Chapter 199: Yin-Yang Water-Fire Lotus
Boom!
With an explosive thunderclap, the human-faced serpent was blasted down from the sky by Xiao Yuan's spear. After unleashing his secret technique, Xiao Yuan's strength was nearly on par with the serpent's!
The power of five Qi Palaces, each containing high-rank Dou Qi techniques, elevated his strength to terrifying levels.
Though the human-faced serpent was indeed formidable, its cultivation method clearly didn't match Xiao Yuan's.
As its strength waned and Xiao Yuan's surged, the youth's speed and the explosive force of his Heavenly Flame began to overwhelm it.
Yet Xiao Yuan didn't grow complacent. With a flap of his dual wings and a flash of lightning underfoot, he flickered to the serpent's side. With a twist of his waist, his spear thrust forward, brimming with black-and-white flame.
At the same time, Dou Qi surged into his palm, and twin Heavenly Flames coiled together into a spinning vortex of fire—a modified Green Wind Spiral Fist: Twin Flame Spiral Fist!
Spear and fist burst forward in unison. The flaming vortex detonated first, blasting through the serpent's hastily erected defense.
Then the black-and-white spear pierced through the vortex's heart, trailing behind a rain of spear shadows filled with chaotic fire—like ghostly blossoms from the river of the underworld.
The serpent's eyes filled with fear as it sensed true death approaching. How could a freshly advanced Dou Wang unleash such terrifying attacks?
And he possessed a Heavenly Flame!
"Damn it!"
Faced with this crisis, the serpent's hands flew through a rapid sequence of seals. Strange tattoos—identical to the patterns in the cave—flared across its skin.
Xiao Yuan's heart clenched. A powerful energy surged from those tattoos, blocking out all of his attacks.
Then that energy passed through Xiao Yuan harmlessly, seeming to cause no damage—yet he froze in place.
Soul attack!
His consciousness sank. These tattoos were clearly a vessel for soul energy—energy not belonging to the serpent itself. In fact, the purity of the force entranced Xiao Yuan's soul, pulling him into a daze.
Could the treasure within the cave be related to soul power?
If so… and if he could deliver it to his teacher—might it help restore his strength?
Excitement surged in Xiao Yuan's heart. With a powerhouse of Dou Zun level behind him, he could sweep across the Jia Ma Empire, the Jia Nan Academy, and even Black-Corner Region without fear!
Han Feng? Crushed.
Soul Hall? Eliminated.
But just as his mind wandered, the five-colored scroll within his spiritual sea stirred. The invading soul force was instantly absorbed, shaking Xiao Yuan awake.
When he opened his eyes, the serpent's face twisted in shock.
It tried again to cast a soul attack—but this time, the scroll devoured it instantly.
Xiao Yuan's hands clapped together. His spear shattered into fragments of flame, which exploded into a roaring, black-and-white flame dragon.
With dragon qi infused, it looked almost lifelike. Its roar drowned out all other sounds as it lunged and chomped down on the serpent, ascending with it into the clouds.
Above them, a petite silhouette waited: Zi Yan.
Purple energy surged around her fist, crystallized and dense.
"Eat my punch!"
Her childish voice carried deadly intent. Even her eyes shone with purple light. She punched downward with full strength.
Under normal circumstances, the serpent wouldn't fear this attack. But now—its defenses broken, its trump cards neutralized—there was nothing left.
Boom!
As Zi Yan struck, Xiao Yuan flashed forward, pulling her away.
Below, the flame dragon exploded in a brilliant inferno.
From afar, Xiao Yuan released Zi Yan and stared into the explosion's heart.
The power of Twin Flame Dragon Soar, augmented by Heavenly Flame, rivaled a full earth-tier Dou Technique.
In Dou Wang-level battles, such power was decisive.
Yet… was it enough?
As he pondered, his spiritual sea began to… rain.
The scroll was releasing drops of soul energy—refining what it had devoured and feeding it back.
Feeling his soul strength grow, Xiao Yuan smiled.
He expanded his soul sense.
And froze.
The serpent wasn't dead.
With a flash of blue lightning, Xiao Yuan reappeared at the cave entrance, reaching out with invisible soul threads—capturing the serpent's fleeing soul.
Curiously, it no longer had arms or a human face—just a small snake.
"Damn human! Let me go!"
Though it couldn't speak, its intent was clear.
"Let you go? Why should I?"
Xiao Yuan sneered and wrapped the soul in fire, extracting screams.
Zi Yan landed beside him, wrinkling her nose.
"Still ugly," she muttered.
Xiao Yuan sealed the soul into a jade bottle, then collapsed to sit and recover, stuffing his mouth with restorative pills.
Zi Yan nodded without complaint and guarded him quietly. After that display of strength, she had fully acknowledged his ability.
Not to mention… he made delicious pills!
By sunset, Xiao Yuan's eyes opened, flashing with clarity.
"You're up? Let's go already!"
Zi Yan tugged eagerly at his sleeve.
"So impatient…"
Still, he let her pull him into the cave again.
This time they moved faster, soon arriving at a wide cavern. Inside, water and fire patterns narrowed and intertwined more tightly, glowing with rich energy. Mist curled around them.
In the very center floated a spinning lotus flower. Its outer petals were white with black veins; inner petals, black with white streaks. At its core was a translucent orb exuding rich soul power.
Xiao Yuan's heart pounded.
His Yin-Yang Heavenly Flame danced excitedly—this lotus was important!
"Hmm, doesn't look very powerful," Zi Yan said, disappointed. "I thought it'd be more impressive."
"Zi Yan, I need this," Xiao Yuan said seriously.
"Okay—but you owe me. Take me to some more places after this. Doesn't matter if you need the herbs or not—you make me pills either way!"
"Deal."
Xiao Yuan agreed quickly, surprised by her easy terms.
"Remember, if I need help fighting the guardian beasts, I'll want payment," she added.
"You never let a deal go, huh?"
With a chuckle, Xiao Yuan approached the lotus, Dou Qi surging defensively.
He reached for it—
Shii!
The surrounding patterns flared. Twin energies of water and fire rushed toward him.
"Xiao Yuan, watch out!"
He reacted instantly, coating himself in Yin-Yang Flames.
The rushing energy passed through the flames, purified into essence, and entered his Qi Palace.
The lotus spun upward and sank into his abdomen.
From there, strange energy spread through his body.
His Heavenly Flame enveloped it, and the central orb rose through his body into his spiritual sea.
An unparalleled sense of spiritual clarity washed over him.
Inside, the lotus melted into a perfect sphere—black and white, fire and water intertwining.
A message appeared in his mind:
Yin-Yang Water-Fire Lotus: formed by the fusion of Yin-Yang energy and elemental water and fire. Balances opposing forces, nourishes the soul. Can absorb remnant soul power to form the Yin-Yang Soul-Nurturing Pearl.
This pearl—enhanced by Yin-Yang energy—could steadily grow a soul's strength, restore spiritual essence, and store soul power.
Xiao Yuan was stunned. This orb was a treasure beyond price!
Yet soon, he noticed something else. The Yin-Yang Flames had refined the lotus's essence—but the water and fire energy lingered in his abdomen, untouched.
And the flames had no intention of absorbing it.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Albino1