Battle Through the Heavens: I Can Solidify All Talents

A mysterious figure clad in a loose black robe appeared beneath a mountain wall.

He stood in the shadow of a massive boulder as the pale, ghostly aura coiling around him slowly withdrew and dissipated.

He raised his right hand and gently pulled back the black hood concealing his face.

Moonlight poured down like a clear stream, illuminating a young and handsome face. It was Xiao Qing!

Yet Xiao Qing was completely different from his usual self. His medium-length hair had turned an icy white, like snow that never melted.

The darkness in his deep eyes had vanished, replaced by two wisps of icy white flame. They shone with cold indifference and majesty.

The faint aura radiating from his body carried an ancient, powerful air that had weathered countless ages, forming an extreme contrast with Xiao Qing's youthful appearance.

That was right. The unfathomable "senior alchemist" before Xiao Zhan had been Xiao Qing, whose body had temporarily been controlled by Old Yao through soul power!

The possession technique Old Yao used was the soul-possession art mockingly called the "Heaven-Rank Dou Technique—Ghost Possession!" in the original work.

Now that Old Yao's task was complete, his soul power gradually receded, returning control of the body to its true owner, Xiao Qing.

The icy white strands of hair visibly returned to black, while the pale flames flickering in his eyes gradually died out, restoring his clear black pupils.

The terrifying pressure around him also dissipated, and Xiao Qing's own Dou Shi-level aura emerged once more.

Although Old Yao had controlled the body for the most part, Xiao Qing, as its true owner, had clearly sensed everything throughout the process.

More vividly and directly than ever before, Xiao Qing had experienced just how vast and terrifying the power dwelling within his body was when it was temporarily drawn forth!

It was an absolute sense of power, as though he could summon the energy of heaven and earth with every gesture and shatter mountains and rivers with a wave of his sleeve!

In every inch of flesh and every meridian, unimaginable torrents of energy surged. His soul perception had been amplified to an unbelievable degree, as though a single thought would allow him to perceive every movement within a hundred li.

That strength was beyond words, and it had already been deeply imprinted upon Xiao Qing's soul.

Is this... the power of a peak Dou Emperor? Xiao Qing slowly clenched his fist, feeling the slight emptiness brought by the fading power within him. Yet there was no disappointment in his eyes. Instead, an incomparably blazing light burst forth.

As terrifying as they say!

This brief experience was like a mystical key. It had not only opened a door to another world for Xiao Qing, but also allowed him to glimpse the scenery at greater heights.

Rather than making Xiao Qing feel the slightest frustration, it thoroughly ignited his desire and ambition to grow stronger!

I believe that day will come soon! Xiao Qing stared at his palm, his gaze as firm as iron. A voice roared within his heart, With my peerless Talent and my teacher's guidance, it will not be long before I, Xiao Qing, truly possess power of this level! Perhaps... even greater power!

Under the night sky, the youth stood tall. Though Xiao Qing had just shed the mantle of a powerful expert, his gaze was sharper than ever, filled with boundless anticipation for the future and soaring fighting spirit.

Tonight's experience was like a spark falling into dry tinder that Xiao Qing had long prepared. It would surely ignite flames that soared into the heavens.

Half a month later—

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye, and an atmosphere of diligent cultivation permeated the entire Xiao Family.

The family's Dou Technique Pavilion was once again opened to young disciples who had yet to cultivate any Dou Techniques.

Although most of its collection consisted of low- and mid-level Yellow-Rank Dou Techniques.

For these boys and girls, most of whom were still at the Dou Qi stage, they were already an immense blessing and precious resource.

Even for disciples who had just stepped into the Dou Zhe realm, mastering a Yellow-Rank Dou Technique could bring a qualitative leap in combat ability.

After all, compared with fighting barehanded, relying entirely on one's own martial skills, or simply recklessly blasting out Dou Qi, mastering a Dou Technique to condense greater power made for a completely different level of might.

At the Xiao Family's Martial Arts Square, Xiao Zhan walked slowly with a smile on his face that had not been seen in a long time. The gloom that had once weighed heavily between his brows had long since been swept away.

"Greetings, Patriarch!"

"Greetings, Patriarch!"

"Patriarch, have you emerged from seclusion?"

Groups of Xiao Family disciples passed Xiao Zhan and respectfully greeted him, their voices carrying heartfelt respect.

Xiao Zhan was in an exceptionally good mood these days. He nodded repeatedly in response to the youths, his gaze gently sweeping over these hopes of the family's future.

At this moment, Xiao Zhan was full of vigor, his complexion rosy. Compared to a month ago, he seemed like a completely different person from the anxious, haggard patriarch who had been unable to sleep at night.

All these changes stemmed from that mysterious "gift" on that night!

At noon the day after receiving the pills, Xiao Zhan could not wait to give the Three-Pattern Essence-Solidifying Pill to his wife, Yan Qian.

The effects of the pill exceeded all imagination!

