Word Count: 3,146 Words
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Xiao Yan released a heavy sigh. As the sound escaped his lips, cracks suddenly spiderwebbed across the entire small world. The earth rumbled and splintered, shattering into countless fragments!
A suffocating, world-ending saintly might descended upon them all.
BOOM!
Outside, high above Nine Snake Ridge, Venerable Jian and the Sound Valley Dou Venerate both spat blood as their secret observation techniques shattered. The backlash ripped through their bodies with merciless force.
"Venerable! Are you alright?!" Tang Ying cried out in alarm.
Venerable Jian trembled uncontrollably, his hands shaking so violently he could barely grip his sword.
"Dou Saint!!!"
Those two words alone drained the color from every disciple of the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion and Sound Valley. Though the small world's seal blocked the full brunt of that saintly aura from reaching the surface, the residual pressure was enough to make several cultivators collapse, their legs buckling beneath them.
Someone had summoned an elite Dou Saint!
Who had called them remained a mystery, but Venerable Jian knew one thing with certainty: a Dou Saint had indeed arrived!
Figuring out the summoner, however, was simple enough. One only had to wait for the outcome.
Whichever side emerged safely while the other was left without intact corpses would make everything clear.
"We're leaving. With a Dou Saint involved, the result is no longer in doubt."
No one dared linger, much less try to spy on what was happening within. A Dou Saint could obliterate them all with a casual slap, leaving no chance for resistance!
Back in the underground realm of the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent, despair etched itself onto every face, turning features pale and hopeless.
Even Yao Ao, with his peak 9-star Dou Venerate cultivation, could not suppress the tremors wracking his body as overwhelming dread flooded his heart.
An elderly figure emerged slowly from the space behind Xiao Yan. More precisely, he did not emerge through a wormhole. This old man had not twisted space at all; he had simply ignored it entirely!
Only a Dou Saint possessed such an ability.
"A Half-Saint powerhouse!" Yao Ao's words plunged everyone deeper into despair. How could the Yan Alliance possess a Half-Saint?!
Though the title contained the word 'half,' a Half-Saint still belonged to the Dou Saint realm. They could disregard spatial distance and appear instantly wherever they wished!
"Jie Jie Jie, so you're the Tenth Tianzun. This truly opens this old man's eyes!" The old man stepped fully from the void. More intriguing to him than the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent ruins was the revelation that Xiao Yan was the Tenth Tianzun!
After all, Xiao Yan was the Pill Gathering champion! Yet he simultaneously held a high-ranking position in the Hall of Souls. The implications were truly thought-provoking.
"So that's how it is. The chosen one is you..."
Xiao Yan glanced at Third Tianzun Gui Ming, unbothered by his commentary. The moment Gui Ming had been summoned, the fates of the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe members, She Ba Shou, and all the rogue Dou Venerates had been sealed. They were already dead men walking.
Xiao Yan had only half-constructed his spatial barrier, but Gui Ming completed it in a heartbeat, sealing the space utterly. In that moment, Xiao Yan truly understood that even a Half-Saint surpassed a Dou Venerate by hundreds of times.
After all, beyond peak 9-star Dou Venerate lay one-change Dou Venerate, two-change, all the way to nine changes before one could even attempt to break through to Dou Saint!
The nine changes were not complicated. Simply put, they represented nine rounds of condensing and compressing. When a peak Dou Venerate's internal Dou Qi reached saturation with no possibility of increase, the nine changes would begin. They would condense and compress all their internal Dou Qi, creating space within their saturated body for newly generated Dou Qi.
When the Dou Qi reached saturation again, they would continue the process!
This was repeated nine times before reaching great perfection!
Through this compression, the internal Dou Qi would undergo a qualitative transformation, allowing one to leap across that immeasurable chasm and truly enter the Saint Class!
One could only imagine how many times stronger the Third Tianzun was compared to an ordinary peak 9-star Dou Venerate. It was likely more than a hundredfold!
This marked Xiao Yan's first time using the Soul Command Token to summon a Hall of Souls powerhouse!
Even if the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe possessed a Dou Saint, it would prove useless, because Yao Ao lacked a Dou Saint jade slip to call for help!
Gui Ming didn't act immediately. Instead, he surveyed this small world. His eyes narrowed slightly upon spotting the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent skeleton below. "Jie Jie Jie, Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent remains. No wonder... This creature was tremendously powerful when alive."
