Chapter 63

Two days later, Xiao Yan followed the memory of the Soul Map and ventured into the depths of the Mo Shou Shan Mai.

Leaping over a ravine, Xiao Yan slowly approached a steep cliff face, carefully selecting for a long while before settling on a cave situated four to five meters above ground.

Carefully climbing the damp, slippery rocks, Xiao Yan darted into the preselected cave like a nimble monkey.

"This place isn't bad."

The interior of the cave was slightly cool, yet spacious enough that Xiao Yan living alone was more than sufficient.

After using his powerful Soul Force to explore and finding no traces of Magical Beasts, Xiao Yan finally relaxed, dragging a large boulder from the cliff base to block the cave entrance.

From his Storage Ring, he took out a quilt and pillow, built a simple single bed with wooden slats, and used special glowing gems to provide light—thus forming a rudimentary cave dwelling.

Xiao Yan did not choose this place randomly; it was one of three locations marked on the Soul Map of the Soul Hall as "suspected to contain the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame," all relatively close by, allowing Xiao Yan to use it as a central base to slowly explore the three sites.

Although Xiao Yan's current location was not yet the deepest part of the Mo Shou Shan Mai, he was already encountering Third Grade Magical Beasts, forcing him to act with caution.

Xiao Yan slowly activated the Burning Decree; the version of the Burning Decree refined with the Subflame of Void Swallowing Flame had now become an Arcane-Rank Low-Level Cultivation Method, and the condensation of Dou Qi had grown faster.

"First, cultivate the Flying Dou Technique—better to master an escape method first."

Xiao Yan flipped his palm, and a black Scroll appeared in his hand—the Arcane-Rank High-Level Flying Dou Technique.

Flight—how many youths haven't dreamed of soaring through the skies?

Holding the Scroll in both hands, Xiao Yan licked his lips, untied the finely bound string, and slowly unrolled it.

"This Dou Technique is named Eagle Wings, also known as Purple Cloud Wings. I and several friends spent three years successfully capturing a Flame-Purple Cloud Eagle, used a Secret Technique to extract its wings, and finally formed this Flying Dou Technique for worthy practitioners. This technique was painted by me with Dou Qi before my death, left for those destined to find it. Only one person may cultivate it—remember!"

Xiao Yan noticed that the Purple Cloud Wings depicted on the technique contained a Spirit; the entry requirement for cultivating this technique was to withstand its Spirit attack and integrate the Purple Cloud Wings into one's own Soul.

After reading the entire technique, Xiao Yan felt this Flying Dou Technique was tailor-made for him—the entry barrier was too simple. Slowly extending his hand to touch the pattern on the Scroll, a surge of Soul Force erupted from the image and slammed into Xiao Yan.

"Playing with Soul Force?" Xiao Yan sneered, and his own Soul Attack shot out.

Having mastered the Spiritual Heart Soul Gathering Technique and Soul Techniques, Xiao Yan, facing this weakened and long-sealed evil soul trapped within the scroll, captured it in just a few moves.

The Flame-Purple Cloud Eagle was forced to submit to Xiao Yan's overwhelming Soul Force.

After submission, a warm current gathered behind Xiao Yan's back, and a pair of black eagle-wing tattoos appeared on his spine.

Xiao Yan slowly channeled his Dou Qi, directing all of it to his back; accompanied by intense heat, a pair of dark, one-and-a-half-meter-long Dou Qi wings emerged behind him.

"To fly with the Purple Cloud Wings requires substantial Dou Qi—thankfully, the Burning Decree has evolved to Arcane-Rank."

Xiao Yan controlled the wings to flap slightly, and a faint lift appeared beneath him. As he poured in more Dou Qi, the thrust increased, allowing him to hover in midair.

At his current Dou Shi level, Xiao Yan's maximum flight speed was roughly equivalent to a small car—about eighty kilometers per hour.

Xiao Yan's eyes sharpened, and he mentally roared: "Fire, come!"

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!! The dark Purple Cloud Wings were instantly replaced by Black Flame; Void Swallowing Flame surged from his Storage Ring, flowed through his Meridians, and gathered at his back, forming a pair of enormous, dark fire wings.

