"Submit, or die!"
Even though Yue Zhengqi and the other three chose to retreat to avoid the sharp edge, they were still unable to completely escape the aura of the Zhenyun National Cauldron.
Saint Lingxiao naturally would not let go of this opportunity. Almost at the same time the four of Yue Zhengqi retreated, he followed closely. An invincible aura emanated from Saint Lingxiao's body, directly imprisoning the four of Yue Zhengqi in mid-air.
"You... you've reached that stage?! No, if you had reached that stage, there would surely be heavenly tribulations. You, you're using the Zhenyun National Cauldron!" The four of Yue Zhengqi were shocked by this.
While resisting the confinement with all their might, they instantly understood why Saint Lingxiao had suddenly become so powerful. Although Saint Lingxiao was indeed stronger than the four of them, it was only by a slim margin.
Now that the four of them together could not resist Saint Lingxiao, it was naturally because Saint Lingxiao's strength had greatly increased.
Saint Lingxiao snorted upon hearing this and said, "You have some insight. This Venerable is indeed borrowing the power of the Zhenyun National Cauldron. Although it's not the true Boundless Realm, it can be considered a pseudo-Boundless Realm. Dealing with the four of you is more than enough."
"This Venerable will give you one more chance. Submit to this Venerable, and this Venerable will let bygones be bygones. If you refuse, you know the consequences!"
The four of Yue Zhengqi exchanged bitter glances. They had originally thought that the combined forces of their four clans would be enough to suppress the Saint Clan and Saint Lingxiao. Who would have thought that after just one encounter, they would be like prisoners?
Even if Saint Lingxiao was only in the pseudo-Boundless Realm, he definitely had the strength to crush those in the Immortal Realm. Now, Saint Lingxiao's words undoubtedly put them in a difficult position.
If they submitted to Saint Lingxiao, they would probably no longer have their former freedom. But if they chose to disobey, not only would they themselves face annihilation, but their clansmen would too.
"You have ten breaths of time to choose!" Perhaps growing impatient, Saint Lingxiao said coldly again.
"I... I am willing to submit." Xuan Canglin looked up with some difficulty at the clansmen behind him, closed his eyes with a dejected expression, and said.
"Brother Xuan! Alas, forget it..." Yue Zhengqi shouted loudly upon hearing this. But then he sighed and shook his head. Xuan Canglin's choice was probably for the safety of the Xuan Clan's people. If it were just for the sake of saving his own life, given their status, they would never do it.
"Very well. Since you have chosen to submit to this Venerable, sign this life-bound contract." Saint Lingxiao nodded with great satisfaction at Xuan Canglin, then waved his left hand in the air, and a dense array of runes appeared before Xuan Canglin.
"Life-bound contract! Saint Lingxiao, how can you speak of such a contract? If we sign a life-bound contract, won't our lives be under your control?" Yue Zhengqi said indignantly.
Saint Lingxiao sneered and then looked at Yue Zhengqi, saying, "If I don't exert some control, do you think this Venerable can feel at ease keeping you around? Yue Zhengqi, this Venerable's patience is limited. If you wish to die, this Venerable can grant your wish!"
"I am willing to submit!" Before Yue Zhengqi could speak, Li Shu, who was standing beside him, was the first to say so. Then, his gaze shifted to Yue Zhengqi and Yuan Chuge, his intention clearly evident in his eyes.
"I am also willing to submit." Yuan Chuge naturally saw the meaning in Li Shu's eyes and could only nod helplessly.
Yue Zhengqi glanced at Li Shu, Yuan Chuge, and Xuan Canglin, then looked at Saint Lingxiao and said, "Saint Lingxiao, if you can spare the clansmen of our four clans, I... I am willing to obey you."
Saint Lingxiao burst into laughter upon hearing this, then waved his large hand, and three life-bound contract runes appeared before Yue Zhengqi and the other two.
"Very good! This Venerable agrees to your request. This Venerable will not kill a single one of your four clansmen. Now, sign the life-bound contract."
The four of Yue Zhengqi exchanged helpless glances, sighed slightly, and with a movement of their hands, a drop of their life essence blood was squeezed out and shot into the life-bound contract runes before them.
Buzz.
With a humming sound, the four life-bound contract runes instantly merged into the foreheads of the four of Yue Zhengqi and disappeared.
Feeling the restriction that appeared in their minds, the four of Yue Zhengqi stood up with dejected expressions. From this moment on, they had completely become Saint Lingxiao's slaves.
In the Saint Seal Illusion, within the courtyard of 'Fuyao Peak'.
Buzz.
One day, with a humming sound, the entire courtyard was instantly blown apart. Li Xuan's figure slowly walked out from the ruins.
The aura of the peak of the Sacred Heart Realm, overlooking all directions.
"Eight years have passed now, I wonder how my senior brothers and sisters are doing." Li Xuan gazed into the distance, looking at the other six mountain peaks, and after a moment of silent contemplation, his mind moved, and his divine sense swept out rapidly towards the six mountain peaks.
However, he soon discovered that each mountain peak had a restriction, and with Li Xuan's strength, he could not detect anything.
"It seems Elder Dan had planned this long ago." Li Xuan retracted his divine sense and pondered for a moment, instantly understanding. Since the Saint Seal Illusion used the mountain peaks where they lived as a simulated space, there must have been a reason.
Currently, Li Xuan could not see the situation on the other six mountain peaks, which was clearly the work of Elder Dan Wushuang. It was likely that only by breaking through to the Immortal Realm could one break the restriction set by Elder Dan Wushuang.
Buzz.
Seeing that he could not contact his six senior brothers and sisters, Li Xuan had no choice but to shift his attention to improving his own strength.
