Two and a Half Years

Time flew by like an arrow.

Cultivation never kept track of the years. In the blink of an eye, two and a half years had passed.

Over those two and a half years, Yao Yan seemed to have vanished from Pill Cauldron City. Even those who had once been close to him never saw him again. They only knew that he had become Yao Nong's disciple. As time passed, the matter was gradually forgotten, and the stir it had once caused slowly faded away.

Time could make people forget everything. No one would keep thinking of an ordinary boy forever.

It was still that little courtyard, its green bamboo swaying in the breeze.

"Creak."

The door was suddenly pushed open, and a figure slowly stepped out, stretching his arms beneath the sunlight.

The tall youth wore a Moon White Brocade Robe. Under the sunlight, faint lotus patterns flickered across the white garment. His long black hair was tied behind his head with a silver-white ribbon. Beneath his sword-like brows were black eyes like pools of ink too deep to dissolve. His facial features were exceptionally refined and handsome, and a faint smile rested on his lips, as though he was in an excellent mood.

The youth was naturally Yao Yan, who had secluded himself for two and a half years. Compared to before, he had grown much taller, his features had become more mature, and much of his childishness had faded.

Of course, more importantly, his strength had returned to the Dou Zhe realm today.

Everything had fallen into place naturally.

Although it had taken far longer than he expected, the Dou Qi he had cultivated was far more condensed and profound than before. A single strand of it was dozens of times stronger than it had once been. This was the talent brought to him by his current body!

Only after truly possessing talent comparable to a God Grade Bloodline did one understand just how enormous the gap between them was.

Though he was only a One-Star Dou Zhe now, he was confident he could pin his former Six-Star Dou Zhe self to the ground and pummel him.

Cultivation Speed, the richness of his Dou Qi, the speed at which it circulated... all of it had improved by far too much!

That was also why he had remained at the Dou Qi stage for so long. Different materials required entirely different amounts of polishing. Now, he had thoroughly tempered this body, revealing its most perfect essence...

"Phew~"

Yao Yan raised his palm, and a mass of brilliant golden flame covered it. It resembled scorching magma rolling and churning. Merely looking at it gave one a heart-wrenching sensation.

Illusory Gold Flame, the companion flame of the Seventh Order Magical Beast, the Fire Scorpion Dragon Beast.

It had been nourished by Yao Yan's Dou Qi for two and a half years during its seed stage. Today, when Yao Yan broke through to the Dou Zhe realm, he refined it. The slight resistance he encountered had been perfectly resolved with a Sixth Grade Meridian Protecting Pill. Perhaps because it had been fed Dou Qi for two and a half years, it was now as easy to control as his own arm.

Yao Yan controlled the flame and shaped it into a tiny Three-Legged Golden Crow. Watching it nimbly peck at its feathers, he could not help but chuckle.

After refining this flame, he could clearly feel his body being tempered. This beast flame's body-tempering ability was indeed quite good. Its only flaw was that it could not temper his body on its own or provide a cultivation buff like the Fallen Heart Flame. Yao Yan had to control it himself.

However, that was only a minor issue. With Yao Yan's current Soul Power, it was not difficult for him to multitask and control it while it tempered his body.

"Congratulations, Young Master, on breaking through to the Dou Zhe realm."

The space beside him distorted, and Yao Nong appeared within Yao Yan's sight. He respectfully congratulated him.

Yao Yan withdrew the Illusory Gold Flame and said with a smile, "I merely condensed a Dou Qi Cyclone. Over the past two years, I have you to thank for arranging everything for me."

He knew very well that without the cultivation resources Yao Nong had arranged for him, he could not have cultivated so quickly.

"This is what this old servant should do."

Yao Nong replied respectfully.

"Whoosh~"

At that moment, Yao Yan's Storage Ring flickered with black flames. Accompanied by an indescribably immense Soul Power, the surrounding space instantly froze. Then, the black flames rapidly spread, swallowing even the sunlight streaming down from above and plunging the area into dimness.

