Chapter 357

Seeing this black-robed figure open a space wormhole and transmigrate from some unimaginably distant place, She Tianhao and his son both sweated profusely from their foreheads.

The saying "serving a lord is like serving a tiger" applied perfectly to this black-robed figure—a ferocious tiger.

The two had long heard of the Soul Hall; even in Zhong Zhou, it was an organization that struck fear into all who heard its name. This organization was peculiar—it differed from traditional factions by not seizing territory or expanding its influence, instead lurking like a ghost in the shadows, primarily hunting soul bodies and capturing Alchemists.

"Jie jie jie, an Innate Calamity Poison Body. The last one died a miserable death." The black-robed figure, peering through the hood of his Soul Robe, stared straight at the towering poison wall, upon which stood a woman as beautiful as a celestial immortal.

Xiao Yixian still wore a white robe, her face as cold as frost, her brows carrying a chill and lethal intent. A peerless woman as icy as a winter plum blossom—her beauty could certainly be called "fish sank, birds fell"; especially with her long white hair stirring in the wind, calling her a celestial being from the Nine Heavens was no exaggeration.

In fact, many disciples of the Yan Alliance were seeing Xiao Yixian's true face for the first time; her icy aura left countless people stunned, unable to recover for long—even female disciples, upon seeing Xiao Yixian, felt utterly inferior and ashamed!

When She Tianhao first saw Xiao Yixian, he was captivated by her aura and beauty—only for her to strike him with a Heavenly Rank Dou Technique, pointing from afar and turning his arm into blood, nearly killing him.

If not for Xiao Yixian's appearance, the Northwest Alliance assembled by the Tian She Mansion would have already destroyed the Jia Ma Empire!

"Venerable One, even I struggle to break through this Eternal Calamity Poison. Do you have a way?" She Heaven Phoenix bowed respectfully.

"Jie jie jie, you don't understand the Innate Calamity Poison Body. Her cultivation realm has already reached Nine-Star Dou Zong. In no time, she will perish on her own. The Jia Ma Empire will become a dead land, and then the entire Yan Alliance will vanish." The black-robed figure sneered at Xiao Yixian.

He then pulled out a sheet of paper, scribbled it full of various Medicinal Materials, and tossed it to She Heaven Phoenix. "Collect every single one of these herbs and poisons."

"You don't need to go through so much trouble—just give her some poison, and she'll kill herself."

Hearing this, She Tianhao and his father exchanged knowing smiles and immediately handed the paper covered in poison recipes to the Chu Yun Empire's people—no empire in the Northwest Region had more poisons than Chu Yun.

This alliance naturally included the sects of the three empires; beyond the three empires, upon hearing that Mei Du Sha, Xiao Yan, and Qing Lin were trapped in the Ancestral Inheritance Site and their fates unknown, other factions had also joined the Northwest Alliance to attack the Yan Alliance.

After watching She Tianhao and the others depart, Xiao Yixian slowly descended from the poison wall.

"They've withdrawn—probably just here to observe the situation." Xiao Yixian, clad in white, drifted down gently, her snow-white long hair strikingly captivating.

In the Imperial Palace of Jia Ma Sheng Cheng, upon hearing Xiao Yixian's words, Queen Yao Ye, Yun Yun, Xiao Ding, and others all wore gloomy expressions.

A year ago, following Xiao Yan's arrangements, they had returned ahead to the Jia Ma Empire. Soon after, the Tian She Mansion spread word that Xiao Yan, Mei Du Sha, and Qing Lin were trapped in the Qi San Hua Tong of the Green-Eyed Snake Saint, their fates unknown.

At first, neither the Yan Alliance nor the major sects of the Northwest Region believed it, thinking it was a ruse by the Tian She Mansion.

But after several months passed with no sign of Xiao Yan and the others, opinions gradually shifted—the major sects of the Northwest Region began to doubt the Yan Alliance.

Yet even a dead tiger retains its aura; Xiao Yan and Mei Du Sha's strength was enough to deter the scheming sects of the Northwest Region. Even sects like the Jia Ma Empire's Jin Yan Sect, Wan Xie Gate, Poison Sect, and Mu Lan Valley—despite harboring grudges against the Yan Alliance—dared not launch an attack.

After all, if Xiao Yan and the others were merely inheriting the legacy in the Ancestral Inheritance Site and taking time, what if they emerged even stronger after obtaining the Yao Sheng Legacy? That would be catastrophic.

