Time slipped by in silence.
Xiao Hua stood unmoving, not a single grunt of pain escaping his lips despite the Saint Lightning relentlessly striking down upon him.
Fortunately, his gamble had borne fruit. The Saint Lightning, instead of focusing solely on him, was now locked in a fierce struggle against the merging twenty-two flames and the defiant Celestial Ancient Frost, its deadly force scattered and less fatal than before.
Even so, his body was riddled with wounds, torn open and mended again and again. The Primordial Three Thousand Burning Flame devoured the star energy saturating this outer void, converting it into power to heal his ruined flesh. His lifeforce surged like an endless sea, ensuring his vitality never waned.
Yet even this was not enough to spare him entirely. The backlash was simply too immense. While refining the frost, merging the flames, and fusing the lightning, fatal strikes still pierced through him—each one claiming a Life-Substitution Doll to preserve his life.
At this moment, only five such Dolls remained within his storage ring. Any longer, and he might not survive at all.
More time passed… and at last, a shift came.
Xiao Hua felt it—the twenty-two flames were finally merging, their power spiraling together at a rapid pace. A new, overwhelming aura began to surge forth—one far greater than the combined might of the twenty-two individual flames.
The nine Heavenly Lightnings, too, began fusing into the Saint Lightning, releasing a power steeped in pure destruction and annihilation, far beyond anything they had held before.
Meanwhile, the Celestial Ancient Frost neared completion. From Xiao Hua's body emanated an extremely chilling aura—cold yet crystalline and pure—signaling that its refinement was almost complete.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the Saint Lightning finally receded, its vast might drawn wholly into Xiao Hua's body.
In that instant, three terrifying auras surged forth from within him, shaking the very air.
First came a divine flame, blazing with sacred radiance. Its light seemed to illuminate all of heaven and earth, as though seeking to burn away every impurity beneath the skies.
Next followed a majestic lightning. Each crackling arc resounded like the decree of heaven itself—domineering, absolute, and shattering the void with unrivaled authority.
Last was a celestial frost. It exuded an immaculate and transcendent aura—its chill not born of mortal cold, but of heavenly clarity, as though formed from the breath of the highest heavens, freezing falsehood and leaving only truth.
Together, the three auras interwove—fire, lightning, and frost—each terrifying in its own right yet harmonizing in Xiao Hua's body as though proclaiming his rise beyond the limits of the mundane.
Xiao Hua exhaled softly, relief flooding his chest. He had succeeded—just before his end would have come.
He was about to stand and tell his two elder sisters of his success when a panicked voice pierced the silence.
"Child, watch out!"
Lady Azure's cry came a moment too late.
The void above roared once more, unleashing countless streaks of Saint Lightning. One struck squarely between Xiao Hua's shoulders, sending a violent tremor through his body before his vision went dark.
Kacha—!
Within his storage ring, the final Life-Substitution Doll shattered into fragments. Yet even as it saved his life, the lingering might of this Saint Lightning was far more ferocious than the one before.
If he had been at his peak, perhaps he could have withstood it—but now, exhausted and gravely wounded, his body could no longer bear the blow. Crushed beneath the overwhelming force, Xiao Hua lost consciousness, his body plummeting toward the Dou Qi Continent below.
As he fell, one of the lingering streaks of Saint Lightning struck the void just behind him—right where a hidden spatial node connecting to the Dou Qi Continent lay concealed.
Upon contact, the node ruptured, distorting into a wild and unstable spatial tunnel.
Normally, such a spatial tunnel would be filled with violent spatial storms, its interior warped and chaotic. To enter it in his current condition would mean certain death—his body would be torn to shreds before even reaching the other side.
"Child!" Lady Azure cried out, panic in her voice.
She and Xue Yue were just about to move when, from within the churning void above the formation, a slender white hand quietly extended outward.
With a mere gesture, Xiao Hua's falling body halted midair, and the raging spatial tunnel below abruptly calmed—its chaos fading as if bowed by an unseen will.
After that, a soft and gentle laughter drifted from the churning void as it gradually regained its calm.
"Sisters, the two of you have worked hard. Rest now… allow me to watch over him this time."
A moment later, a figure gracefully emerged from the void. She was tall and slender, her bearing ethereal, as if untouched by the mortal world. Draped in a simple yellow robe over a white inner garment, she needed no ornament—her grace alone magnified her presence like moonlight over still waters.
