Word Count: 3,337 Words
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"So this is Asura? Feels pretty good!" At this moment, strands of black light surged from Xiao Yan's entire body. His eyes were dark crimson, making him look like a demon, resembling a true Asura demon god!
There was no longer any trace of fatigue on his face; instead, he appeared somewhat intoxicated, as though savoring it.
The Asura Soul Reaping Technique consisted of three styles, but the first two were merely branches. Its true might lay in the final move, unleashed only when the technique was cultivated to perfection.
When Xiao Yan first obtained the scroll for the Asura Soul Reaping Technique, he understood why Hun Lao Gui had said that even members of the Hun Clan were reluctant to cultivate this Soul Skill. It possessed immense power, but the price was equally steep.
Simply put, cultivating the Asura Soul Reaping Technique was akin to raising a little demon, or rather, nurturing an Asura.
The first time Xiao Yan used Abyss Submersion, the Asura in the abyss took away half of his soul light clusters; those were its nourishment.
Even during regular cultivation of the Asura Soul Reaping Technique, he would sometimes feel as if his soul was being siphoned away.
"Jie Jie Jie! Whether you were a Dou Venerate or a Dou Saint in life, once you're dead, you still have to be buried under the earth!" Xiao Yan suddenly burst into maniacal laughter, reminiscent of a demon's cackle. In an instant, dense black energy enveloped his right hand, and he swung a hand chop toward the giant black serpent in the sky.
"Soul Reap!"
A resounding blade-like hum sounded. Xiao Yan's hand became a blade, and with one slash, a black blade light sliced through the empty space and transformed into an intangible spiritual fluctuation that directly cleaved at the black giant serpent.
Squelch! Hiss!
The serpent's body was instantly torn open, and strands of black energy gushed out from the wound.
This black giant serpent was not a physical entity; it was formed from the resentment and negative energies of those serpent puppets enslaved by the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint's Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils after their deaths.
Roar!
A thunderous roar followed. The black giant serpent was now enraged. It opened its mouth once again to devour the essence of the world. The life force of the entire forest was being frantically absorbed, and the serpent puppets were swallowed one by one like tiny beans.
"Oh my!" Venerable Tian Huo exclaimed in shock. The strength of this black giant serpent had clearly reached the Dou Venerate level! No wonder Qing Lin could not withstand it. Faced with such overwhelming negative energy, she naturally lost her sense of self.
The giant serpent flicked its tongue as though wanting to swallow Xiao Yan in one gulp, attempting to reclaim Qing Lin's body!
Xiao Yan only grinned devilishly and licked his lips. His eyes seemed to already view this black giant serpent as a meal on his plate. This negative energy suited his appetite perfectly.
Clang clang clang!
Amidst the clanging sounds, dozens of thick black soul chains suddenly flew out from his hands. These hefty soul chains formed massive iron links, and with each clanging sound, they shot toward the giant python in the sky.
Xiao Yan clasped his hands, and dozens of thick soul chains formed an inescapable net.
Each chain was jet-black, resembling the chains the Hall of Souls used to bind the earth. By the time the black giant serpent realized it, these chains formed from Spiritual Strength had already tightly bound it.
"You're just an embodiment of evil thoughts, get down here!"
The chains firmly binding the black giant serpent began to be pulled with creaking and clanking sounds. Black light surged from Xiao Yan's body, his terrifying Spiritual Strength resembling that of a demonic sovereign's descent.
Originally, his Spiritual Strength had already reached an astounding middle-grade tier 7 level. Then he had consumed the Great Soul Black Purple Pill he personally refined. Now that he had transformed into an Asura, his Spiritual Strength had soared to the Soul State!
There were four major realms of Spiritual State: Mortal State, Soul State, Heavenly State, and the elusive Emperor State.
The Soul State corresponded to the Spiritual Strength of an 8th-tier alchemist, equivalent to a Dou Venerate!
The reason Xiao Yan chose to cultivate the Asura Soul Reaping Technique was because the scroll stated: 'When cultivated to perfection, unleashing the Asura's killing intent allows one's soul strength to reap souls at the Heavenly State!'
Although he was still far from perfection, reaping a Soul State spirit without a physical body was absolutely within his capabilities!
Boom boom boom!!
Deafening roars echoed incessantly. Xiao Yan tugged on the soul chains, his feet seeming to root into the earth. No matter how the black giant serpent struggled, he remained unfazed.
For a moment, the two forces were locked in a tug-of-war.
However, the black giant serpent was ultimately formed from the power of ancient Dou Venerates enslaved by the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint. It was still a part of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. A loud bang rang out as Xiao Yan's soul chains finally reached their limit.
