"Yan'er, let's find a place for you to fuse with the Spirit Flame. Otherwise, I truly won't feel at ease with you not by my side."
Ling Xiao ruffled the hair on Su Yan's head. She immediately gave a sweet smile. "Okay! Young Master, shall we return to Enlightenment City then?"
"No! The city has too many eyes and ears. I know a good place. Close your eyes, I'll take you there."
Ling Xiao deliberately kept it mysterious. Su Yan obediently closed her eyes, looking expectant.
Buzz.
A buzzing sound rang out. Su Yan only felt dizzy for a moment. Before she could fully comprehend the sensation, Ling Xiao's voice sounded by her ear.
"Alright, you can open your eyes now."
Ling Xiao smiled faintly.
Su Yan opened her eyes, a trace of surprise on her pretty face.
What appeared before her now was an extremely desolate land.
No life, no color; the entire world held the desolation of creation's dawn.
Although there was a scorching sun overhead, its light wasn't warm at all. In fact, falling on the skin, it carried a faint, tingling numbness.
At the edge of the world, a black moon appeared somewhat sinister.
The two of them seemed to be standing on a mountain peak. On a flat stretch of land below the mountain, dozens of figures were busy.
They were quarrying stones, seemingly building something.
But!!
Just as Su Yan looked puzzled, she suddenly realized that the several figures radiating divine light, working like servants, were actually… all Divine Emperor and Divine King realm experts!!
And… some looked familiar?
"These are some experts who follow me. This place will become the foundation of my Daoist tradition, and it will also… become our home."
Ling Xiao smiled warmly, took Su Yan's jade hand, and walked towards the mountain top.
Currently, his Domain World, though vast, didn't have a trace of spiritual energy.
But… it was said the Western Territories had many dragon veins. When the time comes…
Heh.
Ling Xiao had carefully investigated before. Within the Domain World, there were nine mountain ranges crisscrossing the entire domain.
And the place where Xing Shen and the others were building the palace was right at the convergence point of the nine veins, the very center of this domain!
If he could find nine dragon veins and place them within the mountains, this Domain World would become a sacred land for cultivation!
Oh.
Seems like eight might be enough.
After all, the Yuan Yue Holy Land had rich spiritual energy, clearly containing a spirit vein.
"Yan'er, let's begin. I'll teach you the ancient method first."
A soul light flickered in Ling Xiao's eyes. Su Yan felt a tremor in her sea of consciousness as a passage of golden ancient text instantly appeared within it.
"I've studied this ancient method. You should do it like this…"
For a full hour, the two patiently studied the Flame Sutra.
With Su Yan's comprehension and talent, it naturally didn't take too long.
From beginning to end, she didn't ask Ling Xiao what this place was.
After all, everyone had secrets.
The fact that he brought her here was the greatest trust he could show her!
"Yan'er, are you ready?"
Ling Xiao's expression was somewhat grave, especially when he saw the nervousness in Su Yan's eyes. He couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
Although Heaven and Earth Spirit Flames were extremely dangerous things, he had never heard of one burning a Son of Fate to death.
Those who got burned to death were all cannon-fodder villains.
In other words, with the amount of Luck Points Su Yan possessed—even higher than Lin Xi's—how could she possibly die so easily here?
Of course, I, who must play my part in your performance, shall do my best!
"Young Master… so Lin Xi still died by your hand after all, right? But the Divine Emperor behind him…"
"It's fine, you don't need to worry about that. I can handle it. You just focus on fusing with the Spirit Flame."
Ling Xiao shook his head, his expression inexplicably solemn. "If you're ready, begin."
"Young Master…"
Su Yan was clearly somewhat uneasy; a hint of a farewell sentiment actually appeared in her beautiful eyes.
"Don't worry, no matter what happens, I won't leave you. I'll stay by your side. With me here, you will be absolutely fine."
Ling Xiao reached out and pinched Su Yan's pretty cheek.
Hearing this, her eyes instantly welled up with emotion. She nodded gently and finally took the crimson flame out from her storage ring.
Boom!
A terrifying, scorching heat instantly swept through the entire world.
Ling Xiao's eyes narrowed slightly. He waved his hand violently, and a misty water vapor transformed into a barrier, enveloping the entire barren mountain.
"Yan'er! Go for it! Swallow it!"
"Young Master, if I die today… bury me… in this place!"
Su Yan gave a sorrowful smile, finally no longer hesitating, and fused the entire Spirit Flame into her body.
