Yao Chen's Shock (Part 2)

Yao Chen's Shock (Part 2)

After a flash of light, the ring trembled, but Yao Chen did not appear.

"Could it be that there isn't enough Dou Qi?" Chen Qiye thought for a moment and slowly poured Dou Qi into the ring. Before long, a faint white glow swirled around it, and a transparent phantom gradually floated out, aged and frail.

"Kid, who exactly are you? Why do you know I'm inside this ring?" Yao Chen frowned tightly, his deep gaze fixed on Chen Qiye.

He had been following Xiao Yan all along and could more or less sense what had happened to him. However, he had absorbed too little Dou Qi and could not manifest to speak with Xiao Yan, so he could only watch as Chen Qiye took the ring away.

"Who I am isn't important. What matters is whether you still want revenge."

Facing Yao Chen, Chen Qiye remained calm. With the Soul-Calming Card in hand, he had no fear of the former Dou Zun Yao Chen. His fingers lightly tapped against the tabletop. "A member of the Medicine Clan, one of the Eight Ancient Clans. Because your Dou Di bloodline was too thin, Yao Wan Gui expelled you from the Medicine Clan after you failed a mission."

"Who exactly are you?"

Yao Chen's expression gradually turned grave as he demanded an answer.

"Afterward, through your own efforts, you earned the title of the Central Plains' greatest alchemist, and your strength reached the peak of the Nine-Revolution Dou Zun realm." Chen Qiye completely ignored Yao Chen's questioning, rhythmically tapping the table as he continued. "Then? You loved freedom by nature and refused to attach yourself to any organization. Your superb alchemy skills drew the attention of the Hall of Souls. In the end, you were betrayed and sold out by Han Feng, the disciple you had raised since childhood, and perished. Fortunately, your powerful soul and the Bone Spirit Cold Flame preserved your soul, allowing you to slumber within this ring."

Ding! Emotion points from Yao Chen +800!

"Impossible! How could you know so much?"

As Chen Qiye recounted his story, Yao Chen's aged face first filled with deep astonishment, then utter shock. His eyes brimmed with disbelief as he blurted out, "You're not even twenty years old. Even someone from the Ancient Clan couldn't possibly know this much, unless... you're from the Hall of Souls!"

"The Hall of Souls? If I were one of them, would you still be here talking to me?"

Chen Qiye flicked his sleeve and rose to his feet. Turning his back to Yao Chen, he said, "My origins are not something you can possibly fathom!"

Could you possibly guess that I've read the entire Battle Through the Heavens?

As he spoke, Chen Qiye gradually released his Dou Qi, stopping at the level of a one-star Dou Ling.

"I never expected you to already be a Dou Ling at such a young age... It seems you truly are someone with a tremendous background." Yao Chen was, after all, a peak Nine-Revolution Dou Zun. Just as Chen Qiye had said, if he were from the Hall of Souls, Yao Chen could not possibly still be speaking with him in the Xiao Clan.

Once he understood this, he calmed himself and said, "To possess such strength at your age, even the prodigies of the Eight Ancient Clans would fall short. You truly have the qualifications to become my disciple and avenge me..."

"Become your disciple? Yao Chen, you think far too highly of yourself!"

Chen Qiye abruptly turned around, and his aura surged. His deep, star-like eyes locked onto Yao Chen's figure as his cold voice rang out. "Are you qualified to teach me?"

"Nine-star Dou Zong!"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

"Even if you possessed a Dou Di bloodline, it would be impossible!"

Yao Chen nearly popped his eyes out. He muttered in disbelief, as though plunged into a nightmare, while a world-shattering horror swept through his heart. A nine-star Dou Zong before the age of twenty... This, this is the bearing of a future Dou Di!

Ding! Emotion points from Yao Chen +1000!

Seeing Yao Chen's utterly stunned expression, Chen Qiye withdrew his aura and calmly said, "Yao Chen, although you are only a soul body, you still have a chance at resurrection. As long as you reconstruct a physical body, you can be reborn through it. In the future, it may not be impossible for you to advance even further."

At those words, Yao Chen could not calm down for a long time. Everything Chen Qiye had said was what he longed for.

After pondering for a long while, Yao Chen finally recovered from his shock. "I have to admit, you are indeed powerful—powerful enough to make me wary, even afraid. But even so, I, Yao Chen, will never hand over the Bone Spirit Cold Flame."

"The Bone Spirit Cold Flame?" Chen Qiye was taken aback. "When did I ever say I wanted your Bone Spirit Cold Flame?"

"Then you aren't after my Heavenly Flame?"

Yao Chen was completely stunned. "I don't believe I possess anything else worth coveting. Could it be that you went to such lengths to deceive Xiao Yan out of this ring just to intimidate me?"

You actually guessed right!

Chen Qiye flicked his finger and smiled lightly. "Yao Chen, do you think the Bone Spirit Cold Flame is even worth my attention? Forget the Bone Spirit Cold Flame—even if every Heavenly Flame in this world were placed before me, I wouldn't be interested."

"You should know that Xiao Yan has already acknowledged me as his master. You absorbed nearly three years' worth of my disciple's Dou Qi. Shouldn't you give me an explanation?"

As Chen Qiye spoke, coldness gradually gathered in his eyes. He looked at Yao Chen and said indifferently, "If not for the bond between you and my disciple, I would have directly annihilated your soul today. You should know that I have the ability to do so."

Hearing this, Yao Chen's body trembled slightly beyond his control. He was now only a soul body, and facing a nine-star Dou Zong, it would indeed be difficult for him to survive.

Yao Chen drew a deep breath. His great vengeance remained unavenged, and obsession bound his heart. Naturally, he was unwilling to vanish like this. "What explanation do you want?"

"The Flame Mantra." Chen Qiye softly uttered the two words.

"You even know about the Flame Mantra?"

The moment the words fell, Yao Chen froze on the spot. Terror instantly filled his aged face, and he could not help lowering his head to conceal his shock.

Seeing Yao Chen's petrified expression, Chen Qiye said lightly, "There is nothing I don't know. When you absorbed Xiao Yan's Dou Qi back then, it was merely because you had taken a liking to his talent and soul. You wanted to take him as your disciple, nurture him, and have him avenge you."

"That's right, I did have that intention. Unfortunately, you beat me to it." At this point, Yao Chen simply admitted it openly. "To tell you the truth, if Xiao Yan had become my disciple, I would have taught him the Flame Mantra and even passed on my alchemy skills..."

Chen Qiye smiled inwardly. He believed Yao Chen's words and shrugged. "In that case, we can make a deal."

"A deal?" Yao Chen was startled.

"Teach Xiao Yan both the Flame Mantra and alchemy." Chen Qiye smiled faintly. "In exchange, I will allow you to become Xiao Yan's alchemy teacher, kill Han Feng for you... and, at the appropriate time, help you reconstruct your body." These terms were simply impossible for Yao Chen to refuse.

To Chen Qiye's surprise, Yao Chen did not become excited. Instead, he calmed down and slowly said, "I accept your terms. I originally intended to nurture Xiao Yan anyway. I have to admit that Xiao Yan's talent and soul are both exceptional..."

He paused, then gave Chen Qiye a solemn look before continuing, "Though they still cannot compare with yours. Who exactly are you?"

"That's enough, Yao Chen. Since you have accepted the terms, the rest is not for you to ask about."

Chen Qiye waved his hand. "Tomorrow, I will leave for a while. During that time, I will entrust the safety of my two disciples to you. Consider it your explanation for absorbing Xiao Yan's Dou Qi for three years. How about it?"

"Fine, I accept!"

(End of chapter)