"This feeling…"
Xiao Yi frowned slightly, muttering softly.
Because the feeling he just had was something Xiao Yi had never experienced before!
Although with Xiao Yi's current Soul Power, he couldn't break the Soul Seal within that iron piece!
But Xiao Yi felt a gentle and familiar sensation from it, a feeling akin to what one might experience in infancy… However, before Xiao Yi could ponder further, he suddenly detected an extremely powerful energy fluctuation from afar.
That energy was so potent that even Xiao Yi, who was now a Four-Star Dou Zun, felt quite wary of it!
And Xiao Yi could clearly sense that this energy was not generated by a living person… "Such powerful energy must signify a great Opportunity…"
Xiao Yi quickly hid the iron piece back into his storage ring, then his figure flickered, heading towards the center of that energy… In a short while, Xiao Yi had already arrived near the energy's epicenter.
However, by the time Xiao Yi reached the location, the once powerful energy had vanished, returning to tranquility.
Because he didn't want to expose his identity, Xiao Yi still used the qiankun storage ring to conceal his Qi and once again changed his appearance.
He continued to use his Alias identity.
Even though the terrifying energy aura had dissipated, Xiao Yi's intuition told him that some kind of Opportunity was definitely hidden here!
So Xiao Yi did not intend to leave directly; instead, he chose to settle down temporarily in a nearby town.
He also took the Opportunity to inquire about the mysterious yet powerful energy fluctuation… And to gather information, a tavern was the best information exchange center.
So Xiao Yi went straight into the largest tavern in this town, found a spot, and sat down casually.
As expected, just as Xiao Yi thought.
The tavern was indeed the information exchange center.
As soon as Xiao Yi sat down, he heard from the many patrons around him that this town was named Hua Gu City!
And the Hua Gu Sect, the major School in the city, was also the actual controller of this city.
"Hua Gu Sect…"
Hearing the three words 'Hua Gu Sect', Xiao Yi murmured softly in his heart.
It seemed the Hua Gu Sect also appeared in the original work, a minor force located in the Northern Region of the Central Plains.
Their Sect primarily cultivated water-attribute Cultivation Techniques, and their School's Dou Techniques were also mysterious and unpredictable.
However, they didn't have much screen time in the original work, only appearing in the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool.
Two Dou Huang-level Disciples from their Sect, Hu Ya and Hu Cheng, participated in the competition for a spot in the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool but ultimately failed.
But judging from it being just a small School, the strongest person in their Sect should be nothing more than a Dou Zong… After all, if they possessed a Dou Zun-level Expert, the Hua Gu Sect would surely be famous in the Central Plains, instead of being confined to such a remote area… Just as Xiao Yi was about to pay and leave the tavern, the next second, three burly men walked into the tavern, panting.
The three burly men continuously complained:
"Damn it, I'm exhausted…"
"What's wrong with Hua Gu City? So many important figures suddenly arrived!"
"Even people from Ice River Valley and Burning Flame Valley are here…"
"It seems I heard that our Hua Gu City has a Dou Sheng Relic behind it. These important figures heard about it and all came, wanting a piece of the pie…"
"Dou Sheng Relic? Such an Opportunity wouldn't even be our Sect Leader's turn, why bother getting involved in this? The decisions are made by those above, but it's us at the bottom who suffer…"
"Alas, you shouldn't say such things… Although we can't hope for the Dou Sheng Relic, if our Hua Gu Sect can form good relations with these major forces, it might be beneficial for you and me…"
…The three men chatted noisily for a while, then went into the tavern to drink quickly.
And Xiao Yi also heard the information he wanted to know.
"Dou Sheng Relic…"
"In such a remote place in the original work, I never heard of a Dou Sheng Relic appearing…"
Xiao Yi couldn't help but murmur in his heart.
But according to the three men, even Ice River Valley and Burning Flame Valley, two of the Three Valleys of the Central Plains, had arrived.
Presumably, the intelligence wouldn't be wrong… "Since I'm already here, I might as well go and take a look…"
Xiao Yi whispered to himself, already having a plan in mind.
After all, if a great Opportunity like a Dou Sheng Relic truly appeared!
It certainly wouldn't only attract Burning Flame Valley and Ice River Valley; it would definitely attract many other forces and Loose Cultivators to contend for it!
He could blend in and go investigate… The next day, as dawn was just breaking!
That energy fluctuation appeared again, and the powerful energy ripples even caused the entire Hua Gu City to tremble slightly!
Xiao Yi also noticed the energy fluctuation.
Immediately, his figure flashed, and he rushed towards the center of that energy!
Because this place was located in the Northern Region of the Central Plains, it was perpetually covered in ice and snow!
When Xiao Yi arrived, countless Experts had already gathered amidst the falling snow!
Judging from their attire, there were indeed people from Ice River Valley and Burning Flame Valley!
Many Dou Zong-level Loose Cultivators were also gathered here… Xiao Yi even saw many Experts wearing purple-black robes and masks!
Without much thought, those were people from the Hall of Souls!
"Even the Hall of Souls sent people…?"
"It seems this Dou Sheng Relic is real then…"
"Then I'll have to be even more careful from now on…"
Xiao Yi murmured softly, then concealed his Qi and blended into the crowd.
Many Experts were currently surrounding an ice cave, and that ice cave was precisely the center of the terrifying energy from before… Presumably, that was the entrance to the so-called Dou Sheng Relic!
A Dou Sheng Relic held immense allure for Cultivators below the Dou Zun level!
After all, within a Dou Sheng Relic, there might be an Opportunity to become a Saint… So whenever a Dou Sheng Relic, or even a Half-Saint Relic, appeared, it would attract countless Experts to contend for it… Xiao Yi scanned the area and found that apart from the people from the Hall of Souls, the largest remaining forces were Burning Flame Valley and Ice River Valley.
Burning Flame Valley primarily cultivated fire-attribute Cultivation Techniques and Dou Techniques, while Ice River Valley also cultivated ice-attribute Cultivation Techniques and Dou Techniques!
These two major forces were like sworn enemies… However, what Xiao Yi had never quite understood was how Ice River Valley, solely relying on the Peak Five-Star Dou Zun strength of its Valley Master, Ice River, managed to stand firm in the Central Plains for so long, even being on par with Burning Flame Valley!
After all, Burning Flame Valley's foundation was something Ice River Valley could not remotely compare to!
One must know that the founder of Burning Flame Valley was Blazing Flame Old Ancestor, one of the five ancient supreme powerhouses, whose cultivation was at the Peak Nine-Star Dou Sheng!
He was also a close friend of Xiao Xuan and even obtained the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Transformations.
And Blazing Flame Old Ancestor, relying on this secret technique, acquired two different Heavenly Flames within three years, pushing Burning Flame Valley to the top of the "Three Valleys."
It was only later, after Xiao Xuan's demise, that Hun Tiandi, to eliminate dissent, dispatched four Elders of the Hun Clan to use the "Profound Yin Devouring Flame Curse" at the cost of burning their Bloodline.
They ambushed the Blazing Flame Old Ancestor while he was in seclusion in the Lava Sea, causing him to be severely injured and perish.
However, before Blazing Flame Old Ancestor perished, he injected his lifelong cultivation into the valley's barrier, protecting Burning Flame Valley.
So even though the top combat power of the two valleys appeared similar on the surface, Burning Flame Valley's foundation was something Ice River Valley could never compare to… What virtues and abilities did Ice River Valley possess to maintain its position among the Three Valleys? In Xiao Yi's opinion, Ice River Valley should be on par with the Four Pavilions….