Chapter 173: Zi Yan Emerges from Seclusion!
"Boom!"
Suddenly, the space where the pill lightning had vanished abruptly twisted and warped. There, space churned. Then, an exceedingly vast and overwhelming soul fluctuation abruptly surged forth from within that space and ruthlessly slammed against Jiang Yun's soul fluctuation!
The sudden, terrifying clash made Jiang Yun's gaze sharpen. An incessant buzzing reverberated through his mind. There was even a faint sensation of dizziness.
"Hmph!"
Jiang Yun quickly regained his senses. His soul power rapidly compressed as he counterattacked.
At the same time, within the void, two equally vast and mighty soul forces shot toward the distant void. A faint voice echoed beside Jiang Yun's ear.
"Hun Mie Sheng—do you think my Pill Tower is a place you can come and go as you please?!"
"For the Hall Master of the Soul Hall to ambush a junior—this old man cannot pretend he did not see it!"
Within the void, the two vast and mighty soul forces condensed into two enormous palms and grabbed toward Hun Mie Sheng's retreating soul in the void.
"Old fools—don't underestimate my Soul Hall!"
An indifferent voice rang out. Within the void, several equally colossal dark giant hands took shape.
The two sides collided. A terrifying soul storm swept forth!
Not long after, the soul storm dispersed. Jiang Yun's soul power returned to his own mind.
At this moment, the Pill Tower's members were still completely unaware that a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering clash had erupted in the distant void. They were still marveling at the scene of Jiang Yun summoning the nine-colored pill lightning just moments ago.
Only a few old monsters with equally terrifying soul power wore solemn expressions as they gazed toward the distant horizon.
"I hereby declare Jiang Yun the new candidate for the three great heads of the Pill Tower!"
With Xuan Kongzi's proclamation, the grand event organized by the Pill Tower this time was also brought to a close.
Atop an unknown mountain peak.
Hun Mie Sheng furrowed his brow. The stinging pain in his mind indicated that in the clash just now, although the Soul Hall had the advantage in numbers, he had still inevitably suffered a hidden loss.
The Pill Tower had two Heaven Realm Great Perfection experts. At present, the Soul Hall only had him.
What was more, Hun Mo and Hun Qianmo, those two late Heaven Realm experts, had already returned to the Hun clan after the great battle ended.
"That Jiang Yun has already broken through to the Heaven Realm soul. He's become quite a troublesome character," Hun Mie Sheng said, looking at Yun Yi in the distance. He wanted to see the reaction of this perpetually unflappable young man.
As expected, after hearing Hun Mie Sheng's words, Yun Yi fell silent for a moment, then said, "I'm also about to break through. Leave him to me—I'll deal with him personally."
"In this recent war between the Soul Hall and the Pill Tower, the clan supported us with one five-star Dou Sheng and one six-star Dou Sheng. This has already stirred the dissatisfaction of the various imperial clans. Going forward, our actions must be even more cautious."
"Once Master breaks through to the Emperor Realm soul, there will be no need to care about their reactions any longer," Yun Yi nodded and said in a deep voice.
"This thousand-year-long struggle—in the end, it will certainly be our clan that triumphs!" Hun Mie Sheng gazed at the rolling sea of clouds in the distance, his face full of anticipation.
"Mm."
"Tap, tap, tap..."
A series of crisp footsteps once again rang out within the dark Star Region.
The newcomer was none other than the freshly appointed candidate for the three great heads—Jiang Yun.
By now, five days had passed since Jiang Yun had refined the nine-colored pill. In those five days, Jiang Yun's outstanding achievements had already spread across the continent along with those who had departed.
And as the Pill Tower had expected, with Jiang Yun being so exceptional, this rousing news naturally caused the Pill Tower's prestige to recover somewhat once more.
After dealing with the several visitors from the imperial clans, Jiang Yun had entered the Star Region to go into seclusion. Before leaving, Jiang Yun had also obtained Shen Nong's address from the old man, agreeing to visit him later to seek guidance in alchemy.
Before Jiang Yun entered seclusion, the members of the Yan clan and the Yao clan had already departed first. As for the Gu clan, they seemed to have some purpose. After speaking with the Pill Tower Ancestor for a while, they had actually temporarily settled within the Alchemy Domain.
This was somewhat beyond Jiang Yun's expectations!
But now was not the time to dwell on such things. Jiang Yun looked into the distance, at the purplish-black sea of flame that filled the Star Region.
All of this was formed from the starlight power the Three Thousand Burning Flame had absorbed over countless years.
Recalling the purpose of this trip, Jiang Yun sat cross-legged in the void and sensed the Dou Qi within his body. Because he had consumed the Soul-Shaping Pill, not only had his soul broken through to the Heaven Realm, but his Dou Qi cultivation had also advanced.
After all, it was a nine-colored pill. Even though its main function was aimed at the soul, the residual energy had still allowed Jiang Yun's cultivation to break through to the Two-Transition level.
Having made up his mind, Jiang Yun opened his mouth and inhaled. A fearsome suction force immediately erupted forth overwhelmingly. Mass after mass of exceedingly vast purplish-black flames transformed into pillar after pillar of fire, howling as they surged toward Jiang Yun's mouth.
