Cultivating the Flame Mantra and Refining the Red Lotus Karma Fire! Medicine Elder's Shock!

"This... This makes no sense at all!"

After hearing Xiao Yan's words, Medicine Elder was completely shaken.

He had lived for so many years and seen countless geniuses and monsters, yet he had never heard of anyone breaking through all the way to Dou Wang without cultivating a technique!

What was a cultivation technique?

It was the foundation of cultivation on the Dou Qi Continent!

It was the method by which one converted the energy of heaven and earth into their own Dou Qi!

Without a technique, it was like trying to build a house without a foundation. How could it possibly stand?

What's more—

Dou Wang!

One had to refine their Dou Qi to the utmost before they could form a Dou Qi vortex inside their body and finally reach the stage where they could manifest Dou Qi wings!

Without a technique, how could anyone refine their Dou Qi?

How could they break through bottlenecks?

How could they possibly become a Dou Wang?!

"You... You aren't making a fool of me, are you?"

Medicine Elder stared hard at Xiao Yan, trying to read something on his face.

Yet—

Xiao Yan simply stood there, smiling without a word. His calm, composed confidence only deepened Medicine Elder's shock.

"C-could it be..."

"Could what that boy said be true?"

Hiss—

Medicine Elder felt as though he'd been struck by lightning.

What kind of monster was this?!

It made absolutely no sense!!!

Medicine Elder felt his entire worldview crumbling.

He had lived for over a hundred years and considered himself well-informed, yet what he was seeing far exceeded the limits of his understanding!

A young man who had never cultivated a technique had somehow reached the Dou Wang realm?

If word of this got out, the entire Dou Qi Continent would be turned upside down!

Seeing Medicine Elder's utter astonishment, Xiao Yan couldn't help laughing.

"Medicine Elder, there's no need to be so surprised."

He casually toyed with the Flame Mantra scroll in his hand and said blandly,

"This junior did have some special opportunities, which is how I reached my current realm without cultivating a technique."

"As for what those opportunities were—"

Xiao Yan paused, giving Medicine Elder a knowing smile.

"Senior Medicine Elder, are you sure you want to know?"

At that,

Medicine Elder's expression shifted, and he hurriedly shook his head.

"No, no! I don't want to know!"

He reacted quickly, waving his hands again and again.

As if!

He still vividly remembered how terrifying the Black Banner was. He had no interest whatsoever in the secrets this boy carried!

Medicine Elder Yao Chen understood better than anyone that curiosity killed the cat!

"Heh..."

Xiao Yan chuckled and didn't press him further.

He lowered his gaze to the Flame Mantra scroll in his hand, a flash of delight in his eyes.

"Now that I have the Flame Mantra, I won't hold back."

As he spoke,

he stirred his thoughts, sending a wisp of Dou Qi into the scroll.

Buzz—

Blinding black light burst from the surface of the scroll!

Countless arcane characters and runes surged into Xiao Yan's mind like a tidal wave!

The Flame Mantra!

One must fuse with a Heavenly Flame to begin cultivating it!

The more Heavenly Flames one fused with, and the stronger they were, the higher the technique's grade and the greater its power!

Theoretical upper limit—none!

"Good!"

Xiao Yan's eyes blazed.

He happened to have the Red Lotus Karma Fire with him!

Although he hadn't fused with it yet, once he cultivated the Flame Mantra, refining it would be almost effortless with the help of his special constitution, the Innate Great Sun Sacred Body!

By then—

His combat strength would be terrifying!

"Medicine Elder."

Xiao Yan put away the scroll and looked toward Yao Chen.

Medicine Elder tensed all over and watched him warily.

"You... What do you want now?"

Xiao Yan smiled, his tone growing much gentler.

"Medicine Elder, there's no need to be nervous."

"I told you, I only want to work with you. I have no intention of making things difficult for you."

"I'll take the Flame Mantra, and I'll keep my promise to you."

He paused, then continued,

"When I've mastered my cultivation, I'll restore your body and kill Han Feng and Elder Mu Gu."

"On that, you have my word."

At this,

Medicine Elder looked at Xiao Yan with a complicated expression and fell silent for a long while.

In the end, he sighed softly and cupped his hands.

"I hope you'll keep your word."

Things had come to this. He had no other choice.

He could only put his faith in this mysterious young man.

Xiao Yan nodded. Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, and he took out a translucent jade pendant.

It was none other than the precious treasure, the Myriad Dao Soul-Nurturing Jade!

This should have a tremendous restorative effect on someone like Medicine Elder, whose soul was in a remnant state.

"Oh, right!"

"Senior Medicine Elder, if you don't mind, why not enter this item and cultivate in seclusion?"

The moment Yao Chen's gaze fell on the Myriad Dao Soul-Nurturing Jade, he was completely dumbstruck, utterly captivated by it.

Heavens!

What kind of heaven-defying treasure was this?

He'd only looked at it once, yet his remnant soul had already become ten percent more condensed?

What heights might he reach if he stayed inside for a long time?

Without a moment's hesitation,

Medicine Elder turned into a wisp of smoke and slipped into the Myriad Dao Soul-Nurturing Jade.

A moment later—

A heartfelt expression of gratitude reached Xiao Yan's ears.

"Young friend—"

"From this day forward!"

"I, Yao Chen, owe you my life!"

"If you ever need anything, I, Yao Chen, will do everything in my power to help you!"

Xiao Yan smiled and was just about to reply.

But then—

[Ding!]

The system's notification rang out once again.

[Congratulations, Host. By winning him over with an offer of benefits, you have gained Yao Chen's complete trust and earned his wholehearted submission!]

[Destined Protagonist Xiao Yan has completely fallen out with Yao Chen. Fortune value -500!]

[Host's fortune value +500!]

[Host has gained +2,000 Super Villain Points!]

[Additional reward: In recognition of the Host's outstanding ability to recruit others, you have been awarded 1 "Cultivation Acceleration Card." Upon use, it will permanently increase your cultivation speed tenfold!]

Xiao Yan's eyes lit up, and his face broke into a broad smile.

An unexpected bonus?

Not bad, not bad.

Medicine Elder really was a treasure trove!

"Senior Medicine Elder, you're too kind. It was nothing!"

"Besides the Flame Mantra, I don't have any great need for anything else..."

"Things like pill recipes, notes on alchemy, or perhaps a treasure map..."

"Don't worry, I'm not the sort of person who expects something in return. I'm just making conversation. I don't actually need anything..."

Medicine Elder: "..."

You call that making conversation?!

Looking at Xiao Yan's beaming face, he suddenly wondered if he'd just boarded a pirate ship.

Afterward—

Xiao Yan took a deep breath and steadied his emotions.

Now that he had the Flame Mantra, naturally he had to master it as soon as possible.

With his current cultivation and the boost from his Innate Great Sun Sacred Body, mastering the Flame Mantra was effortless. It took only a few dozen breaths.

"I wonder what grade the Flame Mantra will reach after fusing with the Red Lotus Karma Fire..."

Xiao Yan pondered to himself.

Then—

he slowly released the Red Lotus Karma Fire from his system space!

Unexpectedly—

The moment the Red Lotus Karma Fire appeared,

a voice, filled with utter shock, rang out from within the Myriad Dao Soul-Nurturing Jade.

"What?!"

"This... This is the Red Lotus Karma Fire, ranked eighth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking?"

"You... You actually found the Red Lotus Karma Fire?"