Origin-Returning Soul-Raising Pill, Blazing Flame Sect Surrenders!

"Second Young Master, this old man has a request. I beg you to grant it."

He lowered his head to look at Ma Jinyan beside him, who stood with his head bowed in silence, his eyes filled with bleakness. The grief in his heart deepened, and his voice grew hoarser.

"My son, Jin Yan, possesses exceptional talent and a kind heart. He was meant to be the finest successor of the next generation of the Blazing Flame Sect. Given time, he would surely have shouldered the sect's great cause. But now, his martial soul has shattered, his cultivation has been completely destroyed, and he has become an ordinary man."

"Though the Blazing Flame Sect appears to retain its foundation, undercurrents have long surged beneath the surface. The internal factions are tangled and complex, and many elders each harbor their own ambitions. While this old man was still here, I could barely suppress the unrest and stabilize the sect. But I have been poisoned by a strange toxin, my origin is exhausted, and my lifespan is nearly at its end. I know my time is short. I cannot hold on much longer."

As soon as those words were spoken, the bodies of several elders trembled, and tears instantly welled up in their eyes. Their hearts were filled with sorrow.

They had long noticed that the Sect Master's health had deteriorated terribly, but they had never heard him speak so plainly of life and death. Hearing it now, every one of them felt as though their hearts were being cut apart.

Ma Mingshan forcefully suppressed the grief in his heart and continued in a deep voice.

"Once I die, the leaderless Blazing Flame Sect will inevitably collapse from within and fall apart. By then, all sides will be watching like tigers, ambitions within the sect will grow unchecked, and conflict will erupt everywhere.

"Jin Yan is now crippled, without Soul Power to rely on or cultivation to protect him. If he remains in the Blazing Flame Sect, not only will he be unable to gain a foothold, he will become a pawn for every faction to manipulate and scheme against. He may even invite a fatal calamity and ultimately die a miserable death."

He understood the malice in people's hearts within the sect all too well, and he understood the cruelty of this world of Soul Masters all too well.

Without cultivation or strength, one was guilty by default. Before endless ambition and conflicts of interest, so-called father-son affection, a Sect Master's favor, and the bond between master and disciple were utterly fragile.

"Jin Yan will be following you from now on. I beg you to take good care of him." Ma Mingshan raised his head, his gaze earnest and his tone incomparably solemn, almost pleading.

"From this day onward, his life, death, and future shall be yours to decide, Young Master. I do not ask for him to bring glory to the family, nor do I ask for him to revive the Blazing Flame Sect. I only ask that he may live safely and meet a good end."

After those words fell, the main hall sank into dead silence.

Several elders' eyes were red as they lowered their heads. No one spoke, their hearts full of grief with nowhere to vent it.

The once-dignified Young Sect Master of the Blazing Flame Sect, the future helmsman of the sect, was now being personally entrusted to an outsider by his own father, merely in hopes of securing a path to survival. How tragic. How desolate.

Father and son looked into each other's tearful eyes. Endless bitterness and sorrow filled every corner of the hall, leaving the elders' hearts aching as they could not bear to watch.

Ma Mingshan took a deep breath and suppressed the surging emotions in his heart. He slowly continued explaining everything he had long arranged, his tone calm as though he were making final arrangements.

"This old man foresaw today's situation long ago. Several months ago, I secretly finished inventorying and dividing all the Blazing Flame Sect's resources, assets, treasures, and soul tool reserves."

"One portion of the resources will be distributed among the sect's ordinary disciples after my death. They have followed the Blazing Flame Sect for many years, fulfilled their duties faithfully, and remained utterly loyal. Yet the sect has suffered constant strife for years. They have never enjoyed much blessing from it, and instead have repeatedly been placed in danger.

"These resources shall be compensation owed to them by this old man, and by the Blazing Flame Sect. They will be enough for them to leave the sect afterward, settle down and build lives of their own, live peacefully, or band together and establish themselves in the world."

"Cough, cough... Another portion of the precious treasures and resources has already been sent to the Battle Soul Sect and the Undying Sect. The Blazing Flame Sect stands alongside those two sects as one of the Earth Three Sects, and we have maintained friendship and an alliance for generations. With this favor and these generous gifts, the two sects will surely honor their promises.

