BTTH: From Genius to Invincible

Chapter 600: Already Dou Saint

Word Count: 2,572 Words

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The black fog slowly receded, revealing three figures. Xiao Yan recognized two of them, Hall Chief Hun Mie Sheng and Deputy Hall Chief Hun Zhu. The third he was seeing for the first time, yet judging from appearance and aura alone, the man’s identity was not hard to guess. This was none other than Hun Feng, the Hun Clan’s sole current candidate for Young Clan Leader.

Hun Feng slowly lifted his head and met Xiao Yan’s gaze. Light fell across his face, revealing features that looked to be around thirty. His face still carried traces of youth, yet not the slightest expression rested upon it. No joy, no sorrow. It gave one the sense that his features had long since frozen in place.

Most striking of all were his eyes. They were black, an extremely pure, absolute black. No whites could be seen at all. Each eye was nothing but an ink-dark orb, as if two black beads had been forcefully set into his sockets. Being watched by those eyes sent a chill rising unbidden from the depths of one’s heart.

Hun Feng’s gaze narrowed slightly. "So that is the Xiao Clan’s Little Clan Leader, the Yan Alliance’s Xiao Yan?"

Hun Zhu’s expression turned a little strange at the question, but he still nodded and replied via spiritual transmission. "Yes, Young Clan Leader. This Xiao Yan’s strength is formidable."

He stopped just short of telling him outright. You might not be able to beat him.

Hun Feng’s cultivation stood at late 2-star Dou Saint. Hun Zhu did not know that Xiao Yan had already broken through to 3-star Dou Saint, but Xiao Yan had taken the Soul Essence that the Man Hall had spent a hundred years collecting. How could Hun Zhu fail to guess that there was a very high chance Xiao Yan had already advanced to 3-star?

Moreover, back when Xiao Yan had still been at late 2-star Dou Saint, he had shattered the First Tianzun’s Tian Class defensive Dou Technique with a single finger of condensed Dou Qi, without even employing a Dou Technique of his own.

One could well imagine how terrifying the quality of Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi was. Honestly, Hun Zhu held little hope for Hun Feng.

Even though Hun Feng possessed a Divine Grade Dou God Bloodline, Xiao Yan cultivated a High Tian Class Qi Method, and his cultivation realm was a step higher still. In Hun Zhu’s impression, Xiao Yan didn’t even possess a Dou God Bloodline, yet he still didn’t favor Hun Feng’s chances.

Originally, Hun Mie Sheng and Hun Zhu’s mission this time had simply been to assist Xiao Yan in capturing the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame. Hun Mie Sheng had even brought a powerful sealing formation from within the clan, the Tianluo Sealing Demon Formation, with the sole purpose of sealing the flame.

The Hun Clan had not planned to obtain the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame for themselves. There had been no need for Young Clan Leader Hun Feng to come at all. Only after learning of certain matters had he volunteered to join the expedition.

Hun Feng’s own cultivation stood at late 2-star Dou Saint, and with his Divine Grade Bloodline, his combat strength surpassed that of many 3-star Dou Saints. The clan had not stopped him. After all, even as Young Clan Leader, his ascension to Clan Head was not guaranteed. New talents might yet rise from behind. He needed to accumulate merit.

Right now, however, Hun Zhu could faintly sense a trace of hostility emanating from Hun Feng. ’Young Clan Leader Hun Feng doesn’t actually think Xiao Yan wants to compete with him for the Hun Clan Head position, does he?’

The more he considered it, the stranger it seemed. Perhaps Xiao Yan really did have a slight chance at that! Otherwise, why would the Clan Head have ordered Hun Mie Sheng to fully assist Xiao Yan in obtaining the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame?

This was the third-ranked Heavenly Flame!

Could it be... the next Clan Head in Hun Tiandi’s heart was...!!!

"He is a very troublesome opponent, but I should not lose to him." Hun Feng’s lips curved in a confident smile as he spoke.

In the past, Hun Zhu would have offered a few words of praise and flattery. Now, however, neither he nor Hun Mie Sheng seemed to have heard a word. They remained silent, simply waiting for the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame to exhaust its power breaking the seal so they could seize the chance to enter.

Silence was their answer. Think what you will.

Xiao Yan merely glanced once in the Hall of Souls’ direction without speaking. Given his various identities, it wouldn’t do to be too ostentatious.

"Once we go in, what are we doing about the Hall of Souls?" Cai Lin’s gaze flicked that way as she asked via voice transmission.

She naturally knew about Xiao Yan’s identity within the Hall of Souls.

"We focus on our own task. No need to make anything too obvious," Xiao Yan replied.

