Chapter 372

"Sir!!"

"Sir, please intervene!!"

Fang Yan and the other two, knowing they were no match, shouted toward the sky, hoping Xuan Guardian would act against Xiao Yan.

"Sigh." Xiao Yan sighed slowly and said, "How naive are the three of you, to believe the Soul Sect's Guardian?"

"You're so innocent, you'd count the money for the people who sold you out."

As soon as Xiao Yan finished speaking, a cloud of black mist suddenly appeared, engulfing the entire space and blocking everyone's view, hiding what was happening.

After all, not everyone in the Soul Sect reveals their identity—just like Mu Gu; when he first joined the Soul Sect, no one in the world knew, and everyone still thought of him as Medicinal Sage's younger brother.

Even now, those in Zhong Zhou who knew Medicinal Sage still didn't know he was killed by Mu Gu and Han Feng in collusion; very few knew that Medicinal Sage's younger brother was Soul Sect's Mu Gu Venerable.

That's why the Soul Sect has Soul Robes—to allow Soul Envoys and Guardians to hide among the populace.

Perhaps even an Elder of Jia Nan Academy is a Soul Envoy.

"Hail, Venerable Yan."

The black mist enveloped Fang Yan and the other three, who stood stunned; then, a black-robed figure appeared respectfully beside Xiao Yan and bowed deeply to him at ninety degrees.

Xiao Yan nodded and said coolly, "Leave me the Life-Generating Fire; the Soul Bodies are yours."

"Yes!"

Xiao Yan naturally had no interest in a few thousand Soul Points—he was merely intrigued by the artificial Flame. Xuan Guardian was already a Grade-D Guardian and didn't care about the Soul Bodies of Peak Dou Huangs; a few thousand Soul Points meant nothing—but Xuan Guardian took Xiao Yan's words seriously.

With a whoosh, Xuan Guardian swept his hand, and three black chains pierced through Space, instantly impaling Fang Yan and the other three.

To a Grade-D Guardian, Fang Yan and the others were nothing but ants—crushed with a flick of the finger.

He said he would intervene—but never specified whom.

Seeing Fang Yan and the others with eyes wide open in death, Xiao Yan could only think them foolish and pitiful—for entrusting their lives to the Soul Sect.

Xiao Yan possessed Spirit Realm Soul Power; he had sensed Xuan Guardian's presence in Mo Yan City long ago, and suspected the people of Mo Yan Valley had been tricked by Xuan Guardian.

Xuan Guardian respectfully held out a brown flame and a Scroll, saying, "Venerable, this is the remaining Life-Generating Fire and the Flame-Shaping Scripture they had left. But it's said that the true Flame-Shaping Scripture is hidden in the Treasure Vault of the Earth Demon Old Ghost—the true version creates Life-Generating Fire that doesn't harm the user, but its cultivation is so difficult the Earth Demon Old Ghost modified it."

"Oh?" Xiao Yan curled his finger, and the brown flame floated gently down; after observing it briefly, he opened the Flame-Shaping Scripture.

As expected, Xiao Yan instantly saw the Flame-Shaping Scripture had been altered—it lowered cultivation difficulty but drained the user's lifespan as a price to enhance the Life-Generating Fire's power.

"The Earth Demon Old Ghost is a Star Seven Dou Zong, but currently in seclusion. Venerable, should we attack Mo Yan Valley?" Xuan Guardian asked cautiously—he was only a Grade-D Guardian, inferior to the Earth Demon Old Ghost.

Xiao Yan shook his head; he was clear on grudges and debts. Since the Earth Demon Old Ghost had not struck at his family, Xiao Yan would not attack him without cause.

Unrestrained hunting of Soul Bodies would reveal his Soul Sect identity.

Xiao Yan glanced at Xuan Guardian and asked, "Why are you here?"

Xuan Guardian bowed humbly and said, "Because the Lord sensed the Bodhi Tree would appear in recent years, but could not pinpoint its location, so he ordered the collection of all things related to the Bodhi Tree. Coincidentally, Puti Huati Yan appeared in the Black Horn Region, so I came here to negotiate cooperation with Mo Yan Valley."

"The Lord wants Puti Huati Yan?!" Xiao Yan's heart jolted, but he quickly calmed—his Lord's power was unfathomable; if he truly desired it, he should have sent at least the Nine Heavenly Venerables, not a Guardian from the Black Horn Region.

The Soul Sect's hierarchy was strict: after the Lord and Deputy Lord came the Nine Heavenly Venerables—each a High Dou Zun, the elite among Tian Zuns; the top few leaders of the Twenty Four Earth Sha Halls were the Nine Heavenly Venerables.

"Likely, the Lord ordered the entire Soul Sect to seek anything related to the Bodhi Tree—Puti Huati Yan is merely a byproduct, equivalent to Seventh Rank Peak medicinal essence, with little connection to the Bodhi Tree."

