Chapter 2

Xiao Yan's figure slowly hovered above the vast land, squinting his eyes as he looked at the pillar of light that had erupted before him. His eyes, which had been calm for many years, suddenly became fiery, and he muttered to himself, "These decades of cultivation have almost made me forget the feeling of battle... Hmm?"

Xiao Yan sensed something and his eyes suddenly opened wide, staring intently at the pillar of light, his eyes filled with surprise.

At the moment the pillar of light erupted, powerful figures from all directions rushed over. In just a brief moment, this space was filled with countless new generation powerhouses.

At that time, the two members of the Yao Clan whom Xiao Yan had rescued from the Void Swallowing Flame had already begun to continue their lineage. The Ancient Clan had also produced many new generation powerhouses, with Gu Li and Gu Mei representing the Ancient Clan, reaching the strength of Dou Zong at a young age. The Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Clan was also not lagging behind. With such momentum, it was likely that this world would give birth to even more splendid legends in the future.

Gu Yuan and Zhu Kun hovered near Xiao Yan, their eyes constantly fixed on the pillar of light. They asked in a low voice, "Is this... the passage to another continent?"

The surrounding powerhouses, upon hearing this, all turned their heads. Xiao Yan's brows slightly furrowed, and then he nodded.

At this moment, those standing within a thousand miles of the pillar of light all felt a strange energy within it pulling at the Dou Qi in their bodies. Gu Yuan and Zhu Kun's faces changed slightly, and they hurriedly used Dou Qi to protect themselves, then retreated continuously, their eyes filled with surprise. Only Xiao Yan remained unmoving, still watching the pillar of light from such close proximity.

"This is... the Emperor's Source Qi?" Xiao Yan was suddenly stunned, a strong feeling rising in his heart. He desperately tried to grab the Emperor's Source Qi from within the pillar of light, handful after handful. Gu Yuan, Zhu Kun, and several other powerhouses, seeing Xiao Yan's actions, knew the importance of this substance and also began to collect the Emperor's Source Qi that Xiao Yan was grabbing. Instantly, the Dou Qi continent had a bit of the Emperor's Source Qi. With this Emperor's Source Qi, they would have the potential to advance to the Dou Di realm.

At such a close distance, Gu Yuan and Zhu Kun were subjected to an extremely strong pressure, which came from the ten-thousand-foot pillar of light. This dense Emperor's Source Qi was not something that non-Dou Di powerhouses like Gu Yuan and Zhu Kun could withstand. Even the Dou Qi in Xiao Yan's body trembled slightly.

After grabbing a considerable amount of Emperor's Source Qi, Xiao Yan turned and descended, wrapping his arms around Xun'er's slender waist and resting his chin on her shoulder. He said softly, "Don't worry about me. Take good care of the children. Xun'er, wait for me to come back."

Xun'er's body trembled slightly. Xiao Yan was leaving, and to a world unknown. How could she bear to let him go, and how could she not worry? But she knew that Xiao Yan was not only her man but also the strongest on this continent, always pursuing the supreme realm. She could only say reluctantly, "The outside world is not like the Dou Qi continent. Don't show off, and take care of yourself."

Xiao Yan smiled, nodded, and responded. At that moment, an angry voice sounded in his ear, "Hmph, Xun'er allowed it, but I didn't."

A graceful figure appeared in the sky, a green light flashing as it approached Xiao Yan. It was none other than Cai Lin.

Xiao Yan was first stunned, then smiled at Cai Lin. He didn't know how to express his feelings, so he could only look at Xun'er with a pitiful expression for help.

Seeing Xiao Yan's pitiful expression, Xun'er couldn't help but laugh. Before she could speak, Cai Lin said angrily, "Hmph, don't let Xun'er persuade me. It's useless. I can't let you leave so easily. Taking care of such a large family and so many children with Xun'er and me, hmpf, you think it's easy?"

The surrounding people could only laugh awkwardly. Xiao Yan was also helpless. Xun'er quickly moved closer and said to Cai Lin with a smile, "Sister Cai Lin, Xiao Yan is a big man who likes to explore. Let him go. If not, I'll take care of the children in the future."

Cai Lin looked at Xun'er, then at Xiao Yan's pleading face, and waved her hand helplessly, "Alright, alright. Hmph, you better come back in one piece. If you're missing a hair, I'll skin you. I don't want the children to grow up without a father. Otherwise... hmpf, just wait and see what I'll do to you."

Xiao Yan's expression was somewhat wooden. Cai Lin's words sounded a bit scary. He quickly bowed and said with a smile, "Thank you, my wife. Don't worry, I'll definitely come back in one piece." He then waved his hand, and several light spheres appeared before him. "This is the Emperor's Source Qi. With it, you can break through to the Dou Di realm. Use it when you're ready to break through." He waved his hand again, sending the light spheres to Cai Lin, Xun'er, Gu Yuan, Zhu Kun, and others.

