Chapter 354: Invisible Protection

Xiao Yan pulled an Imperial Ultimate Pill from his storage ring and, ignoring the instability of his battle qi, swallowed it whole.

Instantly, a violent surge of energy rushed into his meridians; a sharp tearing sensation tore through his body as the pill's terrifying potency swelled his meridians.

Xiao Yan had no time now to refine the pill's effects; its power transformed directly into battle qi and flowed into the Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame. The white fish, receiving Xiao Yan's battle qi, expelled even more life flame to sustain Cai Lin's life force.

But what Xiao Yan was carrying now was the Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent!!

This ancient beast, famed in legend as capable of devouring sky and earth, had a body of terrifying, exaggerated size—nearly a kilometer long!

This was also why it was so difficult for beasts to take human form: imagine compressing such a massive body down to just one or two meters—what immense power that would require! No wonder, after transforming, Cai Lin could kill a Battle Emperor with a single kick.

The density was unimaginable; transformation didn't alter mass—it merely allowed the beast to use its cultivation battle qi to lighten its weight.

It was as if it was constantly flying.

And Xiao Yan, a Fourth-Star Battle Emperor, had exhausted his battle qi, drained his soul force, and suffered severe injuries—under this extreme overload, the burden on his body was unbearable.

Yet Xiao Yan's steps never paused; his physical agony did not shake his resolute heart—he pressed forward, unwavering.

Normally, Xiao Yan should have flown upward, but now he could not fly.

From afar, on the endless Heavenly Ladder Platform, a colossal Seven-Colored Giant Python was inching upward.

If someone followed behind and looked up the stairs, they would see the emerald-lit staircase—each step marked by a bloody footprint.

These bloodprints were a mixture of Xiao Yan's blood and Cai Lin's; long ago, their blood had merged, indistinguishable.

Though Xiao Yan now relied solely on physical strength, the crushing weight pressing upon him did not halt this man's steps.

With both arms raised, holding the Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent's body, he gritted his teeth—step by step, imprint by imprint!

Thud! Xiao Yan's foot slipped, and the massive body of the Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent crushed him beneath it.

"Xiao Yan!" Master Heavenly Flame gasped in alarm, ready to rush to his aid—when he noticed the life flame of the Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame beginning to dwindle.

Master Heavenly Flame began pouring soul force into sustaining the life flame.

Time passed slowly; after roughly thirty minutes, the Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent was finally lifted. Xiao Yan rose again, roared loudly, and with both arms supporting the serpent's body, slowly raised it once more!

One step, two steps, three steps—he had forgotten how long he'd walked; his soul force was spent, and Cai Lin's body blocked his view—he could no longer see how far ahead the path stretched.

Yet he remained unbowed, walking with Cai Lin's mountain-like form on his back, head bowed.

Xiao Yan didn't know why he kept pushing on—perhaps, as Cai Lin often said: "It's all because of the soul link."

He fell again and again, rose again and again; his already drained body was drained once more.

Eventually, even Master Heavenly Flame exhausted his soul force and had to retreat into the storage ring to sleep. But Xiao Yan still pressed forward.

After an unknown length of time, Xiao Yan's strength was utterly spent; it felt as if his life was drawing to its end.

At that moment, suddenly, a bright glow appeared ahead—a soft emerald light slowly descended from the sky. That single ray of green light gave Xiao Yan hope.

Almost there!

"Three Thousand. Lei Dong!" Xiao Yan roared, his face twisted in fury.

Boom!! A thunderclap shook heaven and startled ghosts! A bolt of lightning flashed—the colossal Seven-Colored Giant Python suddenly exploded in speed, lunging forward like a carp leaping over the dragon gate, surging past the stairs.

Thud-thud-thud-thud—it crashed heavily to the ground; Xiao Yan rolled over and over before finally stopping.

Though his legs were numb, his bloodlines and battle qi utterly depleted, his eyes burned with fierce clarity; he crawled forward on his hands, struggling across the ground.

Not far ahead, a fully emerald-colored serpent, barely over two meters long, lay coiled as if asleep.

Without any introduction, except for its size, its appearance matched the giant serpent statue exactly—it was the Green-Eyed Serpent Saint!

