Word Count: 3,099 Words
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Without question, cultivating the Hall of Souls' techniques required vast quantities of soul essence.
Massive waves of soul essence surged into Xiao Yan, bringing an intoxicating pleasure that rose from deep within his core. Yet that very sensation made his heart sink!
If the true Asura Soul Reaping Technique manifested as this three-faced, six-armed Asura, and the original red-eyed, black-bodied silhouette was merely the first stage, then the complete technique must contain three stages in total.
The first stage had brought excruciating agony, while the second apparently brought blissful pleasure and dangerous obsession.
Hardship breeds survival, while comfort brings destruction. This was the death tribulation of the second stage!
Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed as he studied the golden Asura figure radiating divine light from the shadow abyss below. Soul essence flowed endlessly into it, and those golden arms grew increasingly solid and tangible.
Hiss hiss hiss!!
The Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent thrashed desperately, but Xiao Yan's Asura Soul Reaping Technique proved overwhelming. Combined with his Heavenly State Spiritual Strength, the serpent's attempt to possess Qing Lin had played directly into his trap.
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Xiao Yan was that patient oriole. He had deliberately lured out the serpent soul to feed his Asura.
Hiss!
The Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent fixed him with a gaze full of dread. Against this Soul Skill, all its ancient might counted for nothing.
Its cry seemed to convey a final, defiant thought: If time hadn't eroded most of my Spiritual Strength, a mere Dou Venerate would be nothing! In life, I could have obliterated you with a single breath!
A cold smile curved Xiao Yan's lips as he sensed the serpent soul's fluctuations. "You might've been formidable once, but now you're just soul essence for me to absorb."
Though the sacred Asura silhouette devoured most of the soul essence, Xiao Yan still reaped considerable benefits. His Spiritual Strength, having just entered the Heavenly State, showed signs of steady growth.
The sacred Asura silhouette's power was undeniably, dangerously addictive. A seductive thrill coursed through him, as if a gentle voice whispered: You are no weaker than a Dou Saint. You are a Dou Saint.
The Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's eyes suddenly sharpened with desperate resolve.
BOOM!
Its soul body exploded violently without warning!
It had chosen self-destruction!
A wisp of black mist shot through the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils and burrowed into Qing Lin's body. Between being devoured by Xiao Yan and controlled by Qing Lin, it had clearly chosen the latter!
This desperate gambit caught both Xiao Yan and Cai Lin completely off guard!
"Qing Lin!" Xiao Yan rushed to her side after dragging all the exploded soul fragments into the shadow abyss.
"Is she alright?" Concern filled Cai Lin's voice as she gazed at Qing Lin's tightly shut eyes.
Xiao Yan's Spiritual Strength swept over the unconscious girl. His tension gradually eased. "She's fine. Qing Lin's battling it within her soul. The Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's soul is strong, but it's been dead for years and lost considerable essence in that self-destruction. It's no match for her now. Qing Lin has the upper hand. We'll ask for details when she wakes."
Cai Lin exhaled in relief. This adventure had truly been a close call. Not only had they discovered the legendary ruins and remnant soul of the most savage Ancient Heaven Serpent variant, but they had also clashed violently with the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe.
"News that we killed the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe's Fourth Elder and several Rank 8 experts will spread quickly throughout the Central Plains," Cai Lin said grimly.
The Yan Alliance had grown rapidly and powerfully, naturally attracting many enemies. The Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe, the Profound Sky Sect, and if one counted the Wind Lightning Pavilion and the tangentially connected Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe, they had made far too many foes.
Moreover, Xiao Yan couldn't reveal his Hall of Souls identity yet. Once public, matters would become even more complicated.
"Worrying won't help now." Xiao Yan smiled and took Cai Lin's jade hand, leading her toward the blood pool. "Come, let's see what we've gained."
Cai Lin shot him a sultry glance from beneath her long lashes and allowed him to hold her hand.
At the blood pool's edge, Xiao Yan marveled at the sight before them. "Though ten thousand years have passed, this essence condensed from flesh and blood has barely dissipated. This is a pool of precious blood, far more powerful than the Heaven Phoenix Blood Pool. It's perfectly suited for you."
Cai Lin's red lips parted slightly. Space twisted, and the ruby-like Monster Core materialized before them, warped by spatial strength.
