Battle Through the Heavens: Clan Leader, I'm sorry, now I just want to be a good person.

Inside a secluded cave in the back mountains, Xiao Fan sat on the ground with his eyes closed, while Yao Lao appeared as a phantom figure next to Xiao Yan.

Looking at Xiao Fan, who was cultivating with his eyes closed on the ground, Yao Lao said to Xiao Yan, "Yan'er, I didn't expect your senior brother's talent to be even better than I imagined. He was able to break through to the ninth level of Dou Qi in just one year."

"Now that I have taken the Qi Gathering Powder, breaking through to the Dou Zhe level will be a natural progression."

Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Fan, who was breaking through to the next level while sitting cross-legged, and said enviously, "Yes, I'm only at the seventh level of Dou Qi right now, but my senior brother is about to break through to Dou Zhe!"

"Don't be discouraged. You've accumulated a lot of experience and will catch up with him soon," the old doctor said with a smile, stroking his beard.

As they talked, Xiao Fan's breathing gradually stabilized, and he excitedly opened his eyes.

"Teacher, I have broken through to the Dou Zhe level."

"Congratulations, senior brother!"

"Haha, good, your talent is still very good, and your physique is also strange. Your affinity for fire is very rare, which is why you were able to break through so quickly."

Xiao Fan smiled but didn't speak. The Pure Yang Fiery Body given to him by the system truly lived up to its reputation as a top-tier physique in the Three Thousand Great Worlds. Absorbing the medicinal liquid prepared by Elder Yao, he had broken through so quickly. Thinking that he had officially embarked on the path of cultivation, Xiao Fan was still a little excited.

A year has passed since the Yunlan Sect member broke off the engagement. After Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er resolved the financial issue themselves, Xiao Fan stopped trying to be a third wheel. This, however, made Xiao Yan laugh so hard he blushed.

The year also caused their bond as fellow apprentices to deepen rapidly.

There was no other way, so Yao Lao made the two of them practice against each other every day, and even compressed Xiao Fan's level to be the same as Xiao Yan's. Their relationship was also developed entirely through these practice sessions.

Every time Xiao Fan beat Xiao Yan until he was bruised and swollen, Xiao Fan would burst into laughter. Because of this, he was even beaten up a few nights by a little girl who always called Xiao Yan "brother".

"Alright, Fan'er, now that you've broken through to the Dou Zhe level, it's time to pass on the cultivation techniques I promised you earlier." Yao Lao's voice interrupted Xiao Fan's thoughts.

"Is that the bizarre technique that's even more miraculous than a Heavenly Rank technique?" Xiao Yan's voice rang out, tinged with excitement.

Xiao Fan also looked at Yao Lao with curiosity.

“That’s right, but before that, I need to explain something to you more clearly.” The old apothecary’s voice rang out with a slightly serious tone.

"What's wrong, teacher? Did you trick us with that cultivation technique?" Seeing that the old doctor seemed a bit off, Xiao Yan asked nervously.

"This cultivation technique can indeed evolve; I wasn't lying to you about that," Elder Yao said softly.

"However, this technique is extremely strange. It is true that it can evolve, but the danger rate is also extremely high."

Undeterred, Xiao Yan rubbed his hands together and asked, "How tall?"

"Extremely high!"

With a wry smile, Yao Lao shook his head and said helplessly, "Since I obtained this technique, I have never heard of anyone practicing it, so I don't know the real answer. But based on my experience, the success rate of cultivating this technique to its peak is probably no more than 20%."

"Even lower!"

Xiao Fan had anticipated this, but Xiao Yan, unwilling to give up, rubbed his forehead. The temptation of evolving into a Heaven-rank technique was too great!

In response, Yao Lao explained the strangeness of this technique to Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan in detail.

"I've named this technique 'Burning Technique.' The Burning Technique can indeed evolve, but it requires devouring the very thing that alchemists dream of, which I explained to you before: a strange fire."

Strange Fire is the most powerful thing in the world, full of destructive and violent aura, yet one must devour more than one kind of Strange Fire to cultivate to the peak, which is basically impossible.

