A Mad Experiment

After dividing up the herbs, Chu Qun hesitated for a while before finally asking cautiously, "Brother Xiao Yan, there is still something I don't understand. How did you know there was a teleportation light screen at the bottom of the pool?"

After speaking, Chu Qun immediately added, afraid that his question might have been inappropriate, "If it involves your privacy, just pretend I never asked."

Xiao Yan frowned deeply and recounted in detail to Chu Qun and Yang Lingyan how that voice had suddenly appeared in his mind and guided him.

"I wonder whether anything like this has ever happened in the Ten Thousand Beasts Space before."

Chu Qun was equally astonished by Xiao Yan's explanation. If Xiao Yan had not looked so serious, he might even have thought it was a joke.

Hearing Xiao Yan's question, Chu Qun shook his head firmly. "Impossible. If something like this had happened before, the elders in the tower would certainly have warned us about it."

Chu Qun then looked at Yang Lingyan. Yang Lingyan shrugged and spread his hands, indicating that this was also the first time he had heard of such a thing.

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose. No matter how hard he thought, he could not guess the source of the voice. The only possible person was Yao Lao, but because of the Ten Thousand Beasts Space's special nature, Yao Lao could not communicate with him at all. Besides, Xiao Yan was far too familiar with Yao Lao's presence. That definitely had not been Yao Lao.

In the end, Xiao Yan could only shake his head helplessly. The voice had not appeared again, which meant it could not show up whenever it pleased. Moreover, without its guidance, he truly might have died at the hands of the Green-Eyed Nightmare Toad. One thing was certain: that voice probably bore him no ill will. Still, Xiao Yan always felt there was something familiar about it.

I'll ask Teacher after we leave the Ten Thousand Beasts Space, Xiao Yan thought.

"Then do you have any plans next, Brother Xiao Yan?" Chu Qun asked with a smile.

Now that they were out of danger, Xiao Yan had to admit that Chu Qun was indeed an exceptionally handsome man. Paired with his mannerisms, he easily made people feel favorably toward him.

"What else could there be? Hunting magical beasts and fighting for a spot on the rankings."

Xiao Yan pointed at the ranking list in the sky. In less than a day, he had already dropped from third place to fourth. Competition on the rankings was exceptionally fierce.

Chu Qun then smiled. "It's already the eighth day. Don't you want to go take a look at the Small Market?"

Xiao Yan froze and asked instinctively, "What market could there possibly be in the Ten Thousand Beasts Space?"

Yang Lingyan and Chu Qun exchanged a glance, clearly not expecting Xiao Yan to know nothing about it. Yang Lingyan said apologetically, "Perhaps Father left it out when he introduced the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly to you. In the Ten Thousand Beasts Space, every ten days, markets are set up at several important locations for people to trade what they have for what they need. These markets are organized by those who enter the Ten Thousand Beasts Space. Since they are only for people like us to exchange goods, they are called 'Small Markets.'"

After hearing that, Xiao Yan became somewhat interested. After all, there were quite a few good things in the Ten Thousand Beasts Space. Many cultivators from small clans or humble backgrounds had no way to make use of them and would surely trade them for what they needed. The chances of finding a bargain were not small.

"But the Ten Thousand Beasts Space is so vast. How would we know where it's being held?"

Chu Qun immediately explained, "The Ten Thousand Beasts Space has many distinctive locations, such as Red Maple Forest and Ice Spring Gorge. Small Markets are generally held in places like those. Anyone who has passed through them will remember their directions. There are still two days left. We may not know the exact location right now, but if we're lucky, we might be able to find one."

Xiao Yan nodded. "Then this Small Market is indeed worth visiting!" After all, Xiao Yan himself had quite a few herbs, and he had always been interested in trading. It was just a pity that he could not contact Yao Lao. Otherwise, he might have had a chance to pick up some overlooked treasures.

