The Dou Crystal was an extremely small object, yet it was the crystallization of all the Dou Qi within a cultivator's body, containing incomparably vast energy.
Only by condensing a Dou Crystal could one truly step into the grand hall of Dou Qi cultivation, shedding the mortal tier and becoming someone capable of guarding a region, worthy of being called a powerhouse.
Zhang Yuan activated the Dou Crystal with the Low Xuan Class Qi Method he was currently cultivating and immediately felt a wave of comfort surge through his entire body. The quality and transmission speed of his Dou Qi were several times stronger than before his breakthrough.
Following instinct, he circulated his Dou Qi with full force. His body suddenly trembled as Dou Qi surged through his meridians, penetrated his bones, fused into his cells, and finally burst out from the acupoints across his body. After spreading beyond his skin, it enveloped him completely and merged into the previously distorted Dou Qi Cloak.
The distortion instantly vanished. Under the reinforcement of Dou Qi, it solidified directly into a suit of silver-purple armor. Purple flames and silver lightning patterns interwove across the chest, while dragon-shaped markings coiled around it.
"Dou Qi Armor..."
Zhang Yuan clenched his fist, a smile appearing on his face.
Fifteen years since transmigration, sixteen years of age, and he had finally stepped into the Da Dou Shi realm, escaping the very bottom of the cultivation ladder.
Even though Xiao Yan was currently at the 3rd Stage Dou Zhi Qi and would reach this realm in less than three years, Zhang Yuan was still extremely satisfied.
"Hmm...?"
Just as he was about to further experience the power of the Dou Crystal, a sense of hunger suddenly surged from the depths of his soul.
This feeling was not unfamiliar. He had felt it before, not long after obtaining the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame. It was a sign that the flame desired evolution and transformation.
Without hesitation, Zhang Yuan pushed open the door and stepped out of the training room, only to find Xiao Yan standing guard outside, his face filled with worry and unease that immediately eased upon seeing him.
"Brother Yuan, did you succeed?" Xiao Yan asked.
"Yan'er, you're worrying for nothing... didn't you notice this?" Zhang Yuan patted the armor covering his body.
"Dou Qi forming armor... that's the symbol of a Da Dou Shi," Yao Chen appeared beside Xiao Yan, his eyes filled with admiration.
He could clearly sense Zhang Yuan's explosive increase in strength. Despite having just broken through, Zhang Yuan already possessed the bearing of a dominant Da Dou Shi.
"Yan'er, I still have something to handle. We'll talk later."
Zhang Yuan nodded toward Xiao Yan, then suddenly bent his knees and leapt high into the air.
At the moment he reached the peak of his ascent and was about to fall, silver-purple flame wings suddenly formed behind his back. His body shot skyward, dazzling against the night sky before swiftly vanishing beyond the horizon.
"...!"
Xiao Yan slapped his own face to make sure he was not hallucinating.
Swallowing hard, he turned to Yao Chen and asked, "Teacher... has Brother Yuan already become a Dou Wang?"
The hallmark of a Dou Wang was Dou Qi forming wings. This was common knowledge.
"He's only just broken through to Da Dou Shi," Yao Chen replied, his tone carrying astonishment.
"Then how can Brother Yuan fly?" Xiao Yan asked eagerly.
As a transmigrator from Earth, his longing to fly freely was far stronger than that of the natives of this world.
"Those weren't Dou Qi wings," Yao Chen shook his head. "That should be Heavenly Flame Transformation Wings. That kid really is a genius... I've never heard of anyone with a Heavenly Flame achieving winged flight like this, even back in the Central Plains. It's likely related to the strength with which the Heavenly Flame was refined."
Even the weakest Heavenly Flame could not be forcefully subdued by anyone below Dou Wang, so attempts at Heavenly Flame wing transformation were practically nonexistent.
Some might have reinforced Dou Qi wings with a Heavenly Flame, but when Yao Chen refined his own flame, he was already at the peak of Dou Wang and could fly in the sky freely. There was simply no need for Heavenly Flame wings.
"Heavenly Flame Transformation Wings..." Xiao Yan's eyes burned brighter.
If he cultivated the Flame Mantra and managed to subdue a Heavenly Flame before reaching Dou Wang, could he also fly ahead of time?
Zhang Yuan naturally had no idea that a simple display had sparked new thoughts in Xiao Yan's mind.
