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

“It’s a rather special formation,” Xiao Yan said, rubbing his nose. “If we were to set it up completely… it could be considered as two formations, one in the air and one on the ground.”

"I see..." Moro nodded thoughtfully, "To erase the traces of the Otherworldly Demons?" Then, he asked a question rather abruptly.

"You know about the Otherworldly Demons?"

The sudden question startled Xiao Yan. He asked the question subconsciously, then suddenly realized that the controller of the Flame Ancestral Symbol was a powerful expert in the Reincarnation Realm. Even if he were to fight a Reincarnation Realm expert head-on, it would not be a big problem for him to know about the Otherworldly Demons.

On the other hand, Moro's expression became subtle after he realized that neither Xiao Yan nor the guy next to him who seemed to be carrying an ancestral symbol or some other spiritual treasure showed any blankness when he asked the question.

However, before continuing the conversation...

"Do you two know the girl behind me?" After composing himself and dispelling the silencing barrier he had set up around them, Moro gestured to the two of them.

Behind them? Who is it?

Because the person in front of them was a legendary powerhouse whose name they only knew and whose personality they didn't understand, the two hadn't used their spiritual power to survey their surroundings. After hearing Moro's question, they both turned around somewhat blankly—

A woman dressed in white, with long, flowing black hair that cascaded down to her slender waist, skin as white as snow, and eyebrows as delicate as painted strokes, followed them from a distance. If it weren't for Moro's reminder, the two might not have guessed that this woman, with her aloof and cold demeanor, who looked like a goddess from the moon palace, was the one following them.

After confirming that he had never seen the person behind him before, Xiao Yan looked at Lin Dong beside him.

"Ahem, she is Ling Qingzhu. If nothing unexpected happens... she should be here to see me," Lin Dong coughed lightly after sensing Xiao Yan's gaze. "Senior..." Then, he turned around and looked at Moro.

"She's Ling Qingzhu?" Clearly, Moro had also paid attention to the geniuses of the Eastern Xuan Region. He raised an eyebrow slightly in surprise and nodded. "Go and explain things to her first."

"Thank you, senior!" Upon hearing this, Lin Dong breathed a sigh of relief, then turned around and rushed towards Ling Qingzhu's location.

"Where did you get the origin of that Flame Ancestral Symbol on you?" Moro asked casually as he watched Lin Dong walk away. "Logically speaking, if the Flame Ancestral Symbol is missing a source, it is not completely perfect. However, since the day I obtained it, I have never felt any imperfection. Moreover, I do not remember giving the origin of the Flame Ancestral Symbol to anyone else."

He asked in a flat tone, as if the Flame Ancestral Symbol were something insignificant.

“…Ten thousand years ago, the sect leader of the Vermilion Bird Sect of the Heavenly Gang Alliance, Senior Zhu Yun, had a deal with the controller of the Flame Ancestral Symbol back then. This Flame Ancestral Symbol is what Senior Zhu Yun obtained,” Xiao Yan explained after a brief hesitation. “Senior Zhu Yun nurtured this origin for ten thousand years using her own method.”

"Ten thousand years ago? No wonder I always felt that the ancestral flame symbol in your hand was unusually strong," Moro nodded in realization, then asked with interest, "Would you be interested in becoming my disciple?"

Without the origin of this Flame Ancestral Symbol, even if Xiao Yan had the spiritual power of a Great Ascension Immortal Symbol Master at his current age, Moro would not have asked this question. After all, he was not particularly good at teaching others, but he still had a lot of experience in the application of the Flame Ancestral Symbol.

"You wouldn't be..." Although he was surprised for a moment, Xiao Yan quickly realized what was going on.

“That’s right, I plan to teach you some of my insights on manipulating the Flame Ancestral Symbol,” Moro nodded frankly. “After all, you know about the existence of the Otherworldly Demons, and you also possess the essence of the Flame Ancestral Symbol. You can’t escape the task of annihilating the Otherworldly Demons.”

Xiao Yan sighed slightly. If he had just obtained the origin of a Flame Ancestral Symbol, he would have been overjoyed after hearing Moro's words.

