NOVPUB
Chapter 336 - 336: The Young Should Know the Sweetness of Soft Rice
Word Count: 2,672 Words
******
"Everyone, stop immediately!" Qing Lin spread her arms wide as if shielding Xiao Yan behind her and shouted loudly.
"It's the Saintess of the Sky Serpent Mansion!"
"No wonder this Xiao Yan isn't panicking at all. Turns out he had already aligned himself with the Sky Serpent Mansion!"
Everyone was shocked at Qing Lin's appearance. Her identity as the Saintess of the Sky Serpent Mansion meant she represented the entire faction!
"Blood feuds between factions are strictly prohibited during the Great Meeting of Factions. If you wish to fight, then do so on the Great Meeting's arena!" Qing Lin's eyes glowed with green light as she stared directly at Gu Tong and the others.
This reversal stunned everyone present!
"The Sky Serpent Mansion! This..." Yan Luo Tian's eyes filled with deep apprehension. The Sky Serpent Mansion was definitely not someone their Gold Geese Sect could afford to offend.
Although the Sky Serpent Mansion was also known as one of the top ten factions in the North-Western Region, in terms of strength, it actually ranked first. The main reason it hadn't unified the North-Western Region was that there were still several factions with comparable power.
Gu Tong frowned deeply instead. He couldn't understand what was happening. Just yesterday, he had secretly exchanged views with the leaders of the Thunderbolt Sect, Profound Lion Sect, and Sky Serpent Mansion. Naturally, none of these three major factions wanted to see the Yan Alliance rise.
"Could it be that Xiao Yan has already reached an agreement with the Sky Serpent Mansion to bring the Yan Alliance under their banner?!"
"No way! If that's the case, wouldn't the Sky Serpent Mansion possess the strongest alchemist and the strongest Dou Ancestor? That would be enough to unify the North-Western Region!"
"That's probably it. Otherwise, why would the Saintess of the Sky Serpent Mansion appear here?"
The atmosphere across the entire mountain range shifted in an instant. After all, if the Yan Alliance truly merged or allied with the Sky Serpent Mansion, then most factions in the North-Western Region would likely submit.
The youngest and strongest alchemist combined with the mightiest faction... no faction in the North-Western Region would dare offend such a combination.
Admitting to killing a genius disciple of the Medicine Bone Sect was originally a serious matter. At minimum, it could cost one's life; at worst, it could bring about the extermination of one's entire faction.
But if the Yan Alliance truly united with the Sky Serpent Mansion, then these major issues would become minor, or even nothing at all.
However, the situation reversed once again soon after!
"Qing Lin, you should not interfere in this matter." A deep voice resounded from the distance. Everyone looked over to see She Tianhao, the Mansion Lord of the Sky Serpent Mansion!
All present were stunned. This reversal happened even faster than in a suspense drama!
"What... what's going on with the Sky Serpent Mansion..."
The entire mountain range fell into stunned silence, including Gu Tong and his group. They looked back and forth between Qing Lin and She Tianhao. Was the Sky Serpent Mansion having internal strife???
Qing Lin removed her veil, revealing a face that had matured into captivating beauty. Her eyes gleamed with determination as she stared at She Tianhao.
She slowly shook her head. "I'm sorry, Mansion Lord, but Qing Lin cannot stand by and watch while Young Master Xiao Yan is in danger."
Hiss!!! The sound of gasping rippled across the entire mountain range, as though everyone had seen a ghost!
"Y-Young Master?! Did I hear that right? The Saintess of the Sky Serpent Mansion just addressed Xiao Yan as 'Young Master'?!"
"You didn't mishear. I heard it too!"
"How is this possible? She's the Saintess of the Sky Serpent Mansion! What exactly is their relationship?"
"Holy crap, I heard the Sky Serpent Mansion once intended to pair this Saintess with She Tianhao. Not only is Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flame green, but the hat he's giving others is green too."
"Tsk tsk tsk, this entanglement runs deep. If I were She Tianhao, I absolutely couldn't tolerate this."
She Tianhao's face darkened so much it seemed water might drip from it when he heard Qing Lin's defiance. His inverted-triangle snake eyes flashed with murderous light. Without a doubt, he was now in a state of rage.
"Xiao Yan, such skillful methods you have, actually bewitching my Sky Serpent Mansion's Saintess! I don't know what drug you used to make Qing Lin so devoted to you, but my Sky Serpent Mansion will definitely pursue this matter to the end!" She Tianhao's voice was terrifyingly cold as he stared daggers at Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan touched his nose, looking somewhat embarrassed. "Saying I bewitched her is going too far. Qing Lin was raised by my Xiao Clan. I didn't expect her to act like this either."
!?
The plot reversed yet again as soon as Xiao Yan spoke!
All the onlookers' minds couldn't process what was happening. Wasn't it you who called Qing Lin out? You were being so loud about it just now!
Qing Lin spoke softly, "Young Master Xiao Yan, I'll use the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils' illusion technique in a moment. It can cause temporary dizziness and disorientation in those around us. Young Master Xiao Yan can then lead the Yan Alliance members away."
