Chapter 841
The Spirit Clan Incident
The spacious training room was filled with a chilling atmosphere, and a white mist swirled around the walls, enveloping the entire secret room as if it were an icy wonderland.
In the very center of the secret chamber, a figure sat quietly cross-legged, his aura as deep and profound as an abyss.
If someone were to examine closely, they would be able to perceive two distinct forces within him, clashing against each other, yet being forcibly suppressed by a more powerful will—extremely contradictory, yet strangely coexisting.
Xiao Ling closed his eyes tightly, his mind completely absorbed into his body, and continuously refined the two strange fire origins, the Flame of Life and the Flame of Nothingness, by circulating the Burning Technique endlessly.
This scene in the cultivation room has remained unchanged for who knows how much time.
Suddenly, Xiao Ling, who was sitting cross-legged, trembled slightly. A restrained yet extremely powerful aura quietly spread out, but as soon as it overflowed, he instantly gathered it back into his body, leaving no trace of it leaking out.
Then, Xiao Ling slowly opened his eyes.
Deep within his eyes, two streaks of flame, one black and one green, flashed by in an instant, one as black as an abyss and the other as green as a spring of life, before finally fading into silence.
He exhaled a long, pent-up breath, his breath deep and resonant.
With that exhalation, the biting cold air that permeated the entire cultivation room was drawn into his body in an instant, as if by an invisible force. The white mist dissipated and the chill vanished, as if that icy secret realm had never existed.
Xiao Ling casually stretched his muscles and bones, and with a slight lift of his arms, a series of crisp and dense cracking sounds came from his body.
The stagnation and stiffness from sitting in seclusion for so long were instantly relieved, and his meridians felt incredibly comfortable. He couldn't help but let out a soft, pleasant groan.
Immediately, he looked inward and felt the fighting spirit within him, which was several times stronger than before and surging like a river. A satisfied smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.
Although this refinement did not break through the bottleneck and enter the ranks of four-star Dou Sheng in one fell swoop, his cultivation level has steadily improved from the early stage of three-star Dou Sheng to the late stage of three-star Dou Sheng. Such gains are already quite remarkable.
"I wonder how long this seclusion lasted. It shouldn't have been long. Xun'er must have finished her cultivation by now."
Xiao Ling stroked his chin, muttered something to himself, then took a step and walked slowly towards the door of the cultivation room.
……
Xiao Ling strolled along the courtyard path, surrounded by lush flowers and trees, and verdant spiritual herbs. Rare spiritual plants that were rarely seen in the outside world were everywhere here, and the elegant scenery was refreshing.
Gazing at the vibrant life before him, Xiao Ling felt a stirring in his heart, a sudden sense of leisure and refined pleasure arising within him. He gently extended a finger, and a cluster of warm, verdant flames, brimming with boundless vitality, danced leisurely at his fingertip—the very flame of life he had just completely refined.
Xiao Ling flicked his finger, and the cluster of emerald flames instantly transformed into countless tiny sparks, slowly drifting towards the surrounding spiritual flowers and herbs.
The sparks fell gently, without causing any burning sensation, but instead spreading a warm and gentle halo of life.
Nourished by this flame of life, the already vibrant flowers and plants stretched their branches and leaves and bloomed buds at a speed visible to the naked eye, their colors becoming even more vivid and luscious. In an instant, the entire path was filled with vitality, presenting a thriving scene.
"Tsk tsk, its effects are truly remarkable." Xiao Ling looked at the increasingly lush spiritual plant in front of him, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. "I'll get some medicinal herbs later and test its abilities properly."
He secretly calculated that the higher the grade of the medicinal herbs, the greater the amount of battle qi consumed during the ripening process. Even so, with the Flame of Life in hand, there would be no longer any worry about a shortage of medicinal herbs in the future.
Even with the Heavenly Creation Dew in the small green bottle, its production efficiency was ultimately limited; a single drop could only extend the age of a medicinal herb by a hundred years. Many high-grade alchemy materials not only had stringent quality requirements but also required thousands or even tens of thousands of years of age. Therefore, when he and Yao Chen used the Heavenly Creation Dew in the past, they could only cautiously select the most premium medicinal materials for its use.
But now, the Flame of Life has no such limitations. As long as the battle qi is sufficient, any spiritual herb, regardless of its grade, can be accelerated to the required age in a very short time.
If used in conjunction with the Dew of Creation, the effect will be even more synergistic, undoubtedly making the path of alchemy in the future much smoother.
After all, if the vegetation to be cultivated were something like the Bodhi Ancient Tree, whose strength far surpasses Xiao Ling's current state, then the Flame of Life would naturally be of no use. On the contrary, the Dew of Creation would be remarkably effective.
Xiao Ling walked at a leisurely pace, slowly traversing the smooth bluestone path, until he reached the front courtyard.
