Gazing at the spot where Wang Chen had vanished, Xiao Yan couldn’t help but sneer. It was no wonder they were both from the Quadrant Pavilions; even their harsh words were so similar. Behind Xiao Yan, Nalan Yanran watched as Wang Chen, after a brief encounter with Xiao Yan, swiftly retreated. A trace of surprise flickered in her eyes. Wang Chen’s reputation was quite formidable; among his peers, it was almost impossible to find an opponent for him. This guy was inherently bloodthirsty and war-loving, and coupled with his exceptional cultivation talent, his strength progressed rapidly. Moreover, relying on the power of the Yellow Springs Pavilion, he often engaged with Battle Sect level experts. Others, fearing the might of the Yellow Springs Pavilion, dared not strike back. Thus, over time, Wang Chen’s reputation grew, and it was rumored that he had the strength to contend with Battle Sect level experts. Whether it was true or not, his strength was undeniable. However, Nalan Yanran never expected that in such a short interaction, this bloodthirsty monster would be scared off by Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan was unaware of Nalan Yanran’s shock. He turned his gaze to the nearby trio of Huang Tian, and calmly said, “Aren’t you going to leave?”
Hearing this, Huang Tian and the others scrambled to their feet, fleeing in a pitiful haste. Wang Chen’s departure had completely shattered their confidence in confronting Xiao Yan. To be able to scare off the famed Wang Chen, this person’s strength was far beyond what they could withstand.
Watching the fleeing trio, Xiao Yan let out a light sigh. Turning around, he looked at Nalan Yanran, and for a moment, he didn’t know what to say. The atmosphere turned awkwardly silent.
Nalan Yanran did not break the silence. She gently stroked the soft fur of her white fox, her eyelids slightly lowered.
“Uh… you also want to go to the Heavenly Blood Pool on the Tian Mountain?” After a long pause, Xiao Yan finally coughed, breaking the silence.
“Yes, although I know it will be very difficult for me to secure one of the ten spots, it’s still a good experience,” Nalan Yanran nodded, her voice soft.
Xiao Yan rubbed his hands, suddenly feeling a bit uncomfortable. Hesitating for a moment, he asked, “Why… why are you here alone?”
Her hand paused for a moment, and Nalan Yanran lifted her gaze, fixing her eyes on Xiao Yan, “Teacher is in seclusion, so I came out to travel on my own.”
“Have you all been doing well these years?” Xiao Yan’s gaze wandered.
Seeing this, Nalan Yanran smiled lightly, “Are you asking about Teacher?”
Xiao Yan’s body stiffened imperceptibly. Then, he took a deep breath and asked, “Is she… okay?”
At this, Nalan Yanran’s eyes dimmed slightly, and she nodded, “Teacher is fine.”
“Is she also in the northern region of the Central Plains?” Xiao Yan asked again, his voice laced with more concern. In his mind, he couldn’t help but recall the pained and struggling figure of Yun Yun when they parted. Regardless of who was right or wrong, the Yun Lian Sect was truly destroyed by Xiao Yan. As the Sect Leader, the destruction of the sect and the killing of the teacher should have been avenged by Yun Yun. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it. In the end, unable to face it, she chose to leave the empire and wander in foreign lands.
Thinking of this, a pang of guilt tugged at Xiao Yan’s heart. Yun Yun had never been wrong from the beginning; it was the positions they stood in. In fact, she was the one hurt the most from the start. Her years of wandering, despite her strong strength, must have been filled with hardship.
To Xiao Yan’s question, Nalan Yanran remained silent for a while before responding, “When I left, Teacher told me not to tell anyone where she is… especially you…”
Hearing this, Xiao Yan was stunned, then sighed bitterly, “This woman… if she doesn’t want to talk, then we’ll leave it at that. As long as she is safe, it’s fine.”
He shrugged off his emotions and smiled at Nalan Yanran, “I’m also heading to the Heavenly Blood Pool on the Tian Mountain. If you want, you can follow me.”
