Chapter 453: The Mighty Yan Alliance

Seeing Xiao Yan leave, the space twisted, and two figures stepped out from a space wormhole; one was naturally another president, Tian Lei Zi, but at this moment Tian Lei Zi stood respectfully to the side, beside him a child resembling a herder, his body still stained with bits of green grass.

But if one looked closely, it would be clear that though this child emitted not a speck of Dou Qi, his eyes were profoundly deep—nothing like the gaze of a child.

Seeing the child appear, Xuan Kongzi immediately rose, bowing deeply: "Student Xuan Kongzi pays homage to the Ancestor."

The herding child waved his hand, his deep eyes fixed on the direction Xiao Yan had departed, as if he could see through space to Xiao Yan's back.

"He didn't accept it?" the child asked softly.

Xuan Kongzi nodded. "Yes, Ancestor. I saw his expression—he wasn't eager or desperate. He doesn't seem like someone sent by the Soul Hall."

If Xiao Yan were here, he would be drenched in cold sweat—he had just been tested!

Fortunately, Zi Yan was eager to return to Ancient Dragon Island; otherwise, Xiao Yan—who had nowhere else to go—might have chosen to cultivate inside Xiao Dan Ta.

Tian Lei Zi beside him also agreed with Xuan Kongzi, nodding: "Xiao Yan helped Dan Tower resolve the crisis of Three Thousand Yan Flame and killed Mu Gu. Mu Gu was an eighth-rank Alchemist with high status in the Soul Hall. Xiao Yan is not from the Soul Hall."

The herding child smiled faintly, slowly shook his head, and without a word tore open space; on the other side lay a grassland, where a cow grazed on green grass.

The herding child took one step—ten thousand li—and his cultivation was clearly boundless; the passage closed, and the child's youthful voice echoed from all directions: "The tide has turned beyond Dan Tower's ability to stop. Let nature take its course."

Hearing this cryptic remark, both Pill Giants stared blankly.

"What does the Ancestor mean?" Xuan Kongzi asked, glancing at Tian Lei Zi, confused.

"I don't understand either. Then let nature take its course," Tian Lei Zi shrugged.

Soon after leaving Dan Tower, Xiao Yan returned to the Ye Family Mansion, where he learned Xiao Yixian was not in Sheng Dan Cheng, but at the Yang Huo Gu Tan in Ye Cheng, refining the Poison Pill using Yang Fire.

Through the ghostly poisonous flames, Xiao Yan contacted Xiao Yixian and learned she was at a critical stage of refinement—he did not disturb her.

If she successfully refined the postnatal Eternal Calamity Poison of the Ice Sovereign, and the Poison Pill remained intact, then Xiao Yixian's Eternal Calamity Poison Body would be perfectly resolved.

"Xiao Yixian is refining the Poison Pill and cannot leave," Xiao Yan said to Zi Yan, who waited anxiously beside him.

"Then let's go, Big Guy!" Zi Yan shouted, and space twisted—massive Xiong Zhan appeared beside her.

Xiong Zhan scratched his head dumbly. "Miss, can we wait a little longer?"

Zi Yan's eyes hardened, her expression darkening. "What? You want to stay here?"

"No no, it's just—I haven't gotten my Pill yet," Xiong Zhan scratched his head, helplessly looking at Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan froze. No way—after half a year, Cao Ying still hasn't crafted it? Did she just get lucky during the Pill Gathering?

As the saying goes: don't speak ill of people by day, don't speak of ghosts by night. Mention Cao Ying, and Cao Ying appears.

"Xiao Yan, hurry and leave—the Tian Ming Sect has come knocking!" A graceful figure rushed in from the gate.

Clearly, Cao Ying had run in haste—sweat glistened on her forehead, her cheeks flushed as she panted, her tall, full, perfectly proportioned body rising and falling.

"Tian Ming Sect?" Xiao Yan paused, unable to recall offending them—then suddenly remembered: he had killed Chen Xian, the son of the Sect Master of Xuan Ming Sect, one of Tian Ming Sect's three lower branches.

Xiao Yan sighed helplessly. The guy died too easily—he'd completely forgotten about it.

Xuan Ming Sect likely guessed it was Xiao Yan—after all, only Xiao Yan had both a grudge against Chen Xian and the power to kill him.

On the Dou Qi Continent, where strength rules, evidence means nothing—if they believe it, it's true.

Had Xiao Yan not spent the past half-year in the Star Domain, they would have come for vengeance long ago.

