As evening approached, Xiao Xuan had not returned, and Bai Hua and the other were still cultivating. The time for the Grand Elder's invitation was fast approaching. Inside the pavilion, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on the bed, remaining silent for a long time before slowly opening his eyes. With a strange feeling, like a son-in-law meeting his father-in-law, he strolled towards the back mountain.
A moment later, before a stone staircase stretching deep into the mountains, Xiao Yan looked up. The towering green peak in front of him was the back mountain of the Xiao Clan, where the Xiao Clan's Great Elder was also located.
Looking up at the majestic scene before him, Xiao Yan felt hesitant. He was about to face the Great Elder of the Xiao Clan. Standing before these stone steps, the tension in his heart was indescribable.
Looking into the distance, atop the lush green peaks, wisps of mist rise, creating a scene resembling a fairyland. The winding stone steps guide the way forward, yet inevitably evoke contemplation in the heart.
After a moment, Xiao Yan slowly made his way towards the summit of Qingfeng Peak with light steps. At the same time, a surging Spiritual Strength spread out from his body as he observed the surrounding situation.
He felt a mixture of respect and curiosity towards this elder of the Xiao Clan. Before meeting him, any thoughts were bound to arise.
Under Xiao Yan's control, an invisible Spiritual Strength spread out rapidly like a tide, sweeping across the mountain forest before him. After advancing to the Origin Yuan Zong, Xiao Yan's Spiritual Strength also increased significantly. As it stands now, it is comparable to an ordinary Tier Seven Alchemist, and the sheer size of his Spiritual Strength is self-evident.
With his powerful Spiritual Strength, the overall appearance of the Qing Shan before him quickly appeared in Xiao Yan's mind, until a certain moment...
"Buzz!"
Xiao Yan's steps suddenly halted, and his expression subtly changed. Deep within the mountains and forests, an invisible barrier had blocked his Soul Power. The moment he touched the barrier, a harsh force of resistance surged forth, repelling his Spiritual Strength and causing a wave of dizziness to wash over him. After catching his breath, he gradually regained his composure.
"Phew... What an astonishing soul barrier! Fortunately, I didn't force my way through, otherwise, I'd probably have paid a heavy price!"
With a heavy sigh, Xiao Yan looked up at the mountain peak hidden beneath a lush green canopy. A glint of light flashed in his dark eyes. He slowly exhaled, then lightly touched the ground with his toes, and his figure shot out, transforming into a black streak of light as he flew into the depths of the forest.
Since he couldn't investigate the Qing Shan clearly using his Spiritual Strength, he would have no choice but to go up and take a look himself!
His figure moved like lightning across the stone steps, his blurry afterimage appearing somewhat eerie in the dim shade of the trees. The swaying branches on either side added to the chill. The cool evening breeze caressed Xiao Yan's face, invigorating him. His sharp gaze imperceptibly swept across a certain spot in the surrounding dense forest, his forward momentum unabated, until a certain moment...
"Whoosh!"
Suddenly, a sharp whooshing sound pierced the void and arrived directly in front of Xiao Yan in the blink of an eye. The stream of light, mixed with Origin Qi, became quite sharp and pierced through Xiao Yan's body in an instant, shooting into a tree trunk on the side and embedding itself there. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be just a thin leaf.
"Huh?"
Almost simultaneously, a surprised and doubtful voice rang out from somewhere in the dense forest.
Dozens of feet ahead on the stone steps, a figure that seemed like a fleeting shadow gradually solidified. When the figure stood up, it was undoubtedly Xiao Yan. Looking at the spot pierced by the leaves, a blurry afterimage was slowly dissipating.
"Come out, there's no need to hide."
Suddenly, Xiao Yan reached out and gestured towards a spot in the dense forest. A powerful suction force surged from his palm, and in the midst of a howling Xiao Yan, countless leaves were drawn into his hand. With a gentle tremor, they burst open, transforming into countless streams of light that shot into the dense forest ahead. Immediately afterward, a figure swiftly shot out, dodging the leaves, and landed lightly on the stone steps like a nimble deer.
Upon seeing the person before him, Xiao Yan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Standing before him was a graceful young woman.
The girl wore a red dress, her skin was as white as snow, and it seemed as if it could be broken with a touch. Her smooth black hair was casually tied with a simple ribbon, which made her look even more charming.
Because the girl was standing sideways, Xiao Yan could only see her profile, but he could still perceive her exquisite and breathtakingly beautiful features. He could imagine that this woman's appearance must be of the level of a femme fatale.
Although Xiao Yan had long been aware of the people around him, the one he hadn't expected was that they were women.
Previously, his Spiritual Strength had not detected the girl's presence, presumably because her aura had been deliberately concealed. Now that the girl had made her move, Xiao Yan could see that this seemingly frail woman actually possessed the cultivation of Two-Star Yuan Zong master.
"Who are you?"
Looking at the delicate figure that suddenly appeared before him, Xiao Yan's eyes showed little tenderness, but his tone was slightly somber as he spoke.
Xiao Yan naturally wouldn't be polite to someone who launched a sneak attack like this. If he hadn't already discovered the girl's presence, he probably would have taught her a lesson without hesitation.
"That's a question I should be asking you. The back mountain of the Xiao Clan is the cultivation ground of the Great Elder. Apart from the clan leader and a few elders, no one else is allowed to go deep into it. So why did you come here?"
The girl's bright, beautiful eyes scanned Xiao Yan up and down, and she spoke with a rather arrogant tone.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan slowly nodded. If a powerful figure had concealed her aura for her, and she could still freely traverse the depths of the back mountain, which was inaccessible to ordinary people, this girl was probably no ordinary clansman.
"I have come here at the invitation of the Grand Elder."
His gaze slowly swept over the girl's delicate and flawless face, and he said in a calm tone.
"So you're Xiao Yan? You were the one who severely injured Xiao Chuhang half a month ago?"
Upon hearing this, the girl's beautiful eyes lit up, and she chuckled with a hint of interest. At the same time, the Origin Qi within her body began to circulate, and a glint of light flashed in her bright eyes, revealing a fiery passion within them.
"Hehe, since you were able to beat that guy, your cultivation level must be quite high. Why don't you fight me? If you win, I'll let you in."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan was somewhat taken aback, but before he could respond, the girl in front of him lightly touched the ground with her toes, and like a dragonfly skimming the water, her delicate body shot forward instantly, carrying a sharp gust of wind, and was the first to rush towards Xiao Yan.