For even Gui Ming to acknowledge its strength meant this Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent had definitely reached Rank 9 in life and hadn't perished from a failed breakthrough.
His gaze then turned toward Cai Lin. The look sent a chill through her body, and her Heavenly Flames instantly surged in defense.
"Demon Saint essence blood would be quite useful to me. Hand over that Monster Core." Greed flickered across Gui Ming's features. Even for a Half-Saint, properly prepared Demon Saint essence blood could significantly benefit his cultivation.
A flash of hope for survival appeared in Yao Ao's eyes. Could this person not be allied with Xiao Yan after all?!
"Senior!" Yao Ao hurriedly spoke. "If you hand those two women to me, my Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe will surely reward you handsomely! I wonder if Senior has heard of the Spring Blood Crystal? My Nine Serene—"
"Noisy."
BOOM!
Gui Ming waved a dismissive hand. A crushing wave of Dou Saint might crashed into Yao Ao, leaving him grievously wounded and coughing up blood.
Only Xiao Yan remained composed. He stepped forward, positioning himself protectively before Cai Lin while meeting Gui Ming's gaze directly. "This is authority granted by the Hall Chief. What, are you planning to defy it?"
Gui Ming's eyes narrowed, though Xiao Yan's words failed to intimidate such an old monster. He laughed coldly. "Jie Jie Jie, don't try using the Hall Chief to pressure me. I'm only responsible for keeping you alive. I won't lift a finger for anyone else, nor will I follow your orders."
These unyielding words reminded Xiao Yan why he avoided summoning Hall of Souls experts. These fellows were ungrateful wolves who wouldn't release the hawk until they saw the rabbit.
"One Nine Revolutions Heaven-Changing Pill," Xiao Yan stated flatly.
Gui Ming's eyes contracted at the pill's name.
The Nine Revolutions Heaven-Changing Pill was a peak tier 8 pill that could attract nine-colored Pill Lightning! Its effect was simple: any Dou Venerate at peak 9-star or above could use it to advance one 'change' in cultivation.
Moreover, the pill's greatest power lay in its ability to not only grant peak Dou Venerates one change but also advance an early-stage Half-Saint to the intermediate stage!
And Gui Ming was precisely an early-stage Half-Saint.
Pills that could attract Black Demon Lightning belonged to tier 9, but the gap between tier 8 and tier 9 was simply too vast—like the difference between Dou Venerate and Dou Saint—so there were many subdivisions in between.
The Nine Revolutions Heaven-Changing Pill was classified as a quasi-tier 9 pill. It could attract nine-colored Pill Lightning but not Black Demon Lightning, placing it between peak tier 8 and Tier 9 Treasure Pills.
"Jie Jie Jie, excellent!" Joy flashed through Gui Ming's eyes, his laughter booming through the space. Learning that Xiao Yan was the Pill Gathering champion had clarified certain matters.
Long ago, Hun Huzi had searched everywhere for talented alchemists, even approaching the previous Pill Gathering champion, Venerable Yao. Gui Ming knew of this.
Only after Venerable Yao's refusal had Mu Gu and Han Feng been recruited, though both had later died.
Now Gui Ming understood. Those two had died because they had lost their value.
Yao Ao's face drained of all color at Gui Ming's acceptance. Terror filled his eyes as he shrieked, "Senior! I am the Fourth Elder of the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe! Even if you're a Half-Saint, our tribe leader Yao Xiaotian is a true elite Dou Saint!"
Gui Ming sneered at this. "The Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe? Such a pathetic tribe dares compare itself to my Hall of Souls?!"
"Hmph. Disappear."
Gui Ming stretched out his hand toward everyone. A Tian Class Dou Technique erupted instantly, its power far surpassing the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique!
A white light flashed, and the entire world returned to silence.
Only one thought echoed through the minds of the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe members before the end: This Xiao Yan belongs to the Hall of Souls?!
Gui Ming retracted his hand. Every Dou Venerate expert had been annihilated, their soul bodies now clutched in his palm.
Such was the terror of a Dou Saint!
And this was just an early-stage Half-Saint! The weakest kind of Half-Saint had, with a single Tian Class Dou Technique, annihilated over a dozen Dou Venerates, including one at the peak of the 9-star stage.
