Reaching the pinnacle from Doupo

Chapter 532 Lin Yuan's Goal, Hun Xuzi's Considerations
For the ancient dragon race today, reviving some ancient rival races within a controllable range is not necessarily a bad thing.

The lack of rivals in Warcraft has made the ancient dragons far too complacent.

Not counting the imprisoned Zhu Kun, the current Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan, the overlord of a certain magical beast world, actually possesses the power to annihilate almost any ancient clan that has not declined too much, including Soul, Ancient, Flame, Thunder, Medicine, etc.

Her Majesty Ziyan was quite dissatisfied with this—such a thing would have been impossible in ancient times.

Therefore, she does not rule out putting pressure on the upper echelons of the clan.

Hearing Zi Yan's words, Lin Yuan felt relieved. "That's good!" After a pause, he pondered, "By the way, how is the situation on Dragon Island?"

Upon hearing this, Zi Yan shifted her position to make herself more comfortable in Lin Yuan's arms before slowly speaking.

"Sister Xiyue is at a crucial stage in her breakthrough to the Half-Saint realm, and we should have results within a month!"

"As for Dragon Island, in the past few months, some Saint Realm elders have gradually returned, but their strength... is not considered too strong. There is only one three-star Dou Sheng, one two-star Dou Sheng, two one-star Dou Sheng and four half-saints."

"But when I sent Zhu Li and Qi You to explore deep into the void, they did find a few intermediate-level Dou Sheng."

"However, those old fellows have been accustomed to living a carefree and leisurely life outside for thousands of years, and they will not easily return unless there is a crisis within the clan!"

"Tsk, these old bastards, they've probably forgotten all about the clan rules!"

"Once things stabilize on Dragon Island, I plan to personally travel to the depths of the void to 'visit' those old guys..."

"Is that so?!" Lin Yuan gently smoothed the girl's slightly furrowed brows, smiled warmly, and said, "Hehe, don't worry, just go with the flow! There are still several years before the curtain rises, we have plenty of time to prepare..."

"For now, your focus should be on improving your own strength. Don't worry too much about improving Dragon Island's strength; I will lend you a hand."

"My alchemy skills are not far from the ninth rank, and I will break through soon!"

"Once I break through to the ninth rank, I will be able to refine the Thunder Tribulation Pill, which is a treasure-level pill. This pill can greatly enhance the strength of Dou Sheng, especially low-level Dou Sheng."

"With the medicinal herbs we've collected across the mainland, plus the massive amount of Black Demon Lightning from the Void Lightning Pool, and with my future Grandmaster-level alchemy skills, it won't be long before the Ancient Void Dragon's strength reaches a new level."

“Go and ‘visit’ those old guys, and you can make that clear to them… Being overly forceful is not the way to go!”

"Furthermore, you should send a trusted Dou Sheng to keep an eye on the Void Thunder Pool!"

"By the way, Dean Mang is currently exploring the void. If he happens to end up there, have someone give him some high-quality lightning, but don't let him discover the Void Lightning Pool."

"The fact that the Thunder Clan's higher-ups know about the Void Thunder Pool may cause some unnecessary trouble."

"Wait for me for several years, and I will surely... Hiss, Ziyan... you..."

Just as Lin Yuan was calmly and meticulously explaining various matters, a sudden playful action by the purple-haired girl made him involuntarily gasp.

Looking down, one could see a pair of bright purple eyes filled with a burning and cunning smile.

Zi Yan licked her lips, a greedy glint in her eyes, her voice alluring: "My dear brother, the way you were so focused just now, it looked so 'delicious'! But, do you need me to wait for you to recover for a while?"

Before she finished speaking, she moved her hand slightly, causing Lin Yuan to gasp again, feeling a jolt of electricity instantly spread throughout his body.

"咚咚-"

With a soft sound, Lin Yuan skillfully flipped over and suddenly pinned Zi Yan down.

"Girl, you're playing with fire!" Looking at the girl's stunning face, Lin Yuan's eyes gradually turned a captivating crimson. "Today, I'm going to make you understand the unchanging truth that 'men are creatures that cannot withstand provocation'!"

Zi Yan simply giggled, defiantly staring into those crimson eyes. Then, she flicked her finger, sending a gust of wind flying from her fingertip towards the jade clasp of the taste buds.

"Clang-"

With a crisp snap, a curtain fell, and a new "battle" erupted in the tranquil space...
-
The next morning, on the warship above the sea of ​​clouds.

Lin Yuan and Zi Yan stood side by side on the side of the shuttle boat, quietly watching the vast sea of ​​clouds below. The soft sunlight, like golden threads, gently fell on the two of them, giving them a faint golden glow.

At this moment, Lin Yuan's eyes were clear and bright, and he exuded a strange charm that transcended the mortal world, like a sage who was in harmony with heaven and man, peaceful and serene.

Zi Yan gently took his arm and leaned against him, her purple eyes brimming with a smile.

After a long while, she twitched her nostrils and took a deep breath of Lin Yuan's intoxicating medicinal fragrance before slowly releasing Lin Yuan's arm.

"Alright, I should get going!"

