Chapter 491: The Mission to Rescue Yao Lao
"Is Cousin Xiao Yan in the Western Region now?"
Upon hearing Xiao Li's words, Mo Yu was momentarily stunned, then laughed heartily, saying, "Well, don't just stand there, invite them in quickly!"
As soon as Mo Yu spoke, a soft chuckle echoed in the great hall. "Haha, Cousin Mo Yu, Second Brother, long time no see!"
Following the voice, several figures slowly entered the hall.
Leading them was a tall, slender young man dressed in black robes. Although his face wasn't particularly handsome, his black eyes shone with an extraordinary determination.
This man was none other than Xiao Yan, who had not been seen for several years!
Looking at Xiao Yan, Mo Yu couldn't help but feel a sense of having lived through an eternity in just a few years. In that short span of time, Xiao Yan's aura had grown incredibly profound, shedding the immaturity of the past and exuding the presence of a formidable leader.
"Second Brother, Cousin Mo Yu..." Xiao Yan took a deep breath as he gazed at the two men before him. His usual calm voice now trembled slightly.
"Hehe, little Yan, I never thought you'd actually come. Haha."
Looking at Xiao Yan, Xiao Li's face was no longer as sharp and cold as before. Instead, he gave a foolish grin, stepped forward, and tightly embraced Xiao Yan, patting him heavily on the shoulder, his voice filled with excitement and joy.
"Yes, now that we brothers are reunited, all that's missing is Big Brother Xiao Ding..." Mo Yu also stepped forward, patting Xiao Yan on the shoulder with a sigh.
Although Mo Yu was the grandson of the Xiao family's steward, Xiao Yan and his two brothers, being the sons of the clan leader, had never concerned themselves with rank or formality. They had grown up together like real brothers.
Even though they were now grown men, separated and scattered, the brotherly bond between them remained as strong as ever...
"Haha, no worries. Big Brother may not be able to travel, but when we return to the Jia Ma Empire, we'll definitely have a proper reunion," Xiao Li said, releasing Xiao Yan and laughing heartily.
"Yeah," Xiao Yan replied with a smile.
"Hmph! So you brothers are just going to ignore me?" At that moment, the little girl in purple standing beside Xiao Yan pouted unhappily and let out a cold snort.
Mo Yu's gaze shifted slightly, landing on the petite but curvy young girl before him. He was stunned for a moment, then raised an eyebrow. "Zi Yan?"
"Hmph, at least you remember me! You promised to help me find my clan, but then you vanished for years without a trace."
Zi Yan's large, bright eyes stared at Mo Yu with a feigned 'fierce' expression, but it was far from intimidating.
Mo Yu awkwardly scratched his nose and smiled sheepishly, "Hehe, I wasn't trying to deceive you. I've already found out where your clan is, and I can take you there soon."
Mo Yu had long known the truth about Zi Yan's origins as a magical beast, but he hadn't had the chance to explain it until now. After several years, he could finally share it with her.
However, upon hearing this, Zi Yan puffed her cheeks and said, "I've already contacted my clan since coming to Central Plains. I don't need your help anymore."
"Uh..." Mo Yu's awkward expression deepened, but his years of experience helped him quickly recover his composure.
After a moment of reflection, Mo Yu looked at Zi Yan with a hint of meaning in his eyes and said, "Since you've found your clan, congratulations, Zi Yan. But I've heard that things in your clan are not very peaceful lately. If you ever need my help, just let me know. Don't worry about being a bother. Consider it my way of making it up to you."
Hearing this, a flash of surprise crossed Zi Yan's large, bright eyes.
She hadn't expected Mo Yu to know about the troubles within her clan. The ancient Taixu Dragon clan was indeed in turmoil, even to the point of splitting apart.
But this was a tightly guarded secret, one that not even many factions in the Beast Domain were aware of.
Her large eyes flickered. In her heart, Zi Yan had always felt a vague sense of awe toward Mo Yu, a feeling she couldn't fully explain. Now, with his casual mention of her clan's internal struggles, the mysterious and powerful image of Mo Yu in her mind grew even stronger.
