Chapter 1270: The Imperial Realm Soul of Xiao Yan

When Lin Feng set out for the Yao Clan to attend the Yao Dian, in the dim Tian Mu, Xiao Yan slightly clenched his palm, gazed into the distance, and a strange state of mind rose from within his heart.

This feeling was as if the entire Tian Mu space were now under his control.

"Boom!"

Thinking of this, Xiao Yan immediately extended his palm and lightly grasped at the void.

"Rumble—rumble—rumble!"

Accompanying the previous action, in an instant, a mountain thousands of zhang away suddenly exploded into powder without warning.

At this moment, Xiao Yan's soul power, together with his shifting thoughts, could instantly spread to any corner of Tian Mu.

And this range of spread, compared to his former self, was many times stronger, and wherever Xiao Yan's soul could reach, his attacks could arrive in an instant.

Of course, this ability would weaken considerably after leaving Tian Mu, yet it was still far stronger than his previous self!

"The Imperial Realm soul and control over Tian Mu—this gain from entering Tian Mu truly is terrifying."

Thinking of the opportunity bestowed by his ancestor Xiao Xuan, Xiao Yan couldn't help but exclaim in awe.

Because his refinement had devoured the soul of Tian Mu, Xiao Yan could clearly feel that he possessed absolute control over this space.

In other words, even after leaving Tian Mu and the Ancient Realm, he could easily open a spatial gateway to Tian Mu from anywhere.

Of course, this presumes nothing special blocks the space.

For example, if he were a Dou Zun cultivator, a space sealed by a Half Saint or even a Dou Saint would prevent him from opening a gateway to Tian Mu.

Aside from those rare special cases, having control over Tian Mu makes this place feel like home to him.

Moreover, if anyone else tries to tear a spatial rift to enter Tian Mu, unless their strength is god‑like, they must obtain his permission.

From a certain perspective, Xiao Yan now is like the master of Tian Mu.

Who enters and who exits is decided solely by him.

With his current strength, the dense energy within Tian Mu no longer has much effect on him.

But the time differential with the outside world is extremely enticing.

After all, staying here to cultivate can greatly boost his cultivation efficiency.

For the forces under his command, it would undoubtedly be an excellent aid!

"Unfortunately, this treasured land that ancestor Xiao Xuan exchanged his life for can only be handed over to the Ancient Clan."

Thinking of the conditions of his entry into Tian Mu, Xiao Yan couldn't help but shake his head bitterly.

Sure enough, without strength, even the best things are wasted!

"Now my soul has entered the Imperial Realm, and with ancestor Xiao Xuan gone, perhaps it's time to leave."

Xiao Yan hung suspended in the sky, his gaze far ahead; with Xiao Xuan gone, this Tian Mu no longer gave him any reason to linger.

After all, he still needed to go to the Yao Clan to help his teacher fulfill a wish.

Thinking of this, Xiao Yan did not hesitate, immediately brushed his hand forward, creating a black fissure dozens of zhang wide, then strode through it.

The Yao Clan's realm, the Yao World, lies beyond the far south of the Zhongzhou Continent in the Shennong Mountains.

In a sense, the region where the Yao World resides has already left the Zhongzhou area, situated on the southern continent, making it rather remote.

Further south lies the wild southern region and the dark, eerie Dark Realm.

Within that boundless Dark Realm live a dark race whose cultivation methods differ completely from ordinary cultivators.

It is said that the dark race all have yellow hair and red eyes, feed on living blood, love darkness and despise sunlight; thus wherever they occupy, they reshape the area, blocking sunlight to create a suitable Dark Realm.

However, because they frequently capture demon beasts and humans to drink blood, they often clash with southern humans and demon‑beast races.

Yet, due to the strength of the three major demon‑beast species and the Yao Clan, and humans who abhor the dark race banding together,

the slightly weaker dark race can only be forced to lurk within the Dark Realm under the double assault.

