Urgent Gloom, Breaking Through to Dou King!

Moonlight flowed like water, gently cascading over Yun Yun's shoulders.

It draped her in a dreamy veil of gauze.

All around was silent, save for the occasional faint ripples on the lake, breaking the night's stillness.

Yun Yun slowly lifted her head, her gaze falling on Xiao Yan, admiration flickering in her eyes:

"I never imagined you'd grow this fast."

How long had it been since their parting in the Monster Beast Mountain Range?

When they first met, he was only at the peak of Da Dou Shi.

And now, even nine Dou Kings joining forces before him were nothing but chickens and dogs.

A genius like this—she might only witness once in her lifetime.

Her fingertips lightly traced the flowing cloud patterns on the inner side of the gilded ring:

"This is the reward I promised back in the Monster Beast Mountain Range."

Her voice was soft, melting into the moonlight. As she finished speaking:

Her jade fingers flicked lightly, and the ring arced across the night sky, shimmering with silver light against the darkness.

It landed steadily in Xiao Yan's palm.

Xiao Yan caught it, rubbing his thumb over the slightly raised lotus relief on the ring.

His thoughts drifted slightly, Strange Fire flickering in his pupils like burning flames.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at Yun Yun:

"Sect Master Yun, did you come all this way just for this?"

With that, he tossed the ring toward the moonlight, then caught it steadily with his hand.

His eyes simply rested on Yun Yun.

There was a probing look in them, waiting for her answer.

Yun Yun suddenly turned around, her back to Xiao Yan, her body trembling faintly.

A fierce struggle raged within her. After hesitating for a moment, she finally spoke softly:

"My master once learned about you from me."

Her voice was light, yet it struck Xiao Yan's heart like a heavy hammer, stirring a thousand waves.

"Though I don't know what he plans to do with you, still—be careful."

Yun Yun's words carried concern.

Her master had always been detached from worldly affairs, yet now he emerged from seclusion just to inquire about a single youth.

This unsettled Yun Yun.

Xiao Yan's pupils contracted sharply, chaotic thoughts surging through his mind like a tide.

Yun Yun's master—Yun Shan!

He was just a youth from a minor clan; Yun Shan had no use for him.

That could only mean it was about the people behind him—but the one behind Yun Shan was the Soul Hall!

Perhaps his abnormally rapid cultivation progress had finally caught the Soul Hall's attention.

After all, his strength had shot up far too fast.

Even the Dou Di Bloodline of the Eight Ancient Clans wasn't this absurd!

Time suddenly felt pressing. This was the first time since Xiao Yan had awakened his panel.

That he felt such intense tension:

Yun Shan and that minor ant from the Soul Hall behind him—they couldn't do much to him.

With his own abilities and trump cards, he might even be able to parry for a while.

Add in the Emperor Tier technique Ghost Possession, and he could even turn the tables.

But the vast Xiao Family didn't have his strength.

The Xiao Family was filled with the old, weak, women, and children—there was no way to evacuate them in a short time.

If the Soul Hall made a move, the consequences would be unthinkable.

He urgently needed strength now—strength to break the deadlock!

But unfortunately, his fusion with the panel was only at 1%, and no matter what, it wouldn't advance.

It was as if this very world refused to allow such a monster to exist!

If he had 100% fusion, he'd already have Hun Tiandi by the throat.

And asked him if he wanted some beef!

Xiao Yan took a deep breath, steadying himself.

He turned his palm to reveal a jade bottle, looking at Yun Yun.

"Thank you for the reminder, Sect Master Yun."

His voice was steady and forceful, carrying a trace of gratitude.

"A small token of thanks—this pill is called—"

"No need."

"Just be careful."

Yun Yun cut him off abruptly, her sword qi shattering the lake's reflection.

"Take care."

Her form flickered, then vanished on the spot.

A cyan battle qi wing tore through the night, stirring a faint breeze.

Only a wisp of lotus fragrance lingered between Xiao Yan's fingers.

Xiao Yan turned, and a crimson flame streaked across the sky toward where he'd come.

