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Xiao Yan returned to his dormitory, where Yao Lao and Shui Wuya appeared in their spirit forms.
Yao Lao sighed with regret, his brows knit tightly as he spoke with helplessness and lament, "The recipe for Shengzong Dan that Senior Shui Wuya developed is an invaluable treasure, absolutely priceless. In the hands of a powerful faction, it could generate enormous wealth. Who can say if it's less valuable than a rare flame?"
"Such a pity, truly a pity!" he exclaimed.
Shui Wuya, however, offered a gentle smile, with a trace of reassurance in his voice. "No need to pity it. Mastering the Shengzong Dan is no easy task, and profiting from it would demand vast amounts of time and effort. Besides, by the time Su Qian and the others finish refining Shengzong Dan from this recipe, Xiao Yan may well have reached the Dou Sheng level!"
"Dou Sheng?" Yao Lao was astonished at Shui Wuya's high opinion of Xiao Yan, and a flicker of surprise crossed his face.
With a puzzled expression, Yao Lao asked, "Senior Shui Wuya, do you really have that much confidence in this young man?"
Shui Wuya nodded slightly, his gaze harboring a profound gleam. "Yao Lao, have you not noticed? Xiao Yan possesses a kind of unbelievable strength. And as for Dou Sheng, if I say he can reach it, then he will."
Hearing Shui Wuya's words, Yao Lao furrowed his brow in deep contemplation. As a prominent figure in the alchemy world, he naturally had a keen eye. He knew well of Senior Shui Wuya's immense abilities. But could Xiao Yan truly meet the expectations of this esteemed elder? He began to reevaluate Xiao Yan, searching for the hidden potential that Shui Wuya so valued.
Having absorbed the Fallen Heart Flame, Xiao Yan had already reached the rank of a Nine-Star Dou Shi. His cultivation technique, Flame Mantra, had also evolved to the high-level Earth rank, granting him an extraordinary pace of cultivation.
While Yao Lao was astounded by the strength of Flame Mantra, he still found it hard to believe that Xiao Yan could reach the level of Dou Sheng so easily. Even with the aid of Senior Shui Wuya and himself, achieving Dou Sheng was as challenging as ascending to the heavens.
Yet, with a slight nod, Yao Lao said expectantly, "Very well then, let's wait and see just how far this boy can go!"
Hearing his teacher's confidence, Xiao Yan felt a surge of unprecedented motivation. His eyes gleamed with a fiery resolve, as if ignited by an inner flame. Standing tall, he faced Shui Wuya with a slight smile and replied with determination and confidence, "Teacher Shui Wuya, your words are etched in my heart. I will strive diligently and live up to everyone's expectations!"
With that, he raised his head, his posture radiating resolve and courage.
"Perhaps this boy truly has a chance…"
Behind him, Yao Lao watched Xiao Yan's retreating figure, his gaze filled with a mix of emotions. In Xiao Yan, he seemed to glimpse an unshakable determination that left him with a sense of satisfaction.
Meanwhile, Shui Wuya gave a slight nod, his eyes glinting with approval.
He knew that Xiao Yan possessed boundless potential and talent; given enough time and opportunity, Xiao Yan was certain to become a dark horse in the world of cultivation. In the days that followed, Xiao Yan hardly set foot outside, staying in his dormitory at Jia Nan Academy, focused entirely on his cultivation.
His room was filled with a quiet yet tense atmosphere, as if the air itself was charged with the movement of Dou Qi. Every morning, at the first glimmer of dawn filtering through the curtains, Xiao Yan was already seated cross-legged, immersed in deep meditation.
His face was slightly tense, beads of sweat forming on his forehead and trickling down his cheeks, but his expression remained focused and resolute.
Nearby, Yao Lao's ethereal figure floated, his gaze filled with approval. "Kid, your Dou Qi flow is becoming more refined with each passing day. If you continue at this rate, you'll surely make significant progress within two weeks!"
Xiao Yan opened his eyes, a flash of determination crossing his gaze, and nodded slightly. "Yao Lao, I'll work even harder!"
In addition to cultivating his Dou Qi, Xiao Yan spent a large amount of time each day learning alchemy techniques from Yao Lao. The elder's voice explained in detail each ingredient's properties and the crucial steps of refining.
"Remember, alchemy is not only a skill but a cultivation of the heart. Only with undistracted focus can you create truly exceptional pills!" Yao Lao said while demonstrating, the pill fire in his hand dancing as the herbs gradually merged within the flames.
Xiao Yan watched intently, occasionally asking questions. "Yao Lao, does this ingredient require finer control over the flame's intensity?"
Yao Lao nodded slightly, "Exactly. Your perception is sharp—this is the way. Controlling the flame's intensity is the key to alchemy."
During this time, Shui Wuya would also occasionally appear, offering Xiao Yan crucial pointers.
"Xiao Yan, while your control over your pill fire is decent, you're not yet fully focused when merging the ingredients. Only with complete concentration can you achieve the best results," Shui Wuya advised, standing beside him with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze piercing.
Xiao Yan nodded, gratitude shining in his eyes as he looked at Shui Wuya. "Thank you, Master. I'll strive to improve!"
Sometimes, just a single sentence from Master Shui Wuya would bring Xiao Yan sudden clarity, dispelling his confusion instantly.
As time passed, Xiao Yan immersed himself in cultivation in his dorm at Jia Nan Academy, day after day, nearly losing track of the time's passage. At sunrise, he would promptly sit cross-legged, entering a state of training, absorbing the energy of heaven and earth to refine his Dou Qi.
Before he knew it, two weeks had flown by, and Xiao Yan successfully broke through to the level of a Da Dou Shi. His Dou Qi had become more robust, and he himself appeared more confident and composed.
"Ha-ha! Well done, well done!" Yao Lao chuckled in satisfaction as he looked at Xiao Yan. "You've now reached the level of Da Dou Shi—a great start!"
With a kind smile, Yao Lao took out three spirit pills and handed them to Xiao Yan. "These pills are for you to absorb carefully. I specially crafted a Three-Mark Qingling Pill and two Zixin Barrier-Breaking Pills for you. Altogether, these pills can boost your strength by five stars, so use them wisely!"
Xiao Yan nodded, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Yao Lao, I'll make sure to absorb them well and live up to your expectations!"
Shui Wuya, standing nearby, watched Xiao Yan intently. "You've made quick progress, but it's not enough. You've just stepped onto the threshold of Da Dou Shi; there's still a long way ahead."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan's expression grew serious. "Master Shui Wuya, I understand your guidance. I'll double my efforts and continually raise my strength!"
Shui Wuya also advised Xiao Yan to use the pills separately for optimal benefit. "Xiao Yan, Yao Lao has given you three pills. Start by taking one Zixin Barrier-Breaking Pill now, then take another when you reach the Three-Star Da Dou Shi level, and finally use the Three-Mark Qingling Pill once you're at Six-Star Da Dou Shi. This approach will maximize the enhancement to your strength!"
(End of Chapter)