"The Ancient Dragon Clan has been unified for almost half a year now, and I should go and inform the old man. He will surely be happy."

"Ziyan, I'm entrusting that matter to you!" Lin Yuan turned around, reached out and smoothed her hair behind her ear, and said gently, "When you get to the Ancient Emperor's Cave, please give my regards to your father and the Demon Saint Senior. I'll be waiting for you at the Little Pill Tower."

Zi Yan nodded, a slight smile playing on her lips, and said, "Don't worry, leave it to me! At my full speed, I can make the round trip within ten days. You wait for my news at the Pill Tower..."

Without further ado, she moved swiftly, transforming into a streak of purple light that shot into the sky and sped off toward the northwest.

In the blink of an eye, the purple light disappeared from Lin Yuan's sight.

"The speed of a Dou Sheng is terrifying!" Lin Yuan sighed softly upon seeing this, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

"With the help of the Demon Saint and the Old Dragon Emperor, we should be able to completely eliminate the hidden tricks of the Void Child hidden in the fire. In this way, the Void Devouring Power that I have longed for can finally be obtained. This is truly something to look forward to."

"With the talent and ability of the Demon Saint, he should be able to develop a special attack method against the Void Devouring Flame within a few years."

"If I can comprehend some of the power of devouring in advance and master the special attack techniques to deal with it, I should have a better chance of winning when facing the Void Devouring Flame in the future..."

"After all, restraint is paramount, and special attacks are the work of the gods."

"With the devouring power of the Void Flame, my efficiency in cultivation and research should be greatly improved!"

Thinking of this, he narrowed his eyes slightly, and a look of deep anticipation appeared on his face—he had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.

In the original timeline, one of the major reasons for the Soul Clan's failure was its layers of outsourcing.

Having learned from the Soul Clan's methods, Lin Yuan decided the moment he discovered Soul Wind in the Heavenly Meteor Mountains to use Zi Yan, his strongest trump card, to seize the Void Flame with overwhelming force, without any surprises, and then take advantage of the situation to set up a plan against Soul Wind.

In Lin Yuan's view, if one possesses great power but is reluctant to use it, the benefits that power can bring will be greatly reduced.

He values ​​tangible benefits more than the pride of the strong.

Lin Yuan asked Zi Yan to take the Void Devouring Flame to the Ancient Emperor's Cave and request the help of Zhu Kun and the Pure Lotus Demon Saint.

As the strongest different flame besides the Emperor Flame, the Void Devouring Flame has numerous and bizarre abilities, requiring extreme caution.

While the Void Sub-Flame is indeed powerful, comparable to the top ten, top six, or even top four different flames, it is also subtly connected to the Void Devouring Flame's main body. If the Void Devouring Flame has that intention, the many separated sub-flames will transform into primordial power and merge back into the main body. Moreover, the Void Sub-Flame contains the mark set by the main body; absorbing it at will could potentially cause the main body to be controlled by the Void Devouring Flame.

Given the current situation, although Lin Yuan and Fu Xuan could potentially refine the Void Flame of Soul Wind completely by working together, the risks involved are far too great, and there is no need to take them.

After all, whether it was their soul cultivation or their battle qi cultivation, the two of them were far inferior to Void Devouring Flame.

With the two half-emperors from the ancient emperor's cave taking action, the task will surely be completed even more perfectly.

Lin Yuan commissioned the Pure Lotus Demon Saint to research the Void Flame, seeking ways to restrain it or even launch a special attack against it, for two purposes.

On one hand, it was to prepare for dealing with the Void Devouring Flame and its holders, Soul Void Child and Soul Extinction; on the other hand, it was a small gift for the Pure Lotus Demon Saint—as fellow researchers, Lin Yuan was certain that the other party would be interested in the Void Devouring Flame.

Lin Yuan admired the Pure Lotus Demon Saint and was willing to show goodwill and offer benefits to the latter without affecting the overall situation, while also taking advantage of the situation.

The sub-fire of the Void Devouring Flame should be one of the few things that can touch his heartstrings.

Just as Lin Yuan was admiring the vast sea of ​​clouds and lost in thought, he suddenly felt something strange. He flipped his hand, and a crimson jade slip appeared in his palm, releasing a blazing flame.

This item was a communication jade slip given to him by the Grand Elder of the Little Pill Tower before he left the Pill Tower.

Looking at the jade slip in front of him, Lin Yuan's eyes flashed with a brilliant light—the Grand Elder had said that he would try to contact the wandering Dan Tower Ancestor, and after receiving the Ancestor's response, he would use this jade slip to send a message that could be received throughout the Central Continent.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Yuan gripped the crimson jade slip tightly, his soul power surging from between his brows as he read the message conveyed within.

In an instant, several bright red characters appeared in his mind.

"Ancestor has returned! Quickly return to the Little Pill Tower!"

Reading the message in his mind aloud, Lin Yuan's eyes lit up with joy. He patted his natal Qi core as he sat down, "Little Fu Xuan, your opportunity has finally arrived! Let's go back to the Pill Tower!"

After speaking, he did not hesitate for a moment, and with a thought, he sent an order to the person who was piloting the airship.

