Chapter 87: Very Familiar!

Xiao Yan could now be certain.

The mystery of why there were no beast slaves along the way was finally solved!

All the beast slaves had actually obeyed Yao Li's commands and gathered at the location of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. That explained why there were neither beast slaves nor signs of battle along the way!

Moreover, the 7th-tier alchemist from three hundred years ago hadn't completely died. He might even have been a member of the Yao Clan and an elder of this Yao Li!

He must have found a way to inform Yao Li that he wasn't dead and provided the location of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame.

Over the past three hundred years, countless magical beasts had ventured into the Beast Tomb in search of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, hoping to inherit it. Those magical beasts whose souls had been extinguished were actually not victims of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame itself, but rather of that 7th-tier alchemist!

The souls of these magical beasts were removed, and their bodies became vessels for the ghostly figures, turning into soldiers for the 7th-tier alchemist!

The war that should have ended three hundred years ago was still raging on at this very moment!!

'Soul body! That's right, the Spiritual Strength of a 7th-tier alchemist is strong enough to form a soul body!'

Generally, a Heavenly Flame, being a heavenly treasure of utmost yang, would instantly incinerate a soul body upon contact. However, there were exceptions. Xiao Yan had once read about an ancient method in his storage ring.

By using a Heavenly Flame to envelop the soul body, it could slow the loss of Spiritual Strength. Not only would the soul body not be burned by the Heavenly Flame, it could survive within the flame for a considerable time.

All the clues connected at this moment! Xiao Yan fully grasped the situation and cleared up any lingering doubts.

During that war three hundred years ago, the then Lord of the Magic Beast Mountain Range had indeed used the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to perish alongside that 7th-tier alchemist. However, that alchemist knew the ancient method of preserving the soul body using a Heavenly Flame.

Over the past three centuries, he had dominated the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and even left his soul imprint within it!

This explained why countless magical beasts had come to the Beast Tomb to inherit the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, only to fail. Whether they were Rank 6 or even Rank 7 magical beasts, all of them had failed. The weaker ones even had their souls erased and became beast slaves.

It was only natural—the 'spirit' within the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was no longer the spirit of ten thousand beasts but was controlled by the soul body of that 7th-tier alchemist who should have died three hundred years ago.

It would be a miracle if a magical beast could inherit the Ten Thousand Beast Flame under such circumstances!

Undoubtedly, this Yao Li had received the spiritual transmission and come to retrieve the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, or rather, his ancestor's soul body!

That's why Yao Li arrived here faster than the Amethyst Winged Lion King—he knew the way!

Yao Li stood facing the fire beast with his back to the Amethyst Winged Lion King in the air. He said indifferently, "Sigh, you've done something incredibly foolish. You didn't really think I wouldn't dare to kill you, did you, Amethyst Winged Lion King?"

Although the Amethyst Winged Lion King wasn't as quick-witted as Xiao Yan and couldn't grasp the whole situation right away, it knew that things were looking dire!

Surrounded by a dense crowd of beast slaves and the strange events unfolding, the situation was definitely grim!

The 7-star Dou Emperor Mu Lao had already locked onto the Lion King. Should it turn to flee, a terrifying attack would undoubtedly follow.

"However, it seems a bit lonely without someone to witness my moment of refining the Heavenly Flame," Yao Li said, hands clasped behind his back as he observed the massive fire beast.

He was completely confident that refining the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was a sure thing.

Despite having the strength of only a 5-star Dou Spirit and relying on special flames to refine 5th-tier pills, his self-assured manner could fool one into thinking he was a Dou Ancestor and 7th-tier alchemist.

However, he could indeed refine the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. If it were a truly wild Heavenly Flame, even the 22nd-ranked Ten Thousand Beast Flame would instantly reduce him to ashes.

But this Ten Thousand Beast Flame had already been refined by his elder and imprinted with a soul mark. He didn't have to go through the excruciating pain of refining a Heavenly Flame at all; all he had to do was claim it.

Yao Li flicked his storage ring, and an enormous coffin appeared. He opened it to reveal a human-shaped puppet inside.

