"Roar!"
Deep within the forest, a striped tiger with bulging muscles tore savagely at the carcass of an unknown beast. Blood stained its fangs as it feasted with unrestrained satisfaction. Lifting its head, it let out a long, domineering roar that echoed through the woods.
Yet before it could resume its meal—
A black figure shot out silently from a nearby bush.
With a light tap of his foot against the tiger's forehead, the figure vanished into the dense forest ahead before the beast could even react.
"...?"
The tiger froze, utterly confused.
---
"Hehe! One jump—two jumps—three!"
The black figure was none other than Xiao Ping.
Having mastered the high-level Earth-tier movement technique Wind-Sweeping Clouds (Feng Juan Can Yun), he moved like a phantom through the forest. With just the slightest leverage—a branch, a rock, even a drifting leaf—he could remain airborne for extended periods.
His movements were fluid, light, and almost unreal.
A true high-level movement technique… worthy of its name.
"It should be far enough."
After several dozen breaths of rapid traversal, Xiao Ping slowed to a stop. He found a relatively flat rock and sat beside it.
Circulating Dou Qi into the storage ring on his finger, he retrieved a white, translucent jade bottle. Within it flickered a faint crimson glow—as though something alive burned quietly inside.
"It's time… to refine this third-tier beast flame."
A faint smile curved his lips.
This flame had come from a cave left behind by a fourth-grade alchemist. The cave itself had been a treasure trove—arguably the richest within a hundred miles of Wutan City—filled with medicinal herbs, pills, and cultivation resources.
For Xiao Ping, who had been cultivating heaven-tier techniques, it had been an invaluable windfall.
---
"And now… the Flame Art."
Nothing in this world could escape Xiao Ping's perception.
Even the cultivation technique hidden within Yao Chen's ring had not escaped his notice.
However, his Dou Qi was purely wood-attributed. Without incorporating flame energy, its potential remained incomplete.
Moreover, the Flame Art itself was only at the low Yellow tier—hardly worth prioritizing under normal circumstances.
But now…
Having reached the two-star Dou Zhe, it was finally time.
Though this third-tier beast flame was fierce, compared to the overwhelming dominance of heaven-tier techniques like Vajra Glazed Body and Great Heavenly Creation Palm…
It was nothing more than an ember before a blazing inferno.
If I can't even endure this… how could I ever seize the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame?
---
"Flame Art… refine!"
The moment the beast flame entered his body, it erupted violently.
Yet Xiao Ping remained calm.
Without even activating Vajra Glazed Body, he directly circulated the Flame Art, using his already solidified soul power to forcibly guide the flame through his meridians.
Round after round.
Cycle after cycle.
Dozens of circulations later, the flame began to merge with his blood and meridians.
Only then did he activate Bodhi Zen Art, combining its restorative power with the refining process. Gradually, he condensed the purest essence of the flame into his Dou Qi cyclone—
Completely assimilating it.
---
"Hah… Three-star Dou Zhe."
A breath escaped his lips.
His cultivation had risen by one level.
Though the flame wasn't strong enough to evolve the Flame Art, that hardly mattered.
With Bodhi Zen Art, he only needed the Flame Art as a tool for devouring stronger flames in the future.
---
"Just a dying third-tier beast flame… and it still raised me a full level."
Xiao Ping extended his hand. An orange-red flame flickered in his palm.
"No wonder Heavenly Flames drive people mad…"
He chuckled softly, then shook his head.
"Unfortunately… Bone Spirit Cold Flame… Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame…"
"I can only look at them for now."
After a moment, his gaze sharpened.
"When I reach five-star Dou Zhe… I'll head into the Magical Beast Mountains."
"The remaining map fragment of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame… and the Purple Cloud Wings—they're mine."
---
"Back to training."
Drawing in a deep breath of mountain air, Xiao Ping resumed his cultivation.
He knew his limits well.
His talent was average.
Even with supreme techniques, he could not afford a moment of laziness.
---
Time passed.
The blazing sun scorched the forest canopy, heat seeping even through dense foliage.
On a jagged slope—
"Sweep everything away!"
Xiao Ping leapt across broken rocks with astonishing precision. At times, he stepped lightly on falling leaves, using them as footholds to redirect his movement.
Even after being stepped on, the leaves continued drifting gently.
"Vajra Glazed Body!"
"Great Heavenly Creation Palm!"
Mid-air, Xiao Ping raised his palm high.
Before he even struck, the surrounding energy within a hundred meters surged toward him. At the center of his palm, a tiny black light devoured everything with terrifying force.
Then—
BOOM!
His palm struck.
A five-meter boulder shattered instantly into fine dust.
---
"…A five-star Dou Zhe can only sustain this twice."
Landing steadily, Xiao Ping withdrew the Vajra Glazed Body. He took out a second-grade medicinal pill and swallowed it.
Circulating the refined beast flame within him, he rapidly digested the medicinal power.
In just a few breaths, his depleted Dou Qi was fully restored.
---
"Four months… just to advance two stars."
He looked at the powdered stone with a bitter smile.
"Too slow."
With heaven-tier techniques supporting him, such progress would be laughable to true geniuses.
"With talent like this… and still cultivating heaven-tier techniques?"
"What a waste."
He could almost hear their mockery.
---
"If I can devour more beast flames…"
With a flick of his finger, a flame shot toward the ashes.
"I might accelerate my progress… and even cultivate a transformation flame."
Years ago, he had discovered a complete Flame Art within an ancient ruin—far superior to the flawed versions known to others.
It had been created by a peak Dou Zun, one step away from sainthood.
---
"But beast flames… aren't easy to come by."
Within a hundred miles of Wutan City, this had been the only one.
Beyond that lay the Magical Beast Mountains.
There… existed the Companion Purple Crystal Source.
But guarding it—
Was no ordinary magical beast.
Even a weakened version would far exceed Xiao Ping's current strength.
---
"...Forget it."
He clenched his fist lightly.
"If I can't win head-on… I'll just sneak in."
A faint smile appeared.
With his soul perception—
There was always a way.
___________________________
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