The First Dou Zhe! Azure Flame Soul-Refining Art

[Firmament Ledger announcement: Summoner "Chu Zhou" is the first to break through to Dou Zhe. Reward: one tailor-made High Xuan Tier Cultivation Technique.] ×3

The moment Chu Zhou completed his breakthrough, the familiar voice of the Firmament Ledger rang out again in the minds of every Blue Star summoner.

At the same time, information about a High Xuan Tier Cultivation Technique appeared in Chu Zhou's mind.

[Azure Flame Soul-Refining Art]: A High Xuan Tier Cultivation Technique. Azure wood nurtures fire, refining the soul unlocks profound mysteries, burning away impurities awakens wisdom, and the Dao of alchemy becomes clear of its own accord. A Fire and Wood Attribute cultivation method suited to the Myriad Medicine Clarity Body and Void Perception.

Once successfully cultivated, the Dou Qi within his body would acquire dual attributes, with fire as the primary and Wood Attribute as the secondary. Wood Attribute would fuel fire, and fire would drive Wood Attribute. He could also condense Azure Flame, gaining control of True Flame ahead of time and improving both his success rate in refining pills and their quality.

After each successful pill refinement, practicing the Azure Flame Soul-Refining Art would increase his soul power to a certain extent.

"Tailor-made. Now that's what I call tailor-made."

Chu Zhou was delighted with this cultivation method. He felt no dissatisfaction over it not being an Earth Tier cultivation method, let alone a Heaven Tier one.

Even Dou Zun experts struggled to master Heaven Tier cultivation methods and Dou Techniques. Those Dou God Clans had no shortage of them, yet they would not casually let Dou Zun cultivate them, much less cultivators who had not reached that level.

Apart from the Flame Mantra, all cultivation methods on the Dou Qi Continent allowed practitioners to switch to another method without any obstacles.

Thus, there was no need to practice an excessively high-tier cultivation method upon first reaching Dou Zhe.

Generally, from Dou Zhe through Dou Ling, High Xuan Tier was the best tier for building a foundation.

Chu Zhou remembered that Xun'er had obtained a Low Earth Tier Fire Attribute cultivation method from the library at Jia Nan Academy and said it was just right to use as a transitional method.

As the daughter of the Ancient Clan Chief, she could not possibly have lacked Heaven Tier or Earth Tier cultivation methods. That meant she had deliberately practiced a slightly lower-tier method before then.

"I happen to have an Epiphany Opportunity."

Without another word, Chu Zhou used up an Epiphany Opportunity to learn the Azure Flame Soul-Refining Art.

The next moment, he felt a wealth of profound insights appear in his mind. The Dou Qi in his body began circulating along the method's prescribed pathways on its own, undergoing a transformation.

While Chu Zhou practiced his cultivation method, the Chat Channel had already erupted.

[Chu Zhou again! This time he's actually the first to reach Dou Zhe. This is ridiculous. I'm only at Four-Stage Dou Qi.]

[I thought I was a genius for reaching Fifth Stage Dou Qi in two months, and now Chu Zhou has already reached Dou Zhe?]

[Unbelievable. I asked a senior in my Mercenary Group what kind of talent it took to go from Three-Stage Dou Qi to Dou Zhe in two months. He told me I was still dreaming.]

[Chu Zhou must be cheating. He's definitely cheating.]

[Chu Zhou is the Firmament Ledger's favorite son. I'm putting my name behind a request to give all the rewards to Chu Zhou. He's in a league of his own.]

[Daddy Chu Zhou, could you come back to Blue Star and teach us on a livestream? I've worked hard all this time and I'm still at Three-Stage Dou Qi. I can pay tuition.]

[You can't use outside assistance during the Dou Qi stages, so this is pure talent. That's insane.]

[The government has released information. You can use outside assistance during the Dou Qi stages, but the methods are extremely rare. Only the top factions have them.]

[God Chu, could you release a tutorial? I'll buy it no matter the price.]

[...] ```

The Chat Channel once again became lively, with everyone talking about Chu Zhou.

