Ten Thousandfold Returns for Taking Disciples: Starting from Battle Through the Heavens

The owner of this storage ring was Yao Chen, and it bore Yao Chen's soul imprint. Yao Chen possessed a Heavenly Realm soul, so naturally, no one else could open the storage ring. That was why it had been treated as an ordinary ornament.

Shortly after Qin Hao poured his Dou Qi into the black ring, a considerable devouring force suddenly came from it and began actively consuming his Dou Qi.

Qin Hao did not pay much attention to it. After all, he was not Xiao Yan. He was now a one-star Dou Emperor, and because he cultivated the Chaotic Heaven-Devouring Art, the abundance and purity of the Dou Qi within him far surpassed those of ordinary Dou Emperor experts.

At the same time, Qin Hao's Double Pupils remained constantly focused on Yao Chen's condition within the storage ring.

After barely a dozen breaths, Qin Hao directly cut off the supply of Dou Qi. He had discovered that Yao Chen's soul had now awakened. Though it was still extremely weak, Yao Chen was already capable of communicating normally.

"Is Your Excellency still not coming out? Must I invite you out myself?"

Qin Hao's gaze fell upon the black ring as he spoke calmly.

Upon hearing Qin Hao's words, Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan, standing beside him, both fixed their eyes tightly on the black ring, anxiety appearing on their faces.

Although Qin Hao had assured them, this was their first time encountering such a thing, and they could not help feeling nervous.

Buzz!

As soon as Qin Hao finished speaking, a dim glow radiated from the black ring. Immediately afterward, an illusory, nearly transparent figure slowly rose from it and finally appeared before them.

"A one-star Dou Emperor, with a soul at the middle stage of the Spirit Realm! No wonder you were able to discover my existence!"

After sweeping his gaze across everyone present, the phantom finally fixed his eyes on Qin Hao and could not help speaking, his tone carrying a trace of astonishment.

Revealing His Identity! Everyone's Shock!

"One-star Dou Emperor!"

Upon hearing those words, Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan were both utterly shocked.

They did not understand what a Spirit Realm soul meant, but they knew exactly what a one-star Dou Emperor represented.

Previously, all they knew of Qin Hao was that he was an elder of Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy and a sixth-tier alchemist.

As for his cultivation, they had guessed that Qin Hao was not weak, but they had no clear understanding of just how powerful he was.

Now, they finally knew. They had never expected Qin Hao to reach the terrifying Dou Emperor realm at such a young age. He was far stronger than they had imagined.

"Your Excellency has absorbed my disciple's Dou Qi for over a year. Shouldn't you give us an explanation?"

Qin Hao spoke.

"Uh..."

Sure enough, when Qin Hao brought this up, an awkward expression appeared on Yao Chen's face.

He had previously been in a half-dormant state. Now that he had awakened, he naturally knew what he had done before.

If it had been in the past, compensating Xiao Yan would have been effortless given his status. But things were different now. Xiao Yan had already taken Qin Hao as his master.

Although Yao Chen did not know Qin Hao's identity, someone who had reached such cultivation at such a young age and possessed such a powerful soul realm clearly had an extraordinary background.

Most importantly, his current condition was poor. His soul origin had been severely depleted, and his strength was not even one percent of what it had been at his peak. His life and death could be said to rest entirely on Qin Hao's whim.

"Well... I did not do it intentionally. I am willing to compensate this young friend for the losses I caused. I have a high-grade Xuan-class cultivation method here, the Scarlet Sun True Formula, which is highly suitable for this young friend to cultivate!"

Yao Chen said.

"A high-grade Xuan-class cultivation method!"

Upon hearing the grade of the cultivation method, Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan were both greatly shaken. After all, the highest-grade cultivation method in the Xiao Clan was only a wind-attributed Mad Lion Fury.

However, neither of them spoke at that moment. Instead, they turned their gazes toward Qin Hao. Their meaning could not have been clearer: Qin Hao would decide everything.

"A high-grade Xuan-class cultivation method? Heh, are you trying to fob us off like beggars? The dignified Venerable Yao is offering a Xuan-class cultivation method as compensation. If word got out, wouldn't that damage your reputation a little too much?"

Qin Hao said lightly.

"What!? Who are you!? How do you..."

Yao Chen's expression changed drastically when Qin Hao exposed his identity in a single breath. A powerful aura immediately rose from him, and he was clearly prepared to fight for his life at any moment, even though he knew that his current state was no match for Qin Hao.

"I did not know at first. But just now, I sensed a trace of a Heavenly Flame's aura from this ring—and one with an icy attribute at that. Among Heavenly Flames of that attribute, only the legendary Bone Chilling Flame fits.

Everyone on the continent knows that the Bone Chilling Flame is in Venerable Yao's possession. Moreover, Your Excellency saw through my soul realm at a glance, which means your soul must be at least at the late stage of the Spirit Realm, or perhaps even the Heavenly Realm.

Combined with the fact that Venerable Yao suddenly disappeared decades ago... I wonder whether Venerable Yao is satisfied with this explanation?"

Qin Hao said calmly.

"Venerable Yao!"

The expressions on Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan's faces became even more shocked. They had never heard of Venerable Yao and naturally did not know who he was, but they understood what the title "Venerable" meant.

Only Dou Zun-level existences could be addressed as Venerables. In other words, the soul before them was actually a legendary Venerable-level existence.

The strongest person in Wutan City was only a Da Dou Shi. Even in the entire Jia Ma Empire, the strongest were merely Dou Emperors; there was not even a single Dou Zong, much less a Dou Zun above them.

"So that was it. I see..."

