Chapter 699: Even a Sage Emperor Isn

The next morning, Xiao Yan saw the sun already high in the sky outside his chamber—no wonder kings never held early court; who could possibly want to rise early?

Night's glow on the marble steps lit palace candles; pearl curtains draped in evening rain veiled fragrant blooms.

Water murmured in the imperial moat, marking the hour's toll; the phoenix carriage returned as twilight smoke slanted west.

A soft rustling sound—Xiao Yan turned his head toward the delicate figure beside him. Qing Lin curled like a cold little snake, pressing against Xiao Yan's body, seeking warmth.

Qing Lin's face radiated serenity, as if some long-held burden had finally lifted—like a flower blooming in quiet peace. Her eyes were closed, long lashes trembling gently, as if whispering a beautiful dream.

Her lips slightly parted, she breathed greedily in Xiao Yan's body heat, murmuring sweet nothings in her sleep; her entire being exuded calm and relaxation, as if utterly lost in her dream, savoring this rare tranquility.

Soft rustling again—Qing Lin's arm curved over Xiao Yan's body, her palm resting lightly on his chest, feeling his heartbeat. Her legs stretched loosely, one bent and draped over the other; from Xiao Yan's view, she looked like a beautiful painting, radiating quiet warmth.

Qing Lin was far more beautiful today than yesterday, and this beauty radiated from within—not merely in her appearance, but in her quiet, composed, confident aura. As if she had found her own world within her dream, a world entirely hers, unique and irreplaceable.

In this moment, Qing Lin was breathtakingly beautiful, heart-stoppingly alluring. Xiao Yan watched her silently, recalling the first time he had ever seen her.

Soon, a sliver of sunlight touched Qing Lin's face; her eyelids fluttered slightly, and she awoke slowly, opening her eyes.

After a moment of drowsy confusion, Qing Lin remembered—and her cheeks instantly flushed crimson. She lifted her head slightly toward Xiao Yan and whispered, "Young Master Yan… good morning."

The shift in their relationship overnight left Xiao Yan unsure how to act. After all, Qing Lin was different from Cai Lin, Xun Er, and Xiao Yixian—he had never initially thought of her as a romantic partner, never envisioned building a family with her.

"Cough, ah, good morning, Qing Lin." Xiao Yan rubbed his nose. He was radiant with vitality; last night, he hadn't needed to lift a finger.

This kind of service was new to him.

With a rustle, Qing Lin grabbed the sheet with both hands, clutching it to her chest—but the thin fabric barely concealed her exquisite, flawless figure.

Slowly sitting up, Qing Lin spoke in a soft voice: "I—I'll go prepare breakfast for you, Young Master."

Xiao Yan glanced outside and said, "You'd barely make it in time for lunch."

Seeing Xiao Yan prepare to rise, Qing Lin hurriedly said, "Young Master, please let Qing Lin bathe and dress you."

Qing Lin stepped straight off the bed, still unclothed, and picked up the clothes on the floor to help Xiao Yan dress.

Watching Qing Lin still treat herself as a servant, Xiao Yan sighed, "Qing Lin, you don't have to act like a maid anymore. I can handle this myself."

Qing Lin shook her head urgently, her eyes filled with resolve: "Young Master Yan, Qing Lin wishes to continue serving you and Sister Cai Lin. This is my own choice."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan had no reply—he simply opened his arms, letting Qing Lin treat him like a mannequin.

Feeling Qing Lin's warmth and determination, Xiao Yan smiled and swept her up in his arms.

【Manual review failed, deleted.】

At that moment, in a secret chamber of the Xiao Realm, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged before a floating strand of Black Flame.

If one looked closely, one could see a sleeping black cat lying within the Black Flame, its fur surging with flickers of Black Flame.

Naturally, this was Mao Wu, Xiao Yan's first Strange Flame—Xu Wu Tong Yan Tian Zi Huo. Of course, Xiao Yan had already devoured the very source of Xu Wu Tong Yan; strictly speaking, Mao Wu could no longer be called a "child flame."

Xu Wu Tong Yan had completely severed its bond with Mao Wu—now, Xu Wu Tong Yan was Xu Wu Tong Yan, and Mao Wu was Mao Wu; there was no connection left between them.

Whoosh—a flame surged upward, warping Space; the source of Xu Wu Tong Yan emerged from nothingness.

Xiao Yan's greatest difference from Tuoshe Ancient Emperor was this: for Strange Flames, Xiao Yan granted them freedom.

Na Ling was like a nest. Though Xiao Yan had refined all Strange Flames, he also used the Burning Scripture and Emperor Soul Scripture to help them gather spiritual energy, transforming them into top-tier Spiritual Flame Fusions—like Xu Wu Tong Yan and Pure Lotus Demonic Flame—with human-like wisdom.

At present, only the source of Xu Wu Tong Yan possessed complete wisdom—indeed, it surpassed ordinary humans.

