Myriad Beasts Soul Devouring

Every gain required a price. Xiao Heng was paying that price now! After he lost consciousness, he suddenly arrived in a black space, boundless and endless. All around him were Magical Beasts of every kind—snake-shaped, wolf-shaped, tiger-shaped, and all sorts of others. There were even countless insect-shaped ones.

He did not know what was happening, but he knew that he needed to fight now. The Sword Intent within his soul transformed into a sword in his hand!

The sword in his hand seemed to let out a soft hum! "Even you're excited?" With a swing of his hand, he cut down a Magical Beast that had launched a sneak attack! He charged headlong into the army of Magical Beasts before him! "A swordsman never retreats. Come on, you trash!"

The roars of the Magical Beasts rose and fell. Xiao Heng smiled faintly as he swung his sword again and again! Now, the sword was his only companion. He would carve out a path with it. A sword was a weapon of slaughter, born for killing.

One Magical Beast after another was beheaded by him! Xiao Heng held his sword upright at his side and murmured softly.

"Hundred Pace Flying Sword!"

A white dragon shadow rose, reaching a hundred paces away. Every Magical Beast along that straight line within those hundred paces fell!

"Sweep the Eight Directions!"

A black dragon shadow spiraled forth, clearing away all the Magical Beasts around him. Gradually, Xiao Heng entered a profound state. The Magical Beasts around him seemed to slow down, while his sword seemed to grow faster and faster!

"Boundless and endless, huh? I refuse to believe I can't kill all of you! Vertical and Horizontal Alliance!" Xiao Heng roared as he looked at the Magical Beasts around him, eager to move yet too afraid to attack first! He chuckled, then shouted, "Come on! Come on! Let me kill every last one of you!"

The Magical Beasts continued rushing at him one after another, while the dead ones turned into streaks of red light and merged into Xiao Heng's sword, making it stronger and sharper!

"Keep swinging! Keep swinging!" There had never been a swordsman who was defeated—only swordsmen who were killed. Until the moment he died, he would never stop swinging his sword!

Meanwhile, Myriad Beasts Venerable knew nothing of this. He had created this cultivation technique by combining the Myriad Beasts Spirit Flame with everything he had learned in his life. Its grade had reached Earth-tier High Grade, and it had even stepped one foot into the threshold of the Heaven tier!

The prerequisite for cultivating this technique was enduring the bites and tears of ten thousand beasts. If one could withstand this battle of wills, it would bring tremendous benefits in the future. At the same time, a soul tainted with the aura of ten thousand beasts was precisely what was needed to cultivate this technique! He had not told Xiao Heng in advance because of his own selfishness. He feared that Xiao Heng would shrink back, and that the culmination of his life's work would be lost forever!

Watching Xiao Heng's constantly changing expression, he felt worried and guilty, but he did not feel even a trace of regret. This was a technique that might reach the Heaven tier, the creation of his entire life. If Xiao Heng endured it, then as long as he did not die young, his future achievements would surely surpass his own. He did not regret it, even if it cost the life of a young man.

What he did not know was that Xiao Heng was acquiring that special aura in another way... through slaughter!

Xiao Heng did not know how long he had fought, nor did he remember how many times he had swung his sword! Green Sword Qi emerged! Xiao Heng roared, "Breath Sever!" A Green Sword Light slashed forward, instantly annihilating the snake-shaped Magical Beast ahead of him!

"Nine Strikes!"

Nine sword shadows appeared! Xiao Heng thrust his sword forward, and all the Magical Beasts ahead of him were wiped out! Then, every Magical Beast corpse turned into red points of light and merged into Xiao Heng's sword! Xiao Heng loosened his fingers from the hilt one by one, then curled them back around it one by one, gripping the sword tightly! He howled, "Zongheng!"

A massive dragon appeared in midair. It surged forth with Xiao Heng's swing, and the dragon circling him charged ahead before sweeping away everything in its path. Then it gradually became illusory, finally vanishing after slaying a bird-shaped Magical Beast!

These Magical Beasts were naturally the combined work of the Myriad Beasts Spirit Flame and Myriad Beasts Venerable. The Myriad Beasts Spirit Flame had originally been born from ten thousand beasts, then obtained by Myriad Beasts Venerable and nurtured with ten thousand beasts! Only then could such a scene be created. Myriad Beasts Venerable alone could not have done it.

