Xiao Yan and Yao Lao watched intently as the emerald-green flame steadily intensified, causing the temperature in the room to rise to an unbearable level.
Finally, when the heat reached a critical threshold, the jade piece—once unresponsive even under the searing purple flame—began to show signs of change.
The smooth, black surface started to crack and flake away, burning into ash and disintegrating completely. As the outer layer crumbled, it revealed a smooth, translucent green jade hidden beneath.
Moments later, the green jade began to stir, as if reacting to the flame. To their astonishment, its color swiftly shifted, transforming into a fiery red. Then, in a sudden burst, a brilliant crimson light erupted from its core, flooding the room with a dazzling radiance.
The fiery-red light vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving behind countless fiery-red characters suspended in the air, swirling gracefully beneath a veil of translucent orange-red curtains.
Xiao Yan stood in awe, captivated by the stunning sight. Meanwhile, Xiao Hua and Yao Lao scanned the glowing curtains, their gazes sweeping across the sea of fiery-red characters and encrypted information. Suddenly, their eyes locked onto a particular set of characters. Their lips moved slightly, and a faint murmur escaped between their teeth.
"Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change?"
Xiao Hua's expression remained calm, but Yao Lao's voice trembled with astonishment. A bright light surged in his eyes as the name of the technique echoed in the room.
Upon hearing their voices—especially Yao Lao's, which carried both surprise and excitement—Xiao Yan immediately turned his head.
"Master, do you know what this is?" Xiao Yan asked with curiosity in his voice, his heart involuntarily skipping a beat.
"Haha, your cousin really found something extraordinary and gifted it to you," Yao Zun Zhe chuckled, stroking his beard with a satisfied smile.
"This 'Skyfire Three Mysterious Change' is a rare and profound high-grade Secret Technique," he said, clicking his tongue in admiration.
"Secret Technique?" Xiao Yan's eyebrows shot up the moment he heard those words.
"Ke ke," Yao Lao chuckled before explaining, "Aside from Qi Methods and Dou Techniques, there are also some special arts known as Secret Techniques that exist throughout the Dou Qi continent. Their effects are often astonishing, enough to stir envy in others. Some can even boost one's strength drastically for a short time. I suspect your cousin has cultivated one herself."
As he finished speaking, his gaze shifted toward Xiao Hua.
"The Secret Technique I practice has three stages. Just the first stage alone allows my Six-Star Dou Wang cultivation to soar to that of a Three-Star Dou Zong—without suffering any major backlash. With that strength, I was able to slay a Seven-Star Dou Zong," Xiao Hua replied casually, a relaxed smile playing on his lips.
Xiao Yan couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath of cold air upon hearing this. The sheer leap in power—and the fact that Xiao Hua could slay an elite Dou Zong—left him utterly shocked.
However, what shocked him the most was the fact that it allowed Xiao Hua to cross two major realms and ascend to the Dou Zong level. More than that, it enabled him to battle and even slay an elite Dou Zong.
This Secret Technique his cousin possessed was truly powerful… and terrifying.
"Regardless," Yao Lao continued, "Secret Techniques are extremely rare. Their rarity rivals that of some high-tier Di Class Techniques."
Xiao Yan was genuinely astonished. A technique comparable to advanced Di Class Techniques? Even within the Xiao Clan, Di Class Techniques were less than five in number, and those that existed were heavily guarded and kept hidden.
Yao Lao's gaze remained fixed on the orange-red curtain of countless floating characters and strands of encoded information as he spoke again.
"'Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change' is one of the prized treasures of the Burning Flame Valley. For those who possess rare and unique flames, this technique is considered priceless."
He stroked his beard, his expression growing solemn. "To cultivate and master this Secret Technique, one must have a fire attribute and possess at least one extraordinary flame. This includes flames like your Purple Flame. Naturally, a Heavenly Flame would be the most ideal."
Xiao Yan's eyes lit up as he leaned forward slightly. "Does that mean… if I were to obtain a Heavenly Flame, meet the conditions, and cultivate the 'Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change,' I could also temporarily raise my strength?"
