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

After a moment's hesitation, Gu Yuan flicked his wrist, and a telepathic message swiftly entered the spatial tunnel, reaching the ears of a somewhat hunched old man—

"Xun'er is leaving the Ancient Realm. Why don't you go with their group? If Xiao Yan tries to kill the Ancient Demon and Gu Qingyang can't stop him, you should intervene. After all, he has an eighth-grade bloodline. It wouldn't be good if he died out there."

Upon hearing this, the hunched old man stiffened. He was very familiar with the names Xun'er, Xiao Yan, Gu Yao, and Gu Qingyang. And it was precisely because he knew these names so well that he genuinely wanted to ask, "Clan Chief, do you think it's appropriate for me to go? I'm only a half-saint!"

"After you come back, go to the Pill Hall. You've been a half-saint for over ten years now, haven't you?" Gu Yuan's words soon reached the old man's ears.

Upon hearing the words "Dan Dian," the old man immediately straightened his back, stood up, and walked towards the direction of the Black Annihilation Army's camp.

"And then there's the Soul Hall... collecting the inheritance of Dou Sheng related to puppets?" After arranging Xun'er's trip, Gu Yuan picked up the next, and final, intelligence report delivered to him, the clan leader. "First they wiped out a major clan in the Southern Continent, and now they're searching for puppetry techniques..."

Gu Yuan had always arranged for people to monitor the Soul Palace, which the Soul Clan had established a thousand years ago. However, both the search for souls over the past thousand years and the recent major actions left Gu Yuan bewildered. He really didn't understand what the Soul Emperor was thinking. He couldn't really expect this so-called "Soul Palace" to cultivate two powerhouses of their level, could he?

“We can relax our focus on the Soul Palace now. Let’s concentrate on preparing for the coming-of-age ceremony a year from now,” Gu Yuan said, shaking his head helplessly as he put down the jade slip in his hand. “Also, inform the other six clans that the next opening date of the Heavenly Tomb will be a year from now.”

*

"A year later?"

The news that reached the Soul Realm naturally reached the Soul Emperor's senses, and it was for this reason that the Soul Emperor felt a sense of surprise for the first time in a long time. "The Heavenly Tomb, which is opened once every twenty years, has actually opened ahead of schedule... It's really rare."

"The Heavenly Tomb? What kind of place is that?"

Despite having spent nearly a thousand years by the side of the Soul Emperor, this was the first time that Void Devouring Flame had ever heard the word "Heavenly Tomb" from the Soul Emperor's mouth—a word that caused his "heart" to flutter for a moment.

“It’s an ancient tomb belonging to the strong,” the Soul Emperor casually explained. “Xiao Xuan’s incomplete soul power is in the Heavenly Tomb… If nothing unexpected happens, it should be on the third level.”

Recalling his impressions of the Heavenly Tomb from his youth, the Soul Emperor hesitated before speaking.

"A cemetery with many layers?" Void Devouring Flame asked with some surprise.

"The cemetery is just a name," the Soul Emperor said with a smile, recalling his youthful experiences. "According to records, that celestial tomb seemed to have... four layers?"

After hesitating for a long time, the Soul Emperor uttered a word with great uncertainty.

"Fourth floor...?"

The unusual sensation made Void Devouring Flame not even notice the Soul Emperor's furrowed brows.

"It should be the fourth floor." With his brow unfurrowed, the Soul Emperor said calmly, a rare hint of regret in his voice.

When he was young, he was not strong enough to enter the deepest part of the Heavenly Tomb. Now that he is strong enough, he is still blocked outside the Heavenly Tomb by Gu Yuan and the patriarchs of the other clans. He cannot even get close to the Heavenly Tomb. This matter really makes him feel sorry.

'But it's almost here, very soon…' the Soul Emperor murmured to himself. 'In just a few more years, no one on this Dou Qi Continent will be able to stand in my way.'

Chapter 426 Tianhuang City

Tianhuang City, a city under the jurisdiction of Burning Flame Valley, has a spatial wormhole that leads directly to the Pill Domain. Therefore, it is one of the most prosperous cities in the southwest of the Central Region. However, Burning Flame Valley naturally does not spend manpower to manage this spatial wormhole. Most of the time, it is managed by two families in Tianhuang City. Xiao Yan's former classmate, Liu Qing, is a member of the Liu family, one of these two families.

"I heard that Liu Qing of the Liu family knows the leader of the Yan Alliance?"

Inside a restaurant closest to the wormhole, someone in the restaurant, watching from afar the Cheng and Liu families gathered around the wormhole, suddenly spoke up.

