Absorbing Beast Flame

Chapter 10: Absorbing Beast Flame

Looking at the three Beast Flames before him, Xiao Ling hesitated for a moment before deciding to refine the comparatively gentler Peach Blossom Fire first.

He opened the lid of the porcelain bottle containing the Peach Blossom Fire and beckoned with his hand. The pink flame seed immediately landed in his palm. Staring at the Beast Flame before him, a flash of burning desire appeared in Xiao Ling's eyes. Given his current strength, Heavenly Flames were both difficult to obtain and difficult to absorb. These Beast Flames extracted from magical beasts, however, were perfectly suited to his present weakness.

He slowly closed his eyes, formed a cultivation hand seal, and sent his mind into his body. Parting his lips slightly, he used Soul Power to guide the Peach Blossom Fire into his body.

He focused his attention on the vortex, swiftly using Soul Perception to completely envelop it before making it spin at high speed.

As the vortex continued spinning rapidly, an area large enough to contain the Beast Flame gradually opened within it.

Wrapping the Peach Blossom Fire with Soul Perception, he guided it through the surrounding Dou Qi barriers and finally into that tiny space.

Once the Peach Blossom Fire entered that space, it began to circulate slowly, like a machine.

The Beast Flame needed to absorb the Fire Attribute Dou Qi within the vortex to strengthen itself, while the heat it released also increased the vortex's rate of absorbing Dou Qi. Thus, both the Beast Flame and the vortex benefited.

In the room, Xiao Ling slowly opened his tightly shut eyes. His gaze was far brighter than before.

After sensing the condition within his body, a faint smile appeared on his lips. He raised his palm, and the Peach Blossom Fire leaped onto it.

This Beast Flame seemed alive as it continued to flicker and dance, but with Soul Power controlling it, it moved as easily as an arm or finger.

He put away the Beast Flame in his hand and looked at the two porcelain bottles before him. After some hesitation, Xiao Ling stored them away one by one. His strength was still lacking. To be safe, without an Ice Heart Pill and a Meridian Protection Pill, he had better not devour a Heavenly Flame to advance the Fen Jue.

When Jia Nan Academy came to recruit students next month, he would exchange for pills and Beast Flames at the academy, then directly advance the Fen Jue to a Xuan Rank Technique.

Shaking his head and clearing away his distracting thoughts, Xiao Ling stepped out of his room and let out a long breath. "I should inform the elders of my plans first. If I suddenly leave, it might cause unnecessary trouble." No longer dwelling on it, Xiao Ling hurried toward where Xiao Zhan cultivated.

Arriving outside Xiao Zhan's Training Room, Xiao Ling glanced at the guards nearby and walked over.

"Hello, may I ask whether the clan leader is free right now? I have some matters I would like to discuss with him," Xiao Ling said to a guard.

The guard clearly recognized Xiao Ling. Hearing that he had business with the clan leader, he said, "The clan leader is currently discussing matters with several elders in the meeting hall. I'll take you in." He first nodded to the guards around him before walking inside.

Xiao Ling followed him. It was perfect that they were all together; it would be best to explain everything to them at once.

Before long, they arrived outside a spacious hall. The guard exchanged a few words with the guards at the entrance, then said to Xiao Ling, "Your status in the family is special. The clan leader previously said that if you have business, you may enter directly. Go in through the side door."

Hearing this, Xiao Ling could not help but sigh. With talent, one really could do whatever one wanted in the Xiao Family. He nodded, pushed open the side door, and entered the meeting hall.

The moment he entered, he saw the First Elder pointing at Xiao Zhan's nose and berating him.

"Xiao Zhan, do you even know how to teach your son? Xiao Yan actually went to peep at my granddaughter bathing! If Xiao Yu hadn't discovered him early, who knows how many girls of the family would have been peeped at? As the young clan leader, he is so shameless. What an embarrassment!"

Seeing this, Xiao Ling muttered inwardly, So word has gotten out about Xiao Yan peeping on someone. They're arguing over that.

Xiao Ling looked over and saw Xiao Zhan wearing a calm, untroubled expression. He did not care in the slightest about the First Elder's accusations, and even lifted a cup of fragrant tea to take a sip.