"Even with your help, it will take years before it fully refines that seed," Xu Wu Tong Yan spoke.

Though the Dou Qi Continent could not elevate Xiao Yan's strength, the legacy left by Tuoshe Ancient Emperor still held some power, capable of granting Xiao Yan slight advancement.

Yet even with Xiao Yan's Burning Scripture aiding the process, the refinement speed crawled like a snail.

Xiao Yan had always held reservations toward Tuoshe Ancient Emperor—he dared not even place the seed directly into Na Ling for refinement, fearing unforeseen consequences. Instead, he planned to let Mao Wu devour it, aiding Mao Wu's evolution to boost his own strength.

"The Great Thousand World…" Xiao Yan's gaze burned as he stared at the peculiar seed within Mao Wu's body, his voice low: "This is merely one seed split from Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's body—and already it's this hard to refine. If it were Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's true body…"

Though Xiao Yan did not know how strong Tuoshe Ancient Emperor truly was, even a glimpse revealed the whole leopard.

If it were Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's true body, Xiao Yan would stand no chance—even if he teamed up with Hun Tian Di, they could not defeat it. Just from this single seed, one might suspect Tuoshe Ancient Emperor had surpassed the Sage Emperor!

Sage Emperors can still cultivate; like Dou Saints, they too can grow stronger, with varying levels of power.

Currently, Xiao Yan and Hun Tian Di were merely newcomers to the Sage Emperor realm—first-star Sage Emperors, or Sage Emperor First Grade. Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's true strength remained unknown.

Yet the fact he left behind such a powerful legacy, plus an Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill, proves his power could not possibly be weak.

Hearing this, Xu Wu Tong Yan's eyes sharpened, a fierce glint flashing—he sought revenge against Tuoshe Ancient Emperor.

"What of the Soul Sovereign?" Xiao Yan asked, looking at the source of Xu Wu Tong Yan.

"The Soul Sovereign is willing to surrender most of their Soul Cultivation Methods and Dou Technique Scrolls, to raise the overall level of the Dou Qi Continent," Xu Wu Tong Yan replied.

In ancient times, the Dou Qi Continent never lacked Soul Cultivation Methods—unlike now, where many didn't even know the Spiritual Soul could be cultivated, let alone that Soul Force had Common Realm, Spirit Realm, Heavenly Realm, and even Emperor Realm tiers.

Even Alchemists didn't know of the Spirit Realm; many were stuck at Seventh-Rank Alchemist, unable to break through because their Spirit Realm Soul Power remained unattainable.

The culprit behind all this was unquestionably the Soul Sovereign.

Monopolies bring big profits—the Soul Sovereign understood this well.

"Good. Regardless, opening the passage must not be rushed."

Xu Wu Tong Yan waved his hand; four rings flew out from the Black Flame. "These are the cultivation methods, Dou Techniques, and Ancient Texts once seized by the Soul Sovereign, Stone Clan, Ling Clan, and Yao Clan from the Xiao Clan—all that could be preserved are here."

Xiao Yan took the four Na Rings, nodded—these were precisely what he needed now.

After Xu Wu Tong Yan departed, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged and activated the Burning Scripture, preparing to attempt Break the Heavens.

The Burning Scripture had now evolved to an extremely high level; Xiao Yan's Dou Qi flowed at an unimaginable speed—he could shatter the continent with a single pulse.

Yet frustratingly, Xiao Yan still could not use Break the Heavens—the Dou Technique left by the Xiao Clan's Sage Emperor.

Even Ancestor Xiao Xuan had no clue. If Xiao Yan, a Sage Emperor, could not comprehend Break the Heavens, only two possibilities remained: either Break the Heavens was fake, or it was incomplete.

Thus, Xiao Yan demanded from the Soul Sovereign the Xiao Clan's assets seized a thousand years ago during its destruction, intending to study them thoroughly.

"Strange… why does Break the Heavens always feel off?" Xiao Yan again channeled the method taught by Ancestor Xiao Xuan—but as always, the Dou Technique felt strangely blocked, as if sealed, like a leaking balloon that could not inflate.

A feeling of strength trapped, unable to be unleashed.

"Sigh, what the hell? Even as a Sage Emperor, there are things I can't do?" Xiao Yan stood up helplessly, shaking his head with a bitter smile—who said becoming a Sage Emperor made you omnipotent?

Xiao Yan searched through all the Scrolls and Ancient Texts brought by Swallowing Flame, but every one of the Xiao Clan's relics was either a Cultivation Method or Dou Technique created by ancient Xiao Clan elites, or records of the Xiao Clan's history—nothing about Po Cangqiong was mentioned.

"This was created by the Xiao Clan's Dou Emperor—he was the first Dou Emperor. Perhaps searching into his history might yield some clues."

"But searching through such ancient history—"

(End of Chapter)