Decision

Decision

Early the next morning, Mo Shan came respectfully to deliver a message, saying the City Lord wished to see him. Xiao Yan knew that the moment that would decide the course of his future had finally arrived.

It was still that familiar quiet chamber.

Han Feng was still dressed in green, sitting casually with a cup of hot tea floating before him. Beside him, Yao Chen's illusory figure hovered silently, his expression solemn.

"Senior Brother, Teacher."

Xiao Yan stepped forward and respectfully bowed to the two of them.

"Sit." Han Feng pointed at the meditation cushion opposite him.

"I called you here today for two matters." Yao Chen spoke first, his tone grave. "The first is your formal apprenticeship ceremony."

He looked at Han Feng, then at Xiao Yan, his eyes filled with gratification.

"Your Senior Brother Han Feng has already accepted you into the sect on my behalf. From today onward, you are my, Yao Chen's, second personal disciple—and my final disciple."

"Disciple Xiao Yan greets Teacher!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Xiao Yan performed the ceremonial three kneelings and nine kowtows before Yao Chen's phantom.

"Good, good child. Get up quickly." Yao Chen raised his illusory hand, and a gentle force of spiritual power lifted Xiao Yan to his feet.

"As for the second matter," Han Feng took over, his expression turning serious, "it concerns the cultivation method you will choose for the future."

He looked at Xiao Yan and said each word distinctly, "You are now a Dou Practitioner. The Dou Qi within your body has begun to take shape, and you must have a suitable cultivation method to guide and strengthen it. This first step is crucial—it will determine the upper limit of your future."

With a flick of Han Feng's finger, two scrolls of different colors floated before Xiao Yan.

"I have prepared two paths and two choices for you."

He pointed to the crimson scroll on the left.

"This cultivation method is called the Red Flame Heart Sutra. It is Middle Earth Tier, fire-attributed, domineering and fierce. Once cultivated to great mastery, the density of your Dou Qi will far surpass that of those at the same level. It will be enough to support your cultivation all the way to the peak of Dou Venerable, and you may even have a chance to glimpse the threshold of the Saint Realm."

Middle Earth Tier!

Xiao Yan's heart lurched. He knew very well that in the Jia Ma Empire, a High Xuan Tier cultivation method was enough to drive an entire clan mad, while Earth Tier methods were the stuff of legends!

The moment his senior brother made a move, he offered such a precious treasure!

"This path is smooth and steady. With your talent, along with my and Teacher's guidance, you will certainly become a Dou Venerable within thirty years." Han Feng spoke calmly, as if it were only natural.

Then his gaze shifted to the ancient scroll on the right, black as ink and even emanating an ominous aura.

"As for this other path..."

His tone sank.

"It is called the Flame Mantra. Its origins are mysterious, and no one knows where it came from. It has only one trait—it can devour and fuse Heavenly Flames, causing the cultivation method itself to evolve."

"What?!" Xiao Yan cried out in shock.

Devouring Heavenly Flames, allowing the cultivation method to evolve?!

It completely surpassed everything he knew!

"Heavenly Flames are wondrous things born of heaven and earth, incomparably violent. When two Heavenly Flames meet, they erupt like explosives. Yet this Flame Mantra can break that iron law and merge their powers into one." Yao Chen spoke at the right moment, carrying a hint of emotion and gravity in his voice.

"In theory, as long as you can find enough Heavenly Flames, it can even evolve all the way beyond Heaven Tier and reach the legendary Emperor Grade!"

Emperor Grade!

Xiao Yan's breathing immediately grew heavy.

However, Han Feng's next words were like a basin of cold water, dousing more than half the blazing heat in his chest.

"But," Han Feng's gaze was incredibly sharp, "this path is a true nine deaths and one life ordeal."

"First, the Flame Mantra begins at only Low Yellow Tier."

"Second, the process of devouring Heavenly Flames is exceedingly dangerous. Every devouring attempt is a gamble against death. One moment of carelessness means being burned to death, with both body and soul destroyed. Back then, I was already a Dou Ancestor, yet after two attempts and countless brushes with death, I only barely subdued the Bone Spirit Cold Flame." Yao Chen used his own experience to warn Xiao Yan.

