Chapter 310: Exquisite Heart-Burning Art

Chapter 310: Exquisite Heart-Burning Art

After Qin Xuan stepped through the passage formed by the Heaven-Swallowing Carps connecting head to tail, he arrived at a magnificent palace.

Leaving aside its luxury, a transparent wall on the perimeter of the palace caught his attention.

In his eyes, Young Master Long Xiao, Feng Yao, Young Master Mo Yu, and the three Daoists of the Top Three Sects were constantly sinking into the Bitter Sea Soul-Refining he had just traversed, with wisps of soul light extinguishing around them.

It was not just Young Master Long Xiao, Feng Yao, and Young Master Mo Yu; even the three Daoists in the top ten of the king ranking were sinking in the Bitter Sea Soul-Refining, unable to rise, differing only in the speed of their descent.

"Is this a trial targeting the soul? Why was I not affected at all just now?" Qin Xuan wondered aloud in surprise.

This trial likely had rewards to be gained. He had cleared the level inexplicably and hadn't received any benefits. Wouldn't that be a huge loss?

Inside the palace, the Heaven-Swallowing Carps returned to the size of a palm. They swam around Qin Xuan's ears, chirping incessantly, "This is my sister's territory. Since she has the right to select trial-takers, how could she possibly let you suffer, brother-in-law?"

"This Red Dust Heart Refining, Karma Fire Body Refining, and Bitter Sea Soul-Refining are purely torture with no benefits at all. Why would we want you to suffer, brother-in-law?"

"Wait, no, that Feng Yao from the Phoenix clan seems to have received some benefits. It must be because my sister saw her standing up for you earlier and gave her a little treat."

"Never mind them. Anyway, after suffering through the Bitter Sea Soul-Refining, they have lost the chance to enter this palace because only we, the Heaven-Swallowing Carps, can open the passage for this stage."

No benefits. Just pure suffering? Qin Xuan shrank his head, dismissing his previous thought that he had lost out.

He turned back, looking at the Heaven-Swallowing Carps swimming in the air, a bitter smile on his face. He felt indignant for Young Master Long Xiao and the others!

Not only had he cleared the level unscathed, but he had also taken away the final 'portal'? It was fortunate that the six people sinking in the Bitter Sea Soul-Refining didn't know the truth. Otherwise, they would probably have wanted to swallow him alive, right?

"Where is your sister?" Qin Xuan couldn't be bothered to think about others anymore. He looked around, curiously searching for the whereabouts of Little Koi.

Behind him, Little Koi's voice rang out, "Young Master Qin, I am here."

Clad in gold-embroidered silk, with a budding, youthful grace, and eyes as clear as mountain springs, Little Koi moved with delicate steps to Qin Xuan's side.

Her head was lowered, her cheeks flushed like peach blossoms. When she looked up, her clear, watery eyes held endless warmth.

Qin Xuan reached out, gently stroking Little Koi's fair, tender cheeks, and teased with a smile, "Why, it's been a while, and my little wife is shy upon seeing her husband?"

"Husband..." Little Koi's voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum, the blush on her exquisite face becoming even more vibrant.

She had once married her husband under the witness of Master Heavenly Demon Scale. Regardless of whether her husband took it seriously or was just teasing her, her heart had never known anything but sincerity.

"Wedding night!" "Send them to the bridal chamber!" "Sister, brother-in-law, it's time for the bridal chamber!" "..."

Dozens of Heaven-Swallowing Carps were enthusiastically joining in the fun. The female they liked most was their sister, and the male they liked most was Qin Xuan. Half of them had been saved by Qin Xuan; otherwise, they would have long since perished in the belly of the Kunpeng.

Seeing their sister and brother-in-law reunited, they were all eager for the two to consummate their marriage as soon as possible.

Qin Xuan flicked each of the dozens of Heaven-Swallowing Carps on the head, sending them further away.

He looked at the shy Little Koi and asked seriously, "What exactly happened in here? Didn't you go to find a habitat for the Heaven-Swallowing Carps? How did you suddenly appear inside this Seven-Colored Linglong Tower?"

"Also, shouldn't you be in the Land of Fallen Emperors? Why have you appeared in the God Ruins?"

Little Koi answered every question without holding back. She stood on her tiptoes, straightened Qin Xuan's messy hair, then set her heels back down and said seriously, "This is the God Ruins, and it is also the Land of Fallen Emperors. Entering the God Ruins requires a medium, and my medium was this Seven-Colored Linglong Tower."

"After we parted at the Endless Sea, I followed Master Heavenly Demon Scale's instructions and headed to the place she mentioned to find a habitat for my sisters. However, on the way, I encountered a chaotic battle between two great demons in the Endless Sea and lost my way..."

"When I came to my senses, I was already inside the Seven-Colored Linglong Tower... Then, I don't know how it happened, but in a daze, I inexplicably became the new owner of the Seven-Colored Linglong Tower and the inheritor of the Heavenly God Linglong."

Little Koi felt that what she said was a bit chaotic. The key was that she herself was also confused. She had inexplicably become the successor of a Heavenly God. In fact, these were the only things she had experienced.

Swallowing her saliva, Little Koi looked up at Qin Xuan and asked softly, "Young Master, can you understand what I'm saying? Do you believe me?"

"I understand, and of course I believe you." Qin Xuan nodded heavily, stroking Little Koi's hair, and said, "It sounds better when you call me husband."

What was there not to understand? She was a gold-quality Daughter of Luck. Walking in the Endless Sea, she could encounter a majestic existence like the Divine Beast Kunpeng. Halfway through, she met a Quasi-Emperor Realm Heavenly Demon Scale who wanted to take her as a disciple. Crucially, she could pick up Immortal Stones just by walking, and by charging blindly with the ancient prison-suppressing tower, she could even charge into the Phoenix clan's altar. Was it unreasonable for her to inexplicably obtain the Legacy of Heavenly God Linglong?

