Chapter 299: I Hope Xiao Yan is Safe!
On the azure bird soaring through the skies, Qing Lin clung to Lu Bu's arm, chatting away incessantly. Her sweet, bell like laughter brought an unconscious smile to Lu Bu's lips.
How wonderful. Compared to the slightly self deprecating girl she once was, Qing Lin had grown into someone confident, cheerful, and radiant. She was now no different from any other lively girl, her past insecurities nowhere to be found.
Qing Lin didn't notice Lu Bu's brief distraction as she continued narrating the interesting events she had experienced recently her battles, her travels, and her interactions with the other sisters. It was as though she were venting all the emotions she had bottled up during their time apart.
Lu Bu simply smiled and listened, occasionally throwing in a few comments or evaluations. Among all the girls around him, besides Xiao Yi Xian, he had spent the least time with Qing Lin, and he owed her the most.
Nearby, the unexpected reunion between master and disciple was in full swing as Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran spoke. After entering the Gate of Life and Death, Nalan Yanran had not seen Yun Yun again. It had long been a tradition of the Yunlan Sect for direct disciples to enter the Gate of Life and Death as soon as they reached the Dou Ling stage. Inside, they would engage in fierce battles, and only those who reached the Dou Wang stage could inherit the position of sect leader.
When Nalan Yanran had entered the Gate of Life and Death, she had already been a five or six star Dou Ling. Now, after about a year or two, she had reached the peak of Dou Huang, an achievement that surpassed Yun Yun's own success back in her day.
"The Jia Ma Empire has begun to shrink its borders," Nalan Yanran said, updating Yun Yun on the recent state of the Yunlan Sect and the Jia Ma Empire. "Under the leadership of the Grandmaster, the empire has shifted from expansion to a period of recuperation and rebuilding."
With the departure of Medusa, Xiao Yi Xian, and Yun Yun three of the most powerful beings in the Northwest Continent the Jia Ma Empire could no longer maintain the territory and influence they had previously expanded. Following discussions between Yun Shan, the Grand Elder of the Snake People, and the Grand Elder of the Poison Sect, the three factions decided to contract their frontlines and focus on recovery, training, and increasing their strength.
While this was good for internal stability, it also revealed their vulnerabilities to external forces. Factions that Medusa and the others had once beaten into submission began forming alliances to attack the Jia Ma Empire, the Chu Yun Empire, and the newly established Snake People Empire (formerly the Mulan Empire).
In response, the Yunlan Sect, the Poison Sect, and the Snake People did not hold back, using brutal measures to crush all invading enemies. However, with Medusa, a Dou Zun, gone, old rival Dou Zun level enemies on the Northwest Continent began to seek revenge.
No matter how strong Yun Shan and the others were, they were no match for Dou Zun level foes. Just when it seemed that defeat and destruction were inevitable, Qing Lin arrived with She Lin, the head of the Heavenly Snake Mansion.
She Lin, fresh out of seclusion and having broken through to the Dou Zun realm with the help of the Heavenly Luck Pill Lu Bu had crafted, joined the battle. The fierce fight not only forced their enemies to retreat but also gave She Lin an opportunity to consolidate her Dou Zun level strength. Following the battle, the Heavenly Snake Mansion, the Yunlan Sect, and the Jia Ma Empire formed a strategic alliance to share resources and focus on cultivating strength.
When Nalan Yanran left the Gate of Life and Death, she was not yet at the peak of Dou Huang but a seven star Dou Huang. With the help of Yun Shan and the alchemical resources provided by Fama, the president of the Alchemist Association, she slowly advanced to the peak of Dou Huang. Now, she even carried a Breaking Sect Pill in her storage ring, ready to use it when she decided to attempt a breakthrough.
Fama's assistance had been a gesture of gratitude to Xiao Yan. Before Xiao Yan left the Jia Ma Empire, he had helped Fama break through to a sixth tier alchemist, and Fama was keen to return the favor by supporting Nalan Yanran.
Later, when Qing Lin decided to travel to the Central Plains, she joined forces with Nalan Yanran because both Lu Bu and Xiao Yan were in the region.
After listening to Nalan Yanran's account, Yun Yun let out a long breath of relief. Thank goodness the Heavenly Snake Mansion had intervened and that Lu Bu had left behind such valuable connections. Without them, the Yunlan Sect would have had no way to resist Dou Zun level enemies.
"Teacher, do you know where Xiao Yan is now?" Nalan Yanran asked, frowning slightly. Xiao Yan had always kept a low profile, especially with the Soul Hall as an enemy. The title of "Dou Di potential" seemed uncharacteristic of him, making her wonder if something had gone wrong.
"Um…" Yun Yun glanced at Lu Bu. How would she know? The only time she had met Xiao Yan was on Tianmu Mountain. She had no idea where he was now.
