Twin Stars Break Through

Time quietly passed.

The courtyard on the outskirts of Jia Nan Academy seemed isolated from the world, with only Heaven and Earth Energy silently gathering there day after day.

Inside the quiet room, Gu Long sat cross-legged, his aura like a bottomless, tranquil pool. It appeared calm, yet immense power lay hidden beneath the surface.

The barrier at the Peak Dou Emperor realm had long since loosened. After this period of accumulation and tempering, that membrane had become as thin as a cicada's wing.

He had not taken any auxiliary pills. Relying entirely on his formidable foundation and understanding of the laws of energy, he guided the vast Dou Qi within his body, charging at that final threshold again and again.

At a certain moment, a crisp cracking sound seemed to ring out within him, audible only to himself.

Boom—!

An aura far more condensed than that of a Dou Emperor erupted from Gu Long's body like a slumbering giant dragon awakening!

The space inside the quiet room twisted slightly, and the air let out an overwhelmed hum.

Had isolation formations not already been set up around the courtyard, this pressure belonging to a Dou Zong expert would have been enough to alarm both the Outer Academy and Inner Academy of Jia Nan Academy!

His aura continued to rise before finally stabilizing at an entirely new height.

One Star Dou Zong!

Gu Long slowly opened his eyes. The sharp glint in them receded, leaving them as deep as a starry sky.

Feeling the immense, transformed Dou Qi within his body and his clearer connection with Heaven and Earth Energy, there was little joy on his face, as though this had merely been a natural step.

A Dou Zong was already considered a top-tier expert on the Northwest Continent, but in his future plans, this was only a new beginning.

He withdrew his aura and walked out of the quiet room.

At another corner of the courtyard, Xun Er was also at a critical moment in her cultivation.

A faint azure radiance enveloped her body, a sign that the Ancient Clan's Divine Bloodline had been stimulated to a certain degree.

Before her, a small yet intricately structured Spirit Gathering Array slowly rotated, purifying the surrounding Heaven and Earth Energy before continuously funneling it into her body.

Stimulated by the ripples in Heaven and Earth Energy caused by Gu Long's breakthrough into the Dou Zong realm, Xun Er's aura, which had long reached the peak of Four Star Dou Spirit, also began to fluctuate violently.

Her delicate brows furrowed slightly as her hands formed seals. She circulated her cultivation method with all her strength, guiding the surging energy to strike at the barrier of Five Star Dou Spirit.

Gu Long did not speak to disturb her and merely stood quietly to the side, guarding her.

He could sense that Xun Er's foundation was exceptionally solid and her Dou Qi highly condensed. There was not much risk in this breakthrough.

After about the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the azure light around Xun Er suddenly flared. Her aura abruptly surged, shattered through the obstacle, and stabilized at the Five Star Dou Spirit realm!

She let out a long breath of turbid air and opened her beautiful eyes, which held the joy of a successful breakthrough.

When she saw Gu Long standing silently some distance away, she immediately sensed the abyss-like aura emanating from him.

"Brother Gu Long, you broke through too?"

Xun Er sprang to her feet in delight and hurried over to Gu Long.

"Yes, I just broke through to Dou Zong."

Gu Long nodded slightly. Looking at the young girl before him, whose aura had grown increasingly condensed and ethereal, a trace of approval appeared in his eyes.

"Five Star Dou Spirit—not bad. It seems your foundation is very stable."

Receiving Gu Long's praise, Xun Er beamed like a flower and said happily, "It's all because Brother Gu Long taught me well! And this Spirit Gathering Array was a huge help too!"

She pointed at the array on the ground, which had already begun to dim.

During this time, she had not relaxed in her Dou Qi cultivation, and her study of formations had also grown increasingly profound.

This Small Spirit Gathering Array, which she had set up herself, was already quite effective and had played no small supporting role in her smooth breakthrough.

"Formations are external aids. The foundation lies within oneself," Gu Long reminded her before asking, "How do you feel?"

"I feel great!"

Xun Er clenched her little fist, sensing the increased strength within her body.

"My perception and control over energy seem to have become sharper. Some formation nodes that were very difficult to set up before now feel much easier."

An increase in Dou Qi cultivation, especially a breakthrough across a minor realm, also benefited one's Soul Power and perception to a certain extent. This was particularly important for formation masters.

Hearing Xun Er's thoughts on her breakthrough, Gu Long nodded.

Even within the Ancient Clan, Xun Er's growth rate would absolutely be considered top-tier.

The potential of her Divine Bloodline was gradually revealing itself.

"Brother Gu Long, now that you've broken through to Dou Zong, are we going to..."

Xun Er was exceptionally intelligent and vaguely guessed Gu Long's next move.

Having reached the Dou Zong realm, he now had sufficient confidence within Jia Nan Academy to set his sights on the Falling Heart Flame deep within the Inner Academy.

"The time is drawing near." Gu Long did not deny it. His gaze turned once more toward the Inner Academy. "But some preparations are still needed."

Having broken through to Dou Zong, his senses had become sharper, allowing him to clearly catch the increasingly restless fluctuations of the Falling Heart Flame beneath the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower.

The power of the seal was continuously weakening. The next, larger-scale eruption was likely not far away.

"I need to enter seclusion for a few days to stabilize my realm and cultivate a Dou Technique," Gu Long told Xun Er.

"You should also take these next few days to consolidate your Five Star Dou Spirit cultivation. You can put your array training on hold for now—first, get full control over your newly gained strength."

"Mm! Xun Er understands!" Xun Er replied obediently.

Gu Long affectionately stroked Xun Er's soft, silky hair before turning and returning to the Quiet Room.

Breaking through to the Dou Zong realm not only meant a tremendous increase in the amount of his Dou Qi and a qualitative leap, but also gave him the ability to begin cultivating powerful Dou Techniques that had previously been beyond his reach.

In the System Space, there happened to be a Heaven Tier Low Rank Dou Technique called the Void Great Hand Seal. Once cultivated to mastery, it could gather the power of the void and form it into a giant hand, combining offense and defense with boundless might.

With this Dou Technique and his Dou Zong cultivation, his confidence in handling the coming upheaval would rise by several degrees.

Meanwhile, Xun Er began familiarizing herself with the power of a Five Star Dou Spirit in the courtyard, adapting to her surging Dou Qi and sharper senses.

She knew that once Brother Gu Long emerged from seclusion again, their peaceful days might come to an end.

A struggle over the Heavenly Flames was about to unfold within this academy renowned throughout the continent.

Inside and outside the courtyard, the two immersed themselves in cultivation and consolidation.

The two stars had broken through in succession, like a fully drawn bowstring, waiting only for the moment its target appeared before unleashing earth-shattering force.

Above Jia Nan Academy, an invisible storm was rapidly gathering.

This time, the Falling Heart Flame, famed across the continent for countless years, was about to break free from its seal. Would it, having gained intelligence, be able to escape successfully?

And would the notorious Soul Hall come to join the excitement this time?

Gu Long was determined to obtain the Falling Heart Flame.

This time, what measures would the long-established Jia Nan Academy take to deal with the various factions?

Would the slumbering Medicine Emperor Han Feng still be able to "lend" Xiao Yan a hand?