Fooling Yao Lao: Xiao Yan: This Is My Innate Flame! (Four Thousand Words)

He closed his eyes and carefully sensed the changes within his body. Then he slowly opened them, his gaze falling on the pitch-black ring on his right index finger.

With his powerful Soul Power, he could clearly sense the fluctuations coming from the ring—weak, but undeniably real, like a sleeping heart beating slowly.

Yao Lao had awakened long ago.

With Yao Lao's spiritual perception, there was no way he could have failed to notice the instant the Undying Divine Flame appeared.

The flame's quality and aura were enough to shake any Alchemist who had dealt with fire his entire life.

Yao Lao was certainly observing him in secret right now, shock, doubt, curiosity—all sorts of emotions tangled together as he waited for Xiao Yan to speak first.

Xiao Yan did not rush to do anything. He swiftly formed a story in his mind, one that could explain the origin of the Undying Divine Flame without exposing the system or the truth of his transmigration.

Yao Lao was the help he urgently needed.

The system was certainly powerful, but Yao Lao's value went far beyond that of a teacher—his alchemy, his connections, his understanding of Heavenly Flames, and the experience and knowledge he had accumulated over decades on the Dou Qi Continent were things no system could replace.

One more Yao Lao meant one more source of support.

Xiao Yan removed the ring, held it in his palm, and spoke to the black ring. "Senior, please show yourself."

Silence lasted for three seconds.

A layer of milky-white radiance spread across the ring's surface. A transparent elderly figure floated out from the ring and hovered in midair.

The old man had white hair and beard. Though aged, his face remained spirited, and his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's as they fixed tightly on the youth before him.

There was curiosity, but also vigilance.

"Little fellow, who exactly are you?" Yao Lao's voice was ancient and sonorous. "And how did you learn that this old man was hiding inside that ring?"

Xiao Yan gave a slight bow, respectful yet neither servile nor overbearing. "At first, this junior did not know. Until just now, my Soul Power suddenly sensed a strange fluctuation coming from the ring. I followed its source and only then discovered Senior's presence."

Yao Lao raised an eyebrow slightly.

He had awakened back when Xiao Yan was fourteen.

There were two reasons why he had delayed showing himself and instead continued absorbing Xiao Yan's Dou Qi for an entire year.

First, his soul had been severely damaged in that great battle years ago. Even after awakening, he remained weak and needed Dou Qi to nourish his soul.

Though Xiao Yan's Dou Qi was weak, it was exceptionally pure. Absorbing a little each day greatly benefited his recovery.

Second, he wanted to observe Xiao Yan's character.

After being betrayed by a disciple once, he understood better than anyone the weight of the word "caution."

Taking a disciple was no trifling matter. Entrusting everything he had learned in his life to someone unworthy of trust was no different from digging his own grave.

So, he had spent an entire year hiding in the ring, secretly observing Xiao Yan's every action.

The results of that year's observation had satisfied him greatly.

This little fellow possessed a resolute temperament. His Dou Qi had steadily regressed for three years, and others had called him trash, yet he had not become despondent or given up on himself.

He still cultivated, trained his body, and read every day as usual, using every moment to improve himself.

This strength of character surpassed that of his former disciple, whose talent had been extraordinary but whose heart had been corrupt, by an immeasurable margin.

His Soul Power had surprised Yao Lao even more.

Xiao Yan's innate Soul Power far surpassed that of ordinary people. Even when Yao Lao had been fifteen, his Soul Power might not have matched Xiao Yan's current level.

Furthermore, Xiao Yan possessed fire with wood—having a trace of wood affinity within a fire affinity was the key to becoming an Alchemist. Fire-and-wood dual affinities combined with powerful Soul Power were the finest possible qualifications for an Alchemist.

He had originally planned to reveal himself today, confess that he had devoured Xiao Yan's Dou Qi for three years, then take the boy as his disciple by offering to help him become an Alchemist.

Everything had been going according to plan.

But just before he was about to appear, something unexpected happened.

A terrifying wave of energy had suddenly surged from Xiao Yan's body. The flame's aura was so powerful and its quality so high that it was not the slightest bit inferior to his Bone-Chilling Flame.

His shock had caused a brief fluctuation in his Soul Power. He had never expected that Xiao Yan would catch even that faint disturbance.

He had planned to emerge later and ask about the matter, but now the little fellow had beaten him to it.

"If this junior's guess is correct," Xiao Yan said slowly as he looked at the soul body floating before him, "then Senior is the culprit who devoured my Dou Qi for three years?"

Yao Lao's old face reddened slightly. He coughed dryly, his tone rather awkward. "This matter was indeed this old man's fault.

"This old man's soul had been severely damaged at the time. Before falling asleep, I forgot to set up a restriction. After awakening, my consciousness was muddled, and I instinctively devoured your Dou Qi."

"Senior."

Xiao Yan's voice turned cold, and a mocking curve appeared at the corner of his lips. "Can one simple 'fault' undo the harm you caused this junior over the past three years?

"This junior had his Dou Qi drained by Senior for three years and was called trash for three years.