"He's at the Falling Star Pavilion," Lu Bu said with a smile. "Senior Yao Chen is the Pavilion Master of Falling Star Pavilion, and Xiao Yan is now the Young Pavilion Master. Oh, by the way, Yao Chen has been captured by the Soul Hall."
"What!?" Nalan Yanran's face instantly paled. As Xiao Yan's close companion, she understood how much Yao Lao meant to him he was a mentor and father figure all in one.
Yun Yun shot Lu Bu a glare, clearly disapproving of his bluntness in delivering such distressing news.
"Don't worry. Xiao Yan is fine now," Lu Bu said with a shrug. "He's likely focusing on training and improving his strength to prepare for Yao Chen's rescue. Oh, I almost forgot I've made a deal with him. When the time comes to rescue Yao Chen, I'll lend a hand."
Hearing this, Nalan Yanran finally let out a breath of relief.
"Are you planning to head to Falling Star Pavilion now?" Lu Bu asked with a sly smile. The bird beneath them was raised by the Falling Star Pavilion, so it could easily guide Nalan Yanran there.
Nalan Yanran hesitated for a moment, clearly tempted. As much as she respected her teacher, Xiao Yan was her priority.
"Oh, I forgot to mention," Lu Bu added with a mischievous grin. "A while ago, Xiao Xun'er visited Xiao Yan. The two of them were… well, let's just say they were practically inseparable so lovey dovey that even a saw couldn't cut them apart."
"What? I'm not going!" Nalan Yanran's face darkened immediately, her previous inclination to go completely gone.
"Scumbag," she muttered under her breath. "He's not more important than my teacher."
Lu Bu chuckled to himself, satisfied. I hope Xiao Yan will be okay in the future.
"Ahem, Young Master…" Seeing the teasing smirk on Lu Bu's face, Qing Lin quickly changed the subject. "I just contacted Yun Yun, but how did you arrive so quickly?"
Yun Yun also snapped out of her thoughts and shot Lu Bu another glare. He wasn't just teasing Xiao Yan he was dragging Nalan Yanran into it too!
"Ahem… Well, I was heading toward the northern part of the Central Plains with Yun Yun for some business," Lu Bu explained, clearing his throat.
As Lu Bu smiled at Qing Lin, his hand instinctively slid to her slender waist. What an understanding little maid. Truly a treasure.
"Oh? Can we come with you?" Qing Lin asked, her concern evident. She didn't want to disrupt Lu Bu's plans.
"Of course. This trip is to find a Seven Colored Origin Stone for your Medusa sister. Your Green Snake Three Flower Eyes will be incredibly helpful," Lu Bu said with a grin.
"Lu Bu's right," Yun Yun added with a faint smile. "We're mainly targeting the Soul Hall, but having Qing Lin's eyes will make finding the stone much easier."
Perhaps due to her disciple's presence, Yun Yun intentionally kept some distance from Lu Bu. The previously shy and gentle demeanor disappeared entirely, and she reverted to the resolute demeanor of the Yunlan Sect Master.
"Let's get going!" Qing Lin said excitedly. Since advancing to the Dou Zong realm, she hadn't experienced any real battles or trials. The unknown journey ahead filled her with an inexplicable sense of anticipation.
"Alright, let's go!" Lu Bu chuckled, lightly tapping the massive azure bird beneath them. The bird let out a sharp cry before soaring northward at full speed.
...
To the southeast of the Wind Lightning Pavilion, two figures raced through the skies toward the pavilion like streaks of light.
One was a woman in a colorful dress, exuding a noble aura like a proud phoenix. The other was a white haired man who appeared to be in his thirties, with golden wings sprouting from his back. His handsome features surpassed even Xiao Yan's.
"Qing'er, are you sure the Wind Lightning Pavilion will have any leads?" the white haired man asked, his brows furrowing. "If even the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan couldn't uncover anything, how could the Wind Lightning Pavilion possibly have answers?"
"Whether they do or not, we'll find out soon enough," Feng Qing'er replied. A few days ago, they had discovered that members of the Nine Nether Earth Python Clan, who had always remained in the Beast Domain, had suddenly appeared in the northern region of the Central Plains specifically within the Falling Star Pavilion's territory.
This immediately put the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan on high alert. What were the Nine Nether Earth Pythons up to? Were they trying to ally with the Falling Star Pavilion just as the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan had allied with the Wind Lightning Pavilion?
This didn't make sense. The Falling Star Pavilion already had connections with the Green Luan Clan. If the Nine Nether Earth Pythons wanted allies in the Central Plains, they should logically turn to someone like the Yellow Spring Pavilion, which shared their sinister nature. Why approach the Falling Star Pavilion instead?
The more unusual the situation, the more likely it was hiding a secret.
