Chapter 67: Personal Disciple!
"So this is the Soul Hall's Earth Abyss Hall?"
Looking at the massive building hidden on the mountaintop before him, Yun Yi felt some emotion. The Soul Hall's ability to grow big and strong was also due to its skill in choosing locations.
This place was extremely secluded, surrounded by dense natural fog that shrouded the mountains year-round. Deep within this fog, even soul perception was affected. It was indeed an excellent hidden base.
Mu Gu Elder glanced sideways at Yun Yi but said nothing. Yun Yi had been very stable the entire way, not attempting to escape. Mu Gu did not want to cause more trouble. He just wanted to dispose of this hot potato as soon as possible.
He was still thinking about Yao Chen. Even if he could not get any information from Yun Yi, the other had come from the Black-Corner Region. Perhaps there were some clues about him there?
"So you are the little fellow Lord Hun Xuzi wanted to see."
An indifferent voice, devoid of any emotion, rang out through the mountain valley. The space ahead slowly began to distort. Dense black fog seeped out from within.
The black fog continuously seeped out from the distorted space, finally condensing into a figure completely wrapped in black fog.
"Greetings, Vice Hall Master." Seeing the newcomer, Mu Gu Elder trembled as he prostrated himself.
The Soul Hall Vice Hall Master — a Three-Star Dou Sheng.
"So it is Mu Gu. The person has arrived. You may leave." The Soul Hall Vice Hall Master showed no particular regard for Mu Gu Elder, the respectable eighth-grade alchemist. He casually waved his hand.
"Yes." Clearly, Mu Gu Elder was quite accustomed to this treatment. He did not dare to show the slightest pride. A Dou Sheng and a ninth-grade alchemist were equals. Only by reaching the ninth grade could one earn the respect of a Dou Sheng. He was still far from the ninth grade.
Even his bitter enemy, his senior disciple Yao Chen, whose alchemy skills were above his own, was only at the peak of the eighth grade — still a step away from the ninth.
"Let us go. The Hall Master is waiting for you. To be honest, I am also very curious about your identity."
After Mu Gu Elder left, the Vice Hall Master looked at Yun Yi, who had remained very calm. He raised his hand and lightly traced a line in the space before him. The space was easily torn open, revealing a crack through which dense black fog continuously seeped, its destination unknown.
Clearly, it did not lead into the Earth Abyss Hall behind them.
After a period of darkness, Yun Yi found himself in a pitch-black hall. In the center of the hall, an ordinary-looking figure was looking at him with interest.
The figure wore a black robe. His face had no remarkable features. His hands, extending from his sleeves, were somewhat rough. Yet this ordinary figure caused the surrounding space to slightly stagnate. His strength had reached a terrifying level.
The Soul Hall Master — Hun Mie Sheng — a Five-Star Dou Sheng.
Hun Mie Sheng's calm, unwavering eyes looked at Yun Yi. His eyes were black — an extremely pure black. There was no white in his eyes at all — just ink-black darkness. Being gazed upon by him, one felt a chill.
He examined Yun Yi from head to toe, as if trying to see through him. At the same time, the Nihility Devouring Flame child flame within his body trembled slightly — from... fear?
How could that be? Was there a flame on the continent that could make Nihility Devouring Flame show such a reaction?
Even if his was just a child flame.
"Hall Master." Seeing Hun Mie Sheng, the Soul Hall Vice Hall Master spoke respectfully.
"Mm. Return to the Earth Abyss Hall. Leave this little friend to me." The voice brought Hun Mie Sheng back to reality. He turned his head and spoke indifferently to the other.
The Vice Hall Master looked at Yun Yi with some curiosity. Was he not even qualified to go to the Soul Realm to see the outcome?
Just who was this guy?
But he did not dare to complain. He respectfully bowed, then tore open another spatial passage and left the hall.
"Let us go. I am also curious about your identity — to actually make my..."
Leaving an ambiguous sentence unfinished, a look of thought passed through his eyes. He opened a spatial passage, waved his sleeve, and took Yun Yi inside.
After many twists and turns, Yun Yi finally met the strongest expert in this world.
The second-ranked heavenly flame on the Dou Qi Continent's Heavenly Flame List — a Nine-Star Dou Sheng — Nihility Devouring Flame.
"Nihility Devouring Flame."
Looking at that demonic figure, even Yun Yi's heart pounded violently. As a flame spirit body, he could naturally see at a glance just how terrifying the power hidden within this body was.