"This is the Monster Core." Cai Lin returned both the core and Heavenly Flames to Xiao Yan. Only he could maximize their value.
"I'll extract the essence blood first." The spatial distortion vanished with a whoosh as Xiao Yan lifted the massive, lake-sized Monster Core with one hand.
His physical strength alone had become astonishing.
The Ten Thousand Beast Flame appeared in his palm with a soft rush. Its terrifying heat, capable of boiling seas and burning mountains, enveloped the entire Monster Core. Under the flame's refinement, the core visibly shrank and condensed.
Hiss!!
Wisps of the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's lingering resentment were forced out by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. With the remnant soul gone, these minor grudges could only be devoured by Mao Wu.
After roughly an hour, Xiao Yan had refined the Monster Core into a beautiful ruby and extracted a head-sized mass of essence blood.
"I'll take this Rank 9 Monster Core," Xiao Yan said with a smile as he stored it away. "The essence blood isn't abundant, but merging it with the blood pool should advance your bloodline to the perfect Heaven Swallowing Python level. You should then be able to fully master the seven-colored Heavenly Lightning."
If Cai Lin could master seven-colored Heavenly Lightning ahead of time, combined with her Heavenly Flame power, even Zi Yan, that Dragon Emperor girl, might struggle against her.
Cai Lin grasped Xiao Yan's hand and shook her head. Her beautiful eyes fixed on him with cool determination. "These are for you. The blood pool is enough for me."
How could she not know what Xiao Yan was doing? Demon Saint essence blood would benefit him too.
Though the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's essence blood was indeed perfect for her, directly enhancing her bloodline and physical strength, Xiao Yan was an alchemist! His refining methods were astonishing, and he possessed numerous Heavenly Flames.
Processing this Demon Saint essence blood and extracting its energy would be trivially easy for him. He was clearly saying this for her sake.
His little scheme exposed, Xiao Yan rubbed his nose. "How about this? Qing Lin also contributed. We'll split it three ways. That should work, right?"
Cai Lin could only nod helplessly. Qing Lin did deserve a share. One person each for the blood pool, remnant soul, and Monster Core, with the essence blood split three ways. It was quite reasonable indeed.
Xiao Yan took one portion and stored it in a blood vial, then tossed the remaining essence blood into the blood pool along with some medicinal liquids to temper the energy.
"What about everything else? Leave it here?" Cai Lin asked.
"Of course not!" Xiao Yan looked shocked. Far too wasteful!
Many medicinal ingredients remained here, along with energy-depleted Monster Cores. They might not need them personally, but the Yan Alliance was a major faction with many mouths to feed.
"But this is the Eastern Region. It'd take Yan Alliance members too long to travel here."
Xiao Yan's eyes crinkled into a satisfied smile, revealing a particularly smug expression.
A soft meow announced the cat's arrival!
~o(=∩ω∩=)m
Meow! Whoosh!!
Mao Wu inhaled deeply, then spewed endless Nihility Devouring Flame toward the sky. The terrifying black flames seemed ready to incinerate the entire world. Endless black fire poured from its mouth, gradually beginning to envelop the entire small world.
"No need for trouble. We'll move it back to the Yan Alliance." Xiao Yan chuckled. The Tenth Tianzun liked to leave nothing behind.
Not a single drop would be spilled!
Harvesting medicinal herbs by the roots? Child's play. The Tenth Tianzun would take even the soil!
Watching Xiao Yan prepare to collect the entire small world into the Nihility Space left even Cai Lin completely baffled.
You're too ruthless!
But Mao Wu truly possessed this ability!
Legend claimed the Nihility Devouring Flame's true body could devour all things in the universe, consuming the very void itself! Given time, Mao Wu could swallow this Dou Saint-created small world whole!
Xiao Yan frantically channeled Dou Qi as Mao Wu's black flames slowly formed a massive dome, gradually enveloping and devouring the entire small world bit by bit.
Three full days and nights passed before the black flames finally covered the entire realm, revealing just how vast this 'small' world truly was.
Gulp!
The black flames vanished with a whoosh, swallowed whole by a tiny black cat. Even the queen who called herself the Heaven Swallowing Python found herself utterly dumbfounded.
Even the Heaven Swallowing Python can't swallow as much as you!
