Chapter 1286: with translation of chapter title

"As for that Ancient Emperor's Relic Jade of my Xiao Family, I gave it to my teacher back then to take to the Ancient Clan for help; if that really doesn't work, I would hand the ancient jade over to Xun'er to persuade the Ancient Clan to act. Now, if it hasn't fallen into the hands of the Ancient Clan, it should be with my teacher or Xun'er. If you have the strength later, you can go take it yourself, but I hope you won't harm their lives."

As he spoke further, Xiao Yan's body became increasingly faint and unstable.

Even maintaining a complete form became difficult.

"Oh, no wonder I said I couldn't find that Ancient Emperor's Relic Jade in your ring—turns out you gave it to Yao Chen to take away."

Although I had vaguely guessed it, now that I learned the specific details, Lin Feng couldn't help but frown slightly.

After all, with it in Yao Chen's hands, he still had a chance to retrieve it.

But if it fell into the hands of the Ancient Clan, then he would have little hope of seizing the ancient jade ahead of time and setting up his plans.

As for Xiao Yan, seeing that the other party still gave no direct answer to his request, he couldn't help but wryly shake his head.

Immediately after, he flicked his hand, and a golden light board appeared out of thin air in the sky.

And on that golden board were large amounts of densely packed text.

"What is recorded on it is the method for refining and controlling the Tian Mu. If you can get close to the Tian Mu, you can use it to control the Tian Mu and gradually refine it. And since you know of the Tian Mu's spirit, you should also know that the Tian Mu was forged by an ancient Dou Emperor. Even if you are a peak Dou Saint, you cannot refine it without this method."

Saying this, Xiao Yan gazed at his own gradually dissipating body and gave a wry smile: "If it means you save my father and two brothers, I think you won't be at a loss."

Upon hearing the origin and function of that text, Lin Feng's eyes flashed with a sharp light.

Although he knew that the current control of the Tian Mu had been taken by those people of the Ancient Clan.

However, regarding something that can alter the flow of time, he remained very interested.

Therefore, seeing the method to refine and control the Tian Mu, Lin Feng was naturally overjoyed.

Thinking of this, he quickly scanned the golden board, committing its contents to memory.

As for deceiving him, Lin Feng believed the other party would not joke about the lives of his own relatives.

After noting those contents, he then raised his head, looked at Xiao Yan within the fireball, and nodded: "Alright, if there is truly a chance, I will rescue your father and two brothers. But let me be clear: I will abolish their Dou Qi and reproductive functions. After all, I don't want my future descendants to have a bunch of enemies."

"Alright."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan, knowing this was the other party's final bottom line, did not continue bargaining but instead readily nodded.

But then he spoke: "I once promised the ancestor Xiao Xuan that I would do my utmost to restore glory to the Xiao Family, but now it seems I have failed. Lin Feng, although you and I have many grudges, the other members of the Xiao Family have little involvement, and they were unaware of our previous situation. So I hope you will not implicate the other Xiao Family members."

"Of course, I also know you don't act without profit. Back when I traded with the Ancient Clan, I exchanged the remaining Xiao Family heritage in Xiao Xuan's hands for three strange fires sought by the Ancient Clan. However, during that process I hid some things. Those things are now in the hands of my clan sister Xiao Yu and her companions."

Upon hearing his earlier remarks about the transaction with the Ancient Clan, Lin Feng suddenly understood, yet he also shook his head and said: "The martial arts and techniques I possess, including high-level Heavenly Step ones, are not lacking in the slightest; I have no interest in those things."

After all, while exploring the Gu Nanfang Dalu, he had obtained a few storage rings from the fallen experts of the Spirit Communion Sect.

Moreover, from the storage ring of the corpse beside the Pingnan Pass control console, he acquired a large quantity of ancient-era Heavenly Step martial arts and techniques.

Now his whole family is fully equipped with high-level Heavenly Step martial arts and techniques.

Therefore, Lin Feng has no interest in the things Xiao Yan has concealed.

"What if I said that among those things there is something related to the relics of a Dou Emperor?"

Seeing Lin Feng's expression, Xiao Yan was indeed quite surprised, but then he calmly spoke.

"Huh?"

As soon as those words were spoken, Lin Feng's expression changed instantly.

