Battle Through the Heavens: Oh no, I've become the succubus Xiao Yan!

Half an hour.

It took a full half hour for the surging power within his body to gradually subside. The power of the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame was completely absorbed and fused by the Burning Technique, forming a new azure fire lotus in his dantian. The Burning Technique also underwent a transformation under the dual stimulation of the strange fire and the Flame of the Fire God, evolving directly from the mid-level of the Profound Rank to the low-level of the Earth Rank.

His cultivation level also broke through.

The bottleneck of the peak Dou Wang realm shattered under the impact of the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame, and Dou Qi surged into his meridians like a tidal wave, climbing ever higher—

Breakthrough to Dou Huang!

But the power didn't stop. The energy of the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame was too abundant. Coupled with the perfect synergy between the Fire God Body and the Strange Flame, and the leap in the quality of his Battle Qi brought about by the evolution of the Burning Technique, the triple amplification combined made his cultivation continue to advance unstoppably after breaking through to the Dou Huang realm.

One-star Douhuang.

Douhuang level 2.

The upward trend finally stabilized.

Xiao Yan let out a long breath, sweat sliding down his forehead and evaporating instantly in the high temperature.

Douhuang level 2.

He leaped directly from the peak of Dou Wang to the second star of Dou Huang, bridging a gap of three major star levels. This was almost unheard of on the Dou Qi Continent—ordinary Dou Wangs had to go through a long period of accumulation to break through to Dou Huang, but he broke through three stars in a single day, including a major level.

This is the terrifying efficiency of combining the Burning Technique with a different kind of fire.

His combat power has also increased dramatically. With the cultivation of a second-star Douhuang, the amplification of the Fire God Body, the power of the Fire God Diagram, the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame, and the enhancement of his soul power, his current combat power is comparable to the mid-stage Douzong. If he were to combine this with the Buddha's Wrath Fire Lotus, he would be invincible within the Douzong realm.

  

His Fire God Body has also been enhanced. After the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame was integrated, his control over flames reached a new level, and the temperature and power of the Fire God Flame were significantly improved.

From within the ring, Yao Lao's voice rang out, tinged with a mixture of relief and shock: "You kid... you've reached the second level of Dou Huang? At this speed, tsk tsk tsk, you'll probably reach Dou Zong soon. Truly a born monster!"

"Just lucky." Xiao Yan's voice was a little hoarse. "But the Fire God Body and the Strange Flame seem to have an extremely high compatibility. The Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame not only didn't backfire, but it also actively helped me break through the bottleneck."

"The Fire God Body," the old physician's voice held a hint of感慨 (gan3kai3, a complex emotion encompassing both admiration and regret), "others face a near-death experience refining a strange fire, but you, the strange fire came to you on its own, and after refining it, you even broke through two stars. If those guys from the Soul Palace knew about this, I wonder what kind of expressions they would have."

"It's better that they know." Xiao Yan clenched his fist, the green lotus in his palm dissipating between his fingers. "Kill them one by one."

He glanced at the lava lake again. The two-headed fire spirit snake was still huddled in the corner, trembling all over, its two heads lowered so as not to look at him.

"Hey," Xiao Yan beckoned to it, "Come with me."

The Fire Spirit Serpent dared not move.

Xiao Yan had no time to waste. With a single hand, he grabbed the snake, and a flame enveloped its body, lifting it from the lava. The Fire Spirit Snake went mad with fear, its two heads struggling desperately, but the pressure of the Fire God's Flame rendered it immobile—like a chick caught by an eagle.

Xiao Yan flew out of the cave along the way he came, carrying a snake in his left hand.

-

Above the sandpit.

Little Fairy Doctor and Qinglin had been waiting for most of the day. Qinglin squatted by the sandpit, peeking down every now and then, only to be met with a wave of heat and then pulling back.

"Why isn't Brother Xiao Yan coming out yet...?"

"Don't peek over your shoulder, it's hot." Little Fairy Doctor pulled her back.

As soon as he finished speaking, a streak of azure flame shot out from the sandpit, and Xiao Yan landed in front of them. His clothes were burned in several places, and his hair was a little singed, but he was in excellent spirits. His eyes were brighter than before, and a azure flame danced deep within his pupils.

In his left hand, he was also holding a fourth-tier two-headed fire spirit snake.

The snake's two heads saw the green scales and instinctively wanted to breathe fire—but Xiao Yan's fingers tightened slightly, and the pressure of the Fire God's Flame made the Fire Spirit Snake obediently shut its mouth.

"Qinglin," Xiao Yan put the snake down, "you give it a try."

Qinglin stared wide-eyed at the giant snake that was even thicker than herself.

"Me?"

"Your Azure Serpent Three-Flower Pupil is naturally effective against serpentine magical beasts. This Fire Spirit Serpent is a fourth-tier, Battle Spirit level serpent. If you can subdue it, you'll be much safer in the desert."

Qinglin hesitated for a moment before walking up to the Fire Spirit Serpent.

Snake eyes meet snake eyes.

The Azure Serpent's Three-Flower Pupil is activated.

The three small green dots in Qinglin's pupils suddenly shone brightly, transforming into three extremely tiny green flowers. A burst of intense light shot out from the pupils, enveloping the Fire Spirit Serpent.

The Fire Serpent's massive body suddenly stiffened, its two enormous eyes filled with terror. It tried to escape, but the light from the Azure Serpent's Three-Flower Pupils immobilized it. The eerie light moved slowly across the serpent's body, finally settling on the center of its two heads' foreheads—where two small green flowers were imprinted.

The marking is complete.

The ferocity and savagery in the Fire Spirit Serpent's eyes quickly faded, replaced by docility. It lowered its head and slowly swam towards Qinglin, gently nuzzling her palm with its two heads.

Qinglin was stunned for a moment, then her whole body lit up.

"It...it listens to me!"

"Yes," Xiao Yan smiled, "it's yours now."

Qinglin crouched down and carefully stroked the Fire Spirit Serpent's head. The serpent's body was warm, its scales smooth, and both heads nuzzled against it at the same time, like two affectionate puppies.

"Can I call you Xiao Shuang?"

The Fire Spirit Serpent let out a low hiss, as if in response.

"It said yes!" Qinglin's face turned red with excitement, and she hugged the snake's head tightly.

Little Fairy Doctor stood aside, watching this scene, a slight smile curving her lips, genuinely happy for Qinglin.

Then she turned to Xiao Yan and looked him up and down. Her gaze fell on his sleeve—several sections of it were burned off, and faint blue flame patterns could be seen on the exposed skin.

"You've gotten stronger again." She didn't ask about the strange fire, she only said these four words.

"Hmm, much stronger." Xiao Yan looked down at his hand, where a blue fire lotus was quietly burning in his palm, its petals swaying slightly as if greeting him.

"He's reached the second level of Douhuang."

Little Fairy Doctor's pupils contracted slightly.

A Battle Emperor. He's only sixteen years old.

However, this is her man.

"Let's go," Xiao Yan said, withdrawing his flames and glancing at the sky. The desert sunset painted the horizon a golden-red, and the sandstorm gradually subsided in the twilight. "We still have things to do tomorrow."

"What is it?"

"Go and make a deal with a queen."

Little Fairy Doctor glanced at him but didn't ask any further questions.

Qinglin rode on Xiaoshuang's back, the two-headed fire spirit snake gliding across the sand at an astonishing speed. She glanced back at Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor, and grinned.

The desert wind blows, carrying scorching heat and fine sand.

Three people and a snake walked back to Stone Desert City in the twilight.