Four strange flames continuously burned the "Earth Demon Old Ghost".
As time went by, three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Wisps of black energy rose from the body of the "Earth Demon Old Ghost," and in Xiao Yan's soul perception, the soul of the Heavenly Fire Venerable and the body of the "Earth Demon Old Ghost" became more and more integrated.
The old doctor looked at the scene before him and smiled calmly.
"It looks like we're about to succeed!"
While controlling the intensity of the strange fire, Xiao Yan laughed and said, "I just wonder how much strength Senior Tianhuo can recover."
"Although it contains the essence blood of a ninth-tier magical beast, the essence blood is too ancient, and much of its internal energy has been lost."
"Moreover, the pills used were merely Yin-Yang Life Soul Pills, and his body was only at the Dou Zong level."
After listening, Yao Lao laughed and said, "Don't worry, although this configuration still has many flaws, with the essence and blood of a ninth-order magical beast as a foundation, it can at least restore the strength of a Dou Zun. If you are lucky, it is not impossible to restore the peak."
"Moreover, the blood essence of a ninth-tier magical beast has another function, which is to raise the upper limit of Brother Tianhuo."
"Otherwise, if you only use the essence blood of an eighth-order magical beast, even if Brother Tianhuo is resurrected, he will likely have no hope of becoming a Battle Saint."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan thought for a moment. Indeed, the original work mentioned that Venerable Tianhuo was limited by the resurrection materials, resulting in his strength being only a one-star Dou Zun after his resurrection. He only regained his peak strength after taking an eighth-grade pill, Fuling Qingdan.
Afterwards, Venerable Tianhuo joined the Starfall Pavilion and became an elder of the Starfall Pavilion. With the continuous help of Elder Yao and the support of top-grade pills, he broke through to the level of a half-saint.
However, he was ultimately limited by his physical body and found it difficult to break through to the level of Fighting Saint.
However, the configuration of the Heavenly Fire Venerable's resurrection this time is much stronger than in the original work. Xiao Yan thinks that he can at least recover the strength of a three-star Dou Zun.
Even with the essence blood of a ninth-tier magical beast, Xiao Yan still held a sliver of hope that he could recover to his peak condition.
Two more hours have passed!
The face of the "Earth Demon Old Ghost" began to change gradually, gradually resembling the appearance of the Heavenly Fire Venerable's soul.
In addition, the aura emanating from the "Earth Demon Old Ghost" became increasingly powerful.
until…
Boom—
A deafening roar echoed throughout the palace, and an aura of dominance erupted from the "Earth Demon Old Ghost" as if a sleeping dragon had suddenly awakened.
No!
He can no longer be called "Old Demon of the Earth".
He should now be called—
Venerable Heavenly Fire!
The Heavenly Fire Venerable, who was suspended in mid-air and being tempered by the four different flames in turn, suddenly opened his eyes, and two sharp and brilliant eyes flashed in them.
A terrifying aura, like a tsunami, surged forth from the Heavenly Fire Venerable's body, covering the entire Flame Alliance region.
Countless people felt this terrifying aura and experienced a sense of dread.
What a terrifying aura! Who is this powerful figure?
The members of the Flame Alliance were shocked, and their gazes turned in unison to the direction from which the aura emanated.
This momentum came quickly and dissipated just as fast!
It vanished in the blink of an eye.
Inside the main hall!
Xiao Yan cupped his hands and smiled at Venerable Tianhuo standing before him, saying, "Congratulations to Senior Tianhuo on being reborn! Your future is limitless, and you are destined to become a Battle Saint!"
The old doctor smiled faintly and said, "Congratulations, Brother Tianhuo, on your return to the peak."
With his keen eyesight, he could tell at a glance that Venerable Tianhuo's strength had recovered to the level of a five-star Dou Zun, truly returning to his peak strength before his death.
This surprised Yao Lao greatly, and he could only attribute all the credit to the blood essence of the ninth-rank demonic beast.
Venerable Tianhuo was equally excited, his face beaming with smiles. He sincerely said, "Young friend Xiao Yan, Brother Yao Chen, thank you both for your great help. I am deeply grateful."
"I, Yaotianhuo, am not an ungrateful bunch. From now on, your affairs are my affairs. If you refuse, may you be punished by both heaven and man."
Xiao Yan hurriedly said, "Senior Tianhuo, you flatter me."
The old doctor looked at Venerable Tianhuo with a smile, a hint of nostalgia flashing in his eyes.
At this moment, Venerable Tianhuo reminded him of an old friend.
I wonder how the Starfall Pavilion has fared under his management since my death.
Half a day later!
A message quickly spread throughout the Flame Alliance!
Venerable Tianhuo Yaotianhuo joined the Flame Alliance and became the Grand Master of the Offering Hall.
