.
Xiao Ling took a deep breath, his gaze fixed firmly on the slowly rising Fallen Heart Flame.
He slowly extended his right hand, pointing directly at the center of the blazing flames before him, preparing to delve deeper into the flames to explore their source.
As if sensing a threat, the Fallen Heart Flame suddenly unleashed a wave of heat, like the roar of a wild beast, attempting to repel the invader.
Xiao Ling's sleeve instantly burned in the heat, reducing it to ash.
Xiao Ling ignored this and, without hesitation, thrust his arm deeper into the blazing flames, as if to touch their core.
As his arm entered the flames, the scorching heat radiating from the Fallen Heart Flame instantly penetrated his skin, inflicting intense pain.
Xiao Ling clenched his teeth, sweat dripping from his forehead like water dripping from an eaves after rain.
His previously calm face twitched slightly in pain, but his blue-gold pupils remained calm.
Deep within the flames, the essence of the Fallen Heart Flame was like a cunning snake, weaving through the blaze, attempting to evade Xiao Ling's grasp.
Xiao Ling's hand probed within the flames, each approach deftly dodged by the essence. Each impact of the flames intensified the burning pain on his palm, and blackened marks began to appear on his skin.
Just as Xiao Ling was injured, a stream of cool energy surged from his chest, rapidly flowing to his arm.
This energy, like a spring of water, moistened him, greatly alleviating his pain.
Xiao Ling's body was inflicted with this power. Wei
Yaochen observed the entire process from the side, deeply shocked by Xiao Ling's unique self-healing ability.
He silently speculated, "This extraordinary recovery ability will surely become this kid's powerful trump card in the future. Even when facing the burning effects of devouring the strange fire, it will greatly reduce the risks he faces."
"Unfortunately, this ability doesn't seem to be as effective on others as it is on myself. Otherwise, perhaps it could truly replace the miraculous healing power of the Bone-Growing and Blood-Melting Pill."
Watching the Fallen Heart Flame's essence scatter in the flames, Xiao Ling's gaze suddenly focused, and a powerful spiritual perception erupted from his brow.
With this keen spiritual perception, he precisely tracked the Fallen Heart Flame's origin's movement amidst the swirling flames.
The origin deftly weaved through the sea of fire, attempting to evade capture.
But Xiao Ling's fingers, like iron tongs, swiftly and firmly grasped it. No matter how it twisted, it could not break free from his grasp.
After a fierce struggle, Xiao Ling firmly grasped the Fallen Heart Flame's essence and slowly pulled it out from the invisible flame.
As the essence escaped, the once blazing flames gradually dissipated, eventually fading into nothingness.
Xiao Ling shifted his gaze to his hand, where the source of the Fallen Heart Flame lay—a small, colorless snake. Transparent as a wisp of smoke, it bore a form similar to the invisible fire python from before, though much smaller in scale.
The snake wriggled slightly within Xiao Ling's palm, seemingly attempting to escape. Yet, the faint glow emanating from it betrayed its extraordinary nature.
Xiao Ling's gaze, sharp as a torch, fixed on the delicately struggling snake within his palm. His eyes narrowed, and a powerful Dou Qi surged forth from the Dou Crystal, entrapping the snake tightly and preventing it from moving.
Seeing this, Xiao Ling's lips finally curled into a relieved smile. He murmured to himself, "Hmph, I've finally got you under control, little one. From now on, follow me. Becoming the Emperor Flame is only a matter of time."
As if sensing Xiao Ling's will, the little snake, the source of the Fallen Heart Flame, suddenly ceased its resistance, as if considering whether Xiao Ling's words were credible. This saved Xiao Ling a considerable amount of effort.
Yao Chen drifted over to Xiao Ling's side, glancing sideways at the tamed Fallen Heart Flame in Xiao Ling's hand. A smile played on his lips, and he teased, "Xiao Ling, your luck is truly remarkable. This is the fourth Strange Fire to fall into your hands. It seems my guess was correct. You truly are a son of Heaven."
Xiao Ling smiled brightly and scratched his head. "Haha, just a stroke of luck."
He wasn't a son of Heaven. He, Xiao Ling, had reached this point entirely through his own hard work, with only a little help and some foresight.
Seeing Xiao Ling's look, Yao Chen didn't continue talking about it, and then asked: "Then, where do you plan to go into seclusion and refine this Fallen Heart Flame?"
