Spirit Clan Essence Blood

Inside a room at the inn.

Yao Yan was locked in a wide-eyed stare with the Little Greenwood Fox. He stared at it with a puzzled expression, his Soul Power scanning its body as he tried to discern what was special about the little creature. Unfortunately, he had already done this several times. It seemed to be nothing more than a Little Greenwood Fox with somewhat mutated fur. Other than that, there was nothing unusual within it; it was ordinary to an almost excessive degree.

Perhaps the Little Fox's most valuable features were the Rank 2 Magic Core in its head and that pleasantly soft pelt.

"Yip, yip~"

The Little Greenwood Fox drooped its pair of fox ears, its front paws neatly pressed together as it looked pitifully at Yao Yan, seemingly confused as to why he was being so fierce with it.

Could it have been an illusion?

Seeing this, Yao Yan could not help muttering inwardly. He always felt that there was something wrong with this Little Fox, yet he could not say what it was. After a moment, he could only compose himself and take out the Fragmented Map from his Storage Ring, then bring it closer to the Little Greenwood Fox.

"Whimper!"

The Little Greenwood Fox immediately lost its earlier pitiful expression. Its fur stood on end, its ears perked up, and it stared warily at the Fragmented Map, as though it contained something it feared greatly.

Yao Yan frowned when he saw this again. His Soul Power then settled onto the Fragmented Map, but even with his Soul Power, he could not detect anything special about it. He could not even sense the slightest trace of energy—not Dou Qi, not Soul Power, not even a wisp of Heaven and Earth Energy. It was simply an ancient, worn Fragmented Map.

"Little fellow, what is so special about this thing?"

Yao Yan looked at the Little Greenwood Fox and shook the Fragmented Map in his hand as he asked curiously, trying to see something from its reaction.

Yet the Little Greenwood Fox merely shook its head. It bared its teeth at the Fragmented Map and assumed a defensive stance, refusing to let Yao Yan approach it with the map.

This was rather interesting.

After studying it for a while.

Yao Yan truly could not find anything wrong, so he put the Fragmented Map back into a Storage Ring. However, he placed it in a different ring, rather than together with Hun Xuzi's communication jade token. He then took out the map he had purchased that day, intending to memorize some important geographical information. At the same time, he planned to determine the location of the Jia Ma Empire.

Using the Black-Corner Region's location as a reference, finding the Jia Ma Empire would not be difficult.

"Phew~"

Just then, a wisp of black flame emerged from Yao Yan's Storage Ring, immediately causing the Little Greenwood Fox's fur to stand on end. But as more black flame poured forth, the surrounding space instantly froze. The Little Greenwood Fox promptly wilted and, with a whoosh, darted beneath the bed, trembling violently.

Seeing this, Yao Yan immediately stopped studying the map. He did not hide anything, either, allowing the map to remain openly displayed before Hun Xuzi.

"Whoosh~"

Very soon, the black flames gathered into a human form. Hun Xuzi's translucent body, wreathed in black flames, resembled a ghost as he floated in the air. He glanced at the Little Greenwood Fox hiding beneath the bed before turning his gaze to Yao Yan. Frowning, he asked, "Has the Indestructible Diamond Body been cultivated to the first level?"

"The first level has been completed. I am currently cultivating the second level."

Yao Yan's expression did not change as he softly reported his progress.

Black flames flickered with crimson light in Hun Xuzi's eyes as he sized Yao Yan up. He slowly said, "Show me."

Yao Yan nodded and took a light breath. Then he clenched both fists. His Blood Qi boiled within him, and without using Dou Qi, his skin instantly turned bronze. An indestructible radiance flowed around his body, making his aura increasingly heavy and powerful, as though he possessed the strength of ten thousand jun.

"Not bad. It seems you have not slacked off these past two months."

Hun Xuzi nodded in satisfaction, the chill in his tone receding. He knew very well how difficult Body Refining Dou Skills were to cultivate. Even though Yao Yan had already devoured the Bloodline Power of someone from the Stone Clan, reaching the first level so quickly still required no small price.

Without anyone watching over him, Yao Yan had cultivated to the first level so quickly. Hun Xuzi was quite satisfied with such self-discipline.

He smiled and continued, "This little thing cannot be raised easily. Even if you truly wish to keep it, the resources it requires will be enormous and not worth the cost. If you truly want to raise a Magical Pet, I can find you a suitable Magical Beast cub in the future."

Yao Yan explained, "This disciple is only keeping it for amusement when I have nothing to do. Please do not blame me, Teacher."

