28. Dou Ling

Sitting cross-legged, he began circulating the Flame Mantra. Thanks to the system, he felt nothing at all, and the Volcanic Stone Flame within his body was of a higher grade than the Green Lotus Core Flame.

Thus, devouring and refining it was easily accomplished. An hour later, the Green Lotus Core Flame had been successfully refined, the Flame Mantra had evolved to the low Earth tier, and Xiao Tian had successfully advanced to Dou Ling.

Xiao Tian sensed the powerful strength within his body. A different realm truly meant different strength—it was more than twice as strong as a Da Dou Shi! After taking a short rest, he summoned a bluish-red flame, with wisps of purple flickering around it.

Xiao Tian asked, "System, what should I do with this Earth Fire Lotus Seed? Can I directly absorb its energy?" "It is recommended that the host not absorb it for now. The host should rest and recover first."

Fine, you trash system. Since you performed well this time, I'll listen to you! It was time to head back and rest. This night had been exhausting!

The next day, a relentless knock sounded outside the door, disturbing Xiao Tian's comfortable sleep. With his eyes closed, Xiao Tian said helplessly, "Yue'er, I'm not eating breakfast. Deal with it yourself. I'm going back to sleep for a while!"

After Xiao Tian finished shouting, the noise outside did not stop. The knocking continued, driving away half his drowsiness. He sat up groggily. Something was wrong—hadn't Yue'er left? Then who could it be? He walked over and opened the door.

He froze when he saw the woman before him. It was Lin Fei outside, and she seemed to have dressed up especially today. Xiao Tian was stunned by her beauty. "Lin Fei? Did you come to see me so early because something happened?"

Lin Fei spun around once before asking Xiao Tian, "Well? Am I beautiful today?" If I say yes to that kind of question, wouldn't I be asking for trouble? Xiao Tian said, "No. I think you're beautiful every day."

Lin Fei had been disappointed upon hearing the first half of Xiao Tian's words, but the second half immediately lifted her spirits.

Lin Fei smiled. "I never expected you to tease people too." "Hehe, Lin Fei, did you come looking for me so early because something happened?" "Yes. My teacher wants to invite you to the Alchemist Association. Would you be willing to go?"

Xiao Tian thought about it. Since he had nothing to do today anyway, he said to Lin Fei, "Sure. Let me wash up first, then I'll go with you, alright?" "Mm, okay. I'll wait for you!" At that moment, Xue Mei also walked over and called out, "Xiao Tian, can you guide me in alchemy today?" Xiao Tian said, "Sorry, Xue Mei. Lin Fei's teacher seems to have something to discuss with me and asked me to go over."

Xue Mei turned to Lin Fei. "Why is Master Otto looking for Xiao Tian? Don't tell me you wanted to see Xiao Tian, so you used your teacher's name!" Lin Fei said, "No, it really is my teacher who has business with Xiao Tian."

Xue Mei snorted. "Who would believe that? If your teacher wants to see Xiao Tian, why are you dressed up so flamboyantly?" "Because I want to! Aren't you the same?"

Xiao Tian said, "You two beauties, stop arguing. Come in and sit down first! I'll go wash up, then we can head out together." Half an hour later...

On the street, there was one man and two women. Xiao Tian clearly felt the murderous stares from the other men around him! Tsk! A bunch of single dogs. Is that my fault? Under countless murderous gazes, Xiao Tian and the two women, Lin Fei and Xue Mei, arrived at the Alchemist Association.

The guard said, "Miss Lin Fei, Miss Xue Mei, you're here." The two women casually nodded and walked inside. When Xiao Tian was about to enter, the guard asked, "May I ask who you are?" Since Xiao Tian was not wearing the badge of a Fourth Grade Alchemist, the guard did not know who he was. The two women in front were too busy competing with each other and had not noticed that Xiao Tian had been stopped behind them.

Xiao Tian looked at this new guard, then took out his Fourth Grade Alchemist badge from his storage ring and said, "Can I enter now?"

Guard C said, "Yes, yes, please come in, sir. It was this lowly one's mistake earlier. This lowly one failed to recognize greatness. Please do not take offense."

"It's fine." Xiao Tian walked inside. The two women who had gone ahead returned and looked at Xiao Tian. Xue Mei asked, "Xiao Tian, what were you doing outside? Why did you take so long to come in?"

Xiao Tian said, "I was stopped outside and wasn't allowed in." "Oh..." The two women were awkward. They had actually forgotten that Xiao Tian had only been here once before.

