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

Some Heavenly Palace disciples who became interested got up, intending to find out more about the situation, while others who were indifferent to external things closed their eyes again and immersed themselves in cultivation once more.

The graceful figure that swept across the sky ignored the reaction of the Heavenly Palace disciples and rushed directly into the depths of the Dan River, landing gracefully on the platform at the deepest part.

As soon as she landed on the platform, her gaze turned to the front. At the edge of the platform, a woman sat quietly in meditation, surrounded by a rich aura of nirvana.

The woman was dressed in black, with a slender and graceful figure. Her soft, dark hair was casually tied with a blue ribbon, the tips of which drew a faintly sharp arc. Her hands rested on her knees, her jade fingers forming a mudra. Above the mudra, a blue longsword rested between the two mudras, and wisps of sword energy emanated from it, tearing the surrounding dense Nirvana energy into several pieces.

"Sister!" Ying Huanhuan called out as soon as she saw the woman in black.

On the platform, the woman in black heard the clear voice behind her, and slowly opened her tightly closed eyes. A faint smile appeared on her lips, making her otherwise cold face instantly soften.

"Didn't you go to the Desolate Palace to watch their final battle for the Danhe Initiation quota? Why are you back so soon?" Ying Xiaoxiao held her cyan longsword in her jade hand, stood up gracefully, and looked at Ying Huanhuan with a smile in her eyes.

"This isn't the last battle to witness the Danhe Initiation quota!" Ying Huanhuan emphasized. "We want to see just what kind of abilities that guy who refused Vice Hall Master Weisen's invitation possesses!"

"So, you've seen it all?" Knowing her sister's personality, Ying Xiaoxiao didn't dwell on the previous topic and simply asked calmly.

"I guess so," Ying Huanhuan said with a slightly annoyed pout. "I don't know if Tong Chuan underestimated his opponent or what, but he didn't even last ten moves against Xiao Yan before being inexplicably knocked unconscious."

"Tong Chuan lost?" Ying Xiaoxiao was slightly taken aback, also somewhat surprised. She had heard of Tong Chuan's name before; he was said to be second only to the top disciples of the Desolate Palace.

However, even such a person couldn't last ten moves against Xiao Yan.

"If I remember correctly, you said yesterday that Xiao Yan was only at the Fourth Yuan Nirvana Realm?" After thinking for a moment, Ying Xiaoxiao asked somewhat uncertainly, "That Tong Chuan... seems to be at the Sixth Yuan Nirvana Realm, right?"

"That's right, a sixth-level Nirvana Realm cultivator was defeated by a fourth-level Nirvana Realm cultivator within ten moves, without even having to use any of the Desolate Palace's ultimate techniques. It felt like they simply wanted to give the spot to Xiao Yan!"

The mere mention of the difference in their cultivation levels filled Ying Huanhuan with rage. A sixth-level Nirvana Realm cultivator! Even if her sister were to personally intervene, she might not be able to guarantee defeating and knocking him unconscious within ten moves, right? Was Tong Chuan really not just putting on an act?

"Didn't Uncle Chenzhen and Uncle Wudao tell you the reason?" Seeing Ying Huanhuan's reaction, Ying Xiaoxiao was also able to confirm the truth of the matter. However, she was a little confused. If Ying Huanhuan didn't understand it herself, didn't she ask the two hall masters of the Desolate Hall?

Those two palace masters are both experts at the Life Profound Realm. They wouldn't deliberately hide such a trivial matter, would they?

“I asked,” Ying Huanhuan pouted, “but my two senior uncles said it was Xiao Yan’s secret, and unless Xiao Yan himself agreed, they couldn’t just tell him directly!”

"That Xiao Yan..."

Ying Xiaoxiao, who was about to continue asking, saw Ying Huanhuan's frustrated expression. "Hmm... since you've already asked your two senior uncles, does that mean his Danhe Initiation has already begun?"

“Yes,” Ying Huanhuan said sullenly, “So, sister…”

At this point, Ying Huanhuan's big eyes darted around, and she was about to continue when Ying Xiaoxiao's calm voice reached her ears, "Don't even think about asking your two senior uncles for details. If you really want to know, just go ask Father. I have more important things to do..."

"Isn't she just someone who lost a move to Ling Qingzhu of the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace back then...?" Ying Huanhuan muttered, but as soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly noticed that the sword energy permeating the platform had become sharper and immediately shut up.

