Nighttime Breakthrough

The pure medicinal liquid coursed through his entire body, and the exhilarating sensation nearly made Xiao Yan moan aloud. He could not help secretly praising Yao Lao's alchemy. To refine a pill meant purely to raise one's strength to such a degree was something worth studying for a long time.

The exquisite Crimson Lotus Karma Flame spun rapidly within his body, continuously filtering out the impurities in the medicinal liquid so that the battle qi could be absorbed directly by his body.

The reason Heavenly Flames held such an extraordinary status was that, aside from boosting one's strength, they often came with other miraculous properties, benefiting their wielders in many ways. The Crimson Lotus Karma Flame was exceptionally effective at filtering and refining energy.

Vast amounts of battle qi surged into Xiao Yan's body and were smoothly absorbed. Ever since absorbing the Crimson Lotus Karma Flame, Xiao Yan had never abandoned his bitter cultivation. He had even deliberately suppressed his strength to take Zi Yan's punches, all so he could return to his former state of advancing steadily and solidifying his foundation. It now seemed that doing so had indeed been beneficial.

Now, Xiao Yan absorbed the Imperial Extreme Pill as naturally as water flowing into a channel. Unlike others, who would panic and struggle when faced with such an enormous amount of battle qi, every strand of battle qi he absorbed brought him incomparable comfort, like parched land meeting sweet rain after a long drought.

Chu Qun, who was keeping watch, was reclining halfway when he suddenly sensed the change in Xiao Yan's aura. His brows rose. "He broke through? Xiao Yan, just what other surprises are you hiding?"

Back in Mist Poison Forest, the reason Chu Qun had taken the initiative to show goodwill toward Xiao Yan, and why he had followed Xiao Yan without hesitation when they were pursued by the Green-Eyed Nightmare Toad, was because a special battle skill of his had let him learn something astonishing.

He had learned that Xiao Yan was only nineteen years old! In other words, if Xiao Yan was willing, he could even participate in the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly ten years from now! Yet his cultivation was already at the two-star Dou Emperor level. What terrifying news.

Chu Qun himself was twenty-seven this year and had already reached the six-star Dou Emperor level. That was already an extremely impressive record. His master had once told him that, in the history of Splendid Flower Tower, his cultivation speed could rank among the top three. But compared to Xiao Yan, Chu Qun felt that he was not worth a fart.

Even if Xiao Yan could only rise one star a year over the next ten years, he would at least be a Dou Sect by then. Yet no Dou Sect had ever appeared in the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly! Thus, after learning Xiao Yan's age, Chu Qun had firmly resolved to get on the same ship as him. Xiao Yan was absolutely no ordinary person. Chu Qun even suspected that Xiao Yan had some connection to a super faction in the Central Plains. Otherwise, how could such a monstrous genius suddenly emerge from the Northwest Region?

Afterward, when he saw the fire lotus explosion Xiao Yan had created, Chu Qun had practically been shocked until his teeth shattered. How could that kind of terrifying destructive power be something a Dou Emperor could produce? Even the tower's elder consecrators might not all be capable of it.

And now, Xiao Yan's cultivation was rising again. Although Chu Qun knew Xiao Yan had taken a pill, judging by the state of his cultivation, he had clearly advanced step by step with an exceptionally solid foundation. This breakthrough had come as naturally as water flowing into a channel.

"What a freak!" Chu Qun cursed Xiao Yan's monstrous talent inwardly, then felt somewhat regretful. If his peerless looks had belonged to a woman, perhaps he could have won Xiao Yan over. Then, with Xiao Yan to rely on, his future would have been boundlessly bright. But given the current situation, they could only start as friends. At present, he still seemed to be of considerable help to Xiao Yan.

Thinking of his teacher's hopes that he would claim a spot in the top ten upon entering the Ten Thousand Beasts Space, Chu Qun gave a bitter smile and muttered to himself, "Teacher, this top ten really won't be easy to get. These people are more monstrous than the last!"

