Chapter 62: Xian Yan’s Decision

The old man did not utter a word. But it now dawned on him: the rumors were not lies. And indeed, a true Emperor arose from nothing! Such had not happened in all of human history, defying the heaven and earth known for all their past existence. And yet, even more incredulous was the appearance of another person who had broken even higher ceilings than this Emperor, because he had broken through that mentioned law of the cosmos. What an infinitely powerful life this was!

"Xian Yan," Xian Wu spoke finally, his voice even but heavy, "with your talent and potential, you might then rise to the very top of this world if you decide to train diligently step by step. However, if you decide to consume that Emperor-grade strange fire to expedite your progress, then you may well come to the realm of a saint or beyond. However, you are now definitely out of the Great Emperor's control. Be cautious in making your decisions."

Only after months of careful consideration and contemplation, Xian Yan finally decided to forget his thought of using the Emperor-grade strange fire to boost up his cultivation.

"That means that this Emperor-grade strange fire is useless to me?" Xian Yan asked, gazing sternly at the swirling, black flames before him.

"Who said it's useless?" Xian Wu smiled while answering. "This is Emperor-grade strange fire, full of fantastic energy. If you can refine it, you will come to obtain Emperor-grade strength. Imagine having an incredibly powerful trump card to play in your travels!"

"Refine it? That sounds tougher than just swallowing it!" Xian Yan furrowed his brow in doubt.

"Don't worry; I will help you!" Xian Wu reassured him.

The ghostly elder had been watching the exchange from the start and felt both confusion and concern. How could Xian Wu help? This was emperor-grade strange fire, a power only a Great Emperor might hope to refine. Mishandling it would unleash a wildly violent surge of energy, one that the three of them wouldn't be able to take; swallowing it, on the other hand, posed a risk of another kind: Xian Yan's innate flame was powerful enough to dominate the strange fire.

Xian Wu examined the Dark Ghost Flame, which seemed strange and ominous. There was an unsettling skull at the core of the fire. This is the real root of the power in the Dark Ghost Flame.

Extending to grab the unusual fire, it seemed that the flame was its own thing and was even reacting to Xian's presence. The flame began to flare up and out, as if it might burst in all directions. The temperature around them was going to increase dramatically, kind of like when a volcano erupts.

"It's over!" the ghost elder declared in a voice full of fear, quivering with his translucent body. After the fight to protect this weird fire, all he had to show for it was this remnant of his soul. Could it be that today was the day he was going to be eradicated for having such an uncontrollable fire?

When desperation was almost about to engulf him, Xian Wu clutched Dark Ghost Flame firmly, cooling its explosive heat and swiftly withdrew the wild flames that would have devoured everything surrounding them. In the span of a moment, it compressed the flames that had once tall, as tall as a human's head, down into the size of the thumb resting innocently in Xian Wu's palm.

The ghost elder was stunned. Emperor-grade strange fire is suppressed? How is it that? Does Xian Wu really have the status of a Great Emperor? That's impossible—no chance that a Great Emperor would appear at such an impoverished location!

"Carry out the refining process now!" Xian Wu handed the strange fire over to Xian Yan.

"Thanks, Uncle Wu!" Xian Yan said his thanks, holding the strange fire in his hand, ready to start the refining process.

The refining was smooth under the support of Xian Wu. In a short while later, Xian Yan opened his palm to show wisps of black flames dancing within. They emitted the scorching heat that melted the air around them, and the real power of the Emperor-grade strange fire was here!

"Excellent! The more advanced your cultivation becomes and the less effective this odd fire is, you'll be able to ingest it as a nourishment and boost your abilities once again!" Xian Wu encouraged.

"I absolutely understand, Uncle Wu!" Xian Yan nodded seriously as he applied himself to the lessons taught to him.

"Also, and more important, avoid using strange fire too often, only when the situation is direly urgent. That will be your ace card to play, against enemies you can't defeat otherwise. Don't rely on it, though!"

"You do have a strong body; use it to hone up your martial arts and get as much fighting experience as you can. All these will make you a much better fighter in the first place and an even better candidate for future ranks of advancement! ".

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"Who is this uncle of yours?" the ghost elder asked after Xian Wu left, his voice full of incredulity. How could a person be able to hold down Emperor-grade strange fire?

"Who? He used to be our clan chief but after being severely injured, handed over his position as clan chief to his son, Xian Yue, and turned into deputy clan chief instead," Xian Yan replied.

"Xian Yue? You mean his name is Xian Yue? Isn't he that person ranked number one on the Tiandao Golden List?" the ghost elder exclaimed, shock apparent in his voice.

"Haha, Mr. Ghost, don't jump to conclusions. That's impossible! Xian Yue is around my age—how could he possibly be the one on top of the Heavenly Dao Golden List? To achieve such heights, he would have to be some ancient monster who has been around for centuries!"

"Another is that his name is Xian Wu, and the fifth one in the Heavenly Dao Gold List is also named Xian Wu. You mean to say that my uncle is the Great Emperor of the Great Dao? You really believe it? Several individuals besieged my uncle less than three months ago and almost killed him in the Nascent Soul Realm. So, you still think he is a Great Emperor?"

While listening to Xian Yan explaining, the ghost elder nodded in acceptance because he acknowledged the legitimacy of his reasoning. Unthinkable as it was for a small family like theirs that had a Great Emperor, how could Xian Wu have subdued that strange fire in front of him just seconds before? Was there a hidden method in his actions?

And if he had narrowly escaped with his life from the Spiritual Pulse Realm not long ago, then it was quite evident that he could not possibly possess the might of a mighty Great Emperor. Even the sturdiest of living beings, who had their cultivation at the Emperor Realm or even below it, would hardly stand any chance at breaching Xian Wu's barriers.

At this moment, a tremendous boom took place by which the universe was convulsed, and extremely strong monks in the surroundings came into attention and witnessed how an enormous rent in the sky was opened up with glimpses into the super-large and prosperous realm lying beyond.

"What is that?"

Some of the Great Emperors were the first to react with expressions shifted into shock as they raised their heads to look around at the marvel of the world on the other side of the crack.

Even at such a far distance, they could see a figure of terrifying power standing within that realm.

"Where could that possibly be? Is it the Immortal World?" one of the Great Emperors exclaimed, excitement flowing through his veins as he leaped towards the crack.

In the snap of a finger, it filled the crack, casting its ominous gaze across the universe. It seems like sizing everything within its view.

Overpowering pressure from that eye thundered down like the weight of a thousand galaxies.

Curious monks who ventured too close were obliterated instantly under the immense force, turning into mere dust. Even the Great Emperor who had approached found himself struck down, blood spilling from his mouth as he plunged from the sky.

No special powers were utilized; the mere aura of the towering figure was too overwhelming for them to withstand!

"Deliver the heart of the universe, or face annihilation without mercy!" an icy voice echoed through the crack, carrying the tones all through the cosmos as thunder rolls.

Dao runes trembled within that eye. Their movement was a search all through the universe.

"What awful eyes! This cannot be the aura of an Emperor!" Xian Wu, who had meditated in his room, opened his eyes and saw the pupils coming out from the crack, and a look of horror spread across his face. At that very moment, the moment when his eyes met those pupils, prickling sensations began to feel in the nape of his neck, as if an archaic primal fear had started to grip him.