Snap snap snap!
The soul chains began to break one after another.
Hiss hiss hiss!! The black giant serpent spat out a special kind of black energy from its mouth. This energy corroded the soul chains, making them fragile and easy to break free from.
A fierce glint flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes. If his Spiritual Strength was insufficient, then he would strengthen it!
Buzz!
A black token drifted out of his storage ring with a low buzz.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!!
A surge of black energy instantly gushed out from the Soul Command Token, accompanied by a tornado-like raging flame.
"Hmph!" Xiao Yan let out a cold snort. Mao Wu drilled out from the void, and the Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame instantly transformed into a swirling black vortex that swallowed the assault of the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame.
Meanwhile, a black silhouette suddenly fled from the other side. Upon closer look, it was the soul body of Gu Tong.
At this moment, he no longer cared about the Heavenly Flame; he just wanted to escape as quickly as possible.
The corners of Xiao Yan's mouth curled into a cold smile. The soul body he caught still wanted to escape?
Whoosh!
He opened his mouth, and a soul chain shot out from his throat, directly piercing through Gu Tong's soul body. With a fierce pull, a suction force instantly grabbed the fleeing Gu Tong.
"No! Xiao Yan, spare me! I can serve you like an ox or a horse!" Gu Tong's face was filled with terror. He never imagined that Xiao Yan was actually a member of the Hall of Souls!
The Hall of Souls capturing alchemists and soul bodies was nothing unusual. A Dou Ancestor-level Protector had once attacked him and only managed to escape by relying on the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame.
Originally, Xiao Yan wouldn't have heeded Gu Tong's pleas, let alone now that he had transformed into Asura.
Xiao Yan opened his mouth, darkness exhaled, and a whirlwind engulfed Gu Tong.
"No!!" Gu Tong let out miserable screams as he was directly swallowed!
This scene gave Cai Lin and Venerable Tian Huo quite a fright! Devouring soul bodies to increase strength. How did Xiao Yan know such an evil technique?!
Chomp chomp chomp!
Chewing sounds echoed from Xiao Yan's mouth, followed by a gulp as his throat moved up and down. Instantly, the demonic light surrounding him intensified, and his Spiritual Strength soared even higher!
The Hall of Souls naturally had Secret Techniques to enhance strength, focusing primarily on Spiritual Strength. For example, Protector Wu had devoured the elders of the Misty Cloud Sect and even consumed Yun Shan's soul body, using a Secret Technique to significantly increase his strength.
Although Xiao Yan hadn't cultivated such soul secret techniques, the Asura Soul Reaping Technique allowed him to achieve a similar effect.
Xiao Yan licked his lips as if still unsatisfied and opened his mouth once more. The Soul Command Token trembled madly, and clusters of soul light flew into his mouth like candies!
Those were the same ones he and Cai Lin had earlier snatched from the serpent puppets!
Now, these soul light clusters had all become delicacies in the Asura's mouth!
Xiao Yan exhaled demonic energy, and suddenly a pair of pitch-black demonic wings sprouted from his back. His legs bent slightly, and with a sudden explosive leap, he shot straight into the sky.
Since you won't come down, then I'll come up!
Xiao Yan extended his demonic hands at the same time. His terrifying Spiritual Strength coalesced into a giant hand capable of supporting the heavens as his hands joined together. It crushed down upon the thousand-meter serpent as if kneading dough!
Hiss! Hiss!
Black energy spurted from the serpent's body with a vicious squeeze. This energy was its blood. After all, this serpent wasn't a physical entity but was formed from various negative energies fused together.
Xiao Yan grinned, took a deep breath, and absorbed all the dark energy that had been squeezed out.
"If the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint crawled out from the ground, might be interesting. But you? Not worthy!" Xiao Yan sneered coldly. At this moment, he resembled a demon god of the ninth heavens. The Nihility Devouring Flame enveloped his fists as he drove a heavy blow into the black serpent's head.
Hiss!!!
A miserable cry rang out. Then the enormous black serpent was violently struck down from the sky with a massive boom!
"This... this is too crazy!" Even Venerable Tian Huo was dumbfounded. Xiao Yan's cultivation was only at the 4-star Dou Emperor stage. Although his Spiritual Strength was extraordinary and he was a middle-grade 7th-tier alchemist, the power he was now exhibiting was simply insane!
But it was hardly surprising; Xiao Yan had just devoured numerous soul bodies, all at the Dou Ancestor level. Such Secret Techniques temporarily enhance cultivation through special energies.
Clearly, Xiao Yan was now employing one such method.
