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

Gu You's extremely cautious words caused both Lie Hun and Xue He to widen their eyes in disbelief.

Chapter 430 The Sub-Flame of the Void Devouring Flame?

As Tang Zhen shattered the last bolt of lightning, which resembled a silver dragon, the dark clouds in the sky gradually stopped churning and then quickly thinned out. Beams of light pierced through the clouds, turning into countless spots of light that illuminated the Burning Flame Valley.

"I have successfully completed my mission."

When Tang Zhen calmed his fighting spirit and turned to where Xiao Yan was, Xiao Yan, with a smile on his face, handed Tang Zhen the Fire Bodhi Pill that he had already stored in the jade bottle.

Looking at the cyan-red pills in the jade bottle, Tang Zhen breathed a sigh of relief. With the power of Burning Flame Valley, ordinary pills could be handled by the alchemists trained in the valley. However, this Fire Bodhi Pill was of a higher grade and required the Nine Dragons Thunderfire to be used, so they had to ask for help from the outside world. Before Xiao Yan arrived, one eighth-grade alchemist and several seventh-grade alchemists had already failed in their attempts.

Although Xiao Yan was a higher-level alchemist, Tang Zhen was still worried that something unexpected might happen. However, it turned out that his worries were unnecessary.

"Then, Mr. Xiao Yan, would you like to..." After putting the Fire Bodhi Pill into his storage ring, Tang Zhen prepared to arrange for someone to take Xiao Yan to rest for a while.

Tang Zhen's words were full of concern, but Xiao Yan was more interested in knowing whether the hidden danger in the Fire Cloud Ancestor's body was caused by one of the top three strange fires, or by a strange fire that ranked higher than the Nine Dragons Thunderfire and had been passed down for longer than the Burning Flame Valley.

Therefore, Xiao Yan smiled naturally and said, "Let's go, I'd really like to get to know this former Valley Master of Burning Flame Valley."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Tang Zhen understood that Xiao Yan did not intend to rest. He smiled helplessly, then turned around and led Xiao Yan deeper into the Burning Flame Valley.

The Blazing Fire Mountain Range is quite famous even in the entire Central Continent. Besides being the headquarters of the Burning Flame Valley, it is also because it is composed of an endless range of volcanoes. The entire mountain range is covered with red soil, without a single blade of grass. The environment is extremely harsh, but it is also extremely suitable for people who cultivate fire-attribute techniques.

Deep within this mountain range composed of volcanoes lies a secluded bamboo forest, a tranquil bamboo grove that stands in stark contrast to the surrounding crimson earth.

"?"

As Xiao Yan followed Tang Zhen into the bamboo forest, his expression shifted slightly, and he glanced with some surprise at the boundary between the bamboo forest and the crimson earth.

"You noticed?" Just after Xiao Yan withdrew his gaze, an old man with fiery red hair appeared in front of him, staring at Xiao Yan's face with great interest, and asked.

"Ancestor!" The old man's appearance was clearly unexpected for Tang Zhen, but he quickly recovered and respectfully greeted him with his hands clasped together.

"Alright, why are you so concerned about etiquette? If you put that kind of energy into cultivation, you would have surpassed me long ago!" Old Ancestor Fire Cloud, the previous Valley Master of Burning Flame Valley, glared at Tang Zhen with annoyance, then looked back at Xiao Yan, "You're not bad, kid. You sensed something unusual as soon as you entered this bamboo forest. By the way, how old are you..."

"Ahem," Tang Zhen was somewhat embarrassed by being scolded by Ancestor Huoyun in front of Xiao Yan, but after realizing that Ancestor Huoyun seemed to be trying to arrange a marriage, he quickly coughed twice and said, "Ancestor, this is the only ninth-grade alchemist on the continent today, and the personal disciple of the Medicine Saint. He has come to check on the condition of the hidden danger in your body."

"So what if he's a ninth-grade alchemist? It's not like our Burning Flame Valley isn't good enough for him..." After muttering to himself, Ancestor Fire Cloud also put away his previous joking expression and said seriously, "Tell me what you felt after you came in."

Having said that, he pointed to the dividing line between the bamboo forest and the fiery red earth.

Is this considered a test?

