Seven-star Dou Master

Upon entering Jia Nan City, its prosperity was astonishing, and its crowds were far greater than those of the Jia Ma Empire's Imperial Capital.

As expected of the birthplace of the continent's oldest academy, its reputation alone drew outstanding talents from all across the continent to study here.

There were many shops along the streets, with medicinal herbs considered rare in the Jia Ma Empire casually displayed within them.

The city itself was of a fairly normal size, but its streets were simply too vast. Instructor Ruolin led the new students for about half an hour before they finally caught sight of the academy's outline.

Several other instructors were also leading the new students they had recruited. After greeting Instructor Ruolin, they entered Jia Nan Academy together.

Instructor Ruolin first brought the new students through the various registration procedures, then assigned them their dormitories.

After settling most matters, Instructor Ruolin led Xiao Shuang down several shaded paths and into an elegant, tranquil pavilion.

Seeing Xiao Shuang's confusion, Instructor Ruolin explained, "Your current strength is already at the Five-star Dou Master level, and if my estimate is correct, you should break through again before long, right?"

Xiao Shuang nodded and did not conceal his strength. He expected to break through within the next couple of days, then find a quiet place to practice Dou Techniques. The Frosty Snow Step particularly interested him.

Instructor Ruolin wore an expression as though she had expected this. She poured herself a cup of tea, found a seat, and gestured for Xiao Shuang to sit wherever he pleased.

Only after Xiao Shuang sat down did Instructor Ruolin smile lightly. "If I'm not mistaken, your cultivation method must be quite unusual. After all, I've never seen anyone cultivate at such a rapid pace through ordinary means."

"Yes. Then what does Instructor Ruolin mean?" Xiao Shuang picked up the teapot, poured tea into the cup before him, and took a small sip.

Hearing this, Instructor Ruolin shot Xiao Shuang a look. Her voice was gentle, but her words were earnest. "I know everyone has their own secrets, so naturally I won't make things difficult for you. If you lived with those new students, I imagine you would find it troublesome as well. So, choose a room here with me. The space may not be as broad, but it is quiet, and people generally won't disturb you."

"Thank you, Instructor Ruolin." Xiao Shuang thanked her gratefully. Instructor Ruolin's kindness and thoughtfulness truly moved him. Such consideration naturally won people over. She truly was a teacher worthy of respect.

It seemed there was a reason so many students liked Instructor Ruolin. The way those female students from Jia Nan Academy had gathered around her from the very beginning said it all.

"Hehe, little fellow, go choose a room you like first. Two female students are also staying here, but don't worry. They're both easy to get along with."

Every room in the pavilion had a sign hanging outside it. Most of the signs read "Vacant." Flipping one over revealed the marking on its reverse, indicating that the room was occupied.

Xiao Shuang chose a room farther inside, flipped over its sign, and entered.

He took bedding from his storage ring. Ping'er had packed all this luggage for him. Thinking of the little maid, Xiao Shuang recalled that before leaving, he had arranged for her to stay by his grandfather's side. With Third Elder's protection, she likely would not suffer any grievances.

After spreading the bedding over the bed, he found the whole room neat and tidy. It was obvious that it was cleaned regularly.

Xiao Shuang lay sprawled across the bed and closed his eyes, savoring this long-lost feeling of peace. He did not cultivate. For now, he only needed to adjust himself to his best state. If all went smoothly, he could prepare to break through tomorrow. If he cultivated too impatiently in pursuit of quick success, things might instead go against his wishes.

After dozing for a while, Xiao Shuang opened his eyes again to find that it was already late at night. The moonlight stone hanging in the room emitted a soft glow, bright without being harsh.

Sitting up from the bed, Xiao Shuang shook his head, which felt somewhat heavy from sleeping too long, and gave a wry smile. He had only intended to rest his eyes for a while. It seemed he truly had been too tired.

Though his mind was still somewhat groggy, Xiao Shuang could feel that his body had reached its optimal state. Now was the best time to break through.

He drew out a portion of the medicinal power stored within his body, turning it into the purest energy as it flowed through his meridians.

The vortex within his lower abdomen also began to churn violently. Thick energy, nearly liquid in form, started revolving around it.

As the vortex spun, drops of blue liquid energy abruptly appeared within it, while Xiao Shuang's strength continued to rise.

Six-star Dou Master!

However, Xiao Shuang's tightly furrowed brows drew together as another portion of the medicinal power stored within his body was released.

With the support of this medicinal power, it was not impossible for him to break through to the Seven-star Dou Master level. Xiao Shuang intended to seize his current condition and break through in one go!

If he activated all the medicinal power in his body, breaking through to the Dou Ling realm would not be difficult. However, doing so carried the risk that the medicinal power would burst Xiao Shuang's body apart.

Once the circulating energy within him reached equilibrium, Xiao Shuang's hand seal suddenly changed. A muffled sound came from within his body as his aura burst forth, somewhat beyond his control.

Upon sensing that aura, Instructor Ruolin was stunned. This little fellow had broken through to the Seven-star Dou Master level? He had jumped two stars in a row—how was that possible?

The eruption of his aura lasted only an instant before Xiao Shuang drew it back into his body.

For the time being, he did not wish to refine the remaining medicinal power within him. Although it could raise his strength by a considerable level, refining it so hastily would inevitably waste some of its energy.

Just like moments ago, when he had forcibly broken through to the Seven-star Dou Master level, he had wasted some medicinal power. That wasted power would have been enough to restore his Dou Qi twice.

That night, feeling the abundant Dou Qi within him, Xiao Shuang directly opened the window and nimbly leaped out, landing atop a stone some distance away.

It was time to practice the Frosty Snow Step!

With a light flick of his sleeve, a stream of Dou Qi struck a large tree nearby. After the trunk swayed several times, dozens of leaves slowly drifted down together.

Xiao Shuang flicked his fingers, and icy blue Dou Qi directly coated the leaves, causing frost to gather over their surfaces.

A gentle breeze blew, and the leaves danced along with it. Xiao Shuang leaped up as Dou Qi coiled around the tips of his feet.

The instant his toe touched a leaf, the frost upon it was unable to withstand the pressure and shattered. The leaf itself split down the middle, breaking into several pieces.

The mark of reaching minor mastery in the Frosty Snow Step was this: after one's toe touched a frost-covered leaf, the leaf remained undamaged while the frost shattered.

At major mastery, the frost would remain intact while the leaf was cleanly torn into two halves.

His first attempt ended in utter failure, but Xiao Shuang was not discouraged. He leaped up again and stepped onto another leaf.

The leaves were shattered beyond recognition. Xiao Shuang sat beneath the tree and adjusted the somewhat disordered Dou Qi within his body.