Although eight years had passed and he had broken through from the Mystical Vision Realm to the peak of the Sacred Heart Realm, he was only two stages away from the Immortal Realm.
However, Li Xuan understood that this bottleneck was not easy to break. Some spiritual masters could not take that step in their entire lives, as the existence of the Sacred Heart Realm was already considered to be at the peak of true strength.
With a thought, Li Xuan immediately took out the Bodhi Soul Fruit that Wang Kun had given him in the Treasure Pavilion.
"I hope that with the help of this Bodhi Soul Fruit, I can touch that step!" Li Xuan murmured to himself, then sat down cross-legged and unhesitatingly swallowed the Bodhi Soul Fruit in one gulp.
Boom!
The Bodhi Soul Fruit melted in his mouth, and a surge of immense energy instantly flowed into Li Xuan's body. In just an instant, it traveled all over Li Xuan's body. Then, it all poured into Li Xuan's mind and spiritual consciousness, rapidly merging.
As the energy of the Bodhi Soul Fruit merged into Li Xuan's soul, Li Xuan clearly felt the transformation of his soul. He felt refreshed, to say the least.
And during this process, Li Xuan's heart was filled with anticipation.
Although the soul skills derived from the Bodhi Soul Fruit were mostly based on Soul Halo Underworld Light and Soul Seal, it would be best if he could comprehend the Burning Gu Soul Flame. Even though the probability was very low, Li Xuan was full of anticipation.
Time passed slowly. As the Bodhi Soul Fruit was absorbed by Li Xuan's soul, a full half a month had passed. This showed the special nature of the Bodhi Soul Fruit.
Boom!
One day, with a rumbling sound in Li Xuan's mind, the energy of the Bodhi Soul Fruit was finally completely absorbed by Li Xuan's soul. Along with this rumble, a scene instantly appeared in Li Xuan's mind and spiritual consciousness.
Li Xuan's consciousness stood in the scene. The surroundings were barren, with not a blade of grass growing. In the sky above, nine blazing suns appeared one after another, hanging high in the sky. A terrifying heat instantly struck him head-on.
In this scorching heatwave, Li Xuan clearly felt his consciousness body gradually and extremely rapidly dissolving. It was as if it would be completely evaporated by the heat in the next moment.
"This is... the Burning Gu Soul Flame!" At the last moment before Li Xuan's consciousness body dissolved, Li Xuan's consciousness body suddenly spoke.
Boom!
As soon as Li Xuan's voice fell, the nine blazing suns in the sky instantly fell like fireballs.
The nine blazing suns merged into Li Xuan's consciousness body, making his almost dissipating consciousness body instantly fill up. A scorching sensation swept through his entire body, and Li Xuan's body immediately fell backward.
Three days later, Li Xuan slowly woke up. Upon seeing the scene around him, a look of shock appeared in Li Xuan's eyes. The entire 'Fuyao Peak' had actually become a bare mountain peak.
"What happened? Could it be because of the Burning Gu Soul Flame?" Li Xuan stood up and examined it, then suddenly remembered what happened before he lost consciousness.
Even after several days had passed, there was still a faint smell of scorching in the air. With this thought, Li Xuan instantly recalled the Burning Gu Soul Flame. After all, the current situation combined only the Burning Gu Soul Flame could achieve this.
"Let me see if it's really the Burning Gu Soul Flame!" Li Xuan suppressed the excitement in his heart, then moved his divine sense and scanned himself internally.
Upon inspection, Li Xuan instantly discovered that there was a blazing sun hanging high in his mind and spiritual consciousness. The faint heat was no different from the scorching air outside.
"Could I have really comprehended the Burning Gu Soul Flame?" Li Xuan opened his eyes, with obvious excitement showing. The power of the Burning Gu Soul Flame was extremely formidable. Even though Li Xuan was about to become an eternal realm existence, he still felt a sense of unreality and unease.
Buzz.
With a thought from Li Xuan, his soul was stimulated. A ball of fierce fire instantly appeared before Li Xuan. As this flame emerged, it actually began to incinerate the surrounding space.
Seeing this, Li Xuan quickly released his hand and scattered the flame, as this was the Saint Seal Illusion space. If it were destroyed, it would likely cause many problems.
After confirming that he had indeed comprehended the Burning Gu Soul Flame, Li Xuan finally cheered with joy.
"Huh? My realm seems to have improved again?" After gradually calming his mood, Li Xuan sensed slightly and discovered that his strength had increased again. Although he had already reached the peak of the Sacred Heart Realm, in the process of comprehending the Burning Gu Soul Flame, Li Xuan's state of mind had undoubtedly been further enhanced.
It could be said that his current realm was infinitely close to the eternal realm.
"I have improved quite a bit, but I still can't break through to the eternal realm." Li Xuan shook his head slightly, a hint of worry in his heart.
Eight years had passed now, and Li Xuan was still worried about Elder Dan Wushuang's situation. Besides that, Li Xuan was also worried that Yue Fuyao might encounter trouble.
After all, the appearance of the Zhenyun National Cauldron was enough to shake the stability of the entire Eternal Continent. If it weren't for the existence of the Yue Clan, Li Xuan probably wouldn't have been able to calm his mind and cultivate in seclusion.
"Never mind, I'll just try harder to break through to the eternal realm. When I refine the Saint Seal, I will be able to enter and exit this Saint Seal Illusion space freely." Li Xuan retracted his thoughts and murmured.
Buzz.
Just then, a humming sound suddenly rang out. Then, Li Xuan felt the mountain peak and the earth beneath him vibrate violently.
In less than ten breaths of time, the entire 'Fuyao Peak' had become a ruined wasteland. Furthermore, the other six mountain peaks had also vanished one after another.
"This is... the trial has been upgraded?"