Gamble
At night.
"Just what kind of sacred existence is this Flame Alliance? Could it be that they have forces from Central State backing them?" Shi Nian, the Lion Nether Sect Leader, said solemnly.
At this moment, in a secret Residence, the Sect Leaders of the Lion Nether Sect, Medicine Bone Sect, Thunder Sect, Nether Ghost Gate, and other sects were gathered. Except for the Heavenly Serpent Mansion, basically all the more powerful sects participating in this Sect Assembly had arrived.
Ting Hao, the Thunder Sect Leader, waved his hand instead and said, "That Flame Alliance is not worth mentioning at all. Although the younger generation has some strength, they only have a one-star Dou Zong. What we should really pay attention to is the Heavenly Serpent Mansion."
Hearing the words "Heavenly Serpent Mansion," everyone revealed extremely solemn expressions.
The Heavenly Serpent Mansion had the most Dou Zong experts. Moreover, the Heavenly Serpent Mansion Sect Leader, She Tianhao, not only had the cultivation of a seven-star Dou Zong, but in the previous session, he almost defended the arena for the Heavenly Serpent Mansion. She Tianhao consecutively defeated Ting Hao and Shi Nian, ultimately losing to the leader of the Nether Ghost Gate due to insufficient Dou Qi.
And today, Qing Lin's strength made everyone uneasy. That strength, that speed of cultivation improvement, in less than ten years, she would probably be stronger than everyone present!
"Azure Snake Three-Flower Pupils, it seems the rumors are true. That new Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Serpent Mansion really possesses the Azure Snake Three-Flower Pupils!" Shi Nian said with a gloomy expression.
The various leaders present actually had some ambitions, wanting to unify the Northwest Region. Naturally, they didn't want to see the strength of one sect surpass them by too much.
"Perhaps we need to be more closely connected. Otherwise, when that Holy Maiden rises, we will sooner or later be defeated one by one by the Heavenly Serpent Mansion."
Hearing this, although some leaders present harbored ulterior motives, they could only nod in agreement to prevent the Heavenly Serpent Mansion from becoming even stronger.
However, these sects, including the Heavenly Serpent Mansion, had not yet realized that the Flame Alliance was not just rising. "Perhaps... I can go to Central State ahead of schedule." At this moment, on the other side, Xiao Yan looked up at the bright moon in the sky and muttered to himself.
He originally thought he would have to wait another year or two to handle all the matters at hand, but now it seemed he wouldn't have to wait that long.
Early the next morning, in the Duel Plaza of the Heavenly Serpent Mansion mountain range, ten enormous arenas appeared above the mountain range.
"Let's have the Flame Alliance occupy an arena to play around," Xiao Yan said with a smile.
The most attention-grabbing part of the Sect Assembly was the competition between the top experts of the sects. The previous two days were just for the younger generation, but from today onwards, those who could step onto the arena could be said to be heroes! There were a total of ten arenas, and each sect could plant its flag on one of them, occupying an arena.
When other sects came to challenge, they would take turns sending out experts of the same level within the sect to fight.
Back then, Hai Bo Dong continuously challenged two arenas, defeated two Dou Huang of the same level, and was known as the Ice Emperor! Sects with stronger forces would not occupy the arenas on the first day, but would occupy them in the last few days, until no one challenged them. The sect flag planted in the arena represented the Ten Great Sects of the Northwest Region in this session.
And in the end, there would be one arena left. Whichever of the remaining Ten Great Sects wanted to become the 'Martial Arts Alliance Chief' would stand on the arena and accept challenges from all sides. If they could still stand on it in the end, then they would be the strongest sect in the Northwest Region.
Originally, the Sect Assembly only had this one arena defense competition, but later it gradually developed so many other competitions.
And emerging forces like the Flame Alliance would occupy an arena on the first day to showcase their sect's experts and welcome challenges from all sides.
Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Zi Yan was so excited that she grabbed the Flame Alliance flag and wanted to jump onto the arena, but Xiao Yan grabbed her.
