Within the small valley, time passed peacefully. Seventeen days had quietly gone by since Xiao Hua successfully completed the eighth trial and Lady Azure awakened from her slumber.
During these tranquil days, Lady Azure devoted herself to teaching the Little Fairy Doctor, closely monitoring her condition to ensure that the Woeful Poison Body would not erupt anytime soon. She also guided her in poison techniques and the art of poison refinement.
This came as a slight surprise to Xiao Hua, as he had never expected Lady Azure to be an expert in poison refinement as well. But, she did not teach much of it to him, as it was not his primary path—something even he had to acknowledge. Before delving into other disciplines, he needed to first attain an extremely high level in alchemy. Greed in such matters could very well come back to bite him later.
Of course, Xiao Hua had not wasted a single day during these past seventeen days. He had been diligently refining his mastery of the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame, a technique originally created by Xiao Yan.
Moreover, he had even developed a variation of the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame, but instead of using Primordial Heavenly Flames, he is using Heavenly Lightnings.
Perhaps due to the influence of Lightning Beasts, when Xiao Hua combined the Heavenly Lightnings, they took the form of a colossal beast. Thus, he named the technique Divine Thunder Beast Manifestation.
After gradually mastering both the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame and the Divine Thunder Beast Manifestation, Xiao Hua shifted his focus to refining pills for Zi Yan. Ever since learning about her race from Lady Azure, she had been eager to grow stronger.
However, alongside her excitement, there was also a sense of urgency. Having learned of the potential internal strife within her clan, she longed to return—but not before increasing her strength.
"Honestly, I've fed you so many medicinal pills… How are you still only at rank five?" Xiao Hua couldn't help but feel astonished at the sheer bottomlessness of Zi Yan's reserves.
Granted, she had only been consuming tier-six and tier-seven medicinal pills. But with the sheer quantity she had devoured, any other Magical Beast would have advanced long ago…
It wasn't that he didn't want to refine tier-eight pills—rather, he lacked the necessary resources to casually refine it into eighth tier pills for her to eat. His collection of medicinal ingredients, once plentiful, had steadily dwindled as he refined them into countless pills.
"If she were an ordinary Ancient Void Dragon, she would have advanced long ago."
A voice suddenly rang out behind Xiao Hua just as he murmured to himself. Turning around, he saw Xue Yue seated at a slight distance, elegantly perched on a crystalline ice chair beside a matching table—both crafted by her own hand.
"But the blood flowing within her veins is an extremely pure Royal Bloodline of the Ancient Void Dragon. It's only natural that she requires an enormous amount of medicinal pills and energy to grow stronger and reach maturity..."
Xiao Hua could only smile bitterly at her words. He had always known Zi Yan required vast amounts of energy to grow, but he never expected it to be this insatiable…
Even with the System, it was unrealistic to claim he had an endless supply of medicinal ingredients—especially those necessary for refining eighth-tier pills. Most of the rare ingredients he had were already consumed in crafting his own pills.
'She's practically a bottomless pit...' He sighed inwardly, a deep sense of helplessness washing over him.
Still, this only deepened his curiosity about the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit and the sheer magnitude of its energy. If fully absorbed, it could elevate Zi Yan to a ninth-ranked Magical Beast—equivalent to a Dou Sheng expert. The sheer concentration of power within it must be beyond imagination…
It was no wonder that, after consuming it in the future, she would be forced into a deep slumber, her body encased in crystallized energy as it solidified on her skin. After all, at that time, she is only a seventh-ranked Magical Beast—equivalent to a Dou Zong expert.
A flicker of pity crossed his eyes for Magical Beasts born with overwhelmingly powerful bloodlines, only to struggle beneath the immense energy required to fully mature and awaken their true potential.
Bang—!
A muffled explosion suddenly echoed through the valley, shaking the ground.
Xiao Hua and Xue Yue exchanged glances before turning their gaze toward the wooden cabin beneath the tree, its delicate pink blossoms swaying slightly in the aftermath. Both had sensed the ripple of energy emanating from within. Though it wasn't a major disturbance, it was enough to draw their attention.
