Battle Through the Heavens: Xiao Yan, who was kidnapped to another world

"...Is there a way to completely eradicate it?" After a brief pause, Xiao Yan said in a "heavy" low voice.

“A different kind of fire, the only known method,” Zhou Ze sighed almost imperceptibly, not seeing any of the reaction he hoped to see on Xiao Yan’s face. “However, as you said, there are only a few dozen kinds of different kinds of fire in this world. It’s already extremely difficult to encounter one, let alone for people like us who can’t even leave the Town of Suffering…”

"Pay attention to your surroundings. When you notice the surrounding battle aura starting to converge in one place, hurry over there. That's a sign that the fruit is about to appear." After leaving these words, Zhou Ze trembled slightly and disappeared.

Did you misunderstand him?

The moment this thought flashed through Xiao Yan's mind, he saw the guide who had said he might never be able to leave the Town of Suffering turn into a pile of minced meat and scattered on the ground. At the same time, the scattered flesh and blood were absorbed by the soil, and a trace of blood gradually spread across the ground.

'Is there an unlucky guy among this group of guides?'

The pitiful state of the guide was also seen by Xie Biyan, who was standing alone in the corner. After clicking his tongue, Xie Biyan quickly moved. Although his goal was the final fruit, there were also quite a few poisonous plants that were attractive to him in this dead zone.

The story begins with the death of the nameless guide, followed by a chaotic battle in the death zone.

"What right do you have to attack me? I paid for it!"

"Damn it, didn't we agree to get the inheritance together first?"

"This poisonous plant is mine, get out of my way!"

……

A "customer" killed by a guide, two poison masters who agree to find a legacy together, and a Grand Master who challenges all the powerful figures around them for a poisonous herb...

As if they had lost their minds, a chaotic battle erupted in every corner, and almost every moment a powerful poison master died here.

As one poison master and fighter after another died, their blood seeped into the soil of the death zone. Gradually, Xiao Yan saw a faint radiance on the ground that could only be perceived with his soul power.

The rays of light gradually converged, revealing chaotic lines.

'Be careful, this should be a special formation activated by the flesh and blood of a cultivator; its specific effects are still unclear...'

Although Yao Lao was not knowledgeable about formations, his past experience allowed him to immediately identify that a formation was hidden in this death zone.

'Teacher, isn't this thing... somewhat similar to the lines on that map?' After casually swatting away a few poison masters who were eyeing him, Xiao Yan's eyes flickered as he watched the light gradually gathering in front of him.

"You think the lines on that map, like these, form a special kind of formation?" The old doctor paused slightly. "That's certainly possible. However, even if you get the map from Hai Bodong, you'll only have two copies. Even if you figure out it's a formation, it won't be of much use."

Perhaps it was bad luck, but the map in Xiao Yan's hand and the map in Hai Bodong's hand were not connected. Based on those two maps with messy lines, even Yao Lao could not determine whether there was really a hidden formation.

'If only I could get another map…' Xiao Yan sighed and muttered to himself.

At that very moment, the earth suddenly trembled violently, and several cracks formed as the earth trembled. Finally, these cracks perfectly joined together with the lines that could only be perceived with soul power.

The moment the two connected, a thunderous sound resounded from above the earth. Then, to Xiao Yan's incredulous gaze, a black portal leading to the unknown depths appeared on the ground.

Almost the instant this portal appeared, the Dou Zong and Dou Huang who had left earlier arrived here.

"You're lucky."

About ten breaths later, Zhou Ze also arrived at the place, and the first thing he saw was Xiao Yan, who had taken dozens of steps back because of the arrival of the Dou Zong and Dou Huang.

“Indeed…” Xiao Yan managed a weak smile.

Because Lin Dong had used various spatial attribute 'Battle Techniques' before, Xiao Yan's sensitivity to spatial attributes was now no weaker than that of a Dou Zong in every aspect. Therefore, Xiao Yan was able to clearly perceive the extremely dense spatial fluctuations hidden behind this black portal—

"Don't scare yourself. It's just a spatial displacement, a manipulation to divide the death zone into two independent spaces," Yao Lao's voice rang out, "and it was even done with the help of an array... Perhaps you really did gamble right, that Calamity Poison Body is still just a Dou Zong."

'But that spatial fluctuation…' Xiao Yan paused slightly, but noticing the solemn expressions on the faces of the two Dou Zong and several peak Dou Huang in front of him, he realized, 'Was it intentional?'

"I guess these people are seeing this for the first time, which is why they don't dare to enter that gate directly," Yao Lao chuckled mockingly. "Who would guess that behind such intense spatial fluctuations is just an ordinary Dou Zong?"

"Indeed..." Xiao Yan chuckled dryly, "I almost thought this was a spatial wormhole, and that a Dou Zun was behind it."

While Xiao Yan and Yao Lao were silently criticizing each other, Xie Biyan, who was at the forefront, grew increasingly solemn.

