Chapter 294: You Better Watch Closely and Learn Carefully!
The Nine Dragon Lightning Flame, ranked twelfth on the Heavenly Flame List, was well known to nearly everyone present for its terrifying power. Combined with Tang Zhen's unfathomable strength, any ordinary spiritual force would be instantly incinerated just by touching the flame. Even though the individuals present were all masters with potent souls, this kind of test was nothing short of brutal.
Once Tang Zhen made his proposal, the entire hall fell silent. Many of the previously arrogant alchemy masters now shrank back, unwilling to volunteer.
The two guest elders from the Pill Tower exchanged glances and spoke solemnly, "Valley Master Tang, we are all aware of the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame's potency. The draconic might it carries is especially oppressive to the soul. Frankly, few here may be able to withstand it."
Tang Zhen chuckled. "Master Huan, rest assured, I will exercise caution. No one will be harmed. If you can endure the flame for ten minutes, you pass. After all, I need assistants who can withstand this flame during the actual refinement process. Otherwise, they'll only end up injured."
At those words, the masters relaxed slightly. Tang Zhen continued, "Since you've all been invited here, you won't leave empty-handed. Even if you fail, the Burning Flame Valley will still reward you handsomely."
This reassurance eased some minds, and expressions around the hall gradually shifted from fear to contemplation. After all, Tang Zhen had no reason to deceive them.
Nearby, Tang Huo'er looked down from above with some disdain. These so-called "masters" were terrified just hearing about the flame, as if her father would incinerate them on a whim.
Her sharp gaze turned toward the corner where a white-robed youth sat pouring tea for a stunning woman. Tang Huo'er blinked—he looked surprisingly calm. Still flirting while others trembled in fear? Was he really that unbothered, or was it all an act?
"Since Valley Master Tang has spoken, we won't shy away. Let's proceed with the test," an elderly man finally stood and agreed.
Tang Zhen smiled and flicked his fingers. The silver flame floated to the center of the hall, nine tiny dragons writhing within it. Their presence gave off a faint but unmistakable pressure that weighed upon the soul.
"Which master will go first?" Tang Zhen asked gently.
A brief pause followed, then a white-robed elder stepped forward and bowed. "Let me be the first, then. I've long heard of this flame and won't pass up the chance to test it."
Tang Zhen smiled. "Ah, Master Hua. Please."
Sitting beside Xiao Yuan, Elder Chi Huo explained, "That is Master Hua Chen, a peak tier-six alchemist with a bit of renown in the Central Region."
Xiao Yuan waved him off, clearly uninterested in knowing the details of these aging figures.
Meanwhile, Cai Lin sipped her tea quietly, the cup personally offered by Xiao Yuan. Though not a fan of tea, she still appreciated the gesture. He knows how to please me at least. Hmph. Smart boy.
Chi Huo could only sigh helplessly—Xiao Yuan, barely in his twenties, was clearly more interested in charming his companion than competing with these older men.
In the center of the hall, Master Hua condensed his soul force into a deep red flame, shaping it into a tiny humanoid figure and adding a layer of beast flame for protection.
"That's a beast flame, but too weak to hold up against the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame," Xiao Yuan thought casually.
As expected, the moment the flame figure entered the silver fire, the nine fire dragons pounced. A guttural, almost inaudible dragon roar filled the air, and they tore through the protective beast flame in seconds, vaporizing the soul force inside.
"Urgh!" Hua Chen staggered back, face pale, and let out a bitter smile. "As expected of a heavenly flame. I concede."
One by one, other alchemists followed suit, trying their luck—only to be defeated in mere moments. Even the grumpy Master Mo, who had insulted Xiao Yuan earlier, was swiftly overwhelmed.
Tang Zhen, though composed, inwardly sighed. Now only the two Pill Tower elders and the mysterious Xiao Yuan remained.
One of the guest elders, Master Huan, finally rose. A strange white flame appeared in his hand, emitting not heat, but cold.
"That's the Cold Sky Flame," Tang Zhen noted. "Derived from a Heaven Bone Python. It's related to the Bone Spirit Cold Flame."
Xiao Yuan's brows lifted slightly. It was indeed chilly, but lacked the intensity or purity of a true heavenly flame.
