[Ding!]
[Detected that the strongest person in the Cloud Mist Sect is Yun Shan, with the strength of a One-Star Dou Zong. The host's strength has been promoted to Three-Star Dou Zong!]
[Detected that the highest-ranking Alchemist in the Cloud Mist Sect is Gu He, a Sixth-Rank Alchemist. The host's Alchemist Rank has been promoted to Seventh-Rank Alchemist!]
[Detected that Gu He of the Cloud Mist Sect possesses one spirit absorption. According to the host's wishes, the host has obtained three spirit absorptions + three high-grade storage rings!]
On the treetop at the edge of the square, Chen Yang stood in the void. His entire being was silently undergoing a massive transformation, yet no one around him sensed what was happening to him.
With the abilities obtained through the System's mechanism, as long as Chen Yang did not actively reveal them, even Zhou Yuan would not be able to see through him.
"With this, even if I go to the Izumo Empire alone, I'm confident I can retrieve the Netherworld Poison Flame from the Myriad Scorpion Gate's Forbidden Land," Chen Yang muttered silently to himself. He casually took Xiao Yi Xian's hand. Xiao Yi Xian turned to look at Chen Yang with a sweet smile that was breathtakingly beautiful... Meanwhile, on the Cloud Mist Sect, except for Chen Yang, Hai Bodong, and others who knew Xiao Yan had already promoted to Dou Wang, everyone else was dumbfounded.
Even Nalan Yanran, who knew Xiao Yan was a Three-Star Dou Ling half a year ago, was stunned where she stood.
"Dou Wang?"
"Are you kidding me?"
"Xiao Yan, a young master from a remote city in the Jia Ma Empire, became a Dou King expert from scratch in just three years?"
"I don't believe it!"
"Do you believe it?"
"I don't believe it either!"
"..."
At the edge of the square, some Disciples of the Cloud Mist Sect whispered among themselves.
Over by the treetops, Teng Shan looked at Nalan Jie beside him, a hint of mockery flashing in his heart.
Even leaving Chen Yang aside, Xiao Yan alone was enough for any power in the Jia Ma Empire to try and recruit him desperately.
Whether it was an eighteen-year-old Fifth-Grade Alchemist or an eighteen-year-old One-Star Dou Wang, such existences were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns across the entire Fighting Qi Continent.
And Nalan Jie, who originally had the best advantage in the entire Jia Ma Empire to win over Xiao Yan, ended up... tsk tsk... Jia Xingtian turned to look at his own Ya Fei and nodded with satisfaction.
One had to say the members of the Mittel Family were born for business; Ya Fei's investment in Wutan City had yielded an insane profit.
Now, he was already a Five-Star Dou Wang, his strength a level higher than the Clan Chiefs of the other three major families, while Old Hai had even broken through to Peak Dou Huang. Given Old Hai's relationship with Great Master Chen Yang, a Dou Zong? He might even be more than a Dou Zun!
Not to mention, Ya Fei was Great Master Chen Yang's woman.
At this moment, Nalan Jie no longer knew what to say.
He had already been filled with deep regret when he found out Xiao Yan was a Dou Ling and a Fourth-Grade Alchemist.
Later, on the night before the Alchemist Convention, he learned that Xiao Yan could refine a fifth-grade pill.
And now, the youth standing before his granddaughter was already a Dou King expert on the same level as himself.
Furthermore, seeing as Xiao Yan could knock down the Peak Dou Wang Gu He while only at the Dou Ling level, the current Xiao Yan likely had the strength to fight a Dou Huang.
"Sigh!"
Nalan Jie sighed helplessly, his back hunching as if he had aged a dozen years in an instant... Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Yan with a bitter gaze. She had originally thought that by Cultivating very, very hard to become a Great Dou Master during this time, she could get a bit closer to Xiao Yan. She hadn't expected that in half a year's time, he had already become a Dou King expert.
A Dou Wang?
Without the Gate of Life and Death, no matter how high Nalan Yanran's talent was, she had to wonder if she could ever reach that Realm in this lifetime.
And by the time she reached that Realm, would her hair already be turning white?
"Ahem..."
Just as everyone's thoughts were diverging, a throat-clearing sound suddenly rang out from the high platform. Those present were all leaders and naturally knew that when someone did this, they were about to give a speech.
"Everyone, I am the Grand Elder of the Cloud Mist Sect, Yun Ling. The Sect Master is still in seclusion. Today's Three-Year Agreement between this seat's Young Sect Leader and the Xiao Family's Xiao Yan will be presided over by me!" The speaker was indeed Yun Ling.
"???" Chen Yang looked up at Yun Ling, a flash of surprise and suspicion in his eyes.
He had just done a brief sweep with his Soul Power and found that besides the familiar Gu He, there were no other Peak Dou King experts on the platform. Thus, he had thought that Yun Ling, who had been punished by Yun Yun, had already been removed from the core circles of the Cloud Mist Sect.
But that old fellow indeed called himself Yun Ling, and the other Jia Ma Empire experts around didn't say anything.
