Battle Through the Heavens: Xiao Yan, I am your second master.

Xiao Li finally came down and handed the token to the Yunlan Sect disciple. The disciple was stunned as soon as he received the token, then bowed to Xiao Li and apologized for his rude words.

Afterwards, the disciple led Xiao Li up Yunlan Mountain on foot and asked another disciple to go ahead to the sect to report.

"The atmosphere in your Yunlan Sect is not bad; at least you don't have the habit of looking down on people." Xiao Li had met many Yunlan Sect disciples along the way, and none of them had that arrogant feeling.

How should I put it? I just feel that the disciples of Yunlan Sect are all very peaceful and not impetuous.

"This is the rule of our Yunlan Sect. When you join the Yunlan Sect, your primary goal should be to cultivate in seclusion. You should not cause trouble or bully others. If any disciple is found to cause trouble or bully others, they will be dealt with according to the sect rules."

The disciple spoke gently.

"How should this be handled?"

A disciple of the Yunlan Sect said, "It depends on the situation. The lightest punishment is three years of solitary confinement, the more serious punishment is being sent to the Thousand Wind Wall for punishment, and the most serious punishment is having all one's cultivation destroyed and being expelled from the Yunlan Sect."

Xiao Li: ... I have a swear word I'm not sure if I should say it.

"Has anything happened at the Yunlan Sect lately? I've noticed a faint air of tension about you there," Xiao Li inquired.

"Next year, the Izumo Empire and the Gama Empire will hold a tournament of the strongest. As the number one sect in the Gama Empire, my Yunlan Sect will naturally be the first to protect our country."

"The sect leader ordered all disciples to intensify their training so that they would have a better chance of survival during the tournament," the Yunlan Sect disciple said excitedly.

"You seem quite excited. Why are you so excited about something that could cost you your life?" Xiao Li asked, somewhat puzzled.

"I am excited to protect the empire and uphold the honor of the sect. I have been prepared to do so since I joined the Yunlan Sect, and I am ready to die for the sect at any time," the disciple said proudly.

"But the history of the Yunlan Sect is longer than that of the Jia Ma Empire, so why should it protect the empire?"

"Because I am not only a disciple of the Yunlan Sect, but also a citizen of the Jiama Empire. I have a duty to protect my country, and at the very least, the Chuyun Empire is our mortal enemy!"

"Hmm... Keep that mindset."

Xiao Li couldn't share their mentality. For him, having died once, he didn't want to go looking for death again; living was more important than anything else.

"But! If the family is in trouble, if Grandpa or my eldest brother is in trouble, should I prioritize survival, or should I fight to the death for the family?"

This question suddenly lingered in Xiao Li's mind. He was terrified of death, but he also had an inescapable bond with others.

Before long, Xiao Li and the disciples of Yunlan Sect reached the summit.

At the end of these long stone steps, clouds and mist swirl around, beyond which lies a vast plaza. The plaza is entirely paved with massive stones, giving it an ancient and grand appearance. In the center of the plaza stands a huge stone tablet, inscribed with the names of the past sect leaders of the Yunlan Sect and those who have made great contributions to the sect.

Xiao Li was the first to see a woman who stirred his heart standing there, as if she was waiting for someone.

The woman wore a moon-white long dress that hugged her voluptuous figure. Her long black hair was styled into the shape of a phoenix singing, exuding an undeniable nobility. Her face was serene and beautiful, like a clear spring in a secluded mountain. While people felt awe because of her noble status, they couldn't help but feel a touch of romantic longing.

When the woman saw the person she had been longing for approaching, she instinctively ran up to him and rushed into Xiao Li's arms.

This surprised the person who had brought them in and the group of Yunlan Sect disciples around them.

In full view of everyone, the young sect leader of Yunlan Sect rushed into the arms of a strange man.

click-

Countless young men and women were suddenly heartbroken, their goddesses found in someone else's arms.

"She's grown up," Xiao Li remarked. Girls change so much as they grow up; in just two years, Yun Yun has matured in every way.

