Battle Through The Heavens : I Am The Thunder Emperor

Chapter 335: Wan She Island in the Southern Continent, Returning to the Jia Ma Empire

"Do you know anything about the Nine-Winged Purple-Gold Serpent?" Mo Yu asked respectfully, gazing at the ethereal figure of Yao Lao before him.

The reason Mo Yu brought up this question was out of necessity. Uncle Snake had fallen into a permanent slumber and could only awaken if he evolved into the higher-level Nine-Winged Purple-Gold Serpent. However, the vastness of the Dou Qi Continent made it an extremely difficult task to find the inheritance of the Nine-Winged Purple-Gold Serpent, even for a Dou Sheng expert.

After considering his options, Mo Yu decided to seek Yao Lao's help. As a member of the ancient Yao Clan and known as the "Number One Alchemist on the Continent," Yao Lao had traveled extensively across the continent and might have some knowledge about the Nine-Winged Purple-Gold Serpent.

Upon hearing Mo Yu's question, Yao Lao was momentarily taken aback. Stroking his phantom beard, he thought aloud, "The Nine-Winged Purple-Gold Serpent? Are you asking because something happened to Snake Sovereign?"

"You're truly sharp, Yao Lao," Mo Yu said with a bitter smile. "Yes, Uncle Snake is in trouble. If we can't find the Nine-Winged Purple-Gold Serpent's inheritance, I fear he may never awaken."

Mo Yu then recounted everything that had happened during the battle on the Northern Plains, including the war between Yuanfu and the Black Alliance, Han Feng's involvement with the mysterious Mu Gu elder, how Uncle Snake fell into a deep slumber, and the appearance of the Black Demon Army.

When Yao Lao heard the names of Han Feng and Mu Gu Elder, his expression darkened, and his powerful soul energy flared up, filling the entire chamber with a fiery intensity. Sensing this, Mo Yu quietly activated his Dou Qi to dispel the heat.

After a while, Yao Lao managed to calm himself, reining in his soul energy. His voice carried a heavy tone as he said, "I'm sorry for my outburst."

"It's fine, really," Mo Yu replied, understanding Yao Lao's emotions. After all, Yao Lao had been betrayed by Han Feng and Mu Gu Elder, the masterminds behind his current state. It would be strange if he didn't react strongly.

"So it was Mu Gu behind Han Feng all along," Yao Lao muttered. "I always suspected that some hidden hand was manipulating events from the shadows. It must have been the Soul Hall…"

As he recalled his past, Yao Lao's aged face twisted with rage, and a cold fire flickered in his cloudy eyes.

"Don't be too upset, Master Yao. Although Han Feng and Mu Gu Elder escaped this time, with my cousin Xiao Yan around, I'm sure they'll pay for their crimes in the future," Mo Yu said, attempting to comfort him.

When Yao Lao heard Xiao Yan's name, the anger in his eyes slowly subsided, replaced by a sense of pride.

Meeting Xiao Yan during his darkest days was the luckiest thing that had ever happened to Yao Lao. It gave him hope for his eventual rebirth. Of course, it was also fortunate for Xiao Yan to have Yao Lao as his teacher. Without Yao Lao's guidance, Xiao Yan would never have become the Flame Emperor, a figure who would later shake the entire continent.

Their bond was one of mutual dependence, a legendary tale of master and disciple.

Thinking of his own Uncle Snake, still trapped in slumber with no clear path to awakening, Mo Yu couldn't help but feel a tinge of sadness.

Noticing Mo Yu's mood, Yao Lao patted him on the shoulder. "Xiao Yan is fortunate to have a cousin like you who believes in him and supports him.

"As for Snake Sovereign, I sympathize with his plight. Burning his bloodline to unleash power is a dangerous gamble. If not done carefully, it can result in complete annihilation of the soul. Fortunately, Snake Sovereign still has a sliver of vitality left. If he can evolve into the Nine-Winged Purple-Gold Serpent, he might recover. As for how to trigger that evolution…"

Yao Lao paused, a thoughtful look in his eyes. Mo Yu held his breath, waiting for any possible clues.

After a moment, Yao Lao shook his head. "The Nine-Winged Purple-Gold Serpent was recognized as one of the most powerful ancient beasts, but it hasn't appeared on the continent for tens of thousands of years. I haven't heard anything about its inheritance."

