Chapter 640

So when Xiao Yan entered the deepest level of the Tian Fen Lian Qi Ta to forge his body with heart flame, Wu Xu Tian Yan, relying on the existence of its sub-flame, sensed that the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Cave Mansion was right there!

This was something Xiao Yan had never imagined—that the legendary Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Cave Mansion, which countless Dou Emperor Families had yearned for and fought to the death over, was hidden beneath the Jia Nan Academy!!

And this piece of information had reached Wu Xu Tian Yan ahead of time.

Wu Xu Tian Yan slowly approached Xiao Yan, its black hole-like pupils scanning him up and down, then curled into a strange smile: "You resemble that hateful bastard."

Yi!! Xiao Yi bared its teeth, white milk-flame surging toward Wu Xu Tian Yan. The two were naturally incompatible—this was their innate nature.

Facing the Pure Lotus Demon Flame's attack, Wu Xu Tian Yan merely waved a hand and extinguished it.

Due to the nature of the Demon Fire Space, Xiao Yi, though a mature Heavenly Flame with sentience, is utterly incapable of matching Wu Xu Tian Yan's current power. Wu Xu Tian Yan's strength is now beyond Xiao Yan's comprehension.

If not for the Soul Sovereign's spiritual contract on Xiao Yan's body and his life-saving talisman, Xiao Yan would never have dared to come alone to meet Wu Xu Tian Yan.

If the Pure Lotus Demon Flame hadn't been sealed away by the Pure Lotus Demon Saint thousands of years ago, it might have stood a chance against Wu Xu Tian Yan. Now, with its tiny arms and legs, it wouldn't even be enough for one slap.

"Yi Yi!" Xiao Yi clenched its tiny pink fists, teeth gritted—adorable, yet helpless. It truly was weak now, far inferior to Wu Xu Tian Yan.

After being refined by Xiao Yan, the Pure Lotus Demon Flame's power equals Xiao Yan's. As long as Xiao Yan continuously supplies Dou Qi to it, the flame can unleash tremendous strength.

Xiao Yan gently stroked Xiao Yi's small head, calming it, then turned to Wu Xu Tian Yan's true form and asked: "You want me to obtain the Pure Lotus Demon Flame and cooperate with you—what exactly do you want me to do for you, and what can you give me in return?"

Since there's business to discuss, Xiao Yan wasn't opposed to listening.

Mentioning his goal, Wu Xu Tian Yan's eyes flickered with Black Flame—filled with hatred and fury—as it growled: "After entering the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Cave Mansion, I need one thing. Retrieve it for me, and I will help you become an Emperor!"

Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed slightly, sinking into deep thought. The Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Cave Mansion did contain one thing capable of aiding one's ascent to Emperor status—and that thing was what Hun Tian Di had schemed for a thousand years.

Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill.

It seems Wu Xu Tian Yan and Hun Tian Di are not allies—unlike the Pure Lotus Demon Flame and the Pure Lotus Demon Saint back then.

But to Wu Xu Tian Yan's surprise, Xiao Yan shook his head and smiled: "Wu Xu Tian Yan, you told Hun Tian Di the same thing back then, didn't you?"

Jing! Wu Xu Tian Yan stared at Xiao Yan—its eyes, devoid of any sclera, were deeply unsettling.

Xiao Yan smiled coolly; he wasn't afraid of Wu Xu Tian Yan. "You're trying to collect bribes from both sides. That's not honorable."

Xiao Yan wasn't stupid—he could easily deduce that Wu Xu Tian Yan must have leaked the location of the Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill to Hun Tian Di, in exchange for the Soul Sovereign's full support to boost its own power. Wu Xu Tian Yan's current strength is likely second only to Hun Tian Di.

Otherwise, Wu Xu Tian Yan should have been refined long ago, just like the Pure Lotus Demon Flame was.

The second-ranked Heavenly Flame—such a level of flame would never be ignored by Gu Yuan or Hun Tian Di. Only under the protection of the Soul Sovereign, by picking a side, could Wu Xu Tian Yan grow slowly.

The condition for gaining the Soul Sovereign's protection? The location of the Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill—and assisting Hun Tian Di in becoming an Emperor.

Now Wu Xu Tian Yan is throwing this same bargaining chip out again—but Xiao Yan isn't playing by the usual rules. He won't fall for this trick.

If only Xiao Yan knew this secret, he might have helped Wu Xu Tian Yan. But Hun Tian Di has known it for a thousand years. In the end, Xiao Yan might gain nothing—and could even be betrayed by Wu Xu Tian Yan.

Wu Xu Tian Yan is clever—playing both sides like a fence-sitter.

Too bad it's met Xiao Yan, a man with little desire to become an Emperor.

"Wu Xu Tian Yan, you're vastly underestimating Hun Tian Di. If you think this Devouring Seed alone can control him and the entire Soul Sovereign, you're deluding yourself."

Xiao Yan raised his hand, and a tiny black seed slowly floated out. This Devouring Seed would secretly take root in the bloodline, forming a mark similar to the Asura Slave Seal, allowing Wu Xu Tian Yan's true form to control it.

