Chapter 641

It's no wonder Xuwu Tongyan knew about the Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill—he once lived in the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Cave Mansion and was even part of Tuoshe Ancient Emperor himself; it's no surprise he knew something about it.

"Huh? That doesn't make sense."

Xiao Yan suddenly had a flash of spiritual light and realized a problem, a doubt suddenly forming in his heart.

If Tuoshe Ancient Emperor cultivated the Burning Scripture and refined both Pure Lotus Demonic Fire and Xuwu Tongyan, then why, after Tuoshe Ancient Emperor vanished, did Pure Lotus Demonic Fire and Xuwu Tongyan still exist?

"I only need one thing inside, and you have the greatest chance of obtaining it."

Xuwu Tongyan's eyes held a flicker of longing as he looked at Xiao Yan; he had partnered with Hun Tian Di, but only out of necessity—back then, Xuwu Tongyan had found Hun Tian Di to be the best option.

Now, Xiao Yan had appeared, cultivated the Burning Scripture, and even succeeded in refining it!

Xuwu Tongyan had once considered cultivating the Burning Scripture, but he had completely abandoned the idea. The timing, the location, and the circumstances were all against him.

The Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame and the Pure Lotus Demonic Fire—the third and fourth Demonic Fires—Xuwu Tongyan could never obtain: one was in the hands of the Gu Clan, the other watched by every Dou Emperor Family; if he showed himself to compete, the other Dou Emperor Families wouldn't be fighting over the Pure Lotus Demonic Fire—they'd be fighting over him.

"What thing?"

Could there really be something in the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Cave Mansion more valuable to Xuwu Tongyan than the Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill?

"You don't need to know yet." Clearly, Xuwu Tongyan didn't trust Xiao Yan either—this thing was of immense importance, even Hun Tian Di didn't know about it.

For a moment, both sides fell into deathly silence, especially Xiao Yan—he didn't know why, but he always felt something was off, especially after hearing Xuwu Tongyan's words, yet he couldn't pinpoint where the strangeness came from.

Xiao Yan's skin instinctively broke out in goosebumps; he felt a sudden, inexplicable fear.

"Huh." Xiao Yan exhaled slowly, then shook his head: "Right now, the Soul Sovereign has the best chance to claim the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Cave Mansion. With Hun Tian Di helping you, why do you need me to interfere?"

"Once you and Hun Tian Di get what you want, if you truly still need my help, we can discuss the price then—I don't want to get involved in these inexplicable matters."

"And the price for my intervention won't be low—be ready with your money."

Done!

Xiao Yan waved his hand and left immediately—try to trick me? Not a chance.

If Xuwu Tongyan could kill Hun Tian Di, Xiao Yan might help him obtain what he wanted—as long as the price was right, this Lord of the Soul Sovereign always did business for payment.

But as long as Hun Tian Di still lived, Xiao Yan had no desire to stir up unnecessary trouble.

After Xiao Yan left, Xuwu Tongyan made no move to act—he had a premonition that he would need Xiao Yan's help again someday.

"The great tide of the Dou Qi Continent—you can't escape it. You're already part of it now. Hehehe."

Xiao Yan becoming Lord of the Soul Sovereign was a secret; those in the Soul Sovereign who knew his identity dared not speak of it openly. Whether intentional or not, no one in the Gu Clan spread the news of Xun Er's return.

This meant that, aside from Feng Qing'er'er and a few core high-ranking members of the Yan Alliance, no one on the entire Dou Qi Continent knew that the initiator of the Yan Alliance Covenant, the most promising Alchemist on the continent, had returned from the Demon Fire Space—and had even refined the Pure Lotus Demonic Fire.

And Xiao Yan was hiding himself precisely to wait for news from Feng Qing'er'er, then deliver a fatal blow to the Three Great Dragon Kings!

To completely unify the Ancient Dragon Clan!

After Nalan Yanran's battle with Feng Qing'er'er, the shock and elation were as cataclysmic as heaven collapsing and earth splitting; for nearly the entire next half-month, the entire Yan Alliance was plunged into celebration. From now on, the Yan Alliance would possess unmatched prestige on Zhong Zhou, and every member—even the most peripheral ones—could stand tall with pride when meeting others, simply because they bore the Yan Alliance Class Badge on their chests.

The glory of the Yan Alliance was their glory.

Xiao Yan's imprisonment had severely damaged the Yan Alliance's morale; defeating the second-ranked Magical Beast Family undeniably gave the Yan Alliance a sense of representing humanity's rise.

As for the Soul Sovereign, Xiao Yan issued no orders—he had entrusted its management almost entirely to his second brother, Xiao Li.

