Cultivation Soars

"Ding! Demon Armor successfully refined. View personal information?"

"Yes."

Without hesitation, Xiao Han summoned his personal panel and cast his gaze upon it.

"Host: Xiao Han Age: 14 Cultivation: 5-Star Dou Practitioner Technique: Swallowing Spirit Technique (Earth Rank Low) Dou Skills: Extreme Shadow Steps [Yellow Rank High], Fierce Tiger Fist [Yellow Rank High], Crushing Stone Palm [Yellow Rank Medium], Raging Wind Leg [Yellow Rank Medium] Achievements: Expand Pet: None Items: Demon Armor, Demonic Flame Portal of Transmigration: Not Activated. Hero Template: Kai Expand"

Demon Armor was easy enough to understand, but what was this Demonic Flame? Could it be that little dark blue flame clinging to the armor?

Xiao Han rubbed his chin, a look of interest spreading across his face.

"Flame, come!"

With a low shout, Xiao Han extended his right hand and spread his entire palm, and a dark blue flame burst forth from his palm.

Feeling the terrifying temperature spike around him in an instant, Xiao Han knew this dark blue flame only looked weak—if anyone underestimated it, not even their underwear, let alone the fuzz inside, would be spared from being burned clean.

"My little flame has the makings of an Emperor Flame."

Shaking his hand, Xiao Han extinguished the Demonic Flame in his palm, which was no less formidable than any strange fire, and then began studying the main course of the day—the Demon Armor.

This little bro wasn't exactly well-behaved; if Xiao Han hadn't had a flash of inspiration and fused to upgrade his technique just now, he might have been torn apart by the energy from the Demon Armor's fusion.

Although he did reap the benefit of a 4-star minor realm breakthrough, the price was a tearing, searing pain throughout his entire body.

If not for the Washing Marrow and Cutting Bone he'd undergone this morning, which had widened his meridians considerably, he'd likely be a dead man by now.

He reached out and tapped the "Expand" button behind the Hero Template, and a new interface popped up.

"Kai Passive: When attacking a single target, damage increased to 150%. Recovers 1% of HP and Energy Value per second when out of combat. Talent: You will possess extremely powerful Sword Dao talent. Partial Armorization: You can summon partial Demon Armor at minimal energy cost. Weapon Armorization: You can choose to enhance a weapon in hand (e.g., upgrade a one-handed sword to a greatsword). Skill Descriptions: Spinning Blade: You possess a Wrist Blade Flying Knife that can ricochet multiple times, slowing enemies and dealing massive damage, while restoring 10% of your HP. Extreme Blade Storm: When this skill is activated, your normal attacks will knock enemies into the air and stun them. After using the skill, you will perform a brief spatial displacement. Undying Demon Body: Summon the Demon Armor to descend, while your entire body is enveloped in Demonic Flame, dealing tons of damage per second to nearby enemies! Movement Speed, Dou Qi, Attack Power, and Soul Power will all be multiplied—this is a full-spectrum enhancement. PS: Just go all out and slash. After merging with the Demon Armor, you will be immune to all damage below the Dou Master level, and 50% of Dou Master-level damage will be blocked. Skill duration depends on the host's energy consumption."

Sss—

Xiao Han stared at the Hero Template's skill interface and sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.

It wasn't that Kai's Hero Template was weak—it was too strong!

Almost every single skill provided a massive boost to his combat power!

This was a six-sided warrior that combined mobility, speed, damage, recovery, control, Ranged Attack, enhancement, and defense!

Though he was tempted to try summoning the Demon Armor to see what it felt like, after some thought, Xiao Han dismissed the idea.

Because right now, on the Xiao Family's Back Mountain, besides himself, there was very likely another person hidden!

If Xiao Han wasn't mistaken, the disturbance in Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi just now had been covered up by this very person.

This person should be the Dou Emperor from the Gu Clan sent to protect Xiao Xun'er in the Original Work—Ling Ying!

If his guess was right, after Xiao Xun'er gifted him the technique, she wasn't at ease with him cultivating it, so she sent Ling Ying to keep an eye on him.

It was likely that news of his rocket-like surge of 4 minor realms today would soon reach Xiao Xun'er's ears. As the Young Miss of the Gu Clan, Xiao Xun'er was far more mature and terrifying than she appeared.