A powerful aura surged from within the cabin—one unmistakably belonging to a Dou Zong. However, what made it truly unique was the dense poison strength interwoven within it, so potent that even an ordinary Dou Zong would feel threatened and unsettled.
Without hesitation, Xiao Hua waved his hand, forming a thin, transparent veil around the wooden cabin. The barrier effectively sealed off the poisonous energy, preventing it from spreading throughout the valley, where it could endanger Zi Yan and damage the surrounding medicinal plants and herbs.
"Though I expected this, I can't help but feel envious of the Woeful Poison Body and its absurd ability to grow stronger by absorbing poison..."
Despite his words, there was no real envy in his eyes—only intrigue and astonishment.
For the past few days, Little Fairy Doctor had been consuming poisons under Lady Azure's supervision, ensuring that the Woeful Poison Body did not spiral out of control. Whenever signs of an eruption appeared, Lady Azure and Xue Yue immediately intervened to suppress it.
Since she had originally been a Dou Ling, it hadn't taken long for her to break through to Dou Wang—especially with the constant intake of poisons accelerating her progress. Though Xiao Hua disliked the idea, feeling as if she is pushing herself too much, she was resolute in her decision.
She sought strength not for herself, but to fully control the Woeful Poison Body, ensuring she wouldn't harm anyone—especially Zi Yan—or cause unnecessary trouble for him.
The moment she reached Dou Wang, she immediately sought out Lady Azure, eager to be guided step by step in mastering the Netherflame Calamity Scripture.
"Xiao Hua, what happened?"
Zi Yan, having sensed the commotion, grew curious about the situation inside. Normally, she would have rushed straight to the wooden cabin to check on Little Fairy Doctor's condition. However, after Lady Azure's stern warning about the danger, she chose to be patient and instead turned to Xiao Hua for answers.
"Little Fairy Doctor has successfully advanced to the Dou Zong class," Xiao Hua explained. "It seems that absorbing and merging the Woeful Poison Body with the Ghostly Poison Flame has allowed her to reach new heights…"
"Dou Zong…? Does that mean she has completely gained control over the Woeful Poison Body?"
"That's right," Xiao Hua confirmed. "She can continue growing stronger without the fear of spreading death wherever she goes."
Zi Yan's bright smile lit up. "I don't care whether she gets stronger or not. As long as Little Fairy Doctor is safe and happy, that's all that matters."
Relief washed over her, knowing that Little Fairy Doctor no longer had to live in constant fear of her terrifying constitution.
Zi Yan's words brought an involuntary smile to Xiao Hua's lips. Chuckling softly, he reached out and gently ruffled her small head. He couldn't agree more with her sentiment.
"Should we check on Little Fairy Doctor in the wooden cabin?"
"Sure."
The two began walking toward the wooden cabin. Just as they approached, the door suddenly swung open, and a graceful figure clad in purple stepped out.
Upon seeing them, she smiled—a radiant expression that seemed to bathe the surrounding medicinal fields in the warmth of spring.
As she emerged from beneath the shadow of the towering tree that sheltered the cabin, the scattered sunlight fell upon her, revealing her full appearance.
Draped in elegant snow-white and purple robes, her slender figure exuded a quiet grace. Long, jet-black hair cascaded down to her waist, framing her delicate, porcelain-like face. She moved with an unhurried elegance, approaching Xiao Hua and Zi Yan with a soft, tranquil presence.
Xiao Hua couldn't help but notice a resemblance between the current Little Fairy Doctor and Yun Yun after she had regained her cultivation. However, there was a distinct difference—while Yun Yun carried a subtle air of coldness, Little Fairy Doctor radiated nothing but gentle warmth.
"Have you succeeded?"
Xiao Hua couldn't help but ask. With Lady Azure overseeing the process, the chances of failure were slim. What truly piqued his curiosity was whether Little Fairy Doctor had successfully merged the Ghostly Poison Flame with her Woeful Poison Body.
According to Lady Azure, their fusion would trigger a transformation, drastically enhancing the potency of the poison coursing through her body—making it even more terrifying.
Little Fairy Doctor responded with a gentle smile and gave a slight nod before speaking in her soft, delicate voice.
