Chapter 491: Demon Spouses

Feng Qing'er lifted her head in shock, gazing at Xiao Yan as he walked step by step toward her; her beautiful eyes stared in disbelief at the ancestral soul nearby—once hailed in ancestral records as invincible in battle—now being devoured piece by piece.

The golden ancestral soul, slain, was consumed bit by bit by the three-headed, six-armed monster like mere food.

All this time, she had never escaped this man's palm! He had merely intended to use the last remnants of the ancient Heaven Phoenix's power to feed the Asura!

"You still can't withstand even one of my strikes," Xiao Yan slowly crouched down, his scorching hand gently caressing Feng Qing'er's cheek.

Feeling the touch of Xiao Yan's hand, Feng Qing'er had long grown accustomed to it, offering no further resistance.

Having suffered backlash from the destruction of her ancestral soul, Feng Qing'er lacked even the strength to tremble; she could only lift her head, her eyes filled with utter despair as she stared at the man before her.

At this moment, Feng Qing'er didn't even know what words to beg with—she understood that Xiao Yan had never intended to spare her; he had merely kept her alive as long as she held some utility.

No words would help—this venerable figure of the Soul Hall was the most terrifying person she had ever encountered. His strength utterly surpassed her imagination.

Even summoning her ancestral soul couldn't withstand a single blow from him. Such a powerhouse—let alone her, even Aunt Feng Lan would likely be slain by him. Within the entire Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, only Jiu Feng, the most gifted and whose bloodline had undergone Ancestral Return, might stand a chance against him.

"Qing… Qing'er…" Feng Qing'er's mind was already blank; she didn't even know what to say.

After toying with her for a while, Xiao Yan's hand withdrew—miraculously—and he slowly stood up, sighing regretfully: "Ah, even though I say that, I have no other methods. I can't just beat you up."

Xiao Yan spread his hands. He was the Heavenly Venerable of Yan, not the Torture Venerable—he excelled at fighting and killing, but as for torturing people, he knew only one trick, and no others.

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Feng Qing'er's pale, tear-streaked, and tragically beautiful face showed a flicker of surprise; her beautiful eyes stared at Xiao Yan in disbelief.

He was letting her go!!

But Feng Qing'er's joy lasted less than a minute—she realized it was all a lie.

At this moment, Xiao Yan approached Xiao Yixian, who was studying the ancient altar and the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit Tree.

After the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit had been plucked, the tree had begun to wither. This land had witnessed the deaths of two Nine Rank Ancient Dragons and an ancient Heaven Phoenix, combined with the Great Sage's immense abilities and various methods—only after a thousand years had a single Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit been barely cultivated.

Even if Xiao Yixian wished to revive the tree, she was powerless, and couldn't help but feel regretful.

"Can you revive this tree?" Xiao Yixian asked regretfully.

Xiao Yan shrugged and spread his hands: "Don't treat me like a god. If you had the Fifth-Ranked Life Flame, maybe there'd be a slim chance to save it."

"By the way, I need you to do me a favor."

Xiao Yixian's beautiful eyes narrowed in confusion, curiously asking: "What?"

"Do you have any poison that, the moment you think of it, can turn a person into bloodslime even across ten thousand miles, and temporarily seal their Dou Qi and Soul Force?" Xiao Yan's 37-degree voice, casual in tone, uttered these icy words!

Xiao Yixian's gaze turned slightly strange, then shifted toward Feng Qing'er nearby. Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Feng Qing'er's face, which had just regained a hint of color, instantly turned deathly pale.

"Isn't she suffering too much?" Xiao Yixian even felt pity for Feng Qing'er—her ancestral soul had been slashed by Xiao Yan, leaving her wounded, and now she was to be poisoned.

Xiao Yan sighed helplessly: "After we resolve the Ruins matter, I need to take her to Zi Yan. Zi Yan should need the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit."

"This little phoenix is mischievous—if she escapes this Barrier and finds a way to contact the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's elders, especially a Dou Sage, it'll be a huge problem."

Although Xiao Yan didn't know the strength of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's Clan Leader, Huang Tian, nor whether Feng Qing'er could reach him, he couldn't risk it—especially since the clan still had the so-called Three Phoenixes, all Dou Sages.

Xiao Yan still owed the Three Venerables a debt.

