As the capital city came into view, the setting sun hung on the western horizon, painting the entire city wall in a magnificent golden-red hue.
Xiao Yan sensed an extremely powerful aura suddenly appearing in front of him.
The aura was powerful and enduring, like a solid mountain perched in the imperial palace in the center of the capital. Although it bore the marks of time, it did not diminish its majesty in the slightest.
Based on a rough assessment, he should be around the Peak Dou Emperor.
In a remote region like the Jia Ma Empire, Peak Dou Emperor is already at the very top of the food chain.
Xiao Yan and Xiao Huohuo made no attempt to conceal their presence along the way, so when they approached the capital, Jia Xingtian inside the palace sensed their energy fluctuations.
His perception was extremely sharp. Long before Xiao Yan and Xiao Huohuo were still dozens of miles away from the capital, he had already sensed two unfamiliar and powerful auras rapidly approaching.
Therefore, before the two entered the city, Jia Xingtian had already appeared outside the capital.
His figure hovered in mid-air, dressed in a bright yellow royal robe. His hair and beard were all white, but he was vigorous and energetic. He had his hands behind his back, and his whole body exuded an aura of authority without anger.
However, when he saw Xiao Huohuo appear in his field of vision, his face was immediately filled with shock.
For the first time, a visible look of astonishment appeared on that usually calm and composed face.
His gaze fell on Xiao Huohuo.
" Xiao Huohuo!?"
A look of astonishment appeared on Jia Xingtian's face.
His voice held a hint of disbelief.
Two years ago, when Xiao Huohuo left the Jia Ma Empire, he was only Da Dou Shi.
The leap from Da Dou Shi to the Peak Dou Wang is a leap of two entire realms.
Moreover, he could sense that Xiao Huohuo Dou Qi far more powerful than that of Peak Dou Wang, and that transparent flame emitted a scorching heat that made even the soul tremble.
This is beyond the explanation of genius; it's a miracle.
Then Jia Xingtian's gaze fell on Xiao Yan, who was standing to the side.
The young man in black robes had an ordinary face and a calm demeanor; he didn't seem particularly special.
But Jia Xingtian was no ordinary person. He had protected the Jia Ma Empire for decades and had seen countless powerful figures. His eyes had long since become incredibly sharp.
He could sense that the black-robed youth possessed equally formidable energy.
Xiao Yan's cultivation system differs from that of the Dou Qi Continent, but the strength he exudes, in Jia Xingtian's perception, is no weaker than that of Dou Emperor.
" Elder Jia, it's been a long time."
Xiao Huohuo looked at Jia Xingtian, who had appeared in mid-air, and flew towards him with a smile on his face.
Xiao Huohuo always maintained due respect for this guardian of the Jia Ma Empire.
After all, back in the capital, although Jia Xingtian didn't directly help him, he at least didn't make things difficult for him and even secretly provided him with a lot of convenience.
"Good lad, it really is you."
Jia Xingtian looked at Xiao Huohuo, a smile appearing on his face.
There was a bit of emotion in that smile, a bit of relief, and a bit of the elders' sincere joy after seeing the younger ones succeed.
He reached out and patted Xiao Huohuo's shoulder, the force neither too light nor too heavy, like an elder looking at a nephew or niece he hadn't seen in a long time.
"Your cultivation has improved far too quickly in just two years."
I thought it was some powerful outsider passing through the Jia Ma Empire, but it turns out it was you, kid.
It seems you've suffered a lot these past two years.
It's not easy to endure so much suffering and still come back alive.
Xiao Huohuo chuckled, scratched his head, and was about to say something modest.
Jia Xingtian glanced at Xiao Yan beside him and asked with some confusion:
"Who is this...?"
His gaze lingered on Xiao Yan for a moment, a barely perceptible hint of doubt flashing in his sharp old eyes.
"This is a friend of mine."
Xiao Huohuo took over the conversation naturally, without any hesitation.
This was the story he and Xiao Yan had agreed upon beforehand.
Xiao Yan's identity is too special: a transmigrator from another world, Soul Master with multiple Heavenly Flames, and a clone whose main body looks exactly like Xiao Huohuo. These secrets are all unnecessary burdens for Jia Xingtian.
The less Jia Xingtian knows, the safer everyone will be.
Jia Xingtian nodded and didn't press further, but the lingering doubt in his eyes hadn't completely disappeared.
Just as they were about to exchange a few more pleasantries, the aura of a Dou Huang expert emanated from the direction of the capital.
That aura was completely different from Jia Xingtian's calm and composed demeanor.
It was colder and sharper, like a blade hidden in ice shooting into the sky from the capital.
The next moment, in Xiao Huohuo's perception, a very familiar figure gradually flew towards them from the sky.
