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Infected by Xiao Yan's calm demeanor, Wu Hao gradually calmed down as well. "So what do we do now?"

"Make some preparations, naturally. I need to break through to Dou Master before I can be sure."

The two entered the mountains and forests, casually found a concealed spot, and Xiao Yan sat down cross-legged, taking out a pill.

This time, it was a proper medicinal pill. It was a third-grade Qi-Boosting Pill Fire Elder had given him, useful for increasing cultivation at the Dou Master stage.

But the situation was urgent. Xiao Yan could only choose to take the pill now and rely on its energy to forcibly sense the opportunity to break through to Dou Master!

"One incense stick's time should be enough. I'm doing it!"

Xiao Yan tossed the pill into his mouth and entered a cultivation state, frantically driving his Dou Qi vortex while recalling the insights Lin Xiuya had taught him:

"Xiao Yan, the cultivation secrets of Great Dou Masters, Dou Masters, and Dou Practitioners are the same: compress Dou Qi. Dou Masters gather Qi into liquid, while Great Dou Masters condense liquid into crystals."

"The danger of a breakthrough lies in absorbing a large amount of energy in a short time and converting it into Dou Qi. If either the body or the vortex cannot bear the load, there is a chance of failure and loss of levels."

"Of course, compared to breaking through from Dou Qi to Dou Practitioner, this is much easier. At least for you, there is basically no need to consider failure..."

Dou Qi flowed around Xiao Yan's body, sweeping up the fallen leaves around him. Once he was ready, he gradually dissolved the medicinal power of the Qi-Boosting Pill. The released energy instantly became Dou Qi Xiao Yan could absorb.

In only a moment, Xiao Yan's spinning Dou Qi vortex slowed after absorbing some Dou Qi, yet the pill's medicinal power had not fully dissolved!

But that was exactly what Xiao Yan wanted. Energy and Dou Qi rampaged through his body, making every part of him ache as if cramping, the pain growing increasingly intense.

"Hold it down! Hold it down! I absolutely can't fail!" Just as Xiao Yan reached his limit and could not help doubting whether he had been too reckless, the Dou Qi vortex, already operating at its limit, seemed to cast off a burden and began absorbing again!

Xiao Yan relaxed slightly. He knew he had succeeded. The opportunity for advancement that he should have sensed naturally had been forced out by him, though he had nearly overdone it.

The Dou Qi vortex spun once more. The Dou Qi within his body was like a dam opening its floodgates, no longer fleeing in every direction but rushing straight toward his dantian. The Dou Qi vortex accepted it all, showing no change no matter how much Dou Qi poured into it.

To speed up the completion of his advancement, once the pressure within his body eased somewhat, Xiao Yan began absorbing the free energy of heaven and earth from the outside world.

Watching from the side, Wu Hao sensed the energy constantly being drawn in for Xiao Yan's breakthrough. It even stirred up a whirlwind that fluttered their clothes! He was somewhat surprised. Compared to what he had seen before, Xiao Yan's breakthrough caused quite a commotion. And hadn't he even taken a pill?

"Rustle—rustle..."

Amid the sound of the wind, Wu Hao sharply picked out footsteps mixed within it. Bad luck—they had run into someone at exactly this moment!

Wu Hao rose and ran in that direction. No matter what, he could not let the other party disturb Xiao Yan!

But before Wu Hao had taken more than a few steps, he heard the newcomer quicken his pace as well. The other party was no fool. He had clearly seen that someone was cultivating and realized it was a perfect chance to take advantage.

When Wu Hao blocked the other party's path, both of them stopped at the same time. But when Wu Hao saw the man's face, he could barely suppress the shock and anger in his heart!

This man was actually their original target for this trip! That black mole covering half his face was impossible to mistake! Why did they have to encounter him at a time like this?!

Wu Hao had thought that if it were a Dou Practitioner, he could risk his life to hold them off. Who would have thought he would run into this guy? He was a Dou Master!

"You..."

Wu Hao still wanted to speak and buy some time, but the black-moled man had already seen through Wu Hao's strength. How could he give him a chance to put on an act? Before Wu Hao's words even landed, he stepped forward and charged directly at him.

He wanted to quickly deal with the person cultivating behind him! It was not every day that one encountered such an idiot cultivating in the wilderness while advancing.

Wu Hao hardened his resolve. The other party was so fast that he could barely see him, but he still stood in the man's path.

