Chapter 329: Ascending the Celestial Fire Alliance Alone

Chapter 329: Chapter 329: Ascending the Celestial Fire Alliance Alone

The battle marking Yi Xiaoyao’s return completely annihilated the Imperial Army Mansion’s suppressive forces in the Chaotic Alliance Domain, sending shockwaves through the entire region.

Everyone now knew that Yi Xiaoyao was not dead. On the contrary, he had returned with even greater strength, severed both of the Second Lord’s arms, sent him fleeing in disgrace, and annihilated the Imperial Army Mansion’s forces. His reputation soared.

The Carefree Alliance was restored to its former glory.

Within the Carefree Alliance, the experts were distributing the spoils of war, all of them in high spirits.

However, dozens of Alliance Leaders had gathered with furrowed brows to speak with Yi Xiaoyao.

"Commander, although we were victorious today, the Imperial Army Mansion won’t let this rest. They’ll probably return soon with an even stronger army."

"Exactly. Especially the Great Mansion Lord. I’ve heard his strength surpasses even the Second Lord’s. They say he’s the strongest person below the Void-Entering Realm!"

"If the Great Mansion Lord comes himself, I fear even you might not have much of a chance, Commander."

"And even if you could handle the Great Mansion Lord, the Imperial Army Mansion’s overall strength is far greater than our Carefree Alliance’s. We can’t possibly stand against them!"

Yi Xiaoyao listened to their concerns and nodded in silence.

"You’re absolutely right. If the Imperial Army Mansion brings its true might to bear against the Carefree Alliance, we’ll be powerless to resist."

Then, Yi Xiaoyao smiled faintly. "But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a solution."

"Unless we can unite the entire Chaotic Alliance Domain, we have no hope of fighting Great Xia’s Imperial Army Mansion!" Bai Ye said.

Yi Xiaoyao nodded. "Exactly. But the most crucial pieces are the Celestial Fire Alliance and the Ten Thousand Poison Alliance. They are two giants that even the Imperial Army Mansion is wary of."

"I believe the leaders of those two alliances have strength comparable to the Lords of the Mansion from the Imperial Army Mansion."

"As long as we can bring the Celestial Fire Alliance and the Ten Thousand Poison Alliance to our side, the Imperial Army Mansion won’t dare to make a move!"

At Yi Xiaoyao’s words, the Alliance Leaders all shot to their feet. "Excellent! Then let’s move to conquer the Celestial Fire Alliance and the Ten Thousand Poison Alliance!"

"No!"

Yi Xiaoyao raised a hand to stop them. "Even the Imperial Army Mansion is wary of the Celestial Fire and Ten Thousand Poison Alliances. How could we possibly conquer them?"

"Besides, while the Celestial Fire and Ten Thousand Poison Alliances may have acted to protect themselves, they still stepped in to stop the Imperial Army Mansion from destroying our Carefree Alliance. In a way, they did us a favor. If we were to attack them, wouldn’t we be branded as ungrateful?"

"Once we carry that stigma, any hope of uniting the Chaotic Alliance Domain will be lost. After all, who would be willing to follow someone so treacherous?"

The Alliance Leaders heard his reasoning and, seeing the logic in it, grew troubled.

"Then what should we do?"

Yi Xiaoyao smiled faintly. "There is one way. It just requires me to take a personal risk."

All eyes turned to him, waiting for his explanation.

"I will go to the Celestial Fire Alliance alone and persuade their Alliance Leader to join us," Yi Xiaoyao announced. "Once we have the number one alliance on our side, the rest of the Chaotic Alliance Domain will naturally flock to our banner with a single call."

The faces of the crowd changed in unison. ’Go to the Celestial Fire Alliance alone?’

They all knew that Yi Xiaoyao had already made an enemy of the Celestial Fire Alliance over the Celestial Fire Illusion Body. Setting aside whether he could even persuade them, going to meet them alone like this was incredibly dangerous—he could lose his life.

They immediately tried to talk him out of it, insisting they should accompany him.

"My mind is made up. There’s no need to argue. If I don’t even have this much courage, how can I possibly inherit Senior Cang Tianxing’s legacy and lead you all to crush Great Xia?"

Yi Xiaoyao raised a hand, silencing them, then turned and departed.

...

The Celestial Fire Alliance—the largest alliance in the Chaotic Alliance Domain.

The alliance’s power and foundation were immense. Its leader, Chi Fen, had reached the Ninth Realm of Nascent Soul Transformation over a decade ago. Though he had been stuck at that stage for many years, he had surely stepped into the Half-Step Void Realm by now.

Furthermore, the Celestial Fire Alliance boasted two Protectors at the peak of the Nascent Soul Transformation Realm and fifteen elders at the Late Stage of the Nascent Soul Transformation Realm. Their roster was formidable.

Most importantly, the Celestial Fire Alliance was actually one of the few great clans in the Chaotic Alliance Domain. Its experts were all kinsmen, making them incredibly unified. What’s more, almost all of them cultivated the Heavenly Fire Illusion Technique!