Even before the figure got close, a faint chill had already filled the air.
"Well done, kid Xiao, you're really lucky!"
From afar, before Hai Bodong even got close, he shouted loudly at Xiao Huohuo.
His voice was strong and resonant, with a touch of the ruggedness and boldness characteristic of the elderly, showing no trace of the Ice Emperor who usually maintained an air of superiority at the Mittel Family headquarters.
He flew at an extremely fast speed, Dou Qi Wings formed from condensed ice reflected an icy blue light in the setting sun, leaving a faint trail of ice crystals behind him. He was like an icy blue meteor shooting from the direction of the capital.
Immediately, Hai Bodong's figure landed not far from Jia Xingtian.
He first bowed to Jia Xingtian as a greeting, then turned to look at Xiao Huohuo and Xiao Yan, his face full of undisguised joy.
Beneath those thick, frost-white eyebrows, a pair of piercing eyes scrutinized Xiao Huohuo from head to toe, marveling at him as they looked him over.
" Elder Hai, it's been a long time."
Looking at the familiar figures in front of him, a look of joy appeared on Xiao Huohuo's face.
After confirming Xiao Huohuo and the others' identities, Jia Xingtian did not linger.
Hai Bodong, beaming with joy, led them directly to the location where the Xiao Clan now stood.
He kept talking the whole way, telling Xiao Huohuo about what had happened in the capital over the past two years.
The Xiao Clan's current residence is located in a quiet neighborhood in the eastern part of the capital city, not far from the headquarters of the Mittel Family.
The house wasn't large, but it was exquisitely laid out. In front of the door stood two evergreen trees whose names Xiao Huohuo couldn't recall; their trunks were straight and their branches and leaves were lush.
A newly made plaque hangs above the gate of the house, bearing the two characters " Xiao Residence " in vigorous and powerful calligraphy, clearly the work of Hai Bodong.
Hai Bodong chattered on and on about all the trivial matters that had happened since the Xiao Clan moved to the capital.
However, Medusa's figure only appeared from behind them just as they entered the courtyard.
She remained as Bingbing as ever, her form-fitting long dress, formed from Seven-Colored Snake Scale, shimmering with a magnificent luster in the setting sun, making her resemble a goddess statue sculpted from seven-colored glass.
But the moment she stepped into the Xiao Clan's courtyard, the air in the entire courtyard seemed to freeze.
The moment Hai Bodong saw Medusa, his body stiffened for a split second.
His pupils suddenly contracted, and the smile on his face froze as if it had been frozen.
For Hai Bodong, the image of Queen Medusa had left a deep shadow on his mind.
He had witnessed the horrors of Medusa firsthand in the Tagor Desert.
Even now that he has recovered to the Dou Huang Realm, the deep-seated fear he feels when facing Medusa still involuntarily surfaces.
Immediately afterwards, the aura unique to Dou Huang expert erupted forth.
This was Hai Bodong's instinctive reaction in battle.
"Um?"
But before Hai Bodong could erupt, Medusa's gaze fell upon him.
A hint of impatience flashed in those narrow, snake-like eyes, as if the peace and quiet had been disturbed by an annoying fly.
She didn't unleash the pressure of Dou Zong level expert; there was no need to deal with Hai Bodong.
She only released a tiny bit of the aura of her own venomous snake.
That chilling aura coiled Entanglement Hai Bodong Hai Bodong an invisible venomous snake, making him feel extremely uneasy and leaving him frozen in place.
" Cai Lin!"
Xiao Huohuo spoke to Medusa, his tone tinged with helplessness.
Medusa snorted coldly, withdrew her gaze, and did not put any more pressure on Hai Bodong.
The chilling aura dissipated into the air as if it had never existed.
Hai Bodong looked at Xiao Huohuo Medusa, who seemed so familiar with each other.
His eye twitched slightly.
His gaze swept back and forth between Xiao Huohuo Medusa, his old face filled with disbelief.
What exactly is the relationship between Xiao Huohuo Queen Medusa?
He opened his mouth, wanting to ask, but then swallowed the words back.
Some things are better left unknown.
After hastily leaving behind a single sentence, it fled into the sky as if escaping.
"Boy, this is the Xiao Clan."
"You've been busy since you just got back, so I won't keep you any longer. Come visit the Mittel Family for tea sometime."
As soon as he finished speaking, Hai Bodong's figure flashed through the sky, even faster than when he flew there.
A Dou Huang expert was frightened away by a single glance from Queen Medusa.
Xiao Huohuo looked in the direction Hai Bodong had disappeared, touched his nose, turned to look at Medusa still had a cold face, and then looked at Xiao Yan, who was holding a teacup and had no expression.
Suddenly, I realized that being caught between these two icebergs might not be an easy life.