"No wonder my second brother couldn't find Puti Huati Yan—I thought even the Soul Sect couldn't locate it, but it was because of the Soul Sect Lord!" Xiao Yan had searched through the Soul Sect for so long with no results; only by sheer accident had Ya Fei found a vial of Puti Huati Yan—he'd always found it strange.

Now he finally understood: his own orders conflicted with the Lord's! Undoubtedly, aside from his own division's members, all other Soul Sect divisions' Envoys and Guardians—even if they knew—would never tell Xiao Yan, but report directly to the Lord.

Standard Soul Orders and Venerable titles were granted by the Lord—but Xiao Yan was special; his were given by Hun Xu Zi. Thus, the Lord's orders could not reach Xiao Yan through Soul Orders, resulting in this very situation!

After a moment of thought, Xiao Yan glanced at the trembling Xuan Guardian and said firmly, "I want this Puti Huati Yan."

"B-But Venerable, this Puti Huati Yan was ordered by the Lord…" Xuan Guardian shrank back—this was the Lord's command! He was caught between a rock and a hard place!

"What? Do you dare to seize something the Dan Saint Hun Xu Zi wants?" Xiao Yan casually dropped Hun Xu Zi's name. Though he didn't know who was higher between the Lord and Hun Xu Zi, anyone who could directly grant Soul Orders was no ordinary figure.

Hearing "Dan Saint," Xuan Guardian froze, then fell to his knees, trembling violently: "Your servant is guilty! Please, Venerable Yan, forgive me!"

Xiao Yan waved his hand, expressionless: "This has nothing to do with you. Return."

"Yes!"

The black mist faded, leaving only three corpses, their chests pierced through, eyes still wide open in death.

After sealing the remaining Life-Generating Fire in a Jade Bottle, Xiao Yan turned toward Mo Yan City—its walls had already been shattered by the Little Lion King.

Without Fang Yan and the three Peak Dou Huangs, Mo Yan Valley's strength now fell below Xiao City's—Xiao City had not only Yin Gu and the other three High Dou Huangs, but also the Little Lion King who had taken a Transformation Pill, not to mention the Great Lion King, a Dou Zong, standing guard nearby.

This so-called war, this revenge, was more like Xiao Yan's training exercise—to hone the Xiao Clan disciples, to prevent them from growing arrogant as their clan's power swelled.

Soon, Mo Yan Valley's disciples began retreating in disarray—especially after seeing their three Elders dead, their morale collapsed entirely, and they had no will to fight.

Xiao Yan suddenly raised an eyebrow—his Soul Perception sensed Zi Yan had returned—and smiled, sweeping his hand and saying, "Enough. The three main culprits are dead. Xiao City's warriors, return."

"Yes, Lord!"

"Is there anyone else who dares fight me?" Xiao Yan's voice echoed across the entire Mo Yan City; his terrifying Soul Force swept over the whole city, and every soul within felt it pass over them in that instant.

Feeling Xiao Yan's Soul Force sweep over them, Mo Yan City's guards, merchants, and commoners all shuddered, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

Even hidden Dou Wangs and Dou Huangs were chilled to the bone, dared not meet Xiao Yan's gaze, fearing he might strike suddenly.

At this moment, Xiao Yan's gaze did not rest on Mo Yan City's broken remnants—he looked far beyond, toward a distant valley, his eyes deepening into abysses.

He sensed it—the Earth Demon Old Ghost was there, and he had awakened. Xiao Yan's words were meant for him alone!

"Will you come out and fight?" Xiao Yan's voice rang out again—though he only stared at Mo Yan Valley.

Yet Mo Yan Valley remained utterly silent—no sound, as if no one had heard Xiao Yan's challenge; inside the valley, only deathly stillness persisted, no reply came.

"I'd have welcomed a fight—too bad. A Star Seven Dou Zong's Soul Body should fetch a few ten thousand Soul Points." Xiao Yan sighed inwardly, waved his hand, and led all Xiao Clan disciples back to Xiao City.

Xiao Yan did not wish to expose his Soul Sect identity—after all, the Soul Sect was despised by all; he could only collect opponents' Soul Bodies during battle.

Regrettably, Mo Yan City's Treasure Vault was not rich—Zi Yan had dragged the entire vault into Space, but upon opening it, most of it was Gold Coins, jewels, and cultivation methods and Dou Techniques Xiao Yan found worthless; medicinal materials were scarce.

Not a single eighth-grade main herb—only a few low-grade seventh-grade ones, barely a handful; Xiao Yan refined them all into candy pills for Zi Yan, too lazy to even keep them.

"It's unavoidable—the real Treasure Vault of Mo Yan Valley lies within the valley; the true Flame-Shaping Scripture is likely there too. This main mansion of Mo Yan City is merely a facade," Ya Fei said with a light laugh.

