Chapter 100: Earth Core Soul Essence and an Eight-Tier Pill!

'Do you want Yao Chen dead?!'

Lin Ran's tone was chilling, and his words made Han Feng's pupils contract, his spirit trembling violently.

He didn't understand what Lin Ran meant. Could it be that this man also bore a grudge against Yao Chen?

Han Feng felt unsure. Now that his life was entirely in Lin Ran's hands, all he could do was smile obsequiously and say, 'My lord jests. After all that I've done, do you really think I wouldn't wish for my teacher to die?'

'As long as he truly dies, then the secret of me murdering him would be buried forever. Of course I want him dead. But right now—'

'I can give you that chance.'

Lin Ran's lips curled into a slight smile as he pointed to the refined corpse of the Di Mo old ghost in front of him.

'A seven-star Dou Zong's body, combined with my alchemy skills—not only can I give you rebirth, I can also help you break the bottleneck of the Dou Huang peak and directly step into the power of a high-rank Dou Zong.'

'Then, with this power, you can personally end that master-disciple grudge of yours. How about it?'

"This guy definitely has a grudge against Master!"

Han Feng roared in his heart. From Lin Ran's tone and expression, he was now sure of it—this man had an irreconcilable hatred with Yao Chen!

Otherwise, why go to such lengths? Not only was he sparing Han Feng's life, he was even giving him a new body and helping him become stronger…

Han Feng stared at Lin Ran with burning eyes. He was so excited that even his soul form trembled uncontrollably.

'My lord… is this really true? As long as you spare me, I am willing to serve you loyally, follow your orders without question, and give my life if necessary!'

'Relax, I never make empty promises.'

With a casual wave of his hand, Lin Ran enveloped Han Feng with the cyan flame.

The scalding heat instantly triggered a soul-piercing shriek from Han Feng.

'Bear with it. The process of merging a soul with a body is rather unpleasant.'

Lin Ran spoke blandly, isolating Han Feng's grating screams from reaching his ears. He narrowed his eyes, and a wisp of intangible soul force shot out, piercing Han Feng's soul and latching onto a bluish spiritual imprint deep within.

In that instant, Han Feng's soul trembled violently as if crushed under a mighty weight. His entire form writhed in pain.

But Lin Ran showed no mercy. Once the imprint was engraved, he flung Han Feng's soul directly into the Di Mo old ghost's corpse.

As the soul entered, the corpse's tightly shut eyes suddenly snapped open, flashing with excruciating pain.

Lin Ran paid it no mind. With a series of flicks, various supplementary materials emerged from his storage ring and floated before him.

He gave them a glance, then clenched his hand, summoning the Qinglian Earth Heart Flame, which surged forth like a pillar and enveloped the materials.

Under the flame's terrifying heat, they rapidly melted into a dark golden liquid.

Without hesitation, Lin Ran guided this essence to merge with the corpse. Instantly, the body sizzled with smoke as the skin steamed under the heat—evidence of the horrifying temperature.

Di Mo old ghost—or rather, Han Feng now—began to tremble violently.

Still feeling unsatisfied, Lin Ran unleashed another torrent of flame, covering Han Feng entirely, tempering him further.

To others, this kind of reckless method would be madness.

After all, Han Feng's soul was inside the body. Using an Heavenly Flame to temper both body and soul simultaneously was tantamount to courting death.

But Lin Ran controlled the flame with such precision that not even the slightest mistake occurred, perfectly avoiding a soul-body collapse.

Of course, this didn't mean Han Feng was spared the torment.

This pain was something no ordinary man could endure.

But Lin Ran didn't care.

"If you want to be reborn… want power… but don't want pain?"

"Keep dreaming."

Lin Ran slowly closed his eyes and used his Dou Qi to temper Han Feng's body.

This went on for an entire day.

At some point, Lin Ran, who sat like a meditating monk atop a massive boulder, opened his eyes.

In front of him, the body engulfed in flames shuddered, and the tightly shut eyes sprang open.

Within those dark eyes were confusion, pain—and disbelief.

'Alright, try it out. How does it feel?'

Lin Ran dispersed the flames. Han Feng floated mid-air, walking on void.

Without a doubt—Dou Zong strength!

Still adjusting to the new body, Han Feng remained silent. He raised his hand and unleashed a swirl of ocean-blue flame.

When he clenched his hand, the surrounding space instantly froze!

