Yao Chen Was Shocked—It Was Actually the Burning Art!

"Children shouldn't listen to all this talk of fighting and killing."

Qing Lin rubbed against his chest and obediently closed her eyes.

This utterly unselfconscious manner made Hai Bodong's heart sink bit by bit.

Hai Bodong could not see through the young man before him.

There was no trace of Dou Qi fluctuation on him, as though he were an ordinary person.

But how could an ordinary person possibly know his true identity?

And still dare to remain so composed before him?

"Who exactly are you, sir? What is your purpose in coming to my little shop?"

Hai Bodong forcefully suppressed the shock in his heart, his tone turning grave.

Only then did Xuan Jin raise his head and look at him.

"I told you, I came to buy a map."

"And while I'm at it, discuss a deal with you."

"A deal?"

Hai Bodong frowned.

"What deal could an old man like me possibly have to discuss?"

"Of course there is one."

The corners of Xuan Jin's lips curved faintly.

"For example... helping you break Queen Medusa's seal."

"Boom!"

Those words were no less than a bolt from the blue exploding in Hai Bodong's mind.

He stared at Xuan Jin in disbelief, his body trembling violently.

The seal!

It was the greatest pain in his heart, and also his greatest secret!

For all these years, he had been trapped at the Dou Ling realm, his cultivation steadily declining as he endured endless torment.

The only way to remove the seal was with the Sixth-Grade Pill, the Po'e Pill, but a Sixth-Grade Pill was not something just any nobody could refine.

And now, this young man who had appeared out of nowhere had exposed his predicament with a single sentence!

"You... you..."

Hai Bodong pointed at Xuan Jin, unable to form a complete sentence for a moment.

"No need to be so surprised." Xuan Jin waved a hand.

He rose to his feet, and an invisible pressure slowly spread from within him.

The pressure was not violent, yet it was vast as an abyss and majestic as the sea.

"Thud!"

Hai Bodong's legs gave out, and his entire body fell uncontrollably to his knees.

His face was filled with shock and terror.

A Dou Emperor? Or a Dou Zong!

This aura was far stronger than Queen Medusa's. He was definitely not a Dou Emperor. He was absolutely a Dou Zong powerhouse!

Such a young Dou Zong!

Hai Bodong's heart went completely cold.

Before a Dou Zong powerhouse, he did not even dare entertain the thought of fleeing, much less resisting.

"Sir, what exactly do you need from me?" Hai Bodong asked in a low voice, enduring the pressure.

Xuan Jin withdrew his pressure, and the wooden hut returned to calm.

He did not waste words with Hai Bodong and went straight to the point.

"I can refine the Sixth-Grade Pill, the Po'e Pill, for you, helping you remove the seal and restore your Dou Emperor strength."

Hai Bodong's breathing immediately became rapid.

The Po'e Pill!

It was the only hope of removing the seal within his body!

But how precious was a Sixth-Grade Pill?

"Sir... are you speaking the truth?" His voice trembled with excitement.

"I never joke." Xuan Jin looked at him. "But there is no such thing as a free lunch."

Hai Bodong's heart tightened, and he hurriedly asked, "What do you need me to do?"

He knew very well that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"I want you to return to the Mite'er Family and give your full support to a woman named Ya Fei."

Xuan Jin paused before continuing.

"And for the next few years, you will be responsible for protecting her."

"Ya Fei?"

Hai Bodong froze for a moment.

He did not recognize that name. Perhaps she was some young girl from the Mite'er Family.

A Dou Zong powerhouse was going to such lengths just to support some little girl?

His heart was filled with doubt, but he did not dare show the slightest disrespect.

After all, he, Hai Bodong, was originally the Supreme Elder of the Mite'er Family. Protecting one of his own juniors was no great concern.

"I agree. So long as I recover my strength, I will certainly fulfill your terms, sir!"

"Very good." Xuan Jin nodded in satisfaction.

Hai Bodong, this chess piece, had been placed.

With a Dou Emperor powerhouse like him standing guard, Ya Fei's commercial expansion in the Jia Ma Empire would proceed much more smoothly.

