Following

Xiao Yi Xian keenly noticed the change in Xiao Jin. When she saw him fall silent, the girl could not help asking, "Xiao Jin, is there something wrong with these things?"

Xiao Jin nodded, then shook his head. Forcing out a smile, he said, "Nothing too serious. There's no need to worry for now."

Soul Heaven Emperor and Nihility Devouring Flame were both severely injured at present. A thousand years ago, Xiao Xuan had detonated three Heavenly Flames, then self-destructed with the cultivation of a Half-Emperor. Even though Soul Heaven Emperor and Nihility Devouring Flame were both Nine-Star Dou Saints, they had still been badly wounded.

The former had spent a thousand years recuperating and still had not recovered.

In the original story, Soul Heaven Emperor only broke through to Dou Emperor when Xiao Yan was thirty-seven. That was still twenty-two years from now.

Even if something changed, Xiao Jin felt he still had at least a decade or more to prepare.

Besides, he would not place his hopes on an Ancient Emperor Clan like the Ancient Clan. For one thing, there were serious divisions among the Ancient Emperor Clans. For another, when he had the ability to grow stronger himself, placing his hopes in others was undoubtedly foolish.

When Xiao Xuan self-destructed and severely injured the Soul Clan a thousand years ago, the Ancient Emperor Clans had not had the nerve to destroy the Soul Clan. They had only dared to strike at the Xiao Tribe after it lost its strongest member.

A thousand years later, there was even less reason to expect them to dare attack the Soul Clan.

Unless they clearly realized that their own interests were about to suffer losses, they would only choose to stand by and watch.

The Ancient Clan could be persuaded, though. Not only did Xiao Jin have his connection with Xun'er, he also possessed some inside information.

For example, Elder Gu Yang, a Five-Star Dou Saint who had been devoured by the Soul Clan a century ago. As long as Gu Yuan discovered this, it would not be difficult to get the Ancient Clan to prepare.

But Xiao Jin also had to make ample preparations before he could expose this secret.

Soul Heaven Emperor was not a good person, but was Gu Yuan a good person either?

It was merely that the original story had not described him much because of their differing positions.

But what kind of benevolent person immediately swallowed up his close friend's assets after that friend's death, then took care of his friend's clan by sending it to a remote border town on the Northwest Continent?

Perhaps Gu Yuan had some conscience, but one should not forget that he was also the patriarch of the Ancient Clan. He had to take responsibility for every word and action on behalf of the Ancient Clan.

Under the pressure of his clan, Gu Yuan might make choices that went against his true intentions.

The best solution was still to continually strengthen his own power.

Only after he possessed enough strength to speak with the Ancient Clan as an equal could he reveal more.

Thinking of this, Xiao Jin relaxed considerably.

As long as he still had time, everything could be discussed.

He pointed at a scroll inside a stone box and said, "This is the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture. It will be very helpful for your Woe Poison Body."

Then he pointed at another scroll. "This is the flying Dou Technique, Purple Cloud Wings. But I don't think you'll have any use for it."

"Why?"

"You're already a Three-Star Dou Ling. With your talent, breaking through to Dou Wang will only take a year or two. You won't need this flying Dou Technique."

"But I want to fly, too." Xiao Yi Xian's eyes were filled with longing. Who would not want to fly?

"Weren't you afraid of heights?" Xiao Jin's expression turned strange. Had this girl not just said she was afraid of heights? Why did she want to fly now?

Knowing she had misspoken, Xiao Yi Xian gave two awkward laughs and changed the subject. "Xiao Jin, why did you say this Dou Technique isn't suitable for me?"

Xiao Jin did not pursue the matter. "Flying Dou Techniques are different from Dou Qi Wings. The latter are wings formed purely from condensed Dou Qi energy, while the former requires two meridians to extend from your body and form wings. Moreover, every time you summon the wings, your clothes will be torn apart. Do you want to fly around outside naked?"

