Simultaneous Transmigration: From Douluo Continent to the Pinnacle

The inner courtyard fell silent.

With Zi Yan around, the academy was always bustling with activity; her departure seemed to have diminished its vitality. Su Qian was busy with academy affairs, the two elders Qian Bai were in seclusion cultivating, and the Medicine Elder was also wholeheartedly refining the Soul Nourishing Pill to restore his soul power. After Lin Yao readjusted several medicinal bath formulas for Little Fairy Doctor, he also had a rare period of quiet time to himself.

He spent his days cultivating in the alchemy room, occasionally studying the condensation of the Bone Spirit Cold Fire, or exchanging alchemy insights with the old alchemist; his days were quite fulfilling.

On this day, he was sitting in the courtyard of the medicine garden calculating a pill formula when a loud, ancient bell suddenly rang out from the depths of the academy.

"Thump—thump—thump—"

The bell tolled long and deep, ringing nine times in succession, echoing endlessly among the mountains of the inner courtyard. This was the signal for the start of the Strong Ranking Competition. A commotion immediately erupted in the inner courtyard as countless disciples surged towards the training grounds.

Lin Yao looked up, put down the pill formula in his hand, and a smile curved his lips. He thought for a moment, then got up and walked to the door of Little Fairy Doctor's room, gently knocking: "Little Fairy Doctor, the Inner Academy Ranking Competition has started, would you like to go and take a look?"

The door opened, and Little Fairy Doctor stepped out. She wore a light purple dress, her jet-black hair casually draped over her shoulders. She looked a little thinner than before, but her complexion was excellent, and her brows carried a calm and confident air. Her Calamity Poison Body was becoming increasingly refined and powerful through cultivation. Hearing the bell and the bustling voices outside the courtyard, she smiled and said, "I'm feeling a bit tired from cultivation, let's go take a look."

When the two walked side by side to the training ground, the competition had already been going on for quite some time.

The arena was packed with people, and the shouts and cheers were deafening. Su Qiangao sat in the main stands and smiled and nodded at Lin Yao as he arrived. In the center of the arena, a young figure stood on the ring.

Xiao Yan.

He was dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit, holding a heavy black ruler, facing a senior student. That student was also a top-five expert on the ranking list, with a Dou Qi cultivation far surpassing Xiao Yan's. However, his expression was solemn at this moment—because in the short exchange of a few dozen moves just now, he had already fallen into a disadvantageous position.

Xiao Yan's aura has now reached the eight-star Dou Ling level! He has improved significantly since Gu Yao left, clearly showing he has never let his guard down during this time. His movements are agile and unpredictable, like a fish weaving through his opponent's attacks. Every strike is incredibly precise, either using pure Dou Qi to suppress directly or subtly penetrating the opponent's body with hidden force. The student grew increasingly impatient, and an opening appeared. Xiao Yan's eyes lit up, and he swept out the Xuan Heavy Ruler, bringing it to a steady stop in front of his opponent's neck with a sharp whistling sound.

"Thank you for your kind offer." Xiao Yan withdrew the ruler and stepped back cleanly and neatly.

A deafening cheer erupted from the training ground. The second-ranked expert on the Power Ranking had also fallen to Xiao Yan. His gaze swept over the crowd and landed on the number one spot on the Power Ranking, a bright flame burning in his clear, cold eyes.

"This kid seems to have gained more sharpness than before," Little Fairy Doctor said softly, standing beside Lin Yao.

"Those who have experienced setbacks are either crushed or become sharper." Lin Yao looked at Xiao Yan's back. "He belongs to the latter."

Su Qian stood up from the main stands, walked to Lin Yao's side, stroked his beard, and sighed, "Xiao Yan, this kid, has truly surprised me time and time again. An eight-star Dou Ling defeating the second-ranked on the Strongest List is simply unbelievable." He shook his head, then changed the subject, "Lin Yao, I have something to discuss with you."

"Please speak, Elder."

Su Qian took out a translucent, emerald-green jade token from his robes. The token was intricately carved, exuding an ancient and noble aura. He handed it to Lin Yao: "This is a jade token for the Lei Clan's coming-of-age ceremony. The Lei Clan, one of the eight ancient clans, is about to hold a grand ceremony and cordially invites young talents from all over the continent to attend. This token allows you free access to Lei Clan territory without the need for additional invitations."

Lin Yao took the jade token and examined it closely. It felt cool to the touch and had a substantial weight to it. An ancient character for "thunder" was engraved on it. He could sense a subtle fluctuation of thunder within it, indicating that the jade token itself was also a kind of token.

"What does the Grand Elder mean?"

Su Qian looked at him solemnly: "Lin Yao, your talent is unparalleled in my life. It can be said that no one among the younger generation on the entire continent can surpass you. But talent is talent after all. Before you become a true peak powerhouse, you still need to see a wider world. This coming-of-age ceremony of the Lei Clan has gathered geniuses from all over the continent. It is a good opportunity for you to understand the major forces in Zhongzhou, build your confidence, and pave the way for your future. This old man of mine can't give you much help, but I can help you build a bridge."

Lin Yao held the jade token, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded solemnly: "Thank you, Elder. I will go."

