Chapter 1272: with translation of chapter title

Seeing his mortal enemy, Xiao Yan, who felt his strength already far surpassed Lin Feng, naturally could not simply let this guy go so easily.

As Xun'er said, given his age, if he keeps developing at this rate, he may yet reach the same soul realm as I have. The barrier of the Emperor Soul is not easily broken.

But we also have Gu Xun'er from glossary.

Now continue scanning.

Xiao Yan, you little brat, you really surprised me.

But we must be careful: The instruction says "Use glossary names exactly as provided." That refers to the glossary given for these lines (the mapping). For other terms not in that glossary, we need to translate them ourselves, following the rules (translate cultivation realms by meaning). So we need to produce a glossary list after all lines, containing all named entities that appear, using the exact English forms we decide (consistent with translation). For those already in the given glossary, we must use those exact forms.

Thus we need to compile a set of named entities from lines.

Let's go through each line and extract.

I'll create a list.

Xiao Yan, you little brat, you really surprised me.

Xiao Yan, you little brat, you really surprised me.

Xiao Yan, you little brat, you really surprised me.

Yao Ding

: none new.

Yao Ding

Xiao Yan, you little brat, you really surprised me.

Yao Ding

Xiao Yan, you little brat, you really surprised me.

Yao Ding

After all, with his current soul realm, facing merely a five-star Battle Saint, he no longer needed to be timid as before.

Just right—before I get rid of Lin Feng, I also want him to know what it feels like to be given a hard time!

The moment he released his soul pressure, Xiao Yan's mouth corner also uncontrollably curled up with a hint of a smile.

Yao Ding

Xiao Yan, you little brat, you really surprised me.

Yao Ding

Xiao Yan, you little brat, you really surprised me.

However, the instant the fire wall rose, a powerful invisible force slammed into it, sending out wave after wave of shockwaves.

Xiao Yan, you little brat, you really surprised me.

After reaching safety, Lin Feng did not show any annoyance over this embarrassment.

Xiao Yan, you little brat, you really surprised me.

Having said that, Lin Feng waved his hand, putting away the Pure Lotus Demonic Fire, and immediately continued: "However, just seeing your benefactor, you immediately attacked—too impolite."

Xiao Yan, you little brat, you really surprised me.

Yao Ding

Looking at this, could it be that Xiao Yan is able to advance to Emperor Realm Soul, and it has something to do with him?

Yao Ding

After all, soul power is one of the most important things for them as alchemists; how could he not be moved when faced with information related to advancing to Emperor Realm Soul?

As for Xiao Yan, upon hearing Lin Feng's words, his expression suddenly shifted.

The Emperor Realm Soul's perceptual advantage is something rarely matched; thus, as soon as he spoke, he could nearly discern the truth of his words from the other's subtle facial changes.

Therefore, the credibility of Lin Feng's earlier words is at least over ninety percent.

But soon he coldly snorted: "You think just saying it makes it so? This kind of treasure, once you know about it, would you be willing to trade it away?"

Yao Ding

Yeah, if one had such a thing, who would be foolish enough to trade it away? One would definitely keep it for oneself!

Hehe, Xiao Yan, you don't need to bother with these boring probes. First, not mentioning that this thing grows in the ancient clan's territory, just the difficulty of obtaining it—you must have seen it yourself before. Even if the ancient clan were willing to help me get there, I still couldn't get it.

Hearing Xiao Yan's probe, Lin Feng casually waved his hand, sat back on his original stone chair, then continued: "Speaking of which, your ability to advance one star again in such a short time must also be thanks to that place's things. Moreover, would the ancient clan really be willing to let me control that thing?"

Having said that, Lin Feng fell silent for a moment, then lightly stroked his chin and said: "However, these don't matter anymore; anyway, Gu Xun'er gave me the trade item. That thing, I can't possibly get it anyway, so it's up to her who she gives it to and how."

You actually even know this?!

After hearing Lin Feng's words, Xiao Yan's pupils shrank slightly, and he looked at Lin Feng with some disbelief.

Xiao Yan, you little brat, you really surprised me.

Yao Ding

Xiao Yan, you little brat, you really surprised me.

However, on the way, their gazes toward Xiao Yan also carried a hint of fear and annoyance.

After all, having been forced to kneel on the ground by Xiao Yan's soul pressure earlier, for those who have long held high positions, this is undoubtedly extremely embarrassing; how could they not be angry?

Yao Ding

Xiao Yan, you little brat, you really surprised me.