Yun Yun calmed down and released her arms from Xiao Li's embrace. Her pretty face was flushed. She didn't know why she had suddenly hugged him. It was a complex mix of emotions, such as longing or love.

After all, Xiao Li's image had left a very deep impression on her heart.

Chapter 47 Goodbye Yunshan

"Long time no see, Yun'er." Xiao Li looked Yun Yun up and down. Only two years had passed, how did Yun Yun grow from a young girl into a mature woman? She's grown so much!

"Hmm~ It's been a long time, Brother Xiao Li." Yun Yun's pretty face was flushed, still feeling shy about her actions just now.

"Two-star Dou Ling? It seems you've worked very hard these past two years." Xiao Li recognized Yun Yun's cultivation level at a glance.

When I parted ways with Yun Yun, she was only a two-star Dou Shi. To say that she advanced a major realm every year is a bit outrageous.

However, with the support of pills from Elder Wang, a sixth-grade alchemist, it makes sense.

The investment of a sixth-grade alchemist can naturally lead to a rapid improvement in cultivation level. Xiao Li's slow progress in cultivation at that time was mainly due to his focus on honing his alchemy skills. He spent most of his time studying alchemy.

Yun Yun, on the other hand, focused on cultivating her battle qi, unlike Xiao Li who needed to be distracted by other things, so her cultivation level improved quickly.

Yunyun: "How have you been lately?"

Xiao Li: "How have you been these past two years?"

Xiao Li & Yun Yun: ...

chant—

Suddenly, a blue handprint shot straight towards Xiao Li.

"Humph!"

Xiao Li formed a fist with his right hand, and suddenly a ball of golden flame appeared on his right arm, enveloping his right fist. The golden flame was extremely eye-catching, and upon closer inspection, it looked as if golden magma was flowing within the flame, which was quite strange.

"What kind of flame is this?"

“What an amazing feeling!”

boom--

The golden fist collided with the cyan palm, causing a violent energy fluctuation that sent the Yunlan Sect disciples with low cultivation levels flying.

Yun Yun crossed her arms in front of her to protect herself from the energy fluctuations.

"Good lad, indeed impressive." An aged voice rang out, and the newcomer was an old man dressed in a white robe, with white hair and beard. He was quite tall but thin, possessing an air of otherworldly elegance. However, the aura emanating from him was that of a true Dou Huang powerhouse.

"Elder..." Yun Yun was about to speak.

"Young Sect Master, don't panic. I just wanted to test how capable the person who could win your heart is. It seems that your judgment is indeed excellent."

The old man stroked his beard with his left hand and smiled faintly, while his right hand was placed behind his back, because he did not want anyone to know that he had suffered a loss in the fight just now. At this moment, his right hand was burning with pain, and his entire right hand was burned black.

"Xiao Li, please don't be shy. This is Yun Ji, the Grand Elder of our Yunlan Sect." Yun Yun came to Xiao Li's side and introduced the old man to him.

"Elder Yunji, please forgive me for my rudeness," Xiao Li said, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

From their recent exchange, Xiao Li had roughly determined Elder Yun Ji's cultivation level, which was roughly between a two-star Dou Huang and a three-star Dou Huang.

In terms of strength, he should be about the same as his grandfather Xiao Ting, because Xiao Ting's cultivation technique is more advanced. Although his cultivation level is lower, his aura is no less than Yun Ji's.

"Hehe, it's alright, it's alright. Yun'er, take our honorary elder to see the sect leader." Yun Ji said with a smile.

Yun Yun then led Xiao Li to the main hall. After everyone had gone far away, Yun Ji breathed a sigh of relief, raised his right hand, and felt the burn on his right hand. The pain made Yun Ji gasp.

"This kid is pretty ruthless. That golden fire was really powerful. A strange fire? It doesn't seem like it. If it were a strange fire, my right hand would be ruined. It should be a beast fire."

It's probably a seventh-tier beast fire. Tsk, this kid is really amazing. According to the sect leader, he's also Old Man Wang's last disciple, and his alchemy skills are extremely high.

With his current cultivation level of a Battle King, his alchemy skills are probably at least at the fifth rank. I wonder if Yun'er can handle him.

