After six months, Xiao Yan had often imagined what it would be like to meet Lin Xiu again.
Since leaving Wu Tan City, this was the first time he encountered someone who could overwhelm him in every aspect.
However, when Xiao Yan actually saw Lin Xiu, he still couldn't maintain his inner calm.
Stepping on the void!
Xiao Yan knew exactly what that meant.
In just half a year, Senior Brother had actually advanced to Dou Ancestor. Could it be that there were really no bottlenecks in his cultivation?
"Dou Ancestor?!"
Looking over, Yao Chen also let out a low gasp, his eyes flashing with surprise.
"What's the matter? A Dou Ancestor so young is indeed outstanding, but for you, it's not that surprising, right?"
Venerable Feng's expression was strange. He knew his old friend's background and, like himself, came from a place where exceptional talent was not uncommon. A Dou Ancestor in their early twenties was not so astonishing.
"It's different. I remember he was only an 8 Star Dou Emperor half a year ago."
Old Yao shook his head slightly.
"Breaking through to Dou Ancestor in half a year?"
Hearing this, Venerable Feng found it hard to remain calm.
The difference between a Dou Emperor and a Dou Ancestor isn't just in Dou Qi energy, but in the understanding and insight into space. Only by grasping the comprehension of space can one seize the opportunity to truly advance to Dou Ancestor.
To complete such a leap in just half a year, his talent and perception were undoubtedly exceptional.
After most of the energy was absorbed, the immense pressure on Misty Cloud Mountain significantly eased, and those who were lying on the ground were gradually able to stand up.
The survivors looked around at the devastated scene, and a sense of relief at having survived emerged.
"Unbelievable, simply unbelievable."
Hai Bo Dong kept clicking his tongue, unable to believe that Lin Xiu had actually defeated them.
"To directly crush the Dou Techniques of those three, the Dou Technique Lin Xiu used must be at least Earth Rank High Level."
Jia Xing Tian, with a nostalgic expression, seemed to still be savoring the recent battle. "Earth Rank Low Level Dou Techniques are rare to hear about, and I never expected to see an Earth Rank High Level Dou Technique clash in my lifetime."
The vast area of shattered void required an immense amount of Dou Qi.
Indeed, it's worthy of being an Earth Rank High Level Dou Technique. Even if I learned it, I probably wouldn't be able to perform it.
"I think I just heard Xiao Yan's voice. Did you all hear it?"
Fa Ma, being quite old, wasn't very confident in his hearing, especially after experiencing such a terrifying energy clash.
"Xiao Yan?"
Hai Bo Dong was taken aback, turned his head to search, and upon seeing a figure, his eyes lit up. "You heard correctly, he really has returned, though a bit late."
As the energy levels decreased slightly, Xiao Yan eagerly activated his Dou Qi wings and flew over.
"Senior Brother."
He waved his hand excitedly.
"Weren't you going to the Central Plains? Why have you returned?"
Lin Xiu nodded slightly, acknowledging the greeting.
"I went to the Central Plains with my teacher. Later, concerned that Protector Wu's death might attract the Hall of Souls, I invited Venerable Feng to come specifically. My father was captured by the Hall of Souls and is missing. I wanted to get some information from their people."
Xiao Yan introduced Venerable Feng to Lin Xiu.
A genuine Dou Venerate!
Bowing with cupped fists, Lin Xiu's eyes flashed with excitement. If he could fight against him, wouldn't that allow him to gain a lot of Dou Technique experience and acquire many Attribute Points?
Although this was what he thought, Lin Xiu did not voice it.
Since they were not related, it was unlikely that a Dou Venerate would offer guidance. If he made a direct request, the other party might misunderstand it as a provocation.
Xiao Yan asked, "Senior Brother, I saw the black mist earlier. What about the Hall of Souls people?"
He did not hide his anticipation.
"They are all dead."
Lin Xiu sighed, "You arrived a bit too late. Three people from the Hall of Souls came this time, each as strong as Protector Wu. To protect myself, I had to use all my strength."
"Ah? They're all dead?"