But Xiao Yan had no interest in her inheritance; his gaze was locked on the tiny, fist-sized blood essence floating before him—the energy radiating from it told him clearly: this was the Green-Eyed Serpent Saint's blood essence!

Whoosh—a crimson flame gently wrapped the essence; Xiao Yan mustered his last strength and pushed the essence into Cai Lin's mouth.

Hum! As the essence entered her mouth, Cai Lin's once-graying body slowly regained its color. Seeing this, Xiao Yan exhaled in relief and murmured: "Finally repaid the debt."

Plop—Xiao Yan's arms lost all strength and collapsed heavily to the ground; his eyes slowly closed. He was barely breathing.

Xiao Yan had no more options—he was utterly spent.

"Finished… I've broken my first promise to Xun Er."

As Xiao Yan's eyes slowly closed, as he believed all hope was lost, a hidden energy within his body suddenly awakened—a gentle force surged from every cell of his body.

His drained body was instantly nourished; even his soul force was replenished.

At that moment, Xiao Yan's body seemed ready to metamorphose like a cocoon becoming a butterfly—two Yin-Yang dragons slowly coiled around him! Roar! Dragon qi surged into the heavens!

Yin-Yang Dragon Pill!

Break, then rebuild!

To unlock the true power of the Yin-Yang Dragon Pill, merely being gravely wounded and near death isn't enough—if that were all it took, anyone could just beat you half-dead.

In truth, the Yin-Yang Dragon Pill requires you to exhaust every ounce of strength, unleash every last potential, fight to your absolute limit, and then enter a near-death state to activate its true effect.

It is a pill that awakens human potential!

"This is! The Yin-Yang Dragon Pill!" Xiao Yan was startled—he'd forgotten about it entirely; how long had it been? He'd always treated it as merely a pill granting a trace of dragon qi.

At this moment, Xiao Yan's eyes softened with gratitude; he touched the Bone Flame Ring in his hand and whispered: "Thank you, Master."

From afar, the Yin-Yang dragon qi of the Yin-Yang Dragon Pill seemed like invisible hands, shielding Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan had forged the Yin-Yang Dragon Pill himself—he knew Han Feng's pill alchemy could never produce it. Only one person in the world could forge the Yin-Yang Dragon Pill.

Xiao Yan knew the Yin-Yang Dragon Pill Han Feng had placed in the auction house had been forged by the Pill Sage; later, after being betrayed, Han Feng had seized it and brought it to the Black Horn Region for auction.

No one could have imagined that, by sheer accident, it had ultimately ended up in Xiao Yan's hands—and now, at this moment, had saved his life.

A pill forged years ago by a man long dead had just saved the life of his successor.

Perhaps, fate is simply this strange.

Xiao Yan sat cross-legged and silently activated his Cultivation Method, refining the power of the Yin-Yang Dragon Pill, transforming every last potential unleashed in that battle into his own strength.

A power unlike any before began to emerge slowly within Xiao Yan—as if a great dragon were awakening, darkness descending, clusters of Heavenly Flames swirling around him like the master of ten thousand flames!

Time passed second by second; after three days, the first to awaken was naturally Qing Lin.

Qing Lin slowly opened her eyes, shook her head—she felt as if she'd dreamed, as if she'd heard Xiao Yan calling her name.

"Here is," Qing Lin stood up, her memories still stuck in that hall.

At that time, after Xiao Yan and Cai Lin had destroyed all the Snake Race puppets, Qing Lin heard a Soul Resonance voice saying the final Trial had begun, followed by countless soul memories flooding into her mind.

These memory fragments were filled with evil, anger, and hatred.

Gradually, Qing Lin's memories began to return; she remembered what had truly happened.

"Young Master Yan!" Qing Lin suddenly startled—she had lost control, and then Xiao Yan had saved her!

Qing Lin spread her Qi wings and flew to Xiao Yan, who sat cross-legged before her. Seeing Xiao Yan in cultivation, she finally exhaled in relief.

Of course, Qing Lin, still unconscious, knew nothing of what came after.

Xiao Yan sensed Qing Lin's awakening, slowly opened his eyes, and smiled faintly, his voice low: "Sorry. That half-Sage blood should have been yours, but I needed it to save my life, so I used it."

