Chapter 166: The Sub Fire of Chilling Bone Flame

"Teacher, I know you have a way, so please help me!" Xiao Yan's eyes flickered, keenly sensing Yao Chen's hidden meaning.

"Humph! You kid always know how to boss an old man around. What if I'm not around? What will you do then?" Yao Chen said, looking unhappy.

"Hey, how could Teacher not be around? You're so awesome, just like Doraemon!" Xiao Yan raised his thumbs.

Over the past three years, Old Yao had been accompanying him, and gradually he had become accustomed to carrying the old man's weight.

"What a mess."

"Also, are you relying on me too much?"

Yao Chen sighed and shook his head. He thought this confrontation was significant. If he were to easily lose, it might leave a shadow in his heart, becoming a demon he need to overcome in the future.

He pointed with his ethereal finger, and a cluster of chilling bone-white flames appeared, rapidly reducing the surrounding temperature.

Xiao Yan shivered, but his eyes couldn't help but light up.

"Chilling Bone Flame?"

"Teacher, are you giving me this Heavenly Flame?"

Initially, he chose to cultivate the Flame Mantra largely because of the promises Old Yao made, saying he would help him find the Heavenly Flames, which, once devoured, could evolve his Qi Method, and ultimately even surpass the legendary Heavenly Rank Qi Method. Yet, three years had passed in the blink of an eye, and there was still no sign of the Heavenly Flame. If it weren't for needing the Heavenly Flame to refine Old Yao's resurrected body, he would have considered switching to another Qi Method.

"What are you thinking? The Chilling Bone Flame is my lifeblood!"

"Moreover, this eleventh-ranked Heavenly Flame has power too immense for a mere Dou Master like you to devour."

"When I was still a Dou Ancestor, I almost lost my life trying to devour the Chilling Bone Flame. If you encounter it, you'll be ashes!"

Yao Chen poured cold water on the other party without hesitation.

"Well, then..."

"How can I quickly advance in rank?"

Xiao Yan thought of facing the Misty Cloud Sect with only the strength of a 7 Star Dou Master. He feared being killed instantly by Nalan Yanran and becoming a laughingstock in the Jia Ma Empire.

Losing face wasn't a big deal, but what would Xun'er think when she found out? If he couldn't even pass the trial of these three years, what would he have to make the superpowers behind Xun'er recognize him?

"There is a way."

Yao Chen's gaze flickered, hesitated for a moment, and finally seemed to make a difficult decision. With a serious expression, he said, "I will extract a wisp of flame from the Chilling Bone Flame for you to devour."

"A sub-fire?"

"Can this work?"

"After refining it, can the Flame Mantra evolve?"

Xiao Yan's face lit up with joy and anticipation.

"In theory, it's possible, but don't get too excited too soon."

"Even if it's a sub-fire, the power of the Chilling Bone Flame is immense, perhaps comparable to some lower-ranked Heavenly Flames."

"With your Dou Master strength to refine it, the success rate probably won't exceed forty percent."

Yao Chen's expression became serious. No one understood the dangers of refining Heavenly Flame better than him. Throughout history, countless alchemists had turned to ashes in the Heavenly Flame like moths to a flame.

"Only forty percent?"

"Enough!"

"I, Xiao Yan, will stake my life on this!"

Xiao Yan gritted his teeth, his heart determined.

"Sigh, what a reckless fellow."

"But since you've made up your mind, there's nothing more for me to say. I can only wholeheartedly support you."

Yao Chen sighed, ultimately respecting Xiao Yan's decision.

...

Misty Cloud Sect.

Thick Wind Attribute Dou Qi surged into the sky, causing fierce winds to sweep over the mountain.

Nalan Yanran waved her hand, and green Dou Qi gathered, gradually condensing into the shape of a long sword.

"Dou Qi materialization! This is the symbol of Dou Spirit."

"However, at your current level, you've just stepped into the realm of Dou Spirit, and your state isn't stable enough."

Yun Tianming commented.

After taking his systematically enhanced Three Lines Green Spirit Pill, Nalan Yanran, originally a 7 Star Dou Grandmaster, rose by 3 stars, even directly breaking through to the Dou Spirit Realm!

"All of this is thanks to the pills senior brother Tianming provided. How can Yanran repay you?"

Nalan Yanran dispersed the long sword made of Dou Qi in her hand, revealing a touching smile on her delicate face as she gazed fervently at Yun Tianming.

"What's there to thank?"

"With our relationship, there's no need for such formalities."

Yun Tianming said matter-of-factly.

After all, in his view, Yun Yun was already his wife, so her disciple was also his disciple. It made sense to care for them equally.

However, Nalan Yanran clearly didn't see it that way. She boldly took another step forward, closing the distance between them to just a few centimeters. As she lifted her head, their noses were almost touching, and they could clearly feel each other's breath.

"What's wrong, Yanran?"

Yun Tianming raised an eyebrow, as if he could sense something from her excessively fervent gaze.

"Senior brother Tianming, don't you understand Yanran's feelings for you?"

Nalan Yanran gazed at him affectionately.

Yun Tianming avoided her gaze and calmly said, "Yanran, you're still young. It's not appropriate to talk about these things now."

"How am I still young?"

She lifted her chin defiantly.

Under her moon-white robe, her proportions were perfectly curved.

Nalan Yanran's cheeks flushed slightly as she glared at him, puffing up her cheeks.

Indeed, Nalan Yanran was no longer the naive girl she used to be. She had everything she should have had by now. It's just that she had grown in stature, but her temperament still lacked a bit.

Undeniably, Yun Tianming felt a slight flutter in his heart at that moment, but he quickly adjusted his posture.

Yun Tianming didn't give a direct answer, shifting the topic: "Tomorrow marks the important three-year appointment for you. Are you prepared?"

"Hmph, Senior Brother Tianming still hasn't given me a response."

Nalan Yanran smirked. Despite her dissatisfaction with his vague attitude, she still earnestly responded.

"I have already mastered the Earth Rank Dou Technique preliminarily. If Xiao Yan's strength is only at the level of Dou Grandmaster, then I have a great chance of winning!"

Over the three years, Nalan Yanran's temperament had matured considerably. She understood that her refusal of marriage back then had a significant impact. If it weren't for Yun Tianming's intervention, she and Xiao Yan might have become irreconcilable enemies. This three-year appointment could have turned into a battle of life and death.

"Although it's just a peaceful exchange, from my personal standpoint, I still hope you can defeat Xiao Yan."

Yun Tianming had no grudges with Xiao Yan but he still wanted Yanran to win.

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