Word Count: 3,055 Words
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Swoosh!
The newly upgraded Soul Command Token flew from Hun Huzi's hand and landed in Xiao Yan's palm.
Xiao Yan grasped the token and could clearly perceive its changes. A stream of spiritual information flowed into his consciousness.
Achieving the rank of Tianzun meant that even as someone outside the Hun Clan bloodline, he would now receive the same protection afforded to their genius disciples. If he encountered an unsolvable crisis, he could rely on this Soul Command Token to summon a Hun Clan Half-Saint expert to his aid!
It was a situation similar to Xun Er's. The elder named Tong Xuan had constantly protected her in secret, while Ling Ying had merely served as her attendant. The true guardian had been a Dou Saint-level existence!
Of course, the Hall of Souls had no use for failures, so the Soul Command Token could only be used once to save his life. It was essentially a get-out-of-death-free card that could preserve his life on a single occasion!
'A Half-Saint…'
It had to be said, the Hun Clan's power was truly terrifying. Simply becoming a Tianzun granted such formidable protection.
What Xiao Yan did not know was that ordinary Tianzun did not receive Half-Saint protection. It was only because he was an alchemist—his status far surpassing a regular Tianzun—that he was granted a guardian of that level.
A soft hum sounded. Black fog enveloped Hun Huzi's body as he vanished. His final words echoed from the soul path: "The Three Thousand Burning Flame… do with it as you wish."
As Hun Huzi departed, Xiao Yan exhaled in relief and shook his head helplessly. This man was truly worthy of someone who even looked down on the Bone Chilling Flame. 'All techniques below God Class are trash.' Xiao Yan could not bring himself to utter such words.
Excluding the Nine-Colored Lotus Flame, he didn't even possess a single true Tian Class Dou Technique.
However, for someone who had reached Hun Huzi's level and could cultivate the legacy left by Emperor Hun, it was normal to look down on other things. For the Flame Mantra to evolve beyond Tian Class and reach God Class—Xiao Yan didn't know if he would even have the chance in this lifetime.
Meanwhile, Hun Huzi could directly cultivate God Class methods. Why would he bother retraining himself with the Flame Mantra?
Nevertheless, Xiao Yan was grateful for his Flame Mantra. Its unique properties had given him the foundation to compete with the geniuses from the Dou God clans.
The Flame Mantra was designed precisely for the ant to shake the tree!
He lowered his gaze to the Soul Command Token in his palm, now upgraded to Tianzun level. Fierce determination and excitement flashed in his eyes.
One year from now, the Tian Gang Hall!
The Tian Gang Hall was the headquarters of the Hall of Souls. While it was divided into Heaven, Earth, and Human divisions, the true Tian Gang Hall referred specifically to the Heaven Hall controlled by the Hall Chief!
It was the Hall of Souls' most core, most massive stronghold—the one hall that struck fear into the hearts of every faction across the Dou Qi Continent!
His fingers slowly closed around the Soul Command Token. He had finally reached this step!
'My strength is still too weak… Though Hun Huzi didn't explicitly say it, the Hall of Souls headquarters can't possibly be a place of peace and harmony.'
Venerable Yan—no, Yan Tianzun—had spent enough years within the Hall of Souls to understand its nature.
Despite Xiao Yan's impressive strength and his Intermediate Tian Class Flame Mantra, his cultivation level remained relatively low at merely 6-star Dou Ancestor.
While a 6-star Dou Ancestor was by no means weak in the Central Plains, within the Tian Gang Hall, such strength was laughably inadequate.
At this rate, Yan Tianzun might as well change his name to Dan Tianzun.
[TL/N: Dan Tianzun lit. "Bland/Diluted Tianzun". A play on words suggesting his Tianzun title is inflated.]
However, Xiao Yan still had a year, and before him lay an opportunity to increase his strength: the Star Region and the Three Thousand Burning Flame!
Fusing with the flame likely would not evolve the Flame Mantra to High Tian Class, but it had been imprisoned in the Star Region for many years, absorbing stellar power and reaching terrifying levels of strength.
The energy contained within its space was undoubtedly enormous. It was precisely what Xiao Yan needed. This vast energy could propel him forward!