"Xiao Yan! What are you doing!"
Xiao Yan said helplessly, "If you go up first, what about those with the strength of a Dou Wang? Wait until Big Brother and Second Brother are challenged down before you go on stage."
Xiao Yan threw the flag to Xiao Ding. In addition to Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, the Flame Alliance also had two Yunlan Sect Dou Wang Elders, as well as Yue Mei, a total of five Dou Wang.
They, the Dou Wang, were the vanguard.
Xiao Ding nodded, Dou Qi Wings unfolded behind him, and in full view of everyone, he flew onto the nearest arena and planted the Flame Alliance flag in the center of the arena.
"Which sect is that pattern that looks like a ball of flame?"
"Flame Alliance, that Flame Alliance that has been in the limelight these past few days. That Alchemist who uses four Strange Flames for Pill Refining and that runner-up female sword master are both from this force."
Everyone didn't look down on Xiao Ding because he only had the strength of a Dou Wang. After all, it was impossible to let a Dou Zong go on stage at the beginning. Dou Zong were all the final trump cards.
To Xiao Yan's surprise, before the Golden Goose Sect could sit still, it was the Mulan Valley of the Mulan Empire, one of the Three Great Empires, that couldn't sit still first.
"Hey, a mere two-star Dou Wang, let me meet you!" An old man wearing Mulan Valley attire also unfolded his Dou Qi Wings and flew onto the stage.
The opponent's strength was the same as Xiao Ding's, both two-star Dou Wang.
Generally, these arena challenges were between those of the same level. If one's strength was several stars higher than the opponent's, it was not a glorious thing.
Xiao Yan silently watched the battle on the field. Xiao Ding was his eldest brother, so he naturally had no shortage of Dou Techniques and martial arts. However, Xiao Ding's stronger point was strategy, so the battle was not one-sided.
"Big Brother should be able to win," Xiao Li nodded to himself.
"Yes, but it won't be easy," Xiao Yan nodded in agreement.
"What about you? Aren't you going up to play?" Xiao Li patted Xiao Yan's shoulder and said with a smile.
"I'll pass. I still have to go to the other side to refine pills later, so I need to save some energy," Xiao Yan spread his hands. The Alchemist competition was still the same as before, refining pills at the same time, looking at the grade and quality of the pills.
Back then, Gu He relied on his ability to refine Sixth Grade pills at just over forty years old, earning him the title of Pill King Gu He by those interested in such things in the Northwest Region, who believed he might one day reach the achievements of Old Man Bone Child.
As expected, after a fierce battle, Xiao Ding was still the better fighter and defeated his opponent, but he also consumed a lot of stamina and Dou Techniques. He stepped down and had a Dou Wang Elder from the Yunlan Sect replace him.
The arena battle wasn't about one person defending the stage, but about a sect. This way, one could roughly see the difference in strength between the two sects.
As the Flame Alliance occupied one arena, other forces gradually planted their flags on the other arenas. However, Xiao Yan had never seen the flags of these forces, and many of the leaders were only peak Dou Huangs without Dou Zong experts, similar in strength to the former Gama Empire.
These sects and empires were bound to fight desperately. If they performed poorly, they might attract a fatal disaster and be annexed by sects near their own.
The two Dou Wang Elders of the Yunlan Sect were not very strong and were defeated by a Dou Wang Elder from Mulan Valley in a two-on-one match.
This was normal, after all, the overall strength of the Yunlan Sect was inherently inferior to that of Mulan Valley.
"Hahaha, is this the Flame Alliance that has been in the limelight these past few days? It doesn't seem so great." On the stage, the Mulan Valley Elder laughed loudly.
Holding a silver spear, with a whoosh sound, Xiao Li, with lightning flashing across his body, appeared on the stage. His eyes were cold as he said in a deep voice, "My cultivation is two stars higher than yours, defeating you is meaningless. Let someone else from your sect come."
