In a spacious, brightly lit room, Yao Lao's illusory figure floated in midair, a calm, confident smile on his face.
A wisp of pale-white flame danced nimbly in his palm.
With a slight beckoning motion from Yao Lao, the seven illusory azure spirit saliva was cast into the bone spirit cold flame.
Within moments, it melted into a mass of seven-colored liquid.
Watching the seven-colored liquid give off a rich, refreshing fragrance, Xiao Yan smiled. "Teacher, once you refine the seven illusory azure spirit saliva, you should recover quite a bit of soul power, right? How many stars of Dou Zong strength will you be able to wield then?"
After all, in the original story, Yao Lao had recovered his Dou Zong strength after refining the seven illusory azure spirit saliva.
Yao Lao was in far better condition now than in the original story, so he should be able to wield even greater strength.
"I can't guarantee that, but it shouldn't be less than a Three-Star Dou Zong."
Yao Lao chuckled, a trace of fervor entering his gaze as he looked at the seven illusory azure spirit saliva and flicked two fingers upward.
The seven-colored liquid seemed to gain a touch of sentience and flew toward the point between Yao Lao's brows.
The instant it touched his brow, it sank inside.
Then it was refined in an instant!
After a while, Xiao Yan, who stood a short distance away, suddenly narrowed his eyes.
Beside him, Xiao Yi Xian asked curiously, "Xiao Yan, do you feel... like the ground is shaking?"
Xiao Yan nodded and smiled. "You're right. The ground really is shaking."
As he spoke, he looked at Yao Lao. "Teacher, rein in your power a little.
"Don't shake the restaurant down. If that happens, we'll probably draw the entire Imperial Capital's attention."
Drawing over Jia Xingtian, a Peak Dou Emperor, wouldn't matter.
What worried him was the commotion catching the attention of that cackling freak in the Misty Cloud Sect.
Granted, Xiao Yan wasn't sure whether that cackling freak was currently in the Misty Cloud Sect.
But there was no need to gamble!
At his words, Yao Lao chuckled. "That was careless of me!"
As he spoke, the aura on the verge of erupting from his body was suddenly forced back inside.
Only then did the tremors beneath their feet vanish completely.
Inside the restaurant, the bewildered guests breathed sighs of relief and patted their chests. "The ground was shaking just now. I thought the earth dragon was turning over."
The restaurant's managers wiped cold sweat from their foreheads.
Thankfully, it had only been a false alarm. Otherwise, if the restaurant collapsed...
Whether the guests died was of no concern to them, but they would suffer ruinous losses.
Of course, this was merely a minor interlude.
After Yao Lao refined the seven illusory azure spirit saliva, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian left the Imperial Capital.
Meanwhile!
The Jia Ma Imperial Family, the empire's Three Great Families, the Alchemist Guild, and the Misty Cloud Sect.
All these factions learned the news from their informants, and their reactions varied.
The empire's Three Great Families, for instance, naturally regretted not having forged a connection with him.
The Alchemist Guild and the Misty Cloud Sect stood above worldly affairs, so their attitude was largely one of indifference.
The Jia Ma Imperial Family, however, was torn between hopes and fears over this mysterious expert's departure.
They wanted to recruit him but feared inviting a wolf into their home, and ultimately could only watch him leave.
Several days passed in a flash!
Looking down at the mist-shrouded Little Mountain Valley, Xiao Yi Xian spread her arms as though embracing its air, a contented, nostalgic smile on her unadorned face.
"The scenery in Little Mountain Valley is still so beautiful!" Xiao Yi Xian said with a bright smile, looking at Xiao Yan's profile.
Xiao Yan nodded, momentarily taken aback by the heartfelt smile on her face.
After a moment's thought, he smiled and replied, "In that case, let's stay in Little Mountain Valley for another month."
His original plan had been to head straight to the Tagor Desert after devouring the myriad beast spirit flame.
But Xiao Yi Xian's heartfelt smile and the fleeting anticipation in her eyes made Xiao Yan change his mind despite himself.
