Chapter 105: As Long As You Don't Care About Dying
Yao Yan didn't show the slightest bit of embarrassment upon hearing her words. Nor did he treat Cai Lin as an outsider. He calmly retrieved a fresh set of clothes from his storage ring and got dressed. His long, thick black hair draped freely over his back, adding a sense of wildness to his demeanor. His pitch-black eyes were brighter than before as they rested on the Green Lotus Core Flame within the Black Demon Cauldron.
In just one month, the Ice Spirit Cold Spring inside the cauldron had dwindled slightly. Like oil in a lamp, the firepower released by the Green Lotus Core Flame slowly consumed the surrounding cold spring.
But compared to when the sealing began, the rate of depletion had slowed drastically.
If it remained unstimulated, this one cauldron of Ice Spirit Cold Spring could last for several years.
Now severed from the outside world, the Green Lotus Core Flame no longer had access to external fire-attribute energy. Like a rootless source, if it were to continue erupting, it would consume its own essence. And if it lost too much of that, this not-yet-two-hundred-year-old heavenly flame could be extinguished altogether.
Yao Yan would never make such a foolish mistake. He still needed the flame's essence to evolve Flame Mantra.
Whoosh—
He quickly looked away, then took out several jade medicine bottles from his storage ring. With a burst of Phantom Gold Flame, he melted them into a short blade. Then, under the control of his soul force, he used it to cut off the lotus's connection to its root system. While doing so, he explained to Cai Die, "This lotus is the companion plant of the Green Lotus Core Flame. Even ordinary metals would melt if brought near the internal heat it holds."
As he spoke, Yao Yan had already stored the lotus and its Earth Flame Lotus Seeds into his ring.
Then he turned to look at the roots, which were over ten meters long.
"As for the rootstock, it's even more fearsome. An average cultivator would have all their Dou Qi drained just by touching it. It's an excellent material for forging weapons. But if we take it too, the Green Lotus Core Flame will never form again… There's no need to be so ruthless."
Yao Yan didn't claim to be a good person, but he still upheld certain values as an alchemist. Having already taken most of the treasure, uprooting everything would be excessive. He wasn't desperate for forging materials anyway.
Cai Lin glanced at the roots and said with indifference, "You're really willing to give that up? If you sold it, people would pay a fortune for something like that."
"People should have limits. I'm satisfied with what I've already gained. Let's go."
Yao Yan smiled casually.
Cai Lin made no comment. She gave him a glance and silently followed by his side. Having grown up in the resource-scarce Tagor Desert, she understood the importance of preserving the root system. If it remained, it could bear fruit again in the future.
If you destroy everything, you only cut off your own future.
Surrounded by Dou Qi, the two transformed into streaks of light, ascending through the magma.
Only the slender root remained, quietly absorbing the surrounding fire-attribute energy, beginning its next thousand-year cycle of gestation.
…
"This place really doesn't suit me!"
Near the entrance of the tunnel, Hai Bodong had been seated in meditation for some time, his eyes gazing at the magma lake below, a helpless expression on his face. As an ice-type Dou Qi cultivator, he couldn't absorb even a trace of energy in this environment. He could only sit and wait in vain—it was even worse than the desert.
At least outside, he could force a bit of recovery. But here? Nothing but fire-element energy, and even the earth-element energy was ridiculously scarce.
"Ying ying~"
Ling'er was currently by Hai Bodong's side. She raised a soft paw and tapped him, signaling him to release some cold air to cool her down. Her bright green eyes showed no fear or shyness. To her, Hai Bodong was just another temporary caretaker her master had left her with—like Cai Die before.
Hai Bodong twitched at the sight of the tier-two Green Wood Fox. He couldn't understand why Yao Yan would keep a pet with no real combat power. But confusion aside, he still formed an ice block and handed it over. The heat here was far too intense for a wood-element beast—if this little creature died, he wouldn't know how to explain it.
"Still… this thing's weird. A normal tier-two Green Wood Fox wouldn't last this long down here."
He muttered as Ling'er happily hugged the ice block and rolled around.
Just then, the sound of two figures rising from the magma echoed through the cavern. Hai Bodong looked down and saw Yao Yan ascending, wrapped in dazzling golden flames, a pitch-black cauldron floating beside him, with a blue flame flickering inside. Beside him, Cai Lin's alluring figure emerged from the magma, her purple tail still dripping with lava that slid off along her Dou Qi—like a beauty freshly bathed.
But matched with the boiling magma below… the scene was somewhat terrifying.
Yao Yan glanced at the golden-red magma below, flapped his Purple Cloud Wings, and floated over to Hai Bodong with the cauldron in tow. He smiled and said, "Old Hai, thanks for waiting. Everything went smoothly—we can head out now."
Upon seeing Yao Yan, Ling'er instantly abandoned her ice block and leapt into his arms.
Yao Yan patted the little one and, with practiced ease, pulled out a bottle of plant essence from his ring and gave it to her.
"Young Master, your strength…"
Hai Bodong sensed the change in Yao Yan's Dou Qi and was visibly surprised. Compared to before, his aura was several times stronger—it felt like a qualitative leap. But his Dou Qi rank still seemed to be at the Dou Ling level.
Yao Yan smiled. "Got lucky. I've broken through to Dou Ling."
"…You weren't Dou Ling before?!"
Hai Bodong was stunned. Yao Yan's previous performance hadn't felt like that of a mere Da Dou Shi.
Yao Yan nodded without further explanation. People were different, after all. Right now, Flame Mantra was only a high-rank Huang-tier technique. If he refined the Green Lotus Core Flame and advanced it to Xuan-tier, his Dou Qi would grow even more absurdly, and his cultivation speed would increase again.
But he wasn't about to explain Flame Mantra to Hai Bodong.
