Chapter 691: Xiao Yan

"Hm?"

Gu Yuan and the others naturally did not know, because before Xuwu Heavenly Eye used the Divine Spell of Soul Refining to betray Hun Tian Di, all of it had occurred inside the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Cave Mansion—how could outsiders possibly know?

Only the Soul Sovereign, Xiao Yan, Xuwu Heavenly Eye, and Zhu Kun knew what had happened.

Now that silence had settled, Hun Tian Di and the other Soul Sovereign elders also revealed expressions of confusion; only after Xiao Yan spoke did they remember.

Xuwu Heavenly Eye and the Pure Lotus Demon Flame had escaped only because the Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill had helped them, and the Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill had made some agreement with Xuwu Heavenly Eye and the Pure Lotus Demon Flame.

But Xuwu Heavenly Eye and the Pure Lotus Demon Flame seemed to have forgotten this!

If the Pure Lotus Demon Flame had forgotten, that might be understandable—after all, its memories had been purged by the Pure Lotus Demon Saint. But Xuwu Heavenly Eye had no such excuse—he remembered clearly, even the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's inheritance!

Yet precisely, he had forgotten the agreement with the Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill.

And at that time, the Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill's expression had been extremely grim, as if it had realized something.

And most importantly, the Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill had been deeply astonished that Xuwu Heavenly Eye knew the Divine Spell of Soul Refining!

"Tuoshe Ancient Emperor..." Zhu Kun murmured, then his expression darkened as he stared at the massive statue.

At this moment, he suddenly felt as if a giant hand had seized him; when he looked again at the massive statue, a chilling sensation arose—as if he were being watched.

The Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill now turned its head to gaze at the distant giant statue, its voice tinged with gloom: "Because... I only now realize that it was not I who helped Xuwu Heavenly Eye and the Pure Lotus Demon Flame find the cave's breach and send them away."

"It was Tuoshe Ancient Emperor who deliberately let them go!"

"All of this was designed by Tuoshe Ancient Emperor! Even your knowledge of the Divine Spell of Soul Refining was arranged by him!"

!!!

Upon hearing the Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill's words, Xuwu Heavenly Eye's expression also turned grim. At this point, he himself felt a growing sense of strangeness—each of his steps had felt as if deliberately guided toward a certain direction.

Now, Xuwu Heavenly Eye stared darkly at the massive statue; if the Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill spoke truth, then all his millennia-long schemes had been entirely within Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's calculations! He had never escaped Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's palm!

Even his search for powerful allies and his theft of the inheritance—had that all been foreseen?

Originally, thousands of years ago, after escaping from the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Cave Mansion, Xuwu Heavenly Eye and the Pure Lotus Demon Flame had gone their separate ways, each seeking a highly talented powerhouse to gather the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, intending to re-enter the cave mansion to seize the Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill and claim the inheritance.

But for some unknown reason, the Pure Lotus Demon Saint had clashed with the Pure Lotus Demon Flame.

"Could Tuoshe Ancient Emperor still be alive?!"

No one knew who spoke these words, but the moment they were uttered, the atmosphere of the entire space turned eerie.

Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's disappearance had merely been their speculation—perhaps he had never died at all, and had been controlling everything on the Dou Qi Continent all along!

"No, Tuoshe Ancient Emperor is dead—at least, he is no longer on the Dou Qi Continent." Xuwu Heavenly Eye rejected this theory; both he and the Pure Lotus Demon Flame had once been refined by Tuoshe Ancient Emperor. Had Tuoshe Ancient Emperor not vanished completely, they could never have escaped from the Heavenly Flame Square—it had been their prison.

For a moment, the entire Guang Chang fell into deathly silence. Since everyone learned that Tuoshe Ancient Emperor still possessed an Emperor Inheritance, everything had changed. The Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill was no longer the most precious—Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's inheritance could still grant one the path to Emperorhood, even allowing one to inherit all of Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's legacy!

Only the Pure Lotus Demon Flame and Xuwu Heavenly Eye could open this inheritance. Though no one knew how to obtain it, it was not hard to guess: only Xiao Yan, who had fully refined the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, possessed the qualification.

Even Hun Tian Di had not refined Xuwu Heavenly Eye; among those present, Xiao Yan was the only one who had.

Moreover, Xiao Yan had cultivated the same Cultivation Method as Tuoshe Ancient Emperor and possessed Heavenly Flames—was this coincidence, or design?

But whether coincidence or design, this time, Xiao Yan had broken free from his original path.

"Hun Tian Di," Xiao Yan said, staring directly at Hun Tian Di.

Behind Xiao Yan now stood a full contingent: Gu Yuan and Zhu Kun, the two Nine Star Peak Dou Saints, plus the three Dou Emperor Families and the Yan Alliance—even without Xuwu Heavenly Eye's overt strength, Xiao Yan held the advantage.

