Chapter 568: One Hall, One Tower, One Alliance!

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake's eyes narrowed slightly, its eighteen inverted triangular vertical pupils flashing with cruelty and hesitation.

As a Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake, its nature was inherently brutal; it could never submit to anyone—not even in death, not even if refined. Not even the Qi San Hua Tong could force complete submission.

But now it had no choice but to lower its proud head to exchange for the second life Xiao Yan would grant it. Though brutal, it was equally greedy.

Demonic beasts lived many times longer than humans; trading some time of guardianship for a longer lifespan was a deal the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake could easily calculate.

In the Hundred Lifetimes Reincarnation of the Bodhi Ancient Tree, Xiao Yan, due to Yao Lao's influence, rechecked and repaired his weaknesses, making his Pill Alchemy even more solid, returning to simplicity, and paving the way ahead.

Xiao Yan's greatest strength was not merely his Dou Sheng cultivation realm—his Pill Alchemy was equally an invincible art. After all, on the Dou Qi Continent, the one thing you must never offend is the Alchemist!

Especially the top-tier Alchemists—they wielded methods beyond mortal comprehension. At the Ji Pin Dan Yao level, they were beings capable of creating life itself.

In the end, the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake slowly bowed its head, its central serpent head moving before Qing Lin, closing its eyes, and exposing its forehead.

This signified the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake's willingness to sign a Soul Contract with Qing Lin, becoming her Guardian Spirit Beast, recognizing her as its master, submitting to her, and vowing to protect her for life.

Qing Lin did not act immediately, but looked toward Xiao Yan. Seeing Xiao Yan nod, she gently bit her jade fingertip, formed a hand seal, and lightly pressed a drop of crimson blood tinged with emerald onto the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake's forehead.

Then Qing Lin activated her Qi San Hua Tong—with a hum—the blood droplet slowly spread across the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake's Soul Body's forehead, finally forming the shape of the Qi San Hua Tong.

This was Qing Lin's second Soul Contract; the first had been with Shuang'er, the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake. Though Shuang'er's strength was weak, she remained Qing Lin's loyal companion.

After completing the Soul Contract, the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake moved before Xiao Yan—after all, the Qi San Hua Tong was not absolute over it; Xiao Yan needed an extra safeguard.

Golden light surged, and a glowing ring appeared over the Qi San Hua Tong mark on the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake's forehead—this was Xiao Yan's backup measure, to prevent rebellion.

Having completed everything, Xiao Yan began fulfilling his promise, saying to the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake: "Enter your Magic Core. I will first fuse your Soul, bones, and Magic Core, then refine for you the Taiyi Treasure Pill to bring you back to life."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake nodded with all nine heads, then transformed into a stream of soullight and plunged into the Magic Core. Seeing the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake enter the Magic Core, Xiao Yan fused the ancestral soul he had just captured into it as well.

The instant the ancestral soul merged with the Magic Core, two massive Soul Powers collided. After about a day, the soul fluctuations gradually calmed. If this Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake couldn't even defeat the suppressed Chi Snake ancestral soul, Xiao Yan had no use for it.

Seeing the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake's Soul Body devour the Chi Snake ancestral soul, replenishing its Soul Power and Bloodline energy, Xiao Yan then cast the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake's massive bones and Magic Core into the undersea volcano, using the volcano's heat to accelerate the fusion of Magic Core and bones.

Xiao Yan clasped his hands together, fusing the Lotus Earth Core Fire and the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Fire into a single red-green anomaly flame: the Ten Thousand Beasts Earth Core Fire.

After all, within the Earth Vein, the Lotus Earth Core Fire was the king of anomaly flames. Xiao Yan's Fire Control Power surged, using the Lotus Earth Core Fire to manipulate the Earth Core veins, while the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Fire activated the demonic beast bloodlines.

Under the terrifying heat of the Ten Thousand Beasts Earth Core Fire, the massive bones slowly shrank—a long fusion process, but Xiao Yan was not in a hurry; he still needed to refine the Taiyi Treasure Pill.

"Qing Lin, you may stand beside it and activate your Qi San Hua Tong to deepen your bond with the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake, preventing it from forcibly breaking free of the Qi San Hua Tong's restraint," Xiao Yan said to Qing Lin.

"Understood, Young Master."

"Wait." Xiao Yan suddenly remembered something and called out to Qing Lin.

Qing Lin's emerald eyes flickered with curiosity as she asked: "Young Master Yan has an order?"

"No, take this." Xiao Yan pulled from the Void Space the blue pendant of the Chi Snake clan and said: "Channel Dou Qi into it—it will generate a special Protective Barrier. In emergencies, it can protect you."

Seeing Xiao Yan produce such a precious item, Qing Lin immediately refused: "No, Qing Lin cannot accept such a valuable thing. Young Master Yan's life is far more important than Qing Lin's. This should be given to Young Master Yan."

