Half a year later, in the Tagor Desert, a black mountain range.
Xiao Li sat on a high mountain, and the surrounding Heaven and Earth Energy converged towards him.
"No, it's still not enough. The environment here is not sufficient for me to Breakthrough to Dou Huang in a short time."
Xiao Li opened his eyes. His Cultivation had reached the Peak of Dou Wang during the past six months, and he had already touched the Bottleneck of Dou Huang, but the surrounding environment could not help him Breakthrough.
The main reason was that Xiao Li was concerned that absorbing too much fire-attribute Heaven and Earth Energy would affect Elder Wang.
"What? Still not working?" An old man with a pair of blue-purple wings on his back slowly flew in front of Xiao Li.
"Hmm, Grandfather, I'm going to Breakthrough underground. From my observations, there's a large area of magma beneath this volcano. The fire attribute is rich there, which can allow me to Breakthrough," Xiao Li said slowly to the old man.
Indeed, this was Xiao Li's Grandfather, Xiao Ting. The day before parting with Xiao Lin, Xiao Li had asked his eldest brother to call his Grandfather for help.
Because Xiao Li needed to Cultivate and couldn't act as Protector for Elder Wang, Elder Wang needed someone to watch over him for a long time. Xiao Li didn't trust many people, so he could only ask his Grandfather to come.
Xiao Ting was now a Four-star Dou Huang. When Xiao Li returned home, he gave Xiao Ting several Qing Yuan Pills to aid his Cultivation, as well as a top-grade Huangji Pill.
Xiao Ting first used the Qing Yuan Pill to Breakthrough to Two-star Dou Huang, and then took the Huangji Pill to Breakthrough two stars consecutively, reaching Four-star Dou Huang.
A Four-star Dou Huang, coupled with an Earth Rank Intermediate Cultivation Technique and a matching Dou Technique, Xiao Ting's strength was among the best in the entire Jia Ma Empire. Even if Jia Xingtian made a move, it would be difficult to defeat Xiao Ting.
"Cultivate in the magma? Won't that be too dangerous?" Xiao Ting was a little worried.
"It's fine, I have the Fallen Heart Flame protecting me; the magma won't hurt me. Grandfather, I'm going now."
Xiao Li spread his Dou Qi transformed into wings on his back and flew towards the depths of the volcano. Earlier, Xiao Li had already explored this area and opened a passage connecting to the magma world.
Xiao Li flew directly in, arriving at this place with an entirely crimson hue, where slowly flowing magma was everywhere.
"The fire-attribute Heaven and Earth Energy here is so rich! And the environment here must be able to give birth to a Heavenly Flame, right? Never mind, I'll Breakthrough first!"
Xiao Li found a suitable spot, sat down cross-legged, and began to Cultivate... At the Cloud Mist Sect, Gate of Life and Death.
At this moment, Yun Shan was already standing outside the Gate of Life and Death. Just a few days ago, abnormal fluctuations emanated from the Gate of Life and Death. As the Sect Master, Yun Shan naturally knew that his disciple was about to emerge from seclusion.
Chirp—
"She's coming!" Yun Shan smiled. This aura had already reached Eight-star Dou Wang, a greater harvest than he had received when he emerged from the Gate of Life and Death back then.
Before long, the Gate of Life and Death opened, and a graceful and noble woman slowly flew out from within. The woman had a pair of green Dou Qi wings on her back.
Dou Qi transformed into wings, a Dou Wang expert!
"Teacher!" Yun Yun walked out of the Gate of Life and Death and saw her Teacher, Yun Shan. She immediately came before Yun Shan and cupped her fists in greeting.
"No need, no need. Do we, as Teacher and disciple, still need such formalities?" Yun Shan said with a smile. He was very satisfied with Yun Yun; her talent was excellent, and her future achievements would far surpass his own as her Teacher.
"Hmm, an Eight-star Dou Wang, and her Dou Qi is solidified, very good. Yun'er, from now on, you will be the Ninth Generation Sect Master of the Cloud Mist Sect."
Yun Shan said with a smile.
Whoosh—
Just as Yun Shan's words fell, a green figure flew over, stopping behind Yun Shan. It was actually the Cloud Mist Sect's Grand Elder, Yun Ji.
Yun Ji was now in good spirits. The poison he suffered at the Strongest Assembly earlier had been completely cured. Since he was fine, he naturally continued to serve as the Grand Elder.
"Oh? The Young Sect Master has emerged? No, she should be called Sect Master now," Yun Ji teased when he saw Yun Yun.
"Grand Elder," Yun Yun also cupped her fists in greeting to Yun Ji.
