Chapter 496: The Thousand-Faced Actor Xiao Yan

Xiao Yan's eyes gleamed with cunning as he stepped before Feng Qing'er'er, his large hand gently caressing her cheek, whispering softly: "No, when you return this time, tell the elders of your clan this."

"In the ancient ruins of the Sage of Creation, your group encountered the Void Ancient Dragons of the South, North, and West Dragon Islands; due to some disputes, a fight broke out, and eventually the Void Ancient Dragons summoned powerful reinforcements who slaughtered your people—you barely escaped back alive."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Feng Qing'er'er's beautiful eyes widened, her red lips parted, staring at the man beside her in utter terror.

He wants to spark a war between the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan and the Three Great Dragon Kings of the South, North, and West?!

Even if Feng Qing'er'er were the most foolish, she knew that Xiao Yan, this Ten Heavenly Elders of the Soul Palace, clearly supported the East Dragon Island—meaning the other three Dragon Islands were obstacles.

And due to the internal war of the Void Ancient Dragons, the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's strength has surged rapidly; they now have four Dou Sages, and their Clan Leader's power is rumored to surpass even the Three Great Dragon Kings!

If war breaks out, and the East Dragon Island remains unknown to have a new Dragon King who obtained the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, given enough time, they could simply sit back and reap the benefits of others' conflict.

At that point, the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan might even be wiped out!!

Feng Qing'er'er's body trembled, her face deathly pale—this could lead to total annihilation of her clan!!

"I I"

Xiao Yan naturally sensed her fear and inner struggle; his fingers stroked her delicate face and said: "I remember you're from the line of the Ancient Heavenly Feng, right? I, Xiao Yan, swear to you: no matter what the future holds, I guarantee your Feng lineage will remain safe."

"Even if the Void Ancient Dragons ever reemerge in the Beast Domain, I'll have Zi Yan elevate you to become Clan Leader of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan—oh, wait, maybe it'll be renamed the Heavenly Demon Feng Clan by then."

Feng Qing'er'er's pupils contracted; she bore the surname Feng, unlike Huang Pei or Huang Xuan. Though the Feng and Huang clans had long since merged, both now carried the blood of each other's ancestral elders—indistinguishable.

But! If my own line could dominate—

Bam! Xiao Yan slapped her buttocks.

"Ah!"

Startled by this sudden slap, Feng Qing'er'er cried out, clutching her rear and stumbling backward several steps.

"Don't just stand there—think about it yourself as you return. You've been gone for days already; don't let the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan grow suspicious."

This was merely a casual act by Xiao Yan; he didn't believe her single statement could ignite a war between the two clans—she simply wasn't that influential.

Xiao Yan merely wanted to create trouble for the Three Great Dragon Islands, so the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan wouldn't focus on the East Dragon Island.

The truth was, the East Dragon Island was so weak that Xiao Yan had no words left to criticize it.

This time, Xiao Yan had returned with Heavenly Realm Soul Force and naturally knew more. Elder Zhu Li was a high-level Semi-Saint, and the East Dragon Island still had a second elder in seclusion, whose strength was a Dou Sage.

And that was it—no other Dou Sages!

Although Zhu Li mentioned that some elders of the East Dragon Island had gone out, Xiao Yan suspected the Void Ancient Dragons had long since fallen into a generational void.

The remaining Dou Sage powerhouses were likely all ancient relics from the Old Dragon Emperor's era—now, excluding Zi Yan, the strongest among the young generation was Hei Qing.

The young generation here was already being surpassed by the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, who at least still had Jiu Feng, the Young Clan Leader.

Originally, the Xiao Clan had gambled everything precisely because of this generational void—if the old generation perished, the entire family would collapse.

Watching Feng Qing'er'er leave, Xiao Yan said nothing more.

"Sigh, let the East Dragon Island fend for itself." Xiao Yan shook his head; he currently had no power to change anything—he had more important things to do.

Opening a space wormhole, Xiao Yan did not linger but turned back toward the small valley.

This ancient medicinal forest was extremely important to Xiao Yan; with these medicinal materials, he might not be able to break through to a Nine-Treasure Pill Alchemist—after all, at the ninth rank, it wasn't about resources or effort, but talent and luck.

