Chapter 287: Advancing to an Eight Star Alchemist
"This is the Soul Nourishment Ground?"
Looking at the dense black forest beneath them, Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel a bit speechless.
No wonder his Yin Yang Saint Flame was becoming restless its original master was here.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Xiao Yan and Xiao Shaobei descended into the eerie area.
Unlike the grand and majestic scenes in other parts of the Xiao Clan, the Soul Nourishment Ground exuded a sinister aura. Towering Soul Nourishment Trees grew wild, their shadows casting an ominous pall. All around stood massive stone pillars engraved with strange and intricate runes.
Some pillars even had ghostly, translucent figures shackled to them, with black chains draining the essence of their souls.
The sight was something straight out of a nightmare. Were outsiders to stumble upon this place, they might mistake it for an evil, cursed ground steeped in dark practices.
But these questionable techniques weren't the Xiao Clan's doing they were legacies of the Soul Clan, the clan responsible for creating such methods.
Xiao Yan harbored no sympathy for the ghostly figures bound to the pillars. Most of them had once been ruthless, power drunk individuals who wreaked havoc on the continent.
Punishing such people wasn't evil it was justice.
In fact, if the Xiao Clan had indiscriminately captured souls, clans like the Pill Tower and Medicine Clan would have long been wiped out. Xiao Shaobei's soul realm might have even surpassed Heavenly Perfection, reaching the elusive Emperor Realm.
With these thoughts, Xiao Yan and Xiao Shaobei moved forward. After walking several hundred meters, they came upon a pitch black pond.
At the center of this pool lounged a man with strikingly handsome but devilishly enchanting features. His hair was half black and half white, and he reclined lazily in the water.
It was none other than the Yin Yang Evil Saint, the original master of the Yin Yang Saint Flame, who had once saved Xiao Yan.
The pool he lounged in was the legendary Soul Nourishment Pond.
Every drop of the liquid within the pond, Soul Nourishment Fluid, was a priceless treasure for nurturing the soul. A single drop could make even a Dou Emperor green with envy.
As the Yin Yang Evil Saint lazed in the pond, he opened his eyes lazily when he sensed approaching figures. He glanced over and grinned slyly when he saw Xiao Shaobei.
"Shaobei, have you found a suitable body for me yet?"
The Evil Saint's grin was full of teasing familiarity.
However, upon noticing the other figure beside Xiao Shaobei, his expression shifted slightly. He stood up from the pool, his interest piqued.
"It's you, kid! No wonder I sensed the aura of the Yin Yang Saint Flame."
His astonishment quickly turned to delight as his eyes roamed over Xiao Yan's figure. A moment later, he seemed to notice something surprising.
"Hmm? It's only been a little over a year, and you're already nearing Dou Zun?"
The Evil Saint's playful demeanor gave way to genuine surprise as he felt Xiao Yan's cultivation level.
Even though he had already deemed Xiao Yan highly talented, he hadn't expected such rapid progress. In just over a year, Xiao Yan had reached the peak of the nine star Dou Zong stage.
This advancement speed left even the Yin Yang Evil Saint dumbfounded.
Seventeen years old and already a peak Dou Zong.
Such talent was not just remarkable it was monstrous. Even in the vast history of the Dou Qi Continent, it was rare to see someone so gifted.
Seeing the Evil Saint's astonished expression, Xiao Shaobei smirked, while Xiao Yan felt a surge of satisfaction in his heart.
"It's been a while, senior," Xiao Yan said with a smile, waving at the Evil Saint.
"Not bad, not bad. As expected of my brilliant disciple!"
Despite his shock, the Evil Saint was clearly delighted. After all, Xiao Yan had inherited his Yin Yang Saint Flame and practiced his Yin Yang Saint Codex, making him a de facto disciple.
Master and disciple exchanged glances, their faces lighting up with identical mischievous smiles.
"Look at the two of you just plain shameless," Xiao Shaobei muttered, casting the pair a disdainful glance.
He turned to the Evil Saint and said, "You've soaked in that Soul Nourishment Pond long enough. Judging by the strength of your soul aura, you've already recovered.
