Heavenly Flames could not only increase one's combat power, but also enhance this movement Dou Technique. If Xiao Chen could get one, his safety would be greatly assured.
To other people, a Heavenly Flame—a natural wonder of the world—was something they might spend their whole lives searching for without finding even one. But to the Ancient Clan, it was merely a precious treasure.
There were three Heavenly Flames in the Ancient Clan's treasury alone that Xun'er knew of. If she sweet-talked her father, she might well be able to get one.
"Brother Xiao Chen, between the Fire Cloud Water Flame, Wind Fury Dragon Flame, and Volcano Rock Flame, which one do you like best?"
Xun'er looked at Xiao Chen with complete seriousness. A Heavenly Flame, a rare treasure of heaven and earth, sounded as cheap as roadside iced tea in her mouth. Xiao Chen's heart fluttered at her words, and he secretly marveled at the Ancient Clan's wealth.
After that came an even greater sense of gratitude. Xun'er had clearly asked because she wanted to help him secure a Heavenly Flame.
With that in mind, Xiao Chen decided not to hide it. He summoned the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame. "Xun'er, look at this!" The golden flame swayed in his palm, and Xun'er's little mouth fell open in an O, her eyes full of astonishment.
It was a full quarter of an hour before Xun'er came back to herself. "Brother Xiao Chen, is this... the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, ranked fourth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking?" That familiar aura could not be mistaken. Xun'er had never imagined Xiao Chen would possess a Heavenly Flame—and the same one she had.
"That's right. With the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, I should be able to bring this Dou Technique to its full potential!"
Xiao Chen put the Heavenly Flame away and ruffled Xun'er's hair, a confident smile tugging at his lips.
Though it ranked fourth, when it came to offense and explosive power, the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame was the mightiest of all the Heavenly Flames.
It had neither the Nihility Devouring Flame's uncanny ability to devour everything nor the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame's demonic power to purify all things. All it had was fire's purest, most scorching heat—the violent force to burn everything to ashes.
At the same time, Ling Ying, who was hiding nearby to protect the two of them, felt his head buzz. What had he just seen? Xiao Chen actually possessed the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame?
Ling Ying wondered if he was still dreaming, if he had somehow failed to wake up. That was the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame! Even the Ancient Clan had only one, and it was currently in their young lady's possession.
If Xiao Chen had held a Child Flame, Ling Ying could have understood. Given the relationship between his young lady and Xiao Chen, it would make sense for her to give him one.
But the terrifying energy radiating from the flame in Xiao Chen's hand was clearly beyond what a Child Flame could match. That was undoubtedly a complete Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame.
"It seems that my young master's mysterious teacher is no simple figure. No, I have to report this to the clan leader!"
Ling Ying naturally didn't dare conceal something this important. He hurriedly crushed a message jade slip and sent the news to Gu Yuan.
In the Ancient Clan, Central Plains.
Gu Yuan was discussing clan affairs with the elders when he suddenly felt the jade slip at his waist tremble slightly. He promptly raised a hand, signaling everyone to be quiet.
"Hmm? A nine-year-old Dou Zhe? In possession of a complete Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame?"
Gu Yuan's breathing caught as he read the message on the jade slip. If it hadn't been sent in specially encrypted writing, he would have suspected that someone had replaced Ling Ying.
A moment later, Gu Yuan put the jade slip away and looked toward the distant horizon, murmuring to himself, "Is the Xiao Clan coming back?" His ancient, placid eyes seemed to pierce through space and time, glimpsing the old friend who had once dazzled the entire Dou Qi Continent.
Elsewhere, Ling Ying received Gu Yuan's reply. The jade slip held just eight words: "Do not interfere. Let things proceed as usual!"
"Do not interfere? Does the clan leader really want to find himself a son-in-law?"
Ling Ying read the message on the jade slip, his expression growing increasingly strange. Before, he had called Xiao Chen his young master mostly in jest. Now, it seemed this young master might actually become one.
At the thought, Ling Ying began to consider whether he ought to bring the young master a gift. After all, the one nearest the water got the moon first.
While the young master had yet to rise to prominence, Ling Ying could make himself familiar to him. Then, once Xiao Chen returned to the Ancient Clan, perhaps Ling Ying's own standing might improve as well.
Xiao Chen had no idea what was happening in secret. Even if he had known, he wouldn't have cared. Ling Ying's duty was to protect Xun'er, and it was only natural for him to report anything unusual.
Xun'er's feelings were written all over her face. After learning that Xiao Chen possessed the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, her beautiful eyes curved into lovely crescents. "I never knew Brother Xiao Chen had a Heavenly Flame! This Dou Technique is practically tailor-made for you!"
That might have fooled others, but it couldn't fool Xiao Chen. The technique really had been tailor-made—but not for him. It had been made for Xun'er.
As for its creator, it was probably Gu Yuan. As a Nine-Star Dou Saint, he would have had little difficulty creating an Earth-Rank movement Dou Technique suited to the properties of the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame.
Knowing the truth, Xiao Chen didn't call her out. He simply ruffled Xun'er's hair. "Then I have to thank our lovely Xun'er for giving me such a suitable Dou Technique!"
Xun'er narrowed her eyes, enjoying Xiao Chen's touch. Her pretty face brimmed with smiles, nothing like her usual cool demeanor.
The two stayed close for a while longer before Xiao Chen reluctantly returned home. As soon as he stepped inside, he saw several porcelain bottles laid out on the table.
"Is this... Qi Increasing Powder and Qi Recovery Pills?"
Xiao Chen read the labels on the bottles, his mind racing. In the end, he pinpointed who had sent them: Ling Ying!
The reason was simple. If someone else had sent the pills, they would have made sure he knew. The only person who would give him pills without revealing his identity was Ling Ying, the hidden bodyguard.
But Xiao Chen couldn't figure out why Ling Ying would give him pills. Could an Eight-Star Dou Emperor really need something from a tiny Dou Zhe like him?
Unable to figure out why, Xiao Chen didn't dwell on it. He had the system appraise the pills, confirmed there were no strange ingredients mixed in, and put them away.
His current situation truly wasn't good. Danger could find him at any moment, and these pills would at least give him some protection.
Time passed especially quickly when he was cultivating. In the blink of an eye, three months went by. Xiao Chen had mastered the Mountain Crushing Palm, but had only just begun learning Flame Shadow. As expected of an Earth-Rank Dou Technique, it was exceptionally difficult to cultivate.
Those three months also spread Xiao Chen's name throughout Wutan City. Even with Xiao Zhan doing his utmost to keep the news under wraps, it had ultimately gotten out.
A nine-year-old One-Star Dou Zhe shocked all of Wutan City. It also put Jialie Bi and Oba Pa on alert.
The two clans, already on friendly terms, had grown increasingly close over those three months. Everything in Wutan City continued to run as usual, yet a sense of pressure hung in the air, like a storm about to break.
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