A Hasty Year

Time flies; a year and a half has passed quietly since that earth-shattering battle in the Heaven-Burial Mountain Range.

Inside a secret chamber within the Ancient Realm, the spiritual energy swirling around Lin Hai gradually converged into his body. He slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through them before vanishing.

Although his complexion was not yet as rosy as it had been at his peak, the deep-seated weakness that had permeated his bones had largely receded.

"Fifty percent... that is enough," he whispered to himself. Looking inward with his divine sense, he saw that his once-shattered meridians had been mostly repaired, and the spiritual energy stars had begun to circulate slowly once more. Only the fundamental damage to his soul still required patient, grinding effort to heal.

He thought of Xiao Yan. By his calculations, the lad should have broken through to the Spirit Practitioner realm by now, marking the critical period for him to begin his path of devouring via the Burning Decision.

Beside him, the Western Beasts also awoke one after another. The hideous wounds on their massive bodies had healed, leaving behind faint scars. Although their auras had not yet returned to their peak, they had recovered about sixty percent of their strength, and their fierce, savage air began to permeate the room once more.

"Master," the Western Beasts growled low, showing their respect.

"Mm, follow me," Lin Hai said, rising to his feet as the stone door of the chamber opened silently.

Sunlight spilled in, and Lin Hai took a deep breath of fresh air. With a flicker of movement, he vanished like a breeze, appearing the next moment in the backyard of the Xiao Clan, outside the courtyard where Xiao Yan lived alone.

Before he even entered, he felt a strange energy fluctuation within the courtyard, where intense heat and biting cold were intertwined.

Lin Hai landed silently atop the courtyard wall, casting his gaze downward.

In the center of the yard, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged, his face flushed red, veins bulging on his forehead as his body trembled violently.

Suspended before him was a deep red flame that leaped incessantly, radiating a wild aura—it was clearly a Rank 6 Beast Fire! Yao Chen's soul body hovered to the side, his expression grave as he instructed, "Keep your mind steady! Guide it! Use the path of the Burning Decision!"

Xiao Yixian stood not far away, the aura of a one-star Spirit Master faintly surrounding her. Her pretty face was filled with tension and concern, her slender fingers tightly clenched as she prepared to intervene to protect him at any moment. However, more of her attention drifted involuntarily toward the figure in green robes that had suddenly appeared on the wall.

She was startled at first, but upon realizing it was Lin Hai, her pale purple eyes instantly erupted with undisguised joy and relief, followed immediately by deep concern.

It had been a year and a half! Ever since she heard he had been severely injured and gone into seclusion, her heart had been hanging in the air; she hadn't even been able to see him before he retreated.

Seeing him emerge now, though his complexion was still somewhat pale, he moved as usual. Her worry eased slightly, transforming into a silent, lingering gaze.

Lin Hai nodded slightly at her to signal he was fine, then turned his gaze back to Xiao Yan.

At this moment, Xiao Yan abruptly swallowed a pill radiating cold air (Ice Spirit Pill) and a Pulse-Protecting Pill, while simultaneously crushing an ice bead compressed from Ice Spirit Cold Spring!

A powerful cold current instantly enveloped his entire body, temporarily suppressing the violent nature of the Beast Fire.

Taking this opportunity, Xiao Yan rapidly changed his hand seals and let out a low roar: "Burning Decision, devour for me!"

The Yellow-tier low-grade Burning Decision technique operated frantically, generating a faint suction force that struggled to pull the Rank 6 Beast Fire into his body. The Beast Fire resisted violently, but with the aid of the Ice Spirit Cold Spring and the pills, it was finally dragged into Xiao Yan's body, thread by thread!

The process was excruciatingly painful; Xiao Yan's body felt like a battlefield of ice and fire. Yet, his will was incredibly tenacious, and he endured it.

About an hour later, the Beast Fire was finally completely devoured. Xiao Yan's aura surged suddenly before slowly calming down.

He opened his eyes, a flicker of crimson fire flashing within them. Feeling the increased power in his body, a look of joy appeared on his face: "Teacher, it's a success! I've broken through to the peak of a two-star Spirit Practitioner! The Burning Decision has also evolved to the Yellow-tier intermediate grade!"

"Good! Good lad!" Yao Chen stroked his beard and laughed, feeling immensely gratified.

Immediately, he, Xiao Yan, and Xiao Yixian all noticed Lin Hai on the wall.

"Uncle!"

"Brother Lin!" (Xiao Yixian)

"Saint Venerable Lin? You've come out of seclusion?!" Yao Chen was both surprised and delighted, quickly floating over to look him up and down. "Your injuries..."

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian also gathered around immediately, their eyes filled with inquiry and concern.

Lin Hai smiled slightly and dropped from the wall: "No major issues, I've recovered about fifty percent. The rest requires patient effort; I can just meditate at night, it won't affect my activities during the day."

Hearing "fifty percent," Xiao Yixian frowned slightly, clearly feeling that this recovery speed was too slow and that his injuries were far worse than she had imagined. But seeing Lin Hai's calm demeanor, she didn't press further, only saying softly, "Then... Brother Lin, you must rest well."

"Don't worry." Lin Hai gave her a reassuring look, then turned to Xiao Yan and nodded: "Not bad, two-star Spirit Practitioner, and the Burning Decision has advanced. It seems you haven't been slack in this year and a half."

