A Game of Two Choices

Xiao Yu headed down the mountain without bothering with the couple by the cliff. This was their time to shower each other with affection—what was he going over there to intrude for?

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Yu decided to find a secluded spot and use his combat technique experience card first, just to see how effective it was.

Before long, he found a hidden place behind the mountain and hurriedly opened his system panel.

[Strongest Supporting Character System]

Name: Xiao Yu

Level: 2 (Experience: 51\200)

Strength: Seventh Stage Battle Qi

Technique: Sun Devouring Technique

Combat Technique: Low Yellow Rank Raging Flame Palm

Items: Low-grade Storage Ring, Combat Technique Experience Card

Main Quest: None

"Century Egg, use the combat technique experience card."

"The combat technique experience card has been successfully used. Raging Flame Palm proficiency—Beginner!"

Xiao Yu closed his eyes and sensed it for a moment. He suddenly felt as though he had practiced the Raging Flame Palm for a very long time, thoroughly grasping its basic usage.

"Raging Flame Palm!"

With a soft shout, Xiao Yu struck at a tree as thick as a man in front of him.

Boom!

A violent crash rang through the woods. Xiao Yu looked at the deep palm print on the tree, then felt the slight numbness in his right hand.

"It seems that before practicing combat techniques, I need to build a solid physical foundation. Otherwise, I'll hurt myself before I can hurt anyone else!"

"A low Yellow Rank combat technique truly has limited power, but it's perfectly suited to my current self. If it were a Profound Rank or Earth Rank combat technique, setting aside whether I could even unleash it, I'd probably be injured even if I did."

Xiao Yu then sat down where he was, calming his breathing while considering the path ahead.

Xiao Yan's cheat was the Venerable Medicine in his ring. If Xiao Yu remained with him, not only would they compete for opportunities, but Xiao Yu had only ten short years. If the time came and he still failed to complete the mission, the system would truly toy him to death.

Therefore, he absolutely could not follow the original plot. He had to start making arrangements before Xiao Yan did.

Thinking of a certain possibility, Xiao Yu's heart stirred slightly. He smiled. "If I join that faction, then wouldn't that be..."

With a plan in mind, Xiao Yu rose and headed down the mountain. Xun'er could handle the materials, so there was no need for him to worry about them.

Inside a secluded cave in the back mountain, Xiao Yu sat cross-legged on the ground with his eyes closed. Medicine Elder manifested as an illusory figure beside Xiao Yan.

Staring at Xiao Yu as he cultivated, Medicine Elder turned to Xiao Yan and said, "Yan'er, I never expected your senior brother's talent to be even better than I imagined. In just one year, he has broken through to the Ninth Stage Battle Qi."

"Now that he has taken the Qi-Gathering Powder, becoming a Fighter will come naturally."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan also looked at Xiao Yu, who sat cross-legged as he broke through, and said enviously, "Yeah. I'm only at the Seventh Stage Battle Qi now, while Senior Brother is already preparing to become a Fighter!"

"You needn't be discouraged. You've built up strength for a long time, and it won't be long before you catch up to him." Medicine Elder stroked his beard and smiled.

As they spoke, Xiao Yan's aura gradually stabilized. He opened his eyes excitedly.

"Master, I've broken through to Fighter!"

"Senior Brother, congratulations!"

"Hahaha, not bad. Your talent is excellent. Your constitution is also somewhat unusual—your affinity for the fire element is extraordinarily rare. That must be why you were able to break through so quickly."

Hearing that, Xiao Yu smiled without saying anything. The Pure Yang Blazing Fire Body granted by the system truly deserves to be called one of the top physiques in the Three Thousand Worlds. After absorbing the medicinal liquid prepared by Medicine Elder, I broke through so quickly. It seemed he had officially embarked on the path of cultivation, and Xiao Yu felt a little excited.

A year had also passed since Nalan Yanran broke off the engagement. Once Xiao Yan and Xun'er handled the matter of money, Xiao Yu did not go over to play third wheel. Instead, he teased Xiao Yan until the latter blushed furiously.

That year also caused the bond between the two senior and junior brothers to deepen rapidly.

There was no helping it. Medicine Elder made the two spar every day, even suppressing Xiao Yu's level to match Xiao Yan's. Their bond had been forged through those sparring sessions.

Whenever he beat Xiao Yan until his eyes were black and his nose swollen, Xiao Yu would laugh himself sick. Because of that, on several nights, he was ambushed and thoroughly beaten by that little girl who was always calling Xiao Yan "Brother Xiao Yan."

"All right. Now that Yu'er has become a Fighter, it's time to give you the techniques I promised you before." Medicine Elder's voice interrupted Xiao Yu's thoughts.

"Is it that technique even stranger than a Heaven Rank technique?" Xiao Yan asked excitedly.

Xiao Yu also looked at Medicine Elder with curiosity.

"That's right. But before that, I need to make something clear to you two." Medicine Elder spoke with a hint of solemnity.

"What's wrong, Master? Don't tell me you made up that technique to fool us?" Seeing that something seemed off about Medicine Elder, Xiao Yan asked nervously.

"This technique truly can evolve. I did not deceive you about that," Medicine Elder said in a low voice.

"But this technique is extremely strange. Its ability to evolve is real, but its danger level is also extremely high."

Still unwilling to give up, Xiao Yan rubbed his hands together and asked, "How high?"

"Very high!"

Medicine Elder gave a bitter laugh and shook his head helplessly. "Ever since I obtained this technique, I have never heard of anyone successfully cultivating it. So I do not know the true answer. But judging by my experience, the chance of successfully cultivating this technique to its peak is likely no more than twenty percent."

"It may even be lower."

This was within Xiao Yu's expectations. Xiao Yan scratched the back of his head, still unwilling to give up. The temptation of a technique that could evolve into a Heaven Rank technique was simply too great.

In response, Medicine Elder went on to explain the strange aspects of the technique to Xiao Yu and Xiao Yan in detail.

"I named this technique the Flame Mantra. The Flame Mantra can indeed evolve, but it requires devouring the thing I previously told you alchemists dream of obtaining—Heavenly Flames."

Heavenly Flames were already among the strongest things in the world, filled with destructive and violent energy. To cultivate it to its peak, one needed to devour more than one Heavenly Flame. That was practically impossible.

At this point, Medicine Elder said to Xiao Yan, "You are still far from becoming a Fighter. Today is your senior brother's day of becoming a Fighter, so let your senior brother choose first!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Medicine Elder waved his hand, and two illusory scrolls instantly appeared before Xiao Yu.

"You two brothers are both talented, mature, and steady. You always think thrice before acting. I don't know whether this is Heaven's compensation to me, allowing me to take in the two of you once more." Medicine Elder looked at them both and smiled.

"Yu'er, your talent surpasses even my understanding. Your constitution is special, and logically speaking, you are the most suitable person to cultivate the Flame Mantra. But the Flame Mantra requires devouring Heavenly Flames, which means that only one of you can cultivate it. Heavenly Flames are already rare in this world. If both of you obtained them, it would be a disaster for you both."

"Therefore, I leave the final choice to you two! No matter what you choose, you will both remain the disciples I am most proud of." With that, Medicine Elder closed his eyes and said no more.