Chapter 196: Pour the Wine

With a boom, Yun Shan's clone, after a fierce struggle with Jia Xingtian, ultimately could not match a true body—without cultivation method to sustain it, his fighting qi eventually weakened, and Jia Xingtian shattered it with a single palm strike.

Xiao Yan, seeing Jia Xingtian glance his way, used Soul Resonance to say: "Senior Brother Jia, I won't waste your time with empty words. I, Xiao Yan, will forever remember your help this time. As for the Hunyuan Shenggu Elixir, don't worry—I'll repay your favor, no matter what happens to Yun Lan Sect in the future."

Jia Xingtian shook his head with a bitter smile, gazing at the battlefield raging in the sky, his eyes lingering on Ling Ying: "Even without my intervention, you have more than enough strength to handle Yun Shan."

Xiao Yan smiled and said: "That's not how it works. Nothing should be judged from hindsight. Even I couldn't foresee everything—if not for your help, I might already be dead, ambushed and killed by that old devil Yun Shan."

Jia Xingtian didn't believe Xiao Yan would've been ambushed and killed—he glanced toward Hai Bodong's direction and couldn't help but laugh bitterly, thinking: "No wonder Hai Bodong was willing to pay so much—not just handing over half the guild, but even daring to oppose Yun Lan Sect without hesitation. He must've known all along Xiao Yan had a powerful faction behind him."

Jia Xingtian sighed. He should've guessed long ago—how could an ordinary person be so strong in both Alchemy and Cultivation?

He possesses Five-Grade Alchemy and an Elemental Fire, and he defeated Nalan Yanran, who received Yun Potian's legacy. If he had no powerful faction backing him, it's unimaginable how astonishing his talent and Qi Circulation must be.

Xiao Yan pulled out three Dou Wang Pills and called out to the three black-robed figures still restraining Yun Leng: "Three of you, the battle's nearly over. To avoid trouble, you three 'mysterious' Dou Wang Seniors, please come and take your Dou Wang Pills together."

Xiao Yan barely held back his laughter, pretending he didn't know who they were.

Now that Yun Leng and the other two Dou Wangs were no longer a threat, Dou Wangs in battles of this level were just meat to be slaughtered—they couldn't sway the outcome.

Fa Ma and the other two exchanged glances, then used a Dou Technique to create distance before flying to Xiao Yan's side.

Mu Chen raised his hand without ceremony, snatched one Dou Wang Pill, and flew away from Yun Lan Mountain—he was the only one who truly wanted the pill.

Mit'er Tengshan smiled: "Master Xiao Yan, could you please deliver this Dou Wang Pill to Ya Fei of the Miter Guild?"

Xiao Yan nodded with a smile: "Alright."

"And what about this mysterious Dou Wang?" Xiao Yan asked Fa Ma with a grin.

"Then I'll take mine. If Master Xiao Yan has time, feel free to visit my humble abode—I'll always welcome you," Fa Ma said, taking one Dou Wang Pill.

If studied, Xiao Yan's perfect-quality Dou Wang Pills could greatly aid his Alchemy advancement.

In the Five-Grade realm, Xiao Yan was the most formidable Alchemist Fa Ma had ever seen.

After all three flew away from Yun Lan Mountain, not long after, Mu Chen, Mit'er Tengshan, and Fa Ma returned under various pretexts to watch the battle again. This blatant act of covering one's ears while stealing a bell made Yun Leng and the others furious—so furious their back teeth ground to dust!

"This old bastard really can endure," Xiao Yan muttered, looking up—Yun Shan's robes were shredded by the Green Lotus Earth Core Fire, multiple burns marred his body, yet he still had fighting strength and refused to yield.

Bored, Xiao Yan shook his nearly empty wine bottle, leaned out of the Soft Sedan Chair, and called to Nalan Yanran nearby: "Hey, Nalan Yanran."

"Hm?"

"Pour the wine."

"Hm?!"

