Chapter 211: The Yun Lan Sect

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Xiao Yan slowly extended his hand, and two black-and-white koi fish, as if alive and sentient, swam into his palm.

The two fish spiraled around Xiao Yan's arm, moving with fluid grace, like dancing with every motion of his arm.

Xiao Yan understood that if he refined the Yin-Yang Twin Flames, it meant he accepted this mission.

Originally, the Xiao Clan of Wutan City lived in peace and prosperity, dominating the city, eating well and drinking well like a local emperor, never lacking food or clothing.

Now, suddenly, the Soul Sovereign had become a deadly enemy, and Xiao Yan had just learned that there were eight Dou Emperor families, and eight Ancient Jades—one for each family.

This meant that not only the Soul Sovereign wanted the Ancient Jades—the other families wanted them too.

Xiao Yan subtly rubbed the two little fish between his fingers; the Yin-Yang Twin Flames were already fully mature, and more than that, they had been completely refined by Xiao Xuan. As long as one possessed Xiao Clan bloodline and had cultivated the Heavenly Flame Three Mystical Transformations, one could refine the Yin-Yang Twin Flames without any pain whatsoever.

This could be said to be one of the legacies left by the Ancestor for his little grandson Xiao Yan—click confirm to sign in and receive it.

Xiao Yan pondered for a long, long time; at this moment, he was alone. If he could, Xiao Yan wished someone could offer him advice.

"Sigh, there's really no choice. Whether it's the Yin-Yang Twin Flames, or that Dou Di Bloodline and the Secret Technique created by the Dou Emperor, I need them all." Xiao Yan shook his head with a bitter smile and let out a deep sigh.

The poor have no choices.

"Ancestor, thank you so much for placing your trust in me. As a member of the Xiao Clan, protecting my own family, guarding my own kin, and making our clan stronger is my duty." Xiao Yan's expression was utterly serious, with no trace of jest; his voice rang with conviction.

"I, Xiao Yan, may not be able to do better than you, Ancestor, but I swear by heaven: as long as I, Xiao Yan, live, I will ensure the continuation of our clan's bloodline, and make the protection of our family my sacred duty."

"I swear here, in the name of Young Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan: I shall defend our clan, eradicate our barbaric enemies. Even if I die one day, I shall become a spirit to protect the Xiao Clan, forever unyielding. This oath is witnessed by sun and moon, affirmed by heaven and earth."

Xiao Yan extended his hand and swore with his soul; his voice resonated with his soul, proving his sincerity.

No sooner had he spoken than the two black-and-white fish merged into one, forming a half-black, half-white flame floating before Xiao Yan.

{Good. The Xiao Clan has no cowards. }

Boom—the Yin-Yang Twin Flames suddenly surged, their black-and-white flames engulfing Xiao Yan completely like a sea of fire.

At this moment, Xiao Yan felt utterly comfortable, as if immersed in a hot spring; the warmth made him drowsy.

Xiao Yan closed his eyes in bliss and began activating the Burnt Scripture, guiding the Yin-Yang Twin Flames.

The Yin-Yang Twin Flames slowly seeped through Xiao Yan's pores into his SpiritFlesh, traveling along his meridians toward his dantian.

Xiao Yan could sense that within the Yin-Yang Twin Flames lay the Dou Di Bloodline, as Xiao Xuan had described—though this bloodline was extremely diluted.

According to the old Xiao Clan standards, this bloodline was merely Rank One—the weakest kind. It could barely even activate the Clan Mark; aside from slightly enhancing talent, it was nearly useless. Without the Heavenly Flame Three Mystical Transformations, this trace of bloodline power could only improve cultivation talent.

But then again, if the bloodline concentration had been too high, how could it have escaped under Hun Tian Di's very eyes?

Xiao Yan, inside the Life and Death Gate "watching a movie," naturally did not know that the entire Yun Lan Sect had undergone a dramatic transformation.

"Have you heard? I heard the Yun Lan Sect has sealed its mountain."

"I heard too. It's said they're holding some ceremony and sealed Yun Lan Mountain to prevent disturbance—no one can enter or leave."

By now, Xiao Yan had been inside the Life and Death Gate for nearly a full day.

Not long after Xiao Yan entered the Life and Death Gate, Yun Shan announced the sealing of the mountain gates and activated the repaired protective sect array, locking down the entire Yun Lan Sect.