However, his original source and his artificial strange fire have completely merged together, and the artificial strange fire is to some extent an extension of his body. Therefore, operating the original source is as easy as stretching his fingers, without any obstruction or difficulty.

"I'm sorry..." Xiao Yan shook his head with a wry smile.

"I see." Moro scratched the back of his head in a bit of a daze. He rarely wanted to take on a disciple, but he was rejected?

“Take some time to study that token,” Moro said with a slight upturn of his lips. “I’ve left my insights on using the Flame Ancestral Symbol on it. Although it’s not as good as being taught by me personally, it should still be quite useful to you.”

So what if he's rejected? Who can refuse what Moro wants to give up?

Upon hearing Moro's last words, Xiao Yan's expression froze for a moment, followed by a helpless bitter smile.

*

Everyone stared in astonishment at the man in the robes of a Daoist disciple who had swept in from afar and stood opposite Ling Qingzhu.

Does this guy really know who he's stopping?

She was one of the most dazzling young people in the Eastern Xuan Region. Countless geniuses and prodigies from various sects fought tooth and nail for her smile. How dare he, a disciple of the Dao Sect with no reputation whatsoever, stand in her way?

"Long time no see, Lin Dong."

But, to everyone's surprise, the first to speak was not the toad in their eyes who wanted to eat swan meat, but Ling Qingzhu, whom none of them dared to approach.

"Long time no see," Lin Dong could naturally sense the surprise and disbelief of those around him. "Is there something you need?" he asked casually.

Although he helped Ling Qingzhu in that tomb to prevent her from losing her innocence, Lin Dong didn't believe that Ling Qingzhu would specifically follow him over such a trivial matter. After all, Ling Qingzhu was the one who said she wouldn't reveal his level of spiritual power and that they would consider themselves even.

Ling Qingzhu's clear eyes were also fixed on Lin Dong. His young face had lost the naivety of their first meeting, but what remained unchanged was his nonchalant attitude towards the aura surrounding her, even though Lin Dong's strength indeed meant he didn't need to care about her...

At first, she didn't know the extent of Lin Dong's spiritual power, but after learning about the strength of the tomb's owner before his death and experiencing the spiritual power of a Celestial Talisman Master, she realized that Lin Dong's spiritual power back then was at the level of a Celestial Talisman Master.

Although she didn't know why Lin Dong was hiding his abilities, she wasn't the type to talk too much. Since Lin Dong didn't want to talk about it, she wouldn't bring up such a trivial matter.

“Seeing that man so easily control Lei Qian, you feel that you were coerced by him,” Ling Qingzhu said softly.

Did you see Lei Qian being controlled so casually?

Lin Dong's eye twitched slightly. When did you start paying attention to this?

“He… is my senior,” Lin Dong said after a brief pause, “He just wants to know some things from us.”

"Is that so?" After confirming that Lin Dong did not seem to be coerced, Ling Qingzhu nodded lightly.

The onlookers, hearing this pointless conversation between the two, all wore strange expressions—there's something wrong with their relationship!

"Is there anything else?" After waiting for a while and finding that Ling Qingzhu still didn't seem to want to speak, Lin Dong asked.

"Ah."

"See you next time."

Lin Dong nodded decisively and turned to leave. Compared to continuing such a pointless conversation with Ling Qingzhu, talking about the Otherworldly Demons with Moro was much more appealing to him.

At least, that's how it is now.

Watching Ling Qingzhu decisively turn and leave, and standing there as if gazing at Lin Dong's retreating figure, the surrounding onlookers all looked heartbroken.

What kind of senior would be worth giving up the opportunity to spend time with Ling Qingzhu?

Many Yuanmen disciples quickly left the treasure hunting area after seeing this, as if they wanted to go back and report something to someone. Although some wanted to follow Lin Dong, they all quietly left after discovering that the red-robed middle-aged man next to Lin Dong seemed to be the one Ling Qingzhu had mentioned, who had casually controlled Lei Qian's people.

They do have a clear sense of self-awareness...

After everyone stopped paying attention to him, Moro muttered to himself, then led Xiao Yan and Lin Dong out of the Otherworldly Demon City.