"Elder Yao Ao, Junior Yao Li has come as promised. Everything you asked for has been prepared. This puppet body was refined using the clan's Heavenly Flame and can accommodate your soul. Once you return to the clan, I can refine a 6th-tier Spirit Fusion Pill to fully resurrect you." Yao Li cupped his fist toward the giant fire beast.

The Spirit Fusion Pill was a high-grade 6th-tier pill that allowed one's soul and body to merge. It could quickly restore Spiritual Strength and heal past soul injuries.

Boom, boom, boom! Roar! Suddenly, the massive fire beast's face contorted in pain. Its body turned ethereal, twisting until it transformed into a fiery human face!

"Very well! However, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame still contains the remnant soul of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger. Help me eradicate its remnant soul, and the Ten Thousand Beast Flame will be yours." A voice came from the fiery face.

The Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger was the former Lord of the Magic Beast Mountain Range from three hundred years ago. The beastly form earlier was precisely that of the Eight-Winged Flame Demon Tiger!

Upon seeing this scene, a glimmer of hope appeared in Xiao Yan's eyes.

"Lion King, no matter what happens next, you must hold off that 7-star Dou Emperor," Xiao Yan whispered from within the Amethyst Winged Lion King's fur.

!!! "What are you planning?!"

"If that 7th-tier alchemist is resurrected, I believe the current Magic Beast Mountain Range cannot withstand his vengeance."

The Amethyst Winged Lion King did not deny it. The Magic Beast Mountain Range was much weaker than it had been three hundred years ago. They could not possibly withstand Yao Ao's revenge.

The Amethyst Winged Lion King did not object, so Xiao Yan frantically recalled something in his mind.

"Mu Lao, go assist Elder Yao Ao," Yao Li said calmly with his hands behind his back.

"Understood!"

Just then...

[Jie Jie Jie ]

A strange, eerie laugh echoed throughout the vast cave. A laugh... hauntingly familiar.

"Who's there?!" Yao Li snapped his head around, for he had heard that laugh before!

"Jie Jie Jie, I was curious who would dare compete with me for the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. It turns out to be someone from the Yao Clan."

Yao Li and Mu Lao followed the voice, only to see a figure entirely shrouded in a black robe standing on the back of the Amethyst Winged Lion King.

Yao Li's pupils dilated upon seeing the black robe. That attire! That laugh!!!

"Who... who are you!" Yao Li demanded with false bravado.

The black-robed figure directed the Amethyst Winged Lion King to descend. With a light leap, he landed gracefully and approached Yao Li at a leisurely pace.

Seeing the black-robed figure getting closer, Yao Li instinctively stepped back. His Spiritual Perception couldn't penetrate the black robe at all.

"Stay back! Who are you?!"

"Jie Jie Jie, Hall of Souls, Hun Yan!"

Upon hearing the words "Hall of Souls," Yao Li couldn't stop trembling. Even the face of the 7-star Dou Emperor beside him turned slightly pale.

The Hall of Souls! It was actually the Hall of Souls!!!

The Yao Clan was one of the Eight Ancient Dou God Clans, possessing the most powerful alchemy techniques in the Dou Qi Continent. Their strength was unparalleled. Even the mighty Gu Clan had to beg them for pills.

But of all Dou God Clans, the one they feared most was the Hun Clan! The Hun Clan hunted soul bodies! They didn't just target alchemists across the Dou Qi Continent; even the alchemists of the Yao Clan were their prey.

Alchemists possessed exceptionally strong Spiritual Strength, and the descendants of the Yao Clan, in particular, were born with powerful souls. Yet the Hun Clan specialized in soul cultivation and possessed the most Soul Skills and Soul Training Methods!

Natural Nemesis!

Whether intentional or not, at that moment, a corner of the token hanging from Xiao Yan's waist was exposed, revealing a large character for "Soul." An unmistakable spiritual fluctuation permeated this unique soul character.

"Soul Command Token!! You possess the Hun Clan insignia?!"