Chapter 15: The Eight Extreme Collapse

"So, in future battles, you must be swift and decisive. If you don't move, it's fine, but once you do, go all out and aim for a quick victory!" Yao Lao warned.

Xiao Yan nodded but didn't really take it to heart.

The Dou Qi vortex couldn't store too much Dou Qi, so he couldn't come up with another solution?

"Teacher, you know this; all these years, I've devoted myself solely to the cultivation of Dou Qi. As for Dou Techniques, I don't know a single one," Xiao Yan said with a frown, looking rather frustrated at Yao Lao.

Seeing Xiao Yan's expression, Yao Lao, who knew his character quite well, could only shake his head helplessly. It seemed he would have to make a big sacrifice again.

After pondering for a moment, Yao Lao laughed softly and shook his head. "Well, who told me to take on a pitiful disciple like you? To prevent you from being beaten into a cripple, I'll teach you something."

"Your current strength is not that high, so I'll teach you a Mystical Tier Dou Technique known for its powerful attack. This technique doesn't have high requirements; even with five segments of Dou Qi, you can still display some power. Given your current scarcity of Dou Qi, it's quite suitable."

Yao Lao raised his hand to his forehead, trying hard to recall. He murmured, "I remember this advanced Mystical Tier Dou Technique was once given to me by someone who cried and begged me to accept it. However, I wasn't interested in these things. If it weren't for the fact that he pestered me so much, I wouldn't have helped him refine the pill."

His nonchalant, dismissive manner made it seem like he was talking about mere garbage on the ground.

Leaning against the wall, Xiao Yan thought to himself that a Mystical Tier technique wasn't weak. With his extraordinary perception, he could one day elevate it to an unimaginable level.

Yao Lao slowly opened his eyes at this moment. "If it weren't for encountering your situation today, I would have almost forgotten about it."

"Close your eyes and focus; I'll pass it on to you." Yao Lao instructed Xiao Yan to sit down again, pointing his finger lightly before touching Xiao Yan's forehead.

A surge of information flooded into his mind, but with the strength of his soul nearing the initial phase of the Mortal Realm, Xiao Yan was not the least bit uncomfortable with the sudden influx.

"Eight Extreme Collapse: A high-level Mystical Tier Dou Technique for close combat. It is known for its sheer offensive power. Once mastered, the attack contains eight layers of force, stacking upon each other to create a power comparable to an Earth Tier Dou Technique!"

It was indeed Xiao Yan's first time encountering a Dou Technique. As the third young master of the Xiao Clan, before the age of eleven, he had never had the need to engage in combat.

Powerful Dou Techniques generally required enormous amounts of Dou Qi. Even if he could comprehend them, he wouldn't have the conditions to use them.

Therefore, studying Dou Techniques would have been a waste of Xiao Yan's valuable time.

For him, focusing on Dou Qi and soul strength was far more important.

Savoring the information about the "Eight Extreme Collapse," Xiao Yan slowly walked out of the cave. After carefully going through the technique's details, his eyes locked onto a nearby tree with a trunk as thick as a large bowl. He was eager to give it a try.

Yao Lao, on the side, threw cold water on his enthusiasm. "Although the 'Eight Extreme Collapse' doesn't demand much Dou Qi, it places a heavy requirement on physical strength. This is a close-combat technique."

Dou Qi cultivation could depend on natural talent to advance rapidly, but the cultivation of Dou Techniques required constant practice and effort.

Thinking of the upcoming training, Yao Lao couldn't help but smile mockingly. "Look at your skinny arms and legs. Even if you manage to use it, I'm afraid what will collapse first is your muscles, not your opponent. High-level Mystical Tier Dou Techniques aren't so easy to master..."

"Eight Extreme Collapse!"

A cold shout suddenly echoed through the forest atop the mountain.

Xiao Yan's foot stomped on the ground, transforming into a shadow that darted forward with incredible agility.

In the next moment, the shadow abruptly halted before a large tree, as thick as a bowl. His feet shifted, his body half-turned, and his elbow slammed fiercely against the tree.

"Boom!" A dull sound rang out, and splinters flew in all directions. Spiderweb-like cracks spread from the point of impact.

"Creak..." The tree, with a large hollow blasted into it, swayed shakily before finally crashing to the ground with a heavy thud.

As the tree toppled, the agile shadow darted back and lightly landed in the rear.

Looking at the result of his efforts, Xiao Yan smiled faintly. This Dou Technique was indeed extraordinary in close combat.

Having experienced it firsthand, Xiao Yan gained a deeper understanding of the power of this technique, capable of rivaling even an Earth Tier Dou Technique.

"Teacher, what did you just say?" Xiao Yan turned his head to look at the floating Yao Lao, asking curiously.

Staring at Xiao Yan's innocent face, Yao Lao screamed inwardly: Monster!

The "Eight Extreme Collapse" was an advanced Mystical Tier Dou Technique. Even for a genius in cultivation, mastering it in less than three months of diligent practice was impossible.

Xiao Yan, however, had merely received the technique's information and could already perform it casually. His speed and force just now were not inferior to someone who had practiced for a year.

Such perception was truly terrifying!

"Ahem, next time, listen carefully." Yao Lao cleared his throat and continued, "Don't get cocky just because you managed to perform the 'Eight Extreme Collapse.' The power you displayed just now is far from worthy of its rank as an advanced Mystical Tier Dou Technique. When you can..."

Yao Lao glanced around the forest, finally fixing his gaze on a tree so thick that it would take an adult to wrap their arms around it. He pointed and said, "When you can break that tree, then you might be considered to have truly performed an advanced Mystical Tier Dou Technique. If you can grasp the hidden force within it, only then can the 'Eight Extreme Collapse' unleash a power comparable to an Earth Tier Dou Technique."

"This tree..." Xiao Yan walked forward slowly, circled it, and nodded thoughtfully. "It's worth a try."

"Kid, don't push yourself too hard!" Yao Lao had this thought in mind, but he stopped himself from saying it aloud. After all, this kid had the right medicine to heal himself. Even if he suffered some damage, he would recover quickly.

Yao Lao also admired Xiao Yan's talent in medicine and pharmacology.

Though Xiao Yan had yet to become an Alchemist, he already had a thorough understanding of herbs. The pills and powders he crafted with a physician's skill were almost on par with those of a first-tier Alchemist.

"Learning through failure can be a blessing," Yao Lao nodded slightly to himself, quietly watching from the sidelines.

Xiao Yan took a deep breath, his fist clenched, emanating a faint yellow Dou Qi. After a moment of stillness, a sudden roar echoed like a bolt of thunder, and he punched the tree trunk.

"Eight Extreme Collapse!"

With Xiao Yan's current strength, though he couldn't shatter the tree into two with a single punch, his fist sank deep into the trunk.

But to everyone's surprise, when Xiao Yan pulled back his fist, the thick tree Yao Lao had pointed to was entirely unharmed, not even a crack on its bark.

"Are you messing with me, kid?" Yao Lao frowned, but he quickly sensed something unusual.

Boom!

A muffled sound suddenly emanated from within the tree.

"Hidden force!" Yao Lao stared at the tree in shock, as if struck by lightning, frozen in midair.

(End of Chapter)