Chapter 82: You Call for Backup, I Call for Backup Too!
Just then, beside Yun Yi, as a black scroll shattered, a black flame abruptly appeared.
Space rippled, a vortex slowly formed, and then, from within the vortex, a slightly slender hand reached out, pressing against the top of the vortex, and a figure slowly stepped out.
The figure, enveloped in dark black flames, waved a hand, destroying Gu Yuan's attack, and looked at Gu Yuan in mid-air with a strange laugh.
"Hmph!" Seeing that Gu Yuan had just intended to erase him, Yun Yi's expression immediately turned cold.
"Nihility Devouring Flame!"
Gu Yuan looked at the figure shrouded in black flames and said softly, "I didn't expect that palm back then not only didn't halt your cultivation but actually allowed you to advance further!"
"If I had known, I should have dealt with you then."
"Heh heh, Gu Yuan, you think too highly of yourself. It's true you defeated me back then, but to completely destroy me, I'm afraid you don't have that ability!" Hearing Gu Yuan's words, the figure's black flames immediately churned, and he laughed strangely.
He indeed didn't have that ability. To destroy a heavenly flame of the level of Nihility Devouring Flame and Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame, unless a Dou Di personally intervened, even a powerful Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint could only strip away the other party's intelligence, but not destroy them.
"Moreover, I have you to thank. If not for this thousand-year seclusion, I probably wouldn't have reached the Nine-Star Dou Sheng!"
Speaking of this, Nihility Devouring Flame looked at Gu Yuan with a hint of ill intent.
Nine-Star Dou Sheng, that was the most peak existence in this world. The Hun Clan already had a Clan Head at the late-stage Nine-Star Dou Sheng. After the great war between the Soul and Xiao Clans, Hun Tiandi was severely wounded, and it was thought that the Hun Clan's strength had been greatly diminished.
With the Hun Clan flourishing and the Xiao Clan crippled, the Gu Clan became the number one Emperor Clan in the world. This was not only the pride of the Gu Clan members, but Gu Yuan had always taken pride in it. Was it not enough to be proud of securing the top position without expending a single soldier?
Now Nihility Devouring Flame actually said that it was because of him that he entered the Nine-Star Dou Sheng. If that were the case, wouldn't the Hun Clan possess two Nine-Star Dou Sheng experts?
Such strength already surpassed the Gu Clan, which made the Gu Clan, who had always considered itself the head of the Emperor Clans (in its own opinion), wonder how to position itself.
"Merely early-stage Nine-Star Dou Sheng. If I get the chance, I will permanently seal you."
How could Gu Yuan not hear the sarcasm in Nihility Devouring Flame's words? He looked at the other party with a gloomy expression and said.
"Heh, you might never get that chance!" Nihility Devouring Flame chuckled.
"Father!" From the moment Gu Yuan and Nihility Devouring Flame appeared, things had gotten a little out of control. She had originally thought that bringing her father would easily solve the problem, but who knew that Yun Yi also had a backer, and one that was not much worse than her own.
This made Gu Xun'er a little anxious! Once these two started fighting, let alone Wutan City, even the Jia Ma Empire would be shattered, and Brother Xiao Yan…
Hearing his daughter's call, Gu Yuan, as a father, sighed inwardly. He had calculated everything back then but never expected that for a piece of ancient jade, he would lose his daughter.
Was this the consequence of not having experienced Emperor Clan education and growing up wild?
He only hoped that when Xun'er returned to the clan this time, the little ones in the clan could put in some effort to make her forget Xiao Yan sooner. Yes, in Gu Yuan's eyes, there was no possibility between Xiao Yan and Xun'er; they were people from two different worlds.
Now it was just a child being ignorant. As long as she returned to the Ancient World, with the passage of time, Xun'er would definitely forget Xiao Yan and become the pampered daughter of the Emperor Clan!
"Gu Yuan, is this your daughter?"
Nihility Devouring Flame's gaze suddenly turned to Gu Xun'er, and he said with great interest, "This familiar bloodline power, besides Gu Yuan, who else could it be?"
