"A bite of Spirit Herb Tofu is better than being the Emperor himself!" Lu Xuan hummed, savoring the dish.
Ji Fuyao tilted her elegant neck, her eyes sparkling. "Master, what is that song you're singing?"
Lu Xuan chuckled. "Oh, that? Just the 'Nine Clans Happiness Song.'"
Ji Fuyao smiled radiantly. "Master, for the next little while, I intend to challenge the Path of Spirit Fire and break through to the Transcendent Realm!"
Lu Xuan nodded easily. "Good." (Ji Fuyao was still at Great Perfection in the Path of Spirit Fire, but thanks to her efforts, Lu Xuan had long since reached the Transcendent Realm.)
Ji Fuyao frowned slightly. "Master, reaching the Transcendent Realm requires integrating one's own 'Dao.' I've touched upon a sliver of insight, but merging my personal Dao into the Spirit Fire is proving difficult. I feel I've hit a bottleneck."
Just then, the System's voice chimed in.
[Ding! Limited-Time Disciple Cultivation Quest issued: Within three days, ensure Ji Fuyao's Path of Spirit Fire breaks through to the Transcendent Realm!]
Lu Xuan smiled faintly. Excellent. Another disciple cultivation quest. Since the System was pushing him, he might as well offer a little 'guidance' to speed things up.
With a thought, a wisp of Spirit Fire began to spin on his fingertip. The flame achieved a subtle, perfect balance in his hand—soft on the surface, yet concealing a terrifying, blazing power within.
Hiss! The Spirit Fire burned, constantly shifting shape, and began to evolve, manifesting the very Dao that belonged to Ji Fuyao!
Ji Fuyao's delicate body trembled, her lips parting in utter shock as she stared at Lu Xuan. How? The Dao that Master manifested was identical to hers—of the same origin! Was such a thing even possible? Had her Master reached such a terrifying height that he could manifest the Dao of anyone he pleased?
A lightning bolt struck her mind. The Dao and Essence that Master was evolving was exactly what she had been desperately searching for! She had been separated from the Transcendent Realm by only a thin veil. And now, Master had effortlessly pierced it!
She extended her slender hand, and a wisp of Spirit Fire appeared in her palm. The moment it manifested, it resonated with Lu Xuan's flame. However, compared to his, her Spirit Fire lacked the profound Dao and Essence.
Lu Xuan flicked his finger, sending his flame soaring toward Ji Fuyao. "Fuyao, continue your comprehension. Once this wisp of my Spirit Fire merges with yours, you will step into the Transcendent Realm."
Ji Fuyao bowed her head. "Understood, Master."
Lu Xuan smiled slightly. "Three days. Is that enough time?"
Ji Fuyao nodded firmly. "I will certainly succeed."
Soon after, Lu Xuan finished his meal and settled into his recliner. Ji Fuyao, meanwhile, continued eating while simultaneously using the power of the Azure Nether Celestial Water to absorb the insights from Lu Xuan's Spirit Fire. The two flames danced around her, enveloping her graceful figure in brilliant divine light, making her look like a pure, ethereal immortal descending to the mortal world.
The System's voice sounded in Lu Xuan's ear. [Ding! Host's Senior Disciple Ji Fuyao is enhancing her Spirit Fire comprehension! Synchronization commencing!]
Instantly, a massive influx of complex information flooded Lu Xuan's mind. His own mastery of Spirit Fire began to climb at an even faster rate. His Spirit Fire mastery instantly soared to the Fourth Stage of the Transcendent Realm!
A short while later, Ji Fuyao tidied the hut and returned to her cave dwelling to begin her assault on the Transcendent Realm. She sat cross-legged, her fiery red dress pooling around her. Divine light surged from her body as her slender hands continuously shifted, guiding Lu Xuan's wisp of Spirit Fire closer to her own. The aura of Dao and Essence began to merge seamlessly.
Half a day passed. Then a full day.
Two and a half days later, the might of the Spirit Fire surrounding Ji Fuyao became intensely blazing, erupting into a surging storm. The two flames completely fused, becoming one. With a thought, the Spirit Fire before her rapidly shrank, finally resting on her fingertip, now controllable with the same effortless ease as Lu Xuan's.
