BTTH: Demon Emperor Xiao Yan

"Place of Return..." Xiao Yan frowned slightly as he stared at the message scrawled across the slip of paper. Having spent quite some time in the Black-Corner Region, he naturally had some knowledge of this so-called Place of Return—but only just. He'd heard of the name, but never set foot there himself. That was because this mysterious site didn't lie on land—it floated over the sea.

For someone who had always lived on land, the ocean was essentially another world. Even in his past life, Xiao Yan had never ventured into the sea, though he had read ancient texts that described formidable sea-dwelling Magical Beasts and even strange aquatic races thriving beneath the waves.

Strictly speaking, the Place of Return wasn't actually part of the Black-Corner Region. According to legend, it was the remnant of an ancient ruin, a massive drifting landmass that floated along the ocean surface in a specific pattern. Every fifty years, it would pass close to the Black-Corner Region, and only during that window could people from the region hope to reach it.

Coincidentally, this year marked the next cycle of the ruin's return, and rumors of a Heavenly Flame appearing within it had come from the last group of people to explore it half a century ago. With the passage of time, most had forgotten about those stories—until now. As the Place of Return once again drew near, the ancient rumors had resurfaced.

However, for Xiao Yan, this was not necessarily good news. After all, the Black-Corner Region housed many fire-attribute cultivators, and many of them coveted Heavenly Flames. If he had received this piece of intelligence, others surely had as well. In other words, if a Heavenly Flame really did appear at the Place of Return, taking it for himself would be far more difficult than during his previous encounters.

"Didn't expect even the Black-Corner Region would have a Heavenly Flame hidden away somewhere," Hai Bodong remarked with a tone of amazement after reading the intel. He gave Xiao Yan a sideways glance and added with a grin, "I'm guessing a lot of fire-type powerhouses will rush over once this gets out. Not sure who'll end up lucky in the end, though I suppose you won't be getting involved, huh? Otherwise, your chances would be pretty decent."

In Hai Bodong's eyes, Xiao Yan already possessed one Heavenly Flame, so he wouldn't bother risking himself to acquire another. Of course, he couldn't help but be curious—which flame was stronger: Xiao Yan's, or the one rumored to be emerging from the Place of Return? Still, knowing Xiao Yan's pragmatic nature, Hai Bodong figured he'd skip this venture entirely.

"Old Hai, do you know who the strongest fire-attribute Dou Qi users in the Black-Corner Region are?" Xiao Yan tapped his finger idly on the table as if asking casually.

"Hmm... if I had to guess, it'd be that old freak Di Mo from the Demon Flame Valley," Hai Bodong replied after some thought. He had spent nearly a year in the Black-Corner Region and had gathered plenty of intelligence. Di Mo Lao Gui was a legitimate Dou Ancestor-level powerhouse, but due to years of secluded cultivation, few people knew his actual strength.

"And besides that guy?" Xiao Yan gave him a glance. He still remembered Di Mo Lao Gui from his past life. That old man had died by Xiao Yan's hand. In fact, the flame technique Flame Manipulation Art Xiao Yan used now had originally been Di Mo's creation, albeit heavily improved upon. The original version required multiple cultivators and came with a significant life-force cost. Xiao Yan had always found it puzzling—why would an ice-attribute user bother developing a fire-type technique in the first place?

"Other than Di Mo Lao Gui... I'd say the Medicine Emperor Han Feng," Hai Bodong continued. "He's probably the most famous Tier Six Alchemist in the Black-Corner Region."

At the mention of Han Feng, Hai Bodong gave Xiao Yan a subtle glance. In truth, he believed that Xiao Yan's alchemy skill surpassed Han Feng's. However, Xiao Yan had no desire for fame or glory—if he did, his reputation would have long since overtaken Han Feng's.

"That guy Han Feng isn't simple," Zi Yan chimed in while chewing on a freshly refined energy pill. "I heard from Elder Su Qian that he was once the disciple of a Dou Venerate."

"A Dou Venerate, huh..." Xiao Yan's brow furrowed. "If that's true, then why is he in the Black-Corner Region? Shouldn't he be cultivating in the Central Plains?"

"Duh, because his master died," Zi Yan said nonchalantly. "And not just any death—it was weird. People were looking into it, so he fled here. I'm not saying there's a connection... but you get the idea." She grinned slyly.

The implication was obvious. If a Dou Venerate had died mysteriously, and his supposed disciple had run away to such a chaotic place... well, the truth was easy to guess. A Dou Venerate's legacy would be vast, and no rational disciple would abandon their inheritance in the Central Plains—unless they had something to hide.

'Looks like that so-called disciple might have killed his master and fled with everything.' Xiao Yan thought grimly.

"Who was this unlucky Dou Venerate who took in such a traitor of a student?"

"His name was the Medicine Venerate, I think?" Zi Yan answered after a moment. "He was once considered the top alchemist on the continent. Very famous in the Central Plains."

"Medicine Venerate..." Xiao Yan repeated softly. His gaze subconsciously shifted to the ring on his hand. Though Yao Lao had never spoken about his former strength, the relics within his ring suggested he had once been a Dou Venerate-level alchemist.

A Dou Venerate. An alchemist. Named Yao. Dead.

Xiao Yan's thoughts froze for a moment. 'Don't tell me... that unlucky master was my own teacher, Yao Lao?'

The possibility grew more convincing the more he thought about it. He turned toward Hai Bodong and instructed, "Old Hai, help me investigate this Han Feng and that Medicine Venerate as thoroughly as possible."

"What are you planning?" Hai Bodong frowned. "You're not thinking of going after him, are you? Listen, even if you're both Tier Six Alchemists, that guy's been in the Black-Corner Region a lot longer. His network's not something our freshly-founded Xiao Gate can compare to."

"Relax, Old Hai. Do I look like someone that reckless?" Xiao Yan smiled calmly.

"You better not be..." Hai Bodong muttered under his breath. 'With your crazy logic, I really can't tell what you'll do next.'

"Either way, we should go check out the Place of Return," Xiao Yan said, flicking his fingers lightly. "Even if we don't see the Heavenly Flame, picking up a few other goodies wouldn't hurt. Just remember to stay alert—last thing I need is for us to walk into a trap."

(End of Chapter)

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