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"Void Swallowing Flame, you're courting death!"
A furious roar erupted from the Soul Clan army below. The speaker was none other than Hun Feng, the son of the Soul Heaven Emperor and the young patriarch of the Soul Clan. Pointing at Void Swallowing Flame, he shouted to the Soul Clan elders, "All elders, attack together! Kill this traitor!"
"Heh, kill me? Hun Feng, do you even know why the Soul Heaven Emperor hasn't made a move yet? You're adorably naïve. Let me show you who truly controls the Soul Clan!"
Void Swallowing Flame grinned. In the Soul Clan army below, dozens of figures suddenly appeared and stood behind him. What shocked the Soul Clan was that all of them were Dou Saint powerhouses—and most of them possessed Void Swallowing Flame's sub-flames.
"Heh... It seems you've been scheming in secret all these years. To think all these elders have unknowingly fallen under your control..." said the Soul Heaven Emperor coldly, his eyes narrowing as he gazed at the familiar figures.
"Hmph, not just the elders. Seven or eight out of ten Soul Clan members bear the bloodline imprint I implanted—including your son, Hun Feng." Void Swallowing Flame smiled at Hun Feng, who now looked visibly shaken after having just been fuming with rage. Calmly, he added, "Soul Heaven Emperor, did you really think I was working for your clan for free? With just a thought, I could cripple your clan."
At this point, most of the Dou Saint elders in the Soul Clan army had become puppets of Void Swallowing Flame. The army's lifeblood was firmly in his grasp, and only the Four Demon Saints remained by the Soul Heaven Emperor's side as capable fighters.
"Remove the bloodline imprint from the Soul Clan army," the Soul Heaven Emperor said indifferently. "Do that, and I'll let you leave."
Hearing this, Void Swallowing Flame frowned. "Soul Heaven Emperor, I hold the very lives of your clan—including your son—in my hands. Are you sure you understand who's in control here?"
"I do not accept threats from anyone," the Soul Heaven Emperor replied, his voice cold. "Telling you to remove the bloodline imprint is me giving you a chance. Do not think that just because I'm seriously injured, I cannot suppress you. As long as I exist, the Soul Clan will never suffer irreversible damage."
His voice echoed throughout the Ancient Realm. Though his body looked frail, his presence seemed to swell infinitely. Everyone, including Void Swallowing Flame, was overwhelmed. The latter's pupils contracted slightly as he involuntarily recalled the fear the Soul Clan had long felt under the Soul Heaven Emperor's dominance.
"Hmph, fine. I agree."
A fierce gleam flashed in Void Swallowing Flame's eyes. The figures behind him hesitated briefly, then each spat out a dense black flame. The flames floated into the air and formed a strange, ominous formation that emitted a terrifying pressure.
"Don't think I'm doing this because I fear you. At worst, we'll both suffer," he said coldly.
This formation was his precaution against Qian Renhan and Zhukun, and he couldn't afford to use it here. Even though those two were allies, one could never be too careful. Void Swallowing Flame had never placed his life in the hands of others.
In the Desolate Ancient Domain, Qian Renhan was slowly devouring the Dou Emperor's resentment within the Bodhi Ancient Tree. The grudge energy was vast and pure, requiring no refinement as it was naturally absorbed by Qian Renhan, greatly amplifying his battle energy.
As the resentment faded, the tree's once-gray vines turned a vibrant green. Its foundation, which had been damaged and reduced to half-Emperor strength, steadily recovered.
The Bodhi Ancient Tree was an imperial-level entity, where time flowed differently from the outside world. Qian Renhan had spent a full month inside absorbing the Dou Emperor's grudge, yet only a few days had passed outside.
Once the tree had been fully cleansed of resentment, its branches and tender leaves danced, releasing a brilliant light. The glow was so intense that it blinded everyone in the vicinity, including the magical beasts rushing through the domain to resist the beast tide.
A vast amount of pure energy gathered above the tree, forming the shape of a small child—no more than three or four years old. He had a tuft of black hair on his head, with the rest being bald, and wore only a red bellyband. His pale, rosy face was irresistibly cute—so adorable it felt illegal.
"Human, thank you for purging my resentment and allowing me to gain sentience," the boy said. His tender voice carried an oddly ancient tone.
Qian Renhan was not surprised by the sentient form the Bodhi Ancient Tree had taken. Calmly, he said, "It was mutual benefit. Thanks to your resentment, my cultivation reached the late stage of Nine-Star Dou Saint. Now, only one final step remains on my path."
"Human, my Bodhi Tree possesses three treasures: the Bodhi Heart, Bodhi Seed, and Bodhi Fruit. They're not of much use to you. But if you'd like, you may stay to comprehend my essence. I am known as the Tree of Reincarnation and Wisdom. I can guide one through a hundred lifetimes. Those who experience such cycles gain the potential to become a Dou Emperor."
"Of course, even without my help, you already possess the qualifications to ascend to Dou Emperor. But this hundred-lifetime experience will accelerate your cultivation, helping you reach the peak of late-stage Nine-Star Dou Saint with ease."
As he spoke, the boy pointed a finger, and the surrounding energy gathered to form a grass mat. Forming tangible items from Dou Qi was something anyone at the Dou Ancestor level could achieve.
"A hundred lives... ten thousand years of wandering through different worlds? No need," Qian Renhan scoffed and turned to walk away from the tree.
"Are you sure?" The boy scratched his head, puzzled why Qian Renhan would refuse such a grand opportunity. Was he worried he wouldn't return from it?
"Some opportunities are worth taking. Others aren't," Qian Renhan replied, walking on without pause. A hundred reincarnations—would he still be himself by the end of it?
The strong make the rules; the weak follow. Qian Renhan forged his path through bloodshed, guided only by his own will. Each lifetime had its own experiences and rules. No one is born invincible; all are bound by constraints.
Even as a scion of the Martial Soul Hall's Qian family, Qian Renhan's path of blood and slaughter was marred by setbacks from both his clan and external factors. He had to venture alone to the Dou Qi Continent. Fortunately, here, he was free from restrictions. He followed his desires and grudges freely. The only bond he formed—Zi Yan—never hindered him. On the contrary, she supported and rescued him, ensuring his Dao remained undamaged.
Leaving the Desolate Ancient Domain, Qian Renhan rejoined Void Swallowing Flame and the main force. The latter tossed over the Soul Heaven Emperor's ring and briefly recounted what had happened with the Ancient Clan.
"Plans never keep up with change. Who would've thought the Soul Heaven Emperor had such a massive collection? Now that the Ancient Clan is gone as a source of nourishment, let the Flame and Thunder Clans take their place—their pills, their souls, and the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade."
(End of Chapter)