Sun-Swallowing Qi Gathering Ability Upgraded!

Xiao Yao set aside those speculations, which were far beyond his present reach.

No matter how difficult reaching 100% analysis progress might be, it was not something he could consider right now.

He returned the book about the continent's mountains, rivers, and local sights to the shelf, intending to first see how much his abilities had improved.

Xiao Yao returned to the residence the academy had arranged for him. It was a three-story house with a courtyard, set in quiet and pleasant surroundings.

Standing in the courtyard, Xiao Yao bathed in the sunlight and sensed the energy it contained. Then he began to cultivate.

As his analysis progress increased, Xiao Yao's ability to use Sun Power would improve along with it.

The two abilities he had gained through Analyze the Sun, Sun-Swallowing Qi Gathering and Bathe in Yang and Heal Wounds, would also grow stronger.

The amount of Sun Power that Sun-Swallowing Qi Gathering could draw in and absorb at 1% analysis progress was completely different from the amount at 10%.

After testing it for a while, Xiao Yao looked at his Panel and found that the description of Sun-Swallowing Qi Gathering had gained something.

[Sun-Swallowing Qi Gathering (obtained at 0.1% analysis progress): absorb solar energy for your own use, improve cultivation, and rapidly restore your own Dou Qi.]

Xiao Yao's eyes lit up as he read the new effect.

He immediately wanted to try out the rapid Dou Qi recovery.

He took out his fiery red spear and gathered Dou Qi along its shaft.

As a large amount of Dou Qi poured into it, the shaft turned golden-red.

The next instant, Xiao Yao thrust the spear fiercely toward the sky.

Surging Dou Qi transformed into a dazzling golden-red spear light that shot into the heavens!

But before the spear light could fully unfurl, Xiao Yao shook his spear violently, deliberately shredding it into a shower of brilliant golden streaks several zhang above the ground.

The golden streaks drifted down and vanished. Bathed in their light, Xiao Yao sensed the recovery of the Dou Qi within him.

The next instant, Xiao Yao snapped his eyes open. It had fully recovered!

Although he had not consumed much Dou Qi just now, it had still been around a tenth of his reserves. To his surprise, it had recovered in almost the span of a few breaths.

Xiao Yao was overjoyed. He had not expected Sun-Swallowing Qi Gathering to become so powerful after its improvement.

The description of the effect was simple, but in practice, the speed at which it restored his Dou Qi was extraordinary.

Xiao Yao thought for a moment. If he was going to test it, he might as well be thorough.

He suppressed Sun-Swallowing Qi Gathering, then frantically expended the Dou Qi within him in the courtyard.

Only after he had exhausted every last bit of Dou Qi did Xiao Yao take a deep breath and stop suppressing the ability.

He then sensed it silently. The Dou Qi within him recovered at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The energy contained in the sunlight outside flowed into Xiao Yao's body as silently as rain nourishing the earth.

One breath, two breaths... fifteen breaths, twenty breaths!

Xiao Yao snapped his eyes open. He needed only twenty breaths to recover all his Dou Qi.

That speed of recovery was terrifying.

In battle, as long as he controlled the pace a little, he could have an almost unlimited supply of Dou Qi.

Of course, that depended on there being plenty of sunlight.

At night, he could only rely on his own Dou Qi to fight.

Even so, Xiao Yao was already very satisfied.

Just as Xiao Yao was testing his recovery ability to his heart's content, someone suddenly knocked on the courtyard gate.

Instructor Ruo Lin's voice came from outside, carrying a trace of concern.

"Xiao Yao, are you all right? Why are the Dou Qi fluctuations in your courtyard so intense?"

Xiao Yao put his spear away. With a movement of his feet, he used a movement Dou Technique and went straight to the courtyard gate.

He opened it to find Instructor Ruo Lin standing there, her figure as lovely and gentle as water.

"Instructor Ruo Lin, nothing's wrong. I was practicing a Dou Technique."

Xiao Yao offered a casual explanation. In that brief time, the Dou Qi within him had already fully recovered.

When the courtyard gate opened, Ruo Lin could not help taking half a step back.

A scorching wave of heat washed over her face, as though she had stepped out of a cool room into the sun at the height of a hot afternoon.

Sensing the Dou Qi fluctuations lingering in the courtyard, Ruo Lin could not help giving Xiao Yao a few more looks. With fluctuations like these, could his strength have improved again?

Ruo Lin then pushed aside her doubts and spoke to Xiao Yao.

"I've already told the academy's upper echelons about you, and they're willing to give you preferential treatment."

"As for your request to read the academy's books, Dou Techniques, and even cultivation methods, the academy is willing to give you access to Yellow Tier Dou Techniques and cultivation methods."

"But the academy's upper echelons are hesitant about giving you access to higher-tier Dou Techniques and cultivation methods."

Xiao Yao nodded. Just as he had expected. Even in the Xiao Clan, he had had to go to some trouble to read cultivation methods.

Only after establishing an Extreme Yang Land for the Xiao Clan and rendering a great service had he been allowed into the Dou Qi Pavilion to read them.

He had only just become a new student at the academy. There was no way the academy would give him access to high-tier Dou Techniques and cultivation methods based on talent alone, however he looked at it.

Seeing how unruffled Xiao Yao was, Ruo Lin knew he had already expected this.

She gave him a gentle smile and continued:

"But there happens to be an opportunity right now. The Inner Academy Selection Tournament is in a few days. If you can stand out in the tournament, the upper echelons might be willing to relent."

Xiao Yao nodded to show he understood, then smiled and said to Instructor Ruo Lin:

"Then please help me sign up, Instructor Ruo Lin. I'll take part in the Inner Academy Selection Tournament and strive to take first place!"

Hearing Xiao Yao's bold declaration, Ruo Lin's smile grew even wider.

She had been an instructor for many years and knew boys of sixteen or seventeen all too well. Full of vigor, they were at an age when they feared neither heaven nor earth.

So Ruo Lin was not too surprised to hear Xiao Yao say he would compete for first place. Instead, she patted him on the shoulder, quite pleased.

"Then I'll look forward to seeing how you perform."

As Ruo Lin spoke, a trace of curiosity appeared in her beautiful eyes.

"Xiao Yao, tell me honestly. How many stars have you reached as a Da Dou Shi?"

Xiao Yao could not help chuckling at the sight of Instructor Ruo Lin's curiosity. It was rare to see that expression on her face.

"Three-star Da Dou Shi. I broke through when I reached the great plains of the Black-Corner Region."

Ruo Lin's beautiful eyes widened, and she drew a sharp breath.

She had previously heard about Xiao Yao's breakthroughs from Xun'er, but it had always felt somewhat unreal.

Now that she had personally experienced the speed of Xiao Yao's breakthroughs, she finally understood that Xun'er had spoken the truth.

Such cultivation talent was simply monstrous.

After all, when Xiao Yao had first met her, he had only recently broken through to Da Dou Shi.

Yet in the mere one or two months it had taken to reach the academy, he had broken through two stars in succession and reached the level of a three-star Da Dou Shi.

Hearing someone else talk about it had always felt unreal, but even experiencing it in person felt somewhat unreal and hard to believe.

Seeing Instructor Ruo Lin's dazed expression, Xiao Yao could not help smiling. That was an expression he often saw on her face.