Wu Xu Tian Yan's true form wasn't surprised Xiao Yan found the Devouring Seed hidden within its sub-flame—because Xiao Yan possessed the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, which could purify all negative energies, even the negative emotions of a Dou Emperor, let alone Wu Xu Tian Yan's hidden Devouring Seed.

With a snap, Xiao Yan crushed the black seed. After meeting Hun Tian Di several times, frankly, Xiao Yan didn't trust Wu Xu Tian Yan. Hun Tian Di isn't just a madman obsessed with becoming an Emperor—he's also a genius and a strategist.

If Wu Xu Tian Yan could make Xiao Yan an Emperor right now, Xiao Yan would accept. But a mere promise of assistance? That's too risky.

Even if Xiao Yan could now ally with Wu Xu Tian Yan, the Gu Clan, and Gu Yuan, he still felt deeply uneasy—unable to believe they could defeat the unfathomable Soul Sovereign.

Think back: the Xiao Clan, with Xiao Xuan still alive, allied with the Gu Clan—two families led by peerless experts. Yet in the end, they were defeated by Hun Tian Di's Soul Sovereign in the Heavenly Tomb battle.

Of course, timing, terrain, and Qi Circulation played roles—but the result remains: Hun Tian Di won in the end. What caused it? Xiao Yan didn't know—but he didn't believe it was luck.

The outcome told Xiao Yan: Hun Tian Di has countless tricks and terrifying power. Even the combined Gu and Xiao Clans lost.

Now, even adding Wu Xu Tian Yan won't change that.

In his past life, Xiao Yan already knew the saying "Fortune lies in danger" was incomplete—it had a second line.

"Fortune lies in danger, but so does loss."

"Enough. If your idea of cooperation is this, then forget it—I don't think this deal is worth it." Xiao Yan waved his hand, outright rejecting Wu Xu Tian Yan's "become an Emperor" offer.

He had a beautiful wife waiting at home, elders above and children below—let Hun Tian Di gamble his life with this. He wouldn't join.

Once Hun Tian Di becomes an Emperor, the world will be at peace—and Xiao Yan can happily travel the Dou Qi Continent with Xun Er, Cai Lin, and Xiao Yixian. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

Besides, Xiao Yan already has a spiritual contract with Hun Tian Di—a contract mutually agreed upon, one even the Pure Lotus Demon Flame cannot purify or break, or else it would harm itself.

Most importantly, the collective disappearance of the Dou Emperors remains unresolved. Until the truth is revealed, Xiao Yan absolutely refuses to become an Emperor.

The collective disappearance of the Dou Emperors? That's no good omen at all!

He wants to become an Emperor? Is he mad?

Seeing Xiao Yan turn to leave, Wu Xu Tian Yan suddenly revealed a knowing smile: "Don't you want to know why I sensed the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Cave Mansion?"

"No."

"Don't you want to know where the number one Heavenly Flame is?"

"No."

"Tuoshe Ancient Emperor cultivated the same Cultivation Method as you."

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Xiao Yan's eyes widened instantly. He whirled around to face Wu Xu Tian Yan, his mind reeling—and he braced himself, ready to drop his pride and call Hun Tian Di for help.

No wonder the Burning Art could evolve to Emperor Grade—is this really a Cultivation Method created by a Dou Emperor?!

Is the Burning Art created by Tuoshe Ancient Emperor?

"I remember it's called the Burning Art."

!!!

No wonder this bastard gave me the sub-flame back then!

Xiao Yan's heart sank—he instantly summoned all his Heavenly Flames to envelop his body, his two Divine Grade Bloodlines boiling furiously. He even prepared to fuse the Buddha Fury Lotus. Though Xun Er and Xiao Yixian weren't here, the Buddha Fury Lotus couldn't reach the Emperor Grade Lotus that shattered the Refining Heaven Ancient Formation—but it should still reach near-Emperor Grade. He was ready to fight to the death and flee.

Seeing Xiao Yan's entire body surging with a super flame formed from the fusion of over a dozen Heavenly Flames, the Void Devouring Flame's eyes flickered with a hint of surprise.

However, to Xiao Yan's surprise, the Void Devouring Flame showed not the slightest intention to seize his Cultivation Method, kill him, or steal the source of his Heavenly Flames.

Soon, Xiao Yan understood—it wasn't only because the Void Devouring Flame feared Hun Tian Di, but also because of another more critical factor: the Burning Scripture, Yellow Grade Low.

Yes, the Burning Scripture was a Yellow Grade Low Cultivation Method; to cultivate it, one had to disperse all their Cultivation Realm and start from scratch.

The Burning Scripture was the lowest-ranked and most dangerous Cultivation Method on the Dou Qi Continent!

Xiao Yan had indeed evolved the Burning Scripture, but the version he could replicate was only the Yellow Grade Low Primitive Burning Scripture. He could produce countless copies of the Burning Scripture, yet all would remain Yellow Grade Low.

