The corpse of Red Nine-Headed came at the perfect time to resolve Xu Ke’s urgent dilemma.
With the increasing variety and number of exotic beasts, the six original heads used as breeding vessels had gradually been depleted.
Red Nine-Headed, despite being a single entity, possessed nine heads, each with a distinct personality.
Perhaps it was precisely this unique biological trait that allowed the exotic beasts cultivated from it to evolve in countless different directions.
If the breeding materials had been replaced with other equivalent demon beasts—such as that brown peng—it might not have produced the same effect.
Thus, the arrival of Red Nine-Headed was incredibly timely.
According to Xu Ke’s calculations, once the number of existing exotic beast species reached a certain threshold, even without the flesh and blood of Red Nine-Headed, the sheer vastness of their population would be sufficient to sustain their self-propagation and evolution.
With that in mind, Xu Ke shifted his focus to how to control these exotic beasts.
Since most of the world’s exotic beasts had been cultivated from Red Nine-Headed’s flesh and blood, and given his past research on the Ten Thousand Beasts Reincarnation Wheel, Xu Ke, after several generations of mortal lifetimes, finally devised the Unified Heart Technique—an advanced method of communication and control based on insights from the ancient text True Beast-Taming Technique.
Xu Ke was revered by the mortals as the “Holy Emperor”, while Xiao Qing and Xiao Hong, his two lifelong companions, were honored as the “Holy Masters”.
However, despite being exalted as an emperor, Xu Ke showed little interest in the mundane affairs of mortals.
He delegated authority, allowing humanity to govern itself. As for himself, he became increasingly reclusive, engaged in mysterious endeavors that even Xiao Qing and Xiao Hong knew nothing about.
Then, one day, Xu Ke unexpectedly brought a young boy before them.
He claimed that this was his descendant, created through his research on the gift left by the ancient being Di Yi. He had developed a technique known as the “Holy Blood Embryo Transformation”, allowing him to generate offspring from his refined blood essence.
The Holy Blood Embryo Transformation was a technique that converted a portion of one’s own blood essence into an embryo capable of inheriting the majority of the creator’s memories.
This embryo required no maternal womb—only sufficient nourishment—and could mature into a human child in just seven days.
Moreover, both physical strength and intelligence would develop to an exceptionally high level.
Staring at the unfamiliar yet eerily familiar child, Xiao Qing and Xiao Hong felt a sense of unease creeping into their hearts.
Their premonition was correct.
Xu Ke instructed them not to interfere with human affairs unless the empire faced an existential crisis.
As for the Holy Embryo, bearing his bloodline, it would only serve as a puppet emperor.
After leaving these final instructions, Xu Ke abruptly departed.
He disclosed nothing about his destination and vanished without a trace.
Until Today, Many years later, Xiao Hei appeared at their doorstep.
By then, Xu Ke’s aura had completely vanished—a fact Xiao Qing and Xiao Hong had already sensed.
Faced with Xiao Hei’s furious accusations, the two could only remain silent, bearing the weight of her anger.
But after venting, Xiao Hei calmed down.
He knew Xu Ke well—his carefree yet stubborn nature.
Once he made a decision, not even Xiao Qing or Xiao Hong could change it.
When he saw his descendants—the Holy Embryo, now self-propagating through more than a dozen generations—Xiao Hei felt a deep sense of disappointment.
Though traces of Xu Ke’s presence still lingered in them, even their aura faintly resembled his…
But…
It was not Xu Ke.
Without a word, Xiao Hei turned and left the empire, never to return.
For years, Xiao Hei wandered through countless minor worlds, tirelessly searching for the true cause of Xu Ke’s disappearance.
But in the end, he found nothing.
His years of roaming beyond the Primordial World had drained his lifespan at an alarming rate.
As his final moments approached, Xiao Hei returned to the last place where he had seen Xu Ke.
There, lost in memories, he silently awaited death.
…
Xiao Hei’s body completely turned to dust, scattering into the heavens and earth.
Meanwhile, the image of Xiao Hei on the Black Bird Feather within Li Fan’s body grew increasingly vivid.
“Xiao Hei once merged with the world of the Beast Realm. Although he perished when his lifespan ended, by gathering the remnants of his drifting fate and using this feather from his own body…”
“Perhaps a form of rebirth could be achieved.”
“However, even if it succeeds, this Xiao Hei will no longer be the same as before.”
Li Fan shook his head slightly.
Leaving the wooden house, he arrived at the clear pool atop the mountain peak.
Raising his right hand, in the next moment, a brown jade bottle containing several grams of vital blood flew out from beneath the water, landing in Li Fan’s palm.
The bottle was sealed with several layers of restrictions set by Xiao Hei, preserving the blood’s vitality even after thousands of years.
“There’s no rush. I should first uncover the mysteries of Han Yi’s statue.”
After a moment of contemplation, Li Fan put away the jade bottle.
With a single step, he returned to the black three-legged pagoda.
Through his perception, he noticed the disciples of the Medicine King Sect busy in various corners of the Beast Realm.
Judging by their movements, they seemed to be engraving a formation onto the land.
“Elder Liu, what are you all working on?”
After carefully observing for a while but failing to recognize the formation, Li Fan asked curiously.
“Heh, this was my idea!” Before Liu San could respond, Fang Zaiji hurriedly spoke up to claim credit.
“This world, while vast enough for our disciples to relax and train, has spiritual energy that is far too thin, making long-term cultivation difficult. On the other hand, the Longevity Valley is rich in spiritual energy. So, we are planning to transfer some of the spiritual energy from Longevity Valley to this place—of course, only on the condition that it does not affect the valley’s medicinal herbs.”
Liu San then added, “For safety, I have already ordered the disciples to investigate whether any other passageways exist. If any are found, Old Fang and I will seal them off together.”
“This way, the only entrance from the outside world will be through Longevity Valley. And if Longevity Valley ever comes under attack and we are unable to resist, we can simply reopen the passage and retreat with ease.”
“With this, the safety of our Medicine King Sect will be fully assured!”
Liu San explained proudly.
“Thank you both for your efforts.”
Hearing this, Li Fan revealed a satisfied expression and nodded approvingly.
After entrusting Liu San and Fang Zaiji with the task of managing the connection between Longevity Valley and the Beast Realm, Li Fan took the Black Bird Feather infused with the fate of a small world.
He once again approached Han Yi’s stone statue.
As he felt an immense suction force coming from the statue, Li Fan focused his mind. Streams of fortune surged from the Black Bird Feather, counteracting the suction force.
At the same time, he pushed his speed to the limit and flew rapidly toward Han Yi.