Chapter 366

Xiao Yixian froze, then her lovely face flushed red, her shy expression like a moon hiding behind clouds and flowers blushing.

The Innate Calamity Poison Body—who dares touch her? Only Xiao Yan.

"You go help Zi Yan with spirit refining; I'll return later to use Qing Hun You Lan to suppress the Innate Calamity Poison Body." Xiao Yixian turned her head away, speaking softly.

"Mm. Don't use the Innate Calamity Poison Body again during this time." Xiao Yan slowly stood up, stretched, and was just about to find a place to refine a special elixir for Zi Yan.

Suddenly, a powerful aura came from afar, and a graceful figure appeared before Xiao Yan.

"Cai Lin?"

At this moment, Cai Lin wore a dark black dress; the black gown could not contain her graceful figure, her upright posture radiating a mature aura.

"Come with me." Cai Lin's beautiful eyes turned cold toward Xiao Yan, speaking in a low tone.

"Where to?"

"Why so many words? Just come with me."

Xiao Yan turned to look at Zi Yan, who looked pitiful; Zi Yan glanced at Cai Lin's icy face and forced a smile: "Go with Sister Mei Du Sha first, but come back quickly to refine my elixir!"

Xiao Yan smiled and nodded: "Don't worry—it's probably just some business. It'll be quick."

Saying this, Xiao Yan followed Cai Lin toward Yun Lan Mountain.

After arriving at Yun Lan Mountain, Xiao Yan asked in confusion: "Isn't this about discussing the Yan Alliance?"

"No. Several of my clan's Elders wish to meet you." Cai Lin glanced at Xiao Yan and spoke slowly.

"Meet me? Are they asking me to refine an elixir?" Xiao Yan said.

After a moment of thought, Cai Lin nodded: "Probably. When I used the Demon Saint's essence blood to break through to Dou Zun, I sensed something strange in my Spiritual Soul—leading to failure. It must be tied to that soul connection."

"Oh, I see. That makes sense. You're already Seven Rank now; the Fusion Spirit Pill you used before was only Six-Grade—perhaps insufficient. Sigh… medicinal materials for soul-related elixirs are always so hard to find." Xiao Yan couldn't help but complain—not that he didn't want to refine an elixir for Cai Lin to remove the soul connection, but soul-related medicinal materials were simply too rare.

No wonder the SnakeTribe Elders came to hold Xiao Yan accountable; Cai Lin's failed breakthrough was partly due to his delay in refining the Fusion Spirit Pill—he truly bore some responsibility.

Yun Lan Mountain had transformed dramatically, especially the area once promised to the Snake Tribe, which now resembled the Heavenly Snake Mansion: snakes of all kinds were everywhere, the environment was more humid, and numerous buildings had sprung up—clearly a secluded city hidden within the mountains.

Following Cai Lin through several wide streets, after about fifteen minutes, they turned into a slightly darker area, nestled at the city wall's corner, where the towering walls cast deep shadows, dimming the light. Many SnakeTribe strongholds resided here.

SnakeTribe guards armed with weapons patrolled constantly; upon seeing Cai Lin and Xiao Yan, they immediately dropped to their knees in fervent reverence.

Passing through, after a while, they stopped before a vast courtyard. Cai Lin waved her slender hand—the gate opened automatically. She stepped inside; Xiao Yan hesitated briefly, then followed.

Entering a room, Cai Lin gently knocked. A withered voice came from within: "Enter."

The door opened, and Cai Lin entered with Xiao Yan.

Inside, dim lighting suddenly rose, revealing four withered figures in the spacious room—Cai Lin sat quietly on a cushion beside them.

Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned—there were only five cushions, none for him. He stood silently.

The eldest elder in the center slowly opened her eyes; her diamond-shaped pupils locked onto Xiao Yan like a venomous snake, sending a chill through his skin. Xiao Yan then realized: these four, like Cai Lin once was, had human bodies and snake tails—though their tails were hidden beneath their robes.

Their strength reached Peak Sixth Rank—equivalent to Nine Star Peak Dou Huang—and if Xiao Yan wasn't mistaken, all four were Mei Du Sha.

But now, Cai Lin was the Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent—higher than Mei Du Sha.

