Battle Through the Heavens: Starting with Cao Ying as an apprentice

Back then, when Xiao Xuan attempted to break through to the Dou Di realm, it was Hun Tiandi who personally led the elite of the Soul Clan in a fierce attack, managing to kill Xiao Xuan halfway through at a great cost.

In that battle, the Soul Clan mobilized its top forces, leaving the Soul Realm vulnerable. If Gu Yuan had possessed the courage and foresight, he could have seized the opportunity to strike at the heart of the enemy, severely damaging the Soul Clan's foundation and potentially causing it to never recover.

But what did Gu Yuan do? He chose to stand by and watch the Soul Clan fight Xiao Xuan to the death, missing for the first time the perfect opportunity to severely damage or even destroy the Soul Clan.

After Xiao Xuan's defeat and death, most of the Soul Clan members were severely injured by his final counterattack, greatly diminishing their fighting strength. If Gu Yuan could abandon his hesitation and decisively strike at this moment, he would still have a chance to inflict a heavy blow on the Soul Clan.

And what happened? Seeing Xiao Xuan fall, Gu Yuan turned his attention to the vast legacy left by the Xiao clan, busy tearing at their flesh and vying for resources and territory. It was this "timely" greed that gave the remnants of the Soul Clan a chance to breathe and escape.

"Gu Yuan..." The Soul Emperor tapped the cold jade armrest lightly with his fingertips, a cold sneer curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Shortsighted, indecisive, greedy for small gains and forgetting the big picture. As an ally, he can ruin you; as an adversary..." He shook his head, his unfinished words filled with contempt.

"Well, since none of these races are acting strangely, perhaps... I was overthinking it?" The Soul Emperor suppressed the lingering discomfort in his heart and closed his eyes again.

But that ominous feeling still lingered like a shadow, quietly settling deep within my heart, impossible to shake off.

Chapter 89 produced a "golden" baby!

On the other side, Su Baichen took a deep breath, his fingertips trembling slightly with anticipation. Feeling that the ritual was complete and his luck had gathered, he no longer hesitated and reached for the last blind box. The box felt warm to the touch, as if some kind of rhythm was quietly pulsating within it.

"May the Three Pure Ones protect me, and may Brother Soul Emperor be generous... Open for me!"

Before he could finish speaking, something unexpected happened.

As soon as the crack in the blind box opened, a burst of intense golden light surged forth like a flood, illuminating the entire system space as bright as day.

The light was not static; within it, countless tiny golden runes seemed to flow and disappear, carrying an ancient and noble aura.

"The money has been withdrawn! It really has been withdrawn!"

Su Baichen's heart pounded like a drum, and he held his breath. He kept murmuring words of gratitude, but his movements became even gentler, as if afraid of disturbing this hard-won auspicious omen.

The blind box slowly opened under the golden light, the light growing brighter and brighter until a certain threshold—the brilliance suddenly receded, like the tide receding, revealing its true form.

"A... blondie appeared?"

Su Baichen was stunned.

Inside the box, a small, furry beast was curled up in a ball, its entire body golden as warm as molten sunlight, except for a vertical line on its forehead that shone with a faint jade color.

It seemed to have just awakened from a long slumber, lazily stretching its limbs, giving a small yawn, and revealing its pink gums.

"system!"

Su Baichen snapped out of his shock, looked at the little guy, and said with a wry smile, "Where's my Golden Legend? Where's my big, glittering golden treasure?"

"System, you didn't secretly switch it out, did you?"

[Ding! Please stop your unfounded speculation. This system upholds fairness and high moral character, and would never do such a thing; it's something you used to enjoy doing.]

"Hey, you're lecturing me now?"

Su Baichen raised an eyebrow, but didn't really get angry. The golden-haired little beast had already waddled over and affectionately rubbed against his trouser leg. The soft and warm touch made his heart inexplicably soften.

"Fine, I accept it. Then please, 'fair' system, tell me, who exactly is this?"

[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have obtained: Auspicious Beast - Three-Eyed Golden Lion.]

[Auspicious Beast's Innate Talent:]

[I. Auspicious Halo: In its habitat, the growth rate of mortal beasts and plant-like creatures is doubled, and the success rate of breaking through realms and transcending tribulations is increased by 30%.]

[II. The Eye of Destiny: The vertical eye between the eyebrows reveals the tributaries of the river of fate, discerning good and bad fortune, predicting opportunities, and even subtly adjusting the trajectory of one's destiny.]

[III. Ultimate Dual Attributes: Possessing the ultimate essence of light and fire, with exceptional spiritual talent, one in ten thousand.]

"A three-eyed golden lion? Isn't that the auspicious beast of fortune from the Great Forest of Douluo Star?" Su Baichen exclaimed in surprise.

"You can even get this from blind boxes?"

[Ding! This beast is a derivative of the blind box rules, possessing an independent origin and not the same entity as the host. Please do not confuse them.]

At this moment, the small beast had climbed up Su Baichen's robes until he instinctively held it in his palm. The man and the beast locked eyes.

Suddenly, another strange event occurred!