"To all the seniors, after I leave, I hope you will help take care of the Xiao Clan. Xiao Yan thanks you all." Xiao Yan bowed to the surrounding powerhouses who had come to see him off. His only concern was the Xiao Clan. He couldn't let anything go wrong. Now, the Xiao Clan was full of descendants. After Xiao Yan advanced to the Dou Di realm, the activation of the bloodline power benefited all his close relatives, and their strength improved effortlessly. In just a few years, the Xiao Clan had grown at an astonishing rate, becoming one of the major clans. Of course, this was not without the presence of Xiao Yan, the Flame Emperor.

"Haha, don't worry. With me here, nothing will happen to the Xiao Clan," Gu Yuan said with a laugh, looking at the black-clothed youth in the distance. He couldn't help but sigh, thinking about how a naive youth had grown into a peak existence on the continent in just a few decades, which was truly enviable.

"I'm here too. Don't worry, Xiao Yan. Leave it to us. I and the old man Gu will break through to the Dou Di realm as soon as possible and then go find you," Zhu Kun stepped forward and patted his chest, saying that with the Emperor's Source Qi, their advancement to the Dou Di realm was only a matter of time.

"Haha, good. Xiao Yan will definitely come to greet you when the time comes," Xiao Yan bowed in gratitude, feeling much more at ease about the Xiao Clan.

"Daddy!" A graceful figure rushed into Xiao Yan's arms, none other than Xiao Xiao.

Xiao Xiao was now eleven or twelve years old, and she looked just like her mother, with a naturally charming face. Most people would find it hard to resist her. After years of growth, Xiao Xiao's strength had made the old men spit blood. She had the bloodline of her mother's Nine-Colored Swallowing Heaven Python and Xiao Yan's Dou Di bloodline, making her strength burst to the Ninth Star Dou Sheng. With Xiao Xiao's growth, even Cai Lin's strength might not match hers in the future.

Xiao Yan affectionately stroked Xiao Xiao's head and said with a smile, "Xiao Xiao, Daddy will be back soon. You have to take care of the Xiao Clan for Daddy." He then hugged Xiao Xiao and pinched her nose, making her immediately become serious and say like an adult, "Yes! No problem! Daddy, don't worry. Look, Grandmaster is here too." She pointed behind Xiao Yan.

"Teacher—" Xiao Yan turned his head, and a weathered figure appeared in his dark eyes, making him suddenly become excited. As a naive youth from U坦城 (Utan City), he had grown strong under the protection of this weathered figure. Without him, Xiao Yan might have been worthless, or even soulless, and would never have achieved today's success.

Yao Lao smiled with satisfaction, recalling the youth who once needed his protection, now grown into the overlord of the Dou Qi continent, which was truly a cause for much reflection.

"Be careful. Now, even your teacher can't help you much. But when you make a name for yourself, let your teacher go with you to see it, hahaha..." Yao Lao laughed heartily.

Xiao Yan smiled. His teacher was still the same as before. He waved his hand, shooting several pills and light spheres toward Yao Lao, and said slowly, "Disciple will follow the teacher's teachings. Teacher, this is a tribute from your disciple. May the teacher soon advance to the Dou Di realm." These were the Nine-Grade Golden Pills that Xiao Yan had prepared for Yao Lao over the years, along with the Emperor's Source Qi he had just obtained.

Yao Lao looked at the items in his hand, a flicker of emotion passing through his eyes.

Gu Yuan and Zhu Kun, seeing the few golden pills in Yao Lao's hand, couldn't help but feel envious. These Nine-Grade Golden Pills were probably unmatched on the Dou Qi continent, as they were always refined by Dou Di powerhouses, not ordinary Golden Pills.

"Alright, go. Be careful," Yao Lao nodded.

"The teacher's kindness to the disciple will never be forgotten. Please accept the disciple's bow." Xiao Yan immediately knelt down, making a loud sound that seemed to move the heavens and the earth.

Xiao Yan bowed deeply several times, his eyes filled with deep gratitude, recalling the past, which made him emotional.

Xiao Yan slowly stood up, said no more, and his figure shot like a meteor, rushing into the passage, instantly disappearing from the world, leaving behind a grand farewell.

"Send off the Flame Emperor—Long live the Flame Emperor—"

On the Dou Qi continent, Xiao Yan was a legend, and his story would be passed down through generations, lasting for eternity.

The blue pillar of light was filled with violent energy. Even peak Dou Sheng powerhouses like Gu Yuan and Zhu Kun, standing a thousand miles away, could feel the strength of the pillar's energy. If they entered, they would likely be crushed instantly by the violent energy within. Now, perhaps only Xiao Yan had the strength to enter, and even he was unsure what would happen inside. The Flame Emperor, the strongest on the Dou Qi continent, was still cautious, showing how powerful the pillar was.

Xiao Yan stepped into the air, his figure directly entering the pillar of light, which then disappeared from the continent.

As a person who had once saved the Dou Qi continent, Xiao Yan had already taken a sacred place in the hearts of the powerhouses. Everyone couldn't help but worry about him, as it was an unknown space, and no one knew what would happen.

On the Dou Qi continent, why had no Dou Di left behind? Had the ancient Dou Di powerhouses fallen with the passage of time, or had they all been taken away from this world like Xiao Yan? This was a mystery, and no one knew the answer.