Nevertheless, the Dark Realm and its surrounding customs are completely different from the outside world.

Even the human alchemy there is said to differ from that of the Zhongzhou Continent.

Their formulas often use, not ordinary demon cores, but blood crystals from the dark race's brains.

It is said these blood crystals are somewhat like demon cores, serving as the dark race's energy source, as they naturally carry a raging blood virus that drives beings mad with a thirst for blood.

To use them in alchemy, the virus must be completely removed beforehand.

Otherwise, the consumer's brain is infected by the virus, the soul invaded, leaving almost no cure and resulting in death.

Most terrifying, those infected who bite others may transmit the virus to healthy people!

Fortunately, before the virus erupts, a pill can purge it, so it hasn't caused a major uproar.

Unlike demon cores, the dark race's more human‑like physiology makes the energy in their blood crystals purer and calmer.

Thus for alchemy, they are not necessarily inferior to demon cores.

Ahem, I digressed.

Nevertheless, though this southern wild continent is remote, how could the Yao Clan stand idly by while their own doorstep is so desolate?

Although the Shennong Mountains were initially a wild land, teeming with poisonous insects and beasts rarely seen in Zhongzhou.

But thanks to the Yao Clan's relentless development, the Shennong Mountains have become quite bustling.

Moreover, under the Yao Clan's careful cultivation, the mountains now yield abundant rare medicinal herbs; many alchemists even cross several continents to seek herbs here.

Thus the Shennong Mountains are also extremely popular.

As for the Yao Dian, it is one of the most important festivals among the Yao Clan, and its date is not fixed, varying with circumstances.

Overall, the core content of the Yao Dian bears some resemblance to the Dan Tower's Dan Assembly.

Only that the participants' strength and alchemy far surpass those of the Dan Assembly by countless multiples.

Moreover, in a sense, this is a summit of the continent's truly top alchemists.

The most important thing is that the Yao Clan wants the world to know through this summit.

What is the continent's largest alchemist group, and who is the top‑ranked alchemist on the Dou Qi Continent today?

Simply put, the Yao Clan has long monopolized the vast majority of the continent's top‑rank alchemist slots, and its high‑ranking members have always held the honor of being the continent's number‑one alchemist.

So every so often they hold a celebration to show off their strength to outsiders.

Because of that, the people who can attend the Yao Compendium, besides Yao Clan members themselves, also include some former or current masters and strongmen on the Zhongzhou Continent who enjoy great fame and superb alchemical skill.

After all, flaunting strength is mainly for outsiders; otherwise what's the point of performing daily for the clan members?

Nevertheless, the number of people invited by the Yao Clan is usually very small.

Admittedly, the Yao Clan may be arrogant, but it cannot deny that, thanks to the Yao Emperor bloodline, its members excel at alchemy, and fire‑wood cultivators are as countless as carp crossing a river.

Thus, with the backing of such a massive alchemist community, the odds of pulling an SSR Card are naturally far higher than those of external sects or ordinary families.

Moreover, the Yao Clan's centuries‑old foundation and the Dou Emperor bloodline's advantage in Dou Qi cultivation mean that every so often a Ninth‑rank Alchemist emerges.

With such qualifications, an alchemist on the Dou Qi Continent who catches the Yao Clan's eye is as rare as a phoenix feather.

Because the Beast Realm where Dragon Island lies is not far from the Shennong Mountains where the Yao Clan resides.

So even if Lin Feng travels at the normal five‑star Dou Saint speed, after flying for almost an hour the mist‑shrouded Shennong Mountains appear before his eyes.

"Tsk tsk, such dense heavenly energy. The Yao Emperor has good taste, picking a fine spot. The only question is whether his junior can hold it. … Well, ninety‑nine percent can't hold it."

Because he feared being discovered during his earlier expedition to the Gu Nanfang Dalu, he deliberately stayed away from the spot near the Yao Realm's entrance, so when he first laid eyes on the Shennong Mountains today, even Lin Feng couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

High above the distant mountains, thick white clouds churned.

