As time passed, news of Xiao Zhan killing an Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect gradually spread throughout the Imperial Capital, stirring up towering waves among its great families.
For the first time, the name of the Xiao Clan entered the sights of the Imperial Capital's great families.
Their leaders were deeply shocked. When had such a powerful clan emerged in the Jia Ma Empire?
They had even dared to kill a Dou Wang Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect?
Even the Imperial Capital's three great families did not dare offend the Misty Cloud Sect!
Once the news spread, everyone in the Imperial Capital turned their attention toward the Misty Cloud Sect.
With such a major incident, they wanted to see how the Misty Cloud Sect would respond.
When they learned that Yun Yun had personally set out to attack the Xiao Clan with three Dou Wang Elders, the leaders of the great families immediately took notice.
Many families sent people to Xiao City, wanting to see whether the arrogant, conceited Xiao Clan would be wiped out by the Misty Cloud Sect.
Night Moon Residence.
"Your Highness, Yun Yun has already set out for Wutan City with three Dou Wang Elders."
A black-robed figure came before Yao Ye and delivered the report.
"She certainly moves quickly."
At the news, a faint smile appeared on Yao Ye's lips.
"Make the preparations. We'll set out for Wutan City as well."
The black-robed figure replied respectfully, "Yes, Your Highness!"
Yao Ye slowly walked toward the Night Moon Residence, a shrewd look on her face. "Xiao Clan, if you can survive the Misty Cloud Sect, you'll be qualified to cooperate with my Imperial Family."
The Nalan Family.
Smack!
A middle-aged man furiously smashed the table before him to pieces, his face twisted with anger.
"That damned girl! She actually dared to go to the Xiao Clan and break off the engagement behind my back!"
"Someone, go to the Misty Cloud Sect and bring that damned girl back to me!"
The middle-aged man was none other than Nalan Yanran's father, Nalan Su.
News from Wutan City had reached the Imperial Capital. With a little inquiry, the Nalan Family naturally learned that Nalan Yanran had gone to the Xiao Clan to break off her engagement. Nalan Su was now seething with rage.
"I never imagined the Xiao Clan had kept its strength hidden so deeply..."
Nalan Su's expression was complicated. He had met Xiao Zhan before and thought he knew the man's strength inside and out, never imagining that he possessed the power to kill a Dou Wang.
At that thought, Nalan Su grew even angrier over Nalan Yanran breaking off the engagement.
If the Nalan Family could form a marriage alliance with the Xiao Clan, wouldn't they gain another powerful ally?
"When that damned girl comes back, I'll break her legs!" Nalan Su said darkly.
Outside Black Rock City.
On a broad road, Xiao Yan gazed at the enormous city, its surface reflecting a pale red sheen beneath the lingering sunset, and let out a small sigh of relief.
Only when the carriage drew closer did Xiao Yan realize that the city's immense walls were built entirely from neatly arranged blocks of black rock.
According to the old man driving the horned-horse carriage, these walls had once withstood the combined, forceful assault of two Dou Wang experts without so much as budging.
That alone showed just how formidable their defenses were.
"Find somewhere to stay for the night first. I wonder whether Black Rock City has an Alchemist Guild. If it does, you should take their test and see whether you can reach the first tier."
Yao Lao's voice suddenly sounded in Xiao Yan's mind.
"Mm."
At the thought of soon obtaining a first-tier Alchemist Badge, a hint of excitement appeared on Xiao Yan's face.
"Also, if you have time, take a look at the local auction. If there's a third-rank magic core, do your best to buy it."
Yao Lao pondered for a moment. "Although we haven't found any heavenly flames yet, we must make all the preparations beforehand. Otherwise, if we happen to stumble across one, we might lose that once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity."
"A third-rank magic core? That's the last ingredient needed to refine the Blood Lotus Pill, right?"
After entering Black Rock City, Xiao Yan walked slowly along the street, casually scanning the shops around him as he asked.
"Yes. To devour a heavenly flame, you need at least three indispensable things to assist you! The Blood Lotus Pill is one of them."
"The Blood Lotus Pill is essential if you want to devour a heavenly flame. Without its protection, never mind a mere Dou Shi like you-even a Dou Huang expert wouldn't dare touch a heavenly flame lightly."
"Ice spirit cold spring: if the Blood Lotus Pill protects the outside of your body, then ice spirit cold spring protects your insides. It can keep you from being burned into nothingness by a heavenly flame's destructive heat while you refine it."
"The last is called Naling. It can open up a special little space inside your body, a place to store the heavenly flame. Given a heavenly flame's destructive nature, unless you have refined it completely, anything other than this kind of void space will be incinerated in an instant, including your Dou Qi Vortex and your body."
"Naling is rather rare. It actually has some connection to Storage Rings, but it can only possibly be found at the very center of the highest-grade Storage Stones. You should know that high-grade Storage Stones are essential materials for making high-grade Storage Rings, so you can imagine how scarce they are. And the chance of finding Naling inside a high-grade Storage Stone isn't particularly high either. Mm... you should understand just how rare Naling is now, shouldn't you?"
Hearing Yao Lao's words, Xiao Yan opened his mouth, his face blank with shock.
After a long while, he shook his head with a bitter smile. "Ice spirit cold spring and Naling-I've never even heard of either of them. Where am I supposed to find them?"
"You don't need to worry too much about Naling. Back when I was searching for heavenly flames, I happened to prepare a little extra. So the only things you still lack are ice spirit cold spring and a third-rank magic core," Yao Lao said with a smile.
"Where can I find ice spirit cold spring?" Xiao Yan asked with a dry laugh.
"In places of extreme cold or extreme heat..." Yao Lao said with a smile.
"You can find it in extremely hot places too? When something reaches its extreme, it turns into its opposite?" Xiao Yan blinked, sounding somewhat surprised.
"Exactly. If my guess is right, there should be ice spirit cold spring deep in the Tagor Desert."
Yao Lao nodded and smiled. "Of course, if you're lucky enough, you might obtain some from someone else or at an auction. But I doubt the chances are very high. After all, anyone with even a little knowledge knows how rare it is and generally won't offer it up lightly."
"What if we can't gather all those things... but we're lucky enough to encounter a heavenly flame?" Xiao Yan asked, his eyes shifting.
"Then we retreat and give up that opportunity, no matter how rare it is. Without those three essentials, touching a heavenly flame means death!" Yao Lao said calmly, without the slightest hesitation in his voice.
"All right. Then let's find somewhere to stay first."
Xiao Yan arrived at an inn. As soon as he stepped inside, a nearby conversation caught his attention.
"Have you heard of the Xiao Clan in Wutan City?"
"Who would've thought such a remote little city was hiding an expert like Xiao Zhan? He even dared to provoke the Misty Cloud Sect!"
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