Chapter 530

Countless Ancient Devouring Worms flew out, slowly forming a massive cube in Space, enveloping both Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian.

Immediately, his body began secreting special fluids, like glue, adhering to Space; after about a quarter-hour, a ten-cubic-meter Celestial Cube appeared.

Just like the solidified Crystal Layers seen in the Heavenly Tomb's passage, these Crystal Layers blocked out the storms of the Manhuang Ancient Domain; the once noisy winds vanished, as if Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian had been severed from the world, leaving only profound silence.

"Incredible—these Ancient Devouring Worms, by continuously absorbing Energy Storms, secrete crystals that gradually form a nest. If controlled well, this is a natural barrier!" Xiao Yixian watched the surrounding Crystal Layers with great excitement, her Jade Hand gently stroking them, utterly unbothered by their insect origin.

Then again, if Xiao Yixian feared insects, how could she possibly grow herbs?

"With these Ancient Devouring Worms, perhaps we can revive this land."

Fully enveloping the vast Xiao Realm with the Ancient Devouring Worms' Crystal Layers would take a long time; both Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian knew this required gradual progress—and at least now, it had begun!

"Xiao Yan, I still need to prepare some Spirit Liquid infused with energy to nourish the land. Check if there are any beasts nearby and bring back a few." Xiao Yixian took out several seeds from her Storage Ring, aiming to restore the land; after resolving the environmental issue, she would turn to soil rehabilitation.

The seeds in Xiao Yixian's hand were special herbaceous plants with strong Life Force.

"Yes, Master Xiao Yixian!" Xiao Yan snapped to attention, grinning.

Just as Xiao Yixian was about to ignore this childish fool, a sudden THUD echoed, as if some creature had slammed into the Crystal Layer.

The two exchanged glances—they wouldn't be bored here after all.

Xiao Yan placed the sleeping Worm Mother on the ground, and with a thought, opened a gap in the top of the Crystal Layer; as he flew out, he saw herds of beast-like creatures resembling sheep, each with sharp horns and bodies covered in dragon-scale-like armor capable of withstanding the Manhuang Ancient Domain's violent Energy Storms.

"No wonder this is the most ancient Earth Domain—creatures with Dragon Clan bloodline, rarely seen elsewhere, are so numerous here." From afar, these strange beasts surged toward them in packs, unmistakably drawn by the Energy Crystal Layer.

But the cost of surviving here was becoming wild and bloodthirsty.

The weakest were Sixth Rank; Xiao Yan even spotted one nearing Eighth Rank—this near-Eighth Rank Sheep-Drake already showed signs of transformation into a true dragon, its bloodline likely comparable to Xiong Zhan's, though it carried not the Grand Void Dragon's lineage but that of some long-extinct dragon clan.

Xiao Yan didn't know what these Sheep-Drakes were, but since they'd made the wrong choice, he could only act.

ROAR! Seeing Xiao Yan suddenly appear, dozens of Sheep-Drake beasts stomped through Space, their horn tips sharp and gleaming with cold light, charging at him.

BOOM—BOOM—a thunderous roar erupted; as the Sheep-Drake beasts charged through the void, the scene was breathtaking—an immense herd of giant sheep-like creatures surging toward him, more awe-inspiring than ten thousand cavalry charging together.

"You think I'm prey? Then don't blame me."

Xiao Yan smiled faintly; since leaving the Gu Clan, he'd had no chance to test his strength. Instantly, he condensed fire into arrows and swept his hand—thousands of flaming arrows filled the sky.

PUFF—PUFF—PUFF! Blood sprayed instantly; the arrows forged from Ancient Fire pierced the Sheep-Drakes' skulls, their corpses crashing down— even the Eighth Rank Sheep-Drake fell as easily as a flick of the finger.

Though Xiao Yan dispatched them swiftly, he soon learned why the Manhuang Ancient Domain was called a human Forbidden Land.

Wave after wave of beasts surged from all directions like tides; even as corpses piled high around him, stronger beasts kept appearing. Eighth Rank beasts were commonplace here, perhaps because they'd ventured deep into the domain.

"No wonder no one enters the Manhuang Ancient Domain anymore—these beasts, shaped by this land's peculiar nature, are fiercely murderous and fearless of death."

Only when Xiao Yan encountered a super-beast nearing Semi-Sage level and fought it to a stalemate did the beast tide finally subside.

"Xiao Yan, are you alright?" Xiao Yixian rushed over, her face filled with deep concern at his blood-soaked state.

