Fen Jue and Xiao Wu

Li Tianlan ignored Wang Zixi's lightning-fast change of expression, collected his own credentials, and headed outside.

Halfway there—

"Tianlan, now that you have the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, I recommend that you cultivate the Fen Jue first."

Xiao Yan also wanted to see how far Li Tianlan could go. He continued, "The Bone Spirit Cold Flame is part of your body. Once you cultivate the Fen Jue, every time you merge with a Heavenly Flame, it will temper your body."

Li Tianlan was somewhat confused. He remembered that the Fen Jue allowed one to freely control Heavenly Flames, similar to Dao Tong Yan.

The difference was that Dao Tong Yan was like an upgraded version. It could devour flames to fill the sections within Dao Tong Yan and gain control over new Heavenly Flames.

Now that he had heard the explanation, he suddenly understood.

"I'll follow Master's arrangements in all things." Li Tianlan was delighted, thinking, I'm about to master the Fen Jue. What do I do? I'm so excited!

"And later, I can use Heavenly Flames to create Self-Created Soul Skills. The more Heavenly Flames I have, the more powerful Buddha's Fury Lotus Flame will become. Fighting above my level will be as easy as chopping vegetables, won't it?"

"Battle skills and cultivation methods—they'll all be mine!"

Xiao Yan had no idea what Li Tianlan was thinking. Even if he did, he probably would not have minded. On the contrary, he would have been delighted and would have wished for Li Tianlan to grow stronger as soon as possible so he could return to Dou Qi Continent!

"Our relationship is that of master and disciple, but we are also friends. You needn't be so formal."

Xiao Yan himself had a straightforward personality. Besides, he had never truly regarded Li Tianlan as a disciple; he saw him as an equal.

Li Tianlan was in high spirits when he glanced to the side and suddenly widened his eyes.

Xiao Yan appeared outside in the form of a soul body. Other than Li Tianlan, no one else could see him.

"This is... a soul beast taking human form?"

Even without all his strength, Xiao Yan's spiritual awareness was still at a high level.

He had already learned about Douluo Continent, and with a single glance, he saw through the fact that Xiao Wu before him was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form.

"Rabbit meat tonight?"

Xiao Yan immediately teased.

Li Tianlan's face darkened, and he lost his previous restraint. "She's human now. What's the difference between eating her and eating a person? I never expected you to have such heavy tastes. Impressive, impressive."

"Tch, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. Who knows how many descendants she's left behind?"

As Xiao Yan spoke, his tone suddenly shifted. He chuckled. "But she's still pure at the moment, with no descendants wandering around outside. Want to go say hello? Leave a good impression and raise her as a child bride. Maybe she'll become a great help to you in the future."

Li Tianlan had not originally planned to seek out Xiao Wu. The main reason was that he had barely read the novel and only had a vague understanding from watching the anime.

He only knew that Xiao Wu was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, that she and Tang San were like siblings, and that they eventually became a couple and had children.

Now that such an opportunity had fallen into his lap, it would have been a lie to say Li Tianlan was not tempted. He still knew a little about Xiao Wu's talent.

Breaking through to become a Titled Douluo without any obstacles would not be a problem!

In the distance, Xiao Wu, who had just received her enrollment credentials, noticed Li Tianlan staring fixedly at her and felt somewhat puzzled.

"Hmph." Xiao Wu was a little displeased. With her hands on her hips, she said, "Why are you staring at me? Do I have flowers on my face?"

Li Tianlan snapped out of it and walked over to Xiao Wu. His thick skin was enough to withstand an army of thousands.

"Of course you do." Li Tianlan smiled slightly.

Instead, Xiao Wu froze. There really were flowers? I was only saying that.

She raised her soft little hand and touched her cheek. Finding no flowers at all, she realized she had been tricked. With her left hand on her hip, she pointed at Li Tianlan indignantly.

"You lied to me! Where are the flowers on my face?"

She swung her left leg straight at Li Tianlan.

"There really are flowers."

Li Tianlan hurriedly dodged, yet even as he dodged, he did not forget to add another comment.

"This is getting interesting." Xiao Yan chuckled.

Even Xiao Yan himself did not know why he suddenly felt so relaxed, as though he had returned to the past.

"You're still trying to lie to me!"

Xiao Wu missed her attack and grew even more annoyed. She began teaching Li Tianlan a lesson without holding back.

Xiao Wu was already a one-ring Soul Master, while Li Tianlan was only level one. He could not use Heavenly Flames, had not cultivated any battle skills or cultivation methods, and was facing Xiao Wu—wasn't that like a father beating his son? Effortless.

"Ow!" Li Tianlan only managed to dodge three times.

Faced with Xiao Wu's close-range attacks, even though she was only six years old, her legs were already slender and long. She directly locked Li Tianlan down.

Her lower legs wrapped around Li Tianlan's head, her hands restrained his hands, and her body pressed down on his legs to stop him from struggling free or running away.

"Are you still going to lie to me?"

Xiao Wu had barely needed any strength to restrain Li Tianlan.

"I really didn't lie to you. There really are flowers on your face."

Xiao Wu was furious.

"You're still trying to lie to me? Do you take me for an idiot?"

Li Tianlan knew the time had come. The two looked into each other's eyes, gazing sincerely at one another. "There really are flowers on your face, because you're as cute as a flower."

Xiao Wu had still been a little angry, but her face instantly turned red. She stood up. "You're awful! How am I as cute as a flower?"

Seeing that it worked, Li Tianlan held back his second plan.

"No, I was wrong."

Xiao Wu's expression changed again and again. Li Tianlan sped up slightly and took hold of her hand.

"You're not as cute as a flower. You're far cuter than any flower. Since you're this cute, cultivate with me from now on."

Li Tianlan gave Xiao Wu no time to react at all.

"Don't worry. With me here, if anyone wants to bully you in the future, I'll be the first to stand in front of you. As long as I still have one breath left, no one will ever bully you!"

Li Tianlan clenched his fist, but looking at his skinny body—and remembering how she had just dealt with him—Xiao Wu turned her head aside.

"You're so weak, and you still want to stand in front of me?"

For some reason, Xiao Wu felt warm inside upon hearing those words.

The tiny bit of wariness Xiao Wu had originally felt toward Li Tianlan had completely vanished. Instead, she began—

"Of course. Follow me from now on. With me here, no one will be able to harm even a single hair on your head."

"Not bad, Tianlan." Xiao Yan was somewhat surprised.

He had not expected Xiao Wu to be so easy to fool. At this rate, she probably would not be able to escape Li Tianlan's grasp.

Li Tianlan ignored Xiao Yan. His tone was solemn, and his expression serious.

"But what if someone really does hurt me?"

Xiao Wu blurted it out as if possessed.

"If someone really bullies you, they'll have to step over my body first!" Li Tianlan stared at Xiao Wu with blazing eyes, making her unable to bear it. She hurriedly looked elsewhere.

Other than her mother, Da Ming, and Er Ming, Li Tianlan was the first person to treat Xiao Wu so well. She could sense that Li Tianlan bore her no ill will; otherwise, she would have run away long ago.

It's working, Li Tianlan thought. Out loud, he said seriously, "Anyone can say pretty words. Cultivate with me from now on, and time will reveal a person's heart."

Xiao Wu was already wavering, her voice soft and weak. "Th-then... all right."