Da Dou Shi!

Xiao Yan sent his awareness into the gray space within the Qi Cyclone. The golden flame, now several times larger than it had been a month ago, had already reached the size of the Green Lotus Core Flame.

"The time is ripe." Xiao Yan opened his eyes and spoke to Yao Lao.

"Mm, then begin. Be careful. Although it is only a pseudo-Heavenly Flame, it is still a Child Flame split from the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, which ranks fourth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking."

Yao Lao took out the Pulse Protection Pill, Ice Heart Pill, and Blood Lotus Pill, speaking solemnly to Xiao Yan.

"Mm!"

Xiao Yan swallowed the Blood Lotus Pill. A layer of blood-colored keratinous film immediately grew over the inner membranes of his body and the surface of his skin. He then calmed his mind and issued an order to the Green Lotus Core Flame within him.

Within the gray space, the azure flame suddenly lunged at the golden flame beside it, completely enveloping it. The golden flame struggled fiercely, as though it had never expected the neighbor it had peacefully coexisted with for the past month to ambush it.

The Green Lotus Core Flame stubbornly wrapped around the golden flame and nimbly swam out of the gray energy membrane. With a "plop," it plunged headfirst into the surging river of Dou Qi flowing through the meridians outside the gray space.

Once it entered the current of Dou Qi, the Green Lotus Core Flame instantly merged with it, transforming into an azure river of fire. The surging current carried the golden flame wrapped at its center toward the circulation route of the Flame Mantra.

Splash!

After entering a particular meridian circulation route, the golden flame seemed to sense danger and began struggling violently. Xiao Yan vaguely seemed to hear the sound of a large fish struggling helplessly amid the roaring river, splashing droplets everywhere.

Yet the power of the azure river of fire seemed inexhaustible, firmly restraining the golden flame. After struggling fruitlessly several times, the golden flame finally gave up in dejection.

After completing one circulation of the Flame Mantra, the golden flame seemed to have shrunk considerably, while the azure river of fire had quietly taken on a slightly more golden hue. Watching the encouraging changes within his body, Xiao Yan silently curled his lips and continued pouring in more soul power to guide the river of Dou Qi.

As the golden flame continuously merged into the azure river of fire, streams of gentle energy quietly dispersed into remote meridians, slowly eroding and striking the blocked pathways. More and more meridians were opened and connected, and Xiao Yan felt the circulation speed of his Dou Qi increase considerably.

In the end, the golden flame completely dissolved into the azure river of fire, and everything fell naturally into place. At that moment, Xiao Yan's aura also began to stir. He knew that the opportunity to break through to Da Dou Shi had arrived.

The restless aura suddenly began surging. After breaking through the eight-star Dou Master level, it easily advanced toward the nine-star Dou Master level. After pausing briefly at the peak of the nine-star Dou Master realm, it charged directly into the Da Dou Shi realm. It finally stopped at the initial stage of the two-star Da Dou Shi realm, having exhausted all its energy.

Xiao Yan did not stop. Riding that momentum, he guided the fused Heavenly Flames to evolve the Flame Mantra. Xiao Yan tried his best to circulate the Flame Mantra, but the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame's Child Flame seemed too weak in energy grade. It was insufficient to cause the Flame Mantra to evolve, and its grade did not change in the slightest.

Just as Xiao Yan was preparing to give up on continuing the Flame Mantra's circulation, its grade suddenly seemed to advance half a step.

"Did it succeed already?" Xiao Yan joyfully probed it with his soul power.

"Uh..." Xiao Yan stared at the strange scene within his body with an odd expression.

Xiao Yan then opened his eyes and looked at Yao Lao. "Teacher, with the Green Lotus Core Flame helping this time, it seems the Ice Heart Pill and Pulse Protection Pill were not needed."

"Hehe." Yao Lao smiled.

"Breaking through to the Da Dou Shi realm seems to have happened naturally. The Flame Mantra probably did not evolve successfully, right? It seems the energy was insufficient." Yao Lao asked with interest.

"Teacher, I don't know whether this counts as a breakthrough either. You should see for yourself." Xiao Yan gave a bitter smile and began circulating the Flame Mantra.

Sensing the changes in the Flame Mantra's aura as it circulated, Yao Lao's expression also became rather colorful.

"So it did break through, but only by half a grade. It evolved from a Xuan-Tier Advanced technique into a Quasi-Earth Tier technique."

"Still, this is an unexpected delight, Yan. After all, when we assessed it beforehand, we had not held out any hope that the Flame Mantra could evolve." Yao Lao spoke to comfort him.

"Yes, Teacher." Xiao Yan adjusted his mindset.

Dou Qi Armor. Xiao Yan rose to his feet and gave a low shout.

Whoosh! Vigorous Dou Qi burst out from all over Xiao Yan's body, condensing into a set of solid azure-gold armor over his skin. The armor looked exceptionally sturdy, and fine mysterious patterns were carved into the joints between its segments, making it appear both mysterious and magnificent.

Xiao Yan jumped down from the bed and moved his limbs. Feeling the intense sense of security and strength the Dou Qi Armor gave him, he clenched his right fist and impatiently smashed it toward the ground.

Bang!

A basin-sized crater instantly appeared in the sturdy, smooth bluestone floor of Xiao Yan's room.

"Kid, are you trying to destroy your room?"

Yao Lao was speechless at Xiao Yan's destruction.

"Hehe." Xiao Yan withdrew the Dou Qi Armor, and it turned back into pure Dou Qi energy that flowed into his body.

"Young Master Yan, do you require this subordinate to enter?"

Outside the courtyard, the Xiao Clan Dou Master diligently standing guard heard the commotion from Xiao Yan's room and stepped forward to ask in a deep voice from outside the door.

"No need. Stand down."

Ignoring the contempt in Yao Lao's eyes, Xiao Yan answered with a straight face.

"Yes, Young Master Yan."

The courtyard returned to silence.

"Teacher, let's go to the back mountain. There isn't enough room here."

Xiao Yan was clearly still interested and eager to try.

"Let's go." Yao Lao said as he entered the Storage Ring.

The Xiao Clan's back mountain.

Xiao Yan had just climbed onto the back mountain when he saw an elegant figure leaping nimbly through the forest.

Earth-Tier Dou Technique: Roaming Dragon Eight Trigrams Palm! A delicate shout rang out from the air.

Bang!

In the open clearing at the center of the small forest, a several-zhang-wide boulder was instantly shattered into powder that scattered in all directions.

Clap, clap, clap!

A burst of applause suddenly rang out through the empty forest.

"Not bad, Xun'er." Xiao Yan walked over.

"Brother Xiao Yan!"

When Xiao Xun'er, who had been diligently training, saw that her Brother Xiao Yan had also come to the back mountain, she rose into the air and flew toward him like a swallow returning to its nest. Yet as though she recalled something, Xiao Xun'er ultimately stopped before Xiao Yan and looked up at him.

"Brother Xiao Yan, why are you here?" Her delight was plain to see.

Xiao Yan glanced at a secluded corner of the forest with a faint smile, then turned to Xiao Xun'er. "I came to see you."

P.S. First update.