Chapter 396: Chapter 396: Xiao Yan’s Roar
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stood there, stunned for a long time.
Only after a while did Xiao Yan take a deep breath of the slightly damp air.
His eyes flickered faintly before narrowing slightly.
With a sudden movement of his mind, his vast Soul Power surged out once again — but this time, it did not disperse outward. Instead, like a raging flood, it charged straight into the Bone Chilling Flame before him.
The moment his Soul Power touched the Bone Chilling Flame, an incomparably familiar sigh sounded in his mind, freezing Xiao Yan in place instantly.
"If you’re seeing the Bone Chilling Flame... it means I didn’t make it back this time."
"Master!" Xiao Yan’s pupils contracted sharply.
"Little one, don’t panic. Listen to me slowly... this is a message I left for you."
Hearing that, Xiao Yan drew in another breath, forcing himself to calm down.
At this moment, that familiar voice of Yao Lao continued in his mind.
"By now, you should have already broken through to Dou Huang, right? Hehe..."
Yao Lao chuckled softly, sounding rather gratified.
"I don’t know exactly when you’ll receive this message, but I imagine it’ll be a few months from now."
"That day, on a sudden whim, I decided to explore the secrets of this strange little valley... I didn’t expect that beneath the ground, I’d make quite a major discovery."
"That energy lake down there is filled with pure Wood-attribute life energy — it will be of great help to you when you devour Heavenly Flames."
"I suspect that Brat Wei told us about this valley and brought us here precisely with that in mind."
"I’ve already opened the passage to the underground for you — it’s hidden directly beneath this giant boulder. Also, based on Brat Wei’s original work, I reinforced the space seal down below. The method to unlock it is the same as the one used to open the alliance’s treasury space barrier."
"When you’re ready to devour a Heavenly Flame, head to that energy lake below. It will give you some assistance, and your chances of success will rise greatly."
"But remember — this place is a treasure only you should know about. Don’t tell anyone else. If word leaks out... the entire Jia Ma Empire will run red with blood!"
"The current Yang Yan Alliance... can’t protect this place."
"As for me... that day I received Brat Wei’s warning — it should be people from the Hall of Souls, coming from the Black-Corner Region to Jia Ma Empire to find us."
"Don’t worry. Your Master won’t die so easily. I’m leaving the essence of this Bone Chilling Flame to you."
"Once you familiarize yourself with it, you’ll be able to control and wield it. But because I’ve already refined it, your Flame Mantra can’t devour or refine it again."
"Of course... if the day comes that I truly meet misfortune, the imprint within this Bone Chilling Flame’s essence will vanish on its own, and it will become a masterless flame. At that time... treat it as my final gift to you, and devour it."
"In this life, meeting you and Brat Wei... I have no regrets. The only pity is that I may not live to see the moment when you both stand at the true peak of the continent."
"As for Brat Wei... I do feel I owe him somewhat."
"Thinking back now... I haven’t actually helped him much. Everything between us was mutual benefit. But he has helped the two of us greatly. So, I can’t shamelessly call myself his Master. Still... there’s some Master-disciple bond between us nonetheless."
"If, in the future, you get the chance... help me repay Brat Wei. He may not care, but... consider it my sentiment toward him."
"Haha... I’m rambling nonsense now."
"Also, the ring I’m leaving you is called the Bone Flame Ring. Inside is the method to remove your second brother’s Life Devouring Pill, as well as some of my own belongings."
"And... if you ever go to Central Plains in the future and meet my old friend, Feng Zun Zhe, just show him this ring. He will believe everything you say and will help you."
"Although I should already be in the Hall of Souls’ hands by now... refining my soul will not be easy for them."
"Perhaps we will meet again... but you must remember — without sufficient strength, never act recklessly."
"If you want to save your Master and your father, you must not have even the slightest mishap. When something arises, discuss it with Brat Wei more and heed his advice."
"Lastly... hehe... little one, you and Wei Yang are both my proudest students. I have always been satisfied with the two of you."
