The Flying Snow Tribulation acted upon the soul, so the gains should naturally also be on the soul.
Jiang Chen formed a Dao seal, spreading open the Sea of Blossoms.
The combination he usually excelled at was mixing Flameblooms within the Sea of Blossoms, using Illusion Blossoms to conceal the Flameblooms, making the Sea of Blossoms—a Dao art for creating a combat environment—also possess lethality.
But now...
An Illusion Blossom bloomed, and as it neared his palm, it transformed into a Flamebloom and detonated with a boom. Before it completely scattered, Jiang Chen reached out and extinguished it with his grasp, then let it dissipate as an Illusion Blossom in his palm.
The seamless and fluid transformation between Illusion Blossom and Flamebloom was nearly unimpeded. It truly achieved the effect of alternating between void and reality for the combination of Sea of Blossoms and Flamebloom.
With just a bit of refinement, one could say it was already a Dao art superior to the previous one, which could be named the Sea of Flameblooms.
What did this reflect?
Was his control over illusions more effortless now?
Was its essence the strengthening of his soul power?
Jiang Chen pondered thoughtfully.
Regarding the Nether Candle, he had always had a hypothesis, but it hadn't taken shape due to his insufficient strength.
Lighting the Nether Candle within the Celestial Palace using Flamebloom was, of course, impossible. But what if it wasn't a physical flame, but a soul-flame?
The soul could travel to and fro in the Celestial Palace, not even blocked by the Gate of Heaven and Earth!
Previously, he certainly couldn't do it, but now, why not give it a try?
Previously, there was nothing to speak of regarding his soul power, but after passing the Flying Snow Tribulation, that might not be the case.
There were naturally no related Dao arts for soul-flame, but what if it was constructed in the form of Flamebloom?
He was thoroughly familiar with every detail of Flamebloom—it was a Dao art he had mastered back in Maple City and had been using and practicing until now, never slacking off.
Now, it was just a matter of replacing Dao essence power with soul power.
It might not be unworkable!
Jiang Chen sank his consciousness into the Celestial Palace.
Gazing upon the Nether Candle from the perspective of his consciousness.
The Star-Entwining Spirit Serpent, as the true spirit of the Dao meridian, seemed to have some spiritual perception, half-hanging in a Star River Dao Vortex and no longer moving.
The Nether Candle remained motionless, as if no change had occurred.
Jiang Chen tried to sense his own soul power—it was naturally futile before, but now, there was a wondrous change.
Taking a bit of soul power as a seed, using the method of Flamebloom to stimulate it.
Perhaps the construction rules of soul-flame differed from those of Flamebloom.
But the method of constructing Flamebloom lay in the natural generation of the flower of the fire element.
That is to say, Jiang Chen only provided a direction or a catalyst, and the soul power naturally gestated and was born.
A crimson flame was born.
Born within the Celestial Palace!
The color was pure, scorching, as if having the resolve to burn itself out at any moment, coexisting with no darkness.
Jiang Chen controlled it, slowly approaching the Nether Candle, getting closer...
The Nether Candle lit up!
For the first time, it was lit by Jiang Chen, not self-igniting.
It was precisely heart-fire lighting the Nether Candle.
The Nether Candle melted at a speed visible to the naked eye, and at the same time, as before, a secret art emerged in his mind.
This time, it was the Bone Secret Art, Yin-Yang Reflection.
After applying this secret art, using any Dao art would attach a nether reflection, causing double the effect.
For example, a single Flamebloom, under the enhancement of Yin-Yang Reflection, would become two.
But the limitation remained that it could only enhance Bone Path secret arts.
If incorporated into the Bone Path secret art system, it would of course be an extremely powerful secret art.
But so far, the Bone Path secret arts Jiang Chen had mastered were only the Flesh-Restoring Soul-Return Art and the Bone Escape Art.
Neither could use the enhancement of Yin-Yang Reflection.
Flesh-Restoring Soul-Return Art plus a reflection, saving two people at the same time, would be okay.
Bone Escape Art plus a reflection—what for? Consuming double lifespan, dying of old age on the spot in the blink of an eye?
However, now was not the time to consider the secret art system.
Jiang Chen continued to burn the Nether Candle with the soul-flame, seemingly determined to burn it clean in one go.
Just then.
"Sigh." As if a sigh from the deepest part of the heart.
That voice said: "I have no ill intent."
The Nether Candle did not move, but that soul-flame... suddenly extinguished.
This Nether Candle indeed had a problem!
He had indeed been influenced before!
Although he had long suspected it, when the suspicion became reality, Jiang Chen still couldn't help but feel a chill.
Anyone, knowing that their consciousness had another influencer, couldn't remain too calm.
"Who are you?" Jiang Chen condensed his soul power and asked.
"I am you." That voice said: "So however you construct Flamebloom, I can dissipate it."
"You are me?" Jiang Chen naturally refused to believe it.
If it weren't for the fact that this voice could influence the soul-flame, he would have melted the Nether Candle clean without hesitation right now.
"Whether you've noticed it yourself or not, I must tell you one thing." That voice said: "Using Bone Path secret arts, one becomes tainted by the Bone Venerable God."
"Using Bone Path secret arts, one becomes tainted by the Bone Venerable God?" Jiang Chen pondered these words, a chill rising in his heart.
"The true power of a nether deity is beyond your imagination. Each time you use a Bone Path secret art, this taint deepens. In the end, no one can escape His control. This is how He rules the Bone Kingdom."
The voice continued: "And I, am a part of your soul. The part tainted by the Bone Venerable God, residing within the Nether Candle."
"You are a part of my soul?" Jiang Chen felt as if he were listening to some Arabian Nights tale.
