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

Why bother? Is winning or losing really that important?

With a casual flick of his wrist, Xiao Yan caught Nalan Yanran just as she was about to hit the ground, and then said something that would surely enrage a conscious Nalan Yanran.

"Forget it, it's all over now. Neither you nor the Yunlan Sect have anything to do with me anymore." After saying those words that were easy for him to say without thinking, Xiao Yan casually shrugged and then began to put on his makeup.

After inflicting severe injuries on his face and body, Xiao Yan glanced at his black robe, hesitated for a moment, and finally hardened his heart. He controlled his fighting spirit to create countless cracks on his robe, and after confirming that his body looked like it had been cut by sword energy, he took a deep breath.

When he exhaled that breath of turbid air, Xiao Yan's spirit and energy instantly became much weaker, looking as if his fighting spirit was exhausted and he was seriously injured.

Moments later, the smoke from the explosion completely dissipated.

"It's over, Nalan Yanran!"

With a roar, everyone saw Xiao Yan, his face pale, suddenly lunge towards the unconscious Nalan Yanran in the center of the square. Judging from the huge black ruler he held high, he was clearly prepared to kill Nalan Yanran the moment she had not yet recovered!

"stop!"

Seeing Xiao Yan, whose speed was slow due to his serious injuries, Yun Leng roared and flashed to Nalan Yanran's side, "Yanran has already lost, what else do you want to do?!"

Although he said those words, Yun Leng's hidden fighting spirit clearly indicated that he was not only planning to protect Nalan Yanran!

Chapter 201 Soul Palace

"Yeah, they've already lost, it's about time you stopped."

As some flippant voices rang out, Hai Bodong appeared beside Xiao Yan, stopping Xiao Yan's "fierce" fist and saying helplessly, "We're on Yunlan Sect's territory, you should at least give them some face."

Although Hai Bodong stopped Xiao Yan from finishing off the enemy, Yun Leng felt that Hai Bodong prevented him from killing the "thief" who had defeated Nalan Yanran and damaged the reputation of the Yunlan Sect on the spot.

Xiao Yan, whose mind was not on Yun Leng, the Dou Wang, withdrew his Dou Qi when Hai Bodong approached him. When Hai Bodong uttered those words, he simply dissipated the Dou Qi from his fist without even struggling.

Seeing Xiao Yan take out pills from his storage ring, looking like he wasn't going to finish him off, Yun Leng snorted coldly, his somewhat muddled mind clearing up. He turned around and walked to Nalan Yanran's side, who was lying on the ground.

Grabbing Nalan Yanran's arm to confirm she had no other problems besides excessive Dou Qi consumption, Yun Leng glanced at Xiao Yan behind him, who was talking to Hai Bodong. His brows furrowed. 'Both are one-star Dou Ling, yet Yanran's Dou Qi is completely depleted, unable even to support her levitation. This Xiao family brat actually has excess Dou Qi?'

Recalling Xiao Yan's reaction after the energy shockwave dissipated, as if he wanted to kill Nalan Yanran on the spot, Yun Leng's eyes gradually deepened. Although he couldn't kill Xiao Yan on the spot because of Hai Bodong's obstruction, he seemed to have a reason to keep Xiao Yan alive.

While Yun Ling was planning everything, Nalan Yanran, who had received some of his fighting spirit, slowly woke up.

Subconsciously glancing in the direction where she last saw Xiao Yan before losing consciousness, Nalan Yanran felt a pang of bitterness upon seeing him standing there calmly. After emerging from the Gate of Life and Death, she had assumed that no one in the younger generation of the Jia Ma Empire could rival her. Even though she knew that Xiao Yan had become a Dou Ling, she still felt that Xiao Yan, as an alchemist, was definitely no match for her in combat.

However, the facts proved that Xiao Yan's talent far surpassed hers. In three years, he climbed from a cripple with only three levels of Dou Qi to Dou Ling. Even though pills played a huge role in these three years, wasn't she just as talented?

After staring at Xiao Yan for a moment, Nalan Yanran's expression changed several times. After a long while, she finally made up her mind.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Nalan Yanran stood up with some difficulty, her slightly hoarse voice filled with undisguised bitterness: "Xiao Yan, you won. According to the agreement from back then, if I had lost this competition, I should have become a slave..."

“I have no interest in taking you as a slave,” Xiao Yan glanced at Nalan Yanran. The Xiao family would eventually be living in the Jia Ma Empire for a long time. If the agreement from back then were to continue, the Yunlan Sect and the Xiao family would essentially be mortal enemies.

