The reason Xiao Yan had asked for Yun Yun's Sea Heart Armor wasn't because he was some pervert collecting women's personal belongings.
It was mainly because the armor's material was special—extremely tough—and could serve as an experimental material to test feasibility.
This idea had only come to him thanks to the fact that all the Heavenly Flames he controlled were self-cultivated.
Extracting a portion of them wouldn't cause significant damage; a few days of cultivation would restore them.
While reading the Blood Soul Art, Xiao Yan occasionally sprinkled some seasoning onto the roasting fish.
This time, the seasoning wasn't the Fallen Heart Flame's special ingredient but some herbs he casually crushed.
With his deep understanding of medicinal herbs, Xiao Yan could quickly select and combine herbs to mimic the taste of the Fallen Heart Flame's special seasoning.
However, replicating the effects of a fifth-tier pill was impossible.
After finishing his first read-through of the Blood Soul Art, the fish in Xiao Yan's hand had turned a golden-brown, its rich aroma filling the air and making mouths water.
Glancing at the ten-meter-long crack on the ground, Xiao Yan mused, That high-level puppet's strength is truly impressive—it even affected the area outside the cave this much.
Noticing Xiao Yan's gaze, Yun Yun inexplicably grew nervous. Was he imagining her as some kind of violent maniac?
Xiao Yan slowly looked up at the dignified Yun Yun. "You're quite clever—you actually never left this whole time."
Yun Yun exhaled in relief and said firmly, "As I said before, I must obtain the Purple Spirit Crystal!"
"Heh, want to try my grilled fish again?" Xiao Yan raised the freshly roasted fish in his hand with a smile.
Yun Yun's cheeks flushed slightly. Although she had suffered last time, the tantalizing aroma made it hard to resist her cravings.
She inwardly scolded herself for her lack of restraint. As the sect master of the Yunlan Sect, I've had delicacies from land and sea—why am I treating some wilderness-grilled fish like a treasure?
After a brief hesitation, Yun Yun flicked her fingers, using Dou Qi to pull the fish from Xiao Yan's hand into hers.
She took a small bite of the steaming fish, her beautiful eyes shimmering with satisfaction.
As she chewed slowly, the fish's rich flavor burst in her mouth, the aroma and slight saltiness dancing on her taste buds. Unconsciously, a content smile appeared on her lips.
"I won't be giving you any rewards this time," Yun Yun said lightly, smoothing her skirt before elegantly sitting on a rock to eat.
Seeing her boldly devour the fish, Xiao Yan was taken aback—this wasn't what he had expected. "Aren't you afraid I drugged it?"
Yun Yun wrinkled her nose. "The flavors are clearly different. This one highlights the fish's natural freshness."
Then, realizing how vividly she remembered the taste might be misinterpreted, she added, "Didn't you just call me clever? If you really wanted to do something, would you need drugs?"
The memory of how effortlessly Xiao Yan had neutralized her and the Amethyst Winged Lion King's attacks still shook her.
That level of skill wasn't something an ordinary Dou Huang could counter. It proved his strength far surpassed hers—he was no ordinary person!
Xiao Yan chuckled. "Then, clever Yun Zhi, have you made your decision?"
Being addressed so intimately by a younger man made Yun Yun's blush deepen, her heart in turmoil. "The three days aren't up yet. I'll give you my answer tomorrow."
Xiao Yan wasn't in a hurry. He picked up a second fish and began roasting it, his eyes returning to the Blood Soul Art.
Compared to the Wind's Extreme: Fallen Kill or the Sea Heart Armor, Yun Yun herself—who could assist his cultivation—was the most important.
His display of strength had already made the proud Yunlan Sect master lower her guard.
If he pushed too harshly now, this elegant beauty might dissolve into tears, ruining her charm.
Worse, if she impulsively drew her sword and took her own life—that would be an irreparable loss.
After finishing two fish, Xiao Yan carved out another cave in the valley and sat cross-legged inside.
During the meal, he had read the Blood Soul Art several times, grasping its essence.
Now, in meditation, he recalled the Flame Mantra and other related techniques, deepening his understanding of Heavenly Flame manipulation.
Next, he reflected on his experiences crafting puppets—material selection, refinement methods.
Finally, he combined these insights with the Blood Soul Art for further deduction.
Having studied many Earth-rank techniques from Yao Lao's collection, comprehending the Blood Soul Art's essence came easier.
And when merging the Flame Mantra series with puppet-making experience, the pieces fell into place seamlessly.
After sitting quietly for an hour or two…
[By combining the Flame Mantra's derived techniques, puppet-making experience, and the Blood Soul Art, you have achieved enlightenment. You have comprehended the Blazing Spirit Robe.]
[Blazing Spirit Robe: A sealing method to store Heavenly Flames within magical beast hides, crafted into robe form. When activated, the Heavenly Flames' power erupts, instantly boosting the wearer's strength to levels rivaling wild Heavenly Flames.]
[Note: The Blazing Spirit Robe's power boost is temporary. After each activation, a cooldown is required—both to let the Heavenly Flames recover and to prevent the beast hide from exceeding its durability limit.]
As the enlightenment faded, Xiao Yan carefully reviewed his findings before opening his eyes with a sigh.
The method is there, but I currently lack the skill to execute it.
After years of cultivation, sealing a single Heavenly Flame wouldn't be difficult.
But for his father, Xiao Zhan, to match a Soul Palace protector's strength, one Heavenly Flame wouldn't suffice.
Only by extracting portions of all his Heavenly Flames—including the soon-to-be-obtained Beast Spirit Flame—could Xiao Zhan undergo a qualitative transformation.
Yet, sealing techniques weren't something Xiao Yan had deeply studied. He currently lacked the ability to simultaneously seal five Heavenly Flames.
"It seems tomorrow isn't just about subduing the Amethyst Winged Lion King—I'll also need to research its Amethyst Seal," Xiao Yan murmured, a smile forming. "And for the high-level beast hide material, the lion king will have to help with that too."
The Magical Beast Mountain Range was vast, and the Amethyst Winged Lion King only ruled the eastern region. Other areas surely housed beasts no weaker than it.
(End of Chapter)
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