Western Region, Lengcui City.
Inside the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion.
Half a year has passed since that great battle. During this time, Xiao Yan has been in a deep sleep. Although his injuries have recovered by nearly 90%, there is still no sign of Xiao Yan waking up.
Inside the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion, Luo Jin and Zhang Yi frowned as they looked at Xiao Yan lying on the special stone bed in front of them, a hint of worry in their eyes.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Yan was so badly injured this time. Half a year has passed, and he still shows no signs of waking up. It is unknown how long he will remain in this state.
In the past six months, Elder Luo had traveled back and forth many times, but each time he saw Xiao Yan in this state, he could only shake his head helplessly, observe for a few days, and then return to the Southern Region.
As Xiao Yan fell into a deep sleep, the news about Xiao Yan gradually subsided. Some even speculated that Xiao Yan might have succumbed to his injuries after the great battle.
This new information immediately caused another uproar in the Western Region.
Most people agreed with this answer. After all, Dou Di is Dou Di, and it's impossible for a mere Half-Emperor to easily contend with him. Moreover, Xiao Yan is only a Five-Star Half-Emperor, which makes no sense.
Of course, there are also some people who still believe that Xiao Yan is still alive, but compared to others, these people are much fewer. After all, theoretically speaking, the above explanation is not wrong, but they still believe that perhaps Xiao Yan is not dead, but has just left the Western Region.
Of course, none of that matters. What matters is that all information about Xiao Yan has vanished with the wind in this vast Western Region.
However, the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease. It seems that there are always some people unwilling to let Xiao Yan's name fade away. Of course, many of them also have ulterior motives.
Half a year after Xiao Yan fell into a deep sleep, another astonishing piece of news suddenly emerged from the Western Region, which had gradually calmed down. As soon as this news spread, Xiao Yan's name resounded throughout the Western Region once again.
"Anyone who sees Xiao Yan Xiao Yan and reports his location, or captures him alive and brings him to any of the Four Great Sects while he is still alive, will receive a joint reward from Four Great Sects."
One of the contents of the bounty is twelve Emperor Grade Pill. As for the other items, they include all kinds of Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills, and they are all world-shaking treasures that would drive people crazy.
Although they didn't know whether the information was true or false, when everyone saw that the Four Great Sects hadn't given a definite response, they immediately understood. As a result, the Western Region, which had only recently calmed down, were once again thrown into turmoil.
And Xiao Yan's name once again resounded in every corner of the Western Region.
Seemingly to ensure that someone could find Xiao Yan, shortly after this message was sent out, more drawings of Xiao Yan's face flew out from unknown corners, giving everyone a clear understanding of Xiao Yan's appearance.
Of course, despite this, this kind of drawing paper was only distributed in some large cities, and naturally no one paid attention to it in smaller towns and cities.
As for Lengcui City, as the largest city on the southwestern border and a major city with a teleportation array, not a single message related to Xiao Yan has ever been sent from here. This is because this is the jurisdiction of the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion, and even the Four Great Sects have been blacklisted here. How could any news about Xiao Yan possibly reach here?
"Young Master, the Western Lin Region have been quite turbulent lately!"
After the two left the attic, Zhang Yi frowned and spoke softly to Luo Jin.
Because Xiao Yan was injured and needed to recuperate, Cloud-Hidden Pavilion had announced its closure half a year ago. Therefore, apart from Xiao Yan on the upper floor, the other five floors of the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion are now empty, so there is no need to worry about the presence of outsiders.
"Hmph, the Four Great Sects, these guys still haven't given up. They're still eyeing the Heavenly Severing Steps. If it weren't for Fifth Grandfather forbidding me from sending anyone, I would have wiped you all out long ago!"
The mere mention of the Four Great Sects sent a chill down Luo Jin's spine. Although half a year had passed and his injuries had healed, his killing intent toward the Four Great Sects had only grown stronger.
Especially since Xiao Yan is still unconscious, Luo Jin's killing intent only intensifies. However, due to Luo Ao, he is helpless. Even though the Four Great Sects are openly hunting down Xiao Yan, there is nothing he can do.