"Yes, they're already in Sheng Dan Cheng," Cao Ying said.

Xiao Yan looked at Cao Ying. Today, she wore no black long dress—only a simple pale red robe. Less dazzling, yet more tranquil.

Seeing Xiao Yan look her way, Cao Ying's heart fluttered wildly. Already, before Xiao Yan, she'd lost her seductress persona—she couldn't help thinking: "Has he noticed I changed my hairstyle?!"

Unfortunately, Xiao Yan, having refined Bone Spirit Cold Fire, was like the Pill Sovereign—unintentionally hurtful.

"Where's the Pill? Half a year—don't tell me you still can't make it," Xiao Yan opened his palm, demanding the Pill outright.

⊙▽⊙

Cao Ying's red lips parted, her eyes wide—she was already doubting her own charm.

Cao Ying stomped her foot, pulled a Pill Bottle from her space ring, and hurled it at Xiao Yan angrily: "Here!"

Xiao Yan caught the bottle with one hand, glanced at it, sniffed the Pill Fragrance, and nodded inwardly: "After the Three-Colored Pill Lightning's purification, the quality is good."

Before Cao Ying could even feel joy, she saw Xiao Yan toss the Pill to Xiong Zhan—her fragile heart shattered again and again; even Xiong Zhan felt pity for her.

"You!! You might as well die!"

Xiao Yan smiled, calmly walking toward the courtyard, speaking softly: "Don't worry—I won't die. I just came out of seclusion and haven't even warmed up. The Tian Ming Sect came at the perfect time."

Not far from the Ye Family Mansion lay a square paved with polished granite. Normally, it bustled with constant foot traffic—this was one of Sheng Dan Cheng's most lively spots.

But now, this once-bustling square was filled with a massive crowd, clustered into a dense group. In the center, nearly a hundred figures stood rigidly, radiating a chilling aura that made many nearby pale. This group was clearly no ordinary bunch—and their grand, aggressive arrival signaled clear hostility.

"Looks like Xuan Ming Sect?"

"That gray-robed elder leading them—is he Chen Tiannan, the Xuan Ming Sect Sect Master? I heard he's a Two Star Dou Zun! I never expected even this old monster would come himself—what do they want?"

"They say it's about Xiao Yan. Rumor says that half a year ago in the Dan Realm, Xuan Ming Sect's Young Sect Master Chen Xian was killed by Xiao Yan. This old monster must be here for revenge."

"No wonder they're so full of killing intent. Looks like today won't end peacefully."

Hearing the murmurs around him, the gray-robed elder at the front's eyes grew cold, his chilling gaze sweeping slowly across the crowd. Wherever his eyes landed, people felt a chill in their hearts and fell silent immediately. Xuan Ming Sect was no group to be trifled with—quarrels often ended in drawn blades, and with their vengeful nature, anyone who crossed them met a horrific end.

"Sect Master Chen, this is Dan Tower. Why have you brought so many armed men here with such murderous intent?" Elder Qiu Ling flew in from afar, blocking their path.

Behind him cowered a timid, delicate girl—clearly, she had summoned Qiu Ling.

"Elder Qiu, don't try to intimidate me with Dan Tower. Others fear it—I don't." Chen Tiannan's icy gaze locked onto Qiu Ling. "My son died by Xiao Yan's hand. Today, I'll say this plainly: I've come to take Xiao Yan to join my son in death!"

Chen Tiannan had gotten his son late in life—Chen Xian was his beloved treasure.

"But… but how do you know it was Brother Xiao Yan who did it?" Behind him, Dan Chen spoke weakly.

Chen Tiannan's eyes hardened—and Dan Chen shrank back instantly. So terrifying!

"I'm not here to argue evidence with Dan Tower. Hand over Xiao Yan, and I'll leave immediately!" Chen Tiannan's eyes were bloodshot, clearly bordering on madness.

"Hmph!" Qiu Ling was also angered, flicking his sleeve. "What do you think Dan Tower is? Xiao Yan is a candidate for Pill Giant—your Xuan Ming Sect has no such authority!"

"Heh. Elder Qiu, how mighty your tone. But Xuan Ming Sect is still one of Tian Ming Sect's three lower branches. If a Sect Master's son's murder goes unavenged, who will ever respect Tian Ming Sect?" As Qiu Ling's cold rebuke ended, a figure slowly stepped forward from behind Chen Tiannan, smiling faintly: "Or does Dan Tower intend to push Tian Ming Sect into the Soul Hall's arms?"