Seeing this, Xiao Ling's lips twitched. Is this the confidence that comes with talent? I wonder if he can still be this calm after Xiao Yan turns into trash.

When the elders saw someone enter, they all turned their gazes toward him. Upon seeing that it was Xiao Ling, the indifference on their aged faces immediately vanished, replaced by kindly smiles.

Seeing that they had all shifted their attention to him, Xiao Ling quickly stepped forward and bowed. "Clan Leader, three Elders."

"No need for such formalities. Sit and speak. What brings you here? I heard you just broke through to the Dou Zhe realm. Is there something in your cultivation that you need guidance on?" the First Elder asked first.

The other elders also looked at Xiao Ling inquisitively. They all knew that he had gone to the Dou Qi Pavilion after breaking through to the Dou Zhe realm. As the Xiao Family's number one genius, his breakthrough naturally mattered greatly to them.

As soon as Xiao Ling sat down, he exchanged greetings with the elders. However, the age gap was simply too great. Even counting both his lives, he was only in his twenties, so after only a few words, he began to feel awkward. Thus, he went straight to the point. "I have now reached the Dou Zhe realm, and the help the Xiao Family can provide me is limited. I plan to enroll at Jia Nan Academy as soon as its recruitment team arrives and continue my studies there."

The elders looked at one another, unsure how to respond. In truth, they understood that keeping a genius like Xiao Ling in the Xiao Family was a waste of his talent. They simply had not expected him to leave so early. If someone from another faction sweet-talked him, Xiao Ling might never return. Yet they could not stop him from leaving.

Xiao Zhan was still the first to speak. "You are still young. You can cultivate at home for a few more years before going out. There's no need to rush."

After hearing this, Xiao Ling guessed their concerns and said, "I'm still young, so now is the time to endure hardship. Besides, I want to raise my cultivation as quickly as possible and become one of the strongest on the continent. Don't worry. I will never forget the kindness the Xiao Family has shown me."

Hearing this, the elders visibly relaxed. As long as the family's genius was not lured away for good and remembered his roots, that was enough.

At this moment, Xiao Zhan spoke again. "The Misty Cloud Sect will hold its disciple recruitment assembly in a month. You could participate in the selection. With your talent, you would certainly receive special attention within the sect. Perhaps Sect Leader Yun Yun might even take you as her personal disciple."

After hearing that, a drop of cold sweat slid down Xiao Ling's forehead. He muttered inwardly, Xiao Zhan, your intentions are truly vile. Are you afraid I won't die early enough? What, do you want to go 'hehehe' too? In truth, Xiao Ling also understood that the Misty Cloud Sect was not too far from the Xiao Family and could look after the family. Jia Nan Academy, however, was located in the Black Corner Region, a place that made even keeping in contact with the Xiao Family difficult.

Naturally, he could not reveal the matter of the Misty Cloud Sect's creepy cackler, at least not now. He could only explain it this way:

"Jia Nan Academy has strong instructors. I don't think being a student there would be any worse than becoming a disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect. With my talent, perhaps some Dou Zong might even take me as a disciple."

Smiling, Xiao Ling made a half-serious joke.

The elders exchanged glances and sighed.

"Then make your own choice. Just don't forget that you still have the Xiao Family."

The First Elder took out a black card and handed it to Xiao Ling, saying with a smile, "This is some spending money for you. There are fifty thousand Gold Coins on it. When you're away from home, don't make yourself suffer."

Xiao Ling was somewhat moved. He accepted the gold card and nodded slightly. Though fifty thousand was not a huge sum, it was not a small amount for the Xiao Family either.

"Thank you, Clan Leader and Elders. Xiao Ling will take his leave first." He cupped his hands and left the meeting hall.

As he walked back to his room, recalling everything that had happened over the past four years, Xiao Ling could not help but sigh. People were not made of grass or wood; how could they be without feelings? Even a traveler from another land like me has formed attachments. Never mind that for now. If I can help with the Hun Clan, I will. I absolutely cannot let the Xiao Family end up like in the original story, with only a few younger members left alive.

After returning to his room, he lay down on the bed and emptied his mind. A wave of exhaustion washed over Xiao Ling, and he soon fell into a deep sleep.