The Magical Beasts here were not merely phantoms. Their true forms were Magical Beasts, while these figures were traces of the aura of their true forms, transformed by the Myriad Beasts Spirit Flame and summoned by Myriad Beasts Venerable.

In battle, Xiao Heng discovered that this did not seem to be a fight of souls. Instead, it was more like a confrontation combining will and soul. Right now, he seemed to be a fusion of will and soul, while the Magical Beasts he killed would turn into traces of soul and will that merged into his sword and body. That was why he could keep going. Otherwise, he would have died long ago. It also confirmed that Myriad Beasts Venerable was not trying to possess him.

The truth was indeed as he had guessed. This was more a battle of will. Every time he was injured by a Magical Beast, it hurt terribly, just like a real wound. But as long as he did not give up, his injuries would quickly heal!

Although this took away much of the thrill of battle, it also allowed him to properly train his sword techniques! Here, he had even used the highest level of the Immortal Slaying Sword Art. Outside, who knew how long it would take before he could use that move? Thus, he was happy to train here a little longer!

As Xiao Heng killed more and more Magical Beasts, he sensed that there were fewer and fewer around him. Their attacks were also far less intense than before.

This was a mental space jointly created by Myriad Beasts Venerable, the Myriad Beasts Spirit Flame, and Xiao Heng. There was no time here, no space. Xiao Heng did not know how many times he had swung his sword, how much time had passed, or how many wounds he had suffered. He only felt the Magical Beasts gradually dwindling! In the end, only three remained!

One was snake-shaped, one bird-shaped, and one dragon-shaped! Xiao Heng chuckled and said lightly, "Even a trace of aura possesses some of the original body's abilities? Not bad! Then I'll send the three of you on your way with this sword!"

"Zongheng!"

A huge dragon shadow appeared and tore apart the three Magical Beasts before him! The three Magical Beasts also turned into three red shadows of light and merged into Xiao Heng's sword!

This time, his gains were truly enormous. First, his proficiency with Dou Techniques had improved greatly. Though he could not perform them as he had just done in reality, once his Dou Qi improved, he would naturally be able to achieve the same results as in this phantom realm! Most importantly, his Sword Intent seemed to have fused with something else and changed considerably. It seemed to have become filled with an even stronger aura of slaughter!

With a thought, the sharp sword in his hand vanished, and the surrounding space slowly began to disappear! Myriad Beasts Venerable stared nervously at the now-calm Xiao Heng. What came next was the most crucial moment. If Xiao Heng awoke, then he would be qualified to cultivate the Myriad Beasts Spirit Scripture. If Xiao Heng could not wake up, it would mean that Xiao Heng had died!

As the space faded, Xiao Heng slowly sensed his own body again. Then, he gradually regained control of it, and finally opened his eyes!

A battle of wills could feel as though it had lasted a very long time, when only a few minutes had passed in reality. Xiao Heng looked at Myriad Beasts Venerable and, after confirming that the old man bore him no ill will and truly regarded him as his successor, completely accepted him as his teacher!

He smiled at this master he had gained so easily and said, "Master, I succeeded!"

Myriad Beasts Venerable trembled. If he still had a physical body, he would surely have been so excited that he cried!

"Good! Good! Good!"

Those three words of praise represented the excitement in his heart!

Looking at Xiao Heng, he said with satisfaction, "I will pass the Myriad Beasts Spirit Scripture on to you! One of my wishes can finally be considered fulfilled!"

After saying that, a snow-white Storage Ring floated out. A flower was engraved on it, making it seem more like something a woman would use than a man. Myriad Beasts Venerable looked at the Storage Ring tenderly! Then, reluctantly, he sent it floating toward Xiao Heng.

He said, "This is another of my wishes. This Storage Ring contains some of the accumulations of my lifetime. The Myriad Beasts Spirit Scripture is inside as well, along with quite a few other cultivation techniques and Dou Techniques. Use them as you see fit! There is also a letter and a token in the Storage Ring. Take that token to the Flower Sect, find someone named Hua Luoyu, and give her the letter. Then my final wish will be fulfilled."

