Healing, The Upper Limit of a One-Star Dou King

Inside the cultivation chamber, the scorching air shimmered faintly with distortion.

Qin Han sat cross-legged, his body shrouded in a faint cyan glow. Transparent sparks occasionally burst within the radiance—a sign that the Fallen Heart Flame was still autonomously tempering his Dou Qi.

An empty cold jade bottle sat before him.

The process of refining Core Body Tempering Milk was far less meticulous and efficient than having superior alchemy skills to assist him.

Qin Han did not have the treatment or alchemical abilities of Xiao Huohuo, who could refine Medicinal Herbs into pills, remove impurities, supplement them with various herbs, and release the full potency of the medicine to the greatest extent.

All he could rely on was Different Flame.

The method was simple and brutal: refine it with fire, remove as many impurities from the medicinal ingredients as possible, then swallow and absorb it directly.

With a thought, the Fallen Heart Flame was drawn out from the compendium, wrapping around that mass of pure emerald energy.

Using the Different Flame's high temperature, he slowly smelted apart the immense body-tempering energy and earthly essence contained within the Core Body Tempering Milk, transforming them into a pure torrent of energy most easily absorbed by the body.

The process was accompanied by unceasing numb itchiness and burning pain.

Guided by the flames, the emerald energy stream washed through Qin Han's Meridians, bones, muscles, and even his deeper internal organs again and again.

Every wash strengthened every inch of his body.

His bones gave off faint, jade-like chimes. His muscle fibers grew tougher, and his Meridians became increasingly resilient as they expanded, enough to bear even more violent torrents of Dou Qi.

Though he could not refine it into pills, Core Body Tempering Milk was a rare treasure of heaven and earth. Qin Han still absorbed its most essential body-tempering effects to the fullest extent.

After an unknown amount of time, the surging energy fluctuations in the cultivation chamber gradually subsided.

The glow around Qin Han receded, and a faint jade-like luster flowed across the surface of his skin.

He rose to his full height and stretched his body. A series of crisp crackles immediately rang out from within him, while a sense of abundant strength filled every limb and bone.

The injuries left by his fierce battle with the Snow Demon Heavenly Ape healed as naturally as water flowing into a channel. Not only had his aura returned to its peak, it had become even more vigorous and solid than before.

"One-Star Dou King, completely stabilized."

Qin Han clenched his fist, feeling the surging Dou Qi within him. A satisfied curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

His initiative in seeking trouble with the Snow Demon Heavenly Ape had actually been to test his own limits. Bringing the Maniac King along had merely been a precaution.

He was very satisfied with the final result.

With the Fallen Heart Flame and several high-level Dou Techniques, he could fight even Four-Star or Five-Star Dou Kings.

But anything beyond that would be difficult.

The fusion of the Fallen Heart Flame and Lava Scale Flame was practically his greatest Killing Move.

At most, he could add the Profound Nether Ice Flame and fuse three flames together.

But for some reason, the increase in power from fusing one additional beast flame was not particularly noticeable.

Based on Qin Han's previous experience, with the Fallen Heart Flame alone empowering him, he believed he could currently fight opponents two or three stars above his level without issue.

The fusion of Fallen Heart Flame and Lava Scale Flame could severely injure a Five-Star Dou King, but even with the addition of the Profound Nether Ice Flame, it could at most threaten a Six-Star Dou King.

Yet the expenditure of Dou Qi and Soul Power more than doubled, so Qin Han rarely used this move in battle.

"If I want to threaten Late-Stage Dou King experts, or even Dou Emperor-level experts, I still need to fuse the Green Lotus Core Flame..."

Qin Han's thoughts stirred, and his consciousness sank into the [Myriad Flames Compendium].

The Green Lotus Core Flame's development level was clearly displayed as 87%.

"It still isn't quite there."

Qin Han understood inwardly.

Until the Green Lotus Core Flame was fully developed, he could not truly achieve a stable fusion of Dual Different Flames.

Qin Han had experimented with it before, forcibly fusing the Lava Scale Flame with the Fallen Heart Flame when the former had not yet reached 100% development.

The moment the two flames touched, the violent energy ripples blew open the web between his thumb and forefinger, making his Qi and Blood churn.

Without a method like the Fen Jue to guide the Different Flames along the Meridians' circulation paths and fuse them, forcing the fusion was simply courting death. Qin Han had decisively given up after that.

Qin Han sighed, then glanced at the Lava Scale Flame and Profound Nether Ice Flame.

He did have a way to forcibly max out their development levels in a short time... but that was Qin Han's trump card. Since he had not encountered a life-threatening situation, he naturally had no desire to resort to it.

"I can only hope the trip to the Fallen Fire Sect yields something..."

Qin Han muttered, pushed open the cultivation chamber door, and walked out.

In the small courtyard outside the pavilion, moonlight flowed like water.

Han Yue sat quietly on a stone bench. Hearing the door open, she turned her head, her cool gaze settling on Qin Han as she carefully examined him.

"Have your injuries fully recovered?"

"Hm. Not only have they recovered, I've improved a little as well."

Qin Han nodded and walked over to sit on the stone bench beside her.

"With Core Body Tempering Milk, and that girl's Jade Marrow Spiritual Fungus, it would be hard not to recover."

Han Yue nodded slightly and poured him a cup of tea. "Your cultivation has broken through, and your aura has stabilized as well. Next, you're setting out for the Fallen Fire Sect Ruins, right?"

"Yes."

Qin Han answered frankly, "The academy gave me a spot. It'd be a waste not to go. That place is very important to me."

"I figured as much."

Han Yue's expression remained calm. "There have been some rumors around the academy lately. Lin Xiuyai and Liu Qing both took the initiative to apply to the elders, hoping to go along."

"Oh?"

"But both were rejected."

Han Yue smiled faintly.

"I heard the elders vaguely mention that the situation at the Fallen Fire Sect Ruins is complicated this time, and the danger level is extremely high. The academy has set a rule: anyone below the Dou Wang level is forbidden from participating in this operation.

"After all, that place is crawling with all sorts of people now. If a Dou Ling went, they might not even be able to protect themselves."

"Otherwise, I would have applied to go too."

Qin Han understood.

"The Fallen Fire Sect was a major sect, after all. It hasn't appeared for a hundred years, and now its seal has suddenly broken. There are bound to be risks."

"And there are those jackals from the Black Corner Region. The academy students are still too inexperienced when facing them. Training is fine, but they can't be thrown into something this intense right from the start."

Qin Han reassured her.

"After I leave, I'll have to trouble you to look after Moon Spirit on your own again."

Qin Han smiled with a hint of apology.

Han Yue shot him an annoyed look. "You say that as if you usually take care of her all that much?"

Qin Han smiled awkwardly. He really was the type to leave everything to others.

After a brief silence, Han Yue rose to her feet, her voice softening. "This trip is perilous, far beyond anything like hunting in the Back Mountain.

"You know those people from the Black Corner Region best. Their methods are ruthless, and they have no bottom line.

"Your strength has improved, and you have a Heavenly Flame to protect you, but your way of handling things is too straightforward. You must have offended quite a few people in the Black Corner Region as well.

"Be careful in everything you do. Don't force yourself. If things cannot be done, preserving yourself comes first."

Qin Han felt a warmth in his heart and nodded solemnly. "I understand. I'll be careful. You take care too. Wait for me to come back and compete in the Strong Ranking Competition."

Han Yue gave a soft "Mm," then waved and walked toward the wooden building, leaving behind her slender silhouette.

After resting for the night, Qin Han headed straight for the Outer Academy early the next morning.