In the dense forest, sunlight filtered through layers of leaves, casting dappled light on the ground.
Suddenly, a figure in black robes streaked through the air, muttering to himself, his voice filled with irrepressible joy.
"Teacher, we now have two Heavenly Flames. If we trade with Chen Xiao one more time when we get back, you'll be resurrected soon!"
Undoubtedly, this was Xiao Yan.
Having successfully refined the Yin-Yang Dual Flames and then the Volcanic Rock Flame, Xiao Yan's confidence soared, and he believed even more strongly in the information provided by Chen Xiao.
Although they had traveled halfway across the Dou Qi Continent for these two Heavenly Flames, it was still countless times faster than his previous painstaking searches.
He hadn't forgotten how he'd finally found traces of the Green Lotus Core Flame in the desert and prepared for months, only to find a swaying green vine upon entering the lava.
Then there was the Fallen Heart Flame in Jia Nan Academy. The master and disciple had schemed for over a year, but in the end, they tried to steal a chicken only to lose the bait. Not only did they fail to obtain the Heavenly Flame, but they also offended Jia Nan Academy and were subsequently expelled by Su Qian.
Compared to that, the information on the two Heavenly Flames provided by Chen Xiao was far simpler, with minimal competition and only about half a year's time.
If this happened a few more times…
The more Xiao Yan thought about it, the more excited he became, as if he saw a bright future.
"Little Yanzi, you can't just think about the good aspects of things. After two trades, we have less and less that can attract Chen Xiao. The next trade won't be so simple."
Yao Chen's slightly low voice echoed in Xiao Yan's mind. He wasn't as optimistic as Xiao Yan.
During their last trade, Yao Chen had noticed that Chen Xiao seemed to lack nothing.
Dou Skills, Cultivation Techniques, methods for soul cultivation, Soul Skills, he even had a Heavenly Flame, the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, just like his own.
For him, the foremost Alchemist in the Central State, to be unable to offer anything enticing made Yao Chen quite troubled.
Being doused with cold water by Yao Chen, Xiao Yan sobered up considerably, his joyous expression subsiding a bit.
"Teacher, I understand. But no matter what, we must trade with him one more time. When we get back this time, I want to resurrect you as soon as possible!"
Hearing this, Yao Chen felt a warmth in his heart.
However, the more confidently Xiao Yan spoke, the more a sense of unease uncontrollably welled up in his heart.
Yet, he couldn't find any reason for this unease.
He just felt that after leaving the southern part of the continent, the closer they got to the Beast Region, the stronger this unease became.
"Little Yanzi, let's take a detour back to Starfall Pavilion. I have a bad feeling in my heart."
After much deliberation, Yao Chen made his decision.
For cultivators, as their strength increases, their intuition also becomes sharper.
This intuition was mysterious yet real, and countless powerful individuals had benefited from it.
Hearing Yao Chen's reminder, Xiao Yan, maintaining his Dou Qi wings, hovered in mid-air.
"Teacher, should we notify Uncle-Master Feng?"
Just as Yao Chen hesitated, a sudden laugh echoed through the sky. Immediately, the space within a thousand feet around Xiao Yan distorted, forming an invisible barrier.
"Hehehehe, I've been waiting for a long time. Yao Chen, Xiao Yan, you've finally arrived!"
Hearing the distinctive sinister laughter, Xiao Yan's expression changed drastically.
He looked up abruptly and saw a black mist suddenly appear in the void ahead. Accompanied by the clanking sound of chains, an old man in grey and white robes slowly emerged, looking at them with a smile.
"A Dou Zun expert?!"
With a single glance, Xiao Yan's heart sank. Without any hesitation, he took out a jade slip and crushed it.
"Star-Picking Old Ghost? It's you! How did you know our whereabouts?"
A white light flashed from Xiao Yan's fingers, and Yao Chen appeared, his expression changing as he looked at the old man opposite them. He said in a deep voice.
Star-Picking Old Ghost was well-known on the Central State Continent, and Yao Chen's knowledge allowed him to recognize him.
If this were his peak period in the past, Yao Chen wouldn't have paid much attention to such a person. But now, this was definitely a fatal threat!
"Hehehehe, Yao Chen, the Hall Master values you greatly. Upon learning of your whereabouts half a year ago, he ordered me to go to the Northwest. Unfortunately, that Wind Honored One got there first. But it doesn't matter, you can't hide forever. The information of my Soul Hall is more terrifying than you imagine."
Star-Picking Old Ghost looked down at the person and soul opposite him from afar, his demeanor arrogant, not taking the two of them seriously at all.
His gaze shifted from Yao Chen to Xiao Yan.
"Xiao Yan, you're a survivor. That thing should be on you too. Although your father refused to budge, you are the most promising in the Xiao family now. It's safest to have the key with you."
"Key? What key?"
