Chapter 352: Asura

Cai Lin unleashed her Seven-Colored Divine Light, swept her hand, and a seven-colored Dou Qi streak more terrifying than the Flame-Devouring Wave Ruler smashed into the earth, cracking it open as numerous figures were flung backward.

"Can you still act like you did just now?" Cai Lin asked grimly, watching the Snake Race puppets, like zombies, rise again and charge forward.

"No, they have no Spiritual Souls left—now they're merely controlled by Qing Lin's Qi San Hua Tong." Xiao Yan stared grimly at Qing Lin; as Cai Lin flung away several puppets, Xiao Yan activated Three Thousand Thunderclaps, his body shooting toward Qing Lin like lightning.

He needed to understand first why Qing Lin had become like this.

Ee!

Red sparks flickered in Qing Lin's eyes as she gazed at Xiao Yan, who surged toward her with vast Dou Qi, his form transformed into thunder. Her eyes flashed with ferocity, fixed on Xiao Yan, then she stepped forward and reached out her palm straight at him.

With a hiss, Qing Lin's palm erupted with Dou Qi—a cyan-colored energy claw erupted from her fingertips, instantly tearing the space before her with terrifying speed, appearing before Xiao Yan as if teleporting.

"Quasi Heavenly Rank Dou Technique!!"

Feeling the terrifying power of this technique, Xiao Yan's heart sank—he dared not hold back. His hand seals formed rapidly; his left hand shaped a special seal, and in an instant, all his internal Dou Qi condensed onto his palm before he slammed it forward!

"Mountain Splitting Seal!" Xiao Yan's left hand condensed Dou Qi, striking like a mountain-splitting blow—a massive energy palm imprint roared outward.

But Xiao Yan knew this was not enough; his right hand formed a seal immediately after, shouting inwardly: "Ocean Flipping Seal!"

His internal Dou Qi drained heavily as two Earth Rank Advanced Grade palm imprints struck in succession.

Boom! Boom! The Mountain Splitting Seal and Ocean Flipping Seal crashed hard onto Qing Lin's palm—but that cyan-colored technique claw, though seeming fragile, refused to shatter, harder than steel even against both imprints.

Xiao Yan frowned and swiftly retreated, returning to Mei Du Sha's side.

Seeing Xiao Yan's thoughtful expression, Cai Lin asked: "Any insight?"

"Yes." Xiao Yan's gaze sharpened as he looked at Qing Lin in the center of the hall, speaking gravely: "Qi San Hua Tong doesn't just absorb the Cultivation Realm and Soul Force of enslaved Snake Race members—it can also absorb their Dou Techniques, even their battle instincts and experience."

!!!!!!

Mei Du Sha shoved back a puppet, and upon hearing Xiao Yan's words, she was stunned. Could Qi San Hua Tong really be this insane!

"That's why when Qing Lin fought Nalan Yanran, her Cultivation Realm, Soul Perception, Dou Techniques—even battle experience—were all far superior. Qi San Hua Tong likely absorbs everything possessed by the enslaved Snake Race." Xiao Yan, while fending off Snake Man puppets, voiced his theory.

"And this is probably why Qing Lin lost control—Qi San Hua Tong isn't perfect. It absorbs the power of enslaved Snake Race members, but also their inner darkness and negative emotions. Once accumulated beyond a threshold, these negative forces overwhelm and trigger loss of control." Xiao Yan slowly revealed his hypothesis.

Xiao Yan knew one other Special Physique—the Eternal Calamity Poison Physique—just like Qi San Hua Tong, it was an exceedingly rare, ultra-special physique, with rapid power growth, allowing one to reach in mere years what others could not achieve in decades.

If these Special Physiques had no side effects, they would be even more terrifying than Dou Di Bloodline.

But the reality was the opposite: throughout the history of the Dou Qi Continent, many renowned strong ones existed, yet none with Qi San Hua Tong or the Eternal Calamity Poison Physique ever reached the peak—they never even attained High-Level Sage Emperor or ordinary Sage Emperor status; all died midway. 【52】 Xiao Yan had no Pure Lotus Demon Fire—he couldn't purify those negative energies. All he could do now was use the Demon Slayer Soul Severing Technique, attempting to reach the depths of Qing Lin's spiritual soul, hoping to awaken her consciousness.

