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

Lin Xiuya frowned slightly. Although he had used all his strength, the Snow Demon Sky Ape was a fifth-order magical beast after all. He couldn't possibly kill it with one blow. According to his guess, the Snow Demon Sky Ape would only suffer minor injuries after that attack.

"Something's not right. Be careful, everyone." Xiao Yan's expression shifted slightly. In his perception, the Snow Demon Ape's energy was rapidly increasing. If nothing unexpected happened, the Snow Demon Ape was activating its berserk bloodline.

Upon hearing this, everyone became even more vigilant. During the earlier siege of the Snow Demon Ape, they had also learned about Xiao Yan's ability to sense danger. In fact, if it weren't for Xiao Yan's multiple rescues, the three of them would have been injured.

"boom!"

Suddenly, the sound of ice shards cracking came from the pit. As the sound subsided, everyone's hearts tightened. Then, they could vaguely see an extremely blurry red light flashing out from the pit. The speed was terrifying and astonishing. Everyone was stunned for a moment by this terrifying speed. Then, their expressions changed drastically. Without anyone telling them, they all ran away like rabbits.

The crimson light appeared first in front of Lin Xiuya, who was retreating rapidly. Before he could even see the exact appearance of the other party, he felt an extremely cold gust of wind slamming towards him.

Feeling the biting wind, Lin Xiuya wielded his longsword rapidly, creating a wind net in front of him at top speed. However, the wind net only lasted for a moment before it exploded with a bang, and the icy wind that had not been neutralized still slammed into his body.

clang!

In that instant, an enormous black ruler blocked the icy wind and Lin Xiuya's body. Although the violent shock still made Lin Xiuya feel uncomfortable, at least he was not seriously injured by the attack.

The attack failed, but the Snow Demon Sky Ape did not pause. Its crimson eyes looked directly at Han Yue on the treetop in the distance, and with a roar full of killing intent, it pounced on her.

Chapter 223 Urgent Matter

In the distance, Han Yue also noticed the red figure rushing towards her. Her cold and beautiful face was slightly pale, but she did not panic and flee.

She knew that among the five people present, she was the weakest and the fastest, Lin Xiuya, had not yet escaped the Snow Demon Sky Ape's attack. If she turned around and ran away, there was no doubt that death was the only way out. If she went all out, there might still be a sliver of hope for survival.

However, before she could gather her fighting spirit, a red light flashed by, and a ferocious beast face appeared in front of Han Yue, radiating rampant killing intent.

Roar!

A murderous roar resounded through the sky, and a cold wind several times more ferocious than before, carrying the beast's claws, tore through the surrounding air and slashed down fiercely at Han Yue, whose face was pale.

Not far away, Lin Xiuya, Yan Hao, and Liu Qing were filled with anger and reluctance. Their proud strength was useless at this moment, and they could only watch helplessly as Han Yue died in the most tragic way.

However, just as the ferocious giant claw was about to strike Han Yue's head, a cyan figure swept past with the sound of wind and thunder. The biting cold wind missed its mark, and Han Yue, who had no chance to resist, vanished in an instant.

Lin Xiuya and the others were momentarily stunned by this sudden change, but soon the sound of wind and thunder appeared behind Lin Xiuya, and the blue figure stopped, while Han Yue slumped limply in the figure's arms.

"What is this...?" Lin Xiuya was speechless for a moment when he saw Xiao Yan, who was surrounded by blue sparks and riding on wind and lightning.

"A secret method to enhance strength." After removing the artificial sparks, Xiao Yan smiled casually. Lin Xiuya, who understood the principle of not speaking too much with someone he didn't know well, naturally didn't ask any more questions.

As Xiao Yan helped Han Yue up, Yan Hao and Liu Qing, who were a little further away, also came over. The group of people, gathered together, watched the Snow Demon Sky Ape warily in the distance.

At this moment, the Snow Demon Ape's snow-white fur had completely turned blood red. Its scarlet giant eyes were filled with even stronger killing intent and madness. Strands of blood-red mist continuously seeped out of its body. Judging from its aura, its strength had almost doubled compared to before.