"It's time to get out. Soul Nourishment Fluid is a precious resource in the Xiao Clan."
Hearing this, the Yin Yang Evil Saint rolled his eyes. With a languid stretch, he floated out of the pond.
Although his soul was as solid as a living body, Xiao Yan could sense that the Evil Saint had yet to find a suitable physical vessel. Nevertheless, his Heavenly level soul strength had clearly restored him to a near perfect state.
"Tch, just a bit of Soul Nourishment Fluid. Why so stingy?" the Evil Saint grumbled, crossing his arms with mock disdain.
"A bit?" Xiao Shaobei's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Do you have any idea how much merit you've burned through? Enough to hunt down two Dou Saints!
"And in this era of peace, do you know how hard it is to find a criminal Dou Saint?"
The Evil Saint waved him off nonchalantly but couldn't entirely hide his guilt. Still, he struck a proud pose, puffing his chest as if to assert his seniority.
Standing off to the side, Xiao Yan tried to suppress a shudder. "Are you two secretly in love or something?"
Suppressing his discomfort, Xiao Yan turned to Xiao Shaobei and asked, "Clan Leader, can I use the Soul Nourishment Pond?"
"You?" Xiao Shaobei gave him an appraising look before chuckling.
"Of course. As the Xiao Clan's Emperor Child, your resource quota is generous enough to make anyone jealous. Using the Soul Nourishment Pond to restore a few Dou Zuns wouldn't even dent your allowance."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan grinned mischievously.
"Then I won't hold back."
Without hesitation, he released two soul entities from his Soul Palace: a pitch black serpent and an elderly man with white hair.
Both figures appeared confused at first.
"Where are we?" asked the Heavenly Flame Venerable, moments before the potent soul nourishing energies washed over him.
"Ahhh, so refreshing!" the old man exclaimed, shivering in ecstasy as his damaged soul rapidly healed.
Beside him, the serpent, now in human form, tilted his head back in bliss, soaking in the restorative energies.
From the looks of it, both souls were enjoying the ultimate rejuvenation experience.
"Master Xiao, where is this place? How can it have such a vast and pure soul energy?"
After a brief moment of adaptation, Tian Huo Zun zhe and You Mo turned to Xiao Yan, their eyes filled with wonder.
"This..." Xiao Yan glanced at the dark, mysterious surroundings and smiled faintly. "This is the Soul Nourishment Pond, located within the Xiao Clan's Soul Nourishment Grounds. The liquid you're soaking in right now is none other than the precious Soul Nourishment Fluid."
Though his expression was calm, there was a subtle trace of satisfaction in Xiao Yan's demeanor as he too felt the rejuvenating effects of the soul energy around him. Unlike the others, however, he didn't lose composure he was, after all, the Emperor Child of the Xiao Clan, well accustomed to such treasures.
In a nonchalant tone, he added, "I'll give you half a day. Restore your souls as much as you can. How far you go depends on your own luck."
Having said that, Xiao Yan closed his eyes and began quietly absorbing the dense soul energy surrounding him.
The sub fire bestowed upon him by the Nirvana Lotus Flame earlier had indeed tempered his soul, making it purer and more refined. However, the intense burning had significantly diminished his overall soul strength, reducing it to the level of a mid tier seventh rank alchemist.
Fortunately, with the aid of the Soul Nourishment Pond, Xiao Yan's soul strength was recovering at an astonishing rate. Not only that, the soul energy being restored was now even more robust and refined than before.
Realizing Xiao Yan's words were no exaggeration, both Tian Huo Zun zhe and You Mo immediately refocused, diligently absorbing the pure energy of the Soul Nourishment Fluid.
However, their attention was soon drawn to the two figures standing nearby.
The man on the left had a nearly tangible, solid form that revealed his spiritual nature his soul strength was so overwhelming it far surpassed their peak states. Meanwhile, the figure on the right seemed to exude no aura at all, making him even more terrifying.
The two exchanged glances, their eyes reflecting mutual understanding.
