"Is this the news of the Heavenly Flame? As expected of Big Brother Xiao Ting!"
Inside the Xiao Clan residence, Xun Er sat cross-legged on her bed cultivating a flame technique. Her strength had risen rapidly, and she had now reached nine-star Dou Practitioner.
She planned to raise her power to three-star Dou Master within four months of entering Jia Nan Academy, then push it all the way to Dou Grandmaster. That way, she could participate in the next Inner Academy examination and reunite with Xiao Ting inside the Inner Academy.
Not only her—Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin held the same thought. With the overwhelming power of the Woeful Poison Body and the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, they were confident that, given enough resources, they could definitely achieve it.
Needless to say, Xun Er would provide them with those resources, and the blessings brought by the Plane's Blessing alone would be enough profit for them.
[Once I get out of here, I'll teach this battle technique to Yun Yun and Yun Shan at Earth-level low grade. If both of them achieve excellent results and cooperate sincerely with the Xiao Clan, there's a chance they'll be granted mid-grade or even high-grade Earth-level equipment.]
However, cultivating it to the second form would be difficult. Without the talent to cultivate fire-attribute Battle Qi, understanding fire-attribute power would require a considerable price, and success was not guaranteed. The best method was to obtain another type of flame.
But that was not something Xiao Ting needed to consider.
Xiao Ting wrote a note, then split off a portion of his soul power to communicate with the altar beneath his feet, exchanging information with the people on the fifth floor of the Gate of Life and Death.
"Everyone, I was fortunate enough to receive the battle technique and the wind-attribute Heavenly Breaking Sword Intent from Senior Yun Potian. I will need to live in seclusion on the eighth floor of the Gate of Life and Death for a while. There is no need to wait for me on the fifth floor."
"The matter regarding the Gate of Life and Death has been confirmed. On behalf of the Xiao Clan, I agree to cooperate with the Misty Cloud Sect and fight alongside the Hall of Souls."
"Brother Yang, once you return home, please ask Instructor Ruo Ling for leave on my behalf. Tell her I will head to the academy before the entrance exam."
Although Xiao Ting had been hesitant at first, after the situation was clarified, he decided to cooperate.
Xiao Yan, who had received confirmation, immediately spoke to Yao Lao. Yao Lao then told Yun Shan, "In that case, have them gather the spiritual herbs needed to refine the Soul Purification Pill. I will tell you the required types later. Send the gathered herbs to Jia Nan Academy. Once I refine it, I'll have Yun Yun bring it to you."
"Thank you, Yao Lao." Yun Shan cupped his hands in greeting. "From today onward, my Misty Cloud Sect and the Xiao Clan shall form an alliance."
"Please forgive me for not being able to announce this publicly until I obtain the spiritual herbs that can resolve the method Protector Wu left in my soul."
"However, I will personally contact every trustworthy person within the Misty Cloud Sect and also reach out to Hai Bodong."
"That is the correct decision," Yao Chen approved of Yun Shan's choice. "If we announce the cooperation between the Misty Cloud Sect and the Xiao Clan now, the Xiao Clan will immediately fall into the eyes of Protector Wu, and both you and the Xiao Clan will have to pay a heavy price."
"Let us cooperate in secret for now. Once I resolve the danger lurking in your soul and you reach the Dou Ancestor realm, we will settle the score with the Hall of Souls."
The initial cooperation between the two parties was thanks to Xiao Ting's efforts.
Yao Chen and Xiao Yan accompanied Yun Shan to the Sect Master's hall and wrote down the medicinal herbs needed to refine the Soul Purification Pill. Since the formula for a Tier 6 pill was itself a valuable resource, Yao Chen naturally could not hand it over directly.
After completing the task, Xiao Yan was about to leave when he encountered the person he least wanted to see right outside the Sect Master's hall.
"Xiao Yan, what are you doing here!?" Nalan Yanran asked with a displeased expression and an unhappy tone.
"Hmph, where I go is none of your business." Anger surged in Xiao Yan's heart, but he recalled that the Misty Cloud Sect had just signed a cooperation agreement with the Xiao Clan. Yun Shan and Yun Yun had personally apologized and offered compensation to the Xiao Clan not long ago.
The grudge over the broken engagement had now been reduced to a personal conflict between him and Nalan Yanran.
Xiao Yan took a deep breath, summoned his Battle Qi wings, and soared into the sky. "Nalan Yanran, in two years, at the Nalan Clan, we will settle this once and for all. Do not disappoint me."
Nalan Yanran: !
He formed wings from Battle Qi—had Xiao Yan become a Dou King!?
"That is a flying battle technique." A familiar voice came from the side. Nalan Yanran snapped back to her senses.
"Teacher." Nalan Yanran quickly approached, asking in confusion, "Flying battle techniques are extremely valuable, right? Why does Xiao Yan have one? And why is he in my Misty Cloud Sect?"
"I cannot tell you the specific reasons until you reach the Dou King realm. It concerns the core secrets of my Misty Cloud Sect." Yun Yun felt complicated. Recalling the Journal from Xiao Ting that mentioned Nalan Yanran eventually leaving the Misty Cloud Sect, returning to the Jia Ma Empire, and rebuilding it, she smiled and said, "The former Sect Master has returned from seclusion."
"Teacher will soon undergo a trial. If he succeeds, his strength will increase dramatically, and I will take over his guidance."
"In two years, your teacher will do everything possible to help you win."
What had already happened could not be changed. It was better to look toward the future than to regret.
The chances of Nalan Yanran agreeing to Xiao Yan's request were extremely low, but she could at least strive to avoid a devastating defeat.
…
Time flew like an arrow; months and years passed like a shuttle.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
On the eighth floor of the Gate of Life and Death, Xiao Ting suddenly opened his eyes. A long sword floated before him.
This was the result of him completely mastering the wind-attribute Heavenly Breaking Sword Intent and his soul domain being continuously tempered on this eighth level, finally reaching the completion of the mortal realm.
His cultivation level had also smoothly reached the peak of Dou Spirit, just one step away from Dou King. He decided to continue working hard.
The Gate of Life and Death, created by Yun Potian with his lifelong cultivation and soul, was an excellent training ground for high-pressure training.
"Yun Yun, give me a Nirvana Pill or Clear Heart Powder. If not, a Tier 4 Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill will do. The Misty Cloud Sect shouldn't be out of stock, right?" Xiao Ting transmitted his voice to Yun Yun, who was meditating cross-legged at the fifth-level altar of the Gate of Life and Death.
"You're asking me for medicine?" Yun Yun opened her eyes, looking speechless.
My Misty Cloud Sect is cooperating with your Xiao Clan, not being absorbed by it.
"Do you know how much Senior Yao charges for refining one pill?" Xiao Ting suddenly asked.
"How much?" Yun Yun couldn't help asking.
"He dislikes refining pills below Tier 7. If you want Senior Yao to refine a Tier 7 or 8 pill, you must first prepare two sets of ingredients. Another set of equally valuable herbs is also acceptable. This is merely a processing fee and must be paid regardless of success. It is not considered the final payment."
"The final reward depends on Senior Yao's wishes, but it must at least be of equal value to the required medicine."
"However, there is one important point beforehand: you must have the ability to request an ancient medical expert to improve it and accept the benefits."
"Considering the relationship between Pill King Gu He and the Misty Cloud Sect, you alchemists should understand these rules."
"So, what does your Misty Cloud Sect think it should offer in return for Senior Yao refining the Soul Purification Pill for your master?"
Yun Yun: "…"
She should have agreed from the beginning.
…
…
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