Word Count: 2,701 Words
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Xiao Yan's heart blazed with excitement. If even Nalan Yanran knew Ya Fei was looking for him, it had to be something extremely important. She must have asked everyone she could find.
From the Hun Clan's intelligence network, he already knew that all the Dou God Clans were watching the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame like hawks. Whether it was the Hun Clan, Gu Clan, Yan Clan, or Lei Clan, every single one had their eyes locked on it.
Even for the Dou God Clans, the most powerful factions on the Dou Qi Continent, the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame was a treasure without equal.
It was common knowledge among the truly top-tier powers that the flame would surface within the next few years. Rumor had it the Hall of Souls had long since dispatched experts to monitor every location where it might possibly appear.
"Thanks." Xiao Yan waved a hand casually. His figure transformed into a streak of rainbow light as he shot toward the Miteer Auction House headquarters in Jia Ma Sacred City and vanished from sight.
Nalan Yanran watched him disappear in a flash. Her right hand tightened around her sword hilt as she huffed indignantly. "What's he running off for in such a hurry..."
A few seconds later, Xiao Yan's unhurried voice drifted back from far in the distance. "Your cultivation is lagging behind. Go look into some inheritance sites. If you can't conquer one yourself, just say the word and I'll help."
Nalan Yanran jerked her head toward the horizon where his voice had come from. "Who needs your help..." she muttered softly. Yet despite the words, the corners of her lips curved upward in a smile she couldn't quite suppress.
…
At the Miteer Auction House headquarters, Hai Bodong sat slumped in the main hall, his face full of frustration.
Ya Fei, who now held full control over the Miteer Auction House, lounged in the president's chair. She couldn't help letting out a laugh. She knew perfectly well why Hai Bodong was in such a mood.
The reason was simple: Hai Bodong had gotten overconfident!
Back in Saint Zhao Hua's ruins, his cultivation had already been hovering just shy of the Dou Venerate realm. After returning from that inheritance site with a haul of resources and pills, he had thrown himself into preparing for a breakthrough.
Recently, after reaching peak 9-star Dou Ancestor, he had obtained a peak tier 7 Venerate Breaking Pill from First Elder Ye Zhong of the Medicine Hall, hoping to break through to Dou Venerate at last and become a true Venerable Bing Hai!
The result? Complete failure.
To add insult to injury, thanks to Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran's rapid advances, his ranking among the Yan Alliance's top ten experts had dropped. Though he still technically counted among the ten great experts, he now occupied last place.
"Old Hai, once little brother Xiao Yan returns, his alchemy will definitely help you break through to Dou Venerate," Ya Fei said with an easy smile. For an alchemist of Xiao Yan's caliber, helping a Dou Ancestor take that final step was merely a matter of some effort.
"Sigh, I don't want to keep relying on that brat's help." Hai Bodong let out a long breath. He remembered when he had still been Xiao Yan's protector, fighting side by side against the Sky Serpent Mansion, roaming the continent together.
Although he knew surpassing Xiao Yan was impossible, sometimes he just wanted to stand on his own two feet.
A sudden burst of laughter rang out from the doorway. "Old Hai, saying that puts me in the position of an ungrateful wretch."
Both Hai Bodong and Ya Fei turned toward the entrance. A familiar figure stood there, grinning.
Who else could it be but Xiao Yan?
"Little brother Xiao Yan! You're back!" Joy lit Ya Fei's eyes, though she quickly tempered her emotions. She rose gracefully from the chair and walked toward him with measured, unhurried steps.
Even with Cai Lin and Xun Er absent, Ya Fei understood boundaries perfectly.
"Mm. Just came back from the Gu Clan." Xiao Yan smiled and strode into the hall. A sweep of his Spiritual Strength instantly revealed Hai Bodong's problem.
"Old Hai, your foundation is solid. Your breakthrough failed only because you rushed it. You still haven't fully mastered the Ice Venerate Strength Qi Method."
Hai Bodong had switched to the Ice River Valley's Ice Venerate Strength several years ago. It was a High Di Class Qi Method and a completely new system for him. He had yet to fully comprehend its mysteries, so his attempt to break through by forcefully circulating his Dou Qi had naturally ended in failure.
"Sigh, realizing it now is too late," Hai Bodong muttered. He knew very well he had been too hasty and should have devoted more time to cultivation.
A sly smile tugged at Xiao Yan's lips. "You know, breaking through doesn't always require pills."
???
Hai Bodong's face twisted in confusion. Before he could react, Xiao Yan formed a hand seal. Golden light exploded outward with a low hum, instantly enveloping Hai Bodong from head to toe. A broad, sweeping motion of Xiao Yan's hand wove a temporary Space Lock into existence, and a casual flick of his finger sent the Bone Chilling Flame flowing into that sealed space, banishing Hai Bodong directly into the void.