Xiao Ling's gaze was cast on the deep black hole, and he stretched out his hand to point there: "It will be in that underground magma world. I will use fire as a furnace to forge a stronger myself."
Yao Chen also looked at the underground magma world and nodded in agreement:
"Although the fire energy there is indeed abundant and wild, it has no effect on you who possesses multiple kinds of strange fire. It is indeed an excellent place for seclusion."
Xiao Ling nodded slightly: "Old Yao, you go back to the ring to rest first. I need to explain to them."
Yao Chen responded: "Remember, don't delay. Controlling the Fallen Heart Flame consumes a lot of fighting spirit."
After that, his figure gradually dissipated and sank into the Bone Flame Ring in Xiao Ling's hand.
Seeing Yao Chen enter the Bone Flame Ring, Xiao Ling no longer hesitated. Grasping the Fallen Heart Flame, his battle-qi wings suddenly unfurled, piercing the sky like the light of dawn, and swiftly flew away from the cave entrance.
In a matter of moments, Xiao Ling had traversed the thousand-layered seal formation and arrived at the location of Su Qian and the others.
As Xiao Ling's figure appeared, everyone around him couldn't help but breathe
a sigh of relief. Han Yue eagerly approached, her eyes full of concern, her voice trembling as she asked, "Xiao Ling, are you hurt?"
Before she finished speaking, her hands were already gently groping him, checking for any injuries.
Several of the surrounding Inner Court elders wore ambiguous smiles and cast teasing glances at the two men.
Zi Yan scoffed in dissatisfaction, her hands on her hips, her eyes etched with anger as she glared at Han Yue, muttering softly, "Hmph, damn Han Yue, when did she and Xiao Ling become so close?"
Xiao Ling coughed lightly, a blush spreading across his face. He chuckled awkwardly, trying to diffuse the tense atmosphere.
Han Yue, realizing her own gaffe, shyly stepped aside, head lowered, ears blushing.
Xiao Ling's gaze was gentle as water. He looked at Han Yue, his voice soft as a spring breeze, "Don't worry, I'm fine."
Han Yue breathed a sigh of relief, biting her lip lightly, her voice soft as a mosquito's buzz, "That's good."
At this moment, Great Elder Su Qian stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the colorless snake in Xiao Ling's hand. Curiously, he asked, "Is this the origin of the Fallen Heart Flame?"
Xiao Ling nodded, looking away from Han Yue's face to Su Qian, and replied, "Yes, Great Elder, this is the origin of the Fallen Heart Flame."
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Xiao Ling continued, "I plan to go into seclusion for a while and focus on refining this Fallen Heart Flame."
Han Yue couldn't help but blurt out, "Then you must be careful, we will wait for you here."
Although her voice was soft, it was full of reluctance and worry.
Xiao Ling responded with a warm smile and soothed her, "Don't worry, it won't be long. After I come out of seclusion this time, I will be a Dou Zong."
Hearing Xiao Ling say that he would be in seclusion for a while, Zi Yan instantly became impatient. She jumped in front of Xiao Ling and asked anxiously, "Xiao Ling, Xiao Ling, what about my pills? After you go into seclusion, you will refine pills for me."
Xiao Ling looked at Zi Yan's anxious look and couldn't help laughing. He gently took off the bone inflammation ring in his hand, used his fighting spirit to lift it up, and handed the ring steadily to Zi Yan. At the same time, he blinked at her and said meaningfully, "Zi Yan, your 'snacks' are in this storage ring. I prepared it for you a long time ago. Don't worry, you will have something to eat."
Zi Yan's eyes lit up, and she took the bone inflammation ring that floated over. She recognized at a glance that this was the bone inflammation ring that Yao Chen lived in.
Excited like a child who had just received a treasure, her face beamed with joy. She giggled at Xiao Ling and said sweetly, "Haha, Xiao Ling, you're so thoughtful. I knew you'd prepare it for me in advance."
While Xiao Ling's pills tasted better, Old Man Yao Chen's were also quite good. For the time being, I'll just have to make do with them.
Zi Yan's words still lingered in the air as she delicately flapped her wings, gleaming with a mysterious purple glow. With lightning speed, she appeared before Xiao Ling in an instant.
Before Xiao Ling could react, she playfully placed a light kiss on his cheek.