Airship, return at full speed!
A few blinks later, the shuttle boat that was slowly moving on the sea of ​​clouds suddenly trembled and emitted a series of buzzing sounds. Dense spatial power then surged out and enveloped the entire shuttle boat, and the spatial fluctuations around it became extremely violent.

The next instant, the airship transformed into a silver streak of light and flew out, cutting through the vast sea of ​​clouds, speeding towards the Pill Tower...
-
Several days later, in the Soul Realm, at Dan Yuan Valley.

This is a secluded valley, filled with spiritual energy, where countless precious high-grade medicinal herbs grow and the air is filled with their fragrance.

In the middle of the valley, there was a rather oppressive little courtyard.

The courtyard was surrounded by lush bamboo, whose shadows swayed and rustled. In front of the clear pond in the courtyard, the man in black robes casually crushed the pills in his hand and tossed them into the pond like a fine rain.

In an instant, the fish in the pond seemed to have smelled an unparalleled delicacy, and they all became restless, fighting and scrambling for food, splashing water everywhere.

Upon seeing this, the man in black robes slightly raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a faint, indifferent smile.

Behind the man in black robes, Hun Yun knelt on one knee and respectfully said, "Lord Dan Sheng, this is the situation regarding our trip to the Tianyun Mountains!"

"Your disciple, Medicine Lord Lin Yuan, defeated Hun Feng with absolute strength; on the way back, our shuttle boat was invaded, and Hun Feng's sub-fire was stolen. It must have been a Dou Sheng expert who took action, and a Dou Sheng expert of considerable strength at that."

"The clan has been investigating the matter of Zi Huo for several days, but the other party has done it too cleanly, and we really can't find any clues."

"Interesting!" Hun Xuzi slowly turned around, a playful look appearing on his face. "The speed at which my cheap disciple's cultivation has improved far surpasses that of a divine-grade bloodline?"

"Hehe, he did apply that result quite well."

After a brief pause, as if he had thought of something, he confirmed with great interest, "By the way, Soul Cloud, you just said that my disciple has a special relationship with Gu Yuan's daughter? And also has a very good relationship with the Flame Clan and the Thunder Clan?"

"My lord, that is indeed the case!" After confirming it in his mind once again, Hun Yun nodded solemnly.

"Gu Yuan's daughter's attitude towards your disciple is indeed unusual."

"As I witnessed firsthand, although the Ancient, Flame, and Thunder clans had some intention of using him, their attitude was indeed quite friendly. According to the spies planted in those clans, your disciple had alchemy transactions with several clans."

"Overall, although your disciple is not a descendant of the imperial family, he has quite close ties with other clans."

At this point, Hun Yun's eyes narrowed slightly, and his voice couldn't help but carry a hint of admiration—after carefully learning about Lin Yuan's affairs, he realized just how legendary the latter was.

To be able to navigate between various forces at such a young age is a skill that is beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Upon hearing this, Hun Xuzi turned around, his gaze falling on the shimmering pool. His brows furrowed slightly, and a thoughtful glint appeared in his eyes, as if he were weighing something.

After a moment, he slowly spoke, his voice deep and authoritative, as if it possessed an undeniable magic.

"Step back, Soul Cloud."

"Remember, you must keep matters concerning my disciple top secret and remain completely silent about them."

"This child is involved in my major plans, and his true identity must never be revealed to anyone... especially the Soul Wind lineage. If anything goes wrong, all those involved will suffer the punishment of being devoured by ten thousand ghosts... You should also convey this message to the Soul Palace."

After saying that, he casually waved his hand, signaling Hunyun to step down.

Upon hearing the words "Ten Thousand Ghosts Devour Souls," Hun Yun's body trembled involuntarily, and a look of fear appeared in his eyes.

The Soul Devouring Clan is the cruelest punishment of the Soul Clan, far surpassing the agony of slow slicing.

Taking a deep breath, he suppressed his fear and bowed respectfully, "Yes, Lord Dan Sheng!" Then, he quickly left the place, his steps carrying a hint of panic.

Hun Xuzi stood with his arms crossed, his fingertips lightly tapping his forehead, the rhythm sometimes fast and sometimes slow, his eyes flashing with a thoughtful light.

"That little guy is much more capable than I thought!"

"From this perspective, bringing him back to the Soul Clan for cultivation too early seems like a waste of resources..."

"Thinking about it carefully, his special status in the Pill Tower and the relationships he has developed with other races make him an excellent candidate for a spy. Heh heh, who would have thought that the future master of the Pill Tower would be my disciple?"

"The other clans dare not ask me to refine pills because they are afraid that I will tamper with the pills and create hidden dangers for them."

"In that case, why not have my 'clean' disciple help the other races' Battle Saints refine pills and set up some special methods in the pills for me?"

"If this idea proceeds smoothly, our clan will have another card to play once the grand plan for the millennium begins."

"The loss of several Dou Sheng is something the other races cannot easily bear."

As his thoughts continued to unfold, Hun Xuzi's eyes grew brighter until finally, he stopped tapping his temple with his fingertips, having made his final decision...

(End of this chapter)