Breaking Through to Dou Zong

Two years later, Jia Nan Academy

Recently, the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower had been closing for longer and longer periods, and more frequently as well. The result was that students had less time to cultivate inside the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower, and the benefits of accelerated cultivation were greatly reduced. This had caused some dissatisfaction among the students.

Naturally, those students were the ones with plenty of Fire Energy. Students with little Fire Energy could not cultivate for even ten days a month even if the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower remained open at all times. Therefore, the duration of the tower's closures did not affect them much.

The Inner Academy's management had also made a response, issuing some compensation. For example, the price of exchanging Fire Energy for Inner Academy resources had been reduced by ten percent.

It was precisely because of this measure that the restless students gradually calmed down.

Liuli, who was on the Seventh Floor at the bottom of the tower, knew nothing of any of this.

Over the past two years, she had continuously adjusted and tempered her own Dou Qi, almost as though she had cultivated all over again. The instability in her Dou Qi caused by her explosive increase in strength had been completely resolved. Now, she felt that she could take down Ling Ying directly through Dou Qi alone.

More importantly...

Liuli raised her hand, and a mass of silver Dou Qi emerged from her palm. Amid the dense and vast energy, solid silver threads of energy drifted about, tugging at the space around Liuli.

The young girl wrapped Dou Qi around her hand, then clenched her fist and punched forward.

Bang!

A crisp cracking sound rang out. A fissure actually appeared in the space before her!

Space Power—this was Liuli's newly mastered ability, and also the ultimate method that only Dou Zong experts could truly wield. Once one grasped it, it was equivalent to touching the threshold of Dou Zong.

The young girl took out a dark-blue Storage Ring and retrieved a pill from within.

A High-grade Sixth-rank Sect Breaking Pill!

Without the slightest hesitation, Liuli put the priceless treasure into her mouth.

The pill melted as soon as it entered her mouth, instantly transforming into energy that flowed into the young girl's abdomen. From there, it began to radiate energy in every direction.

"The medicinal effect is pretty mild." Liuli licked her lips. The pill even had a sweet taste.

However, in the next instant, the young girl's delicate brows furrowed, and her face turned pale.

That energy suddenly became violent and chaotic, charging wildly through her body.

Damn it! Liuli cursed inwardly and hurriedly sat down. She circulated all the Dou Qi in her body and began guiding and refining the medicinal power within her.

The Sect Breaking Pill's energy entered the young girl's meridians, bones, muscles, and cells, continuously tempering and strengthening them. This stage was agonizing, no less painful than having every bone in her body torn apart and reassembled.

"Refine!" Liuli shouted softly, forming hand seals as she hastened the energy's guidance.

Black-and-white flames rose from her body, gradually enveloping Liuli. Beyond them, the energy throughout the Seventh Floor of the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower also began to stir, gathering toward where she sat in meditation.

A day later, the Sect Breaking Pill's medicinal power had been completely absorbed by the young girl. What followed was an incomparably intense feeling of emptiness within her body.

The Sect Breaking Pill alone isn't enough! Though she could feel her strength soaring and the invisible barrier had been broken through, her foundation had not yet fully stabilized. It was like a container: though its capacity had been painstakingly enlarged, the water inside was still far from filling it!

Nearly eighty percent of Half-step Dou Zongs reached this stage only to find themselves at the end of their resources. In the end, because their realm was not stabilized, they fell back down.

Liuli slowly opened her eyes. Looking at the scorching energy around her, isolated by the Heavenly Flames and gathered into something like liquid, the corners of her lips lifted slightly.

Fortunately, she had made two preparations.

Before taking the Sect Breaking Pill, she had also consumed a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure called Li Huo Wu Tong Zhi. Its effect was to triple the speed at which she could draw upon and absorb Heaven and Earth Energy with fire attributes, and its medicinal effect could last for nearly three months.

She drew the Heavenly Flames back into her body, and the liquid energy flooded into her like a tidal wave. She directed it into her dantian, filling the emptiness in her Dou Qi. That exhaustion and hollow feeling slowly faded as time passed...

