Heavenly Dragon's Roar, Refining the Dou Ling Pill!

A month later,

Jia Nan Academy, Back Mountain.

The boundless sea of forest surged like waves. A gentle breeze swept through, stirring green billows and a rustling chorus of leaves.

Deep within the forest, a waterfall plunged like a silver river, crashing thunderously into the lake below and throwing up countless splashes, large and small.

"Roar!"

Suddenly, a strange roar rang out. Countless streams of natural energy converged, transforming into invisible sound waves that spread outward and slammed into the hanging waterfall!

Bang! Bang!

The torrent, suspended like a silver river, was abruptly severed. Enormous sprays several dozen feet high blossomed in midair, forming a hollow ring of water before crashing down. Countless wisps of mist spread, shrouding the entire lake in white fog.

"Cough, cough..."

Atop a huge blue-gray rock beside the lake, Lin Chen's face was somewhat flushed. He swallowed a third-grade Throat-Protecting Pill and patted his chest, saying hoarsely, "As expected of an Earth Tier Dou Technique. Even getting started is this difficult. No wonder Xiao Yan needed several months to learn the Earth Tier Low Grade Flame Splitting Wave Ruler, despite his comprehension. A Sound Wave Dou Technique is far harder to cultivate than the other Dou Techniques I've practiced..."

"But I've clearly mastered the vocalization for this technique. Why can I barely unleash any of its power?"

Lin Chen looked thoughtful as he considered every step of Venerable Mountain-Suppressor's earlier demonstration.

Countless chaotic roars intertwined in his mind, layering over one another until he involuntarily closed his eyes.

"Roar!"

"The dragon is sovereign among those that move through water. Its voice must be like mystic thunder from the nine heavens, like the crushing pressure of ten thousand tons of water. Only then can it subdue all eight directions!"

"The elephant is sovereign among those that walk the land. Its voice must be like deep thunder within the earth's veins, bearing the weight of a thousand mountains in its tread. Only then can it shatter mountains and split peaks!"

Lin Chen recalled Venerable Mountain-Suppressor's teachings over and over, steadily weeding out the countless roars in his mind. Finally, his eyes snapped open, a flash of realization passing through them.

"So that's it. I was wrong. The greatest difference between Earth Tier and Xuan Tier Dou Techniques lies in harnessing the power of heaven and earth, drawing upon natural energy. That's something a mere Xuan Tier Dou Technique cannot do."

"But unlike ordinary Earth Tier Dou Techniques, Earth Tier Sound Wave Dou Techniques contain soul power. You have to merge your own soul power with heaven and earth and borrow their might. Only then can you shake souls and rock spirits!"

Once he understood this point, everything became clear to Lin Chen. A keen light flashed in his eyes as his powerful soul power spread outward, forming ripples of silver. His chest swelled, and the Dou Qi within his dantian surged upward, rushing through his throat toward the heavens!

"Roar!"

With that single roar, the surrounding natural energy seemed to answer his summons, converging in an instant. A faint, illusory water dragon actually formed behind Lin Chen!

Boom!

As the roar climbed higher, the water dragon threw back its head and howled skyward. Its invisible sound waves seemed to overlap with Lin Chen's roar, like the Heavenly Dragon's Roar. With thunderous fury, they blasted through the hanging waterfall and slammed savagely into the cliff behind it!

Bang!

Dense cracks instantly covered the cliff face. Then stone fragments flew as it shattered, revealing a deep crater several dozen feet across, shaped like a highly irregular oval.

"Phew..."

"I've finally gotten started."

A faint look of delighted surprise appeared on Lin Chen's face. This was, after all, the first Earth Tier Dou Technique he had mastered, and a Sound Wave Dou Technique at that—the rarest of the six major categories of Dou Techniques. Its significance was extraordinary.

Even with his temperament, he could not help feeling elated.

Of course, this was also closely linked to his soul power as a fifth-grade alchemist. Though he had grasped the key to an Earth Tier Sound Wave Dou Technique, without precise control over his soul power, he probably could not have gotten started so easily.

"Lin Chen, are you done yet? What are we eating today?"

Just then, a call came from nearby. A graceful purple figure darted over, flickering like a butterfly. In just a few breaths, she arrived above a massive mountain.