Being stared at by a Nine-Star Dou Sheng expert, even with Gu Xun'er's composure, she felt a chill in her heart and hid behind Gu Yuan.
"Nihility Devouring Flame!"
Gu Yuan's face was cold, his gaze fixed on Nihility Devouring Flame. Vast heaven and earth energy roared behind him, connecting heaven and earth. From a distance, it looked like an endless tide of energy, with the sound of crashing waves echoing incessantly.
"Gu Yuan, this won't scare me!"
Looking at the energy tide capable of shattering a Seven-Star Dou Sheng Realm, Nihility Devouring Flame's expression was calm. With a wave of his hand, he also condensed an energy tide. The two energy tides collided, eventually annihilating into nothingness.
"Hm!" With a muffled grunt, Nihility Devouring Flame staggered back half a step. In the recent collision, Gu Yuan had ultimately gained the upper hand.
Late-stage Nine-Star Dou Sheng, Emperor Soul Realm, Nihility Devouring Flame was completely surrounded. Even with the powerful combat strength of a heavenly flame spirit, it couldn't bridge the gap.
"Nihility Devouring Flame, hand over Yao Chen!"
"Hmph!"
With a cold snort, knowing that he couldn't get the upper hand alone, Nihility Devouring Flame flung out the transparent soul, gave Gu Yuan a deep look, and pulled Yun Yi into the dark vortex behind him.
Now was not the time to become enemies with Gu Yuan. When he entered the Emperor Soul Realm and could swallow the entire Ling Clan and Shi Clan without anyone knowing, that would be the doomsday of the Gu Clan.
Watching the two leave and looking at the nearly collapsing soul body in front of him, Gu Yuan turned to Gu Xun'er and said softly, "Xun'er, it's time for us to go!"
"Then Brother Xiao Yan…" Suddenly, noticing Gu Yuan's slightly furrowed brow, Gu Xun'er sighed inwardly and nodded, saying, "Yes, Father!"
"But can you save Senior Yao Chen!"
As long as Xun'er was willing to go back, Gu Yuan would not refuse this small request. He nodded gently, took out a storage ring, put Yao Chen's soul body inside, then took out a bottle of medicinal liquid exuding a medicinal fragrance, and dripped it onto the soul body. Immediately, a powerful surge of soul power began to awaken.
He raised his hand and tossed it, and the storage ring accurately landed in the unconscious Xiao Yan's arms!
"Brother Xiao Yan, this is the last thing Xun'er can do to help you. Xun'er always believes that a recovered Brother Xiao Yan, will become a strong expert on the continent. Xun'er will wait for you!"
Gu Xun'er turned back, reluctantly glancing at the unconscious young man, the lingering reluctance in her eyes making Gu Yuan's heart skip a beat.
Fortunately, Gu Xun'er did not continue to provoke Gu Yuan, turning instead to step into the spatial passage Gu Yuan had opened.
"Xun'er, it seems you've been doing well these past few years in the Xiao Family!"
"Xun'er will never forget the life in the Xiao Family!"
"Having a happy childhood, it wasn't in vain that I sent you to the Xiao Family back then."
"By the way, the ancient jade of the Xiao Family."
"Father, Xun'er has been in the Xiao Family for so many years and has never seen the ancient jade. It must have been lost during the past thousand years!"
"Oh!"
"That's good too. The ancient jade would only bring disaster to the Xiao Family. It's better that it's lost."
"Rip——"
In an unknown forest, a spatial rift appeared, and Nihility Devouring Flame slowly emerged with Yun Yi.
Nihility Devouring Flame looked at Yun Yi and asked in confusion, "How could that old fellow Gu Yuan's daughter appear in such a remote place?"
"That is the territory of the Xiao Family in Wutan City. It was there that I found Yao Chen!" Yun Yi replied calmly.
"Xiao Family?"
"Xiao?" As if recalling a bad memory, Nihility Devouring Flame shivered violently, remembering that peerless figure from back then.
He also had this surname, dominating an era. That battle back then was truly earth-shattering. The Hun Clan's ten thousand years of accumulation were largely crippled, all caused by that man.