Qing Lin quickly waved her hands: "I dare not! Young Master Yan saved my life—everything I am belongs to you."

"Go," Xiao Yan said, gazing at the green snake. "Only you can receive the Demon Saint Legacy—it's useless to me."

That large green snake was the legacy of the Green-Eyed Serpent Saint.

Qing Lin looked at the green serpent but did not rush forward—her expression hesitated. Xiao Yan saw it at once: she already knew the side effects of her Qi San Hua Tong, and feared losing control again.

Xiao Yan smiled: "Don't be afraid. When I obtain the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, I'll purify the negative power from your Qi San Hua Tong. Or don't you trust me?"

"How could I not? Young Master Yan is the strongest! I'm just afraid—" Qing Lin hurriedly waved her hands; in her heart, Xiao Yan was invincible.

"I have a feeling that, in the future, when we compete for the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, I may need your strength," Xiao Yan's tone shifted, becoming solemn. "So I hope you'll accept this legacy—to better understand what kind of power the Qi San Hua Tong truly is."

Hearing Xiao Yan needed her, Qing Lin's eyes lit up instantly, and she nodded firmly: "I understand, Young Master Yan."

Qing Lin no longer hesitated. Whatever Xiao Yan needed, she would strive to obtain—even this legacy.

Walking before the legacy serpent, she felt its awareness of her arrival. The coiled green snake suddenly opened its eyes—its gaze identical to hers!

Their eyes met. Qing Lin's Qi San Hua Tong emitted green light; the radiance merged, forming a pillar of light that enveloped Qing Lin, then transformed into a spherical barrier, enclosing her completely.

Seeing Qing Lin begin inheriting the Green-Eyed Serpent Saint's legacy, Xiao Yan relaxed. He then turned his gaze toward the Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent.

Cai Lin, having absorbed the Demon Saint's blood, was already recovering—she would awaken soon.

Xiao Yan slowly closed his eyes and continued refining the medicinal power of the Yin-Yang Dragon Pill. Break, then rebuild—he needed the pill's power to break through!

Time flew swiftly; half a year passed. Suddenly, at a certain moment, Xiao Yan's eyes snapped open, and an immensely powerful Soul Force erupted from his body.

The terrifying Soul Force fluctuations even warped space!!

Xiao Yan's Soul Force had reached Spiritual Force Realm: Commoner Full Completion!

He hadn't intended to use the Yin-Yang Dragon Pill's power to break into Dou Zong!

Break, then rebuild—he aimed to break through the Common Realm and enter the Spirit Realm!!!

Xiao Yan's Soul Force had already reached Seven-Grade Mid-Level Alchemist level. Then he'd consumed the Great Soul Black Purple Pill to enhance his Soul, and devoured countless Soul Bodies.

Finally, the Soul Force of those Soul Bodies was fully unleashed by the Yin-Yang Dragon Pill's medicinal effect, propelling Xiao Yan's Soul Force into a meteoric leap—straight to Spiritual Force Realm: Commoner Full Completion!

Xiao Yan knew this opportunity would not come again—he swiftly formed seals and activated the Spiritual Heart Soul Gathering Technique!

The greatest function of the Spiritual Heart Soul Gathering Technique is: when perfected, if Soul Force reaches Spiritual Force Realm: Commoner Full Completion, it grants one chance to break into the Spirit Realm.

This was the technique's ultimate purpose!

"Spiritual Heart Soul Gathering!"

Hum! A milky-white soul glow emerged from Xiao Yan's body—these were the soul lights absorbed by the Spiritual Heart Soul Gathering Technique.

The soul lights surged from every part of his body toward his third eye!

Xiao Yan's head rang sharply. At that moment, the Soul Power in his third eye swelled violently—the rapid expansion caused intense pain, as if his skull were about to explode!

Feeling this sudden change, Xiao Yan was startled—but he dared not act rashly. He steadied his mind and watched the changes within.

Boom! With this explosion, Xiao Yan's consciousness was shattered into fog—his vision filled with golden light, his mind awash with Chaos.

A flicker of soul light passed through his eyes. Now, when he looked at the world, it was different.

