area51novel 9. Unexplained disputes
9. Unexplained disputes
A man dressed in gray shouted, not far from Xiao Yan and the other two, clearly with a hidden meaning.
Xiao Yan looked at the gray-robed man and realized that he was also a Dou Wang cultivator. Behind him stood two old men, one fat and one thin, whose auras were clearly not to be trifled with.
"I took it, but those white fragrant berries don't seem to have anything to do with you," Xiao Yan said.
The gray-clad man stared at Xiao Yan and said, "Boy, if you know what's good for you, hand over the item, and I won't make things difficult for you."
"I'm sorry, do you have the ability?" Xiao Yan's indifferent voice rang out. He didn't like to provoke others casually, but he wasn't someone who could be easily manipulated.
The man in gray chuckled. "Kid, you really aren't afraid of death!" he said, slowly clenching his fist. A powerful surge of battle aura erupted, enveloping the three people around the fire.
A purple figure burst forth, her small fist slamming towards the gray-clad man with terrifying force—it was Zi Yan.
The force of her punch shattered the layers of fighting spirit. Just as her fist was about to land on the gray-robed man, it was caught by a withered hand, and Zi Yan's monstrous strength vanished without a trace.
"Little brat, so young yet so ruthless, you need to be taught a lesson." It was the thin old man behind the man in gray.
Strange black patterns appeared on the old man's large hand and spread directly toward Zi Yan's arm. A blood-red fist suddenly appeared in front of the old man's face, and a burning sensation arose in his heart.
The thin old man threw Zi Yan aside, his hands covered in dense black patterns, and held them in front of him, only to be forced back three steps by the force.
Xiao Yan pulled Zi Yan to his side, and the crimson flames swept across Zi Yan's arm, causing the black patterns to disappear.
Xiao Yan watched the old man warily. He could sense that a significant portion of the once invincible Crimson Lotus Karmic Flame had been neutralized by the strange markings on the old man's arm.
"People from the Xuanwen Sect often have special effects on the patterns on their arms, and their methods are rather strange," Yao Lao reminded him.
"It's not right for you to be so cruel to a child," Xiao Yan said.
The thin old man narrowed his eyes as he stared at Xiao Yan, clearly taken aback by Xiao Yan's display of power. The fat old man beside him also leaned forward slightly, and powerful battle qi erupted from Xiao Xun'er and Zi Yan, creating a stalemate for a moment.
Seeing this scene, the thin old man's lips moved slightly as he spoke to the gray-robed man. The gray-robed man looked somewhat impatient, and after repeatedly scanning Xiao Yan and the other two, he finally nodded.
"Boy, you've offended the Xuanwen Sect. I advise you to get out of the Northwest Region right now, or the next time I see you, it will be your death day," the gray-robed man said hatefully, before leaving with the two old men.
Watching the three walk away, Zi Yan said indignantly, "So what? If it weren't for that old man's intervention, he would have been crippled by me long ago."
Xiao Xun'er whispered to Xiao Yan, "Brother Xiao Yan, the Xuanwen Sect specializes in various Dou Qi patterns with different effects, so their methods are quite diverse. Be careful next time you face them."
Xiao Yan nodded in agreement, "You know quite a lot, don't you, girl?"
"Hehe, I know just a tiny bit more than Brother Xiao Yan."
……
"Elder Ge, why didn't you kill that kid just now?" After flying a distance, the gray-robed man asked in confusion.
"Old Qin, did you feel it?" The thin old man didn't answer directly but asked the fat old man.
"It's a strange fire, its power is quite terrifying."
"Not bad, half of my Devouring Spirit Pattern was burned away." A hint of regret flashed in the thin old man's eyes.
"Is that kid a match for either of you?"
The fat old man spoke first: "Second Young Master, that girl in green feels more terrifying to me than that boy with the strange fire. Adding that little child, these three are quite strong. It's not worth fighting them head-on for a single herb."
"Hmph, they're so young, they're probably some sect's backup plan, preparing to show off at the Beast Gathering. But I'll let them know the power of our Xuanwen Sect. I, Mo Fa, am not someone to be trifled with!"
……
Inside a secret room at the headquarters of the Heavenly Serpent Empire's Heavenly Serpent Palace.
A girl dressed in light blue sat cross-legged on the ground. She appeared to be only fourteen or fifteen years old, but her body was already well-developed and taking shape. Her delicate, oval face was endearing, like a perfectly sculpted doll. Her eyes were closed, but occasionally a strange, eerie light would emanate from them. Opposite her was a serpentine phantom; upon closer inspection, it was the Crimson Blood Python, a sixth-tier magical beast comparable to a Dou Huang (Battle Emperor). Dou Qi connected the python and the girl, and the Crimson Blood Python's expression was a mixture of fear and anger.
Each time the Azure Blood Python was touched by the eerie light emanating from the girl's eyes, its resistance lessened.
Time continued to pass, and the girl remained seated firmly without wavering. On the contrary, the negative emotions of the Azure Blood Python gradually faded.
Finally, nearing a certain critical point, the girl suddenly opened her eyes. Her eyes were enveloped in a vibrant emerald light, and upon closer inspection, three small dots could be seen within her pupils. These dots slowly enlarged, transforming into three tiny flowers. A ghostly light emanating from the flowers enveloped the entire Azure Blood Serpent, and a green flower was imprinted on its head. The Azure Blood Serpent's gaze shifted from fierce resistance to docility, finally transforming into a beam of light that entered the girl's eyes.
"The Holy Maiden's cultivation has advanced another step, and she has been able to subdue the Azure Blood Demon Python, which is comparable to a Dou Huang powerhouse. Congratulations!" A graceful woman appeared.
"Aunt Chu, I don't want to be a saintess. You promised me that you would set me free once I met your requirements," the girl replied.
Aunt Chu said helplessly, "My dear Holy Maiden, has our Heavenly Serpent Manor ever mistreated you? Have we ever forced you? Isn't this place much better than that dilapidated mercenary map you were in?"
The girl pouted and said, "You guys are very nice to me, but Young Master Xiao Yan is the one who treats me the best. I haven't asked him about it yet."
The young girl was none other than Qing Lin, Xiao Yan's former maid. During Xiao Yan's absorption of the Red Lotus Karmic Flame, Mo Chen kidnapped Qing Lin, intending to transplant her Jade Serpent Three-Flower Pupil. The people of the Heavenly Serpent Palace arrived, rescued Qing Lin, and brought her to the Heavenly Serpent Palace. Because of Qing Lin's extraordinary talent, she was revered as a saintess.
Aunt Chu walked up to Qing Lin and poked her forehead, saying, "What's wrong? Isn't being a high and mighty Holy Maiden in the Heavenly Serpent Manor, a powerful Dou Wang, better than being a maid? Maybe your young master Xiao Yan has already forgotten about you, his little maid."
Qing Lin immediately retorted, "No, Young Master Xiao Yan would never do that."
"Alright, alright, you're always calling me Young Master Xiao Yan! As long as you achieve good results in the Beast Gathering, I'll ask the Manor Lord to give you a chance to go out!"
A satisfied smile immediately appeared on Qinglin's face: "Thank you, Aunt Chu! Hehe, I'll continue cultivating right away and strive to get first place in the Beast Tournament!"
Aunt Chu shook her head helplessly as she watched Qing Lin resume his cultivation. The Ten Thousand Beasts Gathering was not that simple.