Chapter 289: An Old Friend Arrives

Word Count: 2,785 Words

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'Sigh, this God Seal Technique truly isn't something humans can cultivate.'

Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly. No wonder the Dou God Clans' Dou Techniques required the Dou God Bloodline. Even though this God Seal Technique was already a simplified and modified version, its difficulty level was far greater than the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique. At least for Xiao Yan, who possessed the Flame Mantra, the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique was indeed much easier.

Just the first seal, Open Mountain Seal, required opening three specific meridians before one could form the hand seals and mobilize Dou Qi to activate the Dou Technique.

The meridians within the human body were as numerous and complex as the stars in the sky. Some meridians were minuscule, hard to locate, and extremely fragile. Not to mention opening them; even a slight impact from strong energy could cause them to rupture. The three specific meridians needed for the Open Mountain Seal happened to be located in obscure positions within the right arm. It took Xiao Yan half a month just to open them.

And this was under the premise that his physique and Spiritual Strength were exceptionally formidable.

Dou Techniques that required opening specific meridians to activate were generally either terrifyingly powerful or belonged to the legendary class. Back when Xiao Yan was cultivating the Flame Splitting Tsunami and the Octane Blast, he didn't need to specifically open any meridians. From this, one could imagine just how unique the God Seal Technique was.

Especially the excruciating pain when opening the meridians made him wonder whether the genuine God Seal Technique was meant for humans to cultivate at all!

No wonder that without the Dou God Bloodline, it was impossible to cultivate. Such a cultivation method—if one's body wasn't extraordinary—would simply be courting trouble.

After a month of stumbling and hardship, Xiao Yan had barely managed to get a semblance of the Open Mountain Seal. This was all thanks to Xun Er's extremely detailed explanations about the God Seal Technique back then, coupled with guidance from Venerable Tian Huo, a former Dou Venerate, and complemented by his own powerful Spiritual Strength.

Venerable Tian Huo stroked his beard while watching Xiao Yan, who was drenched in sweat and gritting his teeth as he cultivated the God Seal Technique. Seeing Xiao Yan's struggle made him feel much better.

'That's more like it. How can a High Di Class Dou Technique be so easy to cultivate?'

Obviously, Venerable Tian Huo conveniently ignored the fact that Xiao Yan was simultaneously cultivating both the God Seal Technique and the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique. Even so, he could still barely grasp the basics. Such talent had already surpassed his own from back then.

In terms of pure cultivation talent, Xiao Yan's had already exceeded that of a Dou Venerate.

Xiao Yan himself hadn't realized that ever since he obtained a bit of his ancestor's Xiao Clan Dou God Bloodline in the Gate of Life and Death and integrated it into his flesh and blood, his cultivation of Dou Techniques had become even more effortless.

His talent had improved!

Xiao Yan stood atop a huge rock with a solemn expression. His right hand swiftly formed a strange hand seal, followed by a loud shout: "Open Mountain Seal!"

As his shout fell, his robes fluttered without wind. Intense light surged onto his palm, and as the light emerged, he thrust his palm forward. However, the intense light dissipated instantly like a blooming epiphyllum just as his palm moved. The hand seal he pushed out only stirred up a slight gust of wind, producing a soft 'puff' as it blasted a tiny pit in the ground.

Xiao Yan gazed at the pit and shook his head helplessly. The Open Mountain Seal was indeed worthy of being a High Di Class Dou Technique. If not for his Flame Mantra reaching Low Tian Class, the energy required would definitely not be something a Dou King could bear. Even a peak Dou King would be at their limit after using the Open Mountain Seal once.

"To think that the Open Mountain Seal is so difficult to cultivate, and this is just the first seal. I really don't know how terrifying the next four seals will be." Xiao Yan muttered bitterly. Could it be that Dou Techniques from different clans might conflict with each other?

Xiao Yan's cultivation of the Open Mountain Seal still hadn't made much progress. Its difficulty far exceeded his imagination. To unleash the normal power of the Open Mountain Seal, one had to synchronize the internal circulation of Dou Qi with the formation of the hand seal at the exact same instant. Otherwise, as before, the energy would quickly dissipate due to poor coordination right after appearing, ultimately resulting in a pitiful level of power.

"Hey, Xiao Yan, it's time to go!" Zi Yan shouted loudly at Xiao Yan, who stood atop the huge rock.

There was still a month left until the next recession of the poison barrier in the Profound Nether Valley. Xiao Yan planned to take the opportunity to visit his father in the Jia Ma Empire, check on the development of the Yan Alliance, and then enter the Chu Yun Empire from the Jia Ma Empire's border.

After Venerable Tian Huo transformed into a stream of light and returned to the storage ring, Xiao Yan slowly jumped down from the huge rock.

