Battle Through the Heavens: I Can Solidify All Talents

A visible ring-shaped energy shockwave suddenly spread outward, snapping all the grass and trees within dozens of meters and shaving a layer off the ground!

Xiao Qing's body sank slightly, and the ground beneath his feet cracked inch by inch. Yet his incomparably solid Dou Qi Armor merely flickered violently without breaking, successfully withstanding the savage blow!

However, the Tier 5 Magical Beast's Giant Strength still left his arms numb and his blood and qi churning slightly.

In their first clash, the Demon Flame Wolf still held a slight advantage in raw strength.

The Demon Flame Wolf went berserk. Its claws, fangs, and wolf tail blazing with Demon Flame lashed out like a torrential storm. At the same time, its massive jaws repeatedly opened and closed, spitting out black fireballs that contained terrifying corrosive and explosive energy!

Xiao Qing pushed his Xuan Rank movement technique to its limit. Protected by his golden-red armor, he moved like lightning, weaving and dodging through the dense barrage of attacks.

Whenever he truly could not evade, he used the armored parts of his body to take the hit head-on.

Bang! Bang! Boom!

Every collision erupted with an ear-splitting roar.

Xiao Qing's Dou Qi Armor displayed astonishing defensive power, its bone-white patterns continuously dissolving the corrosion of the Demon Flame.

Yet the immense impacts still forced him back again and again, leaving him at a temporary disadvantage.

Xiao Qing's gaze sharpened as he decisively swallowed a high-quality Qi-Recovery Pill he had refined himself.

The pill entered his mouth and turned into pure energy. Coupled with the terrifying recovery speed granted by the Innate Spirit Body and the Black Rank Mid-grade Burning Mantra, his depleted Dou Qi replenished at a visible rate, keeping him near full capacity at all times!

He no longer chose to compete with the Demon Flame Wolf in brute force.

As a peak Da Dou Shi, even with the Innate Spirit Body and that special [Talent] enhancing him, he could at most suppress some Dou Wangs with relatively frail physical bodies.

But the physical strength of a Tier 5 Magical Beast was far beyond that of human cultivators at the same level. Meeting it head-on was hardly wise.

In an instant, Xiao Qing's battle strategy changed.

He began using his movement advantage to engage it in a mobile fight, his blade-sharp gaze fixed firmly on the cluster of purple fire between the Demon Flame Wolf's brows.

His footwork suddenly became elusive, and his body flickered like a ghost through the gaps between the wolf's claws and fangs.

He no longer pursued a one-hit kill. Instead, relying on Soul Power far beyond that of ordinary people, he precisely predicted the trajectory of every pounce from the Demon Flame Wolf.

"Roar!"

Unable to land a hit for so long, the Demon Flame Wolf flew into a furious rage. Dark-red flames rose around its body as it opened its mouth and spewed forth a scorching blast of fire, intending to burn this slippery human to ashes.

Faced with a wave of flame capable of melting Jin Shi, Xiao Qing's eyes flashed with a glint of brilliance.

This was exactly the opportunity he had been waiting for!

He advanced rather than retreating. At the critical instant, he twisted aside to avoid the main force of the flames while his right hand formed a sword finger, condensed golden-red Dou Qi wrapped around it to the extreme.

He did not choose to attack the Demon Flame Wolf's toughest head or back. Instead, he precisely stabbed at the joint of its forelimb!

That was the point where its defense was weakest whenever it exerted force to pounce.

"Pfft!"

With a soft sound, the golden-red Dou Qi sank into the gap in the joint.

The Demon Flame Wolf let out a pained howl, and its massive body immediately pitched forward.

Xiao Qing retreated several steps, his gaze remaining calm as he watched the Demon Flame Wolf.

Although this strike was not enough to be fatal, it had successfully restricted its movement and created more room for the battle ahead.

Xiao Qing knew well that when fighting such a ferocious beast, patience and skill were far more important than brute strength.

At that moment, several follow-up tactics had already surfaced in Xiao Qing's mind.

Should he take a risk with that Earth Rank Dou Technique he had yet to master, or continue circling the Demon Flame Wolf and seek a better opportunity?

"Kid Xiao, attack three inches below the purple fire between its brow bones!"

At that moment, Old Yao's calm reminder rang in Xiao Qing's heart like a guiding lamp.

"That is one of its relatively weaker defensive points! Watch for the gap when its energy flows back after it unleashes a full-force flame breath!"

The opportunity vanished in an instant!

At the same time, the Demon Flame Wolf was completely enraged!

Its huge mouth opened as it gathered power once more, spraying a black pillar of fire thicker than before at Xiao Qing!

