Meeting Yao Lao, Xiao Yan Speaks Up

Xiao Yan scratched his head, looking miserable.

Purple Orchid Leaf Grass, Bone Cleansing Flower, and a Tier 1 Wood-type Magic Core —these items add up to over a thousand gold coins.

"I've embarrassed my father so much today, how could I possibly go back to Brother Chenfeng-- "

Xiao Yan frowned, hesitating.

Because he was quite immature in his early years, he wasn't well-liked in the Xiao Clan and had few people he could talk to.

Although the guards and servants of the Xiao Clan who respected and revered him were easy to talk to, they certainly didn't have that kind of financial resources.

His annual allowance was only twenty gold coins, and a thousand gold coins was enough for some ordinary families to live comfortably for decades.

"To borrow gold coins from a Dou Wang expert, besides me, there's probably no one else who can do it—"

After a long pause, Xiao Yan finally made his decision.

The old man mentioned the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, which could allow him to rapidly increase his strength during the Dou Qi stage, so he had to get his hands on those medicinal herbs and Magic Core no matter what.

He would rather go find Brother Chenfeng than his father.

Brother Chenfeng sensed the old man in the ring and decided to take him to meet him so that Chen Feng could help him verify his identity; there was no need to hide him.

In that case, it shouldn't be difficult to ask for some gold coins along the way.

With that thought in mind, Xiao Yan walked straight down the mountain towards where Nalan Chenfeng lived.

In Gu Xun'er's room at the Xiao Clan residence.

"Miss, may I take action and teach that Nalan Chenfeng a lesson?"

At the desk, Ling Ying looked at Gu Xun'er's sullen expression and bowed to ask.

"He didn't do anything, Elder Ling, no need."

Gu Xun'er shook her head, feeling relieved.

The intervention of Elder Ling, a Dou Huang expert, will undoubtedly cause considerable turmoil in the Jia Ma Empire.

The Nalan Family, to which Nalan Chenfeng belongs, has connections with the Imperial Family of the Jia Ma Empire and the Misty Cloud Sect.

Although the Imperial Family of the Jia Ma Empire and the Misty Cloud Sect are not significant forces, in this territory, Nalan Chenfeng is not someone that a Dou Emperor can easily teach a lesson to.

"I can't stand this kid's attitude towards the young lady; he's really ignorant and arrogant!"

A look of anger appeared on Ling Ying's old face, a hint of indignation in his expression.

Given her status, background, and noble bloodline talent, it would be difficult to find someone who matches her in the entire Dou Qi Continent.

In ancient families, countless people coveted her, because the mere fact that she was the daughter of the clan leader was enough to make countless geniuses of the Dou Qi Continent bow down.

That boy's talent is outstanding and quite rare, but compared to the young lady, he's still not from the same world. How dare he be so blind? He's truly ignorant.

"Let's not talk about him anymore. As for the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade, has Elder Ling found any clues?"

Gu Xun'er composed herself, then changed the subject, her sweet voice carrying a question.

The clan assigned her a task: to take away the Tou She Ancient God Jade, which the Xiao Clan possessed, before she left the Xiao Clan.

"I've searched the entire Xiao Clan, but there are no clues. There's no Ancient Jade on Xiao Zhan's Storage Ring or in his residence."

"The Xiao Clan has been in decline for many years, and they probably don't even know what this Ancient Jade is anymore. When Xiao Lin of the Xiao Clan perished, no one in the clan paid attention in time. Now, trying to find the Tou She Ancient God Jade is like finding a needle in a haystack."

Ling Ying sighed and reported the truth to Gu Xun'er.

Every move of the Xiao Clan was under his surveillance, and no one in the Xiao Clan had ever mentioned the Tou She Ancient God Jade in all these years; even Xiao Zhan didn't know about it.

The Xiao Tribe has long been wiped out, and the current Xiao Clan descendants are weaker than the last. If it were in the past, Xiao Lin and other Xiao Clan leaders would still have some strength and might still know the secrets.

"The Xiao Clan has no records of the Xiao Tribe as it once was."

Gu Xun'er murmured softly, her clear eyes blinking.

A thousand years have passed, and the world has changed. The Xiao Clan migrated from the Central Plains to the Northwest Continent, but declined generation after generation and is no more.

Once upon a time.

Why didn't they act earlier? Now they want to take away the Xiao Clan's Tou She Ancient God Jade. These elders in the clan really do whatever they want.

The Xiao Clan, who know nothing about the Tou She Ancient God Jade, most likely no longer possesses it.

"If you can't find it, then forget it. It's alright, Elder Ling."

Gu Xun'er slightly parted her thin lips, not taking the matter of the Ancient Jade to heart.

The Tou She Ancient God Jade was once divided into eight pieces, with each of the Ancient Eight Clans possessing a piece. Only by combining them can one explore and open the legendary Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Cave.

Now, let alone finding the Ancient Jade fragments of the Xiao Clan, even if they were found, they wouldn't be of much use.

