Chapter 581

Xiao Yan squinted his eyes and smiled inwardly; this little phoenix wasn't being honest—claiming the best secret realm in her clan was the Tian Feng Blood Pool.

Xiao Yan now needed to refine the Bodhi Heart and the Huangquan Demon Saint's blood essence; like Cai Lin, he'd best find a place suited to himself for refinement—this would not only improve the refinement process but also boost his cultivation further.

The Jiu You Huang Quan was unsuitable for Xiao Yan; he needed a fire-affinity secret realm, but this Jiu You Huang Quan was water-based and infused with yin-cold energy, completely opposite to him. Though Cai Lin had a Three-Flame Serpent Body, her bloodline was Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent, granting her the ability to devour heaven and earth and the Snake Race's heritage—making Jiu You Huang Quan highly suitable for snakes.

In contrast, the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's Ancestor, the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix and Ancient Heavenly Feng, were both fire-affinity beasts; Xiao Yan had once obtained some Beast Fire from the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, but back then he already had Infernal Flames and hadn't cared for it.

Wan Shou Ling Huo was, in a sense, a type of Beast Fire, but it was born from heaven and earth, not from within beasts; unlike ordinary Beast Fire, which was merely high in infernal heat, Wan Shou Ling Huo possessed special powers and heavenly-earth energy.

"If I refine the Bodhi Heart and Huangquan Demon Saint's blood essence normally, it might take over two years. But there's only two and a half years left before the Jing Lian Yao Huo emerges."

Xiao Yan had no choice—he had acquired resources, but he realized he had resources and yet lacked time; he still needed time to craft the Nine Yin Huangquan Pill to suppress the Jing Lian Yao Huo, to go to Xiao Dan Ta to obtain the pill formula, then to Hun Dian to exchange for the complete Di Hun Jue.

Calculating it all, Xiao Yan had absolutely no time left—his schedule was packed to the brim.

So he needed a place to accelerate the refinement.

He was probably the only oddity on the Dou Qi Continent—he possessed countless Dou Saints' dreamt-of Great Saint blood essence and the Bodhi Heart, plus the complete Jing Lian Yao Huo Ancient Maps, yet still lacked time!

Dou Saints had nothing but time; some lived a thousand years, others even ten thousand; ordinary humans lived only about thirty thousand days; for someone like Xiao Yan, a Dou Saint, two or three years was roughly equivalent to a week for a normal person.

He couldn't even spare a week!

But Xiao Yan didn't alarm the phoenix—he needed to first inquire about BiLuoHeaven, for the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's Clan Leader, Huang Tian, was one of the three strongest on the Dou Qi Continent.

Xiao Yan had only later learned that among the Ancient Dou Di Families, there was an agreement: no powerhouse above Five-Star Dou Saint could interfere in affairs on the Dou Qi Continent.

The reason, it was said, was to prevent the Dou Qi Continent from being over-exploited and stagnating; now that there were no Dou Emperors, the Dou Emperor Families would eventually decline into ordinary clans—this rule was meant to secure a future for later generations.

Thus, the strongest leader of Hun Dian, Hun Mie Sheng, was nearly a Five-Star Dou Saint, while Huang Tian of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan was a Five-Star Dou Saint, and the third strongest was the current guardian of Dan Tower.

As for the current Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Clan, they were truly pitiful—like a husband fanning a fan while his wife (qi) suffered.

After seeing off the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's envoy, Cai Lin and Xiao Yan arrived beside the Jiu You Huang Quan.

"The yin-cold energy within the Jiu You Huang Quan is lethal poison to ordinary humans and beasts, but for your Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent kind, it's a treasure—allowing you to absorb its energy without restraint." Xiao Yan smiled, turning his head to Cai Lin as he gazed at the mist-shrouded Jiu You Huang Quan.

"The yin-cold energy within the Jiu You Huang Quan is no ordinary thing—even the Ancient Heavenly Snake elders of the Jiu You Di Ming Mang Clan dare not venture deep; but for me, it's not much of an issue." Cai Lin smiled faintly, her tone brimming with pride; as the sole Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent alive today, she had every right to look down upon all other serpent beasts.

After all, the greatest power of the Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent wasn't merely controlling Heavenly Thunder—it was the legendary ability to devour heaven and earth.

Due to the loss of the Tun Tian Mang Zong's inheritance, even Cai Lin, after meditating beneath the Bodhi Tree, had not fully grasped the devour-heaven-and-earth ability—only mastering a fraction of its essence.

Cai Lin, having grasped even a little, created a supreme secret technique to absorb Infernal Flames and strengthen her bloodline; though this technique shared similarities with the Heavenly Flame Three Mysteries Transformation, it was not identical.

Even Xiao Yan couldn't estimate how far the so-called "devouring heaven" of the Devouring Sky Serpent could reach—or how terrifying such a being would be!

