Chapter 95: Xiao Yan

Zang Ling Dan is a Fourth-Rank Pill, not merely enabling a Nine Star Dou Shi to break through to Da Dou Shi, but also suppressing unstable Dou Qi, solidifying the foundation, repairing hidden injuries from the breakthrough, and laying the groundwork for advancing to Dou Ling.

After swallowing the Zang Ling Dan, a gentle medicinal force spread through him; after enduring so much pain, suddenly feeling the pill's tenderness made Xiao Yan's eyes well up with tears.

In this world, elixirs are still the best.

The blood-red flame slowly receded, and all the ice in the underground cavern melted under the power of Wan Shou Ling Huo.

Xiao Yan sat cross-legged, his half-closed eyes trembling slightly, then slowly opened.

In his ink-black pupils, faint blood-red flames swirled; after a while, they suddenly surged upward, completely obscuring his eyes—Xiao Yan's pupils had turned into red beast eyes, giving off an eerie aura.

But upon closer inspection, a streak of black was hidden deep within the red.

Xiao Yan clenched his fists; he could distinctly feel the terrifying power contained within this body. Thanks to the Zang Ling Dan's medicinal force, Xiao Yan had broken through to Da Dou Shi; thanks to Wan Shou Ling Huo, his physical body—even under normal conditions—was equivalent to a Third Grade Magical Beast.

After activating Dou Qi Armor, he could withstand attacks from a Da Dou Shi using only his flesh!

Xiao Yan slightly twisted his neck, and immediately, a series of smooth, crackling pops echoed from his bones; hearing the crisp sound, he took a deep breath, his face filled with comfort and bliss.

"The feeling of being a Da Dou Shi is absolutely fantastic."

Looking down, Xiao Yan saw his pale skin, and a hint of helplessness appeared on his face; all that hard-won healthy wheat-colored skin had reverted back.

Seeing his bare body, Xiao Yan chuckled awkwardly and quickly pulled out clothes from his storage ring to put on.

~o(=∩ω∩=) Meow!!

Mao Wu appeared before Xiao Yan through Space, a glistening drop of blood floating above his black paw.

"Why are you giving me a drop of blood? Where did this come from?" Xiao Yan stared at the blood on Mao Wu's paw; he sensed this blood was no ordinary thing.

Meow! Meow~~

"You say you devoured Yao Li's corpse and extracted this?" Xiao Yan looked disgusted; why did you extract corpse oil?!

Xiao Yan pulled out a Pill Bottle, collected the drop of blood, and tossed the bottle into his storage ring; just one drop wasn't even enough for Spirit Refining.

Xiao Yan stroked Mao Wu's warm fur; once a tiny kitten, it was now growing hair. Xiao Yan could clearly feel that the black substance, like fur, was Black Flame—and its Infernal Heat had become increasingly terrifying.

"You've grown stronger, and at least you didn't go bald."

··*

"Barely reaching Mystic Rank High-Level." Xiao Yan activated his Dou Qi; without doubt, the Burnt Decree had evolved again—but Xiao Yan was dissatisfied: having refined the complete Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Flame had only upgraded it from Arcane-Rank Low-Level to Arcane-Rank High-Level.

The evolution difficulty is truly not ordinary; I went to great lengths to refine Wan Shou Ling Huo and still didn't reach Earth Rank.

On the Dou Qi Continent, cultivation methods are undoubtedly the most important; their strength directly affects battle and cultivation.

If two cultivators are at the same cultivation level, but one cultivates a Yellow Class method and the other an Arcane-Rank method, the one with the Arcane-Rank method will far surpass the other in battle endurance.

Furthermore, the difference in Dou Qi quality is immense: if a cultivator of an Arcane-Rank method needs to expend one unit of Dou Qi, the one using a Yellow Class method must expend ten times—or even more—to achieve the same results.

Most importantly, of course, is cultivation speed: when Xiao Yan reached Dou Zhe, he cultivated the Burnt Decree, and back then he had made a tremendous decision.

The Burnt Decree without a Heavenly Flame was the worst cultivation method Xiao Yan had ever seen; despite his talent and diligence, he only advanced one star per year—what a disgrace.

That he could advance one star per year while cultivating the Burnt Decree also proves his genius.

