"Hahaha!"
The old man suddenly burst into a hearty laugh, his appreciation obvious to everyone.
"Young friend Lin Feng, I believe that with your talent, you will surely become famous throughout the continent, just like the Medicine Venerable Yao Chen."
As he spoke, the old man glanced in the direction where Lin Feng and Yao Chen had just been, his meaning clear. However, for some reason, the Medicine Venerable did not appear.
"Thank you for your praise, senior. I hope that one day I will truly become famous throughout the continent as you say!"
Lin Feng clasped his hands in a respectful gesture towards the benevolent old man.
Under the premise of no conflict, a powerful figure showing goodwill towards you—although Lin Feng rejected this tremendous opportunity, there might still be opportunities for cooperation in the future.
"In that case, if there is an opportunity in the future, we will meet again in Zhongzhou!" As soon as
the old man finished speaking, without any ripple in the surrounding space, he disappeared from the spot, leaving only a lingering shadow.
This incredibly skillful use of space caused Lin Feng's pupils to shrink slightly. Even though he had refined the Dragon Emperor's blood essence multiple times, his spatial perception and manipulation had reached a level unimaginable to those of the same realm.
However, in front of an elder who was many realms higher than him, he was still like a child, crude and laughable.
"Perhaps, I haven't sensed the elder's true power!"
"Xiao Yan, you remember this, Miss Xun'er is not someone a country bumpkin from the Northwest Continent like you can covet. Above me, there are many geniuses with even more monstrous talents."
After the elders of the clan left, Ling Quan finally spoke again, his tone no longer as arrogant as before. Perhaps it was because he was shocked by Lin Feng's talent, or perhaps it was because Xiao Yan, with a realm several levels lower than his, could actually go toe-to-toe with him.
"Master Lin Feng, next time we meet, Ling Quan can face you directly!"
Ling Quan looked directly at Lin Feng, his expression serious and earnest. This proud seventh commander of the imperial clan had lowered his arrogant head when facing a true prodigy.
"Commander Ling Quan, as you said, one day we will definitely have a proper contest."
Although this proud imperial clan commander had just been very impolite to Xiao Yan, Lin Feng naturally treated him with courtesy now that he was being so respectful.
Although, in his understanding, the highest achievement this seventh commander of the imperial clan could attain was only half-saint. And his future achievements would be at least Dou Sheng and an eighth-grade alchemist!
That's right, when he first transmigrated to the Dou Qi Continent, Lin Feng's initial goal was simply to follow his brother Yan. After obtaining the inheritance of that nameless alchemist, Lin Feng truly recognized his ambition. He knew that he was not the kind of person to be subservient to others.
After getting to know Qinglin and the others, Lin Feng cultivated even harder, not only wanting to protect them, but more importantly, wanting to keep up with them.
It should be known that Cailin, Little Fairy Doctor, Ziyan, and Qinglin all possessed innate talents, destined to be saints. Given Lin Feng's situation at the time, the pressure was unimaginable.
"Howl!"
The Black Annihilation Army's exclusive mounts roared to the sky, and after Lingquan and the others took their positions, their black wings flapped, chasing after Xun'er and the others, whose group could only be seen as a small group of followers in the distance.
"Junior Brother Xiao Yan, you'd better work hard! That guy was arrogant, but he certainly had the right to be!"
Lin Feng and Xiao Yan stood shoulder to shoulder, watching the Black Annihilation Army depart. Lin Feng's gaze was distant. "Zhongzhou, in the near future, will surely resound with the name of Lin Feng!"
"Senior Brother Lin Feng, can you tell me what Xun'er's family truly means?"
Just then, Xiao Yan suddenly turned to look at Lin Feng, his eyes filled with barely suppressed urgency.
"Telling you isn't out of the question!" Lin Feng glanced at Yao Lao, who was gradually floating towards them from afar. "However, we'll still need to ask your master's opinion first."
"Teacher, tell me everything! I'm ready!"
Xiao Yan's eyes were filled with determination. Having experienced three years of hardship, and then another three years of striving for the three-year agreement, his mind had been thoroughly tempered. Even the greatest difficulties wouldn't faze him.
