Protective Xiao Yan, Evolution Begins

Only after the four Elders' footsteps had faded beyond the door did Xiao Yan raise his hand, looking a little embarrassed, and speak softly to the Bone Flame Ring on his finger:

"Teacher, I'm afraid I'll have to inconvenience you for a while. I need to block your senses temporarily..."

"You brat, keeping all the good stuff to yourself, are you? Don't worry. I know when to give you privacy." Yao Lao understood perfectly and teased him with a laugh.

"I'm glad you understand, Teacher." Xiao Yan grinned and scratched his head.

Without further delay, he activated the Sheep Talisman and combined its power with a technique that blocked Soul Perception. He gently wrapped that power around the Bone Flame Ring, cutting off every possibility of Yao Lao sensing the outside world.

Inside the ring, Yao Lao tried extending his senses outward.

As expected, not only could his Soul Perception not extend even a fraction beyond it, but he himself could not leave the ring either.

"Well, well. Even I can't do a thing against this trick of yours." Feeling the strange power sealed firmly around the ring, Yao Lao stroked his beard in admiration.

Since he could neither leave nor see anything, he lay down inside the ring, closed his eyes, and decided to sleep away the dull stretch of time.

Outside, Xiao Yan checked several times to make sure the barrier was foolproof. Only then did he activate the Chicken Talisman, rise slowly into the air, and glide toward the island at the lake's center.

The closer he came, the clearer the two beautiful figures became.

Mist drifted over the island, and light shimmered through it, making the two women look like peerless demonic lotuses floating upon the water.

Xiao Yan gazed at the pair waiting quietly ahead. His heart beat a little faster, and he could barely contain his anticipation.

The sisters were quietly discussing what they needed to watch out for. Both of their exquisite faces were grave.

Even Cai Die, usually the livelier of the two, had set aside her playful nature in the face of something that could cost them their lives.

Sensing Xiao Yan's arrival, both women relaxed a little.

"Brother-in-law, you're here!" Cai Die came forward, a bright smile blooming across her face.

For reasons she could not explain, Xiao Yan's presence always made Cai Die feel safe.

Even faced with a secret technique that looked fraught with danger, the fear in her heart vanished when he arrived.

Cai Lin was more reserved. Her expression softened only slightly as she gave Xiao Yan a small nod.

Though the sisters looked identical, their personalities could not have been more different.

One was lively, sweet, and innocent; the other was cool and noble, aloof on the outside but warm within.

They expressed their feelings differently, too.

The younger sister was gentle and sincere, hiding nothing.

The elder was proud and restrained, burying every emotion deep.

Both were breathtaking in their own way.

Xiao Yan looked at the sisters with a gentle smile. "Ready?"

Both nodded.

Despite their resolve, Xiao Yan could still see the nerves beneath it.

"Don't worry. I'm here. You'll both be fine." He softened his voice, doing his best to reassure them.

After his reassurance, the tension in the sisters eased a little.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan took a deep breath and turned his palm upward. A green flame rose from it.

It was the Green Lotus Core Flame, ranked nineteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking.

As the Green Lotus Core Flame appeared, the temperature in the Secret Chamber began to soar, and the air warped faintly from the heat.

This was the sisters' first time so close to a Heavenly Flame. Its terrifying heat washed over them, making them tremble instinctively.

But after exchanging a glance, the fear in their eyes slowly faded, replaced by firm resolve.

Thinking of what came next, Cai Lin and Cai Die both glanced at Xiao Yan, blushes rising to their cheeks.

Embarrassed as they were, neither hesitated.

Their slender hands slowly undid their robes, one layer, then another... from the outside in...

Before long, their flawless, pale, delicate bodies stood completely bare.

Even after living two lives, Xiao Yan had never seen a sight so alluring with his own eyes.

For all his self-control, he nearly embarrassed himself in front of the sisters.

Cai Lin caught the fleeting heat in Xiao Yan's eyes. The corners of her lovely mouth lifted slightly, and a secret thrill stirred in her heart.

But the intimate moment lasted only an instant. The sisters' eyes sharpened. Each bit a fingertip and flicked a drop of blood essence into the Green Lotus Core Flame.

As their blood entered the fire, they formed the same series of hand seals.

At the final seal, Red Pill Lightning surged from each of them and enveloped them in an instant.

Two muffled booms sounded. As the red light faded, two enormous figures gradually emerged.

They were giant serpentine Magical Beasts covered in Purple Pill Lightning scales, with eyes like lanterns.

They were the sisters' companion Magical Beasts, the Purple Nether Flame Snakes.

Xiao Yan swept his gaze over the two giant snakes, then waved a hand. The Dog Talisman's power silently enveloped the sisters, ensuring the coming evolution could not claim their lives.

The sisters sensed the mysterious power Xiao Yan had wrapped around them.

They could not tell what it was, but they felt it instantly bring them to peak condition.

Surprise appeared in the giant snakes' eyes. Once again, they had witnessed the unfathomable depth of Xiao Yan's abilities.

With every safeguard in place, Xiao Yan gave the sisters a look.

Once they responded, he hesitated no longer. He guided the Green Lotus Core Flame slowly toward them.

The moment the Heavenly Flame drew near, a terrifying, suffocating wave of heat struck them.

Fear flickered in their eyes, but resolve replaced it at once.

They exchanged a glance, then charged straight into the Green Lotus Core Flame.

The instant it touched them, agonized screams rang through the entire Secret Chamber.

The screams were so harrowing that Xiao Yan's brow knotted.

The agony of being burned by a Heavenly Flame was more than ordinary people could bear. The Snake-People were naturally aligned with yin, so the flames would only hurt them twice as much.

Even Xiao Yan had suffered unbearable pain when he swallowed a Heavenly Flame without the aid of Pills.

The screams went on.

Had Xiao Yan not set up a barrier beforehand, their anguished cries might have echoed across the entire Snake-People Holy City.

At a time like this, Xiao Yan could not help them through the pain. They had to endure it through sheer will.

All he could do was keep the Heavenly Flame steady and use the Dog Talisman to hold fast to their lives.

The burning went on for an unknown length of time before the terrible screams finally began to fade.

At the same time, the sisters' life force ebbed away, faint as candle flames in the wind, as though it might go out at any moment.

Xiao Yan's heart clenched. He extended his Soul Perception to its limit, watching for the slightest change in either of them.

Rumble!

Thunder suddenly exploded overhead.

Above the Snake-People Tribe's temple, an unnatural sight began to form.

Thunderclouds gathered furiously, their gray layers growing thicker and heavier.

Residents throughout the Holy City were drawn by the strange sight. They looked up at the sky, awe and shock filling their eyes.

The four Elders had already gathered. They stared at the churning thunderclouds, their aged hands clenching into fists.

"Please, let them succeed..." the Second Elder murmured, her lips trembling as though she were praying to the heavens.