But there was no choice—because the Burnt Decree grants Bone Spirit Cold Fire; without Bone Spirit Cold Fire in his storage ring, Xiao Yan would never have cultivated the Burnt Decree.

Now Xiao Yan has survived the hardest beginning; once he reaches Fifth-Rank Alchemist and refines the Blood Lotus Pill, Bone Spirit Cold Fire will surely cause the Burnt Decree to evolve again!

Xiao Yan believes that eventually, the Burnt Decree will surpass Earth Rank—and even Heavenly Rank!

"I want to know why the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger ultimately chose you—what exactly did you say to it?"

The voice of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King came from nearby; after half a day, the Lion King had melted the ice created by Bone Spirit Cold Fire using his own Purple Crystal Beast Fire.

The chilling cold that reached the depths of the soul had shocked even the fire-type Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, who now fully believed Xiao Yan was backed by a great faction.

But what the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King couldn't understand was why the residual soul of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger had given Wan Shou Ling Huo to Xiao Yan—and transferred all its remaining power to him.

He is the Beast King of the Mo Shou Shan Mai! He is a Sixth Rank Demon Beast, and fire-type—how could he not understand?

Why didn't it choose me!

Xiao Yan looked at the solemn Purple Crystal Winged Lion King and smiled faintly: "Lion King, why must you understand everything so clearly? Life is hard enough without being confused. You only need to know I stand on your side of the Demon Beast Mountain Range."

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King didn't know that when Xiao Yan followed him in, learned the full backstory of Wan Shou Ling Huo, Xiao Yan had already formed his own plan.

The moment Xiao Yan deceived Yao Li and prevented Star Seven Dou Huang Mu Long from acting, Xiao Yan had already sealed his victory.

Xiao Yan crafted two Soul Pills; he swallowed one himself and had Mao Wu carry the other into Wan Shou Ling Huo to awaken the final soul power of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger.

Void Swallowing Flame possesses the ability to devour everything, but Xiao Yan did not let Mao Wu devour YaoAo's Soul Body; instead, he erased YaoAo's soul imprint, returning control of Wan Shou Ling Huo to the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger.

What Xiao Yan said to the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger was brief: "I obtain Wan Shou Ling Huo; the Mo Shou Shan Mai will forever be my friend."

This statement sounded like a promise, but under the circumstances, it was also a veiled threat.

If I fail to obtain Wan Shou Ling Huo, then I become the Mo Shou Shan Mai's eternal calamity!

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King didn't understand—he assumed that since Xiao Yan received Wan Shou Ling Huo, he would still help him fight YaoAo. But in truth, if the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger had chosen the Lion King, Xiao Yan would have turned and fled.

With the power of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger and Wan Shou Ling Huo, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King no longer needed to honor the Transformation Pill promise; Xiao Yan was the weakest party and could never help the Lion King fight YaoAo and Mu Long.

Whether YaoAo lives or dies is irrelevant to Xiao Yan; after all, Wan Shou Ling Huo is not in his hands, and they have no inherent enmity.

Three hundred years ago, the Mo Shou Shan Mai couldn't resist a Seventh-Rank Alchemist; Xiao Yan will wait until he reaches Seventh-Rank before returning to the Mo Shou Shan Mai to claim Wan Shou Ling Huo.

So giving Wan Shou Ling Huo to the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King is a dead end!

The Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger seemed to have many choices, but in truth, there was only one: give Wan Shou Ling Huo to Xiao Yan and help him eliminate YaoAo.

Once Xiao Yan had sorted out all the facts, Wan Shou Ling Huo was already within his grasp; Xiao Yan's gamble wasn't about Wan Shou Ling Huo—he wanted a Seventh-Rank Alchemist's Soul Body.

He gambled that Bone Spirit Cold Fire could freeze YaoAo's Soul Body!

Xiao Yan is greedy; he will go to Wang Du in six months, and with a Seventh-Rank Alchemist's Soul Body, he can trade for good things from the Soul Hall.

Xiao Yan wants a Heavenly Rank offensive Soul Technique!

And he got it—he won the gamble!

"Let's go back; Xiao Yixian has waited long enough."

(End of Chapter)