Soul Land: Xiao Yan Reincarnates as Huo Yuhao

"Return to the Dou Qi Continent?" Xiao Yan's fingers tightly clasped together, his face shifting between hesitation and distress as he considered his choices.

Watching him in silence, Yao Lao's face bore a similarly complex expression. After a moment, he spoke in a serious tone, "Xiao Yan, let me ask you this: if one day we truly can return to the Dou Qi Continent, will you regret not choosing to cultivate Flame Mantra?"

"I don't know," Xiao Yan replied, his head lowered.

"There's something I must tell you," Yao Lao continued. "On the Dou Qi Continent, your little girlfriend has a rather terrifying background. The difference in status between you two is massive. Even if she does care for you, those behind her will not."

"Strength is the foundation of respect in the Dou Qi Continent. If you wish to be with her, you must cultivate overwhelming strength that demands respect. If you succeed with Flame Mantra, few on the continent would dare challenge you. But this is only possible if we can return."

Xiao Yan's bitter smile faltered as he mulled it over. With a wry smile, he said, "Teacher, you're telling me all this just to make me cultivate Flame Mantra, aren't you? But without a Heavenly Flame, isn't it just a basic Yellow-tier technique? Wouldn't that slow down my progress?"

Yao Lao exhaled and stroked his beard thoughtfully. "This world isn't quite like the Dou Qi Continent. Here, you can cultivate both Dou Qi and spirit power by training with your martial spirit. You can even convert spirit power into Dou Qi. Cultivating Flame Mantra won't impact your speed."

"Considering that people here see even a Yellow-tier intermediate technique as something precious, Flame Mantra—while low-ranked now—should be more than enough for this world's cultivation system."

"Besides, you might find Beast Flames here, which could still help evolve Flame Mantra. And if worst comes to worst, I still have a Heavenly Flame that I can pass to you."

Xiao Yan squinted, intrigued. "Teacher, is my cultivating Flame Mantra really that important to you?"

Yao Lao chuckled awkwardly, rubbing his dried face. "You guessed it. Whether or not you cultivate Flame Mantra does affect my chances of resurrection. My current existence defies the natural order; I should've perished long ago. My powerful spirit is the only thing keeping me alive in this form."

"Like that presence in your spiritual sea, I live because of my spirit's strength. Otherwise, I would have long since faded."

Xiao Yan nodded, his face calm.

"I don't wish to continue this half-existence. I have unfinished matters on the Dou Qi Continent that only I can handle, which is why I need to restore my physical form. There are vague hints in Flame Mantra that suggest with its mastery and the power of several Heavenly Flames, I may be reborn."

"After enduring endless days in darkness, I held on in the hope of finding someone with the right potential to cultivate Flame Mantra, become my disciple, and ultimately help me live again."

Looking at Xiao Yan's sharp, attentive eyes, Yao Lao sighed and shook his head. "All this is the truth. But ultimately, the choice is yours alone."

"Whether or not you choose it, you will remain my disciple. I will not fault you for your decision."

With a slight gesture, Yao Lao extended a hand, and two translucent scrolls appeared in his palm—one black, the other red.

"This red scroll is a fire-attribute Earth-tier technique, while the black scroll is the evolving Flame Mantra. Make your choice."

Looking at the two scrolls in slight astonishment, Xiao Yan reached out and firmly grasped the black scroll. His voice was resolute. "Teacher, I'll choose Flame Mantra. For everything you've done for me, I won't turn my back on you."

"A teacher for a day is a father for life. I won't abandon you when there's a chance of reviving you."

Grasping the scroll, an influx of information flowed into Xiao Yan's mind.

…

Two and a half days later.

Time flowed quietly, with summer's heat fading into autumn's coolness. Green branches had begun showing hints of yellow.

In the familiar, tidy little room, Yao Lao hovered in midair, watching Xiao Yan cultivate his Dou Qi. Rubbing his tired eyes, he felt a warmth growing in his heart. Xiao Yan's decision to choose the dangerous Flame Mantra had a lot to do with his feelings for Yao Lao, something that made Yao Lao feel both gratitude and concern.

Together, their shared goals were clear: to help Xiao Yan grow strong enough for revenge and to find a way back to the Dou Qi Continent.

A faint yellow Dou Qi circulated in Xiao Yan's hand, gradually converging at a meridian point. The light yellow color marked the technique as low-ranked, but Xiao Yan noticed how the forceful yet modest light reflected his steady growth.

"Teacher, Flame Mantra doesn't feel particularly strong." Xiao Yan sighed, glancing at the faint light in his hand.

"It's low-ranked for now, but it's comparable to the Tang Sect techniques. With your martial spirit and the ability to convert spirit power, reaching Dou Ancestor shouldn't be difficult." Yao Lao assured him.

Just then, Tian Meng's drowsy voice sounded, "Xiao Yan, you've cultivated way too fast! I just took a nap, and your spirit power's already at level twenty?"

"Oh, you're awake, Tian Meng?" Xiao Yan replied.

"Didn't I say that once you reached level twenty, I'd help you awaken a second martial spirit?" Tian Meng's tone held excitement. "Your second martial spirit will be ice—a spirit without a consciousness."

"Ice without a consciousness?" Xiao Yan's brows furrowed, still puzzled about this second martial spirit.

---

Spoiler alert: Xiao Yan's second martial spirit is not the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion! If everything followed the original, it wouldn't be interesting. Plus, without Flame Mantra, there would be no Buddha's Fury Lotus! And without that, could Xiao Yan really still be Xiao Yan?