Five-Star Great Dou Shi was Zhang Yuan's current realm.
Over the past four days, he had first assisted Old Yao in refining a Two-pattern Green Spirit Pill with the Three Dragon Thunder Gang Fire. After taking it, he steadily rose three stars, then spent the rest of the time switching to the Low-level Earth-tier cultivation method Xun Er had given him, the Heavenly Thunder Art.
The Green Spirit Pill's effects were truly superb. Unfortunately, from Dou Master to Dou Ling, only one pill could be taken per major realm. If he wanted to take another, he would have to wait until he reached Dou Ling, and it would have to be a Three-pattern Green Spirit Pill to raise his cultivation by two stars.
Speaking of star ranks, before becoming a Dou Zong powerhouse, the difficulty of advancing from one star to two stars was not much different from advancing from eight stars to nine stars.
If Dou Qi cultivators were compared to containers, then Dou Zhe forged cups, Dou Masters forged basins, Great Dou Shi forged water vats, ponds, and lakes, while Dou Emperors forged rivers. Starting from Dou Zong, because it involved comprehending the Power of Space, another qualitative change would occur.
During the process of forging a container, star rank represented progress in capacity. Cultivation methods and talent affected the speed of forging the container, the speed of filling it with water, the quality of the water poured in, and so on.
Dou techniques were methods of outputting power. Given the same amount of gunpowder, it could make ten thousand bullets, a hundred cannonballs, or even a single missile.
After relying on his powerful talent and comprehension to successfully grasp the Heavenly Thunder Art, Zhang Yuan discovered that the three-star increase from taking the Two-pattern Green Spirit Pill had already stabilized. Of course, this might also have been related to his physique being comparable to a magical beast of the same rank.
That was why, upon obtaining a Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, he swallowed it without hesitation.
With Heavenly Flames and an Earth-tier cultivation method, he could refine it even while sitting on horseback.
"Stop!"
After another half-day of forced marching, Zhang Yuan saw that most of the sun had vanished behind a mountain. He found an open area and had everyone set up camp and prepare food.
He himself found a high spot, sat cross-legged, and continued cultivating.
"Boom!"
After a simple dinner, Zhang Yuan was about to return to his tent to rest when a rumble of thunder suddenly came from the distant sky.
Before long, the sky in the distance had completely darkened. Dark clouds covered the heavens as lightning flashed and thunder roared.
"Perfect weather!" Zhang Yuan's eyes lit up.
He blasted several caves into the upper part of the mountain for his personal guards to stay in, leaving the tents for the Silver-Horned Black Rhinoceros Horses.
After arranging shifts for night watch and tending the fire, he told everyone not to disturb him unless necessary. Once he returned to the cave, he secretly slipped out again before long, forming Exotic Fire Wings and flying toward the mountain shrouded in thunderclouds.
"Boom!"
Bathed in lightning, Zhang Yuan could feel the Three Dragon Thunder Gang Fire's excitement as it continuously circulated through his body. Its flame portion constantly tempered the Dou Qi within him, while its lightning portion refined every part of his body, which was then repaired by the Dragon Qi.
As he operated the Heavenly Thunder Art, he felt unprecedented smoothness. Many insights into the cultivation method rose in his heart, and the speed at which his Dou Qi condensed began to increase.
The remaining medicinal power of the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill was refined by him in an instant, and his Five-Star Great Dou Shi cultivation rapidly stabilized.
For the entire night, Zhang Yuan cultivated amid lightning of suitable strength, only stopping when the dark clouds drifted away and the rising sun appeared.
"So this is the proper way to use Thunder Gang Fire."
Zhang Yuan opened his eyes, and a wisp of purple light flashed through them.
Heavenly Flames were twenty-three types of flames born between heaven and earth on the Dou Qi Continent. Each possessed a unique ability.
For example, the fifteenth-ranked Sea Heart Flame was a miraculous flame born in the depths of the ocean. It could draw upon the power of the sea and allow its owner to do the same, including during cultivation.
The fourteenth-ranked Fallen Heart Flame was born from the heart, tempering Qi and refining bones. Nicknamed the "cultivation cheat," it could accelerate a person's cultivation because it continuously produced a kind of heart flame. Without needing to be controlled, this heart flame constantly tempered the owner's Dou Qi, meaning the owner was always cultivating, with results even better than ordinary diligent practice.
The ninth-ranked Three Thousand Burning Flame, also known as the "Three Thousand Starry Sky Burning Flame," took form among the stars. It could absorb Star Power and continuously grow stronger. Whoever refined it could obtain the Three Thousand Starry Sky Physique, known as the Undying Body. As long as their body was not blasted into pulp, they could recover with Star Power. Naturally, it was also excellent for assisting cultivation.