Through this orderly absorption, the Yan Alliance's power, a colossal entity, quietly grew even stronger, subtly showing signs of surpassing both the Dan Tower and the Soul Sovereign, becoming the largest organization on the Dou Qi Continent.

In Zao Hua Gu, a quiet little wooden cabin stood, a stream weaving through the forest, medicinal fragrance drifting like mist throughout the valley.

At the center of Zao Hua Gu, a figure sat cross-legged atop the water, utterly motionless; the ripples spreading around him dissipated automatically within ten meters of his body, as if an extremely still aura surrounded him, making him appear peculiar.

Before the figure rested a pitch-black Alchemy Furnace, its rising flames proof that it was currently refining an Elixir.

Who else but Xiao Yan could be refining Elixirs in Zao Hua Gu?

Xiao Yan was a man of his word—he had promised to help Nalan Yanran break through to Sage Emperor, and he wouldn't break that promise; now he was refining the Nine-Treasure Bodhi Restoration Pill.

With the Bodhi Restoration Pill, Nalan Yanran's breakthrough to Half-Sage was certain; combined with Xiao Yan's Alchemist techniques and Demonic Fire assistance, breaking through to Sage Emperor was not impossible.

The Bodhi Ancient Tree was equivalent to a top-tier Alchemist, and Xiao Yan was no weaker.

A soft hum resonated from the Alchemy Furnace.

The two Dan Beasts tending the Pill Field immediately turned toward Xiao Yan's direction, drooling, hopping and skipping toward him.

With a creak, the wooden door of the cabin opened, and Xiao Yixian stepped out in a white robe; seeing Xiao Yan's Elixir nearly complete, she smiled faintly.

This fluctuation lasted about half a day before Xiao Yan slowly opened his closed eyes; faint flames flickered in his dark pupils, then he slapped the Alchemy Furnace—BOOM—a pillar of emerald light shot skyward, clouds churned above, and Black Demon Thunder surged forth.

Naturally, with Xiao Yan's current strength, Black Demon Thunder posed no problem—he dispelled it effortlessly.

After securing the Elixir, Xiao Yan looked toward Xiao Yixian, who stood quietly watching him; in one step, he stood before her.

Seeing the stains and sweat on Xiao Yan's body, Xiao Yixian gently wiped him with her sleeve and smiled: "Your success rate for refining Nine-Treasure Pills is already very high."

At Xiao Dan Ta, Xiao Yan's success rate for Nine-Treasure Pills already exceeded fifty percent; now, thanks to the evolution of the Burning Scripture, his Fire Control Power had reached an unimaginable level—Imperial Grade—and his success rate for Nine-Treasure Pills could reach eighty to ninety percent; he had refined one Bodhi Restoration Pill in just half a month.

This speed, if made public, would be utterly shocking.

"I think my success rate for refining Nine Grade Profound Pills is now no lower than thirty percent," Xiao Yan said with a confident smile—this was even him being modest.

Generally, a thirty percent success rate was enough to call oneself a true Nine Grade Profound Alchemist.

"Then aren't you now the First Alchemist on the Dou Qi Continent?" Xiao Yixian teased.

Looking at Xiao Yixian, with her playful little smirk, Xiao Yan's eyes softened with relief; he smiled: "Then tell me, how much of the Alchemy I, the First Alchemist, have taught you, can you actually learn?"

Xiao Yan tilted his head, glancing from outside the door into the cabin—he had noticed Xiao Yixian subtly blocking his view, preventing him from seeing inside.

Seeing Xiao Yan tilt his head, Xiao Yixian quickly blocked him with her body, alarmed: "I'm learning!"

As expected, Xiao Yixian's Elixir had failed—and it was only the most basic Five-Grade Healing Pill!

Seeing the mess inside, Xiao Yan couldn't help but laugh and sigh. Xiao Yixian was the worst Alchemist he'd ever taught—or rather, she had no Alchemist talent at all; she was just an ordinary Alchemist clinging to the dream of becoming one.

Compared to him, even Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and Yue Er had far greater Alchemist talent.

Xiao Yixian was merely at the level of an ordinary person.

She was truly ordinary, the complete opposite of Xiao Yan, whose talent was maximized.

Seeing Xiao Yan witness her failed alchemy, Xiao Yixian's face flushed slightly; she pressed both hands against his chest and pushed him away: "Go outside! Give me some time—I'll definitely succeed!"

Xiao Yan laughed heartily, then swept Xiao Yixian into his arms and said, "Of course, pill alchemy is best learned with a teacher—come, I'll teach you step by step."