Those clouds, however, were not ordinary; they were energy mist formed by the overwhelming concentration of heavenly energy gathering aloft.

If someone were to cultivate here, their advancement speed would likely be twice that of a typical cultivation spot on the Zhongzhou Continent.

Yet shortly after spotting the Shennong Mountains, Lin Feng's form halted, then began a slow descent, finally hovering atop a deep gorge within the range.

Between the two cliffs before him stood a massive stone arch, perhaps several hundred zhang tall, standing silently.

At the same time, waves of ancient aura drifted slowly outward from the stone arch.

Lin Feng looked toward the arch's center, where a twisted silver space yawned.

If his guess is correct, this is the portal leading to the Yao Clan's realm.

Of course, because the Compendium is imminent, figures continuously swoop out from the sky or the dense forest on the mountains, landing outside the stone arch.

Each then retrieves a jade slip and hands it to the Yao‑clad guards standing beyond the arch, after which they are allowed to enter the spatial passage.

"Interesting. Judging by their looks, they must be sects or family forces attached to the Yao Clan nearby. It's fine for you to observe the Yao Clan's profound alchemy, but you must have a way back!"

High above, Lin Feng scanned the silhouettes entering the portal, then shook his head regretfully.

So many alchemists entering the Yao Realm to sacrifice heads—looks like the Soul Clan's power can be boosted a few more points.

But soon he steadied himself, stepped lightly on air, and his form instantly appeared before the arch in a distant gorge.

"Hm?"

The Yao Clan guards, standing like statues, realized Lin Feng was not a sect leader they knew, and their sharp gazes instantly flared.

Their eyes saw his calm demeanor, showing no reverence for the Yao Clan.

Then one stepped forward and barked, "This is Yao Clan territory; outsiders, withdraw!"

So, following the shout, the silhouettes around the gorge subconsciously slowed their steps, eyes curiously turning toward Lin Feng.

"Hehe, Lin Feng, you're invited to the Compendium."

Seeing the guards' vigilance, Lin Feng stepped lightly forward and tossed the jade slip that Gu Xun'er had given him.

Of course, as he released the jade slip, a torrent of overwhelming aura burst from his body, instantly forcing back several guards who were Dou Zun elites in the outside world by a few steps.

After all, few Yao Clan members know him; without showing some power, they'd probably think he's just trying to crash the party.

"Lin Feng?"

The moment the name was spoken, not only the Yao guards but also nearby sect leaders and representatives all bowed their heads, searching their memories.

From that aura, it was clear that Lin Feng was at least a Dou Saint powerhouse, not to be underestimated!

And one of the Yao guards, after receiving and inspecting the jade slip, confirmed the invitation was genuine.

However, shortly after, someone rummaging through their memory for information on the name blurted out in astonishment, "It's him, the Dan Cup champion, who not long ago single‑handedly defeated two four‑star Dou Saints of the Ancient Clan!"

"Hiss, it's him!"

The words caused many nearby to gasp sharply.

Because Lin Feng's earlier battle with the Ancient Clan was not concealed, many people know of him. After all, those who can reach this place generally come from major forces that possess half‑saint to Dou Saint elites, and they are especially attuned to events on the Zhongzhou Continent.

That day's once‑in‑century Dou Saint melee on the Zhongzhou Continent would certainly have been documented by them.

"It's him!?"

Hearing the surrounding gasps, the Yao Clan Dou Zun guards also recalled information about Lin Feng, albeit late.

However, because the details of the earlier Void War were collectively sealed by the high‑ranking leaders of various clans to avoid embarrassment, the Yao guards remained unaware.

Thus, after the Yao‑affiliated forces around the Shennong Mountains recognized Lin Feng and saw that the invitation bore his name, the guards accepted it and signaled that he could proceed.