This news caused a huge uproar within the Flame Alliance, even alarming the Amethyst Winged Lion King and others.
Everyone was amazed at how rapidly the Yan Alliance had changed; it was no exaggeration to say that it was changing every day.
How long has it been established?
They even have a Dou Zun level expert!
Many powerful individuals who joined the Flame Alliance were secretly delighted, believing that the Flame Alliance's future was bound to be limitless given this trend.
Now that they've joined, they're practically veterans!
...
On the third day after Venerable Heavenly Fire was resurrected, Little Fairy Doctor broke through to the Dou Ling level.
In a small pavilion in the middle of a lake, Xiao Yan held Xiao Yixian's slender waist, quietly feeling the warmth emanating from her.
"Xian'er, congratulations on breaking through to the Dou Ling realm!"
Little Fairy Doctor quietly leaned against Xiao Yan, listening to his congratulations, a serene smile on her face.
"I still think it's not fast enough!"
As she spoke, a hint of sadness flashed in Little Fairy Doctor's eyes, and she said, "Your growth rate is too fast, so fast that I simply cannot keep up with your pace."
Xiao Yan gently kissed Xiao Yixian's fair and smooth forehead, his voice soft.
"The Bodhi Transformation Saliva has already been found in the Black Emperor Sect's treasure vault. Now, all we need to do is find the Seventh-Rank Heavenly Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast Demon Core to refine the Poison Pill. At that time, you will no longer be afraid of the Poison Body erupting."
"You should know that you are a rare and precious poison body, a rare find even in hundreds of years. Once the problem of the poison body's outbreak is solved, your strength will increase rapidly."
"Maybe you'll be able to protect me in the future!"
Xiao Yan reached out and gently brushed Little Fairy Doctor's delicate nose, teasingly.
Upon hearing Xiao Yan's comforting words, a look of longing flashed in Xiao Yixian's eyes, as if she were imagining the scene Xiao Yan had described.
The two sat quietly together, gazing at the distant scenery. The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the lake, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.
The two spent a few days in tenderness until Xiao Ding suddenly approached Xiao Yan.
"Big brother, what brings you here?"
Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Ding in front of him, smiled and invited him to sit down, and made him a cup of tea.
"Can't I come to see you just because I'm busy?"
Xiao Ding rolled his eyes at Xiao Yan, and then the two brothers started chatting.
After some casual conversation, Xiao Ding got down to business.
"Just now, a battle spirit from an outer alliance contacted me through connections, saying he wanted to offer a treasure in exchange for a spot in the inner alliance."
"The treasure this person offered was a fragment of a map, and he himself did not know the specific origin of the fragment, so I consulted the Lion King and the Elder Sea."
"As it turned out, Elder Hai recognized this fragment of the map as the one you needed at a glance, so I delivered it to you."
Xiao Yan was slightly taken aback after listening to Xiao Ding's account.
Fragmented image?
If Hai Bodong could recognize it, it must be the remnant of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame.
Xiao Yan originally thought that since he had already changed the original plot to this extent, this third picture of the remnant of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame might be hard to find.
But I never expected that it would only be this long?
The remnant of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame actually delivered itself to my door!
Even the old master of medicine in the Bone Inflammation Ring felt it was outrageous.
What kind of luck is this?After seeing Xiao Ding off, Yao Lao emerged from the Bone Flame Ring and looked at the remnant of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame in Xiao Yan's hand, and couldn't help but sigh.
"I didn't realize that you've already collected three fragments. You only need one more to restore the position of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame fragment."
Xiao Yan smiled slightly. He knew very well that the incomplete map was not the key to subduing the Pure Lotus Demon Flame.
The one in the fragmented picture is the Pure Lotus Demon Saint!
If he hadn't collected the fragments, even if the Pure Lotus Demon Flame had truly emerged, he might not have taken the risk.
Of course, this was also an unexpected bonus; the unfinished map came uninvited, saving him a lot of trouble.
After obtaining the third fragment of the map, Xiao Yan felt one less burdened.
The person who contributed the fragmented map was thus granted a spot as a member of the inner alliance.
In addition, he received a promise.
As long as he can break through to the Dou Wang level, he can ask Xiao Ding for a Dou Ling Pill!
As soon as this news was released, countless members of the Flame Alliance were envious.
Because what this person gained was not just a spot or a pill.
Most importantly, he has come into the leader's sights, and his future is limitless.
But for Xiao Yan, this was nothing more than a trivial matter.
...
In the spacious, secret hall, a bronze figure knelt on one knee, slowly bowing its head in the direction of Xiao Yan.
After obtaining the third fragment of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, Xiao Yan took the time to refine the Black Emperor Sect Master into a human-demon puppet.
