Word Count: 3,578 Words
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Xiao Yan calculated the ti. It seed the so-called Four Pavilion Grand eting was indeed drawing near. No wonder he couldn’t sense Jia Xing Tian or the Serene Sea Scaly Beast. Most likely, both were already deep in preparations for the event.
Upon hearing Xiao Yan’s words, Han Xue, the younger of the two sisters, summoned her courage and spoke up, "Grandmaster Xiao Yan, do you an to say..."
Xiao Yan turned to face her, noting the pleading urgency etched across her delicate features. He said with a smile. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend, after all. What’s more, Senior Sister Han Yue once fought by my side as a comrade."
At the ntion of the Core Quenching Body Milk incident, Han Yue’s eyes flickered with a hint of reproach as she shot him a glance. Xiao Yan was montarily stunned before rubbing his nose awkwardly. Clearly, she must have later discovered the truth about the genuine and fake versions of the Core Quenching Body Milk.
Naturally, when she had returned to the underground cave, she would have discovered that the real Core Quenching Body Milk had already been claid by soone else.
There was no question about it. Xiao Yan’s fa in the Inner Academy stemd from his unparalleled alchemy skills. Aside from him, it was unlikely anyone else would have known that the Core Quenching Body Milk could be distinguished as real or counterfeit.
"Ahem, Queen Yao Ye, perhaps we could show so leniency regarding the Han Clan of Tian Bei City joining the Yan Alliance." Xiao Yan glanced at Queen Yao Ye standing nearby and cleared his throat with a subtle nod.
Queen Yao Ye covered her mouth with a delicate hand, letting out a soft chuckle before nodding gracefully. Grandmaster Xiao Yan certainly had romantic entanglents scattered far and wide.
The Yan Alliance comprised four major powers: the Snake-People Tribe, the Jia Ma Empire, the Misty Cloud Sect, and the Xiao Clan. Misty Cloud Sect was responsible for establishing branch sects, recruiting commoner disciples, and expanding influence through a sectarian structure.
The Snake-People Tribe oversaw the integration of magical beasts, such as those from the Magic Beast Mountain Range and the mountains surrounding the Sky Serpent Mansion. At present, they controlled nearly half the territory.
The Jia Ma Empire managed the inclusion of human clans, empires, sects, and other factions while driving the economic growth of the Miteer Auction House. A clan like the Han sisters’ would naturally fall under the jurisdiction of the Jia Ma Empire.
As for the Xiao Clan, it naturally occupied a transcendent position above the rest.
Hearing Xiao Yan’s willingness to accommodate their request, even Han Yue, with her typically cold and reserved deanor, allowed a rare smile to bloom on her face. "Thank you, Xiao Yan," she said, her voice soft yet earnest.
Xiao Yan waved dismissively. "No need for thanks. Tian Bei City lies within the Central Plains territory. This benefits the Yan Alliance’s developnt as well."
"Right now, the Hong Clan must be strutting around, oppressing your Han Clan, isn’t that so?" Xiao Yan asked.
At his words, Han Xue nodded vigorously. After a mont’s hesitation, her fingers tightening around the edge of her sleeve as she asked, "The Wind Lightning Northern Pavilion is just beyond Tian Bei City, and its Pavilion Master, Fei Tian, is an 8-star Dou Ancestor. Our Han Clan stands no chance against him. Grandmaster Xiao Yan, could you intervene to aid us?"
Xiao Yan offered a confident smile. "Since you’re joining the Yan Alliance, you fall under our mutual defense pact. Let Zi Yan handle this. She’s likely been itching for action these past three months."
"Zi Yan? Senior Sister Zi Yan, from the top of the Strong Ranking?!" Han Yue’s eyes widened in surprise. "Has Senior Sister Zi Yan already reached the Dou Ancestor realm?"