Lin Fei said, "Sorry, Xiao Tian." Then she slowly shot Xue Mei a resentful look, clearly meaning that it was all her fault!

Xiao Tian paid no attention to their battle. He had already grown used to it, so he walked inside. After asking where Otto's room was, he knocked on the door. A voice from inside said, "Come in." Xiao Tian pushed open the door and entered.

Xiao Tian asked, "Master Otto, were you looking for me?" Seeing Xiao Tian enter, Otto put down his work and said, "Little Brother Xiao Tian, welcome, welcome. Come in and sit." "Alright. Thanks!"

Otto walked over to close the door, only to see the two women about to enter. Otto said, "You two go play somewhere else first. Xiao Tian and I have something to discuss."

Lin Fei said, "Teacher, how can you do this!" "That's right, Master Otto, how can you do this?" Otto smiled at the two women. "Don't worry, I only want to discuss something with him. You can come back later." Xue Mei said, "Can't we just wait here?"

"Fine, fine, then you can come in too." Seeing the two women looking like they absolutely would not leave, Otto could only sigh helplessly.

After the four sat down, Otto said, "Little Brother Xiao Tian, please wait a moment. Franck will be here soon." Xiao Tian asked, "What do you two need from me? Could you tell me?" Just then, a voice sounded from outside. "Hahaha, Little Brother Xiao Tian, we invited you here because we want to ask whether you are interested in joining our Alchemist Association."

Franck pushed open the door and entered. "You left in a hurry after your assessment that day, and we did not have time to invite you. So we specially asked you here today to learn your intentions. If you are interested in joining our Alchemist Association, we can recommend you as a vice president. In the future, we can also recommend you to study at the advanced Alchemist Association in the imperial capital!"

Xiao Tian smiled. "Then I must thank you both for your kind intentions, but I currently have no plans to join any faction."

Otto said, "Why? You should know that no matter how talented someone is, without the support of a faction's resources, it will be difficult to improve further!"

Xiao Tian said, "I still need experience, and I am already a student of Jia Nan Academy. I merely took leave to come out and gain experience."

Franck said, "I see. Fine then. Since Little Brother Xiao Tian currently has no intention of joining a faction, we will not force you. But if you ever need our help, you may come to us at any time."

Xiao Tian said, "Alright, thank you. If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way. I'll be leaving in a few days to visit the Tagore Great Desert. Do you know where I can hire flying mounts for transportation?" Franck told Xiao Tian the location and a few other details. Xiao Tian thanked him and walked out. Lin Fei and Xue Mei also spoke to their teachers before following Xiao Tian outside.

Watching Xiao Tian leave, Otto asked Franck, "Why did you agree to let him go so easily? At the very least, you should have tried to persuade him to stay! Wouldn't it be a pity to lose such an alchemy genius?"

Franck said, "We cannot keep him here. His talent is not only high in alchemy—his cultivation is impressive as well! At such a young age, he is already a Dou Ling expert!" Otto said, "What? You're saying he's a Dou Ling? How did I fail to see that! Tsk... no wonder I couldn't see through his cultivation earlier. He really is a monster. We truly cannot keep someone like that!" "Exactly. Since we cannot keep him, we might as well build a good relationship with him. I truly look forward to seeing how far this young man will go in the future."

Otto said, "Yes. Forget it, I'm leaving too. That boy Xiao Yan asked me to take him to visit Gute today! I won't stay here with you." With that, he pushed open the door and left.

Franck said, "Xiao Yan, Xiao Tian? Hehe, I wonder whether the two know each other! They truly are two youths with extraordinary potential. The Jia Ma Empire will be very lively in the future."

On the street, Lin Fei hugged Xiao Tian's arm and asked, "Xiao Tian, why didn't you agree to join the Alchemist Association?" "I already said it. I need to gain experience, and I also have to go to Jia Nan Academy." "Oh... alright!"

Seeing Lin Fei practically clinging to Xiao Tian, Xue Mei felt a surge of displeasure. She then asked, "Xiao Tian, when are you leaving?" "In the next few days." "Oh! I understand." It was as though she had made up her mind about something.

The three wandered around casually. Today was rather harmonious. Lin Fei kept dragging Xiao Tian here to play and there to look around, while Xue Mei simply followed along. Occasionally, she chatted with Xiao Tian, but she did not bicker with Lin Fei.

That night, after parting with the two women, Xiao Tian returned to his residence. After entering, just as he was about to close the door, a slender figure threw herself into his arms.