"This is the Spirit Realm Soul? Marvelous—truly marvelous," Xiao Yan sighed. Indeed, the Common Realm was the realm of mortals; only upon entering the Spirit Realm did Soul Force become truly transcendent.

Xiao Yan looked down at his ring, focused his Soul Force, and could now see the sleeping Heavenly Flame Master. He gazed at Qing Lin's green barrier—though he could not see inside, he faintly sensed she had completed most of the inheritance, and her Cultivation Realm was rising.

Finally, Xiao Yan turned to Cai Lin's direction. She had already awakened, now in human form, wearing a loose robe, her body wrapped in a swirl of bloodlight.

After half a year, Cai Lin's injuries were fully healed. Now she was fully refining the Demon Saint's blood, hoping to seize this chance to break into Dou Zun!

Xiao Yan felt it—his Soul Force had finally reached the Spirit Realm. In Zhong Zhou's Dan Domain, those with Soul Force at the Spirit Realm were as rare as phoenix feathers—only ancient monsters among Alchemists.

And Xiao Yan was only twenty-four!

What saddened Xiao Yan was that his Cultivation Realm had only risen two stars—to Six-Star Dou Huang. The Imperial Ultimate Pill had been wasted; the Yin-Yang Dragon Pill had offered little in cultivation boost, since he'd channeled all its power into breaking his Soul Realm.

Still, his body benefited from the Yin-Yang Dragon Pill—his physical strength had improved somewhat.

"Qing Lin will need another half-year." Once she inherits the Green-Eyed Serpent Saint's legacy, they can leave this space.

Then Xiao Yan took out his Alchemy Furnace and brewed some medicinal essence to replenish Soul Force, sealing it into the Heavenly Flame Master's ring.

Xiao Yan slowly stood, glanced at his tattered, filthy clothes, and found a corner to change into clean ones.

Seeing Cai Lin and the others still needed time, Xiao Yan did not idle—he prepared to refine his ninth Different Flame!

Yes—the ninth!

When he transformed into the Asura, Xiao Yan had swallowed Bone Child Elder's Soul Body along with the Wind Fury Dragon Flame. Though he hadn't yet refined the Wind Fury Dragon Flame, his body already held eight Different Flames!

The Wind Fury Dragon Flame could not cause chaos—it was trapped, sealed tightly within Xiao Yan by Mao Wu and his siblings, unable to escape.

Now, after breaking into the Spirit Realm and fully refining the Yin-Yang Dragon Pill's power, Xiao Yan finally had time to deal with the Wind Fury Dragon Flame.

"Nine Different Flames—will the Wind Fury Dragon Flame push the Burning Scripture to Heaven Tier Mid-Level?" Xiao Yan's eyes flickered with flame—he held some hope for it.

When the Burning Scripture reached Heaven Tier Low Grade, Xiao Yan had refined the Twenty-Second Ranked Phantom Poison Flame—but its rank was still too low to trigger another upgrade.

This time, the Wind Fury Dragon Flame ranked one higher than the Blue Lotus Earth Core Fire—at Eighteenth—it still held promise.

Xiao Yan slowly sat cross-legged and activated the Burning Scripture to refine the Wind Fury Dragon Flame. The eight Different Flames moved like soldiers, nearly forcing the Wind Fury Dragon Flame—the prisoner—to follow the scripture's path.

The Wind Fury Dragon Flame had once belonged to Bone Child Elder—it was not ownerless. Even though Bone Child Elder was dead, its spirit remained fiercely proud, even defiant to the point of preferring death to submission.

Xiao Yan was not in a hurry; he slowly circulated the Burning Scripture, gently guiding the Wind Fury Dragon Flame.

It took Xiao Yan a month to finally tame the Wind Fury Dragon Flame; with a hum, his Spirit Core now held nine Spiritual Flames.

Void Swallowing Flame, Earth Sub Flame, Ten Thousand Beasts Spirit Flame, Yin-Yang Dual Flame, Netherworld Poison Flame, Blue Lotus Earth Core Fire, Wind Fury Dragon Flame, Sea Heart Flame, Falling Heart Flame, Bone Spirit Cold Fire — now, another member had joined: Wind Fury Dragon Flame!

(End of Chapter)