Chapter 291: The Great Meeting of Factions

Word Count: 2,752 Words

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Splash!

Water sprayed in all directions as the Serene Sea Scaly Beast suddenly went limp. Its entire body collapsed vertically to the ground as if all strength had been stripped from it.

! ! ! !

The Serene Sea Scaly Beast quickly regained its strength and shot back up, but that brief moment of powerlessness stirred up raging waves in its heart. Its enormous beastly eyes filled with shock and horror. It could naturally tell with its strength that Zi Yan was merely at the Dou King realm—or rather, just a Rank 5 magical beast. Yet the overwhelming pressure from earlier had indeed emanated from her.

It was a suppression stemming from bloodline, an innate fear rooted deep within. Its own bloodline felt a sense of fear facing Zi Yan's aura, as if an inferior were cowering before a superior.

'This little girl is actually a magical beast?! She made me feel such crushing oppression… Just what exactly is her true form? Could she have inherited an ancient bloodline? A True Dragon?' The Serene Sea Scaly Beast stared dumbfounded at Zi Yan's petite figure. It no longer had even a trace of its earlier ferocity, though it wouldn't go so far as to grovel before her.

The Serene Sea Scaly Beast wished for nothing more than to stay far away from this little grand aunt.

The sudden collapse of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast naturally left Jia Xing Tian and Yao Ye deeply shaken. They looked in astonishment at the purple-haired little girl beside Xiao Yan.

They found it truly unbelievable. The Serene Sea Scaly Beast could be considered a magical beast with a rare and powerful bloodline. Otherwise, it wouldn't have reached Rank 6. Yet now, just being stared at by Zi Yan caused it to react like this!

Zi Yan scrunched her dainty nose with satisfaction when she saw the Serene Sea Scaly Beast yield. She turned and made a playful face at Xiao Yan, letting out a proud little huff.

Xiao Yan merely gave a soft chuckle and gently rubbed her small head. It was clear that Zi Yan had at least realized she was connected to the Dragon Race in some way.

In fact, back when he had asked Zi Yan to teach him Dragon Language, she only then learned that the language she knew was that of the Dragon Race. Thus, she understood that her true form must be related to dragons.

And now she was even more certain. At the very least, her bloodline was definitely nobler than that of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, a flood dragon with an impure lineage.

'Looks like I need to get Zi Yan a Body Transformation Pill sooner rather than later,' Xiao Yan thought to himself.

"Alright, let's not waste any more time." Xiao Yan dispelled the tense atmosphere with a nod to Jia Xing Tian. He beckoned, and the Mixed Bone Molding Pill floated gently to his side. Glancing at the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, he said, "Are you ready? This might hurt a little at the start."

"Sorry to trouble Grandmaster Xiao Yan." After the earlier incident with Zi Yan, the Serene Sea Scaly Beast didn't dare act impudently even with its fierce temperament.

Xiao Yan smiled faintly and focused for a moment. A blood-red wisp of Ten Thousand Beast Flame sprang forth, encasing the pill. He flicked the flame into the air, sending the fire-shrouded pill above the Serene Sea Scaly Beast's head.

Moments later, Xiao Yan's hand seals suddenly changed. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame abruptly expanded, and under the scorching temperature, a rich blood-colored radiance poured out, eventually enveloping the massive body of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast below like a curtain of water.

The Serene Sea Scaly Beast began to writhe with a rather pained expression the instant it was shrouded in the strange light. Deep roars reverberated across the lake, sending large waves rolling across the surface.

Jia Xing Tian and Yao Ye watched with quiet anxiety from the side. After all, the Serene Sea Scaly Beast was not just the guardian beast of their imperial family; it was also their family and comrade-in-arms.

Of course, their worries were absolutely unnecessary. With Xiao Yan possessing the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, failure was out of the question.

Soon, the permeating medicinal fragrance gradually dissipated, and Xiao Yan retracted the Ten Thousand Beast Flame.

Roar! Roar! Roar!!!

An earth-shattering aura suddenly erupted from within the Serene Sea Scaly Beast. The waters of the lake surged violently.

'Not bad. This aura is comparable to a 7- or even 8-star Dou Emperor. If it fights in water, perhaps even an ordinary 9-star Dou Emperor wouldn't be its match." Xiao Yan silently assessed the Serene Sea Scaly Beast's strength.

"So noisy!" Zi Yan glared at the Serene Sea Scaly Beast with wide, angry eyes.

"Eh heh heh, got a bit excited there. This old injury had troubled me for far too long. Many thanks for your medicinal pill, Grandmaster Xiao Yan; I'm endlessly grateful." The Serene Sea Scaly Beast, having learned its lesson, immediately shifted the topic to Xiao Yan rather than provoking Zi Yan again.

With the Serene Sea Scaly Beast's injury now treated and his promise fulfilled, Xiao Yan did not linger. He brought Zi Yan back to the Miteer Clan's manor.