"Mm, thank you, Brother Mo Yu. I'll remember that," Zi Yan smiled softly, tugging at Mo Yu's sleeve in gratitude.
Deep down, she had a feeling that when the conflict within the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan reached its breaking point, Mo Yu might be the one to lend her a crucial helping hand.
Mo Yu smiled gently and patted Zi Yan's head before shifting his gaze to the elderly man who had accompanied Xiao Yan.
The old man was dressed in green robes, his long hair draped over his shoulders, giving him a carefree air. His appearance was anything but ordinary. Even in his old age, there was still a hint of handsomeness in his features, suggesting that he must have been quite striking in his youth.
Perhaps because of the wind-based Dou Qi he cultivated, his aura seemed somewhat elusive, giving him an unpredictable, mysterious vibe.
"So, this is the Wind Venerable?"
Mo Yu raised an eyebrow as he looked at the elder in green robes.
Mo Yu was certainly no stranger to the Wind Venerable. This man was the lifelong friend of the renowned Yao Zun, the master of the Falling Star Pavilion, and the most powerful of the four pavilion masters.
"Junior Mo Yu greets the Wind Venerable."
Although Mo Yu's current strength was on par with or even greater than the Wind Venerable's, the latter was still a senior figure, so Mo Yu remained respectful.
"Haha, no need for that. Nowadays, who in the Western Region or even all of Central Plains doesn't know the name of Mo Yu, the Lord of Yuan Gate? Your courtesy makes this old man feel quite flattered."
As Mo Yu sized up the Wind Venerable, the elder was also observing Mo Yu.
Recalling the recent rumors about him, the Wind Venerable, a legendary figure on the continent, couldn't help but feel a sense of shock.
In his eyes, Xiao Yan was already a remarkable talent—winning the alchemist tournament at a young age, and now standing at the peak of Dou Zong. But when compared to Mo Yu, even Xiao Yan's brilliance dimmed somewhat.
After all, the silver-eyed youth before him had slain the Sword Venerable, who was once his equal, and had reached the level of Dou Zun in his early twenties!
The Wind Venerable couldn't help but marvel at how the small Xiao family of Wu Tan City had produced two such exceptional individuals.
After some polite conversation, Mo Yu became more familiar with the Wind Venerable. He was worthy of being Yao Lao's close friend; his personality and conduct were both admirable, making others feel at ease.
In their brief chat, Mo Yu also learned about Xiao Yan's progress over the past few years, which had unfolded much as it had in the original timeline.
Xiao Yan had broken through to Dou Huang, then found the Wind Venerable in Central Plains, won the alchemist tournament, obtained the Three Thousand Flames, and successfully advanced to Nine-Star Dou Zong.
If not for Mo Yu, Xiao Yan's progress would have been the fastest on the continent, well deserving of his future title as the Flame Emperor.
But compared to Mo Yu, he was still somewhat behind.
While there was only a one-star difference between Nine-Star Dou Zong and One-Star Dou Zun, everyone knew that only by reaching Dou Zun could one truly be considered a top-tier powerhouse on the continent.
"Cousin Xiao Yan, I suppose you have a reason for coming this time?" After some friendly conversation, Mo Yu paused and looked at Xiao Yan.
After all, even with Mo Yu's status, it wasn't common for someone as prominent as the Wind Venerable to accompany a visit unless there was a serious matter at hand.
Hearing this, Xiao Yan's expression grew noticeably more serious. A trace of pain appeared in his dark eyes as he rasped, "I do have something important to ask for your help with, Cousin Mo Yu."
Seeing Xiao Yan's demeanor, Mo Yu had a hunch.
Although he had a suspicion of what it might be, Mo Yu nodded calmly. "Rest assured, Cousin Xiao Yan. We're like brothers. If you need my help with anything, just say the word."
Xiao Yan was deeply moved by how quickly Mo Yu agreed, and he said in a solemn voice, "To be honest, my teacher was captured by the Hall of Souls. I've come here to ask for your help, Cousin Mo Yu, to use your forces to rescue him!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Yan's eyes locked onto Mo Yu, and even his breathing quickened with emotion.
It had been four or five years since Yao Lao was captured. Though Yao Lao's life wasn't in immediate danger, the suffering he had endured during that time must have been immense.
