The world around him subtly rippled. A unique energy, distinct from the ambient energy of the world, quietly flowed into his brow.
His soul force, guided by the Purple Mansion Heaven-Evolution Technique, transformed into a pure white vortex.
This vortex shattered and refined the special energy. Once it became strands of soul force, it was carefully merged into his soul.
"With this Purple Mansion Heaven-Evolution Technique, my soul force can begin to improve from today on!"
A look of admiration appeared on Xiao Lin's small face as he felt the fullness in his brow.
The ability to begin cultivation at four years old and condense a Dou Qi Cyclone at eleven years old came from a soul force far greater than that of ordinary people.
Now, with his already substantial soul force further enhanced, his Dou Qi cultivation speed would also increase.
Yao Lao, residing within the Bone Flame Ring, keenly sensed this energy, which he hadn't felt in many years. After a moment, he murmured, "This is... Spiritual Energy!"
Spiritual Energy is the energy between heaven and earth that can nourish the soul and enhance its power.
Ancient alchemists all mastered techniques to cultivate their soul power, absorbing Spiritual Energy to improve their soul strength.
However, with the passage of time, in today's Dou Qi Continent, only a few old, established forces still retained these techniques.
Could it be that with the passage of time, Xiao Yan's mysterious constitution has become stronger?!
Yao Lao felt that he now truly understood the meaning of the word 'genius'.
A genius was far more than someone who showed outstanding cultivation talent at a young age; it was someone who had an extraordinary cultivation constitution from birth.
A genius like Xiao Yan, who had been cultivating since his mother's womb, was destined to be extraordinary!
On the other hand, Xiao Lin was making arrangements for the future with the Xiao Clan members, and was preparing to retire.
Having taken a trip to the gates of hell, Xiao Lin understood even more that the prosperity of the Xiao Clan was no longer just his own responsibility.
Rather than pushing forward aggressively, it would be better to ensure the family's safety and give his genius grandson, Xiao Yan, ample time to grow.
When that time came, he believed the entire Jia Ma Empire would tremble.
Also from this day, Xiao Zhan officially became the head of the Xiao Clan, while Xiao Lin went into closed-door cultivation. Unless something threatened the Xiao Clan's survival, he would no longer appear in public.
Xiao Lin entered the Xiao residence severely injured. Although no funeral was held afterward, as time passed, everyone assumed Xiao Lin had died from his injuries.
Keeping the news secret was merely a tactic to deter the Xiao Clan's enemies.
Even the few within the Xiao Clan who knew the truth sighed when the matter was mentioned to outsiders, which further convinced everyone that Xiao Lin had perished.
Time slipped away unnoticed, and a year passed in a blink.
Night fell, and moonlight filtered through the antique windows, spilling into Xiao Yan's room.
The room's furnishings were completely visible, bright as day. A Moonstone rested on the bedside table, emitting a soft glow that illuminated every corner.
Today, Xiao Yan wasn't resting early as usual, but instead was sitting cross-legged, cultivating.
The reason was that after another year, Xiao Yan had finally accumulated enough Dou Qi to begin condensing his Dou Qi Cyclone.
Inside the Bone Flame Ring, Yao Lao was getting ready, rubbing his hands together. He had been waiting for this day since Xiao Yan was born.
"Little fellow, my soul force is severely damaged, and I can only use your gentle Dou Qi to alleviate the injury."
"Don't worry, I certainly won't treat you poorly. Once my injuries recover, everything I know as the number one alchemist on the Dou Qi Continent, I will teach you everything. Not only that, I will also give your grandpa some Earth-grade techniques and Dou Skills to help him accelerate his cultivation."
"I believe that with your cultivation speed, it won't take many years before you can help me restore my soul force to its peak." Yao Lao muttered to himself, having already thought of the terms of the exchange.
Taking a deep breath, even though he knew that Yao Lao inside the ring would absorb his Dou Qi at this moment, Xiao Yan cleared his mind and quickly formed the breakthrough hand seals.
Breathing gradually evened out, and the faint Dou Qi within his body responded to his will.
In the spacious room, the calm air suddenly surged with waves. Wisps of pale white Dou Qi seeped from the air, then continuously drilled into Xiao Yan's body.
Benefiting from nearly a year of practicing the Purple Mansion Heaven-Evolution Technique and the subsequent surge in his soul power, Xiao Yan's cultivation talent had improved, allowing him to absorb the energy of the heavens and earth at a rate almost 50% faster than before.
The continuous flow of heaven and earth energy was refined by Xiao Yan into pure Dou Qi, which poured into his meridians.
Under Xiao Yan's rapid refinement, his meridians were soon filled with Dou Qi.
The collision of Dou Qi caused his meridians to twitch slightly, and waves of intense pain made Xiao Yan's lips curl slightly.
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yan's hand seals changed abruptly, with his index fingers and thumbs touching, and his middle fingers pointing at each other, forming a strange hand seal with all ten fingers.
As Xiao Yan's hand seals changed, the surging Dou Qi within his body, as if subjected to a powerful suction, rapidly contracted towards his abdomen.
The pale white Dou Qi within the various meridians throughout his body began to contract in unison.
When all the Dou Qi had shrunk to the position of his lower abdomen, the pale white Dou Qi had already begun to transform into a milky white color.
Xiao Yan focused his mind, his powerful soul force constantly maintaining absolute control over the Dou Qi, frantically compressing it, condensing the Dou Qi Cyclone.
The milky white Dou Qi in his lower abdomen immediately began to resist after being suppressed, churning violently.
But with Xiao Yan having specifically cultivated his soul force for a year, the resistance of the Dou Qi was undoubtedly like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
It only resisted for a moment at the beginning, and then it was completely suppressed.
Even Yao Lao was astonished by Xiao Yan's soul force.
Xiao Yan was only just over four years old now, if he grew up in the future, there was no telling what realm he would reach!
"Bang!"
A series of muffled sounds echoed quietly within Xiao Yan's body.
Focusing his mind on his lower abdomen, he saw a palm-sized, milky-white Dou Qi Cyclone slowly rotating. Encircling the cyclone was a layer of milky-white energy, resembling a nebula.
Internal observation, an auxiliary skill only attainable by Dou Zhe, allowed stronger practitioners to thoroughly examine their internal condition.
Xiao Yan nodded in satisfaction as he gazed at the tiny Dou Qi Cyclone.
Although the current cyclone was small, the energy it contained was undoubtedly over ten times stronger than his previous level of nine-stage Dou Qi!
The difference between a Dou Zhe and nine-stage Dou Qi was almost fundamental. The energy absorbed before becoming a Dou Zhe was called Dou Qi, while the energy absorbed after becoming a Dou Zhe was true Dou Qi!
Though only a single word separated them, the gap between the two was vast, incomparable.
Xiao Yan slowly exhaled a breath of air, his mind quickly recalling past events.
This opportunity to comprehend the breakthrough was incredibly precious.
You have broken through and become a Dou Zhe! Leveraging your years of experience cultivating the Dou Qi Breathing Technique, you've had an epiphany and comprehended the Dou Qi Foundation Building Technique!
(End of Chapter)