Hearing this, Xiao Yan's face turned pale, and he staggered.
The Hall of Souls people were very skilled at hiding; unless they revealed themselves, finding them was extremely difficult.
Thinking about the broken lead in finding his father, Xiao Yan's heart sank, and emotions surged within him.
To kill three Dou Ancestors just by using all his strength?
Yao Chen, who had followed along, couldn't help but show a trace of confusion. Despite only being a 1-Star Dou Ancestor himself, didn't this guy realize there was something wrong with what was said?
Lin Xiu patted Xiao Yan's shoulder, observing his desolate expression, and said nothing.
When he landed, Luo Yan Tian, Mulan, and the Three Elders, among others, crawled and knelt before him, pleading for mercy and repenting their sins.
"There are no remedies for regret in this world. If you had known today would come, why act as you did back then?"
Lin Xiu shook his head, and as his words faded, he turned into a blur of afterimages.
These people tried to resist, but the energy from withstanding the Earth Rank High-Level Dou Technique had drained them significantly, and the gap between them and Lin Xiu was too great.
All of these people perished.
After finishing all this, Lin Xiu walked towards Zi Yan, his gaze briefly pausing as he asked, "Who's this?"
Seeing the unfamiliar and beautiful woman beside Yun Yun, Lin Xiu had some suspicions, which Yun Yun's words later confirmed.
"Do you have anything to pack? I'm preparing to head to the Central Plains."
He looked at Yun Yun.
If the death of Protector Wu had given Lin Xiu some warning, the deaths of three more Protectors were a direct alarm bell.
With such a frequency of deaths, Lin Xiu couldn't guarantee that the next time Hall of Souls sent someone, they wouldn't be a Dou Venerate.
In his current situation, escaping shouldn't be too difficult, but winning would be very challenging.
As one's strength increases, the gap between each level of realm also widens. Moreover, after advancing to Dou Ancestor, he needed to replace his Origin Return's Yuan apertures with Rank 7 magic cores, and Seventh Rank Magic Beasts were rare in the Jia Ma Empire.
"I don't have anything to bring."
Yun Yun had long been prepared, and now, almost all the Misty Cloud Sect disciples had been dismissed. She had already stored some Qi Methods and Dou Techniques, the sect's foundational resources, on her person.
Besides, what resemblance did the current Misty Cloud Sect have to its former self?
Her gaze swept over the ruins, and Yun Yun felt heartache but had no solutions.
When Nalan Yanran learned that Yun Yun was going to the Central Plains, she decided without hesitation to follow.
Seeing Xiao Yan approach, Nalan Yanran argued with him.
Enemies meeting were particularly hostile, and their argument grew more intense.
"Xiao Yan, I think there might be someone who can help you."
After giving Yun Yun a look, and once she had taken Nalan Yanran away, Lin Xiu put his arm around Xiao Yan's shoulder and moved to the other side.
"Senior Brother, quickly tell me, who is it? Tell me quickly!"
For Xiao Yan, the biggest concern was the whereabouts of his father.
"Han Feng."
Lin Xiu said.
"Wasn't he killed by you?"
Xiao Yan was taken aback.
"No, that day Han Feng was taken away by Protector Xuan when he was on the brink of death. This time, Protector Xuan has used all sorts of methods, and I didn't detect Han Feng's presence. Moreover, he is a Sixth Grade Alchemist, so Hall of Souls likely wouldn't kill him. If Han Feng is still alive, he might be in the Black-Corner Region."
Lin Xiu wasn't sure if Han Feng would appear again according to the book's content, so he spoke vaguely.
But even so, it was enough for Xiao Yan; what he lacked was a clue.
"Thank you, Senior Brother. I'll go to the Black-Corner Region to search immediately."
Xiao Yan was a bit restless. Before leaving, he invited Lin Xiu to visit Falling Star Pavilion if he came to the Central Plains and promised to take him to the Four Pavilion Conference.
Soon after, Lin Xiu also prepared to leave, and at that moment, Xiao Yi Xian happened to wake up.
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