Word Count: 3,158 Words
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Naturally, the subsequent matters proceeded smoothly. The Wind Lightning Pavilion was the strongest faction in the Northern Region. Since they dared not make a move against the Yan Alliance, the entire Northern Region fell completely silent.
The only factions stronger than the Wind Lightning Pavilion were the Three Valleys. However, whether it was Ice River Valley or Sound Valley, both were located on the outer edges of the Central Region, extremely far from Wind Lightning City.
As for the Flower Sect and Profound Sky Sect, they were situated even deeper within.
"I won't be returning to the Yan Alliance for now."
Xiao Yan looked at Nalan Yanran, who had spoken. Now that the Four Pavilion Grand Meeting was over, it was only natural to return to the Yan Alliance.
"You want to go out and gain experience?" Xiao Yan asked curiously.
Nalan Yanran's beautiful eyes gazed at Xiao Yan, looking into those black pearl-like pupils where she could see her own reflection.
After a moment of silence, she revealed a faint smile tinged with melancholy and said, "No, it's because Master is still away. I want to stay by her side and accompany her."
A glimmer of light flashed across Xiao Yan's eyes when Nalan Yanran mentioned Yun Yun, and Nalan Yanran's reflection actually vanished from them.
"She... your Master, Sect Leader Yun Yun, where is she now?" he asked, his voice growing gentle.
Xiao Yan couldn't help but recall Yun Yun's graceful and swaying figure.
He thought of her mature charm and her unique elegance and nobility. Her serene, natural demeanor, in particular, enhanced her beauty and added to her allure, like a ripe peach, sweet but never cloying, with a kind of radiance that warmed the heart and even made one ache for her.
Nalan Yanran forced a slight smile and said, "Master is currently in the Central Plains, in the Flower Sect's territory."
"The Flower Sect?! Why did she go so far away?" Xiao Yan was startled. The Flower Sect was even farther than Burning Flame Valley. How had Yun Yun ended up there?
"Originally, Master didn't plan to go so far. She was just seeking opportunities in the Western Region. But a crisis forced Master and me to flee to the outskirts of the Central Region. Then Master met a strange old woman who was injured. She couldn't just leave her behind, so she escorted her home," Nalan Yanran recalled with a strange expression.
Xiao Yan rolled his eyes and shook his head helplessly. "And then she couldn't bear to leave that lonely old woman, so she started taking care of her, bringing her food and such."
Nalan Yanran gave a wry smile and nodded at these words. If it were anyone else, simply escorting the old woman home would have been the limit before they departed.
Only Yun Yun would think to arrange everything properly for others, even going so far as to provide medical treatment and deliver meals.
Such behavior would be unthinkable if it were anyone else, but when it came to Yun Yun, both Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran found it perfectly reasonable.
"Sigh, alright. Just be careful. If anything happens, crush the soul jade piece. Once I handle my current affairs, I'll go to the Pill Region with Xin Lan, and I'll look for you both then." Xiao Yan shrugged. Fortunately, he would also be heading to the Central Plains soon to participate in the Pill Gathering in Holy Pill City.
He wanted to see just what kind of old hag had managed to entangle Yun Yun! When the time came, he, the ghost-catching master, would deal with this old hag!
After parting ways with Nalan Yanran, several days of travel brought Xiao Yan and the other Yan Alliance members back to the Jia Ma Empire.
This participation in the Four Pavilion Grand Meeting had thoroughly established the Yan Alliance's reputation, bringing enormous benefits.
When Xiao Yan and his companions returned, the Profound Lion Sect and Thunderbolt Sect rushed from their own territories to express their willingness to join the Yan Alliance. They brought numerous tier 8 medicinal ingredients to congratulate Xiao Yan.
More precisely, the empires under their control were being incorporated into the Jia Ma Empire.
In fact, the vast majority of the North-Western Region had already been incorporated into the Jia Ma Empire's territory. Many of the weaker sects had even become subordinate sects of the Misty Cloud Sect.
Each year, these subordinate sects could send their talented disciples to the Misty Cloud Sect for cultivation training.
After a period of development under the Yan Alliance, the Misty Cloud Sect had become the holy land of cultivation in the North-Western Region.
While sects like the Profound Lion Sect and Thunderbolt Sect weren't as powerful as the Yan Alliance, they had been unwilling to lose face by submitting. Now, with news of the Four Pavilion Grand Meeting spreading…
The Sect Leaders of both sects brought all sorts of gifts, coming to apologize and say all sorts of flattering words.