"Zi Yan, I'm in a good mood today. Come on, weren't you eyeing that fifth-rank Blazing Fire Boar earlier? I'll make you roasted pig's trotters today!"

Lin Chen chuckled. Deep-blue flame wings unfurled behind him, and he grabbed Zi Yan just as she landed, tucked her under his arm, and flew toward the depths of the distant forest.

"Hey, slow down."

Zi Yan hurriedly clung to Lin Chen's arm, unconsciously swallowing and licking her lips. Her mouth watering, she said, "Remember to go easy. You burned that big snake last time. Your Heavenly Flame is too fierce!"

"I know. So many demands just for eating and drinking. You've gotten fat, Zi Yan!"

"I have not!"

Not long afterward,

Jia Nan Academy, Inner Academy.

In a secluded courtyard belonging to the Alchemy Department.

A rich aroma of meat filled the air. The scent of fifth-rank magical beast meat alone stirred the Dou Qi within quite a few Da Dou Shi experts, as though merely eating it would let them easily break through their barriers and advance.

Many Alchemy Department students passing the courtyard stopped, hoping to ask about it. But when they saw that adorable figure within, as exquisitely sculpted as jade, they all lowered their heads and hurried away, as though they had spotted some terrifying savage beast.

Inside the courtyard, a golden roast pig glistening with oil rested over a medicinal cauldron. Beneath the cauldron, deep-blue flames blazed, roasting the enticing, plump pig.

Zi Yan gazed longingly at the roast pig above the cauldron, holding a handful of multicolored pills. Every so often, she popped one into her mouth to soothe her impatient appetite.

Lin Chen controlled the Sea Heart Flame with one hand to roast the fifth-rank magical beast while leafing through the Dou Ling Pill Recipe with the other. Despite dividing his attention, he made no mistakes at all. Only his tightly knitted brows and occasional thoughtful expression betrayed his intense concentration.

"Lin Chen, it's about to burn! Let go, hurry and let go!"

Just then, Zi Yan cried out in alarm. She reached out with her fair little hand and tugged at Lin Chen's sleeve. She certainly did not dare grab the fifth-rank magical beast pig above the cauldron with her bare hands.

She had suffered plenty from the Sea Heart Flame's power while sparring with Lin Chen lately. If he had not held back every time, that Heavenly Flame would probably have roasted her into "Little Charred Yan," never mind letting her eat roast suckling pig.

"Mm."

Lin Chen nodded slightly and set down the scroll in his hand. A sudden suction erupted from his palm, and the surging deep-blue flames abruptly shrank and returned to his body. Then he formed his hand into a blade. A blue blade of light swept past, splitting the roast pig before him in two.

"Woohoo! Lin Chen, you're the best!"

Zi Yan cheered and pounced straight at the half of the roast pig nearest her. She picked up a huge pig's trotter and began wolfing it down, mumbling through her mouthful, "So delicious. What kind of life was I living before? Medicinal herbs don't taste good at all. Magical beast meat is so much better..."

Lin Chen shook his head helplessly, but inwardly pondered whether the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, as overlords among magical beasts, needed more than pure energy while growing. The development of their bodies might also require nourishment from other magical beasts.

After all, as a supreme magical beast race capable of feeding on the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, their tremendous physical strength and bloodline potential surely could not be sustained merely by absorbing natural energy.

In barely a quarter of an hour,

Zi Yan finished her half of the roast pig. She burped contentedly, patted her round belly, and lay comfortably on the ground. Looking up at the blue sky and white clouds, she said blissfully, "I wouldn't trade days like these even for the life of an immortal. Lin Chen, only after following you did I realize life could be lived this way..."

"What are we eating tomorrow? I think that old turtle by the lake looks good. Let's stew him. He even sprayed water all over me last time. He deserves to end up in my belly!"

Lin Chen laughed and pinched her fair, rounded cheek, saying with a smile, "Still eating? You're already turning into a ball. Have you found the opportunity to break through to four-star Dou Wang yet?"

Zi Yan lay on the ground with a satisfied expression, unconcerned by Lin Chen pinching and touching her. He fed her, after all.

She merely said lazily, "I'm still a little short. Find me a few more fifth-rank magical beasts, and I'll be able to advance once I've eaten them..."