Fire Mark Ritual

"But you could also say it was a failure," Cang Xiao sighed.

"What do you mean?" Chen Feng asked, puzzled.

"His success is due to the fact that, relying on that ancient knowledge, he did indeed discover a method that could solve the problem of Martial Soul to some extent."

Cang Xiao closed his eyes, his tone turning sorrowful. "And the reason he failed is because he lost his life during his final attempt to explore."

"Lost his life?" Although Chen Feng had guessed that his Ancestors might no longer be alive, he hadn't expected it to be because of this. "Was there a problem with that method?"

Cang Xiao shook his head. "No, although that method had some negative effects, it wasn't fatal. The reason he died was because he wanted too much, yet could only apply those ancient knowledge superficially."

Chen Feng understood. Even normally developed technologies can encounter various accidents, let alone technologies that are neither known nor understood. Accidents are a perfectly normal occurrence.

This is the drawback of relying on archaeology for technological development.

Thankfully, this continent isn't called Loren, and there's no periodic disaster called "Demonic Tide," otherwise the technology discovered through archaeology might cause even bigger problems.

Regardless, the Ancestors named Chen Yao had discovered usable results. Even if these results had the negative effect of causing people to become disabled, it could not overshadow his contribution. Therefore, Chen Feng respected this Ancestors.

Indeed, Chen Feng had already guessed why A Yan was one-armed back then; it was most likely due to the negative effects of this method.

But he didn't rush to ask questions. Instead, he continued to listen to Cang Xiao's story, "I can understand what A Yao was thinking back then. We already had several children. After he controlled his own Martial Soul problem, he wasn't satisfied. He wanted to completely eliminate the hidden dangers in the Martial Soul, including those in the children. He wanted more than just control; he wanted the children to be able to live outside like normal people."

"It's only human nature," Chen Xin said softly.

"But he failed. A sudden, intense Lie Yan erupted from within him, engulfing him. He didn't cry out, but instead, in a trembling voice, he told me about the repairable aspects of the method. Afterward, I refined the method to improve the children's Martial Soul problems." Cang Xiao's voice was somewhat hoarse, and Chen Xin and Chen Feng were at a loss for words.

Chen Feng could imagine that scene, and felt a chill run down his spine.

"Lie Yan burning from the inside out" meant there was no way to defend against them. They could only use their last moments to give their final words and then die in agony. The Ancestors Chen Yao even held back his shouts, because that would have wasted time giving his last words.

At this moment, Chen Feng felt a deep respect for his Great-Grandfather.

Cang Xiao was silent for a while before continuing, "After A Yao left, I started to focus on the children. They all had good talent and worked hard in their cultivation. Not all of them awakened the Demonic Sword Spirit. Some awakened the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and could cultivate normally. The children who awakened the Demon Demonic Sword Spirit had to rely on A Yao's achievements. However, the method left by A Yao had some negative effects. If they failed, they would lose an arm and become disabled, and they would have to stop cultivating, otherwise the flaw in their Martial Soul would come back."

"Those who succeed cannot rest easy, because this method needs to be used in stages, and the difficulty of success will gradually increase with the number of times it is used. But at least they have the opportunity to go out and find a spouse. As for those children who fail, I do not allow them to go out, because if they get out of control, they will not only harm others, but may also attract the attention of outsiders. This is what my mother-in-law told me, and I told them the same thing. The children all listened to me and did not break this rule, until the children had children of their own."

Chen Feng's heart skipped a beat. "Great-Grandmother, is that the ritual you mentioned when you were outside?"

"That's right." Cang Xiao nodded. "Its full name is the Fire Mark Ritual. Starting from the Martial Soul Awakening, a ritual must be performed after each Soul Ring is absorbed; otherwise, the absorption of the next Soul Ring is not allowed."

"But the difficulty of this Fire Mark Ritual increases with each repetition?" Chen Feng frowned.

"That's right. Each inscription of the Fire Mark is a dual test of physical strength and willpower. As the number of Fire Mark on the body increases, this test becomes increasingly severe. Once it exceeds the limit of endurance, then..."

"Just like your Great-Grandfather?"

"Um."

"I see," Chen Feng roughly understood the working principle of the Fire Mark Ritual.

To put it simply, it's like an antidote. The reason why the Demonic Sword Spirit makes people lose control is because of the side effects of Soul Devouring. The Soul Devouring brought about by each killing is equivalent to poison, and the purpose of the Fire Mark Ritual is to expel this poison.