He aimed not only to refine the Three Thousand Burning Flame but also to reach an even loftier goal: Dou Venerate!
…
After nearly a month of festivity, the teeming crowds in Holy Pill City gradually began to disperse following the Pill Gathering's conclusion. Nevertheless, many alchemists still remained, caught up in the lingering excitement.
This Pill Gathering had far exceeded everyone's expectations in terms of intensity. Xiao Yan's miraculous feat—turning the tide when all seemed lost—still made people's blood boil just thinking about it.
Refining a tier 8 medicinal pill in a single day was not merely a matter of speed; it shattered the traditional perceptions held by alchemists.
Over the past month, numerous alchemists had attempted to emulate Xiao Yan by using two cauldrons simultaneously.
However, almost all of them failed. Alchemy traditionally demanded absolute focus; this method of splitting one's attention fundamentally contradicted conventional alchemy.
Of course, some succeeded, such as a 7th-tier alchemist refining a tier 3 pill. That could succeed.
Night gradually enveloped the bustling city. Despite the darkness, the streets remained filled with people, all discussing topics related to the Pill Gathering. Most conversations centered around the champion—that miracle-creating young man named Xiao Yan.
His once relatively unknown name had now been firmly imprinted in everyone's mind. They knew it would not be long before this name would resonate throughout the entire Central Plains.
Throughout the month, the Wind Lightning Pavilion and Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe had gradually fallen silent. An alchemist capable of refining a tier 8 pill that attracted six-colored Pill Lightning would command respect even from peak Dou Venerates.
Such a pill would be effective for those below the Dou Saint realm.
The busiest place in Holy Pill City was undoubtedly the Ye Clan mansion. Rumors about Xiao Yan's relationship with the Ye Clan had spread like wildfire.
Cao Ying and Dan Chen had both come to visit, though Xiao Yan had been absent from the city for the entire month.
Little Fairy Doctor, who had been meditating in her room, felt her eyelashes flutter slightly. She slowly opened her eyes, a smile spreading across her lips as she rose from the bed.
The moment she opened the door, she saw that familiar smile in the Ye Clan's courtyard.
"Are you finished with your business?" she asked in her gentle voice as she emerged from her room.
"Ah, I had to return—the Star Region is about to open," Xiao Yan replied with a helpless shrug. He had only one year before he needed to go to the Heaven Hall.
This time, he absolutely had to obtain the Three Thousand Burning Flame.
Just as Little Fairy Doctor was about to approach him, space distorted and Zi Yan jumped out directly from the void, hanging onto his body.
"Xiao Yan, pills!" Zi Yan giggled as she hugged his neck, demanding her reward.
Xiao Yan gave the girl an exasperated look. Her first concern was demanding pills rather than asking about his well-being!
"Can you wait until I return from the Star Region before I refine pills for you?" Although he had managed to refine a First Start Pill in a single day during the Pill Gathering, that had been under special circumstances while he was in a state of enlightenment.
He would not rush like that under normal conditions, as it would increase the failure rate.
Zi Yan's nose twitched as she looked at him with confusion. "Xiao Yan, why do you have Sister Cai Lin's scent on you?"
!?
Xiao Yan's heart skipped a beat. A scent?! He had bathed thoroughly before leaving!
Just as Little Fairy Doctor's fine brows furrowed and she was about to get closer, Venerable Tian Huo saved the day.
"Xiao Yan, come here for a moment," Venerable Tian Huo called, his expression solemn. This matter had grown too significant for him to handle alone.
Xiao Yan set down Zi Yan and said, "You guys wait for me here. I'll talk to you after I've handled things with Elder Yao."
Feeling somewhat guilty, he walked to a corner with Venerable Tian Huo to 'discuss important business.'
After Venerable Tian Huo's explanation, Xiao Yan understood the situation completely.
It turned out that after Mu Gu lost to him, he had proactively approached the Hall Chief with a proposal: take advantage of the Pill Tower using the Three Thousand Burning Flame to attract countless alchemists, deliberately release the flame to distract the three giants, then launch an attack on Holy Pill City to harvest a massive number of soul bodies.
