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

Xiao Li said that he really wanted to hone his skills. The opponents in the Xiao family were no longer a threat to him. He had no rivals among the Great Dou Masters, and even the Dou Ling Elder could not defeat him.

The main reason is that Xiao Li is the treasure of the Xiao family, and those elders dare not hit him seriously, for fear of damaging their precious darling.

Moreover, Xiao Li's equipment, including a low-level Earth-rank cultivation technique and accompanying combat skills, could be considered quite luxurious in the Jia Ma Empire.

In addition, he possesses the Purple Tiger Flame of the Beast, which is quite intimidating in combat. It's just a pity that Xiao Li himself lacks experience. Although Elder Wang would occasionally take Xiao Li into the Monster Mountain Range to fight monsters and see some blood, Xiao Li felt that he was still somewhat inadequate.

Although Xiao Li has the ambition to lie down and relax, it doesn't mean he's actually giving up. He needs the strength to ensure he can relax comfortably. If anyone tries to stop him from doing so, he'll twist their head off.

Old Wang looked at Xiao Li, sized him up, and nodded: "It's time for you to see the world. Let's set off in a month. I'll make up your training plan."

Remember this trial: unless your life is truly in danger, I will not intervene. Li'er, remember that a qualified alchemist must not only possess excellent alchemy skills, but also have exceptional methods!

That old master was just like that; he possessed both extremely powerful alchemy skills and immense strength!

Xiao Li asked, "Teacher, who is this senior you mentioned? Why do you admire him so much?"

A hint of reminiscence flashed in Wang Ming's eyes: that cold white flame, that kind old man with white hair and beard.

"That old gentleman's surname is Yao, and in my hometown of Zhongzhou, he is known as Venerable Yao!"

. . . . . .

Six months later, in the Monster Mountain Range,

Boom——

"Bad luck! Bad luck! Bad luck!"

Xiao Li, dressed in tattered clothes and looking like a beggar, fled frantically towards a certain place, followed by three large and small magical beasts.

Upon closer inspection, it can be seen that the three magical beasts look quite similar, clearly belonging to the same type of magical beast.

These three magical beasts are called Blue-Eyed Lions. They are born as second-tier magical beasts and grow to fourth-tier upon reaching adulthood.

Chasing Xiao Li were two fourth-tier blue-eyed lions and one third-tier blue-eyed lion, clearly indicating that Xiao Li had offended a whole pack of lions.

"I only picked some of your family's medicinal herbs and played with your kitten for a while, is it really necessary to chase me like this?"

Roar--

The large blue-eyed lion was instantly enraged. Although it couldn't speak yet, it could probably understand what Xiao Li was saying. This blue-eyed lion's strength had reached the peak of the fourth rank, which is equivalent to the peak of the Dou Ling level in humans.

The next step is to become a fifth-tier magical beast at the Battle King level. Some fifth-tier magical beasts can even speak human language, and even if they can't, they possess intelligence equivalent to humans.

The reason the blue-eyed lion was so furious was that if it had returned even a little later, its son would have been killed. Not only had the ice spirit flame grass they were guarding been picked, but its son had also almost been killed. This was intolerable!

At this time, Xiao Li's cultivation level was at the peak of the Nine-Star Great Dou Master. Before entering the Monster Mountain Range, he broke through to the Seven-Star Great Dou Master and broke through to the Eight-Star Great Dou Master by taking a Purple Heart Breakthrough Pill that he refined himself.

After digesting the effects for two months, Xiao Li continued to take the Purple Heart Breakthrough Pill and reached the level of a Nine-Star Great Dou Master. Now, Xiao Li can begin to break through to the Dou Ling level.

Then Xiao Li wandered around the Monster Mountain Range and saw an Ice Spirit Flame Grass, which is one of the main ingredients for refining the Blood Lotus Pill. It is very important for devouring strange fire in the future.

Strange flames! Those are the most precious treasures of alchemists. As far as Xiao Li knows, there is one wild Green Lotus Earth Core Flame, one domesticated Fallen Heart Flame, and one Bone Spirit Cold Flame with a master in this Northwest Continent. The Sea Heart Flame is probably on its way.

What Xiao Li wanted most was the Fallen Heart Flame from Canaan Academy. That thing was known as a cheat code for cultivation, and it was perfect for someone like him who just wanted to coast through life.