Watching this scene, Lin Feng felt a slight pressure.
Although he was now a five-star Dou Zong, while Xiao Yan was only a four- or five-star Dou Ling, a difference of countless realms, and the further one progressed in cultivation, the more difficult it became to advance further.
But standing before him was the overpowered Xiao Yan! This guy had achieved the Dou Di realm, a level unseen in tens of thousands of years on the Dou Qi Continent, in just a few decades.
If Lin Feng followed a normal cultivation pace, even with the blessing of the Dragon Emperor's blood essence, without other opportunities, he would at most reach the advanced Dou Zun realm, while Xiao Yan had already achieved the title of Flame Emperor!
Even when Xiao Yan ascends to immortality, Lin Feng might not be able to reach the Dou Sheng realm!
Therefore, Lin Feng has made two preparations for a better future. One is to work hard himself; if he can one day reach the Dou Di realm, that would be best.
And if he doesn't have that opportunity, it would be good if he could ride on Xiao Yan's coattails.
Although Xiao Yan in the original story could only elevate Ya Fei to the Dou Huang realm, Lin Feng's talent is no weaker than Xiao Yan's. Giving away two unused strange flames now as an investment might yield a considerable return in the future.
Of course, he himself will absolutely not give up on moving forward!
"Sigh!"
Just then, Yao Chen, who slowly floated closer, suddenly sighed, looking at his foolish disciple with a complicated expression.
"Since you're prepared, I'll tell you everything!"
"As everyone knows, the most powerful figure on the Dou Qi Continent is the Dou Di, who disappeared tens of thousands of years ago. He is the most revered existence among all Dou Qi cultivators!"
Yao Chen's voice was ethereal and elusive, and combined with his slightly illusory soul, it seemed to truly transport them back to that ancient era.
"According to an ancient text I once consulted, tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of years ago, the Dou Di Continent was at its peak, with countless heroes rising up." "
In those ancient times, Dou Sheng powerhouses were countless, and even Dou Di powerhouses were frequently seen!"
"And at that time, soul cultivation methods were ubiquitous, and alchemists weren't as revered as they are today."
Yao Chen glanced at Lin Feng, who was also listening attentively, and continued,
"Your senior brother Lin Feng said that Dou Qi cultivators who didn't possess fire or wood attributes could also refine pills; this existed in ancient times."
"Back then, the methods of soul cultivation were no less advanced than the development of battle qi. With a strong soul perception, even violent battle qi could be tamed."
"Of course, a professional alchemist with wood-attribute Dou Qi as a neutralizing element naturally has a significant advantage."
Yao Chen paused, glancing in the direction Ling Quan and the others had left.
"I've fallen into my old habit again. Let's get back to the main point. There's a secret known to all the powerful, not exactly a secret, but one that's not exactly hidden. That is, Dou Qi cultivators, after reaching the Dou Di level, can completely change their bloodline, even extending to their blood relatives."
"Those with blood ties to a Dou Di can rapidly improve their talent thanks to this closeness. And if the bloodline is close enough, it's not even a pipe dream to achieve Dou Sheng in a single day!"
"What!?"
Despite having prepared himself mentally, Xiao Yan was still deeply shocked when he heard that someone could achieve Dou Sheng in a single day.
Although his cultivation had experienced many ups and downs, with Yao Lao's guidance and the absorption of a strange fire, his cultivation level had risen several stars. This already represents a significant reduction in time. Aside from the Xun'er clan members and Senior Brother Lin Feng who appeared today, he considered himself to be doing quite well among his peers.
This favor from a Dou Di is truly unreasonable!
Lin Feng, standing to the side, was also somewhat unsettled upon hearing Yao Chen's words, and his emotions were no less turbulent than Xiao Yan's.
As a transmigrator, he knew clearly that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Xiao Yan beside him would become a Dou Di, and the seemingly miserable Yao Chen would one day be able to retire in the Endless Fire Domain, perhaps even achieving the title of Saint-grade Alchemist.
"And your Xun'er sister, her family is descended from Dou Di, and in fact, from my perspective, her status within the family is quite high!"
At this point, Yao Chen's shameless tone changed, and he looked at his foolish disciple with extreme mockery.