After all, for the four words "Dou Emperor relics," probably few on this continent could remain unmoved.

Thinking of this, he immediately slowed his refining speed and asked: "Go on, what is that thing, and what are your demands?"

Seeing that the other party was moved, Xiao Yan's lips curled slightly as he smiled faintly: "That item is a black key, filled with a strong deathly aura; touching it will drain a person's life force. Its domineering nature lies in the fact that even at the peak of Ancestor Xiao Xuan, merely contacting it makes it impossible to resist its draining of one's own life force. And you should know that the original Ancestor Xiao Xuan was an unparalleled powerhouse at the nine-star peak Dou Saint level."

"According to Ancestor Xiao Xuan, even a thousand years ago, the Great Annihilation Technique created by the last Grand Elder of my Xiao Family drew its inspiration from this key brimming with deathly power. Although it was never perfected back then, that Grand Elder perished in a disaster a thousand years ago, yet even as an unfinished technique, its power remains extremely strong. Of course, you have already experienced it during our time with the Ancient Clan."

"But most importantly, according to the inspection of my Xiao Family ancestors, the source of this item is none other than the famous Dou Emperor relic on the Zhongzhou Continent, the Light and Shadow Space!"

"Swish!"

Upon learning of that item's information, although Lin Feng tried to maintain control, his eyes still uncontrollably turned extremely fervent.

Because that item, judging from the former's description.

It is highly likely to be the last item he has been painstakingly searching for.

More precisely, it is the final one among the four keys needed to open the black-and-white iron chest that he has been desperately seeking, with no news at all—the Dark Key!

From the information he already knows, Xiao Yan's words are very likely true.

"No wonder I said I couldn't find any trace of this thing despite controlling so many ancient clan elders; it turns out the Xiao Family had hidden it!"

At the same time, Lin Feng realized that all he needed was to obtain that Dark Key, and he could open the black-and-white iron chest he had long yearned for.

He then quickly raised his head and said in a deep voice: "The key related to the Dou Emperor relic—I'm very interested. Speak, what are your demands?"

"You cannot kill all of my remaining Xiao Family members; you must leave a trace of the Xiao Family bloodline."

Saying this, Xiao Yan suddenly extended both hands.

Immediately after, strands of blood color continuously seeped out from his soul, gathering at a point over twenty centimeters above his palm.

Finally, those blood-colored strands merged in the air above Xiao Yan's palm into a mass of blood.

"Dou Emperor bloodline?"

Seeing that familiar blood and the strange aura emanating from it, Lin Feng was slightly surprised.

Hearing this, Xiao Yan nodded: "Exactly, this Dou Emperor bloodline is what I left behind in a hasty manner before self-destructing my body. For someone like you who lacks Xiao Family blood, you cannot absorb it. Therefore, I hope you can give this mass of bloodline to a survivor of the Xiao Family, so that he may merge with this Xiao Family Dou Emperor bloodline."

While speaking, he waved his hand and threw this mass of blood, about the size of a fist, toward Lin Feng.

Not knowing the other's special ability, he naturally thought that even if the other obtained this mass of blood, they would also be unable to absorb it.

Thus, the likelihood of breaking the contract would be relatively much lower.

Seeing this, Lin Feng immediately reached out and caught it.

After receiving that Dou Emperor bloodline, he nodded and said: "I can agree to your request to leave a trace of the Xiao Family bloodline, but there is a precondition: the recipient must be female and agree to become my concubine. Only then can I fulfill our transaction."

"You really are unwilling to suffer even a slight loss!"

Noticing the other's wariness, Xiao Yan also couldn't help but give a wry shake of his head.

Immediately after, he said helplessly, "I kept my promise to you, but after I rescued the remaining members of the Xiao Family from Canaan Academy and placed them in the Gu clan, you would certainly not let me contact the Gu clan. So how to get them out is up to you. As for the key I mentioned, it is in the hands of my clan sister Xiao Yu."

As soon as the words fell, Xiao Yan's form could no longer be supported, instantly bursting like a water bubble with a "pop", and finally fading into nothingness.

At the same time, in this realm, only a faint, barely perceptible phrase drifted slowly across the sky.

"Xiao Xuan's ancestor, father, brother, and Gu Xun'er, I'm sorry, I failed."

