Chapter 469: The Origin of Souls!
"An exotic flame?!" The Yellow Springs Demon Saint was stunned. As a peak powerhouse, he was well aware of the list of exotic flames on the continent. He had never underestimated their power. Exotic flames, born from the essence of heaven and earth, were the kings of all fires. Each flame at the top of the list possessed terrifying abilities—capable of burning the sky, boiling the sea, devouring everything, and purifying all.
Even at his peak, the Yellow Springs Demon Saint had once subdued an exotic flame for study. However, at that time, his strength had already reached its limit. Unless the flame grew to the level of a high-star Dou Saint, it wouldn't be of much use to him. Now, Xiao Ze had just told him that the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor was actually an exotic flame born from the essence of heaven and earth, which was beyond shocking.
"Xiao Ze, it's not that I don't believe you, but this is too unbelievable," the Yellow Springs Demon Saint said, regaining his composure. "Could it be that after the great change in heaven and earth, neither humans nor magical beasts can become Dou Di, and only such unique beings born from the essence of heaven and earth can achieve the Dou Di realm?"
The Yellow Springs Demon Saint speculated, but then immediately dismissed his own idea. "No, these unique beings, though inherently noble and high-ranking, require thousands of years to cultivate!"
"In my era, only two exotic flames reached the Dou Saint level—Void Swallowing Flame and Purifying Lotus Demon Flame."
Seeing that the Yellow Springs Demon Saint was overly focused on the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor being an exotic flame, Xiao Ze quickly spoke up. "Senior, let me finish explaining, and many answers will become clear."
The Yellow Springs Demon Saint paused, then exhaled slowly. He hadn't realized how much he wanted to know more after Xiao Ze mentioned the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor.
"You're right, I lost my composure," he admitted.
"Haha, when I first learned that the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor was an exotic flame, I was just as shocked," Xiao Ze laughed lightly. He knew it was hard to lie in front of the Yellow Springs Demon Saint. The Demon Saint's soul strength was such that he could sense the thoughts and emotions of others.
"Senior, there are twenty-three supreme flames on the exotic flame list, each dominating all other fires. Anyone who knows the list well could name each flame."
"But, Senior, do you know what the number one flame on the list is?"
The Yellow Springs Demon Saint instinctively tried to answer but stopped. Searching his memory, he couldn't recall the name of the top flame. "So, the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor is the number one flame on the list?!"
"You could say that, but the list doesn't really have a 'number one,'" Xiao Ze replied. "There once was an exotic flame born from the essence of heaven and earth. It took a thousand years to form, ten thousand years to gather spirit, and ten thousand more years of cultivation... By chance, it gained the ability to move through the earth's veins."
"Over countless ages, this flame devoured other flames, each ranked on the exotic flame list. It grew stronger with every flame it consumed."
"When it had devoured all the flames on the list, even the top flames like Void Swallowing Flame and Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, it could subdue and devour them."
"After consuming all the exotic flames, it cultivated for another thousand years and emerged, calling itself the 'Emperor Flame.'"
"In that era, the people of the Dou Qi Continent called it... the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor!"
The Yellow Springs Demon Saint gasped. The origin of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor was beyond extraordinary. He knew that flames could consume each other, a process fraught with danger. The exotic flames were inherently incompatible, and attempting to consume another often resulted in self-destruction.
Given this, the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor emerging victorious from consuming twenty-two flames was nothing short of miraculous.
"According to the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor, at the dawn of creation, a certain amount of source energy came into being. This source energy is irreplaceable; once used, it's gone."
"Thus, in ancient times, many could achieve the Dou Di realm. But as source energy was depleted, it became increasingly difficult for cultivators to reach the Dou Di level."
"By the time of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor, only a few sources of energy remained."
"After becoming a Dou Di, the ancient emperor searched the continent and found only two sources of energy. He kept one for his own legacy and refined the other into an Emperor's Pill, placing it in his mansion."
Hearing the full story, the Yellow Springs Demon Saint's expression turned complex. The ancient times, filled with Dou Di powerhouses, had been a golden age of cultivation. The reason for the decline in Dou Di was the overuse of source energy, leaving none for future generations.
"My failure to become an emperor is not my fault but destiny," the Yellow Springs Demon Saint sighed, finally understanding. "It's a pity that I only have a remnant soul left. Otherwise, I would seek the source energy in the ancient emperor's mansion."
The Demon Saint smiled, his life-long regret dissolving.
"Thank you, Xiao Ze, for resolving my inner conflict. I should fulfill my promise. Your soul strength is only a step away from the Grand Perfection of the Heavenly Realm. Many geniuses are stuck at this step for their entire lives."
"But today, let me help you break through to the Grand Perfection of the Heavenly Realm!"
Feeling liberated, the Yellow Springs Demon Saint spoke with renewed vigor. As he spoke, a terrifying soul fluctuation emanated from him. The entire space trembled, and countless soul lights emerged from the earth, clouds, and air. Under Xiao Ze's astonished gaze, these soul lights converged in front of the Demon Saint, forming a massive soul light sphere.
"Xiao Ze, use this soul light sphere to break through to the Grand Perfection of the Heavenly Realm!" The Yellow Springs Demon Saint's soul body dimmed as he spoke.
(Chapter ends)
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