The True Treasure

Although this humanoid skeleton had been reduced to nothing but bones, Xia Mo could still sense a peculiar pressure seeping from it. One could imagine that this had been no ordinary person. He just did not know why this person had become a skeleton and remained here.

Xia Mo watched for a while before deciding to step forward for a closer look. The remains left behind by such an expert were simply too tempting.

Only when he approached did he see the scene clearly. A stone platform stood there, with a white skeleton seated cross-legged upon it. Before the skeleton floated a Golden Flame, within which seemed to be a golden lotus. It absorbed the energy in the air, like a lotus lamp slowly burning in midair.

"Heavenly Flames!"

Though he did not know which Heavenly Flames it was, Xia Mo still recognized it when he faintly sensed the terrifying temperature within it. A wondrous treasure of heaven and earth!

Before Xia Mo could finish being shocked, a white phantom slowly drifted out from beside the Heavenly Flames, gradually forming into an elderly figure.

Xia Mo warily watched the soul body that had suddenly appeared before him. He could not sense the strength of this soul body, but he was certain it was far stronger than himself.

After a while, the phantom slowly spoke. Perhaps because he had not spoken for too long, he spoke very slowly. "Boy, there is no need to be nervous. I bear you no ill will. I merely intend to leave behind my inheritance. I believe you can see that I am now in a soul state, and my origin has run dry. I am about to dissipate!"

So that was it. Though he had taken human form, he was incomparably illusory, as though he might disperse at any moment.

But Xia Mo would not trust him so easily. "Why did Senior choose me? With Senior's strength, you must be able to see my identity, right?"

The figure smiled, his aged voice slowly carrying over. "Boy, there is no need to be so cautious. If I intended to harm you, I could simply attack. Why would I go through all this? As for why I chose you, it is because I do not have much time left. And since you were able to take human form at such a young age, your bloodline must be of the highest grade, and your talent extraordinary!"

To cultivate to the point where one could preserve one's soul for a long time after death—aside from the usual "hehehe," even a Dou Zong might not be able to achieve it. Moreover, he had just called himself "this Venerable." One could not use the title Venerable casually. From the looks of it, this old man had likely been a Dou Zun expert in life.

Even if such an expert had fallen, Xia Mo did not believe he lacked even the slightest ability to fight back.

Sure enough, the old man had already seen through his identity. Xia Mo bowed deeply toward the figure before him. "Yes, Senior! Then this junior thanks you, Senior. But I already have a teacher!"

"What does having a teacher matter? I am a dying man. Do you think I could go out and compete with him for you? I only wish to pass on my inheritance," the old man said indifferently.

The old man looked Xia Mo over again before nodding. Somewhat satisfied, he said, "I thought my inheritance was about to be lost forever, but unexpectedly, I encountered you. To tell you the truth, though you are a Magical Beast, I see that your talent is quite good. Otherwise, if I passed all my abilities to those fools, they would probably disappear again very quickly."

Xia Mo knew the old man was explaining this because he was afraid Xia Mo would run away. But running was impossible, so he might as well quietly listen to what the old man had to say.

"My name is Lin Feng, and my title is Azure Fire Venerable. You may call me Elder Azure," Azure Fire Venerable said.

Perhaps because he had not seen anyone for too long, the old man began recounting to Xia Mo his journey from the Dou Qi stage all the way to the Dou Zun realm.

The old man had been born in Clear Wind City in the Northern Region of the Central Continent, a place very far from here. He was a member of the Lin Family of Clear Wind City.

His talent had been average. At fifteen, he successfully condensed a Dou Qi vortex and entered the Dou Zhe realm.

At seventeen, his Dou Qi liquefied, and he advanced to the Dou Shi realm. At twenty, he condensed a Dou Qi crystal and broke through into the Da Dou Shi realm.

At twenty-four, he broke through to the Dou Ling realm. At twenty-nine, he achieved the Dou Wang realm. At forty, he used the opportunity of an ancient ruin to successfully advance to Dou Emperor, and the people of Clear Wind City respectfully called him the Fire Emperor!

At seventy, he advanced to Dou Zong. He became a powerful figure in Clear Wind City and was greatly respected by its people.

His family had originally been merely a small family in Clear Wind City, but because of him, it had leapt to become one of the foremost great families in the city, flourishing from then on.

Until the age of one hundred and twenty, he had still failed to break through to the Dou Zun realm. The old man went out in search of opportunities, and finally broke through to Dou Zun at one hundred and fifty.

Later, while being pursued by enemies, he accidentally fell into this place during spatial travel. He entered this cave, suffered grave injuries that could not be healed, and perished.

Changing the subject, Azure Fire Venerable continued speaking to Xia Mo. "In my life, I have known lows and glory. I have also killed nearly all my enemies, so I have no regrets!"

