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

"Five Dou Di? What does that mean? What do they know? What exactly do the Soul Clan and the Ancient Clan know?!"

In the void, a dark-skinned, towering man suddenly turned his head to look at the kind-faced old man beside him and another somewhat rugged middle-aged man.

This burly man is named Lei Ying. He is the current patriarch of the Lei Clan, an ancient imperial clan. He is an extremely warlike late-stage eight-star Dou Sheng expert. A thousand years ago, when Xiao Xuan was still alive, he even challenged Xiao Xuan, and the result was, needless to say, a crushing defeat.

"Who knows what riddles they're playing?" The middle-aged man in the crimson robe grinned. "Besides, the idea that five Dou Di will be born in the future is just talk. Anyone can do that. I could say I'll become a powerhouse above Dou Di in the future!"

The middle-aged man was named Yan Jin, the patriarch of the Yan Clan. His strength was comparable to Lei Ying's, and he was also the fire-attribute Dou Qi expert with the most different flames in his body besides Xiao Yan on the Dou Qi Continent.

“Indeed, even if what the Soul Emperor said is true, apart from the Soul Emperor and Gu Yuan, the closest to the Dou Di level are the two of them and the Black Annihilation King of the Ancient Clan. That takes up five spots, so how could it be the turn of this little guy from the Xiao Clan who only has the strength of a one-star Dou Sheng?”

The one who said this was Yao Dan, the patriarch of the Yao clan. Although he only had the strength of a mid-stage Seven-Star Dou Sheng, he had been immersed in the art of alchemy for many years. The last time he refined pills was hundreds of years ago, when he had already refined a ninth-grade Xuan pill. Therefore, everyone in the ancient clan guessed that this Yao Dan might have the confidence to refine a ninth-grade Jin pill.

"Compared to these five ethereal Dou Di, I'm more concerned about what the Soul Emperor meant by 'evil race'," Yao Dan stroked his beard and said hesitantly, "On the Dou Qi Continent, the only one who can be considered an evil race... is the once-existing Devouring Spirit Clan, right?"

"The Devouring Spirit Clan was completely wiped out long ago by the pursuit of various races," despite his extreme warlike nature, only a trace of fear flashed in Lei Ying's eyes upon hearing this name. "The so-called evil race is nothing more than something the Soul Emperor said to scare people!"

"There are many flaws in this single sentence that cannot withstand close scrutiny. In my opinion, this so-called exchange of ancient jade is nothing more than a scam woven by the Soul Clan and the Ancient Clan!" Yan Jin's reaction was similar to Lei Ying's, and he also discovered the most fatal flaw, "Moreover..."

"While the Soul Clan and the Ancient Clan are powerful, they could never possibly annihilate both the Spirit Clan and the Stone Clan simultaneously without a sound or any news leaking out, unless the two clans join forces..."

Although Lei Ying and Yao Dan had had such thoughts before, they had never spoken them aloud to anyone other than Yan Jin.

"Don't overthink it. Given the conflict between the Soul Clan and the Ancient Clan, there's absolutely no possibility of them forming an alliance!" Yao Dan said this with extreme certainty, as if he truly believed it to be true. "Not to mention the existence of the Xiao Clan's descendants among them. How could they possibly agree to the Ancient Clan cooperating with the Soul Clan, which almost wiped out the Xiao Clan?"

"...What if?" Lei Ying was warlike, but not stupid. After a brief hesitation, he spoke softly, "To avoid our three races encountering the same calamities as the Spirit Race and the Stone Race, I think the best option for our three races is to form an alliance!"

“I think it’s a good idea,” Yan Jin nodded heavily. “After we get back, let’s connect the spaces of our three races directly, shall we?”

"We'll discuss the specifics later. Let's see what else they're prepared to say first."

Although Yao Dan was not very willing to form an alliance, the disappearance of the Spirit Clan and the Stone Clan did not allow him to waste time unnecessarily. So when he noticed that Xiao Yan below seemed to be finally about to speak after a brief silence, he said something rather hastily and then carefully looked down.

'If he doesn't agree...' Lei Ying looked at Yan Jin, his eyes filled with hesitation.

"Then let's ignore the Medicine Clan!" Yan Jin gritted his teeth and said ruthlessly, "With the number of their Profound Core alchemists and the medicinal pills that might even be made by Golden Core alchemists, their Medicine Clan can't possibly be wiped out. But we're different!"