This Mu Gu fellow knew that after losing, Hun Huzi would abandon him, so he switched allegiance to the Hall Chief to prove he still had value!
Though Venerable Tian Huo was only a Tian Class Protector due to insufficient merit, his strength had already reached peak 3-star Dou Venerate. Thus, he had also received orders from the Hall of Souls to assist in this attack.
'That old bastard Mu Gu again… causing me trouble time and time again.' Murderous intent flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes.
From the Great Meeting of Factions until now, Mu Gu had been like a stubborn leech, refusing to let go!
Now that the Pill Gathering was over and he had claimed the championship, it was time to deal with him. If Mu Gu gained Hun Mie Sheng's trust and protection, things would become more complicated.
"What do you plan to do?" Venerable Tian Huo asked gravely. Although he did not know that Xiao Yan was now a Tianzun, in Hall of Souls matters, Xiao Yan was still his superior.
Crossing his arms, Xiao Yan began to ponder. This situation was not only a crisis but also a potential opportunity to conveniently get rid of Mu Gu for good!
His eyes narrowed, and he said in an icy voice, "We'll play along with their scheme. We'll see how the situation develops, and if there's a chance, we'll get rid of that old bastard Mu Gu!"
Venerable Tian Huo nodded in agreement.
With two days remaining until the Star Region opened, Xiao Yan returned to his room to cultivate the Great Single Soul Skill—his reward for winning the Pill Gathering.
He clenched his palm and a scroll made of dark-yellow, ancient parchment appeared in his hand.
'Only Intermediate Di Class... not even High Di Class.' Xiao Yan shook his head in disappointment. This Great Single Soul Skill was merely an Intermediate Di Class Soul Training Method that could help alchemists reach the Soul State without much trouble.
But relying solely on this technique to reach the Heavenly State was a pipe dream. Xuan Kong Zi's claim about reaching tier 9 likely required additional fortuitous encounters.
'Nevertheless, as a transitional Soul Training Method, this is sufficient. After completing the Hun Clan's ceremony, I can switch to the Emperor Soul Technique.'
Rapidly increasing his Spiritual Strength through this method alone seemed unlikely, but it was still far superior to the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique.
Xiao Yan closed his eyes, immersing his consciousness in the profound Soul Training Method. After a long while, he finally opened them again.
'This Great Single Soul Skill does possess some profound aspects that make it noticeably better than the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique. It absorbs soul light more rapidly as well'
As he carefully studied the technique, he gradually gained a clearer understanding of its cultivation methods.
He was no novice, having already cultivated a High Xuan Class Soul Training Method, and his control over Spiritual Strength was at a master level. Though the cultivation incantation was abstruse, comprehending it was not difficult for him. After some contemplation, previous points of confusion suddenly became clear, giving him a sensation of parting clouds to reveal the moon.
In less than two days, he had already reached the entry level of mastery. This speed of comprehension was astonishing.
…
The two days passed in the blink of an eye as countless people waited in anticipation.
On the third day, as dawn's light began to spill across the horizon, Holy Pill City—which had been relatively calm for two days—once again erupted with activity. Innumerable people rushed toward the Pill Tower. Today was the day when the top ten finishers would enter the Star Region to subdue the Three Thousand Burning Flame. Countless people were extremely curious: could this flame, which had been sealed by the Pill Tower for so many years, truly be subdued this time?
Most people favored Xiao Yan, the miracle-creator, to capture it, though some argued it was impossible since he already possessed a Heavenly Flame.
It was 'common knowledge' that a person could only possess one.
Outside the Pill Tower, crowds had gathered early, filling every street and alley with a sea of heads.
As the sun reached its zenith, two figures finally emerged from the top of the tower and suspended themselves high in the sky.
Xuan Kong Zi hovered in the air, looking down at the crowd below. His low voice resounded throughout this part of the world. "Those who are entering the Star Region, prepare yourselves!"
He and Tian Lei Zi's gazes swept across the crowd, and they sighed in relief when they saw that Xiao Yan had returned in time. After all, they had placed their hopes on him. If even he could not subdue the Three Thousand Burning Flame, they would face serious trouble.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Figures streaked in from all directions, converging in the sky. These were none other than Xiao Yan and the others who had placed in the top ten.
