As expected!
Less than two seconds after Yao Lao's warning, Yang Fan saw two points of light rapidly wriggling toward his direction.
The next second!
A giant snake over ten meters long dragged its body into Yang Fan's field of vision.
This snake had nine protrusions on its head and back, each resembling a blood tumor.
Looking closely...
It seemed as if blood was flowing inside them.
"Whoa—"
"This snake is no simple creature."
"I never expected to see such an ancient species in this small place called the Douluo Continent."
Even the worldly-wise Yao Lao couldn't help but let out an exclamation of amazement.
The strength of this snake might not amount to much in his eyes.
However, this species...
He had never seen it in his decades of living on the Dou Qi Continent.
The reason he called this giant snake an ancient species was because he had seen explanations of similar ancient exotic beasts in a book from his early years.
"Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent!"
Yang Fan's guess was completely correct.
On his diving path, the Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent had become the first obstacle.
Kill it!
After seeing this giant snake, Yang Fan didn't show any surprise.
Even if this snake hadn't come looking for him, he would have tried every means on the Hell Road to make this beast appear.
For no other reason!
Just because of the Ten-Headed Yang Sun Pill inside this giant snake's body!
Soul Breaking Spear in hand!
Yang Fan used the propulsion of his soul power to deliver a lightning-fast thrust at the Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent's head.
The Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent didn't seem to intend to dodge.
It lowered its head!
Using its hard skull to forcibly receive Yang Fan's attack.
Ding—!
Even in the magma below the Hell Road, Yang Fan still felt that sharp, ear-piercing collision sound.
The magma gives this beast a boost?!
This thought flashed through Yang Fan's mind.
To think that Tang San was just a small five-ring Soul King, yet he could still slay the Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent.
His strike hadn't pierced through this ancient creature's head?
"Use your Ice Dragon Flame!"
The previous strike had also allowed Yao Lao to see the uniqueness of the Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent.
Just as Yao Lao gave his guidance, the Ice Dragon Flame in Yang Fan's palm wrapped around the Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent like a long silk ribbon.
"Break!"
Yang Fan's palm formed a fist, squeezing hard.
Only hearing the Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent emit a cry like that of an infant, this ancient creature lost its life in the blink of an eye.
The Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent was indeed an ancient exotic species, but its cultivation was still too low.
Slaughter City had only existed for a thousand years!
Though the Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent was dead, Yang Fan didn't intend to let this beast off just like that.
The Soul Breaking Spear in his hand fiercely stabbed into the Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent's abdomen, then forcefully lifted.
A fire-red giant snake inner core had already appeared in Yang Fan's hand.
"Not bad, not bad!"
Yang Fan's proficient movements caused a satisfied smile to appear on Yao Lao's old face as well.
He could now say: This stinky boy Yang Fan had already graduated from his tutelage!
After properly storing the pill, Yang Fan continued his descent. There was no rush to refine this snake pill into medicine.
Yao Lao would definitely give him the answer!
...
After slaying the Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent, Yang Fan's descent seemed to become exceptionally smooth.
He never encountered another obstacle!
And so...
Yang Fan used roughly half a day to reach the bottom of the Hell Road.
The scene before him left Yang Fan shocked!
Put it this way...
If Old Man Huo came here, he would probably go mad with joy.
Blazing Fire Stones were piled up here like giant coral, hundreds of meters high at the tallest, and a mere twenty to thirty meters at the shortest.
This spectacle accumulated over a thousand years with blood left Yang Fan feeling only awe.
"Master, what is that...?!"
At this moment.
Below the coral-like formation of Blazing Fire Stones, Yang Fan saw a dazzling flame.
This flame was very special!
Within the entire "coral group," it was like a fully bloomed narcissus orchid.
"Yes!"
"This is a Heavenly Flame!"
At this moment...
Yao Lao's voice also began to tremble slightly.
Heavenly Flame!
There really was a Heavenly Flame in this world.
This not only represented that Yang Fan could raise the rank of the Flame Mantra by devouring the Heavenly Flame, but it also meant he now had the possibility of reconstructing his physical body.
Even if this possibility still seemed distant at the moment!
"Master."
"I... what should I do now to absorb this Heavenly Flame?"
At this moment, Yang Fan was completely a rookie in front of the Heavenly Flame!
Regarding Heavenly Flames... he had no experience at all!
Even before today, he hadn't believed that a Heavenly Flame really existed on the Douluo Continent.
Although he was still at least several hundred meters away from this flame, at this moment Yang Fan could already feel the scorching heat of this flame.
"Don't rush it!"
Yao Lao's expression was grave.
