Journey to the Southern Region

The dust in the small courtyard settled.

After setting the three-year pact with Gu Yuan, Lin Hai did not linger in the Xiao Clan.

Uniting the Ancient Clan, and the potential future entanglements with the Flame Clan, Thunder Clan, as well as dealing with the Soul Clan and the Ancient Emperor's Abode, were important, but they did not require excessive deliberation at this moment.

Right now, he needed high-end combat power that could act on his direct orders.

Yao Chen, Haibodong, Medusa, and even the future Xiao Yan, all had their own duties and were currently limited in strength.

He needed some henchmen who could be quickly molded and were absolutely loyal.

With his mind made up, Lin Hai's figure vanished from the courtyard; when he appeared next, he was already ten thousand feet in the air.

He cast his gaze toward the south of the continent, the gathering place of the Magical Beast families and a paradise for top-tier fire-attribute magical beasts—the Southern Region.

Deep within the Lava Mountain Range of the Southern Region.

The air here was scorching and distorted, the earth covered in dark red fissures, with hot magma erupting from time to time, emitting a pungent smell of sulfur.

The powerful fire-attribute energy had almost solidified; even an ordinary Spirit Venerable would find it difficult to take a single step here.

Lin Hai's figure appeared silently at the edge of the largest active volcano, his black robes motionless amidst the heatwaves.

His vast, star-like soul power spread out like mercury, instantly shrouding the mountain range for thousands of miles.

Soon, four rather powerful auras were precisely locked onto by him.

They were scattered in different corners of the mountain range, each occupying the areas with the densest energy, all of them overlords of this region—four fire-attribute Spirit Saint magical beasts with strengths ranging across the two-star level.

A Heaven-Burning Crocodile residing at the bottom of a magma lake, with a strength of mid-two-star Spirit Saint.

A Blazing Earth Lizard entrenched in a volcanic crystal vein, with a strength of early-two-star Spirit Saint.

A Flowing Fire Sky Owl soaring through the volcanic ash clouds, with a strength of peak-one-star Spirit Saint.

A Lava Giant Ape slumbering deep within the earth's fire veins, with a strength of late-two-star Spirit Saint.

"Barely enough," Lin Hai commented indifferently, his figure flickering as he vanished from the volcano's rim.

The next moment, he appeared directly at the bottom of the churning magma lake.

The terrifying magma and high temperatures were as nothing to him.

The Heaven-Burning Crocodile, massive as a mountain and covered in dark red scales, had not even reacted before an indescribable, terrifying pressure descended like the weight of the entire continent!

The Heaven-Burning Crocodile's giant pupils were instantly filled with extreme terror; it felt its soul trembling and wailing, unable to muster even the slightest thought of resistance.

That was the crushing weight brought by a disparity in life hierarchy and absolute power!

(After reaching the Spirit Saint realm, the gap between each star is immense; a nine-star Spirit Saint can easily kill a two-star Spirit Saint in seconds.)

Lin Hai forced out a wisp of essence blood aura from his fingertip—infinitesimally small, yet containing the world-destroying energy of a nine-star Spirit Saint—while a cold voice resonated directly in the depths of the Heaven-Burning Crocodile's soul: "Submit, and I shall grant you supreme power and the opportunity for evolution. Resist, and your body and soul shall be annihilated."

The temptation brought by that drop of essence blood aura far exceeded any heaven and earth energy it had absorbed through thousands of years of bitter cultivation.

The instinct for survival and the craving for power instantly shattered the last shred of its pride as a Spirit Saint magical beast.

"Roar... (I am willing to submit!)" The Heaven-Burning Crocodile emitted a low, submissive soul fluctuation.

Lin Hai flicked his finger, and a complex soul imprint instantly submerged into the Heaven-Burning Crocodile's brow, planting a mark of absolute obedience deep within its soul origin.

The process was simple, brutal, and highly efficient.

He followed the same procedure for the others.

In just half a day, the Blazing Earth Lizard, the Flowing Fire Sky Owl, and the Lava Giant Ape—the three Spirit Saint magical beasts that reigned supreme in the Southern Region—were sought out by Lin Hai one by one. Under the absolute deterrence of his martial might and the temptation of power, they were all branded with soul imprints and expressed their submission.

Having gathered the four magical beasts, Lin Hai tore through space and returned directly to the Xiao Clan in Wutan City.

