Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Soul Reborn!

Watching helplessly as the mysterious old man’s palm descended, Su Yi let out a low cry, straining with all his might yet unable to move an inch. He had no power to resist. Even with his current state of mind, he could not help but feel a trace of despair.

At this moment, he could only place his hopes on that mysterious cold current within his body, praying it could save him once again.

The palm struck, but to his surprise, there was no pain. Instead, he sensed something surging into his body, accompanied by a viscous, writhing sensation—unspeakably strange!

As soon as this inexplicable force entered, it acted like a living creature, swiftly spreading through every part of him, seeping into his muscles, invading his organs, meridians, even his very bones—nothing was left untouched.

In an instant, just like before, Su Yi lost control of his body, and once again, the condition began to spread toward his head.

If it succeeded in reaching his head, it would be too late!

Just as Su Yi’s anxiety peaked, the familiar mysterious cold current arrived as if on cue, beginning to devour the foreign force.

The black miasma invading his body scattered in all directions just as he’d hoped. Waves of searing pain washed over him; Su Yi clenched his teeth and bore it. He had no idea how much time passed, but when the numbness finally set in, all fell silent.

“Heh heh, just as I thought…” murmured the mysterious old man, who had been observing for some time and probing with his senses. His voice turned chilling: “The Poison of Shattered Divinity on my hand is not the deadliest poison in the world, but it is not something a mere yellow rank cultivator—let alone someone not even at that level—could possibly withstand.

“And yet you withstood and even neutralized it. The only explanation is that you harbor a celestial elixir within. Heh heh, my probing just now confirmed it—there is indeed a mysterious, pure natural force in your body. This power, though much weaker, is remarkably similar to the very thing I seek…”

As the numbness faded, Su Yi felt utterly drained, unable even to move a finger. Not even the breakthrough phenomenon from before appeared. Judging the gap between their strengths, he decided it was pointless to resist and could only remain obediently where he was.

“However, to completely absorb my poison with no side effects, and to convert it to your own energy—what you carry is no ordinary thing… I wonder, is there a way to extract it?”

The old man’s sinister tone made Su Yi shudder. Heaven knew what twisted ideas he was concocting.

The old man seemed to ponder for a while before slowly asking, “Do you know about alchemists?”

Su Yi started, uncertain what madness had seized the old man to suddenly raise such a question, but nodded nonetheless.

The old man continued, “To become an alchemist, one’s soul must possess two attributes. Yet at birth, every soul has but one. How could a second appear? Still, with such a vast continent and so many people, there are bound to be a few whose souls mutate.

“But even among these rare souls, only those with both wood and fire can become alchemists. Think how difficult it is to qualify!

“That is why alchemists are so rare. Even the most ordinary alchemist enjoys great respect—take the Lie family in Changling City, who would treat one as an honored guest. As for high-ranked alchemists, they are desperately sought after by every major power!”

“A powerful alchemist can cause a sensation across the continent with a single pill—whether to advance in rank, to break through, to detoxify, or to lift a seal, every pill is coveted by countless people!

“In the golden age of alchemy, even earth-ranked cultivators would show utmost respect to alchemists. Each one possessed a vast web of connections, and who knew how many mighty allies they had? A single pill could command countless followers.

“But in the past few centuries, alchemists have become ever rarer, and in recent decades, have vanished entirely. No one knows why; it is the latest great mystery of the continent… Heh heh, in my view, perhaps souls have ceased to mutate. Everything has a beginning and an end. Just as nature once gifted humanity this power, so too can it reclaim it…”

“Heh heh, I suppose you want to know why I mention alchemists?” The old man let out a sharp laugh.

Su Yi, still with no strength to move, found he could only speak weakly in reply, “Indeed… it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with me…”

“I mention alchemists only to talk to you about something closely related to them—namely—” The old man’s voice grew solemn, each word distinct: “Heavenly Flame!”

“Heavenly Flame?” Su Yi was taken aback. Even he had heard of the legendary flames whose power was said to be world-shattering—so far removed from his own reality, as if belonging to another world. He never expected to hear someone speak of them before him now.

The old man stood motionless in his black robe, as if lifeless, only the chilling words drifting from beneath the hood betraying his vitality: “Indeed, Heavenly Flames! Each one has been forged over tens of thousands of years, possessing unimaginable might. For alchemists who refine pills with fire, they are an irresistible temptation!

“Earth-ranked cultivators can project their battle aura and form real flames, but such fire cannot be used for alchemy. With their unique soul attributes, alchemists can produce a special flame for pill refining.

“The best alchemists, to craft higher-level pills, seek to absorb and master the natural fires of heaven and earth. Most commonly, these are the innate flames of magical beasts, but the most coveted of all are the Heavenly Flames!

“After centuries of searching, the list of Heavenly Flames was gradually refined, but those who actually mastered one were exceedingly rare. If an alchemist died unprepared, the flame would return to nature. Now, with the disappearance of alchemists, no one has seen a Heavenly Flame for many years…”

“But that’s not what I truly wish to tell you. Heh heh, all things in heaven and earth exist in balance—if there are Heavenly Flames, there must also be Heavenly Waters, Heavenly Lightning, and so forth. In truth, our organization has been seeking these wonders for a very long time.

