People fight and become emperors in advance

Chapter 238 The Upright Iron Sword Master

With manpower and compensation agreed upon, all that's left is to set a timeframe for the operation.

Feng Xian helped Xiao Yan stand up, cupped his hands in greeting, and asked, "When shall we depart?"

"Although your secret gathering of people is discreet, the Soul Palace is well-informed and there's no guarantee it won't be leaked. Therefore, this matter should be handled sooner rather than later. Go back and settle Starfall Pavilion, then bring Iron Sword Venerable directly over. After we meet up, we'll set off!"

Chen Xiao didn't really care; once his identity was hidden, even the Soul Palace wouldn't know he was involved.

However, regardless of whether the Starfall Pavilion succeeds or fails, it will inevitably incur the wrath of the Soul Palace.

Thinking about it this way, Chen Xiao couldn't help but feel worried for them.

After this ordeal, there will be another.

Who knows, maybe one day Starfall Pavilion won't be able to survive...

"Okay! See you another day then!"

"I won't send you far."

Chen Xiao and Cao Ying stood up to return the greeting and watched the two leave quickly.

Cao Ying only spoke softly after the two figures had completely disappeared from sight.

"Is the cultivation technique that Xiao Yan practices also the Burning Technique?"

"Yes, the Burning Technique was something Yao Chen obtained by chance, and it can be said to have been a constant throughout the rest of his life. Because of this technique, he was betrayed by Han Feng and was left with only his soul to eke out a living. He hid in the Northwest for many years before taking Xiao Yan as his disciple and passing on the Burning Technique. Now, only you and Xiao Yan are cultivating this technique."

"I see."

Cao Ying nodded slightly, without giving it much thought.

A person should know their own limitations. She never had the domineering thought of preventing others from cultivating the Burning Technique just because it was mysterious. Now that she can master four different kinds of flames, it is something she never dared to imagine before.

Compared to becoming a top expert through the Burning Technique, she valued the help this technique provided for her alchemy more.

By absorbing the strange fire and increasing her strength, she could save countless hours of arduous cultivation.

The intensity of the flame is also very beneficial for alchemy.

"The Grand Elder is here. You should go back first. Take some time to study the Five-Wheel Fire Technique of Heavenly Fire. It can be used as a trump card in the future. I will come back tonight to retrieve the puppet."

"Okay, I see."

Cao Ying responded and politely greeted Elder Qingshan as he stepped in before stepping aside to leave.

Elder Qingshan was quite casual. After entering the main hall, he sat down in a chair without Chen Xiao even having to greet him, leaning back comfortably.

"Chen Xiao, this formation is more complicated than I imagined. I originally planned to leave you some backup plans before returning to Dragon Island, but I was captivated by this formation and only after studying it for a few days did I begin to understand its intricacies."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiao couldn't help but chuckle.

"Elder, this Yin-Yang Harmony Heaven Formation has quite a history. I've been studying it for almost two years since I received the inheritance, but I still lack the strength to set up the complete formation. If you're interested, I could..."

"Never mind, never mind. Yesterday, Cai Lin and the others took Xiao Yao to play in the square. I asked them, and they didn't hold back. They explained the principles to me. Learning from scratch is too energy-consuming. You should study it yourself. When you are capable enough in the future, you can set one up for Dragon Island as well."

Before Chen Xiao could finish speaking, Elder Qingshan waved his hands repeatedly.

He wasn't being modest; he just felt there was no need to waste his energy.

Given the current relationship between Dragon Island and Zixiao Pavilion, if one side can do it, it means the other side can too.

Chen Xiao smiled and said, "That works too."

"Let's get down to business. Those two lads from Starfall Pavilion came here today because of Yao Chen, who was captured by the Soul Palace, right?"

"That's right. We'll have to trouble the Grand Elder to find out where Old Ghost Zhaixing is."

"What a coincidence! Guess what? A few days ago, when I returned from the Old Dragon Emperor, I sensed the mark I left in his body in the northwest region of Zhongzhou. Do you have a map? I'll mark it for you."

Chen Xiao quickly stepped forward and took out a self-made map from his storage ring, spreading it out.

Elder Qingshan was astonished to see his enormous map, which encompassed the entire Dou Qi Continent, and the different regional markings.

"Your map is quite detailed. Did you learn it from Hai Bodong?"

"There is indeed a connection. When I was young, I often went to Ebi's map shop. After he left, the map shop came into my possession. I saw it a lot and gradually learned how to use it."

"That's interesting. Let me see. Hmm, this is it."

Chen Xiao stared intently at it and muttered aloud.

"The Mountain Range of the Dead?!"

Chen Xiao was slightly surprised to see this answer.

In the original timeline, after Yao Chen was captured, he was transferred from the Underworld City to the Mountain Range of the Dead.

That's because Yao Chen was arrested in the Yunlan Sect in the Northwest Continent, and the branch hall in the Lost Soul Mountain Range was relatively close, so it was reasonable to imprison Yao Chen there.

