Xiao Family's Form Creation Realm Expert, Pantry Elder Xiao Han

Two days later, at noon, the blazing sun hung high in the sky.

It was another day of cultivation beneath the scorching sun. Sitting cross-legged atop the back mountain's peak, Xiao Yan's clothes had already been completely soaked through with sweat.

After cultivating beneath the blazing sun for nearly two hours, Xiao Yan finally emerged from his cultivation state when the sun's heat gradually subsided and the third Yang Yuan Pill had been completely refined. Looking down at his drenched clothes, he could not help but shake his head helplessly.

"Teacher's Fen Jue truly is a miraculous Cultivation Technique."

"At the Dou Zhe realm, it can absorb Yang Yuan Pills meant for Dou Master cultivation. It can even transform the Heavenly Gang Yang Flame within into pure fire-attributed Heaven and Earth Energy, nurturing a Yang Fire Seed!"

He stretched his body, then closed his eyes and examined himself internally. Discovering that the flame within him had grown a little stronger, Xiao Yan smiled in satisfaction.

That was right. Old Yao had awakened early, and he had begun cultivating Fen Jue ahead of time as well. However, he had not devoured any Heavenly Flames or other flames.

He was still insufficiently prepared to devour Heavenly Flames.

As for Beast Fire, there was no need to refine low-grade ones. They would not provide a significant increase in strength and would instead make his own power impure, making the loss outweigh the gain.

As for high-grade Beast Fire above the sixth rank, neither the Mite'er Family's channels nor the Xiao Family's public strength could acquire it.

However, even without devouring an external Fire Seed, Xiao Yan had actually condensed his own Life-Bound Fire Seed by devouring and refining Yang Yuan Pills!

Although this Fire Seed was still very weak, if it devoured enough Heavenly Gang Yang Flame power and continued growing, it might one day become a Heavenly Flame like the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame or the Nine Nether Golden Ancestor Fire.

Xiao Yan had even thought of a name for it already. It would be called the Flame Emperor Heavenly Gang Fire...

In short, after condensing the Fire Seed, Fen Jue had evolved to Yellow Tier Intermediate.

Then yesterday, after the Yang Yuan Pills he had devoured reached a critical point, the Cultivation Technique evolved once more and reached Yellow Tier High-Grade!

Although a Yellow Tier High-Grade Cultivation Technique was still somewhat low-ranked, it was more than sufficient for Xiao Yan at the Dou Zhe realm.

"Crack, crack."

He stood up and lightly stretched his body.

"Young Clan Leader! Young Clan Leader! News has come from the Misty Cloud Sect's Shadow Guards!"

An aged voice came from below. Xiao Yan looked over and saw the Third Elder, dressed in a purple robe, hurrying up the mountain.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."

His brows rose slightly. His figure flashed, and Xiao Yan arrived before the Third Elder.

"Third Elder, what has you so panicked?"

Seeing the Third Elder's anxious, fretful expression, Xiao Yan's heart tightened slightly as he hurriedly asked.

"The Shadow Guards have sent word. Three days ago, Yun Leng did not descend the mountain because Mu Chen of the Mu Family intercepted him. However, the matter did not end there."

"According to a joint investigation by Shadow Guards from various sides, a Dou Ling elder is suspected to have taken the opportunity to descend the mountain. His destination is Wutan City. He may already be somewhere within Wutan City!"

Keeping it brief, the Third Elder explained the key points of the intelligence in just a few words.

"A Dou Ling elder?"

"No matter. We'll deal with soldiers as they come and block water with earth. Come, let's find Father first. Is Father still at the Battle Qi Pavilion?"

After pondering briefly, Xiao Yan took the lead down the mountain, with the Third Elder following closely behind.

"Yes. The Clan Leader and Elder Xiao Han are discussing martial arts!"

With Xiao Yan speaking up, the previously anxious Third Elder calmed down, as though he had found his pillar of support.

After making several familiar turns, an enormous pavilion came into view before the old man and the youth.

On the plaque above the massive pavilion were the three ancient-looking characters, "Battle Qi Pavilion." The plaque was slightly yellowed, and the grooves carved into it revealed the passage of time.

This pavilion was the Xiao Family's most important place: the Battle Qi Pavilion!

As the Xiao Family's most important location, the Battle Qi Pavilion was guarded extremely strictly. It was normally listed as a Forbidden Ground. Even Clan Members were prohibited from entering without permission, and it was only temporarily opened after the Coming of Age Ceremony.

Of course, the so-called Forbidden Ground could not stop Xiao Yan and the Third Elder. Before long, the two reached the very top floor of the Battle Qi Pavilion.

At that moment, two figures on the top floor of the Battle Qi Pavilion were discussing the power of Form Creation and the shaping of Dou Qi.

One of them had naturally just broken through into the Spirit Battle Realm, while the other was an expressionless old man. This man was Xiao Han, the Pantry Elder of the Xiao Family's Battle Qi Pavilion, an expert from the same generation as Xiao Lin.

After Xiao Lin fell, the Xiao Family withdrew from the Jia Ma Imperial Capital. The Dou Ling elders had either died or been injured.