Although the Xiao family is not weak in terms of high-end combat power, thanks to the help of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, the Eight-Winged Black Serpent King, and the Green Barbarian, Xiao Yan still does not want to make enemies if he can develop peacefully.

"The three-year agreement has ended, and we have no further connection. Consider your defeat today as the price for your arrogant behavior back then," Xiao Yan said calmly.

"Same as what I said three years ago, I will repeat it here today," Xiao Yan said with a smile, his gentle voice echoing across the square.

“Nalan Yanran, from now on, you will have no further connection with my Xiao family. You are free. Congratulations.”

Looking at the smiling young man, Nalan Yanran's expression was complicated. After realizing her defeat, she wanted to sacrifice her life to uphold the reputation of the Yunlan Sect, but the young man in front of her did not react to her actions at all, and even declared her freedom just like he had three years ago...

"Alright, it's all over. Everyone, go home now!" Xiao Yan raised his head, smiled at the many powerful figures from the Jiama Imperial City who were standing with Fa Ma and Jia Xingtian, then turned around and walked out of the square under the gaze of countless eyes.

"Mr. Xiao Yan, please stop for now. I have something I'd like to ask you to confirm."

Before they even left the plaza, an aged voice slowly rang out. The owner of this voice was standing beside Nalan Yanran, calmly watching Xiao Yan's cloud-like figure.

Xiao Yan turned around in surprise, looking at Yun Leng's aged face: "Elder Yun Leng, do you not acknowledge the outcome of this battle?"

Upon hearing this, Nalan Yanran turned to Yun Ling and said, "Elder, in today's competition, Yanran was indeed inferior in skill..."

"We are both Dou Ling, so why was your Dou Qi so powerful yet slow to circulate when you first arrived at Yunlan Mountain, Xiao Yan?" Yun Leng ignored Nalan Yanran. He dared to disregard even the current sect leader, let alone the young sect leader who had no power.

“Everyone knows that the speed of Dou Qi circulation is directly proportional to the strength of Dou Qi,” Yun Ling continued, “Moreover, even though we are both Dou Ling, when Yan Ran’s Dou Qi was exhausted and she couldn’t even maintain her movement techniques, Xiao Yan, you still had enough Dou Qi to unleash a Dou Technique…”

"Can I understand it this way: in order to win against Yanran in today's competition, Xiao Yan, you took a special pill before the competition that suppressed the speed of your fighting spirit circulation while accelerating its recovery?"

"So, before the competition even started, you walked up the Heavenly Staircase step by step instead of circulating your battle qi and using your movement techniques to shorten the time needed for this journey?"

Yun Ling's words lacked any solid evidence, and the powerful figures standing around the plaza looked at him with extremely strange expressions. They truly did not expect that this "highly respected" Grand Elder of the Yunlan Sect could utter such shameless words.

Gu He even wanted to tell this rigid elder that there was no such thing as a pill that could suppress the speed of battle qi circulation while accelerating its recovery!

"If Elder Yunling has nothing else to say, Xiao Yan will take his leave now." Xiao Yan sighed helplessly, thinking that his secret study of formations had been discovered, and prepared to leave after clasping his hands in a fist salute.

"Disciples of Yunlan Sect, heed my command!"

As soon as Xiao Yan turned around, Yun Leng shouted in an icy tone to the thousands of Yunlan Sect disciples present, "Form the Cloud and Smoke Covering the Sun Formation!"

Upon hearing the last five words, Xiao Yan subconsciously paused for a moment. Although it might not be a good thing... he was curious to see what kind of formation the "Cloud and Mist Covering the Sun Formation" was. It was during this subconscious pause that white, cloud-like energy slowly drifted out from the surrounding plaza.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan turned around with a face full of "anger" and looked at Yun Leng.

"Has Yun Leng gone mad? He actually used the sect's protective formation like that?" Hearing Yun Leng's shout, and seeing the Yunlan Sect disciples in the square who were slightly taken aback before responding in unison and slowly closing their eyes, Gu He frowned, shook his head, and whispered.

Fa Ma and Jia Xingtian, who were standing next to Gu He, also frowned. When Yun Leng gave that shameless reason, they thought that Yun Leng was simply a sore loser, but now the Yunlan Sect had even brought out its protective formation...

After exchanging a glance, Fa Ma and Jia Xingtian's figures flashed, and the next moment they arrived directly beside Hai Bodong and Xiao Yan, standing side by side with them while staring sternly at Yun Leng.

"Yun Leng, does your Yunlan Sect intend to break the rules?" Jia Xingtian stared intently at Yun Leng and said in an icy voice.

