Chapter 297: Cai Lin and Han Yue
Living alone in this world for over a decade, Xiao Yan never imagined that fate would lead him to encounter a fellow earthling in a small place like the Flame Valley. This stroke of luck lifted his spirits significantly.
As for the difference in their identities and allegiances, Xiao Yan didn't dwell too much on it. Such matters could be resolved with absolute strength. If he were to reach the peak of the nine star Dou Saint realm, or even attain the fabled Dou Di rank, protecting a Soul Clan Holy Maiden wouldn't be an issue at all.
After all, in the past, Xiao Shaobei was able to ensure his lover's safety. The Soul Clan's ability to survive as a powerful faction second only to the Ancient Clans was partly due to Xiao Xuan sparing them. Otherwise, with the might of a Dou Di, eradicating the entire Soul Clan would've been a trivial matter.
Xiao Yan didn't know whether Xiao Xuan allowed the Soul Clan to remain as a means to temper the Xiao Clan's descendants or for some other reason. However, he doubted it was out of kindness or mercy.
Despite Xiao Yan's talents and his rise to prominence, he still lacked significant authority within the Xiao Clan. Many Dou Saint elders only showed him respect because of Xiao Xuan's legacy. After all, no matter how extraordinary a Dou Zong or Dou Zun might be, in the eyes of a Dou Saint, they were still insignificant.
After parting ways with the Soul Clan Holy Maiden, Xiao Yan returned to Flame Valley. The area, ravaged by the earlier battle, was now in ruins. The mountains within a hundred kilometers were leveled by the residual shockwaves of his Furious Buddha Lotus Flame.
However, Xiao Yan wasn't particularly concerned about the devastation. His primary reason for targeting Flame Valley wasn't just because Fang Yan and the other elders had provoked him, but because he coveted the land itself. Otherwise, with his strength, eliminating them would've been as simple as snapping his fingers.
With this thought in mind, Xiao Yan activated his Dou Qi. A swirling space wormhole quickly formed before him.
Stepping into the wormhole, he was surrounded by surging spatial energies. These forces were powerful enough to crush a Dou Huang to death, and even a Dou Zong would struggle to navigate them safely.
But Xiao Yan was no longer the young man he used to be. Now a Dou Zun, he had the power to traverse these dangerous spatial passages with ease. Five types of Heavenly Flames spun before him, stabilizing the path as he advanced like a worm burrowing through the mysterious void.
After several hours of travel, his soul perception detected a familiar city not far ahead. Continuing forward, he located a stable spatial node, channeling his Heavenly Flames to carve open a large, ten meter wide gateway.
As light poured in, a grand and majestic city appeared before Xiao Yan, taking his breath away.
Looking at the vast city, Xiao Yan's eyes betrayed his astonishment. The last time he had left Jia Ma Holy City, it was merely a fledgling settlement. Though it had potential, it was far from a match for even Black Seal City.
When he briefly returned to the city during his mission to refine the Fallen Heart Flame, he had noticed the city's rapid development. Now, standing above the city again, he could see that it had grown into one of the premier cities of the Northwest Continent.
The city boasted massive walls stretching for miles, towering dozens of meters high. Within, countless powerful auras roamed. It was clear that the Yan Alliance had finally matured into a formidable force.
As Xiao Yan observed from above, his presence didn't go unnoticed. Dozens of powerful auras surged from within the city, followed by hundreds of figures with Dou Qi wings rising into the sky like locusts.
Among them, over thirty individuals stood in midair without the aid of wings, a clear sign of their Dou Zong level strength.
In the Dou Qi Continent, only those who reached the Dou Zong realm were considered true powerhouses. For a faction to have even one Dou Zong in its ranks was enough to establish a stronghold.
The sight of so many Dou Zongs guarding the Yan Alliance brought a smile of satisfaction to Xiao Yan's face.
"Who are you to trespass in the sacred city of the Yan Alliance?" one of the Dou Zongs called out warily, their eyes fixed on Xiao Yan.
Despite his youthful appearance, they could sense the terrifying Dou Zun level aura emanating from him.
Before Xiao Yan could respond, a cheerful voice echoed from within the city.
"Ah, the Alliance Master has returned!"
The voice was warm and friendly, yet carried a trace of flattery. Moments later, an elderly man flew out from the Yun Lan Sect's direction, his face alight with joy as he approached Xiao Yan.
"Alliance Master?"
Hearing the elder's words, the newly recruited Yan Alliance members froze in shock.
The young man floating in the sky… was the Alliance Master?
The older generation of Yan Alliance members, however, reacted with awe. They remembered Xiao Yan leaving the alliance as a Dou Zong. Yet, in less than a year, he had advanced to the Dou Zun level, a rank capable of dominating the Northwest Continent.
As Xiao Yan's identity became clear, two Dou Zun level auras and two Dou Zong peak experts rose from within the city, flying toward him.
Xiao Yan's return had clearly stirred the entire Yan Alliance.
The two Dou Zun auras belonged to Tian Snake Mansion's Master and Venerable Fu Ding, while the two Dou Zong peak auras were Xiao Li and Cai Lin.