Not only did it rapidly replenish the life essence she had depleted over many years, but even the subtle lingering ailments she had suffered when giving birth to Xiao Yan were gradually healed by its gentle medicinal power.

Even more delightfully, Yan Qian's pale cheeks regained their rosy glow. She seemed several years younger, and her vitality was abundant.

This unexpected rejuvenating effect left Yan Qian both shocked and delighted. She repeatedly marveled at it and became extremely curious about the pill's origin.

Although Xiao Zhan was immensely grateful to Xiao Qing and his teacher, he could only fabricate a well-intentioned lie for the sake of secrecy...

He told Yan Qian that he had relied on some old connections left behind by his father, Xiao Lin, and paid an enormous price to purchase it from a reclusive alchemist.

Yan Qian did not doubt him. She merely held her husband's hand, tears in her eyes, her face full of relief and happiness.

As for Xiao Zhan, after properly arranging the family affairs, he immediately announced that he would enter seclusion.

The place Xiao Zhan chose for his seclusion was extremely secretive, free from all disturbance.

Inside the secret chamber, Xiao Zhan consumed the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill and the Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill in succession.

The pills melted the moment they entered his mouth. Their rich yet gentle medicinal power surged like rushing rivers, helping Xiao Zhan break through repeatedly with almost no obstruction. His cultivation soared all the way to the peak of Da Dou Shi!

As he felt the unprecedented power within him, Xiao Zhan did not hesitate in the slightest. Striking while the iron was hot, he took out the even more precious Spirit Cleansing Pill.

The pill truly lived up to its name. After consumption, it not only provided an immense amount of pure energy, but also sent a miraculous force of marrow cleansing and bone tempering flowing through his entire body, thoroughly clearing away the final blockages and impurities in Xiao Zhan's meridians.

Driven by that overwhelming medicinal power, the Dou Ling barrier that had trapped countless Da Dou Shi for their entire lives was easily pierced like a sheet of window paper!

He successfully entered the Dou Ling realm!

In just half a month of seclusion, Xiao Zhan had leapt from a five-star Da Dou Shi to a genuine one-star Dou Ling expert!

Such a leap could only be called a miracle!

However, Xiao Zhan was not blinded by his immense new power after leaving seclusion.

Xiao Zhan knew well that a five-star Da Dou Shi directly advancing to Dou Ling in half a month was far too shocking. If word spread, it would inevitably bring endless scrutiny and trouble upon the Xiao Family.

Thus, Xiao Zhan did his utmost to restrain his aura. Taking advantage of the finer control over his strength that came with just entering the Dou Ling realm, he concealed most of his Dou Ling-level fluctuations and only revealed cultivation around that of a six-star Da Dou Shi.

This made the results of Xiao Zhan's "seclusion" appear far more "reasonable"—he had gone from a five-star Da Dou Shi to a six-star one.

Though it still counted as rapid progress, it remained within a comprehensible range and would not attract too much attention.

Now, as he walked through the family grounds, feeling the Dou Ling-level Dou Qi surging within him, watching his clansmen's energetic faces, and seeing his beloved wife grow healthier by the day, Xiao Zhan's heart was filled with confidence and anticipation for the future.

The Xiao Family was moving in a better direction, and the turning point for everything came from the youth on the Back Mountain, who was perhaps cultivating diligently at this very moment.

Eight Extremities Collapse at Mastery; Gu Yuan Visits with His Daughter!

On the Xiao Family Back Mountain, in a secluded clearing, the air began to distort slightly under the heat as a scorching aura spread outward.

Xiao Qing stood firmly in place, fully focused as he practiced the formidable Dou Technique Old Yao had taught him—Eight Extremities Collapse!

This High Xuan-Rank Dou Technique possessed extraordinary power. Its essence lay in compressing vast amounts of Dou Qi to the utmost limit before releasing it in an instant. A punch contained not only overt force capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks, but also hidden force that grew fiercer with each successive layer.

At mastery, eight layers of hidden force erupted together, granting destructive power sufficient to rival ordinary Earth-Rank Dou Techniques!

Dou Qi within Xiao Qing's body raced along the profound circulation route of Eight Extremities Collapse, and a vast amount of Dou Qi frantically gathered in his right fist.

Buzz!

Brilliant golden-red flames suddenly rose from Xiao Qing's right fist!

This was no ordinary Dou Qi radiance, but terrifying Flame containing horrifying power. As it leaped and burned, it released heart-palpitating waves of destruction, while the surrounding air crackled faintly from the heat.

His power had accumulated to its peak. A sharp light flashed through Xiao Qing's eyes as he twisted his waist and savagely threw his right fist forward like a falling meteor, striking directly at the giant bluestone before him, which was tougher than refined steel!

Rumble!!!

The air along the path of his fist was compressed to an extreme before violently exploding with a deafening boom, making ears ache!

That fist wreathed in golden-red flames smashed into the huge boulder with crushing force.

At the instant of contact—

Bang!!!

The massive bluestone did not endure even for an instant before exploding as though it had been detonated from within, turning into countless fragments that scattered in all directions!

