Two Years

Xiao Li and Zi Yan left the Heavenly Burning Refining Tower. Xiao Li's reputation within the Inner Academy was exceedingly prominent.

First, he was Strong Ranking First, with astonishing strength. Just over a year after entering the Inner Academy, he had broken through to Dou Wang, defeated a series of Strong Ranking experts, and claimed the top spot.

Second, Xiao Li was an alchemy master. While only a Dou Ling in cultivation, he could already refine Grade 5 Pills. Grade 5 Pills—most Inner Academy students were merely Dou Lings.

The Grade 5 Pill, Spirit Ascending Pill, was far too tempting for them. Moreover, while the Heavenly Burning Refining Tower could accelerate their cultivation, prolonged stays would allow fire poison to invade their bodies, harming their cultivation.

Using his Alchemy, Xiao Li refined large batches of Ice Heart Pills and earned a great deal of Fire Energy.

Naturally, the Inner Academy also had its own group of alchemists. However, their strongest alchemist had only just entered the fourth grade and could not compete with Xiao Li at all.

Although Xiao Li had cultivated in the Inner Academy for two years, he had not forgotten the important matters. Old Wang held the nominal position of Elder at Jia Nan Academy.

While Old Wang was resting, Xiao Li secretly stuffed the Yin Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill into his mouth. Although Old Wang woke afterward, it was already too late. Even if he wanted to spit it out, he could not; the medicinal power of the Yin Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill had already settled within his body.

In his grand undertaking to save his teacher, Xiao Li had already taken a crucial step.

Next came matters concerning the Xiao Clan. Earlier, Xiao Li had obtained the Earth Rank Intermediate Lightning Attribute Cultivation Method, Rushing Thunder Mirror, along with its Matching Dou Techniques, the Insects Awakening Thunder Technique, in Xuan Ye City. Through a letter, Xiao Li summoned his Eldest Brother, Xiao Lin, to Jia Nan Academy.

Only when his Eldest Brother personally escorted it back did Xiao Li feel at ease. Two months ago, Xiao Lin had returned to Peace Town once more.

By then, Xiao Lin had broken through to Dou Wang and brought him good news: their Grandfather, Xiao Ting, had broken through to Dou Emperor, resolving the issue of his lifespan.

Xiao Li was naturally delighted for both his Grandfather and Eldest Brother. He then gave Xiao Lin one Dou Spirit Pill, two Qing Yuan Pills, and a set of Heaven Rank High Wind and Lightning Attribute Cultivation Methods and Matching Dou Techniques.

Xiao Li had traded pills for the Cultivation Method. Wind and Lightning Attribute Cultivation Methods were far too rare, but fortunately, there was nothing pills could not solve. If there was, it simply meant there were not enough pills.

Now that Xiao Li had reached Dou Wang, his Alchemy had also improved tremendously, reaching the sixth-grade level. He could already refine Dou Spirit Pills of decent quality.

The two Qing Yuan Pills could assist Dou Emperor Experts in cultivation. Xiao Li hoped his Grandfather's cultivation could rise another level, so that he could witness the Xiao Clan's future glory!

What reassured Xiao Li was that no one besides Xiao Lin and himself knew of Xiao Ting's breakthrough to Dou Emperor. Outside rumors claimed that Xiao Ting had failed to survive the end of his lifespan and had passed away. Yet Xiao Lin had broken through to Dou Wang, and the Xiao Clan still had a Dou Wang overseeing it, so no one dared make a move against them.

The Xiao Clan remained one of the Four Great Clans. Xiao Lin was now the face of the Xiao Clan. Keeping Old Man Xiao Ting as a hidden force would allow them to catch their enemies off guard, while also letting the Old Man focus wholeheartedly on cultivation and improving his strength.

The affairs at home allowed Xiao Li to breathe easy. All that remained was to work hard at improving his cultivation and prepare to refine the Fallen Heart Flame.

Xiao Li had already prepared the Grade 5 Blood Lotus Pill, the Grade 6 Earth Spirit Pill, a little Heavenly Cold Qi, a bottle of Ice Spirit Cold Spring, and Spirit Absorption.

Xiao Li had now reached Five Star Dou King. The Heavenly Burning Refining Tower was no longer very effective for him. Only by absorbing the True Form of the Fallen Heart Flame could this Cultivation Cheat Device exert its greatest effect.

"Xiao Li, what are you thinking about? You look like you're spacing out." Zi Yan looked at Xiao Li, whose gaze was somewhat vacant.