Well, the green lotus core flame is in the Tagor Desert anyway. It isn't going anywhere.
"Really?"
Upon hearing Xiao Yan's words, Xiao Yi Xian's eyes lit up brilliantly, and she looked thoroughly excited.
Xiao Yan nodded with a gentle smile.
"Cultivation is cultivation, no matter where we do it, right?"
"Yes!"
Xiao Yi Xian answered, her gaze filled with an unusual emotion as she looked at Xiao Yan, her smile radiant.
At that moment, her heart beat very fast!
Feeling that burning gaze beside him, Xiao Yan's breathing also quickened slightly.
Only by deliberately keeping his eyes fixed straight ahead could he maintain his composure.
Inside the Bone Flame Ring, Yao Lao shook his head in exasperation, lamenting that iron would not turn to steel.
"Honestly, what a disappointment!"
He was nowhere near what Yao Lao had been like in his younger days!
The faintly intimate atmosphere lasted only a moment before a sudden, powerful voice shattered it.
"Hahaha, Xiao Yan, you're finally back!"
The voice rumbled like muffled thunder.
An enormous purple figure suddenly flew up from below.
It was none other than the Amethyst Winged Lion King!
Xiao Yi Xian cast a slightly resentful glance at the Amethyst Winged Lion King and withdrew her gaze from Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan also breathed a small sigh of relief. Without the Lion King, he truly wouldn't have known how to handle Xiao Yi Xian's burning gaze.
He hadn't expected such a casual decision to cause so great and sudden a shift in Xiao Yi Xian's emotions.
He did know that Xiao Yi Xian harbored special feelings for him.
But she had always been reserved in matters of affection, making him feel comfortable as things progressed gradually.
Just now, however, Xiao Yi Xian had abruptly abandoned her usual approach. Her burning gaze seemed to tell Xiao Yan outright that she liked him.
That sudden attack had clearly caught Xiao Yan off guard.
Fortunately, the Lion King had rescued him.
Otherwise, he really wouldn't have known what to do.
Surely I couldn't just gaze back at Xiao Yi Xian with the same lovestruck look?
Or plant a kiss on her outright?
Honestly, he didn't even dare imagine that scene. It was too strange.
With a cough, Xiao Yan collected his thoughts and said earnestly, "Sorry for troubling you these past few days, Lion King."
The Amethyst Winged Lion King laughed heartily. "I should be thanking you! I've been cultivating with that Magical Beast blood essence these past few days, and my strength has increased tremendously."
At those words, Xiao Yan smiled and cupped his hands.
"Congratulations, Lion King!"
As they entered the valley, the Amethyst Winged Lion King asked curiously, "Have you gathered everything you needed?"
"Of course." Xiao Yan smiled and nodded.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King said gravely, "Perhaps you should raise your cultivation a little more before absorbing the myriad beast spirit flame. This is no laughing matter, after all. You only get one chance."
After a moment's thought, the Amethyst Winged Lion King added another remark.
"You still owe me two Transformation Pills. I don't want to see you burned to ashes by a heavenly flame."
Hearing that, Xiao Yan laughed.
"Lion King, you underestimate me. Since I dared to come, I'm naturally completely confident."
After all, the original Xiao Yan had successfully absorbed the green lotus core flame when he was merely a Dou Shi.
His own willpower and strength were far beyond those of the original Xiao Yan. There was no reason he couldn't absorb the myriad beast spirit flame.
Seeing Xiao Yan so confident, the Amethyst Winged Lion King offered no further persuasion.
A day later!
Xiao Yan arrived alone in the underground chamber.
To avoid disturbing Xiao Yan, neither the Amethyst Winged Lion King nor Xiao Yi Xian had come down.
Looking at the blood-red myriad beast spirit flame before them, Yao Lao spoke gravely.
"Little Yanzi, are you ready?"
Xiao Yan grinned, his expression calm and his gaze resolute.
"Don't worry, Teacher!"
"I'll succeed!"
Before you continue