The young man’s voice was as calm as flowing water, echoing through the hall and causing everyone to pause. Such an audacious tone was truly unusual. The black-robed elder, named Zhao Hei and Qin Mo, was momentarily stunned before his face turned grim. His eyes, like a ferocious wolf’s, stared at the youth who was slowly approaching the hall. After a moment, he sneered, “A mere two-star Battle Sect dares to be so reckless in front of us, two venerable elders!”
“Forty seconds left.” The young man acted as if he hadn’t heard the menacing laughter. A rather lazy voice emerged from his lips.
“Kill him!” Zhao Hei’s expression grew cold as he spoke slowly.
At his command, the surrounding members of the Black Flame Sect’s eyes turned fierce, and their potent Dou Qi surged out of their bodies. They almost simultaneously unleashed their Dou Qi, blasting toward the unhurriedly approaching young man.
Emerald green flames surged from Xiao Yan’s body, forming a protective fire shield. The vicious attacks that hit the shield dissipated upon contact, not causing Xiao Yan’s steps to falter even a bit.
Seeing the emerald green flame that emerged from Xiao Yan, Zhao Hei and Qin Mo were initially stunned, then abruptly exclaimed, “Mysterious Fire?”
Their eyes immediately filled with joy and greed. The Black Flame Sect was known for controlling flames, and they were very familiar with the revered Mysterious Fires.
“Young rascal, you actually have such a rare treasure. However, since you’ve come to our doorstep, we’ll kindly accept it!” Zhao Hei sneered maliciously. Exchanging a glance with Qin Mo, he stepped forward powerfully, and both of them charged at Xiao Yan with great force.
Xiao Yan let out a faint sigh, shaking his head slightly.
As the two men leaped into action, a mysterious, aged figure suddenly appeared beside Xiao Yan, warping the space around him. With a casual wave of his sleeve, the void seemed to be clutched by an invisible, massive hand, revealing numerous spatial wrinkles.
With another sweep of the sleeve, a vast, terrifying force moved silently through the air, colliding gently on the chests of Zhao Hei and Qin Mo without causing the slightest disturbance.
*Puff!*
The gale of force made Zhao Hei and Qin Mo freeze, their twisted faces turning into shock. Before the terror could fully set in, both of them spat out jets of fresh blood mixed with fragmented organs!
*Boom!*
The blood spewed out, and the two men flew backward like cut kites, crashing heavily onto the ground. After tumbling painfully for several rounds, they brutally collided with the wall, producing a faint crackle of shattered bones.
The entire hall was silent, all eyes staring at the aged figure next to Xiao Yan in disbelief. Just a casual wave had caused two peak six-star Battle Sects to be defeated so miserably?
“Is this… a Dou Zun?” Ye Zhong gaped at the old figure, sensing an overwhelming danger even though there was no aura emanating from the latter. He had experienced this feeling before, only with incredibly powerful beings that had entered the Dou Zun realm.
“When did my Ye family associate with such a powerful being?” Ye Zhong’s thoughts raced. Since the decline of the Ye family, they had rarely been able to impress any Dou Zuns, or else the Black Flame Sect would not dare to target them.
As he pondered, his gaze shifted to Xin Lan, standing outside the hall. He was momentarily stunned, then suddenly thought of something. His eyes darted back to Xiao Yan. Despite the slight change in appearance, Ye Zhong recognized some familiar features.
“Could he be the Xiao Yan from before?”
Shocked, Ye Zhong couldn’t help but shudder. During their last meeting, Xiao Yan had only had a powerful puppet with him. Now, within a month, he had another mysterious Dou Zun by his side.
“This person must have a great background. Otherwise, how could he have a Dou Zun by his side? My Ye family nearly offended this grand deity due to our shortsightedness.”
Ye Zhong’s internal thoughts were unknown to Xiao Yan. He glanced at the battered and shocked Zhao Hei and Qin Mo, letting out a derisive laugh. The earlier strike from Venerable Heavenly Fire had probably severely injured them. Even if they recovered, they might suffer some lingering effects.
“Esteemed predecessor, we are Elders of the Black Flame Sect. We offended you today due to our ignorance. Please be merciful.”
