"Alchemists only need Spiritual Qi when they break through from Seventh-grade to Eighth-grade, allowing their soul power to undergo a transformation."
Xuan Kongzi pointed at the visible energy vortex trembling around the room and said.
"You said this child practices a High Yellow Tier cultivation art, and his strength has only reached the Dou Master level at most."
"Could he be breaking through to become an Eighth-grade Alchemist?"
"Xuan Kongzi, why are you glaring at me?"
Ling You glared right back at Xuan Kongzi.
"My disciple has his own peculiarities. What the hell do you care?"
"He only used a little Spiritual Qi from your Pill Tower Starry Sky. Look at how stingy you are."
Xuan Kongzi was furious. That rascal Ling You hadn't changed a bit over the years—he still had a gift for turning the blame around.
Inside the room, a colorful, misty aura now swirled around Ling Xi. It was a sign that the energy of heaven and earth had reached a certain level of concentration.
But its vivid colors also showed how impure that energy was.
"Disperse!"
Ling Xi's eyes still closed, the hand seal he formed suddenly changed, and the energy vortex around him vanished at once.
The colorful energy of heaven and earth that had gathered in the room gradually faded as well, dissipating back into the air.
"After more than half a year of practicing this cultivation art, I've finally reached the One-Star Dou Master level."
Ling Xi slowly opened his eyes, a flash of light passing through his pupils.
"The Devouring Power of the Devouring Ancestral Symbol is too strong. I also owe this breakthrough to the abundant Spiritual Qi here in the Pill Tower."
Feeling the Dou Qi in his body, now several times stronger, Ling Xi smiled with satisfaction. But the smile soon faded.
"Still, the Devouring Power of the Devouring Ancestral Symbol was so strong that it nearly ruined my foundation."
Anything below the Dou Wang level was merely a matter of laying a solid foundation.
The firmer one's foundation at each level before reaching Dou Wang, the easier it would be to break through to higher levels in the future.
"The Devouring Ancestral Symbol only has the power to devour. It can't refine the energy of heaven and earth."
Ling Xi furrowed his brows slightly. He had only succeeded in this breakthrough thanks to the Spiritual Qi in the Pill Tower and the Myriad Spirits Returning to Origin Art's ability to refine it.
If he had absorbed the impure energy that had gathered earlier, his foundation would have been completely ruined.
"The Beast Flame of a Seventh-tier Magical Beast is useless. I need to find and refine a Heavenly Flame as soon as possible."
"Only by combining it with the power of a Heavenly Flame can I fully bring out the Devouring Ancestral Symbol's abilities."
Having read the original story thoroughly, Ling Xi knew about many Heavenly Flames, such as the Three Thousand Burning Flame sealed away by the Pill Tower.
But the problem was that he was too weak right now. He couldn't even think of getting his hands on most Heavenly Flames.
And telling his teacher about them and asking him to help refine one wasn't realistic either.
He couldn't explain how he knew where those Heavenly Flames were. Besides, Ling You didn't have much time left to live.
"Never mind. I'll take it one step at a time."
Ling Xi stood up and sighed.
"Maybe the system will reward me with a Heavenly Flame the next time I check in."
He shook his head, then stretched. The abundant Dou Qi in his body made him groan involuntarily.
"Mm... Teacher, Elder Xuan, what are you doing outside my room?"
Ling Xi opened the door and froze slightly when he saw the two stern faces outside.
Xuan Kongzi said nothing. He simply reached out and touched Ling Xi between the brows.
Ling Xi was a little surprised, but he didn't resist.
A wisp of Xuan Kongzi's soul power entered Ling Xi's body.
But before it could investigate anything, the Devouring Ancestral Symbol swallowed it up.
"Y-your soul power has a strange ability to devour!"
Xuan Kongzi withdrew his finger, his face full of surprise.
Ling Xi said nothing, feigning confusion.
"Don't you know what's special about yourself?"
Seeing Ling Xi's expression, Xuan Kongzi asked with a frown.
"Xuan Kongzi, quit questioning my disciple like he's on trial."
Ling You snorted from the side.
"He's a child born among the Descendant Citizens. How could he know what's special about himself?"
"Even if there is something special about him, how could he know the reason for it?"
Ling You's words left Xuan Kongzi momentarily speechless, and an awkward look crossed his face.
"There's someone in the Pill Tower whose soul has an innate ability to devour, just like his. I was simply curious."
"Your curiosity is none of your business."
Ling You curled his lip, then slipped into Ling Xi's room and slammed the door behind him.
Xuan Kongzi's nose had nearly been hit by the door. He cursed inwardly, then glared at his wide-eyed disciple.
"Ying'er, shouldn't you be preparing to enter the Pill Realm? What are you still standing around here for?"
"Teacher, who were you talking about just now—the person whose soul power can devour? Was it that little girl from the Dan Family?"
Cao Ying wasn't afraid of Xuan Kongzi at all. She blinked her big eyes and asked sweetly.
"That's right, though it's not quite the same."
Xuan Kongzi sighed, a thoughtful look crossing his face.
"The Dan Family girl's soul power can devour, but she has no way to fully control it."
"If the Dan Family hadn't constantly nourished her body with all kinds of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, she probably wouldn't have lasted this long."
"Even so, her constitution is still quite poor."
At that, Cao Ying couldn't help recalling the Dan Family Little Girl's body, which was noticeably frailer than those of her peers.
She pressed her lips together, then asked, "How is the Devouring Power in Ling Xi different?"
"Though I only caught a glimpse, the Devouring Power inside Ling Xi is clearly much stronger than the Dan Family girl's. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been able to devour that wisp of my soul power."
"And it seems Ling Xi has already brought this power completely under control. I just don't know why he's deliberately suppressing it."
After a pause, Xuan Kongzi suddenly chuckled.
"Come to think of it, this devouring ability resembles the legendary Nihility Devouring Flame, the divine entity ranked second on the Heavenly Flame Ranking."
While the master and disciple outside the door were still marveling at what they'd seen, the master and disciple inside remained unusually quiet.
After entering the room, Ling You sat straight down in a chair, his face grave. He didn't say a word.
Ling Xi could only stand obediently in front of him, equally silent.
Anyone who had reached the Dou Venerate level was a true genius, one in ten thousand.
Ling Xi naturally didn't believe that his teacher was completely unaware of the unusual things about him.
The two of them simply shared an unspoken understanding.
"This is the Earth Tier Mid-grade Dou Technique, the Ember Extinguishing Spear Art, which I won from Ling Yuan earlier."
After a long silence, Ling You took a red scroll from his Nakai Ring and handed it to Ling Xi.
"I've looked it over. This spear art is good for both offense and defense. Take it and practice it."
Before you continue