Taking the Earth Fire Lotus Platform and Seeds, Breaking Through to Dou Wang!

"How could there be no flame?!"

Yao Lao's soul form floated out, his face full of surprise.

Xiao Yan looked at the empty center of the lotus platform. He had long known that Queen Medusa had taken the Heavenly Flame half a year ago, but he still put on an expression of utter disbelief.

"Could someone have gotten here first? I sensed it when we came down—the passage clearly wasn't naturally formed. Someone blasted it open with powerful energy." Playing dumb despite knowing the truth, Xiao Yan guided the analysis.

Yao Lao immediately followed Xiao Yan's line of thought and came to a realization. "According to what your little maid said, she sensed this place because she felt Queen Medusa's aura. There's a very good chance Queen Medusa took the Heavenly Flame!"

Xiao Yan nodded in agreement. "That must be it."

"Still, it's fortunate that although we didn't obtain the Heavenly Flame, Queen Medusa didn't take the lotus platform or its seeds. That's at least some consolation."

Yao Lao nodded. "This Earth Fire Lotus Platform was formed from the essence of earth fire condensed over a thousand years. Sitting atop it can increase your cultivation speed three or fourfold without any problem."

"The greatest effect of these Earth Fire Lotus Seeds is strengthening your meridians, tempering your body, and purging impurities. That may not be of much use to you. Even so, the energy contained within the seeds themselves, when absorbed by someone with your special physique, will still be enough to raise your cultivation considerably."

"Take the platform and seeds with you. Put them to good use after we return, improve yourself, then go find Queen Medusa and take the Heavenly Flame!"

"Alright, I'll do it now." Xiao Yan took out a jade vessel and used the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame to melt it into drops of green liquid, which condensed into a long sword. He carefully removed the lotus platform and seeds, then placed them into his Storage Ring.

Yao Lao stroked his beard at the side and muttered, "Why does this brat seem to know everything? I didn't even need to tell him to use jade to cut through the lotus platform's roots."

"It really takes away any sense of accomplishment."

After taking the lotus platform and seeds, Xiao Yan left the area and encountered the waiting Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake on his way back.

He did not go back on his word. He cut his finger and forced out two drops of blood.

Empowered by his [Myriad Beast] talent, those two drops of blood were excellent nourishment for the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake.

He returned to the underground cavern.

Qing Lin had obediently remained where she was without moving.

Xiao Yan withdrew the flames and rubbed Qing Lin's head. "It's done. Let's go."

Qing Lin obediently grabbed the corner of Xiao Yan's clothes.

Xiao Yan simply gripped her wrist. The little girl was malnourished, and her wrist was so thin that his hand could completely encircle it.

After glancing back at the reluctant Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake in the magma, he led Qing Lin away.

Without the fright from the original story, Qing Lin's Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils had not awakened, so there was no way for her to subdue the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake as a contract beast.

Xiao Yan planned to ask Medusa about it himself when he later went to the Snake-People Tribe.

The Snake-People Tribe had been passed down for many years. Although its strongest expert now was only Medusa, a peak Dou Emperor, its foundation should not be weak.

There was a high chance they possessed an inheritance related to the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, and he intended to obtain it.

He would never accept Qing Lin being taken away by the Heavenly Snake Mansion as in the original story.

Leaving the underground cavern, they returned to the surface.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li immediately came over. "Third Brother, how were the gains?"

Xiao Yan nodded. "Not bad. Over the next two days, I plan to enter seclusion and improve my cultivation."

"I should be able to raise it quite a bit."

Hearing this, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li smiled sincerely. "As long as the trip wasn't wasted. Come on, let's return to the city and have another drink to celebrate!"

"Alright!"

After returning to Stone Desert City, the three brothers drank for another half day.

It was not until late at night that Xiao Yan returned to his room.

His personal little maid, Qing Lin, had already prepared hot water and towels, waiting to help him wash up.

"Young Master, Qing Lin will help you wash up." Qing Lin lowered her head and moved to remove Xiao Yan's clothes.

Xiao Yan directly declined. "No need. I still have things to do, and I don't plan on sleeping."

"Yes." Qing Lin did not pester him. Hugging the washing supplies, she withdrew from the room, fully aware of her place.

After Qing Lin left, Xiao Yan immediately used his soul power to envelop the room, preventing anyone from disturbing him midway.

Then, he summoned Yao Lao's soul form.

"Teacher, protect me." Xiao Yan spoke bluntly.

"Mm. Raise your cultivation as quickly as possible. Those Earth Fire Lotus Seeds suit your attributes perfectly. You can absorb them completely, which saves the time needed to refine them into medicinal pills," Yao Lao said.

Xiao Yan took out the Earth Fire Lotus Platform and the Earth Fire Lotus Seeds. The platform filled all the open space in the room.

Xiao Yan sat cross-legged upon it. Dense fire-attributed energy immediately surrounded him, making him feel exceedingly comfortable.

After experiencing it for a moment, Xiao Yan picked up an Earth Fire Lotus Seed and put it into his mouth.

The instant it entered his mouth, the seed turned into liquid and smoothly flowed into his stomach.

Once the Earth Fire Lotus Seed's energy entered his body, it swiftly spread throughout him, tempering his meridians and making them tougher.

Xiao Yan did not need to worry about damaging his meridians, so he focused all his efforts on increasing his cultivation. Using a large amount of soul power, he forcibly gathered the Earth Fire Lotus Seed's energy and used it to enhance his cultivation.

In an instant, the Dou Qi within his body increased substantially.

Originally, after absorbing the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, his cultivation had stopped at three-star Dou Ling. Following his day-and-night cultivation, he had naturally reached four-star Dou Ling.

Now, after swallowing a single lotus seed, his cultivation broke through once more and reached five-star Dou Ling!

Though the Earth Fire Lotus Seed's powerful energy was certainly a factor, Xiao Yan felt that the greater reason was his Fire Spirit Body's incredibly high efficiency in absorbing and converting energy.

As soon as the energy from one Earth Fire Lotus Seed was exhausted, Xiao Yan immediately swallowed another.

The equally pure energy entered his body and was once again forcibly gathered with soul power, all directed toward increasing his cultivation.

One seed, two seeds, three seeds...

Five-star Dou Ling, six-star Dou Ling, seven-star Dou Ling...

By the time he reached seven-star Dou Ling, the energy from a single Earth Fire Lotus Seed was no longer enough. Xiao Yan did not hesitate and began swallowing them two at a time.

Four seeds, five seeds, six seeds, seven seeds...

Eight-star Dou Ling, nine-star Dou Ling.

The aura within Xiao Yan's body continued to rise before finally stopping at nine-star Dou Ling.

Feeling his stable realm, Xiao Yan chose to directly charge toward Dou Wang.

He circulated the Burning Mantra with all his strength, maximizing his absorption of fire-attributed energy. He swallowed the remaining four Earth Fire Lotus Seeds without leaving a single one behind.

In an instant, the amount of Dou Qi within his body surged again, faintly undergoing a qualitative transformation.

Vaguely, he seemed to establish a trace of connection with heaven and earth, allowing him to mobilize the power of heaven and earth against enemies.

He carefully contemplated it, gained some insight, and opened his eyes.

The barrier representing Dou Wang cultivation shattered at the slightest touch.

Boom!

A pillar of light shot from his body, blasting through the roof and reaching straight into the sky.

His cultivation settled there.

One-star Dou Wang!