It wasn't just these two sects. In outskirt cities of the Central Plains like Tian Bei City, many clans similar to the Han Clan hoped to gain the Yan Alliance's protection.
And protection, naturally, came with protection fees.
This was why major factions often controlled vast resources. These large powers had numerous subordinate clans and sects beneath them, and the smaller factions could only survive by attaching themselves to larger ones.
Otherwise, they would end up like the Han Clan, nearly devoured by the Hong Clan that served the Wind Lightning Pavilion.
Now, however, the positions of the Han Clan and Hong Clan had completely reversed.
"Grandmaster Xiao Yan, you've come to see Her Majesty again? Unfortunately, Her Majesty isn't here. She's receiving a secret technique baptism from the Four Great Elders." In Cai Lin's palace, Hua She Er covered her mouth and smiled as she looked at Xiao Yan.
Every time Grandmaster Xiao Yan returned from outside, his first priority was finding Her Majesty. His intentions couldn't be more obvious.
Xiao Yan coughed twice in embarrassment and turned to leave. Now, he felt like a husband whose wife was pregnant and had to go for weekly prenatal check-ups.
Since Cai Lin wasn't around, and Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan had returned to the small valley, Xiao Yan dropped all pretenses and entered cultivation mode, determined to outdo all the Pill Tower alchemists!
The numerous tier 8 medicinal ingredients he had demanded from Venerable Lei had a clear purpose: preparing for the Pill Gathering. Less than a year remained before the competition.
He had already successfully refined the Green Fungus Pill that attracted two-colored Pill Lightning. In previous Pill Gatherings, being able to produce a tier 8 pill with colored Pill Lightning would almost guarantee championship.
But this Pill Gathering would be fiercely competitive. The Cao Clan's Cao Ying had already refined a two-colored Pill Lightning tier 8 pill half a year ago. Even though luck played a role, she would surely produce two-colored Pill Lightning pills consistently this time.
Moreover, Xiao Yan knew Mu Gu would attend the Pill Gathering. He didn't know how this Hall of Souls alchemist would bypass the Pill Gathering's scrutiny, but since Hun Huzi had arranged it, there would be no problems.
Xiao Yan naturally had no fear. The Pill Tower knew nothing about his Hall of Souls identity. If Feng Qing Er harbored even the slightest ill intention or thought of harming him, her soul would be instantly destroyed by the Asura Soul Reaping Technique.
On the summit of the Misty Cloud Sect's mountain, Yun Yun had specifically built an alchemy tower for his use.
'To win the Pill Gathering championship, a two-colored Pill Lightning tier 8 pill is absolutely insufficient. Three colors... no, to surpass Mu Gu, I'll need a four-colored Pill Lightning tier 8 pill.'
Xiao Yan sat cross-legged. He didn't immediately start refining pills but planned to first raise his cultivation to 4-star Dou Ancestor.
He had remained at peak 3-star for some time now.
Buzz!
The Fallen Heart Flame emerged from his Acceptance Soul. Xiao Yan's thoughts stirred, and the massive, transparent python obediently coiled around him, placing him at its center.
The Flame Mantra began to circulate at high speed. Throughout the entire Misty Cloud Mountain Range, natural energy within a hundred-mile radius surged toward him as if answering his command.
After compression and refinement by the Fallen Heart Flame, the vast natural energy condensed into strands of pure energy. These entered his body through his skin and underwent further compression through the Flame Mantra's circulation before merging into his Dou Qi cyclone.
"How terrifying! What kind of world phenomenon is that?!"
A massive energy vortex had formed around Xiao Yan's alchemy tower, clearly visible throughout the entire Misty Cloud Mountain.
"That's Grandmaster Xiao Yan's exclusive alchemy tower! He must be cultivating or refining pills!"
"Truly befitting Grandmaster Xiao Yan!"
"Quick, come pay respects! Let Grandmaster Xiao Yan bless our cultivation!"
Many Misty Cloud Sect disciples and young members of the Xiao Clan bowed from a distance toward the vortex, praying for blessings upon their cultivation.
Three days later, Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes. A powerful aura erupted from within him before quickly subsiding.
Sensing the changes in his body, he murmured, "4-star Dou Ancestor..."
However, Xiao Yan remained unsatisfied, his brows tightly furrowed.
