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

Today, Hun Xuzi, who was in a pleasant mood teaching the new generation of the Soul Clan, seemed to sense something. He frowned slightly and waved his hand to directly disperse the disheveled Soul Clan disciples.

With a casual tear, a spatial rift was created, and upon stepping inside, Hun Xuzi, the highest alchemist of the Soul Clan, appeared in the Heavenly Palace of the Soul Hall, which was supported by the Soul Clan. Standing opposite Hun Xuzi was Hun Miesheng, the chief person in charge of the Soul Hall project.

"Soul Extinction, have there been any unusual developments at Burning Flame Valley lately?" After casually glancing at the soul essence stored in the Heavenly Palace, Soul Void looked at Soul Extinction and asked.

"Burning Flame Valley..." Hun Miesheng hesitated for a moment, "Does Xiao Yan of the Xiao Clan's recent visits to Burning Flame Valley count?"

"Xiao Yan?"

Hun Xuzi had heard of this name. He was a lucky kid from the Xiao clan's remnant lineage who had been taken in as a disciple by Yao Chen, an outcast from the Yao clan. He was also incredibly fortunate to possess a secret technique with the same ability inherited from the Hun clan's bloodline. A few years ago, he even destroyed a branch temple in the Northwest Continent. If nothing unexpected happened, he would also exchange a Heaven-rank cultivation technique from the ancient clan using the ancient jade of the Xiao clan.

Of course, Hun Xuzi didn't care about any of this. After all, Xiao Yan was just a member of the Xiao clan whose bloodline had been destroyed. Even if he was advancing at an extraordinary speed, who knew if he would be stuck at the Dou Sheng level forever?

"I heard that Xiao Yan is suspected of possessing two different kinds of strange flames?" After reviewing the information related to Xiao Yan, Hun Xuzi asked.

"Han Feng died at Xiao Yan's hands, and that Sea Heart Flame should have been refined by Xiao Yan without any surprise," Hun Miesheng quickly reported. "A few years ago, the Pill Tower also spread rumors that the Three Thousand Burning Flames had become Xiao Yan's property. He became a Seven-Star Dou Zun after emerging from seclusion a few days ago. Although we don't know how he did it, he should have controlled both the Sea Heart Flame and the Three Thousand Burning Flames at the same time."

'Sea Heart Flame, Three Thousand Burning Flames, and Nine Dragons Thunderfire? Then it's not surprising.'

Hun Xuzi nodded silently. He had clearly felt the Void Devouring Flame seed he had planted within Huo Yun's body in Burning Flame Valley completely annihilated. Although he had only intended to test Lord Void's sealing ability back then, and therefore hadn't gone too far, he had thought that the mediocre Huo Yun had actually managed to break through Lord Void's sub-flame's seal, extending his own lifespan by a few years. However, given the help of two other strange flames, it wasn't surprising.

“By the way, Mu Gu wanted to get a set of puppets that could block the Black Demon Lightning from Xiao Yan, so he asked Hun Zi for permission,” Seeing Hun Xu Zi fall silent, Hun Miesheng hesitated for a moment and told him what had just happened, “Considering the secret technique in Xiao Yan’s possession, I agreed to Hun Zi’s request to take Gu You, Lie Hun and Xue He to besiege Burning Flame Valley together.

Hun Zi, an elder of the Soul Clan, is a peak one-star Dou Sheng. He is the second strongest person in the Soul Hall after Hun Miesheng and the Vice Hall Master of the Soul Hall.

"That's quite cautious."

After glancing at Hun Miesheng, Hun Xuzi nodded slightly. Considering the Heavenly Fire Three Transformations that Xiao Xuan taught the Burning Flame Valley, as well as the secret technique that integrated soul power and battle qi that he learned from who-knows-where, an ordinary half-saint or even a one-star Dou Sheng might not be a match for that Xiao Yan, but a peak one-star Dou Sheng would definitely be able to easily suppress that lucky kid.

"Tell Hunzi that there's still an old codger alive in Burning Flame Valley, a mid-stage one-star Dou Sheng. If you take him all down, you can come here and exchange him for a precious pill," Hun Xuzi casually instructed, then rolled his eyes, noticing Hun Miesheng's burning gaze. "The clan leader said that once the Soul Palace project is completed, he will have Lord Xuwu increase your bloodline concentration and also bestow upon you a ninth-grade Xuan Pill."

"Thank you, Lord Medicine Saint!"