As for the method of creating the human-demon puppet, it was obtained from the Demon Flame Valley.
After being transformed into a human-demon puppet, Mo Tianxing was called Old Mo by Xiao Yan.
Because of the addition of a drop of eighth-order magical beast blood essence, not only did Old Mo retain his strength from his previous life, but he even reached a higher level, becoming a five-star Dou Zong.
Looking at Lao Mo, Yao Lao sighed, "I never imagined that the legendary method of refining the Heavenly Demon Puppet would still remain in Demon Flame Valley."
"Although Lao Mo is currently only the lowest-level human-demon puppet, as long as he continues to temper himself with heavenly lightning, he may have a chance to break through and become a heavenly demon puppet."
"You should know that the Heavenly Demon Puppet has the combat power of a Dou Zun. At that time, it will become a perfect killing machine."
However, Xiao Yan shook his head after hearing this and said, "It's impossible to cultivate it. I myself need to temper my body with heavenly lightning."
"However, it's good to use it as a one-time use tool. We can make another one when we encounter a stronger enemy."
The old doctor nodded and said, "That's true."
Just as I stepped out of the main hall, a beautiful figure came rushing from afar.
The newcomer was dressed in a pink outfit, with a neat high ponytail, and held a long sword in his hand. He was also strong and muscular, and looked very heroic.
The person who arrived was none other than Nalan Yanran.
Upon seeing her, Xiao Yan naturally offered her some encouragement.
"Nalan, you're pretty good!"
"In less than a year, your strength has already broken through to the three-star Dou Wang level, and your Dou Qi has become solidified."
"I heard that not long ago, you joined forces with several other Battle Kings to kill a Battle King from the Black Emperor Sect during a major battle. That's really impressive."
"It's not that exaggerated, it's not that exaggerated!"
Nalan Yanran waved her hands repeatedly, her pretty face slightly flushed.
Actually, she didn't put in much effort when she killed that Black Emperor Sect Dou Huang.
After all, she was only a three-star Dou Wang. No matter how powerful her methods were, she was still somewhat outmatched in front of a Dou Huang.
As they walked and chatted, Nalan Yanran suddenly remembered the purpose of her visit to Xiao Yan.
She looked at Xiao Yan with slightly expectant eyes and said, "Brother Xiao Yan, I heard from our teacher that we will be returning to the Gama Empire in a month or two. Is that true?"
Having been away from home for over a year, Nalan Yanran was starting to miss home.
Xiao Yan smiled calmly upon hearing this and said, "That's right, I still have some matters to attend to when I return to the Gama Empire."
The first thing is naturally to visit my father, and as for the second...
Naturally, the problem of the Yunlan Sect must be solved!
Xiao Yanke hasn't forgotten that there's a Soul Hall Protector hidden within the Yunlan Sect.
You agree, right, Protector He?
After hearing Xiao Yan's affirmation, Nalan Yanran's pretty face became even more expectant.
Besides wanting to see her father and grandfather, Nalan Yanran couldn't help but imagine the shocked looks in their eyes when they saw her current strength.
It's going to be really interesting!
Ultimately, Nalan Yanran's mental age is only that of a teenage girl, and she still has a certain degree of vanity.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan glanced at Nalan Yanran with a half-smile.
Upon noticing Xiao Yan's ambiguous smile, Nalan Yanran couldn't help but show a shy and embarrassed expression on her pretty face.
It was as if Xiao Yan had seen right through her!
Time flies, and two months have passed in the blink of an eye.
Xiao Yan entrusted all affairs of the Yan Alliance to his elder brother, Xiao Ding, and also had Venerable Tianhuo oversee them.
He then set off with Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran to return to the Gama Empire.
Among the three, Nalan Yanran, who was the weakest, was also a Fighting King, so she was extremely fast.
They arrived in the Gama Empire in just two days.
The three figures flashed past the border of the Gama Empire like three streaks of light.
Upon seeing this, the powerful warrior who was stationed on the border of the Gama Empire tensed up. Just as he was debating whether to stop her, Yun Yun took the initiative to reveal her identity, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as they're not enemies, that's fine!
On the other side, Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran had originally planned to part ways with Xiao Yan after entering the territory of the Gama Empire, intending to return to the Yunlan Sect first.
However, Xiao Yan, under the pretext of wanting to see the legendary Gate of Life and Death of the Yunlan Sect, went to the capital with the two of them.
Of course, this was just a reason that Xiao Yan made up on the spot. His main purpose was to kill the Protector of Yunlan Sect.
However, Yunyun did tell him about the Gate of Life and Death.
This relates to some secrets of the Yunlan Sect. The reason she was able to break through to the Douhuang realm in her early thirties is inseparable from the Life and Death Gate.
