Chapter 206: Thunder Yuan Grass!
The night was cool as water.
The moon hung high in the sky.
At the Mitel Family Manor, Xiao Bai was led there by Hai Bodong with a look of resignation.
"Alright! Don't frown! It's your first day in the Holy City of Gama, and I told you to find your own accommodations. Isn't that a slap in the face, Hai Bodong?"
"Don't worry, I'll have someone clean up that house. You can stay there anytime you want!"
With that, he pushed open the door to a beautiful courtyard and walked in first. Xiao Bai and Xiao Yan exchanged a glance and followed.
After the three of them settled in the room, Hai Bodong glanced at the ring on Xiao Yan's hand and said with a hint of respect, "Senior, how are you?"
While at the Xiao family, he had received some guidance on cultivation from Yao Lao, otherwise he wouldn't have recovered so quickly in the past two years.
"Teacher asked me to tell Hai Lao that he's fine, thank you for your concern!" Xiao Yan chuckled and relayed the message.
Hai Bodong nodded, then noticed the Alchemist badge on Xiao Yan's chest. He couldn't help but sigh, "I can't believe you've already been promoted to a Second-Rank Alchemist. At such a young age, that's truly remarkable!"
"Just a stroke of luck!" Xiao Yan smiled faintly.
"Haha, there aren't so many lucky breaks in the world! Although I've been in seclusion most of the past two years, I still understand some of the goings-on in the Jia Ma Empire."
Hai Bodong smiled and shook his head. Turning his gaze to Xiao Bai beside him, he jokingly said, "The Yun Lan Sect has been active lately, searching for those possessing white and cyan exotic fires. At first, I thought they were looking for you, and even sent someone to inquire, but later I learned it was Xiao Yan!"
"Oh? Master Hai, do you know what's going on in the Yun Lan Sect right now?" Xiao Bai's eyes suddenly fixed, and he asked in a deep voice.
"From what I've heard, this Yunlan Sect is quite strange!"
Hai Bodong frowned and hesitated. "The Dou Huang leader's power has been emptied, and Dou Wang Yun Leng has ascended to the throne. There's no sign of conflict between them, and they're no longer as low-key as before, but are more active, which has made that old man in the royal family quite nervous!"
"And there's a rumor, I don't know if it's true or not, that the Yunlan Sect leader and Dan Wang Gu He seem to be planning a marriage. Damn it!"
Hai Bodong hadn't finished speaking when he felt a surge of fierce momentum erupt. In an instant, the entire courtyard felt as if it was about to collapse.
Even with his current five-star Dou Huang cultivation, this momentum was frightening.
"What did you say? A marriage?" He spoke with gritted teeth, each word piercing the bone like a cold wind from the Netherworld, as cold as the bones, as if it could freeze the soul.
Seeing Xiao Bai, his teeth bared and his eyes glaring, as if he was about to devour anyone, his entire body surged with Qi and blood. His entire body was like a sun-heated furnace, swirling in a faint blood-red mist, with multicolored lightning arcs dancing within. Hai Bodong was shocked, his mind racing, wondering what had suddenly gone mad!
It was just the Yunlan Sect's leader and Dan King Gu He getting married! Why did he act like he was stealing his wife? Wait, wife?
Damn, is this kid having an affair with the Yunlan Sect's leader?
Thinking of this, Hai Bodong had no time to be surprised. He struggled to circulate his Dou Qi to resist the aura, and hurriedly shouted, "Don't take rumors seriously. If there was really something going on between them, the Yunlan Sect would have informed all the other factions long ago!"
"Also, if you don't restrain your aura, Xiao Yan will faint!"
Hearing this, Xiao Bai saw Xiao Yan almost rolling his eyes from the corner of his eye, and gradually withdrew his aura. After a few moments of "whoosh," Xiao Yan's pale face gradually regained its color. He gasped for air, clenched his fists, and gazed resentfully at Xiao Bai, who looked at him with a hint of apology.
"Brother Bai! Please let me know next time so I can run farther away. Otherwise, I won't accept this kind of death. It's too frustrating, too unfair!" Xiao Yan's heart was craving strength. Damn, without it, he couldn't even withstand Brother Bai's energy. This feeling was too unbearable.
"And... what are you excited about Gu He's wedding?"
"..." Yao Lao.
This foolish disciple!
From Xiao Bai's behavior just now, he had a clear understanding. He guessed that the Dou Huang woman he encountered in the Warcraft Mountains and the desert must be the leader of the Yunlan Sect.
Otherwise, with his usually indifferent nature, how could he have been so angry just now!
Haha, why am I so excited? If Nalan Yanran hadn't broken off the engagement, you would have called me Grandmaster. What's the point of my excitement?
