Chapter 120: Zi Yan! Xu Kun!

"Quiet." Xian Mo clapped his hands, saying, "Low profile, stay low profile. I am a low-profile Dou Di."

"Let's go, let's head down and chat!" Xian Mo said to the two men.

The two nodded in agreement.

Back in the room they had just left, they continued to sip hot tea. Even now, the two could hardly believe it; they thought they were hallucinating or still caught in a dream, so they pinched themselves hard to wake up.

"Ah!" A soft cry escaped them. It hurt, which meant what they saw was real! The young man before them was actually a Dou Di!

"If I'm not mistaken, your dean has been away from the academy for many years, hasn't he?" Xian Mo remarked while drinking his tea.

"How did you know that, my lord?" The two switched from addressing him as "young master" to "my lord."

"I am capable of divination. I can even tell you that the training tower inside your Canaan Academy houses the Fallen Heart Flame, ranked fourteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, and it is currently in a state of frequent agitation. If you do not deal with it promptly, it will endanger the academy." Xian Mo's tone was flat, with no hint of joking.

"This... did you calculate all of this, my lord?" Neither the elders nor the dean of the outer academy had disclosed this information. How could this young man know?

"Do I have any reason to lie to you?" Xian Mo asked with a slight curl of his lips.

Elder Qian and his companion blushed. They thought, "Exactly, he is a dignified Dou Di; why would he need to lie to us?"

"Yes, yes, we were too suspicious." Suddenly, their eyes lit up as they asked, "My lord, does that mean you can solve this problem?" He was a Dou Di, after all! Could he not handle a mere Fallen Heart Flame? That would be a joke.

"Of course I can. To be honest, the reason I came here this time is to collect the Fallen Heart Flame," Xian Mo said with a faint smile.

Hearing this, the two felt their hearts skip a beat. If someone like him wanted to take it, no one could stop him!

Seeing their panic, Xian Mo gave them some reassurance: "Don't worry. I will take the rampaging Fallen Heart Flame, but there is more than one down there. After so many years of nourishment, a second one has already formed."

Surprised by Xian Mo's words, Elder Qian asked, "My lord, you mean... there are two Fallen Heart Flames inside?"

Xian Mo nodded slightly. "How did you know, my lord..."

"Didn't I tell you? I can perform divination! I calculated it all," Xian Mo replied.

Elder Qian suddenly realized—right, how could he forget that this man could perform divination!

"By the way, is there a little girl in your academy named Zi Yan?" Xian Mo suddenly asked.

"Oh, it seems there is. Didn't that lad Su Qian bring back a girl not long ago? Her name is indeed Zi Yan!"

"Oh? I will go see her now. You two wait here." As he spoke, Xian Mo's figure vanished before their eyes.

The two sighed as they watched him disappear. "A Dou Di is a Dou Di indeed. He comes and goes as he pleases; we can't keep up with his pace."

"We must maintain a good relationship with him. By the way, the dean has been missing for years; I forgot to ask him about that just now. We'll ask when he returns." The two elders nodded.

Inside a building in Canaan Academy, which served as the herb storage room, a little girl dressed in white was stealing snacks, holding a plant that looked like ginseng in her hand. She chewed it noisily.

"Mmm, this is so delicious. Hmph, I don't know what that thing I ate last time was, but my stomach still hurts!" This little girl was Zi Yan, and she was currently complaining.

She grabbed another herb and shoved it into her mouth. "Mmm, yummy," she said happily.

Xian Mo, having left the room, appeared behind the girl.

"Is it good?"

"Mmm, yummy!"

Zi Yan didn't react at first, but then she paused. Thinking about how someone else's voice could be there, she spun around and saw a silent man standing behind her. She recoiled in alarm.

"Who, who are you? How did you appear behind me? And why didn't you make a sound? Were you sent by those old geezers to catch me?"

"I'm warning you! My punches are very painful, don't you dare mess with me!" she threatened.

Xian Mo looked at the adorable child and smiled. "Don't be afraid. If I had come to catch you, I would have knocked you out before you even knew it while you were eating; I wouldn't have given you a chance to fight back."

Hearing this, the naive Zi Yan thought about it, and it seemed to make sense.

"Then, what do you want?" she asked in a small voice.

"Hmm? What do I want? You're so cute, if I caught you and sold you, you'd be worth a lot, wouldn't you? Heh heh." Xian Mo pretended to be a human trafficker, laughing wickedly.

Zi Yan almost cried. "Wuu wuu, don't! Zi Yan isn't worth anything, please don't sell me! Wuu wuu!"

As he spoke, Xian Mo slowly walked toward her, making a grabbing motion with his hands.

"Don't come any closer, my punches are very painful!" Zi Yan cried piteously.