"Didn't you say you'd become my slave or servant if you lost? You lost," Xiao Yan said, as if Yun Shan meant nothing to him—still in the mood to joke and amuse himself.

Nalan Yanran stared, dumbfounded, as Xiao Yan waved the wine bottle.

After the battle ended, Yun Leng had rushed out, causing Nalan Yanran to completely forget the vow she'd made three years ago—to become his slave or servant if she lost.

"Y-you said the marriage contract was broken!" Nalan Yanran stammered, at a loss for words.

Xiao Yan chuckled: "It was broken—but the bet was your own addition. I never said that."

Nalan Yanran was suddenly caught between a rock and a hard place, clutching her skirt tightly, her cheeks flushing red as if recalling something.

Xiao Yan smirked: "Don't go imagining things—I only asked you to pour wine, nothing else."

Nalan Yanran gritted her teeth, strode over angrily, snatched the wine bottle from Xiao Yan's hand, and poured a full cup with a splash.

"Fine, I'll pour—will I die?!" Nalan Yanran stood beside the Soft Sedan Chair, wine bottle in hand.

Xiao Yan shook his head with a smile, drained the cup in one gulp, and lay back in the Soft Sedan Chair to watch the Dou Zong-level battle.

"I wonder how Qing Lin is doing now—how is she faring in the Tian She Mansion?" Xiao Yan couldn't help thinking of Qing Lin, who always called him "Young Master"—she was far better than Nalan Yanran.

Xiao Yan had expected the battle to last a long while, but it ended so suddenly.

With a boom, a sudden explosion echoed from the heavens—the Green Lotus Earth Core Fire's seed was fully triggered by Mei Du Sha Queen; the terrifying green flame exploded like a nuclear blast, scattering all clouds around Yun Lan Mountain.

The clouds vanished from Yun Lan Mountain!

Earlier, Xiao Yan had used the Elemental Fire's properties to detonate the Bone Spirit Cold Fire's power—so intense even a Seven-Grade High-Level Alchemist's Soul Body had to flee.

With a thud, Yun Shan, half his body charred black, plummeted from the sky and crashed into a deep crater.

"Master!" Yun Yun, who had been watched by Hai Bodong, panicked, unfurled her Wind Wings, and flew to Yun Shan's side.

No wonder Yun Yun was so frantic—Yun Shan wasn't just her master; he was her adoptive father.

Yun Yun pulled a Six-Grade Low-Level Healing Pill from her space ring—it was crafted by Gu He. Though Six-Grade Pills were typically for Dou Huangs, and Dou Zongs used Seven-Grade, this one still offered some effect.

"Get away!" Yun Shan knocked the pill from Yun Yun's hand, staggered to his feet. Perhaps because of Xiao Yan—or perhaps from the humiliation of being defeated by a Half-Dou Zong Mei Du Sha Queen—he now resembled a wounded tiger.

"Master…" Yun Yun looked at Yun Shan with guilt.

Yun Shan, face twisted with rage, glared at Xiao Yan and roared: "Even if you have the Mei Du Sha Queen's help and Elemental Fire, someone will still deal with you!"

Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed—he sensed with sharp Soul Force Perception that Yun Shan had just shattered a Soul Jade.

"Hahaha, you have no idea what you're facing!"

"Hahahaha!!"

But something strange happened—no matter how loudly Yun Shan shouted, nothing occurred. The sky remained clear.

Everyone present exchanged glances, then stared at Yun Shan, wondering if he'd been brain-damaged—shouting like a madman all by himself.

Yun Shan stared blankly at the sky, roaring: "Why? Why didn't you appear?! Guardian Wu! You promised me!"

Yun Shan was stunned—he didn't understand why his backup hadn't shown up. Why had they abandoned him?

"Stop shouting. The Soul Hall won't come." At that moment, Xiao Yan's voice echoed from within Yun Shan's center.

Yun Shan stared in disbelief at Xiao Yan, seated in the Soft Sedan Chair: "It's you—you did something?!"

(End of Chapter)