And accompanying the dispersal of the former's soul, a new pale‑yellow orb of light floated within the fireball.

At this moment, looking around, within the fireball there were nearly a hundred pale‑yellow energy clusters, continuously drifting.

Each of these clusters was about half a zhang in size.

For an ordinary soul, it would require at least a million Dao to form such a soul core.

And such a cluster already satisfies a late‑stage Celestial Realm soul, allowing it to breakthrough to the Great Perfection realm.

But here there are as many as a hundred clusters!

"Whoosh!"

From afar, Cao Ying, Xin Lan, Dan Chen, and Qing Lin—the four women—saw Xiao Yan's soul vanish completely, and instantly their forms shifted, swooping to the front of the sphere.

Then Cao Ying gazed at the massive soul core inside, and could not contain her emotions, exclaiming excitedly, "Excellent, husband, now that we have obtained so many soul cores, we can forge another Emperor Realm soul. Then, we…"

"Stop!"

However, just as she was halfway through speaking, Lin Feng suddenly waved his hand, signaling her to stop talking.

Seeing this, though unaware of the reason, Cao Ying halted her speech, looking puzzled toward her own husband.

At the same time, Xin Lan, sensing something amiss, stepped forward bewildered, "Husband, what's wrong?"

As for Dan Chen and Qing Lin, the two women also looked over with puzzled expressions, not understanding why their man stopped Cao Ying from speaking.

"Hehe. That's because, aside from us, there is another person present here."

Seeing the women's bewildered looks, Lin Feng gave a faint smile, then turned his gaze to the calmly hovering Dou Emperor bloodline in his hand.

"What?!"

At those words, the four women's expressions changed dramatically, and they all stepped back in unison, their eyes reluctantly following their man's line of sight toward the bright red blood.

"Still not coming out, Xiao Yan?"

After a brief silence in the arena, Lin Feng saw the Dou Emperor bloodline in his hand still unmoving, and sneered coldly.

"Whoosh!"

Soon after his words fell, an illusory figure suddenly shot out from the blood, then darted swiftly toward Dan Chen in the distance.

"Hmph"

However, Lin Feng, who had long been prepared for this, let out a cold snort, then calmly clenched his hand. In the next instant, the illusory figure heading for Dan Chen was suddenly enveloped by a formless, colorless flame.

"Ah!"

Enveloped by the Falling Heart Flame, Xiao Yan's painful wail rang out again across this realm.

Lin Feng, however, ignored it, walking toward Xiao Yan with a calm expression.

At the same time, he spoke unhurriedly: "Xiao Yan, you first used items related to Tian Mu to trade with me to rescue your relatives, and then you used Xiao Xuan's collection to obtain my keeping a sliver of the Xiao clan's bloodline, and while extracting the Dou Emperor bloodline you had hidden, you concealed a fragment of your own soul within it."

"This scheme, if it were anyone else, might see your meticulous, considerate arrangements for the Xiao clan's people as a 'release' and have them dump everything you collected, like pouring out soybeans, and perhaps they'd truly be fooled by you."

When he got to that part, Lin Feng also sneered and shook his head.

That guy, no wonder he managed to climb to where he is now.

This scheming, if it were anyone else, upon seeing Xiao Yan at the brink of death arranging a way out for his closest kin and clan, would freely spill out everything he knows.

Perhaps they'd truly think the other has seen through life and death, let go of grudges, and that everything has already returned to nothingness.

Later, once they foolishly hand over that Dou Emperor bloodline to others.

Xiao Yan's escape plan would then have a very high chance of succeeding.

"Xiao Yan, you have such deep thoughts!"

Seeing that Xiao Yan hadn't died, Cao Ying's beautiful eyes suddenly narrowed, then her seductive face turned a steely blue as she clenched her silver teeth and said, "You damn it, earlier you arranged your own relatives so thoughtfully, I thought you truly saw through life and death. I didn't expect you to have another trick!"

And Qing Lin, Xin Lan, and Dan Chen, upon hearing this, also turned their small faces a steely blue and nodded.

This Xiao Yan truly is deep‑minded.

If their men hadn't noticed, Xiao Yan might have actually escaped.

