Encountering Xiao Huohuo Again

Xiao Jin found an unoccupied spot to land and headed toward where Xiao Huohuo was training. Xiao Huohuo did not notice him and was still straining against the massive boulder.

Xiao Jin watched Xiao Huohuo, drenched in sweat. No matter how exhausted his body was, how much his limbs hurt, or how unresponsive they had become, he never stopped.

Xiao Jin truly admired him. Others only saw the brilliance you displayed on stage, never the ten years of bitter toil behind the scenes.

When people encountered someone who surpassed common sense, they called them geniuses, never realizing that these so-called geniuses had put in efforts beyond ordinary imagination to reach such heights.

All geniuses were made from ten percent talent and ninety percent sweat. He was different. He was not a genius—he was a cheater.

He did not deserve the title of genius because he never trained. Even his pill refinement was only for exchanging pills for gold coins to improve his strength. Otherwise, with his personality, he would probably be dozing in a recliner at home right now.

"Clap, clap, clap." Xiao Jin applauded as he walked toward Xiao Huohuo. "Everyone says you, Xiao Huohuo, are trash. Looks like rumors really can't be trusted." Xiao Jin looked at him with a smile and spoke calmly.

"Xiao Jin, why are you here?" Xiao Huohuo stared at Xiao Jin in astonishment. He had always been the only one cultivating bitterly in this stretch of back mountain. Members of the clan generally did not come here.

That was why Xiao Huohuo could train here without worrying about being disturbed. This was the first time he had seen anyone else in the back mountain, so he was rather surprised.

"I had nothing to do, so I was just wandering around. I didn't expect to find you here competing with a rock," Xiao Jin said with a smile.

Xiao Huohuo remained silent and merely rolled his eyes at Xiao Jin. Then he leaped onto the boulder and sat down, preparing to rest before continuing his training. Xiao Jin did not stand on ceremony either. He jumped onto the boulder and sat beside Xiao Huohuo.

"You're pretty impressive, kid. I remember that a year ago, you were only at the third stage of Dou Qi. Judging from the Dou Qi you released when attacking that boulder just now, you should already be at the seventh stage of Dou Qi, right?

"That kind of cultivation speed is even more terrifying than before. It seems your talent is greater than it once was." Xiao Jin spoke with an amazed expression.

Xiao Huohuo looked at Xiao Jin strangely. Is this guy showing off in front of me? I went from the third stage of Dou Qi to the seventh stage in a year, and that makes me a genius. Then what does he count as, going from the fifth stage of Dou Qi to a Nine-Star Dou Practitioner in a year? A monster or a freak?

"What genius? I only reached the seventh stage of Dou Qi because I encountered a bit of good fortune," Xiao Huohuo said indifferently.

"Even if you encountered good fortune, your talent and hard work cannot be denied. I saw how you trained just now. If I were you, I would have given up long ago. Your efforts over the past year were indispensable for you to break through four stages of Dou Qi within a year."

Xiao Jin sincerely admired Xiao Huohuo. If he had transmigrated into Xiao Huohuo's body, he definitely would not have done as well as him.

Xiao Huohuo fell silent. He was actually quite curious about how Xiao Jin had gone from the fifth stage of Dou Qi to a Nine-Star Dou Practitioner in a year. But that was Xiao Jin's secret. How could he possibly tell him? So he suppressed his curiosity.

After resting for a while, Xiao Huohuo felt much better. Much of the Dou Qi in his body had recovered, and his limbs no longer hurt as badly. Xiao Huohuo jumped down from the boulder and resumed training.

Seeing Xiao Huohuo continue training after only a short rest, Xiao Jin did not disturb him further. He leaped down from the boulder and headed home.

"I'm really looking forward to the Coming of Age Ceremony a month from now. I wonder what expressions those people in the clan who look down on you will have." Xiao Jin's calm voice drifted over from afar. Xiao Huohuo's lips curled up slightly as well. He wanted to know too.

"This kid is truly unfathomable." Old Yao's voice rang out in Xiao Huohuo's mind. "Teacher, did you discover something again?" Xiao Huohuo asked curiously.

Old Yao did not hide it from Xiao Huohuo and said in shock, "This kid is the person who broke through to Dou Wang in the Cave. I still remember his aura." "What? Impossible." Xiao Huohuo said in disbelief.

If Xiao Jin were a Nine-Star Dou Practitioner, he could still believe it. After all, it was possible to encounter some good fortune. But if he were a Dou Wang powerhouse, Xiao Huohuo simply could not believe it.

It was like a childhood friend who had grown up beside you. You had eaten bran and swallowed vegetables together since childhood, then one day someone suddenly told you he was the richest man in the world. Would you believe it?

"Keep your voice down, brat. Are you afraid that kid can't hear you?" Old Yao shouted, pulling the agitated Xiao Huohuo out of his excitement.

Looking at the still-incredulous Xiao Huohuo, Old Yao spoke calmly so as not to damage his confidence.

"There's nothing impossible about it. I know of some pills and secret techniques that can rapidly increase one's strength. If there were enough medicinal ingredients, one could quickly raise someone to Dou Wang as well. It's just that they would only have a few years left to live afterward, so the cost outweighs the gain."

"Teacher, do you mean Xiao Jin's fortunate encounter was obtaining those pills or secret techniques?" Xiao Huohuo gradually calmed down.

"That should be it. Otherwise, such rapid improvement would truly defy common sense," Old Yao said calmly.

What he did not tell Xiao Huohuo was that the Ancient Spirit Cold Flame within his soul body had been trembling constantly when Xiao Jin approached Xiao Huohuo. That alone was enough to prove that Xiao Jin was far from simple.

"In any case, just don't offend him lightly in the future," Old Yao solemnly warned Xiao Huohuo.

"Got it. From today's conversation, we seem to get along pretty well. At least, I don't dislike him, and I didn't sense any contempt from him toward me. I believe he's quite easy to get along with," Xiao Huohuo said calmly.

After returning home, Xiao Jin went to the recliner in the courtyard and basked in the sun. A servant poured him a cup of tea before leaving to continue working.

"Linglong, open the System Panel." Xiao Jin called out to the system in his mind. A pale blue light screen appeared before his eyes.

"Host: Xiao Jin
Cultivation: Two-Star Dou Wang, Sixth-grade Alchemist
Breakthrough Points:
Cultivation Technique: Blazing Flames Burning Heaven (High Heaven-tier)
Dou Skill: Tablet Splitting Hand (Mid Yellow-tier)
Movement Dou Skill: Illusory Dance Nine Heavens (Mastery)
Low Earth-tier Dou Skill: Meteor Fire Rain (Mastery)
Items: Mid-grade Magic Core Weapon Fire Glazed Sword, Myriad Auspicious Cauldron.

Looking at the Mid-grade Magic Core weapon, the Fire Glazed Sword, in the inventory, Xiao Jin finally remembered that he had this item. His battles during this period had all been overwhelming victories, and he had never used Meteor Fire Rain. He had nearly forgotten about this weapon.

Xiao Jin took the Fire Glazed Sword out of the System Space. It was a completely transparent sword, as though it had been made from a piece of red glass. It emitted a soft red glow, and a fifth-grade fire-attributed Magic Core was embedded at the hilt.

After examining it for a while, Xiao Jin put the Fire Glazed Sword back into the System Space. "I wonder who will be the first person to make me use Meteor Fire Rain." Xiao Jin sighed.