Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, Strange Odor

"Heavenly Flames..."

Xiao Yan murmured those two words, excitement flashing in his eyes.

Because of the original plot, he had never considered searching for Heavenly Flames in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Yet unexpectedly, a careless effort had borne fruit.

This transformation, which had brought his physique to the level of a Tier Five Magical Beast, seemed to have made his Fire Spirit Body even stronger—or rather... more active.

It was precisely this change, absent from the original story, that allowed him to sense a trace of a Heavenly Flame's aura.

There could be no greater unexpected delight than this.

"Teacher, I think letting Xiao Yi Xian worry about me for a while would help temper her character, so there's no need to hurry back yet." Xiao Yan changed direction.

Yao Lao wore an expression of complete agreement and praised him. "Good disciple, you've thought this through well. That little girl really should have her character tempered, so there's no need to hurry back."

"Since that's the case..."

The old man and the youth exchanged glances, both breaking into smiles.

Xiao Yan spread his Purple Cloud Wings and soared into the sky, flying toward the deepest reaches of the Magical Beast Mountain Range and carving a dazzling purple trail through the air.

Yao Lao released his Soul Body's power, enveloping Xiao Yan and concealing their aura as much as possible.

Before they knew it, Xiao Yan had reached the deepest part of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, an area where fire-attributed energy was exceptionally dense.

Hovering in midair, Xiao Yan looked toward a cave several dozen meters away and said to Yao Lao, "Teacher, do you feel it? That Heavenly Flame aura is becoming clearer and clearer. It's coming from that cave."

Yao Lao emerged in his Soul Body, his expression incomparably grave. "It is indeed the aura of a Heavenly Flame. Like my Bone Chilling Flame, it contains powerful natural might."

"But..."

"Besides the aura of flames, another aura coming from that cave is even more distinct and far stronger. It is much stronger than even the Amethyst Winged Lion King!" There was hesitation in Yao Lao's voice.

Xiao Yan understood that Yao Lao was somewhat worried. He smiled confidently. "Teacher, my cultivation has improved greatly now, so the enhancement you can give me will surely be much greater. Coupled with my current physique, in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, even if I can't walk around sideways, I should at least fear no magical beast, right?"

"The value of Heavenly Flames goes without saying. Who knows when we might encounter another one after this?"

After hearing Xiao Yan's words, the hesitation in Yao Lao's heart vanished. He said decisively, "It seems dying once has made your teacher increasingly afraid of death."

"You brat are right. With master and disciple joining forces, won't we be able to walk sideways through the Magical Beast Mountain Range?"

"Come on, let's charge in!"

Xiao Yan nodded seriously. His Purple Cloud Wings beat as he landed at the cave entrance, then he strode inside with his head held high.

Roar!

A furious roar that echoed throughout the entire Magical Beast Mountain Range erupted from within the cave.

Inside the cave, the wings behind Xiao Yan had turned white. Possessed by Yao Lao, he unleashed his speed to the limit and fled into the distance.

Then, a bird-type magical beast radiating terrifying might flew out of the cave. It roared angrily at the fleeing Xiao Yan but did not give chase. Instead, it hurried back into the cave, unwilling to leave.

After flying far away, Xiao Yan cursed with lingering fear, "Damn, damn, damn! How could the Magical Beast Mountain Range have a half-step Seventh Rank magical beast? What is a magical beast of that level doing nesting in such a barren place?"

Yao Lao spoke as well. "It is fortunate your teacher reacted quickly and completed the possession at once. Otherwise, even your body, comparable to a Tier Five Magical Beast, would not have been able to withstand a single blow from it. You would have been torn apart instantly."

Xiao Yan was also somewhat shaken, though he was actually fine deep down.

He still had a trump card he had not used.

On the way back to the little valley.

Xiao Yan and Yao Lao relaxed and spoke quietly. "Teacher, you saw it, didn't you? The flames deep inside that cave."