"Damn it, this Dou Emperor bloodline itself emits a special energy fluctuation, and being of the same source as me, it masks my soul aura. Normally, even an Emperor Realm soul shouldn't be able to detect me hidden inside. Why, why do you know I'm hidden here!?"

Enveloped by the Falling Heart Flame like a cowhide, Xiao Yan had no mind to heed the women's words; as the last wisp of his lingering soul faded, he angrily turned to Lin Feng and demanded.

He truly couldn't understand why the Dou Emperor bloodline, sharing his source, concealed the soul wave emitted by his lingering soul.

But why did the other still know he intended to escape?

"Hehe, that's because you didn't arrange Gu Xun'er!"

As soon as the words fell, Lin Feng walked to Xiao Yan's front, smiled lightly and said, "Your relationship with Gu Xun'er, I know. Yet earlier, you clearly gave the Xiao family members—who rank lower in importance than Gu Xun'er—a 'thoughtful' arranged way out. But Gu Xun'er, you didn't even utter a single word about her!"

"I think you were worried about bringing up matters concerning Gu Xun'er, so for safety I outright refused. So I simply didn't say anything. In this way, I would very likely agree to your other requests, and thus you could hide inside the Dou Emperor bloodline to escape. After all, the energy fluctuation of the Dou Emperor bloodline shields you, so even as an Emperor Realm soul I wouldn't need to worry about perceiving you."

When he got to that part, Lin Feng immediately shook his head, pointed at Xiao Yan and said, "But the pity is, your cleverness backfired on you. Before you 'nearly died', you never thought to leave a message for Gu Xun'er. With such a huge oversight, how could I possibly not have noticed?"

"Damn!"

Realizing the huge flaw in his own plan, Xiao Yan couldn't help but curse loudly.

But immediately after, he shook his head again.

In the end, it's simply because his strength is too weak.

Otherwise, none of this would have happened.

Moreover, within such a short time, he had to ensure the other wouldn't get angry and outright refuse, then a fire would instantly melt him, and also guarantee the other would accept his request and take out the Dou Emperor bloodline he was hiding in.

He has already done his best.

But, he's unwilling!

"Bo"

But in the next moment, Xiao Yan's final lingering soul hidden within the Dou Emperor bloodline, also refined by the Falling Heart Flame, brimming with endless resentment and grievance, turned into a pale yellow light sphere about the size of a human brain.

Seeing this, Cao Ying, somewhat worried, did not dare to rush forward; instead, she lightly parting her red lips, asked, "Husband, does this fellow have any other fallback?"

"No, he's truly gone for good."

Upon hearing that, Lin Feng released his soul power, meticulously examined the Dou Emperor bloodline three times, and then immediately restored Cao Ying.

"Hoo"

When those words were spoken, the four women finally let out a sigh, then rose, unable to hold back, they cursed, "That Xiao Yan, truly cunning; we almost let him escape."

"Hehe, just a minor episode; in the end, he still died."

At this point, Lin Feng gazed at the Dou Emperor bloodline in his hand, his tone tinged with a hint of lament.

This was the person he once wanted to rely on, the murderer who forcibly seized his sole Mysterious Tier combat skill, the bandit who tried to kill him to snatch the exotic fire, half of his own hometown.

Now, he finally died at his own hands.

"Alas, the grudges and favors on the continent are hard to untangle. At least, you have grown all the way and made a name for yourself on the continent; you're not a nobody."

While speaking, Lin Feng took out a large jade bottle about the size of a human brain and sealed the Dou Emperor bloodline inside.

At the same time, he murmured softly, "At this concentration, based on experience, it should correspond to a Fifth‑grade bloodline. It seems it was indeed left in haste. Anyway, it's of no use for boosting my current strength, so I'll just fulfill your dying wish."

Having said that, Lin Feng sealed the jade bottle containing the Xiao clan's Dou Emperor bloodline and stored it in his talisman.

Then, he turned to Qing Lin and said, "Girl, go absorb those soul essences and advance."

As he spoke, Lin Feng waved his hand, hurling the fragment of Xiao Yan's lingering soul outside into a fireball.

"Ah?"

Hearing the former suddenly call her, Qing Lin was momentarily taken aback.

Then, still confused, she pointed at the three Cao Ying sisters beside her and asked, "Young master, I'm not an alchemist; these soul essences can boost soul power—wouldn't it be better for Cao Ying and her sisters to absorb them?"