"Let's go."
Cai Lin remained cold and aloof, seemingly uninterested in the topic. With a flap of her Dou Qi wings, she flew ahead toward the cave's exit.
Yao Yan gave Hai Bodong a smile and followed.
Hai Bodong paused, then muttered to himself, "What a monster…"
…
The three of them burst through the desert. As for the sand-covered cave behind them, none of them looked back. Should someone stumble upon it and explore the magma depths, they might discover the rare Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent dwelling below.
Nothing unexpected happened on the journey. Whether it was Queen Medusa or the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, they were both renowned figures in the Jia Ma Empire and the Tagor Desert. No one dared cause trouble.
In less than half an hour, they returned to the Snake-People Tribe's royal palace. Everything was just as they'd left it—nothing had changed in Cai Lin's absence.
Sensing their presence, Cai Die—who had been managing the tribe in her sister's place—rushed out. Had her sister not been watching, she might've leapt straight into Yao Yan's arms. Her sky-blue eyes shifted toward the cauldron beside him, focusing on the flickering blue flame inside. Just looking at it, she could feel its allure.
"Young Master, is that the Green Lotus Core Flame you spoke of?!"
Cai Die asked excitedly, grabbing Yao Yan's hand.
Yao Yan nodded and led her toward the secluded chamber—but they were stopped mid-way by Cai Lin. Her cold gaze landed on Yao Yan as she warned, "The heavenly flame is too dangerous. The previous chamber isn't safe enough. Choose another location."
If Yao Yan failed to refine the heavenly flame and it erupted, the damage would obliterate the entire royal palace.
Cai Lin couldn't ignore that risk.
Yao Yan wanted to reassure her, but remembering she was Queen Medusa and had to think of her people, he simply nodded. He let her lead him to a small island in a lake behind the palace. The oasis was filled with colorful, exotic plants—and seemed home to many venomous snakes.
In the original story, this was where Cai Lin evolved.
"If you need anything, have Cai Die inform me. I'll be outside."
Cai Lin said, then turned and flew away.
Cai Die stared at her sister's departing figure in surprise. She tugged Yao Yan's sleeve and whispered curiously, "My sister's attitude toward you has changed. I've never seen her speak so gently to an outsider before!"
In the past, even when speaking gently, her tone had always carried lethal intent. Speaking to Yao Yan like this—it was a first.
"Maybe she's accepted our relationship."
Yao Yan answered seriously, though he was just talking nonsense. Still, he had some guesses—perhaps over time, she'd come to recognize his talent and strength. In relationships, strength often played a key role: looks, wealth, background, talent, effort… they all mattered.
No matter how tough Queen Medusa acted, she was still a woman. And all women had weaknesses—you just had to find the right one.
Cai Die blushed and rolled her eyes. "You're not even embarrassed? I haven't admitted to being in a relationship with you."
"Isn't it only a matter of time?"
Yao Yan grinned.
"Hmph, I'm ignoring you."
Cai Die twisted her slender waist and flew off like she was escaping.
Yao Yan watched her go, smiled, then composed himself. He turned his attention to the Black Demon Cauldron. After a moment's thought, he opened it. The Green Lotus Core Flame, once exposed to the air, immediately flared back to life, more energetic and vibrant than before.
"Young Master, how do you plan to refine the heavenly flame?"
Hai Bodong stood beside him, asking curiously. This was the first time he had ever witnessed an alchemist attempting such a feat. Normally, no one would allow spectators.
"Swallow it."
Yao Yan gave a blunt and brutal answer.
Hai Bodong was stunned into silence. After a moment, he muttered, "I used to think those stories about alchemists being insane were exaggerated… now I believe them."
He couldn't help but curse. Dou Qi training could strengthen the body, sure—but it didn't do much for the internal organs. Even a Dou Huang could die if their organs were severely damaged. Exposing them to a heavenly flame? That was suicide.
What were alchemists thinking?!
Yao Yan seemed unbothered. He chuckled. "That's what pills are for."
"That's still insane—nearly a death sentence."
Hai Bodong said seriously. He didn't believe even pills could protect someone from a flame like that. The moment it overwhelmed the medicine's limit, it would destroy the organs in an instant—and death would follow.
"To become strong, you have to take risks. The truly powerful alchemists all control heavenly flames."
Yao Yan's expression didn't change. He stared at the Green Lotus Core Flame as it blazed higher, its size growing to that of a human head. The surrounding Ice Spirit Cold Spring evaporated rapidly under its heat.
As he spoke, he reached out—right in front of Hai Bodong's stunned eyes—and grabbed at the flame.
No protection. Barehanded.
Hai Bodong's eye twitched. The sight shook him to the core. Internally, he cursed: He really is insane!
He didn't stop him—just held his breath and watched Yao Yan's arm plunge into the flame.
Chi chi!
In an instant, Yao Yan's sleeve disintegrated. The Green Lotus Core Flame surged with brutal intensity—far beyond that of the blue lotus fire earlier. Yao Yan immediately activated the Vajra Indestructible Body. His skin shimmered between silver and bronze as he held firm against the scorching heat.
"As expected of a true heavenly flame—what terrifying power!"
Yao Yan could feel the searing pain, but instead of fear, his face was filled with excitement. This was his chance to temper his body with the flame and reach the second level of the Vajra Indestructible Body. If he succeeded, even Dou Zong wouldn't scare him.
Seeing this, Hai Bodong sucked in a cold breath.
Now he understood how Yao Yan had reached this level at such a young age.
He just didn't care if he died.
(END CHAPTER)
Get 30% off on my Patreon and enjoy early access to new chapters.
You can also purchase the next 100 chapters of the novel directly from my Patreon page.
Hurry up! The promotion ends on February 2, 2026.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Kira1997