In the courtyard, Xiaoyan gazed at Xiao Zhan amusing Xiaoxiao and listened to the laughter of the old and the young. He smiled slightly knowing, perhaps due to the connection of their bloodline over time, Xian Xiao had grown familiar with her unfamiliar grandfather. In her playful antics, she obviously regarded him as family, completely indifferent to his seniority.
“Master,” looking around at the courtyard, Xiaoyan turned and fixed his gaze upon Pharmacists Elder, who sat within the stone pavilion.
Pharmacist Elder held a teacup, took a gentle sip and then nodded, his brow lightly knitting together.
“The past few months have seen the father observing closely for signs across the Hoon dimensional domain and no movement of significant numbers of people going or coming have emerged, no more than the odd figure slipping through the seams.” Xuner voiced serenely and softly.
“Concerning that singular soul from the Clan who emerges individually, their trails end as they were snared. Alas, not one utterance more revealing was coerced from them.”
Xioyans brow furrored even tighter upon the news, for truly the Hoons should not stand silent so long. Their pursuit of Tuo She Ancient Emperors Jade endures millennia, year after year chasing a prize; and now that it is finally within their grasps would they remain idle in attainting that Emperor Doment of yore? Such apathy was beyond his understanding.
“What machinations brew within these Hoon’s minds?” mused Xiaoyan under heavy breath, and as he thought, impetuous frustration found little purchase on resolution here, with only remaining course open to wait and see what movement the Hoons stir. Attacking their realm outright now, as evidenced clearly after their prior engagement and their strength shown— an outright conquest likely would yield fruit as thin air and possibly ensnare their allies if ambushes laid in wait; a costly miscalculation indeed.
Regardless their Realm had long stood as a citadel entrenched for years, their strength a natural advantage of dominion as the locals— certainly something not favorable to Xiongyans group’s ambitions.
“We are still left with idle patience I suppose, for now…”Pharmacist elder murmured, placing his cup upon the saucer and exhaling a drawn sigh.
Xiao Yan responded to the sigh with another knowing smirk— they exchanged thoughts regarding further mundane affairs, as his vision flicked to twin silhouettes striding into the courtyard— he smiled warmly in response and moved forth to receive them.
“Bigs, second brother— “the figures entering strode forth, a pair of steps differing starkly — one hesitant, mechanical in motion while the other resolute and forceful in stride. Arriving figures: the pair known simply as Xiao Ding and Xiao Li upon return.
Though it was recent, for Xiaoding, who had previously walked in torment from the lingering effects of Hoon venom paralyzing his lower limbs was but a footnote in time. Under Xiaoyan’s might restoring full mobility— to remove that venomous chain’s residue is simplicity itself, even replacing entire limbs could hold small challenge now, if the occasion so demanded. Xiaoding’s awkward steps spoke more still to unaccustomed limbs not so seasoned yet in gait’s harmony.
As the brotherly trio reunited beneath shadowed eaves laughter flowed freely between them, and each brother stepped forward delivering a comradely jab at each other’s chests, smiles richly laced in the shared memories flowing in silent camaraderie between these kin bound alike by blood.
“I used to fret openly how you neglected An Yan Alliances, yet from whispers it seems here within Centrals’ heartland you’ve conjured another behemoth faction,” Xiao Ding banterled heartily at him.
A faint smile brushed upon the lips of an exaspereted Xiao Yan. Administration had remained unenticing for his talents; founding An Yan Alliance birth merely from necessity as he sought protective bastion for the clans’ safety when he himself would wander beyond reach. Similarly, forming the Celestial Alliiance of Center solely driven further against Hun Clan, no true ambitions to shepherd such conglomerates lay with him.
“Yet An Yan’s affairs far from neglected— they fare adequately? No lurking clouds on their horizons?”
“Not quite!” Xiao Ding smiled affirming, while Xiao Ni wore his ever inscrutable countenance, gaze narrow and guarded — a chilling visage that once commanded fear even from underling ranks in their domain where whispers of his approach kept men rigid as arrows.
Though should word spread regarding what hidden powers An Yang’s leader yet commanded amidst central powers? One glance likely ensured their capitulation to dominion.
The mirth faded a moment into thought before Xiao Ni recalled: “The day before, my channels carried missives— Black Rift domain stirs as unidentified yet strangely familiar adversaries prowl, bearing the uncanny aura of long since past opponents in Hun sect engagements. Upon the revelation,Xiaoyan sat startled only to fall into bitter reminiscence upon realization; long ago, he alongside Xiao Ni once laid foundation for another bastion of strength hidden under a guise of a sect known only as Xiao Sect nestled deep in shadowy Black Rift…
How strange, a being never one fond or fluent in governance still managed scattering his mark across numerous ventures scattered beyond reckoning in distant locales. It was a humorous twist really how his life had spun thus.
“Likely remnants from the clan’s order still hidden. Hun clan had its scattered branch-temples elsewhere far outside Centrals’ reach — but their strength compared to here paled.” Xiao Yan reasoned unconcernedly.
“It was not particularly surprising to him. He had received such intel with frequency lately as well, and therefore paid it no undue mind.”