Four months later

Jia Nan Academy Inner Academy, Elder's Pavilion

"The energy unrest within the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower has stabilized considerably lately. That Monster should settle down for a while. This is good news." Su Qian sat at the head of the hall and looked at the elders below. His usually stern face revealed a rare smile.

All the elders let out sighs of relief. During this period, the Monster below had never stopped causing trouble. These old bones of theirs had been desperately suppressing it and were already exhausted. Receiving this news was undoubtedly like being given a dose of reassurance.

"For the time being, the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower will reopen. However, the Tower Guard Elders must increase their watch. Do not let down your guard." Su Qian tapped the table and spoke solemnly.

"Yes!" everyone answered.

"How is the new student, Gongsun Liuli, doing now?" Su Qian changed the subject and looked toward the representatives of the Tower Guard Elders.

The Tower Guard Elders exchanged looks. In the end, Elder Liu stepped forward and answered, "Gongsun Liuli is currently in seclusion on the Seventh Floor. It has already been... more than two years."

Su Qian had given a strict order that these Tower Guard Elders were not to disturb this new student with terrifying strength. Thus, no matter what commotion she had caused below over the past two years, they had ignored it.

"Two years?" Su Qian nodded. That little girl's talent was truly terrifying. At such a young age, she had already reached the level of a Nine-star Dou Huang. Such strength would make her a regional overlord in the Black Corner Region.

And after two years of seclusion, whether she had broken through to Dou Zong or not was still uncertain. But the adjustment and tempering of her body would certainly bring her strength to an even higher level.

"Let her continue her seclusion. You may all disperse and return to your posts. Also, keep a close eye on Zi Yan. Don't let her sneak into the medicinal storehouse to steal food again." Su Qian waved his hand, signaling for everyone to leave.

Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!

However, just as everyone was about to disperse, the distant tower suddenly began to shake. In the sky above it, an Energy Storm formed from gathered energy slowly began to coalesce, releasing bursts of thunderous roars.

All the elders were greatly alarmed and hurriedly looked out the windows. Some of the more impatient ones had already spread their Dou Qi wings, preparing to rush out and investigate.

"Stay calm!" Su Qian shouted in a low voice, his body flashing to appear before them.

"Great Elder, is someone breaking through to Dou Zong? Why would it happen inside the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower?" one elder asked.

Su Qian did not answer. Instead, he extended his awareness toward that direction through Soul Power, sensing the aura of the person responsible for this phenomenon.

His probe descended from the tip of the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower, passing through seven layers of barriers before finally locking onto the slender figure wrapped in scorching energy.

"All Tower Guard Elders present, assemble above the tower and maintain the grand formation. This expert is one of our own." Su Qian's expression eased as he swept his sleeve and gave the order.

The elders were all deeply puzzled, but they did not dare delay. Several figures flew from the opened windows toward the center of the phenomenon.

"The rest of you, return to your posts. Law Enforcement Elder, notify the students and warn them not to approach within five hundred meters of the tower." Su Qian continued issuing orders.

The elders saluted and left one after another.

Su Qian watched as the silver Energy Storm gradually took shape, a bitter smile appearing on his face. He had worked his entire life and fought desperately to reach the level of a Three-Star Dou Zong. Yet now, he was about to be surpassed by a little girl.

"Good thing the tower is closed right now. Otherwise, who knows how many people inside would suffer!" Su Qian smiled bitterly.

Time slowly passed. Three days went by, yet the Energy Storm hovering above the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower not only did not dissipate, but instead grew increasingly intense.

More than a dozen elders sat around the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower, mobilizing their Dou Qi to establish a massive defensive formation in the space covering a one-mile radius around the tower, guarding it day and night.

Fortunately, although this disturbance was imposing, it did not cause any casualties. The students were simply unsettled, some curious and others fearful.

This commotion also alerted the Black Corner Region bordering Jia Nan Academy. Many experts sensed the aura of someone breaking through such a realm. More than a dozen strong individuals at the Dou Wang level and above were already standing at the edge of Jia Nan Academy's territory, eyeing the place greedily.

