Chapter 221: The Arrival of the Half-Saint, The Flames of the Candle Dragon

"Wow, I'm an aunt now!"

"This little one is so adorable!"

Yao Yue gently teased the tiny child in her arms, her lips curling into a bright smile that revealed her little tiger-like teeth. She had already developed a fondness for the baby.

Though the child had just been born, its extraordinary talent was evident. The baby looked as if it had been sculpted from jade—delicate and perfect—unlike the wrinkled appearance of most newborns.

Nearby, Yao Ye was nursing another baby, her eyes filled with joy as she glanced at the one in Yao Yue's arms.

"This little one is so big..."

Yao Yue's bright, mischievous eyes flickered with thought as she glanced at Yao Ye. Suddenly, a shiver ran down her spine.

How terrifying.

The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became. She resolved that she would never have children herself.

The thought of giving birth to such a large baby while being so small herself... it must be...

While Yao Yue was lost in her wild imagination, the Emperor and Empress of the Jia Ma Empire, along with Jia Xingtian, arrived to visit Yao Ye.

The news that Yao Ye had given birth to a pair of dragon-and-phoenix twins brought them great joy.

After all, her elevated status further solidified their connection to Zhou Yi.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yi was cheerfully inspecting his latest rewards.

[Reward 1: Ten Years of Cultivation*2.]

[Reward 2: Ten Years of Lifespan*2.]

[Reward 3: Myriad Beast Spirit Flame.]

[Reward 4: Yin-Yang Dual Flames.]

[Reward 5: Tyrant Beauty Snatcher Card.]

"Hmm? Tyrant Beauty Snatcher Card?"

"What on earth is that?"

Zhou Yi was momentarily stunned. Cultivation and lifespan rewards were standard, and rare flames were not unexpected. But a card called "Tyrant Beauty Snatcher"?

This...

Zhou Yi claimed his rewards and finally understood the card's function: it would randomly teleport him to a place filled with beautiful women. If he successfully completed a "beauty-snatching" task, he could return.

"Damn, this is...!"

"Fantastic!"

Zhou Yi's heart stirred with excitement. He hadn't expected such an amusing reward.

Setting aside the "Tyrant Beauty Snatcher Card" for now, Zhou Yi first absorbed the cultivation and lifespan rewards.

Twenty years' worth of cultivation surged into him, causing his aura to rapidly climb.

Five-Star Dou Venerate.

Six-Star Dou Venerate.

Seven-Star Dou Venerate.

When he reached the peak of Seven-Star Dou Venerate, the twenty years of cultivation were fully absorbed.

Previously, ten years of cultivation had increased his strength by three stars. Now, twenty years had achieved the same result.

Still, Zhou Yi was satisfied.

After all, he had advanced from mid-level Dou Zun to high-level Dou Zun. The higher one's rank, the more cultivation was required to progress.

At Seven-Star Dou Zun, Zhou Yi's mastery of space manipulation grew stronger. With a simple clench of his fist, he could twist and reshape space as he desired.

Powerful!

Finally, Zhou Yi fused the Yin-Yang Dual Flames and the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame—ranked twenty-one and twenty-two on the Heavenly Flames List. Their integration boosted his cultivation by another star.

Eight-Star Dou Zun.

Currently, Zhou Yi possessed numerous Heavenly Flames, including the Fallen Heart Flame, Green Lotus Core Flame, Mystic Yellow Flame, Yin-Yang Dual Flames, and Myriad Beast Spirit Flame.

He felt as if he could effortlessly collect all the Heavenly Flames in the Battle Through the Heavens world without struggling like Xiao Yan did.

Boom!

Suddenly, an overwhelming, terrifying pressure descended, sweeping across Jia Ma Holy City and enveloping Zhou Manor like an awakening dragon.

The sky darkened instantly as thick black mist surged and covered the heavens, plunging everything into shadow.

"Jie jie jie, Yao Chen, I never thought you'd still be alive. Get out here and accept your death!"

An eerie, chilling laughter echoed across the land, carrying a bone-piercing cold that made everyone shiver in fear.

"What's going on?"

Jia Xingtian's hair stood on end as he felt an immense dread. Even as a newly advanced Dou Ancestor, he felt like a small boat in a raging storm, on the verge of capsizing at any moment.

"A Dou Venerate!"

"This is definitely a Dou Venerate-level powerhouse!"

Jia Xingtian faintly discerned terrifying silhouettes within the black mist. Just looking at them sent stabbing pain through his soul, as if it were being devoured.

"So this is the power of a Dou Venerate..."

At the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Shan felt the oppressive aura and was struck by waves of panic and uncertainty.

This Dou Venerate's arrival clearly signaled hostility. He wasn't sure if Zhou Yi and Yao Chen could withstand it.

If they couldn't, his Misty Cloud Sect might also face annihilation.

After all, Yun Yun was now married to Zhou Yi.

"Mu Gu, so it's you—another lackey from the Hall of Souls. Today, I'll settle old scores with you!"

Yao Chen's cold voice rang out as a terrifying Half-Saint aura erupted, countering the Dou Venerate's pressure from above. His figure appeared in midair.