With each step she took, her movements were as light as drifting wind, every gesture flowing with a serene elegance that transcended mortal grace.
"Since Sister has awoken… we will rest," Xue Yue said softly, relief flickering in her eyes as she chose to follow the newcomer's words.
"Take care of him well. He is our little brother, after all," Lady Azure added, her tone playful yet laced with deep concern.
"It is fine. As long as I am here, no one shall harm our little brother in this state," the lady replied with a faint, confident smile.
Lady Azure and Xue Yue exchanged a glance, then nodded. Their figures turned into streaks of light that slipped back into Xiao Hua's body to rest.
Once they were gone, the lady's figure blurred and appeared beside the spatial tunnel leading toward the Dou Qi Continent, gently carrying Xiao Hua in her arms. With a soft sweep of her sleeve, a wave of warm light enveloped him, mending his torn garments and healing the wounds upon his body.
Seeing his breathing steady, a faint smile curved her lips in quiet satisfaction. Without another word, she stepped into the spatial tunnel, bringing him along, and with a flick of her finger, the tunnel closed behind them—its presence erased from the void as though it had never existed.
…
A wild wind swept across a vast reddish-yellow desert, carrying grains of sand as it howled through the barren expanse. Within the keening of the storm lingered faint threads of cold, like whispers from the void.
Here, in this desolate land, not a trace of human presence could be found. No trees stood, no beasts roamed—only endless dunes beneath a dry and merciless sky, where even life itself seemed to have withered away.
A wild wind swept across a patch of pale-yellow wild grass in the endless desert, causing each blade to bow as though in silent reverence. Suddenly, a spatial tunnel tore open above the sands, and two figures stepped forth from its swirling depths.
One was a woman of breathtaking grace and ethereal beauty, while the other was a young man with strikingly handsome features—yet he lay unconscious in her arms.
She was none other than the sister of Lady Azure and Xue Yue, and the unconscious young man was Xiao Hua.
Her gaze swept over the barren land as she pondered her next step. Several kilometers away, she sensed a small group of cultivators.
Her divine eyes discerned no malice in their hearts—especially in the young woman who led them, whose heart was gentle yet cloaked in quiet distance. Thus, she chose to entrust Xiao Hua to their care.
Xiao Hua obtained his divine eyes through the Crimson Karmic Lightning, but she wielded such sight with effortless ease. With a single glance, she knew they would not harm him and would instead shelter him until he recovered.
Though she wished to tend to him herself, she knew too little of the Dou Qi Continent. All she could do was leave him in their hands—while silently watching over him from the shadows.
Thus, she gently laid him down upon the path of the passing carriages. With a wave of her slender hand, a soft ripple of light swept across his face, subtly altering his features. She knew well the fame and status her little brother bore in Dou Qi Continent through the nine Lightning Beasts' memory; should word of his condition spread, it would draw countless eyes—especially those of his enemies, the Hun Clan and the Hall of Souls. To prevent such calamity, she chose to shroud his identity until he recovered.
…
Xiao Hua stirred as his body jolted from a sharp bump. Groaning softly, he forced his heavy eyelids open. A blurred ceiling filled his vision. He pushed himself upright with slight difficulty, his limbs still sluggish and weak.
Sweeping his gaze around, he found himself within a gently swaying carriage—and froze.
Across from him sat a woman of stunning beauty. What startled him was not her appearance alone, but the fact that her face was an exact mirror of Lady Azure and Xue Yue—though her aura was entirely different from theirs.
If Lady Azure was playful yet aloof, and Xue Yue cold yet distant, then this woman was the opposite—gentle and serene, like the still waters of a forest lake. Such a temperament felt strangely at odds with the nature of Heavenly Lightnings, which were known for their oppressive and destructive might.
He immediately sensed who she must be yet found himself uncertain of how to address her. It felt awkward to name her on his own without her consent.
"If I recall, you once named me Yu Ru Meng…" she said softly, her voice like a quiet breeze as her eyes met his. A faint smile curved her lips. "You may call me by the name you gave me."
"I understand… Sister Yu Ru Meng."
Xiao Hua spoke with an awkward smile. He truly did not know how to act in moments like this, so he could only go along and leave it to time.
