Chapter 335: Primordial Soul Imprint
"Blood Sacrifice to a Dou Emperor?"
Xiao Yuan frowned.
That didn't sound like anything good.
And besides, a Dou Emperor couldn't be harmed even if someone tried their hardest.
Still, that woman appeared to be his true master's wife—most likely the very Han Shanshan his teacher had mentioned before. Clearly, her relationship with Master was even deeper than with Aunt Xuan Yi.
Yet Master had said he was still looking for her…
Which meant, he didn't know about her sacrifice. And Han Shanshan herself had said he would lose the memories of it.
Now, this missing piece of memory—being part of the soul—was likely the root cause of Yao Lao's current soul disarray.
Xiao Yuan's mind grew solemn as he looked around.
Wait...
He was shocked to find himself, in soul form, fully present in this space, seemingly drawn in through the soul imprint.
Although slightly ethereal, his soul had already reached the Spirit Realm. Even in this state, he could rival Dou Zun experts, which gave him some reassurance.
Soon after, a much younger Yao Lao stirred and woke up from the black icy floor. He stood, glancing around the deathly still world. He instinctively opened his palm and summoned a flame—but no Bone Spirit Cold Flame appeared. He had failed.
Then Xiao Yuan noticed confusion flicker in his teacher's eyes—as if realizing something was missing. He began looking around for something lost.
Nearby, the young Feng Xian was still unconscious.
"Feng Xian!"
Clarity returned to Yao Lao's eyes. He rushed over and injected Dou Qi into his friend's body to stabilize his fading life force.
"Cough—Dust bro? What… happened? Did you succeed?"
Feng Xian's first concern was their mission's result.
Yao Chen shook his head bitterly. "It was impossible… The Bone Spirit Cold Flame has existed for countless years…"
All he could remember was battling the flame-beast manifestation with Feng Xian. In the critical moment, his bloodline—the Dou Emperor bloodline—had saved him.
Yet he couldn't shake a deep feeling of loss… like something important had been forgotten.
What was it?
No, now wasn't the time to dwell. Feng Xian's condition was critical. They had to leave this dead, frozen domain at once. The Bone Spirit Cold Flame could wait.
Carrying Feng Xian on his back, Yao Lao departed swiftly.
Xiao Yuan tried to speak—but it was as if a mysterious force prevented him from interacting with Yao Lao at all.
"Sigh…"
From deep within the dead domain came a quiet sigh of soul. Xiao Yuan turned toward it and saw Han Shanshan, in spirit form, hovering in the air, watching Yao Lao's departure with longing.
Her translucent body was covered in strange runes, each one radiating ancient Dou Qi—power that transcended time and space. Past, present, future—they were all one.
This was the price of a blood sacrifice to a Dou Emperor.
Xiao Yuan's expression grew heavy. He could feel the soul imprint's power fading—it was almost time for him to return to his body.
No!
He couldn't go back now!
If he returned, the imprint would vanish, Yao Lao's soul would recover, yes—but the last trace of Han Shanshan would be lost. And Master would never find her again. He'd regret it for the rest of his life.
That wouldn't do!
Han Shanshan, as if sensing Xiao Yuan's presence, turned and looked at him. Being one with the river of time, she instantly understood who he was and why he had come.
She smiled gently at the stranger who was her husband's disciple.
"Take good care of your teacher for me."
Her voice was soft, like a mother's blessing.
Then suddenly, chains of light burst from the void, binding her spirit tightly. The River of Time manifested, pulling her away.
"No matter what you are, I'm not letting you take my master's wife!"
Fury flared in Xiao Yuan's eyes. In the real world, his physical body ignited. Across time and space, he activated the Heavenly Fire Triple Transformation and pushed his bloodline to the limit.
Crimson-gold markings appeared on his brow as his Dou Emperor bloodline burned, flooding him with ancient, majestic power.
"Blood becomes vessel, soul is the seal—Five Elements, Six Forces, converge as one: Primordial Blood Soul Imprint!"
From deep within his soul, red-gold light emerged. Flame erupted from his bloodline. With rapid hand signs, Xiao Yuan condensed the soul imprint.
"We'll meet again, Han Shanshan. I'll reunite you with Master."
With a forceful slap, he launched the imprint forward. At that moment, his soul was rejected by the world and forcibly expelled—vanishing on the spot.
The red-gold soul imprint shrank down to a nail-sized mark and settled on Han Shanshan's brow.
She was stunned by Xiao Yuan's power, awe shining in her tearful eyes.
She had heard his final promise!
Perhaps… she and Yao Chen really would meet again one day!
Smiling through her tears, Han Shanshan's soul faded into the River of Time.
—
Pill Tower, Star Region
The Three Pill Tower Giants and Xiao Yan watched anxiously as dark-gold Heavenly Flame burst from Xiao Yuan's body.
His aura had turned wild and chaotic. The lotus platform Xiao Yan had created was destroyed by the flame's eruption. As Xiao Yuan's bloodline ignited, his strength spiked to eight-star Dou Zun!
Frightened, the three giants immediately set up multiple Dou Qi barriers to contain him. If the Three Thousand Burning Flame was disturbed, they'd be in huge trouble.
