Chapter 833: A Pack of Wolves Surround

The Hollow Array Emperor was the first to arrive on Ning Tian Continent, revealing his true form, and he would not be the last Earth Supreme, nor the only one watching Xiao Yan—right now, in the Great Thousand World, countless powerful figures and reclusive elders had already set their sights on Xiao Yan, even on the Dou Qi Continent.

Although Xiao Yan was an Alchemist who had refined a High Grade Divine Pill, Alchemists rely on connections; Xiao Yan had almost no influence in the Great Thousand World, and had made many enemies instead.

Even some powerhouses who needed Alchemists might not arrive in time to rescue Xiao Yan; to speak bluntly, some would barely restrain themselves from stabbing Xiao Yan in the back during his peril.

As the saying goes, treasures stir the heart—Xiao Yan is no longer the penniless man who came from the Dou Qi Continent two years ago; his current reserves are astonishing, who wouldn't be tempted?

A soft crack sounded—shortly after the Hollow Array Emperor arrived, the ground of Ning Tian Continent emitted a faint noise, like dry earth cracking, as if something were taking root and sprouting from within the soil.

Though the sound was not loud, every single person heard it clearly.

And indeed, it was the sound of a seed sprouting: from around the Ning Tian Zhu Bamboo, within Wan Zhu Lin, a tender green vine suddenly grew—this vine, like a morning glory, rapidly extended and, parasitic in nature, sent out tendrils to root into every part of the Zhu Bamboo, tightly coiling around it.

This giant morning glory grew swiftly, yet as it grew, it drew countless gazes, for its growth pulsed with rhythm, filling all who watched with serenity and longing.

At that moment, a young man emerged from within the giant morning glory—he wore a robe of emerald green, embroidered with a green character: "Wood."

Xiao Yan recognized the emblem immediately—it was none other than the Wood Spirit Tribe's crest.

"Is that Mu Baiteng of the Wood Spirit Tribe?" As the young man appeared atop the vines, other factions watching through Spirit Arrays let out exclamations.

"Mu Baiteng? The Hundred Vines Medicine King! The Hundred Vines Medicine King of the Ancient Ten Thousand Grasslands!" Hearing the name, many hearts trembled—even hidden powerful figures within the shadows felt a chill; this was an Alchemist from the Ancient Ten Thousand Grasslands!

"Someone from the Ancient Ten Thousand Grasslands has arrived!" Even the Young Generation could not hide their shock; suddenly, many on Ning Tian Continent grew uneasy, for none knew whether the Hundred Vines Medicine King had come to aid Xiao Yan—or to covet his treasure.

Xiao Yan's conflict with the Five Spirit Clans had spread far and wide; many knew that the Flame Sovereign who had seized the greatest harvest from the Five Elements Immortal Soil and clashed with the Five Spirit Clans was none other than Soul Palace Xiao Yan!

Mu Baiteng was renowned throughout the Great Thousand World, for his Pill Alchemy was the pinnacle among the Five Spirit Clans—far beyond Cao Zi's skill—and many powerhouses had sought him to refine Pills.

The Hundred Vines Medicine King was not only a member of the Five Spirit Clans, but also an Elder of the Ancient Ten Thousand Grasslands.

The Angry Mountain Medicine Saint was likewise an Elder of the Ancient Ten Thousand Grasslands, and even blood brothers with Yan Nutian, one of the Three Great Medicine Grandmasters.

Thus, no one could yet discern Mu Baiteng's true intent.

"I heard Mu Baiteng became a Sage through a Divine Plant—born with innate talent for Pill Alchemy," someone murmured.

"Mu Baiteng, why have you abandoned your Pill Alchemy studies and come here?" The Angry Mountain Medicine Saint narrowed his eyes slightly and asked in a low tone.

The Angry Mountain Medicine Saint held high status; both his cultivation and Pill Alchemy surpassed Mu Baiteng's.

"Mu Baiteng bows to Elder Angry Mountain," Mu Baiteng bowed deeply before Yan Nutian, respectfully saying: "I have come with several friends to conduct a transaction with Soul Palace Flame Sovereign."

Mu Baiteng's words sent a chill through many hearts—those called "friends" by Mu Baiteng could not be ordinary figures; Mu Baiteng was a Pill Alchemy Master capable of refining Middle Grade Divine Pills—his associates must be no less formidable.

Mu Baiteng was not alone; as an Alchemist, he commanded considerable power—clearly he had rallied allies.

Hearing Mu Baiteng's words, the Angry Mountain Medicine Saint's expression darkened. Though he held higher rank within the Ancient Ten Thousand Grasslands, Mu Baiteng was young, extraordinarily gifted, and most importantly—his identity mattered.

