Chapter 171: After the Battle!

After Gu Nan Hai returned to the Gu Clan with Gu Qing Yang and others, he was summoned by the high-ranking members of the Gu Clan to the discussion hall.

In the solemn hall, many elders of the Gu Clan had gathered. At the head position, Gu Yuan sat quietly, listening to Gu Nan Hai's report. Even when he heard that the Soul Clan had dispatched a Five-Star Dou Saint power, disregarding the Alliance Agreement of the Emperor Clans, he remained unmoved and calm.

On Gu Yuan's left sat three elders, all with white hair and beards, frowning. They were the three immortals of the Gu Clan, Seven-Star Dou Saint powerhouses, known alongside the Four Demon Saints of the Soul Clan. Following them were some Six-Star and Five-Star Dou Saint elders.

On Gu Yuan's right side, apart from a cold-faced man in black, Gu Xun Er was also present. The man was none other than the second strongest in the Gu Clan, Hei Yan Wang Gu Lie, at the early stage of an Eight-Star Dou Saint.

After hearing Gu Nan Hai's report, the hall was immediately filled with the sound of wine cups shattering. Many elders raised their heads in anger.

"The Soul Clan, what are they up to?"

"They openly violate our Five-Star Dou Saint non-interference agreement of the Emperor Clans. Do they think nothing of the other Emperor Clans? Do they hold our Gu Clan in contempt?"

"Clan Leader, this matter must not be taken lightly. We should unite with the other five clans to confront the Soul Clan. Otherwise, today it's a Six-Star Dou Saint, and next time it will be a Seven-Star Dou Saint taking action!"

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

In the hall, voices of anger and agreement resonated. Many hot-tempered elders shouted in fury while others sat frowning, clearly displeased with the actions of the Soul Clan. 

Gu Xun Er, hearing news about Yun Yi, had an unusual glint in her eyes, a mix of anger and a faint feeling of defeat after learning he had become a Nine-Star Dou Zun.

Listening to the arguments, Gu Yuan said heavily, "Hun Clan's Void Swallowing Flame has become a Nine-Star Dou Saint, significantly enhancing their strength. I need to discuss how to address this with the other clan leaders."

Hearing of Void Swallowing Flame's strength, the elders sobered up. They realized that the Soul Clan had gained an edge after Void Swallowing Flame's breakthrough to Nine-Star Dou Saint and the uncertain recovery of the Soul Clan's Emperor, making them stronger than the Gu Clan.

Though reluctant to admit it, many elders agreed.

Gu Lie then said, "We can put the matter of the Soul Clan aside for now, but we cannot ignore the Soul Hall's issue. The Soul Hall must not be allowed to grow unchecked."

"The Hei Yan Army has been in the East for a long time and can now train in Zhongzhou. Let Gu Lin and the others handle it alongside the Dan Tower to suppress the Soul Hall's development!" Gu Dao expressed his opinion.

"Seconded."

"Seconded."

With the agreement of Gu Lie and the three immortals, the decision was made. Those with differing opinions couldn't go against these key figures.

At this point, Gu Lie turned to Gu Nan Hai and asked, "I've heard of the prowess of the Soul Hall's young master, but who is Jiang Yun that competed with him? Which force does he belong to?"

Gu Lie's question grabbed the elders' attention. Though they despised Yun Yi, they couldn't deny his terrifying talent. They were curious about Jiang Yun, who could match him.

Gu Nan Hai was taken aback and shook his head in confusion as he had no information about Jiang Yun.

Gu Qing Yang then spoke up, "I know about Jiang Yun. I met him once on a trip to the Northwest Continent. He seems to have some connections with the Ancient Dragon Clan. I reported this to the Elders' Council!"

He looked at one of the elders. The elder, realizing the attention on him, blushed slightly.

Seeing this, everyone understood that they hadn't paid attention to Jiang Yun before, considering him a nobody from the Northwest Continent, thus unaware of his existence.

Understanding this, Gu Lie changed the topic, "Since he has ties with the Ancient Dragon Clan, Qing Yang, make contact with him when you go to Zhongzhou. The Ancient Dragon Clan is always mysterious, and making an ally would be beneficial with the Soul Clan being so aggressive."

Qing Yang nodded and returned to the line silently.

When no one else spoke, Gu Yuan said, "Proceed as Gu Lie suggested. I'll meet with Yan Jin and Lei Ying to discuss our approach with the Soul Clan's Emperor."

"Disperse!"

With that, everyone stood and left. 

Once everyone was gone, only Gu Xun Er and her father Gu Yuan were left in the hall.

Gu Xun Er looked at Gu Yuan and said, "Father, I want to go to Zhongzhou with the Hei Yan Army."

Gu Yuan glanced at his daughter, seeing the determination in her eyes, and calmly said, "You can go once you break through to Dou Zun."

"Thank you, Father!" Xun Er's eyes sparkled with determination. Already a Dou Zong, she was confident she could break through to Dou Zun within three years.

Three years isn't long. She still had a chance to catch up with Yun Yi and personally redeem herself.

In Shengdan City, in a secluded place surrounded by tranquility, a stream flowed through the forest, forming a silver waterfall plunging into a clear lake below. 

At the center of the lake, a figure sat cross-legged on the water, motionless. Ripples from the surroundings dissipated ten meters from him as if an extremely tranquil aura enveloped him, creating a mysterious effect.