The scene frightened Qing Lin so badly that her body trembled. She hid behind Xiao Yan, tightly grasping his clothes.
Too terrifying!
Gui Ming's form gradually faded, leaving only his parting words. "Xiao Yan, you truly are very suitable for the Hall of Souls!"
"I hope to receive that Nine Revolutions Heaven-Changing Pill soon. Jie Jie Jie!"
Soon, a deathly silence descended upon the small world. This demonstrated why major factions could not be provoked in the Central Plains; no one ever knew what ancient monsters lurked behind them.
Take Burning Flame Valley—Xiao Yan knew they had a Dou Saint guardian, and a true Dou Saint at that!
Of course, most Dou Saints remained in seclusion or searched for resources, with no time for worldly affairs. Few could obtain a Dou Saint jade slip capable of summoning one.
Gui Ming said Xiao Yan was suitable for the Hall of Souls because he possessed sufficient enticement to make Dou Saints act on his behalf.
Alchemists were not invincible. Their rallying power first required knowing the right people.
When Venerable Yao was ambushed, he had only managed to message Venerable Feng, Xuan Yi, and a few others. He hadn't known other Dou Venerates or Dou Saints.
But the Hall of Souls was different! It was a den of wolves where sufficient benefits could summon many experts, for the Hall of Souls itself was a place that used benefits to rope people in.
Xiao Yan patted Qing Lin's cold hand gently. "It's alright now, Qing Lin. Don't be afraid. See if you can control those three unconscious Strange Serpent Tribe members. They've lost considerable essence blood, so their strength should have decreased."
Qing Lin exhaled in relief. She looked down at the three Strange Serpent Tribe members who had reverted to their original forms and escaped death, then nodded and flew downward.
At this rate, Qing Lin would eventually command entire python armies with a wave of her hand!
Xiao Yan smiled at Cai Lin, whose brows were creased with worry. "It's fine. Just helping refine a pill. Isn't this how an alchemist's appeal is meant to be used?"
Cai Lin was exasperated with him. This was like negotiating with a tiger for its skin.
"Let's see what other surprises these Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent ruins hold. The Rank 9 Monster Core alone isn't enough. I've lost a peak tier 8 pill here." Xiao Yan felt somewhat annoyed, though he hadn't truly lost out. A Rank 9 Monster Core matched a Nine Revolutions Heaven-Changing Pill in value.
Moreover, as an alchemist himself, without middlemen taking cuts, he actually profited greatly. Furthermore, he knew this Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent still harbored a remnant soul. He wondered what benefits it might bring.
His three-faced Asura still required nourishment!
Descending to the skeleton, Xiao Yan and Cai Lin examined it thoroughly. They found unhatched ancient parasite eggs still remaining inside, all of which Xiao Yan incinerated completely.
"Rise!" His Ancient Phoenix Wings beat powerfully.
BOOM!!
Cai Lin transformed into her original form. Combined with all of Qing Lin's serpent slaves exerting their force together, they finally hauled the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent skeleton from the ground.
The earth surged upward the moment it lifted, as if the world itself was being destroyed, like uprooting an entire mountain range. Soil cascaded down in torrents.
A red light flashed with a resonant hum as the skeleton rose. The Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's blood and flesh had indeed condensed into a natural blood pool after its death.
This wasn't essence blood; the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's essence blood resided entirely within the Monster Core. But this essence, condensed from flesh and blood, was perfectly suited for magical beasts to temper their bodies, similar to the Heaven Phoenix Blood Pool.
'As expected, the soul dwells within the skeleton... Looks like Qing Lin must act after all.'
Xiao Yan's Spiritual Strength swept through the area, confirming the blood pool contained no hidden soul. Only the bones remained as a possible hiding place.
Qing Lin's Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils could communicate with the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's remnant soul, but… remnant souls of these ancient beings were often not good!
With a thunderous impact, they tossed the massive, mountain-range-sized skeleton aside.
"Young Master Xiao Yan, Qing Lin isn't afraid. I can do this," Qing Lin said, clenching her small fists, determination blazing in her eyes. She knew her current strength was not enough to properly help Xiao Yan. She wanted to grow stronger, to truly aid him.
If he needed her to lure out that soul, she would gladly do it.
