Chapter 167: The Heavenly Fire Sovereign
Through the small, illuminated doorway, a fiery red world could be seen. It seemed to exist in a separate space, desolate and barren, with the only notable attraction being a skeleton and the glowing, transparent flame seed on it. This seed was extremely similar to the original heart fire of the Fallen Heart Flame, except that this one was tiny, as though it had just been born.
Just as Yao Yan was about to step inside, several eerie figures suddenly appeared within the range of his soul perception. They moved toward him with terrifying speed.
The surrounding magma seemed to offer no resistance to their movements.
As they got closer, their figures fully revealed themselves. Their entire bodies were crimson, matching the color of the surrounding magma. If not for careful observation, it would be hard to notice them. Their red-scaled bodies were covered in scales, with tails about half a meter long that flicked as they swiftly moved through the magma. Even though they were tens of thousands of meters below the surface, the terrifying pressure did not seem to affect them.
Their feet were wide, and their round heads were covered in small scales. Their small, yet fierce eyes flashed with a hidden cruelty, and their large mouths parted slightly, revealing rows of sharp teeth.
They resembled Komodo dragons from Yao Yan's past life, but these were a crimson version... one could say that his third brother was overjoyed.
Yao Yan didn't want to stir trouble with these lizard-like creatures guarding the Tuo She Ancient Emperor's tomb. He controlled the fire serpent body of the Fallen Heart Flame and swiftly dove into the light circle. The light circle acted like a spatial door, swallowing him entirely.
As soon as Yao Yan entered with the Fallen Heart Flame, the light circle abruptly vanished as if it had never existed, causing the attacking lizard men to miss their target. They looked around in confusion before slowly dispersing.
Clearly, these low-level fire lizard people were not very intelligent. Their instincts drove them to prevent all living creatures from entering the deep underground areas near the Tuo She Ancient Emperor's tomb.
Yao Yan's eyes, covered with a greenish flame, clearly saw everything outside. After the lizard men left, his figure slowly emerged from the Fallen Heart Flame, and the green lotus earth heart fire around him slowly dissipated. His soul power surged from his brow and spread through the space, quickly reaching the skeleton and the Fallen Heart Flame.
Just as Yao Yan's soul power was about to touch it, the skeleton suddenly erupted with a blinding white light. As the white light condensed, an ethereal human figure appeared in Yao Yan's vision.
The figure wore white robes, with snow-white hair and beard, his face ancient. His calm eyes shimmered with a faint glint as he looked at Yao Yan and the fire serpent coiled beside him. A look of surprise appeared in his eyes. "The Fallen Heart Flame... I didn't expect you to have been tamed by someone."
The old man stroked his white beard, his tone carrying an indescribable meaning.
After all, he had died at the hands of this very person. It's worth noting that he had been a true Dou Zong expert in his time, with soul power that had reached the Spiritual Realm level. His strength among Dou Zongs was also considerable. He had an exceptionally high natural talent, especially in the art of formations, which allowed him to create a 'Heavenly Level' Dou Technique.
Sadly, he died due to his arrogance, attempting to house two heavenly flames in his body, which led to severe injuries. Afterward, he was attacked by the lizard men.
"Kid, at such a young age, you already possess soul power at the Spiritual Realm level. This talent truly is monstrous. If I'm not mistaken, the blue flame you just stored is a heavenly flame?" The old man in white robes floated over to Yao Yan, marveling in awe.
At such a young age, possessing soul power at the Spiritual Realm level and having refined a heavenly flame, such talent would have been considered top-tier even in his time. No wonder he had survived until now. This old man's soul level was not low either... Yao Yan quickly gauged the Heavenly Fire Sovereign's soul power. Despite his own soul power at the Spiritual Realm, he could still feel some pressure from the old man, indicating that the Heavenly Fire Sovereign's soul level was likely not lower than the Spiritual Realm.
However, this was normal. Soul power at the Spiritual Realm level was common among Dou Zongs, as Dou Qi was an energy very close to spiritual energy. While cultivating it, both body and mind would be enhanced comprehensively, leaving almost no weaknesses.