Even though he knew that Hun Xuzi would leave immediately after saying those words, Hun Miesheng still respectfully bowed deeply before slowly rising to deliver the task from his superiors to Hun Zi, the Great Heavenly Venerable of the Soul Palace—they must capture both the one-star Dou Sheng from Burning Flame Valley and Xiao Yan alive!

*

"A Dou Sheng and a Ban Sheng from the Soul Palace are heading towards Burning Flame Valley?"

Although Gu Yuan had just recently informed everyone not to pay too much attention to the Soul Hall's actions, the news that a Dou Sheng and a Half-Saint were targeting the Burning Flame Valley, where Xun'er was about to go, still reached Gu Yuan as quickly as possible.

"Gu Muyun, go there and ensure Xun'er's safety," Gu Yuan said to the old man beside him.

Gu Muyun is one of the few elders of the Gu clan who does not hostile towards Xiao Yan, an outsider. He is also a peak two-star Dou Sheng.

"Yes, Chieftain." Gu Muyun nodded, stood up, and walked outside.

*

"That's... all done?"

Inside the Burning Flame Valley, feeling his body relax countless times over, Old Ancestor Fire Cloud's mind was still reeling. He stared blankly down at his outstretched hands.

“Although that hidden injury was left by the Void Devouring Flame, you have almost completely worn away the power it contained over the years. If it weren’t for the fact that this power has developed resistance to the Nine Dragons Thunderfire, you might have been able to resolve it yourself.” Xiao Yan said with a smile after withdrawing his hand.

"Alright, do you think I don't know my own situation? Regardless of whether I've developed resistance or not, I definitely can't handle this hidden injury by myself!" Old Ancestor Huoyun rolled his eyes, rejecting Xiao Yan's flattery.

Upon hearing Huo Yun Lao Zu's words, Xiao Yan wore a helpless smile.

As Huoyun Patriarch said, the hidden injury that seemed to be left by the Void Devouring Flame could not be cleaned up by a single strange fire. Xiao Yan was able to completely remove it only because the "strange fire" in his hand actually contained a total of six strange fires, including the Three Thousand Burning Flames.

'But...is that really a child flame of the Void Devouring Flame?' While chuckling dryly, Xiao Yan also wondered to himself, 'Why do I feel...that's the Void Devouring Flame in its infancy?'

Because Xiao Yan had witnessed the life force of a being gradually mature from its infancy, he had a clearer and more distinct understanding of the ethereal, flame-devouring power within the Fire Cloud Ancestor.

That could be described as a fledgling, ethereal flame.

However, this contradicts the common knowledge about the strange flames on the Dou Qi Continent that Xiao Yan had gradually learned in the past few days: the top three strange flames on the Strange Flame Ranking are all unique, and it is impossible for two of them to exist at the same time.

'Unless…' Xiao Yan thought of his encounter in the Chuyun Empire a long time ago, 'Unless, that Void Devouring Flame is extremely powerful, so powerful that its separated sub-flames can be considered as juvenile Void Devouring Flames.'

The poisonous swamp in the Izumo Empire contains a Netherworld Poisonous Flame at the Dou Sheng level. If we take this as an example, the Void Devouring Flame on the Dou Qi Continent is also at the Dou Sheng level.

'No, it can't be that simple,' Xiao Yan pursed his lips slightly, 'Six-star... seven-star, or even eight-star Dou Sheng...?'

Recalling the immense power contained within that seed, Xiao Yan felt that he probably didn't need to consider whether he could devour the Void Devouring Flame.

'I hope the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame isn't that strong,' Xiao Yan prayed silently. 'Having been sealed in a space for thousands of years, it couldn't possibly be as powerful as that Void Devouring Flame, could it?'

Chapter 433 The Soul Palace Attacks

"Ancestor..."

After Xiao Yan's soul power penetrated deep into the inheritance crystal that recorded the original Three Transformations of Heavenly Flame, Tang Zhen hesitated for a moment before asking, "Xiao Yan... is he a descendant of Xiao Xuan?"

Before going to the Fighting Skills Pavilion to retrieve the Inheritance Crystal, he visited the library where the ancestral records of the Burning Flame Valley were kept. He confirmed that the powerful figure who created the secret technique of the Three Transformations of Heavenly Fire was at the same level as their Burning Flame Valley ancestor, a powerful figure only one step away from the legendary Dou Di – Xiao Xuan.

Considering the change in Huoyun Patriarch's attitude after learning Xiao Yan's name, Tang Zhen guessed that Xiao Xuan might be Xiao Yan's ancestor.