Su Qian was also plagued with a headache. He dispatched another group of elders to guard the academy's perimeter, preventing any blind fool from sneaking inside. After all, the strong individuals who roamed the Black Corner Region were mostly butchers steeped in bloodshed. Letting them enter the academy would be like letting wolves into a flock of sheep—the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Elder Su Qian, congratulations. Jia Nan Academy is about to gain another Dou Zong expert."

Above Heping Town, two figures faced each other in midair. One was Su Qian. The other was a man in a green robe, around thirty years old. He had a rather handsome face, black hair hanging to his shoulders, a gentle expression between his brows, and a faint smile constantly resting on his lips, giving him an exceptionally approachable air.

"Han Feng, why have you brought people to my Jia Nan Academy?" Su Qian did not give him a pleasant expression.

Medicine Emperor Han Feng was one of the most distinguished experts in the Black Corner Region. He possessed the strength of a Peak Dou Huang and held the esteemed status of a Sixth-grade Alchemist. It was this very man who had always suspected that Heavenly Flames lay beneath the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower and had tested the academy several times.

"I merely sensed the aura of an expert breaking through within Jia Nan Academy and came to observe. Perhaps it will help my strength, which has been stagnant for several years, improve somewhat." Han Feng smiled, paying no mind to Su Qian's unfriendly attitude.

Su Qian snorted and said no more, though he remained standing in midair, guarding this stretch of heaven and earth.

"Elder Su Qian, may I ask which academy expert is breaking through the Dou Huang barrier? Could it be Headmaster Hu Gan?" Han Feng asked with a smile.

"It is better not to ask what you should not ask." Su Qian did not answer.

Seeing Su Qian's reaction, Han Feng nodded and continued, "If it is not him, then which academy expert has received such an opportunity? And what might that opportunity be? Could it be Heavenly Flames?"

"You're noisy!" Su Qian's gaze sharpened. He lightly stepped on the air, and an invisible wave of force shot toward Han Feng.

Han Feng conjured Dou Qi and forcibly received the attack, his body retreating two steps. Yet the smile on his face did not diminish.

"I did not pursue the matter when you entered Heping Town. That was already the utmost limit of my tolerance. If you continue making a nuisance of yourself here, do not blame this old man for disregarding your status as a Sixth-grade Alchemist!" Su Qian said coldly.

"I was presumptuous." Han Feng clasped his hands and offered an insincere apology.

"Setting foot in Jia Nan Academy's territory is your greatest presumption!" Su Qian sneered, a dark glint flashing through his eyes as he continued, "Jia Nan Academy has never stood firm in the Black Corner Region for a hundred years by relying on a single flame."

Han Feng did not respond. He stared into Su Qian's icy eyes for a long while.

He had always suspected the existence of Heavenly Flames in Jia Nan Academy, and he had conducted many investigations before this. However, with Su Qian, this formidable figure, guarding the academy, he did not dare investigate too deeply. Now that Jia Nan Academy was about to gain another Dou Zong expert, it would undoubtedly become an even greater obstacle to his future plans.

With two Dou Zongs in Jia Nan Academy, its already formidable reputation in the Black Corner Region would become even more firmly established. In the Black Corner Region, perhaps no one would dare provoke this colossal force again.

"Hehe, it seems the breakthrough is nearing its end. I have disturbed you greatly this time, so Han Feng shall take his leave." Han Feng watched as the Energy Storm slowly began collapsing toward its center. He gave Su Qian a slight bow, then turned and left.

He needed to return and carefully consider his future plans.

Watching the young man's retreating figure, Su Qian's slightly tensed nerves relaxed. In terms of strength alone, Han Feng was merely a Peak Dou Huang. In a one-on-one fight, Su Qian had a hundred ways to kill him. But what Su Qian truly feared was Han Feng's identity as a High-grade Sixth-rank Alchemist. With that identity, he could gather far too many experts. It had reached the point where Su Qian had no choice but to be wary of him.

Su Qian turned around and watched the changes in the phenomenon above the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower, letting out a slow sigh.

He hoped this little fellow would lend the academy some support in the future.