When a cultivator seeks an Alchemist to refine a Pill, they normally must provide three sets of Medicinal Materials; if the refining succeeds, they usually owe an additional favor. But if the Alchemist seeks a powerful cultivator's aid, the Alchemist must exchange it for a Pill that satisfies them.

The difference is enormous—Pills satisfying a Dou Sage require at least several months, even a year to refine. That wastes too much of Xiao Yan's time—he must prepare for contingencies.

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Feng Qing'er's face turned instantly white; she knelt and grabbed Xiao Yan's robe, tears streaming as she pleaded: "Master, Qing'er knows she's wrong—please forgive Qing'er just once!"

"Qing'er swears she will never betray you! Qing'er swears by her Spiritual Soul—she will never betray you!"

Feng Qing'er clutched Xiao Yan's robe with both hands, her voice filled with boundless terror.

Seeing Xiao Yan's indifference, Feng Qing'er crawled to Xiao Yixian's side and begged: "Madam, please—I beg you, spare me!"

Xiao Yixian looked at the pitiful, kneeling Feng Qing'er and felt a pang of sympathy—but—

A soft hum—Xiao Yixian's beautiful eyes turned gray-white, then her lustrous hair also turned gray-white. That trace of pity vanished.

Xiao Yixian indeed possessed a compassionate heart, but if threatened, she became the Tian Di Xuan Bian who slaughtered millions with a wave of her hand—human lives meant nothing to her!

"N-no… no…" Seeing the terrifying power emanating from Xiao Yixian—the poison that began melting Space—Feng Qing'er's heart turned to ash.

"I'm sorry," Xiao Yixian extended her jade finger. Though Feng Qing'er tried to dodge, as a One Star Dou Zun, how could she possibly evade Xiao Yixian's attack?

Seeing the approaching jade finger, Feng Qing'er realized at last—this delicate, serene girl was also a demon!

This was a pair of demon spouses!

Xiao Yixian's finger pierced through Space, touching Feng Qing'er's forehead. A hum—gray-green poison flame surged from her finger into Feng Qing'er's body.

"Ahh!!"

At this moment, Feng Qing'er felt as if trapped in a Sea of Fire—her entire body burned, but this wasn't mere surface heat; the poison within caused her Meridians to writhe in agony, pain from within outward!

"Aaaah!!"

At this moment, Feng Qing'er's body was invaded by the Eternal Calamity Poison Flame; she clearly felt the agony—deeper the poison penetrated, the more intense the pain became.

Her Dou Qi, bloodline power, and Soul Force were all corroded by the poison!

But Xiao Yixian was also "kind"—this agony didn't last long. A snap—the Eternal Calamity Poison Flame retracted, and Feng Qing'er collapsed to the ground. Her Spiritual Soul, already damaged by backlash from the ancestral soul's destruction, now further ravaged by Xiao Yixian's poison, left her utterly powerless—barely breathing, her eyes completely dimmed.

Her gaze seemed to have lost all hope of survival.

Seeing this, sensing the utter despair and surrender to death in Feng Qing'er's eyes, Xiao Yan's heart lurched!

Damn it—this went too far!

I messed up!

Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed—Feng Qing'er's life or death didn't matter to him, but if she chose Self-Detonation and destroyed the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit along with herself, that would be disastrous!

Feng Qing'er did possess some pride—push her too hard, and she'll snap back.

"Need to give her a sweetener."

Suddenly, golden light radiated from Xiao Yan—divine and radiant. His hand gently stroked the back of Feng Qing'er's head; the Flame of Life slowly eased her pain.

"Do you want to achieve Bloodline Ancestral Return, and become a true ancient Heaven Phoenix?"

Xiao Yan's voice echoed into Feng Qing'er's mind like celestial tones—this voice carried a magical power, compelling belief—even if what he said was absurd, she would believe it.

The power of the second layer of the Asura Soul-Cutting Technique gave Xiao Yan's Soul Power a faith-like persuasiveness.

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Feng Qing'er's eyes instantly lit up, as if she had regained her senses, reigniting the flame of hope!

"Really?" Feng Qing'er's eyes now resembled those of a little girl who'd heard she'd get candy—filled with longing and innocence!!

Xiao Yan flashed a bright, confident smile, gently took Feng Qing'er's jade hand, and helped her rise. He stepped forward and softly embraced her.

