Chapter 594

"Ah!!"

When Feng Qing'er'er swallowed the elixir, an endless torrent of dark, ominous energy surged from her body, and a vast soul power drilled into her bloodline and spiritual soul.

Xiao Yan's current cultivation realm? A Sage Emperor, with Heavenly Realm late-stage soul force and Nine Grade Alchemist status! His past methods were nothing compared to what he could do now.

Compared to the Seven-Grade Asura Soul Pill he once made, the elixir Feng Qing'er'er just swallowed was immeasurably superior—it wasn't just a Soul Pill capable of summoning Seven Colored Pill Thunder, but also fused with the soul power of the Asura Soul Severing Technique, cultivated to perfection.

This time, not only was the soul force invaded, but the bloodline power was also corrupted.

The agony from soul tearing and bloodline collision was so intense that even Feng Qing'er'er's cultivation level could barely endure it—dark soul forces tore through her entire body in strands.

The unbearable pain caused Feng Qing'er'er to scream out, her mournful cries echoing throughout the room.

"You're a bit too noisy—can't even bear this much pain?" Xiao Yan frowned; the pills he crafted were always good things. Feng Qing'er'er's suffering was simply because the elixir's energy was too immense.

This isn't just about strengthening your soul power—it also purifies impurities from your bloodline, which is why you feel the tearing pain: because it's genuinely removing unwanted elements.

"Sigh, today's youth."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Feng Qing'er'er clenched her silver teeth and gripped her hands tightly; even as her body spasmed from pain, she dared not make a sound.

Fortunately, the agony didn't last long—about the time of one cup of tea—and then it vanished, replaced by a scorching warmth flowing into her body.

Immediately, the severed soul connection reappeared—and with it came a stream of soul information. The Asura Soul Severing Technique is now a Heavenly Rank Advanced Grade soul Dou Technique, and Xiao Yan has already cultivated it to perfection, awaiting only the final tribulation to reach full mastery.

This time, the Asura Slave Seal was countless times stronger than before, capable of directly transmitting soul information—Feng Qing'er'er's every thought and action could no longer hide from Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan naturally sought specific information about Heavenly Phoenix—soon, he saw the scene where Feng Qing'er'er had desperately pleaded with the Three Phoenixes, only to be blasted away by Heavenly Phoenix.

"Good advice can't save a man doomed to die. If it's all for self-interest, then there's nothing left to say." Xiao Yan murmured to himself.

From Heavenly Phoenix's standpoint, his actions were not wrong—it wasn't a matter of right or wrong, only opposing positions. Since that was the case, Xiao Yan had no more hesitation or pity; opposing positions meant no reconciliation, only total annihilation of one side.

Xiao Yan glanced at Feng Qing'er'er. After swallowing the elixir, she was still shaken, breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling, her fair skin flushed pink from the elixir's effect—pale yet radiant, undeniably alluring.

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose. Had he misjudged her? Feng Qing'er'er had indeed tried her best—she hadn't betrayed herself. He cleared his throat twice. "Cough, cough—how long do you plan to remain bare before me?"

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, the still-shaken Feng Qing'er'er finally realized—her cheeks flushed slightly, yet she had no sense of modesty left; before Xiao Yan, she had no dignity.

With a hum, a long dress materialized on her body—but unlike the earlier seven-colored plain gown, this one was deep black, adorned with colorful floral patterns.

Clad in the dark dress, though her figure was covered, her graceful, alluring silhouette remained unmistakable—the curves beneath the black fabric were irresistibly seductive.

Even Feng Qing'er'er herself was stunned by the change in her attire; her eyes flickered with gloom—now, not only her soul, but her bloodline too, bore his color. Alas, how tragic!

Though her bloodline power and soul force had advanced, the price was her entire life—how sorrowful.

Xiao Yan slowly pushed a cup of hot tea toward her and said leisurely, "Drink this tea and leave. Treat today's events as if they never happened. I won't break my promise to you."

Feng Qing'er'er sighed inwardly—she now understood: the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's fate had been inevitable. Once Zi Yan returned to the Grand Void Dragon Clan, conflict was unavoidable—the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan would have to yield.

On the Dou Qi Continent, strength determines supremacy.

Feng Qing'er'er slowly picked up the teacup on the table, her beautiful eyes fixed on Xiao Yan with an unreadable expression, then drained the hot tea in one gulp. Beneath her sleeve, a single tear slipped down as she tilted her head back. When she opened her eyes again, she was a new Feng Qing'er'er—farewell to the past.

