Devouring the Fallen Heart Flame

Xiao Yao walked beneath a waterfall, removed his shirt, and stood under the cascading water, letting the cool stream pound against his body and wash away his fatigue and dust.

Xiao Yao took a deep breath, taking in the fresh air and the damp scent brought by the waterfall. A sense of peace and tranquility rose within him.

After a while, Xiao Yao wiped the water from his body and got dressed.

He followed a narrow path beside the waterfall and soon arrived before a cave. Its entrance was well concealed and would not be easily discovered by Magical Beasts.

Xiao Yao carefully inspected the surroundings. Only after confirming there was no danger did he decide to rest there temporarily.

Xiao Yao entered the cave and found it fairly spacious, enough to accommodate him.

Xiao Yao tidied up the cave, hanging several Moonlight Stones around it for illumination. He then went outside and scattered a Fourth-Grade medicinal powder called Beast-Repelling Powder around the entrance. This powder was highly irritating to most Magical Beasts and would keep them from approaching easily.

Xiao Yao found a dry spot to sit down and began preparing dinner. He lit a fire, set up a rack, and started grilling fish.

Xiao Yao took out a packet of sauce from the System Supermarket, opened it, and evenly spread the sauce over the fish, making its flavor even richer.

As the flames roasted it, the fish gradually changed color and released an enticing aroma. Smelling it, Xiao Yao's stomach began to growl, and he impatiently waited for it to finish cooking.

Before long, the fish was done. Xiao Yao cut off a piece with his knife and tasted it. The flesh was tender and juicy, while the sauce was perfectly balanced. He could not help taking several more bites.

After eating and drinking his fill, Xiao Yao sat beside the fire with a contented look on his face. After a while, he took a 100% Heavenly Flame Fusion Card from the System Space. Looking at it, he pondered which Heavenly Flame he should refine first. His gaze drifted between the blue and red flames in the System Space.

Fallen Heart Flame was practically a cheat for Dou Qi cultivation. It could greatly increase the speed of Dou Qi training, and it was what he needed most right now. Xiao Yao made up his mind and took Fallen Heart Flame out of the System Space.

The moment the Heavenly Flame appeared, it illuminated the entire cave. Xiao Yao held the Heavenly Flame Fusion Card in his hand, aimed it at the Fallen Heart Flame floating in the air, and silently said, "Begin fusing Fallen Heart Flame."

The card turned into a streak of white light and merged into the Fallen Heart Flame. The flame transformed into tiny red sparks that drilled into Xiao Yao's body. Xiao Yao closed his eyes and sensed the state of Fallen Heart Flame inside him. Invisible flames burned throughout his body, but they were protected by the white light.

This white light must be the card's effect. It's so miraculous—I can't feel even the slightest pain from the burning.

Xiao Yao smiled and used his spiritual will to guide the Fallen Heart Flame, wrapped in white light, slowly through his meridians and into his Dou Qi vortex.

As time passed and dawn arrived the next day, Xiao Yao looked at the white flame resting quietly beside his Dou Qi vortex and could not help feeling moved.

This flame was the Fallen Heart Flame he had just refined. Though it now seemed calm and harmless, Xiao Yao knew it contained immense fiery energy.

Xiao Yao opened his eyes and circulated the Dou Qi within his body. At that moment, an invisible flame seed at the center of his Dou Qi vortex surged out, racing through his meridians and entering the meridians in his arm in an instant.

An invisible flame emerged from his hand.

Xiao Yao extended his hand and gently touched the flame. It quivered slightly, as though responding to his touch.

Xiao Yao could feel the flame's searing heat and power, yet he could also sense its gentleness and obedience.

Xiao Yao said delightedly, "Fusing with this Heavenly Flame actually allowed my Dou Qi cultivation to break through three stars and reach Five-Star Da Dou Shi. If I use the Myriad Devouring Art to evolve it, I wonder what realm my cultivation can reach."

Xiao Yao closed his eyes again, set aside his thoughts, and began cultivating. He circulated his cultivation technique and integrated the power of Fallen Heart Flame into his meridians.

As time passed, he felt his strength continuously growing, and his cultivation steadily rose as well.