Yu Ru Meng let out a soft, melodious laugh, clearly amused by her little brother's awkwardness. Having only ever known her two unruly sisters who constantly bickered with each other, finding herself with a younger brother like him did not feel unpleasant at all.
"Does Sister Yu Ru Meng know about the condition of Sister Lady Azure and Sister Xue Yue?" Xiao Hua asked softly.
"They are currently resting," Yu Ru Meng replied, her faint smile still lingering. "They exhausted themselves greatly to summon me, so it will take some time before they awaken again."
She paused briefly, then continued, her voice gentle yet steady.
"I have examined your Chaos Mantra—or rather, what is now called the Heavenly Chaos Spiritual Art—so I understand certain things. The natural transition between Dou Qi and Spiritual Energy will not occur instantly. It requires specific conditions."
Her gaze softened as she explained, "You must first reach the realm of Dou Di and leave this plane. Only then will the transition truly begin. Furthermore, after stepping beyond, you must cultivate using the Spiritual Energy cultivation methods of the Great Thousand World. Once you have become a Dou Di and departed from this plane, the natural transition will unfold."
"I see…" Xiao Hua nodded slowly, absorbing her words. Yet, after a moment, a troubling thought crossed his mind.
"Dou Di? Now that I think about it… my Origin Qi is…" he murmured faintly, trailing off.
"The one you possessed has already been used to upgrade your Qi Method," Yu Ru Meng replied with a soft chuckle. "That is why you will need another."
Xiao Hua's face twitched slightly at the thought. The cost of refining the Chaos Mantra had been immense—a full cluster of Origin Qi. Not a Tier Di Pill containing mere traces of Origin Qi, nor the inheritance of a Dou Di like the Tou She Ancient God, but a pure, untouched cluster of Origin Qi.
"Focus on recovery for now," Yu Ru Meng said gently. "Once your body has healed, you can prepare for the breakthrough to Dou Di." With that, her figure scattered into glimmers of light, fading from sight.
Xiao Hua raised his brows, surprised, before noticing movement at the carriage entrance. The curtain was drawn aside, and a sharp light spilled into the space.
A middle-aged man with a sturdy, solid build appeared, his gaze honest and steady. A smile formed on his face as he saw Xiao Hua awake. With a straightforward tone, he asked, "Little brother, you've woken?"
Xiao Hua's eyes swept over the middle-aged man. His injuries were physical rather than spiritual, so his Spiritual Strength remained at the Di State, as potent as ever. Through this, he immediately discerned the man's cultivation level: a peak Dou Ling, with only a short step to Dou Wang.
"Ha ha… our convoy discovered you in a deserted grass patch," the man said, smiling faintly. "At first, we thought you might be ambushing us. But when we checked your condition, we assumed you wouldn't survive. Yet here you are… awake."
He paused briefly before continuing, "I am Han Chong, a deacon of the Han Clan from Tian Bei City. By coincidence, our convoy passed through this desert on a mission and found you. Consider yourself lucky. This desert is rife with wolf-related disasters—ferocious beasts. Even a typical Dou Shi cannot contend with them, and many experts have perished. Had they found you first, you would have been nothing but a pile of bones."
"Brother Han Chong, thank you for rescuing me," Xiao Hua replied with sincere gratitude. While his sisters could protect and his condition will heal over time, he felt deeply appreciative of their kind gestures.
Han Chong waved a hand dismissively. "It's nothing. When one is out in the world, it's only right to lend a hand if one can. No harm comes from it."
He studied Xiao Hua carefully, his brow furrowing. "But this is all I can do. Your injuries… they are strange. Outwardly, you appear fine, yet internally, your condition is severe. What exactly happened to you?"
Xiao Hua let out a bitter chuckle. "Ha ha… some training went awry. I was careless, so I deserve it."
Technically, he wasn't lying—his predicament had indeed arisen from letting his guard down, prioritizing informing his success to Lady Azure and Xue Yue over proper recovery.
Han Chong nodded thoughtfully. "Once we reach Tian Bei City, it may be possible to have an alchemist from a medicinal shop treat you. However… such services come at a steep cost. Ordinary people would struggle to afford it. Alchemists' arrogance is legendary—even my clan leader must tread carefully when dealing with them."