Xiao Yan scratched his head and smiled; he remained filled with gratitude and awe toward Lin Hai.

Lin Hai then spoke in a flat, unquestionable tone: "I gave Yao Chen over seven hundred Rank 6 Beast Fires previously. Within half a year, devour them all. With the characteristics of the Burning Decision and the aid of pills, the energy from seven hundred Rank 6 Beast Fires will be enough to support your breakthrough to the Spirit Master realm."

Half a year, from Spirit Practitioner to Spirit Master! If anyone else had said this, Xiao Yan would have thought it a fantasy, but coming from Lin Hai, it made his blood boil.

"Yes, Uncle!" Xiao Yan nodded heavily.

"After breaking through to Spirit Master, prepare to devour Heavenly Flames," Lin Hai continued. "I will find suitable Heavenly Flames for you. In one year, devouring three Heavenly Flames should be just right. By then, you can go to the Ancient Realm to marry Xiao Xun'er, and the three-year agreement made with Gu Yuan will be fulfilled exactly."

A year and a half, from a Spirit Practitioner to someone possessing a Burning Decision of unknown strength after devouring three Heavenly Flames.

Xiao Yan felt a surge of heroic spirit soar to the heavens, and he clenched his fists tightly: "Xiao Yan will certainly not fail your expectations, Uncle!"

"Mm, focus on devouring Beast Fires during the day, and refine pills, polish your spiritual energy, and temper your soul at night. Do not slack for a single day." Lin Hai instructed.

"Yes!"

Having arranged matters for Xiao Yan, Lin Hai moved again, appearing the next moment in the top-floor secret chamber of the Medusa Auction House.

Haibodong, who was busy handling affairs, was startled. Sensing that familiar yet unfathomable aura, he immediately stood up and bowed respectfully: "My Lord! You have come out of seclusion!"

"Mm," Lin Hai nodded slightly. "Haibodong, in this year and a half, has the Haiye organization had any more news regarding Heavenly Flames?"

Haibodong quickly replied: "Reporting to you, My Lord, I was just about to inform you! A year ago, a member of the organization discovered traces of a Heavenly Flame in a remote valley deep in the eastern part of the Magical Beast Mountain Range! Based on the description and energy characteristics, it is highly likely to be the 'Mysterious Yellow Flame,' ranked twenty-third on the Heavenly Flame Ranking! Its guardian beast is a Rank 6 Earth-Splitting Black Turtle. I wanted to notify you immediately, but Young Master Xiao Yan said you were in seclusion healing and strictly forbade anyone from disturbing you, so I did not dare to interrupt."

"Mysterious Yellow Flame? Earth-Splitting Black Turtle?" A look of satisfaction flashed in Lin Hai's eyes. "Very good. The Haiye organization has discovered Heavenly Flames twice; you have performed well. Pass down the order: every official member of Haiye is to be rewarded with a drop of Rank 6 magical beast essence blood. You shall be rewarded with a drop of Rank 8 magical beast essence blood. As for that girl Yaoye, reward her with a Rank 6 magical beast mount."

Haibodong was overjoyed, especially regarding the Rank 8 magical beast essence blood, which was a treasure he had dreamed of! He bowed quickly: "Thank you for your generous reward, My Lord! I thank you on behalf of all the members!"

"Mm, just see that it is done." After Lin Hai finished speaking, his figure slowly dissipated from where he stood.

Haibodong bowed respectfully once more toward the empty secret chamber, his face filled with excitement and awe.

Outside that deep, secluded valley in the eastern part of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, the space rippled slightly, and the figure of Lin Hai appeared quietly.

He swept his gaze toward the depths of the valley, where a flame aura as heavy and dense as the earth itself resided, along with a massive, earth-yellow turtle radiating the fluctuations of a peak Rank 6 magical beast.

"The Mysterious Yellow Flame; it is quite suitable for laying a foundation for Xiao Yan. This Earth-Splitting Black Turtle has decent defensive capabilities—it would be fitting as a mount for Yaoye."

He took a single step, and in the next instant, he had already appeared before the mountain-like Earth-Splitting Black Turtle. As he released a sliver of his terrifying pressure, the once vigilant and irritable Rank 6 magical beast froze instantly, its massive turtle eyes filled with fear and submission.

Collecting a Heavenly Flame and subduing a magical beast were nothing more than a trivial effort for Lin Hai, who had recovered fifty percent of his strength.

A moment later, Lin Hai stood holding a glowing orb containing a leaping, earth-yellow flame (the Mysterious Yellow Flame), with the shivering Earth-Splitting Black Turtle prostrate at his feet.

With a flick of his thought, the four Holy Spirits stationed in Wutan City received his command.

"Divide the labor among the four of you. Capture one Rank 6 magical beast for each of the eight attributes: gold, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, lightning, and ice. Finally, head to the extreme north and capture an Rank 8 ice-attribute magical beast."

Four powerful consciousnesses responded respectfully, and immediately, four invisible spatial ripples spread silently from Wutan City toward every direction of the continent.

Lin Hai, meanwhile, returned leisurely to Wutan City, bringing the Mysterious Yellow Flame and the Earth-Splitting Black Turtle with him.