The three moved extremely fast, and after entering the territory of the Gama Empire, they arrived at Yunlan Sect in just half a day.
When Yunling saw Yunyun and Nalan Yanran, he was dumbfounded.
No, weren't you supposed to be gone for ten years? How come you're back after only a little over a year?
Yunling said that he hadn't yet had enough of the feeling of having absolute power over the Yunlan Sect.
"Elder Yunling, how come you've become so distant after only a little over a year?"
"Are you not welcoming this sect leader?"
Looking at Yun Ling's surprised expression, Yun Yun revealed a calm smile on her elegant face.
Xiao Yan watched the scene unfold before him with a strange sense of amusement.
When Yun Yun was with him, she exuded a gentle, peaceful, and serene aura.
Even within the Flame Alliance, she often displayed this kind of temperament when facing ordinary members of the Flame Alliance.
But at this moment, Yun Yun seemed to exude an air of elegance and nobility.
Xiao Yan felt that Yun Yun's temperament and personality had this seemingly disconnected feeling.
One very important reason is that she has a sense of responsibility towards the Yunlan Sect.
Because this sect was taught to her by her teacher Yunshan, it is extremely important to her.
Therefore, she hoped to govern the Yunlan Sect well and, ideally, to make it stronger.
However, judging from Xiao Yan's contact with Yun Yun.
She was clearly not a qualified sect leader, nor a qualified ruler.
She's too soft-hearted and not ruthless enough.
Upon returning to the Flame Alliance, Xiao Yan planned to find an opportunity to remove her from her position as head of the Enforcement Hall.
Given Yun Yun's personality, Xiao Yan felt that she should honestly become the head of the Offering Hall and focus on her cultivation.
"Sect Master is joking. How could I possibly have such thoughts?"
"I am overjoyed at the return of the sect leader."
A guilty look flashed in Yunling's eyes, but he forced a smile in front of Yunyun.
Seeing this, Yun Yun didn't bother to delve into what Yun Leng was thinking, because she knew without even guessing that Yun Leng definitely didn't want to see her return.
"This is Xiao Yan, the leader of the Yan Alliance. I now work under him."
"The Alliance Leader is visiting our Yunlan Sect today and may stay for a few days."
"Elder Yunling, you will prepare a comfortable residence for the Alliance Leader shortly. Do not neglect him."
Yun Yun first introduced Xiao Yan's identity, and then earnestly instructed Yun Leng.
Although Yunling is extremely selfish, he has a keen eye for talent.
Although the name Xiao Yan sounded very familiar to him, seeing how serious Yun Yun looked, Yun Leng immediately understood.
The man in front of me, who looks almost too young, is definitely not of simple status.
It is very likely that it is one of those old monsters that has become younger.
Therefore, Yun Leng did not think about it in any other way. He simply nodded solemnly to Yun Yun and said, "Please rest assured, Sect Master, Yun Leng will not neglect this senior in the slightest."
After speaking, he smiled and bowed slightly to Xiao Yan, his attitude being extremely respectful.
Yun Yun nodded in satisfaction upon hearing this.
Xiao Yan glanced at Yun Ling briefly before looking away.
He instinctively didn't have a good impression of "Yunling Old Dog," who led the raid on the Xiao family in the original novel.
Seeing this, Yunling was very puzzled.
What's up with this senior?
Why does it feel like he has some issues with me?
Unfortunately, even after racking his brains, Yunling couldn't figure out the reason and could only attribute it to the strange temper of this senior expert.
"Alright, go and prepare. I will take care of the Alliance Leader."
Yun Yun also noticed something amiss and waved for Yun Ling to step back.
Upon hearing this, Yunling immediately cupped his hands and said, "Yes, I will go and arrange accommodations for you, senior!"
After saying that, he quickly retreated.
After Yunling left, Yunyun asked curiously, "Did Yunling offend you?"
"It seems like you have some issues with him."
She knew Xiao Yan's personality; unless there was a real grudge, he wouldn't easily show his displeasure and always spoke in a gentle and amicable manner.
Nalan Yanran also looked at Xiao Yan with a curious gaze.
Xiao Yan casually shrugged and said without thinking, "I don't have any opinions at the moment, I just don't like the look of him."
"This old guy looks like a weasel, he doesn't seem like a good person."
Upon hearing this, Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran showed a look of astonishment.
I initially thought that Xiao Yan disliked Yun Ling for some reason.
But she never expected it was just because she didn't like him.
However, Xiao Yan's next words resonated with them.
Yunling certainly doesn't look like a good person!
"Alright, it's a rare treat for you to come all the way to my Yunlan Sect, let me show you around first."
In front of Xiao Yan, Yun Yun regained her usual gentle and quiet demeanor and smiled gently.
