Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on a boulder at the back of the Xiao Clan grounds, his eyes closed as he cultivated.
Dou Qi flowed through the meridians in Xiao Yan's body, again and again. He had no idea how much time passed before he finally opened his eyes.
A system panel suddenly appeared in Xiao Yan's mind.
[System Quest: Help Xiao Yan obtain the Green Lotus Core Flame.] [Quest completion reward: a random reward.]
Xiao Yan looked at the panel, his heart stirring. The Green Lotus Core Flame was ranked nineteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. Born in the magma deep beneath the earth, it took the shape of a green lotus. It was a real treasure.
With a Heavenly Flame, an alchemist could greatly improve both the success rate and quality of their pills. And the flame itself was far more powerful than ordinary Dou Qi.
Xiao Yan gathered his thoughts and murmured to himself, "Accepted."
He stood up and brushed the dust off his clothes.
If he was going to find the Green Lotus Core Flame, he would have to leave the Xiao Clan for a while. He should tell his father first.
At Xiao Zhan's residence, Xiao Yan pushed open the door and walked in.
Xiao Zhan was sitting in a chair, drinking tea. When he saw Xiao Yan enter, a smile appeared on his face.
"Yan'er, what brings you here?"
"Father, I want to go out and train for a while," Xiao Yan said.
Xiao Zhan paused. "Where to?"
"I haven't decided yet," Xiao Yan said.
Xiao Zhan fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "Go ahead. Be careful on the road."
"I will," Xiao Yan said.
"When will you be back?" Xiao Zhan asked.
"I'm not sure," Xiao Yan said. "I'll come back once I've taken care of things."
Xiao Zhan rose and walked over to Xiao Yan, then patted him on the shoulder.
"Be careful out there. Don't push yourself if you run into danger."
Xiao Yan nodded.
Xiao Zhan said nothing more. He knew Xiao Yan had grown up and had his own path to follow. A training journey would do him good.
"Father, I'm off," Xiao Yan said.
"Go on," Xiao Zhan replied.
Xiao Yan left the Xiao Clan gates and followed the street toward the city exit.
As he reached the city gate, a voice called out behind him.
"Young Master Xiao Yan."
Xiao Yan stopped and turned around.
Ya Fei stepped down from a carriage, dressed in a red gown.
"Miss Ya Fei," Xiao Yan said.
Ya Fei walked up to him and looked at him. "Young Master Xiao Yan, are you leaving the city?"
"Yeah. I'm going out to train for a while," Xiao Yan said.
Ya Fei nodded. "Then the Xiao Clan..."
"While I'm gone, sorry for the trouble, Miss Ya Fei. Please keep an eye on them," Xiao Yan said.
Ya Fei smiled. "Rest assured, Young Master Xiao Yan. The Miteer Auction House will do everything it can to protect the Xiao Clan. We won't let anyone from the Misty Cloud Sect harass them."
Xiao Yan looked at Ya Fei. "Thank you."
"Think nothing of it, Young Master Xiao Yan," Ya Fei said. "Have a safe journey."
Xiao Yan nodded, turned, and left.
Ya Fei stood by the city gate, watching Xiao Yan's figure gradually disappear into the distance.
Ya Fei had no idea where Xiao Yan was going, but she knew that when he returned, he would be stronger.
Xiao Yan left Wutan City and activated the Dou Qi in his body.
Dou Qi Wings unfurled behind him. He pushed off with his toes and shot into the sky.
Xiao Yan flew in the direction of Desert Rock City.
His elder brother Xiao Ding and second brother Xiao Li were in Desert Rock City, along with Qing Lin, the girl with Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.
Xiao Yan flew through the air, the wind howling in his ears.
A four-star Dou Wang could fly very fast. It wouldn't take long to reach Desert Rock City.
In the main hall of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Leng sat in a chair, his face dark.
A disciple knelt on the ground with his head bowed, afraid to speak.
"What did you say?" Yun Leng's voice was low.
"First Elder, the Third Elder and several senior disciples are all dead," the disciple said.
Yun Leng clenched his fists. "Every last one of them?"
"Yes," the disciple replied. "There were no survivors."
Yun Leng took a deep breath, suppressing the fury in his heart.
The Fourth Elder was dead, the Third Elder was dead, and five core disciples at the Dou Ling level had been lost as well.
Xiao Yan, a boy in his teens, had killed two elders of the Misty Cloud Sect one after another.
"Did the Xiao Clan do this?" Yun Leng asked.
"It was Xiao Yan alone," the disciple said.
Yun Leng's expression darkened further. One man had killed the Third Elder and five Dou Lings. Just how strong was Xiao Yan?
"Does the Sect Master know?" Yun Leng asked.
"Not yet," the disciple said. "I came to report to the First Elder first."
Yun Leng nodded.
"First Elder, what should we do now?" the disciple asked.
"I have a plan," Yun Leng said. "Where is Xiao Yan now?"
"According to our reports, Xiao Yan has already left Wutan City," the disciple said. "He said he was going out to train."
A glint of cold light flashed in Yun Leng's eyes. "Going out to train?"
"Yes," the disciple said. "We don't know exactly where he went."
"Investigate," Yun Leng ordered. "Find out exactly where he went, whom he met, and what he did. I want every detail."
The disciple nodded emphatically. "Yes."
"Report to me the moment you find Xiao Yan's whereabouts," Yun Leng said. "I want to kill him with my own hands."
The disciple answered and turned to leave.
Yun Leng sat in his chair, his face frighteningly dark.
Xiao Yan, you can't escape. You killed people from the Misty Cloud Sect and still think you can live? Dream on. Even if you flee to the ends of the earth, I'll find you.
Yun Leng muttered to himself.
At the back of the Misty Cloud Sect grounds, Nalan Yanran stood beneath a tree, gazing at the distant peaks.
A maid walked up behind her.
"Miss."
Nalan Yanran turned around. "What is it?"
"The Third Elder and those senior disciples..." The maid hesitated.
"What about them?" Nalan Yanran asked.
"They're all dead," the maid said. "Xiao Yan killed them."
Nalan Yanran's expression changed. "What did you say?"
"The Third Elder and all the senior disciples died at the Xiao Clan," the maid said. "There were no survivors."
Nalan Yanran stood there for a long time without speaking.
The Third Elder was a Dou Wang expert and had taken five Dou Lings with him. How could a force like that have been wiped out? Just how strong was Xiao Yan?
"Are you sure?" Nalan Yanran asked.
"I'm sure," the maid replied. "The First Elder already knows."
Nalan Yanran gritted her teeth.
Nalan Yanran had thought Xiao Yan was as good as dead once the Third Elder went after him. But what happened? The Third Elder was dead, and Xiao Yan was still alive.
Once again, Xiao Yan had disappointed her.
"What did the First Elder say?" Nalan Yanran asked.
"The First Elder sent people to investigate Xiao Yan's whereabouts," the maid said. "He said he would kill him with his own hands."
Nalan Yanran nodded and said nothing more.
Seeing this, the maid turned and withdrew.
Nalan Yanran stood beneath the tree, unable to make sense of the feeling in her heart.
Nalan Yanran hated Xiao Yan to the bone, but she had to admit that he really was strong—far stronger than she had imagined.
But Nalan Yanran didn't believe Xiao Yan could keep acting with such impunity.
The Misty Cloud Sect still had the First Elder, the Sect Master, and so many other experts. How could Xiao Yan, all by himself, fight the entire Misty Cloud Sect?
Nalan Yanran gathered her thoughts, turned, and left.
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