Battle Through the Heavens: Xiao Yan, I am your second master.

In the Dou Qi Continent, the master-disciple relationship has always been very good. Except for a very few scoundrels, the master-disciple relationship can be as close as or even closer than blood ties.

Xiao Li's current cultivation level is at the peak of the six-star Great Dou Master, which is already an extraordinary existence in the eyes of ordinary people, and at least in the Jia Ma Empire, he is unique.

However, Xiao Li did not devote himself to cultivation during these six years. Most of the time, he was diligently practicing medicine and honing his foundation. Over the years, Xiao Li has taken quite a few pills.

As long as Wang Ming knew how to refine any Foundation Establishment type pills, whether they were fifth or sixth grade, he would refine them for Xiao Li to eat. He truly treated pills like food.

That's not all. Xiao Li not only had to take pills, but also needed medicinal baths to aid absorption. These were all for Xiao Li's foundation building, and the process was somewhat painful. However, Xiao Li also developed a physical body that was no less powerful than that of a magical beast.

But then again, why does Elder Wang know so much? Isn't he a sixth-grade alchemist from the Jia Ma Empire? He's just an alchemist from a small place, how could he know so much?

Hmph! You don't understand, do you? Xiao Li didn't understand it either, and Gu He in later generations was also a sixth-grade alchemist, but he didn't necessarily raise Liu Ling very well.

It turns out that Old Wang was originally from Zhongzhou. His family was originally located in Fengyun City in the southern part of Zhongzhou. The Wang family, to which Old Wang belonged, was a top family in Fengyun City. Old Wang's grandfather was a Dou Zong powerhouse, his father was a Dou Huang powerhouse, and his mother was a fifth-grade peak alchemist.

When Wang was young, he learned about medicine making from his mother, so he had a certain foundation in the subject.

According to his master, Master Wang, his childhood was the happiest time of his life, but it didn't last long. After Wang Ming condensed his fighting spirit at the age of twelve and became a fighter, his special physique awakened.

Shocking! Old Master Wang actually possesses a special physique! That's right, Wang Ming possesses a special physique called the Heavenly Yang Physique. If this physique is combined with rare and precious natural treasures of the ultimate Yang attribute, he will surely achieve great things in the future!

Old Master Wang's awakening of his special physique brought prosperity to the entire Wang family, but in Zhongzhou, having a special physique is actually a danger!

When Wang Lao was fifteen years old, the Ice River Valley, one of the three valleys, suddenly attacked the Wang family. The attack was led by three Dou Zong and countless Dou Huang and Dou Wang. The once-prosperous Wang family in Fengyun City was destroyed, and Wang Ming was captured and taken back to the Ice River Valley. His Tianyang Body's origin was stripped away, leaving him on the verge of death.

But he was very lucky. When he was young, Old Wang had taken a top-grade sixth-rank elixir to save his life, which allowed him to survive with great difficulty.

Although he survived by sheer luck, his physique was ruined, his cultivation foundation was destroyed, and Old Wang's body was riddled with holes. He was no longer the genius boy from Fengyun City he once was.

The destruction of his family and the loss of his loved ones made Old Wang contemplate suicide, but the desire for revenge kept him alive.

Elder Wang began to cultivate diligently and target the disciples of Ice River Valley. But how large is Ice River Valley? It is a top power in Central Continent, ranking among the Three Valleys, second only to the One Palace, One Tower, and Two Sects.

During a hunt for Ice River Valley disciples, Wang Ming was discovered by Ice River Valley experts and was chased down, eventually being forced to jump off a cliff.

On the Dou Qi Continent, there is a saying: If one day you fall off a cliff or into a cave, don't panic. Take two steps forward, and perhaps you will become a strong person!

Such a joke actually happened to Wang Ming. After falling off the cliff, Wang Ming didn't know how long it took before he regained consciousness. There, he found a skeleton.

Upon hearing Wang Ming's self-narration, Xiao Li felt that it was so much like the protagonist template: his family was wiped out when he was young, his physique was destroyed, and he gained a legacy after falling off a cliff.

According to Elder Wang, he inherited the legacy of a peak seventh-grade alchemist. This alchemist was a Dou Zong powerhouse, but he never became an eighth-grade alchemist, and not becoming a Dou Zun was his lifelong regret.

Old Wang inherited the alchemist's skills, and since he had learned alchemy from his mother since childhood, he taught himself the art of alchemy.

He cultivated until he reached the Dou Wang level and left the mountain, killing two Dou Wangs from the Ice River Valley. Then he left the Central Continent and came to the Northwest Continent, eventually settling down in the Jia Ma Empire.