…

In a pavilion, Xiao Yan looked at Zi Yan sitting atop a rock, her little feet swinging back and forth, and asked, "Zi Yan, your true form should be some kind of magical beast with a dragon bloodline, right?"

"It should be. Back when you were cultivating that Dou Technique, I could understand those unique pronunciations. It was then I realized I could comprehend Dragon Language." Zi Yan had first heard the language of the Dragon Race when she met Xiao Yan.

After all, there were no pure-blooded dragons in the mountain ranges around Jia Nan Academy. If such creatures existed, the entire Inner Academy wouldn't be safe.

Moreover, she was still very young before consuming the Body Transformation Grass, and her appearance at that time made it impossible to determine her race.

Xiao Yan patted her small head and comforted, "Don't worry. You'll be able to restore your true form very soon."

Zi Yan blinked her bright eyes and pressed her hands to her hips. "Fine. But you said it! You'd better not trick me again. Otherwise, I won't help you gather medicinal ingredients anymore."

"Rest assured. I recall that someone in the Jia Ma Empire has a Body Transformation Pill. I'll find a way to swindle it into our hands." Xiao Yan licked his lips and grinned slyly.

Zi Yan leaped up onto the boulder and threw her arms around Xiao Yan's neck. "Want this young lady to help you?"

"Don't worry; I can handle it." The two exchanged a smile. Zi Yan loved how crafty Xiao Yan could be.

However, Xiao Yan's troubles were far from over. As the proposer of the Yan Alliance Treaty and the Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan—one of the founding factions of the Yan Alliance—he had a heap of matters to handle the next day.

For instance, issues that had arisen after the formation of the Yan Alliance, obstacles encountered, and forces hostile to the alliance. There were also factions wanting to join, but criteria for admission and other problems hadn't been established yet.

Although there were preliminary regulations, everyone had subconsciously regarded Xiao Yan as the leader of the Yan Alliance. Thus, they were all waiting for his return to decide on major matters.

The biggest issue facing the Yan Alliance was the upcoming Great Meeting of Factions of the North-Western Region. In fact, the reason Jia Xing Tian and Queen Medusa had agreed to Xiao Yan establishing the Yan Alliance was precisely for this Great Meeting of Factions.

…

"Only half a year left?" Xiao Yan asked.

In the main hall, all the high-ranking members of the Yan Alliance were gathered. Queen Yao Ye and Jia Xing Tian represented the Jia Ma Imperial Family, while Xiao Yan and Xiao Ding, who had come down from the Misty Cloud Sect, represented the Xiao Clan.

In addition, Yun Shui, the new First Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, represented the sect. Hua She Er and Yue Mei, who rushed over from the Snake-People Tribe upon learning of Xiao Yan's return, naturally represented the Snake-People Tribe.

Queen Yao Ye nodded, but her face carried a hint of worry. "In half a year, the Great Meeting of Factions of the North-Western Region will be held. At that time, all factions in the region will participate."

"This meeting is extremely important. If our performance is too poor... it could invite disaster."

The Great Meeting of Factions was essentially a platform for each faction to display their strength. In this world where might makes right, insufficient strength would naturally attract invasions or even partitioning by various factions.

The Chu Yun Empire, Luo Yan Empire, and Mu Lan Empire bordering the Jia Ma Empire were also countries in the North-Western Region. On the surface, the national borders of these four empires connected, and they stood on equal footing. But in reality, the Jia Ma Empire was the weakest of the four. The other three empires seemed to have a tacit understanding to possibly join forces and invade.

The reason was very simple. The Jia Ma Empire had no Dou Ancestor.

They had refrained from acting mainly due to their fear of the Misty Cloud Sect, which had once been renowned throughout the Dou Qi Continent.

This was also why, two years ago, after Yun Shan died and most of the Misty Cloud Sect's Elders perished, the Jia Ma Imperial Family was more worried than pleased.

Once the strongest faction in the empire—the Misty Cloud Sect—was destroyed, the other three empires wouldn't remain as amicable as before. They would likely join forces, march their armies in, and directly partition the entire Jia Ma Empire.

And the Great Meeting of Factions was the critical point. If they failed to show strength and demonstrate powerful high-end combat power at the meeting, the consequences would be dire.

Yao Ye and the others secretly sighed. The Great Meeting of Factions felt like a countdown, and until now, they still didn't have a Dou Ancestor.

"I'm afraid that now that we've formed an alliance, it will instead cause the Chu Yun Empire, Luo Yan Empire, and Mu Lan Empire to form their own alliance to deal with us."

"Ever since the alliance formed, those three empires have been sending troops into the Snake-People Tribe's territory more and more frequently," Yue Mei added.

The Snake-People Tribe's geographic position was the most precarious. They were located in the middle of the four empires. Although called a nation, their area was very small, consisting of only eight tribes living in the desert. It was only because of Medusa's iron-fisted methods and formidable strength that they hadn't been destroyed.

Yue Mei continued, "Last month, the Chu Yun Empire and Luo Yan Empire dispatched two Dou Emperors who suddenly appeared at the border. They were likely trying to probe for information about Her Majesty Queen Medusa."