He was still quietly exchanging words with Cai Lin and the others when his bloodline suddenly stirred with a faint pulse. Not long after, a familiar voice rang out from the distance.

"Hehe, Brother Xiao Yan, you really did come to join in the excitement!" Hearty laughter rolled over, followed by several sounds of wind being torn apart. Multiple figures shot over at lightning speed and landed beside Xiao Yan amid a gust of hot wind.

Even without turning his head, Xiao Yan knew it was the Yan Clan.

He turned and followed the sound. A barely noticeable flicker passed through his eyes before quickly vanishing. With a warm smile, he cupped his hands. "So it’s Brother Huo Xuan. It’s been a long time. I trust you’ve been well."

Three figures had arrived. The leader was a handsome man in white robes whose familiar face belonged to none other than Huo Xuan, the Yan Clan member Xiao Yan had befriended in the Gu Realm.

Beside him still stood the veiled, red-clothed woman Huo Zhi. The difference this time was an additional purple-robed elder accompanying them.

"Brother Xiao Yan truly isn’t an ordinary person. In just a few short years since we last met, you’ve already reached a level that forces others to look up to you." Huo Xuan carefully sized Xiao Yan up, only to find he could no longer see through his strength at all. It was like peering into an endless abyss, unfathomably deep. He cupped his hands and let out an admiring sigh.

"Hehe, hasn’t Brother Huo Xuan also reached high-level Half-Saint, only one step from Dou Saint?" Xiao Yan smiled. Huo Xuan’s improvement was not slow either. He was indeed worthy of being one of the Yan Clan’s heaven-favored sons.

Of course, Xiao Yan had also sensed the reason behind Huo Xuan’s rapid growth.

The two imprints Old Ancestor Xiao Xuan had left for him both showed faint reactions. One responded to the Red Lotus Karmic Flame inside Huo Zhi, and the other to the Eight Wasteland Destruction Flame, whose source resided in Huo Xuan.

"I can’t compare to you. With the Elders’ help, I was fortunate enough to subdue the clan’s Eight Wasteland Destruction Flame and inherit the clan’s legacy. That’s why my strength skyrocketed like this." Huo Xuan smiled, not hiding anything as he spoke frankly.

Xiao Yan feigned an expression of uninformed surprise, then said with a touch of envy, "The Eight Wasteland Destruction Flame, ranked sixth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking? Sigh, I really do envy you, Brother Huo Xuan. Being born in the Yan Clan, you actually have a chance at such a Heavenly Flame. Unlike me, scouring the whole continent, only to ’luckily’ obtain the ninth-ranked Three Thousand Burning Flame at the Pill Gathering."

He was indeed rather envious. He had run all over the continent, and the highest-ranked Heavenly Flame he had obtained was merely the ninth-ranked Three Thousand Burning Flame. Huo Xuan, on the other hand, had simply gone home once and come back with a flame ranked that high.

Of course, if the Xiao Clan had not been exterminated, that Eight Wasteland Destruction Flame and the Red Lotus Karmic Flame might well have ended up in his hands.

Huo Xuan merely smiled and did not press the matter of clan affairs any further. To dwell on it would only make him feel inferior. Even with the backing of a great clan, he was still far from Xiao Yan’s equal.

He changed the subject and gestured toward the purple-robed elder beside him. "Brother Xiao Yan, this is Elder Huo Yao of my Yan Clan. He also possesses a Heavenly Flame, though his is the sixteenth-ranked Fire Cloud Water Flame."

"Fire Cloud Water Flame... truly worthy of the Yan Clan."

Huo Zhi rolled her eyes at him. "You possess multiple Heavenly Flames all on your own. If anything, your Yan Alliance is more like the Yan Clan than ours is."

"Uh..." Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and smiled wryly. "Most of my Heavenly Flames are ranked toward the bottom."

"Although most of the Heavenly Flames Xiao Yan ge-ge possesses are ranked lower, the flame he forms by merging them is even more powerful than my Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame."

A crisp voice like wind chimes drifted into Xiao Yan’s ears. Familiar to the very marrow of his bones, it sent a rush of joyful surprise across his face. His gaze softened as he turned toward the empty air a short distance away. There a graceful figure approached, crossing the space in a single step to stand before him.

A flash of amazement crossed every face as Xun Er arrived.

Her expression was calm, carrying a faint noble bearing that settled the heart at a single glance. She wore an elegant light-green dress, her delicate features lovely as a flower, a gentle smile resting on her exquisitely beautiful face. Her dark hair, casually gathered by a pale green ribbon, cascaded like a waterfall past her slender, willowy waist. The breeze stirred those dark locks, and her bearing in that moment was that of a banished immortal descended into the mortal world.