In a single instant, using the Asura Soul Reaping Technique's illusion realm together with the Bone Chilling Flame, Xiao Yan had created a temporary ice-attribute secret realm!
It was crude and mostly illusory, but with the Bone Chilling Flame as a foundation, even illusion took on lethal reality!
"Good luck, Old Hai! I know you can walk out of this ice domain alive!" Xiao Yan's cheerful voice echoed into the temporary realm before he sealed the space shut with a wave.
Since the old fellow wants to prove himself and rely on his own strength, then let him rely on his own strength.
Xiao Yan's current power could only be described as terrifying. He could casually create a secret realm at the peak Dou Ancestor level!
Ya Fei watched slack-jawed as Xiao Yan transported Hai Bodong away, banished him into the void, and then fashioned a temporary secret realm out of thin air.
"Will Elder Hai be alright?" she asked softly.
"Don't worry. With Old Hai's abilities, I'm confident he'll walk out alive." Xiao Yan nodded.
"Alive?" Ya Fei blinked. There's actually mortal danger???
Then she caught the look on his face and realized Xiao Yan was teasing her.
"So now you're even playing tricks on your elder sister?" She shot him a charming, smoldering glare.
Xiao Yan chuckled and dropped into a chair, finally turning the conversation back to business. "Sister Ya Fei, you had people out looking for me. Is there news about the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame's map fragment?"
The mention of business caused Ya Fei's playful demeanor to shift seamlessly into professional focus. She nodded and produced several documents from her storage ring as she sat beside him. "We haven't obtained the fragment yet, but we do have a solid lead."
Xiao Yan's spirits soared as he fought to contain his excitement. Three out of four! Finally, they had found it! Being stuck at three fragments had made his heart itch unbearably for years!
Delight spread across his face. The Purifying Lotus Demon Flame had always been the Heavenly Flame he yearned for most. Its third-place ranking on the Heavenly Flame Ranking proved its might. With his current strength, if he could devour and refine it, his merged Heavenly Flames would evolve to unimaginable heights!
"Where is it?"
"In the Central Plains. Every so often, a special spatial trade fair is held there. It's the largest and most exclusive trade fair in the entire region," Ya Fei said with a smile. She knew Xiao Yan would never have paid attention to such news and continued her explanation. "The minimum requirement to attend is peak Dou Ancestor. To set up a stall, you need the backing of a Dou Venerate-level faction, or you must be a long-established expert with considerable renown."
"Peak Dou Ancestor just to get in? Dou Venerate-level strength to qualify for a stall?!"
Xiao Yan couldn't hide his astonishment. Those entry requirements were insane!
He now understood that the so-called Four Pavilions were merely peripheral factions on the Central Plains' borders. Many stronger factions existed. The Four Pavilions' fame mainly came from their locations on the outer rim, where they bordered other regions. For newcomers entering the Central Plains from the North-Western Region like he had, it was easy to mistake them for true giants.
Simply put, their marketing was excellent.
In reality, countless powerful factions in the Central Plains kept their true strength hidden. The factions that had attended the Gu Clan's coming-of-age ceremony, for instance, were all connected to the Dou God Clans. Usually, they competed for resources in void-suspended secret realms and treasure lands like the Void Lightning Pool.
Those Dou God Clan-affiliated factions possessed real power. The Hall of Souls, for example, was nothing more than the Hun Clan's subordinate force, much like the five great clans beneath the Pill Tower.
Clans like the Cao and Dan possessed strength that surpassed even the Ice River Valley or Sound Valley.
"The final map fragment for the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame will appear at this spatial trade fair?" Xiao Yan pressed.
"Mm." Ya Fei nodded. "The person who obtained the final fragment realized it concerned the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame and has kept it hidden until now. They only plan to sell it at this upcoming trade fair."
She glanced at Xiao Yan, then added, "This is thanks to what little brother Xiao Yan accomplished half a year ago. The trade fair's organizers shared this intelligence with me."
The spatial trade fair's organizers wouldn't necessarily give her face, but they couldn't afford not to give Xiao Yan some. Among everyone, Ya Fei probably invoked Xiao Yan's name the most; she was, in practice, his chief secretary.
Especially after what he had done half a year earlier, which had shocked numerous hidden Central Plains factions. That was what allowed Ya Fei to obtain advance intelligence about the trade fair and learn early on that the finale item would be the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame's map fragment.
When she mentioned the events from half a year ago, Xiao Yan didn't connect the dots at first. Then it clicked. Three years in the Heavenly Tomb equaled half a year outside. His overwhelming victory over Gu Qing Yang at the Gu Clan's coming-of-age ceremony and his proposal to Xun Er using a nine-colored Pill Beast had all happened half a year ago!
