Chapter 42: Ancient Tribe's Response

After explaining his situation, Jiang Xing turned the topic to Medusa. 

"It seems you listened to my advice and have now broken through to the four-star Dou Zong level." 

What Jiang Xing was implying, of course, was that Medusa should delegate clan affairs to her subordinates. 

Medusa replied, "Thank you for the training resources you provided." 

These words truly came from Medusa's heart. 

Medusa was very self-aware. Although she had now evolved into a Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python, without the cultivation resources Jiang Xing provided, it would likely have taken her more than two months of cultivation to break through. She definitely wouldn't have been able to break through as quickly as she did. 

Jiang Xing smiled mischievously and said, "Oh? Is the Queen only going to express her gratitude with words? No practical actions?" 

As he spoke, Jiang Xing's hands weren't idle; he wrapped his arms around Medusa's soft and delicate waist. 

Seeing Jiang Xing's expectant expression, Medusa rolled her eyes, knowing exactly what he meant. 

At that moment, Medusa felt herself being lifted by the waist and carried inside...

Having just absorbed the Wind Fury Dragon Flame, Jiang Xing planned to absorb the Bone Spirit Cold Fire after some time. 

Speaking of the Bone Spirit Cold Fire, Jiang Xing couldn't help but think of Yao Lao, who was still in the ring. 

After probing his soul force into the ring, he saw Yao Lao still lying on the ground. However, compared to his previous state of near transparency, Yao Lao was undoubtedly in much better shape. 

Although Yao Lao hadn't woken up yet, judging by his current state, he wasn't far from regaining consciousness. 

It hadn't been a waste that Jiang Xing had used several herbs to restore Yao Lao's soul power. 

Though Jiang Xing had initially released Xiao Yan, he had kept Yao Chen with him. 

Originally, he had intended to use Yao Chen to threaten Xiao Yan, but now that Xiao Yan's body was cold, Jiang Xing was considering how to extract the last bit of value from Yao Lao. 

Yao Lao was an eighth-grade top alchemist, and his greatest value lay in his alchemy skills. 

But the problem was how to get Yao Lao to willingly refine pills for him. 

Jiang Xing had captured Yao Lao and killed his apprentice Xiao Yan. If Yao Lao knew this, he would probably want to fight Jiang Xing to the death. 

One possible condition was to use Han Feng as leverage—not to release him, but to kill him. 

When Jiang Xing ordered Ji Feng to snatch Han Feng's Sea Heart Flame, he specifically instructed Ji Feng to keep Han Feng's soul, which was still stored in a soul container. 

Yao Lao had been betrayed by Han Feng, a traitor, which had left him with only his soul. Yao Lao dreamed of clearing out the sect. 

The condition would be that if Yao Lao helped Jiang Xing refine medicine, Jiang Xing would help Yao Lao kill Han Feng, the traitor. 

This could potentially persuade Yao Lao to assist in making elixirs, but Jiang Xing still had some concerns. 

Jiang Xing was worried that Yao Lao might tamper with the elixirs. 

Although Yao Lao was depicted as a decent person in the original story, Jiang Xing didn't believe he was entirely good. 

On the Douqi continent, kind-hearted people don't cultivate to the peak of the Nine Revolutions Dou Zun. 

Furthermore, Jiang Xing had captured Yao Lao. In such a situation, even if Yao Lao made medicine for him, Jiang Xing wouldn't dare to consume it. 

Thinking about this gave Jiang Xing a headache. 

Alas, there was no solution, so he decided to leave it for now. 

At worst, he could have Yao Lao make pills for him and then exchange those pills for cultivation resources. 

Recalling the practice method of the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Fire in his mind, Jiang Xing prepared to practice it. 

Although it was only the first transformation, Jiang Xing's grandfather was a six-star Dou Sheng, so it wasn't difficult for him to go to Fenyan Valley and obtain the next two transformations. 

In the following days, Jiang Xing practiced the Three Mysterious Transformations of Heavenly Fire. 

There would be a brief period of weakness after using the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Fire. 

