Tagore Desert Outskirts, Amidst the Mountains
In a cave, atop a massive boulder, a pale-faced youth's complexion gradually regained its rosy hue. His eyelids trembled faintly before slowly opening, revealing a trace of confusion in his gaze.
"Are you awake?" A faint, aged chuckle sounded beside the youth's ear.
Xiao Yan slightly raised his head, looking toward Yao Lao, who stood nearby with a gentle smile. The haze in his eyes cleared bit by bit.
"Teacher, did the technique's evolution succeed?"
Recalling the excruciating pain before he lost consciousness, a flicker of dread passed through Xiao Yan's eyes. He had thought he wouldn't make it, yet here he was, awake once more.
"Heh, why don't you feel it for yourself? Then you'll know!" Yao Lao didn't answer directly, instead responding with a playful grin.
Seeing Yao Lao's expression, Xiao Yan knew there was likely no issue. He relaxed, nodded slightly, and closed his eyes to inspect his body's inner state.
Moments later, Xiao Yan couldn't help but draw a sharp breath, suppressing the overwhelming excitement surging within him.
The cyan Dou Qi flowing through his body was clearly far superior to the purple Dou Qi of before. The cyclone within him had expanded more than tenfold compared to its previous size.
With a nimble flip, he leaped off the boulder. With a mere thought, a cyan Dou Qi gauze robe materialized around him in the blink of an eye. Cyan flames danced across the robe, causing the surrounding air to subtly distort.
"Haha, Teacher, I did it! I really did it!" Xiao Yan's face lit up with unrestrained joy, his laughter echoing through the cave.
"Mm!" Yao Lao watched the ecstatic Xiao Yan, nodding with a smile. "Congratulations. You've proven that the Flame Mantra can indeed evolve by devouring Heavenly Flames!"
"This means, from this moment on, its potential is virtually limitless. And as the one cultivating it, your potential is equally boundless!"
Yao Lao's words reverberated in Xiao Yan's ears, amplifying his joy. At last, he was no longer the useless trash everyone in the Xiao Clan had scorned.
"Alright, enough about the technique for now. Come with me to meet someone!" Yao Lao waved a hand, dispersing the soul energy enveloping the area.
"Meet someone?" Xiao Yan's excitement gradually settled, and he looked at Yao Lao with confusion. Seeing no further explanation forthcoming, he shook his head and followed.
As they walked, Xiao Yan rubbed his chin, pondering for a moment before asking softly, "Teacher, do you think I'll ever surpass Brother Bai?"
Yao Lao chuckled, amused. He hadn't expected his disciple's first thought to be not of Nalan Yanran but of Xiao Bai. After a brief pause, he said hesitantly, "Theoretically, as long as you have Heavenly Flames, surpassing that kid is entirely possible."
"Heh, great! Once I grow stronger, I'll definitely give that guy a thrashing!" Xiao Yan shook his fist, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Before he could finish, Yao Lao swiftly covered his mouth, silencing him.
"Mmph, w-wha's goin' on?" Xiao Yan mumbled, looking puzzled at Yao Lao, whose expression had tensed slightly.
Suddenly, an overwhelming pressure descended, sending a chill from Xiao Yan's feet to his head. He shivered involuntarily.
"Who did you say you're going to thrash?" A cold, clear voice drifted in from outside the cave.
"Haha, nothing, nothing! Xiao Bai and this kid grew up together; they're close. He's just joking!" Yao Lao waved a hand, dispersing the pressure. He shot Xiao Yan a look, laughing awkwardly to smooth things over.
Xiao Yan's startled expression relaxed, and he let out a breath, hurriedly glancing at Yao Lao for an explanation.
"Don't talk nonsense, little Yanzi!" Yao Lao hissed under his breath, exasperated.
"Teacher, you know I was joking!" Xiao Yan scratched his head, puzzled. "Who's that?"
"Queen Medusa!" Yao Lao patted his shoulder. "Let's go meet her. Don't be rude! This time, your survival through the Flame Mantra's evolution owes much to her. She had the Ice Spirit Cold Spring. Without it, when the Heavenly Flame erupted, even I, with only Heavenly Flames at hand, wouldn't have known what to do!"
"Queen Medusa!"
Xiao Yan swallowed hard. No wonder her tone was so icy. It's because of Brother Bai!
Having spent considerable time in the Tagore Desert, how could he not have heard of Queen Medusa's fearsome reputation? She was the kind of figure who could hush a crying child in the night.
This sister-in-law seems to have quite a temper. I'll need to tread carefully, Xiao Yan thought to himself.