The vertical mark on the little beast's forehead suddenly shone brightly, and a golden beam of light, almost tangible, shot out from it, disappearing into Su Baichen's brow in the blink of an eye!

The whole process was faster than thought could process. Su Baichen felt a cool sensation in his mind, as if a clear spring had washed over him. Then, some mysterious connection was quietly formed deep within his soul.

[Ding! A mythical beast has proactively formed a 'Destiny Pact,' granting the host 'Blessing of Destiny'!]

[Blessing Effect: Permanently triples cultivation efficiency (shared buff with auspicious beasts). Also slightly increases the host's innate fortune and deepens their luck.]

"This..." Su Baichen digested the information. After a while, he looked down at the little beast rubbing its head against his fingers in his palm, and a genuine smile gradually spread across his eyes.

This is not a "loss," it's an incredible stroke of luck! The cultivation speed has increased threefold, there's also a hidden boost in luck, not to mention the various extraordinary abilities of this little guy himself.

"From now on, you will be called 'Little Jin'." He gently stroked the little beast's back, the touch feeling like silk under the warm sun.

Recalling what he had obtained earlier, he took out the Dragon Essence from the system space—the size of a fist, flowing with crimson gold, radiating a pure and powerful aura of the dragon race's origin.

Little Gold's nose twitched, and it instantly looked up, its third eye shining brighter. It let out a soft "Aww," grabbed the Dragon Essence with its two front paws, and hugged it tightly as if it were a priceless treasure, nibbling on it with adorable little bites.

Su Baichen smiled, then suddenly remembered something: "System, Xiao Jin's ability description mentions that 'magical beasts' can also benefit. But shouldn't it essentially be a soul beast or auspicious beast?"

[Ding! Auspicious beasts are bestowed with good fortune by heaven and earth, and their 'auspicious' power applies to the universal concept of 'beast.' All creatures belonging to the beast category, regardless of whether their world rules label them 'Soul Beast,' 'Magic Beast,' or 'Monster Beast,' are within the scope of this buff. Rule adaptation is a fundamental function of the system.]

"I see. With such a high rank, one can get along well anywhere." Su Baichen nodded in understanding, feeling even more pleased. He carefully picked up Little Jin, who was "fighting" with the dragon essence. The little guy was focused on eating, only making a muffled "woof" sound before nestling peacefully in his arms.

"Let's go, I'll take you to see the new house."

With a thought, Su Baichen stepped out of the system space with Xiao Jin.

Unbeknownst to him, the moment he appeared in the outside world, the little gold in his arms unconsciously emitted a faint, almost imperceptible golden ripple that spread silently, instantly sweeping across hundreds of miles of mountains and rivers.

Thousands of miles away, at the bottom of an ancient pool deep in the mountains, a black tortoise that had been sleeping for many years slowly raised its head, a glimmer of clarity flashing in its turbid eyes, and the surrounding water spirit spontaneously gathered towards it.

In the wilderness and forests, several magical beasts that had been stuck at a bottleneck for many years simultaneously sensed something, raised their heads and roared to the sky, and the stagnant fighting energy within their bodies began to loosen and flow.

Even more miraculously, the half-withered old plum tree in the courtyard where Su Baichen had settled down began to sprout several new green buds at a speed visible to the naked eye, trembling gently in the breeze, as if responding to the auspicious omen that had descended from the heavens.

The scene outside the courtyard also caught Su Baichen's attention. The Heavenly Profound Pearl in his sea of ​​consciousness stirred, and the aura of Little Gold was instantly hidden.

Auspicious beasts appear in the world, bringing hidden blessings.

Although it concealed the little guy's presence, preventing outsiders from sensing its location, the benefits it brought were undeniable.

The little goldfish in his arms only knew how to eat, completely unaware of what was happening outside. After finally finishing a corner of the dragon's essence, it smacked its lips contentedly, and its third eye opened slightly, its light shimmering and reflecting the new world that was about to be quietly changed because of it.

Su Baichen looked down and met Xiao Jin's clear, golden eyes, in which his own image was clearly reflected.

He suddenly felt that those so-called dazzling divine weapons and martial arts manuals seemed less important than the vibrant and warm bond he held in his arms at this moment.

"Little Jin." He rubbed the little guy's head, a smile spreading across his eyes.

"Please take care of me in the days to come."

The little animal seemed to understand, but still happily rubbed against his palm, letting out a soft, trusting purr.

Chapter 90 Little Gold and Little Color; Absorbing the Green Lotus Earth Core Flame

Su Baichen's fingers were gently combing through Xiao Jin's soft, satin-like mane. The little lion squinted comfortably, making gurgling sounds in its throat.

Just as he was relaxing in this peaceful moment, a faint, almost imperceptible light flickered from his sleeve. Then, a shimmering shadow glided out and landed lightly on his other shoulder.

It is none other than the Eight-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python – Xiao Cai!

It had just woken up, and at that moment, its pair of bright purple vertical pupils were staring intently and curiously at the golden little ball of fur in Su Baichen's arms.

Xiao Jin exuded an indescribable, warm, and peaceful aura, like the gentlest sunshine of early spring, or the purest pulse of the earth's deepest spirit.

