Chapter 39: Cultivation, Tempering the Body with Exotic Flame

Returning to the Hall of Souls, Hun Cang instructed the others that he was about to enter seclusion and that no one was permitted to disturb him.

He then returned to his room. With a wave of his hand, three flames of distinct colors appeared.

"This is the first step toward me becoming a Dou Di!" With a resolute gaze fixed upon the Heavenly Flames for a moment, Hun Cang sat cross-legged. Endless black mist surged from his body, rapidly filling the entire room. Soon, the only source of light in the chamber was the three Heavenly Flames.

Perhaps due to Hun Cang weakening his own cultivation, the seals on the Heavenly Flames seemed to loosen; the light grew brighter, and the temperature rose higher. Even outside the building, everyone in the Hall of Souls sensed something unusual.

Hun Xiaoqiang flew to a high vantage point, watching the room from which the black mist was overflowing. A hint of gravity appeared in his eyes—he felt a sensation emanating from there that made his heart tremble! This was something Hun Xiaoqiang found incredible, for he was already a Dou Zong, while Hun Cang was merely a Dou Huang.

"What exactly is the Hall Master doing?" Hun Xiaoqiang wondered aloud.

"Young Master Cang is likely undergoing a process of starting his cultivation anew."

Hearing this voice, Hun Xiaoqiang turned his head to find that Protector Wu had appeared out of nowhere, standing beside him, his gaze also fixed on the room where Hun Cang resided.

"Starting anew? Why?" Hun Xiaoqiang asked, perplexed.

"Heh, you haven't had the chance to return to the clan, so you likely don't know," Protector Wu said with a faint smile. "Although Young Master Cang previously held the status of the Clan Leader's son, his talent was flawed. After reaching the Dou Wang level, there was no possibility of further progress."

This left Hun Xiaoqiang astonished. In the decades since he had taken charge of this branch of the Hall of Souls, he had indeed never had the chance to return to the clan, and there were many things he remained ignorant of. When he first heard that his new Hall Master was merely a Dou Huang, he had been deeply surprised and confused. Since when could a Dou Huang command a branch of the Hall of Souls? Even a minor branch usually required at least a Dou Zong. Branches closer to the Central Plains were even led by Dou Zuns. It was only later, upon learning that Hun Cang was the son of the Clan Leader, that Hun Xiaoqiang realized there was such a connection.

And now, Protector Wu was saying that Hun Cang could previously only reach the level of a Dou Wang? Hun Xiaoqiang felt baffled. If he were the Clan Leader's son, the Clan Leader surely would have addressed such a flaw.

"Because Young Master Cang is an illegitimate child," Protector Wu said calmly. "His mother was a maid in the Clan Leader's manor. It was during an accidental lapse in the Clan Leader's cultivation that he favored her, resulting in the birth of Young Master Cang."

Hun Xiaoqiang understood at once. That explained it. Regardless of the status, since he was the Clan Leader's son with the ancestral bloodline, it was strange that there would be such an obstacle. Hearing that it was the result of a cultivation accident made it understandable.

"Is it really necessary for Young Master Cang to start his cultivation over? Could his cultivation technique be superior to those of the Hun Clan?" Hun Xiaoqiang was still confused. Even an illegitimate son would have access to techniques far better than those available to peripheral members like themselves. Now that his talent issues were resolved, he could simply cultivate diligently to become stronger.

Protector Wu shook his head. He didn't understand this either, but after a moment of thought, he said, "It may have to do with Young Master Cang’s own fortuitous encounters."

He paused, his tone tinged with a hint of envy. "During a previous internal test, Young Master Cang volunteered to participate in the Core Disciple Assessment. The Clan Leader, out of consideration for his status, granted him an opportunity. Do you know how Young Master Cang earned the authority to manage this Hall of Souls?"

Hun Xiaoqiang shook his head blankly, filled with astonishment. The Core Disciple Assessment was the most rigorous trial for the younger generation of the Hun Clan, usually reserved only for those with the greatest potential and the purest bloodlines. These individuals were destined to become the pillars of the Hun Clan, often reaching the level of Dou Zong or Dou Zun by the time they came of age. According to Protector Wu's description, Young Master Cang was likely only at the peak of the Dou Wang realm at the time—how could he dare to participate in such an assessment? Was he courting death?

Protector Wu stared at the room where the mist was surging. "A Tier 7 medicinal pill!"

"What? Tier 7? You aren't joking, are you? Young Master Cang is also a Tier 7 alchemist?" Hun Xiaoqiang felt his mind reel. On the Dou Qi continent, everyone knew the prestige of an alchemist, especially those at the sixth tier or higher; they were all figures sought after and revered. And now, Protector Wu was telling him that Hun Cang was a Tier 7 alchemist? How old was Young Master Cang? With such talent at his age, wouldn't becoming an 8th or even 9th-tier alchemist be effortless in the future?

Protector Wu was quite satisfied with Hun Xiaoqiang's reaction, as if he were seeing himself when he first learned the news. He continued, "According to Young Master Cang himself, he obtained an alchemist's legacy. He not only gained medicinal pills to resolve his talent issues but also acquired alchemical techniques. I suspect his decision to restart his cultivation is also linked to this legacy."

Hun Xiaoqiang drew in a sharp breath. "Many thanks for informing me, Protector Wu. I, Xiaoqiang, will remember this favor."

"We are all working for the Hun Clan," Protector Wu nodded slightly.

At that moment, an anomaly occurred outside the house. Blue lotus flowers appeared out of thin air, accompanied by the sound of crashing ocean waves.

"Everyone, evacuate the Hall of Souls immediately!" Protector Wu shouted upon seeing this. His Dou Qi surged, and he joined Hun Xiaoqiang in constructing a barrier to intercept the energy. This was the power of Heavenly Flames—limitless and destructive.

However, just as they made their move, the various manifestations vanished. In their place, Dou Qi rapidly gathered above the roof, swirling into a vortex.

Inside the room, Hun Cang’s body hovered above the ground, seated upon a floating lotus pedestal with the luster of black jade. Three-colored flames seeped from every pore of his body, continuously tempering the black Dou Qi surrounding him. The Dou Qi that had filled the entire room gradually diminished, finally condensing into a palm-sized crystal.

The crystal was crystal-clear and emitted a faint glow. It slowly drifted toward Hun Cang’s chest and merged into his body. At that moment, Hun Cang’s strength surged, nearing the level of a Dou Zong, before rapidly plummeting. It dropped all the way from the Dou Huang level down to the Dou Zhe realm, then began to climb slowly once more.

This process repeated several times. Combined with the roaring Heavenly Flames, it felt as though he were being repeatedly incinerated. In truth, this was a side effect of the *Zhen Fen Jue* (True Burning Art), known as "True Flame Body Tempering." Being repeatedly tempered by the flames could eliminate impurities within the body, refine the physique, and make the Dou Qi more solid and dense.

If an outsider were to see this scene, they would likely be terrified—being tempered from the inside out by three Heavenly Flames, what was the difference between this and cremation?

A look of pain occasionally flickered across Hun Cang’s face, but he gritted his teeth and suppressed it. He could clearly feel the changes occurring from his flesh to his meridians. Wherever the Heavenly Flames passed, his skin and flesh began to shimmer with a luster like diamonds, giving him the illusion of being indestructible.

"As expected of something from the system. If I had used the *Fen Jue* (Burning Art), the agony of just one Heavenly Flame entering my body would have been enough to handle, let alone using three at once." Feeling his body slowly changing, Hun Cang knew he was out of danger and could not help but sigh with emotion.

"Once this is over, it will be time to set off for Canaan College."