"Here's the opportunity."
Deep in the Lava World beneath Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Ting raised his hand and constructed a stable spatial barrier so that Xiao Yan, Xun Er, and the weaker ones could stay for a while.
The fire-element energy here was abundant, so normal cultivation was faster than outside. Moreover, Xiao Yan and Xun Er both possessed the Green Lotus Core Flame and Fallen Heart Flame, so their cultivation speed was even faster.
Xiao Ting casually dealt with a Dou Ancestor-level Fire Lizard Race and handed the fire bead to the veiled Huo Zhi.
"Equivalent to ten days of arduous cultivation. If you can endure thirty days…" Huo Zhi used the Red Lotus Karmic Flame to refine and devour the fire bead, merging the pure and vast heaven and earth energy into her limbs and bones, feeling the improvement in her cultivation.
If the fire bead of a Dou Venerable-level Fire Lizard Race was this effective, what about Dou Venerable or half-Saint level? If there were enough of these Fire Lizard Race, she could quickly raise her cultivation to the peak of nine-star Dou Venerable.
To reach the peak and walk the path of the Nine-Turn Saint, she would have to return home and receive the inheritance related to the Red Lotus Flame Body.
Of course, if Xiao Ting mentioned her name in his Journal every day and brought a Plane Blessing that only upgraded bloodline rank, she could reach the peak of Dou Venerable on her own once she reached the seventh rank.
If it was the eighth rank, even a half-Saint could break through on her own. If it was the ninth rank, even a Dou Saint would not be hindered.
As for godhood, she would only hit a bottleneck just before reaching four-star Dou Saint.
"The number of Fire Lizard Race is limited, but the number needed for cultivation is sufficient!"
Xiao Ting released his soul power. The Fire Lizard Race had welcomed their greatest natural enemy.
…
In the blink of an eye, another three months passed.
In the Jia Ma Empire of the Northwestern Continent, Misty Cloud Mountain of the Misty Cloud Sect was especially lively today.
The Misty Cloud Sect's affiliated sects, the royal family of the Jia Ma Empire, the top ten strongest experts of the Jia Ma Empire, leaders of several major Dou King families, and the president of the Alchemist Guild were all present.
Everyone here had been invited to watch the friendly match between the third young master of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan, and Nalan Yanran, the eldest daughter of the Nalan family.
Yun Yun had publicly stated that she had become the Dao Companion of Xiao Ting, the fourth-generation young master of the Xiao Clan, and their relationship was good.
The engagement between the Xiao Clan and the Nalan family had already been peacefully resolved. However, the three-year agreement had already been made, and neither side had broken it.
They planned to hold a friendly match — in other words, an exhibition match. Of course, the goal was to showcase the strength of the younger generation and display their own power and depth.
"Shhh!"
On the high platform of the Misty Cloud Sect, Xiao Zhan, Xiao Ding, and Xiao Li tore through the air, all forming Battle Qi wings.
All three had consumed the Life Pill that Xiao Ting had found under the guidance of the Plane Blessing, and had reached the Dou King level!
…
[The Life Pill can help a Dou Master cultivator reach Dou King in just a few months, but the price is three years of lifespan. Still, this pill is comparable to seventh-rank because the wealth, techniques, and battle skills accumulated by a Dou King in three years will definitely surpass what a Dou Master accumulates over thirty years.]
[Moreover, if a Dou King expert goes to a place like the Black-Corner Region that believes in survival of the fittest and robs a few Dou Spirit armies, the resources would far exceed what the Three Great Dou Master families of Wu Dan City accumulated over thirty years.]
[The question is whether the faction or clan can keep those resources after the Dou King falls. That's another story.]
[Furthermore, if one reaches the Dou Emperor level before falling, the three-year side effect can be removed.]
While Xiao Ting prepared the "Life Pill" for Xiao Zhan and the other two, he also prepared the Clear Mind Longevity Pill that extends life by ten years.
In addition, advanced Earth-rank cultivation techniques and medicines to enhance Dou King power.
If they cannot reach Dou Emperor within thirteen years, they will die.
Moreover, within thirteen years, Xiao Ting and Xiao Yan will probably have reached the Dou God level.
By then, all three will have made great strides in cultivation and no longer need to worry about the side effects of the pill.
[The most important thing is to raise their power to Dou King as soon as possible. They will truly become one of the most powerful figures in the Jia Ma Empire.]
"Nalan Old Master."
Xiao Zhan cupped his fists and saluted Nalan Jie. After all, Xiao Zhan was a close friend of Xiao Lin, Nalan Jie's father, and there had been talk of their grandchildren's marriage. Xiao Zhan maintained the etiquette of a junior.
Of course, it was also because Nalan Jie had always opposed Nalan Yanran's decision to break off the engagement and had almost died from poison. Furthermore, since the Misty Cloud Sect and the Xiao Clan had built a good relationship, Xiao Zhan did not blame him.
Otherwise, the relationship between the Xiao Clan and the Nalan family would definitely not be good.
"Congratulations on breaking through to Dou King. The Xiao Clan has juniors like Xiao Ting and Xiao Yan — their future is promising."
Nalan Jie was very kind to Xiao Zhan. The poison in his body had been neutralized thanks to Xiao Yan recently helping with the use of Heavenly Flame.
