With Lin Ran's support, it was a simple task for the Moti Mercenary Group to dominate Shimo City. Under absolute strength, all obstacles crumbled.
Once matters with the mercenary group had been settled, Xiao Li, who greatly valued familial bonds, immediately turned his attention to his brother Xiao Ding, who had died tragically at Lü Man's hands.
"The dead deserve respect. Besides, your Moti Mercenary Group was founded by your elder brother. Now that the group has been renewed, your brother's funeral should be no ordinary affair."
Lin Ran said calmly, "Make it grand. Bring your family, too. A man who built a group like this in such a place deserves to go out with honor."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Li's eyes turned red. Though he stood outside the courtyard, he still gave a deep, heavy bow toward the tightly shut door.
"Thank you, my lord!"
"Mm."
Satisfied, Xiao Li took his leave. On the training platform, the two girls also ended their spar.
Xiao Yixian flicked her fair wrist, drawing all the toxins back from the Fire Spirit Serpent's body. The beast stumbled back to its feet, but when it looked at her, its eyes clearly held a trace of fear.
The Three-Colored Pupil could control a beast's will, but Qinglin still lacked the strength to suppress its instincts.
Xiao Yixian's venom was simply too frightening. Even the serpent had felt fear.
"Not bad. Without using your poison Dou Qi, your current Ice Sovereign Force is more than enough to handle an average Da Dou Shi."
Watching Xiao Yixian descend from the platform, Lin Ran nodded in approval, not hiding his praise.
Receiving praise, Xiao Yixian grinned happily. She pumped her tiny fist, her stunning face glowing with a touch of smug delight.
"Here, take this."
Lin Ran thought for a moment, then flicked his finger against his storage ring. A flash of green light bloomed in the courtyard, only to dim rapidly. In that brief instant, a cyan lotus platform silently appeared, floating midair, still and unmoving.
The sight of this flawless, artistic lotus seat left everyone stunned. Especially Luyi—her delicate figure trembled, and her pupils shrank.
"Such scorching energy... this intense fire attribute aura... could this be related to one of the legendary Heavenly Flames?!"
"That's right."
Lin Ran lifted his palm, causing the cyan lotus to rotate gently, radiating a dreamlike glow.
"This is the core lotus seat of the Green Lotus Core Flame. I retrieved it from the magma cavern below. The Green Lotus Core Flame itself was taken by someone else—it's just the lotus platform that remains."
Green Lotus Core Flame?!
Luyi gasped. Of course she knew this Heavenly Flame—it was famous even in the empire. But to think such a treasure lay hidden beneath this barren desert...
Wait!
"Don't tell me... it was the Green Lotus Core Flame that injured Queen Medusa? And she was the one who took the flame?!"
Luyi's eyes lit up in sudden realization as she exclaimed.
Queen Medusa's strength was beyond question. As a peak Dou Huang, few in the entire Jia Ma Empire could harm her. It had to be something like this that could wound her so severely.
But why would Queen Medusa want a Heavenly Flame?
The serpent race possessed cold blood and yin-natured bloodlines. Heavenly Flames, by contrast, had limited use to them...
Wait!
As if struck by lightning, Luyi whispered in disbelief, "Could she be planning to use the Heavenly Flame to refine her bloodline and evolve?!"
"Correct."
Lin Ran looked at her with a hint of surprise. 'As expected of the Heaven Snake Mansion, so well-versed in all things serpentine.'
"Queen Medusa's half-serpent body is that of the Violet Flame Serpent. When it reaches peak sixth rank, it gains a rare opportunity—to undergo bloodline refinement through a Heavenly Flame."
"If she succeeds in withstanding the flame's purification, not only can she freely shift between serpent and human form, but her strength will naturally rise to Dou Zong. Even her bloodline will evolve—into the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python."
"What?! The legendary ancient beast capable of contending with Dou Shengs, the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python?!"
Luyi was utterly dumbfounded. Her cry left both Qinglin and Xiao Yixian stunned.
'Capable of rivaling a Dou Sheng?! That's too terrifying!'
In the Jia Ma Empire, a Dou Huang was already the peak. A Dou Zong was a sovereign overlord.
But now, someone was on the verge of evolving into a being that could match Dou Shengs?
For a time, both Qinglin and Xiao Yixian felt their heads spinning.
"But it's merely the potential to reach Dou Sheng. Even if she succeeds in evolving, she'll still just be a Dou Zong," Lin Ran chuckled, shaking his head. He lifted his hand again, and the lotus platform floated before Xiao Yixian.
"Back to the point."
"This lotus seat can help anyone cultivating fire-type or similarly aggressive Dou Qi to drastically increase their training speed."
"You cultivate Ice Sovereign Force, so you can't directly absorb its energy. But it can temper your Dou Qi and make your Ice Sovereign Force more refined and condensed."
Lin Ran said softly, "I'm giving this to you. From now on, you'll train atop this lotus."
"Thank you, young master!"
Xiao Yixian didn't bother with false modesty. She knew Lin Ran disliked that. Smiling brightly, she accepted the gift, then gestured to lower the lotus slightly. With a leap, she landed gracefully atop it.
Crossing her legs, she immediately felt a warm energy seep through her skin and into her meridians.
It was gentle and warm. If she hadn't been training the Ice Sovereign Force, it might have balanced out her poison Dou Qi perfectly.
But now, taking the extreme yin and cold route, this warmth would actually serve as a counterbalance—and that was exactly what she needed.
As the lotus energy surged into her, Xiao Yixian's brows furrowed slightly. Her Ice Sovereign Force activated on its own, meeting the warmth in battle. The two forces began to temper and refine one another.
Feeling a new balance form within her meridians, Xiao Yixian slowly formed her training seal. Her eyes closed, and she entered a deep state of cultivation.
As she entered this state, a soft cyan glow rose from the lotus, wrapping around her completely. At the same time, the lotus's outer hue shifted to a faint purple-blue, and its temperature slightly decreased.
Watching Xiao Yixian immerse herself in cultivation, Lin Ran turned his gaze to Qinglin. With a flick of his hand, a jade slip appeared in his palm.
"Qinglin."
"Yes, young master..."
(End of Chapter)