Chapter 56: Xiao Xun'er's Investigation!
In the northwestern part of the Jia Ma Empire, beyond tens of thousands of miles, spanning countless small nations and tribes, there lies a lawless region with no distinction between countries.
In this place, chaos, slaughter, and brutality are commonplace. Every day, the number of deaths rivals that of a full scale war.
This is the Black Corner Region, a no man's land. The most notorious fugitives of the northwestern continent gather here, where one can indulge in any desire.
Here, there are no laws to constrain you, no rules to follow, and no moral judgments to fear. As long as you survive the aftermath, no one will oppose your actions.
In fact, fugitives not only from the northwestern continent but from other parts of the continent also travel here, seeking refuge.
However, even amidst chaos, there is some semblance of order. At the heart of the Black Corner Region stands Jia Nan Academy the sole oasis in this lawless land and a place that everyone in the region dreams of leveling to the ground.
At the academy's outer courtyard, on a remote cliff edge, stood a girl in a light green dress.
"Come out," she said softly.
Her voice was ethereal, as soothing as the most exquisite music, calming and enchanting.
As her voice fell, the shadows beneath a nearby tree began to shift. Slowly, a green silhouette emerged, transforming into a humanoid figure cloaked in green.
"Young Mistress," the figure said, kneeling on one knee.
Xiao Xun'er turned slowly, her gaze settling on the figure. She nodded slightly. "Speak."
"Young Master Xiao Yan is still in the Magical Beast Mountain Range," the figure reported, hesitating before adding, "According to Master Ling's deductions, he seems to have discovered a Heavenly Flame there."
"Heavenly Flame?" Xiao Xun'er's expression shifted slightly, her delicate lips parting as hesitation and worry flickered in her eyes. However, she remained silent.
"What about the person following Xiao Yan?" she asked, her brows knitting.
"Uh… you mean that person called Lu Bu?" The green figure seemed uncertain, hesitant to mention the man who had encroached on their domain first.
But under Xiao Xun'er's sharp gaze, the figure shivered and quickly clarified, "That man has already left, heading toward the Tagor Desert and the Snake People Tribe. His soul power is immense, not weaker than that of the spirit following Young Master Xiao Yan."
"Our agents couldn't get close. Master Ling said the man had already detected his presence."
Xiao Xun'er's slender brows furrowed deeply. This was not good news. "Have you uncovered his identity?"
"…No." The green figure kept their head bowed. "There are many people in the Jia Ma Empire with that name, but none match him. Even searching through nearby nations, we found no record of such a person."
"What?" A trace of anger appeared on Xiao Xun'er's delicate face. "You mean to tell me you couldn't even identify who this man is?"
"It's the truth, Young Mistress. We couldn't find any information about him," the figure said, bowing lower in shame.
Despite scouring the records of the Jia Ma Empire, the Chu Yun Empire, and even the Luoyan and Mulan Empires, there was no trace of anyone matching "Lu Bu."
This man seemed to have appeared out of thin air, leaving no trace of his past.
Xiao Xun'er's expression shifted. Her anger subsided, replaced by deep contemplation. Her subordinates were not careless people. If they couldn't find anything, it likely meant that there was nothing to find.
"Tell me everything we know about him again," she ordered, her tone calm and resolute.
"Yes, Young Mistress!" The green figure nodded and recounted everything Master Ling had reported, from Lu Bu and Xiao Yan's first meeting to his battle with Yao Lao, their eventual agreement, and Lu Bu's departure toward the Snake People Tribe.
Since their discussions had taken place openly beneath a waterfall, with no effort to conceal their voices, Master Ling had been able to deduce much of their dialogue through lip reading.
"Achieved the level of a sixth tier alchemist in just a few days?" Xiao Xun'er's brows knitted tighter. Such a thing seemed utterly absurd.
For now, the man appeared to be a friend rather than a foe. But who could say for sure?
"Xiao Yan gege, you've truly left me with a difficult problem…" Xiao Xun'er sighed, waving her hand dismissively.
The green figure vanished into the shadows.
…
In the eastern region of the Jia Ma Empire, within the Magical Beast Mountain Range, a cave radiated intense heat.
Inside, a massive crimson flame roared, occasionally morphing into the shapes of wolves, tigers, and other beasts. As it flickered, a parade of beastly heads appeared, as if a stampede of spectral creatures had been unleashed.
This was the Twenty Second Ranked Heavenly Flame: the Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Flame!
Half an hour later, the crimson flames began to diminish, shrinking until they finally dissipated. In their place stood a young man, bare chested, emerging from the embers.
"Teacher…" Xiao Yan swallowed hard, his voice trembling.
But there was no response.
Xiao Yan's expression darkened as he anxiously focused on the Bone Flame Ring.
In the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's lair, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao had been forced to refine the Heavenly Flame without proper preparation. Crucially, they lacked Ice Spirit Cold Spring.
Yao Lao had used his soul power to replace the missing component, shielding Xiao Yan's meridians and assisting in the refinement.
The process had been grueling. Yao Lao had to endure the flame's searing heat while keeping track of Xiao Yan's Dou Qi flow and protecting him.
Against all odds, they succeeded. Xiao Yan had absorbed the Heavenly Flame, but Yao Lao had paid a heavy price, falling into a state of deep slumber.
Before this, however, Yao Lao had anticipated such an outcome and left Xiao Yan a note outlining his next steps.
Taking the parchment from the Bone Flame Ring, Xiao Yan read Yao Lao's words carefully. Without his teacher's guidance, Xiao Yan needed to find his own resources to continue his cultivation a time consuming and inefficient task.
Instead, Yao Lao recommended that he join the Alchemist Association to leverage their resources and accelerate his progress.
With the Three Year Agreement looming, Xiao Yan had no time to waste.
"Damn it…" Xiao Yan muttered, his head aching. Without Yao Lao by his side, facing the Cloud Mist Sect seemed impossible. At his current level, he was only a one star Dou Practitioner!
But after a deep breath, Xiao Yan steadied his resolve. No matter how difficult the road ahead, he would forge onward.
"Wait… Four star Dou Practitioner?" Xiao Yan's eyes widened in surprise. The Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Flame had raised his strength by three stars!
This was a blessing he hadn't expected.
"If that's the case, there's no time to lose. I'll join the Alchemist Association immediately and begin cultivating!"
Straightening his clothes, Xiao Yan left the cave, heading toward Black Rock City the largest city within a thousand mile radius and the best place to gather the resources he needed.
(End of Chapter)
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