Xuan Kong Zi and Tian Lei Zi's gazes slowly swept across the ten individuals, finally settling coldly on Mu Gu, who wore a sneering expression.
Mu Gu's face twitched slightly when he was faced with their chilling stares, but he showed no real fear. He knew that in front of this massive audience, they would not dare to act against him.
In the end, they indeed did not make a move. The Hall of Souls behind him was simply too terrifying.
Xuan Kong Zi and Tian Lei Zi slowly withdrew their gaze and exchanged glances. This time, the pressure on them was immense. Not only did they need to maintain the Star Region's stability, but they also faced the challenge of having only two people present, as Xuan Yi was absent.
With a nod, they simultaneously began forming hand seals with lightning-like speed. Vast Spiritual Strength fluctuations emanated from their bodies. Soon, the crowd witnessed the empty sky beginning to ripple violently before a pale silver spatial gate materialized before their eyes.
"The First Elder will enter the Star Region with you on this trip. He will explain the rules to you in detail later…"
Xuan Kong Zi glanced at the silver spatial gate, his gaze suddenly sharpening.
"Now, enter!"
At his command, First Elder Qiu Ling, a white-robed alchemist, appeared before Xiao Yan.
He was Song Qing's Master.
As the champion, Xiao Yan naturally took the lead, with Mu Gu following second, then Cao Ying and Dan Chen, and Song Qing after them.
Xiao Yan and Zi Yan had visited the Star Region once before, so the journey held no surprises. The group smoothly arrived before the Three Thousand Burning Flame.
Even Mu Gu was shocked upon seeing the colossal dragon coiled in slumber.
'To think it has reached such a state!' His eyes contracted. This could no longer be called a Heavenly Flame Spirit. It was a complete, living creature!
At least in appearance, it was indistinguishable from a true dragon.
The dragon's heavy breathing frightened the timid Dan Chen, who instinctively hid behind Xiao Yan, her small hand clutching his robe.
Xiao Yan gently stroked her hair, reassuring her. "Don't be afraid. It's sealed and can't break free."
Comforted by his touch, Dan Chen showed a happy smile and was not as timid anymore.
The alchemist-robed Cao Ying felt a twinge of jealousy upon seeing this interaction.
"This is the Three Thousand Burning Flame. However, it is currently sealed. Next, you will take turns to go forward and try to subdue it using gentle means," Qiu Ling said in a deep voice. "Remember, use gentle means. You must not awaken it from its slumber, or your life will be in danger!"
As he spoke, Qiu Ling fixed his eyes on Mu Gu. Meeting his gaze, Mu Gu merely smiled coldly before turning to look at Xiao Yan with a strange glint in his eyes.
Both of them belonged to the Hall of Souls!
"Xiao Yan, as this session's Pill Gathering champion, you shall go first," Qiu Ling announced. All eyes immediately turned toward Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan smiled faintly and did not refuse, nodding his head. He then glanced at Mu Gu to the side. Their gazes collided in mid-air, and both revealed a meaningful smile.
Xiao Yan slowly walked up to the Three Thousand Burning Flame. His large hand gently touched its life-like scales, and his powerful Spiritual Strength entered the giant dragon's body.
Soon, he found a miniature version of an Ancient Void Dragon at the center of the flame. The small fire dragon was coiled up with its eyes closed, as if in a deep sleep.
Having refined many Heavenly Flames, Xiao Yan recognized this as the Three Thousand Burning Flame's Essence Flame. The enormous body surrounding it was merely its fire energy.
The miniature dragon, sensing his Spiritual Strength, suddenly opened its eyes, regarding his spiritual presence with curiosity and wariness.
"Long time no see," Xiao Yan's spiritual voice echoed. "You still remember me, right? I came here once before with a little girl."
The Three Thousand Burning Flame did not let down its guard. It continued to stare intently at his Spiritual Strength, the surrounding Heavenly Flame energy ready to annihilate his soul at any moment.
"I've come to fulfill my promise."