Fine rain, carrying ash, fell upon the Xiao Family's training grounds as Xiao Yan flicked his fingers.
The last spark landed on the Misty Cloud Sect's banner, which they had fled too hastily to take with them.
Crimson flames devoured the banner.
He gave a slight nod toward Xiao Xun'er.
He paid no attention to the other Xiao Family disciples, who stood frozen in shock, unable to recover for a long while.
"Yan'er."
Xiao Zhan called out softly and was just about to step forward.
But his son's black robe billowed, and he had already transformed into a streak of fire, darting toward the back mountain.
The charred marks left on the bluestone ground resembled beast claws, and rainwater striking them actually rose into mist.
A thunderous uproar erupted from the spectator stands.
Xiao Ning trembled as he held up a shattered teacup, Biluochun tea mingling with cold sweat as it dripped over the cracked patterns.
"Three moves. He was a Three-star Dou Zhe!"
"Cousin Xiao Yan really is a Dou Shi!"
Several elders stroked their beards, forcibly suppressing the shock in their eyes.
"The Young Clan Leader must have awakened some sort of special constitution."
"Us old fellows ought to dig through the ancestral records."
"Perhaps we can find some clues."
The Great Elder took the lead, and the other elders vanished from the arena shortly afterward.
The mysterious ancient script appearing on Xiao Yan's body had to be some immensely powerful special constitution!
His cultivation speed was simply unheard of. Xiao Yan was now the hope for the family's revival!
No one mentioned, nor did anyone think about, the fact that Xiao Yan had once been useless.
After all, when you possessed enough strength, everyone around you became a friend.
After the Misty Cloud Sect's carriage had traveled thirty miles, Elder Ge Ye suddenly crushed a Message Jade Slip.
The fragments sliced open his palm, yet he seemed completely unaware.
"Sect Master, the Xiao Family brat appears to have awakened some extremely powerful special constitution."
"He has utterly disgraced the Misty Cloud Sect and may threaten our sect in the future!"
"I request the deployment of the Cloud Shadow Guard."
Only after the Misty Cloud Sect's convoy had completely departed did the storm in Wutan City begin brewing.
The battle between Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran had drawn much attention, and many families had sent spies.
Within moments, the result of the battle spread throughout Wutan City's three great families.
In the eastern market of Wutan City, within a secret chamber of the Gale Family residence.
"That brat from the Xiao Family definitely has a problem!"
Gale Bi slammed his fist onto a sandalwood table.
The sandalwood table, reinforced with the bones of Second-order Magical Beasts, cracked with fine lines.
"He advanced two major realms in three days. Do you take him for a reincarnated god?"
"Even if he awakened a special constitution, that would still be absolutely impossible!"
Two gray-robed men emerged from the shadows, Two-star Silver Pattern Medicine Cauldron Emblems on their chests gleaming coldly.
The elder on the left stroked his goatee and sneered.
"Who cares what constitution he has? As long as the pills the two of us refine are priced thirty percent lower."
"The Xiao Family's medicinal herb shops won't last a month."
Oba Pa played with a poisoned dagger, its blade scraping across the Jade Abacus at the corner of the table.
"I have already contacted seven Da Dou Shi from Black Rock City."
"Once the Xiao Family's finances collapse, they will naturally step in to 'restore order' in Wutan City."
Gale Bi's sinister gaze swept over the room, cold light flashing in his eyes.
"This Young Master of Xiao Family will become our greatest threat in the future."
"Perhaps before long, Wutan City will have only one Xiao Family left."
"Put the plan into action immediately. We cannot let the Xiao Family remain for too long."
"No matter how astonishing Xiao Yan's hidden secret is, can he soar to Da Dou Shi within half a month?"
With that, Gale Bi waved his hand and vanished into the darkness.
Meanwhile, at the Xiao Family's back mountain.
Inside a natural stone cave, Xiao Yan removed his black robe, the fiery markings on his back flickering in and out of view through the steam.
As soon as Yao Chen's phantom solidified, he saw the youth raise a hand and draw over the Black Iron Pill Furnace that had been prepared there in advance.
He spoke calmly.
"Old man, it's time to teach me the real thing."
"What are you in such a hurry for?"
Yao Chen flicked out two Jade Slips.
"Though your cultivation has reached the Dou Shi realm."