Not even entry or exit was possible—let alone any perception from outside.

In the Jia Ma Royal Family, sensing something amiss, Yao Ye urgently summoned all the powerful figures from the Jia Ma Empire who had attended the prior agreement between Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan.

"I found no irregularities whatsoever," Mu Chen shook his head, admitting he had no idea why the Yun Lan Sect had suddenly acted this way.

"After Xiao Yan caused chaos at the Yun Lan Sect, the appearance of the Medusa Queen led to Yun Shan's defeat. Xiao Yan then proposed entering the Life and Death Gate for training as compensation—all of this seemed perfectly normal," Nalan Jie also shook his head, seeing nothing suspicious.

Fa Ma suddenly remembered something, frowning deeply: "Could it be that the Yun Lan Sect has a second Dou Zong? Are they sealing the mountain to capture the Medusa Queen?"

Fa Ma recalled Yun Shan's final mad ramblings—if Yun Shan had been calling out to another hidden Dou Zong within the Yun Lan Sect, then this possibility was real!

"A second one?! How could the Yun Lan Sect possibly produce two Dou Zongs!" Jia Xingtian exclaimed. If the Yun Lan Sect truly had two Dou Zongs, the entire Northwest Region could fall under their control.

The upcoming Northwest Region Sect Competition wouldn't even need to be held—two Dou Zongs would be enough to dominate.

Hai Bodong sighed, worriedly saying: "For now, let's wait and observe. I have a Soul Jade pendant made by Xiao Yan—if anything happens to him, he'll shatter it to notify me."

Time slipped by over a month. Since the Yun Lan Sect sealed its mountain over a month ago, it had become like a holy land cut off from the world—no longer bustling with visitors. Even the once-thriving Yunlan City had grown sparsely populated.

At the location of the Life and Death Gate, dozens of thick black Spiritual Energy Drainage Chains coiled around the stone pillars, as if trying to rip the gate from the earth.

The other ends of the chains connected to numerous altars; upon closer inspection, these altars resembled Soul Offering Altars—but instead of Soul Stones and Soul Tokens, they now held living beings as offerings.

In just this short week, not only had the Soul Envoys already loyal to the Soul Sovereign within the Yun Lan Sect gone out to hunt, but scattered cultivators who had joined the Soul Sovereign also gathered from various cities and abducted numerous cultivators and mercenaries.

Most were Dou Zhe and Dou Shi, some Dou Da Shi and Dou Ling—even demons and ordinary civilians were taken.

Seeing the Soul Envoys return, Guardian Wu let out a cold chuckle: "Jie jie jie—place everyone into the altars. If the number is sufficient, I refuse to believe we can't forcibly rip up the Life and Death Gate by absorbing their souls!"

Instantly, the Soul Envoys clad in Soul Robes tossed all the abducted civilians and cultivators into the altars.

As each Soul Envoy dumped their captives into the altars, the massive altars rapidly became overcrowded.

"Grandma! Where are you? Grandpa!" Suddenly, every altar echoed with cries of parents, wails of children, screams of despair.

Within the massive altars, heads surged in chaos—screams, wails, and moans intertwined; the altars were shrouded in gloom, steeped in unbearable sorrow.

At this moment, Yun Shan, watching from the sky, was shaken by this sight.

Though he had prepared himself mentally, seeing it still pained him deeply.

The Soul Sovereign's Secret Technique is based on Soul Force—the stronger the Soul Force, the more powerful the technique. Like Xiao Yan's Spiritual Heart Soul Gathering Scripture, his rapid Soul Force breakthrough was due not only to his naturally strong soul, but more importantly, to the residual Soul Force left in the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame, which the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger had transferred entirely to Xiao Yan during his refining.

This also meant Soul Gathering could absorb the power of living beings to enhance oneself.

"This is too monstrous! There are ordinary people, the elderly, women, and children inside!" Some Elders who had joined the Soul Sovereign under delusion stared in fury, eyes blazing with rage!

One Elder, enraged, tried to rush out—but was held back by nearby Elders, who growled: "You'd just be throwing your life away. Among them are several Soul Envoys nearing Guardian rank, Dou Huang-level Heavenly Rank Advanced Grade cultivators—and even Guardian Wu alone could wipe out our entire Yun Lan Sect."

