novelhk 851. Two Months Alone
851. Two Months Alone
"Xiao Yan, what should we do now? Should we go straight to the fourth floor or stay on the third floor for now?" Huo Zhi asked, looking at Xiao Yan.
After Xiao Yan and Gu Qingyang finished their conversation, Xiao Yan let Feng Qiu leave as agreed, and then acted together with Huo Zhi. Naturally, Xiao Yan made the decisions between the two.
"Let's stay on the third level. Those Soul Clan people will never let this go. They've been pressing us relentlessly since outside the Heavenly Tomb, and now that we're inside, they're even less likely to miss this opportunity to eliminate us. We can still handle the energy beings on the third level, but going to the fourth level is far too dangerous. So, our top priority is to stay on the third level, accumulate strength, and make thorough preparations."
Upon hearing the words "Soul Clan," Huo Zhi's eyes seemed to instantly regain their luster; hatred had become her greatest motivation. Her aura also became much sharper, and a somewhat incongruous fierceness appeared on her fair face.
"Perfect! I'd love to eliminate them all, one by one, and make them pay for their crimes in blood!"
Xiao Yan nodded: "So, there are a few things we need to do next. First, and most importantly, you need to recover to your peak condition as soon as possible."
Huo Zhi nodded. Facing Tang Qiying, who had possessed Huo Xuan's body, she had exhausted almost everything, yet even escaping was difficult. Now, although she had awakened, her strength was far from recovered. If they were to encounter the Soul Clan now, she wouldn't be able to help; instead, she would become a burden to Xiao Yan. She might even become a weakness used by the enemy to restrain Xiao Yan, something she absolutely did not want to see.
"Don't worry, I absolutely won't act impulsively because of them now. I will fully cooperate to completely expel the remaining destructive power from my body as soon as possible and fully heal my injuries. Then, we'll go find them together and settle this blood debt!"
"That's good." What Xiao Yan was most worried about now was that Huo Zhi wouldn't be able to rationally deal with her relationship with the Soul Clan. But ever since Huo Zhi decided to kill Huo Xuan, her mindset had changed. The Huo Zhi who hid under the wings of her elders had disappeared. She was truly walking the path of bearing the future of the Yan Clan, just as Huo Xuan had hoped.
"At the same time, we also need to find someone."
"Looking for someone? Who are you looking for?"
Xiao Yan's lips curled up slightly, revealing a confident smile: "Lei Jingxiao, that kid, should still be on the third level of the Heavenly Tomb."
On his way to rescue Huo Zhi at full speed, Xiao Yan had pushed his soul power to its limit, scanning an area with his senses. There, he spotted a very familiar trace: large swaths of ground shattered by the power of violent lightning, a truly horrific sight.
However, that completely irrational energy burst was most likely caused by his adopted younger brother, Lei Jingxiao. The Soul Clan currently has four members in the Heavenly Tomb. Although Xiao Yan doesn't yet know if they have successfully reunited, Lei Jingxiao is undoubtedly the best ally to deal with them.
In the days that followed, Xiao Yan and Huo Zhi embarked on a cultivation journey together.
While Xiao Yan and Huo Zhi were killing the energy entities in the Heavenly Tomb, they also began searching for Lei Jingxiao. This process was somewhat dangerous and rather tedious. Because Huo Zhi's injuries had not fully healed, the two of them always acted together for safety reasons.
Of course, the two of them also continuously improved their cultivation during this process, because they were about to face a powerful enemy. If they could take advantage of the present moment to make further progress on their existing cultivation, they would naturally have a greater chance of success.
Xiao Yan discovered that after reaching the Half-Saint realm, these energy beings' every move was highly disciplined, clearly reflecting their memories from their previous lives. This provided Xiao Yan with a good opportunity to hone his combat skills and further improve them.
On the other hand, Huo Zhi is also another good teacher to Xiao Yan.
Huo Zhi taught Xiao Yan many techniques for using different flames, which Xiao Yan found very rewarding. These were insights accumulated by generations of Red Lotus Karmic Flame holders and Dou Sheng powerhouses of the Yan Clan. Under normal circumstances, people outside the Yan Clan would never have access to such knowledge; it was one of the most important treasures of the Dou Di descendants. However, given the current situation of the Yan Clan and Xiao Yan's great kindness to them, there were no more reservations.
Huo Zhi's exquisite skills often amazed Xiao Yan. He never imagined that the Strange Fire could have so many uses, whereas his previous use of the Strange Fire was simply like throwing a brick with great force.
After receiving instruction from Huo Zhi, Xiao Yan's use of the strange fire also gained a more balanced blend of strength and gentleness.
Xiao Yan's previous methods of using different flames were all unorthodox. The only feedback he provided to Huo Zhi was the Wind-Gathering Palm technique he obtained from the Pill Tower. Huo Zhi acknowledged the exquisite nature of this fighting technique. After all, the Flame Clan had no shortage of powerful fighting techniques, but the Wind-Gathering Palm, while not of top-tier rank, was unique in its ability to compress wind pressure so efficiently and even integrate with fire-attribute fighting qi to form a unique fire-wind combined attack. She found it truly remarkable and benefited greatly from it.
While his skills have been continuously improving, there's actually bad news regarding his battle aura.
The Heavenly Tomb is not a panacea either. The effects of the energy core will develop resistance with repeated use at a much slower rate than that of elixirs. Especially after absorbing a semi-saint level energy body, the benefits gained from absorbing a Dou Zun level energy body are significantly reduced. Xiao Yan roughly estimated that the reduction is close to half.
Therefore, in the nearly two months that followed, Xiao Yan only consolidated and strengthened his mid-stage Half-Saint cultivation, without forcing himself to try to break through further.
While it's true that one can seek opportunities to accelerate cultivation, there are ultimately no shortcuts. As Xiao Yan's strength increased, he felt even more strongly that reaching a certain level required the combined accumulation of time and arduous training.
"It seems we're not very lucky; we haven't encountered Lei Jingxiao yet." Huo Zhi chatted with Xiao Yan while they rested after three busy days.
Xiao Yan wasn't in a hurry. He shrugged and said, "But judging from the traces we've seen, he probably hasn't gone to the fourth level yet."
"Search for another month. If we still haven't found it, we'll go to the fourth floor."
As Xiao Yan spoke, he skillfully took out several herbs that emitted a fragrant aroma, purified them with flames, and then poured the prepared water into a sizable medicine barrel. Soon, a barrel of misty, emerald-green liquid was ready, its aroma filling the air and containing a gentle, nourishing medicinal power.
"The medicinal bath is ready," Xiao Yan said to Huo Zhi, who was meditating beside him.
(Thanks to Carbon Treasure)