Gain comes with loss—the more terrifying the power, the more terrible the side effect.

Eternal Calamity Poison Physique was like this. Qi San Hua Tong was the same.

Xiao Yan even suspected that the original Qi-Eyed Snake Sage had lost control after absorbing too many negative emotions, leading the Snake Race of Shou Yu to expel him jointly, and ultimately causing his downfall in the Northwest Region.

And Qing Lin's final Trial was likely to suppress these negative forces, preventing herself from being consumed by the enslaved Snake Race's emotions.

But Qing Lin failed.

"Is there a way?"

Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel regret—if he had the Pure Lotus Demon Fire now, it wouldn't be so complicated.

The Pure Lotus Demon Fire possessed the ability to purify all things; its world-cleansing power could purify such negative emotions and energies.

But Xiao Yan didn't have the Pure Lotus Demon Fire—he only had several Residual Maps!

Only when you need fire do you regret having too little!

"Cai Lin, clear a path for me." Xiao Yan lightly tapped his finger; Qing Lotus Earth Core Fire and Falling Heart Flame instantly fused into Glazed Lotus Heart Flame, then floated gently before Cai Lin.

Cai Lin knew the situation was dire; instantly seizing the demonic fire, a torrent of seven-colored light erupted—her entire body spewed endless radiant light, her hair whipping wildly without wind.

Simultaneously, at this moment, Glazed Lotus Heart Flame hovered above her head, its infernal heat surging.

Boom! Boom! Boom!! At this instant, Cai Lin's Bloodline Power and Glazed Lotus Heart Flame merged—suddenly, a Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent shadow emerged from her body, opening its jaws to swallow the Glazed Lotus Heart Flame whole!

The demonic fire's energy multiplied, causing Cai Lin's battle power to skyrocket!

Whether or not Cai Lin had secretly learned Xiao Yan's techniques through Soul Connection, this move bore uncanny resemblance to Heavenly Flame Three Mystical Changes—relying on the demonic fire's ferocity and her already perfected Three-Flame Serpent Body, her Cultivation Realm surged to Nine-Star Dou Zong, even approaching Dou Zun!

At the Dou Zong level, even demonic fire struggled to boost one's rank by multiple stars, let alone leap across realms.

"Seven-Colored Devouring Heaven Technique!" Cai Lin cried inwardly, forcibly activating her Bloodline's strongest Beast Technique.

Like Zi Yan, after evolving into a Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent, Cai Lin had inherited certain exclusive Beast Techniques from her Bloodline.

This technique, measured by Rank, was no weaker than a Heaven Tier Low Grade Dou Technique, requiring Eight Rank to wield.

Cai Lin unleashed it without reservation!

With a thunderous boom, the Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent shadow opened its maw and blasted forth a colossal beam of seven-colored light—like divine radiance—rushing toward the Snake Race puppets.

The massive seven-colored beam struck downward with unparalleled force; its Heavenly Rank power instantly pierced space, capable of shattering all things.

When the colossal seven-colored pillar surged forward, it instantly washed away everything—Mei Du Sha's power at this moment rivaled that of a Dou Zun.

In that instant, radiant light blazed, striking numerous Snake Race puppets; the fierce beam washed over them like a heavenly waterfall, and the bodies of those Snake Man puppets—who had once been Dou Zun—began to melt!

Even though they had once been Dou Zun, the weaker ones, who retained only Low-Grade Dou Zong power, could not withstand the beam infused with demonic fire's might.

Seeing Cai Lin unleash this supreme Beast Technique by overexerting her Bloodline Power, Xiao Yan gritted his teeth, activated Three Thousand Thunderclaps, and dashed once more toward Qing Lin.

Xiao Yan had no Pure Lotus Demon Fire—he couldn't purify those negative energies. All he could do now was use the Demon Slayer Soul Severing Technique, attempting to reach deep into Qing Lin's Spiritual Soul, hoping to awaken her consciousness.

Sssss! Seeing Xiao Yan charge again, Qing Lin, her eyes glowing red, stirred the surrounding heavenly forces—she thrust her palm forward, instantly transforming her Dou Qi into countless venomous snakes that lunged at Xiao Yan.

