Chapter 202: Chapter 202: Each With Their Own Agenda

Chapter 202: Chapter 202: Each With Their Own Agenda



With a buzzing sound, space suddenly tore open, revealing a swirling black vortex. A pitch- black passage extended to an unknown destination. Xiao Yan, wearing his Soul Robe, emerged with a single step from the passageway and landed atop the Soul Offering Altar.

"Welcome back, Sir. Did you exchange for the items you desired?" Protector Wu hurriedly stepped forward, his aged face squeezing out an ingratiating smile.

"It was nothing special. I only exchanged for the main ingredient of a Spirit Rising Pill and some medicinal materials for tier 5 pills," Xiao Yan replied indifferently as he descended from the altar, his gaze calm and unwavering.

"Ah, indeed, indeed! For someone your age to have already become a 5th-tier alchemist is truly enviable. If Sir wishes, I can arrange for the Hall of Souls' stock of medicinal ingredients to be exchanged on your behalf," Protector Wu said with a smile.

Xiao Yan cast a sweeping glance at the light clusters around the Hall of Souls. His powerful Spiritual Strength instantly scanned over the medicinal ingredients, after which he responded with a hint of disdain, "Never mind. The medicinal ingredients here are mediocre at best."

Naturally, he had no plans to reveal to Protector Wu or Yun Shan that he had exchanged for a High Di Class Soul Skill from the Treasure Hall.

The Hall of Souls had an abundance of Qi Methods and Dou Techniques but was severely lacking in pills and medicinal ingredients. This was understandable; offering Qi Methods and Dou Techniques was more enticing to wandering cultivators at the Dou Master, Dou Grandmaster, and Dou Spirit realms, encouraging them to collect remnant souls, soul fragments, and Spiritual Strength.

If Xiao Yan didn't have the Flame Mantra, he might also be running around searching for stronger Qi Methods. Naturally, seeking out Heavenly Flames was essentially the same.

Having obtained the Soul Skill, Xiao Yan had already accomplished his original goal. He ignored Yun Shan and Protector Wu and left the Hall of Souls.

In truth, his plan had been merely to replace that self-harming 'Soul Impact' with a Low Di Class Soul Skill. Unexpectedly, Yao Ao turned out to be so valuable. His journey to the Magic Beast Mountain Range could be said to have filled his pockets to the brim.

"There's a faint medicinal fragrance on his hands. It seems he did exchange for medicinal ingredients."

Watching Xiao Yan leave, Yun Shan frowned deeply and said worriedly, "If he enters the Gate of Life and Death and actually breaks through the innermost Death Gate and obtains that thing, what should we do?"

A plume of black fog burst from Protector Wu's body. The aura of a 5-star Dou Ancestor shook the entire Hall of Souls until it trembled.

"I have wasted so much time and effort on the Gate of Life and Death. No matter what, I can't possibly let the thing inside fall into someone else's hands!"

"If he's only after the Heavenly Flame, I can give that to him. But that mysterious inheritance behind the final Death Gate must be mine!"

Protector Wu's eyes were sharp, his tone filled with ruthlessness. No one knew how much he had sacrificed for this.

His appearance at the Misty Cloud Sect in the Jia Ma Empire was no mere coincidence.

...Nôv(el)B\\jnn

After exiting the Space Lock of the Hall of Souls, Xiao Yan stored the Soul Robe in his storage ring and turned his head to look at an unremarkable mountain peak not far away.

Upon entering the cultivation room, Xiao Yan didn't immediately start cultivating the Asura Soul Reaping Technique. Instead, he opened the medicinal cauldron and began refining pills.

'The Asura Soul Reaping Technique can cause the cultivator's soul to be clouded with killing intent. Although I don't have that so-called Clan Mark, if I use mind-clearing and spirit- awakening pills, it should offset some of the side effects.'

'If worst comes to worst, there's always Mao Wu.'

Xiao Yan stroked Mao Wu. The side effects of the Asura Soul Reaping Technique were somewhat similar to the Black Demon Cauldron, perhaps even more severe.

He had indeed exchanged for several main ingredients of tier 5 pills from the Treasure Hall.

He intended to refine a high-grade tier 5 pill called the Soul Clarifying Heart Cleansing Pill.

This kind of pill was specifically used to treat Qi deviation during cultivation and could prevent the invasion of inner demons.

And so, Xiao Yan's alchemy session lasted the entire night.

...

Knock, knock, knock.

"Xiao Yan, Master has instructed me to bring you to the Gate of Life and Death." A knocking

sound came from outside, accompanied by Nalan Yanran's voice.

Xiao Yan yawned and glanced out the window. It was already daylight. With messy hair and dark circles under his eyes, he tidied up the medicinal cauldron.

He had spent the whole night refining pills, all of which were Soul Clarifying Heart Cleansing Pills. It was no wonder he was exhausted.

Nalan Yanran felt awkward upon seeing Xiao Yan's disheveled appearance, which suggested

he had overindulged. She said, "Even though you live together with Queen Medusa, you should restrain yourself a little."

Xiao Yan smiled wryly and said, "I was refining pills all night and haven't had time to freshen up. I didn't do what you're thinking."

Nalan Yanran's cheeks flushed crimson in an instant. She wished she could find a hole to crawl

into.

"Lead the way then. How can you not even do a good job of leading the way? At this rate, I'll have to dock your pay." Xiao Yan casually ran his fingers through his hair, didn't bother to change clothes, and simply donned his alchemist's robe.