"Thank you, Master, for the tea." Feng Qing'er'er knelt slowly, placing the cup down in gratitude.

"I won't make things difficult for you or your clan. Just fulfill your duties properly. Here's my Soul Token—should anything arise, use this to notify me." Xiao Yan tossed Feng Qing'er'er a Soul Token—not an ordinary Soul Sovereign token, but one belonging to one of the Ten Heavenly Lords, equivalent to a common Lord within Xiao Yan's Soul Sect.

Holding the Soul Token, Feng Qing'er'er understood—she had now joined the Soul Sect, becoming this man's subordinate.

"Yes, Qing'er understands." Feng Qing'er'er tucked the Soul Token away and nodded.

Whether the future brought fortune or misfortune, Feng Qing'er'er didn't know—but she had no choice. At least the worst scenario had been avoided: the Phoenix Clan wouldn't be exiled to the desert wastes like Mei Du Sha's clan, left homeless.

With a creak, Feng Qing'er'er, clad in the black dress adorned with colorful butterfly patterns, stepped out the door—and found several Dragon Clan Warriors of the Grand Void Dragon Clan staring at her, locking onto her.

"Let her go."

Xiao Yan's voice echoed from the room. Hearing his command, not a single Grand Void Dragon Clan warrior dared to object. Without doubt, Xiao Yan's status on East Dragon Island now rivaled Zi Yan's—he was the island's second Dragon Emperor!

Feng Qing'er'er bowed deeply toward Xiao Yan, then unfurled her black-and-colorful Yao Huang Wings and departed East Dragon Island. The future of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan still required her careful cultivation—any misstep could mean utter ruin.

After resolving matters with the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, Xiao Yan arrived at Zi Yan's Dragon Emperor Palace, where Zi Yan sat upon the Dragon Throne, handling affairs.

"You didn't kill that feathered nuisance?" Zi Yan looked up at Xiao Yan with authority, asking.

Xiao Yan shrugged, walking slowly toward Zi Yan. "Controlling the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan through a puppet ruler is better than wiping out every single one. With her managing billions of Heavenly Demon Phoenixes, there won't be any trouble."

"Besides, Heavenly Phoenix's current strength is Five-Star Sage Emperor. Before we unify the Dragon Islands, we shouldn't act against the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan. Having a spy is always better."

Zi Yan studied Xiao Yan deeply but didn't argue. Though the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan had aided the North Dragon King, she knew exterminating an entire clan was inappropriate.

Installing a more obedient clan leader was indeed an excellent strategy.

Xiao Yan walked behind Zi Yan, gently lifting a few strands of her gray-white hair, his eyes filled with pity. "You've drained your life force. Even an Eight Grade Peak elixir can't restore it for your Dragon Phoenix bloodline—you need a Nine-Treasure Pill. You must go to Dan Tower soon to seek a pill formula."

To replenish Zi Yan's life force, a Nine-Treasure Pill was mandatory—but Xiao Yan had none on hand. He could only go to Dan Tower to trade for one.

"You're returning to Zhong Zhou? Perfect—I'll go with you." Zi Yan smiled at Xiao Yan's words.

Hearing this, Xiao Yan paused slightly. "You're going to Dan Tower too? East Dragon Island just endured a great battle—wouldn't it be unwise to leave now?"

"No problem. The Three Great Dragon Kings were severely wounded—they won't recover for ages. Besides, I still can't fully summon the Dragon-Slaying Sword. The island's legacy is gone. If I rely on ordinary methods to reach Five-Star Sage Emperor, it'll take decades, even a century." Zi Yan winked at Xiao Yan, grinning. "Hehe, and I feel my cultivation improves faster when I'm with you."

Though Zi Yan wanted to deal with the Three Great Dragon Kings immediately, using the Dragon-Slaying Sword again would drain her life force beyond recovery. And the Three Great Dragon Kings were only wounded—who knew what traps they'd left on the Three Great Dragon Islands? Attacking their home turf is far riskier than defending.

On their home ground, anything could happen. The safest path is to wait until I reach Five-Star Sage Emperor and fully master the Dragon-Slaying Sword before acting.

Zi Yan's words were half-truth, half-bullshit. True: the island's legacy was truly gone. Even with her Dragon Phoenix bloodline, summoning the Dragon-Slaying Sword required Five-Star Sage Emperor. She knew: with Xiao Yan, she'd eat nine meals a day!