After hearing Qin Hao's explanation, a look of realization appeared on Yao Chen's face.

"Enough. Tell me, what exactly do you want?"

Yao Chen's voice sounded once more.

"It is simple. I want to make a deal with Venerable Yao."

Qin Hao said directly.

"A deal? What deal?"

Yao Chen frowned and spoke.

"First, let me introduce myself. My name is Qin Hao. I am from Jia Nan Academy and am an elder of Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy. I am also a peak sixth-tier alchemist!"

Qin Hao said.

"Jia Nan Academy? A peak sixth-tier alchemist? I never expected Your Excellency's alchemy skills to reach such a level at such an age!"

When he heard that Qin Hao's alchemy had reached the peak of the sixth tier, surprise flashed through Yao Chen's eyes. However, he soon accepted it. After all, he knew Qin Hao's soul had reached the middle stage of the Spirit Realm.

As a peak eighth-tier alchemist, he understood perfectly how important one's soul realm was to an alchemist.

"What exactly are you trying to say? Speak plainly. Do not beat around the bush!"

Yao Chen spoke again.

"Very well. Since that is the case, I will get straight to the point. Near Canaan City, there is a city called Maple City. Its leader is also a sixth-tier alchemist and has a resounding title in the Black-Corner Region: the Medicine Emperor.

And the name of this Medicine Emperor is... Han Feng! Does Venerable Yao find this information interesting?"

Qin Hao said.

"What!? Han Feng!"

Upon hearing that name, Yao Chen, who had remained calm until then, completely changed expression. Fire seemed to blaze in his eyes, and endless, monstrous hatred burst forth from their depths, as though he wished to devour Han Feng alive.

"Just as I thought. It seems Venerable Yao's fall into his current circumstances is inseparable from your fine eldest disciple. I can help you capture him and hand him over to you for personal disposal!"

Qin Hao said.

"Is what you say true!? But Your Excellency is only a one-star Dou Emperor. After all these years, that traitorous disciple of mine must be a peak Dou Emperor even if he has not reached the Dou Zong realm. Are you certain you can do it?"

Yao Chen's eyes abruptly lit up at Qin Hao's words. Then, as though he had remembered something, he spoke again.

"Venerable Yao is correct. Han Feng is indeed a peak Dou Emperor. But he is merely a peak Dou Emperor—he cannot stop me. Since I dare say it, I naturally have the confidence!

And beyond that, I can promise that I will revive you and restore you to life within three years!"

Qin Hao dropped another bombshell.

"What!? Revival!?"

At those words, Yao Chen, Xiao Zhan, and Xiao Yan were all stunned. Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan in particular found it utterly fantastical, far beyond anything they could comprehend.

As for Yao Chen, he quickly calmed down after his initial shock. His knowledge was clearly far broader than Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan's.

"Your Excellency knows a method of revival?"

Yao Chen could not help asking.

"Of course. I once saw it in an ancient tome. To revive someone, four primary conditions are required: the corpse of a powerful expert, a seventh-tier medicinal pill called the Life Bone Melting Blood Pill, the essence blood of a high-tier magical beast, and most importantly, three kinds of Heavenly Flames!"

Qin Hao said.

Yao Chen's pupils suddenly contracted after hearing Qin Hao's words. If he had initially harbored some doubts about Qin Hao's claim of revival, those doubts were now completely gone.

That was because what Qin Hao said matched what he knew exactly.

"I see. But I am very curious—how does Your Excellency intend to resolve the issue of three Heavenly Flames? Heavenly Flames are wonders born of heaven and earth, not something easily obtained. Moreover, under normal circumstances, a person can possess only one Heavenly Flame!"

Yao Chen spoke again.

"Heh, three Heavenly Flames? That is simple!"

With a thought from Qin Hao, a blue and a purple Heavenly Flame materialized out of thin air before him. They were precisely the Green Lotus Core Flame and the Netherworld Poison Flame that Qin Hao had obtained.

"These are... the Green Lotus Core Flame and... the Netherworld Poison Flame!? You actually found two Heavenly Flames!?"

Yao Chen recognized the two Heavenly Flames at a glance, and the expression on his face was truly spectacular.

Though these two Heavenly Flames ranked below his Bone Chilling Flame, they were not something just anyone could obtain. Back when he had acquired the Bone Chilling Flame, he had nearly lost half his life in the process.

"That is right. They are the Green Lotus Core Flame and the Netherworld Poison Flame. Together with the Bone Chilling Flame in your possession, that makes three. And if that is still not enough, as far as I know, the Sea Heart Flame, ranked fifteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, is in Han Feng's hands.

Once Han Feng is captured, there will naturally be another Heavenly Flame!"

Qin Hao said with a relaxed expression.

"As for how to merge Heavenly Flames, Venerable Yao, why pretend not to know?"

Qin Hao continued, an inexplicable look flashing through his eyes as he looked at Yao Chen.

"Hm? What do you mean by that?"

Yao Chen's heart immediately tightened upon hearing Qin Hao's words, though he feigned confusion.

"Heh, as far as I know, Han Feng is currently searching everywhere in secret for information on Heavenly Flames. He already possesses the Sea Heart Flame, so why do you think he remains so obsessed with Heavenly Flames?

Could it be that he has some way of merging Heavenly Flames? Furthermore, I learned from that ancient tome that there was once a special cultivation method in ancient times capable of merging Heavenly Flames.

According to the clues left in that ancient tome, it should have been located in some ruins. Unfortunately, those ruins had already been visited, and according to the information I obtained, Venerable Yao seemed to be among those who visited them!

Do you still need me to continue?"