"The first time I was born was when you performed the Flesh-Restoring Soul-Return Art for White Lotus. Or perhaps I should call her Miao Qing."
"That's not important." Jiang Chen said: "You said... 'born'?"
"No, she is very important. It's just that you're not willing to admit it yet. I told you, I am you. You can even deceive yourself, but you can't deceive another you."
A soul-flame appeared within the Celestial Palace.
Jiang Chen's attitude was very tough: "Don't say such boring things. If you can't convince me in the shortest time, we might as well try it right now—who has deeper control over this soul."
"Fine, fine, fine, you don't need to be angry. We don't need to consume ourselves. I told you, I have no ill intent toward you. The fact is indeed so, isn't it? Think about it, I've never harmed you. On the contrary, I've always tried to keep you out of danger."
Jiang Chen said: "In my view, influencing my thoughts is already the greatest ill intent."
"If you're very resistant to this, I apologize. At first, I just didn't want to scare you, nor was I willing for you to encounter danger. After all, we were originally one. If you die, I cannot live either."
"Then let's talk about your birth." Jiang Chen said.
"The Nether Candle is the supreme treasure of the Bone Path, and I am the part of your soul tainted by the Bone Venerable God. I cannot explain my birth; it happened by a coincidence of fate. At the beginning of my birth, I was also very confused, but the Nether Candle absorbed me. I gained space within the Nether Candle, and was thus spared from competing with you for control of the soul."
At least regarding the voice's claim that it [could compete for control of the soul], Jiang Chen had no choice but to believe it.
The extinguished soul-flame was clear proof.
"If you dislike the idea of 'another you'... I am the part of your soul tainted by the Bone Venerable God, which can be considered your heart demon." That voice said: "You can call me Jiang Yan."
Jiang Chen said: "A nightmare is a malevolent ghost."
"Being tainted by the Bone Venerable God—could it possibly be a sweet dream?" The voice calling itself Jiang Yan said.
This was rather candid.
"You seem to know many things I don't know. If you were me, this wouldn't be reasonable." Jiang Chen said.
"My birth was because the Bone Venerable God tainted part of your soul, so in addition to knowing some of your affairs, I also know many things about the Bone Path. It's just that because of the Nether Candle's existence, I was spared from being controlled by the Bone Venerable God. Think carefully—do the things I know that you don't all relate to the Bone Path?"
Whether it was the warning before the Bone Venerable God descended in Maple City, or the disregard for the Plague Bell in Red Tail County, indeed, they were all related to the Bone Path.
"Just this alone, it seems you haven't convinced me yet." Jiang Chen said indifferently.
"Then let me put it another way. Originally, I just wanted to quietly hide inside the Nether Candle. Every action was to save you. And this time, if you hadn't insisted on lighting the Nether Candle, I wouldn't have appeared at all. The Nether Candle is the supreme treasure of the Bone Path, and it can allow me to reside. Once it's gone, I would have to return to your soul and merge with you, becoming an entirely new 'me'. You might as well think about it—would you be willing to accept that situation?"
"You might not be able to merge with me." Jiang Chen said.
"Yes, perhaps it would be a new 'me' that fuses all our wills, or perhaps just you, with my will completely erased." Jiang Yan said: "Or perhaps, it could just be me."
"Tell me your thoughts." Jiang Chen said: "I don't believe you just want to live inside the Nether Candle forever. Or perhaps I should find a way to send you out of the Celestial Palace and see if you can still influence my soul outside?"
"There's no need to beat around the bush—I already have my own independent will, and naturally, I'm not resigned to hiding inside the Nether Candle forever, watching how brilliantly you live, spending a lifetime as a hermit in your Celestial Palace." Jiang Yan ignored Jiang Chen's threat, not knowing whether he was certain Jiang Chen couldn't find a way to send the Nether Candle away, or trusted that Jiang Chen wouldn't make such a choice.
He said directly: "My idea is simple—I also want a body of my own. Of course, I don't think I can compete with you. In fact, you're not my best choice either."
"There are many corpses in the mass grave. Men, women, old, young, beautiful, ugly—all will do."
"That certainly won't work." Jiang Yan said: "I was born of the Bone Path's aura, and I need the body of a Bone Path follower... Never mind, I'll just say it directly. I only want the body of the Bone Dao Child—of course, he should now be called the Bone Holy Sovereign."
"Your demands are rather high."
"I am you, Jiang Chen! Did you think you were someone who could just muddle along?"
"And if I don't agree?"
Jiang Yan said coldly: "Jiang Chen, you should understand yourself better. Ask yourself—when have you ever lacked the courage to perish together?"
"Since you consider yourself another me, and claim to understand me well." Jiang Chen smiled: "Then why are you still trying to threaten me?"
"Precisely because I understand you. So I want you to know—no matter how the contest for our soul ends, the soul will ultimately be severely damaged, with no hope of the Great Dao. In fact, this is precisely the reason I avoided competing with you from the very beginning. I trust you, and you will certainly, for this reason, abandon the possibility of fighting me."
Jiang Chen fell silent. These words indeed left him unable to refute. Or rather, he didn't need to refute. This was the truth. He had journeyed all this way to reach the peak—there was absolutely no reason to stop halfway.
Jiang Yan then said: "Jiang Chen, I am you, and you are me. There is no comrade-in-arms more intimate or reliable than oneself. We are friends, not enemies."
After a long time, Jiang Chen said: "To scheme for the body of the Bone Holy Sovereign—that would be very difficult to achieve in a short time."
"It doesn't matter." Jiang Yan's voice seemed to smile: "I am very patient, and I have great confidence in you."