Chapter 307 Planning

"So...you think those three guys from Yuanmen have an extremely close relationship with the Otherworldly Demons?"

After Xiao Yan and Lin Dong told Moro about the abnormality they had noticed in Ren Yuanzi during this period, Moro slowly closed his eyes and asked in a calm tone.

Although Moro's tone was extremely calm, as if he didn't care about the news of the Otherworldly Demons, the sudden increase in the temperature of the surrounding air still indicated his anger.

"Yes, barring any unforeseen circumstances," Xiao Yan replied after quietly swallowing.

After Xiao Yan said this, Moro fell into a long silence, and with Moro's silence, Xiao Yan and Lin Dong could only stand aside.

"...The formation you wanted to set up earlier was meant to deal with those three things from the Yuan Sect?" After a long while, Moro opened his eyes, looked at Xiao Yan, and asked.

"Mmm." After licking his slightly dry lips, Xiao Yan nodded.

"Can a Grandmaster of Immortal Talismans manipulate such a massive array with his spiritual power?" Moro raised his head and looked towards the distant Demon City.

"I have a secret technique that allows me to reach the level of a Talisman Master for a certain period of time," Xiao Yan replied. "Although I can't crush ordinary Reincarnation Realm experts like a Talisman Master, I can still contend with them. With the help of an array, I can definitely overpower ordinary Reincarnation Realm experts."

Before reaching the level of the Talisman Master, the strength of spiritual power is slightly weaker than that of the powerful and vast Yuan Power. However, once one enters the level of the Talisman Master, the power that a minor Talisman Master can display is much stronger than that of an ordinary Reincarnation Realm cultivator. Although Xiao Yan's spiritual power has not yet reached the level of the Talisman Master, after fusion, the combat power he displays will not be much weaker than that of a Talisman Master.

"And you? To what extent can you achieve this?" Without asking what the secret technique Xiao Yan mentioned was, Moro looked directly at Lin Dong and asked.

"Hmm..." Lin Dong frowned slightly, pondering for a moment, "If I don't use the Devouring Ancestral Symbol... I can probably hold my own against a powerhouse who has just entered the Reincarnation Realm." When he left the Demon City with Moro, Moro also confirmed the existence of the Devouring Ancestral Symbol in Lin Dong's body. Therefore, Lin Dong no longer hid the existence of the Devouring Ancestral Symbol from Moro.

However, Lin Dong's statement about "not using the Devouring Ancestral Symbol to contend with the Reincarnation Realm" has two other prerequisites: one is not using that mysterious stone symbol, and the other is not using the Qiankun Ancient Array left in his Niwan Palace.

Hearing Lin Dong's answer, Moro glanced at Lin Dong with a slight surprise. Although Lin Dong said that he was stalemate with the Reincarnation Realm without using the Devouring Ancestral Symbol, how could he not tell that Lin Dong had other trump cards besides the Devouring Ancestral Symbol?

"Including the Dao Sect leader," Moro nodded, "the three of you are just enough to hold off those three from the Yuan Sect...right?"

“Uh… actually, the Dao Sect has another Reincarnation Realm cultivator,” after thinking for a moment, Xiao Yan still revealed the information about Elder Qian, “which means that if we really fight against the three things from the Otherworldly Demon City and the Yuan Sect, we will have five Reincarnation Realm cultivators on our side.”

Under Moro's indifferent gaze, Xiao Yan quietly changed his address to the three members of the Yuan Sect as "things".

"I won't make a move," Moro nodded slightly after Xiao Yan changed his form of address, and then said, "until those three bring their dirty dealings with the Otherworldly Demons to the light."

"Why?" Lin Dong frowned, asking in confusion, "Do you think we're lying to you?"

Perhaps it was Lin Dong's aversion to Moro's distrust that led to his questioning. If Moro had a worse temper, he might have used that question to teach them a lesson.

"I am the controller of the Flame Ancestral Symbol," Moro turned his head and glanced at Lin Dong, his voice almost devoid of any fluctuation. "The War of Heaven and Earth will break out again sooner or later. Even if three Reincarnation Realm cultivators will not have a significant impact on the War of Heaven and Earth, I cannot attack them without them showing any signs of wrongdoing."

