An Eighteen-Year-Old Dou Emperor

Cao Ping had originally been a minor realm above Wu Yan, but after just over a year, Wu Yan was already a Nine-Star Dou Wang, while he was only a Three-Star Dou Wang...

If his progress in alchemy had not gone smoothly during this time, Cao Ping would have felt like he was nothing more than a useless freeloader waiting to die.

Compared to the other students in his year, Cao Ping had already pulled far ahead of them.

Yet when compared to Wu Yan, this rising star, Cao Ping felt as though he simply could not keep up with that monster's footsteps.

Fortunately, he was still an alchemist...

Even a Tier 6 Magical Beast was no match for that monster. Just how strong was he?

Cao Ping grew increasingly curious about the answer to that question.

It was not as though he had never asked his personal guard in private, but Uncle Wang's answer only made Wu Yan seem even more unfathomable.

"Even I would need to put in some effort to face a Tier 6 Magical Beast."

Cold Marrow Branch.

Two Tier 5 Ice-Attribute Magic Cores.

Tier 6 Ice-Attribute Magic Core.

Wu Yan looked at the ice-attribute treasures before him. These were all materials he had prepared to break through to the Dou Emperor realm.

After a moment of silence, Wu Yan put away the Tier 6 Ice-Attribute Magic Core.

"Not yet..."

Having only recently broken through to the Nine-Star Dou Wang realm, Wu Yan knew clearly that he still needed a substantial accumulation of energy before reaching that barrier.

Therefore, Wu Yan did not intend to break through to Dou Emperor in a single secluded cultivation session.

There was no need to rush. He was only seventeen now.

After swallowing a drop of Tier 5 Ice-Attribute Energy Liquid, Wu Yan felt an instinctive sensation arise within him: his affinity for ice-attribute energy was increasing.

In other words, the aptitude he had always worried about had improved!

"Does Tier 5 Energy Liquid already possess such power?"

"But that makes sense. Tier 5 corresponds to Dou Wang. Dou Wang is the starting point for true experts, the realm where one truly begins to undergo a complete transformation."

"In that case, it is only natural for the Energy Liquid converted from Tier 5 Magic Cores to undergo a qualitative change in effect."

"If that is the case, then will Tier 6 Energy Liquid also undergo a qualitative change?"

"What about Tier 7, Tier 8, or even Tier 9 Energy Liquid?"

"And what qualitative changes will Energy Liquid of other attributes undergo at Tier 5?"

"Unless something unexpected happens, they should undergo a qualitative change in a certain direction based on their previous effects..."

At that moment, Wu Yan did not think too deeply about it. He did not care much anyway, because the Energy Liquid converted by the Little Blue Bottle would certainly benefit him.

During cultivation, Wu Yan discovered that manipulating ice-attribute Dou Qi had become far more effortless.

As Wu Yan continued consuming Tier 5 Energy Liquid, his control over ice-attribute Dou Qi became increasingly proficient.

Wu Yan did not neglect Energy Liquid of the other attributes either. He chugged them like crazy!

Now that his strength had risen, Wu Yan had gained considerable confidence in his own body.

After all these years, he now dared to use the Energy Liquid refined by the Little Blue Bottle without restraint.

The many Magic Cores in his Storage Ring were all nourishment for Wu Yan's growth. The constant all-around enhancement from Energy Liquid of different attributes made his foundation increasingly profound.

On average, Wu Yan consumed one Tier 4 Magic Core in less than a month.

It could also be said that all the energy of a Tier 4 Magical Beast was converted one hundred percent into Wu Yan's foundation, with not the slightest loss during the energy conversion process.

Moreover, the energy converted by the Little Blue Bottle was incomparably pure. Wu Yan could absorb it directly without any burden.

Unlike medicinal pills, this Energy Liquid had no such thing as drug resistance.

This Energy Liquid spared no effort in continuously improving Wu Yan in every aspect, turning him into a perfect lifeform without flaws.

One year later.

"What? You want to graduate?!"

"Mm."

"Judging from your aura, you've already broken through to Dou Emperor, haven't you?"

"Mm."

Su Qian nearly tore out his beard as he stared at the youth before him in shock.

How long had it been? This little fellow had already reached this realm.

He truly wondered what level of expert this boy would become in the future.

"How about this, Wu Yan? You do not need to graduate early. I'll approve a long leave for you. When it is time for you to graduate, come back and have a look. What do you think?"

"Then thank you, First Elder."

Wu Yan had no objections to Su Qian's suggestion.

In fact, from a certain perspective, it was actually a good thing for him.

If he truly encountered some old monsters he could not defeat, he could flee back to the academy and seek protection.

After all, both Jia Nan Academy's reputation and strength offered Wu Yan a measure of protection.

The current Wu Yan was merely an ordinary eighteen-year-old One-Star Dou Emperor.

Compared to the colossal entity that was Jia Nan Academy, he was still far from significant.

"As long as you are satisfied. After leaving the academy, be careful not to let too many things distract you. You should continue focusing on cultivation. When we meet again in the future, I hope you will give this old man a surprise."

Su Qian earnestly advised Wu Yan.

An eighteen-year-old One-Star Dou Emperor was an achievement sufficient to be recorded in Jia Nan Academy's history. He did not believe that someone like this would fade into obscurity in the future.

Wu Yan nodded seriously.

Though he appeared young, only eighteen years old, his two lifetimes combined had nearly added up to a century.

His experiences in this life alone had already taught Wu Yan the true laws of the Dou Qi Continent:

The strong were revered.

Back in that remote little city, his family of four had struggled to make ends meet.

But after he displayed his talent, they had directly crossed social classes, and his family no longer needed to worry about survival.

Then, as Wu Yan raced forward along the path of cultivation, his family's living conditions improved at a visible rate.

They went from a family of four barely scraping by to his five- or six-year-old younger sister receiving an allowance in the tens of thousands.

Wu Yan knew very clearly where all of that had come from.

On the Dou Qi Continent—no, in any world—the stronger you were, the more gently everything around you treated you.

Not to mention that becoming stronger in this world could also extend one's lifespan.

No matter what, Wu Yan would not allow meaningless matters to affect his cultivation!

After bidding farewell to First Elder Su Qian, Wu Yan flew from the Inner Academy to the Outer Academy.

He wanted to see how his clansmen in the Outer Academy were doing.

After all, they had come with him, and they had helped him greatly during his time in the Outer Academy.

They had handled his daily needs and all sorts of miscellaneous matters without ever letting Wu Yan be distracted. He remembered all of it clearly.

Though these had all been small matters, Wu Yan was stronger now.

Showing his face at the Outer Academy and letting others know that these people had a young Dou Emperor standing behind them was only a small matter now.