A Fleeting Year

Time flowed on. A year and a half had quietly passed since the earth-shaking battle in the Heaven-Burial Mountain Range.

Deep in a secret chamber in the Ancient Realm, the spiritual energy swirling around Lin Hai gradually drew back into his body. He slowly opened his eyes, and a flash of brilliance flickered across them.

Although his complexion was still not as rosy as it had been at his peak, the weakness that had seeped into his bones had mostly faded.

"Fifty percent... That's enough." He murmured to himself. Looking inward with his divine soul, he saw that the meridians that had once been on the verge of shattering had mostly healed, and the spiritual-energy stars had begun to turn slowly once more. Only the most fundamental damage to his soul still needed time to mend.

He thought of Xiao Yan. Judging by the time that had passed, the boy should have broken through to Spirit Practitioner by now. This was the crucial moment when he would begin down the path of Burning Decision and devourment.

Nearby, the Western Beasts also awoke one after another. The savage wounds on their massive bodies had healed, leaving only faint scars. Their auras had yet to return to their peak, but they had recovered around sixty percent of their strength, and their ferocious presence was spreading once more.

"Master," the Western Beasts rumbled, bowing respectfully.

"Mm. Come with me." Lin Hai rose to his feet, and the stone door of the secret chamber opened without a sound.

Sunlight spilled down. Lin Hai drew a deep breath of fresh air, then blurred like a passing breeze. The next moment, he appeared outside the courtyard where Xiao Yan lived alone, in the back of the Xiao Clan residence.

Before he even entered, he felt a strange energy fluctuation in the courtyard, where scorching heat and icy cold intertwined.

Lin Hai landed soundlessly atop the courtyard wall and looked down.

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

A deep-red flame hovered before him, leaping restlessly and radiating a wild aura. It was none other than a Sixth-Rank Beast Fire! Yao Chen's soul form floated nearby, his expression grave as he instructed him, "Keep your mind steady! Guide it! Follow the Burning Decision's route!"

Xiao Yixian stood some distance away, the aura of a one-star Spirit Master faintly surrounding her. Her lovely face was full of tension and concern, her delicate fingers clenched tight as she stood ready to protect him. Yet much of her attention drifted, against her will, toward the blue-robed figure that had suddenly appeared atop the courtyard wall.

She started in surprise. But when she saw that it was Lin Hai, unconcealable joy and relief burst into her pale-violet eyes, followed at once by deep concern.

A year and a half! Ever since she had heard that he had been gravely injured and entered seclusion, her heart had been on edge. She had not even managed to see him before he went into seclusion.

Now that he had emerged, his complexion was still a little pale, but he moved as usual. Only then did some of her worry ease, leaving her gazing at him in silence.

Lin Hai gave her a slight nod to show that he was fine, then turned his attention back to Xiao Yan.

Just then, Xiao Yan hurriedly swallowed an icy Ice Spirit Pill and a Pulse-Protecting Pill, then clenched the ice pearl compressed from the Ice Spirit Cold Spring!

A powerful chill enveloped him in an instant, temporarily suppressing the Beast Fire's fury.

Seizing the opportunity, Xiao Yan rapidly changed his hand seals and growled, "Burning Decision, devour it for me!"

The Yellow Tier Low Grade Burning Decision technique surged into motion, producing a faint suction that strained to draw in the Sixth-Rank Beast Fire. The Beast Fire fought back fiercely, but with the help of the Ice Spirit Cold Spring and the pills, it was finally pulled into Xiao Yan's body, wisp by wisp!

The process was agonizing. Xiao Yan's body seemed to become a battlefield, caught between ice and fire. But his will was incredibly tenacious, and he endured it.

About an hour later, the Beast Fire was finally devoured completely. Xiao Yan's aura surged, then slowly settled.

He opened his eyes, a streak of crimson flame flashing through them. Feeling the strength that had grown within him, he broke into a delighted smile. "Teacher, I did it! I've reached the peak of two-star Spirit Practitioner! Burning Decision has also advanced to Yellow Tier Intermediate Grade!"

"Good! Well done, boy!" Yao Chen stroked his beard and laughed, filled with relief.

Only then did he, Xiao Yan, and Xiao Yixian notice Lin Hai atop the courtyard wall.

"Uncle!"

"Big Brother Lin!" Xiao Yixian exclaimed.

"Saint Venerable Lin? You're out of seclusion?!" Yao Chen asked, surprised and delighted. He hurried over, looking Lin Hai up and down. "Your injuries..."

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian also immediately gathered around, their eyes full of concern and questions.

Lin Hai smiled faintly and dropped down from the wall. "Nothing serious. I've recovered about fifty percent. The rest will take time. I can continue healing through quiet cultivation at night, and it won't interfere with my activities during the day."

At the mention of "fifty percent," Xiao Yixian's brows knitted slightly. Clearly, she felt his recovery was still too slow, and his injuries had been far worse than she had imagined. But seeing how calm he was, she didn't press him further. She only said softly, "Then... Big Brother Lin, you must get plenty of rest."

