A clear and bright laughter suddenly echoed, causing a slight pause within the grand hall. In an instant, all eyes swiftly turned towards the entrance where sunlight poured down from the sky. A slender figure slowly appeared under everyone’s gaze. “Xiao Yan!”
The moment that figure appeared, Wind Venerable, Firecloud Ancestor, and others in the great hall shuddered, their faces filled with disbelief. They couldn’t help but exclaim in astonishment.
“Xiao Yan? Is he the direct disciple of the alliance leader?”
Due to the growth of Heavenly Mansion, some high-ranking officials within the great hall were somewhat vague about Xiao Yan’s appearance. Although his face was blurry to them, they were very clear about his status within Heavenly Mansion. If Old Medicine Elder was the leader of the Heavenly Mansion Alliance, then the latter was the spiritual leader…
“Bang!”
Old Medicine Elder also opened his mouth slightly, his eyes fixated on the approaching figure. The vast battle aura within him burst out due to the fluctuation of his emotions, shattering the chair he sat on into powder. However, he paid no attention to this and trembled as he stood up, his eyes unexpectedly becoming moist. During the two years of Xiao Yan’s disappearance, he had been constantly worried about him. Having no wife or children, Xiao Yan was the closest person to him. If he had known that leaving the Demon Flame Space would cause such worry, he would have chosen to stay behind without hesitation.
Other high-ranking officials of the Heavenly Mansion Alliance, seeing Old Medicine Elder’s excited appearance, were quite surprised. In recent years, Old Medicine Elder had shown them a calm demeanor like a well, even facing the massive Soul Temple, there was never any emotional fluctuation. But now, this emotional outpouring was something they had seen for the first time in years.
Under the gaze of the eyes in the great hall, Xiao Yan’s figure faintly moved and appeared before Old Medicine Elder. Looking at the elderly man who was so agitated that he was shedding tears, he felt a bit guilty. His disappearance for two years had caused too much worry.
“Teacher, I’m back…”
Facing each other, both master and disciple were overwhelmed with emotions, but in the end, it turned into a heartfelt sigh.
“Haha, good, good, you’re back…”
Old Medicine Elder wiped away his tears, and the aged face that had been tight most of the time in the past two years finally showed a smile. His withered hands patted Xiao Yan’s shoulder repeatedly, mumbling the same words over and over.
“Haha, Old Medicine, I always said this little guy wouldn’t be short-lived. Now you should believe me, right?” Firecloud Ancestor laughed, visibly relieved that Xiao Yan had returned safely. This boy seemed to have a magical power like a tranquilizing pill, making everyone’s tense hearts relax immediately upon seeing him.
“Haha, the young alliance leader is truly a timely rain. This time, he will be able to relieve some of the pressure in the alliance. When the time comes, the two of us working together should be able to hold back the Soul Temple’s lord,” the Great Elder of the Dan Tower also smiled, pleased.
“With his current strength, handling the Soul Temple’s lord alone is no longer a problem.”
The Great Elder’s words had just dropped when Xiao Chen, sitting in the corner, spoke with a light smile. Upon hearing this, the Great Elder, Old Medicine Elder, and others were stunned, and their eyes turned to Xiao Yan with a mixture of shock. Xiao Chen was the strongest person here; if he said this, no one would doubt it.
“You’ve refined the Pure Lotus Demon Flame?”
Old Medicine Elder reacted the fastest, and after a moment of surprise, he blurted out.
“Fortunately…”
Xiao Yan smiled slightly.
“This… this boy…”
Seeing that Xiao Yan did not deny it, Firecloud Ancestor and others sucked in a cold breath, exchanging glances, revealing a tinge of shock in their eyes. They had all entered the Demon Flame Space, and were fully aware of the terrifying power of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame. Even the old ancestors of the Dan Tower, powerful figures in their own right, had never gained the upper hand against it. Initially, they thought Xiao Yan’s escape from the Demon Flame Space was already a lucky break. As for subduing the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, honestly, they had never considered it from the moment Xiao Yan appeared until now.
Because the Pure Lotus Demon Flame was too terrifying. Over the past few thousand years, there had been many experts with far greater strength than Xiao Yan who had attempted to subdue it, but all had failed. There was no exception!
“Good, haha, good!”
After the initial shock, Old Medicine Elder regained his composure, his aged face filled with joy. The Pure Lotus Demon Flame, such a unique flame, was almost an unattainable divine object for alchemists. Since the Holy Demon Emperor had subdued it, no one else had been able to tame it again. This time, Xiao Yan had created another miracle. With the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, Old Medicine Elder was completely confident that Xiao Yan could single-handedly fight the Soul Temple’s lord without losing!