"Little girl, if you think you're too free lately, I can put you in confinement for a few days." Ying Xiaoxiao's calm voice made Ying Huanhuan cover her mouth and then turn and slip away without hesitation.

Watching the figure dart out like a rabbit, Ying Xiaoxiao pursed her lips, shook her head helplessly, and after calming her emotions slightly from the mention of the name "Ling Qingzhu" by Ying Huanhuan, she sat down on the platform again and continued her previous cultivation.

……

Boom!

The Dan River surged, its immense power and energy of rebirth coalescing into towering waves that rolled endlessly within it. Its power and ferocity far surpassed that of any real river.

Chen Zhen and Wu Dao hovered above the Dan River, the dense Nirvana energy fiercely striking their bodies, yet not even the hem of their clothes was stirred.

"I wonder how many days this little guy can hold on." Looking down at the Dan River, Chen Zhen suddenly shook his head with a sigh.

“About... four or five days?” Wu Dao pondered for a moment and gave an extremely conservative estimate.

"Four or five days? Didn't you say he had great potential, and might even become the next person to comprehend the Great Desolation Scripture? Why are you being so conservative this time?" Chen Zhen looked at Wu Dao with some surprise.

“The absorption of Nirvana Golden Qi places too many demands on the physical body. The first few days are manageable, but from the sixth day onwards, the pressure below becomes quite excessive,” Wu Dao stroked his beard and said softly. “And this troublemaker… seems to be focusing too much on the cultivation of spiritual power. The spiritual power that is disproportionate to his Yuan power cultivation will have the greatest impact on him.”

"Focusing on mental cultivation?" Chen Zhen looked at Wu Dao in surprise. "Are you... mistaken about something? His mental strength is only at the level of a First-Grade Heavenly Talisman Master."

"A Celestial Talisman Master?"

This time, Wu Dao was dumbfounded. "That's not right. The moment he set up the formation, the level of spiritual power he unleashed was at least at the sixth level, or even higher, right?"

"If he had that level of mental strength, would he still use formations to deal with Tong Chuan?" Chen Zhen rolled his eyes in annoyance.

“…That makes sense,” Wu Dao thought for a moment, then nodded. “However, Palace Master, you were actually able to see through Xiao Yan’s actual spiritual power level?”

Wu Dao looked at Chen Zhen with some suspicion. Chen Zhen's strength was only slightly higher than his, and their mental strength was about the same. It was impossible for Chen Zhen to have noticed something was wrong while he hadn't noticed anything.

“Cough, I learned a trick from the people of the Divine Sect before,” Chen Zhen whispered, “a little technique that allows you to clearly perceive the actual level of someone no matter how strong their mental power is.”

If the Divine Sect elder who taught Chen Zhen this technique knew, he would probably just laugh at him for not being skilled enough and not even remembering the actual effect.

After all, the real effect of that move was—

Confirm the level of mental strength displayed by the user in that instant. It was at the level of a one-seal talisman master, but the intensity of the mental strength burst was similar to that of a typical six-seal talisman master. A person who fits this characteristic must have a mental strength level of at least a celestial talisman master!

At the bottom of the Dan River, feeling the slightly heavy water pressure around him, Xiao Yan sighed softly, "Alright, little fox, it's time for your performance."

A round, white fox emerged from Xiao Yan's body, holding a seed that shimmered with green light in its hand.

"Aren't you going to start cultivating?" As she guided a wisp of Nirvana Golden Qi into the Immortal Origin Ancient Seed, the little fox tilted its head and looked at Xiao Yan with some curiosity.

“I have to make sure that the commotion of the Danhe Immortal Origin Ancient Seed absorbing Nirvana Golden Qi goes unnoticed,” Xiao Yan said irritably. “Besides, if I start cultivating freely, the Nirvana Golden Qi at the bottom of the Danhe River… it’s really hard to say how long it can last.”

The little fox blinked, then thought of the unknown martial art that Xiao Yan was cultivating, which hadn't yet reached the Heavenly Martial Arts level, but had excellent compatibility with Nirvana Qi...

"Indeed, if you were to cultivate, the Nirvana Golden Qi below would only last for about a day at most, and that's only if you need to build up your primordial spirit's keratin layer!"