Although Lei Ying felt this was inappropriate, considering that it might concern the life and death of their two races, he immediately refrained from saying anything more.

……

"So they think they can't suppress my growth, so they've switched to trying to win me over?" Xiao Yan grinned, mockingly. "Why didn't they consider this possibility when they attacked my Xiao family back then?"

No one can stifle your growth when you are favored.

The Soul Emperor chuckled self-deprecatingly. If he hadn't met that woman named "Azure Sky," whose identity was the world's consciousness, he might have cared about Xiao Yan, but he would never have treated him with such seriousness. "Besides, the Black Demon Lightning and Pill Rain that Starfall Pavilion unleashed a few days ago couldn't be hidden from anyone..."

"A twenty-six-year-old Xuan Dan alchemist... Aside from medicinal pills, you're probably the alchemist closest to refining a ninth-grade golden pill, right?" The Soul Emperor smiled kindly. "Even if there's only a sliver of a chance, I can't treat an alchemist who will one day refine a half-finished Emperor Pill for me with rudeness."

Upon hearing the words "medicinal pill," Lei Ying and the other two in the void space were suddenly shocked. They almost thought that even the spatial barrier they had created together could not stop the Soul Emperor's investigation. As a result, when the words "half-finished Emperor Pill" were uttered, Lei Ying and the other two were a beat slow to react.

"You're dreaming!" Xiao Yan sneered. "Here's the thing, release my father!"

Xiao Yan swung his right hand violently, and the ancient jade that made all the ancient emperor clan leaders present somewhat envious was thrown at Hun Tiandi like trash. He could no longer bear to see his father unable to utter a single word under the suppression of Hun Tiandi's fighting spirit, and could only keep signaling with his eyes for him to leave quickly and not to worry about him anymore.

Almost the instant Xiao Yan threw out the ancient jade, Soul Emperor released his control over Xiao Zhan, allowing Xiao Yan to rush to his side and support Xiao Zhan, who was actually almost perfectly fine except for a slight numbness in his legs.

"Father!"

"Yan'er, is it really you!"

From the moment he was freed from his restraints to his rescue, it all happened almost instantly. The instant Xiao Zhan realized he could speak, Xiao Yan appeared beside him. Looking at the face so close to his, Xiao Zhan's hand trembled as he touched Xiao Yan's face, his trembling appearance as if he was afraid that this was just an illusion. Although he had not suffered any abuse in the Soul Clan, he still looked forward to this day every moment.

"A touching scene," the Soul Emperor said with a smile after putting the ancient jade into his storage ring, watching the father and son reunite. He didn't even care about Gu Yuan's wary gaze. "So, as a gift that brought you two together, can you answer one question for me?"

Xiao Yan, whose reunion was interrupted by the Soul Emperor, shielded Xiao Zhan behind him and said coldly, "Do you think that's possible?"

"The Canaan Academy, founded by Elder Mang Tianchi of the Lei Clan, has relocated," Soul Emperor casually asked, seemingly oblivious to Xiao Yan's expression. "Did you discover something?"

"Canaan Academy? Relocation?" Xiao Yan frowned. "What do you mean?"

Chapter 470 The Soul Emperor's Ambition

“The Black Corner Region is a chaotic place,” the Soul Emperor said with a light laugh. “Therefore, there is also a branch of the Soul Palace in that place, but not many people know of its existence.”

So, the Soul Hall received the news the moment the Dean returned, and the subsequent relocation was carried out right under the Soul Hall's nose?

As he murmured to himself, Xiao Yan's brows relaxed: "I see... But I haven't received any news about Canaan Academy's relocation, and there's no need for them to inform me of their relocation."

'Does this mean they know... or they don't?'

Compared to Xiao Yan's occasional obvious joy during their first meeting, his expression was much more normal this time. Even the Soul Emperor found it difficult to guess how much of Xiao Yan's words were true and how much were false.

"What a pity. I thought the relocation of Canaan Academy was related to you, since you went to the area where the Thunder Clan members were temporarily staying after you came out of the Heavenly Tomb," the Soul Emperor said with a faint smile. "I thought you learned the location of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's cave from Xiao Xuan and the others, so you hurriedly notified them to relocate."

