Flame Mantra?

In a secluded cave on the mountain behind the clan grounds, Xiao Fan sat on the ground with his eyes closed, while Yao Lao manifested a translucent figure beside Xiao Yan.

Watching Xiao Fan cultivate with his eyes closed, Yao Lao said to Xiao Yan, "Yan'er, your senior brother's talent is even better than I imagined. In less than a year, the Dou Zhe realm is already within his reach."

"Now that he's taken the Qi Gathering Powder, breaking through to Dou Zhe will be as natural as water flowing into a channel."

Watching Xiao Fan make his breakthrough while seated cross-legged, Xiao Yan said enviously, "Yes, I'm only at the seventh stage of Dou Qi, but Senior Brother has already broken through to Dou Zhe!"

"Don't lose heart. You've built up a deep foundation, and now it's beginning to bear fruit. You'll catch up with him soon enough." Yao Lao smiled as he stroked his beard.

As they spoke, Xiao Fan's aura gradually stabilized, and he opened his eyes in excitement.

"Teacher, I've broken through to Dou Zhe."

"Senior Brother, congratulations!"

"Haha, good! Your talent is excellent, and there's something unusual about your constitution. Your affinity for the fire attribute is exceptionally rare. That's part of why you were able to break through so quickly."

Xiao Fan smiled without speaking. The Chaos Flame Body bestowed by the system truly deserved its standing as a top-tier constitution in the Three Thousand Great Worlds. If he hadn't gone almost a year without triggering any missions, and hadn't spent so much time honing his Dou Techniques, he probably would have broken through to Dou Zhe long ago.

Even so, merely absorbing the medicinal liquid Yao Lao prepared had still allowed him to advance by two stars. The thought that he had officially set foot on the path of cultivation left Xiao Fan a little excited.

A year had passed since the people from the Misty Cloud Sect came to break off the engagement. After Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er went to resolve the money issue, Xiao Fan hadn't tagged along to play third wheel. He had, however, teased Xiao Yan until his face turned bright red.

That year had also brought the two fellow disciples much closer together.

There was no helping it. Every day, Yao Lao made them spar with each other, even suppressing Xiao Fan's level to match Xiao Yan's. Their bond had been forged entirely through those sparring sessions.

Every time he beat Xiao Yan black and blue, Xiao Fan burst out laughing.

For that, on several nights, a certain little lass who was always calling out "Brother Xiao Yan" had put on a mask and given him a beating.

"All right. Now that you've broken through to Dou Zhe, Fan'er, it's time I gave you the cultivation methods I promised you both." Yao Lao's voice interrupted Xiao Fan's thoughts.

"You mean that strange cultivation method that's even more miraculous than a Heaven Tier cultivation method?" Xiao Yan asked, his voice tinged with excitement.

Xiao Fan also looked curiously toward Yao Lao.

"That's right. But before that, there are some things I need to make clear." Yao Lao's voice grew somewhat solemn.

"What's wrong, Teacher? Were you fooling us about that cultivation method?" Seeing that something was off about Yao Lao, Xiao Yan couldn't help asking apprehensively.

"This cultivation method really can evolve. I didn't lie to you about that," Yao Lao said softly.

"But it's extremely strange. While it's true that it can evolve, the danger is also extraordinarily high."

Unwilling to give up, Xiao Yan rubbed his hands together and asked, "How high?"

"Extremely high!"

With a bitter chuckle, Yao Lao shook his head helplessly. "Ever since I obtained this cultivation method, I've never heard of anyone cultivating it, so I don't know the true answer either. But based on my experience, I estimate the chance of cultivating it to its pinnacle is no more than twenty percent."

"It might be even lower!"

Xiao Fan had expected this. Xiao Yan rubbed his forehead, still unwilling to give up. The lure of a cultivation method that could evolve into a Heaven Tier cultivation method was simply too great!

Yao Lao then explained the peculiarities of the cultivation method to Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan in detail.

"I named this cultivation method the Flame Mantra. It truly can evolve, but to do so, it must devour the things I told you about before, the treasures every Alchemist dreams of possessing: heavenly flames."