Recently, the Nalan family owed the Xiao Clan more and more.
After the leaders of the various factions greeted each other, Yun Shan appeared. After that, Yun Yun hosted the friendly match.
"Nalan Clan, Nalan Yanran!"
In the square in front of the great hall of the Misty Cloud Sect, Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Yan with a complicated expression.
Not long ago, Xiao Yan had participated in the competition hosted by the Alchemist Guild and won first place with a fifth-rank pill. And he had used Heavenly Flame to save her grandfather Nalan Jie.
The former fiancé whom she had recklessly broken off the engagement with was gradually becoming an existence she could no longer reach in terms of status and path.
Fortunately, the sect's foundation had been strengthened, and her power had also increased rapidly. She was not powerless against Xiao Yan.
The three-year agreement proceeded as scheduled. She did not want to lose.
"Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan, please!"
Xiao Yan had long since let go. He wanted to end the three-year contract as soon as possible and then return to seclusion to cultivate. The feeling of rapidly advancing cultivation after swallowing the fire bead was truly captivating.
"Match start!"
Yun Yun announced.
Boom!
Both sides began the battle. After exchanging glances, they charged toward each other and chose close combat.
After several exchanges, Xiao Yan clearly gained the advantage. Nalan Yanran was the first to use a battle technique.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan followed suit and used a battle technique while maintaining his advantage.
Suppressed like this, Nalan Yanran revealed her true realm.
One-star Dou King!
"Shhh, Nalan Yanran is actually a Dou King."
"An eighteen-year-old Dou King. Truly terrifying."
"The foundation of the Misty Cloud Sect is truly unfathomable."
"But the current Xiao Clan is not simple either."
"The Fourth Young Master of the Xiao Clan is a Dou Venerable expert who built the Purple Sky Hall in the Black-Corner Region."
"As expected…"
After several more exchanges of martial arts, Xiao Yan also revealed his cultivation realm.
He was also a Dou King — three-star level.
"Mid-level Earth-rank battle technique."
"Burning Flame, Burning Heaven Slash!"
Boom!
In the end, Xiao Yan obtained many trump cards and won the battle using only the mid-level Earth-rank battle technique he had mastered.
"I lost."
Nalan Yanran bit her lip hard.
If she could go back three years, would she still break off the engagement?
Nalan Yanran did not regret it — perhaps only she knew, but at this moment, there was one person who deeply regretted it.
It was Feng Qing Er!
[Feng Qing Er]: It's unfair. Why am I the mount?
[Feng Qing Er]: I am Feng Qing Er. I don't want to be your mount.
[Feng Qing Er]: I was actually forced by him.
[Feng Qing Er]: Just because you have three-star Dou Venerable, you can do whatever you want?
[Feng Qing Er]: You still won't allow me to call someone? So annoying, so annoying.
[Feng Qing Er]: I really regret it. I shouldn't have listened to you guys and acted arrogantly in Purple Sky City.
When asked why Feng Qing Er regretted so much, the reason was actually very simple.
Following the plan discussed in the chat group earlier, she had entrusted Purple Sky City to search for the possible location where a Dou Venerable of her clan, the Heavenly Demon Phoenix, had fallen.
In Purple Sky City, she "accidentally" discovered Zi Yan and felt that her aura was unpleasant.
Thus, the two Dou Kings fought fiercely.
Feng Qing Er, who was slightly weakened, chose to call for help.
For this operation, both the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan and the Wind Lightning Pavilion had sent Dou Ancestor experts to protect her.
However, when these two made a move, Cai Lin, who had been waiting to act, followed and easily defeated them.
Feng Qing Er immediately introduced herself and said that if Purple Sky City did not work respectfully, she would call for help.
Cai Lin "quickly" called someone and crushed the spatial jade slip left by Xiao Ting.
When Xiao Ting appeared, he immediately imprisoned Feng Qing Er.
Not only that, he engraved a restriction on Feng Qing Er's soul and said, "I didn't expect the daughter of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan to appear in the Black-Corner Region and cause me trouble."
"I definitely won't accept it, but that's fine. You don't need to accept it. Just obediently become my mount."
"On the Dou Qi Continent, riding a Heavenly Demon Phoenix is quite elegant. Especially since your mother is a Dou Saint."
"But your power is still too weak. If you call me Master, I'll help you increase your power."
"Don't even think about it!"
Feng Qing Er lay on the ground in shame and raised her head stubbornly. "If you have the guts, kill me. Then we'll be buried together immediately. Don't think about giving me a shameful name."
"Understood. I like stubborn people like you."
Xiao Ting smiled and released Purple Beast Flame, sealing Feng Qing Er in the Heavenly Flame space. "You can come out anytime when you're willing to call me Master."
Amid the raging Purple Beast Flame, Feng Qing Er almost wanted to call him Master immediately.
It hurt! Pain from her bloodline. It was within tolerable range, but she didn't want to suffer.
[Zi Yan]: Then just call him Master. Why suffer? As long as you achieve the goal, hehe!
[Feng Qing Er]: Are you laughing?
[Zi Yan]: Hey, I'm just smug. Come on, mount.
[Cao Ying]: Things have come to this. What's the point of struggling?
Everyone comforted Feng Qing Er and made her accept her fate. But she didn't want to.
However, in the next moment, she said, "It smells so good!"
…