Chapter 564

Feng Qing'er'er stood trembling, her eyes filled with fear, her face pale—clear proof of the immense pressure she now bore, utterly unaware that Xiao Yan was not even looking at her.

Feng Qing'er'er had completely misunderstood one thing: the Xiao Yan of now was no longer the same as the Xiao Yan of three months ago.

He had become a Dou Saint!

Not a Half-Saint, but a full, complete One-Star Dou Saint!

And more importantly, he possessed Heavenly Emperor Fire, the Burn Scripture had reached Heavenly Rank Advanced Grade, he was a Nine Grade Precious Pill Alchemist, and he had not yet refined the Bodhi Heart—Xiao Yan now held so many trump cards even he himself could hardly believe it.

Xiao Yan truly cared for Zi Yan, just as he did now, and he would never stand by while Zi Yan was in danger. But times had changed: previously, Xiao Yan had feared the Dou Saints of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, for they had four Dou Saints; he had feared the Three Great Dragon Islands of the Void Ancient Dragon Clan, whose Dragon Kings were all Three-Star Dou Saints.

But now, having reached Dou Saint, he no longer feared as he once had. As a Nine Grade Alchemist, the things he could accomplish were countless—even in the Gu Clan, he was treated as an honored guest, wielding the influence of a Dou Saint!

Even if the Three Great Dragon Kings truly intended harm to Zi Yan, Xiao Yan would no longer fear them.

Originally, why had Xiao Yan asked Feng Qing'er'er about the Void Ancient Dragon Clan? Precisely because he feared the Three Great Dragon Kings, worried they might secretly strike at Zi Yan's East Dragon Island and he would be powerless to stop them—hence his need for advance intelligence.

But now, he no longer needed it—he had strength!

It is extremely difficult for a Dou Saint to fight across tiers, because Heaven Grade Cultivation Methods and Dou Techniques are exceedingly rare across the Dou Qi Continent. The key to fighting across tiers is that your cultivation method and Dou Technique must surpass those of your equal.

But Heaven Grade cultivation methods and Dou Techniques are extraordinarily hard to master; many low-tier Dou Saints possess only Heaven Tier Low Grade methods and techniques.

Mao Wu consumed the negative energy of a Dou Di, refining the Dou Di energy within it. Xiao Yan originally thought he would need to refine the Dou Di Bloodline within the Soul Jade to elevate his own Dou Di Bloodline to Divine-Star. But he had underestimated the meaning of "Dou Di"—that negative energy was truly the energy of a Dou Di, genuine and real.

His Dou Di Bloodline was now Divine-Star.

"You," Xiao Yan glanced at Feng Qing'er'er, his obsidian eyes as deep as the Shen Yuan—this single glance sent Feng Qing'er'er stumbling back two steps, her legs buckling, and she collapsed onto the bed behind her in terror.

"D-don't kill me," Feng Qing'er'er's taut nerves snapped at Xiao Yan's gaze; a single tear slid from her eye.

Xiao Yan was now a Dou Saint! A single glance could decide life or death. Even though he had not deliberately unleashed Saint Might, after a Hundred Lifetimes Reincarnation, his eyes held an indescribable, hypnotic power.

Xiao Yan looked at Feng Qing'er'er, trembling on the bed, her noble and beautiful face now drained of color. He had done nothing—had merely uttered a single "you"—yet she could not bear it.

Facing Xiao Yan, she was utterly terrified. These past months, she had sensed within her clan that Elders had flown into the Manhuang Ancient Domain searching for the whereabouts of Jiu Feng and other Elders, but the Manhuang Ancient Domain was overrun with fierce beasts, and the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan could not enter—so they had found nothing.

She had barely escaped thanks to the life energy emitted by the Bodhi Ancient Tree three months ago, which calmed the fierce beasts.

Feng Qing'er'er knew perfectly well: Jiu Feng and the other Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan members were likely all dead—very probably killed by Xiao Yan.

After three months of psychological preparation, a single glance shattered her composure—her innate, beast-like sense of danger overwhelmed her.

Feng Qing'er'er, pale-faced and weeping, was undeniably pitiable.

"I just wanted to say you're lucky," Xiao Yan sighed, speaking calmly.

Hearing Xiao Yan say she was lucky, Feng Qing'er'er's heart leapt; she lifted her head, her beautiful eyes filled with hope, unaware that Xiao Yan's single sentence now determined whether her soul rejoiced or broke.

"He lived a life of kindness; he would not wish me to commit senseless slaughter," Xiao Yan said slowly.

Xiao Yan did not truly believe in the Hundred Lifetimes Reincarnation, but having just emerged from it, he was still somewhat affected—in a certain sense, today Xiao Yan was acting with great benevolence.

Moreover, Xiao Yan bore no grudge against Feng Qing'er'er; he had controlled her only to obtain information on the Three Great Dragon Kings of the Void Ancient Dragon Clan, just in case. Now, he had no need for it.

