At the end of the lush mountains, a slender figure slowly emerged from the dark forest. With its appearance, a faint stench of blood and carnage spread out, and all the magical beasts within a ten-mile radius scrambled in fright, sensing the ominous aura. It took Xiao Yan nearly twenty days to traverse this mountain range, and he lived a life of wind and rain throughout, but despite the hardships, it was indeed an excellent place for training. Now, Xiao Yan appeared somewhat ragged, with bloodstains from various magical beasts on his clothes, and his hair wild like a savage. The initial feeling of danger seemed to have disappeared, but only those with keen senses could perceive that the dangerous aura had not vanished; it had merely been hidden in his bones.
A person who appears unassuming yet harbors a perilous air is truly dangerous because they can deliver a fatal blow without much warning. Standing at the end of the mountain range, Xiao Yan looked at the road below the peaks, watching the coming and going figures and the clamor of voices. He felt a little dazed. Cultivation was indeed a lonely and monotonous task, and to become a strong individual revered by others, one must put in effort and endure loneliness, which are unimaginable for ordinary people. He had understood this principle when he left Wu Tan City back then, and now, after years of reflection, he grasped it even more deeply.
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yan rubbed his temples. Due to the continuous tempering process, his clone was always undergoing the baptism of the Heavenly Fire Venerable’s heart flame. Although this was a great burden on his mental strength, as an alchemist, Xiao Yan had methods to alleviate fatigue, allowing him to adapt. “The energy tide in the Sky Eye Mountains should be starting soon, but thankfully, it’s not too far from here. With my speed, I can make it there in half a day…” Xiao Yan took out a map from his storage ring, examined it carefully, and then gazed northward, murmuring to himself. His back trembled, and a pair of emerald fire wings slowly unfolded.
After learning that his pair of bone wings belonged to the so-called Sky Demon Phoenix Clan, Xiao Yan became more cautious. The Sky Demon Phoenix Clan was undoubtedly more powerful than the Wind Lightning Pavilion, and he didn’t want to cause such significant trouble for himself. Therefore, he could only use his bone wings in critical moments, even though it would slow his speed. But for the sake of his life, he had to endure it, given the troublesome origin of that cursed magical beast corpse…
With the fire wings extended, Xiao Yan tapped the ground with his toes, and his body rose into the air. With a swoosh, he transformed into a trail of emerald flame, soaring toward the northern sky.
The Sky Eye Mountains were well-known across the entire north region of the Central Plains. The main reason for its fame was the Sky Mountain Blood Pool, which appeared every three years. Its effects were highly attractive to the majority, especially the younger generation, as it could help them break through cultivation bottlenecks more effectively. Of course, large forces also paid close attention to the Sky Mountain Blood Pool, as they were dedicated to cultivating their young talents.
Between the ranks of Battle Emperor and Battle Sect, there was a significant divide. On the Central Plains, a Battle Emperor could be considered a strong practitioner, but only a Battle Sect received the true respect and treatment of a powerful individual. For a family, if Battle Emperors were the core elite, then Battle Sects were the pinnacle of power. A family with even one Battle Sect would have a reputation and influence far greater than a family with ten Battle Emperors, none of whom were Battle Sects. This was the impact of a Battle Sect!
Naturally, if a family had a Dou Zun, even if the Dou Zun never managed the family’s affairs, the family would still become a formidable force. Powerful entities, even the Wind Lightning Pavilion, would treat them with great respect. In the Central Plains, a Dou Zun was a true top-tier powerhouse.
In the Jia Ma Empire or the Black Corner Region, having a Battle Emperor or Battle Sect was enough to be considered a first-class force, but in the Central Plains, it only amounted to a second-rate presence. As for Dou Sheng, possessing such a legendary figure made a faction stand out, and the struggles of regular forces seemed trivial to them.
This level was far beyond Xiao Yan and his companions. His current goal was to break through to Battle Sect, as only then could he meet Xun’er. The enigmatic Ancient Clan was not part of the so-called “One Tower, One Hall, Two Sects, Three Valleys, Four Pavilions” of the Central Plains, but Xiao Yan was sure that the Ancient Clan was not weaker than the Dan Tower or the Soul Temple. To take Xun’er away smoothly, he needed to demonstrate a level of strength they could not dispute. Hence, breaking through to Battle Sect was essential.
Although Xiao Yan was now a Nine-Star Battle Emperor and his cultivation had improved after twenty days of intense training in the forest, the gap to becoming a Battle Sect was still considerable. Nine-Star Battle Emperor was just one star away from Battle Sect, but that last step was where many talented geniuses faltered and met their end. The Sky Mountain Blood Pool’s ability to help break through cultivation bottlenecks therefore attracted countless young powerhouses and even major forces like the Wind Lightning Pavilion, who vied for one of the ten coveted spots.
In theory, such a precious resource should be monopolized by strong factions, but no force had succeeded in doing so. Even the Wind Lightning Pavilion found it challenging, as the resource’s value made it a target for many. The various factions, especially the Four Pavilions, checked each other’s ambitions, ensuring no one could claim the Blood Pool. Thus, the Sky Mountain Blood Pool remained unclaimed.
If there was any owner, the original resident beasts of the Sky Eye Mountains might qualify, but humanity would not be deterred by their presence. The allure of the Sky Mountain Blood Pool was enough to make anyone brave death for it.
After nearly five hours of non-stop travel, Xiao Yan finally saw the vast, cloud-shrouded Sky Eye Mountains on the horizon. These were the most majestic and towering mountains he had ever seen, far surpassing even the Magical Beast Mountains in the Jia Ma Empire. The dense clouds obscured most of the mountains, making it impossible to see what lay within. The clouds also contained a vast, awe-inspiring energy, chilling even Xiao Yan. No wonder no one dared to fly into the mountains—it was a dead-end in the sky.
High in the sky, Xiao Yan peered down at the entrance point of the mountain range, gazing at the dense black sea of people. He couldn’t help but feel a chill. Even though he knew the Sky Mountain Blood Pool’s allure, seeing such a massive crowd was still shocking. Securing one of the meager ten spots amidst the overwhelming competition was incredibly difficult.
With a wry smile, Xiao Yan chose a secluded spot and descended. A few blinks later, he landed on a treetop outside the Sky Eye Mountains. Looking around, he noticed many people sitting cross-legged on the treetops.
The Sky Eye Mountains, due to their perpetual cloud cover and the powerful magical beasts within, had only three safe entry points. Xiao Yan was at one of these, but the entrance was already overrun with people. Just as he sighed inwardly, a clear and resonant cry of a crane rang out from the distant sky, drawing the attention of everyone around.
Xiao Yan turned to look, spotting a giant, seven-colored crane flying rapidly towards the Sky Eye Mountains. Sunlight glinted off its colorful feathers, creating a dazzling spectacle.
“Is that a Seven-Colored Spiritual Crane? Isn’t that the mount of the Feng Miss from the Wind Lightning Pavilion?” Many surprised voices echoed.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan was taken aback, his brows furrowing. The Wind Lightning Pavilion again, it seemed.
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