Ling Ying

Xiao Jie returned to his residence and sat cross-legged beneath a large tree in the courtyard, mentally sorting through the results of the various paths he had tested during his seven years of life simulations. Going to Jia Nan Academy was simply too lackluster.

Furthermore, he was already a Dou King; he would likely reach the Dou Emperor realm soon after devouring a Heavenly Flame. The Misty Cloud Sect was out of the question, as there was a Soul Hall protector at the high-level Dou Ancestor stage; in that protector's eyes, his perfected Mortal Realm soul was nothing more than a merit badge. The Heavenly Serpent Mansion was also a no-go; aside from resources, their cultivation techniques and Dou Skills did not suit him. Cooperation, however, would be a good idea—sending Qing Lin to the Heavenly Serpent Mansion to form an alliance would be the best move for him at this stage.

In the Central Plains, a Dou King's cultivation was as common as dirt. In several simulations where he headed to the Central Plains, he was either robbed or killed. In short, he would not go there until he reached the Dou Ancestor realm. Xiao Jie often felt as though the simulator was targeting him with malicious intent, as the results always ended in his death by various means.

This might be related to the simulator drawing power from the world's origin, so he had to be careful in the real world as well, lest he suddenly meet a miserable end one day.

Going to the Southeast Continent was not impossible, but that region consisted mainly of islands and swamps. He had heard that a Heavenly Flame called the Fire Cloud Water Flame had appeared there, but unfortunately, he hadn't drawn it in the simulator, and he didn't know its specific location.

Having thought it through, he made up his mind to head to the Black-Corner Region to establish a power base. He needed to scheme for Han Feng's Heavenly Flame and the Fallen Heart Flame beneath Jia Nan Academy, so he had to go. Other plans could be pushed back, but the Black-Corner Region was a priority. Moreover, he had to obtain the Fallen Heart Flame before Xiao Yan entered the inner academy. As for the location of the Mystic Yellow Flame, it wasn't too far from the Black-Corner Region, so heading there currently seemed imperative.

Once his thoughts were clear, Xiao Jie took a bottle of pills from his storage ring. This pill was the Dou Ling Pill, a tier 6 medicinal pill capable of raising a Dou King's cultivation by one star.

Xiao Jie had never taken one before, intending to use it to break through to the seven-star Dou King realm. This was a minor bottleneck, harder to overcome than other star levels. Once he took the Dou Ling Pill and became a seven-star Dou King, combined with the Mystic Yellow Flame and Green Lotus Core Flame he would refine soon, he would surely be able to use the energy of these two Heavenly Flames to break through the Dou King barrier in one go and become a powerful Dou Emperor.

Once he became a Dou Emperor, relying on the Heavenly Fire Three-Mysterious Transformation obtained from the simulator and the fused flame of three Heavenly Flames, his strength would inevitably skyrocket. The advancement of his cultivation technique would allow him to better utilize Earth-tier Dou Skills, enabling him to fight for longer durations.

Coupled with his perfected Mortal Realm soul, becoming an tier 8 alchemist was only a matter of time for Xiao Jie. A peak tier 5 alchemist with the potential to successfully reach tier 7 in the future—

Such potential could not be ignored by any faction in the Northwest Continent. This was the confidence Xiao Jie possessed to stand firm in the Black-Corner Region. With that thought, he swallowed the Dou Ling Pill and began to refine its medicinal power.

An hour passed. Xiao Jie opened his eyes, shot into the sky like a cannonball, and flew toward the distant Magical Beast Mountain Range.

From the shadow of a tree, a figure suddenly darted out and rushed toward a residence within the Xiao Clan.

"Miss, I don't know why, but Xiao Jie suddenly rushed toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range."

"Mm, I see. You don't need to concern yourself with his affairs. He is a tier 5 alchemist now; it would be very easy for him to discover you."

"Miss, perhaps he has already discovered me. Some time ago, I felt a powerful soul force cover the entire Xiao Clan, but it did not disturb me. It is possible he intentionally avoided me."

"Oh? Is that so? Since he is ignoring you, continue to remain hidden. I never expected such a brilliant and talented figure to emerge from this fallen Xiao Clan."

Xiao Xun'er said this.

"Yes. Miss, there is one more thing. News has come from the clan; the elders are very dissatisfied with your progress in searching for the Tou She Ancient God Jade. Furthermore, the younger generation of the clan must undergo bloodline baptism at the age of eighteen. You do not have much time left. In three years at most, they may send someone to take you away. Please plan accordingly, Miss."

After Ling Ying finished speaking, he transformed into a black shadow and quickly left Xiao Xun'er's courtyard. Xiao Xun'er looked into the distance and murmured.

"Three years, is it? Brother Xiao Yan, I wonder when you will be able to..."

Xiao Xun'er's gaze remained fixed on the distance, her eyes growing increasingly dark and profound.