Chapter 269: Venerable Feng – Xiao Yan? The One with the Potential to Become a Dou Di?
While Lu Bu was in seclusion, deep within a mountainous region of Central Plains…
"Hehehe… Xiao Yan, no one can save you now. Come with me!" Elder Mu Gu let out a sinister laugh as an enormous hand of Dou Qi condensed in the air, ready to seize Xiao Yan.
However, just as he was about to strike, a fierce gust of wind roared from the horizon. Violent gales, like raging dragons, howled through the sky, shaking the heavens and earth.
"Damn it…" Elder Mu Gu's expression changed drastically. He turned his head in alarm, looking in the direction of the powerful aura rushing toward him. His heart trembled. "Brat, I'll take your life another time!"
With a cold snort, Elder Mu Gu's figure flickered as he sped toward the distant sky. Just as he vanished, a storm wrapped figure crashed down beside Xiao Yan with a loud thud.
"Where is Yao Chen?! Where is he?!"
Venerable Feng's voice was filled with urgency as he scanned the surroundings with piercing eyes. However, all he saw was Xiao Yan pale faced and filled with despair along with a raging, eerie white flame that flickered with both scorching heat and icy chill.
"Teacher… was taken by Elder Mu Gu…" Xiao Yan's face was ashen, his voice hoarse and filled with pain and defeat.
The mentor who had always guided and encouraged him was truly gone from his side this time.
"Too late…"
Venerable Feng's face turned pale. The worst had happened.
Amidst the mountains, an old man and a young man sat in silence. The air was thick with frustration and sorrow.
But Venerable Feng was not an ordinary man. He was not the type to be utterly crushed by despair. He knew how much the Soul Hall valued Yao Chen. He knew that, for now, Yao Chen's life was not in immediate danger.
He also knew… that there was still a chance to save him!
"Brat, now is not the time for despair. Yao Chen left you the Bone Chilling Flame he didn't do that just to see you like this!" Venerable Feng took a deep breath and spoke sternly.
"I know…" Xiao Yan's hoarse voice was filled with determination. His fists clenched tightly, veins bulging on his arms and forehead. "I will save my teacher!"
Venerable Feng was momentarily taken aback. He had expected Xiao Yan to be completely crushed, requiring his guidance and encouragement. But now, it seemed… he had worried for nothing.
"What's your plan?" Venerable Feng asked.
"I'll train harder, reach the Dou Zong level, then devour the Bone Chilling Flame to increase my strength!" Xiao Yan glanced at the flickering white flame beside him and spoke with determination.
Yao Chen had already erased his spiritual imprint from the flame, making it an ownerless Heavenly Flame that Xiao Yan could now absorb to strengthen himself.
However, the power of a Heavenly Flame was limited. He couldn't afford to waste it on breaking through to Dou Zong. He had to save it for the even greater challenges ahead!
Still, this was just a temporary solution. Once he rescued his teacher, he would return the flame no matter what!
A trace of appreciation flashed in Venerable Feng's eyes. As expected of Yao Chen's disciple.
"Brat, you're currently at… hmm? A Nine Star Dou Huang?" Venerable Feng's eyes widened in surprise.
"Yes. I took the Emperor Extreme Pill and managed to break through two stars by luck," Xiao Yan said solemnly. It was precisely because he had been so absorbed in his training that he had let his guard down otherwise, Elder Mu Gu would never have been able to find him and his teacher.
"Not bad!" Venerable Feng nodded, then furrowed his brows in thought. After a moment, he said, "Come with me. I'll take you to a place where you can find an opportunity to break through to Dou Zong."
"What?" Xiao Yan was stunned. He had mentally prepared himself for months of arduous cultivation, yet now Venerable Feng was offering him a shortcut?
"Don't be so shocked. You'll still have to earn it yourself. I can only show you the way I can't help you beyond that," Venerable Feng said seriously.
"Understood! I won't fail!" Xiao Yan's voice was resolute. The sooner he grew stronger, the sooner he could rescue his teacher.
"Good. Let's go!" Venerable Feng waved his sleeve. A fierce gust of wind roared to life beneath his feet, forming a massive azure bird that carried them into the sky.
"Oh, right brat, I still don't know your name," Venerable Feng suddenly realized.
"I'm Xiao Yan," he replied.
"What? Xiao Yan?! The one with the potential to become a Dou Di?!" Venerable Feng blurted out in shock.
"…"
Even in his distressed state over his teacher's capture, Xiao Yan couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"Haha… ahem… let's go!" Venerable Feng coughed awkwardly, clenched his fist, and quickly urged the giant wind bird to soar into the sky.
Meanwhile, elsewhere…
"The Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool is a strange, blood colored energy formed in the volcanic crater of Tianmu Mountain after an energy tide…"
Zi Yan stretched her tiny neck and peered at the scroll Medusa and Yun Yun were holding. "Sister Yun Yun, why are we going there?"
