Chapter 662: 圣血化凡胎

The corpse of the Crimson Nine-Headed Beast arrived precisely when Xu Ke needed it most. With the increasing number and variety of exotic beasts, the six initial heads, which served as his cultivation vessels, were gradually being depleted.

Though a single entity, the Crimson Nine-Headed Beast possessed nine heads, each with a distinct personality. Perhaps it was this unique biological characteristic that enabled the cultivated exotic beasts to evolve in countless different directions. Replacing the cultivation material with other equivalent demonic beasts, such as the large brown roc, might not have yielded such an effect.

Therefore, the Crimson Nine-Headed Beast could be said to have arrived at the perfect time. In Xu Ke's calculations, once the existing number of exotic beast species reached a certain threshold, even without the flesh and blood of the Crimson Nine-Headed Beast, the sheer size of the exotic beast population would be sufficient to sustain their self-propagation and evolution. Consequently, Xu Ke shifted his focus to how to control these exotic beasts.

Since the vast majority of this world's exotic beasts were cultivated from the flesh and blood of the Crimson Nine-Headed Beast, coupled with his prior research on the Myriad Beast Wheel, Xu Ke spent several generations of mortal time. Drawing inspiration from the ancient "Beast Taming True Art," he finally created the "Symbiotic Heart Art," which allowed communication with and control over exotic beasts.

After Xu Ke imparted the Symbiotic Heart Art to the mortal races of this world, humanity, by mastering the countless exotic beasts across the land, achieved complete dominion over this small world and established a human empire. Xu Ke was revered by mortals as the "Sacred Emperor," while Xiao Qing and Xiao Hong, who had always accompanied him, were known as the "Sacred Masters."

Even crowned emperor by the people, Xu Ke clearly had no interest in the mundane affairs of mere mortals. He simply delegated power, allowing humans to govern themselves. He, himself, lived a secluded and mysterious life, with even Xiao Qing and Xiao Hong unaware of his activities. Until one day, Xu Ke suddenly brought a small boy before them.

Xu Ke claimed this was his descendant. He had created the child by transforming his own vital blood through the "Sacred Blood Transmutation Method," a technique he invented after studying the gift from "Di Yi." The Sacred Blood Transmutation Method involved transforming a portion of one's vital blood into an embryo capable of inheriting most of one's memories. Without the need for a mother's womb, and with sufficient nourishment, the embryo could grow into a human child in just seven days.

Furthermore, its physical abilities and intelligence would develop to a high level.

Looking at the boy, who was both familiar and unfamiliar, Xiao Qing and Xiao Hong felt a hint of astonishment. Simultaneously, a bad premonition arose in their hearts. As expected, Xu Ke instructed Xiao Qing and Xiao Hong not to excessively interfere in the affairs of the human empire, but only to offer assistance when the empire faced an extinction-level crisis. The Sacred Embryo, possessing his bloodline, only needed to serve as a puppet emperor.

After explaining all this, Xu Ke resolutely left the place. He did not reveal his whereabouts to anyone and disappeared without a trace ever since.

Many years later, Xiao Hei appeared.

Xiao Qing and Xiao Hong had also sensed the disappearance of Xu Ke's aura, so they silently endured Xiao Hei's furious accusations. However, after venting for a while, Xiao Hei came to his senses. He was well aware of Xu Ke's temperament—a stubbornness lay beneath his free-spirited nature. Xiao Qing and Xiao Hong were simply unable to defy anything he decided.

After seeing Xu Ke's descendant, a Sacred Embryo that had self-propagated for over a dozen generations, Xiao Hei was deeply disappointed. Although he could vaguely see Xu Ke's shadow, and even their aura bore a faint resemblance, the descendant immediately recognized Xiao Hei.

But ultimately, it was not Xu Ke.

Without even saying goodbye, Xiao Hei left the empire directly and never returned. For years afterward, Xiao Hei traveled through various small worlds, never giving up his search for the true cause of Xu Ke's death.

But ultimately, he had no success. Constantly wandering outside the prime world also led to Xiao Hei's lifespan rapidly diminishing.

As his end approached, Xiao Hei returned to the last place he had seen Xu Ke. He quietly awaited death, immersed in his memories.

Xiao Hei's body completely turned to dust, dispersing into the world. However, the image of Xiao Hei on the Profound Bird feather within Li Fan's body became increasingly vivid.

"Xiao Hei was once integrated with the world of the Beast Seed Realm. Although he died of old age, by my re-gathering of scattered cosmic luck, combined with this feather from him..."

"Perhaps a form of rebirth can be achieved."

"However, even if it succeeds, this Xiao Hei would not be the same Xiao Hei."

Li Fan slightly shook his head.

He left the wooden hut and came to the clear pond on the mountaintop. Extending his right hand, a brown jade bottle containing Xu Ke's vital blood flew out from under the water and landed in Li Fan's palm.

The bottle bore several of Xiao Hei's sealing restrictions, which had kept the vital blood active even after thousands of years.

"No rush for now. Let's first figure out the mystery of Han Yi's statue," Li Fan pondered for a moment before putting the jade bottle away. He took a step and returned to the black three-legged pagoda.

In his perception, disciples of the Medicine King Sect were busy in every corner of the Beast Seed Realm. Judging by their movements, they seemed to be engraving a certain formation on the ground.

"Elder Liu, what are you busy with?" After observing carefully for a moment, Li Fan was surprisingly unable to recognize the origin of this formation, so he asked out of curiosity.

"Hehe, this was my idea," Fang Zaiji eagerly interjected to take credit, not waiting for Liu San to speak. "Although this world is quite vast, enough for the disciples to relax and engage in activities, the spiritual energy here is too thin, which is not conducive to cultivation if they stay for long. The Longevity Valley, however, has very dense spiritual energy. So, our plan is to transfer some of the spiritual energy from Longevity Valley here. Of course, this is under the premise that it won't affect the herbs within Longevity Valley," Fang Zaiji added.

Liu San then said, "For safety's sake, I have already ordered the disciples to conduct a thorough search to see if there are any other passages. Once discovered, Elder Fang and I will work together to seal off this spatial passage."

"This way, the outside world can only enter here through Longevity Valley. And if Longevity Valley is attacked and we cannot resist, we can then reopen the passage and retreat calmly."

"Thus, the safety of our Medicine King Sect will be fully guaranteed!" Liu San explained with a look of pride.

"Thank you both for your efforts," Li Fan said, showing a very satisfied expression as he nodded.

After entrusting the connectivity between Longevity Valley and the Beast Seed Realm to Liu San and Fang Zaiji, Li Fan carried the Profound Bird feather, now filled with the cosmic luck of a small world.

He once again arrived near Han Yi's stone statue. Feeling a powerful suction force assault him, Li Fan, with a thought, continuously caused cosmic luck to surge from the Profound Bird feather, counteracting the suction force. At the same time, he accelerated to the extreme, swiftly flying towards Han Yi.