Mu Baiteng's Pill Alchemy master was one of the Pill Alchemy Grandmasters of the Ancient Ten Thousand Grasslands; his presence here proved that a Grandmaster had approved his actions.

Even if that Grandmaster did not appear or intervene, his mere association carried immense deterrent force—dare anyone refuse him face?

"Oh? I do not know you. What transaction do you propose?"

From within the crater where the Heavenly Tomb had fallen, the Shielding Spirit Array dissolved, revealing the vast black hall; Xiao Yan slowly stepped out from the first Soul Palace of the Great Thousand World, smiled faintly, looked up at Mu Baiteng, and asked.

"We heard Soul Palace Flame Sovereign obtained a peerless Secret Treasure from the Five Elements Spirit Soil—this treasure belongs to the Five Elements Spirit Soil. My friends and I do not seek greed; we only wish for this one Secret Treasure."

Mu Baiteng gazed toward the Soul Palace and smiled: "Of course, we will not take it without compensation—hand over the Secret Treasure, and in times of peril, we shall lend you our aid. What do you say, Flame Sovereign?"

The Veil of the Realm!

The Five Spirit Clans did not know the Veil of the Realm had been absorbed by Tian Xieshen's Saint Pupil—they believed Xiao Yan still possessed it!

Even the Ice Spirit Clan had sent their Ice Spirit Ancestor, yet Xiao Yan escaped; now, instead of returning, they sent a Wood Spirit Medicine King, clearly hoping to profit from his weakness.

Though Mu Baiteng's strength paled beside the Ice Spirit Ancestor, his behind-the-scenes Pill Alchemy Grandmaster was vastly more powerful—a single Grandmaster could summon multiple Heaven Supremes, enough to obliterate the entire Ice Spirit Clan!

The Wood, Thunder, and Wind Spirit Clans were weak, yet they had their own means of survival—otherwise, they would have been swallowed long ago by the Ice and Fire Spirit Clans.

Upon hearing Mu Baiteng's words, all present felt a chill—some recoiled at the realization: Mu Baiteng was forcing a transaction, exploiting Xiao Yan's vulnerability, seizing opportunity in chaos!

"Is the rumor true? Has Flame Sovereign truly seized the Veil of the Realm born from the Five Elements Spirit Soil?"

The Secret Treasure Mu Baiteng mentioned caused hidden powerhouses to exchange glances, their eyes brimming with greed.

Rumors had long circulated that Xiao Yan had obtained a Veil of the Realm—but since he remained only a High Earth Supreme, he could not yet refine it.

Others claimed Xiao Yan had never obtained it at all—that the Veil of the Realm was a Demonic Fetus, destroyed by the will of the Five Elements Spirit Soil, reduced to ashes; Flame Sovereign had never possessed it.

Opinions were divided—but now that Mu Baiteng had appeared and openly proposed a transaction, all tacitly accepted: Xiao Yan must have obtained the Veil of the Realm from the Five Elements Spirit Soil.

"Gah! No wonder—so it's the Veil of the Realm! Flame Sovereign truly carries treasures beyond measure!" Someone watching from the heavens drew a sharp breath, eyes gleaming with fascination.

Xiao Yan possessed too many treasures—each one stirred the hearts of Earth Supremes and even Heaven Supremes.

"I fear your information is mistaken—I never obtained such a thing as a Veil of the Realm from the Five Elements Spirit Soil," Xiao Yan glanced at him and flatly denied it.

And indeed, it was true—he had no Veil of the Realm; it had fused with his Saint Pupil, and he could not extract it even if he tried.

Mu Baiteng smiled: "Brother Flame, we are men of clarity—I won't speak hollow words. At our level, secrets cannot be hidden. Since I've come, the information is certain. Whether you give it or not—that's your word alone."

Mu Baiteng pressed again; all eyes turned to Xiao Yan, wondering how the Flame Sovereign—who had dared defy the Five Spirit Clans—would respond.

Xiao Yan's lips curled coldly: "Even if I did possess such a thing, I would not trade it with you. Leave now, and you may yet save your life."

Xiao Yan's blunt refusal left many speculating: Was Flame Sovereign truly confident enough to withstand this siege—or was he simply unyielding, unwilling to surrender the Veil of the Realm?

"Brother Flame, since my friends and I have come, we will not depart empty-handed," Mu Baiteng said calmly. "If you refuse this transaction and believe you can stand against the Great Thousand World's powerhouses, then we shall take it by force. Should we offend you, we beg your pardon—and yours, Elder Angry Mountain."

