Battle Through the Heavens Xiao Yan wore a look of disbelief.
After all, he found it hard to imagine how the other Xiao Yan had managed to do so much when they had swapped for just one day.
He had helped him find the culprit who had absorbed his Dou Qi Vortex, and had also intensified the conflict between the Xiao Clan and the Jia Lie Family, causing the two families to go to war.
And he had even given the three elders a thorough scolding.
Had all those things really happened in one day?
Could anyone believe it?
"Heh heh..."
Douluo Xiao Yan gave an embarrassed smile, shrugged, and said,
"At first, I thought that if your talent hadn't recovered after we swapped back, I should make a name for you beforehand and strengthen their impression of you as a genius."
"Who knew I'd find the culprit who absorbed your Dou Qi Vortex so quickly?"
"Anyway, from here on out, you'll still have to rely on yourself in the Battle Through the Heavens World."
Douluo Xiao Yan smiled faintly. The space around them had already begun to warp, a sign that their time in this mysterious space was nearly at an end.
"All right, then. The next time we meet, I definitely won't be weaker than you," Battle Through the Heavens Xiao Yan said with a slow smile. Was the other Xiao Yan already capable of fighting a Three-Star Dou Zhe head-on...?
As space gradually rippled, Xiao Yan's vision returned, and he found himself back in Holy Soul Village.
Only a single day had passed, yet Xiao Yan's heart could not calm down for a long time.
"Whoosh!"
The Soul Division Martial Soul appeared beside Xiao Yan, but as he examined it, he was suddenly a little surprised.
The Soul Division Martial Soul had originally been pitch-black, but its pupils had now turned silvery white, like two vortices connected to an unknown place.
Xiao Yan looked into the Soul Division Martial Soul's eyes, and a familiar pulling sensation came over him, as though his very soul were about to be drawn out.
However, Xiao Yan had a feeling that the Soul Division Martial Soul was now very weak, as though it had exhausted itself and needed replenishment.
Xiao Yan guessed that this was probably because it had connected him to the Battle Through the Heavens World, consuming some kind of medium in the process.
But as things stood, he had no way to replenish it and could only wait for it to recover on its own.
Although he was only in his fourth year, Xiao Yan had already completed all his coursework at Nuoding Academy, and his strength as a Soul Grandmaster was enough for him to graduate from the academy.
However, Grandmaster had already hinted that he had plans for the paths Xiao Yan and Tang San would take in the future, so Xiao Yan was in no hurry to leave.
During his subsequent studies at Nuoding Academy, Xiao Yan spent most of his time at Grandmaster's residence, reading through Grandmaster's research on Martial Souls. Aside from that, he continuously practiced the Xiao Clan's Dou Techniques.
Over the course of a full year, Xiao Yan advanced from a newly promoted rank twenty-one Soul Grandmaster to a rank twenty-six Soul Grandmaster.
Then, the familiar pulling sensation came again, and Xiao Yan met Battle Through the Heavens Xiao Yan once more.
As soon as they met, he saw the Xiao Yan from the Battle Through the Heavens World give him an excited look.
"What is it?"
Seeing how pleased with himself the other Xiao Yan looked, Douluo Xiao Yan guessed that he must have made considerable gains.
"In one year, I advanced from a One-Star Dou Zhe to a Three-Star Dou Zhe."
Battle Through the Heavens Xiao Yan's face was filled with excitement. He had risen two stars in strength in a year, and no one in Wutan City had ever reached the level of a Three-Star Dou Zhe at eleven years old.
"It's just... the cultivation method I'm practicing now is still an Earth Tier Cultivation Method that Xun'er gave me..."
"Earth Tier?"
When Douluo Xiao Yan heard that, his eyes went wide.
How could the little Xiao Clan possibly have an Earth Tier Cultivation Method?
"There's something unusual about that girl Xun'er's identity..."
"Isn't there just?"
