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

"There are still three months until the annual competition of the Desolate Palace."

Enlightenment's somewhat abrupt words stunned Xiao Yan. "Yearly comparison?"

"At the annual competition, a quota of people qualified to comprehend the Great Desolation Scripture will be determined," Wu Dao looked at Xiao Yan seriously. "This quota is different from the Danhe Initiation; without the status of a direct disciple, one cannot obtain this quota!"

"So, if I want to comprehend the Great Desolation Scripture, I must learn the Desolation Demon Eye?"

Xiao Yan's lips twitched slightly. Although he was quite confident in his talent for comprehending fighting techniques and martial arts, he was still a little worried because the Desolate Demon Eye seemed to be a martial art at the Heavenly Martial Arts level, and its "attributes" clashed with his own.

"Or, within these three months, your strength may surpass that of Jiang Hao and the others."

Wu Dao also knew the difficulty of comprehending the Desolate Demon Eye. Even if Lin Dong, who had received the same inheritance as Xiao Yan, succeeded, he did not believe that Xiao Yan could succeed 100%. After all, Zhou Tong had not comprehended this martial art a hundred years ago, and his senior brother in the Martial Arts Hall had even gone blind because of this martial art...

"How about it? Compared to others, you have an extra way to become a personal disciple. Isn't that a good privilege?" Thinking of his senior brother who was cultivating in seclusion in the Martial Arts Hall, Wu Dao couldn't help but sigh in his heart, but he quickly smiled and looked at Xiao Yan.

"If this really counts as preferential treatment..." Xiao Yan muttered under his breath, then coughed dryly under Wu Dao's ambiguous gaze and stopped complaining. After all, if he was really just an ordinary disciple, then the two ways Wu Dao gave to advance to the personal disciple were essentially meaningless.

"Then, the mission outside the sect..." Then, Xiao Yan looked at Wu Dao with hopeful eyes, while Ying Huanhuan, whom he had asked at the beginning, was left aside.

"As long as you become the head disciple, I will definitely give you a mission outside the sect immediately!" Wu Dao waved his hand and said arrogantly. In his opinion, Xiao Yan might not have been able to get this status even in the past, so there was no problem with making such a boast!

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's eyes lit up, and he subconsciously looked in the direction where Jiang Hao was.

"Ahem, you are, after all, a direct disciple of the Desolate Hall," Wu Dao coughed lightly after noticing Xiao Yan's actions, even though he felt Xiao Yan's chances of winning were not high. "How can you not be familiar with the martial arts of the Desolate Hall? Come on, I'll take you to the Martial Arts Hall!"

Having said that, without waiting for Xiao Yan's agreement, he grabbed Xiao Yan's arm, moved, and stepped into the air into the distance.

Below, watching Wu Dao slip away and Xiao Yan held captive in his hand, Xuanzhen wore a helpless smile—

He didn't recall any rule that mastering the Desolate Demon Eye would grant him the status of a top disciple!

'However, if he could truly comprehend the Desolate Demon Eye, with Xiao Yan's strength, defeating Jiang Hao wouldn't seem too difficult, would it?' Then, Xuanzhen looked at Jiang Hao beside him, 'Giving them the status of a personal disciple would at least save them some face…'

Jiang Hao, who was standing to the side, felt a chill run down his spine and subconsciously looked around. He had a feeling that someone was talking badly about him!

'Could it be...' Subconsciously, Jiang Hao looked in the direction where Lin Dong was.

'Given the strength of the strange fire within Xiao Yan's body…' Lin Dong, somewhat distracted, naturally "heard" the conversation between Xiao Yan and Wu Dao. 'Can he really condense a Desolate Seed?'

Feeling the fist-sized gray bead in his dantian, Lin Dong's expression was somewhat strange. He had no doubt that Xiao Yan could condense a Wild Seed, but he felt even more that this Wild Seed would become nourishment for the strange fire in Xiao Yan's body.

"It should be fine, trust Xiao Yan," Lin Dong quickly stopped worrying. "Just a mere wild seed..."

The Desolate Stone is the source of the Desolate Force, the most unique technique of the Desolate Hall disciples. When fighting, the Desolate Force can not only enhance the power of the Desolate Hall disciples' martial arts, but also erode the opponent's Yuan Power. Unless the opponent uses a more domineering and powerful force to forcibly erase the Desolate Force, they can only wait for the Desolate Force to erode their body little by little. It is the strongest technique for most Desolate Hall disciples.