"If you obtain my inheritance, you need not acknowledge me as your master, nor need you avenge me. You only need to travel to Clear Wind City in the Northern Region of the Central Continent, take a look at the Lin Family for me, and leave them an inheritance. Can you agree to that?" Azure Fire Venerable asked.

Everyone wanted the inheritance of a Dou Zun, and Xia Mo was no exception.

Upon hearing Azure Fire Venerable's words, Xia Mo no longer hesitated. He knelt down and solemnly said, "Today, Xia Mo receives your inheritance. I am willing to observe the rites of a disciple and call you Teacher. I will certainly uphold my promise, travel to the Lin Family, and leave behind the inheritance!"

"Hahaha, you are thoughtful. Even if you did not take me as your master, I would not say anything. It is simply that you would not obtain the most important cultivation technique I have for you," Azure Fire Venerable said.

After Azure Fire Venerable finished laughing, a smile remained on his illusory face. Raising his left hand, he said, "Get up. I never expected that Lin Feng would still have a disciple to see me off at my death!"

With a light lift of his left hand, Xia Mo found himself unable to control his own body as he stood up! His heart shook, and he could not help thinking, Is this the power of a Dou Zun expert?! Even after death, even with his soul origin exhausted, he is still this powerful!

"You should be an Alchemist, right? In life, I obtained a soul cultivation technique from an ancient ruin. It was also because of it that I was able to survive for so long. Now, I will pass it on to you," Azure Fire Venerable said.

As he spoke, the middle finger of his right hand had already touched Xia Mo's forehead. Instantly, Xia Mo felt a mysterious surge of Soul Power uncontrollably pouring into his mind!

Then countless pieces of information appeared in Xia Mo's mind, forming a soul cultivation technique—the Soul Forging Art.

The Soul Forging Art not only explained how to forge one's divine soul, but also contained simple methods of spiritual attack. Xia Mo regarded it as a priceless treasure as he studied it, while also connecting with the Soul Power within his mind.

As Xia Mo looked over the cultivation method in his mind, he swallowed nonexistent saliva. Cultivating this technique required one to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to nourish the soul. If one could not sense it, one could not cultivate it.

According to the manual, one had to endure the blows of a Soul Power hammer. So long as one endured nine consecutive strikes, one's Soul Power could break through to the Mortal Realm. Eighteen strikes meant the middle stage of the Mortal Realm, twenty-seven strikes the late stage of the Mortal Realm, and thirty-six strikes meant completion of the Mortal Realm.

After reaching completion of the Mortal Realm, one would continue sensing the spiritual energy between heaven and earth, absorb it into the soul, and continue forging it. Enduring fifty-four strikes represented Soul Power at the Spirit Realm; sixty-three strikes meant the middle stage of the Spirit Realm, seventy-two strikes the Late Spirit Realm, and eighty-one strikes meant completion of the Spirit Realm!

But looking at that Soul Power hammer, Xia Mo felt somewhat panicked. Was this not far too self-torturing?!

Xia Mo gritted his teeth. Damn it, so be it! I finally obtained a soul cultivation technique. Wasn't this exactly what it was for?

As the cultivation technique began to circulate, Xia Mo gradually calmed down. At first, he could only sense the space around his body, but little by little, the range slowly expanded.

Time passed bit by bit. After an unknown period of time, Xia Mo finally sensed the spiritual energy between heaven and earth through the power of the cultivation technique.

Xia Mo's Soul Power was strong, so he immediately began cultivating. His Soul Power shook repeatedly, as though an invisible hammer were striking his spiritual power. Every blow brought splitting pain to his head, as though it were smashing directly against his skull, making it buzz.

The Soul Power hammer struck a total of nineteen times, which meant that Xia Mo's current Soul Power was at the middle stage of the Mortal Realm.

Xia Mo sensed the strength of his Soul Power. It had increased in every aspect. Of course, his greatest gain this time was sensing a spiritual energy filled with vitality. That should be the spiritual energy—the key to cultivating the soul faster.

Though the cultivation process was painful, clearly feeling his own improvement was also a kind of joy.

"Teacher, I succeeded in cultivating it," Xia Mo said as he opened his eyes and looked at Azure Fire Venerable before him.

"Good, good, good! You truly are extraordinarily talented. It seems my inheritance can be carried forward," Azure Fire Venerable said excitedly as he looked at Xia Mo.

After speaking, Azure Fire Venerable casually beckoned. A Storage Ring floated out from the skeleton, embedded with a green gemstone. He looked it over in his hand before it drifted toward Xia Mo.

"These are all the possessions I accumulated in life. Inside is the cultivation technique I practiced, the Azure Flame Technique. There are also quite a few other cultivation techniques and Dou Skills. Choose what to cultivate yourself, but do not be greedy for too much," Azure Fire Venerable said.

"Understood, Teacher. I will handle them properly," Xia Mo said.