Some elders in the clan asked her to find and bring back the Ancient Jade of the Xiao Clan, which clearly meant that she wanted to completely abandon the agreement she had made with the Xiao Tribe and have no further involvement with them.

Ling Ying nodded and sighed softly.

Who could have imagined that the once powerful Xiao Tribe would fall to such a state?

In the guest room.

Xiao Yan felt a little uneasy and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards Nalan Chenfeng.

"Brother Chenfeng-- "

Nalan Chenfeng looked up at Xiao Yan, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Little Yan, just say what's on your mind, but I don't think you're here to ask me about your talent."

As he spoke, Nalan Chenfeng's gaze fell upon the black ring in Xiao Yan's hand.

He still had to put on an act in front of the Yao Lao, pretending to know him too well. That wouldn't be a good thing.

Yao Chen, also Venerable Yao, was once the top Alchemist on the Dou Qi Continent, and he was no pushover.

A person who secretly adds ingredients to pills while refining them is clearly cunning.

"Brother Chenfeng, it's mainly about the old gentleman in my ring. Today, I've officially become his apprentice."

"But I don't know if he's telling the truth or not, or if he'll absorb my Dou Qi again in the future."

Meeting Nalan Chenfeng's scrutinizing gaze, Xiao Yan made no attempt to hide anything and revealed the truth about Yao Chen.

Nalan Chenfeng's appearance, Yao Lao's appearance carried a sense of reluctance, leading Xiao Yan to trust the former more than the latter.

The reason is simple: Yao Lao absorbed Dou Qi for three years, causing Xiao Yan's strength to regress, and he made no progress in three years.

It would be impossible for Xiao Yan not to harbor hatred or resentment.

The current Yao Lao has no feelings for Xiao Yan. His purpose in making Xiao Yan become his disciple is only to guide him in cultivating the Flame Mantra and help him revive.

Han Feng's affair left Yao Chen with almost no trust in people, so choosing Xiao Yan was a desperate move made out of desperation.

The bond between the two, as master and disciple, was cultivated gradually over time.

"Old sir--"

Nalan Chenfeng let out a soft breath, a solemn expression appearing on his face.

"A person with such powerful soul strength must be extraordinary."

"Since he has already shown himself, stopped absorbing your Dou Qi, and even accepted you as his disciple, why not invite this senior to come out and meet us?"

Nalan Chenfeng sighed, a hint of wariness flashing in his dark eyes. It was an instinctive reaction that even Yao Lao, with his extensive knowledge, had no doubt about.

"What a monstrous little fellow! He can sense my presence; even Dou Huang expert can't do that."

An aged voice slowly emanated from Xiao Yan's ring. Immediately afterward, a white light flashed, and a transparent, illusory old man in white robes appeared before Nalan Chenfeng.

Although the old man's face was illusory and aged, one could vaguely see some of his handsome features from his youth. When his cloudy eyes looked at Nalan Chenfeng, they flickered with white light, carrying a hint of scrutiny.

"Nalan Chenfeng greets you, senior. May I ask your name?"

Nalan Chenfeng slightly, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant, his gaze fixed on Yao Lao, feigning ignorance as he asked the question.

At present, Yao Lao's soul body is no weaker than Ling Ying's six or seven-star Dou Emperor, but this combat power cannot be maintained for long.

If this continues even slightly, Yao Lao's soul power will be depleted and he will fall into a deep sleep. If it is not replenished for a long time, there is even a risk of death.

Moreover, the soul form cannot exert much power at all, is easily restrained by some special forces, and cannot be sustained, which is fundamentally different from a true Dou Huang expert.

Of course, this is mainly because Yao Lao's Soul Origin has been greatly depleted, and his soul power is no longer even one-tenth of what it was at its peak.

Otherwise, with his peak soul power, he could at least unleash the strength of Peak Dou Zong, or even stronger.

The Skyfire Venerable, who was originally Five-Star Dou Zun in the original world, had a soul body with the strength of Eight-Star Dou Zong. It was impossible for Yao Lao, who was at the Peak Dou Zun in his previous life, to be inferior to the former.

The only explanation is that Yao Lao's soul power was greatly damaged in the battle with the Hall of Souls, and he has not replenished his soul power over the years, resulting in his current level of strength.

"Hehe, that's really impressive. I never expected to encounter such an outstanding young man in this remote Northwest Continent."

"The old man's name is Yao Lao, you can call me that."

The Yao Lao exclaimed in admiration, stroked his beard, and introduced himself.

If it were anyone else, he might have considered killing them to silence them, but he always felt a sense of danger emanating from Nalan Chenfeng.

When he came to the Xiao Clan before he was ten years old and fought with Xiao Yan, he used a special method that could make a person instantly lose all senses.

He had witnessed this scene clearly inside the Bone Flame Ring.

Even now, he still hasn't figured out what kind of technique this is; it should probably be classified as a type of hallucinogenic Dou Technique.

This kind of Dou Technique is extremely difficult to defend against; even he couldn't guarantee he could withstand it.

