Chapter 291: Helping Me Cultivate
Though the Han Clan was a relatively minor family within the vast and competitive Central Plains, it was not without its share of strength. In a land where powerhouses thrived, Han Yue had seen Dou Zun level experts before.
Now, standing before Xiao Yan, feeling his terrifying aura, Han Yue's heart raced. She finally confirmed what she had only dared to hope the young genius who had once made waves in the Central Plains had now stepped into the realm of Dou Zun.
A seventeen year old Dou Zun. Such a heaven defying talent left Han Yue at a complete loss for words. All she could do was raise her delicate hand to cover her slightly parted lips in shock, her mind blank from the overwhelming realization.
Breaking Through to Dou Zun
In the skies above the valley, Xiao Yan's lean figure stood tall, resembling a spear that pierced through the heavens. The overwhelming ocean of Dou Qi coursing through his body filled him with an unfamiliar, uncontainable excitement, a rare reaction for someone as composed as him.
The Dou Zun realm was a milestone that divided ordinary practitioners from true powerhouses. Once someone stepped into this level, they embarked on the path to transcendence. For most people in the Dou Qi Continent, a Dou Zun was a figure shrouded in myth, someone they might never encounter in their lifetimes.
Among the ancient clans, some could rely on their bloodlines to ascend to this stage more easily. But for "wild" Dou Zuns those who achieved this level through sheer effort and perseverance their life stories were often nothing short of legendary epics.
Inside Xiao Yan's body, his Dou Qi sea churned like a raging storm, its power far from stabilizing. The Sea Heart Flame, ranked fifteenth on the Heavenly Flame list, was a fearsome existence in its own right. Its strength didn't stop with simply helping Xiao Yan break through to Dou Zun; it continued to push his power upward.
Under the unique properties of the Flame Mantra, Xiao Yan's cultivation soared to the peak of one star Dou Zun in a matter of moments.
However, just as he prepared to advance further, an invisible barrier loomed before him a bottleneck that separated him from the two star Dou Zun stage.
Recognizing the obstacle, Xiao Yan didn't hesitate. He let out a low growl, rallying the residual energy of the Sea Heart Flame within him to break through the barrier.
The Bottleneck
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
A series of deafening rumbles echoed from Xiao Yan's body, each one shaking the valley to its core. Han Yue, observing from a distance, turned pale as the oppressive sound waves washed over her.
At that moment, a black robed elder appeared before her. With a flick of his sleeve, Su Qian shielded her from the overwhelming pressure.
Despite his usual composed demeanor, Su Qian couldn't help but look at the lean figure in the sky with awe.
A Dou Zun true titans of the Dou Qi Continent. The entire Black Corner Region had only one such figure, the Jia Nan Academy's headmaster.
To see another Dou Zun emerge before his eyes, one so young and brimming with potential, filled Su Qian's heart with a mixture of admiration and envy.
As the elder pondered, a crisp, shattering sound interrupted his thoughts.
"Crack!"
The sound was faint but unmistakable, like glass breaking. Xiao Yan's aura, which had slowed after reaching the one star Dou Zun peak, surged again. His strength shot upward like a volcanic eruption, sending shockwaves that made even Su Qian flinch.
"Two star Dou Zun..." Su Qian muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief.
He had spent decades slowly progressing within the Dou Zun realm. Yet here was Xiao Yan, breaking through to the second star in mere moments. The speed was so extraordinary that it stung like a lemon wedge rubbed into his pride.
Stabilizing the Realm
After breaking through to two star Dou Zun, the energy within Xiao Yan's body began to settle. The transformation brought by the Sea Heart Flame had finally reached its limit.
Xiao Yan, who had been sitting cross legged with his eyes shut, slowly opened them. His deep, dark eyes now gleamed with a faint, multicolored glow, revealing the power of the five flames within him.
"Bang!"
Two slender beams of multicolored flame shot out from his eyes, striking the ground below with a hiss. In an instant, the beams carved two massive, molten craters into the valley floor, their edges glowing with fiery magma.
"So this... is the power of the Flame Mantra."
Feeling the boundless Dou Qi coursing through him, Xiao Yan couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.
A Strange Phenomenon
As Xiao Yan reveled in his newfound strength, the previously clear sky darkened. A fierce wind swept through the valley, and thick clouds gathered overhead, stretching across the horizon.
"What's happening?"
Han Yue and Su Qian's expressions changed as they watched the unfolding phenomenon.
The stormy clouds and swirling winds were undoubtedly a heavenly phenomenon, but Xiao Yan hadn't begun refining a seventh tier pill. The scale of this phenomenon far surpassed anything a standard alchemical refinement could cause.
Amid the storm's chaos, Xiao Yan alone understood the true cause the evolution of the Flame Mantra.
Advancing the Flame Mantra
After absorbing the Sea Heart Flame, Xiao Yan's Flame Mantra had reached the threshold of the quasi Heaven tier. Though the Sea Heart Flame alone wasn't enough to push it to true Heaven tier status, it was a significant step forward.
If he could absorb another top ranked Heavenly Flame, such as the Bone Chilling Flame, the Flame Mantra's power would truly ascend to the legendary Heaven tier.
Watching the raging clouds above, Xiao Yan's lips curved into a faint smile. With a casual wave of his hand, his spiritual power surged from his brow.
In response to his command, the thick clouds stopped swirling and began to dissipate. Under the stunned gazes of Su Qian and Han Yue, the storm calmed, and sunlight once again bathed the valley.
"So this... is the power of the quasi Heaven tier Flame Mantra," Xiao Yan murmured.
