BTTH: From Genius to Invincible

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.

...

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.

Though ordinary in appearance, Xiao Yan could clearly sense with his Spiritual Strength that there was another Space Lock left by a Dou Venerate there.

'That should be the Space Lock left by Yun Po Tian back then. So the Gate of Life and Death is there.'

Meow! The empty space suddenly distorted, and Mao Wu stepped out from the void with its -cat-like gait.

"How did it go?"

Meow, meow meow meow!!

(>^w^<) Meow~

Xiao Yan observed Mao Wu's animated gestures and paw-waving. He naturally couldn't understand cat language, but since it was his own Heavenly Flame, he could guess what Mao Wu was trying to convey through their special connection.

"Is that so? There's a powerful spatial seal beneath the Gate of Life and Death, and even you couldn't get in." Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed slightly. He immediately felt that things were not that simple.

Mao Wu could traverse the void. Generally, these Space Locks left by Dou Venerates couldn't stop the Nihility Devouring Flame. But even Mao Wu couldn't enter the Gate of Life and Death.

Xiao Yan was very clever. He had caused a series of commotions before entering the Hall of Souls alone, attracting the attention of Protector Wu and Yun Shan to himself while letting Mao Wu sneak in!

From Nalan Yanran's words, he was certain that the Gate of Life and Death was far from simple.

Suppose the Gate of Life and Death was simply the inheritance ground left by Yun Po Tian and the burial place for successive Sect Leaders of the Misty Cloud Sect. In that case, theoretically, the most precious thing should be Yun Po Tian's inheritance.

Nalan Yanran had already received Yun Po Tian's inheritance but had only reached the middle sections, not the very end. This proved that something even more important lay at the very end.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Protector Wu's efforts to win over Yun Shan and establish the Hall of Souls within the Misty Cloud Sect likely stemmed from this discovery.

Xiao Yan turned to gaze at the empty mountain forest behind him, revealing a meaningful smile as he said, "Seems those two are still hiding something. As expected of the ghostly things from the Hall of Souls, each harboring their own agenda."

He chuckled softly, then shook his head without further comment. He was gradually understanding more about the inner workings of the Hall of Souls. Lurking in the shadows, hunting for soul bodies and alchemists to exchange for rewards-with such practices, the people here were destined to prioritize their own interests.

Naturally, Xiao Yan also had his own plans. The Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame was something he must have. As for the thing at the very end of the Gate of Life and Death, that would depend on whether fate would allow him to obtain it.

Returning to his residence, Xiao Yan glanced at Medusa, who had reverted to her snake form and was quietly coiled atop the Green Lotus.

Medusa was no longer the tiny snake she once was. Now two meters long and as thick as an arm, her scales reflected a faint seven-colored glow under the firelight of the Green Lotus, appearing extraordinarily beautiful.

'The growth rate of this snake form is even faster than I imagined. The Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python's growth potential is truly high.'

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.