Xiao Yan owed everything he had to Yao Lao's guidance, which had allowed him to reach his current heights. As a result, anything related to Yao Lao stirred intense emotions within him.
And given his admiration for his cousin Mo Yu, after hearing that Mo Yu had wiped out Wan Jian Pavilion and elevated Yuan Gate to a dominant position in the Western Region, Xiao Yan had discussed the matter with the Wind Venerable and decided to seek Mo Yu's help.
"Young man, don't let your emotions cloud your judgment. Rescuing Yao Lao is no simple matter. One misstep, and we'll be walking straight into a trap," the Wind Venerable advised with a sigh.
Xiao Yan nodded gently, taking a few deep breaths to calm his agitated emotions. His gaze turned to his cousin Mo Yu, his eyes filled with hope.
Mo Yu, after briefly lamenting that some events remained unchanged, nodded and said, "So that's the issue. Since Yao Lao was captured by the Hall of Souls, he's likely endured great suffering. Cousin Xiao Yan, given our bond, I certainly won't refuse your request. Besides, Yao Lao has helped me in the past, so I'm duty-bound to assist in his rescue."
Mo Yu recalled that Yao Lao had once provided crucial information about the Nine-Winged Purple-Gold Serpent, and he always repaid his debts. Even if Xiao Yan hadn't asked, Mo Yu would have sought out Yao Lao's location to rescue him.
"Thank you, Cousin Mo Yu..." Xiao Yan was deeply grateful, his heart swelling with emotion as he saw Mo Yu agree so readily.
The Wind Venerable, standing nearby, was also surprised.
Although Xiao Yan had confidently said they could rely on Mo Yu's help, the Wind Venerable had remained skeptical. After all, the Hall of Souls was a superpower on par with the Alchemist Tower, and even though Yuan Gate had defeated Wan Jian Pavilion and dominated the Western Region, they were still no match for the Hall of Souls.
Anyone would be hesitant to provoke such a behemoth.
But here was Mo Yu, a young man with silver eyes, boldly agreeing to take on the task. The Wind Venerable couldn't help but admire him—a man of both loyalty and righteousness.
The Wind Venerable's mind eased as well. Although he had only heard rumors of Mo Yu's prowess, they must be true. A person capable of slaying both the Ice River Sovereign and the Sword Venerable would certainly have the strength and cunning to back up his reputation.
With Mo Yu's assistance, their chances of rescuing Yao Lao would be greatly increased.
After securing Mo Yu's aid, the Wind Venerable took out a map from his storage ring and spread it across the table. He pointed to the northwestern region of Central Plains.
"The Hall of Souls has many hidden strongholds in Central Plains, and most people could never find them. But in the northwest region, there's a place called the Soul Burying Mountains. One of the Hall's strongholds is hidden there."
"And that's where Yao Lao is being held?" Mo Yu asked, his eyes narrowing.
The Wind Venerable nodded. "Yes."
"The Soul Burying Mountains are a dangerous place, shrouded in thick, freezing mist. Anyone wandering aimlessly there would quickly get lost. Not to mention, the mountains are home to powerful, bloodthirsty magical beasts. The Hall of Souls likely chose this location for its secrecy."
"Soul Burying Mountains..."
Mo Yu muttered to himself. The mountains were located in the northwestern region of Central Plains, not far from the Western Region. Even at its peak, the Western Alliance had never ventured there, and Yuan Gate certainly had no interest in it either.
"How many strong fighters are stationed at that stronghold? How many Dou Zuns?" Xiao Li asked quietly, cutting straight to the heart of the matter as a key general in Yuan Gate.
"The Hall of Souls takes guarding Yao Lao very seriously, so their defenses are strong. According to our intel, there are five Dou Zuns stationed in the Soul Burying Mountains."
At this, even the Wind Venerable's expression grew grim. Five Dou Zuns was an overwhelming force, the kind that could make even a top-tier faction tremble in fear.
"Five Dou Zuns..."
Mo Yu murmured. He exchanged a glance with Xiao Li before smiling faintly.
"If it's just five Dou Zuns, leave it to Yuan Gate..."
(End of Chapter)
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