Son-in-law Heaven Emperor Xiao Yi
Chapter 856 - 854: Raw Stone

The three parties signed the alliance treaty.

This formally ushered Xiaoshanhe Institute and the Daqian Dynasty into the ranks of the most prestigious forces of the Southern State.

Of course…

For the Daqian Dynasty to truly possess a deterrent power and reputation that rivals that of the Nantian Dynasty and the Holy Land of Nantian, it would require a considerable amount of time to accumulate, as well as the official disclosure of the treaty by the Holy Land of Nantian and the Nantian Dynasty.

After all,

Neither Qiu Yiyun nor Nantian Ao could fully represent those two behemoths.

To get those two behemoths to disclose the treaty publicly would require the efforts of these two individuals.

Xiao Yi, well-versed in the complexities of human nature, knew that people like them were driven by interests—they would pour all their energies into serving his cause when enticed by benefits. Therefore, after the initial threats, Xiao Yi also offered them some sweeteners.

Xiao Yi took out two green crystal stones, the size of peanuts, and handed them over to the two men.

These were the mysterious crystal stones he had obtained after hunting mutated monsters in the extreme south; the energy contained within the crystals was extremely abundant, and even for powerhouses at the Peak of the Earth Venerate Realm like Nantian Ao and Qiu Yiyun, they were rare treasures.

Xiao Yi said with a smile, "These are trinkets I came across by chance, and I am giving them to you both as gifts!"

Nantian Ao glanced at the green crystal stones and didn't think much before accepting them, his expression easing somewhat. As he toyed with it in his hand, feeling the abundant energy within the crystal, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Truly, Headmaster Xiao acquires such powerful energy in mere trinkets..."

However, Qiu Yiyun stood stunned, staring blankly at the green crystal stones in Xiao Yi's hand, momentarily forgetting to take it.

Seeing him lost in thought, Nantian Ao mistook it for disinterest in the green crystal stone.

He quietly nudged Qiu Yiyun with his elbow, cleared his throat, and said, "Brother Qiu, aren't you going to thank Headmaster Xiao?"

"This, this…"

Qiu Yiyun swallowed hard and looked at Xiao Yi nervously, rubbing his hands together as he asked for confirmation, "Headmaster Xiao, are you truly giving this treasure to me?"

"Hmm?"

Nantian Ao started.

Looking at Qiu Yiyun's shocked and nervous demeanor, it didn't seem faked.

He then realized; this green crystal stone is indeed a real treasure!

Xiao Yi said with a smile, "We are allies, after all. What's mine is yours, whether in good times or in adversity. Since I brought them out, I truly intend them as gifts for you! What's the matter? Does Elder Qiu find them unsatisfactory?"

Whoosh!

Qiu Yiyun quickly snatched the green crystal stone from Xiao Yi's hand, shaking his head as if he feared Xiao Yi might change his mind.

"How could I possibly look down on such a treasure?"

He paused, then said solemnly, "Rest assured, Headmaster Xiao, once I return, I will explain to the Holy Master that it was all the fault of Li Yaofeng and Yang Dingtian from the start, and any misunderstanding between us and Headmaster Xiao was just that—a misunderstanding. I will persuade the Holy Master to publicly disclose the treaty at the earliest opportunity!"

Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, noting that Qiu Yiyun might be aware of the origin of the green crystal stones. However, he was in no hurry to inquire and simply replied with a smile, "Then, Elder Qiu, I thank you!"

"Not at all, not at all!"

Qiu Yiyun said hastily, lovingly gazing at the green crystal stone in his hand and carefully placing it inside his storage ring.

This left Nantian Ao beside him baffled and curious, asking, "Brother Qiu, what is this crystal stone exactly? Why did you react so strongly?"

The two had signed the treaty with Xiao Yi more under duress than willingly.

Nantian Ao even resolved that once he returned, he would go straight into seclusion.

Qiu Yiyun quietly glanced at Xiao Yi, seeing the corners of his mouth slightly upturned in a smile that wasn't quite a smile as he looked at himself, causing Qiu Yiyun's heart to thump with a sense of alarm; it seemed that Xiao Yi also knew the origin of this treasure, and since he was willing to give this treasure to them, he must have more than this in his possession. They must build a good relationship with this man!