If he knew, he would have explained that not all Heavenly Flames could form wings. The Nine Dragon Lightning Flame was special due to its lightning attribute. Even then, he had only barely grasped the method after reaching the peak of Dou Shi, relying on the embryonic form of Dou Qi externalization.
Now that he had stepped into Da Dou Shi, his control over externally released Dou Qi had become far more precise. Consumption was greatly reduced, and his available Dou Qi had increased significantly.
Moreover, he sensed that once the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame evolved again, he might not even need to consume Dou Qi to maintain flight. At that point, a whole new horizon would open.
"Whoosh!"
Lost in thought, he arrived atop a desolate mountain peak and cupped his fists toward the void.
"Senior, please come out for a meeting."
His voice rolled like thunder, startling countless birds into flight and sending low-rank magical beasts fleeing.
After dozens of breaths with no response, Zhang Yuan spoke again, "Senior, don't tell me you want me to go back and ask Xun'er to invite you?"
As soon as the words fell, a ripple appeared nearby. A figure flickered several times before stopping not far from him. The newcomer was cloaked in black robes, Dou Qi wings spread behind his back, exuding immense pressure.
"What is it?" Ling Ying asked in a low voice.
"May I know the Senior's name?" Zhang Yuan asked.
"Ling Ying."
"Senior, I ask that you help draw down heavenly lightning," Zhang Yuan said.
Cultivators who reached Dou Wang gained the ability to fly with Dou Qi wings and could draw upon small amounts of external energy. Dou Huang could draw far more, and high-level Dou Huang could even linger in midair without support.
Ling Ying was a peak Dou Huang with a dark attribute, hailing from a subordinate force of the Gu Clan in the Central Plains. Even against an ordinary Dou Zong, he would not be at a disadvantage.
Even if he lacked lightning-attribute Dou Techniques, drawing down natural heavenly lightning was well within his capabilities.
"Heavenly lightning... no wonder you chose this place," Ling Ying nodded lightly.
He had protected Zhang Yuan from the shadows for nearly two years and knew his cultivation habits well, including his use of the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame to devour lightning for body tempering.
Despite previously only being at the peak of Dou Shi, Zhang Yuan's physical strength already rivaled that of certain 3rd Rank magical beasts. This was why he could slay the Da Dou Shi opponents.
The mountain they stood upon was Black Rock Mountain near Wu Tan City, famous for producing magnetized Black Mystic Iron and controlled by the Ao Ba Clan.
Due to the Black Mystic Iron veins, thunderclouds lingered above the mountains year-round, with frequent storms.
"Zhang Yuan, please wait."
Ling Ying circulated his technique, his body transforming into a black shadow as he ascended higher into the sky.
As Xun'er's designated protector for Zhang Yuan, he would naturally fulfill his duty.
Watching Ling Ying depart, Zhang Yuan thought to himself, 'Depending on backing really is comfortable…'
But then again, joining the Gu Clan was out of the question. He still had his own bottom line.
'In the end, I still need to grow stronger... so I can enjoy support without restraint.'
His gaze sharpened as he landed atop the peak. The Nine Dragon Lightning Flame spread across his body as he began regulating his breath.
"Boom!"
About half a quarter of an hour later, silver serpents danced across the sky as thunder roared incessantly.
At the mining tunnels of Black Rock Mountain, Ao Ba Clan guards shouted urgently, "Withdraw to the wooden platforms immediately, rain's coming!"
"Damn it, didn't the surveyor say there'd be no storms until tomorrow afternoon?"
"Probably exhausted himself on some woman and misread it."
"To hell with it, I'm reporting this to the clan."
"..."
Zhang Yuan knew nothing of this.
The Nine Dragon Lightning Flame around him suddenly leapt with excitement, causing him to raise his head sharply.
"It's here!"
Boom!
A bolt of silver lightning crashed down.
The Nine Dragon Lightning Flame transformed into two silver-purple dragons that coiled around Zhang Yuan, continuously devouring the lightning.
Most of it was absorbed into the flame itself, while the purified portion surged into Zhang Yuan's body, tempering every inch of his flesh.
The process lasted roughly three hours.
Dawn broke on the horizon.
Zhang Yuan suddenly opened his eyes.
"It's time to evolve."
(End of Chapter)
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