However, the person who spoke probably realized that what he said was too foolish, and fell silent after uttering such a sentence.

“I’ve heard him mention it before,” said one of the people who had business dealings with the Liu family before the laughter broke out. “Didn’t Liu Qing go to Canaan Academy in the Northwest Continent a few years ago? I heard that there was someone in that academy with the same name as the leader of the Yan Alliance. In recent years, he also took control of the space wormhole by exchanging pill formulas with someone who was also named Xiao Yan.”

"I've heard him mention it too, but isn't Xiao Yan from that academy just Liu Qing's junior?" someone continued. "No matter how talented Xiao Yan is, it's impossible for him to have advanced from Dou Ling to Dou Zun in just a few years, right?"

After the banquet hosted by the Yan Alliance a few days ago, the news that Xiao Yan, the leader of the Yan Alliance, has the strength of a seven-star Dou Zun is no longer a secret. However, Xiao Yan's age is still a secret to those who are not members of the Yan Alliance.

"If Liu Qing really knew Xiao Yan, wouldn't it have been better to join the Yan Alliance earlier? Why bother fighting with the Cheng family for the operating rights of the space wormhole in Tianhuang City?"

"Yes."

"It's not a big problem if we don't know him. We can just offer his sister to the leader of the Yan Alliance."

"Come on, the leader of the Yan Alliance has several Dou Zun in his harem. Even if Liu Fei really went, she'd only be fit to be a foot-washing maid!"

……

Soon, the topic of "Liu Qing knows Xiao Yan" was taken over, and the conversation in the restaurant began to shift to "Which Dou Zun is the rightful wife in the Yan Alliance leader's harem?"

Just as the conversation in the restaurant was getting heated, the spatial wormhole not far away began to slowly rotate.

After a moment of stunned silence, the people from the Liu and Cheng families quickly began to take over the space wormhole. After all, when the daughter of the Burning Flame Valley Master and the Third Elder left, they had instructed that when they returned, they would decide which family would manage the space wormhole for the next three years.

However, compared to the unease on the faces of the Liu family members, the Cheng family members were all smiles. After all, they had invited a sixth-grade alchemist certified by the Pill Tower, while the sixth-grade alchemist that the Liu family had hastily invited was far weaker than the one they had invited in terms of both strength and soul power.

A moment later, a series of violent spatial fluctuations rippled through the spatial wormhole, and then a magnificent spaceship emerged from it. Standing at the point where the spaceship passed through was Tang Huo'er, the daughter of the Burning Flame Valley Master, Wu Chen, the Third Elder of Burning Flame Valley, and Xiao Yan, who finally suppressed his smile and let out a long breath.

Although they didn't know why Xiao Yan let out a long sigh, when they saw the two distinct groups of people below Tianhuang City, Wu Chen and Tang Huo'er remembered what they had said before leaving: that they would decide which family would control the space wormhole for the next few years when they returned.

"Speaking of which, my connection with Burning Flame Valley seems to extend beyond the first transformation of the Heavenly Fire Three Transformations that I unexpectedly obtained, and the mutual assistance we had in the ruins of the Beast Domain."

Just as Wu Chen and Tang Huo'er were preparing to send people to inform the Liu and Cheng families to take turns managing the space wormhole according to the normal procedure, Xiao Yan suddenly spoke up.

"What does Alliance Leader Xiao mean..." This ambiguous statement left Tang Huo'er somewhat confused.

"The Ice Marrow Pill, although it's only a fourth-grade formula, is no less effective at removing fire poison than a fifth-grade formula of the same type, right?" Xiao Yan asked with a smile.

"Ice Marrow...you're the one who gave the Ice Marrow Pill formula to Liu Qing?"

After hesitating for a moment, Tang Huo'er remembered what the Liu family had said when they sent the pill formula over a few years ago. This pill formula was obtained by Liu Qing from an alchemist named "Xiao Yan".

Even after learning that the leader of the Flame Alliance was also named Xiao Yan, Tang Huo'er didn't think too much about it. After all, the gap between a Dou Zun and a Dou Huang was too great, not to mention that this Dou Zun was also an eighth-grade alchemist. But now it seems...

"The Ice Marrow Pill is a pill I devised myself when I was still a sixth-grade alchemist," Xiao Yan replied with a smile. "It still has quite a few flaws now. If you don't mind, how about using the improved version of the Ice Marrow Pill as one of the gifts for this visit?"

"This..." Tang Huo'er hesitated for a moment before looking at Wu Chen beside her. Even though the position of Valley Master of Burning Flame Valley was hers in the future, she did not yet have the right to decide on the 'meeting gift'.

