Xiao Alliance

The battle of Dou Saints in Salt City swept across the entire Northwest Continent like a storm in an incredibly short time, shocking countless people while also filling them with worry.

This was especially true for major powers such as the Heavenly Snake Manor and Thunderclap Sect. As the Xiao Family's Xiao Alliance took control of the Jia Ma Empire, they did not even need to guess to know that the Xiao Alliance's next objective would certainly be to unify the Northwest Continent.

Against a legendary Dou Saint, they did not even have the right to resist!

Therefore, sects and clans like the Heavenly Snake Manor and Thunderclap Sect, which possessed Dou Venerates and could be considered first-rate powers even on the Dou Qi Continent, either chose to leave the Northwest Continent rather than see the forces they had built over centuries vanish into nothingness, or rapidly unified the surrounding regions. They hoped to strengthen themselves before joining the Xiao Alliance, thereby gaining greater autonomy and a stronger voice.

For a time, before the Xiao Alliance had even taken complete control of the Jia Ma Empire, the entire Northwest Continent had already descended into chaos.

Jia Ma Empire

The Misty Cloud Sect was the most powerful force in the Jia Ma Empire. Through uninterrupted inheritance generation after generation, this ancient sect had stood at the pinnacle of the Jia Ma Empire. Were it not for the sect rules forbidding them from seizing imperial authority, the Misty Cloud Sect would likely have completely taken control of the Jia Ma Empire during several previous changes of dynasty.

For this very reason, every generation of the Imperial Family had been extremely wary of this colossal entity so close at hand. By the time of the current Jia Ma Imperial Family, however, they finally possessed strength that even the Misty Cloud Sect somewhat feared, thanks to the guardian Jia Xingtian and the protection of that mysterious magical beast.

Thus, the battle-hardened elite legion stationed by the Jia Ma Imperial Family at the foot of Misty Cloud Mountain had remained peacefully in place all these years.

The Imperial Family had stationed that legion there for many years, and nearly everyone understood its purpose: they were guarding against the Misty Cloud Sect. The Misty Cloud Sect had not reacted too intensely to this move. Aside from a few young disciples causing occasional trouble in the military camp at the beginning, the sect's higher-ups had remained silent.

They understood as well that no one could tolerate another sleeping beside their bed. Imperial households were full of suspicion, and they had long grown accustomed to it. So long as the Misty Cloud Sect remained standing, the legion at the foot of the mountain would never dare make the slightest move.

No dynasty of the Jia Ma Empire had ever dared to truly attack the Misty Cloud Sect, because they all knew clearly that poking this enormous hornet's nest could turn the heavens upside down. The Misty Cloud Sect was built upon Misty Cloud Mountain, which was only a few dozen li from the imperial capital.

The two stood extremely close to one another, like two colossal beasts confronting each other.

The Xiao Alliance established by the Xiao Family only needed the Misty Cloud Sect to submit before it could unify the entire Jia Ma Empire.

The Misty Cloud Sect's reason was also simple: their sect leader had not returned, so they did not dare make a decision on their own.

To put it bluntly, no one in the Misty Cloud Sect was willing to bear that responsibility.

As for Yun Shan: I'm in secluded life-or-death cultivation. Don't bother me with anything.

For the Jia Ma Imperial Family, arranging a marriage alliance with the Xiao Family was perhaps the wisest thing they had ever done.

With the engagement between the imperial princess and the Xiao Family's eldest son, the Jia Ma Imperial Family's prestige within the Jia Ma Empire grew even greater.

Yao Ye also became the Empress of the Jia Ma Empire, while Xiao Ding became the Regent Prince.

After taking control of the entire Jia Ma Empire aside from the Misty Cloud Sect, they not only launched wars but also mobilized all the manpower and resources of the Jia Ma Empire to construct the "Heavenly Incineration Qi Refining Tower" in the Tagor Desert.

Once they learned of the Heavenly Incineration Qi Refining Tower's purpose, all the major forces of the Xiao Alliance threw themselves into its construction with one hundred and twenty percent effort.

However, what confused the other forces was that the Xiao Family had actually taken the initiative to approach the Snake People Clan and form an alliance with them.

After receiving Medusa's voice transmission, the Snake People Clan naturally had no reason to refuse the Xiao Family's proposal.

For this reason, the Xiao Family specifically arranged for the Jia Ma Empire to carve out a region and give it to the Snake People Clan.

Although this caused quite a few complaints within the Xiao Alliance, no one ultimately dared say much.

Places like the Northwest Continent could not compare to the Central Continent, where powerful experts gathered like clouds. Although there were countless sects and empires there, they had always remained locked in conflicts among themselves. Some factions with considerable strength had attempted to unify the region, but none had succeeded.

Moreover, those so-called powerful factions would only rank as first-rate forces in the Central Continent. They were not stronger than forces like the Four Directions Pavilion. Thus, the powers and experts of the Central Continent had never paid much attention to such places.

At the same time, a first-rate force named the Lion Nether Sect began launching massive campaigns after receiving assistance from the Soul Hall. Wherever the sect's experts went, no one could stand against them. In less than a month, several nearby empires had fallen under the Lion Nether Sect's control.

This sight gave many forces hope, and they flocked to join the Lion Nether Sect.

Compared to the newly risen Xiao Alliance, they trusted the Lion Nether Sect, which had the Soul Hall behind it, far more.

After all, not only was the Lion Nether Sect itself an old force ranked among the top ten in the Northwest Continent, but the Soul Hall alone was enough to make them choose a side.

Although the Soul Hall had not deeply involved itself in the Northwest Continent, its reputation was formidable. To the first-rate forces of the Northwest Continent in particular, it was an existence that could not be provoked.

