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Deep within Yun Lan Mountain, vast clouds and mist enveloped the sky, and sunlight, filtering through layers of fog, was reduced to a faint glow.
Tall ancient trees grew robustly among the mountains, their tops peeking out from the clouds.
Between the rarely visited peaks and ridges, there was an open clearing.
On one side of the clearing was a mountain wall, and on this wall, a glowing, faintly shimmering light door was blooming.
Dressed in plain white, Yun Yun knelt before a tomb not far from the light door, her face filled with sorrow.
Faint footsteps sounded from behind her, but Yun Yun did not turn around; she could tell who the newcomer was from their aura.
"My teacher is dead, and the Yunlan Sect has been disbanded; what more do you want?"
Xiao Yan opened his mouth, but many words he had prepared could not be spoken, leaving only one: "I'm sorry."
Yun Yun shook her head: "You don't need to apologize.
Morally speaking, my teacher deserved his fate; he was blinded by greed, colluded with the Soul Hall, and caused your family's ruin, so no matter how you sought revenge, it was not excessive…"
"But he was my teacher after all, my adoptive father… Although he told me not to hate you, it's hard for me to let go.
I don't know if I should hate you, so please don't bother me.
Can you let me be quiet for a while?"
Indeed, as Old Man Meng Zun had said, Yun Yun did not know the truth about what Yun Shan had done… Xiao Yan hesitated, not daring to tell Yun Yun everything, only vaguely saying:
"Perhaps, you should hate me.
Your teacher… probably had some unavoidable reasons."
"He himself admitted it, so what other reasons could there be?
Leave here and do your own thing… Aren't you going to save that 'Xiao Meng'?
I'm going to wait here until Yanran comes out; she wouldn't want to see you either."
Yun Yun's voice carried a sense of dead silence.
Xiao Yan fell silent, walked to Yun Shan's tomb, knelt down, and kowtowed three times heavily to the tombstone, leaving deep marks on the ground:
"I'm sorry… and thank you."
After kowtowing, he stood up and softly said to Yun Yun: "Take care."
Having said that, he spread his pale green, somewhat transparent flame-textured Dou Qi wings and flew towards the Black-Corner Region in the east.
A ripple appeared in Yun Yun's eyes; Xiao Yan's actions puzzled her somewhat, but this ripple quickly faded, and her gaze once again became dim and lifeless.
...
Within the Black-Corner Region, in a primeval forest infested with magical beasts, a chilling aura permeated the air, and a massive palace made of black stone and dark gray metal stood in an open clearing.
Huge pillars stood in the clearing, and black chains connected each pillar, forming a formation.
Draped in a black cloak, Hun Xiao, enveloped in black mist, swaggered into the Soul Hall.
Upon arriving in a large hall deep within the Soul Hall, Protector Xiao saw a young man with a monocle over his right eye and a large "Soul" character written on his black robe.
"It really is you, Protector Meng; you became Old Man Meng Zun so quickly."
Hun Xiao sighed, throwing over the token Soul Destruction Life had given her.
She was not using her original female voice, but a disguised low, hoarse voice.
"Here, this is what the Hall Master asked me to bring to you.
Did Elder Mu Zun hand over his work to you before he left?" Hun Xiao asked.
"He did.
He also told me about your special nature.
And it was Protector Xiao who brought me into the Soul Hall and helped me a great deal, so feel free to command me if there's anything." Soul Hall Amon appeared very humble.
"Heh, I just like your attitude." Hun Xiao smiled and nodded.
In the hall, besides the two of them, there were six other people dressed in black robes, though they lacked the characteristic black mist.
Hun Xiao fixed her gaze on them, with a hint of scrutiny.
One person had a scholarly air, like a scholar.
One person had a resolute face, revealing a hint of ruthlessness.
A woman with very long and white legs.
A young man who looked a bit foolish.
A woman whose eyebrows conveyed charm.
The last one looked fierce, but clearly wasn't very bright, like a lackey.
Hun Xiao raised an eyebrow and asked: "They are…"
"They are newly joined Protectors, namely Protector Ding, Protector Li, Protector Yu, Protector Ning, Protector Mei, Protector Ke… and Protector Qing is active outside." Soul Hall Amon responded with a smile.
Protector Ding said to Soul Hall Amon: "If Honored Elder has no other instructions, then I will take my leave first."
Soul Hall Amon nodded.
After they left, Hun Xiao asked with a hint of suspicion: "How did so many young Dou Ancestors suddenly appear in this remote corner?"
"I'm not sure, I just feel an undercurrent surging."
"Heh, this undercurrent is probably caused by you, isn't it?" Hun Xiao gave Soul Hall Amon a meaningful look, then shrugged, "Anyway, it has nothing to do with me.
Has anything else major happened in the Black-Corner Region recently?"
"While I was active here, there was someone who always opposed me, a Dou Venerate who seemed to have some connection with Jia Nan Academy."
"A Dou Venerate related to Jia Nan Academy?" Hun Xiao's expression changed slightly, and she suddenly recalled when she was planning for the Fallen Heart Flame, Elder Mu Zun was obstructed by someone, and she said through gritted teeth:
"Damn it, that lingering ghost, I'll kill him sooner or later!"
"A force named 'Xiao Alliance' has risen.
