Cooperation

Thanks to Zi Yan, the group gradually became more familiar with Zhu Kun.

Afterward, they discovered that the Flame Lizardmen outside contained Crimson Fire Pearls. These pearls held a rather powerful and violent fire-attributed energy, which was quite beneficial to the cultivation of those with a fire affinity.

Thus, Huo Xuan sent Huo Shuo to help Huo Zhi hunt some lizardmen and collect a few pearls to aid her in increasing her strength.

Huo Shuo immediately took Huo Zhi out to hunt Flame Lizardmen, bringing Zi Yan along as well.

Now, only he and Zhu Kun remained outside the Ancient God's Cave Mansion.

Of course, Huo Xuan had deliberately sent them away. After all, he had important matters to discuss with Zhu Kun, matters they were better off not knowing about.

"By the way, little friend Huo Xuan, what is the distribution of power in the outside world like now?" Before Huo Xuan could speak, Zhu Kun took the lead in asking.

"Senior Zhu Kun, the continent's foremost powers are the eight Ancient Clans: Xiao, Hun, Gu, Flame, Lei, Yao, Shi, and Ling."

"Later, as time passed, the Xiao Clan among the Ancient Eight Clans gradually declined. In the end, they fell from the ranks of the Ancient Eight Clans and became an ordinary clan." Huo Xuan answered truthfully.

"Alas, who would have thought that after nearly a thousand years, the Dou Qi Continent would have changed so drastically?"

"In the era when this Emperor lived, the Dou Qi Continent had numerous Ancient Races. Yet now, only seven remain?" Zhu Kun said with a touch of regret.

"By the way, little friend Huo Xuan, do you know of the Tou She Ancient God Jade?" After lamenting for a while, Zhu Kun abruptly changed the subject and asked the question he cared about most.

"Of course." Huo Xuan nodded. "Back then, the eight clans fought a great war over the Tou She Ancient God Jade. In the end, the jade was split into eight pieces during that battle, with each clan controlling one. Our Flame Clan currently possesses two fragments of the Ancient Jade."

"Only fragments?" Zhu Kun said somewhat disappointedly.

"Alas..." Zhu Kun sighed. "Back then, I coveted the Tou She Ancient God's Cave Mansion and was trapped here by Tou She Ancient God's scheme for nearly a thousand years. Because of Tou She Ancient God, unless someone uses the Tou She Ancient God Jade to bring the cave mansion back into the light of day, I can forget about leaving this space."

"That's easy enough, Senior Zhu Kun. The Hun Clan, also one of the Ancient Eight Clans, is currently collecting the Tou She Ancient God Jade outside. Once they gather all the Ancient Jade pieces, you will be able to get out."

"The Hun Clan? Back then, they were merely a small clan, just like your Flame Clan. Do they have such capability? Rather than them, this Emperor would place more faith in my Void Ancient Dragon Clan. In my view, you should send news of this Emperor to my Void Ancient Dragon Clan and have them..."

"Cough, cough..."

Huo Xuan coughed, interrupting Zhu Kun. "Senior Zhu Kun, although I do not wish to discourage you, I must tell you this: perhaps in your era, the Void Ancient Dragon Clan truly possessed strength that could not be underestimated, and few powers on the continent dared provoke them. But you have been trapped here for nearly a thousand years. The Ancient Void Dragon Clan is no longer what it was."

Hearing this, Zhu Kun first froze, then asked, "What happened? What has become of my Void Ancient Dragon Clan?"

"As far as I know, after you disappeared, three Void Ancient Dragons with royal bloodlines split the Void Ancient Dragon Clan apart. Ancient Dragon Island has now divided into the Four Great Dragon Islands of east, west, south, and north."

"East Dragon Island is currently controlled by some elders of the Void Ancient Dragon Clan. They still uphold the Dragon Emperor bloodline as the legitimate line and have been searching for news of you. As for the other three Void Ancient Dragons with royal bloodlines, each has occupied an island and proclaimed himself Dragon King."

"Wars break out between the four Dragon Islands year-round. The Void Ancient Dragon Clan's internal strife is severe, and its current strength likely cannot even compare to that of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan."

"Splitting the clan? And they dare call themselves Dragon Kings? What audacity! Once this Emperor gets out, I will slaughter every last one of you!" Zhu Kun said coldly, his eyes filled with frigid killing intent.

