"Long time no see, Yun'er." Xiao Li scrutinized Yun Yun. In just over two years, how did Yun Yun grow from a young girl into a mature woman? She had changed so much!
"Mm~ Long time no see, Big Brother Xiao Li." Yun Yun's pretty face was flushed, still shy about her actions just now.
"Two-star Dou Ling? It seems you've also worked very hard these past two years." Xiao Li instantly discerned Yun Yun's Cultivation.
When Xiao Li and Yun Yun parted ways, Yun Yun was only a two-star Dou Shi. A major Realm advancement every year was, frankly, a bit outrageous.
However, with the Elixir support from Old Wang, a Sixth-Rank Alchemist, it was quite reasonable.
The investment of a Sixth-Rank Alchemist naturally allowed for rapid Realm advancement. Xiao Li's slow Cultivation advancement at that time was mainly because he was honing his Alchemy, spending most of his time delving into Alchemy.
Yun Yun, on the other hand, focused solely on Cultivating Dou Qi, unlike Xiao Li who needed to be distracted by other matters, so her Realm Advanced quickly.
Yun Yun: "How have you been doing recently?"
Xiao Li: "How have you been these past two years?"
Xiao Li & Yun Yun:... *Hum*—
Suddenly, a green handprint shot directly towards Xiao Li.
"Hmph!"
Xiao Li's right hand formed a fist, and a golden flame suddenly appeared on his right arm, enveloping his right fist. The golden glow was extremely eye-catching, and upon closer inspection, it seemed as if golden magma flowed within the flame, quite peculiar.
"What kind of flame is this?"
"It feels so powerful!"
*Boom*—
The golden fist clashed with the green palm, triggering violent energy fluctuations that sent the surrounding Cloud Mist Sect Disciples, whose Cultivation was not high, flying.
Yun Yun crossed her hands in front of her, resisting the energy fluctuations.
"Good boy, you are indeed impressive." An old voice came. The newcomer was an Elder, dressed in a white robe, with white hair and a white beard. He was quite tall but very thin, possessing an air of immortal Daoist grace. However, the Aura emanating from him was that of a genuine Dou Huang powerhouse.
"Grand Elder…" Yun Yun was about to speak.
"Young Sect Master, do not panic. This old man merely wished to test how capable the person who captured the Young Sect Master's heart truly is. Now it seems, the Young Sect Master's judgment is indeed excellent."
The Elder stroked his beard with his left hand and smiled faintly, while his right hand was placed behind his back, as he didn't want anyone to discover that he had suffered a loss in the previous clash. At this moment, his right hand was burning with pain, and his entire right hand was scorched black.
"Xiao Li, don't be a stranger. This is our Cloud Mist Sect's Grand Elder, Yun Ji." Yun Yun came to Xiao Li's side to introduce the Elder.
"Grand Elder Yun Ji, this Junior apologizes for any offense." Xiao Li cupped his fists.
Regarding Grand Elder Yun Ji, Xiao Li had roughly gauged the opponent's Cultivation during their recent exchange. The opponent's Cultivation was somewhere between a two-star and three-star Dou Huang.
In terms of strength, he should be comparable to Grandpa Xiao Ting's current level, because Xiao Ting Cultivates a more Advanced Cultivation Technique. Although his Cultivation is slightly lower, his Qi is no less than Yun Ji's.
"Hehe, no problem, no problem. Yun'er, take our esteemed Elder to see the Sect Master." Yun Ji said with a chuckle.
Yun Yun then led Xiao Li to the main hall. After they had all walked away, Yun Ji finally breathed a sigh of relief. He raised his right hand, feeling the burns, and gasped in pain.
"This kid, he's quite ruthless. That golden flame just now was really powerful. A Heavenly Flame? It doesn't seem like it. If it were a Heavenly Flame, this old man's right hand would be crippled. It should be a Demonic Beast Flame.
It's probably a Rank 7 Demonic Beast Flame. Tsk, this kid is really impressive. According to the Sect Master, this kid is also Old Wang's closed-door Disciple, and his Alchemy is extremely high.
With his current Dou Wang Cultivation, his Alchemy is probably at least Rank 5. I wonder if Yun'er can win him over."
Yun Ji pondered continuously. He held Yun Yun in high regard. She had reached the Dou Ling level at such a young age. Although he didn't know how the Sect Master had nurtured her, the facts were clear, and the Sect Master would never harm Yun Yun.