"Are... are these two Dou Saints?" Tian Huo Zun zhe and You Mo both shuddered at the realization, feeling immense relief at having allied themselves with Xiao Yan.
If only they knew that one of these figures was the current Xiao Clan Leader, a Nine Star Dou Saint, their expressions might have been even more spectacular.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan continued absorbing the soul energy around him. Refined further by his flames, the energy seamlessly integrated into his soul, quickly restoring and even surpassing its previous limits.
The Soul Nourishment Pond, one of the Xiao Clan's most treasured locations, provided an inexhaustible supply of potent soul energy. Even after Xiao Yan's soul strength reached saturation, the pond continued to feed him with pure energy, elevating his power to new heights.
Amid this extraordinary environment, Xiao Yan suddenly felt a peculiar sensation deep within his soul a faint tremor.
Startled at first, his expression quickly shifted to one of excitement.
Moments later, he perceived that his soul was beginning to resonate with an entirely new energy. It wasn't just a change in his immediate surroundings it was a fundamental connection to an energy source far beyond ordinary Dou Qi.
This energy possessed a unique vitality, a spiritual essence that was vastly different from the mundane energies Xiao Yan had encountered before. In alchemical circles, it had a specific name: Spiritual Qi.
Spiritual Qi was the defining requirement for becoming an Eight Star Alchemist. Only by sensing and commanding this energy could one truly step into the eighth tier of alchemy and beyond.
"Heaven and earth contain myriad souls; all things are born with a spirit..."
Murmuring an ancient soul cultivation mantra, Xiao Yan immediately began focusing on the newfound Spiritual Qi.
Such a technique was almost unheard of among ordinary cultivators. For most alchemists, soul advancement came only through breakthroughs in Dou Qi cultivation. Techniques specifically designed to refine the soul were considered priceless treasures.
Of course, with Xiao Yan's connections, obtaining such methods was hardly an issue. Even without his status as the Xiao Clan's Emperor Child, his lineage from the Medicine Clan and his relationship with Yao Lao, one of the continent's greatest alchemists, made him more than qualified to possess such secrets.
As he chanted the mantra, the once faint Spiritual Qi became clear and tangible, further accelerating his soul's transformation.
His soul underwent an evolution. The previously saturated soul energy surged again, drawing in a torrent of soul power from the pond and forming a small vortex within the liquid.
Witnessing this scene, even Xiao Shaobei and the Yin Yang Evil Saint couldn't help but show astonishment.
"This brat... is he about to break through to the rank of an Eight Star Alchemist?" The Yin Yang Evil Saint's eyes sparkled with interest. Though he lacked Xiao Shaobei's overwhelming strength, his heavenly level soul allowed him to sense the profound changes taking place within Xiao Yan.
As Xiao Yan's soul grew stronger by the second, his forehead throbbed with a dull ache, a sign of his soul's limits being tested.
However, he barely flinched. Apart from a slight frown, he showed no sign of discomfort. Only when the tension reached its peak did he let out a soft groan.
At that moment, his temples bulged visibly, throbbing like drums as his soul neared its critical point.
Finally, deep within his consciousness, a low, thunderous explosion echoed.
The shockwave left Xiao Yan momentarily disoriented, his vision swimming with golden light as his mind plunged into chaos.
It took some time for him to regain clarity, and when he did, the throbbing pain in his head subsided significantly.
But Xiao Yan wasn't concerned about the discomfort. He could already feel that his soul had undergone a tremendous transformation, becoming exponentially stronger than before.
This was only the beginning. Without pausing, Xiao Yan resumed chanting the profound incantation, his spiritual energy flowing in tandem with the Spiritual Qi.
The once tiny streams of Spiritual Qi became torrents, coursing through his consciousness like rivers of light.
Breaking through the gap between a Seven Star and an Eight Star Alchemist was no small feat. The ability to harness Spiritual Qi was the defining hallmark of an eighth rank alchemist, and many were forever stuck at this boundary.
Now, that line had been crossed.
"Haha! As expected of my apprentice!" The Yin Yang Evil Saint burst into laughter, clearly thrilled by Xiao Yan's success.
(End of Chapter)
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