From afar, the two sides resembled opposing armies, with the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor statue as the dividing line: Xiao Yan versus the Soul Realm!

"Protect my Spirit Refining. When it is complete, I will use the Source Qi from Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's inheritance to forge for you an Emperor-Breaking Pill."

Upon hearing this, Hun Tian Di's eyelids twitched involuntarily. Xiao Yan's meaning was clear: he would not give him the Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill—but in exchange, after Xiao Yan broke through to Emperor, he would help Hun Tian Di break through as well!

The Emperor-Breaking Pill, an ancient Elixir, had vanished—like the Break-Sect Pill and the Bodhi Pill, it increased the chance of breaking through to Emperor by two-tenths, and was a quasi-Imperial Grade Pill.

But such a Pill could no longer be refined, for the Emperor-Breaking Pill also required Source Qi.

Before this, Hun Tian Di would have scoffed—but now he knew: one portion of Source Qi still remained. Yet he likely had no qualification to claim it.

Undoubtedly, the Emperor-Breaking Pill was inferior to an Imperial Grade Pill—but with Zhu Kun's appearance, the balance had already been shattered.

At this moment, Gu Yuan and Zhu Kun exchanged glances: Xiao Yan was not merely seeking to quell the conflict and protect his family from the brutality of war—he was also protecting himself!

Xiao Yan refining the Imperial Grade Pill was his most vulnerable moment—who could guarantee someone wouldn't strike from behind?

Even if Hun Tian Di abandoned his claim, an Imperial Grade Pill—could anyone present resist the temptation once it was complete?

Could Gu Yuan? Could Zhu Kun? Even if they did not compete, as Xiao Yan had once told Gu Qingyang: if your own clan members urged you to seize the Imperial Grade Pill and become Emperor, what would you do when the yellow robe was placed upon you?

Remember: Yao Chen was assassinated by his own one and only disciple.

The gentleman does not stand beneath a crumbling wall. If Xiao Yan did not guard against this, he would be truly foolish.

Undoubtedly, the only person present capable of serving as Xiao Yan's bodyguard was Hun Tian Di.

If Hun Tian Di stood by Xiao Yan's side, it would be safest—then even if the Gu Clan or the Ancient Dragon Clan disregarded Xun Er and Zi Yan and sought to become Emperor at all costs, Hun Tian Di, who had made a Pill transaction with Xiao Yan, would intervene.

Upon hearing Xiao Yan's proposal to trade with Hun Tian Di, Cai Lin, Yao Lao, and others immediately wore expressions of peculiar amusement.

Long ago, Xiao Yan had used this same old trick of Spirit Refining to get them to help!

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King and Hai Lao were the ones with the most authority to speak.

"Hehehe! Emperor-Breaking Pill—what a fine promise of an Emperor-Breaking Pill. I, Hun Tian Di, have lived a thousand years, and never has an Alchemist had the qualification to use Pills to buy my assistance." Hun Tian Di suddenly burst into laughter; as Clan Leader of the Soul Sovereign, he had never needed to beg for any Pill.

Others had to pay a great price to persuade an Alchemist to refine a Pill—he did not. The Pills he needed were beyond any Alchemist's ability to refine.

And Xiao Yan was the first who could refine the Pills he required.

Hun Tian Di stared at Xiao Yan before him, pondered for a moment, then extended his hand: "A pleasant cooperation."

"A pleasant cooperation."

For a moment, all present exchanged bewildered glances.

"Is it... already settled?"

"Not yet."

Xiao Yan held the Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill, now reverted to its Pill form, and walked toward Xuwu Heavenly Eye. Seeing Xiao Yan approach, Xuwu Heavenly Eye asked grimly: "You could have gone directly to inherit Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's inheritance—why go through all this trouble?"

This was what Xuwu Heavenly Eye could not understand: even if Hun Tian Di took the Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill, Xiao Yan could still use the Pure Lotus Demon Flame to open the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor statue and enter to claim the inheritance directly.

Hun Tian Di could never inherit Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's inheritance; Hun Tian Di lacks the qualification to inherit Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's legacy.

Even if Hun Tian Di becomes a Dou Emperor, Xiao Yan, who possesses the complete Tuoshe Ancient Emperor inheritance, can still become a Dou Emperor—and even surpass Hun Tian Di!

He didn't understand why Xiao Yan would do this!

Xiao Yan smiled with hidden meaning, gazing at the Tu She Gu Di Statue, and said: "You should ask him. Why go through all this trouble—Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill, Emperor Inheritance, deliberately leaving behind the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, using the Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill to let you and Pure Lotus Demon Fire escape, so you could find people to gather the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade and return again?"

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Wu Xu Heavenly Eye's expression turned extremely grave. Yes—why did Tuoshe Ancient Emperor do all this?

"And most importantly, Tuoshe Ancient Emperor was the number one Strange Fire on the Strange Fire Ranking, once swallowing you and Pure Lotus Demon Fire to fuse into Emperor Flame. Then why, after he vanished, are you and Pure Lotus Demon Fire still here?"

!? Wu Xu Heavenly Eye was instantly stunned.

Xiao Yan smiled, patted Wu Xu Heavenly Eye on the shoulder, and said: "According to all ancient texts of the Dou Emperor Families, roughly fifty thousand years ago, all Dou Emperors vanished overnight, and Source Qi vanished on the same day—that's why the Dou Qi Continent has had no Dou Emperors since."

"Fifty thousand years ago, the strongest of the Dou Emperor Families nearly turned the entire Dou Qi Continent upside down, yet still found not a trace of Source Qi, unable to become a Dou Emperor. Over forty thousand years passed, then suddenly, thousands of years ago, Tuoshe Ancient Emperor appeared—and not only did he use one portion of Source Qi to break through to Dou Emperor, he left behind two extra portions in the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Cave Mansion. The peak experts like Huangquan Demon Saint searched for countless years without finding it—yet here, there are so many. Don't you find that suspicious?"

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In an instant, a chill surged from his spine to the crown of his head—because of their obsession with becoming a Dou Emperor, they had ignored many oddities!

Only Xiao Yan, who was not deeply obsessed with becoming a Dou Emperor, had seen through many things.

"Is this why you chose not to inherit Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's inheritance?" Wu Xu Heavenly Eye stared at Xiao Yan in shock. How much had this man truly seen?

"One of the reasons. Some things can only be known after the Elixir is refined." Xiao Yan said no more, leaving the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Cave Mansion with the Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill.

Xiao Yan did not hide his voice. When he voiced his doubts, every powerful figure present turned their grim gazes toward the Tu She Gu Di Statue.

Even Hun Tian Di, blinded by his obsession with becoming a Dou Emperor, had overlooked many things, fixated solely on becoming a Dou Emperor.

Much time had passed since the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Cave Mansion opened. During this period, Xiao Yan did nothing but enter seclusion to adjust his state, for he was about to transfer the Pill Spirit of the Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill out, then completely re-refine the Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill!

Although much had been accomplished, this Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill was not refined by Xiao Yan, and he didn't even have the Pill Formula. Though only the final step remained—to complete the Elixir—it was by no means an easy task.

During this time, Zhu Kun had moved the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Statue and the entire Plaza out of the cave mansion, but no matter how they studied it, they could not decipher even a fraction of its secrets—just as the Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill had said: without Pure Lotus Demon Fire and Wu Xu Heavenly Eye, no one could open it.

Time flew by; three months passed swiftly, and finally, on the hundredth day, Xiao Yan stepped out of his seclusion chamber.

The instant Xiao Yan appeared, every powerful figure on the Dou Qi Continent who knew of this event tore through Space and arrived.

Xiao Yan did not choose a location—he directly began refining the Elixir at Jia Nan Academy.

"Sister Ya Fei, are you ready?" Xiao Yan asked, looking at Ya Fei, who wore a qipao gown, her figure alluring and enchanting.

Ya Fei knew the importance of this matter and nodded seriously. "You once told me to expand the Miter Guild across the entire Dou Qi Continent, establishing medicinal herb gardens in every region. We have now collected every type of Medicinal Material on the Dou Qi Continent."

The incomplete Imperial Grade Pill Formula left by the Founder of Dan Tower required vast quantities of Medicinal Material.

Xiao Yan gently embraced Ya Fei and said softly: "You've worked hard, Sister Ya Fei."

Hearing Xiao Yan's gentle voice, Ya Fei's eyes turned slightly red. She smiled sweetly and said: "As long as I can help you, that's enough."

Slowly releasing Ya Fei, Xiao Yan knew this was no time for tender emotions.

"Brother Xiao Yan." Xun Er stepped forward with graceful steps, her right hand rising with Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame. With a gentle smile, their gazes met, and instantly their fingers intertwined as they embraced and kissed.

Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame flowed from her palm into Xiao Yan's body and was rapidly refined. At this moment, after fusing with Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, Xiao Yan's Swallowing Flame Technique showed signs of loosening!

Slowly pulling apart, Xun Er smiled brightly: "Brother Xiao Yan, you will surely succeed."

Xiao Yan smiled faintly and nodded firmly.

After Xun Er stepped back, Xiao Yixian gathered her courage and stepped forward, nervously tiptoeing, clumsily pushing the Poison Pill of Dark Spirit Poison Fire into Xiao Yan's mouth with her tongue, returning the Dark Spirit Poison Fire to him.

"I'm counting on you to cure my Eternal Calamity Poison," Xiao Yixian whispered, lips slightly parted, cheeks flushed.

After Xiao Yixian withdrew, a dominant Jade Hand reached out and gripped Xiao Yan's collar tightly.

(End of Chapter)