CHAPTER 286: CHAPTER 286: STRENGTH AND DIGNITY

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Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame sub-flame.

Wei Yang had his reasons for making this request.

In fact, since the Black Sun Burning Heaven Flame could grow by devouring Pill Lightning, the energy contained within a Dou Zong-level Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame sub-flame was not something Wei Yang really cared about.

If it was merely for that bit of energy, he certainly wouldn’t be so foolish as to trade the Sea Heart Flame for it.

The real reason he made this request, taking out the Sea Heart Flame to exchange for the Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame sub-flame, was because what he wanted was its special properties!

That’s right — its special properties!

The Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame was said to be able to burn even Dou Qi itself, its might powerful enough to collapse space, burning it to pure nothingness.

This kind of property was without a doubt extremely terrifying.

It represented the ultimate temperature in this world.

And as for the Black Sun Burning Heaven Flame, it was now in a stage from infancy to maturity, and Wei Yang had also discovered that it behaved much like an ignorant yet clever and eager-to-learn child.

Because when it devoured other Heavenly Flames’ energy, it would actually — consciously or unconsciously — imitate the properties of those other flames!

This had not shown up back when it devoured the Green Lotus Core Flame.

Even when devouring the Fallen Heart Flame, it didn’t display this tendency too obviously, only faint hints of it.

At the time, Wei Yang had only vaguely sensed something but assumed it was an illusion, or maybe it was just "playing," and so he ignored it.

But until just recently, when the Black Sun Burning Heaven Flame was devouring lightning, this mimicking or copying behavior became noticeably more obvious — especially in how it adapted to consume the thunder’s energy.

It had actually started imitating and replicating thunder’s destructive and paralyzing properties!

At that moment, Wei Yang finally took this matter seriously.

This discovery left Wei Yang extremely shocked, even shaken.

After all, every Heavenly Flame’s unique properties were supposed to be inborn, set from the moment of their first emergence.

He had never once heard of any Heavenly Flame that, while devouring other Heavenly Flames, could also mimic or replicate their properties!

Of course, the Flame Mantra was an exception.

Because of this, he instantly thought of the Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame, which also belonged to the yang-flame type.

Plus, Wei Yang himself had long been interested in the Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame.

That was why he made this request to Xiao Yan.

For other people, this would be basically impossible.

But for Xiao Yan, there was at least a bit of hope.

Because Wei Yang knew that in the original work, Xiao Yan had once traded with the Gu Clan, exchanging the Tuo She Ancient Emperor’s Jade for the right to enter the Heavenly Tomb.

"This condition... I need to think about it before I can give you an answer."

"No problem. I’ll reserve the Sea Heart Flame for you — at least for one year. Within that time, whenever you make a decision, you can come find me."

"Mm, then I’ll leave for now."

"Alright."

"Oh, by the way, I’m preparing to set off for the Jia Ma Empire in three days."

"Mm, then come find me in Qingshan City when the time comes."

"Okay."

Xiao Yan left.

Wei Yang’s trade proposal was not something Xiao Yan could immediately agree to, so he expressed that he needed time to consider.

Wei Yang understood this as well.

After all, for the proud Xiao Yan, opening his mouth to ask Gu Xun’er for something was nearly crossing his own bottom line.

Furthermore, now that Gu Xun’er had already left Jia Nan Academy and returned to the Gu Clan, even if Xiao Yan wanted to ask, there was no opportunity.

Therefore, Xiao Yan seemed a bit hesitant, unsure whether he should — without first asking Xun’er — take it upon himself to agree to Wei Yang’s request, just to secure the Sea Heart Flame first.

He also knew Xun’er’s background was mysterious, and that her identity was far from simple. Even within that powerful and secretive force, her status was far from low.

Just looking at the Black Submerged Army that had come to bring Xun’er home back then was enough to see how extraordinary it was.

Whoosh—

At night, above the forest sea, a black shadow flashed quickly through the sky, heading straight off into the distance.

The wings behind Xiao Yan’s back trembled slightly. His gaze fixed firmly ahead, and he remained silent.

His face looked calm on the surface, but inside, there were fierce waves.

He still remembered clearly, two years ago, the look in the eyes of the Black Submerged Army’s commander when they came to take Xun’er away — that look of cold indifference, and those words.

Yet precisely because of that, it only stoked Xiao Yan’s pride even more.

Therefore, it was truly hard for him to open his mouth and actively ask Xun’er for something.

Especially when that something involved the Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame.

This situation was like being looked down on by your girlfriend’s family. You had already secretly vowed, swearing to work hard to make a comeback and slap them in the face one day — yet not long afterward, you still had to shamelessly go begging them for something.

How could someone as extremely proud as Xiao Yan accept that?

So in this moment, Xiao Yan was deeply torn.

On one side, there was the thirst for power; on the other, his personal dignity!

"Master, tell me... what should I do?" Xiao Yan murmured to himself.

Yet for a long time, there was no response from Yao Lao.

Just as Xiao Yan thought Yao Lao had truly fallen into deep sleep, a faint sigh finally echoed gently in his mind:

"Xiao Yan, you have grown up. These years, I’ve watched you grow step by step. You have done very well, and this master is very gratified... This question, I really should not say too much about it, and should let you decide on your own."

"But... there is one thing, after thinking it over, I still cannot help but tell you." Yao Lao spoke slowly: "Of course, this is just my thought, for you to use as reference only... you do not need to take it to heart, just follow your own true feelings. No matter what decision you make, I will support you."

"Master, please speak." Xiao Yan respectfully answered in his heart.

"The weak... have no dignity to speak of." Yao Lao’s tone was soft yet deep. "Dignity requires powerful strength to uphold it."

"The weak have no dignity... dignity requires powerful strength to uphold it..."

Xiao Yan was stunned, murmuring in a low voice, repeating those words again and again.

Yes, what a simple truth.

The weak — what right did they have to talk about dignity?

That was nothing but a joke!

Just like an ant telling a dragon, "You cannot look down on me, you must respect me."

How laughable.

Would a dragon ever care about an ant’s feelings?

"Of course, there are many ways to obtain power. You don’t necessarily have to choose... this method." Yao Lao carefully worded it. "I only wish to tell you, in this world, the only true foundation is possessing enough power yourself!"

"As for the Sea Heart Flame, we can always look for another way to get it from that Brat Wei."

Xiao Yan listened quietly, saying nothing.

A long while later...

"Master."

He took a deep breath, then slowly closed his eyes. His fists clenched tightly, trembling slightly as he spoke softly:

"I understand."

His desire and pursuit for power — there had never been a moment as strong as this.

Never before!

Whoosh—

The wings on his back flapped with force, his figure transforming into a streak of light that shot far into the distance, gradually disappearing into the night, unseen.

"Dignity, power!"

Only a faint whisper remained, echoing on the wind, slowly dissipating...

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