“With the young alliance leader’s assistance, we have a way to deal with the Soul Temple’s attack. This is truly a happy occasion,” the Great Elder said with a smile. If Xiao Yan could handle the Soul Temple’s lord alone, it would be best. This way, he could also focus elsewhere, reducing the pressure on the alliance significantly.
“Haha, the young alliance leader is truly a blessing for the alliance.”
The other high-ranking officials in the great hall also hurriedly applauded with a respectful and joyous tone. Although they had some say in the alliance, they knew that the status between them and Xiao Yan was incomparable. The Heavenly Mansion Alliance was created by Xiao Yan, with a lot of effort and dedication. Although Old Medicine Elder held the position of alliance leader, core figures like Firecloud Ancestor knew that Old Medicine Elder was essentially helping Xiao Yan manage this titanic force. The center of the entire alliance actually belonged to one person—Xiao Yan.
For the unfamiliar but enthusiastic and reverent faces, Xiao Yan did not show any coldness. He chatted briefly with everyone, which made many normally arrogant people feel flattered.
“Haha, let’s stop here for today. Everyone, return to your posts, organize your troops, and monitor the Soul Temple’s every move. Since they want to engage us in a final battle, we will show them that our current alliance is unafraid of the Soul Temple!”
“Yes!”
Hearing Old Medicine Elder’s rousing call to battle, everyone’s hearts were stirred with passion. The friction between the two major forces in the past two years had widened the gap, and now, they were finally ready for a fierce clash, which suited many people’s desires. Moreover, this final battle would determine the dominant force in the Central State!
The confrontation between the old and new—Soul Temple and the emerging alliance—would soon make the entire Central State boil with excitement!
As the meeting in the great hall concluded, Xiao Yan once again discussed some matters large and small within the Heavenly Mansion Alliance with the still excited Old Medicine Elder and others before finally returning to the quiet courtyard he had left two years ago.
“Daddy.”
As soon as Xiao Yan entered the courtyard, a familiar, joyful voice sounded, and a small figure soared through the air, darting straight towards him.
“Haha, the little girl has grown quite a bit…”
Xiao Yan stretched out his arms with a smile, holding the tiny figure steadily in his arms. Staring at Xiaoxiao’s happy and innocent face, a warm feeling flooded his heart. This was his home, no matter what dangers he faced outside, stepping into this place always swiftly washed away his weariness.
“She heard that you were coming back and has been waiting for you since then.”
While Xiao Yan held and cuddled Xiaoxiao, a gentle, soft voice sounded in front of him. Lifting his gaze, he saw Little Healer Immortal dressed in a dark blue robe, smiling at him. She had become even more gentle and composed in the two years since he last saw her. The soothing and gentle manner emanating from her made one feel entranced.
“Battlesaint?”
Xiao Yan, holding Xiaoxiao, looked at Little Healer Immortal and smiled. With his keen perception, he naturally noticed her current strength. A one-star Battlesaint—it had taken her two years to break through that barrier and leap beyond the Demi-Saint level, reaching the one-star Battlesaint. This speed was quite impressive.
“Thanks to the drop of Holy Demon’s blood back then,” Little Healer Immortal smiled slightly, and then noticing Xiao Yan’s scanning gaze, she added, “Since she entered the Nine Hells Yellow Springs, Caifeng hasn’t come out, but don’t worry, Qing Lin and I go to the Netherworld Spirit Python every now and then. We can sense her presence, but we can’t enter the bottom of the Yellow Springs…”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan couldn’t help but change his expression. Time-wise, Caifeng had been in the Nine Hells Yellow Springs for nearly three years. He had been to the bottom of the Yellow Springs too and hadn’t sensed anything unusual.
“Could it be the deeper depths?” Xiao Yan furrowed his brows. The Nine Hells Yellow Springs led to the deepest parts of the earth, and the cold yin energy there was something even he dared not venture into deeply. If there were any opportunities, they could only be in those depths. Caifeng, as a multicolored swallowing sky python, might have encountered some fortune after coming into contact with such extreme yin energy.
“It seems I’ll have to head to the Netherworld Spirit Pythons after settling the alliance’s affairs…”
Xiao Yan shook his head, temporarily suppressing his worries. The most urgent matter now was to deal with the Soul Temple, this massive trouble!
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