Therefore, Xiao Li has been preparing to absorb the strange fire. Now he already has the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, which he obtained through the auction house of Mittel. He also happens to have Na Ling at home. Now all he needs is the pill to devour the strange fire.

Upon seeing the Ice Spirit Flame Grass, Xiao Li couldn't wait to take it, thus provoking the Blue-Eyed Lion family.

Chapter 11, Cloud Mountain, Cloud Rhyme

"You're never going to stop! You forced me to this! Nine Tribulations Heavenly Flame Hand!"

A terrifying aura surged forth from Xiao Li's body. His hands rapidly formed hand seals, and with a wave of his right hand, a gigantic purple flame hand slammed towards the three-headed blue-eyed lion.

Roar!

The male and female blue-eyed lions naturally sensed the terror of Xiao Li's attack and rushed forward without hesitation to protect their cub.

Goodbye!

Xiao Li quickly recovered his fighting spirit by taking two Qi-restoring pills and immediately ran away. Although that attack could damage the Blue-Eyed Lion, the damage would not be fatal, as magical beasts have extremely powerful physical bodies.

Xiao Li planned to use this tactic to escape quickly. Of the two fourth-tier magical beasts, one of which was at the peak of the fourth tier, only a fool would let them fight to the death.

Xiao Li fled far away in an instant.

. . . . . .

After running for an unknown amount of time, Xiao Li circled around the Monster Mountain Range. After all, some monsters have a very keen sense of smell, so leaving more scents would confuse them.

Xiao Li naturally set up a cave dwelling while training in the Monster Mountain Range, and sprinkled a lot of medicinal powder around the cave dwelling to drive away monsters.

"Phew~ I can finally rest for a while." Xiao Li dragged his tired body into the cave.

"Oh! Li'er is back? Why are you in such a sorry state?" A discordant, teasing voice came from behind. It was Old Wang, who was grilling fish at the moment.

"Hehe, don't want to talk! Hmm? Who is this senior?" Xiao Li then noticed an old man sitting next to Old Wang.

The old man was dressed in a very simple white robe, and had long, snow-white hair, giving him an air of otherworldly elegance and transcendence. He appeared to be slightly younger than Old Wang.

"Haha, let me introduce you, Li'er. This is Yun Shan, the sect leader of Yunlan Sect! Yun Shan is an old friend of mine. I just happened to run into him today, so I brought him here to chat with me."

Old Wang pointed to Yunshan and said with a smile.

"Xiao Li greets Sect Master Yun." Xiao Li cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Yun Shan.

"Hmm~ Old Wang! This is your disciple? He's so young, how did he reach such a level of cultivation? He's truly a formidable young man."

Yunshan looked Xiao Li up and down, and was quite surprised when he saw Xiao Li's cultivation level. This kid looked only a year or two older than his disciple, but his cultivation level was several major realms higher.

"Hehe, all my life's collection has been poured into Li'er, just like your little girl, aren't you also devoted to her?"

"That little girl is only at the level of a fighter, so you brought her to the Monster Mountain Range for training." Old Wang stroked his beard and smiled faintly.

Yunshan never expected that Wang Ming would go to such lengths for this little guy! The life's collection of a sixth-grade alchemist must contain countless treasures.

"Little fellow, since you are Elder Wang's disciple, don't be so formal. In private, don't call me Sect Master Yun anymore, just call me Elder Yun."

Yunshan said with a smile, his words giving people a feeling of being bathed in a spring breeze.

"Elder Yun!" Xiao Li cupped his hands again. This young man had to be polite, after all, he was only at the lowest level of the three realms, the Ant Realm.

We should bow where it's appropriate. It's never wrong to be polite, after all. We're not like Xiao Yan, whose destiny is as solid as steel. Being a little cautious can help prolong our lives.

"Hmm~ Little one, sit down!" Yunshan was quite satisfied with Xiao Li. His cultivation was excellent and his manners were impeccable. Which elder wouldn't like him?

Yunshan looked at Wang Ming: "Elder Wang? Since this little fellow is your disciple, he must also be an alchemist, right? Let me guess, he is currently a second-grade alchemist, isn't he!"

Old Wang stroked his beard and shook his head.

"Could he be a third-grade alchemist? Or is he not an alchemist?" Yunshan was completely bewildered by Wang Ming.