"Just how many spies have you planted within my ancient clan?"

Upon hearing Hun Tiandi's words, Gu Yuan became restless. He had thought that the Dou Sheng he had pulled out from the elders' seats was the biggest spy, but he hadn't expected that there were other spies besides that person who were close to or even already Dou Sheng.

"Your ancient clans have also planted spies in my Soul Clan, haven't they?" The Soul Emperor calmly looked at Gu Yuan, "It's just a matter of reciprocity."

As Gu Yuan confronted the Soul Emperor, Xiao Yan sighed inwardly, then turned around, preparing to take his father away from this place.

"What's near Canaan Academy?" Seeing Xiao Yan preparing to leave, the Soul Emperor, who was confronting Gu Yuan, suddenly turned around and asked, "The Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's cave, or the Dou Sheng Secret Realm?"

"Perhaps it's the cave of some unknown Dou Di," Xiao Yan casually replied as he helped Xiao Zhan onto the space shuttle. "Besides, given the commotion the Soul Palace has caused on the continent in recent years, you must have already located the cave of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor, right?"

"Or is it that the four ancient jades are not enough to open the cave of the ancient emperor Tuoshe?"

After bidding farewell to Gu Yuan, Xiao Yan left behind these words and then took the spatial shuttle into the spatial rift.

As Soul Emperor watched Xiao Yan's space shuttle disappear into the spatial rift and then vanish completely before his eyes, he had a vague guess in his heart, but it was just a guess, and one that he could never verify.

"You all have quite the refined taste," the Soul Emperor said with a smile, looking at Lei Ying and the other two who emerged from the void. "Why not seize the day... How about we go to the Northwest Continent today to search for the possible ruins of a Dou Sheng or Dou Di?"

"Have you found the exact location of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's cave?" Lei Ying stared intently at Hun Tiandi and Gu Yuan, and asked in a deep voice.

"My Ancient Clan and the Soul Clan are not of the same kind!" Gu Yuan emphasized again, but he also understood that now that the Spirit Clan and the Stone Clan had disappeared, the Ancient Clan, which could not produce any evidence, was no different from the Soul Clan in the eyes of the Thunder Flame Medicine Clan and the other two clans.

“Perhaps we have found it,” the Soul Emperor said casually. “After leaving the Heavenly Tomb, I arranged for the Soul Palace to search most of the Dou Qi Continent. In the process, we found many special ruins, as well as many ruins that I could not open.”

"Playing hard to get!" Yan Jin sneered, speaking with disdain.

The Soul Emperor didn't care about Yan Jin's taunts, and looked calmly at Yao Dan: "Clan Chief Yao Dan, hundreds of years have passed, and you still can't refine a ninth-grade golden pill?"

“Until the Soul Clan and the Ancient Clan clear themselves of suspicion, the Medicine Clan will no longer provide any Grade 9 pills to the two clans,” Yao Dan said softly. “As for the Golden Core… the last known Golden Core alchemist was a figure from thousands of years ago.”

"I didn't expect that even the Medicine Pill Clan Chief would be stopped at that threshold?"

The Soul Emperor was not surprised that Yao Dan would change the subject. After all, that was how the Yao Clan was. Although they could become Xuan Dan alchemists by resting on the glory of their ancestors, it was extremely difficult for a member of the Yao Clan to become a Jin Dan alchemist without the soul power of an Emperor Realm. This was perhaps one of the reasons why the ancient imperial clan was inferior to the outside world's strongmen and alchemists.

The "gathering" of the five clan leaders did not last long and soon ended with the departure of Lei Ying and the other two. However, judging from the fact that the three of them left in the same direction, the complete alliance of the Lei, Yan, and Yao clans may be announced to the world in the near future.

'Unfortunately, there's only one Golden Core recipe in the Pill Tower, and it's one of the most difficult Golden Cores to refine,' the Soul Emperor glanced at Gu Yuan, who was deep in thought as he left, and then stepped into the void. 'If we aim for that recipe, even someone favored by the world would need several years, right? And even a one-star Dou Sheng wouldn't have the strength to refine a ninth-grade Golden Core on his own…'

Although the Soul Emperor had little interest in alchemy, with his almost half-emperor level of insight, he could still see the minimum level of battle qi required for refining a golden elixir.