“Will I be a burden to you?” Nalan Yanran’s eyes brightened, her tone anxious.
“I’m not familiar with the Tianmu Mountains, but you know something. With you, it’ll be a lot easier for me,” Xiao Yan said with a shrug. After a moment’s hesitation, Nalan Yanran nodded gently.
“Here, we are close to the Tianmu Mountain. It won’t be long before we reach its foot, where there is a natural illusion array. But we have a spirit white fox, so we don’t need to worry,” Nalan Yanran said softly as they sped through the dense forest.
The two figures dashed through the foggy forest, and a clear female voice faintly echoed. Xiao Yan nodded, having someone to guide him was indeed much easier.
“Entering the Tianmu Mountain doesn’t mean safety; in fact, it’s even more dangerous because the mountain is controlled by a powerful clan of monsters,” Nalan Yanran explained, her eyes flickering with a captivating allure.
“A clan of monsters? How strong are they?” Xiao Yan asked, frowning slightly.
“The clan is called the Gold-Eating Rat Clan. Most of them are common second or third-grade beasts, but their numbers are terrifying. Of course, the true core of the Gold-Eating Rat Clan is those who can transform into human form. They are the true masters of the Tianmu Mountains. It’s said that the clan leader has reached the Seventh Rank, comparable to a six-star Battle Sect.”
“If such a powerful beast clan dominates the Tianmu Mountains, how can other people enjoy the Heavenly Blood Pool? Such a wondrous item must attract them greatly,” Xiao Yan wondered.
Nalan Yanran chuckled, “They may want to monopolize it, but do you think other human forces will agree? There was a great battle in the Tianmu Mountains over the Heavenly Blood Pool, and the Gold-Eating Rat Clan lost. They now only claim two spots, and the remaining eight must be fought for by others.”
“Eight?” Xiao Yan’s brows furrowed deeper. He hadn’t expected the situation to be so severe. The competition for the ten spots was already challenging, and now with only eight up for grabs, the difficulty shot up dramatically.
“It can’t be helped. The Gold-Eating Rat Clan has the geographical advantage, and they are very unhappy. According to the agreement, they can set checkpoints in the Tianmu Mountains to intercept those who wish to climb. As long as they don’t harm them, they can do as they please. But regardless, the eight spots for human experts must be filled.”
“So, once inside the Tianmu Mountains, it’s best not to offend the Gold-Eating Rat Clan, as they can decide who gets to reach the top,” Nalan Yanran concluded, her expression grave.
Xiao Yan nodded, a bitter smile on his face. He hadn’t expected the complexity of the situation. As they talked, the fog around them thinned, and a line of towering trees appeared, with a gate carved into one. Several figures loomed ahead, clearly also seeking the Heavenly Blood Pool.
As they approached, the group turned to look at Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran. Their eyes fixed on the white fox in Nalan Yanran’s arms.
“A spirit white fox?” one exclaimed excitedly, drawing everyone’s attention. They were stuck without a way to solve the illusion array, and the sudden appearance of the spirit white fox rekindled their hope.
Under the intense scrutiny, Nalan Yanran’s face tightened, and she clutched the white fox, stepping back.
“Don’t be afraid, follow me,” Xiao Yan said, his Dou Qi surging. His Nine Star Battle Emperor aura burst forth, subduing the rest, who were mostly below Five Star Battle Emperor.
“Within ten meters, kill!” Xiao Yan’s cold, murderous words rang out, making everyone wary and hesitant.
Xiao Yan’s steps landed softly on the ground, and the only sound was the rustling of leaves. Nalan Yanran followed closely, her palms sweating as the hostile gazes of the Battle Emperors bore down on them. If things went badly, even Xiao Yan might have to retreat.
As they neared the gate, the tension in the air grew. The footsteps, like a hammer on their hearts, made breathing difficult. Just as Xiao Yan was about to relax, a sinister roar echoed, “Let’s all work together and grab the spirit white fox. The Heavenly Blood Pool will be ours!”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage