Chapter 725: Fire Cloud Water Flame

Seeing this expression on his adoptive father's face, the Little Lion King immediately clamped his mouth shut—his big mouth really did look like a lion's.

Deep within the Mo Shou Shan Mai lies a lake formed by a waterfall; inside the waterfall is a Cave. The lake's surroundings are a Forbidden Land of the Mo Shou Shan Mai—unlike Zao Hua Gu, this place has no Barrier protecting it, no thick mist like Zao Hua Gu's, and is not deeply hidden.

Yet even the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King would not approach this place, and had issued a death sentence forbidding any beast from coming near.

Even a sage emperor cannot resolve family matters. Since Xiao Yan became Emperor, Nalan Yanran's body developed a sub-flame of Fire Cloud Water Flame, and Nalan Yanran has consistently used seclusion and quests for resources as excuses to deliberately avoid Xiao Yan.

With Xiao Yan's power, finding Nalan Yanran was easy—but if she deliberately avoided him, finding her was useless.

Xiao Yixian looked at Xiao Yan and silently poured him a cup of hot flower tea. Xiao Yixian had also heard of Nalan Yanran from the Little Lion King—after parting from her, Xiao Yan had entered the depths of the Mo Shou Shan Mai to train, and just happened to encounter the old Lion King and Nalan Yanran both severely wounded; Nalan Yanran was saved by Xiao Yan's intervention.

During Nalan Yanran's recovery, the two were alone together in the Cave, and it was only natural for something to happen.

Especially since Xiao Yan was still young then, and Nalan Yanran was breathtakingly beautiful—a lone man and a lone woman sharing a room, jointly pursued and cornered by the powerful Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, enduring hardship together—it was perfectly normal for Xiao Yan to harbor ripples in his heart.

Had the Ten Thousand Beasts Spirit Flame been more than just a spark back then—had it been the source—Nalan Yanran likely would have had a child by now.

"Go see her," Xiao Yixian's beautiful eyes fixed on Xiao Yan, a serene smile on her face.

"Xiao Yixian," Xiao Yan's eyes widened in surprise.

Xiao Yixian gave Xiao Yan a playful, teasing glance and said, "You're a Sage Emperor—how can you act like this? Where's your dignity as a Sage Emperor?"

Hearing Xiao Yixian's words, Xiao Yan's eyes flickered with clarity; he exhaled deeply, his gaze turning resolute as he nodded firmly and said, "I've been stuck in the mire—I forgot my essence."

In the Mo Shou Shan Mai lies a mysterious place where no beast may enter, a true life-forbidden zone. There is a beautiful waterfall there, cascading from above into the lake below, producing a deafening roar.

Around the waterfall is a dense forest; sunlight filters through gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the water's surface. Inside the waterfall is a Cave—its entrance is small, but within lies another world. The Cave is deep and dark, the water echoing within with a gentle babble.

The waterfall and the Cave form a natural rock cavern landscape, evoking a sense of mystery and beauty. Standing beside the waterfall, you hear the rush of water, birdsong, and stream murmurs, feeling the wonder and power of nature.

The Cave was not entirely natural—its walls bear marks of massive impacts, and some glowstones illuminate the interior, though these glowstones have lost their power. There is also a stone bed, clearly indicating past habitation.

Strangely, the entire Cave is unusually clean, as if recently swept.

"It's been a long time, Nalan Yanran."

At that moment, a familiar voice came from outside the Cave. Xiao Yan gazed at the slender figure inside the Cave replacing the glowstones—wearing a white robe, mature and alluring; even from her back, one could tell she was a noblewoman, her long, sleek black hair cascading down her shoulders, ethereal and tranquil.

Hearing Xiao Yan's voice, Nalan Yanran trembled, refusing to turn around.

Sensing Nalan Yanran's flustered state, Xiao Yan smiled and teased, "What's wrong, Sect Master? After avoiding me for so long, are you too ashamed to face me?"

Xiao Yan's preemptive accusation left Nalan Yanran momentarily speechless; she helplessly turned around, glaring at his mischievous grin, her anger rising.

"I haven't been avoiding you—I was just in seclusion."

As Nalan Yanran turned, it seemed as if every glowstone in the Cave blazed with its brightest light—she wore a pure white robe like sacred snow, a small yellow flower adorning her chest—the emblem of the Flower Sect—her entire presence exuded elegance and maturity.

Nalan Yanran had not changed since their meeting twenty years ago—she looked nearly thirty, her grace unmistakable, her mature and noble aura laid bare. She carried a unique air of maturity, making one feel she was already a wife, radiating maternal warmth, gentle and soothing.

Yet within this mature charm lay a youthful freshness—after all, Nalan Yanran was still a Huang Hua Gu Niang, untouched by love; her experiences and personality had forged this aura.

This blend of qualities on her person was perfectly exquisite, evoking beauty and uniqueness.

Like a married woman, her bearing stirred the heartstrings. Her robes clung to her figure—not tight, yet revealing every curve, beautiful and captivating.

Nalan Yanran's mature charm recalled a perfectly ripe peach—neither overripe nor unripe, its pink hue revealing glistening, luminous juice within.

Seeing her made one instinctively want to pluck and taste it, to savor its flavor.

The two locked eyes for a moment; Nalan Yanran broke gaze first, unable to meet Xiao Yan's—she felt guilty, for she had deliberately avoided him, fearing Nalan Yanran might be hurt because of her.

Nalan Yanran had no parents; after Yun Shan's death, Nalan Yanran was her only relative. Nalan Yanran treated Nalan Yanran as her own daughter—how could she, then, allow herself to…

This triangle relationship is too messy!

"I—I have Sect matters to attend to. I must go." Nalan Yanran dared not look at Xiao Yan; she feared too—here, in this place meaningful to both of them, something might happen.

Space tore open—Nalan Yanran's Sage Emperor power could rip space effortlessly. But Xiao Yan flicked his finger, and the Space Channel shattered instantly; before Nalan Yanran could even cry out, a large hand seized her slender waist with irresistible force.

Xiao Yan pulled Nalan Yanran into his arms in an instant.

"Yao Xiao Yan—wuh?!" Before Nalan Yanran could speak, Xiao Yan crushed her lips with a possessive kiss.

!!?

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"You!" Too stunned to react, Nalan Yanran bit her Red Lips, shooting Xiao Yan a furious glare, then immediately summoned her Battle Qi to suppress the heat surging within—her Sage Emperor power made this a trivial matter.

But she forgot—this man before her was a Sage Emperor!

Xiao Yan waved his hand, and a white mist enveloped the entire Cave—this mist, like steam, carried extreme Infernal Heat, with strands of white flame burning within. This was Fire Cloud Water Flame—a unique Spiritual Flame with three forms and attributes: water, cloud, and fire.

A Clan Mark flashed on Nalan Yanran's forehead; her Battle Qi ignited, further purifying her internal energy. Normally, this would be a once-in-a-millennium opportunity for any cultivator—but now, for Nalan Yanran, it was disastrous.

Nalan Yanran's delicate brows furrowed—her Battle Qi had become uncontrollable, and the sub-flame of Fire Cloud Water Flame within her made her blood boil, her body burning with unbearable heat.

Suddenly, a large hand seized her scorching Jade Hand—Nalan Yanran shuddered, struggling to pull away, but it was impossible.

"Hehehe, Sect Master, wise of you to submit quickly. You wouldn't want your Yun Lan Sect and Flower Sect… or your precious disciple…" Xiao Yan perfectly embodied the villain's essence—truly worthy of being the Soul Sect's Lord!

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(End of Chapter)