On the same giant rock in the back mountain of Yun Lan Sect, Nalan Yanran, dressed in a moon-white training uniform, sat cross-legged, absorbing the wind-attribute Dou Qi of heaven and earth with her eyes closed. Behind her, an old man dressed in the robes of an elder of Yun Lan Sect stood with his hands hanging down, waiting quietly.
After a long while, as the mountain winds subsided, Nalan Yanran opened her eyes, rose, and gently floated down from the boulder, landing in front of the old man and bowing slightly.
The old man bowed to Nalan Yanran and said. "Young Sect Master!"
Nalan Yanran reached out to help the old man, feigning anger, and said. "Didn't I tell you, Uncle Ge, just call me Yanran?"
The old man was none other than Ge Ye, who had accompanied Nalan Yanran to the Xiao Family back then. He was a 7-Star Dou Shi back then, but now he was a 2-Star Dou Ling.
"Hehe…" Ge Ye stroked his beard and smiled, looking at the girl in front of him who was already a 7-Star Dou Shi. He was filled with emotion. At such a young age, she already had such strength. Nalan Yanran might not be unable to catch up with the old Sect Leader in the future.
"Uncle Ge, is there something important that you've come for?" Nalan Yanran asked with a smile.
"Oh, is that so…" Then, Ge Ye told her about the birthday banquet that Mo Cheng of the Mo Family would be holding in a month or so. "Now that the Sect Leader is not in the Sect, and to be honest, even if Mo Cheng has made some contributions to the Yun Lan Sect, he is not worthy of the Sect Leader's personal birthday celebration. Therefore, the Grand Elder decided to let you and me go together."
"The Mo Family, I remember it's Senior Brother Mo Li's main family, right?" Nalan Yanran didn't really want to go. Recently, her mood had become increasingly agitated during her cultivation, as if an invisible mountain was pressing down on her shoulders. However, as the young Sect Master of Yun Lan Sect, she had the right and the obligation, and she figured she couldn't get out of this matter.
"Yes!" Ge Ye nodded upon hearing this.
"In that case, let's go. It's a good opportunity to go down the mountain and clear our minds. I've been feeling a bit restless lately from cultivation." Nalan Yanran nodded, also wanting to go out and relax.
"Absolutely!" Ge Ye nodded again. "Yanran, you have been cultivating in the Sect for the past two and a half years. Although you have made great progress, it has not been good for your character. Going down the mountain this time may be of great benefit!"
"Mm!" Nalan Yanran nodded!
...
Stone Desert City, formerly the headquarters of the Sand Mercenary Group.
Having been away for two months, the headquarters of the Sand Mercenary Group remained undisturbed by outsiders, and the interior was kept very clean, likely arranged by Xiao Ding.
After Xiao Yan guessed this, he entrusted the Heavenly Flame to Chen Yang and then returned to the Mo Tie Mercenary Group, leaving Chen Yang and Yun Yun some time alone.
'There seem to be traces of long-term life here, and they belong to a woman…' After walking around, Yun Yun made a certain judgment in her mind. She wanted to ask Chen Yang, but she stopped herself from speaking.
She was capable of shouldering the responsibility of the Yun Lan Sect Master, so she was certainly not a fool. Chen Yang was a young prodigy with an incredibly powerful background, and she, a Sect Master from a small Sect in the Northwest region, was certainly not qualified to be Chen Yang's mistress.
Looking at Chen Yang, who stood in mid-air with red lanterns hanging in the courtyard outside, Yun Yun felt a little bitter. This was the first time she had truly fallen in love, and naturally she wanted to be with him for life.
However, reality is…
"Yun'er, come and take a look, is this lantern crooked…" Chen Yang turned to look at Yun Yun inside the house and called out with a smile.
"Here you are!" Yun Yun suppressed her inner bitterness, ran out of the room with a smile, and stood behind Chen Yang, pointing and gesturing.
In the pond in the courtyard, a lotus platform holds a lotus flame floating in the heart of the earth, emitting a soft green light. Around it, a seven-colored serpent slithers, its movements elegant yet adorable, shining especially brightly under the moonlight.
