Chapter 312: Xiao Yan, Congratulations on Your Jackpot!
"Alright, Zhu Yan, I'm fine," Lu Bu quickly reassured her, gently prying the little girl off his shoulders. If she kept clinging like this, she'd end up catching hold of some embarrassing detail he didn't want her to.
Raising his hand, he carefully ran it down her silky, light purple hair and tied her ponytail back into place.
Zhu Yan wiggled her little head, then broke into a playful giggle, resting her head on Lu Bu's shoulder and taking in his scent with a contented expression.
"Lu Bu, how did you know I was here?" Zhu Yan asked, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her big, watery eyes gleamed with curiosity. She had only just arrived and was planning to grab some treasures before meeting her sisters and Lu Bu back at the manor. Yet somehow, he had appeared instantly.
"Hmm… intuition!" Lu Bu said with a chuckle as he supported her petite frame. "I just had a feeling you'd be here, so I came. Turns out, I was right!"
Of course, Lu Bu couldn't tell her that Hei Qing had hinted at her whereabouts.
Though technically, Hei Qing didn't explicitly tell him Zhu Yan was in the Celestial Realm it was Lu Bu's own deduction based on her movements in the original story.
"Is that so?" Zhu Yan's bright eyes widened with delight as she tightened her hug, her face breaking into a crescent eyed smile. She was clearly overjoyed!
Just then, a loud crash resounded from the ground below. Xiong Zhan, rubbing his aching jaw, soared back into the air, his expression filled with frustration.
"Big guy, are you okay?" Zhu Yan glanced at him casually, her tone indifferent.
Okay? His wrist was fractured, his upper and lower teeth had knocked together painfully, and his entire body ached… but Xiong Zhan clenched his fist and coughed. "Cough, don't worry about me, young lady. How could anything possibly happen to me?
"I, Xiong Zhan, may not have much else, but I sure can take a beating!"
"Hey, big guy, this is Lu Bu. He's my closest person, and he's been a Dou Zun for quite a while now. Oh, and he's also an 8th tier alchemist!" Zhu Yan said proudly, her little face lifting smugly as if basking in his glory.
"A Dou Zun… and an 8th tier alchemist?" Xiong Zhan's rugged face flashed with surprise. Was he really that young?
No, wait!
Even if he were a Dou Zun, could someone have such monstrous strength?
Xiong Zhan furrowed his thick brows in thought. Considering how close this young man was to the little lady and the strange strength he just displayed, it seemed more likely he was from the Ancient Dragon Clan. But… could the Ancient Dragon Clan even have alchemists?
He scratched his head in confusion.
"By the way, Lu Bu, his name is Xiong Zhan. He's the boss of the Myriad Medicine Mountain Range and an ancient Dragon Bear. All the herbs here are under his control," Zhu Yan explained with a mischievous smile. Her words trailed off, and before she realized it, she swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
Clearly, she was already eyeing the treasures!
"Lu Bu, I haven't had any tasty medicinal pills or medicinal dishes in so long. I'm so pitiful… Those people on Dragon Island keep feeding me some disgusting black paste. It's awful!"
Her big, innocent eyes darted around as her little face took on a pitiful expression, hugging Lu Bu tighter as she grumbled.
Lu Bu couldn't help but chuckle. This little glutton hadn't changed at all.
"Here, I've been keeping this ready for you," he said with a laugh, clenching his fingers. With a flash of light, a bottle of golden medicinal pills appeared in his hand.
Zhu Yan's gemstone like eyes lit up, and she eagerly grabbed the bottle, popping one into her mouth and crunching away.
"Yummy!"
Why does this pretty boy get to say "here you go" while I'm stuck with "hey, you"? Xiong Zhan scratched his head, suddenly feeling as insignificant as an ant.
I'm an ancient Dragon Bear, the lord of the Myriad Medicine Mountain Range!
"Brother Xiong Zhan, why don't you come with us? We'll help you leave this place," Lu Bu suggested with a friendly laugh.