Yet even more terrifyingly, before those flying stone fragments could hit the ground, the golden-red flames clinging to them devoured and coiled around them in an instant as though they possessed life!

Wherever the flames passed, no matter the size of the stones, they were completely scorched and vaporized by the extreme heat in an instant, becoming wisps of green smoke that vanished without a trace. Not even the slightest residue remained!

That punch contained not only the unrivaled overt force and vicious hidden force of Eight Extremities Collapse, but also Xiao Qing's terrifying ability to burn all things!

Its destructive power had already surpassed the scope of a High Xuan-Rank Dou Technique itself!

Xiao Qing slowly withdrew his fist and lightly clenched his right hand, feeling that nearly a tenth of his Dou Qi had been consumed in an instant.

With the powerful recovery ability of his Innate Spirit Body and the Mid Xuan-Rank Burning Mantra operating at high speed, he immediately began frantically absorbing the surrounding energy of heaven and earth. Within a few breaths, the depleted Dou Qi had been fully restored.

At that moment, Xiao Qing looked at the empty ground before him, where wisps of smoke still rose, and a trace of satisfaction flashed through his eyes.

"This Eight Extremities Collapse truly deserves Teacher's praise as a Dou Technique with power comparable to the Earth Rank!"

As Xiao Qing looked at the power of that strike, satisfaction flickered in his eyes, and he could not help muttering in admiration.

"The intertwining of overt force and hidden force, combined with the Flame's destructive might—even a peak Da Dou Shi expert would have no chance of survival beneath this punch without special life-saving methods!"

Old Yao's soul form floated out from the ring and hovered nearby.

He looked at the completely erased traces of the boulder, then at Xiao Qing. His somewhat illusory face was filled with complicated emotions, which finally turned into a long sigh.

"Ah! Since I began teaching you the Dou Technique Eight Extremities Collapse, only a few short days have passed at most, yet you have already cultivated it to such a perfectly mastered state!"

Old Yao shook his head, his tone full of disbelief and helplessness born of profound shock. "And that is not even the most outrageous part! You actually managed to perfectly integrate the special power of your Innate Fire Spirit Body into Eight Extremities Collapse!

"The power of this punch has probably truly reached the level of an elementary Earth-Rank Dou Technique!"

"It may even be slightly stronger than some ordinary low-level Earth-Rank Dou Techniques! It is no longer merely 'comparable' to them!"

"You brat! You really are a freak!"

Hearing this, Xiao Qing chuckled. With a hint of confidence and teasing in his voice, he said, "Teacher, that is called being extraordinarily talented. How can you call me a freak?"

"Hmph, you brat! All you know is how to tease your teacher!" Old Yao laughed and scolded him helplessly. Though his words sounded reproachful, his tone was filled with unconcealable gratification and pride.

"I have cultivated enough. It is time to return to the clan and take a look." Xiao Qing's smile faded as he looked toward the family grounds.

"I have not seen Aunt in a long time. I wonder whether she has been well recently."

Ever since giving the pills to Xiao Zhan, Xiao Qing had not seen Yan Qian for quite some time.

After so long, Yan Qian had surely taken the Grade 4 Foundation Solidifying Pill he had refined. Her body should have fully recovered, so it was time to go see her!

As he spoke, Xiao Qing's thoughts shifted, and the Dou Qi in his body began circulating along another profound route—an Xuan-Rank movement technique Dou Technique taught by Old Yao.

Xiao Qing lightly tapped the ground with his toes, and his figure immediately blurred. Like a wisp of green smoke, he shot toward the Xiao Family grounds with astonishing speed, leaving behind a faint afterimage.

Xiao Family, Martial Arts Square—

Xiao Zhan stood with his hands behind his back, watching the young disciples train diligently in the square, a gentle and expectant smile on his face.

At that moment, an elderly servant dressed in Xiao Family servant attire hurried over. With a respectful bow, he quietly said, "Patriarch, a mysterious guest seeks an audience outside the residence."

"He calls himself 'Xiao Yuan' and has brought a young girl named 'Xun'er.'"

"Furthermore, he holds a token belonging to the former Patriarch Xiao Lin and says that he has come specifically to visit you, Patriarch!"

Hearing this, a trace of surprise flashed through Xiao Zhan's eyes before turning into deeper contemplation.

Xiao Yuan?

"A mysterious guest carrying Father's token?" Xiao Zhan frowned slightly, and suspicion and vigilance rose in his heart once more.

Xiao Zhan quickly searched through his memories, but in the end, he could not recall his father ever mentioning a close friend or clansman named Xiao Yuan during his lifetime.

Could he be a friend Father met while traveling in his younger days? Or perhaps a branch of the clan hidden somewhere in the world?

Xiao Zhan silently speculated about Xiao Yuan's identity.

No matter what, he possesses Father's token and came specifically to find me. I should meet him at least once.

The old servant continued, "However, the Patriarch's wife has already invited them to wait in the Council Hall."

Qian'er is already receiving them?