Chapter 844

At this moment, the excited Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran finally came to their senses, finding countless eyes fixed on them—immediately their cheeks flushed crimson, and they spat lightly before Xiao Yan pulled them into the Ancient Pavilion.

"That's His Majesty Xiao Yan—he's returned from beyond the heavens!" exclaimed an Elder of the Yun Lan Sect who had personally witnessed Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran's Three-Year Agreement.

"Heaven above, His Majesty Xiao Yan has returned! What level has his power reached now?"

"Ask me? Who am I to know? His Majesty Xiao Yan was already a Dou Emperor long ago, but I've heard Dou Emperors are divided into nine stars—I just don't know how many stars he's at now."

"Do you think His Majesty might have already surpassed the Dou Emperor realm?"

"That's unlikely—even for His Majesty Xiao Yan, breaking through one or two stars in such a short time would be impressive enough."

At this moment, an old woman spoke: "Don't you care what might happen when the Sect Master and former Sect Master follow His Majesty Xiao Yan into the Ancient Pavilion?"

"Cough, cough—let's not meddle in the Sect Master's and His Majesty's affairs."

Instantly, the high-ranking members of the Yun Lan Sect began munching on sunflower seeds and peanuts. Of course, they dared not speak openly about Xiao Yan's return, nor spread rumors—though Xiao Yan had returned openly, without concealment, he was still a Dou Emperor; who would dare gossip about his return?

Meanwhile, inside the Ancient Pavilion, Nalan Yanran and Yun Yun also snapped out of their shock at Xiao Yan's return.

Gugugugu! The Jing Ling Bai Hu, seeing Xiao Yan, excitedly stood on the table and chirped several times.

Xiao Yan walked over and sat at the wooden table, stroking the soft fur of the Jing Ling Bai Hu, then smiled at Nalan Yanran: "You've raised him well."

"Of course," Nalan Yanran's lips involuntarily curved upward as she sat across from Xiao Yan, gently caressing the Jing Ling Bai Hu's fur.

Beside them, Yun Yun smiled softly, stepped aside, and summoned the Fire Cloud Water Flame—light blue smoke curled gently as her slender hand moved like carved jade, placing tea utensils on the jade table: heating the pot, warming the cups, adding the tea—every motion flowed like water, seamless and effortless.

Soon, her delicate hand poured a cup of brewed Xianpin Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun tea and gently presented it before Xiao Yan—her movements tender, practiced, and utterly natural.

Xiao Yan lifted his eyelids slightly, glancing at Yun Yun—a beautiful, captivating woman, mature and elegant, like a ripe grape ready to be plucked and tasted.

Her gentle, lowered gaze resembled that of a newlywed bride.

Seeing her master serve tea, Nalan Yanran only then realized—she rose to mimic Yun Yun, but Xiao Yan stopped her: "No need to trouble yourself. Sit. You're good at killing—leave this to others."

Insulted by Xiao Yan's dismissal, Nalan Yanran shot him a glare and snorted: "Don't underestimate me—I can learn."

Yun Yun sat quietly and naturally, then asked: "Did you return to Wutan City? Xiao Dad is there."

"Mm, after returning, I visited Father—he's living quite comfortably in Wutan City." Xiao Yan hadn't gone straight to the Yun Lan Sect upon his return—he first returned to the Xiao Realm, since his children were there, then later visited his father in Wutan City.

Xun Er and Cai Lin remained in the Xiao Realm; Xiao Yixian returned to Zao Hua Gu to check on the cultivated spirit plants.

Yun Yun, far more sensible than Nalan Yanran, did not ask about Xun Er, Cai Lin, or Xiao Yixian—who had left the Dou Qi Continent with Xiao Yan; if Xiao Yan didn't mention them, she wouldn't inquire.

After all, the women deeply connected to Xiao Yan rarely lived together or saw each other often; though Xiao Yan possessed the Xiao Realm, most of the time they resided elsewhere.

Take Yun Yun herself—besides cultivation, she managed the Hua Sect, and occasionally visited Wutan City to see Xiao Zhan. Though the Xiao Realm held her quarters, she rarely went there when Xiao Yan was absent; Nalan Yanran was the same.

The main strategy was family ties.

"How long will you stay on the Dou Qi Continent this time?" Nalan Yanran asked, her large eyes fixed on Xiao Yan with concern.

Hearing Nalan Yanran's question, Yun Yun, seated quietly beside her, also grew attentive—both women's cultivation realms were still low, at the early stage of Dou Sage.

After all, two and a half years for ordinary cultivators meant only one or two meditation sessions—impossible to achieve dramatic advancement.