"This beast seems to have a way to increase its strength..." Yan Hao's lips twitched slightly as he looked at the Snow Demon Ape, which seemed to be in a state of recuperation after its fierce attack. He chuckled dryly.

"...I think even if I use a secret technique, I can only flee in panic from its grasp," Lin Xiuya said softly after a moment of silence, while slowly looking at Xiao Yan, Liu Qing and Yan Hao, "Its current strength... is probably comparable to a mid-level or even high-level Dou Wang."

"Then what should we do? Just give up?" Yan Hao asked Lin Xiuya. The Earth Core Tempering Milk was too tempting for him, and giving it up directly would inevitably make him feel a little heartbroken.

“Let’s talk about it again after the Heartfire tempering,” Liu Qing put away his spear. “Running away from it isn’t shameful.”

Everyone could feel how astonishing the aura that the Snow Demon Sky Ape was unleashing at this moment was. To take the Earth Core Tempering Milk from its hands, one would need at least the strength of the inner courtyard elders.

"Xiao Yan, Han Yue, what do you think?" After hearing Liu Qing's answer, Lin Xiuya breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at Xiao Yan and Han Yue, "Retreat, or fight another wave?"

Although he was questioning both Xiao Yan and Han Yue at the same time, Lin Xiuya's gaze remained fixed on Xiao Yan, and Yan Hao and Liu Qing on the side also gradually turned their attention to Xiao Yan as well.

No one present was a fool. Even though Xiao Yan said he saved Han Yue from the Snow Demon Ape using a secret technique, he had just helped Lin Xiuya before that. At least in terms of speed, Xiao Yan was no slower than the blood-red Snow Demon Ape in the distance at that moment. As for their true strength...

That's a matter of opinion.

Xiao Yan didn't react much to the gazes of the others. Although he hadn't used his soul power or any secret techniques, he had still managed to reveal that he was actually no weaker than the berserk Snow Demon Ape.

"Let's retreat first," Xiao Yan shook his head. "Even if I use all my strength, I can only barely hold it off. If it wants to stall for time, there's nothing I can do."

"Let's go then," Lin Xiuya nodded, not doubting Xiao Yan's words. After all, Xiao Yan was not a Dou Wang, and was ultimately weaker than the berserk Snow Demon Heavenly Ape. "Let's come again when we have the chance!"

Lin Xiuya glanced one last time at the blood-red Snow Demon Ape that stood motionless, then waved his hand and turned to rush out of the deep mountains. Yan Hao and Liu Qing followed closely behind, somewhat helplessly.

The way back was much easier than the way they came, and before long, the group returned to the inner courtyard.

"Speaking of which, I have a duel between alchemists with Han Xian of the Medicine Clan in half a month," Xiao Yan suddenly said after entering the inner courtyard. "I wonder if any of you senior students would be interested in attending and watching?"

"Your duel with Han Xian?" Lin Xiuya and the others were naturally familiar with the name Han Xian from the Medicine Clan, but they were all stunned when they suddenly heard Xiao Yan say that he had a duel with Han Xian.

"A duel between alchemists," Xiao Yan smiled helplessly, "Elder Hao prepared the pill formulas and medicinal materials. This duel will only determine whether the Medicine Clan joins the Xiao Clan or our Xiao Clan joins the Medicine Clan."

The Xiao Clan was a faction that Xiao Yan, Xun'er, and Xiao Yu decided to establish on their first day in the Inner Court. After all, there were still many clansmen in the Outer Court, and establishing a faction in the Inner Court early would make it easier for those clansmen to cultivate after entering the Inner Court in the future.

Then, Hu Jia heard the news from somewhere and that very day dragged Wu Hao and a bunch of freshmen from this year's class to join the Xiao Clan.

When asked why, she replied arrogantly and with a cheeky grin, "It's good to take shelter under a big tree, and aren't you planning to build up your clan's influence in the inner courtyard? Although I'm not as strong as you guys, I'm still the strongest person in this competition besides you, right? With my level, I should be able to get on the top rankings in the future, right? You wouldn't be at a disadvantage if I joined, would you?"

Xiao Yan didn't say much to Hu Jia, who was always grinning. After all, her grandfather was the dean of the outer academy of Canaan Academy, so it was always good to build a good relationship with Hu Jia. As a result, the Xiao Clan had nearly fifty members in just one day.