Xiao Yan looked confused, keenly sensing that this might be the key to the Xiao family's downfall.
But he didn't have time to think further, his attention drawn to the news about Xiao Zhan, a murderous intent welling up in his eyes.
"What did you do to my father!"
Seeing Xiao Yan's reaction, Star-Picking Old Ghost also became suspicious.
After all, Xiao Yan's expression didn't seem fake; he truly seemed unaware of the key.
Shaking his head slightly, Star-Picking Old Ghost gave up on further questioning. Anyway, once he captured them, he would naturally find out.
"Fine, enough idle talk. I will take you back to reunite with your father."
The Star-Picking Old Ghost chuckled softly, extending a pale hand from his sleeve. Vast black mist surged forth, instantly condensing into a massive, ten-zhang black mist palm print that clawed directly at the master and disciple duo.
Whoosh~
Hearing the terrifying sound of the incoming rush, Xiao Yan's expression changed drastically. Although he wanted to dodge, as a mere Dou Wang, he was completely unable to move. He could only watch helplessly as the giant palm print descended.
Bang!
"Xiao Yan, hurry and escape towards Starfall Pavilion!"
At this critical juncture, Yao Chen repelled Xiao Yan with a palm strike, sending him a hundred zhang away. The cold white flame within his body surged out, covering the sky and earth, transforming into a boundless sea of fire that resolutely met the palm print.
In his haste, he had forgotten that this space had already been sealed by the Star-Picking Old Ghost. With Xiao Yan's strength, breaking through the spatial barrier was impossible.
"Hiss!"
The surging sea of fire collided with the palm print, like a massive rock falling into the sea, utterly unable to halt its advance.
The flames were being shattered, dispersed in large swathes, turning into countless specks of starlight.
Yao Chen, who could only unleash Dou Zong level strength even when borrowing Xiao Yan's body, was now fighting in his soul form. Before the Star-Picking Old Ghost, he was no match for him!
Fortunately, the Star-Picking Old Ghost didn't intend to kill Yao Chen directly; capturing him alive was his objective.
Effortlessly breaking through the cold white sea of fire, the Star-Picking Old Ghost moved his wrist. The giant palm print suddenly accelerated, leaving Yao Chen no time to self-destruct his soul before it ruthlessly crushed him into his grasp!
Suffering such a heavy blow to his soul body, Yao Lao's form almost instantly became as transparent as water.
Clearly, even though the Star-Picking Old Ghost had held back considerably, he had still inflicted severe damage on Yao Chen.
"Heh heh heh, Yao Chen, I promised the Hall Master that I would never let you escape a second time!"
Bringing Yao Chen before him and gazing at his now almost transparent form, the Star-Picking Old Ghost's sinister laughter echoed once more.
"Teacher!!!"
Witnessing Yao Chen's capture with his own eyes, Xiao Yan, who was far away, had his eyes split open with rage.
Even when Xiao Zhan was captured before, he hadn't witnessed it firsthand like this.
At this moment, Xiao Yan's hatred for the Soul Hall truly reached its zenith!
Escape? He couldn't escape!
Resist? How could he resist?
Xiao Yan's eyes turned red, his fists clenched tightly, his fingers digging into his palms as if feeling no pain.
"Don't rush, it's your turn now."
The Star-Picking Old Ghost smiled peacefully, his face devoid of its previous ferocity, as if he were doing a good deed.
As his voice fell, he extended a finger and lightly tapped towards Xiao Yan.
If it weren't for his duty, a Dou Wang of Xiao Yan's caliber wouldn't even qualify to make him act.
As the fatal crisis loomed, Xiao Yan thought of every possibility but still couldn't find a way to break free.
All his methods were like a paper tiger in the face of absolute power!
"Old ghost! Didn't you want to capture me? I, Xiao Yan, would rather die with my body unwhole than fall into your hands! Take your doubts and go to hell!"
As it turned out, when people are truly desperate, they can actually laugh.
Facing the Star-Picking Old Ghost, Xiao Yan couldn't think of any solution. The only way he could think of to disgust the Star-Picking Old Ghost was to die rather than fall into his hands, thus cutting off the Star-Picking Old Ghost's possibility of finding the key from him!
With a mad laugh, Xiao Yan raised his hands to the sky, placing them in front of him. After a slight pause, black and white flames surged from his left hand, followed closely by dark red flames appearing on his right.
Then, under the slightly surprised gaze of the Star-Picking Old Ghost, he violently slammed the two flames together!
Instantly, an energy fluctuation far exceeding Xiao Yan's current realm erupted from his palms.
Under the Star-Picking Old Ghost's coercion, the Buddha's Rage Fire Lotus, though late, had arrived!
Sensing the energy fluctuation that surpassed Xiao Yan's control, Yao Lao weakly looked at Xiao Yan. His lips moved, but he couldn't utter a word of warning.
