Chapter 396: Starfall Pavilion Shall Fall—in Three Days!
"Brother, you called for me?"
Xiao Yan entered the chamber where Xiao Yuan had been in seclusion.
"Yeah, give me your hand."
Xiao Yuan nodded and motioned for him to come closer.
"Huh? What's there to look at on my hand?"
Xiao Yan was puzzled but extended his hand anyway.
"Just comparing some physiological differences."
Xiao Yuan replied briefly, then took Xiao Yan's hand and swept it with his soul power to examine it.
As expected, he immediately noticed something unusual.
Due to years of cultivating the Five Essence Qi Core Method, all of Xiao Yuan's meridians had been completely opened. Coupled with his numerous fortuitous encounters and bodily refinements, even the minor side channels in his limbs had gradually been developed.
Hence, he didn't need the Golden Spirit Nectar.
But when compared to Xiao Yan, he noticed an issue.
Several of Xiao Yan's peripheral hand meridians remained blocked—specifically, the ones essential to guiding the energy required for the Great Heaven Creation Palm.
In short, without these meridians cleared, attempting to forcefully use the Great Heaven Creation Palm would cause energy to build up uncontrollably in the palm. Like a balloon being overinflated, it would eventually rupture—and that rupture would very likely destroy Xiao Yan's entire arm.
"Brother?"
Xiao Yan looked at him curiously.
"Oh, just gonna give you something good."
Xiao Yuan grinned, then retrieved a vial of Golden Spirit Nectar and poured it over Xiao Yan's hand.
"Ssss!"
The dark-gold liquid wrapped around his hand, and an intense pain surged through Xiao Yan's palm. His face twisted as he clenched his teeth.
"Damn! Are you sure this is a good thing!?"
"Absolutely," Xiao Yuan said with a thumbs-up.
"My hand's about to fall off!"
The squeezing sensation intensified, and just as Xiao Yan thought it would crush his hand, the pain abruptly stopped. The liquid rapidly sank into his hand and vanished.
"???"
Xiao Yan stared, dumbfounded, then looked at his palm. It now shimmered faintly with a metallic dark-golden glow.
"There, now that's a fine treasure."
With that, Xiao Yuan tapped Xiao Yan's forehead, transferring the cultivation method for the Great Heaven Creation Palm directly to him.
"This is… a Heaven-tier battle technique?!"
Xiao Yan stared in shock.
"Yup. A little souvenir from the ruins. But you can study it later—right now, we've got to forge a body for Teacher."
Xiao Yuan nodded and waved his finger. The Dou Saint skeleton, enveloped in soul power, floated out.
Xiao Yan snapped out of his daze and chased after him.
"Wait up, bro!"
…
In the rear mountains of Starfall Peak, within a stone tower.
"Teacher, we're ready to begin forging the body. Are you prepared?"
Xiao Yuan gently placed the Dou Saint's skeleton on the platform and looked to Yao Lao.
"Yes."
Yao Lao nodded solemnly. Even with his experience, a ripple of emotion stirred in his heart.
"Elder Feng, once the process begins, no one is to enter the tower."
Xiao Yuan turned to Wind Venerable with a serious tone.
"Rest assured. Starfall Pavilion will go into full alert, and we'll recall all our outside experts," Wind Venerable replied, equally grave.
Xiao Yuan nodded, calming his mind. After taking a breath, Xiao Yan handed a jade vial containing the Bone-Merging Blood Pill to Yao Lao. The old man took it without hesitation, sending a wisp of soul essence floating beside Xiao Yuan.
Seeing them begin, Wind Venerable, Cai Lin, and the others quietly exited the tower.
Xiao Yuan remained fully focused, gripping the wisp of soul essence and pressing it into the Dou Saint skeleton with a palm strike.
"Teacher, we'll first forge the body. Once it's done, you can enter and begin the fusion!"
With a flick, Xiao Yuan produced another vial containing the golden-blue essence of the Ancient Sky Phoenix. The vial radiated immense energy, making the surrounding space tremble.
Because he was using only the finest materials, this body-forging process would be far more difficult than when he helped Tian Huo Zun-zhe.
"Go!"
The blood essence shot out, splashing onto the white bones. Immediately, white smoke hissed into the air.
Sizzle!
As soon as the golden-blue blood made contact, it spread rapidly. In moments, the skeleton changed from jade-white to a radiant azure-purple, glimmering with golden light. Even more, a wave of powerful energy emanated from within.
