Chapter 3: Teach Me, Master

Alright, there's nothing the hell the Soul Clan wouldn't dare to do.

Yao Yan couldn't help but complain inwardly. He didn't expect his first encounter with the Soul Clan would be like this. With that laughter and their audacious courage, there was no entity on the Douqi Continent more rampant than them.

Anyone who had a bit of understanding about the Yao Clan wouldn't dare to barge in like this. If they were discovered by the Yao Clan, they would face devastating consequences.

Do they really think the Yao Clan is so easygoing? The strength of the Yao Clan ranks among the top among the eight ancient clans. There are hardly any forces on the Douqi Continent that they wouldn't dare provoke.

And with that laughter... there's no doubt about the identity of the other party.

Sure enough, the Soul Clan had already infiltrated. The Yao Clan's internal affairs were rotten to the core... Yao Yan couldn't help but complain again. He knew the Yao Clan wasn't safe. According to the original plot, if the Yao Clan had shown its true strength, it wouldn't have been defeated so quickly and miserably unless someone had stolen their home. The Soul Clan's scheme had begun long ago.

"Who... who are you? Where are you? Come out!"

Yao Yan asked knowingly, his delicate little face filled with surprise and anger, cautiously looking around.

He didn't think the other party had any 'malice'. With his current strength as a six-star fighter, the other party probably saw squashing him as no different from squashing an ant. If they really wanted to do something to him, they didn't need to waste words; they could just do it, and whether he agreed or not was irrelevant.

This world of Douqi has always been so cruel; strength determines everything.

If you want to do it, just do it.

To make a comparison: I don't eat beef!

"I'm in your spatial ring. I've been observing you all these years, kid. You're quite something," a middle-aged man's voice came from the ring, with a hint of appreciation.

Holy crap!

Yao Yan was almost scared to death by this revelation. What did he do to deserve the attention of a big shot from the Soul Clan? He felt like he had experienced more shock in this moment than in all the years before. He frantically recalled his actions over the years.

After a moment, he was immensely grateful that he didn't have the habit of talking to himself; everything was considered internally.

Sensing Yao Yan's shock, a faint glow emanated from the ring on his index finger, emitting a black mist. After a while, a figure composed of black mist appeared before him. The figure was engulfed in a special black flame, so unique that it seemed to devour even light, with no aura leaking out.

The Void Swallowing Flame!

Ranked second on the list of strange fires, born in the void, impossible to grasp or detect. It's an extremely peculiar existence, said to devour everything between heaven and earth. Only a few creatures in the world can resist its devouring power.

What did I do to deserve this... Yao Yan was completely overwhelmed. He was just a weakling at the six-star fighter level, barely out of the novice village, and now he encountered such a big shot. How could he handle it?

"Who are you? Why are you hiding in my spatial ring, and why can't I sense you?"

Yao Yan's face showed nervousness as he cautiously moved backward, questioning.

"Me? I'm also an alchemist. Your father was once my registered disciple, but unfortunately, he died, killed by those people from the Yao Clan. You should know the Yao Clan's attitude toward those without Yao Clan blood," the figure shrouded in the Void Swallowing Flame sneered, with a hint of mockery and disdain.

What he said was partly true and partly false. After all, a Soul Clan descendant with little blood concentration obviously didn't qualify as his disciple. However, selecting him to enter the Medicine Clan was indeed his arrangement, and even his acquaintance with Yao Yan's mother was deliberately arranged.

It's an old trick, rescuing the beauty, tried and true. Especially effective against the Yao Clan's sheltered young girls.

Imagine, just stepping out of the clan, being saved by a handsome young hero... that impact...

In the past century, he had arranged quite a few such characters, preparing for the future.

The Yao Clan has been a target of the Soul Clan for a long time.

So, what you're saying is, am I a hybrid of the Soul Clan and the Yao Clan?!