Han Yue and Su Qian exchanged a glance, their expressions a mix of astonishment and disbelief.
This young man had not only stepped into the Dou Zun realm but also achieved mastery over a technique that commanded the heavens themselves.
Xiao Yan, on the other hand, gazed into the horizon, a faint smile on his face. The Dou Zun realm was just the beginning. The road ahead was long, and the peak was still far away.
As the dark clouds dispersed, Xiao Yan closed his eyes once more, activating his Flame Mantra. In an instant, the energy within a hundred meter radius began to boil violently, like a pot of water on the brink of overflowing.
Massive waves of energy poured into Xiao Yan's body like rivers converging into the sea. Though the energy was chaotic and impure, the flames within him burned brightly, refining it into the purest form of energy in mere moments.
This refined energy surged into his Qi Cyclone, filling it to the brim. The speed of his Dou Qi circulation was now more than ten times faster than before.
Not only was his Dou Qi cycling at an unprecedented speed, but his entire cultivation system had undergone a profound transformation, bringing countless benefits.
"Refreshing!"
Xiao Yan exhaled a long breath, ridding his body of impurities. His lips curled into a grin, and a hearty laugh erupted from his chest.
"Hahaha! The foundation is complete. From now on, the Dou Qi Continent is mine to conquer!"
In that moment, his aura shifted. Gone was the mischievous and roguish charm he often displayed, replaced by a commanding presence. It was a newfound confidence, a rare sense of authority radiating from him.
Now, Xiao Yan fully understood why Xiao Xuan had instructed him to venture out alone after reaching the Dou Zun level.
At this stage, Xiao Yan was already among the continent's elite. If he didn't temper himself with real battles and challenges, he would soon grow complacent, and any further progress would become meaningless.
"If I rely solely on my current strength, boosted by the Flame Mantra and Heavenly Flames, I can easily dominate anyone below a four star Dou Zun. If I add in my Clan Mark and Three Mysterious Manifestations of the Skyfire, I could even face a five star Dou Zun head on.
And if I unleash techniques like my Heaven tier Dou Techniques or Buddha's Fury Flame Lotus..."
The mere thought of his immense power brought a wicked grin to his face.
"Unless a Dou Sheng appears, who could possibly stand against me?"
Witnessing Greatness
In the distance, Su Qian observed Xiao Yan with a mixture of awe and disbelief.
"This boy... His talent and fortune are truly unparalleled in history."
Su Qian couldn't help but marvel. If Xiao Yan had been born in ancient times, there was no doubt in Su Qian's mind that he could have reached the legendary Dou Di realm.
Meanwhile, Han Yue's normally calm and composed eyes were fixed on Xiao Yan. Despite her usually frosty demeanor, she couldn't stop her heart from racing.
A seventeen year old Dou Zun.
Such extraordinary talent and heroic brilliance made it nearly impossible for her to look away. As composed as she was, Han Yue was still a twenty year old woman. Against the dazzling light of Xiao Yan's achievements, her feelings couldn't help but stir.
Unbeknownst to her, a faint blush crept across her cheeks, her bright eyes shimmering with admiration.
Unexpected Visitors
At that moment, distant specks appeared in the sky, growing larger as they approached.
Xiao Yan squinted and soon recognized the approaching figures they were elders from the Jia Nan Academy.
Despite Su Qian's efforts to block off the area, the immense energy fluctuations Xiao Yan had caused were too significant to ignore. These ripples of power had reached the academy, drawing the attention of several elders.
The elders came to a halt mid air, gazing at the young figure floating high above.
"Elder Xiao Yan, were you the one responsible for the recent commotion?"
One of the elders finally spoke, relief evident in his tone.
After returning to Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Yan had reclaimed his original identity. Although his reputation as Elder Yao remained, the academy now knew him as Xiao Yan, a seven star alchemist and a powerful Dou Zong.
Even with just these titles, the academy's elders revered him deeply.
However, as they stood before him now, a strange sense of reverence washed over them. This wasn't a feeling born of respect it was an instinctive reaction, as if standing before a supreme predator.
"Elder Xiao Yan... Have you broken through again?"
One elder, Elder Hao, stepped forward, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"More or less," Xiao Yan replied with a mysterious smile, intentionally vague to avoid overwhelming them.
Parting Words
Xiao Yan turned to the gathered elders with a warm smile.
"Thank you all for your concern. I've broken through recently and need to consolidate my realm. Once I finish, I'll take some time to refine pills for everyone."
The elders' faces lit up with excitement at his promise. They knew that Xiao Yan's alchemical skills were unmatched, and any pills he refined would be of extraordinary quality.
With looks of gratitude and anticipation, the elders quickly took their leave.
A Private Conversation
Once the elders were gone, Xiao Yan descended to where Su Qian and Han Yue were waiting.
"Congratulations, Elder Xiao Yan!" Su Qian began, but he was interrupted by Xiao Yan's hand on his shoulder.
"Elder Su Qian, you've been standing here for a long time. You must be exhausted," Xiao Yan said with a sly smile.
Su Qian paused, then chuckled awkwardly.
"Haha, yes, I should rest. I'll leave you to it."
In the blink of an eye, Su Qian disappeared, leaving Xiao Yan and Han Yue alone.
The Moment
The two stood silently, their gazes meeting. Sparks seemed to flicker in the air between them.
"Yue'er," Xiao Yan murmured, his deep voice carrying a magnetic pull.
He stepped closer to Han Yue, his eyes locking onto hers.
"I need you... to help me with my cultivation."
(End of Chapter)
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