52: Chapter 52 Possible Wars

The scorching sun hung high in the sky, waves of heat rolling across the land.

A few days later, Xiao Yan finally arrived at Stone Desert City.

"Young Master Xiao Yan! You have returned!"

When Xiao Yan reached the entrance of the Mo Tie Mercenary Group, a burly mercenary at the gate clearly recognized him and greeted him respectfully.

"Hehe, Chen Tie, is my big brother here?"

Xiao Yan also recognized this mercenary; he was the first person he had met when he first arrived here, though now there was a hideous scar on his face.

"Young Master Xiao Yan, the leader is in the meeting hall. Would you like me to take you there?"

"No need, I can go myself. By the way, what happened to the injury on your face?"

Xiao Yan declined Chen Tie's offer to lead the way and asked.

Seeing Xiao Yan ask him, Chen Tie wore a bitter smile as he said, "I was attacked by the Snake-people Tribe while on a mission last month. I heard that the Snake-people Tribe has experienced some major events recently and has gradually become more aggressive. The stationed army has notified us that a war might break out within the next two years..."

Xiao Yan frowned upon hearing this. He took out a bottle of healing medicine, handed it to Chen Tie, patted his shoulder, and then left the gate.

War? It seems I will have to make another trip to the desert in a while...

He walked non-stop until he reached the entrance of the meeting hall, where only Xiao Ding was sitting in a chair.

"Big brother."

Seeing Xiao Ding intently studying a map, Xiao Yan spoke up.

Xiao Ding looked up abruptly, and upon seeing Xiao Yan, he walked over, patted his shoulder, and laughed, "Little Yan, you're back!"

"Everything went smoothly in the Imperial Capital. I will tell you all about it later... By the way, was Father and the others' relocation successful?"

Xiao Yan asked with a smile.

"Everything went smoothly. Your second brother went with them too. I will give you the map location later..."

Xiao Ding said with a smile, pointing to the map in his hand for Xiao Yan to see.

Xiao Yan breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this; since everyone had evacuated safely, there was nothing to worry about.

"You should leave in a few days too. I feel that this place is no longer safe."

Xiao Yan thought for a moment and said.

"I have the same thought. I was just waiting for you to arrive before leaving Stone Desert City."

Xiao Ding nodded, clearly agreeing with Xiao Yan. It wasn't just the increasingly restless Snake-people Tribe; the final gathering point for all the Xiao Family's relocation teams was also Stone Desert City.

Xiao Yan nodded and laughed, "I will only be staying for a very short time this time. The leave I requested from Instructor Ruo Lin has long since expired. If I don't go back soon, she might just expel me."

"Hahaha, you are certainly carefree. You requested a year of leave, and you know, it's been nearly two years now!"

Xiao Ding couldn't help but laugh; his younger brother could be quite unreliable at times.

After chatting for a while, Xiao Ding went to prepare luggage and wine for the evening. Tonight, they were destined to drink until they were drunk!

The next day, Xiao Yan left Stone Desert City and headed for the Black-Corner Region. There, he would find many things he needed—not just Han Feng's head and the exotic fire, but also several Dou Techniques that Xiao Yan was quite interested in.

Jia Nan Academy, an ancient academy located in the center of the continent, possessed a long and rich history. Over the thousands of years, countless powerhouses of the continent had emerged from here.

At the same time, it was recognized as the best institution on the continent, and countless people took pride in being able to enter this academy.

At the Peak of the mountain behind Jia Nan Academy, Xun'er, dressed in a light cyan dress, faced the thick white mist behind the Peak.

"Jingle..."

The bell tied to her wrist chimed softly, and a shadow appeared behind Xun'er. It was an elderly man who bowed respectfully to Xun'er and smiled, "Young Miss."

"Old Ling, you have finally returned. I wonder how Xiao Yan is doing now?"

A shy blush appeared on Xun'er's elegant, delicate face as she asked.

"Hehe, that guy is doing so well that it completely exceeded my expectations!"

Recalling Xiao Yan's performance in Jia Ma Holy City, Old Ling's face immediately showed a moved expression.

"Old Ling, why do you say that? What did Brother Xiao Yan do to make you so moved?"