"After this old man dies, they will look after the remaining disciples of the Blazing Flame Sect, ensuring they can disperse safely without being hunted down and slaughtered by other forces, or bullied and manipulated by evil people."

Every word was the product of careful consideration, every step calculated for the sake of the sect's disciples and his own son.

He had long ceased to fear life and death. The only things he could not let go of were the disciples who had followed him for years, the sect he had protected all his life, and his only son.

He had poured the last of his life's effort into arranging every possible path forward, asking only that after his death, the Blazing Flame Sect's disciples might survive in peace and his son might stay far from conflict and preserve his life.

Such broad-mindedness and responsibility brought tears to the eyes of every elder present. Respect and grief intertwined in their hearts, beyond the power of words to describe.

Qian Xunzong, who had been standing quietly to one side, took all of this in. A faint sigh arose in his heart as well.

Ma Mingshan truly was a worthy and competent Sect Master. He had led the Blazing Flame Sect for decades, cared for all living beings, sympathized with his disciples, valued sentiment and righteousness, and possessed great vision.

Before death, he did not cling to power or hoard treasures. His heart was devoted solely to finding a way for his disciples to live and a path for his son to survive. He gave everything he had and settled every last matter.

Of course, the sincerity and sorrow in Ma Mingshan's words were real, as were the helplessness and resolve in his heart. But Qian Xunzong did not simply accept his words at face value.

Before entering the Blazing Flame Sect, the Embroidered Uniform Guard under his command had already secretly investigated every detail of the sect. Ma Mingshan's physical condition, the sect's internal dangers, and all his arrangements and considerations had long been reported layer by layer with perfect clarity. Everything before him matched the intelligence gathered by the Embroidered Uniform Guard exactly, without the slightest falsehood.

Looking at the Blazing Flame Sect, which stood on the brink of collapse yet still retained its foundation; looking at these sect disciples, sincere and unwavering in their loyalty; looking at the Ma father and son, cornered and filled with despair, a thought quietly emerged in Qian Xunzong's heart.

He was now preparing to forge a top-tier force of his own, establish himself on the continent, and ascend to the pinnacle. What he lacked most were sect foundations with deep reserves and Soul Masters of unyielding character.

As one of the Earth Three Sects, the Blazing Flame Sect had a thousand-year inheritance and profound foundations. It possessed countless disciples, produced experts in abundance, and its fire-attributed Soul Masters possessed formidable combat strength. It had always been renowned throughout the continent's Soul Master world.

If he could subdue the Blazing Flame Sect in its entirety and bring it beneath his command, the foundation of his own force would undoubtedly soar. He would gain a group of loyal, useful personnel with top-tier combat strength.

This was an extraordinary opportunity that promised profit without loss.

Having made up his mind, Qian Xunzong no longer remained silent. He slowly stepped forward, and his cool voice rang through the deathly silent hall, unhurried yet carrying a force that pierced the heart.

"Sect Master Ma's painstaking care for his disciples and deep love for his son are truly admirable."

At his words, everyone instantly raised their eyes, their gazes converging on him as they waited for what he would say next.

Qian Xunzong raised his hand, and a pill gradually appeared in his palm, lustrous throughout and flowing with radiant light.

The pill was round and full, surrounded by a faint seven-colored halo. Threads of pure medicinal power slowly seeped from it and drifted through the hall, instantly cleansing the oppressive, sorrowful air within. A dense power of life origin and restoration washed over everyone, warming both body and soul.

"This pill is called the Origin-Returning Soul-Raising Pill."

Qian Xunzong's voice was calm, but every word struck like thunder.

"It is a supreme divine pill, its effects defying heaven. It can repair all injuries to martial soul origin, damaged foundations, and severed Soul Power. No matter how completely a martial soul has shattered, how severely one's foundation has been damaged, or how terrifying the poison, it can restore everything, eradicate all hidden ailments, and return one's cultivation to its peak—perhaps even beyond its former height."