In his estimation, even if it was not as strong as the original Saint Demon Flame child flame, it was only a step behind the child flame currently severely wounded and sealed within the Qing Ming Pagoda.
As Yun Yi examined Nihility Devouring Flame, the other's black hole-like eyes had not left him for even a moment since his arrival.
Most importantly, he had just felt fear from the depths of his heart — from another bloodline within him. That was the bloodline of the Devouring Spirit Clan — the very foundation of the Hun clan's enduring prosperity.
As for the fear of his main body, he subconsciously ignored it, attributing it to the Devouring Spirit Clan's bloodline.
"Lord Nihility."
Watching Nihility Devouring Flame act as if no one else was around, Hun Xuzi and Hun Mie Sheng beside him felt somewhat awkward. They looked back and forth between Nihility Devouring Flame and Yun Yi. If they did not know Nihility Devouring Flame's origins, they would truly have had their suspicions.
Could it be that this guy really had some relationship with Lord Nihility?
Could heavenly flames even reproduce?
"Leave."
Hearing Hun Xuzi's words, Nihility Devouring Flame's gaze still did not leave Yun Yi. A hoarse voice that made one's soul tremble slowly came from his mouth.
"Yes." The two, their bodies trembling slightly, bowed and quickly left the place.
After the two left, only Yun Yi and Nihility Devouring Flame remained. They looked at each other in silence.
After a long silence, Nihility Devouring Flame suddenly chuckled lightly. "I never imagined another 'kindred spirit' would appear in the world."
With Nihility Devouring Flame's strength and situation, he recognized Yun Yi's identity at first sight — a heavenly flame that had condensed intelligence. What made him curious was that he could not tell which heavenly flame it was.
He was certain that only he possessed this devouring power. Then how could Yun Yi explain it? Had a new heavenly flame been born in the world?
"But I am curious — how did you condense your intelligence?" The laughter was short-lived. Soon, Nihility Devouring Flame's gaze turned cold as he looked at Yun Yi.
As far as he knew, only he and Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame among the heavenly treasures of the Dou Qi Continent had condensed complete consciousness. And at that time, their strength was already very high. They could not have done what Yun Yi did — condensing a flame spirit body at merely the Dou Wang level.
As far as he knew, only one flame in the world had condensed complete intelligence while still weak — that bastard Tuo She Ancient Emperor.
Although he did not know how the other had done it, that bastard had succeeded, becoming the last Dou Emperor on the Dou Qi Continent.
"Before answering your question, I would like to know — Nihility Devouring Flame, do you want to become a Dou Emperor?"
Yun Yi did not rush to answer Nihility Devouring Flame. Instead, he spoke softly, unhurriedly. His words seemed to carry a magic, making even Nihility Devouring Flame, a Nine-Star Dou Sheng, breathe heavily and feel his heart race.
"Heh —, ha, haha, hahaha!!!"
After a moment of silence, Nihility Devouring Flame suddenly laughed madly. His Nine-Star Dou Sheng aura completely scattered, causing the surrounding space to become unstable. Small spatial cracks slowly appeared.
Yun Yi felt his breathing become difficult. Although he had seen even more terrifying battles, the gap between a Dou Wang and a Dou Sheng was like a chasm. He felt as if a huge mountain was pressing down on him.
As if he could be torn apart by this pressure at any moment.
"Do you know what you are saying? An ant at the Dou Wang level dares to ask me if I want to become emperor?" Suddenly, Nihility Devouring Flame's laughter stopped. His face full of coldness, he looked at Yun Yi. Terrifying killing intent spread from his body, as if he could tear Yun Yi apart at any moment.
"Strength does not necessarily represent insight." Facing Nihility Devouring Flame's killing intent, Yun Yi remained unhurried, as if he truly did not care about his own life. He continued asking.
"Do you know why the Dou Emperors disappeared?"
"Do you know the origin of the Devouring Spirit Clan?"
"Do you know the... truth of the world?"
With each question Yun Yi asked, Nihility Devouring Flame's breathing grew heavier. Eventually, his eyes cold, he looked at Yun Yi with killing intent and said.
"You truly are not a creature of the Dou Qi Continent. Tell me everything. Otherwise..." Nihility Devouring Flame's face twisted into a sinister smile. "This honored one will devour you."