"Half-Saint?"

"You've advanced to Half-Saint?"

The black mist trembled as the elderly figure of Mu Gu emerged, his face filled with shock and disbelief as he stared at Yao Chen.

Ever since Protector Vulture had been killed, the Hall of Souls had taken an interest in this place. With Zhou Yi and Yao Chen making no effort to conceal their activities, it was easy for the Hall of Souls to track them.

This time, Mu Gu, along with Star Plucker Ghost, Black-White Sovereigns, and several Dou Zun-level experts, had arrived with the intention of capturing both Yao Chen and Zhou Yi.

But they had never expected Yao Chen to have already reached the Half-Saint level.

Mu Gu was merely a peak Three-Star Dou Venerate, Star Plucker Ghost was at Five-Star, and even the strongest Black-White Sovereigns were only at Six-Star.

Even combined, they were no match for a Half-Saint like Yao Chen.

"Today is your death day!"

Yao Chen's newly advanced Half-Saint aura was fully unveiled, his confidence soaring as he prepared to avenge past grievances.

"A mere newly-ascended Half-Saint thinks himself invincible!"

Just as Yao Chen was about to strike, a disdainful voice rang out. A figure clad in a black robe stepped out of the void, and a powerful aura immediately overshadowed Yao Chen's.

"Second Heavenly Venerate!"

"Greetings, Second Heavenly Venerate!"

Upon seeing the newcomer, the Soul Hall experts, including Elder Mu Gu and Ghost Elder Zhai Xing, were overjoyed. Their excitement was palpable as they hurriedly bowed in respect.

The arrival was none other than the Second Heavenly Venerate of the Soul Hall, Gu You Saint—a High-Level Half-Saint.

"A Half-Saint!"

Yao Chen's expression grew grave, for the pressure from this individual was overwhelming.

It was common knowledge that even among Half-Saints, there were distinctions: Initial Half-Saint, Mid-Level Half-Saint, and High-Level Half-Saint.

Yao Chen himself was merely at the Initial Half-Saint level.

"To think that in such a backwater place, there exists a Dou Venerate-level alchemist."

Gu You Saint cast a glance at Zhou Yi, who had just broken through in the Zhou Manor, and a glint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes. This trip was proving to be far from wasted; the harvest today would be bountiful.

"You decrepit, half-dead monsters! Do you not realize that today is a joyous occasion for this lord? Did you not consider that you might frighten my son?"

Zhou Yi appeared in front of Yao Chen, his cold gaze sweeping over Gu You Saint and the others.

"Being ugly isn't your fault," Zhou Yi said indifferently, "but coming out to scare others is entirely on you!"

"Especially scaring my newborn son!"

"You court death!"

Gu You Saint and the others were enraged. However, before they could act, Zhou Yi struck first.

With a seemingly light, effortless palm, Zhou Yi reached for Gu You Saint.

As his palm extended, a wisp of flame appeared between Zhou Yi's fingers.

The flame was a blend of crimson and violet, its form ever-shifting, exuding an indescribable magnificence and profundity.

At the instant the flame emerged, the fire essence within this entire area seemed to find its origin and core.

In that moment, all the fire essence in the world surged madly toward Zhou Yi's palm.

Even within Yao Chen and Gu He, their Bone Spirit Cold Flame and Sea Heart Flame quivered with joy, attempting to escape their control and rush toward Zhou Yi.

"What… what kind of flame is this?"

Yao Chen's eyes widened as he struggled to suppress the rampaging Bone Spirit Cold Flame within him. He stared in disbelief at the flame in Zhou Yi's hand.

It was unimaginable—utterly terrifying.

"Could it be the number one ranked flame on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, the mysterious supreme flame?"

Yao Chen's entire body trembled as his mind reeled in shock. He stared at Zhou Yi's flame with unparalleled terror.

As the surrounding fire essence was devoured, frost began to spread through the void, and an intense chill erupted.

The heavens and earth seemed to freeze over in an instant.

Gu You Saint's body trembled like a leaf, his movements slowed as if frozen. Helplessly, he watched as Zhou Yi's palm descended toward him.

In that moment—

Gu You Saint's body shuddered violently, his eyes filled with boundless terror and unwillingness. His voice quivered as he stammered,

"W-What flame is this?"

"This is the Flame of the Candle Dragon," Zhou Yi replied coldly.

"In the northwest of Heaven, where the sun and moon's cycle ends, lies a dragon that carries fire to illuminate the gates of Heaven. The Candle Dragon carries fire to divide yin and yang."

The Flame of the Candle Dragon was none other than the primordial flame of creation, the ancestral fire of the heavens and earth.

What flame could rival it?

Even if all the Heavenly Flames in this world combined to form the so-called Emperor Flame, they could not stand against the Flame of the Candle Dragon. Its unparalleled might was self-evident.

As Zhou Yi's words fell, Gu You Saint's body disintegrated inch by inch, reduced to ashes, leaving no trace behind.

"Hiss!"

"Hiss!"

"Hiss!"

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