Old Wang has had a life full of hardships. Although he still has enemies to eliminate, Wang Ming has come to terms with it and believes that passing on his alchemy skills is the key.

Xiao Li had heard Old Wang say this more than once.

Old Master Wang said, “I have had enough luck. I have lived for so many years, what more could I ask for? When my time comes, I will open up a cave and leave behind my legacy. That will be a proper ending.”

Xiao Li knew that Elder Wang had serious old injuries, which explained why he looked so old and why, despite being a six-star Dou Huang, he could only exert the strength of a three- or four-star Dou Huang.

This is also why Elder Wang cannot refine peak sixth-grade pills; firstly, the growth of the soul is limited by one's own battle qi cultivation.

Although Old Wang survived by sheer luck, his talent was completely destroyed. Old Wang often said that his current cultivation level was thanks to the inheritance of that seventh-grade alchemist; otherwise, he would have had difficulty even reaching the Douhuang realm.

Xiao Li naturally wanted to cure his teacher; over the years, his teacher had given him a lot of precious things.

First, there was a low-level Earth-rank cultivation technique and its accompanying combat skills. Second, when Xiao Li was twelve years old, Elder Wang gave him a sixth-rank beast fire, the Purple Tiger Flame, which was taken from a sixth-rank magical beast, the Purple Radiant Tiger King.

Then there's the medicine cauldron that Xiao Li just used. It's a fifth-tier medicine cauldron, the one that Elder Wang used to frequently, and it's called the Blue Flame Cauldron.

Everything was given to him by Elder Wang. Xiao Li was not a shameless, treacherous beast who betrayed his master and ancestors. He despised such people the most. The two most famous treacherous beasts on the Dou Qi Continent were Han Feng and Hun Xuzi.

Xiao Li's foundation has been nurtured by Elder Wang, and soon his cultivation will erupt like a fountain.

Elder Wang has invested too much in Xiao Li. Elder Wang said that as long as nothing unexpected happens, he can smoothly become a Dou Zun powerhouse. That's right, a Dou Zun!

After all, Elder Wang was a native of Zhongzhou. There were Dou Zun everywhere in Zhongzhou, especially in the Central Region where Dou Zun were concentrated, and even Dou Sheng would appear there!

Master Wang hoped that his disciple could become a powerful Dou Zun who could dominate a region, while Dou Zong was merely a king who reigned supreme in this remote place.

Chapter 9, Mysterious Fragment of a Map

Watching Old Master Wang fall into a deep sleep, Xiao Li continued refining pills, completely absorbed in the process.

Strangely enough, Xiao Li particularly enjoyed the process of refining pills, using flames to burn medicinal herbs, remove impurities, and extract a pool of medicinal liquid from a pile of herbs.

Finally, the flames were used to condense the medicinal liquid into a full pill.

Xiao Li especially loved the moment when the pill was fully formed; it felt incredibly satisfying to see a round and plump pill appear before his eyes.

I don't know how much time passed.

Xiao Li intermittently refined two more Purple Heart Breakthrough Pills, one of which was of the highest quality. Xiao Li kept it to take when he broke through to the Seven-Star Great Dou Master level.

"Hmm~ Li'er's technique is getting more and more skillful." Old Wang suddenly sat down next to Xiao Li and said with a smile.

"Teacher, have you rested well?" Xiao Li's tired expression suddenly brightened.

Old Master Wang: "Hmm! Let's talk about alchemy first. Before Li'er condenses the pill, let the medicinal liquid warm and nourish it for a while. Don't rush to condense the pill during this process. The timing of the heat is very important in the process of refining and purifying."

For example, you know how to make soup, right? To make a delicious soup, controlling the heat is very important; being impatient will only lead to mistakes.

This is the teaching of an old gentleman when I was young. That old gentleman was a true genius! His few pointers benefited me immensely.

The old gentleman said that the process of refining medicine is like carving; only by devoting oneself wholeheartedly to meticulous carving can one create a magnificent work. This is also a matter of attitude.

"I can see you enjoy alchemy, but you're still young, impetuous, and can't settle down. You want to rush things, but alchemy can't be rushed."

"Yes! Saying thank you is a bit formal, but I can't think of any better words. Thank you for your guidance." Xiao Li listened attentively.

"Hmm~ Good to hear. Let's see what I've gained this time," Old Wang said with a faint smile.