Luo Jin understood that it wasn't that Luo Ao couldn't eliminate the four sects, but rather that he didn't want Luo Jin to live under his protection forever. What Luo Ao wanted to see was Luo Jin's own growth; he hoped that Luo Jin could have his own pursuits and goals.
If it were before, Luo Jin would have wandered around and obtained what he needed through his own strength, and Luo Ao might have praised him a bit. But since Luo Ao met Xiao Yan, his attitude towards disciplining his junior has changed somewhat.
Xiao Yan's fighting spirit is something rarely seen in the younger generation. Of course, there are similar examples, but most of them are just weak and unmotivated, full of arrogance but lacking in strength. They may seem to have some skills, but they are not up to par. In a real battle, they can only last for a short while and cannot last long.
But Xiao Yan was different. What made him different was that he had strength, he had the will to fight, and he also managed to survive the great battle.
Whether it was luck or not, Xiao Yan did survive, and that's enough. Besides, in some ways, isn't luck also a factor in success?
Coming to his senses, Luo Jin stared sharply at the space in front of him, his eyes surging with killing intent.
"Furthermore, news has come that the Cloud Immortal Sect in the Southern Region has also withdrawn its personnel stationed there, and the Southern Region border is now deserted."
Looking at Luo Jin before him, Zhang Yi felt a hint of satisfaction deep in his old eyes. How could he not know the meaning of his ancestor? Seeing Luo Jin like this, as Luo Jin's guardian, he naturally felt gratified.
"Hiss... Cloud Immortal Sect? They even withdrew? So, the Ghost Hall in the Southern Region has been abolished, otherwise, they certainly wouldn't have retreated entirely."
Luo Jin exclaimed in surprise, then muttered his analysis in a low voice.
"Yes, and also, not long ago, our people discovered that they had met an elder of the Cloud Immortal Sect through a teleportation array."
Zhang Yi followed beside Luo Jin, speaking carefully as they descended the stairs.
"Oh? An elder from the Cloud Immortal Sect? Heh... What, they're getting restless now that we've left the Southern Region? Not only are they giving up their territory, but they're also getting involved in this mess in the Western Region. Are they trying to fish in troubled waters?"
Luo Jin raised an eyebrow slightly, his expression showing a hint of surprise. The messages he had received recently were all about the Southern Region. Xiao Yan had left the Southern Region, and unexpectedly, these people had taken action immediately. It seemed that there was more to this than met the eye.
"No, I believe his reason for this trip is not that he was sent by the Cloud Immortal Sect, but rather that he has another purpose."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yi frowned, rubbing his fingers together, and said softly.
How so?
Luo Jin glanced at Zhang Yi and asked softly.
"Young Master, do you still remember that our friend Xiao Yan possesses a skill that allows him to summon an avatar whose strength is nearly equal to his original body? That technique was obtained from an elder of the Cloud Immortal Sect."
"Hiss... You mean, Yuan Qing from the Cloud Immortal Sect?"
Luo Jin was taken aback, then couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "So, Yuan Qing's purpose in this trip is probably to find Xiao Yan. It's because he heard that Xiao Yan is in the Western Region that he took advantage of the evacuation to go to the Western Region alone to find Xiao Yan."
"Bang!"
However, just as Luo Jin uttered the shocking words, a violent explosion suddenly erupted from the attic upstairs.
The next moment, Luo Jin, who was walking down, suddenly turned around. At the same time, Zhang Yi behind him also turned around and looked up at the sixth-floor pavilion. Their eyes were filled with an excited and ecstatic expression.
Meanwhile, in the attic on the sixth floor, Xiao Yan, who had been sitting up with his eyes closed and his body burning with starlight flames, had his Heavenly Flames enter his body, and his aura was as powerful as a soaring dragon.
Sensing the familiar aura emanating from upstairs, Luo Jin and Zhang Yi couldn't help but exclaim in surprise:
Xiao Yan is awake!