Xiao Yan looked strangely at Nalan Yanran, who seemed a little embarrassed, and said, "Are you cramming at the last minute?"
Nalan Yanran glared at Xiao Yan, wondering why he had to expose her.
"Yes! I really can't defeat you right now." Nalan Yanran was also straightforward, directly admitting that she couldn't defeat Xiao Yan at the moment.
From the battle with Mo Cheng, Nalan Yanran knew that her chances of defeating Xiao Yan were slim. Even though her cultivation wasn't low, at the level of a three-star Da Dou Shi (Great Battle Master), her trump cards and combat power were far inferior to Xiao Yan's.
Xiao Yan now possessed an Earth Rank Cultivation Method. Since the Burning Jue had been upgraded to Earth Rank, Xiao Yan's leveling up had been much faster. Now, Xiao Yan was a four-star Da Dou Shi, and in another month or two, he would be five-star, having already surpassed Nalan Yanran.
The Burning Jue, which could evolve, was like this: dragging its feet in the beginning, but pulling a heavy load later on.
Not to mention that Xiao Yan also possessed a Strange Flame, and that powerful Soul power. Nalan Yanran knew she didn't have much chance of winning.
And this was without even considering Xiao Yan's pills. As an Alchemist, it wouldn't be considered cheating if he used the pills he refined during a duel.
Even if Xiao Yan didn't use pills, Nalan Yanran felt her chances of winning were slim.
And the reality was indeed so, her chances were even lower than Nalan Yanran herself thought.
Xiao Yan spread his hands and said, "I don't care, but no matter what, you're bound to lose."
Nalan Yanran glared at Xiao Yan, her eyes showing a hint of unyielding spirit, and said, "When I come out of the Gate of Life and Death, you will definitely lose!"
"Gate of Life and Death? Is that your Yunlan Sect's secret realm?" Xiao Yan asked curiously.
"That's where the successive Sect Leaders of our Yunlan Sect are buried, and it's also the tomb of Yun Potian, the founder of our Yunlan Sect. It contains the trials left behind by the founding Sect Leader. As long as you can pass the trials, you can receive a reward." Nalan Yanran didn't hide anything from Xiao Yan. Since she was entering the Gate of Life and Death to cultivate in order to defeat the man in front of her, there was no need to be stingy with information.
Xiao Yan frowned. Tombs of successive Sect Leaders?!
Could there be Soul Bodies of the past Yunlan Sect Sect Leaders there? Could it be a location for the Soul Palace? Xiao Yan suddenly thought of such a possibility! The Yunlan Sect was said to be close to Gama Holy City, but in reality, there was still quite a distance.
Moreover, Xiao Yan had heard that the Yunlan Mountain, where the Yunlan Sect was located, was surrounded by something akin to a city. The Yunlan City at the foot of the mountain, like Canaan City of Canaan Academy, was a place to provide the Yunlan Sect's disciples with their daily needs.
Originally, Xiao Yan wouldn't have been able to go to the Yunlan Sect since it was only open to sect disciples. But it just so happened that Xiao Yan had a battle with Nalan Yanran.
"Let's set the duel location on the Yunlan Sect." Xiao Yan suddenly said.
Nalan Yanran was stunned for a moment, and asked in confusion, "Choose the Yunlan Sect? The Yunlan Sect is located above the clouds, where Wind Attribute energy is abundant and Fire Attribute energy is weak. Are you sure you want to duel on the Yunlan Sect?"
Xiao Yan nodded seriously and said, "I also want to see what the number one sect in the Gama Empire is like."
Seeing Xiao Yan so certain, Nalan Yanran didn't refuse and agreed. How could she have known that Xiao Yan's little plan was aimed at the Yunlan Sect?
...
In the dead of night, Xiao Yan was cultivating the Burning Jue in his room when he suddenly opened his eyes and said, "Hai Lao, what's the matter so late?"
Hai Bo Dong pushed open the door and said with a smile, "You have to thank me this time, kid."
"Thank you for what?" Xiao Yan asked.
