The colossal, rainbow-hued giant crane spread its wings, and in the blink of an eye, it brought a fierce gale, appearing beyond the Celestial Vision Mountains. For a moment, almost all eyes were focused on the sky. The name of Miss Feng from the Wind and Thunder Pavilion resounded mightily in the northern domain of the Central Plains. Many people knew that this young lady possessed extraordinary cultivation talent, having been personally taken as a close disciple by the East Pavilion Master, Lord Donglao, of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion. It was rumored that she had the highest likelihood of becoming the next Pavilion Master among the younger generation. The strength of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion was, even in the Central Plains, considered one of the top. Whoever could control it would undoubtedly see their status skyrocket. Therefore, many people couldn’t help but envy her when they spoke about Miss Feng. This level of status was something that even an ordinary person, no matter how hard they worked for a lifetime, would find hard to attain.
Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on the treetop, his slightly narrowed eyes staring at the rainbow-hued giant crane in the sky. Faintly, he could see a slender and captivating figure at the crane’s head. “I wonder if Fei Tian followed her. If that old fiend is here too, then things will be quite troublesome.” Xiao Yan slowly glanced at the rainbow-hued giant crane, muttering to himself.
As Xiao Yan murmured, the rainbow-hued giant crane in the sky gradually descended, finally stopping a hundred meters above the ground. From this distance, he could clearly observe it. The first thing he saw was the elegant, colorful-robed figure on the crane’s head. The woman wore a vibrant, multicolored dress, radiating an indescribable noble aura. Her face was slightly gaunt, with a perfect oval shape, complemented by her gemstone-like, purple-brown eyes. This Miss Feng looked like a princess from some empire, beautiful and sacred, a stark contrast to the bustling crowd below.
However, the only flaw in her otherwise perfect visage was the coldness in her eyes, making her seem untouchable. But as they say, perfection is not flawless, and that bit of aloofness did not detract from Miss Feng’s stunning appearance. Her temperament and beauty were both superb, and even Xiao Yan felt a sense of admiration. Yet, his gaze quickly shifted to the two elderly figures standing behind her. These two looked fragile, but Xiao Yan’s expression turned serious when he saw them. Though they were not as formidable as Fei Tian, they were much stronger than the three Wind and Thunder North Pavilion Elders he had encountered earlier. Their strength was at least that of a six-star Douzong.
Though his look remained somewhat serious, Xiao Yan breathed a sigh of relief. It was fortunate that it wasn’t Fei Tian. Though two six-star Douzongs were still formidable, he would rather deal with them than Fei Tian. In the hands of that old fiend, Xiao Yan could barely escape, relying on both luck and wit.
“So, that’s Miss Feng of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion. Indeed, she lives up to her name, as proud as a phoenix,” thought Xiao Yan. “I didn’t expect that she would also be drawn to the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool. It seems that one of the ten spots must surely be hers.”
“Hey, that’s not certain. The Central Plains are filled with hidden talents. To obtain one of those ten spots, it’s not just about appearance and background. The terrain of the Celestial Vision Mountains is strange. If someone too powerful enters, it will trigger an energy surge, causing trouble. Inside the mountains, one can only rely on oneself. Even the guards of the sect won’t be very useful.”
Hearing the whispers around him, Xiao Yan’s thoughts drifted. So, the Celestial Vision Mountains could actually restrict the entry of the overly powerful? With that in mind, Fei Tian surely wouldn’t be able to enter. At this realization, Xiao Yan finally put his worries to rest. He truly feared that old fiend. “But with my vision, I can’t discern Miss Feng’s true strength. She must have something to conceal her aura. But I’m not afraid. As long as she doesn’t seek me out in the mountains, I have no reason to provoke her,” Xiao Yan mused softly, withdrawing his gaze.
Turning his gaze to the entrance of the Celestial Vision Mountains, Xiao Yan saw it teeming with people. However, few were entering the mountains at the moment. Everyone knew the mountains were home to many ferocious beasts. Entering now would be like inviting trouble. Thus, many were waiting for the energy surges to begin. Only then, with the suppressive power of the surges, would the beasts in the mountains be tamed. That would be the safest time to enter. In the coming days, the energy surges would begin, and the number of people rushing into the mountains would be terrifying. How many would reach the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool was uncertain. Now, they could only wait quietly.
Sighing softly, Xiao Yan closed his eyes, beginning to meditate. “Elder Mu, have the other three pavilions sent anyone to the Celestial Vision Mountains?” the multicolored-clad woman on the crane asked, her eyes scanning the sea of people below. Her voice was clear, with a hint of coldness.
“Heh, how could they not? The Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion’s Tianquan Sword Tang Ying, the Netherworld Pavilion’s Wang Chen, and the Starfall Pavilion’s Mu Qingluan. These are the most outstanding young cultivators from their respective pavilions, all at the peak of Battle Emperor. One soaking in the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool could help them break through to Battle Sect. No one would give up such an opportunity,” the green-robed elder behind her chuckled strangely.
Nodding slightly, the woman’s cold face showed a faint smile. “It seems this struggle for the blood pool will be quite lively.”
“Emissary, the Pavilion Master told you to be careful. The Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool has attracted many powerful young geniuses from the Northern Domain. Besides the three I mentioned, others also have the qualifications to compete with you. So, be cautious,” the red-robed elder beside her said slowly.
“Like that Xiao Yan?” the woman smiled, her tone icy.
“This man is a formidable enemy. On our way here, we met the North Pavilion Master, Fei Tian. Xiao Yan managed to escape from his grasp, a feat that less than five of his peers could achieve. You know the strength of the North Pavilion Master, so you understand how difficult it is. And there’s plenty of talk about him in the Wind and Thunder Pavilion recently. You must have heard,” the red-robed elder said gravely.
“Of course. Breaking through the Nine Heavens Thunder Prison Array set by the three elders of the North Pavilion, how could he be ordinary? But whether he achieved it with his own strength is another matter. In the Celestial Vision Mountains, excess energy will trigger surges. True capability is needed. Relying on external forces won’t work.”
“The fire elder, why are you praising him? Perhaps he has some talent, but it’s likely due to his powerful soul body. This advantage will vanish in the Celestial Vision Mountains. If Miss hasn’t met him, then well and good. If she does, simply kill him. This will win us the favor of the North Pavilion Master,” the green-robed elder laughed.
“Miss, the Pavilion Master said your strength is unparalleled below the Battle Sect. You can even challenge some Battle Sect-level experts. Don’t underestimate her,” he added.
The red-robed elder frowned, about to speak, but the woman gently shook her arm, saying, “Elder Fire, I know my limits. I’ll be careful.”
“Old man, I’m just reminding you. Whether Xiao Yan comes or not, who knows? After the North Pavilion Master’s hunt, even if he escaped, he’d be wary,” the red-robed elder smiled.
The woman smiled, her eyes scanning the crowd before closing them. She needed to wait for the energy surges and then reach the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool as quickly as possible. With the other three pavilions sending their best, this struggle would be interesting. She dismissed her thoughts on Xiao Yan, whose feats, while impressive, were largely attributed to his powerful soul body. His true strength was questioned, and she shared the doubt.
In the days that followed, the waiting continued. After nearly three days, the energy in the surroundings suddenly grew turbulent. Xiao Yan, sitting cross-legged on the treetop, opened his eyes, a peculiar light flashing in them. “So, it begins…”
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