Chapter 305: Goodbye, Lord Tian Huo
"Ling Er?!"
Cai Die stared in surprise at the little fox demon next to Yao Yan's right leg. A look of disbelief flashed in her beautiful eyes, and then, overjoyed, she squatted down, reached out, and pinched Ling Er's adorable little face. Curiously, she asked, "How did she transform? Can heavenly flames also take human form?"
Ling Er smiled and looked at Cai Die, affectionately rubbing her hand, clearly recognizing this "caretaker" who had raised her for several years.
"Naturally, it can," Yao Yan nodded and explained softly, "When heavenly flames reach a certain level of growth, they can take on a human form, just like magical beasts. After all, a human form is more conducive to cultivation."
Just like some novels describe, the human body is the true Dao body, aligned with the laws of heaven and earth. To reach the highest levels, one must walk this path.
"Seems like she can't speak yet~" Cai Die observed the little fox demon making soft cries and said with some regret.
"She hasn't adapted to her new body yet. In a few days, she'll be fine," Yao Yan rubbed Ling Er's head and said gently. Having absorbed the essence of the heavenly flames from Yao Yan, Ling Er's power had already reached the late one-star Dou Saint level, almost on par with him.
Though the power she used was entirely from Yao Yan.
"She's so cute~" Cai Die smiled indulgently, then tried to hug Ling Er.
"Ying Ying~" However, Ling Er seemed to have a bit of a fear of Cai Die's soft embrace. She immediately stopped smiling, her fluffy ears standing straight up. She resisted with her little paws, letting out a clear cry, and the next moment, she transformed into a purple-green flame and entered Yao Yan's body.
Seeing this, Cai Die couldn't help but say, "Am I that terrifying?"
Not terrifying, just a bit suffocating... Yao Yan glanced at the fruits in front of Cai Die, having experienced their power firsthand. He cleared his throat, changing the subject: "It's getting late, I need to head to the Black-Corner Region now. Once I finish things there, I'll come back to pick you up."
Cai Die froze for a moment, then her mood seemed to drop. She nodded slightly, her voice soft: "I'll wait for you to come back."
Yao Yan smiled and embraced Cai Die, gently stroking her smooth hair, and whispered, "I'll be back as soon as I can."
Soon, he released Cai Die because Cai Lin, Xiao Yi Xian, and the others were already approaching.
Yao Yan nodded slightly at Cai Lin from a distance, then turned to Xiao Yi Xian, speaking softly: "Let's go."
With everyone watching, he and Xiao Yi Xian vanished from the spot.
...
Due to Xiao Yi Xian's cultivation level, it wasn't long after they left the Serpent Clan's Sacred Hall that Yao Yan wrapped his arm around her slender waist. In her surprised gaze, he said seriously, "The Outcloud Empire is quite far from the Black-Corner Region. I'll fly us there to save time."
"Mm~"
Xiao Yi Xian bit her lip, a slight blush appeared on her beautiful face, and her gray-purple eyes carried a hint of shyness. She nodded, then wrapped her arms around Yao Yan, resting her head on his shoulder.
At this moment, her Dou Zong-level strength seemed like nothing more than decoration, her mind blank.
There's a saying that when a woman has feelings for you, even if you deceive her, she will gladly cooperate and help.
She didn't have to hold on so tightly… Yao Yan thought to himself, but he didn't remind her. He allowed her to hold on as they tore through the space ahead, speeding toward the Black-Corner Region. At his current speed, it would take about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and if necessary, he could go faster.
Xiao Yi Xian felt her heart racing, her face flushed, and she nervously grabbed Yao Yan's clothes. After a moment, realizing it felt a bit uncomfortable, she hurriedly released her grip, her palms growing sweaty.
But the Young Master's embrace was so warm...
She felt somewhat addicted to this feeling, the feeling of having someone to rely on, something she had longed for but never had, especially with people around her who mostly had ulterior motives—until Yao Yan appeared in her life.
If only she could be held like this forever~
Xiao Yi Xian thought greedily.
Unfortunately, happy times are always fleeting. Before she could reflect, Yao Yan's voice reached her ears: "We've arrived."
"Huh? So soon!" Xiao Yi Xian's heart skipped a beat. She looked around and realized that they were no longer in the Outcloud Empire. The land around them had become barren, and in the distance was a patch of pitch-black earth, filled with a sense of death and the scent of blood.