Thus, the Yan Alliance remained peaceful for over half a year—until two months ago, when the Tian She Mansion suddenly allied with remnants of the Yao Gu Sect, Jin Yan Sect, Mu Lan Valley, and other factions hostile to the Yan Alliance, plus imperial sects loyal to the Tian She Mansion, forming the Northwest Alliance to launch a punitive strike against the Yan Alliance!

"If not for you, Xiao Yixian, the entire Yan Alliance would already be destroyed." Xiao Ding sighed. Fortunately, at the eleventh hour, Xiao Yixian appeared, defeated She Tianhao, blocked She Heaven Phoenix, and rescued Zi Yan, Yun Yun, and others—otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"Xiao Yan is my friend. This is what I should do." Xiao Yixian said the same thing as always; everyone had grown accustomed to her coldness.

No one in the Yan Alliance could have imagined that She Heaven Phoenix had not only restored his Bloodline Power but had even broken through to Dou Zong!

If not for She Heaven Phoenix being newly arrived at the Dou Zong realm, and Xiao Yixian having inherited the legacy of the Nether Poison Honored One, combined with the Eternal Calamity Poison, she might not have barely held him back—otherwise, the Yan Alliance would have suffered catastrophic losses.

Queen Yao Ye looked at Xiao Yixian and asked: "So there truly is a powerful figure behind it?"

Xiao Yixian nodded slightly. The Tian She Mansion's sudden alliance with numerous sects to crush the Yan Alliance wasn't just because Xiao Yan and Mei Du Sha were missing, nor merely because She Heaven Phoenix had broken through to Dou Zong.

If it were only that, they wouldn't need to rush—waiting another one or two years would have been fine; if Xiao Yan was truly dead, it wouldn't matter.

This entire affair must be driven by someone behind the Tian She Mansion—even She Heaven Phoenix's breakthrough to Dou Zong likely had something to do with that hidden figure.

Just now, Xiao Yixian sensed the presence of someone stronger than She Heaven Phoenix—and that's why she went to investigate personally!

Seeing Xiao Yixian's firm nod, everyone's faces turned grim. One Dou Zong had already pushed the Yan Alliance to the brink of destruction—another one? Even if Xiao Yan and Mei Du Sha returned, they couldn't win!

"Sigh, I wonder how my third brother is faring."

"Don't worry, Big Brother. That guy's got an iron life—he's definitely not going to die so easily. I believe he'll return with overwhelming force. We just need to wait for that moment!"

Hearing Xiao Li's words, Xiao Ding rubbed his forehead and smiled bitterly—there was nothing else to hope for.

"That damn brat, always pulling this stunt! Can't he ever rescue people without timing it so perfectly? If he doesn't come back soon, the Yan Alliance is finished!" Hai Bodong, beside them, couldn't help but speak up.

Zi Yan, munching on Medicinal Materials beside him, remarked dryly: "If he didn't time it perfectly, it wouldn't be a rescue—it'd be coming to burn incense at their graves."

_-||-_-||

Everyone instantly felt a wave of black lines over their heads—this statement, actually, made sense!

Only someone who times it perfectly counts as rescuing—someone who doesn't? They're just coming to burn incense at their graves!

Meanwhile, Xiao Yan and the others, still unaware of any of this, finally emerged!

"Huh? This… is a Space Lock?" But as soon as Xiao Yan and the others stepped out, they discovered the corpse of the Green-Eyed Snake Saint surrounded by a Space Lock.

This was clearly a method meant to prevent Xiao Yan and the others from escaping!

Xiao Yan and Cai Lin exchanged glances, both detecting a hint of gravity in each other's eyes—not because the Space Lock was particularly strong, but because someone had actually managed to cast a Space Lock to seal off this entire space.

That meant the Tian She Mansion had a Dou Zong!

The relationship between the Tian She Mansion and the Yan Alliance was far from good—it was outright hostile. If the Tian She Mansion now had a Dou Zong, it would be a devastating blow to the Yan Alliance.

"It might not be the worst outcome—it could be someone from the Qiu Family who came here." Xiao Yan said slowly.

Xiao Yan had indeed angered the Qiu Family, and the Tian She Mansion had also taken many things from the Qi San Hua Tong space of the Green-Eyed Snake Saint—perhaps they had sought pills from the Qiu Family, drawing a Qiu Family Dou Zong here.

Cai Lin nodded and coldly said: "Break it?"

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Yan shook his head: "No. Breaking the Space Lock might trigger detection. Let's hide first."

Miao~o(=∩ω∩=)m!

Now it was time for the adorable Mao Wu to make his entrance!

"Your turn." Xiao Yan patted Mao Wu, who had evolved into the Earth Sub Flame—he was a Spirit Flame, his body never grew larger, or rather, the body of a Spirit Flame could shrink or expand at will.