Ji Fuyao's Path of Spirit Fire had successfully broken through to the First Stage of the Transcendent Realm!
She slowly opened her eyes, which shone with brilliant light. "How did Master do it?" she murmured. She couldn't understand. How could her Master simulate a Spirit Fire power that was of the exact same origin as hers? Just how powerful was her Master, truly?
She then began to restrain her aura, consolidating her new comprehension. The Heaven-Burning Art began to circulate automatically! In this life, her Path of Spirit Fire had already far surpassed her previous life's, forging a completely different trajectory. The Heaven-Burning Art was overwhelmingly domineering; cultivated to its peak, it could burn the heavens, boil the seas, and refine the void, possessing terrifying, absolute power!
As Ji Fuyao continued to evolve her Dao, the mist obscuring her future path grew thinner. She knew exactly how to proceed. The Path of Spirit Fire was primarily focused on slaughter and combat! But she was also cultivating the Grand Dao Scripture.
With this thought, a wisp of Dao Rhyme from the first volume of the Grand Dao Scripture also manifested. The two Emperor-tier cultivation techniques began to merge!
Ji Fuyao's soft lips parted. "I understand now," she murmured. "My Dao is slowly manifesting. In this life, externally, I cultivate the Heaven-Burning Art; internally, I cultivate the Grand Dao Scripture. The Grand Dao Scripture aligns with the harmony of Heaven and Earth, while the Heaven-Burning Art pursues defiance and slaughter. They are not in conflict; they simply reach the same ultimate destination through different paths."
As her voice faded, Ji Fuyao's slender hands flowed, and two distinct powers surged, causing her aura to skyrocket!
At the same time, Lu Xuan was lying on his Profound Ice Bed, reading a storybook.
[Ding! Host's Senior Disciple is merging the Grand Dao Scripture and the Heaven-Burning Art! Commencing synchronization of comprehension!]
In an instant, an incredibly profound insight appeared in Lu Xuan's mind. He paused, slightly stunned. "Fuyao is truly remarkable. She actually managed to connect the dots and apply lateral thinking."
It was hard to imagine just how terrifying Ji Fuyao would become once she truly fused these two powers! The Grand Dao Scripture as her internal foundation, and the Heaven-Burning Art evolving external killing power! It was simply unimaginable!
Lu Xuan smiled faintly. He had to admit, Fuyao's cultivation talent was truly monstrous. That's what a protagonist template looks like! He had only offered a tiny 'hint,' and Ji Fuyao had comprehended all of this. More importantly, she had forged her own unique Dao!
Half a day later, Lu Xuan was at his wooden table, writing a poem.
"The day shall come when the Southern Wilds call forth old troops,
Ten thousand banners to slay the Heavenly Net Palace!
Slaying a million soldiers of the Heavenly Net, the sword at my waist still drips with blood!"
The poem was finished, the ink sinking deep into the wood, radiating a palpable, chilling killing intent.
Just then, the System's voice rang out.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on completing the Limited-Time Senior Disciple Cultivation Quest!]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on acquiring a massive foundation of cultivation!]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on acquiring the Heaven and Earth Exotic Flame: Eight Desolation Annihilation Flame!]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on acquiring one Seven-star Great Emperor Experience Card!]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on acquiring one Southern Wilds Bell Toll!]
The moment the voice fell silent, an incredibly pure spiritual energy surged into Lu Xuan's body, rushing through his limbs and bones like a great river, leaving him feeling pleasantly numb. Lu Xuan shifted his body. It had been a while since he felt this kind of spiritual energy impact! It felt as if even his smallest meridians had been expanded.
His cultivation began to skyrocket!
Two-star Saint King!
Three-star Saint King!
He instantly broke through to Four-star Saint King!
Lu Xuan smiled faintly. "Not bad, not bad."
Next, Lu Xuan examined the other rewards. With a thought, a wisp of exotic flame appeared before him: the Eight Desolation Annihilation Flame!
"That name sounds familiar," Lu Xuan murmured.
