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  The entire North-Western Region was filled with numerous sects, and all the prime locations had long been cimed. Not to mention a treasured nd with excellent feng shui like the Misty ountain. Cultivating Dou Qi in such a pce made abs the energy of the world much easier.

  Therefore, the nd owned by the Misty Cloud Sect was exceptionally valuable.

  Medusa's enting eyes stared directly into Xiao Yan's pitch-bck pupils. Her red lips parted slightly as she said, "Very well, I'll trust you this ond return to inform the other tribe leaders."

  Xiao Yan chuckled and said, "You'd better not e back saying you couldn't persuade them."

  Medusa sneered coldly, "Those who couldn't be persuaded are already dead."

  Xiao Yan slowly extended his hand and said, "Then, I wish us a pleasant cooperation, Your Majesty."

  Looking at Xiao Yan's outstretched hand, Medusa pondered for a moment before lightly g it. Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel his heart tremble when he felt that soft, seemingly boneless, slightly cool jade-like hand.

  This was truly a natural-born entress.

  Although relut, Xiao Yan didn't dare to hold her hand for too long. He turned around and prepared to leave.

  "Hey, what exactly are you pnning?" Medusa's eyes fshed with a hint of curiosity as she gazed at his departing figure and asked softly.

  Without turning back, Xiao Yan merely shrugged and said lightly, "Who knows?"

  As the door closed gently behind him, a trace of curiosity appeared in Medusa's eyes. Perhaps even she hadn't realized that she was being increasingly intrigued by Xiao Yan, even harb a faint sense of anticipation.

  ...

  Early the m, Medusa disappeared from the Misty Cloud Sed returo the Snake-People Tribe. After a full day and night, she came back, firming their decision to join the Yan Alliance.

  When Princess Yao Ye learhat even Medusa's Snake-People Tribe had joined Xiao Yan's Yan Alliance, she no longer hesitated and likewise announced her willio sign the agreement, officially joining the Yan Alliance.

  Not long after, the Misty Cloud Sect, the Jia Ma Imperial Family, and the Snake-People Tribe jointly issued a 'Yan Alliareaty' to all neighb empires, formally establishing a collective defense alliance.

  The day after the Yan Alliareaty was issued, several invading armies from the Chu Yun Empire attag the Snake-People Tribe's borders were instantly annihited by Yun Yun, Jia Xing Tian, Medusa, and Hai Bodong.

  This a decred that the Yan Alliareaty was genuine and effective.

  The news swept through the entire North-Western Region like a tornado.

  "The Yan Alliareaty? What's that?!"

  "The Misty Cloud Sect, the Jia Ma Imperial Family, and the Snake-People Tribe have actually formed an alliance?!"

  "No way! The armies of the Chu Yun Empire attacked the Snake-People Tribe and were terattacked by all of them together!"

  "What's going on? How did they suddenly form an alliance? Wasn't the Misty Cloud Sect about to disband? I heard that the Mun Valley, Luo Ya, ahousand Scorpion Gate were pnning to join forces to raid the Misty Cloud Sect. What's happening now?"

  "I heard it's because of an alchemist who possesses a Heavenly Fme that these fas have united. I think his name is Xiao Yan or something!"

  Shortly after the Yan Alliareaty was issued, the Desert Metal Merary pany led by Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, as well as the Xiao from Wu Tan City, finally arrived, albeit a bit te.

  It wasn't their fault for being slow; after all, they didn't have any Dou Kings, let alone Dou Emperors. After receiving Xiao Yan's letter, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had been traveling non-stop. It took quite some time to fly to Wu Tan City on flying-type magical beasts.

  Then, flying to the Jia Ma Sacred City took several more days. A few talented meraries from the Desert Metal Merary pany even got airsid vowed to cultivate to the Dou King realm so they wouldn't have to ride slow flying-type magical beasts again!

  "Uncle Xiao Zhan, this lease." Nan Yanran, dressed in the silver-white robes of the Misty Cloud Sect, had been waiting at the mountain gate early.

  It had been more than two months since Xiao Yaed Nan Yanran. The news had naturally spread to Wu Tan City, and they also khat Xiao Yan and Nan Yanran had agreed to peacefully cel their e.

  Xiao Zhan saw Nan Yanran's polite and courteous demeanor. In his heart, he still held onto the hope of fulfilling his father's deathbed wish.

  "It's beehree years since we st met. Niece Yanran has grown into a graceful young dy," Xiao Zhan spoke like a kind old man, his gaze gentle.

  In fact, Xiao Zhan wasn't that old, only in his forties, but years of toiling for the Xiao had grayed some of his hair, aging his appearance siderably.