"Lastly," Han Feng looked at Xiao Yan, his gaze deep, "choosing it means choosing a path that makes you the enemy of the entire world. Every Heavenly Flame is coveted by countless experts. If you want to grow stronger, you must snatch them from the jaws of those tigers."

Silence.

Inside the quiet chamber, one could have heard a needle drop.

One path was a broad road leading into the ranks of the powerful, stable, glorious, and within reach. The other was a thorny road toward the supreme throne, filled with the unknown, death, and challenges.

Han Feng and Yao Chen said nothing more. They simply watched him quietly, waiting for his choice.

At this moment, Han Feng also felt somewhat uneasy.

He knew that the flutter of his butterfly wings had already completely changed Xiao Yan's fate.

There had been no three years of living as a useless cripple, no bone-deep pain brought by the humiliation of a broken engagement, and no desperate situation where he had no way out and could only make a final stand.

The junior brother before him was still that dazzling genius. He had better choices and safer paths to retreat along.

Would he... still choose this most difficult, most insane path, just as he had in the original story?

Time passed second by second.

Xiao Yan lowered his head, and no one could see his expression. His hands clenched tightly into fists atop his knees, then slowly loosened, revealing the fierce conflict raging in his heart.

After a long, long while, he finally slowly raised his head. The confusion in his eyes had vanished, replaced by a calmness and resolve beyond his years.

"Teacher, Senior Brother."

He spoke, his voice not loud but exceptionally firm.

"If I choose the Flame Mantra, what about the source of the Heavenly Flames?"

He smiled as though trying to sound relaxed, with a trace of youthful slyness.

"You're not going to... make me keep using a Low Yellow Tier cultivation method to fight everyone else, are you?"

Hearing this question, Han Feng and Yao Chen exchanged a glance. Both saw a pleased smile in the other's eyes.

This kid had not been blinded by the illusory promise of Emperor Grade. He had asked the most crucial and practical question.

He had already made his choice.

"Rest assured, it will not be like that." Han Feng smiled, and the worry in his heart completely vanished.

As expected of the chosen one. The pride and ambition hidden in Xiao Yan's bones would not be worn away just because his circumstances had changed.

"Let's not mention other Heavenly Flames for now. Right here in the Black-Corner Region, within Canaan Academy, there is a Heavenly Flame ranked fourteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking—the Fallen Heart Flame."

Han Feng patted Xiao Yan's shoulder, his tone full of confidence.

"Once your cultivation is sufficient, I will make arrangements and obtain that flame for you."

"As for now..."

Yao Chen's phantom floated forward and pressed a finger against Xiao Yan's brow.

An obscure and ancient formula immediately surged into Xiao Yan's mind. It was precisely the method for cultivating the Flame Mantra.

"Kid, comprehend it carefully!"

Xiao Yan immediately sat cross-legged, sank his mind into his body, and began trying to circulate this entirely new cultivation method.

A moment later, he opened his eyes, an expression halfway between laughter and tears appearing on his face.

"It's... it's so weak..."

He could feel that the Flame Mantra's efficiency in absorbing and refining Dou Qi was several times slower than even the clan cultivation method he had practiced before. It was like an old ox pulling a broken cart.

"Don't worry."

Han Feng's voice reached him, soothing him.

"A Yellow Tier cultivation method naturally cannot be very fast. However, I have long prepared your first supplement."

He smiled and said, "For the next few days, go back and relax a little while you familiarize yourself with the method. I have already sent people to gather various Beast Flames. Once the Beast Flames arrive, they can help you raise the Flame Mantra to High Yellow Tier first."

Beast Flames!

Xiao Yan's eyes immediately lit up!

"Thank you, Senior Brother!" He rose to his feet excitedly and gave Han Feng a deep bow.

"Go on." Han Feng waved his hand. "Enjoy these last few leisurely days."

"Once the Beast Flames arrive, your good days will be over."