Devouring Flame

The Ring contained all kinds of pills, vast quantities of medicinal ingredients, Cultivation Techniques and Dou Techniques piled into small mountains, along with countless miscellaneous items. Although Gu He had already seen such a scene in his memories, seeing these rare treasures—almost impossible to find in the outside world—stacked here like mountains still left him stunned. Any one of these items, if thrown outside, could make Da Dou Shi-level experts beat each other's brains out. The more precious ones would move even Dou Wang experts. As for the Seventh-grade pill, the "Shaping Pill," even Dou Zong experts would bow their heads for it.

At that moment, Gu He no longer felt stifled. He turned and sat by the bed. Even if Xiao Yan had already reached the Dou Wang or even Dou Huang level, there was nothing to fear. Gu He would show him that pay-to-win was the most terrifying thing of all.

With these resources, Gu He could easily gather a whole row of Dou Wangs to wipe out the Xiao Family. Of course, that was only a passing thought. Setting aside the fact that attacking the Xiao Family would inevitably mean facing the Ancient Clan members protecting Xiao Xun'er, merely considering Xiao Xun'er's retaliation afterward made Gu He feel that he might as well kill himself directly.

However, Gu He could use these resources to strengthen himself. He was already a Dou Wang, and he had never taken a "Spirit Dou Pill" before. He could take Spirit Dou Pills, along with other pills capable of boosting a Dou Wang's strength, to raise his cultivation as quickly as possible.

With that thought, Gu He flicked the Ring with his finger. A bottle containing a pale green pill the size of a longan appeared in his hand, and a faint medicinal fragrance instantly filled the entire room.

Gu He took a breath of the fragrance and felt his mind clear somewhat. Shaking his head slightly, he murmured, "Sixth-grade pills truly are extraordinary. Unfortunately, I still can't refine them." According to the memories in his mind, Gu He had paid a great price to trade for this pill at an exchange gathering among alchemists. He had originally planned to carefully comprehend the differences of a Sixth-grade pill, then refine Sixth-grade pills based on his peak fifth-grade alchemist foundation, but he had still failed.

Gu He estimated that in the original story, he had actually succeeded. However, now that Gu He had taken over his body while the original Gu He was weakened from alchemy, the refinement had failed.

After pulling out the specially made stopper, the medicinal fragrance immediately became even richer. If an ordinary person lived in such an environment for a long time, they would likely enjoy a longer life.

Considering the Misty Cloud Sect's safe environment and his own status within it, Gu He carefully sensed the condition of his body. Upon finding that it had basically recovered, he decided that he could directly take the Spirit Dou Pill and add another layer of protection for his future travels.

Just as Gu He thought of absorbing the pill and prepared to toss it into his mouth, his soul suddenly trembled slightly. At the same time, his Dou Qi began surging uncontrollably toward the hand holding the pill. A jet-black flame abruptly appeared in Gu He's hand. Once it emerged, the entire room seemed to dim slightly, as though even light itself could be devoured by its existence. Meanwhile, the pill in his hand began melting rapidly and seeping into the flame. Faced with something beyond his control, Gu He was somewhat flustered. But seeing that it caused no harm to his body or soul and merely drew upon his Dou Qi, he temporarily relaxed and carefully watched the black flame burn the pill.

Gu He discovered that the flame burned away the pill's outer layer until it became colorless, then absorbed it into the flame before continuing deeper. Gradually, the pill shrank to the size of a mung bean, but its color deepened into dark green. The flame's speed in burning the pill finally slowed, yet under the relentless scorching of the black flame, the last trace of the pill's essence was eventually burned white and absorbed into the fire. Gu He's Dou Qi finally stopped being drained. After roughly sensing it, he found that about one-third had been taken, which left him inwardly horrified. One-third of a Dou Wang's total Dou Qi, combined with a suitable Dou Technique, was enough to destroy an entire building.

Yet the flame remained as black as ink, showing no sign whatsoever that it had just devoured a Sixth-grade pill. Gu He held up his hand and stared at the black flame as if facing a great enemy, wondering whether he should flee at once. Then the black flame suddenly shrank back into his body, bringing with it an immense and pure energy.

Gu He's expression changed drastically. If he did not absorb this energy quickly, it would not make him explode, but it would certainly inflict severe internal injuries. At such a critical time, getting injured meant remaining in the Misty Cloud Sect, where everyone was intimately familiar with Gu He, for much longer. Whether the people of the Misty Cloud Sect might spot something amiss then was anyone's guess.

Gu He hurriedly sat cross-legged and began circulating the Dou Qi cultivation technique that this body had long been familiar with, though it was his first time running it himself. Gu He cultivated a mid-level fire-attributed Earth Grade technique. Thanks to the body's instinctive memory, the technique ran smoothly. As it circulated, the pure energy brought by the black flame poured into Gu He's Dou Qi, slowly pushing it toward Two-star Dou Wang.

Gu He immersed himself in cultivating his Dou Qi, unaware of time passing. When his Dou Qi swelled until his meridians began to ache slightly, it suddenly trembled. The Dou Qi within his meridians became more crystalline, and Gu He knew that he had successfully advanced to Two-star Dou Wang. Though he did not know where that strange black flame had come from, combining the tremor of his soul when he had wanted to absorb the pill with the uncontrollable surge of Dou Qi into his hand, this ability had undoubtedly come with his transmigration.

So it wasn't nonsense that a cheat was essential for transmigrators, Gu He thought with a bitter smile. Since it was his ability, he should give it a name. After pondering for a while, Gu He decided that since this flame could completely extract and devour the energy contained within pills, he would call it the Devouring Flame!

From what he had seen so far, the flame's ability seemed to be completely eliminating the pill toxins within medicinal pills, though it also reduced the energy obtained. If Gu He had not advanced to Dou Wang a year ago, and if One-star Dou Wang were divided into early, middle, late, and peak stages like Dou Zong, then Gu He had originally been at the middle stage of One-star Dou Wang. This energy would only have been enough for a newly advanced Dou Wang to cultivate to the peak of One-star Dou Wang, and not enough to successfully advance to two stars. Still, Gu He already felt that this ability alone made it worthwhile. It meant that as long as he had enough Spirit Dou Pills and Imperial Pills, he could rapidly advance to the peak of Dou Huang. At that thought, Gu He suddenly became eager to advance to a Sixth-grade Alchemist. Once he became a Sixth-grade Alchemist, he could refine pills for himself and consume them himself, rapidly raising his strength to the peak of Dou Huang. Of course, he would also need to control his pace and accumulate sufficient combat experience. Otherwise, when Xiao Yan later taught Ling Quan a lesson, that lesson could just as easily apply to him—terrible combat experience and unstable Dou Qi.

A glimmer of hope appeared on the path to taking down Xiao Yan, and Gu He could not help but burst into laughter.

"It seems that Brother Gu He has successfully advanced to Two-star Dou Wang. Congratulations." As Gu He's laughter gradually faded, an elegant female voice sounded beside him.