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--- Chapter 177 ---
Baek Ain entered the Star Region with Lan Rou on the lead, observing the confined space amusingly.
Star Region is a remarkable space with a nearly endless supply of Star Energy, but this place was too unstable. One could literally see void cracks one after another in this place.
Since this place looks abandoned and has poor maintenance, the Three Thousand Burning Flame is bound to go berserk and ransack everything in this place sooner or later.
Aih, the wonder of Dou Saint never ceases to surprise Baek Ain.
But again, some people never take responsibility for their power.
With great power comes great responsibility.
Although Baek Ain severely doubts this quote, Uncle Ben's words aren't really incorrect.
"Xuan Yi, have you ever met the Pill Tower Ancestor?" Baek Ain suddenly asked as he recalled a prominent character behind this faction.
Xuan Yi nodded and replied, "I did meet him once."
"But that was a long time ago."
"I assumed he had already taken another identity."
"Another identity?" Qing Lin tilted her head in confusion.
Xuan Yi smiled slightly and explained, "Pill Tower Ancestor is the founder of our Pill Tower. Before his death, He refined a strange medicine pill that absorbed a trace of his spirit."
"After that, the pill transformed into a new sentient being. Guarding the Pill Tower every time a disaster struck."
"The Ancestor left from time and time, roaming the world. His favorite thing to do is to find pregnant women whose babies experienced unfortunate events and lost their lives."
"Of course, his target wasn't the pregnant women, but the babies themselves."
"After finding a baby who has died early, the Ancestor will enter the pregnant woman's womb using a special method to turn into an ordinary baby."
"He will be born, grow, and live as another person until that body finally dies. Only then will he leave, and the Ancestor described it as experiencing life."
"Eh... T-That's out of my expectation." Qing Lin commented in disbelief.
"To replace other children like that."
Xuan Yi shook her head and added, "It might sound weird, but every time the Ancestor does this. The family he reincarnated into will strike fortune for three if not ten generations."
"Not to mention Ancestor always ensures his new parents' happiness while sealing his memory as the Pill Tower Ancestor."
"He once said, Being filial is one way to yield good karma."
"Well, the last time I saw him was less than seventy years ago." Xuan Yi recalled her memories.
Lan Rou heard Xuan Yi's story and mumbled something to herself. After all, she has reincarnated four times, including this lifetime when she met Baek Ain.
"Experiencing life." She has an enlightened look on her face.
Something inside Lan Rou broke and cleared a path for her, making the white-haired beauty enter a trance-like state.
Baek Ain noticed this and told the other ladies to lower their voices. He observed her change with True Ashen's Eyes and smiled, finding this random conversation triggered Lan Rou's chance to break through.
It was so sudden and random.
'It seems she wouldn't need Bodhisattva's Seed.' Baek Ain rubbed his chin, thinking about something.
"Hmm?"
Baek Ain sensed a massive presence coming to their location. He maintained his laid-back stance and peeked at Lan Rou.
The intense heat comes to their faces, making Xuan Yi nervous.
"Master, It's..." Xuan Yi called Baek Ain as a purple glow approached them quickly.
"The Three Thousand Burning Flame." Baek Ain finished her words.
"Don't worry. I'll handle it."
ROOOOOOOOOARR!!
A purple-scaled dragon roared at them. Its body is enormous, covering the entire field of Baek Ain's vision.
And its red-slitted eyes stared at them with disdain, exploding with killing intent.
"Intruders!"
"How dare you enter this king's domain!" The cold voice echoed throughout the Star Region, making the space tremble.
Lan Rou slowly returned to her normal state as she blinked a few times, witnessing the Three Thousand Burning Flame's sudden appearance.
"It's here already?" She frowned solemnly.
Baek Ain waved his hand casually, "Go, take Qing Lin and Xuan Yi with you."
"I'd like to see this little flame ability."
"Okay." Lan Rou hasn't fully absorbed her enlightenment. So, she wasn't in an optimal state to fight something like Three Thousand Burning Flame.
"Let's go!"
Xuan Yi and Qing Lin nodded, retreating behind Lan Rou.
Qing Lin glanced back and saw her mighty lover's broad back, feeling his utter confidence. "You must win." She sends a voice transmission.
BOOM!
Baek Ain's body burst out with a brilliant golden flame. An image of Golden Crow manifested and let a majestic cry out, summoning three identical suns in the Star Region.
The three identical suns shone, emitting terrifying destruction force.
Xuan Yi's eyes trembled in surprise. She could feel the golden flame Baek Ain wielded was much stronger than any flame she had ever seen!
Qing Lin watched Baek Ain pull his right arm back, giving her a V sign.
Soon, their vision was "thoroughly." covered by a bright golden light.
...
"Human, your flame irritates me!" The Three Thousand Burning Flame roared at Baek Ain.
"Give it to me or die!"
Baek Ain smiled, "If it irritates you, why did you want it?"
"Sounds like someone is coveting my possession."
ROAR!
"Detestable Human!" The Three Thousand Burning Flame opened its mouth, revealing a sharp tooth made of fire crystal.
Baek Ain wasn't dumb.
The Three Thousand Burning Flame is obviously attracted to the Golden Crow's Divine Flame due to its nature.
Golden Crow is a divine beast birthed in the core of the Primordial Sun, an ancient star. It wields and governs the power of the Primordial Sun, which is "inherently." aligned to the Three Thousand Burning Flame birthed in outer space where stars are very abundant.