According to Xiao Yan's knowledge, no one on the Dou Qi Continent could currently refine a Nine-Treasure Golden Pill alone; even Hun Xu Zi had told Xiao Yan that although he had once successfully refined a Nine-Treasure Golden Pill to heal Hun Tian Di's injuries from their past battle, it wasn't solely his own work.

Refining a Nine-Treasure Golden Pill alone was nearly impossible.

But regardless, with this medicinal forest, Xiao Yan now had sufficient conditions to practice—this forest contained medicinal materials sufficient to drive the entire Dan Tower mad.

He altered the DragonVein, channeled Heavenly Earth Essence Qi, fused the land where the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix and Void Ancient Dragon had perished with the small valley, planted the medicinal forest upon it, and buried two beast corpses.

After returning to the small valley, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian spent over a month completing all of this.

"The Sage of Creation's sacred scripture is truly powerful—it even teaches how to alter DragonVeins and feng shui." Xiao Yan gazed at the transformed valley, where the Heavenly Earth Essence Qi had thickened into mist and ancient medicinal plants blanketed the ground, sighing in awe.

It had become a hidden paradise nestled within the valley!

The small valley had only one entrance, now concealed by mist and guarded by Xiao Yixian's Eternal Calamity Poison—anyone entering without permission would meet certain death!

From the perspective of the Mo Shou Shan Mai, this was simply a hidden secret realm within the mountains!

No one could ever imagine that here lay a medicinal forest coveted by every Alchemist, and a fairy resided here.

Of course, whether she was a Poison Fairy or a Medicine Fairy depended entirely on who came.

Xiao Yixian and Xiao Yan stood atop the altar of the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, erecting a stele for the Sage of Creation using the withered Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit tree.

"Hmm, the Sage of Creation truly possessed creative power. How about we rename this small valley Zao Hua Gu?" Xiao Yixian said, gazing at the stele of the Sage of Creation.

"Zao Hua Gu—what a good name. Haha, this reminds me of that inheritance we discovered in the small cave all those years ago. Maybe one day, our place will become a hidden inheritance site too." Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Yixian beside him, recalling the day they met over a decade ago.

Hearing Xiao Yan mention the small cave, Xiao Yixian shot him a glare and grumbled: "I found it! You were the one who stole half my medicinal materials."

"Did I? I don't remember that." Xiao Yan feigned innocent stupidity.

"You did! You were so cruel back then—you threatened me, saying if I didn't tell you about the cave, you'd burn my clothes off with Black Flame." Suddenly, Xiao Yixian's cheeks flushed.

In the end, she was still seen—twice!

Seeing Xiao Yixian gazing at him so shyly, Xiao Yan, as if reading her mind, knew exactly what she was thinking. Recalling the two times he had helped her detoxify, he swallowed hard.

At that moment, as if heaven itself conspired, a strong wind blew, bringing thick fog that enveloped the entire valley, hiding it completely—within the mist, the two locked eyes.

The fog obscured vision, as if offering a self-deceptive illusion; both stepped forward simultaneously and kissed.

Perhaps the fog gave them the fleeting illusion of vanishing from this world.

But fog always disperses; after merely ten seconds, it cleared, and Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian slowly parted. With the fog gone, Xiao Yixian's reason returned—she recalled the sensation of his tongue, her eyes filled with panic, her face flushed crimson.

"I I—I'll go tend to the medicinal materials!" Xiao Yixian gave Xiao Yan no chance to speak, vanishing in an instant.

That kiss in the mist had been Xiao Yixian's absolute limit.

Xiao Yan couldn't stop her—he couldn't, for in cultivation realm, Xiao Yixian was higher than him!

Xiao Yan didn't leave immediately; he had already obtained the Nine Revolution Heaven Changing Pill formula and needed to gather some medicinal materials from the forest to refine pills and replenish what he'd consumed from his storage ring.

As an Alchemist, Xiao Yan only needed to prepare the medicinal materials.

Three days later, after collecting all the medicinal materials, Xiao Yan prepared to depart for the Hua Sect. What he regretted was that the small valley didn't often produce mist!

"When are you going to the Ancient Realm?" Xiao Yixian asked suddenly.

"Less than a year," Xiao Yan calculated. If he included the time needed to reach the Ancient Realm, he had less than a year left without even realizing it.

