Chapter 22: Xiao Yan: "Oh no, my rice bowl has been smashed."

"Does this technique have cultivation requirements?"

In the world of *Battle Through the Heavens*, Xiao Yan’s eyes flickered as he looked at the content in the group chat.

"Meng Qi hasn't spoken, so he must have been tripped up by this technique. However, the fact that Shi Jian uploaded it means the backlash shouldn't be too severe..."

"Probably just fainting or coughing up some blood!" Xiao Yan speculated to himself.

"I wonder if I meet the cultivation standards..."

With a thought, he downloaded the technique. Countless profound insights flooded into his mind. Xiao Yan felt a sudden wave of dizziness, but it was not enough to make him lose consciousness.

"This technique is truly awesome!"

Xiao Yan felt as though the *Original True Interpretation* in his consciousness was veiled by a shadow, making it difficult to see clearly. He had to exert all his effort just to make out a few characters. Yet, even so, the insights these characters provided him were extraordinary. It sparked a realization: "So, Dou Qi can be used in this way!"

"The grade of this technique must be Sovereign level, perhaps even Ruler level!"

Xiao Yan had already finished reading *Battle Through the Heavens*. The copy Shi Jian had sent him even mentioned some events after his ascension, though they were not as detailed as the earlier parts. Still, it made Xiao Yan aware of the existence of the Great Thousand World and the realms beyond Dou Di. After Dou Di came Sovereign, Earth Sovereign, and Heavenly Sovereign; and above the Heavenly Sovereign, there was the Ruler!

Xiao Yan felt that this technique was at the very least a Ruler-level cultivation method. It was incredible. He felt that he owed Shi Jian more and more. He could never repay it; it was simply impossible. Thinking of Shi Jian's warnings about the dangers of his own world, Xiao Yan secretly resolved to cultivate even more diligently. He would strive to be able to help Shi Jian in the future!

He had one more reason to strive:
For Yao Lao (check)
For Xun'er (check, check)
For Shi Jian (check, check, check)

Fortunately, improving his cultivation was relatively simple. He cultivated the *Mantra of Burning*, which allowed him to grow stronger simply by devouring Heavenly Flames. He had already learned the locations of many Heavenly Flames in his world from the book and could now set out to find them. Moreover, he could go to the worlds of others in the group to devour their Heavenly Flames... He believed his cultivation would improve rapidly. Xiao Yan was filled with high morale.

...

"The *Original True Interpretation*? I wonder which is more precious, this technique or my Ancestral Stone?" Lin Dong’s mind stirred.

Having nearly finished *Wu Dong Qian Kun*, he already knew the origin of the mysterious stone talisman in his hand. It was one of the nine great super-divine objects created by the legendary Symbol Ancestor, possessing immense purifying power against the Devouring Demons. It was inscribed with the patterns of the eight Great Ancestral Symbols, contained their power, and featured the Nether Prison Disk to temper mental energy.

Beyond that, it could absorb the energy of heaven and earth and medicinal herbs, refining them into more precise medicinal liquids and pills, and could even deduce martial arts. Its functionality was absolutely maxed out! It was a supreme treasure.

The *Original True Interpretation*, meanwhile, was a peerless cultivation technique. For a cultivator, both supreme techniques and magical treasures were vital. The Ancestral Stone was an incredibly powerful treasure, and the *Original True Interpretation* was an incredible technique. He just didn't know which was more precious.

Without hesitation, he downloaded the *Original True Interpretation*. Countless pieces of knowledge flooded his mind... Lin Dong became deeply immersed in the wonders of the *Original True Interpretation*, unable to extricate himself. After a long while, he finally regained his senses.

"Compared to this technique, the methods I cultivated before are just crap!!!" he exclaimed.

Before cultivating it, his understanding of the *Original True Interpretation* was like a frog at the bottom of a well looking at the moon; now, he felt like a tiny mayfly catching a glimpse of the vast heavens. It was truly too powerful.

Lin Dong took out his stone talisman and looked at the group chat. He was a man who always repaid kindness and avenged grievances. Since others had shared such a powerful technique, and he lacked other high-level methods, only the stone talisman had any value. The people in the group were generous, so he would not be stingy either. Treasures were meant to be shared.

...

"The *Original True Interpretation*!" Yang Qi also downloaded the technique. Although he already possessed the *God-Elephant Suppressing Prison Technique*, who would complain about having too many supreme techniques?