Seeing this, Lin Feng bowed to the surrounding people, then in a flash his form vanished into the twisted spatial corridor within the arch.

As he entered, Lin Feng's gaze flickered, and the silver corridor before him transformed into a lush green plain.

Simultaneously, the plain was dotted with massive bird‑beasts whose wings spanned several hundred zhang.

"Honored guest, this way, please."

As soon as Lin Feng touched down, a Yao Clan warrior in armor stepped forward and guided him toward a giant bird‑beast.

Looking up, the wooden deck on the bird's broad back was already crowded with hundreds of figures, creating a lively scene.

Having taken part in the Ancient Clan's coming‑of‑age rites, Lin Feng was no stranger to such a scene.

Knowing what the Yao Clan feared, he said little, walked to the bird, found a less‑crowded spot on the deck, leaned on the carved wooden railing, and quietly gazed at the vast emerald plain.

"What a pity, this beautiful scenery will likely be stained with blood soon."

After a long pause, Lin Feng shook his head inwardly.

Yet moments after he arrived, the giant bird suddenly unfurled its massive wings, riding a howling gale, and sped toward the depths of the Yao Clan's micro‑world.

As for Lin Feng, he kept a calm expression while standing still, looking at the scenery along the way.

Of course, in his heart he shook his head in great regret.

"If it weren't for the fact that there are too many people in the Yao Clan, most of whom are alchemists, and they worry that my suppressed soul power cannot be hidden from them, I could have used some small tricks as a contingency—what a pity."

Thinking of this, a hint of gloom also rose in his heart.

If it weren't for earning some resources and simultaneously monitoring Xiao Yan, ensuring he could escape, the many schemes ahead wouldn't be taken advantage of by Wu Nie Tun Yan.

Even if I have an agreement with the Yao Emperor, I could still capture some Yao Clan members before the Yao Pharmacopeia, preserving a sliver of the Yao Clan's bloodline.

"Alas."

After a long silence, the countless thoughts in his mind finally turned into a long sigh.

However, Lin Feng's soul power swept over the somewhat scattered Yao Clan armored soldiers along the way, and he couldn't help feeling speechless again.

Indeed, the Yao Clan armored soldiers he saw along the way had an average strength far surpassing that of the Stone Clan's tribal army.

But aside from the soldiers near the Yao Realm's gateway to the outside world, the others were basically absent‑minded, playing and fooling around.

Compared to the Stone Clan's armament state, it's countless times higher.

"No wonder Wu Nie Tun Yan's operation in the original work went so smoothly; given your vigilant state, aside from a few outside, the inside is all just clock‑in slackers. If you could adopt the Stone Clan's warlike attitude, Wu Nie Tun Yan's operation would be at least two levels harder!"

Scanning past those chattering Yao Clan armored soldiers, Lin Feng's mouth twitched slightly.

Honestly, according to the original, the Yao Emperor's lingering soul is more than ten times stronger than the Stone Emperor's martial soul, which can't even hold a normal conversation.

At the very least, it can exchange dozens of moves with Wu Nie Tun Yan, and if the Yao Clan took the war seriously, they could channel the fighting Qi of all the clan's strongmen into a grand formation from the start.

Wu Nie Tun Yan trying to break the formation with the Yao Clan's bloodline would basically be a futile effort.

Even considering the trouble caused by the Yao Clan's rear holding back Wu Nie Tun Yan and two of the Soul Clan's Four Demon Saints, Wu Nie Tun Yan would have less than an incense‑stick's time and certainly couldn't break the formation.

At that time, not only the Gu Clan, even the Flame Clan would realize the Yao Clan's situation was off.

However, if the Yao Clan were truly in the Stone Clan's condition, the Soul Clan would probably dispatch more strong ones to join the action.

"But why are my opponents not like this? If they were, I could be much more at ease."

Thinking of the Soul Clan, Lin Feng couldn't help muttering to himself.