From the moment he saw Yun Yi, Nihility Devouring Flame had sensed something wrong. There was a familiar yet unfamiliar aura about him. He had suspected it at the time.
But with Yun Yi's three questions, he confirmed the thought in his heart. The other was not a creature of the Dou Qi Continent.
When he had devoured the chieftain of the Devouring Spirit Clan long ago, he had vaguely guessed it. The other's bloodline was not that of a Dou Qi Continent creature. That vile aura did not match the energy of the Dou Qi Continent.
But over the years, they had all been striving to become Dou Emperors. Who had the time to worry about such things? He had never expected that one day, someone would stir his memories again — and a self-proclaimed outsider at that.
"You cannot."
Nihility Devouring Flame's threat did not scare Yun Yi in the slightest. He spoke with conviction.
"What do you know?"
Yun Yi's words made Nihility Devouring Flame lose his composure. He truly could not. The moment he had thought about devouring the other, a resistance — even fear — had come from within his bloodline. He was now completely unable to harm Yun Yi.
"The Devouring Spirit Clan." Yun Yi looked at the other, who was beside himself with anger, and slowly uttered three words.
Nihility Devouring Flame's pupils suddenly contracted. He regained his composure and sneered. "Although I cannot touch you, if I give the order, you will still die."
"Indeed. But in doing so, you would lose the opportunity to become emperor. Are you willing to serve the Hun clan for life? Do you truly trust Hun Tiandi?"
"You know too much." Nihility Devouring Flame looked at Yun Yi with deep eyes and spoke indifferently.
"Tell me everything you know." Finally, Nihility Devouring Flame spoke slowly.
A divine light flashed in Yun Yi's eyes. At this point, his plan had essentially succeeded. This body of his would now have a powerful backer, allowing him to boldly explore the secrets of the Dou Qi Continent.
Then, Yun Yi told Nihility Devouring Flame some basic information. After a long while, the other murmured in a daze.
"So that is how it is. So the Devouring Spirit Clan had such an origin. The world outside the Dou Qi Continent is like this. Dou Emperor is not the peak?"
"Then, how did you appear on the Dou Qi Continent? Is your world going to invade this plane again?"
"No. I appeared here by chance. I am now also searching for a way home." Facing Nihility Devouring Flame's question, Yun Yi shook his head, a melancholy tone in his voice.
Nihility Devouring Flame looked at Yun Yi deeply. Yun Yi's words had many holes. How did he know about the Hun clan? How did he arrive on the Dou Qi Continent? How did he condense his flame spirit body? How did he know the Hun clan's secrets?
Yun Yi did not answer any of these. But did Nihility Devouring Flame care?
He did not care. What he cared about, like Hun Tiandi, were only two words: become emperor.
"I understand. From now on, you are my personal disciple. The Hun clan will spare no effort to nurture you. I hope you grow up quickly. The Hun clan's plan will not stop because of you. If, in the end, you do not meet my requirements, then prepare to have your intelligence erased."
In the end, Nihility Devouring Flame did not ask anything. Instead, he defined Yun Yi's status in a single sentence — his disciple. This position in the Hun clan was definitely high-ranking, even more noble than the young clan leader.
There could be many young clan leaders. But Nihility Devouring Flame had only one disciple.
Besides, the current clan leader had great ambitions, leading the Hun clan to flourish. He was at the prime of his life.
Young clan leader? Who knew how many would pop up in the future?
"Go. To achieve your goal, strength is indispensable. I hope you grow up quickly."
He waved his hand. A token fell into Yun Yi's hand. Nihility Devouring Flame closed his eyes. The meaning was clear.
Yun Yi looked at Nihility Devouring Flame, who had fallen silent. He put away the token and turned to leave the hall.
As Yun Yi left, the hall once again returned to its eternal, unchanging stillness.
After a moment, Nihility Devouring Flame opened his pitch-black eyes. He looked coldly in the direction Yun Yi had left. Words filled with killing intent echoed through the hall.
"Threatening me?"
"Wait. Once I step into the Emperor Realm soul, that damned Devouring Spirit Clan bloodline will no longer be able to stop me. That will be your endpoint."
"Heh —, I truly want to taste the flames of the Great Thousand World. How do they compare to the Dou Qi Continent's flames? Can they replace the origin energy and help me step into the Dou Emperor realm?"
"Grow up quickly, Yun Yi. If you are too weak then, it will not be interesting."
"I truly look forward to it."