Qing Lin's heart warmed, yet she still refused—compared to Xiao Yan, she was nothing but a lowly life.

"What I give as Young Master is not taken back. Come here," Xiao Yan said irritably as he unfastened the pendant's clasp.

"But—"

"It is an order."

Qing Lin's emerald eyes filled with tears. She suppressed the urge to cry, nodded firmly, and walked before Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan gently looped the pendant around Qing Lin's neck, fastened it, and nodded: "Not bad."

Looking at the pendant on her neck, Qing Lin could no longer hold back—large tears fell onto the pendant, then she threw herself into Xiao Yan's arms and wept uncontrollably.

Xiao Yan gently embraced the girl who had always been so insecure and starved for love, stroking her silken hair.

"Enough crying. You still need to cultivate your Qi San Hua Tong," Xiao Yan said softly and tenderly.

Qing Lin said nothing, simply buried her face against his chest and nodded, savoring the broad, warm embrace.

Having arranged everything, Xiao Yan began refining the Ji Pin Taiyi Treasure Pill.

Though also Ji Pin, the Taiyi Treasure Pill was a healing Elixir, still somewhat inferior to the Bodhi Great Restoration Pill that could break cultivation barriers—it was among the easier Ji Pin Precious Pills.

Saying it was "easier" depended on who was refining it. For others, it might take a year or more—but for Xiao Yan, after his reincarnations, it would take less than two months.

Looking up, he saw a dark Black Demon Thunder cloud coalescing over the sea's sky. After gathering for a long while, it roared—Boom! —the Black Demon Thunder descended like a giant python, its terrifying power not only splitting the sea but carving a massive fissure through Space itself.

The massive Black Demon Thunder surged through the sea, aiming to destroy the Elixir. Though fearsome, it was still inferior to the Black Demon Thunder that accompanied the Bodhi Great Restoration Pill.

Seeing the Black Demon Thunder strike like a Dou Sheng's attack, Xiao Yan formed a hand seal, unleashing his full Dou Sheng aura. For the first time, the Founder of the Flame Emperor Seal unleashed it—five anomaly flames fused instantly, the Emperor Seal Technique's five seals merging, the five anomaly flames transforming into five beast-headed, human-bodied divine beasts.

The five divine beasts simultaneously formed five distinct palm seals, which instantly merged into one.

"Flame Emperor Seal!"

A five-colored palm seal appeared in Xiao Yan's palm. Exhausted from the massive consumption of Dou Qi and Soul Power, his face paled slightly, yet his expression betrayed unmistakable excitement.

This was his created Heavenly Rank Advanced Battle Art!

CRASH! He slammed his palm forward—the seal erupted into a pillar of anomaly flame shooting skyward. The terrifying five-colored flame surged upward, instantly swallowing the Black Demon Thunder. The Black Demon Thunder was Heavenly Thunder—but at this moment, even Heavenly Thunder melted, even Heavenly Punishment burned away.

When the Flame Emperor Seal faded, the sea remained torn for a long time. The Black Demon Thunder cloud vanished from the sky, leaving only a vast hole exposing Void Space.

The Elixir, attempting to flee, had no time to escape before Xiao Yan's Soul Force instantly suppressed it.

Reaching Ji Pin Dan Yao level did not instantly grant Dou Sheng power—it merely indicated potential. With cultivation, it could become a Dou Sheng. A freshly forged Ji Pin Precious Pill was barely even a Half-Sheng, easily controlled by Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan looked at the Taiyi Treasure Pill in his palm and nodded in satisfaction. At Ji Pin level, the Pill Fragrance could be smelled even within Void Space, filling the Soul with profound ease.

Sssss! From the undersea volcano, the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake emitted an impatient soul hiss. Its skeletal form had shrunk, and threads of refined blood flowed through its marrow.

Though still a skeleton, its Soul had fused within, and a blood-red Magic Core floated at its center like a core, supplying energy.

"I know you're eager, but don't rush," Xiao Yan smiled, then wrapped the Elixir in anomaly flame and flicked it toward the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake. The Taiyi Treasure Pill pierced through Space, then slowly merged into the Magic Core.

Wooooo! Suddenly, an exotic fragrance spread—the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake's bones visibly began growing flesh, tendons, blood vessels, and nerves—reviving the dead, restoring flesh to bone!

Though the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake was enormous, the Taiyi Treasure Pill's speed was no less. Xiao Yan estimated it would take another half-month to a month before the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake fully refined the Taiyi Treasure Pill—and then… Reincarnation!

Reviving Soul Bodies? Xiao Yan was far too familiar with that.

Xiao Yan's Soul Force swept over Qing Lin and sensed her Soul connection with the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake deepening—and thanks to the reverse feedback from the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake's revival, Qing Lin's cultivation realm had already reached First-Transformation Dou Zun.

