Chapter 66

After lying on the cold stone floor for a long time, Xiao Yan finally slowly caught his breath. The joy on his face was almost impossible to hide. He moved his slightly numb legs and once again assumed the posture for cultivation.

He let out a light breath, closed his eyes slightly, and his mind gradually sank into his body.

Inner vision, a supplementary skill that only a Fighter-level practitioner could master. The higher one's strength, the more thoroughly one could explore the internal conditions of the body.

His mind sank to the area of his lower abdomen, where a palm-sized milky white vortex was slowly rotating. Surrounding the vortex was a layer of milky white energy gas, resembling a nebula.

His mind focused on this small vortex, and Xiao Yan nodded in satisfaction. Although the current size of the vortex was small, the energy it contained was absolutely more than ten times stronger than his previous Ninth Rank Fighter Qi!

The difference between a Fighter and a Ninth Rank Fighter was almost fundamental. The energy absorbed before reaching the Fighter level was called Fighter Qi, while the energy absorbed after reaching the Fighter level was called true Combat Qi!

Although there was only a one-character difference, the gap between the two was like the difference between heaven and earth, incomparable.

Controlling the vortex with his mind, Xiao Yan's heart slightly moved, and a strand of milky white Combat Qi quickly separated from the vortex and surged in the direction his mind pointed.

His mind continuously controlled the vortex's inhalation and exhalation. After becoming increasingly proficient, Xiao Yan finally stopped his playful actions in satisfaction and slowly withdrew his mind from his body.

His tightly closed eyes suddenly opened, and the milky white light in his pitch-black pupils lingered for about ten seconds before gradually dissipating.

His mouth slightly opened, and a somewhat heavy breath was expelled. After expelling this breath, Xiao Yan's complexion visibly became much more radiant.

He twisted his neck, and the sound of bones cracking made him grin. He lifted his head and looked at the figure of Old Medicine, who was floating like a ghost at the cave entrance, and said with a bright smile, "I succeeded."

"Hmm, your luck isn't bad. You managed to condense the vortex on your first try." Old Medicine nodded and said indifferently.

"Isn't this due to my strength?" Shrugging, Xiao Yan suddenly showed a flattering expression, stretched out his hand, and said somewhat shyly, "Teacher, now that I've reached the Fighter level, shouldn't you give me a Combat Qi technique?"

Hearing this, Old Medicine rolled his eyes, floated into the cave, and slowly sat down in front of Xiao Yan. After a moment of contemplation, he said with a slightly serious expression, "What kind of technique do you want?"

"Cough, it's... it's that strange thing that can... can evolve, you know." Xiao Yan scratched his head and said sheepishly.

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, a hint of inexplicable meaning flashed across Old Medicine's face, and he unexpectedly fell silent.

"Teacher, what's wrong? Could it be that the technique you mentioned is just a bluff?" Seeing Old Medicine's expression, Xiao Yan couldn't help but ask nervously.

"This technique can indeed evolve, and I didn't lie to you about that." Old Medicine said softly.

Seeing Old Medicine admit it again, Xiao Yan's face lit up with joy. He rubbed his hands and asked cautiously, "Can I cultivate it?"

"This technique is extremely strange. It can evolve, but the risk is extremely high!" After another long silence, Old Medicine sighed.

Feeling uneasy from Old Medicine's sighing, Xiao Yan slowly withdrew his hand and asked weakly, "How high?"

Old Medicine laughed bitterly, shook his head, and said helplessly, "Since I obtained this technique, I have never seen or heard of anyone cultivating it. So, I don't know the real answer. However, based on my long life experience, the success rate of cultivating this strange technique to its peak seems to be no more than twenty percent..."

"Twenty percent?" Xiao Yan's face stiffened, and he laughed dryly, "It can't... it can't be that low, right?"

Sighing and nodding, Old Medicine said bitterly, "I'm afraid it really is that low."

Rubbing his forehead with a bitter smile, Xiao Yan was still unwilling to give up. The temptation of a technique that could evolve into a Heaven Rank technique was too great for him.

"Can you tell me about the general cultivation method of this technique?"

Old Medicine's withered hands rubbed together, and after a moment of hesitation, he said softly, "The evolution condition of this technique is related to the 'Strange Fire' I mentioned to you a few days ago."

Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed, maintaining silence as he listened intently.

"Ah, I obtained this technique by chance. The technique originally had no name, but I gave it one, calling it 'Blazing Decree.' " At this point, a complex expression flashed across Old Medicine's face, suggesting that the process of obtaining this technique was not as simple as he described.

"The 'Blazing Decree' can indeed evolve, but its evolution requires 'Strange Fire' as the raw material. Each evolution must consume one 'Strange Fire'!" Old Medicine's voice was slightly hoarse, "You must know that 'Strange Fire' is a destructive and violent substance. It is rare to see one in a hundred years, and even if you do, who can guarantee that you can successfully consume it? I almost burned to nothing trying to obtain the 'Bone Spirit Cold Fire'..."

"The most terrifying thing is that this technique must consume various 'Strange Fires'... Good heavens, just one Strange Fire can torment a Great Emperor-level expert to the brink of death. I can't even imagine what it would be like if someone had two, or even more, Strange Fires in their body..."

Looking at the incredulous Old Medicine, Xiao Yan was also stunned. Evolving by consuming Strange Fires? Damn, it's not even certain who will consume whom! The creator of this technique must have been a madman.

"Although the risk of this technique is extremely high, I don't doubt its potential. If someone really succeeds in cultivating it... on the continent of Combat Qi, apart from a few exceptional individuals... there might not be many who can match them." Old Medicine sighed.

Xiao Yan nodded in agreement. If someone could skillfully control several Strange Fires, even a 'Sage Fighter'-level expert wouldn't dare to underestimate them. Of course, this is on the condition that he himself isn't consumed by the Strange Fires...

Looking at Xiao Yan, Old Medicine hesitated and asked, "Now, do you... still want to learn it?"

His body trembling slightly, Xiao Yan fell silent.

(New week, please support with your recommendation votes. Thank you, everyone. After voting, please leave a comment in the book review section, and I'll give out essence rewards ^_^)