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"It looks obedient now only because I've already subdued its core using my soul power. Right now, it's in a state of deep slumber."
Wei Yang explained patiently, "Didn't I already tell you all before? The more beautiful a Heavenly Flame looks on the surface, the more dangerous it tends to be."
"A flame ranked fifth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking… how could it truly be harmless? If it ever unleashes its full power… heh."
"When I first encountered it, it was an entire sea of fire, suspended deep in the void."
"To subdue it, even my Black Sun Burning Heaven Flame nearly got crippled."
Wei Yang glanced sideways at Qing Lin. "Now, do you still dare to try and devour it? That little body of yours—could it handle it?"
"D-devour?!" Qing Lin jolted in shock, her whole body trembling as she shook her head like a rattle drum. "No, no—I absolutely can't!"
Ah Da instantly gave up any thoughts he might've had as well.
Right now, he was just a soul body. Not only was he incapable of refining a Heavenly Flame, even trying to subdue one with his soul would be suicidal.
What a joke—this was a Heavenly Flame with high-level Dou Zun might. As a soul body, attempting to tame it would be no different from seeking death.
When it spread itself out, it became a sea of fire. How was a mere soul like him supposed to suppress that?
And yet—
Ah Da suddenly knelt down, prostrating himself on the ground with deep respect. "This lowly one dares to beg, Master. Please bestow upon me a wisp of the Life Spirit Flame's sub-flame!"
"Oh?" Wei Yang turned his gaze to the kneeling Ah Da.
He immediately understood Ah Da's intentions.
If Ah Da could obtain just one sub-flame of the Life Spirit Flame, his soul form could be continuously restored—and from then on, he'd no longer have to fear the depletion of his soul power.
With the sub-flame, he could draw energy from heaven and earth to rapidly recover his soul force.
In the future, he wouldn't even need any soul-nourishing elixirs—the sub-flame alone would be enough to regenerate his spiritual essence.
Given time, his soul form might even recover to its peak state.
Unfortunately...
"I'd love to give you a sub-flame, but not right now," Wei Yang sighed, shaking his head helplessly. "Back when I first subdued it, I forcibly extracted one sub-flame and a strand of its origin. That alone nearly caused it to go berserk."
"If I try to extract another one now… it will definitely go mad and fight me to the death."
"And with the current gap in strength between us, I really might not be able to hold it down."
"Uh…" Ah Da froze for a moment, then quickly nodded, "It's fine, Master! I can wait. Once Master becomes strong enough to suppress it again, then bestow a sub-flame upon me."
He even threw in a little flattery: "With Master's cultivation speed and talent, reaching high-level Dou Zun surely won't take long!"
"You brat..." Wei Yang chuckled and tapped Ah Da's head, scolding with a smile, "Get up. Don't worry—I never mistreat my own people. When the time comes and I've got benefits to hand out, how could I forget you?"
"Hehehe… Master, you speak the truth," Ah Da grinned as he got up, his face filled with flattery.
With those words from Wei Yang, Ah Da's heart finally settled.
As long as Master didn't forget him, all would be well.
Wei Yang waved his hand. "Alright, enough with the bootlicking. You and Du Jiao, go now—don't get in the way."
Upon hearing this, both Xian'er and Qing Lin instantly blushed, lowering their heads without saying a word.
Ah Da understood immediately. He quickly bowed and backed out—grabbing the dazed Du Jiao along the way.
Du Jiao blinked, standing there without moving, even lowering his head to look at Ah Da with a confused expression.
"You idiot! Hurry up and come with me—don't get in the way!" Ah Da growled through voice transmission.
This dumbass…
Still, Du Jiao didn't budge. He looked over toward Wei Yang and Qing Lin, clearly seeking their confirmation.
Qing Lin was blushing furiously, fiddling with the corner of her clothes, completely lost in thought. Her mind had probably drifted off to who knows where by now.
Wei Yang rolled his eyes.
This Du Jiao… sometimes, he was so dense it was almost unbearable.
Absolutely zero awareness of the situation.
He waved his hand. "Du Jiao, you may go."
"Yes, Great Master!" Du Jiao finally bowed and turned to leave.
Ah Da quickly caught up, still transmitting angry thoughts. "You dumbass, one day you're gonna get me killed!"
"You're the dumb one! I'm not dumb. Master said I'm smart!" Du Jiao retorted through transmission, clearly unconvinced.
The two left the courtyard.