Similarly, the content of the *Original True Interpretation* appeared in his mind. Strange phenomena erupted in the depths of his consciousness. Countless mysterious characters appeared. His consciousness already contained a Thunder Elephant, which seemed disturbed by these characters and let out a series of roars. The characters transformed into a precious bone, confronting the Thunder Elephant!

Then, they clashed with a boom. Yang Qi clutched his head, feeling as if it were splitting apart. "Are the *God-Elephant Suppressing Prison Technique* and the *Original True Interpretation* fighting each other?" The sudden turn of events terrified him. Fortunately, the pain lasted only a short while before the Divine Elephant in his consciousness suppressed the precious bone.

Various insights regarding cultivation appeared in his mind. "So this is the *Original True Interpretation*? If it can elicit such a reaction from the *God-Elephant Suppressing Prison Technique*, even if it isn't quite as good, it's certainly not far off!"

Yang Qi felt his cultivation advancing by leaps and bounds. Stimulated by the *Original True Interpretation*, several of the God-Elephant embryos in his body showed signs of awakening. "This *Original True Interpretation* can perfectly assist in the cultivation of the *God-Elephant Suppressing Prison Technique*!" Yang Qi’s eyes lit up.

...

After Shi Jian finished uploading the *Original True Interpretation*, the chat group went silent for quite a while. Everyone had gone to study the technique. After a long time, the group became lively again. The first to speak was Fang Han.

[Fang Han: "Brother Shi, this technique of yours is truly a peerless masterpiece. I really don't know how to repay your kindness. I will also upload some techniques for everyone to reference!"]

[Group member uploaded "Great Five Elements Art" to the group chat]
[Group member uploaded "Yama Golden Body" to the group chat]

Fang Han uploaded several techniques at once.

[Fang Han: "These techniques are mostly quite ordinary, but you can use them for reference. The most precious among them is the 'Great Five Elements Art'."]

[Fang Han: "The 'Great Five Elements Art', also known as the 'Five Emperors' Great Demon Divine Ability', is the ultimate divine ability of the five elements of heaven and earth. Once mastered, one can reverse the five elemental forces and possess supreme creative power."]

[Fang Han: "The 'Green Emperor Wood Sovereign Art' revitalizes life; the 'Red Emperor Fire Sovereign Qi' converts all fire energy; the 'White Emperor Gold Sovereign Slash' is known for its razor-sharp edge and instantaneous killing speed; the 'Black Emperor Water Sovereign Fist' focuses on surging, persistent, and resilient power; and the 'Yellow Emperor Earth Sovereign Path' can assimilate all primordial earth energy."]

[Fang Han: "Our cultivation systems may differ, but the path of the five elements exists in every world. This 'Great Five Elements Art' should be able to help you all!"]

As Fang Han explained the mysteries of the Great Five Elements Art, the others in the group gasped in shock. The chat group was really stepping up its game. First Shi Jian's *Original True Interpretation*, and now Fang Han's *Great Five Elements Art*... They all felt the pressure.

If they were petty, profit-seeking villains, they would be grinning from ear to ear, just waiting to collect the benefits. But everyone in the group was a person of deep sentiment and loyalty. Accepting favors without giving back did not align with their principles.

[Lin Dong: "You're a real brother, I accept you as one. I don't have many top-tier techniques, but I do have a treasure called the Ancestral Stone!"]

[Lin Dong: "It has the patterns and power of the eight Great Ancestral Symbols to study. Besides that, it can directly refine all kinds of rare treasures into spiritual liquids and pills, and can even deduce martial arts. We can take turns using it!"]

Lin Dong recorded a video of the Ancestral Stone. The others in the group smiled when they read his message. The idea of taking turns using a treasure was something only Lin Dong would come up with. But being able to say such things clearly showed he was a man of great character.

Xiao Yan smiled happily as he read Lin Dong's words. According to Shi Jian, he and Lin Dong were in the same world. Even without the group chat, they could meet after ascending. Xiao Yan felt that Lin Dong was very much to his liking. He felt that even without the group chat, they would have become good friends in the future.

However, after smiling, he realized something was wrong. Compared to the others in the group, he didn't seem to have anything worth offering! His only specialty was alchemy, and he could refine pills for the group members. But Lin Dong’s Ancestral Stone could refine pills directly...

Damn, my rice bowl has been smashed! How am I going to shine and contribute to the group in the future?