Chapter 633: Challenge Letter (Eight Thousand)

Including Yao Xiao Tian, Yao Ce, She Tianhao, Chi Snake Demon Sovereign, and others, all Snake Race members forcibly enslaved by the Qi San Hua Tong seemed to be waiting for this opportunity.

Seeing this scene of overwhelming hatred, Xiao Yan felt no surprise whatsoever—this world had no power that could be gained without cost; strength always demanded a price.

Over these years, Qing Lin's Qi San Hua Tong had enslaved countless Snake Race members, accumulating terrifying amounts of negative emotions.

"Spiritual Flame Dou Technique: Pure World Lotus Flame."

Xiao Yan formed a hand seal, pouring Dou Qi and Soul Force into the Pure Lotus Demon Flame. Yi! Xiao Yi suddenly spat out a milky-white Pure Lotus Demon Flame—unlike in the Demon Fire Space, this Pure Lotus Demon Flame was utterly sacred, its white flames radiating a unique, pure, and beautiful aura.

Yaaaa!!

Aaaah!!

The Pure Lotus Demon Flame instantly enveloped Qing Lin, still in slumber, rapidly purifying these negative energies.

Under Xiao Yan's control, the Pure Lotus Demon Flame transformed into fine threads of flame that drilled into Qing Lin's body, merging into her Spiritual Soul, then traveling along her Dou Qi all the way to the Qi San Hua Tong.

With the strongest purification power on the Dou Qi Continent, the Pure Lotus Demon Flame could not only erase the accumulated negative energy of the Qi San Hua Tong—even if he now faced the Bodhi Ancient Tree again, confronted with the negative energy of a Dou Emperor, Xiao Yan could this time do without the Bodhi Seed and directly purify all the Dou Emperor's negative energy from the Bodhi Ancient Tree.

Soon, all the accumulated negative energy of the Qi San Hua Tong was purified by the Pure Lotus Demon Flame; then, a slender, porcelain-white, curvaceous body fell from midair.

With a thud, Xiao Yan caught Qing Lin in his arms as she plummeted.

"Young Master Yan?" After all negative energy was cleared, Qing Lin slowly opened her eyes. Xiao Yan saw that the Qi San Hua Tong had undergone a subtle change—the three petals were beginning to bloom, as if the Qi San Hua Tong could still grow stronger!

Qing Lin regained consciousness, saw Xiao Yan's face, and her beautiful eyes instantly shifted from confusion to delight. She gasped: "Young Master Yan, you've returned from the Demon Fire Space! Am I dreaming?"

"Not a dream." Xiao Yan's gaze fixed on Qing Lin's joyful expression, refusing to lower his eyes even slightly—otherwise, her delighted bouncing would be impossible to ignore.

Seeing Xiao Yan's strange expression, Qing Lin looked down—and instantly blushed crimson. Where was her clothing?! No way! In the wilderness!

Watching Xiao Yan use the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, Cai Lin suddenly remembered—back at the bottom of the Tian Fen Lian Qi Ta, this guy had used a Spiritual Flame to forge her body in exactly the same way!

Damn, no wonder he needed to take away the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake—it was all premeditated!

The strongest Spiritual Flame Dou Technique probably isn't called "Clothing Incineration."

Held in Xiao Yan's arms, Qing Lin instinctively curled into his chest, her voice stammering: "Y-Y-Yong Master Yan, c-can you go back to your room first? Qing Lin wants to take a bath."

"Huh?!!!"

Hearing Qing Lin's bold words, Xiao Yan looked down—her entire body was crimson, like a boiled shrimp, curled up, fingers tightly gripping his clothes in nervous tension.

Her mind was already blank with shyness, too flustered to speak.

Even Xiao Yan felt a sudden flush of heat. He hastily retracted the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, set Qing Lin down, and pulled out a black robe to drape over her, quickly explaining: "Qing Lin, that—your clothes were burned off by the Pure Lotus Demon Flame."

Hearing Xiao Yan's explanation, Qing Lin's rosy cheeks turned instantly pale. Her beautiful eyes filled with tears, gazing at him with despair and sorrow, lips trembling: "Young Master Yan… do you no longer want Qing Lin?"

This question left Xiao Yan frozen in place.

Qing Lin had grown up under Xiao Yan's watch since she was eleven or twelve—through the Tian She Mansion, to the Yan Alliance, to now. She had always been diligent and humble, seeing herself only as an orphan picked up by Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, a maid of the Xiao Clan.

But years ago, when Xiao Yan stormed the Tian She Mansion with his weak strength and rescued her, Qing Lin realized: she was not a maid of the Xiao Clan—she was Xiao Yan's maid.