"You're Xue Xiu Luo Yi Chen!" Qiu Ling's pupils shrank—the trouble had just escalated.

Qiu Ling squinted at the figure walking out; the newcomer appeared young, tall and slender, with a face of striking beauty, almost feminine, yet a hint of malice in his brows lent an icy chill to his otherwise exquisite features.

"Yi Chen? Could this be the Yi Chen known as the Yi Demon Lord of Tian Ming Sect?"

"Kuang! I heard this Yi Chen is very likely the next Tian Ming Sect Master!"

"I get it—this Yi Chen wants to court Xuan Ming Sect and push himself as the next Sect Master!"

Among the crowd, murmurs erupted at the name of this handsome man; every gaze directed at him brimmed with dread, and many stepped back several paces, as if Yi Chen were some primordial beast.

The name "Yi Demon Lord" carried immense weight across Zhong Zhou, a fearsome reputation forged from countless battles and bloodshed; within the territories ruled by Tian Ming Sect, his infamy was enough to strike terror into the hearts of all who heard it.

Compared to his infamy, if Xiao Yan had not won the Pill Gathering, his reputation on Zhong Zhou would have been far inferior to this man's.

"Are you threatening Dan Tower?!" Qiu Ling's face darkened; for Dan Tower, Hun Palace was a mortal enemy.

If your Tian Ming Sect joins Hun Palace, it's tantamount to declaring war on Dan Tower!

"Sigh, Elder Qiu, these past years Dan Tower and Hun Palace have stood opposed, yet Tian Ming Sect has always remained neutral. If matters are mishandled, some hidden allies may be pushed toward the other side—this would not be good for Dan Tower." Yi Chen sighed.

Qiu Ling's eyes narrowed; for a moment, he hesitated. After all, compared to Hun Palace, Dan Tower was at a disadvantage, and Tian Ming Sect was one of the Two Sects, even seeming to overshadow Hua Sect slightly.

If it truly joined Hun Palace, it would be a fatal blow to Dan Tower.

"What kind of cat or dog's Tian Ming Sect or Xuan Ming Sect? Good dogs don't block the road."

At that moment, a commanding voice came from behind.

"Big Brother Xiao Yan!" Seeing it was Xiao Yan, Dan Chen ran over.

"Thank you, don't worry—I can handle this." Xiao Yan gently patted Dan Chen's head.

"Mm-hmm."

Seeing Xiao Yan appear, Chen Tiannan's face twisted into a monstrous snarl—father's vengeance knew no bounds!

"Xiao Yan! Did you kill my son?!" Chen Tiannan roared in fury.

"That Chen Xian? Yes, I killed him. So what?" Xiao Yan glanced at Chen Tiannan with calm eyes and admitted it outright.

Hearing Xiao Yan not even deny it, but confess directly, many turned pale; several exchanged glances—this was an open provocation to Xuan Ming Sect, even Tian Ming Sect! Could they swallow this insult?

"Good! Good! You admit it! Even if you're a candidate for Pill Giant, Xuan Ming Sect will fight you to the death today!" Chen Tiannan bellowed, eyes wild; having lost his son, he no longer cared—he only wanted revenge.

Hearing Chen Tiannan's irrational outburst, Yi Chen frowned. He had no desire to oppose Dan Tower—it would harm his chances of becoming Tian Ming Sect Master. His earlier words were merely bluster; joining Hun Palace was like leading a lamb into the tiger's mouth.

"Calm down." Yi Chen stepped forward, facing Xiao Yan. "Xiao Yan, you're a candidate for Pill Giant, and I'm a candidate for Tian Ming Sect Master. Our stakes are too high. Let us both discard our titles and fight one-on-one—whoever loses—"

Yi Chen's words were cut off mid-sentence by Xiao Yan.

"You're mistaken. First, I am not a candidate for Pill Giant. Master Xuan Kongzi did suggest it to me, but I refused—so you needn't fear Dan Tower. This has nothing to do with Dan Tower."

"Second, you overestimate your Tian Ming Sect. Don't forget—I, Xiao Yan, represent the Yan Alliance!"

At these words, the audience froze—they had forgotten Xiao Yan wasn't just the Pill Gathering Champion, but also the initiator and one of the Founders of the Yan Alliance Covenant!

After winning the Pill Gathering, Xiao Yan naturally eased the crisis; after Cai Lin gave birth safely, she used the half-Sage's blood she had absorbed and Xiao Yan's Breakthrough Pill to successfully ascend to Dou Zun.

