Chapter 81: Cultivating the Flame Mantra
A chilling cold filled the air. At this moment, the entire alchemy room resembled an ice cellar, with even the surrounding walls covered in a layer of ice crystals. Only the area around Yao Yan remained unaffected.
His dark eyes were calm and unmoving as he stared indifferently at the bone-white flames rising from the cauldron. The terrifying cold and violent power surged outward again and again, distorting the very space around it.
The cauldron, coated in ice, trembled incessantly. Under the repeated eruptions of the Bone-Chilling Flame, this ordinary cauldron was clearly at its limit.
Cracks spread like spiderwebs across its surface, growing rapidly.
If not for Yao Yan reinforcing it with soul power, it would have already exploded.
Fortunately, the soul imprint on the Bone Flame Ring had nearly reached its breaking point. After wave after wave of Soul-Corrosion Grass, the Bone-Chilling Flame was reacting slower and slower.
Patiently, Yao Yan waited for another burst of the flame to subside. Then, with practiced calm, he tossed in another stalk of Soul-Corrosion Grass. As the poison liquefied and dripped onto the ring, the Bone-Chilling Flame remained still, letting the toxin completely soak the ring.
Seeing this, Yao Yan's eyes narrowed. "Did it work?"
Boom!
As if to answer him, the Bone-Chilling Flame exploded even more fiercely this time—hotter and colder all at once. The contradictory forces fused unnaturally, creating even more destructive power. The poison surrounding the ring was vaporized instantly, and the raging flames struck the already damaged cauldron, shattering it completely.
Yao Yan remained calm, easily shielding himself from the flying shards with his powerful soul force. Watching the Bone-Chilling Flame burn aimlessly, he allowed a faint smile to cross his lips.
In the end, it was just an unrestrained heavenly flame. No matter how fearsome, it couldn't pose a real threat without a master.
Soon, the Bone-Chilling Flame receded like a tide.
The Bone Flame Ring dropped from the air, once again appearing as an ordinary ring.
Yao Yan caught it with his soul power and cautiously injected another stream of soul force. This time, there was no resistance—it entered smoothly. A vast space appeared in his mind. Compared to ordinary high-grade rings, the Bone Flame Ring's storage space was even larger.
As expected of a custom-made high-tier storage ring crafted especially for Yao Lao.
The Bone Flame Ring not only had an immense storage capacity but also a built-in function for nourishing the soul. Simply wearing it granted a passive soul-restoring effect. This was likely why Xiao Yan's mother had kept it.
Yao Yan left his own soul imprint on the ring, causing the storage space to fully open before him.
Inside was a mountain of pill formulas, cultivation techniques, Dou Techniques, and all manner of rare and bizarre items—an overwhelming collection.
This was undoubtedly Yao Lao's accumulation over centuries.
A withered soul form also appeared within his view. It was in a severely weakened state, nearly transparent, and deeply asleep. In this form, without external supplements of soul energy, it might remain dormant for decades.
Even inside the Bone Flame Ring, recovery would take decades.
Clearly, Yao Lao's soul had been damaged during the imprint-erasure process involving the Soul-Corrosion Grass.
Yao Yan gave the soul a glance, then began searching through the ring. Soon, a black scroll of an unnamed cultivation method appeared in his hand. Upon contact, it dissolved into a stream of information that flooded his mind. He accepted it without resistance.
It was a low-tier Yellow-rank technique that required the devouring of heavenly flames to evolve.
At the start, the method seemed unremarkable—less impressive than many other low-tier Yellow-rank techniques. But it allowed the user to absorb all kinds of flames to evolve its rank, even integrating the unique traits of each flame into the user's own abilities.
According to the technique's description, it had no theoretical upper limit. Its only constraint was the strength of the flames it consumed.
Flame Mantra.
Yao Yan knew at once that this was the same cultivation method Yao Lao had later named the Flame Mantra in the original story.
"I finally got it…"
He took a deep breath, staring at the frost-covered alchemy room. Golden Illusory Flame rose around him, and within seconds, all the chill and frost vanished—including the ice on the walls. As the room's temperature returned to normal, he sat cross-legged and closed his eyes, preparing to replace his current technique, the Three-Flame Fusion Technique, with the Flame Mantra.
Both were low-tier Yellow-rank fire attribute techniques, so there would be no conflict.
Yao Yan had already cultivated the Three-Flame Fusion Technique to perfection, with three internal flames formed. Switching techniques at this stage wouldn't hinder his cultivation. After all, the technique's purpose was foundational—meant to strengthen his energy, spirit, and soul for transitioning into more powerful methods later.
The only drawback was that the Flame Mantra was still only Yellow-rank, and switching techniques now would cause some physical damage.
According to Yao Clan tradition, cultivators usually only switched techniques after reaching the Dou Ling level. By then, their control over Dou Qi would be perfect, and switching to an Earth-rank technique could propel them to Dou Wang in one leap, saving countless efforts.
Fortunately, Yao Yan had inherited the Dou Di bloodline of both the Stone and Spirit Clans—he could endure this much.
As the Flame Mantra began to circulate—
His Dou Qi's nature started to change. The previously formed Dou Crystal began to fracture, releasing torrents of energy that surged through his body. Even his body struggled to withstand it. Agonizing pain tore through him as his meridians ruptured from the rampaging energy.
Fortunately, the Spirit Clan's Dou Di bloodline granted him astonishing vitality. His broken meridians began to heal at a visible rate, allowing Yao Yan to focus entirely on circulating the Flame Mantra.
Several hours passed before his Dou Qi condensed once more into a pale yellow spiritual crystal.
At last, the transformation was complete.
"My strength hasn't changed much, and my body is still accustomed to the Three-Flame Fusion Technique. My absorption of spiritual energy from the world has become second nature—perhaps the greatest benefit of mastering that method. Unfortunately, very few ever reach that level…"
Feeling the subtle changes within his Dou Qi, Yao Yan instantly understood.
Then, his gaze turned inward—toward the Illusory Flame within him.
This beast flame had been nurtured by his Dou Qi since its birth and was nearly one with him.
Right now, he was eager to test the Flame Mantra's ability to devour flames.
And what better test subject than the Illusory Flame itself?
(END CHAPTER)
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