Of course, he was not the only one shocked. When Chu Qun's watch ended and Yang Lingyan came to take over, his expression was no better when he saw Xiao Yan charging toward the four-star Dou Emperor bottleneck.

Seeing Xiao Yan about to catch up to his cultivation, Yang Lingyan recalled the arrogant words he had spoken to Xiao Yan after emerging from seclusion. Embarrassment rushed straight to his head. How had he dared to say such things back then?

Yang Lingyan had initially harbored some hostility toward Xiao Yan. It was not only because he knew Xiao Yan was someone his father, Yang Yue, valued, but more importantly because he was jealous of Xiao Yan's place in Qing Lin's heart.

Qing Lin was like a favored daughter of heaven, and everyone in Heavenly Snake Mansion liked her, including him. Watching that innocent, inexperienced, yet kind Qing Lin, Yang Lingyan had unconsciously fallen for her. In his world, Qing Lin had already become a member of Heavenly Snake Mansion. He was the most outstanding talent among Heavenly Snake Mansion's younger generation. If Qing Lin did not end up with him, then who else could she end up with?

Thus, when he learned that Qing Lin talked about Xiao Yan every day, he developed an inexplicable anger toward this person he had never met, leading to their unpleasant first encounter. However, his clash with Zi Yan had made him recognize the limits of his own strength to some extent. In the Ten Thousand Beasts Space, Xiao Yan had effortlessly accomplished what he himself had failed to do by dominating the rankings. Xiao Yan had even saved his life twice.

After seeing more and more of the surprises Xiao Yan displayed, Yang Lingyan could not help thinking, Perhaps only someone like him is worthy of being on Qing Lin's mind, worthy of being called a true heaven's chosen. Compared to him, what do I even amount to?

And so, Chu Qun and Yang Lingyan, each occupied with their own thoughts, watched Xiao Yan cultivate throughout the night.

When the first ray of sunlight from the artificial sun in the Ten Thousand Beasts Space fell upon the three of them in the morning, Xiao Yan finally completed his final consolidation. He opened his eyes, and a powerful aura spread from his body—early four-star Dou Emperor!

The moment Xiao Yan opened his eyes, he saw Chu Qun and Yang Lingyan staring at him with wide eyes. He immediately said apologetically, "Sorry, I got too absorbed in cultivating. I'll take all the night watches tonight."

The two of them hurriedly laughed it off, saying it was fine and that everyone had unexpected circumstances sometimes.

Xiao Yan found their behavior somewhat strange, but did not pursue the matter. After all, everyone had their own thoughts.

What delighted him more was this increase in strength. Supported by the Imperial Extreme Pill's powerful battle qi, he felt that the three-star Dou Emperor bottleneck could not restrain him at all, and he had simply ridden the momentum to advance. That was why he had not ended his cultivation in time. Of course, the breakthrough was not without hidden dangers. His state had become somewhat unstable again, and he would need time to solidify his foundation.

In truth, Xiao Yan had a better method of increasing his strength. The Sea Heart Flame he had obtained from Han Feng was trapped by Yao Lao inside his storage ring. But before the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly, Yao Lao had repeatedly reminded him that his foundation was important. Since he had already obtained the Heavenly Flame, he could not afford to be hasty. Now that his foundation had stabilized, he still did not dare absorb it. Absorbing it during the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly would be too dangerous, and without Yao Lao, Xiao Yan did not dare act directly for fear of overlooking some detail. It seemed he could only wait until after leaving the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly to think of a solution.

After briefly sensing the changes in his body, Xiao Yan continued onward. It was already the tenth day, and the Small Market was about to begin.

Fortunately, the three of them had good luck. At noon, a waterfall spanning more than a thousand zhang appeared before them, one of the ten major Small Markets in the Ten Thousand Beasts Space—Thousand Scroll Waterfall!

Below the waterfall was a temporary market formed by several thousand people. It was precisely the peak period for trade, and the atmosphere was especially lively.

Looking at the two beside him, Chu Qun smiled. "We've finally arrived. Let's see what good things we can find this time!"