As the pale white flames exerted their suppression, the wisp of crimson fire within Xiao Yan's body finally ceased its rampage. Like a tamed beast, it obediently curled up in a corner of his Dou Qi Vortex.
Within the Dou Qi Vortex, as the fire flickered, dense gaseous energy surged forth. Xiao Yan's aura skyrocketed as if riding a rocket.
Two-star, three-star, four-star… eight-star!
However, before the surge in his aura could conclude, Yao Lao's formidable Soul Power, accompanied by the pale white flames, entered Xiao Yan's body. It transformed into a skeletal figure and lunged toward the crimson fire.
"Whoosh!"
Seeing the terrifying pale white flames about to devour it, the crimson fire panicked and turned to flee, plunging headlong into the Soul Storage that emitted a grayish glow.
Before Xiao Yan could even process what was happening, the pale white flames unceremoniously swept away all the Dou Qi from his Dou Qi Vortex!
"Little fellow, I helped you refine the Heavenly Flames and saved your life. Taking a small reward isn't too much to ask, is it?"
An aged voice tinged with amusement rang out. The pale white flames instantly withdrew from Xiao Yan's body, taking with them a massive wave of Dou Qi!
Xiao Yan had no objections to this at all!
His eyes snapped open, and he looked down at the bone fragment in his hand, which had turned deathly pale.
Clearly, the nascent flame seedling had used the bone fragment as its vessel. Now that the flame had been refined by him, the bone fragment had naturally lost its purpose.
The hot spring… had also turned cold!
Emerging from the water, he instinctively wanted to use Dou Qi to dry his clothes.
Then it dawned on him.
There truly wasn't a trace of Dou Qi left in his body!
The good news, however, was that his cultivation level hadn't dropped too drastically. He had only fallen from a two-star Dou Fighter to the threshold of a Dou Fighter. With a bit of cultivation, he could return to being a proper one-star Dou Fighter.
Quickly regaining his composure, Xiao Yan suppressed the excitement in his heart and looked curiously at his ring, tentatively asking:
"Senior?"
"Not bad, little one. In such a situation, you could still sense the anomaly of this ring. Impressive Talent!"
The aged voice sounded once more as a translucent figure flew out from the ring. Judging by the transparency of his form, Xiao Yan knew that Yao Lao, who had awakened two years earlier, was not in good condition. Even after absorbing his Dou Qi, it was barely enough to make a difference.
Upon careful consideration, it made sense: how much could a Dou Venerable's Soul Power recover by absorbing the Dou Qi—or even the Dou Disciple energy—of a mere Dou Fighter, even over three years?
"Xiao Yan greets Senior. Thank you for saving my life. I will remember your assistance and will surely repay you in the future!"
Xiao Yan clasped his hands respectfully and spoke earnestly.
"What a composed little fellow. Seeing me in this state, you weren't scared out of your wits?"
Yao Lao teased Xiao Yan with a smile, then circled around him a few times, his eyes growing increasingly bright.
"A ten-year-old two-star Dou Fighter, fire-attribute Dou Qi mixed with wood attributes, formidable Soul perception, and the luck to encounter Heavenly Flames. Not bad!"
Yao Lao nodded, floating in front of Xiao Yan. After a moment of hesitation, he finally asked:
"Do you wish to become an Alchemist?"
As soon as Yao Lao finished speaking, he saw Xiao Yan kneel on the ground with a thud and bow deeply.
"Master, I really want to become an Alchemist!"
???
Yao Lao was completely stunned by Xiao Yan's smooth little combo.
This kid... something's off!
"How did you know I'm an Alchemist?"
Yao Lao couldn't help but ask.
"Aren't you? Then why did you ask if I wanted to become one?"
Xiao Yan looked up, somewhat puzzled.
"Well, yes, but you didn't even confirm before bowing to me as your master?"
Yao Lao felt that after traveling the continent for many years, he had seen all kinds of situations, but today's scene was truly something he had never encountered before.
"Senior, you just saved my life and helped me refine the flames. Although you took a small amount of my Dou Qi as compensation, I, Xiao Yan, am not someone with such shallow vision.
Being able to exist in the form of a Soul Body, your strength must be extremely formidable. My meager Dou Qi is nothing more than a drop in the bucket for you—if I'm even worthy of that comparison.
Earlier, you mentioned that my Dou Qi contains the wood attribute and praised me for it. Then you asked if I wanted to become an Alchemist, clearly indicating your intention to take me as a disciple. Although I've already taken Yun Yun, the sect master of the Cloud Mist Sect, as my master, I believe she wouldn't mind me learning Alchemy from a senior who saved my life!"
Xiao Yan had no intention of getting up, remaining on his knees as he spoke with utmost respect.
"Good, good, good. You really are a clever boy with a sharp eye. I don't mind you having another master. When it comes to Alchemy, there aren't many in the entire continent who can compare to me!"
When it came to Alchemy, Yao Lao's tone clearly carried a hint of pride.
"That's wonderful! Disciple Xiao Yan pays his respects to Master!"
Xiao Yan immediately bowed again.
He didn't want to have his Dou Qi drained for three years, nor did he want to go through that three-year probation period.
His golden-finger mentor had already arrived, and now he just wanted to immediately receive Yao Lao's help to start his overpowered life!
"Mm, from now on, you may call me Yao Lao."
Yao Lao stroked his illusory beard and nodded with a smile.
Xiao Yan nodded, then curiously asked:
"Master, what's the deal with this Heavenly Flame?"
Xiao Yan then recounted everything about the Hot Spring in the cave to Yao Lao.
"Hmm..."
Yao Lao thought for a moment upon hearing this, then flicked his finger, sending out a pale white flame that evaporated the pool water, revealing the bottom.
The bottom wasn't made of scattered stones but a single massive, pale bone. When the water was present, it wasn't very noticeable, but once the water evaporated and one looked closely, it became clear that this seemed to be the spine of an enormous Magical Beast.
"So that's how it is..." Yao Lao seemed lost in thought. "Beneath this Hot Spring, many years ago, there were likely the remains of numerous Ancient Magical Beasts piled up. The blood you just introduced into it allowed the Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Fire to complete its final component, which is why it actively appeared, wanting to use your Soul to achieve its birth."
"Master, what does that mean?"
Xiao Yan didn't quite understand; he wasn't familiar with the Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Fire.
"The Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Fire is formed from the souls and Bloodlines of countless beasts. 'Ten thousand' is just an approximation—it doesn't literally mean ten thousand, but it's certainly not a small number.
And the most crucial part of it is humanity, the pinnacle of all living beings!"
The blood on you was splattered from killing Dou Fighters. Their strength was too weak; even after death, their souls could not exist independently. Instead, they dissipated within the internal organs and bloodline of their bodies, ultimately returning to heaven and earth.
Thus, although that blood could not be considered essence blood, it was fresh enough and contained some visceral blood carrying soul fragments, supplementing the crucial part that the Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Fire lacked, allowing it to take form.
But it was ultimately incomplete, which is why the flame actively entered your body, attempting to use your soul blood to fully complete it. Who would have thought you, a reckless youth, would stubbornly seize the newborn, weakened Heavenly Flames and directly begin refining them!
"Refining Heavenly Flames with the strength of a Dou Fighter—even if it's just this weak little flame—is bold enough!"
Yao Lao explained, shaking his head somewhat helplessly.
Back when he refined Heavenly Flames, he didn't know how much he suffered, spending many years in a dark, desolate place before barely succeeding by chance. This kid in front of him, however, had it easy, refining the Heavenly Flames with only a scare but no real danger. Although the Heavenly Flames hadn't fully matured, it was still enviable enough!