"I really wonder whether you're even human, brat... Do you have any idea what being an Alchemist means?" Seeing that Xiao Yan showed none of the delight or shock he had expected, Yao Lao could not help asking.
"Of course I do, but I remember that Alchemists usually need hands-on instruction from an experienced Alchemist... Since you said you could make me one, I assume you're an Alchemist yourself?" Xiao Yan tilted his head and asked.
"That's right." Yao Lao sounded rather proud. "Your aptitude is decent, little fellow. With my personal instruction, I believe it won't be long before you become a top grandmaster of alchemy."
"Oh? Then may I ask what tier of Alchemist you used to be, sir?" Xiao Yan's expression shifted. He did have some interest in this so-called art of alchemy.
"What tier? I don't remember. All you need to know is that even your so-called Pill King Gu He is nothing but a fart to me." Yao Lao waved a hand and spoke casually.
Xiao Yan did not doubt that. Even as a soul, this old man possessed Soul Force comparable to a fifth- or sixth-tier Alchemist's. He could only have been stronger while alive, presumably at least a seventh-tier or even an eighth-tier Alchemist. In the eyes of an Alchemist at that level, the so-called Pill King truly amounted to no more than an ant.
"Heh heh, if you want to learn alchemy, then take me as your master." Seeing that Xiao Yan was tempted, Yao Lao struck while the iron was hot.
"Master, please accept your disciple's bow." Xiao Yan felt little resistance to taking Yao Lao as his master. He knew some of the rules of the alchemy world. Without formally becoming his disciple, he naturally could not expect the old man to teach him everything he knew.
Besides... it was only a title. If this old man really had some scheme in mind, Xiao Yan would not mind becoming a disciple who murdered his master once again...
Naturally, Yao Lao had no idea that this fellow's thoughts had already turned to murdering his master mere moments after joining him. Otherwise, he would certainly have purged this traitor from his ranks on the spot. Watching Xiao Yan complete the formalities, he nodded in satisfaction, and even his tone grew warmer. "Since you've become my disciple, I certainly won't treat you poorly."
"Do you have a welcoming gift for me, Teacher?"
"Of course. You should know that, for a beginner, the grade of a cultivation method is extremely important. What I'm going to give you is a most unusual cultivation method," Yao Lao said.
"An unusual cultivation method... Could it be a Heaven Tier Cultivation Technique?" Xiao Yan asked curiously. In truth, though, he did not particularly care about these cultivation methods. Leaving aside the high-grade methods in his memories, the Black Tier High Grade cultivation method Xun'er had given him alone would serve him until he reached Dou Wang-level. Still, if this fellow really could produce a Heaven Tier Cultivation Technique, it would not be difficult to guess how strong Yao Lao had been in life.
"You think Heaven Tier Cultivation Techniques grow on cabbage...?" The corner of Yao Lao's mouth twitched.
"Oh, so it isn't Heaven Tier. Then forget it." Xiao Yan immediately lost interest. If it was not Heaven Tier, then it could be Earth Tier at best. Although an Earth Tier Cultivation Method was a treasure that money alone could not buy in the Jia Ma Empire, in the Central Plains, such methods were rare but not impossible to purchase.
"You little..." Yao Lao shook his head, unsure whether to laugh or cry. "Rest assured. Though this cultivation method isn't a Heaven Tier Cultivation Technique, it's even more bizarre than one. In terms of value, even a Heaven Tier Cultivation Technique might not measure up to it!"
"A cultivation method even more bizarre than Heaven Tier..." That, instead, piqued Xiao Yan's interest. "What grade is it?"
"Yellow Tier Low Grade."
"Does this cultivation method... have something special about it?" Xiao Yan frowned and asked. Yao Lao was actually calling a Yellow Tier Low Grade cultivation method more bizarre than a Heaven Tier one. Unless the old man was deliberately toying with him, there had to be something special about it.
"See for yourself." Yao Lao turned his palm over, and an illusory black scroll appeared in his hand. Xiao Yan hesitated, then reached out and took it. The scroll quickly transformed into a streak of light and flowed into his mind, followed by a stream of peculiar information.
Xiao Yan immediately closed his eyes to absorb the information. Soon, he opened them again, a rare look of shock appearing in his eyes. Yao Lao had not been fooling him. This cultivation method could indeed be considered more bizarre than a Heaven Tier method. At the very least, Xiao Yan had never seen a cultivation method capable of evolving in his previous life.
And the strangest thing about this cultivation method was that it evolved by devouring heavenly flames!
The more heavenly flames it devoured, and the higher their quality, the higher the grade it could evolve to.
Under normal circumstances, only one heavenly flame could exist within a person's body. There were exceptions, of course. In his previous life, for instance, besides refining the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, Xiao Yan had forcibly suppressed several other heavenly flames with his immense strength. But that was something only someone at Peak Dou Sheng could possibly accomplish. This cultivation method, however, allowed someone to control several heavenly flames at once even with meager strength!
Yet this cultivation method was also perilous beyond measure. Heavenly flames were marvels born of heaven and earth, already exceedingly difficult to find. And how could devouring one possibly be a trivial matter?
When Xiao Yan had devoured the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame back then, he had survived by the narrowest margin, nearly having his soul scattered into oblivion. Though ordinary heavenly flames were nowhere near as powerful as the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, the current Xiao Yan did not possess the earth-shaking cultivation he had enjoyed as the Demon Fury Sage in his previous life, either.
From Xiao Yan's perspective, this cultivation method had another major problem. It started at Yellow Tier Low Grade, practically the lowest grade of cultivation method there was. Moreover, only a Dou Zhe could begin cultivating it. Anyone who had not practiced it from the outset-a Da Dou Shi, for example-would have to disperse their own Dou Qi before they could cultivate it.
But without powerful backing, someone cultivating this method normally would have almost none of the resources needed to subdue a heavenly flame. And among those with such backing, how many would have nothing better to do than cultivate a method that could kill them? Furthermore, unless one directly devoured a heavenly flame ranked among the top four, raising this method to Heaven Tier would require at least five heavenly flames. But what faction could produce five heavenly flames in one go? Even taking another step back, if a faction really possessed five heavenly flames, it would already have a Heaven Tier Cultivation Technique. What would it need this thing for?
"This thing really is even more bizarre than a Heaven Tier method..." Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes, a trace of fiery eagerness flashing through them.
"I obtained this cultivation method by chance. I call it... the Flame Mantra. Even with all my experience, I would count it among the most bizarre cultivation methods in the world. As for whether you cultivate it, that's up to you..." Yao Lao watched Xiao Yan as he spoke slowly.
"Honestly, only a madman could have created this thing. No normal person would choose to cultivate it." Under Yao Lao's expectant gaze, Xiao Yan pondered for a while before speaking.
"But... who told me to be a madman myself? So I'm definitely going to cultivate this thing."
Before you continue