BTTH: From Genius to Invincible

Word Count: 2,542 Words

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Even with Xiao Yan's current abilities, the matter he spoke of still sounded like an outright fantasy.

Suddenly, Ya Fei's beautiful eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Xiao Yan. Her small mouth opened slightly as she asked in astonishment, "So you took over Feng City precisely to gain a foothold in that chaotic Black-Corner Region?!"

Xiao Yan nodded lightly, confirming her guess. "The Black-Corner Region is a unique place; its location predestines it to chaos. It's the center for all black-market transactions across the entire Dou Qi Continent. The daily trade volume there likely surpasses even that of the Central Plains."

Ya Fei nodded gently at his words. Although she had never been to the Black-Corner Region, a Miteer Auction House branch had now been established in Feng City. The data and goods transferred from that auction house already offered a glimpse into just how terrifying that region truly was.

This was especially true now. Han Feng was dead, and Xiao Yan, the Black-Corner Region's 'Medicine God,' had taken over, collaborating with three major local factions for protection. Feng City's security had risen dramatically, ranking it among the safest and most prominent cities within the Black-Corner Region.

"I have a faction at Jia Nan Academy, which includes a subordinate group called the Medicine Gang, composed entirely of alchemists. While I can't guarantee it, I believe a significant number of Medicine Gang alchemists will head to Feng City... no, to my Xiao City after graduating," Xiao Yan declared with grand ambition.

Before leaving Jia Nan Academy, he had demonstrated alchemy techniques and taught students, partly to repay the academy and partly to leave a lasting reputation. He had even hinted to the Medicine Gang members that if they wished to advance their alchemy skills, they should come to Xiao City—his city.

Some Medicine Gang alchemists without strong backgrounds would naturally think of Xiao City first after graduation.

Xiao Yan took out a storage ring and placed it on the table. He said slowly, "Inside are some medicinal ingredients I don't need and pills I've refined, ranging from tier 1 to tier 6."

"You want me to hold a pill auction at the Miteer Auction House in Xiao City, using your name to attract those Medicine Gang alchemists and the independent alchemists in the Black-Corner Region?" Ya Fei quickly grasped his meaning, living up to her reputation as the woman managing the Miteer Auction House behind the scenes.

She also understood the groundwork he was laying with these actions.

Xiao Yan smiled and nodded in affirmation. Talking with intelligent people was indeed effortless.

His ambitions were vast. He intended to transform Xiao City into a holy land for alchemists in the Black-Corner Region, a place where both the white and black sides could converge!

"These matters should ideally be handled by me, but some things would be too conspicuous if I did them myself, so..."

Before Xiao Yan could finish, a jade-like finger gently pressed against his lips. Ya Fei softly said, "Since Elder Hai has already given you half of his share in the Miteer Auction House, you certainly have the right to decide its future direction."

"Moreover..."

Ya Fei's cheeks flushed with a light pink hue. A similar expression flickered across Xiao Yan's face as they both recalled Hai Bodong's previous mention of betrothing her to him.

Xiao Yan immediately began to stutter, "About that matter, I..."

At that moment, a fragrant breeze wafted over, its delicate scent penetrating deep into one's heart and lungs. The light fragrance made one feel as if smelling the fresh aroma of early morning, instantly refreshing one's spirit and invigorating the mind.

Ya Fei's silky hair brushed past the tip of Xiao Yan's nose as she nestled into his embrace. Xiao Yan keenly felt the soft curves beneath her light night robe as her body pressed intimately against his. Her graceful beauty and voluptuous figure, accentuated by the nightgown, made her appear like a peach blossom fairy.

Her delicate hand slid along his cheek, its warmth sending a tremor through his heart.

"I know Xun Er is the most important person in your heart. With your talent and strength, the Jia Ma Empire isn't where you should remain. Elder Sister cannot accompany you on your journeys across the continent, but I am very happy if there are still things I can do to help you." Ya Fei's voice was soft, each word entering deep into his heart.

Her voice was exceedingly gentle, soft and slow, as if afraid of startling him.

Xiao Yan lowered his head to gaze at the enchanting woman in his arms. Which man in Wu Tan City hadn't fantasized about Ya Fei? If others saw this scene, they would be driven mad with jealousy.

He was indeed fortunate to be treated this way by such a woman.

However, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly. It was just as Ya Fei said. Xun Er occupied an extremely important place in his heart. Even though Xun Er had left, and perhaps he might never see her again in this lifetime unless he attained the status and strength acknowledged by the Gu Clan…

His current objective remained fixed upon the Gu Clan.