Because the evolved Burning Scripture evolved through Heavenly Flames and according to the cultivator's own nature—it was fundamentally impossible to create a Scroll of the Cultivation Method.

Even if Xiao Yan were to reincarnate and be given twenty-two Heavenly Flames, he might still dare not cultivate the Burning Scripture again; its risks were immense, and one misstep could lead to eternal ruin.

Moreover, one had to disperse their Cultivation Realm and restart—only a fool would do such a thing.

Even the Medic Sovereign had never cultivated it; Xiao Yan was merely a naive youth, completely ignorant after his transmigration, who saw a Newbie Gift Pack in his storage ring—"Cultivate the Burning Scripture, Receive Bone Spirit Cold Fire"—and blindly rushed into cultivation.

"How do you know so much about Tuoshe Ancient Emperor?" Xiao Yan frowned. Could the Void Devouring Flame have some connection to Tuoshe Ancient Emperor?

Xiao Yan was also curious: why had the Void Devouring Flame's offspring flame sensed that the deepest depths beneath the Sea of Fire held Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's cave, and known that an Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill lay inside?

It was precisely because Mao Wu had possessed a special perception that, after refining the Falling Heart Flame, Xiao Yan did not remain in the Heart Flame Space to absorb Heavenly Flame energy, but instead left all the Heavenly Flame energy for Cai Lin, choosing to dive deeper into the Sea of Fire, where he found the Soul Body of the Flame Sovereign, ultimately causing him to emerge prematurely and arrive in time for the Sect Grand Meeting, where he obtained the Netherworld Poison Flame.

This entire chain of events stemmed from Mao Wu's special perception, which also reached the main body; otherwise, Xiao Yan would have stayed in the Heart Flame Space to absorb Heavenly Flame energy and strengthen his power.

Logically, Tuoshe Ancient Emperor and the Void Devouring Flame should have no connection.

Hearing this, the Void Devouring Flame's eyes darkened with ferocity; it bared its teeth and roared: "Because once, I was trapped by Tuoshe Ancient Emperor in that sunless cave, and ultimately refined into a part of him!"

"A part?" Xiao Yan frowned, sharply catching a key phrase.

"Hehehehe, do you think Tuoshe Ancient Emperor was a human or a beast?" The Void Devouring Flame suddenly let out a sinister Gu Guai Xiao. "Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's true form is a Heavenly Flame. After devouring all other Heavenly Flames, it became Tuoshe Ancient Emperor—the number one Heavenly Flame on the Heavenly Flame Ranking—the Emperor Flame!"

!??

"The number one Heavenly Flame on the Heavenly Flame Ranking is Tuoshe Ancient Emperor???" Xiao Yan froze in place—this was a world-shattering secret!

Immediately, Xiao Yan exchanged a glance with the Pure Lotus Demon Saint beside him; the Pure Lotus Demon Saint, like the Void Devouring Flame, was unique in the world.

"Hehehehe, don't find it strange. Back then, I and the Pure Lotus Demon Saint both fell to Tuoshe Ancient Emperor and were captured. After he broke through to Dou Emperor, he vanished shortly afterward, allowing me and the Pure Lotus Demon Saint to escape from the cave."

"Heavenly Flames inherently possess the instinct to devour one another. The so-called number one Heavenly Flame on the Heavenly Flame Ranking is the victor after all twenty-two Heavenly Flames devour each other."

Xiao Yan murmured: "So the number one Heavenly Flame on the Heavenly Flame Ranking has no fixed name—whichever one breaks free from the constraints and emerges victorious from that brutal mutual devouring becomes the number one?"

"It's like breeding poison insects."

The Void Devouring Flame glanced at the Pure Lotus Demon Saint, whose intellect was still low, and sneered: "After escaping, I and it went our separate ways. It chose the Pure Lotus Demon Saint, while I lay dormant for a thousand years, and during the Net Spirit Clan War, I chose Hun Tian Di when he was still a youth."

The Pure Lotus Demon Saint naturally retained no memories; they were erased in the Demon Fire Space.

No wonder the Pure Lotus Demon Saint had been so furious and vengeful at first, as if wanting to destroy the world—it had once experienced this.

This also explained why Mao Wu possessed the power of the Net Spirit King; Xiao Yan had once investigated the Net Spirit Clan and learned that the Net Spirit Clan had devoured the bloodline power of Dou Emperor Families, been discovered, and then annihilated by a united assault from all Dou Emperor Families.

The Soul Sovereign had participated in that war, and ultimately, the Net Spirit King was slain by the Soul Clan Clan Leader of that era.

Thus, it seemed that Hun Tian Di had colluded with the Void Devouring Flame, secretly letting it devour the Net Spirit King to grow stronger.

"The number one Heavenly Flame on the Heavenly Flame Ranking was born from devouring the others—Tuoshe Ancient Emperor is the number one, and he even cultivated the Burning Scripture—this is truly earth-shattering." This cascade of revelations overloaded Xiao Yan's mind.

(End of Chapter)