A figure wreathed in black flames appeared before them. It was none other than Hun Xuzi, who had disappeared for two and a half years.

Seeing the newcomer, Yao Nong was so startled that he immediately dropped to one knee and respectfully greeted him, "Greetings, Lord Hun Xuzi."

"Teacher?!"

The moment Yao Yan saw him, delight appeared on his face as he hurriedly called out.

In contrast to the joy on his face, the happiness he had felt over breaking through to the Dou Zhe realm vanished in an instant. All the times he had been treated like a lab rat came flooding back into his mind. That agony of being unable to live or die deeply stabbed at his nerves.

Though misfortune had brought him fortune, the suffering he endured back then had been real. At the time, Hun Xuzi had never cared whether he lived or died.

"Not bad. Your foundation has been shaped perfectly."

With a sweep of his Soul Power, Hun Xuzi clearly sensed the changes in Yao Yan's body. He nodded in satisfaction, then glanced at Yao Nong. "You handled this well. Rise."

"Thank you for your praise, my lord."

Yao Nong rose stiffly, not daring to even breathe loudly. Like an invisible man, he silently stood to the side.

Hun Xuzi's gaze returned to Yao Yan. Compared to Yao Nong, Yao Yan was the one he truly valued. After all, he could have as many people like Yao Nong as he wanted. Smiling, he said softly, "Over the past two and a half years, I have been handling other matters, but I have kept watching your performance. To endure solitude and remain in seclusion for two and a half years is quite commendable."

Seriously? Did you have nothing better to do?!

Hun Xuzi's words nearly made Yao Yan's mentality collapse, yet he still had to obediently say, "This disciple has followed Teacher's instructions."

"The Dou Zhe realm is only the beginning. The path of the strong begins with the Dou Wang realm. Before then, you must not slack off."

Hun Xuzi reminded him.

Yao Yan nodded. "This disciple understands."

Hun Xuzi said unhurriedly, "Since you have broken through to the Dou Zhe realm, you can no longer continue cultivating bitterly in seclusion. Starting today, you will head to the Shennong Mountain Range to train. When you return, I will tell you who your enemy is."

"...Yes."

Yao Yan's eyes turned cold as he answered in a deep voice.

Hun Xuzi found Yao Yan's expression rather interesting. Black flames flickered in his eyes, making him seem like an emissary from hell. He continued, "Yao Nong will prepare your Dou Skills and cultivation resources. I will also spare some time to guide your cultivation. Grow well, and do not disappoint me!"

Yao Yan nodded heavily.

Hun Xuzi looked toward Yao Nong and said in an icy tone, "Arrange for him to go to the Shennong Mountain Range. Let this little fellow see what the real world is like. Heh heh~"

Accompanied by a strange laugh, the black flames around them receded and entered Yao Yan's Storage Ring. At the same time, the surrounding spatial barrier returned to normal.

This was a Dou Sheng Expert—playing with space as easily as kneading mud, shaping it however he pleased.

As Hun Xuzi departed.

Sunlight returned to the little courtyard, and everything seemed a little brighter.

Yao Yan touched the Storage Ring on his finger, feeling rather melancholy for a moment. With Hun Xuzi's support, he could become strong quickly. Yet because of Hun Xuzi, he now had not the slightest bit of freedom. He could only cultivate according to the other man's arrangements, while all his actions remained under his surveillance.

There were pros and cons. For now, the benefits outweighed the drawbacks, but Yao Yan clearly did not want to continue like this forever.

Yet without sufficient strength, thinking about such things was meaningless.

Yao Yan suppressed the chaotic thoughts in his heart. Smiling at Yao Nong, he said softly, "I'll have to trouble you with this matter."

"This is what this old servant should do."

Yao Nong's attitude became even more respectful as he replied solemnly.