Seeing the conflict in his expression, Ya Fei stood up gracefully. She knew when to advance and when to retreat. She had already overstepped just now.

"I'll accept this ring for now."

"Elder Sister will wait for you in Wu Tan City, until you've accomplished everything."

Xiao Yan sighed inwardly again and nodded. He didn't linger any longer and took his leave.

Early the next morning, Xiao Yan glanced around but didn't see Ya Fei coming to see him off. He gathered his companions, boarded the back of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, and flew toward the border of the Yan Alliance, departing from Jia Ma Sacred City.

"You're not going to say goodbye to him?" Hai Bodong asked from his chair in Ya Fei's office after seeing Xiao Yan off.

Ya Fei lightly brushed aside a strand of hair and took out a medicinal pill from her storage ring. It was a tier 6 Youth Preserving Pill, capable of maintaining an ordinary person's youth and slowing the body's aging process.

"He already told me everything that needed to be said."

…

On an endless plain, two incredibly towering mountain ranges pierced the sky. Such lofty peaks were impossible for ordinary people to climb. An enormous fortress stood nestled in the gap between these two ranges, resembling an ancient, fierce beast guarding the main road leading out of the Snake-People Tribe's territory. This fortress was the most critical defensive line for the Snake-People Tribe. If it were breached, not only the Snake-People Tribe but perhaps even the Jia Ma Empire behind it would face the iron cavalry of the three great empires charging straight in!

The fortress's sheer size was astounding. Its walls, constructed entirely of jet-black volcanic ink rock, possessed terrifying sturdiness capable of withstanding attacks even from Dou Emperors for a considerable time.

Densely packed soldiers were visible everywhere on the city walls. Countless huge ballistae stood among them, each loaded with steel bolts as thick as a person's thigh, ready to unleash devastating power at any moment. Under the defense of these innumerable troops, this defensive line could be called impregnable. Even the combined forces of the three great empires would have to pay a bloody price to breach it!

Several figures stood at the central position on the city wall. Their gazes were filled with worry as they looked into the far distance beyond the fortress. There, dense armies stretched out like dark clouds, with no end in sight. Judging from the huge banners rising among those armies, there were surprisingly three different emblems—the three great empires were attacking together.

Of course, their greatest worry was not these ordinary armies, but the elite Dou Emperors hidden among them. In the eyes of true experts, ordinary armies posed little threat. A single Dou King could easily hold off an army of ten thousand, which was precisely why experts on the Dou Qi Continent held a status surpassing even royal authority!

On the Dou Qi Continent, the strong reigned supreme; royal authority came second!

"Sigh, I heard the leaders this time include the First Elder of the Gold Geese Sect and a Dou Emperor elder from Mulan Valley. The Poison Sect, however, has concealed their information. Rumor has it their First Elder is leading their troops." One of the leaders from the eight great tribes of the Snake-People Tribe sighed after gazing into the distance for a moment and slowly withdrawing his gaze.

Now part of the Yan Alliance, the Snake-People Tribe had benefited greatly. Some citizens had moved to live in the mountains owned by the Misty Cloud Sect. Furthermore, trade between the Jia Ma Empire and the Snake-People Tribe brought many goods and pills, significantly improving their lives.

But with Medusa absent, the three great empires now eyed the Snake-People Tribe like ravenous tigers, long wanting to devour this fat piece of meat.

Initially, there were only minor skirmishes led by Dou Kings. However, the Dou Kings of the three great empires were no match for Nalan Yanran, prompting them to disregard martial ethics and send Dou Emperors into battle.

The Yan Alliance had exercised restraint, always meeting opponents with equivalent ranks to prevent the war from escalating.

"We sent people to the Jia Ma Empire for assistance yesterday. If they receive the message, they will surely come to our aid," another tribe leader sighed lightly. "But distant water can't quench immediate thirst. I fear the situation might be entirely different by the time reinforcements arrive."

They hadn't expected the three great empires to act so brazenly with only half a year left until the Great Meeting of Factions. Were they truly not afraid that the war would hinder their performance at the meeting and attract invasions from other empires?

After all, strong nations also bordered the three great empires!

All the Snake-People tribe leaders couldn't help but look at the noble, elegant, and regal woman beside them. Currently, she was the only Dou Emperor at the entire border.

"Sect Leader Yun, this battle..."