"Eh? Zi Yan, your aura seems to have improved quite a bit." Xiao Yan had been occupied with cultivation for the entire month. He only knew that Zi Yan and the Amethyst Winged Lion King had gone out to 'conquer territories.'

The Amethyst Winged Lion King had left the Magic Beast Mountain Range for over three years—almost four now. Its lair and territory had long been occupied by other magical beasts.

Xiao Yan had heard that the Amethyst Winged Lion King had taken the Little Lion King and Zi Yan to reclaim its former territory.

If a human were to forcefully seize resources and territories from magical beasts, it might attract the intervention of the mountain range's overlord to protect the ecological balance. If it provoked a Rank 7 magical beast, that would spell true disaster.

But the Amethyst Winged Lion King trio were all magical beasts. Moreover, the Amethyst Winged Lion King had been the former overlord of this area. This turned it into a territorial dispute between old and new overlords—an internal conflict.

And with the addition of Zi Yan, this Brute Force Queen, the Amethyst Winged Lion King naturally reclaimed its former territory without any surprises.

"Hehehe," Zi Yan giggled mischievously but suddenly shivered and looked warily at Xiao Yan. "Don't even think about taking my medicinal ingredients this time. They're all mine."

It was obvious that Zi Yan had profited quite a bit from this venture. Presumably, the magical beast that had occupied the Amethyst Winged Lion King's territory had collected quite a few natural treasures over the years, and now they all fell into her hands.

"Ahem, what do you mean by 'taking your medicinal ingredients'? I'm just thinking of refining them into something tastier for you. Isn't it reasonable for me to receive some compensation for my hard work?" Xiao Yan said with a sly smile.

Zi Yan pouted thoughtfully, then nodded, feeling that Xiao Yan made sense. She reached into the void, pulled out some medicinal ingredients, and said, "Help me refine these into candy pills, and I'll give you one stalk of Dou King Grass."

The Nihility Devouring Flame's Seed Flame could also perform storage in the void. Xiao Yan estimated that if Mao Wu accelerated its growth for a while, or when he reached the Dou Emperor or Dou Ancestor realm, he could use the power of the Nihility Devouring Flame to open wormholes!

He had already set soul imprints at Jia Nan Academy and in this small valley. Once Mao Wu matured, he could distort the void, fold space, and achieve the feat of reaching distant places in a single step!

By then, traveling back and forth between the Jia Ma Empire and the Black-Corner Region wouldn't be such a troublesome matter of flying.

"Hey, hey, Zi Yan, these are all tier 6 medicinal ingredients. It's unreasonable for you to only give me one stalk of Dou King Grass. At least share more with me."

"In your dreams! These medicinal ingredients are for my growth. I only got these few after a month of effort."

"With your treasure-hunting talent and the harvest from the Amethyst Winged Lion King's lair, you only got this little in a month? I don't believe it. Final offer, four tier 6 medicinal ingredients."

"No way! One stalk."

"Come on, at least give me three."

"Two, and that's final. Otherwise, I won't want your help!" Zi Yan held up two fingers with a determined expression, looking ready to walk away if he didn't agree.

"Alright, alright, but I want these two." Xiao Yan unceremoniously took the two most precious main ingredients.

Seeing Zi Yan pout and look a bit angry, he rubbed his nose and laughed. "Aren't I doing this to quickly improve my alchemy skills so I can refine a Body Transformation Pill for you?"

Zi Yan's expression softened considerably upon hearing that Xiao Yan intended to refine a Body Transformation Pill for her.

A glint flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes. He suddenly thought about Gu He who wanted to exchange the Green Lotus Core Flame with Medusa back then, and it seemed that he had prepared a Body Transformation Pill.

'I should find a chance to trick that Gu He fellow and get that Body Transformation Pill.' Poor Gu He could never have imagined that even after he had already retired and withdrawn from the world, someone was still plotting against him!

Soon, Xiao Yan had refined all of Zi Yan's medicinal ingredients into round, glossy candy-like pills. At that moment, Little Fairy Doctor slowly walked over from the distant herb garden. From afar, holding a basket and wearing a floral dress, she exuded a rustic charm like a village girl returning from picking medicinal herbs.

Seeing Xiao Yan curiously appraising her, her pretty face reddened slightly. She said softly, "Although I can't refine pills, I can still plant medicinal herbs. The environment here is excellent, so I'm trying to grow some and see how they turn out."

"That's great! Plant more, and I'll come here to get them when I need to refine pills in the future."

Little Fairy Doctor shot him a sidelong glance. She had worked hard to plant them, and he wanted to take them just like that?

"You wish. Let's go. Don't you have things to do in the Jia Ma Sacred City? There's still a month until the Profound Nether Valley."

…

Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan sat on the back of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, while this time, Xiao Yan sat on the back of the Little Lion King, which had already reached Rank 5. He quietly began circulating the Flame Mantra to increase his cultivation.