As his words fell, the pupils of everyone in the hall abruptly contracted. Their breathing stopped, and their faces were filled with incredulous shock.

Repair a shattered martial soul and rebuild a Soul Master's foundation?

A martial soul was the foundation of a Soul Master. Once it shattered, it signified a Soul Master's dead end—an iron law acknowledged across the continent. Since ancient times, countless gifted Soul Masters had become crippled for life after their martial souls were damaged and their foundations shattered, with no possibility of turning things around. Yet this pill before them could actually defy fate and repair injuries to martial soul origin!

This was no longer some miraculous medicine. It was a divine treasure capable of changing one's fate against heaven!

Ma Jinyan's body shook violently. The deathly grayness in his eyes was instantly lit by a faint glimmer as he stared in disbelief at the pill in Qian Xunzong's palm. Turbulent waves rose in his heart.

Ma Mingshan's pupils also contracted. His frail body tensed slightly, his eyes filled with shock and emotion.

Qian Xunzong's gaze swept over them both as he continued in a deep voice. "This Origin-Returning Soul-Raising Pill possesses unmatched effects. Not only can it completely heal Ma Jinyan's shattered martial soul and damaged foundation, allowing him to rebuild his path as a Soul Master and erase every injury and hidden flaw.

"Likewise, it can completely eradicate the strange poison accumulated within Sect Master Ma's body, restore your depleted life origin, heal the old injuries and losses you have endured for years, free you from the torment of illness, extend your lifespan, and grant you new life."

The hearts of everyone present trembled fiercely. Their eyes were fixed on the seven-colored pill, their breathing rapid and their minds shaken.

But just as everyone's hopes surged, Qian Xunzong changed the subject and stated the sole condition—the bottom line that could not be negotiated.

"However, I have never saved anyone for free. If you want this pill and wish to change your fate against heaven, you must agree to one condition—from this day onward, there will be no more Blazing Flame Sect in this world."

"All disciples, elders, resources, and foundations of the Blazing Flame Sect shall come under my command. Every one of you shall submit to me. Everything that once belonged to the Blazing Flame Sect shall be incorporated into my force."

Those words landed clearly and echoed throughout the entire Crimson Flame Main Hall.

Everyone's expressions tightened, and they instantly understood.

This was an offer of surrender. It meant submission. It meant the Blazing Flame Sect would completely change hands, and a sect of several centuries would come to an end.

Several elders exchanged glances. There was not the slightest resistance in their eyes. Instead, they all breathed sighs of relief, joy at surviving a desperate situation rising in their gaze.

They had long seen the situation clearly. The Sect Master's lifespan was nearly exhausted, the Young Sect Master had become crippled, and the Blazing Flame Sect already existed in name only. Its destruction was only a matter of time.

Rather than waiting for the sect to fall apart, its disciples to become displaced, and all of them to be slaughtered, it was better to submit to Qian Xunzong.

At least then, the sect's disciples would not need to scatter and flee or wander homeless. The Ma father and son could also gain a chance at survival, perhaps even change their fates against heaven. This was already the best possible outcome in such desperate circumstances, an immense stroke of fortune.

"We are willing to submit!" Ma Mingshan agreed.

An elder took the lead in bowing, his tone firm. "I am willing to lead the Blazing Flame Sect in submitting to the Second Young Master!"

The remaining elders immediately followed, bowing with clasped hands as their voices rang out in solemn unison. "We are willing to submit!"

The overall situation had been decided. No one objected.

Ma Mingshan let out a long breath. A trace of relief and determination flashed through his clouded eyes. He struggled to rise, barely straightening his frail body before bowing deeply to Qian Xunzong.

"As long as Jin Yan can remain safe and the sect's disciples can live peacefully, this old man is willing to represent the Blazing Flame Sect and have everyone submit!"

Everyone in the hall agreed. No one raised an objection.

But just as everyone rejoiced and awaited their new beginning, Qian Xunzong spoke again, throwing out a cruel choice that instantly froze the atmosphere that had only just eased, making it so heavy that it was suffocating.

"However, the Origin-Returning Soul-Raising Pill is a rare, heaven-defying treasure. There is only one such pill in the world, and there will be no second."