HEAVEN DEVOURING SAINT

"My position is clear: it's impossible. You'd better ask for something else," Yao Chen said with a serious expression.

There was no way he was going to hand over the Bone Spirit Cold Fire to Xie Tianxiao. Even if he wasn't a match for Xie Tianxiao, he didn't believe the latter would kill an eighth-rank pinnacle alchemist over a Heavenly Flame. Xie Tianxiao, being aware of his identity, likely understood Yao Chen's influence in Central Plains and wouldn't do something so foolish that would harm his own interests.

"Hmph, you're the first person on this continent to defy my wishes!" Xie Tianxiao's expression darkened. He then spoke coldly, "But, given your status as the publicly recognized top alchemist of Central Plains, I'll give you one more chance."

"What do you mean?" Yao Chen's brow furrowed as he felt an intense sense of danger, causing his heart to skip a beat.

"You're curious about my identity, aren't you?" Xie Tianxiao smiled coldly as his aura began to rise steadily.

A powerful pressure suddenly erupted from his body, disturbing the energy in the surrounding area.

Feeling this aura, Yao Chen's face changed drastically. He grabbed the unconscious Xiao Yan and retreated dozens of meters away from Xie Tianxiao.

"I am Xie Tianxiao, also known as the heaven Devouring Saint!" Xie Tianxiao pronounced his name slowly and deliberately.

What! Heaven Devouring Saint! Upon hearing the word "Saint," Yao Chen's face was filled with shock, and his eyes flashed with disbelief.

A Saint? Saints are the pinnacle existences of the Dou Qi Continent! Every action of a Saint could cause massive upheavals, even bloodshed and chaos. Even in Central Plains, where many powerful figures were hidden, there were only a few forces with Dou Saint experts.

Moreover, these Dou Saints either lived in seclusion or remained in closed-door cultivation, detached from worldly affairs. Yet now, a Dou Saint, Xie Tianxiao, was standing before him in a small place like Wutan City in the Jia Ma Empire. It seemed utterly absurd!

"I didn't expect you to be a Dou Saint," Yao Chen took a deep breath, and a look of respect appeared on his face.

No wonder Xie Tianxiao recognized him and was confident enough to offer him a second chance. Xie Tianxiao had been hiding his true identity so well! Though Yao Chen had been confident that his former status as a nine-turn Dou venerate and an eighth-rank pinnacle alchemist placed him among the top five in Central Plains, he was still far from being on par with a Saint like Xie Tianxiao.

After all, as an eighth-rank alchemist, his pills weren't of much use to Dou Saints.

"It seems you're not completely senile yet," Xie Tianxiao remarked indifferently. "But it's a pity you were mistaken. I haven't truly reached the Dou Saint level."

"But you referred to yourself as…" Yao Chen was momentarily stunned, then suddenly realized, "So, you're a Half-Saint, someone with one foot in the Dou Saint realm!"

Earlier, due to the slight release of Xie Tianxiao's aura and his self-proclamation as a Saint, Yao Chen had assumed he was already a full-fledged Dou Saint. But now, understanding Xie Tianxiao's clarification, Yao Chen realized that the feeling Xie Tianxiao gave off was not quite the same as the Dou Saint elder's he had encountered in the Yao Clan. Xie Tianxiao was a Half-Saint, not a true Dou Saint!

 In the cultivation hierarchy, above the nine stars of Dou venerate were the nine turns. Achieving nine turns led to sainthood, but not fully into the Dou Saint realm—there was a small stage in between, known as Half-Saint. A Half-Saint had just entered the saintly domain, far surpassing the Dou venerate realm, though not yet a true Saint.

"Exactly," Xie Tianxiao nodded and said, "You should know that on this continent, a Saint is a transcendent figure! Even though I've only just stepped into this realm, I am still a Saint, far superior to any Dou venerate."

Hearing this, Yao Chen felt a bitter chill in his heart and quietly muttered, "You're right; a Saint truly stands above the continent."

Even in his prime, Yao Chen had to show respect when facing a Saint, let alone now when he was just a soul struggling to survive.

Seeing Yao Chen's respectful demeanour, Xie Tianxiao nodded in satisfaction and continued, "So, you thought that because you were once the top alchemist in Central Plains, I wouldn't dare kill you?"

"Though you once had great renown in Central Plains, eighth-rank is still eighth-rank. Without reaching the ninth rank, you never garnered much attention from saintly figures. That's also why, despite your high status, no Saint ever joined your Falling Star Pavilion."

Yao Chen's face turned ugly upon hearing Xie Tianxiao's words. While he had long understood this truth, having it pointed out so bluntly was still quite humiliating.

"Moreover, everyone believes you died in an alchemy mishap. Even if I were to erase your soul, none of your old friends would know. And even if they did, do you think they would dare challenge a Saint?" Xie Tianxiao spoke with confidence and arrogance.

"This…" Yao Chen's face turned pale, but he had no way to refute it.

 Xie Tianxiao was right. No one would be foolish enough to offend a Saint for the sake of someone already presumed dead, even if that Saint was only a Half-Saint.

Seeing Yao Chen's response, Xie Tianxiao's expression turned cold as he said, "You were once the top alchemist in Central Plains, so I'm offering you a chance. If it were anyone else, I'd have already killed them without wasting so many words."

Xie Tianxiao's reasoning for being here wasn't just to acquire Yao Chen's Bone Spirit Cold Fire to enhance his own power and check the plot's progress. He also needed someone to refine pills for him, as he lacked the necessary skills and resources for alchemy. Subduing Yao Chen would greatly benefit his future endeavours in creating a powerful force or aiding his own cultivation.

However, if Yao Chen continued to be uncooperative, Xie Tianxiao wouldn't hesitate to eliminate both him and Xiao Yan, erasing them from existence. After all, there were plenty of eighth-rank alchemists in Central Plains, though most were affiliated with the Pill Tower, making them more troublesome to recruit.

"I understand," Yao Chen sighed, bitterness flooding his heart as he finally spoke, "Could the Devouring Falcon Saint grant me a few months to hand over the Bone Spirit Cold Fire?"

"You've seen for yourself that my newly accepted disciple is at a crucial stage where he needs my guidance. If I give the flame to you now, both my strength and alchemy skills would suffer significantly."

"If you could allow me a few months to focus on Xiao Yan's training, I'll personally deliver the Heavenly Flame to you. Furthermore, if your forces or associates need any pills refined, I'll do my best to assist."

Although Yao Chen was extremely reluctant to part with his Heavenly Flame, he was dealing with a Half-Saint who clearly had no qualms about threatening his life. If he didn't comply, both he and Xiao Yan could end up dead.

"That's acceptable, but you must join my forces and serve as my alchemist. If you refuse, you'll be my enemy," Xie Tianxiao stated with a commanding tone. "And you should know that I won't hesitate to wipe you out, along with your disciple Xiao Yan, and the entire Xiao family."

Xie Tianxiao's words carried an undeniable authority, sending a shiver through Yao Chen.

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