"Naturally," Yao Lao chuckled as he stroked his beard. He glanced at Xiao Yan's face, which was brimming with excitement, and said with a calm smile, "But tell me—since when has a 'Heavenly Flame' ever been easy to find in this world? We'll have to leave that to fate."
Xiao Yan let out a disappointed sigh. But then, his gaze shifted to Xiao Hua, and a sudden thought struck him. Turning to Yao Lao, he asked, "Is the 'Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change' stronger than Cousin Xiao Hua's Secret Technique? If so, let him have it. After all, he was the one who found this jade piece."
Yao Lao glanced at Xiao Hua, who simply smiled in his usual carefree manner—completely unbothered by the technique.
"Judging by your cousin's expression, it seems this Secret Technique holds little value to him," Yao Lao said slowly. "It appears the one he cultivates is extremely powerful as well—perhaps similar in structure to the 'Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change,' with progressive stages of power."
"That's incredible…" Xiao Yan murmured, his voice filled with awe and admiration. "Just out of curiosity… which one is stronger?"
"It's likely that your cousin's Secret Technique is far more powerful," Yao Lao replied. "For a Six-Star Dou Wang to leap all the way to Three-Star Dou Zong… That level of enhancement is unheard of, even among high-level Secret Techniques. There's clearly a massive difference between the two."
He paused, rubbing his beard thoughtfully before continuing, "Most Secret Techniques rely on either compression or overdraw methods to temporarily boost strength. This surge, while powerful, usually comes with a price—severe backlash after use. Take this 'Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change,' for instance. It's said that each activation causes violent flame energy to rampage through the user's body, often resulting in serious injuries."
"Moreover, the typical increase in strength isn't so vast. The fact that your cousin's strength rose by such a large margin—and that was only the first stage, without suffering major side effects—clearly shows the difference between the two types of Secret Techniques."
Xiao Yan nodded in agreement, deeply fascinated by the concept of Secret Techniques. He now understood why they were regarded as so rare and precious.
"But that doesn't mean the Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change is weak," Yao Lao continued. "Much like your cousin's technique, it grants three stages of explosive power. The extent of the enhancement depends entirely on the strength and quality of the flame you wield."
He paused briefly before adding, "I once heard that the Valley Leader of Burning Flame Valley possessed one Heavenly Flame and two Beast Flames. His base strength was only at the five-star Dou Zong level, yet when he activated all three transformations of the Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change, he could fight on equal footing with a Dou Zun."
Yao Lao smiled, his eyes gleaming with admiration. "It truly is an extraordinary technique—formidable and awe-inspiring."
"And that's only with a single Heavenly Flame," Xiao Hua added, his gaze locking firmly onto Xiao Yan. "But you… you practice the Flame Mantra. Unlike others, you don't need to worry about the flames within your body clashing or devouring one another. That is your greatest advantage."
He paused, his smile widen mysteriously.
"So, as long as you have the time—and a bit of luck—to gather three Heavenly Flames, the power you'll unlock with the third transformation of the Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change might even exceed what the ancestor who created this technique could have imagined. After all, he likely never cultivated the Flame Mantra himself."
Xiao Hua's eyes remained fixed on Xiao Yan, his words settled in the air.
He knew that the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change had saved Xiao Yan's life on more than one occasion. More importantly, this Secret Technique was deeply tied to the Xiao Clan's heritage—specifically, the Clan Tattoo. In fact, one could say it was the very path required to awaken the Xiao Clan's unique inheritance.
That was why Xiao Hua spoke with decisiveness, "Since it benefits you far more than it ever could me, you might as well take it."
The blood in Xiao Yan's chest surged uncontrollably at Xiao Hua's words, a flush of excitement rising to his face. His gaze burned even hotter as it landed once more on the curtain of light before him.
"Focus your mind and merge it with the energy," Yao Lao reminded him calmly. "Only then can you truly obtain the training method for the Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change. Staring at it won't do you any good."
Xiao Yan nodded eagerly. With his cousin's approval, all hesitation faded. He closed his eyes and slowly released the Dou Qi within him. The energy began to swirl around his body, forming a faint vortex.
As his Dou Qi stirred, his body rose gently off the ground, levitating silently in the air. The countless fiery-red characters within the light curtain began to shimmer and ripple. Then, with a subtle tremor, they began to shift.