"You've finally realized it?" Old Ancestor Huoyun glanced at Tang Zhen with some disdain. "It's only because I realized it and asked for his name that we didn't completely lose face for Burning Flame Valley!"

'Tell me how you came to your senses!' After muttering this to himself, Tang Zhen gave a helpless smile and replied, 'Yes, yes.'

"You still need to work harder..."

Huoyun Patriarch could guess that Tang Zhen had slandered him, but adhering to the principle that as long as he didn't point it out, he wouldn't be the one embarrassed, Huoyun Patriarch prepared to comment a few more words. However, he frowned slightly when he was only halfway through his sentence.

"Ancestor?" Tang Zhen, noticing the change in Huoyun Ancestor's expression, was somewhat puzzled.

"Notify all disciples below the Dou Zong level to take refuge," Elder Huoyun stood up. "Have the stewards activate the valley-protecting formation, and then have all the elders come here immediately!"

Before Tang Zhen could react, she waved her hand and sent him back to the Burning Flame Valley council hall.

"I didn't expect you to dare come here to cause trouble..." Ancestor Huoyun slowly ascended into the sky, looking at the black mist drifting out from a spatial rift above, "You stray dogs of the Soul Palace!"

The black mist gradually dissipated, revealing several figures before the Fire Cloud Ancestor. Upon hearing the Fire Cloud Ancestor's mocking words, one of them sneered, "Heh, if it weren't for the Medicine Saint sparing your life back then..."

"Shut up." Before the sarcastic remark could be finished, it was interrupted by the leader.

Upon hearing this, Xuehe shuddered, silently withdrew his unfinished words, and took a half step back.

'Five-star Dou Zun, First-Rank Dou Zun, Ninth-Rank Dou Zun, Early Half-Saint, and…' As Blood River retreated, Ancestor Fire Cloud's gaze swept across the faces of the newcomers one by one. 'Peak First-Star Dou Saint, or… Second-Star Dou Saint?'

When his gaze settled on the leader's face, the Fire Cloud Ancestor's internal energy circulated even faster—he couldn't discern the leader's exact strength. If he was a peak one-star Dou Sheng, it would be easy to tell, but if he was a two-star Dou Sheng…

The history of Burning Flame Valley may be coming to an end today.

"Ancestor!"

As Old Ancestor Huoyun lamented in his heart, a fiery red protective barrier rose below. Then, Tang Zhen's voice came from afar. A few seconds later, Tang Zhen, followed by more than a dozen elders of Burning Flame Valley, arrived at Old Ancestor Huoyun's side and noticed the five people directly opposite him.

"Soul Hall?" Tang Zhen's voice became somewhat hoarse after his gaze swept over the five people opposite him and he confirmed that he could only see through the strength of one of them.

"Hehehe, Valley Master Tang has a good eye!" After securing the right to speak from Hunzi, Mu Gu chuckled and stepped forward. "Tsk tsk tsk, a mid-stage one-star Dou Sheng, a five-star Dou Zun, and a one-star Dou Zun—the mighty Burning Flame Valley is so weak. It's truly pathetic!"

"Speak your mind," Tang Zhen stopped an elder who was getting angry, and looked coldly at Mu Gu. "The Soul Hall didn't send you here just to have a good argument, did it?"

With the Fire Cloud Ancestor being suppressed by the leader of the Soul Hall, Tang Zhen quickly understood the current situation. He knew he couldn't win by fighting, and even if the Burning Flame Valley wanted to fight to the death, they couldn't win. Since that was the case, they had no choice but to meet the demands of the weakest person on the other side, who seemed to be the organizer of this "encirclement and suppression".

"Xiao Yan," Mu Gu, who had someone backing him up, said without hesitation, "Hand him over, and I'll leave right after!"

"What about the remaining few?" Elder Tang Gu of Burning Flame Valley asked in a deep voice.

Although these old fogies repeatedly obstructed Xiao Yan's attempt to achieve the Three Transformations of Heavenly Flame, it was all for the sake of 'rules'. And now, everyone clearly heard the subtle cunning in Mu Gu's words—

I turned and left; the others are not "me"!

Hunzi glanced at Mu Gu with disgust. He never expected that in a situation where the strength was completely overwhelming, a dignified eighth-grade alchemist would still play such word games. After waving his hand and pulling Mu Gu to the back of the group, he said in a low voice, "Hand over the puppet in Xiao Yan's hands, and then Huo Yun, you old ghost, come with us."

As soon as the words were spoken, many members of the Burning Flame Valley elders' ranks unleashed a surge of battle aura, looking more like they were about to self-destruct than to prepare for battle.