"That's a fair assessment," Old Ancestor Huoyun nodded calmly.

After shrugging slightly, Xiao Yan said, "A small world nested within the Blazing Fire Mountains with a completely open entrance and exit, and... you are terminally ill, and your Dou Qi alone is almost unable to suppress the hidden dangers within your body."

Xiao Yan looked directly into the eyes of the Fire Cloud Ancestor and said indifferently.

"Varied……"

"Shut up."

Tang Zhen, who was taken aback by Xiao Yan's words, was interrupted by the Fire Cloud Ancestor before he could finish speaking.

"How did you figure that out?" Old Ancestor Huoyun looked at Xiao Yan and continued to ask.

"Beneath the bamboo forest lie buried Sea Heart Crystals, numbering over ten thousand. They are a type of ore that grows alongside the Sea Heart Flame and serves to protect it," Xiao Yan said eloquently, sensing the fluctuations of the Sea Heart Flame within his body. "Besides protecting the Sea Heart Flame, the Sea Heart Crystals also have a certain degree of ability to suppress other strange flames. Although this suppression effect is very weak, once the quantity exceeds a certain amount, it is perfectly adequate to suppress the hidden dangers caused by strange flames."

While answering Huo Yun Lao Zu's question, Xiao Yan also confirmed that the hidden danger in Huo Yun Lao Zu's body was caused by the top three different flames. After all, this amount of Sea Heart Crystals was enough to remove the hidden dangers caused by the other different flames—even if these different flames had been passed down for more than a thousand years.

"You have the Sea Heart Flame?" Old Ancestor Huoyun looked at Xiao Yan with some suspicion.

It's not difficult to determine if there are Sea Heart Crystals buried underground, and even determining the quantity isn't too difficult. However, it is somewhat difficult for a fire-attribute cultivator to sense the presence of Sea Heart Crystals without instinctively mobilizing their battle qi to resist them.

"I guess so." Xiao Yan nodded.

"I suppose so?" Old Ancestor Huoyun was slightly dissatisfied with Xiao Yan's perfunctory answer.

"Alright, come in. Seven-Star Dou Zun, Sea Heart Flame... that should be enough." After nodding, Old Ancestor Huoyun turned around first and walked into the depths of the bamboo forest.

Xiao Yan waved to Tang Zhen, who was looking at him awkwardly, and then followed Huo Yun Lao Zu ahead of Tang Zhen.

Half a minute later, Old Ancestor Huoyun casually sat down behind a stone table deep in the bamboo forest, then looked at Xiao Yan sitting opposite him and said, "You kid, you've guessed what the hidden danger in my body is, right?"

"...Pure Lotus Demon Flame or Void Devouring Flame?" After a moment's hesitation, Xiao Yan asked.

"Hmm? You don't know much, kid? The Pure Lotus Demon Flame was sealed away after the Pure Lotus Demon Saint fell. It can only be opened on the day when the Nine Stars are united. The last time it was opened was more than nine hundred years ago, before my parents were even born." Ancestor Huoyun casually waved his hand and revealed this not-so-secret secret.

"...So, it's the Void Devouring Flame?" After digesting the news of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame's descent, Xiao Yan slowly asked.

"It should be a sub-flame of the Void Devouring Flame, right?"

Even the Fire Cloud Ancestor wasn't sure if the person who severely injured him back then possessed the true form of the Void Devouring Flame. If it was the true form, it would be far too weak. However, that was a long time ago, so the Fire Cloud Ancestor quickly put the matter aside.

"In short, the injuries in my body were caused by the sub-fire of that Void Devouring Flame. Including the Nine Dragons Thunderfire, it takes three or more different flames to completely remove them," Old Ancestor Huoyun said to Xiao Yan seriously. "Therefore, at the beginning, I never thought that the hidden danger in my body could be removed. After all, not to mention the danger of three different flames appearing in my body at the same time, it is impossible for the other two people who also have different flames to completely trust each other."

“However, since this kid sent you here, it means your master also possesses a different kind of flame. Counting your Sea Heart Flame and the Nine Dragons Thunderfire of Burning Flame Valley, that makes three different flames…” Old Ancestor Fire Cloud glanced at Tang Zhen, who was sitting to the side with a dry laugh, and continued, “So, do you and your master dare to make a move?”

