Two Years

Xiao Li and Zi Yan walked out of the Heavenly Burning Refining Tower. Xiao Li's reputation in the Inner Academy was exceptionally resounding.

First, he was Strong Ranking First. His strength was astonishing; after entering the Inner Academy for just over a year, he had broken through to Dou Wang, defeated a series of Strong Ranking experts, and claimed first place.

Second, Xiao Li was a master Alchemist. Though his cultivation was merely at the Dou Ling level, he could already refine Grade 5 Pills. Grade 5 Pills—most Inner Academy students were only Dou Ling.

The Grade 5 Pill, Spirit Ascending Pill, was simply too tempting for them. Moreover, although the Heavenly Burning Refining Tower could increase their cultivation speed, remaining inside for too long 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 massive amount of Fire Energy.

Naturally, the Inner Academy also had a group of Alchemists, but their strongest Alchemist had only just entered the fourth grade. They 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, the deed was done. He could not spit it out even if he wanted to; the Yin Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill's medicinal power had already settled within his body.

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

Next came the Xiao Clan's affairs. Previously, Xiao Li had obtained the Lightning Attribute Earth Rank Intermediate Cultivation Method, Rushing Thunder Mirror, along with its Matching Dou Techniques, the Insects Awakening Thunder Technique, in Xuan Ye City. Xiao Li called his eldest brother, Xiao Lin, to Jia Nan Academy through a letter.

Only when his eldest brother personally escorted them over did Xiao Li feel at ease. Two months ago, Xiao Lin came 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 happy for his grandfather and eldest brother. He then gave Xiao Lin one Dou Spirit Pill, two Qing Yuan Pills, and a set of Mysterious Rank High Feng Lei Attribute Cultivation Method and Matching Dou Techniques.

Xiao Li had traded pills for the Cultivation Method. Feng Lei Attribute Cultivation Methods were far too rare, but fortunately, nothing could not be solved with pills. If there was, it only meant there were not enough pills.

Now, Xiao Li's cultivation had reached Dou Wang, and his Alchemy had improved greatly along with it, reaching the Grade 6 level. He could already refine fairly high-quality Dou Spirit Pills.

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 Xiao Li knew of Xiao Ting's breakthrough to Dou Emperor. Rumors outside claimed that Xiao Ting had failed to survive his final days and passed away. However, Xiao Lin had broken through to Dou Wang, so the Xiao Clan still had a Dou Wang overseeing it. No one dared make a move against the Xiao Clan.

The Xiao Clan remained one of the Four Great Clans. Xiao Lin was now the face of the Xiao Clan. Keeping old master Xiao Ting as hidden strength would allow them to catch others off guard, while also letting him focus wholeheartedly on cultivation and raising his strength.

The matters at home allowed Xiao Li to breathe easy. What remained was to work hard to improve his cultivation and prepare to refine the Fallen Heart Flame.

Xiao Li had already prepared the Grade 5 Pill Blood Lotus Pill, the Grade 6 Pill 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 Fallen Heart Flame's true body could this Cultivation Cheat Device be put to its fullest use.

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

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

On the Dou Qi Continent, there was probably only Gu Yuan's daughter who could be a more formidable backer than her. 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. Though they were currently in internal conflict, once Zi Yan grew up, she would become a Dou Saint Expert. No! After she consumed the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, she would become a Dou Saint Expert in a single step—perhaps even reaching Four Star Dou Saint. Most importantly, she had a father at the Peak Nine Star Dou Saint level.

This backer was truly amazing. She just consumed a bit too many pills. Still, with Xiao Li's abilities, raising a little female dragon was not a problem!

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

At the time, Zi Yan had not yet learned much about human behavior. She cried out "Ah woo, ah woo," and aside from Su Qian, she would not get close to anyone. She charged at 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 launched a Rocket Headbutt, knocking Xiao Li to the ground.

After roughly one or two months, Zi Yan had become very proficient at speaking. Su Qian named her Zi Yan, and only then did Xiao Li learn that she was the Little Dragon Emperor. Su Qian had found Zi Yan after she ate Transformation Grass and became human. Unable to bear seeing her remain alone outside, 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. Afterward, Zi Yan turned the Inner Academy upside down. Since her true body was a Magical Beast, her physical strength was outrageously powerful, and every Inner Academy student was knocked down with a single punch.

Xiao Li took two punches and suffered a narrow defeat at the cost of two broken ribs and minor injuries!

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

Zi Yan did not stand on ceremony. She directly 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 other students and Elders. The Inner Academy had finally become much more peaceful.

Returning to Xiao Li's residence,

His current residence was fairly large, practically a small villa. Liu Tianlong had broken through to Dou Wang and graduated last year. Once he graduated, the Liu Gang's officers also graduated, and the Liu Gang dissolved.

Liu Tianjiao lived next door to Xiao Li. Over two years, he had cultivated to the Seven Star Dou Ling level, 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 now been following Xiao Li all along. Since Xia Yilong had been an orphan, and now had achieved success in cultivation as a Six Star Dou Ling expert, he could be considered an expert even in the Jia Ma Empire and could establish a great clan there.

But Xia Yilong had temporarily lost his goal. At first, he had wanted to become stronger and avoid being bullied, so 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 no longer knew what to do afterward.

Xiao Li felt that Xia Yilong got along well with him, so he asked whether he 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. Moreover, Xiao Li had treated him especially well these past two years. Perhaps because they both came from the Jia Ma Empire, Xia Yilong's cultivation had improved so quickly entirely because of Xiao Li's pills.

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