"And then there's the Northwest Continent... After being thrown into chaos, any of our five races will be on high alert wherever they approach, right?" Back in the Soul Realm, after placing the Xiao family's ancient jade alongside the other three, the Soul Emperor's lips curled into a slight smile. "That little fellow from the Xiao family, however, doesn't need to worry about any of this... unless he already knows what the ruins in that area are."

Although Xiao Yan did not reveal any flaws, Soul Emperor, who had already guessed in his heart, did not need Xiao Yan to give any reaction. Regardless of whether Xiao Yan went to that area in the following years, Soul Emperor was certain that there were ruins above or below the old site of Canaan Academy, and... it was very likely that it was the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's cave he had been looking for!

'But the last four ancient jades aren't something you can just easily obtain,' the Soul Emperor, now certain that the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's cave was located below Canaan Academy, felt much more at ease. 'The Pure Lotus Demon Flame, the Pharmacopoeia… which of these two timings is most suitable?'

If the Soul Clan were to unleash all its resources, it could wage a protracted war against the Ancient, Thunder, and Flame Clans on its own. However, it must first eliminate the Medicine Clan, which possesses the most Treasure Pill Refiners and Profound Pill Refiners on the entire continent!

After returning to Xingyun Pavilion from the Burial Sky Mountains, Xiao Yan quickly arranged accommodations for Xiao Zhan, entrusted his daughter Xiao Xiao to Xiao Zhan's care, and rested and waited in Xingyun Pavilion for a few more days before hurriedly taking Cai Lin and the others to the Nine Nether Yellow Springs of the Beast Domain.

During the few days Xiao Zhan spent with Xiao Yan, he finally accepted the reality that his granddaughter, who was not yet six years old, already possessed the strength of a Dou Zong. After Xiao Yan left, he began to strictly discipline Xiao Xiao, who was still in the mischievous child stage—although Xiao Xiao was still very well-behaved and obedient in the mischievous child stage.

Chapter 471 Nine Nether Golden Ancestral Fire

Since this wasn't Xiao Yan's first trip to the Beast Domain, he was quite familiar with the route. Now that his strength had greatly increased, his travel speed was naturally many times faster. What used to take several days could now be completed in just half a day.

After entering the Beast Domain, Xiao Yan and the others did not linger and headed directly to the area where the Nine Netherworld Python Clan was located.

Although over 90% of the powerful members of the Nine Netherworld Python and its affiliated races had become Qing Lin's puppets, adhering to the principle of minimizing trouble, they only slowly walked out of the void when they entered the deepest part of the Netherworld Serpent Vein, the main base of the Nine Netherworld Python clan, and there were no magical beasts within Xiao Yan's soul power perception range.

"So why are we hiding like this?" As they flew towards the deepest part of the Nether Serpent Vein, the Nine Netherworld, Zi Yan couldn't help but complain. "We haven't even seen many Dou Zun along the way. Even if we flew over them openly, they wouldn't dare to complain, would they?"

"That's true, but if a group of humans openly barges into the sacred ground of the Nine Netherworld Python clan, wouldn't our whereabouts be exposed?" Xiao Yan smiled helplessly. "Moreover, the Soul Palace is still causing trouble on the continent. If they find out our whereabouts, it might even implicate other magical beast families in the Beast Domain."

Of the three strongest families in the Beast Domain, only the Ancient Dragon Clan remains powerful. Although the strongest member of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan possesses the strength of a five-star Dou Zun, the true leader is actually Feng Qing'er, who had already been imprinted with the Dragon Seal by Zi Yan. The strongest member of the Nine Nether Earth Python Clan is even a one-star Dou Zun from a subordinate race. With such strength, let alone the Soul Palace taking action, even the Wind and Thunder Pavilion before the Thunder Venerable's fall would have been able to suppress the two major families.

“Although the soul power of magical beasts is generally inferior to that of humans, their numbers are no less than those of humans,” Cai Lin said softly. “Moreover, in the entire Beast Domain, apart from the Ancient Dragon Clan, even Half-Saints are extremely rare. If the news gets out, the Soul Palace might wipe out the entire Beast Domain!”

