Chapter 380

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian arrived at Peace Town without incident; as for how the entire Black Horn Region would discuss them after this battle, it had nothing to do with Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian—they wouldn't stay in the Black Horn Region long, and would return to the Northwest Region after completing the Poison Pill.

And Xiao Yan would begin his journey to Zhong Zhou—or rather, the Yan Alliance would launch its expedition to Zhong Zhou!

"Xiao Yixian, wait here for me—I'm going to sell some things," Xiao Yan said, walking to the alley that had changed his life's trajectory.

Xiao Yixian merely smiled faintly and nodded; she never questioned what Xiao Yan did.

Xiao Yan entered the alley, skillfully donning his Soul Robe and pulling out his Soul Token; this time his haul was fairly rich—over a dozen Soul Bodies of Dou Huangs, plus the Soul Bodies of one Star Seven Dou Zong, one Four-Star Dou Zong, and one Three-Star Dou Zong, totaling roughly a small ten thousand.

No wonder the Soul Sovereign's men specifically targeted Alchemists—Xiao Yan's largest-ever haul of Soul Points came from YaoAo's Soul Body, a Seventh Rank Peak Alchemist. Generally, an Alchemist's Soul Body was worth three to four times more than that of a cultivator at the same level.

A high-level Dou Zong's Soul Body fetched only a small ten thousand Soul Points, but a Seventh Rank Advanced Alchemist's would fetch at least a large ten thousand.

Creak—Xiao Yan slowly pushed open the rotting wooden door; as always, the place remained dilapidated, with only Hun Lao Gui, half-dead and barely alive, manning the shop.

Sensing Xiao Yan's arrival, Hun Lao Gui's withered eyelids slowly lifted; every time Xiao Yan saw him, he worried the old man might die right there.

Snap! But this time was different—after opening his eyes, Hun Lao Gui's gaze held a faint glow, a ghostly light sweeping over Xiao Yan; the terrifying Soul Force made Xiao Yan, even in the Spirit Realm, tremble involuntarily.

"Such strong Soul Force!" Xiao Yan's heart sank—he had advanced in cultivation, yet still couldn't see through Hun Lao Gui; he only knew the old man's Soul Realm was certainly higher than his own.

"Could he be in the Heavenly Realm!" Xiao Yan's eyes sharpened as he scrutinized Hun Lao Gui.

But soon, the glow in Hun Lao Gui's eyes faded, and he half-lidded them again, speaking in a low, grating voice: "Jiejiejie, you've actually cultivated the Asura Soul-Cutting Art to this level. Not consumed by the Asura—you've got a hard life."

Thinking of that time, Xiao Yan could only grimace. Back then, he had truly been on the verge of death—his Soul Force had been utterly shattered and drained dry from the third technique.

Had it not been for the exceptionally potent Yin-Yang Dragon Pill crafted by the Pill Sovereign, and Xiao Yan's naturally unique Soul Force, he would now be buried alongside Cai Lin.

Cultivating the Asura Soul-Cutting Art was more dangerous than swallowing a Heavenly Flame—Xiao Yan could at least use pills to preserve his life before swallowing a Heavenly Flame, and the Burning Scripture as a safety net.

"Don't bring it up—that Soul Technique isn't meant for mortals. If I could choose again, I'd never pick it." Xiao Yan rolled his eyes; what damn Soul Technique—it nearly killed him.

Hun Lao Gui glanced at Xiao Yan, his eyes now carrying a different meaning.

"What brings you here?" Hun Lao Gui asked slowly.

Xiao Yan tossed his Soul Token onto the counter and shrugged. "Just passing by to sell all the Soul Bodies I've collected lately—see if there's any Soul Technique or Cultivation Method worth buying. After all, the Emperor Soul Scripture is still a distant dream."

Of course, Xiao Yan was lying—he'd acquired plenty of Dou Di Bloodline from the Soul-Swallowing Clan; though not yet enough for a full vial, he had more than half.

According to Hun Xu Zi, if Xiao Yan won the Pill Gathering and entered the Dan Tower, he could attend the Soul Clan's Coming-of-Age Ceremony and, through a Secret Technique, absorb the Dou Di Bloodline to cultivate the Emperor Soul Scripture.