  "Back then, it was Yanran who was immature and acted rashly. I wouldn't dare ask for Uncle Xiao Zhan's fiveness," Nan Yanran said humbly. Having lost twid matured signifitly over the years, she had beuch more sensible.

  The group from the Xiao followed Nan Yanran to a residential area filled with pavilions and courtyards. The pleasant climate and magnifit sery left the Xiao members staring in amazement and exg in admiration.

  "Look over there! There's a waterfall casg down the mountain!"

  "Wow! That tree is enormous. How many years has it been growing? At least two or three hundred years, right?"

  "Quick, look at this! The outer walls of this pavilioually built with jade stohis is too extravagant! Truly worthy of the Misty Cloud Sect."

  Nan Yanran expined, "This used to be the elders' residences. Now it has been designated as the Xiao 's area. Xiao Yan is inside. I'll leave you here."

  Even the Xiao members, who were like loobility in Wu Tan City, felt overwhelmed when they saw this extensive area of luxurious residences.

  "Third Brother has really done something incredible," Xiao Li excimed in surprise. There was a time when the Misty Cloud Sect was aehey couldn't even dream of approag.

  The thoughtful Xiao Ding said, "Third Brother knows we're not oo indulge in luxury. He called us here; perhaps he has something to tell us."

  Just as Xiao Ding finished speaking, the door creaked open, and Xiao Yan emerged from the hall.

  "Father, Big Brother, Sed Brother." Xiao Yan looked at his family in front of him and quickly walked forward.

  "Grand Elder, Sed Elder, Third Elder, everyone, long time no see." Xiao Yaed the elders one by one.

  "Greetings, Little Leader!"

  "Greetings, Third pany Leader!"

  Xiao Li grinned from ear thing as he put his arm around Xiao Yan's ned ruffled his hair. "Hahaha, Xiao-Yan-Zi, I heard you've been quite impressive tely. You even came up with something called the Yan Alliareaty."

  Xiao Yan didn't resist, allowing his sed brother to mess his hair into a bird's . He rubbed his nose and said with a wry smile, "I'll expin this matter to Big Brother and Sed Brother ter. Let me show you around first. We'll be living here from now on."

  Rarely having such leisure time, he ehe happiness of being with his family, chatting and strolling around.

  Whether it was Aor Xiao Xuan or his own father Xiao Zhan, they both desired the to prosper. Although they were still far from their flory, rising from a small city's to a super noble the imperial capital was already a signifit step forward.

  At night, after settling the Xiao , Xiao Yan came to Xiao Ding's room, where Xiao Li was also present.

  "Xiao Yan, you've suddenly done all these things. It 't be just for showing off, right? Did something happen?" Xiao Ding was ihe most thoughtful among the three brothers. He had sensed something was off when they received the letter.

  After arriving in the Jia Ma Sacred City and hearing that Xiao Yan had established the Yan Alliance, he khat something signifit must have happened.

  Xiao Yan did not ceal anything and directly told his two elder brothers everything he had learned from the Gate of Life ah. In this world, there were four people whom Xiao Yan trusted unditionally.

  Hearing the stories that sounded like legends, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li didn't know how to react for a moment.

  Because the former Dou God —the Xiao d the current Xiao were separated by too much time, almost all traces of being a Dou God had disappeared.

  If it weren't for Xiao Yan's bloodline resoh the bck jade of the Skyfire Three Mysterious ge, even he wouldn't have believed it.

  "This... This is really quite unbelievable," Xiao Li finally mao say after being stunned for a while.

  Xiao Ding's expression was solemn as he said, "Xiao Yan, you want to use the power of the Yan Alliao protect the d prevealiation from the Hun , right?"

  Xiao Yan shook his head and said, "The strength of the Hun is unfathomable. The Yan Alliance's power is not enough to resist them. Right now, due to certain reasons, the Hun believes the A Jade has been taken by the Gu , so they shouldn't make a move for the time being."

  "I'm just worried that besides the Hun , if the other six Dou God s get any bad ideas, it would be troublesome. So I want Big Brother to temporarily mahe Misty Cloud Sed use its resources to improve the 's strength. If something really does happen, at least some people escape and preserve the Xiao 's bloodline."

  Xiao Yan's words made both of them shudder. They hadn't expected that their third brother's purpose iablishing the Yan Alliance was actually to prepare for the worst, using the Yan Alliao buy time and give the Xiao a ce to preserve their bloodline!

  This was making preparations for the worst-case sario!

  With Xiao Ding's talent and strategy, Xiao Yan believed he could secretly trol the Misty Cloud Sect, and eveire Yan Alliao secure the greatest bes for the .

  Xiao Yan looked at his sed brother, and after hesitating for a long time, he took out Protector Wu's Soul Robe from his ste ring.

  "Sed Brother, I want you to join the Hall of Souls and mahe Hall of Souls bran the Misty Cloud Sect." A hint of hesitation fshed through his eyes.

