The Ultimate Fall Guy, Old Man Shennong

At the words "Battle Venerable," the envy in Xiao Yan's eyes vanished without a trace.

It was replaced by growing astonishment. "Teacher, did you misspeak?"

Yao Lao smiled faintly, gently patting Xiao Yan on the head as he said solemnly:

"Silly boy..."

"Set your sights farther. I dare not claim that I can help you become some high-level Battle Venerable in the future, but helping you reach the level of a low-star Battle Venerable should not be a problem..."

Yet in Xiao Yan's current understanding, there was no distinction between high-level Battle Venerables and low-star Battle Venerables...

To Xiao Yan, they were all unattainably powerful Battle Venerables. After all, in the Jia Ma Empire, becoming a Battle Emperor Realm expert was enough to rank among the Empire's ten strongest...

So Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Teacher, I wouldn't dare dream of becoming a Battle Venerable..."

"Right now, I only hope that three years from now, I can defeat Nalan Yanran fair and square and seek justice for the Xiao Household!"

"And that one day, I can become a Battle Emperor Realm expert and lead the Xiao Household back to the Imperial Capital..."

These were Xiao Yan's true thoughts. For the currently declining Xiao Household, returning to the Imperial Capital of the Jia Ma Empire would already be enough...

Hearing Xiao Yan's unambitious words, Yao Lao could not help but smile bitterly. "You silly boy, you truly haven't seen much of the world..."

Yao Xuan also smiled faintly, stepping forward to gently pat Xiao Yan's shoulder. "Xiao Yan..."

"Rest assured. Now that the path of the Flame Mantra has proven viable, it will certainly help Uncle Chen reconstruct his body and return to life someday!"

"You must know that Uncle Chen and I are both alchemists. In the future, even with pills alone, there is no way you will stop at the Battle Emperor Realm..."

Yao Xuan was indeed right. Although Xiao Yan no longer had the Flame Mantra, the Earth Rank cultivation method Yao Lao had prepared for him, combined with Xiao Yan's talent, was more than enough to let him cultivate to the Battle Emperor Realm. Not to mention that he had Yao Lao and Yao Xuan, two alchemists, supporting him!

Moreover, Xiao Yan himself had the makings of an alchemist.

That night, Yao Xuan sat cross-legged in his room, silently planning his next steps.

Xiao Yan lightly knocked on the door. "Brother Xuan?"

Yao Xuan rose and opened it, finding Xiao Yan standing outside with a smile on his face. "Xiao Yan, why aren't you resting so late? Is something wrong?"

Xiao Yan smiled. "It's not me. Teacher wants to see you..."

As soon as Xiao Yan finished speaking, Yao Lao's figure slowly appeared once more. He looked at Yao Xuan and said:

"Yao Xuan..."

"After switching to the Flame Mantra and falling from a Dou Wang to a Dou Spirit, you must feel quite unwilling to accept it..."

Yao Xuan chuckled. "Not really. Cultivation can always be regained through training..."

Yao Lao nodded. "Then what do you plan to do next?"

Yao Xuan said, "Since the Flame Mantra requires continuously devouring Heavenly Flames to evolve, then naturally I will travel across the Battle Qi Continent in search of Heavenly Flames..."

Yao Lao sighed. "The Battle Qi Continent is vast, but there are only twenty-three Heavenly Flames listed on the Heavenly Flame Ranking..."

"Many of them already have owners. Finding a Heavenly Flame will likely be extremely difficult..."

Yao Xuan smiled faintly. "To be honest, Uncle Chen..."

"When I left the Shennong Mountain Range, I learned from Teacher that the Tagor Desert of the Northwest Continent contains the nineteenth-ranked Heavenly Flame on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, the Green Lotus Core Flame!"

Yao Xuan was completely making this up.

Yet after hearing it, a glimmer flashed through Yao Lao's eyes.

"Information from Senior Old Man Shennong should not be wrong..."

