Yao Lao's Endless Imagination

Yao Chen was feeling a bit panicked right now.

A year ago, by absorbing the Dou Qi of this young boy Xiao Yan, he had managed to awaken from his slumber.

Since then, with the intention of tempering Xiao Yan's character, Yao Chen had kept Xiao Yan's cultivation suppressed at the third stage of the Dou Qi Stage.

He himself continued to observe Xiao Yan's conduct while waiting for the right moment to take him on as a disciple.

He never expected that someone else would discover him after only a year.

This made no sense.

Yao Chen observed Qi Fei, who was conversing with Xiao Yan, through the ring.

This youth's soul power seemed extraordinarily strong.

That was Yao Chen's first reaction.

In this world, souls are divided into four realms: Mortal, Spirit, Heaven, and Emperor.

A Mortal Realm soul is ethereal and intangible; if one can acquire soul-based Dou Skills, it can be somewhat useful.

The Spirit Realm allows the soul to condense into a form, granting spirituality to medicinal pills and enabling the refinement of grade eight pills.

The Heaven Realm allows for the refinement of grade nine pills, and at the perfection of this realm, one can even condense the soul into a clone indistinguishable from a physical body.

As for the Emperor Realm, it corresponds to the legendary Emperor-grade pills.

A soul at this realm can exert the strength of an eight-star Dou Sheng through the soul alone, second only to the nine-star Dou Sheng, the limit of the mortal world.

"Is this youth at the Spirit Realm? No, he might even be at the Heaven Realm. But why?"

If it were innate, then this youth truly possessed some luck.

But if it wasn't talent, then this youth's luck was even more terrifying.

Just as Yao Chen was marveling at the youth's soul power, he made another discovery.

That was the youth's Dou Qi cultivation at the Dou Huang level.

Thirteen years old, a Dou Huang—could it be due to the support of a Dou Di bloodline?

"But I've never heard of a Dou Di with the surname Qi... Wait, a Yellow-grade Dou Qi cultivation method?"

Yao Chen caught a glimpse of the Dou Qi inside Qi Fei's body.

Although there were some peculiar aspects in certain places, overall, it was undoubtedly Dou Qi cultivated from a Yellow-grade method.

Now, Yao Chen was one hundred percent certain that this Qi Fei was not from any Dou Di bloodline.

Regardless of talent or opportunity, Qi Fei was currently a genuine Heaven Realm soul.

Any normal Dou Di clan would never let him practice a Yellow-grade method, let alone cultivate it to the Dou Huang level.

In that case, was it a transmission of power from an expert?

Another possibility surfaced in Yao Chen's mind.

But Qi Fei's Dou Qi was perfectly compatible with his own body, and there wasn't the slightest disharmony in its circulation.

Whether it was the strength of only a Dou Huang or this coordinated state, neither matched the aftermath of a power transmission.

Furthermore, who would transmit Dou Qi without transmitting the cultivation method?

Could it be that this was done to deliberately hide his tracks?

"That makes sense."

Yao Chen suddenly realized.

To hide his own traces, this expert naturally could not pass down his cultivation method.

At the same time, he had forcibly stripped away all the characteristics of his own Dou Qi, leaving only the most pure Essence.

In this way, although only Dou Qi at the Dou Huang level remained, it would not be exposed to the eyes of enemies, nor would it affect Qi Fei's future.

But to go to such lengths, even if this expert had no other injuries, he was surely dead...

No wonder Qi Fei's soul could possess Heaven Realm cultivation!

Yao Chen felt he understood everything.

It was likely that Qi Fei was naturally gifted, and then he had obtained the soul Essence inherited from an expert.

The combination of the two had created a Heaven Realm soul.

If that were the case, couldn't he make use of someone else's successor?

The thought of taking advantage of someone else's efforts couldn't help but surface in Yao Chen's mind.

To have a super expert pour their heart and blood into paving the way for him, Qi Fei's character and talent must have been recognized by this expert.

And since this expert had already passed away...

Hehehehe—

Thinking of this, Yao Chen let out a sinister laugh.

Just as he was pondering this, outside the ring, Xiao Yan and Qi Fei were still discussing the issue of the face.

"So, how should I deal with the face on my chest?"

Xiao Yan looked at Qi Fei, hoping he could offer an idea.

"Based on my observations, this face should be related to that ring of yours. Why don't you try taking it off and see?"

Qi Fei said tentatively.

How strange. Even though he had pointed it out so clearly, why hadn't Yao Lao appeared yet?

Could it be that the old man was betting that he was just spouting nonsense?

"Oh."

Xiao Yan took the ring hanging around his neck and placed it on the stone in front of the two of them.

The ring remained unchanged.

"What do we do next?"

Xiao Yan looked at Qi Fei.

"Next, it depends on whether you still want this ring or not."

Qi Fei decided to force Yao Lao's hand.

"If you still want this ring, we'll find a place to bury it. If we get far enough away, he shouldn't be able to absorb your Dou Qi anymore."