"If this junior had not possessed a resolute nature, an ordinary person would likely have given up on himself long ago."

Yao Lao fell silent.

He could not refute that. Three years of declining Dou Qi and three years of cold stares and ridicule were indeed not something that a casual apology could make up for, especially for a child.

"Then, little fellow, what compensation do you want?" Yao Lao asked.

"I want Senior to accept me as your disciple and help me grow stronger." Xiao Yan did not hesitate.

Yao Lao was slightly stunned. He had thought Xiao Yan would ask for Dou Skills, cultivation methods, pills, or some rare treasure. He had not expected the little fellow to ask for him personally.

"From this junior's observations, Senior has survived until now with only a soul remaining. You must be an unparalleled expert whose cultivation has reached beyond the Dou Zong realm."

Xiao Yan's tone became serious. "This junior has reasons why I must become stronger, so I hope Senior will accept me as your disciple and help me grow stronger."

"An interesting thought." Yao Lao stroked his beard, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Yan. "Accepting you as a disciple is possible, and helping you grow stronger is no problem. This old man has only one question—where did the flame on your body come from?"

His expression abruptly turned solemn, his gaze sharp as a blade.

Xiao Yan had to provide a reasonable answer to this question.

Yao Lao had watched Xiao Yan for an entire year and believed he knew enough about the youth's character and background.

Yet that flame, which had appeared so suddenly, lay entirely beyond his understanding.

How could a child at Three-Level Dou Zhi Qi possibly control a Heavenly Flame whose quality was no weaker than the Bone-Chilling Flame?

If Xiao Yan could not offer an explanation that convinced him, then no matter how highly he regarded the youth, he could not continue remaining at his side.

The pain of a master and disciple turning against each other only needed to happen once.

Xiao Yan's heart tightened. He understood the weight behind Yao Lao's words better than anyone.

If he failed this trial, he would not necessarily die here, but he would likely lose the great opportunity that was Yao Lao.

Fortunately, he had already prepared his explanation.

"This junior does not know either." Xiao Yan revealed a somewhat confused expression and shook his head. "I only know that this flame seems to be something I was born with. It has existed within my body since my birth.

"When I was younger, I was too young, so the flame sealed itself away. It only awakened today.

"Otherwise, with this junior's meager cultivation, let alone controlling this flame, I fear I would turn to ashes before even touching it."

Yao Lao fell silent.

An innate flame?

Those four words left him half-convinced and half-doubtful.

There had never been a recorded case of an innate flame in the history of the Dou Qi Continent. However, there had been some exceptionally gifted individuals who were born with a natural affinity for certain flames, which moved at their will like their own limbs.

And the flame in Xiao Yan's hand—golden-red, scorching but not violent, warm but not searing, faintly carrying the mysterious aura of life and death cycling—was absolutely no weaker than his Bone-Chilling Flame.

The Bone-Chilling Flame ranked eleventh on the Heavenly Flame Ranking.

The only flames capable of matching or faintly surpassing it were those in the top ten of the Heavenly Flame Ranking.

Among the top ten, the only ones fitting the characteristic of "golden-red" were the fourth-ranked Gold Emperor Burning Heaven Flame and the seventh-ranked Nine Nether Golden Ancestor Flame.

But neither of those flames was something Xiao Yan could easily control and wield at his current level.

Yet the truth was right before him.

When Xiao Yan summoned that flame, it came as naturally and effortlessly as breathing, without any of the pain or danger that should accompany refining a Heavenly Flame.

Yao Lao recalled the scene when he had subdued the Bone-Chilling Flame—he had narrowly escaped death, his entire body charred black, nearly perishing completely.

For a child at Three-Level Dou Zhi Qi to control a Heavenly Flame so easily, there truly was no more reasonable explanation than the word "innate."

Yao Lao reluctantly accepted the explanation.

He still retained some wariness toward Xiao Yan—someone who had been betrayed by his closest disciple could not easily lower his guard.

But he did not wish to give up on Xiao Yan, for one simple reason: resurrection.

Resurrection required three things—the Seventh-Rank Pill Bone-Melting Blood-Rebirth Pill, the essence bloodline of a Tier-Seven Magical Beast, and the skeleton of a Dou Zong expert. In addition, at least three Heavenly Flames were needed to refine a body.

The flame in Xiao Yan's hand fully met the standard of a Heavenly Flame. Together with his Bone-Chilling Flame, two-thirds of the three Heavenly Flames required for resurrection had already been secured.

If he missed Xiao Yan, he did not know how many more years he would have to wait before finding another suitable candidate.

"Little fellow, become my disciple."

Yao Lao spoke slowly.

Xiao Yan inwardly relaxed. Though Yao Lao's tone was calm, he could hear the decision behind that trace of hesitation—he had passed this trial.

But he did not immediately kneel and acknowledge him as master.

"Senior, as the saying goes, a teacher for a day is a father for life."

Xiao Yan straightened up and looked at Yao Lao without servility or arrogance. "This junior does not know what abilities Senior possesses, nor how Senior intends to help me grow stronger. I do not even know Senior's name. How can this junior become your disciple?"