Xiao Yan grabbed Qing Lin's wrist and pulled her back. "Qing Lin, calm down. With just these stray cats, dogs, and snakes, they don't have the ability to keep me here if I want to leave."
Everyone watching was dumbfounded. Saying such words was simply not putting the Sky Serpent Mansion in his eyes at all. This was too arrogant!
Gu Tong, however, revealed a delighted grin. He had been worried that if they pushed the Yan Alliance into a corner, Xiao Yan might join the Sky Serpent Mansion, Thunderbolt Sect, or other factions for protection, which would be troublesome. Now it was perfect. This Xiao Yan had pushed the Sky Serpent Mansion to stand against him.
Yan Luo Tian and the others watched eagerly, in no rush to act. After all, someone was more anxious than they were.
She Tianhao trembled with rage, fiery anger coursing through his veins. He wanted nothing less than to tear Xiao Yan into pieces!
He had always considered Qing Lin his personal property, having long regarded her as part of the Sky Serpent Mansion and thus his woman. Now Xiao Yan was publicly snatching her away, placing such a massive green hat on his head. If he could endure this, then he might as well be from the turtle clan.
"Little beast, this seat will grind your bones to dust and scatter your corpse to the winds today!" She Tianhao's face turned iron-blue from Xiao Yan's mockery, as ugly as could be. He let out a thunderous roar as a massive serpent silhouette appeared behind him. When he stepped forward, people felt as if the surrounding world was collapsing. The terrifying aura pressed down, giving the sensation that the ground was about to crack apart.
Xiao Yan raised his hand with an expression that seemed to say, I know you're anxious, but don't be hasty just yet.
"Qing Lin is a member of my clan. It was your Sky Serpent Mansion that forcibly took her away back then. Since she is willing to leave with me now, it's only natural that I take her away. However, your Sky Serpent Mansion did nurture her." Xiao Yan then glanced sideways at Gu Tong, who was watching the show, and sneered. "As for you lot from the Medicine Bone Sect and Gold Geese Sect, you think far too highly of yourselves. You really think I care? In fact, you're already dead men in my eyes."
"I only want to tell you this: you should never, ever have touched my Yan Alliance's people. I will make sure you die without a burial place!"
"Kill them all." Xiao Yan waved his hand grandly, exuding unparalleled confidence.
But...
The entire mountain range fell into peaceful silence at this moment. You could hear a pin drop, even the cawing of passing crows was audible.
Qing Lin, Yun Yun, and the Yan Alliance members behind all slowly turned to look at Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan's face flushed bright red. He was so embarrassed he wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
This was too embarrassing!
"Hey! The Yan Alliance is partly yours too. Don't tell me you want to see it destroyed!"
"You have no right to command me." A cold rebuke rang out at this moment!
Just then, rays of dazzling colorful light poured from the sky, illuminating the entire Sky Serpent Mansion. It was as though a celestial realm had opened its doors!
A woman stood in the sky above, though no one knew when she had appeared. She possessed world-shaking beauty with features that could overthrow cities and nations. Even her loose robes couldn't conceal her explosive figure.
She stood there like a celestial maiden from heaven. Her black hair and ice-cold countenance made people afraid to approach.
Everyone was shocked upon seeing this woman, marveling at her peerless beauty. The first to recognize her was naturally Hua She Er, her personal guard.
Hua She Er immediately knelt down and shouted, "Your Majesty!"
Yue Mei followed suit and knelt as well. That appearance, that aura, that figure! Who else could it be but Medusa!
Lu She's legs went weak behind She Tianhao. His face turned ashen as he collapsed onto the ground, shrieking like someone who had just glimpsed a ghost. "Queen Medusa!!!"
Those who didn't recognize Medusa instantly understood upon hearing Lu She's scream. The peerlessly beautiful woman standing in the sky was none other than the Iron-Blooded Queen of the Snake-People Tribe!
"She's Medusa from the Snake-People Tribe?! She's completely transformed!"
"No, wait! Not just transformed. Her aura... why do I feel like she's even stronger than She Tianhao!"
Not just She Tianhao, but even Ting Hao of the Thunderbolt Sect and Shi Nian of the Profound Lion Sect, who were watching from afar, showed expressions of shock and fear.
"7-star Dou Ancestor?!"
"Impossible! How did her strength increase so quickly!"
She Tianhao was especially shocked because he was also a 7-star Dou Ancestor, yet he could sense that Medusa's strength surpassed his own!
Then, he suddenly looked toward the smug Xiao Yan. That proud expression made it seem as if he were the 7-star Dou Ancestor.
She Tianhao recalled that the Yan Alliance had been established about four years ago. Apart from Medusa's appearance when the Yan Alliance was first formed, she had been missing the rest of the time.
Moreover, with Medusa's prideful nature, her agreeing to an alliance was simply impossible. She Tianhao had once proposed that the Snake-People Tribe join them, offering incredibly generous conditions, but Medusa hadn't even acknowledged him.