To establish control over the Jama Empire and expand into the Northwest Continent, he would still need people like Ya Fei to do the work.

"Young master, to refine the Po'e Pill, one main ingredient is still missing..." Hai Bodong said hesitantly, now addressing him as young master.

"Sand Mandara. I know."

Xuan Jin interrupted Hai Bodong.

"You only need to wait here. Once I make a trip to the Snake People Clan, I'll bring the medicinal ingredient back for you."

"Yes!"

"Now, give me the map to the Heavenly Flame."

Hai Bodong no longer dared harbor any ulterior thoughts. He hurriedly took a carefully preserved map from a hidden compartment and respectfully handed it to Xuan Jin.

"Young master, this is where I discovered traces of the Heavenly Flame back then."

Xuan Jin accepted the map and unfolded it, glancing at the marked location.

He put the map away, picked up the still-eyes-closed Qing Lin again, and rose to his feet.

"Remember your promise."

With that, he turned and walked out of the wooden hut, his figure soon vanishing into the sky.

Hai Bodong stood there blankly, staring at the empty doorway. Only after a long while did he come back to his senses.

He pinched himself hard, and the sharp pain told him that none of this was a dream.

"Hahaha... Hahahaha!"

The emotions he had suppressed for years erupted in that instant.

Hai Bodong threw back his head and laughed wildly, his laughter filled with ecstasy and excitement.

"I can finally leave this damned place!"

"Dou Zong... Sixth Grade Alchemist... Ya Fei..."

He muttered to himself, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes.

"Looks like the Jia Ma Empire is about to change."

Elsewhere, Xuan Jin carried Qing Lin as he raced through the desert.

"Young master, that man just now was so scary," Qing Lin whispered in his arms.

"He was just a tiger with its teeth pulled. Don't be afraid." Xuan Jin smiled.

He lowered his head and glanced at the little girl in his arms. The mere aura of a Dou Ling had frightened her badly.

It seemed he still needed to let her see more of the world.

Following the map's directions, he headed west.

The deeper he went into the desert, the higher the temperature became, and the more violent the fire-attributed energy in the air grew.

Finally, at dusk, Xuan Jin reached his destination.

It was an enormous basin surrounded by towering sand dunes.

At the center of the basin, not a blade of grass grew, and even the sand had taken on a dark red hue.

The air was thick with the smell of sulfur and flames.

Xuan Jin spread out his Soul Power and quickly located the entrance to the Heavenly Flame.

It was directly beneath this basin.

"Qing Lin, it may get a little hot next. Bear with it."

After reminding her, he took a deep breath and stomped his right foot down.

"Boom!"

With a loud crash, the ground of the entire basin shook violently.

Then, a massive opening several zhang across appeared beneath their feet.

A blast of scorching air surged out from the opening, carrying a terrifying heat.

Below the opening lay a crimson Magma World.

Without the slightest hesitation, Xuan Jin held Qing Lin and leaped straight into the churning magma.

The searing magma rushed toward them as if it would melt everything in its path.

A layer of deep-blue Dou Qi barrier lit up around Xuan Jin, steadily protecting both him and Qing Lin within.

The power of the Sea Heart Flame blocked all the surrounding magma, creating an absolutely safe space.

Qing Lin's little face was pale as she clung tightly around Xuan Jin's neck. Looking at the churning crimson magma outside, she was so frightened that she could not utter a word.

She had never imagined that one day, she would travel through magma.

"Don't be afraid."

Xuan Jin's voice sounded beside her ear, carrying a reassuring strength.

Holding Qing Lin, he continued descending through the magma.

The magma here was even more viscous than he had imagined, and the resistance to descending was immense.

The farther down they went, the higher the temperature and pressure became.

Even with his strength as a Dou Zong, he felt a trace of discomfort.

After descending for an unknown length of time, the view before them suddenly opened up.

Below them appeared an enormous magma lake.

Just as Xuan Jin was about to approach, the aura of a Magical Beast suddenly erupted from the depths of the magma lake!

"Hiss!"

A sharp screech echoed throughout the entire Magma World.

Immediately afterward, a colossal figure shot up from the magma, sending towering waves surging into the air.

