"First, there's the Golden Bell Shield. Master it, and blades and spears won't pierce you. A friend of mine practices this Cultivation Technique. He lost all his hair, but he's strong, and he has the later stages of the technique. If you keep at it, you might even become undying and indestructible!"
Meng Qi: Thanks. I feel called out.
Xiao Yan's expression changed as he looked at the Golden Bell Shield. You're sure that name isn't a joke? He practiced this Cultivation Technique and lost all his hair? Doesn't that make him a monk?
"Second, there's the Cave Mysteries True Scripture. This is a first-rate Cultivation technique. Master it to Perfection, and you'll ascend in broad daylight and live without end! Another friend of mine practices this one. Tsk, he's terrifyingly strong. None in the Six Realms can match him."
Fei Peng: Thanks. I'm cringing.
And you still say you're not a Transmigration traveler! You're talking to me about martial arts and Cultivation in a world of Dou Qi?! Just how many friends do you have?! And the Six Realms?!
Xiao Yan roared inwardly.
"Third, there's this Dou Qi Cultivation Technique, the Burning Art. It's a low-grade Yellow Tier technique—truly terrifying! Of course, if you choose this one, you'll need to become a Dou Zhe first."
After introducing all three Cultivation Techniques, Yao Chen smiled at Xiao Yan, who looked ready to break. Yao Chen appeared thoroughly pleased with himself.
"Senior, are you really not from somewhere else?" Xiao Yan asked hopefully once he recovered, ignoring Yao Chen's teasing expression.
"What somewhere else? Hurry up and choose, or I might change my mind!"
Xiao Yan panicked. He can change his mind?
"I'll choose, I'll choose! Senior, I choose the Cave Mysteries—"
"Good! I knew you had a discerning eye! You picked the strongest Cultivation Technique here at a glance!" Yao Chen swiftly put away two of the manuals, then picked up the remaining one and patted it against Xiao Yan's chest.
"In that case, this Burning Art, which will make you unrivaled above the heavens and beneath the earth once you master it, is yours!"
"It's low-grade Yellow Tier, you know. Treasure it, and don't let it down!"
Xiao Yan stood dumbstruck. He looked at the Burning Art in his arms, then at Yao Chen's ever-smiling face. His eyes went blank as he murmured, "I was such a fool. I really was."
Meng Chuan: What has become of our group? Why is every Group Member heading in this direction?
Meng Chuan: @Meng Qi @Lu Mingfei, how many kindhearted Group Friends have you two corrupted?!
Meng Chuan: You're a pair of black sheep!
System notice: Administrator Meng Chuan muted Administrator Meng Qi and group member Lu Mingfei.
Daigu Madoka: This time, the villain struck fir—
Meng Chuan: Hmm?
Daigu Madoka: This time, the villain bowed his head first!
Zhang Sanfeng: Strange. Why hasn't Little Meng unmuted himself?
Meng Qi stared blankly at the group chat panel. Every time he tried to use his Administrator Permissions to unmute himself, a message appeared.
System notice: The Administrator who muted you has higher Permissions. You cannot undo the mute!
Meng Qi slammed down his cup! What had become of the world? Inequality was everywhere, and low-permission group administrators suffered oppression at every turn!
Meng Chuan: Maybe my words struck a nerve, and he's feeling remorse.
Meng Chuan: There's still hope for him!
At those two messages, tears streamed down Meng Qi's face. Perhaps this was the true meaning of Shrouding the Heavens...
"Senior, what about that Cultivation Technique?" Xiao Yan asked, holding the Burning Art and looking at Yao Chen, still unwilling to give up.
Who would practice Cultivation if they could cultivate this lousy Dou Qi?
"Kid, tell me, what's this continent called?" Yao Chen looked at Xiao Yan. It seemed he needed to set the boy straight.
"The Dou Qi Continent!"
"Even the continent is named after Dou Qi. What do you think?"
"So the Cultivation Technique and that martial art were both fake?" Xiao Yan was disappointed. Who wouldn't yearn to ride a sword through the sky and soar with the wind between Heaven and Earth?
"No, they're both real, and you can practice either one. I just want you to cultivate Dou Qi," Yao Chen said with a straight face.
"You're messing with me!" Xiao Yan flew into a rage and lunged again, only to catch empty air.
"Can't you settle down, kid? Where do you get all that energy?" Yao Chen was helpless. He was a Ling soul, yet Xiao Yan kept trying to pounce on him. Pounce, my ass!
"I want to practice Cultivation!" Xiao Yan declared stubbornly. He would practice Cultivation or die trying!