Chen Yang and Yun Yun were decorating their little home like a newlywed couple, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
After a few moments, Chen Yang and Yun Yun finished setting up the lanterns and sat down in the pavilion. Yun Yun cupped her face in her hands and looked at Chen Yang, who was pulling her hair, and suddenly felt that this was not so bad.
'As long as you don't betray me, I will never betray you…' Yun Yun thought to herself.
That night, Chen Yang's cycling team gained a new member, and Yun Yun, as expected of a Dou Huang powerhouse, displayed exceptional stamina even on her first ride.
The next day, the two didn't get up until the sun was high in the sky before they started cooking.
Yun Yun's cooking skills were, needless to say, practically nonexistent, while Chen Yang's skills were not great, but not bad either.
It wasn't until the two finished their meal and Xiao Yan, having been beaten up in a secluded spot outside the city, arrived at Chen Yang's side. He then sat cross-legged near the Azure Lotus Core Flame and began cultivating.
Xiao Yan was now so anxious that he felt uneasy if he didn't see the Azure Lotus Core Flame for a day, fearing that it would disappear in the blink of an eye.
The seven-colored Seven-Colored Sky-Devouring Python, which was hovering around the Azure Lotus Core Flame, saw that its territory had been occupied and immediately floated to Chen Yang's side, feeling aggrieved.
Chen Yang reached out and grabbed the Seven-Colored Sky-Devouring Python, moving it around until it whimpered. Then he took out his companion Amethyst Source and fed the python a few drops.
Having enjoyed the delicious food, the Seven-Colored Sky-Devouring Python lazily stretched its body before crawling into Chen Yang's sleeve to absorb energy.
Seeing this scene, Yun Yun suddenly thought of an absurd possibility—could this Queen Medusa become her sister in the future?
Yun Yun, who found it increasingly possible, decided to continue cycling with Chen Yang tonight. Since Chen Yang was only by her side during this period, she might as well go for a ride!
...
Time flies, and more than half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, as Xiao Yan's last beating ended and the effects of the last pill wore off, his cultivation journey officially came to a close.
"Phew… The physical body of a top-tier 5-Tier Magical Beast is even better than I expected!" Yao Lao nodded in satisfaction as he looked at Xiao Yan's physical strength.
"This is all thanks to Brother Yang!" Xiao Yan felt as if there were two suns on the Dou Qi Continent, one hanging high above his head and the other firmly in his heart.
"Don't deny your efforts, kid. To be honest, in all my years, I've never seen anyone so ruthless to themselves. Just based on the beatings you've taken in the past six months and the last six months, you're sure to be a strong contender in the future of the Dou Qi Continent!" Yao Lao said earnestly, stroking his beard as he looked at Xiao Yan.
"Then let's see how fate brings us!" Xiao Yan chuckled, then spread his Azure Swallow Wings and swiftly flew back into the city, arriving at Chen Yang's side.
"Have you finished your cultivation?" Chen Yang looked at Xiao Yan, who seemed to have grown even taller, and asked with a smile.
"Yes!" Xiao Yan nodded heavily.
"Rest today, adjust your condition, and devour the Heavenly Flame tomorrow!" Chen Yang said solemnly.
"Okay!" Xiao Yan nodded, turned around and went through a few turns before finding the room he had been staying in for the past few days. He went in and fell asleep immediately.
...
The next day!
Outside the city!
At the edge of the underground lava sea where the Azure Lotus Core Flame was found, Chen Yang, Yun Yun, Xiao Yan, and the Seven-Colored Sky-Devouring Python all arrived. The Seven-Colored Sky-Devouring Python perched on Chen Yang's shoulder, its little head close to Chen Yang's face, looking at the lava sea somewhat timidly.
Xiao Yan and Chen Yang exchanged a glance, a knowing look flashing in their eyes.
Medusa's soul seemed to be asleep at this moment, but it still had a certain impact on the Seven-Colored Sky-Devouring Python. Medusa was seriously injured here when she collected the Azure Lotus Core Flame. Now the Seven-Colored Sky-Devouring Python was afraid of this sea of lava. If they said that Medusa's soul had no effect on the Seven-Colored Sky-Devouring Python, neither of them would believe it.