"If you don't have any good fortune in the future, you'll likely only reach the level I was at back then. Even seeing her will be extremely difficult. Why don't you give up?"
A tremendous pressure suddenly surged within Xiao Yan, even his usually resolute gaze dimmed slightly.
Seeing this, Yao Chen felt a pang of heartache but didn't offer any advice.
As a member of the abandoned Imperial Clan, he knew the nobility and xenophobia of the Imperial Clan. Even among members of the clan, if your bloodline strength didn't meet the standards, you would still face severe discrimination. Don't be fooled
by the seemingly easy-going old man from the ancient clan who seemed to have a high opinion of Lin Feng.
That was just an isolated case.
Moreover, Lin Feng's talent was indeed worth cultivating, which was why he slightly lowered his Imperial Clan arrogance.
Didn't he see that the old man hadn't even glanced at his foolish disciple?
Even more so than the young Ling Quan, this old man, who had seen through everything in the world, truly understood that there was ultimately no possibility for his young lady and this boy. He didn't even want to waste any more words.
"Teacher, Senior Brother Lin Feng, I will definitely achieve the legendary Dou Sheng realm and bring Xun'er back openly and honorably."
Just then, Xiao Yan, who had been silent for a while, suddenly looked up and said firmly.
"If Dou Sheng isn't enough, I will achieve Dou Di realm!"
"That's right, that's my Junior Brother Xiao Yan. I believe in you!"
Feeling Xiao Yan's determination, Lin Feng was slightly moved, not to mention Yao Lao beside him. "Silly boy! How similar you are to me back then!"
Yao Chen's gaze was somewhat complicated, as if he saw in his foolish disciple the helplessness he felt after being expelled from the Imperial Clan.
"No, he's stronger than me, and with my help, Xiao Yanzi will definitely succeed!"
Yao Chen seemed to be infected by his foolish disciple's spirit. "Moreover, there's that strange Burning Technique. As long as he absorbs enough strange fire, Xiao Yanzi's future will be limitless!"
"Teacher, since you've mentioned the top existences on the Dou Qi Continent, why not tell me about the overall situation of the continent?"
"Since you've asked so sincerely, then I'll tell you!"
Yao Chen stroked his beard, his image as a wise man reappearing.
"We just talked about the Dou Di families, and there are still seven Dou Di families that have survived to this day on the entire Dou Di Continent: Gu! Hun! Lei! Yan! Yao! Shi! Ling!"
"Among them, the most powerful are the Gu Clan and the Hun Clan, and your sister Xun'er is a young lady of high status in the Gu Clan!"
At this point, Yao Chen paused, glanced at his foolish disciple whose expression hadn't changed, and continued.
"However, these are too far removed from your reality. Let me tell you about the top powers on the Central Continent right now!"
"Lin Feng, you're going to the Central Continent soon, aren't you?" Although it was a question, Yao Chen's tone was full of certainty.
"Regardless of your information channels, you can listen in now," Yao Chen continued, ignoring Lin Feng's expression. "This vast Central Continent is controlled by several powerful forces. Some busybodies have even made up a rhyme about it."
"It's—One Hall, One Tower, Two Sects, Three Valleys, and Four Pavilions!"
"Among them, the Hall of Souls is the one that has issued warrants for your arrest. It's teeming with experts, including even Dou Sheng level powerhouses. While they're relatively rare in the Northwest Continent, their frequent hunting of powerful souls in the Central Continent has long been a source of public resentment."
"However, due to their overwhelming power, no one dares to resist."
"Even the Pill Tower, the holy land of alchemists, can only protect alchemists within its own territory from being hunted. After all, the souls of alchemists are generally much stronger than those of Dou Qi cultivators of the same level, making them the most sought-after targets for the Hall of Souls."
"This shows just how powerful the Hall of Souls is!"
"Aside from the Soul Palace and the Pill Tower, which clearly possess Dou Sheng (Battle Saint) experts, the other forces are unknown."
"However, the next two sects—the Flower Sect and the Heavenly Nether Sect—should not be underestimated. The Heavenly Nether Sect is currently unknown, but the Flower Sect clearly has a Half-Saint level expert."
(End of Chapter)