'That was somewhat slow. Even with an Intermediate Tian Class Qi Method, if I only absorb natural energy, reaching 5-star would take at least half a year at best. If I also spend time refining pills and cultivating Dou Techniques, breaking through would require at least a year.'
Once at the Dou Ancestor realm, even Tian Class Qi Methods couldn't provide extremely rapid advancement. The energy requirements were enormous, and cultivation became increasingly difficult at higher levels. This was why many people spent their entire lives unable to reach Dou Venerate.
Advancing just one star could require over a decade. Hai Bodong and Jia Xing Tian, for instance, had basically remained stuck at Dou Ancestor, finding it nearly impossible to advance to Dou Venerate.
For ordinary people, Xiao Yan's speed was already unbelievably fast, but for him, it was still far from enough.
'I can refine high-grade tier 7 Ancestor Progression Pills to raise my cultivation by a star, but none of the pill recipes I possess can guarantee a breakthrough from 9-star Dou Ancestor to Dou Venerate.'
Even Venerable Yao lacked such a recipe. Xiao Yan had searched the Hall of Souls treasury and consulted with the Pill Tower, but neither possessed a pill recipe that could guarantee advancement from 9-star Dou Ancestor to Dou Venerate.
His usual method of using Heavenly Flames to accelerate cultivation was no longer viable.
'If Dou Ancestor advancement is already this slow, how much time would Dou Venerate require!'
'Would being a 1-star Dou Venerate be enough for the Gu Clan to take notice?'
He quickly shook his head. That was impossible.
Ling Ying had once mentioned that the person called Gu Yao in the Gu Clan was already a 1-star Dou Venerate several years ago. Coupled with the Gu Clan's various inheritances and the help of the Dou God Bloodline, that fellow was definitely more than a 1-star Dou Venerate now.
If he couldn't even defeat all the Gu Clan's younger generation, what right did he, the Little Clan Leader of a declining Dou God Clan, have to ask for Xun Er's hand?
Though this world didn't concern itself with dowries, clans absolutely emphasized strength in marriage alliances!
Xiao Yan retrieved two items from his Nihility Space: a jade bottle containing fresh blood and a scroll entwined with countless black ghostly souls.
'If I can cultivate the Emperor Soul Technique, my Spiritual Strength might break through to the Heavenly State! I could even have a chance at becoming a 9th-tier alchemist!'
A sharp gleam flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes. The Hun Clan could provide him strength!
Although being a 9th-tier alchemist might not be enough to make the Gu Clan tremble in awe, at least as a 9th-tier alchemist, he would be considered a worthy match for the Gu Clan's young lady.
'Strength... both I and the Yan Alliance are still far too weak!' Xiao Yan clenched his teeth. The image of Xun Er being taken away, her reluctant yet helpless gaze, lingered in his mind.
He remembered Ling Quan's contemptuous expression and Elder Tong Xuan's pitying, head-shaking look. Xiao Yan had sworn that the next time they met, he would see shock and even trembling on that Dou Saint Elder's face!
"Hoo." He let out a long breath, calming his restless heart. He knew he wasn't yet qualified to feel angry.
With a wave of his hand, several brocade boxes and thousands of medicinal ingredients appeared before him. Fortunately, Yun Yun understood him well and had prepared a room resembling a tall tower for him. Besides the medicinal ingredients, there were also the Three Thousand Lightning Illusionary Body and God Seal Technique cultivation scrolls.
Xiao Yan planned to enter closed-door cultivation for half a year. Aside from refining pills to improve his alchemy, whenever he felt tired, he would switch to cultivating Qi Methods and Dou Techniques, alternating between them.
With a flip of his hand, a pill recipe appeared in his palm. The words 'Heaven Flame Spirit Pill' were written across the top.
This was a special low-grade tier 8 pill, slightly more difficult than the Green Fungus Pill, capable of attracting two to three-colored Pill Lightning. When consumed by a Dou Ancestor, it would remain in their Qi cyclone, slowly releasing pure fire-attribute energy to accelerate cultivation all the way until peak 9-star Dou Ancestor, at which point it would dissipate.
Upon dissipation, it would release a burst of energy, increasing the chance of breaking through to Dou Venerate by twenty percent.
Combined with his own cultivation efforts, Xiao Yan estimated he could double his cultivation speed. By the time he emerged from seclusion, he should advance by another star.
Of course, this depended on his ability to successfully refine the pill. He only had ingredients for two attempts. Failure would mean the end of his plans.
