Noticing that he had been discovered, Xiao Yan decided to reveal himself. His gaze swept over the black-clothed man, and with a smile, he said, “Just passing by, no need to be so tense, sir.” The black-clothed man fixed his cold and sharp eyes on Xiao Yan. Although the other appeared even younger than he, his well-honed senses from years of battle made him faintly sense a subtle danger. This revelation made him slightly startled. Though he knew that those who had arrived at this place were all capable, it was rare for someone to make him feel threatened.
“I am Tang Ying from the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion. I haven’t seen you before, have I?” The black-clothed youth bowed slightly towards Xiao Yan and spoke. He had heard a bit about the powerful young generation in the northern region of the Central Plains, but this person in front of him was indeed unfamiliar.
“Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion?” Hearing this, Xiao Yan felt a slight surprise. He hadn’t expected this person to be from the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion. Furthermore, he had heard the name Tang Ying before, a young prodigy who could rival Miss Feng from the Wind and Thunder Pavilion.
After a brief hesitation, Xiao Yan also clasped his fists and replied, “Xiao Yan.”
“Xiao Yan?” These two words brought a look of shock to Tang Ying’s stern face. Looking at Xiao Yan, he asked, “The Xiao Yan who has been in conflict with the Wind and Thunder Pavilion recently?”
Xiao Yan smiled and dismissed it lightly, “It’s just a minor clash, nothing serious.”
Hearing Xiao Yan’s indirect acknowledgment, Tang Ying’s gaze towards him changed slightly. He was aware of the conflict between Xiao Yan and the Wind and Thunder Pavilion. Breaking through the Nine-Heaven Lightning Prison Formation led by three elders showcased considerable strength, whether or not there was assistance from external forces. From this, it seemed that in the competition for the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool, besides the other three pavilions, there would now be another formidable opponent.
“A minor clash wouldn’t rouse an old monster like Fei Tian,” Tang Ying said, appearing not to be a talkative person. After a few casual remarks, he showed no intention of lingering. “Now is not the time for conversation. Hopefully, we’ll meet again at the Heavenly Mountain Platform and perhaps cooperate then.”
With that, without waiting for Xiao Yan’s reply, Tang Ying moved swiftly and disappeared into the dense fog in a blink.
Seeing how quickly he left, Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly. These people seemed to be very cautious. He wanted to find someone familiar with the route to travel together, but no one was willing to share their resources. If more people reached the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool, there would be more competitors. No one would willingly bring themselves more trouble…
“But what is this Heavenly Mountain Platform he mentioned? Sigh, unfamiliar with the place, and information is indeed limited,” Xiao Yan sighed lightly, frowning. Tapping the tree trunk with his toes, he dived down like a great eagle and plunged into the thick fog.
In his subsequent journey, Xiao Yan lost his earlier ease. The strength of the surrounding beasts increased gradually, many of them extremely troublesome. Even with his soul perception, Xiao Yan found it hard to slip away easily, forcing him to engage in combat, which significantly slowed his progress. Besides, there was no other way; lacking a map, he relied on the energy flow as a guide. The vastness and the dense fog of the Heavenly Eye Mountains made them a maze.
As he ventured deeper, the number of people around diminished. After meeting Tang Ying, Xiao Yan encountered only two more individuals, both at the Battle Emperor level. When he found them, they were locked in fierce combat with a tier-six beast. However, these two clearly lacked Tang Ying’s keen senses, so they did not notice Xiao Yan’s presence. After a quick look, he quietly left.
Time flew as Xiao Yan continued his journey, battling through the forest. As darkness fell, visibility dropped, eventually making it impossible to see even one’s fingers. With the night approaching, the beasts in the Heavenly Eye Mountains seemed to become more active. Roars echoed through the mountains, adding to the ominous atmosphere.
Such conditions were unsuitable for traveling. Even those with maps, like Miss Feng and Tang Ying, would likely halt. The day’s struggle and combat had drained everyone’s energy, and without a chance to recover, reaching the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool unscathed would be difficult.
Facing such poor conditions, Xiao Yan hesitated but eventually gritted his teeth, taking only a short rest before continuing.
Even though he followed the energy flow to gain a slight advantage, it didn’t widen the gap with Tang Ying. This was evident when, after meeting Tang Ying during the day, Xiao Yan failed to catch up despite his best efforts. To truly catch up, he had to travel through the night, though it was dangerous. Fortunately, his soul perception helped minimize the risks.
He stamped the tree trunk, causing the massive tree to shake, and his figure became a blurry shadow, darting through the dark forest.
*Bang!*
In the pitch-black forest, a figure suddenly flashed, and with a fierce palm strike, it slammed a hidden beast against a tree. Before it could roar, its life force faded.
*Xiu…*
In the darkness, the figure landed softly on a branch, breathing heavily. Raising a moonlight stone, its soft glow reflected off the surrounding fog, revealing Xiao Yan’s youthful face.
Traveling through the night was harder than he expected. Many strong and cunning beasts lurked in the dark, ready to ambush anyone. Without his soul perception, he would be injured multiple times. The dangers of the Heavenly Eye Mountains far exceeded his expectations.
Glancing at the beast’s corpse nearby, Xiao Yan took out a pill from his ring and swallowed it, sitting cross-legged to rest. A night of travel had drained him, especially after skirmishing with the challenging beasts.
After resting for nearly an hour, Xiao Yan opened his eyes, sensing the energy flow in the mountains, a hint of delight in his eyes. The sensation was becoming clearer, indicating he was getting closer to the destination.
“Push harder, hope to catch up before dawn…” Smiling, Xiao Yan leaped into the darkness, his figure becoming a shadow darting through the forest.
Throughout the night, Xiao Yan rarely rested, mostly traveling. His hard work paid off; he surpassed five or six people along the way, leaving them astonished at his audacity. Ignoring their shock, he noticed the light in the forest gradually brightening, signaling the end of the night.
As dawn approached, the highly active nocturnal beasts retreated, and their roars weakened. Xiao Yan landed on a towering tree, grasping the energy-laden fog with awe.
“The energy here is so dense, no wonder it can form the wondrous Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool. Must be deep in the Heavenly Eye Mountains…”
Xiao Yan muttered, his spirits rising. This meant the destination was near. A relieved smile graced his face as he prepared to move, but a clashing sound and energy explosions drew his attention.
Gazing around, he shook his head, intending to continue. Just then, a clear, beautiful yet icy voice pierced the fog, instantly freezing him.
This voice was enchanting and beautiful. Its owner must be a beauty, and the tone was painfully familiar to Xiao Yan.
Gripping the tree branch, Xiao Yan lifted his head and took a deep breath, a name he once knew well coming to his lips with a sense of nostalgia.
“Nalan Yanran.”
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