Mo Yu's heart sank in disappointment. If even the renowned Yao Lao had no knowledge of the Nine-Winged Purple-Gold Serpent, the search for its inheritance would be exceedingly difficult.

"However..." Yao Lao added just as Mo Yu was starting to lose hope. "If you ever have the chance, you could search on Wan She Island in the Southern Continent. Though it's called a continent, the Southern Continent is mostly made up of islands, with land accounting for only about one-tenth of the area. Wan She Island is located at the center of the Southern Continent.

"Though it's an island, its size rivals that of ten Jia Ma Empires. It's home to various serpent tribes, some of which have ancient origins. You might find clues about the Nine-Winged Purple-Gold Serpent's inheritance there."

"The Southern Continent... Wan She Island…" Mo Yu murmured, deep in thought.

The Southern Continent was unfamiliar to him. Neither in this life nor his previous one had he encountered any information about that region. Xiao Yan's path had never ventured there either, which was why Mo Yu had no records of it.

The vastness of the Dou Qi Continent meant that even the Zhongzhou region was only a part of the whole. The idea that the Southern Continent was made up of individual islands was unexpected.

Still, Mo Yu firmly etched the name "Wan She Island" into his memory. It might not have the Nine-Winged Purple-Gold Serpent's inheritance, but it was the best lead he had. If the opportunity arose, he would definitely make the journey.

"Thank you for the information, Yao Lao. I'm truly grateful," Mo Yu said, bowing respectfully.

Waving his hand, Yao Lao replied, "You're Xiao Yan's cousin, so there's no need for such formalities. Besides, Snake Sovereign's current condition is partly due to my treacherous disciple and that traitorous elder. Consider this a small way for me to make amends."

Yao Lao then added, "The Southern Continent is a mysterious place. Though it's isolated and far from Zhongzhou, it harbors many powerful tribes, including some ancient beast clans. While they may not be as powerful as the magical beasts in Zhongzhou's Beast Region, you mustn't underestimate them. Also, many powerful individuals choose to live in seclusion on those remote islands, making the Southern Continent one of the most secretive and powerful regions outside of Zhongzhou. If you go there, I suggest you wait until you're stronger and take care not to provoke anyone."

"I understand. Thank you for the advice," Mo Yu replied, nodding. He knew Yao Lao's experience on the continent made his words invaluable.

Yao Lao then asked, "Earlier, you mentioned you are from the Lei Clan and that Xiao Yan belongs to the Xiao Clan?"

As a member of the ancient Yao Clan, Yao Lao was familiar with the other ancient clans, including the Lei and Xiao clans. It surprised him to hear that Mo Yu and Xiao Yan were from the Lei and Xiao clans, respectively.

It wasn't unusual for the Lei Clan to have members scattered outside their main stronghold, but the Xiao Clan had been thought extinct for over a thousand years. Even within his own clan, Yao Lao had never heard of the Xiao Clan surviving. To think that his disciple was the last of the Xiao Clan's bloodline was truly unexpected.

Yao Lao couldn't help but feel a sense of irony. Wutan City, a small and unremarkable place, had once been home to descendants of the Xiao Clan, the Lei Clan, and even the Gu Clan and Yao Clan. The convergence of these ancient bloodlines in such an insignificant place was astonishing.

Reflecting on this, Yao Lao's brow furrowed as he turned to Mo Yu. "Regarding the Xiao Clan, I hope you won't mention anything about it to Xiao Yan just yet."

"You know the weight of the burden he carries. Right now, his primary focus should be on growing stronger. The matters concerning the Xiao Clan are far too complex for him to handle at the moment. Please, keep this information from him for now," Yao Lao urged, his tone filled with concern.

Mo Yu nodded in agreement. The ancient clans and their secrets were indeed not something Xiao Yan, who had yet to fully mature, should be exposed to. For now, it was best to keep the truth hidden from him.

With that, Yao Lao returned to his rest inside the storage ring, while Mo Yu and Xiao Yan left the secret chamber together.

On a mountain peak outside Mo City...

As the silver-eyed young man appeared, the atmosphere on the peak subtly shifted. The shadows behind Xiao Li all turned their gazes toward Mo Yu's back.

In an instant, the quiet mountain became completely silent, and even the beasts in the forest seemed to sense the tension, their roars fading into nothing.

Looking at Mo Yu's calm, smiling expression, Tie Wu, Su Mei, and Yin Gu Lao all felt a chill in their hearts. They quickly stifled their smiles, becoming more reserved in his presence. Though Mo Yu was younger than them, his influence in the Black-Corner Region had long surpassed theirs.