The gentle laughter in his mind slowly faded away.
In the next instant, that Bone Chilling Flame flashed through space and darted straight into Xiao Yan’s forehead.
A white flame imprint gradually appeared on his forehead.
His body trembled — and then he froze entirely, as if his soul had left him, standing there in a daze.
The valley was utterly silent.
Wisps of faint white mist seeped from the ground, rising into the air and gathering above the valley, forming a layer of white fog.
Atop the giant boulder, Xiao Yan stood alone, his gaze empty, his hand unconsciously brushing the icy-cold flame imprint on his forehead.
The mind was flooded with countless scenes, flashing past like images from a magic lantern. From that very first meeting with Yao Lao in the back mountains of the Xiao Clan, to the countless moments shared over the years — one by one, they emerged vividly in his mind.
A long while passed.
Only then did he slowly sink to both knees, his trembling fingers reaching out to grasp that black, ancient-looking ring.
"Master..." Xiao Yan murmured hoarsely.
And then—
"Hall of Souls~"
His dazed expression gradually transformed into a hatred so deep it carved itself into his very bones.
In an instant, his eyes turned blood-red, and from his throat erupted a hoarse, suppressed roar.
Hall of Souls!
Hall of Souls!
Hall of Souls!
At this moment, Xiao Yan’s hatred toward the Hall of Souls had reached an unprecedented level.
The blood debt of the Xiao Clan.
The disappearance of his father.
The disappearance of his Master.
Each and every one of these could be described as carved into his very soul.
"Aoo~"
His bloodshot eyes locked fiercely toward the direction of the Central Plains. Clutching his own hair, he suddenly let out a deep, raspy roar from his throat.
That roar, filled with pain and desolation, echoed through the valley.
His eyes were red and brimming with tears.
Crouched there like a wounded beast, he let out sound after sound of anguished howls.
As time slowly passed—
Atop the giant boulder, Xiao Yan finally began to quiet down.
His face expressionless, he slowly got to his feet, and those still bloodshot, cold eyes swept over the entire valley.
From the tightly closed stone chamber came the faintest sound of a sigh.
On the surface of the purple light cocoon, the thin glow flickered faintly.
"Don’t worry, I’m fine." Xiao Yan’s voice was low and steady.
It was unclear whether he was speaking to himself, or to the people within the stone chamber and the light cocoon.
Hearing his words, the stone chamber once again fell silent.
The faint glow on the surface of the light cocoon lingered for a moment, then gradually dimmed away.
Xiao Yan slowly withdrew his gaze. With a turn of his hand, a jade pendant appeared in his palm, and he crushed it with force.
Then he simply stood there, quietly waiting.
A short while later, his expression shifted. With another flick of his hand, a second jade pendant appeared, which he swiftly brought out.
Pff~
Cracks spread rapidly across the jade pendant’s surface, and in the next moment, it shattered into powder.
"Brother Wei is alright then." Seeing this, Xiao Yan exhaled a breath of relief, his mood easing somewhat.
This jade pendant was a simple communication method between them.
Crushing it on Xiao Yan’s end was both a way to inform Wei Yang that he was safe and to ask after him.
Wei Yang’s swift response in turn told Xiao Yan everything he needed to know.
In short, it was a small method of exchanging reassurances.
After a brief silence, Xiao Yan turned his hand again, and this time a jade bottle appeared in his grasp.
Lowering his head, he peered at it, as though his gaze could pierce the bottle to the treasure within — a cluster of flame, like a deep blue liquid, burning quietly.
Whoosh... whoosh... whoosh...
The flickering of the blue flame seemed to carry the sound of waves crashing against the shore, echoing faintly in his ears.
"Sea Heart Flame..."
Xiao Yan’s eyes narrowed slightly, and then his gaze slowly fell to the giant boulder beneath his feet.
A moment later, he let out a slow breath.
"Now that I’ve stepped into Dou Huang, it’s time to devour the Sea Heart Flame. That way... I should be able to reach the peak of Dou Huang quickly."
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