He even caused Hun Tiandi to almost be defeated. Back then, he was only at the Eight-Star Dou Sheng Realm, and he had also fought against that person, deeply understanding that person's strength.
His gaze shifted, recalling something, Nihility Devouring Flame sneered.
"Heh, Gu Yuan really played his cards well. The remnants of the Xiao Family were taken in by his Gu Clan back then, right? Now he sends his own daughter to the Xiao Family. What is Gu Yuan's true intention?"
"What a brilliant scheme!"
Yun Yi's words, for the first time, caused a ripple in Nihility Devouring Flame's expression, his eyes openly showing contempt for Gu Yuan.
Why did Gu Yuan send his daughter to the declining Xiao Family? Wasn't it for the Xiao Family's ancient jade? He couldn't possibly have sent her to show the friendly relations between the two clans, could he?
Don't be ridiculous, who was he putting on a show for? Before Gu Yuan appeared, who in the Xiao Family even knew about his Gu Clan, this 'good friend'?
As for putting on a show for other Emperor Clans, it's laughable. Even the Hun Clan, who hunted down the Xiao Clan, didn't know that there were survivors from the Xiao Clan, let alone other Emperor Clans.
This hypocritical stance made Nihility Devouring Flame, who already disdained Gu Yuan, look down on him even more. Besides his cultivation, in what other aspect could Gu Yuan be compared to the five supreme powerhouses of the past!
"Since we accidentally discovered the existence of the Xiao Family, should we take the ancient jade from the Xiao Family?" Yun Yi turned to Nihility Devouring Flame, proposing an enticing idea.
Nihility Devouring Flame's heart suddenly skipped a beat, somewhat tempted, but he quickly calmed down and said in a deep voice, "An incomplete ancient jade is no different from a roadside stone. Since we already know the location of the Xiao Family, then this ancient jade will eventually belong to my Hun Clan."
"Moreover, Gu Yuan's daughter has stayed in the Xiao Family for so many years, so she probably hasn't discovered the ancient jade. Otherwise, with his temperament, why would he let his daughter stay here for so many years? Since it hasn't been discovered, we shouldn't act rashly to avoid Gu Yuan jumping the gun!"
Having endured for a thousand years, Nihility Devouring Flame still chose caution in this matter. He and Hun Tiandi had endured for so many years; this small amount of time was nothing.
"What are your plans next? You've also obtained the Bone Spirit Cold Fire. Will you return to the clan with me?"
After making his decision, Nihility Devouring Flame turned to Yun Yi, his eyes seemingly seeing the chilling flame within the other's body, and said with a smile.
"No, I think the outside world is more conducive to my growth!" Yun Yi rejected Nihility Devouring Flame's suggestion without surprise.
Yun Yi's words made Nihility Devouring Flame's expression falter for a moment, then immediately return to normal. He said amiably, "That's good. Only through tempering can one bravely scale the peaks and reach higher mountaintops!"
Nihility Devouring Flame left, taking the news of the Xiao Family back to the Hun Clan and informing Hun Tiandi.
Hun Tiandi showed no reaction to this. Even his Hun Clan's ancient jade, at this moment, he didn't know which corner of his storage ring he had thrown it into. An ancient jade that was easiest to obtain, yet also easiest to alert the Gu Clan, held no attraction for him!
Now everything was ready, just waiting for Nihility Devouring Flame to achieve the Emperor Soul Realm!
Watching the slowly closing dark rift, Yun Yi withdrew his gaze, feeling the Bone Spirit Cold Fire within his body.
This heavenly flame, ranked eleventh on the Heavenly Flame Ranking list, had been refined by Yao Chen and suffered so many hardships. Its internal energy was already extremely weak.
In Yun Yi's opinion, it was similar to the Fallen Heart Flame back then. If he were to absorb it, it would at most increase his strength by two or three stars, which would be a bit of a waste.
"Never mind, these are all things Jiang Yun needs to worry about!"
Without a clue, Yun Yi simply shook his head, looked around for a while, confirmed his location, then condensed dark black Dou Qi wings behind him. With a whoosh, he transformed into a dark black stream of light and disappeared into the night.