It wasn't unusual for Dou Zongs to possess soul power at the Spiritual Realm level. Furthermore, the Heavenly Fire Sovereign before him was a genius-level individual.
Anyone capable of creating a unique technique like the Five Rings Leaving Fire Technique couldn't be simple.
In the original text, this person had been severely underestimated.
"The heavenly flame I refined within me is the Heavenly Lotus Earth Heartfire." Yao Yan, facing the Heavenly Fire Sovereign, answered the question calmly without any sign of fear.
"The 19th-ranked heavenly flame on the list, the Heavenly Lotus Earth Heartfire... No wonder... When you tamed it, it likely hadn't yet nurtured the spirit of the heavenly flame. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy for you to tame it," the Heavenly Fire Sovereign said, stroking his beard and nodding with certainty.
"At that time, it was probably just a few hundred years old," Yao Yan nodded and responded softly.
"Kid, you don't seem to fear me doing anything to you?" Hearing Yao Yan's calm reply, the Heavenly Fire Sovereign's eyes flashed with surprise.
"You were a Dou Zong in your previous life, which is why you were able to create this space. When I was attacked by the lizard men earlier, you brought me in and isolated the space from the outside world. It seems you're not here to cause me trouble," Yao Yan responded softly.
"Good boy, you have sharp eyes. It seems you've encountered quite a few Dou Zongs," the Heavenly Fire Sovereign commented, looking at Yao Yan with some surprise. Normally, anyone facing a real Dou Zong would be far less calm.
"I've also met Dou Saints," Yao Yan replied nonchalantly, boasting a little.
"...?" The Heavenly Fire Sovereign's pupils contracted, then he remembered something and couldn't help but examine Yao Yan. "You're not from one of those families, are you?"
The Dou Emperor families had existed since the Sovereign's time. Back then, the Imperial Clan was highly active, and its strong members were numerous. He wasn't unfamiliar with them, and only such a family could ensure a steady stream of Dou Saints.
"If the family you're referring to is one with the bloodline of the Dou Emperor, then yes," Yao Yan responded softly.
"Dou Emperor bloodline... How enviable," the Heavenly Fire Sovereign sighed, clearly impressed. Those with the bloodline of the Dou Emperor were naturally far ahead of others in cultivation, whether in talent or other aspects. A cultivator with the Dou Emperor bloodline, as long as their bloodline purity was high enough, would likely reach the Dou Zong or even Dou Zun level. Some even had the potential to become a Dou Saint.
The difference was enough to make ordinary people look up in awe.
"How did you fall to this state, and it seems this Fallen Heart Flame is also connected to you. I can feel its bond with this place," Yao Yan asked, knowing full well.
"Naturally, I was its previous master," the Heavenly Fire Sovereign smiled, then raised his hand toward the massive fire serpent, seemingly trying to summon the Fallen Heart Flame's main body for a look. But soon, his expression froze because he realized he couldn't do this. The green lotus earth heart fire chains emanating from Yao Yan's fingers had firmly bound him, even suppressing his soul consciousness.
"Cough, kid, I'm not here to take the Fallen Heart Flame from you. You saw it yourself; I have another one here," the Heavenly Fire Sovereign cleared his throat and summoned the Fallen Heart Flame from his skeleton, offering it to Yao Yan as an explanation.
The Fallen Heart Flame in his hand was only about the size of a human head, and its temperature was different from the one beside Yao Yan, like a newborn baby, extremely delicate.
Of course, even in its infancy, it was still a heavenly flame with the power to scorch the heavens and boil the seas.
If not for this, the Heavenly Fire Sovereign wouldn't have ended up in his current state.
Yao Yan spoke calmly, "You didn't come to signal me just to talk about this."
"Naturally, I want to leave. Also, I want to try reviving one or two... I expected the next master of the Fallen Heart Flame to be here, but I didn't expect it to be someone like you... a young man," the Heavenly Fire Sovereign said, momentarily unsure how to describe Yao Yan. If it weren't inappropriate, he would have called him a monster.
"It seems I have a special affinity with Dou Zongs. With you, I'll revive two Dou Zongs. But the other one should be much stronger than you. He was the number one alchemist in the Central Plains in his time, a famous Pill Master. It's said he was close to breaking through to the Ninth-grade Pill Master level," Yao Yan smiled and said, showing a faint grin.