Hun Xuzi did not continue dwelling on the Little Greenwood Fox. His gaze shifted to the maps on the table, especially the one concerning the Black-Corner Region. Raising his hand, he drew the map into his grasp. After glancing over it, his eyes flickered as he asked, "What, do you wish to leave the Shennong Mountain Range?"

"Cultivating in the Shennong Mountain Range all the time is somewhat dull. This disciple once heard of Jia Nan Academy in the Black-Corner Region while studying in the clan school, so I had some thoughts about it."

Yao Yan gave the excuse he had prepared long ago.

"Jia Nan Academy?" Hun Xuzi pondered for a moment before speaking. "That place does have a Fallen Heart Flame. Unfortunately, it has ties to the Lei Clan. Otherwise, it would have suited you quite well."

The Fallen Heart Flame's greatest ability was cultivating on its own and increasing its refiner's Cultivation Speed. However, Hun Xuzi considered that slight boost insignificant. It had some value, but only in the early stages. To true experts, it was as useless as chicken ribs. In the long run, its value was far inferior to that of a Void Swallowing Flame Sub-fire.

Yao Yan understood Hun Xuzi's meaning. If not for its connection to the Lei Clan, Hun Xuzi could have simply taken it by force.

Unfortunately.

Because of the Lei Clan, Hun Xuzi could not act so crudely. There was clearly no need to draw the Lei Clan's attention over a single Fallen Heart Flame. Moreover, Heavenly Flames were not particularly valuable to the Soul Clan. Void Swallowing Flame could produce Sub-fires in great quantities, and every Sub-fire was worth far more than an ordinary Heavenly Flame.

Furthermore, to a Dou Sheng, ordinary Heavenly Flames could not increase Combat Power, so naturally, the desire to obtain them was greatly diminished.

By comparison.

Soul Origin was far more tempting to the Soul Clan, especially the souls of powerful alchemists.

Hun Xuzi looked down at Yao Yan, black flames coiling in his eyes as he spoke in a low voice. "If you wish to go, you may. But before that, you must settle your affairs."

"...This disciple has naturally not forgotten the vengeance of my parents."

Yao Yan's face instantly turned cold. Clenching his fists, he spoke in a deep voice.

Hun Xuzi gave an eerie smile. "Heh. With your current strength, you are sufficient. I will arrange an opportunity for you to take revenge. At that time, you can leave the Yao Clan. Afterward, I will personally bring you back to the Soul Clan and help you awaken the Soul Clan bloodline within your body."

"Thank you, Teacher."

Yao Yan bowed in respect to Hun Xuzi and spoke with great solemnity.

Hun Xuzi raised a hand in a gesture of support, and an invisible force of Soul Power lifted Yao Yan up. He continued, "Why say such things? I am your teacher."

Yao Yan nodded without saying anything further.

"Enough of this. Come, look at the gift your teacher has brought you."

Hun Xuzi gave a sinister chuckle and used Void Swallowing Flame to distort space, taking out three drops of amber-like essence blood. He introduced them, saying, "These are Spirit Clan Dou Di Essence Blood. I originally intended to abduct a younger member of the Spirit Clan, but the Spirit Clan's talented juniors are too scarce. This generation does not even have a single clansman with a Rank 6 Bloodline, so I could only settle for the next best thing and refine a Spirit Clan Dou Zun. The energy within has already been devoured by Void Swallowing Flame, leaving behind only the purest Bloodline Power."

As he spoke, he pushed the three drops of essence blood toward Yao Yan, his eyes filled with a bit of fervor and anticipation.

Damn it, does this old bastard want me to devour the Dou Di bloodlines of every clan? Yao Yan's scalp went numb. He increasingly felt that his path had turned completely dark. Other than the Soul Clan, how could any of the other clans tolerate him in the future? This was an open scheme, leaving him with nowhere to go.

The Dou God Clans were each more domineering than the last. Without realizing it, he had already offended every Dou God Clan.

Clearly, Yao Yan had underestimated the situation.

Hun Xuzi continued, "No rush. We will take it slowly. In the future, there will also be the Bloodline Power of the major Magical Beast Clans..."

All alchemists had a bit of obsession and compulsiveness.

Hun Xuzi was naturally no exception. Since he had created Yao Yan, he naturally wanted to see where Yao Yan's limits lay. Perhaps Yao Yan could truly use this to break through to Dou Di. After all, Xiao Xuan had walked this same path back then and had even reached Half-Emperor through it. Yet that had only involved the Bloodline Power of the Xiao Clan, a single Dou God Clan.

Yao Yan fell completely silent.