Old Master Wang chuckled: "My disciple is now a peak fourth-grade alchemist. He is capable of refining the Purple Heart Breakthrough Pill! And the success rate is around 70%."

hiss--

Yunshan gasped. Putting aside the fact that he possessed the strength of a nine-star Grand Dou Master at such a young age, he also had such talent in alchemy. He was a prodigy. Even in the Central State, a gathering place for geniuses, it would be difficult to find such a young fellow.

"Li'er, are you hungry? Here! This is fish that your teacher grilled." Old Wang handed the grilled fish to Xiao Li.

Xiao Li took the grilled fish and began to wolf it down. Although he could go without food for days at his level, he still needed to satisfy his appetite.

After finishing the grilled fish, Xiao Li began to regulate his breathing, forming hand seals for cultivation, sitting cross-legged, and entering a meditative state.

"This child is indeed hardworking. With such talent, he is sure to achieve great things in the future," Yunshan remarked.

He wasn't an ignorant person; he had seen many geniuses, but people as hardworking and diligent as Xiao Li were few and far between. Hmm~ His own disciple was also hardworking. Although his talent couldn't compare to this kid's, it would be easy for him to surpass this old man in the future.

Tread-tap-

Suddenly, footsteps came from the cave entrance, and a young girl walked in.

The girl wore a light blue dress and held a strangely shaped longsword that emitted a blue light. Her black hair was styled into an elegant phoenix hair ornament, and her beautiful face was calm and serene. Although she was young, she exuded a sense of grace and nobility.

"Teacher, Mr. Wang, I'm back!"

The girl was Yun Yun, who was fourteen years old and already a five-star Dou Zhe.

"Yun'er, are you tired? Sit down!" Yunshan looked at Yunyun with a kind expression when he saw her return. He had taken Yunyun in some years ago. The little girl was very pitiful, an orphan. Yunshan couldn't bear to see her starve or freeze to death, so he adopted her.

Afterwards, Yun Yun displayed exceptional talent, so Yun Shan decided to take her on as a disciple and train her to become the young sect leader of the Yunlan Sect.

"Hehe, this little girl is quite something! She's gone from a four-star Dou Zhe to a five-star one. She'll be much more powerful than your master in the future!" Wang Ming looked at Yun Yun with great satisfaction.

"Mr. Wang, you flatter me. Everything Yunyun has is thanks to your teacher. By the way, who is this gentleman?"

As soon as Yun Yun entered the cave, she noticed the young man who was cultivating against the wall. The young man looked to be about the same age as her, but the aura he exuded was similar to that of an elder in the sect.

"He is my disciple, named Xiao Li, the young master of the Xiao family in the capital. He is currently cultivating under my guidance and just returned today. You young people can have a good chat with him."

Wang Ming said with a chuckle, and it seemed like there was something more to his words.

Yunshan naturally noticed the hidden meaning in Wang Ming's words, and as an old father, he was immediately displeased when he saw Xiao Li's face.

However, Xiao Li's talent and alchemy skills make it seem acceptable for him to marry Yun'er. He became a peak fourth-grade alchemist at the age of fifteen, so becoming a sixth-grade alchemist in the future is a sure thing.

Yunshan is already a Seven-Star Dou Huang, and it will be extremely difficult for him to break through to the Dou Zong realm after reaching the peak of Dou Huang. If he could obtain a Breakthrough Pill, Yunshan believes that his chances of success would be much greater.

Moreover, Yun'er has an alchemist husband, which means she can go even further in the future.

“Xiao Li?” Yun Yun murmured, then gazed at the young man who was cultivating.

'He's quite handsome, but why do I sense an elder's aura about him? Could he be a Great Dou Master? Never mind, I won't think about it anymore. Time to cultivate.'

Chapter 12, The Decline of the Yunlan Sect

Seeing Xiao Li and Yun Yun diligently cultivating, the two old men were very gratified, at least they knew that diligent cultivation was the key.

"Old man Yun, it seems our disciples are quite similar, both hardworking and diligent. I just wonder if they have the right fate," Wang Ming said with a smile.

"Hmph! Old Wang! Let me tell you, if he wants to marry Yun'er, he's not qualified yet! Although he's incredibly talented right now, there are plenty of geniuses on the continent whose talents haven't yet materialized!"

"It's not too late to talk about it when he becomes a powerful figure!" Yun Shan said angrily, even addressing Old Wang as "Old Man Wang," clearly indicating that Yun Yun held a high position in his heart.

