Chapter 369: Interception
In the forbidden grounds of the Flower Sect.
It had already been a month since Xiao Yuan began his seclusion here.
At this moment, he sat cross-legged, his entire body encased in a dense yellow earthen energy. No breath escaped, and he resembled a lifeless clay statue.
During this time, Granny Huayu's injuries had been fully healed. Not only did the powerful medicinal energy restore her health, but it also boosted her Dou Qi cultivation, faintly pushing her to the brink of a breakthrough.
Yun Yun, however, had seen only modest improvement. For the past month, she had been focused on transitioning to the Flower Sect's techniques and Dou Skills, occasionally visiting Xiao Yuan.
Crack!
With a crisp sound, the thick yellow energy began to fracture. Xiao Yuan's figure became visible within.
Simultaneously, the ground began to tremble. At first, only the earth around him shook, but soon the entire forbidden zone quaked. A formidable aura slowly seeped out!
Though the forbidden zone could mask such fluctuations, it couldn't escape the attention of Huayu, who had been monitoring it all along. In a flash, she appeared beside Yun Yun and whisked her into the training zone.
"Master, what's going on?" Yun Yun asked in confusion. But as soon as she spotted the tumultuous energy around Xiao Yuan, her face lit up with joy. "He's coming out of seclusion?"
"What a fuss he's making," Huayu murmured, nodding.
She immediately formed a seal, locking down the entire area with invisible spatial energy.
Even at the start of the breakthrough, the commotion was intense—better to be safe than sorry.
Yun Yun could sense the fearsome aura rising from below, like a sleeping dragon beginning to awaken.
Boom!
The clay shell shattered. A pillar of yellow light shot into the sky. Xiao Yuan emerged within it, exuding a suffocating aura of raw power!
"He really broke through to Dou Zun... these youngsters these days." Huayu sighed—but then her expression shifted.
Xiao Yuan's aura didn't stop at one-star Dou Zun—it leapt directly to two stars!
"That Yao Chen... certainly knew how to pick a disciple," she said with a chuckle, giving Yun Yun a side glance.
"But this boy's Dou Qi... it feels like Earth attribute? Have things changed so much that Earth-type cultivators can become alchemists?"
She frowned, murmuring to herself.
"No," Yun Yun replied vaguely, "he had some other fortunate encounter."
"Ah, I see. That explains it."
As the breakthrough ended, the pillar of light faded and Xiao Yuan's figure became fully clear.
Hoo...
He let out a hot breath, feeling the power surging through his veins.
"Becoming a Dou Zun really is something else."
He clenched his fist, intoxicated by the vast ocean of Dou Qi now at his command. No need for external boosts—he was now a bona fide Dou Zun!
"Congratulations."
Yun Yun flashed a gentle smile. The boy who once called her "Sister Yun" now stood at a height she could only look up to.
"Heh heh." Xiao Yuan scratched his head, then bowed to Huayu before turning back to Yun Yun. "The improvement this time really was significant."
With a swipe of his hand, the space in front of him rippled visibly.
Huayu's eyes narrowed slightly.
She had already recovered her peak strength—a Nine-Rotation Dou Zun. Although her space seal wasn't full strength, it was enough to trap a Nine-Star Dou Zun. Yet Xiao Yuan had just disrupted it.
From his mastery of spatial power alone, even an Eight-Star Dou Zun wouldn't be his match!
What a monstrous youth.
Even after seeing his freakish talent in alchemy, his battle strength still shocked her.
"At this rate, you may rival Venerable Tianhuo soon," Yun Yun murmured in amazement.
"Maybe. I sure feel strong." Xiao Yuan grinned. "If I had some unlucky fool to test on, that'd be perfect."
"Always thinking about fighting." Yun Yun shook her head with a helpless smile.
"Alright, you should get going. Leave the Flower Sect to me. Give your master my regards."
