Chapter 71: Something Has Happened

Xiao Yan looked at his transformed body—not just his flesh, but even his bones and cells had changed.

The Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame had merged into every cell of his body, making Xiao Yan's cells extraordinarily tough. He felt his body filled with a scorching power, stirring an urge to destroy.

If Xiao Yan now used Eight Extreme Shatter, its power might surpass the Earth-grade Dou Technique, Flame Division: Devouring Wave Ruler!

"Indeed, each Strange Flame is profoundly mysterious—there are even Strange Flames that can merge into SpiritFlesh, causing human transformation into demon beast-like forms with bodies rivaling those of demon beasts."

But Xiao Yan soon realized the problem: he hadn't truly obtained the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame; the portion fused into his SpiritFlesh would be exhausted after just a few uses—this tiny bit would run out if used carelessly.

"Using the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame to strengthen my body should rival the Little Purple Crystal Wing Lion King. Though this Spiritual Flame won't last many uses, it can serve as a hidden trump card—combined with Eight Extreme Shatter and Fierce Lion Roar, it should match the combat power of a Nine-Star Essence Refining."

Xiao Yan licked his lips. Strange Flame, Strange Flame—this power was truly mesmerizing. He had already decided: he must go to the Soul Temple in Wang Du.

Xiao Yan hadn't forgotten: Hun Xu Zi had originally ordered him to take the Soul Token to the Soul Temple in Wang Du. But by sheer accident, he'd ended up at the Black Horn Region's Soul Sacrifice Old Shop, passed the Soul Path, and earned the title of Soul Envoy along with a sub-flame of Void Swallowing Flame.

The Purple Crystal Wing Lion King is a Sixth Rank Demon Beast; its lair lies deep within the Mo Shou Shan Mai, far removed from the Black Horn Region and much closer to the Jia Ma Empire's Wang Du.

Perhaps the Soul Temple in Wang Du holds more detailed information about the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame!

The Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame must lie even deeper within the Mo Shou Shan Mai—the question is exactly where.

Xiao Yan was determined to obtain the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame!

"Mao Wu, what about the Born Purple Source Crystal?" Xiao Yan summoned Mao Wu—he hadn't forgotten that Mao Wu had swallowed the Born Purple Source Crystal whole.

Meow~o(=∩ω∩=)m???

Mao Wu feigned not understanding human speech, scratching its chin with its hind leg.

Xiao Yan grabbed Mao Wu and said calmly, "I still need that thing. If you want to keep eating higher-grade Magic Cores and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, give it to me—I plan to use it to refine a Pill."

The Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame would be consumed; Xiao Yan's only option was to slow its depletion. So he intended to refine a Beast Fire Pill using the Born Purple Source Crystal—when transforming into demon beast form, he could use this Pill to supply some Beast Fire, thereby reducing consumption of the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame.

Mao Wu's eyes darted, weighing options. Like a cat expelling a hairball, it vomited out a Born Purple Source Crystal the size of a human head.

Mao Wu must have guessed Xiao Yan might need it, and hadn't dared to keep it for himself.

Meow~~

"I know. I'll give you some later—first, help me open this."

The Born Purple Source Crystal's shell, normally impervious to all attacks except those using Purple Spiritual Crystals, could absorb impact.

But who could possess Void Swallowing Flame?

Mao Wu extended its claw, and with a light touch, the unbreakable shell pierced a small hole.

Xiao Yan pulled out a small jade plate and poured a bit of the Purple Source Crystal from the hole into it.

Meow! Mao Wu's tail swished as it lapped it up, eating with pure delight.

With a flick of his palm, Xiao Yan retrieved the Alchemy Furnace from his Storage Ring, flicked his finger, and a streak of Black Flame shot forth. Soon, fierce Black Flame rose within the furnace.

Xiao Yan took out all medicinal materials containing Fire Attribute Energy and tossed them into the Alchemy Furnace, then controlled the Black Flame to refine the fire-based substances into a red powder.

When the red powder appeared, Xiao Yan drew in a portion of the Born Purple Source Crystal and added it to the furnace, kneading everything into a single mass, finally forming five purple-red Pills.

This couldn't truly be called a Pill—Xiao Yan had merely combined all the Fire Attribute Energy substances with the Born Purple Source Crystal, like rolling dumplings into small spheres.

A normal person who ate this Pill would instantly explode, becoming a living fire. But that was exactly the effect Xiao Yan wanted!

Looking at the five Pills in the Pill Bottle, Xiao Yan couldn't help but smile. He estimated his Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame could only be used about five times—these Pills would let him maintain his demon beast form much longer.

Meow~~ Mao Wu finished eating the Born Purple Source Crystal and stared at the Pill Bottle in Xiao Yan's hand, meowing.

"You greedy cat—what's left for me if you eat it all?"

Xiao Yan tucked the Pill Bottle away—it was his life-saving trump card.

As the Burnt Decision circulated, Xiao Yan began his cultivation. After a while, a hint of bitterness appeared on his face.

"This Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame has already raised my Cultivation Realm by one star."

Only half a year had passed since leaving Wutan City—from the Soul Temple's Soul Path to the Mo Shou Shan Mai, his Cultivation Realm had skyrocketed like a rocket.

From Star Eight Dou Zhe to Five-Star Dou Shi—only half a year!

"Leaving my comfort zone and departing from Jia Nan Academy was the right choice."

Xiao Yan picked up a stick and wrote calculations on the ground. This journey through the Mo Shou Shan Mai could be called a failure—though his Cultivation Realm and combat power had greatly improved, he hadn't obtained the true Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame.

So he needed to plan his next moves in detail.

Xiao Yan stared at the Soul Token in his hand and murmured, "I must go to the Soul Temple eventually—it's in Wang Du anyway. Before I left, Father told me to pay respects at Nalan Jie's mansion, and I really need to settle this engagement matter."

"Wang Du, Jia Ma Empire—this is my final destination for this journey. Afterward, I'll return to Jia Nan Academy."

Xiao Yan couldn't stay outside forever—he had to return to Jia Nan Academy. After all, Xiao Xun'er was still there, and the Falling Heart Flame he longed for was also in Jia Nan Academy.

He thought it over—it would be a good chance to resolve matters with Nalan Yanran.

"I'll head to Wang Du in six months. Afterward, whether or not I obtain the complete Strange Flame, I'll return to Jia Nan Academy and enter the Inner Court."

"That means I have six months left—where else can I improve my Cultivation Realm?"

After pondering for a while, Xiao Yan suddenly chuckled bitterly and shook his head. "I've become obsessed with cultivation—I'm always thinking about it. Maybe I should take a break once in a while."

Xiao Yan realized his mind was too tense, consumed entirely by cultivation—he'd end up achieving nothing.

Whoosh—the sweep of his foot erased the characters written on the ground.

"It's been a long time since I saw my two older brothers—I wonder how their Mercenary Group is doing in Mo City." He stretched, gazing at the sky beyond the Cave, and decided to spend the remaining six months resting—visiting his two brothers striving in Mo City would be a fine choice.

Xiao Yan glanced back at the Cave behind him, no longer clinging to these unusual memories, and with a wave of his hand, blocked the entrance with a massive boulder.

Soon after Xiao Yan left the Cave, a cry of an eagle echoed overhead. He looked up—a giant Blue Eagle descended rapidly before him.

"You're Xiao Lan?"

Xiao Yan saw a long gash on the Blue Eagle's body, blood continuously seeping from the wound—his face darkened.

Xiao Yixian is in trouble?!