Chapter 463: Absorbing the Tian Feng Blood Pool

"Very good."

Xiao Yan opened his hands, and the blood-fire of the Tian Feng Blood Pool drenched his entire body. That was blood-fire—its infernal heat rivaling lava—and soon, Xiao Yan was completely wrapped in blood-fire.

But Xiao Yan felt comfort and exhilaration; the Tian Feng Blood Pool's body tempering was inherently excruciating, but he was different—he possessed Three Thousand Yan Flame and Yin-Yang Dual Flame, and with the protection of Sheng Flame and Three Thousand Yan Flame, the agony of the blood-fire was greatly diminished.

What he felt now was like acupuncture or cupping—painful, but just the right kind of pain.

Most bizarre of all was the Bone Wings—originally just ordinary Seven Rank Peak Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan Bone Wings, after absorbing some ancient Phoenix blood, they now underwent refinement by the Tian Feng Blood Pool's blood-fire and began to shimmer, as if breathing.

Yet the greatest beneficiary was not Xiao Yan, nor the Bone Wings, nor even Feng Qing'er'er—it was Mao Wu.

From the very beginning, Xiao Yan had planned to plunder this Inheritance Secret Realm of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, intending to feed it to Mao Wu, hoping it would evolve into Heavenly Emperor Fire!

The energy required for Heavenly Emperor Fire was simply absurd—it had swallowed vast amounts of Spiritual Flame energy from the Three Thousand Yan Flame's Spiritual Flame Space without showing any sign of evolution, which was why Xiao Yan turned his attention to the Tian Feng Blood Pool.

After all, it wasn't his own—so why not drain it thoroughly?

Soon, Xiao Yan looked like a man with fiery wings, his entire body engulfed in flames.

And Xiao Yan had indeed not lied to Xiao Yixian—after all, even his undergarments had been burned to ash, which was why he had stored away his Soul Robe.

Feng Qing'er'er's clothing was her own feathers, and she stood in the corner, only lightly splashed by a few drops of blood-fire, so she recovered quickly.

Normally, when Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan disciples entered the Blood Pool, their feathers would be completely burned away; the sign of successful body tempering was when their "clothing" could withstand the blood-fire's scorching, proving their physique had advanced a tier.

Of course, seeing Xiao Yan's bare white buttocks, Feng Qing'er'er did not scream or blush—instead, she grew even more despairing at the sheer strength of his flesh, her face turning pale.

Is this even a human being!

Xiao Yan glanced at Feng Qing'er'er, who hid in the corner, and paid her no mind—whether she was secretly watching his "bath" didn't matter; she was just a tool.

The blood-fire geyser ceased; the small pool was now completely filled. Though this pool of blood-fire was small, it was condensed from ancient Tian Feng Blood—let alone that Xiao Yan had even dug up their ancestral reserves.

The concentration of blood essence within was more than enough for Xiao Yan's body tempering and Bone Wings refinement.

Xiao Yan stepped slowly into the Blood Pool, pulled out a large quantity of Medicinal Materials, and used Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Flame to refine them into Spirit Liquids beneficial for body tempering and cultivation enhancement, blending them into the Blood Pool.

This was his own Blood Pool—he would never be stingy, and among the ingredients were no shortage of Eight-Pill Medicinal Herbs.

With a hum, as the Medicinal Essence merged into the Blood Pool, streams of crimson light seeped from the pool—this immense life force was something every beast craved!

The energy contained in this pool of blood-fire was likely no less than that of an Eight-Color Pill Thunder Eight Grade Pill!

This was a pool of divine blood!

Xiao Yan submerged his entire body and Bone Wings in the Blood Pool; Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Flame surged from his Nai Ling, enveloping the Bone Wings, and with its unique power combined with Tian Feng Blood, he re-refined the Bone Wings.

Xiao Yan slowly closed his eyes, sat cross-legged, and floated in the Blood Pool as the Burning Scripture spun wildly. The Blood Pool was fire-aligned—perfectly tailored for Xiao Yan.

The Blood Pool slowly rotated, beginning to tremble; Xiao Yan's body became the vortex's center, continuously absorbing its energy to strengthen himself.

The energy required for a Dou Zun was extraordinarily vast—many times greater than that of a Nine-Star Dou Zong. Just as Soul Force reaching the Spirit Realm made further advancement nearly impossible, cultivation reaching Dou Zun felt like rebirth, transcending humanity and becoming Sage—energy demands multiplied exponentially.