"She achieved that quite so ti ago. By now, she’s probably at 2-star or 3-star Dou Ancestor level. Facing an 8-star Dou Ancestor would be just right for her. Anyone weaker, and she wouldn’t even bother," Xiao Yan replied with a light chuckle. Back then, he had promised to bring Zi Yan to the Central Plains, and now the Wind Lightning Northern Pavilion provided a perfect opportunity for her to stretch her muscles.
For individuals like Zi Yan and Little Fairy Doctor, no one besides Xiao Yan could even locate them, let alone command their actions. That was simply out of the question.
Queen Yao Ye smiled and nodded in agreent. "Since Grandmaster Xiao Yan has spoken, the Yan Alliance will dispatch representatives to Tian Bei City, providing essential resources and dicinal pill support."
Han Xue heard the personal assurance from the Queen of the Jia Ma Empire and her eyes sparkled with uncontained joy. She impulsively reached out to grasp her sister’s jade-like hand, squeezing it tightly as a bright grin spread across her face. She could hardly believe their plight had been resolved so smoothly. Before arriving, the Han Clan elders had harbored nurous objections, fearing the Yan Alliance might prove to be another Hong Clan, and had even prepared for the worst outco.
Queen Yao Ye observed the elated sisters, her beautifully adorned eyes glinting with playful amusent. She stepped closer to Xiao Yan, rising gracefully onto her tiptoes. Her breath brushed his ear as her red lips parted in a soft, teasing whisper. "Grandmaster Xiao Yan, are my sister Yue Er and I not enough for you? Do you also wish to claim the Han Clan’s twin jewels for yourself? Such a voracious heart you have."
!!!!?
Xiao Yan’s expression changed abruptly, and his body recoiled like a startled cat. He hastily exclaid. "Queen Yao Ye, please don’t jest like that! Such words could get soone killed!"
He cast a fleeting glance at the three won before him, each possessing a distinct and captivating beauty. Though they might not rival the breathtaking allure of Xun Er or Cai Lin, even across the vast North-Western Region, they ranked among the most stunning beauties.
No wonder the Hong Clan sought to marry both Han Yue and Han Xue simultaneously.
But Xiao Yan was different. A line existed in his heart that would not be crossed. The fairy-like woman who had pledged herself to him still occupied the foremost position in his heart. Until he could stand before her once more and fulfill his promise, there would scarcely be room for anyone else.
He quickly turned away, waved his hand to open a wormhole, and vanished in a flash. He hadn’t anticipated that the heroic and capable Yao Ye would make such a bold jest, one that even he couldn’t withstand.
Watching Xiao Yan retreat in such flustered haste, Han Xue and Han Yue exchanged glances, montarily taken aback. After a few heartbeats, faint smiles tugged at their lips. This youth, often as inscrutable as an ancient well, had revealed a rare, unguarded side at re teasing words.
Such a reaction was genuinely intriguing.
Most n would have seized the opportunity without hesitation, yet he couldn’t flee fast enough.
Yet as she watched him disappear, Han Xue’s bright expression dimd slightly, her fingers loosening their hold on her sister’s hand. Before arriving, the sisters had resigned themselves to the possibility of personal sacrifice for their clan’s survival. After all, to the vast Yan Alliance, the tiny Han Clan had nothing that would normally attract notice.
The only assets they could offer were themselves.
"Am I so undesirable that he had to run?" Han Xue muttered, her lips pursing into a small pout.
Han Yue offered a gentle smile and shook her head. "It’s not that you lack appeal. It’s simply that the woman in his heart is far too outstanding."
She couldn’t help but sigh. Back at Jia Nan Academy, who hadn’t known of the remarkable woman always by Xiao Yan’s side? Even after all these years, Han Yue had yet to et anyone who could match her.
Once, driven by fury for his beloved, Xiao Yan had turned Jia Nan Academy upside down in battle. He had nearly slain a commander of the Gu Clan, even drawing the attention of a Dou Saint.
That was the white moonlight in his heart.
Before Xun Er, they were re shadows, perhaps not even worthy of being called shadows.
