Yao Lao's Puppet Body, Comprehending the Three Thousand Burning Flame

Yao Lao's Puppet Body, Comprehending the Three Thousand Burning Flame

The cultivation of battle techniques had only just begun when, bolstered by his heaven-defying comprehension, it came to an abrupt end.

Having completed Yao Lao's training task for the Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler, Xiao Yan began his own cultivation.

After tidying the cave into a comfortable cultivation space, Xiao Yan took out the materials he had bought from the Mittel Auction House from his storage ring.

Yao Lao asked in confusion, "What do you need so many chunks of iron for?"

"Teacher, don't tell me you thought I'd keep refining low-grade stuff like Blood Coagulation Powder for the Mittel Auction House forever? I'm planning to make some puppets to handle this kind of low-level repetitive work."

Mystic Yellow Flame battle qi flowed from Xiao Yan's hand, smelting the materials before him while he inscribed runes onto them.

This reminded Yao Lao of the little iron puppet figures Xiao Yan had made as a child.

"Going from those palm-sized little things to huge puppets that refine medicine is quite a leap, isn't it?"

"If just any puppet could refine medicine, alchemists would have become worthless long ago."

Xiao Yan shrugged. "The refinement of Blood Coagulation Powder can roughly be divided into two steps. First, the medicinal ingredients are smelted to extract their medicinal essence. Second, the essences are fused together. The process doesn't need to be completed in one uninterrupted flow."

"It would indeed be difficult for a single puppet to complete the entire alchemy process, but with several puppets, it becomes much simpler."

Glancing at Yao Lao floating in midair, Xiao Yan smiled. "Teacher, how about I make one for you too? You're always floating around like a ghost. It's pretty creepy."

"Is that any way to speak to your teacher?" Yao Lao scolded with a smile before saying leisurely, "Don't be fooled by the fact that I'm only a soul body now. Though my strength is less than twenty or thirty percent of my peak, I could still walk sideways through the Jia Ma Empire without any problem."

"You should save those chunks of iron for making your alchemy puppets." Yao Lao shook his head.

As an eighth-tier alchemist, he refused to believe that puppetry could master the art of alchemy.

It was one thing if they could only refine low-grade Blood Coagulation Powder. But if they advanced further and could refine increasingly high-grade pills, would alchemists still have any reason to live?

Xiao Yan's dark eyes remained focused as he smelted the ores and inscribed the runes, then immediately began assembling them. The entire process flowed in one seamless motion.

It took more than two days before Xiao Yan's alchemy puppet team was finally complete.

There were five puppets in total.

One was responsible for collecting the refined medicinal liquid and the completed Blood Coagulation Powder, one was responsible for fusing the medicinal liquids, while the other three smelted the medicinal ingredients.

They looked remarkably alike.

They stood over a meter tall, with fire- and wood-attributed Magic Cores installed in their chests.

The fire-attributed Magic Cores were second-tier, while the wood-attributed ones were only first-tier. They looked like pure iron men, their bodies covered in engraved marks.

Seeing the finished products, Yao Lao was greatly intrigued. "Try refining a batch of Blood Coagulation Powder."

"Teacher, if I succeed, you'll have to accept a puppet body." Xiao Yan grinned.

Looking at the puppets, which resembled black skeletons, Yao Lao shook his head. "Your puppets are far too ugly. It would be more acceptable if you made them prettier."

"The one I prepare for Teacher will naturally be completely different from these alchemy puppets. I guarantee it'll be exquisitely crafted." Xiao Yan rubbed his hands together.

Yao Lao caught the scent of a scheme and changed the subject. "That's only if your alchemy puppets succeed."

"Just watch."

Xiao Yan casually snapped his fingers, instantly taking out a medicine cauldron, one set of ingredients for Blood Coagulation Powder, and several dozen jade bottles. Then he clapped his hands together.

"Alchemy puppets, activate!"

The Magic Cores flashed sharply. The energy within them immediately began circulating along the runes engraved across their bodies, and the five puppets were activated at once.

After scanning the cave, they detected the medicinal ingredients and medicine cauldron, then immediately began working in an orderly fashion.

Watching the red light flowing across the puppets' bodies as they refined medicine, Yao Lao's eyes suddenly contracted only when the Blood Coagulation Powder was nearly finished fusing.

"Different frequencies of runes produce flames of different temperatures. As long as the energy circulates according to the runes, everything they refine will be of perfect quality every time."

Xiao Yan nodded with a smile. Low-grade alchemy was really just that simple—it was basically running a program.

The reason an alchemist of Liu Xi's level could barely meet the demand of an entire marketplace was because, once one mastered it, it was simply too easy.

As the Blood Coagulation Powder was poured into the jade bottles, Yao Lao had no choice but to admit that the brat Xiao Yan had succeeded again.