“Though such things are steeped in mystery and nearly impossible to find, under the might of great powers, even the legendary can leave behind traces…”

Su Yi remained silent, but his mind was in turmoil. He never imagined there were people who specialized in seeking such legendary treasures of the world—how great must their strength be, and for what purpose?

These words were surely secrets, yet his captor told him everything without reservation; clearly, there could be no other way to keep such secrets than to kill him.

Though he knew his chances were slim, Su Yi tried to stall for time, searching for a way out. He casually asked, “The thing you’re looking for—could it be a Heavenly Flame?”

“Of course not. Our organization has its own division of labor. For me, the task is even harder. Heavenly Flames occasionally appear, and there are more clues about them. What I seek is rarer still.

“Heavenly Flames are famous, but this thing is almost unknown. The only clue is that it was once found in the Gran Empire…”

“What is it? Is it even stronger than a Heavenly Flame?”

“Heh heh, it never really had a name—few even know of its existence. It is said to have existed since ancient times, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth for tens of thousands of years; its energy is unfathomable!

“In the oldest records from across the continent, there are only a few vague descriptions of its properties, not even a proper name. Compared to the Heavenly Flame, it was simply called the Heavenly Water. But the one who found it once gave it a name—the Blood of Heaven and Earth!”

“The Blood of Heaven and Earth…” Su Yi murmured, a strange thrill running through his heart.

“Yes, the Blood of Heaven and Earth! You just asked if it was more powerful than a Heavenly Flame—heh heh, let me tell you, the person who once found it was a Dou Venerable!”

“A… Dou Venerable!” Su Yi was stunned. In this age where Dou Void and Dou God were already legends, a Dou Venerable stood at the very pinnacle of the earth-ranked cultivators—the apex of the continent! Supreme, peerless!

“But after obtaining the Blood of Heaven and Earth, it took him only three years to ascend to Dou Void!” The old man’s voice, still icy, now trembled with emotion. “Our organization took notice, launching a thorough investigation. At last, we concluded: everything was due to the legendary Heavenly Water—the Blood of Heaven and Earth!”

Su Yi was speechless. Beyond his shock at the Blood of Heaven and Earth, he felt a deep dread toward the organization behind this old man. What kind of power dared to investigate a Dou Void, a mythic existence?

Perhaps to calm himself, the old man adjusted his robe and looked coldly at Su Yi. “I’ve told you all this so you understand—the force in your body closely resembles what is described in the texts about the Blood of Heaven and Earth.

“Don’t be too surprised. Even if I can’t obtain it, treating you as a test subject could yield unimaginable potential and possibilities! Heh heh, just the thought excites me…”

As the old man spoke, he seized Su Yi by the collar. Startled, Su Yi blurted out, “What if what’s inside me really is the Blood of Heaven and Earth?”

The old man sneered, “Your power is far too weak—nothing like the Blood of Heaven and Earth. It’s more like… hmm? Wait, let me see… could it be Assimilating Water? Tell me, boy, the Blood of Heaven and Earth is always found near water—did you ever fall into water?”

Su Yi had no idea what kind of inspection the old man was performing, but his heart skipped a beat. Water? He remembered that when Meiya rescued him, she’d said she’d found him by a lake. Later inquiry placed it somewhere near the Loga Mountains in the empire’s east. Could that be it?

The thought sent a strange excitement through him. He glanced at the old man, then said uncertainly, “Maybe… I suppose it’s possible…”

The old man snorted, “It’s not that easy. I’ve spent so much effort—two years ago I was even… hmph, never mind. Even if the odds are slim, I’d rather be safe than sorry. Once I make you into a puppet, you can take me there yourself.”

At these words, Su Yi struggled a little. With a crack, a dark green jade pendant slipped into view. The old man caught sight of it, his whole body shuddered, and for the first time his voice rang out in utter shock: “That… that pendant, where did you get it?!”

Did the old man recognize it?

Before Su Yi could reply, the old man suddenly seemed to realize something. He let out a chilling laugh, “Three years ago, you were hunted, weren’t you? Heh… so one survived after all. In the end, you still fell into our hands. We already have two of the four maps—no point keeping you alive. You’ll make a good test subject… and there’s more than one way to make a puppet…”

Su Yi barely had time to react before it felt as if ten thousand steel needles plunged into his brain.

The pain was indescribable—so intense he couldn’t even scream. Only a silent howl escaped his lips.

He felt his head would burst. Agonizing pain stabbed into his mind, so fierce he almost wished for death.

As his consciousness was battered by the pain, a deeper rage and hatred welled up within him.

Why did he have to suffer this? Why was he powerless?

I want power.

I want boundless, overwhelming power!

I want the power to trample the whole world beneath my feet! Die, Di Yuan! Die, Lie family! Die, mysterious old man! All of you—die!

Never before had Su Yi yearned for strength so desperately, wished so fervently for all to tremble at his feet. In that moment, a voice suddenly sounded in his heart.

—“Kekeke! Boy, do you desire power?...”

Martial Peak, Chapter 27: The Reappearance of the Soul!