In the gloomy depths of the Hall of Souls' black palace, two Heavenly Venerates sat in silence. The guards summoned to clean the chamber moved with the utmost caution—heads bowed, breaths held, not daring to make the slightest sound. They feared that any noise, any misstep, would see them become the next lifeless heap upon the floor.
Yet the one who had caused all this upheaval—Xiao Jietian—was presently lounging at ease, watching with faint amusement as Han Xue and Hu Jia happily sorted through the spoils taken from Old Freak Zhaixing's spatial ring.
"Wow! Xiao Jietian, look at this! Isn't this the strange Dou Technique he used earlier—Zhai Xing Hand?" Han Xue exclaimed, clutching a jade scroll. She dashed over to him, eyes sparkling with excitement.
Although the technique had been utterly ineffective against Xiao Jietian due to the vast gulf in their strength, he had still been genuinely surprised by it at the time. To conjure a ghostly hand from such distance, striking directly at a vital point—it was a method capable of turning the tide of battle in an instant.
Hu Jia, hearing this, immediately set aside the items she had been organizing and hurried over. Clearly she, too, was very interested in such a sinister and practical art.
Xiao Jietian accepted the scroll, briefly scanned its contents, then spoke to the two girls.
"Indeed, it is Zhai Xing Hand—a Heaven-tier mid-grade Dou Technique. One could call it a half-spatial type skill: impossible to guard against under normal circumstances. You may both learn it if you wish; the technique carries no attribute restriction. However, its effectiveness diminishes sharply against opponents whose cultivation far exceeds your own."
"Forget it—we won't learn it." Hu Jia shook her head decisively. "If the difference in strength is too great, it's useless. We might even end up like him."
She pointed casually at Old Freak Zhaixing's corpse still lying sprawled in the dirt.
Han Xue nodded in agreement, then continued rummaging through the remaining scrolls.
"But this one—Shattered Star Blade—is actually Heaven-tier high-grade! Yet it looks so bizarre… it requires fusing something into the body during cultivation?"
She shivered slightly at the thought. Having some strange, writhing thing embedded inside one's flesh—how grotesque would that feel?
"True," Xiao Jietian agreed calmly. "Though its might is formidable, Boundless Heaven Hall already possesses far superior arts. Still, this can be placed in the Scripture Depository of the Eternal Heaven Palace's front hall to enrich its foundation."
"Are you referring to that enormous black tower-like building?" Han Xue asked, glancing at Hu Jia.
"Exactly," Hu Jia replied. "It is filled with Heaven-tier mid-grade and above Dou Techniques and cultivation methods—most placed there by Xiao Jietian himself, or 'enthusiastically contributed' by other forces."
"'Enthusiastically contributed'?" Han Xue blinked in confusion. Had the world become so mad that other sects willingly offered up their Heaven-tier inheritances?
"Those who 'enthusiastically contributed' were the ones who provoked Boundless Heaven Hall… and were subsequently annihilated," Xiao Jietian explained with a soft chuckle. He reached out and flicked Hu Jia's forehead. "You really are the best at dressing things up prettily."
"Hmph hmph!" Hu Jia huffed proudly, chin raised. "His collection truly is abundant—as expected of a Dou Zun. There are five Heaven-tier Dou Techniques alone, not to mention all those rare medicinal ingredients."
She placed several neatly organized and categorized spatial rings into Xiao Jietian's hand.
After he stored them away, he took out an empty ring and casually collected Old Freak Zhaixing's corpse.
Both girls stared in astonishment.
"Hey!! Why are you collecting the corpse?" Hu Jia asked, incredulous. "Killing someone and then helping to clean up the body—you're surprisingly considerate."
"No," Xiao Jietian replied calmly. "Someone has need of it."
Hu Jia blinked—then understanding dawned. "Ah… that's right."
"Wait—what kind of secret are the two of you sharing? Why am I the only one left out?" Han Xue looked back and forth between them, feeling as though the entire world had conspired to exclude her.
Hu Jia pulled her close and whispered a few sentences in her ear.
Han Xue's eyes widened. "So that's how it is…"
"Let us return to the Eternal Heaven World first," Xiao Jietian said.
...
Xiao Jietian appeared atop a high mountain deep within a forest of the Black-Corner Region. Nearby, Han Xue was tugging excitedly at Hu Jia's sleeve, eager to see the Heaven-tier mid-grade and above Dou Techniques and cultivation methods stored within the Scripture Depository—to broaden her horizons.
Such was one of the many conveniences of the Eternal Heaven World: through its teleportation gates, one could freely travel between the Black-Corner Region and the Northern Territories of the Central Plains.
Xiao Jietian watched the scene unfolding below with keen interest, a smile tugging irresistibly at his lips.
At this moment, in a secluded training ground within the forest, Yao Lao was personally drilling Xiao Yan.
The "special training" consisted of Yao Lao relentlessly pursuing his disciple with a long whip formed entirely of Bone Chilling Flame. Xiao Yan fled desperately, his body already crisscrossed with countless whip marks, gasping for breath.
Finally Yao Lao halted.
"Enough for now," the old spirit said. "Go soak in the medicinal pool."
The moment the whip ceased, Xiao Yan collapsed to the ground, chest heaving. After a moment he gritted his teeth, endured the pain, and staggered toward the prepared scarlet medicinal pool.
"Hiss~~~"
The instant he entered, he drew several sharp breaths. His body trembled uncontrollably from the intense stimulation.
Yao Lao turned his head, glanced toward the high mountain where Xiao Jietian stood, and gave a small smile and nod before returning his attention to his disciple in the pool.
...
Roughly ten minutes later.
Xiao Yan had fully absorbed the medicinal power of the entire pool. His aura suddenly surged; a powerful pressure belonging to the peak of nine-star Dou Huang erupted from his body.
He rose slowly. Though his eyes remained tightly closed, the joy on his face was impossible to conceal.
"Not bad," a familiar voice sounded beside him. "You will soon be able to break through to Dou Zong."
Xiao Yan's eyes flew open. A flash of excitement passed through them.
"Tian Ge! When did you arrive?"
"Him?" Yao Lao pointed lazily toward the distant peak. "He arrived long ago. He watched the entire time you were being whipped."
"No way…" Xiao Yan's shoulders slumped, face filled with dejection.
"Hahahaha~"
Both Yao Lao and Xiao Jietian burst into laughter at his crestfallen expression.
"Tian Ge, didn't you go to the Central Plains? Why do you have time to come back?" Xiao Yan hurried over, eyes shining with curiosity and eagerness. "How is the Central Plains? Is it fun? Are there many experts there?"
"It truly cannot be compared," Xiao Jietian said with a light laugh. "Dou Huangs and Dou Zongs—rare existences in the Northwest Continent—are commonplace in the Central Plains."
He changed the subject smoothly.
"Now Boundless Heaven Hall has established a teleportation gate in the Central Plains. You may go there anytime you wish."
"Really? That's wonderful!" Xiao Yan had always been deeply curious about the Central Plains. Now he could hardly wait to set out.
"This time I returned to give you something—and two pieces of news," Xiao Jietian said directly, cutting to the point.
"Oh? What is it?" Xiao Yan's eyes instantly lit up. His hands rubbed together excitedly, like a fly rubbing its forelegs, anticipation written plainly across his face.
Xiao Jietian looked at his eager expression and helplessly rubbed his forehead.
This future Flame Emperor… seemed to have been thoroughly led astray by him.
Yao Lao, seeing his own direct disciple reduced to this state, could only cover his face in despair, as though silently declaring: I don't know this boy. He is no disciple of mine. Too embarrassing.