These alchemy puppets worked with flawless order and refined perfect Blood Coagulation Powder. They were practically heaven-defying money-printing machines!

After taking out the Blood Coagulation Powder ingredients provided by the Mittel Auction House and setting the alchemy puppets to continue working, Xiao Yan rose and stretched lazily before taking off the Bone Flame Ring on his hand.

"Teacher, you have to honor the bet. I'll make you a puppet body first."

"Make it exquisite." Yao Lao returned to the Bone Flame Ring, clinging to the last shred of his stubborn pride.

Xiao Yan tapped his storage ring and took out an exquisite puppet. With a flick of his finger, he stuffed the Bone Flame Ring into the puppet's belly.

"Teacher, try releasing some soul power."

The puppet trembled slightly, and its eyes released a pale white glow. Yao Lao moved his new body around a little.

"I didn't expect your puppetry skills to be so good. It feels just like a real body."

Yao Lao nodded in satisfaction.

Then Yao Lao's movements froze, and he asked in puzzlement, "But why does something feel a little off?"

With a blink of his eyes, Bone Chilling Flame condensed into a mirror before him.

Looking at the exquisite hummingbird puppet in the mirror, Yao Lao was completely stunned.

A moment later, Yao Lao flew into the air and fiercely pecked at Xiao Yan. "This is the puppet body you prepared for your teacher?!!"

"Didn't you ask for something exquisite? Every feather on this puppet was carefully forged by me. It's absolutely the most exquisite puppet I've ever made." Xiao Yan covered his head and laughed.

Yao Lao slowly landed on Xiao Yan's shoulder and sighed. "Forget it. This will do. If I really had a human body right now, it might attract too much attention."

"You rest properly in the cave. I need to go out and get some air." Flapping his wings, Yao Lao flew out of the cave.

Looking at the vast sky full of stars, Xiao Yan rubbed his brow. Making puppets really was not an easy task.

Fortunately, his strength was considerable now. Otherwise, he might truly have worked himself to death.

At that moment, Xiao Yan blinked and suddenly raised his head toward the star-filled sky.

"Power of the stars, Three Thousand Burning Flame, undying body!"

A sudden flash of inspiration sent Xiao Yan's thoughts surging like a spring.

Since all kinds of conditions were still insufficient, the alchemy puppets had adopted a step-by-step approach even when refining something as low-grade as Blood Coagulation Powder.

Shouldn't he also have a transitional process for such a massive undertaking as comprehending a Heavenly Flame?

Trying to replicate his comprehension of Mystic Yellow Flame would be difficult to repeat.

Not every Heavenly Flame possessed a gentle effect that promoted cultivation.

Xiao Yan sat cross-legged at the cave entrance. Bathed in the light of countless stars, he began to comprehend.

Ever since Flame Mantra 2.0, the cultivation of Flame Mantra had become completely different.

The greatest difference was that Xiao Yan's fire-attributed battle qi had to evolve to the level of a Heavenly Flame.

Moreover, through continuous growth, it had to reach the level of Emperor Flame and ultimately surpass it.

The twenty-two Heavenly Flames on the Heavenly Flames Ranking each possessed their own special abilities. Fusing them into Emperor Flame was truly a waste.

Xiao Yan himself would become Emperor Flame while preserving the twenty-two Heavenly Flames.

Secondly, the methods for advancing the cultivation technique had become more diverse.

Besides fusing Beast Flames and Heavenly Flames to upgrade the technique, his own comprehensions of the technique and the creation of new techniques could also upgrade it.

Lastly, Xiao Yan had another idea for the twenty-two Heavenly Flames he intended to preserve—

The twenty-two Heavenly Flames would begin cultivating, give birth to flame spirits, and each grow independently.

Tuoshe Ancient Emperor had initially been nothing more than a weak Heavenly Flame. Only after cultivating Flame Mantra had he become a generation's Dou Emperor.

Xiao Yan had absolute confidence in his heaven-defying comprehension.

With Heavenly Flames paired with techniques suited to them, their achievements would not fall below Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's.

However, there had yet to be a breakthrough.

After flying out of the cave, someone of Yao Lao's temperament naturally had not truly come out just to get some air.

As he used the power of space, Yao Lao's figure vanished directly from the valley and returned to the Xiao Clan in an instant.

After identifying his direction, Yao Lao used his delicate form to easily slip through a hole in an artificial rockery. His body continued diving downward until he arrived at a secret cultivation ground known to very few members of the Xiao Clan.

Ever since he had narrowly escaped death, Xiao Lin had completely abandoned the idea of leading the clan to rise.

He remained in the ancestral land of Wutan City and went nowhere else.

Because he wanted to live as long as possible, becoming the Xiao Clan's final trump card and ensuring his genius grandson's future path of growth.