  The Hall of Souls was aremely dangerous anization. Even Yun Shan had fallen because of it. Moreover, the Hall of Souls required using soul stoo hunt soul bodies, which was ly a glorious task.

  Xiao Li took the Soul Robe and patted Xiao Yan's shoulder upon seeing the hesitation in his eyes, "You're uimating your sed brother. Although I'm not as good at scheming as Big Brother, I'm no pushover either. This kind of thing suits me perfectly."

  Xiao Yan had sidered destroying the branch of the Hall of Souls in the Misty Cloud Sect, but now, whether it was the Xiao or the Yan Alliahey were all very weak. The Hall of Souls read throughout the entire Dou Qi ti. It wasn't as simple as just possessing resources; their intelligework was what Xiao Yan needed most.

  If he wao know about the situations of the other Dou God s, he could only rely on the Hall of Souls.

  To deal with the Hun , at the very least, he had to infiltrate the enemy from within first.

  Xiao Yan inteo grasp both the righteous and the destihs!

  Xiao Ding also nodded heavily and said, "You are the future of the Xiao . You still o titing stronger and cultivating. Let Big Brother and Sed Brother hahese matters for you. Xiao-Yan-Zi, you must remember that your strength is the greatest guarantee for the Xiao !"

  "You're shouldering too many things alone. Let Sed Brother help share some of your burdens!"

  A warm current surged through Xiao Yan's heart as he felt the deep affe of his two elder brothers. He nodded lightly and softly said, "I uand."

  Xiao Ding thought of something and asked, "By the way, you killed Protector Wu. Don't the others in the Hall of Souls know?"

  "I heard from Protector Wu that all Protectors of the Hall of Souls have soul imprints in the Hall of Souls. If they are killed, the Enforcers will discover it." Back when Xiao Yan was listening to Protector Wu's introdu of the Hall of Souls, he had heard him mention this matter.

  Human Grade Protectors had the qualification to know the location of one branch; Earth Grade Protectors could know two; and Heaven Grade Protectors could know three.

  The more branch locations one khe more resources one could exge for and the more intelligene could access. Protector Wu had invited several Dou Emperor Soul Envoys back then, who were Soul Envoys from another Hall of Souls branch.

  After all, the Hall of Souls bran the Misty Cloud Sect had beeablished not long ago and was short on manpower.

  "Then what should we do? How strong are those Enforcers?" Xiao Li asked.

  Xiao Yan revealed a meaningful smile and said, "Leave the Enforcers to me. I have a way."

  …

  In the following days, the Xiao , having officially takehe Misty Cloud Sect, was bustling with activity. Besides Jia Xing Tian and Princess Yao Ye of the Jia Ma Imperial Family personally ing to offer gratutions, Nan Jie and his son Nan Su also came.

  When Xiao Zhan saw the two of them, the three men could only sigh together. It could only be said that things often don't go as one wishes. arents hope for, children often stubbornly go the opposite way.

  Besides them, Miteer Tengshan of the Miteer brought Ya Fei to visit. Who knew what Miteer Tengshan said to Xiao Zhan, but the tter had been beaming with pride all day.

  As for Xiao Yan, apart from some necessary receptions, he spent every day refining pills, refining pills, and refining pills.

  Because Yun Yun had opehe Misty Cloud Sect's Medie Hall and po give all the preedial ingredients io him.

  One had to know, this was the Misty Cloud Sect! The number o in the Jia Ma Empire, the most a sect!

  The medial ingredients collected by such a sect were simply tempting enough to make one it a crime!

  Even Medusa's treasury was less thaenth of what was here. Xiao Yan could say with 100% certainty that the Jia Ma Imperial Family's medial ingredient ste couldn't pare to the Misty Cloud Sect's.

  Xiao Yan even saw a main ingredient for a tier 8 pill, several main ingredients for tier 7 pills, and quite a few for tier 6 pills.

  It was worth noting that Gu He was able to go from a 4th-tier alchemist to a 6th-tier alchemist in just over a decade because the Misty Cloud Sect provided medial ingredients unditionally for his practice.

  The fact that the Misty Cloud Sect could cultivate a 6th-tier alchemist from scratch showed its profound foundation.

  Xiao Yan inally wao refuse. As an upright cultivator who didn't steal, rob, or deceive, how could he freeload!

  But after thinking for about a sed, he felt that if these medial ingredients were left here, they'd be stolen by others anyway.

  Not only had Gu He, the 6th-tier alchemist, left, but even the only two 5th-tier alchemist elders and those 4th-tier alchemists had all left. Only a few 3rd-tier alchemist disciples remained.

