Breakthrough in Strength

"Gu Fang, Gu Fang, Gu Fang..."

The cheers came one after another, as if they would never end.

After a long, long while...

The cheers gradually died down.

Once the final cry fell silent, Gu Dao walked to the center of the testing platform with a smile and waved his hand, scattering eight pillars of light!

"The cultivation method inheritance test has concluded. What remains is the inheritance itself!"

"The Ancient Sage Treasure Codex may be inherited by eight people: Gu Fang, Gu Qingyang, Gu Hua, Gu Xing, Gu Yao..."

Gu Dao read out those familiar yet unfamiliar names. In the future, these people would become commanders and captains of the Black Annihilation Army, but before Gu Dao could finish,

Gu Fang suddenly raised his hand and interrupted him.

"Elder Gu Dao, I wish to forfeit the inheritance of the Ancient Sage Treasure Codex. Please move my rank down accordingly!"

Gu Fang's words shocked everyone present!

Everyone turned puzzled gazes toward Gu Fang. Why had the dozen or so people here come?

Was it not for the inheritance of cultivation methods?

Now that they had reached the end, he wanted to give it up?

Gu Dao's expression turned serious as he looked intently at Gu Fang. "Are you sure you wish to forfeit it? You must understand that Heavenly Rank cultivation methods can only be cultivated independently after reaching a certain realm.

If you miss this opportunity, you truly will not have another chance to cultivate it in advance!"

"I am sure."

Gu Fang nodded lightly.

After Gu Fang's resolute declaration, nearly everyone began discussing it in confusion.

Listening to those voices, Gu Fang recalled the cultivation method Ancient Emperor had left him—an Emperor-tier Cultivation Method!

The Luo Tian Yuan Huo Jue!!

An Emperor-tier Cultivation Method stood a full rank above a Heavenly Rank one, and a person could only cultivate one cultivation method at a time. In other words...

If he cultivated the Heavenly Rank Ancient Sage Treasure Codex, he would have to give up the Luo Tian Yuan Huo Jue.

Heavenly Rank or Emperor-tier!

Even a fool would know which to choose, right?

As the commotion grew louder, Gu Fang helplessly raised his hand. Origin Flame, formed from the fusion of Nihility Devouring Flame and Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, appeared in his palm...

The instant Origin Flame appeared, the Dou Qi around Gu Fang began to flow on its own. In but a moment,

it formed a hundred-zhang Dou Qi vortex, drawing pure Dou Qi into Gu Fang's body. This was all the Dou Qi Gu Fang could mobilize!

Though he could not absorb it directly, it still indirectly demonstrated just how powerful Gu Fang's cultivation method was!

At the sight of the Dou Qi vortex Gu Fang had gathered, the clamor abruptly ceased.

Gu Dao stood nearby, sensing that vortex, his eyes widening like bells...

This aura, this rate of absorption—was this the Ancient Sage Treasure Codex?

No, this was a cultivation method even more terrifying than the Ancient Sage Treasure Codex!

As Gu Dao stood stunned, Gu Fang stepped forward and said, "When Ancient Emperor possessed me earlier, he left behind a cultivation method for me. That is why I chose to give up the Ancient Sage Treasure Codex."

With those words, everyone was shocked once more!

The commotion intensified!

"A cultivation method left behind by Ancient Emperor?"

"No wonder he gave up the Ancient Sage Treasure Codex!"

"If Ancient Emperor personally bestowed it, it must be far more terrifying than the Ancient Sage Treasure Codex!"

"Jealousy is tearing me apart at the molecular level!"

"A cultivation method left behind by Ancient Emperor... no wonder." Gu Qingyang shook his head with a smile and muttered to himself.

The others also looked at Gu Fang with envy.

After that...

Amid the noisy discussions, the cultivation method inheritance began. Gu Qingyang and the other eight entered the golden pillars of light!

Then...

The inheritance ended, and the crowd gradually dispersed!

Yet the legend of fourteen-year-old Gu Fang never faded!

A super Divine Grade bloodline, possession by a Dou Emperor, an alchemist, Heavenly Flames in his body, a mysterious cultivation method, a hundred Earth Rank Dou Skills...

Ten days later, in the clan leader's cave residence within the Ancient Sacred Mountain Range!

Steady breathing echoed through the cave residence, each breath stirring the flow of Dou Qi!

Inside the training room of the cave residence, a young man sat cross-legged. Suddenly, his hands resting on his knees began to move in seals. As they moved...

the calm flow of Dou Qi around the youth surged like boiling water.

As Dou Qi flowed around the youth, a Dou Qi vortex slowly formed around him, then expanded before soaring into the sky!

Ten zhang, a hundred zhang, three hundred zhang, five hundred zhang...