Hun Lao Gui didn't waste words—he picked up Xiao Yan's Soul Token, tapped it lightly, and black mist surged forth, drawing all the Soul Bodies into the passage beside the counter.

But Xiao Yan kept back the Soul Body of Di Mo Lao Gui, the strongest among them—just in case he encountered an opponent he couldn't defeat, he'd need the Asura Battle Soul Technique to absorb a Soul Body and escape.

Seeing the Soul Points increase, Xiao Yan sneered—it was still too little.

"Any Heavenly Rank Dou Techniques or Soul Techniques?" Xiao Yan was now a Zun—he had the authority to exchange for Heavenly Tier Low Rank Dou Techniques, but Heavenly Tier Low Rank Cultivation Methods and Soul Cultivation Techniques required reaching Heavenly Venerable.

To exchange for a Heavenly Tier Mid Rank, Xiao Yan would likely need to become one of the Nine Heavenly Venerables.

Hearing this, Hun Lao Gui glanced at Xiao Yan and said slowly: "You don't have enough Soul Points to exchange for any Heavenly Tier Low Rank Dou Technique."

Xiao Yan was stunned.

But then again, it made sense—when he exchanged for the Asura Soul-Cutting Art, though it cost only over a hundred thousand Soul Points, that sum was actually enough only for an Earth-Rank Low-Level Soul Technique; the Asura Soul-Cutting Art was mislabeled as Earth-Rank Low-Level due to its flaws.

A Heavenly Tier Low Rank technique required at least seven digits.

"Can't I just take a look?" Xiao Yan stubbornly insisted.

Hun Lao Gui said nothing, slowly closing his eyes again, as if falling into slumber, leaving Xiao Yan to browse on his own.

Xiao Yan directly entered the Treasure Hall through the Soul Path; now that he was a Zun, he could access far more items.

"Heavenly Tier Low Rank Secret Technique: Blood Transformation Great Art! When perfected, it enables the Great Blood-Sucking Art—within a thousand zhang, all cultivators below Dou Zun level instantly explode into streams of blood, continuously flooding into the caster's body, merging into a colossal blood tide that enhances the user's power—capable of granting a Nine-Star Dou Zun temporary half-Sage power. But afterward, for a month, the user enters a near-death state: Dou Qi, blood essence, and Soul Force are completely depleted, rendering them unable to use any techniques, reducing their power to Dou Ling." Xiao Yan sucked in a sharp breath—temporary Dou Sheng-level power for a Dou Zun!

But seeing the horrific side effect, Xiao Yan shook his head—it was too reckless, even more so than the Three Heavenly Flames Transformation.

"Heavenly Tier Low Rank Cultivation Method: Blood Demon Swallowing Heaven Art; Heavenly Tier Low Rank Dou Technique: Blood Demon Heavenly Devil Palm; Heavenly Tier Low Rank Defensive Dou Technique: Blood Demon Robe. These four scrolls form a set, right?" Seeing a complete set of Heavenly Rank scrolls, Xiao Yan was amazed—cultivation method, Dou Technique, Secret Technique—all Heavenly Rank.

The Soul Clan's depth was terrifying—but their Soul Points were even more terrifying; this entire set would likely require more than the Soul Body of a Nine-Star Dou Zong—probably several Eighth-Grade Alchemists' Soul Bodies.

Of course, the Soul Sovereign's Zuns didn't earn Soul Points only by capturing Soul Bodies—just recently, Hu Fa had received a "broadcast" mission from the Lord: any information regarding the Bodhi Tree would earn a massive Soul Point reward.

They could also exchange identical Heavenly Rank Cultivation Methods, Dou Techniques, or Elixirs for Soul Points.

Hun Xu Zi had indeed given Xiao Yan a tremendous opportunity, elevating him by a major tier and enabling him to meet Mao Wu; had he tried to buy the Void Swallowing Flame's seed with Soul Points, Xiao Yan would have gone mad trying to afford it.