With a Nine-Treasure Pill, reaching Five-Star Sage Emperor wouldn't be hard—and right here stood a Nine Grade Alchemist. How could she not cling tightly to this leg?

Of course, part of her also wanted to stay by Xiao Yan's side, to see if she could help him—repaying him for aiding the Dragon Island.

Whether she also wanted to remain near him? That, no one knew.

Seeing the joy and longing in Zi Yan's eyes, Xiao Yan smiled and patted her head. "You want me to craft a Nine-Treasure Pill? The price won't be low. What will the Dragon Emperor Adult offer in exchange?"

Zi Yan flashed her white teeth, grinning as she threw an arm around Xiao Yan's shoulder. "I'll trade you half my empire—how's that?"

"Hahaha! Fine, deal!" Xiao Yan laughed heartily and slapped his palm against hers.

With Zi Yan, a Four-Star Sage Emperor and Dragon Emperor of the Grand Void Dragon Clan, accompanying him, the journey to Xiao Dan Ta or the Pure Lotus Demon Fire would be far more confident.

Even if Xiao Dan Ta discovered his identity and its guardians tried to detain him, teaming up with Zi Yan, he wouldn't fear the Dan Tower's ancient patriarch.

If the Medicine Sage knew Xiao Yan planned to team up with his little companion and cause chaos in Xiao Dan Ta, he'd probably rise from the grave. "You ungrateful disciple! Dan Tower is the holy land of all alchemists on the Dou Qi Continent!"

Three days later, above the azure sky, clouds drifted lazily, and warm sunlight poured down from the horizon, filling all things with a drowsy aura.

With a hiss, the silent sky suddenly rippled, and a spatial rift slowly tore open, from which two figures stepped out slowly.

"Ah! Finally left that damn Dragon Island—how could anyone ever have moved to such a hellhole?" Emerging from the rift, Zi Yan sucked in a deep breath of fresh air, spread her arms wide, and her delicate face wore a look of rapture.

Watching Zi Yan, who instantly reverted to a childlike demeanor the moment she left Dragon Island, Xiao Yan could only sigh helplessly; though she was now Dragon Emperor, this girl still carried her original nature deep within.

"Let's go—I wonder how to get into Xiao Dan Ta." Xiao Yan had no guide now; he only remembered that Elder Xuan Kongzi and Elder Tian Leizi had told him that anyone who could forge an Eight Grade Peak Elixir could enter Xiao Dan Ta and become an Elder there to cultivate.

Xiao Dan Ta was the true core of Dan Tower, the very Holy Land of all Alchemists on the Dou Qi Continent, effectively serving as the "research institute" responsible for elevating alchemical standards across the continent.

The qualification to enter Xiao Dan Ta was Eight Grade Peak—imagine what kind of monsters lurked inside. Yet even an Eight Grade Alchemist who could forge Seven Colored Pill Thunder could enter to study, though without access to Xiao Dan Ta's resources.

Entering Xiao Dan Ta granted not only the resources provided by Dan Tower, but also access to its collection of ancient Pill Formulas.

The incomplete scroll of the Ten Grade Pill Formula that Soul Hall sought was stored within Xiao Dan Ta.

With a hum, Zi Yan shifted form, reverting to her appearance from Jia Nan Academy, then grinned and clung tightly to Xiao Yan's back, clenched her fist, swung her arm, and cried out: "Let's go!"

What could Xiao Yan do about Zi Yan riding him like this? He could only indulge this Dragon Emperor's Majesty.

Xiao Yan glanced around, confirmed the direction, then flew swiftly toward Zhong Zhou's Dan Domain, carrying Zi Yan on his back.

With Xiao Yan's current speed, it was truly terrifying—he leapt across city after city, soon arriving at the familiar Dan Domain.

Unlike when he was a novice Eight Grade Alchemist and a low-level Dou Zong, Xiao Yan was now a late-stage Second Star Dou Sage capable of fighting the Three Great Dragon Kings, and also a Nine Grade Alchemist—truly among the pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent.

After crossing the Dan Domain, Xiao Yan and Zi Yan arrived once more at Sheng Dan Cheng. Not only did Xiao Yan feel moved, but even Zi Yan now bore a touch of nostalgia.

Here was where Xiao Yan first truly gained fame in Zhong Zhou—at the Pill Gathering, he claimed the Champion title with absolute dominance; it was also the day he opened his heart to Cai Lin, the day Xiao Xiao was born, and the day the First Pill became his proof of mastery.

That Pill Gathering indeed stirred many emotions in Xiao Yan.

(End of Chapter)