Faced with the serious-looking Old Ancestor Huoyun, even though Xiao Yan wanted to laugh, he had to appear a little more serious.

"Hmm... I think, how about I check on the underlying issues in your body first?"

Chapter 431 Bloodline

"Then let's go."

Huo Yun Lao Zu was not one to procrastinate. After Xiao Yan expressed his desire to confirm the specific details of the hidden dangers within his body, he immediately nodded in agreement. He then extended his right hand and placed it on the stone platform, waiting for Xiao Yan to examine it.

After receiving permission, Xiao Yan calmed himself down, slightly moved the items on both sides of Huo Yun Patriarch's wrist away, glanced with some surprise at the star chart that flickered for a moment because of his contact, and then placed his right hand on Huo Yun Patriarch's wrist.

"and many more!"

Unexpectedly, the moment his fingers touched Old Ancestor Huoyun's wrist, he whispered a shout and then grabbed Xiao Yan's right arm.

"What are you doing?" After stopping his subconscious movement, Xiao Yan looked at the Fire Cloud Ancestor, who was grabbing his right arm with his backhand, with some confusion.

If Xiao Yan hadn't been able to determine that Old Ancestor Huoyun harbored no hostility, he would have retreated the moment Old Ancestor Huoyun exhibited this reactive reaction, and then listed Burning Flame Valley as a force to be wary of.

"Ancestor?" Tang Zhen looked at his ancestor with considerable confusion.

The sudden stress response of the Fire Cloud Ancestor left both Xiao Yan and Tang Zhen looking bewildered.

"What's your name?" The Fire Cloud Ancestor ignored the surprised expression on Tang Zhen's face, who was standing to the side, and stared intently into Xiao Yan's eyes, as if to make sure that Xiao Yan would not have any chance to lie later.

"Name... Xiao Yan." After glancing at Tang Zhen with slight surprise and realizing from his expression that Tang Zhen had not yet told Huo Yun Patriarch his name, Xiao Yan calmly gave his name.

"Xiao... his real name?"

It's unclear what the Fire Cloud Ancestor was thinking, but after silently reciting Xiao Yan's surname, he frowned and asked a question.

“Of course it’s my real name.” Xiao Yan, who vaguely felt that the Fire Cloud Ancestor seemed to know about the “Xiao Clan,” nodded and said.

Why did you come to Burning Flame Valley?

"I want to obtain the Three Transformations of Heavenly Fire..."

"reason."

"I unexpectedly obtained the first volume of the Heavenly Fire Three Transformations in the Northwest Continent. I found that this secret technique was very suitable for my cultivation. After learning that the Heavenly Fire Three Transformations was a secret technique of the Burning Flame Valley, I wanted to obtain the contents of the last two volumes."

Is it suitable...?

Upon hearing the word "suitable," the Fire Cloud Ancestor remained silent for a moment, then raised his head and looked at Tang Zhen, who was somewhat bewildered by the continuous questioning and answering between him and Xiao Yan: "Go and bring over the Heavenly Fire Three Transformations... the original inheritance crystal."

"The very beginning?" Tang Zhen asked in surprise.

Within the Burning Flame Valley are two inheritance crystals that passed down the Three Transformations of Heavenly Fire. One crystal only records the original Three Transformations of Heavenly Fire, while the other crystal records the version of the Three Transformations of Heavenly Fire that has been passed down in the Burning Flame Valley for thousands of years and improved by each generation of Valley Masters. It also preserves the experience of each generation of cultivators. To this day, both Tang Zhen and his daughter cultivate according to the soul imprint in the second inheritance crystal.

“The very first one!” Old Ancestor Huoyun nodded and said with great certainty, “By the way, come back later.”

After Tang Zhen turned around to receive his orders, Old Ancestor Huoyun added a sentence.

"Ok."

Although he didn't know what his ancestor was thinking, Tang Zhen understood the message "Don't disturb this place for a while."

Even though he vaguely sensed that the Fire Cloud Ancestor knew his identity, Xiao Yan still harbored doubts. So, after Tang Zhen's figure completely disappeared, Xiao Yan slowly asked, "Senior, why is it the original version of the Heavenly Flame Three Transformations? Is there anything special about that version?"