Xiao Yan then examined several Earth Rank Advanced and Quasi-Heavenly Rank Dou Techniques—for instance, one Quasi-Heavenly Rank Soul Technique: Ten Thousand Soul Chains—Soul Force conjured countless Hun Chains to completely seal an opponent's Spiritual Soul, a sealing-type Soul Technique.

But Xiao Yan didn't exchange for it—he didn't have enough Soul Points.

"Ah, it was right not to trade the Heavenly Flame Zun's Soul Body for Soul Points back then—the Five Wheel Fiery Flame Art alone would've cost at least six or seven hundred thousand Soul Points, not to mention the fact that I'd have made the old fox owe me a favor."

Only Xiao Yan had multiple Heavenly Flames, making it highly suitable—otherwise, the Five Wheel Fiery Flame Art wasn't particularly strong. Like the Three Heavenly Flames Transformation, for most people, this Secret Technique offered less improvement than even a Profound Class Secret Technique.

After some time, seeing Xiao Yan emerge from the Soul Path with a sighing expression, Hun Lao Gui chuckled: "Jiejiejie, kid, couldn't find anything suitable?"

Xiao Yan ignored him—he knew damn well he didn't have enough Soul Points!

At that moment, Hun Lao Gui's eyes narrowed slightly, revealing his yellowed teeth, his expression turning serious as he spoke gravely: "The Asura Soul-Cutting Art has a second volume—I can let you exchange it for Heavenly Tier Low Rank Soul Points."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan halted, his gaze fixed on Hun Lao Gui. His expression showed no surprise—only a wry smile. "Hun Lao Gui, you think I'm a child? That Asura Soul-Cutting Art was clearly Earth Rank Advanced, yet priced as Earth Rank Low-Level."

"If this Soul Technique were truly too dangerous, it shouldn't have been discounted—it should've been sealed and forbidden from cultivation."

Xiao Yan was, after all, the Young Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan and a Transmigration—deeply aware that discounting meant promotion. The Asura Soul-Cutting Art was extremely dangerous; if the Soul Clan Clan Leader wasn't insane, he'd never lower the price to get his own clan members or Soul Sovereign Guardians to die practicing it.

That meant someone deliberately lowered the price and placed it right before Xiao Yan's eyes for him to find.

Without doubt, that person was Hun Lao Gui!

Exposed, Hun Lao Gui wasn't flustered—he grinned, baring his teeth. "But you still cultivated it. And succeeded."

Xiao Yan said nothing. That success relied too heavily on luck—if the Yin-Yang Dragon Pill's potency had been insufficient, or if it hadn't nourished his Soul Force, he'd be dead. To cultivate the second volume? That'd be suicide.

Silence hung in the air. Then Hun Lao Gui reached into Space and pulled out a Scroll—its colors: black, white, and gold. Without doubt, this was the complete Asura Soul-Cutting Art Scroll.

Not surprising. When Xiao Yan completed the Asura Soul-Cutting Art, reached perfection, and began to gradually master it, he realized—the Asura Soul in the Abyss was still incomplete.

Legend said the Asura was a demon god with Three Heads Six Arms, embodying Human, Divine, and Demon as one.

If the first volume was merely raising a minor spirit, then this second volume—

"Heh." Xiao Yan coldly laughed, completely ignoring the Scroll, refusing even to open it, and walked toward the door.

Joking? Xiao Yan was not the type to gamble with his life—he just wanted to live in peace.

Hun Lao Gui smirked, speaking slowly: "The complete Xiu Luo Zhan Hun Shu is a Heavenly Rank Advanced Grade Soul Technique."

Xiao Yan halted his step, his body stiffening slightly.

Heavenly Rank Advanced Grade?!

It's right there on the shelf!

"Even among the Soul Sovereign, there are fewer than ten scrolls of Heavenly Rank Advanced Grade Soul Techniques, and within the Soul Hall, only the Hall Master is permitted to cultivate such a technique," Hun Lao Gui's voice drifted from behind Xiao Yan, each word clear and precise as it reached his ears.

Hall Master?! Only the Hall Master is allowed to cultivate a Heavenly Rank Advanced Grade Soul Technique!