Yao Yan didn't tease her for being caught off guard. He looked into the distance and spoke softly, "I stayed in the Black-Corner Region for some time, established the Heavenly Court here, and reached an agreement with the Canaan Academy… it's been many years now."
When he first arrived in the Black-Corner Region, he had been an immature youth. Now, he had become a true Dou Saint.
Xiao Yi Xian took a deep breath, organizing her thoughts, and her cool, beautiful face regained its composure. "Does Young Master feel like he's returning to an old place?"
"I suppose so." Yao Yan smiled, then, wrapping his arm around Xiao Yi Xian's waist, they disappeared from their location.
The two appeared again, now hovering above the Heavenly Court.
The area that used to be the Magic Flame Valley had completely changed. Numerous mountains had vanished, and a towering city sprawled across the land, occupying an area larger than the capital of the Gama Empire. In the sky, several huge floating mountains could be seen, with three large spatial wormholes constantly swallowing and releasing spatial ships. A massive flow of people moved through the area, creating an incredibly grand scene.
Yao Yan hadn't expected that in just over a decade, the Heavenly Court, which had once been in its infancy, had grown to this extent. He smiled and, sensing the familiar auras nearby, noticed one aura that surprised him.
After thinking for a moment, he took a step forward and appeared inside the Heavenly Court, in a floating pavilion above several mountains.
The surrounding defensive formations couldn't stop him in the slightest.
This place seemed to be separated from the rest of the Heavenly Court, filled with numerous cultivation techniques, Dou Techniques, and rare treasures, all neatly organized and protected by various formations. In the center was a simple desk with a plump elder sitting beside it, wearing a unique pair of glasses and concentrating on studying a formation diagram, occasionally writing on it.
Until he sensed something, the elder's focused expression suddenly changed. A sharp gleam flashed in his eyes as he raised his head and locked onto a spot in the void, saying coldly, "Which friend dares to come uninvited? Come forward and show yourself!"
As he finished speaking, a formation plate appeared in his hand, activating the surrounding formations. This place had been carefully crafted over many years, and even a peak Dou Zun might not easily breach it.
"Yao Lao, why are you here in the Black-Corner Region?"
With a familiar laugh, Yao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian appeared in the Tian Huo Zun's line of sight. The Tian Huo Zun's expression instantly changed, and a look of surprise appeared on his face. He said, "You... You're back!"
"I came to pick up Cai Lin and the others, and also to take care of some matters in the Black-Corner Region," Yao Yan said with a smile, nodding before walking toward the Tian Huo Zun.
"I'd rather be here, where it feels familiar and free," Tian Huo Zun shook his head, letting out a light sigh.
Back then, Yao Lao had tried to persuade him to stay, but he didn't like the atmosphere of the Alchemist Guild. Moreover, it was full of alchemists, and since he wasn't one, staying there was meaningless. He preferred to return to the Black-Corner Region and study his path in formations.
After a pause, he looked at Yao Yan, furrowing his brow, and asked in a deep voice, "Yao Chen that old man said you were from the Hun Clan, and you joined forces with Soul Hall to steal the Three Thousand Yan Flames. Is that true?"
"Yeah, I didn't want to take them by force, but the Alchemist Guild wanted me to prove myself and contribute before giving me a chance to refine the Three Thousand Yan Flames... It wasn't a big deal, but my bloodline trial is about to begin, and I don't have time to wait anymore." Yao Yan nodded and directly admitted to the matter, briefly explaining what had happened back then.
"But aren't you from the Yao Clan?" Tian Huo Zun asked in confusion.
"My mother is from the Yao Clan, and my father is from the Hun Clan. My father had poor talent and stayed in the Yao Clan after marrying my mother... Later, I met my master, who learned about my background and took me back to the Hun Clan," Yao Yan explained half-truthfully. There was no need to go into too much detail since Tian Huo Zun's current strength wasn't suitable for learning too much.
Tian Huo Zun furrowed his brow but didn't ask further. He could tell there was more to the story than what Yao Yan was saying, but since Yao Yan didn't want to talk about it, he didn't press the matter.
"This is Xiao Yi Xian, and this is Lord Tian Huo, an old friend of mine. I usually call him Yao Lao," Yao Yan introduced, sitting next to Tian Huo Zun and looking at the formation diagrams on the desk.
Xiao Yi Xian politely bowed to Tian Huo Zun, "Greetings, Yao Lao."
