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--- Chapter 231 ---
After lunch, Han Yuan told the girls he had to leave again.
Gu Xun'er immediately spoke about it, "What? B-But you just returned a few hours ago?"
"I believe you should rest for a bit, Han Yuan."
Regardless, unlike Gu Xun'er, Xiao Yixian caught on to what Han Yuan was planning to do. After all, Han Yuan rarely hides his plans from her.
Unfortunately, as much as Xiao Yixian wanted to scold Han Yuan for being a workaholic, learning about her origins made the girl think about a lot of things and reconsider her life choices for the future.
Revenge?
Of course, Xiao Yixian wanted revenge!
What her mother had undergone made Xiao Yixian realize things. To build power and influence, her dear brother couldn't stay in one place, and now she understood that it was for her own good.
Knowing Han Yuan is going to Tager Desert for the infamous 'Ice Emperor' Hai Bodong, Xiao Yixian sighed before glancing at Yafei, "Please take care of him, and keep annoying flies from approaching him. My brother can be a little wilful."
"This..." Gu Xun'er was speechless.
Yafei giggled, "Of course, leave it to me."
She knew Xiao Yixian trusted her to do this job.
Meanwhile, Gu Xun'er sulked even more after hearing Yafei's reply.
So, under the beautiful sunset, Xiao Yixian and Gu Xun'er watched as Han Yuan and Yafei flew away to the horizon.
As they returned to Wu Tan City, Gu Xun'er couldn't help but purse her red lips and ask, "Yixian, do you think I am really that childish?"
Xiao Yixian stopped and gave a 'Are you kidding me?' look before smiling at Gu Xun'er, "Hell, yeah, you are!"
"..." Gu Xun'er. She felt her fragile heart was cracking even more.
Xiao Yixian then laughed, "Hah, the look on your face is funny. But do you know that everyone is a child at some point? Being childish is never the problem, but not growing up is..."
She whistled and stared at the darkening sky, "My brother saved me from darkness. He always hoped I could grow normally like others, and he succeeded in doing that."
"I am his sweet younger sister, whom he could protect forever. Yet, he knew it wasn't a good decision for the long term. He wanted to protect me, but also didn't want me to be a flower in a greenhouse."
"So, he let me fail... He let me experience pain or frustration. Of course, he always comforts me afterward."
"All those years helped me grow up."
Xiao Yixian stared at Gu Xun'er playfully, "You still have time to grow, so does everyone in the world, he said."
"It's just a matter of willingness or not..."
"Are you willing to change, Gu Xun'er?" asked Xiao Yixian calmly.
Gu Xun'er opened her mouth before closing it again. Then, she smiled a little and replied, "Thank you."
'I am willing to change...'
'I wanted to be a new person than I was yesterday...'
"I feel like I understand what to do now."
"Good." Xiao Yixian hummed, dragging Gu Xun'er back to her house.
...
...
Jia Ma Empire - Magical Beast Mountain Range.
While Xiao Yixian was busy teaching Gu Xun'er how to be a "bad girl" as she wanted to grow up, Han Yuan and Yafei calmly glided in the air with wings on their back.
If others saw Han Yuan and Yafei right now, especially Dou Fighters, they would be shocked. After all, both Han Yuan and Yafei could fly despite not being the Dou King or any of the Magical Beasts.
For Dou Fighters, there is only one answer to this: the rare Flying Dou Technique!
After analyzing the "Purple Cloud Fierce Wings" that they obtained in the inheritance cave five years ago, Han Yuan was able to master a method to create the Flying Dou Technique.
It wasn't difficult as Han Yuan was 'particularly' skilled in operating spirit energy or Dou Qi of this world, mainly Shape Transformation, and Nature Transformation. Once one has mastered these concepts, creating Dou Qi Wings despite not being Dou King is easy.
Of course, just "Dou Qi Wings" isn't enough. Han Yuan examined "Purple Cloud Fierce Wings" and learned to merge the Magical Beast's template on his version of the Flying Dou Technique.
Yafei cultivated "Fairy Queen's Winged Gown," which is both a Flying Dou Technique and a Defensive Dou Technique based on a spirit beast Han Yuan had seen in the Douluo Continent called the Sky-Cutting Crystal Butterfly. This spirit beast is not only beautiful and fast, but also has a pair of extremely tough wings that also act as blades.
Yafei's wings appeared to be metallic and silver-colored, gleaming with earthly golden lights. And the edges of these wings are as sharp as razors, and cut steel like they are nothing.
She can also wrap herself with them, thus protecting her body.
Weirdly, Han Yuan's wings weren't made with the Flying Dou Technique, as he didn't need it.
Han Yuan's wings are the manifestation of another blessing awakened not too long ago. Yes, they are part of the Heavenly Demon's powers, and these jet-black feather wings could affect the surrounding space to a certain degree.
"By the way, Xiao Yuan, why did we use this route again? Wouldn't it be faster if we just flew to the Tager Desert straight forward?" asked Yafei curiously.
Han Yuan smiled, "That's true. While the Magical Beast Mountain Range borders the Jia Ma Empire and Tager Desert, there is a better route from Wu Tan City than this."