Though Mu Baiteng spoke politely, his tone was unyielding—he showed no deference to Xiao Yan, nor even to the Angry Mountain Medicine Saint; after all, he was not alone, and the Hollow Array Emperor was merely the vanguard.

First came the Hollow Array Emperor, now the Ancient Ten Thousand Grasslands' Mu Baiteng—suddenly, Ning Tian Continent was surrounded by a pack of wolves; one misstep, and it might be shattered entirely.

"So, a bandits' gathering?" At that moment, a coarse voice, laced with cold mockery, rang out—a man stepped slowly from the endless heavens, each step leaving an imprint, his expression serene, as if utterly indifferent to the Hollow Array Emperor and Mu Baiteng.

Seeing the man, the Hollow Array Emperor and Mu Baiteng both frowned.

The man wore a golden-threaded yellow robe, embroidered with a colossal dragon; though he emitted no divine aura, his gaze carried supreme arrogance, as if swallowing mountains and rivers—his eyes were unwavering, commanding without anger, making others dare not meet them; many who met his gaze instinctively looked away, trembling with fear.

"All of you gaze upon a man from a Lower Plane, coveting his treasures—how disgraceful for the Great Thousand World." The man appeared before the Soul Palace in a blink.

"North Heaven Dragon Emperor! Kuang—it's the North Heaven Dragon Emperor! The Dragon Clan has intervened to aid Flame Sovereign!?"

"Flame Sovereign has ties to the Dragon Clan!" Seeing the North Heaven Dragon Emperor appear, some on Ning Tian Continent cried out in shock; many cultivators grew wildly excited.

As Xiao Yan faced peril, surrounded by wolves, a Dragon Emperor of the Dragon Clan had arrived to aid him.

You should know that Xiao Yan's coming from a Lower Plane is no longer any secret — a little digging and anyone can find out. Otherwise, with Xiao Yan's level of strength, he would have long since made his name across the Great Thousand World.

And the North Domain Dragon Emperor and Zhu Kun have now been gone for almost half a year.

As for the North Domain Dragon Emperor's arrival, Xiao Yan was somewhat surprised as well, and asked, "How is Old Zhu?"

The North Domain Dragon Emperor smiled and nodded, saying, "Brother Zhu Kun is doing very well. Not long ago, Brother Zhu Kun activated one of the Dragon Clan's Ancestral Inheritance Sites of the Candle Dragon Tribe. If he can inherit that ancient legacy, his Bloodline will be able to advance further. Before he entered the Ruins, the Dragon Clan received word that someone meant you harm, but Brother Zhu Kun couldn't spare himself, so I came in Brother Zhu Kun's place to provide support."

Hearing that Zhu Kun was not only safe and sound but had also obtained the inheritance of an ancient Ruins, Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel relieved and was happy for him.

The North Domain Dragon Emperor's arrival to the rescue immediately lifted the morale of every major-domain Cultivator on Ning Tian Continent. It wasn't that everyone was only coveting Xiao Yan's Treasures — Xiao Yan did still have some friends in the Great Thousand World.

The North Domain Dragon Emperor stepped into Soul Palace's spatial range, turned around, and said with a smile, "Since you've all come, why don't you dare to show yourselves? As overlords of a region, as rulers of a continent, whether it's Robbery or murder, do it openly and aboveboard — don't be like the evil races of the Domain Beyond, sullying your own reputations."

Many people secretly nodded at the North Domain Dragon Emperor's words.

The Great Thousand World, like Dou Qi Continent, is one where the strong are honored and the weak are prey. Although such acts are contemptible, in truth, in the hearts of most Cultivators, if they encountered such a situation, they too would go and claim a share, they too would go and seize.

This is a perfectly normal thing — which Cultivator, on their path here, has never robbed another? Xiao Yan himself once robbed Cai Lin and Hai Bodong.

Boom boom boom!!! Just at this moment, the firmament was forcibly pierced through, and in an instant, three shadows appeared in the Sky above Ning Tian Continent. As those three shadows appeared, three banners streamed behind them.

Behind them, the phantom images of a mass of purple clouds, a great mountain, and a golden eagle rose and fell. Within each phantom image sat a powerful figure like a deity, their might overwhelming — as if this were a world of the strong.

"Purple Cloud Sect, Thunder Sound Mountain, Golden Eagle Manor! The three great overlords of Tian Luo Da Lu's North Domain!" Seeing those Three Faces of banners, someone shrieked.

"Forces from Tian Luo Da Lu! These three great Factions all seem to have super Factions backing them!" Hearing those three names, no one knew how many people turned pale with shock, drew in a cold breath, and said, "Three Heavenly Supremes have come!"