Chapter 118: Awakening Yao Lao
The next morning.
Jia Xing Tian personally went to Yun Lan Sect to visit Yao Yan, but upon learning from Yun Yun that Yao Yan had already left, his expression immediately turned complicated and serious. He had already learned that Yun Lan Sect had joined Yao Yan's force, and that Yun Shan had obtained the Breaking Sect Pill and was currently in seclusion trying to break through.
But it seemed Yao Yan had forgotten about him... He could also join Yao Yan's force!
In that moment, the feeling of missing out on billions hit Jia Xing Tian hard, and he was filled with regret. However, he quickly thought about Yao Yan's relationship with the Snake People. He gritted his teeth and decided to head directly to the Snake People's base, knowing that without Yao Yan, he would have no hope of breaking through to Dou Zong in this lifetime.
...
Meanwhile, Yao Yan, the one being thought about by Jia Xing Tian, was currently in the Beast Mountain Range.
A huge beast lay beside him, its big eyes greedily staring at the spirit liquid inside the cauldron. Even just smelling the fragrance, it felt as though its soul was floating, as though it had sniffed something highly nourishing. That hunger for consumption made it uncontrollably scratch at the ground with its claws, leaving prominent marks on the rocks.
This beast was the ruler of the Beast Mountain Range, a Sixth-Rank Beast, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King.
The body, previously injured by Yao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian, had now completely recovered, with the purple crystal-like surface restored to its original form. It looked majestic and imposing.
One couldn't deny that beasts had vitality and recovery abilities that humans could not compare with.
Except for Yao Yan, of course.
"Stop staring. This is a soul-nourishing liquid. It has no effect on you," Yao Yan said, controlling the Heavenly Flame to heat the spirit liquid, glancing at the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King beside him, who looked like an eager puppy. He chuckled softly. Beasts' breakthroughs mainly relied on their body's energy accumulation and the concentration of their bloodlines, with soul power being the least important.
Actually, this wasn't just true for beasts—humans were the same.
On Dou Qi Continent, very few people, other than alchemists, would cultivate soul power. Most would even reach Dou Zun, but their soul power would still be at a mortal level.
"I'll guard you. Aren't you going to give me some benefits?" the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King said in a deep voice, its big eyes fixed on Yao Yan, clearly expectant, nearly dripping with desire. Over the years, it had only befriended one human alchemist—Yao Yan—and after their previous cooperation, there was now a strong foundation of trust between them.
"Focus on your cultivation. Most of the pills I have are useless to you, and for the useful ones, I don't have the ingredients. I can't help you," Yao Yan replied straightforwardly.
In fact, with the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's current cultivation, it would need a Transforming Pill to break through further. However, Transforming Pills were very hard to find because the main ingredient, Transforming Grass, was rare. While alchemy circles might have some, finding it in the wild was pure luck.
As for the other Royal Extreme Pills or Breaking Sect Pills, these were tailored for humans, and their effects on the beast were minimal. They could hardly help it break through the Seventh-Rank barrier.
Its bloodline constraints were there, and breaking through them would require an extraordinary opportunity.
The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King grinded its teeth in frustration but didn't persist. It slowly got up, flicking its tail and walking away, no longer wanting to inhale the tempting medicinal fragrance, as the feeling of seeing food it couldn't eat was indeed torturous for a beast.
Yao Yan smiled and continued to focus on the spirit liquid in the Black Demon Cauldron. After it condensed into the size of a fist, he slowly controlled the Bone Flame Ring to float into it. As for why he didn't directly take out Yao Lao's soul, the soul, after the previous ordeal, would cause an eruption of Bone Spirit Cold Fire just from contact.
With the Bone Flame Ring entering the spirit-nourishing liquid, an invisible suction force erupted from it, as if a parched person was eagerly drinking from a fresh spring.
Under Yao Yan's observation with his soul power, Yao Lao's almost transparent soul began to solidify rapidly. The previously depleted soul power recovered at a visibly fast rate. After about half an hour, Yao Yan cut off the connection between the Bone Flame Ring and the outside world, controlling it to fly out of the Black Demon Cauldron.
"Now that you've awakened, come out of the ring," Yao Yan said with certainty, controlling the Bone Flame Ring to float in the air. With his soul's current realm, it was easy to sense Yao Lao's soul state. Although Yao Lao hadn't fully recovered to a healthy state, waking up wasn't a problem.
Trying to play dead in front of him was impossible—he wasn't the weak Xiao Yan from the original story.
A Seven-Rank Alchemist, even in the Central Plains' Pill Tower, had achieved a certain level!
After a brief silence, with a soft sigh, Yao Lao's aged figure floated out, just as Yao Yan had said. He had awakened, but his state was still not ideal. His combat power was almost nonexistent, and without the Bone Spirit Cold Fire, he might not even be able to defeat a Dou Huang.
Yao Yan had carefully calibrated the amount of spirit-nourishing liquid, just enough to bring Yao Lao back to life for communication but not enough to allow him to resist.
"You've got quite a powerful soul power, little guy," Yao Lao said with his hands behind his back, looking at the young, handsome Yao Yan with a smile, curiosity glimmering in his eyes. This boy, who looked no older than a teenager, already possessed soul power at the spiritual realm—truly astonishing.
Yao Yan didn't respond. He simply put the Bone Flame Ring back on his finger.
Yao Lao's eyes twitched. Although he knew he didn't have the ability to resist, it was still a terrible feeling to have something he had collected all his life taken away in front of him. Fortunately, he could endure and didn't challenge Yao Yan, as his current state gave him no room to voice any opinions.
"Yao Zun, let's make a deal," Yao Yan said, his eyes calmly fixed on the elderly soul in front of him.
A flash of light passed through Yao Lao's eyes, and his smile slowly faded. He said in a deep voice, "Little guy, do you know me?"
Yao Yan remained calm and continued, "I don't know you, but I've heard stories about Yao Zun since I was a child. And your Bone Spirit Cold Fire is easily recognizable in Dou Qi Continent. It's easy to identify you."
"You want something—Bone Spirit Cold Fire?" Yao Lao raised his hand, calling out the Bone Spirit Cold Fire. A pale white flame danced in his palm. He looked at Yao Yan and said.
"I obtained a nameless technique from your ring, which can devour heavenly flame... I have already successfully devoured the Qinglian Earth Core Fire!" Yao Yan said, raising his hand to summon the Qinglian Earth Core Fire, the blue flames slowly burning in his palm, radiating intense heat.
"?!"
Yao Lao's gaze sharpened as he stared at the Qinglian Earth Core Fire in Yao Yan's palm. He was momentarily dazed, and memories buried deep within his mind began to resurface. His expression turned slightly twisted, and the gentle demeanor from before vanished.
(END CHAPTER)
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