"But I finally got my hands on a new fancy toy and wanted to try it."
"New toy?" Yafei's eyes lit up. "D-Did you finally get your hand on that Heavenly Flame?"
Han Yuan didn't say anything and snapped his finger, summoning "Enma," which is a cat-shaped Ten Thousand Beast Flame. The cat is hovering in the air, perched on his left shoulder.
Yafei stared at the 'cat' in curiosity, "Wow, I don't know that a Heavenly Flame can be this cute."
"Well, not every Heavenly Flame is like this. This little fellow got my help and developed its intelligence." Han Yuan replied, ordering the fiery cat to leap to Yafei's arms.
Yafei caught the cat Heavenly Flame and felt its warm body, smiling. She only stopped when Han Yuan told her they needed the land on the nearby mountain for something.
Han Yuan caught some low-level Magical Beasts, ranging from species to strength and finally, bloodline.
He experimented with Ten Thousand Beast Flame's ability to strengthen, rob, and evolve their bloodline, watching each Magical Beast react differently.
After an hour or so, Han Yuan had already mastered the way to awaken the Magical Beast's bloodline, but also lamented the fact that it was so expensive in terms of the consumption of energy of heaven and earth.
From Rank 4 onward, the energy consumption doubled, which was even more than Han Yuan usually needed for his cultivation, and that said a lot about this seemingly broken ability of Ten Thousand Beast Flame.
"Fire Wolf, Wind Pheasants, Rock Ape, Water Snake, Iron Turtle, Lightning Rat, and finally, Bark Cicada. These beasts are the strongest ones I have made so far." Han Yuan stared at the group of Magical Beasts, whose bloodline had strengthened, evolved, and awakened with his help.
"Are you done with the experiments?" asked Yafei while eyeing the beasts over Han Yuan's shoulder.
Han Yuan stored these beasts into the Sky Poison Pearl and nodded, "Yeah. I am confident dealing with a "certain" snake woman now."
"A certain, huh?" Yafei smirked at him.
…
Then, they resumed their journey. They arrived at Tager Desert when the white moon was already hanging in the sky. The outer area of the desert is where humans live, and the inner area is where the Snake People are usually found and settled.
"Desert City," said Han Yuan upon looking at the brown city's plaque above him. "Is this where the 'Ice Emperor' Hai Bodong lives?"
Honestly, while Han Yuan knew BTTH's plots, he sometimes forgot their details.
"Yup, follow me." Yafei dragged Han Yuan into the city before stopping at the Ancient Map Shop.
Upon entering the shop, Yafei shouted, "Grand Uncle, this is the person I talked about."
Han Yuan looked up, seeing a middle-aged man in a sky-blue robe. He is quite handsome for his age, but the frightening scar that crossed from his left cheek to the corner of his eye made him look fierce.
"Nice to meet you, Ice Emperor, Hai Bodong." Han Yuan greeted him with a calm smile. "My name is Han Yuan."
Hai Bodong sat on his seat, gazing at Han Yuan from top to bottom with discerning eyes. However, the more he stared at this tall kid, the more unfathomable he felt.
Whether it was cultivation, aura, or temperament, all Hai Bodong could feel was an anomaly. In short, he couldn't feel anything.
Although Hai Bodong is cursed, and his cultivation regresses to the Dou Spirit Realm, it doesn't mean his sense is 'similarly' dulled.
'This boy, he is not an ordinary fellow...' Hai Bodong frowned slightly.
"So, you're the brat that Fei'er said could solve my problem?"
"I don't know what kind of amazing ability you have, but I wouldn't join your so-called Martial Group without proof."
Han Yuan raised his eyebrow and laughed, "Well, that's true, though it would be nice if you remember it was Martial Union, not a group, but whatever."
"You're right, empty words are nothing."
"So, let's do a little demonstration."
"First of all, can you give me your wrist?" Han Yuan extended his left hand to Hai Bodong.
Hai Bodong glanced at Yafei before nodding at Han Yuan, giving his right wrist to him.
Han Yuan examined the "curse" on Hai Bodong's body and smirked as if it was just as he had guessed.
The curse Queen Medusa placed on Hai Bodong mainly comes from her Snake Woman's bloodline, which not only sealed his Dou Qi but also corroded it slowly.
Han Yuan could have used Sky Poison Pearl, stripping the curse as it was no different than "venom" in his eyes, but he preferred a more threatening method to convince Hai Bodong.
"I see..." Han Yuan smiled faintly. "I can help you remove this curse."
"But just to remind you, once I helped you, you joined my Martial Union, right?"
Hai Bodong's breath hitched as he calmed down, "I promise you in the name of Ice Emperor."
"Very well." Han Yuan retreated slightly, raising his right palm under Hai Bodong's very eyes. Then, a deep crimson flame burst out from his palm, leaving the Ice Emperor stunned.
Hai Bodong jumped from his seat, "H-Heavenly Flame..."
"Hahaha, kid, it seems I underestimated you."
"You actually possessed the legendary Heavenly Flame!"