Imagine it: more than a dozen experts at the late or peak stage of Nascent Soul Transformation, all of whom had mastered the bizarre and unpredictable Celestial Fire Illusion Body. How terrifying would that be?

Thus, to this day, no individual or faction dared to provoke the Celestial Fire Alliance.

But today, one man arrived in the skies above the Celestial Fire Alliance, intending to bring this behemoth under his command.

This man was none other than Yi Xiaoyao, the name currently on everyone’s lips in the Chaotic Alliance Domain.

"Who goes there?"

"Inform Alliance Leader Chi Fen that Yi Xiaoyao is here to see him."

The guard’s expression changed in alarm. He hurried off to deliver the message.

「A moment later, in a study.」

"I never thought Alliance Leader Chi Fen would have such refined hobbies as reading and sipping tea."

Yi Xiaoyao said with a surprised smile, looking at the red-haired, red-bearded middle-aged man before him.

"Cultivators of Fire Attribute Spiritual Power are all hot-tempered. This is the only way to calm the spirit."

Chi Fen’s eyes remained fixed on the Jade Slip in his hand as he spoke. "If I didn’t have books and fine tea to temper myself, I probably would have killed you the moment I saw you!"

Yi Xiaoyao shook his head and smiled. ’This man’s temper really is something else.’

"Does Alliance Leader Chi Fen want to kill me because of the Heavenly Fire Illusion Technique?" Yi Xiaoyao asked.

"That’s one reason!" Chi Fen snorted. "The Celestial Fire Illusion Body is our Celestial Fire Alliance’s Town Alliance Technique. It is never taught to outsiders. If it weren’t for your current status, you would have died a thousand times over!"

Yi Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow. "And the second reason?" ℴℴ𝘮

"Second, you are recklessly overestimating your own strength by gathering the alliances of the Chaotic Alliance Domain to fight Great Xia! If you fail, the Celestial Fire Alliance will inevitably be threatened by Great Xia."

"Therefore, even if you hadn’t sought me out, I would have come for you. If you persist in this foolish opposition to Great Xia, I will kill you myself to put an end to this conflict!"

Chi Fen slammed the Jade Slip down, rose to his feet, and bellowed.

Yi Xiaoyao merely smiled faintly. He now understood Chi Fen’s position.

’With the Celestial Fire Alliance’s power, he could easily unite the Chaotic Alliance Domain. The only reason he hasn’t is because he desires stability. He doesn’t want to antagonize Great Xia, nor does he want to be coerced by them. So, he wants to maintain the century-long balance between the Chaotic Alliance Domain and the empire. That’s why the Celestial Fire Alliance was willing to save the Carefree Alliance. But they will destroy anyone who threatens to break that balance. And now, I’m the one breaking the balance, which is why Chi Fen has issued this warning.’

"Has Alliance Leader Chi Fen forgotten that his own ancestor was one of Senior Cang Tianxing’s most trusted generals?" Yi Xiaoyao asked with a frown.

Chi Fen sneered. "If I had forgotten, do you think you, as Cang Tianxing’s successor, would still be alive and standing before me?"

"However, that was the responsibility of a past generation. My responsibility is to ensure my descendants can live on."

"After all, the Chaotic Alliance Domain cannot afford another defeat. If we lose this time, we will be doomed beyond recovery!"

Yi Xiaoyao pondered this for a moment before speaking. "Alliance Leader Chi Fen’s decision is not wrong. But since you intend to refuse the call of the Azure Heaven Order, shouldn’t you at least give an account to your ancestors, and to Senior Cang Tianxing?"

"You want an account? Fine! I’ll give you one!"

Chi Fen shot to his feet, his eyes narrowed at Yi Xiaoyao. "Since you’ve learned my Celestial Fire Alliance’s Celestial Fire Illusion Body, I will compete against you with that very technique. If you win, the Celestial Fire Alliance will answer the call of the Azure Heaven Order. If you lose, you will go to the Imperial Army Mansion alone and end your own life to stop this war!"

At these words, Yi Xiaoyao’s brow furrowed for a moment, then his lips curled into a slight smile. "A contest of the Celestial Fire Illusion Body? It seems Alliance Leader Chi Fen wants me to display my amateur skills before the master."

Seeing Yi Xiaoyao’s reaction, Chi Fen continued, "Don’t think I’m just a senior bullying a junior. Cang Tianxing was able to rally my ancestors because he was powerful enough to earn their respect!"

"You may have been strong enough to repel the Second Lord, but you have no chance of defeating me!"

"My challenging you to a contest of the Celestial Fire Illusion Body is already a concession, made out of respect for your status as Cang Tianxing’s successor."

"If you don’t have the courage to accept, then heed my warning and leave!"

With that, Chi Fen flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.

Just as Chi Fen reached the doorway, Yi Xiaoyao’s voice rang out.

"I accept the challenge."

...

(PS: I’m sure everyone is getting tired of the Chaotic Alliance Domain arc. It’ll be over in a few more Chapters.)