Chapter 215: Goodbye, Hun Xuzi
Fortunately, that ever-growing aura did not continue endlessly. When it reached the peak of a Four-Star Dou Zong, its pace finally slowed. The growth of energy weakened, but the pressure it released became even more terrifying—like a tangible soul-suppressing force. Even with Jin Shi's strength, he felt a trace of dread.
He even had the illusion that if he were to stand directly before the owner of this Hun force, he might be crushed to death on the spot!
This terrifying Hun pressure was not even directed at him on purpose—yet that made it all the more frightening.
"This Hun power… don't tell me he's an eighth-rank alchemist?!" Jin Shi's lips trembled slightly. To him, even a seventh-rank alchemist was already a towering figure. As for an eighth-rank—that was someone one could only look up to.
Jin Gu said nothing, but his expression grew increasingly reverent. He could no longer see through this young man called Yao Yan. This was no longer a matter of calling him a prodigy. He had already grown into a strong existence that commanded reverence.
Once someone stepped into the Dou Zong realm, one could no longer view them with the eyes of a junior.
He now stood on the same level as them.
That vast Hun pressure didn't last long before it was withdrawn. However, the phenomenon that covered the entire Tianmu Mountains did not fade. Instead, it showed signs of spreading further. Clearly, the one at the bottom of the Blood Pool had not stopped cultivating.
Still, that oppressive aura had been restrained and no longer leaked out into the outside world.
"…"
Jin Shi and Jin Gu both fell into silence at this sight. They wanted to say something, but didn't know how. They couldn't exactly dive down and question Yao Yan. Could it be that the boy intended to stay there in seclusion until he became a Dou Zun?!
Roughly half an hour later, the abnormal scene in the sky slowly dispersed. The dense fog once again enveloped the peaks of the Tianmu Mountains.
The Tianshan Blood Pool also returned to calm.
Yet, unlike before, when the pool water had been blood-red, it was now crystal clear—clearly, all its energy had been completely absorbed by someone.
Even so, Yao Yan still did not appear. This left Jin Shi and Jin Gu staring at each other, unsure how to proceed.
…
Naturally, Yao Yan knew nothing of what Jin Shi and Jin Gu were thinking. At this moment, he was standing respectfully before a lone figure. The joy from his recent breakthrough instantly vanished the moment he saw this person.
The one before him was none other than his master—Hun Xu Zi, the Hun Clan's chief alchemist!
A Seven-Star Dou Sheng!
A ninth-rank alchemy grandmaster!
One of the absolute pinnacles of the current era.
"Your disciple greets Master. Wishing Master ten thousand blessings!" Yao Yan bowed deeply. The figure before him revealed no trace of aura. The black flames swirling around him devoured all nearby energy and spatial fluctuations. If not for the visible silhouette, one would not even sense that anything existed there.
"It's been a while, your tongue has gotten sweeter."
With a familiar eerie chuckle, Hun Xu Zi's form gradually grew clearer. He looked the same as before—expression indifferent, a faint smile tugging at his lips—as he examined Yao Yan after so many years apart.
"Not bad. Four-Star Dou Zong strength, your Hun realm just one step away from the Heavenly Realm. Even the Dou Emperor bloodline within you has fully revived. Looks like even without me, you've been doing quite well."
"My achievements today are entirely thanks to Master. Without your teachings back then, how could I have what I am now?" Yao Yan said with even greater respect.
"Good. You haven't forgotten my lessons, and you haven't recklessly devoured other clans' bloodlines… If you hadn't restrained that desire, today, as your teacher, I would have taken back everything I once gave you." Hun Xu Zi's tone was flat and calm.
"Your disciple has always kept Master's words in mind," Yao Yan said firmly.
"Now that you've stepped into Dou Zong, there's no need to keep suppressing yourself. Break through to Dou Zun as soon as possible. By then, I will arrange a bloodline baptism for you, allowing the Hun Clan bloodline to fully awaken as well. As for whether it can advance further—that will depend on you." Hun Xu Zi's eyes flickered as he spoke solemnly.
"Thank you, Master!" A look of delight appeared on Yao Yan's face.
"This is my gift to congratulate you on your breakthrough to Dou Zong." Hun Xu Zi chuckled strangely, raised his hand, and twisted the space beside him. A moment later, a bound figure appeared before Yao Yan.
It was a graceful woman of stunning beauty, with a flame-shaped mark between her brows. Her wide eyes were filled with terror as she looked around in panic.
"Someone of the Yan Clan. Her bloodline is no lower than seventh or eighth rank. Devour her Dou Emperor bloodline, and your control over flame will rise to another level. This clan is famed as the Children of Fire, holding several different Heavenly Flames. Unfortunately, only their own members can refine and use them, for their bloodline bears a deep imprint… But after you devour her bloodline, you may attempt to seize one of their Heavenly Flames in the future, devouring it to make it your own."
Hun Xu Zi's eyes gleamed with expectation, as if gazing upon a perfect work of art. He stared at Yao Yan intently and spoke slowly.
Facing that look, Yao Yan felt tremendous pressure. Being watched by the tearful, terrified woman before him, he was briefly dazed. Despite reminding himself of his situation, after spending so much time with Yao Lao and the others, he had still nurtured the desire to be a "good person."
But Hun Xu Zi's reappearance pulled him back to reality. Some roads, once taken, could never be turned back from. Unless he became a Dou Di, his fate was already sealed—worse, it could even drag Cai Lin, Yao Lao, and the others down with him.
Would those imperial clans ever allow someone like him to exist?!