Cai Lin's expression turned grave with worry instead, for she knew that every Secret Technique came with side effects. To gain great power, one must pay a price, and the cost of using Asura was definitely not small!
"Die!" Xiao Yan let out a furious roar. He rained blow after blow on the black serpent below with both hands wrapped in the Nihility Devouring Flame.
His attacks tore through the empty space and heavily bombarded the black giant serpent's body. The terrifying power seemed capable of shattering the sky and earth. If not for being within the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint's pupil space, he might have already broken through the sky.
Hiss hiss!
The black giant serpent swung its tail fiercely, managing to block the attack, but a significant portion of its dark energy was absorbed by Xiao Yan!
"Hmph! Asura Soul Reap!" Xiao Yan roared. His hands transformed into blades. As he slashed down on the giant serpent's tail, demonic light surged into the sky, instantly cleaving through space.
With one slash, the sun and moon lost their light, and souls were severed!
Whoosh!
The giant serpent tail was actually cut off by Xiao Yan! How could he let this opportunity slip? He opened his mouth and took a fierce breath; the severed tail transformed into black energy and was entirely swallowed by him.
At this moment, the black giant serpent finally felt fear. The person before it was more terrifying than a demon! It now wanted to escape!
But how could Xiao Yan possibly let it go? The demonic wings on his back fluttered as he pounced on the giant black serpent like a mad demon, frantically biting and devouring masses of black energy with each bite.
Venerable Tian Huo and Cai Lin both wore grave expressions as they saw Xiao Yan transform into a demon.
They understood that the Asura within Xiao Yan had infinitely magnified his desire for power. He had lost himself.
"I need to wake him up." Cai Lin gritted her teeth, stood up slowly, and looked resolutely at Xiao Yan.
The Asura Soul Reaping Technique not only devoured soul bodies, it also eroded Xiao Yan's own soul, leading to self-devouring! If this continued, his soul would eventually be consumed by the Asura as well!
"You'll die!" Venerable Tian Huo cried out in alarm. In Xiao Yan's current state, with Cai Lin's condition, she couldn't possibly stop him. This was no different from delivering a sheep into a tiger's mouth!
A determined glint flashed in Cai Lin's eyes. She said solemnly, "Even if I don't act, do you think the current Xiao Yan will spare us?"
Sure enough, after Xiao Yan completely destroyed the black serpent, he seemed to have an insatiable hunger. His crimson eyes turned toward Venerable Tian Huo and Cai Lin.
Although Xiao Yan was desperately trying to control himself, it was clear that his footsteps were gradually drawing closer.
Cai Lin's body erupted once more with a burst of seven-colored light as she saw Xiao Yan approach. Amidst the radiance, a massive figure slowly emerged. A Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, not much smaller than the previous black giant serpent, appeared before Xiao Yan.
Cai Lin directly reverted to her true form. Her massive tail swept out fiercely as she hoped that knocking Xiao Yan unconscious might dispel this Soul Skill.
The Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python flicked its long tongue, lashing out at Xiao Yan like a whip. But Xiao Yan moved in a ghostlike manner and continuously dodged the strikes.
"Xiao Yan!" Cai Lin called out repeatedly through the special soul connection between them.
However, it was clear that Xiao Yan had already entered a demonized state and couldn't hear her.
The massive tail swung like a mountain crashing down. Xiao Yan's hands transformed into claws as he faced this terrifying attack and fiercely grabbed the serpent tail. His ten fingers exerted force, piercing deeply into the flesh with a sickening sound. Then, with a violent pull, he directly tore off a huge piece of scale.
Scorching serpent blood splattered all over him.
Xiao Yan's body trembled violently the moment he felt the burning serpent blood, and a hint of clarity returned to his crimson eyes.
Cai Lin's eyes focused on his struggle. Her enormous body instantly coiled around Xiao Yan, wrapping him tightly. Through their soul connection, she continuously called out to him.
Xiao Yan let out a heaven-shaking roar. His hands fiercely chopped down, and two hideous, bone-deep wounds instantly appeared on the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python's body.
Boom boom boom!
Deafening explosions echoed repeatedly as their battle raged within this space.
Cai Lin's massive serpent head crashed down like a falling meteor, smashing heavily toward Xiao Yan. "Xiao Yan!"
"Roar!" Xiao Yan had completely lost his rationality. His hands transformed into demonic claws and his palm strikes surged like tidal waves. He fiercely struck out and actually sent Cai Lin's enormous body stumbling backward.
"Xiao Yan!" Cai Lin gritted her teeth and ignored the wounds covering her body. She pressed down hard on him once more.