After all, compared to falling into the hands of the Soul Hall, dying in a moment of madness was not necessarily a bad outcome.
"Little fellow, what a shame. With more time, you wouldn't be inferior to anyone. You go first, and Teacher will come to accompany you."
His gaze seemed to pierce through the darkness, directly at Xiao Yan in the distance. Yao Chen gave a tragic smile, and a wisp of white flame shot out from between his brows, finally streaking like lightning through space and directly into Xiao Yan's forehead, where it gradually formed a white flame imprint.
He saw Xiao Yan's madness.
Even Yao Chen didn't think Xiao Yan could succeed.
Since death was inevitable, he didn't mind letting Xiao Yan shine even brighter.
Even if it was only for a moment!
Understanding Yao Chen's thoughts, Xiao Yan's frenzied expression didn't change at all. With a thought, the cold white flame surged out again, and he unhesitatingly poured it into the brilliant flames before him.
Visibly, the destructive energy in his palm was nearing a state of uncontrollability. Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, only to be instantly evaporated by the high temperature.
His eyes were bloodshot, and his body trembled violently!
Looking at this scene, the Star-Picking Old Ghost slightly shook his head.
Like ants trying to shake a giant tree, how laughable and overestimating oneself.
He had actually thought Xiao Yan would give him some kind of surprise, and had even deliberately slowed his attack, giving Xiao Yan ample time. But now, it seemed to be nothing more than the futile struggles of a dying man.
With three Heavenly Flames, there was no possibility of Xiao Yan successfully fusing them. This had far exceeded the limits of what Xiao Yan could control!
With this thought, Star-Picking Old Ghost cast a disappointed glance at Xiao Yan and prepared to intervene. The giant finger, which had been hanging in the air without falling, finally descended without hesitation, its target aimed directly at the brilliantly colored destructive flame in Xiao Yan's hand.
Star-Picking Old Ghost dared to give Xiao Yan time because he was absolutely confident he could stop him at any moment.
In the face of a Dou Zun expert, Xiao Yan's idea of disgusting him with his death was actually completely unrealistic.
If Star-Picking Old Ghost didn't want him to, it would be difficult for Xiao Yan to even die!
The giant finger struck directly at Xiao Yan's palm. However, just as it was about to make contact, a cluster of cold white flame, no bigger than a candle flame, appeared behind Xiao Yan like a ghost, and with lightning speed, it tore through the air, directly incinerating the giant finger into nothingness!
The sudden turn of events made Star-Picking Old Ghost's brow twitch.
Although his strike was extremely casual, without the power of a Dou Zun, no one could have stopped it.
"Who!"
Realizing that a mysterious powerful individual had intervened, Star-Picking Old Ghost's palm suddenly pierced through Yao Chen's body. Black energy surged, instantly and forcefully absorbing him into a mass of black mist. Only then did he vigilantly scan his surroundings.
Upon seeing the intact spatial barrier, Star-Picking Old Ghost couldn't help but wonder if he was mistaken.
But as soon as this thought arose, Star-Picking Old Ghost was horrified to see four figures, entirely shrouded in black robes, silently appear above Xiao Yan's head.
Dou Zun! Dou Zun! Still Dou Zun!
Among these four, Star-Picking Old Ghost could sense that three of them were actually genuine Dou Zun experts!
As for the last one, when Star-Picking Old Ghost probed him, the person seemed to not exist at all, completely empty!
He certainly wasn't hallucinating. There was only one explanation for this situation.
This person's strength was immense.
So strong that he, a peak Five-Star Dou Zun, couldn't perceive him at all!
Under Star-Picking Old Ghost's gaze, one of the four stepped forward. He glanced at Xiao Yan below, reached out his hand, and the brilliantly colored ball of fire, which was about to completely spiral out of control and erupt, fell into his palm. Like peeling back layers of silk, he swiftly combed through its energy.
Seeing this, Star-Picking Old Ghost was completely convinced that these four had an unknown connection to Xiao Yan!
Without the slightest hesitation, Star-Picking Old Ghost quietly removed the spatial barrier, tore open a spatial rift, and slipped into it.
The moment he entered the spatial rift, Star-Picking Old Ghost noticed that the black-robed figure who had given him a fatal sense of threat glanced at him. The gaze was as calm as still water, as if he were watching an ant wriggling.
This kind of look was exactly how he had looked at Xiao Yan just now!
Fortunately, the other party did not make a move to stop him.
On the other side, in just a few short breaths, the destructive ball of fire, which could have terrified even a Dou Huang expert, was completely sorted out by the mysterious black-robed figure, as if it had never appeared.
He glanced at Xiao Yan, whose face was pale and looked as if he had been drained, struggling to even maintain his Dou Qi wings in mid-air. He could sense Xiao Yan's urgency and spoke softly.
"Yao Chen will be fine. You should rest and recover first."
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