"Your speed truly surpasses every genius I have ever seen, but you have yet to cultivate any cultivation art."
"I will give you two choices."
The green Jade Slip flickered with flames, while the red one was utterly lifeless.
"A mid-level Earth Tier Crimson Sun Art, or."
"A Low-level Yellow Tier Fen Jue."
Without the slightest hesitation, Xiao Yan suddenly grabbed the red Jade Slip.
The instant he touched it, the Fire Cloud Art within his body began circulating on its own.
Crimson flames surged from his palm and instantly enveloped the Fen Jue.
The dim red jade scroll suddenly blazed with light, and Old Yao discovered in astonishment.
That the surface of the Fen Jue was being eroded and reconstructed by fiery patterns.
"I want this one."
Blood-red flames flickered in Xiao Yan's palm as the circulation route of the Fire Cloud Art spontaneously fused with the Fen Jue.
Yao Chen was just about to stop him when crimson light erupted from the youth's dantian, the two cultivation arts intertwining into an entirely new circulation path.
The cave walls crumbled with rustling sounds, and the falling stones melted into ash before they could hit the ground.
Yao Chen's phantom flickered unsteadily.
Back then, he had risked everything to seize the Fen Jue because of its ability to devour Heavenly Flames.
Yet now, this cultivation art was actively adapting itself to Xiao Yan's bloodline!
He truly was the best possible candidate to cultivate the Flame Mantra!
Once his aura stabilized, Xiao Yan opened his eyes. His cultivation had astonishingly reached 3-star Doushi!
However, he did not hurry to inspect the newly formed cultivation art within his body.
Old Yao also tacitly chose not to ask about the strange occurrence just now. After all, even he did not understand the Fen Jue.
"Alchemy."
Xiao Yan tucked the Jade Slip into his robes.
"Now."
Yao Chen smiled faintly. He had not even memorized any pharmacological knowledge, yet he wanted to refine pills?
His disciple was perfect in every respect, except that he was somewhat too ambitious.
With a wave of his hand, twenty-three medicinal herbs covered the stone platform. Among them were five poisonous herbs with similar appearances, their hidden danger deadly.
"Blood Coagulating Powder, the most basic First-grade Pill."
"Since you want to refine it, I will demonstrate it for you."
As his words fell, flames flew from his palm into the Medicine Cauldron, while several herbs entered the cauldron at once.
In mere moments, Pill Fragrance filled the air!
When the cauldron opened, three thumb-sized blood-red pills came into view.
"Fire control is the most basic and most essential technique for an alchemist."
"You must also remember pharmacological knowledge. Refining pills is not so simple."
"I know you have lofty ambitions, so first settle down and obediently practice a fire-control technique, then..."
Before he could finish, he abruptly fell silent.
Crimson Flame surged from Xiao Yan's palm as several medicinal herbs floated in a ring.
In the brief time just now, the process of refining a First-grade Pill, which Old Yao considered extremely difficult for beginners.
Had already been completely comprehended by Xiao Yan. He understood every step perfectly!
Yao Chen's pupils contracted sharply.
Flames of varying intensity ignited upon each medicinal herb.
There was no sorting and no purification, yet the flames could actually distinguish the herbs' properties on their own!
Even more terrifyingly, the flames within the pill furnace.
At times condensed into a Kirin Phantom, at others transformed into a net of fire. This was a sign of exceptionally high fire-control skill!
The originally cumbersome refining process was brutally compressed by overwhelming fire-attributed energy.
Yet if the precision was insufficient, this could very easily cause the furnace to explode!
"Absurd!"
Yao Chen was about to rebuke him when the medicinal herbs had already transformed into medicinal liquid and fused together.
Pill Fragrance filled the cave.
The instant the furnace lid lifted, faint fiery patterns appeared on the surfaces of the three Blood Coagulating Powders.
The pills were high quality!
Old Yao stood rooted to the spot. Even when he had roamed the Central Continent in his youth.
He had never seen anything like this!
But before he could suppress the shock in his heart.
Hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the cave.
Xiao Zhan's voice came wrapped in Dou Qi.
"Yan'er! The Gale Family and Oba Family have launched a joint attack."
"They are spreading rumors that our Xiao Family slaughtered civilians to support your cultivation."
"They say they want to inspect whether you are cultivating an evil art!"
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