Leap in Strength

Legend had it that the Bone Spirit Cold Flame was a peculiar flame born under conditions of extreme cold and extreme heat. It could only be encountered once every hundred years, when the sun and moon alternated, in a place of utmost cold and yin!

"The Bone Spirit Cold Flame originally belonged to Yao Lao, but according to the system, it is now an ownerless Heavenly Flame. That's why the system rewarded it to me!"

Xiao Yu was so excited that he could no longer focus on cultivating. Since he had activated the Golden Finger System, the course of this world would likely be changed by him. Right now, Xiao Yu felt as though he was brimming with power!

"Right, the system also said that the next check-in location is the Xiao Clan Hall. Could it be the upcoming plot where Nalan Yanran comes to break off the engagement? It should be. And this time, the reward is Half Scroll of Pill Codex. It sounds like something good too!" Xiao Yu knew perfectly well just how high the status of alchemists was on the Dou Qi Continent!

As Xiao Yu was still thinking over his plans for the future, a white flame suddenly appeared before him, startling him. Only then did he realize that it was the Bone Spirit Cold Flame!

This wisp of Bone Spirit Cold Flame behaved like a child, bouncing around before Xiao Yu. It then stopped in front of him. Looking at the Bone Spirit Cold Flame silently burning before him, Xiao Yu could not feel even a trace of heat from it. It truly deserved its name. Just as Xiao Yu was considering how to absorb it, the Bone Spirit Cold Flame flickered, transformed into a massive net of fire, and pounced on him before he could react!

Boom!

Xiao Yu had no time to dodge. His entire body was covered by the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, and his clothes were burned away in an instant. But that was not something he had time to care about, because what followed was piercing agony. The sensation of blazing flames burning deep into his bones made Xiao Yu instantly lose his voice. His entire body curled up on the bed, yet aside from burning Xiao Yu himself, the Bone Spirit Cold Flame left the bed completely intact. Its control was truly extraordinary!

Veins bulged across Xiao Yu's face. The indescribable pain nearly made him faint. At that moment, only one thought remained in his mind: I want to become stronger! I want to leave behind my own legend in this world!

The Bone Spirit Cold Flame continuously tempered Xiao Yu's body, and a powerful physique was being born. The impurities that had accumulated in Xiao Yu's body through cultivation were now removed under the refining of the Bone Spirit Cold Flame.

No one knew how much time passed before the excruciating pain gradually faded. The Bone Spirit Cold Flame that had covered Xiao Yu's entire body also began to disperse, eventually shrinking back into its original palm-sized wisp of flame. Then, when Xiao Yu was not paying attention, it suddenly shot into his dantian!

Xiao Yu lay sprawled on the bed, gasping for breath. The intense pain had filled his eyes with bloodshot veins. Looking inward at the center of his dantian and seeing the Bone Spirit Cold Flame resting there quietly, Xiao Yu finally let out a huge sigh of relief!

As feeling gradually returned to Xiao Yu's numb body, he suddenly caught an indescribably foul odor. Looking down, he exclaimed, "Damn, what is this stuff?!"

Though he was completely naked, his body was covered in a thick layer of black coagulated filth. The overwhelming stench Xiao Yu had smelled just now was coming from his own body.

Xiao Yu quickly fetched a huge bucket of hot water and jumped straight into it with a splash, sending water flying everywhere. He used three entire buckets of water before he finally washed away the foul smell completely.

After returning to the bed, Xiao Yu began looking inward to sense the changes in his body. He had originally been a One-star Dou Zhe, but with the help of the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, he had actually advanced to the realm of a Four-star Dou Zhe. What puzzled Xiao Yu, however, was that in Xiao Yan's original world, absorbing a Heavenly Flame should have raised one's strength by more than merely three minor levels. Besides, he was only a Dou Zhe right now!

After pondering it for a long time without finding an answer, Xiao Yu simply stopped thinking about it. His strength had increased anyway, and since he still had some time, he might as well stabilize his cultivation.

Xiao Yu sat cross-legged on the bed and formed hand seals. The cyclone within his body began spinning rapidly. Suddenly, the thin Dou Qi between heaven and earth stirred. Before long, the surrounding Dou Qi began swiftly gathering toward Xiao Yu, condensing into a funnel that poured into his body through every acupoint and pore.

At that moment, Xiao Yu was like a bottomless pit, devouring the Dou Qi around him to consolidate his realm as a Four-star Dou Zhe. The Dou Qi gathering within his body was condensed and compressed by Xiao Yu before coursing through his meridians. A constant stream of Dou Qi was refined and condensed within him, ultimately becoming power under his own control!

The unusual disturbance on Xiao Yu's side alerted Xiao Yan next door. Xiao Yan sensed that the Dou Qi in this area had begun to fluctuate, and only later discovered that it was coming from the courtyard beside his. His gaze became somewhat complicated. "It seems Yu has broken through to Dou Zhe."

Xiao Yan then sighed. "If I could still cultivate, I should probably be a Dou Master by now, shouldn't I?"

Xiao Yu's breakthrough made Xiao Yan's feelings grow complicated. He no longer had any desire to continue cultivating, and soon fell into a deep sleep.

The next day.

After cultivating for an entire night, Xiao Yu did not feel the slightest bit tired. Instead, he was exceptionally energetic, even more refreshed than if he had slept.

After straightening his clothes, Xiao Yu pushed open the door and walked out, only to find a lovely young woman already standing outside. Who else could it be but Xun Er?

Dressed in a fitting pale green outfit, Xun Er looked especially radiant. It had to be said that her figure was truly excellent. Her long, slender yet shapely legs revealed every curve, and she exuded youthful vitality from head to toe. Combined with her elegant temperament, the sight made Xiao Yu's heart stir!

Under Xiao Yu's heated stare, Xun Er's lovely face could not help growing warm. Her flushed little face looked like a red apple, incredibly alluring!

"Brother Xiao Yu, what are you looking at?" Xun Er finally could not hold back any longer and complained coyly.

"Ah, with Xun Er standing in front of me, what else could I be looking at? I have to say, Xun Er, you look beautiful today!" Xiao Yu came back to his senses, then shamelessly praised her without blushing in the slightest.

"Hmph! Brother Xiao Yu's mouth is the best at deceiving people!" Xiao Xun Er rolled her eyes at Xiao Yu and snorted softly.

Just then, they heard a soft creak. Xiao Yu and Xun Er turned their heads and saw Xiao Yan walking out from his courtyard.

When Xiao Yu saw Xiao Yan, he called out, "Brother!"

Xun Er followed suit. "Brother!"

Seeing the two standing at the entrance, Xiao Yan realized they were Xiao Yu and Xiao Xun Er. He could not help smiling bitterly. "In the clan now, only you two still treat me with respect."

Xiao Yu smiled. "We are blood brothers. Of course we should respect you!"

Xun Er also chimed in, "That's right. Brother, you should not be so dejected either. You need to pull yourself together!"

Xiao Yan shrugged and pretended to speak casually. "Don't worry. I'm fine."

But both Xiao Yu and Xun Er could see that Xiao Yan had not let it go at all. Xiao Yu could only think to himself, It seems only Nalan Yanran can restore your fighting spirit!

The three did not say much more and headed toward the clan training grounds. Today was the day of the Family Trial!