Sky Fire Venerable's Complete Submission, Zi Yan's Advancement

Before he could rejoice, Tang Chen suddenly felt discomfort throughout his body.

After sensing it carefully, he found that the unrefined power of lightning was causing trouble.

Tang Chen did not hesitate. After putting away the pill, he sat cross-legged and began circulating his cultivation technique to refine the lightning power within his body.

Lightning tempered both body and soul with remarkable results. Tang Chen's physique and soul gradually grew stronger beneath the lightning's refinement.

Three days later, Tang Chen had completely refined the lightning power within his body. The Origin Flame had grown even stronger, and his overall strength had improved significantly.

Among these improvements, the fastest was to Tang Chen's physique. After being tempered by lightning, it had already far surpassed those of the same realm, its toughness nearly comparable to the bodies of five- or six-star Dou Zong magical beasts.

"Phew. This was quite an improvement. It seems I can refine more eighth-tier pills in the future." Tang Chen let out a breath, a faint smile appearing on his face.

After being excited for a while, Tang Chen calmed down. With a swipe over his Storage Ring, a jade bottle appeared in his hand.

Tang Chen then pulled out the stopper sealing the bottle.

A flash of white light passed by as a wisp of white mist emerged from the jade bottle. It gradually gathered together, forming the illusory figure of an old man.

At this moment, Sky Fire Venerable's soul was already extremely weak. His soul flickered on and off, as though he would completely disappear before long.

Yao Tianhuo looked around at his surroundings. When his gaze swept over Tang Chen, his expression suddenly became respectful. He bowed to Tang Chen and said, "I am Yao Tianhuo. Greetings, my lord."

Tang Chen stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent as he looked at Yao Tianhuo. "Yao Tianhuo, I want you to acknowledge me as your master. Are you willing?"

"I am willing. I am willing to serve you as my master for the rest of my life." Without even thinking, Yao Tianhuo knelt and pledged his loyalty. He had no choice; his current condition was far too dire. If he wanted to live, this was the only path available.

"Open your mind and do not resist!" Tang Chen said as his soul force surged from his body and rushed directly toward Yao Tianhuo.

Upon hearing this, Yao Tianhuo understood what Tang Chen intended to do. A trace of helplessness crossed his face, while struggle flashed through his eyes.

In merely an instant, he came to terms with it. He obediently closed his eyes and allowed Tang Chen to plant a mark within his soul.

"Rest assured, as long as you do not betray me, this mark will never be used for the rest of your life." Tang Chen's expression did not change as he looked at Yao Tianhuo's appearance and spoke in a deep voice.

To make Yao Tianhuo work earnestly, Tang Chen also gave him a promise. "If your future performance satisfies me, then when the time is right, I will personally remove the mark and grant you freedom."

"Thank you, my lord!" Yao Tianhuo was immediately delighted and thanked him repeatedly. Though he did not know whether Tang Chen's words were true, they at least gave Yao Tianhuo something to hope for.

"Refine this here. Once your soul recovers, I will forge you a new body and help you revive."

After saying that, Tang Chen tossed Yao Tianhuo a jade bottle and left the place where he had been in seclusion.

Hearing this, Yao Tianhuo held the pill in his hand, excitement flickering in his aged eyes.

He felt incomparably fortunate that he had made the right choice.

The moment Tang Chen left his place of seclusion, Lu Yan sensed his aura.

Lu Yan hurriedly came before Tang Chen to pay her respects.

"Take this and refine it. It can increase your lifespan, heal the hidden injuries in your body, and breaking through to three stars should not be a problem." Tang Chen tossed Lu Yan a box and spoke in a calm tone.

Lu Yan respectfully accepted the box with both hands. Looking at the pill inside, her eyes reddened and her entire body trembled. Even the excitement on her wrinkled old face could not be concealed.

Finally, Lu Yan knelt before Tang Chen in gratitude. "Thank you, my lord, for granting me a new life! This life of Lu Yan's belongs only to you!"

"Go refine and absorb it quickly." Tang Chen's expression did not change much. He merely waved his hand, telling Lu Yan to hurry and absorb it.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yan respectfully bowed, then took the pill away to find a place to refine it.

"Stinky Tang Chen, you finally came out of seclusion!"

As soon as Lu Yan left, a childish voice rang out.

Tang Chen turned around and saw that Zi Yan and Qing Lin had already arrived before him.

Zi Yan still looked like a little girl, while Qing Lin had grown much taller and was already a head taller than Zi Yan.

The two held hands, clearly sharing a very close relationship.

"Hurry and give me more pills! You left too few last time; there weren't nearly enough to eat!" Zi Yan ran over, puffing out her cheeks as she directly held out her little hand toward Tang Chen.

"I remember leaving you enough for half a year! How long has it been? You've already eaten them all?" Tang Chen's face was filled with disbelief.

"Well, I didn't expect it either. Just give me a little more." Zi Yan was somewhat embarrassed, her gaze shifting away, but her little hand remained outstretched.

Seeing this, Qing Lin could not help covering her mouth and laughing softly.

"Fine. Being able to eat is a blessing." Tang Chen shook his head and took out many more pills from his Storage Ring, handing them to Zi Yan.

"Of course it is. Let me tell you, my strength is already at the peak of the Dou Wang realm." Zi Yan accepted the pills, lifted her chin, and deliberately released her aura.

"Not bad." Tang Chen patted Zi Yan's head encouragingly.

"Oh, right. Take this. After you eat it, you should be able to grow up and freely take human form." Tang Chen handed a jade bottle to Zi Yan.

"That's wonderful! Stinky Tang Chen... no! Good Tang Chen! Thank you so much!" Zi Yan accepted the jade bottle, her little face filled with excitement.

Seeing Zi Yan acting so comically, Tang Chen could not help laughing as well.

"Come on. I'll watch you refine it in person."

As he spoke, Tang Chen led the two of them to a secluded area of Heavenly Snake Mansion filled with abundant energy.

Zi Yan poured out the pill from the jade bottle. Smelling its fragrance, drool unconsciously trickled from the corner of her mouth. Then she directly swallowed it.

The moment the pill entered her stomach, Zi Yan's face gradually flushed red, and her body became as hot as a furnace.

"Stinky Tang Chen... you... what did you put in the pill? I feel so hot all over." Zi Yan looked dazed, and her eyes gradually became unfocused.

Upon hearing this, Tang Chen's face immediately darkened. Where had Zi Yan learned such lines?

Zi Yan's change greatly alarmed Qing Lin beside her. She hurriedly asked Tang Chen, "Young Master, what is wrong with Zi Yan?"

"Don't worry. Zi Yan is about to break through and advance." Tang Chen could sense that Zi Yan's realm had begun to loosen after the pill entered her stomach. She was clearly about to break through to the Dou Emperor realm.

After all, it was an eighth-tier pill. Its medicinal power was enough for Zi Yan to break through to Dou Emperor. Once she completely refined its medicinal power, she might even reach Dou Zong.

After a bout of dizziness, Zi Yan fell asleep. As she slept, dense purple light poured out from her body, eventually forming a purple cocoon more than a zhang wide that completely enveloped her.

Zi Yan's advancement had begun.