Chapter 528

Xiao Yan's heart stirred with heat, for he guessed that if even Nalan Yanran knew Ya Fei was looking for him, it must be a matter of great importance—Ya Fei had asked everyone.

Moreover, from the Soul Sovereign's intelligence, Xiao Yan knew that all Dou Emperor families were watching the Pure Lotus Demon Fire—whether the Soul Sovereign, the Gu Clan, the Yan Clan, the Lei Clan, or others, everyone was watching.

Even the Dou Emperor families, the pinnacle factions on the Dou Qi Continent, regarded the Pure Lotus Demon Fire as an unrivaled treasure.

He had heard that the Pure Lotus Demon Fire would emerge in the coming years, and that the Soul Temple still had powerful figures monitoring places where it might appear.

"Thanks." Xiao Yan waved his hand and turned into a streak of light, flying toward the Miter Corporation headquarters in Jia Ma Sheng Cheng, vanishing from sight.

Seeing Xiao Yan vanish in a flash, Nalan Yanran gripped her sword hilt tightly and huffed, "Why rush off so fast?"

Several seconds later, Xiao Yan's voice drifted lazily back: "Your cultivation realm is a bit slow. If you hear of any Ancestral Inheritance Sites and can't secure them, come find me—I'll help you."

Hearing Xiao Yan's voice, Nalan Yanran snapped her head toward the distance and whispered softly, "Who needs your help?" But her lips couldn't help but curl upward slightly.

At that moment, at the Miter Corporation headquarters, Hai Bodong sat in the Hall, looking thoroughly perplexed.

Ya Fei, who had long fully taken control of the Miter Corporation, sat in the chairman's chair and smiled—she naturally knew why Hai Bodong was sulking.

The reason was simple: Hai Bodong had become overconfident!

Back in the Creation Saint's Ruins, Hai Bodong's cultivation realm had nearly reached Dou Zong, and after returning from the Ruins, he had acquired resources and Elixirs, beginning to push for Dou Zun.

Not long ago, after reaching Nine Star Peak Dou Zong, he received a Seventh Rank Peak Breakthrough-to-Dou-Zun Pill from Elder Ye of the Pill Hall, hoping to break through Dou Zong and become the true Ice Sea Sovereign!!

But he failed.

And as a result, this top ten warrior of the Yan Alliance dropped in ranking due to Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran!!

He was still among the top ten, but now at the very bottom.

"Hai Lao, when Xiao Yan returns, his Pill Alchemy will surely help you break through to Dou Zun," Ya Fei chuckled lightly—given Xiao Yan's status as an Alchemist, helping a Dou Zong break through to Dou Zun was merely a matter of effort.

"Sigh, I don't want to rely on Xiao Yan every single time," Hai Bodong sighed. In the past, he had been Xiao Yan's protector, fighting alongside him against the Heavenly Snake Mansion, traveling north and south.

Though Hai Bodong knew he could never surpass Xiao Yan, sometimes he still wanted to rely on himself.

At that moment, laughter came from outside the door: "Hai Lao, you're putting me in the position of an ungrateful wretch."

Hearing the voice, Hai Bodong and Ya Fei turned sharply toward the door—there stood the familiar figure, grinning.

Who else could it be but Xiao Yan!

"Xiao Yan brother! You're back!" Ya Fei's eyes lit up; she quickly suppressed her emotions, rose slowly from her chair, and walked toward Xiao Yan with measured steps.

Even though Cai Lin and Xun Er were absent, Ya Fei understood boundaries perfectly.

"Mm, I just returned from the Gu Clan," Xiao Yan smiled, stepped into the Hall, and scanned with his Soul Force—he immediately understood Hai Bodong's problem.

"Hai Lao, your foundation is solid. Your failure to break through to Dou Zun was due to rushing too much—you haven't fully mastered the Ice Sovereign Qi Cultivation Method."

Hai Bodong had switched to Ice Sovereign Qi several years ago; since it was a new Cultivation Method, he had yet to fully grasp its secrets, and when he tried to channel his Dou Qi to break through the barrier, he failed.

"Sigh, now I know it's too late," Hai Bodong realized—he had indeed been too hasty; he should have trained longer.

Xiao Yan gave a sly smile and said, "Sometimes breaking through doesn't require Pills at all."

???

As Hai Bodong looked bewildered, Xiao Yan formed a hand seal—suddenly, golden light erupted, and with a hum, it enveloped Hai Bodong's entire body. Xiao Yan then waved his hand, crafting a temporary Space Lock, flicked his finger, and sent Bone Spirit Cold Fire into the lock, banishing Hai Bodong directly into Space.

In an instant, Xiao Yan had used the Soul Severing Technique's Soul Illusion and Bone Spirit Cold Fire to create a temporary Ice-type Secret Realm!