At this point, Yao Lao said to Xiao Yan, "You are still far from becoming a Dou Zhe. Today is the day your senior brother breaks through to Dou Zhe. Let your senior brother make the choice first!"

With a wave of his hand, two illusory scrolls appeared in front of Xiao Fan.

"Both of you brothers have exceptional talent and mature, steady personalities. You always think things through before acting. I wonder if it's God's way of compensating me for being able to receive you two brothers again," the old doctor said with a faint smile as he looked at the two of them.

“Fan’er, your talent far exceeds my understanding. Your physique is special, and in theory, cultivating the Burning Technique is the most suitable for you. However, the Burning Technique requires devouring strange fire, which means that only one of you two can cultivate the Burning Technique. Otherwise, strange fires are already rare in the world, and if they all fall into your hands, it would be a disaster for you.”

"I leave the final decision to you two! Whatever you choose, you will both be my proudest disciples." After saying this, the old doctor closed his eyes and remained silent.

Xiao Fan looked at the two scrolls in front of him, and his heart was filled with conflict.

There was no other way; the Burning Flame Technique could be said to be the foundation for Xiao Yan's eventual ascension to the throne. Coupled with his Pure Yang Fiery Body and his affinity for fire attributes, as long as he chose the Burning Flame Technique, he could almost certainly succeed in cultivating it.

However, this would mean Xiao Yan would miss his chance. Without the Burning Flame Technique, how could Xiao Yan possibly gain such a significant advantage?

What Buddha's Wrathful Lotus, the first place winner of the Alchemist Competition, what Emperor Yan—all of them will turn to smoke and dust.

Even if I cultivate to the level of Dou Di, I probably still won't escape the fate of being wiped out by the system.

Moreover, a year has already passed since the ten-year deadline. If I stay in this small Wutan City and follow the original plot, I will surely die a gruesome death when the ten-year deadline arrives.

Besides, the physique given by the system is said to have maximum affinity with fire attributes, and Xiao Fan doesn't believe it's inferior to a mere Burning Technique.

Thinking of this, Xiao Fan smiled slightly and glanced at Xiao Yan, "It is indeed most suitable for me to cultivate the Burning Technique."

Upon hearing Xiao Fan's words, a hint of sadness flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes.

"But...my junior brother needs it more than I do!"

Upon hearing Xiao Fan's words, Xiao Yan looked up at Xiao Fan in surprise, while Yao Lao beside him also opened his eyes curiously.

Xiao Fan smiled and said to Xiao Yan, "Don't look at me like that. You still have a three-year agreement to fulfill! Also, don't forget what your teacher said. Xun'er's background is not simple. If you don't give it your all, how can I possibly drink your wedding wine?"

During the conversation, he reached out and selected another cultivation technique.

Xiao Yan was filled with gratitude upon seeing Xiao Fan's choice. His senior brother had been taking care of him ever since his talent was returned, and Xiao Yan had seen all of this. He could only keep it in his heart and repay his senior brother in the future.

On the other side, Yao Lao was also slightly taken aback when he saw Xiao Fan's choice. He knew the allure of the Burning Flame Technique, otherwise he wouldn't have ended up in this situation. He had always thought that Xiao Fan would choose the Burning Flame Technique, since his physique could greatly reduce the risk of subduing the strange fire.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Fan ultimately gave this opportunity to Xiao Yan. A hint of relief flashed in Yao Lao's eyes, and he was glad that the disciple he had taken in had an extraordinary temperament.

Meanwhile, Xiao Fan chose the Earth-rank cultivation technique given to him by Yao Lao, but he cultivated the Radiant Sun Technique produced by the system.

During this year, he and Xiao Yan honed their skills together and completed some new tasks. As for the Radiant Sun Technique in the newbie gift pack, although it was only a high-grade Xuan-level technique, Xiao Fan learned from the system that it was just the foundation for another technique. With the system's support, Xiao Fan was not worried at all about the subsequent techniques.