Only a select few factions had known about the Gu Clan's ceremony, but those who did were all hidden powerhouses, the very ones who took part in the spatial trade fair.
Now, when people discussed Xiao Yan, they no longer spoke of him only as the Pill Gathering champion. His new title carried far greater weight: the Gu Clan's Prince Consort!
Wasn't he literally the Gu Clan's son-in-law? That status commanded infinitely more respect than 'Pill Gathering champion' ever could!
Walking the Dou Qi Continent, who would dare refuse to respectfully call him 'Brother Yan'? It was the pinnacle of a man's lifetime achievements, and Xiao Yan had done it!
Only then had Ya Fei truly grasped how exalted Xun Er's status was. The number of women on the Dou Qi Continent whose standing surpassed hers could be counted on one hand.
She finally understood why Xiao Yan cultivated so desperately.
"Er, well..." Xiao Yan coughed twice and rubbed his nose, a touch embarrassed.
Ya Fei let it drop. She knew she couldn't compare to Xun Er and understood her own boundaries perfectly.
"The map fragment will be the auction's finale item. Its owner wants to exchange it for something truly worthwhile. The price won't be low."
Xiao Yan nodded. "How long until the spatial trade fair?"
"Half a year." Ya Fei continued, "The trade fair is held roughly once every decade. Each time, astonishing treasures appear; even Tian Class Dou Techniques have shown up. Most trades are barter only. Although the Yan Alliance has grown rapidly over the past few years, we've also spent a great deal. Securing the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame's fragment may stretch our resources."
At a trade fair of this level, gold coins were entirely worthless. With peak Dou Ancestor as the entry requirement, everything inside catered to cultivators at that level or higher.
High-grade tier 7 pills were the bare minimum!
To participate in trades there, one needed items worth at least a tier 8 pill. Of course, pills remained the Dou Qi Continent's hard currency, and virtually all high-level trades used them.
"Half a year... more than enough time for alchemy." Confidence gleamed in Xiao Yan's eyes.
With Saint Zhao Hua's medicinal forest in his hands, he was essentially the wealthiest person beneath tier 9!
A trade fair? He, Xiao Yan, fully intended to sweep it clean.
In half a year, he would show them all what true wealth meant!
'I already possess three fragments. No matter what, I must obtain the fourth.' A sharp, determined glint flashed through his gaze. The Purifying Lotus Demon Flame was already within his grasp; he would not let it slip away!
Ya Fei smiled faintly. "Rest assured, little brother Xiao Yan. This spatial trade fair has become the Yan Alliance's top priority. Everything will revolve around it. Cai Lin will temporarily set aside the war and meet up with you before heading to the fair."
Although the Wind Lightning Pavilion had dissolved, the alliance between the Profound Sky Sect and the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe persisted. In recent years, the Yan Alliance and the Profound Sky Alliance had become mortal enemies, clashing constantly. Their struggle over ruins and secret realms had resulted in mounting casualties on both sides.
Because of Yun Yun, the Flower Sect maintained a quasi-alliance with the Yan Alliance. That, in turn, had infuriated the Profound Sky Sect, who had originally planned to ally with the Flower Sect themselves. The conflict had only grown more intense.
How could Cai Lin possibly tolerate such provocations? After emerging from seclusion, she had charged straight to the frontlines to battle the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe.
Having absorbed the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's essence blood, her combat strength had skyrocketed. She had repeatedly routed the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe, beating them so badly they abandoned their armor and fled in disarray. But the serpent tribe was enormous, its territories vast. Even with her strength, Cai Lin could only hold the border. Elsewhere, the Yan Alliance remained heavily besieged and struggling to respond.
'The Profound Sky Sect and the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe... I'll have to find a way to settle them sooner or later.' A flash of killing intent crossed Xiao Yan's eyes. Right now, he still couldn't refine tier 9 pills. Otherwise, he could have directly invited the Gu Clan's elders or the First Tianzun to act, and there would be no need for such trouble.
Both the Profound Sky Sect and the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe understood clearly that their conflict with the Yan Alliance could never be resolved peacefully. It was victory or death. There was no middle ground.
This was especially true for the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe. The serpent races of the world had effectively split in two. Many had already joined the Sky Serpent Empire, which Cai Lin had transformed into a second Yellow Springs Mountain Range, gathering countless snake tribes under her banner.
Cai Lin carried the Heaven Swallowing Python bloodline, as did Xiao Cai. Their authority to command the serpent races was actually more legitimate than that of the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe. This struck directly at that tribe's core interests, making reconciliation completely impossible.
Cai Lin, for her part, had no intention of reconciling either. This empress of the serpent race had always dreamed of seizing the Yellow Springs Mountain Range for herself.