Unknowingly, several months had passed in a flash. Xiao Yan did a quick mental calculation—his fourteenth birthday was just around the corner. Reflecting on it, it had been a full five years since he left the Xiao Clan. It was about time he returned to visit, and perhaps bring Xiao Zhan and the others back to Xiao Sect to ensure their safety. Who knew when danger might strike?
During these months of seclusion and cultivation, Xiao Yan's strength had advanced to the nine-star Dou Zong level. A growth rate of nearly one star per month—enough to utterly terrify the average person. Yet for Xiao Yan, it wasn't overly difficult. He had absorbed hundreds, if not thousands, of tribulation lightning energies. With such help, a rapid rise in strength was not unimaginable.
And it wasn't only the pill lightning energy that contributed to his breakthrough. Perhaps due to the intense movement during his pill refinement, he had unintentionally attracted some mysterious lifeforms native to the magma. These creatures resembled humanoid lizards, and as soon as they appeared, they launched a fierce assault on Xiao Yan.
Individually, these lizardmen weren't particularly strong, but their numbers were overwhelming. They also possessed the rare ability to manipulate magma, making them a troublesome threat for most cultivators. However, Xiao Yan had the Nether Poison Flame. For someone like him, quantity was never a concern. Just a sprinkle of his flame's poison was enough to wipe out swarms of them on the spot.
Strangely enough, after death, these lizardmen dropped crimson pearls—similar to the Thunder Beads Xiao Yan crafted from tribulation lightning. Each of these red orbs held a potent fire attribute energy. For a fire-attributed cultivator like Xiao Yan, they were a perfect supplement. Although the energy within was fierce and volatile, with Heavenly Flames protecting him, he could refine them without issue.
After tasting the benefits, Xiao Yan launched a one-man massacre in the magma world, slaughtering his way from Dou Ling-level lizardmen up to Dou Zong. At one point, using the lethal precision of the Annihilation Flame Eyes, he even ambushed and slew over a dozen Dou Zun-level flame lizardmen. However, before long, he sensed several more powerful auras approaching. Rather than risk it, he activated his Flame Ascension Shadow Step and retreated swiftly.
With his mastery of the Dou Skill, Xiao Yan could move freely through the magma. Combined with his powerful soul perception, if he wanted to hide, those lizardmen would never find him. To avoid further interruptions, he even moved his alchemy location afterward.
Thanks to the massive accumulation of Thunder Beads, red energy pearls, and the dense fire energy of the underground realm, Xiao Yan had broken through to nine-star Dou Zong in mere months. Due to refining so much lightning energy, his Dou Qi now even carried faint electric arcs, slightly increasing its destructive power.
At this point, Xiao Yan was powerful enough to fight against Dou Zun-level opponents even without using transformations like the Three Profound Changes of Heavenly Flame. If he went all out, he might even defeat eight- or nine-star Dou Zun experts. In the Central Plains, that kind of strength was already enough to earn him recognition as a formidable powerhouse.
His continued pill refining also yielded excellent results. He had successfully crafted several tier-eight pills, once even summoning a five-colored pill lightning—signaling a breakthrough to mid-tier eighth-grade alchemist. His soul power, under the refining effect of the Nine Revolutions Soul Refining Art, had steadily advanced to the mid-stage Soul Realm. He was now, without doubt, a true master alchemist.
However, Xiao Yan was now preparing to leave the magma world. It wasn't that he didn't want to stay longer, but rather, he had exhausted all his collected medicinal ingredients. Gathering the materials needed for seventh- and eighth-tier pills again in a short time was impossible. He had no choice but to pause his alchemy pursuits.
"What a shame…" Xiao Yan sighed, shaking his head. If he could've continued absorbing pill lightning and refining red pearls, he might have broken through to Dou Zun in no time. But that would have to wait. For now, it was back to good old-fashioned cultivation.
Just as he was about to depart, the Falling Heart Flame inside his body suddenly flickered. It was a familiar sensation—he had been feeling it ever since he first arrived underground. He suspected something in the depths of the magma was calling to his flame. He had ignored it until now, but the feeling had returned.
"Since I've got nothing else to do, I might as well check it out," Xiao Yan muttered and dashed toward the source of the summoning. With his current strength, he could move freely through magma. Not to mention, he still had over a thousand Thunder Beads in his storage ring. If push came to shove, unleashing them all would be no weaker than a four-colored version of the Wrath of the Flame Lotus.
He soon arrived at the origin of the sensation. To his surprise, it wasn't far from where he had been refining pills. In that location was a concealed magma vortex, above which floated a transparent energy field, glowing faintly with white light.
"Spatial power, huh…" Xiao Yan's brows lifted slightly. He was no stranger to such ripples—only someone at the Dou Zun level or higher could create them.
Of course, even though he was only a nine-star Dou Zong, Xiao Yan's mastery of spatial power exceeded even many Dou Sheng experts. He could easily create something similar. In fact, it was by using such spatial techniques that he had evaded the flame lizardmen previously. Had his cultivation been higher, he could have formed a private spatial dimension of his own.
What piqued his curiosity now was—who had left behind this spatial field? Though there were Dou Zun-level lizardmen outside, they were crude in their use of power. Aside from manipulating magma, they had no finesse or deeper understanding of energy. Spatial power? Not a chance.
Without hesitation, Xiao Yan leapt into the glowing field. Judging from the energy signature, this was the work of, at most, a five-star Dou Zun—not someone he needed to fear anymore. Besides, the Falling Heart Flame's call was growing more intense. He might as well see it through.
Once inside, Xiao Yan saw a skeletal corpse floating at the center of the space. On the skeleton danced a transparent flame, gently flickering. As soon as Xiao Yan laid eyes on that formless flame, he understood why his Falling Heart Flame had reacted.
There was another Falling Heart Flame here!
(End of Chapter)
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