Xiao Yan smiled; he naturally trusted Cai Lin, for he was the only witness to her journey—he knew better than anyone how many life-and-death trials she had endured to reach this point.

He clenched his palm, and a jade bottle appeared in his hand; within it, dan-clouds swirled, emitting an extremely powerful energy fluctuation.

"This is the Bodhi Great Return Pill—a Nine-Treasure Pill—that increases the success rate of entering Half-Saint by five to six percent. With this pill's aid, your breakthrough to Dou Saint will be seamless." Xiao Yan took Cai Lin's cool, soft, boneless, and tightly toned jade hand and placed the jade bottle into her palm.

Seeing the Bodhi Great Return Pill in her palm, Cai Lin did not refuse; she gently clasped the cool, smooth jade bottle.

"Also, here are some Huangquan Great Saint's blood essence—it will enhance your bloodline power enough to compensate for the Nine-Colored Original Stone's innate deficiencies."

"And this too, take it," Xiao Yan added, opening his right palm, where three Infernal Flames slowly rose from his palm.

They were the blood-red Wan Shou Ling Huo, the transparent Fallen Heart Flame, and the lightning-charged Nine Dragon Thunder Gang Fire—three Infernal Flames!

Xiao Yan's mind shifted, and the three Infernal Flames drifted gently toward Cai Lin. "Though Wan Shou Ling Huo can no longer raise your bloodline rank, it will help you refine the Nine-Colored Original Stone more smoothly."

"Fallen Heart Flame can refine Dou Qi and accelerate your cultivation. And Nine Dragon Thunder Gang Fire—it's dual lightning-fire affinity; as a Three-Flame Serpent Body who controls Heavenly Thunder, it's the most suitable for you—it will help you master the Devouring Sky Serpent's Heavenly Thunder Beast Technique better."

"This cultivation won't necessarily go smoothly, and it will likely take a long time. I'll leave Qing Lin here on the Huang Quan Shan Mai to guard your safety; with Qing Lin and the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake, you can cultivate without worry."

Seeing Xiao Yan give her so much—even three of his most precious Infernal Flames—Cai Lin was momentarily overwhelmed.

"Take back the Infernal Flames—you need them too," Cai Lin shook her head, her beautiful eyes soft as she gazed at Xiao Yan; she refused his kindness, knowing his Fire Lotus Dou Technique grew stronger with more Infernal Flames.

Originally a Heavenly Rank Advanced Grade technique, giving away three would reduce it to Heavenly Rank Intermediate!

"Rest easy—I still have eight Infernal Flames, yet I remain invincible in my rank," Xiao Yan smirked, raising his eyebrows; even if I lost four Infernal Flames, I'm still unbeatable in this world!

But Xiao Yan's confidence wasn't baseless—he wasn't an ordinary Dou Saint; he possessed the Flame Emperor Seal, the Asura Soul Severing Art, and the newly acquired Huangquan Heavenly Rage—he had two Heavenly Rank Advanced Battle Arts, one Heavenly Rank Advanced Spiritual Soul Technique, and a Heavenly Rank Advanced Cultivation Method!

Before obtaining the Jing Lian Yao Huo, the Buddha Fury Lotus could no longer instantly obliterate heaven and earth as before.

Cai Lin's gaze shifted to Xiao Yan; suddenly, her long, alluring eyes lifted, and she stepped forward, her red lips gently pressing against Xiao Yan's mouth.

"Mmmmm!?"

Feeling the sudden softness, Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned, then slowly closed his eyes, accepting the Queen's initiative and tenderness.

Instantly, his arms reflexively wrapped around Cai Lin's slender, boneless snake waist—a true temptation; the supple, sinuous curve twisted gently, radiating a seduction that bewitched all living things.

As Xiao Yan was lost in that softness, the beauty in his arms embraced him tightly, pressing her body against his, tilting her head slightly, whispering softly into his ear.

"When I'm not by your side, be careful. Remember—your life belongs to Wang. If you dare die without my permission, even in the Nine Underworld, I'll drag you back."

Hearing this domineering, almost threatening words, Xiao Yan froze; he turned his head and saw Cai Lin's alluring face—her lips suddenly curved slightly, a curve like the final brushstroke on a painted dragon, transforming the gentle, maternal woman before him into one of cold pride and stubbornness.

Seeing the threat in Cai Lin's beautiful eyes, Xiao Yan was stunned; just as he opened his mouth to speak, she smiled sweetly, her body flickering into the enormous Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent, her massive tail lashing, and without looking back, she plunged into the Jiu You Huang Quan, stirring up colossal waves.

She gave Xiao Yan no chance to speak.

Gulu gulu!

