The Goal of Cultivation

The old man wanted to be his teacher, so Yao Yan naturally indulged him.

Before he had sufficient strength, he would obediently be a well-behaved and clever disciple.

Hun Xuzi was quite satisfied with Yao Yan's performance during this period. Whether it was his talent or temperament, there was nothing to criticize in his eyes. Especially since the boy was the perfect creation he had personally made, he wanted to see just how far Yao Yan could ultimately go.

With that thought, Hun Xuzi used his Soul Power to inspect Yao Yan's body. Somewhat surprised, he said, "The Indestructible Diamond Body has broken through to the second level?"

"I was fortunate enough to break through not long ago."

Yao Yan answered modestly, lowering his brows and eyes without the slightest trace of pride.

"There is no such thing as luck in cultivating a Body Refining Dou Skill. If you could not endure the pain of cultivation, it would have been impossible for you to train this Body Refining Dou Skill to the second level in merely a few months. However, at this level, your current Physical State has already reached its limit."

Hun Xuzi's discernment was exceedingly sharp. At a glance, he saw where Yao Yan's current bottleneck lay.

With the Dou Di Bloodline Power of the Stone Clan and Spirit Clan, Yao Yan had progressed rapidly while cultivating the High-Level Earth Rank Dou Technique, Indestructible Diamond Body. He had encountered almost no bottlenecks and had not even needed to concern himself with bodily injuries. Yet that potential was not limitless; there would eventually come a day when it was exhausted.

Reaching the second level was already Yao Yan's current limit.

Yao Yan naturally knew the state of his body. Upon hearing this, his eyes immediately filled with hope as he asked, "Teacher, do you have a solution?"

"There are many methods. For example, you could use medicinal pills to replenish your Blood Qi Power and increase the cultivation speed of your body refinement. Or you could use your innate ability to devour the Blood Qi of others and make up for your own deficiencies. However, I advise you not to choose either method for the time being. Right now, you should focus your efforts on Dou Qi Cultivation, not some Body Refining Dou Skill."

Hun Xuzi paused, his tone becoming more stern as he said solemnly, "Remember this: Dou Skills are merely minor paths. Dou Qi is the foundation!"

He had also realized that Yao Yan's cultivation was somewhat unbalanced. His Dou Qi cultivation was merely that of a Six Star Dou Master, yet his body's strength was comparable to a Rank 6 Magical Beast. He was clearly neglecting the fundamentals for superficial gains, even wasting his own talent and the power of his many Dou Di bloodlines.

"I understand, Teacher!"

Yao Yan frowned, then nodded heavily.

Even if Hun Xuzi had not said so, he had intended to temporarily slow his cultivation of the Indestructible Diamond Body. His current body was no longer capable of supporting its rapid advancement. Better to focus on Dou Qi Cultivation instead. Once his Dou Qi cultivation reached the Dou Wang stage, or even the Dou Huang stage, the cultivation speed of the Indestructible Diamond Body would naturally increase.

Hun Xuzi was right. One's Dou Qi cultivation was the foundation, while Dou Skills merely strengthened one's Combat Power. Which was primary and which was secondary was obvious at a glance.

He had been a little too obsessed with the explosive growth of his Combat Power lately.

In other words.

His strength had increased too quickly, making him restless and giving him the feeling that he could smash through anything.

Seeing that Yao Yan had taken his words to heart, Hun Xuzi could not help but nod. This aspect of Yao Yan made teaching him quite pleasant, far easier than teaching certain genius disciples of the Soul Clan. The Soul Clan did not lack monstrous talents, but most of them were extremely proud and confident in their youth, even somewhat arrogant and contemptuous of others.

For example, Hun Feng, the descendant of Soul Clan Elder Hun Yuantian. He was one of the Soul Clan's possessors of a God Grade Bloodline, as well as the Soul Clan's Young Clan Leader and a candidate for its next clan leader.

He was not much older than Yao Yan, but his personality was completely different.

Perhaps I could nurture Yao Yan into the Young Clan Leader, the future Soul Clan Leader... As Hun Xuzi looked at Yao Yan, a thought inexplicably arose in his heart. The Young Clan Leader represented more than just status; it also meant authority. If anything happened to Hun Tiandi, the Young Clan Leader would become the true clan leader.