After a year, when the Strongest Tournament concludes, Yun Yun will have to undergo the final test to become Sect Master: the Gate of Life and Death!
Completing the Gate of Life and Death test can not only greatly improve one's Cultivation but also yield many benefits. After all, when Sect Master Yun Shan emerged from the Gate of Life and Death, his Cultivation reached a six-star Dou Wang, and he successfully took over the position of Sect Master from the Old Sect Master.
— — — —
To make a Dou Huang powerhouse suffer a hidden loss with a single punch, Xiao Li's own configuration must be high enough. That golden flame was indeed a Demonic Beast Flame, a Rank 7 Demonic Beast Flame, the Illusory Gold Flame.
This flame only remains in the shell after a Rank 7 Illusory Fire Scorpion Dragon Demonic Beast hatchling breaks out. The shell will be burned to ashes by the attached flame within three days, and to obtain this Illusory Gold Flame, one can only find the shell of the Illusory Fire Scorpion Dragon Demonic Beast hatchling within these three days.
Coincidentally, the Hidden Book Pavilion of the Inner Academy had a collection of this Demonic Beast Flame, which Xiao Li used to Cultivate the Sky Burning Flame Devil Body. Xiao Li has three more such Demonic Beast Flames on him.
It's a pity that Mang Tianchi refused to give him the Rank 8 Demonic Beast Flame. A Rank 8 Demonic Beast Flame is much more powerful than a Rank 7 Demonic Beast Flame.
Besides this flame, Xiao Li's Physical Body is strong enough. Cultivating the Sky Burning Flame Devil Body has made Xiao Li's Physical Body no less than a Rank 5 Demonic Beast.
If he couldn't defeat a low-level Dou Huang with such a configuration, he might as well buy a block of tofu and bash his head in.
"Li, what is your Cultivation now? How can you fight Grand Elder Yun Ji to a draw? Have you become a Dou Huang?"
Yun Yun asked. She had worked very hard these past two years, Cultivating diligently to catch up to Xiao Li's pace, but the gap remained just as wide.
"I naturally had an Opportunity. I am currently an eight-star Dou Wang and have not become a Dou Huang. Just now, I merely won by a narrow margin, relying on a Rank 7 Demonic Beast Flame and Body Refining Dou Technique."
Xiao Li waved his hand.
'So he's a Dou Wang. Fortunately, you can do it, Yun Yun, come on, come on! Catch up to Li, you can definitely do it!'
Yun Yun kept cheering herself on.
Entering the main hall,
At the head of the main hall, still that familiar white hair and white robe, Yun Shan sat there. Yun Shan leaned back in his chair, resting his head on one hand, looking very leisurely, as if in a doze.
"You're here?"
After Xiao Li and Yun Yun entered, Yun Shan's voice came over. Xiao Li sensed Yun Shan's Qi. This Qi was even stronger than all the Dou Huang Elders of Canaan Academy!
There was also a hint of Grand Elder Su Qian's charm.
'Could Old Yun have achieved a Breakthrough?'
Xiao Li's guess was correct. Since Yun Shan met Old Wang two years ago, Yun Shan had signed a series of 'unequal' contracts with Old Wang.
To enable his Disciple to realize her talent, Yun Shan requested Elixir support from Old Wang. For this, Yun Shan had to collect medicinal ingredients in the Magical Beast Mountain Range of the Jia Ma Empire, the Tagor Desert, or within the territories of other Empires.
Yun Shan had fought many Demonic Beasts and human powerhouses. More fights led to more insights.
Moreover, Yun Shan had previously obtained a Huangji Pill and a Huangfeng Spirit Pill from Old Wang.
The Huangji Pill could raise a Dou Huang's Cultivation by one to two stars. Of course, at Yun Shan's Realm, it could probably only raise his Cultivation by one star.
The Huangfeng Spirit Pill is a Elixir specifically for wind-attribute Dou Huangs to improve their Cultivation. As long as a wind-attribute Dou Huang consumes it, the effect is equivalent to the Huangji Pill.
It was with these two Elixirs that Yun Shan's Cultivation increased from his original seven-star Dou Huang to nine-star Dou Huang, faintly touching the Dou Huang barrier.
If Yun Shan could break through this barrier, he could become a Dou Zong powerhouse. Unfortunately, many people on the Fighting Qi Continent are stuck at this barrier, unable to achieve a Breakthrough.