"Yes, I've fully brought the Woeful Poison Body under my control. However, merging it with the Ghostly Poison Flame is quite difficult. I need a place with dense fire energy to increase my chances of success—at least by five percent."
"A place filled with fire energy?" Xiao Hua frowned slightly, deep in thought as he considered their options.
"It doesn't need to be extremely dense, child. And besides… the place you seek is much closer than you think."
A melodious voice interrupted Xiao Hua's thoughts, prompting him to lift his head. Emerging gracefully from the wooden cabin was a breathtaking beauty, her emerald-jade hair cascading down her back.
Who else could it be but Lady Azure?
Aside from Xue Yue—who remained seated quietly atop the massive statue's head—she was the only one who ever called him 'child.'
"Sister Azure, do you know of such a place?" Xiao Hua raised a brow in confusion, wondering where she could be referring to and how she knew of it.
"Have you forgotten? There's a desert not too far from here," Lady Azure replied with a soft smile. She had seen maps of the Jia Ma Empire and the North-West Region, so she was well aware of a certain desert.
"A desert? You mean the Tager Desert?" Xiao Hua sought confirmation. Naturally, he knew exactly which place she was referring to.
After all, that was where Xiao Yan had obtained the Green Lotus Core Flame—his first Heavenly Flame. Moreover, that desert was ruled by one of the most captivating heroines in the series, a woman of bewitching beauty and an alluring figure.
It would be a lie if he said that he wasn't curious and didn't want to visit that place, where Medusa, aka Cai Lin, resided.
"However, if we go there, wouldn't the merging process cause problems for those living in the area?" Xiao Hua asked with a slight frown.
"We won't be doing it on the surface, so there's no need to worry," Lady Azure reassured him.
"Underground?" Xiao Hua raised his brows, sensing that the place she had in mind felt somewhat familiar.
A hint of amusement flickered across Lady Azure's face as she replied, "An underground area filled with magma would certainly be an ideal location. But this particular place is even more special… for a certain reason that makes it absolutely perfect."
Xiao Hua let out a wry smile as realization dawned upon him. "A Heavenly Flame, isn't it…?"
Lady Azure nodded, her voice tinged with both excitement and amusement. "A place capable of birthing a Heavenly Flame is anything but ordinary. Naturally, the fire energy there will be incredibly dense, depending on the flame's properties."
However, Xiao Hua could sense that her excitement wasn't just about the location—it was because this would be her first time witnessing a Heavenly Flame, a type of flame that bore an uncanny resemblance to her own. It was only natural. After all, Heavenly Flames were essentially replicas of Primordial Heavenly Flames, inferior to the original, in terms of strength and its origin.
"But that can wait. The little girl must first reach five-star Dou Zong before even considering merging the Woeful Poison Body and the Ghostly Poison Flame."
Xiao Hua and Little Fairy Doctor both gave acknowledging nods in unison. They understood that this matter couldn't be rushed, nor could it be taken lightly.
If they are careless and treaded without care, the fate of Little Fairy Doctor is where death is a merciful ending.
"Lady Azure, what about me? Is there anything you can do to help me?"
Just as the discussion was coming to a close, Zi Yan stepped forward, quickly approaching Lady Azure. Ever since learning about her background—and the possibility that her clan had fractured due to the absence of a ruler—she had been unable to shake her anxiety.
At her question, Lady Azure fell into deep thought, a troubled expression crossing her face.
"This… is not something I can help with," she admitted calmly. "Magical Beasts are different from humans, especially those with powerful bloodlines like yours. To grow stronger, you require the deep inheritance of your ancestors. Without it, even I am powerless to assist you."
Zi Yan's small face was clouded with bitterness and reluctance. She understood that Lady Azure's words were true and couldn't refute them, but that didn't make them any easier to accept.
Seeing the usually cheerful and energetic Zi Yan now filled with disappointment, both Xiao Hua and Little Fairy Doctor felt a pang of sadness. They exchanged glances before offering her a helpless yet gentle smile.
Xiao Hua let out a soft sigh, then stepped forward and gently patted Zi Yan's head. With a reassuring smile, he said, "Don't worry about your tribe for now. Didn't Sister Azure say that the Ancient Void Tribe is the most powerful among Magical Beasts?"