"An interesting little fellow."

The corners of Yao Lao's lips lifted slightly. "This old man's surname is Yao. You may call me Yao Lao. As for how I will help you grow stronger—you are not unfamiliar with Alchemists, are you?"

"Of course I am not unfamiliar with them." Xiao Yan nodded. "When I was young, I wanted to become an Alchemist. I looked through a great deal of information for that purpose and heard others speak of the status of Alchemists.

"Even a First-Rank Alchemist is sought after by countless people, much less Alchemists of higher ranks."

He paused, and a perfectly measured trace of confusion appeared on his face. "But Yao Lao, why are you bringing this up? Could it be that you are also an Alchemist?"

"That is correct." Yao Lao sat cross-legged on a bluestone, looking completely at ease. "This old man is."

"Your disciple Xiao Yan greets Master."

Xiao Yan did not hesitate. He dropped to both knees and respectfully kowtowed three times.

Yao Lao leaned his head back slightly, somewhat dumbfounded as he looked at the little fellow who had knelt the moment he said so. "Little fellow, are you not afraid that this old man is deceiving you?"

"Master, would you?"

Xiao Yan raised his head, revealing a mouthful of white teeth as he smiled openly. "Besides, Master has survived until now in soul form, so your Soul Power must be extraordinarily powerful.

"If you were not an Alchemist, how could you possess such formidable Soul Power?"

Yao Lao was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Interesting. What a truly interesting little fellow."

Only after laughing did he realize—he had been played by this little fellow.

Xiao Yan had clearly been certain from the beginning that he was an Alchemist. That question just now had been a calculated feint, waiting for him to admit it himself before naturally becoming his disciple, turning "acknowledging a master" and "verifying his identity" into one logical progression.

He had been led around by the nose by a fifteen-year-old child.

Yet Yao Lao felt no displeasure.

On the contrary, he was quite satisfied with this disciple's cleverness.

On the path of cultivation, talent was certainly important, but intelligence was equally indispensable.

A disciple with talent but no brains would be nothing more than a reckless brute even if he cultivated to the peak.

Xiao Yan's perceptiveness and ability to adapt to circumstances were what truly put Yao Lao at ease.

"Master," Xiao Yan said as he stood and dusted off his knees, his eyes burning as he looked at Yao Lao, "I am already a Four-Star Dou Practitioner. Do you have any Dou Skills or cultivation methods suitable for me?"

"Yes, naturally." Yao Lao nodded lightly. "I had planned to give them to you after you broke through to the Dou Practitioner realm. Now, it is time."

His original plan had been to wait until Xiao Yan cultivated from Three-Level Dou Zhi Qi to the Dou Practitioner realm—at a normal pace, that would have taken at least half a year.

Half a year would have been enough for him and Xiao Yan to establish a basic relationship of trust, and enough for him to plant anticipation for that mysterious cultivation method in Xiao Yan's heart.

Now that Xiao Yan had directly leaped to the Four-Star Dou Practitioner level, there was no need to continue waiting.

Yao Lao extended his withered palm and gave both hands a slight shake. Milky-white light gathered in his palms, and two scrolls, one black and one red, appeared separately, floating above his hands.

"The red scroll is a Low Earth Tier fire-attribute cultivation method called the Ninefold Heart-Scorching Art."

Yao Lao pointed to the red scroll as he introduced it. "It was created by Blazing Heart Venerable. Draw fire into the body, scorch the heart through nine transformations—every transformation is a trial between life and death.

"If one can endure the pain of nine heart-scorchings, then upon mastery, the purity of one's fire-attribute Dou Qi will not lose to that of a High Earth Tier cultivation method."

Xiao Yan's gaze shifted away from the red scroll and settled on the black one.

"Master, since the other cultivation method is placed together with an Earth Tier cultivation method, its rank should be roughly similar, right?"

"It is not." Yao Lao shook his head. "This cultivation method is merely a Low Yellow Tier cultivation method."

An expression of Are you kidding me? appeared on Xiao Yan's face. "Master, you are not joking, are you?"

"Of course not." Yao Lao chuckled, unsurprised by his reaction. "The reason I brought out this cultivation method is that it is stranger even than a Heaven Tier cultivation method."

"A Low Yellow Tier cultivation method is stranger than a Heaven Tier cultivation method?" Xiao Yan shook his head, his face full of disbelief. "How is that possible?"

"Because this cultivation method can evolve."

Yao Lao stopped keeping him in suspense.

"Evolve?" Xiao Yan's eyes widened slightly, three parts disbelief, three parts suspicion, and four parts curiosity—his expression was as precise as a pie chart. "Really? Master, have you cultivated it?"

"No." Yao Lao shook his head. "But it is written very clearly on the cultivation method that it can evolve.

"However, the conditions for evolution are extremely harsh—it requires devouring Heavenly Flames. Every Heavenly Flame it devours raises the cultivation method's rank once.

"The more Heavenly Flames it devours, and the higher their quality, the higher the cultivation method's rank. Theoretically speaking, its upper limit is endless."