Wu Chen frowned slightly. As a pill to remove fire poison, the most crucial factors were the simplicity of its refining process and its excellent effects. Other pills for removing fire poison were often inferior because of this. This improved version…

"Consider it a complimentary gift," he added with a smile, since he had come to ask for a favor this time. "It's just that two medicinal herbs were changed; the original advantages will not be overshadowed."

"...Then thank you very much, Alliance Leader Xiao." Hearing the second half of Xiao Yan's words, Wu Chen breathed a sigh of relief and clasped his hands in a fist and smiled.

"You're too kind. I do hope you two can put in a good word for me on that matter," Xiao Yan said nonchalantly.

"No..." As one of the most conservative elders of Burning Flame Valley, Wu Chen instinctively wanted to refuse, even though Xiao Yan had no hope that the two of them would say nice things.

"Whether or not we can persuade our fathers, we will do our best!"

Regardless of the circumstances, the Flame Alliance is clearly stronger than the Burning Flame Valley. Therefore, before Wu Chen could finish speaking, Tang Huo'er hurriedly interrupted Wu Chen, who often spoke inappropriately.

"Then thank you very much, Miss Huo'er!" Xiao Yan breathed a sigh of relief when he realized he no longer had to face the stern Wu Chen with a stiff face.

After chatting for a few more minutes, Xiao Yan began to admire the surrounding scenery, while Tang Huo'er began to arrange for people to notify the Cheng and Liu families below who would be in charge of the space wormhole for the next few years.

'Sigh, I just want to get my things and leave as soon as possible; this kind of life is unbearable.'

While Tang Huo'er was arranging manpower, Xiao Yan sighed. For the sake of the Flame Alliance's image, even though the Xiao family's inheritance, the Heavenly Flame Three Transformations, was in the hands of the Burning Flame Valley, he could only try to negotiate with them politely and exchange it for his own as much as possible.

Tianhuang City, below the spatial wormhole.

“For the next five years, the space wormhole in Tianhuang City will be managed by the Liu family, and the annual offerings will be halved,” a steward from Burning Flame Valley said with a smile as he looked at Liu Qing. “At the same time, there will be one spot for a direct disciple of Burning Flame Valley and twenty spots for ordinary disciples each year.”

"This..." The sudden news left Liu Qing somewhat at a loss. "Steward, this is..."

"Mr. Xiao Yan has come to visit Burning Flame Valley," the steward said with his usual bright smile. "If the Liu family prospers in the future, please give them a helping hand."

"Xiao...Yan?" Liu Qing looked bewildered. He hadn't heard this name in a long time, or rather, even if he had heard it, he wouldn't recognize the person he knew.

In Tianhuang City, after hearing the name spoken by the steward of Burning Flame Valley and seeing the spaceship being transported towards Burning Flame Valley, an unremarkable passerby silently disappeared into the city.

Chapter 427 Burning Flame Valley

As the spaceship gradually slowed down, it landed slowly at the foot of a crimson mountain a moment later.

"Haha, Mr. Xiao Yan, it's been a long time!"

Before Xiao Yan could leave the spaceship with Tang Huo'er and Wu Chen, a hearty laugh reached their ears. Immediately afterwards, a somewhat thin, red-haired old man dressed in simple linen clothes came to their side.

"Valley Master." After bowing to the newcomer, Wu Chen silently walked to his side.

"Father," Tang Huo'er called out in a clear voice.

"Valley Master Tang, it's been a long time," Xiao Yan said with a smile. "I was just about to visit you a few days ago, but I didn't expect that you would send Miss Huo'er and Elder Wu Chen to pay a visit as well."

After Yao Lao finished refining the pills, Xiao Yan planned to send a formal invitation and visit the Burning Flame Valley. However, he was stopped by Cai Lin and the others, who asked him to take charge of the overall situation for a period of time and send invitations to many friendly forces in the Central Continent, which delayed him for a while.

It was during this period of delay that the Burning Flame Valley, another allied force of Yan, brought news of seeking help. So, as soon as the banquet ended, Xiao Yan used this as an excuse to escape from official business that had lasted for more than a week.

"To be honest..." Tang Zhen paused for a moment after hearing Xiao Yan's words, then smiled wryly, "The main reason I sent Huo'er to the Yan Alliance was to invite an alchemist to help refine pills."

I can tell.

Xiao Yan silently recited the words to himself, then turned his head slightly, glanced at Tang Huo'er, and nodded. Both he and Yao Lao noticed that Tang Huo'er had a serious "illness" when they saw her, an illness that would completely ruin her body if it could not be completely resolved within a few months.

