In the tidy guest room within the Han family’s rear courtyard, after seeing Han Xue off, Xiao Yan closed the door and heaved a sigh of relief. To be honest, he didn’t want to get involved in the matter between the Han family and the Hong family. If it weren’t for Han Xue and Han Yue, he wouldn’t have any interest in this feud. Of course, the reasons he mentioned were not because of the two women themselves. While Han Xue and Han Yue were indeed top-tier women, he wasn’t someone who let his baser instincts take over and hadn’t thought about such things.
“Today, I had a distant look at that Hong Chen. His strength is indeed formidable. Although he is arrogant, as they said, he has the qualifications and capital to be so.” Xiao Yan returned to the bedside, then sat cross-legged, his face showing a thoughtful expression.
The Han family’s strength was surely not limited to what he saw in the hall. According to Xiao Yan’s speculation, some of the old generation’s strong figures were still lurking behind the scenes. After all, for the Han family to resist the Hong family in Tianbei City, it was impossible that there were no Battle Sect-level powerhouses. Besides Han Chi, who barely managed to step into the Battle Sect level, the rest had not reached that level yet.
If even the Han family was like this, let alone the more powerful Hong family. Coming to Central Continent and immediately getting on the bad side of such a force, it was indeed quite unlucky. Sighing inwardly, Xiao Yan set aside these thoughts. He was not someone who hesitated indecisively, and he clearly distinguished between gratitude and enmity. Gratitude would be repaid, and enmity would be avenged. Han Xue had saved his life, and he felt a bit guilty for taking something from Han Yue. With such ties, if they asked for something, given Xiao Yan’s character, he naturally wouldn’t refuse, even if the cost was to offend the so-called Hong family.
“Today, I saw that Hong Chen; his strength is probably around the seven-star Battle Emperor level, similar to mine. Speaking of which, his cultivation talent is truly impressive,” Xiao Yan muttered to himself. Although his own talent was also excellent, he had cultivated alone without support. On the other hand, Hong Chen, not only had the support of his entire family but also the attention and cultivation from the Wind and Thunder Pavilion, so it was normal for him to achieve such levels. After all, there were countless hidden experts in the Central Continent, and he would encounter more in the future.
Although Hong Chen’s achievements surprised Xiao Yan, it was only up to a certain extent. With Xiao Yan’s current combat power, very few at the same level could defeat him. Dozens of peak Battle Emperors had fallen by his hands, and even Battle Sects found their names on his death list, let alone a seven-star Battle Emperor…
“After resolving this matter and repaying the favor, I will leave. Before the Alchemist Conference begins, if possible, I will try to break through to the Battle Sect level. Although it’s extremely difficult, to obtain the Heavenly Flame, I must try my best.”
Xiao Yan’s face grew somewhat serious. The Alchemist Conference was the most prestigious event for alchemists in the Dou Qi continent. No other event could compare to its scale. One could say that the conference represented the most outstanding competition in the alchemical world of the Dou Qi continent.
Facing such a high-stakes alchemy competition, even Xiao Yan had to take it seriously. Although he was now a sixth-grade alchemist, it was far from enough. Entering the top ten would be a great challenge.
The Heavenly Flame was a significant temptation for Xiao Yan. As long as he could successfully absorb it before breaking through to the Battle Sect level, he would have a fighting chance even against the legendary Dou Zuns. Therefore, to gain that qualification, he must enter the top ten no matter what!
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yan clenched his fist. He was also looking forward to this grand event. It was said that his teacher, Yao Lao, had once emerged from such an event and became the renowned Medicine Sage. As Yao Lao’s disciple, Xiao Yan naturally didn’t want to disappoint his teacher’s reputation.
Putting away many thoughts, Xiao Yan suddenly touched the white ring on his finger. His brows furrowed. Since the Heavenly Fire Venerable absorbed the soul force of the ferocious spirit, he had been in a deep sleep. If this former Dou Zun-level powerhouse could awaken, it would be a great help to Xiao Yan. Unfortunately, he couldn’t wake the Venerable using external forces without causing harm.
Sighing, Xiao Yan seemed to remember something. He flipped his palm, and a jade bottle with an invisible flame covering its mouth appeared in his hand. Faintly, one could hear sorrowful screams coming from inside the bottle.
A cold smile on his lips, Xiao Yan waved his finger over the bottle and then made a summoning gesture. A very weak soul, enveloped in an invisible flame, slowly rose and suspended in front of him.