Seeing Ling Ying's moved expression, Xun'er asked in surprise.

"At first, this old man didn't quite understand why you, Young Miss, protected Xiao Yan. However, during Xiao Yan's journey this time, his performance completely overturned my perception of him. Your judgment, Young Miss, is truly sharp. If the Clan Head knew of his deeds, he would definitely approve of him!"

Hearing the admiration in Old Ling's tone, Xun'er felt a surge of joy in her heart, but also a hint of doubt. What exactly did Brother Xiao Yan do to earn such high praise from the discerning Old Ling?

"The potential Xiao Yan is displaying is undoubtedly worthy of you, Young Miss. Not only did he win the Alchemist Convention by refining the Peak fifth-tier Medicinal Pill, the Dou Ling Pill, but the very next day, he fought the old Sect Master of the Cloud Mist Sect, Yun Shan, without being defeated! That Yun Shan is a Dou Zong!"

When Ling Ying said this, his face even showed a look of admiration. One must know that even he himself was only at the Dou Huang Realm.

If he were to face Xiao Yan, he would definitely not be his opponent. One must know that Xiao Yan was only just eighteen years old!

"Wasn't Brother Xiao Yan just a novice Dou Wang? How could he be a match for a Dou Zong? Could it be that the Soul inside his body helped him?"

Xun'er asked in surprise. The gap between a Dou Wang and a Dou Zong could not be bridged by Dou Techniques and Cultivation Techniques alone. Trying to fight a Dou Zong with the Realm of a Dou Wang was undoubtedly like throwing an egg against a rock.

Therefore, even Xun'er, who was knowledgeable and trusted Xiao Yan implicitly, found it hard to believe.

Ling Ying shook his head with a bitter smile, saying, "It is indeed hard to believe, but the Soul inside Xiao Yan did not help. All of this was Xiao Yan's own strength!"

Hearing Ling Ying say this, Xun'er couldn't help but cover her small mouth, her eyes filled with deep shock.

Brother Xiao Yan is truly too surprising. If he were to come to Jia Nan Academy now, I wonder how much of a sensation he would cause!

Xun'er was dazed for a moment before slowly coming back to her senses. She said, "It is indeed moving... Old Ling, find a place to rest on the outskirts of Jia Nan Academy for this period. If there is nothing urgent, there is no need to sneak into the academy..."

"Hehe, very well. If you have any matters, Young Miss, just blow the flute, and this old man will arrive immediately."

Ling Ying nodded with a smile, then his body twisted, turning into a shadow that merged into the shadow of a large tree and slowly disappeared.

Xun'er, with her mind full of Xiao Yan, slowly walked down the back mountain. When would she be able to take Brother Xiao Yan to meet her father?

Thinking of this, Xun'er's cheeks couldn't help but turn bright red.

"Hehe, Junior Sister Xun'er, what a coincidence. Did you just come down from the mountain after Cultivating too?"

A gentle voice came from the foot of the mountain not far away. A handsome young man dressed in white stood there smiling, his expression gentle and refined. He looked at Xun'er, who was coming down from the mountain, and asked.

"Hmm."

Xun'er frowned upon hearing this, composed herself, replied indifferently, and then turned to walk down another small path.

The young man was good-looking, and his strength was among the top in the academy. He could be called a prominent figure of the younger generation at Jia Nan Academy, but compared to Xiao Yan, hehe...

"Xun'er, you really did run over here again."

A mature figure walked over from a distance.

"Instructor Ruo Lin, are you looking for me?"

A soft smile appeared on Xun'er's face. She was still relatively warm towards this instructor.

"In half a month, it will be the academy's advancement competition..."

Ruo Lin had a headache. Xun'er had given up the opportunity to go to the Inner Academy last year, and she naturally knew the reason: she was waiting for that Xiao Yan.

Thinking of this, the usually gentle Instructor Ruo Lin couldn't help but curse, "That bastard Xiao Yan, he actually played me for a fool! We agreed on a one-year leave, and now a year has long since passed, and I still haven't seen his shadow. It's infuriating! If it weren't for you, girl, pestering me all day, I would have just crossed his name off!"