After doing this, Zi Yan's lips curled into a smug smile, and with a silvery laugh, she flitted off to the side like a lithe purple swallow.
Xiao Ling froze in place, his fingers gently touching the damp patch of his cheek that still carried Zi Yan's scent. A mixture of fondness and resignation crossed his eyes, and he finally smiled wryly and shook his head.
Xiao Ling couldn't help but grumble inwardly. Ever since Zi Yan broke through the bottleneck of the sixth-level magical beast, she seemed like a completely different person. Not only had her strength increased dramatically, but her clinginess had also intensified.
The once independent, occasionally spoiled Zi Yan had now become like a clingy little dragon, constantly wanting to be by his side, even needing to occasionally surprise him during training.
Xiao Ling shook his head with a touch of blissful worry, wondering if such a life was a blessing or a curse.
However, whenever he saw Zi Yan's dependent eyes, Xiao Ling's heart softened. Well, let her cling like this. After all, this was a uniquely sweet burden.
...
In front of the gate to Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's cave, Zhu Kun suddenly sneezed.
His body trembled slightly, and the image of Zi Yan involuntarily surfaced in his mind.
Beside Zi Yan, the silhouette of another man loomed. His face was blurry, but the distance between them was gradually closing, their faces seemingly touching. This moment of closeness filled Zhu Kun with an inexplicable surge of unease.
"Daughter, my precious daughter!!!" Zhu Kun's cries were filled with pain and desperation. His figure instantly transformed into a streak of light, desperately dashing beyond the barrier.
However, as he reached the invisible barrier, he was repelled by a powerful force, falling heavily to the ground.
He climbed to his feet and tried again, once, twice, three times... Each time he failed. The barrier, like an insurmountable chasm, held him captive.
Zhu Kun's eyes nearly blazed, his anger and frustration mingling into a raging fury.
"Tushe Ancient Emperor, what a rotten barrier you've set up! You've trapped me here, preventing me from reuniting with my daughter. I curse you..." Zhu Kun's words raged, his voice echoing through the empty barrier.
Infuriated, Zhu Kun could no longer suppress his emotions. His body began to transform violently, ultimately transforming into a ten-thousand-foot-long, ancient dragon.
He opened his maw and unleashed a deafening roar at the gate of Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's cave. His breath, drawn in and out, threatened to shatter the entire entrance.
His rage and grief seemed to materialize, filling the air and suffocating the breath.
However, no matter what Zhu Kun did, the gate to Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's cave remained motionless, as if mercilessly mocking his incompetence.
Only the sound of "dong dong dong" echoed through this strange space, accompanied by a heartbeat-like thumping sound that lasted for a long time...
Yao
Chen, who was in the Osteoarthritis Ring, witnessed all this and couldn't help but shake his head and laugh. The curve of his mouth could not hide his fondness. He whispered to himself,
"Xiao Ling, this brat, actually ordered me around."
Although he said this, Yao Chen felt no resentment in his heart. Helping Zi Yan refine the pills was just a piece of cake for him, and seeing Zi Yan so happy, he also enjoyed it.
Afterwards, Xiao Ling turned to the crowd and gave a few simple instructions.
Xiao Ling first looked at Han Yue and said softly, "Han Yue, please help me inform Qing Lin and Xiao Yixian that I have entered the Tianfen Qi Training Tower to practice, so that they don't have to worry about my safety."
Han Yue nodded slightly and responded, "Don't worry, Xiao Ling, I will convey it."
Xiao Ling walked to Zi Yan again, touched her head, and said gently, "Zi Yan, you must practice well during this period of time, don't be lazy, otherwise I won't make pills for you after I come out of seclusion."
Zi Yan blinked her big eyes and nodded obediently, "Xiao Ling, Xiao Ling, I know, hehe."
and Han Yue After Zi Yan finished her instructions, Xiao Ling finally looked at Great Elder Su Qian and said solemnly, "Great Elder, have we collected enough Heart Flame for this period of time?"
Nodding, Su Qian stroked his graying beard and said, "Don't worry, I've made preparations. As long as it doesn't take more than six months, the amount of Heart Flame will be enough for the inner courtyard students to practice. You can go with peace of mind."
Xiao Ling nodded. "In that case, then I don't need to say more."
He then bowed to the surrounding elders and said, "Everyone, goodbye."
Then, he turned and prepared to leave, entering the Tianfen Qi Training Tower.
(End of this chapter)