If the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake truly fully revived, who knew how high Qing Lin's cultivation might climb?

Xiao Yan took out a brocade box, inside which was the elixir forged from the last pill formula left behind by the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake Sage—meant for Qing Lin to use when she was about to break through to Dou Saint. It was intended to suppress the resentment of the Snake Slave embedded in Qing Lin's Qi San Hua Tong, preventing her mind from being overwhelmed by negative emotions, as had happened with the Bodhi Ancient Tree.

"Qing Lin, if your cultivation realm becomes uncontrollable, take this elixir," Xiao Yan said softly, placing the brocade box before Qing Lin.

"Qing Lin understands," Qing Lin nodded.

After glancing at the progress of the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake, Xiao Yan did not remain here—he needed to return and prepare for the counterattack against the Tianming Sect and the Nine Underworld Dark Python Clan!

After leaving behind the puppet, Xiao Yan sealed off this secret realm with Hai Xin Flame, hiding it deep within the ocean.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yan did not return immediately to the Yan Alliance—he went to one place: the Burning Flame Valley!

Originally, Xiao Yan had no intention of seeking outside help, but those two Dan Beasts were simply useless! Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian had both assumed that Tuan Tuan was nearly ready to produce a Ji Pin Dan Yao, and that one Bodhi Seed would be enough for its evolution.

But after eating the Bodhi Seed, the thing fell into slumber. Though signs of evolution had appeared, no one knew when it would awaken—so Xiao Yan had no choice but to seek reinforcements, since the Tianming Sect possessed a high-level Half-Saint; he needed a backup plan.

In a quiet bamboo grove within the Burning Flame Valley, an old man with fiery red hair sat upon a stone chair, while Tang Zhen, the Valley Master, busily brewed tea.

The reason? Because today, this tranquil bamboo grove had gained an unexpected guest.

"Hey, Xiao Yan, what's your cultivation realm now?" Knowing Xiao Yan had come to the Burning Flame Valley to seek Huo Yun Lao Zu, Tang Huo'er naturally followed along to eavesdrop.

Xiao Yan sipped his bamboo leaf tea and smiled. "A bit stronger than you."

Tang Huo'er actually believed him. She nodded, for she was currently a One Star Dou Zun, assuming Xiao Yan meant he was just a few stars higher—not realizing he meant One Star Dou Saint!

Just ten levels higher.

Tang Zhen and Huo Yun Lao Zu naturally did not believe him, for even Huo Yun Lao Zu, a Two-Star Dou Sheng, could no longer perceive Xiao Yan's cultivation realm.

"Cough! Cough!" Suddenly, Huo Yun Lao Zu burst into violent coughs, his face reddening further. Seeing this, Tang Huo'er stopped chatting with Xiao Yan and hurried over to gently pat his back.

"Still, Huo'er is the best," the red-haired elder said, his complexion improving after her jade hand patted him. He glanced at Xiao Yan. "Xiao Yan, you didn't come here hoping I'd make the Burning Flame Valley join your Yan Alliance, did you?"

"Joining your Yan Alliance isn't out of the question—if you marry Huo'er, I'll agree."

Tang Huo'er, who had just been patting the elder's back, instantly blushed crimson. She struck his back hard with her jade hand and snapped, "Old man, say another word like that, and no one will be there to bury you!"

But unfortunately, Xiao Yan felt no personal affection toward Tang Huo'er, and he had not come to ask the Burning Flame Valley to join the Yan Alliance.

Xiao Yan slowly shook his head. Seeing this, Tang Huo'er pouted and muttered, "Am I that bad?"

Xiao Yan smiled calmly and continued: "Senior Brother, I did not come to ask the Burning Flame Valley to join the Yan Alliance—I came to make a deal with you."

Hearing this, Huo Yun Lao Zu and Tang Zhen both stiffened, their eyes widening—could it be? Could this fellow be a Nine Grade Alchemist?!

"What deal?"

"I can help you resolve your internal injuries."

"Sssss!" Tang Zhen and Huo Yun Lao Zu's eyes widened in shock—damn! Xiao Yan is barely thirty! A Nine Grade Alchemist?!?!

Huo Yun Lao Zu's original strength was early Two-Star Dou Sheng, but due to his internal injuries, his cultivation had regressed to One Star Dou Saint. Only a Nine Grade Alchemist can heal a Dou Saint's injuries!

Huo Yun Lao Zu was no fool—he knew nothing was this simple. After sipping a mouthful of hot tea, his gaze sharpened. "What do you want?"

"I want you to kill someone."

"Who?"

"The high-level Half-Saint of the Tianming Sect—the Tianming Old Demon."

First, three chapters. One more after I get some sleep.

(End of chapter)