Everywhere you look, there are lush trees and blooming flowers. A light, ethereal atmosphere drifts in the wind. Exquisite pavilions and winding paths lead to secluded spots. Every step reveals a scene of elegance and nobility, making it as tranquil as a paradise on earth.
His gaze, the moment he stepped into the front courtyard, was unsurprisingly drawn to the graceful figure on the swing on the side of the courtyard.
At this moment, Xun'er leaned gently against the swing, her light blue dress flowing like clouds, spotless. When the wind passed, the hem of her dress fluttered slightly, like a lotus just beginning to bloom, or like a mountain after a fresh rain, elegant and refined, with a natural grace that transcended the mundane.
Her long, jet-black hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall, with a few soft strands brushing her cheeks, making her skin appear even more radiant and fair, and her features as exquisitely sculpted as a painting.
Her eyes were clear as autumn water, her nose was straight and delicate, and her lips were light and moist. Every movement she made was a natural grace and elegance. Her beauty was untouched by worldly concerns. Just sitting there quietly made the entire courtyard shine.
Even though he had already etched Xun'er's extraordinary beauty into his heart, Xiao Ling still couldn't help but be slightly taken aback when he gazed at her stunning face again.
Even with his current calm and reserved nature, he couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth and secret joy in his heart. He sighed to himself, thinking that to have such a beautiful and talented woman by his side was truly a blessing from heaven.
Xun'er seemed to have sensed his arrival beforehand. A gentle smile curved her eyes as she slowly rose from the swing, took light steps, and gracefully walked towards him until she stopped half a step in front of him.
The girl stretched out her slender fingers and gently gathered a few strands of soft hair that had been ruffled by the breeze on her forehead, obediently tucking them behind her ear. Her fingertips lightly twirled them, a gesture so gentle that it made one's heart tremble.
She looked up at the stunned Xiao Ling, smiled gently, and spoke in a soft, gentle voice with a hint of playful teasing:
"Brother Xiao Ling, why are you standing there in a daze?"
Xiao Ling raised his hand and affectionately pinched Xun'er's delicate nose, chuckling softly:
"You silly girl, you're teasing me now."
His gaze was so tender it seemed to overflow with tears, as he looked at the girl before him, his tone sincere and affectionate:
"As for being in a daze... it's naturally because I was attracted by my Xun'er's stunning beauty. No matter how many times I see you, you are still so breathtakingly beautiful, like a fairy descended from the heavens, absolutely gorgeous."
Praised so directly and passionately by her beloved, Xun'er's cheeks flushed a light blush, her heart swelled with sweetness, yet she lowered her eyes shyly. She naturally reached out and took Xiao Ling's arm, her voice soft and slightly coquettish:
"Brother Xiao Ling, please don't praise Xun'er so exaggeratedly, she's getting embarrassed."
Xiao Ling suddenly stopped smiling, his expression turned serious, and he stared at her intently, feigning seriousness.
“I’m not joking at all, every word is true. My Xun’er is naturally this kind of beauty.”
The two chatted and laughed, their behavior intimate and natural, as if they had been together for a thousand years.
Xiao Ling gently pulled Xun'er onto the swing. He subtly activated his battle qi, and the swing swayed gently and steadily in the breeze.
Xun'er leaned gently against Xiao Ling's chest, their hair intertwined and fluttering in the wind, densely entwined together, just like the years that would follow, clinging tightly to each other.
"Xun'er, during our seclusion, has there been any unusual activity in Zhongzhou? In my opinion, the Soul Clan will definitely not stay still."
Xiao Ling gently put his arm around Xun'er's fragrant shoulder, casually playing with a few strands of her soft hair with his fingertips, and asked in a calm tone,
Xun'er nodded slightly, gathered her thoughts, and said softly:
“Brother Xiao Ling is right. During the time we were in seclusion, a lot of things did happen in Zhongzhou. The most obvious thing is that the Soul Palace has been making more and more frequent moves.”
"According to the information sent back by the spies planted by the ancient clan in Zhongzhou, under the secret instigation and instruction of the Soul Palace, many forces in Zhongzhou that are willing to curry favor with the Soul Palace have already taken action."
To curb the growing power of the Starfall Pavilion, aided by Xiao Ling's brother, the Heavenly Nether Sect and the Ice River Valley, along with dozens of other renowned sects within the Central Continent, formed a new alliance called the Nether River Alliance.
"The Styx Alliance... I remember that the Heavenly Demon of the Styx Sect that day was already a high-level half-saint." Xiao Ling tapped his knee lightly with his fingertips, his tone indifferent. "It's a pity they were short-sighted, insisting on becoming lackeys of the Soul Palace. What became of them later?"