He looked at the Heavenly Flame still several hundred meters away from master and disciple, remaining silent for a long time.
"Which is stronger, this Hellfire or your Bone Chilling Cold Fire?"
"Hellfire?"
"The one that hasn't been devoured by me yet."
Yang Fan successfully answered the doubt in Yao Lao's heart.
The Heavenly Flame below the Hell Road—wasn't that Hellfire?!
Hmm...
Although he hadn't successfully devoured this flame yet, Yang Fan had already chosen a name for his first Heavenly Flame.
It would be called Hellfire!
"It's somewhat inferior to the Bone Chilling Cold Fire."
Heavenly Flames also had their ranks!
If he really had to rank Hellfire, Yao Lao estimated it would be at the bottom of the Heavenly Flame Rankings.
Even so!
This flame existing below Slaughter City had already reached the level of a Heavenly Flame.
"Take out that Ice Dragon King's inner core!"
After careful consideration...
Previously, he had never been willing to refine the two dragon pills obtained below the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well into medicine.
And today...
The Ice Dragon King's inner core came in handy!
Yang Fan immediately understood!
The Ice Dragon Flame could very well resist the heat of the Hell Road, so naturally the Ice Dragon Pill became an immortal pill for devouring the Heavenly Flame.
Yang Fan didn't even wait for Yao Lao to finish speaking before swallowing the Ice Dragon Pill.
In an instant...
Yang Fan felt his internal organs beginning to freeze.
This was only because of his current environment. If it were a normal environment, he might have already become a popsicle.
"Stinky brat, be careful!"
"Your master is here!"
Before the Heavenly Flame, even Yao Lao didn't dare to act rashly.
After all, when he absorbed the Bone Chilling Cold Fire back then, he had nearly lost his old life.
But for Yang Fan to become a strong person, he had to take this step.
Whether becoming a powerful alchemist or a powerful Dou Master, the support of a Heavenly Flame was indispensable.
"Don't worry, Master!"
A few more degrees of gravity also appeared on Yang Fan's face at this moment.
Of course he understood the power of a Heavenly Flame.
Seven years had passed since his martial soul awakened.
Seven years had only allowed him to find one Heavenly Flame, and he couldn't even determine if this was the only Heavenly Flame on the Douluo Continent.
So he couldn't retreat!
At this moment...
Yang Fan had already arrived at a position less than five meters from Hellfire.
Although he hadn't started devouring it yet, Yang Fan could already clearly feel the dominance of the Heavenly Flame itself.
"Master, I'm preparing to begin!"
Saying he wasn't nervous would be a lie!
But compared to nervousness, Yang Fan felt more excitement.
He not only believed in Yao Lao but also had an inexplicable confidence in himself.
Xiao 'Huo Huo' (Yan), who cultivated the Flame Mantra, could devour Heavenly Flames—so why couldn't he, who also cultivated the Flame Mantra?
With this belief, Yang Fan steeled his heart.
He walked before the Heavenly Flame almost in the blink of an eye, cupped it with both hands, and swallowed the Heavenly Flame source into his mouth at lightning speed.
Buzz—!
Yang Fan felt like he was going to die.
If top-tier beast flames were merely scorching, then Heavenly Flames were explosive.
These... were completely two different species!
He couldn't feel the scorching heat of the Heavenly Flame source sliding down his throat at all.
In an instant...
All the clothes on Yang Fan's body turned to ashes!
From his heart to his fingers, every part of his body was being roasted by the scorching Hellfire.
That feeling was like being thrown into the Supreme Old Lord's alchemy furnace.
He felt as if his blood vessels were about to burst, and he didn't even know that the flames had ignited his hair.
At this moment, he looked like a man of fire!
"Focus your mind!"
"You have already devoured the Heavenly Flame; there's no turning back once the bow is drawn."
"Begin circulating the Flame Mantra using the method your teacher taught you before!"
"Teacher believes you can definitely do it!"
At this moment...
All Yang Fan could rely on was himself.
Precisely because of this!
Yao Lao didn't give Yang Fan excessive pressure.
"Good child!"
"As long as you can successfully get the Flame Mantra circulating, it means you have already succeeded."
Yao Lao had experience devouring Heavenly Flames.
And it was precisely because of this that he understood how great the pain Yang Fan was currently enduring.
"Hiss—"
Yang Fan's entire body trembled.
He now finally knew why Heavenly Flames were called the kings of fire.
This feeling of being burned by fierce flames was a hundred times, a thousand times more painful than the Blood Burning Body Tempering.
He felt as if his bones had already shattered under the Heavenly Flame's tempering.
