Earth Water Fire Wind

Chapter 8

In this vast world, there existed certain Heavenly Flames. Perhaps they were sparks carried within a meteorite fallen from the heavens, or perhaps they were molten earthfire tempered for thousands of years deep within a volcano...

These Heavenly Flames were far more powerful than flames catalyzed by Dou Qi, and they could also enhance the potency of medicinal pills when used in alchemy.

However, these Heavenly Flames were extremely violent. They were rarely encountered, and even if one found them, it was exceedingly difficult to claim them for oneself.

Among the many Heavenly Flames in this world, there was a ranking system—the origin of the Heavenly Flame Ranking.

Falling Heart Flame ranked fourteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking.

This Heavenly Flame arose from the heart, tempering Qi and refining bones. It was known as a "cultivation cheat," capable of accelerating cultivation.

Once Falling Heart Flame was successfully refined, a Heartfire would continuously arise within the body, burning the Dou Qi within day and night, every moment without pause.

Under such nearly ceaseless tempering, it was as though one's body remained in a state of cultivation at all times.

Of course, Falling Heart Flame's greatest use was as material for a Heavenly Flame, to be absorbed by the Blazing Flame Formula and raise its grade.

"The Blazing Flame Formula is a good thing, but it doesn't suit me."

Xiao Lin shook his head. There were only so many Heavenly Flames in this world. They were either hidden deep in remote mountains and forests, surrounded by countless traps, or subdued by powerful experts, making them difficult to obtain.

If he cultivated the Blazing Flame Formula too, would he have to compete with his precious grandson Xiao Yan for Heavenly Flames?

Besides, he had a system far more powerful than the Blazing Flame Formula. Even if the Blazing Flame Formula were cultivated into a Heaven Grade technique, wouldn't he still have to cultivate it himself?

But Xiao Lin's Family System only required his clan members to cultivate. He could level up while lying around and sleeping every day, saving both time and effort.

Besides, once his grandson gathered the complete Blazing Flame Formula, One Tenth of his daily cultivation would be fed back to Xiao Lin. He would benefit as well.

"The Blazing Flame Formula doesn't matter much to me, but I still need a powerful cultivation technique."

The Raging Lion's Fury that Xiao Lin cultivated was merely a Mysterious Tier Mid-grade technique. For someone who had already become a Dou Wang, it was no longer quite sufficient.

On the Dou Qi Continent, cultivation techniques were divided into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow. Each grade was further divided into low, mid, and high grades, making twelve grades in total.

The grade of one's Dou Qi cultivation technique was also key to determining one's future achievements. For example, among those at the same level, someone cultivating a Mysterious Tier Mid-grade technique would naturally be several degrees stronger than someone cultivating a Yellow Tier High-grade technique.

For people in the same realm, whether one was strong or weak depended on cultivation techniques and Dou Skills.

Like cultivation techniques, Dou Skills were also divided into the twelve grades of Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow.

Xiao Lin's hardware was absolutely sufficient. With the strength of a Two-Star Fighting King, he could dominate Wutan City.

But when it came to software, he was still using the Raging Lion's Fury and the Xiao Family's low-grade Dou Skills. In battles against opponents of the same level, that put him at too great a disadvantage.

"Our Xiao Clan isn't without Heaven Grade techniques. They've just been kept for us by some 'kindhearted people'..."

Xiao Lin chuckled coldly to himself. He would reclaim the Xiao Family's cultivation techniques sooner or later. For now, he still needed to lie low and develop the Xiao Family.

"Should I cultivate this thing...?"

Xiao Lin quietly called out to the system.

Name: Xiao Lin

Cultivation: Two-Star Fighting King

Cultivation Technique: Raging Lion's Fury, Earth Water Fire Wind (System Reward)

Identity: Xiao Family Old Ancestor, Former Patriarch

Xiao Family Clan Members: 198

Selected Clan Member: Xiao Yan

Cultivation Feedback: When clan members cultivate, the host will receive bonuses.

Cultivation Breakthrough: Two-Star Fighting King (7%)

When a clan member selected by the system made a breakthrough, there could be other rewards besides Dou Qi rewards.

At this moment, Xiao Lin held a cultivation technique granted after Xiao Yan's breakthrough, named Earth Water Fire Wind.

As its name implied, this cultivation technique could cultivate four attributes at once, making it extraordinarily powerful.

However, what left Xiao Lin hesitant was that, like the Blazing Flame Formula, this technique seemed somewhat unreliable because it had no specified grade.

The Blazing Flame Formula was initially a Yellow Grade technique, but its grade could be raised later by devouring Heavenly Flames.

Earth Water Fire Wind, on the other hand, did not even count as Yellow Grade. Cultivating this technique was equivalent to cultivating four techniques at once: Earth Attribute, Water Attribute, Fire Attribute, and Wind Attribute.

"Let me think it over carefully first."

Xiao Lin was still hesitant. Just from the description, he could tell that cultivating it to a profound level would require an enormous amount of time. After all, he had to cultivate four attributes simultaneously.

He worried that the feedback currently provided by the Xiao Family was not enough. If he switched cultivation techniques and his realm failed to advance, that would be rather awkward.

"Build high walls, stockpile grain, and claim kingship slowly."

Xiao Lin wrote down those nine words and hung them in his Study Room.

Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, nearly half a year had gone by. It was time for Jia Nan Academy's recruitment.

At the command of Xiao Lin, the Old Ancestor, the Xiao Family spent vast resources nurturing the younger generation, mainly Xiao Yan, Xiao Xun'er, Xiao Ning, and Xiao Mei.

Xiao Qing was too young to be included, while Xiao Yu had been delayed by some matters. It took her nearly half a year before she returned to the Xiao Family from Jia Nan Academy.

However, upon her return, she was utterly bewildered by the Xiao Family's complete transformation.

Outside the original Xiao Family residence stood two stone lions, imposing and solemn.

Now, there were eight stone lions arranged in rows, with a plaque reading Xiao Mansion hanging high above them. A powerful aura bore down on her at once.

"Miss Xiao Yu."

Beside each stone lion stood a guard, every one of them alert and standing tall. They all bowed to Xiao Yu together, leaving her repeatedly stunned, like a country bumpkin entering a grand estate.

After the Xiao Family became Wutan City's foremost great clan, it undertook a massive reconstruction. The original Xiao Family compound had been transformed into a grand garden with nine courtyards in nine rows, its area alone expanding more than tenfold.

Within the Xiao Family, pavilions and towers rose one after another. Bluestone paths covered the entire estate, while gardens, ponds, and Plazas were all present. It was luxurious and magnificent.

"Th-This... is this really the Xiao Family...?"

Xiao Yu was completely dazed. She had only returned home half a year late—how had the entire Xiao Family become so utterly different?

Inside a small pavilion, Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er sat together, discussing something.

Suddenly, Xiao Xun'er gave a soft cry and pointed behind Xiao Yan with her slender fingers.

Following Xun Er's finger, Xiao Yan saw a Woman looking around in confusion, seemingly at a loss.

The woman wore academy robes and carried a longsword at her waist. She was rather tall, but most eye-catching of all were her long, shapely legs. Every step she took seemed enough to tread upon any man's heart.

"She's finally back..."

The Xiao Family's atmosphere had improved greatly after the reforms, but Xiao Yan knew that this woman had only just returned and had not experienced that period of reform. Whether she would make peace with him or continue causing trouble was hard to say...

Suddenly, a series of crisp footsteps sounded out, and Xiao Yan felt a chill run down his back.