Two-Star Great Dou Master

Xun Er heard Yao Chen's words and immediately froze, her face turning bright red.

"Um... Senior, is that really all right? My clan has rules against casually taking on a master."

Seeing how much Xun Er wanted to become his disciple, yet was afraid to do so because of her clan's restrictions, Yao Chen smiled reassuringly.

"Hahaha, little girl, it's all right. In the future, I'll take Xiao Yan to the Gu Clan in person and pay them a visit. I'm sure your father will agree then."

A blush spread across Xun Er's delicate face, and she bashfully looked away.

"Then all right, Senior. Xun Er will take her leave."

Watching Xun Er walk away, Yao Chen stroked his beard and muttered to himself with satisfaction.

"If only I could take her on as a disciple now. What a shame. The Gu Clan wouldn't even take me seriously with my current strength. Once I grow stronger with the system, I'll take Xiao Yan to their Ancient Realm and show off."

"Right, I've been delayed for so long. I should get back to Xiao Yan."

Yao Chen used Flying Thunder God to appear directly inside the cave. Xiao Yan was meditating there, and the sudden appearance of his master startled him.

"Teacher, your movement Dou Technique is amazing! I didn't even sense you before you appeared in the cave."

"Hahaha, once your cultivation is a little higher, I'll teach you this Dou Technique."

Pleased by Xiao Yan's praise, Yao Chen promised to teach it to him later.

"First, demonstrate the Devouring Wave Flame Splitting Ruler I taught you. I'll see whether you've been slacking off."

"All right, Teacher."

With that, Xiao Yan began using the Devouring Wave Flame Splitting Ruler.

Xiao Yan stood with his eyes closed as Dou Qi surged around him and his clothes fluttered in the wind.

After more than a month of diligent practice, he was finally ready to show Yao Chen the fruits of his labor—the Devouring Wave Flame Splitting Ruler.

Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes, a determined glint flashing in them.

He gripped the Heavy Profound Ruler with both hands. Faint flames flickered along its length.

Yao Chen stood not far away, watching Xiao Yan calmly, though a hint of expectation and scrutiny showed in his eyes.

Xiao Yan took a deep breath. Dou Qi surged through his body like a rushing river and poured into the Heavy Profound Ruler in his hands.

In an instant, the flames along the ruler flared, becoming a blazing inferno that lit the entire cave red.

With a loud shout, Xiao Yan swung the Heavy Profound Ruler. Its tremendous force whipped up a gale that howled through the cave.

Flames streamed along the ruler, forming a colossal wave of fire that surged toward the front.

The air warped and twisted wherever the flames passed. The rocks in the cave instantly glowed red from the heat, and some even began to melt.

Yao Chen watched, a hint of approval flashing through his eyes, but he remained impassive.

After unleashing the attack, Xiao Yan's forehead was beaded with sweat, but his gaze remained firm as he stared at the surging wave of fire.

The wave crashed through the cave and rebounded off the walls, forming an even more chaotic vortex of flames.

Xiao Yan didn't panic in the slightest. He controlled his Dou Qi, struggling to maintain the flames' power and direction.

At last, the flames gradually faded, and the cave returned to calm.

Xiao Yan panted heavily but held his back straight. He looked at Yao Chen with anticipation, waiting for his assessment.

Yao Chen nodded slightly. "Not bad. You've just begun to grasp the Devouring Wave Flame Splitting Ruler, but you'll need to keep honing it to unleash its full power."

Xiao Yan smiled at his words.

"Come here, Little Yan. Stand in front of me. I'm going to use the secret art from last time to pass my cultivation on to you."

Xiao Yan's eyes were full of anticipation. After receiving another transfer of cultivation, his strength would surely rise further.

Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on a massive boulder, his eyes closed and his expression solemn as he prepared to receive Yao Chen's second round of instruction.

Yao Chen stood before Xiao Yan, his figure especially solemn in the faint firelight.

His hands moved, forming one complicated, mysterious seal after another. The air around them seemed to tremble faintly with his movements.

"Little Yan, get ready. This transfer will send a tremendous surge of energy through you. You must hold on to your senses!" Yao Chen's voice was stern and low.

Xiao Yan nodded firmly and took a deep breath, steadying himself until his heart was calm as a pool.

Seeing this, Yao Chen didn't hesitate. He thrust both hands forward, and a vast torrent of pure Dou Qi surged from his palms like a rushing river, straight toward Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan was instantly enveloped by the powerful Dou Qi, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably.

The surging energy poured into his meridians, stretching them until they nearly burst with pain.

Xiao Yan clenched his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead as sweat rolled down in fat drops. Yet his gaze remained resolute, and with sheer willpower, he struggled to guide the rampaging energy through his body.

As the Dou Qi continued to pour in, Xiao Yan's aura began to climb at a dizzying pace.

He had been a Two-Star Dou Shi, but now he broke through bottlenecks at an astonishing speed. Three stars, four stars, until he neared five stars.

The energy fluctuations in the cave grew increasingly violent. Fine cracks appeared in the surrounding stone walls under the immense pressure.

Just as Xiao Yan felt he was about to be overwhelmed, Yao Chen shouted, "Congeal!" His hands formed another series of seals, controlling the rate at which the Dou Qi flowed into him.

Xiao Yan seized the chance to circulate his cultivation method with all his might, gradually refining and fusing the rampant Dou Qi within him.

At last, his aura stabilized, and he successfully broke through to become a Five-Star Great Dou Master.

Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in them as a powerful aura radiated from his body.

He stood and bowed deeply to Yao Chen. "Thank you, Teacher!"

Yao Chen nodded with a smile. "Little Yan, stabilize your cultivation first. Later, I'll pass a Heavenly Flame on to you."

Yao Chen then checked his own cultivation. Using the Teaching Art this time had dropped him from Peak Nine-Star Dou Emperor to Six-Star Dou Emperor.

"Ding! Congratulations, host! You have successfully passed your cultivation on to your disciple. Reward triggered!"

"Ding! Randomly generating return multiplier. Return multiplier: 3,200 times. Reward: ten years of cultivation."

"Ding! Congratulations, host! You have successfully advanced to Three-Star Dou Zong."

The system's long-absent voice rang in Yao Chen's mind once more.

"This time, I didn't gain that much. I'm only at Three-Star Dou Zong. Looks like I need to find Xiao Yi Xian and get another boost soon."

"I'll give Xiao Yan my Ice Lotus Heart-Burning Flame later and see what kind of Heavenly Flame the system returns."

Xiao Yan's aura gradually settled. He opened his eyes, looked at Yao Chen, and said,

"Teacher, I'm ready."

After hearing him, Yao Chen began preparing to pass a Heavenly Flame on to Xiao Yan.