Ah Da stared at Du Jiao in surprise. "Damn, you're actually talking back now? Not bad! Never thought you'd develop some backbone."
He gave Du Jiao an once-over. This guy had always been like a block of wood—beaten, scolded, and never reacting.
But now? Talking back? That was new.
Seems like he's finally growing a brain.
By the lotus pond.
Wei Yang helped the two girls to their feet and said gently, "It's late. Let's head in for the night."
The girls' cheeks were flushed as they lowered their heads, responding with a soft "Mm."
Wei Yang's heart surged with joy.
Could it be…Tonight, he might finally fulfill his wish?
He moved his hand, just about to wrap one arm around each girl and carry them off.
But just then— Qing Lin twisted her waist lightly, gracefully dodging Wei Yang's arm.
She lowered her head and said softly, "You should… keep Sister Xian'er company tonight."
Before Wei Yang could say anything, her figure flashed—and she quickly slipped out of the courtyard.
Wei Yang froze on the spot, the flame of anticipation that had just begun to blaze… instantly doused by more than half.
At that moment, a soft jade hand pinched his ear and gave it a playful twist.
Wei Yang snapped out of it and looked to the girl beside him.
Xian'er rolled her eyes at him and huffed, "What were you fantasizing about? Well? Are we going or not?"
"…Let's go," Wei Yang replied, a little deflated.
"Hmph. So reluctant? Forget it then. You can sleep alone tonight."
With that, Xian'er turned to leave.
"Hey, wait!" Wei Yang quickly chased after her.
Late at night.
Wei Yang tiptoed out of Qing Lin's room, gently closing the door behind him.
Draped in a loose robe, he slowly walked along the garden path.
He looked up at the moon sinking toward the horizon, his face clouded with thought.
Hun Clan. Hall of Souls.
Those were names he would have to confront sooner or later.
There was no running. He never planned to run.
Whether it was for the struggle for Dao, or to help someone out of loyalty and bonds, or even just for survival—facing the Hun Clan was inevitable.
And when that happened, it would be a fight to the death.
Hun Tiandi… must die.
The Hun Clan… must be destroyed.
Did people really think they could just avoid the disaster of Hun Tiandi's blood ritual across Central Plains by hiding in some remote corner?
Naive.
That was never going to happen.
This was no longer the same timeline, and because of Wei Yang's appearance, some events had already been altered.
Whether Xiao Yan could still successfully become a Dou Di—even Wei Yang couldn't say for sure anymore.
If, by chance, Hun Tiandi ascended instead… then Wei Yang truly didn't see any possibility of survival.
Just look at what happened to the Eight Ancient Clans.
And someone who would dare to sacrifice the entire Central Plains in a blood ritual—what compassion could you possibly expect from a man like that?
Wei Yang couldn't imagine that Hun Tiandi, after becoming a Dou Di, would let other Dou Sheng cultivators roam free.
Even enslavement might be considered a merciful outcome.
One thing was certain:
Hun Tiandi wouldn't leave behind a single being capable of threatening his rule.
Not before he left the realm.
Before he shattered the void and departed this world, he would make sure to eliminate all potential threats.
Anyone who refused to submit—would die. His goal was to turn the entire Dou Qi Continent into his own personal domain.
Only then would he feel at ease breaking through to the next realm.
If it came down to choosing between Hun Tiandi and Xiao Yan…even without thinking, Wei Yang would choose Xiao Yan.
At least if Xiao Yan became Emperor, he wouldn't go so far as to destroy everything.
If Wei Yang hadn't ascended by then, there'd still be a future for him.
But Hun Tiandi?
No Dou Sheng would survive under his rule. Maybe even high-level Dou Zuns wouldn't make it.
They would either submit and become slaves…Or die. Unless, by that time, Wei Yang was still too weak—a nobody not worth noticing.
Maybe then, Hun Tiandi would spare him. He could grovel at the man's feet, live quietly under the regime, and perhaps live out his life in peace.
Or—
Wei Yang could simply give up on becoming Dou Di. Abandon the ambition, reject the Origin Qi, and just… fade into the background.
Otherwise…there was only one path:
Join forces with Xiao Yan.
Kill that deranged maniac known as Hun Tiandi.
Only then would the Dou Qi Continent be free of disaster—only then could peace return.
And at that time, it wouldn't matter whether Wei Yang became Dou Di a bit late.
He'd still have the chance.
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