"The Host only needs to swallow the fire seed, guide it to circulate within the body, and finally introduce it into the Dantian," the System instructed calmly.
"Eat it directly??? I won't be burned to death like Xiao Yan, will I? I don't have all the preparations he had for absorption. Do you want me to die so you can find another Host?" Xiao Zhitian asked, his voice betraying both fear and caution.
"Don't worry, Host. This is a System reward. It will not harm you," the System reassured him.
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Zhitian reached out, slowly approaching the flame hovering in the air. The moment his finger touched it, he felt not burning, but warmth—soft, comforting, almost joyful. Relaxing completely, he extended his whole hand into the flame, grasped a wisp of fire seed, and with grit, swallowed it directly.
The fire seed immediately circulated through his meridians. Every pulse of his body felt refreshed, like soaking in a hot spring on a freezing winter day. Once it passed through every channel, the fire seed settled above his Qi cyclone, silently rotating, emitting a faint, grayish glow.
With a thought, the Purifying Devouring Lotus Flame appeared in his palm. Red as Blood, it formed a perfect lotus, exuding serenity yet radiating immense authority. Standing coiled within the lotus was a golden dragon of luck, its eyes glinting like molten gold. Xiao Zhitian realized he could summon either the lotus, the dragon, or both together at will.
This flame was unlike anything in the known world. Created entirely by the System, it contained the essence of several top-ranked Heavenly Flames:
Second Ranked Flame — Nothingness Devouring Flame, granting ultimate devouring power, able to consume Dou Qi, spiritual energy, even abstract force.
Third Ranked Flame — Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame, giving the power of absolute purification, capable of cleansing poison, curses, evil energy, and spiritual corruption.
Fourth Ranked Flame — Golden Emperor Burning Sky Flame, providing extreme Yang energy, incinerating dark energy, suppressing foes, and leaving only ash in its wake.
Fifth Ranked Flame — Life Spirit Flame, infusing vitality and life energy; medicinal herbs flourished under its heat, and wounds could heal faster.
Sixth Ranked Flame — Eight Direction Destruction Flame, capable of annihilating everything in all eight directions simultaneously at the wielder's will.
Ninth Ranked Flame — Three Thousand Burning Flame, giving a concentrated burst of destructive power, enough to overwhelm other ranked flames instantly.
Moreover, the flame resonated with Xiao Zhitian's Star-Moon Soul Body, adding extreme Yin ice power from the moon and balancing the Yang energy of the fourth flame. It contained the power of life and death, devouring and purifying, destruction and creation, while the golden dragon allowed Xiao Zhitian to manipulate luck for himself and allies, suppress enemies' fortune, and even enhance the growth of medicinal herbs.
Although the flame's current power was comparable to a fourth-ranked Heavenly Flame, he can not use this this flame fully as he as still weak
Xiao Zhitian focused, sending the flame into a nearby rock. Red flames licked the stone, and within seconds, a blackened crater appeared. He then merged it briefly with the Thunder Origin, feeling the lightning-infused flame respond obediently.
After hours of practice, the flame rotated above his Dantian, the Red lotus serene and the golden dragon coiled in silent anticipation. He could feel the devouring, purifying, burning, life-giving, destructive, and luck-manipulating powers coursing through him.
He continuously manipulated the flame. After becoming proficient, Xiao Zhitian took out the Thunder Origin. The purple, liquid-like lightning swirled in his hand, and without hesitation, he absorbed and refined it.
An hour later, he opened his eyes and felt the five wisps of green lightning coursing through his body. "It increased by more than three wisps. With two more Thunder Origins, I'll be able to form the Extreme Wood Lightning."(Spirit Lightning only contributes to realm breakthroughs once fully formed. During condensation, it only accumulates Dou Qi. Xiao Zhitian would not be suppressed.)
As the sky darkened, Xiao Zhitian descended the mountain peak, returning to his courtyard. The flow of Dou Qi from Xiao Yan's room next door caught his attention. After a comfortable bath, he lay on his bed, flipping through pill scrolls in his mind.