Yao Ding

However, he secretly made up his mind; after the medicine conference ends, he must first kill Lin Feng.

After all, that guy is a five-star Battle Saint, and he's also skilled in speed; if he runs far, I won't be able to catch up.

As Lin Feng and Xiao Yan's fire died down, the surrounding people also lost their enthusiasm for watching, and subsequently they all began to return to their seats and chat with each other.

Yao Ding

Later on, looking out over the wide square, a sea of heads filled the view.

Roughly estimated, it's no less than hundreds of thousands.

Xiao Yan, you little brat, you really surprised me.

Yao Ding

Xiao Yan, you little brat, you really surprised me.

Yao Ding

Xiao Yan, you little brat, you really surprised me.

Yao Ding

Xiao Yan, you little brat, you really surprised me.

Afterwards, the voice formed by countless people immediately spread grandly across this sky.

Amidst the grand welcoming sounds, the cloud layer above the square immediately began to churn, and then it automatically split apart.

At the same time, an old man in a white robe embroidered with green silk patterns stepped out slowly from within.

With each step, the space where his foot fell rippled with strange fluctuations.

At this moment, that intangible space seemed to condense into substance.

"Medicine Clan chief?"

Gazing at the white-haired old man with kind eyebrows and kind eyes, Xiao Yan, who had come below to seek justice for his teacher, also felt a hint of solemnity in his eyes.

Because from that old man's body, he sensed an unusually powerful aura.

This aura surpassed that of the myriad fire elder he had previously seen, by an entire level or more.

"Little Yan, this is the Medicine Clan chief, named Yao Dan. When I was young, he was already at the seven-star Dou Sheng level. After over a hundred years, his strength must have risen even further."

Upon seeing the white-haired old man, Yao Lao's eyes also grew slightly complex.

After all, regardless, his veins flow with the Medicine Clan's blood.

Now, upon seeing this Medicine Clan chief, his heart also felt an inexplicable emotion.

According to my observation, his Dou Qi strength is somewhat weaker than that of the Ancient Clan's Three Immortals and the Soul Clan's Four Devil Saints; thus, he should be at the mid-seven-star Dou Sheng level. However, his soul realm is what I care most about. Compared to Lin Feng, this Medicine Clan chief's soul is considerably stronger. Thus, his soul realm has already touched the barrier of the Emperor-level soul, and indeed he has attempted to break through it, but judging from the result, it appears he failed.

Gazing at the Medicine Clan chief named Yao Dan, Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes slightly; although he had not wantonly used his soul power to scan the entire Medicine Realm, he reckoned that this must be the foremost expert among the Medicine Clan.

"Hehe, guests are welcome; please, everyone, take a seat."

Above the sky, after the Medicine Clan chief Yao Dan appeared, his aged face promptly showed a gentle smile, and then he slightly cupped his hands toward the dense crowd below.

After doing that, his gaze suddenly swept over the crowd and finally rested on Yao Chen and Xiao Yan; as his eyes flickered slightly, his mood grew a bit complex.

Below, Yao Chen sensed Yao Dan's gaze, fell silent for a moment, then slowly raised his head, stared directly at Yao Dan, gave a faint smile, and cupped his hands, saying, "I pay my respects, Chief Yao Dan."

"Yao Chen, we've missed each other!" Yao Dan's gaze lingered on Yao Chen and Xiao Yan for a long time, finally letting out a sigh whose meaning was indiscernible.

At the same time, with a step, he appeared behind the stone chairs where Lin Feng and the others were seated, taking the central seat of honor among the many Medicine Clan elders.

"Hehe, Old Yao Dan, have you finally come out of seclusion this time? By my reckoning, it's been several hundred years since we last met."

Seeing Yao Dan appear, the Shennong old man also smiled, and then his soft voice slowly spread across the entire square above.

"I never expected you, old coot, to live this long. When I was young, you had already lived for several thousand years, and now another two thousand years have passed. Your lifespan is nearly catching up to that of a ninth-rank magical beast."

Hearing the Shennong old man's words, Yao Dan also chuckled lightly, though his expression showed no particular surprise.

That appearance seemed to indicate he knew why the Shennong old man could live so long.

Upon hearing that, the Shennong old man, his hand like withered wood, lightly stroked his dense white beard, then sighed: "Speaking of which, your previous clan chief and I, when we were young, were also on this square and even participated in the Medicine Convention together. It's just a pity that I, a poor child born of a subordinate force of the Medicine Clan, could not compare to your former clan chief; for that, I once felt discouraged for a long time."

