407: Reunited with Yan Xiao

The intelligence Jiang Vengeance obtained, ranked from easiest to hardest to acquire, was:

One, Yanwang Prefecture still belongs to the Eastern Region. Although there is a clear geographical division due to the Great Desert and the Immortal Dynasty Four Kingdoms, on the overall geographical map of the Prison Land, it remains the Eastern Region.

The more central Central Region, however, is far superior to the Eastern Region in terms of both resources and powerful individuals.

Two, Yan Xiao caused quite a stir in the Eastern Region, and his current whereabouts are unknown.

Some Eastern Region forces maintained a friendly attitude toward Yan Xiao and even gained significant benefits because of him.

Other Eastern Region forces, however, were hostile toward Yan Xiao, having suffered losses because of him.

Three, because of Yan Xiao, all forces in the Eastern Region have developed ambitions toward the east of the Great Desert.

They believe that the place capable of giving birth to Yan Xiao must be rich in spiritual energy.

The 136 Sects accessible to Yanwang Prefecture are almost all preparing for war, ready to push eastward.

This intelligence was difficult for other Players to obtain. Jiang Vengeance relied on his excellent role-playing and Luck to gain the trust of a certain Immortal Foundation Cultivator, gleaning the information while the other party was drunk.

Jiang Vengeance did not inform the other Players of this intelligence; instead, he was happy to see these hundred-plus Sects move eastward collectively.

He himself joined one of the Sects, named “Nine Sword Dao.”

It is a Dao Lineage of the Immortal Foundation Golden Core Path, incorporating Sword Cultivation methods.

It is said to have been jointly established ten thousand years ago by nine Fourth-Rank Sword Cultivators. It has a long Legacy, deep foundations, and is a first-rate force throughout the Eastern Region.

Relying on Player privileges, Jiang Vengeance exchanged for some Talent Enhancements, successfully passed the Outer Sect screening, and was able to join.

Next, he lay low, hiding within the Sect, seemingly becoming a local Cultivator diligently striving in his practice... On the other side, Old Potato felt somewhat powerless.

Unlike Midnight Gao Sou and the Mage, Old Potato never had experience organizing or controlling a force.

This Western Exploration was organized by him, modeled after the East Sea Exploration.

His idea was that if danger arose, everyone could solve it together, making organization convenient when there was a clear goal.

Furthermore, he had a connection with Yan Xiao, which allowed him to be recognized by everyone as the organizational leader, as one of the goals of the Western Exploration was to find Yan Xiao.

But as intelligence from the west continued to grow, more and more Players began acting independently for their own benefit.

The original plan for collective exploration collapsed almost instantly.

Old Potato felt exhausted.

Even more fatal matters were yet to come.

Some clever person, identity unknown, leaked the fact that he possessed the Strange Flame, directly causing Fifth-Rank Cultivators from Yanwang Prefecture to mobilize, track him down, and pursue him, hoping to seize the Strange Flame.

Old Potato could originally resist, but the Fifth-Rank Cultivators flooding in became more numerous, and the methods they used grew increasingly powerful.

He could only flee desperately.

The path back to the east was blocked, so Old Potato could only rush around Yanwang Prefecture, even delving deeper into the west.

He felt like he was probably going to die.

On this day.

The scorching sun hung high, a dazzling fiery red spreading across the heavens and earth, as exploding Strange Flame flowers continuously roared.

“Old Potato, hand over the Strange Flame, and we can still let you live!”

“If you give the Strange Flame to us, we will allow you to join the Fire Worship Sect and teach you a Fourth-Rank technique!”

“Stop your stubborn resistance! You won't escape today!”

Various Fifth-Rank Cultivators surrounded Old Potato from every corner.

Although they feared the Strange Flame and dared not launch a fierce attack, everyone was confident.

There were enough Fifth-Rank Cultivators surrounding him, the methods they brought were strong enough, and Old Potato had been running for days, already at the end of his rope.

Old Potato scanned the surroundings, found no opening, and gave a bitter smile.

The Strange Flame had already been refined by him; it could not be traded until it was refined back into a masterless state.

Therefore, if he died here, the Strange Flame would truly be lost. The cost was too great, and he had to avoid it at all costs.

But... he truly couldn't find a way out.

Is this the end?

Old Potato let out a long sigh.

Since the day he helped Li Changfeng hunt the Cloud-Swallowing Whale, which led to the Strange Flame's exposure, he had anticipated this day.

Greedy Players would inevitably try to seize his Strange Flame.

He just hadn't expected that since these Players couldn't find a way to seize the Strange Flame themselves, they would incite the natives to do it.

Old Potato was extremely weary. It was truly difficult to distinguish good from evil among the Players, and mobilizing them required taking the huge risk of being backstabbed.

“Even if I die here today, I'll drag you down with me.”

Old Potato glared at the surrounding Cultivators and let out a cold snort.

The Strange Flame burned, blooming into magnificent flowers in the air, emitting crackling sounds as if setting the air alight.

The surrounding Cultivators all held their breath, watching him cautiously.

But right at this moment.

A heroic voice suddenly came from afar:

“Haha, you people are still so greedy! So many of you gathered here just to steal someone else's Strange Flame? Truly, a dog can't change its habit of eating shit!”

The voice was heroic and contained power, shaking everyone present.

“It's Yan Xiao!”

“Why is he back again?”

“Retreat! Retreat quickly!”

“Don't confront Yan Xiao—”

The Cultivators screamed in terror.

Those who reacted quickly shot off into the distance immediately.

Those who reacted slowly subconsciously looked toward the source of the sound.

Next, a dazzling firelight suddenly erupted.

It was a flame even more brilliant than Old Potato's Strange Flame.

What was stranger was that Strange Flames are usually monochromatic, with only variations in tone at most.

But the Strange Flame released by Yan Xiao was dual-colored, one on the left and one on the right, seemingly undergoing Fusion.

The one on the left was an ice-blue Strange Flame, and the one on the right was lotus-green.

The two masses of Strange Flame intertwined in Fusion, swiftly flying toward the surrounding Cultivators.

The next moment, it was like a blazing Fire Lotus violently burst open. The terrifying impact swallowed up several Fifth-Rank Cultivators, and the extreme high temperature vented all its power in an explosive manner in a short time.

When Old Potato recovered from his shock, the swallowed Cultivators had lost their flesh and blood, dying instantly on the spot.

Instant kill of a Fifth-Rank Cultivator in one blow!

“What kind of power is this?”

Old Potato stared dumbfounded at Yan Xiao.

Yan Xiao was wearing black cultivation robes, with a Massive Ruler strapped to his back, flames hovering around him, and clear, bright Flame Wings growing from his back, laughing heartily with his mouth open.

He was so heroic that it made others feel relaxed.

It was as if, with his arrival, the situation here no longer held any suspense.

“Old Potato, long time no see.”

Yan Xiao looked at Old Potato, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes, happy to be reunited with an old friend.

The surrounding Cultivators had already scattered and fled; not a single one dared to confront Yan Xiao directly.

Old Potato was stunned for a moment before saying:

“Long time no see... You are truly... impressive now.”

Less than three years had passed since Yan Xiao left the Immortal Dynasty Four Kingdoms to explore the west.

Initially, his strength was still below that of the Great Jiang Empress before her Breakthrough, and he was nearly driven to a corner by a Golden Core pursuing him.

But now, the Fire Lotus he casually released could instantly kill a Fifth-Rank Cultivator of the same Realm.

The speed of this cultivation change and the rapid increase in combat power truly astonished Old Potato.

Is this the Son of Luck?