"Hahaha! Alright, I won't scare you anymore. Come, tell your big brother, what is your name?" Xian Mo laughed.

Zi Yan hung her head, looking at him pitifully. "Big brother, I'll tell you, but can you promise not to catch me?"

"Hmm, I can consider it!" Xian Mo said, striking a cute pose.

"Wuu, my name is Zi Yan," she said, lying on the ground.

"Zi Yan, do you want to know about your background?" Xian Mo asked.

"I do, I do!" Zi Yan's eyes lit up. "Big brother, can you tell me?"

"That is exactly why I am here."

"Zi Yan, you are the daughter of the Dragon Emperor, Xu Kun, of the Void Dragon Clan. Your father is the Dragon Emperor, a peak nine-star Dou Di," Xian Mo explained.

"Void Dragon? Dragon Emperor? Dou Di? Then where is my father? I've been an orphan since I was little," Zi Yan said sadly.

Seeing her current state, Xian Mo felt a pang in his heart. He was an orphan too, but Zi Yan wasn't.

"Hey, do you want to go with big brother to see your father?"

"Mmm, I do!"

"But do you know where he is?"

"He's right under the training tower."

"The training tower? The one belonging to that old man Cang? The really hot one?"

"Yes, do you want to go, Zi Yan?"

"I do, I do!"

Xian Mo glanced at her and smiled. "Zi Yan, did you eat something bad recently that upset your stomach?"

"Ah, big brother, how did you know?"

There was nothing in this world that big brother didn't know. "Come, take this medicinal pill, and you'll feel better."

Zi Yan took the pill Xian Mo threw to her, smelled it, and her eyes lit up. "Wow! It smells so good!" She immediately tossed it into her mouth and chewed it, squatting down.

"Big brother, do you have any more?" Zi Yan licked her lips.

"Big brother has plenty!" As he said this, Xian Mo tossed her a large bottle filled with them, like candy.

"Wow! So many, so many!" Zi Yan drooled.

"Let's go then," Xian Mo said after seeing her take the pill.

"Mmm!" Zi Yan was completely mesmerized and unable to pull herself away.

Just like that, she was led away by Xian Mo.

Xian Mo sent a telepathic message to the two elders, telling them he was going straight to the training tower. The two were excited and immediately gathered people to evacuate the students.

"What's happening at the training tower?"

"I don't know!"

The crowd was full of questions.

The old man from Canaan Academy, Su Qian, asked, "Elder Qian, what is going on? Why the evacuation? Is the Fallen Heart Flame about to erupt?"

The elder next to him looked confused. "That can't be right. If it were erupting, why is the tower so quiet? And it hasn't been long since the last sealing."

Everyone stroked their beards and nodded in confusion.

Elder Qian told everyone what Xian Mo had said, and their reactions were intense.

"What? A second Fallen Heart Flame?!"

"This... how is that possible?!"

"There's actually a second one!"

Everyone was astonished and skeptical. Elder Qian shook his head helplessly; he couldn't believe it himself and still thought he might be dreaming.

***

Inside the training tower, everyone had been evacuated, leaving only Xian Mo and Zi Yan.

"So this is the tower that holds the Fallen Heart Flame? Tsk tsk, it's truly remarkable," Xian Mo said, looking at the tall tower.

Zi Yan tossed another pill into her mouth and said, "This is the inside of the training area, but the temperature in the middle is super high. I don't dare mess around there." She pointed toward the center.

"That's natural. The main body of the Fallen Heart Flame is at the bottom of the center," Xian Mo smiled. "With your current cultivation, if you went down there, you'd become a roasted dragon." He walked over slowly and looked down; the tower was built in a spiral pattern.

"Big brother, didn't you say you'd take me to find my father? Why are we here?" Zi Yan asked piteously.

"He is at the very bottom. Big brother will accompany you down, so don't be afraid," Xian Mo comforted her.

"Okay!" Zi Yan nodded vigorously.

Xian Mo waved his hand, and a golden light enveloped her. "There, you're safe now."

"Let's go." Xian Mo jumped down first. Zi Yan hesitated for a moment before deciding to follow.

After a short while, they reached the magma. A giant flame, resembling an eel, was rampaging above. Seeing Xian Mo, it attacked him immediately.

"Roar!" A massive sound echoed, as if it had gone mad.

"Are you welcoming me like this?" Xian Mo looked at the attacking flame and curled his lips. "You have a bad temper. I need to make you quiet."

He cast a golden light, enveloping the Fallen Heart Flame.

"Roar! Roar!" Finding itself trapped, the flame became even more furious.