Over eight years, Xiao Lin, who had already possessed decent talent, had made considerable progress in cultivation. In the blink of an eye, he had become a three-star Dou Huang.

"Who is it?!" Like a lion just awakened from sleep, Xiao Lin opened his eyes. Green battle qi condensed on his cheeks, visibly forming a savage lion's head.

"Your perception isn't bad, but your cultivation technique is holding you back," Yao Lao said thoughtfully.

Seeing the speaking little bird, Xiao Lin was first startled. Then, realizing the vast gap between them, he asked politely, "May I ask who Senior is?"

"You have a good grandson, and your luck isn't bad either." Yao Lao flapped his wings, and three beams of light fell before Xiao Lin.

Seeing the three objects before him, Xiao Lin sucked in a cold breath.

"A high-grade Earth-class cultivation technique, the Heavenly Astral Wind-Splitting Formula; a high-grade Earth-class battle technique, Storm Otherworld; and cultivation and breakthrough experience for a Dou Huang."

Any one of these three items, let alone all of them, would be a treasure that countless experts would fight desperately over—not only in the Jia Ma Empire, but throughout the entire northwestern region.

"Could Elder be Yan'er's teacher?" Xiao Lin did not touch the three items. Instead, he rose respectfully and clasped his hands.

Yao Lao smiled. "Your daughter-in-law told you, didn't she? Your Xiao Clan has nurtured a fine disciple for me."

"Her aptitude is good, and she has a suitable cultivation technique. She has already surpassed you by far. Even in the Jia Ma Empire, it would be difficult to find anyone who could be her opponent."

Xiao Lin nodded somewhat shamefully. In truth, the strongest person in the Xiao Clan had changed several years ago.

It was simply that the Xiao Clan had kept a low profile, so few people knew about it.

Yao Lao said solemnly, "Xiao Yan cannot remain forever in this remote border city. Sooner or later, he will leave the Jia Ma Empire. The continent is changing rapidly, and becoming my disciple means he is destined to face many powerful enemies.

"There is still a long period of peace ahead. Cultivate diligently, and in the future, you can become one of his supports. With your aptitude and my help, you should be able to break through and become a Dou Zong within three or four years."

Xiao Lin's expression turned grave. "Thank you for your guidance, Elder. Xiao Lin will certainly not disappoint your expectations."

Xiao Lin did not resent or hate Yao Lao for bringing great trouble upon the Xiao Clan. Instead, he began seriously studying the cultivation technique.

Xiao Lin understood clearly that his grandson's talent was exceptional. The Xiao Clan could protect him within the Jia Ma Empire, but it absolutely could not provide rare cultivation resources.

Yao Lao's appearance happened to make up for this missing link.

Seeing Xiao Lin's focused expression, Yao Lao nodded slowly and flew out of the underground cultivation chamber, his mood somewhat heavy.

If Xiao Yan had merely been an ordinary genius, then even if he had supplied him with battle qi for another three years, his soul power would not have recovered much.

There were many things that, even if he wished to do them, he lacked the ability to accomplish.

But Xiao Yan was exceptionally gifted. Seven years of continuous nourishment from pure battle qi had restored his soul power to its peak.

Before returning to the Central Plains, he would certainly cultivate a measure of strength.

Even three-year-old children in the Central Plains knew its power structure: one hall, one tower, two sects, three valleys, and four pavilions.

Before Soul Hall, Falling Star Pavilion was merely a slightly larger ant.

Feng Xian and this old man could only hold things together for a time. Only by giving Xiao Yan as much cultivation time as possible could they protect Falling Star Pavilion and defeat Soul Hall.

Beneath the radiance of the stars, Xiao Yan gradually sensed the special nature of the starlight.

[Drawing upon your many years of cultivation experience and extraordinary soul perception, you attained enlightenment and comprehended the secret technique Three Thousand Star Formula.]

[Three Thousand Star Formula: Absorbs the power of the stars to nourish the body, eventually condensing the Three Thousand Burning Flame within the battle qi vortex.]

Xiao Yan had originally thought that his second comprehension would be Yin-Yang Twin Flame or Myriad Beast Spirit Flame. He had not expected that a sudden flash of inspiration would allow him to comprehend a secret technique that granted Mystic Yellow Flame battle qi the effects of Three Thousand Burning Flame.

Drawing in a cold breath, Xiao Yan changed his hand seals. After his body trembled slightly, threads of silver light condensed from the air and flowed into his body.

These silver points of light were highly condensed power of the stars, entering Xiao Yan's body through his pores.

As he absorbed the power of the stars for the first time, Xiao Yan felt an energy even gentler than battle qi.

The power of the stars traveled through his meridians. After circulating through one cycle alongside the secret technique, the exhaustion from several days of forging puppets was almost completely swept away.

No wonder fusing with Three Thousand Burning Flame could grant someone an 'undying body'!!!