"Did it work?!"
Yang Fan nodded. He extended his pale hand, and from within his body—now fully transformed into a crimson vortex—a stream of fiery red Dou Qi swiftly spiraled out, settling gently in his palm.
Dou Zhe: Condense Qi into a Vortex, Achieve Soul Inner Sight!
He could now use his soul perception to inspect his internal state.
As for fully externalizing Dou Qi—that required at least Da Dou Shi level.
"Your cultivation technique is low-grade," Yao Lao warned sternly. "This means your endurance and Dou Qi density in battle will be limited. In future fights, you must be decisive—strike fast, strike hard, and end it quickly!"
Yang Fan nodded again.
He understood.
Yao Lao's annihilation of Salas yesterday had already taught him that lesson perfectly.
"Master… can I become an alchemist now?" Yang Fan rubbed his hands together, practically vibrating with anticipation.
Whap!
Yao Lao's tiny Dou Qi whip flicked down instantly. "Don't be too greedy!"
"Do you think alchemy is simple?"
"To refine pills, you need sufficient Dou Qi to sustain the process. You've barely grasped your technique—how can you possibly control refining yet?"
"Once you've fully mastered your cultivation method, I'll teach you."
Alchemy was far more difficult than cultivating Dou Qi!
A true alchemist needed not only strength—but also formidable soul power.
…
Between the Tian Dou and Star Luo Empires lay a small but strategically vital city:
Spirit Hall City!
Just moments ago, a fierce battle had erupted here.
A hammer-wielding brute had stormed the Pope Hall, smashing part of the structure while roaring, "Give me back Ah Yin!"
Thankfully, three Title Douluos from the Spirit Hall had jointly repelled him, forcing him to flee toward the Great Star Dou Forest.
…
Pope Hall.
In a vast council chamber spanning over a thousand square meters, a figure sat upon the papal throne.
Not particularly tall, clad in a black robe embroidered with golden patterns, crowned with a Nine-Curved Purple-Gold Crown, and gripping a two-meter-long gem-encrusted scepter.
"He escaped?"
Bibi Dong's voice was soft—but to Yue Guan and Gui Mei beneath her, it carried soul-crushing pressure.
"Y-yes!" Yue Guan and Gui Mei bowed low, their expressions uneasy.
They'd pursued—but hadn't dared chase too deep.
"That's enough," Bibi Dong said dismissively. "Now, I have a task for you two."
With a casual wave, a flimsy slip of paper shot forth like a blade, embedding itself into the stone pillar beside Yue Guan.
They pulled it free—and froze in shock.
"Salas was killed?!"
Salas was the Hall Master of the Tian Dou Saint Spirit Hall—a Level 84 expert, strong even by Douluo Continent standards, and the Spirit Hall's official representative in the imperial capital.
Who would dare?
"Salas purchased a soul bone at auction in Tian Dou City—and was murdered that same night inside the Saint Spirit Hall," Bibi Dong explained coldly. "Elder Ju (Chrysanthemum), Elder Gui—you must investigate this thoroughly."
After the two elders departed, Bibi Dong beckoned. A Platinum Archbishop, wearing a five-pointed platinum crown, stepped forward respectfully.
"Send someone to investigate what Tang Hao has been doing these past few years."
Why would Tang Hao—hidden for so long—suddenly storm the Pope Hall, demanding they "return" a soul beast that had already sacrificed herself?
From Pope Bibi Dong down to every Red Cardinal in the hall, all were utterly baffled.
…
Tian Dou City.
After days of dedicated practice, Yang Fan was finally growing familiar with the Flame Mantra.
Though still only a Yellow-Tier low-grade technique—providing just enough "mana" for two-and-a-half Dou techniques—his recovery speed was exceptional.
Thanks to the Blue Emperor Soul Bone Pill's regenerative properties, this weakness was well compensated.
While Heavenly Flames—the kings of fire—might not exist in Douluo Continent, Yang Fan was confident he could find several beast flames.
A cultivation technique that could evolve always brought hope!
"Good," Yao Lao approved. "Your stored Dou Qi is now barely sufficient for basic use."
At the praise, Yang Fan grinned—and held out his hand expectantly.
Yao Lao knew what he wanted. From his ring, he produced a pill formula.
[Blood-Clotting Powder: Grade-1 pill. Stops bleeding, heals wounds. Ingredients: 1 Blood-Clotting Grass, 1 Vitality Fruit, 2 Poppy Flowers.]
This formula was completely different from the one given to Yang Wudi.
This was a true alchemist's formula.
"Thank you, Master!"
All ingredients were common, affordable herbs—exactly the ones Yao Lao had made him buy earlier.
Yao Lao had anticipated this day long ago.
"Practice the method I taught you."
Yang Fan pulled out a cauldron he'd bought from the apothecary.
He'd wanted a better one—but Yao Lao insisted it was pointless. "You'll just blow it up."
He hadn't believed it.
For his first attempt, Yang Fan was painstakingly cautious.
He placed the cauldron squarely on the table, arranged the herbs within easy reach, and followed Yao Lao's instructions: ignite Dou Qi flame, then carefully control the temperature…
Crack!
A sharp snapping sound—and Yao Lao burst into laughter.
"The first step of alchemy is flame control!"
"Ordinary fire, Dou Qi flame, beast flame, Heavenly Flame—each is worlds apart in nature."
"Practice well. Your master needs rest."
Ever since overextending his soul to kill Salas, Yao Lao had been weak, sleeping frequently during the day.
"Flame control?"
Yang Fan stared at his two remaining cauldrons.
Yao Lao had advised buying ten or twenty. He'd thought it ridiculous.
Now, looking back—
Take good advice, fill your belly.
Within half an hour, Yang Fan was back at the apothecary—this time buying twenty cauldrons.
For days, he'd stayed home, obsessing over the Flame Mantra, skipping even his usual duels.
Walking the streets now, he noticed increased Spirit Hall activity—clearly investigating Salas's murder and the stolen soul bone.
Of course.
When the Hall Master of an imperial capital is slaughtered like livestock inside the Spirit Hall itself, the organization's reputation is at stake. They had to catch the culprit.
Yang Fan shook his head, pushing these distractions from his mind.
What did it matter to him?
He didn't kill Salas!
His only goal now was to become an alchemist—to refine his first pill. And before that, he had to conquer cauldron explosions.
Dou Qi flames were inherently fiercer than ordinary fire. No matter how carefully he controlled the intensity, the moment the flame touched the cauldron—BOOM.
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