In the serene courtyard, Xiao Yan sat on a stone chair, gazing at the slightly yellowing leaves, and couldn’t help but sigh softly. Turning his head, he looked at a figure at the courtyard gate and smiled, “Second Brother, you’ve come?”
Xiao Li, standing at the gate, nodded and slowly walked into the courtyard. After a brief silence, he said, “I just rushed over from the Xiao Sect. The Great Elder told me you’re planning to leave?”
Xiao Yan laughed, “It’s time for me to go. Staying here won’t give me the strength to truly stand up to the Soul Palace.”
“You always take the lead… But this place is indeed too small for you now. The Central Plains might be the most suitable for you.” Xiao Li sighed with a hint of dejection, staring at Xiao Yan, and feeling a sense of admiration. The once naive youth had, without him noticing, grown to such a formidable height.
Seeing the slightly downcast Xiao Li, a pang of emotion struck Xiao Yan. This departure was different from previous ones. The distance between the Central Plains, Black-Corner Region, and the Jia Ma Empire was almost immeasurable. Thus, it was uncertain when he would return next.
Noticing Xiao Yan’s slight silence, Xiao Li quickly rallied his spirits. He patted Xiao Yan’s shoulder and smiled, “Stop being so sentimental. If our big brother knew I was trying to hold you back, he’d probably scold me harshly.”
Mentioning their big brother, Xiao Yan felt a warmth in his heart. “After I leave, Second Brother, manage the Xiao Sect well. With the Stronghold Gate as a successor, the potential for the Xiao Sect’s development is limitless. Who knows, by the time I return, the Xiao Sect might have become the ruler of the entire Black-Corner Region…”
Xiao Li grinned confidently, “You can rest assured. That scenario is just a matter of time.”
Seeing this, Xiao Yan also smiled, shaking his head, “Don’t underestimate these guys in the Black-Corner Region. But I’ve already spoken to the Great Elder. He’ll do his best to assist you. The Jia Nan Academy and the Black-Corner Region have always been at odds, often making them a common target. Now, with the Xiao Sect, the Jia Nan Academy can have an ally. With the Xiao Sect’s growing influence, it will help the Jia Nan Academy escape that awkward situation completely.”
Xiao Li nodded, “Rest assured. You leave me a complete Xiao Sect, and I’ll return one that’s several times stronger than it is today.”
Xiao Yan smiled, then hesitated slightly, taking out a jade bottle from his storage ring. Inside the bottle was a purple-red pill. He rubbed the bottle with his hand, then handed it to Xiao Li. “When I leave, please send someone to deliver this pill to Jia Ma Empire and hand it directly to Cai Lin.”
“Cai Lin? The Queen Medusa?” Hearing this name, Xiao Li paused slightly, but he understood the relationship between Cai Lin and Xiao Yan. He nodded, not asking for further details, and carefully placed the pill in his storage ring. “Brother, rest assured. When I have time, I will personally deliver the pill to Jia Ma Empire.”
Xiao Yan smiled and nodded, saying softly, “Also, keep in touch with our big brother. The Flame Alliance is now at its peak in the Jia Ma Empire. With Cai Lin guarding it, as long as the true powerhouses of the Soul Palace don’t intervene, the Flame Alliance should be safe. In the future, if the Xiao Sect grows stronger, we can dominate the northwest region with the Flame Alliance.”
“Yes,” Xiao Li nodded, then looked at Xiao Yan, “When will you return after this departure?”
Xiao Yan was silent for a moment, then shook his head, saying softly, “I don’t know…”
“Then, when will you leave?”
“Tomorrow.”
Hearing this, Xiao Li couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. He stepped forward and gave Xiao Yan a strong hug, slapping his back hard. “Take care of yourself, kid. Remember what our big brother said: the Xiao Clan can’t be without you, and only you have the ability to save Father!”
Hearing the suddenly hoarse voice of Xiao Li, even someone like Xiao Yan couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion in his eyes.
“Take care, Second Brother.”
The next day, warm sunlight poured down from the sky, illuminating the courtyard gate. There, a crowd of people bustled, their eyes fixed on the small hill outside the courtyard where a few figures stood straight.
“Great Elder, Second Brother, let’s stop here.”
