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--- Chapter 265 ---
"Zing," Han Yuan said, gazing at his proud creation.
Though far from perfect, this Mysterious Demon Puppet had reached the Brilliant Purple Grade and possessed the battle power of a 5-Star Dou Ancestor.
It was more than enough to protect the Earth Tiger Sect and other branches of the Martial Unions in the Black Corner Region.
In fact, Han Yuan realized he might have gone too far because he noticed that Zing possessed an innate ability. This detail was crucial, and with the addition of Artificial Life, he was sure Zing could learn Dou Techniques and martial arts to a 'certain' extent.
Moreover, Zing might also be able to learn some abilities from the Devil-Eyed Purple Tiger, particularly the power to control negative emotions or ghost-attributed Dou Qi.
"Your task is to protect the Martial Union, but for now, you will follow Hu Ying's orders," Han Yuan instructed the newly awakened spirit of the Mysterious Demon Puppet, to which it responded with a nod.
"Hu Ying, come here." After seeing the puppet respond well, Han Yuan turned his attention to his other subordinate.
Hu Ying approached Han Yuan curiously and examined Zing from top to bottom with keen interest. The pressure emitted by this puppet conveyed an unfathomable strength, leaving her in awe. "So strong!"
"Take Zing out and cleanse the noisy Magical Beast Lords in the Black Abyss Forest. There should be a handful of them, right?" Han Yuan said with a smile. "Oh, and if you find a flying Magical Beast, bring it back. I don't want to travel on foot anymore."
Hu Ying nodded solemnly. "Yes, Young Master."
Han Yuan chuckled and waved his hand. "Go!"
After watching Hu Ying and the newly refined Mysterious Demon Puppet depart, Han Yuan summoned his Heavenly Flames once more.
"You rascal, thanks a lot," Han Yuan said, stroking the Ten Thousand Beast Flame (Enma) under its chin.
"Meow~!" the blood-colored kitten responded happily.
One reason for the Mysterious Demon Puppet's rise in quality was Enma's ability to purify and strengthen the magical beast's bloodline, which helped revive the long-exhausted spine of the Devil-Eyed Purple Tiger and awaken its latent power.
Without it, Zing would have barely reached the Brilliant Purple Grade and only possessed the battle power of a 3-Star Dou Ancestor.
"As for you guys..." Han Yuan said, looking thoughtfully at the remaining Heavenly Flames. "Unlike Enma, three of you have awakened your spirits, though they're young and weak."
"I can't be too partial, considering you will follow me from now on."
"Let's see... I will nourish your spirits, so don't fight back."
The first Heavenly Flame to sense Han Yuan's kindness was the Ocean Heart Flame, which reacted with enthusiasm. Meanwhile, the Green Lotus Core Flame seemed confused, and the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame swirled around in annoyance.
Han Yuan didn't mind the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame's reaction. Being tamed forcibly by his Demonic Power is indeed unpleasant and terrifying—like the world turning its back on you.
"Let's start with you..." Han Yuan said to the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame, causing the small tornado to tremble in panic.
"Calm down. I don't mean any harm."
Han Yuan then used the Monochromic Inner Star Sutra to draw upon the powers of Heaven and Earth, conjuring the purest energy of wind-thunder and Soul Force to nourish the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame. These forces allowed the Heavenly Flame to grow slightly larger, but more importantly, it was developing higher-level wisdom.
Slowly, the spinning tornado transformed into a menacing creature with a snake's lower body, a lion's upper body, and countless tiny scale-like wings composed of wind and thunder elements, shrouded in a fire tornado.
"Your name will be Typhon."
Typhon let out a small roar before moving to Han Yuan's side timidly after experiencing the godly power emanating from him.
Enma approached Typhon and wore a smug expression, being Han Yuan's first Heavenly Flame. It made the snake-lion growl in displeasure.
'I am your boss!' thought Enma.
'Grr, you're just lucky to meet Master first!' responded Typhon.