"It seems having you cultivate the Flame Mantra truly was an excellent choice..."

After pausing, Yao Lao spoke again. "I also have some information. Jia Nan Academy possesses a Heavenly Flame as well..."

Yao Xuan asked, "Could Uncle Chen be referring to the Falling Heart Flame?"

Yao Lao was slightly shocked to hear this. "That's right, but how did you know?"

Without blushing or missing a beat, Yao Xuan began lying again. "Teacher told me that as well..."

"When I left the Shennong Mountain Range, Teacher gave me information on the Yellow Mysterious Flame, the Green Lotus Core Flame, and the Falling Heart Flame..."

"He wanted me to choose a Heavenly Flame that was destined for me and refine it!"

Yao Lao nodded repeatedly. "Senior Shennong is indeed one of this world's supreme experts. Though he lives in seclusion, he has such a thorough grasp of information throughout the continent!"

Clearly, Yao Lao completely believed Yao Xuan's words.

To Yao Xuan, Old Man Shennong was not only the strongest independent cultivator, but also the most useful fall guy imaginable!

After all, whenever something could not be explained, he could simply pin it on Old Man Shennong.

Yao Lao then spoke again. "Aside from these Heavenly Flames, did Senior Shennong reveal information about any others?"

Yao Xuan pretended to think for a moment before speaking again. "According to Teacher..."

"The Pill Tower also possesses the ninth-ranked Three Thousand Burning Flame on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. However, Three Thousand Burning Flame ranks too highly, and it is sealed by the Pill Tower, so I do not dare hope for it for now..."

After hearing this information about the Three Thousand Burning Flame, Yao Lao believed Yao Xuan even more firmly!

After all, what Yao Xuan had said about the Three Thousand Burning Flame was exactly the same as what he knew.

"Indeed..."

"However, the Three Thousand Burning Flame is indeed too difficult for you at this stage, though it can become a goal worth striving for in the future..."

Yao Xuan nodded. "Therefore, my current plan is to head to the Tagor Desert, the closest destination to Wu Tan City, and obtain the Green Lotus Core Flame!"

After hearing this, Yao Lao nodded in agreement. "That would be good!"

"When do you plan to set out?"

Yao Xuan drew a deep breath. "The sooner, the better. A natural treasure like a Heavenly Flame is something every alchemist desires..."

"If we delay too long, someone else may get there first..."

After hearing this, Yao Lao pondered briefly. Then he glanced at Xiao Yan and said softly, "Your reasoning makes sense..."

"However, I intend to remain in Wu Tan City for a few more days and refine some medicinal liquid to speed up Xiao Yan's cultivation during the Dou Qi Stage..."

"That way, I can accompany you without worries..."

"After all, a Heavenly Flame is no ordinary thing. We cannot be careless. Besides, your cultivation has dispersed, and you are only a Dou Spirit now. Your strength is still considerable in Wu Tan City, but once you leave it, it will ultimately not be enough..."

"Though I am only a soul body now, I can still protect you within the Jia Ma Empire..."

Yao Lao was speaking sincerely. It was not only because he shared kinship with Yao Xuan, but also because Yao Xuan was now Yao Lao's only true hope of returning to life...

Hearing this, Yao Xuan nodded. "Then thank you, Uncle Chen..."

Xiao Yan looked at Yao Lao. "Teacher, why not let me accompany you both on this journey?"

Yao Lao smiled faintly.

"You're only at the fifth stage of Dou Qi Stage. First cultivate properly until you become a Dou Practitioner..."

"Though the outside world is wonderful, it is also countless times more dangerous than Wu Tan City..."

Yao Xuan also looked at Xiao Yan.

"Xiao Yan, don't worry..."

"Before Uncle Chen and I leave, we will prepare all the medicinal liquid and even pills that will be useful to you..."

"You only need to cultivate in peace. Once we subdue the Green Lotus Core Flame, we will naturally return..."

"By then, I hope you will already have become a Dou Practitioner..."