"That makes sense. If he could absorb Dou Qi from far away, the others in our family wouldn't be able to escape either."

Xiao Yan followed along with Qi Fei's logic.

"Exactly."

Qi Fei nodded.

"And if you don't want it, then we'll dismantle this ring right now and see what exactly is going on with the old man inside."

He spoke in a fierce tone.

It was as if he truly intended to take action against the ring.

"Hmm... forget it, it is my mother's keepsake after all."

Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment before choosing the first option.

Keeping the ring would at least provide some comfort.

"Besides, even if we called my father, I'm afraid we wouldn't be able to beat this ghost, right?"

Xiao Yan speculated.

If his father could beat this ghost, he probably would have discovered it long ago.

"That's true."

Qi Fei echoed.

If they really were to fight, he reckoned he could go toe-to-toe with Yao Chen.

The Rules of Fate comprehended by Coiling Dragon Qi Fei, the divine will of Shen San Qi Fei, and the mental-type skills imprinted by Heavenly Jewel Change Qi Fei could all attack the soul.

It was just that these certainly couldn't fully exert the power they possessed in their original worlds.

And Yao Chen possessed the specialty of the Dou Po world: Heavenly Flame.

If not for this trade-off, Qi Fei estimated that he would barely be able to win.

But speaking of the Rules of Fate.

Qi Fei glanced at Xiao Yan out of the corner of his eye.

Even in front of this protagonist, he did not see the vision similar to that of Coiling Dragon Qi Fei.

Was that vision actually due to the special fate system of the Coiling Dragon universe?

He wondered if, in the future, after achieving enough in the Rules of Fate, he would be able to see the fate of protagonists in other worlds.

While thinking, Qi Fei spoke up: "Then let's go back to get a shovel, find a place, and bury it."

"Yeah, and we have to bury it deep, lest this ring comes out to harm people again."

Xiao Yan agreed, preparing to head back to the clan right away.

Unlike the distracted Qi Fei, he was genuinely preparing to go back and get a shovel to bury the ring.

"Two little friends, is there really a need for this?"

Finally, the aged voice Qi Fei had been waiting for rang out.

Under the gaze of Qi Fei and Xiao Yan—one truly surprised and one feigning it—the phantom of an old man emerged from the ring.

"You've eaten so much of my Dou Qi, and you still dare to come out?"

Xiao Yan's surprise turned into anger in the next instant.

It was this guy who had caused the Dou Qi he had cultivated for over a decade to drop to zero, and who had made him suffer in vain for an entire year.

Xiao Yan, in a fit of rage, lunged forward, swinging his fists as he prepared to attack Yao Lao.

However, it was a pity that Xiao Yan, who wasn't even at the Dou Zhe stage yet, couldn't land a single hit on Yao Lao, who existed only as a soul.

The future Flame Emperor's attempt at master-slaying ended in a crushing defeat, and he even nearly face-planted into the dirt.

"Don't be so agitated; it was just a tiny bit of Dou Qi."

Yao Lao said airily.

As a former Dou Zun, the Dou Qi of a mere beginner who had just entered the Dou Zhe stage naturally meant nothing to him.

"That's easy for you to say, but that Dou Qi was something I cultivated through bit by bit of hard work."

Xiao Yan scrambled to his feet and shouted angrily.

During the Dou Qi Stage, due to the limitations of the body's meridians, one could not use medicinal pills and had to rely solely on painstaking cultivation.

And yet, it had all been swallowed by this guy.

"The time I spent in the past—what are you going to use to compensate me?"

The moment Xiao Yan thought about all that wasted time, he felt as if his heart were bleeding.

"Exactly, my brother now has to start his cultivation all over again; what are you going to use to make up for that?"

Qi Fei also joined in the condemnation.

Whether he could get his hands on an Earth Tier cultivation method depended on this moment.

"How about I take you two as my disciples?"

Yao Lao said with a confident expression.

"No way, I don't want to study under a Dou Qi thief."

Xiao Yan refused decisively.

Yao Lao's eyebrows twitched slightly.

I, Yao Chen, a dignified Dou Zun powerhouse and Grade Nine Alchemist, and you actually call me a Dou Qi thief?

Forget it, considering this little brat is ill-informed and doesn't know the true powerhouses of the continent, I'll let it slide for now.

The main point is the other one.

As long as he could nurture him, he wouldn't dare promise resurrection, but at the very least, getting revenge would definitely be no problem.

Yao Lao turned his head to look at Qi Fei.

And Qi Fei was currently contemplating life.

He had originally come to help Xiao Yan flush out Yao Lao early, with the intention of swindling an Earth Tier Dou Qi cultivation method out of him.

He practiced a Yellow Tier Advanced cultivation method, partly to prevent Yao Lao from trying to fool him with the Burning Art.

Secondly, it was to let Yao Lao see the mismatch between his Dou Qi level and his cultivation method, prompting him to offer a technique voluntarily.

Qi Fei had already thought up the whole story.