The confusion wasn't limited to her; the three Cao Ying sisters were also puzzled.

They had assumed that their own husband would designate one of the three of them to absorb the essences.

Yet they didn't expect that, in the end, their husband chose Qing Lin.

"Hehe, although the three Cao Ying sisters are alchemists, we're not short of Treasure Pills, and the Mysterious Pills can't be mass‑produced; Golden Cores are still a mirage. Moreover, your 'Green Snake Three‑Eye' technique, after a hundred reincarnations, has been fully mastered by you. When you advance to the Emperor‑realm soul stage, even an early‑stage Eight‑Star Dou Saint, unaware, would be left in a mess by you."

At this point, Lin Feng spread his hands and continued, "Therefore, for us who seek higher combat power, it's certainly best for you, girl, to absorb them."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Lin Feng smiled and brushed the dense green strands of Qing Lin's hair.

"Got it. Young master, rest assured; once I advance, Qing Lin will definitely help you defeat those villains."

After hearing her young master's explanation, Qing Lin promptly nodded heavily, then patted her own big pantry and said.

With those words, she solemnly walked toward the exotic fire sphere, entered it, and began absorbing the soul essences refined from Xiao Yan.

As for the three Cao Ying sisters, after Lin Feng's explanation, they were extremely envious of Qing Lin but said nothing, implicitly accepting their husband's allocation.

However, immediately afterward, Dan Ta Sanmei's silence was broken by Lin Feng's words.

"I'm planning to go to the Jiuyou Di Ming Mang Clan, boost their strength. In the meantime, you all continue refining Nine‑grade Treasure Pills and revive my concubines."

Although Lin Feng wanted to head to the ancient clan immediately to demand the Dark Key from the Xiao family, reason told him that such a move would backfire.

It might even provoke the ancient clan's scrutiny, thereby completely losing the chance to obtain the Dark Key.

Thus, after pondering, he finally decided to first strengthen himself before anything else.

However, considering his concubines have not yet emerged from the realm, Lin Feng decided to first boost the Jiuyou Di Ming Mang Clan's strength.

After all, among his three allies, only the Jiuyou Di Ming Mang Clan is fully under his control.

As for the Tian Yao Phoenix Clan and the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Clan, each has its own agenda.

So, when strengthening, they were naturally pushed to the back by Lin Feng.

"Alright."

Hearing their man's plan, Dan Ta Sanmei instantly exchanged glances, then suddenly flew toward the distance.

"Alas, time is insufficient, and I lack the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade that can control the present‑time flow of the Gu Di Dong Fu. Otherwise, I could wait for Cai Lin, Feng Er, and Xiao Yixian to boost their strength, then obtain that Ninth‑grade Golden Core, and later explore the Gu Nanfang Dalu, using its abundant resources to further strengthen."

Thinking of the Gu Nanfang Dalu, now occupied by people from other worlds, Lin Feng couldn't help but sigh.

Although he wishes to gradually strengthen himself and his wife, eventually without relying on the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Clan or the Tian Yao Phoenix Clan, his own people could, with absolute superiority, crush the Soul and Ancient Two Clans, deter the three major demonic beast races, and seize the Emperor‑grade Proto Pill and the Ancient Emperor inheritance.

Unfortunately, without the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, he cannot control the progress of the Soul‑Heaven‑Emperor Plan.

Now, he can only accelerate his strengthening by any means possible.

"Forget it, for now I'll first go to the Jiuyou Di Ming Mang Clan to check the situation and boost their strength. Ideally, raise their power to roughly match that of the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Clan and the Tian Yao Phoenix Clan. That way, we can restrain the other two great families."

While pondering, Lin Feng's figure flickered and vanished into the Forest Realm.

"Ah!"

However, just as Lin Feng was contemplating strengthening, in the Ancient Realm a breathtakingly beautiful woman stared at the shattered jade pendant in her hand and let out a scream of utter despair and grief.

If Lin Feng were present, he would surely recognize her as Gu Xun'er, whom he had spent half a year diligently developing.

But at this moment, her beautiful little face was filled with despair.

Because the soul jade pendant was completely shattered, it also meant that her Xiao Yan brother was gone. (End of chapter)