Chapter 20: Cultivating the Burning Art
Recently, Starfall Pavilion's key figures seemed to have entered a rather peculiar state.
The Pavilion Master, Yaochen, had recently accepted a new disciple. Rumored to be the scion of a prominent family, the disciple's talent appeared exceptional. Yet, following this acceptance, the Pavilion Master abruptly went into seclusion.
It was said that some had occasionally spotted the Pavilion Master wandering in remote mountain forests, disheveled and muttering phrases like "Dou Saint" and "Ninth Tier."
Some speculated that the Pavilion Master was on the verge of a breakthrough, while others whispered that he might have encountered a mishap during alchemy and gone mad.
Meanwhile, the eldest disciple, Han Feng, wasn't faring much better. He was often seen sporting a bruised and battered face, his words laced with anxiety.
The only one who seemed to be in good spirits was Deputy Pavilion Master Feng Xian, who spent his days leisurely sipping tea, taking strolls, and engaging in lighthearted activities like bird watching and cricket fighting. Occasionally, he would pause to offer casual guidance to disciples he found pleasing.
A Generous Exchange
As part of his gift for becoming Yaochen's disciple and in exchange for obtaining Burning Art Xiao Yan presented Yaochen and Feng Xian with remarkable treasures:
To Yaochen, he gifted a low tier Heavenly Fire attribute cultivation method.To Feng Xian, he offered a high tier Earth Wind attribute Dou Technique.
The Heavenly Fire technique left Yaochen eager for seclusion, swearing not to emerge until he reached Dou Saint. Feng Xian, on the other hand, was content with his new Dou Technique, which brought him immense joy.
For a Dou Venerate, a high tier Earth technique was a rare and valuable treasure, especially when acquired without any effort. After all, free gifts are the purest form of human happiness.
However, Han Feng's situation was much bleaker.
Seeing that both his master and Feng Xian had received gifts, Han Feng had tried his luck and approached Xiao Yan one evening. He hoped, timidly, that he too might receive something.
In return, Xiao Yan gave him a thorough beating.
Although Xiao Yan was only a Nine Star Dou Emperor, his superior cultivation techniques, Dou Techniques, and a body nearly as strong as a Dou Venerate rendered him an overwhelming opponent. Moreover, with the two Half Saint protectors, Wen and Wu, watching closely, Han Feng had no hope of retaliating.
"Senior Brother," Xiao Yan had said, his expression one of pure innocence. "When you die, can I keep your Sea Heart Flame?"
Han Feng felt a chill down his spine, his blood running cold. Xiao Yan's tone was naïve, yet it held a deeply unsettling undertone. Adding to this, Wu's fierce eyes gleamed as if sharpening a metaphorical blade in anticipation.
Constantly under the looming threat of a Half Saint's hostility, Han Feng's nerves deteriorated further.
Preparing to Cultivate Burning Art
On a mountaintop within the Star Realm, Xiao Yan sat cross legged, his surroundings sealed by the spatial energy of Wen and Wu.
The two Half Saints ensured that even a Dou Venerate would struggle to break into this secured space. Should anyone attempt to intrude, they would be met with the ferocity of a Half Saint's fist.
"Phew…" Xiao Yan exhaled deeply, calming his heart. Retrieving a black scroll from his storage ring, he unrolled it slowly.
This was the item Han Feng coveted above all else Burning Art!
"Are you certain, Young Master? You really intend to abandon your high tier Earth cultivation method to train in this measly low tier Yellow technique?" Wen asked, his tone filled with concern.
It was widely known that transitioning from a low tier technique to a higher tier one would enhance Dou Qi quality, albeit with a short period of weakness. However, switching from a high tier technique to a low tier one would degrade Dou Qi, often leading to significant loss of strength commonly referred to as dispersing cultivation.
"Yes!" Xiao Yan nodded firmly.
Switching from a high tier Earth technique to a low tier Yellow technique would cause his Dou Qi quality to plummet. His cultivation level might even regress significantly.
Yet Xiao Yan remained unfazed.
The ability to devour Heavenly Flames, increase his power exponentially, and ultimately inherit a Dou Emperor's legacy outweighed any temporary weakness.
With Wen and Wu as his protectors, Xiao Yan wasn't overly concerned. At this stage, whether his strength hovered around Dou Emperor or Dou King mattered little.
Seeing Xiao Yan's unwavering determination, the two Half Saints refrained from further persuasion. Having spent time with him, they had come to understand his intelligence and careful planning. If Xiao Yan deemed this Yellow tier technique worthwhile, there had to be a reason.
Commencing the Cultivation
Xiao Yan placed his hands on the Burning Art scroll, his fingers tracing its rough surface. As he activated the technique, the scroll emitted a faint golden glow. A surge of ancient and profound energy coursed into his body, gradually replacing his former cultivation technique.