Moments later, the characters turned into streaks of blazing light and shot directly into Xiao Yan's forehead.
A massive torrent of information surged into his mind like a roaring flood. Xiao Yan's body twitched as his face contorted from the sudden shock. He clenched his teeth tightly, enduring the piercing pain that invaded his consciousness.
With great effort, he sat cross-legged in midair, closed his eyes, and began to absorb and digest the vast knowledge—engraved with the cultivation method of the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change.
While Xiao Yan focused on absorbing the cultivation method, Xiao Hua and Yao Lao conversed quietly to the side.
"Yao Zun Zhe, I've already gathered most of the medicinal ingredients needed for the Bone Growing Blood Fusing Pill. However, I'm still missing one key ingredient—the Snow Bone Ginseng. As for the Blood Essence Fruit and the Ten Thousand Year Old Green Spiritual Vine, I managed to obtain them during my travels," Xiao Hua said with a faint smile.
He had agreed to refine the Bone Growing Blood Fusing Pill for Yao Lao—or more accurately, to help forging a physical body for him and revive him.
"You truly are fortunate to have come across such extremely rare ingredients... Let alone two of them," Yao Lao replied, shaking his head with a dry chuckle. "Your luck is truly enviable."
Of course, Xiao Hua had acquired both the Blood Essence Fruit and the Ten Thousand Year Old Green Spiritual Vine through the System's Gacha—but Yao Lao didn't need to know that.
"At this point, I'm only lacking the blood essence of a Rank 7 Magical Beast," Xiao Hua continued casually. "As for the corpse of an elite Dou Zong... well, there's no shortage of those in the Central Plains."
He lifted his teacup and took a sip, his expression calm and composed despite the chilling weight of his words.
Yao Lao involuntarily shivered. The way Xiao Hua spoke—as if collecting a Dou Zong's corpse was no different from picking fruit at the market—was both startling and unsettling.
As for the seven-star Dou Zong's corpse, he didn't ask about it. He could guess that the battle had been fierce and the body likely damaged. What he didn't know, however, was that Xiao Hua intended to use that very corpse to refine a Sky Heaven Puppet. That was why he had remained vague on the details.
As for the Rank 7 Magical Beast blood essence—Xiao Hua already had plenty. After refining the corpses of two members of the Phoenix Tribe—an Ancient Heaven Phoenix and an Immortal Fire Phoenix—he had naturally obtained their blood essences along with other precious materials from their bodies.
Furthermore, he had received the blood essence of the Celestial Moon Phoenix from the System's Pity Draw.
However, he had no intention of using these for Yao Lao. He had already decided to reserve these precious phoenix blood essences for his sworn brothers and sisters.
The blood essence of powerful Rank 7 Magical Beasts was extremely valuable, capable of significantly enhancing the physical body. With multiple blood essences from the ancient Phoenix Tribe, the bodies of his sworn siblings would become extraordinarily strong—far beyond ordinary cultivators.
"In the Central Plains, I'll search for the blood essence of a powerful magical beast," Xiao Hua said calmly. "Once I find it, I'll come to you and help forge a new body."
"Thank you." Yao Lao nodded deeply. His voice, though calm, carried heartfelt sincerity. A surge of gratitude filled his chest as he looked at Xiao Hua.
With a wave of his hand, the Bone Flame Ring subtly left Xiao Yan's finger and floated into Yao Lao's palm. Smiling gently, he added, "As for a reward for troubling you, I hope the items within my Storage Ring will be to your satisfaction. But… I do hope you'll leave some for Xiao Yan's future growth."
"Don't worry. I won't be greedy," Xiao Hua replied with a light shake of his head and a warm smile. Then, his tone grew slightly curious as he asked, "By the way, does Yao Zun Zhe possess any Tier-Nine medicinal formulas?"
The importance of a medicinal formula was clear at this level of cultivation. Without possessing the formula for a Tier-Nine medicinal pill, it would be impossible to refine a pill of such caliber.
"I do indeed have one," Yao Lao replied without hesitation, understanding exactly why Xiao Hua would want a Tier-Nine medicinal formula.
