Originally, Xiao Lin's innate elemental affinity was Earth.
Under normal circumstances, his Dou Qi would have manifested with the heavy, stubborn properties of rock and soil. However, since transitioning to the Star Manual, his energy had undergone a fundamental metamorphosis. His Dou Qi was now Star Dou Qi—a versatile, celestial force that excelled in both absolute offense and impenetrable defense. Whether crushing an opponent with the weight of a collapsing star or shielding himself with a curtain of starlight, its potency was far beyond anything a standard elemental attribute could offer.
Regarding the Mid-Level Earth Tier Star Manual, Xiao Lin knew it still had room for growth. However, he also realized he had reached a temporary bottleneck in his research.
Technically, with the "Heaven" in his Heavenly State Soul—a spiritual level usually reserved for Dou Sheng (Dou Saint) powerhouses—upgrading the manual to a High-Level Earth Tier was entirely within his capability. But after a moment of cold calculation, he chose to abandon the attempt for now.
The reason was simple: Efficiency.
In the first year of his research, Xiao Lin had successfully upgraded the old Starlight Record to a Low-Level Earth Tier method. At that moment, the sheer "cheat code" nature of a Heavenly State Soul was on full display. Even a Dou Zun (Dou Venerable) expert might have taken decades to achieve such a feat, yet Xiao Lin did it in twelve months. A powerful soul was, quite literally, a broken mechanic in the laws of this world.
However, the leap from Low-Level to Mid-Level Earth Tier had swallowed the remaining four years.
Xiao Lin realized he was being hindered by his own low cultivation. While his soul was god-like, his physical body and Dou Qi reserves were still those of a mere mortal. Pushing the manual to High-Level Earth Tier right now would likely take another ten years, perhaps more.
But if he focused on his cultivation first—reaching the Dou Zong or Dou Zun realm—and then returned to refine the manual, the task that would take a decade now might only take a few months then.
It is a matter of diminishing returns, Xiao Lin mused. To spend ten years of my prime just to squeeze out one extra sub-rank of a Qi Method is a fool's errand. I will shelve the deduction for now. When my realm catches up, the stars will yield their secrets once more.
The Impossible Dream: Heaven Tier
As for dreaming of a Heaven Tier Qi Method?
Even with a Heavenly State Soul, Xiao Lin wasn't that delusional. The birth of a Heaven Tier Method was an event of cosmic significance, often accompanied by Lightning Tribulations. Such methods possessed the terrifying ability to manipulate the very "World Power" of the Dou Qi Continent. To even attempt such a creation, Xiao Lin estimated he would need his soul to reach the Middle Stage of the Heavenly State and his cultivation to be at the Peak Dou Zun level at the very least.
For now, that was a distant mountain peak hidden in the clouds.
"Hooo..."
Xiao Lin exhaled a long breath of turbid air. "The Mid-Level Earth Tier Star Manual is more than enough for my current needs. Now, it is time to address my most glaring weakness: my Dou Qi level."
While the last five years had been dedicated to research, his cultivation hadn't remained static. After all, one cannot create a manual without testing it on oneself. Moreover, moving from a Low-Level Black Tier method to a Mid-Level Earth Tier method meant his absorption speed had increased by an astronomical margin.
Even without "active" training, his body had been passively drinking in the energy of the cosmos. As a result, Xiao Lin had quietly climbed from a four-star Dou Ling to the Peak of the Nine-Star Dou Ling realm. He stood at the very threshold of the Dou Wang (Dou King) realm. One more push, and he would soar.
The "Grandfather" Strategy
"The foundation is laid. Now, I must go all out," Xiao Lin resolved.
His awakening had left him with a profound lack of security. He knew the "Great Momentum" of the future. He knew the horrors that were coming to the Jia Ma Empire and the continent at large. If he didn't have enough power to protect himself, he wouldn't even live long enough to see the start of the main story, let alone ascend to the Great Thousand World.
Can I become a Dou Di (God) on my own? Xiao Lin shook his head inwardly. He was a realist. Without the Flame Mantra (Fen Jue) and a fire-affinity body, the path to Dou Di was almost entirely sealed. According to the original records, there were only two ways to reach that peak: the inheritance of the Ancient God Tuo She or the Emperor Grade Medicinal Pill.
Xiao Lin didn't have the protagonist's luck to find the inheritance, nor did he have the cold-blooded cruelty of Hun Tiandi to sacrifice half his clan to refine a pill.
But he had a secret weapon: His grandson.
I am the grandfather of the future Flame Emperor, Xiao Yan. If one man attains the Dao, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. My goal is simple: Live long enough to see Xiao Yan reach the top, and then ride his coattails to divinity.
But "living long enough" was the hard part. He needed to be strong enough—just a "little bit" stronger than everyone else—to survive the coming storms.
"For the sake of survival... I will train until the heavens tremble."
With a silent vow, Xiao Lin entered a state of deep meditation. From this day forward, he decided he would no longer waste time on mundane affairs. He would even find a way to resign his post as a General of the Empire.
His new creed was simple: If it doesn't kill me, train harder. If it does kill me, I didn't train hard enough.