Old Man Yao's Shock, the Natural Compatibility Between Fen Jue and the Method for Shaping Exotic Flame Spiritual Meridians!

After exchanging pleasantries with the Xiao Family, Lu Yu settled Hai Bodong and Qing Lin in before heading alone to the Back Mountain.

The setting sun slanted across the land, while bursts of whistling fist winds echoed through the forest. From afar, a bare-chested youth could be seen, sweat pouring down his body as pale yellow Dou Qi condensed around his fists and crashed fiercely into a thick tree trunk.

Eight Extreme Collapse!

Boom!

The trunk exploded, splinters scattering as spiderweb-like cracks spread across it.

The corners of Lu Yu's mouth lifted slightly as he approached at an unhurried pace, clapping lightly. "Not bad. In just a few months, Brother Yan has already broken through to the Dou Zhe realm. It seems Senior Old Man Yao has taught you well."

Xiao Yan turned at the sound, stunned for a moment before delight filled his face. "Brother Lu? You're back from your travels?"

He hurried forward, his eyes brimming with excitement. When they had last parted, he had only been at the eighth stage of Dou Qi. Yet now, under Old Man Yao's guidance, he had returned to the Dou Zhe realm.

"Looks like you've gained quite a bit during this time." Lu Yu's gaze swept over Xiao Yan's sturdy frame as he smiled.

"Hehe, it's all thanks to Teacher."

Xiao Yan scratched his head and chuckled.

At that moment, the air rippled, and Old Man Yao's phantom slowly emerged. With his hands behind his back, he scrutinized Lu Yu for a moment before letting out a soft sound of surprise. "A Third-grade Alchemist? Young Lu, you've improved quite a bit."

Lu Yu respectfully clasped his hands. "It was thanks to Senior's previous guidance that this junior achieved what he has today."

Old Man Yao stroked his beard with a smile, satisfaction flashing through his eyes. "It is because you are an exceptionally perceptive child. During this trip to the Tagor Desert, did you find any traces of Heavenly Flames?"

Lu Yu sighed softly and recounted his experiences. "This junior did discover the lotus pedestal of the Green Lotus Core Flame in an underground magma chamber, but unfortunately, someone had already gotten to the Heavenly Flame first."

He paused, then took a scale shimmering with seven-colored light from his Storage Ring. "I only found this."

"This is... Queen Medusa's scale?!"

Old Man Yao's expression hardened.

"On my way back, this junior also heard that Pill King Gu He had led a group to the Snake-human Race to seize the Heavenly Flame."

Lu Yu's expression was grave. "As a result, the Misty Cloud Sect's sect leader who accompanied him was struck by the Five Snake Poison Brake Seal and nearly lost her life..."

"She was later saved by an unidentified Alchemist..."

"If my guess is correct, the Green Lotus Core Flame should still be in the Snake-human Sacred City."

Xiao Yan's eyes suddenly lit up, and he slapped his hands together. "Teacher, isn't this perfect..."

Old Man Yao shook his head slightly, a contemplative look flashing through his eyes. "The Snake-human Race has always possessed cold Yin constitutions. Why would they need a Heavenly Flame? If it were for trade, then with Gu He's status as a Sixth-grade Alchemist, he should have obtained it long ago..."

Xiao Yan froze at those words, confusion surfacing on his face. "Teacher, are you saying there's something strange about this?"

Old Man Yao nodded, then turned his gaze to Lu Yu. "Young Lu, you mentioned finding Queen Medusa's scale?"

Lu Yu nodded steadily. "That's right. It was at the place where the Green Lotus Core Flame had originally been."

A sharp light flashed through Old Man Yao's eyes as he sank into thought. "Could it be..."

He slowly stroked his beard, his tone solemn. "I have heard a rumor before. The Snake-human Race possesses a secret ancient method that can use the power of a Heavenly Flame to temper their bloodline and break through the shackles of their race."

Xiao Yan's expression tightened. "Teacher, are you saying... Queen Medusa intends to evolve using the Heavenly Flame?"

Old Man Yao nodded faintly. "However, this method is exceedingly dangerous. I have traveled the continent for hundreds of years, yet I have never personally seen anyone succeed."

He looked at Xiao Yan and said earnestly, "This matter is no trivial one. If that is truly the case, then Queen Medusa is likely even more dangerous now."

"If she has not evolved, I might still be able to take you to seize the Green Lotus Core Flame. But if she has already succeeded, then in my current condition, I may not be able to snatch that flame from her and the many Snake-human Race experts."

At those words, Xiao Yan's face immediately turned grim. He clenched his fists until his knuckles turned faintly white. "Then my cultivation..."

Seeing this, Old Man Yao sighed. "Foolish child, Heavenly Flames may be good, but you must act within your capabilities."

His illusory hand gently patted Xiao Yan's shoulder as he comforted him. "Besides, the continent is vast. There is more than one Heavenly Flame."

Lu Yu stood quietly to the side, countless thoughts running through his mind. In the memories of his previous life, Xiao Yan and Old Man Yao should have taken advantage of the chaos during Gu He's confrontation with the Snake-human Race to seize the Heavenly Flame.

Yet now, because of his intervention, Gu He had acted early instead, cutting off this opportunity for Xiao Yan.