'So… this is the Dou Zong realm…'

Han Feng murmured hoarsely. Lin Ran had used the Qinglian Earth Heart Flame to refine his body entirely—even his appearance was re-forged into his previous likeness. Though slightly more ferocious-looking, Han Feng didn't mind.

Power was what mattered now. Outer appearances were irrelevant!

'Six-star Dou Zong—not bad.'

Lin Ran observed him. Though Han Feng didn't fully inherit the old ghost's strength, his combination with the Sea Heart Flame allowed him to rival a high-ranking Dou Zong.

Add to that his alchemy prowess—he was worth more than an ordinary Dou Zong puppet.

'My lord…'

Feeling the surging power within, Han Feng took a deep breath and looked at Lin Ran.

Even with his new strength, he didn't dare harbor any disloyal thoughts.

The seven-star Di Mo old ghost was slain by Lin Ran in an instant. Even Soul Hall elders had fallen to him.

What chance did he—a mere six-star Dou Zong—have?

Moreover, Han Feng could clearly feel that something foreign had been planted in his body and soul.

He didn't need to guess—Lin Ran had left hidden safeguards in him!

After a brief hesitation, Han Feng decisively lowered his head and pledged his loyalty.

'Just call me Sect Master. Here—this is yours anyway.'

Lin Ran tossed over Han Feng's original Youhai storage ring, along with a golden token.

'This is the Saint Rain Sect's Gold Token. I'll transmit the internal hierarchy to you shortly.'

'For now, your movements won't be restricted. But tomorrow, the sect will hold its first Pill Auction. You'll be in charge of organizing it. It's your return to the public eye.'

'Yes, Sect Master!'

Han Feng's eyes gleamed with excitement.

He had feared becoming a mindless puppet post-rebirth. Unexpectedly, Lin Ran gave him freedom and authority!

Han Feng knew all about the Saint Rain Sect. Back in Feng City, he had tried to gather people precisely to challenge Lin Ran's sect.

Though it was still new, Han Feng knew the structure well—Lin Ran had already fed him some of that information during his soul refining.

The sect ranked its hierarchy by six "Saint Tokens": Wood, Iron, Copper, Silver, Gold, and Jade.

The Gold Token ranked just below the twelve Jade Tokens.

Han Feng now held second-highest authority in the sect—and had the power to forge Wood and Iron Tokens and recruit subordinates!

'Go.'

With a wave, Lin Ran dismissed him. Han Feng took a deep breath and stepped out of the secret chamber.

The familiar air greeted him, leaving him in a daze.

Moments ago, he had nearly perished as a soul. Now, he had a new body, greater power—a six-star Dou Zong—nigh unmatched in the Black-Corner Region.

Gratitude? Hatred?

Han Feng wasn't sure. But one thing he knew:

From this moment on, his fate belonged to the man behind that door.

'This feeling… is not pleasant.'

Han Feng murmured, shook his head hard, and vanished.

Before stepping into public again, he had some tasks.

He needed to clean up Feng City for integration into the sect.

And retrieve… the second half of the Flame Mantra.

He was a smart man. He knew exactly what to do for a better future.

…

In the chamber, sensing Han Feng's departure, Lin Ran's eyes gleamed coldly.

"Someone who kills his own teacher is hard to control. If he could betray Yao Chen, he could betray anyone."

But Lin Ran was prepared. He had layered Han Feng's soul with multiple safeguards—Heavenly Flame Imprint, Soul Seal, Mental Triggers…

If Han Feng ever had disloyal thoughts, all would activate at once.

"If after all that, he still betrays me, then the fault is mine."

"With Han Feng handling alchemy, our sect's pill supply is secured."

"And with his influence in Black-Corner Region, I might even form a dedicated Pill Division!"

A sect needed structure—not just resources or people.

Just like modern companies had finance and HR, sects needed corresponding departments.

Lin Ran envisioned six divisions—Six Halls.

The Pill Hall would be one of them, and Han Feng was the first piece of that puzzle.

Not to mention, it would be a great way to disgust Yao Chen!

'When the Three-Year Pact comes, and master meets traitor atop Yunlan Sect's peak… what a show it will be.'

Lin Ran smirked with amusement.

After shaking off distracting thoughts, he summoned a corpse still shrouded in dense black mist.

Using Dou Qi, he pulled the corpse's badge and storage ring into his hand.