"I never imagined that in the blink of an eye, thousands of years would have passed, and those old friends of mine are all gone. And you, starting from a mere Dou Wang kid, have risen all the way to a level even higher than mine by one star."

Saying this, the Shennong old man's tone was also filled with helplessness.

Speaking of talent, he estimated that he was still inferior to this generation's Xiao Dan Tower's Cao Ying and the like; only through some fortunate encounters could he have painstakingly persisted to achieve today's accomplishments.

If it were the master of the Xiao Dan Tower, or the former Medicine Clan chief, his achievements would likely frighten even the Soul and Ancient Clans immensely.

But he, well, never mind.

However, as soon as his words fell, the Shennong old man's smiling expression froze, his brows suddenly furrowed, he turned around and looked toward the rear.

Of course, just as that person turned his head, Xiao Yan had already seen the situation clearly.

At the exit of the Medicine Realm, there, black clouds suddenly surged forth.

Immediately, that mass of black clouds spread at an astonishing speed, and in the blink of an eye it reached the summit of Yao Mountain.

Then those black clouds roiled and surged, quickly transforming into a middle-aged man clad in black.

"Woo—"

However, the instant this person appeared, everyone present heard a low, mournful wailing sound in their ears.

This sound was like the lament of a soul.

"Soul Clan's Hun Xuzi, having come uninvited today, I hope Chief Yao Dan won't take offense. I've just been itching lately and wanted to compare alchemy skills with your esteemed clan. After all, we are both alchemists; we should settle things with alchemy, no need for fighting and killing."

After the black-clad man appeared, he gave a light smile, and his calm, unhurried voice spread throughout this sky.

"Hun Xuzi!?"

Upon hearing that name, Yao Chen sitting on a certain stone chair shuddered violently, and the cold light in his aged eyes surged wildly.

"Master Hun Xuzi, do you know this guy?"

As an Emperor-level soul, Xiao Yan naturally sensed his teacher's reaction; he then blinked in surprise, his gaze turning to the black-clad middle-aged man in the sky, his brows knitting tightly.

After all, based on his years of dealings with the Soul Clan, wherever its members appear, nothing good ever comes of it.

Upon hearing that, Yao Chen immediately nodded slightly, then transmitted his voice: "Do you still remember Shanshan and what you said about the Xiao Dan Tower incident? That person who had once lurked within the Xiao Dan Tower, later exposed and colluded with the Soul Clan's strongmen from inside and out, wounded his master and fled—that Soul Clan spy is him. Otherwise, Shanshan's grandfather would not have failed to break through to Dou Sheng due to lack of resources."

"Then, when we go later to obtain the Bone Spirit Flame, there won't be a tragedy."

While speaking, Yao Chen's voice was filled with boundless hatred.

After all, regardless, deep down he still harbored some affection for the Xiao Dan Tower, which had played an important role in his rise.

Upon hearing that, Xiao Yan's eyes instantly narrowed, a glint of cold light flickering within.

Regarding the Soul Clan, one of his mortal enemies, he naturally wished to exterminate its members as soon as possible.

If there is an opportunity after the Medicine Convention ends, he could try setting an ambush outside to see if he could kill this Hun Xuzi.

After all, in open combat, with his Emperor-level soul's prowess, he would naturally not fear a lone early seven-star Dou Sheng.

However, thinking of this person hiding his strength and coming here, Xiao Yan's vigilance instantly heightened, and he simultaneously transmitted: "Teacher, this person's true strength is merely an initial entry into the seven-star Dou Sheng; his coming here while concealing his strength for the Medicine Convention must hide some unspeakable secret. We need to be careful."

"What?!"

Upon hearing Hun Xuzi's true strength being that of a seven-star Dou Sheng, Yao Chen's heart jolted, his eyes flashing with disbelief.

But thinking of his disciple's current soul realm, he quickly nodded and replied, "I understand."

"However, during the second round of the Medicine Convention later, you must not be careless just because your soul power is strong. Although Hun Xuzi is hard to judge as a person, his attainment in alchemy is extremely high; otherwise, he would not have been noticed and taken as a disciple by the Xiao Dan Tower master back then. Moreover, he has cultivated for many more years than you, so his alchemy must be far more seasoned, and with the Soul Clan's abundant resources, you need to be cautious."

As he spoke, Yao Chen's gaze also gradually grew solemn.

After all, although my disciple's soul power is unmatched in the field, when it comes to alchemy experience and inheritance, he is the worst.