The current trajectory of Yao Chen was captured in the southern part of Zhongzhou, near the boundary of the Beast Domain.

Chen Xiao originally thought that the branch hall where Yao Chen was imprisoned would also change as a result, but he never expected that this time he would still be sent to the Mountain of the Dead!
"Isn't it surprising? Actually, it's not surprising when you think about it carefully. The Starfall Pavilion is located in the southern part of Central State, and the Pill Domain in the center of Central State has a close relationship with the Starfall Pavilion. Our appearance that day made Old Ghost Zhaixing suspicious and he chose to imprison Yao Chen in the northwest, which is far away from the Starfall Pavilion. It's quite normal."

Elder Qingshan's analysis was reasonable and well-founded.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiao thought, "You know what, it makes a lot of sense!"

"When the Grand Elder returned, did he sense how many powerful figures were in this branch hall?"

"I didn't pay special attention, but I can confirm that there is absolutely no Dou Sheng level expert in charge," Elder Qingshan replied.

The strong only care about the strong; no matter how many ants there are, they are not worth their attention.

Chen Xiao nodded. There were only a handful of Dou Sheng from the Soul Palace, so it wasn't easy to run into one.

The information provided by the Grand Elder was somewhat general.

But, it's enough.

"Do you need my help?"

"This time we're doing a favor for the Starfall Pavilion, so the Grand Elder doesn't need to get involved. They can't afford the corresponding reward."

"Alright, then I'll head straight back to Dragon Island. Just contact me if you need anything. Also, you can use Black Steel's resources as you see fit."

Elder Qingshan nodded slightly and immediately stood up without lingering any longer.

Chen Xiao clasped his hands in a fist salute and watched as his figure vanished from the spot in a flash.

In the following days, everything at Starfall Pavilion proceeded as usual.

On the morning of the eighth day, before dawn, Chen Xiao sensed two powerful auras.

One of the dishes was very familiar; it was undoubtedly Feng Xian.

The other path, however, was one I had never encountered before.

The little fairy doctor, who was doing her morning exercise, also noticed this. Her movements suddenly intensified, and after a while, her delicate body trembled slightly, her hair color returned to normal, and she slowly leaned down.

"Looks like we'll have to set off today. As we agreed, I'll be in the open, and you'll be in the shadows."

"Quickly tidy yourself up," Chen Xiao said, standing up.

He went there to help and maybe get some benefits along the way, not to risk his life.

Therefore, it is perfectly reasonable to add an extra layer of protection for oneself.

Little Fairy Doctor nodded slightly, without moving. On the other side...

Because it was so early, Qifeng Mountain was quiet, and even the usually bustling square was deserted.

In contrast, the usually quiet main hall was now occupied by several people, with maids respectfully serving tea and water.

"Please wait a moment, Venerable Ones. My master was in deep meditation at Leita last night, and I have already sent someone to inform him."

On the right-hand side of the main hall, Qiu Cheng, the newly appointed second elder of Zixiao Pavilion, looked at the two old men opposite him and said with a polite smile.

The two elderly men opposite him, not wanting to make any rash assumptions since they were on someone else's turf, actually believed there was such a thing and nodded their thanks.

"Venerable Hanxiao is exceptionally talented, and his diligence far surpasses that of ordinary people. We old folks are truly ashamed of our own inferiority." The elderly man in blue robes at the head of the left took over the conversation, praising him effortlessly.

Without a doubt, this old man in blue robes was none other than Venerable Feng Xian, who had rushed here from the Starfall Pavilion without stopping.

Beside Feng Xian sat an old man with a somewhat stern face. His body was very straight, giving people an extremely sharp feeling, as if what was sitting there was not a person, but a sword exuding a sharp and cold aura.

"Haha, Venerable Wind, you've convinced me almost. This must be the Iron Sword Venerable who single-handedly wiped out the Jade Sword Sect not long ago, right?"

Just as Qiu Cheng was about to continue with the pleasantries, Chen Xiao's voice suddenly came from outside the hall.

Immediately, the three of them stood up together.

"Pavilion Master."

"Venerable Hanxiao".

Qiu Cheng and Feng Xian spoke first.

"A little fame, not worth mentioning." The old man named Iron Sword twitched his face and nodded slightly, clearly not wanting to dwell on this topic any further.

Chen Xiao strode in, and Venerable Chaofeng and Venerable Tiejian nodded in greeting before letting Qiu Cheng lead the rest of the group away.

Meeting Feng Xian's eager gaze, Chen Xiao nodded slightly.

"As I said, you can act at any time as soon as you arrive. He has already told me about Yao Chen."

"Where?" A glint flashed in Venerable Feng's eyes, his killing intent palpable.

Even the stern-faced Iron Sword Venerable looked over curiously.

Chen Xiao didn't keep them in suspense and said directly, "It's located in the Lost Souls Mountain Range in the northwest of Zhongzhou. Speaking of which, it's not far from my Zixiao Pavilion."