___
Atop the Mountain Range
Xiao Yan finally laid eyes on the legendary Queen Medusa. Standing at the cliff's edge, hands clasped behind her back, was a figure in a golden-red brocade robe. His eyes darted briefly before he hurried forward, clasping his fists in a respectful salute. "Xiao Yan, greetings to Sister-in-Law!"
Medusa froze. Her jade hands, hidden behind her, clenched briefly. The corners of her lips twitched upward ever so slightly. Her beautiful eyes flicked toward Xiao Yan, and she said coolly, "This Queen has no such relationship with him. Don't address me so carelessly!"
"…" Xiao Yan.
"…" Yao Lao.
No relationship? Who're you kidding? Xiao Yan rolled his eyes. What was that pressure earlier?
And what was with her attacking me before? Yao Lao thought, also rolling his eyes. Tone it down a bit; you can't even hide that smile!
"Very well, this Queen will take her leave since all is settled." Medusa waved a jade hand. Ripples spread through the surrounding space, and her form began to fade.
"Thank you, Sister-in-Law! Safe travels, Sister-in-Law!" Xiao Yan's eyes lit up at the display of spatial power, and he called out enthusiastically.
"Silence! I said, I have no such connection with him!" A faintly flustered voice echoed across the mountains.
Then, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao saw a golden light streak through the air and hover before Xiao Yan.
"Take this token. If you encounter trouble in the Tagore Desert, show it, and the Snake-People Clan will not make things difficult for you."
"Heh, thank you, Sister-in-Law! You're too generous!" Noticing the lighter tone in her final words, Xiao Yan grinned, promptly stowing the token. He waved in the air with an ingratiating smile.
"Little Yan-zi, don't you dare say you're my disciple when you're out there. You're an embarrassment!" Yao Lao covered his face, growling.
"Teacher, this is a Dou Zong powerhouse! A connection like this is something countless people dream of. Why not seize it?" Xiao Yan countered. "Wasn't Nalan Yanran so arrogant at our Xiao Clan because she had the Yunlan Sect backing her?"
Holding the token, Xiao Yan examined it with delight. "So, backers like this? The more, the better!"
"Heh, not a bad mindset! But it'd be more reliable to rely on that Xiao Bai kid. Get him to charm a few female Dou Zuns or Dou Shengs, and with one 'Sister-in-Law,' you could strut across the continent!" Yao Lao stroked his beard, teasing.
"Oh!" Xiao Yan's eyes sparkled. He tucked the token into his storage ring and sidled up to Yao Lao. "Teacher, tell me more, tell me more!"
"More, my foot!" Yao Lao, seeing Xiao Yan take it seriously, knocked him on the head. "Focus on cultivating properly. True strength comes from your own power. Other means are just tools, not goals. Understood?"
"Of course, I know cultivation matters." Xiao Yan rubbed his aching forehead, muttering, "Didn't I just advance to Five-Star Dou Shi?"
"Five-Star Dou Shi, huh? Impressive, is it? Think about the three-year agreement. Only three months left! Nalan Yanran isn't standing still, waiting for you!"
"Nalan Yanran…" Xiao Yan's expression darkened. He clenched his fists, brimming with determination. "Teacher, tell me, what's next?"
Yao Lao smiled inwardly, pleased. This trick always hits Xiao Yan's sore spot. Mention that name, and he's instantly pumped up like he's had a shot of adrenaline.
He couldn't help but hope the three-year agreement could stretch another three years. At this rate, Xiao Yan's progress would be lightning-fast.
"Good. Next—" Yao Lao began, but his brows furrowed, his gaze snapping to a distant direction.
"What's wrong, Teacher?" Xiao Yan, eager for the training plan, noticed Yao Lao's sudden shift and asked, confused.
"Someone's coming! A Dou Huang, and… that Gu He!" Yao Lao's eyes flickered. "I'll take over your body for now. Let's shake them off first!"
"Damn it! That guy sure picks his timing. He didn't show up when Sister-in-Law Medusa was here, but now that she's gone, he appears!" Xiao Yan spat, glaring.
Yao Lao transformed into a wisp of cyan smoke, merging into Xiao Yan's body. Instantly, a pair of bone-white wings materialized behind him. With a push of his legs, he shot into the sky.
"He's escaping!" Ten miles from Xiao Yan's mountain, two streaks of light sped through the air. A middle-aged man's voice rang out.
"No matter. I'll pursue and intercept him. You follow behind!" An elegant voice responded.
"Alright, thank you! Go ahead. I'll regroup with Yan Shi and the others, then join you!" The middle-aged man glanced at the black-robed figure ahead, a hint of admiration in his eyes.