Glancing at Xiao Yan with a sullen glance, Xiao Bai disdained the foolish man and turned to Hai Bodong, asking, "So, Yun Leng is now the one in charge of the Yun Lan Sect?"
"Indeed! As the Grand Elder of the Yun Lan Sect, this fellow has a strong desire for power and is deeply dissatisfied with the Sect Master Yun Yun's indifferent demeanor. However, due to his lack of cultivation, he's never dared to show it. Now, for some reason, he's suddenly become assertive!"
Hai Bodong nodded, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. Ever since that old man Yun Shan entered into a state of seclusion, he hadn't appeared in the world for years.
It was unknown whether he was in seclusion or had passed away. Who knew where Yun Leng had gotten the courage to seize power, and even succeeded!
Could the old man have truly achieved a breakthrough?
Xiao Bai calmed down, pondering for a moment, comparing the information in his mind, and he had a pretty good grasp of the whole situation.
Gu He must have discovered the Bone Spirit Cold Fire, and the guardian Wu had learned of it, leading him to deduce Yao Lao and requesting Yun Shan to mobilize the forces of the Yun Lan Sect to help locate Yao Lao.
Yunshan then assigned this task to Yunzhi. Knowing Xiao Yan's relationship with him, Yunzhi refused to obey, leading to Yunleng's rise to power.
"She was coerced by Yunshan!"
Having almost reconstructed the truth, Xiao Bai knew the rumor was true. Based on Yunshan's character in the original novel, this was an 80% chance.
"Hehe... Gu He, Yunleng, Yunshan!"
Xiao Bai sneered inwardly. Originally, because of Yunzhi, he hadn't wanted to do anything to the Yunlan Sect members, but these guys were truly courting death!
Seeing the chill in Xiao Bai's eyes, Hai Bodong was speechless. It looked like the Yunlan Sect was headed for disaster!
Yun Yun was unemployed and seemed to have a close relationship with this guy. If he was truly ruthless, could anyone in the Yunlan Sect stop him?
Unless Yunshan broke through to the Dou Zong realm!
Otherwise, would Yunleng be relied upon?
Hai Bodong shook his head. Seeing the overwhelming aura Xiao Bai had just unleashed, even though both were at the peak of Dou Wang, Yun Leng wouldn't be able to withstand a single blow.
He didn't know how this kid had cultivated to this point in just two years. Even if he faced him, he wouldn't be able to gain any advantage.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel fortunate to have met him back in Shimo City and forged a good relationship with him.
Otherwise, before the Yunlan Sect was in trouble, his Mitel family would be exterminated from the Jiama Empire today!
Inside the Jiama Imperial Capital, at the moment Xiao Bai's aura erupted in full force, several pairs of eyes in the city turned towards the Mitel family.
At the Imperial Palace, in the back mountains, on the mountaintops.
Beside a beautiful lake, an elderly man in linen clothes stood with his hands behind his back. He suddenly turned and gazed in the direction of the aura, frowning.
"Did anyone come knocking on Old Man Bing's door today? This aura is so unfamiliar. When did such a powerful figure arrive in the Imperial City?"
A hint of worry flashed across the old man's cloudy eyes as he spoke.
"Lately, undercurrents have been stirring within the Empire. The Yunlan Sect has become increasingly arrogant, and now the Mitel family is also experiencing changes, seemingly unsettled!"
Turning, he gazed upon the dark lake, sensing the rich yet slightly weak aura beneath, and murmured softly, "Old friend, it seems I must find a way to recover you, otherwise, my royal family..."
To the north of the city stood a vast mansion.
The plaque in front of the gate, illuminated by the moonstones on either side, shimmered with a faint golden glow, embodying its nobility.
The three characters "Nalan Mansion" written in a flamboyant style radiated grandeur, signaling the owner's status.
In the center of a spacious room sat a large bed, upon which lay a withered old man.
"Ahem. That aura just now, was it coming from the direction of the Mitel family?" the old man's face was deathly pale, his end nearing, yet a hint of defiance remained between his brows.
Standing beside the bed was a middle-aged man with a rather heroic appearance. He bowed and replied, "Yes, father, there have been several energy fluctuations erupting over there tonight!"
"Alas, this empire is already beginning to unravel!" the old man finished, then, as if exhausted, he slowly closed his eyes and sighed.
"Father, don't worry. You are the Imperial Marshal, and Yanran is the Young Master of the Yunlan Sect. No matter how the empire changes, it will not affect our Nalan family!" the middle-aged man said proudly.
"Haha, naive! The Yunlan Sect and the Imperial Family are now at loggerheads. All it takes is a tiny spark to ignite a war. When that happens, what will our Nalan family do?"
The old man suddenly opened his eyes and glared at his unworthy son. His voice, though low, was sharp.