Battle Through the Heavens Xiao Yan nodded and said, "But Father and the three elders are extremely tight-lipped about Xun'er's identity. I've tried to sound them out several times, but they dodged the subject."
"Since Father and the others already know, I'll just leave it be..."
Battle Through the Heavens Xiao Yan let out a long sigh, then turned his gaze back to Douluo Xiao Yan and said,
"Also, thanks to you."
Battle Through the Heavens Xiao Yan rolled his eyes at Douluo Xiao Yan before continuing.
"A year ago, the Xiao Clan and the Jia Lie Family began fighting openly and in secret. Half a year ago, the Ao Ba Family switched sides and chose to cooperate with our Xiao Clan. I reckon it won't be long before the Jia Lie Family falls."
"It's at times like these that you have to be even more careful."
Douluo Xiao Yan shook his head and said, "The Jia Lie Family has held sway in Wutan City for so many years. I don't believe they don't have a backup plan. When the end comes, they might choose to let the fish die and the net tear. And you can't let your guard down against the Ao Ba Family either."
"Don't worry. I'm the young clan leader now. I know all that."
"Young clan leader!?"
Hearing that, Douluo Xiao Yan pursed his lips and looked Battle Through the Heavens Xiao Yan up and down. His studies at Nuoding Academy were almost over now, so how about... going to the Battle Through the Heavens World to have a little fun again?
"Hey, there's something I wanted to discuss with you..."
"Stop right there!"
Battle Through the Heavens Xiao Yan waved his hand. The last time, the two of them had inexplicably swapped worlds, catching him somewhat off guard.
Within this space, their thoughts were shared to a certain extent, so he knew perfectly well what Douluo Xiao Yan was thinking.
"No way. Relations between the Xiao Clan and the Jia Lie Family have been tense lately, so I have to stay on guard.
"Besides, the mess you made last time still hasn't been sorted out. Even now, I don't know what lie to tell about the Soul Ring and Soul Skill."
Battle Through the Heavens Xiao Yan complained, but the bigger reason was that no one would willingly let another person occupy their body and interact with their family and friends without their knowledge.
Especially when that person was another version of himself...
Indeed, if they hadn't been able to sense each other's thoughts within this space, the two might instead have regarded each other as their greatest enemy upon meeting.
Douluo Xiao Yan understood the other Xiao Yan's concerns, but he truly had no intention of interfering in each other's lives either.
He found the Douluo World he currently lived in quite interesting.
"Do you think the two of us could use this Martial Soul to go to the same world?" Douluo Xiao Yan looked at the Soul Division Martial Soul, a spark seeming to ignite in his eyes.
In an instant, that spark spread like a prairie fire, and his idea grew steadily firmer.
"The same world?"
"That's right!" A glimmer of excitement flashed in Douluo Xiao Yan's eyes as he said, "From our last swap, both of our souls crossed over into each other's bodies.
"If we use this Martial Soul, couldn't we merge our consciousnesses into it and reach the world where the other person is?"
Hearing that, a glimmer of excitement flashed in Battle Through the Heavens Xiao Yan's eyes.
The battle between the Xiao Clan and the Jia Lie Family was on the verge of breaking out. If he really could bring the other Xiao Yan back to the Battle Through the Heavens World, it would be like having an extra fighter for free.
Likewise, he could use the Soul Ring and Soul Skill he had displayed before as a cover and shut everyone else up...
As the space around them gradually began to ripple, the two exchanged a glance and understood what the other was thinking.
The Soul Division Martial Soul slowly overlapped with Douluo Xiao Yan's consciousness, then flew swiftly toward Battle Through the Heavens Xiao Yan and merged into his body.
"Crack!"
As cracks appeared one after another, the space shattered, and Xiao Yan's consciousness sank into darkness.
In the hills behind the Xiao Clan in Wutan City, Battle Through the Heavens Xiao Yan woke atop a massive rock. He looked around at his familiar surroundings and spoke softly.
"Hey, brother, you there?"