"Snake People Tribe?"
Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned.
How did the Misty Cloud Sect inexplicably become involved with that faction?
One is deep in the desert, and the other is near the capital of the Jia Ma Empire. They have nothing to do with each other.
"I'm not sure about the specifics. The Xiao Family is struggling to survive right now. We don't have the bandwidth to inquire about such news."
Xiao Yu shook her head slightly.
"With Yun Shan in the Misty Cloud Sect, how has the Snake People Tribe managed to hold on until now?"
Xiao Yan suddenly became curious.
"It seems Queen Medusa of the Snake People Tribe has returned. She's also a Dou Ancestor and is currently at a stalemate with the Misty Cloud Sect," Xiao Yu replied.
"Queen Medusa? She's back in the Jia Ma Empire? Does this mean the Soul problem is resolved? No need for the Spirit Fusion Pill anymore?" Xiao Yan was momentarily surprised, then a smile appeared on his face. "These two issues coinciding is perfect. I'll go talk to Second Brother about it and find a time to go back to the Jia Ma Empire to settle accounts with Yun Shan."
"As you wish," Xiao Yu said without objection. Then, she frowned in thought for a moment. "You'd better go see Cousin Xiao Li sooner."
"What's the matter?" Xiao Yan asked, looking at her.
"Cousin Xiao Li has recently advanced to Dou King level. Although rapid progress in strength is a good thing, it's happened too quickly. I'm concerned there might be some issues involved."
Xiao Yu said uncertainly,
"The last time I met Xiao Li, I felt that Cousin Xiao Li had aged a lot, but I didn't confirm it carefully. I just thought it was due to overwork."
"Dou King?" Xiao Yan was surprised. So many changes had happened in just over a year. "Alright, elder sister, I'll go see him later."
As an Alchemist, Xiao Yan clearly knew more than Xiao Yu.
He was well aware of Second Brother's talents.
The reason he could break through to Dou King was due to the advantage of Qi Method and Heavenly Flame, and now Second Brother had also advanced to Dou King...
Several days later,
On a hilltop, two figures sat side by side.
"Second Brother, about the issue with the Life Devouring Pill, rest assured, I will find a solution as soon as possible."
Looking at the sky, Xiao Yan's eyes were slightly red, tightly gripping a prescription in his hand.
After leaving the Academy, Xiao Yan quickly found Second Brother Xiao Li due to having clues. At that time, Xiao Li was being chased by a force from the Black-Corner Region, and Xiao Yan rescued him effortlessly. After some inquiries, everything turned out just as Xiao Yan had suspected.
Xiao Li's rapid advancement to Dou King in a short period was due to consuming a Pill called the Life Devouring Pill. This type of medicine sacrifices future longevity in exchange for a short-term surge in strength. Learning the hidden truth, Xiao Yan felt some pain but also deep resignation.
If he hadn't committed to the three-year agreement initially, he wouldn't have clashed with the Misty Cloud Sect, and the Xiao Family wouldn't have ended up in its current plight.
"Misty Cloud Sect!!" Xiao Yan roared inwardly.
"Xiao Yan, I believe in you." Xiao Li patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder, wearing a relaxed smile. "With your current strength surge, are you planning to go back to the Misty Cloud Sect for revenge?"
Xiao Yan nodded heavily.
"If it were just you alone, I definitely wouldn't agree. Big Brother has sent word that there has been an influx of strong individuals within the Misty Cloud Sect recently. It's not very realistic to try to overthrow them," Xiao Li said seriously.
"Second Brother, what do you mean?" Sensing an underlying message, Xiao Yan decided to ask directly.
"You must have met quite a few people at Jia Nan Academy. Can you invite them to join us, especially..." Xiao Li paused briefly, then turned to him. "There's someone named Lin Xiu. He should be the strongest among your many students. See if you can invite him to join us."
"Senior Brother Lin Xiu? How do you know about him, Second Brother?" Xiao Yan's face showed a hint of surprise.
Second Brother hadn't entered the Academy's inner courtyard, so he shouldn't know Lin Xiu.
