The Time Has Come, Visitors from the Ancient Clan

Black-Corner Region, Yan City.

As the de facto birthplace of the Tian Shu Alliance, Yan City has become a place of pilgrimage for many people and a destination for many powerful individuals as the Tian Shu Alliance has grown stronger.

Xiao Yan no longer wore a mask. As he walked down the street, all eyes gradually fell on him.

"Is that Master Yan Xiao?"

"Yan Xiao? You're so out of touch! Yan Xiao is just a pseudonym for the master. His real name is Xiao Yan!"

"Xiao Yan? Never heard of him before, what's going on?"

"Look at Master Xiao Yan's face, is he young?"

"Young! He looks no more than 20 years old. Does the master like young faces?"

"Heh, that's because Master Xiao Yan is that age!"

"What a joke! Eighth-Rank Alchemist who's not even twenty years old? Even if you're going to lie to me, at least make your story make sense."

"Tch, believe it or not."

The sounds, like children Dou Qi, came from the mouths of two Dou Zong powerhouses on the street.

Xiao Yan remained expressionless and strode towards the Small Courtyard in the center of Yan City.

He had expected his real age to be revealed.

It should be said that this was something he intentionally pushed forward.

Otherwise, within the territory of the Northwest Continent, if he didn't want to, no one could find out his true identity.

Born in the remote Jia Ma Empire, and residing in a remote city within that empire, the strongest member of their family was merely Da Dou Shi.

It was in this environment that he achieved the cultivation level of Dou Venerate and became Eighth-Rank Alchemist at the age of less than 20.

The sensation this news caused in the Northwest Continent was unimaginable.

Anyone with eyes can see just how much potential he has.

Because of this potential, many major powers have changed their strategies for dealing with the Tian Shu Alliance.

What does it matter if I'm inferior to such a promising Chief?

It seems there's no benefit to revealing one's age.

In reality, this can indeed change other people's attitudes toward the Tian Shu Alliance, turning them from resistance to 'it seems that submission is not out of the question'.

Currently, there are already Dou Venerate forces equivalent to the Lion Underworld Sect who are willing to actively join the Tian Shu Alliance.

Demonstrating sufficient potential can indeed subtly change the course of many things.

"The Alliance is developing faster and faster. It seems that unifying the entire Northwest Continent will be a matter of time within this year," Xiao Yan thought to himself, his mood becoming more cheerful.

The Tian Shu Alliance grew stronger, and the speed at which it collected resources for him also increased significantly.

The collection speed for fire-attribute Heavenly Treasures and Earthly Riches, magical beast blood essence, and Seventh-Rank Beast Flame- and Eighth-Rank Beast Flame has increased significantly.

In addition, thanks to the terrifyingly wide reach of the Tian Shu Alliance, the Tian Shu Alliance's speed in gathering information far surpasses that of other forces.

In the past few months, he has gathered information about two Heavenly Flames.

One of them was Mysterious Yellow Flame he had already fused with, seemingly located in some mountain range.

One of them was the first Heavenly Flames he fused with, the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, which existed in a large gathering place of magical beasts.

He had lost much interest in these two strange Heavenly Flames, which were ranked near the bottom of the Heavenly Flame Ranking.

There were only a few reasons why he chose to absorb the Heavenly Flames.

To enhance one's cultivation level by harnessing the energy of Heavenly Flames.

He never possessed this Heavenly Flames, so this could satisfy his collecting habit.

The properties of the Heavenly Flames are quite good; after absorption, it can be used to awaken a unique Heaven-Swallowing Talent.

However, the Mysterious Yellow Flame and the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame clearly do not meet his three conditions.

The energy of the two Heavenly Flames was too low, and he was already at the Dou Venerate level. The improvement brought by the two flames was negligible, even less than that of a Seventh-Rank Beast Flame.

If he had a collecting obsession, he had already absorbed these two flames, and the Fire Spirit around him had already developed rudimentary consciousness.

Using it to awaken Heaven-Swallowing Talent is utter nonsense. He has yet to discover the characteristics of the Mysterious Yellow Flame, while the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame was the first flame he used to awaken his Heaven-Swallowing Talent.

In short, as his strength increased, Xiao Yan gradually realized that those ranked lower-level Heavenly Flames were indeed of little help to him.

He began to understand from the bottom of his heart why those powerful individuals looked down on the lower-ranked Heavenly Flames.

However, despite his understanding, Xiao Yan still held the Heavenly Flames in the deepest respect.

With so many powerful warriors under his command, there's bound to be a need to use them.

Like Gu He, who has been yearning for Heavenly Flames for who knows how long.

He even asked Gu He if he would like to absorb an Eighth-Rank Beast Flame, but Gu He refused outright.

He has already sent people to retrieve these two Heavenly Flames, and if they are successfully obtained, he wouldn't mind bestowing one of them upon Gu He.

Gu He was truly hardworking and dedicated, refining medicine for the Alliance completely free of charge, which greatly helped the Tian Shu Alliance accelerate its development. His contributions were indispensable.

Unlike other Alchemist, Alchemist are required to pay a fee even after joining the Alliance.

In Gu He's own words, "I have learned so much from you, Alliance Leader, and I owe you so much. Being able to refine medicine for the Alliance for free, repaying some of your kindness, will put my mind at ease."

Since Gu He was so sensible, he was naturally willing to reward him frequently.

In fact, if he weren't currently preoccupied with important matters, he wouldn't mind personally acquiring those two Heavenly Flames as quickly as possible.

As for what important matter it is?

Xiao Yan could only say that the time had come for Gu Yuan to deliver the Dou Saint Skeleton and the Ninth-Rank Magical Beast Blood Essence, as promised in six months.

Jia Nan Academy.

Inner Academy.

Xiao Xun'er sat upright on a stone bench in the Small Courtyard.

Thump thump thump...

There was a knock on the courtyard gate, and then Xiao Yan pushed it open and walked in.

"Brother Xiao Yan." Xiao Xun'er instantly broke into a bright smile.

"Xun'er." Xiao Yan stepped forward, his eyes gentle.

"Brother Xiao Yan, are you waiting here again?" Xiao Xun'er asked.

Xiao Yan sat down next to Xiao Xun'er and nodded, saying, "Yes, Uncle promised. He'll deliver the promised things in two or three months, or at most half a year."

"It's been half a year now, and it still hasn't arrived. It's understandable that we're getting a little anxious."

Xiao Xun'er nodded understandingly and comforted him, "Brother Xiao Yan, the Dou Saint Skeleton and the Ninth-Rank Magical Beast Blood Essence are extraordinary. Father will probably need to discuss this with the elders, which may take some time."

"Since Father has already agreed, he naturally won't break his promise. Let's wait a little longer."

Xiao Yan smiled but didn't reply.

Will Gu Yuan breach the contract?

If they truly wouldn't breach the contract, then back when their ancestor Xiao Xuan failed to break through to the Dou Emperor, he entrusted Gu Yuan with taking care of the Xiao Clan. There's no way they would have been reduced to a level where their strongest member was only Da Dou Shi.

Perhaps Gu Yuan wasn't as bad as the Hun Tiandi, but Xiao Yan still found it hard to fully trust his character.

However, circumstances were beyond his control. He was ultimately just a minor Dou Venerate and Eighth-Rank Alchemist, nothing in the face of the Ancient Clan. He had no choice but to wait.

Suddenly, at that moment, Xiao Yan sensed an extremely faint spatial fluctuation above Jia Nan Academy.