The twelfth-ranked Nine Dragon Thunder Gang Fire could grow stronger by devouring Dragon Qi, lightning power, and the power of strange flames. The three types of energy complemented one another and always maintained a balance.
Those who refined the Nine Dragon Thunder Gang Fire could also use the power of Dragon Qi, flames, and lightning to improve their cultivation, with the added effect of body refinement.
When it had only one or two dragons, the effect had not been so obvious. But in its three-dragon state, he could clearly feel the difference. It would definitely become even stronger in the future.
"And this Heavenly Thunder Art—though it is merely Low-level Earth tier to ordinary people, it holds limitless possibilities for me. I need to properly thank Xun Er when I get the chance."
Thinking of the girl's breathtakingly beautiful face, gentleness appeared in Zhang Yuan's eyes.
Then, recalling her identity, that gentleness was immediately replaced by resolve.
"The road ahead is long and arduous."
Zhang Yuan slapped the ground, sending himself soaring into the air. His Exotic Fire Wings spread as he dived down.
When he was nearly back at camp, he found a large tree to land on, then strolled back as if nothing had happened and naturally blended into the group.
After breakfast, Zhang Yuan led his men onward. By dusk, mist began to appear on the official road ahead, and visibility gradually worsened. Farther away, the outline of a city with walls over thirty zhang high faintly emerged.
This small city was actually just a pass called Two-Dragon Pass. It had been built directly before two gorges shaped like dragon heads, and behind those gorges lay a range of mountains shrouded in mist—the Illusionary Mist Mountain Range.
"Imperial Black Armored Guard! Make way!"
Soldiers at the gates of Two-Dragon Pass were collecting entry taxes.
However, Zhang Yuan and his group merely presented their Black Armored Guard tokens and entered through the side.
Several passing merchant caravans began quietly discussing the matter.
"The Black Armored Guard again. They've been appearing frequently in the southern part of Northeast Province lately. Could the Chuyun Empire be preparing to attack?"
"The old emperor of the Chuyun Empire is already advanced in years. I heard he failed to extend his life by forcibly breaking through to Dou Zong and only has a few years left. Several candidates for crown prince are fighting among themselves at court. How could they have the mind to wage war outside? The Black Armored Guard is just rotating defenses with the Dragon Guard."
"A rotation? So that's how it is. I didn't expect another three years to have passed."
"Yeah, three years after three years, and you're still a weakling at the peak of Dou Zhe."
"If you don't know how to talk, then don't talk."
""
After all the Black Armored Guard had entered the pass, the merchant caravans resumed paying their fees and entering the city in an orderly fashion.
No one noticed that a plain-looking man standing at the back of the crowd had vanished into the illusionary mist.
Not long afterward, he arrived beneath a tree beside the water. After confirming that no one was nearby, he lifted a stone and placed a note beneath it. It read: "The fat sheep has arrived."
After finishing this, the man took a detour through the mist and returned to the entrance of the pass. He openly presented his identification papers, paid the entry tax, and entered Two-Dragon Pass.
Two-Dragon Pass only had towering gates and walls; its actual area was not very large. Most of the buildings inside were shops, inns for temporary lodging, and related businesses.
The man found a beggar by the street and asked about the whereabouts of the Black Armored Guard. He learned that Zhang Yuan's group had headed straight to the imperial post station after entering the city, and even their Silver-Horned Black Rhinoceros Horses had been handed over to the station attendants.
After casually tossing down a few silver coins, the man twisted and turned through the streets until he found the post station. He discovered that the Black Armored Guard was indeed there. After dinner, they all returned to their rooms to rest.
He checked into the nearest inn and continued watching them in secret, keeping watch for an entire night.
Early the next morning, the Black Armored Guard led by Zhang Yuan retrieved their horses from the station attendants and arrived at the south gate, preparing to depart.
The city gates had not yet opened, but several large merchant caravans had already gathered outside. The carriages bore markings such as "Azure Cloud Meng" and "Myriad Books Pavilion."
Within the Myriad Books Pavilion caravan, a veiled woman who was about to board a carriage noticed Zhang Yuan. Her eyes flickered as she summoned a middle-aged man dressed like a steward and whispered a few words to him.
The middle-aged man repeatedly nodded and turned to approach Zhang Yuan and the others.
At that moment, a handsome man stepped out from behind the carriage beside Qing Yanjing's carriage and shouted, "Qing Yanjing, I don't agree to let outsiders join our party."
Qing Yanjing?
Zhang Yuan froze and reflexively turned to look toward the woman.
Isn't that Mu Chen's mother?
Judging by the timeline, she and Brother Dong might not even have been born yet!?
Before you continue