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Upon hearing this, Feng Xian finally calmed down and said,
"I did act a bit impulsively. Now I understand why you never let Han Feng practice the Burning Technique."
Back then, Yao Chen had nearly lost his life just to subdue the Bone-Chilling Flame. How could he possibly allow Han Feng to cultivate a technique that required the repeated absorption of Heavenly Flames, especially one with an unknown upper limit? Unfortunately, his painstaking care had been repaid with betrayal.
After Feng Xian left, Yao Chen resumed refining pills. He didn't bother warning Feng Xian not to act in secret—after all, they had grown up together and knew each other's personalities all too well.
One year later, atop a snow-covered peak rising thousands of meters high, Qian Renhan sat cross-legged in black robes at the summit.
Like a meditating monk, he had remained in closed cultivation at the summit for three full months. The Shura Sword hovered in front of him, surrounded by invisible waves of blood-red sword aura. These ripples disrupted the freezing winds and snowfall that should have relentlessly battered the peak, slicing them apart in midair.
During these three months, the Shura Sword had continuously unleashed various sword techniques: the Wind Sound Sword Art from Sound Valley, the Blazing Sun Sword Art from Blazing Flame Valley, and the Blood Sword Art from the Dark Underworld Sect.
Each sword art had been analyzed by Qian Renhan during seclusion. He synchronized with the Shura Sword in spirit and will, simulating and executing the sword techniques through his mind while the sword mimicked their forms.
Having visited and studied techniques from over a hundred factions on the Dou Qi Continent and analyzed thousands of sword styles, Qian Renhan mentally modeled each of them. One part of his mind observed, while the other simulated the understanding of sword dao possessed by the technique's original creator.
A month later, amidst storm clouds and hail, the snow-covered mountain suddenly began to quake violently. All the magical beasts living within it fled at great speed toward the foothills.
A visible blood-red aura began to spread downward from the peak, expanding in a perfect sphere with Qian Renhan at its center. Any creature touched by it met an instant and terrifying fate.
A snow hare, just having fled its burrow, didn't make it out of the crimson boundary. In the blink of an eye, it was reduced to a pile of bones—its flesh and blood vanished into nothingness. Even the vegetation brushed by the red mist was reduced to dust, scattering into the snowy winds.
The Four Layers of Sword Dao:
First Layer: Unity of Man and Sword – The sword and wielder are one. Even a blade of grass in hand becomes a deadly weapon.
Second Layer: Sword Qi – With a deep enough understanding of swordsmanship, the sword can reside in the heart. Even unarmed, one can kill from a hundred paces with sword intent alone.
Third Layer: Sword Intent – The "sword" symbolizes the weapon in hand; the "intent" represents the wielder's will. With powerful enough intent, even a twig can become a divine weapon.
Fourth Layer: Sword Domain – One's intent expands into a domain, forming a world shaped by their sword will. In this world, they are the absolute ruler.
The Sword Domain far surpasses domains or divine intent in the Douluo world. It can be used across any realm. In contrast, domains and divine intent only exist within Douluo—and divine intent utterly overwhelms domains, like a parent crushing a child.
But a Sword Domain versus divine intent? That's like a grown man crushing an ant—completely overwhelming and unstoppable.
Upon reaching this realm, numbers mean nothing. Even if tens of thousands of Nine-Star Dou Zun experts stood before Qian Renhan, his activation of the Sword Domain would reduce them all to ashes, like moths flying into a flame.
Because within the crimson Sword Domain, every particle of space is saturated with Qian Renhan's sword intent.
With the Sword Domain, it was as if Qian Renhan had a Heaven-tier combat technique on standby at all times. His strength within the same rank increased dramatically. And over these two years, his cultivation finally broke through to the late stage of Four-Star Dou Saint.
"By my calculations, the Dou Saint Relic should open soon. Once I acquire the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao will likely part ways for good."
With that, Qian Renhan recalled the Shura Sword. The space before him twisted, and he flew toward Starfall Pavilion.
Starfall Pavilion, Main Hall
Yao Chen, Feng Xian, and Xiao Yan were gathered together.
"Teacher! The ancient relic has opened!" Xiao Yan exclaimed excitedly.
"According to news from the Pavilion Elders, the Soul Infant Fruit—which is crucial for restoring your original soul energy—is inside! I've already gathered three types of Heavenly Flame, and we have a body ready for your resurrection. Once we retrieve the fruit, you'll be able to fully revive!"
"The Soul Infant Fruit is indeed an ancient item," Venerable Feng said, rubbing his hands with excitement.
"If it's appearing inside the ancient relic, that wouldn't be surprising at all."
"Don't celebrate just yet."
Yao Lao was far less optimistic than Venerable Feng. He muttered,
"This ancient relic has attracted many powerful experts and influential forces from across the continent. Moreover, it lies deep within the Beast Region. Retrieving any treasure from there won't be easy. During the last relic's emergence, rivers of blood were spilled. No one knows how many Dou Zong and Dou Zun experts fell."
"Restoring Teacher's original soul energy is an absolute must," Xiao Yan said firmly.
"Teacher is currently one of the Soul Hall's most wanted targets and can't venture out. Elder Feng needs to remain in Starfall Pavilion to deter outside threats. Given all that, retrieving the Soul Infant Fruit from the relic will have to fall to me."
"I will bring it back, no matter what. Besides, I've been stuck at the peak of Nine-Star Dou Zong for the past year without progress. Maybe this is the opportunity I need to break through to Dou Zun."
Xiao Yan gave a light chuckle and turned to Venerable Feng.
"Elder Feng, please help me prepare a detailed map of the Beast Region. As for the Soul Infant Fruit—leave it to me."
Upon hearing this, Venerable Feng glanced at Yao Lao, whose brows were still tightly furrowed. After a brief moment, he gave a gentle nod.
"I'm worried as well," he admitted.
"But you are undeniably the best choice for this task. If we want Yao Chen to regain his peak strength, we must rely on you. I'll get the map sorted as soon as possible. Also, take Qingluan with you when you leave. Her clan resides within the Beast Region. She might be of help when the time comes."
Yao Chen sighed.
"If only Qian Renhan were here right now, we could ask for his help."
Just then, the air rippled faintly—Qian Renhan appeared in Starfall Pavilion and calmly said,
"Yao Lao, Venerable Feng, Xiao Yan—long time no see. I'm here to pick up Ziyan."
"Tch, what's so fun about the Beast Region? Why are we even going there?"
Ziyan grumbled repeatedly about the destination along the way, clearly displeased.
Qian Renhan replied coolly,
"We're going to repay your debts. I heard that over the past two years, you've practically eaten Starfall Pavilion into bankruptcy. The disciples are running out of pills because of you."
Ziyan's cheeks turned red.
"That's not true! I even left a little behind… okay?"
Seeing her pouty, flustered expression, Xiao Yan felt an itch in his heart. Over the past two years, he had grown fond of this little loli. Smiling, he handed her a bottle of pills.
Ziyan immediately snatched it, opened the lid, and poured the pills into her mouth like they were beans, crunching on them with loud munching sounds.
And so, their journey toward the Beast Region continued—punctuated by Ziyan's relentless pill-chewing and Mu Qingluan's introductions to the various major clans of the Magical Beast Realm.
(End of Chapter)