Yao Ye’s gaze dulled faintly, a trace of resignation flickering across her face. She murmured faintly, "It seems I never stood a chance."
...
At that mont, Xiao Yan, who had fled to the small valley as if escaping for his life, had just arrived when a purple light pierced through his wormhole. A small hand reached out from the void, grabbed his collar, and forcibly dragged him out.
"Xiao Yan!" Zi Yan stood suspended in midair, hoisting him up with a single hand. Her eyes flashed with anger as she shouted, "You said you’d be quick again! It’s been three months!"
A man’s promises! Lies that could fool even dragons!
How many tis had she fallen for this already!
Little Fairy Doctor, who was carefully pruning herbs in the dicinal field of the small valley, let out a soft smile. She had long anticipated that Xiao Yan’s ’training excursions’ would never be brief.
Xiao Yan raised both hands in a gesture of surrender, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "I just uncovered sothing interesting and hurried back to share it with you."
Zi Yan tilted her head, her curiosity piqued, and her grip on him slackened. She asked with a hint of suspicion, "What is it?"
"Do you rember a junior sister from the Inner Academy nad Han Yue?" Xiao Yan flashed a broad grin, revealing his white teeth.
"Han Yue? Oh, that white-haired girl. I rember her. I was the one who told her about the Core Quenching Body Milk back then." Zi Yan pondered for a mont before nodding. She did recall such a person. She had found her kind enough, often sharing snacks, so she had revealed the location of the Core Quenching Body Milk. After all, that Snow Demon Sky Ape was tough to handle.
"That’s right, it’s her. Her clan is being harassed by the Hong Clan and the Wind Lightning Northern Pavilion. The Hong Clan, relying on the fact that the Wind Lightning Northern Pavilion’s Master is an 8-star Dou Ancestor, is even trying to force her to marry soone she doesn’t like. They’re oppressing n and won alike, so she ca seeking our help," Xiao Yan explained, deliberately making the Wind Lightning Northern Pavilion sound particularly villainous.
Though in truth, he had understated the situation.
At these words, Zi Yan’s delicate brows shot up as she imdiately assud the air of a protective elder sister. After all, in the Inner Academy, she had indeed been the senior figure to all students!
"Outrageous! They dare bully soone under my protection? Hmph, an 8-star Dou Ancestor? We’ll see if I don’t turn their lair upside down!" Zi Yan declared, hands planted firmly on her hips.
Just as she prepared to leave, she seed to rember sothing. From her spatial storage, she withdrew a massive pile of dicinal ingredients and placed them before Xiao Yan. To his surprise, every single one was a tier 7 ingredient!
"Wow! Where did you get so many tier 7 dicinal ingredients?" Xiao Yan was astonished. How could Zi Yan have gotten her hands on so many!
"Hehehe, so I dug up myself, so were given to by Sister Cai Lin, and so ca from Sister Fairy Doctor’s valley. But most of them were gifts from the Beast Emperors of the mountain range," Zi Yan replied with a radiant grin that displayed her small tiger-like fangs and dimpled cheeks.
Xiao Yan was dumbfounded. Good heavens, three months apart and she’d already learned how to collect protection fees!
However, he didn’t refuse. Zi Yan’s growth was inseparable from the acceleration provided by dicinal ingredients. While directly consuming them wasn’t as effective as dicinal pills, he currently lacked suitable pill recipes for magical beasts.
Venerable Yao hadn’t left him any recipes of this kind!
With a series of clattering sounds, Zi Yan gathered the bottles and jars into her spatial storage. She opened a wormhole and set off toward the Sacred City, ready to back up Han Yue, this forr junior sister!
"Once I’ve handled things there, I’ll join you in the Wind Lightning Mountain Range." Zi Yan had been restless. Now that Xiao Yan had returned, she naturally intended to stick close and follow him everywhere.
"Alright," Xiao Yan replied with a nod.
After bidding farewell to Zi Yan, Xiao Yan shifted his attention to Little Fairy Doctor, who was quietly brewing floral tea nearby. Xin Lan had traveled to the Sacred City to hone her alchemy skills, leaving just the two of them in the small valley.