However, from Second Brother's expression, it seemed he had witnessed Senior Brother Lin Xiu's strength firsthand.
"I was present during the destruction of Feng City and witnessed that world-shaking battle," Xiao Li gazed into the distance, a trace of reminiscence in his eyes. "If you haven't mingled in the Black-Corner Region, you probably don't know the significance of Lin Xiu's name. Let me put it this way, since Han Feng's death, Feng City has remained ownerless to this day! Throughout Feng City, no force dares to intervene; it continues to develop on its own. Such a thing has never happened in the entire Black-Corner Region."
An involuntary envy flashed across Xiao Li's face. Upon learning that Xiao Yan might have died at the tower's base, Xiao Li planned to rally a force in anticipation of the day when they could retaliate against the Misty Cloud Sect.
However, the Black-Corner Region is a chaotic place, with numerous forces large and small, intertwined with each other.
Without strength, achieving anything is simply an uphill battle.
But later, even with Dou King strength, he still had to avoid certain forces.
In contrast, someone like Lin Xiu, who can make numerous forces in the Black-Corner Region voluntarily avoid him after a single battle, is extremely rare.
Xiao Li understands that those people fear not just Lin Xiu's current strength, but also his talent and his age.
"Senior Brother has everything he needs now. I'm afraid I don't have the face to ask him for help," Xiao Yan shook his head slightly, feeling bitter.
He already owes Senior Brother Lin Xiu several times. Now he wants to ask him for help against the Misty Cloud Sect. What can I offer in return?
"You have to take matters into your own hands, Third Brother. If you're not sure enough, then continue to endure, wait until you break through to Dou Emperor, or even Dou Ancestor, and then seek revenge from the Misty Cloud Sect," Xiao Li also understands the difficulty involved, but this approach seeks some assurance.
Because Xiao Yan is the most outstanding talent in their Xiao Family's history, they couldn't afford to let his life go to waste.
"Big Brother, I can wait, but... can Father wait?" After a moment of silence, Xiao Yan murmured softly, his tone filled with pain, as if he were asking a question and reminding himself at the same time.
Hearing this, Xiao Li couldn't help but hang his head down.
The two brothers sat quietly for a long time before getting up silently.
In the following days, Xiao Yan always stayed by his elder brother's side. With his own strength and his identity as an Alchemist, he successfully gathered many people to support his elder brother.
In addition to this, Xiao Yan also collected some medicinal herbs that could restore Soul Power and successfully awakened the sleeping Old Yao.
Back in the inner courtyard, Xiao Yan immediately went to find Lin Xiu. This time, Lin Xiu wasn't in seclusion, so Xiao Yan easily met him.
When they met, Xiao Yan first expressed his gratitude, with a sincere and genuine attitude that left no room for criticism.
"Senior Brother, do you have any plans recently?" Xiao Yan asked after chatting for a while.
"No, why do you ask?" Lin Xiu looked at him, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
"You probably already know what I have in mind. Now, I finally want to ask," Xiao Yan said nervously.
"I want to invite you to accompany me to Jia Ma Empire. I have some grievances with the Misty Cloud Sect," Xiao Yan continued, his gaze tightening.
"Do you want me to help?" Lin Xiu asked in return.
"No, no," Xiao Yan hurriedly waved his hand. "I'll handle Yun Shan myself. I'm asking you to come mainly because I'm concerned that in case of any special circumstances, I would hope you could lend a hand. Of course, I'll try my best to avoid such situations. If Senior Brother agrees, you can make a request. As long as it's not too difficult, I will definitely fulfill it."
"Are you asking me to be your insurance policy?" Lin Xiu was momentarily surprised, finding the situation somewhat different from what he had expected. Hadn't the persona he crafted in the Arena worked?
In truth, Lin Xiu didn't know that Xiao Yan had indeed considered paying him, but he lacked anything substantial to offer. As for Heavenly Flame and Qi Method, Xiao Yan was not foolish enough to give away the foundations of his strength.
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