He would return to the Ancient Dragon Island eventually.

"Speak. What do you know?" Xiao Yan said calmly.

"Y-you're agreeing?" Feng Qing'er'er ventured cautiously.

Xiao Yan nodded.

Seeing Xiao Yan nod, Feng Qing'er'er felt as if she had won the lottery—her eyes brimmed with joy and disbelief. To an outsider, it would seem she had just won a lover's heart!

For a moment, Feng Qing'er'er's eyes sparkled with a smile, her lips curving into a relieved expression. She had forgotten—since receiving the Asura Slave Seal, how long had it been since she last smiled? Every day had been spent in dread, fearing discovery by her clan's powerhouses or annihilation by Xiao Yan.

Finally! She was finally free!

Feng Qing'er'er's nose tingled with tears; she nearly wept. She had suffered so much! Wasn't it just a bold challenge once? The cost had been too great!

"Speak," Xiao Yan rolled his eyes in exasperation. Was it really that serious? He had planned to remove the slave seal anyway, once he had sufficient strength.

"O-oh." Feng Qing'er'er instantly composed herself, thought carefully, and said: "A while ago, our clan received intelligence that many Void Ancient Dragon Clan Elders who had been away had returned to the East Dragon Island."

"Hm?!" Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed instantly—he thought: "So Zi Yan has fully refined the Dragon Emperor Origin Fruit and broken through to Nine Rank, becoming a Dragon Emperor."

Xiao Yan had planned to visit the East Dragon Island after finishing his current tasks, to help Zi Yan if she hadn't yet reached Nine Rank—now he saw he'd been spared the trouble.

"With her Nine Rank breakthrough and the suppression of the Dragon Emperor Bloodline, Zi Yan will have no trouble overcoming the Three Great Dragon Kings, whose bloodline power is inferior."

Xiao Yan tapped his fingers lightly on the table, lost in thought. The soft tapping sound made Feng Qing'er'er tense again—she was like a bird startled by the mere sound of a bowstring.

Looking at Feng Qing'er'er, Xiao Yan said: "Come here. I, Xiao Yan, keep my word—I'll remove the seal."

Feng Qing'er'er's face was tight with tension as she stepped slowly toward Xiao Yan; each step closer made her more nervous.

"Sit down."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Feng Qing'er'er fell to her knees before Xiao Yan, bowing her head, unable to meet his gaze.

Xiao Yan sighed inwardly—I told you to sit, not to kneel!

Too lazy to say more, he slowly raised his hand and placed it upon Feng Qing'er'er's crown. Feeling that demonic hand again, her heart pounded wildly—she was terrified, trembling: for Xiao Yan to kill her would take only a gesture.

"It will hurt a little. Bear it," Xiao Yan said.

Feng Qing'er'er, head bowed, widened her eyes: You're being so gentle—I'm not used to it!

"Yes."

Instantly, Xiao Yan's Soul Force surged from his palm into Feng Qing'er'er's body; with a single tug, the Asura Slave Seal branded upon her Spiritual Soul tore away like peeling off adhesive tape.

"Mmm…" The agony of soul-tearing made Feng Qing'er'er's body convulse involuntarily; she clenched her teeth, stifling cries, emitting only pained moans.

After roughly five minutes, Xiao Yan finally tore the Asura Slave Seal completely free. The soul-tearing pain left Feng Qing'er'er drenched in sweat, soaking her seven-colored plain robe, revealing a flash of pale white skin.

Of course, with Xiao Yan's current mindset (experience), such a glimpse held no allure for him.

"This is a Soul Contract. As long as you don't speak of me, nothing will happen." Xiao Yan inscribed a contract using the Emperor Soul Scripture—it was merely an ordinary Soul Contract, meant to prevent Feng Qing'er'er from revealing the Soul Hall's secrets.

Feng Qing'er'er lifted her head without hesitation, imprinting her Soul Force onto the contract—*shoo! *—the Soul Contract vanished into her body. Even now, she could hardly believe it: she was truly free!

For a moment, the atmosphere fell silent.

Xiao Yan frowned. "Why are you still kneeling? Do I need to help you up?"

Feng Qing'er'er shuddered, scrambling to her feet—but she still felt unreal, staring at Xiao Yan, calmly seated in his chair, stammering: "C-can I go now?"

Puff, Xiao Yan smiled and said, "What, do I have to invite you to dinner?"

Feng Qing'er'er hurriedly shook her head, as if granted sudden deliverance, and dashed out of the room, instantly unfolding her Yao Huang Wings to fly toward the horizon—a streak of light slashed across the sky, and only after leaving Manhuang Ancient Town did Feng Qing'er'er dare to stop.

Slowly turning her gaze toward the direction of the Manhuang Ancient Town, for a moment she felt a strange sense of loss in her heart!

