Chapter 92: Rebirth in Fire

The Blood Evil Heaven-Smiting Thunder inside the Blood Thunder Bottle erupted from within, almost instantly burning a huge hole through Xiao Ding's abdomen.

A blood-evil-like grudge tore at Xiao Ding's soul, and his gaze began to dissipate.

Not only Xiao Ding, but the grey phantom suffered even more attacks; the massive blood-colored lightning tore him apart, and after withstanding five Blood Thunder Bottles and one Fire Spirit Bottle, he had reached his limit.

In the next moment, the grey phantom exploded, transforming into countless soul fragments that scattered into Xiao Ding's body.

Xiao Ding had already collapsed among the black shrubs, and on his ruined body, only a hint of green showed through the hollow in his abdomen.

Quietly, in Xiao Ding's subconscious, his shattered soul began to absorb the soul fragments, and a strand of new bud began to sprout…

Time flowed on; in the pitch-black forest where no one dared to tread, within the black shrubs, an arm tore apart the shrubs pressing on his body.

Xiao Ding's eyes revealed a hint of bewilderment.

"I… am I not dead yet?"

Xiao Ding instinctively touched his abdomen; he remembered that before losing consciousness, his abdomen already had a huge hole, but now everything seemed fine.

The grey phantom seemed like a nightmare, and its abdomen was also intact as before.

Xiao Ding propped himself up and looked blankly at his hands.

The pitch-black death qi forest, tens of thousands of corpse-eating ghost woods, and lush green skeletons…

Yes, the green skeletons.

Xiao Ding seemed to realize something; these skeletons appeared to have entered his body, and after the phantom shattered, they merged with him.

Upon careful sensing, a flash of surprise and bewilderment passed through Xiao Ding's eyes.

One-Star Fighting Spirit?!

Have I become a Fighting Spirit powerhouse?

Xiao Ding found it somewhat unbelievable; he had clearly just broken through to Great Fighter, so how did he become a One-Star Fighting Spirit, and moreover…

Feeling the activity of the elements in the air, his talent seemed to have improved as well.

Moreover, in the fusion of the skeletons, even the impurities accumulated from previously absorbing Blood Pills were greatly reduced.

Feeling the powerful strength hidden within his body, Xiao Ding suddenly burst forth with an unprecedented confidence.

Now he seemed not inferior to his two younger brothers.

Having left the Magic Beast Mountain Range, Xiao Ding urgently needed to know the time, lest he miss his third younger brother's three-year agreement.

That Nalan Yanran actually dared to come to the Xiao Clan to break off the engagement; if not for the third brother's restored talent, the second brother's influence in the Xiao Clan would be immense, and their lineage would likely have become the laughingstock of Wutan City.

Thinking of this, Xiao Ding's eyes involuntarily darkened; even though he was refined in character, facing such insult could not be taken lightly.

Within the Azure Edge Mercenary Corps, seeing the regiment leader return after half a year, a bonfire feast was put on the schedule.

"It's already been half a year…"

Xiao Ding let out a breath of relief; good, there was still a year left for him to improve further.

"Next, I will make a trip to the Imperial Capital; I'll return in about a year. You all must train hard, and then you'll come to help."

At the feast, upon hearing Xiao Ding's words, the second-in-command of the Azure Edge Mercenary Corps was stunned, putting down his wine bowl.

"Chief, you only left half a year ago, and you're leaving again? You can rest easy about training; with the Xiao Clan Chief's support, our corps should gain several Fighters within a year."

Fu Jian didn't ask further; as the regiment leader, Xiao Ding was willing to unite with them, saying it was help but actually an order; as a subordinate, he just needed to carry out the order, not meddle in other matters.

Xiao Ding's reason for going to the Imperial Capital was to investigate its situation; he was older than Xiao Li and Xiao Yan, and knew some of the circumstances when the Xiao Clan humiliatingly left the Imperial Capital.