“So, you’d better get started. According to the Dao Sect’s records, the genius from a hundred years ago was the only person to completely absorb all the Nirvana Golden Qi below, and it took him thirteen days,” Xiao Yan nodded. “Although the speed at which different people absorb Nirvana Golden Qi will certainly vary, you’d better complete the ripening of the Immortal Essence Ancient Seed within twelve days. After all, I’m not sure if they understand the pressure at the bottom of the Dan River after thirteen days…”

If the two hall masters of the Desolate Palace knew about it, and the oppressive force was beyond what a Nirvana Realm cultivator could withstand, then Xiao Yan would be in a difficult position to explain.

"No problem, it will be done in seven days at most!" the little fox said confidently.

……

Deep within the Dan River of the Dao Sect's Heavenly Palace, a graceful figure sat quietly on a platform. The surging Nirvana energy emanated from the Dan River, eventually swirling around her like clouds and mist, giving her an ethereal appearance.

call out!

However, her quiet cultivation did not last long. A sudden, rapid whooshing sound came from behind, causing her to furrow her brows slightly.

"Sister, something terrible has happened!"

It was the same familiar, crisp sound. Then, Ying Huanhuan, dressed in a red dress, landed lightly on the platform and said hurriedly.

"What is it now?" Ying Xiaoxiao glanced at Ying Huanhuan, who was panting behind her, and asked in a calm tone.

"Do you remember Xiao Yan, the one I told you about before, the one who defeated Tong Chuan?"

“I naturally remember Xiao Yan, who defeated Tong Chuan using methods you don’t know and then secured the Danhe Initiation spot,” Ying Xiaoxiao closed her eyes again. “What’s wrong? Did he provoke you again after coming out of the Danhe River?”

"No, that guy hasn't come out from the bottom of the Dan River yet!" Ying Huanhuan cried out in protest. "And... eight days have already passed!"

"It's been eight days already?"

Ying Xiaoxiao was slightly taken aback. Back then, she had only managed to survive for eight days at the bottom of the Dan River, and that was when her cultivation level was at the sixth level of Nirvana.

However, the Heavenly Palace's Dan River is stronger than the Desolate Palace's, and the pressure at the bottom of the Dan River is also significantly different, but...

Huanhuan knows this too. If she had just persisted for eight days normally, she wouldn't have rushed over in such a hurry...

Ying Xiaoxiao finally turned around, her gaze falling on Ying Huanhuan. After a moment's hesitation, she asked, "Is there still no sign that he's going to come out?"

"Uh..." Ying Huanhuan, who was just about to share her shock with her older sister, blinked. Finally, with a look of defeat on her face, she slowly nodded under Ying Xiaoxiao's gaze.

"Hmm... Many disciples from the Four Palaces are currently paying attention to the Desolate Palace's Dan River. It's said that the guy is still hiding at the bottom of the Dan River and shows no signs of appearing..." Ying Huanhuan said with a wry smile. She really couldn't imagine that a guy at the Fourth Nirvana Realm could do this.

Ying Xiaoxiao took a deep breath, and suddenly, she thought of the name of the person who set all the records of the Dao Sect a hundred years ago...

Bottom of the Dan River

Xiao Yan stared in disbelief at the scene before him—

The little fox kept its eyes closed, continuously drawing strands of Nirvana Golden Qi into the black sapling about half a meter tall beside it. On the black sapling, besides the scattered fluorescent spots, there was a small green, slender, withered twig-like creature that seemed to be enjoying the sapling's energy.

"This Immortal Origin Tree can actually attract the attention of the Flame of Life?" Elder Yao said with some surprise. "Could it be that this Immortal Origin Tree can also be used as a medicinal herb?"

"I'm not luxurious enough to use it as a medicinal herb right now..." Xiao Yan smiled wryly. "Besides, with the Immortal Origin Ancient Tree in its current state, I don't know if the little fox can still store it in its storage space!"

According to the little fox, the purpose of absorbing the Nirvana Golden Qi this time was only to shorten the time for the Immortal Essence Ancient Seed to germinate on its own. However, after the Flame of Life jumped out on its own, it actually allowed the seed to grow to its current size. Moreover, the little fox even fell into a state similar to meditation, and Xiao Yan did not dare to forcibly interrupt it...

"Hopefully it can be stored..."

Looking at the half-meter-tall tree in front of him, Xiao Yan muttered to himself.