To be honest, his alchemy experience probably isn't any better than that of Yao Tian, who is preparing to participate in the first round of the Medicine Convention.

"Hmm."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan lightly nodded.

Hun Xu Zi, able to hold such a position among the Soul Clan where experts are as numerous as clouds, to say he is an ordinary person—no three‑year‑old would believe it.

Underestimating the enemy is a major taboo for military strategists; he naturally would not commit it lightly.

"Hun Xu Zi? This bastard dares to barge into my Medicine Realm uninvited; I, old man, don't recall seeing him on this guest list!"

"Hmph, Soul Hall has for years been recklessly capturing souls across the continent, and sometimes these lunatics even attack us Medicine Families of Central Province, killing and seizing souls. This guy, I think he's utterly unworthy to attend the Upper Clan's grand ceremony!"

"Yes, Elder Yao Dan, and all the Upper Clan Elders, we definitely cannot let this kind of person participate in the grand ceremony!"

As soon as Hun Xu Zi appeared, he immediately provoked intense reactions from many in the venue.

At the same time, countless angry gazes were directed at him, and the chorus of curses never ceased.

As for Lin Feng, upon seeing this person appear, his eyes likewise narrowed slightly, and he pondered whether to kill this guy later.

"Forget it; if I get a chance, I'll vent this anger for the Pill Tower. If there are many people, we'll discuss it next time—although my soul power is currently suppressed and I can't see his true strength, I reckon he's probably a Seven‑Star Initial Dou Saint from the original story. Killing such a Dou Saint, if I don't want to find a way to hide it, Wu Nie Tun Yan will surely notice."

Thinking of this, Lin Feng immediately lifted the tea cup on the stone table before him and silently drank his tea.

As for his mind, he was pondering how to kill Hun Xu Zi.

After all, setting aside the grudge against the Pill Tower, this person's soul power is Heaven Realm Great Perfection; for the few women who haven't advanced to Emperor Realm Soul, it's a great supplement!

Meanwhile, as the people below shouted curses wildly, the Medicine Clan's chief, Yao Dan, seated at the head, exchanged a glance with the surrounding elders; everyone furrowed their brows tightly.

Obviously, regarding this uninvited Hun Xu Zi, everyone was momentarily undecided.

After all, the Soul Clan and the Medicine Clan are now hostile.

Normally, upon seeing an enemy, one should simply seize him.

But the current timing makes people somewhat hesitant.

After all, the other side said they came to participate in the Medicine Convention and compete in alchemy; if they act now, it wouldn't be hard for people to think they lost the alchemy contest to the Soul Clan and, feeling guilty, just killed him to silence him.

Moreover, the Soul Clan, this ancient race, has a history far longer than that of the Medicine Clan.

Over tens of thousands of years, no matter how other ancient races have changed, only the Soul Clan has remained mysterious and aberrant, and the Dou Emperor bloodline has continually thrived, never interrupted.

To be frank, Yao Dan also doesn't really want to push his relationship with the Soul Clan to the point of no return.

In fact, the relationship among the current Ancient Eight Clans is like that of the late Spring and Autumn period: they fight when they fight, annihilate clans when they do, but off the battlefield they generally don't drive each other to the point of being unable to coexist.

Otherwise, during the Ancient Clan's coming‑of‑age ceremony, it would be impossible for them to invite their greatest enemy, the Soul Clan.

"Hehe, it seems the Medicine Clan friends aren't very welcoming of me; this runs contrary to the Medicine Clan's hospitable way, ah."

Noticing everyone's expressions, Hun Xu Zi in the sky, hands behind his back, gazed directly at the chief Yao Dan on the main seat and smiled.

"Hun Xu Zi, my Medicine Clan has not invited you, and now the Soul Clan and my clan are in a state of war. By barging into our Medicine Clan like this, are you intending to go to war with us right now?"

After a brief silence in the venue, the Wan Huo Zhanglao beneath Yao Dan's position immediately stood up and spoke in a deep voice.

"It is precisely because I wanted to go to war with your Medicine Clan that I have come today."

Having said that, Hun Xu Zi gave a faint smile and continued: "Isn't this Medicine Convention supposed to be the highest‑level alchemist gathering on the Dou Qi Continent? Coincidentally, I am somewhat interested in the title of the continent's top alchemist. Thus, just as ordinary cultivators decide victory or defeat on the battlefield, we alchemists naturally must settle the matter here on the alchemy field." (End of chapter)