At that thought,

Qiu Yiyun said in a deep voice, "Nantian, you should be aware of the origins of our great holy places..."

Nantian Ao nodded and said, "During the Ancient Times, the Hall of Longevity unified the Azure Heaven Continent, and under its command were six major vassal forces. After the Hall of Longevity was destroyed, you six vassal forces divided up the remains of the Hall of Longevity, becoming the six great holy places!"

Xiao Yi was slightly startled; this was the first time he had heard the origins of the six great holy places.

Who would have thought that the powerful six great holy places

Were merely vassal forces under the Hall of Longevity during the Ancient Times?

"You're only half right. The main reason we six great holy places were subordinate to the Hall of Longevity was that they monopolized the only Crystal Stone mine in the Qingtian Realm! And Crystal Stone is an indispensable treasure for cultivation after entering the Longevity Secret Realm. We six great holy places were initially affiliated with the Hall of Longevity in order to obtain Crystal Stone from them, and had no choice but to submit!"

Qiu Yiyun nodded; this was not exactly a major secret in the Qingtian Realm, it was just not typically mentioned out of respect for the dignity of the six great holy places. He continued, "The two stones that Xiao gave us are Crystal Stones. The reason I was able to successfully step into Earth Venerate Realm was also because I was once awarded a piece of Crystal Stone by the Lord, helping me break through the restraints of the Peak of Human Venerate, but that piece was only one-tenth the size of this one!"

Hiss!

Nantian Ao sharply inhaled a breath of cold air.

A piece only one-tenth the size of this allowed a Peak of Human Venerate to successfully step into the Earth Venerate Realm?

He looked down at the Crystal Stone in his hand; if he refined it, could he possibly reach the Heaven Venerate Realm?

Qiu Yiyun looked at Xiao Yi with a complex expression: "Crystal Stone is a supreme treasure formed when a realm is first formed from the convergence of all its essence. Once the Crystal Stone mine disappeared along with the Hall of Longevity, the resources in the hands of our six great holy places were extremely limited. I never expected Xiao to have such luck, to have come across Crystal Stones..."

Qiu Yiyun and Nantian Ao both looked enviously at Xiao Yi.

They now finally understood why the Xiaoshanhe Institute had suddenly had so many strong members appear.

Xiao Yi was of course aware of their thoughts and said with a light laugh, "It's no wonder Nantian's men are here; Elder Qiu is indeed very experienced and knowledgeable. I too came across this by a happy coincidence, from the burial place of a predecessor, where I found more than a dozen Crystal Stones. Unfortunately, I have used quite a few already and don't have many left now!"

His words were ambiguous.

They not only made the two men understand that there weren't many Crystal Stones left, but also let them know that he still had some.

If they cooperated well, there would be a chance to get Crystal Stones in the future.

If they did not cooperate...

Their shoulders were still subtly sore.

Nantian Ao and the other were both old and cunning, how could they not understand that this was Xiao Yi playing both the carrot and the stick?

Both men bowed at the same time and said, "Xiao, please rest assured, we are allies, and we should advance and retreat together, and share life and death. Once we return, we both will do our utmost to expedite matters, striving to publicly announce our tripartite alliance as soon as possible!"

"Then I thank you both!"

Xiao Yi smiled and bowed to the two men.

"Since that's settled, we will not stay long, farewell!"

"Farewell!"

Both men immediately soared into the sky and disappeared into the horizon.

Xiao Yi squinted his eyes as he watched the two men leave, the corners of his mouth slightly tilted upward while his consciousness entered the storage ring, looking at the tens of thousands of Crystal Stones, he muttered, "I didn't expect you to be such precious treasures!"

At this moment, Xiao Yi didn't know...

On the edges of the Qingtian Realm, inside a mysterious and ancient palace, a thunderous roar of fury suddenly exploded: "Po Jun is dead? All fifty thousand Tiangang and Earth Evil guards wiped out? Xiao Yi? What a Xiao Yi, If I do not kill you, I swear I am not a human..."

PS: The surge of updates starts today! The hard-working Xiao Tian is back, and there will be more updates later! My friends, please give Xiao Tian another chance!