Wu Hai wanted to visit the orphanage after 10 years of leaving it as he missed Mother Su and wanted to see how she’s doing. Shao Ai also received a letter and use his yearly vacation to visit along and many of the children that had went their way make a little reunion event.

Wu Hai was really shocked at Shao Ai's achievement and how he even held a title given by the Emperor. He thought it's a coincidence that the name is the same but it's really one of his siblings from the orphanage! They talk about Shao Ai most in the reunion.

"Brother Wu Hai!". Shao Ai hugs his brother.

Wu Hai pat his head. His brother is still cute as always. And his black and white hair with heterochromia eyes is still too unique and eye catching even though he had been seeing Shao Ai for years since childhood.

Wu Hai tried to see what is the cultivation level that Shao Ai has since he knew he practiced cultivation by himself years before. But he can't see anything, as if he's a mortal who hasn't cultivated.

"Shao Ai, you stopped cultivating?".

'Uh... I still cultivate actually. The Elder from 10 years ago hide my cultivation’.

“Ohh. What stage are you in now?”.

“Uhh… Early foundation establishment”. He lied through his teeth.

He doesn't think being a Late core formation stage at this point is normal due to his technique. He doesn’t want to give Wu Hai a heart attack or depression.

"Wow! You already broke through foundation establishment as well? Amazing! You had become the disciple of that elder?".

'No. I practiced by myself’.

"I see. You are really talented... Even without guidance you can cultivate fast. What about martial art techniques other than growing some plants?".

Shao Ai is not sure how to explain his Cycle of heaven and earth technique wasn't a mere technique to grow plants but it's a complex technique that alters variables in a closed system. But he lets Wu Hai misunderstands since its too profound to be explained.

"I have a movement technique I comprehend to run fast".

'Really? Want to have a competition? Let's race along the river with movement technique!'.

"Alright!".

They both went into the forest and use their movement techniques. Wu Hai use fiery explosion on his back and feet to propel himself forward.

He is surprised that Shao Ai movement is really elegant, as if his movements are so pleasing to his eyes. And he is so fast that he no longer sees him.

"What technique is that! So fast!". Wu Hai wiped his sweat away.

"It's a part of 8 trigram harmonic stances. Want me to teach you?".

Shao Ai draw the 8 trigrams and try to teach him the technique. But he only limits it to those 2 stances.

Wu Hai misunderstand the technique only involving those 2 stances solely for movement speed but Shao Ai doesn't want to discourage Wu Hai too much by revealing the actual technique that can be used to attack, defend, counterattack and even travelling. But this technique is really too broad. Shao Ai only somewhat used to practice Harmonic Stances of the Untouchable where the series of stances are especially tailored to dodge.

He ignored the offensive part of the technique because for him, he never planned to kill or injure anyone and that he’s too lazy mainly.

On a side note, he had discovered Eye of Moon’s Contemplation technique allows him to observe and copy his own movement, and repeat them, making him learn techniques at fast speed (if he practices to begin with). Shao Ai is really slacking in training because he’s lazy and wanted to chill.

Wu Hai did manage to comprehend the technique but it felt lacking when he tried it. He assumes it’s because he hasn’t practice it yet. After all, the harmonic stances require specific timing and accurate body positions.

It requires talent to grasp the natural harmonic body movements that should be felt by instinct. Wu Hai can’t feel it though and his movement always has something off about it when Shao Ai observed. It doesn’t look pleasing to the eyes and therefore not harmonic

Wu Hai also shared his experiences as a cultivator in a middle-sized sect.

He showed Shao Ai he can produce flame from his palm with Dragon Flame Palm technique. He turned chi into a flame with dragon-ish shape!

Wu Hai casually complained to Shao Ai about how he's stuck and can't comprehend the technique further. His master said he needs to break through to gain better control over his chi and comprehend the technique better.

"Brother, how do you use the technique, how you make flame?".