"Miao miao miao!" Mao Wu crouched, raised his paws, and patted his chest in a distinctly human gesture, as if to say: "Rest easy, leave it to this master!"

Mao Wu opened his mouth and slowly exhaled a cluster of Black Flame, which crept slowly onto the Space Lock, burning a tiny hole into a space wormhole.

The Space Lock was indeed powerful—it was a technique only a Dou Zong could cast, capable of sealing and warping space.

But the Void Devouring Flame was the progenitor of Space, a supreme Spirit Flame born in the endless void. And since Mao Wu had evolved into the Earth Sub Flame, slipping through the Space Lock unnoticed was child's play.

"Young Master Yan, wait." Qing Lin said.

"What is it?" Xiao Yan looked at Qing Lin in confusion.

Qing Lin raised her right hand, on which she wore the Biyan She Sheng's Relic Ring that Xiao Yan had obtained.

Qing Lin murmured softly; as her Dou Qi flowed into the ring, a hum sounded, and a streak of green light shot toward the massive pupil of the Biyan She Sheng's corpse.

Instantly, green light enveloped the entire giant serpent pupil; with a hiss, the giant pupil shrank, becoming a emerald serpent-eye gem embedded upon the ring!

Qing Lin had actually sealed away the entire space of the Qi San Hua Tong!

"All set, Young Master Yan," Qing Lin said with a smile.

Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel embarrassed—this inheritance truly went all the way, even turning the corpse's Qi San Hua Tong into a Soul Token for the inheritor!

After passing through the void hollow, they appeared outside Lv Man's mansion in the Sky Serpent Mansion.

The reason for choosing this place was simple: they needed to clarify some matters, and naturally, Lv Man and Bai Ya were the best to ask.

Cai Lin waved her hand, and a Space Lock appeared, sealing the entire mansion to prevent any aura from leaking out.

Knock knock knock. Qing Lin pulled out her Holy Maiden Soul Token from the Sky Serpent Mansion; a stone gate groaned open, and Xiao Yan and Cai Lin followed Qing Lin inside.

Upon seeing Qing Lin, Lv Man's beautiful face was filled with shock!

This… came too suddenly! They didn't even knock.

"Qing Qing Lin! You're safe!" Lv Man stepped forward, touching Qing Lin's cheek. For the past year, the Sky Serpent Mansion had spread word that Xiao Yan and the three of them were dead.

They had all witnessed Qing Lin's rampage—they assumed she had failed the Inheritance Trial and would become a Snake Race puppet, surely doomed. Yet now, Qing Lin looked perfectly fine.

"Your strength!" Soon, Lv Man noticed: Qing Lin had reached Two Star Dou Zong—stronger than both her and Bai Ya!

"You inherited the Biyan She Sheng's legacy!" Lv Man's face lit up with delight—she never expected Qing Lin not only survived but gained the inheritance!

Qing Lin smiled faintly and nodded. "Yes. But, Lv Man-sister, has something happened to the Yan Alliance?"

Qing Lin didn't waste words—she cut straight to the point.

Hearing Qing Lin's words, Lv Man trembled. She glanced at Cai Lin beside her, hesitated, then sighed. "The Yan Alliance was besieged. The Snake Empire… has been destroyed."

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At these words, Xiao Yan and Qing Lin's faces instantly changed. Beside them, Cai Lin's pupils shrank sharply, then a terrifying rage erupted from within her!

The monstrous power of the Heavenly Flame instantly burned and melted everything in the mansion; the terrifying might of a Nine Star Peak Dou Zong twisted the very space.

Lv Man braced against the gale and shouted urgently: "But the Snake Tribe is unharmed—they were all rescued!"

Hearing her people were safe, Cai Lin's fury slowly subsided, yet her icy expression proved she had merely buried her rage deep within.

"Who?!" Cai Lin's voice was as cold as a messenger from the Underworld.

"I-it was the Mansion Master and the others. Two months ago, the Sky Serpent Mansion allied with several Sects and Empires from the Northwest Region to besiege the Yan Alliance, and the Snake Empire was the first target. But rumors say the Yan Alliance had a Dou Zong expert skilled in poison, who used his bizarre toxins to halt the Northwest Alliance's advance. Eventually, most of the Snake Empire's people were relocated into the Jia Ma Empire." Lv Man explained.

"Poison? Could it be!" Xiao Yan immediately guessed who had acted.

"Wait—that doesn't make sense! Even if we were trapped in the inheritance, She Tianhao isn't stupid. We weren't dead. Why was he so confident he wouldn't face revenge from us after we emerged with greater power?" Xiao Yan instantly spotted the flaw.