In response, the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan immediately sent people to follow the trail. Strangely, however, the traces of Yao Zhuo and Yao Chi seemed to vanish into thin air. There were no signs of their return to the Nine Nether Earth Python Clan, nor any clues as to their whereabouts.
With countless questions lingering, Feng Qing'er and the white haired man began investigating the last place the two were seen. All they found, however, were a few drops of foul smelling, poisonous liquid.
Both Feng Qing'er and the white haired man were horrified. While they could tell the liquid was highly toxic, the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan, being unused to dealing with poisons, couldn't discern its origins. Thus, they decided to head to the Wind Lightning Pavilion in search of clues. After all, the Wind Lightning Pavilion's three elders Wind, Thunder, and Lightning were still suffering from poison imbued Dou Qi. Perhaps there was a connection.
"Hm? A magical beast from the Falling Star Pavilion?" the white haired man suddenly raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on the northern sky. He had spotted one of the magical beasts raised by the Falling Star Pavilion a creature with traces of Green Luan bloodline, making it easily recognizable.
"Where?" Feng Qing'er asked, immediately following his line of sight. However, all she could see was a vast, empty sky.
"Heh… of course you wouldn't see it," the white haired man replied with a faint smirk, a hint of pride in his tone.
Thanks to his friendship with Big Brother Jiu Feng, he had been able to practice advanced perception techniques. His vision far surpassed that of those of the same level, including members of his own clan.
Feng Qing'er's strength was already below his, so it was only natural that she couldn't match his perception.
"What should we do now?" Feng Qing'er frowned slightly, her dissatisfaction evident. However, she chose not to voice her displeasure further.
After all, Jiu Feng was the clan's foremost genius and next clan leader. His mastery of various advanced techniques made him immensely powerful, far beyond her or the white haired man's reach. Even Xiao Yan, with his so called "Dou Di potential," was no match for Big Brother Jiu Feng!
"We follow them, of course. I'm curious to see what tricks these humans are up to!" the white haired man sneered. With a beat of his golden wings, he shot forward like a streak of lightning.
Feng Qing'er's eyes glinted as she extended her wings and followed close behind.
...
In the northern region of the Central Plains, near the border of the Northern Continent:
"This must be Yu Jing Teng Jian…" Yun Yun said softly, raising her gaze to the distant mountain range. Though not particularly tall, the range was interwoven with deep valleys and jagged peaks. Its treacherous terrain was extraordinary, rivaling that of the Luo Shen Ravine.
"Huh… the energy of heaven and earth seems thinner here," Qing Lin said, wrinkling her nose in surprise. The energy levels here were nearly as sparse as those in the Northwest Continent how strange.
Even though this area bordered the Northern Continent, it was still within the Central Plains. Why would the energy levels suddenly drop so drastically?
Puzzled, Qing Lin's eyes glimmered with a faint green light. Three small, jade green flowers slowly rotated within her pupils as she scanned the dense forests and mist shrouded peaks of Yu Jing Teng Jian.
"My eyes can detect unusual energy fluctuations. Let me see if there's anything hidden here…" Qing Lin explained. Her special ability was an unparalleled tool for locating hidden foes stronger than herself.
A soft green light flickered in her gaze, but after a moment, it faded, leaving her brows slightly furrowed.
"It seems… there's nothing unusual. Just an ordinary mountain range…" Qing Lin said, confused and doubtful. Could it be that she wasn't using her eye ability correctly?
"Let's head down and take a closer look," Lu Bu said with a smile. "The terrain here is dense and full of deep valleys. It's hard to see much from up here."
"Alright. Yanran, stay close to me and don't wander off," Yun Yun instructed. Among the group, Nalan Yanran was the weakest and needed extra protection.
There was no need to worry about Qing Lin. Not only did her unique eyes allow her to detect danger quickly, but with Lu Bu, a Dou Zun, by her side, she was well protected. Besides, Qing Lin was a Dou Zong herself.
Lu Bu chuckled, taking Qing Lin's hand and leading the way down. Behind him, Yun Yun waved her sleeve, summoning a gentle breeze mixed with invisible flames to shield herself and Nalan Yanran as they descended.
Nalan Yanran pursed her lips as she noticed the flames. Her teacher's control over the Fallen Heart Flame was growing more refined it was likely better than most alchemists' mastery of their own heavenly flames.
...
Two hours after Lu Bu's group entered the forest, faint golden light flickered in the sky as Feng Qing'er and the white haired man appeared, their expressions uncertain.
"What are they doing in such a desolate place?" Feng Qing'er frowned, clearly puzzled.
Though she considered herself knowledgeable after years of cultivation in the Wind Lightning Pavilion, this was her first time in such a remote area.
"Heh… don't underestimate them. Their strength isn't weak," the white haired man sneered. With a flash, he disappeared into the forest below.
"I'm curious to see what kind of nonsense these foolish humans are up to!"
(End of Chapter)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Johanssen