The Cold Sky Flame formed a serpent and entered the silver fire. It held out longer than the others, resisting the fire dragons' assault for a time. When the ten minutes were up, the elder retrieved his flame, barely managing to pass the test.
"Well done, Master Huan. You've passed," Tang Zhen praised, then turned to the other guest elder. "Master Xiao, your turn."
This elder summoned a light-blue beast flame, shaping it into a tiny fire whale. Unfortunately, it lasted only seven minutes before being torn apart by the fire dragons.
Now only one person remained.
"That young 'master' still hasn't gone," Master Mo sneered. After failing, his embarrassment needed an outlet, and Xiao Yuan's confident smile was unbearable.
Dozens of eyes now turned to the white-robed youth in the corner. Most wore looks of amusement or schadenfreude.
Xiao Yuan's smile curled coldly. So they want a show? Fine, I'll give them one that'll dislocate their jaws.
He patted Cai Lin's hand gently. "We'll finish our chat in a moment."
He rose from his seat, every eye upon him. Tang Zhen, ever curious, asked, "Young friend Xiao Yuan, would you like to give it a try?"
Tang Zhen had noticed the hostility in the room. Still, his daughter's health was at stake, and he wouldn't waste any possible lead.
Even Tang Huo'er, arms crossed, watched with interest. Was this young man her father praised really as good as he claimed?
Xiao Yuan stepped forward and smiled faintly.
"No need for a test," he said, voice calm yet piercing. "I can refine a tier-seven high-grade pill using my own flame. In fact, when it comes to controlling fire, even Valley Master Tang might not surpass me. As for the rest of you…" his gaze swept the hall, "I don't care what you think of me. But I will say this: You've wasted half an hour of my time."
A few alchemists bristled.
"Oh, and some of you—who think you can judge a book by its cover—if this weren't the Burning Flame Valley, I wouldn't be so kind. Out there, one slap from me and you'd die before you could scream. Even the Soul Hall would frown—not because of your death, but because not even your soul would remain."
Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Xiao Yuan walked forward, openly triggering an all-out taunt.
A group of old men trying to posture and act smug in front of him? Acting cryptic and sour? He wasn't having any of it.
Even Elder Chi Huo's expression twitched slightly.
After briefly spending time with this young alchemy master, he had gotten a rough idea of Xiao Yuan's personality.
If you're polite to him, he'll be polite back. But if you cross him, he might just kill you. Cursing out those "masters" was one thing—but even the Valley Master?
Some alchemists in the hall immediately flushed red with fury. This brat—how dare he be so arrogant?
Tang Zhen's expression darkened as well. Although he himself had never become an alchemist, his mastery over flame was supreme. Xiao Yuan's words were borderline outrageous. Had he misjudged him?
"You've gone too far! I'll teach you a lesson on behalf of your teacher!" Master Mo, the same old man who had insulted Xiao Yuan earlier, snapped. His soul force surged and attempted to suppress Xiao Yuan.
In his mind, Xiao Yuan was likely just a freshly promoted tier-six alchemist who relied on Dou Zong strength to act wild.
But Xiao Yuan merely sneered. "Teach me a lesson? Who do you think you are—the Tri-Pill Elders of the Pill Tower?"
With a thought, an overwhelming soul force surged around him, forming a storm of soul power that instantly obliterated Master Mo's pressure. The soul storm expanded outward in waves of terrifying pressure, engulfing the entire hall.
Several tier-six alchemists couldn't withstand it. Pale-faced and gasping, they backed up more than ten meters before they could breathe properly.
Even the two guest elders from the Pill Tower, both tier-seven alchemists, felt the brunt of it. They exchanged grave glances—Xiao Yuan's soul strength was more potent than their own!
At least mid-tier seven, they realized in shock.
Cai Lin, meanwhile, sipped her tea calmly. The terrifying soul storm felt to her like a soft spring breeze.
Tang Zhen stood up, stunned. This level of soul power... not even most tier-seven alchemists possessed such strength.
"So this is Xiao Yuan's true power…" he muttered.
And if that statement about only Pill Tower's Tri-Elders being worthy to 'discipline' him wasn't just arrogance—it meant his teacher might be someone of that echelon. Someone with authority on par with the Pill Tower's strongest?
