Upon hearing Dongbo Xueying agree without hesitation, Patriarch Chihuo felt a weight lift from his heart and quickly added, “Forging a Solar Star Core Stone requires immense resources. I will bear the cost of any treasures needed! Only if I cannot afford them will I ask for your assistance, Xueying.”
“No need—” Dongbo Xueying began.
But Patriarch Chihuo’s expression darkened. “Xueying, I know full well that accomplishing this will require you to call in many favors and possibly make extraordinary sacrifices—far beyond mere treasures. If I contribute nothing, I’d rather forgo the Solar Star Core Stone altogether!”
Dongbo Xueying was momentarily taken aback but soon understood. Even as a mighty figure, Patriarch Chihuo had his pride. He had swallowed his dignity to seek help for the sake of his cultivation, but if even the treasures were to be shouldered by Dongbo Xueying, it would wound his honor too deeply.
“Very well, very well,” Dongbo Xueying conceded with a smile. “Since you insist, Patriarch, I shall defer to your wishes.”
In truth, when it came to treasures, though Patriarch Chihuo had accumulated vast wealth over the ages, Dongbo Xueying’s resources ran deeper. Setting aside priceless items like the True God flying dagger, the original manuscript of the *Blood Devil Codex*’s first volume, the talismans, or the feather gifted by his Fifth Martial Uncle—just the presents from his estate-opening banquet alone were staggering. Fourth Heaven Gods had offered gifts worth hundreds of millions of divine crystals at minimum, while True Gods had been even more generous. Figures like Lord Qing Jun, the Bamboo Mountain Estate Master, and Fiendfire Venerable—all ranked within the top twenty of the Cosmic Deity-Demon Ranking—had bestowed extraordinary treasures.
The sum was enough to terrify anyone!
Yet Dongbo Xueying’s current strength, nearing that of a Venerable, rendered these gifts mere “icing on the cake”—standard courtesies in the world of powerful cultivators. Back when he had first become an Inspector Envoy, still relatively weak, he had dared not accept the lavish gifts from Fourth Heaven Gods eager to forge karmic ties. At that time, a gift worth hundreds of millions of divine crystals would have been a monumental favor. Now? Such gifts were trivial to him. His willingness to accept them and allow guests to attend his banquet was itself a mark of respect—many Gods hadn’t even qualified for the event.
Of course, this was a special occasion—an estate-opening celebration. Ordinary gatherings required no such gifts. Moreover, had it been an average Fourth Heaven God transcending to become a mighty figure, neither the number of attending True Gods nor the value of their gifts would have been so grand.
Gift-giving, after all, depended on the recipient.
“By the way, Senior Brother Huiming, Patriarch,” Dongbo Xueying said, “you both know I possess the original manuscript of the *Blood Devil Codex*’s first volume.”
“Yes.” Both Patriarch Chihuo and Senior Brother Huiming seemed to guess where this was headed.
“Would you like to learn it?” Dongbo Xueying asked with a smile. “A word of caution—the *Blood Devil Codex* has two entry methods. The first requires countless souls as a vile shortcut, but those who take it will struggle to achieve greatness. The second relies purely on one’s own cultivation. If you wish to learn, only the second path is permitted.”
Few were worthy of receiving the *Blood Devil Codex* from him, and even then, he forbade the first method. He refused to bear the karmic burden of such atrocities.
“This old man will shamelessly take you up on the offer,” Patriarch Chihuo chuckled. “Studying it might spark an epiphany.”
“I’ll pass,” Senior Brother Huiming said mildly.
Dongbo Xueying and Patriarch Chihuo both stared at him in surprise.
Decline?
A supreme technique handed to him on a platter—and he refused?
“Huiming, even if you don’t cultivate it, it could serve as reference,” Patriarch Chihuo urged. “It might aid your transcendence.”
“No need,” Huiming shook his head. “The *Blood Devil Codex* is one of the Demon Ancestor’s six great legacies—extremely sinister and ill-suited to me. At my current level, it’s best I don’t even glance at it.”
“The Demon Ancestor’s six legacies? Who is this Demon Ancestor?” Patriarch Chihuo frowned.
Dongbo Xueying, however, was silently astonished.
This senior brother of his actually knew of the Demon Ancestor?
“Patriarch, you must know our vast cosmos spans more than just this epoch,” Huiming said.
“I’ve heard as much,” Patriarch Chihuo nodded. “All things have beginnings and ends—the cosmos moves through epochs.”
Huiming continued, “Among the countless epochs, two figures stand above all: the master of Heartlake Island, and the Demon Ancestor.”
“I’ve heard of Heartlake Island’s master, but a Demon Ancestor of equal stature?” Patriarch Chihuo mused.
Dongbo Xueying quietly observed his senior brother.
For Huiming to know such secrets, he must have had extraordinary encounters.
—
That same day, Patriarch Chihuo swore an oath before studying the *Blood Devil Codex*’s first volume, while Huiming took his leave.
Few learned the *Blood Devil Codex*. Patriarch Mo Xue, nearing the collapse of his true divine heart, would soon reincarnate. Yu Jingqiu had long since requested it for her father, and Dongbo Xueying obliged without hesitation—though he doubted it would aid his father-in-law’s transcendence. Beyond him, only Yu Jingqiu and White Sand City’s Lord were permitted to study it.
Others, including his children, were barred. The *Blood Devil Codex* was no ordinary technique—its entry was brutally difficult. Even the Howling Fiend Sect Master, with countless souls at his disposal, had taken ages to barely grasp it. Dongbo Xueying deemed it unsuitable for his children. As for White Sand City’s Lord, the old man might never reach the Fourth Heaven in this lifetime—better to learn it now, useful or not.
“Brother Huochang.” Dongbo Xueying sought out Fiendfire Venerable, who had remained at the estate post-banquet.
Seated in a chair, idly tapping the armrest with crimson fingers, the red-haired, red-browed, red-skinned Venerable seemed in high spirits.
Spotting Dongbo Xueying, he grinned. “Brother Dongbo, settled the matter with Golden Firmament? Even if you hadn’t come, I’d have sought you out.”
“Patriarch Golden Firmament has backed down—he had no wish for outright conflict,” Dongbo Xueying replied, taking a seat. “What did you wish to discuss?”
“Ah, while wandering your estate, I met your daughter. Gave her some pointers, and she asked to become my disciple!” Huochang laughed. “I must say, the girl impressed me. Would you consent to her joining my lineage?”
Overjoyed, Dongbo Xueying clasped his hands. “Nothing would please me more!”
He and his wife had long deliberated over their children’s mentors. Ordinary mighty figures held little appeal—the couple could teach just as well. Only under a Venerable or a True God, as a direct disciple, would it be worthwhile. Yet such opportunities were rare.
“I beg you to guide Qingyao patiently,” Dongbo Xueying added. “She can be… rather domineering.”
Huochang waved it off. “Nonsense! I quite like her spirit. Since you agree, it’s settled. I’ll teach her diligently—but don’t blame me for the results.”
“Your methods are yours alone,” Dongbo Xueying assured.
Nodding, Huochang asked, “Now, what brought you here?”
Dongbo Xueying’s expression turned solemn. “The Void Black Mud.”
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