At the instant the fire pillar shot out, its enormous body froze for an extremely brief moment!

Now!

A flash gleamed in Xiao Qing's eyes!

His footwork shifted, and his body seemed to teleport past the black fire pillar!

At the same time, the Dou Qi throughout his body, nearly at the level of a Dou Ling, erupted and gathered entirely into his right fist!

Black Rank High-grade Dou Technique—Eight Extremities Collapse!

Eight layers of hidden force stacked together!

With a roar, Xiao Qing shot forward like an arrow released from a bow. His fist drove straight ahead, targeting the fatal point beneath the purple fire between the Demon Flame Wolf's brows!

This punch contained not only all his strength, but also pushed the eight layers of hidden force from Eight Extremities Collapse to his current limit. The air itself twisted slightly in the wake of his fist wind.

The Demon Flame Wolf sensed the fatal danger. Fear appeared in its crimson pupils for the first time, but it wanted to dodge only to find its movements sluggish, its old force exhausted before new force could arise!

Boom!!!!

The punch, containing terrifying power and Law Flame, struck that vital point squarely!

Crack!

The crisp sound of bone fracturing was clearly audible!

The Demon Flame Wolf released an earth-shaking, miserable scream. The purple fire between its brows instantly dimmed, nearly extinguishing.

Its enormous body was blasted off the ground by the tremendous force contained in that punch. It smashed through several ancient trees so thick that several people would have needed to join hands to encircle them before crashing heavily to the ground.

Scalding blood flowed from its mouth, nose, and ears. Its aura withered rapidly like a deflating ball, and after struggling a few times, it could no longer stand!

Xiao Qing slowly withdrew his fist, and the unique golden-red and bone-white Dou Qi Armor around his body gradually faded away.

Only then did he land steadily. Breathing lightly, he calmed the churning blood and qi within him before looking at the dying Demon Flame Wolf in the distance, a satisfied curve rising on his lips.

From falling into disadvantage at the start to accurately seizing the chance to severely wound a powerful enemy in a single blow, he had gradually taken control of the rhythm of this battle!

This battle fully displayed his true strength, as well as his terrifying defense and offensive power that far surpassed those of his peers!

Spirit-Nourishing Grass That Could Strengthen Soul Power! Advancing to Dou Ling!

Xiao Qing walked over and looked at the dying Demon Flame Wolf without the slightest trace of pity in his eyes.

The strong preyed on the weak. That was the law of the Magical Beast Mountain Range and even the entire Dou Qi World.

He formed his fingers into a blade, gathering sharp Dou Qi at his fingertips before accurately thrusting it into the Demon Flame Wolf's already grievously wounded vital point between its brows, granting it final release.

Afterward, he skillfully broke open the Demon Flame Wolf's hard skull and took out a crystal about the size of a fist. It emitted a scorching red glow, and magma seemed to flow within it.

It was warm in his hand and contained vast, pure Fire Attribute energy!

A Tier 5 Fire Attribute Magical Core!

"Really beautiful..."

Xiao Qing held the priceless Magical Core in his palm, feeling the surging energy within it as he sincerely praised it.

It was not only a precious cultivation resource, but also an important material for refining high-tier medicinal pills and forging divine weapons.

"Perhaps I can make it into a gift and give it to Xun'er when I return."

He carefully stored the Magical Core in his Storage Ring.

He also extracted the Beast Fire Origin from the Demon Flame Wolf's body and placed it in a jade bottle. The originally white jade bottle turned dark red.

I need to collect a few more strands of this Tier 5 Beast Fire, then refine them together!

Xiao Qing shook the dark-red jade bottle in his hand before placing it in his Storage Ring.

After all, the Burning Mantra could absorb more than just Heavenly Flames. It could absorb Beast Fire as well.

Next, Xiao Qing walked into the cave where the Demon Flame Wolf had dwelled.

A pungent stench mixed with sulfur, blood, and animal musk rushed toward him, making him frown slightly.

With a thought, golden-red Dou Qi instantly covered his entire body. Not only did it block out the unpleasant smell, but the light radiating from his body also illuminated the dim cave.

Powerful Soul Power surged forward like a tide, carefully scanning every corner of the cave. Only after confirming there were no hidden dangers did he slowly proceed deeper.

The cave was far more spacious inside than he had expected. Along the way, he saw scattered beast bones and the remains of prey that had not been fully digested.

When his Soul Power swept over a relatively dry stone platform deep within the cave, a peculiar plant caught his attention.

The herb was about half a foot tall and entirely translucent emerald green, with long, narrow leaves.

At the top of the herb were several faintly shimmering blue specks like stars, emitting an unusual fluctuation that soothed the mind.

