Xiao Yan’s gaze burned with excitement as he received the scrollof fire-inscribed runes from Xiao Xuan’s hands. After a brief hesitation, he suddenly asked, “Venerable Ancestor, since this Heaven-Purifying Triple Transformation was created by you, you must have once possessed foreign flames yourself, right?” Hearing this, Xiao Xuan simply chuckled and nodded with a sigh, “Indeed, I once held three foreign flames. Unfortunately, in that final battle, all three foreign flames were explosively unleashed…” When Xioa Yan heard this, his eyelids twitched while a profound sense of awe arose involuntarily deep within his heart. Facing such formidable adversaries of his time, Xiao Xuan still found himself compelled to detonate three foreign flames until utterly exhausted. The battle must have been perilously catastrophic—though there was also no denying a quiet confusion welling from Xiao Yan. If Xiao Xuan didn’t possess Flame Absorption techniques, how then had been achieved the mastery and control over multiple foreign flames?
“Hahaha, the cultivation technique your employ is indeed mighty!” Xiao Xuan replied mirthfully, as if divining Xiao Yan’s perplexities. “Whilst admittedly not of utmost sophistication I’ve encountered, this technique exhibits an extraordinary potential for transcendence. Acquiring strength through consuming flames has always meant navigating treacherous tightrope—its power, dangerously paramount.” A flicker of realization passed between them before Xuaon Xuan elaborated, “I governed those three foreign flames back then entirely through sheer inner might; I never consumed those flames but forcefully mastered them by sheer might of cultivation alone. At my level back then, even foreign flames would’ve bowed under my command.” A slow comprehension bloomed upon Xiao’s face—apparently, it had just been brute and unadulterated forceful subjugation. Hence, it wasn’t all that unthinkable for one of so profound a cultivation power once to have managed the control of no fewer than three foreign flames.
“You must’ve realized your cultivation art meshes most fortuitously well with the Heaven-Purifying Triple Transformation,” chuckled Xiao Xuan. Your method entails consuming the essence flames, thereby rendering them utterly dociled under your willpower—an ability I couldn’t entirely claim in my youth!” His tone grew encouraging as he went on, “Given that we’ve secured the full Heaven-Purifying Triple Transformation, study it well and strive wholeheartedly for the awakening of the tribal seal before departing the Heaven Tombs.
Nodding in affirmation without further prodding, Xiao Yan conversed momentarily, his exchanges with Xun’er brief in brevity, and thereafter, without delay, assumed the seated meditative stance. Drawing the ancient scroll near his brows, he began sifting through a massive trove of arcane insights encoded there within. In a short span, these profound data flowed directly into his vast subconscious, where comprehension soon flourished.
Having completed absorption, he reopened his eyes slowly. Within those shimmering voids, contemplation broiled with quiet urgency, while upon his brows flickered uncontainable contemplative intensity.
“Heaven-Purifying Triple Transformation! First Transformation! Second Transformation! Third Transformation!”
Swiftly he struck mystic seals—a veritable explosion of techniques—in a blur, within a few breaths’ length of time his whole power framework came fully unchained, and alongside this unchaining, a sudden surge of Xiao Yan’s energy spiraled ever outward through the surrounding air. Oppressive torrents crackled within his very frame—the very quintessence of scorching, tempestuous energy! As heat emanated in layers and seeped through flesh and vessel alike, an inner alchemical transmutation accelerated the flow within. Through sharpened spiritual perception he recognized an unfathomable essence racing within his meridians. And all seemed to bear directly toward his spiritual seal!
Simultaneously, as this foreign essence coursed its way through the meridian corridors, an intense luminic manifestation coalesced above Xiao Yan’s forehead—the natural formation of a primordial rune etched upon his countenance, soon followed by others in its wake.
“Pop!”
At that climactic moment—marking the very onset of third rune emergence—an abrupt sound echoed forth—originating unexpectedly within that corporeal framework. In tandem, those very emerging symbols flickered once before diminishing into the ether!
As his eyes snapped open, he was unable to obscure his perplexity.
“Three strokes of the entire萧Tribe blood seal were merely outlined.” Thus interjected Xiao Xuan. The ultimate culmination of Heaven-Purifying Triple Transformation requires the inscription of a familial seal embedded deep in the marrow—although perpetually present within you, it requires awakening. Yet awakening the familial signature necessitate immense energy reservoirs coupled with unparalleled precision. It should be noted—you’ve just experienced an abrupt energy amplification; mastery has yet to achieve its peak—your thoughts cannot quite yet weave seamlessly with intent!”
Xiao Yan smiled wry, voicing his own trepidation, “If such a trifling stroke of energy can so utterly exhaust me, how dare I wield this tribal energy midst fierce combat?”