If I can only hold him back for an instant, then I'll hold him back for that instant!

Seeing that Wu Hao did not dodge, the black-moled man felt no particular emotion. He merely sped up a little. After killing the cultivator, he had not even planned to bother dealing with this fellow, but since Wu Hao was so eager to die, he would send him on his way first!

The two were not far apart to begin with. With a single step, the black-moled man was practically right in front of Wu Hao!

"Die!"

The only thing Wu Hao clearly saw was the black-moled man's cruel expression. He knew he might die, but he did not retreat a single step!

Just as the black-moled man swung an arm at Wu Hao, who had assumed a defensive stance, a fiery-red figure shot out from behind Wu Hao and slammed fiercely into the black-moled man. The fiery-red figure landed steadily afterward, while the black-moled man was knocked flying and rolled several times before stopping.

"Xiao Yan! You're done!"

Wu Hao could not help closing his eyes in that instant, but the sensation he had imagined never came. When he opened them, he saw Xiao Yan, whose entire body was wrapped in Dou Qi.

No! More accurately, it was not wrapped around him. Xiao Yan's fiery-red Dou Qi clung smoothly to the surface of his clothes like flowing water. At a glance, it looked as though he wore a fiery-red robe. It was the most iconic ability of the Dou Master stage—the Dou Qi Veil, which comprehensively increased a Dou Master's strength, speed, and defense.

The black-moled man, caught off guard by Xiao Yan's strike, climbed up from the ground and summoned his own Dou Qi Veil. But compared to Xiao Yan's, it was far too dim.

The black-moled man groaned inwardly. Not only had he failed to gain any advantage, he had run into someone else's trap instead. Moreover, through the contrast between their Dou Qi Veils, he quickly realized that the technique the other party cultivated was certainly far superior to his own Yellow-Tier Technique!

That hurried exchange had indeed caught the black-moled man off guard, but Xiao Yan had also acted at the last possible moment. Neither had used their full strength, yet the black-moled man's arm was already somewhat fractured.

Xiao Yan did not press his advantage. Instead, he exchanged a glance with Wu Hao, and the two pushed off from the ground and ran in another direction.

The black-moled man stood dumbfounded. He had formed a deadly grudge with those two and thought the odds were against him. Who would have expected them to ignore him entirely?

"I only slept for two days. Has the atmosphere in the Black-Corner Region become like this?"

On the other side, Xiao Yan and Wu Hao headed toward Mountain Forest Town once more.

"Next time, don't be so stupid. He could slap you to death in a second. Why didn't you run?"

"..."

"What a pity. We let that guy get away. He'll definitely leave now."

"No choice. Saving someone came first."

"Wu Hao, let me ask you something. With our current outfits and builds, which force in the Black-Corner Region do we resemble?"

"Why are you asking that?"

"I'm planning to do this..."

The two quickly returned to the tavern from before. After entering, they asked the owner and learned that the Wei brothers were still there, while the young master of the Blood Sect had yet to arrive. This time, the two went upstairs at ease.

Arriving on the second floor, they found the Wei brothers' room. Xiao Yan politely knocked on the door. The laughter and chatter inside fell silent, followed by a voice saying, "Come in." Xiao Yan and Wu Hao pushed open the door and entered. Xiao Yan swept a glance over the sack containing Hu Jia in the corner of the room, then smiled and spoke to the two in a hoarse voice:

"Brothers Wei, I happened to hear of your happy news earlier, so I prepared a small gift and came especially to congratulate you. You two do not mind, do you?"

Xiao Yan had only just broken through, and he could not fully conceal his aura. The two easily saw that Xiao Yan had merely entered the Dou Master stage, so they did not think much of him. After all, both of them were four-star Dou Masters.

Still, Xiao Yan's arrival was too strange, inevitably arousing suspicion. Yet one did not strike a smiling face, so the two prepared to first probe Xiao Yan's background.

"So that is the case. But the two of us did not know you before this. Why have you suddenly come to give us gifts? We truly do not understand..."

"Hehe, there is no need for you two to be so cautious. Please take a look at the gift first. We can discuss everything else afterward."

As he spoke, Xiao Yan took out two boxes.

"These are two Blood-Replenishing Pills I refined. They can replenish blood lost through injuries and the like. I imagine they should be of some use to you two."

