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Above the sky, there were no clouds for thousands of miles, and the scorching sun shone brightly.
On an boundless light blue expanse, several small black dots suddenly appeared, forming a 'human' shaped formation, looking like migrating birds.
Each Black-Backed Eagle carried a sizable wooden house on its back.
Xiao Yan, as the leader of this group, occupied one of them alone.
He finished his cultivation, stepped out of the wooden house, treading on the Black-Backed Eagle's glossy feathers, with Dou Qi surging around him.
This was a manifestation of being unable to perfectly control the surging Dou Qi after a recent breakthrough.
Xiao Yan looked at the majestic mountain range below, feeling vaguely familiar.
This was the mountain range of the Jia Ma Empire from his memories… He had once overlooked these continuous mountains from high in the sky, but that time, he was leaving, and the beast he rode was an even more powerful and fierce magical beast.
He missed that Gale Eagle a bit… Its lightning-fast flight speed was simply incomparable to these clumsy Black-Backed Eagles now.
After crossing another huge mountain peak, a city, entirely black and exuding a sense of solemn killing intent, appeared in his sight.
This was the fortress on the border of the Jia Ma Empire, Town Ghost Pass!
Yun Yun, Ya Fei, Little Fairy Doctor, Nalan Yanran, Hai Bodong, Yun Shan, Jia Xingtian… The people and things he had once seen quietly surfaced in his mind, and Xiao Yan felt an indescribable, unexplainable emotion rise within him.
"Congratulations, Mr. Xiao, on reaching another level," Fan Lao, the Sect Master of the Blood Sanctify Sect, said with a beaming smile.
He spread his Dou Qi wings, flew away from the Black-Backed Eagle he was riding, and came to a spot not far from Xiao Yan.
"Congratulations, congratulations…" The others also chimed in.
Their faces were plastered with smiles, but their hearts were incredibly complex.
Everyone present was a Dou Emperor, and they knew how difficult it was to advance one star at the Dou Emperor stage, yet this young man not only reached this height at such a young age but also advanced another star right under their noses.
They knew that the last time Xiao Yan came to invite them for help, he had just broken through to Dou Emperor not long ago!
At that time, his aura was as unstable as it was today!
And he was also a Sixth-Rank Alchemist!
Such talent made them feel involuntarily inferior.
Facing these overlords who dominated a region in the Black-Corner Region, Xiao Yan also politely returned a smile:
"Just lucky… Just lucky…"
He paused for a moment and asked, "Why have you all suddenly gathered around?"
Fan Lao said, "The territory of the Jia Ma Empire is just ahead.
I saw a fortress there and was worried that the soldiers on it might launch an attack and disturb you, sir, so I specifically came to guard you."
Sect Master Su Mei of the Rakshasa Gate revealed a beautiful smile and giggled, "Yes, we promised you, little brother Xiao Yan, that we would handle the other matters, and you only need to conserve your energy to deal with Yun Shan."
Tie Wu echoed, "Exactly, exactly, we are all very trustworthy."
I really can't associate trustworthiness with people from your Black-Corner Region… Xiao Yan inwardly grumbled.
He did not speak his thoughts aloud but instead said with a cheerful laugh, "Haha, then I thank you all very much."
"Enemy attack!"
Due to the war with the Chu Yun Empire, the entire Jia Ma Empire had entered a state of martial law.
Although Town Ghost Pass was not near the direction of the Chu Yun Empire, it still maintained vigilance.
The patrolling sentinels discovered these magical beasts, which did not belong to the Jia Ma Empire and had wooden houses on their backs, clearly indicating they were domesticated.
Therefore, they immediately sounded the alarm.
They launched an attack before Xiao Yan and the others even got close.
Arrows of "Breaking the Air" were launched from crossbows, flying towards the Black-Backed Eagles.
"Bastards!"
"Seeking death!"
Fan Lao and the others really didn't expect these soldiers to dare to attack, and they showed slight indignation.
Tie Wu waved his large hand, and powerful Dou Qi surged out, knocking down the approaching crossbow arrows one by one.