"The outside world only knows that the Flame Alliance and the Starfall Pavilion have formed an alliance because of Xiao Yan's existence. But since we have only revealed two Dou Shengs so far, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao, we can still tolerate it. But if they knew that the Ancient Dragon Clan was also working with us..." Little Fairy Doctor added with a light laugh, "Even the Thunder, Flame, and Medicine Clans would be restless, wouldn't they?"

"I know, I know..." Zi Yan said with a bitter face after realizing that her complaints had attracted a lecture from everyone except Qing Lin.

The ravine was extremely deep, and even at their speed, it took them nearly ten minutes to reach the surface. As they approached the surface, an enormous lake came into view, and a chilling aura emanated from it, which even caused the fighting spirit within Xiao Yan and the others to slow down slightly.

The water in that vast lake was a deep yellow, yet within that deep yellow, there seemed to be a trace of blood-like color flowing through it. A faint flow of light yellow mixed with a hint of blood constantly seeped out from it, eventually rising and surging upwards.

"This is the legendary Nine Netherworlds."

Gazing at the yellow lake, Xiao Yan murmured as he slowly approached. As he drew closer to the Nine Netherworld Yellow Springs, he felt increasingly aware of the hidden, chilling power that continuously tried to invade his body.

"Judging from the chilling aura here, that snake clan Dou Zun, who is only a one-star Dou Zun, probably doesn't even have the ability to get close to this place," Little Fairy Doctor stood quite far away from the lake. Although the chilling aura didn't affect her, she was still unwilling to come into contact with it, even though it might freeze all the strongmen below the five-star Dou Zun level. "This gives us plenty of time."

Xiao Yan looked at the pale yellow ice crystals that spread upwards from his fingertips as soon as they touched the lake surface, nodded, and shattered the ice crystals with his Dou Qi before speaking, "Without a different kind of fire, even a one-star Dou Sheng might not be able to dive into the depths of this lake..."

"Cai Lin, I'll go into the bottom of the Yellow Springs first to obtain the Yellow Springs Blood Crystal. After I succeed, you can go into the Yellow Springs, and I'll protect you." Xiao Yan, trying to shake off the dampness on his fingertips, turned to look at Cai Lin who had come to his side and said.

"Okay, be careful. If it really doesn't work, come back."

At this moment, Cai Lin was only at the level of a ninth-level Dou Zun. Her ability to approach the Nine Netherworld was mainly due to her bloodline's tolerance to the power of Yin and cold. Even so, she still felt extremely uncomfortable. However, it was precisely because of this that she believed that the Nine Netherworld could allow her to completely refine the Nine-Colored Primal Stone and advance to become the legendary Nine-Colored Devouring Python.

After using his strange fire to set up an array around Little Fairy Doctor, Zi Yan, and Qing Lin that could transform the nearby yin and cold energy into pure heaven and earth energy, Xiao Yan breathed a sigh of relief and plunged into the Nine Netherworld Yellow Springs.

Seeing that no white mist appeared on the lake after Xiao Yan entered the Nine Netherworld Yellow Springs due to the contact between high temperature and cold air, Cai Lin was somewhat bewildered for a moment.

"The Nine Nether Golden Ancestral Fire, it is said, was originally a strange fire born in the Nine Nether Yellow Springs..."

But soon, Cai Lin recalled the name of the strange fire that ranked seventh on the Strange Fire Ranking. Because Xiao Yan obtained it during the year he was taken away by the world consciousness, no one else was familiar with it. "It seems that the rumor may not be unfounded."

The three people who remained within the special formation set up by Xiao Yan nodded thoughtfully.

……

A figure flashed past like lightning in the murky yellow lake water, surrounded by flames, yet made no sound.

"Although this Nine Nether Golden Ancestral Flame was not born in this Nine Nether Yellow Spring, it was born in a very similar... even almost identical environment, right?" Feeling the flames surrounding him, Xiao Yan pondered.

The previous Nine Nether Golden Ancestral Flame, born in the Nine Nether Yellow Springs, was in the hands of the Yan Clan Chief. It had even fused with volcanic rock flames using the Yan Clan's special flame fusion technology, creating a strange flame no less powerful than the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame. Since then, it seems that no second Nine Nether Golden Ancestral Flame has been born in the Nine Nether Yellow Springs, and it seems that the Yan Clan Chief did not lose the Nine Nether Golden Ancestral Flame...