Though Qing Lin had not awakened yet, it did not matter. Xiao Yan could simply carry her back.
As he lifted Qing Lin onto his back, her delicate sleeping face rested against his shoulder. The sensation of her pressed against him made his heart race and his mind wander.
Coincidentally, back in his mercenary days, he had also carried her into an underground cave searching for the Green Lotus Core Flame, only for Cai Lin to claim it first.
Now Cai Lin stood beside him, and Qing Lin had grown up too, with more... presence than before.
Cai Lin's pointed glance made Xiao Yan quickly avert his eyes toward the distance and open a spatial passage back to the Yan Alliance.
As for what happened shortly after—when the Profound Sky Sect, Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe, and Wind Lightning Pavilion formed an alliance against the Yan Alliance—Xiao Yan had no time to concern himself.
Back at the Yan Alliance, Xiao Yan set Yao Ye, Yue Er, and others to lead the alchemists and search teams in the busy work of cataloging medicinal ingredients and resources. This small world was genuinely vast, with bones piled like mountains. Just clearing those bones would be no simple task.
The blood pool, naturally, was relocated by Cai Lin to the Snake-People Tribe's palace chambers for her cultivation and seclusion.
Before long, Qing Lin slowly awakened in her room.
"Qing Lin, you're awake." Sensing her awakening, Xiao Yan and Cai Lin entered the room. Xiao Yan asked with concern, "How do you feel? Did the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's remnant soul affect you?"
Qing Lin's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she mumbled groggily, "It seems... seems like I won."
Xiao Yan and Cai Lin exchanged glances. Xiao Yan's Spiritual Strength swept over her, and his brow creased. He said in a deep voice, "Something's strange. Qing Lin, take off your clothes and let me see."
!!?
Xiao Yan's shocking words made Qing Lin clutch the bedsheets, shrinking back as she gazed at him with watery eyes. She whispered, "Young Master Xiao Yan... do you want Qing Lin?"
Cai Lin's beautiful eyes swept coldly over him. Am I invisible to you?
"That's not what I mean... I sense strange spiritual fluctuations on your back." Xiao Yan coughed lightly. Looking was looking, but he was an alchemist, essentially a doctor. That wasn't his intention!
A misunderstanding!
He was an alchemist! He had medical ethics!
"Oh, oh, Qing Lin understands." Qing Lin slowly released the sheets. Though Xiao Yan claimed otherwise, her cheeks still burned crimson as she turned around and gently undid her buttons with trembling fingers.
Her skin was white, tender, and smooth like fresh snow. With the slightest movement, fabric slid from jade-like flesh, revealing her flawless back.
But Xiao Yan had no mind for other thoughts at this moment, because on Qing Lin's back was something covering it like a tattoo!
"What is this?!" Cai Lin's eyes widened in shock. She could sense this tattoo was alive!
"The Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's soul body... I never expected it could avoid complete control by the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils this way..." Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed. The tattoo's appearance was unmistakably that of the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent.
Even though it was already dead, it was, after all, an ancient ferocious beast and not so easily controlled.
However, the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils was no pushover either. The Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's soul body could only exist in this form, and its power would gradually be absorbed by Qing Lin.
"Alright, Qing Lin, you can put your clothes back on."
"Mm-hmm."
"It shouldn't be a major problem. As long as Qing Lin's strength continues to rise, it won't be able to cause trouble and will eventually be completely absorbed and controlled by the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils." Xiao Yan had no better solution. After all, this thing was not completely out of control; the main control still rested with Qing Lin.
Xiao Yan slowly stood. Though he was an alchemist with Heavenly State Spiritual Strength, approaching tier 9, he was not omnipotent. Some matters were better left to develop naturally.
The following days saw everyone busy with their respective tasks. Xiao Yan had transported an entire ancient ruin, requiring even Venerable Tian Huo to join him in casting a Space Lock. They sealed it within a space near Misty Cloud Mountain.
The members of the Yan Alliance streamed in to begin their work. The medicine hall formed by alchemists from the Ye Clan and Jia Ma Empire's royal family, along with disciples from the Misty Cloud Sect and Xiao Clan, were all dispatched inside. They began the monumental task of cleaning, taking inventory of ancient medicinal ingredients and Monster Cores. Ya Fei would then arrange whether to sell the raw materials directly or refine them into pills as rewards for the Yan Alliance.
This Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent ruin represented massive wealth. Even for a major faction like the Yan Alliance, the income was astonishing. Just clearing those bones would likely take members several years, let alone excavating everything else.
As for Xiao Yan, it went without saying. He now owed the Third Tianzun a pill and needed to cultivate his alchemy skills while accelerating his cultivation.
After properly preparing the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent essence blood, he began using the Fallen Heart Flame and Flame Mantra for refinement, striving to advance his cultivation further.
What this Little Clan Leader didn't know, however, was that something was quietly unfolding in Cai Lin's chambers...
Within the blood pool were two figures of such beauty that words failed to capture them.
The blood pool stretched vast and deep. After the Ten Thousand Beast Flame's refinement, wisps of blood qi permeated the sealed space like crimson vapor.
"Your Majesty... Qing Lin feels this is improper. I should still—" The awakened Qing Lin clutched a large towel against herself, gazing at the peerless figure already immersed in the blood pool as she stammered.
Soaking in the blood pool, her body radiating wisps of seven-colored light, Cai Lin glanced at the timid girl. "This was Xiao Yan's arrangement. The blood pool benefits you too."
"Then Qing Lin understands." Upon hearing it was Xiao Yan's arrangement, Qing Lin slowly entered the blood pool.
The moment she submerged herself, scorching energy tingled across every inch of her skin. The pool contained enormous power that made her body feel as if it were being reforged.
With a hum, her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils activated involuntarily. A green light enveloped her body and slowly absorbed the pool's energy.
Cai Lin observed Qing Lin keeping her distance. "Come here."
Qing Lin wanted to say something, but she knew the queen's word was law. Besides, Cai Lin was the madam, after all. How dare she disobey!
Qing Lin slowly swam over, maintaining a meter's distance with her back against the pool's edge. Though she had followed Cai Lin for some time, it had been purely for Yan Alliance battles with minimal conversation. Now alone together, she still didn't dare meet this notoriously fierce queen's gaze directly.
Back in the mercenary company, this queen's reputation had been absolutely terrifying!
"How long have you known Xiao Yan?"
Qing Lin calculated quietly before answering, "About ten years."
She had known Xiao Yan even before Cai Lin!
Cai Lin studied this timid, innocent girl. Without the Sky Serpent Mansion's interference, perhaps she would have remained by Xiao Yan's side all along.
Not to mention Qing Lin had been Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's designated chamber maid—essentially a child bride!
Cai Lin ceased cultivating and turned her head, asking sharply, "Do you like him?"
!!!?
SPLASH!
Qing Lin shot up abruptly, water cascading from her form in glittering droplets. Pure terror filled her face at the question. Cai Lin was now Xiao Yan's legitimate wife, and they even had children. How could this not frighten her!
Then, realizing her current state, she plunged back into the blood pool with another splash. Only her jade-green eyes remained visible above the surface, hands nervously fidgeting beneath the water.
Finally, she mustered the courage to nod, sending small ripples across the pool's surface.
Cai Lin wasn't surprised. On the Dou Qi Continent where strength reigned supreme, it would be strange if someone like Xiao Yan—with his powerful cultivation and formidable alchemy skills—weren't popular among women.
The soft sound of disturbed water accompanied her as she glided closer. She extended her jade hand and gently wiped the droplets from Qing Lin's flushed cheeks.
"Your Majesty... I..."
"Don't call me Your Majesty anymore. From now on, we'll address each other as sisters. I'll call you Sister Qing Lin."
"That's not acceptable. Qing Lin is just a maid of the Xiao Clan. It's not proper." Qing Lin shook her head frantically. She had always considered herself a servant.
Cai Lin's eyes gradually softened. Her hands moved to gently help tie up Qing Lin's damp hair, the gesture surprisingly tender. "This is an order."
Upon hearing Cai Lin's domineering words, Qing Lin couldn't help but lower her head. Tears of emotion filled her beautiful jade-green eyes as she nodded softly. "Sister... Sister Cai Lin."
"Good girl. After we finish cultivating, I'll take you shopping for clothes and accessories." Cai Lin gently brushed the stray hair from Qing Lin's forehead.