After entering the weakened state, Jiang Xing refined the fire bead of the fire lizard. 

Although there was no breakthrough in realm, mastering the Three Mysterious Transformations of Heavenly Fire was considered a small gain. 

......

In the ancient tribe. 

After days of rushing, the Dou Zong of the Gu Clan finally returned to the Gu Clan. 

In an elegant courtyard. 

When the Ancient Clan Dou Zong saw Gu Xun'er, he hurriedly said, "Miss, Master Xiao Yan was captured by the Soul Palace." 

Gu Xun'er originally thought that this Dou Zong would bring her some recent news about Brother Xiao Yan, but she didn't expect to hear this. 

Gu Xun'er angrily said, "What? Didn't I ask you to protect Brother Xiao Yan?" 

Gu Xun'er was gentle, considerate, and understanding towards Xiao Yan. 

But don't forget that she was the daughter of the ancient clan. She was gentle and considerate only toward Xiao Yan; as for others, her attitude could be extremely cold. 

Seeing Gu Xun'er angry, the Dou Zong was so frightened that he knelt down and explained tremblingly, "Miss, at that time, Master Xiao Yan was about to enter the inner courtyard of Canaan College, but someone from the Soul Palace suddenly appeared and knocked me out. When I woke up, Master Xiao Yan was gone." 

Gu Xun'er was very familiar with the work style of the Soul Palace, a place where the Soul Clan collected souls. 

If Xiao Yan had been taken by the Soul Palace, it meant... 

Thinking of this, Gu Xun'er became extremely anxious. 

If Gu Xun'er hadn't been confined to the clan by Gu Yuan, she would probably have gone directly to the northwest continent. 

"No, no, Brother Xiao Yan must not be in any danger!" 

Each branch of the Soul Palace was overseen by a Dou Zun, and with Gu Yuan's orders, she was currently unable to mobilize the Dou Zun elders in the clan. 

Additionally, Gu Xun'er was worried that if she arrived too late, Xiao Yan might already be dead. 

Gu Xun'er's last resort was to find Gu Yuan. 

So Gu Xun'er hurriedly went to find Gu Yuan. 

Inside the ancient clan's main hall, Gu Yuan was handling the affairs of the ancient clan at the time. 

The ancient clan was vast, and many subordinate races outside the ancient world required Gu Yuan's personal attention. 

Gu Yuan's realm had reached the late Nine-Star Dou Sheng stage, and there was no way for him to break through through cultivation. 

Since there was no way to break through, Gu Yuan simply spent all his energy on these matters. 

Gu Xun'er entered the hall hastily. 

Gu Yuan frowned slightly. As the eldest daughter of the Gu clan, she should not have been so rude. 

Gu Yuan was about to scold her when he heard his daughter's anxious and tearful voice. 

"Father, Brother Xiao Yan has been captured by the Soul Palace. Xun'er begs you to save him!" 

Seeing Gu Xun'er so distraught over Xiao Yan, Gu Yuan felt pained, but he was also disappointed in her. 

The ancient clan had so many geniuses, and it would have been fine if his daughter didn't like them, but she was so infatuated with a wastrel from the impoverished Xiao clan. 

But she was his daughter after all, and seeing her cry so bitterly, Gu Yuan felt genuinely heartbroken. 

He thought of sending a Dou Zun to check on Xiao Yan. If he could be saved, he would be saved. If not, it would be better if Xiao Yan were dead. 

Seeing that Gu Yuan was reluctant to save Xiao Yan, Gu Xun'er suddenly thought of something and hurriedly said, "Father, that piece of ancient jade is also in Brother Xiao Yan's possession. We can't let the people from the Soul Palace get it!" 

Just then, Gu Xun'er remembered that Xiao Yan still had fragments of ancient jade on him. 

Gu Xun'er knew that Gu Yuan didn't care about Xiao Yan's life or death, but he definitely cared about the ancient jade. 

"What? The ancient jade is also on Xiao Yan?" 

Sure enough, after hearing Xun'er's words, Gu Yuan's originally indifferent attitude suddenly changed, and he stood up directly from his seat.