Crimson Refining Flame Demon Body

"I was merely fortunate enough to earn the clan ancestor's favor." Facing a Seven-Star Dou Saint, Xiao Yan did not dare act too presumptuously.

"Hehe, since you are the Emperor's Son chosen by the clan ancestor, there must be something special about you."

Only at the mention of Xiao Xuan did a gleam appear in Elder Qing's cloudy old eyes.

On the Dou Qi Continent, Xiao Xuan was the strongest being beneath heaven. Within the Xiao Clan, he was its soul, its faith, its pillar.

"Please enter, Emperor's Son. Your status within our clan is incomparably exalted. You may freely browse every cultivation method and combat skill housed in this Scripture Hall." Elder Qing extended a hand.

"Thank you, Elder Qing." Xiao Yan cupped his fists slightly in thanks, then entered the Scripture Hall accompanied by Wen and Wu, the Two Saints.

As Half-Saints, the two men did not yet belong to the Xiao Clan's most exalted circle, but they were still qualified to enter the Scripture Hall.

The Scripture Hall stood nine stories tall, housing countless texts from throughout the Xiao Clan and even the Dou Qi Continent, as vast as a sea of mist.

These included, but were not limited to, cultivation methods, Dou Techniques, secret arts, medicinal formulas, documents, hidden histories, and more.

"What a magnificent sight." Looking at the numerous spheres of light on the hall's first floor, Xiao Yan could not help sighing in admiration.

The first floor housed extremely common texts of little value, with no cultivation methods or Dou Techniques among them, but their sheer number made up for it: over a hundred million volumes.

Rows of tall, antique bookcases held sphere after sphere of white light.

These books represented almost ten thousand years of cultural heritage on the Dou Qi Continent. Each was enveloped in a sphere of light created by a secret art to prevent damage.

On this floor alone, Xiao Yan spotted more than ten Dou Zong experts responsible for maintaining and preserving the books.

"Young master, although this floor is vast and magnificent, most of these books aren't particularly valuable. We should look upstairs," Xiao Wen suggested.

"Very well." Xiao Yan nodded slightly.

The three climbed the stairs, ascending nearly a hundred feet to reach the second floor.

The second floor was slightly smaller than the first, but it still held several million spheres of light.

"These are all Yellow Tier cultivation methods and Dou Techniques, along with some first- and second-tier pill formulas and the like," Xiao Wen explained with a smile. He had worked here for a time when he was a Dou Zun.

Xiao Yan nodded slightly.

There was practically no demand in the Xiao Clan for Yellow Tier cultivation methods, Dou Techniques, or pill formulas. Thanks to the clan's vast resources and inheritance, even most of its ordinary descendants could practice Black Tier cultivation methods and Dou Techniques.

Thus, the first and second floors served more as cultural archives.

On the third floor, the number of light spheres dropped again, to fewer than a million, but this floor's value far surpassed that of the previous two.

The spheres here contained Black Tier cultivation methods and Dou Techniques, as well as third- and fourth-tier pill formulas.

These could almost be considered the Xiao Clan's foundation. From Dou Zhe to Dou Wang who had only just earned a place in the clan register, nearly everything they needed for their daily cultivation could be found here.

When they reached the fourth floor, Xiao Yan finally saw a guardian.

"Do you have a merit token bestowed by an elder?" At the entrance to the fourth floor, a Dou Zun expert eyed the three of them as he asked.

"This is the Emperor's Son newly appointed by the clan ancestor. Does he still need a token?" Xiao Wu let a trace of his Half-Saint aura escape.

The Dou Zun froze at first. Only upon seeing the flame mark on Xiao Yan's forehead did he recall something.

"Greetings, Emperor's Son!" The Dou Zun actually dropped straight onto one knee.

"No need for such formalities. May I enter?" Xiao Yan gave a light cough. To be honest, having a mighty Dou Zun kneel before him felt rather uncomfortable.

"Please, Emperor's Son." The expert hurriedly rose and gestured for Xiao Yan to enter.

Starting from the fourth floor, the Scripture Hall could truly be considered a restricted treasure house.

After all, its hundred thousand or so light spheres contained Earth Tier Low Grade cultivation methods and Dou Techniques, fifth-tier pill formulas, and even some of the continent's hidden secrets.

Most of these things, however, failed to catch Xiao Yan's eye. Even before becoming the Emperor's Son, he had been a young master of the King Lineage, with a Dou Sheng grandfather.

