Yao Lao’s voice carried an indescribable, complex emotion.
His gaze seemed to pierce through Xiao Qing, seeing some long-buried past, with reminiscence and melancholy appearing on his face.
Once upon a time, he had also possessed such an enviable Bloodline…
“Is this what Senior is talking about?”
Hearing this, Xiao Qing’s expression remained unchanged as he opened his palm again.
With a slight movement of his mind, that wisp of blood-red Qi and blood, exuding a noble aura, appeared in his palm once more.
“This…
this is truly the Dou Di Bloodline!”
Yao Lao stared fixedly at this wisp of Qi and blood, feeling the pure pressure within it, and a look of shock appeared on his face.
He could not possibly be mistaken about this unique aura permeating before him!
This was exactly what he had once possessed and later lost—the Dou Di Bloodline!
At first, when Xiao Qing had his Breakthrough, the Bloodline revived in his body, and only an extremely faint aura leaked out, making Yao Lao think he had perceived it wrongly.
After all, how noble and rare the Dou Di Bloodline was; how could it appear on a boy from a small Family in a remote place like the Jia Ma Empire?
In fact, Yao Lao’s Soul had long awakened.
In these three months, whenever Xiao Qing began to Cultivate, the tidal energy of heaven and earth he triggered was too terrifying and pure.
Even when he was in a dormant state, his Soul would instinctively absorb these escaping energies.
Although these energies were not as essential as those directly inhaled into Xiao Qing’s body and refined by the Law of Fire, they were far purer and denser than the ordinary heaven and earth energy outside, thanks to the unconscious purification of the flame aura emitted from Xiao Qing’s body surface during Cultivation.
It was precisely after absorbing this high-quality energy for nearly a month that Yao Lao was able to completely awaken from his long slumber.
And after waking up, Yao Lao discovered that this boy named Xiao Qing had an exceptionally keen Soul perception, actually possessing the Soul Power of the Middle Stage of Mortal Realm!
And he had long since detected his presence in the ring.
A subtle tacit understanding had formed between the two: I know you are hiding in my ring, and you know I have discovered you, but neither spoke of it.
Yao Lao observed from the shadows, examining Xiao Qing’s Heart-Nature, character, and perseverance.
And Xiao Qing had been waiting patiently, waiting for this “Old Mister” to lose his patience and reveal himself.
Just like that, in this peculiar state of “mutual awareness yet unspoken understanding,” the two spent over two months together.
Until today, when Xiao Qing reached the Dou Master Realm and actively activated and displayed the Dou Di Bloodline, this layer of silence was completely broken.
Yao Lao’s active appearance certainly had the factor of being shocked by the Dou Di Bloodline, but the deeper reason was the Cultivation speed of Xiao Qing, which left even him, the knowledgeable Venerable Yao, dumbfounded and unable to understand!
This was simply not the Cultivation scene that a normal person should have!
Who else could skyrocket from a Three-Star Dou Zhe to a Dou Master in three months?
Moreover, Xiao Qing was only Cultivating the lowest Yellow Rank Intermediate Cultivation Technique!
This was as absurd as if heaven and earth were actively performing empowerment on Xiao Qing, forcibly raising his Cultivation!
And what Yao Lao found most inconceivable was that this Cultivation gained through “empowerment” was not only free from any sense of emptiness or bloating, but was instead condensed, heavy, and terrifyingly solid, with a Foundation so stable it was appalling!
In comparison, the Qi that ordinary people Cultivated through hard work, step by step, appeared “flimsy” and unbearable in front of Xiao Qing’s Cultivation, as if it were piled up by Medicinal Pills!
In Yao Lao’s long years of Cultivation and experience, when had he ever seen such a freak?
This kid was simply born to break common sense!
‘Perhaps it is some unknown, extremely powerful fire-attribute special Physique at work?’
Yao Lao could only speculate like this, ‘Yes…
the Fighting Qi Continent is vast and boundless; it is not surprising that some Prodigies with Heaven-Defying special Physiques are born.’
Thinking of special Physiques, Yao Lao couldn’t help but sigh softly, his expression becoming a bit complex, and a trace of reminiscence and sadness flashed across his eyes.
Yao Lao thought of a friend from the past, that woman who possessed the Calamity Poison Body…
Didn’t she also rely on the inconceivable method of swallowing poison to rapidly improve her Cultivation?