Yun Ji pondered for a while. He had high hopes for Yun Yun. She had reached the Dou Ling level at a young age. Although he didn't know how the sect leader had trained her, the fact was that the sect leader would never harm Yun Yun.

A year later, when the Strongest Gathering comes to an end, Yun Yun will go to complete the final test for succeeding the sect leader: the Gate of Life and Death!

Completing the test of the Gate of Life and Death not only greatly improves one's cultivation level, but also brings many benefits. In any case, when Sect Master Yun Shan walked out of the Gate of Life and Death, his cultivation level had reached the six-star Dou Wang level, and he successfully succeeded the sect master from the old sect master.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Xiao Li managed to inflict a silent loss on a Dou Huang expert with a single punch, thanks to his own high-level configuration. That golden flame was indeed a beast fire, a seventh-tier beast fire, the Illusionary Gold Fire.

This flame will only remain in the shell of a seventh-tier Illusionary Fire Scorpion Dragon Beast after the young hatches. The shell will be burned to ashes by the attached flame within three days. To obtain this Illusionary Gold Flame, one must find the shell of an Illusionary Fire Scorpion Dragon Beast young within these three days.

Coincidentally, the inner courtyard's library had this beast fire in its collection, which Xiao Li used to cultivate the "Heavenly Burning Flame Demon Body." Xiao Li also possessed three more beast fires like this.

Unfortunately, Mang Tianchi refused to give him that eighth-tier beast fire, as it was far more powerful than a seventh-tier beast fire.

Besides the flames, Xiao Li's physical body is strong enough. He cultivated the "Heavenly Burning Flame Demon Body," making his physical body no less than that of a fifth-order magical beast.

With this kind of setup, if you can't even beat a low-level Dou Huang, you might as well buy a block of tofu and smash your head against it.

"Li, what is your cultivation level now? How come you can fight Elder Yun Ji to a draw? Have you become a Dou Huang?"

Yun Yun asked, explaining that she had worked very hard these past two years, cultivating diligently to catch up with Xiao Li, but the gap was still so large.

"Of course I had good fortune. I am currently an eight-star Dou Wang, not a Dou Huang. I only won by a narrow margin by relying on my seventh-tier beast fire and body-refining fighting techniques."

Xiao Li waved his hand and said.

"So you're a Battle King! Thank goodness, Yun Yun, you can do it! Keep it up! Catch up with Li, you can definitely do it!"

Yunyun kept encouraging herself.

Entering the main hall,

At the head of the main hall, there was still the familiar white-haired, white-robed Yunshan. He was sitting there, leaning back in his chair with one hand supporting his head. He looked very relaxed, as if he were dozing off.

"coming?"

After Xiao Li and Yun Yun entered, Yun Shan's voice came over. Xiao Li sensed Yun Shan's aura, which was even stronger than all the Dou Huang elders of Canaan Academy!

There's also a hint of Elder Su Qian's style.

'Could it be that Elder Yun has achieved a breakthrough?'

Xiao Li guessed correctly. Since Yunshan met Old Wang two years ago, Yunshan had signed a series of 'unequal' contracts with Old Wang.

In order for his disciple to realize his talent, Yunshan asked Elder Wang for elixirs. To do so, Yunshan had to collect medicinal herbs in the Monster Mountain Range of the Gama Empire, the Tagor Desert, or other empires.

Yunshan has fought against many magical beasts and powerful humans. The more he fought, the more insights he gained.

Moreover, Yunshan had previously obtained a Royal Extreme Pill and a Royal Wind Spirit Pill from Elder Wang.

The Imperial Pill can raise a Dou Huang's cultivation by one to two stars, but at the Yunshan realm, it can only raise it by one star.

This Royal Wind Spirit Pill is a pill specifically for wind-attribute Dou Huang to enhance their cultivation. As long as a wind-attribute Dou Huang takes it, its effect is equivalent to the Royal Extreme Pill.

It was thanks to these two pills that Yunshan's cultivation level rose from the original seven-star Dou Huang to the nine-star Dou Huang, and he faintly touched the barrier of Dou Zong.

