Battle Through the Heavens: Starting with Cao Ying as an apprentice

Hearing Xuan Kongzi's question, Su Baichen was not surprised. He calmly nodded and confirmed, "You're right."

"Once one's cultivation is stable, traveling abroad becomes an inevitable path."

"Besides, I do have some personal matters that I need to take this opportunity to handle."

"The plan is to depart tomorrow afternoon. Is there anything you need to tell me?"

Seeing that Su Baichen was certain, Xuan Kongzi didn't waste any more words. He flipped his hand, and an ancient-style storage ring flew towards Su Baichen.

He solemnly instructed, "There are some pills prepared here for emergencies. Among them are three grade eight pills, six grade seven pills, and several other commonly used grade five and six pills."

"When you're out in the world, things are different from those in Danta. You have to be careful with everything. You should use these resources sparingly."

He paused, his expression becoming even more serious, and lowered his voice: "Although the Pill Tower has tried its best to block news about your breakthrough and whereabouts, the Soul Palace is omnipresent, and it is difficult to guarantee that nothing will go wrong."

"You must be extremely careful of the people from the Soul Palace. In recent years, they have become increasingly rampant in the Central Plains, specializing in the insidious business of killing and extracting souls, especially targeting alchemists with strong soul power. You are their dream target."

Upon hearing the words "Soul Palace," even Xuan Yi, standing to the side, couldn't help but restrain his expression, a deep sense of apprehension and worry flashing across his eyes as he lowered his head and began to ponder.

The Soul Palace is arguably the strongest force in the Central Plains, and it is also the claw of the ancient Soul Clan. Its actions are truly mysterious and ruthless, which makes people worry.

Su Baichen took the storage ring and scanned it with his soul power. He immediately knew that it contained a wealth of treasures, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

He looked at Xuan Kongzi and Xuan Yi, who both looked worried, but his face showed no sign of tension. Instead, he gave a reassuring smile and said confidently, "Don't worry."

"I dare not speak of anything else, but I have my own unique methods for concealing my presence and avoiding being noticed. Although the Soul Palace is powerful, it is by no means easy for them to accurately track my whereabouts."

"I am confident in handling this, so you don't need to worry too much."

His words were not meant to comfort, but rather to demonstrate his confidence.

Su Baichen has roamed the Central Plains for many years. His greatest skill is not only alchemy or swordsmanship, but also unpredictable stealth and escape techniques.

When he was active in Zhongzhou in the past, he would often release several puppets infused with his own aura and make them move in different directions to confuse his pursuers.

The last time Xuan Kongzi happened to see him, it was purely because the other party was extremely lucky and just happened to be following the right direction.

Chapter 5 Divine Journey to the Fire Refining Technique

As night fell, everyone returned to their respective homes.

Inside the room, Su Baichen sat cross-legged on a futon, his figure appearing exceptionally serene in the dim light. He slowly closed his eyes, focusing his mind and consciousness into his own sea of ​​consciousness.

Hidden here is Su Baichen's greatest secret in this life, a treasure that every transmigrator must possess, and also the foundation of Su Baichen's life.

system!

"System, open my panel." Su Baichen looked at the ball of white light and then issued the command in his mind.

The light flowed and transformed into a panel. The information on the panel clearly appeared:

Name: Su Baichen

[Battle Qi Level: One Star of Dou Zun]

[Soul Power Level: Early Heaven Realm]

[Physical Strength Level: Early Stage of Dou Zun]

Alchemy: Rank 8, Initial Stage

[Flame: Glazed Heavenly Flame]

[Weapon: Heavenly Profound Sword]

[Cultivation Technique: Heavenly Book]

[Combat Skills: Seven Star Soul Severing Technique (High-level Earth Rank), Nine Swords of Spirit Severing (High-level Earth Rank), Star Moon Soul Transfer Technique (No Rank)...]

[Items: Nameless cultivation technique (Burning Technique), Heavenly Profound Cauldron, Heavenly Profound Pearl, Cultivation Technique Optimization Scroll, Eight Grade 7 Pills, Twelve Grade 6 Pills, World Travel Portal...]

His gaze swept over each item on the panel, representing the fruits of his decades of hard work and accumulated opportunities, and a barely perceptible hint of satisfaction flashed in Su Baichen's eyes. Each item on the panel recorded his journey from humble beginnings to success.

His thoughts drifted away. When he first arrived on the Dou Qi Continent, he found himself transmigrated into the body of an eight-year-old child, a child with no special background whatsoever. At that moment, Su Baichen's heart sank.

