Chapter 33: Cultivation Goals
That old man wants to be his teacher? Naturally, Yao Yan would grant him that wish.
Until he had enough strength of his own, he would obediently play the role of the clever and well-behaved disciple.
Hun Xuzi was thoroughly pleased with Yao Yan's performance over the past month. Whether it was talent or temperament, the boy was impeccable in his eyes. Especially since Yao Yan was his own carefully crafted creation—Hun Xuzi was eager to see just how far this "perfect work" could go.
With that in mind, he examined Yao Yan's body with his soul force and commented with some surprise, "You've broken through to the second level of the Indestructible Vajra Body?"
"I happened to break through not long ago," Yao Yan replied humbly, his tone respectful and modest.
"There's no such thing as 'happened' when it comes to body refinement techniques. If you couldn't endure the pain of the process, there's no way you'd have reached the second level of this body-refining art in just a few months. But now that you're at this stage, your current body has already hit its limit."
Hun Xuzi's sharp gaze had seen right through Yao Yan's bottleneck.
Yao Yan had relied on the Dou Di bloodline power from the Stone and Spirit Clans to make rapid progress in cultivating the high Earth-Tier Indestructible Vajra Body. He'd faced almost no setbacks, not even needing to worry about physical injury. But that potential wasn't limitless—it would eventually be depleted.
Reaching the second level was already his current limit.
Yao Yan understood his own body well. Upon hearing this, his eyes lit up with hope as he asked, "Does Teacher have a solution?"
"There are many," Hun Xuzi said. "You could take medicinal pills to replenish your blood energy and accelerate your body cultivation, or use your innate ability to devour the blood and Qi of others to compensate. But I advise against both for now. You should focus on cultivating Dou Qi, not body refinement."
He paused, his tone growing solemn. "Remember this: Dou Techniques are just a side path. Dou Qi is the foundation!"
He could already tell that Yao Yan was leaning too far in one direction. His Dou Qi cultivation was only at the six-star Dou Shi level, but his physical strength rivaled that of a sixth-rank magical beast. It was clearly a case of putting the cart before the horse, wasting both his potential and the many Dou Di bloodlines within him.
"I understand, Teacher!"
Yao Yan frowned slightly but nodded firmly.
Honestly, even if Hun Xuzi hadn't said it, he had already planned to pause his cultivation of the Indestructible Vajra Body. His body could no longer support such rapid progress—it would be better to shift focus to Dou Qi. Once he reached Dou Wang or Dou Huang level, his body refinement would naturally accelerate again.
Hun Xuzi was right—Dou Qi cultivation was the foundation. Techniques only enhanced one's combat power. It was obvious which mattered more.
He'd gotten a little too obsessed with the surge in strength lately.
To put it plainly—
His strength had grown so fast, it made him impulsive. He'd started feeling like he could crush everything in his path.
Seeing Yao Yan accept his advice, Hun Xuzi nodded in satisfaction. This part of Yao Yan's personality made him a joy to teach—far easier than some of the so-called "geniuses" in the Hun Clan. That clan had no shortage of monstrous talent, but many of them were excessively arrogant and self-important in their youth.
Like Hun Feng, for instance—a descendant of the clan elder Hun Yuan Tian and one of the few with divine-grade bloodline. He was the clan's young master and the favored candidate for future clan leader.
He was about Yao Yan's age, but their personalities were completely different.
Maybe I can groom Yao Yan into a future young master… or even the next clan leader… The thought emerged in Hun Xuzi's mind. That title came with not just status, but real power. If Hun Tiandi were to meet with misfortune one day, the young master would become the new patriarch.
But he pushed the thought aside quickly.
He knew how difficult it would be. Everything would depend on how Yao Yan performed in the future.
If Yao Yan proved himself, Hun Xuzi could push him forward. If not—no amount of ambition would help.
Besides—
Hun Feng hadn't reached his position just on talent. He also had the lingering influence of Hun Yuan Tian, one of the clan's elders.
Yao Yan, on the other hand, had nothing. He wasn't even a full-blooded clan member—just an "outsider" with a trace of Hun Clan lineage.
Maybe it's time to give him a little pressure… Hun Xuzi stared at the obedient youth, his red-black eyes flashing slightly. After a moment, he said slowly, "Yao Yan, I'll ask you again. Are you willing to return to the Hun Clan? Your father, even if just from a branch family, carried a trace of Dou Di bloodline."
"Teacher, I am willing!"
Yao Yan's eyes brightened, and he answered with emotion. He raised his head and met Hun Xuzi's gaze, replying firmly, "If not for Teacher, I wouldn't be who I am today. In my heart, you are my only family!"
His words were resolute, filled with feeling.
It's often said that there is great fear in the face of death—and it's true. Having walked through life-and-death trials, Yao Yan's acting had reached perfection.
Even he almost believed it himself.
As for the pressure of possibly having to change his name or heritage in the future—he felt nothing. After all, his name wasn't really Yao Yan to begin with. The only thing carried over from his past life was the "Yan" character. As for his surname? It didn't matter. This world was no longer the one he came from—and there was no going back.
In this life, he wanted to control his own destiny. To do whatever he wanted. No one else would decide for him.
"…Good child."
Hun Xuzi looked at the passionate youth and reached out to pat his head, sighing softly.
After a pause—
He continued somewhat helplessly, "My status in the Hun Clan isn't low, but the higher one climbs, the more carefully one must act. If I were just one man, I wouldn't care about the consequences—I'd find you Dou Di blood from the Flame Clan, Lightning Clan, even the Gu Clan. But I'm not. My actions affect the entire clan."
"Teacher has already done much for me. The rest of the path—I can walk it on my own. I'm confident I'll personally seize Dou Di blood from the other clans in the future!"
Yao Yan's voice was full of pride and determination, eyes blazing with confidence in his future. He looked every bit the image of a rising genius.
"Haha! Now that I believe!"
Hun Xuzi burst into laughter. "I'll be waiting for that day. My disciple should be exactly like this!"
He really was looking forward to the day Yao Yan crushed the younger generation of every clan. And if he could step on Hun Feng too—that would be even better. Hun Xuzi had never liked that arrogant brat. He showed no respect to his elders and once killed two of Hun Xuzi's apprentice alchemists over a petty argument.
After laughing for a while—
Hun Xuzi looked down at Yao Yan and said, "The Hun Clan has its own rules. I can help you obtain Dou Di blood from the clan—but the quality won't be high. If you want the best, you'll have to earn it. That's the challenge given to every young member of the clan."
"Also, if you make meaningful contributions to the clan, you may be granted a high-grade bloodline."
"These bloodlines were left behind by the ancestors of the Hun Clan. If one day I fall in battle, my own Dou Di bloodline will join them—reserved for future descendants."
Are you sure this is still the Hun Clan? Yao Yan wondered silently, though his expression remained serious. "Teacher, nothing will happen to you!"
"I'm just speaking hypothetically."
"There are no hypotheticals!" Yao Yan said firmly.
Because Hun Xuzi's life was his—to claim.
He was one of Yao Yan's targets.
How could he let someone else take that away?
(END CHAPTER)
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