'The Elder Token of Soul Hall…'

Lin Ran fiddled with it. The material was far better than his previous Earth-Tier enforcer badge and granted higher authority within Soul Hall's branches.

But the real prize was the elder's storage ring.

The ancient tribe elder's ring had netted him tons of treasure—Earth-Tier High Techniques, even Heaven-Tier ones like Great Nirvana Technique, not to mention loads of pills and herbs.

Let's see what this elder had.

'Condense!'

Lin Ran's soul surged like a tidal wave and smashed into the ring.

At that moment, a strange glow burst out as a spectral figure in purple robes appeared before Lin Ran.

'Kekekeke… boy, you dare covet my treasure? You're still too green!'

This hazy figure—clearly Qin Tian Elder—lashed out with dark soul chains.

'You couldn't even wait to act, huh?'

Lin Ran's calm voice halted Qin Tian's strike—but only briefly.

'Spare me the theatrics, brat. In a soul duel, your strong physique can't save you.'

'So die for your greed!'

'Chi chi chi!!'

The black chains shot at Lin Ran's throat like vipers.

Lin Ran didn't dodge. He simply smirked and coldly snorted. Instantly, all the soul chains shattered.

'What?!'

'Next time, check your opponent's soul strength first.'

Lin Ran's emerald-gold soul energy burst out, forming a massive palm that slammed down on the stunned elder.

Boom!

The soul crumbled, the mist dispersed, and the spatial restrictions within the ring vanished.

'Seriously, how did this guy become a Dou Zun?'

Lin Ran muttered, glancing at the dead body. He resumed exploring the ring.

Nothing. Empty. Barely a few herbs, ten pill bottles, and a couple scrolls.

'This guy's ring is as empty as a cracked soup bowl!'

Fortunately, the herbs were rare—most related to soul refinement.

'As expected of Soul Hall. Few items, but high value!'

Among them, he found ingredients on par with Seven Illusion Spirit Dew and Earthcore Jade Essence.

The latter was especially interesting—it was a tiny jade bottle made from the Earthcore Jade Essence itself, holding thick milky liquid inside.

'Could it be…'

With a trembling hand, Lin Ran opened the jade bottle. A wave of white mist seeped out.

Just one sniff caused a soothing tremor through his very soul.

'It really is… Earth Core Soul Essence!'

Lin Ran stared, eyes gleaming with ecstasy.

Earth Core Soul Essence—a soul-tempering miracle!

Not only would it enhance his spiritual level, with the right aid it might even boost his cultivation.

It might even help… break into Dou Zun!

'Thank you, Soul Hall! You've given me a treasure worth more than a Heavenly Flame!'

Laughing, Lin Ran swept up the rest of the items.

Next came the pills—most were high-grade. Among dozens of bottles, there were three seventh-tier pills and one eighth-tier pill.

Two were Life Restoration Pills, one was a Soul-Calming Pill.

But the most valuable was clearly that eighth-tier pill.

Eight-tier pills had near sentience. Refining them required not just skill, but a Spirit-level soul.

The red pill in his hand glowed faintly, surrounded by flame-like fog forming the shape of a fire serpent.

It was a dual-color thunder-tier pill.

'The Fire Spirit Purifying Pill?!'

Lin Ran's eyes narrowed.

This pill temporarily amplified fire-type Dou Qi and might even trigger a permanent transformation!

It was like a weaker cousin of the nine-thunder-tier Flame Demon Purifying Pill.

'What a treasure!'

Lin Ran laughed heartily. Even as Young Lord of Yunyu Sect, he had never seen such a pill.

Whether the Scorpion Demon Trio hoarded theirs or never got one, who knew.

But it was all his now!

'Soul Hall, oh Soul Hall… so rich and so dumb!'

Finally, he examined the combat and cultivation scrolls—exclusive to Soul Hall, better than what the enforcers carried, but of little use to Lin Ran.

Still, this harvest, though not as great as the ancient elder's, was massive.

Especially the Earth Core Soul Essence and the eighth-tier pill.

Lin Ran stowed it all with satisfaction and turned to the last item:

The corpse of the Dou Zun expert.

'Time to claim the biggest prize.'

Chi!

The Qinglian Earth Heart Flame surged up and enveloped the corpse.

As the black mist and soul residue were burned away, the refining of a Dou Zun-level soul puppet officially began.

Meanwhile, outside—

The Saint Rain Sect's first-ever exclusive Pill Auction…

Had officially begun!

(End of Chapter)