"Rules? My Yunlan Sect has no intention of breaking the rules," Yun Ling sneered twice, then waved his hand to arrange for two elders to take Nalan Yanran away, and said, "I just hope that this brat from the Xiao family will admit that he took a special pill before the competition!"

While Nalan Yanran was talking to Xiao Yan, Yun Leng quietly told all the elders about the task that Yun Shan had arranged. After learning that Yun Leng's every move was authorized by the old sect master, and that the old sect master was willing to do anything to keep Xiao Yan, the dozen or so elders slowly stood up and stood behind Yun Leng.

Knowing Xiao Yan's combat strength, Hai Bodong's lips twitched slightly after hearing Yun Leng's shameless words. He subconsciously glanced at Xiao Yan, his eyes clearly saying: "Take action now?"

"So you're already planning to force a confession?" Xiao Yan glanced helplessly at Hai Bodong and chuckled. "Your Yunlan Sect doesn't even dare to admit defeat in such a simple competition?"

While mocking, Xiao Yan's soul power freely felt every inch of the cloud and mist within the Cloud and Mist Covering the Sun Formation. If he were given just two or three more minutes, he would be able to fully understand the operating principles of this formation!

"So you're admitting that you took a special elixir before the competition?"

Completely forgetting that the third young master of the Xiao family had a senior brother who was a sixth-grade alchemist and a master of unknown rank, Yun Leng was in a daze, his eyes bloodshot as he stared straight at Xiao Yan.

"I'm testifying on his behalf in the name of the Alchemist Guild President," Fa Ma sighed and said, "There is absolutely no such thing as a pill in this world that can suppress the speed of battle qi circulation while accelerating its recovery. Yun Ling, wake up..."

"A fifth-grade alchemist with only a few decades of experience dares to testify for him?" Yun Leng sneered. "You haven't even seen many sixth-grade pills, what ability do you have to testify? Besides, does your Alchemist Guild's reputation even deserve to be compared with my Yunlan Sect?"

Even with his good temper, Fa Ma was furious upon hearing Yun Ling's mocking words. "Is your Yunlan Sect preparing to stand against all the alchemists of the Jia Ma Empire?!"

Jia Xingtian and Hai Bodong, who were standing to the side, looked at Fa Ma in surprise. They had known each other for decades, and this was the first time they had ever seen Fa Ma so angry.

Upon hearing Fa Ma's words, Yun Ling hesitated for a moment. Although Yun Shan had said he would spare no effort to keep Xiao Yan, if they really fell out with all the alchemists in the Jia Ma Empire, the Yun Lan Sect's existing elixirs wouldn't last long...

"Hehehe, are you scared?" The strange laughter that had been egging him on rang out again in the instant Yun Leng hesitated. "Does this old man represent all the alchemists of the Gama Empire? Even if he could, as long as we keep him here, there won't be any problems."

These words brought clarity to Yun Leng after a brief moment of confusion. However, looking at the two Dou Huangs opposite him, his brows furrowed again. This time, however, his goal was to buy time.

At his prompting, several elders at the Dou Wang level, hidden among the Yunlan Sect disciples, slowly began to move. Their task was simple: to briefly hold off Hai Bodong and Jia Xingtian when Yun Leng launched his attack. Although Fa Ma was also a Dou Huang, he was, after all, an alchemist, and Yun Leng could hold him off by himself. As for Xiao Yan, a Dou Ling, he was a piece of cake for the dozen or so white-robed elders.

While Yun Leng was "pondering", Hai Bodong, Jia Xingtian, and Fa Ma relaxed a little. Although they didn't need to worry about Yunlan Sect with their strength and status, it would be best to have less friction. After all, there were only a few forces in the Jia Ma Empire with Dou Huang level experts. If they completely fell out with Yunlan Sect, the surrounding empires would definitely become more arrogant in the future.

As for Xiao Yan...

'The Soul Hall?' Xiao Yan repeated the words Yao Lao had just uttered in his mind. 'Teacher, are you referring to the Soul Hall, one of the four halls in the Central Plains—one hall, one tower, two sects, three valleys, and four pavilions?'

"That's right, it's the Soul Palace," Yao Lao sighed. "At first, I thought I was mistaken, after all, the chilling aura of a Soul Palace protector appeared next to Yun Ling..."

'The Soul Hall's influence is mainly concentrated in the Central Plains. Regions far from the Central Plains, like the Jiama Empire, rarely see Soul Hall protectors; at most, there are only some Soul Guides. Therefore, it wasn't until that Soul Hall protector's aura appeared multiple times that I barely confirmed his identity. It's just that Soul Hall protectors have appeared in the Jiama Empire…'

As he spoke, Yao Lao's voice lowered again, but the doubt in his words remained. Back then, he had escaped a calamity because of the Soul Warming and Spirit Absorption in the Bone Flame Ring. Logically speaking, those Soul Palace protectors should not know about his situation.