"You know that a few of us went to track that black-robed man tonight, right? Do you know what we discovered in the end?" Hai Bo Dong deliberately kept him in suspense.
Xiao Yan poured a cup of water for Hai Bo Dong, sat down on a chair, and knew that he was going to talk for a long time.
"Hai Lao, please tell me, I'm listening."
Hai Bo Dong said, "That black-robed guy turned out to be Yan Li, the vice president of the Alchemist Guild of the Chuyun Empire, a Fourth Grade peak Alchemist. He took a pill called Rejuvenation Pill to restore his appearance to his younger days."
"Fourth Grade peak?!" Xiao Yan was shocked. No wonder that guy was so powerful. He had only barely defeated him by using the Void Swallowing Flame Sub-fire.
So the other party was also a Fourth Grade peak Alchemist! "Well, we originally wanted to kill him directly to get rid of the problem, but that guy had a backup plan. If he died during the Gama Empire Alchemist Convention, the news that the Gama Alchemist Guild was manipulating the convention champion and wantonly killing participants would quickly spread to the surrounding empires. The Alchemist Guilds of other countries would have an excuse to join forces to attack us, forcing us to be unable to attack him." Hai Bo Dong took a sip of water, a little annoyed.
The overall strength of the Gama Empire was weak, and the neighboring empires had long wanted to annex the Gama Empire.
After thinking, Xiao Yan said, "I see, no wonder that guy was willing to risk death and spend a lot of manpower and resources from the Chuyun Empire to refine the Rejuvenation Pill in order to sabotage."
"I'm afraid the other empires have long wanted to attack the Gama Empire, but they just couldn't find a reason. Now they plan to start with the Gama Empire Alchemist Guild. If they can get the Pill Tower to cancel its connection with the Gama Empire Alchemist Guild, then the other empires can attack without any scruples."
Xiao Yan tapped his fingers on the table, and instantly straightened out the whole story, even understanding the purpose of the major empires.
Hai Bo Dong was stunned as he listened because he hadn't thought of these deductions!
"Uh, probably."
"So why should I thank you, Hai Lao?" Xiao Yan smiled slightly. These didn't seem to be the reasons why he should thank Hai Bo Dong.
Being reminded by Xiao Yan, Hai Bo Dong remembered and quickly said, "Right, right, right, I almost forgot. So we have to wait until the Alchemist Convention is over, and we can only find a chance to kill him if he doesn't become the champion. Otherwise, it will be very troublesome for us to attack if that guy Yan Li gets the Alchemist Convention championship."
"Fa Ma that guy knows your Pill Refining skills are amazing, and thinks only you can compete with him for the championship. I told him that it would be troublesome if the Alchemist Guild of the Chuyun Empire were to bribe you."
Hai Bo Dong raised his eyebrows at Xiao Yan, and Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed, immediately understanding.
Alarmist talk, then blackmail!
"Hehe, Fa Ma that guy asked you to go to the Alchemist Guild now, saying he wants to give you some help so you can deal with that guy."
Xiao Yan didn't pretend, cupping his hands and saying, "Thank you, Hai Lao, I believe that in time I will be able to refine the Rejuvenating Spirit Purple Pill."
"You haven't forgotten, that's good. Go, go, take more, no need to be polite with that old guy Fa Ma, he's got a thick wallet." Hai Bo Dong said with a grin.
Although it was already late at night, the Alchemist Guild was still brightly lit. The guard saw Xiao Yan approaching and his body tightened as he said, "Mr. Xiao Yan, the president is already waiting."
"Mm."
Xiao Yan followed the guard all the way to the highest level of the Alchemist Guild and gently knocked on the door.
"President, Xiao Yan is disturbing you late at night," Xiao Yan said politely.
"Come in."
Xiao Yan pushed the door open and entered. His eyes swept around, slightly surprised. The room was spacious, extremely spacious, but it seemed a bit simple and ancient. Several rows of bookshelves leaned against the walls, and an old-looking table stood alone in the room.
Xiao Yan gently closed the door, and Fa Ma reached out his hand, saying, "Sit wherever you like, Hai Bo Dong should have already explained the situation to you, right?"
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