If Yunshan can break through this barrier, he can become a Dou Zong powerhouse. Unfortunately, many people on the Dou Qi Continent are stuck at this barrier and cannot break through.

Chapter 48 The normal Yunshan is delightful

"Teacher," Yun Yun said, bowing to Yun Shan.

"Elder Yun." Xiao Li greeted him with clasped hands. After all, Yun Shan had treated him quite well before, even though he always had a dark expression. But there was nothing he could do about it; after all, he had taken someone else's prized possession, and no one would be in a good mood under such circumstances.

"Hmm~ An eight-star Dou Wang, with exceptionally rich fire-attribute Dou Qi within you. Looks like you've had a fortuitous encounter. I'm afraid it won't be long before you surpass this old man."

Yunshan slowly stood up, and in the blink of an eye, he was next to Xiao Li. The nine-star Dou Huang had more or less grasped the basics of spatial power.

"No matter what you achieve in the future, you must not let Yun'er down. If I find out that Yun'er has suffered any injustice at your hands, I will risk my life to seek justice for Yun'er."

Yunshan said seriously, "As the sect leader of Yunlan Sect and a teacher, perhaps such words are a bit much, but Yunshan is not only a teacher, but also more like a father. This is a father's warning."

"Don't worry, Elder Yun, I will definitely not let Yun'er down," Xiao Li said earnestly.

Upon hearing this, Yunshan's serious expression gradually softened.

“Elder Yun, since you have agreed to my relationship with Yun’er, you might find this useful.” Xiao Li took out a cold jade box with extremely strong cold energy from his storage ring.

"This is?"

"It is indeed the Breakthrough Pill! My alchemy skills have greatly improved. This Breakthrough Pill can be considered one of the betrothal gifts for me to marry Yun'er in the future."

Xiao Li said with a smile that as an alchemist, one should know how to make more friends, especially powerful ones. In Xiao Li's opinion, besides his family and teachers, Yun Shan was the one with whom he had the best relationship in the Jia Ma Empire.

The main reason is because of the relationship with Yun Yun. As long as Xiao Li and Yun Yun stay together for a long time, Yun Shan will definitely be an asset to Xiao Li.

As for the Yunlan Sect being one of the culprits who later destroyed the Xiao family, please, that happened many years later, and it was the Soul Hall that was behind it. At that time, the Soul Hall hadn't even reached out yet.

Xiao Li remembered that Protector Wu was a Earth-level Protector, serving as a Protector at the Dou Zong level in the Soul Palace, and as a Venerable Elder at the Dou Zun level.

The Dharma Protectors are divided into three levels: Heaven, Earth, and Human, corresponding to high-level Dou Zong, mid-level Dou Zong, and low-level Dou Zong.

Yunshan was unlucky back then. He tried to break through to the Dou Zong realm but failed. Not only did his cultivation level plummet, but he also suffered a backlash. Protector Wu saved Yunshan's life, and Yunshan had no choice but to work for him.

Moreover, everyone knows the methods of the Soul Hall; it's impossible for them not to include something. Accepting the Soul Hall's power naturally comes at a price. Didn't you see that Yun Shan's soul and the souls of the Yunlan Sect elders were directly extracted?

Xiao Li then gave Yun Shan the Breakthrough Pill, allowing Yun Shan to break through to the Dou Zong realm sooner. Calculating the time, it would take about twenty years. In twenty years, Yun Shan should be able to break through to the three-star Dou Zong realm on his own. By then, even if Protector Wu came, he wouldn't be able to confront Yun Shan head-on.

There is a fundamental difference between a Dou Zong and a Dou Huang. A Dou Zong has no need to offend another Dou Zong unless their cultivation levels are vastly different; otherwise, they cannot fight to the death.

Moreover, Xiao Li was confident in his alchemy skills. Once he broke through to the Dou Huang level, he would most likely be able to start refining seventh-grade pills. However, the pill lightning was troublesome, and Xiao Li needed a Dou Zong expert to help him resist it.

So, who's suitable for the Gama Empire? Only Yunshan, of course.