Chapter 286 Wishes Fulfilled

At the bottom of the Dan River, Xiao Yan slowly opened his tightly closed eyes.

"Did you succeed?" Yao Lao, who had been standing to the side, asked with great interest after seeing Xiao Yan open his eyes.

"Hmm... I think it was successful?" Xiao Yan answered hesitantly after sensing for a while. Then his body trembled slightly, and a faint golden light appeared on his body surface. It then condensed and turned into a layer similar to keratin, which enveloped his entire body.

"This is the keratin layer of the primordial spirit?" Yao Lao looked at the golden light on Xiao Yan's body with some surprise. "This thing... is indeed stronger than the soul body, but it seems to be linked to spiritual power?"

After lightly touching the golden keratin layer, Yao Lao turned his head and looked at the little fox lying on the half-meter-tall Immortal Origin Ancient Tree with some curiosity.

"The keratinous layer of the primordial spirit condensed in the Nine Yuan Nirvana Realm is just a simple defensive tool born from the primordial spirit energy," the little fox said proudly, after flicking its tail. "But the keratinous layer of the primordial spirit condensed by the old man, which can be formed by the Nirvana Golden Qi in the Dan River as long as one's mental strength is strong enough, is completely different!"

It can be described as a fusion of the spiritual body and the primordial spirit, far surpassing either in strength or in eeriness. In fact, one disciple once endured the combined tribulations of wind and thunder, the stages from the Nine-Seal Heavenly Talisman Master to the Lesser Vehicle of the Immortal Talisman Master, all thanks to this layer of keratin!

The Wind and Thunder Tribulation is a tribulation that one experiences every time their spiritual power reaches the Heavenly Talisman Master realm, similar to the Nirvana Tribulation. Unlike the Nirvana Tribulation, the Wind and Thunder Tribulation can be infinitely stacked as long as one can withstand it. As the little fox said, the Wind and Thunder Tribulation from the Nine-Seal Heavenly Talisman Master to the Lesser Vehicle level of Immortal Talisman Master can be stacked together, and if one relies solely on the physical body to withstand it...

It could probably severely injure a newly awakened expert in the Reincarnation Realm!

"Is it a fusion of a spiritual body and a primordial spirit?" However, compared to the strength of this keratin layer, Xiao Yan was more concerned about what the little fox said about the difference between this keratin layer and the keratin layer of an ordinary primordial spirit.

"That's right, the fusion of the spiritual body and the primordial spirit!" The little fox nodded with satisfaction, eager to see Xiao Yan's expression. "In other words, it can leave the body! Moreover, after leaving the body, besides what a spiritual body can do, it can also fight alongside you!"

Once one's spiritual power reaches the Immortal Talisman Master stage, one can condense a spiritual entity that can directly control the demonic beasts in the Life and Death Mystic Realm with spiritual power. It can even interfere with matter with spiritual power and launch attacks without consuming spiritual power. It can be said to be a variant of the Primordial Spirit, except that compared with the Primordial Spirit, the spiritual entity is more ethereal and mysterious.

It is precisely because of its strangeness that, unless it encounters a powerful individual who is equally skilled in mental power, the actions of a spiritual entity are difficult to detect. However, it is also because it is difficult to detect that, in situations where attention is needed, such as the final stage of the Hundred Dynasties War, it cannot be used to attract attention.

The primordial spirit keratin layer clearly solved this problem. However, for Xiao Yan and Yao Lao, the spiritual body that can separate from the body and fight alongside the main body is more like a soul clone that can be split off when one reaches the Great Perfection of the Heaven Realm, with strength, defense, and speed that are no less than the main body!

With this in mind, Xiao Yan energetically condensed his spiritual body and covered it with this layer of keratin.

"Well……"

Looking at the golden, shimmering spirit body, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao fell silent.

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?" The little fox tilted its head, looking at the two of them strangely. "Isn't this spiritual entity quite normal? Even without controlling it, it can still defeat an ordinary Death Profound Realm expert, right?"

“That’s true,” Xiao Yan was quite confident in its strength, since it was something condensed from his own spiritual power. “It’s just that I was overthinking it… Apart from its defensive capabilities and ability to attract attention, it’s not that different from a spiritual entity, is it?”

Like a spiritual entity, it also requires the distraction and control of the main body. However, as an extension of spiritual power, it is not difficult to control and can be used as a tacit combat partner.