If they learned he bore the bloodline of the Swallowing Spirit Clan—capable of devouring Dou Emperor bloodlines from other clans, and had already absorbed several—they would hunt him and everyone around him to the ends of the earth.
"Thank you, Master~" Yao Yan's daze lasted only a moment. Then a greedy smile spread across his lips. The bloodline of the Swallowing Spirit Clan within him flared, awakening powers that had slumbered for so long. His body began to transform—his brows splitting open to reveal a vertical pupil filled with a strange red glow, his fingers becoming slender, his long black hair turning streaked with white. An indescribable evil aura radiated from him.
The next instant, before Hun Xu Zi's gaze, Yao Yan thrust his hand through the woman's chest. His palm was eerie—no blood spilled as it pierced through. Her vitality drained rapidly from her eyes, despair flooding her pupils. Her once tender skin shriveled at a speed visible to the naked eye. All her essence poured into Yao Yan's body, his aura of corruption thickening further. His Dou Qi, already at Four-Star Dou Zong, surged again—but Yao Yan forced it down with all his might.
"Very good. With the Swallowing Spirit Clan's talent, you need not cultivate Dou Qi like ordinary people. But such gains will never match the mastery of hard-earned cultivation. Maintain balance yourself. Do not be blinded by power. Remember—you are the one who wields strength, not a slave driven by it. If one day you cannot control this power and your own desires, I will personally take everything back."
Hun Xu Zi's eyes showed satisfaction as he watched Yao Yan suppress the growth of his aura.
"Your disciple understands!"
Yao Yan's expression grew even more sinister. The intoxicating rush of power made him want to roar, but guilt and numbness churned inside. Killing was something he was long accustomed to. But to devour a stranger alive like this—it was something he could never become truly numb to.
If it were an enemy, it would be one thing. But this woman he had never even met before.
The least he could do was lessen her suffering.
With that thought, Yao Yan crushed her heart, quickening the absorption. Within the span of a tea's time, the beautiful Yan Clan woman had become nothing but a desiccated corpse. Every bit of her essence—bloodline, Dou Qi, even her Hun power—was swallowed by Yao Yan.
The Swallowing Spirit Clan truly devoured everything, sparing nothing.
Only after slowly pressing down the wild growth of power within did Yao Yan withdraw his hand. With practiced ease, he tossed out a wisp of azure flame. The Bone Spirit Cold Flame consumed the corpse, and his fused Heavenly Flame gained a pale tint, the azure now resembling the clear sky after rain.
A beautiful flame—but entirely out of place with what Yao Yan had just done.
As the corpse turned to ash, Yao Yan played with the fire before Hun Xu Zi's eyes. It now seemed more lively, as if imbued with spirit, resonating deeply with his own soul—an enhancement clearly derived from the Yan Clan's Dou Emperor bloodline.
"How does it feel? Even I must admit, the Yan Clan's attainments with flame are worthy of admiration." Hun Xu Zi asked softly.
"It's strange… it feels like I can infuse my Hun power into it." Yao Yan answered truthfully. As he spoke, the flame in his palm transformed into a nimble little bird, fluttering in his hand with lively, intelligent eyes.
"Not bad." Hun Xu Zi nodded. Then, glancing at the flame, he asked, "How many Heavenly Flames have you fused?"
"Four. Green Lotus Core Flame, Sea Heart Flame, Fallen Heart Flame, and Bone Spirit Cold Flame!" Yao Yan confessed directly. With Hun Xu Zi's strength, there was no point in hiding—he could likely see through it all at a glance. Concealment would only bring trouble.
"Four Heavenly Flames fused. No wonder the power is this great. If you can devour the Three Thousand Burning Flame as well, the Heavenly Flame you wield may rival my Void Swallowing Flame's sub-fire." Hun Xu Zi's eyes flickered with a solemn gleam.
But soon he shook his head. With his insight, he could see this fusion flame was unique to Yao Yan's cultivation method—impossible to replicate.
Still, that such a bizarre technique could truly be cultivated successfully… intrigued him.
Yet Hun Xu Zi didn't ask. Seeking another's cultivation method brought no good—only enmity. At his realm, he couldn't possibly change his own cultivation path anyway, and a technique requiring the devouring of Heavenly Flames was not something many would dare attempt.
What he did want was to see how far this cultivation method could go. Could it really devour without end?
"Master, could you give me one sub-fire of the Void Swallowing Flame?" Yao Yan asked with eager eyes, staring intently.
"When you break through to Dou Zun, everything you want will be yours." Hun Xu Zi replied with a smile.
"Yes, Master!" Yao Yan nodded firmly.
"As for the Pill Tower… I'll have the Hun Hall cooperate with you. How you achieve your goals will depend on your methods. Do as you wish—should anything go wrong, I'll cover you." Hun Xu Zi's tone was domineering.
"Your disciple will not disappoint Master!" Yao Yan vowed solemnly.
"Good. I'll be waiting."
With that, Hun Xu Zi's form slowly faded. Before leaving, he dropped a jade token, along with a single remark:
"Don't lose it again."
Yao Yan caught the familiar jade token with both hands, bowing deeply. He maintained that posture for a long while, only straightening once Hun Xu Zi's presence was truly gone. Carefully storing the token away, a natural smile tugged at his lips.
"To finally see Master again… it feels good."
A trace of longing shone in his eyes as he spoke.
Even if he didn't know whether Hun Xu Zi was still watching, since he had returned to that old role, the act had to be played through.
Without enough strength, he had no choice but to play the obedient disciple—until the day he had power enough to overturn the table.
(END CHAPTER)
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