It was a giant two-headed snake, dozens of meters long!

The giant two-headed snake was covered in dark-red scales, which looked even more fiery red under the glow of the magma.

A Fourth-Order Magical Beast, the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake!

Both snake heads opened their bloody maws at once, firing scorching pillars of magma at Xuan Jin like sharp arrows.

Xuan Jin blocked the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake's attack with the Sea Heart Flame's barrier.

Seeing that its first strike had failed, both heads of the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake roared at once. Its enormous body churned the magma into raging waves as it lunged at Xuan Jin again.

"Young master!"

Qing Lin screamed in fright, burying her little face in Xuan Jin's chest and not daring to look again.

Yet Xuan Jin's face did not ripple in the slightest. He circulated his Dou Qi and instantly subdued the Fourth-Order Magical Beast.

Then Xuan Jin lowered his head and said to Qing Lin in his arms.

"Qing Lin, lift your head and look at it."

Qing Lin's body trembled. She did not dare.

That giant snake looked far too frightening.

"Be obedient."

Xuan Jin's voice became stern.

"Open your eyes and look into its eyes."

"You are not a monster, and your eyes are not a curse."

"They are a gift from heaven, a power that can make all snakes submit."

"Now is the time for you to prove yourself."

"Believe in me, and believe in yourself."

Xuan Jin's words were like a warm current flowing into Qing Lin's icy heart.

She thought of how kind Xuan Jin had been to her over the past half month.

She thought of what he had said: that he would protect her and make her stronger.

The young master's command was absolute!

An indescribable courage surged up from the depths of her heart.

Qing Lin suddenly raised her head, her jade-green eyes fixed tightly on the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake's eyes.

The fear in her heart was replaced, at this moment, by an unprecedented determination.

I can't disappoint Young Master!

At the instant that thought arose, a strange change occurred in her jade-green pupils.

Deep within her pupils, three tiny jade-green floral patterns slowly emerged, then began spinning rapidly.

An invisible yet mysterious pressure spread from her eyes, instantly enveloping the Tier 4 Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake.

When the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake met Qing Lin's green pupils, its massive body suddenly stiffened.

The savagery in its two pairs of triangular eyes was instantly replaced by boundless terror.

It was a fear and submission that came from deep within its bloodline, from its Soul Origin!

Before this tiny human girl, it felt like a mouse that had encountered a cat, unable to muster even the slightest thought of resistance.

Thud!

Its enormous body crashed heavily into the lava lake, sending molten lava spraying everywhere.

The Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake lowered both massive heads deeply, prostrating itself before Xuan Jin and Qing Lin. Its body trembled as if it were a child who had done something wrong.

The entire Magma World instantly fell silent.

Qing Lin stared blankly at the unbelievable scene before her.

She... she had really done it?

She had only glanced at that two-headed giant snake, and it had... it had lain down?

Was this the gift from heaven that Young Master had spoken of?

A tremendous surge of joy and excitement swept through her small heart.

But immediately afterward, a powerful wave of dizziness flooded her mind.

Using the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils for the first time had nearly drained all her mental strength.

Qing Lin's vision went black, and her body collapsed weakly.

"Young Master... I... did I do it?"

In the final moment before she lost consciousness, she used all her strength to ask that question.

Xuan Jin caught her small body and held her tightly in his arms.

"Yes, Qing Lin did very well."

His voice was gentler than ever before.

After hearing those words, the little girl in his arms revealed a satisfied and happy smile before falling into a deep sleep.

Holding her, Xuan Jin glanced at the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake still lying motionless in the lava, and his heart filled with satisfaction.

The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils truly lived up to their reputation.

Qing Lin was only at Dou Qi Level One, yet she could already render a Fourth-Order Magical Beast completely incapable of resistance.

Once she grew up, her strength would be beyond imagination.

This investment was undoubtedly the most correct one he had made since crossing over.

Xuan Jin did not linger. Carrying the unconscious Qing Lin, he flashed past the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake and crossed the lava before him.

Soon afterward, he found a cave.

After entering the cave, he saw a blue-green Lotus Platform placed atop a massive rock.