Even with the vast resources of the Yun Lan Sect and Hua Sect, the Dou Sage level was already extremely high on the Dou Qi Continent.

Xiao Yan looked at them both and smiled: "Don't worry—I now control several continents in the Great Thousand World, and one of them has a massive Teleportation Spirit Array built; even Dou Zun or Dou Zong can travel to the Great Thousand World without issue."

Xiao Yan had defeated the Xuan Shi Emperor—the Xuan Shi Palace was a true Supreme-level super-faction—and he discovered numerous Flying Sacred Artifacts; with these, even an ordinary person could ride a Sacred Artifact through Xun Er's Teleportation Spirit Array to reach Ning Tian Continent.

No need to risk traversing the cosmos of the Great Thousand World.

Hearing this, Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran were stunned—controlled several continents?? They weren't fools; though Xiao Yan spoke casually, the difficulty was unimaginable.

Xiao Yan didn't hide anything from Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran—he slowly told them everything about the Great Thousand World.

Listening to his story, they were left speechless—the Dou Emperor realm wasn't even the end; there were Supreme Emperors, divided into Spirit, Xianpin Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun, and Sacred grades, and above them existed beings like Tian Xie Shen and Bu Xiu Emperor.

And the Great Thousand World wasn't even the largest universe—it contained the Domain Beyond, where the Domain Beyond demons had attacked the Great Thousand World fifty thousand years ago, triggering a supreme cosmic war that led to the Dou Qi Continent's sealing and all subsequent events.

"Yes, Ancestor Xiao Potian left a message. Although the former World Embryo had been taken by him, after fifty thousand years of Flame Sealing, the Dou Qi Continent has given birth to a new World Embryo. However, obtaining the World Embryo is no simple matter." Xiao Yan nodded; his purpose in returning to the Dou Qi Continent was to obtain its World Embryo, thereby breaking through to the Supreme Cultivation Realm!

"Mm. Ancestor Xiao Potian left information: though the original Plane Spirit was taken by him, after fifty thousand years of sealing, the Dou Qi Continent has birthed a new Plane Spirit—but obtaining it isn't simple." Xiao Yan nodded; his purpose in returning to the Dou Qi Continent was precisely to obtain its Plane Spirit, to break through to the Supreme Emperor realm!

Spiritual Soul alone was insufficient; more importantly, while Xiao Yan had mastered the Dou Emperor Body's Supreme Divine Technique, he had not yet mastered the Dou Break Body's Supreme Divine Technique.

To condense the Dou Break Body's Supreme Divine Technique, he needed the Dou Qi Continent's Plane Spirit's aid—so he must obtain it at all costs.

But the Plane Spirit isn't obtainable by just anyone, nor by strength alone.

Non-native beings have two methods: one, like the Domain Beyond demons, refine the entire plane—no need to search; directly perform a Blood Sacrifice of all life to condense the plane's power.

The other is using special methods to extract plane energy, forming a Plane Baptism—this is the more common method in the Great Thousand World.

Neither the Domain Beyond demons nor Great Thousand World cultivators are native to this plane—they cannot gain the Plane Spirit's recognition; they can only extract power by other means.

But Xiao Yan is different—he's a Transmigration, yes, but he only gained extra memories; he was born and raised on the Dou Qi Continent—he's a true native!

He can gain the Plane Spirit's recognition, perfectly inherit the entire Plane Spirit, even receive the continent's blessing—far superior to forced extraction, granting one hundred percent power.

Gaining the Plane Spirit's recognition is extremely difficult; back then, Ancestor Xiao Potian and others fought fiercely for its recognition, because the Dou Qi Continent was still in its primitive era, lacking a defined cultivation system.

But now it's different—the Dou Qi Continent has Dou Qi, and most importantly, the Plane Spirit is now asleep; even Xiao Yan doesn't know where it is. Swallowing Flame and Pure Lotus Demon Fire can open a passage—but only if you first locate the Plane Spirit.

So Xiao Yan's first step to obtain the Plane Spirit is to awaken the Plane Spirit—or rather, the Plane Spirit.

Know this: the Plane Spirit of the Great Thousand World is the Cang Qiong List; before Bu Xiu Emperor's emergence—or before the Domain Beyond invasion—the Cang Qiong List slept, and no one could summon it.

That is, the way to awaken the Plane Spirit is to make the entire plane sense an apocalyptic crisis—the Plane Spirit will appear, choose an heir, and bestow its power upon the "Destined One" to protect the world.