"Hehe, let's wait and see. Once Li'er breaks through to the Dou Ling realm, I will take him to the Black Corner Region for a period of training." Wang Ming did not refute Yun Shan's words.

Because what Yunshan said was indeed true; Xiao Li was just a rising star, and he still had a long way to go before becoming a strongman.

"Black Corner Region? The most chaotic region in the Northwest Continent! You actually took him to that place? Aren't you afraid he'll die there? Black Corner Region is not like the Gama Empire; there really are Dou Zong there."

The Earth Demon Old Ghost, ranked first on the Black List of the Black Corner Region, is a veteran Dou Zong. The Demon Flame Valley he founded also has several Dou Huang powerhouses.

"Although you are a six-star Dou Huang, and can command respect in the Jia Ma Empire, can you protect this kid in the Black Corner Region?" Yun Shan was very surprised by Elder Wang's decision; the Black Corner Region was simply too dangerous.

Even a powerful figure like Yunshan, whose strength reaches the Seven-Star Dou Huang level, cannot be high-profile in the Black Corner Region. The top five strongest figures in the Black Corner Region are at least Eight-Star Dou Huangs.

Although the Black Corner Region is chaotic, it is extremely wealthy. Here, one can find a dazzling array of advanced cultivation techniques, combat skills, divine weapons and armor, medicinal cauldrons, herbs, and high-grade pills. Earth-rank cultivation techniques have even appeared multiple times in the Black Corner Region's auction houses.

"Hehe, there's more than one major power in the Black Corner Region. Don't forget that the continent's premier academy, Canaan Academy, is located in the Black Corner Region. I plan to take Li'er to Canaan Academy for further studies." Old Wang stated his idea.

"Canaan Academy? That is indeed a suitable place for honing one's skills. Canaan Academy has a Dou Zong (Master of Battle) in charge, and it is rumored that the dean of Canaan Academy is a Dou Zun (Master of Battle) expert."

Every year, geniuses from all over the continent join Canaan Academy, a place where all sorts of talents emerge and it's a great place to hone their skills.

Yunshan nodded. As the sect leader of Yunlan Sect, he needed to understand the power structure on the continent. This was his duty as sect leader. He needed to know which forces would bring annihilation to the sect.

"Wasn't your Yunlan Sect's founder, Venerable Potian, also a Dou Zun powerhouse? How come it has declined in your generation? You can't even reach the Dou Zong level? This doesn't seem like the power left behind by a Dou Zun powerhouse."

Wang Ming asked the question that had been troubling him for many years.

"Alas~ because the core inheritance of my Yunlan Sect has been lost!" Yunshan said this as if he had lost all his strength.

"how do I say this?"

Wang Ming was also surprised. Although the Yunlan Sect had declined and fallen to the bottom of the second-rate sects in the Northwest Continent, it was not to be trifled with. The Yunlan Sect's protective formation, the Cloud and Smoke Covering the Sun Formation, was personally set up by Yun Potian.

If Yunshan were to unleash the Cloud and Smoke Covering the Sun Formation, gathering the power of the entire Yunlan Sect, even a Dou Zong expert (low-level Dou Zong) would be helpless against it.

"According to my master, my grandmaster, Yun Aokong, perished for unknown reasons. He carried with him the sect's core inherited technique, the Earth-rank high-level technique 'Cloud and Smoke Covering the Sun Technique', as well as the matching combat skill 'Heaven-Breaking Sword Technique'."

Because of the loss of these two core inheritance manuals, the Yunlan Sect's core inheritance techniques are missing. They can only cultivate low-level Earth-rank techniques, and their only renowned fighting skills are the high-level Profound-rank Wind Extreme series. This is why my master spent his entire life without breaking through to the Dou Zong level.

Yunshan felt an indescribable sense of desolation at that moment.

At the sect conference held every five years in the Northwest Continent, the Yunlan Sect has always been the target of ridicule from many forces. Isn't it laughable that the successor of the dignified Breaking Heaven Venerable isn't even a Dou Zong?

The Yunlan Sect, founded by Yun Potian, was once so glorious; now, it is just as desolate.

"This! I remember that Senior Yun Aokong was the only sect master besides Venerable Potian and the second sect master to break through to the Dou Zong level. How could he have suddenly perished?" Wang Ming exclaimed in surprise.

Yunshan shook his head: "I don't know either. I was too young at the time, and my master didn't tell me any of this. Now I'm pinning all my hopes on Yun'er."