The fact that Medusa had left with Xiao Yan was a secret unknown to outsiders. However, her absence for two years naturally aroused suspicion among various factions.

"Fortunately, Sect Leader Yun Yun arrived in time to prevent large-scale casualties."

Xiao Yan's eyes sharpened and his brows furrowed upon hearing this. "Sect Leader Yun Yun is currently at the border?"

Yun Shui nodded and replied, "Yes, Grandmaster Xiao Yan. The Sect Leader is still at the border, while the Little Sect Leader has entered the Gate of Life and Death to cultivate, aiming to further unlock the inheritance of former Sect Leader Yun Po Tian and striving to break through to the Dou Emperor realm as soon as possible."

No wonder Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bodong had been so excited to see Xiao Yan's return. The Jia Ma Empire was already in imminent danger!

Hua She Er and Yue Mei exchanged glances. "Grandmaster Xiao Yan, where is Her Majesty Queen Medusa now?" Hua She Er asked.

"Rest assured, Medusa is currently in a secret realm condensing her Heavenly Flame Serpent Body. I believe that in another one or two years, she will complete the process and truly evolve to reach Rank 7. By then, a fully evolved Medusa reaching Rank 8 will only be a matter of time," Xiao Yan replied with a smile.

Hiss!

Hai Bodong and Jia Xing Tian both sucked in a sharp breath. Rank 8 was only a matter of time?!

A Rank 8 magical beast was equivalent to a Dou Venerate!

If Medusa could truly step into the Dou Venerate realm, then ruling the entire North-Western Region wouldn't even be an issue!

Hua She Er and Yue Mei's faces filled with emotion upon hearing this, and tears welled up in their eyes. Their Snake-People Tribe had been forced to live in the desert, and the constant wars left them destitute. Now they finally saw a glimmer of hope!

"Don't celebrate too soon. If the nation falls, even if Medusa returns after fully completing her cultivation, avenging you would be meaningless. What was lost won't come back," Xiao Ding poured cold water on their enthusiasm.

Xiao Yan nodded in agreement with his elder brother. Having lived two lifetimes, he naturally understood the cruelty of war. If the nation was destroyed and families lost, seeking revenge later would be meaningless. What was lost would never return, and the dead would not come back to life.

Moreover, he was self-aware. The borders between the Jia Ma Empire and the Snake-People Tribe were vast. No matter how powerful he was, could he alone guard such a long frontier? Even with the power of the Nihility Devouring Flame, he couldn't defend it all.

Furthermore, he couldn't stay in the Jia Ma Empire forever. Relying on him alone couldn't protect the Yan Alliance.

Xiao Ding exchanged a glance with Xiao Yan and looked at the worried faces in the hall. "Right now, the best solution is the Great Meeting of Factions. If we can achieve outstanding results at the meeting, it will definitely deter other factions from coveting the Jia Ma Empire and the Snake-People Tribe. By then, we'll just need to wait for Medusa to return; that will be the time for us to counterattack."

Yao Ye nodded in agreement with Xiao Ding. "Indeed, in the last Great Meeting of Factions, we also didn't have a Dou Ancestor. It was Yun Shan who led the delegation. Although our Jia Ma Empire was still rated as second-tier at that time, because Gu He broke through to become a 6th-tier alchemist, we managed to stabilize the situation."

"Our empire's alchemist level has always been top-notch among the four empires. Perhaps this time we can use our previous tactics again."

An empire's strength wasn't solely determined by its top combat power; alchemists were also a crucial factor.

The Alchemist Association was neutral, but alchemists like Xiao Yan and Gu He were not. Especially Xiao Yan—he was the founder of the Yan Alliance. His status was very important.

All eyes turned toward Xiao Yan. Since he could refine the Mixed Bone Molding Pill, he must be at least a 6th-tier alchemist.

Xiao Yan contemplated for a while, his fingers lightly tapping the table. Seeing everyone's expectant expressions, he slowly nodded. "Indeed, I am a 6th-tier alchemist. However, I won't be able to stay with the Yan Alliance all the time. Our alliance still needs a Dou Ancestor to hold the fort, which can avoid many unnecessary troubles."

"Moreover, if we continue to lack a Dou Ancestor, certain matters will be difficult to carry out."

Xiao Yan glanced around the room, his gaze settling on Jia Xing Tian, who sat beside Queen Yao Ye. His powerful Tier 7 Spiritual Strength swept over the old man.

Sensing something, Jia Xing Tian looked at Xiao Yan in puzzlement, not knowing what he intended.

"Elder Jia, based on your cultivation, you've been at the peak of the Dou Emperor realm for many years now, correct?" Xiao Yan asked.

Jia Xing Tian sighed. "Alas, indeed. I've been at the peak of Dou Emperor for a long time but have always been unable to break through that final barrier."

Xiao Yan smiled. "Elder Jia, have you ever used a Zong Breaking Pill?"