Such a disturbance alerted Gu Yuan, who had been handling affairs in the Ancient Clan's main hall.

He immediately tore through space and arrived at his cave residence.

Seeing the enormous vortex, Gu Yuan raised a brow!

What surprised Gu Yuan was not its size. After all, for him, let alone five hundred zhang, even ten thousand zhang could be achieved with a thought.

What surprised him was that such a vortex had been created by Gu Fang, who was merely a Battle Master.

"Is he about to break through?"

Gu Yuan murmured.

The instant Gu Yuan spoke, the vortex began to move. Incomparably impure Dou Qi poured down directly.

Gu Yuan was startled by the sight...

If Gu Fang could not control that Dou Qi and broke through using such impure energy, it would cause irreparable harm to his future growth.

Of course, Gu Yuan knew that Gu Fang understood this was harmful. But this was, after all, Gu Fang's first breakthrough after changing cultivation methods.

Knowing was one thing; being unable to control it was another!

With that thought, Gu Yuan tore through space and arrived beside Gu Fang.

Then he saw...

The mottled Dou Qi filling the sky crashed directly into Gu Fang's body, surging into his meridians without undergoing the slightest purification.

"This is bad."

Gu Yuan's heart jolted. What he had feared most had happened after all!

His figure flashed behind Gu Fang, and his Emperor Realm soul was about to enter Gu Fang's body to help sort through the impure Dou Qi.

At Gu Yuan's level of strength, there was nothing he could not accomplish if he wished to do it.

But before Gu Yuan's soul could enter, a dark golden flame leisurely emerged from Gu Fang's body. The next instant...

That flame devoured all the impure Dou Qi.

When it appeared again, it had already become the purest Dou Qi.

"This..."

Gu Yuan looked at the flame. After his initial surprise, he quickly calmed down.

He gave a faint, self-mocking smile. "I was so worried that I lost my head. With Nihility Devouring Flame and Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame protecting his body, what does it matter if the Dou Qi is somewhat impure?"

Gu Fang knew nothing of the situation outside...

At this moment, he had immersed his entire mind in his breakthrough.

His soul power wrapped around the Dou Qi and guided it along the circulation path of the Luo Tian Yuan Huo Jue, pouring it into his Qi vortex and transforming it into pure droplets of energy.

Once the energy droplets reached a certain amount, Gu Fang controlled them without hesitation and smashed them toward the barrier of a Five-star Battle Master!

Bang!

It shattered at the first touch!

Five-star Battle Master achieved!

Upon reaching Five-star Battle Master, Gu Fang's aura changed, becoming thirty percent stronger.

Gu Fang let out a breath of relief, but just as he was about to leave his cultivation state, he discovered...

The vortex outside was still supplying Dou Qi, and the conversion of energy droplets continued!

Since he still had strength to spare, why stop here?

With that thought...

Gu Fang's eyes lit up. His hand seals shifted, and the vortex spun even faster as the droplets continued to form.

Watching Gu Fang's hand seals change from outside, Gu Yuan's lips curled upward. "One breakthrough is not enough for you?

As expected of my, Gu Yuan's, child!"

Half an hour later...

Gu Fang drove Dou Qi that had not yet reached its peak toward the barrier of a Six-star Dou Shi!

Once, twice, three times...

Bang!

With that sound, it exploded apart!

Six-star Dou Shi achieved!

At the moment of breakthrough, Gu Fang's thoughts stirred. The vortex shattered, and his hand seals changed again, calming the boiling Dou Qi within his meridians. After more than ten breaths...

Gu Fang slowly opened his eyes and heavily exhaled a mouthful of turbid air.

At the same time, a series of crackling sounds erupted from his body.

Before Gu Fang could fully stretch his strength, Gu Yuan's voice sounded beside his ear.

"Not bad. You broke through two stars in one go."

Hearing that voice, Gu Fang turned his head. "Father, you came."

"Yes. I sensed the aura of your breakthrough and came to take a look."

Hearing his father's words, Gu Fang immediately circulated his Dou Qi and said, "Six-star Dou Shi!"

"There is no need to show it. I already know."

Gu Yuan shook his head with a smile. "When you reach six or seven stars of the Battle Saint realm, and I cannot see through your strength at a glance, then show me directly."

Gu Fang was left speechless by his father's words.

What Gu Yuan said was true. With his strength as a Nine-star Battle Saint, there was no way Gu Fang, with the strength of a Dou Shi, could conceal his cultivation from him!

After a moment of speechlessness, Gu Fang took a deep breath and finally voiced the words he had been preparing for a long time. "Father, now that my bloodline seal has been opened, can I leave the Ancient Realm and go to the continent to find my sister, Gu Xun'er?"