"Scoundrel!" Xiao Yi Xian viciously punched Xiao Jin.

I was only asking. How did that turn into me wanting to fly around naked?

Besides, apart from that one time in the small valley when you accidentally saw me naked, no one else has ever seen my body.

Xiao Jin repeatedly begged for mercy. Although the girl's punches did not hurt at all, he knew that if he did not react now, what he would face next would not be her dainty fists.

He pointed at the final Fragmented Map and was just about to speak when he suddenly looked toward the cave entrance.

"Put everything away first. Leave this Fragmented Map with me." Xiao Jin pointed toward the cave entrance.

Xiao Yi Xian was also a Dou Ling. She quickly put away the two scrolls and focused her attention on the entrance.

Before long, a series of disorderly footsteps rang out. Soon, more than a dozen figures slowly entered from outside the cave.

A familiar voice, carrying a hint of smug mockery, echoed through the stone cavern.

"Xiao Yi Xian, thank you for leading the way. Looks like my luck is pretty good."

"Mu Li?!"

"That's right. It's this young master." Mu Li's figure emerged from the shadows, a mocking smile hanging on his face.

He had originally only sent people to keep a close watch on Xiao Jin and Xiao Yi Xian's movements. He had never expected them to discover such a huge secret.

Fortunately, this place was far from the mercenary camp. Even if he attacked here, no one would know what he had done.

He could kill the man first, then abduct Xiao Yi Xian and bring her back to the Wolf Head Mercenary Group as his personal captive.

Even if those mercenaries searched for them, they could never find this cave.

Xiao Jin grinned. With the perception of his Emperor Realm Soul, how could he possibly have failed to notice that he was being followed?

Mu Li had planned to deal with him in an isolated place. Was Xiao Jin not thinking the same thing?

He had not expected the Young Leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group to be a fool who was strong on the outside but weak within, unable to see through such a simple trick.

Of course, it was also possible that he was simply too confident, believing that even if there was something wrong here, he could resolve everything with his superior strength.

"Hand the things over, Xiao Yi Xian. You should know how I feel about you. As long as you follow me, once I take control of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, I absolutely won't mistreat you!" Mu Li stared at Xiao Yi Xian with an affectionate gaze, and his voice gradually softened.

Xiao Yi Xian's skin broke out in goosebumps.

She showed a look of disgust. "Mu Li, can you shut up? Just hearing your voice makes me feel sick."

A trace of coldness flashed through Mu Li's eyes. He said softly, "It doesn't matter. I'll force you to stay by my side."

Xiao Jin suddenly burst out laughing, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

Mu Li's face turned cold. "Brat, what are you laughing at?"

Xiao Jin repeatedly waved his hands. "Sorry, sorry. I just haven't seen someone this stupid in a long time. I couldn't hold it in."

The corners of Xiao Yi Xian's lips curved upward. Clearly, she agreed with Xiao Jin.

"Xiao Yi Xian, will you do it, or will I?"

"I will. Just thinking about being coveted by someone this disgusting makes me feel that if I can't deal with them personally, I'll probably be unable to sleep for several nights."

Mu Li was somewhat stunned. He vaguely sensed that things were different from what he had expected.

His side had more than a dozen mercenaries. Aside from him, all of them were high-level Dou Zhe, with even the weakest at the Five-Star Dou Zhe level.

There were only two people on the other side. What gave them the right to remain so calm?

PS: Thanks to the user Zhang Yu Xiao Wanzi_bp for the tip. Since it was the first tip this book has received, I'm giving the distinguished reader two extra chapters.

I also thank the readers who are willing to support the story. The author bows in gratitude!

Also, some readers may not click into the author's note in the first chapter, so I'll say it again here. The questions everyone currently has about the plot will all be addressed later. As for any plot holes that remain unfilled, there's nothing I can do, because this book has already been completed. The full story is 1.398 million words and 654 chapters. Some revisions later on cannot be ruled out, but the overall scope will remain within that range.