Hearing Xiao Yan's reply, Chu Qun went along with it. "Then how about we travel together while there's still time?"

Xiao Yan and Yang Lingyan both nodded. Although gathering together would indeed lower their efficiency considerably, Chu Qun was not weak. With the three of them working together, they could accomplish things that one person ordinarily could not.

Having made up their minds, the three began recovering where they stood. Xiao Yan's body had been tempered through absorbing the Crimson Lotus Karma Flame and was much stronger than that of an ordinary Dou Emperor, so he was the first to finish cultivating.

Xiao Yan began reviewing their earlier battle in his mind. The only part of the battle against the Green-Eyed Nightmare Toad that had exceeded his control was the final massive explosion. He had clearly sensed the terrifying energy that had come from the Green-Eyed Nightmare Toad's mouth at the end. If he had faced it head-on, he would probably have been injured.

Why such an accident had occurred was something Xiao Yan had never figured out.

"I've used the Emperor Seal Art before. Could it be..."

As he spoke, Xiao Yan inspected his dantian. At its center hovered an exquisite blood-red lotus. As it slowly turned, waves of energy surged through Xiao Yan's body. It was precisely Xiao Yan's source Heavenly Flame—the Crimson Lotus Karma Flame!

Xiao Yan had personally seen most of the fire waves formed by the Crimson Lotus Karma Flame swallowed into the Green-Eyed Nightmare Toad's belly. Afterward, he discovered that the Crimson Lotus Karma Flame had no effect and switched to the Bone Chilling Flame. Then the Bone Chilling Flame had also been swallowed by the Green-Eyed Nightmare Toad.

As if struck by sudden enlightenment, Xiao Yan darted into the distance. He stopped in an open area, far away from Chu Qun and Yang Lingyan, who were still recovering.

Xiao Yan stretched out both hands. One held a blood-red flame, while the other held a ghostly white flame.

The Bone Chilling Flame had not yet been absorbed by Xiao Yan. Yao Lao had merely granted him the ability to use it. Yet at this moment, Xiao Yan felt the Dou Qi within him begin to churn violently. Every Heavenly Flame was an object of utmost yang and strength in the world. Bringing them together was like making one volcano collide with another. Thus, it was an iron law that a person could only absorb one Heavenly Flame in their lifetime. Being able to absorb multiple Heavenly Flames at once was the heaven-defying aspect of the Flame Mantra.

Looking at the two Heavenly Flames before him, a mad idea surged into Xiao Yan's mind. Although his reason repeatedly warned him, it could not suppress the burning fervor in his heart. After confirming his distance from Yang Lingyan and Chu Qun, Xiao Yan began his mad experiment.

Xiao Yan cautiously moved the two different Heavenly Flames in his hands closer together. Yet merely bringing them closer made him feel the surrounding space beginning to shatter under the terrifying heat of the Heavenly Flames. The flames also became increasingly violent, like two enormous volcanoes on the verge of eruption.

As the two Heavenly Flames gradually drew nearer, the Dou Qi throughout the area began to grow chaotic. Xiao Yan felt that the two flames had reached the brink of exploding. Their repulsion had reached its peak, and they could not merge even a fraction further.

Xiao Yan's eyes filled with disappointment. "So it still won't work?"

He could already sense that the two clusters of Heavenly Flame in his hands were about to explode. Even the flames leaking out could easily break through his protective aura. Every sign warned him that he could not continue. Xiao Yan's idea might have been mad, but he was not trying to kill himself. In the end, he decided to withdraw his strength.

At the instant before Xiao Yan withdrew his strength, he felt the power of the Flame Mantra suddenly soothe the two volcano-like masses of energy. The fusion began to proceed smoothly and fluidly.

At last, the two flames gradually squirmed together. Under Xiao Yan's feverish gaze, they transformed into a palm-sized flame lotus, blood-red with ghostly white hues.

When the Fire Lotus emerged, all living beings retreated!