Xun'er smiled faintly, her tone relaxed: "To dare to attack Xingyun Pavilion is simply overestimating one's own strength. According to reports, Cousin Xiao Yan led his men to clash with the experts of the Styx Alliance several times, but the entanglement was endless, which made even Senior Yao a little impatient."
"In the end, Elder Yao personally took action and killed Tianming Old Demon with a single move. The leaderless Styx Alliance was then wiped out by the Starfall Pavilion and the Pill Tower. Those sects that relied on it also suffered the fate of scattering like monkeys when the tree falls."
"However, what shocked Zhongzhou even more than the destruction of the Styx Alliance and other major forces was the reappearance of Elder Yao with the might of a Dou Sheng. In most people's eyes, he had been missing for many years, and there were even rumors that he had perished. No one expected that he would return as a genuine Dou Sheng expert. This matter caused quite a stir throughout Zhongzhou."
"Speaking of which, Senior Yao was able to successfully break through to the Dou Sheng realm thanks to the Dou Sheng body you sent him earlier." Xiao Ling chuckled, his tone full of relief. "Now, the old man no longer intends to hide his whereabouts."
“Actually, he had mentioned to me before that he intended to continue lying low and help me when I encountered danger.” Xiao Ling paused, a hint of confidence flashing in his eyes. “However, with my current cultivation level, I no longer need his protection. It’s not surprising that he chose to re-emerge from Zhongzhou at this time.”
Just then, a slight ripple appeared in the void above the courtyard, and the space trembled gently like water. A tall figure slowly stepped out from the spatial rift.
The fact that the person could enter Xiao Ling and Xun'er's private courtyard without any hindrance speaks volumes about their identity; they were none other than Gu Yuan, the patriarch of the Gu clan and Xun'er's biological father.
Upon seeing Gu Yuan's arrival, Xiao Ling and Xun'er immediately rose from the swing, stood up straight, and bowed in unison.
"I have met my father."
"Greetings, Father-in-law."
Gu Yuan raised his hand and waved it lightly, his tone calm and composed, with the warmth of an elder: "Alright, there's no need for such formalities between us."
His gaze swept across them, clearly indicating that he had already sensed that the two had finished their seclusion and had come specifically for this purpose.
When his gaze fell on Xiao Ling, a clear hint of approval flashed in Gu Yuan's eyes, and he nodded slightly.
"Indeed, your cultivation has stabilized at the late stage of the three-star Dou Sheng realm. It seems that the cultivation technique you practice is indeed profound and unique. The potential of this technique is probably far beyond the expectations of all of us."
"Hehe, if Father-in-law wishes to observe and comprehend this technique, I will certainly offer it to you without reservation, so you can study it in detail," Xiao Ling said with a light laugh.
Of course, he was just being polite. With Gu Yuan's current Supreme Realm, his foundation was already firmly established. It was impossible for him to abandon his cultivation and start over just because of a single technique. Moreover, the Burning Technique was originally just a low-level Yellow Rank technique.
Gu Yuan gently shook his head and said with a faint smile, "At my current level, cultivation techniques are no longer a constraint, so there's no need for them. On the path of cultivation, you young people can simply exchange and learn from each other."
He paused slightly, the smile on his face slowly fading, and his tone became serious:
"I have come here today to tell you some extremely important news."
According to intelligence reports from within the clan, a major upheaval has occurred within the Spirit Clan.
The entire Spirit Realm, where the Spirit Race resided, vanished completely, as if it had never existed. I even personally dispatched a Dou Sheng elder to investigate the original location of the Spirit Realm, but it was utterly empty, without even a trace of space remaining.
Upon hearing this, a look of surprise flashed across Xiao Ling's and Xun'er's faces at the same time.
Xiao Ling remained calm, having anticipated this. He knew that the Soul Clan's actions were undoubtedly aimed at the Ancient Emperor Jade of Tuoshe in the hands of the Spirit Clan. However, the Soul Emperor would never have imagined that the ancient jade was currently lying peacefully in his system space.
All that great effort by the Soul Clan turned out to be a wasted trip.
It's just pitiful that the Spirit Clan suffered an undeserved calamity, with the entire clan being refined and devoured by the Void Devouring Flame, their fate truly tragic.
"Although the Spirit Race has been declining in recent years, it is still one of the ancient races with a profound foundation. It is impossible for it to be completely wiped out without anyone noticing. There must be something very strange behind this. The force that took action must be more powerful than we can imagine."
Xun'er murmured softly, then suddenly paused.
She gradually came to her senses. Judging from the current situation of the Dou Qi Continent, there are only two forces that can silently wipe out an entire ancient race and completely erase its boundaries: the Soul Clan and the Ancient Clan.
As the most powerful ancient race openly known today, the Ancient Clan undoubtedly faces the greatest suspicion from outsiders. (End of Chapter)