Such peerless grace. Who else could it be but Xun Er, whom he had not seen for so long?

Two figures followed at her side. One was a familiar face, Gu Qing Yang, the man Xiao Yan had once thoroughly beaten down. Within the Gu Clan, his talent and bloodline were second only to Xun Er’s.

The other was a complete stranger to Xiao Yan, a white-haired old man in blue robes. A warm smile rested on his face, lending him a kindly air. Yet only those with truly sharp eyes could vaguely sense the cold edge concealed beneath that smile.

The arrival of the three immediately drew numerous gazes from all around. Eyes swept over them as hushed murmurs rose. The people and factions gathered here were hardly ordinary, and they all recognized the Gu Clan, that seemingly low-key but truly colossal super-faction.

Xun Er noticed Cai Lin and the others, and offered a gentle smile and nod. Cai Lin and Little Fairy Doctor simply nodded back without speaking. After all, they had met Xun Er long ago.

Qing Lin, as always, bowed respectfully to Xun Er.

"Senior Zi Yan, it’s been a long time." Xun Er turned to Zi Yan with a smile.

"Uh... it’s you." Wariness filled Zi Yan’s eyes at once. Back at Jia Nan Academy, she had already been on guard against Xun Er, because at that time only Xun Er had given her a sense of true threat.

It was the innate intuition of the Ancient Void Dragon Race. Zi Yan had always regarded Xun Er with caution and apprehension.

Now Zi Yan was already the Dragon Emperor of the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe. She carried the Dragon Phoenix bloodline, and her strength had reached intermediate 4-star Dou Saint, yet she still felt an inexplicable dread toward Xun Er.

This hidden power was something Zi Yan had never sensed from Xiao Yan, perhaps because she had always stood at his side. Her instincts told her that although Xun Er wore a smile, it was mere politeness, or perhaps existed solely for Xiao Yan’s sake.

In truth, Xun Er’s heart held a coldness that kept others at a distance of a thousand miles. That warmth belonged to Xiao Yan alone. In Xun Er’s world, there was only him.

’The Gu Clan has come too. I wonder whether they’re here for the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame or to help that fellow Xiao Yan.’ Deputy Hall Chief Hun Zhu couldn’t help but muse. He quickly reached his conclusion. The Gu Clan was here for the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame.

After all, Xiao Yan was Xiao Yan and the Gu Clan was the Gu Clan. Xiao Yan was merely a son-in-law. Without a direct exchange of interests, there was no way they would pour in such effort to help him, let alone yield a divine object like the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame.

The Gu Clan’s arrival drew a rare smile from Hun Mie Sheng. He murmured to himself, "This time, the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame might turn out very differently."

"Xiao Yan ge-ge..."

The elegant young lady stood before Xiao Yan, her cheeks glowing with a warm smile. At the sight of it, Gu Qing Yang and the blue-robed elder couldn’t help but shake their heads slightly. Back in the Gu Clan, they had never seen Xun Er this happy.

Xiao Yan lowered his gaze to meet Xun Er’s bright, beautiful eyes. A single glance was all it took to read the emotions reflected in each other’s hearts.

One day apart felt like three autumns. It had already been two years since they parted beneath the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree.

The soft place in Xiao Yan’s heart felt as though it had been struck hard as he looked at the ethereal, transcendent girl before him. The longing he had suppressed for so long surged from the depths of his heart like a tidal wave. Heedless of the many gazes around them, he reached out and caught Xun Er’s soft, slender hand. A gentle pull was all it took to draw the jade-like beauty firmly into his arms.

A gentle arc curved across Xun Er’s exquisitely beautiful face as he held her close. She rested her cheek lightly against his shoulder and breathed in, almost greedily, the familiar scent she had been parted from for so long.

Because she bore the Gu Clan’s Divine Grade bloodline, she had not been free to leave the clan before reaching the Dou Saint realm. To preserve the bloodline’s continuation with the utmost safety, she had endured the torment of yearning in silence and thrown herself wholly into cultivation. All of it for a single purpose. To reach that realm and claim her own freedom.

"Xiao Yan ge-ge, Xun Er missed you so much."

"Me too."

Xun Er tilted her head slightly, gazing at Xiao Yan’s profile. The corner of her lips lifted, and in that instant a faint hint of allure rose across her elegant, exquisite face. She lifted onto her toes and brought her lips close to the shell of his ear. Her soft whisper slid into his heart like silk.

"Xiao Yan ge-ge... Xun Er is already a Dou Saint now."

!!!!!