The sudden burst of laughter instantly made the faces of everyone in the field change. Their gazes sharply turned towards the source, only to see three figures suddenly standing on the tips of a tall forest outside the mountain pass. The one leading, dressed in a black robe, was clearly Xiao Yan. Seeing Xiao Yan and his two companions, Elder Mountain Eagle and Mo Tianxing both paused, their faces showing considerable changes. After a moment, Mo Tianxing chuckled, “It’s Mister Yaonao. I didn’t expect you to also see through this old rascal’s scheme.” Xiao Yan smiled lightly and gave Mo Tianxing a meaningful glance before replying with a smile, “I didn’t think that Patriarch Mo would be here, it’s quite a surprise.” Hearing Xiao Yan’s words with hidden implications, Mo Tianxing’s expression became somewhat unnatural. As the host of the auction, secretly targeting a guest who had just purchased an item was not a favorable piece of news for the Black Emperor Sect. Though strength and power were most important in the Dark Corner Region, a certain level of integrity was still required. Otherwise, who would dare to participate in another auction by the Black Emperor Sect if they were afraid that whatever they bought would be forcibly taken from them? Spending a high price only to risk losing not only the item but potentially their life as well, wouldn’t make anyone happy. Thus, upon seeing Xiao Yan’s appearance, the shadow of a sinister and murderous intent flashed across Mo Tianxing’s heart. If it weren’t for his wariness towards Little Healer Immortal beside Xiao Yan, Mo Tianxing might have acted already. “Hehe, Patriarch Mo couldn’t bear to part with the Bodhi Transformation Essence, so he secretly played a trick to snatch it back again. What a skill indeed.” Elder Mountain Eagle glanced at Xiao Yan’s trio, pausing especially long on Little Healer Immortal in her white dress, and laughed strangely. “Elder Mountain Eagle, engaging in verbal sparring is not to your benefit at this moment,” Mo Tianxing’s face took on a grim cast, his voice slow and measured. “You’re bold, Patriarch Mo. Come and try if you dare. Though my current condition may not match yours, if you wish to defeat me, the price will be a serious wound for you. By then…” Elder Mountain Eagle chuckled coldly, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Yan’s group, the implication of his words clear without needing to be stated. Clenching his fists in his sleeves, Mo Tianxing’s expression also grew gloomy. Indeed, the situation now was rather tough to resolve. If no one else had discovered their spot, even at the cost of a grievous injury, killing Elder Mountain Eagle would be acceptable, but now that Xiao Yan and his formidable companions appeared, Mo Tianxing understood that they too sought the Bodhi Transformation Essence. If Mo Tianxing were to be severely wounded in battle with Elder Mountain Eagle, the result would be that Xiao Yan could seize the essence easily. There was no way Mo Tianxing would do such a thing that benefited others at his own loss.
Seeing the gloom and hesitation on Mo Tianxing’s face, Elder Mountain Eagle’s sneer deepened. The arrival of Xiao Yan’s trio had abruptly disrupted the situation. At such times, no one dared to make the first move. This situation, however, offered him the advantage. With some time, he could recall his soul clone, and once recovered, his escape should not be too difficult, given his means. Inside the mountain pass, the atmosphere solidified, even Xiao Yan’s trio did not dare act rashly. After all, neither Mo Tianxing nor Elder Mountain Eagle were pushovers. Dealing with two peak Battle Sect class fighters would be extremely difficult for the three of them. “Haha, Mr. Yaonao, this sect has a proposal…” During the deadlock, Mo Tianxing unexpectedly turned to Xiao Yan and smiled. “Please speak, Patriarch Mo.” Xiao Yan smiled genially, though in his heart, there was no lack of caution and wariness toward this old man, like a smiling tiger. “Mr. Yaonao, you’ve come for the Bodhi Transformation Essence, right?” Mo Tianxing asked a question that seemed obvious, then smiled: “Let’s team up to deal with Elder Mountain Eagle. If we obtain the Bodhi Transformation Essence, our Black Emperor Sect won’t take it, but Mr. Yaonao must offer us some compensation. What do you say?”
“Compensation?” Xiao Yan was startled, then said ambiguously with a faint smile, “Breakthrough Pill?”
“Haha, it’s always easier to talk to wise people,” Mo Tianxing laughed and replied. “What does Mr. Yaonao think about this proposal?”
Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, exchanging glances with Little Healer Immortal, showing a hint of interest.
“Don’t believe this old fellow. Since you’ve spoiled his plan, he won’t let you go easily. Moreover, with his greed, do you think he’ll willingly give you the Bodhi Transformation Essence?”
