Great Dao of Yin and Yang, First Meeting with Xiao Yi Xian!

The skies were cloudless for thousands of miles. Xiao Yao's figure became a streak of light as he flashed past above Wutan City, flying through the air toward the Monster Mountain Range at an unhurried pace.

He did not push his speed to the limit. Instead, he tempered his newly broken-through body and soul while conversing with Grandpa Lu in his mind, a faint smile lingering at the corners of his lips.

Just as he had left the Xiao Family, he had casually swept the area with his divine sense and witnessed something amusing.

His clansman, Xiao Yan, had finally recovered to the seventh stage of Dou Qi with Old Man Yao's help. His face, once always full of unwillingness, now overflowed with irrepressible delight and pride.

He had eagerly rushed to the Testing Magic Stone Tablet, intending to flaunt the powerful return of this "fallen genius" before his clansmen and force everyone who had once mocked him to open their eyes and see clearly.

Unfortunately, things did not go as he wished.

The Xiao Family, from its elders to its younger generation, remained wholly immersed in the immense, heaven-defying benefits Xiao Yao had brought them! They discussed the pills and Cultivation Methods that could dramatically increase the family's strength, the unfathomable "Dou Emperor master," and the grand vision of the Xiao Family becoming the dominant power and ruling Wutan City alone!

No one paid any attention to this former genius who had "recovered to the seventh stage of Dou Qi."

What disappointed him even more was that Xun'er, the little sister with whom he had most wanted to share his joy, had already left without saying goodbye and returned to the Ancient Clan.

The high spirits he had just regained were drenched cold from head to toe.

"Hehe... Yao Chen, Yao Chen," Xiao Yao thought with a secret laugh. You're still feeling smug over helping Xiao Yan refine a first-grade Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, even telling him that with you around, he'll soon catch up to me? Little do you know that I've already refined a genuine seventh-grade pill. Even Gu He, the Pill King renowned throughout the Jia Ma Empire, can only eat my dust.

Just then, Grandpa Lu's leisurely voice sounded, interrupting his thoughts.

"Kid, now that you have officially embarked upon the immortal path, there are things you should know. After my investigations during this time, do you know how the four great realms of our Dao Sect's immortal cultivation path correspond to the strength levels of this lower realm?"

Xiao Yao's spirits lifted, and he hurriedly asked, "Please enlighten me, Grandpa Lu."

"Mhm." Grandpa Lu cleared his throat and slowly explained, "The first realm of immortal cultivation, Refining Essence into Qi, is the Foundation Establishment Realm. At the initial stage, it is comparable to a Da Dou Shi in this world; at completion, it is like you now, possessing combat strength comparable to a Dou Zong. Strictly speaking, though, you can only be considered half a step into the Dou Zong realm. To truly enter the second realm, you must first survive the first of the Three Calamities—the Calamity of Yin Fire!"

"The Calamity of Yin Fire?" Xiao Yao's heart tightened.

"Correct! Once you overcome this calamity, you can truly enter the second realm, Refining Qi into Spirit! At that point, your strength will begin at the Dou Zong level and advance rapidly until you reach this world's Half-Saint realm!" Grandpa Lu's voice carried a trace of gravity. "And when you reach completion in Refining Qi into Spirit and wish to break through to the third realm, you will face the second calamity: the dual tribulation of Yin Fire and Heavenly Thunder!"

"As for when the third realm, Refining Spirit into Void, reaches completion and you seek to break into the fourth realm, Refining Void into Dao, to attain the status of a True Immortal, you will face the simultaneous arrival of Yin Fire, Heavenly Thunder, and Bi Wind! But that is still far too distant for you. There is no need to think about it now."

After hearing Grandpa Lu's explanation, Xiao Yao gained an incomparably clear understanding of the road ahead.

At that moment, Grandpa Lu's solemn voice abruptly changed, taking on a frivolous, teasing tone.

"Hehehe... kid, let me ask you something."

"Please speak, Senior." Xiao Yao was somewhat confused.

"Is that body of yours... sturdy?"

"Hm?" Xiao Yao froze, then understood. Though he had no idea why Grandpa Lu was asking, he still lifted his head and puffed out his chest, replying proudly, "This junior has undergone Heavenly Thunder Body Tempering and possesses an Innate Dao Body. My five viscera and six bowels, my divine treasures, are flawless; my kidney qi is abundant. As a man, I am exceedingly virile and tough!"