And this wasn't even the most fatal part!
The powerful slaughter aura of Hellfire constantly assaulted his brain.
He was already beginning to lose his senses, with only one thought in his mind.
He wanted to drink blood!
At this moment...
Yao Lao's voice continuously echoed in his ears.
For Yang Fan, Yao Lao's encouragement was the cardiac stimulant that pulled him back from the edge of losing his mind.
Yang Fan was grateful he had taken that Tier 6 Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew Pill before coming down, or he might have already become lost in slaughter like Tang Chen.
He endured the pain of his blood vessels about to burst, changing from a kneeling position to sitting cross-legged.
"Whoo—"
He felt as if he had exhaled a mouthful of Samadhi True Fire.
And it was from this moment that the cultivation technique in his body began to circulate along the normal path.
As Yao Lao said, it was indeed true!
When the Flame Mantra began circulating in his body, it meant he was already halfway to success.
It's just...
This step was incomparably difficult for anyone.
Without the Tier 6 pill refined by Yao Lao, without the Ice Dragon Pill taken in advance, without Yao Lao's shouts from the depths of his soul.
If not...
Yang Fan dared to say that without complete preparation, even a peak Douluo wouldn't be able to gain any advantage.
Just like Tang Chen!
Time passed second by second, and the circulation speed of the Flame Mantra also became faster and faster.
Devouring a Heavenly Flame with the Flame Mantra was actually quite simple!
If the Flame Mantra was compared to a whetstone, then the flame was a treasured blade that needed to be sharpened.
In this constant sharpening process, the flame would eventually be successfully refined by him.
However...
If the beast flames and grass flames he had absorbed before were treasured blades that needed to be sharpened, then the Heavenly Flame he was now devouring was equivalent to an HRB400 threaded steel bar.
That sense of powerlessness instantly filled every nerve in his body.
He felt that even if his Flame Mantra circulated until sparks flew, it might still be unable to successfully refine the Heavenly Flame.
However...
Just as Yao Lao said, he now had no path of retreat.
Perhaps the best news for him now was that as the Flame Mantra circulated, the damage the Heavenly Flame caused to his body gradually decreased.
He began to adapt to the explosiveness of Hellfire...
Unconsciously...
Yang Fan entered a completely still, dormant state.
Just like a snake that had just entered hibernation!
...
Time flowed like a steady stream.
Yang Fan felt as if he had a very, very long dream, walking out from his dormant state.
Slowly opening his eyes...
He felt as if his eyelids were stuck together.
Yang Fan could feel his entire skeleton crackling and rattling with just a slight movement of his body.
That feeling made Yang Fan incredibly comfortable, even giving him a strong sense of being reborn.
"What am I...?"
Yang Fan immediately checked his own body.
Dou Ling?!
He was surprised to discover that he had become a three-star Dou Ling.
Flipping his hand...
A blood-red flame rose vigorously in his palm.
Heavenly Flame!
He had really succeeded in devouring it.
This... this was the first Heavenly Flame of his life.
It was precisely because he successfully devoured Hellfire that he went from a five-star Da Dou Shi to a three-star Dou Ling.
He didn't even have to experience the barrier of breakthrough!
At this moment...
Yang Fan felt that there were three flames in his body in total.
One large and two small!
"Master."
"I succeeded!"
"I really succeeded."
Yang Fan's voice couldn't hide his excitement; he was even more eager to tell Yao Lao this good news.
"Ahh—"
Yao Lao let out a long yawn, appearing before Yang Fan as the surrounding air twisted.
He said lazily: "I know."
"Congratulations, little fellow."
"The Flame Mantra has now advanced another step."
While congratulating Yang Fan, Yao Lao was also happy for himself, though his excitement seemed to have been completely diluted by time.
"Right... the Flame Mantra!"
Yang Fan was too happy.
He had even been so happy that he forgot to check the current changes in the Flame Mantra.
"Xuan Tier High Grade?"
Yang Fan wasn't very satisfied with this result.
He had devoured a Heavenly Flame!
Could the king of fire not even allow his cultivation technique to advance to Earth Grade?
"What?"
"Disappointed?"
"The gap between Xuan Grade and Earth Grade techniques isn't just a difference in rank."
"There's an insurmountable chasm between them!"
"You don't need to be disappointed now."
"Hellfire has already helped you rush to the barrier of Earth Tier. Next, you only need to find one beast flame to make the Flame Mantra become an Earth Tier technique."
That was indeed true!
Yang Fan also felt that his cultivation technique was currently at the critical point between Xuan Tier and Earth Tier.
It seemed... one push would break through!
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