Breaking Through to Dou Zhe, Beginning the Spirit Refining Art, and Absorbing the Emperor Flame

Inside the bedroom.

Xiao Ce rose from the bathing tub. Looking at the water, which had already turned clear, he stretched his body, dried himself, and put on his robes.

He thought, A year has passed, and that Qi Gathering Powder still hasn't been used. But if I want to take it and use it, I'll have to reveal my current cultivation.

Still, so be it. The Dou Qi Continent has so many fortuitous opportunities. I'll just make up a couple.

With that thought, Xiao Ce pushed open his bedroom door and found a bottle of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid already placed outside, on the very day he had just used up his previous portion.

"I don't need it anymore. I'll have to find time to lay some of my cards on the table with my fourth brother and tell him to stop sending me Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid," Xiao Ce murmured.

He put away this portion of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid anyway, then left his courtyard.

On his way to find Xiao Zhan, he occasionally encountered members of the Xiao Clan and received the textbook treatment: disdainful looks and mocking smiles.

Xiao Ce could barely even muster any anger. It was like a wolf looking at dogs-no matter how they barked, their noise scarcely reached his ears.

He soon reached the study of his father, Xiao Zhan, who was handling the Xiao Clan's official affairs. At some point, more white had appeared in his hair.

Knock, knock, knock-

"Father." Xiao Ce pushed open the door and entered.

Xiao Zhan looked up. Seeing Xiao Ce, he smiled. "Ce'er, what is it?"

Xiao Ce did not waste words. Never particularly fond of wasting time, he said succinctly, "Father, I've reached the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi. I'd like the Qi Gathering Powder to break through to Dou Zhe."

Xiao Zhan froze, seemingly unable to believe what he had heard. Only after several seconds did he ask blankly, "Ce'er, what did you say?"

Xiao Ce repeated himself.

Sitting in his chair, Xiao Zhan raised a hand to his forehead and forced himself to take in the information. It took him quite a while to accept the fact.

He looked at Xiao Ce again and asked, "What exactly happened?"

"I came across some fortuitous opportunities," Xiao Ce said.

Xiao Zhan opened his mouth, then nodded. "That's the only explanation."

A saying circulated across the Dou Qi Continent: if one day you tumble off a cliff and fall into a cave, don't panic. Take a couple of steps forward, and perhaps you will become a powerhouse.

That saying was not without reason.

Xiao Zhan gradually accepted that his third son had encountered a fortuitous opportunity. Tears welled in his eyes. "Wonderful, wonderful.

"Ce'er, you and Yan'er are both doing better and better.

"One found a fortuitous opportunity, and the other's talent has recovered to an even greater level than before."

Xiao Ce was somewhat moved, but he did not shed tears. He simply stepped forward and hugged his father, Xiao Zhan.

After the embrace, Xiao Zhan's entire spirit seemed to have risen several levels. He looked at Xiao Ce with gratification and said, "Ce'er, wait here a moment. I'll go get that portion of Qi Gathering Powder for you."

Xiao Ce nodded and waited in the study.

Xiao Zhan left and soon returned, an exquisite jade box now in his hand.

"Ce'er, the Qi Gathering Powder is inside. Take it," Xiao Zhan said.

Xiao Ce accepted it, already feeling somewhat impatient.

"Father, I'm off to make my breakthrough." With that, Xiao Ce left the study.

On the mountain behind the Xiao Clan.

Sitting on the large rock again after a long absence, Xiao Ce opened the jade box and put the pill-shaped Qi Gathering Powder straight into his mouth.

In an instant, a faint, mild coolness spread through his mouth, while a warm stream of pure energy spread through his body.

Xiao Ce devoted himself fully to meditation. The Earth Flame within him quietly transformed into nihility devouring flame, its terrifying devouring power helping him rapidly digest the medicinal power of the Qi Gathering Powder.

Wisps of milky-white Dou Qi emerged from the air and poured into his body, intertwining with the green energy of the Qi Gathering Powder.

Gradually, Xiao Ce felt the Dou Qi within him reach a critical point, unable to expand any further.

He knew the time had come!