"Hahahaha! Good! Tough is good!" Grandpa Lu laughed loudly, his laughter full of shameless old-man mischief. "Kid, do you know the characteristics of the Calamity of Yin Fire?"

"Other than tempering the body through the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts and gaining the Fire Entry effect among the Seventy-Two Transformations, the best method is to absorb and refine the various Heavenly Flames between heaven and earth! Use Merit Power to erase the violent will of the Heavenly Flames, transforming them into pure fire essence to resist the Yin Fire that burns up from the soles of your feet!"

"However," Grandpa Lu suddenly shifted his tone, "this method has a considerable side effect. Heavenly Flames are explosive and saturated with the baleful aura of heaven and earth. During refinement, their fire poison will still affect your five viscera and six bowels, causing your Heart Fire to flourish and your Kidney Fire to surge. Simply put, you will become violent and irritable, with heightened desire!"

Xiao Yao's expression turned ambiguous, and his face immediately became strange.

This... wasn't this extremely similar to Xiao Yan's condition after refining Heavenly Flames in the original story?

"Hehe, kid, I can see right through your thoughts." As though he could peer into hearts, Grandpa Lu continued with a laugh, "But don't worry! The Human Teachings lineage passed down by Ancestral Master Taishang Laojun has always pursued the harmony of yin and yang, with the Dao following nature! The Dao gave birth to One, One gave birth to Two, Two gave birth to Three, and Three gave birth to all things. Only when yin and yang unite in harmony can one attain the Great Dao! That old master of ours most hopes for his disciples to have flourishing descendants and bring glory to the Human Teachings!"

"Besides," Grandpa Lu's voice abruptly became solemn, like a great bell and thunderous drum striking directly into Xiao Yao's soul, "this world reveres the strong! Your name is Xiao Yao, and your nature is excellent. Cultivating immortality and seeking the Dao are meant to seek great freedom and great ease! Follow your heart and let your thoughts flow freely—only then can you avoid forgetting your original heart! Do not be bound by worldly conventions!"

Boom!

A thunderous sound like an enlightening revelation exploded within Xiao Yao's Sea of Consciousness!

He felt as though his soul had broken free from some invisible shackle, becoming clearer and more transparent than ever before! Many obscure mysteries within the true interpretation of the Dao De Jing suddenly deepened of their own accord, fusing seamlessly into his understanding!

His soul cultivation had actually advanced by another great step under those few words of guidance!

"I understand..." Xiao Yao slowly opened his eyes, divine light shining brightly within them.

He, Xiao Yao, had come to the Dou Qi Continent precisely so that he would no longer have regrets, to seek freedom and follow his heart.

One breathtakingly beautiful figure after another involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

That white-clad fairy, independent of the world and kind-hearted... that peerless queen, noble and aloof, who ruled a nation... that unrivaled sect leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, magnificent yet helpless before her fate...

"The past life was filled with regrets. In this life, I have the strength; I must not betray my heart!" Xiao Yao slowly clenched his fist, his gaze becoming incomparably resolute. "I will not merely live freely myself. I will also free everyone I hold dear from the shackles of fate, so they can live happily and freely!"

"Hiss... your comprehension is truly... monstrous!" Grandpa Lu exclaimed, falling silent for a long while.

During this exchange on the Dao, the sprawling outline of the Monster Mountain Range had already appeared at the end of the horizon.

Xiao Yao composed himself and descended directly toward the small town at the mountain range's outskirts, formed by the gathering of countless mercenaries.

Qingshan Town, Myriad Medicine House.

Xiao Yao concealed all his aura, making himself appear like an ordinary young disciple out on training. He slowly entered the largest medicine shop in town, and with a sweep of his gaze, it instantly settled upon the busy, slender figure in white behind the counter.

She was a girl of around sixteen or seventeen, dressed in a simple white gown. Her face wore a gentle smile, radiating a fresh and ethereal air. She had long, smooth black hair, skin fairer than snow, and a green sash around a willow waist so slender it seemed barely graspable. Most striking were her clear, water-like eyes, full of innocence and kindness. Men and women, young and old alike, looked upon her with admiration.

At that moment, she was carefully bandaging the arm wound of a mercenary. Her movements were gentle and focused, and Xiao Yao could not help but smile at the sight.

"Our first meeting, Xiao Yi Xian!"