Dao Protector

Having done this much, he felt it was enough.

If they still died young after all this, then it truly meant Tianming was doomed.

"You should head back first. I still have some matters to handle and may return later."

Watching Xiao Xuan's figure disappear, the others could only return to the Xiao Realm.

Above the churning Magma World, Xiao Xuan suddenly appeared. The eternally unchanged Ancient Emperor Cave Abode still stood there.

Beneath the stone gate, Zhu Kun remained where he was—his eyes faintly red, his pupils layered, his entire body purple-gold and covered in cold scales.

"The aura of an expert?"

His enormous eyes opened, and a voice like rolling thunder rang out.

"Hm? It's you? We met a thousand years ago—the boy from the Xiao Clan!

I never expected you to grow this strong."

"Yes. A thousand years pass in the blink of an eye. Over the past millennium, Central Plains has produced far too many geniuses. It has been a splendid era."

Zhu Kun snorted indignantly. "Hmph, spare me the sarcastic remarks.

What are you doing here? Don't tell me you've already gathered all the Ancient Jade needed to open the cave abode?"

"I have not. I merely came to the Northwestern Region and happened to pass by, so I specially came to see you, Senior.

Seeing that you and this cave abode are both unharmed puts this junior at ease."

Zhu Kun scoffed. Shameless. Was he already treating the Ancient Emperor Cave Abode as his own?

"Heh...

With your strength, you should be the Xiao Clan Patriarch now.

Rather than gathering Emperor Jade, you have time to come here.

It seems you are quite confident about breaking through to Dou Emperor."

"When the time is right, Heaven and Earth lend their strength; when fortune departs, even heroes are helpless.

In an era where Source Qi has been severed, who can be confident of breaking through to Dou Emperor?

As for the Ancient Jade, the Xiao Clan does not wish to cut itself off from the Dou Qi Continent or become a rat crossing the street.

There are plenty of ambitious schemers. It is not my turn to risk universal condemnation."

This time, Zhu Kun was the one taken aback. He finally began to take the man before him seriously.

He was not merely a brute with strength. Clearly, he intended to reap the rewards after others fought.

And this man even knew a secret such as Source Qi?

After conversing with Zhu Kun for a while, Xiao Xuan arrived at another area of the Magma World.

A phantom stood there, pondering the recent upheaval within the Magma World.

The phantom wore white robes, with snow-white hair and beard. His face was aged, yet a faint sharp glint flickered within his calm eyes.

Yao Tianhuo, also known as Venerable Tianhuo. A mere Five-Star Dou Zun, he had once created the Earth Tier High-Level Dou Technique, the Five-Ring Flame Expelling Technique.

The Five-Ring Flame Expelling Technique had five stages, distinguished by beast forms: wolf, leopard, lion, tiger, and flood dragon. Each stage possessed its own Fire Spirit. Once the technique was mastered and all five beasts gathered, they could form the Five-Ring Flame Expelling Formation, wielding the tremendous power to boil seas and incinerate the heavens. If four of the five beasts were condensed from Heavenly Flames, the technique's power would rival a Heavenly Rank Dou Technique.

It had to be said, he was an undeniable genius.

"You... you..."

"Venerable Tianhuo?"

"I would not dare. I would not dare. Senior may simply call me Tianhuo.

May I ask who you are, Senior?"

"The Five-Ring Flame Expelling Technique, the Heavenly Capital Fire Seal—your comprehension is not bad.

As for who I am, you do not need to know for now.

I will refine a body for you and help you revive. From now on, you will follow me."

Without another word, he directly took out the corpse of a One-Star Dou Saint and a Life-Infusing Bone-Melding Pill. Before Yao Tianhuo could resist, he forced his soul into the corpse.

Half a day later, the corpse came to life. It opened its eyes, and Seven-Star Dou Zun strength erupted from its body.

"Not bad. It is, after all, the corpse of a Dou Saint expert.

Seven-Star Dou Zun is only your temporary cultivation. Once you completely make this body your own, you will at least reach Peak Dou Zun."