Though this Secret Realm was crude, mostly false illusions, when combined with Bone Spirit Cold Fire, even falsehoods became real.

"Hai Lao, push hard—you can definitely walk out of this Ice Earth Domain!" Xiao Yan's voice echoed inside, then he grinned and sealed the Space Lock shut.

Since you old man wants to be heroic and rely on yourself, then rely on yourself.

Xiao Yan's current strength could only be described as terrifying!

He could casually create a Peak Dou Zong-level Secret Realm.

Watching Xiao Yan teleport Hai Bodong away, banish him into Space, and conjure a temporary Secret Realm, Ya Fei's beautiful eyes widened in shock.

"Is Hai Lao… okay?" Ya Fei asked softly.

"Don't worry—I'm confident Hai Lao will survive and walk out," Xiao Yan nodded.

"Survive?" Ya Fei froze—was there a life risk??

But soon Ya Fei realized Xiao Yan was teasing her.

"You're even fooling your sister now?" Ya Fei shot Xiao Yan a glance full of allure.

Xiao Yan chuckled, sat down, and returned to the matter at hand: "Ya Fei sister, did you send people to find me because there's news about the Residual Map of the Pure Lotus Demon Fire?"

Hearing Xiao Yan bring up the subject, Ya Fei instantly shed her playful demeanor, nodded seriously, and sat beside him, pulling out documents: "We haven't obtained the Residual Map yet, but we've found its location."

Xiao Yan instantly perked up, forcing his heart to calm—three out of four! Finally, they had a lead!

This missing piece had tormented Xiao Yan for countless years!

Xiao Yan's face glowed with delight—the Pure Lotus Demon Fire had always been his most coveted Strange Fire, ranked third on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, proving its immense power. With his current strength, if he could devour and refine it, his Fused Strange Fire might evolve beyond imagination!

"Where?"

"In Zhong Zhou. Every few years, a special Space Trade Fair is held—it's the largest and most elite trading event in Zhong Zhou," Ya Fei smiled. She knew Xiao Yan wouldn't pay attention to such rumors and continued: "Participants must be at least Dou Zong Peak. To even set up a stall, you must represent a Dou Zun-level Faction, or be a renowned veteran warrior."

"Only Dou Zong Peak can enter?! Only Dou Zun-level strength can set up a stall!!"

Hearing this, Xiao Yan was stunned—the entry requirements for this trade fair were terrifying!

Xiao Yan now understood that the Four Pavilions were merely peripheral forces of Zhong Zhou; many stronger factions existed. They were famous only because they bordered the outer regions—so those like Xiao Yan, entering Zhong Zhou from the Northwest Region, mistakenly thought the Four Pavilions were powerful.

In short: excellent marketing.

In truth, Zhong Zhou had many families and factions that remained hidden—like the Gu Clan's Adult Ceremony, where all attending families were connected to Dou Emperor Families, spending their days competing for resources in hidden Secret Realms like the Void Thunder Pool.

Those families tied to Dou Emperor Families were truly powerful—like the Soul Temple, a subordinate of the Soul Sovereign, or the Five Families of Dan Tower.

Families like the Cao Family and Dan Family possessed strength greater than the Ice River Valley or Sound Valley.

"The final Residual Map of the Pure Lotus Demon Fire will appear at this Space Trade Fair?" Xiao Yan asked urgently.

"Mm. The person who obtained the final Residual Map knew it concerned the Pure Lotus Demon Fire, so he kept it hidden—this time, he plans to sell it at the Space Trade Fair," Ya Fei nodded, then glanced at Xiao Yan: "This is thanks to what you did half a year ago—Space Trade Fair people leaked this information to me."

The Space Trade Fair wouldn't give Ya Fei any face—but they couldn't ignore Xiao Yan. Ya Fei was the one who used Xiao Yan's name the most—she was practically his secretary.

Especially six months ago, Xiao Yan's actions shocked many hidden families and factions in Zhong Zhou, allowing Ya Fei to obtain advance intelligence about the Space Trade Fair and learn that the featured item was the Residual Map of Pure Lotus Demon Fire.

Hearing Ya Fei mention the events six months ago, Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned, then suddenly realized: the three years inside the Heavenly Tomb equated to half a year in the outside world—that was when he had forcefully defeated Gu Qingyang at the Ancient Clan Adult Ceremony and proposed to Xun Er using a Dan Beast forged by Nine Color Pill Thunder!

Only a very few factions knew of the Ancient Clan Adult Ceremony—but those who knew were all powerful hidden factions, the very ones within the Space Trade Fair!

Now, when people speak of Xiao Yan, it's no longer about him being the Pill Gathering Champion; his current aura is: Ancient Clan Prince Consort!