Xiao Ding also understood that his two younger brothers were monstrous geniuses, possibly never having noticed these trivial details; as the elder brother, he needed to help the Xiao Clan inquire into and resolve some issues.

One week later, Xiao Ding arranged all matters within the mercenary corps and began his journey to the Imperial Capital.

The Jia Ma Empire is controlled by the Jia Ma imperial family; its guardian, Jia Chengtian, is a peak Fighting Emperor powerhouse.

Also, in Xiao Li's view, it was the most cowardly, indecisive peak Fighting Emperor; if not for Xiao Yan's good nature, replacing him with someone else would likely have led to its downfall long ago.

Riding on the official road, Xiao Ding paid attention to the movements of wind and grass around him; although a Fighting Spirit was already considered strong in the Jia Ma Empire, he still dared not be careless, since after witnessing Yao Lao and Medusa's attacks, he had never become arrogant about his strength.

"Look, look, the imperial family is recruiting guards, apparently for Princess Yao Yue."

"Exactly, I heard the little princess is an alchemist, so the emperor pays extra attention; thus, even a regular guard requires the rank of Great Fighter."

"Sigh, we needn't bother; if I had the strength of a Great Fighter, wouldn't it be fine to be the lord of a small city? Why insist on becoming a guard?"

Xiao Ding's gaze swept over; a group of people gathered before a notice board, eagerly discussing.

Xiao Ding raised an eyebrow; guards for important members of the imperial family?

Xiao Ding pondered slightly, dismounted, and stepped forward to examine the notice closely; since the Xiao Clan left the Imperial Capital at least twenty years ago, ordinary channels likely offered no hope, but if he could enter the Imperial Palace, he might learn the Xiao Clan's secrets from back then.

After all, the Xiao Clan back then was also a Fighting King clan; withdrawing from the Imperial Capital would certainly be recorded in the Imperial Palace.

After looking at the recruitment requirements, Xiao Ding sped up his pace toward the Imperial Palace.

Along the way, while familiarizing himself with his strength, Xiao Ding also honed the combat techniques and secret arts he had mastered.

That little princess Yao Yue seemed to be an alchemist, while Xiao Ding, because of Xiao Li's book, had mastered some breeding and the ability to identify medicinal herbs.

Added to his Fighting Spirit strength, Xiao Ding had confidence in becoming Yao Yue's guard; as long as he earned her trust, he would have a chance to access the imperial family's secret records.

……Within the Empire

Yao Yue wore an alchemist's robe, excitedly circling around her older sister Yao Ye.

"Sister, look, I'm an alchemist now."

Yao Ye smiled helplessly, "This is already the seventeenth time you've told me today."

Yao Yue stuck out her cute little tongue, "Oh, isn't this too exciting?"

Yao Ye rubbed Yao Yue's head while smiling, "Get ready; great-grandfather didn't promise you that, as long as you become an alchemist, he'll hand over the Sixth-Rank Beast Fire."

Yao Yue nodded excitedly; a Fighting Emperor-level Beast Fire—she had been thinking about it for a long time.

Watching Yao Yue hop away, Yao Ye sighed and muttered.

"Great-grandfather is getting old, and the Nether Sea Flood Beast isn't doing well either; the Cloud Mist Sect happens to be powerful, Yun Yun has broken through to Fighting Emperor, passing it down generation to generation, but our imperial family…"

Thinking that she herself was only a Fighter in cultivation, Yao Ye let out a soft sigh.

(Various big shots, Xiao Ding has arrived at the Imperial Capital; I am considering, which of Yaoye and Yaoyue is suitable for the elder brother, Yaoye's age should be about the same as Xiao Ding's, but, as everyone knows, in this book, the Xiao family was ruined by loli!)

(Urgent help, whether the ages of Yaoye and Yaoyue are clearly stated in the original work; if not, I will set Yaoye's age the same as Xiao Ding's, and Yaoyue's the same as Xiao Yan's)

(Notice, the above word count is less than two hundred; will not incur extra charges)

(Chapter ends)