'Xun Er, wait for me. I'm getting closer.'
…
Half a year passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, the greatest spectacle at the Misty Cloud Sect was Xiao Yan's alchemy tower.
Every so often, lightning would strike the tower as if heaven itself were punishing it.
Each time lightning struck, the headless silver Sky Demon Puppet stationed outside would fly up to intercept the bolts, then return to its guard position.
Throughout these six months, only Ya Fei had entered the tower once, bringing tier 8 medicinal ingredients the Yan Alliance had acquired. She remained inside for quite some time before leaving. No one else had entered.
This sparked numerous speculations. Some claimed that if Grandmaster Xiao Yan moved quickly enough, that brief visit would have been sufficient.
Others who had witnessed his earth-shattering performance at the Alchemist Grand Meeting argued that there was no way he was that fast.
"Do you think the Yan Alchemy Tower will get struck by lightning today?"
"Not so soon, right? There's usually a month between strikes. It's been only seven days since the last one."
Because Xiao Yan used it for alchemy, the tower had been named the Yan Alchemy Tower.
Yet, to everyone's surprise, something unexpected happened. The Yan Alchemy Tower suddenly erupted with intense lightning, which actually burst out from inside!
"Holy crap! What's happening?"
"Is this backlash from being struck too many times?"
The phenomenon didn't last long. The silver lightning soon subsided.
Creak!
Under the stunned gazes of everyone, a long-haired man, his face covered in stubble and his robe in tatters, emerged from within.
The disciples wandering at the mountain's base froze momentarily before erupting into wild cheers.
"Wow! Grandmaster Xiao Yan has emerged from seclusion!!"
"Damn! That stubble makes him look so manly!"
"Grandmaster Xiao Yan!!"
Xiao Yan ignored his frenzied fans clamoring about bearing his children and headed toward Cai Lin's palace with grave eyes.
He had planned to cultivate longer and advance the Three Thousand Lightning Illusionary Body to a higher level, but he had suddenly sensed Cai Lin calling for him and ended his seclusion early.
The Holy City of the Snake-People Tribe wasn't far from Misty Cloud Mountain. With Xiao Yan's speed, he could reach it in a single step.
"Cai Lin! Are you alright?!" Xiao Yan emerged from black flames with vigilant eyes. Only when he saw Cai Lin, lazily resting on the bed and safe, did he finally relax.
Seeing his disheveled appearance, Cai Lin's beautiful eyes showed a hint of distaste. Her voice remained cold as usual. "Couldn't you have tidied yourself up before coming?"
Xiao Yan touched his hair, which resembled a chicken's nest, and smiled. "I was worried you might be in trouble, so I rushed over immediately."
Sensing his cultivation, Cai Lin's eyes widened with surprise. "You've reached 5-star Dou Ancestor?"
This speed was astonishing! Hadn't he been at 3-star just half a year ago?!
Xiao Yan nodded. "I took some pills."
"By the way, why did you call for me? Is something wrong with the baby?" he asked.
Cai Lin's expression remained cold, but a trace of softness appeared when he asked about the child. "Nothing's wrong. I just came out of seclusion and heard from Hua She Er that you were looking for me."
"It's nothing really, I just wanted to see you." Even thick-skinned as he was, Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel a little shy.
The trace of softness in Cai Lin's expression deepened.
"Um, can I come a little closer?"
Cai Lin hesitated for a moment, then gave a slight nod. Xiao Yan immediately dashed from the doorway to her bedside.
He dared not use his Spiritual Strength carelessly here. Only after approaching did he notice that Cai Lin hadn't taken human form. Just as when they first met, her lower half remained a snake tail.
The long tail swayed slowly, curling beneath her. The seven-colored scales shimmered with rainbow-like beauty.
"Your... your belly…" Xiao Yan's expression was one of astonishment. Cai Lin's abdomen had already begun to swell. His feelings were beyond description. Inside was his and Cai Lin's child!
Cai Lin shot him a cold glance. "This is perfectly normal!"
Xiao Yan stood awkwardly, wanting to touch her but not daring to do so. His helpless appearance even drew a rare smile from Cai Lin.
"The Four Great Elders said there's about half a year left," she said softly, her beautiful eyes showing exceptional tenderness when speaking of their child.
"Half a year..." However, Xiao Yan couldn't help feeling somewhat downcast, because he would soon have to head to the Central Plains to participate in the Pill Gathering.