If they had seen Xiao Yan and Cai Lin dead, attacking the Yan Alliance would be understandable. But they were merely trapped in the inheritance—if they emerged stronger, wouldn't the Sky Serpent Mansion be crushing its own foot?

He didn't believe She Tianhao would be so foolishly hasty. Without Xiao Yan and Cai Lin, the Yan Alliance posed no urgent threat—the Sky Serpent Mansion had no reason to rush!

"Because two months ago, a black-robed figure suddenly appeared at the Sky Serpent Mansion. His strength was immense—even the former Mansion Master, after restoring his Bloodline Power and regaining his Nine Star Peak Dou Zong strength, was no match. Later, for reasons unknown, the former Mansion Master broke through to Dou Zun. I recall that before his breakthrough, the Sky Serpent Mansion once experienced Pill Lightning," Lv Man explained.

"Black-robed figure? Pill Lightning? Alchemist?" Xiao Yan's brow furrowed—he seemed to have guessed something.

"Xiao Yan," Cai Lin looked at him, her eyes hiding murderous intent. She must return to the Yan Alliance—no matter if the enemy was a Dou Zun, she would not spare anyone who destroyed her nation!

"Wait, Lv Man—where is the Sky Serpent Mansion's treasure vault?"

?!!!

Everyone froze, staring at Xiao Yan in stunned silence. What time is this, and you're still thinking of looting the Sky Serpent Mansion?!

Yet after a moment's thought, Lv Man glanced at Qing Lin and decided to take a gamble—betting on Qing Lin!

But Xiao Yan wasn't after the Sky Serpent Mansion's resources—he truly needed Medicinal Material right now!

With Qing Lin as a Holy Maiden inside, and She Tianhao and other Dou Zongs gone from the mansion, no one could stop Xiao Yan, who wielded Swallowing Flame and Earth Sub Flame.

Xiao Yan waved his hand; his Spirit Realm Soul Force swept through like a gale clearing fallen leaves, emptying every precious Medicinal Material.

Lv Man's jaw dropped—so you're not after the Sky Serpent Mansion's resources? You're lying to snakes!

"All set!" Xiao Yan looked at the Brocade Box in his hand—inside were the remaining main Medicinal Materials for the Yin-Yang Soul Pill. The Sky Serpent Mansion, as the dominant Faction of the Northwest Region, truly had such rare herbs.

A Dou Zun? He had one too!

"Master Yao, don't embarrass yourself in your first battle after Reincarnation," Xiao Yan smiled.

With a hum, the Soul Body of the Heavenly Flame Elder floated out of the Soul Token. Seeing Xiao Yan had finally gathered all the Medicinal Materials for the Yin-Yang Soul Pill, he smiled.

"Heh, just a beginner Dou Zun? I, Heavenly Flame, will make sure he comes but never returns!" The Heavenly Flame Elder grinned, his arrogance soaring.

Xiao Yan looked at Qing Lin. "Qing Lin, stay here."

"Young Master Yan! Qing Lin wants to fight with you!"

"No. Stay here. I need a list. You understand what I mean." Xiao Yan's eyes flashed with murderous intent.

Hearing this, Lv Man's heart jolted—Blacklist!

Xiao Yan knew some Snake Race members within the Sky Serpent Mansion sided with Qing Lin and were friendly to her. He didn't want to make Qing Lin suffer, so he left her behind to compile a blacklist with Lv Man.

Whoever attacked the Yan Alliance—he would uproot those Snake Race members entirely, showing the entire Northwest Region: anyone who dares strike the Yan Alliance will meet this fate!

Qing Lin nodded. Xiao Yan waved his hand; Black Flame surged forth like a tidal wave, instantly carving a Void Passage. A tremendous Soul Force erupted from within Xiao Yan.

Though Xiao Yan had not reached Dou Zun, his Soul Force had entered the Spirit Realm. Combined with Swallowing Flame's power, long-distance travel was not impossible!

"Let's return to the Yan Alliance!" Xiao Yan seized Cai Lin's Jade Hand. Cai Lin instinctively tried to pull away—but ultimately did not resist, following Xiao Yan into the Void Passage.

Terrifying Soul Force and Black Flame enveloped Xiao Yan and Cai Lin; through the Soul Mark, Xiao Yan locked their coordinates!

Within the dark Void Passage, the two, wrapped in Swallowing Flame, darted like phantoms—far faster than Cai Lin's original flight from the Jia Ma Empire!

(End of Chapter)