Immediately, Xiao Yan strode toward the small wooden hut.

Xiao Yixian's body warmed, and she struggled slightly, saying, "No need—I can learn slowly on my own. Let me go, Xiao Yan."

"Call me husband. No—call me Master."

Thud—the wooden door of the hut slammed shut. Then the two Dan Beasts, equally sensible, exhaled thick Medicinal Mist that enveloped the entire Zao Hua Gu, as if hiding it in another world.

Xiao Yan did not stay long in Zao Hua Gu; after completing the Elixir, he left Jia Ma Empire a week later. The remaining time he spent in Shou Yu, waiting for news and helping Nalan Yanran strengthen her Cultivation Realm.

Having multiple Dou Saints is at least more combat power; when facing the combined forces of the Three Great Dragon Islands and the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, no one can predict what might happen.

Time slipped by swiftly—three months had passed. During these three months, the Yan Alliance underwent a transformation as drastic as rebirth, but Xiao Yan did not interfere; he was not skilled in management and entrusted all affairs entirely to Yao Ye, Ya Fei, Xiao Ding, and others.

After helping Nalan Yanran ascend to Dou Sheng, Xiao Yan gained some free time.

Although the Burning Scripture had evolved to Emperor Rank, Xiao Yan's own Rank had not improved; his strength remained firmly at Five-Star Dou Saint Peak. To break through to Six-Star by absorbing Heavenly Energy through the Burning Scripture would likely take years—even a decade.

One can imagine how difficult it is to break through an Emperor Rank Cultivation Method; for ordinary people relying solely on Cultivation, how much time would it take to achieve such a breakthrough?

While waiting thus, Xiao Yan never imagined that instead of news from the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan or the Three Great Dragon Islands, he received word from someone he never expected.

Yan Clan—Huo Zhi.

Watching Huo Zhi emerge from Space and stand outside Huang Quan Shan Mai, Qing Lin also appeared from Space; her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly. She had assumed Yan Clan had launched an attack, but the visitor was only Huo Zhi alone.

In the Demon Fire Space, Cai Lin and others had seen Huo Zhi before. Though she had worn a veil and concealed her perception with Demonic Fire, her eyes—like cold stars—were brilliantly bright, as if illuminating the night sky, filled with wisdom. She appeared efficient and possessed a unique aura that made one's eyes light up at the sight.

"Has he returned yet?" Huo Zhi spoke slowly, her voice clear and melodious.

For a moment, Qing Lin fell silent. Their relationship with Yan Clan was not good—but not to the point of mortal enmity. After all, in the Demon Fire Space, all had been enemies; no one gave way, and interference was only natural.

Moreover, in the end, it was Xiao Yan who benefited—he stole another Demonic Fire. Thus, the relationship remained delicate.

"I'm sorry, Miss Huo Zhi, I don't know what you mean. Please return." Qing Lin shook her head slowly.

"I have matters to discuss with him. I humbly ask Princess Qing Lin to deliver my message." Though Huo Zhi held high status in Yan Clan and was among the strongest of her generation, she had no grounds for pride before Qing Lin.

Not only had Qing Lin's Cultivation Realm surpassed hers, reaching One-Star Dou Sheng Late-Stage, but Qing Lin also commanded three Dou Saint summoning beasts—one of which was a Two-Star Dou Sheng Late-Stage Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake. Such power was formidable even among Dou Emperor Families.

Moreover, Qing Lin possessed the Qi San Hua Tong. She was even younger than Xiao Yan—her talent was simply terrifying!

But this time, she was not here to cause trouble; she had come to find Xiao Yan.

Undoubtedly, Huo Zhi had already guessed that Xiao Yan had long since returned, but the Yan Alliance and Gu Clan had concealed the news.

"Let her in." Deep within Huang Quan Shan Mai, in the imperial palace's rear garden, Xiao Yan sent a voice transmission to Qing Lin.

Hearing Xiao Yan's voice, Qing Lin nodded gently and said to Huo Zhi, "Miss Huo Zhi, please follow me—my Young Master requests your presence."

Upon hearing Qing Lin's words, Huo Zhi exhaled slowly, nodded, and followed Qing Lin into Huang Quan Shan Mai. Both were Dou Saints; with a single step, they arrived at the rear garden of the Snake Empire's Imperial Palace.

When Huo Zhi arrived and saw that familiar figure, her eyes narrowed. Though she had guessed Xiao Yan had emerged from the Demon Fire Space, seeing him return unharmed, safe and sound, from that hellish realm, filled her with profound astonishment.

(End of Chapter)