With Zi Yan in seclusion to refine the full medicinal power of the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, she wouldn't emerge anytime soon. Liu Xi thus dismissed the thought of seeing her again before his departure.
He met once with Elder Zhu Li, who greeted him with a warm smile and genuine enthusiasm. Upon hearing Liu Xi's intent to leave, Zhu Li did not try to stop him—instead, he simply expressed that Liu Xi would always be welcome at East Dragon Island.
Afterward, Zhu Li arranged for the recovered Hei Qing to escort Liu Xi and Qing Lin out of the island.
East Dragon Island was hidden deep within the Void, rarely connected to the outside world. If a peak Dou Zun like Liu Xi could come and go freely, then the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe's secrecy would no longer mean anything.
The corpse of Qing Yan had yet to be refined into a Heavenly Demon Puppet and remained stored within Liu Xi's spatial ring. Refining such a thing on the island would have been an act of open provocation to the Ancient Void Dragons—something he had no desire to do.
In the depths of the Void, endless silence and raging space storms filled the boundless darkness.
Suddenly, a spatial passage opened, its light piercing the void. From within stepped Liu Xi, Qing Lin, and Hei Qing—departing from East Dragon Island.
Hei Qing had nearly perished that day when Qing Yan's strike shattered his defenses. Were it not for the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe's inherently resilient physique, even a Dou Zun would have been slain outright.
Scratching his head, Hei Qing looked at Liu Xi in quiet awe. The man's aura was now far stronger than it had been a mere month ago.
'Do humans really cultivate this quickly? Not even five years have passed—he was only a Dou Zong back then, and now he's reached the 3-Turn Dou Zun realm!'
More than that, Hei Qing sensed a faintly familiar energy from Liu Xi's body—a power both sacred and commanding, reminiscent of Zi Yan's own. It wasn't the same, but close enough to stir his respect and instinctive deference.
"Haha! In any case, this time it's all thanks to Brother Liu Xi and Miss Qing Lin. Without the two of you, East Dragon Island—and even Her Majesty the Dragon Emperor—might have fallen into danger."
With a hearty laugh, Hei Qing waved his hand. Spatial ripples spread outward, tearing open a rift through the darkness. Beyond it stretched boundless mountains and verdant forests bathed in sunlight.
"This is the northern region of the Beast Region," Hei Qing said proudly, clasping his hands. "I must return and report to the elders. Brother Liu Xi, if you ever wish to visit East Dragon Island again, simply call my name—I'll come immediately!"
Liu Xi smiled, returning the salute. "Then I'll hold you to that, Brother Hei Qing. And if the island ever needs aid, you know where to find me—seek me in the Central Plains."
With that, Liu Xi took Qing Lin and stepped through the spatial fissure, emerging high above the endless mountain range.
Qing Lin turned to him with shining eyes, clearly thrilled at the rare chance to travel alone with him. "Young Master, where shall we go first?"
Liu Xi hovered in the sky, stretching lazily as he looked out over the vast wilderness. "First, we'll find a quiet place to refine Qing Yan into a Heavenly Demon Puppet. With a Half Saint puppet under my control, our journey through the Central Plains will be much safer."
Qing Lin nodded without hesitation. "Alright!"
The northern Beast Region bordered the Central Plains. Few powerful beast tribes resided here—only the occasional 7th Rank Magical Beast ruling over its own mountain range.
After arriving, Liu Xi easily subdued a 7th Rank Tiger King and claimed its lair as his own. There, in the depths of the beast's den, he began his work.
Inside a clean stone chamber, he sat cross-legged upon a massive tiger-skin seat. With a flick of his wrist, Qing Yan's corpse appeared before him.
Magical Beast bodies were the perfect material for crafting Heavenly Demon Puppets. Their naturally durable flesh, combined with a compatible Monster Core and remnant soul, could produce a puppet unmatched within its tier.
"A Half Saint–level puppet, huh…" Liu Xi murmured with a faint smile. "If one day I could push it beyond that barrier—to a true Dou Saint Heavenly Demon Puppet—that would be a weapon capable of shaking the world."
He shook his head slightly. "But the Dou Saint realm isn't that easy to cross."
Summoning a wisp of azure flame, Liu Xi cast it toward Qing Yan's corpse. The cyan fire wrapped around the body, burning and tempering the flesh while probing for any lingering soul remnants.
The body of an Ancient Void Dragon was immensely resilient, yet Liu Xi's Green Lotus Core Flame was no weaker—it could rival even the top flames on the Heavenly Flame Ranking.
The chamber echoed with faint sizzling sounds. As the flame continued its refinement, Qing Yan's corpse gradually shrank; blood evaporated, skin withered, and the muscles shriveled to dry husks.
Five days later, the corpse had reduced to half its original size, its flesh now pale gray and utterly lifeless. Within, the traces of dragon essence had been burned away, leaving only raw strength and structure.
While tempering the body, Liu Xi simultaneously refined a batch of rare metals. A Half Saint–level puppet deserved only the finest, most unyielding alloys as armor.
Under the Green Lotus Core Flame, impurities melted away. Fragments and slag fell aside, while the essence condensed into a dark, shimmering liquid.
Liu Xi divided his focus perfectly—one half guiding the corpse's refinement, the other nurturing the molten metal, waiting for the right moment to merge them.
Three days later, he suddenly opened his eyes. A sharp gleam flickered across his pupils as his fingers formed a series of seals. A low chant escaped his lips.
Qing Yan's body convulsed violently. The remnants of his soul shattered into countless light specks, scattering throughout the corpse, while faint Dou Qi surged from the dormant core, coursing through the dried meridians once again.
"Perfect… Everything's fusing just as I hoped."
Liu Xi grinned, waving his hand. The pool of molten metal beside him hissed and poured over the corpse, coating it entirely in a thin dark sheen.
Under his spiritual control, the liquid metal seeped into the flesh, binding to every joint and bone.
"This face won't do." Liu Xi smirked. "Let's give you a new one."
With a thought, the metal flowed and reshaped Qing Yan's features—stretching, compressing, twisting—until the former sly visage was gone, replaced by a fierce, predatory countenance.
When the final layer fused, the dark-gold body emitted a deep hum. Its aura surged higher and higher, waves of energy spreading through the cavern.
Three more days passed before Liu Xi finally exhaled, gazing upon the kneeling figure before him—its entire body gleaming with dark golden light, radiating cold, deadly power.
A proud smile curved across his lips. "Strong enough to rival a mid- to high-level Half Saint, and absolutely loyal. The name Qing Yan no longer suits you…"
He paused, then laughed. "From now on, you'll be called—Ah San!"
(End of Chapter)
---
This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on Patreon, There is 2 Chapters Ahead of Release for Free Members on my Patreon.
Support me if you like this Fanfiction.
Patreon,com/Fallen_Archangel_
(Remove comma for dot.)
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power Stone.