"By the way, Sect Master, regarding the Elixir ingredients for the Life Restoration Pill, two sets have already been collected. Do they need to be sent over?" Yun Ji asked.
"Only two sets? Tsk, I wonder if that little guy can refine the Elixir. Why don't you personally deliver them?" Yun Shan wasn't sure if Xiao Li could refine a Rank 7 Pill, but he did have a Break-Sect Pill refined by Xiao Li in his possession.
"Teacher, what happened?" Yun Yun inquired.
"Alas~ It's like this: half a year ago, during the Strongest Assembly..." Yun Shan recounted the events of the Strongest Assembly to Yun Yun. Elder Wang had suffered serious injuries, and Xiao Li was currently doing his best to treat Elder Wang.
"Is that so? Teacher, Grand Elder, I'll personally deliver them," Yun Yun decided to deliver the Elixir ingredients herself.
"Very well. By the way, Yun Ji, since Yun'er has emerged from seclusion, she will be the next Sect Master of the Cloud Mist Sect. You will personally hold the Sect Master succession ceremony for her. I am going into seclusion to Breakthrough to Dou Zong."
Yun Shan said. After the battle at the Strongest Assembly, Yun Shan's Cultivation had reached the Peak of Dou Huang. Presumably, Jia Xingtian had also reached the Peak of Dou Huang, but Yun Shan had a Break-Sect Pill in his hand.
Originally, without the Break-Sect Pill, Yun Shan might have needed to wait for some time before going into seclusion. Now, there was no need; the sooner he Breakthrough to Dou Zong, the better! Moreover, Yun Shan had recently had a strong premonition, a very intense feeling of impending Breakthrough. This opportunity must not be missed!
"Teacher! You finally..."
"Sect Master!"
Yun Yun and Yun Ji both hadn't expected Yun Shan to want to Breakthrough to Dou Zong, but both knew that Yun Shan had a Break-Sect Pill in his hand. Only the two of them in the entire Cloud Mist Sect knew about this matter.
"Shh, just announce to the outside that I'm going to Breakthrough to the Peak of Dou Huang. Secrecy is key to success," Yun Shan said with a smile.
"Understood."
"Yun'er, take this storage ring. The Elixir ingredients for the Life Restoration Pill are all inside, along with three sets of Huangji Pill ingredients and nine sets of Dou Ling Pill ingredients.
After Elder Xiao finishes his task, then let him refine the Elixir, as Elder Wang's matter is the most crucial." Yun Ji handed a storage ring to Yun Yun.
"By the way, Young Master Xiao Li is currently in the Tagor Desert. I have a map here, Yun'er, just follow the map. There's a volcano there, and Xiao Li is there." Yun Shan handed the map to Yun Yun, which he had asked Hai Bodong to draw.
Since Hai Bodong went to the Tagor Desert a few months ago to search for a Heavenly Flame, he had a great battle with Queen Medusa. Since then, Hai Bodong seemed to have disappeared.
The high-ranking officials of the Jia Ma Empire all thought that Hai Bodong had died at the hands of Queen Medusa. Hai Bodong's disappearance severely affected the Mittel Family.
As for who was suppressing the Mittel Family? It was already self-evident; only one person in the entire Jia Ma Empire enjoyed suppressing various forces.
Although the Mittel Family declined due to the disappearance of the Grand Elder Hai Bodong, they were still one of the four great Families. The Cloud Mist Sect and the Xiao Family secretly supported them.
The Cloud Mist Sect's decision was Yun Shan's intention; as an old friend, Yun Shan did not want Hai Bodong's Family to be destroyed. As for the Xiao Family, it was because they had many dealings with the Mittel Family, and they did not want the Mittel Family to suffer any misfortune.
Moreover, after so many years of trade, the high-ranking members of the Xiao Family and the Mittel Family had developed feelings for each other, and there were also intermarriages between them, so Xiao Lin would not sit idly by... Tagor Desert, volcanic range.
"Hmm? Why is Elder Wang's vitality declining?!" Xiao Ting regularly checked Elder Wang's body, but today he discovered that the vitality within Elder Wang's body was actually declining!
Rumble—
Suddenly, the massive energy vortex slowly rotating in the sky gradually stopped operating. Immediately, vast energy poured down like a torrential rain, finally transforming into a colossal energy torrent like a mountain flood.
The energy torrent directly injected below the volcano. Before long, a figure in a green robe flew out.
"Breakthrough! Dou Huang! The commotion is even greater than when I did it back then? As expected of my Xiao Family's Qilin!" Xiao Ting stroked his beard and laughed.