'This spatial fluctuation... Damn it, could it be that some Dou Zun beat me to it?'

Scorpion Biyan's face was ashen. He had seen the black portal once before, so he was very certain that behind this black portal lay the 'core area' of the Cloud Poison Swamp, the place where the fruit was produced. However, the strong spatial fluctuations behind the portal made him wary.

Shi Rui, standing to the side, remained silent. The moment he saw the door, he almost assumed that Xie Biyan and another Dou Zong were plotting to kill him. After all, even Dou Huang could sense the spatial fluctuations behind the door, let alone a Dou Zong like himself. Therefore, he did not leave immediately.

However, even knowing that the door wasn't a trap set by Xie Biyan, Shi Rui still dared not make any rash moves. After all, the intense spatial fluctuations kept reminding him that if the person behind the door wanted to kill him, he would have no chance of escaping!

"...Who's inside?" Finally, Xie Biyan turned his head and looked at the strongest Dou Huang among the guides.

“He should be the actual controller of the Izumo Poison Swamp,” the Dou Huang said calmly after glancing up at Xie Biyan. “However, none of us have ever seen him, and we don’t know his strength.”

"Tsk, trash!"

Even though he knew from the beginning that these guides were completely controlled by a poison, Xie Biyan was still annoyed after hearing the Dou Huang say these words.

"...They're gone!"

However, this standoff was not a solution. Xie Biyan gritted his teeth and shot towards the door. He didn't care about the danger. As long as he had a chance to speak, he was willing to be the dog of the person inside!

After watching Xie Biyan dart into the portal and disappear, Shi Rui hesitated for a few seconds before beckoning the elders of the Poison Sect to follow him into the portal.

With these three leading the way, the rest of the group stopped hesitating and rushed into the portal. As long as the person inside was the one who controlled them, they were unlikely to be in any danger. The poison masters who had been tricked by the false information spread by Shi Rui believed the rumors were true even more after sensing the spatial fluctuations of the portal. If it weren't for Xie Biyan and Shi Rui blocking their way at the beginning, they would have rushed in long ago.

Xiao Yan, mingling in the crowd, leisurely entered the gate.

As soon as he entered the gate, Xiao Yan felt that he had arrived in a strange place. The energy of heaven and earth here was extremely rich, but it also seemed to carry a strange aura.

Without the slightest hesitation, a wisp of the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame surged out from the Nascent Soul, circulating throughout the body along with the Battle Qi, clearing away all abnormal energy.

After doing all this, Xiao Yan finally raised his head and looked at the group of people gathered in front of him—

As if they had seen something terrifying, everyone stood still, completely afraid to move.

Looking further ahead, you can see a person standing there calmly. Although you can't sense any battle qi from his body, there is no doubt that he is the one who has intimidated everyone, including Xie Biyan, a peak three-star Dou Zong.

However, it seemed to be Xiao Yan's illusion that at the moment the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame surged out of his body to absorb spiritual energy, the green-haired man in green robes seemed to glance at him, as if Xiao Yan's spiritual power could not completely conceal the aura of the strange fire.

'He should only be a four-star Dou Zong, but…' Yao Lao's hesitant voice echoed in Xiao Yan's mind, 'Something seems a little off.'

'Is it because of the Netherworld Poison Fire?' Xiao Yan asked softly.

"No, if it were someone who had refined the Netherworld Poison Fire, their aura would definitely not be like this. Moreover, their condition seems more like…" After a long hesitation, the old physician said softly, "The spirit of a different kind of fire."

'A humanoid spirit of a different kind of fire?' Xiao Yan could barely control his expression.

It is already extremely difficult for ordinary strange fires to form a spirit of strange fire, let alone a spirit of strange fire with a human form. Among all the ancient books collected by Yao Lao, only one book, which records many stories of unknown authenticity, mentions that only the top three strange fires can form a spirit of strange fire with a human form.

'No…no, that can't be…' However, the old apothecary quickly dismissed his guess, 'Regardless, you'd better be careful. You can use my power if necessary.'

"Yes, I understand." Xiao Yan nodded somewhat heavily.

Over the past few years, Xiao Yan has refined many pills that can restore soul power. Although he cannot guarantee that Yao Lao's soul power has been fully restored, it has at least been restored by more than half. If Yao Lao is allowed to control Xiao Yan's body, he will have the ability to save his life even when facing a Dou Zun.

Is there anyone else behind?

After waiting for a while and realizing that no one else seemed to be coming in, the green-haired man casually asked a question.

"There shouldn't be any more." The last spirit to enter hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Well, that’s perfect. I was worried we didn’t have enough fruit,” the green-haired man chuckled upon hearing this. “Alright, everyone, don’t look so alarmed. Didn’t I already tell you?”

“Now, after countless years, I, Li Zong, am not someone who indiscriminately kills innocent people.”