She violently shook her head to clear all thoughts, then opened a Space Channel to return to the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan—she had many things to do. After all, now that Jiu Feng was dead, she was the youngest generation with the highest bloodline in the clan!

After sensing Feng Qing'er'er had fully left, Xiao Yan pondered inwardly, murmuring to himself, "Since Zi Yan has already broken through to Dragon Emperor, the problems of the Grand Void Dragon Clan are resolved. The Pure Lotus Demonic Fire still has over two years left, so my remaining issues are only the Tianming Sect and the Nine Underworld Dark Python Clan, plus the incomplete Emperor-grade Pill Formula at Xiao Dan Ta."

"The Tianming Sect and the Nine Underworld Dark Python Clan aren't problems. As for the Bodhi Heart, if refined conventionally, it would take considerable time—I'd need to find a good place, which should significantly boost my Cultivation Realm."

"So the biggest problem still seems to be the incomplete Emperor-grade Pill Formula at Xiao Dan Ta. How can I obtain it?"

Xiao Yan needs that incomplete Emperor-grade Pill Formula to exchange for the lower volume of the Soul Emperor Scripture. He already possesses sufficient Dou Di Bloodline and Soul Force level to cultivate it. A complete Soul Emperor Scripture cannot be exchanged with Soul Points—it's a Heavenly Rank Advanced Grade Soul Cultivation Technique!

Xiao Yan suspects the true Soul Emperor Scripture might even be an Emperor-grade Soul Cultivation Technique, created by the Soul Emperor, but such a level of Soul Cultivation Technique should be cultivable only by Hun Tian Di.

After all, with the Soul Emperor gone, no one can now produce an Emperor-grade Soul Cultivation Technique—once Hun Tian Di cultivates it, it's gone, and Xiao Yan can't even get it.

After organizing his thoughts, Xiao Yan's eyes flashed with a fierce glint. "Then I must eliminate the Tianming Sect and the Nine Underworld Dark Python Clan first, to cut off future threats."

With his current Cultivation Realm, Xiao Yan returned to Cai Lin's chambers in the Yan Alliance in less than half a day.

"Are they asleep?" Xiao Yan slowly approached a yellow light barrier, where a little girl and a colorful Devouring Heaven Serpent lay sleeping inside.

Looking at the exquisite, beautiful face of Cai Lin, it was filled with tenderness, radiating maternal light.

"Yes, the effect of the Yi Shi Pill in Xiao Xiao's body needs slow refining, and Xiao Cai's Devouring Heaven Serpent bloodline hasn't fully stabilized," Cai Lin said softly, gently extending her Jade Hand to caress Xiao Xiao's cheek. Sensing her mother's fingers, Xiao Xiao instinctively clutched Cai Lin's fingers tighter.

Xiao Yan imitated her, reaching out to gently stroke Xiao Cai's small head—but was met with a sudden bite.

Sssss!! The bite made Xiao Yan grimace in pain—he hadn't even used Dou Qi for defense!

Seeing this foolish father, even Cai Lin's temperament couldn't help but laugh—her soft, radiant smile lit up her face like spring returning to all things, leaving Xiao Yan utterly stunned.

Seeing Xiao Yan staring blankly at her, Cai Lin's cheeks instantly flushed faintly red, and her beautiful eyes flicked him a glance full of allure.

That alluring glance sent a shiver through Xiao Yan's heart. After all, the Medusa Clan was born with innate charm, unrivaled in seduction—and Cai Lin before him was already a peerless beauty, his own wife. This instantly stirred desire within him.

All Hundred Lifetimes Reincarnation, all Bodhi Heart—Cai Lin's single glance shattered his cultivation!

Xiao Yan seized Cai Lin's Jade Hand, pulled gently, and drew the unresisting Cai Lin into his arms. Feeling the softness in his embrace and the comforting, fragrant scent, Xiao Yan's body and mind relaxed completely.

"Xiao Xiao and Xiao Cai are right here," Cai Lin gave Xiao Yan a look, but her voice was as alluring as silk, her breath sweet as orchid.

Xiao Yan waved his hand—his Soul Force enveloped the barrier, blocking all perception.

Seeing Xiao Yan directly use Soul Force to block perception, Cai Lin was speechless—what kind of father are you?!

Feeling Xiao Yan's large hand, Cai Lin grabbed his paw and said, "Don't be a pervert." Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Yan lowered his head and kissed her Red Lips.

Xiao Yan wasn't a eunuch—he already had two daughters! This journey through the Manhuang Ancient Domain wasn't just about obtaining the Bodhi Heart and Dou Di energy—it was also when Xun Er and Cai Lin finally met.

Xun Er has tacitly accepted Cai Lin's existence—so what does Xiao Yan have to worry about now?

Timeline reminder: This takes place during the two years when Xiao Yan is refining the Bodhi Heart to break through to Sage Emperor.

(End of Chapter)