"Don't worry." Lin Hai gave her a reassuring look, then turned to Xiao Yan and nodded. "Not bad. Two-star Spirit Practitioner, and Burning Decision has advanced too. Looks like you haven't slacked off during the past year and a half."

Xiao Yan scratched his head and smiled. He had always felt deep gratitude and respect toward Lin Hai.

Lin Hai continued, his tone calm but leaving no room for argument. "I gave Yao Chen more than seven hundred Sixth-Rank Beast Fires earlier. Devour them all within six months. Given Burning Decision's nature, and with pills to help, the energy from seven hundred Sixth-Rank Beast Fires should be enough to support your breakthrough to Spirit Spirit."

Half a year, from Spirit Practitioner to Spirit Spirit! If anyone else had said it, Xiao Yan would have thought it pure fantasy. But hearing it from Lin Hai filled him with surging excitement.

"Yes, Uncle!" Xiao Yan nodded firmly.

"Once you've broken through to Spirit Spirit, prepare to devour Heavenly Flames," Lin Hai continued. "I'll find suitable Heavenly Flames for you. One year, three Heavenly Flames. The timing should be just right. By then, you can go to the Ancient Realm and marry Xiao Xun'er, fulfilling the Three-Year Agreement you made with Gu Yuan."

A year and a half to go from Spirit Practitioner to wielding Burning Decision after devouring three Heavenly Flames—the resulting level of strength was anyone's guess.

Xiao Yan felt a surge of heroic spirit shoot straight into the sky. He clenched his fists. "I, Xiao Yan, won't let you down, Uncle!"

"Mm. Focus on devouring Beast Fires during the day. At night, refine pills, temper your spiritual energy, and strengthen your soul. You must not slack off for even a single day," Lin Hai instructed.

"Yes!"

Having made arrangements for Xiao Yan, Lin Hai moved again. The next moment, he appeared in a secret chamber on the top floor of the Mittel Auction House.

Haibodong, who had been handling affairs, jolted in surprise. Sensing that familiar yet unfathomable aura, he immediately rose and bowed respectfully. "My lord! You've emerged from seclusion!"

"Mm." Lin Hai nodded slightly. "Haibodong, has the Haiye organization found any more news of Heavenly Flames during the past year and a half?"

Haibodong promptly replied, "My lord, I was just about to report it! A year ago, one of our members discovered traces of a Heavenly Flame in a remote valley deep in the eastern part of the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Judging by the description and energy signature, it's very likely the Mysterious Yellow Flame, ranked twenty-third on the Heavenly Flame Ranking! Its guardian beast is an Earth-Splitting Black Turtle, a Sixth-Rank Magical Beast. I wanted to inform you at once, but Young Master Xiao Yan said you were in seclusion to heal your injuries and forbade anyone from disturbing you, so I didn't dare report it."

"Mysterious Yellow Flame? Earth-Splitting Black Turtle?" A satisfied look flashed through Lin Hai's eyes. "Very good. The Haiye organization has found Heavenly Flames twice now. You've earned your reward. Issue the order: every official member of the Haiye organization gets one drop of Sixth-Rank Magical Beast blood essence. You get one drop of Eighth-Rank Magical Beast blood essence. That girl Yaoye gets a Sixth-Rank Magical Beast mount."

Haibodong was overjoyed. The Eighth-Rank Magical Beast blood essence in particular was a supreme treasure he had scarcely dared dream of! He bowed hurriedly. "Thank you for your generous reward, my lord! I thank you on behalf of all the members!"

"Mm. Just see that it's done." With that, Lin Hai's figure slowly faded from the chamber.

Haibodong bowed respectfully once more to the now-empty secret chamber, his face alight with excitement and awe.

Outside a secluded valley in the eastern part of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, space rippled faintly, and Lin Hai appeared without a sound.

His gaze swept toward the depths of the valley, where a flame aura as weighty and still as the earth emanated, along with the presence of a massive, ocher-colored turtle radiating the power of a Peak Sixth Tier.

"The Mysterious Yellow Flame will make a good foundation for Xiao Yan. And this Earth-Splitting Black Turtle has decent defenses. It'll make a suitable mount for Yaoye."

He took one step, and in the next instant appeared before the Earth-Splitting Black Turtle, which was as large as a small mountain. He released a fraction of his terrifying pressure, and the once-wary, irritable Sixth-Rank Magical Beast froze on the spot. Its enormous eyes were filled with fear and submission.

For Lin Hai, who had recovered fifty percent of his strength, claiming the Heavenly Flame and subduing the beast were no more than lifting a hand.

A moment later, Lin Hai held a ball of light with ocher flames dancing inside—the Mysterious Yellow Flame—while the Earth-Splitting Black Turtle lay trembling at his feet.

With a thought, he sent an order to the four Holy Spirit Magical Beasts far away in Wutan City.

"Divide the task among yourselves. Capture one Sixth-Rank Magical Beast of each of the eight attributes: metal, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, thunder, and ice. After that, go to the far north and bring back one Eighth-Rank Magical Beast with an ice attribute."

Four powerful consciousnesses responded respectfully. Then four ripples of invisible space spread silently from Wutan City toward every corner of the continent.

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