Xiao Yan smiled at Su Qian and Xiao Li, then turned to Wu Hao and the numerous inner sect students behind them. “Thank you, Great Elder. We have too many people, and Xing Lan hasn’t reached Dou Wang level yet and can’t fly. So this griffin will be useful for traveling.”
Su Qian, looking at the smiling black-clothed young man, felt a bit emotional. “As you mentioned, this griffin will help you travel.”
As soon as Su Qian finished speaking, a large shadow descended from the sky, bringing a sharp eagle’s cry. The huge wings flapped, creating a strong wind that bent the surrounding trees.
“Thanks, Great Elder.”
Seeing the griffin, Xiao Yan felt warmed and bowed to Su Qian with a smile. After saying this, Xiao Yan, seemingly not wanting to linger in the farewell mood, moved to the griffin. Little Healer Immortal, Zi Yan, and Xing Lan followed closely. Fortunately, the griffin’s back was spacious, so the four of them didn’t feel crowded.
“Xiao Yan, take care on your journey!” Xiao Li shouted again, watching the griffin slowly flap its wings.
Standing on the griffin’s large head, Xiao Yan nodded to Xiao Li. His gaze swept over the crowd, and he finally took a deep breath, waving his sleeve. A gust of wind carried the griffin into the air.
“Chief, take care!” As the griffin ascended, a loud cheer erupted from the courtyard gate. Xiao Yan turned slightly and saw many members of the Stronghold Gate, their faces flushed as they shouted.
Smiling, Xiao Yan bowed to the crowd below, and his laughter gradually faded as the griffin rose higher. “The mountains may turn, but the waters will find their way. Farewell, everyone. If fate permits, see you in the Central Plains!”
His laughter echoed down, and the griffin became a small dot in the sky, quickly disappearing from view. The lingering sound left many with a sense of melancholy.
Su Qian slowly withdrew his gaze and turned to Xiao Li, smiling. “Don’t worry. With that kid’s character, he’ll do well in the Central Plains.”
“He’s the pride of the Xiao family,” Xiao Li smiled, his words filled with a sense of pride.
“I believe he’ll be the pride of the Jia Nan Academy, too,” Su Qian laughed, then turned and walked towards the inner sect. “I wonder what kind of scene it would be if he met the principal in the Central Plains? With the principal’s personality, hehe.”
Hearing Su Qian’s strange laugh, the people at the gate looked at each other, then followed him, puzzled.
High in the sky, the massive griffin flapped its wings, a faint light barrier spreading from its body, blocking the strong wind.
Xiao Yan stood on the griffin’s back, his gaze slowly retreating from the direction of the disappeared inner sect, a hint of melancholy in his expression.
“Do you really need to take this girl along?” Little Healer Immortal seemed to sense Xiao Yan’s dejection and changed the subject. Her beautiful eyes shifted to the excited face of Zi Yan, and she asked softly.
Xiao Yan pulled himself together and glanced at Zi Yan, saying helplessly, “The Great Elder asked me to take her, saying that she might unveil some secrets of her true form in the Central Plains.”
“Hmph, I’m already at the Battle Emperor level. Do you think I’ll hold you back?” Although their conversation was soft, Zi Yan heard it and glared, dissatisfied.
Xiao Yan chuckled and patted Zi Yan’s head, not arguing. He looked at Xing Lan and smiled, “You’ll need to guide us on the journey ahead.”
Xing Lan nodded, smiling. She looked into the distance and said, “To go to the Central Plains, we need to reach a city called Tianya City. From there, we can use a spatial wormhole to get to the Central Plains.”
“Space wormhole?” The unfamiliar name made Xiao Yan pause.
Seeing his confusion, Xing Lan smiled and explained, “Spatial wormholes are unique to the Central Plains. They are created by Dou Zuns using spatial powers to connect two points. The distance between the Black-Corner Region and the Central Plains is such that even a Battle Sect would need at least half a year to cross. But through a spatial wormhole, it takes only a month. However, building and maintaining these wormholes is difficult, and the maintenance personnel must be at least Battle Sects. Therefore, apart from the Central Plains, they rarely appear elsewhere.”
Xiao Yan was stunned. Spatial wormholes? Requiring Battle Sects for maintenance? Such incredible and novel things existed in the Central Plains? At this moment, he felt like a country bumpkin entering the city.
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