Xiao Yan was entirely Qing Lin's white moonlight, and naturally, a faint hope had taken root in her heart.

Xiao Yan pulled the hood of the black robe over Qing Lin's head, then drew her into his arms, gently patting her head: "Ya Tou, how could the Young Master ever abandon you?"

"Give me some time. Once I've settled everything, you impatient Ya Tou—wash yourself clean and wait for me in the room."

Hearing Xiao Yan's blunt words, Qing Lin felt no disgust—instead, warmth spread through her heart, and she calmed, nodding firmly.

After this Dou Sheng agreement, the next must be the Dou Emperor agreement!

Of course, Xiao Yan didn't mean he himself would become a Dou Emperor—he meant he would refine an Emperor Pill.

The Dou Qi Continent truly needs a Dou Emperor right now—no matter who it is, even Hun Tian Di would do.

At that moment, Cai Lin slowly approached. Sensing her arrival, Xiao Yan, still holding Qing Lin, tensed—Qing Lin immediately stepped back, positioning herself slightly behind Cai Lin, proving she sought no rivalry, remaining where she always had.

Qing Lin's grace made her hard not to love. Cai Lin gently patted Qing Lin's shoulder and said to Xiao Yan: "Xiao Yan, if you ever treat Qing Lin poorly, I, as her elder sister, will not spare you."

Hearing Cai Lin openly acknowledge her as her sister before Xiao Yan, Qing Lin truly acted like a little sister—she slowly hid behind Cai Lin, gripping the sleeve of her domineering queenly elder, stealing a glance at Xiao Yan.

Clearly, the two had already planned this—only Xiao Yan, the male master, knew nothing.

Xiao Yan stared in shock at Cai Lin—elegant, mature, noble, breathtakingly beautiful—then glanced behind her, where Qing Lin, though voluptuous and alluring, still carried a trace of purity and innocence in her eyes.

Even wrapped in Xiao Yan's oversized black robe, Qing Lin's exquisite figure could not be concealed—and Cai Lin? Her figure was peerless, born with an enchanting bone structure, naturally alluring.

Even Xiao Yan couldn't help swallowing hard, thinking inwardly: "Father, your son has made it—he's become Xu Xian."

No, he's even better than Xu Xian.

The Xuan Huang Flame, which Xiao Yan had barely suppressed, began to stir again.

He'd just returned from the Demon Fire Space!

Xiao Yan vaguely felt he needed to further elevate his physical cultivation—not only because his physical realm had long stagnated, but due to countless other reasons.

He felt that the Three Thousand Yan Flame and the Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Flame were no longer sufficient.

After resolving Qing Lin's matter, Xiao Yan remained in the Huang Quan Shan Mai for some time, primarily to accompany Xiao Xiao and Xiao Cai—he couldn't let Cai Lin be a single mother.

Of course, it wasn't just about accompanying Xiao Xiao and Xiao Cai—he also sought information on the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan.

He had been missing for two years; calculating the time, the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's Clan Leader, Huang Tian, should have long emerged from seclusion. Xiao Yan still didn't know Feng Qing'er's condition—this hidden card was vital to the entire Shou Yu's grand strategy.

Especially now, with the Grand Void Dragon Clan's situation: Zi Yan could easily conquer Dragon Island by force, but the chain reactions from unifying Dragon Island would be enormous.

As the Young Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan, how could Xiao Yan not know? To Magical Beast Families, just like Dou Emperor Families, no Dou Emperor Family would wish for the Xiao Clan's return—even the high-ranking members of the Gu Clan didn't want their former ally to reemerge and grow strong again.

The Grand Void Dragon Clan was unquestionably the Xiao Clan among the Magical Beast Families—perhaps even more problematic. After all, the Grand Void Dragon Clan was the sole supreme hegemon among Magical Beast Families; if Zi Yan unified Dragon Island without resistance, that would be strange indeed.

Even Dou Emperor Families might intervene.

And now, news of Xiao Yan's return had not yet spread—this was Xiao Yan's probing, not just toward the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, but toward Feng Qing'er herself.

Over these two years, while Xiao Yan was in the Demon Fire Space, the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan had been extremely active in Shou Yu; and since Huang Tian emerged from seclusion, the clan had surged forward like a breaking wave, seizing territory across Shou Yu and even extending its reach into Zhong Zhou's Demon Flame Plain, fighting over Demon Flame Stones.

After all, both Zi Yan and Cai Lin were Four-Star Dou Shengs, while Huang Tian had reached Five-Star Late Dou Sheng—how could the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan not flaunt its power?

Even the lands once granted by the Snake Empire to the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan now felt insufficient—they were restless, eager for more.