"You want to artificially create a great disaster?" Yun Yun frowned slightly, her eyes filled with reluctance.

Because if the Dou Qi Continent must plunge into an apocalyptic crisis for the Plane Spirit to awaken, wouldn't that require sacrificing many lives?

Seeing Yun Yun's kindness, Xiao Yan gently patted her jade-like hand and shook his head: "How could I? I seek the Plane Spirit to protect the Dou Qi Continent from war—if I sacrifice most lives to save future ones, wouldn't that be backwards?"

Hearing Xiao Yan didn't intend to create slaughter to awaken the Plane Spirit, Yun Yun quietly exhaled—she knew she hadn't misjudged him; how could Xiao Yan ever seek power through slaughter?

"Then is there another way to awaken the Plane Spirit?"

Xiao Yan smiled: "Naturally. Awakening the Plane Spirit doesn't require crisis—it can be done by gathering the Wish Power of all life on the plane."

Extracting plane energy is an ancient method; now, when Great Thousand World super-factions discover a Lower Plane, they don't forcibly seize it—they send their disciples to settle there, raise children, and cultivate a supreme cultivator native to that plane.

Then, if that cultivator gains the recognition of all life on the plane, gathers their Wish Power, he can awaken the Plane Spirit and obtain the Plane Spirit! In short—if all life on the plane acknowledges you as their sovereign, you can awaken the Plane Spirit and obtain the Plane Spirit.

Do good deeds, keep a good heart, speak good words!

Xiao Yan was fortunate—he was the first to break the Flame Sealing of the Dou Qi Continent, unintentionally introducing vast amounts of cosmic power, making the Dou Qi Continent stronger. Thus, many cultivators on the Dou Qi Continent still call Xiao Yan His Majesty, enjoying popular support.

So now, all Xiao Yan needs is for all cultivators on the Dou Qi Continent to recognize him; then he can awaken the Plane Spirit, and with Swallowing Flame and Pure Lotus Demonic Fire, enter the location of the Plane Embryo, refine the Plane Embryo, and break through to Supreme!

"Oh! I get it now—the anomalies at the Life and Death Gate weren't rumors; you did this!" Nalan Yanran realized belatedly.

Xiao Yan smiled and nodded. "The Old Generation's elders are no problem—I gave away many lost Cultivation Methods and Dou Techniques during Ya Fei's auction. The issue lies with the Young Generation. So I thought to win their hearts through Inheritance Trial. Hehehe—treasures stir the heart."

To gain the willing recognition of all beings of this plane—how simple. After all, treasures stir the heart.

Those who chant my true name shall see eternal life within the cycle of rebirth!

Xiao Yan glanced at Nalan Yanran, who stood by as if none of this concerned her, and his eyes narrowed slightly. "Don't act like this has nothing to do with you—you're going into the Life and Death Gate too."

"Me?!" Nalan Yanran pointed at herself, bewildered. "I'm already a Sage Emperor, and I possess Yin-Yang Twin Flame Children—why would I need to enter the Life and Death Gate?"

"No, no, no—this Life and Death Gate isn't that simple," Xiao Yan said with a meaningful smile. "I will link the Life and Death Gate to the Great Thousand World. Those who pass through it will not only receive my Inheritance, but I will also take them to the Great Thousand World."

"What, you don't want to go to the Great Thousand World?"

Yun Yun immediately understood Xiao Yan's deep intention. "You want us to use the Great Thousand World in advance, to convert Spiritual Energy?"

Xiao Yan smiled and nodded.

Others could never cultivate the Dou Po Cangqiong Body, so they must convert Dou Qi into Spiritual Energy. This time, Xiao Yan planned to bring Yun Yun, Nalan Yanran, Qing Lin, and Zi Yan all to the Great Thousand World.

Naturally, they needed to adapt in advance and convert their Spiritual Energy.

Nalan Yanran leapt to her feet, as if declaring war on Xiao Yan, and said proudly, "Who's afraid of whom? Even your Inheritance Trial won't stop me—I'll be the first to pass!"

Seeing Nalan Yanran's confident expression, Xiao Yan smiled. "The Life and Death Gate isn't urgent—we have plenty of time. But there's another matter that's more pressing."

"More pressing? What is it?" Nalan Yanran tilted her head, puzzled.

"I've been back from the Great Thousand World for so long and haven't bathed—I'm filthy. I need to wash first."

Nalan Yanran still didn't understand. She blinked her big eyes. "Then go take a bath."

!!!?

Yun Yun, however, understood much faster—her powdered cheeks now flushed with a faint blush.

(End of Chapter)