Ling Ying Reveals Himself, Plans to Go to War with the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Shan Emerges from Seclusion

As the mask was removed, his excessively young face was revealed.

The figure in black robes stared at the face for a few seconds, then his body trembled uncontrollably. "You are... Young Master Xiao Yan?!"

Xiao Yan smiled and said, "You must be the senior who always protected Xun'er. It's good to finally meet you."

The figure in black robes nodded and said, "Yes, my Ling Ying. Young Master Xiao Yan, you may call me Elder Ling."

Xiao Yan agreed and asked, "Why is Elder Ling here?"

Xiao Yan remembered that Ling Ying had also appeared in the original novel, but only to monitor him and send messages to Xun'er.

With his current Soul Power, Ling Ying couldn't possibly hide, so there's no question of surveillance. Ling Ying's appearance here is somewhat coincidental.

Ling Ying's expression was complicated. "Miss Xun'er asked me to come."

"She knew the Three-Year Agreement was approaching, so she asked me to secretly protect you to prevent the Misty Cloud Sect and the Nalan Family from doing anything despicable after Miss Nalan lost to you."

"My lady specifically instructed me to look for Young Master Xiao Yan Xiao Yan the Alchemist Conference. She guessed that with your alchemy skills, you would definitely participate in this year's Alchemist Conference, and then I would be able to find you."

Ling Ying could not hide her shock. "I never imagined that Young Master Xiao Yan's growth rate would be so fast. In just three years, you have already become Seventh-Rank Alchemist, and you are not even considered a low-grade Seventh-Rank Alchemist. You can even refine the Ice-Fire Energy Gathering Pill!"

"Even if we only consider the quality and quantity of Dou Qi, if he is not Dou Wang who has cultivated a high-level Cultivation Technique, then he has definitely already stepped into the Dou Emperor."

"And just three years ago, Young Master Xiao Yan, you had only just recovered your Heaven-Swallowing Talent."

"Such terrifying alchemy skills and the speed of her strength growth are unparalleled even in ancient times... even with the power behind Miss, and even on the entire continent!"

Ling Ying's sincere praise brought a satisfied smile to Xiao Yan, "Really? Then Elder Ling, you must tell Xun'er all this, so Xun'er understands that I won't keep her waiting too long."

Ling Ying's eyes flickered slightly.

Seventh-Rank Alchemist High-Star Dou Wang at less than 18 years old, not to mention the small Jia Ma Empire in the Northwest Continent, even in the entire Central Plains, and even in the Eight Ancient Clans, no one can compare to him.

Ling Ying couldn't believe that Xiao Yan had achieved so much at such a young age, yet his demeanor showed absolutely no arrogance or conceit.

At most, there was only a slight hint of smugness in his words.

With such Heaven-Swallowing Talent and such a temperament, he felt that Xiao Yan's future was limitless.

"Perhaps, Young Master Xiao Yan can truly grow to a point where even the Ancient Clan take notice."

"It's not impossible for him and Miss Xun'er to be together." This thought arose in Ling Ying's mind.

He snapped out of his daze, gave Xiao Yan a wry smile, and said, "Young Master Xiao Yan, with your current influence as Seventh-Rank Alchemist, my words probably won't be of much use."

"In that case, I will return now and inform Miss Xun'er of all this."

"No." Xiao Yan waved his hand directly. "Elder Ling, your arrival is not without purpose."

"If things go as expected, after the Three-Year Agreement, I will go to war with the Misty Cloud Sect, and I will need your help then."

Ling Ying looked surprised. "Young Master Xiao Yan, your conflict with the Misty Cloud Sect isn't that big, so why are you starting a war?"

Xiao Yan pondered for a moment, then did not hide anything. "Because there is a Soul Hall Protector in the Misty Cloud Sect who came for my Xiao Clan Xiao Clan, attempting to obtain something from us."

"And since I plan to leave the Jia Ma Empire for further training, this Soul Hall Protector will be a major hidden danger."

"Instead of waiting for a rabbit to run into a tree stump, it's better to take the initiative."

"I revealed the Ice-Fire Energy Gathering Pill that I refined, intending it as bait. That Soul Hall Protector definitely couldn't resist the temptation and would send someone to lure me to or invite me to the Misty Cloud Sect to steal my pill."

"That will be the time for war."

Ling Ying looked surprised after hearing Xiao Yan's words, but quickly accepted it. "The Soul Hall... that is indeed very possible."

Ling Ying did not question the source of Xiao Yan's information. It would be impossible for Xiao Yan to have grown to this level in three years without a master behind him.

This information was most likely revealed by his mentor.

As for the item the Soul Hall wants to obtain from the Xiao Clan...

Ling Ying lowered her head somewhat guiltily, deliberately ignoring it, and said, "Young Master Xiao Yan, the strength of the Soul Hall Protector varies greatly. Human-Grade Protector are one to Three-Star Dou Zong, Earth-Grade Protector are four to Six-Star Dou Zong, and Heaven-Grade Protector are seven-star to Peak Dou Zong."

With my peak Dou Emperor strength, I can't even handle the lowest-ranking Human-Grade Protector; I can only help restrain them.

So, does Young Master Xiao Yan have any other helpers?

Xiao Yan nodded. "Of course."

"The Queen Medusa of the desert, with the help of my Heavenly Flames, successfully evolved from the peak of Dou Emperor and now has the cultivation of Four-Star Dou Zong, which is enough to deal with that Soul Hall Protector."

"Elder Ling, that desert isn't close to the Jia Ma Empire. Why don't you go there at full speed and send a message to Queen Medusa? It would save me a lot of trouble."

Xiao Yan gave the order; he originally intended to delegate this task to Hai Bodong.

Now that Ling Ying is here, it's best not to trouble Hai Bodong, otherwise, given Hai Bodong's fear of Medusa...

A person that big probably wouldn't pee.

"Young Master Xiao Yan, you can rest assured and leave it to me," Ling Ying replied.

"Thank you very much. After Elder Ling Queen Medusa arrive, please come to the Mittel Family. I will be waiting for you here then," Xiao Yan said.

"Yes, then I'll take my leave." Ling Ying said, and then disappeared.

After confirming that Ling Ying had left, Xiao Yan stretched wearily and headed towards his bedroom.

After a busy day, I'm really quite tired.

Tomorrow is the final round of the conference, so he needs to rest and recuperate.

He went into the room, lay down on the bed, and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

The Yao Lao's Soul Body floated out of the ring, covered Xiao Yan with the bedding, and murmured, "No wonder he pushed himself so hard to grow; it was because of that Soul Hall Protector."

"Yan'er, you're too tired."

The next day.

Xiao Yan got out of bed feeling refreshed, and after a quick wash, he went outside to the courtyard.

Just like yesterday, Hai Bodong, Mittel Teng Shan, and Ya Fei were waiting for him to leave in advance, and had prepared a carriage.

"Elder Hai, Senior Teng Shan, Ya Fei."

"Young friend," "Master Yan Xiao," "Master Yan Xiao Owl"

The two greeted each other and then boarded the carriage, just like yesterday.

The only slight difference is that

Today, as soon as Xiao Yan boarded the carriage, Mittel Teng Shan suddenly spoke up, "Master Yan Xiao, you returned early yesterday and may not know that just last night, the former sect leader of the Misty Cloud Sect emerged from seclusion and broke through to the Dou Zong level."

"Furthermore, they announced that they would be attending today's Alchemist Conference."

"I suspect he's very likely... here for you."