Word Count: 3,160 Words
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When Xiao Yan had entered the lowest level of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower to temper his body with the Heart Flame, the Nihility Devouring Flame had relied on its Seed Flame's presence to sense that the Tou She Ancient God Mansion lay right there, buried beneath Jia Nan Academy itself!
That was something Xiao Yan had never imagined in his wildest dreams. The legendary Tou She Ancient God Mansion, which countless Dou God Clans had dreamed of day and night and fought to the death over, was actually sitting at the bottom of Jia Nan Academy!!
And the Nihility Devouring Flame had known this long in advance.
The Nihility Devouring Flame drifted slowly closer to Xiao Yan. Those black-hole pupils roamed up and down his figure before a bizarre smile tugged at its lips. "You are very similar to that hateful fellow."
"Yi!!" Little Yi bared its tiny teeth. Milky-white flames lunged toward the Nihility Devouring Flame. The two Heavenly Flames were innately opposed; fire and water by nature could not coexist.
The Nihility Devouring Flame simply waved a hand when the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame attacked. The milky-white fire winked out.
Because of the Demon Flame Space, although Little Yi was now a mature Heavenly Flame and even possessed a nascent spirit, it still could not compare to the current Nihility Devouring Flame. Even Xiao Yan could no longer see through the Nihility Devouring Flame's true strength.
If not for Hun Tiandi's soul contract acting as a life-preserving talisman, Xiao Yan truly would not have dared come alone to meet the Nihility Devouring Flame.
Had the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame not been sealed by the Purifying Lotus Demon Saint thousands of years ago, it might once have stood a chance of wrestling with the Nihility Devouring Flame before him. Now, with its little arms and little legs, it probably wasn't enough for the other party to swat aside with a single slap.
"Yi yi!" Little Yi clenched its tiny pink fists and gnashed its teeth, fierce and adorable all at once, but utterly helpless. Right now it was indeed very weak, its strength falling far short of the Nihility Devouring Flame's.
After being refined by Xiao Yan, the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame's effective strength was equal to his own. As long as he continuously supplied it with Dou Qi, it could display extremely terrifying power.
Xiao Yan gently stroked Little Yi's small head, soothing its temper, then lifted his gaze to the Nihility Devouring Flame's true body. "You wanted me to obtain the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame so we could cooperate. What exactly do you want my help with, and what can you give me in return?"
Since there was business to discuss, it wasn't as though he couldn't sit down and hear the terms.
A wisp of black flame flickered through the Nihility Devouring Flame's eyes at the mention of its objective. Hatred and fury burned within that dark fire as it spoke in a low voice. "After you enter the Tou She Ancient God Mansion, there is something I need. Help me retrieve it, and I can assist you… in becoming a Dou God!"
Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed slightly, his thoughts sinking inward. The Tou She Ancient God Mansion did indeed contain something capable of helping a person become a Dou God, the very thing Hun Tiandi had schemed after for over a thousand years.
The Di Tier Embryonic Pill.
It seemed the Nihility Devouring Flame and Hun Tiandi were not on the same side at all, unlike the former bond between the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame and the Purifying Lotus Demon Saint.
Against the Nihility Devouring Flame's expectations, however, Xiao Yan simply shook his head and laughed. "Nihility Devouring Flame, those were the same words you said to Hun Tiandi back then, weren't they?"
The Nihility Devouring Flame fixed its gaze on him. Those eyes without a trace of white were deeply unsettling to meet.
Xiao Yan smiled calmly. He harbored no fear of this Heavenly Flame ranked second on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. "You're trying to collect betrothal gifts from both sides. That's not very honest of you."
He wasn't stupid. A little thought was all it took to realize that the matter of the Di Tier Embryonic Pill had definitely been leaked to Hun Tiandi by the Nihility Devouring Flame, which had received in exchange the full strength of the Hun Clan behind it, helping it grow. Right now, the Nihility Devouring Flame was likely the most powerful existence beneath Hun Tiandi himself.
Otherwise, it would have ended up just as the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame had thousands of years ago: refined by someone and used as a cultivation aid.