Instantly, his Dou Qi quality began to degrade. From high tier Earth cultivation, it plummeted to a low tier Yellow level. The reduction in power was both evident and disheartening.
However, Xiao Yan remained calm, his expression unwavering.
"This is just the beginning," he muttered to himself.
Golden symbols from the Burning Art scroll danced before him, embedding themselves into his meridians. Slowly, his energy stabilized.
From this point forward, Xiao Yan's strength would grow alongside the Burning Art, each new Heavenly Flame devoured becoming a stepping stone toward greater heights.
In the sealed space, the two Half Saints observed silently, their gazes a mixture of admiration and unease.
"This Young Master…" Wen muttered, shaking his head.
"He's far bolder than anyone I've seen," Wu added, crossing his arms.
Little did they know, Xiao Yan wasn't just bold.
He was relentless.
After steadying his mind, Xiao Yan unfurled the scroll, letting his finger trace lightly over the text. In the next moment, a stream of information surged into his mind through his soul force.
Carefully committing the incantations, mental techniques, and meridian pathways to memory, Xiao Yan closed his eyes.
A deep crimson glow soon emanated from his body the manifestation of the Dou Qi refined through the high tier Earth level technique, Blazing Flame Eight Desolation Technique. It was powerful, ferocious, and radiated intense yang energy.
However, in the next moment, Xiao Yan redirected this Dou Qi along a completely new pathway, guided by his soul's will.
This was the meridian route specified by the Burning Art. As the Dou Qi flowed into the new pathway, it seemed to "protest," sending faint ripples of resistance through Xiao Yan's body.
Fortunately, this Dou Qi was cultivated by Xiao Yan himself, and though reluctant, it ultimately obeyed his will.
The immense Dou Qi coursed through the yet to be developed pathways. As it pressed forward, faint pangs of pain began to resonate through Xiao Yan's meridians.
However, having been tempered by countless heavenly treasures since childhood, and fortified further through the Crimson Flame Fiend Body, Xiao Yan's physique was exceptionally resilient. These pangs were manageable.
Soon, the crimson Dou Qi completed a full circuit following the meridian diagram of the Burning Art. By the time it returned to his Qi Cyclone, Xiao Yan's forehead glistened with sweat.
As the Dou Qi completed its first cycle, Xiao Yan noticed something unusual. The energy seemed slightly weaker, and its once vivid hue had dimmed.
"Again!" Xiao Yan steadied his breathing and redirected the Dou Qi along the same path.
With each cycle, the process consumed vast amounts of Dou Qi. Xiao Yan's strength visibly declined, his energy fading with every pass.
By the ninth cycle, the crimson Dou Qi had dulled to a dark red, and Xiao Yan's cultivation rank dropped sharply falling from Nine Star Dou Emperor to Eight Star.
Despite feeling weak, Xiao Yan gritted his teeth.
"Continue!" he growled, pushing himself harder.
Another nine cycles. The dark red Dou Qi transformed into a lighter red, and his rank fell yet again.
Each set of nine cycles dulled the Dou Qi's hue further and brought another sharp decline in Xiao Yan's cultivation.
By the time he completed the eighty first cycle, his rank had dropped to One Star Dou Emperor, and the Dou Qi within him had degraded to a feeble pale yellow hue, indicative of a low tier Yellow level technique.
A State of Weakness
On the mountaintop, Xiao Yan collapsed onto a large boulder. His face was pale, his cheeks sunken, and his previously robust frame now appeared slightly emaciated.
Sweat dripped from his forehead, pooling on the stone beneath him.
"I feel... so empty... like my body's been hollowed out."
With trembling hands, Xiao Yan reached into his storage ring and pulled out a series of medicinal pills. He popped them into his mouth one after another, his strength slowly returning.
Six Taste Earth Emperor Pills.
Golden Cabinet Qi Restoration Pills.
After consuming four or five potent restorative pills, a faint flush of color returned to his face.
"Dropped to One Star Dou Emperor, huh?" Xiao Yan frowned. Losing ranks didn't bother him much, but the complete transformation of his Dou Qi into low tier Yellow energy was an entirely different matter.
"It's like being a strong, vigorous man and suddenly getting completely drained. That sudden loss of power is the hardest thing to endure," Xiao Yan muttered, sighing.
"At this rate, without relying on Dou Techniques or my physical strength, I'd probably lose in a straight Dou Qi fight against a peak Dou King…"
Planning the Next Step
Shaking his head with a bitter smile, Xiao Yan raised his hand. A vibrant green flame flickered to life.
"While my Green Lion Demon Flame isn't a Heavenly Flame, it's still a top tier Beast Flame. After devouring it, advancing the Burning Art to a high tier Yellow technique shouldn't be an issue."
"Phew... but not now. I need to rest first. Even walking makes me sweat right now," Xiao Yan muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow.
Leaning back against the boulder, he closed his eyes to recover, silently preparing for the next steps on his path.
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