After saying that, he seemed to feel a trace of relief! He continued, "There is one last thing I can do for you: help you refine the Heavenly Flame!"

The Myriad Beasts Spirit Flame seemed to sense the sorrow as well. It drifted over and gently rubbed against Myriad Beasts Venerable. Xiao Heng felt reluctant to part with him and asked, "Master, is there really no way? I have a stalk of Star Moon Grass here. Maybe it can help you!" As he spoke, Xiao Heng took out the Star Moon Grass! He understood the principle of repaying kindness with kindness. Although Star Moon Grass was precious, it was worlds apart from the inheritance of a Dou Zun.

Myriad Beasts Venerable affectionately stroked the Myriad Beasts Spirit Flame, as though saying farewell! Hearing Xiao Heng's words, he shook his head. "My origin has been exhausted. This is not simply the death of the physical body. It is like those who cannot cultivate reaching the end of their lifespan—no matter what divine pills or immortal medicines you have, they are useless. This is the rule! To have encountered you before my death is already an immense blessing. Why force anything else?"

Looking at the free-spirited Myriad Beasts Venerable, Xiao Heng could not help feeling sorrowful for this master he had only just acknowledged! He was right. That was the rule. Unless one transcended heaven and earth, one could only obey it.

With a sweep of his sleeve, Myriad Beasts Venerable said cheerfully, "Enough nonsense. Let me help you refine the Heavenly Flame. Stop acting so wishy-washy, like a woman!"

Myriad Beasts Venerable was also extremely satisfied with this disciple he had only just taken in. Since Xiao Heng knew it was Star Moon Grass, he naturally knew its effects, yet he was still willing to take it out for a master he had only just acknowledged. He was greatly comforted!

It showed that Xiao Heng had good character. Having passed the trial, his will was steadfast. Not yet sixteen, he had already broken through to become a Dou Shi, and his talent was not bad either. In the past, he would definitely have shown him off before all his old friends. But now, he had no time left. All he could do was help him refine the Heavenly Flame and offer him one final bit of assistance.

A silver crystal the size of a fingernail appeared. Hundred Beasts Venerable said, "Eat it!"

Xiao Heng knew that was probably the Spirit Gathering Ring. He sat cross-legged and swallowed it without hesitation. The Spirit Gathering Ring merged into his Qi Sea, yet it did not affect the circulation of his Dou Qi in the slightest. It simply rested quietly within his Qi Sea, and Xiao Heng seemed to sense that vast, solid space.

Myriad Beasts Venerable watched him swallow it at once and nodded in satisfaction again. Where could one find a disciple like this? Sadly, he did not have much time left. Otherwise, he would surely have wanted to witness Xiao Heng reach the pinnacle with his own eyes.

"The Myriad Beasts Spirit Flame has been refined by me for a hundred years and has already developed intelligence. After you refine it, you must not erase its intelligence."

"Yes, Teacher!"

Seeing Xiao Heng agree, Hundred Beasts Venerable continued, "I will make sure it does not resist you! But you will still have to endure the pain of the Exotic Flame's burning yourself. At the same time, I will use Soul Power to protect you."

Exotic Flame Body Tempering was a necessary step in absorbing an Exotic Flame, and also the most important one. If he could not even withstand the Exotic Flame Body Tempering, how could he possibly wield an Exotic Flame? He answered, "Mm, Teacher. I'm ready."

"Good!" Then, Myriad Beasts Venerable severed his connection with the Exotic Flame. His phantom instantly became even more illusory, nearly vanishing altogether. Freed from his control, the Exotic Flame expanded in an instant from a palm-sized red flame into a blaze half a person tall—and that was only because the Exotic Flame was restraining itself.

In an instant, the temperature inside the cave rose sharply, and even the surrounding stones showed signs of melting.

"Bear One, Bear Two, go outside and stand guard," Myriad Beasts Venerable called. The two bears could not endure the heat either. After taking their leave, they departed from the cave.

As for Xiao Heng, a crimson Dou Qi gauze robe clung tightly around him, yet he still felt as though he could barely endure it. Suddenly, a surge of Soul Power enveloped him. Myriad Beasts Venerable's voice rang out sharply: "Grab the Flame Seed, swallow it, then make it circulate according to your cultivation technique."