"Yo, Brother Fu Ding, I didn't expect you to reach the eighth rank as an alchemist!" Xiao Yan nodded slightly toward Tian Snake Mansion's Master before turning to Fu Ding Venerable with a look of surprise.
He had thought it would take Fu Ding Venerable three to five years to achieve the Spirit Realm in alchemy under Yao Lao's guidance. Yet, to his surprise, Fu Ding had reached this level in less than a year.
"Ke ke, the Alliance Master overpraises me. I've only come this far thanks to Yao Zun zhe's personal tutelage," Fu Ding Venerable replied with a sheepish smile, though his expression also carried a hint of lingering fear.
During his trip to Starfall Pavilion, Yao Zun zhe taught him the method to advance to the Spirit Realm after learning he was introduced by Xiao Yan. However, Fu Ding's lack of talent in alchemy had even driven Yao Lao to fits of anger, culminating in a regimen of grueling training.
Thinking about those painful days, Fu Ding Venerable still felt uneasy. Nevertheless, enduring the hardship had paid off he was now a genuine eighth tier alchemist!
Just as he was inwardly congratulating himself, ready to show off in front of Xiao Yan, he suddenly noticed a peculiar spiritual aura within Xiao Yan. Intrigued, he extended his own spiritual senses to investigate further.
"What?!" Fu Ding's eyes widened in shock as he realized the truth.
"Alliance Master... You've also reached the Spirit Realm?" Fu Ding stared blankly at Xiao Yan, disbelief written all over his face.
"Hmm? Oh, that happened by accident," Xiao Yan replied with a carefree grin.
"You…" Fu Ding clutched his chest dramatically, momentarily at a loss for words.
Too demoralizing!
Meanwhile, Xiao Li's expression was one of pure joy.
"Xiao Yan, I can't believe you've already reached the Dou Zun level, and your spiritual power is in the Spirit Realm too. This is fantastic absolutely fantastic!"
Xiao Li chuckled mischievously, clearly envisioning himself walking arrogantly through the Xiao Clan. He could already picture introducing himself to the Dou Saint elders:
"My younger brother is Xiao Yan!"
And seeing them graciously serve him tea with a smile.
Cai Lin, standing nearby, showed a more restrained reaction. However, her delicate, ruby red lips curled into a slight smile, and her eyes sparkled with a peculiar light.
Her connection with Xiao Yan had grown strong over time, transforming into a deep bond. Hearing of Xiao Yan's strength filled her with pride and joy.
When their gazes met, the faintly mischievous smile in Xiao Yan's eyes conveyed a deeper emotion. Cai Lin's flawless jade like cheeks flushed a soft pink as she averted her gaze.
"Some things can wait. For now, Cai Lin, Second Brother, gather three Dou Zong experts and ten Dou Huang. We'll head to the Black Corner Region. I've chosen an excellent place for a Yan Alliance branch," Xiao Yan instructed with a smile.
Cai Lin's eyes lit up. Wasting no time, she swiftly assembled the requested team. Her commanding presence as the Queen of the Snake People Tribe was as remarkable as her innate talents.
"Alliance Master!" The thirteen assembled experts greeted Xiao Yan with respectful expressions.
"Impressive, all of you look capable," Xiao Yan said approvingly. "Let's go."
With a wave of his hand, he led them into the stabilized spatial wormhole.
Thanks to the completed spatial tunnel, the return journey was far faster, taking only the time it takes to burn a stick of incense. In moments, the group arrived at the Black Corner Region's Flame Valley.
As they descended into the valley, the local experts who had previously been arrogant now bowed respectfully to Xiao Yan.
Before long, a silver figure with Dou Qi wings flew toward Xiao Yan.
"Xiao Yan!" Han Yue's delighted voice rang out. She and her group had arrived in Flame Valley under Xiao Yan's orders. To her surprise, the once haughty experts of the valley treated them with utmost deference.
But as Han Yue approached, an even more dazzling figure appeared before her.
The woman wore a luxurious purple robe that exposed flawless skin, better than Han Yue's own. Her devastatingly beautiful face exuded a mesmerizing charm that left Han Yue feeling unprecedented pressure.
What unsettled her most was the visible closeness between this alluring woman and Xiao Yan.
For a moment, even the composed Han Yue felt a pang of discomfort.
Cai Lin, however, noticed Han Yue's reaction immediately. Her almond shaped eyes sparkled with understanding.
"Well, well. In less than a year, you've brought another little sister home," Cai Lin remarked, her voice smooth as silk but laced with an undertone of frost.
"It's been nearly a year, and I've only added one much better than last year," Xiao Yan thought defensively, but he wisely refrained from voicing the sentiment.
Thankfully, Xiao Li interjected to ease the tension.
"Dear Sister in law, my younger brother may be a scoundrel, but he does care for you. That much is clear."
Turning to Han Yue, he added, "Why not join us in touring the valley? The Yan Alliance is about to take over Flame Valley."
Caught off guard, Han Yue hesitated.
"Yue'er, come along," Xiao Yan encouraged warmly. "There are some things we'll have to face eventually."
Cai Lin then spoke, her tone gentler but still authoritative.
"Don't worry, little sister. I hold no hostility toward you. If you're willing, you may call me elder sister."
(Chapter End)
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