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

Seeing that even after he had gone to such lengths, the black-flamed figure still looked puzzled, the scholar sighed helplessly, "A one-star Dou Zong with a soul power at the Great Perfection of the Spirit Realm can unleash the strength of a seven-star Dou Zun... This means that this little guy from the Xiao Clan should have the same ability as my Soul Clan to fuse soul power with Dou Qi."

The black-flame figure nodded silently. It was precisely because the scholar possessed such talent that he allowed the black-flame figure to stand at the same level as him in terms of battle qi... or at least with the same prefix.

“Only a few youngsters in the clan with bloodlines above the eighth rank can raise their soul power to the Spirit Realm when they reach the Dou Zong stage,” the scholar continued. “A one-star Dou Zong, with their initial Spirit Realm soul power, can temporarily contend with a Dou Zun. If their strength remains unchanged, but their soul power reaches the Great Perfection of the Spirit Realm, they can crush a five-star Dou Zun and make it impossible for him to discern the level of the cultivation technique they are practicing…”

At this point, the black-flame figure barely understood what the scholar meant: under the same level, the person from the Xiao clan would definitely be able to crush the branch hall master of the Soul Hall.

"Perhaps that person from the Xiao clan doesn't have a suitable fighting technique." After a moment's hesitation, the black-flame figure tried to guess.

"Perhaps, but he still killed that branch hall master without even intercepting the soul message that person sent," the scholar nodded, smiling faintly. "A soul power at the Great Perfection of the Spirit Realm can't intercept a soul message... Do you think that's possible?"

The black-flamed figure fell silent.

“According to what Hun Xuzi said last time, there are less than a dozen or twenty Xiao clansmen who survived in the Northwest,” the scholar continued after the black-flame figure remained silent. “He was willing to deliberately expose his Heavenly Rank cultivation technique for the sake of a dozen or so clansmen. How could such a person let go of the ancient jade that could confirm whether his father was still alive?”

"...So, in order to ensure that the ancient jade remains in the hands of that person from the Xiao Clan, you don't even plan to take action against the current patriarch of the Xiao Clan?" Although the current patriarch of the Xiao Clan was just a weakling who hadn't even reached the level of a Dou Wang, the black-flame figure still felt a momentary tightening in his heart when he uttered the words 'patriarch of the Xiao Clan'.

"Is there a problem?" the scholar asked with a faint smile.

"Heh, how dare I question your decision?" The black-flame figure sneered. "Just don't forget our ultimate goal."

"Hehe, Void Devouring Flame, you're still too impatient," the scholar said with a faint smile, his eyes narrowed. "As long as Gu Yuan remains indifferent and unambitious, as long as the other races continue to allow the Soul Palace to operate freely on the continent..."

"We will absolutely not fail!"

Looking at the scholar's confident demeanor, the black-flamed figure... or rather, the second-ranked Strange Flame on the Strange Flame Ranking, Void Devouring Flame calmly nodded—aside from the ultimate goal, he didn't care about anything else!

*

Tianshe City, the capital of the Tianshe Empire, is the capital of an empire completely controlled by the Tianshe Mansion, the most powerful force in the Northwest Continent.

"Is that Heavenly Serpent City?" Gazing at the city that stretched across the plains like a savage beast on the horizon, Zi Yan muttered softly, "It doesn't look anything special..."

"There aren't any capital cities in the Northwest Continent that feel completely different from other cities even before you enter," Xiao Yan casually explained as they flew towards Heavenly Serpent City. "Even if that city is Heavenly Serpent City, the headquarters of the most prestigious Heavenly Serpent Prefecture in the Northwest Continent... wouldn't you agree, Your Excellency Heavenly Serpent Venerable?"

It wasn't until she heard the last six words of Xiao Yan's words that Zi Yan suddenly realized there was an unfamiliar presence behind her.

“That’s right. Even our Heavenly Serpent Prefecture couldn’t make a city stand out so much.” A white-haired man in a green robe, who had appeared behind the group at some point, nodded. His calm expression met the wary stares of the group who had stopped and were staring at him.

"Furthermore, I would also like to know why the Queen of the Gama Empire, the Chief of the Snake-People Clan, and the Supervisor who facilitated the alliance of all forces in the Gama Empire have come to my Heavenly Serpent Empire." Then, the middle-aged man's gaze swept across Yao Ye, Medusa, and Xiao Yan's faces in turn, while Zi Yan, Little Fairy Doctor, Hai Bodong, and Jia Xingtian beside them were completely ignored by him.