These Dou Qi venomous snakes moved with arrow-like speed and piercing capability; Xiao Yan also realized—they were all poisoned!

Xiao Yan knew he could not retreat again; Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame's Yin Yang Fish formed a Taiji around his body, creating a domain where the Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame continuously blocked the Dou Qi venomous snakes, forming a Protective Barrier.

A hum sounded—a pale white flame appeared before Xiao Yan. Gazing at this demonic fire, his longest companion, Xiao Yan took a deep breath.

Now, he would make this demonic fire reveal its greatest power!

"Demonic Fire Dou Technique—Ten Thousand Bones' Furious Ice!"

Bone Spirit Cold Fire merged into Xiao Yan's palm; the next second, he slammed his palm onto the ground!

Xiao Yan's Dou Qi surged wildly—the heavenly forces halted at this moment; with a splash, frost instantly spread across the entire hall—and even the primal forest outside.

From the icy surface, countless skeletons carved from ice rose—each ice skeleton's ice armor harder than steel, hollow eye sockets floating with deep white flames.

When countless ice skeletons appeared, a hissing sound echoed—the terrifying power instantly froze the entire chamber, even affecting the movement of the snake puppets not yet destroyed by Cai Lin, ice pillars freezing beneath their feet.

Crack-crack-crack! Ice-crafted skeletal arms suddenly emerged beneath Qing Lin's feet, gripping her ankles tightly, as more and more ice skeletons crawled out, climbing toward her body!

Sssss!! Qing Lin's throat emitted a hiss like that of the Snake Race; emerald light exploded as her small hand swept—waves of emerald Dou Qi slashed down fiercely.

Boom-boom-boom! All ice skeletons near Qing Lin were shattered, ice shards scattering everywhere.

But ice has no life—those shattered fragments reabsorbed into the icy world, reforming into ice skeletons once more.

Crack-crack-crack! The ice skeletons clung desperately to Qing Lin's legs and arms, as if trying to freeze her entire body.

The terrifying ice power made even Qing Lin struggle to move!

Bone Spirit Cold Fire is a peculiar flame born of extreme cold and extreme heat, appearing only once every hundred years, at the moment of sun-moon transition, in places of utmost cold and yin.

Though it was not currently the sun-moon transition, preventing Bone Spirit Cold Fire from reaching its full power, it was enough—enough to give Xiao Yan the chance to draw near.

Xiao Yan knew that with his current cultivation realm, boosted by a Secret Technique, he could never fully seal Qing Lin—he needed her to awaken.

Zizz-zizz-zizz! With a flash of Three Thousand Thunder, a bolt of lightning pierced space—in an instant, Xiao Yan stood before Qing Lin.

"You little brat, how can you make the Young Master wake you up?" Xiao Yan's fingertip glowed with dark Soul Light; he gently tapped Qing Lin's forehead, and a thin Hun Chain shot out, piercing straight into the depths of her Spiritual Soul.

"Shen Yuan!"

At that moment, Xiao Yan frantically consumed his Soul Force; the terrifying Soul Force made his robes and hair whip wildly.

Instantly, a cacophony of voices reached the depths of Xiao Yan's soul—he knew these were the resentments, frustrations, and angers of the Snake Race puppets in life.

Some even carried fragments of their deepest memories—beyond insights into Dou Techniques, there were sorrowful and joyful recollections.

"No wonder Qing Lin lost control—this conglomerate of negative energy easily invades the mind of anyone with insufficient willpower!" Xiao Yan's expression turned grave; the Qi San Hua Tong was indeed formidable, with equal peril and power.

"Get out!" Xiao Yan gritted his teeth and roared inwardly, unleashing his full Foundation Establishment–level Soul Force; the Hun Chain surged like a raging dragon, smashing through Qing Lin's soul realm, unstoppable.

It charged straight into Qing Lin's trapped Soul Body, frantically eradicating the evil energies!

At that moment, the evil negative energies sensed danger—Qing Lin writhed in agony, then her Red Lips parted, unleashing a roar mixed with countless voices from her throat.

Wuuu-wuuu-wuuu!! In that instant, countless dark, resentful, ghostly, shadowy forms surged wildly from Qing Lin's mouth.

