728 Lie Guang’s Choice

Mars, Sage Sect.

Looking at the Lie Flame cauldron, Lie Xin felt a sense of resonance. This feeling came from her bloodline, yet surpassed the bloodline. This feeling was sublime. She was a little shaken. The Sage had personally taken a hand to help her and Lie Guang improve. As she thought of this, she was excited. Once they returned back to Elite College, they would definitely surprise Wang Zheng and the rest.

"Mentor, this…"

"The mother cauldron. The genuine Lie Flame cauldron. It was cast in a collaboration between the Lie family's ancestor during their peak and the Sage himself. Inside, it contains the spiritual brand of the Sage and the Lie ancestors.

At the side, Lie Guang was smiling slightly. Odin was staring at the Lie Flame Cauldron with a grave look. But this matter must be done. "Through this cauldron, you can feel the ancestors' spirits, and improve your blood vessels, and cause the Lie Flame Technique to mutate."

"Mentor, that's an awesome thing. Why didn't you bring it out sooner? Sis, no more questions, I can't wait to get stronger." Lie Guang laughed and joked as per normal.

Lie Xin stared at Lie Guang. "An ancestral object must be treated with reverence."

"Roger that. Mentor, what must we do?" Lie Guang still grinned. His hands were clasped behind his back casually, to hide the fact that they were shaking from Lie Xin.

Lie Xin observed the Lie Flame Cauldron, oblivious to Lie Guang's unusual state.

Odin sighed inwardly. "Let us begin. Lie Xin, you sit at the northwest position. Lie Guang, you sit at the southwest position. Press both palms against the cauldron, listen for my command, and execute the Lie Flame Technique in unison.

Lie Xin and Lie Guang both complied, channeling up the Lie Flame Technique in their palms. At the moment that their palms pressed against the Lie Flame Cauldron…

BOOM! Both of them were shaken violently. Their spirits and wills melded in the Lie Flame Cauldron and resonated.

"Hold no doubts. Trust in each other. Regulate your breathing and move in sync. Now, use the Lie Flame Technique to control your breathing, and feel the brand of the ancestors."

Teacher Odin's voice carefully led them through every detail in the process. At this point, he also joined in!

The shock that Lie Xin felt was hard to describe. Odin's strength was as deep as an ocean. Was this the power of the Sage Technique? This was an ultimate technique every bit as horrifying as the Lie Flame Technique. Before, they had not felt the greatness of the Sage.

At that moment, Odin was guiding the two to adjust their transfer, using the Lie Flame Cauldron as the medium. This was the ultimate control.

BOOM!

Their souls were jolted again.

Lie Xin and Lie Guang both felt the other's presence within the cauldron, and each other's Lie Flame Technique. Under the regulation from the Sage's power, it began to fuse into one. At this time, a stream of energy began to filter down. The vague sounds of battle could be heard.

In the Lie Flame Cauldron's rotation, the 3 of them had formed a circulation. Their combined powers were circulating constantly inside. Each time it passed through the Lie Flame Cauldron, it elevated further.

The purified power first rolled through Lie Guang's body, then flowed into the Lie Flame Cauldron. Under Odin's control, it finally rushed into Lie Xin. All three's arts combined to make it circulate once more within Lie Xin's body. In that instant, Lie Xin's entire body glowed red, almost like she was a fire elemental.

With an adjustment to the pace, the flow completed a loop in Lie Xin's body, then returned to the Lie Flame Cauldron.

This process was repeated over and over again. Lie Guang's natural fire body, Lie Xin's Lie family bloodline, and the Sage's power. In this loop's process, they combined, fused, became one. This power, in the Lie Flame Cauldron, became a fiery dragon. Lie Xin's heart was serene. She could feel her body changing with each pass of the fire dragon through her body. She had faith that this would make her stronger!

Another cycle.

Lie Xin took a deep breath. At that moment, a body of pure energy was within her. It was so perfect and pure. She was just about to return it to the cauldron…

Suddenly! With a loud crackle, the Lie Flame Cauldron extinguished, and the transfer cycle was broken!

"Lie Xin, focus on regulating and manipulating the energy. Press it all into your core's pressure point!"

Lie Xin's eyes flared wide open. She would not!

She was very clear that this energy was not just her own. It also contained all of Lie Guang's energy.

"Sis, collect yourself. I'll be fine after resting a bit. No worries. Don't you be wasting my good intentions." Lie Guang's face was ashen, but smiling wanly.

"Lie Xin, manipulate the Lie Flame Technique with everything you got!" Odin said sternly.

Lie Xin's spirit shivered violently. At this moment, she felt a shock ripple through the ancestors' soul brands within the cauldron, and everything quietened down. The fire dragon felt like it was engulfing her key pressure points. This was completely different. A sublime feeling that could not be imagined. To think that such a thing actually existed in this world!

Odin patted Lie Xin's back lightly. "You must digest all the energy. Be calm!"

As he said this, Odin helped Lie Guang out. What remained was for Lie Xin to breakthrough on her own.

The moment they stepped out, Lie Guang collapsed.

The Lie Flame Cauldron had not taken some of his energy, but all of it.