"Oh? Really? Sure!" Xiong Zhan's eyes gleamed with excitement as he nodded fervently. This Lu Bu guy wasn't as annoying as he'd imagined.
"Hold on!" Zhu Yan interrupted, swallowing her medicinal pill and perking up. "We can't leave just yet. Since we're already here, we might as well collect the herbs. We can't leave empty handed!"
She chuckled mischievously, her hands rubbing together like a schemer.
Lu Bu couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, as you wish."
"Hey, big guy, what are you standing there for? Get to it!" Zhu Yan turned her gaze to Xiong Zhan, her tone commanding.
Xiong Zhan's mouth twitched in protest. These are all my treasures!
Elsewhere, on a barren plain with yellowish soil stretching endlessly, a deep pit marred the landscape.
At the bottom of the pit, a massive yellow scaled serpent lay limp, blood dripping from its fangs and its tongue hanging lifelessly from its mouth. It was clear the beast was gravely injured.
Standing at the edge of the pit, Xiao Yan glanced up at a black robed figure floating in the sky. His eyelid twitched as a sense of frustration welled up in his chest.
His luck had been outstanding. The Celestial Realm truly lived up to its name. Rare treasures were everywhere, and right after entering, he had stumbled upon this Yellow Earth Python.
After dealing with the python, Xiao Yan discovered a millennia old Earth Essence Herb. Digging further, he even unearthed the legendary Heart Soul Marrow!
This treasure, capable of enhancing soul power, was a priceless find. He still had the Heavenly Narcissus Stone he had once traded for with Lu Bu in the Black Corner Region.
If he could just find some Soul Refining Sap, he was confident he could break into the Spirit Realm of soul power and advance to become an 8th tier alchemist!
But just as fortune seemed to smile upon him, his luck took a sharp turn for the worse. The moment he dug out the Heart Soul Marrow from its protective jade casing, a black robed figure appeared before him.
"Kehehe… Xiao Yan, what a pleasant surprise! You've made this far too easy for me!"
A raspy, familiar voice echoed from beneath the hood of the black figure.
Xiao Yan's face twitched. That voice… It wasn't Lu Bu, but Mu Gu the same bastard who had captured his teacher!
"Mu Gu! I didn't expect you to show your mangy face here!" Xiao Yan growled, his eyes reddening with fury. Hatred boiled within him, and murderous intent surged forth like a tidal wave, enveloping the barren plain in an icy chill.
"Kehehe… Such killing intent, but unfortunately, it's useless!" Mu Gu laughed maniacally, pulling back his hood to reveal his aged face twisted with malice and glee.
"I thought I'd be leaving this Pill Gathering empty handed, but who would've guessed I'd stumble upon such a grand prize?
"Your Heavenly Flames will more than make up for the loss of the Three Thousand Burning Flame. Now, die!"
Mu Gu's sinister grin widened as he raised his palm.
Boom!
A massive tornado of yellow fire spiraled into the air, condensing into a towering claw made of crystalline flames. Its immense weight distorted the very space around it.
"Die!"
With a wave of his sleeve, Mu Gu sent the claw crashing down with unstoppable force, like the hand of a god descending to obliterate the earth.
"Not a chance!" Xiao Yan roared, his hands forming rapid seals.
"Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Transformations! First Transformation! Second Transformation! Third Transformation!"
Boom!
Scarlet, deep blue, and ghostly white flames erupted from Xiao Yan's body, forming a fiery vortex that shot into the sky. The intense heat melted the surrounding soil into molten rock.
Mu Gu's eyes widened in shock. "A Dou Zun?!"
He had assumed that taking down Xiao Yan, a mere nine star Dou Zong, would be effortless. But this… he hadn't expected this at all.
"Dammit… Is the gap between Dou Zong and Dou Zun really this massive?" Xiao Yan's face twisted with realization. In the Dou Zong realm, the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Transformations had boosted his power by six or seven stars. Now, it barely added one star's worth of strength.