  Rather than that, he might as well refihe medial ingredients into pills before returning to Jia Nan Academy. This way, his big brother could also better cultivate talents, and he would just charge a tiny refinihis couldn't be sidered freeloading, right?

  Thus, Xiao Yan began refining tier 4 and tier 5 pills, while the tier 6 and those few tier 7 and the only tier 8 medial ingredients were collected by him with a clear sce.

  And through sutense alchemy, frantically ing Spiritual Strength and Dou Qi, the Dou Qi instability caused by his breakthrough from a 7-star Dou Grandmaster to Dou Spirit was solidated. It was killing two birds with oone.

  The only thing that Xiao Yan foutable was that the Fme Mantra hadn't advanced; it remai Low Di Css, though now it was infinitely close to Intermediate Di Css.

  This made him uand that if he wao tinue improving the Fme Mantra, the Heavenly Fmes he sought had to be ranked even higher.

  There was also ohing that puzzled Xiao Yan immensely: he couldn't prehend the Secret Teique 'Breaking Through the Heavens' created by his 's Dou God aor!

  Xiao Xuan had already transmitted all his insights and circution paths of this Secret Teique to him. But wheried to execute it again, he uood why Xiao Xuan said this Secret Teique might be inplete.

  Because it was too weak.

  Being able to instantly kill Protector Wu was entirely due to the strength left behind by Xiao Xuan being powerful enough. In fact, this Secret Teique made Xiao Yan feel like something was missing.

  'Sigh, Aor, you're really messing with me. Giving me a high Tian Css Dou Teique would have been more practical than anything else.' Xiao Yan couldn't help but pin. However, maybe it was because the Death Fme could only store o Teique, so Xiao Xuan chose the Secret Teique created by the Xiao 's Dou God aor and didn't leave behind other Dou Teiques or Qi Methods created by other powerful Xiao members.

  Just as Xiao Yan where the problem with the 'Breaking Through the Heavens' Secret Teique y, suddenly the Soul and Tokeed a faint spiritual light.

  'They've finally e!' Xiao Yan's eyes fshed. Donning the Soul Robe, his body transformed into a shadow as he rushed toward the location of the Hall of Souls' Space Lock.

  At this time, quite a few Soul Envoys wearing Soul Robes were already standing in the main hall of the Hall of Souls. These were all Soul Envoys belonging to the Hall of Souls bran the Misty Cloud Sect, personally selected by Protector Wu. Today was also the day when the Hall of Souls Enforcers would e to che the soul colle situation, so they had all gathered in the main hall.

  The Hall of Souls had quotas. If the Protector in charge of the branch couldn't meet the quota, they would be punished. Exceeding the quota would be rewarded with soul points.

  Therefore, increasing the number of Soul Envoys colleg souls was the most basic method.

  Some Soul Envoys weren't at the Misty Cloud Sect at the time, so naturally, they weren't killed by Xiao Xuan's teique.

  "Enforcer Hun Lu, the soul imprint of this branch's Protector has disappeared. He must have been killed."

  In the ter of the main hall stood three people wearing Soul Robes. The most distinctive was the one in the middle referred to as an Enforcer, because he wore a Soul and Token at his waist!

  The Hall of Souls Enforamed Hun Lu asked, "Hmm? Who was the Protector in charge of this branch?"

  "Rep to Enforcer, it rotector Wu," said another subordinate beside the Enforcer.

  "Wu? Oh, that Earth Grade Protector who got lucky and received a reward from our 's Pill Saint. No wohis branch is so shabby, and the Soul Envoys are all a bunch of rabble—just a mere Earth Grade." Although Hun Lu's face couldn't be seen, his disdainful tone made it clear that his status was much higher than Protector Wu's.

  "But he was still one of the Hall of Souls' Protectors after all. Go to the Soul Altar and use the secret method to iigate who exactly killed him. Use the soul light to guide you to find that person and elimihem."

  "Uood!" ×2

  Creak, creak, creak. At this moment, the main door of the Hall of Souls was slowly pushed open, and a sinister ugh apanied by a voice came through: "Jie Jie Jie, o look. He was disobedient, so I killed him."

  Xiao Yan pushed the door open aered, wearing a hood that cealed his appearance. His gaze swept past all the Soul Envoys and focused on the Enforcer at the back. His tone was extremely calm.

  Hun Lu frowned and asked, "Who are you?"

  Suddenly, a Soul and Token flew out from the ste riing a soul-stirring glow. The character "炎" (Yan) was engraved on its back.

  "This iy of soul light! You are a Heaven Grade Protector?!!!" Hun Lu excimed in shock. When did a Heaven Grade Protector arrive in this North-Western Region?! And he even possesses a Soul and Token?!

  "Greetings, Protector Yan!"

  All the Soul Envoys present immediately k down and shouted in unison.

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