Chapter 44: Heilu Saint Domain

Heilu lay on the largest rock in the courtyard, eyes closed, motionless.

It had already been three days.

Ever since Linlei handed it that Saint Domain-level Dark-attribute Magic Crystal Core, Heilu had maintained this posture. The core was held in its mouth, wisps of dark aura emanating from its body, fluctuating like tides, sometimes strong, sometimes weak.

The courtyard was quiet. The five Bake brothers huddled in the corner, speaking in hushed tones, afraid to disturb Heilu. Saisile had also emerged from the laboratory, standing at the doorway, squinting to observe Heilu's state. Beibei squatted on the courtyard wall, small eyes unblinking as it stared at Heilu, unusually not jumping up and down.

Aikesi leaned against the doorway of his own room, watching as well.

A Saint Domain beast.

The leap from Level 9 beast to Saint Domain is a huge threshold.

"The Lord treats it well," Bake approached, speaking in a low voice, "A Saint Domain Magic Crystal Core, that's something money can't buy."

Aikesi nodded.

That was the truth. A Saint Domain Magic Crystal Core is a treasure obtained only by slaying a Saint Domain beast. Leaving aside how difficult it is to kill a Saint Domain beast, even if killed, the core itself is priceless—it can be used to forge Saint Domain-level magical items, or to set up powerful Magic Arrays. How many would be willing to go bankrupt to exchange for one, yet still could not get their hands on it.

"Where is Linlei?"

"The Lord is at Hou Shan," Bake said.

Aikesi hummed, turned, and walked toward Hou Shan.

Hou Shan had a small stream, and beside the stream lay a flat, large stone where Linlei often sat to cultivate. When Aikesi found him, Linlei was sitting cross-legged on the stone, eyes closed, motionless.

But Aikesi could feel the air around him flowing.

Those air currents were very gentle, circling around Linlei like a stream.

Watching those currents, he felt as though he had gained some insight.

Is this the Profound Mystery of Wind?

His Flame Law followed a different path—destruction, burning, scorching. Wind was different; wind was flow, was speed, was formless and shapeless. The two Laws were completely different, yet at this moment, watching Linlei contemplate, he vaguely sensed something common between them.

Whether Flame or Wind, ultimately, both are applications of the Laws of Heaven and Earth.

He recalled that his own realization of Flame's essence was destruction, was devouring. But what of Wind?

Wind is flow, is change, is ceaseless.

He simply found a stone nearby and sat down, watching the flowing currents around Linlei while contemplating his own Flame Law.

Time passed bit by bit.

The sun moved from overhead to the west, then gradually sank behind the mountains. Linlei had not moved, and those currents continued to swirl around him, never ceasing. Aikesi also sat on the stone, eyes closed, with a faint flicker of flame light shimmering on his body.

Suddenly, the air currents halted.

Aikesi looked up and saw Linlei open his eyes.

The surrounding air suddenly accelerated, forming a visible whirlwind around Linlei. The whirlwind spun faster and faster, more and more urgently, then exploded violently, transforming into countless tiny Wind Blades shooting in all directions.

The Wind Blades grazed Aikesi's cheeks, slicing into the tree trunk behind him, leaving deep marks. Several more Wind Blades flew toward the stream, plowing deep furrows on the water's surface, which took a while to calm down.

Linlei stood up, a smile appearing on his face.

It was the joyful smile of having realized a new Profound Mystery, satisfaction with his own power increase. Aikesi had seen this smile before—when he himself realized a new level of the Flame Profound Mystery, his expression was the same.

Aikesi nodded: "Congratulations."

Linlei walked over, and the two walked down the mountain side by side.

"How is Heilu?"

"Still refining," Aikesi said, "Its aura has remained very stable; there should be no problem."

Linlei nodded and asked no more.

The two walked down along the stream. Moonlight spilled over the mountains, coating everything in a layer of silver-white. In the distance came the calls of night birds, and occasionally the chirping of insects.

When they returned to the courtyard, the sky had already darkened. Saisile had lit a bonfire in the courtyard; the five Bake brothers sat around the fire, roasting a wild boar they had somehow obtained. The boar was not small, skewered on a thick wooden stick, placed over the fire and slowly turning. Fat dripped onto the flames, making a sizzling sound, and the scent spread everywhere.

Beibei squatted beside the fire, small eyes staring fixedly at the meat sizzling with oil, drool almost dripping out. It occasionally pawed at Bake, the meaning clear—faster, even faster.

Bake helplessly flipped the meat: "Don't rush, don't rush, it's not fully cooked yet."

