Seven full days had passed.
With the advantage of entering the Dou Saint's Relic first, Liu Xi, under Zi Yan's keen guidance, had scoured the ancient site from one end to the other — the Medicine Garden, Pill Hall, Dou Technique Hall, Qi Method Hall, and every chamber in between.
By now, most of the truly valuable treasures within the ruins had fallen into his hands. The only things left were low-grade items not worth his effort.
The collection of a Dou Saint was nothing short of astonishing. Every storage ring Liu Xi carried was overflowing, over a dozen high-grade spatial rings packed to the brim. With this wealth alone, founding a top-tier faction would have been as easy as lifting a hand.
At last, he arrived before the Main Hall — weathered and ancient, yet dignified in its solemn silence. The spacious chamber stretched nearly a hundred meters across.
Tap… tap… tap…
The echo of footsteps rang softly as Liu Xi entered with Zi Yan and Qing Lin at his side. Zi Yan's sharp eyes scanned every corner warily; this was the most precious — and therefore most dangerous — place of all.
Qing Lin cradled the Pill Beast in her arms as she walked. The little creature, once skittish, now nestled contentedly against her. After days of being fed rare pills by Liu Xi, it had no thought of escaping.
A Pill Beast, once formed, was no longer mere medicine — it was a living being, capable of thought and instinct. So long as one understood its weaknesses, one could truly tame it.
Liu Xi's gaze, however, didn't linger on them. The moment he stepped into the hall, his attention locked onto the center platform — where a crystalline skeleton sat cross-legged in eternal meditation.
The remains of a Dou Saint.
A faint heat flickered in Liu Xi's eyes. Even stripped of life, the bones of such a powerhouse held immeasurable value. And more than that — the Dou Techniques and Qi Methods once wielded by this expert could still linger upon them.
Lowering his gaze, he noticed ten glowing spheres floating midair, faint halos of light pulsing around them. Each contained a formidable Dou Technique or Qi Method, their aura radiating with power.
But Liu Xi's instincts told him these were merely bait — lures placed by the Dou Saint to guard the true Tian Class Dou Technique hidden deeper within.
At the outer edge of the platform sat over a dozen grey, motionless figures, shrouded in dust. Their bodies gave off faint but terrifying energy fluctuations — each comparable to a Dou Zun.
They were ancient puppets, guardians infused with fragments of their master's soul. Unlike ordinary constructs, they could wield Dou Techniques in battle — living war machines of the past.
Compared to the Heaven Demon Puppet, each had its own strength and weakness — one traded durability for intelligence, the other raw endurance for power.
Liu Xi came to an abrupt stop. Ahead of him, a transparent spatial barrier sealed the path entirely, shimmering faintly under the dim light.
Zi Yan halted as well, her golden eyes narrowing. "Big Brother, this space seal is incredibly intricate… but not enough to stop me. Should I break it now?"
"I know you can," Liu Xi replied calmly. "But the seal isn't the real problem — those puppets are. Each one carries strength on par with a Dou Zun. Fighting all of them head-on won't be easy."
His thoughts flashed back to his battle beneath the magma sea — when he had fought the Fire Lizards and slain several Dou Zuns, nearly exhausting himself in the process. Even now, stronger as he was, facing over a dozen of them together was far from certain victory.
What truly concerned him, however, was the Dou Saint's Remnant Will. Should they awaken it, even in a half-ruined state, it could unleash power equal to a Half Saint. Liu Xi, despite his progress, was still short of challenging that level.
That was the risk.
If he struck now, the battle would be perilous. But if he waited for others to arrive once the relic fully emerged, he'd lose the chance to claim the greatest prize for himself.
His eyes lingered on the Dou Saint's remains, shifting between hesitation and determination. Zi Yan and Qing Lin watched silently, neither speaking — ready to follow whatever choice he made.
After a long pause, Liu Xi finally asked, "Zi Yan, how long until the outer space seal collapses completely?"
Zi Yan furrowed her brows, calculating based on the energy fluctuations beyond. "Roughly three more days before strong experts can forcibly break through. As for a full collapse… half a month at least, once the raging space storm weakens."
Three days. That was all the time they had.
Fight now — or fight later with countless others.
Liu Xi's eyes hardened, resolve crystallizing. "The brave feast; the timid starve." His lips curved into a cold smile. "If I don't take this risk, this Dou Saint's skeleton and that Tian Class Technique will never be mine."
He straightened his back, his voice steady. "Zi Yan, once the barrier opens, hold off three of the puppets. Qing Lin, take five. If necessary, unleash the Ancient Heaven Serpent's power. Should its killing intent surge, use the Pill Beast's blood to suppress it."
"As for the remaining eight… I'll handle them myself."
Both girls nodded without hesitation.
"Yes, Young Master!" Qing Lin's tone was firm; the chance to fight alongside Liu Xi filled her with determination. Zi Yan clenched her fists, a mix of unwillingness and excitement flashing across her face.
"Be careful," she murmured. "I'll do my part."
Liu Xi inhaled deeply. His Dou Qi began to surge, his aura sharpening like an unsheathed blade, fierce enough to make the air tremble. "Let's begin. Zi Yan — open the barrier!"
Zi Yan stepped forward, her delicate hands forming seals in front of her abdomen. Her speed increased until her fingers blurred, moving faster than the eye could follow.
"Break!"
With a shout, her hands froze mid-gesture, and a blinding purple light erupted from her palms, crashing into the barrier like a shockwave.
Zzz… zzz…
The hall filled with a sharp, crackling sound. No explosion followed — only the eerie sight of the transparent barrier dissolving under the light, fragments of space rippling away like melting glass.
That was the might of the Ancient Void Dragon's bloodline — absolute mastery over space.
As the last shimmer of the barrier faded, silence filled the hall once more.
Now, it was up to Liu Xi and his companions to face the puppets — and claim the Dou Saint's inheritance, or perish beneath it.
(End of Chapter)
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