"Don't be impatient, I'll release you soon. You must be in a lot of pain." A more vivid, crimson flame appeared in Xian Mo's hand. Sensing the pressure of the Phoenix Divine Flame, the Fallen Heart Flame instantly cowered, its thrashing body coming to a halt.

"Come on, time to eat." In an instant, the divine flame engulfed the Fallen Heart Flame. In just one second, it was completely devoured, leaving the divine flame to let out a puff of hot air. The satisfied Phoenix Divine Flame returned to Xian Mo's hand.

Xian Mo remembered that the soul of Venerable Tian Huo was also here. He opened his divine sense and felt the presence of the venerable.

"What is that?"

"Why do I feel like I'm being watched?" the old man, Venerable Tian Huo, muttered to himself on the other side.

"Wait, why can't I connect to my Fallen Heart Flame? It disappeared? Could my feeling be right? Am I really being watched?" Venerable Tian Huo was terrified.

At that moment, Xian Mo appeared before him. "You must be Venerable Tian Huo, right? I've collected your flame. As a reward, join our Reincarnation Palace."

Venerable Tian Huo was stunned. How did this man in white appear here, and how... "How do you know my name? Who are you? Are you from the Hall of Souls?"

Xian Mo shook his head. "The Hall of Souls? How could that be? They aren't worth mentioning in my eyes. Who am I? I am an Emperor who knows all the heavens and worlds." Xian Mo's tone was flat, sounding completely sincere.

"I can save you, but the condition is that you join the Reincarnation Palace. Plus, I can help you forge a body that is entirely your own. How about that? A good deal, right?" Before the venerable could reply, Xian Mo continued.

Venerable Tian Huo pondered for a moment. This guy was so young, could he be an ancient monster? And he had even taken away the Fallen Heart Flame! Besides, he had long wanted to get out of this ghost place.

He nodded. "Fine, I agree."

Xian Mo smiled. "You won't regret your choice. However, joining the Reincarnation Palace requires signing a contract. Put a drop of your soul energy on this." Xian Mo held out an ancient, perfect bronze scroll.

Venerable Tian Huo hesitated, then gritted his teeth. He had no choice. He injected a drop of his soul energy into it, and in an instant, it transformed into energy and dissipated. A massive thunderclap echoed throughout Canaan Academy, reaching down into the magma world.

Venerable Tian Huo gulped. Was this a reaction from the heavens? Was this contract truly that powerful?

"Since you are a soul entity, just enter this ring for now." Xian Mo produced a ring.

Tian Huo nodded happily and immediately entered the ring.

"The young Fallen Heart Flame should be around here." Xian Mo used the Phoenix Divine Flame to sense it, and soon found a tiny, newly born flame.

"Good, I'll leave this one for the academy. I have no use for extra ones anyway, and I did promise them," Xian Mo muttered while holding the flame.

Zi Yan tugged at Xian Mo's clothes and puffed out her cheeks. "Big brother, when are we going to see my father?"

Xian Mo patted her head. "Big brother's business is finished, let's go see him now."

Zi Yan was delighted. "Wow, great!"

Xian Mo picked her up and flew rapidly into the depths of the magma.

Halfway there, a group of magma creatures emerged to block them. "This is the resting place of our lord, turn back!"

"Lord? Move if you don't want to die," Xian Mo said.

"Arrogant!" The creatures attacked.

Xian Mo spoke coldly, "For offending me, you deserve to die!" He swept his hand, and a hurricane-like force struck. The creatures cried out, but it was too late; they were all instantly obliterated.

Only the dense flames remained. Xian Mo held a ball of fire, squeezed his hand, and destroyed the remnants. He sighed faintly.

"Why are there so many things seeking death? I really don't understand," Xian Mo shook his head helplessly. Isn't living peacefully better?

"Big brother, haven't we found my father yet?" Zi Yan asked.

Xian Mo looked down at her and smiled. "Don't be impatient, we're almost there."

Zi Yan nodded. Xian Mo continued downward; with the path cleared of those creatures, the ancient tomb of the Ancient Emperor was getting closer. He accelerated and landed.

***

In an instant, he saw a huge, ancient tomb deep within the magma. Zi Yan's eyes lit up. "Big brother, is this where my father is?" She stuffed another pill into her mouth.

Xian Mo laughed. "Yes, your father is inside."

Zi Yan nodded, her mouth full.

Xian Mo landed in front of the tomb. The Tuoshe Ancient God's tomb was rectangular, with giant gates five or six meters high covered in beautiful patterns.

After they observed it for a moment, Zi Yan asked, "Big brother, is my father inside?"

Xian Mo shook his head. "He is outside."

As he spoke, the giant dragon hiding in the shadows opened its massive eyes and rose, approaching them. It was surprised—such a young man, could he be... wait, I can't see through him!

"Do you carry the jade pendant?" Xu Kun asked in a heavy tone.