Xiao Ce focused and formed a seal with his hands. A powerful suction instantly surged from his lower abdomen, drawing the Dou Qi throughout his meridians toward it.

Then his soul perception, far beyond that of ordinary people, came into play.

He compressed the Dou Qi again and again. Once, twice, three times.

When the third compression was complete, Xiao Ce felt as though he had undergone a transformation. His Dou Qi had completely changed into Dou Qi of a higher quality.

A cloudlike Dou Qi vortex had also formed in his lower abdomen.

Xiao Ce said silently, System, open the status panel.

[Host: Xiao Ce]

[Race: Human]

[Cultivation: One-Star Dou Practitioner]

[Soul: Mortal Realm]

[Physique: Tier Zero]

[Attribute: Fire with a trace of wood]

[Cultivation method: None]

[Dou Technique: Rock-Splitting Palm (High Yellow Tier / Minor Accomplishment)]

[Bloodline: Xiao Clan Dou Di Bloodline (Extremely faint)]

[Constitution: None]

[Mount: None]

[Pet beast: None]

[Natural spiritual entity: Emperor Flame (Weak)]

[Deployment count: 1 (Breakthrough to Dou Zhe, deployment count +1)]

Looking at the panel, surprise and delight appeared in Xiao Ce's eyes. "A new [Attribute] field has appeared, and my attribute is fire with a trace of wood!

"With powerful soul perception and this attribute, I'm a naturally promising Alchemist candidate!"

On the Dou Qi Continent, the status of Alchemists was beyond question.

However, the requirements for becoming an Alchemist were simply too high. Not only did one need soul perception far beyond that of ordinary people, but one's Dou Qi attribute also had to undergo a one-in-ten-thousand mutation, adding a trace of wood to the fire attribute.

Xiao Ce had already prepared himself for the possibility that he lacked the potential to become an Alchemist. He had never expected the surprise to arrive so suddenly.

"Today really is a good day. Not only did I break through to Dou Zhe and discover my potential as an Alchemist,

"I also gained a deployment opportunity.

"And I can finally start cultivating the Spirit Refining Art and absorb the Emperor Flame!"

Without hesitation, Xiao Ce began circulating his Dou Qi according to his memories of the Spirit Refining Art.

Following the circulation route recorded in the Spirit Refining Art, he controlled his Dou Qi, moving it somewhat awkwardly through the specified meridians.

His meridians expanded bit by bit. As the Dou Qi circulated along the Spirit Refining Art's meridian route, it gradually began to change.

One circuit... two circuits... three circuits...

The Dou Qi gradually took on a color.

It was a chaotic black, like a black hole capable of devouring everything, carrying a suffocating sensation that made one's scalp crawl.

By the time all the Dou Qi within Xiao Ce had transformed into the Spirit Refining Art's exclusive Dou Qi, the meridian route within him had also been fully opened.

At that moment, Xiao Ce stopped cultivating.

He had officially gained an initial grasp of the Spirit Refining Art. Perhaps he was not yet proficient, but it was enough.

He could slowly improve his proficiency with the cultivation method later. Right now, he could hardly wait to claim the Emperor Flame for himself!

As for whether absorbing the Emperor Flame now would be premature and cause the absorption to fail?

Xiao Ce had no such worries at all.

After all, the Emperor Flame showed no resistance toward him and was extremely obedient, making it very easy to absorb.

Besides, the sooner he absorbed it, the sooner he could enjoy its benefits.

Only by truly absorbing the Emperor Flame could he bring its effects into full play.

At the same time, he could raise the cultivation method's tier as soon as possible. One step ahead meant staying ahead at every step.

With that thought, Xiao Ce closed his eyes and sensed inward, drawing the brilliantly multicolored Emperor Flame out of his body.

The flame gathered in his palm, so small that it was not even as large as his hand. But Xiao Ce would never underestimate it because of that.

Without hesitation, Xiao Ce grabbed the Emperor Flame. Its temperature rapidly dropped, leaving him unburned.

Then Xiao Ce opened his mouth and swallowed the Emperor Flame into his belly in a single gulp.

At that moment, the Spirit Refining Art began circulating madly.