'Hmm. It’s to use chi to make flame, just like how you burn wood, I burn Chi to produce flame'.

"I can't increase my technique power... My master said it's only one step behind perfection but I can't understand it what am I missing. My master keeps telling me to comprehend it myself. And the seniors too tell me to comprehend it myself. Sigh".

Shao Ai contemplated for a second.

'Hmm. I think it's because you are only using your chi as fuel. The surroundings also have chi and burnable elements. I think you can use chi from the surrounding to make your flame bigger and more powerful. Use the chi in the air, use the chi in the trees and grass to fuel the flame".

Gasp!

Why didn't he think of it??

Wu Hai returned to the sector and became a direct disciple of the sect leader after comprehending the Flame Dragon Palm faster than anyone his age.

Using the chi in himself, and also using his surroundings, he successfully perfected the Flame Dragon Palm.

The flame dragon circles Wu Hai and engulfed his surroundings in flame while growing in size. It engulfed the air and chi while it was flying. It visibly grows in size while it's launched at the target.

In fact, Wu Hai comprehended the longer he maintained the dragon in air, the stronger it grew! It's basically an infinite dragon palm attack as he controls the flame dragon to attack and retreat in a circular path.

But it requires extreme chi control skill. He is still mastering his control at this moment. The Elders nods in satisfaction seeing Wu Hai grasped the core technique of the sect.

Unless the enemy destroys the dragon, kills Wu Hai, or Wu Hai himself stops the dragon flame it won't stop growing as the Chi and oxygen from the air is burnt as fuel. It also has risks of losing control and exploding so chi control is important.

Wu Hai keeps training his flame dragon palm. On this day, he goes all out and burn all of his Chi to muster all power and launch the dragon flame palm at high speed in circular movements. He wanted to make the dragon fly faster and turn more sharply.

Due to how fast it flies in the air, there's not enough oxygen and the fire dragon turned black!

Black Dragon Palm is accidentally unleashed! The effect of the black flame even causes suffocation and silent poisoning to the enemy and oneself if one is not careful. Wu Hai almost fainted pushing the technique to the extreme as the air around him depleted and he lost his breath momentarily. Thankfully he is okay.

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The sect master is shocked that Wu Hai had comprehended the advanced variant of Dragon Flame Palm by himself.

It's usually taught at higher cultivation stage due to the technique causing oneself harm if not controlled properly.

Wu Hai once again seeks Shao Ai advice by sending him a letter of casual complaint. They are both cultivators so Wu Hai felt closer to Shao Ai and share each other’s experience. Shao Ai invited Wu Hai to his residence in the Palace of Gold Dragon. Wu Hai is nervous seeing the big and luxurious residence. Only then he sees how rich Shao Ai looks.

Shao Ai starts to discuss things with Wu Hai to help him. They went outside as Shao Ai wants to make demonstrations.

"The flame is black because the element in the air is completely used up... Try to burn this wood"

Shao ai instructed his brother.

Wu Hai ignite a branch he held.

"Try to use your chi to isolate the air so the air inside cannot replenish".

Wu Hai did so and soon the flame eventually turned black!

"I understand! So... It already reached its limit because the elements in the air is used up…".

"No brother. This isn't the limit. The flame technique can still be improved".

Wu Hai looks at Shao Ai, confused.

"What do you mean? The elements are used up how to make the flame stronger?".

"Brother Wu Hai, do you have the technique to bring more air in?".

"More air?".

'It’s to bring air from outside and increase the air. This will add burnable elements and improve all flame techniques!’.

Gasp!

'Okay. I will ask my sect leader for the technique later’.

Wu Hai once again returned to the sect. He asked for the technique involving wind.

"Hmm... The Wind Valley sect should have them. I will try to trade for it".

'Thank you master!'.

Soon a low-level technique for air circulation is traded with some spiritual herb from the Wind Valley sect. Its function is to only to accelerates air. It can't compress or make wind blade or tornado so they are easily trade-able.