While Xiao Yan pondered, Elder Mountain Eagle sneered, breaking the silence.
“Silence!”
Mo Tianxing’s face darkened instantly, and with a fierce wave of his sleeve, a massive golden Dou Qi shot out, resembling a coiling golden python, streaking across the sky towards Elder Mountain Eagle.
“Ha!” Seeing Mo Tianxing’s strike, Elder Mountain Eagle snarled. His dry hands stretched out, grabbing the distorted space, and the golden Dou Qi clashed forcefully against the warped, almost tangible spatial fabric, creating an earth-shattering bang, followed by a mutual annihilation. Yet, during the dissipation, the residual energy shook the mountain pass fiercely, causing several boulders to roll down, thunderously crashing into the ground below.
“Mr. Yaonao, rest assured, I guarantee that if you hand over the Breakthrough Pill, the Bodhi Transformation Essence will belong entirely to you, and we will never touch it!” After his furious attack, Mo Tianxing again turned to Xiao Yan, speaking with great sincerity.
Despite appearing to consider the proposal, Xiao Yan internally scoffed. In his view, both Elder Mountain Eagle and Mo Tianxing were treacherous and unreliable, and their assurances were as empty as passing gas. Yet, despite the low trust in Mo Tianxing, the proposal was not entirely infeasible. If Elder Mountain Eagle, equally unpredictable, could be removed, things would become much easier and simpler. As for whom the Bodhi Transformation Essence would later belong to, it was a matter to handle later.
As Xiao Yan was about to assent, a calm, composed voice suddenly echoed.
“Patriarch Mo, if true cooperation is sought, why seek others? My Flame Demon Valley is a far better choice.”
Upon hearing the voice, the expressions of those present changed, and their eyes shifted. To the north, a dozen or so rays of light flickered, rapidly materializing in the air above the mountain pass. Leading the group was the mysterious Grey Robed Man, and behind him, First Elder of the Flame Demon Valley and others looked on with sneering disdain.
“The Flame Demon Valley…”
Xiao Yan frowned, muttering, “How did these people find out about this place? This complicates things greatly.”
Elder Mountain Eagle also looked troubled by the presence of the Flame Demon Valley; the more experts, the worse it was for him. Possessing the Bodhi Transformation Essence made him the target. Despite being a powerful Battle Sect, there were at least three others here with equal rank. A one-on-one fight was manageable, but against three opponents, he wouldn’t know how he’d be killed.
“Hehe, I didn’t expect Flame Demon Valley to see through Elder Mountain Eagle’s tricks either.”
Mo Tianxing’s face initially darkened, but he soon chuckled, fixing his gaze on the enigmatic leader of the Flame Demon Valley group, inquiring with a friendly tone, “Might I ask, who is this distinguished personage? From what I know, the Valley Chief is in seclusion. Is it someone else, perhaps?”
“This Sir is our esteemed guest from the Flame Demon Valley. It has been a while since Patriarch Mo last visited, so naturally, you would not know.”
Dialect (First Elder) smiled slightly before turning his gaze, laced with malevolence, to Xiao Yan, “Mister Yaonao, oh, pardon me, shouldn’t we address you as Pavilion Lord Xiao instead?”
At this point, Xiao Yan no longer wore a cloak, revealing his features. Dialect, recognizing him at once due to the circulation of Xiao Yan’s portraits among higher ranks in the Flame Demon Valley, continued.
“Pavilion Lord Xiao?”
Surprised murmurs from Mo Tianxing and his followers erupted.
“Hehe, wasn’t Patriarch Mo aware that this Mr. Yaonao is actually the renowned ‘Xiao Sect’ Pavilion Lord, Xiao Yan? He once dominated the Dark Corner Domain and even bested the venerable Gold and Silver Elders.”
Amidst the shocked gazes, Xiao Yan paid no heed, his attention firmly fixed on the grey-robed figure, sensing a growing, eerie familiarity as they drew closer.
“Heh, isn’t that so, Pavilion Lord Xiao, does this feel familiar to you?”
Under Xiao Yan’s piercing gaze, an icy, malevolent laugh reverberated from under the grey hood.
The chilling, almost familiar laughter struck Xiao Yan hard. A bolt of lightning-fast realization flashed through his mind.
Following the chilling laugh, the robed individual slowly grasped and then lifted the hood, revealing a visage filled with both menace and grotesque ferocity. As the grey robe fell away, Xiao Yan’s obsidian pupils contracted sharply.
“Indeed… it’s you…”
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