Azure Sky Transforming Dragon Technique

Time flowed like water, passing in the blink of an eye.

Three months later.

Inside a high-grade cultivation chamber on the fourth level of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, Xiao Qing sat cross-legged atop a black stone platform in white robes, his expression solemn and dignified.

Fire-attributed energy from the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower surged toward him. After being tempered by the Heart Flame, it turned into streams of pure energy that tirelessly filled the Dou Crystal within him, which was like a bottomless pit.

No one knew how long had passed, but as energy continued to pour in, the originally somewhat irregular Dou Crystal gradually became as smooth and rounded as a pearl.

When the diamond-shaped Dou Crystal completely transformed into a sea-urchin shape, a powerful ripple spread from Xiao Qing's body and swept outward.

Boom!!!

The energy ripple burst forth from his body. Xiao Qing's white robes billowed and snapped in the wind, while the heavy door of the cultivation chamber hummed and trembled.

Xiao Qing steadied the Dou Qi within him. Only after fully restraining his aura did he slowly open his eyes.

Feeling the even more powerful Dou Qi in his body, Xiao Qing could not help but smile.

"Finally, I've broken through to Dou Ling."

In just three months, he had completed the breakthrough from an Eight-Star Da Dou Shi to a Dou Ling.

It had to be said that Fallen Heart Flame truly deserved its reputation as a cultivation cheat.

He had merely cultivated with the Heart Flame divided from Fallen Heart Flame, yet his progress had already been so rapid. If he were to absorb and refine Fallen Heart Flame itself...

Xiao Qing shook his head, casting the thought from his mind.

With his current cultivation, he likely could not even approach Fallen Heart Flame's true body, much less refine it.

Even if he could refine it, Xiao Qing did not wish to let the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower fall out of service because of his own greed.

Although he knew there was still a juvenile Fallen Heart Flame beneath the magma at the bottom of the tower, his current cultivation was likewise insufficient to take it out.

As for informing Su Qian and the others of this information?

Xiao Qing had never even considered it.

Leaving aside how he could explain knowing such a thing, Jia Nan Academy had treated him well enough that he could never allow Su Qian and the others to risk their lives.

Besides, he did not lack information on Heavenly Flames. Once his cultivation reached a sufficient level, he would eventually obtain one.

Xiao Qing's gaze narrowed slightly as a somewhat illusory panel appeared before him.

[Host: Xiao Qing]

[Technique: Scarlet Flame Manual]

[Cultivation: One-Star Dou Ling]

[Soul: Late Mortal Realm]

[Remaining Draws: 1]

Inside the cultivation chamber, Xiao Qing sat atop the black stone platform and stared fixedly at the lottery wheel, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

The items he had drawn previously had been of tremendous help to him. He wondered what he would draw this time.

"Draw!"

At Xiao Qing's command, the wheel began to spin. Before long, it stopped in front of a question mark.

As the question mark slowly flipped over, a miniature Azure Dragon appeared before his eyes.

Its tiny scales shimmered. Though it was small in size, it carried an indescribable majesty.

"What is this?"

Confusion flashed through Xiao Qing's eyes. Had he drawn an Azure Dragon hatchling?

Lines of tiny text gradually appeared.

[Azure Sky Transforming Dragon Technique]

[An ultimate art created by Qing Zhi, the Azure Dragon King of the Profound Sky Continent. Upon reaching its peak, one's physical body can rival that of a true dragon.]

Seeing those three familiar words before him, Xiao Qing's expression kept changing.

As one of the few terms recognized by Lin Dong, the Martial Ancestor, how could Xiao Qing possibly not have heard of the Azure Sky Transforming Dragon Technique's great reputation?

What truly surprised him was that the panel could actually draw items from beyond the Dou Qi Continent.

Since it could draw the Azure Sky Transforming Dragon Technique from the neighboring Profound Sky Continent, did that mean it might also draw things from the Great Thousand World, or even the Heavenly Origin Realm, in the future?

If that was the case, then his cheat seemed a little too overpowered.

After all, a Dou Di of the Dou Qi Continent was merely a Sovereign when viewed across the Great Thousand World.

If he could draw inheritances or sacred artifacts from the Great Thousand World, would that not be a dimensionality-reducing strike against the Dou Qi Continent?

Thinking this, Xiao Qing wiped away the drool hanging from the corner of his mouth, a foolish grin spreading across his face.

His thoughts were interrupted only when a line of text appeared.

"Materialize it?"

Xiao Qing came back to his senses, his smile fading as he silently rebuked himself for still being too unsteady. He had reacted like this over nothing more than a possibility. What a disgrace!

"Yes."

As soon as he spoke, the small yet majestic Azure Dragon materialized. Before Xiao Qing could react, it shot directly into the space between his brows.

Xiao Qing's eyes half-closed as he tried his best to absorb the immense amount of information flooding into his mind.

Countless profound pieces of information intertwined, eventually converging into five ancient dark-cyan characters.

Azure Sky Transforming Dragon Technique.

The five ancient characters were vast and majestic, fully explaining the cultivation method of the Azure Sky Transforming Dragon Technique.

A quarter of an hour later, Xiao Qing slowly opened his eyes after receiving all the information.

"To cultivate the Azure Sky Transforming Dragon Technique, I still need Heavenly Dragon Aura..."

Xiao Qing rubbed his chin. He did not have any Heavenly Dragon Aura, but there was a Dragon Emperor hatchling in the Inner Academy.

Within the Dou Qi Continent, the Ancient Void Dragons stood above all dragon clans.

As the daughter of the old Dragon Emperor, Zi Yan possessed the noblest Dragon Emperor bloodline in the entire Ancient Void Dragon clan.

Though he did not know how it compared to the dragons of the Profound Sky Continent, it probably would not be much worse.

If he could obtain her essence blood, perhaps he could use it in place of the Heavenly Dragon Aura required to cultivate the Azure Sky Transforming Dragon Technique.

With this thought in mind, Xiao Qing familiarized himself with the stronger Dou Qi he had gained after breaking through to Dou Ling.

Once he could wield it freely, he took out his Green Fire Crystal Card from its slot and rose to walk outside.

The long-shut door slowly creaked open. Seeing this, several senior students stationed nearby by various Inner Academy factions revealed delighted expressions.

Their gazes were fixed on the doorway as they waited for Xiao Qing to emerge, eager to step forward and recruit him first.

Crisp footsteps rang out as Xiao Qing emerged from the cultivation chamber. Noticing the people waiting around him, he frowned.

Just as they were about to step forward and invite Xiao Qing to join them—

Dou Qi surged through Xiao Qing's body, and a powerful aura burst forth, pressing down upon them.

Feeling the aura emanating from Xiao Qing, the expressions of the senior students changed.

According to their leaders' expectations, Xiao Qing would at most have reached the Nine-Star Da Dou Shi level when he emerged this time. That was why they had sent several low-star Dou Lings to recruit him.

Yet to their surprise, Xiao Qing had directly reached Dou Ling within these three months.

With his current strength, their own leaders would likely have to appear personally if they wished to recruit him.

Thinking this, the group exchanged glances, retreat already showing in their eyes.

They had sent several Dou Lings here under the pretense of recruitment, but in truth, they had also intended to use their strength to force Xiao Qing into choosing a side.

After all, with Xiao Qing's talent and status as an alchemist, if he established a faction, he would surely attract large numbers of students. Their long-established factions would inevitably suffer an impact then.