The green-haired man, or rather Li Zong, had a smile that gave people a feeling of being bathed in a spring breeze. However, anyone who knew a little about the "history" of the Izumo Poison Swamp knew that Li Zong was the last person to enter the Izumo Poison Swamp, a Dou Zong-level Calamity Poison Body!

The calamity-inflicting poison body that existed countless years after his death!

“Lord Li Zong…” Xie Biyan’s face twitched, he clasped his hands together, and the words “Lord Li Zong” were already on the tip of his tongue.

“I am not worthy of being called ‘sir’,” Li Zong interrupted Xie Biyan with a smile. “You are also a three-star Dou Zong, and your strength is almost equal to mine. Wouldn’t it be too much of an honor to call me ‘sir’?”

"That……"

“Just call me Li Zong,” Li Zong understood Xie Biyan’s thoughts very well. “It’s fine if you don’t call me that, after all, you have the fruit wine and should leave.”

With a wave of his hand, a cluster of blood-red fruits appeared between Li Zong and everyone else.

“Alright, since no one dares to say anything now, take these fruits and leave,” Li Zong, who had been calm just moments before, suddenly changed his expression after summoning the fruits. “One for each person, and those who take more don’t have to leave this swamp.”

"By the way, you're not allowed to move."

Finally, Li Zong specifically looked at Xiao Yan in the crowd.

'So the commotion was noticed after all?' Looking at the rapidly dispersing crowd around him, Xiao Yan murmured to himself, 'But... it's for the best, it's best if no one else is around...'

Li Zong had his eye on Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan had also his eye on Li Zong, who was suspected of being a spirit of a different kind of fire and also resembled the Calamity Poison Body who died a thousand years ago.

Chapter 165 Netherworld Poison Fire

Would you like to try some fruit?

After all the extra people left, Li Zong took out a blood-red "fruit" from his storage ring. Judging by its quality alone, it was much better than the fruit he had "given away" to those people before.

"We can give it a try." Xiao Yan nodded with a smile.

"Is its name just 'fruit'?" After catching the fruit that Li Zong threw to him, Xiao Yan held it in his hand and examined it carefully. "No other name?" After confirming that the fruit was full of purified blood energy, Xiao Yan looked up at Li Zong with a smile and asked.

"A name? I haven't thought about it," Li Zong pondered for a moment, then shrugged. "But, it's no problem to think of one now, hmm..."

"Blood Essence Fruit, let's call it that." Li Zong quickly clapped his hands and decided on the name of the Blood Essence Fruit.

“Blood Essence Fruit? That does fit its birth method…” Xiao Yan nodded. “Speaking of which, shouldn’t that portal be closed? Will more people come in later?” After putting the Blood Essence Fruit into his Awakening Flame Ring, Xiao Yan raised his hand and pointed to the black portal behind him.

"Oh, you don't need to worry about that. This door will remain open until the ceremony is over, and even if someone comes in later, I won't give them Blood Essence Fruit."

"Is that so?" Xiao Yan didn't bother to ask under what circumstances the ceremony would end, such a lack of romance. "But, you didn't keep me here just to chat, did you?"

“Netherworld, poison, fire!” After a pause, Xiao Yan uttered Li Zong’s true identity word by word.

"Oh dear, you actually figured it out?" Li Zong looked embarrassed. "I thought I could fool you for a long time... But for now, please still call me Li Zong, since I'm using his body."

'As long as it's not a spirit of a different kind of fire!' Xiao Yan didn't care what Li Zong said next. To him, as long as what was in front of him wasn't a humanoid spirit of a different kind of fire, everything was fine!

"Hmm? Why do you look so relieved? Could it be that you don't get along with that guy Zhou Ze?" Li Zong could naturally see Xiao Yan's undisguised relief, but what he said left Xiao Yan completely confused.

"You don't get along with Zhou Ze? What do you mean? Wait, you actually know that guide named Zhou Ze? Isn't the guide just a puppet to you? Are you the kind of person who would give every puppet a name?"

After learning that the person in front of him was Netherworld Poison Flame, Xiao Yan subconsciously thought that all his previous guesses about Zhou Ze were wrong. However, after hearing what Li Zong said, it seemed that it was not the case.

"Huh? Weren't you the one he invited to eliminate Li Zong?" Li Zong also looked bewildered, but he quickly composed himself. "So it was just luck? Looks like Zhou Ze didn't know you had a strange fire, did he?"

"...If you don't mind, why don't you tell me about your relationship with Zhou Ze?" After thinking for a moment, Xiao Yan suggested, "I'm quite interested in that kind of gossip."

"Alright, after all, this will be the most explosive secret you've ever heard in your life!" Li Zong readily accepted Xiao Yan's suggestion.

'The most explosive secret I've ever heard in my life?' Xiao Yan rolled his eyes inwardly. 'You really think you've got me cornered?'

To be honest, if Xiao Yan hadn't obtained his own Origin Flame, facing a powerful enemy like Li Zong, he could only shout "Teacher, save me!" and rely on Yao Lao to fight for him.