"This is... the main ingredient for refining Tier 6 Spirit-Nourishing Pills, Spirit-Nourishing Grass!" Surprise flashed through Xiao Qing's eyes.

Spirit-Nourishing Pills were precious medicinal pills capable of nourishing and strengthening Soul Power. To alchemists, their allure was incomparable.

He quickly stepped into the open space beneath the stone platform, where the sight before him made his gaze narrow.

Below the platform lay more than ten huge Magical Beast skeletons. Their forms varied, but every single one was badly damaged, clearly having experienced brutal battles before death.

"It seems that no fewer than ten Magical Beasts once fought desperately here over this Spirit-Nourishing Grass. In the end, the Demon Flame Wolf was the one who laughed last." Xiao Qing understood.

Although directly consuming Spirit-Nourishing Grass was far less effective than refining it into Spirit-Nourishing Pills, it was still a heavenly treasure capable of driving Magical Beasts, whose Soul Power was generally weak, completely mad.

"No wonder it sparked such a bloody struggle! For Magical Beasts, a treasure that can strengthen the soul is no less tempting than Heavenly Flames are to alchemists."

Old Yao's soul form drifted out of the Bone Flame Ring. Looking at the star-speckled Spirit-Nourishing Grass atop the stone platform, even his tone carried a hint of surprise.

Hearing this, Xiao Qing immediately thought of Old Yao's current condition and said, "Teacher, you are currently in soul form. This Spirit-Nourishing Grass may be greatly beneficial to restoring your Soul Power. Why don't you consume it?"

Old Yao gave Xiao Qing an appreciative look but shook his head, a gentle smile appearing on his illusory face. "Silly boy, I am already very happy that you have such thoughts."

"But without a physical body and with my Soul Origin damaged, a single Spirit-Nourishing Grass can at most restore a small portion of my depleted Soul Power. Its effects are limited."

"But you are different!"

Old Yao's voice turned solemn. "You are extraordinarily talented, and your Soul Power is already powerful. If you use this herb as the main ingredient and refine it into Spirit-Nourishing Pills with other medicinal ingredients, your soul realm will surely rise greatly."

"It may even lay a solid foundation for your future attempt to reach Spirit Realm soul strength! That would be far more meaningful than using it on me!"

"Teacher..." Xiao Qing was moved. Knowing Old Yao was thinking entirely for his sake, he said no more.

With a leap, he landed lightly on the stone platform. Taking out jade tools, he carefully harvested the Spirit-Nourishing Grass along with some of the soil around its roots, then placed it in a Warm Jade Box he had prepared beforehand and sealed it properly to preserve its medicinal properties.

Afterward, he carefully searched the cave again, collecting several valuable herbs of good age and rare mineral materials before finally leaving the fruitful cave in satisfaction.

Time flew by—

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

Over the following month or so, Xiao Qing used the inner region of the Magical Beast Mountain Range as a whetstone, constantly seeking powerful Tier 5 Magical Beasts as opponents. He tempered his Dou Techniques and consolidated his cultivation through life-and-death battles.

Relying on his formidable strength and Old Yao's guidance, he fought several notorious Tier 5 Magical Beasts in succession and successfully slew them all.

At the same time, he obtained more precious medicinal ingredients for refining high-tier pills and rare materials for crafting weapons.

On this day, deep within the Magical Beast Mountain Range, beside a waterfall with rushing currents.

The thunderous sound of water was deafening as a white curtain of water poured down from a hundred-meter cliff into a deep pool, kicking up mist that filled the air.

Xiao Qing sat cross-legged bare-chested atop a huge boulder beside the waterfall, its surface polished smooth and flat by the current.

The lines of his sturdy body were sleek, his muscles taut but not bulky, brimming with strength.

Water vapor soaked his black hair and trickled down his sharply defined cheeks.

Within his body, the Burning Mantra circulated frantically at an unprecedented speed. The energy between heaven and earth was drawn toward him, forming tiny energy vortices that rushed into his body one after another.

After more than a month of accumulation and consolidation—especially through repeated life-and-death battles against Tier 5 Magical Beasts and the support of abundant resources—he had long reached the limit of peak Da Dou Shi. The barrier leading to the Dou Ling realm had become as thin as a cicada's wing.

"Boom!"

After an unknown amount of time, it seemed as though a soundless thunderclap rang within Xiao Qing's body!

An immense aura several times stronger than before erupted violently from within him like a sleeping volcano!

Golden-red Dou Qi burst uncontrollably from his body, instantly evaporating the splashing droplets into white mist. His imposing aura was astonishing!