However, such a commotion did not arouse Hunzi's interest at all. After glancing at him indifferently, he turned his gaze back to Ancestor Huoyun: "You are aware of the current situation, Huoyun."

Indeed, compared to the elders who were completely unaware of the strength of the five opponents, and Tang Zhen who only knew that the weakest among them was a five-star Dou Zun, Huo Yun Patriarch, a mid-stage one-star Dou Sheng, was the one who understood the current situation best.

Even if the peak one-star Dou Sheng or two-star Dou Sheng on the other side were entangled by him, Tang Zhen and all the elders working together would not be a match for anyone on the other side except for that boneless five-star Dou Zun, not to mention that the place below was the ancestral home of their Burning Flame Valley.

"I……"

"A peak one-star Dou Sheng? Do you even have the right to speak to the Hall Master of the Soul Palace?"

Just as the Fire Cloud Ancestor was about to submit, a still somewhat "immature" voice rang out from below, "However, that should be about enough, right? One Dou Sheng, one Half-Saint, two Transcendent Dou Zun, and one... wild dog!"

As Xiao Yan slowly rose into the sky, his gaze swept over Hun Zi and the others. The words, which sounded like a list of wild game, made the four of them frown, but Xiao Yan completely ignored them and fixed his gaze on Mu Gu.

"You should be... coming out!"

Just as Xiao Yan was about to begin his interrogation, he suddenly frowned. The energy of heaven and earth within a radius of ten thousand miles suddenly surged, and the moment Xiao Yan's voice fell, a slightly hunched old man was forcibly dragged out of the spatial tunnel.

This move startled Liehun and Xuehe, who were about to retort, so much that they trembled and looked hopefully at Guyou and Hunzi ahead.

Gu You was also somewhat moved, but after noticing Hun Zi's expressionless face, he breathed a sigh of relief and then glared at Lie Hun and Xue He with a look of disappointment.

A hint of death had already crept into Hunzi's heart, his face expressionless. 'The Great Perfection of the Heavenly Realm… it really is the Heavenly Realm.'

For the first time in his life, Hunzi felt that it was somewhat unreliable for outsiders to collect information about the Soul Palace. At the same time, he also felt that even the elders of the Soul Clan and even the patriarch of the Soul Clan might not have imagined that someone who had only entered the Heavenly Realm four years ago would already be at the Great Perfection of the Heavenly Realm four years later.

Chapter 434 The Master of the Soul Palace

While Hunzi was grieving over Xiao Yan's powerful soul force, Xiao Yan realized that what he had grabbed wasn't the one he intended to drag out. However, before Xiao Yan could continue, a slightly embarrassed voice rang in his ear—

'Give me some face, I'm here to help you after all...'

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan frowned slightly and glanced at the sky. After a moment's thought, his gaze fell on the half-saint who had been brought to his side, and he said calmly, "A member of the ancient clan?"

"...I am Gu Tongxuan."

For a moment, Gu Tongxuan suddenly didn't want to admit his identity, but after glancing at the Dou Sheng from Burning Flame Valley who was looking at him with surprise, Gu Tongxuan spoke after a moment of silence.

"You're just unlucky..."

Xiao Yan was speechless. At first, he thought that this half-saint was a strongman from the Sound Valley, which was in the same area as the Burning Flame Valley, so he didn't pay much attention to his spying and didn't want to expose him directly. But he didn't expect that he would be sent over to take the blame by a two-star Dou Sheng from the same clan.

Bad luck?

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Gu Tongxuan, still controlled by the energy of heaven and earth, looked completely bewildered. 'What do you mean by bad luck? You can't expect a half-saint like me to escape being detected by the soul power of a Great Perfection Heaven Realm cultivator, can you? You're overestimating me!'

As a half-saint of an ancient clan, he knew how monstrous the soul power of a Great Perfection Heaven Realm cultivator was. Not to mention the terrifying insight, the ability to contend with a two-star Dou Sheng with just soul power was something a mere half-saint like him could only look up to.

Having no interest whatsoever in Gu Tongxuan's inner thoughts, Xiao Yan calmly released his control over him, then looked at Hunzi again, "Do you want to admit defeat yourselves or wait for me to make a move?"

That's what they said, but once they released control over Gu Tongxuan, the energy of heaven and earth that trapped the Soul Palace members like a cage left Hunzi and the others with no choice.

"...Lord Hunzi?" Gu You, who could barely guess Xiao Yan's level of soul power, hesitated for a moment before looking at Hunzi.