Chapter 13: The Ten Thousand Year Green Lotus and the Green Lotus Core Flame
Inside the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix Secret Realm
"What an incredible creation. This Golden Lion was at least a One Star Dou Sheng in its prime," Xiao Qing remarked in awe.
Xiao Tiance nodded in agreement. The creation of beast puppets was vastly different from that of Tian Yao puppets. While Tian Yao puppets could have their strength enhanced through various means, beast puppets like the Golden Lion were fixed at the strength they possessed at the time of their death.
For example, the Golden Lion before them, now emitting the aura of an Eight Star Dou Zun pinnacle, was undoubtedly a One Star Dou Sheng in life. This limitation was one reason why many clans had abandoned the art of crafting beast puppets.
"If beast puppets could grow stronger like Tian Yao puppets, the ancient clans would have hunted magical beasts long ago to mass produce them," Xiao Tiance thought, a hint of nostalgia crossing his mind.
As Xiao Tiance mulled over these thoughts, the Golden Lion charged toward them with terrifying momentum. Its bloodthirsty maw revealed sharp fangs, spewing a foul black miasma with each roar.
Unfazed by the assault, Xiao Qing extended his left hand and clenched his fist, freezing the Golden Lion mid charge.
"Don't destroy it. The Golden Lion has been extinct on the Dou Qi Continent for a millennium. Even as a beast puppet, it's a rarity. Take it back to Tian Wai Tian; it can guard the entrance," Xiao Tiance instructed, noticing Xiao Qing's intent to obliterate the puppet.
Xiao Qing nodded and summoned the lion toward him. Using his soul power, he wiped away the remnants of its previous master's control. Once it stopped struggling, he stored it in his spatial ring.
Just as they dealt with the Golden Lion, two more gates beneath the stands creaked open. Two more beast puppets emerged, emanating thick, deathly auras.
"Earth Splitting Demon Tigers! They were once rulers of the Beast Region. I never expected to see them here, let alone crafted into beast puppets," Xiao Qing exclaimed, his shock evident.
Xiao Tiance chuckled at Xiao Qing's reaction. "Don't get too worked up. The Ancient Heavenly Phoenix Clan was brutal. They consumed beasts as their staple diet, and even the mighty Taixu Ancient Dragons fell prey to them at their peak. Crafting Earth Splitting Demon Tigers into puppets? That's just par for the course for them. Go on, subdue these two as well and bring them back."
"Understood!"
Xiao Qing made quick work of restraining the two Nine Star Dou Zun Earth Splitting Demon Tigers. Employing the same method as before, he erased their soul imprints and stored them.
As more gates opened, Xiao Qing collected several more long extinct magical beast puppets. Finally, the last gate opened, releasing a beast puppet with the overwhelming aura of a Four Star Dou Sheng pinnacle. This time, it was a Taixu Ancient Dragon.
Xiao Qing was outmatched, so Xiao Tiance stepped forward.
Although this puppet retained a Four Star Dou Sheng pinnacle's strength, its status as a puppet left it vulnerable. Xiao Tiance effortlessly subdued it using spatial manipulation and his soul power, which had reached the Ling Realm's peak.
"Eight gates opened, and this dragon puppet seems to be the final one," Xiao Tiance remarked as the dome like light barrier surrounding the plaza dissipated.
The stands shifted, revealing a passageway ahead.
With a faint smile, Xiao Tiance motioned for Xiao Qing to follow.
The passage led to a massive medicinal garden filled with a dazzling array of rare herbs. Even Xiao Tiance, an experienced Eight Tier Alchemist, was left speechless.
Here, herbs cultivated for tens of thousands of years grew like weeds, while those aged hundreds or thousands of years were as common as roadside grass.
Suddenly, Xiao Qing pointed to the garden's center. "Third Uncle, what's that?"
Following Xiao Qing's gaze, Xiao Tiance's eyes landed on a massive green lotus surrounded by a peculiar, green tinged flame.
"A Ten Thousand Year Green Lotus and the Green Lotus Core Flame!" Xiao Tiance exclaimed, his astonishment clear.
In the annals of the Dou Qi Continent, the Green Lotus Core Flame was said to form in the molten depths of the earth. Born from the earth's core fire, it endured countless years of refinement, compression, and sculpting before blooming into a green lotus enveloped in azure flames.
Ranked 19th on the Heavenly Flame Rankings, this flame could trigger devastating volcanic eruptions near fiery regions, unleashing the destructive power of nature itself.
Although Xiao Tiance found it curious that the flame thrived in a medicinal garden rather than subterranean magma, his extensive alchemical knowledge confirmed its identity.
"Third Uncle, isn't this flame supposed to grow underground? Why would it be here in a garden?" Xiao Qing asked, puzzled.
"Don't worry. I'll explain later," Xiao Tiance replied, already consumed with excitement.
He vanished in a flash, reappearing beside the lotus.
Feeling the heat emanating from the Green Lotus Core Flame, Xiao Tiance laughed heartily. "It really is the Green Lotus Core Flame! To think this secret realm would yield such a treasure. This is truly fortune smiling upon us!"
He extended his hand to pluck the lotus but froze when the flame reacted violently.
The flame flared up, releasing an attack with the strength of a Dou Zun's full force strike.
"Watch out, Third Uncle!" Xiao Qing shouted in alarm.
The attack posed no real threat to a mid level Five Star Dou Sheng like Xiao Tiance. With a wave of his hand, he effortlessly nullified it.
Standing firm, Xiao Tiance prepared to subdue the flame when it suddenly morphed into the form of a seven or eight year old child. The childlike figure pointed a finger at him, speaking in a crisp yet commanding tone:
"Who are you, and why have you disturbed my slumber?"
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