"Father, has something happened to the clan?" Xiao Yan asked.
Xiao Zhan fell silent for a moment. He hesitated, then finally said, "It's not really anything serious. The clan only recently moved here and took over interests that originally belonged to other forces, so there's been constant friction with them. I thought I'd have you two spend the next four or five years safely at an academy."
"Once the clan has settled down, you'll both be just the right age to come back and take over clan affairs."
"And once you go to Shrek Academy, with your talents, the two of you are certain to enter the Inner Academy. With that status, the other forces will have to watch how they deal with the Xiao Clan."
Xiao Zhan laid out his plans without holding anything back.
As Xiao Yan listened to his father, he could sense that the crisis facing the clan from outside was probably no small matter.
But he truly had a poor impression of Shrek. In the original story, Shrek Academy's teaching had ruined Xiao Xiao's talent for Twin Martial Souls. Then there were that fire-setting evil woman, the double agent Xuan Zi, Tang San's hook... a whole heap of trouble he wanted nothing to do with.
It was called an academy, but in the end, it was just another great clan.
On the Douluo Continent, strength reigned supreme.
Xiao Yan had no desire to put on a leash for some ten-thousand-year plan of Shrek's.
"Father, there's no need to persuade us. Neither Xiao Xiao nor I are going to the academy."
"You've seen how strong I am now," Xiao Yan said firmly. "If I went to Shrek Academy, would they train me as a true disciple?"
"I doubt it, because my surname is Xiao, the Xiao of the Xiao Clan."
Xiao Zhan realized it too when he heard that. Yes, his son had the makings of a Douluo!
Where couldn't he become a Titled Douluo?
Besides, Xiao Yan had plenty of secrets. As his father, he could refrain from asking, but would the powerhouses at the academy do the same?
Should he entrust his own son's safety to the goodwill of others?
Xiao Zhan made up his mind. "Good! We'll do as you say."
After their father, Xiao Zhan, left the study, only the brother and sister remained to catch up.
Xiao Yan checked Xiao Xiao's Soul Power, wanting to know whether she had cultivated diligently during the month and a half he had been away.
"Not bad. Level twenty-six Soul Power. Looks like you've been cultivating diligently while I was gone."
Xiao Yan smiled.
According to the original story's timeline, eleven-year-old Xiao Xiao should only have had level twenty-two Soul Power at this point.
But with Xiao Yan setting an example, the once-lazy Xiao Xiao had been influenced by her brother and become incredibly diligent.
"Of course! Brother, you promised me! When I reach level thirty, you'll take me to hunt Soul Beasts again!" Xiao Xiao said happily.
Clearly, she still had quite a bit of resentment over Xiao Yan leaving her behind when he went out to train this time.
"Mm, I'll keep my word. Go cultivate first. I'll continue consolidating what I gained during my training." Xiao Yan nodded, dismissing her.
"Bleh!" Xiao Xiao made a face and ran out. "Brother, you're a cultivation maniac, always thinking about cultivating!"
Xiao Yan smiled at the sight. That girl was a mischievous little imp.
He then took the passage inside the study to the secret cultivation chamber.
At the center of the chamber was a level-five soul-gathering soul tool array, which only accelerated cultivation for Soul Masters below the Soul King level.
There were higher-level soul tool arrays, but they couldn't afford one at present.
Xiao Yan sat down cross-legged and began switching cultivation methods.
His original method was the "Xiao Cauldron Meditation Method," passed down among members of the Xiao Clan, and it wasn't entirely suited to his cultivation.
But after he added the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm as a Million-Year Soul Ring to his Martial Soul, the Nine Fire Heavenly Plate, he had unlocked not only the first flame, Bone Spirit Cold Flame, but also a cultivation method that led straight to Heaven Tier: the Flame Mantra!
"At the pinnacle of fire, burn the eight directions, seize creation, turn nirvana, grasp life and death, command the cycle of reincarnation..."
In Xiao Yan's mind, the Nine Fire Heavenly Plate turned like a lotus. Tiny golden characters, shaped like tadpoles, merged into his sea of consciousness, making it both wider and sturdier.
Xiao Yan quickly grasped how to cultivate the Flame Mantra, how to circulate it through his meridians, how to wield Heavenly Flames, and how to absorb and refine different Heavenly Flames...
"So that's how it is! I understand!"
Xiao Yan slowly breathed out a mouthful of turbid air, his voice relaxed.
"Then I'll try fusing with the first Heavenly Flame, Bone Spirit Cold Flame!"
With that thought, his Martial Soul, the Nine Fire Heavenly Plate, appeared beneath him. It lifted Xiao Yan as he began cultivating cross-legged, spreading into nine lotus petals so that he seemed to be seated on a lotus platform.
Cold white flames then rose from Xiao Yan's body. Amid the surging white fire, his handsome, extraordinary bearing seemed even more ethereal and otherworldly.
If his previous mastery of Bone Spirit Cold Flame had only been enough to use it, he was now moving toward wielding it as easily as his own arm.
The Bone Spirit Cold Flame was now like a little white dragon, constantly roaming through Xiao Yan's body. Each surge burned away impurities in his Soul Power and strengthened his body.
An unknown amount of time passed before a white flame mark flickered between Xiao Yan's brows. As the mark grew steadier, it signaled that the refining was drawing to a close.
"Ah!!!"
Xiao Yan threw back his head and let out a long cry. His presence rose at an astonishing speed!
He then opened his eyes. The pure white in his pupils gradually faded, leaving a deep black.
Not only had he successfully fused with a Heavenly Flame, he had also discovered that he could use it as a medium to burn Soul Power through the Nine Fire Heavenly Plate and enter a burst-combat form, much like a Super Saiyan transformation.
The side effect was rather severe, though. Once burned, his Soul Power couldn't recover on its own and had to be cultivated anew.
"This counts as my burst trump card."
Xiao Yan made a quick calculation in his mind.
For every level of Soul Power he burned, his strength would increase by roughly ten percent. Only by burning ten levels could he increase his full strength.
Looked at that way, it wasn't very cost-effective.
But what if he had one more Heavenly Flame? What if he had nine more?
Besides, who said he had to burn his own Soul Power?
If he carried a few Soul Power Milk Bottles, or attached a spare Soul Power pack to himself, wouldn't he be able to activate the boost anytime, anywhere?
Speaking of spare Soul Power packs, he had to mention the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife!
If he could get his hands on the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife, Xiao Yan didn't know how much his strength might improve.
The Gold of Life inside the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife alone could transform his body once he absorbed it all.
"And there's Electrolux..."
Many thoughts surfaced in Xiao Yan's mind. Time waited for no one; he had to seize opportunities early.
He wondered whether his father had heard anything about the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife yet.
He then sensed his Soul Power Level: forty-one. It had originally been level forty-three, but after fusing with Bone Spirit Cold Flame, it had fallen by two levels. That wasn't a bad thing, however; instead, it had made his Soul Power more flawless and pure.
There was another major benefit: the Flame Mantra had advanced to High Yellow Tier!
He could put off fusing with more Heavenly Flames until he became a Soul Emperor.