Chapter 453: Current Situation

A pitch-black tear in space tore open outside the Wind and Snow Sacred Temple's boundaries.

Xiao Ming appeared from within, his lips parted, releasing a fusion of black and white flames.

At this point, the "Spirit" within Xiao Ming's body had already completely refined the "Yin-Yang Twin Flame." With this, Xiao Ming had reached the possession of six different kinds of Heavenly Flames.

Of course, the result of this assimilation was as he had predicted – not very significant. His strength had only slightly improved, and he hadn't even reached the intermediate two-star Dou Saint stage.

This result did not disappoint him. In the end, getting this Heavenly Flame had been quite effortless.

Moreover, the abilities of the Yin-Yang Twin Flame were indeed impressive. It contained the dual powers of life and death - the Yang Flame for healing and rejuvenation, while the Yin Flame for destruction and reduction to ashes.

It was rare to find a Heavenly Flame that could aid in healing, and that alone made it valuable enough.

The power of these flames was greatly enhanced by Xiao Ming's Dou Saint cultivation. Minor injuries in future battles wouldn't require the use of pills for recovery.

Retracting the Yin-Yang Twin Flame, which moved like a small fish, Xiao Ming turned his gaze to the distance.

A vast ice and snow square appeared before his eyes. The square was as smooth as a mirror, basking in the sun's warmth. Upon closer inspection, faint patterns could be discerned on its surface.

With Xiao Ming's keen eyesight, he also observed a small black dot slowly rotating at the center of the square.

'That's a wormhole. It appears that the Wind and Snow Sacred Temple has joined the Heavenly Court,' Xiao Ming thought to himself as he began to move towards the wormhole.

"Halt! The wormhole hasn't yet opened to the outside world! Return in a few days!"

As he approached, several burly men with beast-like features barred his way. After a brief inspection of Xiao Ming, they felt a sense of familiarity.

Of course, they didn't dwell on it. In the past few days since the wormhole had been established, several powerful magical beasts had arrived from the vicinity, seeking to pay a toll and leave the Fallen Spirit Ice Source. Occasionally, some humans passing by might end up among them, as might be the case here.

Xiao Ming glanced at their attire and smiled faintly, asking, "Have you joined the Heavenly Court?"

"Yes, our Sacred Temple recently joined the Heavenly Court. In the future, if you're interested in trade or herb collection, take this route to reach Holy Pill City. These items sell well there and it's quite secure. Next time, bring more people with you, though not now," one of the burly men articulated smoothly.

'Impressive business acumen.'

After listening, Xiao Ming's expression turned peculiar as he glanced at the beast-headed man. Most magical beasts were straightforward, and he could tell at a glance that this magical beast had consumed pills enabling humanoid transformation. The pill's grade wasn't high, allowing certain traits to linger.

The individual before him appeared simple-minded, lacking in cultivation, and somewhat dim-witted. Clearly, the words weren't his own but had been dictated from on high. He'd just memorized them.

'It appears that the Wind and Snow Sacred Temple is aiming for full integration with the outside world,' Xiao Ming pondered as he disappeared from sight with a step, heading toward the wormhole.

Witnessing his action, the burly men, who assumed Xiao Ming wasn't heeding their advice, faltered before initiating a search...

But at this point, Xiao Ming had already entered the wormhole.

...

Within Holy Pill City, a peaceful atmosphere prevailed.

On some expansive squares, numerous Heavenly Court enforcers were practicing in an orderly fashion. Their resounding shouts converged like muffled thunder, echoing throughout the space.

In comparison to the past, Holy Pill City now felt almost entirely rejuvenated.

Clusters of buildings bearing the Heavenly Court insignia sprung up, and streams of people bustled about like ants, lending an air of vibrant liveliness.

Furthermore, lots of powerful auras emanated from the buildings at the heart of Holy Pill City, permeating every corner of the city. The previous sense of frantic disorder had been replaced by a genuine sense of solid defense.

Swoosh!

A streak of light suddenly burst forth from a wormhole on the outskirts of Holy Pill City. It flew towards the central tower with intense momentum.

"Who dares to recklessly intrude within Holy Pill City!"

As this streak of light emerged, angry shouts resounded through the skies of Holy Pill City. In an instant, a series of piercing sounds followed suit. A multitude of aged figures suspended in the sky. Then, with a collective roar of "Halt!" the space above solidified rapidly.

However, just as everyone assumed that the figure would halt, they were left astounded as the streak of light not only did not slow down, but instead accelerated abruptly. In the next moment, amidst astonished gazes, it effortlessly shattered the frozen space. Like a ghostly apparition, it appeared behind the elders without impediment.

"It's been a while since I returned. I didn't expect the defenses to have become this strict..."

The streak of light finally came to a halt under the watchful eyes of many. Following that, a young man dressed in white with black hair slowly emerged, chuckling softly.

"Who are you?"

One of the elders who had previously attempted to intercept Xiao Ming gave him a grave look. After the preceding encounter, they dared not underestimate this seemingly youthful black-clothed youth.

Furthermore, they felt a kind of hidden pressure in his body, a kind of pressure that only a handful of people in Holy Pill City were able to give them.

The commotion in the sky also caught the attention of the Heavenly Court's law enforcement disciples who were practicing on the ground. Their astonished gazes turned towards Xiao Ming in the sky, and murmurs of amazement spread. This was the first time they had witnessed a scenario where a group of guest elders had jointly acted, yet gained no advantage. Nonetheless, a hint of fervor appeared on the faces of some.

"Young and powerful, with an extraordinary appearance. Could you be the Alliance's leader?" A quick-witted elder suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

Upon hearing this exclamation, the dozen or so guest elders from the Heavenly Court were momentarily stunned. Then, their gazes turned to Xiao Ming with a touch of incredulity.

Xiao Ming's reputation wasn't low throughout the entire Central Plains, as he was not only the Alliance Leader of the Heavenly Court but also a high-grade eighth-tier Alchemist. However, they hadn't been part of the Heavenly Court for very long and had been immersed in cultivation. Consequently, this was their first encounter with him.

Most of the disciples of the Law Enforcement Team had never seen Xiao Ming either.

"So, he's the Alliance Leader of our Heavenly Court..."

"Wow, the Alliance Leader is indeed quite handsome!"

"Don't act like a silly fangirl. Someone like the Alliance Leader wouldn't be interested in us..."

"I've heard that the Alliance Leader has already reached the Dou Saint realm. He's also a high-grade eighth-tier Alchemist. He once even single-handedly killed a two-star Dou Saint from the Hall of Souls. It was because of his reputation that I initially joined the Heavenly Court. Didn't expect to finally meet this legendary figure today, hehe..."