And her Foundation was also solid, with no side effects.
The world is large, and there is nothing strange that doesn’t exist.
Suppressing his chaotic thoughts, Yao Lao looked at Xiao Qing with burning eyes, a serious look appearing on his thin, refined face.
Yao Lao saw the huge potential of this boy, as well as the conditions that were perfectly compatible with the Alchemist profession.
“I observe that your Qi attribute is wood within fire, with Yin and Yang complementing each other; wood generates fire, and fire flourishes.
This is excellent potential for becoming an Alchemist.” Yao Lao’s voice carried an authoritative affirmation, as well as a trace of imperceptible temptation.
“It just so happens that this old man, in his lifetime, was a Grade 8 Alchemist, and had a bit of a reputation in the Central Plains.
With my attainments, it is enough to teach you everything about Alchemist practice and lead you to the Peak of the path of Alchemy…”
Speaking of this, Yao Lao’s words paused slightly.
Although he was extremely confident in his Alchemy, after all, he was now only in a Soul state, and to open his mouth to take such a monstrous Prodigy as a Disciple, even with Yao Lao’s thick skin, he couldn’t help but feel a trace of subtle unease and…
embarrassment at this moment?
But he finally thickened his skin, his gaze carrying sincerity and expectation, and said the most crucial words: This story is hosted at g.com.
“Little Friend Xiao, I wonder…
are you willing to take me as your Master?”
Yao Lao subconsciously stroked his illusory beard, his eyes full of hope.
He genuinely hoped to take Xiao Qing under his tutelage.
Which Senior of the Righteous Path wouldn’t feel affection upon seeing a boy with such a clean background, seemingly steady Heart-Nature, and such a Peerless Physique and talent?
Of course, the Hall of Souls should also be very fond of him…
Moreover, this kid’s Soul talent was simply pervertedly strong!
While still at the Dou Practitioner stage, his Soul Power had already reached the Middle Stage of Mortal Realm.
After breaking through to Dou Master, it skyrocketed directly to the Peak of the Middle Stage of Mortal Realm, only one step away from the Late Stage of Mortal Realm!
One must know that the improvement of the Soul Realm is far more difficult than the improvement of Fighting Qi Cultivation.
Most of the Peak Dou Zong powerhouses on the continent only have their Soul Power stay at the Late Stage of Mortal Realm!
And Xiao Qing, only nine years old and a Dou Master, had his Soul Realm already approaching the Late Stage of Mortal Realm!
What a shocking Aptitude this was?
Yao Lao could almost be certain that if such raw jade were placed in the Central Plains, even the Old Ancestor-level figures in the mysterious Little Pill Tower would be unable to resist the temptation and would rush out to take him as a Disciple!
At this moment, Yao Lao waited expectantly for Xiao Qing’s answer.
He believed that anyone aspiring to the path of an Alchemist would be unable to refuse personal instruction from a Grade 8 Alchemist Grandmaster.
Xiao Qing’s eyes flashed slightly, his eyelids drooping, seemingly weighing the pros and cons carefully, engaged in an intense mental struggle.
He was silent for a moment, with a well-measured trace of hesitation and thought appearing on his face.
However, deep in Xiao Qing’s heart, the answer was already clear.
The Yao Lao before him was not only a former Grade 8 Alchemist Grandmaster but also a Venerable-level Soul with rich experience and top-tier Cultivation Techniques.
Taking him as a Master was undoubtedly the optimal choice for himself, who was in urgent need of high-level Cultivation Techniques, systematic Alchemy knowledge, and a powerful guide.
As for the possible “Master-Disciple Karma” and future “bonds,” they seemed not unacceptable in the face of tangible benefits and guidance.
After a moment of silence, the trace of hesitation on Xiao Qing’s face faded away completely, transforming into firmness and solemnity.
Xiao Qing stepped forward, straightened his robes, and then bowed deeply to the Soul of Yao Lao suspended in the air, performing a standard apprenticeship ceremony with great solemnity, his movements meticulous and full of respect.
After the ceremony, Xiao Qing raised his head, looking at Yao Lao with clear and serious eyes, and said in a clear and powerful voice:
“Disciple Xiao Qing, greets Master!”