“Aye then…” Hearing the analysis Xiao Ni simply nodded: “Shall I dispatch instructions — our sect networks and Garlands’ Academy may handle matters in those zones?” Hearing Garlands’ name recalled suddenly something vivid in Xiaoyans mind as his visage stilled and his body briefly seized in epiphany. Then, turning sharply upward an eagerness now danced behind his eyes, pupils dilating as excitement flared uncontained.
“A secret cave within the Lava Deep!”
His sudden outburst startled all within the courtyard who promptly gathered close anxiously to discern his alarm.
“What is it?”
Eager elation broke freely upon the face of Xiaoyan as gripping gently on the Cai Lin radiant wrists he excitedly cried:
“Do you recall, deep beneath Gaining Academy lies hidden volcanic world where all that flame flows within that deep pit? There! That infernal abyss beneath!”
Upon mention the normally pale stoic visage of Cai Lin flared instantly vivid in rosy hue — an intense gaze now fixated at her accuser — a mix of embarrassment with seething indignation coloring her normally icy beauty. For she remembered too well its recollection— it had transpired solely within those subterranean magma halls where a battle maddened Xiao Yan had seized opportunity by raw force during her vulnerable moment and left behind more memories than she cared for.
At the memory she responded reflexively: pinching mercilessly upon his skin as a verbal answer.
Caught so, Xiao Yan grimaced momentarily under her grip, then noting the fiery reproof glowing in her expression realized all too slowly the cause— sheepishly recalling events that now hung heavily between them, causing sudden tension as embarrassment flowed mutually through him as well.
He nervously chuckled, a little uneasy laugh that escaped him as he tried to smooth over past misdeeds while mentally chastizing past behavior’s rashness. For in the chaos then he’d pursued escape with haste while fleeing unknown threats lurking that day in those very magma depths without any chance for deeper examination back then— now revisiting those memory banks it indeed appeared that mysterious infernal world may yet possess significance tied with Tuo She Ancient Emperors Vault!
The jade token — so silent all those years past ever while at his possession… the entire time no flickers of strange signs had ever shown, not till once! Only at the time upon Garlands Academy’s molten underworld depths had the mystical token trembled in resonance— that singular, one-of-a-kind awakening.
Thus it was this place, buried beneath volcanic heat layers perhaps holds long awaited key to ancient chambers yet undiscovered!
“Go call ten high Sovereign Saint Masters within the armies— gather, we march with the Healers Lady! Cai Lin, Xuner, you accompany me. ” he commanded with clarity, wasting no time at his decision.
At the suddenness, all stood slightly stunned by his orders echoing in query:
“And to where do we now march?!”
“To Garlands Academy,” He declared solemnly. “There may well be hidden clues pointing further toward the hidden Emperors domain, and if my instincts guide me correctly this time, answers finally beckon us forth!”
The others, upon hearing his words exchanged startled, knowing gazes filled with realization— this may just hold the weighty truth.
“It serves us well that passage tunnels connecting us already link Centrals with NorWest territories we constructed earlier; allow I shall proceed first ahead and prepare our landing, while you master inform Elder Gu He as well as Lord Lei Ying and Fire Patriarch master Yun.”
“As you say it, Xiao Yan!”
Pharmacists elder responded gravely, if such truths emerged then indeed they approached a watershed moment.
“And yet,” He hastened to add, “remain vigilant in surveillance. Should any gathering mass forces stir within Hun domains, be swift to mobilize reinforcements to contain the Rift Zone swiftly.”
“Of that you can rest assured,” the elder responded knowingly.
Seeing that all commands laid out clearly Xiaoyan greeted the patriarch’s form respectfully then set forth with his twin ladies by side striding off together in a brisk pace, purpose lighting their strides.
Watching their disappearing shadow retreat, Elder Pharmacists form too spun around rapidly advancing towards his counsel’s chamber in solemn haste.
Within a temple wreathed black amidst surging flame stood the Emperor— High Sovereign Hun poised above on high as he stared distantly at kneeling figure below murmuring cold orders:
“Reporting to you my lord, after exhaustive investigation through the span past, five potential locations matching the jade descriptions arise… but with closer inspection among these one particularly aligned beyond comparison.”
“Aha?” a gleam sparked in his eye, an uncharacteristic grin forming slightly as if to relish this news as it were an indulgence:
“Proceed.”
“Blackrift it calls itself… though many factions contest and dominate that region, the landscape mirrors in uncanny fidelity to what our ancestral jade depicts!”
At mention, the High Lords’ fingers twitched in anticipation.
“Do you affirm this location?”
“Affirm. We’ve verified it.”
“And where might our nearest forces await my order?”
“Hun悠长老 patrols these lands currently and has stewardship over domains within the region outside Central domain command.” A shadowy form offered in reply.
“Send word— command Hun you, must dispatch all external Hun殿 elements to rally, march upon Blackrift as cleansing fire falls! Make it clear— he knows how he must act!” he issued impassively cold into air.
“As he says — so shall orders go!” replied the servant, bowing low as he silently exited.
Leaning back upon high as gaze lingered upon empty spaces the Sovereign Emperors smirk slowly widened from smirk into thunderous peals of triumph echoing in blackened halls.
“It draws nigh at last. Tuo She, the Emperor’s Vault — yours and mine!”
(Freetext this Chapter-)
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