The Miserable Gu He

"I already have a Heavenly Flame?" Gu Fengchen's grin slowly widened. Xiao Yan had fought tooth and nail for so long over a single Heavenly Flame, while he had gotten one just by hugging and cuddling Gu Xun'er?

Didn't this make Xiao Yan's situation feel like he had lost both his wife and his army?

And most importantly, he seemed to have skipped the hardest step entirely.

In truth, finding a Heavenly Flame was difficult enough. There were only a few dozen Heavenly Flames in the world, and anyone who could find even a trace of one was already considered extraordinarily fortunate.

But what was even more difficult was controlling a Heavenly Flame.

Ordinary people who absorbed a Heavenly Flame had to draw it into their bodies. Yet every Heavenly Flame was a violently destructive thing. Very few could withstand its burning; only a tiny number of lucky people could refine a small wisp of one and nurture it into their own flame seed.

So although Gu Fengchen's Golden Emperor Sky Burning Flame was not yet fully solidified, it was a genuine Heavenly Flame!

And he had obtained it without paying much of a price.

Come to think of it, Gu Fengchen had always felt a little regretful. Although he possessed the Three Thousand Burning Flame Body, he had not obtained the Three Thousand Burning Flame.

"Maybe it's only because my Three Thousand Burning Flame Body is still at the first level. If I raise it to the second or even third level, will I have a chance to obtain the Three Thousand Burning Flame?"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. So the Flame Mantra isn't all that impressive either. I can devour Heavenly Flames too! If Xiao Yan can become an Alchemist, so can I!"

Gu Fengchen reveled in the thought. Honestly, only an idiot would not be tempted by such a sought-after profession as an Alchemist.

The current Gu Fengchen possessed both a Heavenly Flame and Wood Attribute Dou Qi. He already had every prerequisite to become an Alchemist; all he lacked was a teacher.

Well, when it came to mastery of alchemy, Old Ya was definitely the most formidable.

But Old Ya was probably still asleep. Xiao Yan's current Dou Qi was not even enough to fill the gaps between Old Ya's teeth, so that old fellow definitely would not awaken—not for at least a few more years. In that case, going to the Misty Cloud Sect to find Gu He would not be a bad idea either!

Speaking of which, Gu He was rather miserable too. As Yun Yun's simp, he had feelings for her, but she had none for him.

In the Original Work, when he was about to marry Yun Yun, Xiao Yan had even stolen her away halfway through.

He had simped until the end and gotten nothing.

When they had gone in search of the Green Lotus Core Flame, Xiao Yan had gotten there first and taken it away. Come to think of it, Gu He really was miserable.

Before long, Gu Fengchen had set his little goals. First, he would go to Qingshan Town, then to the Misty Cloud Sect. When he had time, he would return to the Xiao Clan to see how far the Original Work had progressed. He also needed to find Hai Bodong. With the Breaking Barrier Pill, getting himself a Dou Emperor bodyguard should not be a problem.

Having thought everything through, Gu Fengchen sat cross-legged and began cultivating.

A portion of the Golden Emperor Sky Burning Flame's energy still remained unrefined. Though it was only a small amount, it was still the power of a Heavenly Flame.

Enduring the waves of searing pain coming from within his body, Gu Fengchen slowly closed his eyes and gradually sank his consciousness into his body.

As the Golden Emperor Sky Burning Flame tempered his meridians, the originally broad and resilient channels twisted under the high temperature.

The terrifying pain made Gu Fengchen twitch slightly.

Because of the heat, the clothes pressed against Gu Fengchen's body burned away in an instant.

Veins bulged across Gu Fengchen's face from the pain. An indescribable agony nearly made him pass out.

There truly were no shortcuts on the path to becoming stronger. The pain one had to endure could never be avoided.

Fortunately, the pain did not last long before Gu Fengchen felt the Dou Qi within him suddenly surge.

The Dou Qi in Gu Fengchen's body continued increasing under the tempering of the Heavenly Flame.

Others might need an entire year to advance from a Four-Star Dou Practitioner to a Five-Star Dou Practitioner, but Gu Fengchen had advanced to Five-Star Dou Practitioner in the span of a few breaths.

Such a terrifying speed was simply unheard of!

Only after rising all the way to the peak of Five-Star Dou Practitioner did his steadily climbing aura finally stop.

"Huff."

As a mouthful of foul air left his body, Gu Fengchen opened his eyes.

"With my cultivation speed, even Sister Xun'er would have to admit defeat."

After all, Gu Fengchen had only broken through to Four-Star Dou Practitioner three days ago, yet he had now reached the peak of Five-Star Dou Practitioner.

Gu Xun'er possessed the Gu Clan's Divine Grade Bloodline and was publicly recognized as the heir most likely to break through to the Dou God realm.

But even she could not possibly make such a leap in just a few days.

Those ancient Dou God Clans all relied on their clan resources and Dou Di Bloodlines to achieve such astonishing cultivation speeds.

As for Nalan Yanran, she had Yun Yun's wholehearted guidance.

Yet the latter had taken three years to rise from Dou Practitioner to Da Dou Shi. By Gu Fengchen's estimate, as long as he had enough opportunities, he could reach Da Dou Shi in a month!

The Taotie Seal's enhancement was like force-feeding growth.

As long as Gu Fengchen had sufficient resources, he could continue advancing.

The main problem was that its resource requirements were far too demanding: pills of the seventh tier or above, precious medicinal herbs, or Heavenly Flames. That was the only thing troubling Gu Fengchen.

Just then, Gu Fengchen suddenly caught an indescribably foul stench. Looking down at his body, he saw—

Well.

The surface of his body had already been covered in a thick layer of black, hardened filth. The horrible smell Gu Fengchen had noticed was coming from himself.

Wutan City, Xiao Clan.

As one of Wutan City's Three Great Clans, and with the genius youth Xiao Yan among its ranks, the Xiao Clan truly held the position of a local tyrant within Wutan City.

After arriving here, Gu Xun'er had adapted well enough. The only thing that displeased her was that fellow called Xiao Yan. She always felt that his gaze carried certain improper intentions.

The night gradually deepened. As the wind rose, drifting dark clouds covered half of the clear moon.

A figure arrived outside Gu Xun'er's door and chuckled. "Sister Xun'er, I'm here."

But just as Xiao Yan was about to lightly knock on the door, a shadow as black as night appeared before him and kicked him away.

"Who the hell was that? Damn, that hurt!"

Xiao Yan was sent flying by the extremely brutal kick and crashed solidly onto the ground.

"Fengchen was right. You lecherous bastard, you've disgraced the Xiao Clan."

Ling Ying had always remembered Gu Fengchen's instructions and remained at Gu Xun'er's side to protect her. Of course, that was his duty in the first place.

He had not expected there to really be someone in the Xiao Clan with improper designs on the young lady.

He was simply courting death!

One should not harbor the intent to harm others, but one must guard against others harming them. Gu Fengchen had long prepared a Backup Plan for this.

He knew that old Xiao Yan was up to no good, so Gu Fengchen had to leave some Backup Plans to stop this from happening. He did not want to wear green on his head—if handled well, it was fashion.

If not handled well?

Then it might just be a hat.