Moreover, a Dou Emperor is hidden in Wu Tan City. If he makes a move and his identity is exposed, the consequences will be unimaginable if he is discovered by the people of the Hall of Souls.

I wonder what this small Xiao Clan has that could attract someone of this caliber.

"Yao Lao-- "

Nalan Chenfeng feigned hesitation but didn't ask any further questions.

Anyone could tell that "Yao Lao" was not a name.

"This old man has a feeling that you sensed my presence when Xiao Clan returned to the Xiao family two years ago. Is that true?"

The Yao Lao stared intently at Nalan Chenfeng, his voice slightly deep, observing the latter's facial expressions.

"A person's talent for cultivation cannot be lost for nothing. Xiao Yan's situation is not that his dantian is shattered and he cannot cultivate, but rather that the Dou Qi he cultivates is inexplicably lost."

"I have some guesses because he's been wearing that black ring for many years. I noticed it when I was a child, and I always felt that it was unusual."

Without hesitation, Nalan Chenfeng nodded in agreement with Yao Lao's guess, mentioned his childhood, and then paused.

"I just didn't expect that this ring would actually contain the soul of a senior. As far as I know, only Dou Zong level or Sixth Grade Alchemist or above could possess such a soul."

Only a human soul and body can be so condensed, and they will not perish even after being separated from the physical body for a long time.

"Dou Zong - Sixth Grade Alchemist or above -"

Upon hearing what Nalan Chenfeng said, Xiao Yan's eyes were filled with disbelief, and his breathing became rapid.

This incredibly powerful individual had been by his side for years, yet he knew nothing about it.

"My Bone Flame Ring has the effect of nourishing the soul. You can sense its extraordinary nature; you are indeed a person with exceptional soul talent."

"It's a pity you don't have the talent for Alchemist, otherwise this old man could teach you the art—"

The Yao Lao laughed heartily, then said with some regret.

If the person before him possessed Yao Tian, then under his tutelage, the hope of reviving him would be far greater than that of his newly accepted disciple.

Unfortunately, Alchemist requires extremely high talent. Although people with different attributes can develop additional attributes later in life, finding rare and precious materials of this level is extremely difficult.

"Thank you for your Yao Lao. It's a pity that Chenfeng doesn't have that kind of talent and cannot accept your guidance."

Nalan Chenfeng chuckled and made polite remarks.

Don't say he lacks the talent of Alchemist; even if he did, he wouldn't have become Yao Lao's apprentice.

Like Yao Lao Gu Xun'er didn't gain much from his lack of connections, but he did encounter a lot of trouble.

Pill Tower or the Hall of Souls is far better than becoming a disciple of the Yao Lao.

Advanced alchemy techniques are not lacking in the Dou Qi Continent, and the most valuable thing Yao Lao possesses is the constantly evolving Dry Flame Mantra Technique.

Cultivating this kind of skill depends entirely on fate; it's a choice made out of desperation.

Only by absorbing two Heavenly Flames can the level of his cultivation Flame Mantra reach the level of the Heavenly Flame Mantra he is currently cultivating.

Reaching the Heaven Tier, or even higher, is extremely difficult. Wasting time on this cultivation method is completely unnecessary.

Normal people wouldn't practice the Flame Mantra.

In the Dou Qi Continent, what Emperors lack is extraterrestrial Origin Qi. In the Great Thousand World, breaking through to the highest level, the Great Ruler Realm, has nothing to do with whether or not one uses the Flame Mantra.

From his God-like perspective as an otherworldly being, the Flame Mantra was merely a powerful cultivation method that fit the Dou Qi Continent, and a ticket to obtain the Origin Qi of the Ancient Emperor's Cave Mansion, nothing more.

"Although my disciple made a bet with your sister, I hope you will not mention my existence to anyone."

The Yao Lao stroked his beard and pondered for a moment before slowly speaking, his voice carrying a tone of consultation with Nalan Chenfeng.

"You can rest assured, senior. As long as you don't help Xiao Yan against my sister, I will not reveal your presence."

"Although you are a soul, you must have been a formidable figure in the Dou Qi Continent during your lifetime. I don't want to offend you."

Nalan Chenfeng nodded, made a condition, and then solemnly agreed.

"That's no problem. Even if the old man isn't what he used to be, he hasn't stooped so low as to attack a junior. This is Xiao Yan's own business!"

The Yao Lao readily agreed, his aged face radiating arrogance.

"Then I can rest assured."

Nalan Chenfeng nodded and smiled, glancing at Xiao Yan.

Possession by a ghost is Xiao Yan's special skill. If Xiao Yan uses this method against his sister, she will definitely lose.

However, whether or not the Yao Lao agrees three years later is not important.

Three years from now, his strength will certainly not be what it is now, enough to ensure fairness in their battle.

The Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool in the Northern Domain of Central Plains is rich in energy, capable of rapidly breaking through to the Dou Zong. If one could gain the support of the Gold-Devouring Rat Clan there, advancing to Dou Zong.