After staying at Xiao Gate for about a month, both Yao Lao and Tianhuo Zun-zhe departed. Yao Lao returned to Central Plains first, while Tianhuo Zun-zhe went to handle matters Xiao Yan had entrusted him with. Once they were gone, Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel a rare sense of loneliness—but he quickly adjusted his mindset and returned to his duties.
With the current strength of Xiao Gate, dominating the Black-Corner Region was no longer a problem. Forget about Yanzi, a Five-Star Dou Zun; Xiao Yan's own surface cultivation level as a Nine-Star Dou Zong was already enough to make even the so-called top forces in the region tremble. After all, even in Central Plains, a Nine-Star Dou Zong was a formidable existence—let alone here.
With the help of the elite personnel Mittal brought back, Xiao Gate's financial endeavors also flourished. Auction houses stamped with the Xiao Gate emblem popped up across the Black-Corner Region like mushrooms after rain, absorbing wealth from all corners. Although Xiao Gate hadn't formally unified the region yet, in the hearts of the people, it had already become the undisputed king.
During this period, Qing Lin also successfully broke through to the Dou Wang level after absorbing the Dou Qi of several serpent-type magical beasts. Not long after her breakthrough, more good news arrived—Xiao Yan had finally located the elusive Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva he had been searching for.
Here's how it happened: due to the rapid expansion of the Mittal-run auction houses, several old forces in the Black-Corner Region began to feel threatened. At the time, Xiao Yan hadn't revealed his full Nine-Star Dou Zong strength, so although some Dou Zong-level powers were wary of him, they weren't exactly fearful.
One such force, the Black Emperor Sect, took the initiative to destroy one of Xiao Gate's auction houses in an act of posturing. Their sect leader, a Four-Star Dou Zong, believed that Xiao Yan—publicly known as a low-tier Dou Zong—would be easy enough to deal with.
The very next day after receiving the news, Xiao Yan set out alone and proceeded to completely massacre the Black Emperor Sect. When their Four-Star Dou Zong Sect Leader and his son were casually slapped to death by Xiao Yan, the region's forces finally realized in terror that the Xiao Gate master's strength had reached an unimaginably fearsome level.
After wiping out the Black Emperor Sect, Xiao Yan resumed his usual practice of scavenging loot. To his surprise, the sect's collection was quite bountiful—not only did it contain high-grade medicinal ingredients and rare treasures, but among them was the very Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva he needed.
Even more surprising was what he found in their warehouse: the mummified corpse of a magical beast. Though it had been dead for years, Xiao Yan recognized it instantly—it was a Heavenly Demon Phoenix. Judging by its aura, it had likely been close to the eighth rank in life.
Heavenly Demon Phoenixes were incredibly valuable, every part of them a treasure. Just as Xiao Yan prepared to store the corpse, the Nine Nether Flame within him suddenly surged forth and, without waiting for his permission, devoured the entire thing—including its essence blood, monster core, and even its skeletal wings—leaving nothing behind. Even with his usually steady temperament, Xiao Yan nearly vomited blood in anger.
However, following the absorption of the phoenix corpse, the Nine Nether Flame's color deepened noticeably. Additionally, Xiao Yan's Purple Cloud Wings underwent a remarkable transformation. Initially evolved from the blood of a Rank Seven Blackflame Purple Cloud Eagle, the wings now had been infused with the phoenix's essence, and possibly even fused with its skeletal wings, making them even more formidable.
The newly transformed wings now resembled the image of the Nine Nether Sparrow that had flashed through his mind when he first awakened the Nine Nether Flame. However, streaks of purple light patterns still traced across the wings, hinting at their hybrid nature. When Xiao Yan activated them, he found his speed far surpassed even that of eighth-ranked Heavenly Demon Phoenixes. The increase left him truly impressed.
If he had possessed these evolved wings during his confrontation with Hun Molie, he might've been able to escape her grasp with ease. This alone made the evolution a crucial life-saving trump card. But what excited Xiao Yan most was that the wings, like his Flame Mantra, appeared to possess a potential for infinite evolution.
This latest enhancement was even more astonishing than the previous evolution triggered by the Blackflame Purple Cloud Eagle's essence blood. The difference was not only in base strength—while the Eagle merely contained traces of phoenix blood, the Heavenly Demon Phoenix was a true branch of the phoenix species. The disparity was significant.
Future evolutions of this caliber would be difficult, however. Xiao Yan suspected only by digging up the ancestors of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan could he obtain stronger bloodlines. And although he had done something similar in his past life—after he became a Dou Sheng—at his current level, such a feat was still well beyond reach.
"Looks like I'll have to go hunting other high-ranked magical beasts," Xiao Yan sighed helplessly. Before his strength matured, provoking that particular race was not a wise choice. For now, he would have to find substitutes.
Unfortunately, acquiring high-quality essence blood was no easy feat. Worse yet, the Nine Nether Flame was extremely picky—it only accepted blood from avian-type magical beasts. That severely limited Xiao Yan's options in the surrounding Black-Corner Region. Even among the few bird-type magical beasts available, their ranks were too low to be of use.
Just as Xiao Yan was fretting over this, he suddenly remembered the map he had obtained from a certain imperial princess back in the Izumo Empire. That map, if he recalled correctly, detailed the location of a beast den.
"I nearly forgot about this thing." Xiao Yan retrieved the map from his storage ring and looked over the markings with a chuckle. If he could extract all the avian-type essence blood from that place, who knew how far his Nine Nether Wings might evolve?
"Looks like it's time to pay a visit." Stowing the map and the Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva away, Xiao Yan let out a soft sigh. With most of the required materials in hand, it was finally time to help the Xiao Yixian resolve her Woeful Poison Body.
The only problem was… she likely didn't even know what the Woeful Poison Body was yet. How should he explain it to her in a way she would accept?
And then there was the other issue. He had once told her that he would return after completing his affairs, but now… three or four years had passed in the blink of an eye.
Would she beat him up when he returned?
(End of Chapter)
---
This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on Patreon, There is 2 Chapters Ahead of Release for Free Memebers on my Patreon.
Support me if you like this Fanfiction.
Patreon,com/Fallen_Archangel_
(Remove comma for dot.)
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power Stone.