Chapter 204: Each Hides Their Own Agenda

A low hum sounded, and suddenly a dark vortex appeared in space, a dark passage extending into unknown depths; Xiao Yan, clad in a Soul Robe, stepped out of the passage and onto the Sacrificial Altar.

"Welcome back, Great One! Did you exchange for what you wanted?" Guardian Wu hurried forward, his aged face twisting into an ugly smile.

"Nothing much—just swapped for one main medicinal material for a Soul-Enhancing Pill and some ingredients for Fifth-Rank Pills," Xiao Yan said calmly, stepping down from the Sacrificial Altar without glancing aside.

"Yes, yes, yes! To reach Fifth-Rank Alchemist at your age is truly enviable. If you need, I can exchange the Spirit Hall's stored medicinal materials and give them to you." Guardian Wu smiled.

Xiao Yan glanced at the glowing orbs surrounding the Spirit Hall; his powerful Spiritual Soul instantly swept over the medicinal materials, then he sneered: "Forget it—these materials are nothing special."

Xiao Yan obviously couldn't tell Guardian Wu or Yun Shan that he had exchanged for an Earth-Rank Advanced Grade Soul Technique from the Treasure Hall.

The Spirit Hall had many Cultivation Methods and Dou Techniques, but very few Elixirs and medicinal materials. But that was normal—scattered cultivators like Dou Masters, Great Dou Masters, and Dou Spirits were more easily attracted by Cultivation Methods and Dou Techniques than by pills or herbs.

If Xiao Yan didn't possess the Burnt Decree, he himself would likely be searching far and wide for more powerful Cultivation Methods—though seeking an Elemental Fire was essentially the same thing.

Ignoring Yun Shan and Guardian Wu, Xiao Yan, having obtained the Soul Technique, had already achieved his original goal, and left the Spirit Hall.

Originally, Xiao Yan had only planned to exchange for an Earth-Rank Low-Level Soul Technique to replace the Soul Shock that traded injury for injury; he never expected YaoAo to be so valuable—his journey through the Mo Shou Shan Mai had left him utterly enriched.

"He has a faint medicinal scent—must be right, he exchanged for herbs."

Watching Xiao Yan leave, Yun Shan frowned deeply and said anxiously: "What if he enters the Life and Death Gate and truly breaches the innermost Death Gate, obtaining that thing—what then?"

A black mist burst from Guardian Wu's body; the Spiritual Pressure of a Five Star Dou Zong shook the entire Spirit Hall to its foundations.

"I've spent so much time and energy on the Life and Death Gate—I will never hand over what's inside!"

"If he only wants the Elemental Fire, I can let him have it—but the mysterious inheritance at the very end of the Death Gate? That will be mine!"

Guardian Wu's gaze was sharp, his tone filled with ruthlessness; no one knew how much he had sacrificed for this.

Guardian Wu's presence in the Jia Ma Empire's Yun Lan Sect was no simple coincidence.

After exiting the Spirit Hall's Space Lock, Xiao Yan placed the Soul Robe into his Storage Ring and turned to look at a nearby mountain peak.

That unremarkable peak, Xiao Yan could clearly sense with his Soul Force—there, too, was a Space Lock left behind by a Dou Zun.

"That must be the Space Lock left by Yun Potian—meaning the Life and Death Gate is right there."

Meow! The space suddenly twisted, and Mao Wu stepped out, walking with feline grace.

"How was it?"

Meow, meow meow!!

(>^ω^<) Meow

Watching Mao Wu's wild gestures and flailing paws, Xiao Yan naturally couldn't understand cat speech—but since it was his own Elemental Fire, he could guess its meaning through their special bond.

"So, beneath the Life and Death Gate is a powerful spatial seal—even you can't get through?" Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed slightly; suddenly, the situation felt far more complicated.

Mao Wu could traverse space; ordinary Space Locks left by Dou Zuns couldn't stop Void Swallowing Flame. Yet the Life and Death Gate blocked even Mao Wu.

Xiao Yan was clever—he created a great commotion, entered the Spirit Hall alone, and drew Guardian Wu and Yun Shan's attention, while letting Mao Wu slip through unnoticed!

From Nalan Yanran's words, Xiao Yan had already been certain the Life and Death Gate was far from simple.

If the Life and Death Gate was Yun Potian's legacy site, the burial ground of Yun Lan Sect's successive Sect Masters, then logically, the most valuable thing would be Yun Potian's inheritance.

Nalan Yanran had already received Yun Potian's inheritance—but only reached the middle-to-later sections, not the very end—proving something even more important lay beyond.

Guardian Wu must have discovered this, which is why he allied with Yun Shan and established the Spirit Hall within the Yun Lan Sect.

Xiao Yan turned to look at the empty forest behind him and smiled with deep meaning: "Looks like those two are hiding something—no wonder they're Spirit Hall devils; each harbors their own secret agenda."

Xiao Yan chuckled and shook his head, saying no more. He had gradually come to understand the Spirit Hall well—this organization lurked in shadows, hunting Soul Bodies and Alchemists for rewards; such a culture ensured everyone here prioritized self-interest.

Xiao Yan had his own plans too—he must obtain the Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame; as for whatever lay at the very end of the Life and Death Gate, that would depend on fate.

Back in the building, Xiao Yan glanced at Mei Du Sha, now returned to her serpent form, quietly coiled upon the Blue Lotus.

Mei Du Sha was no longer the tiny snake she once was—two meters long, as thick as an arm, her scales shimmering faintly with seven-colored light under the Blue Lotus's flames, strikingly beautiful.

"This serpent body grows faster than I imagined—the Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent has incredible growth potential."

Entering the cultivation chamber, Xiao Yan did not immediately begin cultivating the Demon-Slaying Soul Technique; instead, he lit the Alchemy Furnace to refine pills.

"The Demon-Slaying Soul Technique blinds the cultivator's soul with killing intent. Though I lack the Clan Mark, if I take a pill that clears the mind and calms the spirit, I can likely offset part of the side effects."

"If all else fails, there's Mao Wu."

Xiao Yan stroked Mao Wu; the side effects of the Demon-Slaying Soul Technique resembled the Black Demon—even stronger.

Xiao Yan had indeed exchanged for several main medicinal materials for Fifth-Rank Pills from the Treasure Hall—he intended to refine a Fifth-Rank High-Level Medicine called the Mind-Clearing Soul Pill.

This pill specifically treats cultivation deviations and prevents Heart Demons from invading.

And Xiao Yan's pill refining lasted all night.

"Xiao Yan, Master ordered me to take you to the Life and Death Gate." A knock echoed at the door; Nalan Yanran's voice came from outside.

Xiao Yan yawned, glanced out the window—it was already daylight; he tidied his messy hair and dark circles, and packed away the Alchemy Furnace.

Xiao Yan had refined pills all night—every single one a Mind-Clearing Soul Pill; of course his spirit was exhausted.

Seeing Xiao Yan's appearance—like someone who'd indulged too much—Nalan Yanran flushed awkwardly and said: "Even though you live with the Medusa Queen, you should still exercise some restraint."

Xiao Yan sighed helplessly: "I refined pills all night—I haven't even washed my face yet. I didn't do what you're imagining."

Instantly, Nalan Yanran's cheeks turned crimson; she wished she could dig a hole and crawl into it.

"Lead the way. How can you even fail at guiding someone? You'll get docked pay if you keep this up." Xiao Yan tousled his hair, didn't bother changing clothes, and simply pulled on his Alchemist Long Robe.

(End of Chapter)