Xiao Yan was also thinking about the Three-Year Agreement.
But he was not thinking about Nalan Yanran. He was planning how to seize control of the Misty Cloud Sect when the Three-Year Agreement came due.
There were still nine months until the Three-Year Agreement, and he could already foresee the distribution of strength on his side by then.
His eldest and second brothers would definitely become Dou Wangs, while Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei would definitely become Dou Lings.
Qing Lin would most likely reach Peak Dou Wang, with a small chance of becoming a low-star Dou Emperor.
Xiao Yi Xian would most likely become a low-star Dou Emperor, with a small chance of becoming a high-star Dou Emperor.
His father, Xiao Zhan, was certain to become a Three-Star Dou Emperor.
As for himself, he should be somewhere between a Three-Star and Six-Star Dou Emperor.
Oh, he had forgotten Yao Lao. Once Xiao Yan broke through to Dou Emperor, Yao Lao would be able to unleash the strength of a Nine-Star Dou Zong.
With a lineup like that, he could not imagine how he could possibly lose when seizing control of the Misty Cloud Sect.
As for Nalan Yanran?
Who the hell was she?
Nine months from now, she would be a Da Dou Shi at best, wouldn't she?
With my lineup, what could she possibly bring against me?
Next, it was time to head to the imperial capital.
On one hand, he needed to push for the Dou Huang Realm. On the other, he needed to start gathering medicinal ingredients in preparation for refining a seventh-tier pill for his father.
Before leaving, however, there was still a little thorn he needed to pull out.
A stooped figure surfaced in Xiao Yan's mind.
It belonged to a white-haired old man who, over the past six months, had attended almost every one of Qing Lin's arena matches, always watching silently from a corner.
At first, Xiao Yan had paid him no mind.
After all, Qing Lin's rise was nothing short of a miracle. It was perfectly normal for her to attract spectators.
Only after Yao Lao spoke up to warn him did Xiao Yan suddenly discover that this seemingly unremarkable old man actually possessed a soul as powerful as a Dou Emperor's!
Why would there be a Dou Emperor in Stone Desert City?
That didn't make sense!
Dou Emperors ranked among the Jia Ma Empire's ten strongest experts. They should be in major border strongholds or the imperial capital. What would one be doing in this remote Stone Desert City?
This left Xiao Yan rather uneasy.
Afterward, Xiao Yan secretly observed the old man several more times using his exceptionally powerful Soul Perception.
He discovered that the old man seemed to have been sealed, and his current strength was below the Dou Emperor level.
Even so, following his principle of lying low, Xiao Yan had restrained himself and pretended nothing had happened.
Only after recently breaking through to Nine-Star Dou Wang and confirming that his own raw strength gave him absolutely nothing to fear from the old man did he decide to seek him out and get to the bottom of things.
A map shop stood beside the main road outside Stone Desert City.
The shop had no name, and its storefront was somewhat shabby.
The interior was dimly lit, with a scattering of yellowed map scrolls on the shelves.
A stooped, white-haired old man sat behind the counter, resting with his eyes closed.
Wearing a black cloak and a black mask, Xiao Yan strolled inside and casually picked up a map scroll to examine.
"Looking to buy a map? Please help yourself."
The old man offered this indifferent greeting without even raising his head.
Xiao Yan gave no definite answer. He wandered about casually, pulled out a map scroll, and made a show of studying it.
In truth, all his attention was focused on the old man.
The old man seemed to notice Xiao Yan's scrutiny as well, and his eyes narrowed slightly.
The atmosphere slowly seemed to grow tense.
"Yan'er, look at that corner!"
Suddenly, Yao Lao's voice rang out.
Xiao Yan's mind sharpened, and he looked in the direction Yao Lao had indicated.
There, amid a jumble of maps in the corner, lay an incomplete piece of ancient-looking parchment.
Xiao Yan recognized it at a glance.
A Map Fragment for the purifying lotus demon flame!
There was actually a Map Fragment for the purifying lotus demon flame here!
Delighted surprise filled Xiao Yan's heart.
Ever since obtaining one fragment in the cave near Qingshan Town, he had never seen a second. He had never expected to find one here.
No longer concerned with probing the old man's secrets, Xiao Yan picked up the fragment without betraying his excitement and asked with feigned calm, "Sir, how much for this?"
The old man glanced at Xiao Yan and said indifferently, "A family heirloom. Not for sale."
Xiao Yan sneered inwardly.
Not for sale? Then why leave it out instead of putting it safely away?
Wasn't he just fishing for a bite?
An idea struck him, and Xiao Yan said, "Sir, this thing of yours... I think I have a piece too!"
As he spoke, he took something out of his ring and waved it at the old man.
A sharp gleam instantly burst from the old man's eyes. He sprang to his feet and snatched the fragment from Xiao Yan's hand.
He compared it painstakingly, his breathing growing rapid.
A moment later, he raised his head, a flash of desire passing through his eyes.
"Is your piece for sale?"
Xiao Yan chuckled.
"A family heirloom. Not for sale."
The old man was instantly struck speechless.
After a moment of silence, the old man said, "Let's speak plainly. How about a trade?"
Xiao Yan nodded with a smile.
"That would work."
Keeping their guard up against each other, the two exchanged the Map Fragments in their hands.
After the exchange, both wore thoroughly satisfied smiles.
Xiao Yan smiled because what he had given the other man was merely a fake map he had forged from the original. It looked plausible, but there was absolutely no way to find any clues with it.
The old man smiled because he truly had been using the fragment displayed outside as bait.
He had actually split that Map Fragment into two pieces long ago.
The other half was hidden in his ring.
Although Xiao Yan had obtained a Map Fragment without giving up so much as a hair, he was sneering inwardly after the exchange.
Since I've already guessed you're using this fragment as bait, wouldn't I be an utter fool to swallow only the bait and leave satisfied?
Heh, just watch how I swallow both you and your bait whole!
Without letting anything show, Xiao Yan said, "Now that I've traded for this treasure, sir, I'll take my leave."
With that, he left the shop without looking back.
After watching Xiao Yan depart, the old man waited a long while, then scanned the surroundings with his soul power. Only after confirming it was safe did he take the other half of the Map Fragment from his ring and impatiently try to fit it together with Xiao Yan's piece.
As he assembled the map, the old man said smugly, "Little fox, you think you can outwit me? You're still too green!"
Yet even after working on it for ages, he found no new clues.
Of course a fake map would yield no clues!
Somewhat disappointed, the old man could not help sighing.
Just then, a teasing voice rang out.
"Sir, that wasn't very honest of you! I traded you a complete Map Fragment, but you tried to fool me with only half of yours?"
Xiao Yan said absolutely nothing about having tricked the other man with a fake map.
The old man's expression changed drastically!
How was that possible? That brat had actually evaded his Dou Emperor-level Soul Perception?
In the shadows of the shop, a black-clad figure stood silently, like a phantom.
A smile curled across Xiao Yan's face.
He had pretended to leave, then allowed Yao Lao to possess him. With strength far exceeding the other man's, he had completely concealed his aura and energy fluctuations before quietly slipping back inside.
Sure enough, he had discovered that this old fellow was up to no good!
Before you continue