56: Soul Decision 1

The camp before dawn was eerily quiet.

Xiao Yan sat cross-legged inside his tent, the yan emperor seal hovering before him, emitting a soft golden light. He formed hand seals, and strands of Soul Power were drawn from between his brows, injecting into the jade seal. With each injection, his face grew paler, but his eyes became more resolute.

“Xiao Clan Bloodline Legacy…Experiences in collecting different flames…Burning Decisive Cultivation insights…”

Xiao Yan murmured softly to himself, meticulously engraving his life’s memories into the yan emperor seal. This was a secret technique called “Soul Succession” he had learned from Elder Yao’s ancient texts—to completely replicate his Soul imprint and leave it for future generations.

Footsteps sounded outside the tent, and Xiao Yan quickly put away the jade seal. The tent flap was lifted, and Elder Yao entered, carrying a steaming bowl of medicinal soup.

“Little Yanzi, drink this bowl of ‘Spirit Calming Soup’.” Elder Yao handed the bowl to Xiao Yan, his gaze sweeping over the faintly glowing yan emperor seal in the corner of the tent. “What…are you preparing?”

Xiao Yan took the bowl and forced a relaxed smile: “Nothing, just organizing some Cultivation insights, just in case.”

Elder Yao looked deeply at his Disciple, not exposing the clumsy lie. He knew Xiao Yan too well; this stubborn child, once he made up his mind, nine oxen couldn't pull him back.

“Xiao Bing’s condition has stabilized.” Elder Yao changed the subject. “He should wake up after resting for another half-day.”

Xiao Yan nodded, drinking the medicinal soup in one gulp. The bitter liquid slid down his throat, but it couldn't compare to the bitterness in his heart. He remembered Xiao Bing following him around, calling “Brother” when they were little, and the days and nights they fought side by side…Now, he had to personally sever this bond.

“Teacher, do you still remember the first time you saw Xiao Bing in Utan City back then?” Xiao Yan suddenly asked.

Elder Yao paused, then fell into reminiscence: “Of course I remember. That kid was hiding behind a pillar, peeking at me teaching you alchemy. When I found him, instead of running, he ran out to shield you, saying something like, ‘Don’t bully my brother’…”

The two exchanged a smile, and past years unfolded before them like a scroll. Elder Yao spoke of Xiao Bing freezing his fingers the first time he tried to control fire, of him Cultivating all night to catch up to his brother’s footsteps, and of him trembling with rage when Nalan Yanran broke off the engagement…

“That child has worshipped you since he was little.” Elder Yao sighed softly. “Do you know why he chose the path of extreme Ice?”

Xiao Yan shook his head. Elder Yao took out a yellowed letter from his storage ring: “This is what he left for me before joining the Tai Ling Ancient Clan. It says, ‘Brother walks the path of fire, so I will walk the path of ice. One fire, one ice, together we can always protect him.’ ”

Xiao Yan took the letter, his fingers trembling slightly. The handwriting on the paper was neat and elegant, yet it conveyed an undeniable resolve. He seemed to see the young Xiao Bing hunched over a desk, writing, his shoulders thin yet stubborn…

“Silly boy…” Xiao Yan’s throat tightened, and he quickly changed the subject. “Teacher, have the allied forces’ casualty statistics been compiled?”

Elder Yao’s expression darkened: “Over three thousand seven hundred dead, over ten thousand seriously injured. Five Heavenly Supremes fell, including Elder Tongxuan of the Ancient Clan.”

Xiao Yan clenched his fists. The Source World could not withstand a second loss like this. He was even more convinced that his decision was correct—only by fully activating the plane of origin could the Evil God be completely eliminated and this disaster ended.

“I’m going to see Xiao Bing.” Xiao Yan stood up, putting the yan emperor seal into his embrace.

Elder Yao hesitated, then finally just nodded: “Go. Remember…no matter what happens, you are both my proudest Disciples.”

Xiao Yan paused, didn't look back, and strode out of the tent.

......

Inside Xiao Bing’s tent, the ice soul mirror hovered above the bed, emitting a faint blue light.

The tent was empty; Xiao Bing, who should have been resting in bed, was now sitting cross-legged before the ice soul mirror, forming hand seals. Strands of ice-blue spiritual energy were drawn from his body and injected into the mirror surface. As the spiritual energy drained, his already pale face became almost transparent, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

“Tai Ling Ancient Clan secret technique…Extreme Ice control insights…plane of origin memories…”

Xiao Bing chanted softly, engraving all his life’s knowledge into the ice soul mirror. This was the “Ice Soul Rebirth” technique he had learned from the Legacy Aunt Qing left behind—to integrate his Soul essence into a Divine Artifact and leave it for his closest kin to inherit.

Footsteps sounded outside the tent, and Xiao Bing quickly ended his incantation, the ice soul mirror’s light fading. He struggled to support himself back to bed, and just as he pulled up the covers, the tent flap was lifted.

“Pretending to sleep isn’t your style.” Elder Gu Yuan entered, holding a green wooden staff, his eyes filled with wisdom that saw through everything.

Xiao Bing opened his eyes helplessly: “Elder Gu…I was just…”

“Just didn’t want your brother to find out you’re preparing for your end?” Elder Gu Yuan hit the nail on the head, sitting by the bed. “Coincidentally, your brother is doing the same thing.”

Xiao Bing’s pupils constricted: “What?”

Elder Gu Yuan took out a memory crystal from his embrace. When activated, it displayed a scene of Xiao Yan engraving the yan emperor seal inside his tent. Xiao Bing stared intently at his brother’s pale face in the image, his heart twisting in pain.

“How could he…I was clearly the one who was supposed to…” Xiao Bing’s voice trembled, and he threw off the covers, about to get out of bed.

Elder Gu Yuan pressed down on his shoulder: “Calm down! Do you think if you rush over now, Xiao Yan will change his mind?”

Xiao Bing froze in place, his hands clenching, making a cracking sound. He knew Xiao Yan too well; once that stubborn brother decided to sacrifice himself, ten horses couldn't pull him back.