However, the killing caused by absorbing Soul Ring is unavoidable. In the past, there was no Ring Expansion Method or Artificially Created Foundation Ring, so the ritual had to be performed again and again.

Other forms of killing can avoid soul devouring. For example, if you want to kill someone, you can beat them half to death and throw them in the Soul Beast area, or feed them a slow-acting poison and then leave. The Remnant Soul naturally cannot fly over from a great distance.

"Please continue," Chen Feng said, having figured it out.

Cang Xiao nodded. "As I just said, when children have children, there are more people and more thoughts. The next generation of children have doubts about the village rules. They also feel uneasy about the elders who are disabled and have to live a lonely life. So some children have other thoughts."

Chen Xin suddenly asked, "Have they never gone out at all?"

"No, that's not it." Cang Xiao shook his head. "When they were young, I would have those who had successfully completed the Fire Mark Ritual take them out for a stroll, because I didn't want them to be trapped here for their entire lives. Now it seems, perhaps I was wrong."

"No, you are not wrong. You are a kind elder, and those who want to go out..." Chen Feng fell silent, unsure how to comment.

In other places, this would at most be a family dispute, but in his lineage, it could easily escalate into social chaos or even tragedy.

"How many people went out without permission? And what did they do?" Chen Xin asked the crucial question.

As far as he knew, there didn't seem to be any bloodshed on the mainland in recent years. Could it be that all those who fled have been caught and brought back?

"Many people probably had the idea, but because I repeatedly emphasized the rules, not many actually took action. Only three people escaped when I wasn't in the village one time."

At this point, anger flashed in Cang Xiao's eyes. "If it were just a simple matter of leaving, it wouldn't be so bad. But one of them did something cruel. In order to get the chance to leave, he stirred up chaos in the village and actually attacked and killed the elders who had failed the Fire Mark Ritual, simply because he thought those elders were useless and unworthy of living as his people. Although he was eventually discovered and someone tried to stop him, he still killed two elders and escaped. Another elder was seriously injured and passed away a few years later."

Chen Xin frowned, while Chen Feng was slightly uneasy. He absolutely couldn't be this beast's child, or he would really have to draw Frostmourne.

Cang Xiao noticed Chen Feng's emotions and said, "Don't worry, your father isn't one of those three. You can tell from his appearance."

Chen Feng breathed a sigh of relief, suppressing the dark thoughts that had arisen in his mind, and Chen Xin's brows also relaxed slightly.

"Of the three who escaped that night, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yun both lost their right arms during the Fire Mark Ritual, while Chen Lang did not. The day after that night, I found Xiao Yun's body in the mountains on the way to the town. He had many sword wounds on his body, and the cause of death was a fatal blow to the throat," Cang Xiao said in a low voice.

Judging from previous events, it's obvious who killed Chen Yun. Chen Feng also learned the reasons behind A Yan's trip to Crimson Sand City. That night, Chen Lang went to kill Chen Yun, probably because he thought the other was a waste and unworthy to be his kin—such absurd reasons. There is diversity in species, so it's not surprising that some people have this kind of thought process.

A Yan, on the other hand, was lucky enough to escape and was never found.

However, this raised a question for Chen Feng: "Since Chen Lang didn't fail the Fire Mark Ritual before, didn't he think about the future?"

Cang Xiao shook his head. "I don't know what he was thinking. The reason I left that day was to prepare for the Fire Mark Ritual."

"That little beast must be scared," Chen Xin said coldly. "He's afraid he'll become one of those people he despises, that's why he did this."

Chen Feng nodded; he also thought it was very likely. As for why he didn't take advantage of the opportunity to escape, it was probably because he thought he wouldn't last that long.

"Perhaps. Chen Lang has always been arrogant in the village, looking down on everyone except me and a few able-bodied elders. I never expected him to do this. After what happened that night, I tightened the village's discipline. Later, when Xiao Yuan reached the age to travel, I sent him out to explore, but he never came back. That was your father. You are very much like him," Cang Xiao said, looking at Chen Feng.

"So that's how it is." Chen Feng looked out the window. "In other words, if my father hadn't had that accident, I would have been born and raised here."

"That's how it should be." Cang Xiao nodded slightly.

"Wait a minute." Chen Feng frowned. "My father successfully completed the Fire Mark Ritual, right?"

"Yes, your father had just advanced to Soul Saint at that time; it would have taken him many more years to reach Soul Douluo."

"When did he leave?"

About twenty years ago.