However, just as the former grew gloomy, the giant beast beneath his feet, after soaring for about an incense‑stick's duration, suddenly began to slow down.

Sensing this change, Lin Feng and the others on the beast's back then looked up into the distance.

In an instant, the clouds ahead cleared, and a towering massive peak rose into the clouds, appearing within their sight.

On that peak, they could faintly see clusters of grand halls and buildings.

At the same time, countless colored pillars of qi rose slowly and continuously from the peak.

Within those pillars, a strong scent of alchemical incense filled the air!

As for the bird‑beast beneath Lin Feng and the others, it was now flying over a green stone plaza before slowly descending.

"Tsk tsk, with so much colored alchemical incense, the Yao Clan truly is the continent's top alchemist family; so many fine souls. Uh, am I being misled by the Soul Clan? With so many alchemists, they really have deep foundations!"

After the bird‑beast landed, Lin Feng looked toward the continuously rising colored incense on the peak, walked toward the bustling plaza below, and couldn't help exclaiming in wonder.

"Lin Feng, you scoundrel actually still dared to come to my Yao Clan!"

However, just as he stared with shining eyes at those top‑grade soul‑origin alchemy materials, a cold shout rang out from behind him.

Hearing the cold shout, Lin Feng turned around and saw the pedestrians behind him all simultaneously stepping aside.

At the same time, an elder, surrounded by a crowd, slowly walked toward Lin Feng.

"Yo, so it's the old thing that ran out like a dog from the Pure Lotus Demonic Fire space that day. How's that? After a few years, you're all cocky again?"

He recognized the newcomer as Yao Wanggui, the Yao Clan elder he had seen during the Pure Lotus Demonic Fire emergence; Lin Feng immediately curled his lip and began to mock the old man.

After all, even though his power is suppressed to a Five‑Star Dou Saint, Lin Feng, using numerous methods, fears not even a Six‑Star Dou Saint; let alone you, whose strength is only Four‑Star Dou Saint.

"Scoundrel!"

Hearing the scathing remark hit his sore spot, Yao Wanggui's face turned a deep iron‑blue, his eyes fixedly glaring at Lin Feng.

But Lin Feng was not at all intimidated; instead he sneered, "What, is this how the Yao Clan treats guests?"

"I think your Yao Clan should just rename yourselves barbarians. With your hospitality, you seem to share the same roots as the uncivilized barbarians of the northern continent, probably brothers."

Speaking further, Lin Feng grinned, his verbal mental attack fully maxed out against these self‑proclaimed superior Dou Emperor families.

"Bastard, you little mongrel, you dared to speak harshly in front of the Gu Clan lady, teaching us alchemy on the Yao Pharmacopeia. Now that you've just arrived, you insult the Yao Clan again—truly deserving death!"

Hearing the insult, Yao Wanggui and the surrounding Yao Clan onlookers were so enraged they practically leapt like thunder, eager to rush forward and kill him.

"Heh, the feud between me and Gu Xun'er is known to people on Zhongzhou Continent and not just your ancient race. Why must your Yao Clan obey everything she says? She even told me you should change your surname to Gu, yet I see no renaming conference, or any announcement on the Yao Pharmacopeia that you're about to change your surname to Gu?"

At this point, Lin Feng spread his hands and continued, "Moreover, with your habit of standing here and insulting guests as soon as they arrive, calling yourselves barbarians—what's wrong with that?"

As for the bold Yao Wanggui who came forward looking for trouble, Lin Feng showed no courtesy, utterly denigrating the entire Yao Clan.

After all, with his current strength, he no longer needs to be so cautious against the Yao Clan.

Moreover, the Yao Clan can survive this great calamity, at least.

"You!"

Facing Lin Feng's relentless denigration of the Yao Clan's prestige, the Yao Clan members were momentarily at a loss for how to retort.

And Lin Feng, looking at those Yao Clan members who seemed eager to kill him, couldn't help a mocking smile.