Instantly, darkness surged skyward, endless and blinding—this darkness shattered the hall, yet in the blink of an eye, all dark energy coalesced again.

Moreover, darkness poured forth from all around the Qi San Hua Tong space!

Remember, Biyan She Sheng was a Semi-Sage—though a thousand years had passed, her body still retained abundant dark negative energy.

Finally, all darkness coalesced into a colossal black serpent—its form identical to Biyan She Sheng!

This serpent radiated supreme yin energy; its aura was so chillingly cold, it rivaled even Bone Spirit Cold Fire!

"Hey, Qing Lin, wake up!" No matter how much Xiao Yan shook her, Qing Lin remained unconscious.

He turned to see Cai Lin—already depleted of Dou Qi from seizing the light cluster, she could barely fight further, sweat beading on her forehead, breath ragged.

The previous powerful Dou Technique had nearly exhausted Cai Lin's strength.

Xiao Yan was no better—he had drained all his Dou Qi using Bone Spirit Cold Fire's Heavenly Flame Dou Technique.

Even Heavenly Flame Zunzhe's Soul Force was spent; Heavenly Flame San Xuan Bian had reached its limit; a wave of weakness washed over him—if not for Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame, Xiao Yan would now be convulsing, utterly paralyzed.

When his Ancestor created this Secret Technique, he only considered victory or death—never a third path!

Seeing this, Xiao Yan sighed, gently lowering Qing Lin.

He had never blamed Qing Lin for losing control—the decision to enter the Ancestral Inheritance Site had been agreed upon by all of the Yan Alliance. After all, this Ruins was a once-in-a-millennium opportunity.

No one had anticipated the Qi San Hua Tong had such a side effect.

After all, exploring Ruins is never always smooth—danger is normal.

Xiao Yan slowly removed Heavenly Flame Zunzhe's storage ring and tossed it to Cai Lin. "Cai Lin, watch over Qing Lin."

At that moment, Cai Lin's heart jolted—through their soul link, she sensed something, and said grimly, "What are you going to do?"

"Just a gamble. If we don't, we all die here." Xiao Yan still had one final card.

His Dou Qi was gone; his body, ravaged by the side effects of Heavenly Flame San Xuan Bian, throbbed with agony; even the Elixir to restore Dou Qi had been used.

But Xiao Yan still had one card left to confront this conglomerate of evil thoughts.

Xiao Yan pulled the Great Soul Black Purple Pill from his storage ring and swallowed it without hesitation.

Instantly, his Soul Force surged—powerful Soul fluctuations strengthened his Soul Force.

Boom!! At that moment, the Shen Yuan beneath Xiao Yan's feet opened one eye—this eye differed from before; it now curved into a sly smile.

Splash-splash-splash!! From the Shen Yuan, countless black Hun Chains shot forth—but this time, they plunged straight into Xiao Yan's body!

Instantly, Xiao Yan's cheek muscles bulged with veins like centipedes, grotesque and terrifying; with a thunderous crash, a strange aura flooded the entire space!

Cai Lin's eyes widened—she knew Xiao Yan's Soul Force was strong and that he understood Soul Techniques; after all, hadn't he once used a Soul Technique to forcibly slam his soul into hers, halting her evolution?

But she had never seen him like this.

"This is bad—I've fought Soul Hall members before, but never like this!" Heavenly Flame Zunzhe, weakly drifting from the storage ring, stared in shock at the transforming Xiao Yan!

At that moment, Xiao Yan's body underwent a terrifying mutation.

Boom!! In that instant, black energy erupted from Xiao Yan's body; from the Shen Yuan, a shadow slowly crawled forth, darkness seeming to devour Xiao Yan whole.

The instant darkness fully fused with Xiao Yan, his body blazed with demonic light; tendrils of black mist drifted from him; with one step, even the ice-bound ground beneath him turned black.

At that moment, Xiao Yan looked like a divine demon—his terrifying eyes made even the black serpent above hesitate; the remaining snake puppets instinctively recoiled from him!

Undoubtedly, Xiao Yan had finally unleashed the Xiu Luo from the Shen Yuan!

"Xiu Luo!"

(End of Chapter)