"This is a Clear Heart Pill. Though only middle-grade tier 7, it will help stabilize your mind."
Reassured by Xiao Yan and Cai Lin's presence, Qing Lin smiled and approached the skeleton.
Communicating with this skeleton's soul resembled controlling serpent slaves. She would essentially use her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils to control a serpent body dead for countless years!
The Jade-Eyed Snake Saint had once controlled deceased serpent slaves, and under the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils' power, even death had become an unattainable luxury for them.
Xiao Yan and Cai Lin exchanged glances, both nodding as they prepared for immediate combat.
Cool energy spread through Qing Lin's body as the pill dissolved, stabilizing her spirit. Taking a deep breath, she suddenly opened her eyes. A third Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupil even appeared on her forehead.
A jade-green light instantly shone into the massive skeleton.
Hum!!
The light spread rapidly throughout the enormous frame, and the white skeleton gradually turned a vibrant jade-green.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!
The skeleton began to tremble. From above, it appeared as if it was about to be resurrected. Something stirred within the bones as an unfamiliar Spiritual Strength emerged.
"Here it comes!"
A black giant python soul with nine heads burst from the skeleton, spewing endless black gas!
Hiss hiss!!
With a piercing cry, the massive Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's eyes locked onto Qing Lin. The green light surrounding her began to dim as her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils shifted from green toward black.
Backlash!
"These dead things never mean well!" Xiao Yan was not surprised. The Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent soul clearly intended to seize Qing Lin's Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils for its own rebirth!
"Hmph!" Cai Lin let out a cold snort. If this Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent were alive, none of them would have been able to escape. But this was a remnant soul that had been dead for countless millennia; creating trouble now would prove difficult.
A Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python soul emerged from her body, immediately biting into the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's soul body.
Hiss hiss!!
Even though the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent had been dead for tens of thousands of years, it had been a powerful Rank 9 magical beast when alive. With a violent shake, it threw off the seven-colored python and charged toward Qing Lin.
"Courting death! Soul Lock!"
With a resonant hum, Xiao Yan's Heavenly State Spiritual Strength erupted. Nine black soul chains as thick as pillars shot from the shadow abyss beneath his feet with a metallic clatter.
The nine chains instantly bound all nine heads of the serpent soul.
"A mere soul body dares such arrogance!" Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed. The Emperor Soul Technique circulated as a terrifying amount of Spiritual Strength poured into the three-headed, six-armed Asura shadow!
The black demon shadow's eyes snapped open. Clattering filled the air as the soul chains erupted with devastating power, dragging the massive Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent soul toward the abyss.
Cai Lin's Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python suppressed it from above while Xiao Yan's Asura Soul Reaping Technique attacked from below. The twin forces crushed the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's soul body.
Gradually, Qing Lin's Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils began gaining the upper hand. Three of the serpent soul's nine heads already displayed eyes that had been transformed into Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.
Hiss hiss!!
SNAP!
The Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent suddenly roared toward the sky. Its Spiritual Strength exploded as it bit clean through one of the soul chains, shattering it completely.
"You're nothing but a soul that's been dead for countless years. It's time for my harvest!" Xiao Yan formed a series of hand seals, his gaze sharpening!
Golden light erupted from his shadow abyss. A massive golden hand emerged, grasping fiercely at the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's soul body.
Hiss hiss!!
The moment the golden hand seized it, a powerful suction force surged forth. Soul essence flowed rapidly along the golden arm and into Xiao Yan.
A blurry golden shadow materialized behind him with a resonant hum. The shadow radiated such a sacred majesty that it felt divine. All living beings who glimpsed it would instinctively want to kneel in worship, willing to offer their very lives.
The Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's soul body struggled frantically, trying to break free from the soul chains' shackles. That golden light could actually seize its soul essence!
"Jie Jie Jie, if you were alive, there would be nothing I could do. But as a soul body, you fall under my Hall of Souls' jurisdiction!" Xiao Yan formed another hand seal, and a second large hand reached from the shadow abyss, firmly pressing down on the serpent's soul.
Magical beast souls were inherently weak, let alone one that had been dead for an unknown number of years. Even as a former Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent, it was no match for a High Tian Class Soul Skill.
Large clumps of soul essence continuously flowed into the golden shadow. As more and more of the essence was absorbed, the golden shadow gradually began to solidify.