However, he suppressed that thought after only a moment, for he knew how difficult it would be. Everything depended on Yao Yan's future performance.

If Yao Yan possessed that level of strength in the future, he would only need to go with the flow and fight for an opportunity or two on his behalf. If he did not, then no amount of thought would be useful.

Besides.

Hun Feng had become the Young Clan Leader not solely due to his own talent, but also because of the protection left behind by Elder Hun Yuantian.

Yao Yan had nothing at all. He was even merely an "outsider" with a trace of Soul Clan blood.

Perhaps I should give him a little pressure... Hun Xuzi looked at the well-behaved little fellow before him. Black-red glimmers flickered in his eyes. After pondering briefly, he slowly said, "Yao Yan, I will ask you one more time. Are you willing to return to the Soul Clan? Though your father was merely a descendant of a Soul Clan branch, his body still contained a trace of the Soul Clan's Dou Di Bloodline Power."

"Teacher, I am willing!"

Yao Yan's eyes brightened, and his emotions grew somewhat stirred. Looking up into Hun Xuzi's eyes, he said solemnly, "Without Teacher, how could this disciple have what he has today? In this disciple's eyes, Teacher is my only family!"

His words were firm and deeply emotional.

People often said that death held great terror. That was not wrong. Under the pressure of life and death, Yao Yan's acting had already reached perfection.

At this point, he had practically believed it himself.

As for the pressure of changing his name in the future, he had none whatsoever. After all, he had not been called Yao Yan in his previous life either. The only part of his current name connected to him was Yan. As for what surname came before it, he did not care. This world was no longer his former world, and he would never be able to return.

In this life, he only wanted to control his own fate, to do whatever he wanted, rather than let others control his fate and do whatever they wanted to him!

"...Good child."

Hun Xuzi looked at the emotional youth, raised a hand to pat his head, and sighed softly.

After a pause.

He then said somewhat helplessly, "Teacher's position in the Soul Clan is not low, but the higher one stands, the more one must watch one's words and actions. If I were merely an individual, Teacher could ignore all other consequences and find you the Dou Di Essence Blood of the Yan Clan and Lei Clan, even that of the Gu Clan. But I am not. My actions will affect the entire Soul Clan."

"Teacher has already done much for this disciple. This disciple can walk the road ahead on his own. I am confident that I will personally seize essence blood from every clan in the future!"

Upon hearing this, Yao Yan revealed a confident and proud gaze as he shouted softly.

At that moment, he was full of youthful spirit and confidence in his future, just like a young monstrous genius!

"Haha, of course I believe that!"

Hun Xuzi laughed and said, "Teacher will wait for that day. As my, Hun Xuzi's, disciple, this is how you should be!"

He truly looked forward to Yao Yan trampling the younger generation of every clan beneath his feet. If he could trample Hun Feng beneath his feet as well, that would be even better. He greatly disliked that arrogant brat. The boy showed no respect for his elders, acted lawlessly under the protection of his ancestors, and had even beaten two of Hun Xuzi's alchemy apprentices to death after a mere disagreement.

After laughing for a while.

Hun Xuzi lowered his head to look at Yao Yan and slowly said, "The Soul Clan has its Rules. I can find you the Soul Clan's Dou Di Essence Blood, but the grade of that bloodline power will certainly not be high. If you want high-grade Dou Di Essence Blood, you must seize it yourself. This is the opportunity the Soul Clan grants to all its young clansmen!"

"Besides that, if you contribute to the Soul Clan, you may also have a chance to obtain a portion of Dou Di Essence Blood."

"This Dou Di Essence Blood was all left behind by the Soul Clan's ancestors. If Teacher encounters an accident one day, my own Dou Di Essence Blood will also be left among it and bestowed upon the younger generation."

Are you sure this is the Soul Clan...? Yao Yan thought to himself, but his face revealed a serious expression. "Teacher will not encounter any accident!"

"Teacher is only speaking of the possibility."

"There is no possibility!"

Yao Yan said solemnly, because Hun Xuzi's life belonged to him. This was one of the goals he was working so hard to cultivate for. How could he possibly leave it to someone else!