At this moment, many hidden Elders of the Yun Lan Sect watched in bitter fury, yet powerless to act.

Not only were they powerless—even Yun Shan himself could only obey Guardian Wu's orders.

With the Soul Sovereign forces Guardian Wu had gathered, they could sweep through the entire Yun Lan Sect.

"Yun Shan, these people are too weak. The Jia Ma Empire should have several Dou Huangs." Guardian Wu frowned, scanning the altars with his Soul Force—he found most were low-level cultivators; the strongest were merely a few Dou Wangs and low-grade Alchemists, not a single Dou Huang.

Yun Shan's face darkened as he growled, "Our mountain seal has already aroused suspicion from the Jia Ma Royal Family; if we target a Dou Huang, we might draw the Alchemist Guild— that would be a nightmare."

Hearing this, Wu Hu fa's brow twitched slightly— this organization was an obstacle to the Soul Sect.

The Soul Sect naturally feared not the Dan Tower, but Wu Hu fa could not speak for the entire Soul Sect; a single Guardian could not make the Alchemist Guild hesitate.

"Have you found Mei Du Sha?" Wu Hu fa asked.

When Yun Lan Sect sealed its mountain, Yun Shan immediately went to the building where Xiao Yan was, but Mei Du Sha had sensed him in advance and hidden herself.

A Dou Zong who chooses to hide will leave no trace—even Wu Hu fa could not find it.

"Not yet."

Wu Hu fa's gaze sharpened as he stared at a grand hall and said coldly, "Remember—you are a Guardian of the Soul Sect. If necessary, you must understand: some must be sacrificed."

Yun Shan's eyes grew heavy, his face even darker. That place was where Yun Lan Sect disciples who refused to join the Soul Sect were imprisoned— even Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran had been locked away.

Wu Hu fa sneered coldly and roared, "Enough delay— begin now! Jiǔ Sēn Bǎi Shì Hún! Rise!!"

As the altar filled, Wu Hu fa's shriek echoed—suddenly, a strange black mist erupted violently from the altar, engulfing everyone upon it. Then, slow, horrifying sounds of chewing and screams began to drift from within the mist.

The chewing echoed strangely through the silent space; one could imagine the horrific scene unfolding within the black mist—and just thinking of it sent chills through every bone.

At this moment, Yun Yun and the others imprisoned in the hall also heard the sound—like demons from hell devouring flesh.

"Master, what do we do?" Nalan Yanran could not believe it—just over a month ago, everything was fine; how had Yun Lan Sect become this?

"Yanran, move aside. Wind's Extreme— Meteoric Annihilation!" Yun Yun drew her sword from her space ring and unleashed a Earth-grade Dou Technique: Wind's Extreme.

A flash of white light—but no matter how hard Yun Yun pushed, she could not break the seal Yun Shan had set.

At that moment, a pair of eyes appeared. Slow footsteps. With a mere flick of his sleeve, all the Soul Envoys guarding the hall vanished into ash.

A flame sparked in his palm, growing steadily—then a thunderous crash—Boom! —Yun Shan's seal shattered completely.

"Medusa Queen?!" Yun Yun's eyes widened in shock—she never imagined her savior would be the ruler of the Serpent Empire!

"That black-cloaked man has devoured countless Spiritual Souls, trying to forcibly break open the Life and Death Gate." Even Medusa Queen's face was grim.

He could feel the man called Wu Hu fa's power surging violently—a chilling aura now enveloped the entire Yun Lan Mountain.

Hearing this, Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran's expressions changed slightly—they had not expected Wu Hu fa to be so ruthless; to perform this Secret Technique, he had resorted to live sacrifice!

"Yanran, take the other disciples and leave Yun Lan Sect immediately. I'll find my master—he must have a way." Yun Yun bit her lower lip and spoke swiftly.

Medusa glanced at Yun Yun and said, "Those people were captured on your master's orders."

Yun Yun's face turned deathly pale. Though she had suspected something, hearing it outright still shattered her. How could the master who raised her become this?

Boom! In an instant, Yun Lan Mountain trembled once more. Wu Hu fa, his power surging after activating the Secret Technique, gripped the thick black Spiritual Energy Sealing Chains and yanked them upward with all his strength!

"Pull up!!"