"Flame Splitting Tsunami Slash!"
Xiao Yan clenched his fist, and violent flame based Dou Qi erupted like a raging tide. The pitch black Heavy Xuan Ruler in his hand slashed forward, sending a fierce, crimson blade of energy surging through the air.
Boom!
In an instant, an explosive energy storm swept across the battlefield, wreaking havoc on the vast, desolate plain. Waves of yellow sand surged in all directions like a tidal wave, and a massive sandstorm spread through the heavens and earth.
A bottomless pit suddenly appeared in the dry, cracked desert beneath them, and from the depths of the pit wafted a few faint wisps of chilling air, offering a stark contrast to the scorching heat above.
High above, in a warped fragment of space suspended in the sky:
"Lu Bu, how has Xiao Yan suddenly become so strong?" Zhu Yan pouted her small lips, her mood instantly soured.
Even Xiao Yan was close to becoming a Dou Zun, yet she still wasn't one!
"Beasts naturally cultivate slower than humans it's normal. Even if he's a nine star Dou Zong, he still wouldn't stand a chance against you," Lu Bu gently patted Zhu Yan on the back, soothing her in a soft tone.
Plus, why compare yourself to Xiao Yan? He's the definition of a cheat character. He's practically being spoon fed by the heavens themselves.
"Heh heh..." Lu Bu stroked his chin and suddenly chuckled, his smile widening. "Xiao Yan, that brat… As expected, he managed to find the Heart Soul Marrow. He didn't let me down!"
Behind him, Xiong Zhan observed the battle below with a solemn expression. His eyes gleamed with gravity as he muttered to himself. These two were strong on par with his own power.
Even if he fought with all his strength, he might not be able to easily defeat either one of them.
"Should we step in and help Xiao Yan?" Zhu Yan tilted her little face up and asked curiously. After all, Lu Bu had just mentioned that the black robed old man was from the Hall of Souls.
If they're from the Hall of Souls, why not just beat them down?
"No rush. Let's see how he performs first." Lu Bu grinned, clearly entertained. He was curious to see just how far Xiao Yan's current strength had come.
In the distance, within a lush green forest, countless people gazed in horror toward the desert plains at the horizon, where the battle raged. The residual waves of energy left them trembling in awe.
"This must be a battle between Dou Zuns! Such terrifying power!"
"Damn it! Could it be people from the Hall of Souls?"
Amid the dense forest, countless participants' expressions shifted drastically. A battle of this level was not something they could withstand.
"Stop standing around! Gather your mission herbs and get the hell out of here!"
"Yeah, let's get back to Holy Pill City as soon as possible! That's the only place we'll be safe!"
The call snapped many contestants out of their shock. In a panic, they scrambled to gather herbs before vanishing into the thick forest in groups of twos and threes.
"A Dou Zun battle…" Cao Ying lightly bit her red lips, worry flickering across her enchanting face. Could Lu Bu be fighting against a Dou Zun from the Hall of Souls?
"Ying'er, let's go. Collecting herbs is still the priority," a gentle voice interrupted Cao Ying's thoughts. Song Qing smiled warmly, stepping forward in an overly familiar manner to walk alongside her.
"Hold him back! Who knows if he's just a Hall of Souls imposter!" Cao Ying's willow like brows furrowed, her suppressed anger finally erupting as she shouted coldly.
One of the short, stout women standing beside her immediately dashed forward and struck at Song Qing's face with a fierce palm.
"What… You !" Song Qing cried out in shock, hurriedly using his movement techniques to evade the blow, narrowly avoiding the attack in an awkward manner.
Cao Ying snorted coldly, then turned and left with the two women by her side, leaving Song Qing standing there, abandoned and humiliated.
"Damn it…" Song Qing's face alternated between shades of green and white, his body trembling with rage. This woman… She's insufferable!
"Hahaha… Song Qing, you don't look so good!"
