In the vast and boundless desert, where sands were rampant and fierce, a young man clad in the robes of an Alchemist slowly trudged forward, his body buffeted by the relentless wind. The footprints he left behind, deeply embedded in the yellow sand, were soon swallowed by the shifting dunes, burying all traces beneath the surface. The harsh environment of the Tager Great Desert was more brutal than Xiao Yan had anticipated. The scorching sand under his feet, baked by the merciless sun, felt like tiny, hot iron pellets, causing his lips to twitch with every step. As he walked, the fierce winds carrying fine grains of sand lashed against his face, stinging painfully. This compelled Xiao Yan to constantly channel his Dou Qi, forming a thin protective layer on his face, thus preventing any disfigurement from the relentless onslaught of sand and wind.
Despite the extreme conditions of the great desert, the abundance of fire-elemental energy within it brought some comfort to Xiao Yan. Perhaps due to the intense heat, the concentration of fire-elemental energy here was even denser than that in the small valley of the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Moreover, the fire-energy here was extraordinarily pure and potent, perfectly suited for Xiao Yan’s cultivation of the Purple Flame Dou Qi. In just half a day since entering the desert, Xiao Yan could clearly feel that the Purple Flame Dou Qi flowing through his veins was more active and vigorous than ever before.
After walking nearly a hundred meters, Xiao Yan wiped the sweat from his forehead, licked his parched lips, and took a bottle of water from his storage ring, gulping down several mouthfuls. He then sighed with relief, pulled out a parchment map, and said with a wry smile, “Teacher, we haven’t been following the route on the map for the past half-day. We’ve managed to avoid the main path. Where should we go next?”
“Well… let’s head to the flame marker in the east,” the old pharmacist replied casually.
Xiao Yan examined the map and frowned, sighing, “According to the distance shown, it will take us at least ten days to reach the flame marker in the east…”
“Ha ha, then let’s start moving… In this desert, even walking is a form of cultivation!” Seeing Xiao Yan’s sullen expression, the old pharmacist chuckled with a touch of schadenfreude.
With another sigh, Xiao Yan looked up at the massive sun overhead, cracked a smile, and put away the map. He lightly patted the heavy black ruler on his back, feeling a sense of gratitude. It was strange, but despite its large size, the ruler remained cool even under the scorching sun, as if unaffected by the blazing heat. This saved Xiao Yan a lot of worry; after all, carrying a red-hot brand would be a foolish thing to do…
Wiping his sweat again, Xiao Yan was about to turn and head east when his expression suddenly changed. He gripped the heavy ruler tightly and, with a swift motion, plunged it into the sand in front of him. A sharp, shrill scream echoed as the ruler pierced the sand. Xiao Yan pulled it out, revealing a splash of blood on the surface. With a flick of his sleeve, a burst of force exposed a small magic beast buried in the sand.
Glancing indifferently at the lifeless creature, Xiao Yan identified it as a Yellow Sand Demon Scorpion, commonly found in the desert. These creatures often hid in the sand, waiting for unsuspecting prey to step on them, then releasing their venom. Despite their excellent camouflage, they were no match for Xiao Yan’s exceptional soul perception. To him, they were like fireflies in the night, impossible to hide. He cut off the scorpion’s stinger and stored it in his ring, then resumed his slow march towards the eastern horizon.
The harsh and monotonous desert training far exceeded Xiao Yan’s expectations. Previously, training in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, he never felt too lonely. But in this vast, endless desert, apart from the ravaging winds, there was not a single sign of life. The desolate solitude was almost unbearable.
On the second day after entering the Tager Desert, the true training began. Under the instruction of the old pharmacist, Xiao Yan wore only a pair of knee-length shorts, leaving his upper body completely bare. Though he wanted to protest, the old pharmacist firmly refused, explaining that exposing his skin to the scorching sun would allow for more efficient absorption of the fire-elemental energy in the air.
On the boundless golden sands, a figure clad in shorts lay on the searing sand, his back exposed. Beside him, an elderly figure with a somewhat ethereal presence held a small jade bottle filled with a red liquid. He tilted the bottle, pouring a few drops of the red fluid onto the youth’s sun-tanned back.
“Ah… ” As the red liquid touched his back, Xiao Yan gritted his teeth, exhaling a cooling breath. His hands clutched the burning sand, regardless of its heat.
“This ‘Burning Blood’ is more effective when applied in the desert compared to the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Although it’s difficult to prepare, its effects are quite good. Here, it makes your skin more sensitive to the fire-elemental energy in the air, doubling the effectiveness of your training,” the old pharmacist explained, gently scraping the red liquid with a piece of jade, his eyes filled with satisfaction as he watched Xiao Yan endure the pain.
Xiao Yan smiled, though it was a little forced. “It’s fine, continue. I’m getting used to it. I may not have many virtues, but I’m adaptable. My life is harder than a cockroach’s.”
“However, the training these past few days has been effective. I can feel my Dou Qi advancing towards the peak of a one-star Dou Shi,” Xiao Yan said excitedly, waving his hand in the sand.
The old pharmacist nodded with a gentle smile. “Alright, enter your cultivation state. This is the best time for training, don’t waste it…”
Xiao Yan nodded and, without further ado, positioned himself with his back to the scorching sun and his front pressed against the hot sand. A layer of Dou Qi membrane covered his face, and he buried his head in the hot sand, much like an ostrich.
This peculiar training posture was specifically instructed by the old pharmacist. In the desert, although fire-elemental energy was abundant everywhere, the energy in the sand, after a full day of sun exposure, became more refined. Thus, Xiao Yan adopted this unique ostrich-like posture.
As he buried his head in the sand, Xiao Yan’s senses gradually quieted, and the sounds of the howling winds and sand faded. His mind returned to his body, and he observed that the “Burning Blood” on his back was rapidly penetrating his skin, despite the intense heat and pain. The rich, pure fire-elemental energy still brought him a sense of gratification.
Stimulated by the “Burning Blood,” the already abundant fire-elemental energy in the surroundings surged into Xiao Yan’s body. After becoming a Dou Shi, he could easily direct this influx of energy. He guided the fire-elemental energy through his meridians, refining it and channeling it into the purple vortex in his lower abdomen.
Training proceeded in this arduous and solitary manner. When the “Burning Blood” on his back was fully absorbed, the purple vortex in his lower abdomen formed another small droplet of purple liquid. The tiny droplets flowed joyfully, like fish in a lake, light and lively.
Watching the newly formed droplet, Xiao Yan smiled. Through his observations, he estimated that when the droplets reached fifteen, he would have enough energy to become a two-star Dou Shi. Now, with thirteen droplets, he only needed two more to ascend.
“Soon…” he whispered, raising his head and shaking off the sand. Jumping up, he roared, “Soon! Two-star Dou Shi!”
Standing nearby, the old pharmacist watched Xiao Yan vent his emotions with a warm smile. “Little fellow, though you have talent, your efforts are the key to success. I look forward to the three-year agreement in a few months. She once humiliated you, but now you have the right to reclaim your honor…”
Gazing at the massive sun, the old pharmacist turned to Xiao Yan’s slender, determined back and smiled softly. “Though the training is harsh, you never give up. This success is the result of your hard work and sweat. I believe you will stand at the pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent one day!”
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