Just as they were about to counterattack and kill a few people in the fortress as a warning, Xiao Yan stopped them:
"Wait, it was my oversight.
The Jia Ma Empire is at war, so it's normal for soldiers to react this way when they see unfamiliar flying magical beasts.
There's no need to fuss over it."
"Alright, alright, we'll all listen to you, Mr. Xiao." Fan Lao seemed very solicitous.
…
A young man in a moon-white robe walked onto the city wall of Town Ghost Pass, waved his hand, and signaled to stop the attack.
The defending general, Mu Tie, beside him, showed hesitation: "Mr. Yun, those magical beasts are of unknown origin.
What if they get too close…"
"No matter, they're not of unknown origin… It's an old acquaintance." The young man, referred to as Mr. Yun, adjusted the monocle on his right eye and smiled slightly.
Seeing that the warriors on the fortress no longer attacked, Fan Lao and the others also slightly reined in their imposing aura.
Xiao Yan spoke, "Let's go down and see."
The Black-Backed Eagles continued to circle in the air, but Xiao Yan, leading a group of Dou Emperor powerhouses, spread their Dou Qi wings and quickly descended.
"Eight… eight Dou Emperor powerhouses?" Mu Tie was startled.
He clearly knew that Dou Emperor powerhouses, when placed on a battlefield, each could contend against ten thousand.
He only hoped now that the previous attack hadn't angered them.
This Town Ghost Pass could withstand an army of thousands, but it couldn't stop such powerful individuals.
Xiao Yan landed and saw the young man beside Mu Tie, instantly recognizing his identity as Yun Meng, who had escorted his eldest and second brothers to Jia Nan Academy back then.
He had no ill will towards this junior disciple of Yun Shan and was about to greet him when Yun Meng spoke first:
"Senior Brother Xiao Yan, your hair quality is very unique."
Xiao Yan's body stiffened, and his expression instantly froze.
He hadn't expected this guy's discernment to be so sharp!
"Haha…" Xiao Yan gave an awkward laugh and said in a gentle tone, "Where's your Senior Sister?"
"Senior Sister Yun Yun is currently battling people from the Chu Yun Empire in the Tager Desert.
I am here by Master's order to wait for you," Yun Meng said with a smile.
"Yun Shan knew I was coming?" Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, suddenly finding Yun Shan's image profound and unfathomable… He could actually know what was happening in the Black-Corner Region thousands of miles away!
"No, it's just that Town Ghost Pass happened to need a Yunlan Sect member to guard it, so Master sent me here.
He said if I met you, Senior Brother, I should tell you that he's waiting for you in Stone Desert City," Yun Meng replied.
So I was overthinking it… Wait, Stone Desert City?
Isn't that where his eldest and second brothers' Mo Tie Mercenary Group used to be?
Xiao Yan frowned and directly asked, "Why would he be there?"
Yun Meng responded as a matter of course, "Because that's the front line.
The main battlefield between the Chu Yun Empire and the Jia Ma Empire is in the Tager Desert… Senior Sister Yun Yun is also there."
Yun Yun… Upon hearing this name, Xiao Yan's expression softened a bit.
He couldn't help but ask, "Is your Senior Sister, is she doing well?"
Yun Meng shook his head, "Not too well."
Xiao Yan immediately asked anxiously, "What happened? Was she injured on the battlefield? Who injured her?"
Yun Meng's face held a teasing smile: "She's just missing someone; her heart is hurt."
"Uh…" Xiao Yan scratched his head, giving an embarrassed smile… So I was the one who hurt her!
Yun Meng put away the smile on his face, his expression serious, and said solemnly, "Senior Brother Xiao Yan, are you really prepared?
There's still about a year left until the Three-Year Agreement.
Master, he is very strong, terrifyingly strong!"
Xiao Yan replied with equal seriousness, "Naturally, I am prepared, otherwise I wouldn't have returned!"
Ban Lao, Yin Gu Lao, and the other helpers Xiao Yan invited all revealed clear smiles upon seeing the peaceful and friendly atmosphere between the two.
It seems Xiao Yan's relationship with the Yunlan Sect is good, and this trip will probably just be for show… they thought to themselves.
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