The black-robed figure nodded faintly without speaking. A sharp sonic boom erupted, and a cyan light surged hundreds of meters forward.
"Teacher, hurry! That guy behind us is fast! He's catching up!" Feeling Yao Lao's leisurely pace, Xiao Yan urged anxiously.
Yao Lao ignored Xiao Yan's prodding, his eyes glinting with a strange expression. He spoke slowly, "Little Yanzi, you might really be able to strut the continent with one 'Sister-in-Law'!"
Initially, he'd only vaguely sensed familiarity in the Dou Huang's aura and hadn't thought much of it. But as the distance closed, the feeling grew clearer.
Isn't this the female Dou Huang who was so reluctant to part with Xiao Bai in the Magical Beast Mountain Range?
To think Gu He had invited her. The world was small indeed—Xiao Bai's admirers seemed to pop up everywhere.
Quite the charm, that kid. Reminds me of my younger days!
"Teacher, what time is it for jokes?" Xiao Yan, seeing the black-robed figure closing in, snapped irritably.
From their time together, Xiao Yan had pieced together that Yao Lao, for some reason, couldn't reveal his presence. Unless Xiao Yan's life was in danger, Yao Lao rarely appeared before others.
Right now, Xiao Yan just wanted to lose their pursuer, not have Yao Lao act and risk exposure.
"Heh, whether it's a joke, you'll see soon enough!" Yao Lao had no intention of expending soul energy to speed up. Let them catch up, so what?
Xiao Yan fumed but gave up. Fine, whatever! It's not me fighting anyway.
"Damn you, Gu He. Just you wait!" he cursed the instigator under his breath.
In the desert, sharp sonic booms echoed. The bone-white and cyan lights drew closer and closer.
"Wind Spiral Wall!"
A soft shout rang out abruptly. Wind attributes surged around Xiao Yan, forming a solid wall of condensed gales spanning dozens of meters.
"Teacher, watch out!"
Xiao Yan's eyes widened, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
The wall shimmered with countless wind blades, their thin, glinting edges promising to slice anything that collided with them into ribbons.
"Tch, this woman doesn't hold back!" Yao Lao, controlling Xiao Yan's body, shifted from motion to stillness with eerie calm, halting midair without a trace of effort.
"Hand over the Heavenly Flame—huh?" A refined, surprised voice emerged from the black robe.
Xiao Yan felt utterly helpless.
Yao Lao had abruptly withdrawn, retreating into the ring without a word.
"Teacher!"
"Teacher?!"
"Damn it, old man! Get out here! This is a Dou Huang! What am I supposed to do?"
"How is it you?" The woman under the black robe finally registered, snapping back to herself.
"Me?" Xiao Yan, relieved she hadn't attacked immediately, pointed at himself in surprise.
"Mm!" The black-robed figure nodded lightly, her voice tinged with delight and caution. "Is… is he here too?"
"He?" Xiao Yan stared at the figure, utterly baffled. Who's 'he'?
"Magical Beast Mountain Range, Amethyst Winged Lion King!" The figure realized her mistake, excitement causing her to forget she hadn't revealed her face.
"You're… you're the Dou Huang with Bai—er, Brother Niu in the Magical Beast Mountain Range?!" Recalling the cyan energy wings behind her, Xiao Yan exclaimed in delight, wiping cold sweat inwardly.
Thank goodness I didn't slip and reveal Bai-Ge's alias!
"Bai Niu? His surname is Bai?" The black-robed figure murmured.
"Uh…" Xiao Yan was at a loss. If he misspoke and ruined Bai-Ge's plans, he might get skinned.
"Are you here to take the Heavenly Flame from me?" Xiao Yan shifted to the matter at hand, asking solemnly.
Unlike Medusa, this female Dou Huang was here at Gu He's invitation.
"If it were anyone else, I'd be here for the Heavenly Flame. But since you're his brother, I naturally won't act against you," the black-robed woman said, shaking her head.
Bai-Ge is awesome! Xiao Yan cheered inwardly.
No wonder Yao Lao had vanished—he knew who she was and that Xiao Yan wasn't in danger.
"And Gu He?"
"I don't owe him much," the black-robed woman interrupted, her tone flat. She knew exactly what Gu He was scheming.
She was conflicted about the Heavenly Flame. If Gu He obtained it, his alchemical skills would advance, which would benefit the Yunlan Sect.
But for her personally, it wasn't good news. Her teacher had always been aware of Gu He's intentions.
If Gu He's alchemy improved further, she might become a bargaining chip for her teacher to win him over.
That was the last thing she wanted.