Huayu was politely ushering them out. It wasn't out of coldness—Xiao Yuan had lingered long enough. His stay had been explained as a seclusion to help Huayu with a life-extending pill. And now that it was "complete," he needed to leave.
Huayu would soon reappear publicly, feigning a "few more years to live" state. That way, they could continue misleading both Hua Jin and the Heavenly Underworld Sect.
"I understand, Master," Yun Yun said softly, hugging Xiao Yuan tightly one last time.
"We'll see each other again. Just a temporary goodbye."
After a long embrace, they parted reluctantly. Xiao Yuan turned and walked toward the boundary of the forbidden ground.
"To stay by his side," Huayu said gently, "you'll need strength of your own. He's gone now—focus on training."
Yun Yun nodded solemnly.
In the cloudless sky, a shadow zipped across like a bolt of lightning, whistling wind trailing behind it.
Xiao Yuan had left the Flower Sect two days ago.
He had used a space wormhole on the way there to accommodate Yun Yun's pace. But now, with no need to slow down, he raced across the sky at full speed.
Thanks to his deep reserves and five circulating Qi Palaces, his Dou Qi replenished endlessly. He had traveled two straight days without pause.
Now, he had left the Flower Sect's territory and would soon reach Sacred Pill City.
"Hmm… something's wrong." Xiao Yuan frowned and came to a halt mid-air.
Scanning the mountainous region below, he noticed something eerie—complete silence. Not a single beast call. It felt like a dead zone.
His Dou Qi stirred.
"Since you're already here, why keep hiding?"
"Sharp senses."
As soon as he spoke, the space ahead warped, revealing four figures. Terrifying auras surged forth.
One was a tall, handsome man holding a paper fan with a beauty painted on it. Between his brows was a blood-red dot—an ominous aura radiated from him.
The other three were gray-robed elders, their faces grim and expressionless—but each bore the Heavenly Underworld Sect insignia, and their power rivaled that of Yao Hua Xie Jun.
"Xiao Yuan, right? Heard you saved that old hag from the Flower Sect. Let's see if you can save yourself!"
The charming man waved his fan and sneered coldly.
Xiao Yuan cast a flat look at him, then shifted his gaze toward the forest below.
A graceful figure appeared—it was Hua Jin, her face twisted with rage.
"You ruined my plans. Today, your life will pay for it. That old hag won't live long either, and as for your little whore—I'll take good care of her!"
"Surrender and come with us to the Heavenly Underworld Sect," said the lead elder. "For Lady Xuan Yi's sake, we'll treat you well. But if not…"
"…you'll be buried right here."
Chilling killing intent blanketed the land. Even the air seemed frozen.
Xiao Yuan glanced around—four Six-Star Dou Zuns.
"Sending this many… clearly, you intend to take me at all costs."
But his black eyes flickered with icy light.
"And yet, just four of you? Bit too arrogant, aren't you?"
His lips curled into a smirk. With a shift of his fingers, a terrifying aura erupted like a volcano.
A wave of oppressive heat followed.
"Two-Star Dou Zun?"
The four readied to mock him—but his hand signs didn't stop.
"Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations—First! Second! Third!"
In a blink, Xiao Yuan's aura surged to Five-Star Dou Zun!
"Heavenly Flame techniques?" muttered the fan-wielding man, frowning.
"No holding back—his power won't last long," sneered the gray-robed elder. "It's only temporary. He can't escape."
"Only Five-Star?" the leader yawned. "Last chance—come quietly, or we drag you half-dead."
"Only Five-Star?" Xiao Yuan chuckled, then stomped his foot in mid-air.
Qi Palace Fusion Secret Art—Five Energies Unite!
All five of his Qi Palaces funneled their energy into one.
His aura spiked once more—blasting into Eight-Star Dou Zun!
Feeling the surge of power almost tearing him apart, Xiao Yuan grinned viciously.
"Now how do you feel?"
(END CHAPTER)
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