Xiao Yan quickly shook his head. "I'm fine—just superficial wounds."

Though Xiao Yan spoke lightly, some wounds ran deep to the bone, nearly separating flesh from muscle; special violent factors and toxins within the wounds prevented healing. Had he not possessed Three Thousand Yan Flame and refined the Nether Ghost Poison Flame, these injuries would have killed any Peak Dou Zun.

"This place is truly bizarre—those beasts were at least Seventh Transformation Dou Zun, and carried unknown bloodlines." Xiao Yan now felt some wariness toward the Manhuang Ancient Domain; he hadn't entered through its entrance but had come directly through the Soul Passage of the Spirit Hall.

He could now freely enter and exit Tian Dian, yet even knowing its location, he'd never want to come here.

Xiao Yan didn't know exactly where in the Manhuang Ancient Domain he was, but judging by appearances, the spot where Xiao Realm had fallen must be deeply embedded.

Xiao Yan hadn't used his full strength, nor even activated his Clan Mark, and the opponent hadn't unleashed its special bloodline either—they'd merely tested each other; a true life-or-death battle might still be uncertain.

"It seems reviving the Xiao Clan is still a long and arduous path." With Xiao Yan and the Yan Alliance's current strength, restoring Xiao Realm to the world still seemed distant. They'd merely claimed a tiny patch of land and drawn such fierce attacks—if they truly intended to move the entire Xiao Realm out of the Manhuang Ancient Domain, it would be nothing short of overturning heaven and earth!

Watching Xiao Yixian stubbornly bandage his wounds and purge the poison, Xiao Yan's heart warmed. "If you didn't have the Calamity Poison Body, wouldn't you be hanging a 'Healing the World' banner, traveling everywhere to treat people?"

Xiao Yixian didn't look up, focused on treating his wounds and the stubborn poison. "What's the point of 'what ifs'? And with your reckless, death-defying nature, I'd be terrified you'd die in battle if I left."

Hearing this, both Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian froze. Instantly, Xiao Yixian's cheeks flushed crimson; she stammered, "I—I mean, as a healer, I can't just ignore your injuries."

Watching Xiao Yixian's voice grow quieter, Xiao Yan felt a warm current flow through him; between them, only a thin layer of paper remained unbroken. Xiao Yixian truly possessed a healer's heart, but some gentleness and kindness were uniquely his to receive.

After all, what Xiao Yixian had done before the Dan Tower Star Domain, how could Xiao Yan forget? And she hadn't forgotten either.

With a sweep of his arm, Xiao Yan pulled Xiao Yixian's supple waist into his embrace, settling her on his lap and holding her tightly.

Instantly, a faint herbal fragrance filled his nose; Xiao Yixian, constantly handling Medicinal Materials, carried a pleasant scent, her soft form like holding a tiny cat—plush, sweet, and uniquely comforting.

"Thank you, Xiao Yixian—for always staying by my side," Xiao Yan murmured, burying his face in her silken hair.

Undeniably, long-term companionship deeply moved a man—and Xiao Yixian had always quietly stood beside him, supporting him.

Being so roughly embraced, Xiao Yixian's cheeks burned crimson, scorching hot; she stammered, "I—I'm just repaying your life-saving grace."

Pfft—Xiao Yan couldn't help laughing, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "Isn't repaying a life-saving grace supposed to mean giving yourself in marriage?"

Hearing such direct words, Xiao Yixian, with her shy nature and lack of Xiao Yan's sharp tongue, had no retort—her mind went blank, dazed. "I—I—I—I…ugh!"

Since leaving the Heavenly Tomb, Xiao Yan realized his self-control had weakened considerably!

Sensing the unusual sensation in his mouth, Xiao Yixian tightly shut her eyes, her body stiffening, motionless—she had no experience with such things and didn't know what to do.

The mist in Zao Hua Gu wasn't thick enough, nor was the poison mist in Xiao Realm.

Mostly, Xiao Yixian's nature couldn't progress so fast—she had no mental preparation for such things; after kissing Xiao Yan, her cheeks burned crimson, and she immediately summoned Qian Mu Ye Jing and fled.

There was another reason: the Calamity Poison Body had always been a thorn in Xiao Yixian's heart. Even now, with Qian Mu Ye Jing fully suppressing it, she still feared that engaging in such acts might trigger a sudden outbreak and harm Xiao Yan.