On Blue Star, the major national media outlets also released related news immediately.

"Shocking! The first person to reach Dou Zhe is none other than him!"

"The Spiritual Energy Revival Era Welcomes Its First Dou Zhe"

"The Huaguo threat theory resurfaces"

"Korea claims Chu Zhou belongs to the entire world and demands that Huaguo hand him over"

"Little Japan believes Chu Zhou's existence disrupts the balance between nations"

"An American netizen claims no one understands Chu Zhou better than he does"

Ordinary people discussed Chu Zhou in the Chat Channel and across Blue Star's social media platforms.

The leaders of various countries convened meetings about Chu Zhou once again.

"Baka! You bunch of idiots! This Chu Zhou must be Huaguo's trump card, yet you can't dig up a single piece of information on him. You should all slit your bellies open this instant!" A Little Japan netizen flew into a rage.

It was no secret among the wealthy elites and those in power across the various nations that eating the meat of certain spirit beasts could increase one's strength to some extent.

Ordinary people thought Chu Zhou relied on talent, but they "knew" that, on top of being talented, he was receiving extensive support from Huaguo. He surely had all the Spirit Beast Meat he could eat, which was why his cultivation advanced so quickly.

The ace of their Little Japan Military returned to Blue Star every day after finishing his cultivation on the Dou Qi Continent to eat spirit beast meat. His cultivation had already reached Sixth-Stage Dou Qi.

According to the intelligence they had obtained, several promising recruits nurtured by the American military had already reached Seventh Stage Dou Qi.

Chu Zhou was definitely a secret top prospect being nurtured by Huaguo.

Little Japan was not alone in thinking this. America and other countries believed the same.

Only Huaxia's leaders knew that Chu Zhou had received no assistance from the country. His achievements were the result of his talent and hard work, perhaps with a little luck as well.

"Keep investigating. I refuse to believe someone with achievements like these can stay hidden forever."

"Have our people keep a close eye on the Spirit Beast Meat market. With his cultivation advancing so quickly, Chu Zhou must be using Spirit Beast Meat to help."

"Find him and tell him he can have the position of deputy director of the Extraordinary Bureau. He can also receive priority access to spirit beast meat."

"..."

Meanwhile, inside a spacious luxury apartment in an upscale residential complex in Hang City.

Meng Ziwei licked her dry lips and pinched her thigh hard. The pain confirmed that she was neither hearing things nor dreaming.

Chu Zhou had just eaten the Spirit Beast Meat she provided before suddenly entering the Dou Qi Continent. Then the Firmament Ledger's announcement had appeared.

This was definitely no coincidence. The Chu Zhou she had lured home from the anime convention was that "God Chu"!

"What are you thinking about?"

Chu Zhou's voice suddenly rang out, snapping Meng Ziwei back to her senses.

"Ah!" Meng Ziwei sprang up with a shriek, threw her arms around Chu Zhou, and hugged him tightly. "You're that Chu Zhou, aren't you?"

"Calm down. I never said I wasn't." Chu Zhou reached out and pressed Meng Ziwei back onto the sofa.

"You're incredible! How did you do it? All those Firmament Ledger rewards!" Meng Ziwei's eyes shone as she looked at Chu Zhou as though he were a priceless treasure.

"It was all just luck." Chu Zhou shrugged.

"Such a humblebrag. You're still putting on an act with me?" Meng Ziwei leaned closer again. "Great God Chu, help me out, would you? I want to get stronger too. I want to experience a Dou Zhe's strength."

"Want to experience a Dou Zhe's strength? That's easy enough." Chu Zhou raised an eyebrow slightly.

Meng Ziwei did not understand at first, but after seeing the look in Chu Zhou's eyes, she quickly caught on.

Rather than feeling shy, she felt pleased with her own charms. She jumped straight off the sofa. "I'll change into your favorite outfit and experience a Dou Zhe's strength."

Chu Zhou watched Meng Ziwei hurry away. "..."

She knew how to have fun!