The Three Thousand Burning Flame probably thought of using Golden Crow's Divine Flame to evolve, becoming strong enough to escape this prison-like Star Region.
However, how could Baek Ain let the Three Thousand Burning Flame do so?
He wants to tame this Heavenly Flame and make it mine.
After all, the Three Thousand Burning Flame has formed its spirituality and a capable sentient being.
Unlike the Fallen Heart Flame and Six Path Reincarnation Flame, the Three Thousand Burning Flame developed its spirituality since its birth and became strong enough to this very stage.
And not to mention the ability to grant Undying Body, which is better than Fallen Heart Flame's increased speed in cultivation and Six Path Reincarnation Flame's unpredictable reincarnation cycle ability.
As for why the Three Thousand Burning Flame has the form of a dragon, Baek Ain knows the Ancestor of the Ancient Void Dragon discovered it when it was an infant and left behind the "Dragon Seal.", which caused it to take this current form.
If Baek Ain had to estimate the Three Thousand Burning Flame's strength, even a group of 1-Star Dou Saint would have a difficult time.
Ordinary 1-Star Dou Saint, that is.
Baek Ain was actually surprised that the passive [King of Flame] didn't work on the Three Thousand Burning Flame. Maybe it has something to do with it being 9th Ranked in Heavenly Flame Ranking.
"As expected of the top ten Heavenly Flame."
"DIE!" The Three Thousand Burning Flame sent a fiery claw made of its flame.
Baek Ain shook his head and waved his hand, turning a handful of golden flame into a knife.
[Parry]
BAM!
Baek Ain kicked the air and rushed toward the Heavenly Flame's face. He clenched his fist and let the Golden Crow's Divine Flame strengthen his muscles.
The power of one hundred Ancient Mammoths activated.
Baek Ain's movement was too quick, and the Heavenly Flame's massive body didn't allow it to dodge.
BOOM!
Baek Ain sends the Three Thousand Burning Flame flying.
A loud explosion can be heard from miles away as the massive purple dragon made of flame crashes onto a floating stone.
ROAR!
The Three Thousand Burning Flame let out a furious roar.
A purple-black flame burned the surrounding area, creating a domain of destruction.
Of course, Baek Ain won't stay idle when faced with this.
"Seventh Stage: Yellow Spring Ashes."
A golden ring of fire spread from Baek Ain and burned the air, creating yellow ashes that flew everywhere.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
Two domains clashed fiercely.
Star Region violently shook as the heat released from the two domains was too much.
Baek Ain's domain is much smaller than the Three Thousand Burning Flame's.
However, the latter discovered something absurd.
'How could this be!' The Heavenly Flame was shocked. His domain was "actually." lost to this human!
The moment Three Thousand Burning Flame made contact with the Golden Crow's Divine Flame, it actually felt threatened.
And a moment later, the little golden domain actually swallowed its noble flame.
How ridiculous!
Baek Ain smiled in amusement, watching the Heavenly Flame bewildered by the Golden Crow's Divine Flame.
After all, this is the flame Baek Ain had carefully cultivated for years.
How could it be ordinary?
As Baek Ain's cultivation base soared, the Golden Crow's Divine Flame became stronger.
"You forced me to do this, human!"
"I'd not play around anymore!"
"Take this and die!"
"..." Baek Ain sighed.
This Heavenly Flame talks too much and is not cute at all.
At least Fallen Heart Flame and Gnome could do "OwO." from time to time and entertain Baek Ain.
The Three Thousand Burning Flame's draconic body flashed and became smaller rapidly, reducing its size to thirty meters long. However, the power it contained became more tyrannical.
The Heavenly Flame opened its mouth and spewed fire breath that could annihilate anyone below Dou Saint Realm to ashes.
Baek Ain watched the flame spread over several kilometers and prevented him from running away.
But why would he run away?
One of the three identical suns Baek Ain summoned earlier hovered over his right hand.
"Eighth Stage: Blazing Sunray."
A concentrated ray erupted from the sun, cutting through the fire breath the Three Thousand Burning Flame unleashed.
Extreme flames like the blazing sun rays pierced the space and struck the Three Thousand Burning Flame's body.
"N-No!" The Heavenly Flame panicked.
It was too late.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHHH!"
The Three Thousand Burning Flame tried everything to run and gritted his teeth. A tiny dragon, the Heavenly Flame's Core, ejected and escaped successfully.
Successful until a hand grabbed it.
"H-Human!" The Three Thousand Burning Flame acted timidly before Baek Ain, who caught it.
Baek Ain chuckled, "I got you."
"Do you want to run away?"
"Y-Yes. Will you let me away?"
"Nope."
Baek Ain pointed his finger at the Three Thousand Burning Flame and sent a small red butterfly. It wasn't an ordinary butterfly because it was the 9th Stage of the Record of Burning World.
"Ninth Stage: Red Butterfly."
It's a Soul-Type Attack, which is very effective against beings who have gained a spirituality and are sentient.
"UGYAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
"PAIN! PAIN!"
"SO MUCH PAIN, STOP! PLEASE STOP!"
"AAAAAHHH!"
After a while, the Red Butterfly disappeared.
"Ha... Ha..." The Heavenly Flame breathed heavily.
"H-Human..."
"Human?" Baek Ain narrowed his eyes and smirked at the Heavenly Flame, sending a chill to its nonexistent spine.
"It seems you need a little more education."
"Don't worry. I'll teach you slowly..."
The Heavenly Flame's draconic eyes widened as it roared, "W-Wait, NOOOOOO!!"