If Yan Xiaobao were alone, he would have been crushed under the pressure of this man; however, he was not alone. Once the strong man appeared, he and Lan Feng changed their stance entirely. The two were now two Holy Name Experts confronting each other. When their auras collided mid-air, faint explosive sounds could be heard.
"You’re not too bad, kid," the bald man finally said as he withdrew his aura. The moment he acted, Lan Feng relinquished control of his body to Yan Xiaobao. The two of them exchanged a look with arched eyebrows and a conspicuous fake smile curled on their lips as they faced the bald man.
"So, young man, why don’t you take me to meet that lovely lady, Wan Qiao?" he asked suddenly, his tone shifting to friendly. A radiant smile stretched across his face, and his demeanor transformed completely. Noticing the change, Yan Xiaobao felt slightly uneasy but still respectfully nodded and bowed to the man. "This way, please," he said politely, guiding the man toward Wan Qiao’s private chamber.
Yan Xiaobao knew this woman preferred spending her time in her private quarters rather than her office, so he led the man directly to her room. He wondered if this was a wise decision. Still, he did not have the mind to confront a Saint he didn’t understand. All the drama could be dealt with by Wan Qiao. Her ideas allowed all these Saints to visit her city.
Upon reaching the door, Yan Xiaobao knocked gently. A voice rang out, "Enter," commanding firmly yet with apparent focus, which piqued Yan Xiaobao’s curiosity.
When he opened the door, he stepped aside and allowed the expert to enter first. Then he followed, only to see Wan Qiao engrossed in reading a stack of papers that looked astonishingly familiar. Staring agape, he quickly realized the documents she was studying were the very ones he had prepared just before hearing the guards in the courtyard.
As for how those documents had ended up in Wan Qiao’s private chamber, Yan Xiaobao had no idea. Seeing his papers there, he couldn’t help but feel startled. At the same time, a shiver ran down his spine. Could it be that Wan Qiao had been monitoring him?
Wan Qiao greeted him with a brilliant smile, appearing completely unfazed by the work in her hands. Instead, she waved cheerfully, her grin growing wider.
"Yan Xiaobao, this is incredible!" she exclaimed, her face beaming with admiration and her eyes fixed on him as though he were a genius. "Who would have known you’re so skilled in the art of war? You even wrote thirteen Chapters. This Sun Master demonstrates exceptional mastery! Why have I never heard of this before?" Wan Qiao was brimming with excitement, and her attitude toward Yan Xiaobao changed dramatically, as if she no longer viewed him as subordinate but as an equal.
Yan Xiaobao wasn’t sure he liked this newfound position since he quickly realized Wan Qiao was entirely different from what he had anticipated. She wasn’t the composed and elegant woman she had grown into over the years; her mind was vibrant, like that of a spirited youth enjoying life. Though she had accumulated much wisdom and was a renowned Cultivation Master, her thinking was often simple and impulsive, driven by sudden whims.
Yan Xiaobao hadn’t yet fully understood that the entire concept of war might just be something Wan Qiao had dreamt up long ago. Yet, knowing she had the ability to plan and prepare for it, this long-held dream felt tangible. As she spoke with Yan Xiaobao, she discovered the young man filled the void she had been seeking. Hearing her words, Yan Xiaobao began to wonder how the other Divine Origin Lords truly perceived this woman.
From the few exchanges they had shared, Yan Xiaobao discerned that Wan Qiao had harbored thoughts long ago that did not align with other Lords. However, Yan Xiaobao had unknowingly made it easier for her to articulate these ideas clearly. How long had this been going on?
Realizing this, Yan Xiaobao slightly bowed to the two Lords before him and excused himself as he left the room. He returned to his own chamber, needing to think about what to do next.
As he exited the room, there was a thunderous crash followed by a pounding noise that made Yan Xiaobao wince in pain, reminding him of the slap he had received on his first visit to Wan Qiao. It seemed he wasn’t the only one to fall victim to the Divine Origin Queen’s strikes. Much like Yan Xiaobao, the bald expert appeared too slow to dodge and ended up soaring from a slap he would remember vividly. As for the bald expert’s claim about appreciating the welcoming gesture, Yan Xiaobao wasn’t certain and didn’t stay to find out. He quickly strode away toward the room he hoped to retreat to until the expertise of the group had fully assembled. His task was to attend the council and explain the War Art he had provided to Wan Qiao, hoping...
Just as Yan Xiaobao anticipated, he remained focused on enhancing the essence of heaven and earth as he heard group after group of guards return to the castle. Cheers echoed from the courtyard, and soon hurried footsteps could be heard outside his room as the guards sought spaces to settle themselves. Many guards arrived, endlessly chattering, and even though Yan Xiaobao never opened his door, their voices were audible outside.
While hiding within his chamber, Yan Xiaobao successfully improved a significant amount of spiritual energy, elevating his mood. Although he understood he was now part of something much larger, his ultimate aim remained to reach a King’s level so that he could leave the Divine Domain and reunite with his friends. However, another reason Yan Xiaobao focused on refining his methods was primarily because of An Hee.