If these guys truly dared to act, he'd definitely show them what a Five‑Star Dou Saint's strength is!

But just as he was about to speak, he sensed a figure suddenly appear behind him, unabashedly unleashing a massive soul pressure far surpassing that of any Yao Clan member; Lin Feng's brows twitched.

Because this soul pressure felt familiar to Lin Feng, identical to his own before suppression.

Obviously, the newcomer behind him also possessed an Imperial Realm soul, one of the few on the continent to have attained it.

"Heh, look at that aura—that guy must have succeeded in obtaining something inside Tian Mu. Then, the Gu Clan must have also secured what they need. Otherwise, given the Gu people's nature, once they learn that Tian Mu holds a treasure capable of helping a Heavenly Realm Great Perfection Soul breakthrough into an Imperial Realm soul—an almost god‑defying relic—they wouldn't let Xiao Yan take it even if it rotted inside."

Thinking of this, a surge of excitement rose in Lin Feng's heart.

That day he kindly told Gu Xun'er that absorbing Tian Mu's soul would grant control, but he didn't truly intend to extend that woman's usage rights for another half‑year.

Although the woman's body was undeniably exquisite, what he cared about most was cutting off Xiao Yan's major life‑preserving method, thereby increasing the success rate of his plan to capture the Imperial Realm Soul.

Otherwise, this guy holds control over Tian Mu, can enter and exit it at will, and if he just leaves the Medicine Realm sealed by Wu Nie Tun Yan, he would immediately open Tian Mu to flee.

Then his plan would be foiled.

After all, he doesn't yet want to reveal his full power before everyone.

Thinking of this, Lin Feng immediately turned back and looked toward the Yao Wanggui ahead: "Old thing, that familiar aura means that Xiao Yan has arrived. Although I 'don't know' how he broke through the soul shackles, your old nemesis has come to taunt you, and I guess you don't have time to argue with me. In that case, you handle it at your leisure; I'm too lazy to stay here any longer."

As soon as his words fell, he drifted away from the square amid the murderous gazes of the Yao clan members.

As for Yao Wanggui, after glancing at Lin Feng's departing back, sensing that Xiao Yan was plainly there to reclaim the scene, he clenched his teeth, hesitated briefly, and finally decided to deal first with the Xiao Yan who had unsettled the entire Medicine Realm.

Although the soul pressure emanating from Xiao Yan, which dwarfed even the ten‑fold magnitude he sensed from his own clan leader, made him shiver with fear.

Yet faced with the stare of so many onlookers, he had no choice but to steel himself and step forward.

At the same time, he muttered inwardly, "That little mongrel of the Xiao clan, why is his soul power so terrifying? Could it be that he's brushed the edge of the Imperial Realm Soul?"

Thinking of this, Yao Wanggui felt an overwhelming shock.

The Imperial Realm Soul—though there are younger members of the Yao clan who possess the potential to enter that realm.

He never expected that Xiao Yan, that little mongrel, could also brush the legendary edge of the soul realm; it left him both shocked, fearful, jealous, and envious.

However, as his distance to Xiao Yan kept shrinking.

Yao Wanggui, the elder who had studied soul power for centuries, finally sensed something amiss.

Immediately, under the countless gazes surrounding him, his body suddenly trembled, and he laboriously lifted his head, his eyes bulging as if about to split, staring at the sky where Xiao Yan surged.

After a long silence, he finally spoke in a voice that seemed aged thousands of years, trembling: "That little mongrel of the Xiao clan has broken through the barrier of the Heavenly Realm Great Perfection and has already advanced to the Imperial Realm Soul!"

"Old dog, I never thought you once bullied my teacher, when I still respected you at the Demon Fire Space Gate that day. This time, the humiliation my teacher suffered must be repaid a hundredfold!"

Before Yao Wanggui finished speaking, a roar that shook the surrounding space reverberated from the distant sky. (End of chapter)