In the back mountains of the Xiao Clan, within a secret valley sealed by Lin Hai with layers of restrictions.

The four magical beasts, now shrunk to a fraction of their size but still exuding terrifying auras, prostrated themselves respectfully on the ground, not daring to look up at the black-robed figure standing with his hands behind his back.

Lin Hai swept his gaze over them and said indifferently, "Since you have submitted, I shall bestow upon you a stroke of fortune."

Four drops of essence blood appeared at his fingertips, crimson as blood diamonds and burning with a faint glazed flame, causing the surrounding space to continuously collapse and regenerate.

Each drop contained the vast energy and a portion of the life origin of a peak nine-star Spirit Saint powerhouse.

"This is my essence blood. Refine it, and it will reshape your bloodlines."

Immediately following this, four streams of light shot from his brow, submerging into the minds of the four beasts respectively.

These were the complete information for the Heaven-tier high-grade cultivation technique, the Nine Nether Flame God Art, as well as Lin Hai's own insights into fire-attribute laws and the application of power.

To them, these insights were no less than a guiding light, enough to save them ten thousand years of bitter toil.

"Circulate this technique, absorb the essence blood, and comprehend the laws. How much you can absorb and what level you can break through to depends on your own fortune."

Feeling the terrifying value contained within the essence blood and the information in their minds, the four magical beasts trembled with excitement, their giant beast eyes filled with fanaticism and awe.

They roared in unison: "Thank you, Master, for your grace! We shall not fail your expectations!"

Lin Hai waved his hand, flicking the four drops of essence blood into their bodies, and then paid them no further mind.

As the essence blood entered their bodies, the violent energy exploded instantly!

The four magical beasts let out simultaneous roars of pain, but there was more excitement than agony in their cries.

They immediately began attempting to circulate the Nine Nether Flame God Art according to the instructions in their minds, frantically absorbing and refining that extremely pure energy while greedily devouring the fragments of law comprehension.

The valley was instantly flooded with four different, yet equally violent, types of flames. Terrifying energy fluctuations surged like a tsunami, crashing wave after wave against the barrier set by Lin Hai; had it not been for the restriction, the entire Gama Empire would have been shaken to its core.

A day passed.

The dark red scales covering the Heaven-Burning Crocodile fell away, replaced by deeper, black-red scales with a metallic luster, its aura climbing steadily.

The surface of the Blazing Earth Lizard condensed into brilliant flame crystals, as if it had donned a suit of armor, its strength growing rapidly.

The feathers of the Flowing Fire Sky Owl became like flowing lava, and as it spread its wings, runes of the Flame Law manifested of their own accord.

The Lava Giant Ape's body expanded once more, its muscles bulging like coiled dragons, and with every breath, it exhaled scorching white flames that contained explosive power.

Without exception, their auras shattered their original bottlenecks, launching a fierce assault toward a higher level!

Several days later, when the final energy fluctuations gradually subsided, the scene within the valley had changed drastically.

The four magical beasts remained prostrate on the ground, but the pressure radiating from them was more than three times stronger than before!

Shockingly, they had all reached the level of a four-star Spirit Saint!

(Essence blood, cultivation technique, and law comprehension—the combination of these three reaching the four-star level is not unreasonable.)

Although they had only just entered the realm and still needed to stabilize, the genuine aura of a four-star Spirit Saint could not be faked.

Heaven-Burning Crocodile, early four-star Spirit Saint.

Blazing Earth Lizard, early four-star Spirit Saint.

Flowing Fire Sky Owl, early four-star Spirit Saint.

Lava Giant Ape, mid four-star Spirit Saint!

The gazes they directed toward Lin Hai were no longer just filled with awe; they looked upon him as if he were a god, a creator.

In just a few short days, they had achieved what would have taken them a thousand years of bitter cultivation! What heaven-defying means were these!

Lin Hai looked at the four magical beasts with their surging auras before him and nodded slightly.

"Very good," he said indifferently. "Stabilize your realms and familiarize yourselves with your power. Soon, there will be a time for you to exert your strength."

The four newly promoted four-star Spirit Saint magical beasts responded with low growls, their voices shaking the valley, filled with power and loyalty.

Lin Hai turned around, his gaze seemingly piercing through space to look toward the direction of the Central Plains.

The schedule for heading to the Ancient Realm was not far off; once Yao Chen finished refining the final two grade-eight medicinal pills, it would be time to depart for the Ancient Realm.