At this moment, Han Feng, after being tormented by heart fire for so long, was extremely haggard. Heart fire could directly damage the soul, and the burning pain seeping from the depths of the soul was an unbearable torment for a spiritual body.
“Have you had enough?” Xiao Yan glanced indifferently at the illusory form of Han Feng.
At the sound of Xiao Yan’s voice, Han Feng’s body shuddered violently. The hateful gaze towards Xiao Yan now carried a hint of fear. During the time when he was roasted by the heart fire, it was hellish.
“What do you really want? Just kill me!” Han Feng’s voice was almost inaudible with weakness.
“Tell me where the Soul Sect is holding my teacher,” Xiao Yan said coldly.
“Ha ha, want to save that old guy? Do you really think just anyone can enter the Soul Sect?” Han Feng sneered.
“Ah!” As soon as the sneer fell, Xiao Yan waved his hand expressionlessly. The Falling Heart Flame surrounding Han Feng immediately contracted, tightly attaching itself to his body, causing puffs of white smoke and piercing screams.
“It seems you haven’t suffered enough yet. If so, then enjoy another six months,” Xiao Yan said, his voice emotionless. He waved his hand, ready to return Han Feng and the Falling Heart Flame to the jade bottle.
“No, no, I’ll tell, I’ll tell!” Seeing that Xiao Yan was about to seal him back into the bottle, Han Feng hurriedly gritted his teeth and shouted, enduring the burning pain.
Xiao Yan paused, the heart fire slowly dissipating. He glanced at Han Feng and said calmly, “You have one last chance. I’m not short of time. If I release you next time, it might be in half a year or a year. I hope you won’t be incinerated to nothing in the heart fire…”
Hearing this, Han Feng’s illusory body shivered intensely. Fear flashed in his eyes. After a moment, he finally spoke, “I’ll tell you where they’re keeping Yao Chen. Let me go?”
“You don’t have the right to bargain with me,” Xiao Yan’s face turned icy. The Falling Heart Flame was about to constrict again.
“Stop… stop… I’ll tell you…” Seeing this, the fear in Han Feng’s eyes grew. “The Soul Sect has a branch in the Western Region of the Central Continent, in a city called Dark City. Yao Chen is held there.”
“Central Continent, Western Region, Dark City.” Xiao Yan repeated the names slowly, his heart secretly surging with excitement. However, his tone remained calm. “How many people from the Soul Sect are guarding that place?”
“There are reportedly several Protectors and an Elder. That branch is important, so the Soul Sect assigned real powerhouses to guard it,” Han Feng added hesitantly.
“Elder?” Xiao Yan’s expression changed slightly at the word. He was no longer as ignorant about the Soul Sect as before. The term “Elder” was not new to him. This position was above ordinary Elders, and each Elder was a genuine Dou Zun.
“Could the grand hall I sensed through the fire mark be in Dark City? The terrifying soul force I felt was from that Elder guarding the place?” Xiao Yan’s eyes flickered, his thoughts swirling like a storm.
“If it’s true, I need to plan carefully. A Dou Zun… for my current strength, it’s too much. Even my strongest Fiery Lotus would probably not hurt them. After all, the difference between Dou Zun and Battle Sect is like the earth and sky…”
Thinking this, Xiao Yan let out a light sigh. Glancing at Han Feng coldly, he waved his sleeve, and the Falling Heart Flame enveloped the latter, drawing him back into the jade bottle. The flames rose and sealed the opening with a membrane.
“I hope you told the truth. Otherwise, you’ll wish you were dead!”
An ice-cold voice came from Xiao Yan’s lips, echoing into the jade bottle, causing Han Feng to shiver violently.
Tossing the jade bottle into the ring, Xiao Yan closed his eyes, focusing on recovering his strength. After resolving the matter here, he would explore the Central Continent and find a way to break through to the Battle Sect level.
As Xiao Yan entered a state of cultivation, the room returned to silence. The soft light flickered gently, gradually dispelling the darkness…
In the following two days, while Xiao Yan was cultivating and healing, the Han family collected all the medicinal herbs he needed. Han Xue then delivered them to his room.
With the herbs in hand, Xiao Yan closed the door. Outsiders could only sense the intense heat emanating from the room. But since Han Chi had already given strict orders, no one dared to disturb Xiao Yan, providing him with a peaceful environment for cultivation.
During this period, the three-day deadline set by the Hong family arrived…
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