Little Fairy Doctor had always maintained a serene presence, neither contending nor grasping, like a lotus standing aloof from the world. Even bearing the world’s most deadly Woeful Poison Body, she remained untainted by the surrounding mire.
The sun dipped below the western horizon, casting a golden glow over the valley where only their two figures remained. Their eyes t briefly, and under the soft light of dusk, both the person before him and the surrounding landscape appeared extraordinarily beautiful.
As evening approached, the floral tea began to simr, its fragrance perating the air. From beyond the valley walls, faint roars of magical beasts occasionally echoed. When sunlight spilled over the pair, their shadows stretched long and thin across the ground.
This scene exuded a tranquil calm that soothed the spirit.
After a prolonged silence, Xiao Yan softly asked, "The Woeful Poison Body and the Poison Pill haven’t caused any issues, have they?"
Little Fairy Doctor offered a gentle smile and shook her head. "My cultivation has reached peak 4-star Dou Venerate now. The Poison Pill and Heavenly Fla exist in perfect harmony. I should break through to 5-star Dou Venerate soon."
"Oh, that’s reassuring to hear."
Silence settled between them once more. A soft breeze rustled past, and the kettle on the fire emitted a faint whistling sound. Little Fairy Doctor lowered her gaze to the boiling kettle and asked, her voice barely above a whisper, "Would you care to stay for dinner?"
The evening wind lifted strands of her hair, and a ray of sunset light caressed her face. Whether from the glow of dusk or sothing else entirely, a subtle blush seed to tint her cheeks.
Xiao Yan nodded, his smile warm and genuine. "Of course, I’d be delighted."
That one al extended to a three-day stay, during which ti Xiao Yan began instructing Little Fairy Doctor in the art of alchemy.
Having acquired a Heavenly Fla, Little Fairy Doctor could surprisingly refine so tier 1 dicinal pills. After reaching Dou Venerate and fully mastering her Woeful Poison Body, she managed to create pills through her profound understanding of dicinal ingredients, even without wood-attribute Dou Qi!
Though she frequently failed due to various reasons, and her talent could be said to be the worst among the alchemists Xiao Yan had ever seen, whenever he witnessed her smile after a successful refinent, his heart felt as if it had been cleansed.
For those three days, Xiao Yan found himself imrsed in an idyllic life reminiscent of the traditional ’man plows, woman weaves’ harmony.
As she brewed a fresh pot of floral tea for him, Little Fairy Doctor quietly asked, "Do you need to accompany you to the Wind Lightning Mountain Range?" She could sense he was about to leave for the Wind Lightning Mountain Range to prepare for the so-called Four Pavilion Grand eting.
She had heard of the tensions between the Yan Alliance and the Wind Lightning Pavilion, and this conflict originated because Xiao Yan had cultivated the Three Thousand Lightning Movent. Regardless of the reason, if this Wind Lightning Pavilion dared to make a move against Xiao Yan, then she would transform their Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Pavilions into desolate wastelands.
"The Four Pavilion Grand eting won’t comnce imdiately. When it does, feel free to co along and unwind if you wish. Though Elder Yao only possesses the strength of a 1-star Dou Venerate, I’m close to gathering all ingredients for the Green Fungus Pill. Successfully refining it could help restore much of his strength," Xiao Yan explained, taking a slow sip of his floral tea.
In truth, the Green Fungus Pill would be the first genuine tier 8 pill he had refined, marking his true entry into the tier 8 realm. He intended to use it as his stepping stone.
As long as the other three pavilions didn’t act recklessly, with a partially recovered Venerable Tian Huo at their side, the Yan Alliance had no reason to fear the Wind Lightning Pavilion!
Little Fairy Doctor gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled. "Mm. If you need , just crush the soul jade piece."
Watching Xiao Yan open a wormhole and depart, she stood in the small valley, offering a simple wave. She remained the sa Little Fairy Doctor she had always been, unchanged through ti.