Heavenly flames were among the most powerful things in the world, brimming with destructive, violent energy. Yet reaching the pinnacle required devouring more than one heavenly flame. That was all but impossible.

At this point, Yao Lao said to Xiao Yan, "You're still some way from becoming a Dou Zhe. Today is the day your senior brother broke through, so let him choose first!"

With a wave of his hand, two illusory scrolls appeared before Xiao Fan.

"Both of you are exceptionally talented, and you're mature and steady, thinking three times before you act. Perhaps Heaven is making amends to me by letting me take the two of you as disciples." Yao Lao looked at them with a faint smile as he spoke.

"Fan'er, your talent far exceeds my understanding. With your special constitution, the Flame Mantra should, in principle, suit you best. But it requires devouring heavenly flames, which means only one of you can cultivate it. Heavenly flames are already rare in this world. If they all fell into your hands, that would be a disaster for you both."

"I'll leave the final decision to the two of you! Whatever you choose, you'll both be the disciples I'm proudest of." With that, Yao Lao closed his eyes and fell silent beside them.

Xiao Fan looked at the two scrolls before him, torn.

There was no helping it. The Flame Mantra could be considered the foundation of Xiao Yan's eventual rise to Dou Di. With his own Chaos Flame Body and its affinity for fire, Xiao Fan's success in cultivating it would be virtually guaranteed if he chose it.

But that would rob Xiao Yan of his destined opportunity. Without the Flame Mantra, how could Xiao Yan possibly gain such an overwhelming advantage?

The Buddha's Fury Fire Lotus, first place in the Alchemist competition, the Flame Emperor-all of it would vanish like clouds and smoke.

Even if Xiao Fan reached Dou Di by then, he probably still wouldn't escape being erased by the system.

Besides, one year of his ten-year deadline had already passed. If he stayed in this tiny Wutan City and followed the original plot, he would surely die without even an intact corpse when those ten years were up.

Moreover, the constitution bestowed by the system supposedly maximized his affinity for fire. Xiao Fan refused to believe it would be inferior to a mere Flame Mantra.

At that thought, Xiao Fan smiled faintly and glanced at Xiao Yan. "The Flame Mantra really does suit me best."

Hearing Xiao Fan's words, a flicker of disappointment crossed Xiao Yan's eyes.

"But... my junior brother needs it more than I do!"

At Xiao Fan's words, Xiao Yan raised his head in surprise and looked at him. Beside them, Yao Lao also opened his eyes curiously.

Xiao Fan smiled and said to Xiao Yan, "Don't look at me like that. You've still got a Three-Year Agreement waiting for you! And don't forget what Teacher said. Xun'er's background is anything but simple. If you don't give it everything you've got, how will I ever get to drink at your wedding feast?"

As he spoke, he reached out and chose the other cultivation method.

Seeing Xiao Fan's choice, Xiao Yan was filled with gratitude. His senior brother had looked after him since before his talent returned. Xiao Yan had noticed every bit of it, and could only hold it all in his heart until he could repay his senior brother someday.

Meanwhile, Yao Lao was also briefly taken aback by Xiao Fan's choice. He knew how tempting the Flame Mantra was; otherwise, he would never have ended up in his current predicament. He had always assumed Xiao Fan would choose it, since his constitution would greatly reduce the risks of subduing heavenly flames.

He hadn't expected Xiao Fan to leave this opportunity to Xiao Yan in the end. A trace of relief flashed through Yao Lao's eyes, and he felt fortunate to have taken in a disciple whose character was so extraordinary.

As for Xiao Fan, although he chose the Earth Tier cultivation method Yao Lao offered, what he actually cultivated was the system's Radiant Sun Art.

Over the past year, honing his skills with Xiao Yan had also refreshed a few missions here and there. As for the Radiant Sun Art from the beginner's gift package, although it was only a High Profound Tier cultivation method, Xiao Fan had learned after asking the system that it was merely the basic version. With the system there to provide the subsequent cultivation methods, he had nothing to worry about.