But Xiao Yan wasn't worried—he had just bled the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan dry, cutting straight through their major artery, and mixed in some Medicinal Essence. According to his estimate, within half a year, he would break through two stars, reaching Three-Star Dou Zun!

And this was merely scraps—the real bulk lay with Mao Wu. Even if he drained the entire Tian Feng Blood Pool's reserves, Xiao Yan still had no certainty whether Mao Wu could evolve into Heavenly Emperor Fire.

After all, Heavenly Emperor Fire's power could rank among the top ten Spiritual Flames—even rivaling Three Thousand Yan Flame—and the energy required was terrifying.

At that moment, Feng Qing'er'er sat hunched in the corner, arms wrapped around her knees, her red lips lightly bitten, her beautiful eyes filled with longing as she stared at Xiao Yan. She wasn't coveting Xiao Yan himself—she craved the Blood Pool desperately.

Though Feng Qing'er'er didn't know what Xiao Yan had done, she guessed he had released all the Tian Feng Blood—and since she had entered the Tian Feng Blood Pool, this was her one and only chance for blood tempering.

Miss this, and she would never have another opportunity.

Sensing Feng Qing'er'er's burning gaze, Xiao Yan opened his eyes and glanced at her. At his look, Feng Qing'er'er shuddered, immediately lowering her head and burying it in her knees, too afraid to meet those deep eyes.

With a puff, Xiao Yan waved his hand, flinging a small amount of blood-water toward Feng Qing'er'er—as if bestowing alms.

A gourd-full of blood-water drenched her body.

"Ah!"

Instantly, a cluster of blood-fire wrapped her. Even Feng Qing'er'er, who had undergone Wind-Thunder body tempering, felt searing agony—her physique was even weaker than Xiao Yan's, refined by Three Thousand Yan Flame.

"Don't make noise," Xiao Yan said sternly.

At this, Feng Qing'er'er clamped her mouth shut. No matter how much pain she felt, she dared not cry out. She immediately sat cross-legged and began refining the dense blood-fire, using its Tian Feng Blood to strengthen her bloodline.

Even though her body was once again completely naked, Feng Qing'er'er had no thoughts left for modesty—she had been seen for two days; what hadn't been seen already?

There was nothing left to be ashamed of.

Xiao Yan merely glanced indifferently at Feng Qing'er'er within the flames, then gathered his mind and resumed refining his Bone Wings and absorbing the blood-fire.

But Feng Qing'er'er's blood-fire was only a splash—it was fully refined and absorbed within a few days. Sensing the benefits of the blood-fire, she grew even more covetous.

Even when she saw a few drops of scattered blood-fire on the ground, she crouched down and licked them clean.

Xiao Yan couldn't help but roll his eyes—even his ironclad heart wondered if he'd gone too far.

"Come in," Xiao Yan said slowly, eyes still closed.

Feng Qing'er'er had at least done her part, completing the task he assigned.

The Soul Palace Heavenly Venerable of Yan rewards and punishes clearly! Complete the task, and you earn your reward.

Hearing Xiao Yan's permission, Feng Qing'er'er's purple eyes flickered with delight—but she remembered his warning: no noise.

She clenched her lips, covered her body, and crept slowly toward the Blood Pool. In her eyes now were greed and excitement, fear and trepidation.

Though she understood she could never escape this Heavenly Venerable of Yan's grasp, Feng Qing'er'er's heart did not wish to become a slave for satisfying base desires—she feared what Xiao Yan might do.

Feng Qing'er'er tiptoed to the edge of the Blood Pool, glanced at Xiao Yan—still meditating—and only then dared to gently touch the pool's surface with her toe. She looked again at Xiao Yan; seeing no disgust, she slowly lowered her body into the pool.

The Blood Pool was small; fearing she might touch Xiao Yan, Feng Qing'er'er confined herself to the farthest corner, curling up to slowly refine the pool's energy.

With her bloodline strength and cultivation level, her refinement speed was nowhere near Xiao Yan's, who wielded the Heavenly Rank Burning Scripture—she could only consume the scraps he left behind.

While Xiao Yan absorbed like a vortex, she could only refine drop by drop.

Unfortunately, Feng Qing'er'er's Tian Feng bloodline was extremely weak; otherwise, Xiao Yan might have absorbed some Tian Feng aura, perhaps enhancing his Meridians like Dragon Qi.

Xiao Yan ignored Feng Qing'er'er—he needed to accelerate his cultivation. The Tian Feng Blood Pool was not invincible; he estimated that once he reached Three-Star Dou Zun, his body would develop resistance and could no longer be tempered by it.