"You're an alchemist?" The Heavenly Fire Sovereign was slightly stunned and then nodded in realization, "I should have known, with this level of soul power at such an age."
"That being said, you must have a method of revival. May I take a look at it? If it's suitable, I'll offer you a price that will satisfy you, not less than what a Pill Master would offer. If not, you must be interested in this Fallen Heart Flame," the Heavenly Fire Sovereign said with clarity.
"Alright."
Yao Yan didn't waste time and handed over the revival method he had received from the Pill Master to the Heavenly Fire Sovereign. This method was not difficult for others to learn, but only someone who practiced the Burning Decision, like Yao Yan, could complete it.
Someone like Xiao Xuan... if you can summon such a figure, you won't need a revival method.
The Ninth-grade pill and the Dou Saint level were on a completely different level, far beyond the entire Dou Qi Continent.
"Three heavenly flames?!"
The Heavenly Fire Sovereign looked at the method for a moment and froze, then glanced at Yao Yan and the two Fallen Heart Flames before asking, "Three heavenly flames? Do you have the ability to control them? Even I, with my fire control technique, couldn't manage to integrate three flames into one."
"I don't mind telling you. The reason I ended up in this state is that I was overconfident in trying to refine two heavenly flames into my body, which led to my injuries..." The Heavenly Fire Sovereign's eyes revealed some helplessness and regret as he recalled the past.
If not for that, how could a five-star Dou Zong level expert like him end up in such a state, even sleeping for thousands of years?
"I dare to take on this task, so I have some confidence. As long as you pay the price, I will give you a result that will satisfy you," Yao Yan said with a calm expression, not explaining further. He didn't want to reveal the Burning Decision since the Heavenly Fire Sovereign had no other choice.
"It seems I don't have a choice~" The Heavenly Fire Sovereign laughed freely, handing over the Fallen Heart Flame to Yao Yan. "This Fallen Heart Flame is the deposit. After the task is completed, I will teach you a Heavenly Level Dou Technique... Of course, this technique requires five heavenly flames to maximize its power. Even with just three, it will be strong enough to reach a quasi-Heavenly Level."
Yao Yan didn't doubt him. The performance of Xiao Yan in the original text had already proven this. But he was more interested in the formation knowledge inside the Heavenly Fire Sovereign's head. These could be dealt with slowly.
"Let's talk more outside. This spatial ring is called the Bone Flame Ring. It was given to me as a deposit by the Pill Master. It can nourish the soul body. You can bring this Fallen Heart Flame inside. I need to handle some personal matters," Yao Yan motioned with his hand.
"Alright."
The Heavenly Fire Sovereign didn't doubt Yao Yan and, with a puff of green smoke, put the Fallen Heart Flame into the Bone Flame Ring. As he did, his surprised voice came, "Such a large sum, to make a spatial ring out of materials that nourish the soul..."
He seemed to have stopped talking, and began sending voice messages to Yao Yan, but they were immediately cut off. The goal of his visit had been accomplished, and now he needed to take care of the final matters.
The situation with Han Feng and his Sea Heart Flame needed to be handled.
With the Fallen Heart Flame in his hands, and the Bone Spirit Cold Fire in the Pill Master's body, these three heavenly flames would be enough to elevate Yao Yan's strength to the Dou Zong level in a short period. He could then return to the Soul Clan and absorb the resources needed to advance to Dou Saint.
Maybe there was no need to wait for the Three Thousand Flame Fire to emerge.
With the help of the Soul Palace, what harm was there in giving them a little assistance?
In Han Feng's words, "Heavenly materials belong to the capable. How can they be sealed casually?"
With these thoughts in mind, Yao Yan's figure once again merged into the body of the Fallen Heart Flame, directing the fire serpent toward the magma above, without a trace of hesitation. He had no attachment to the Tuo She Ancient Emperor's tomb and didn't even have the desire to look back.
If you don't have the strength, don't touch things of that level. Yao Yan had always understood this principle.
(END CHAPTER)
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