.
Xiao Ling, satisfied with the lotus platform's powerful effects, a faint smile played upon his lips.
He eagerly extracted an Earth Fire Lotus Seed, sensing the immense fire energy within it. Without hesitation, he opened his mouth and swallowed it whole.
The moment the Earth Fire Lotus Seed entered Xiao Ling's mouth, it instantly transformed into a surge of fire energy, spreading throughout his body. Sensing this transformation, Xiao Ling immediately began to practice the Burning Technique with all his might, digesting the pure energy within him.
Feeling the Dou Qi within him steadily increasing, Xiao Ling nodded. "This Earth Fire Lotus Seed is like a pure fire-attributed elixir. For fire-attributed practitioners, it's truly a treasure. With this Earth Fire Lotus Seed and the Dou Ling Pill, breaking through to the high-level Dou Wang realm won't take long."
Clearing his mind, Xiao Ling closed his eyes and began to concentrate on refining the energy within him.
...
The next morning.
Inside the room, Xiao Ling sat quietly cross-legged on the cyan lotus platform. Countless energies of heaven and earth surged around him, forming a milky white wave of energy.
While cultivating, Xiao Ling suddenly opened his eyes, and the Dou Qi within him burst forth uncontrollably, only to be quickly reabsorbed.
The moment he opened his eyes, his body trembled. At that moment, he could clearly sense the Dou Crystal, already reaching its limit, quietly expanding. His slightly heavy body felt lighter than before, and the strength within his muscles surged.
Sensing these numerous changes, Xiao Ling knew he had now officially become a Five-Star Dou King.
"As expected of a companion item to the Strange Fire, its effects are truly extraordinary. It instantly allowed me to break through to the first-star level. If other fire-attribute cultivators knew I possessed this item, they would surely bid dearly for it."
Stretching slightly, Xiao Ling exhaled softly, formed a hand seal to conclude his practice, and with a gentle leap, his body floated down from the lotus platform.
Standing beside the lotus platform, Xiao Ling gazed at the still immaculate, spotless cyan lotus platform, a soft chuckle escaped his lips. Carefully, he stored it in his storage ring, then tilted his head to gaze at the gradually brightening sky, slightly surprised. "It's already daybreak?"
After storing the cyan lotus platform, Xiao Ling lightly adjusted his somewhat disheveled clothes, walked out of the room, and
after a short distance, he arrived in the living room. The figures of two young girls came into view.
Qinglin sat coiled between several of her pet snakes, reading the "Heavenly Snake Manual" given to her by Xiao Ling from hand, occasionally reaching out her delicate hands to stroke the heads of several snakes.
Ziyan was half-lying on the sofa, playing with a porcelain bottle in her hand, then she poured a pill from it and popped it into her mouth like a candy bean.
Perhaps hearing the footsteps of Xiao Ling, the two women stopped what they were doing and cast their gazes in his direction.
Seeing Xiao Ling approaching, Ziyan, who had just broken through to the Five-Star Dou Wang level and whose aura was still not fully restrained, was able to sense the change in Xiao Ling's aura.
Zi Yan looked at Xiao Ling with curiosity. "Xiao Ling, Xiao Ling, have you reached the Five-Star Dou Wang level? No wonder I sensed a shift in the energy of heaven and earth in this room. It must be your breakthrough."
Xiao Ling looked at Zi Yan and smiled. "Yes, I took the companion product of the Azure Lotus Earth Core Fire, which improved my cultivation. I just reached the Five-Star Dou Wang level."
With a flash of white light in his hand, Xiao Ling pulled out an Earth Fire Lotus Seed from his storage ring and tossed it to Zi Yan. "It's called an Earth Fire Lotus Seed, but it's very rare. I'll give you a taste."
Zi Yan took it in her palm and said with a grin, "Hey, thank you, Xiao Ling."
Although Qing Lin couldn't distinguish the aura Xiao Ling exuded, he could still sense that he was much stronger than before. He walked briskly to Xiao Ling's side.
"Congratulations, young master, on your improvement." Qing Lin looked at Xiao Ling, his face filled with joy.
Patting Qing Lin's head, Xiao Ling said fondly, "Qing Lin, your cultivation has improved rapidly as well. It seems you've been practicing diligently these days."
After the three of them chatted for a while, Xiao Ling smiled and said to the two women, "Then let's not dawdle any longer and set off for the Imperial Capital." With that, he pushed open the door of the map shop, waved to the two women, and then walked out first.
Qing Lin and Zi Yan nodded in agreement. Hand in hand, they followed Xiao Ling out of the map shop,
closing the door behind them and locking it. Xiao Ling awakened the Split Sky Seat from his sleeve, sat on it with the two women, and flew towards the Monster Mountain Range.
Standing atop the Split Sky Seat, overlooking the gradually shrinking Mo City, Xiao Ling muttered to himself, "I wonder when I'll be here again. Unless something special happens, I might never return to this city again."
...
After days of flying on the Split Sky Seat, Xiao Ling and his companions finally arrived at the town at the outermost edge of the Monster Mountain Range.
The town was called Qingshan Town, also known as Monster Town due to its proximity to the Monster Mountain Range. Naturally, the town's largest crowd consisted of the mercenaries, who lived on the brink of death.
Groups of them, arms entwined, chattered in the streets, freely discussing the town's most attractive women, the strongest liquor, and the most ferocious monsters.
At that moment, Xiao Ling, accompanied by Qinglin and Ziyan, strolled through the streets of Qingshan Town.
Xiao Ling's out-of-place demeanor, coupled with the playful and adorable presence of Qinglin and Ziyan, the two girls behind him, naturally attracted curious glances from passersby.
However, whenever anyone tried to approach the three of them, Xiao Ling would exude an aura comparable to that of a master fighter, thus avoiding much trouble.
Xiao Ling paid no heed to the glances from the surrounding crowds, instead slowly making his way through the streets with the two girls, searching for their destination.
Numerous shops lined the street, and due to the location, the area was bustling with activity.
Xiao Ling's gaze wandered through the brightly lit shops with interest, but when his eyes fell on a spacious herbal medicine shop, he paused.
Seeing the large inscription "Wanyaozhai" on the plaque at the entrance, a faint smile crossed his lips, and without hesitation, he led Qinglin and Ziyan into the shop.
(End of Chapter)