Han Yuan ignored the two bickering Heavenly Flames and focused on the Green Lotus Core Flame this time, "It's your turn."
Green Lotus Core Flame shook a little before approaching Han Yuan like a very slow snail. Han Yuan chuckled, "Don't be shy."
With that, Han Yuan replicated the same method he used to strengthen the Heavenly Flame's spirit to the Green Lotus Core Flame, but this time, the earth and fire elements are more pronounced.
The small green-azure lotus flame shook as its innate form alternated back and forth between lotus and something else, creating a blinking light.
"Are you a Pokémon or something..." Han Yuan murmured at this sight.
Eventually, the Green Lotus Core Flame's form changed into that of a tiny elven child with a cute face and long ears wearing a green lotus dress, leaving Han Yuan speechless.
'M... Master?' The Green Lotus Core Flame looked up at Han Yuan with its adorable green-azure eyes.
Han Yuan smiled helplessly, "From now on, I will call you..."
"Terra."
'Terra... Mm, I like it.' After saying that, the Heavenly Flame closed its eyes and fell into a nap.
Even Enma, who was about to bully Green Lotus Core Flame and brag about being their leader, was stunned. 'Oy, don't sleep yet!'
Han Yuan chuckled, "What an interesting fellow."
"Well, finally, we have you."
'Yes, my lord!' Ocean Heart Flame excitedly comes to Han Yuan's side as it is finally its turn.
Han Yuan gazed at the Ocean Heart Flame and sighed, "While I planned to take you away from Han Feng, I didn't expect fate to play around with him so much."
"And your spirit, while young, is much stronger than Enma, Typhon, and Terra."
"He must have paid a lot to get and strengthen you."
Ocean Heart Flame doesn't know what to say. If it had something to say about Han Feng, then it would be a generous uncle who gave it free snacks for a while.
However, compared to Han Yuan, who feels like Ocean Heart Flame's own parents and provides it with a home, Han Feng is nothing.
Han Yuan also sensed Ocean Heart Flame's sentiment and said, "Well, as long as you don't defy me, I guess."
'I don't dare! I don't dare!' Upon hearing Han Yuan's comment, the Ocean Heart Flame hurriedly responded in panic and fear. There is no way it could defy Han Yuan.
Amused by the Heavenly Flame's reaction, Han Yuan poked its fiery body a few times before proceeding with the same thing he had done to Typhon and Terra earlier.
Ocean Heart Flame jolted as its oceanic-blue body rapidly grew and turned smaller as if an inflated and deflated balloon. It continues for several seconds before a faint cry echoes from inside.
A faint white light bloomed from the ocean-blue body, revealing a small white whale with clear azure eyes. Several blue markings covered its body as water and fire elements attuned to its presence.
'Ah, feels good~!' Ocean Heart Flame cried in happiness.
Han Yuan's nourishment is a thousand, no, infinite times better than Han Feng feeding it with trash beast flames from oceanic Magical Beasts. As expected, it didn't choose the owner wrongly.
Han Yuan pinched the small whale and laughed, "Alright, alright, not too bad."
"From now on, I will call you Leviathan, Levi, or Levia for short."
'Thank you, Sir!' Ocean Heart Flame bounced in Han Yuan's grasp.
Han Yuan released Leviathan and lined it with Enma, Typhon, and Terra before saying, "The four of you should return to my Inner World, and keep absorbing the Heaven and Earth energy to sustain it."
"Once my Inner World manifests, you may become a tangible spirit as well and truly become a spiritual lifeform."
"We listen to your order, Nyaa/Sir/Boss/Zzz..." The Four Heavenly Flames responded.
Han Yuan nodded, "Okay, that's it."
The Four Heavenly Flames returned to Han Yuan's inner world. He stood up from the ground and checked that half an hour had passed since he ordered Hu Ying to hunt some noisy Magical Beasts with Zing.
"She should return by now." He whistled while swaggering to the Earth Tiger Sect's main hall.