A powerhouse passing on his skills, lacking a cultivation method, forming a bond of goodwill...

But before he could even start his swindling, why did Yao Lao start offering to take on disciples?

What happened to the transmigrator trope where the local residents get played like a fiddle?

He had tried to scheme twice; the first time he was exposed before he even began, and the second time his plans were disrupted by the other party before he could even start.

How was he supposed to use "Talk no Jutsu" on others in the future?

"This young friend, what do you think? With your ability, you should be able to see my uniqueness, right?"

Yao Lao asked expectantly.

Although that powerhouse passing on his skills couldn't hand over a cultivation method to Qi Fei, he would certainly fill in all the basic common knowledge for him.

For example, the top-tier alchemist who once enjoyed a great reputation throughout the Central Plains, Yao Chen.

Hurry, hurry and announce my name, youth.

"Senior's soul being able to exist independently after death is indeed extraordinary, but we don't know Senior's specific abilities..."

Qi Fei put on a look of polite refusal.

Of course, he didn't actually want to refuse.

A scumbag friend of his who had once "landed" a partner had said that in any relationship, regardless of gender, one must learn to properly play hard to get.

Things obtained easily are quickly taken for granted, but things earned through hardship are different.

"...I am an alchemist; I can teach you how to refine medicine."

Yao Lao said, feeling stifled.

If it weren't for the fact that bragging about himself was truly embarrassing, he really wanted to throw all his titles at these two.

"Oh, an alchemist, huh."

Xiao Yan was clearly getting excited.

Although Qi Fei was slightly moved, he still felt a degree of resistance.

Yao Lao could not help but feel a bit puzzled.

If he was interested, it meant that the expert had only taught Qi Fei common knowledge and had not taught him alchemy.

But why was he still unwilling?

Could it be that Qi Fei wasn't unaware of his reputation, but was intentionally refusing him because he believed he already had a teacher?

Yao Lao's favorability toward Qi Fei increased.

"Rest assured, I am not asking you to betray your teacher."

Yao Lao wore an expression that was amiable yet carried ulterior motives, much like a creepy uncle trying to lure a schoolboy.

"The fact that your teacher chose such a complex method of passing on his power clearly shows he was already prepared for you to take others as your mentors."

Otherwise, he would surely have passed the cultivation technique directly to Qi Fei.

"?!"

Qi Fei felt that Yao Lao must have misunderstood something.

Yao Lao noticed the fluctuation in Qi Fei's expression and, assuming he had hit the mark, immediately decided to press his advantage.

He first praised the skills of the expert who had passed on the power, then sighed with emotion over the helplessness of that expert for not even daring to pass down the cultivation technique.

He then shifted the topic to how perilous the road ahead would be for Qi Fei.

Finally, he stated that he did not want the efforts of that expert to go to waste, which was why he wanted to lend Qi Fei a helping hand.

He was definitely not some despicable person trying to steal another's disciple.

The speech touched upon regret, dreams, the future, and many other themes, leaving Qi Fei completely bewildered.

How is the background of this power-passing expert even more complete than the one I made up?

"Then I thank you for your kindness, Senior."

Qi Fei agreed to Yao Lao's request to take him as a disciple.

After all, since the man had gone to such lengths, it would be unreasonable to refuse again.

"Good."

Yao Lao said excitedly.

"Rest assured, I will certainly carry on the will of that senior and cultivate you into a powerhouse of a generation."

"What about me? What about me?"

Xiao Yan, whose heart was surging with emotion after Yao Lao's speech, asked.

"Didn't you already refuse?"

Yao Lao turned his head and asked with a puzzled expression.

This man was clearly teasing Xiao Yan on purpose.

Qi Fei, who had a certain level of attainment regarding the soul, saw this clearly.

"You..."

Xiao Yan glared at Yao Lao, unable to speak.

"Senior, stop teasing him. You clearly said earlier that you would take both of us as disciples."

Qi Fei spoke up.

"Hahaha, at the thought of taking two genius disciples today, I couldn't help but feel a bit excited. Forgive your teacher."

Yao Lao said with a laugh.

"...Forget it, I won't hold it against you."

Xiao Yan sighed.

I'm the one whose Dou Qi is being drained, so why does it feel like my little brother is the protagonist?

"Your composure is lacking, young man. Why don't you temper yourself for another two years?"

Yao Lao said, shaking his head.

"Don't do that. In two years, I could reach the level of a Dou Zhe again on my own."

Xiao Yan, thinking Yao Lao was serious, couldn't help but wail.

"Just a joke."

Yao Lao chuckled, and before Xiao Yan could speak, he looked at Xiao Yan and Qi Fei with a serious expression.

"I will ask you both one more time: are you willing to take me as your teacher and learn alchemy and the cultivation of Dou Qi?"

Xiao Yan and Qi Fei exchanged a glance, then both respectfully performed the apprenticeship ceremony for Yao Lao.

"Disciple Qi Fei/Xiao Yan, greets Teacher."