The figure was Jiang Yun. Since the battle in Shengdan City, Jiang Yun had begun absorbing the Three Thousand Burning Flame, assisted by Ancient Void Dragon Zhu Feng and countered by Holy Demon Flame, allowing him to easily absorb the Three Thousand Burning Flame.

He reached the level of a One-Star Dou Zun!

During this time, he also comprehended the laws of Nine Dragon Lightning Gang Flame and Three Thousand Burning Flame, gaining significant insights.

"There are still many flames derived from Three Thousand Burning Flame in the starry region. Absorbing them will elevate my level again. Next, I need to visit Beast Territory. Zi Yan's Dragon-Phoenix Source Fruit is crucial!"

After breaking through, Jiang Yun planned his next steps carefully.

"Jiang Yun, you've emerged!"

He immediately flew out, hearing a familiar voice. It was Xiao Yi Xian, standing quietly at a distance, smiling at him.

Jiang Yun smiled back and asked, "Any issues in Dan Tower recently? What's the situation outside?"

Xiao Yi Xian softly replied, "Dan Tower is in a bad state. Its reputation in Zhongzhou has declined, and three elders of Little Dan Tower have fallen. The old ancestor seems to plan re-selecting the three chiefs of Dan Tower!"

Jiang Yun was surprised but shook his head, "It's possible to supplement Little Dan Tower elders, but a full election of the three chiefs is impossible, at least not all at once."

Nodding, Xiao Yi Xian continued, "The Soul Hall has returned to its usual calm after the chaos."

Jiang Yun nodded, knowing that without his and Yun Yi's orchestration, the Soul Hall wouldn't have waged such a war against Dan Tower.

The Soul Clan, with recent events, would have strained ties with the other six great clans, especially the Gu Clan. The Gu Clan must be highly vigilant against the Soul Clan now.

Although it wouldn't lead to an outright war, secret clashes between the two clans would undoubtedly increase.

With a few more critical incidents, Jiang Yun and Yun Yi could intensify the contradictions planted before.

"Right!" Xiao Yi Xian seemed to recall something and said, "Some Gu Clan members sought to visit you but were turned away by me."

"Are they still in Dan Tower?" Jiang Yun wasn't concerned, believing it to be Gu Qing Yang seeking some solace.

"No, they left on the third day." Xiao Yi Xian looked at Jiang Yun sincerely.

"I need to see Chairman Xuan Kong Zi. I have a small request for Dan Tower's help," Jiang Yun said as he flew towards the Central Dan Tower swiftly.

Watching Jiang Yun's departure, Xiao Yi Xian sighed, clutching her chest where a green seed lay entrenched. Seeing Zi Yan, Qing Lin, and Medusa rapidly improving, with all three finding their paths to the Holy Realm, she felt left behind as only a Six-Star Dou Zong, unclear about her advance to Dou Zun, let alone Dou Saint.

Concerned that she might become a burden, her only hope for rapid improvement lay in sensing the Bodhi Ancient Tree for a significant boost.

With renewed determination, she vowed not to fall too far behind.

Reaching the Dan Tower's chairman's office smoothly, Jiang Yun met with Xuan Kong Zi, who appeared much more disheartened, likely troubled in spirit.

Jiang Yun stated his purpose directly.

"You want to enter the starry region?" Xuan Kong Zi asked, surprised.

"The starry region contains remnants of Three Thousand Burning Flame. Having refined half of the Three Thousand Burning Flame, these remnants could be hazardous, especially with the region damaged," Jiang Yun explained, showing a purple-black flame in his palm with a small dragon dancing within.

"Understood!" Xuan Kong Zi nodded, "But before that, an elder wants to see you."

"Who?" Jiang Yun asked, curious.

"Shen Nong Elder!" Xuan Kong Zi's tone carried a hint of envy. Shen Nong was a legendary figure in the alchemy world, an ancient senior even a millennium ago, seen as a living fossil whose craft surpassed anyone's lifetime of experience.

Listening, Jiang Yun was surprised that the elusive elder was still residing in Dan Tower.

"For protection against a possible Soul Clan resurgence, the ancestor and Shen Nong Elder remain in Little Dan Tower. We should visit these seniors together – it will benefit you," Xuan Kong Zi suggested kindly, treating him as a promising junior.

"Agreed."

"The Soul Clan's audacity this time might herald greater turmoil ahead."

In a paradise-like place, Dan Tower's old ancestor and Shen Nong Elder, two of the rare Six-Star Dou Saints in the world, sat under a giant tree, conversing.

Looking at the now-wrinkled face of Dan Tower's ancestor, Shen Nong Elder sighed, "In the aftermath of the battle a millennium ago, the Xiao Clan was destroyed, and the Soul Clan was greatly weakened. They have since conserved their strength. Judging from recent events, the Soul Clan has recovered. The Soul Clan Emperor might have healed!"

"The Soul Clan is dangerous, but if anyone can resist them, it's the Gu Clan," said the Dan Tower ancestor with a troubled expression.

"The Gu Clan..." Shen Nong Elder hesitated, knowing the complex history between the Soul Clan, Gu Clan, and Xiao Clan. In their view, Gu Yuan, compared to Xiao Xuan and the Soul Clan Emperor, was overly cautious, though being a qualified leader.

Still, they acknowledged that the Soul Clan no longer desired peace.

"Let's not dwell on them. Despite the setbacks, Dan Tower still has promising talents," Shen Nong Elder reassured, hoping for a flourishing alchemy realm.

Nodding with relief, the Dan Tower ancestor listened as they awaited Jiang Yun's arrival.