"These must be the former emperors of the SnakeTribe Empire," Xiao Yan thought silently.

The eldest elder slowly asked: "You are Master Xiao Yan, correct?"

Whether out of respect for Cai Lin or as the Young Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan replied politely: "Disciple Xiao Yan, greetings to the Four Great Elders of the SnakeTribe."

"Who would have thought—so young, yet already at Star Eight Dou Huang and Seventh-Rank Alchemist level. Such talent is truly rare in this world." The eldest elder gave Xiao Yan a grotesque, almost sinister smile, then said: "I am the Great Elder. This is the Second Elder, the Three Elders, the Four Great Elders."

Xiao Yan bowed to each in turn—his manners were impeccable.

The Great Elder fell silent for a moment, as if choosing her words, then asked slowly: "A few days ago, Mei Du Sha failed her breakthrough. We used our clan's Secret Technique to examine her."

"Mei Du Sha and you, Master Xiao Yan, share an inexplicable soul connection. We heard it was caused when Mei Du Sha evolved using the Strange Fire, and you used a Soul Dou Technique—creating this link, correct?"

Hearing this accusation, even Xiao Yan's thick skin flushed with shame. He swallowed hard, his feet growing unsteady.

They had spoken politely—but Xiao Yan had had no good intentions then. He had intended to use Soul Shock to inflict soul damage, causing her evolution to fail and the Strange Fire to backfire and burn Cai Lin to death.

Had Cai Lin not been so blessed, she would be dead now—her grave would be overgrown with grass.

So back then, her desire to kill him was entirely justified.

Cai Lin glanced at Xiao Yan.

"Hehehe… uh, haha, sorry! I'll make it up to you! Within my power, I'll help Cai Lin resolve this soul issue—I'll spare no effort refining an elixir to help her break through to Eight Rank!" Xiao Yan abandoned all excuses, admitting his fault outright and vowing to take responsibility.

Be a responsible man!

Hearing Xiao Yan's reply, the Four Great Elders exchanged glances—this wasn't what they'd expected.

Finally, the Great Elder spoke: "Actually, when we used the Secret Technique to examine her, we discovered that the soul connection between Mei Du Sha and you, Master Xiao Yan, exists because a new soul resides within both your soul bodies."

"That should be a Soul Embryo born from your two souls merging."

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Xiao Yan's eyes flew wide open, his mind instantly blank with terror—as if struck by lightning. Beside him, Cai Lin shot to her feet in shock.

The atmosphere froze in that instant. Xiao Yan and Cai Lin stared, dumbfounded, at the Great Elder who had just spoken—no matter how calm they usually were, they were now utterly stunned.

Xiao Yan's mind exploded—he suddenly remembered: his Soul Shock was a technique that used his own soul to collide with the opponent's soul body.

He had used it three times in succession; the final strike had been delivered despite the agony of his soul nearly scattering—he had felt as if his soul had broken apart.

"Could it have been then?! No, no, no—how could this be possible! There's never been anything like this!"

Even with all his vast knowledge, Xiao Yan could not explain what had happened!

But both Cai Lin and Xiao Yan knew the Great Elder was not lying—the soul connection deep within them was proof.

"My… my soul body… has a Soul Embryo?"

Cai Lin, too, looked panicked—none of the Four Great Elders had told her the reason, only that she must bring Xiao Yan here.

Cai Lin's rosy lips parted slightly; her long, elegant neck trembled. For a woman, such a matter could never be calmly handled—she now looked like a frightened little girl, utterly at a loss.

The Great Elder cleared her throat twice, bringing them back to their senses, then said slowly: "This is precisely why you failed your breakthrough to Eight Rank—your soul could not ascend, as part of your power was absorbed by the Soul Embryo within your soul body."

Cai Lin's gaze sharpened—no wonder she had felt part of her power draining away then!

"If we allow this to continue, not only will it fail to break through Eight Rank, it may keep draining your Soul Force—or worse, the Soul Embryo might die within its womb."

"After deliberation within our tribe, we have two options. The first is to let nature take its course, following the Dao's principle, and give the Soul Embryo a physical body to be born. Therefore, we need to borrow something from Master Xiao Yan."

!!!!!!!!!!!