...
The cities controlled by the Four Pavilions were all located on the outskirts of the Central Plains. Han Yue and Han Xue’s Tian Bei City, for instance, sat right at the border.
The North-Western Region under the Yan Alliance’s control bordered both the Western and Northern Regions on the Central Plains’ periphery. The Wind Lightning Pavilion’s headquarters resided in the Northern Region, at the very edge of the Central Plains.
So, for the Yan Alliance to enter the Central Plains ant direct confrontation with the Wind Lightning Pavilion. This ’entry’ wasn’t rely about Yan Alliance mbers coming and going; it ant assuming control over various cities, large and small, throughout the Northern Region.
Take Tian Bei City, for example—talented mbers of the Hong Clan would join the Wind Lightning Pavilion, and the Hong Clan would pay tribute to the Pavilion each year. The Yan Alliance employed a similar approach.
In recent months, the Misty Cloud Sect had begun recruiting disciples across various cities in the Western and Northern Regions. If these disciples grew powerful, their families would naturally rise with the tide, eventually bringing entire cities under the Misty Cloud Sect’s—and by extension, the Yan Alliance’s—control.
Branching out and spreading leaves.
This naturally led to conflicts with the Wind Lightning Pavilion. Moreover, during the Great eting of Factions, Xiao Yan had flaunted the Three Thousand Lightning Movent in such a high-profile manner, not putting the Wind Lightning Pavilion in his eyes at all. If they could tolerate that, they wouldn’t be the Wind Lightning Pavilion.
Hua Gu City, comparable in size to Tian Bei City but situated quite far from it, lay just beyond the Wind Lightning Pavilion’s sphere of influence.
Xiao Yan didn’t go straight to the Wind Lightning Mountain Range, where this year’s Four Pavilion Grand eting would be held, since it hadn’t begun yet. Instead, he first arrived in Hua Gu City.
This city held particular interest. Being just outside the Wind Lightning Pavilion’s reach, it had beco the Yan Alliance’s first target upon entering the Northern Region, which naturally attracted the Wind Lightning Pavilion’s attention.
The Wind Lightning Pavilion also coveted Hua Gu City, making it the site of frequent clashes between mbers of both factions.
Xiao Yan walked alone in this Hua Gu City. Unfortunately, his luck was no longer present; he didn’t encounter any precious tier 8 dicinal ingredients, nor did he find another Purifying Lotus Demon Fla map fragnt, and certainly no Heavenly Flas!
"Hehe, young man, your face is unfamiliar here. You must not be from Hua Gu City, right? Perhaps you’ve also co for the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool in the Heaven Eye Mountain Range?" an old man suddenly called out to Xiao Yan with a friendly smile.
"Heaven Eye Mountain Range? Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool?" The nas imdiately captured Xiao Yan’s interest.
Seeing Xiao Yan react this way, the old man was stunned for a mont and said with bewildernt, "Little brother, you don’t even know about the Heaven Eye Mountain Range and the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool?"
Xiao Yan smiled. He was a person who understood the ways of the world. He casually tossed out a hundred gold coins onto the counter and inquired with keen interest, "I only arrived recently, so I’m unfamiliar with the area. Would you mind telling about it, Old Uncle?"
The old man’s eyes lit up at the sight of the glittering coins. This was clearly a young master!
"The Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool in the Heaven Eye Mountain Range is absolutely renowned! Few people in the northern Central Plains remain unaware of it," the old man explained, pocketing the gold with a grin before continuing more seriously. "Atop a volcano in that mountain range, a natural energy tide appears every three years. After the tide recedes, the Heaven Mountain Lake within the volcano crater fills with an extraordinarily mysterious red liquid. This Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool only remains for five days before completely disappearing."
A peculiar glint flashed through Xiao Yan’s eyes. He understood now why the Yan Alliance had targeted this city first. It turned out they planned to bring this Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool under the Yan Alliance’s control.
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