To Feng Qing'er's surprise, for the first time she felt a comforting warmth!

Xiao Yan slowly stroked her silken hair and whispered, "Of course it's true."

"Xiao Yixian's poison is just a precaution—if you don't betray me, nothing will happen."

For some reason, Feng Qing'er no longer felt fear or dread.

Xiao Yan had not yet perfected the second stage of cultivation; this effect would vanish once his soul force was withdrawn, but it no longer mattered—as long as Feng Qing'er didn't think of self-destruction.

Xiao Yan slowly retracted the soul force of the Demon-Slaying Soul Technique, pulled away slightly, and smiled at Feng Qing'er: "Didn't I say there'd be a reward? Have you ever heard of the Wild Beast Heavenly Spirit Pill?"

Even as the golden soul force vanished, hearing the name "Wild Beast Heavenly Spirit Pill," Feng Qing'er's beautiful eyes widened in shock, and she nodded sharply: "I've heard of it—a high-grade Eight Grade Pill said to offer a chance at Bloodline Ancestral Return."

How could she not have heard of it? Jiu Feng's power, his status as the sole candidate for Young Clan Leader, even his ancestral bloodline awakening to the ancient Heavenly Phoenix blood—all of this came from his friendship with a Yao Clan alchemist named Yao Tian, who gave him one Wild Beast Heavenly Spirit Pill—and he truly achieved Bloodline Ancestral Return, earning him his present status.

Though the chance of ancestral return via the Wild Beast Heavenly Spirit Pill is low, at least there's a chance!

"You—you, Master, you're truly willing to refine a Wild Beast Heavenly Spirit Pill for Qing'er?" Feng Qing'er's eyes shimmered with hope. This pill was far too precious—it could summon Six or even Seven Colored Pill Thunder!

"Of course. If you come with me to the Void Ancient Dragon Clan and bring me the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, I'll give you a Wild Beast Heavenly Spirit Pill as a reward. I, Xiao Yan, keep my word."

Feng Qing'er fell into thought. She knew that if she handed the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit to the Void Ancient Dragon Clan, she'd still be under the control of this demonic couple. Xiao Yan was merely afraid she'd self-destruct and destroy the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit inside her.

But did she really want to self-destruct? How could she? She didn't want to die!

Just moments ago, she'd entertained the thought of suicide—but now, Xiao Yan had crushed it. Though her fate was still controlled, she could now gain the Wild Beast Heavenly Spirit Pill—at least there remained a chance for future freedom!

The Void Ancient Dragon Clan was already stronger than the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, and Feng Qing'er could only destroy the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit—she couldn't change that reality.

At this moment, Xiao Yixian pulled out a pill and handed it to Xiao Yan: "This is the Detoxification Pill. After you swallow it, the Dou Qi Sealing will be broken."

Xiao Yan understood: Xiao Yixian only said the Dou Qi Sealing would break—she never said the poison was gone!

Xiao Yixian really knew how to train birds!

Feng Qing'er bit her red lips lightly, her expression conflicted, then slowly closed her eyes and nodded.

She had already betrayed her companions by not summoning her Ancestral Soul just now—now she could only walk this path to the end.

Beside them, the Heavenly Flame Elder watched this scene and silently held the same opinion of Xiao Yan as the Third Elder: He's too much like the Soul Hall!

Xiao Yan pulled out a black robe and draped it over Feng Qing'er, using soul force to block perception. After all, all other Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan members were dead—Feng Qing'er would need an excuse later.

"What about this ancient altar?" Xiao Yixian stared at the altar, clearly reluctant—it was also a treasure.

"Don't worry, I'll help you move it all to the Small Valley later," Xiao Yan smiled. It was rare to see Xiao Yixian interested in anything.

Hearing this, Xiao Yixian gave a serene smile: "Thank you."

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose: "Do we even need to say 'thank you' to each other?"

At this, Xiao Yixian froze, then remembered what happened at the Dan Tower—her face instantly flushed crimson, and she stammered: "T-that… that was… an accident!"

"Oh, an accident? What a surprising accident," Xiao Yan chuckled behind his hand, though inside, his heart warmed.

Xiao Yixian's beautiful eyes were flustered—she now wanted nothing more than to crawl into a hole.

