? He's just pretending not to. He's interested in this auction too—just can't show it publicly. So he sent us instead~" Hu Qian scoffed.
The two had known each other for nearly a century and understood each other well. Ever since Su Qian became Head Elder, he had grown more rigid. With students and teachers watching, he had to set an example. So he let Hu Qian "make the mistake" for him.
"Making me take the blame, huh?"
A voice suddenly chimed in. A black-robed elder stepped out, his body almost merging with the surrounding space—floating in the air with ease.
He was none other than Su Qian, the Head Elder of Canaan Academy's Inner Academy—a genuine two-star Dou Zong.
"Greetings, Head Elder!" the Third Elder quickly bowed.
Hu Qian, unfazed, muttered sarcastically, "Ever since breaking through to Dou Zong, you've been all sneaky. If I didn't know you so well, I'd have been startled!"
Show-off...
So what if you're a Dou Zong? Once I get that pill, I'll join you!
"Enough chatter. Something's off. Black Seal City feels wrong. I probed the City Lord's Manor and found a strong soul presence—it's a Dou Zong, and definitely not the Eight Gates' old man. Someone is using the Eight Gates as a front."
Su Qian waved dismissively and got straight to the point.
"Well, if the auction goes through, the pills must be real. Maybe we should try bidding. I'd like to see who dares target Canaan Academy."
Hu Qian was unfazed, even eager. Canaan Academy was one of the region's biggest powers. With two old monsters in the Inner Academy, they had nothing to fear.
"Don't be so sure. The name 'Canaan Academy' doesn't scare the truly desperate."
Su Qian shook his head.
Hu Qian fell silent. Seeing the solemn look on Su Qian's face, he knew the matter was serious. After a pause, he said, "…Then we'll wait and see. If things go bad, we back off."
"That's for the best. I'm more curious who's behind the Eight Gates now. When did such a powerhouse show up here? Stirring up the entire region like this… I don't know if it's good or bad for Canaan Academy. And then there's Han Feng… That boy is ambitious and dangerous."
Su Qian's tone grew heavier. Canaan Academy had long operated in the Black-Corner Region. They couldn't avoid these power struggles. He'd rather the chaos remain than let one force unify the region.
"Han Feng? They say he's the direct disciple of that Alchemy Saint. What's he doing in the Black-Corner Region anyway?"
Hu Qian frowned.
"Rumor has it the Alchemy Saint's death was suspicious. Han Feng probably came here to avoid investigation. But that old man had many powerful friends…"
Su Qian muttered.
The Black-Corner Region was uniquely situated—at the crossroads of several major areas. No major faction wanted to control it, so a rule was made: let it develop freely. No one, especially Dou Zun-level experts, was allowed to interfere.
That rule had stood for nearly a thousand years—making the region increasingly chaotic, even allowing forbidden goods to surface.
(END CHAPTER)
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