Guardians of the Dao

Having done this much, he felt it was enough.

If they still died young after all this, then Tianming truly wanted them dead.

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

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

Above the roiling Magma World, Xiao Xuan suddenly appeared. The ever-unchanging Ancient Emperor Cave Abode still stood there.

Beneath the stone gate, Zhu Kun remained where he was. His eyes were faintly red, his pupils layered atop one another, his entire body purple-gold, cold scales covering his frame.

"The aura of an expert?"

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

"Eh? It's you? We met a thousand years ago, brat of the Xiao Clan!

I never expected you to have grown this powerful."

"Yes. A thousand years passed in the blink of an eye. Over those thousand years, too many geniuses have emerged in the Central Plains, each more brilliant than the last."

Zhu Kun snorted indignantly. "Hmph, spare me your sarcastic nonsense.

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 passed through this place while visiting the Northwestern Region and came specially to see you, Senior.

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

Zhu Kun sneered. Shameless. Was this brat treating the Ancient Emperor Cave Abode as his own property?

"Heh...

With your strength, you should be the Xiao Clan's patriarch now.

Instead of collecting the Emperor Jade, you have time to come here.

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

"When the time is right, heaven and earth lend their strength; when fortune fades, even heroes lose their freedom.

In an era where Source Qi has been cut off, who could be confident of breaking through to Dou Emperor?

As for the Ancient Jade, the Xiao Clan has no wish to cut itself off from the Dou Qi Continent or become a rat everyone wants to kill.

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

This time, Zhu Kun was surprised and finally began to take the man before him seriously.

This was not merely some reckless brute with strength. He clearly intended to sit back and reap the fisherman's profit.

And this person actually knew a secret such as Source Qi?

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

A phantom figure stood there, pondering the recent turmoil in the Magma World.

The phantom wore white robes, with snow-white hair and beard. His face was aged, while faint sharpness gleamed in his calm eyes.

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

The Five-Ring Flame Expelling Technique had five levels, distinguished by beast forms: wolf, leopard, lion, tiger, and flood dragon. Each level 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 tremendous power capable of boiling seas and incinerating heaven. If four of the five beasts were condensed from Heavenly Flames, the technique's power could rival a Heavenly Rank Dou Technique.

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

"You... You, sir..."

"Venerable Tianhuo?"

"I would not dare. Please just call me Tianhuo, Senior.

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 revive you. From now on, you will follow me."

Without allowing him any say in the matter, Xiao Xuan directly produced the corpse of a One-Star Dou Saint and a Life-Infusing Bone-Melding Pill. With Yao Tianhuo unable to resist, he directly drove his soul into it.

Half a day later, the corpse came alive. It opened its eyes as the strength of a Seven-Star Dou Zun erupted from its body.

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

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

"I will forever remember Senior's grace in reviving me. I shall diligently carry out all of Senior's orders."

Seeing Xiao Xuan casually take out a Dou Saint corpse, Yao Tianhuo was deeply shaken. The person before him had to be one of the legendary Saints. The chance to cling tightly to such a thigh was right before him, and naturally, he would not let it slip away.

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

This is a sub-flame of the Flame of Life, so do not set your sights on that Fallen Heart Flame.

As for your task, go to Wutan City in the Jia Ma Empire, live in seclusion within the Xiao Clan, and secretly protect them. Do not allow that clan to be destroyed."

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—the true body was still suppressed.)

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

Three Dou Saints, several Half-Saints, and over twenty Dou Zuns immediately stared warily at the figure outside the divine hall.

Among the more than twenty Dou Zuns, several were high-level Dou Zuns, while the rest were merely low- or mid-level Dou Zuns.

Of the three Dou Saints, one was a One-Star Dou Saint and another 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 powers and was the true number one faction.

If the Eight Desolations Divine Hall were to emerge, with the founders of the Dan Tower and Fenyan Valley fallen, and an Eight-Star Dou Saint—Feng Yu, whose Woeful Poison Body had been saved a thousand years ago—presiding over it, then Central Plains' so-called one hall, one tower, one realm—the Great Brightness Realm, established by an elder of the Xiao Clan and passed down for a thousand years—one Tianque—the Tianque established by a Xiao Clan elder and passed down for a thousand years—two sects, three valleys, and Four Pavilions would all be nothing but younger brothers. Not to mention its host of Dou Zuns and several Dou Saints and Half-Saints.

One had to know that any random Dou Zun was an Overlord in the 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 let down his guard. The person before him gave him far too great a sense of danger—a deadly sense of danger.

Facing this man felt like facing the reclusive hall master. His cultivation was at least Nine-Star or above.

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

"Hall Master!"

"Grandmaster!"

Xiao Yao curled his lip. "Free and Easy, At Ease—that 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 these thousand years have not been wasted on you."

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

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

The valley master of your Sound Valley has changed generation after generation.

You did not even properly guide them. After a thousand years, only that girl Luo Tianyin has become a Dou Saint."

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

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

Besides, Sound Valley accepts disciples based on fate. It is unlike this place of yours, where disciples are numerous, the weak are prey to the strong, and only the fittest survive."

Xiao Li looked at him with utter contempt. "You grandmasters truly are irresponsible.

Tianque, the Great Brightness Realm, Sound Valley—having grandmasters like you is their misfortune.

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