With a casual wave of his hand, two scrolls appeared in his palm. "Throughout my life, I've only been able to obtain two Tier-Nine medicinal formulas. Please, take a look."
A Tier-Nine medicinal formula was not inferior to a Tian-class Qi Method or Dou Skill. Despite Yao Lao's years of collection, he had only managed to acquire two. Moreover, these were among the lowest grade of Tier-Nine pills, specifically Treasure Pills.
But Yao Lao had no qualms about giving Xiao Hua access to these formulas. Given Xiao Hua's relationship with Xiao Yan, he was certain that Xiao Hua would not be selfish. He believed Xiao Hua would simply examine the contents and return them afterward.
Moreover, making a friend out of someone as talented as Xiao Hua was a wise decision. Yao Lao could see that with Xiao Hua's abilities, it wouldn't take long for him to establish a first-rate force in the Central Plains.
Especially with his impending status as a Tier-Nine alchemist, Xiao Hua would undoubtedly attract attention from powerful figures—those reclusive old cultivators who had remained hidden in the shadows all these years.
With such connections, there would be no doubt that he and Xiao Yan could travel freely and safely across the Central Plains once their matters in the Jia Ma Empire were resolved.
Xiao Hua received the two scrolls from Yao Lao. He closed his eyes, and his Spiritual Strength surged from his body, invading the scrolls to obtain the the extremely complicated medicine refining information.
After a brief moment, he withdrew his Spiritual Strength and opened his eyes. The first scroll detailed the refinement method for the Bodhisattva Pill—just as he had anticipated.
The second scroll contained a Tier-Nine Treasure Pill formula known as the Golden Sun Nine-Cycle Pill. Its effects were astonishing. It could instantly repair damaged Qi Paths and meridians, regardless of how old or severe the injuries were—even fortifying them to the point where they'd be nearly unbreakable. Even wounds to the soul could be healed.
Furthermore, for nine days after consumption, one's body would emit a warm, sun-like energy. During that period, physical injuries would recover rapidly, stamina would regenerate continuously, and any poisons, cold-type energies, or soul erosion would be refine and absorb to increase their strength.
However, there was a dangerous drawback—those without fire affinity might experience unbearable burning pain throughout their body during the refinement process, and in extreme cases, could even die from the overwhelming medicinal energy.
'As expected… a Tier-Nine medicinal formula holds far more value than the countless Tian-Class Dou Techniques and Qi Methods collecting dust in my storage ring,' Xiao Hua thought as he fully retracted his Spiritual Strength.
A faint smile tugged at his lips—this was indeed a reward worthy of a high-tier alchemist like him.
He wasn't envious that Yao Lao had such a formula in his possession. After all, he had access to the System's Shop and the System's Gacha, both of which could provide countless medicinal formulas.
Even though the price of a Tier-Nine formula in the System Shop was at least one million points—and the chances of receiving one through the Gacha were exceedingly low—it didn't mean he didn't already have a few tucked away in his Storage Ring.
'However, I'm curious… why isn't a Tier-Nine medicinal formula included in the Pity Draw? Could it be that, no matter how rare or special a formula is, its value still doesn't compare to that of the medicinal ingredients?'
Xiao Hua pondered deeply. Even when he was given the option to choose medicinal ingredients during the Pity Draw, the System never revealed what kinds they were.
He couldn't help but wonder—were the ingredients offered by the System ones that had long gone extinct in the outside world?
What he truly wished for was simple: that the System would stop being so secretive and just show him the exact details of the medicinal ingredients he will be receiving. Still, it had its own way of operating, and there was no use pressing it further.
Now that he had finished reviewing the two medicinal pill formulas, Xiao Hua respectfully returned the scrolls to Yao Lao.
"Thank you. I'll do my best to find the Ten Thousand Year Old Green Spiritual Vine. If I can't, I may pay a visit to the Pill Tower," he said calmly.
Xiao Hua wasn't someone who accepted kindness without giving something in return. Since Yao Lao had shown his sincerity by freely sharing the two valuable medicinal formulas, he would likewise exert serious effort. Not only would he aim to find the body of a Dou Zun instead of merely a Dou Zong, he would also search for blood essence from a powerful Rank-Seven Magical Beast.