Yao Yan was once again struck dumb, his mind spinning frantically. He felt like the other party was just trying to deceive a kid. In response, he could only cooperate, clenching his fists. His steps backward halted, and he stared intently at the other party, his tone seemingly suppressing something: "Why do you say my father was killed by our own people? What evidence do you have? And, if you were my father's teacher, why didn't you save him?"

"Your father was already an adult. Although I was his teacher, I couldn't protect him forever. Besides, it was his choice. He chose your mother and joined the Yao Clan."

The figure spoke with a hint of sadness, continuing:

"As for why they wanted to kill your father, it's because he found a Purple Gold Spirit King Ginseng that can nourish bloodline power. Since you're already an alchemist, you should know its value. Faced with it, not only would your father, as an outsider without Yao Clan blood, be targeted, even brothers might turn against each other."

He finished with a wry smile.

The Purple Gold Spirit King Ginseng is rare and precious, capable of refining seventh or even eighth-grade elixirs. Even if consumed raw, it can gently alter one's physique, or even enhance bloodline talents. It's incredibly valuable.

"Your mother went to confront them and ultimately died because of them. I'm not from the Yao Clan, and I couldn't intervene in these matters. Besides, it was their own choice... Everyone has to take responsibility for their choices, including you and me."

"As for why you can't sense me, with your soul power, what can you really see in this world?"

I can see more clearly than you can!

Yao Yan's mind was exceptionally clear at this moment. He knew that what the other party said was likely true. His parents in this life were likely killed by their own people, but there might be calculations behind it, involving the person in front of him. Unfortunately, with his current stature, he wasn't qualified to investigate.

Why does this feel like a script from Naruto!

A hint of anger appeared on Yao Yan's youthful and handsome face as he gritted his teeth and asked, "Who are they?!"

"Are you angry? Unfortunately, anger changes nothing. In this world, only strength can determine fate. Your strength is too weak. Like a roadside ant, no one cares about your emotions. In the vast Yao Clan, you're not even worth mentioning, and you don't even have the value of being nurtured."

The middle-aged figure shook his head slightly, speaking calmly. He deliberately provoked Yao Yan's resentment and hatred.

In any group, there's imbalance.

They don't fear a lack but unevenness.

Unequal distribution of resources inevitably leads to jealousy and scheming, especially for the weak. There's never been fairness in this world. If you want fairness, you must have the qualification to stand with the other party.

Without even the qualification to stand together, what else can you talk about?

Yao Yan, with widened eyes and a slightly ferocious expression on his handsome face, clenched his fists, silent and sullen.

"Merely a third-grade bloodline. Such people are as common as grass in the entire Yao Clan. If you're lucky in the future, perhaps you'll reach the level of a Dou Emperor. If luck is against you, you might end up like your father, stuck at the level of a Dou King or even dying in some corner, unknown to anyone."

The middle-aged figure calmly spoke as if stating a fact.

Because in this world, very few actually make it to become Dou Saints.

Without becoming a Dou Saint, you don't even have the qualification to be taken seriously.

"I want to become stronger and control my own destiny. Please, teach me, Master!"

Yao Yan remained silent for a long time, bowing to the middle-aged figure with clasped hands, and spoke in a deep voice.

"I can give you a chance to become stronger, but it depends on whether you have the talent."

The middle-aged figure looked at Yao Yan, his gaze flickering slightly, and spoke slowly.

He had observed Yao Yan for quite some time. Among the 'seeds' he had selected, Yao Yan was among the top choices, possessing both the character and talent worth cultivating. Instead of overpowering others with strength, he preferred to manipulate their hearts. Playing with someone's emotions felt amusing, like playing a simulation game.

"This item was originally prepared for your father, but unfortunately, he chose the Yao Clan."

The middle-aged figure smiled faintly, slowly raising his hand. Suddenly, the void-like black flame condensed in his palm, forming a vortex. The surrounding space distorted, and after a while, a black-red blood bead, resembling a fetus, appeared in Yao Yan's sight.

About the size of a baby's fist, enveloped in black flames, it flickered with a sinister glow.