Even if we are more than 90% certain that they are connected with the Otherworldly Demons?

“Unless exposed to me,” Moro said calmly, “I will absolutely not take action against the human side.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Dong frowned, beginning to find Moro somewhat unreasonable.

"Ahem," Xiao Yan coughed twice before Lin Dong could ask his next question, interrupting his rhythm, "But the major sects in the Eastern Xuan Region are intertwined. If the four of us pose a threat to those three things from the Yuan Sect, the leaders of the other sects will not sit idly by."

The three from Yuanmen also knew this, therefore, knowing that the leaders of other sects would intervene, even if they were on the verge of death, they would not reveal the power of the Otherworldly Demons.

“I will secretly seal off the surrounding area,” Moro said after frowning slightly. “No one will be able to affect you until those three things die or reveal the power of the Otherworldly Demons.”

After receiving Moro's assurance, Xiao Yan breathed a sigh of relief. Without the interference of others, he, Lin Dong, Ying Xuanzi, Elder Qian, and Xiao Diao, who had probably recovered all his strength, were fully capable of crushing the three members of the Yuan Sect to the ground...

'As long as none of them have reached the Reincarnation Realm or the Samsara Realm.' Xiao Yan muttered to himself.

The Reincarnation Realm is a Dou Zun, and those who have touched the Reincarnation Realm are at least Reincarnation Dou Zun or even Half-Saint. The Reincarnation Realm is even more Dou Saint level. Unless Xiao Yan's soul power reaches the Great Perfection of the Heaven Realm, he probably wouldn't last a single move against Half-Saints and Dou Saints.

'If any of them were at the Reincarnation Realm, they would have already launched a war to unify the Eastern Xuan Region,' Xiao Yan muttered to himself while discussing with Moro the detailed process of forcing the three from the Yuan Sect to completely reveal all their trump cards. 'It's impossible for anyone to be at the Reincarnation Realm...'

……

Night gradually enveloped the vast city of the Otherworldly Demons. After setting up some of the formations with all his might, Xiao Yan returned to the Dao Sect's lodgings with Lin Dong, who had been inquiring about news all day.

Meanwhile, in another corner of the city, deep within a magnificent courtyard, three figures were present. One of them was Lei Qian, the Little Thunder King, who had met Xiao Yan and Lin Dong during the day.

In front of Lei Qian stood a handsome man in a white shirt, leaning against a tall pine tree with a green leaf between his teeth, his hands behind his head, lazily staring at the night sky. After a while, he glanced at Lei Qian and said, "I heard you got a big thrashing in the treasure hunting area today?"

His words were full of schadenfreude, showing absolutely no interest in sharing Lei Qian's hatred.

“A nobody who’s at least at the Death Profound Realm,” Lei Qian said viciously, “Don’t let me find out that nobody’s name…”

"Come on, let alone that guy in the Death Profound Realm, those three from the Dao Sect could beat you up, right?" The white-robed man interrupted Lei Qian with a laugh. "One of them is as strong as you, and the other two are no pushovers either... Heh, it's just that the Sect Competition hasn't started yet. If the Sect Competition had already started, the two of us would be collecting your corpse today, you piece of trash, don't you think, boss!"

The man in white turned his head to look at the man in blue sitting cross-legged to the side.

In terms of appearance alone, the man was not as handsome as the man in white, but he was very pleasing to the eye. His eyes were slightly narrow and had a charming look. When the man in white asked him a question, he was bowing his head and slowly wiping the long sword in his hand.

"If you feel ashamed, then regain your face in the sect competition," the man in blue said calmly, looking at the ordinary longsword in his hand. "Teach those three from the Dao Sect what manners are with your strength." His tone was as calm as if he were saying that if you were bothered by an insect, you would just crush it.

“Of course…” Lei Qian’s eyes darkened. Although he was no match for those three guys in the Otherworldly Demon City, if they entered the Otherworldly Demon Realm…

"Oh, right, that kid named Lin Dong seems to know Ling Qingzhu," Lei Qian, who was fantasizing about how to deal with Xiao Yan and his companions in the Otherworld, suddenly remembered something, "and their relationship seems quite close..."