As time passed minute by minute, with just over a month left until the Soul Palace ceremony, an unexpected visitor approached the Barrier surrounding Xiao Yan's Blood Pool.

Outside Tian Feng Mountain, after spending over three months refining the entire Blood Pool she was assigned, Huang Pei stared at a distant dome-shaped Barrier. The entire Tian Feng Mountain had ten such Barriers—each concealing a Blood Pool.

【61】 On Huang Pei's handsome face appeared a sinister smile; his eyes gleamed as he licked his lips. "I wonder what it feels like to bathe in a Wind-Thunder Body."

Huang Pei took from his storage ring a Soul Token identical to the one Feng Qing'er'er possessed, then bit his finger; a strand of essence blood radiating the might of the Heaven Phoenix condensed at his fingertip. He lightly touched the token—hum! —a streak of crimson light shot into the dome's barrier.

A small gap appeared before him.

"Hehe." Huang Pei rubbed his hands like a fly, then slipped directly through the gap.

But when he entered the blood pool Feng Qing'er'er owned, the sight before him froze him in place.

Because there was a third party here!

What did he see!

In what should have been the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's Secret Realm, a human man stood there!

The man sat with eyes closed, absorbing the incredibly dense Tian Feng Blood Pool, while Feng Qing'er'er, the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's prodigy, curled up in a corner of the pool.

It was clear—the vast majority of the pool's energy had been absorbed by that human man!

Sensing someone enter, Feng Qing'er'er snapped open her eyes, astonished at Huang Pei, who had slipped into the barrier unnoticed. She herself didn't understand what had happened—how could Xiao Yan allow a beginner Dou Zun like Huang Pei to enter the barrier!

"Feng Qing'er'er! You've conspired with outsiders to destroy our clan's Secret Realm!" Huang Pei's face darkened instantly. He had already claimed Feng Qing'er'er as his private possession—and now he saw her bathing with a strange human man!

How could Huang Pei possibly endure this?

Feng Qing'er'er's mind was in chaos, her thoughts blank. She feared Huang Pei would expose this. If the clan learned she had opened the barrier, let Xiao Yan enter the Tian Feng Blood Pool, and even drained all the essence blood beneath it, she would die a horrific death!

In an instant, Feng Qing'er'er's eyes flashed with cold, lethal intent—she could not let Huang Pei live. He must die!

Xiao Yan, who had been meditating with eyes closed, slowly opened them. His gaze held no joy, no sorrow—he glanced at Huang Pei without surprise and murmured, "Too slow."

Whoosh! A pair of massive wings unfolded from the blood pool. After nearly four months of tempering, the Bone Wings had changed beyond recognition.

Flesh grew from bone!

Flesh and muscle had sprouted across the Bone Wings; grotesque veins writhed, clearly showing blood flowing within them!

Seeing the Bone Wings transformed thus, Feng Qing'er'er was stunned—these wings seemed alive. Except for the lack of feathers, they were identical to a pair of Heavenly Demon Phoenix wings. No—this was no longer merely Demon Phoenix wings. They had reached the level of the Ancient Heaven Phoenix!

At the sight of Xiao Yan's gaze, Feng Qing'er'er suddenly remembered—the battle at the Wind and Thunder Pavilion, when Xiao Yan had told her his Bone Wings lacked a Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's Spiritual Soul. But she had been too weak, her bloodline too feeble to suit it.

"Could it be… he planned this all along!" Feng Qing'er'er's beautiful eyes widened in fear and wariness as she stared at Xiao Yan beside her.

Xiao Yan now studied Huang Pei from head to toe, silently nodding.

"Eight Rank, dense Heavenly Demon Phoenix bloodline, with a trace of Ancient Heaven Phoenix lineage—excellent, excellent." Xiao Yan smiled, thoroughly satisfied with this material.

Xiao Yan, hidden in the shadows, had long known Huang Pei was targeting Feng Qing'er'er. With Xiao Yan's methods, he had countless ways to keep him out.

Huang Pei thought he was hunting the cicada—but the true hunter had merely placed the cicada in a cage, opened a small gap, and let Huang Pei walk in himself.

After all, this was within the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's territory. Xiao Yan couldn't easily act first. But if you walked into the barrier yourself, don't blame me.

Feng Qing'er'er, now understanding everything, shifted her gaze—she looked at Huang Pei with a hint of pity. No prey marked by this man had ever escaped. She herself was the best proof.