Xiao Yan is now merely a watered-down Soul Hall Venerable; above him are the Great Heavenly Venerable, the Nine Great Heavenly Venerables, the Vice Hall Master—only then comes the Hall Master. And there is only one Hall Master. Unless Xiao Yan kills him, he can never become Hall Master.

Though Xiao Yan did not know Hun Lao Gui's purpose, his mind was now filled entirely with those four characters: 【Heavenly Rank Advanced Grade】.

So tempting!

Just as Xiao Yan thought, "Just a quick look won't hurt," and was about to go see what the Scroll contained, Hun Lao Gui spoke one sentence—and Xiao Yan turned on his heel and left without hesitation.

"To cultivate the complete Xiu Luo Zhan Hun Shu, your Spiritual Soul must reach the Heavenly Realm."

Get lost! (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻

Xiao Yan didn't even want to look. He had only just reached the Spirit Realm—Heavenly Realm was impossibly distant, and he wasn't even sure he'd reach it in this lifetime.

If you converted Spiritual Soul level into Cultivation Realm, this meant from One Star Dou Zun to Sage Emperor—he didn't even know if he'd ever reach such a realm in his life.

Indeed, Heavenly Rank Advanced Grade was never easy to cultivate; the threshold was extremely high.

Seeing Xiao Yan leave in a huff, Hun Lao Gui's eyes flickered with a strange glint as he murmured: "You'll come back."

As Xiao Yan stepped out of the alley, he saw Elder Su Qian and Vice Dean Hu Qian, along with several Elders from Jia Nan Academy, arriving from the horizon.

"I pay my respects to Elder Su and Vice Dean," Xiao Yan said with a faint smile, bowing respectfully to Su Qian and Hu Qian.

After all, these two had always treated Xiao Yan with considerable care.

"Enough with the formalities," Hu Qian waved his hand. "Besides, with your current strength, I can't possibly accept such courtesy." For all these years, he had remained at Peak Dou Huang, while Xiao Yan had already reached Eight-Star Dou Huang—Hu Qian knew for certain he couldn't win against him in battle.

Su Qian also sighed and shook his head, looking at Xiao Yan as if he were a monster. He knew Xiao Yan's strength was even more terrifying than he'd imagined.

They had come here because they heard Xiao Yan had returned to the Black Horn Region, and days ago he had bid on Puti Huati Yan—they guessed he'd inevitably stir up trouble.

But Su Qian never expected that his spy in the Black Horn Region had transmitted a message via Soul Jade: Xiao Yan had wiped out the Black Emperor Sect and the Demon Flame Valley!

That was why they had come to assist him—only to find Xiao Yan already in Peace Town.

Unaware that Xiao Yan had recently committed a "major deed," Hu Qian stroked his beard and shouted toward the rooftops around them, where curious onlookers were peering down: "You brats! This is the Xiao Yan you always talk about—he's no ordinary man; he's already Eight-Star Dou Huang!"

Hearing Hu Qian's shout, the people on the rooftops froze, then their eyes blazed with sudden intensity as they scrutinized Xiao Yan from head to toe. Whispered murmurs erupted like a swarm of flies.

"Is that Senior Student Xiao Yan? He's so young—and actually good-looking too, even better than the statue."

"Hehe, little girl, got a crush? Plenty of people in the academy are drawn to this mysterious Senior Student—you know, your sister here will be your fiercest rival."

Soon, many young girls began whispering among themselves—but when they saw Xiao Yan's side companion, Xiao Yixian, their spirits dimmed.

Xiao Yan bowed to Elder Su Qian and said seriously: "Elder, I wish to refine a Pill. I need to borrow the Space Lock in the Library Pavilion."

Su Qian frowned. Why would you need to enter the Library Pavilion to refine a Pill?

"What grade of Pill are you trying to refine?" Su Qian asked.

"Probably Seven-Grade," Xiao Yan thought. The main ingredient and Magic Core were both Seven Rank—it should count as Seven-Grade.

Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!! Su Qian and Hu Qian's eyes widened. How in the world has your Pill Alchemy improved so much in just a few years?!

(End of Chapter)