"How foolish! How can I trust you to leave this vast Nalan family in your care after I'm gone?"
"Don't worry, Father. You'll be fine. Yanran is already secretly searching for an alchemist with a Strange Fire. I'm sure..."
"Tell her not to worry. Finally finding someone with a Strange Fire, yet they're wanted by the Yunlan Sect? It seems this is my fate. Perhaps this is heaven's punishment for breaking my promise?"
The old man interrupted the middle-aged man, closed his eyes, and fell silent.
Time passed, a silent night.
The next morning.
Xiao Bai sat cross-legged on his bed. From his fingertips, a flash of multicolored lightning danced nimbly like a spirit.
Crackling!
A small, palm-sized cloud loomed over it, wisps of silver lightning streaking through it.
"Finally, something is starting to take shape!"
Xiao Bai observed the scene with bright eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Since leaving Tagor, his cultivation had already reached the peak of Dou Wang. A single Dou Ling Dan was all he needed to break through, but he hadn't done so.
Once he did, he would face a new type of lightning.
This lightning type was different from the previous ones. Previously, he could guess what it was.
But now, with all five elements complete, he had no idea what the next lightning type would be.
If, after breaking through, the next lightning type required months or even longer to refine, it would be a disaster.
By then, the Xiao family would probably be finished!
As for Xiao Yanzi, there was no need to worry; he had a destiny and shouldn't die. However, Old Man Yao was probably going to the Soul Palace to celebrate the New Year early!
Therefore, he wouldn't break through to Dou Huang until the Yunlan Sect issue was resolved.
During this period of inability to cultivate, he was busy, utilizing the resonance with the energy of heaven and earth that came with his promotion to Dou Wang.
He wanted to see if he could harness this feeling, combined with his soul power, to see if he could connect with the heavens and earth, connect with his own qi, and gather the lightning energy between them.
This would generate heavenly thunder, and he would obey his command!
Lilliputian!
Looking at the thundercloud in his palm, Xiao Bai knew that his idea had already achieved a breakthrough. The next step was to refine and expand its scope.
"Haha. No rush, take your time!"
Xiao Bai withdrew his gaze from the thundercloud, gently clenched his slender fingers, and extinguished the dancing multicolored arc of lightning on his fingertips.
As the arc of lightning dissipated, the small cloud above it gradually dissipated.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
A series of rapid knocks sounded at the door. Xiao Bai's eyebrows fluttered, and he instantly knew who it was. There were only two people who dared to knock on his door so brazenly.
With a slight tremor, the figure disappeared from the bed, appearing the next moment at the living room table.
"Come in!"
Xiao Bai waved and opened the door, revealing two figures, one tall and one short, standing outside.
"Hey, Brother Xiao, good morning!"
"Hey, Brother Bai, good morning!"
Zi Yan and Xiao Yan, both beaming, greeted the black-robed figure in the room.
Xiao Bai's gaze shifted slightly as he observed the two. How could he not know they needed his help?
He had a rough idea of what Xiao Yan was asking, but why was Zi Yan joining in the fun? Wasn't she already out playing with Ya Fei?
"Brother Bai, you're famous, didn't you know that?"
Xiao Yan greeted him, then plopped down beside him. He poured a cup of tea from the teapot on the table, took a deep swig, and spoke eagerly, "Today I went to the Alchemist's Guild to collect ingredients for the Three-Striped Green Spirit Pill, and all I heard along the way was talk about you!"
"Oh!"
"Hey, hey, hey, Brother Bai, aren't you curious about what they're saying about you?" Seeing Xiao Bai's indifference, Xiao Yan smacked his lips in dissatisfaction.
"Not curious!"
Seeing Xiao Yan's face full of gossip, Xiao Bai shook his head slightly, extended his hand, and said with a smile: "Bring out the herbs!"
"Tsk!" Xiao Yan pulled herbs from his storage ring and placed them on the table, saying gloomily: "Brother Bai, you're not even twenty yet! How come you live like an old man!"
Xiao Bai ignored the energetic young man and casually sorted the herbs on the table. He glanced over and leaned over to him, staring longingly into his eyes.
"Tell me! What do you want?"
"The sugar pills, we're out!" Zi Yan said pitifully, blinking.
"..." Seeing the bitter face, Xiao Bai felt a little amused and whispered: "Do you have any more herbs?"
"Yes, yes!" Zi Yan nodded repeatedly, and with a wave of her hand, she pulled out a pile of things from her storage ring.
Looking at the pile of herbs on the table that looked like a small mountain, Xiao Bai glanced at it, his eyes suddenly fixed, and he exclaimed in surprise: "Thunder Yuan Grass!"
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(End of Chapter)