After some time, Xiao Yao sensed that his cultivation had undergone a tremendous leap, reaching Five-Star Dou Ling. Even the Myriad Devouring Art had evolved from low Xuan Tier to low Earth Tier. The circulation route of the technique had become far more complicated than before, but the time needed to circulate it had been greatly reduced.

Xiao Yao saw several wisps of colorless, transparent flame seemingly coiling around his golden Dou Qi, making it much more powerful. Every time his Dou Qi passed through the Heart Flame, it became denser. Satisfied, Xiao Yao said, "It truly deserves its reputation as a cheat for Dou Qi cultivation. It looks like I'll be able to break through again in a few days."

"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for successfully refining Fallen Heart Flame and obtaining the 'Flame Refining Initiate' achievement. Reward: Violet Star Flute. Note: playing this flute with Dou Qi can break illusions. Once someone hears its sound, they will be drawn into a dreamlike journey that feels real. It can also soothe the mind, dispel distracting thoughts, and calm one's state of mind.

Congratulations, Host, for successfully breaking through to the Dou Ling realm. Reward: three Random Medicinal Material Gift Packs, containing First-Grade through Ninth-Grade Medicinal Materials. The rewards have been distributed to the System Space."

"Hmm? The medicinal materials are drawn at random? System, are the odds all the same?"

"Indeed, Host. Would you like to open all the Random Medicinal Material Gift Packs?"

"Open them."

"Ding! Random draw in progress. You have obtained one Purple-Leaf Orchid Grass, one Evergreen Spirit Vine, and one Fire Lotus Fruit. The rewards have been stored in the System Space."

"Not bad luck. I actually drew one of the medicinal ingredients for the Bone-Regenerating Blood-Melding Pill."

Xiao Yao stood up, stretched his muscles, and loosened up. With Fallen Heart Flame, he thought, he could try refining Fifth-Grade Pills now. He took the Black Demon Cauldron from his Storage Ring and laid out the medicinal ingredients required for the Battle Spirit Pill, the Fifth-Grade Pill he had bought at the auction house.

Xiao Yao slightly opened his right hand, and a colorless, invisible flame appeared in his palm. The instant it emerged, the surrounding temperature rapidly rose, and a scorching heat washed over him. With a wave of his hand, the invisible flame surged into the medicine cauldron. In an instant, raging fire burst from within the cauldron!

Looking at the colorless flames burning inside, Xiao Yao sighed that he no longer needed to place his hand over the cauldron's fire vent. He could now transform Dou Qi into flames and use a Heavenly Flame to refine medicinal materials.

Xiao Yao calmed himself and fed the high-quality Fifth-Grade medicinal materials into the medicine cauldron one after another in order. The Heavenly Flame refined them and removed their impurities. Because they were tempered by the Heavenly Flame, the refining speed was several times faster than before. As each herb was refined, waves of energy radiated from it into the surroundings. Seeing this, Xiao Yao immediately fused the medicinal liquids together.

After some time, a crystal-clear pill emitting a faint glow was formed. Xiao Yao used Dou Qi with his right hand to draw the Fifth-Grade Pill floating above the medicine cauldron into his palm. He carefully examined it. The pill was round and smooth, glowing faintly, with pill patterns covering its surface. These patterns intertwined like the mysteries of heaven and earth, gleaming enticingly and indicating that its quality was excellent.

"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for successfully refining the Fifth-Grade Pill Battle Spirit Pill. Reward: all Sixth-Grade pill formulas and mastery of all Sixth-Grade medicinal materials."

Xiao Yao contentedly stored the pill in a jade bottle. He then continued refining some Third-Grade and Fourth-Grade Pills for healing injuries and restoring Dou Qi. His refining technique became increasingly proficient, flowing as naturally as drifting clouds and running water. One pill after another, each containing pill patterns, was placed into jade bottles.

In that quiet cave, Xiao Yao spent a peaceful night. His body and mind received ample rest and recovery, preparing him for the adventures ahead.

He knew this was only a small beginning on his path of cultivation. The road ahead was still long, and he had to keep moving forward and continuously surpass himself.