These pills were indeed somewhat useful to the two, but Xiao Yan naturally had another purpose in mind. He was merely waiting for them to take the bait.

"What? You are an alchemist, sir?!"

"Indeed!"

The Wei brothers immediately became enthusiastic and hurriedly invited Xiao Yan to sit. The two flattered him for quite some time. To put them at ease, Xiao Yan even demonstrated his soul power on the spot, and the atmosphere among the three became even more harmonious.

After the mood eased somewhat, Xiao Yan finally said, "I naturally came to find you two because I have a favor to ask. Of course, I will not have you work for nothing..."

The Wei brothers raised their brows. Knowing he had reached the main point, they hurriedly said they were all ears.

"I wonder whether a Mystic Tier technique would be enough to ask you two for a favor..."

"A Mystic Tier technique!"

The Wei brothers both widened their eyes. Boundless fervor and greed flashed in their pupils, only to be forcibly suppressed by reason soon afterward.

"Sir, just say the word. What do you need the two of us to do?"

Xiao Yan said in an unconcerned tone, "It is nothing major. I merely forgot to mention earlier that I come from—the Black Skull Tomb!"

"Black Skull Tomb!" The two were both startled and could not help circulating their Dou Qi, but Xiao Yan remained completely still, calm and composed.

"What? You two no longer want the Mystic Tier technique?"

The Wei brothers' Dou Qi faltered. They also understood what the other party wanted them to do. The Black Skull Tomb was also a major force and had always been at odds with the Blood Sect. Or rather, there were no forces in the Black-Corner Region that truly got along!

Someone from the Black Skull Tomb had come looking for two members of the Blood Sect and offered such a price. Did they really need to say what he wanted?

"Why are you two hesitating? How long would you have to climb within the Blood Sect before obtaining a Mystic Tier technique? I will not hide it from you. Several forces on our side have joined hands against the Blood Sect. You two are merely pieces on the board in the larger scheme. Will you sink together with the Blood Sect, or seize the chance to board the Black Skull Tomb's great ship? You two should think it over carefully..."

Those words shocked the two even more. This was actually aimed at the Blood Sect? If such a thing were true, then perhaps this really was an opportunity to withdraw unscathed...

After exchanging a glance, the two slowly dispersed their Dou Qi. The heavy stone in Xiao Yan's heart also fell. Since they had not chosen to attack, the matter was practically settled.

"It seems you two have made the correct choice."

The Wei brothers did not deny it. They withdrew their Dou Qi, which meant they had made their decision. Yet just moments ago, they had been Blood Sect disciples who had rendered great service, and in the blink of an eye, they had become traitors planted by the Black Skull Tomb. For a moment, they did not know what to say.

Xiao Yan moved closer to them. Their hearts were in turmoil now, filled with joy, greed, fear, and desire. All sorts of emotions intertwined, and their minds had already lost some vigilance.

But Xiao Yan still had one final dose of medicine to administer!

"Oh, right, brothers. By the rules, the technique can only be given to you after the matter is done and you return to headquarters. But I can let you inspect the goods in advance, so you will not have any doubts."

Before the two could react, he took out a scroll and tossed it to the taller one.

Then he pulled the shorter one closer, signaling for him to lend an ear. "Your first task is to follow the young master of the Blood Sect first..."

The taller one caught the scroll and impatiently immersed his mind in examining it. But after only one glance, he cried out, "High Mystic Tier!"

At the same time, the shorter one, who had not had the slightest mind to listen to Xiao Yan and had been staring at the scroll all along, nearly popped his eyes out upon hearing that! He only felt hot blood rush to his head.

High Mystic Tier? It's actually High Mystic Tier! We've struck it rich, struck it rich! Hm? That's not right. Does the Black-Corner Region even have Earth Tier techniques? I heard those Dou Emperors all use High Mystic Tier techniques. Why would they give this to me...

"Eh... did I drink too much... Why do I feel... a little lightheaded..."

"Thud... thud..."

"Splat!"

The strange sound of something hitting the ground snapped the taller one back to his senses. What followed was an even more piercing sound—the sound of Wu Hao, who had been playing the attendant all this time, picking up Hu Jia, smashing through the window, and jumping out.

Before he could react to what had happened, he saw a very strange scene. The Black Skull Tomb envoy, who had just reached a cooperation agreement with them and had even paid a deposit, was charging toward him. Behind him stood someone who looked very much like his older brother...

Except he had no head.