"To train," Yun Yun said, ruffling Zi Yan's hair with a smile. "Among us, you're the only one who hasn't reached Dou Zong yet. This place is extremely beneficial for Dou Huangs looking to break through, and it's even useful for Dou Zongs."
"Hmph, wouldn't it be better to just rob Wind and Thunder Pavilion again?" Zi Yan grumbled. She casually pulled a silver flower crackling with lightning from her storage ring and stuffed it into her mouth.
Their trip to the Wind and Thunder North Pavilion had been worthwhile. Without hesitation, she and Medusa had raided the treasure vault, happily accepting nature's generous gifts.
Their wealth had increased considerably. Too bad raw medicinal herbs tasted awful. If only Lu Bu were here to refine them!
"Enough nonsense." Medusa flicked Zi Yan's forehead. "We attacked Wind and Thunder Pavilion because they provoked us first. If we continue raiding them, we'll be openly declaring war."
She wasn't afraid of Lei Zun zhe, but their group was small. Compared to Wind and Thunder Pavilion's vast numbers, they were at a disadvantage. If war was necessary… they would wait until they found Lu Bu.
The truth was, if Wind and Thunder Pavilion had merely offended a powerful Dou Zong or even a peak Dou Zong, Lei Zun zhe could have stepped in to support his subordinates.
But when the enemy was a Dou Zun… that was a different story.
Lei Zun zhe wouldn't dare.
Instead, he would most likely beat up Fei Tian and force him to apologize.
Supporting his juniors in minor conflicts was one thing. But provoking a full fledged Dou Zun? That was an entirely different matter. What if that Dou Zun defected to one of the other Four Pavilions? What would happen to Wind and Thunder Pavilion then?
The Dou Qi Continent wasn't just about brute strength it was about power dynamics and politics.
In fact, Fei Tian hadn't even dared to report the incident to the Wind and Thunder East Pavilion. His subordinates had barely finished provoking a Taixu Ancient Dragon, forcing the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan's Dou Zun to sacrifice two drops of essence blood to resolve the crisis.
And now, they had angered another Dou Zun and two Dou Zongs?!
If Lei Zun zhe found out, he'd probably kill Fei Tian himself!
So, Fei Tian had swallowed his pride, emptied his personal savings, and restocked the treasure vault out of his own pocket.
Of course, the three elders who had caused this disaster weren't off the hook either they had suffered severe "financial losses" on top of their physical injuries.
"We're here."
Xiao Yi Xian lifted her delicate chin slightly and said softly.
Before them, a towering mountain range came into view.
"This is Tianmu Mountain?" Xiao Yan took a deep breath as he stood atop the azure wind bird. The thick, rich energy in the air made his heart race with excitement.
If the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool was truly as miraculous as the legends claimed, he was confident he could use it to break through to Dou Zong!
"That's right…" Venerable Feng nodded. "Xiao Yan, this mountain is no ordinary place. It is home to the Gold Swallowing Mouse Clan, which makes things complicated. Also, the Four Pavilions have an agreement with them elders like me cannot interfere."
"The slots for the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool are earned through one's own strength. Whether you can obtain one depends on you," Venerable Feng said.
"Mm… I understand!" Xiao Yan responded solemnly. He had never relied on anyone. Even when his teacher was around, Yao Chen only intervened in moments of extreme danger though, to be fair, such moments were not exactly rare…
"Be extremely cautious. Do not underestimate anyone!" Venerable Feng warned, waving his hand to part the mist before them, revealing several figures below. "The younger generation of the Four Pavilions is all gathered here. Don't look down on them; they are all stronger than you."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan's eyes sharpened as he looked at the figure standing atop a multicolored crane below.
"That's Feng Qing'er, the strongest among the younger generation of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion," Venerable Feng explained, noticing Xiao Yan's gaze. "She took first place in the last Four Pavilion Conference. Her strength is extraordinary she's one of the top talents among the younger generation of the Four Pavilions."
"She's very strong…" Xiao Yan said, his expression serious. The woman below wore a flowing colorful dress and stood tall with a noble and untouchable demeanor, like a natural born princess. Even in her presence, one might feel a sense of inadequacy.
But what truly caught his attention was the intense Dou Qi within her body, which even he found slightly overwhelming.
"Feng Qing'er… She must be from the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan. Her true strength isn't just that of a peak Nine Star Dou Huang," Venerable Feng said with a furrowed brow. "The Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan is not to be trifled with."
"Heaven Demon Phoenix?" Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. He remembered that Lu Bu had Heaven Demon Phoenix essence blood. Had he crossed paths with this woman?
Xiao Yan smirked. Even if they had met, so what? Given Lu Bu's terrifying strength and higher cultivation level, Feng Qing'er couldn't compare to him.
