Battle Skills Were Also Fire-Control Techniques

After watching for a while, Xiao Yan closed the scroll, sat cross-legged in a cultivation posture, and began replacing his cultivation method with the Advanced Profound Rank Sacred Sun Technique.

According to the scroll, cultivating this technique meant that every circulation would refine his Dou Qi, striving to bring it to a state of utmost purity, supreme radiance, and unmatched force.

Compared to it, the Xiao Family's Flame-Refining Incineration, which could only refine the quality of Dou Qi whenever one advanced in rank, was vastly inferior.

As an Advanced Yellow Rank technique, even a genius would need a long time to advance a single level through it. How could it compare to the Sacred Sun Technique, which refined Dou Qi with every circulation?

Moreover, through the gradual refinement of Dou Qi while cultivating the Sacred Sun Technique, the power of the fire attribute within one's body would become no weaker than Beast Flame, and the technique itself could reach Earth Tier standards.

These two special effects were even less something Flame-Refining Incineration could match. The latter could also surpass its original rank through cultivation, but its upper limit was breaking through to Da Dou Shi and, after more than ten refinements of Dou Qi, advancing to Basic Profound Rank.

The cultivation speed of a Basic Profound Rank technique was barely suitable for the first few stars of Da Dou Shi. Without some extraordinary opportunity, using it to advance to the Dou Ling realm would be exceedingly difficult for an ordinary person.

The Earth Tier level that the Sacred Sun Technique could reach, however, would remain highly suitable even after breaking through to Dou Emperor.

All things considered, for most people, the Sacred Sun Technique was practically a cultivation method that could be used for an entire lifetime.

Xiao Yan began circulating the Sacred Sun Technique and examined the condition inside his body.

He quickly discovered that after the Dou Qi surged from his Dou Qi Vortex, its volume gradually shrank as it circulated through his meridians, while its color imperceptibly deepened.

As the volume of his Dou Qi diminished, his body began absorbing heaven and earth energy with increasing intensity, at a rate unimaginable before.

Focusing inward, Xiao Yan clearly saw that when the vast amount of heaven and earth energy came into contact with his transformed Dou Qi, the high temperature carried by the Dou Qi immediately burned away one-third of its impurities.

The refined energy followed the Dou Qi through his meridians according to the technique, gradually having its stubborn impurities refined away before merging with the Dou Qi.

After the technique completed one full circulation, all the Dou Qi returned to the Dou Qi Vortex and was suddenly subjected to an enormous compressive force. Its already diminished volume shrank further, taking on a pale golden color that changed the hue of the entire vortex.

Watching heaven and earth energy flood crazily toward Xiao Yan at a level greater than before, Xiao Xun'er's hand paused as she turned a page. She murmured, "The cultivation method replacement is complete."

The amount of Dou Qi from an Advanced Yellow Rank technique naturally could not satisfy the Dou Qi capacity of an Advanced Profound Rank technique.

The latter held more Dou Qi and cultivated faster. By the time Xiao Yan filled his Dou Qi Vortex this time, dusk had arrived.

Looking at Xiao Xun'er reading at the desk nearby, Xiao Yan stood and stretched his body. "Let's go eat."

Xiao Xun'er smiled and nodded, closing the book in her hands.

After dinner, the two headed toward the back mountain.

Xiao Yan was in a very good mood. His rank had not risen, but because he had changed cultivation methods, his Dou Qi had increased by more than tenfold. The pale golden Dou Qi was also clearly of far higher quality than before.

The cultivation speed of an Advanced Profound Rank technique was very fast, and he had a way to make it even faster—Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid.

Its medicinal nature was mild. It was a medicinal liquid Yao Lao had produced to accelerate the cultivation of Dou Qi. Its ingredients required two Bone-Washing Flowers, one First-Rank Wood-Attribute Magic Core, and three intact Purple Leaf Orchid Grasses.

Of the two medicinal herbs, the requirements for Bone-Washing Flowers were fairly casual. Purple Leaf Orchid Grass was naturally better the older it was, but twenty-year-old specimens were already very suitable.

Xiao Yan reasoned from this that if he used forty-year-old or even hundred-year-old Purple Leaf Orchid Grass, while also paying attention to the age of the Bone-Washing Flowers, could it perhaps work on Dou Zhe?

He did not know the exact recipe for Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. Doubling the age of the ingredients would also double the cost of refining, perhaps even making them unavailable at any price. But with the Palm-Heaven Bottle, which could hasten the growth of medicinal herbs, neither was a problem.

A moment later, the two arrived before a large tree. Looking at the fruit tree, which had grown even taller and was laden with fruits like flaming crystals, they both fell into a daze.

Back then, not long after Xiao Yan had begun cultivating, he had broken through to the first stage of Dou Qi. Upon seeing this unusual fruit tree, he had wanted to pick a fruit and build a good relationship with Xiao Xun'er.