Seeing Xiao Yan's actions, Tang Zhen breathed a sigh of relief. Although the fact that Tang Huo'er had been diagnosed with an illness might put Burning Flame Valley in a passive position, Xiao Yan's actions also demonstrated the strength of his soul power. He truly deserved to be called an eighth-grade alchemist.

"This is a pill that I would like to ask you, Mr. Xiao Yan, to refine. It is a high-grade seventh-rank pill called the Fire Bodhi Pill." Tang Zhen then took out a scroll from his storage ring and handed it to Xiao Yan.

Logically speaking, it is extremely impolite to ask a guest for help before even entering the room, and even more so for an eighth-grade alchemist. However, as an eighth-grade alchemist, Xiao Yan had hardly ever gone to people's homes to refine pills, so he didn't seem to care at all. He simply took the scroll under Tang Huo'er's hesitant gaze and began to browse it by infiltrating his soul power into the scroll.

The behavior of one person who didn't seem like the leader of a major power, and the other who didn't seem like a high-grade alchemist, made Tang Huo'er pause for a moment, and then she helplessly took back the words that were about to come out.

A few minutes later, Xiao Yan withdrew his soul power from the scroll. He glanced at Tang Huo'er beside Tang Zhen with slight surprise, then looked back at Tang Zhen. "If I'm not mistaken... does the refining of this pill require Valley Master Tang's assistance?"

The refining of the Fire Bodhi Pill is not difficult; compared to most high-grade seventh-rank pills, it is even somewhat simple. However, this pill is intended to treat the aftereffects of the strange fire... or rather, the Nine Dragons Thunderfire. In other words, the refining process requires the assistance of Tang Zhen, the owner of the Nine Dragons Thunderfire. It can even be said that the refining of this pill must be primarily led by Tang Zhen.

"That's right, I believe Mr. Xiao Yan has also realized that this is a pill used to treat the aftereffects left by Huo'er's attempt to forcibly fuse with the Nine Dragons Thunderfire. Therefore, Mr. Xiao Yan's assistance is needed during the refining process," Tang Zhen said frankly. "Therefore, whatever reward Mr. Xiao Yan desires, I can provide it..."

"Valley Master!" Before Tang Zhen could finish speaking, Wu Chen suddenly spoke up, interrupting Tang Zhen's assurance.

"Heh, on the way to Burning Flame Valley, I mentioned to Elder Wu Chen and Miss Huo'er that I had long wanted to come and talk to you about this." Xiao Yan said with a light laugh as Tang Zhen frowned and looked at Wu Chen.

"When I was training in the Northwest Continent in my early years, I obtained a jade piece. According to my teacher, that jade piece should be a carrier of combat techniques that was passed down from the Burning Flame Valley."

Tang Zhen hesitated briefly because of Xiao Yan's words, "Could it be..."

"Just as Master Tang thought, the jade tablet contains the contents of the first transformation of the Three Mysteries of Heavenly Fire."

If Xiao Yan were an unknown nobody who had just arrived in the Central Region, he naturally wouldn't have said those words. But now he is not only the young master of the Starfall Pavilion, but also the leader of the Flame Alliance and a noble eighth-grade peak alchemist. Therefore, he can say those words openly, "Therefore, I hope to obtain the content of the last two transformations of the Heavenly Flame Three Transformations in the Burning Flame Valley."

Upon hearing the second half of Xiao Yan's sentence, Tang Zhen's expression visibly faltered. As a closely guarded secret of the Burning Flame Valley, the Heavenly Flame Three Transformations was a skill that few within the valley could cultivate. Although he could, as the Valley Master, offer the Heavenly Flame Three Transformations to Xiao Yan as a reward, the Elders' Council...

Thinking of this, Tang Zhen subconsciously glanced at Wu Chen beside him. Now he understood why that old geezer had suddenly interrupted him earlier—

Clearly, this old man knew that Tang Zhen and several other old-fashioned people had such rigid personalities, so he didn't want Tang Zhen to casually make a promise that was difficult to keep to an eighth-grade alchemist.

"...Mr. Xiao Yan has given me quite a difficult problem." After hesitating for a long time, Tang Zhen still couldn't make a promise and could only smile bitterly.

“Valley Master Tang can discuss this with the elders in the valley before giving me an answer,” Xiao Yan said casually with a smile. “Regardless of whether or not I can obtain the Heavenly Flame Three Transformations, I will refine the Fire Bodhi Pill for Miss Huo’er later.”