88: Pain and happiness, Xiao Yan is numb

Chapter 88: Pain and Pleasure, Xiao Yan is Numb

Upon reaching the Imperial Capital, Mittel Tengshan quickly arranged a place.

Originally, he had planned to host a banquet to properly entertain Soul Cang, fulfilling his duty as a host.

But Soul Cang refused; such things were superficial and unimportant. What he cared about most now was the reward.

However, before starting, he still requested some medicinal herbs.

Thanks to the relationship between Mittel Tengshan and Fa Ma, the items were quickly delivered to Soul Cang.

“You all may leave first,” Soul Cang dismissed the others.

Xiao Yan glimpsed Yun Yun’s retreating figure and loudly called out, “Grand Sect Master, make sure to guard outside later! No one is allowed in without my Big Brother’s command!”

Yun Yun abruptly turned around, her beautiful eyes showing a fierce glare.

“Remember your duty! You are the maid I arranged for Big Brother. I already gave you a lot of face by not saying it in front of so many people just now!” Xiao Yan retorted with an unyielding gaze.

With Soul Cang present, Xiao Yan felt emboldened, provocatively challenging Yun Yun.

“Alright,” Soul Cang tapped Xiao Yan’s head, looking at Yun Yun with some helplessness. “You go rest. I don’t need you to guard here.”

Yun Yun clenched her jade-like fist, casting a resentful glance at Xiao Yan, who was making faces while hiding behind Soul Cang, then strode away.

Closing the door, Soul Cang called out Yao Chen, lent him the Bone Spirit Cold Fire, and had him refine the medicinal herbs into pills.

“…” Yao Chen was utterly numb. I’m already a soul, and you still don’t forget to exploit me.

After all, Yao Chen also knew Soul Cang’s alchemy skill. This kind of pill was no problem for Soul Cang; he was clearly just being lazy.

While waiting for the pills, Soul Cang explained some precautions for devouring Heavenly Flames to Xiao Yan.

When he learned that during the devouring process, he would be scorched from the inside out by the Heavenly Flame, and even after devouring it, it wouldn’t be safe, as there might be a backlash in the future.

Xiao Yan hesitated a bit. After the Three-Year Agreement, he found that his desire to become stronger didn't seem as intense.

Having a cultivation technique that wasn't Heaven-tier didn't seem to affect him either.

“You must devour the Heavenly Flame; there’s no room for discussion,” Soul Cang’s expression was cold, his tone revealing anger. “I’m still waiting to milk the system, and you want to back out now?”

Worried that Xiao Yan’s mental pressure would be too great and cause problems, Soul Cang comforted him, “Actually, it’s not as terrifying as you imagine. With Big Brother here, nothing will happen to you.”

He patted Xiao Yan’s shoulder, meeting Xiao Yan’s gaze, and earnestly said, “Second Brother, don’t forget your promise to me before. The Three-Year Agreement isn’t the end! Your path is still long, and you will fight alongside me in the future!”

Finally, Xiao Yan regained his spirit. After the Three-Year Agreement, he had indeed relaxed. Looking back at three years of diligent cultivation, Xiao Yan felt exhausted.

But just as Soul Cang said, facing the Yun Lan Sect, if he hadn't had Big Brother backing him, the course and outcome of events would have been completely opposite to today.

And according to what he understood about this world, in the true sense, a Dou Zong was not considered a strong practitioner. Only a Dou Sheng, or even a Dou Di, truly held the right to speak.

Big Brother is already a Dou Zong and works so hard, even collecting Heavenly Flames to pave the way for me. I must not slack off; I must work hard to catch up to him!

Soon, Yao Chen brought over the pills.

“We’ll start by devouring the lower-ranked Heavenly Flames,” Soul Cang took out the Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Flame, ignoring Yao Chen’s shocked and envious gaze, and handed it to Xiao Yan.

No system prompt… After waiting two seconds, Soul Cang sighed inwardly, confirming that it truly had to be completely devoured to count as a successful gift.

Xiao Yan first swallowed the pill, then, under Soul Cang’s encouraging gaze, swallowed the flame in one gulp.

As the cultivation technique circulated, Xiao Yan’s skin quickly turned crimson, like a cooked shrimp, and white smoke rose from his head.

