Chapter 70: Conspiracy

However, he was not surprised that several people failed to kill Xiao Yan.

After all, Yao Chen was a peak Nine‑revolutions Combat Venerable in life, so he was naturally not easy to deal with.

Moreover, there were guards sent by Gu Xun'er protecting them.

With just those two Combat Emperors and nine Combat Kings, they could definitely not kill Xiao Yan.

However, the fact that Xiao Yan possesses a Different Fire is now well known among many strong individuals.

I fear Xiao Yan's days ahead will not be so easy.

As for Gu He, he must also be furious.

The two Combat Emperor experts, he himself being a peak Combat King, plus another eight mid‑tier Combat Kings; of course, Lei Na's one hand is crippled, his strength estimated to be only that of an initial‑tier Combat King.

So many people jointly besieging a Combat King‑level alchemist seems like a sure thing.

After all, alchemists are inherently not skilled in combat, let alone with such a huge gap.

Yet they still let Xiao Yan escape.

On the other side, the pale‑faced Xiao Yan lay helplessly on the floor of a cave.

During the battle a few days ago, Yao Chen controlled his body and forcibly erupted with the combat power of a peak Combat Emperor.

The powerful qi caused severe damage to his meridians.

If it weren't for Yao Chen previously helping him absorb several Beast Fires, allowing his physique to be tempered by the Beast Fire and become much stronger,

with only his four‑star Combat Master cultivation, he would have long been blown to pieces.

Meanwhile, the much more illusory Yao Chen was beside him concocting pills.

Not long after, Yao Chen flicked his finger.

He sent the pill to Xiao Yan's lips and said, "Quickly take this pill to heal your internal injuries; damaged meridians, if not handled well, could easily affect your future cultivation."

"Thank you, Teacher, hiss~"

Xiao Yan cried out in pain, not daring to delay, hastily swallowing that five‑grade peak pill.

Then he began to guide the surging medicinal power, starting to repair his damaged meridians...

After half a day, Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes.

Then he slammed his fist onto the ground and snarled, "I was wondering why that ice‑attributed Combat Emperor kept chasing us; it turns out he wanted your Different Fire to give as a favor to that damned Medicine King Gu He. He claimed we took his stuff, but I see it's all a made‑up excuse!"

Yao Chen heard his disciple's words, his face also darkening as he nodded in agreement.

If he gets the chance, he'll make sure to kill that damned Ice Emperor and vent his hatred properly.

"By the way, Teacher, the Combat Emperor who saved us earlier is..."

"When your strength improves, I'll tell you."

Upon hearing that, Yao Chen knew what his disciple wanted to ask and directly blocked his mouth.

He currently does not want Xiao Yan to learn about the ancient eight clans.

"Again, this line."

Hearing that, Xiao Yan helplessly shook his head, but in his mind he had already pictured a woman's face...

Afterwards, Xiao Yan licked his dry lips and said, "Teacher, you said before that a Combat Master basically cannot absorb a Different Fire, so can't we get a few more Beast Fires to let this Flame Secret evolve to the Mysterious Tier?"

Earlier, after absorbing his first Beast Fire, he happily discovered that this Beast Fire not only enables the Flame Secret to evolve,

but also, after swallowing the flames, it actually lets him level up, allowing him to break through from a Nine‑star Combatant straight to a Combat Master in one go.

Afterwards, the master and disciple gradually obtained several more Beast Fires, which Xiao Yan then completely swallowed.

Not only did the Flame Secret evolve to Yellow Tier Advanced, but Xiao Yan's qi level also reached four‑star Combat Master.

Now, having tasted the benefits, Xiao Yan naturally still wants to obtain more Beast Fires to raise his qi level as much as possible.

That way, when the three‑year agreement arrives, he will have a greater chance of defeating Nalan Yanran.

Yao Chen, however, had once absorbed a Different Fire himself, so he naturally knows the risks involved.

He also supports Xiao Yan first absorbing more Beast Fires to raise his qi level.

That way, when they later find a Different Fire, absorbing it will be much safer.

However, after glancing at Xiao Yan beside him, Yao Chen shook his head and said, "After a few days, once your injuries heal, we must go find some soul‑restoring medicinal herbs; otherwise, I will overexert my soul power and fall into a deep sleep, after which I'll no longer be able to help you."

"Teacher, where should we go to find them?"

Hearing that Yao Chen might fall into a deep sleep, Xiao Yan also became somewhat panicked.

If Yao Chen falls into a deep sleep, when he later encounters those several strong individuals, he'll surely be done for.

Moreover, in about eight months it will be the three‑year agreement.

Without Yao Lao's help, he has no confidence of catching up to Nalan Yanran within that time.

"The Imperial Capital is the only place where one might possibly find such a treasure."

After pondering for a long while, Yao Chen slowly spoke.

"What? Teacher, those two Combat Emperors and Gu He are all in the Imperial Capital—wouldn't that be us walking straight into a trap?"

Hearing that, Xiao Yan asked in confusion.

"Hehe, the Yun Lan Sect currently has a sixth‑rank Alchemist, while the Imperial Family lacks one. If we secretly approach the Imperial Family for cooperation, as long as they provide us a hidden place to hide, guarantee our safety, and supply the needed medicinal ingredients, in return I'll help them refine Dou Ling Pills, even Huangji Pills—I don't believe they could remain unmoved."