Xiao Yan's eyelid twitched violently. He had lived two lifetimes—he knew exactly what they wanted to borrow!

"The second," the Grand Elder said after a pause, his voice low, "is to use a Secret Technique to kill it outright."

"No!" *2

Cai Lin and Xiao Yan shouted in unison, then glanced at each other and immediately turned away. Xiao Yan had lived two lifetimes; Mei Du Sha had lived for countless centuries—they had never encountered anything like this!

Seeing Xiao Yan's expression, the four Elders felt a surge of joy—they had hooked the golden turtle!

The Grand Elder smiled and said slowly, "Then it's the first option."

"But Master Xiao Yan, Mei Du Sha is still our queen—and a Huang Hua Gu Niang. Moreover, this matter is of utmost importance to our SnakeTribe. Mei Du Sha's Bloodline is extraordinarily potent, so even while still in the womb, the infant requires countless Spiritual Pills and miraculous remedies to nourish it. Only then will the child, upon birth, possess immense strength and terrifying potential." The Grand Elder now looked exactly like a mother-in-law demanding a bride price.

"According to our tribal Secret Technique, nurturing Mei Du Sha's infant is divided into three tiers: high, medium, and low. Infants nurtured under each tier have different potential levels. An infant nurtured under the low-tier technique will, without extraordinary fortune, remain stuck at the Battle Emperor stage. Under the medium-tier technique, its potential can reach the Battle Sect stage. The high-tier technique is even more powerful. Mei Du Sha herself was only nurtured using the medium-tier technique," the Grand Elder said with a smile.

Hearing this, Xiao Yan was stunned. That guy back then was so strong—he directly fought the Azure Lotus Earth Core Fire—and he was only nurtured with medium-tier?

"To use the high-tier technique requires a Seven-Grade Pill called the 'Heavenly Soul Blood Bone Pill.' I believe, as a Seventh-Rank Alchemist, Master Xiao Yan won't find it difficult to refine it," the Grand Elder said with a smile.

Bride price: one Seven-Grade Pill.

Xiao Yan stammered, "Refining the Pill isn't the problem, but—"

Hearing Xiao Yan's response, Cai Lin snapped back to herself, regaining her usual cold severity. "No need. I'll find my own way to obtain the Pill. I'll find my own way to bring this Soul Embryo to birth."

The Grand Elder panicked at once. "Mei Du Sha, no matter how powerful you are, you can't accomplish this alone!"

Hearing Cai Lin's icy voice, Xiao Yan's heart pierced with pain—as if he felt her emotion deep within his own Spiritual Soul.

Or perhaps it was some power of the Soul Embryo—it had already developed emotion, transmitting its desperate desire to be born.

"The Dou Qi Continent is vast—there must be a way," Cai Lin swept her sleeve sharply and turned to leave.

In that instant, as they passed each other, Xiao Yan's finger curled around Cai Lin's delicate Jade Hand. Warmth surged through him—he could feel her inner tension and fear.

Cai Lin trembled, turning back to meet his gaze. In her beautiful eyes, besides panic and dread, there was a flicker of joy—hidden deeply, but Xiao Yan's Spirit Realm Soul Power caught it.

And Cai Lin saw: Xiao Yan's eyes had hardened into unyielding iron, as if determined to devour utterly the youth and purity before him.

Xiao Yan instantly waved his hand—Void Swallowing Flame surged forth, opening a Void Passage. Before the four Elders could react, they were teleported elsewhere, leaving only Xiao Yan and Cai Lin behind.

At the moment Xiao Yan shouldered that responsibility, Cai Lin was utterly lost. More accurately, through long companionship, Xiao Yan had already imprinted himself upon her heart.

The two only needed one turning point.

Her lips parted slightly; finally, she gritted her teeth and drew from her space the Azure Lotus—though she had since evolved, she had always kept it.

The moment she saw the Azure Lotus, every memory flooded back.

The Azure Lotus was about two meters wide—wider than a normal bed. Instantly, Earth Core Fire surged from Xiao Yan's body, whooshing into the Azure Lotus.

The Earth Core Fire and the Azure Lotus Platform merged as one, returning to their former form.

One night passed in silence—five hundred words deleted here (five hundred words truly deleted).

(End of Chapter)