But it was clear—Xiao Yuan was in grave condition. He had burned his Dou Emperor bloodline!
They didn't understand how he even had such a thing—but this wasn't any ordinary Dou Emperor bloodline. This was an extremely pure, top-tier bloodline!
How could someone with a bloodline like that not have powerful protectors around?
"Pfft!"
Xiao Yuan suddenly opened his eyes and spat out crimson-gold blood, which turned to flame midair before slowly dissipating.
His aura dropped sharply, falling back to five-star Dou Zong.
Though the realm remained, the burned bloodline meant his Dou Qi wouldn't recover quickly.
Worse still—he had sacrificed a piece of his soul's origin to forge that imprint. It had allowed him to locate someone adrift in time itself. Had the Primordial Soul Seal not had such versatile uses, he would have had no solution today.
But now, his soul was weakening—perhaps even about to fall below the Spirit Realm.
"Brother, why is your soul getting weaker?"
Xiao Yan asked with concern.
"It's alright. I just paid a price. This is the best outcome. Teacher should recover soon. For now, don't ask me anything. Xiao Yan—take the pill. I need to borrow the Soul Elevation Ring created during its refinement to stabilize my soul realm!"
Xiao Yuan waved his hand and summoned the shimmering pill above Yao Lao's head, tossing it to Xiao Yan.
"Why don't you take it yourself?"
"If I take it, it's wasted. I'm already at the Spirit Realm. The effect would be minimal. Should I wait for my soul to fall below the threshold first? That's wasteful!"
Xiao Yuan frowned and scolded.
"Quickly! Or the pill will be wasted!"
"Yes!"
Xiao Yan understood his urgency and didn't delay. He swallowed the pill and formed a lotus seat beneath him, beginning the refinement.
As the medicinal power surged, rainbow light radiated from Xiao Yan's body, forming a five-meter-wide soul ring.
"Aunt Xuan, seniors—remove the barriers! If I don't get to that ring soon, I'm done for!"
The Dou Qi barriers limited his movement. Xiao Yuan reminded them quickly.
"Alright!"
The three giants withdrew the seal.
Xiao Yuan immediately stepped behind Xiao Yan and sat down. The lotus seat seemed to sense him and formed a second layer beneath him, raising both of them like twin lotuses.
The Soul Elevation Ring gently stabilized both of their souls.
"What a marvelous pill!"
Xuan Kongzi couldn't help exclaiming.
He'd never seen such a pill—one that not only aided the user, but also created a soul-stabilizing ring that helped those nearby.
"This kid can refine such high-grade medicine… Yao Chen is truly fortunate!"
Tian Lei Zi also sighed in admiration.
"Yao Chen, are you alright?"
Xuan Yi had been focused on Yao Lao and noticed he was waking. She flashed to his side.
His eyes were hazy at first, but gradually cleared. Seeing Xuan Yi's tear-streaked face, he smiled guiltily.
"Sorry to worry you. I'm fine now. Feels like I had a dream… but I can't remember it."
"As long as you're alright."
Xuan Yi wiped her cheeks, her chest heaving with relief.
Yao Lao averted his gaze and looked toward the glowing lotus behind them.
"What are those two doing?"
He floated over to get a better view and asked curiously.
"Long story. Let me explain…"
Xuan Yi told him everything that had just happened.
"A soul imprint… inside the Bone Spirit Cold Flame?"
Yao Lao frowned and summoned the flame core back from Xiao Yuan's brow. He scanned it with his soul.
"I don't sense any imprint. Just traces of Xiao Yuan's soul."
"Then we'll wait until he wakes and ask him."
Xuan Yi replied.
"Mm. That's all we can do for now."
Yao Lao nodded, still watching his two disciples with affection.
Compared to his own recovery, their wellbeing was far more important. If they were hurt because of him, he'd never forgive himself.
"Don't worry. Xiao Yuan isn't reckless. He knows what he's doing."
Xuan Yi reassured him softly.
"Yes, he's much more composed than you were at his age," Xuan Kongzi added.
"He really is an outstanding disciple," Tian Lei Zi chimed in.
"It's been a while, old friends," Yao Lao said, finally greeting them properly.
"I had been grooming a good disciple to match yours. But your brat made a pill like this? I give up. I wasn't your equal in the past—and neither is my disciple now!"
Xuan Kongzi laughed bitterly.
"Hehe, taking these two as disciples is the best decision I've ever made."
Yao Lao beamed with pride.
His disciples… were the best in the world.
"That pill—did you get it from a Dou Emperor's ruin? I never saw you refine anything like it before."
Xuan Yi asked curiously.
"No. We three just devised it recently. It enhances soul power. The Soul Elevation Ring was Xiao Yuan's idea, inspired by my own Soul Elevation technique—treating the soul as a pill to nurture its spirituality and help break through to the Spirit Realm.
The ring stabilizes the soul of the user. And as the pill's refiner, Xiao Yuan can use it to support himself—no medicinal power needed. It's brilliant."
Yao Lao explained proudly.
(END CHAPTER)
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