The Great Star Dou Forest, the Lake of Life.
The emerald green lake water was like a piece of warm jade, quietly reflecting the verdant ancient trees and azure sky all around.
The air flowed with dense life aura; every breath seemed to be inhaling and exhaling the purest vitality between heaven and earth, refreshing one's heart and mind.
Fang Yang sat cross-legged by the lakeside, his eyes tightly closed, soul power surging around him like tides.
Suddenly, a subtle tremor came from the Heavenly Flame Orb within his body.
"This is...?"
Fang Yang abruptly opened his eyes, a flash of surprise and doubt passing through his deep pupils. This throbbing was unusual, like a summons from the depths of his soul.
In the next moment, his consciousness instantly sank into the internal space of the Heavenly Flame Orb.
The world before his eyes began to twist and change, and when Fang Yang opened his eyes again, the familiar Heavenly Flame Plaza stood before him.
Twenty-three towering pillars stood majestically, each streaked with flames of different colors, emitting heart-trembling energy fluctuations.
"You've come. I've been waiting for you for a long time."
An ethereal voice rang out in the Heavenly Flame Plaza, as if coming from ancient times.
Fang Yang was stunned for a moment, then reacted, speaking in a deep voice: "You are?"
"Back then, you called out to me. Have you forgotten?" That voice rang out again, carrying a few degrees of remoteness.
A flash of understanding passed through Fang Yang's eyes: "The Artifact Spirit of the Heavenly Flame Orb."
"Mm."
That voice frankly admitted its identity, its tone calm and unwavering.
For a time, the Heavenly Flame Plaza fell into brief silence. Only fifteen Heavenly Flames quietly burned on their respective pillars, emitting faint crackling sounds.
Fang Yang was the first to break the silence, asking in a deep voice: "You actively led me here—what is your purpose?"
"You have refined eight Heavenly Flames, and your strength has reached the limit of this plane." The Artifact Spirit's voice was calm and unwavering, yet carried unquestionable authority.
Fang Yang, hearing this, a flash of keen light in his eyes, pressed further: "Then what do you mean?"
"Break through Level 100 and change your cultivation system." The Artifact Spirit spoke slowly, its tone carrying some profound meaning.
"Break through Level 100 and change systems?"
Fang Yang fell into thought, "You mean... switch to the Dou Qi system?"
He knew of the Dou Qi system's existence and also understood the three methods to break through to Dou Di: Origin Qi, Di Tier medicinal pills, and inheritance.
Only in this world where soul power was the mainstream, if he could switch to another cultivation system, it would undoubtedly open up an entirely new path for himself.
"Correct."
The Artifact Spirit affirmed, "The plane level of the universe you are in is too low."
"Even the so-called peak God Kings—their level of power... is merely just this much."
"Indeed."
Fang Yang nodded slightly.
He had long sensed that this world's cultivation system possessed some kind of invisible upper limit. Like a solid cage, it restricted the ultimate achievements of all living beings.
Even peak God Kings found it difficult to truly break through this shackle.
"When you rely on the power of Heavenly Flames to reach Level 100 in soul power, that will be your optimal opportunity to switch to the Dou Qi system." The Artifact Spirit spoke, its tone carrying unquestionable decisiveness.
"Then I..." Fang Yang hesitated to speak, the question he cared about most most pressing in his heart.
The Artifact Spirit directly pierced his thoughts: "You want to ask how to break through to the Dou Di realm in this world."
"Yes."
Fang Yang frankly admitted.
"Guess how these Heavenly Flames were imprisoned here?" The Artifact Spirit suddenly changed the subject, posing a seemingly unrelated question.
Fang Yang's gaze swept across those twenty-three towering pillars burning with various colored flames.
He pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "I don't know."
However, Fang Yang already had a faint guess in his heart. "Origin Qi."
The Artifact Spirit slowly uttered two words.
"Origin Qi?!"
Fang Yang could hardly conceal his surprise.
He certainly knew what Origin Qi was—that was the key to breaking through to Dou Di.
It was impossible to appear in this plane, or rather, in the entire universe.
"These twenty-three Heavenly Flames were all imprisoned by an Origin Pattern Array primarily composed of Origin Qi."
The Artifact Spirit explained, "On each Heavenly Flame pillar, Origin Patterns are outlined using Origin Qi."
"This..."
Fang Yang was shocked. He had never imagined that behind these Heavenly Flames lay such an astonishing secret.
The Artifact Spirit continued: "When all twenty-three Heavenly Flames are completely refined, that will be the moment the Origin Pattern Array is fully activated."
"At that time, the twenty-three Origin Patterns will converge into Origin Qi, directly helping you break through to the Dou Di realm."
"So that's how it is... I understand."
Fang Yang took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and nodded solemnly.
"When you switch your cultivation system, I will appear again." The Artifact Spirit's voice gradually faded away, finally dissipating into the void of the Heavenly Flame Plaza.
Fang Yang's consciousness returned to his body, and he slowly opened his eyes.
The emerald waves of the Lake of Life still rippled, reflecting the light of the sky and clouds, but his state of mind was already completely different. Since the path forward was clear, there was no need for the slightest hesitation.
"Then... break through to Titled Douluo."
He murmured softly to himself, then closed his eyes again, his mind sinking into concentration, his aura around him beginning to rise sharply without reservation!
Boom—
Eight Heavenly Flames of various forms simultaneously emerged from within his body, circling and dancing around him, emitting terrifying heart-trembling auras.
The Xuanhuang Flame was heavy as a mountain, the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame surged and roared. The Yin-Yang Twin Flame interwove life and death, the Netherworld Poison Flame was mysterious and unfathomable.
The Green Lotus Core Flame was pure and vast, the Fallen Heart Flame scorched the soul invisibly. The Fire Cloud Water Flame combined hardness and softness, the Sea Heart Flame was deep and raging!
Eight Heavenly Flames appeared together, interweaving with each other, forming a deep black sea of fire that completely enveloped Fang Yang's figure.
A vast power erupted violently from within his body, and the sky above the Lake of Life immediately changed color.
The lake water began to churn violently, the surrounding ancient trees moved without wind, and dense heaven and earth origin energy madly converged toward this location.
"This aura is...?!"
Deep within the Great Star Dou Forest, Di Tian's golden dragon pupils abruptly opened, gazing toward the direction of the Lake of Life, his face filled with gravity.
He could sense that familiar yet now completely unfamiliar aura. The level of power contained within had already far exceeded the scope of his understanding.
"What a terrifying aura..." Xu Xiaoyan looked toward the direction of the Lake of Life, her pretty face written with shock.
A flash of understanding passed through Gu Yuena's deep purple eyes: "He is breaking through to Titled Douluo."
"What? Titled Douluo?!" Xu Xiaoyan cried out in shock, her beautiful eyes widening.
Although she knew Fang Yang was very strong, she hadn't expected that he had already reached this step. Moreover, the commotion of this breakthrough was far too astonishing!
Na'er stood at the side, her platinum hair gently floating.
She looked toward the direction of the lake's center, her gaze calm, as if she found all this perfectly natural.
By the Lake of Life.
Fang Yang sat cross-legged, his mind completely immersed in the breakthrough process.
His soul power level was rising at an inconceivable speed.
Level 73, 75, 87, 90... like breathing, without the slightest hindrance!
The eight Heavenly Flames continuously fed back pure and incomparable energy to his body, tempering his soul power, physique, and even his soul.
"At this moment—Titled Douluo, achieved!"
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