Time passed bit by bit. The surrounding temperature dropped, and Xiao Yan’s skin returned to normal.

“I succeeded, I succeeded! Big Brother,” Xiao Yan opened his eyes, exclaiming excitedly.

After devouring the Heavenly Flame, his strength reached Two-Star Dou Ling.

At the same time.

Soul Cang also revealed a look of joy.

“Ding, Host has gifted Xiao Yan the Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Flame, triggering the reward Beast Spirit…”

The long-awaited system prompt finally sounded again, and Soul Cang breathed a sigh of relief.

According to the system’s description, the flame that was fed back was ten times more powerful than the Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Flame.

Moreover, it directly endowed the flame with sentience.

In simple terms, the Heavenly Flame that was fed back, like the top three ranked Nether Lotus Demon Flame and Void Swallowing Flame, gained sentience and was no longer just a simple flame.

This was a substantial improvement for flame control.

Soul Cang quickly pulled out the Yin Yang Twin Flames and handed it to Xiao Yan, urging him to devour it quickly.

Seeing another Heavenly Flame, Yao Chen, if he had a body, his eyeballs would have popped out of his sockets.

How much time had passed?

Less than three years!

Excluding the Azure Lotus Core Flame from before, there were now two more Heavenly Flames. Since when were Heavenly Flames so easy to find?

Yao Chen recalled his own process of collecting Heavenly Flames, his heart filled with bitterness.

Perhaps with the previous devouring experience, Xiao Yan spent less time this time.

As his strength once again rose to Five-Star Dou Ling, the Yin Yang Twin Flames was also devoured by Xiao Yan.

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Opening his eyes, Xiao Yan’s eyes were filled with intense excitement: “Big Brother, this cultivation technique is too awesome! My strength increased as if I was cheating, already Five-Star Dou Ling!”

If I had devoured Heavenly Flames before the Three-Year Agreement, I could have easily crushed Nalan Yanran with one hand.

“Of course, everything I give you is good stuff,” Soul Cang smiled, then pulled out the Azure Lotus Core Flame.

Xiao Yan’s smile froze: “Big Brother, still devouring?”

Although the pills aided him, they only helped the body recover, but could not prevent the damage and pain caused by the flames.

Soul Cang nodded, not speaking, only gesturing for Xiao Yan to take the Heavenly Flame.

Seeing Soul Cang’s unyielding gaze and expression, Xiao Yan grimaced and began a new round of Heavenly Flame devouring.

In his heart, he had already started to wail.

Sometimes, having a Big Brother who is too good doesn’t seem to be a good thing…

Pain! So much pain! It’s burning me to death… Wuwu…

Soul Cang ignored the painful expression on Xiao Yan’s face. In his perception, Xiao Yan was still within an acceptable range.

Moreover, all those Heavenly Flames had been suppressed by him first, their destructiveness greatly reduced compared to their original state.

At the same time, during the devouring process, after each devouring, the forging of the body by the flame was also a process of strengthening.

He should be able to devour them all… Soul Cang estimated, his heart filled with fervor and anticipation. Once all of them are fed back, and I devour them again, my strength should be able to break through to Dou Zun.

Originally, based on the original energy intensity of the Heavenly Flames, Soul Cang could have directly broken through to Dou Zun, but he wanted a solid foundation, so he continuously compressed, remaining at Two-Star Dou Zong.

This also meant that even if all the Heavenly Flames were separated now, it wouldn’t have much impact on his strength.

Before long, Xiao Yan finished devouring again. This time, there was no smile on his face, nor could he feel excited.

The repeated burning pain had numbed his spirit.

However, when he saw Soul Cang pull out another blue flame, his emotions still fluctuated.

“Devour,” Soul Cang said concisely, completely ignoring Xiao Yan’s expression.

And as Xiao Yan proceeded with the devouring, Yao Chen saw Soul Cang pull out another invisible flame. He couldn't help but look at Xiao Yan, who was fully engrossed in battling the Sea Heart Flame, with a look of pity.

Is this the legendary pain and pleasure?

Yao Chen’s soul trembled. Looking at the Bone Spirit Cold Fire in his hand, he quickly handed it over and retreated back into the ring.