Seeing Xiao Li's pure and powerful lightning-attributed Dou Qi, Xiao Yan felt relieved. Not to mention that there was Yue Mei, a Nine-Star Dou Wang, as a backup, and now it was only a Dou Wang-level battle. When it came to the Dou Huang level, with Zi Yan, that monster, around, Xiao Yan could rest assured.
His Soul force enveloped himself, Xiao Yan didn't continue watching and slowly walked towards the Alchemist's area on the other side.
That was his battlefield.
Like the arena where Yue Er competed two days ago, there were many stone platforms for Alchemists to refine pills. However, this time, the number of people was much smaller, with only about thirty people at a glance.
This was not surprising, after all, this was not Pill Refining for the younger generation, but the highest level of Alchemists representing the sects of the Northwest Region. If a sect only had a Rank 5 Alchemist, then it was better not to come and embarrass themselves.
The weakest Alchemists participating in this Pill Refining competition were Rank 5 peak Alchemists, and they all had to challenge Sixth Grade pills. In other words, if the pills they refined were not Sixth Grade, they wouldn't even have the qualifications to participate.
"Hey, look, it's the Flame Alliance."
When Xiao Yan arrived late and slowly walked into the arena, he instantly attracted the attention of the audience around the mountain range.
In the past few days, the sect with the most discussion was naturally the Flame Alliance. After all, everyone likes new things. For powerful sects like the Heavenly Serpent Mansion to take first place, that was normal and there was nothing to discuss.
But the Flame Alliance was participating in the Sect Assembly for the first time and had achieved such results. Many sect forces were waiting to see what the Flame Alliance's top strength was and whether they could maintain the miracle! Some sect leaders near the Three Great Empires in the West Region were even wondering if they should join the Flame Alliance.
"He's so young, could he already be a Rank 5 peak Alchemist!"
Xiao Yan was currently wearing the robes of a Rank 5 Alchemist, and coupled with his youth, naturally no one would think that Xiao Yan's strength was at the Seventh Grade.
"Hmph, you can successfully refine Sixth Grade pills, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. I don't know how many Alchemists can only stay at the Sixth Grade for their entire lives, unable to cross the gap to the Seventh Grade." Old Man Bone Child's childish voice came from behind Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan turned around, slowly lowered his head, looked at the ten-year-old Old Man Bone Child, smiled slightly, and said, "I really don't know how many Alchemists stay at the Sixth Grade for their entire lives. But I'm sure that it definitely won't be me."
"Boy, don't speak so confidently, be careful of tripping over your tongue, or even losing your life. It's better to be low-key." Old Man Bone Child's eyes narrowed, and he said in a low voice.
As Old Man Bone Child adopted the posture of an Alchemist elder, Xiao Yan waved his hand, interrupting him, and still remained calm, saying, "So what!"
"Little brat, you're just a kid who hasn't even grown all his hair yet, and you're trying to act like an old man and lecture me. What qualifications do you have to lecture me?" Xiao Yan chuckled.
*Boom!* Old Man Bone Child's eyes narrowed, and a gust of wind rose up. The wind was scorching hot, like a fire dragon wrapping around Old Man Bone Child's entire body, and the terrifying flames pounced towards Xiao Yan.
The corner of Xiao Yan's mouth rose, and with a buzz, a ball of green flames also erupted from his body. The Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame transformed into a green lotus flower, enveloping Xiao Yan's body.
No matter how the Wind Fury Dragon Flame raged, it could not shake the Azure Lotus.
A confrontation of Strange Flames! "Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame." This time, Old Man Bone Child was 100% sure that Xiao Yan also possessed a Strange Flame, and it was the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame, second only to the Wind Fury Dragon Flame.
A hint of greed appeared in Old Man Bone Child's eyes, and he said, "Boy, you're so arrogant, do you dare to gamble with me?"
A hint of strangeness and a smile flashed in the depths of Xiao Yan's eyes, but his expression remained calm as he said, "What do you want to bet?"
"Bet on Strange Flames!"
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