Beibei chattered twice in dissatisfaction, pawing at Bake again with its small claws.

Heilu remained in that same posture, lying on the rock, motionless. But Aikesi could feel that its aura was even stronger than during the day. Those dark auras emanating from its body rose and fell rhythmically, like breathing.

"Still not awake," Saisile saw the two return and shook his head, "However, its aura is much stronger than yesterday. This old one estimates that in another three or five days, we should see the outcome."

Linlei walked over to Heilu and reached out to stroke its head.

Heilu showed no reaction, but its breathing was steady, not seeming to be in trouble. Linlei's hand stayed on its head for a moment, then he gently patted it.

"Let it refine slowly," Linlei said, "Do not disturb it."

Everyone nodded.

In the days that followed, life returned to its usual rhythm.

Linlei went to Hou Shan to cultivate every day; the newly realized Second Layer of the Wind Profound Mystery needed time to consolidate. Sometimes he went alone, sometimes he took Beibei. Beibei ran wildly in Hou Shan, chasing rabbits, driving away birds, playing with great joy. Linlei sat on the large stone by the stream, sitting there for an entire day.

Aikesi spent most of his time cultivating in his room. The realization he had gained on the mountain that day kept swirling in his mind—the flow of flame. He tried to make the flame flow like water, drift like wind. But once the flame left his range of control, it would lose restraint, either extinguishing or burning out of control.

Too difficult.

The essence of flame is destruction, is ferocity. To make something ferocious become gentle, become controllable, requires extremely fine control. He tried again and again, failed again and again, but each failure deepened his understanding of flame by another layer.

Heilu had not awakened.

It lay on that rock like a statue. But its aura grew stronger day by day, and those dark mists became increasingly dense.

Beibei ran back and forth every day, catching insects, chasing birds, its energy terrifyingly abundant. Sometimes it would squat on the courtyard wall, staring at Heilu for a long time, then chatter twice, as if cheering it on.

The seventh day.

The eighth day.

The ninth day.

By the evening of the tenth day, Heilu's aura suddenly fluctuated violently.

At that time, Aikesi was cultivating in his room when he suddenly sensed a powerful energy fluctuation coming from outside. The fluctuation was so intense that even the walls of the house trembled slightly. He opened his eyes and pushed the door open to go out.

In the courtyard, everyone had already come out.

The five Bake brothers formed a circle, watching tensely. Gaici clenched his fists, muttering to himself, no one knowing what he was chanting.

Saisile stood at the doorway, squinting, staring intently at that churning mass of mist.

Beibei crouched on the courtyard wall, his small eyes unblinking, unusually quiet.

Heilu lay on that rock, his entire body shrouded in thick black mist. The mist churned violently, as if something were struggling inside. Waves of powerful aura surged from the mist, spreading in all directions, shaking the trees in the courtyard. The ground around the rock began to crack, fissures spreading outward in every direction.

"He's about to breakthrough!" Saisile shouted excitedly, "The most critical moment has arrived!"

The mist grew thicker, churning more violently.

Suddenly, a low roar emerged from the mist.

The mist exploded violently.

Heilu stepped out from within.

It was still that black-striped clouded leopard, but its body was a full size larger than before, its fur glossy and shining, the black patterns on its forehead deeper, faintly gleaming with a metallic luster. Most obvious were its eyes—originally yellow vertical pupils, now turned dark gold, radiating a light of intelligence.

That was the light belonging to a Saint Domain demonic beast.

Heilu stood there, emitting a powerful aura from his entire body. That was a true Saint Domain aura, a realm countless demonic beasts dreamed of achieving. He looked down at his own claws, then raised his head to look around, his eyes holding a daze, a disbelief.

Saint Domain.

He had truly reached the Saint Domain.

Heilu's gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Linlei.

He lowered his head and spoke, his voice low and powerful: "My Lord."

Only when a demonic beast reaches the Saint Domain can it speak.

A smile appeared on Linlei's face: "Good."

The five Bake brothers cheered. Gaici rushed forward to hug Heilu, but Heilu swiped him aside with a claw. He didn't mind at all, got up, and continued smiling. Waierte showed a rare smile, and the others all breathed a sigh of relief.

Beibei jumped down from the courtyard wall, darted to Heilu's front, chattering and climbing up. Heilu lowered his head, letting it climb onto his back. Beibei sat on Heilu's back, looking around proudly, that expression as if to say—See, this is my territory!

Saisile stroked his beard, nodding repeatedly: "Good, good, Heilu breaking through to the Saint Domain, our strength has increased once more."

Linlei walked over and patted Heilu's head. Heilu lowered his head and rubbed against his hand.