The Heavenly Flame ranked second! A Heavenly Flame of that caliber was something even Gu Yuan or Hun Tiandi would never let slip through their fingers. Only by obtaining the Hun Clan's protection and picking a side could the Nihility Devouring Flame slowly grow. The price of that protection had been the information regarding the Di Tier Embryonic Pill and its assistance in Hun Tiandi's path to becoming a Dou God.
Now the Nihility Devouring Flame was tossing out this same bargaining chip again. Unexpectedly, Xiao Yan refused to take the usual route and wasn't buying into its scheme at all!
If only Xiao Yan had been the sole person privy to this information, he might truly have considered joining hands with the Nihility Devouring Flame. But Hun Tiandi had known about it for over a thousand years already. In the end, Xiao Yan might not gain a single thing from the arrangement and might even be sold out by this fellow for no reason at all.
The Nihility Devouring Flame was indeed clever, swaying like a reed between both sides.
Unfortunately, it had run into Xiao Yan, someone whose desire to become a Dou God was not particularly strong.
"Nihility Devouring Flame, you're underestimating Hun Tiandi a bit too much. If you think you can control him and the entire Hun Clan with just a Devouring Seed, I'd say you're indulging in wishful thinking."
Xiao Yan raised his hand. A tiny black seed floated slowly out from his palm. This Devouring Seed would secretly take root in the bloodline, forming a bloodline mark similar to the Asura Slave Seal and allowing the Nihility Devouring Flame's true body to control the host.
The Nihility Devouring Flame's true body was not the least bit surprised that Xiao Yan had found the Devouring Seed buried within the Seed Flame. Xiao Yan possessed the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, a Heavenly Flame that could purify all negative energy, even the negative emotions of a Dou God. A Devouring Seed secretly planted by the Nihility Devouring Flame was nothing in comparison.
Crack!
Xiao Yan crushed the black seed between his fingers. After meeting Hun Tiandi a few times, he honestly had no great faith in the Nihility Devouring Flame's odds. Hun Tiandi was not merely a madman obsessed with becoming a Dou God. He was also a genius and a strategist.
If the Nihility Devouring Flame could make him a Dou God right this instant, Xiao Yan would definitely agree. But if it could only offer a vague promise of help, he would refuse. The risks were simply too great.
Even if he could now rope in the Nihility Devouring Flame, and even pull the Gu Clan and Gu Yuan firmly to his side, Xiao Yan's heart would still be deeply uneasy. He simply did not believe they could defeat the Hun Clan, whose depths remained unfathomable.
Just think about it. Back then, the Xiao Clan under Xiao Xuan had joined forces with the Gu Clan. Two clans led by peerless experts had stood shoulder to shoulder, yet in the end, during the battle in the Heavenly Tomb, they still fell to the Hun Clan under Hun Tiandi's command.
There had certainly been other factors at play. But the undeniable outcome was that Hun Tiandi had been the one who laughed last. Xiao Yan had no way of knowing all the hidden reasons behind that victory. He only knew it absolutely could not be chalked up to mere luck.
The result told him enough: Hun Tiandi possessed a vast arsenal of methods and terrifying strength. Even the combined forces of the Gu Clan and Xiao Clan had suffered defeat.
Adding the Nihility Devouring Flame to their side now still wouldn't change that outcome.
In his past life, Xiao Yan had known that the saying 'wealth and rank are sought within danger' was incomplete, because there was always a second half to that phrase.
Wealth and rank are sought within danger, and lost within danger as well.
"Alright. If this is the cooperation you wanted to discuss, forget it." Xiao Yan waved his hand dismissively. "I don't think this deal is worth it."
He still had beautiful wives waiting at home, elders above and children below. He could leave this kind of life-gambling venture to Hun Tiandi; he had no interest in joining in.
Once Hun Tiandi became a Dou God and the world settled into peace, Xiao Yan could roam the Dou Qi Continent at leisure with Xun Er, Cai Lin, and Little Fairy Doctor at his side. Wouldn't that be far better?
In any case, he and Hun Tiandi had a soul contract binding them, one agreed upon by both sides. Even the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame could not purify and dissolve it; trying to do so would only harm himself.