"Could it be because of him!"
Xiao Yan was a 7th-tier alchemist! Those who thought alchemists could only refine pills were gravely mistaken!
The reason alchemists could become the top, most powerful profession on the Dou Qi Continent wasn't just pill refinement. They could even bring flesh back to bones and revive the dead, enhance talent, and defy fate itself!
The situation on the field reversed once again in an instant. Everyone watching from the mountain range finally understood where Xiao Yan's confidence came from!
He had soft rice to eat!
Medusa had, in fact, arrived long ago. With her speed, traveling from Jia Nan Academy back to the Snake-People Tribe took merely half a day. She then learned that Xiao Yan had led the Yan Alliance to the Sky Serpent Empire for the Great Meeting of Factions!
So, after handling affairs in the Snake-People Tribe and resolving border issues, she rushed to the Sky Serpent Empire.
After achieving the Heavenly Flame Serpent Body, her strength had not only surged dramatically. Her 7-star Dou Ancestor power allowed her to use the Heavenly Flame's power to deploy a Space Lock, sealing her own space to prevent detection.
Let alone the Sky Serpent Mansion's Dou Ancestors, even Xiao Yan's Spiritual Strength couldn't detect her. If not for the special soul connection between them, he wouldn't have discovered her either.
Xiao Yan's smugness was justified. The Heavenly Flame Serpent Body was his creation after all!
"Don't let a single person from the Medicine Bone Sect escape!" Xiao Yan shouted loudly.
Even Medusa couldn't stand it anymore. She transmitted her voice, dissatisfied, "Have you always been this shameless?"
"Heh heh heh, this isn't being shameless. I call this being adaptable. If I had the cultivation of a Dou Ancestor, I wouldn't need you to act." Xiao Yan's face remained unchanged, without a hint of embarrassment.
He didn't understand what shamelessness meant. He only knew that being able to eat soft rice meant he had ability!
Gu Tong and the two Dou Ancestors hired by the Medicine Bone Sect instantly paled upon hearing Xiao Yan's words. They had no intention of fighting Medusa. That terrifying pressure made them understand that fighting meant certain death.
They could only flee!
Xiao Yan unfurled his Heavenly Flame wings upon seeing those soul points trying to escape. He shouted, "Don't let those two Dou Ancestors get away! Leave Gu Tong to me!"
A thunderous explosion sounded as Xiao Yan borrowed Venerable Tian Huo's Spiritual Strength to push his speed to the extreme, chasing directly after Gu Tong.
Although Medusa was displeased with Xiao Yan ordering her around, she didn't deliberately oppose him either. Her hands rapidly formed seals, and a Space Lock instantly trapped those two 3-star Dou Ancestors.
Yan Luo Tian and the Three Mulan Elders immediately fled in the opposite direction upon seeing the situation was hopeless, completely abandoning their faction's disciples.
"Trying to run!" Zi Yan laughed loudly. A pair of purple wings spread from her back. Her fists condensed spatial heavy punches as she struck fiercely toward the Three Mulan Elders.
Yun Yun also had a belly full of anger. They actually dared to scheme against her! Did they really think Sect Leader Yun had no temper?!
Her green sword rang out as she drew it. The blade rose and fell as she charged toward Jian Feixue's Master. Blood splattered everywhere with one sword thrust.
Roar!!! The Serene Sea Scaly Beast roared angrily. Its massive body charged forward, crushing several young genius disciples of the Gold Geese Sect to death with a single stomp.
With Medusa holding the line, the Yan Alliance members had no reservations. They pounced like wolves toward the Medicine Bone Sect's Dou Emperor experts who had just been acting so arrogantly.
"I-I-I have dealings with the Qiu Clan's head. Y-y-you, if you dare kill me, the Qiu Clan of the Pill Region absolutely won't let you go." Gu Tong was frightened pale at this moment. He was a Dou Ancestor who could manipulate space with extreme speed, yet Xiao Yan's speed was no less than his!
"You overestimate that worthless Qiu Clan far too much." Xiao Yan laughed leisurely while chasing from behind. "The Qiu Clan means nothing to me. Besides, when I reach the Pill Region, I'll personally 'visit' that Qiu Clan."
"However, you won't have the chance to see it." A cold glint flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes. This Gu Tong had not only reneged on their wager but also schemed against him and besieged Yun Yun. He had no reason to spare him.
Three Thousand Lightning Movement—Three Thousand Lightning!
Boom!!
A thunderous sound erupted. Xiao Yan's feet trod on thin air as lightning sparkled beneath them. Though he was only a Dou Emperor, it appeared as if he was stepping across the sky like a Dou Ancestor!
"Three Thousand Lightning Movement! How do you know the Wind Lightning Pavilion's agility-type Dou Technique!" Gu Tong cried out in shock as a streak of lightning shot past him. Xiao Yan, clutching the Heavy Xuan Ruler, appeared in front of him.
