5. A Calculated Gamble

An inn near the heart of the Black Corner Region.

Shi Yi crouched over a small, circular table in a dimly lit corner of the inn. His face was concealed by the deep hood of a dark cloak, shrouding him in an aura of mystery. The cloak, worn and weathered, seemed to meld seamlessly with the inn's shadows.

His hands, exposed by the cloak's open front, were long and slender, their delicate fingers belying the harshness of their surroundings. As he scribbled on a worn piece of parchment, his eyes, the sole visible part of his face, held a cold, calculating intensity.

The air was thick with the stench of sweat, stale ale, and something far more unpleasant, but Shi Yi remained unperturbed. He was an isolated figure in a chaotic sea, his mind fully engrossed in the intricate details of his plan.

'I'm certain of the current timeline now. Big Brother Xiao Yan arrived here over a month ago. The Misty Cloud Sect bounty still stands. And the commotion he caused is still fresh,' he thought.

'He must be within the Jia Nan Academy by now. That's good. At least I haven't fallen behind too much in time.'

After gathering information, Shi Yi learned of Xiao Yan's accomplishments in the Black Corner Region. The news of him exploiting others during the Black Mark Auction was still circulating.

With this wealth of information and clues, Shi Yi knew his next steps.

'Joining the Jia Nan Academy is the next logical move,' Shi Yi concluded. While it might impose some limitations, it's still the best option.

As for the academy's admission process? Heh, Shi Yi didn't give it a second thought. A 7-star Dou Huang on the brink of 8-star, yet under seventeen? He was the undisputed pinnacle of the younger generation in the Northwest Continent. Perhaps the little fairy doctor matched his strength. After all, she was a prodigy with woeful poison body.

Beyond her, no one in the Northwest Continent could match his power at his age.

Was he proud of his cultivation speed? A little, perhaps. But he wasn't arrogant enough to believe he was the best. In the vast world of Dou Qi, many cultivated faster. The Hun Clan's Hun Yu and Hun Fen, blessed with Divine Dou Di bloodlines, were prime examples.

The Thunder and Gu Clans boasted their share of prodigies reaching Dou Zong at a young age. Even Xun'er, despite her incredible talent, was temporarily held back to accommodate Xiao Yan. Without this restraint, she would undoubtedly be a Dou Zong by now. Afterall, she too has Devine level Dou Di Blood.

Shi Yi was satisfied with his progress but maintained a level head. His cultivation talent stemmed from his heritage as a Dou Sheng descendant. While not bearing the Dou Di bloodline, his bloodline was still exceptional. In this world, the number of Dou Sheng-level powerhouses barely exceeded five hundred. Being a direct descendant of one granted immense advantages.

Even more exceptional was Shi Yi's unique position as the sole descendant of his family. His grandfather, a Dou Sheng, had no ties to any clan or faction. Shi Yi's parents, along with a handful of guards and servants, constituted their entire family.

From a young age, Shi Yi was showered with resources. Unlike the young masters of Dou Di clans, he was the sole heir to his family, receiving undivided love and care.

He broke through to Dou Zhe at the tender age of eight, the only realm he dwelled in for several years. Upon reaching Dou Zhe and mastering a Heaven-level Qi method, his cultivation surged exponentially.

This explained his current strength, but he understood his dominance was confined to the Northwest Continent. The central continent was teeming with individuals of equal or superior talent. Some even ascended to Dou Sheng before the age of forty.

Could Shi Yi replicate such a feat and reach this cultivation speed? He doubted it. His father, once a cultivation prodigy like him, Who also reached Dou Zong at the age of Twenty in the past, had been trapped at the Ban Sheng realm for nearly six centuries before succumbing to fate and dying at the hands of others.

'My cultivation speed will inevitably slow down once I reach Dou Zong. To catch up with the world's elite and others like Qing Lin, Medusa, Zi Yan, I'll need to rely on Big Brother Xiao Yan,' he mused.

'The notion of killing Xiao Yan for personal gain is foolish. His survival is uncertain, and even if I succeeded, I would face the wrath of Gu Xun'er.'

Shi Yi had delved into countless books, from high-quality classics to frivolous fan fiction. In some stories, the main characters were depicted as omnipotent beings, looking down upon the world with disdain. These characters often possessed extraordinary abilities or were blessed with fortuitous circumstances, leading them to believe they were destined for greatness.

But a deeper examination revealed their ordinary origins.

many of these so-called protagonists were ordinary individuals in their previous lives, overlooked and dismissed by those around them. With a newfound reality or a second chance at life, they developed an inflated sense of self-importance, viewing the world and its inhabitants through a distorted lens of superiority.

How can a person who didn't even qualified to kill a chicken in previous life, feels like controlling everyone just because they were reborn or transmigrated? Shi Yi had always wondered about this drastic change in someone's character whenever he read some novels.

The illusion of omnipotence was a fallacy. True mastery required experience and talent, qualities that couldn't be replicated through mere reincarnation or transmigration. Shi Yi, a cautious and patient individual, would never jeopardize his position by making reckless moves.

'If Xiao Yan seeks power, I'll support him. It is the best couse of action. After all, I can't achieve Dou Di status through the Flame Mantra. Only those with a dominant Fire attribute can cultivate this Qi method. While I possess Darkness and Blood attributes, Fire is merely a trace within my soul.'

'Competing with Xiao Yan is useless. My only hope of reaching Dou Di lies in the elusive Tier Di pill, but getting it on my hand is only a pipe dream'

Shi Yi had analyzed the situation thoroughly. Xiao Yan was his key to reaching the pinnacle of power.

"Who cares about the stigma of relying on others? I don't care anyway. To me becoming stronger, acting cool and enjoying life with many beautiful women is the important thing," Shi Yi scoffed.

While his talent was undeniable, he recognized the limitations of his path. To reach the pinnacle, he would need more than raw power. The allure of eliminating Xiao Yan as a rival was fleeting. The potential consequences were too grave. Instead, a strategic alliance presented itself as the more prudent course.

Rising from his seat, he left a few silver coins on the table. His next destination was the Jia Nan Academy.

.

.

.

.

.

.