Once inscribed, the activation no lo! Your thoughts alone can invoke it—like breath, instinctive and boundless.” Reassuring as he was firm, thus went his sage advice: “‘As commencement often is most difficult,’ activating the familial seal is that formidable beginning indeed. Resume practice—three strokes on first trial constitutes an impressive feat. Sharpen composure—temper each droplet of energy to flawless execution before attempting further.”
Grudgingly nodding in understanding, Xiao Yan met Xun’ers’ eyes briefly—she who responded by stifling muffled giggle, shrugging lightly as though to say “Helpless me!”
Inhallying a single breath, Xiao Yan composed his thoughts quickly, gradually sinking into meditative calm, preparing yet again.
“Heaven-Purifying Triple Transformation!”
Never once underestimating ancestral seals, Xiao Yan nonetheless soon came to appreciate their staggering intricacies; once assuming mastery mere effort away—only to be startled by unyielding demands of exact, near impossibility in control and precision—each stroke seemingly mundane, yet requiring titanic energy reserves. Only upon truly tasting the depths of such formidable mastery did he perceive, contrastive comparison aside, how immeasuably burdensome ancestral endowmen was to萧Kin against more fortunate primaevals like Gu Kin, whose legacy-seals gifted passively rather wrought through trial.
Yet, blessings of the time-rich Heaven Tombs offered sufficient reprieve despite sluggish progression—eventually, inevitably, success would manifest. Through this process, as the tides of months swam onward—though the cultivation trials proved monotonous and grueling in their own right—the constant company of companion Xunér offered solace from wearisome repetition. And occasionally—perhaps between moments—remembrance would arise unbidden, thoughts wandering beyond tomb’s bounds to where old compatriots of Ancient Qing Yang’s still languished without. Yet under firm supervision that offered no margin for reprieve, Xiao Yan’s dedication faced no such temptations as idle slacking.
Thus through rigorous, ceaseless training half a year melted into oblivion.
Inside ancient halls thick with primordial resonance lay one gaunt form crossed-legged and tranquil—their entire aura expansive, their very being steeped profoundly deep in boundless energies. Amidst all, the emergence unfolded—eight strokes, each marked by a distinctive, glowing amethyst rune being painstakingly drawn across his furrowed brow; a living masterpiece of mystic craftsmanship unfolding.
Beholding the scene, Xiao Xuan gave approving nods, the count a rare achievement—even in their glory’s days, achieving eight strokes’ completion within mere half an annum merited the highest accolades among the entire蕭Tribe, particularly since Xiao Yan’s cultivation ascent had so newly transpired—a factor that had, of course, compounded the already formidable challenge.
Yet just as affirmation bloomed in the elder’s gaze—he started.
Upon young Xiao’s furrowed countenance another faint shimmer stirred, the tinctured crimson line manifesting another glimmer—a nascent ninth rune.
“Unexpected. The imp desires the ninth while he’s warm?” marveled the old cultivator amidst an emotional maelstrom that surged within while the young adept’s countenance continued unfolding—a rune in patient motion, resolute and smooth, bearing elegance in its measured progress—each curve harmonizeed like celestial symphony in progress.
“And yet again—the audacity,” murmured Xiao Xuan amidst deep admiration.
The last stroke traced its deliberate way. And at that final, precise juncture—where crimson met consciousness itself—the sacred tribal seal blazed in fiery grandeur at Xiao Yan’s forefront.
“Thrmmmm!”
With the awakening of his ancestral glyph, sudden acceleration surged within the bloodflow of Xiao Yan—its reverberating resonance rippling down the channels of his very being, manifesting as a strange yet exhilarating vibration echoing outward from the core of his being.
Fulfilled…
Xiao Xuan’s orbs mirrored exhilaration at that sacred vibrational resonance heralding success.
Fulfillment.
Burning gaze reopening, Xiao Yan radiated vivid crimson splendor before his glow stabilized with growing familiarity—soon recede back into concealment within—its physical presence fading into latent concealment.
Final fulfillment…
His breath stead, his body exhaled release—a breath of release after such trial!
Even though the glyph receded into slumber, Xiao Yan could feel now—hovering silently behind the surface upon his thoughts command, resided that ethereal, sacred energy ready at will.
And once kindred, the need for awakening dissipates entirely—it was the consummate mastery in one’s hands, at will.
Rising steadily he shook off lingering residues of tension, the popping of limbs accompanying a knowing smile—half of a year’s endurance borne not only yielded the completed familial rune, but renewed and rekindled mastery over the turbulent tides of his very quintessence. Now, after such arduous ascent stood fully an Eight-Star Sovereign of the Dou Realm in peak splendor.
Glancing upward he murmured to time passed—”About the appointed term…”
Sensing the vast disparity wrought of time, he tilted eyes skyward through the ancient temple doors; perhaps it was nearing that time when he returns once again…
A return… beckoned.
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