He extended a sliver of divine sense toward the flame. He saw a terrifying power that evolved into an endless sea of fire, its might overwhelming. If it weren't sealed by countless spirit runes, it could instantly reduce Azure Mystery Peak to ashes!
Lu Xuan nodded. "Not bad, not bad. This Eight Desolation Annihilation Flame has a fierce, absolute momentum, capable of sweeping across the Four Seas and Eight Desolations! It's practically tailor-made for Fuyao."
He put away the exotic flame, and an Ancient Jade Slip appeared in his hand. A Seven-star Great Emperor Experience Card! It lasted for one full day. With this, he now had two Great Emperor Experience Cards in hand—a Five-star and a Seven-star! If he activated the Seven-star card, he could instantly kill an Eight-star Great Emperor.
Lu Xuan quickly put away the Ancient Jade Slip, and a miniature ancient bell appeared in his hand. His face went deadpan. "System, what the hell is this thing? A Southern Wilds Bell Toll? What does that even mean?"
The System explained, "As long as the Host crushes this ancient bell, you will gain one opportunity to transmit your voice across the Southern Wilds. All three thousand states of the Southern Wilds will hear your voice!"
Lu Xuan was speechless. What use is that? He had nothing he wanted to say to the myriad factions across the three thousand states of the Southern Wilds. "Well, I'll just hold onto it for now."
All in all, Lu Xuan was in a great mood. He walked out of his cave dwelling and, as usual, settled into his recliner in front of the hut to bask in the sun. Life was truly pleasant.
Ji Fuyao had already entered the hut and was cooking. She smiled brightly. "Master, my Spirit Fire mastery has successfully entered the Transcendent Realm!"
Lu Xuan nodded. "Good. After we eat, I have a gift prepared for you. Come into my cave dwelling to retrieve it."
Divine light flickered in Ji Fuyao's eyes, and her heart stirred with excitement. "Yes, Master. Thank you!"
Another gift! She knew that anything Lu Xuan gave out was guaranteed to be a supreme treasure! What could it be this time? Ji Fuyao was filled with anticipation.
Soon, she emerged, carrying the dishes. "Master, dinner is served."
Lu Xuan slowly rose and sat down at the stone table to eat. Ji Fuyao extended her slender hand, and a wisp of Spirit Fire appeared. She smiled. "Master, I am currently working on fusing the powers of the Grand Dao Scripture and the Heaven-Burning Art."
Lu Xuan nodded. "Excellent, excellent. When you've finished comprehending the first volume of the Grand Dao Scripture, I'll exchange the second volume for you."
Ji Fuyao's eyes sparkled. "Yes, Master!" The second volume of the Grand Dao Scripture! With that, she could even unleash the Cangxuan Old Ancestor's ultimate move: "When the time comes, Heaven and Earth shall lend their strength!"
A short while later, Lu Xuan finished eating and waited for Ji Fuyao in his recliner. Once she had tidied the hut, Lu Xuan smiled. "Fuyao, come with me."
Ji Fuyao inclined her head. "Yes."
Stepping into Lu Xuan's cave dwelling, Ji Fuyao immediately saw his new calligraphy piece. She slowly read the poem aloud:
"The day shall come when the Southern Wilds call forth old troops,
Ten thousand banners to slay the Heavenly Net Palace!
Slaying a million soldiers of the Heavenly Net, the sword at my waist still drips with blood!"
After reading it, a colossal wave surged in her heart. What immense ambition Master possesses! What chilling, profound killing intent! The aura penetrated the paper, as if a million soldiers were thundering past. Ji Fuyao's eyes turned slightly red.
"Master, in this life, I will re-establish a brand-new Fuyao Dynasty. And when that day comes, just as your poem dictates, we will raise ten thousand banners and charge into the Heavenly Net Palace's main hall!"
Lu Xuan nodded, slowly opening his right hand. "Fuyao, this is the gift I prepared for you."
The Eight Desolation Annihilation Flame instantly manifested!
Ji Fuyao's body trembled, her star-like eyes flashing as she gasped in astonishment. "A Heaven and Earth Exotic Flame!"