'So serious? Does he think we're here to take Qinglin away?' Noticing the middle-aged man's serious expression, Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, then a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"Is Venerable Heavenly Serpent sure you want us to explain our purpose in coming to the Heavenly Serpent Empire here?" Xiao Yan asked with a faint smile. "In order to let you know of our arrival, Venerable Heavenly Serpent, we have not concealed our auras at all."

The Celestial Serpent Venerable remained silent for a moment—

Not long ago, he noticed a life-or-death battle between Dou Zun on the Northwest Continent, and that the place was very close to the Heavenly Serpent Empire. So he went there to investigate. Because of this, he knew that the smiling young man in front of him had the strength to completely crush him.

"Please do not resist."

After a moment's hesitation, Venerable Heavenly Serpent let out a long breath and spoke.

The next moment, without any resistance from Xiao Yan and the others, Venerable Tian She used spatial teleportation to transport them all to the Tian She Mansion, specifically to a reception room.

"Now, Mr. Xiao Yan, can you tell us why you came to the Heavenly Serpent Mansion?" After taking his seat at the head of the table, the Heavenly Serpent Venerable spoke.

"I heard... that the Heavenly Serpent Palace also withdrew from the Central Plains hundreds or thousands of years ago?" After finding a chair to sit down, Xiao Yan did not directly answer the Heavenly Serpent Venerable's question, but instead immediately poked at the wound.

“This is no secret,” Venerable Heavenly Serpent said calmly. “If Mr. Xiao Yan thinks he can anger me through such means, then he is underestimating the Heavenly Serpent Manor.”

If the Celestial Serpent Venerable were still young, a recent addition to the Celestial Serpent Manor, a young man proud of the manor, he might have been enraged by Xiao Yan's words. But now he's not young anymore, and he can face the Celestial Serpent Manor's situation with great calm. Besides...

"Moreover, the Heavenly Serpent Palace found the best successor just two years ago, a successor who is enough to bring the Heavenly Serpent Palace back to its peak and make it a force feared by all snake-type magical beasts again...right?" Xiao Yan smiled and casually said the second reason, which was also the most crucial reason, that Venerable Heavenly Serpent could be so calm.

"..." Upon hearing these words from Xiao Yan's mouth, Venerable Heavenly Serpent subconsciously opened his mouth, wanting to roar and ask what Xiao Yan's purpose was.

But upon seeing Xiao Yan's face and sensing the aura emanating from Medusa beside him, which was no weaker than his own, the Heavenly Serpent Venerable silently shut his mouth again.

"Qinglin is the fiancée of a seventh-grade alchemist..."

After a brief silence, Venerable Heavenly Serpent decided to change Qinglin's insistence on "maid" to "fiancée." After all, Qinglin was, after all, the Holy Maiden of their Heavenly Serpent Palace, and the status of a maid was too lowly.

Of course, the most crucial point is that the status of a maid is inferior to that of a fiancée.

"Cough cough cough," Xiao Yan coughed a few times, completely unexpected to hear such words from the seemingly serious Heavenly Serpent Venerable. "I can understand that Qing Lin didn't tell you the name of the 'young master' she mentioned... But what about Lü Man and Bai Ya? Didn't they tell you either?"

Even without turning around to look at Medusa, Little Fairy Doctor, and Zi Yan, Xiao Yan could already imagine the strange expressions on their faces.

At first, Xiao Yan thought that the Heavenly Serpent Venerable's serious expression when he saw them meant he assumed they had come to take Qing Lin away. However, after hearing the Heavenly Serpent Venerable utter that unreliable remark, which seemed to be an attempt to intimidate them with the title of 'Seventh-Rank Alchemist,' Xiao Yan finally understood—

Clearly, Venerable Tianshe did not know his identity. He only knew that he had killed a branch hall master of the Soul Hall a few days ago, and that he, Venerable Tianshe, was a powerful figure that Venerable Tianshe absolutely could not afford to offend!

"Green Barbarian, White Fang?"

Upon suddenly hearing those two names, Venerable Heavenly Serpent looked momentarily confused, but then he realized, "You're the seventh-grade alchemist that Green Barbarian and White Fang were talking about?!"