Furthermore, after the battle on the Northern Plains and the consequences they suffered for breaking their alliance, they had no choice but to join Yuanfu and become Mo Yu's subordinates.

While they could speak casually in front of the stern Xiao Li, they didn't dare show any disrespect in front of the young, handsome Mo Yu. His presence alone demanded their full attention.

Standing behind Mo Yu, Xiao Yan observed the respect these strong individuals showed him and couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. His cousin Mo Yu commanded immense respect within Yuanfu!

"Greetings, Lord!" Xiao Li and the several dozen Yuanfu experts behind him respectfully called out in unison when Mo Yu arrived.

"Mm."

Mo Yu nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over his subordinates. In addition to Su Mei, Tie Wu, and Yin Gu Lao—three Dou Huang experts who had joined the offering hall—there were also other powerful fighters, including Qing Lin, Zi Yan, Lin Yan, and newly joined Dou Wang experts.

With Mo Yu included, Yuanfu now had five Dou Huang experts, fifteen Dou Wang experts, and about a hundred Dou Ling experts.

This formidable force was enough to sweep through the entire Jia Ma Empire!

As for Zi Huo, Mo Yu had left him behind to guard Mo City. Though revenge was important, he couldn't neglect his home. Even with the protection of Canaan Academy, Mo Yu felt more secure leaving Zi Huo in charge.

Zi Huo's strength, combined with Yuanfu only dispatching half of its forces to the Jia Ma Empire, should be enough to defend against attacks from the Black Emperor Sect or the Demon Flame Valley, especially with Canaan Academy's support.

"The journey to the Jia Ma Empire is long, and even Dou Wang experts can't use their Dou Qi wings for extended periods. We also have quite a few Dou Ling members with us," Xiao Li said after greeting Xiao Yan and noticing Mo Yu's satisfied expression.

Mo Yu nodded. He remembered the long journey from the Jia Ma Empire to the Black-Corner Region. Even with his current strength, it would take several rest stops to complete the journey.

"If we traveled on foot, it would take half a year to reach the Jia Ma Empire," Xiao Li said with a smile, then blew a sharp whistle.

In response, the sound of low beastly roars echoed from the forest below, and a flock of birds took flight. Soon after, ten large, fierce-looking beasts with wide, leathery wings emerged from the forest, creating gusts of wind as they ascended to the peak, growling lowly at Xiao Li.

"These ten Tiger Eagle Beasts are genuine fourth-tier magical beasts. They're not only fierce but also excellent at long-distance flying. However, they're notoriously difficult to tame. Still, with Yuanfu's influence, the Beast Taming Sect couldn't refuse us, so I managed to secure ten of them," Xiao Li explained with a grin, gesturing to the ferocious, tiger-like beasts with eagle wings.

"Well done, Cousin Xiao Li," Mo Yu replied with a light laugh.

"Everything we need for the journey has been prepared. We can leave for the Jia Ma Empire at any time," Xiao Li said, his eyes gleaming with excitement and anticipation.

Xiao Yan, standing nearby, also wore an eager expression, his eyes burning with determination.

"In that case…" Mo Yu smiled, his silver eyes flashing with intensity. Raising his voice, he commanded, "What are we waiting for? Everyone, board the Tiger Eagle Beasts! We leave for the Jia Ma Empire today!"

As soon as Mo Yu's words fell, over a hundred shadowy figures quickly leaped onto the backs of the waiting Tiger Eagle Beasts.

Once everyone was in place, Xiao Li blew his whistle again, and the ten Tiger Eagle Beasts let out low growls as they spread their wings and slowly rose into the sky.

A strong wind swirled around them as they ascended. Mo Yu looked up at the ten massive flying beasts in the sky, and with a flick of his silver thunder wings, he shot toward the lead Tiger Eagle Beast, landing gracefully atop its massive head. Behind him, Cai Lin, Xiao Yan, and the others swiftly followed.

Standing atop the Tiger Eagle Beast's head, Mo Yu felt the wind whipping through his clothes. He glanced down at the shrinking landscape below, then lifted his gaze to the distant northern horizon. A cold smile slowly spread across his lips.

"Jia Ma Empire… Yun Lan Sect… Mu Lan Valley… I'm coming back!"

(End of Chapter)

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