Battle Through the Heavens: The Rock King Emperor's Leisurely Wanderings in the Mortal World

Chapter 36 The Incineration Technique Descends, Dual Cultivation of Thunder and Fire

"Devouring... a strange fire?!" Zhong Li murmured softly, his voice tinged with doubt and confusion.

"Teacher, as far as I know, each person can only devour one type of strange fire at most. Even if they devour the same type, it will trigger a strong rejection reaction, ultimately causing the devourer to explode and die. But if you only devour one type of strange fire, how can the 'Burning Technique' evolve again? I feel that apart from directly devouring the Emperor Flame, which is ranked number one on the Strange Fire Ranking, there doesn't seem to be any other strange fire that can directly elevate a cultivation technique from the low-level Yellow Rank to above the high-level Heaven Rank, right? But where do I get the strength to devour the number one Strange Fire on the Strange Fire Ranking?"

"Hey! You brat, you've been using all that stuff you've learned these past few days to argue with the teacher, haven't you?" Yao Chen pretended to be angry and made a move to flick Xiao Yan's forehead.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Yan quickly covered his head with his hands, a smile appearing on his face: "No, no, I was just applying what I learned."

Yao Chen wasn't truly angry. Instead, with a mix of amusement and seriousness, he said, "What you said isn't wrong. Under normal circumstances, a person can indeed only consume one different kind of fire. Those with extraordinary power, like the Yan Clan Chief, are exceptions. After all, their clan has been researching fire control techniques for thousands of years, possessing profound knowledge. However, my 'Burning Technique' is different; it has a unique and wondrous aspect—it can fuse different kinds of fire!"

"Fusing... different flames?" A hint of surprise flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes.

"That's right! The Yan Clan Chief forcibly fused the Nine Nether Golden Ancestral Flame and the Volcanic Stone Flame through sheer force, a kind of violent aesthetics. The wonder of the 'Burning Technique' lies in its ability to transform and fuse the energy of devoured strange flames in a special way. It can skillfully coordinate the power of different strange flames, making them work together rather than conflict with each other. However, there is a crucial prerequisite for cultivating this technique: the cultivator must possess powerful soul power. And you, possessing the perfect conditions to become an alchemist, naturally have extremely powerful soul power, perfectly matching the cultivation requirements of the 'Burning Technique.'"

"Then...does that mean I only have two low-level Yellow Rank cultivation techniques at the beginning...this..." Xiao Yan looked troubled. Although the Burning Blade Technique can evolve by fusing with different flames, it also means that the early stages of cultivation will be extremely difficult.

"Your fiancée, that little girl, is probably cultivating a wind-attribute Xuan-rank technique from the Yunlan Sect. Generally speaking, a low-level Xuan-rank technique, when cultivated to its peak, can reach the Dou Ling or Dou Wang realm; a mid-level Xuan-rank technique has a chance to break through to Dou Huang; and only a top-level Xuan-rank technique has a slight chance to break through to Dou Zong, but that's extremely difficult. Without the aid of powerful pills, it's basically impossible to succeed."

Yao Chen patiently explained to Xiao Yan the approximate upper limits of various cultivation techniques.

"Then... what about low-level Earth-rank cultivation techniques?" Xiao Yan asked curiously.

Yao Chen didn't directly answer Xiao Yan's question. Instead, he slowly floated in front of him and gently patted his head: "I'm telling you this because I want to tell you that if you choose a certain level of cultivation technique, even if your talent is outstanding, your upper limit will be limited. But now there are two cultivation techniques that can break through the inherent upper limit by absorbing different flames and lightning. Such an opportunity is not available to everyone. Of course, if you want to be more cautious, you can choose the Flaming Wave Burning Earth Technique, and I won't object. In fact, if I hadn't witnessed your indomitable spirit when you absorbed the different lightning, I wouldn't have taken out this 'Burning Technique' today."

Xiao Yan slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, then posed another question: "Master, can the 'Burning Flame Technique' be like the 'Eternal Thunder Technique,' greatly enhancing one's strength by absorbing different flames?"

Yao Chen paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Didn't I just say that apart from the difference in what we devour, everything else is pretty much the same? The reason you're hesitating is probably because of this kind of doubt in your mind, isn't it?"

"Hehe, Master, my mind is made up. I am determined to cultivate the 'Burning Technique'!" Xiao Yan chuckled, then said with a resolute expression.

Just then, Zhong Li slowly got up and walked over to the two of them.

"Brother Yaochen, your suggestion is brilliant, but isn't it a bit too much of a low start followed by a high finish?"

As Zhong Li spoke, he turned to look at Xiao Yan, his gaze serious: "Xiao Yan, are you confident you can withstand the dual tempering of the strange lightning and the strange fire? That strange lightning was merely the lowest-ranked existence, number twenty-third on the Strange Lightning Ranking, while the strange fire is comparable, its destructive power is terrifying beyond compare. Are you truly confident you can withstand it?"

"I can!" Xiao Yan's eyes were unwavering, as if any hesitation would be a desecration of these two extraordinary techniques.

Zhong Li observed Xiao Yan's every word and action. From him, Zhong Li saw a spirit of courage and determination, a quality unique to people his age.

Zhongli was aware of this trait, but found it difficult to articulate or define. However, he knew that he had once possessed it, only that it had gradually faded away.

Zhong Li smiled with satisfaction, quite pleased with Xiao Yan's attitude and determination: "Very good. From now on, your cultivation path will likely involve constantly embarking on journeys to find different kinds of fire and lightning."

"Um... Master, I wonder what kind of battle qi my junior sister, Little Fairy Doctor, cultivates? We can't just ignore her cultivation progress in order to help me find the strange fire and lightning, can we?"

Xiao Yan's character is beyond reproach.

It is truly remarkable that he could still show concern for a junior sister he had never met before, who might even be competing with him for the strange fire.

"She possesses poison-attribute fighting spirit, and I will take care of her cultivation; you need not worry."

"What? Aren't you afraid your junior sister will compete with you for the strange fire?" Yao Chen teased with a smile.

"(ˉ▽￣～)Tch~~What am I afraid of? Even if Junior Sister Little Fairy Doctor wants a different kind of flame, she can only devour one at most, while I possess the Burning Technique and can devour multiple different kinds of flames. What harm would it do if I shared one of my flames with Junior Sister?"

"Don't forget, your junior sister is also a disciple of Zhongli Guest Elder. You, being a fire-attribute cultivator, can cultivate lightning-attribute techniques, so why can't your poison-attribute junior sister?"

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Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan turned his gaze to Zhong Li, who gave him a slight nod in affirmation.

"However, I do not have a second strange lightning bolt here for your junior sister to imprint a second soul meridian, so she is still only cultivating poison techniques for now."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan waved his hand again, saying nonchalantly, "It's alright. At worst, I'll give all my strange lightning to my junior sister, and I'll focus on absorbing strange fire. We, as senior and junior siblings, one of us specializes in lightning, and the other in fire. Who knows, we might even create a combined attack technique of lightning and fire someday? Hahaha."

……

(End of this chapter)