More importantly, the matter of the Dou Gods' collective disappearance still had no conclusion. Until the truth of that incident came to light, Xiao Yan absolutely did not intend to become a Dou God.
The collective disappearance of the Dou Gods. No matter how one looked at it, that was not a good omen!
Become a Dou God? That would be insanity.
As Xiao Yan prepared to turn and leave, the Nihility Devouring Flame suddenly revealed a meaningful smile. "Don't you want to know how I was able to sense the Tou She Ancient God Mansion?"
"I don't."
"Don't you want to know where the Heavenly Flame ranked first on the Heavenly Flame Ranking is?"
"I don't."
"The Tou She Ancient God cultivated the same Qi Method as you."
!!!!!!!!!!!!
Xiao Yan's eyes flew wide. He whipped his head around to stare at the Nihility Devouring Flame, his heart rocking with a massive tremor. He even assumed a defensive stance, ready at any moment to throw aside his pride and call Hun Tiandi to save his life.
No wonder the Flame Mantra could evolve to the God Class. So it really was a Qi Method created by a Dou God?!
The Flame Mantra had been created by the Tou She Ancient God?
"I recall it was called the Flame Mantra," the Nihility Devouring Flame added softly.
!!!
No wonder this fellow had been willing to give me the Seed Flame back then!
An ominous feeling surged through Xiao Yan's heart. Heavenly Flames roared to life in an instant, wrapping his entire body. His two Divine Grade bloodlines began to boil. He even prepared to merge an Angry Buddha Lotus Flame. Although Xun Er and Little Fairy Doctor were not present, so the fire lotus could not reach the terrifying God Class level of the one that had once shattered the Refining Sky Ancient Formation, it should still barely manage to step into the God Class. He was ready to stake everything on a desperate fight and flee for his life.
A strange glint flashed across the Nihility Devouring Flame's gaze as it watched the dozen-odd Heavenly Flames merge into a super Heavenly Flame around Xiao Yan's body.
Yet, to Xiao Yan's surprise, the Nihility Devouring Flame showed not the slightest intention of making a move to steal his Qi Method or kill him for his Heavenly Flame essence.
Very quickly, Xiao Yan understood why. It wasn't just because the Nihility Devouring Flame feared Hun Tiandi. There was an even more important reason.
The Flame Mantra was Low Huang Class.
Yes. The Flame Mantra was a Low Huang Class Qi Method. To cultivate it, one had to scatter all existing cultivation and start again from scratch. The Flame Mantra was simultaneously the lowest-ranked and the riskiest Qi Method on the entire Dou Qi Continent!
Xiao Yan had indeed evolved the Flame Mantra, but any copy he could produce for others would only ever be the original Low Huang Class version. He could create thousands upon thousands of Flame Mantra scrolls, and every last one would be Low Huang Class.
The evolved Flame Mantra had advanced by consuming Heavenly Flames and adapting to his own unique circumstances. Such a thing could never be transcribed into a usable Qi Method scroll for another person.
Even if Xiao Yan were reborn now and handed twenty-two kinds of Heavenly Flames, he might not dare cultivate the Flame Mantra again. The risks were simply too immense; the slightest misstep meant eternal damnation. Not to mention having to scatter one's cultivation and start over from nothing. Not even a fool would make such a choice.
Back then, even Venerable Yao had not cultivated it. Xiao Yan had purely been a newborn calf unafraid of tigers. He had just reincarnated and understood nothing. When he opened his storage ring and found a 'newbie gift pack' labeled 'Cultivate Flame Mantra, get Bone Chilling Flame free,' he had run off to cultivate it like a hot-blooded fool.
"Why do you know so much about the Tou She Ancient God?" Xiao Yan frowned. "You don't happen to have some connection with him, do you?"
He was also extremely curious. Why had the Nihility Devouring Flame's Seed Flame been able to sense the Tou She Ancient God Mansion in the deepest depths beneath that magma sea and even know that a Di Tier Embryonic Pill lay inside?