The Celestial Serpent Venerable stared at Xiao Yan in disbelief. Not long ago, he had personally witnessed Xiao Yan, a "Dou Zong," possess the strength to forcibly kill a Dou Zun, a level more than ten levels higher. And now, he was saying that Xiao Yan was an alchemist? Not just any alchemist, but a seventh-grade one! There were only two seventh-grade alchemists in the entire Celestial Serpent Manor!

"About seven months ago, I refined a batch of Grade 8 pills," Xiao Yan sighed, feeling that everything was finally back to normal, and then said with a faint smile, "So, I am now a Grade 8 alchemist."

Eighth rank?

Upon hearing these two words, Venerable Tian She's face twitched violently. Even in Zhongzhou, alchemists of the eighth rank were extremely rare. At least, according to the records of Tian She Mansion, only the Pill Tower in Zhongzhou must have alchemists of this rank. As for other places... perhaps there were some in that strange and mysterious Soul Palace?

However, in a barren place like the Northwest Continent, let alone eighth-grade alchemists, even seventh-grade alchemists are extremely rare. Perhaps the two alchemists in the Heavenly Serpent Palace are the only seventh-grade alchemists in the entire Northwest Continent.

"So... is Mr. Xiao Yan planning to take Qing Lin away this time?" Since he was no match for Xiao Yan anyway, Venerable Tian She simply gave up on asking whether the identity of the eighth-grade alchemist was true or false, and asked somewhat nonchalantly.

The Heavenly Serpent Venerable's blunt, or rather... dismissive remarks left Xiao Yan unsure how to respond. After all, their purpose in coming here was to discuss an alliance with the Heavenly Serpent Palace, not to create another enemy or potential enemy for the Jia Ma Empire.

“Heavenly Serpent Venerable, please summon Qing Lin here,” Medusa said calmly after seeing the depressed expression on Xiao Yan’s face. “Xiao Yan and Qing Lin haven’t seen each other for two years. They need some time to get to know each other again.”

"Have……"

What's there to be familiar with? Anyway, after taking Qinglin away, they'll have plenty of time to get to know each other again!

Subconsciously, Venerable Heavenly Serpent wanted to say such a sentence, but as soon as the words reached his lips, he realized what he was doing—

Indeed, just as he thought, if they wanted to take Qinglin away, there was no need to familiarize themselves with this step again. After all, since arriving at the Heavenly Serpent Mansion, Qinglin had been thinking about her young master... who was Xiao Yan in front of her.

Since they don't intend to take Qinglin away, it means they have another purpose for coming here...

"Ahem, I understand," After clearing his throat, the Celestial Serpent Venerable smiled for the first time after seeing Xiao Yan and the others. At the same time, he sent a telepathic message out of the reception room and into the ears of Qing Lin, who was sitting and cultivating.

A moment later, along with the knocking, a soft, bell-like sound rang out—

"Master, I've arrived."

"Just come in," Venerable Heavenly Serpent chuckled. "Qinglin, you'd never guess who's here to see you."

"You came to see me?" A petite figure walked into the reception room after the door was opened. "Who is it? Uncle White Fang or Sister Green Barbarian... Young Master Xiao Yan!"

Before she could finish speaking, the petite girl saw Xiao Yan sitting at the very front of the guest seats and immediately pounced on him.

'Three-Star Battle Emperor.'

While Xiao Yan and Qing Lin were catching up, Hai Bodong glanced at Jia Xingtian beside him and said softly.

"I can see it..." Jia Xingtian's face darkened. He was a Dou Zong, after all; how could he not see the strength of a little girl who was only a Dou Huang? "I mean... are all young people cultivating this fast these days? I remember Qing Lin was only a Dou Ling back then, right?"

When the Soul Palace attacked Jia Ma Holy City, Jia Xingtian didn't pay much attention to Qing Lin's existence. He only knew that she was a Dou Ling after the battle ended when Lü Man hugged the unconscious Qing Lin in a terrified state.

"How would I know?" Hai Bodong rolled his eyes. "Besides, it's not just the young people's cultivation speed that's ridiculously fast, is it?" His gaze swept over Medusa briefly, and when he learned that Medusa was already a Dou Zun, he almost fainted!

Chapter 364 Alliance (Part 1)

The following day, as the warm sunlight gradually enveloped the entire Heavenly Serpent City, the gates of the Heavenly Serpent Palace, located in the very center of the city, began to welcome several of the strongest forces in the empire besides the Heavenly Serpent Palace itself—

Of course, while these forces are said to be the strongest besides the Heavenly Serpent Palace, their leaders are actually all closely connected with the Heavenly Serpent Palace, and some of them are even elders of the Heavenly Serpent Palace.