Su Qian patted his shoulder with satisfaction: "The waters of Zhongzhou are deep, but you, lad, I believe you can forge your own path. Go and see. By the time you return, the entire Northwest Continent will probably have undergone a complete transformation."

When Su Qian said these words, the two of them were standing on the edge of the cliff behind the inner courtyard.

In the distance, layers upon layers of mountains rose, the setting sun painting the sky a molten gold. The mountain wind whistled, blowing Su Qian's robes and gray beard and hair. His gaze was fixed on the distance, as if looking at that vast world he could never reach.

"You saw the Strong Ranking Competition, right? That kid Xiao Yan, with his eight-star Dou Ling, swept through the inner academy, even dethroning the second-ranked on the Strong Ranking. But those achievements are nothing compared to those of the Central Continent, or the platform of the eight ancient clans. In the Central Continent, it's not uncommon for a young man to reach the Dou Zong level at twenty, and there are even monstrous talents who step into the Dou Zun level at twenty. And this is just the beginning. Above Dou Zun is Dou Sheng, and above Dou Sheng is Dou Di. That endless road is the real Shura Field."

As Su Qian spoke, she gently placed the jade token in Lin Yao's palm: "The Lei Clan's coming-of-age ceremony is actually a martial arts performance. It's divided into two rounds: the Earth Ranking and the Heaven Ranking. The Earth Ranking is for those aged twenty to thirty, and the Heaven Ranking is for those aged thirty to forty. The Lei Clan allows outsiders to participate and compete against the young members of the Lei Clan. The top ten on the Earth Ranking receive generous rewards, and the rewards for the top ten on the Heaven Ranking are even more astonishing—it's said that the top-ranked member can obtain an opportunity comparable to a Heaven-rank cultivation technique."

Lin Yao looked down at the jade token in his palm. The ancient character "雷" (thunder) emitted a faint lightning light, like a door leading to a completely different world.

"Such a grand event, there must be a lot of people attending, right?" Lin Yao asked.

"Of course. At times like these, all the major powers in Zhongzhou send their most outstanding young people to attend the ceremony, both for exchange and competition, and also for subtle rivalry," Su Qian said. "If you go, you'll not only see just how deep the foundations of those top imperial families are, but you'll also see where you stand among the younger generation on this continent. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated."

Su Qian paused, his tone becoming even more solemn: "Lin Yao, you are a man of great ambition. I can see that you will not be satisfied with merely integrating this corner of the Northwest Continent. Your move to extend your reach into the Soul Palace and establish a smaller Soul Palace was a brilliant one, but also extremely risky. The higher you climb, the more precarious it becomes. There's not much I can do to help you, except offer you a stepping stone so you can see the world more clearly and walk the path ahead more steadily."

Lin Yao held the jade tablet, feeling its cool warmth, and a surge of warmth welled up in his heart. He saw in Su Qian's eyes the deep affection of an elder for a younger generation. Su Qian's greatest wish in life was to ensure that Canaan Academy could gain a foothold on this continent, so that children of ordinary birth could also have the opportunity to look up at the stars. And now, he had entrusted this wish to Lin Yao.

"Don't worry, Elder, I will go." Lin Yao solemnly put away the jade token. "However, not now. I'll wait until I'm fully prepared before setting off. It'll also be a good time for me to further improve my strength."

Upon hearing this, Su Qian was slightly taken aback: "You're already at the mid-stage of Dou Zun, and you still want to improve?"

"Elder, I have a habit of not daring to fight battles I'm not confident of winning," Lin Yao smiled. "Since we're going to Zhongzhou to broaden our horizons, we can't let anyone look down on us."

Su Qian shook his head, smiling with a mixture of helplessness and relief: "Alright, you always think further ahead than I do. By the way, since you're going to Zhongzhou, there's someone you should meet."

He took out a letter from his storage ring, sealed with wax and bearing an ancient seal: "This is a letter left here by Dean Mang. He had a past relationship with the Lei Clan. If you encounter any trouble in Zhongzhou, you can take this letter to him. Although he travels around all year round, you will always find him if you look hard enough."

Lin Yao took the letter and carefully put it away: "Thank you, Elder. I've got it."

Night gradually enveloped the mountains, and the two stood on the cliff edge for a long time before parting ways. Lin Yao walked back to the medicine garden, repeatedly stroking the jade token and Mang Tianchi's letter, slowly forming a plan in his mind.

He has plenty of time. The Thunder Clan's coming-of-age ceremony is still some time away, and in that time, he can do many things. Once he has converted all his savings into strength, even if it's just taking another step forward, with his profound foundation, he will have nothing to fear in the Central Continent.

Upon returning to the herb garden, Lin Yao didn't rush inside. Instead, he stood in the courtyard, his gaze drifting through the window towards Little Fairy Doctor's room. The window was half-open, and a dim candlelight illuminated the figure meditating inside. Wisps of energy emanated from the room, unlike ordinary battle qi; they carried a unique, chilling aura, like a secluded orchid in a deep valley, or the first frost of winter.

That is the power of the Calamity Poison Body.

