Flame Mantra

The Three Elders seated beside Xiao Zhan were just as incredulous. A year ago, he had still been at Dou Qi Stage 3, and now he had become Seventh Stage?

Such speed was truly shocking.

"Heh heh, this is truly cause for celebration..."

The Three Elders secretly glanced at Yao Wan beside Xiao Zhan. Though they were still unwillingly offering congratulations with their mouths, they could not help guessing in their hearts whether this Wan Guniang had secretly fed Xiao Yan some miraculous pill, allowing him to soar back into the sky again in the blink of an eye after being a cripple for three years.

But in the end, such guesses were only guesses. It was enough for them to think about it privately.

They might not even have the courage to say a word or two about it in private.

After all, the one standing behind Xiao Yan now was a Dou Wang-level expert, not someone a few Da Dou Shi like them could afford to offend.

Now that she had seen what she wanted to see, Yao Wan looked at the young man and young girl walking side by side below the platform, then flicked her sleeve and turned to leave.

Only after Yao Wan had left the Training Field did the elders look at Xiao Zhan, saying nothing.

"Heh."

Xiao Zhan laughed. Truly, a good horse was ridden, and a kind man was bullied. Once he had broken through to Seven Star Da Dou Shi, and even had hope of reaching Dou Ling, these old fellows had much less idle gossip to spread.

Going from Dou Qi Stage 3 to Dou Zhe in a single year?

They had truly seen a ghost!

Most of the young men and young girls below the platform had such thoughts.

But the test result was right there, leaving them no room to argue.

"Xiao Yan Gege is amazing. You directly reached Dou Zhe already, while I'm only at Dou Qi Ninth Stage!"

Xun'er stayed beside Xiao Yan, like a noisy little sparrow, yet somehow made it hard for anyone to dislike her.

"It was just luck..."

Xiao Yan gently shook his head. Others did not know, but he was well aware of just how difficult it had been for him to return his Dou Qi to its peak in just one year, or even half a year.

Half a year of physical tempering and half a year of Dou Qi training—neither could be missing. Only together had they created this thing that even he felt was a miracle.

As he spoke, Xiao Yan subconsciously looked up at the high platform again. However, aside from his Father and the elders, that beautiful figure was nowhere to be seen.

Had Wan Guniang gone back again?

For no reason, Xiao Yan felt a faint little regret in his heart.

He had originally wanted to go up just like this and properly brag to her.

What a pity.

But at least he had not disappointed her, right?

Xiao Xun'er, who had also noticed Yao Wan quietly leave the platform, subconsciously wrapped her arm around Xiao Yan's.

"Xiao Yan Gege, what are you looking at?"

"I'm looking at Father. Look, Father's clothes are all wet. He probably accidentally knocked over his teacup just now."

Xiao Yan answered without a change in expression.

Yao Lao, who was hiding inside the Storage Ring, was amused. Brat, he had learned to be clever. He had learned to use his own father as a shield.

"Wu..."

Xun'er pouted her Cherry Lips. As clever as ice and snow, she naturally knew who Xiao Yan Gege had wanted to see just now.

But since the facts were as they were, she was too embarrassed to directly pick apart the topic, and could only let Xiao Yan muddle through like this.

Just as Xiao Yan let out a breath of relief, he heard Yao Lao snickering softly by his ear.

"Teacher, what are you laughing at..."

Xiao Yan, guilty as a thief, even had a flush spread across his face.

"I'm laughing because some people not only grow fast in cultivation, they even grow crafty..."

And watching Xiao Yan swagger off arm in arm with the goddess of the entire Xiao Clan naturally drew a wave of wails and howls from the others.

Xiao Mei gazed after them eagerly, but in the end, she merely sighed, then turned and left.

However, Xiao Yan did not end up sticking close to Xun'er for long before he returned to his own residence.

"Eh, Teacher, since I've already cultivated to Dou Zhe, then the Qi Method..."

"Oh, which one do you want?"

"The... the one Teacher mentioned before, the one that can evolve?"

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, an inexplicable look flashed across Yao Lao's face, and he unexpectedly fell somewhat silent.

"Teacher, what's wrong? Don't tell me that Qi Method was something you used to fool me?"

Seeing Yao Lao's expression, Xiao Yan could not help asking somewhat uneasily.

"This Qi Method can indeed evolve. I didn't lie to you about that."

"Then..."

"But it's very dangerous. According to my estimate, the probability of you successfully practicing it is probably only twenty percent."

"Twenty percent...? It can't be that low, right..."

"I'm afraid it really is that low."

Yao Lao looked at Xiao Yan, then sighed.

"Teacher, can you tell me the general method of practicing this Qi Method?"

Yao Lao rubbed his dry palms together. After hesitating for a moment, he finally said softly, "The condition for this Qi Method's evolution is also related to the 'Heavenly Flames' I mentioned to you a few days ago."

Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes slightly and remained silent, listening closely.

"The Flame Mantra can indeed evolve. However, the prerequisite for its evolution is that it requires Heavenly Flames as raw material. Every evolution requires devouring a kind of Heavenly Flame!"

Yao Lao's voice was slightly hoarse. "Heavenly Flames are inherently destructive and berserk things. Not only are they rarely seen even in a hundred years, but even if one sees one, who can guarantee they will be able to successfully devour it? Back then, in order to obtain the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, I was nearly burned alive into nothingness."

"What terrifies people the most is that this Qi Method must devour all kinds of Heavenly Flames... Just one Heavenly Flame can torment a Dou Emperor expert half to death. I truly cannot imagine what kind of scene it would be if a person had two, or even more than two, Heavenly Flames inside their body."

Looking at Xiao Yan, Yao Lao hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Now, do you still want to learn it?"

Xiao Yan could not help falling silent.

"Teacher wants me to practice the Flame Mantra?"

"...Mm."

Yao Lao was silent for a moment before admitting, "Yes."

"Why?"

"The Flame Mantra once vaguely recorded that multiple Heavenly Flames can be used to temper and create a new body capable of containing a soul."

"Teacher wants to revive?"

"Nonsense. If a person's soul still exists, they naturally want to revive."

Yao Lao said irritably. A moment later, he sighed again. "Longing for the human world is the same for everyone."

Xiao Yan stopped speaking.

After a long while, he suddenly asked, "Then what if I take Wan Guniang as my goal?"

Yao Lao was stunned by this sudden remark. Only after a while did he react.

"You're sure you want to compare yourself to that girl?"

"It can't really be called comparing... maybe I'm more just asking?"

Yao Lao looked at him strangely, then said, "...Difficult."

"That girl's talent is extremely good, and she has the Life Spirit Flame by her side. Her Soul Power is not even inferior to mine, and the force behind her is even more terrifying. Somewhere like the Gama Empire where we are now wouldn't even count as an ant to them."

"So that's how it is... then there's no hope in this lifetime?"

Xiao Yan felt deeply disappointed, yet was also somewhat unwilling to accept it.

"If you practice the Flame Mantra, there might be a chance."