Yao Chen stroked his beard and said with a chuckle.

"Indeed, a Dou Ling Pill can directly boost a Combat King‑level expert by one star, saving years or even decades of arduous training—not to mention the Huangji Pill that enhances Combat Emperor strength; such cooperation would be something the Imperial Family would desperately seek."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan also relaxed and spoke softly.

Immediately thinking of his long‑standing grudge from being hunted, he added, "Teacher, couldn't we also summon some strong individuals to besiege and kill Gu He?"

"What are you thinking, kid? No way!"

Yao Chen shook his head and directly rejected the proposal.

"Why?"

Seeing his own master unwilling to take revenge, Xiao Yan asked in confusion.

Yao Chen's figure floated, and he said helplessly, "The strong dragon hasn't yet crushed the local snake. In outsiders' eyes we're not people of the Jia Ma Empire, we have no ties, we might leave tomorrow. But those strong ones each have their own attachments; most of them have their own forces and families here, and they came to help us besiege Gu He. If we can't kill Gu He, after we leave, guess whether Gu He will take revenge on those strong ones? Guess whether those strong ones fear retaliation from the local most famous Six-star Alchemist?"

Uh…

Xiao Yan thought for a moment; if he were one of those strong ones, he certainly wouldn't help besiege Gu He.

After all, you're an outsider Alchemist who can't crush Gu He; if I go to help you and we fail, the whole family would be doomed.

But helping Gu He to attack that "outsider" Alchemist is a different matter.

As long as Gu He is willing to give them enough profit, the Six-star Alchemist will still kill without hesitation.

Indeed, your status as a Six-star Alchemist is prestigious, and your connections are powerful, but if you die, that so‑called network will naturally cease to exist.

As for revenge, hehe, you come here to avenge, we have so many people on our side, we can also call for outside help; who knows who will end up fighting whom.

Seeing that revenge is temporarily impossible, Xiao Yan could only discard his distractions and continue meditating to heal his wounds.

While Xiao Yan and his disciple were talking, Lin Feng was strolling through the capital's streets with Lin Fei and Xue Mei.

The three of them wandered outside for a while, each buying some items they liked.

Seeing that it was getting late, Lin Feng looked at the two women and said, "It's getting late now; let's go back."

Hmm.

The two women touched the loot‑filled talismans and nodded in satisfaction.

Seeing that they had no issues, Lin Feng led them to Frank's two old men's residence.

After sending the two women back, Lin Feng hurried toward his own courtyard.

However, deep in an alley not far from his courtyard.

An elder looked at the white‑clad man before him and asked hesitantly, "Chief of the Young Clan, is this… perhaps too risky? Killing a Fourth-star Alchemist in the capital—this is the headquarters of the Alchemist Guild. If those Alchemists trace it back to us, our He family might face extinction."

Hearing this, He Lei, with a grim face beside him, gritted his teeth and said, "Elder Quan, you've probably seen in recent days that the youngster not only advanced to Fourth-star Alchemist, but those two old bastards clearly intend to marry their disciples to him. If this continues, how can our He family carry out the plan?"

"This…"

Elder Quan was also at a loss for words.

Seeing this, He Lei hurriedly continued, "Moreover, you are a Seven‑star Douling; Feng Lin's strength is probably only that of a Doushi. Alchemists are usually not good at fighting, and even I, a Seven‑star Doushi, might not defeat him. If I weren't worried that I couldn't swiftly deal with him and cause complications, there would be no need for you to intervene."

"Feng Lin gets along well with Xue Mei and Lin Fei. If we kill Feng Lin, those two and their teacher might suspect us. Later, the City Lord's mansion and their teacher might come to avenge our He family. The lord of Hei Yan Cheng is also a Dou King, and with two Fourth-star Peak Alchemists, even our He family wouldn't be safe."

Elder Quan still felt some apprehension about this matter.

"Hehe, there's no need to worry about that. I don't believe the City Lord's mansion or the Hei Yan Cheng Alchemist Guild would fight our He family to a mutual ruin over a dead man. Moreover, Feng Lin is a Fourth-star Alchemist, surely very wealthy. After killing him, Elder Quan can first pick a few items he likes, and the rest will be handed over to the clan."

He Lei smiled confidently and said lightly.

At the same time, he also presented an offer that Elder Quan could hardly refuse.

"Then we'll follow the Young Clan Chief entirely, but we must kill Feng Lin quickly later; otherwise the city guards will be alerted and we'll be in trouble."

Hearing He Lei's words, Elder Quan also found the plan feasible and immediately agreed.

Later, thinking of the Fourth-star Alchemist's collection, Elder Quan trembled with excitement.

Among Feng Lin's talismans, there is probably even the precious Fourth-star elixir.

At present, his chance of advancing to Dou King is only ten percent.

If he obtains a few Fourth-star elixirs and trades them for the cultivation resources he wants.

Then his probability of becoming a Dou King would rise to at least thirty percent.

But don't underestimate that extra twenty percent; in the Jia Ma Empire,

most Doulings are trying every means to boost their own chance of advancing to Dou King by an additional ten percent...