Xiao Han was one of the few survivors still alive today.

However, he had not fared well during the escape and evacuation back then either. Though he had not died in battle, his vortex and Dou Crystal had been shattered during the fighting, reducing him to a cripple.

"Clan Leader, the insights into Form Creation and the high-grade martial arts you brought back are truly marvelous. Yesterday, I drew inferences from one instance and actually advanced another step, breaking through to Great Accomplishment of Form Creation Realm!"

Xiao Han, who always wore a cold expression and was jokingly called the Cold-Faced Man by the Xiao Family juniors, was now grinning with pure delight.

"As Yan'er said, what is lost at dawn may be gained at dusk."

"Although your Dou Qi cultivation was crippled, Fourth Uncle, you possess the special cultivation physique known as the Heavenly Gang Yang Flame Body. Combined with the physical foundation of the Spirit Battle Realm, you broke through to the Form Creation Realm in only a year!"

"At this rate, you may reach the Creation Realm within three years!"

Xiao Zhan laughed heartily. His delighted expression also carried a trace of wistfulness.

Originally, after his cultivation had been crippled, Fourth Uncle would likely have passed away within three to five years. Yet who could have imagined that, on the Dou Qi Continent, he possessed a special physique from the Profound Sky Continent?

After obtaining the Origin Energy martial arts system and all kinds of cultivation resources, his martial progress had advanced by leaps and bounds!

"Father, Fourth Uncle-Grandfather!"

"Congratulations on your breakthrough, Fourth Uncle-Grandfather. Your strength has greatly increased!"

Xiao Yan greeted them. His gaze lingered on Xiao Han for a long while, and he could not help feeling emotional.

Although Fourth Uncle-Grandfather was advanced in age, and his early Dou Qi cultivation would somewhat conflict with the Origin Energy martial arts system, his future achievements would be limited, making it difficult for him to reach the pinnacle of martial arts—

The talent of his special physique was undeniable, and he also possessed the physical foundation of the Spirit Battle Realm...

His early breakthrough speed was even faster than Lin Dong's!

In merely a year, he had recently broken through to Great Accomplishment of Form Creation Realm again!

Although he had only just entered Great Accomplishment of Form Creation Realm, he already possessed combat strength equivalent to a Six-Star Dou Ling.

Moreover, a special physique did not merely enhance cultivation; it also enhanced combat.

Qing Tan's Sha Mo Body could only absorb Yin Fiend Qi, while Xiao Han's Heavenly Gang Yang Flame Body could only absorb Yang Gang Qi. If he went all out, he should now be comparable to a Seven-Star Dou Ling!

"So the Young Clan Leader has arrived. As an elder, I am ashamed. I only have you to thank for reaching my current realm."

Xiao Han's old face bloomed like a chrysanthemum. His aged eyes narrowed into slits, and he grinned so broadly that his eyes vanished.

"Hehe, Fourth Uncle, you are too modest."

"With City Lord Shi's Great Jade Sword Technique and Great Jade Palm Technique, along with the Great Sun Thunder Body sent by Yan'er's Sworn Brother, with your talent, you will likely master them before long."

"When that time comes, you should be able to fight a Peak Dou Ling, right?"

Rubbing his chin, Xiao Zhan beamed with high spirits.

The Xiao Family of today was already quite powerful, even without counting Old Yao.

Xiao Han, at Great Accomplishment of Form Creation Realm, with the combat strength of a Seven-Star Dou Ling.

Xiao Zhan at the One-Star Dou Ling realm, and the Xiao Family Three Elders at the Eight-Star Great Dou Shi realm.

Forget the Jia Lie Family and the Ao Ba Family not having Dou Ling Experts—even if they did, they would be unable to withstand the Xiao Family's advance!

Unless a Dou King Expert descended upon them, the Xiao Family was now invincible in Wutan City.

"Yan'er, Third Elder, has something happened to the family?"

After their pleasant conversation, Xiao Zhan finally noticed the Third Elder behind Xiao Yan, and his expression immediately turned serious.

The Third Elder was responsible for Shadow Guard intelligence. Could it be the Misty Cloud Sect...

"Young Clan Leader, Clan Leader, this is bad!"

"The Jia Lie Family and the Ao Ba Family have formed an alliance! They even invited a Dou Ling Expert from the Chu Yun Empire, supposedly an old enemy the Old Clan Leader made in his early years! The experts of the Two Great Families have gathered. More than four hundred men are marching on our Xiao Family!"

Before Xiao Yan and the Third Elder could speak, a middle-aged Clan Member at the Dou Master realm ran wildly upstairs and shouted.

The moment his words fell, the atmosphere turned cold. Then, two powerful auras erupted with a bang.

"What audacity! I have not acted for so long that petty scoundrels have forgotten the fearsome reputation of the Cold-Faced Iron Hand!"

"Young Clan Leader, I will go behead that Dou Ling at once. Let me see which defeated foe of Eldest Brother's from back then he is!"

Before his words had even faded, Xiao Han had already rushed down from the Battle Qi Pavilion, Yuan Li Qi gushing out from his Entire Body.