"But what did you gain from the Dou Zun ruins, teacher?" Xiao Li was also very curious. There were very few Dou Zun in the Northwest Continent, especially in the Jia Ma Empire where there were no Dou Zong.

With a flash of light, the storage ring in Old Wang's hand revealed several different items on the ground.

Upon closer inspection, Xiao Li saw a colorful scroll, a black scroll, and a piece of parchment made of an unknown material.

On this slightly yellowed parchment, there are some seemingly irregular patterns, with a finger pointing to each pattern.

Besides the two scrolls and a strange piece of parchment, there was also a rough wooden box.

"Li'er, these are my gains this time." Old Wang's tone was somewhat displeased, clearly feeling that these things were not of much use.

Xiao Li opened the colorful scroll, glanced at it, and was immediately shocked. It was a poison manual, and the colorful scroll was called the "Seven-Colored Poison Manual".

Xiao Li looked at Old Wang with a strange expression, while Old Wang was drinking tea from the pot like a glutton.

Old Wang felt Xiao Li's gaze and turned to look at him: "What's wrong, Li'er?"

"Ah? No, it's nothing. Cough cough, Teacher, this Dou Zun isn't a poison master, is he?" Xiao Li changed the subject.

"It seems so. He's called something like Venerable Youdu. You can tell he's not a good person just by hearing his name. This Seven-Colored Poison Scripture must be his work," Wang Ming said calmly.

Xiao Li seemed to have a bad feeling about his teacher, and then he looked at the second scroll.

Xiao Li glanced at it and exclaimed, "Hmm? This is a method for creating flying combat techniques? High-level Xuan rank?"

Old Wang nodded: "This thing is somewhat useful. When I have time, I'll go to the Monster Mountain Range and kill a fifth-tier flying monster to make you a pair of wings."

Xiao Li's lips twitched. It matched, it all matched, everything matched.

Xiao Li looked at the yellowed parchment, where there was a lotus-shaped object in the corner.

When Wang Lao saw Xiao Li pick up the parchment, he said, "This should be an incomplete map. I don't know what it records, but in my experience, this thing should record a rare and precious treasure."

Xiao Li was somewhat speechless. His teacher was indeed not as knowledgeable as Yao Lao. Although he had many fortuitous encounters, he was ultimately just a Dou Huang and a sixth-grade alchemist, and had never seen the view from the top.

Xiao Li knew what this fragment of the map was! It was a fragment of the map of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame!

Xiao Li looked at Elder Wang, already having a general idea in his mind: 'Teacher should be the skeleton that Xiao Yan found in a mountain cave decades later. After Teacher's time was coming to an end, he followed the example of his predecessors and left behind a legacy. This was also Teacher's idea.'

Now that I'm here, teacher, I must help you become a Dou Zong (Battle Master). I want you to live forever!

Xiao Li set a goal for himself: Old Wang's lifespan is probably only ten to twenty years, since Old Wang was seriously injured when he was young, which damaged his life essence.

Old Wang's lifespan is much shorter than that of an ordinary Dou Huang.

"The Longevity Pill, a elixir that can prolong life, can add nearly ten years to one's life. It's a sixth-grade elixir. Becoming a sixth-grade alchemist within ten years shouldn't be a problem. I can then add some lifespan to my teacher and my grandfather."

Grandpa's time is almost up, but breaking through to the Dou Huang realm could further extend his lifespan, so he doesn't need the Azure Longevity Pill. What he needs more is the Dou Ling Pill.

Xiao Li was already thinking about how to save his teacher and family. He needed to prepare in advance for the great calamity that might befall the Xiao family in the future.

The Xiao family's future enemies: Yunlan Sect and Soul Palace.

However, the Yunlan Sect at this time is different from the Yunlan Sect in Xiao Li's memory. At this time, the Yunlan Sect is the number one sect in the Jia Ma Empire and a holy land for cultivation.

Yun Shan, the current sect leader of Yunlan Sect, is a seven-star Dou Huang with considerable strength.

Moreover, according to Elder Wang, among the Dou Huang powerhouses in the Jia Ma Empire, he felt that Yun Shan's temperament was most to his liking. Jia Xingtian of the royal family liked to scheme and plot, which Elder Wang disliked. Hai Bodong of the Mittel family was too cold-hearted, just like his ice-attribute Dou Qi; Elder Wang and he were only nodding acquaintances.

Old Wang's assessment of Yunshan was that he was naturally carefree and loved quiet cultivation, and he took a very indifferent view of power. He also turned a blind eye to Jia Xingtian's wariness of the Yunlan Sect.

