Chapter 240: Departure
Since being hosted by the royal family, Xiao Yuan hadn't accepted any further invitations from other factions. Most of his days were spent either personally guiding Xiao Yu in Dou Technique training at the Xiao residence, or discussing the future development of the Mittel Clan with Ya Fei—where they both deeply "explored" each other's ideas.
Beyond that, he occasionally visited the Yunlan Sect to cultivate with Yun Yun. He even offered guidance to some elders and disciples, gaining significant prestige within the sect. As for his previous conflict with Yun Shan, no one dared to bring it up again.
After all, everyone had witnessed firsthand how the old sect master had lost his mind, brought calamity upon the sect, and caused many elders to die. If not for Yun Yun bringing in Xiao Yuan to stabilize things, the Yunlan Sect's prestige in the Jia Ma Empire might have crumbled.
Later on, some elders even proposed stripping Yun Shan of his sect master title posthumously and forbidding his remains from being placed within the ancestral tombs, so as not to sully the honor of past sect forebears.
Yun Yun knew there was no way Yun Shan could ever be honored among the sect's ancestors. So she had his body buried somewhere scenic—at least he got a nice view.
As for Xiao Yuan? Thanks to the elders' "refinement" of the story, he had now become the disciple Yun Yun accepted on behalf of her own master, Grandmaster Yun Potian. In this version, he was the one who had guided the sect back to righteousness and purged the traitors led by Yun Shan. Thus, Xiao Yuan became the new Supreme Elder of the Yunlan Sect.
Xiao Yuan found it both absurd and amusing. Now, even Yun Yun was technically his junior in the sect hierarchy.
Not to mention… being a Supreme Elder under the age of twenty was just plain awkward.
But what could he do? He had learned all the sect's high-tier Dou Techniques and even "stolen" their sect master.
On the plus side, the Yunlan Sect's reputation had rebounded considerably. Very few knew the real story, and most were willing to give Supreme Elder Xiao Yuan face. No one would dare challenge the official narrative.
In the Jia Ma Empire, the Yunlan Sect, supported by a Dou Huang like Yun Yun, still held considerable power. Add Xiao Yuan's now-soaring fame, and recruitment was even more lively than previous years.
The only one still bitter about it all was the sect's guest elder and sixth-tier alchemist—Dan King Gu He.
Xiao Yuan's message to him:
Master Gu He, surely you don't want to be cut off from alchemical resources, right?
And you wouldn't want to be branded a traitor alongside Yun Shan, would you?
After a few blunt threats and some gentle persuasion, even Gu He had no choice but to "voluntarily" remain in the sect as a guest elder.
Then he had to watch with his own eyes as Xiao Yuan casually refined batch after batch of sixth-tier pills in his own former alchemy room—with higher quality than his own.
Gu He was utterly speechless.
Compared to this little monster, no wonder he had lost so badly.
Ironically, once his pride was gone, he got along surprisingly well with Xiao Yuan. They often discussed alchemy together, learning from each other. Eventually, Gu He even started calling him "Brother Xiao Yuan," humbling himself as "younger brother."
Even Yun Yun was stunned by this strange turn of events.
For the Yunlan Sect to grow stronger in such a roundabout way felt surreal to her. But now that the sect was on the rise, she couldn't afford to leave. Her original plan to explore the Dou Qi Continent with Xiao Yuan had to be postponed. Once Nalan Yanran emerged from the Life-and-Death Gate, she would step down.
It might seem a little like throwing her student into the fire, but…
If Yanran succeeds, she'll likely reach peak Dou Wang. That's enough to run the sect. I haven't been a great leader anyway. Handing over the reins is totally reasonable.
Resting her cheek on her hand, Yun Yun calmly plotted out her disciple's fate.
Then her gaze drifted to Xiao Yuan, who was mentoring disciples not far away. He wore the Yunlan Sect's traditional blue-and-white robes, adorned with vivid cloud and sword patterns. Over the past three months, he'd advanced once again—now a six-star Dou Huang—and his presence radiated a lofty aura befitting a sect elder.
Swish!
Suddenly, a flash of blue light descended upon the sect, chilling the surrounding air.
It was Hai Bodong, now an eight-star Dou Huang.
Over the past three months, Xiao Yuan had followed one of Yao Lao's recipes to craft several pills tailored for Hai Bodong's condition. With the help of an Emperor's Extreme Pill, Hai Lao was pushed up to eight-star Dou Huang. If not for concerns about unstable Dou Qi, Xiao Yuan could've bombarded him with enough pills to reach peak Dou Huang on the spot. Once his foundation was solid, breaking through to Dou Zong would be just a matter of time.
Hai Bodong himself kept saying he hadn't misjudged Xiao Yuan. If Xiao Yuan hadn't stopped him, Hai Lao would've insisted on a blood oath of brotherhood.
"Hai Lao, what brings you here in such a rush?"
Xiao Yuan asked, puzzled.
"Message from Xiao Yu—Xiao Yan has emerged from seclusion. Also, there's some unrest between Black-Corner Region and Canaan Academy. You're needed at the academy."
Hai Bodong spoke quickly.