And if he ultimately failed, he could always fall back on the blood essence of the Heaven Demon Phoenix he had refined earlier. It would certainly suffice.
"With the Pill Tower's vast resources, there's no doubt they possess the Ten Thousand Year Old Green Spiritual Vine," Yao Lao nodded. A faint flicker of light flashed across his fingertip, and a milky-white jade token appeared in his hand.
He flicked his finger lightly, and the token floated gently toward Xiao Hua.
"This token contains some of my aura and the Bone Chilling Flame. If you ever travel to the southern region of the Central Plains, seek out an old friend of mine—Feng Zun Zhe. Once he knows you're connected to me, he'll ensure your safety."
He smiled slightly before adding, "I also have some ties within the Pill Tower. They'll definitely be able to help you acquire the ingredients you need, and they'll ensure your safety while you're within the Pill Region."
"I understand," Xiao Hua nodded, receiving the milky-white token and placing it into his storage ring.
Just as he was about to store it, Xiao Yan—who had been sitting with his eyes tightly shut—gradually opened them. His body slowly descended to the ground as he exhaled a long breath, a glint flashing through his eyes.
Noticing the two standing nearby, Xiao Yan's gaze shifted from Yao Lao to Xiao Hua, then settled on the token in Xiao Hua's hand. "Did something happen?"
"Your master gave me a token," Xiao Hua replied casually as he slid the jade into his storage ring. "It's for his friend in the Central Plains. If I ever head there, this will prove our connection and ensure protection."
Without dwelling on the topic, he changed the subject. "So, how's the Secret Technique?"
Xiao Yan crossed his arms, a faint frown appearing on his face as he fell into thought. A trace of confusion and amazement flickered in his expression.
"All I can say is... the training method for the 'Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change' is really strange. I have no idea what kind of eccentric genius came up with it." He shook his head slightly and let out a soft sigh.
While digesting the torrent of information that had surged into his mind earlier, Xiao Yan had briefly examined the training method for the Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change. He could only describe it as incomparably strange.
"That's only natural. Secret Techniques are exceedingly rare in this world and each one is unique," Yao Lao said with a nod and a smile. "So? How is it? Does the technique meet your expectations?"
"I'm more than satisfied, Master."
A broad grin spread across Xiao Yan's face, and the excitement in his eyes made it clear just how valuable the Secret Technique was to him.
However, a slight frown soon replaced his smile as he added, "But… if there's one thing I must point out—it's that while the technique does include three transformations, the jade piece only records the method for the first one. There's not even a hint about the remaining two."
"There's no need to feel disappointed," Xiao Hua said calmly. "You don't even have a single Heavenly Flame yet, so let's not get greedy."
He chuckled lightly before continuing, "Besides, Secret Techniques consume an enormous amount of Dou Qi. Even if the jade contained all three transformations, you wouldn't be able to use the last two with your current strength."
Xiao Yan and Yao Lao nodded in agreement. It was true—one transformation was already more than enough for his current cultivation. As for the complete version… they would leave that to fate.
"Then, we should head out. I think we've stayed here long enough," Xiao Yan said as he cupped his hands and offered a slight bow.
In his heart, he felt nothing but deep admiration, immense respect, and heartfelt gratitude toward Xiao Hua. Ever since he lost his talent, Xiao Hua—aside from his family—had been the only one who stood firmly by his side.
If there was one thing Xiao Yan was certain of, it was that this feeling would remain etched in his heart forever, no matter how powerful he became in the future.
Yao Lao also nodded with a solemn expression and cupped his hands in respect before retreating into the Bone Flame Ring. Like Xiao Yan, he carried only gratitude and respect for Xiao Hua, who had gone to such lengths to gather the items needed to restore his body.
After bidding farewell, Xiao Yan quietly left Xiao Hua's residence and made his way toward the mountain behind the Xiao Clan's estate.
He intended to begin training in the Sky Fire Three Mysterious Change. Even if it only contained the first transformation, mastering it could one day serve as his greatest lifeline.
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