This energy redirection had taken 3 days and 2 nights…

In the evening, Lie Xin opened her eyes, glowing with fire energy. She had been born anew, but Odin still frowned. It was not enough. Sacrificing Lie Guang had only brought her to this stage. It was still lacking.

Could it be there had been an error in the process?

With this strength, and Lie Guang's complete cooperation, this should not have happened. Could there be some other reason besides gender?

This was already the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that make Lie Xin reborn. It was clearly a complete success, but why were the results so poor?

"Lie Guang?" After waking up from the trance, Lie Xin immediately asked. She had no time to rejoice.

Odin smiled slightly. "Mars needs a perfect leader. As for Lie Guang, no need to worry about him. He's currently resting in the room. His sacrifice was worthy."

Lie Xin was a little taken aback. Her mood changed. "Sacrifice? What sacrifice? Didn't you say that he would recover promptly?"

Odin shook his head irritably. "The Lie Flame Cauldron extracted all of his strength. Lie Xin, this has been prearranged from the start. Lie Guang's only purpose for existence was for this day."

"Sage, others might have done such a thing, but how could you? He's your disciple, and my brother. I don't need this strength!"

Lie Xin raged. Even the Sage was not allowed to do this. Others might not acknowledge Lie Guang, but in Lie Xin's heart, Lie Guang was her kin, her only brother.

Odin had no response. "Go see him."

Lie Xin wanted to say something but hesitated. As the heir to the Lie family, she knew that saying more was useless. For the Lie family's progress, they would do even more ridiculous things. Now, the one she was worried about was Lie Guang. From what the Sage said, Lie Guang was in no mortal danger, he had just lost his powers.

Coming to another courtyard, the air was gloomy, and a little repressive.

"He's here resting. Go on in." Odin said gently.

Lie Xin was in no mood to listen to this. She directly barged in. "Lie Guang!"

Lie Guang! Lie Guang!

Lie Guang?

The room was empty.

Lie Xin's gaze rested on a letter on the tabletop. A sense of foreboding began to grow.

Lie Xin bit her lip. This was no time to be assigning responsibility. She rushed to the table and ripped open the envelope…

"Sister. Please let me continue to call you that. Back then, I came to this home that was not a home. Only one and a half people treated me well. Because of you, I'm happy. Don't blame Mentor. Don't blame anyone else. I was willing. For an orphan to have enjoyed so much for so long, I have already come out ahead. Haha, Sis, you must succeed. I hope to see you lead Mars to stand at the summit of the Milky Way. At that moment, I can proudly tell others 'That is my sister!' I'm leaving now. No need to look for me.

Your brother forever, Lie Guang."

"Mentor, I need a permit! A Mars-wide permit! Find him and bring him back! Quickly! Now! Immediately!" Lie Xin said, her heart breaking into a million pieces.

Odin's expression was serene, but there was a shred of sadness in his eyes.. But at this age, he had seen through and understood many things. Besides, things were not at an end yet.

Lie Guang… was really qualified to be his disciple.

The Sage Sect and Lie Family mobilized all their resources to find a single person. As long as he was still on Mars, then it was impossible that he could not be found.

Whether day or night, every bit of energy was mustered into finding him.

Time ticked on…

There was no sound.

Lie Xin gritted her teeth, waiting anxiously. Lie Guang you bastard, you better not think about committing suicide! As long as there was life, there was hope!

"Sis, when I grow up, I will be your knight and protect you!" the 12 year old Lie Guang declared firmly.

Lie Xin had clubbed Lie Guang down in one fist, and laughed loudly. "Just you? You can't even protect yourself. But your loyalty is commendable. Here, this piece of chocolate, for you."

"Clearly, you're scared of becoming fat after eating chocolate!"

"Watch the fist!"

Lie Guang, who had just crawled up, was beaten down again.

But very quickly, he was back on his feet, uncowed…

The memory blurred, and Lie Xin stood up suddenly. "Lie Guang is a warrior. He would not kill himself… The underground arena! He must have gone there! Search all the dueling houses' data, no matter how big or small. He must be in one of them!"

A minute passed. Two minutes. Just as Lie Xin was about to explode!

"Found him, caught on monitor. He was at New Bridge buying an angel mask. We're looking for his last known position!" Finally, the news had come. The Sage Sect disciples were sweating furiously. It was not hot, and they were not in a hurry. They were afraid. The anger emanating from Lie Xin was like a volcano about to erupt!

Through the transceiver, the follow-up report came: "Mad-Devil Arena. A small underground arena. Black market broadcast…"

"Send people out immediately to receive the signal!" Lie Xin anxiously ordered.

The signal was received. A seedy underground arena. This was the lowest of the low in the black market fights, with life and death as the wager.

"The mysterious angel-mask man! He has beaten the brave from Meng Zhen. He has won 9 consecutive victories, and God himself must be with him. The Goddess of War is beating the drum to his pace, singing the song of his conquers!"

"Let us ask him again: Does he wish to continue?"

On the arena…

Lie Guang gasped heavily. His life force seemed to be evaporating with each exhalation. At that moment, Lie Guang was already covered in scars, and looked inhuman. But the five syringes of military-use ecstasy was still coursing through his system and giving him strength, suppressing his consciousness.