After Cai Lin entered the Jiu You Huang Quan, the lake instantly boiled, bubbling with countless bubbles; Xiao Yan could feel that the entire Jiu You Huang Quan's energy had been stirred awake.

Standing beside the Jiu You Huang Quan, Xiao Yan stared blankly for a moment, then sighed, touching his lips, and gazed with complex eyes at the lake's surface, helplessly shaking his head: "Soon, the Queen whose infamy echoed across the Jia Ma Empire will now make her infamy echo across the entire Dou Qi Continent."

As for Xiao Xiao and Xiao Cai, they were left behind on the Huang Quan Shan Mai instead of returning to Yan Alliance; after all, with Qing Lin here, this place was safer than Yan Alliance.

One day later, at a small city on the border of the Huang Quan Shan Mai, at the inn where the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan had lodged.

"Heh, didn't expect this negotiation to go so smoothly."

In a private room of the inn, the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan members were happily drinking fine sorghum liquor and devouring sweet spiritual fruits.

The One-Star Dou Saint, Ying Huang, took a sip and said coolly: "No surprise—it's true that Yan Alliance has Xiao Yan, the Pill Gathering Champion, but he's merely an eighth-rank Alchemist; without reaching ninth-rank, he can never truly enter the upper echelons."

"In Zhong Zhou, under human control, the Dan Tower's Pill Gathering Champion still holds some influence; but in Shou Yu, it's still us beasts who decide."

Alchemists were highly esteemed in Zhong Zhou, with exalted status, but in Shou Yu their status was not elevated to the same degree—the reason was simple: Shou Yu had no Alchemist Guild.

Except for Transformation Pills and Wild Beast Heavenly Spirit Pills, most Elixirs weren't meant for beasts; beasts generally, like Zi Yan, simply ate Medicinal Materials raw.

And most importantly, it is very difficult for beasts to become Alchemists, so they naturally harbor hatred toward human Alchemists and feel psychologically unbalanced.

In Shou Yu, the attitude toward Alchemists is very strange: beasts verbally despise them, yet inwardly all desire Elixirs, caught in a contradictory mindset.

"Eagle Phoenix Supreme Elder overestimates Alchemists. Even if he were not yet a Nine Grade Alchemist, even if he were one, how many Dou Sages would dare oppose our Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan?"

"Huang He speaks truly—why should we fear an Alchemist and a half-dead Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake? When Clan Leader Huang Tian emerges from seclusion, even the Grand Void Ancient Dragon Clan won't be our match. In the future, all of Shou Yu will belong to our Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan."

"Hahaha, yes!"

Seeing his subordinates drunk and babbling, Eagle Phoenix merely shook his head, but did not refute their words.

Now that the Dou Emperor Families refuse to intervene, only the Soul Palace and Dan Tower can rival the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan—and since the Soul Palace and Dan Tower are mortal enemies, this has allowed the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan to expand relentlessly over the past thousand years, becoming the absolute dominant power in Shou Yu.

The Grand Void Ancient Dragon Clan has fought among itself for a thousand years; this has not merely caused division, but the internal drain has weakened them so severely that they were overtaken by the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan. Added to this, the Dragon Emperor has not appeared in a thousand years, his whereabouts unknown, causing the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan to grow ever more arrogant, the Grand Void Ancient Dragon Clan ever weaker, nearly stagnant.

Had the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan not feared that attacking the Grand Void Ancient Dragon Clan would unite them, they would have already coveted Dragon Island.

Think about it: now on the Dou Qi Continent, Dan Tower and the Soul Palace are enemies, the Grand Void Ancient Dragon Clan is in civil strife, and the Dou Emperor Families refuse to meddle in the Continent's affairs—truly, the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan is the strongest. Their arrogance has reason behind it!

"Hehe, speaking of it, NinePhoenixYoungChief has been inside the Bodhi Ancient Tree for so long—nearly a year now. Will the Young Clan Leader position remain vacant?" At this moment, the same Huang He who had just boasted about the Nine Grade Alchemist asked curiously.

"Supreme Elder Eagle Phoenix, let us in on some news—how will the Young Clan Leader position be decided?" Another Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan member poured Eagle Phoenix a cup of wine and asked.

Eagle Phoenix glanced at these men—he knew full well they were all coveting the Young Clan Leader position.

"A few months ago, Qing returned. According to her, they encountered a Half-Sage automaton; to combat it, our clan's strongest warriors were nearly wiped out. She herself was severely wounded and could not enter the Bodhi Ancient Tree. Only the strongest among them, Jiu Feng, entered the inner depths of the tree—likely inheriting the PusinHeart. It seems he won't return anytime soon. The Young Clan Leader position may be temporarily filled by Jiu Feng."

Hearing Eagle Phoenix's words, everyone present drew in a sharp breath—this news was truly "shocking."

(End of Chapter)