Perhaps the sibling bond built over all these years did exist, but Xiao Han figured it was only so-so. If one day Xiao Xun'er had to choose between the Tou She Ancient God Jade and him, she would probably pick the Tou She Ancient God Jade without hesitation—because that was her mission in coming to the Xiao Family!

To someone from an ancient clan like Xiao Xun'er, anyone who hadn't become a Dou Saint was ultimately just an ant.

Perhaps it was the influence of the Demon Armor within him, but Xiao Han's thoughts began to drift toward some extreme directions.

"Good grief, the Demon Armor truly lives up to its name. The effect of this extreme, violent agitation on my mind came so quickly?"

After a long moment, Xiao Han finally withdrew from that state. He smiled faintly. Perhaps what he had been thinking was a bit too extreme, but it wasn't baseless speculation. If the day ever came when he truly faced the Gu Clan, Xiao Han would absolutely not show any mercy.

However...

Xiao Han lowered his head and thought it over. When he had summoned the Demonic Flame just now, Ling Ying had definitely noticed this flame, which was no weaker than any known Heavenly Flame on the ranking.

If Ling Ying could infer based on examples where fusing Heavenly Flames caused a surge in cultivation, then the unknown Heavenly Flame that had appeared on Xiao Han would perfectly explain why he had suddenly broken through four minor realms—all thanks to the flame's assistance.

Forget it. Thinking so much is useless. After all, I'm just an ordinary Dou Practitioner. I'm pretty tired today, so I'll head back and rest first.

Stretching his arms, bathed in the soft moonlight, Xiao Han slowly walked back to his own Separate Courtyard, leaving behind only a solitary silhouette.

After Xiao Han left, a shadow appeared at the very spot where he had been cultivating. Glancing at the trees around him, instantly withered by the temperature of the flame that had appeared, the shadow felt a chill in his heart.

"This person the Young Miss has her eye on is truly not simple! What kind of Heavenly Flame is that dark blue flame? Even I, a Dou Emperor, feel a deep dread from it!

It's completely different from all the known Heavenly Flames on the ranking! Could it be some undiscovered, unlisted powerful flame?

Hiss—

If that's really the case, this kid is incredibly lucky. But what just happened must be reported to the Young Miss without missing a single detail!

Could it be that the Xiao Clan of old truly might make a comeback?!"

From the shadow's muttering to himself, it wasn't hard to tell that this was Ling Ying, the Dou Emperor tasked with guarding Xiao Xun'er.

Don't ask why Gu Yuan only sent a mere Dou Emperor-level nobody to watch over Xiao Xun'er.

Mainly, it wasn't necessary. Truly not necessary.

A Dou Saint could tear through space with a casual gesture, crossing hundreds of thousands of miles with ease. If Xiao Xun'er ever encountered real danger, how could Gu Yuan, with his strength, not have left some means on his daughter to sense threats?

If anyone dared to lay a hand on Xiao Xun'er, Gu Yuan's attack would likely cross hundreds of thousands of miles in an instant and kill them with a single blow!

When Xiao Han returned to his Separate Courtyard, the oil lamp in the room was still flickering.

Frowning slightly, Xiao Han pushed open the door and immediately saw a little loli in green clothes asleep, slumped over the table. A helpless expression appeared on his face.

This girl had probably been waiting here for him to come back all along.

Xiao Han sat down gently on the chair beside Qinglin, gazing at the little loli's adorable sleeping face. Miraculously, the agitation in his heart, influenced by the Demon Armor, began to calm down.

A year ago, when Xiao Han had taken Qinglin in as his Maid, she was 11 years old and Xiao Han was 13. Even now, a year later, Xiao Han was 14, and Qinglin was only 12.

Yet, under the influence of the Snake-People Bloodline, Qinglin's petite figure, though not as eye-catching as those tall, proud Big Sisters, was still well-proportioned and curvaceous. How was that even possible? She was only 12!

Picking up the sleeping Qinglin, Xiao Han placed her on his own bed. He gently tapped her forehead with his finger, took off her shoes, and played with her Jade Feet. Those tiny three-inch golden lotuses looked so delicate and lovely in his hands that he couldn't bear to let them go.

After covering Qinglin with the blanket, Xiao Han turned to go sleep in another room.

But just as he was about to leave, he felt something tugging at the corner of his clothes. Turning around, he saw a pair of sparkling, watery big eyes staring at him. It was Qinglin, who had woken up at some point.