Yun Yun gazed at the dense armies ahead, her powerful perception sweeping over them. "Two low-star Dou Emperors."

If it were only two low-star Dou Emperors, her current 6-star Dou Emperor strength would be more than enough to handle them. However, one must not forget that the Chu Yun Empire was stronger than the other two, especially with that Poison Sect. It was highly unlikely that they did not have a Dou Emperor of their own.

Yun Yun's talent far surpassed Hai Bodong's. It took Hai Bodong two years to advance one star to become a 7-star Dou Emperor, whereas Yun Yun had advanced three stars in the same period.

After the Xiao Clan took over the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Yun became a hands-off leader, which paradoxically gave her more time to cultivate.

The expressions of the several Dou King-level Snake-People chiefs grew serious. The oldest leader, Yin Shi, stated, "If we combine our strength and use the terrain, we should be able to hold back their Dou Kings. But the Dou Emperors... Sect Leader Yun, I'm afraid we can only rely on you."

"Now that we are allied, we share a common fate. Loss for one side will lead to destruction for all," Yun Yun said softly.

Suddenly, a thunderous booming of war drums reverberated from afar, spreading rapidly across the fortress.

"They're about to attack!" Yun Yun and the others' expressions turned serious upon hearing the urgent drumbeats.

Moments after the drums sounded, the ground began to tremble. The vast, seemingly endless sea of people in the distance surged toward the fortress like a tidal wave. The thunderous sound of their footsteps echoed across the sky like rolling thunder, exerting immense psychological pressure.

"All warriors of the Snake-People tribes! Defend our homeland! Kill!!"

As the fortress entered a state of readiness, the dark mass of people surged forward amidst sky-shattering battle cries. Above the waves of soldiers, streaks of light flashed—clearly the Dou King experts from the three great empires, the ones who would place the greatest strain on the fortress's defenses.

When the endless dark mass was still nearly a kilometer away, they suddenly halted. Two towering Dou Emperor auras surged forth from their ranks, enveloping the entire fortress!

"Keke, the Yan Alliance doesn't seem like much after all. Why doesn't your Snake-People Tribe submit to our Luo Yan Empire? As long as you offer a sufficient number of snake slaves each year, we guarantee you'll live in luxury." An old man dressed in the robes of the Gold Geese Sect spoke, his gaze greedily scanning the female Snake-People warriors on the walls.

Another Dou Emperor stared sharply at the central tower of the fortress. His voice, infused with Dou Qi, boomed, "Yun Yun, your disciple killed my disciple! Today, blood must be repaid with blood!"

"Shameless bastards! They call themselves Dou Emperors, yet they gang up on one person!" Several Dou Kings from the Misty Cloud Sect who had accompanied Yun Yun glared at the two old men in the sky with ugly expressions, unable to hold back their curses.

Yun Yun stopped the enraged elders. "You stay in the fortress and intercept any Dou Kings who try to fly in. I will handle these two."

The fortress was designed primarily to stop those below the Dou King level. Experts at Dou King rank and above could fly directly over the walls. Therefore, it was crucial to prevent those Dou Kings from entering the fortress and starting a massacre.

The terrifying aura of a 6-star Dou Emperor exploded from Yun Yun's body as a pair of Wind Wings materialized on her back. In an instant, she soared like a green meteor above the fortress, gripping her sword tightly as her spiritual perception locked onto the two men.

"Keke, Sect Leader Yun, don't blame us for lacking decorum. Your cultivation level surpasses both of ours. If we didn't join forces, I fear no one could truly handle you." Yan Luo Cai, the elder of the Gold Geese Sect, flapped the golden goose wings on his back slightly as he laughed.

Yun Yun remained silent, the sword in her hand slowly stirring up a whirlwind. She was never one for excessive talk.

"A 6-star Dou Emperor at such a young age... both you and your disciple possess terrifying talent. But geniuses often meet early ends. Today, I will avenge my disciple!" Mulan Tianhua declared viciously.

Unlike the Jia Ma and Chu Yun Empires, the Mulan and Luo Yan Empires were controlled by the strongest sects within their borders—Mulan Valley and the Gold Geese Sect, respectively. They were sect-empires.

Mulan Tianhua and Yan Luo Cai exchanged glances when they saw Yun Yun's imposing manner, both seeing a trace of ruthlessness in each other's eyes. They were only 3-star Dou Emperors; only by combining their strength could they hope to defeat Yun Yun.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

They burst forward at high speed, weapons in hand, flanking Yun Yun from the left and right.