The barren stone itself was just a spherical gray boulder about a hundred feet in size. From a distance, it even gave the illusion that it was covered in moss. Although the moss was an illusion, the fine cracks on the barren stone were real. If it hadn't been constantly emitting special fluctuations, Xiao Yan might have mistaken it for an ordinary boulder.

'This barren rock...'

As he ran his hand across the surface of the barren rock, Xiao Yan asked himself inwardly, 'Is it really not some kind of heirloom from the Great Wilderness Sect?'

'The old man doesn't remember anything like this…' the little fox muttered. 'Could it be that he forgot to leave it for me? Or is this desolate stone something the Great Wilderness Sect didn't take with them when they left?'

It's no wonder the two reacted this way. The aura emanating from this desolate stone was not much different from the Great Desolate Imprisoning Heaven Hand, a martial art Xiao Yan obtained within the Great Desolate Sect, when used at full power. At first, when Xiao Yan heard about the Great Desolate Scripture, the Desolate Force, and the Desolate Stone, he thought it was just a coincidence of names, but now it seems...

This is clearly the same set of products!

"Speaking of which, the Great Wilderness Imprisoning Heaven Hand is actually a martial art left behind by the Great Wilderness Emperor," then the little fox thought of something, "Perhaps what the Great Wilderness Sect obtained back then was merely the martial art used by the Great Wilderness Emperor in his youth? Did this sect obtain the spiritual treasures and martial arts he used and cultivated in his later years?"

"So, the Dao Sect is a sister sect of the Great Wilderness Sect?" Xiao Yan asked with a smile.

'Hard to say...' the little fox muttered.

A hundred feet away from the desolate rock, there were many stone platforms, each large enough for one person to sit cross-legged on. On these platforms sat disciples of the Desolate Palace. In the past, they would absorb the desolate energy emanating from the desolate rock bit by bit. But now, everyone stared blankly at Xiao Yan, who was standing beside the desolate rock, stroking it with his palm.

"Another guy unaffected by the desolate energy..."

"If it weren't for the fact that several guys have tried to get close to the barren rock and ended up being sent there to recover, I'd be tempted to give it a try myself..."

"Do these two really not possess any special abilities? Why are they unaffected by this desolate energy?"

"If there were any shortcuts, the Palace Master and the others would have discovered them long ago. How could they possibly let us absorb the desolate energy here and then condense the desolate seed within our bodies?"

……

On the stone platform, the disciples of the Desolate Palace whispered among themselves. They were all considered geniuses, but they could only absorb the desolate energy from a distance of a hundred feet. Xiao Yan and Lin Dong from a few days ago, on the other hand, were able to get close to the desolate stone and touch it directly!

"Who exactly is the newcomer who just joined the Desolate Palace not long ago?"

After a long while, someone spoke the thoughts of all the disciples of the Desolate Palace present.

'Indeed, who is the real newcomer who just joined the Desolate Palace?' Everyone unconsciously repeated this question as they watched Xiao Yan still stroking the cracks on the surface of the desolate stone.

Chapter 288 Wild Force

Compared to not understanding Xiao Yan's current situation and simply marveling at the reappearance of the disciples of the Desolate Hall who were not afraid of the Desolate Force, the blind old man in front of the stone tablet in the Martial Arts Hall that was inscribed with an introduction to the Desolate Force, and Wu Dao standing next to the old man, were even more shocked.

"Senior brother, he..."

Watching Xiao Yan gently brush his palm across the barren rock without generating any energy fluctuations, Wu Dao swallowed hard. "He seems completely unaffected by that desolate energy?"

Not long ago, Lin Dong also came to the Martial Arts Hall. Like Xiao Yan, he also went directly close to the barren stone and placed his palm on it. However, unlike Xiao Yan, who had no fluctuations at the moment his palm touched the barren stone, Lin Dong's palm had an extremely powerful fluctuation the moment it touched the barren stone!

The fluctuations emanating from the desolate stone even caused a little panic in the Enlightenment Realm, who was at the Lesser Completion stage of the Life Profound Realm. He almost thought there was something wrong with the desolate stone and was about to rush forward to rescue Lin Dong from the stone!

Although the desolate stone fell silent again after that fluctuation, as if nothing had happened, Wu Dao still carefully checked the condition of the desolate stone with Xuan Zhen. Only after confirming that there was no problem with it did he reopen the cultivation of the desolate energy.

Besides wanting Xiao Yan to cultivate the Desolate Force and try to comprehend the Desolate Demon Eye, there was also a hidden intention: to have Xiao Yan, who was extremely similar to Lin Dong in every aspect, try to touch the Desolate Stone to confirm that there was really no problem with it.