Little Fairy Doctor sat cross-legged on the bed, her hands forming a mudra. The core of poison power within her body, reshaped by Lin Yao, pulsated rhythmically, channeling pure energy to every part of her body. The poison power within her was like a calm, deep pool; though it contained astonishing power deep within, its surface remained undisturbed.

She is gathering her life force.

Lin Yao could sense that Little Fairy Doctor's cultivation had reached the critical point of the peak of Dou Zong. The core of that poison was like a pool about to overflow, only one drop away from crossing the dam and flowing into the wider world—the Dou Zun realm.

Once she fully masters the Calamity Poison Body and breaks through to the Dou Zun realm, her strength will experience a qualitative leap. Thanks to the unique properties of the Calamity Poison Body, she might even possess combat power comparable to a high-level Dou Zun. For a lonely woman once feared by everyone in the Chu Yun Empire, this would be nothing short of a complete transformation.

Lin Yao withdrew his gaze, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. Very good; the seeds he had sown were gradually bearing fruit.

At the same time, far away in Zhongzhou.

Deep within the Soul Palace's main hall, in a magnificent yet sinister palace, a figure shrouded in black mist sat quietly in the main seat. A light screen floated before him, densely packed with countless pieces of intelligence. He finished reading the last page and lightly tapped his fingers on the table.

"Black Corner Region... Canaan Academy... Lin Yao?" The figure spoke in a deep voice, revealing neither joy nor anger. "Nineteen years old, Dou Zun strength, possibly an eighth-grade alchemist?"

A dark figure below spoke respectfully, "Yes, I have confirmed it repeatedly. This person has risen to prominence in the Northwest Continent at an astonishing speed, destroying Demon Flame Valley, unifying the Black Corner Region, and is said to have obtained the Fallen Heart Flame and the inheritance of the Heavenly Fire Venerable. More importantly, he is very young. If the intelligence is correct, this person is very likely to have the potential to reach the Dou Sheng realm, or even higher."

"A nineteen-year-old alchemist at the Dou Zun level, rank eight..." The deputy hall master's finger stopped, his gaze lingering on the light screen for a moment. "If such a person is allowed to grow unchecked, even for my Soul Hall, it will be a variable."

With a flick of his finger, a jet-black token flew from his sleeve and landed in the hand of the shadowy figure below: "Order Old Ghost Zhaixing to immediately set off for the Black Corner Region and capture this person alive, bringing him back to the main hall. If he refuses, then cripple his cultivation, sever his foundation, and bring him back."

"Yes!" The shadowy figure took the token and silently disappeared into the darkness.

Meanwhile, at the border of Black Corner.

A figure in cyan robes was walking slowly through a desolate valley. He was neither flying nor releasing any aura, appearing like an ordinary traveler. But his steps were extremely rhythmic, and with each step, the surrounding air rippled slightly.

This man appeared to be around forty years old, dressed in a blue robe, with a lean face, gentle yet profound eyes, and a constant smile on his lips, giving off a warm and welcoming feeling. He walked slowly, but with each step, the ground beneath his feet would subtly shorten—this was an extremely skillful spatial movement technique, allowing him to travel dozens of miles without making a sound.

It was Feng Xian, the Venerable Feng, an old friend of the old master from his time in Zhongzhou.

Venerable Feng came to the Black Corner Region to find Elder Yao, whom he hadn't seen for many years. After news of Elder Yao's pursuit by the Soul Hall spread throughout the Central Continent, all his old friends believed he had perished, but Venerable Feng refused to believe it. Over the years, he had traveled across mountains and rivers, searching for any possible clues left by Elder Yao, until recently, when he finally found the Black Corner Region by following a faint trace of his soul.

He stopped in front of what appeared to be an ordinary town, his gaze falling on an inconspicuous little courtyard within the town. He could sense a familiar presence there.

As night fell, in the courtyard, the old physician's soul hovered above a piece of warm jade, using its warmth to restore his spiritual energy. Suddenly, he abruptly opened his eyes, his gaze warily fixed on the window: "Who?"

The window slid open silently, and a figure in green robes flipped in, his movements as light as a feather. He dusted off his robes, looked up, and smiled with delight at their long-awaited reunion: "Yao Chen, it's been so many years, you've lost quite a bit of weight."

Looking at that familiar face, the old apothecary's soul trembled slightly: "Feng Xian?! How did you find your way here?"

Venerable Feng strode over, carefully examining Yao Lao's soul body from head to toe. Confirming that although he was weak, he was unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief. "It's a long story. I followed your soul imprint all the way to the Black Corner Region, originally just trying my luck—I must say, old man, you really know how to hide; I've been searching for you for so many years." He paused, looking at the simple furnishings around him. "What, hiding in a place like this to recuperate?"

Old Master Yao remained silent for a moment, then briefly recounted his experiences over the years. Venerable Feng listened, his expression shifting from surprise to solemnity, then to complexity, before finally shaking his head: "I didn't expect you to take on a disciple. Where is that kid named Xiao Yan?"

"He's cultivating in the inner courtyard. I've already sent the little fellow to inform him," said the old apothecary. "Come to the academy tomorrow and you can see him there."

……