Wu Hai once again went to Shao Ai to thank him because he and the sect leader had made tests and sees their techniques improved by another level.

"I have comprehended the technique to increase air and using them together really makes them stronger! Thank you, brother!".

'Brother Wu Hai, show me the technique again. I want to see'.

Wu Hai ignited the wood easily. It burns with a red flame.

"Now I add the wind technique".

It burns even brighter.

"It's stronger now". Wu Hai is satisfied.

He also noted that the air circulation technique allows him to control the black flame dragon. He is now only starting to master the black dragon as he switches the black dragon back to red dragon flame or vice versa by controlling how much air circulates.

"Brother Wu Hai, use more chi to circulate more air".

'Eh? But I already did’.

"Brother, you will create a stronger flame! Trust me, use as much chi as possible to circulate as much air as you can".

'Okay...'. he mustered most of his chi to circulate even more air to the burning wood.

The flame turned brighter and brighter and eventually it turned blue! It evolved and had a qualitative change once it turned blue!

"B-blue flame!?". Wu Hai had his mouth wide open.

'Yes! You can combine your dragon flame palm and add a lot of air to make blue dragon flame! Also, smaller dragon flame but hotter might be better than bigger flame in certain cases. It should be easier to make black or blue dragon flame with smaller flame sizes too’.

Wu Hai went outside and made a small dragon flame palm. Or rather it's a python flame palm. He uses the air circulation technique and push a lot of his chi and mental energy out. The phyton gradually turns blue.

Wu Hai launched the blue phyton to the sky and it exploded with a bright radiance and heat!

"Amazing!". Its firepower is more concentrated compared to red flame.

Wu Hai thanked Shao Ai and gave him a spirit medicine, a 200-year-old ginseng with rich vitality and chi. It can improve health and lifespan by 2 years if eaten by a mortal. Of course, shao Ai lifespan is already at 1000 years due to his cultivation while he's eating plus his constitutions.

Wu Hai showed his newly comprehended blue dragon flame palm technique to his sect leader, even shocking him.

Wu Hai still has trouble controlling the flame size to be small. He can't make a smaller dragon flame palm because of nature of fire that are wild. This is due to his still low cultivation stage and insufficient chi control training, explained by his master.

Of course, it's the sect leader's time to shine to integrate the air circulation technique to his dragon flame palm.

He easily showcases his skill as the sect leader. He unleashed a gigantic Red Dragon Flame Palm in the air, it danced beautifully and it turned into Black Dragon Flame. As it dances, it gradually turns to red again. And then it turns to blue! And back to red and to black again!

The sect leader has so much sweat pouring out because he is trying to show off to his disciples and exerted so much effort for this.

Wu Hai wants to cough out blood. It's like his own master stole and perfected the blue flame technique. The sect leader calls it the Dance of Dragon Flame of Sorrow, Courage and Pride.

Many flame-based techniques in the sect starts to evolve. The sect leader and few elders work hard to incorporate Wind techniques for this reason and many blue flame variants are produced. Wind valley sect felt suspicious as for why they are giving away many spiritual herbs for their low-level wind techniques but the sect shrugs it off.

They are in a rush because the genius martial competition between sect is going to be held soon so they want to perfect and improve the current techniques for the disciples.

The sect leader grinned seeing his own Fire Engulfing Explosion technique becomes twice as lethal as it turned into Azure Fire Engulfing Explosion.

To make a technique from scratch when it's not their path is difficult so they still need to get it elsewhere to fasten things up.

The sect leader believed they could become a high-grade sect now!

The competition of sect geniuses determines sect status. Wu Hai along with 2 other disciples are chosen as representatives. They would battle other cultivators below the age of 30 and showcase their skills and techniques and to attract young people to their sect.

High level sect may also persuade (steal) disciples of smaller sect to join them. It's natural that small sect may be not be able to provide good enough technique and resources and would limit their own student growth.