It was precisely because Mao Wu had possessed that strange perception back then that, after refining the Fallen Heart Flame, Xiao Yan had chosen not to stay in the Heart Flame Space absorbing Heavenly Flame energy. Instead, he had left all of that energy for Cai Lin and dove beneath the magma sea on his own, entering the fire sea below, where he found Venerable Tian Huo's soul body. That discovery had ultimately led to his exiting seclusion early, which in turn allowed him to participate in the Great Meeting of Factions and obtain the Ghostly Poison Flame.
That entire chain of events had begun with Mao Wu sensing something unusual and communicating it back to the true body. Otherwise, Xiao Yan would have remained in the Heart Flame Space absorbing Heavenly Flame energy to strengthen himself.
By rights, the Tou She Ancient God should have had nothing to do with the Nihility Devouring Flame.
A savage expression twisted across the Nihility Devouring Flame's features. It bared its teeth and snarled, "Because I was once trapped by the Tou She Ancient God in that sunless mansion! In the end, he refined me and made me a part of himself!"
"A part?" Xiao Yan's brows drew together. He had keenly caught a key phrase.
"Jie Jie Jie, did you think the Tou She Ancient God was a human or a magical beast?" An eerie laugh rippled from the Nihility Devouring Flame. "The Tou She Ancient God's true body is a Heavenly Flame. After he devoured all of us Heavenly Flames, he became the Tou She Ancient God! He is the Heavenly Flame ranked first on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. He is the Emperor Flame!"
!??
"The first on the Heavenly Flame Ranking is the Tou She Ancient God???" Xiao Yan stood rooted to the spot. This was an earth-shattering secret!
He exchanged a glance with the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame at his side. Like the Nihility Devouring Flame, the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame was unique in the world. There was only one of each.
"Jie Jie Jie, there's no need to find it strange," the Nihility Devouring Flame continued. "Back then, just like the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, I lost to the Tou She Ancient God and was captured. Later, not long after he broke through to become a Dou God, he suddenly disappeared. Only then did the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame and I manage to escape from the mansion."
"Heavenly Flames are born with the instinct to devour one another. As for the so-called Heavenly Flame ranked first on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, after the twenty-two Heavenly Flames on the ranking devour each other, the final victor becomes the number one Emperor Flame."
Xiao Yan murmured, "So the first on the Heavenly Flame Ranking has no fixed name. Whichever Heavenly Flame can break through its restraints and emerge victorious from that brutal devouring among Heavenly Flames… that one earns the title of first on the Heavenly Flame Ranking?"
It really is like raising Gu insects.
One put all manner of venomous creatures into a single vessel, letting them fight and devour each other until only the most poisonous creature remained. That survivor was the Gu.
The Nihility Devouring Flame glanced at the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, whose spiritual intelligence was still comparatively low, and sneered. "After we escaped, we went our separate ways. It chose the Purifying Lotus Demon Saint. I lay dormant for a thousand years, then during the Tunling Clan war, I chose Hun Tiandi, who was still only a youth at the time."
Naturally, the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame retained no such memories now. They had been wiped away back in the Demon Flame Space.
No wonder the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame had been so frenzied and full of hatred at the very beginning, acting as though it wanted to destroy the entire world. Something like this had happened in its past.
This also explained why Mao Wu possessed the Tunling King's power. Xiao Yan had investigated the Tunling Clan back then and learned that they had devoured the bloodline strength of the Dou God Clans, only to be discovered. All of the Dou God Clans had then joined forces to besiege and annihilate them.
The Hun Clan had been one of the participants in that war, and in the end, the Tunling King had perished at the hands of the Hun Clan Head of that era.
Looking at it now, Hun Tiandi and the Nihility Devouring Flame had clearly already been in collusion back then. Hun Tiandi had secretly allowed the Nihility Devouring Flame to devour the Tunling King and strengthen itself.
"The first on the Heavenly Flame Ranking was actually born from devouring the other Heavenly Flames. The Tou She Ancient God is the first on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, and he even cultivated the Flame Mantra…" Xiao Yan exhaled slowly.
"This really is sensational."
One staggering revelation after another left his mind faintly reeling.