In the days that followed, Xiao Yan began refining various Eight Grade Pills—from those drawing Two-Colored Pill Lightning to Nine-Colored, with ample Medicinal Materials and, in the Manhuang Ancient Domain, no shortage of Magic Cores.

During this time, Xiao Yan single-handedly turned the area into a thunderstorm zone; Heavenly Thunder constantly crashed down. Watching his frenzied pill-refining, he didn't seem to be going to the Space Trade Fair to trade—he looked like he was going to stock up!

Meanwhile, Xiao Yixian, besides slowly restoring the land according to the Zao Hua Scripture, also began Cultivation.

The Manhuang Ancient Domain was filled with storms and poison mist—perfect for Xiao Yixian's Calamity Poison Body. After obtaining Qian Mu Ye Jing, she hadn't actively cultivated, letting her Cultivation Realm rise naturally.

Even without deliberate cultivation, her Cultivation Realm kept rising—proof of how terrifying the Calamity Poison Pill and Calamity Poison Body were together.

Now, Xiao Yixian actively activated her Calamity Poison Body to absorb Poison, creating such terrifying effects that heaven and earth manifested omens; each cultivation session produced a massive Poison vortex, as if a long-starved demon had finally been allowed to feast—all life near the vortex perished instantly.

Xiao Yixian knew Xiao Yan needed her at the Space Trade Fair not to help select items, but for her power.

Xiao Yan was determined to obtain the Residual Map at this Space Trade Fair—even if it meant using any means necessary.

Moreover, Xiao Yixian had never used the Chengzun Spirit Pill—this pill to enhance strength was equally useful for her.

Of course, during this time, the two were often bullied by Xiao Yan, this big bad wolf; how could Xiao Yixian, this little lamb, possibly escape his wolf's claws?

One month before the Space Trade Fair, Xiao Yan stopped refining Elixirs; in nearly five months, he didn't even know how many Elixirs he had refined.

He had simply refined half the Medicinal Materials from the Sacred One's Forest into Elixirs—this insane refining raised his Cultivation Realm from First-Transformation Peak Dou Zun to Second-Transformation, and he fully mastered the Eight Grade Pill; now Xiao Yan was just one step away from the Ji Pin Dan Yao.

If Xiao Yan had more time, his success rate in refining a Ji Pin Dan Yao right now would be certainly high.

"Your Cultivation Realm…" Xiao Yan watched Xiao Yixian, clad in white robes, step out of the Poison vortex—like a holy lotus, touched by poison yet unstained, sacred and elegant, beautiful beyond reach.

First-Transformation Dou Zun! With the Chengzun Spirit Pill and the consumption of Poison, Xiao Yixian's Cultivation Realm had risen swiftly.

Xiao Yixian smiled calmly and said, "Just luck."

"Oh, luck, is it? Then it seems you're nearly at Dou Saint."

Hearing Xiao Yan mention Dou Saint, Xiao Yixian's cheeks flushed red; during this time together, she didn't know how, but she'd foolishly fallen for Xiao Yan's trap—if she reached Dou Saint without the Poison erupting, she'd be safe; reaching Dou Saint would stabilize even the Divine Grade Bloodline, let alone the Eternal Calamity Poison.

Somehow, a Dou Saint promise had just appeared.

Xiao Yixian turned her head away and said, "Let's head back—the Space Trade Fair is about to begin."

Xiao Yan nodded; he now had to return to pick up Ya Fei and Cai Lin. This time, Xiao Yan had gathered the Yan Alliance's strongest forces, fully intending to "buy—if not, rob."

Xiao Yixian waved her hand, and endless Poison mist concealed the area; the Ancient Devouring Worm's Crystal Layer had now grown to nearly five thousand square meters—still far from enough, but already on track.

Three days later, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian returned together to the Yan Alliance to pick up Ya Fei and Cai Lin, preparing to head to the Space Trade Fair.

But when Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian returned, they saw only Ya Fei, her face filled with worry—Cai Lin and Qing Lin were gone—and Xiao Yan's eyes flashed a terrifying killing intent.

"Where is Cai Lin?"

Long ago, Ya Fei had already sent word to Cai Lin at the front lines; given Cai Lin's nature, she would never break her word.

Ya Fei's face was also worried. "I've sent people to scout the Yan Alliance's borders, but they haven't returned yet."

"No need. We go directly." Xiao Yan waved his hand, his eyes glinting with cold light—someone had clearly lost their sense of self-preservation.

(End of Chapter)