Had Xiao Chen not reached the ninth-star Dou Saint realm, the Soul Hall likely would not have chosen this method.

After all, it was too easy to draw out some old monsters who had been hidden away for ages.

But the forces of the Central Continent were tangled and complex. Even the Soul Hall did not dare easily launch a full-scale war there. The Northwest Continent was different; with the Soul Hall's strength, it could completely dominate a one-sided war and then collect the spoils afterward.

Naturally, the mastermind behind all of this was Nihility Devouring Flame.

Nihility Devouring Flame had personally experienced the terror of the Nightmare Sky Mist. If his soul realm had not been only one step away from the Emperor Realm, and if he had not been a Heavenly Flame himself, he might also have fallen into the Nightmare Sky Mist.

Moreover, the Nightmare Sky Mist was far too specialized, especially since it was not afraid of group battles. Without an Emperor Realm soul, breaking through the Nightmare Sky Mist was simply impossible.

In other words, if Xiao Chen's strength advanced another step, then with the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame and the Nightmare Sky Mist, he would likely become an even greater headache for the Soul Clan than Xiao Xuan had been.

Although Hun Tiandi possessed an Emperor Realm soul and stood at the peak of the ninth-star Dou Saint realm, Gu Yuan would definitely sense it the moment he acted and would certainly intervene to stop him.

Nihility Devouring Flame himself was also at the initial ninth-star Dou Saint realm. Yet when the Soul Hall members were trapped deep within the Nightmare Sky Mist, he had fought Xiao Chen several times, and neither had been able to do anything to the other.

Furthermore, as a Heavenly Flame spirit, he instinctively sensed that the danger Xiao Chen posed to him was no less than that of Gu Yuan and Hun Tiandi.

Therefore, to break through to the Emperor Realm soul as quickly as possible and restrain Xiao Chen's plan to revive the Xiao Clan, he had to plunge the entire Northwest Continent into chaos.

Of course, if Xiao Chen dared interfere in matters below the Dou Venerate level, someone would naturally stop him without Nihility Devouring Flame needing to act.

Although ninth-star Dou Saints stood at the peak of the Dou Qi Continent, so long as they had not entered the Dou Emperor realm, they still could not act however they pleased.

Within a quiet mountain valley

"Finally willing to come back? I thought an old man like you had run off."

Xiao Yi Xian rolled her eyes at Xiao Chen, who had suddenly appeared and startled her.

A pale green cloth scarf was tied around her head, making her look like a beautiful little village girl.

"Has she recovered?"

"She recovered long ago. It's just that the spatial barrier you left in the valley means Yun Zhi cannot leave, so she's cultivating. But judging by the time, she should be back soon today."

"Good. Once she leaves, I'll take you away. It's time to resolve the problem with your constitution."

With Xiao Chen's current realm, resolving Xiao Yi Xian's Calamity Poison Body was not difficult. He could even forcibly neutralize it with his overwhelming strength without needing any of the three items required for the Poison Pill Method.

However, if he did that, Xiao Yi Xian's extraordinary cultivation talent would be completely ruined.

That was not something he wanted to see.

"Alright. Thank you for the trouble."

Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian smiled brightly, and the joy in her heart grew even stronger.

Although she had spent quite a bit of time with Xiao Chen, a woman's thoughts were delicate. She could clearly sense that Xiao Chen held an extremely favorable impression of her, and she herself did not seem to dislike him either.

"Alright, then it's settled. We'll go to the Tagor Desert tomorrow."

As the two spoke, Yun Zhi sat cross-legged on a stone bed within a cave in the valley. A strange longsword lay flat across her lap, while her snow-white dress outlined her graceful figure to perfection, brimming with endless allure.

The phoenix hair ornament atop her head emitted a faint air of nobility, while her beautiful face remained serene and elegant.

A moment later, Yun Zhi slowly opened her eyes. Her beautiful gaze swept across the cave, and she ended her cultivation before rising and walking outside. Her elegant lotus steps were enchanting and lovely.

Before long, Yun Yun returned to the thatched cottage where Xiao Yi Xian was staying.

"Yun Yun greets Mister Xiao. Thank you for saving my life."

Upon seeing Xiao Chen chatting and laughing with Xiao Yi Xian, Yun Yun gave him a slight bow.

Xiao Chen did not like being addressed as Senior, so Yun Yun called him Mister instead.

During this period, she and Xiao Yi Xian had remained in the valley, so they had no idea how dramatically the outside world had changed.

Her beloved disciple, Nalan Yanran, was especially suffering. Though she was only a young girl, she had nearly been driven mad by the Misty Cloud Sect elders.

Yes, they wanted two Little Fellows who had only just reached adulthood to marry, all so the Misty Cloud Sect could have a greater voice within the Xiao Alliance.

As for the Mo Family? Heh! Who was the Mo Family? Did the Misty Cloud Sect have an affiliated force called the Mo Family?

No, when had the Jia Ma Empire ever had a Mo Family?

"Later, after you eat, leave," Xiao Chen said without much feeling toward Yun Yun.

Was Xiao Yi Xian's waist not slender enough, or was Medusa not beautiful enough?

The spatial barrier in the valley had been specifically set up by him for Xiao Yi Xian before he left.

After all, Nihility Devouring Flame was far too terrifying. It had been impossible for him to bring her along.

"Mm!"

Yun Yun's gaze dimmed slightly at his words.

The density of the valley's natural energy was the greatest she had ever seen in her life.

Moreover, there seemed to be other substances mixed within that natural energy, substances capable of improving one's constitution.

During these days of cultivation, Yun Yun felt that her progress was equivalent to a full year of cultivation in the outside world.