Many people looked at the faction badges on the carriages parked outside the gate from afar, and when they saw that all the factions with Dou Zong level had gathered there, they silently swallowed. They vaguely sensed that something big was about to happen in the Heavenly Serpent Empire.

"Hiss, so this time they've actually summoned everyone..."

Another carriage stopped outside the Heavenly Serpent Mansion. An old man with white hair got off and looked around at all the carriages with some surprise, then murmured.

"Elder Ning? Even you were summoned here?"

Some unfamiliar voices sounded from the side, and when I turned around, I saw a completely unfamiliar face.

"Who are you?" The white-haired old man asked casually, without bothering to recall the visitor's name.

“Li Zhiyu, the sect leader of the Winged Serpent Sect,” the newcomer said, somewhat embarrassed that the white-haired elder hadn’t remembered his name. “Three months ago, I asked Elder Ning for a Breakthrough Pill.”

"Oh, I remember now," Elder Ning said, feigning a realization, then glanced at Li Zhiyu. "You've successfully broken through? Congratulations... But this must be your first time attending a meeting hosted by the Palace Master, right?"

"Is it that obvious?" Li Zhiyu scratched his head awkwardly and asked.

“Only first-time participants would use a name like Winged Serpent Sect,” Elder Ning glanced at Li Zhiyu. “We are all members of the Heavenly Serpent Palace. Outside the Empire, we can use the name Winged Serpent Sect to refer to ourselves, but within Heavenly Serpent City, you should use the title…”

“The Winged Serpent Clan,” a familiar voice sounded behind Elder Ning, “Luckily, the first person you met was Elder Ning. If it were anyone else, they might have made a big deal out of your oversight!”

Looking back, an elderly man with white hair and dressed in black walked up to Elder Ning and Li Zhiyu with a smile.

"Old Hu." Upon seeing the visitor, Li Zhiyu quickly bowed.

"I was wondering why you weren't invited, Old Hu..." Old Ning glanced at the old man in black, "So you're the last one to arrive?"

“When the envoy came to my place yesterday, I was dealing with the pill lightning of the Pure Heart Pill,” Old Hu shrugged. “By the time I finished dealing with the pill lightning and heard the news, it was already quite late… So, Old Ning, do you know why we were summoned this time?”

"I don't know, but... it might be related to the Gama Empire," Elder Ning said casually.

"The...Gama Empire?" Li Zhiyu exclaimed abruptly.

"What? You've heard of that empire? Is it very powerful?" Li Zhiyu's exclamation drew Old Hu's attention to him, and he asked with some curiosity.

"that……"

Despite Hu Lao's curious expression, the aura emanating from him did not diminish at all. Li Zhiyu even felt that his sudden interruption made the aura he released even more terrifying. For a moment, Li Zhiyu, who was only a one-star Dou Zong, did not know whether he should speak.

"A small country that was almost wiped out by the combined forces of the Izumo Empire and two other empires not long ago," Elder Ning casually deflected Elder Hu's oppressive aura onto Li Zhiyu, "but almost overnight, the Gama Empire rallied, crushed those three empires, and even annexed the rest..."

"Just because of this?" Old Hu looked disgusted. "So what if it has the power to destroy more than a dozen empires? In the Northwest region, only our Heavenly Serpent Empire has a Dou Zun..."

"It also affected the branch hall of the Soul Palace," Elder Ning calmly interrupted Elder Hu, "The Venerable of the Underworld Sea... who was the master of that branch hall, died on the spot."

Instantly, both Elder Hu and Li Zhiyu held their breath, looking at Elder Ning in disbelief.

For the people of the Heavenly Serpent Empire, the existence of that Soul Hall branch was no secret. Anyone with the strength of a Dou Huang or above would be informed of the existence of the Soul Hall branch. If they were alchemists, they would be warned not to approach that branch. Otherwise, even if they were captured, the Heavenly Serpent Empire would not go to war with that branch for the sake of an alchemist.

After all, the strongest in the Heavenly Serpent Empire was only a three-star Dou Zun, while the master of that Soul Palace branch was at least a five-star Dou Zun.

"Where did you get this information?" After recovering from his surprise, Old Hu looked around for a moment, then lowered his voice and asked cautiously.

Li Zhiyu also looked at Elder Ning nervously.