A burst of laughter echoed through the forest as a white clad youth wielding a faint purple iron fan emerged, flanked by two middle aged men.
"So it's you, Brother Chen…" Song Qing forced a stiff smile, though it was far from convincing.
"Care to join me? It's been a while since we last traveled together, after all… Hahaha!"
"Since Brother Chen has extended the invitation, how could I refuse?"
Down below, Mu Gu's face was as dark as thunderclouds. He hadn't expected Xiao Yan to unleash such strength, enough to block his earlier attack.
"You old dog, die!" Xiao Yan roared with laughter, his voice echoing across the battlefield. The Heavy Xuan Ruler in his hand whirled wildly, each swing of the ruler carving distorted arcs of space.
"Hmph! Let's see how much you're capable of!" Mu Gu's eyes shone with savage light as he let out a bellow, showing no intention of dodging.
He couldn't accept being defeated by the Xiao Yan who now wielded the Heavy Xuan Ruler. It was bad enough to lose to the one who used purple black flames and the Emperor Seal Technique, but this…? Never.
The two figures clashed in a violent collision. Ferocious gusts of energy and roaring winds filled the air, and purple and yellow flames intertwined in fierce firestorms. The blazing heatwave turned the barren desert even more scorching.
Both Mu Gu and Xiao Yan opted for a head on battle. Xiao Yan harbored unrelenting hatred for the man who had kidnapped his teacher, leaving no room for compromise.
For Mu Gu, his grudge against Xiao Yan was just as deep. This was the brat who had severed his arm and nearly destroyed his heart with a sneak attack.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Crystalline arms clashed with the heavy ruler, sending scorching shockwaves across the battlefield. Xiao Yan relied on the extreme speed granted by his Three Thousand Lightning Movement, circling Mu Gu and striking relentlessly at vital points his nape, back, and throat.
Yet Mu Gu was no easy opponent. With his soul perception fully unleashed, he spun like a top, deflecting Xiao Yan's frenzied assault without losing rhythm. In fact, he seemed to have everything under control.
He knew Xiao Yan's current strength came from secret techniques. Once the effect wore off, Xiao Yan would be left utterly drained and defenseless.
"Kehehe…" Mu Gu cackled sinisterly, relishing the thought of playing with his prey. He deliberately shifted his tactics, moving from direct confrontation to toying with Xiao Yan like a cat with a mouse.
Xiao Yan's expression faltered slightly. He wasn't a fool; he quickly deduced Mu Gu's intentions. Snarling, he let out a string of fierce shouts, pushing his offensive even harder, trying to drag Mu Gu back into their previous exchange.
"Kehehe… Xiao Yan, you're finished!" Mu Gu sneered cruelly, his face contorted with sadistic delight.
Xiao Yan's complexion paled as his aura began to falter. Sensing this, Mu Gu's glee deepened. But just as he moved to press his advantage, a shadow flickered across the sand swept battlefield.
"Who's there?!" Mu Gu shrieked, his reaction as sharp as a cat whose tail had been stepped on. He leapt back, scanning the golden desert with fearful eyes.
He couldn't shake the chilling memory of the figure who had once crushed him completely.
Before he could calm himself, another shadow flitted by, emanating an overwhelming aura that made his scalp tingle.
"Mu Gu, your death is at hand!" Xiao Yan bellowed, his eyes burning with fierce determination.
"Damn it… Xiao Yan, you'd better hold onto that life of yours!" Mu Gu's face twisted with rage. Without hesitation, he vanished into the sandstorm covered horizon.
"Bah! Cowardly old vermin!" Xiao Yan spat disdainfully, his tone brimming with contempt.
"Hahaha… Xiao Yan, congratulations on finding the Heart Soul Marrow. I must say, congratulations on striking it rich!"
A hearty laugh rang out from the swirling sands as Lu Bu emerged, Zhu Yan following close behind.
Xiao Yan's mouth twitched. That line… It sounded so familiar. Hadn't he heard it somewhere before?
(End of Chapter)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Johanssen