"Xiao Yan, this is as far as I'll take you. I won't go further into Tianmu Mountain," Venerable Feng said. "The Gold Swallowing Mouse Clan isn't very strong, but their patriarch is a Dou Zong, and they have Dou Zun level elders too.
"Moreover, the energy tides of Tianmu Mountain suppress the strength of Dou Zuns and Dou Zongs. Due to prior agreements, I cannot enter."
As he spoke, a crisp sword cry suddenly echoed through the sky.
In an instant, the dense white mist shrouding Tianmu Mountain was sliced cleanly in half. The cut was smooth and flat, as though made by a sword.
Four figures floated above Tianmu Mountain.
"Gold Swallowing Mouse Clan, come forth!"
A clear and icy voice reverberated across the mountain range, chilling all who heard it.
"What terrifying power!"
"Even from so far away… I can feel an icy chill all over my body. That woman is horrifying!"
"She's… a Dou Zun."
"Honored guests, please come in. I welcome you!" A trembling, aged voice responded. The four figures descended slowly, vanishing from sight.
Xiao Yan: "…"
Didn't they say Dou Zuns couldn't enter?
"Er… That woman isn't ordinary. She's probably a magical beast," Venerable Feng said awkwardly, his face twitching slightly. He had just finished explaining the rules, only to be immediately contradicted it was a bit embarrassing.
"Don't worry, Elder Feng. I know her background," Xiao Yan said tactfully, coughing lightly. "Teacher told me that she's an ancient magical beast known as the Seven Colored Heaven Swallowing Python. Her strength is immense…"
"What? Seven Colored Heaven Swallowing Python?" Venerable Feng exclaimed in shock. "That's a magical beast as powerful as the Taixu Ancient Dragon! But… weren't they supposed to be extinct?"
"Uh… I'm not sure about the specifics, but that's what Teacher said," Xiao Yan replied, scratching his head. How did Lu Bu even find this terrifying woman?
Actually… he probably knew.
"No wonder that woman can enter Tianmu Mountain…" Venerable Feng murmured, his eyes flickering with thought. If she was connected to Xiao Yan, perhaps she could be asked for help when rescuing Yao Chen.
Inside Tianmu Mountain, an elderly man stood nervously alongside two middle aged men. They were rigid and uneasy, unable to sit or stand properly as they faced Medusa and her group. Beads of cold sweat dripped down their foreheads they looked as though kneeling was the only appropriate option.
"H Honored one…" The elder's voice was sharp, trembling with fear.
Something was wrong!
Even though he was a Two Star Dou Zun, and this was Tianmu Mountain where he held the advantage, he couldn't muster any resistance against this woman.
Who was she? Even her aura was more oppressive than that of the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan! It was terrifying!
"No need to panic," Medusa said coldly as the invisible pressure around her faded. "I have a matter to discuss with you."
The three leaders of the Gold Swallowing Mouse Clan heaved a collective sigh of relief. The overwhelming predator's aura she exuded was unbearable like they could be devoured at any moment.
"Please speak, honored one. We will do our utmost to assist you," the elder said seriously, though he felt no confidence at all in front of her.
"My two companions need access to the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool. Allocate two slots," Medusa said, gesturing to Yun Yun and Zi Yan.
In truth, Yun Yun didn't need to enter. While the Blood Pool could benefit Dou Zongs, its effects were far more pronounced for Dou Huangs. However, she intended to use her Heavenly Flame to shield Zi Yan from the pool's fiery toxins.
"Of course! The slots are yours!" the clan elder immediately agreed. The Blood Pool wasn't worth the risk of offending these people. Besides, these two women were strong enough to earn slots on their own.
"Second, I need you to help me find someone," Medusa continued. "He's in the Pill Region."
"Yes, his name is Lu…" Zi Yan began.
"His brother is Xiao Yan," Medusa interjected, cutting Zi Yan off and patting her head. No need to complicate matters unnecessarily.
Realizing her slip up, Zi Yan sheepishly scratched her head, twirling her ponytail in embarrassment.
"Er… I've heard of him, but it will take some time to gather information," said Jin Shi, the clan patriarch, nervously.
The Gold Swallowing Mouse Clan was numerous and spread across Central Plains, with excellent intelligence capabilities. However, since the Pill Region was far away, compiling information would take time.
"Take your time… but preferably finish before they emerge from the Blood Pool," Medusa said coolly.
"Understood! Absolutely!" Jin Shi nodded repeatedly, sweat dripping down his forehead. The pressure was overwhelming.
"This is your payment."
Xiao Yi Xian flicked her fingers, sending a jade bottle containing two light blue pills into the elder's hands.
"Thank you! We will spare no effort to find him!" Jin Shi exclaimed, trembling with excitement.
Breaking Through Pills!
With these, plus the Blood Pool, the clan could potentially produce one or two more Dou Zongs. Jin Shi was overjoyed there was no way he wouldn't fulfill their request!
(End of Chapter)
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