Satisfied with his assessment, Han Chong let the matter rest. After all, the injuries were internal, and he sensed that Xiao Hua's words held truth.
Xiao Hua could only let out a dry laugh at Han Chong's remarks about alchemists—remarks he could not deny. He had witnessed countless alchemists become arrogant, buoyed by their status and their mastery over pill refinement. Thus, he found no words to defend them, despite being an alchemist himself.
After exchanging a few more words, Han Chong turned, drew back the curtain, and stepped out. Through the brief opening, Xiao Hua glimpsed several other carriages—clearly, this was a sizable convoy.
Once Han Chong departed, silence settled over the carriage. Xiao Hua did not bother asking where they were; the moment he heard the name Han Chong mentioned, he had already deduced it.
"Never thought I'd cross paths with the Han Clan here… Then that young lady I sensed must be Han Yue's little sister, Han Xue," he murmured inwardly, his gaze drifting toward a certain carriage. That carriage bore a faint yet refined aura, clearly marking it as more distinguished than the rest. Within it, he sensed the presence of a young woman—gentle yet distant.
Only now did he realize how long he had been in seclusion, wholly focused on reaching the second level of the Chaos Mantra.
He retrieved an emerald communication jade and infused it with his soul sense, informing his sworn brothers and sisters of his condition and current location. He also shared the news of successfully reviving Yu Ru Meng, the sister of Lady Azure and Xue Yue.
Naturally, he also received news of the world beyond—things he had missed during his seclusion. A faint smile touched his lips upon hearing that Ya Fei had broken through to the Dou Zong class.
Yet when he learned that Cai Lin had ascended to the Dou Sheng class, his expression grew thoughtful. His mind turned to the Nine Serene Spring—or more precisely, the ancient inheritance of the Heaven Swallowing Python Tribe that slumbered within its depths.
Though Cai Lin had obtained many rare treasures, such as the Spring Blood Crystals from him, none could compare to receiving the full legacy of her own tribe. As one who bore the bloodline of the Heaven Swallowing Python, inheriting their ancestral techniques would allow her strength to soar at a terrifying pace.
However, the Nine Serene Spring was guarded by the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe—one of the three overlords among magical beasts. For Cai Lin to enter unnoticed and claim their inheritance would be no easy feat.
He recalls that the current tribe leader of Nine Serene Deep Ground Python's tribe is Yao Xiaotian. That means the previous tribe leader, Yao Ming, has been betrayed by Yao Xiaotian and been imprisoned at the bottom of the Nine Serene Spring.
Once he rescued Yao Ming from his imprisonment and placed him under strict surveillance, Xiao Hua could finally allow Cai Lin to safely inherit the full legacy of the Heaven Swallowing Python without concern.
"This is something I must see through no matter what," Xiao Hua swore inwardly, vowing to one day set foot in the domain of the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe and aid Cai Lin in claiming her birthright.
As he read further through the jade's messages, his expression softened slightly. Xiao Yan and Yao Chen had successfully crossed into the Central Plains through the spatial tunnel he had prepared and were now heading toward the Falling Star Pavilion. With this, their long-laid plan had finally begun—Xiao Hua would act as the light, drawing the gaze of the Hun Clan and the Hall of Souls, while Xiao Yan searched for his father from the shadows.
However, the next piece of news made his heart turn cold.
The Shi Clan, one of the Eight Ancient Clans… had vanished.
"Hun Tiandi has accelerated his plan…" Xiao Hua muttered darkly, his brows knitting as a heavy silence settled over him. This was far beyond what he had anticipated.
For the Hun Clan to annihilate an Ancient Clan outright while concealing it from the eyes of the other clans, both Hun Tiandi and the Nihility Devouring Flame must have fully recovered their strength.
Though both the Hun Clan and Shi Clan stood among the Eight Ancient Clans, such a silent eradication would have been impossible unless they had fully regained their peak strength.
"If I recall… Sister Xin Yu has taken a new disciple—the daughter of the Ling Clan's Clan Head. That means the Ling Clan has essentially allied with the Moonlit Chaos Mansion," Xiao Hua mused, rubbing his chin.
It was precisely this alliance, he realized, that had allowed the Ling Clan to escape the Hun Clan's notice and avoid becoming their first target for destruction.
"Regardless… this news will send tremors through the remaining Eight Ancient Clans."
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