Of course, what Xiao Yan cared about wasn't territory—he could reclaim it anytime. And publicly, Feng Qing'er was still the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan; she couldn't openly ally with the Yan Alliance, and she had to obey certain orders from her clan. What Xiao Yan wanted to test was: which side did Feng Qing'er truly favor?

If she truly believed he was dead in the Demon Fire Space, felt secure, thought Huang Tian was invincible, secretly fed information to Huang Tian, or even planned to act against Zi Yan—he would no longer hold back.

His current cultivation realm is higher than Huang Tian's, and he possesses the Burn Scripture evolved to Emperor Grade—Huang Tian is just a feathered bastard, perfect justification for Xiao Yan to launch an army against the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan.

If Feng Qing'er still remembers her identity, Xiao Yan will honor his promise: spare some innocent members of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, help Feng Qing'er become their new Clan Leader, and then seize control of the entire Shou Yu.

On the third day after Xiao Yan secretly returned from the Demon Fire Space, a major rumor swept across Zhong Zhou and Shou Yu.

Nalan Yanran, Sect Master of Yun Lan Sect—one of the four major factions of the Yan Alliance—issued a challenge to Feng Qing'er, Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan!

The contested stake is the territory once ceded by the Huang Quan Shan Mai: if Nalan Yanran wins, she reclaims that land; if Feng Qing'er wins, the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan must cede another third of the Huang Quan Shan Mai.

"Why are you making me challenge Feng Qing'er?!!"

At that moment, atop the small peak where Yun Yun of the Hua Zong resided, Nalan Yanran—dressed in the silver-moon Sect Master robe—stared in shock at Xiao Yan, who was sipping tea.

That challenge was not issued by her! She had only just learned of it!

Someone had impersonated her—and that impersonator was Xiao Yan!!

Xiao Yan slowly set down his teacup, glancing at Nalan Yanran. Since their journey to the Bodhi Ancient Tree, he had not seen her again. He didn't know if it was because of her Enlightenment beneath the Bodhi Tree, but he found Nalan Yanran far more agreeable now.

Dressed in a silvery-white robe adorned with embroidered white clouds and blossoms, the silk sash cinched her slender waist, revealing her graceful curves in full view. Her face was like peach blossoms, glowing with renewed vitality; her pink cheeks seemed delicate enough to burst, breathtakingly beautiful.

As if she had resolved some inner knot, she radiated a radiant glow.

"Can't you learn from your master? Always reacting like this—use your brain once in a while."

"You!! You forged my challenge and now you blame me for being shocked?" Nalan Yanran was stunned, mouth agape—was it really her fault?

Yun Yun, seated beside the Stone Chair, smiled gently, her demeanor as soft as flowing water.

Compared to Nalan Yanran, Yun Yun's mature elegance was unmistakable; she was not merely beautiful, but exquisitely refined—not vulgar, not ostentatious. Her noble grace, especially her tranquil, natural expression, amplified her beauty and deepened her allure.

Xiao Yan's return had also startled her.

"Your target is Feng Qing'er, isn't it?" Yun Yun poured Nalan Yanran a cup of flower tea, gesturing for her to sit.

"Feng Qing'er?" Nalan Yanran frowned. "Do you want me to kill her for you?"

Xiao Yan rolled his eyes at Nalan Yanran and laughed. "Do I need your hand to kill her? What are you thinking?"

"I didn't choose you for any other reason—your cultivation realm matches hers exactly: both are Nine-Turn Dou Zun, neither has reached Semi-Sage." Xiao Yan glanced at Yun Yun. "I originally planned to ask you, Yun Yun, but I didn't expect you'd already broken through to Dou Sheng."

Even Xiao Yan found this strange. Two years ago, when he entered the Pure Lotus Demon Fire Space, Yun Yun had been at Nine-Turn Peak Dou Zun—and he'd only left her some Bodhi Pills. Even with her strong foundation, he'd helped her solidify it back then at the Hua Zong using the Fallen Heart Flame and a few elixirs.

But direct breakthrough to Dou Sheng should still have been out of reach. Xiao Yan estimated that after two years of seclusion and with the Bodhi Pills, Yun Yun might have reached mid- or high-level Semi-Sage.

Knowing what Xiao Yan was thinking, Yun Yun gently brushed aside a strand of black hair from her forehead. "I should thank you. The Bodhi Pills alone couldn't have broken me through to Dou Sheng—but beneath the Bodhi Tree, the Ancient Tree left behind a pure stream of energy that helped me break through. It was a rare opportunity."

Xiao Yan recalled how, when helping him refine the Bodhi Seed, the Bodhi Ancient Tree had granted him a similar surge of energy—energy that had greatly elevated his own cultivation realm.

This Bodhi Boss even bought life insurance for his ex-employee's family! What an unparalleled boss!

Two chapters today.