Eleven round, emerald-green lotus seeds the size of longan fruit lay quietly upon it.

A refreshing, unusual fragrance wafted from the lotus seeds. Taking a single breath of it was enough to invigorate the mind.

Core Earth Flame Lotus Seeds!

Seeing this, Xuan Jin carefully placed Qing Lin on a flat rock, then set up a restriction around her to ensure her safety.

Only after finishing all this did he turn around and take the Core Earth Flame Lotus Seat and the Core Earth Flame Lotus Seeds.

The former could help fire-attributed cultivators speed up their cultivation, while the latter was a tool for housing the Green Lotus Core Flame later.

Naturally, Xuan Jin would not pass them up.

He reached out and carefully plucked the eleven Core Earth Flame Lotus Seeds one by one, placing them into a specially made Jade Box for safekeeping.

After that, he uprooted the entire Green Lotus seat and stored it in his Storage Ring.

As a companion treasure of a Heavenly Flame, it would naturally also benefit Xuan Jin.

And Xuan Jin had not come here solely for the Core Earth Flame Lotus Seeds and the Earth Core Fire Lotus Platform.

There was another, more important matter that needed to be resolved now.

Xuan Jin took a deep breath and removed an ancient black ring from his finger.

The Bone Flame Ring.

He held the ring in his palm and slowly extended his Soul Power into it.

The Three Essence Seal Fire Mark he had personally laid down still firmly sealed the space inside the ring.

Within the ring, an aged soul was curled up in a corner, its aura weak as though it could disperse at any moment.

It was none other than Venerable Yao, Yao Chen, who had once been renowned across the continent.

The corners of Xuan Jin's lips curled upward.

He had waited for this day for a long time.

Back at the Xiao Family, the reason he had not taken the ring directly was because he had been waiting for a suitable opportunity.

Now, the opportunity had arrived.

Here, unseen and unnoticed, even if he ground Yao Chen's bones to dust, no one would ever know.

Without the slightest hesitation, Xuan Jin willed it, and the Three Essence Seal Fire Mark sealing the Bone Flame Ring dissolved at once.

The instant the seal was removed, Yao Chen within the ring shuddered violently.

He could feel that the force suppressing him for so long had vanished.

Freedom?

Wild joy surged into his heart.

But immediately afterward, he forcibly suppressed that joy and continued maintaining his half-dead appearance, remaining completely motionless.

Yao Chen was no fool.

Having been trapped in the ring for so many years, what storms had he not weathered?

The person who had sealed him possessed unfathomable strength and an even deeper mind.

There was no way the other party had lifted the seal now out of kindness.

This was very likely a trap!

He had to be cautious, and then even more cautious.

Playing dead was the best choice.

Xuan Jin looked at the old fellow still putting on an act inside the ring and sneered inwardly.

He could endure quite well.

But before Xuan Jin, these little tricks were meaningless.

A vast wave of Soul Power surged into the Bone Flame Ring like a tide, transforming into an invisible giant hand that fiercely seized Yao Chen's soul body.

"Still not coming out?"

A cold voice rang directly within the depths of Yao Chen's soul.

"Then die!"

Before the words had even faded, the invisible giant hand suddenly tightened.

Seeing this, Yao Chen unleashed his own Soul Power.

"Stop! I'm coming out!"

The next moment, a phantom-like, aged white figure floated out of the Bone Flame Ring in a miserable state and hovered in midair.

Yao Chen had appeared.

He warily stared at the absurdly young black-robed man before him, while tumultuous waves rose in his heart.

This was the person who had sealed him!

Who exactly was he?

A member of the Pill Tower, using the Pill Tower's Sealing Technique?

Or a descendant of one of the Ancient Families?

Yao Chen's heart was full of doubt and unease.

He examined Xuan Jin, trying to discern some clue from him.

Suddenly, his gaze fell upon the faintly visible thread of Dou Qi in Xuan Jin's palm.

That method of circulating Dou Qi, that aura of the cultivation technique...

Yao Chen's pupils suddenly contracted!

He stared fixedly at Xuan Jin, the expression on his face shifting from shock to horror, then finally to utter disbelief.

"You... you cultivate... the Burning Art?!"