They made Xiao Yan resemble a Demon King.

Boom! Like a jet engine blasting Black Flame, the terrifying thrust completely overpowered Xiao Yan's control—he crashed headfirst into the rock wall, leaving a large bump.

"Ow ow ow! Adding Void Swallowing Flame definitely increased power, but the Dou Qi consumption is terrifying."

After halting Dou Qi input, the Purple Cloud Wings reattached to his back, becoming a solid black eagle-wing tattoo—he still needed time to master controlling flight distance, force, and turns.

After applying ointment to the bump on his forehead, Xiao Yan took out the mysterious Residual Map and the Heavenly Flame Ranking Codex from his Storage Ring.

Meow! Mao Wu, who had been listless moments before, instantly bristled and hissed at the sight of the Residual Map; following Mao Wu's gaze, Xiao Yan spotted a faint pink lotus pattern.

If Xiao Yan wasn't mistaken, this faint lotus pattern was likely branded by a Spiritual Flame, explaining why Void Swallowing Flame reacted with such hostility.

Only a handful of Spiritual Flames could provoke such hostility from Void Swallowing Flame.

"Pure Lotus Demonic Flame. Ranked third on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. Has the effect of purifying all things. Its demonic flame shape resembles a lotus, tinged with pale pink. Could this Residual Map be the treasure map for the Pure Lotus Demonic Flame!"

Meow!!!

"You think so too?"

Meow~

"Too bad it's only a fragment—if only the full map existed."

Xiao Yan stretched, pushed aside a portion of the boulder blocking the cave entrance, and warm sunlight spilled across the land; from the cliff's edge, he gazed into the distance—the Mo Shou Shan Mai stretched endlessly, like a green dragon.

He could already imagine his upcoming wild-man lifestyle.

Xiao Yan now had three goals: First, explore the three locations marked on the Soul Map where Fire Attribute Energy was abnormally dense. Second, cultivate the Soul Cultivation Technique, Spiritual Heart Soul Gathering, to minor accomplishment, elevate his Soul Realm to Common Realm Mid-Level, and ensure he could refine Third-Rank Elixirs. Third, cultivate the Flame-Partitioning Devouring Wave Ruler and Roaring Lion's Howl—Roaring Lion's Howl must reach at least minor or major accomplishment to be effective.

Huh! The Purple Cloud Wings emerged behind Xiao Yan; he kicked off, spread his wings, and glided straight down the cliffside, flying toward the Mo Shou Shan Mai below.

"Wuhoo! Mo Shou Shan Mai, I, Xiao Yan, have arrived!"

Roar roar roar!!! Seeing a figure descend, a Second Grade Magical Beast, a giant bear, roared, stood up, and swung its massive paw fiercely at Xiao Yan.

"Hahahaha! Looks like I'm having bear paw for dinner tonight! I haven't eaten braised bear paw in ages!"

"Eight Extremes Collapse!"

Time slipped by more than four months; less than half a year remained until the duel secretly arranged between Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan.

Deep into the night, Xiao Yan crouched behind a rock, gazing at a massive mountain peak in the distance; atop the peak, a large cave entrance was half-hidden by tree branches.

"What a nuisance—this final location is the lair of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King." Standing behind the rock, Xiao Yan cautiously directed his gaze toward the mountaintop, afraid the creature inside would detect someone spying on its lair.

After over four months, thanks to his Arcane-Rank Burning Decree and an accidental discovery of a Fire Attribute Spirit Fruit, Xiao Yan's Cultivation Realm rose from One Star Dou Shi to Three Star.

He had investigated the two closest locations marked on the Soul Map—both turned out to be nonsense.

One was an underground magma river that formed a Profound Fire Crystal Ore Vein—this fire crystal could be used as fuel. The other location was caused by the death of a Fifth Rank Fire Attribute Magical Beast.

Now only one location remained on the map—but the problem was, this lair was completely inaccessible!

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King—a Sixth Rank Magical Beast, comparable to a Dou Emperor—was still alive! Even if the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame was inside its lair, what could he do? This boss was utterly unbeatable!