Zhao Hei and Qin Mo, struggling to their feet, were filled with fear and had no trace of anger. As the victims, they keenly understood the horror of that previous palm strike. It must have been a Dou Zun-level expert, an existence far beyond what their Black Flame Sect could handle.
“Damn, how can the Ye family still connect with a Dou Zun? This time, I miscalculated. I need to inform the Sect Leader and avoid further trouble with the Ye family. A skinny camel is still bigger than a horse.”
Their mouths filled with bitterness, they endured the intense pain, wiped away the blood, and lost all their earlier arrogance. In front of a Dou Zun, their lives were like ants, utterly insignificant.
“Leave now. If you come again, I will visit your Black Flame Sect and chat,” Xiao Yan said coldly, looking at the two terrified men.
Zhao Hei and Qin Mo shivered, not daring to say a word. Supporting each other, they fled toward the door.
“Take your things and leave!” Xiao Yan’s sharp order followed them. The two of them hastily turned, retrieved the coffins in the hall, and left in a hasty, humiliated manner, not daring to answer a word.
As the Black Flame Sect members fled, the Ye family in the hall gradually regained their senses, looking at Xiao Yan and Venerable Heavenly Fire with awe.
“Grandfather, are you alright?” Xin Lan rushed into the hall, speaking anxiously to Ye Zhong.
Ye Zhong shook his head, then looked at Xiao Yan, sighing, and bowed reverently, “Mr. Xiao Yan, thank you for your assistance. I apologize for the disrespect my family showed previously, and I hope you will not hold it against us.”
“Xiao Yan?” Ye Zhong’s words caused the Ye family members to pause, especially the elders who had fought Xiao Yan earlier. They looked at him in surprise, then blushed in shame.
Xiao Yan waved his hand dismissively, saying straightforwardly, “I came to the Ye family to borrow the Ancient Yang Fire Altar. Can Elder Ye Zhong lend it to me?”
Hearing this, Ye Zhong glanced at Xin Lan, who nodded quickly. He forced a smile, “Mr. Xiao Yan, you saved my family today. Although the clan rules prohibit lending the Ancient Yang Fire Altar, my family is now in such a dire situation that following old rules would only lead to self-destruction.”
Seeing that Ye Zhong did not make excuses, Xiao Yan nodded lightly. After instructing the clan members to clean the hall, Ye Zhong led Xiao Yan and his companions deeper into the Ye residence. After about ten minutes, they reached a secluded, rubble-filled square. At the center stood an ancient-looking altar, made of weathered stones, clearly having existed for a long time.
As Xiao Yan approached the altar, he noticed the unusually bright light. The closer he got, the more the energy around him became intense and pure. Solid beams of light poured down from the sky, reflecting off the smooth stone walls and converging on a black stone tablet at the center of the altar.
“Below the stone tablet is a path to the depths of the earth. When the tablet is moved, flames from the earth’s core will rise, igniting the concentrated sunlight to form the Yang Fire. Of course, this is how it used to be,” Ye Zhong sighed, looking at the ancient altar with a bitter smile.
“What happened?” Xiao Yan furrowed his brows.
“Several years ago, fewer and fewer flames from the earth’s core started coming up. Other flames cannot ignite the sunlight to form Yang Fire,” Ye Zhong explained softly.
Xiao Yan nodded, understanding that he didn’t need the Yang Fire to control the Elixir Poison Body; he just needed the pure natural energy here to suppress Little Healer Immortal’s condition.
“Little Healer Immortal, enter the altar.” Xiao Yan turned to her and said.
Little Healer Immortal nodded, then leaped lightly onto the altar. The intense, pure Yang energy around her made her frown in discomfort.
Seeing Little Healer Immortal enter, Xiao Yan summoned the Earth Puppet and entered the altar himself, feeling a bit more at ease.
“Venerable Heavenly Fire, please guard us and don’t let anyone disturb us,” Xiao Yan requested, smiling. Venerable Heavenly Fire nodded, moving to sit on a large tree at the edge of the square.
“Don’t worry, unless a Dou Zun comes, no one will disturb you.” Seeing this, Ye Zhong tactfully retreated to a distance.
Xiao Yan nodded, looking around. The altar was surrounded by many stone walls, making it difficult for outsiders to see what was happening. This added to the secrecy.
Returning his gaze, Xiao Yan saw the nervous Little Healer Immortal and smiled, “Let’s begin then.”
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