Xiao Yan's gaze swept around the Yunlan Sect, and he smiled, "As you wish!"
To be fair, the scenery of Yunlan Sect is extremely magnificent, with clouds rising and mist swirling, qi surging in the sea of qi, and palaces scattered about, making it seem much more impressive than Yan Alliance.
No wonder Yun Potian, the founder of the Yunlan Sect, established the sect here.
This place truly deserves to be called a treasure!
Subsequently, Xiao Yan, led by Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran, toured the Yunlan Sect.
Along the way, it attracted the attention of many disciples and elders, causing quite a stir.
After all, both Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran hold exceptionally high positions among the disciples of the Yunlan Sect.
Yet these two women are now treating a strange man with such respect and solemnity.
This shocked them immensely!
But then they began to secretly speculate about the identity of this stranger.
Some say Xiao Yan is the young master of a mysterious family, while others say he is an old monster who has reversed his aging process.
Furthermore, the second conjecture was generally accepted by the disciples of Yunlan Sect.
Yun Yun ignored the gazes of the surrounding disciples and simply said, "Go do what you're supposed to do. Are you all very idle?"
"It seems the sect is assigning too few daily training exercises!"
Although Yun Yun's voice wasn't loud, it was amplified by her fighting spirit and reached the ears of all the Yunlan Sect disciples in the vicinity.
Upon hearing this, the disciples scattered like mice that had just encountered a cat, not daring to linger near Xiao Yan and his companions any longer.
Even some elders who were secretly observing withdrew their gazes in dissatisfaction.
Seeing Yun Yun's dignified appearance, Xiao Yan couldn't help but laugh and tease, "Look, isn't she quite dignified? How come she seems so amiable in the Yan Alliance?"
Upon hearing this, Nalan Yanran smiled and said, "Brother Xiao Yan, it's because our teacher's personality isn't like that at all."
"It's only because my master had extremely high expectations for me that I became like this in order to support the Yunlan Sect."
"But I know that the teacher's personality is actually the gentlest."
Yun Yun smiled gently, raised her hand and patted Nalan Yanran's head. Her expression was serene and indifferent, exuding an air of detachment from worldly affairs.
Xiao Yan pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "So, you actually don't like the position of head of the Enforcement Hall either?"
Yun Yun was slightly taken aback, then nodded.
"I see!"
Xiao Yan grinned at Yun Yun and then said, "That was my oversight. I will rearrange things for you when we return to the Yan Alliance."
"Now, continue leading the way. The scenery of Yunlan Sect is quite beautiful!"
Yun Yun smiled slightly and led Xiao Yan on a tour of the Yunlan Sect.
Yunlan Mountain, where the Yunlan Sect is located, is a vast and sprawling mountain range.
Yun Yun quickly led Xiao Yan deeper into the area.
At that moment, Yao Lao's voice suddenly rang in Xiao Yan's mind.
"Little Yanzi, it seems that the Yunlan Sect is not simple after all!"
"Haha, teacher, you sensed it too!" Xiao Yan also communicated with Yao Lao using soul communication.
"Not bad. There are at least two Dou Zong-level auras deep within this Yunlan Sect. That's interesting."
Xiao Yan smiled slightly.
As they ventured deeper into the Yunlan Sect, the presence of Yunshan became completely irrelevant to the spiritual perception of both themselves and Yao Lao, the two alchemists.
Furthermore, besides Yunshan, who had already advanced to the Dou Zong level, Xiao Yan also knew that the other Dou Zong was Protector He.
Xiao Yan was surprised to find him there; what a coincidence! He didn't need to think of any other way to lure him out.
"If I'm not mistaken, one of the dishes should be from Yunshan, the former sect leader of Yunlan Sect," Xiao Yan said, feigning ignorance.
"Haha, whether it is or not, why don't you just ask him yourself?" the old doctor joked.
Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes slightly upon hearing this.
Yes, why not just ask the person directly?
Yunshan had already noticed that there were three of them in his group, hadn't he?
So, to the astonishment of Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran, Xiao Yan turned and looked in one direction.
"Gentlemen, now that you've noticed us, why hide in the shadows and spy on us?"
Why not come out and show yourself?Deep within a cave dwelling of the Yunlan Sect!
A man dressed in a simple white robe, with white hair and a youthful face, sat quietly on a futon, exuding an elegant and extraordinary aura.
On its opposite side, a cloud of black mist floated, from which a strange "heh heh" laugh could be faintly heard.
The identities of the two were obvious; they were Yunshan and the Protector of the Dragon.
Upon hearing Xiao Yan's voice, a look of surprise appeared on Yun Shan's wrinkle-free face.
"The guy outside who was with Yun'er actually noticed our presence."
"But the aura emanating from him should only be that of a fighting spirit. How strange."
Although he was surprised that Xiao Yan could sense his presence with Protector He, Yun Shan quickly frowned.
He didn't care, but he didn't want Protector He to be seen by Yun Yun.
This person's origins are mysterious, and his methods are even more bizarre.
Although he accepted his help when he was desperate, he eventually broke through to the Dou Zong level.
However, Yunshan instinctively sensed that something was amiss and was quite wary of Protector He.
"Protector Lu, please wait here for a moment while I go out and deal with them."
As soon as Yunshan finished speaking, Protector He chuckled strangely, "That won't be necessary. After all, it's rare to meet such a young high-level alchemist. This is truly a rare opportunity."
"High-level alchemist?"
Yunshan was slightly taken aback, but then quickly realized what was happening.
The guy following Yun Yun who sensed him and Protector He only exuded the aura of a fighting spirit. Therefore, the only way he could detect the two of them was through his powerful spiritual energy.
What kind of being possesses such powerful soul force?
That must be a high-level alchemist without a doubt.
Moreover, this alchemist's rank is even higher than Guhe's.
Even with Guhe's soul power, it was not enough to detect his own presence and that of Protector He.
A hint of hesitation appeared on Yunshan's face, although he didn't know how Yunyun had gotten involved with a seventh-grade alchemist.
However, he still did not want the Protectorate to come into contact with it.
However, how could Yunshan possibly stop the decision made by the National Security Law?
After all, even he was able to advance to the Dou Zong level only because he relied on the secret method of Protector He to successfully break through.
The price was that Yunshan would henceforth be subject to the command of the Protector.
Therefore, Yunshan ultimately failed to stop the Protector of the He River and could only wish the mysterious alchemist who was with Yunyun good luck.
Meanwhile, outside the cave!
Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Yan with surprise.
The former asked curiously, "Xiao Yan, you just said that there are two people spying on us nearby?"
Xiao Yan smiled and nodded.
Upon hearing this, Yun Yun frowned.
Suddenly, she realized something and said with a grim expression, "Oh no, the teacher's secluded cultivation place is nearby. Could the person spying on us be targeting the teacher?"
Xiao Yan smiled meaningfully and said, "Why can't this spy be your teacher?"
Yun Yun was taken aback after hearing this, then shook her head and said, "My teacher went into seclusion more than ten years ago and will not come out until he breaks through to the Dou Zong level."
"Besides, the teacher was alone when he went into seclusion, so how could the person spying on him be the teacher?"
Xiao Yan laughed and said, "Whether he is your teacher or not, you can tell at a glance."
"They're here!"
Upon hearing this, Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran immediately followed Xiao Yan's gaze.
Suddenly, a ripple appeared in the distance, and then two figures appeared abruptly.
One of them was dressed in a simple white robe, with an elegant demeanor, white hair, and a youthful face.
Although he looked somewhat different from the image of her teacher in her memory, Yunyun recognized him at a glance as her teacher, Yunshan.
As for the figure next to the teacher, shrouded in darkness and whose general shape could only be vaguely discerned, Yun Yun did not recognize him.
However, the person shrouded in black mist in front of him does look somewhat similar to the black-robed man who followed Mo Tianxing during the Battle of Yan City.
Of course, upon seeing her teacher again after more than ten years, Yun Yun instinctively ignored Protector He who was standing beside Yun Shan, her expression filled with excitement.
"teacher!"
Yunshan looked at Yunyun with satisfaction. After all, she was a disciple he had watched grow up since she was a child, and his feelings for Yunyun were like those of a father and daughter.
Now that he had sensed Yun Yun's strength, he couldn't help but nod in satisfaction.
"A five-star Dou Huang?"
"Not bad, it seems you haven't slacked off all these years."
Upon hearing this, Yun Yun turned her head slightly to glance at Xiao Yan.
Her ability to break through from a three-star Dou Huang to a five-star Dou Huang in just over a year is undoubtedly related to Xiao Yan.
Yunshan noticed this as well, and his brows furrowed slightly.
Could this ridiculously young lad in front of me really be a seventh-grade alchemist?
At his age, it would be an extraordinary talent if he could reach the level of a second-grade alchemist.
The Protector of the Sea shared the same idea as Yunshan.
His eyes, piercing through the darkness, scanned Xiao Yan from head to toe, but no matter how he looked at him, Xiao Yan's aura was nothing more than that of an ordinary fighting spirit.
At his age, it's even less likely that he's a seventh-grade alchemist.
So, Protector Lu was also pondering at this moment, wondering if he had guessed wrong?
But how did this kid know so accurately about himself and Yunshan?
"It's the Soul Palace Protector again!"
"These rats from the gutter are really everywhere!"
Upon seeing Protector Lu's attire and the chilling aura emanating from him, Elder Yao immediately recognized him, his eyes blazing with murderous intent.