A background like that… no wonder he was so fearless.
"I see," Tang Zhen said finally. "Such formidable soul strength indeed. But for fairness' sake, I still suggest testing the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame—it does exert a suppressive effect on soul power."
Xiao Yuan gave a faint smile. "The Nine Dragon Lightning Flame won't harm me."
With that, he flipped his hand. A dark-golden flame appeared in his palm. With a slight tremor, it transformed into a palm-sized human figure—bearing his exact features, with closed eyes.
This control was so refined, even Tang Zhen's eyes narrowed.
And the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame hovering in the air seemed to sense something. The nine silver fire dragons all turned toward the dark-golden figure.
Around the room, some alchemists frowned. They couldn't sense heat from Xiao Yuan's flame—was it even real?
"A flame this cold? It's probably weaker than ordinary Dou Qi fire…" someone muttered, confused.
But they didn't understand why Xiao Yuan had suppressed the temperature so much.
Tang Zhen, watching from the head seat, was alarmed. That flame control was terrifying.
Without minding the looks around him, Xiao Yuan infused the flame with his soul. The fire avatar opened its eyes, filled with a startling clarity.
It flew toward the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame. The nine fire dragons pounced—but the moment they approached, they suddenly skidded to a halt, circling around the golden fire avatar like tamed beasts.
Even more absurd—the avatar reached out to gently stroke each dragon's head.
What…?!
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Tang Zhen stood, his expression turning serious. A fire that could tame the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame? There were only two gold-hued flames on the Heavenly Flame Ranking—Flame Emperor's Burning Heaven Flame and Nine Nether Golden Ancestral Flame.
Both ranked in the top ten.
So Xiao Yuan's flame is one of them?
That would explain why the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame submitted.
Tang Huo'er's eyes sparkled. That earlier show of strength already impressed her. Now, this? He was getting more interesting by the second.
How many rounds would I last if we fought? she wondered, itching for a duel.
Meanwhile, the Pill Tower elders were equally shaken.
He really does have a Heavenly Flame! they thought. The other alchemists in the room started eyeing Xiao Yuan with obvious greed.
Xiao Yuan noticed their stares. He didn't care. Let them try, he thought. With his current power, they were no threat.
After three minutes, Tang Zhen finally dispersed the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame and sighed.
"Xiao Yuan, you are truly exceptional. I misjudged you," he said sincerely. "But refining this pill is best done by two people. Would you be willing to work with Master Huan?"
Then he turned to Elder Chi Huo. "Good work. I'm glad you brought this extraordinary young man here."
Chi Huo beamed.
Looks like I should take better care of the Liu family from now on, he mused.
Across the room, faces turned awkward. Especially Master Mo, who had mocked Xiao Yuan earlier. His expression now resembled someone who had just swallowed a fly.
"Hmph, he's just relying on his flame…" Mo grumbled under his breath.
But Xiao Yuan ignored him—until Tang Zhen spoke again:
"Everyone is welcome to observe the pill refinement."
"Oh?" Master Mo sneered again. "If you ruin the rare materials during the process, can you afford to repay them?"
Xiao Yuan smiled coldly.
"Thanks for the reminder. Master Mo, be sure to sit close. Watch carefully. Learn what true alchemy looks like. Someone like you would usually have to pay tuition for a chance to observe me. If not for Valley Master Tang, you wouldn't be allowed near my cauldron."
His words stabbed like daggers.
Master Mo trembled with rage, squeezing his teacup until it shattered in his hand.
Pfft—Tang Huo'er burst out laughing before hurriedly covering her mouth under her father's glare.
Tang Zhen raised a hand. "No need to argue. These materials are precious, but the Burning Flame Valley can afford the cost. As long as you succeed, the reward will satisfy you. And if there's something you want, just say the word."
Xiao Yuan's eyes brightened.
"Does that include cultivation techniques or battle skills?"
Tang Zhen blinked, then smiled knowingly. "Anything short of our deepest secrets is negotiable. Is there something you have your eye on?"
Xiao Yuan grinned.
"I'll be honest. The reason I came to Burning Flame Valley… is for the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame."
(END CHAPTER)
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