Chapter 71: Something Happens
Xiao Yan observed the changes in his body. Not only had his physique transformed, but even his bones and cells had undergone profound alterations.
The Ten Thousand Beast Flame had merged into every cell in his body, fortifying them to an extraordinary level. He felt a searing energy coursing through him, giving him the urge to unleash destruction.
If he were to execute the Octane Blast in his current state, its power could even surpass that of the Flame Splitting Tsunami, a Di Class Dou Technique!
"Every Heavenly Flame is indeed mystical. To think one can even merge into the flesh and induce a transformation akin to that of a magical beast, making one's physique comparable to theirs."
However, he soon realized a problem. He had not obtained the true Ten Thousand Beast Flame. The portion that had merged into his flesh would diminish after a few uses, and this small amount would eventually run out.
"Using the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to enhance my physique should make it comparable to the young Amethyst Winged Lion King. Although the Ten Thousand Beast Flame can only be used a few more times, it can still serve as a trump card. Combined with Octane Blast and Mad Lion Chant, it should match the combat strength of a 9-star Dou Grandmaster."
Xiao Yan licked his lips. Heavenly Flame, oh Heavenly Flame... their power was truly mesmerizing. He had firmly made up his mind—he must visit the Hall of Souls in the imperial capital.
He hadn't forgotten that Hun Huzi initially wanted him to take the Soul Command to the Hall of Souls in the imperial capital. But by some twist of fate, he had gone to the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop in the Black-Corner Region, completed the Soul Path, earned the title of Di Class Soul Envoy, and obtained the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King was a rank 6 magical beast, and its cave was deep within the Magic Beast Mountain Range, far from the Black-Corner Region and closer to the Jia Ma Empire's imperial capital. Perhaps the Hall of Souls in the imperial capital held more detailed information about the Ten Thousand Beast Flame.
The Ten Thousand Beast Flame was undoubtedly hidden deeper within the Magic Beast Mountain Range, but the question was where exactly.
He was determined to obtain it!
"Mao Wu, where is the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence?" Xiao Yan summoned Mao Wu. He had not forgotten that the latter had swallowed the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence in one gulp.
Meow~ o(=∩ω∩=)m???
Mao Wu pretended not to understand human speech and scratched its chin with its hind leg.
Xiao Yan picked it up and said leisurely, "I still need that item. If you want to eat higher-grade monster cores and heavenly treasures, you'll have to give that thing back to me. I need it to refine a type of pill."
The Ten Thousand Beast Flame would eventually run out, so Xiao Yan planned to slow its consumption. He wanted to use the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence to refine a Beast Flame Pill, which would provide some Beast Flame during transformations, thereby reducing the consumption of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame.
Mao Wu's eyes shifted, and it chose the lesser of two evils. Like a cat coughing up a hairball, it retched and spat out an Amethyst Lion Birth Essence the size of a human head.
It seemed Mao Wu guessed Xiao Yan might need it and didn't dare to keep it for itself.
Meow!
"Alright, I'll give you some in a bit, but first, help me open this."
Normally, an Amethyst Lion Birth Essence could only be opened using the Purple Spirit Crystal, as its shell could absorb any other impact.
But who else could possess the Nihility Devouring Flame?
Mao Wu extended a paw and made a small hole in the otherwise unbreakable shell with a light touch of its sharp claws.
Xiao Yan took out a small jade dish and poured some of the Purple Source Crystal out of the hole for Mao Wu.
Meow! Mao Wu's tail wagged as it licked up the crystal, thoroughly enjoying itself.
Xiao Yan took a medicinal cauldron out of his storage ring with a wave of his hand. He flicked his finger, and a stream of black flame shot out. Before long, the cauldron was filled with intense heat from the black flame.
He retrieved all the medicinal ingredients containing fire-attribute energy from his storage ring and threw them into the cauldron. After that, he controlled the black flame to refine the fire attribute energy from the ingredients and turn it into a mass of red powder.