He had never imagined that those who had once been utterly respectful toward him would become so bold after his disappearance.

"Enough, Senior Zhu Kun. You cannot get out right now, so what is the use of merely shouting? How about this junior helps you?"

"Help me?"

"Zi Yan is your daughter. You should have a way to improve her strength, right?" Huo Xuan asked.

"Correct!"

"Then let Zi Yan stay behind, and you can help her increase her strength. Meanwhile, I will have our clan leader send people to assist East Dragon Island in suppressing the Void Ancient Dragon Clan's rebellion and help your Ancient Dragon Clan reunify. Once Zi Yan has sufficient strength, she can return to the Void Ancient Dragon Clan and inherit the position of Dragon Emperor. How does that sound?"

"Good! As long as you can help my Void Ancient Dragon Clan reunify, you will be a friend of our Ancient Dragon Clan."

"In that case, I would like to ask Senior Zhu Kun for a favor. When the Hun Clan opens the cave mansion in the future, I hope Senior Zhu Kun can help my Flame Clan eliminate the Hun Clan entirely."

"No problem. I will lend you a hand when the time comes." Zhu Kun agreed without the slightest hesitation.

The news of the Ancient God's Cave Mansion could not be leaked, so Huo Xuan could not remain here for too long. Otherwise, he might arouse Mang Tianchi's suspicions. Therefore, after discussing the plan with Zhu Kun for a while longer, Huo Xuan prepared to leave when Huo Shuo returned with Huo Zhi and Zi Yan.

However, before leaving, Huo Xuan persuaded Zi Yan at length, finally getting her to agree to stay behind and have Zhu Kun help improve her strength.

Outside the Heavenly Flame Training Gas Tower.

"Alas, Yan Yang, why do you think the Young Clan Leader and the others still have not come out? Could something have happened?" Yan Ya was the first to ask.

"Probably not. With Elder Huo Shuo, a Two-Star Dou Sheng, what could possibly go wrong? Let's wait a little longer!"

Just then, the doors of the Heavenly Flame Training Gas Tower slowly opened, and Huo Xuan's group emerged.

Seeing that Huo Xuan and the others had returned safely, Yan Yang and Yan Ya hurried over.

"Young Clan Leader, we have brought what you wanted."

As he spoke, Yan Yang took out an azure-blue flame. The azure flame floated above Yan Yang's palm, looking profoundly mysterious. As it rose, it slowly spread like clear seawater, sending faint ripples outward. A searing heat gradually emanated from it.

The fifteenth-ranked flame on the Heavenly Flame Ranking—Sea Heart Flame!

"Young Clan Leader, following your instructions, this subordinate has killed Han Feng. This is his Heavenly Flame, the Sea Heart Flame."

Huo Xuan took the Sea Heart Flame from Yan Yang's hand and stored it away.

"Young Clan Leader, this subordinate has also completed the task you assigned." As he spoke, Yan Ya took out a Storage Ring.

"Following the Young Clan Leader's orders, this subordinate has emptied the Black Emperor Sect, Demon Flame Valley, and all those large and small sects alike. These are the valuables obtained from looting those sects. Please inspect them, Young Clan Leader." Yan Ya handed the Storage Ring to Huo Xuan.

"Very good."

At the sight, Huo Zhi became dejected once more. Huo Xuan obtaining the Sea Heart Flame meant that his strength would rise by quite a bit again. As the gap between them grew ever wider, Huo Zhi now felt somewhat inferior before Huo Xuan.

"Ah, this girl..."

Seeing Huo Zhi like this, after more than a decade spent together day and night, how could Huo Xuan not know what she was thinking? He took out a Storage Ring and placed it in Huo Zhi's hand.

"Girl, these are pearls I asked Elder Huo Shuo to collect from some high-level Lizardmen. With these, you should be able to break through to Dou Zong within two years."

"Young Clan Leader, this old man will take his leave first," Huo Shuo said.

He had to return as soon as possible to report the matter of the Ancient God Cave Abode to the Clan Leader.

"Elder Huo Shuo, I need to return to the clan as well. Take me with you," Huo Xuan said.

After all, Fallen Heart Flame and Sea Heart Flame were already in hand, as were the other treasures of the Black-Corner Region. There was no point in remaining in the Black-Corner Region any longer.

"Since that is the case, Young Clan Leader, let us go."