Xiao Yan laughed heartily and said no more: "Let's go—we've wasted enough time."

Taking Feng Qing'er with them, Xiao Yan's group emerged from the Beast Spirit Veil. As soon as they stepped out, Nalan Yanran flew toward them in a panic.

"I told you, Xiao Yan's kid wouldn't get into trouble," Hai Bodong said upon seeing Xiao Yan unharmed.

Xiao Yan smiled at Nalan Yanran: "Relax—I'm still going to the Flower Sect. This little problem won't kill me."

Nalan Yanran nodded. Though she noticed the mysterious black-robed figure, she wisely refrained from asking. Only the Lion King stared warily at the black-robed Feng Qing'er—somehow, he felt his position as mount was threatened!

"Since everything's settled, let's pack up and leave!"

"Pack up?"

Xiao Yan grinned, then space twisted—a black cat emerged from the Black Flame. Before everyone's stunned eyes, Mao Wu spat endless Black Flame, enveloping the entire Ancient Medicinal Forest.

Compared to the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake's Little World, this medicinal forest was far smaller—within just fifteen minutes, it was fully wrapped.

With a sharp *shiiii*, the entire Ancient Medicinal Forest vanished instantly, the Beast Spirit Veil's space absorbed into Mao Wu's body.

Instantly, Xiao Yixian, Nalan Yanran, Feng Qing'er, and others stared at the suddenly vanished forest, at the surrounding Void Space, all stunned.

The Heavenly Flame Elder exclaimed: "So that's how you moved back the Yan Alliance's land?"

"What kind of flame is that? So miraculous," Nalan Yanran asked, gazing at the little black cat perched on Xiao Yan's head. This black cat was too powerful!

Since Feng Qing'er was present, Xiao Yan didn't elaborate: "Let's go—there are probably other treasures here."

At this moment, Xiao Yan had little interest in the Heavenly Rank Dou Technique—he was far more curious about the Sage Emperor's Medicinal Cultivation legacy.

Traveling through Space, Xiao Yan returned to the original Stone Gate, pushed it open, and dashed out. Merely acquiring the entire Ancient Medicinal Forest was already a rich harvest. With this forest, Xiao Yan finally had enough medicinal materials to attempt becoming a Nine-Treasure Pill Alchemist!

But the gap between Eight Grade Peak and Nine-Treasure is immense. Pill Giants have lingered at Eight Grade Peak for countless years—and still cannot break through to Nine-Treasure.

It's not just because soul force must reach the Heavenly Realm—it's also because Nine-Treasure Pills are simply too difficult.

Like the gap between a Dou Saint and a Nine-Star Dou Zun: seemingly only one step away, yet impossibly distant. Even if one can refine an Eight Grade Pill that summons Nine Color Pill Thunder and possesses a Heavenly Realm Soul, the success rate of refining a true Nine-Treasure Pill is less than ten percent.

It requires time and vast quantities of medicinal materials.

Regardless, Xiao Yan now had ample medicinal materials—he had the capital; what he lacked was only time.

"Where to now?" Xiao Yixian asked, her gaze fixed on Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yixian herself was unusually excited—she too wanted the Sage Emperor's Medicinal Cultivation legacy, so she could grow medicinal materials for Xiao Yan's pill refining.

"Go deeper—the real treasure should be at the center of the hall," Xiao Yan paused, then looked up to orient himself. The Lion King led everyone deeper.

Along the way, Xiao Yan's group saw several pavilions, but these buildings and halls had clearly been looted when they entered the Yuan Gu Sen Lin—everything was in ruins, once-pristine structures now shattered beyond recognition, leaving observers shaking their heads.

Seeing how thoroughly everything had been destroyed, Xiao Yan's group lost interest in inspecting further and hurried toward the hall's center.

In their rushed journey, they encountered many teams scouring for treasures—but Xiao Yan found it strange: all these groups seemed to be rushing toward the same direction.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan and his companions exchanged glances with Xiao Yixian, all nodding slightly, then followed behind the other teams.

"It's Pill Fragrance."

"Could it be that even this Saint of Creation has Elixirs stored away?!"

At this moment, Feng Qing'er, who had been following alongside, pondered for a moment, then said: "The people of the Nine Underworld Earth-Dark Python Clan once said that their target was an Elixir."