The terrifying suction force formed a flame vortex a full ten zhang wide.
As the vortex's rotation speed grew increasingly terrifying, toward the end, it practically transformed into a purplish-black whirlpool of light. Low, deep sobbing sounds spread outward unceasingly, causing the surrounding space to ripple with wave after wave of fluctuation.
The moment the flames entered Jiang Yun's body, they were immediately refined completely clean by the eagerly awaiting Saint Demon Flame.
Thus, after a month, Jiang Yun smoothly broke through to Three-Transition Dou Zun.
As the Star Region returned to its empty, desolate state, Jiang Yun's figure also slowly dissipated within it.
"President Xuan Kongzi—"
Jiang Yun walked briskly toward Xuan Kongzi's office. Entering, his footsteps paused slightly. Then, returning to his usual calm, he smiled and said, "I didn't expect President Xuan Kongzi to have guests. That was rash of me."
"Hahaha! Jiang Yun, come quickly! This one here is the disciple of an old friend of mine. Though he may not match your terrifying talent, he is still one of the rare outstanding young talents!" Inside the office, Xuan Kongzi rose with a hearty laugh and pulled a black-robed young man toward Jiang Yun.
Hearing this, Jiang Yun walked inside. At this moment, not only were Xuan Kongzi and Xiao Yan present, but Tian Leizi and Xuan Yi were also there. Even Cao Ying, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, was present.
Walking in, Jiang Yun looked at Xiao Yan and chuckled lightly, "So it's Brother Xiao Yan! I hadn't expected that in two years, Brother Xiao Yan would have cultivated to the Dou Huang level. Your cultivation speed is as terrifying as ever."
At this moment, as Jiang Yun looked at Xiao Yan, deep within his eyes lurked a profound, intense suspicion—and a trace of certainty.
Xiao Yan's rate of improvement was even more terrifying than in the original story. Moreover, he already possessed four heavenly flames. It seemed his earlier conjecture could now be confirmed seven or eight parts out of ten.
The Dou Qi Continent also had its own Plane Spirit—and it was very likely in an awakened state, constantly granting aid to Xiao Yan, this child of fortune.
"Heh heh... Compared to Grandmaster Jiang, these small achievements are nothing worth mentioning!" Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and spoke with a face full of humility.
"You two know each other?" Seeing the manner of the two, Xuan Kongzi looked at them with a puzzled expression.
"We do. We crossed paths once in the Jia Ma Empire!" Jiang Yun nodded, then said teasingly, "President Xuan Kongzi probably doesn't know about this Brother Xiao Yan's heroic deeds, does he?"
Thump!
Noticing the look in Jiang Yun's eyes, Xiao Yan inwardly cursed. Before he could even stop him, he watched helplessly as Jiang Yun, under Xuan Kongzi's questioning, recounted his Three-Year Agreement in full, complete detail.
"Hahaha! Young men should have fire in their blood! Xiao Yan, you and your teacher are very much alike!" After listening, Xuan Kongzi roared with laughter.
Tian Leizi and Xuan Yi were also covering their mouths and giggling off to the side.
This drew a string of bitter smiles from Xiao Yan beside them.
At this moment, Jiang Yun looked at the group and said, "President Xuan Kongzi, this junior intends to set out and travel the world!"
Hearing Jiang Yun's words, everyone immediately quieted down. Looking at Jiang Yun, Xuan Kongzi nodded and admonished, "Although the Soul Hall has quieted down for now, there's no guarantee they won't secretly make a comeback. Be careful."
Jiang Yun nodded in acknowledgment. Then, cupping his fists toward the group, he cast one last glance at the ring on Xiao Yan's chest, turned, and left the room.
Cao Ying, watching from the side, felt somewhat stirred and eager. But thinking of her own strength, she felt a sense of dejection. Recalling the choice Xiao Yi Xian and she had each made back then, she once again felt utterly deflated.
Noticing his disciple's expression, Xuan Kongzi inwardly shook his head, not intending to meddle too much in matters between the younger generation. Then, looking at Xiao Yan, he said, "You old scoundrel—why did you refuse to see Jiang Yun?"
"How do you know this old man didn't greet him?" Yao Chen's figure slowly drifted out from within Xiao Yan's body. Looking at Xuan Kongzi, he questioned.
"When did you greet each other?"
"Matters of the Heaven Realm—a Spirit Realm like you wouldn't understand!" Looking at the utterly bewildered Xuan Kongzi, Yao Chen laughed with an air of unfathomable mystery.
Hearing this, Xuan Kongzi's face immediately darkened. Flustered and exasperated, he said, "You're only half-step! Half-step!"
"Half-step is still Heaven Realm..."
Watching the two bicker, Xuan Yi gazed at Yao Chen with a face full of tender affection, while Tian Leizi looked on with amusement at his two old friends.
Only Xiao Yan and Cao Ying exchanged a glance and simultaneously rubbed their brows. How come we never noticed before that the Teacher was this childish?
At the same time.
On Dragon Island, Zi Yan, who had been in seclusion, seemed to show signs of activity.