As for the dispute with Han Xian of the Medicine Gang...

It was mainly Han Xian who came to Xiao Yan's door, wanting to exchange several of his own pill formulas for the Ice Marrow Pill formula. After being rejected, he suddenly made a pill-refining duel with Xiao Yan, using the Medicine Clan as the wager, for reasons unknown.

Although Xiao Yan suspected that Han Xian might want to admit defeat in the duel, join the Xiao Clan, and then obtain the Ice Marrow Pill formula, Xiao Yan naturally had no reason to refuse such a generous gift from Han Xian.

Anyway, alchemists are all pragmatic people. As long as Xiao Yan occasionally comments on a few members of the Medicine Clan, even if Han Xian wants to leave the Xiao Clan in the future, those original Medicine Clan members will not be willing to leave.

"A battle of alchemy?"

The group was taken aback. While battles were common in the inner courtyard, the alchemy duel that Han Xian proposed to Xiao Yan was extremely rare. Although Lin Xiuya and the others had powerful backgrounds, they were still quite interested in this kind of thing.

"I will definitely be there then," Lin Xiuya said with a smile.

"Me too," Yan Hao grinned.

“Hmm,” Liu Qing nodded, then looked at Xiao Yan, “If you are willing to part with the recipe for the Ice Marrow Pill, I can exchange it for a fighting technique or cultivation method.”

“There’s a chance,” Xiao Yan nodded with a smile.

After chatting for a few more minutes, Xiao Yan took his leave first. After all, Lin Xiuya and the others lived deep inside the inner courtyard, while he was only living on the outer edge of the inner courtyard.

“I feel like we don’t need to think about the Earth Core Tempering Milk anymore.” Yan Hao suddenly said, watching Xiao Yan’s departing figure.

“Indeed,” Lin Xiuya smiled helplessly, “either he or Senior Sister Ziyan can hold off the Snow Demon Sky Ape, and the other can enter the valley unimpeded to investigate. Moreover, they are both strong enough that there is no need to worry about the Snow Demon Sky Ape using a sneak attack to trade blows for injuries…”

They were all defeated by Zi Yan, so they naturally understood that Zi Yan's strength was not much weaker than that of the Snow Demon Ape. After Xiao Yan used his secret technique, he was slightly faster than the Snow Demon Ape. If nothing unexpected happened, the two of them working together could just take down the Earth Core Tempering Milk.

"It was Senior Sister Ziyan who told me this," Han Yue sighed helplessly. "Xiao Yan not taking the Earth Core Tempering Milk yesterday was already giving us face... Liu Qing, where are you going?"

Halfway through her sentence, Han Yue suddenly saw Liu Qing silently walking in the direction Xiao Yan had left, and immediately called out to him.

"Cultivation, what else?" Liu Qing turned around, somewhat puzzled, and glanced at Han Yue. "You've forgotten the location of the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower?"

Upon hearing this, Han Yue suddenly remembered that besides the freshman dormitory area at the end of the road Liu Qing had taken, there was also the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower.

"Is this preparation for a final few months of seclusion?" Lin Xiuya raised an eyebrow and asked.

“We can’t afford to lose to a freshman in the Strong Ranking Tournament,” Liu Qing replied in a low voice. “Or, after seeing Xiao Yan’s battle with the Snow Demon Ape, do you still think you can win by a hair’s breadth?”

He glanced at Lin Xiuya, then turned and continued forward without waiting for Lin Xiuya's response.

"A sure win? Win my ass..."

Lin Xiuya's expression froze, and he cursed under his breath. He himself was considered to be a person with extraordinary talent, but when Xiao Yan was his age, his strength was far inferior to Xiao Yan's. Even now, after seeing Xiao Yan's previous performance, he didn't think he had much of a chance to win.

"And you?" Before catching up with Liu Qing, Lin Xiuya turned his head and glanced at Yan Hao.

"Don't count on me," Yan Hao rolled his eyes. "Before the Strong Ranking Competition started, I should be thanking my lucky stars if I could catch up with you today!"