"Special?" Ancestor Huoyun looked at Xiao Yan, who was on guard, with amusement, and released his grip on Xiao Yan's right arm. "The Heavenly Fire Three Transformations created by your Xiao Clan's ancestor is not something that just anyone can cultivate. Even after a thousand years of modifications by my Burning Flame Valley's ancestors, the requirements for the cultivator's talent are still extremely strict. Unless one is truly suited for the Heavenly Fire Three Transformations, even the Valley Master will not allow one to cultivate it!"

"Uh……"

Upon hearing Huo Yun Patriarch's words, Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed—he had been thinking of keeping his identity hidden, but Huo Yun Patriarch had seen through everything, which made him seem rather petty.

"Ahem," Xiao Yan coughed lightly, his expression returning to normal. "Senior, how did you know I was a descendant of the Xiao clan?"

"I wouldn't say I saw it," Old Ancestor Huoyun glanced at a star chart about three inches in size on the stone table. "Your skin just touched this thing, and it flashed for a moment."

"What is this?" Xiao Yan asked, somewhat puzzled, looking at the small star chart.

Ever since Yao Lao opened up all the books in his collection, Xiao Yan's knowledge has been growing rapidly. After coming into contact with this star chart, he noticed the light shining on it. After confirming that it was not due to his own fighting spirit or soul power, he paid no more attention to it.

“A miniaturized star chart for bloodline detection, or rather… a miniaturized star chart for Xiao clan bloodline detection,” Old Ancestor Huoyun said with a smile.

"……What's the meaning?"

Although the name itself suggests the function of this horoscope, Xiao Yan still asked a serious question.

"To test the bloodline concentration of the Xiao clan, one to ten stars will appear on the star chart after contact with the skin of a Xiao clan member. It is said that even if a Xiao clan member who can produce ten stars on such a star chart is lax in his cultivation, he will eventually become a Dou Sheng. With a little effort, he can even become an eight-star or nine-star Dou Sheng."

Huoyun Ancestor also shared his understanding of the star chart. After all, the star chart was just a small trinket given to their Burning Flame Valley Ancestor by the Xiao Clan Ancestor. If it weren't for his ancestor's interest in recording various trivial matters, he wouldn't have known its use.

"Then, what does it mean that it flickered for a moment?" Perhaps the Xiao Clan once had geniuses who could make ten stars appear on this star chart, but now Xiao Yan is more concerned about what it means that it flickered for a moment.

"It's probably... that it has the bloodline of the Xiao clan, but the concentration is too low to be negligible?" Old Ancestor Huoyun thought for a moment and said.

"I guess that's how it is..." Xiao Yan nodded with a hint of helplessness. After all, a thousand years had passed, and it was already a stroke of luck that the Xiao clan hadn't been wiped out. "However, are you sure you can confirm my identity based on that one fleeting moment? What if I'm just someone with Xiao clan blood but who knows nothing about the Xiao clan?"

"Given your current status as a ninth-grade alchemist disciple, giving you the Heavenly Fire Three Transformations wouldn't be a loss for you," Old Ancestor Fire Cloud said with a smile. "Besides, that terrible situation didn't happen, did it?"

“That’s true,” Xiao Yan said after a moment’s hesitation, “Senior, could you give me this star chart? I can pay with pills…”

"Take it, it originally belonged to your Xiao clan," the Fire Cloud Ancestor interrupted Xiao Yan, casually grabbing the star chart from the stone table and tossing it into Xiao Yan's arms. "Alright, now it's time to confirm whether I'm still salvageable!"

"Senior will naturally be fine," Xiao Yan said with a smile after putting the star chart into his pocket. "It's just a minor injury left by the Void Devouring Flame's sub-flame; there's absolutely no need for Master to intervene!"

"Then I'll wait and see!" Old Ancestor Huoyun laughed, taking Xiao Yan's words as nothing more than youthful arrogance and ignorance.

Chapter 432 Undercurrents

Hun Xuzi is the highest-ranking alchemist in the Soul Clan. Normally, he only needs to be responsible to the Soul Clan Chief, and occasionally he will give some pointers to the younger generation of the Soul Clan when he is in a good mood.