After a while, Xiao Tian finally struggled to his feet.
His vision was still slightly blurry. He raised a stiff hand and pressed it against his forehead, grimacing.
"The backlash of this thing is way too strong…" Xiao Tian muttered unhappily.
Hearing this, Xiao Ling'er first froze, then opened her mouth wide in disbelief. A moment later, she turned her head away angrily.
"Isn't it because your body is too weak? You don't even know your own limits."
Xiao Tian's face darkened.
Although he knew his body was in terrible condition, hearing it said so bluntly was still painful. That was far too disheartening.
Ignoring Xiao Ling'er, Xiao Tian sat down cross-legged and carefully examined his body.
What he discovered shocked him.
The meridians throughout his body had widened noticeably, and even his blood vessels had become thicker and tougher.
Although he hadn't cultivated any Dou Technique yet, he could clearly sense the surrounding battle qi drifting toward him on its own, entering his body without deliberate control.
"So this is battle qi…" Xiao Tian murmured, joy flashing in his eyes. "It really is mysterious."
Looking down, he noticed that his body had become much cleaner and fairer, the filth washed away during the transformation.
"There's still the Qi-Boosting Powder!" Xiao Ling'er's cheerful voice rang out. "Hurry up and take it. Then get stronger and lead Ling'er to dominate the Dou Qi Continent!"
Dominate the Dou Qi Continent?
Xiao Tian nearly laughed.
If one Qi-Boosting Powder were enough to dominate this world, then he'd be a monster among monsters.
Even so, his body had already made its choice.
He uncorked the jade bottle and swallowed the Qi-Boosting Powder without hesitation, even smacking his lips as if savoring the taste.
A warm sensation slowly gathered in his abdomen.
Xiao Tian immediately sat cross-legged, calming his mind. The sparse battle qi in the air began to swirl toward him. After circulating once, it flowed into his body.
Once inside, the battle qi split into two streams.
One settled in his abdomen, while the other traveled through every meridian. Wherever it passed, his meridians seemed to awaken, glowing faintly as vitality returned to them.
After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Tian slowly opened his eyes.
He clenched his fist.
A surge of strength pulsed through his body.
"So this is the third stage of Dou Qi…" Xiao Tian whispered, excitement burning in his gaze. "As expected, Dou Qi truly can't be explained by science."
"If the heavens are giving me another chance… then in this world, I'll climb to the very peak!"
At that moment, his entire aura changed.
The timid, submissive servant was gone. In his place stood a young man radiating confidence and determination.
Before he could enjoy it further, angry shouting came from outside.
Xiao Tian's expression tightened. He immediately dismissed the panel and crept toward the door. Peeking through the window, he saw a thin but arrogant figure.
"It's Xiao Shi…" someone whispered nearby. "Xiao Tian forgot to clean the training ground. He's definitely going to get beaten again."
Xiao Shi.
The leader of the servants.
He had beaten and humiliated Xiao Tian countless times, and Xiao Tian had always swallowed his anger.
But now—
"He's only at the second stage of Dou Qi," Xiao Tian thought calmly. "And I'm at the third."
Confidence surged.
He pushed the door open and stepped outside.
"Xiao Tian!" Xiao Shi barked, pointing straight at his face. "Do you still want your wages? It's this late and you're still sleeping? Can't you even clean the training equipment properly?!"
Xiao Tian didn't reply.
Instead, he reached out, grabbed Xiao Shi's outstretched hand, stepped forward, and slammed his shoulder into Xiao Shi's chest.
Bang!
Xiao Shi was sent flying and crashed heavily to the ground.
Before he could react, he was already screaming in pain.
The two lackeys behind him stared in shock. When they finally recovered, they rushed over to help Xiao Shi up.
"You dare hit me?!" Xiao Shi roared, clutching his chest. "Beat him to death!"
The two lackeys immediately charged forward.
"Didn't expect you'd dare attack the leader," one sneered. "You're tired of living!"
Xiao Tian didn't panic.
Neither of them had any battle qi—they were ordinary people.
He clenched his fists, pushed off the ground, and struck.
One punch sent a lackey flying.
The second froze in fear, then turned to run.
"Run?" Xiao Tian's voice was cold. "After mocking me all this time?"
He appeared behind the lackey and kicked him hard, sending him vomiting blood to the ground.
Xiao Shi trembled, staring at the scene in disbelief.
Standing before him, Xiao Tian spoke calmly:
"Don't look down on people so easily. And if you don't know how to be a dog, I can teach you—because only you are qualified to be one."
Terrified, Xiao Shi scrambled to his feet.
"Don't think breaking through to the third stage makes you special!" he shouted while retreating. "My master will deal with you!"
He fled in panic.
The two lackeys lay awkwardly on the ground, unsure what to do.
"Tell Xiao Shuo not to provoke me again," Xiao Tian said coldly. "And remember—keep your dogs on a leash. Get lost."
"Yes, yes!"
The two scrambled away as if granted amnesty.
Xiao Tian exhaled slowly.
The immediate trouble was resolved—but a bigger one loomed.
Xiao Shi's master was Xiao Shuo, a cultivator at the fourth stage of Dou Qi, and he had even mastered a low-level Yellow Rank Dou Technique.
Xiao Tian, on the other hand, relied purely on brute force.
Returning to his room, Xiao Tian shut the doors and windows tightly and opened the system panel.
"Open the Qi Pavilion."
"The Qi Pavilion contains cultivation techniques and combat skills. Low-level and mid-level Yellow Rank are currently unlocked. High-level Yellow Rank will unlock upon reaching Dou Zhe."
"The Pill Pavilion cannot be opened. Requirement: One-Star Dou Zhe."
"Current points: 100."
"Combat skills available:
— Shattering Stone Palm (Low-level Yellow Rank) – 100 points
— Fiery Cloud Palm (Mid-level Yellow Rank) – 500 points"
"Cultivation techniques available:
— Flame Mantra Technique (Low-level Yellow Rank) – 100 points
— Heavenly Star Technique (Mid-level Yellow Rank) – 1000 points"
Xiao Tian's heart pounded.
The Flame Mantra Technique.
The very technique that changed Xiao Yan's fate.
Yet Xiao Tian also knew its dangers. It required absorbing different flames—and he lacked Xiao Yan's bloodline.
After a long hesitation, he clenched his teeth.
"I choose the Burning Flame Technique."
His points dropped to zero.
A stream of memories flooded his mind.
But his body remained unchanged.
Only then did Xiao Tian slap his forehead.
"I'm still only at the third stage of Dou Qi… what was I thinking?"
With no points left, he sighed deeply.
"Looks like I'll have to rely on myself."
Straightening his clothes, Xiao Tian walked toward the training ground.
The road ahead was long.
But this time—
He would not kneel to fate.