This aura held an instinctive, almost intimate attraction for Xiao Cai, an ancient mythical beast, making her feel completely comfortable and unable to resist wanting to get closer and closer.

But it was their first meeting after all. Xiao Cai was a little shy. The tip of its slender tail unconsciously curled and loosened slightly. It first tentatively leaned towards Xiao Jin, then quickly withdrew. Finally, it could only raise its little head and look at its owner with its big, wet eyes full of longing and questioning. Its tiny forked tongue flicked in and out, making a soft hissing sound, as if it was silently pleading for something.

Su Baichen took in Xiao Cai's series of subtle movements and glances, and the last trace of worry in his heart vanished. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

"It seems I underestimated the influence of the auspicious beast's 'favorite of heaven and earth' aura..." he thought to himself. "This affinity is universally appealing; even a proud ancient bloodline like Xiao Cai is powerless against it."

He was worried that if Xiao Cai suddenly woke up and saw that he had a "new love" in his arms, she would throw a tantrum or even show hostility like children vying for affection.

Unexpectedly, the little guy didn't think in that direction at all. Instead, he was attracted by the auspicious beast aura on Xiao Jin's body and looked expectant, as if he wanted to play with it.

"Yes, come over here." Su Baichen said gently, a smile in his eyes.

Before he could finish speaking, a colorful shadow flashed on his shoulder. Having received permission, Little Colorful immediately flew over happily. Instead of rushing directly to Little Gold, it first affectionately wrapped around Su Baichen's wrist twice, rubbed its cool, smooth head against his fingertips, and then turned to Little Gold, who was staring at it with wide golden eyes.

Xiao Cai seemed both excited and a little shy. It cautiously approached and gently pressed its cool body against Xiao Jin's warm, fluffy front legs. Then it began to slowly slide around Xiao Jin in circles, occasionally rubbing its head or side against Xiao Jin's thick mane, its posture both dependent and ingratiating.

At first, Xiao Jin was a little surprised by the sudden cold touch and twitched its ears slightly, but it quickly sensed that Xiao Cai had its owner's aura on it, and that the beautiful little snake was showing it pure curiosity and affection, without any malice.

Thinking that this little guy might have a close relationship with his owner and would be spending a long time together in the future, Xiao Jin also let down his instinctive guard.

It mimicked Su Baichen's soothing manner, lowering its fluffy head and gently sniffing Xiao Cai. Then, it extended its pink and warm tongue and tentatively licked Xiao Cai's shimmering back, letting out a louder "purr" that signified comfort and friendliness, as a response to Xiao Cai's gesture of goodwill.

"You two..." Su Baichen looked at the python and lion in his arms, who had quickly become familiar with each other. One was cool and colorful, and the other was warm and golden. At this moment, they were rubbing against each other and licking each other, creating a strange and harmonious beauty.

He shook his head helplessly, but his eyes were full of gentle smiles. He gently lifted the two little ones and placed them side by side on the soft bed.

The moment they touched the bed, the two little creatures completely let loose. Little Cai hissed and swam to the corner of the bed, then suddenly sprang back, gently brushing Little Jin's nose with the tip of its tail, as if extending a playful invitation.

Little Gold was immediately aroused, lowered its front body, stuck out its fluffy bottom, and swayed its tail like a small flagpole, preparing to pounce. Then, with a low growl that sounded like a baby's, it pounced on the colorful figure. Little Color nimbly twisted its body to dodge, and as Little Gold turned around, it swiftly wrapped itself around its fluffy tail, like a colorful little pendant.

In an instant, colorful and golden light flowed across the bed, and the faint hissing and childish howling intertwined, creating a lively and interesting scene.

Three days later, the shimmering blue light of the Myriad Fire Lotus enveloped the quiet room, and a scorching undercurrent floated in the air.

Cao Ying sat cross-legged in the center of the lotus platform, her eyes slightly closed, her face calm, but faint purple flame patterns appeared around her body—the traces left in her body after the purple fire was completely refined.

Now, it has become a rich source of nourishment for her growth, making her aura more serene and intense.

At this moment, hovering in front of her was the wondrous object of heaven and earth that countless fire-attribute cultivators both feared and craved: the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame.

It burns quietly, its flame a deep, translucent blue, like solidified jade, while its outer edge is a vibrant, ever-flowing white. Just by gazing at it, one can feel the terrifying heat and boundless spirituality that burns everything in its path.

Su Baichen stood to the side, his gaze never leaving Cao Ying.

Even with thorough preparations, the danger of being consumed by the strange fire was extraordinary. He couldn't help but give a final, solemn instruction at the last moment, each word clear: "Ying'er, do not forget the order. First, take the Earth Spirit Pill to protect your internal organs and meridians; then swallow the Blood Lotus Pill to form a blood scab to protect your body. Once the blood scab covers your body, focus your mind and spirit before you can draw the fire into your body and begin refining it."

His voice was steady and powerful, penetrating the scorching air in the room.

Cao Ying took a deep breath, the intense fiery energy in the air making her lungs feel slightly hot. She nodded emphatically, her fingertips turning slightly white from the force: "I understand, Master!"