Chen Yang frowned and looked closely at Yun Ling. This time, Chen Yang finally saw Yun Ling's true strength—a Four-Star Dou Huang, but it was concealed by a secret technique, making him appear to only have the strength of an Eight-Star Dou Wang.
"Strange, wasn't Yun Ling at the Peak Dou Wang level? Why does he only have the strength of an Eight-Star Dou Wang now?" Jia Xingtian said with a face full of confusion.
"I heard the Young Lord mention before that Yun Ling made some mistakes and damaged the reputation of the Cloud Mist Sect. I expect Sect Leader Yun took action and stripped Yun Ling of one star as a punishment?" Hai Bodong said... However, at this time, Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan exchanged a look, seeing a flash of shock in each other's eyes.
Immediately, Xiao Yan flickered and arrived in front of Nalan Yanran, asking via Soul Power transmission: "Miss Nalan, didn't Sister Yun Yun strip Yun Ling of his Grand Elder position? Why has he appeared again?"
Nalan Yanran shook her head blankly upon hearing this: "After you healed Grandfather, I returned to the Cloud Mist Sect. At that time, Teacher personally told me that she had abolished Yun Ling's position as Grand Elder. The position was to remain vacant until a Yun-named Elder became a Peak Dou Wang!"
"I told you this during the Alchemist Convention!"
Xiao Yan nodded at her words and looked up at Yun Ling with a gloomy gaze.
Yun Ling stroked his beard and smiled: "The prodigy of the Xiao Family, to have reached the Dou Wang Realm at such a young age, my Cloud Mist Sect is deeply impressed. I ask Mr. Xiao Yan to show some mercy to our Young Sect Leader and keep the match within limits, if possible?"
Xiao Yan heard this and glanced at Chen Yang. When his eyes met Chen Yang's for an instant, his originally somber expression suddenly changed: "Of course I can. In fact, we don't even have to fight. After all, I, Xiao Yan, appreciate beauty. Young Sect Leader Nalan's beauty surpasses a Heavenly Immortal; if I were to accidentally scratch her face, it would be a sin!"
"Uh..." Everyone was stunned upon hearing this.
Those unfamiliar with Xiao Yan felt he had the style of a profligate playboy; such a person, even if a Dou Wang, was not worthy of the Young Sect Leader.
Those familiar with Xiao Yan looked at the people beside them, the meaning in their eyes couldn't be clearer: "Is this guy Xiao Yan crazy?"
Meanwhile, Nalan Yanran glared fiercely at Xiao Yan. She naturally didn't think Xiao Yan would suddenly feel affection for her because of a word from Yun Ling. Moreover, both of them knew Yun Ling had been stripped of his Grand Elder position by Yun Yun. In this situation, could it be the old Sect Leader... "Xiao Yan, no matter what method you use, stall that dog Yun Ling so he doesn't notice anything. I'll talk to you after I find your teacher's wife!" Suddenly, Chen Yang's voice appeared in Xiao Yan's mind.
"Understood!" Xiao Yan nodded imperceptibly, then continued to cup his hands and shout to Yun Ling, "Grand Elder Yun Ling, on the eve of the Alchemist Convention a few days ago, I spoke with Young Sect Leader Nalan. She mentioned then that although she is no longer my match, she still wished to spar with me to see the gap between us!"
"I, too, wish to experience the profound Dou Techniques of the Cloud Mist Sect. How about I suppress my Cultivation to Two-Star Great Dou Shi and spar with Young Sect Leader Nalan?"
As soon as Xiao Yan said this, those chattering Cloud Mist Sect Disciples immediately began to admire him.
"As expected of an expert who could become a Dou Wang at such a young age. This Heart-Nature is something we can only feel inferior to!"
"Exactly, exactly. And from the looks of it, he seems to be an Alchemist too?"
"Sigh, Senior Sister Nalan was foolish!"
"..."
On Nalan Yanran's side, although she didn't know what medicine Xiao Yan was selling in his gourd, since it concerned Yun Ling, she would cooperate with him. Besides, Nalan Yanran also really wanted to stay with Xiao Yan for a bit longer, even if her heart was in pain.
So she looked at Yun Ling: "Grand Elder, please allow me to spar with Xiao Yan!"
Yun Ling stroked his chin, and remembering the old Sect Leader's instructions, he nodded: "Very well, the Cloud Mist Sect accepts young friend Xiao Yan's kindness today!"
Xiao Yan nodded, but a glance showed that Chen Yang was still in the same spot, causing his heart to tighten.
However, Yao Lao's voice then rang in his mind: "Kid Chen has already left. What's there now is an illusion created by Hai Bodong. Tsk tsk, I didn't expect that Dou Technique scroll to have already been cultivated to Major Achievement by Hai Bodong!"
Xiao Yan felt much more relieved upon hearing this. He turned to look at Nalan Yanran, suppressed his Aura to Two-Star Great Dou Shi, and then assumed a fighting stance...
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/DaoistRoeoNQ
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"