The next morning, he arrived at the Xiao Family Dou Qi Pavilion. Patriarch Xiao Zhan was already at the entrance. Seeing him, he waved, signaling the guards to open the heavy black gates. "Tian Er, test your attribute."
Xiao Zhitian placed his hand on the testing crystal. Silver light flared, lightning circulating within it. When he withdrew his hand, the lightning vanished, and the crystal shattered into pieces.
"Tian Er, enter the pavilion. Choose a cultivation method suitable for your attribute."
"Yes, Father," he replied and stepped inside. His sharp soul perception detected hidden guards in the pavilion's shadows, monitoring every move.
After examining the cultivation methods, Xiao Zhitian picked one: Yellow-rank Mid-Grade: Thunder Wind Devour. After registration, he walked out, and Xiao Zhan patted his shoulder. "Go back and cultivate well."
On the way home, he stopped by Xiao Xun Er's courtyard and knocked. When she opened, she asked, "Xiao Zhitian Ge Ge, why are you looking for me?"
"Xun'er, I'm going into seclusion for a while. A month at the shortest, three months at the longest."
Her eyes widened. "Why? Is it to convert your cultivation method? What did you get from the Dou Qi Pavilion?"
Xiao Zhitian showed her the Yellow-rank Mid-Grade method. She flicked her slender hand, producing a silver-white scroll. "Tian Er, when starting Dou Qi cultivation, higher-grade methods give greater benefits. Cultivating a Yellow-rank Mid-Grade is too low. Take this Profound High-Rank Thunder Art: Rushing Thunder, and cultivate it."
He gently took back the Yellow-rank method. Xun'er's voice grew anxious. "Xiao Zhitian Ge Ge…"
Lowering his head, he whispered, "I know your identity is mysterious. Because of that, and for the sake of marrying you in the future, I will not cultivate this Yellow-rank method."
Her face turned scarlet. "Xiao… Xiao Zhitian Ge Ge, what nonsense are you talking about? Who wants to marry you?"
Seeing her flustered, he stopped teasing. A wisp of Dou Qi appeared in his hand. "I've already converted my cultivation method. You can feel it."
Xun'er sensed the strength in his hand and nodded slowly. "So that's why you don't need higher-grade methods…"
After a brief conversation, Xiao Zhitian left for the stone forest behind the mountain. Standing on a rock, he summoned the Heaven Smiting Thunder Halberd, lightning-attributed Dou Qi and Spirit Lightning in his meridians condensing rapidly. Within half a minute, a silver-green Helberd, two meters long, formed. Lightning flashed along its body like a descending god.
He practiced repeatedly, condensing and dissipating the halberd until he could form it in less than a second with a thought.
Afterward, he explored other Profound-rank Dou Techniques before discovering a hidden mountain cave. Blocking the entrance with stones, he laid out his medicinal herbs and prepared for alchemy.
Xiao Zhitian sat calmly, recalling Xiao Yan's method of condensing a medicine cauldron with an exotic flame. With a wave of his palm, the Purifying Devouring Lotus Flame appeared, gradually forming a cauldron. The red lotus rotated, golden dragon coiled—ready at his command.
A day of practice taught him to maintain the flame steadily. He threw a Blood Coagulation Grass into the cauldron, carefully controlling the flame's temperature. Under its baking, the herb became fine white powder, which he placed into a prepared box.
"Hahaha, I really have talent… first try success!" Xiao Zhitian grinned, examining the white powder.
He continued refining White Orchid Fruit and Blood Ginseng.
Time passed quickly. A month later, Xiao Zhitian looked over piles of Blood Replenishing Pills and ashes—the remains of herbs burnt due to improper flame control. "Being an Alchemist is expensive. Without the system's rewards, sustaining this would be impossible. Thankfully, first-grade pills are now mastered. Second-grade pills will be my next challenge."
After recovering his Dou Qi, he began refining Marrow Cleansing Pill and Ding Yan Dan.
Marrow Cleansing Pill: Bone Forging Grass, Blood Essence Grass, Marrow Cultivating Root.Ding Yan Dan: Rainbow Skirt Grass, Jade Muscle Flower, Body Cleansing Grass, Red Leek Fragrance.