Battle Through the Heavens - chapter-67

Regarding the “Flame Mantra”, Xiao Yan truly did not want to abandon
it. After all, to be able to evolve to a Tian Dou Qi technique, the
ability was really enticing. On this enormous Dou Qi continent, a Tian
Rank Dou Qi Technique would be equal to a ticket to become the strongest.

Although the Qi method was powerful, the success rate was not even 20%.
This fact would discourage most people. With his 10 fingers intersecting
tightly together, Xiao Yan’s face changed continuously, bouncing
between hesitation and distress.

Watching the apprehension on Xiao Yan’s face calmly, Yao Lao’s old
face also showed a mixed expression. After a while he sighed softly:
“This matter can only be decided by yourself. I also do not want to
meddle too much. However, I want to ask you one thing……What are your
feelings toward the girl Xun Er?”

“Eh?” To be asked about this issue by Yao Lao startled him. Xiao
Yan’s face blushed somewhat. Opening his mouth after a while and with a
forced smile, he said: “Teacher, why do you suddenly ask about this?
Xun Er is my younger sister. Towards her……what feeling could I
have?” At those last words, Xiao Yan seemed to feel somewhat weak.

“Hehe, sister? You also know that you do not have the slightest blood
relation to her. This beautiful girl is only about 15 or 16 years old,
yet the Xiao clan’s young generation already admires her endlessly.
When she is grown up, what is there to say anymore?” Speaking up to
here, Yao Lao shot a glance to Xiao Yan. Smiling dimly he said: “If you
think about the possibility that one day another man might marry her. How
would you feel?”

Forcing a faint smile on his face, Xiao Yan pursed his brows slowly. He
let out a light breath and whispered: “Seems……a little hard to
accept.”

“Hehe, since you can feel that it is somewhat hard to accept then in
your heart you don’t simply think of her as only your younger
sister……” Yao Lao was smiling yet not smiling as he spoke.

His face red once more, Xiao Yan was speechless and he mumbled somewhat.
Spreading out his arms helplessly with a forced smile, he said:
“Teacher, what do you actually want to say?”

“All of that was to clear your mind about what feeling you have towards
her……Since you and her already have unclear thoughts, you should
judge your own strength and your development potential.” Congealing his
face, Yao Lao gulped and somewhat doubtfully spoke: “The girl’s
background is a little frightful. I do not know the exact truth about her
background. Somehow, the small Xiao Clan has some kind of a relationship
of with them. However, only this cannot fill the wide gap between you.
The gap of status between you two is really too immense. Even if the girl
likes you, those people behind her can not agree to it in any way!”

Closing his eyes, Xiao Yan intersected his palms together and held them
tightly.

“This continent is a world where strength is respected. To have
strength is also to have dignity. Previously you saw the behavior of
Nalan Yanran. The reason as to how she is capable of acting so haughty
and how she was able to look down on you is because of her background:
her strength is greater than yours!” Looking at Xiao Yan’s
appearance, Yao Lao sighed with sincere and earnest words.

“The power behind Xun Er is more frightening than the Faction of the
Misty Cloud. Therefore, in their eyes, you are only but a worm. Even
though you have outstanding talent, they are unlikely to see you as
anything important. Truly, through the years, they have already seen many
extremely gifted talents……only if you are able to make them fear your
strength , will you have fulfilled your wish.”

Xiao Yan touched his nose and with a shrug, he asked softly: “Will
practicing ‘Flame Mantra’ give me that kind of power?”

“Actually, only by successfully practicing ‘Flame Mantra’ will you
have that chance!” Yao Lao shook his head and he stared again.

Sighing lightly, Xiao Yan braced his chin. The smile of that elegant girl
in the former days appeared ineffably before his eyes slowly. The silver
bell-like laughter hovered in his ear.

Taking a long breath Xiao Yan smiled bitterly and said: “Teacher has
said this much and still calls it not meddling with my decision?”

“Hehe……” Yao Lao stroked his withered and aged face as he let out
an awkward laugh. Slightly embarrassed, he replied: “Okay, I admit I
may have had some intentions of goading you, but from my point of view, I
really hoped that you would practice this ‘Flame Mantra’.”

“You should know that I am currently just a mere spirit right?” Yao
Lao spread out his arms as he asked.

Xiao Yan nodded.

“Other people may have died, but since my soul perception is much
stronger than others, I have somehow strangely survived in this
form……” Yao Lao smiled bitterly as if he was mocking himself.

“I do not like to live this way, each day feels like a fake and empty
illusion to me. I still have things that I must personally accomplish,
therefore, I need to leave this spirit state.”

“Teacher wants to revive?” Xiao Yan blinked in slight disbelief.
Stunned, he continued: “In this world, there should be nothing that
would be able to revive the dead right?”

“Under normal circumstances, it is so.” Nodding in agreement, a
passionate expression appeared on Yao Lao as he continued: “Yet
according to some obscure descriptions of the ‘Flame Mantra’, if
successfully mastered, one would be able to blend a few types of Heavenly
Flames together to forge a body that could house a spirit. Obtaining such
a body, would be a sort of rebirth for me……”

“In the ring, I have endured countless years in a world without
daylight all in hopes of one day meeting a person who has a strong enough
soul perception that is able to meet my requirements. I am very lucky to
have finally met you.” A deep sorrow was etched into the lines of that
wrinkled and aged face, though it could only be perceived by a very
observant person.

Yao Lao gazed into Xiao Yan’s pitch black pair of eyes that stared back
at him, smiling bitterly, he continued: “Heh, just take these words as
the idle rumblings of an old man. Alas, though I’ve said that I would
not interfere, in the end, I could not help but speak, I am truly……”

Sadly shaking his head, Yao Lao stretched forth his gnarled hands. With a
small wave, one black and one red scroll faintly glimmered as they
appeared in each hand.

“The red scroll is a fire attributed Low Di Qi Method while the black
scroll is the ‘Flame Mantra’…..” Yao Lao smiled as he raised both
hands. His withered face softened slightly as he gently said: “Make
your own choice and think about the factors that drive you, as long as
you remember that whatever your choice, you will always be my disciple
and I will never blame you for it.”

Xiao Yan’s palm supported his chin as he stared blankly at the two
glittering scroll in front of him. A long time later, he licked his lips
and raised his shoulders lazily while smiling: “Although I am afraid of
death, without power there is no honor. I refuse to go through the kind
of humiliation that Nalan Yanran gave me that day ever again. And still,
even if it does not go well, I can always change to another Qi Method.”

Shaking his head, a brilliant smile lit up Xiao Yan’s already delicate
face. In Yao Lao’s slightly red and moist eyes, the figure of Xiao Yan
could be seen stretching out his hand to firmly grab the black scroll.

When his hand touched the scroll, it transformed into a stream of
information which poured directly into Xiao Yan’s head.

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