"I'm fifteen years old this year, which means I was born about five years after he left. But back then, his suicide note said he was already losing his mind. Could it be...?"

"A suicide note? Can I see it?"

Chen Feng took out the letter that Old Jack had given him and handed it to Cang Xiao. Cang Xiao took it, read it quickly, and then made a judgment. "Your father was already on the verge of losing control at that time, and this should not be caused by absorbing the Soul Ring."

"Is it because the Soul Devouring Demonic Thought doesn't activate as quickly when simply absorbing Soul Ring?"

"Yes, your father has been using the Fire Mark Ritual and hasn't killed any animals in the village. If he only absorbed a Soul Ring, it's impossible for it to take effect so quickly, not to mention the time it took him to reach Level 80."

"Then there's only one possibility," Chen Feng said in a deep voice.

"He caused a great deal of killing in a short period of time, which is why demonic thoughts entered his body," Cang Xiao said, providing the answer.

Chen Xin raised an objection. "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is quite well-informed; we haven't heard of any large-scale bloodshed anywhere in the past ten years."

"News from some places might not get out, such as areas where Soul Beast gather, or overseas," Chen Feng guessed.

In places like the Star Dou Great Forest or the Death Desert, killing a dozen or twenty people wouldn't leave a trace. Back then, when Tang Hao wiped out the Holy Dragon Sect, the Spirit Hall didn't even react.

"That makes sense." Chen Xin thought this guess had some merit.

Chen Feng then asked another question, "Great-Grandmother, what happened to Chen Lang later?"

"They've disappeared without a trace. It's inconvenient for me to go out and investigate for extended periods, nor is it convenient to ask outsiders to help with the manhunt. I can only ask those who can go out to keep an eye out," Cang Xiao said.

"Could you give me a portrait of him? And one of my father too? I'll see if I can find any information about them," Chen Feng pleaded.

Okay, I'll get it for you later.

"Also, there's the matter of the Fire Mark Ritual..." Chen Feng hesitated, then stopped.

"I understand, you want to give it a try, right? How many Soul Ring do you have now?"

Four.

"Oh? Not bad talent, about the same as your father." Cang Xiao had seen and heard of geniuses before, so he wasn't surprised by Chen Feng's talent.

After all, although the Soul Devouring Demon Sword Martial Soul is quite troublesome, if you don't care about the negative effects, its advancement speed is also quite astonishing.

Have you ever heard of Titled Douluo in their twenties?

"What preparations are needed for the Fire Mark Ritual?" Chen Feng asked.

"Let me see your Martial Soul first." Cang Xiao raised his chin.

As instructed, Chen Feng summoned his Martial Soul. Cang Xiao let out a soft exclamation and carefully examined the Tai Chi Bagua Sword in Chen Feng's hand.

"Your Martial Soul... is quite peculiar; it doesn't seem to possess the characteristics of the Soul Devouring Demon Sword."

"Then... how about this?" Chen Feng transformed the Martial Soul in his hand into Yin Sword.

Cang Xiao looked surprised. "Martial Soul that can change form? This is the first time I've ever seen one. It does look somewhat like the Soul Devouring Demon Sword, but the problem doesn't seem as serious as your ancestor's."

"That's a good thing, isn't it? By the way, Great-Grandmother, what is your Martial Soul?" Chen Feng asked curiously.

All he knew was that this person was Titled Douluo; he knew nothing else. Cang Xiao hadn't mentioned his own identity in his previous narration.

"My Martial Soul is the Sword Soul," Cang Xiao replied.

"Sword Soul?" Chen Feng and Chen Xin exchanged bewildered glances. "Can we take a look?"

"Okay." With that, Cang Xiao stood up.

A dark blue figure flashed past behind her, and two slightly ethereal pale blue longswords appeared in her hands.

At the same time, Cang Xiao was also covered in a layer of dark blue flames, but she controlled these flames very well, and they only burned quietly on the surface of her body.

Chen Feng's attention was drawn to the fleeting figure behind Cang Xiao. He felt that the figure looked familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before, but he couldn't quite remember where.

"How was it? Have you finished watching?" Cang Xiao asked with a smile.

"I've finished watching."

"Okay, I'll go find you a portrait."

After Cang Xiao left, Chen Feng casually asked, "Master, do you know what that figure behind Great-Grandmother was?"

"Know."

Chen Feng was taken aback and looked at Chen Xin, only to see that his expression was somewhat complicated. "That is, Azure Flame Blade Ghost."