He continued, his voice warm and soothing as he brushed his fingers through her hair, "It would take an unimaginable force to bring down the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe. None of the current Magical Beast clans can rival their strength, so you don't have to be afraid."
Zi Yan hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. "Fine… but you have to make me more pills so I can grow stronger!" She looked up at Xiao Hua with a mixture of stubbornness and slight resentment.
However, beneath that, Xiao Hua could see a faint, pleading look in her eyes. He understood—this wasn't just about increasing her strength. She was truly worried about her tribe.
More than anything, she didn't want to be alone. The thought of her tribe's survival reassured her that she wasn't the last of her kind, that she wouldn't be left behind and be alone in a world without her people.
"I understand. But your stomach is like a bottomless pit, so it is difficult for me to make you evolve into a rank six magical beast…" Xiao Hua let out a helpless laugh.
Although most of the medicinal ingredients have been used to refine eighth-tier medicinal pills, he knew that her stomach will also be the reason there will always be a huge empty space in Mysterious Heaven Ring. Even now, thinking about this matter cause him to feel a heartache.
'Looks like I'll have to draw Gacha again… I just hope the rewards are filled with medicinal plants and flowers.' Xiao Hua sighed inwardly, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.
Zi Yan laughed happily upon hearing Xiao Hua's promise. After traveling with him for so long, she knew that he was someone who always kept his word—even if he did so reluctantly. It was one of the many reasons she had always stayed by his side.
"So, how long will we be staying here, Xiao Hua?" Seeing Zi Yan's mood brighten, Little Fairy Doctor stepped closer to Xiao Hua and asked about their next plans.
"Well, a certain someone would definitely get bored if we stayed in my clan for too long, so we'll remain here until it's time for our departure," Xiao Hua said with a teasing smile, his gaze playfully landing on Zi Yan.
Then, turning to Little Fairy Doctor, he added, "Since you've advanced to Dou Zong, it's best for you to stabilize your foundation as well."
"I understand." Little Fairy Doctor nodded in agreement.
She hesitated for a moment before gazing at Xiao Hua, then softly asked, "What about you? What will you be doing in the meantime?"
Her question held no deeper meaning—she was merely curious. After all, she had witnessed Xiao Hua practicing his techniques: Angry Buddha Lotus Flame and Divine Thunder Beast Manifestation.
Back when she was still a Dou Ling, both techniques had left her utterly astonished. But now that she had reached Dou Zong, she could fully comprehend just how terrifyingly powerful they truly were.
Yet, her surprise grew even greater when she heard from Lady Azure that, while those two techniques were among Xiao Hua's many trump cards, they were not his true trump card.
Those techniques were already terrifying, but she had never imagined that he possessed something even more formidable—something he had yet to reveal to her.
His true trump card had always been one thing and one thing only: the Nine Supreme Chaos Strike.
Curiosity stirred within her. Lady Azure and Lady Xue Yue had both praised this so-called trump card, calling it a technique that only a madman could have created. Even Lady Azure, despite having played a small role in its development, admitted that it was beyond anything ordinary.
Xiao Hua fell into deep thought before turning to Lady Azure, his expression growing serious. "While we're waiting, I plan to unleash the Second Strike and Third Strike."
The moment those words left his mouth, the calm and composed expression of Lady Azure, as well as the cold indifference of Lady Xue Yue, shifted drastically.
From their reactions alone, Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan could immediately tell—this technique was not just powerful. It was something truly terrifying, something that even they had to take seriously.
"Even the First Strike alone caused massive destruction. The Second Strike and Third Strike are exponentially more dangerous and destructive."
"Although the Third Strike may not possess as much raw destructive power as the first two, it is still incredibly dangerous—especially for the two little girls—because its range is far greater than either of them."
Lady Azure and Lady Xue Yue spoke with grave seriousness. Though Xiao Hua had yet to unleash the two strikes, they understood from the technique's very design that merely testing it would be perilous.
"Moreover, you should know just how difficult it is to control this technique. Even someone like you, with exceptional control over Dou Qi and Spiritual Strength, will struggle to restrain it." Lady Azure's voice was tense, her expression solemn.