Add to that Tian Huo Zunzhe, who returned from Sheng Dan Cheng to the Yan Alliance—on the surface, they now had two Dou Zun!

And don't forget: during the incident in Star Domain, Xiao Yixian revealed her terrifying power—so the Yan Alliance now had not just one Pill Gathering Champion Alchemist, but three Dou Zun!

Not even counting Qing Lin's One Star Dou Zun Snake Slave.

During the past six months while Xiao Yan refined the Three Thousand Yan Flame, Cai Lin, pent-up for so long, went on a killing spree.

The Yan Alliance, long oppressed, swept forward like a flood, slaughtering all before them; under the leadership of Cai Lin and Qing Lin, they marched from the Northwest Region straight through Zhong Yu.

Almost the entire North Domain, once controlled by Feng Lei Pavilion's outer territories, now belonged to the Yan Alliance; of the Four Pavilions, only the Eastern Pavilion, under Lei Zunzhe, remained—while the Southern, Western, and Northern Pavilions were utterly destroyed and turned into Yun Lan Sect branches.

The Miter Guild now spanned the entire outer Zhong Zhou, backed by the Yan Alliance, and had become the largest guild in the West Domain and North Domain.

The territories once ruled by Ice River Valley, once plunged into chaos after the Ice Zun's death, were all smoothly absorbed by the Yan Alliance in these past six months.

Imagine Cai Lin's nature—a queen, a ruthless warlord, a woman who outshone any man!

Had she not been pregnant, she might have already led the Snake Race and Tian She Empire's demonic beasts back to Shou Yu.

Now, the Yan Alliance's territory was absurdly vast, and its strength was formidable; protected by Xiao Yan's title as Pill Gathering Champion, it flourished in every direction—undoubtedly the most powerful faction on Zhong Zhou today.

Like a sharp sword, it had carved its way from the Northwest Region on Zhong Zhou's periphery, piercing Feng Lei Pavilion, annihilating Ice River Valley—and now, it pointed straight at Tian Ming Sect!

And Cai Lin's goal extended even further—to the Nine Underworld's Tun Tian Mang Zong. She intended to rewrite the Three Great Demon Beast Families as the Ancient Dragon Clan, the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, and the Tun Tian Mang Zong!

To restore her family's dominion over Shou Yu and command the countless Snake Race across the Dou Qi Continent.

Xiao Yan sneered at the stunned Yi Chen—he didn't need Dan Tower's backing. He was confident that, before long, the Dou Qi Continent would become One Hall, One Tower, One Alliance!

"You're an idiot. We didn't come looking for Tian Ming Sect—you came to us. Fine. Then stay." Xiao Yan's eyes flashed with lethal intent.

Whether from soul fusion with Cai Lin or not, he had grown as ruthless and decisive as she was—once he sensed an enemy, he gave no chance for breath or reaction.

With a sharp *shiiii*, Xing Tian flew out of Xiao Yan's storage ring; Zi Yan patted Xiong Zhan's shoulder. Following the Dragon King's order, Xiong Zhan unleashed a terrifying demonic aura, locking his gaze onto Chen Tiannan.

"So eager to see your son? I'll send you to him." Xiao Yan had never intended to trouble Xuan Ming Sect—after all, vengeance had a target, and Chen Xian was dead; the grudge should have ended.

But when Xiao Yan saw Chen Tiannan's unyielding hatred, he knew he must cut the root—otherwise, it would become a threat to the Yan Alliance.

If the hatred wasn't severed, it would only grow larger.

*Boom! * Xing Tian bent his legs and slammed a punch straight at Chen Tiannan's face—so powerful it shattered the space itself. Though also a Two Star Dou Zun, Chen Tiannan could barely resist—and that was without Xiong Zhan!

Seeing an Eight-Rank Magical Beast and a Two-Star Dou Zun Kuo Lei appear around Xiao Yan, Chen Tiannan and Yi Chen were stunned! Tian Huo Zunzhe wasn't even in Sheng Dan Cheng—how did Xiao Yan have so many Dou Zun guarding him?! What kind of ghost was that Dou Zun Kuo Lei?!

"As for your one-on-one? If you can survive one of my attacks, I'll spare your life." As Xiao Yan spoke, he lifted his Soul Shield, revealing his full One Star Dou Zun cultivation realm to all.

"You're a Dou Zun!!"

(End of Chapter)