Decision

Returning to the back courtyard of the Xiao Clan, Lin Hai did not pause to rest.

The value brought by the remains of a peak nine-star Spirit Saint needed to be converted into immediate combat power without delay.

He pondered for a moment.

While reshaping a body for Yao Chen was important, Yao Chen's soul realm was high, but suddenly taking control of a peak nine-star Spirit Saint's physical body would require an extremely long adaptation period. It would be difficult to form peak combat power in the short term, and he might even struggle to perfectly command a body that was too powerful.

By comparison, refining that immense energy into the purest essence blood and supplementing it with Grade Nine Profound Pills to enhance the four fire-attribute Spirit Saint demonic beasts—which had already laid a solid foundation and been implanted with his soul brand—was the choice that maximized resource efficiency.

Four seven-star Spirit Saints would be enough to sweep away any existence at the current stage, excluding only a few super-powers like the Ancient Clan and the Soul Clan, and could handle far too many affairs for him.

With his mind made up, Lin Hai returned to the forbidden area behind the mountain.

The four demonic beasts were still in seclusion, consolidating their seven-star Spirit Saint cultivation.

He waved his hand to set up a more powerful spatial barrier, completely isolating the inside from the outside to prevent the upcoming commotion from causing a stir.

He took out the massive Nether Cold Jade Coffin. As the lid opened, the remains of the Yin-Yang Saint Mo Yin lay quietly within, the pressure of a peak nine-star Spirit Saint still retaining a heart-stopping trace even ten thousand years after death.

Lin Hai's expression was calm as his hands formed an arcane seal.

Suddenly, energy as vast as the sea surged from his body, transforming into a fiercely burning golden flame before him.

This flame was not a Heavenly Flame, but his own life-bound True Fire, produced by the high-level condensation and qualitative change of his peak nine-star Spirit Saint energy; its power far exceeded that of ordinary Heavenly Flames!

"Refine!"

He gave a low shout, and the golden True Fire instantly enveloped the entire coffin and the remains within.

The terrifying high temperature caused the surrounding space to twist violently; had it not been for the barrier, the area within a hundred meters would likely have vaporized instantly.

Under such flames, the Nether Cold Jade Coffin also began to melt slowly, emitting an extreme cold to resist, but this cold energy was instead refined in the face of absolute power, merging into the increasingly massive pool of liquid energy.

The energy contained within the flesh, bones, and meridians of a peak nine-star Spirit Saint's remains could be described as boundless.

Under the scorching of the Spirit Saint True Fire, the remains began to melt slowly but firmly, precipitating countless gray impurities that were then completely annihilated by the high heat.

What remained was the purest energy essence, like molten red gold, churning and boiling while emitting dizzying, massive energy fluctuations.

This process lasted for an entire day and night.

In the end, the massive remains and the Nether Cold Jade Coffin disappeared completely, replaced by a dark golden liquid with a diameter of about one zhang floating in mid-air.

The liquid squirmed slowly as if it had a life of its own, and every fluctuation caused the space within the barrier to constantly collapse and repair itself.

Lin Hai's eyes narrowed, and the seal in his hands changed again.

"Condense!"

The dark golden liquid contracted violently, as if a black hole were devouring it from within.

At its core, a point of extreme, brilliant light ignited, and then, a drop of essence blood—red as a blood diamond, flowing with a dark golden halo on its surface, and seemingly containing the birth and death of countless tiny stars within—took shape!

The first drop of essence blood detached from the liquid mass and floated up, emitting a terrifying energy that made even the four beasts in the distance tremble.

Following it came the second drop, the third...

When the twentieth drop of essence blood condensed, the dark golden liquid had shrunk significantly, but there was still plenty of essence remaining.

Lin Hai raised an eyebrow slightly, exerted a little more force, and ruthlessly compressed the final remnants of energy.

Hum!

The twenty-first drop of essence blood, slightly smaller than the previous twenty but equally pure, successfully condensed!

"Twenty-one drops... an unexpected bonus." Lin Hai nodded slightly and waved his hand to collect the twenty-one drops of essence blood into jade bottles.

That extra drop could be saved for Xiao Yan; it might become a great help for him when he strikes for the high-level Spirit Saint realm in the future.

Afterward, he took out the five Grade Nine Profound Pills.

The pills were perfectly round with naturally formed pill patterns on their surfaces, faintly connecting with the energy of heaven and earth, and the medicinal fragrance had almost become tangible.

Such pills each possessed the power to seize the fortune of heaven and earth and were enough to trigger bloody wars across the continent.

He kept one of them, intending to give it to Xiao Yan later. The remaining four were prepared for the four demonic beasts.

"Wake up." Lin Hai's voice was like a great bell, striking directly into the depths of the four demonic beasts' souls.

The four beasts were jolted awake from their cultivation. Feeling the terrifying energy contained in the four bottles of essence blood and four Profound Pills before Lin Hai—energy that made their very souls tremble—their massive beast eyes were instantly filled with unparalleled fanaticism and awe.

"This is the origin essence blood of a peak nine-star Spirit Saint, along with Grade Nine treasures. I bestow them upon you; how much you can absorb depends on your own fortune. The target: seven-star Spirit Saint."

Lin Hai's words were simple and direct, yet they made the four demonic beasts so excited they almost roared.

Seven-star Spirit Saint! That was a realm they had never dared to imagine before!

"Thank you, Master, for your generous gift! We swear to serve you to the death, and will not shrink from any sacrifice!" The four beasts emitted low, firm soul-cries.

Lin Hai said no more. With a flick of his finger, the four bottles of essence blood and four Grade Nine Profound Pills shot precisely into the mouths of the four beasts.

BOOM—!!!

Energy five times more violent than before exploded instantly within the bodies of the four beasts!

In an instant, the entire barrier turned into a pure ocean of energy, with four figures submerged within, undergoing a transformation akin to shedding their skins.

Lin Hai watched this quietly. Once they emerged from seclusion, he would possess a terrifying force of demonic beasts capable of making the entire Central Plains take notice.

When he headed to the Ancient Realm, or even dealt with the Soul Clan later, the chips in his hand would be far heavier.

He put away the extra drop of essence blood and the one Grade Nine Profound Pill, his gaze deep.

"Xiao Yan, the path that Uncle can pave for you has already been paved. The rest, in the end, must be walked by you alone."