However, after confirming that there was truly nothing wrong with the wasteland stone, Wu Dao began to doubt his own eyes.

Lin Dong caused quite a commotion back then, but at least we could clearly feel the impact of the Desolate Force on him! Why is there no reaction at all on Xiao Yan's side?

"Senior brother, could it be that Xiao Yan is unable to cultivate the Desolate Force?" Then, Wu Dao suddenly thought of something, "If that's the case, shouldn't we inform the other three hall masters..."

Wild Force is the foundation of the Wild Hall disciples, the foundation of all martial arts in the Wild Hall, and even the first step of the Great Wilderness Scripture. If Xiao Yan really has no way to cultivate Wild Force, it would be better to send him to the other three halls as soon as possible. If he stays in the Wild Hall, it will only harm him.

“You’re too tense,” the blind old man said calmly. “Use your spiritual power to sense it!”

As the only person in the Desolate Palace besides Lin Dong who had comprehended the Desolate Demon Eye, the blind old man's spiritual power was at the level of a minor master of immortal talismans. It was because of this that he could clearly feel that when Xiao Yan's hand touched the Desolate Stone, the Desolate Stone responded with an emotion that was almost "joy".

"Are you delighted?" The blind old man's wrinkled brows furrowed slightly. "Does he... possess some kind of spiritual treasure from the same source as the desolate stone? Or perhaps... martial arts techniques?"

The blind old man who resided in the Martial Arts Hall naturally knew that this desolate stone was a spiritual treasure, a pure primordial treasure with its own consciousness. Based on the characteristics of the desolate stone and the mysterious origin of the Great Desolation Scripture, the blind old man also wondered if these were relics left behind by some ancient powerhouse.

Unfortunately, there is very little information about the powerful figures from the ancient times in the Daoist sect, and the blind old man was also unable to comprehend the Great Desolation Scripture. This conjecture has always remained just that—a conjecture—without any possibility of verification.

But now, Xiao Yan's appearance has given the old man a glimmer of hope—

Perhaps, perhaps he can learn about the origin of the Desolate Stone and news of its former owner from Xiao Yan!

……

Xiao Yan was naturally unaware of the profound shock that the Desolate Stone's reaction to his contact with it had brought to Wu Dao and the blind old man, as he was currently struggling with the cultivation of Desolate Strength.

'Absorb the desolate energy from the barren rocks, then condense a seed of desolate energy within your body, and finally nurture and strengthen this seed with your elemental power. As the seed grows stronger, the desolate energy it possesses will gradually become more powerful...'

Xiao Yan still remembered every word on the "Wilderness Technique," which recorded the origin of Wilderness Force and described the cultivation method for it. Because of this, Xiao Yan had no clue how to cultivate Wilderness Force.

After the seed of desolate energy within his body was once again destroyed by the strange fire residing in his dantian, Xiao Yan took a deep breath—

After the first time Xiao Yan drew the Desolate Force into his body and it was destroyed by the "free-moving" Strange Fire, he retrieved the Strange Fire into his Spirit Absorption. After retrieving it, the formation of the Desolate Force Seed was no longer affected and was easily completed.

However, as soon as he released control of the strange fire, the free flames destroyed the Desolate Energy Seed, which was also located in his dantian, without hesitation. He tried several more times afterward, and each time the Desolate Energy Seed was destroyed as soon as he released control of the strange fire, as if there was some kind of hatred between him and the Desolate Energy Seed.

"Failed again?" Yao Lao's voice echoed in Xiao Yan's mind.

'Hmm, it seems the Desolate Force Seed and the Strange Flame really can't coexist,' Xiao Yan smiled helplessly, 'In that case, only the last resort remains...'

After the Desolate Seed was destroyed for the first time, Xiao Yan sought advice from Yao Lao. However, Yao Lao had no clue about this peculiar situation. At first, the two thought it was just an accident and that following the steps one by one might yield different results. But in the end, they concluded that there was no difference.

Since the "Desolate Energy Seed" cannot exist in the dantian, Xiao Yan can only turn it into a "flame" with the Desolate Energy effect. Anyway, this is not the first time Xiao Yan has done this. The only difference is that last time he needed to condense an artificial strange fire, while this time he only needs an ordinary flame that can support the Desolate Energy.

"It's finally starting?"