Whoosh!
Just then, a phantom soul floated out of Xiao Yan's Storage Ring, startling Yun Yun.
"Sister Yun Yun, this is my Teacher, Elder Yao. He was harmed by villains and lost his physical body. Now he lives in this Storage Ring and teaches me cultivation!" Xiao Yan explained to Yun Yun.
"Greetings, Elder Yao!" Yun Yun nodded. If the old man could maintain his soul even after losing his physical body, he must have been at least a Dou Zong expert in his lifetime, so Yun Yun naturally respected him.
"Hmm!" The old doctor nodded kindly, and then began to meticulously instruct Xiao Yan on the steps to devour the Heavenly Flame.
The old doctor had told Xiao Yan about this more than ten times. Although Xiao Yan was familiar with it, he still listened carefully. After all, if the steps of devouring the Heavenly Flame went wrong, it would be a matter of life and death!
"Little Yanzi, your physical body is now comparable to a peak Dou Wang expert, and the Heavenly Flame you devoured is also ranked low. When I was also a Dou Wang, I successfully devoured the Bone Chilling Flame. Compared to me, your foundation is much deeper and your preparation is much more thorough!"
"I believe in you, I'm sure you can succeed!"
At this point, Yao Lao stopped telling Xiao Yan about how he had barely managed to devour the Heavenly Flame after nearly dying.
What Xiao Yan needed now was encouragement and confidence.
"Don't worry, Teacher, I will definitely succeed!"
Xiao Yan nodded and was about to take out the Azure Lotus Platform and sit down cross-legged when Chen Yang took out his own Ten-Thousand-Year Azure Lotus Platform from his Storage Ring and threw it under Xiao Yan's buttocks.
"Use this one, it's safer!" Chen Yang said softly.
"This… this is the Ten-Thousand-Year Azure Lotus Platform?" Yao Lao exclaimed in surprise as he looked at the Azure Lotus Platform. Even with his vast knowledge, he was still overwhelmed with emotion upon seeing this object.
"This Azure Lotus Core Flame is only a thousand-year-old spirit. Using this ten-thousand-year-old Azure Lotus Platform, we can suppress its violent nature to the minimum!" Chen Yang nodded with a smile and said.
"Brother Yang…" Xiao Yan looked at his sun, so moved he was about to cry.
"I'm such a big man, all I can do is this much. I'll leave the rest to you two, master and disciple!" Chen Yang waved his hand, then turned and left the cave with Yun Yun.
Although he was a Dou Zong, without the protection of a different kind of fire, his role here was not even as good as that of Yao Lao. As for Yun Yun, she was even less useful; a trash Dou Huang would be seriously injured if he came into contact with the Azure Lotus Core Flame.
Xiao Yan watched Chen Yang and Yun Yun leave, composed himself, blinked a few times, and then looked at Yao Lao. "Teacher, let's begin…"
...
Above the sea of lava, in the desert, Chen Yang took out two beach chairs from his Storage Ring and put them down. He then took out a large folding umbrella and lay down with Yun Yun in the desert, enjoying the desert scenery.
Yun Yun lay on her side on the beach chair, showing off her beautiful figure, and Chen Yang naturally looked at her with admiration.
Soon, two and a half hours passed in a flash, and Chen Yang, who was pretending to sleep, suddenly felt the World Tree in his sea of consciousness tremble. A Crimson Red Leaf sprouted from the branch representing Flames. It scanned the fluctuation of Xiao Yan's new fire.
[Crimson Red LeafofAzure Lotus Core Flame.]
The leaf glowed fiercely, turning a deep blood-red. It curled inward, transforming into a Golden Fruit of Flame.
[Golden Fruit of FlameofVolcanic Stone Flame.]
The fruit dissolved into Chen Yang's spiritual sea. He instantly understood the capabilities of the new flame.
Whoosh!
Inside Chen Yang's body, in his dantian, a spirit-gathering sphere suddenly appeared, and within it lay a dark red Heavenly Flame that seemed to have long belonged to Chen Yang.
It was none other than the seventeenth ranked flame on the list of Heavenly Flames—the Volcanic Stone Flame!