Chapter 642: The Suicide-Seeking Northern Dragon King

Even the Clan Leader might not be able to exit the sealed Demon Fire Space so easily, for it was a space created by the Pure Lotus Demon Saint to seal the Demon Fires—ordinary people couldn't even find it, let alone enter it.

To emerge unscathed from within is simply unimaginable; just avoiding being refined into a Fire Slave is already remarkable!

Otherwise, Gu Yuan and Hun Tian Di would have long since stormed the Demon Fire Space to seize it by force.

And now, Xiao Yan, you emerged from within after only two years—there is only one possible explanation.

"You've obtained the Pure Lotus Demon Fire?" Huo Zhi's beautiful eyes locked onto Xiao Yan; though it was hard to believe, the best explanation now was that Xiao Yan had fully refined the Pure Lotus Demon Fire!

"Xiao Xiao, you stay with your mother for now—Father has some matters to attend to." Xiao Yan patted Xiao Xiao's head and said.

"Understood, Father."

Xiao Yan waved to Xiao Xiao, then nodded to Cai Lin, who stood nearby with visible concern, signaling her not to worry.

Though the Yan Clan is powerful, in this current situation, it cannot afford to divert attention to side issues.

Of the remaining Dou Emperor Families—Soul Sovereign, Gu Clan, Lei Clan, Yan Clan, and Yao Clan—the Yan Clan ranks fourth, only stronger than the Yao Clan, placing it toward the back.

With these hidden currents surging, the Soul Sovereign has begun secretly gathering the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade; how could the other Dou Emperor Families possibly spare any resources? So when Xiao Yan took the Fire Cloud Water Flame from Huo Yao, the vast Yan Clan could only grit its teeth and hold back.

"Come to the Hall to discuss whatever you wish," Xiao Yan said, glancing at Huo Zhi—he couldn't help but admire her courage for coming alone.

With her high-level Half-Sage cultivation, even Nalan Yanran now could defeat her; the Yan Clan might not have time to rescue her.

Of course, Xiao Yan had no intention of going to war with the Yan Clan; their strength, after all, still surpassed the Yao Clan, and the Yan Alliance was far inferior to the Yan Clan.

Xiao Yan had heard from Xun Er that the Yan Clan Leader, Yan Jin, had fused the seventh-ranked Nine Nether Golden Ancestor Fire and the seventeenth-ranked Volcano Stone Flame, giving birth to a new Different Flame rivaling the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, and his Cultivation Realm had reached Late Stage Eight Star Dou Sheng—he was absolutely not someone Xiao Yan could provoke now.

Moreover, he is the Clan Leader of a Dou Emperor Family—he must have cultivated the Yan Clan's Fire Emperor Mystery Scripture, possibly even reached its highest level; even the evolved Burning Scripture could not surpass it by much, let alone fight above his rank.

"I wish to make a transaction with you," Huo Zhi said bluntly.

Xiao Yan sat at the head of the Hall, gazing down at Huo Zhi, and said coolly: "I don't deal with people who hide their faces—take off your veil."

Xiao Yan studied Huo Zhi—just as she had been in the Heavenly Tomb, she wore a fiery red robe, with a Soul Token of the Yan Clan at her waist; the plain red garment suited her with an air of nobility.

Beneath the loose red robes, her perfect curves were still visible—even the voluminous clothing couldn't conceal her peaks and valleys! Tall, slender, gracefully willowy limbs—this woman's silhouette was flawless.

No wonder Huo Xuan had once said that among all Dou Emperor Family members, besides Xun Er, the two most sought-after for marriage were Huo Zhi and Yao Ling—not only were their talents extraordinary, but just by looking at her figure, you knew she was a beauty.

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Huo Zhi's clear, autumn-water eyes flickered.

"What, don't tell me your Yan Clan has some idiotic rule that if you see a woman's face, you must marry her?" Xiao Yan chuckled; if that were true, it would be ridiculous.

Huo Zhi shook her head, her voice cool: "No—I wear the veil simply because I don't want people to judge me by my appearance."

After explaining, she calmly removed the veil covering her face and met Xiao Yan's gaze directly.

No wonder Huo Zhi needed the veil—"Lotus-like face, willow-like brows"—this phrase described her perfectly; her features were like a lotus emerging from water, delicate and enchanting, her eyes shimmering with autumn light, stirring the heart.

With such beauty, it was easy to assume she was merely a pretty ornament.

When Xiao Yan and Cai Lin traveled together in the past, they too drew constant stares—until Cai Lin, unable to bear it, eventually wore a veil herself. Ya Fei, back in the Jia Ma Empire, had countless suitors and drew gossip wherever she walked.

Now, because Cai Lin's fearsome reputation overshadowed her beauty, she didn't need a veil—but if not for that, she'd wear one too.