Xiao Yan's current cultivation realm was still at Five-Star Dou Zun. Although he had obtained the remains of the Creator Saint and a Chengzun Spirit Pill, he needed to find a proper time and place to refine them.

This was a massive amount of energy; Xiao Yan still needed to be extremely cautious to prevent his Dou Qi cultivation from colliding and damaging his foundation, for his goal was not merely to become a Dou Zun.

"I'll go with you," Xiao Yixian said, her beautiful eyes fixed on Xiao Yan.

The Ancient Realm was absolutely not a safe place—let alone the fact that Xiao Yan was going there to compete for a place in the Heavenly Tomb. Wasn't that just walking in to smash their venue?

All conflicts begin over conflicting interests. And Xiao Yan? Whether it was Xun Er or the Heavenly Tomb slot, this man clearly intended to rob the Gu Clan—both people and resources.

No wonder such a person attracts hatred.

Xiao Yan smiled at Xiao Yixian, wrapped his large hand around her slender waist, and pulled her into his arms. "Don't worry—I won't die."

Hearing Xiao Yan's promise, Xiao Yixian finally let out the breath she'd been holding.

Both Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian knew that the incident with Xuan Yi and the Medicine Saint could not happen again.

Of course, before heading to the Ancient Realm, Xiao Yan had to visit the Hua Sect—not only to help Yun Yun resolve the sect's problems, but also to search for any Secret Realm within the Hua Sect that could aid him in refining the Elixir and Dou Saint Essence Blood.

Moreover, he needed to cultivate his Dou Technique. After all, he was about to enter the Gu Clan—if he hadn't yet perfected the Emperor Seal Scripture that Xun Er had gone through great pains to give him, and hadn't yet formed the Five-Seal Unified Ancient Emperor Seal, he would truly be betraying the effort she had put into giving it to him.

He didn't want Xun Er to feel he took her gifts lightly.

Xiao Yan took no one with him. Cai Lin and Qing Lin were still in seclusion, and the Heavenly Flame Elder had entered seclusion after returning from the Dou Saint Ruins, attempting to break through the barrier to Six-Star Dou Zun.

The Hua Sect was extremely distant—even with Xiao Yan's terrifying speed, it took him three days to arrive.

Three days later, weary from travel, Xiao Yan finally slowed his descent above an endless mountain range, scanning the surroundings before gently descending through Space.

"A Little World built by a Dou Saint? Even larger than the Burning Flame Valley. Quite the grand gesture."

Seeing the spatial barrier, Xiao Yan's eyes flickered with surprise. The Hua Sect truly deserved its status as one of the Two Sects—there was likely a Dou Saint within its ranks. The Tianming Sect probably had one too.

Inside the Hua Sect, an endless expanse of flower-covered mountains stretched out, their peaks blanketed in vividly colored blossoms. From afar, they resembled a sea of flowers; a gentle breeze stirred the air, sending dazzling petals dancing through the Sky, a scene like a fairyland.

At the end of the Hua Hai stood an immensely majestic mountain range, wreathed in mist, its peaks adorned with brilliant flowers. On the perilous summits, numerous structures stood, and faintly, one could glimpse graceful silhouettes and the laughter of women.

On one particularly remote peak lived Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran, master and disciple. For two of their status to reside in such an isolated place clearly seemed inappropriate.

In a pavilion, Nalan Yanran sat on a Stone Chair, a jade pendant shaped like a petal resting on the table. Breaking the pendant would prove Xiao Yan had arrived at the Hua Sect.

Today, Nalan Yanran wore a light green robe embroidered with silver threads forming clouds, cinched at the waist, outlining her perfect curves with flawless clarity. Her powdered face looked as if it could be shattered by a breath.

Even among the countless beauties of the Hua Sect, Nalan Yanran's beauty stood out.

Yet now, Nalan Yanran's face bore a look of helplessness. She muttered, "Only three days left until it begins—why hasn't that guy shown up yet? Damn it, I shouldn't have asked him for help."

"You, a Bi Nu who won't even cultivate properly, are speaking ill of your Young Master behind his back?"

At that moment, a voice came from behind Nalan Yanran. She spun around sharply—and saw Xiao Yan standing right behind her, having appeared without warning!