"Hello." Tian Huo Zun smiled and nodded, then looked at Yao Yan and said, "That old man was right. With your talent and appearance, you'll definitely cause trouble for many young girls in the future."
Xiao Yi Xian's face turned slightly red, but she didn't argue. She simply stood next to Yao Yan.
Yao Yan looked at Xiao Yi Xian's flushed face, immediately understanding, and smiled without offering an explanation. He lowered his head to study the formation diagrams and curiously asked, "Have you had any new ideas about formations, Yao Lao?"
With his current realm, Yao Yan could easily understand the formation in front of him. After all, formations were a way of harnessing the power of heaven and earth, materializing the laws of the universe to gain great strength with minimal effort.
"Nothing better to do, just rediscovered some old hobbies." Tian Huo Zun stroked his white beard, looking at the more mature Yao Yan with curiosity. He asked, "What's your current realm? I can't see through you anymore!"
"Peak one-star Dou Saint," Yao Yan put down the formation diagram and looked at Tian Huo Zun, saying softly.
"Really... really?" Tian Huo Zun almost ripped his beard off in disbelief, staring at Yao Yan with astonishment. "You've already reached Dou Saint in just a few years? Even with talent, this is just terrifying!"
This was the legendary Dou Saint!
But upon remembering that Yao Yan was backed by the Hun Clan, Tian Huo Zun understood a little. After all, the Hun Clan was an imperial clan with Dou Emperor blood, and their cultivation resources were unimaginable to outsiders. With Yao Yan's talent, it was only natural he would receive significant support from the Hun Clan.
But the speed of his progress had surpassed Tian Huo Zun's comprehension. It was truly mind-boggling.
"Yes, really." Yao Yan nodded slightly, responding calmly.
"You brat, you're such a freak!" Tian Huo Zun clicked his tongue, then added, "I knew you were a monster. I didn't think the path to Dou Saint would stop you, but I didn't expect you to reach it this quickly. You won't try to break through to Dou Emperor, will you?"
"You're good at reading people…" Yao Yan smiled inwardly but humbly said, "I'm not sure. It's hard to say what the future holds."
"You're still young, so give it a try. Who knows!" Tian Huo Zun said with a look of anticipation, urging, "Tsk, if you become a Dou Emperor, I'll have some bragging rights. A Dou Emperor-level disciple... hahaha!"
Yao Yan inherited his Five Wheels of Fire techniques, and in Tian Huo Zun's eyes, Yao Yan was already like a half-disciple. Otherwise, he wouldn't have returned to the Black-Corner Region to look after the Heavenly Court.
As for his relationship with the Hun Clan and Soul Hall, Tian Huo Zun didn't care.
Right and wrong had no meaning to him as an Gu being. He wasn't from this era.
"Alright, I'll give it a try." Yao Yan smiled and nodded, agreeing to the matter.
"I'll be waiting for the day you become an Emperor!" Tian Huo Zun laughed loudly, excited by the thought. He then shook his head, temporarily suppressing this unrealistic fantasy. He looked at Yao Yan and, after a moment of thought, continued, "That old man has always been concerned about you. When you left the Alchemist Guild, it really struck him hard."
"I know, but some things are beyond my control," Yao Yan said after a brief pause, speaking slowly.
Tian Huo Zun nodded. He didn't press the issue further, chatting casually. He knew that Yao Yan hadn't changed; he was still the same. As for other matters, they seemed to no longer matter. Everyone had moments of helplessness.
"Do you want to go to the Northwestern Continent? Cai Lin has conquered part of it over the years, and I've incorporated it into the Heavenly Court... Mainly, I'm concerned about your strength. Being in the Black-Corner Region for so long might attract attention." Yao Yan thought for a moment and suggested.
The strength of a Dou Zun shouldn't appear in the Black-Corner Region, and Tian Huo Zun's presence had undoubtedly broken that rule. He had managed to remain undisturbed for so many years, likely due to the involvement of Soul Hall. After all, the Heavenly Court was Yao Yan's creation, and Soul Hall had been watching over it for him.
But this situation couldn't last forever, especially with the Tomb of the Gu Emperor under Canaan Academy. Once it opened, it would affect the entire Black-Corner Region.
It would be best to move out in advance.
"Actually, I was already thinking about that." Tian Huo Zun seemed to have thought of something. "The Black-Corner Region is a very unique place. It's full of fish and dragons, not suitable for me to focus solely on formations."
"Then it's settled," Yao Yan said.
(END CHAPTER)
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