Isn't that the Ancient Clan Prince Consort! Isn't that title even more impressive than Pill Gathering Champion!!

Walking across the Dou Qi Continent, who doesn't call him Brother Yan! The highest goal for any man—Xiao Yan has achieved it!

It was then that Ya Fei truly understood the exalted status of Xun Er; the number of women on the Dou Qi Continent more noble than her could be counted on one hand.

Ya Fei finally understood why Xiao Yan pushed himself so hard in cultivation.

"Uh…" Xiao Yan cleared his throat twice and rubbed his nose.

Ya Fei said no more; she knew herself that she could never compare to Xun Er, and she understood her place perfectly.

"The Residual Map of Pure Lotus Demon Fire will be auctioned as the featured item. The owner of the map wishes to exchange it for something useful—likely at a heavy cost."

Xiao Yan nodded and asked: "How long until the Space Trade Fair?"

"Six months," Ya Fei continued. "The Space Trade Fair occurs nearly once every ten years. Each time, numerous rare treasures appear—even Heavenly Rank Dou Techniques can be found. Transactions are almost always conducted via Exchange Offer. Though the Yan Alliance has grown rapidly these past years, its expenditures have been enormous. To secure the Pure Lotus Demon Fire, you likely won't have enough Treasures."

At this level of trade fair, Gold Coins are utterly useless. Think about it: entry requires Dou Zong Peak. That means every item inside is used by at least a Dou Zong Peak cultivator.

Seven-Grade Elixirs are the bare minimum!

To trade inside, you must possess items worth at least Eight Grade Pill value. Of course, on the Dou Qi Continent, the hard currency is Elixirs—such trade fairs are almost exclusively conducted with Elixirs.

"Six months? There's still enough time for Spirit Refining," Xiao Yan's eyes gleamed with confidence.

Now that he possesses the Medicinal Material Forest of the Creation Sage, Xiao Yan is the richest man below Ji Pin Dan Yao!

A trade fair? Xiao Yan will sweep it clean!

In six months, he'll make them understand what true wealth means!

"I already possess three of the Residual Maps. No matter what, I will obtain the final one." Xiao Yan's eyes flashed with sharp determination—he was determined to claim the Pure Lotus Demon Fire!

Ya Fei smiled slightly and said: "Don't worry, Brother Xiao Yan. This Space Trade Fair is the Yan Alliance's top priority—everything will be aligned to support it. Cai Lin will end her battles and join you to head to the Space Trade Fair."

Although the Wind and Thunder Pavilion has dissolved, the alliance between the Tian Ming Sect and the Nine Underworld Dark Python Clan still stands. In recent years, the Yan Alliance and the Tian You Alliance have become irreconcilable enemies, frequently clashing—especially over disputes of Ruins and Secret Realms, resulting in many casualties.

Due to Yun Yun's connection, the Hua Sect is, in a sense, allied with the Yan Alliance. This naturally provoked the Tian Ming Sect, which had hoped to ally with the Hua Sect, causing recent warfare to intensify.

As a peerless female Emperor, Cai Lin could not tolerate this. After emerging from seclusion, she immediately rushed to the frontlines and began slaughtering the Nine Underworld Dark Python Clan.

After absorbing the Nine Headed Heavenly Snake Marrow Blood, Cai Lin's combat power surged, driving the Nine Underworld Dark Python Clan into disarray—but even so, she could only hold the borderlines. As the largest demonic beast race, the Nine Underworld Dark Python Clan controlled vast territories, and the Yan Alliance was soon besieged from all sides, struggling to respond.

"The Tian Ming Sect and the Nine Underworld Dark Python Clan… we must find an opportunity to eliminate them." Xiao Yan's eyes flickered with murderous intent. He currently cannot refine Ji Pin Dan Yao—if he could, he could simply summon an Elder of the Gu Clan or have the Great Heavenly Venerable intervene, and none of this would be so troublesome.

Moreover, the Tian Ming Sect and the Nine Underworld Dark Python Clan also understood: they could never reconcile with the Yan Alliance—it was either their death or ours.

Especially the Nine Underworld Dark Python Clan: now, all Snake Race factions are split in two, with many having joined the Tian She Empire. The Tian She Empire has since been transformed by Cai Lin into a second Huang Quan Shan Mai, gathering numerous Snake Race clans.

Cai Lin possesses the Bloodline of the Devouring Heaven Serpent, and so does Xiao Cai. Her command over all Snake Race clans is more legitimate than that of the Nine Underworld Dark Python Clan—this directly threatens the core interests of the Nine Underworld Dark Python Clan, making reconciliation utterly impossible.

Cai Lin has no intention of reconciling with the Nine Underworld Dark Python Clan; as the Snake Race Empress, she has always sought to take control of Huang Quan Shan Mai.

(End of Chapter)