"Elder Hai, take Xiao Yi Xian back to Desert City first."

As for himself, he turned and flew deep into the desert!

Deep in the desert, inside a secluded cave.

The Green Lotus Core Flame condensed into a Wandering Dragon atop the Heavy Black Ruler.

The dragon was lifelike, radiating scorching heat, as if it might soar into the sky at any moment.

Xiao Yan pressed both palms against the cave walls, and the Kirin Devouring Heaven Flame spread through the stone cracks.

"Sss! Sss! Sss!"

Like agile fire serpents, it quickly melted the entire mountain into a Red Crystal Furnace.

Under the intense heat, the rock liquefied, and the whole cave glowed red.

Old Yao's phantom appeared beside Xiao Yan, his hands swiftly forming seals.

A Forest White Flame surged out, forming a blazing barrier.

"Focus your mind!"

Old Yao shouted, his voice echoing through the cave.

Xiao Yan tilted his head back and swallowed the Flame Devouring Spirit Pill.

The moment the pill entered his body, its surging medicinal power instantly merged with his inner energy.

In an instant, it flooded his limbs and bones!

As the medicinal power entered his body, the essence of the Green Lotus Core Flame was drawn forth.

Xiao Yan only felt a scorching force rush from his Dantian like a raging torrent into his body!

His body trembled slightly, and a hundred-zhang Kirin Phantom materialized behind him.

"ROAR!!!"

The Kirin roared to the heavens, shaking the wilderness!

A green lotus bloomed within his meridians, each petal inscribed with the ancient script of the Kirin Sky Burning Art.

Those characters glimmered faintly, resonating with the Strange Fire.

Continuously reshaping Xiao Yan's meridians.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Magma erupted from the earth's veins, carrying boundless heat and power.

It condensed into an inverted Fire Rain Star River on the cave ceiling—a spectacular sight.

Xiao Yan gritted his teeth, pushing the cultivation method to its limit, sweat soaking his clothes.

It wasn't that absorbing the Strange Fire posed any difficulty for him.

It was just that his cultivation was rising too fast—he could barely keep up.

Dou Ling Nine Stars...

Dou Wang One Star...

Dou Wang Two Stars...

"Crack!"

The barrier of the Earth Tier Intermediate Cultivation Method shattered on the eighth circulation cycle.

The method advanced—Earth Tier Advanced Cultivation Method!

A surge of immense power erupted from within Xiao Yan.

Golden-red Flowing Fire shot from his seven orifices, the tips of his hair igniting without a single strand burning, as if he were a Kirin reborn from the flames!

Old Yao watched the lotus mark on the youth's brow.

A smile tugged at his lips, his eyes brimming with satisfaction.

A cultivation base of Dou Wang Two Stars, a technique at Earth Rank High Level.

This was the true, peerless prodigy!

A streak of crimson-gold Flowing Fire streaked across the sky.

When Xiao Yan stepped into Stone Desert City bathed in the morning light, sunlight spilled over him.

Gilding him in a layer of golden radiance.

But the moment he entered the city, he sensed something amiss in the air.

The chill radiating from Hai Bodong's Ice Wings swept through all of Stone Desert City.

Plunging this already scorching town into what felt like the dead of winter.

Xiao Yan furrowed his brow and strode quickly toward the Desert Iron Mercenary Group's headquarters.

The moment he stepped into the main hall, he saw:

Xiao Yi Xian clutching a torn sleeve, biting her lower lip, her face pale.

A violet glint flickered in her pupils, and the instant she spotted Xiao Yan, she spoke urgently:

"Yesterday afternoon, Qing Lin went out of the city with the Herb Gathering Team to search for medicine."

Her voice trembled slightly, betraying her deep worry:

"But there's been no word since."

"The mercenary group sent people to look for them."

"But all that came back were the mangled limbs of the herb gatherers."

The moment she finished, a terrifying pressure erupted from Xiao Yan's body.

Sweeping outward like a crashing wave:

"I really didn't expect this."

"Even after showing that much strength, there are still people rushing to their deaths!?"