During the past month, he had focused on cultivating Dou Techniques, so naturally, he had less time for the Flame Mantra. However, even with less time than before, the cultivation speed of a Low Tian Class Qi Method remained terrifying. He already faintly felt the sensation of breaking through to a 7-star Dou King.

This time, Xiao Yan did not stop again. He only rested briefly in Wu Tan City, had a meal, and took a glance at the former grand mansion of the Xiao Clan.

Now, there was no doubt that Wu Tan City was under the control of the Xiao Clan. Although the main base of the Xiao Clan had moved to the Misty Cloud Sect, there were still some members operating businesses in Wu Tan City.

Flying straight along the way, Xiao Yan couldn't help but recall some past events as he looked at the familiar flight route. After all, there were quite a few people and memories in the Jia Ma Sacred City.

…

Jia Ma Empire, west of the Imperial Capital.

An extremely vast manor stood here. The manor was exceptionally grand, matching the status of the Miteer Clan in the Jia Ma Empire.

Deep within the manor, beside a quiet and clear lake, stood a graceful woman in a light purple brocade robe. Although her face couldn't be seen, just her silhouette alone, with that curvaceous figure, was enough to make one's imagination run wild.

The woman's gem-like eyes gazed somewhat absentmindedly at the shimmering ripples on the lake. Her classic oval face was alluring and charming. Wrapped in an extravagant brocade robe, her delicate body was caressed by a gust of wind, causing her clothes to cling tightly to her figure, accentuating her curves and exuding the enticing allure of a ripe peach.

"Hehe, thinking about that little fellow?"

Suddenly, a teasing elderly voice sounded from behind. The woman was startled and quickly turned around. Seeing the smiling old man approaching and hearing him mention that person, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks as she coyly said, "Elder Hai is teasing Ya Fei again."

Without a doubt, this woman was Ya Fei, who had a close relationship with Xiao Yan back then. The blue-robed old man was none other than the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, who had been tricked by Xiao Yan into giving up the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame map, ending up as Xiao Yan's bodyguard for several years and even losing half of his auction house!

Hai Bodong approached with a smile, gazing at the rippling pool stirred by the wind. Standing with his hands behind his back, he looked at his reflection in the water. After a moment of silence, he sighed. "I wonder how that little fellow is doing. It's been about two years since he left the Jia Ma Empire, hasn't it?"

Before leaving, Xiao Yan had refined the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill for him, restoring his strength to that of a 6-star Dou Emperor. Two years had passed since then. Although he hadn't improved as astonishingly as Xiao Yan, he had advanced from a 6-star Dou Emperor to the formidable strength of a 7-star Dou Emperor.

In the Jia Ma Empire, he was now an elite expert second only to Jia Xing Tian.

Ya Fei gently nodded and smiled. "Yes, it's been two years. But that guy has Queen Medusa accompanying him, and he's just going to Jia Nan Academy to study. He should be fine."

Hai Bodong chuckled wryly upon hearing this. "I'm not worried about him getting into trouble; I'm worried about him causing trouble wherever he goes. There's never peace wherever he is."

Ya Fei lightly covered her mouth and giggled. "That's true. Back then, he turned the Misty Cloud Sect upside down. In the end, a mysterious faction appeared, killing Yun Shan and many elders of the Misty Cloud Sect, almost destroying the sect completely."

"Mm, but I heard that there's been news of Xiao Yan recently."

When Xiao Yan captured Feng City, he had sent people to the Misty Cloud Sect to notify Xiao Zhan and the others, asking them to send people with management experience to oversee Feng City.

Ya Fei naturally knew about this matter. Over the past two years, all connections and cooperation between the Miteer Clan and the Xiao Clan had been handled by her personally. Of course, she had heard about Xiao Yan capturing a city in the Black-Corner Region two months ago.

Even some basic funds, artisans, and manpower were provided by the Miteer Clan. They were already planning to set up another Miteer Auction House in Feng City to compete with other auction houses in the Black-Corner Region, bringing some resources from the Black-Corner Region into the Jia Ma Empire to gradually increase the empire's strength.

A smile slowly appeared on Ya Fei's lips as Xiao Yan's figure flashed through her mind.

Hai Bodong saw Ya Fei's expression full of yearning and didn't disturb her. After all, which young lady doesn't yearn for love, especially for such an outstanding man like Xiao Yan?

Suddenly, his expression changed as he abruptly looked into the distance.

"Elder Hai? What's wrong?" Ya Fei sensed that Hai Bodong's aura had suddenly intensified.

"There are two very strong auras rapidly approaching the Sacred City. A Rank 6 magical beast and a Dou Emperor, and their strengths aren't weak." A glint flashed in Hai Bodong's eyes. These were indeed troubled times.

As soon as he finished speaking, he unfolded his Ice Wings and flew toward the direction of the auras.