"Teacher, don't worry, he can't get away!"
Xiao Yan grinned, his eyes fixed on Protector He, his naked gaze like that of a hunter staring at its prey.
When Protector Lu noticed Xiao Yan's gaze, he instinctively felt a chill run down his spine and a sense of foreboding arose in his heart.
This kid in front of me...
Something's not right!
Not only Protector He, but also Yunshan, Yunyun, and Nalan Yanran noticed that something was wrong.
Seeing this, Yunshan stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting to Xiao Yan.
She was elegant and refined, with an extraordinary demeanor.
"May I ask how I should address you?"
Xiao Yan smiled slightly and said, "Xiao Yan!"
Xiao Yan?
Did the Gama Empire have a Xiao family?
There seemed to be one before, but the strongest was just a Fighting King.
Yunshan pondered for a moment, but the name did not come to mind.
However, a strange expression appeared on the face of Protector He, who was shrouded in darkness.
Is the surname Xiao?
Is this a coincidence?
Protector He suddenly remembered that they had been instructed to search for a clan with the surname Xiao.
Although there are countless Xiao families on the mainland, the area around the Gama Empire seems to be a key observation area assigned by the higher-ups.
Thinking of this, a strange light flashed in Protector Lu's eyes.
Regardless of whether this young man is related to the Xiao clan that their Soul Hall is looking for, wouldn't it be enough to capture him and interrogate him to find out?
It's just a mere spirit fighting creature. Even if it's a bit strange, it's still nothing in the face of absolute power.
He can suppress people with ease!
"Hehehe, Xiao Yan?"
"Boy, I am very interested in you. Surrender and you will suffer less physical pain."
"Otherwise..."
Before Protector Lu could finish speaking, Xiao Yan, who was standing opposite him, smiled and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
"That's brilliant! You actually thought I'd just surrender!"
As the last word faded, the surrounding air suddenly became incredibly thick.
An aura, like that of a primordial beast, suddenly emanated from Xiao Yan's body.
Facing the direction of Protector He, Xiao Yan grinned, revealing a row of gleaming white teeth.
He stretched his limbs and then casually beckoned to Protector He.
"Come on, I hope you can make me have a good time!""Hiss~"
Unaware of Xiao Yan's strength, Yun Shan couldn't help but gasp upon seeing this.
At the same time, he cast a questioning glance at Yunyun, as if to say:
Who exactly is this kid? Has he always been this brave?
Others may not know the strength of Protector Yunshan, but how could he not know?
Although he was also a Dou Zong, he absolutely could not withstand more than ten moves from Protector He!
If he is like this, what about a mere fighting spirit?
However, Xiao Yan looked very confident at the moment.
On the other side, Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of worry in each other's eyes.
Although they didn't know the details of Protector He's background, they did know Xiao Yan.
If he didn't have absolute certainty, would Xiao Yan, given his personality, have said such a thing?
They didn't care whether Protector He lived or died.
But Protector He is with Yunshan.
So they were worried that once Xiao Yan killed Protector He, he might mistakenly think Yun Shan was an accomplice and kill him as well.
Therefore, Yunyun decisively said to Yunshan, "Teacher, come here quickly."
"This is Xiao Yan, the leader of the Yan Alliance. He once killed a nine-star Dou Zong, and now his disciple is also a member of the Yan Alliance."
Yun Yun was also afraid that Yun Shan would get involved, and worried that he wouldn't listen to advice, so she told him about Xiao Yan's achievements and stated her own position.
As expected, Yunshan was greatly alarmed upon hearing this.
At this moment, he disregarded his many doubts and immediately distanced himself from Protector He.
As the saying goes, those who understand the times are the heroes!
Yunshan absolutely believed what Yunyun said.
Since even Yun Yun said that Xiao Yan had killed a Nine-Star Dou Zong, then it absolutely cannot be faked.
As for why he was able to kill a nine-star Dou Zong powerhouse, he only exuded the aura of a Dou Ling level.
Isn't that easy to explain?
There are countless secret techniques in the world that conceal one's true strength, so it's not surprising that Xiao Yan possesses such a technique.
Even Protector He's face showed a solemn expression.
Kill a Nine-Star Dou Zong?
Is it true or false?
In the darkness, Protector He narrowed his eyes and then let out a cold snort.
He wouldn't believe such absurd nonsense!
With a cold glance at Xiao Yan, Protector He unleashed a massive cloud of black mist that instantly covered the sky.
A chilling wind howled, and countless ghosts wailed.
A pair of scarlet eyes then appeared in the black mist, staring intently at Xiao Yan.
"I, the protector, would like to see where you get the audacity to speak to me like that."