If it weren't for the system in his mind waking up at the right time and bestowing upon him that incredible "newbie gift pack," Su Baichen would probably already be a handful of dust in this cruel world.

The cultivation technique called "Heavenly Book" was a newbie gift from the system and his greatest reliance.

Its content is all-encompassing and profound, far surpassing ordinary cultivation methods, and includes body tempering, swordsmanship, formations, and even unique alchemy traditions.

It was precisely because of the "alchemy technique" recorded in the "Heavenly Book," which far surpassed the alchemy techniques of this world, that the pills he refined were pure and powerful, with effects far exceeding those of the same kind. This enabled him to quickly accumulate resources, make friends with Yao Chen, Xuan Yi, and others, and finally gain a foothold in the Pill Tower.

Aside from the initial gifts, his system mainly has only two functions: a breakthrough lottery and a system shop.

Breakthrough lottery: Every time he advances to a higher realm, he will have a chance to draw a rare treasure.

The Heavenly Profound Sword, Heavenly Profound Cauldron, Heavenly Profound Pearl, Glazed Burning Heaven Fire, and even the "Cultivation Technique Optimization Scroll" and the World Transcending Gate on the panel all originated from this, and are important aids to his power.

As for the system shop feature, it has its own activation conditions, which Su Baichen just learned not long ago.

He has reached the Dou Zun realm!

As for what's inside, Su Baichen isn't in a hurry to see, since he can't run away anyway.

Moreover, although I have had opportunities over the years, I have also been cautious and deliberate in order to enjoy this relatively peaceful period of cultivation.

"Never mind."

He reminded himself again: "Before reaching the level of a half-saint and possessing sufficient self-protection, the ability to randomly travel between worlds must not be used lightly."

Composing himself, his gaze finally fell on the "Cultivation Technique Optimization Scroll" in his inventory. After a moment of silence, he sighed softly, as if he had made a decision he had been weighing for a long time.

"System, use the 'Cultivation Technique Optimization Scroll' for the 'Burning Technique'."

【bite--!】

The system notification sounded immediately, cold and swift.

[Special item 'Cultivation Technique Optimization Scroll' detected. Target locked: Nameless Cultivation Technique (Burning Technique)...]

[Program optimization started... Initiating comprehensive analysis of the cultivation technique structure... Deducing the optimization path...]

Within his sea of ​​consciousness, the light cluster representing the "Burning Technique" was enveloped by countless profound runes, and began to violently churn and recombine, as if undergoing a profound transformation.

Su Baichen could clearly sense that a more refined and harmonious meaning was being born within it, especially the part about combining the refining of different flames with the tempering of the body, which had been significantly strengthened. Some of the obscure and dangerous parts of the original technique had also become much smoother.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the strange phenomenon gradually subsided.

[Ding! The Burning Technique has been successfully optimized!]

A brand-new light, exuding an ancient and profound aura, appeared in Su Baichen's perception.

On a whim, he quickly skimmed through its contents.

"Just as I thought..." Su Baichen nodded slightly. The optimized "Burning Technique" retains and enhances the core characteristics of devouring strange fire and evolving cultivation techniques. More importantly, it adds the miraculous effect of simultaneously and efficiently tempering and refining the body while refining strange fire, and greatly reduces the risk of backlash from strange fire that is feared during the refining process.

The entire cultivation method has a more refined energy circulation path, improved energy utilization efficiency, and its potential upper limit still points to the legendary Dou Di realm.

“Breakfasting into strange fire strengthens oneself, and now it can also temper the body, greatly reducing the danger… This method has been transformed, and it is no longer appropriate to call it ‘Burning Technique’.” He muttered to himself, lightly tapping the scroll with his fingertip, giving it a new name: “From now on, you shall be renamed ‘Divine Journey Fire Refining Technique’.”

As he named this new cultivation technique, a charming and agile figure with exceptional alchemy talent appeared in his mind—his personal disciple, Cao Ying.

"This 'Divine Journey Fire Refining Technique' has enormous growth potential and can pave a path to power for Ying'er."

Su Baichen made up his mind. He possessed the more profound and unpredictable "Heavenly Book," which directly pointed to the origin of heaven and earth. Although this "Heavenly Book" had no clear rank, it emphasized "comprehension." While its cultivation progress might not be as rapid as the "Divine Journey Fire Refining Technique" in devouring strange fires, its foundation was more solid, its prospects were broader, and it was more suitable for his Dao heart. Therefore, for him, the "Divine Journey Fire Refining Technique" was more of a reference. Giving it to Cao Ying would allow it to be used to its fullest potential and not waste the effort of optimizing this scroll.