"Feng Qing'er'er, you consorted with a human! I will report this to the Elders. As for you, human! You've refined the corpse of our clan member and destroyed our Secret Realm—I'll break your limbs right now and make you wish you were dead!"

Jiu! A black phoenix Sage Image appeared behind him. The image was so real, far surpassing those of Feng Qing'er'er and Huang Bao'er—clearly, Huang Pei held high status within the clan.

Terrifying Dou Zun pressure surged, overturning everything around. The barrier shattered; the ground surrounding the blood pool melted under Demon Phoenix Black Flame.

Though only a One Star Dou Zun, Huang Pei's Bloodline Power was exceptionally strong—far exceeding the spiritual pressure of an ordinary One Star Dou Zun.

"Sigh. Your Soul Force is so weak, I'm starting to wonder if I chose wrong." Xiao Yan, still immersed in the blood pool, shook his head, unmoving. Even as Black Flame scorched his body, he remained as steady as a mountain, as if feeling no pain.

Glancing at Huang Pei, who had unleashed his Bloodline Power, Xiao Yan thought: This fool doesn't think someone would leave traps just because he stepped into another's barrier?

Whoosh! Xiao Yan blew a single breath toward Huang Pei. In that single breath, the Black Flame on Huang Pei's body and the black phoenix Sage Image vanished.

"Impossible!!" Feng Qing'er'er gasped. A single breath extinguished a Dou Zun's spiritual pressure!! Even a Dou Sage couldn't do that!

Seeing Feng Qing'er'er's stunned expression, Xiao Yan gave her a weary glance—his eyes held the exasperation of someone facing a fool.

Feng Qing'er'er's pupils shrank. Was this a Soul Illusion?! When had she been ensnared?!

Feng Qing'er'er quickly sat cross-legged, calming her mind, then slowly opened her eyes. When she opened them again, everything had changed!

The barrier, the blood pool, and everything around remained as before—except Huang Pei, whose eyes were vacant, standing motionless like a soulless puppet.

Xiao Yan slowly walked toward the edge of the blood pool. His physical strength now rivaled that of a newly entered Eight Rank Tai Xu Ancient Dragon. The blood and fire within the Tian Feng Blood Pool were nearly depleted—most of the Tian Feng Blood had been absorbed by Xiao Yan.

With a Heaven Grade Cultivation Method and the Tian Feng Blood Pool, Xiao Yan's Cultivation Realm had skyrocketed to the terrifying level of Three Star Dou Zun!

That's why Xiao Yan said Huang Pei came too late—if you hadn't come, I might've let you go!

He had only about a month left before the Soul Hall's ritual began!

Good thing you arrived just in time.

Splash! Xiao Yan stepped out of the blood pool. Behind him, the flesh-grown Ancient Phoenix wings dripped blood. These wing membranes—devoid of feathers, covered in flesh—were deeply sinister and immensely powerful.

After the Tian Yao Kui evolved, Xiao Yan had conceived the idea of evolving his Bone Wings similarly. If his Bone Wings could withstand the power of the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame, Wind Fury Dragon Flame, and Nine Dragon Thunder Flame, perhaps they could restore the ancient might of the primordial Heaven Phoenix, the former tyrant of beasts!

Even recreate the legendary power of a Ten Rank Phoenix!

Xiao Yan believed that with fully developed wings combined with the Three Infernal Flames, his speed would reach an unimaginable level. If he ever faced a Peak Dou Zun or even a Half-Sage, he might not win—but he could escape.

Seeing Xiao Yan emerge from the blood pool, Feng Qing'er'er immediately lowered her head, afraid to meet his gaze, fearing his displeasure.

Splash! A Hun Chain shot from Xiao Yan's shadow. Though Huang Pei was strong, he was vastly inferior to Xiao Yan—especially since Chen Yuan was a Soul Dou Technique, and beast Soul Force had always been their weakness.

Huang Pei's soul body was pulled into Chen Yuan, indistinguishable from a dead man.

Huang Pei's Soul Body took the shape of a monstrous black bird, with a faint wisp of Black Flame burning upon it. Especially his wings—beautiful as obsidian.

The Hun Chain yanked sharply, dragging Huang Pei's soul into the Bone Wings!

Hum! Whoosh! In the instant of fusion, Ancient Phoenix Black Flame seeped from the flesh, bones, and veins of the Bone Wings—and one by one, black, ink-like feathers regrew from the flesh!