"Never mind—wait for the auction. Hopefully, there'll be something worthwhile."

Xiao Yan did the same, staying in Xiao City for several days, casually demonstrating the crafting of a Po-Zong Elixir for the young Alchemists who had graduated from Jia Nan Academy, astonishing everyone and drawing another wave of worship before the auction began; he then set out with Xiao Yixian, Ya Fei, Zi Yan, and the two Lion Kings, a group of six, heading for Black Emperor Pavilion.

Black Emperor Pavilion was a residence specially built in Black Emperor City to host powerful figures renowned throughout the Black Horn Region; anyone who received an invitation and entered it was unquestionably a powerful individual or faction leader with considerable fame in the Black Horn Region.

Watching the constant flow of powerful figures, Xiao Yan and his group felt little interest; though many were Dou Wangs and even Dou Huangs, for Xiao Yan's party—all starting at Dou Huang or Dou Zong—their strength was merely ordinary.

As Xiao Yan's group followed the crowd toward entry, a blue-robed elder stepped forward with a smiling face, his gaze sweeping over them—and his heart jolted!

He himself was a Sixth-Star Dou Huang, yet except for Ya Fei and the curious, glancing-around Little Lion King, he could not sense the Cultivation Realm of any of the others; especially Xiao Yan, whose Cultivation Realm was concealed by Soul Force—he could only feel Xiao Yan as a bottomless abyss, unfathomable!

The elder courteously said, "Gentlemen, this is the Black Emperor Sect's guest quarters. Do you have a Soul Token?"

Ya Fei stepped forward slowly and produced a Soul Token; as Xiao City's representative, she had naturally received an invitation to Black Emperor Pavilion.

The elder looked down at the token, saw the name of the invitee written upon it, and was stunned—he exclaimed, "You are Miss Ya Fei of Xiao City!"

Ya Fei bowed slightly, graceful and poised, leaving not the slightest flaw.

Hearing the elder's exclamation, those waiting in line turned to stare in surprise.

"That's Miss Ya Fei of the Miter Trading Company from Xiao City?!"

"And the man beside her—is he none other than Xiao City's Lord Xiao Yan?!"

"It must be him; who else could make Ya Fei serve beside him?!"

"Just a few days ago, this Xiao Yan forcefully killed three Elders of the Demon Flame Valley; now the valley dares not even whisper, like a dead dog."

"Not necessarily; it's said the Earth Demon Old Ghost is in seclusion—if he emerges, who knows what will happen?"

Xiao Yan made no effort to conceal himself; he had no need to hide his identity.

Ya Fei, knowing Xiao Yan preferred quiet, said, "Excuse us—may we proceed?"

"Of course! This way! This way!"

Xiao Yan's journey forward was utterly calm; as the saying goes, a man's shadow and a tree's bark—Xiao Yan's reputation preceded him, and no one dared provoke him; everyone wished to avoid this fearsome demon.

Upon learning Xiao Yan had arrived, the Black Emperor Sect Master Mo Tian Xing came out personally.

"Lord Xiao, I've long admired your name; your presence today brings glory to my humble abode!" Mo Tian Xing laughed heartily.

But Xiao Yan said nothing; instead, he glanced at Mo Tian Xing's side, where the Young Sect Master Mo Ya stood frozen, staring blankly at Xiao Yixian beside him.

Zi Yan covered her mouth, stifling a laugh, and whispered to Xiao Yixian, "Sister Yixian, he's fallen for you."

Xiao Yixian shot her a look, scolding, "Don't talk nonsense."

"Ahem." Mo Tian Xing noticed his son's disgraceful behavior and quickly cleared his throat as a warning.

Mo Ya snapped back to his senses; Xiao Yixian's unique aura had instantly captivated him. Flustered, he pulled out a Jade Token and handed it to her: "This is the VIP seat token for the auction hall—please accept it."

He completely failed to notice Xiao Yixian's eyes subtly grow cold.

Seeing the fellow's behavior, Xiao Yan felt a quiet amusement; he made no pretense, reached out, took the Jade Token, said no thanks, and turned toward the VIP seating area.

Behind him, Zi Yan, still smirking, and Xiao Yixian and the others simply bypassed Mo Ya and followed.

They treated him as if he were nothing at all.

Seeing Mo Ya still trying to follow, Mo Tian Xing grabbed his son by the arm, his eyes turning cold, and growled, "Have you lost your mind? Do you know who that man is? Xiao City is currently on the rise, let alone rumors that Xiao Yan is a Seventh-Rank Alchemist—do you dare offend him?"

"Have you taken too many Pills and gone mad?!"

Mo Tian Xing was speechless—his son had extraordinary talent, reaching Dou Huang at thirty, yet now he acted like a lovesick fool.

(End of Chapter)