"You!! How did you get past the sect's Demonic Array and the Hua Hai?!" Nalan Yanran's beautiful eyes widened in shock, her Red Lips slightly parted.

That was the Hua Sect's Demonic Array and the Illusory Hua Hai! Even a Nine-Star Dou Zun couldn't pass through silently!

Xiao Yan stood with his hands behind his back, his expression proud. "Trade secret."

Then Nalan Yanran remembered the black cat that could swallow entire spaces. "Was it Black Flame?"

Xiao Yan smiled but gave no direct answer.

"You could've just told me to come get you. If the Supreme Elder of the Hua Sect finds out you broke in like this, it'll be trouble."

Xiao Yan shrugged, sat down opposite her, and grinned. "How else would I have heard you speaking ill of me behind my back?"

"I didn't speak ill of you! And who's your Bi Nu?!" Nalan Yanran protested.

"Cough, cough." Xiao Yan cleared his throat twice, then suddenly turned pale as if gravely wounded and collapsed to the ground.

"Three years," Xiao Yan lay on the ground, pointing at Nalan Yanran's nose, his voice low and fierce: "Xiao Yan! Give me three years! In three years, Nalan Yanran will surpass you and wash away the shame of today's defeat!"

"If after three years I'm still not your equal, even if you take my life—I, Nalan Yanran, will serve you as slave or Bi Nu without regret!"

"Someone said something like that before."

Seeing Xiao Yan's lifelike performance, Nalan Yanran's face flushed crimson. How could you act so convincingly?!

"You—you—you—I—" Nalan Yanran, whether from anger or embarrassment, her ears burning red, snorted and turned away. "Hmph! Not valid! Not valid!"

Xiao Yan burst out laughing. "You can't say it's invalid—that whole scene had plenty of witnesses!"

"Hmph, fine. In your eyes, I'm just this unreasonable girl anyway."

Seeing Nalan Yanran's unreasonable behavior, Xiao Yan stopped teasing her and asked, "Is your master cultivating?"

At the mention of serious matters, Nalan Yanran grew serious. She looked toward the house nearby and said, "Yes. Master says since she chose to face the challenge, she can't hold you back. These days, she's refining the Dou Qi from Hua Po Po, trying to raise her cultivation as much as possible."

"How long until she's done?"

"Three days from morning. The Yao Hua Xie Jun is strong—he's a Tianming Sect elder, at Six-Star Dou Zun."

"Six-Star? Even if he were six times stronger, it wouldn't matter. Three days, right? Fine. I'll cultivate for a bit. By the way, where do I sleep?" Xiao Yan suddenly asked, noticing the peak had only two small side rooms.

At this question, Nalan Yanran froze. Seeing her freeze, Xiao Yan froze too.

Damn it—you asked me to come early to save you, and you didn't even arrange a place for me to sleep?!

Xiao Yan's eyes shifted, and he walked toward Nalan Yanran's room. "I'll sleep in your room. You sleep outside."

"Ah, no! It's too unfair to make a girl sleep outside!" Nalan Yanran knew she'd messed up the arrangement—but it wasn't her fault! Xiao Yan always arrived at the last minute—who could've expected him to show up early?

"How can you, a Bi Nu, make your Young Master sleep outside?!"

"I already said I'm not your Bi Nu!"

In the end, Xiao Yan couldn't sleep inside. He found a random Cave and sat down to meditate. Who could imagine the Ten Heavenly Elders of the Soul Sect sleeping in a Cave?

Next time, I'll have to time it better.

Three days later, at dawn, atop a peak of the Hua Sect, a vast, flat Guang Chang had been carved into the mountain. Many figures stood there, all gazing toward the center, the atmosphere slightly heavy.

For today was the day the Hua Sect would officially appoint its new Sect Master.

In the center of the Guang Chang stood a man and a woman. The woman wore a luxurious brocade robe embroidered with golden-threaded floral patterns, clearly indicating high status. She also possessed a quite pleasing appearance, though her slightly thin Red Lips subtly conveyed a sharp, cutting air.

Beside the woman stood a man, lounging lazily, holding a paper fan embroidered with a beauty's image. He was tall and strikingly handsome, with a faint air of malevolence; a crimson dot, like a drop of blood, on his forehead multiplied that malevolence manyfold.

"Yun Yun, the time has come—you must appear!"

(End of Chapter)