"Nothing. I was just thinking about something. You're about to advance to Rank 5 now, and you'll need quite a bit of energy. Let me think about how to refine the Medicinal Pills for you." Xiao Li looked at Zi Yan. This little girl was quite the powerful backer.

On the Dou Qi Continent, there was probably only one backer more formidable than her: Gu Yuan's daughter. Xiao Li truly could not bring himself to like the Gu Clan and did not want any entanglements with them.

Zi Yan was different. The Ancient Void Dragon held an extraordinary status. Although they were currently in internal turmoil, once Zi Yan grew up, she would become a Dou Saint Expert. No! After consuming the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, she would become a Dou Saint Expert in one step—apparently reaching Four Star Dou Saint. Most importantly, she had a father at the peak of Nine Star Dou Saint.

What an incredible backer. She just consumed a bit too many pills, but with Xiao Li's abilities, raising a Little Female Dragon was no problem!

Still, whenever Xiao Li saw Zi Yan, he felt a faint ache in his left ribs. It was probably because, around a year and a half ago, he had gone to ask the Great Elder about something and found Zi Yan rolling all over the floor in the Great Elder's office.

At that time, Zi Yan was not very human-like yet. She kept crying "Awoo, awoo," and aside from Su Qian, she was close to no one. She would ram into anyone she saw.

Xiao Li had not recognized her as Zi Yan then. Thinking she was some wild child, he ignored her. But when Zi Yan saw a stranger, she immediately used a Rocket Headbutt, knocking Xiao Li to the ground.

About one or two months later, Zi Yan had learned to speak fluently. Su Qian named her Zi Yan, and only then did Xiao Li realize she was that Little Dragon Emperor. Su Qian had found Zi Yan. After Zi Yan consumed Transformation Grass and became human, Su Qian happened upon her. Unable to bear the thought of her staying outside alone, he brought her back to Jia Nan Academy and treated her like his own Granddaughter.

Su Qian had no children, so he raised Zi Yan as his Granddaughter. Zi Yan then turned the Inner Academy upside down. Since her True Form was a Magical Beast, her physical strength was absurdly powerful, and Inner Academy students were all knocked down with a single punch.

Xiao Li endured two punches and suffered two broken ribs and minor injuries, losing by a narrow margin!

Once, when Zi Yan had nothing to do, she ran over to Xiao Li's place and happened to see him refining pills. She had always been interested in the round, plump pills in the Alchemy Department that looked like Candy Beans.

Zi Yan did not stand on ceremony. She picked up a Jade Bottle from the ground and poured its contents into her mouth, then fell asleep. After sleeping for half a month and digesting the medicinal power, Zi Yan had reached Peak Fourth Tier.

After that, Zi Yan latched onto Xiao Li and demanded that he churn out pills for her to eat. What else could Xiao Li do? He could only raise her.

Now, this little demon king, Zi Yan, generally stayed by Xiao Li's side and no longer wreaked havoc on the other students and Elders. The Inner Academy was finally much more peaceful.

Upon returning to Xiao Li's residence,

His residence was now quite spacious, practically a small villa. Liu Tianlong had broken through to Dou Wang and graduated last year. Once he graduated, the Liu Gang's officers all graduated as well, and the Liu Gang disbanded.

Liu Tianjiao lived next door to Xiao Li. Over the past two years, he had cultivated to the level of Seven Star Dou Ling, which was not bad.

"Young Master is back? Oh? Zi Yan is here too!" A gentle voice rang out. It was Xia Yilong.

Xia Yilong had remained by Xiao Li's side. As an orphan, Xia Yilong had now achieved some success in cultivation and become a Six Star Dou Ling expert. Even in the Jia Ma Empire, he could be considered a strong expert capable of founding a great clan.

Yet Xia Yilong had temporarily lost his goal. At first, he had wanted to become stronger so he would not be bullied, which was why he came to Jia Nan Academy. After entering the Outer Academy, he wanted to enter the Inner Academy. Now that he had entered the Inner Academy, he had no idea what to do next.

Xiao Li felt that Xia Yilong got along well with him, so he asked whether Xia Yilong would be willing to become a steward for the Xiao Clan. Xia Yilong agreed without a second thought.

Whether it was Xiao Li's identity or the Xiao Clan's status, Xia Yilong could not refuse. Besides, over the past two years, Xiao Li had treated him exceptionally well. Perhaps because they both came from the Jia Ma Empire, Xia Yilong's cultivation had improved so quickly entirely due to Xiao Li's pills.

Xia Yilong had thus decided to follow Xiao Li from then on. It could be said that Xia Yilong was now Xiao Li's lackey.