At this thought, a contemplative look flashed through Lu Yu's eyes. He then took an ancient Jade Slip from his Storage Ring and handed it to Xiao Yan. "Brother Yan, I happened to obtain a secret method during my travels. Since you will be learning alchemy from Senior Old Man Yao, you will certainly need to subdue Heavenly Flames in the future. This method may prove useful."

As his words fell, both Xiao Yan and Old Man Yao fixed their gazes on the Jade Slip.

Curiosity flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes as he reached out and accepted it.

Old Man Yao, meanwhile, maintained the composure of a senior, standing with his hands behind his back and a calm expression on his face—given his identity as the mighty Venerable Yao, the number one Alchemist in the Central Plains, what secret method had he not seen before?

Naturally, he had to maintain the dignity of a senior before the younger generation.

However, when Xiao Yan opened the Jade Slip and Old Man Yao casually swept it with his Soul power, his phantom suddenly trembled violently. He abruptly leaned closer, his aged face full of disbelief. "This... how is this possible..."

The Jade Slip recorded the "Method for Shaping Exotic Flame Spiritual Meridians," whose ingenious conception and bold ideas moved even someone as knowledgeable as him.

That unique method for shaping Spiritual Meridians could actually create within the human body a peculiar thing known as a Spiritual Meridian, thereby accelerating cultivation!

Even more astonishingly, once these Spiritual Meridians were successfully shaped, they could not only greatly increase the speed at which one absorbed the energy of heaven and earth, but they would continuously strengthen as one's cultivation improved, eventually even forming a powerful Dou Technique known as a Spiritual Vein Divine Ability!

After quickly reading through it, Xiao Yan suddenly widened his eyes and said in disbelief, "Teacher, why does this secret method seem so perfectly matched with the cultivation technique you gave me?"

He looked suspiciously at Old Man Yao. "When you gave me that cultivation technique... you didn't secretly hold something back, did you?"

"You rebellious disciple!"

Old Man Yao was so furious that his phantom became several degrees more solid. Raising his hand, he gave Xiao Yan a sharp knock on the head. "How dare you doubt your teacher? I have already fallen to such a state. Would I still keep secrets from you?"

He turned to Lu Yu, sharp light flickering in his eyes. "Young Lu, where did you obtain this secret method? The person who created it may have attained a deeper understanding of Heavenly Flames than even I have!"

A trace of well-timed confusion appeared on Lu Yu's face. "It was quite a coincidence. While purchasing medicinal ingredients at the market in Stone Desert City, I happened upon an inconspicuous piece of iron that could block my Soul power from probing it."

"Out of curiosity, I bought it. Later, when I tempered it with a Heavenly Flame, I never expected it to reveal such a secret method."

Hearing this, Old Man Yao's phantom swayed slightly, a thoughtful gleam appearing in his eyes. "Stone Desert City..."

He murmured quietly, as though recalling something.

Xiao Yan keenly noticed his teacher's unusual reaction. "Teacher, have you been there?"

Old Man Yao sighed. "Though I have traveled the continent for many years, I have never set foot in a remote place such as the Jia Ma Empire, much less a small city like Stone Desert City."

His illusory figure swayed slightly, amazement glittering in his eyes. "But the person capable of creating such a secret method was likely an unparalleled expert at least at the Dou Sheng level. Young Lu, you have given my disciple and me an enormous opportunity!"

Lu Yu smiled modestly. "Senior flatters me. Though this secret method is ingenious, without a Heavenly Flame to accompany it, it is ultimately like a clever housewife trying to cook without rice."

He gazed into the distance with deep eyes, speaking with considerable emotion. "There are only twenty-three Heavenly Flames on the Heavenly Flame Ranking of the Dou Qi Continent. Those who can truly use this method likely number only a few dozen."

As he spoke, he looked solemnly at the two of them. "I only hope Senior and Brother Yan will keep this secret and not spread it."

Old Man Yao's expression turned solemn, and his phantom grew several degrees more solid. "Naturally. If such a secret method were to spread, it would certainly cause a tremendous uproar."

He turned toward Xiao Yan, his tone more severe than ever. "Yan'er, will you remember this?"

Xiao Yan nodded heavily and carefully stored the Jade Slip in his Storage Ring. "Brother Lu, rest assured. Xiao Yan will remember this favor in his heart."

Lu Yu smiled faintly and softly acknowledged it.

This is merely the secret method you will create in the future. I am only returning it to its rightful owner, Flame Emperor.

Old Man Yao stared at Lu Yu's calm face, his phantom trembling slightly. After a long silence, he suddenly let out a long sigh. "So be it..."

Old Man Yao's illusory figure abruptly became more solid, and an immense Soul power enveloped the three of them. His expression was solemn as never before. "Young Lu, since you have treated us with sincerity, I will not hide anything either."

"Your 'Method for Shaping Exotic Flame Spiritual Meridians' and the cultivation technique I gave Little Yan are a match made in heaven."

Old Man Yao's gaze was piercing as he spoke in a deep voice. "Today, I will also teach this cultivation technique to you. Consider it a return gift."

With that, he flicked his finger, and a profound stream of light shot directly into Lu Yu's glabella.

"Senior, you..."

Before Lu Yu could finish speaking, an enormous flood of information surged into his mind like a tide. When he finally absorbed it and opened his eyes, an almost imperceptible strange look flashed through them—

What Old Man Yao had taught him was none other than Fen Jue!