Clang! Xiao Yan's right hand formed a seal, and the black flames of the Nihility Devouring Flame merged into the God Seal Technique. An ink-black palm imprint slammed heavily into her abdomen!
"Phfft!" Serpent blood poured down like a waterfall.
"Xiao Yan!!!" Cai Lin struggled to lift her head. Even with the Heavenly Flame Serpent Body, she couldn't withstand such ferocious Heavenly Flame attacks.
Hiss! Hiss! She flicked her forked tongue weakly, yet her eyes showed no sign of retreat.
Even Venerable Tian Huo couldn't bear to watch. Xiao Yan had willingly transformed into Asura to save everyone, and now Cai Lin was risking her life to bring him back, using her own body to stop him.
The sounds of blood gushing and continuous explosions filled the air.
Who knew how much time had passed before a familiar and urgent call finally echoed within Xiao Yan's heart. A surge of scalding warmth began to spread throughout his ice-cold body.
By the time Xiao Yan regained his senses, he discovered that he was soaking in a pool of blood. The scorching sensation came from this fresh blood.
Cai Lin's blood was no longer ice-cold like that of ordinary serpents because she had already become a Heavenly Flame Serpent Body. Instead, it was as hot as rolling heatwaves.
"Cai Lin!!!!!!!"
Xiao Yan immediately summoned the Life Flame and frantically poured in Dou Qi. The white fish began to spew out jade-white flames, enveloping the severely wounded body of the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python.
However, Xiao Yan himself was now at the end of his rope. His entire body was numb and wracked with excruciating pain as dizziness clouded his mind. His Dou Qi had long been exhausted. Even continuously circulating the Flame Mantra wasn't enough to sustain the Life Flame's healing.
Tears instantly flowed from his eyes. At this moment, scenes with Cai Lin flashed through his mind. From their first meeting in the desert palace, to the mercenary company, Jia Nan Academy, the Great Meeting of Factions, and finally to this moment.
But soon, he abruptly stood up. A green light descended from the sky in the center of the hall destroyed by their battle. A heavenly ladder appeared before him.
Xiao Yan gritted his teeth. Words were meaningless now. He still had one last glimmer of hope!
The Jade-Eyed Snake Saint's essence blood!
Under normal circumstances, at the end of the inheritance, Qing Lin should have relied on her own willpower to eliminate the dark forces and complete the final trial. Then, this heavenly ladder would appear, leading to the true inheritance of the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint.
Moreover, the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint had left behind Demon Saint essence blood for the inheritor to break through to the Dou Venerate realm!
"Senior Yao, please look after Qing Lin," Xiao Yan said solemnly.
"Your Dou Qi is insufficient to support the Yin-Yang Life and Death Flame! You will die from overexerting your Dou Qi!" Venerable Tian Huo saw that Xiao Yan was still pouring Dou Qi into the Life Flame to sustain Cai Lin's life and maintain their soul connection, and he couldn't help but warn him.
But clearly, Xiao Yan didn't heed him. He walked with his severely injured body to the enormous Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, gently stroked those beautiful scales, then moved beneath the giant serpent head. Gritting his teeth, he let out a loud shout, "Rise!"
He had no Dou Qi left, no Spiritual Strength remaining, but he still had physical strength!
Boom!
The several-hundred-meter-long Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python was actually lifted by his sheer physical strength!
"If you die, I'll never be able to repay this debt!"
Thud!
Thud! Xiao Yan was truly carrying a mountain as he advanced. Each step he took made the earth tremble.
Venerable Tian Huo was momentarily stunned as he saw Xiao Yan intending to carry Cai Lin up this seemingly endless heavenly ladder. Then, gritting his teeth, he placed Qing Lin gently atop Cai Lin's body and slipped the storage ring onto Xiao Yan's finger.
"This old man will accompany you on this journey." Venerable Tian Huo's Spiritual Strength was also nearly depleted, yet he still continuously transmitted it to Xiao Yan to sustain the Life Flame.
Xiao Yan nodded heavily. His eyes showed no confusion or hesitation, only persistence and determination. In his heart, there was only one thought now. He must obtain that Demon Saint essence blood!
The heavenly ladder extended upward at a forty-five-degree angle, steeply inclined, with uniformly high steps emitting a faint cyan glow.
Usually, when Cai Lin transformed into human form, she relied on her own strength to reduce her weight. Otherwise, with her true mass, each step she took would cause the earth to shake.
By the time Xiao Yan had climbed a hundred steps, his entire body was unbearably sore, especially his knees, which had long gone numb. Sweat mixed with the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python's blood and thoroughly soaked his clothes.