When Xiao Yan activated the fire to ignite all things, burning away all the desolate energy that had entered his body and transforming it into flames imbued with the aura of desolate energy, Wu Dao finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Although, thanks to the blind old man's reminder, he could sense the desolate stone's joy at Xiao Yan's appearance, that joy wouldn't solve anything if Xiao Yan couldn't cultivate the Desolate Force. Only at this moment, after feeling the vast gray energy within the desolate stone being absorbed by Xiao Yan, did Wu Dao finally relax.

The blind old man stared at the young figure by the barren rock with his gray eyes. He could feel a large amount of primordial energy continuously flowing from the rock into Xiao Yan's body. However, this had happened not long ago, so the old man was not surprised.

In addition to the increasing heat emanating from Xiao Yan.

"Absorbing the desolate energy... will it raise body temperature?" Wu Dao also sensed something was wrong and looked at the blind old man with some confusion.

"What do you think?" the old man asked calmly, turning to Wudao.

"Uh..." Seeing this, Wu Dao rubbed his head in annoyance and sighed, "Sigh, I knew this kid was a troublemaker. Even absorbing and cultivating the Wild Energy has to be done in a complicated way..."

While complaining, he also set up several Yuan Power barriers between Xiao Yan and the ordinary disciples. It would be a big problem for anyone to affect anyone else, but the ordinary disciples were already exhausted just from absorbing the Desolate Energy. Therefore, he, the dignified deputy hall master of the Desolate Hall, could only suffer.

As the fire ignited all things, the "Desolate Force Seed," unique to Xiao Yan, finally settled in Xiao Yan's dantian as a small wisp of flame. After confirming that it wouldn't cause damage even if he released control over the strange fire, the cultivation of Desolate Force was considered completely complete.

The subsequent comprehension and cultivation of the Desolate Demon Eye did not take too long.

According to Wu Dao and the blind old man, they originally thought that Lin Dong's ability to cultivate the Desolate Force and comprehend the Desolate Demon Eye in less than half a day was already the best achievement since the establishment of the sect. However, they did not expect that this record would not last long before it was broken by Xiao Yan. Moreover, Xiao Yan's record was even almost half an hour faster than Lin Dong's.

"Perhaps it's just that I'm more suited to this desolate demonic eye?" Xiao Yan smiled casually.

Wu Dao and the blind old man were unaware of the situation, but how could he not know? The difference between the Lesser and Greater stages of a Celestial Talisman Master is equivalent to the difference between the Life Profound Realm and the Great Perfection of the Death Profound Realm, and yet Xiao Yan only led for half an hour…

It can only be said that the original version of Huang Jin and Huangwu Demon Eyes were somewhat incompatible with Xiao Yan.

'However, this Desolate Demon Eye is not bad for an attack. As for compatibility...' After muttering to himself, Xiao Yan decided that in the near future, in addition to investigating the Dao Sect, he would also need to improve the Desolate Demon Eye to make it more suitable for him.

"I've completed the training for the Desolate Demon Eye, so I can be considered the direct disciple now, right?" After muttering to himself, Xiao Yan excitedly looked at Wu Dao, "The mission to leave the sect can be arranged now, right?"

Xiao Yan couldn't wait to refine an eighth-grade, two-colored pill to prove that he was already an eighth-grade alchemist!

"Uh, well..." Upon hearing Xiao Yan's words, Wu Dao was momentarily at a loss for words. "Ahem, well, I'll discuss the identity of the personal disciple with the Hall Master in a bit, and it should be confirmed soon..."

As for the attitude of Jiang Hao's four personal disciples...

The previous Five Elements Nirvana Realm cultivator who had mastered the Desolate Demon Eye had just defeated Jiang Hao in front of all the disciples of the Desolate Palace. If anyone else wanted to experience the power of the Desolate Demon Eye, Wu Dao felt that Xiao Yan wouldn't mind.

"But the mission outside the sect..."

"Can't you arrange it?" Xiao Yan asked subconsciously, seeing Wu Dao's somewhat conflicted expression.

"No, that's not it. Although missions outside the sect are very popular, arranging them is quite simple!" Wu Dao quickly shook his head. Although it was true, as long as he didn't tell anyone, Xiao Yan wouldn't know!

"The main reason is that the monthly competition of the Desolate Palace is just a few days away. As the new chief disciple and the sixth chief disciple of the Desolate Palace, you have to show up, right?" Wu Dao said.

"But don't worry, as soon as the monthly competition ends, I'll immediately arrange a mission for you to leave the sect, how about that?"

While Xiao Yan looked at Wu Dao with a suspicious expression, he put on a serious look and said.