192: Eighth-tier spirit puppet! A tremendous gain.

The requirements on the stone tablet were actually not harsh.

There was no stipulation that it had to be completed within a certain number of years, nor was there any vicious curse that would erase him upon failure.

It merely requested that if he ever encountered the daughter of the green-robed man, Ming Yan, he should return the Nanming Li Fire to its rightful owner.

"This deal is worth it."

A sharp light flashed in Qin Lang's eyes, and he quickly weighed the pros and cons.

The legacy left behind by a great powerhouse who poured in his life's effort was simply impossible to measure with money.

Leaving aside everything else, the Spirit Puppet "Golden Giant Toad," which guarded the magma lake and reached the Eighth Rank at its peak, was enough to drive anyone mad.

Even though its strength had now dropped below the Sixth Rank due to severe damage.

But as long as it could be repaired, this would be a strategic-level nuclear weapon capable of suppressing everything!

It could even become a trump card for turning the tide when Blue Star faces the Deep Space Crisis in the future.

Thinking of this, Qin Lang no longer hesitated.

"Senior, rest assured, Junior Qin Lang hereby swears."

He stretched out his finger, forced out a drop of Vital Essence Blood, and pressed it onto the stone tablet.

"If I am fortunate enough to meet Senior's descendant in the future, I will certainly return the Nanming Li Fire intact, without any covetousness!"

"Buzz!"

As the oath was completed, that drop of Vital Essence Blood was instantly absorbed by the stone tablet.

Immediately after, a crisp cracking sound rang out.

The stone tablet, which had endured countless years, turned into fine dust at this moment and scattered with the wind.

At the same time.

"Rumble—!"

The long-sealed main door of Li Huo Palace slowly opened to both sides.

An ancient and scorching aura rushed toward him.

Qin Lang took a deep breath and stepped into the main hall.

The main hall was not as magnificent as imagined; instead, it appeared somewhat empty and desolate.

In the very center of the main hall, a strange cluster of flames was suspended.

Its exterior displayed a noble crimson gold, while its core was an eerie cyan-purple.

Even without approaching, one could feel the terrifying power within it, capable of incinerating all things.

Nanming Li Fire!

In front of the flames, Ming Yan's body still maintained a cross-legged sitting posture, lifelike, as if he were merely asleep.

Even though countless years had passed since his death, the lingering might of the powerhouse still made hearts tremble.

Qin Lang's expression was solemn as he respectfully bowed to the corpse.

"Senior, please forgive my intrusion."

As soon as he finished speaking.

The body, which had been sitting upright just moments before, seemed to have completed its final mission and suddenly disintegrated inch by inch.

There was no flesh and blood, no white bones.

It directly transformed into flying ash that filled the sky, completely dissipating between heaven and earth.

Obviously, this peerless powerhouse had long since exhausted his life essence while refining the Divine Flame, and ultimately failed to withstand the dual blow of severe injuries and the Five Decays of Heaven and Man.

"Alas, a generation's Prodigy."

Qin Lang sighed, then composed himself and began to look around.

Many jade shelves were placed on both sides of the main hall, but most of them were already empty.

It seemed that, just as the stone tablet stated, most of the treasures had been taken away when Ming Yan sent away his wife and daughter.

However, the remaining items were still priceless.

Qin Lang walked forward and picked up the few remaining Jade Slips.

His Mental Energy probed into them.

The Divine Art of Controlling Fire, The General Outline of Array Dao, the Divine Art of Departing Fire... all were top-tier goods!

Especially the Divine Art of Departing Fire, which was revealed to be a Heaven Rank ultimate fire-element Cultivation Technique, pointing directly to the Origin of the Great Dao.

On the last jade shelf, Qin Lang found a special golden Jade Slip.

That was precisely the secret art for controlling the Golden Giant Toad outside!

"This is the key."

Qin Lang stored the Jade Slips and cast his gaze once more toward the cluster of Nanming Li Fire in the center of the main hall.

By reading the General Outline of Array Dao just now, he had understood everything.

The Great Heavenly Cycle Energy Gathering Formation beneath this palace continued to operate tirelessly, even after Ming Yan's death.

Over those long years, it forcefully drained the entire Crimson Flame Spirit Domain from a Nine-star or even Ten-star top-tier Spiritual Domain into its current desolate Five-star state.

All the energy converged here.

And only then successfully nurtured this cluster of Nanming Li Fire.

Qin Lang walked forward and cautiously released a wisp of Phoenix Divine Flame to test it.

The two Divine Flames met in the air; instead of repelling each other, there was a feeling of attraction due to their shared Origin.

"It is still in its infancy."

Qin Lang made his judgment.

The level of this Nanming Li Fire was comparable to his Phoenix Divine Flame; both belonged to the category of Divine Objects with infinite potential that still required growth.

He picked up a specialized Magical Artifact left by Ming Yan and stored the Nanming Li Fire inside it.

Having finished all this, Qin Lang looked around.

Due to the presence of the energy gathering Formation, the biological energy here was extremely dense.

Even without the Nanming Li Fire, this was still a continuous energy collection point.

He could completely use this place as a secret base in the future.

"Time to go collect that big fellow."

Qin Lang turned and walked out of Li Huo Palace, arriving at the edge of the magma lake outside.

Beneath the boiling magma, that massive shadow was silently lurking.

Following the secret art recorded in the Jade Slip, Qin Lang formed hand seals and chanted incantations.

Then, he forced out a drop of Vital Essence Blood containing the aura of the Primal Ancestor Gene and flicked it toward the lake surface.

"Rise!"

*Splash!*

The magma exploded.

The mountain-sized Golden Giant Toad burst forth from the water.

Its pair of massive golden eyes stared intently at Qin Lang, or rather, at that drop of Vital Essence Blood.

Finally, it opened its large mouth and swallowed the Vital Essence Blood.

*Buzz!*

A golden contract pattern appeared on its forehead.

Immediately afterward, under Qin Lang's astonished gaze, its immense body began to shrink rapidly.

In the blink of an eye.

It transformed into a mini Golden Toad, only the size of a palm.

"Croak."

The Golden Toad leaped lightly onto Qin Lang's palm and affectionately rubbed against his finger.

It was cold and heavy.

As if holding a piece of Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Gold.

Qin Lang carefully flipped it over to examine its abdomen.

Sure enough.

On the Golden Toad's originally perfect abdominal shell, there was a shocking crack.

The crack was extremely deep, almost penetrating its core Formation, causing a massive leakage of Spiritual Qi.

This was the root cause of its massive drop in strength.

"This injury... repairing it will likely cost an astronomical sum."

Qin Lang roughly estimated the required Materials, and even with his current wealth, he felt a twinge of pain.

This was definitely a huge and expensive project.

But the excitement in his eyes could not be concealed.

The foundation of an Eighth Rank Spirit Puppet was right here.

As long as it could be repaired, it would be equivalent to carrying a super bodyguard with him!

Qin Lang carefully tucked the mini Golden Toad into his bosom and gently patted its cold little head.

Although the process was convoluted, and he would have to spend a fortune on repairs.

But looking at the empty palace and touching the Golden Toad in his arms, he felt immensely satisfied with this enormous haul.