If a high-level sect wants to steal a disciple from a lower-level sect, it wasn't stealing but it's to place the disciple at the right place they deserved.

For disciples of the middle sect, a high sect can't simply steal them but the disciple has a choice to leave or stay. There's no verbal or written agreement but everyone knows this unspoken rule. This is for the sake of developing martial artist and prevent people from limiting their potential. Of course, doesn’t mean all sects follow this.

The competition is a once in 10 years event and the whole sect is eager.

Wu Hai invited everyone to watch him at the capital city. Shao Ai naturally would like to see his step brother competing. He’s also worried, afraid he would get injured. But it’s the path of cultivator that Wu Hai had chosen.

Mother Su also agreed and decides to bring all the grown enough children to the Capital City to watch the martial competition. They are rich now so they can afford the ticket easily. Mother Su even bought VIP tickets for everyone.

After reading the letter, Shao Ai send a reply saying he will definitely come to watch him. He remembered the flame technique Wu Hai used as he reads the letter.

He thought, the dragon flame palm still hasn't reached the limit. The limit of dao of flame doesn't stop at burning wood/organic material or chi or simply add more oxygen. Blue flame is not the limit.

Ultimately, heat energy from burning comes from bonds between molecules breaking releasing energy. Or chi energy turning to heat energy directly.

So, if one comprehends the ultimate technique involving the path of flame, the highest level of technique would be nuclear fission! Every matter can be used to make 'flame'! Break each molecule! Burn everything!

Shao Ai woke up from his imagination and shook his head. His imagination is too much.

Nuclear technique is a bit too scary. He wonders if he should teach brother Wu Hai about how energy is released from matters. He's afraid Wu Hai really created a nuclear bomb technique at some point.

What is one day he died because his brother decides to cause a nuclear explosion that he can't control?

He decides to keep that knowledge first, quite afraid of consequences. And how do you control the nuclear explosion? If anything, that seems like a suicide technique since it would be difficult to withstand explosion you yourself created.

Heavenly Father had watched Shao Ai advised his brother in the path of flame. He wasn't surprised by this since Shao Ai had already understood many mechanisms of the Earth to maintain balance given how profound his Cycle of Heaven and Earth technique is. His understanding of the Dao of flame is just a small part of heaven and earth.

Heavenly Father sighed in envy. Because the martial path that Shao Ai took is too deep, as it involves everything in Heaven and Earth. But it also means Shao Ai potential is very high. Even Heavenly Father cannot estimate it. Perhaps, it would be on par with the heaven itself once Shao Ai reached his final peak.

Heavenly Father remembered his early days when he threads the path of water. Comprehending under the rain, under the waterfall, buried in snow. As he swam through the oceans to comprehend. He remembered he established the Ice Palace sect, the first sect that use ice techniques he established.

The sect still stood to this day in the upper realm among one of the best with ancient inheritance left by Heavenly Father. He wonders if he should visit and see how his descendants and current disciples are doing.

He reminisces how difficult it was when he started to comprehend the cycle of water after he reached a bottleneck.

It took thousands of years to comprehend the law that dictates weather on earth. That's how he broke through and ascended to become a heavenly father. But when he looks at Shao Ai easily comprehend his profound techniques, he felt stupid in comparison.

He observed Shao Ai is still living an ‘ordinary’ mortal life and doesn’t even bother to properly cultivate as Chi willingly rush into him. He felt envious honestly.

When Shao Ai turned 18, he wanted to learn traditional medicine and acupuncture. For him this is something new.

Acupuncture has its merits. And he wants to understand the mysteries of meridians and acupuncture. He theorized the meridians stimulates the central nervous system for various purposes.

When Shao Ai expressed his wish, the Emperor lets him study under his royal doctor. Shao Ai felt honored but it's kind of weird how time changes. He was just a small person once, but he rises up to be someone who changed the very world understanding and even live at the Emperor’s palace as a doctor in training now.