Especially since she was born into the Yan Clan, a Dou Emperor Family.

But Xiao Yan merely glanced at her with indifference—he'd seen too many beauties; her looks added no extra weight in his eyes, for he'd seen too many, and his eldest wife was still outside teaching their child to cultivate.

"What does your Yan Clan want to discuss with me? For the Fire Cloud Water Flame?" Xiao Yan crossed his legs, gazing calmly at Huo Zhi now unveiled, and asked.

Huo Zhi fell silent for a moment, then raised her eyes to meet Xiao Yan's directly, her voice grave: "Before that, may I ask you one question?"

"Married, three kids," Xiao Yan replied cheekily.

Huo Zhi was momentarily speechless, then forced down her anger and asked: "When you were in the Demon Fire Space, how could you control my Crimson Lotus Karma Fire and Huo Xuan's Eight Wilderness Annihilating Flame?"

Hearing this, Xiao Yan gave a knowing smile: "You've already investigated thoroughly—why ask me? This matter should be clearest to your Yan Clan's high-ups."

The strange events in the Demon Fire Space had made even Huo Zhi and Huo Xuan suspect something was wrong—and now, she was certain.

Xiao Xuan once possessed the Three Infernal Flames—one was Crimson Lotus Karma Fire, the other likely Eight Wilderness Annihilating Flame.

"You truly refined the Pure Lotus Demon Fire?"

Xiao Yan shrugged; since she'd guessed he'd returned, there was no point hiding it. He summoned Xiao Yi.

"Yi Wa." Xiao Yi emerged from Space, riding atop Xiao Yan's head, gripping his hair tightly with both hands.

"Big kid and second kid are outside—this is the third kid."

Xiao Yan wasn't just a father—he was the father of three kids!

"Yi Wa, hehehe."

"Ow, ow, ow! Don't pull my hair!"

Huo Zhi instantly recognized Xiao Yi's true form as the Pure Lotus Demon Fire; though she'd suspected, seeing Xiao Yan interact so harmoniously with it—having fully refined it—still left her incredulous.

He could become the second Pure Lotus Demon Saint—perhaps even stronger than the Pure Lotus Demon Saint!!

Huo Zhi slowly closed her eyes; when she opened them again, her gaze was resolute: "Xiao Yan, if a great upheaval comes to the Dou Qi Continent and all Dou Emperor Families vanish, I hope you will intervene to save the Yan Clan, preserving even a single thread of our bloodline—so we don't go extinct."

Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed slightly; knowing more than others, he felt a flicker of surprise.

This girl sees clearly indeed!

In the future, Dou Emperor Families will almost certainly cease to exist—whether Hun Tian Di succeeds or fails, the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade will trigger a great war; if Hun Tian Di becomes a Dou Emperor, there will be no more Dou Emperor Families—only the Soul Sovereign, and all others will fade into obscurity.

Even if Hun Tian Di does nothing, without new Dou Di Bloodline replenishment, the bloodlines of other Dou Emperor Families will inevitably dry up.

Look at the present: aside from the Gu Clan, the strongest of all other Dou Emperor Families are only Eight-Star Dou Sheng—none have reached Nine-Star. The decay of the Dou Di Bloodline is obvious.

Dou Emperor Families will vanish for certain.

The Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade guarantees a great war among Dou Emperor Families—and only one victor will remain.

If the Dou Emperor Families vanish due to the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade war, then the Yan Alliance will become the largest Faction.

Even if Hun Tian Di eventually becomes a Dou Emperor, the Yan Alliance will still be second.

Indeed, if one must find a Faction to shelter under, a fallback path, the Yan Alliance offers the greatest shade.

Undoubtedly, the events involving the Ling Clan and Stone Clan have made the entire Dou Qi Continent's powerhouses sense something amiss.

And this Huo Zhi is exceptionally wise—she may even suspect a connection between Xiao Yan and the events involving the Ling Clan and Stone Clan. Not that Xiao Yan is the killer—but he is certainly entangled in it.

"If you're willing to agree, I can hand over the Crimson Lotus Karma Fire. Though this Strange Fire was once owned by your Xiao Clan ancestor Xiao Xuan, my Yan Clan has nurtured it for a thousand years—it bears the refining imprint of the Fire Emperor's Scripture. Even Xiao Xuan's power would struggle to break through it."

Huo Zhi's beautiful eyes fixed on Xiao Yan, her gaze filled with a pitiful, pleading look. She had realized, perhaps, that her Yan Clan stood on the brink of annihilation; one misstep, and they would be the next Stone Clan.

"Is this your own decision, or the Yan Clan's collective one?" Xiao Yan asked, looking at Huo Zhi.

"The branch I represent," Huo Zhi replied.

The Yan Clan naturally had many branches, just like the Gu Clan—with the Three Immortals, the Black Annihilation King, and Gu Yuan.