Atop a massive altar, a graceful, alluring figure sat quietly cross-legged at its very center. Her entire body was wrapped in purplish-gold energy, radiating dazzling light.
Around the altar, accompanying Zi Yan's breathing, terrifying energy storm after energy storm surged into her body.
At a certain moment, a terrifying aura quietly awakened. Zi Yan, who had been in closed-eyed meditation, abruptly opened her eyes—like amethyst crystals.
"Tch!"
As her eyes opened, two beams of purple, piercing light, like tangible streams of energy, shot forth violently from Zi Yan's eyes, directly blasting a stone pillar within the great hall into powder with a thunderous bang.
At the same time, a vast and mighty aura surged forth from within Zi Yan's body. Then, this aura, at a terrifying speed, began to skyrocket wildly.
"Six-star peak... Seven-star... Seven-star peak... Eight-star..."
In less than ten minutes' time, Zi Yan's aura had forcibly risen from the six-star level to nine stars. And this rise still showed signs of continuing to grow.
Had it been a human expert, such a sudden skyrocketing of cultivation would absolutely have caused their Dou Qi to become hollow and superficial. In severe cases, they might even be unable to advance for the rest of their lives.
But Zi Yan was different. This time was, in its very nature, a bloodline baptism. The power she gained all came from her bloodline. Thus, she did not need to suppress the growth of her cultivation as a human would.
As time passed, Zi Yan's skyrocketing aura began to stall, finally stopping at the level of Two-Transition Dou Zun.
"Roar!"
A mouthful of turbid qi slowly sprayed from Zi Yan's mouth. A clear, resonant howl, mixed with a dragon's roar, abruptly shot forth from her lips in a long, piercing cry.
The howl was like thunder, rolling and reverberating unceasingly throughout the ancient great hall, shaking this space until it trembled and quaked.
"Hahaha! Good... good! It seems Zi Yan, your harvest during this period has been far from small!"
Just then, a joyous voice rang out within the great hall. Zhu Kun's figure had appeared beside Zi Yan at some unknown moment.
"Father..." Looking at Zhu Kun, Zi Yan ran toward him excitedly. But just as Zhu Kun's face was full of tender warmth, preparing to receive his precious daughter's embrace—Zi Yan abruptly halted before him and spoke a heart-stabbing sentence.
"Father, where is Jiang Yun?"
"Tsk!" Zhu Kun inhaled sharply. Forcing himself to calm down, he looked at the expectant face of his precious daughter before him and slowly said, "That stinky brat left Dragon Island long ago. He went to the Pill Tower in the Central Plains."
"Got it!" Nodding, Zi Yan stepped lightly and briskly, heading straight for the outside without a backward glance.
Watching this scene, Zhu Kun was somewhat dumbstruck. He followed Zi Yan and asked, "Zi Yan, where are you going?"
"To find Jiang Yun!" Zi Yan looked back at Zhu Kun and spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Then, seeming to think of something, she sized Zhu Kun up and down, grabbed his arm, and laughed, "Right! Father, your cultivation is so high—you can get me to the Pill Tower faster and more directly! Send me there!"
Zhu Kun's eyelid twitched violently. His heart was instantly flooded with bitter jealousy. But looking at Zi Yan's expectant face, he said gently, "Jiang Yun has now gone to the Beast Domain..."
"The Beast Domain? Then that's close! No need for Father to send me. I'll go find him myself!" Before Zhu Kun could even finish, Zi Yan, impatient and eager, had already torn open a spatial rift and bounced away. Only Zhu Kun remained, standing alone in dejected gloom.
"Cough, cough... It's rare to see His Majesty at a loss for words. I imagine, in this world, only Princess Zi Yan can accomplish such a thing!"
Just then, the sound of coughing rang out. An exceptionally aged and weathered figure slowly appeared behind Zhu Kun. His voice carried a hint of teasing.
"Hmph—my own daughter! If I don't spoil her, who will?!" Zhu Kun turned his head to look at this old subordinate who had followed him for a lifetime and spoke grumpily.
Watching the elder still smiling at him, Zhu Kun said irritably, "How is your body? That kid Jiang Yun is already able to refine eighth-tier, nine-colored pills. I believe he'll soon break through to become a Treasure Pill Grandmaster. Mystic Pill Grandmaster isn't far off either. When the time comes, the problem with your body can be resolved!"
"No need. Zhu Ming's days were already numbered. To have been able to see Your Majesty once more—I can die without regrets. It's only a pity that Zhu Ming's strength was insufficient and I could not rescue Your Majesty..."
"You wretched fool! Without my permission, you are not allowed to die!" Before Zhu Ming could finish, Zhu Kun cut him off harshly.
Listening to Zhu Kun's rough words, a touched look flickered through Zhu Ming's eyes. The Old Dragon Emperor—still the same, sharp-tongued but soft-hearted.
Zhu Ming had been the Third Elder of the Ancient Dragon Clan back then. Zhu Mu and Zhu Wu ranked above him—the Grand Elder and Second Elder, respectively.
The three of them had followed Zhu Kun through thick and thin. They had been Zhu Kun's indispensable right and left hands.