He had never climbed a tree before and had overestimated the strength of first-stage Dou Qi, so he had fallen without surprise.

Xiao Xun'er remembered that he had fallen twice. Seeing him covered in mud, she had advised him not to climb any further. But driven by sheer stubbornness, he succeeded on the third try. In the days that followed, he also took good care of her, which moved her deeply.

"Want some fruit?" Xiao Yan asked. He pushed off with his feet, and his entire body shot straight upward as though flying.

The fruit tree had grown much taller over the past six years, but he had broken through to Dou Zhe and cultivated an Advanced Profound Rank technique. He easily plucked two fruits.

Xiao Xun'er smiled as she accepted one and took a light bite. "Will Brother Xiao Yan stay home to cultivate next, or go out to gain experience?"

The fruit borne by the tree resembled crystal persimmons, but it tasted even sourer than lemons. Xiao Yan had been exhausted and thirsty back then, and when he bit into one, his teeth had nearly gone numb from the sourness. Yet Xun'er had enjoyed it immensely; her tastes were unusual.

Xiao Yan rubbed his face. "Jia Nan Academy will begin recruiting in about a year and a half. I plan to cultivate at the academy."

Xiao Xun'er smiled. "Jia Nan Academy's foundation is no weaker than the Misty Cloud Sect's, and there are no restrictions requiring graduates to join a sect. It is a good choice."

After finishing the two fruits in her hand, Xiao Xun'er made an inviting gesture. "Let me test Brother Xiao Yan's strength as a Dou Zhe."

Xiao Yan answered, curling his five fingers into claws as he grabbed at Xiao Xun'er's waist and ribs, taking the initiative.

If someone at the seventh stage of Dou Qi mastered three Profound Tier battle skills, they would not fear a three-star Dou Zhe.

Xiao Xun'er's strength had not reached the seventh stage, and it was unknown how many battle skills she had mastered. As a one-star Dou Zhe who knew no battle skills, Xiao Yan was still inferior to an ordinary three-star Dou Zhe, so he did not underestimate her in the slightest.

With a light tap of her toe against the mountain path, Xiao Xun'er gracefully and nimbly evaded Xiao Yan's claw like a purple butterfly.

Xiao Yan pressed forward, bringing his five fingers together into a palm. With a gust that tore through the air, he struck toward Xiao Xun'er's shoulder. Before his palm even landed, the wind from it had already whipped her black hair into a wild dance.

Her dark eyes were exceptionally lively. Xiao Xun'er tilted her body and easily dodged the powerful palm strike again.

Xiao Yan had never practiced battle skills, but his combat instincts were good. That palm strike had been a feint, and the instant Xiao Xun'er dodged, he followed with a claw toward her lower abdomen.

Taking a quick step back, Xiao Xun'er's tender jade-like hand suddenly glowed with faint golden light as she raised it to block.

Xiao Yan was startled. He clenched his five fingers into a fist and collided with the golden palm.

After a brief stalemate, both of them rapidly retreated.

After taking two steps back, Xiao Xun'er spun gracefully, dissolving the incoming force.

Xiao Yan sank his feet and likewise took two steps back, steadying himself. He asked curiously, "What battle skill was that just now? Its power is incredible!"

He knew most of Xiao Xun'er's battle skills, including the Swallow Return Strike, Guardian Trigram Palm, and Emperor's Seal Technique. But he did not know the name of the golden palm battle skill she had used while sparring with Xiao Ning.

Xiao Xun'er chuckled. "Although it is a battle skill, more accurately, it should be called a fire-control technique."

"A fire-control technique..." Xiao Yan murmured. Something that could serve both as an offensive battle skill and a method of controlling fire immediately made him think of the Five-Ring Flame-Separation Technique.

It was divided into five fire-spirit forms: wolf, leopard, lion, tiger, and flood dragon. It was originally an advanced Earth Tier technique. If the user possessed four Heavenly Flames and used them to condense fire spirits, its power would rival a Heavenly Tier Battle Skill.

Controlling the temperature of flames was an alchemist's most important ability. Cultivating the Five-Ring Flame-Separation Technique, which was essentially a fire-control technique, would not only provide another means of self-defense but also enhance one's control over flames.

And as long as he rescued Yao Tianhuo, who was trapped beneath the Burning Heaven Qi Refining Tower, he could obtain the Five-Ring Flame-Separation Technique. Enrolling in Jia Nan Academy was necessary, and very worthwhile.

Xiao Xun'er suggested, "Brother Xiao Yan, it looks like you have not practiced any battle skills yet. Before you teach me cultivation methods, let me teach you this battle skill first. Otherwise, even with your outstanding talent, it will be difficult for you to stand out at the fiercely competitive Jia Nan Academy."