For Xiao Yan, who already possessed the third-ranked Pure Lotus Phantom Fire and the ninth-ranked Three Thousand Yan Flame, the eighth-ranked Crimson Lotus Karma Fire held little appeal—perhaps only enough to add a bit of experience to the Burning Scripture, but not enough to upgrade it, not even with the Eight Wilderness Annihilating Flame added.

Yet Huo Zhi was indeed clever. To Xiao Yan now, the Crimson Lotus Karma Fire held no real attraction—but it had once belonged to Xiao Xuan, and in a sense, it was Ancestor's relic. As Xiao Xuan's spiritual heir, reclaiming the Crimson Lotus Karma Fire was, in fact, his duty.

"Sigh... Regardless, my impression of your Yan Clan isn't bad. Ancestor truly died back then, and the Strange Fire wandering outside doesn't mean anyone was right or wrong—you Yan Clan acquiring it isn't to be blamed." Xiao Yan sighed inwardly and shook his head. The Dou Qi Continent was about to descend into chaos.

"Alright. Regardless, I, Xiao Yan, will do my best to preserve your Yan Clan's bloodline. But as for the future? I can't say for sure. I can only promise I'll do my best." Xiao Yan didn't overpromise—if Hun Tian Di was determined to exterminate the Yan Clan, even he couldn't stop it.

Hearing Xiao Yan was willing to act, Huo Zhi's eyes sparkled with hope, and she smiled. "Thank you."

Normally, seizing a Strange Fire was extremely difficult, since Strange Fires already bore spiritual imprints from refining. But Xiao Yan had cultivated the complete Emperor Soul Scripture; Xiao Xuan had left a spiritual imprint within the Strange Fire; and Huo Zhi had already agreed. Thus, extracting the Crimson Lotus Karma Fire was no great trouble.

About an hour later, Xiao Yan stepped out of the room.

Xiao Yan glanced at Huo Zhi—her face pale, wrapped in blankets, her eyes tinged with a hint of resentment. He felt awkward. He hadn't expected extracting a Strange Fire from within could burn away clothes—this Strange Fire truly specialized in burning garments.

"Stay in the Snake People Empire to recover. Since the Strange Fire was once linked to your spiritual soul, extraction inevitably causes some damage. Later, I'll brew some Soul-Repairing Pills for you."

Huo Zhi's beautiful eyes helplessly met Xiao Yan's—she'd been seen completely naked!

"You... don't tell anyone," Huo Zhi warned.

"Cough, cough—I know nothing," Xiao Yan feigned ignorance. He didn't want any more complications—Cai Lin was still around.

After closing the door, Xiao Yan stared at the crimson Strange Fire slowly rising in his palm. The Crimson Lotus Karma Fire glowed like a ruby, breathtakingly beautiful under sunlight—a strikingly alluring flame, with each flicker forming shapes of crimson lotuses.

"The Crimson Lotus Karma Fire burns the flames of accumulated evil karma—like karmic retribution. It represents suffering and hardship. The more wicked the target, the stronger the flame; if the target is guiltless, its power weakens greatly."

"A Strange Fire whose power changes based on the opponent? How truly strange."

A Strange Fire whose special ability adjusted its strength according to the opponent—Xiao Yan had never seen one before.

"Is that the Crimson Lotus Karma Fire?" Cai Lin walked up slowly, her beautiful eyes fixed on the flame in Xiao Yan's palm.

"Yes. She's seeking a backup plan. Now, the Dou Emperor Families are scheming against each other, and there's the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade—a death sentence." Xiao Yan shook his head. Asking those Dou Emperor Families to abandon becoming a Dou Emperor was like asking them to abandon their identity and their Dou Di Bloodline.

Once they gained such power, they would never give it up.

"Are you going to refine it now?" Cai Lin frowned, concerned. Refining a Strange Fire was always dangerous—even for Xiao Yan, caution was essential. This was swallowing fire into the stomach.

"Not yet. Though I think Huo Zhi wouldn't dare plant a trap in the Crimson Lotus Karma Fire, I'll still be cautious. Let me examine it thoroughly first." Xiao Yan remained as cautious as ever.

Now, every morning when Xiao Yan woke, he saw Cai Lin's beautiful face lying beside him.

But this didn't last long. The day after acquiring the Crimson Lotus Karma Fire, Feng Qing'er sent word of news regarding the Northern Dragon King.

【The Northern Dragon King retains the Dragon Transformation Demonic Array. This sealing array is an ancient forbidden technique of the Grand Void Dragon Clan, created by a supremely powerful elder in ancient times. When activated, all within the array—except the one at the array's core—are shattered into blood, then absorbed and consumed by the core, greatly enhancing the core's power.】

(End of Chapter)