Xiao Yuan raised his hand, and the skeleton levitated. A wave of golden flame erupted from his sleeves, wrapping it tightly.
The Ancient Sky Phoenix's blood essence was potent and difficult to absorb. It had to be roasted deep into the bones to fuse completely.
At the same time, Xiao Yan joined in. With their perfect synergy and Flame Mantra's harmonizing ability, their heavenly flames worked in tandem.
Both flames were ranked among the top eight on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. Their combined heat was astounding.
Even so, the bones resisted. A faint shield appeared, and bubbles of energy formed under the heat, occasionally bursting with powerful force.
This refining process took nearly a full day.
Eventually, Xiao Yuan opened his eyes. The skeleton's color had dulled significantly—a sign that the energy had fully fused into the bone marrow.
"Teacher!"
Seeing that it was ready, Xiao Yuan called out.
Yao Lao nodded. With practiced ease, he swallowed the Bone-Merging Blood Pill. His soul essence vanished into the skeleton.
Boom!
The moment his soul entered, the skeleton trembled. Lights gathered in its empty sockets, and energy surged from within. Under the influence of the pill, flesh began forming over the bones—an effect so miraculous it was almost divine.
"Teacher, hang in there!"
Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan's flames blazed even fiercer.
The newly formed flesh burned away immediately, but new flesh grew faster each time. Soon, a fully formed humanoid shape emerged.
This cycle of burning and regeneration continued for over two hours. Finally, the bones were covered in complete skin.
The rebirth was complete.
Now, all that remained was for Yao Lao to finish fusing with the body.
And then—the once dazzling Yao Zun-zhe would be reborn in the flesh!
…
In the Heavenly Underworld Sect.
"You're telling me one Xiao Yuan killed multiple Dou Zun elders of my sect?" Tian Mingzi's expression was dark.
"Hehehe… that Xiao Yuan is a rising star of the Pill Tower. He even killed several of our Hall of Souls' Heaven Venerates. Rumor has it that even the Ninth Heaven Venerate, Mo Yu, fell to him."
A voice echoed from within a swirl of black mist.
"Even Mo Yu?"
Tian Mingzi's eyes narrowed.
"If that weren't the case, I wouldn't be here to invite your sect to attack Starfall Pavilion with us. That place now has three Tier 8 Alchemists—Yao Chen, Xiao Yuan, and Xiao Yan. It won't be easy."
The voice was cold.
"You Soul Hall people still love hiding your faces. Which Heaven Venerate are you?"
Tian Mingzi frowned at the mist.
The black fog shifted, turning blood red. The air filled with a stench of blood as a figure emerged—a man robed in crimson, with scarlet hair, eyes, and brows.
"Blood River Venerate."
Tian Mingzi stepped down from the dais.
"Well?" Blood River's red brows twitched.
"If it's just you, forget it. Those three likely carry the Pill Tower's spatial jade slips. If the Pill Tower's Three Giants arrive, even a Half-Saint would struggle. You alone, a peak one-turn Dou Zun, wouldn't be enough."
Tian Mingzi scoffed.
He'd wanted revenge ever since his heir, Yi Chen, was killed.
But Xiao Yuan wasn't easy to deal with. And if he summoned the Three Giants…
Each of those three was a peak nine-turn Dou Zun—half a step from becoming Half-Saints.
Tian Mingzi was only a peak three-turn Dou Zun. He stood no chance.
"Relax. Our Hall will handle the Three Giants. They won't interfere. When the time comes, who in Starfall Pavilion can stop us?"
Blood River sneered.
"In that case, I suppose I'll give it a shot."
Tian Mingzi's lips curled slightly.
"Three days. We move in three days. But remember—Xiao Yuan, Xiao Yan, and Yao Chen are marked by our Hall Master himself. After the battle, they belong to the Hall. Don't worry—we won't let them off easy."
Blood River warned.
"Even your Hall Master has his eye on them?"
Tian Mingzi's irritation vanished instantly.
He didn't know exactly how strong the Soul Hall's leader was—but he did know one thing:
The Hall Master was a genuine Dou Saint.
Someone the Heavenly Underworld Sect couldn't afford to offend.
And if a Dou Saint wanted Xiao Yuan and his master and brother…
Then they must be truly extraordinary.
(END CHAPTER)
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