At the same time that Xiao Xuan's cultivation broke through to the Yuan Zong, on the other side, deep in the back mountain of the Xiao Clan, the Great Elder Xiao Zhen was looking in astonishment in a certain direction of the back mountain with his old eyes filled with surprise.
"A breakthrough? That's amazing..."
With a surprised exclamation, Xiao Zhen couldn't help but laugh out loud. At the same time, he felt a sense of disbelief. Back then, he had tried every means to help Xiao Xuan break through his cultivation, even personally investigating, but he still couldn't find any useful clues. Unexpectedly, he had advanced so suddenly. At that moment, while feeling surprised, the Grand Elder couldn't help but think of Xiao Yan.
"Could it be because of that kid?"
Outside the city of the Xiao Clan.
A pair of cloudy old eyes slowly opened, and suddenly, a golden light flashed in the depths of his eyes. His gaze then turned to the location of the Xiao Clan, revealing a hint of surprise in his eyes. Then, a satisfied smile appeared on his lips. He paused for a moment, and then fell silent again.
The Ouyang Clan.
Atop a mountain peak, a figure in green robes, a long sword.
Ouyang Yu, dressed in green, wields a long sword named Orchid.
"Buzz!"
When Xiao Xuan broke through his cultivation within the Xiao Clan, the longsword that had been lying quietly beside Ouyang Yu atop the mountain suddenly began to vibrate and hum uncontrollably, as if it had received some kind of signal. A sharp sword aura surged from the Orchid Sword, instantly cleaving the surrounding rocks in two.
Seeing this, Ouyang Yu's expression remained unchanged. He stared straight at the northern horizon, then extended two fingers and placed them on the sword. With a gentle press, the longsword immediately stabilized. However, even so, the sword energy emanating from the blade still left a shallow bloodstain on Ouyang Yu's wrist.
"Hiss..."
Ouyang Yu gasped instantly, his eyes widening in shock. He raised his hand, staring at the crimson wound, a thoughtful look on his face. He quickly composed himself, took a deep breath, and said calmly:
"It seems he has a big influence on you..."
A weapon devouring its master is either a sign of a demon or because it has encountered a superior master, making it unable to withstand the strain and thus attempting to break free from its existing constraints.
"If I remember correctly, his name was Xiao Xuan."
After a long while, Ouyang Yu sighed softly again. When he came to his senses, he slowly placed one hand on the Orchid Sword beside him and gently stroked it.
"Old friend, thank you so much for being there all these years..."
The man's face was calm, but deep in his eyes was a deep sense of reluctance.
At a certain moment, Ouyang Yu slowly took a deep breath, as if making up his mind. Suddenly, he tore a strip of cloth from his robe, flicked his fingers at the longsword, and the sword immediately rose into the air. The cloth strip swirled and coiled in his hand, instantly wrapping and sealing the longsword completely.
The man stood silently atop the mountain peak, his eyes closed, sensing the last vestiges of life in the air.
From that time on, the Ouyang Clan no longer possessed the Orchid Sword.
One month later.
Before a secret chamber within the Xiao Clan, Xiao Jinghong and Xiao Tian stood, their eyes filled with a tense anticipation as they watched the chamber door slowly open.
Soon, an elderly man with white hair and beard emerged from the secret chamber. His expression was slightly dejected. Upon seeing the expectant grandfather and grandson, he paused, then shook his head helplessly and sighed:
"I have failed to live up to your expectations..."
Upon hearing this, the grandfather and grandson's hearts skipped a beat, and their expressions froze. After a long while, Xiao Tian smiled helplessly, took a deep breath, shook his head, looked at Xiao Jinghong beside him, and comforted him:
"Grandpa, it's alright. Even if we don't have any pills, I can just cultivate on my own. I'll break through eventually."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinghong's withered hand trembled slightly before he placed it on the latter's shoulder again, saying in a low voice:
"That's true, but several years have passed, and the clan assembly is just around the corner. If your cultivation level still can't break through, I'm afraid..."
Xiao Tian pursed his lips, feeling rather helpless. In order to seek greater power, the cultivation method he practiced was naturally quite special. Although it seemed quite powerful and domineering in normal cultivation, the resistance he faced when advancing to a higher level was extremely great. However, once he broke through, the rebound he gained was not only in combat power, but also in the improvement of his cultivation level, which was faster and stronger than others.
This is why Xiao Tian's cultivation speed is inferior to that of his peers. Otherwise, with Xiao Tian's talent for cultivation, he should at least be at the same level as Xiao Yan by now.
"That bastard Xiao Mingyuan, if he hadn't been unwilling to help, how could the pills have been delayed for so long!"
Xiao Jinghong's old face was extremely ugly. Although the old man in front of him was also an alchemist in the clan, his level was only sixth rank. To refine a seventh-rank Barrier-Breaking Pill would be extremely difficult. Looking at the entire Xiao Clan, the strongest alchemist was Xiao Mingyuan, who ranked third in the Council of Elders and was Tier Seven Alchemist. If he could take the lead, Xiao Jinghong had no doubt that this Barrier-Breaking Pill could be successfully refined.
However, they are now at odds with Xiao Yan, and Xiao Mingyuan happens to be on Xiao Yan's side. Asking him for help is absolutely impossible. In desperation, they finally found the only Tier Six Alchemist in the clan, Elder Xiao Ming. Unfortunately, even after paying for all the medicinal herbs, the result was still so dismal.
However, just as the three were feeling down, thunderclouds suddenly rolled across the sky above a courtyard in the Xiao Clan, and at the same time, a dense energy fluctuation was rapidly forming there.
The three people on the field suddenly turned their gazes, their eyes instantly focusing on the area where the energy was surging. In the blink of an eye, the expressions on their faces changed.
"This is... a seventh-grade elixir has been created, and the Third Elder is refining it?"
As an alchemist, Xiao Ming was the first to notice the unusual energy fluctuation, which was caused by the refining of the pills.
"That's Xiao Yan's residence!"
"Could it be that the Third Elder is refining pills for him?"
"Whether it is or not, let's go and see for ourselves!"
With a low shout, Xiao Jinghong leaped into the air without further ado, rushing towards Xiao Yan's location. After a moment's hesitation, Xiao Tian and Xiao Ming followed closely behind.
At the same time, many people within the Xiao Clan were also drawn by this energy fluctuation and rushed over.
However, when Xiao Jinghong and the others arrived, the first thing they discovered was a familiar figure guarding the courtyard, preventing anyone from approaching. And it was none other than Xiao Mingyuan, the one currently refining the medicine...