After killing the two Half Saints, Liu Xi didn't immediately retract his Dou Saint power. In the distance, a group of Dou Zun-level Fire Lizards remained — a wealth too tempting to ignore. If he was going to act, he might as well make it a big one.
His sharp gaze swept across the molten plains, locking onto over twenty terrified Fire Lizards. Even though they were supposed to be guardians of this ancient tomb, their courage had already collapsed. Fear consumed their instincts, leaving them trembling and helpless before the predator in front of them.
At that moment, Liu Xi looked far more terrifying than any beast they had ever seen — draconic scales covering his body, a murderous aura surging like a storm. The "fragile" Fire Lizards couldn't even look at him without shivering.
A grin tugged at the corner of Liu Xi's lips. His clawed hand — no, his dragon claw — extended slowly. A wave of invisible force rippled outward, spreading through the molten air. In an instant, the fleeing Fire Lizards were caught within its grasp.
His claws clenched. Bone, scale, and flesh shattered together, the sound echoing like cracking ice. Within a breath, the fleeing Dou Zun Fire Lizards were crushed into nothing but pulped flesh and blood.
With a flick of his finger, twenty-some Fire Beads flew into his palm. Confirming none were missed, Liu Xi finally released the Dou Saint energy suppressing his veins.
As his aura receded, the violet-gold armor retracted beneath his skin. His body, however, was in shambles — cracked, bruised, and torn as if he'd been trampled by an Ancient Void Dragon. Even his bones ached with every breath.
The blood crystal within his heart had dimmed, more than half its energy spent. Just one brief moment of Dou Saint power had consumed a third of it. Still, his body's adaptation to the Ancient Dragon bloodline had increased, and more importantly, he had now experienced firsthand what it meant to wield the strength of a Dou Saint. That familiarity might prove useful in the future.
Yet the sudden loss of such overwhelming power left him with a hollow ache. 'The disturbance here was massive — best not to linger.' Holding the still-heated Zi Yan close, Liu Xi turned and flew toward the surface.
Perhaps the slaughter of two Half Saints and over twenty Dou Zun had left the Fire Lizard Tribe utterly terrified. Along the way, not even a single Dou Zong-level Fire Lizard appeared.
That was fortunate. Liu Xi was in no mood for another fight. Every muscle screamed in pain, his body feeling like a shattered porcelain doll barely held together by willpower.
"Forcibly using Dou Saint power really comes with a price," he muttered. "If my body hasn't collapsed yet, it's because of that old dragon's handiwork. Compared to the strength I spent, most of the blood crystal's power went into keeping me alive."
It was true. A Dou Zun body simply couldn't withstand Dou Saint energy for long.
Still, this journey hadn't been a loss. Two Half Saint Fire Beads, over twenty Dou Zun Fire Beads, and the blood crystal that could temporarily grant Dou Saint strength — even if a third was gone, the remainder was priceless.
And as the inherited starlight from the Three Thousand Burning Flame circulated within him, it began to mend his broken body. The so-called "Undying Flame" truly lived up to its name. If he were under the open sky, recovery would've been even faster, but even here, his injuries were visibly fading.
——
Above the magma, Qing Lin stood silently, counting the passing time. Less than half an hour remained before the third day deadline. Liu Xi and Zi Yan still hadn't returned. Her delicate face remained calm, but her jade-green eyes had grown cold — ready to dive into the magma at a moment's notice.
Then suddenly — splash!
The sound drew her attention. She looked up sharply and saw Liu Xi emerge from the molten sea, his clothes tattered, his body covered in wounds, with the unconscious Zi Yan in his arms.
"Young Master!" Qing Lin's heart skipped. Her feet barely touched the ground before she shot forward like a breeze. "Young Master, what happened? And Zi Yan—"
"It's fine," Liu Xi said softly. "She absorbed too much energy and entered a temporary shock state. Once she finishes refining the energy inside her, she'll wake up."
"That's good…" Qing Lin let out a breath of relief, but worry soon returned when she saw his condition. "Young Master, please let me carry Zi Yan. You're covered in injuries. What kind of creature could wound you this badly beneath the magma?"
"I'll hold her," Liu Xi smiled faintly. "Her body temperature's too high right now — without Heavenly Flame's protection, it'd burn you."
He stepped forward and recounted their experience as the two made their way back.
"This time was dangerous," he said with a wry chuckle, "but the harvest was worth it."
"9-Star Dou Saint… an Ancient Emperor's tomb…" Qing Lin's eyes widened in disbelief.
The mention of a 9-Star Dou Saint was shocking enough — such beings were legends, the absolute peak of the Dou Qi Continent. As for the Ancient Emperor's tomb, that was a myth beyond myth, something no mortal had ever confirmed.
Liu Xi smiled at her expression. "You just need to listen, Qing Lin. Don't speak of this to anyone. Not a single soul — otherwise, it'll bring us disaster."
"Even if I die, I won't tell anyone," Qing Lin said solemnly, her eyes shining with resolve.
He chuckled. "No need for oaths. Just keep it in your heart."
When they finally left the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower and returned to their quarters, Liu Xi laid Zi Yan on her bed. The wooden frame instantly caught fire from her body's heat.
With a helpless sigh, he smothered the flames and forged a new bed frame from special ores, crafting a heat-resistant metal platform on the spot.
Not long after, Su Qian arrived in a rush, his eyes filled with concern. "Liu Xi, what happened to Zi Yan?"
Liu Xi wasn't ready to reveal the truth about the Ancient Emperor's Tomb. Instead, he spoke of a hidden tribe of Fire Lizards beneath the magma — an ancient race of powerful beings. To support his story, he presented a Dou Zun Fire Bead. The surging fire energy inside made Su Qian's expression change in awe; such a thing was on par with an 8th Rank Monster Core.
He explained that Zi Yan had absorbed one of those Fire Beads and fallen unconscious during the process. Once she finished refining its energy, she would wake up safely.
Hearing that, Su Qian finally relaxed — but worry soon replaced it. "If such powerful creatures exist beneath the magma, what if they attack the academy?"
"They can't," Liu Xi said calmly. "They're bound to the magma. If they leave it, they'll wither and turn to ash."
Only then did Su Qian leave, reassured.
Once alone, Liu Xi sat beside Zi Yan, silently watching her sleep as he counted his spoils.
Twenty-four Dou Zun Fire Beads, two Half Saint Fire Beads, and two-thirds of the blood crystal remained. Zi Yan would likely awaken with power at least on par with a Dou Zun — perhaps even higher. With the Dragon Seal inherited from Zhu Kun, she'd have no trouble unifying the Eastern Dragon Island in time.
Then something clicked in his mind.
Before entering the dark void, when fighting desperately, he had unleashed a Dou Technique of immense power.
'Could it… be replicated?'
(End of Chapter)
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