Just as she had said, even with his unparalleled control, Xiao Hua found the Second Strike and Third Strike incredibly difficult to control.
Xiao Hua's brows furrowed as he calmly pondered the situation. It was true—he might have been too hasty in his decision.
Although his curiosity burned, he couldn't afford to put Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan at risk just to satisfy it. Still, ensuring that his technique remained under his control was non-negotiable. He had no choice but to continue practicing it.
The real problem, however, lay in the nature of the Nine Supreme Chaos Strike. To unleash the Second Strike or Third Strike, he first had to execute the First Strike. Each strike built upon the previous one, evolving and exponentially increasing in power until it reached the final, ultimate strike…
After a moment of contemplation, Xiao Hua exhaled lightly and made his decision.
"In that case, I'll focus on upgrading Four Divine Phoenixes, Fly and Dance Across Heaven instead."
With that, he temporarily abandoned the idea of practicing the Nine Supreme Chaos Strike.
He recalled that he had obtained the corpse of an Immortal Fire Phoenix from the Gacha. As for the Heaven Demon Phoenix, he had already given it to his elder sister, Mei Ling, since her secret technique required pure phoenix blood and essence to advance in strength.
Regardless, by refining and crafting wings from the Immortal Fire Phoenix, he could significantly enhance Four Divine Phoenixes, Fly and Dance Across Heaven. An upgrade would grant him an immense boost in speed while drastically reducing Dou Qi consumption—an advantage too great to ignore.
Moreover, there was also the Four Mysterious Technique, a secret art shrouded in mystery. So far, only one of its techniques had been revealed to him. However, if he fully refined this corpse and absorbed its bloodline, another lock would be released, granting him access to the second technique.
"Good." Lady Azure and Lady Xue Yue both nodded in relief. They were truly grateful that their little brother wasn't a complete madman…
After leaving the small valley, Xiao Hua made his way back to the nearby cave—the same place where he had once recuperated from his injuries before challenging the eighth trial.
With a flick of his finger, an enormous Immortal Fire Phoenix corpse materialized before him. Fortunately, the cave extended into a deeper chamber, spacious enough to accommodate the massive body.
Otherwise, taking it out in the open would have been far too risky, as it would undoubtedly attract the attention of countless Magical Beasts lurking in the mountain range.
He took a few steps around the corpse, his gaze sweeping over its entirety. A trace of admiration flickered in his eyes. Even in death, the Immortal Fire Phoenix exuded an overwhelming presence. From the lingering aura alone, Xiao Hua could tell that, before its fall, it had undoubtedly been a powerhouse above the Dou Zun realm...
The Immortal Fire Phoenix was an ancient Magical Beast. While it lacked the prestigious reputation of the Ancient Heaven Phoenix—ancestor of the Ancient Heaven Phoenix Clan—or the Ancient Void Dragon, it remained a force to be reckoned with.
If the rulers of Magical Beasts were akin to emperors, then the Immortal Fire Phoenix was among the lesser kings, a name that once echoed across the Dou Qi Continent during the ancient era.
The corpse of the Immortal Fire Phoenix was shrouded in flickering golden-red embers, as though it were on the verge of being extinguished. Its form was slender yet resilient, exuding an air of untamed grace rather than overwhelming majesty. Its feathers, a deep crimson, were streaked with molten gold that rippled like flowing lava.
Unlike the Heaven Demon Phoenix he had found in the Black-Corner Region, this corpse radiated a faint warmth, appearing startlingly fresh—almost as if it had met its demise mere moments ago.
"I wonder where exactly the System got this from…"
A murmur of disbelief, tinged with astonishment, escaped his lips. His brows furrowed as he pondered the mystery.
This corpse belonged to the ancient era, yet not a single trace of time had touched it. More than that, its blood essence was invaluable—especially to Magical Beasts that carried even the faintest trace of phoenix lineage in their blood.
Absorbing it would significantly strengthen their bloodline, pushing their power to greater heights—if they weren't consumed by it first.
If word got out that Xiao Hua possessed a pristine Immortal Fire Phoenix corpse from ancient times, every Magical Beast with phoenix bloodline would hunt him to the ends of the world to claim it.
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