If it was Little Koi encountering these things, everything became exceptionally reasonable!

"That's not right. Since you are already the successor of Heavenly God Linglong, why is the Seven-Colored Linglong Tower still conducting trials in the God Ruins?" "Could it be a Gu-raising model, where Heavenly God Linglong intends to select multiple successors and bestow the Legacy upon the best one?"

Qin Xuan thought about it and felt that was not right either. Obviously, Little Koi's authority within the Seven-Colored Linglong Tower was outrageously high. It didn't look like there were any competitors.

Little Koi said calmly, "This is the tomb of Heavenly God Linglong. Only those who have obtained the Legacy, or have the permission of the inheritor, can appear here."

Qin Xuan looked around the palace, "This is the tomb of Heavenly God Linglong?"

Little Koi nodded, "Yes, Heavenly God Linglong's body was destroyed by herself long ago to avoid trouble, and her last trace of soul imprint completely dissipated here not long ago."

"Actually, this trial is not to select an inheritor, but..."

Qin Xuan asked curiously, "But what?"

Little Koi gritted her teeth. In the end, she could not withstand the inner torment and, unwilling to be at odds with her husband, said directly, "Actually, this trial is not to select an inheritor, but to select my protector!"

"A protector?"

"Yes, Heavenly God Linglong's Legacy requires a period of time to be fully mastered. As I grow, I need the protection of a protector, hence this selection." Little Koi looked up, her clear eyes full of resistance as she shook her head, "However, this protector status is not suitable for you, husband."

Qin Xuan disagreed, "Why? I think it's quite suitable. Protecting one's own little wife—isn't that a husband's natural duty?"

"It's different!" Little Koi shook her head heavily, "Heavenly God Linglong prepared a Cultivation Technique called the 'Exquisite Heart-Burning Art' for my protector. Those who Cultivate this technique will have a soul imprint branded deep within their soul, which I control. Once I encounter danger, they must rescue me with all their might. If they slack off, they will surely die. Even if I give up the soul imprint, you cannot Cultivate this 'Exquisite Heart-Burning Art'!"

Qin Xuan couldn't help but click his tongue. A gold-quality Daughter of Luck, so monstrous? Or perhaps one could say, Little Koi's luck attribute was maxed out! Any great power she stumbled upon for a Legacy turned out to be Heavenly God Linglong. Even when the person was reduced to nothing but dust, they still left behind an 'Exquisite Heart-Burning Art' just so Little Koi could safely pass through her growth period. This care was surely too comprehensive, right?

"Why can't I Cultivate this Exquisite Heart-Burning Art?" Qin Xuan asked curiously.

Little Koi sighed, "Once the 'Exquisite Heart-Burning Art' is cultivated to the introductory level and activated, it can double one's combat power. Even a Prodigy on the king ranking can persist for at most ten breaths before their body explodes and dies; their soul can only resort to Possession to recultivate. If the life pulse is reversed, combat power will surge wildly again, but after that, even the soul will be wiped out, leaving not even a chance for Possession or Reincarnation!"

"Cultivating this technique requires extraordinary perseverance, which is why the three trials of Red Dust Heart Refining, Karma Fire Body Refining, and Bitter Sea Soul-Refining were set up in the Seven-Colored Linglong Tower."

"By the time these Prodigies suitable for the Legacy reach the final stage, they are already exhausted and have no time to worry about the drawbacks of the 'Exquisite Heart-Burning Art'. After taking the special auxiliary cultivation materials prepared by Heavenly God Linglong, they Cultivate the 'Exquisite Heart-Burning Art' to the introductory level in one go. At that point, the soul imprint is controlled by me, and there is no longer any way to shed the status of protector."

"At that time, as long as the soul imprint is in my hands, even the number one on the king ranking cannot harbor any thoughts detrimental to me, otherwise they will suffer ten, a hundred, or even a thousand times the pain of these three trials."

By all logic, Little Koi should have been beguiling the Prodigies, deliberately avoiding all mention of the negative effects. But in front of Qin Xuan, Little Koi really couldn't have any such thoughts. Not to mention letting Qin Xuan suffer the torment of Red Dust Heart Refining, Karma Fire Body Refining, and Bitter Sea Soul-Refining, even the negative effects after activating the 'Exquisite Heart-Burning Art' made her determined that she absolutely could not let Qin Xuan Cultivate it!

Once he cultivated the 'Exquisite Heart-Burning Art', it would be equivalent to becoming her protector, a Puppet that only knew how to protect her safety. Even if she handed over the soul imprint, if Qin Xuan practiced the 'Exquisite Heart-Burning Art', he still couldn't use it; once activated, his Physical Body would be completely destroyed. If he reversed his life pulse, his Divine Soul would be completely annihilated. How could she bear to let Qin Xuan Cultivate such an inhumane technique?

"Husband?" Seeing Qin Xuan dazed, Little Koi reached out and waved her hand in front of his eyes, "This kind of technique is not suitable for you to Cultivate, but there are many treasures in the Seven-Colored Linglong Tower. Perhaps they can help you improve even further!"

These treasures were all meant for her cultivation. Giving them to her husband would be fine. Qin Xuan, having regained his senses, had eyes full of wild joy.

In this world, there was actually such a good thing! What Heavenly God Linglong left behind was actually such a Heaven-Defying technique as the 'Exquisite Heart-Burning Art'. This Heavenly God Linglong was truly a wonderful person!!!

No, that's not right! Qin Xuan looked at the delicate, exquisitely flawless Little Koi before him, couldn't help but cup her cheeks, leaned in, and gave her a fierce kiss, "Wife, you are not just my Little Koi, you are my lucky star!"