Parting for Three Days, One Should Be Seen in a New Light

One day later, in the back mountain, the cave where Xiao Yan usually lived had already been renovated into a proper dwelling.

Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, a wisp of faint pure-white flame rising and falling around him with his breathing.

As he guided the Samadhi True Fire along the circulation path of the Flame Mantra, it was gradually and completely absorbed into it. His aura abruptly surged.

Outside the cave, the sun slowly rose. When it reached its highest point, a dazzling ray of light shone into the dwelling.

Wisps of white smoke rose from the Ancient Ring on Xiao Yan's hand, gathering into a human form as an aged yet elegant voice slowly rang out.

With the bearing of an immortal sage, he stood with his back to Xiao Yan, like an exiled immortal descended into the mortal world.

"Who awakens first from this great dream? All my life, I have known it was I. Having slept soundly through spring within the Ancient Ring, the day outside the window has slowly passed."

Bathed in sunlight, Yao Chen's figure seemed to shine with boundless radiance.

A mighty pressure from his soul descended. Though it was not directed at anyone, it could still make an ordinary person feel immense oppression.

Feeling the power within his soul body, golden light flashed explosively in Yao Chen's eyes.

Over these three days, his recovery had progressed tremendously. Even if a Dou Zong from the Soul Hall came in person, Yao Chen was confident he could wipe away every obstacle standing before Xiao Yan.

This brat was merely a Dou Zhe. How much trouble could he possibly stir up?

Extremely pleased with the entrance poem he had held back for three days, drawing upon the lingering inspiration from his enlightenment, Yao Lao stroked his beard and calmly turned around...

"!!!?"

Years of self-cultivation kept Yao Chen from cursing aloud, but if he still had a physical body, his eyes would probably have bulged out of their sockets.

His heart was like a blazing furnace, his blood like rushing rivers. His battle qi surged magnificently, almost tangible. With every breath, he drew vast amounts of natural energy into his body, sending it through his limbs and bones to fill his entire form.

Within his dantian, battle qi gathered like flames into a vortex that quietly revolved. With every cycle, it became a little more condensed.

And his dantian... was actually like a sea of fire?! It was normally silent and shrouded in darkness, but whenever Xiao Yan refined energy, that sea of fire would burn for an instant.

Compared to Xiao Yan's incomprehensible physical body, the strength of a five-star Dou Zhe was simply not worth mentioning.

It was far too ordinary.

Lost in shock, Yao Chen was speechless for a moment.

It was not as though he had never considered that some old monster might have possessed Xiao Yan's body, but there was not the slightest abnormality in Xiao Yan's soul. On the contrary, it was as pure as jade, as though it had been tempered by flames.

Yao Chen was certain that even if an old monster at the Dou Sheng level had possessed Xiao Yan, he would have seen through it. Though he was currently only a remnant soul, his soul had reached the Heaven Realm at his peak. Even ordinary Dou Sheng might not possess a higher soul realm than his.

That only made it more unbelievable. What exactly was going on with this brat?!

Just then, Xiao Yan, who had kept his eyes closed all this time, suddenly raised an eyebrow and spoke in a frivolous tone.

"Beyond the thirty-third heaven lie heavens beyond heaven; beyond the ninefold clouds dwell immortals. Immortals were once transformed from mortals, yet mortals fear only that their hearts are not steadfast. Teacher, have you been well?"

Opening his eyes, Xiao Yan smiled at Yao Chen. Pure-white flames coiled around him, giving him somewhat of an immortal air.

Yao Chen: "..."

His back molars seemed to ache phantomly as Yao Chen fell silent.

Damn it, that opening poem had more style than his. This brat had actually shown him up... No, that wasn't right!

"By the Tou She Ancient God, what is going on with you, brat?! We haven't met for three days, so don't give me that 'have you been well' nonsense!"

Yao Chen grabbed Xiao Yan by the collar, completely abandoning his composure.

The moment Xiao Yan spoke, he confirmed that there was nothing wrong with him. Which meant there was very much something wrong here.

"Hehe, Teacher, as the ancients said, after three days apart, one should be seen in a new light." Xiao Yan's face did not redden, nor did his breath falter.