As for the exotic fire needed to cultivate this technique, he had already made plans: "I have a general understanding of the whereabouts or ways to obtain the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame, Fallen Heart Flame, Sea Heart Flame, Three Thousand Burning Flames... I can make plans for Ying'er first."

"As for the other strange fires... we can plan for them when the time is right, especially when the ancient Dou Di cave opens."

With his mind made up, Su Baichen's consciousness slowly withdrew from his sea of ​​consciousness.

Inside the room, he opened his eyes, a sharp glint in them, his next plan already clear. He flipped his hand and put the scroll containing the "Divine Journey Fire Refining Technique" into an empty storage ring, intending to teach it to Cao Ying on a chosen day.

The night was still deep, but he seemed to already see a road leading to the future, becoming increasingly clear under the moonlight.

Chapter 6 The Visit in Black

Just as Su Baichen was deep in thought, planning how to pave the way for Cao Ying to become a powerful figure and what challenges she might face in the future, the heavy wooden door of the room creaked open from the outside, interrupting his reverie.

Su Baichen turned his head in the direction of the sound and saw a familiar figure carrying several jars of wine walking in, illuminated by the moonlight and the lights in the corridor.

It was Xuan Yi. Today, she was not wearing her usual solemn robes that represented her high position in the Pill Tower, but only a simple moon-white long dress. Her black hair was casually tied up, making her look less dignified and more gentle and beautiful than usual.

A hint of surprise flashed in Su Baichen's eyes. He stood up and stepped forward, taking the two heavy-looking jars of wine from them. He asked in confusion, "Xuanyi, what's this...?"

Xuan Yi gently placed the remaining wine jar in his arms on the pearwood table in the center of the room, clapped his hands, and then looked up at Su Baichen.

Her cheeks seemed rosier than usual, whether from the fatigue of carrying the wine jar or for some other reason, it was hard to tell.

She cleared her throat, trying to make her voice sound natural: "Tomorrow, you will leave Danta to travel. Who knows when we will meet again after this parting."

"I...I specially found a few jars of 'Drunken Immortal Wine' that I've treasured for many years, just to have a drink with you! Today, we won't leave until we're drunk!"

Her tone carried a deliberately crafted air of boldness, but deep in her eyes lay a barely perceptible tension and anticipation.

Upon hearing this, Su Baichen did not answer immediately, but simply looked at her quietly.

Moonlight streamed through the window lattice, outlining the contours of her beautiful profile. Her usually clear and intelligent eyes now seemed to shimmer with a light more intoxicating than wine.

He felt that something was off about the black-clad man tonight, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Is it a brighter look in his eyes than usual?

Was it that subtle tremor beneath the forced composure?

Or was it this sudden, unexpected "no drinking, no going home" that was so out of character for her?

Xuan Yi felt extremely uncomfortable under his gaze, her cheeks burning even hotter, but fortunately, the alcohol masked it.

Seeing that Su Baichen was just staring at her without saying a word, her heart pounded. Afraid that he would see through her thoughts, she felt a little embarrassed and annoyed, and raised her voice to cover up her guilt: "Hey! Su Baichen, are you going to drink or not? Give me a straight answer! This Drunken Immortal Wine is something I went through a lot of trouble to get from a friend. Nobody else can even get a taste!"

Looking at her, who was clearly nervous but pretended to be fierce, just like a little animal guarding its food, Su Baichen's doubts suddenly disappeared, replaced by an indescribable tenderness and impulse.

He had originally planned to do or say something before leaving, and now that the beautiful woman had arrived with fine wine, wasn't it fate?

The corners of his mouth turned up slightly, forming a gentle curve, a mixture of helplessness and indulgence, as he said softly, "Alright, since Elder Xuanyi is so hospitable, how could I dare refuse? Tonight, I'll drink with you to my heart's content."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Yi's face lit up with a smile, as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders. He quickly stuffed an unopened jar of wine into Su Baichen's arms, while he deftly broke the clay seal on another jar. A rich and mellow aroma of wine immediately filled the room.

"Drink!" she shouted, raising the wine jar with boundless enthusiasm.

Without further hesitation, Su Baichen took the wine jar, tilted his head back, and gulped down a large mouthful.