It's a combination of several Dou Emperor forces, with the top two experts on the Black List, Gold and Silver Elders, serving as Vice Gate Masters.
The Gate Master's identity is currently unknown.
Surprisingly, 'Xiao Alliance' also seems to have reached a cooperation with Jia Nan Academy…"
"Could it be that Dou Venerate's doing?
Specifically opposing my Soul Hall?
But… the name Xiao Alliance sounds a bit familiar; where have I heard it before?" Hun Xiao muttered softly.
"Xiao Alliance… Is it a major force from the Central Continent?" Soul Hall Amon asked, feigning ignorance.
"No." Hun Xiao shook her head, saying no more.
...
In mid-air, a person dressed in a dark green robe blocked Xiao Yan's path.
This figure stood in the air, without revealing Dou Qi wings on their back.
A Dou Ancestor expert?
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, his face not showing much apprehension.
Not to mention Yao Chen in the bone flame ring, he himself could contend with a Dou Ancestor.
"Who are you, Your Excellency?
Why are you blocking my path?" Xiao Yan asked in a deep voice.
"Are you just going to leave like this?" A clear, cold female voice came from under the wide hood.
Error-free version is being read! 6=9+Book_Bar first published this novel.
Xiao Yan found the voice somewhat familiar, and a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.
After much thought, he still couldn't figure out the other party's identity.
He didn't remember having any interactions with female Dou Ancestor experts other than Medusa.
"Do we… know each other?" Xiao Yan asked with a hint of confusion.
"It's me.
Can't you recognize me?" Little Fairy Doctor lifted her hood, revealing her beautiful face, though her once raven hair had turned as white as frost.
She looked at Xiao Yan, a gentle smile on her face.
Compared to the pure and lovely Little Fairy Doctor in his memory, the current her had a few more hints of coldness and strangeness.
It took Xiao Yan a while to connect the two: "You are… Little Fairy Doctor?"
"It's me." Little Fairy Doctor's smile brightened.
She didn't have many friends, only Xiao Yan.
The fact that he remembered her made her very happy.
"Is there anything?"
Seeing his long-lost friend, Xiao Yan also rarely showed a genuine smile from the bottom of his heart, and his tone became a little lighter.
"Have you considered the impact on the countries surrounding the Jia Ma Empire?
If you just leave after killing Yun Shan, the Jia Ma Empire will probably be swallowed by the Chu Yun Empire before long.
Xie Bi Yan is only severely injured, not dead." Little Fairy Doctor said.
"Although the Yunlan Sect posed a threat to the Jia Ma Empire Royal Family and affected internal stability, it also served as a deterrent to the surrounding countries."
"Without the Yunlan Sect, the Jia Ma Empire would be a piece of fatty meat in the eyes of the surrounding countries… Especially the Chu Yun Empire, whose enmity with the Jia Ma Empire goes back a long way, would not give up such a good opportunity."
Xiao Yan frowned.
He had indeed overlooked this issue.
The Jia Ma Empire was, after all, where he grew up.
Although there wasn't much left for him to cherish, he didn't want to see the Jia Ma Empire fall just like that.
"What do you want to do?" Xiao Yan's expression slightly hardened.
"Let me reintroduce myself.
Little Fairy Doctor, Sect Master of the Poison Sect of the Chu Yun Empire.
Others call me 'Heavenly Poison Woman'." Little Fairy Doctor said with a hint of self-mockery.
She did not like her current identity.
"You went to the Chu Yun Empire?" Xiao Yan was slightly surprised, but then immediately showed a look of realization, "With your physique, that is indeed a good place to go."
Little Fairy Doctor shook her head: "My original intention was to find a way to control the 'Calamity Poison Body', but unexpectedly, it only accelerated the accumulation of toxicity.
My current strength came from this."
Xiao Yan fell silent.
He knew that Little Fairy Doctor's journey must also have been filled with many dangers and much helplessness.
"I came to you to invite you to kill Xie Bi Yan together.
I can guarantee that once I gain control of the Chu Yun Empire, I will never actively attack the Jia Ma Empire." Little Fairy Doctor said with a serious tone.
Xiao Yan's expression also became a bit more serious: "Are you inviting me as Little Fairy Doctor, or as the 'Heavenly Poison Woman'?"
"Inviting as the 'Heavenly Poison Woman', and making a promise as 'Little Fairy Doctor'." Little Fairy Doctor looked at Xiao Yan, waiting for him to make a decision.
Xiao Yan gazed at her for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "Actually, I'd prefer if you invited me as 'Little Fairy Doctor'."
"You've agreed?"
"I have no reason to refuse.
I just happen to be short of a Dou Ancestor expert's corpse." Xiao Yan responded with a smile.
"Then come with me.
The Soul Hall Protector in the Chu Yun Empire withdrew not long ago, so the only enemies we need to face are Xie Bi Yan and his subordinates." Little Fairy Doctor said.
"What were the people from Soul Hall doing in the Chu Yun Empire?" Xiao Yan asked in a low voice.
"Similar to what they did in the Jia Ma Empire.
The previous wars seemed to have been jointly planned by two Soul Hall Protectors; they probably wanted to collect souls during the war…"
Truly deranged… Xiao Yan thought to himself.
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