"Cultivate Dou Qi far enough, and it's no weaker than Cultivation!"
"I want to practice Cultivation!" His stubborn cry echoed through the mountains, showing just how firm the young man's resolve was.
"The Burning Art is a Cultivation Technique that can undergo Evolution. It has no limit." Yao Chen was helpless. Immortality, my ass.
"I want to cultivate Dou Qi!"
"I'm a Dou Qi man in life and a Dou Qi ghost in death! Heaven sent me here to cultivate Dou Qi!" The young man's stubborn voice rang out once more, his resolve as firm as ever.
Meng Chuan: Well, would you look at that.
Bibi Dong: Well, would you look at that.
Zhang Sanfeng: It does look good.
Meng Chuan: ???
Yao Chen stared at the young man, speechless. After a long while, he said, "You really take after those predecessors of yours..."
Meng Chuan: Thanks, I feel insulted.
"Senior, how does the Burning Art undergo Evolution?" Forget immortal cultivation. Xiao Yan mainly liked Dou Qi.
"Want to know why?"
"Yes!"
"Then hurry up and acknowledge me as your master!"
Xiao Yan hesitated. Why do I have to acknowledge him as my master now? He just finished draining my Dou Zhi Qi, and now I'm supposed to become his disciple?
"Once you acknowledge me as your master, I'll tell you how the Burning Art undergoes Evolution. I can also teach you a few Cultivation arts. And while I'm at it..."
"I can make you an Alchemist and teach you Alchemy!" Yao Chen said, his tone breezy and self-satisfied.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
"Disciple Xiao Yan greets his master!"
Xiao Yan immediately performed the ceremony. Craftily, he stomped three times to imitate the sound of kowtowing. He trusted Yao Chen to understand what he meant.
As for the grudge over his drained Dou Zhi Qi? They were grown-ups. No need to hold a grudge!
"You little rascal, you're a slippery one!" Yao Chen didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This Xiao Yan was a little different from the one in the original story.
"Little Yan, your teacher's name is Yao Chen. Call me 'teacher'!" Seeing the shape of Xiao Yan's mouth, Yao Chen raised his voice. Little bastard!
"Yes, teacher." Xiao Yan nodded to show he understood.
"Then, teacher, how does the Burning Art undergo Evolution? And what about the Cultivation spells and Alchemy?" Xiao Yan looked expectant.
Yao Chen glanced at him. "What do any of those have to do with someone at the third stage of Dou Zhi Qi?"
Xiao Yan's face stiffened. Come to think of it, none of that had much to do with Xiao Yan at the third stage of Dou Zhi Qi.
But Xiao Yan recovered quickly. If it had nothing to do with Xiao Yan at the third stage of Dou Zhi Qi, it would have something to do with Xiao Yan the Dou Zhe, wouldn't it?
"Teacher, where did you get these Cultivation Techniques? Are you like me?" Xiao Yan asked the question he most wanted answered, though he stopped short of saying "Transmigration traveler."
"I wasn't lying. These are all Cultivation Techniques my friends practice, and they gave them to me." Group Friends are friends too!
"As for you? Come on, you're just a Transmigration traveler!" Yao Chen said with a grin.
"A Transmigration traveler who sneaks around touching little girls, at that!"
Xiao Yan was horrified at first: his greatest secret had been exposed. Then Yao Chen's next words made his face flush red. He protested that warming her body couldn't count as touching! How could something involving Dou Qi be called touching?
For a moment, the air was filled with laughter.
"So they've met differently from the original story. The changes begin here. Will they be for better or worse? We have no way of knowing..."
The Group Friends: Great Emperor, you're narrating again!
Thanks to star, DriftsKiss Mark, and Taishang Wuji Hunyuan Daluo Jinque Tianzun for the tips! Thanks also to Du, Yang Xuanchen, Painting as Song, What Is Life, pziwdmf, Fate Begins and Ends, Little Monster of Tianshan, Cruel, Drunk Alone, Infinite Illusory WorldAQA, awag, McDuck, Who Am I in Heaven's Craft, Laughing at All Living Thingsaq, Staring Blankly at My Phone, Heaven-Blasting Divine Gang, Gao Yexuan1, Infinite Reincarnation Tianzun, An QingvxvMing Yue, Whale Falllj, Flying Bear, Adorable Wolf Pup, Super Loves Eating Dog Meat, Heaven and Earth of Swords, and Even the Wind Is Heartless for the recommendation votes. Please vote and bookmark!