The voice of the guardian deity echoed all around, carrying a terrifying pressure.
Nalan Yanran's strength was no match for the Fighting King, and she felt a chill run down her spine and her scalp tingle as she sensed this oppressive aura.
The oppressive aura of Dou Zong is terrifying!
Seeing this, Xiao Yan chuckled and exchanged a glance with Protector He, their eyes seemingly piercing through the black mist.
To outsiders, such laughter sounds contemptuous.
Hehe~
"A four-star Dou Zong?"
"nice!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Yan's blood and qi surged, and crimson clouds soared into the sky.
A surging, crimson mist erupted from Xiao Yan's body, intensely hot, like a furnace radiating astonishing heat.
A blood-red mist shot into the sky and spread.
The moment it came into contact with the black fog, it dissolved the fog, and crimson clouds covered the sky.
Yunshan stared at the scene before him, his face showing shock.
He hadn't expected that Xiao Yan could unleash such a phenomenon, overwhelming Protector He in terms of sheer aura.
In contrast, Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran, having witnessed such scenes before, did not appear surprised.
Protector He also sensed that Xiao Yan was troublesome and made a decisive move.
When it comes to life, face is worthless.
The Protector of the He River acted without warning, without the slightest hesitation.
A jet-black chain shot out from his hand with lightning speed, creating a sonic boom that distorted the space around it.
Bang!
Xiao Yan unleashed a powerful punch, his blood and qi surging, and a wave of heat erupted, instantly annihilating the black mist surrounding the chains.
The fist slammed into the solitary, pitch-black chain, and the terrifying force, amplified by the surge of vital energy, instantly snapped the chain open.
That's it?
Xiao Yan chuckled dismissively.
Thanks to the foundation of the Black Emperor Sect and the Demon Flame Valley, his strength has increased significantly in the past few months compared to the time of that great battle.
He has consumed more than a dozen Grade 7 Energy Gathering Pills, and his Battle Qi has now broken through to the 720th level!
For Xiao Yan, as long as there are resources, there are no bottlenecks at all.
With Xiao Yan's current strength, even if his blood and qi have no effect on the Soul Palace, Xiao Yan is confident that he can suppress Protector He, a four-star Dou Zong, with one hand.
"How is this possible!"
When Protector Yu saw that his attack had been easily blocked by Xiao Yan, he was immediately shocked and retreated hastily.
Several beads of cold sweat were visible on his gaunt face, which was shrouded in a black robe.
Oops!
Could this person really kill a Nine-Star Dou Zong?
If that's the case, he would have to run away immediately.
"Try him again!"
Protector Lu gritted his teeth and finally made up his mind.
If he were to escape without any resistance, how could he be content with that?
What if Xiao Yan is just bluffing?
All thoughts flashed by in the blink of an eye.
Protector He made his move again, forming a hand seal.
In an instant, the energy of heaven and earth converged above him, forming an energy vortex.
Boom!
With a deafening sound that echoed through the sky, a beam of energy plummeted from the vortex and merged into the slightly deformed chains of the Guardian.
Protector He's gaze sharpened, and he shouted in a deep voice.
"Hundred Souls Domain Lock!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Protector He suddenly swung out the chain in his hand, and countless black mists surged out from behind him once again.
Countless ghosts seemed to be howling in the black fog, revealing pairs of scarlet eyes that were like venomous snakes as they lunged at Xiao Yan.
"A mere trick!"
Xiao Yan gave a soft shout and raised his hand to grab.
A giant hand of qi and blood suddenly condensed in the sky, grabbed at the surging black mist, and then squeezed down sharply.
Sizzle~
The black mist melted the instant it came into contact with the giant hand of qi and blood, revealing the pitch-black chains within.
Click!
After the powerful Qi and Blood Hands grasped the chains, the Guardian's attack also vanished, appearing to have started strong but ended weakly.
Upon seeing this, the Protector of the Hell immediately showed a look of horror on his face.
The fact that this person could so easily withstand my ultimate fighting technique means that their strength must be unfathomable.
I'm afraid he really has the strength to kill a nine-star Dou Zong!
As soon as he thought of this, a ripple appeared in the space around the Protector.
Without the slightest hesitation, he decisively chose to slip away.
However, before he could act, an old, mocking voice suddenly rang out.
"Trying to leave?"
"It's not that easy!"
"Space lockdown!"
As soon as he finished speaking, an old figure appeared in mid-air, pushing his hands out to seal off the surrounding space.
The Protector was instantly frozen in place, as if he had hit a solid wall.
"Damn it, there's another expert!"
Protector He cursed and suddenly looked up in the direction from which the sound came from.
But when he saw the old man's figure in his line of sight, he froze on the spot, his face full of disbelief.
"Medicine dust!"
"It was you! You're not dead!"