Yunshan knew that internal strife was pointless. The Jiama Empire was already weak, and it was surrounded by the Chuyun Empire, the Jinyan Empire, the Mulan Empire, and the Snake-Man Tribe, all of which were eyeing it covetously.

The Gama Empire must not allow internal strife.

Xiao Li had a rough idea of ​​what was going on. Yun Shan was originally a good-natured person, but it was probably because the Soul Hall's Protector Wu tampered with his breakthrough to Dou Zong. After all, the Soul Hall was far ahead in terms of soul techniques.

What a calamity! About fifty or sixty years later, the Soul Emperor will have to sacrifice blood across the continent to break through to the Dou Di realm. What a troublesome situation.

'Fortunately, there's still Xiao Yan! With Xiao Yan as a safety net, things aren't the worst. As long as I don't do anything reckless, I can hold out until Xiao Yan becomes an Emperor. Once his Dou Di bloodline is activated, I can easily become a Dou Sheng. At that point, going to the Great Thousand World and living as a powerful figure in the Endless Fire Domain wouldn't be bad.'

Xiao Li had already planned out his grand plan of lying down and living a peaceful life. Fighting for his life? What a joke! He would never fight for his life; he would just secretly develop his skills and make a living.

Let Xiao Yan do the hard work.

Chapter 10, The Trial Begins

"Hey! What are you thinking about, you brat? You're practically drooling! Are you thinking about some girl?"

Old Wang's voice interrupted Xiao Li's reverie.

"Ahem, what did you say, teacher?" Xiao Li coughed awkwardly. He had indeed been daydreaming, but he really hadn't expected the little girl.

'But now that I'm all laid down, how can I manage without a girl? I can't stay single forever, I'll have to find someone suitable later.'

"Distracted again! It seems that Li'er has really grown up. Since Li'er wants a little girlfriend, I think there is a suitable girl in the Jia Ma Empire."

A few years ago, that old fellow Yunshan took on a disciple, who seems to be only a year or two younger than you. He has considerable talent. Would you like me to take you to propose marriage?

Old Wang stroked his beard with a knowing smile.

"Ahem, we'll talk about that later. Teacher, let's see what's in this wooden box first."

Xiao Li changed the subject, but he actually did have an idea. Yun Shan's disciple was Yun Yun, who was a year or two younger than him. He thought it was a good idea, but he didn't know if she would agree.

I can't exactly have Yunyun come to my door to annul the three-year engagement, can I?

"The contents of this wooden box are a treasure, but they're of no use to us right now."

Old Wang stroked the rough wooden box, then opened it.

This was a fist-sized silver fruit, shaped like a baby, so lifelike it looked almost real. A faint fragrance wafted out, causing Xiao Li's soul to tremble.

"This is! A Soul Infant Fruit! A Silver-grade Soul Infant Fruit!" Xiao Li exclaimed in surprise. This was truly a treasure.

"Hehe, it seems you've done your homework very well. It is indeed a Soul Infant Fruit. I never expected to find a Soul Infant Fruit in a place like this."

If this were in the Central Plains, it would probably cost an eighth-grade elixir to exchange for it, as it repairs a person's original soul energy and strengthens the soul. But it's of little use to us now.

Our souls are intact, and the Soul Infant Fruit should be able to be used to refine medicine, to make pills that enhance the soul, but your master does not have such a formula.

"Let's just keep it. With the branches of this Soul Infant Demon Tree as a box, the spiritual energy of the Soul Infant Fruit won't dissipate."

Wang Ming closed the wooden box and then carefully put away the Soul Infant Fruit.

"Hey, teacher, all spiritual treasures of heaven and earth are always protected by strange beasts. This Soul Infant Fruit is a rare treasure for tempering the soul and has great effects on some magical beasts. It should have a guardian beast, right?"

Xiao Li suddenly asked.

Old Wang said irritably, "Of course there were magical beasts, a seventh-tier Illusion Fire Lizard Dragon Beast, which almost killed me. Fortunately, other Dou Zong were there to deal with that magical beast."

They weren't as knowledgeable as I am, thinking the Soul Infant Demon Tree was a treasure. I managed to steal the Soul Infant Fruit while the situation was chaotic, hahaha! So my efforts weren't in vain!

Xiao Li gave a thumbs up. As expected of his teacher, his disciple still had a lot to learn from his skill in finding loopholes.

"By the way, teacher, now that my cultivation level is high enough, I can try a real life-or-death trial, right? I don't want to be a hothouse flower and get defeated by someone of a higher level."