Two months ago, Xiao Yu had returned to the academy under Lin Xiuya's escort.
Unlike Xiao Yuan, they still needed the Inner Academy's training speed.
Zi Yan, however, stayed behind to hunt for herbs (and eat her weight in pills). She had now reached peak Dou Wang and was on the verge of breaking through.
"Black-Corner Region? Are they insane? Challenging Canaan Academy?!"
Xiao Yuan frowned. His old "friend" Han Feng had long since been reduced to ash. Who else had the power to stir up trouble in Black-Corner Region?
"It's serious. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come in person."
Hai Bodong shook his head gravely.
"Alright. I'll leave immediately."
Xiao Yuan's expression turned grim. In a flash, he appeared beside Yun Yun.
"Yun-jie, something urgent's come up. I have to go. I sensed earlier—Yanran will emerge within a year and a half. If I'm not back by then, come to Canaan Academy. This ring has pills I made for you. Don't hoard them—take them and grow stronger."
He pressed a ring into her palm, then tossed two more to Hai Bodong.
"Hai Lao, one is for you. The other, please deliver to Ya Fei. I won't be stopping home—I'm heading out now."
Without another word, Xiao Yuan vanished into the wind.
Both Yun Yun and Hai Bodong were left staring, dumbfounded.
"This kid sure is in a hurry..."
"Zi Yan, we're leaving!"
Xiao Yuan said sternly. Before she could respond, he grabbed her and vanished in a blur of green light.
Long after they disappeared, a black mist slithered out from the shadows.
"…So fast?"
A low, puzzled voice murmured from within.
—Three days later, atop a mountain outside Sky Poison City—
Xiao Yuan reunited with Zi Yan and Xiao Yi Xian.
Gazing at the enormous city below, he exhaled slowly and asked softly:
"Have you really decided to come with me?"
"I've finished my business here. Even if I come back and everything's gone, I can just rebuild it. It's not like I care that much."
Xiao Yi Xiang shrugged. She'd founded the Poison Sect on a whim—losing it wouldn't bother her.
"Let's go. Something's happened at the academy."
Xiao Yuan nodded, his expression serious.
Xiao Yi Xiang looked at him strangely but said nothing. She just followed as the trio took off into the sky.
Their speed was so great that even powerful experts in the Cloud Empire could only watch them streak past like shooting stars—and quickly dismissed any thoughts of chasing them.
The Cloud Empire was vast. Even at their speed, it took two full days to reach the border.
This time, with only three people, they didn't bother with flying beasts. Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yi Xian, both Dou Huang experts, could travel far faster with Dou Qi wings. And Zi Yan… well, she just clung to Xiao Yuan, expending almost no energy.
During the journey, Xiao Yi Xiang noticed that Xiao Yuan occasionally released a strange force to cloak their presence. Though she was curious, she didn't ask.
After nearly a month of flying nonstop, the endless black plains came into view—stretching far beyond the horizon.
Upon seeing the familiar terrain, Xiao Yuan finally relaxed a little.
"We're here—Black-Corner Region."
Xiao Yi Xiang smiled faintly and gazed at the massive black plains.
Xiao Yuan had traveled this way before and knew the route well. Once they crossed the plains, they'd enter the Black-Corner Region proper.
After a short rest, they resumed flying.
At their current speed, they crossed the plains in just two hours—far better than the two or three days it had taken last time.
Once across, Xiao Yuan slowed down. The Black-Corner Region was lawless, full of killers and rogues. Traveling too openly might attract trouble.
Using his memory as a guide, he led them in low-altitude flight. Whenever they passed a city, they descended and walked through, checking marketplaces and alchemy shops for rare materials.
"Did you lose him?"
Inside one such shop, Xiao Yi Xiang asked in a low voice.
Xiao Yuan wasn't surprised she noticed. He just shook his head.
"No. I can't shake him. He's too strong. If I lost him, he might go after the Xiao Clan. I can only mask our aura enough that he can't track us directly—but still follows at a distance."
Though he appeared calm, Xiao Yuan was using soul-transmission to communicate.
He hadn't told her everything.
The one pursuing them was likely a Heaven-ranked Protector of the Soul Hall—peak Dou Zong level. Even with Yao Lao's help, Xiao Yuan couldn't guarantee a clean kill.
Worse, that Protector might have a jade token to summon a Dou Venerate-level Elder.
If that happened… it'd be game over.
That's why he had played cat-and-mouse for so long—to keep the guy just close enough not to give up, but far enough to avoid an ambush.
Canaan Academy had two peak Dou Zongs—and Xiao Yan, now wielding three Heavenly Flames, was a walking bomb.
Add Yao Lao's soul power, and possibly his own flame...
Seven Heavenly Flames.
Even a Dou Venerate might die from the explosion.
Only problem? The blast might also kill Xiao Yan.
Still, Xiao Yuan had confidence he could pull his brother out in time.
The real question was…
Could Xiao Yan pull off a Seven-Colored Flame Lotus on his first try?
Xiao Yuan didn't know.
But if it came to that…
He'd bet everything.
(END CHAPTER)
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