"I will forever remember Senior's grace in reviving me. I shall certainly serve diligently and fulfill all of Senior's instructions."

Xiao Xuan had casually produced the corpse of a Dou Saint, leaving Yao Tianhuo deeply shaken. The person before him had to be a legendary Saint. The chance to cling to such a powerful patron was right before him, and naturally, he would not miss it.

"I took Fallen Heart Flame away a thousand years ago. The Heavenly Flame here is merely another newly born flame.

This is a sub-flame of the Flame of Life. Do not set your sights on this Fallen Heart Flame.

As for your task, go into seclusion in the Xiao Clan of Wutan City, Jia Ma Empire. Protect them in secret and ensure that this clan does not perish."

Upon hearing this, Yao Tianhuo immediately said with utmost respect, "Yes, Senior!"

Within the Eight Desolations Divine Realm, outside the Eight Desolations Divine Hall, Xiao Xuan suddenly crossed the barrier of the secret realm and appeared there. (Xiao Yao—his true body was still being suppressed.)

"Who goes there? How dare you trespass into the Eight Desolations Divine Realm?"

Three Dou Saints, several Half-Saints, and roughly twenty Venerables immediately watched the figure outside the divine hall with vigilance.

Among those twenty or so Venerables, several were high-level Dou Zuns, while the rest were merely low- to mid-level Dou Zuns.

Of the three Dou Saints, one was a One-Star Dou Saint and one was a Two-Star Dou Saint.

The leader was even an Eight-Star Dou Saint. Such strength had been accumulated over a thousand years.

The Eight Desolations Divine Hall stood above all Central Plains and was the true number one faction.

If the Eight Desolations Divine Hall emerged, then with the founders of Dan Tower and Fenyan Valley having fallen, an Eight-Star Dou Saint—Feng Yu, the Woeful Poison Body saved a thousand years ago—presiding over it, what were the so-called one hall, one tower, one realm—the Great Brightness Realm founded by an elder of the Xiao Clan and passed down for a thousand years—one Tianque—the Tianque founded by an elder of the Xiao Clan and passed down for a thousand years—two sects, three valleys, and Four Pavilions? They were all beneath it. Not to mention its group of Dou Zuns and several Dou Saints and Half-Saints.

One had to know that any Dou Zun could dominate a region in Central Plains.

"Feng Yu? I have heard of you. Not bad—an Eight-Star Dou Saint!"

"May I ask who you are, Senior?"

Feng Yu did not dare lower his guard. The threat posed by the person before him was far too great—a fatal threat.

Facing him felt like facing the reclusive Hall Master. He was at least a Nine-Star Dou Saint.

"Haha, you old fellow, what brought you to my Eight Desolations Divine Hall?"

"Hall Master!"

"Founder!"

Xiao Yao curled his lip. "Free and Easy is my very nature.

I truly have not paid much attention to the Eight Desolations Divine Hall. I never expected you to develop it to this extent.

It seems your thousand years have not been wasted."

Xiao Li mocked him, "Old fellow, do you think everyone is like you?

After founding Sound Valley, you immediately became a hands-off manager and ignored everything.

The Valley Master of your Sound Valley has changed again and again.

You never properly guided them. After a thousand years, only that girl Luo Tianyin has become a Dou Saint."

"Those before plant the trees; those after enjoy the shade. Founding Sound Valley was merely a whim.

As for disciples, the cultivation techniques are there, and they must fight for resources themselves. How far they can go is their own business and has nothing to do with me.

Moreover, Sound Valley accepts disciples based on fate. Unlike your place, which has countless disciples competing in a ruthless struggle where the superior survive and the inferior are eliminated."

Xiao Li looked at him with utter disdain. "You founders truly are irresponsible.

Tianque, the Great Brightness Realm, Sound Valley—it is their misfortune to have founders like you.

Still, whether it is the Great Brightness Realm or Tianque, their two founders were even worse. Aside from establishing them in the beginning, they never showed themselves again to manage anything."