Child Fire

"Release!"

Inside the room, Xiao Yan carefully took out the jade box containing the sub-flame of the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame and formed a seal with one hand.

"Whoosh!"

A tiny, golden flame flickered and wobbled as it flew out from the jade box.

"We must now use a secret technique to plant the Earth Fire Lotus Seed into the sub-flame of the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame to completely stabilize its fragile state. Afterward, you will swallow it into your body to refine it into a source Heavenly Flame. Once it has been nurtured within your body for a period of time, you will finally use the Flame Mantra to devour it," Yao Lao said in a deep voice.

"Let us begin, Xiao Yan. Take out the Lotus Pedestal of the Green Lotus Core Flame; it will heighten your perception of fire elements."

"Yes, Teacher."

Xiao Yan immediately took out an Earth Fire Lotus Seed, sat cross-legged on the Lotus Pedestal, and followed the secret technique Yao Lao had transmitted into his mind. He formed seals with his hands, continuously tracing profound trajectories, and after completing thirty-six hand seals, he pointed at the Earth Fire Lotus Seed.

"Go!"

A beam of mysterious light shot into the Earth Fire Lotus Seed. With a "pop," the walnut-sized seed suddenly turned dark red and bright, emitting an unusual glow. Then, with a "whoosh," it lunged toward the sub-flame of the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame floating in mid-air.

The Earth Fire Lotus Seed burrowed into the center of the golden flame and began to vent its energy without reservation. From a distance, it looked like a golden ball of light enveloping a red seed.

As time passed, the golden ball of light gradually expanded, emitting a profound fluctuation as if a new life were gestating within it.

"Hum!"

Finally, the golden ball of light stopped expanding and suddenly condensed. Its appearance changed abruptly; it evolved from a pale golden, flickering flame that could extinguish at any moment into a deep golden flame floating steadily in mid-air.

"It is done," Yao Lao said, looking at the stabilized sub-flame.

"The next step is to swallow it and refine it into a source Heavenly Flame," Yao Lao said, then took an Ice Heart Pill and a Heart Protection Pill from his Storage Ring.

"Since we are only refining it into a source Heavenly Flame for now, there is no need for a Blood Lotus Pill."

After Xiao Yan consumed an Ice Heart Pill and a Pulse Protection Pill, he looked at the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame sub-flame rotating quietly in front of him and reached out to capture it. Without hesitation, he opened his mouth and swallowed it in one gulp.

As the sub-flame of the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame entered his body through his throat, Xiao Yan felt as if the Dou Power within him had begun to burn. Suppressing the restlessness of his Dou Power, and taking advantage of the energy film created by the Pulse Protection Pill that blocked the sub-flame's damage to his body, Xiao Yan summoned the Green Lotus Core Flame from the gray space within his vortex.

The cyan flame surged aggressively from his dantian toward the sub-flame of the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, as if to teach a lesson to this unruly savage that had started wreaking havoc in its home the moment it arrived without so much as a greeting.

"Clatter!"

Just as the sub-flame of the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame prepared to transform into streams of golden liquid to continue battering the energy film, a river of cyan flame surged from behind and swallowed it whole.

Ignoring the golden flame rampaging inside his body, the river of cyan flame swam back. After crossing the quietly rotating vortex and passing through the gray membrane to return home, the cyan flame finally spat out the golden flame.

Xiao Yan watched this with pleasant surprise, then carefully guided a stream of Dou Power into the gray space. Restraining the Green Lotus Core Flame's urge to rush up and devour it, the golden flame lunged forward and swallowed the thread of Dou Power. Its figure trembled violently, as if it were exceptionally delighted that its smaller self had managed to snatch some food.

"Hum!"

After swallowing the thread of Dou Power, the golden flame finally underwent a gratifying change. Its color slowly deepened to a degree invisible to the naked eye, and it fed back a trace of imperceptible energy.

"How is it?" Yao Lao asked with a smile as he felt Xiao Yan's aura rapidly stabilizing.

"I have successfully sent the sub-flame into the safe space at the center of the vortex," Xiao Yan said happily.

"Good. Remember to persist in nurturing it with your Dou Power every day. In about a month, you should be able to devour it with the Flame Mantra. That will be the moment you break through to become a Da Dou Shi."

"A month, huh?" Xiao Yan murmured, clenching his hand.

"Phew, since the sub-flame has been successfully refined into a source Heavenly Flame, it is time to check on the cultivation progress of Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin," Xiao Yan said, rising to his feet.

As Xiao Yan pushed open the courtyard gate, he saw the usually shy Qing Lin with a tense face, forming seals with her hands and pointing at a small tree in the yard: "Snake Technique: Chapter of Nether."

"Whoosh!"

A dark energy snake, less than a zhang in size, appeared behind Qing Lin, flicking its tongue; it looked somewhat malnourished. After hesitating for a moment, it lunged at the main trunk of the tree. The trunk seemed to be corroded by something, turning pitch-black and brittle before collapsing to the ground.

"I did it."

Seeing the result of her efforts, Qing Lin smiled with satisfaction before collapsing from exhaustion.

"Hiss, hiss, hiss."

Nearby, the Fire Spirit Snake—or rather, the Flame Snake—which had sprouted wings at some point, saw this and flapped its wings to fly over.

"Whoosh!" Xiao Yan flashed, appearing behind Qing Lin to catch her.

"Qing Lin, you are not being obedient. You are only at the third stage of Dou Power; how could you secretly practice the Dou Techniques in the Heavenly Snake Strategy?" A warm voice suddenly appeared by Qing Lin's ear.

"Xiao, Xiao Yan brother." Hearing the familiar voice, Qing Lin's ears turned bright red instantly.

"Hehe." Xiao Yan smiled, patted Qing Lin's small head, and turned to look at the Flame Snake, which was affectionately flicking its tongue at him as if trying to curry favor.

"Silly snake, when did you break through to the fourth rank, and where did you get those two extra wings?"

"Hiss, hiss, hiss."

"Hmph, Xiao Yan brother. Its name is Xiao Qing, not silly snake," Qing Lin said, walking over.

"Xiao Qing broke through the day before yesterday while absorbing the Earth Fire Lotus Seed. Its body grew significantly at the time, which gave Xiao Yi Xian and me quite a fright."

"It is good that it broke through. A fourth-rank magical beast is just enough to protect you," Xiao Yan said with a smile.

"By the way, where is Xiao Yi Xian?" Xiao Yan suddenly remembered that Xiao Yi Xian had not appeared.

"In, in the room," Qing Lin suddenly stammered.

"Brother Xiao Yan." Xiao Yi Xian suddenly pushed open the room door and lunged forward.

"Heh." Xiao Yan smiled, opening his arms to catch Xiao Yi Xian.

"Xiao Yi Xian, remember to wipe your mouth clean next time you eat poison." Xiao Yan gently reached out to wipe the gray medicinal residue from her lips.

"Wuwuwu." Xiao Yi Xian shyly buried her head into Xiao Yan's chest and rubbed against it.

"I, I know, Brother Xiao Yan."