Xian Mo looked at the giant dragon and shook his head. "I do not."

"Wow! A big dragon!" Zi Yan pointed and shouted, "Are you my father?!"

Upon hearing Xian Mo's answer, Xu Kun was about to get angry, but hearing Zi Yan, he probed with his divine sense and was shocked. "You have my bloodline... are you my daughter?"

"Yes, it cannot be wrong! You are my daughter, the Princess of the Void Dragon Clan!" Xu Kun was extremely excited. After so many years, he had finally seen his child!

"Child? Are you really Zi Yan's father? But I've been an orphan since I was little!" Zi Yan looked at Xu Kun, her tone low.

Upon hearing this, Xu Kun was furious. "Bastard, whoever dared to call you an orphan, I'll go out there and beat them to death!"

"But why didn't you come to see me?" Zi Yan pointed at him and shouted.

"I... I... Sigh! It was that old scoundrel Tuoshe's fault! He tricked me into staying here to guard his door!" Xu Kun raged at the mention of Tuoshe.

While they were confronting each other, Xian Mo, who had been silent, spoke up. "Zi Yan, he really is your father, the Dragon Emperor of the Void Dragon Clan."

Xu Kun was stunned. Did this person know him? Was he an ancient monster who had survived from that era? Since when had a new Dou Di appeared on the Dou Qi Continent?!

Moreover, the relationship between this man and his daughter was good. Having a Dou Di as a backer seemed like a good idea.

"My lord, are you... a Dou Di?" Xu Kun asked cautiously.

Xian Mo nodded.

"But hasn't the Dou Qi Continent been without a Dou Di for many years? And it seems like things leading to the Dou Di level have disappeared..." Xu Kun asked all the questions in his mind.

"The reason there have been no Dou Di since Tuoshe is that something has vanished from the continent—an essential element for reaching the Dou Di level, and that is: Emperor Origin Qi!" Xian Mo said slowly.

"As for where the Emperor Origin Qi is, I don't know if there is any left on the continent, but I have it here," Xian Mo added.

Xu Kun was thrilled. "Re-really? You have it?!"

"I can give it to you, but I have a condition," Xian Mo said with a curl of his lips.

Xu Kun frowned. Of course, something as important as Emperor Origin Qi wouldn't be given away for free. "What is your condition?"

"Join the Reincarnation Palace!"

"Reincarnation Palace? What kind of sect is that? A newly established one?" Xu Kun pondered.

"No need to think about it. I founded it a year and a half ago. I will make it famous across the entire Dou Qi Continent!" Xian Mo said casually.

"As the saying goes, one person is enough to support a sect. Well? Do you want to consider it? If you don't join, you'll be free once I open the tomb door. If you join, you get the Emperor Origin Qi. Also, our Reincarnation Palace doesn't restrict members except when they are on missions; it's completely free."

Xian Mo's terms were very tempting.

"Also, your Void Dragon Island is not peaceful; it has been divided. If you don't go back, the rebellious dragon-men will kill all your most loyal kin."

Upon hearing this, Xu Kun was furious. "What?! They dare to rebel! I'll show them who's boss!"

"Good! I agree! I join your Reincarnation Palace!" Xu Kun nodded.

Xian Mo was pleased; Xu Kun was a powerful existence, even stronger than those of the Ancient Clan.

"Haha! Good choice. Come, put a drop of your blood on this, and you are a member of my Reincarnation Palace!" Xian Mo laughed as an ancient, clean piece of paper appeared before them.

Xu Kun thought, "There's such a thing?" He quickly dripped a drop of blood on it, and the paper vanished. Another thunderclap echoed in Canaan, reaching the magma. Xu Kun was shocked—a reaction from the heavens? He felt Xian Mo was even more mysterious.

"Big brother, I want to join too." Zi Yan, interested, tugged at Xian Mo.

Xian Mo took it out again, and another drop of blood was added. Above Canaan, yet another thunderclap resounded.

"Go away! What is this!" Elder Qian was startled, as this was the third time.

"Heh heh, well, Hall Master," Xu Kun said, rubbing his hands.

"Don't be impatient. Since you are now a member, the Emperor Origin Qi is yours. Let me play inside the tomb first, and I'll give it to you when I return," Xian Mo said.

"But Hall Master, how will you open it without the jade pendant? If I break through to Dou Di, I can break Tuoshe's seal," Xu Kun asked.

"The jade pendant?" Xian Mo walked over, looked at the palm-sized hole on the door, and smiled.

"Tuoshe's work isn't enough to stop me." Xian Mo flicked his finger. "Break."

The door was smashed open. Dust flew out, but Xian Mo dispersed it with a wave of energy. What appeared before them was...