Boom!
A heart-palpitating, strange fluctuation instantly spread out from around her.
Outside her body, fiery light and icy coldness intertwined, devouring each other, momentarily falling into a stalemate.
Ling Xiao waved his hand in front of Su Yan's eyes. Seeing she was completely immersed in cultivation, he immediately turned and walked down the mountain.
"Divine Emperor!"
"Master!"
Seeing the figure descending from mid-air, Xing Shen and Huo Heng stopped their work, stood at attention, and bowed deeply.
"You've worked hard!"
Ling Xiao nodded, then turned to look at the ancient hall and a towering stone staircase before him.
The main hall was now taking initial shape, and the stone staircase was already several hundred zhang high. It seemed that in a few more days, the construction would be complete.
When that time comes, this place… Hehehe.
"Working for the Master! It's no hardship!"
Xing Shen and Huo Heng stood at attention again, their bodies ramrod straight.
"Mm, carry on."
Ling Xiao turned, his figure instantly vanishing from the spot.
"System, come out!"
Owner: Ling Xiao
Identity: Young Master of the Myriad Daos Demon Sect, heir of the ancient Ling Clan, former top enforcer of the Heavenly Demon Hall.
Divine Body: Heavenly Demon True Form, Second Transformation (Forbidden Physique).
Cultivation: Divine General, Third Grade.
Spirit Treasures: Primordial Demon Blade (Grade unknown), Myriad Worlds Glazed Demon-Suppressing Pagoda (Heaven-Connecting Treasure), Starry Emperor Robe (High-Grade Dao Artifact), Taixu White Lotus (Mid-Grade Dao Artifact), Soul-Devouring Ghost Pearl (Grade unknown), Violet-Gold Divine Hammer (High-Grade Dao Artifact)......
Cultivation Arts: Myriad Daos Demon Art, Heavenly Demon True Sutra, Heavenly Demon True Form (Innate Talent), Annihilation Pupils (Innate Talent), Heavenly Demon Pupils (Blood Moon Forbidden Domain), Soul-Snatching Ancient Art (Forbidden Art), Great Desolate Heaven-Imprisoning Seal (Soul Skill), Flame Sutra (Primordial Emperor Flame).
Dao Principles: Thunder (Complete), Sword Dao (Complete), Wind (Comprehended), Water (Manifested), Flame (Comprehended), Primordial Chaos (Comprehended), Darkness (Complete), Slaughter (Manifested).
Spirit Beast: Primordial Demon Dragon (Breakthrough Realm, Middle Stage).
Destined Body: Forging Progress 1%.
Luck Points: 3200.
Villain Points: 10,000.
"Hmm? Breakthrough Realm, Middle Stage?!"
Ling Xiao was clearly startled. That damn dog Hua Hua, just by sleeping, it reached the Middle Stage of the Breakthrough Realm?
"Hua Hua!"
Buzz!
Ling Xiao felt a cool sensation on his leg. Hua Hua's figure instantly appeared before him, its dog eyes blinking in confusion.
"You've already reached the Middle Stage of the Breakthrough Realm, yet you still can't take human form or speak? Are you naturally disabled?"
"Arr woof!"
Hua Hua bared its teeth, pretending to be fierce.
"I have something good here that might help your cultivation break through again."
Ling Xiao smiled faintly. Greed instantly flashed in Hua Hua's eyes.
When Su Yan submitted, the system had rewarded him with a drop of Sacred Dragon Essence Blood.
Although this thing was a supreme treasure for body tempering, Ling Xiao's Heavenly Demon True Form was already the world's strongest divine body.
So this drop of essence blood wasn't very useful to him. It would be better to give it to Hua Hua; perhaps it could help it step into the Divine General realm, take human form, and form a core.
After all, the bloodlines of these ancient great demons were truly terrifying. A single sixth-grade divine pill only allowed it to break through to the first level of the Breakthrough Realm.
But… now, a Breakthrough Realm demon beast was only useful to Ling Xiao as a mount.
And a mount wasn't exactly a necessity. If this Sacred Dragon Essence Blood still couldn't make Hua Hua break through to the Divine General realm, then he could consider a full dragon meat banquet.
If you eat what's mine, I won't make you spit it out.
I'll just eat you instead.
"You want it?"
Ling Xiao patted Hua Hua's dog head, then glanced towards a large marsh in the distance. "How about you first perform a… 'dragon sucking water' for me?"