"I am also familiar with the Lost Soul Mountains. The terrain here is complex, and the poisonous fog and cold air are even worse than the Fallen God Gorge. It can be considered a forbidden place in the eyes of ordinary people. But I did not expect that a branch of the Soul Palace would be hidden in it!"

After a brief sigh, Venerable Feng looked at Chen Xiao: "Rescuing Yao Chen is of utmost urgency. If you are ready, then we shall set off immediately."

Chen Xiao nodded, "Alright, let's set off immediately!"

They were all decisive people, and once they made a decision, the three of them did not hesitate and left the main hall quietly. Even the people of Zixiao Pavilion did not notice their whereabouts.

It wasn't until they were a thousand miles away from Qifeng Mountain that the east began to lighten.

...

The Mountain Range of the Dead is located in the northwestern region of Zhongzhou.

As Venerable Feng said, this place can be considered a rather infamous ominous location in the Central Plains.

Legend has it that many great battles took place here long ago, and countless skeletons are buried beneath the soil of those mountains.

Moreover, because of the extremely dense natural cold air and poisonous barrier here, the mountains are shrouded in mist all year round. Being deep in this mist will affect one's soul perception. If one is reckless, one might even be trapped and die in the mountains.

The Lost Souls Mountain Range is very close to Qifeng Mountain. At the speed of Chen Xiao and his two companions, they don't even need to go all out; they can arrive in a morning.

After setting off, the three of them kept their presence hidden the whole way, but they did not stop at all and traveled in silence.

During this hectic journey, when the sun was high in the sky, the three of them noticed that, despite it being the hottest time of day, the surrounding temperature was rapidly decreasing.

"We're almost there..."

Chen Xiao looked into the distance, where the outline of a mountain range could be seen, but it was shrouded in a thick layer of mist.

With their destination within reach, Chen Xiao waved his hand and led the two towards a mountaintop outside the mountains.

Immediately, the three exchanged a glance, and Chen Xiao and Iron Sword Venerable simultaneously took out a specially made black robe from their storage rings to conceal their figures.

Venerable Wind, on the other hand, made no attempt to conceal himself, nor did he have any intention of doing so.

Unlike Chen Xiao and Iron Sword Venerable, if he were to make a move against this branch of the Soul Palace today, Starfall Pavilion would be the first suspect if anyone in the Soul Palace wasn't stupid.

If that's the case, why bother with all that?
“A few miles ahead is the Mountain Range of the Dead. From here on, we cannot fly, lest we be detected by the active magical beasts there. We also cannot tear through space, as that would be tantamount to telling the people of the Soul Palace that a Dou Zun powerhouse is attacking. We must conceal our presence as we proceed. Do you need to take a moment to adjust your breathing?” Chen Xiao said to the two of them.

Both Venerable Feng and Venerable Tiejian shook their heads. Traveling for only a morning was negligible for a Dou Zun.

They had no objection to Chen Xiao's arrangements.

This is the safest approach. Before meeting Yao Chen, it's best to remain cautious. Otherwise, it would be a joke if we were discovered before even meeting Yao Chen.

"From the air just now, we could see many sect-style buildings near the Lost Souls Mountains. There should be some small sects here, but they've most likely become spies for the Soul Hall. So, next, we..."

Keng!
It was the sound of a longsword being drawn!

"Leave it to me."

The hoarse voice of the Iron Sword Venerable came from beneath the black robe.

As soon as he finished speaking, he flicked his black robe and vanished from the spot.

Chen Xiao paused for a moment. He originally wanted to say that we should not contact anyone from now on, and even if we see someone die in front of us, we should not care.

That's enough.

After all, for three Dou Zun powerhouses, sneaking into the Lost Soul Mountain Range right under the noses of those minor sects was incredibly easy.

Unexpectedly, this Iron Sword Venerable was so straightforward!

However, it's not a big deal.

Removing these eyeliner lines does make things easier.

Chen Xiao and Venerable Feng remained silent and waited quietly on the mountaintop for about half an hour before they smelled a strong stench of blood.

Immediately afterward, the Iron Sword Venerable, dressed in a black robe, quietly emerged from the shadows behind.

"There are less than 500 people in total, and the strongest one is only at the Dou Huang level. There are no omissions, and no one has had a chance to spread the news."

The Iron Sword Venerable said something, then quickly removed his black robe, took out a handful of gray powder, and smeared it all over his body. Instantly, all the smells were covered up.

Immediately, he took out a brand new, specially made black robe and put it on.

From beginning to end, everything was done in an orderly manner, as if he were very familiar with this kind of thing.

Chen Xiao saw this and his admiration grew even stronger.

Talent!
Putting aside his interest in the Iron Sword Venerable for the time being, Chen Xiao looked towards the distant mountain range.

"Once we enter the Mountain of the Dead, don't stray too far from me. Be careful, everyone. Let's go!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Xiao took the lead and quickly dashed towards the distant mountain range.

Behind them, Venerable Wind and Venerable Iron Sword followed closely.

Only after the three figures entered the mountain range did Little Fairy Doctor slowly appear.

(End of this chapter)