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

Cultivation techniques are crucial after breaking through to the Dou Zhe level.

In the Dou Qi Continent, Dou Qi cultivation techniques are divided into four tiers and twelve levels, from highest to lowest: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow! Each tier is further divided into three levels: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced!

The level of one's cultivation technique is also a key factor in determining one's future achievements. For example, someone who cultivates a mid-level Xuan-rank technique will naturally be stronger than someone of the same level who cultivates a high-level Huang-rank technique.

Looking at the three scrolls of cultivation techniques, Xiao Li could feel the intense heat emanating from them, indicating that they were of high quality.

It should be noted that the Xiao family's current cultivation techniques are somewhat outrageous. Their clan-protecting techniques are only at the intermediate level of the Xuan rank, namely the intermediate level Xuan rank techniques Mad Lion's Fury, Furious Tiger Thunder Technique, and Refining Fire Burning Technique.

Xiao Li was quite familiar with the Mad Lion's Fury, as his elder brother Xiao Lin practiced this technique.

The Angry Tiger Thunder Technique is a cultivation method practiced by the family head, Xiao Ting. This technique is somewhat lagging behind at his level, but fortunately, the accompanying combat skill, Thunder Tiger Seal, is also at the intermediate level of the Profound rank.

In Xiao Ting's hands, it was incredibly powerful; the Angry Tiger Thunder Technique was also ranked first among the family's three major clan-protecting techniques.

If Xiao Li hadn't become Wang Ming's disciple, he would probably have cultivated the Refining Fire Burning Technique first, and then added a new technique to the family later.

Then some people might ask, as one of the four great families in the capital, and with a Dou Wang expert, why doesn't the Xiao family even have a single high-level Xuan-rank cultivation technique?

This is a clever question. The Xiao family's lineage was broken, and after they were scattered to the Jia Ma Empire, they lost many things. Later, many highly skilled members of the family emerged, but after they went to explore the Dang Continent, they never returned.

As for why they didn't buy a high-level Xuan-rank cultivation technique, that's a good question. It's a matter of luck. The Xiao family doesn't have any industries to run, so they lack funds.

When the Mittel Auction House was auctioning off a high-level Xuan-rank cultivation technique, the Xiao family happened to be short of money. When the Xiao family had money, there were no high-level Xuan-rank cultivation techniques left to auction. Their luck was truly unbelievable.

The Xiao family still has so many disciples to train, which has made the Xiao family quite poor at the moment. Perhaps they have some money, which they are saving for a critical moment.

The Mittel family, one of the four major families, is a business family. They have Mittel auction houses in major cities throughout the Gama Empire. They monopolize many industries, and with the Ice Emperor, one of the ten strongest people in the Gama Empire, in charge, no one dares to touch the Mittel family's business.

The Mu family has always been a lackey of the Jia Ma Empire's royal family. With the empire backing them up, they won't collapse anytime soon.

The Nalan family may look similar to the Xiao family, but they have a close relationship with the Yunlan Sect, and the current head of the Nalan family is an elder of the Yunlan Sect.

(Secondary setting: This Elder Nalan is Nalan Jie's elder. At this time, Nalan Jie, like Xiao Lin, is a Dou Ling.)

Among all the prominent families in the capital, the Xiao family seems a bit like clowns, always going their own way and relying entirely on their patriarch, Xiao Ting, to keep them afloat.

"Teacher, could you please introduce these two techniques?" Xiao Li asked.

Although Wang Ming took out three scrolls whose material was unknown, he divided them into two parts: one red scroll in his left hand and two vermilion scrolls in his right hand.

"Hehe, the technique in my left hand is called the Nine Heavens Yang Technique. It is a mid-level Earth Rank technique, which is also the technique I am currently practicing. It is divided into nine levels. When it is mastered, its battle qi is extremely strong and yang, and its power is boundless."

As for the two scrolls in my right hand, they are a set: the low-level Earth-rank cultivation technique, Nine Tribulations Heavenly Flame Technique, and the matching combat skill, Nine Tribulations Heavenly Flame Hand.

He cultivates his battle qi fire through the "Nine Tribulations" method. With each breakthrough, his battle qi fire undergoes a qualitative change, gradually transforming from "crimson flame" to "purple flame". When he finally reaches the ninth tribulation, his flame is no less powerful than the beast fire of a magical beast of the same level.