With the departure of Yun Yi and Gu Xun'er, the commotion caused by the events in Wutan City finally attracted experts from the Jia Ma Empire to investigate.
That power, like heavenly might, simply exceeded everyone's imagination. Even a Dou Zong would fall far short. What exactly was in this small Wutan City that attracted such powerful experts?
Jia Ma Empire! Jia Ma Holy City! Imperial Palace!
Jia Xingtian was even more aged now than before, with a hint of twilight in his eyes, like an old man on the verge of death, at risk of perishing at any moment.
"Cough cough… cough cough… A time of trouble!"
Looking at the intelligence in his hand, Jia Xingtian's aging eyes showed a trace of melancholy. He was even more worried about the future of the Jia Ma Empire.
"My small Jia Ma Empire, what virtue or ability do I possess to have so many important figures visit!"
Reaching out to cover his aching chest, Jia Xingtian said with a sigh of regret, recalling the terrifying young man from a few days ago, a shiver ran down his spine.
A sixteen or seventeen-year-old peak Dou Wang! What was his cultivation when he was sixteen? How many stars as a Dou Zhe was it?
"Great-Grandfather, your injury hasn't healed yet. I told you not to look at these things! Yao Ye will handle these matters!"
A somewhat chiding voice came, and a graceful figure walked in through the door.
The newcomer was dressed in a noble gown adorned with dark purple, with exquisite features and a tall figure, subtly exuding an innate noble and aloof temperament. A purple sash was tied around her slender waist, perfectly showcasing her tall and graceful figure.
At around twenty years old, she was at her most charming. Her rather cold gaze, at this moment, looked at Jia Xingtian, filled with helplessness.
"It's Yao Ye!"
"Great-Grandfather is fine…"
Seeing Yao Ye, Jia Xingtian replied somewhat guiltily, but facing her reproving gaze, he said helplessly, "Yao Ye, Great-Grandfather knows his own body. These medicines won't cure it. Now that the empire is in a critical situation, Great-Grandfather truly feels sorry for you. The burden of the empire has suddenly fallen upon your shoulders!"
"Great-Grandfather, what nonsense are you talking about? President Fa Ma said your injury will be cured!"
Hearing Fa Ma's words, Yao Ye was startled, but on her lips, she chided him somewhat petulantly.
"Come, drink today's medicine first!" She stepped forward, took the intelligence from Jia Xingtian's hand, handed him a bowl of medicinal liquid, and her peripheral vision swept over the intelligence, immediately causing a storm in her heart, even the hand holding the medicine couldn't stop trembling slightly.
"You saw it, didn't you!"
After downing the medicinal liquid in one gulp, Jia Xingtian asked as if nothing had happened.
"Mm!"
Looking at the nodding Yao Ye, and then recalling Mu Chen and Nalan Jie, who were even more severely injured than himself, Jia Xingtian felt even more bitter.
It could be said that Yun Yi's battle back then had severely crippled the upper echelons of the Jia Ma Empire.
"Yao Ye, Great-Grandfather wants to send you and Princess Yao Yue to Jia Nan Academy for studies!"
Putting away his worries, Jia Xingtian looked at Yao Ye and said seriously. Yao Ye and Princess Yao Yue were the most outstanding talents of the imperial family in this generation, one scholarly and one martial. If anything were to happen to the imperial family in the future, with them around, there would still be hope for salvation.
"Great-Grandfather, send Princess Yao Yue. Yao Ye isn't going anywhere!" Yao Ye's hand, which was tidying the medicine bowl, paused slightly. She shook her head and said calmly, her tone containing a steadfastness that even Jia Xingtian was moved by.
"Alas—"
"You've suffered!"
Sighing helplessly, Jia Xingtian said with some melancholy.
"Great-Grandfather, don't be pessimistic. Perhaps this time, Great-Grandfather can break through and find an opportunity to advance to Dou Zong!" Yao Ye, however, did not appear pessimistic, but rather smiled cheerfully, encouraging Jia Xingtian.
"Dou Zong!"
"How easy it is to say!"
Jia Xingtian was slightly stunned by the words, somewhat speechless, and ultimately left with only a sigh and unwillingness.