The three continued upward. On the fifth floor, every cultivation method and Dou Technique was Earth Tier Middle Grade.

For the first time, Xiao Yan slowed his steps and began studying the titles seriously.

Ultimately, after he selected a dozen or so cultivation methods and Dou Techniques, along with numerous secret pill formulas, the Dou Zun expert guarding this floor transcribed copies onto jade slips.

On the sixth floor, there were only a few tens of thousands of light spheres in total, but their value was even more staggering. Here, Xiao Yan finally grew fully attentive.

High-grade Earth-tier cultivation methods and Dou Techniques were not cabbages sold by the basket, even to Dou Sheng experts. Xiao Lin might easily obtain a few sets for Xiao Yan, but he could never offer the Scripture Hall's comprehensive selection, where Xiao Yan could find what suited him best.

High-grade Earth-tier Dou Technique: "Heaven-Shaking Wave Slayer"

High-grade Earth-tier Cultivation Method: "Hundred Rivers Embrace the Sea Art"

High-grade Earth-tier Dou Technique: "Thunder Half-Moon Slash"

Eventually, Xiao Yan's gaze settled on a fiery-red sphere of light.

High-grade Earth-tier Dou Technique: "Crimson Refining Flame Demon Body"

The Crimson Refining Flame Demon Body had been created a thousand years ago by the Flame Demon Venerable, a high-level Dou Zun. Practicing it required tempering the body with high-level flames. Even minor mastery allowed the practitioner to clash head-on with a Dou Zong.

With full mastery, the body could even contend against a Dou Zun expert.

The higher the quality of the flames, the stronger the resulting body. To achieve full mastery, one needed at least one heavenly flame to temper the body over many years.

Furthermore, cultivating this physique offered another advantage: it increased the body's resistance to flames.

"You're the one." Xiao Yan licked his lips and asked the Dou Zun guardian beside him to make a copy.

The cultivation method he currently practiced was also a high-grade Earth-tier cultivation method, called the "Blazing Eight Desolations Art."

But from the moment Xiao Xuan tossed him that Jade Book, Xiao Yan had understood that it was time to venture out and search for the cultivation method called the "Flame Mantra."

He was destined to tread this path of devouring heavenly flames.

After the "Crimson Refining Flame Demon Body" had been copied, Xiao Yan casually picked out a few more pill formulas, Dou Techniques, and ancient texts that interested him, then headed upward again.

"Young master, I'm afraid we can only accompany you this far." Xiao Wen and Xiao Wu suddenly stopped at the entrance.

The two gave bitter smiles. "Starting from the seventh floor, everything stored inside is a Heaven Rank cultivation method or Dou Technique, or higher. Even we are not qualified to enter without a token from a supreme elder."

"That's all right. Sorry for the trouble, but please wait here for me."

"Young master, starting from the seventh floor, every floor carries a terrifying pressure. On the highest floor, the ninth, only a Dou Sheng can withstand it. If you find yourself unable to endure, please come back down promptly."

Xiao Yan nodded at their words. Since the fourth floor, he had sensed an invisible pressure. By the sixth, it had already begun to cause him slight discomfort.

Still, he very much wanted to see what the seventh floor looked like.

And so he resolutely stepped onto the seventh floor.

Boom! The terrifying pressure instantly increased severalfold, leaving Xiao Yan feeling even worse than he had from altitude sickness in his previous life. Fortunately, though the discomfort was intense, he could at least move slowly.

On the seventh floor, only a scant few thousand light spheres remained.

Heaven Rank cultivation methods and Dou Techniques were extraordinarily rare. For the most part, only Dou Sheng experts were qualified to create them, and some Dou Sheng experts might never create even one in their entire lives.

Even with the Xiao Clan's deep reserves, gathering over a thousand volumes was an incredible feat.

Heaven Rank Low Grade cultivation method: "Great Sun Thunder Art"

Heaven Rank Low Grade cultivation method: "Vitality Reaching Heaven Art"

Heaven Rank Low Grade Dou Technique: "Dragon Emperor Otherworld"

Any single one of these, if released into the outside world, would be enough to whip up a storm of blood across the Dou Qi Continent.

"Unfortunately, learning these now would be useless." After considering it for a moment, Xiao Yan abandoned the idea of studying them for the time being.