Yan Hao didn't feel ashamed of losing to a freshman at all. Moreover, with Xiao Yan's talent, Yan Hao had no doubt that Xiao Yan would become a powerful figure who would be famous throughout the continent in the future. At that time, it might even be an honor to announce that he had lost to Xiao Yan.

"You're quite carefree..." After a helpless smile, Lin Xiuya darted around and caught up with Liu Qing ahead.

Just as Lin Xiuya and the others had expected, not long after they parted, Xiao Yan returned to the valley where the Snow Demon Ape was located. After giving the somewhat weakened ape, which had been enraged, he gave it a good beating and then took the Earth Core Tempering Milk.

However, just like before, Xiao Yan only took the portion that his clansmen needed, leaving the rest behind. The portion left behind was more than enough for Lin Xiuya and the others, and Xiao Yan even took into account the amount of the Snow Demon Heavenly Ape.

"Xiao Yan, you've already beaten it up, haven't you?"

When Xiao Yan returned to the small building, the first person to rush out to greet him was naturally Zi Yan. However, the words she spoke were still filled with resentment towards her past attempt to steal the Earth Core Tempering Milk, which resulted in her being beaten up by the Snow Demon Heavenly Ape.

"I've already beaten it up, and it'll probably be in a bad mood for a long time to come!" Xiao Yan said with a wry smile after rubbing Zi Yan's head, who had rushed into his arms.

"That's good..." After muttering to herself, Zi Yan raised her head, her big, dark eyes staring unblinkingly at Xiao Yan.

"...Finished eating?" Seeing Zi Yan's expression, Xiao Yan immediately realized what was going on.

"Mmm." Upon hearing this, Zi Yan nodded vigorously.

"Let's go in first." Xiao Yan shook his head with a wry smile.

Some time ago, Xiao Yan noticed that Zi Yan always looked miserable when she ate those medicinal herbs, so he casually asked if he wanted to help her refine them into pills. Although they didn't have much flavor, they wouldn't be too bitter.

Ziyan did agree at the time, but the expression on her face made her look like a woman worried that her husband was just making up an excuse to take the family's money...

As it turned out, after Xiao Yan refined the medicinal herbs into pills, the rate at which Zi Yan consumed the herbs did indeed increase significantly. However, all the consumed herbs ended up in Zi Yan's stomach; Xiao Yan was merely a tool.

There were still more than half a month until the alchemy duel with Han Xian of the Medicine Gang. During this time, Xiao Yan lived a leisurely life. Although the matters of devouring the Wind Fury Dragon Flame and advancing to the Dou Wang level were on the agenda, they were not considered important. Therefore, Xiao Yan's usual work was to refine medicine for Zi Yan and to refine some pills for sale to support the operation of the Xiao Clan.

Until ten days later—

After handing the new bottle of pills to Zi Yan, Xiao Yan suddenly looked towards the door. At the same time, a series of urgent knocks sounded.

"Please come in."

After Xun'er spoke, a figure rushed in.

"What's wrong? Is something the matter?" Xiao Yan frowned slightly and asked, looking at the figure rushing in panting.

"Boss, I took leave yesterday and went to the outer courtyard," the man who came in scratched his head and said, "I heard someone from the outer courtyard is looking for you..."

"Someone's looking for me? Who is it?" Xiao Yan asked, taken aback.

"His name seems to be... Xiao Li? I heard that Dean Hu Qian is currently with him..."

Upon hearing the name Xiao Li, Xiao Yan's expression changed drastically. Under his arrangement, the Xiao family had already arrived in the capital. Normally, his second brother would never come to Canaan Academy to find him for no reason!

"I'll go first!" Without waiting for the messenger to finish speaking, Xiao Yan flashed away and left the small building.

After a brief moment of surprise, Xun'er and the others followed closely behind Xiao Yan.

Chapter 224 Unexpected Changes

When Xun'er and the others arrived at the exit of the inner courtyard barrier, they saw Elder Su, the first person they had met when they entered the inner courtyard, holding a jade bottle in his hand, staring at the gleaming silver gate, standing there with a strange expression.

"Elder Su..." Xun'er stepped forward, clasped her hands in greeting, and spoke.