As for the Nine Tribulations Heavenly Flame Hand, its power is comparable to a mid-level Earth-rank combat skill. I also use it. When mastered, it can split mountains and shatter rocks, and overturn rivers and seas with a single gesture.

Wang Ming introduced Xiao Li to the cultivation techniques and fighting skills he possessed, which greatly surprised Xiao Li. Was a sixth-grade alchemist really that rich?

Low-grade Earth Rank pills are one thing, but mid-grade Earth Rank pills? Don't tell me you, a sixth-grade alchemist, also have seventh-grade or even eighth-grade pill formulas!

Xiao Li carefully examined the two cultivation techniques in Elder Wang's hands, and after careful consideration, he chose the low-level Earth-rank technique, Nine Tribulations Heavenly Flame Technique.

For him at his current one-star Dou Zhe stage, a low-level Earth-rank cultivation technique is sufficient, already surpassing countless Dou Zhes, and the accompanying Dou Skill, Nine Tribulations Heavenly Flame Hand, looks quite appealing.

At least in the Gama Empire, the Nine Tribulations Heavenly Flame Handbag can be used to fight opponents of higher levels.

"Teacher, I choose the Nine Tribulations Heavenly Flame Technique!" Xiao Li said, standing in front of Wang Ming's right hand.

"Hey, little guy, you have good taste. You're not aiming too high. At your current level, a low-level Earth Rank cultivation technique is already the best you can do. There's no need to pursue higher-level techniques."

Even if there were more advanced techniques, you couldn't cultivate them. Here—this is yours.

Wang Ming smiled and nodded. He was very satisfied with Xiao Li's choice and handed him the Nine Tribulations Heavenly Flame Technique and the accompanying combat skill, Nine Tribulations Heavenly Flame Hand.

Xiao Li opened the Nine Tribulations Heavenly Flame Technique, a low-level local cultivation technique, and quickly became immersed in it.

Xiao Li's fighting spirit began to circulate in the direction described in the cultivation technique, and soon completed a full cycle.

Xiao Li felt his fighting spirit becoming more refined, with both its quality and quantity growing rapidly.

"Open your mouth, disciple!"

Just as Xiao Li was immersed in cultivation, he suddenly heard his teacher's voice. Xiao Li didn't know what to do with his mouth, but he figured he might as well open it. What master would do to me?

Xiao Li opened his mouth, and Wang Ming produced two pills, which he threw directly into Xiao Li's mouth.

Xiao Li naturally felt two round spheres enter his mouth, then melt instantly and quickly flow down his throat.

Having taken the Qi-gathering powder, Xiao Li naturally understood, and his teacher gave him two more pills.

As soon as he took the pill, Xiao Li felt something different. He could perceive the fire-attribute energy of heaven and earth around him more clearly, and he was absorbing it at a faster rate.

"It must be because of those two pills. I can't let my teacher's efforts go to waste; I must continue cultivating!"

Xiao Li entered into immersive cultivation once again. Wang Ming watched his disciple become engrossed in deep cultivation, then sat down in a chair and took a sip of tea.

"A third-grade pill to awaken the spirit, and a third-grade pill to gather fire. With these two pills, Li'er's cultivation should go more smoothly. Hmm, not bad~"

With Li'er's talent, proper training will make her a Dou Zong (Battle Master) with ease; as for a Dou Zun (Battle Venerable), she'll require careful nurturing.

Wang Ming muttered to himself, then took out an ancient-looking scroll from his storage ring.

"The fifth-grade peak pill, the Spirit Origin Foundation Building Pill, seems a bit unworthy of Li'er, and the Thousand-Year Spirit Origin Fruit is too hard to find. Why not change it?"

I have the sixth-grade high-level pill, the Profound Origin Foundation Building Pill, and the Purple Gold Profound Origin Ginseng on hand. The other auxiliary medicines should be available from the Mittel family. That guy Hai Bodong wouldn't dare to disrespect me.

Using the Profound Foundation Building Pill as the main ingredient, supplemented with a medicinal bath made of Grade 5 pills, this method will surely forge the foundation of a Venerable for Li'er for five consecutive years!

"It's a pity I possess the formula for the seventh-grade peak-level pill, the Profound Bodhi Foundation Establishment Pill, but I simply cannot refine it. Alas~ I wonder if I will be able to advance further in the remaining years of my life?"