Chapter 2: The Fighter

Three days later.

By practicing the Red Flame Art, Wei Yang successfully converted the milky white, attribute-less Dou Qi in his dantian into a pale red fire attribute Dou Qi.

In his dantian, the pale red vortex seemed ordinary, yet it exuded a faint sense of heat.

Through the cultivation of this technique, his Dou Qi not only became more solid and increased in quality but also grew in quantity, significantly enhancing its power.

This is the benefit of cultivating a technique, even if it is only a high-level Yellow Grade technique.

The fire attribute Dou Qi cultivated from it is far superior in both quality and quantity compared to the initial attribute-less milky white Dou Qi.

Wei Yang clenched his fist, clearly feeling his strength compared to before.

However, he quickly suppressed this feeling.

«Continue cultivating. Currently, I'm just a small Fighter, nothing to be proud of.»

«Not until I reach the rank of Dou Shi will I leave seclusion!»

Wei Yang continued his cultivation with his eyes closed, operating the technique, gradually strengthening the vortex.

Perhaps it was due to his good aptitude, or maybe for other reasons, but the speed of cultivating this high-level Yellow Grade technique seemed faster than expected.

This is typical of excellent aptitude but mismatched techniques, unable to fully utilize one's potential. Yet, because of his excellent aptitude, the cultivation speed of this ordinary technique was still elevated.

Poor aptitude can be compensated with good techniques.

Great aptitude but poor techniques is like a pony dragging a large cart—effortful but inefficient.

…

Time passed.

In the blink of an eye, three years had gone by.

In a dimly lit room, a handsome youth dressed in black sat cross-legged with his eyes closed.

Suddenly, the youth's body shook slightly, and a powerful aura instantly surged, gradually dissipating after a few seconds.

Wei Yang opened his eyes, and a faint red light flashed in his dark pupils.

Exhaling a breath, he muttered to himself, «Six-star Dou Shi!»

Clenching his fist and feeling the surging Dou Qi within, a smile appeared on Wei Yang's lips.

Three more years of effort.

Using a high-level Yellow Grade technique, without any fortuitous encounters, without consuming any auxiliary cultivation pills, just hard, isolated cultivation.

At most, he occasionally used his knowledge of medicinal properties to concoct body refining elixirs for baths.

He had cultivated to the level of a six-star Dou Shi, just one step away from becoming a high-level Dou Shi.

This speed was already very fast.

Moreover, in the past three years, Wei Yang had been relentlessly compressing his Dou Qi to solidify his foundation, always restraining and compressing it until he couldn't compress it any further, before finally breaking through naturally.

Otherwise, he would likely already be at the peak of nine-star Dou Shi.

Wei Yang, now just fifteen years old, had become a six-star Dou Shi.

A Dou Shi already represented a departure from the common level.

Although a Dou Shi might still be considered a lower tier on the continent, in the Jia Ma Empire, especially in Wutan City, it was definitely a middle to upper tier.

Much stronger and more advanced compared to the nearly bottom-tier Fighters.

Wei Yang stood up, fists clenched.

A sense of unprecedented, powerful strength flowed through every part of his body.

Only by stepping into the rank of Dou Shi can one understand the vast difference between a Fighter and a Dou Shi.

It was a tenfold, even several tens of times difference.

He slowly stretched his body.

His bones crackled like frying beans.

Standing still, Wei Yang extended his right palm, and with a thought, pale red Dou Qi, faintly tinged with a hint of gold, suddenly appeared in his palm, quickly spreading over his entire body.

Then, the Dou Qi condensed again, forming a layer of defense over his body in an instant.

The Dou Qi veil, a signature skill of Dou Shi, and also the most practical skill.

It enhanced speed, defense, and attack power to some extent.

Because Wei Yang was already a six-star Dou Shi, his Dou Qi veil appeared incredibly solid, covering every inch of his body.

At this level, a Dou Shi's Dou Qi could already be used to attack enemies from a distance.

These were things Fighters did not possess.

Standing there, covered in a beautiful and imposing pale red Dou Qi veil, Wei Yang exuded a faint heat, raising the surrounding temperature.

He threw a few quick punches into the air.

The sharp sound of breaking wind followed each punch, purely from the strength of his body.

Satisfied, Wei Yang nodded, «Over the past three years, I've used my knowledge of medicinal properties to concoct body refining elixirs for baths, making my physique much stronger than an average Dou Shi of the same level.»

Regular bathing in body refining elixirs, combined with the energy infusion during his breakthrough to Dou Shi last year, had created his current formidable physique.

«Xiao Yan is about to turn twelve, and he recently broke through to become a Fighter, becoming a renowned genius in the Jia Ma Empire.»

«But, judging by the timeline, he should be facing the trouble of having his Dou Qi absorbed by Yao Lao soon.»

«Heh, falling from heaven to hell in an instant. The higher he's praised now, the harder he'll fall later.»

Wei Yang retracted his Dou Qi veil, concealing his aura like an ordinary person, chuckling inwardly.

This meant there were still three years before the plot officially began.

He could use these three years to plan for himself.

Wei Yang had no animosity towards Xiao Yan, nor any intention to blacken his name or target him deliberately.

After all, they had no grudges, no enmity, and they were even from the same hometown.

There's no need to fawn over him, but also no need to make an enemy out of him. They could benefit from mutual cooperation.

If he couldn't become an alchemist in the future, he could always befriend one.

Opposing the protagonist of destiny requires great courage.

It's akin to seeking death.

At least Wei Yang personally felt it was unnecessary.

He's not some supreme being.

Xiao Yan's personality might not be the most likable, but he wasn't bad either. At least he treated his friends well.

Apart from being a bit slow in matters of love, he was fine otherwise—not a backstabber. Everyone is selfish to some extent, and he's no saint.

As a friend, Xiao Yan was reliable.

As for opportunities, of course, he would seize them when he could.

«Now that I'm a six-star Dou Shi, I have a preliminary self-protection ability in the Jia Ma Empire. I can venture out to seek some opportunities.»

«As long as I stay cautious and avoid provoking those I shouldn't, there shouldn't be major problems,» Wei Yang thought.

«First stop, Qingshan Town.»