'A soul guide? A guardian deity?'

"In the Soul Hall, all those who haven't reached the Dou Zong level are collectively called Soul Guides, and those who have become Dou Zong are called Protectors," Yao Lao said softly after regaining his composure. "Normally, remote areas of the Northwest Continent only have Soul Guides, but this time it's a Protector, and his position..."

"Deep within the Yunlan Sect?" Xiao Yan asked softly, sensing the hesitation in Yao Lao's words.

"Yes, deep within the Yunlan Sect," Elder Yao nodded, frowning. "The appearance of a Soul Hall protector deep within the Yunlan Sect suggests only two possibilities: first, the Yunlan Sect is an outer force of the Soul Hall; second, all the high-ranking members of the Yunlan Sect have had their souls taken by that Soul Hall protector."

Xiao Yan didn't know much about the Soul Palace, but he did know that its members specifically targeted various soul entities, and even attacked powerful individuals of all levels in order to obtain powerful soul entities.

"Teacher, the death rate of the Soul Palace Protectors... must be quite high, right?" After a long silence, Xiao Yan suddenly asked.

"Hmm, after all, they're only Dou Zong. It's alright in the Northwest Continent, far from the Central Plains, but in other places closer to the Central Plains, a Dou Zong's strength isn't enough for them to swagger around," Yao Lao nodded, then realized, "You want to strike first?"

"After all, both my teacher and I possess powerful soul forces," Xiao Yan chuckled. "For safety's sake, we naturally need to keep an eye on this Soul Hall protector who inexplicably appeared in the Jia Ma Empire..."

Clean it up!

written request for leave

Just woke up from a hangover, time to relax for a day.

Chapter 202 Cloud Mountain

Now that the plan is complete to eliminate that protector of the Soul Hall, Xiao Yan can no longer remain a bystander.

Hidden behind his back, Xiao Yan's right hand conjured a series of hand seals. As these seals changed, pale blue battle qi flowed out of Xiao Yan's body like water, forming a pale blue light seal several feet in size within a few seconds.

Although with the help of dozens of colleagues, Yun Ling's momentum was barely on par with Hai Bodong and the other two, and he didn't even notice anything amiss when Xiao Yan changed his hand seals behind his back, the intense fluctuations of his fighting spirit could no longer be concealed when the pale blue light seal was formed.

"The Xiao family..."

"Fire Refining Talisman Seal, Fifth Level..." The moment Yun Leng spoke, Xiao Yan unhesitatingly flung out the pale blue light seal in his hand, "Azure Flame Soaring to the Heavens!"

With a bluish tail flame, this beam of light shot towards the Yunlan Sect disciples shrouded in mist, like a meteor.

Upon seeing the target of the pale blue light imprint, Yun Leng's lips curled into a mocking smile. In his view, although Xiao Yan had become a disciple of a high-level alchemist, the aura brought by his small family still lingered with him. How could he believe that a mere Dou Ling could shatter the Cloud and Smoke Covering the Sun formed by the combined efforts of nearly a thousand Yunlan Sect disciples...

The moment the pale blue light imprint touched the hazy energy shield, the mocking expression on Yun Leng's face froze—

The Cloud and Mist Covering the Sun Formation did not have any flaws, but the light blue light imprint also did not show any signs of breaking. Just like that, the light imprint penetrated deep into the Cloud and Mist Covering the Sun Formation!

After a brief silence, the Yunlan Sect disciples within the Cloud and Smoke Covering the Sun Formation all let out a muffled groan. The next moment, the formation shattered, and the sea of ​​clouds covering Yunlan Mountain vanished instantly, revealing the three Dou Wang elders who had been hiding within the formation at Yun Leng's signal.

However, compared to the three Dou Wang elders, Hai Bodong and the other two were more concerned about the fact that Xiao Yan was able to completely dismantle the formation in one strike. You must know that this is the protective formation of the Yunlan Sect. No matter how you look at it, it is impossible for a Dou Ling to break it!

What did you do?

Hai Bodong looked at Xiao Yan strangely. He knew Xiao Yan's strength and was very certain that if Xiao Yan really used his full strength, this formation would not be able to withstand Xiao Yan's attack. But the light seal just now... in Hai Bodong's perception, the energy contained in it was not much.

"Just a soul attack," Xiao Yan said with a faint smile. "Although I'm just an ordinary Dou Ling in terms of Dou Qi level, my soul power..."