Recalling the flames he had seen not long ago, Yao Lao described them. "The flames were red, and within them, one could vaguely see myriad beasts stampeding."

Master and disciple spoke at the same time. "Twenty-second on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame!"

Yao Lao glanced at Xiao Yan without questioning him, then continued, "It is said that the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame is a powerful Heavenly Flame formed through the long-term gathering of the blood and souls of countless dead magical beasts, along with the Beast Flames left behind after their deaths."

"As a gathering place for magical beasts, it is fortunate but not impossible for such a flame to be born in the Magical Beast Mountain Range."

"The energy here is barren. The Amethyst Winged Lion King, comparable to a human Three-Star Dou Emperor, has already reached the peak that ordinary magical beasts can attain."

"For the magical beast in that cave to grow to the level of half-step Seventh Rank, the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame must have played no small role."

Xiao Yan also agreed with Yao Lao's assessment. "It is only natural that the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame benefits magical beasts. That magical beast clearly treasures the flame dearly. Obtaining the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame won't be easy."

Yao Lao frowned. "Your teacher's soul power has not recovered much yet. Even when possessing you as you are now, it is already difficult for me to let you display the strength of a Dou Emperor."

"That magical beast has already reached half-step Seventh Rank. Given the combat strength magical beasts possess at the same level, it can contend with even an ordinary Dou Zong to some extent."

"To defeat it, we must possess genuine Dou Zong strength."

Xiao Yan nodded. "I understand, Teacher!"

At the same time, he thought, With Teacher's soul power, as long as I reach the Dou Ling realm, I'll be able to wield the combat strength of a Dou Zong. An Eight-Star Da Dou Shi's cultivation is still far too low!

Looks like... it's time to take some pills.

Little valley.

Xiao Yi Xian sat alone outside the wooden house, staring at the sky with a worried expression.

"Young Master Xiao... why haven't you returned yet?"

Yun Yun was meditating and regulating her breath nearby. Much of the Amethyst Seal inside her body had already been broken. She opened her eyes and watched Xiao Yi Xian acting like a lovesick girl, shaking her head slightly.

As a woman, behaving like this is somewhat undignified, she thought, certain that she would never act this way for a man.

At that moment, Xiao Yan appeared amid the dense mist above the valley, his Purple Cloud Wings beating behind him.

Xiao Yan put away his Purple Cloud Wings after landing. Looking at Xiao Yi Xian, he apologized, "Sorry. Something unexpected came up, so it took a little longer."

Xiao Yi Xian swallowed, her cheeks involuntarily turning burning hot as she stammered, "I-It's fine. It's good that you're back."

Xiao Yan frowned. "Why are you stammering like that? Did you bite your tongue while eating?"

Xiao Yi Xian turned her head away, blushing as she said softly, "I was just a little excited to see you back."

As she spoke, Xiao Yi Xian could not resist turning her gaze back to stare at Xiao Yan's face.

For some reason, he clearly did not seem any different from before, but why did Xiao Yan feel especially attractive to her today?

Even the things she had barely paid attention to in the past now inevitably drew her gaze.

Those long, strong fingers... they felt as though they could reach all the way to the bottom...

"Uh, Xiao Yi Xian, did you wait outside for me too long and catch a chill? Why is your face so red and hot?" Xiao Yan asked worriedly, reaching out and placing his hand on Xiao Yi Xian's forehead.

Xiao Yi Xian felt the heat on her face spreading throughout her entire body. She hurriedly pushed Xiao Yan's hand away. "Maybe. I'm feeling a little unwell. I'll go back inside first!"

Xiao Yi Xian jogged away, her body swaying as though she had no strength.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan felt somewhat guilty.

Had he known Xiao Yi Xian would wait so long that she caught a cold and developed a fever, he should have returned to let her know first no matter what.

Suddenly, Xiao Yan twitched his nose and sniffed where Xiao Yi Xian had been standing. Confused, he muttered, "Where did that fishy smell come from?"