Once the red powder formed, Xiao Yan absorbed a portion of the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence and added it to the cauldron. He then combined everything into a single mass, eventually fusing it into five purple-red colored pills.
These could hardly be called pills, as Xiao Yan had simply mixed all the fire attribute energy materials and the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence together into small round balls, much like making dumplings.
If an ordinary person consumed one of these pills, they would immediately explode and become a fire person. But that was precisely the effect Xiao Yan wanted!
An involuntary smile appeared on his lips as he looked at the five pills in the pill bottle. He estimated that he could only use the Ten Thousand Beast Flame about five more times. However, with the aid of these pills, his magical beast transformed state could last much longer.
Meow~~ Mao Wu finished licking the remains of the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence and started eyeing the pill bottle in Xiao Yan's hand.
"You greedy cat, what will I eat if you take them all?"
Xiao Yan tucked the pill bottle away. It was his life-saving trump card.
Then he began to circulate the Flame Mantra and started cultivating.
After a while, a hint of bitterness appeared on his face.
'The Ten Thousand Beast Flame has actually pushed my cultivation up by a star.'
It had only been six months since he left Wu Tan City, yet his cultivation had skyrocketed from his experiences in the Soul Path of the Hall of Souls and the Magic Beast Mountain Range.
It had taken him only six months to advance from an 8-star Dou Practitioner to a 5-star Dou Master!
'It was the right decision to step out of my comfort zone and leave Jia Nan Academy.'
Xiao Yan picked up a stick and started drawing calculations on the ground. His journey to the Magic Beast Mountain Range had been somewhat of a failure. Although his cultivation and strength had greatly improved, he hadn't acquired the true Ten Thousand Beast Flame.
He had to plan his next actions carefully.
Looking at the Soul Command in his hand, Xiao Yan muttered to himself, 'I have to visit the Hall of Souls at least once, and it is conveniently located in the imperial capital. Before I leave, Father has also asked me to visit Elder Nalan Jie to pay my respects, and indeed, the matter of the engagement must be resolved."
"The imperial capital of the Jia Ma Empire… that is my final destination for this trip. Afterward, I must return to Jia Nan Academy."
Xiao Yan couldn't stay outside forever. He had to return to Jia Nan Academy, especially since Xun Er was still there, along with the Fallen Heart Flame he longed for.
Upon considering it, this would be a good opportunity to resolve the matter with Nalan Yanran.
"I'll head to the imperial capital six months from now. Afterward, regardless of whether I've acquired the complete form of the Heavenly Flame, I'll return to Jia Nan Academy and enter the Inner Academy."
"That means I still have six months left... Where else could I go to improve my cultivation during that time?"
After thinking for a while, Xiao Yan suddenly let out a self-mocking laugh and shook his head as he said to himself, "I really have become obsessed with cultivation. I'm always thinking about training. Wouldn't it be nice to take a break once in a while?"
He realized that he had been too tightly wound, his mind consumed with cultivation, and that would ultimately lead to nothing.
He wiped away the words he had drawn on the ground with a sweep of his foot.
"It's been a long time since I've seen my two brothers; I wonder how their Mercenary Company is doing in Rock Desert City..." Xiao Yan stretched lazily and looked at the sky from the cave entrance. He decided to take it easy for the remaining six months, and visiting his brothers who were striving in Rock Desert City seemed like a good idea.
He glanced back at the cave but did not dwell on the memories of the past few days. With a strong push of his hand, he sealed the cave with a large boulder.
Shortly after leaving the cave, an eagle's cry suddenly sounded overhead. When he looked up, he saw a huge Blue Eagle swooping down in front of him.
"Are you Xiao Lan?"
Xiao Yan noticed a long slash wound on the Blue Eagle's body, from which blood was constantly gushing out. His expression immediately darkened.
Had something happened to Little Fairy Doctor?!