The next day.
When Xiao Yan Xiao Yan up from a deep sleep, he rubbed his still slightly dizzy head and got up. He found himself lying carelessly on the cliff top where he had stood the day before, with a sheer drop of thousands of feet at his feet.
Upon seeing this, Xiao Yan felt a chill run down his spine, and the muscles at the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. He secretly rejoiced, thankful that he didn't like to move around a lot while sleeping, and that this mountain peak had been carved out into a large flat area. Otherwise, if he had rolled over in his sleep, he would have died without even knowing how, which would have been a real loss.
Of course, this was just Xiao Yan's random thought from his own independent perspective. After all, no matter what, he still had Xiao Jin and Gu You inside him, so if something happened to him, they would naturally take care of him.
Moreover, with Xiao Yan's current strength, if he really fell, he would immediately regain his senses; how could he possibly die from a fall for no reason?
After amusing himself for a moment, Xiao Yan shrugged with a smile, then stretched and briefly checked his internal condition. Finding nothing amiss, he didn't linger any longer and quickly flew towards the direction of the Ancient Wilderness City.
Today, the Ancient Wilderness City is noticeably more bustling than it has been in the past few months. Early in the morning, the streets of the city were already teeming with people, and the situation was even more severe in the north of the city, in the territory of the Wilderness Master Mu.
Today, in front of everyone in the Ancient Wilderness City, Master Mu is going to "go on a killing spree" in the north of the city and publicly kill a Nine-Star Half-Emperor!
Although Master Mu is one of the Twin Hegemons of the Wilderness, he usually lives a secluded life, spending most of his time cultivating. He rarely goes out, so very few people in this vast Ancient Wilderness City can recognize Mu Han at first glance.
As Third-Tier Formation Master, Mu Han's status was significantly enhanced, and countless people throughout the Wilderness wanted to pay their respects to Master Mu.
Today, Master Mu is about to kill a Nine-Star Half-Emperor in broad daylight. This is enough to attract most of the people in the Ancient Wilderness City to come and watch, no matter how you look at it.
Moreover, and most importantly, the Master Mu is going to kill this time is a genuine Nine-Star Half-Emperor! In this Ancient Wilderness City, apart from the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion and Elder Luo, there is only Master Mu himself who possesses that level of strength. Now that they have the opportunity to see another Nine-Star Half-Emperor, even if he is a dying person, it will still arouse the curiosity of these people.
Joining in the fun is an easy activity that almost no one would mind, because it not only brings them joy and a feast for the eyes, but most importantly, it doesn't require any sacrifice—at least, usually it does.
And today, it is no different.
As the northern part of the city gradually became lively, a figure in black robes, with lightning-fast speed, swiftly flew into the Ancient Wilderness City from outside the Ancient Wilderness City.
"Um?"
Just as Xiao Yan entered the area of Ancient Wilderness City, Elder Luo and Qing Mu, who were sitting at a bluestone table drinking tea in the Ginseng Spirit Realm, suddenly raised their eyebrows and showed a look of surprise on their old faces.
The two men looked up at the same time, their gazes turning towards the direction where Xiao Yan was in the Ancient Wilderness City. After a few breaths, the two old men slowly withdrew their gazes.
The two men exchanged a shocked glance. After a long while, Elder Luo finally let out a long sigh of relief, then looked at Qing Mu, who also had a relaxed expression, and said with a smile:
"That kid is finally back."
Qing Mu frowned and smiled, sighing with a teasing tone:
"Yes, that kid has finally returned. If he hadn't come back, even I wouldn't be sure if he was still alive. In that case, you old codger would probably have pinned all the blame on me."
"Hehe, it's not just me, my little guy's temper is no better than his great-grandfather's."
At this point, the two old men looked at each other and gave a wry smile, then fell silent.
At the same time, Xiao Yan had already arrived outside the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion.
Upon returning to the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion, Xiao Yan felt an inexplicable sense of loss and change. He wondered if Cloud-Hidden Pavilion Luo Jin was still there after the past two years, or perhaps he had already left.
Xiao Yan thought to himself, feeling a little nervous, but he suppressed it and, after a slight hesitation, descended from the sky.
Only then did Xiao Yan notice that the gate of the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion was closed, clearly indicating that it was not open to customers and would not be doing business today.
Xiao Yan frowned slightly, a hint of doubt in his heart. After a moment's hesitation, he strode forward. Amidst the sneer-filled gazes of the crowd on the street behind him, he raised his hands, pushed open the gate of the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion, and stepped inside with one foot already in his seat.
"Heh heh, this brat, didn't he see that Cloud-Hidden Pavilion is closed to guests and not doing business? He still dares to barge in. Isn't he afraid of offending Elder Xuan and being kicked out?"
Upon seeing that Xiao Yan had already stepped into the Xiao Yan Cloud-Hidden Pavilion, many people behind him stopped and watched with cold smiles. Clearly, they wanted to see the embarrassed look on Xiao Yan's face when he was kicked out by Elder Xuan.
However, Xiao Yan paid no attention to this. As he stepped into the doorway, a slightly impatient, aged voice came from the main hall of the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion.
"Don't you know that Cloud-Hidden Pavilion is not open for business today? Please leave. If you wish to buy something, please come again tomorrow!"
Upon hearing that familiar voice, Xiao Yan smiled warmly. He exerted a little force with his hand on the door panel and pushed the two doors open. At the same time, he lifted his other foot, which was still outside the door, and stepped into the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion.
"Hehe, excuse me, I'm not here to buy anything today. I'm here to see someone."
When Xiao Yan's voice rang out, Elder Xuan, who was tidying up his things with his back to Xiao Yan in the main hall of the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion, was startled upon hearing the familiar voice. When he slowly turned around and saw Xiao Yan, the expression on his aged face instantly turned to shock.
"Rock... Yan Xiao! You're really not dead yet!"
Hearing Elder Xuan's shocked words, Xiao Yan felt a warmth in his heart, and a warm smile appeared on his face as he said:
"Thanks to Elder Xuan and everyone else for their concern, I, Yan Xiao, am not so easily killed!"
As Xiao Yan finished speaking, Elder Xuan Xiao Yan before him, his old face beaming with barely suppressed excitement. He gripped Xiao Yan's hand tightly with his withered hands, seemingly testing whether the Xiao Yan before him was merely a dream. But then, Elder Xuan's eyes quickly reddened, and his voice trembled as he laughed:
"Good! Good! As long as you're not dead! Do you know that in the two years since the rumors of your death spread, the old man and the sect leader have been worried about your life and death every single moment! If it weren't for the Qing Mu Clan Chief's insistence, the young master would probably have already sent someone to kill that Mu Han guy."
Xiao Yan smiled gratefully upon hearing this. He knew the affection Luo Jin held for him. Between men, often there's no need for many words; a single act is enough to bring them closer. And that was exactly the case between Xiao Yan and Luo Jin.
"Haha, alright, I won't say any more. Let's go up first. Young Master has been waiting for this day for two years!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Yan didn't stand on ceremony and followed Elder Xuan's suddenly quickened pace, heading swiftly towards the sixth floor of the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion.
At that moment, outside the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion, those passersby who had witnessed Xiao Yan enter the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion and were expecting him to suffer a setback were now astonished to see Xiao Yan disappear without a trace, seemingly having successfully entered the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion.
They thought they would be able to enter the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion Cloud-Hidden Pavilion, but when one of them approached the still-open gate, the fine nanmu wood door suddenly emitted a loud, heavy thud, and the person who wanted to enter the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion could only sit and wait to be turned away.