He had earned all of this through hard work and steady effort, so naturally, his conscience was clear.

"Bullshit. I've never heard that line in any ancient book." Yao Chen snorted disdainfully. His ring held a vast collection, including all kinds of miscellaneous and idle books, yet he had never encountered such a saying. At most, there were phrases with similar meanings.

"And what kind of person can change this much in three days?!"

"As the ancients also said, one day apart feels like three autumns..." Xiao Yan grinned cheekily.

Everything he had achieved today was absolutely not due to cheating. It was all the result of effort and sweat.

Seeing Yao Lao's reaction, Xiao Yan felt thoroughly refreshed.

Sure enough, showing off was only interesting when done before someone knowledgeable.

He had shown off a little before Xun'er, then came here to show off before Yao Lao. Double the satisfaction.

"So this is... the fortuitous encounter you mentioned before?"

After chatting for a while, Yao Lao carefully examined Xiao Yan's body. Listening to his unreliable words, Yao Lao looked deeply suspicious.

They had not met for three days, and he had stumbled across another fortuitous encounter?

"I carry the mandate of heaven. Isn't it perfectly normal for me to encounter new opportunities wherever I go?" Xiao Yan tilted his head.

Just as he was about to trade a few more meaningless jokes with Yao Lao, Xiao Yan saw him nod in complete agreement.

"That makes sense."

Yao Chen readily accepted this explanation. As he had said, there were too many bizarre things on the Dou Qi Continent, many of them coincidences beyond coincidence. Xiao Yan possessed great fortune, so what was strange about him encountering a few fortuitous opportunities?

The two had previously communicated soul-to-soul without reservation. Yao Chen could trust Xiao Yan's openness.

Even if Xiao Yan claimed that he could travel to other worlds, Yao Chen felt he would have to consider whether Xiao Yan had found the inheritance of some Dou Di skilled in the Dao of space.

Thinking that many similar situations would certainly arise in the future, Xiao Yan pondered for a moment and carefully chose his words.

"However, Teacher, there is something I should be upfront with you about. Roughly every..." As he spoke, Xiao Yan paused and sensed the cooldown within the Gray Mist Space.

"As my strength increases, the interval will shorten. At present, every few months, I can obtain some fortuitous opportunities from a space that exists somewhere between reality and illusion."

Though Xiao Yan trusted Yao Lao greatly, he dared to say this because he had confidence. With the Samadhi True Fire in hand, it was now particularly effective against wandering souls and ghosts.

"So that's how it is."

Yao Lao was completely enlightened. He understood everything now. No wonder, no wonder!

Xiao Yan must have accidentally obtained the inheritance of some Dou Di during those three years.

"Although ordinary people rarely encounter such things, according to rumors, there are still over a hundred Dou Di dwellings on the Dou Qi Continent. With your luck, you may be able to search for them in the future."

Yao Lao stroked his beard and spoke earnestly.

Luck was also a part of strength. As a descendant of a Dou Di, he had experience when it came to Dou Di inheritances.

Then his gaze fell upon the Samadhi True Fire surrounding Xiao Yan.

"This is the Samadhi True Fire I told you about, Teacher, formed by unifying, condensing, and sublimating the three treasures of essence, qi, and spirit."

With a thought, another cluster of Samadhi True Fire ignited in Xiao Yan's palm. At his will, it transformed into birds and beasts, then occasionally shifted into weapons of war.

"The Flame Mantra has evolved..." Yao Chen's pupils contracted. The change was too subtle, and he had not even noticed it before.

"That's right. The Samadhi True Fire is my source flame; it can also be considered my life flame. Using the Flame Mantra to devour it encountered no resistance whatsoever. With it as a foundation, devouring Heavenly Flames that exist as external objects will also be far more convenient in the future."

After countless simulations within the Gray Mist Space, Xiao Yan completed the advancement of the Flame Mantra with almost no resistance.

Of course, he still had not died from exploding bodies any less often. Yet through repeatedly setting himself ablaze and exploding, Xiao Yan's control over fire and soul power had steadily improved.

Xiao Yan had even gained some insights into detonating flames. Perhaps once he possessed two different flames, he could give it a try.

He had a feeling that using this move would feel incredibly satisfying.