Wu Hu fa intended to rip out the Life and Death Gate along with the Secret Realm beneath it!

Seeing this terrifying strike, every Soul Envoy trembled—whether Dou Wang or Dou Huang, all were terrified, their bodies shaking uncontrollably.

Having devoured countless Spiritual Souls, Wu Hu fa's power had surged to the level of a Nine-Star Dou Zong! He had even begun to master spatial power!

Though not yet fully in control like a Dou Zun, he was nearly there.

Zzzzz! Suddenly, Yun Lan Sect blazed with blinding light—clouds of mist surged forth, colliding with Wu Hu fa's black fog.

White smoke burst from the Life and Death Gate, revealing a series of figures.

Yun Shan's eyes widened in shock. "Those are the powers left behind by past Sect Masters!"

Seeing this, Wu Hu fa's gaze turned razor-sharp. His voice rang across the heavens: "Since Yun Lan Sect dares oppose me, it has no further use. It is time to reclaim what belongs to me!"

Hearing the sinister laughter from the black mist, the Yun Lan Sect elders who had joined the Soul Sect turned pale. Yun Shan suddenly understood—he leapt back in haste.

Yet as they moved, a strange suction erupted from the black mist—vast and overwhelming. It harmed ordinary people not at all—but those who had joined the Soul Sect and received its Soul Decree instantly froze. Their bodies stiffened like puppets, faces twisting in agony.

Even Yun Shan could not move.

"Wu Hu fa, what are you doing?!"

"Jiē jiē jiē! Did you really think I was so kind as to gift you Earth-grade Soul Decrees? The Mother-Child Twin Soul Decree was always meant to be used with Jiǔ Sēn Bǎi Shì Hún!" Wu Hu fa's face twisted into a monstrous grin.

All the Soul Sect members in Yun Lan Sect were his. After reporting the Xiao Clan's destruction, he had earned many Soul Points—enough to obtain this Cultivation Method.

"Jiē jiē jiē! You accepted the power of my Soul Sect—now it is time to pay the price." A chilling laugh echoed from the black mist.

"Release!"

Wu Hu fa's cold command rang out—immediately, nearly a dozen Yun Lan Sect Elders and elite Disciples collapsed. From their crown points, ethereal Soul Bodies drifted upward, rising slowly before being sucked into the strange black mist, witnessed by countless stunned eyes.

Only Yun Shan still struggled desperately, suppressing his Soul Body from being pulled away.

Puff! Yun Shan looked down in horror— a withered hand pierced through his back, impaling his heart.

"Jiē jiē jiē, Yun Shan, your Soul Body—I shall gladly accept it." Wu Hu fa yanked it free and shoved it straight into his mouth, chewing.

After devouring Yun Shan and the many Yun Lan Sect Elders' Soul Bodies, Wu Hu fa's power surged to an unbelievable level.

"Monster! Give back my master's Soul!" Yun Yun's eyes turned blood-red, tears at her corners. Behind her, a pair of azure Dou Qi wings erupted—she flapped them once and shot skyward, hurtling toward the black mist.

"Hmph! Overestimating yourself!"

Feeling Yun Yun's rush, a cold laugh came from the black mist—then a black arrow of energy shot out, aimed straight at her forehead.

Crash! Medusa suddenly appeared before Yun Yun, her hands gathering seven-colored light—but the terrifying force shattered her defense instantly.

Wu Hu fa's casual strike sent Medusa flying—and took Yun Yun with her.

"Jiē jiē jiē! I—I am the Master now. No one can stop me! This is mine!" After devouring countless Souls, Wu Hu fa's power neared Dou Zun.

"Not necessarily."

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from below.

Xiao Yan stepped slowly from the Life and Death Gate, his body wreathed in black-and-white flames. He surveyed the scene—and seeing the altar piled high with Corpses, he already guessed what had happened.

Seeing Xiao Yan, Wu Hu fa's eyes burned with greed. He casually tossed aside Yun Shan's corpse as a sea of black mist surged forth.

"Jiē jiē jiē, Xiao Yan, you've finally appeared! Hand over the inheritance—I may yet spare your life!"

Xiao Yan looked at Wu Hu fa, whose power had been boosted by the Secret Technique, and said, "Do you even know what this inheritance is? You think you can just take it?"

(End of chapter)