Over the course of the following several days, Xiao Yan spent nearly ten hours each day assisting Jin Shi in vanquishing the Heaven Mountain Fire Poison embedded deep in his body. Xiao Yan’s relentless efforts yielded impressive results: Jin Shi gradually regained his liveliness day by day and, in response, showed Xiao Yan growing courtesy and respect — replacing his early apathy towards the young man with genuine deference. Though Xiao Yan had only just ascended to the Battle Sect level not too long ago, his identity as a skilled Alchemist was more than compelling enough to make someone his senior like Jin Shi treat him with special kindness. Indeed, all understood that forming an acquaintance with such a formidable Pill Master was, truly, a sign of immense fortune.
During the rare spare moments Xiao Yan had beyond the fire-toxin purification procedures, his undivided attention lay fully focused upon the Demonic Poison Scar nestled deep within his own body. For years that dark mark had clung tightly to his insides like a hidden dagger — an ever-present specter threatening disaster at any moment. Not removing this malignant blemish left a thorn embedded deep inside his heart, one that constantly gnawed at his thoughts with uneasy discomfort. Thanks to his diligent scrutiny and experiments over those recent days, Xiao Yan came to grasp a much deeper insight into this dangerous scar. However, despite this increased insight, he resisted any premature attempts at complete removal. The poison scar’s nature was profoundly fearsome — a decade back, had it not been for the enchantments sealed by the Little Healer Immortal, it should’ve already burst forth and consumed everything within. While Jin Shi was at last saved through Xiao Yan’s recent Battle Sect advancements, Xiao Yan himself would do well not to rashly disrupt or weaken that existing binding enchantment. He would act only once his understanding strengthened and confidence swelled.
Within a warm, mist-laden stone chamber, flames blazed within a large wooden vat; only at its heart was a void maintained — here, Jin Shi’s face emerged from the medicinal infusion’s bubbling surface. Jin Shi, at this moment, exuded an impressive energy; his gaze, filled vibrantly once more, his respiration deep — unlike its former weak, listlessness that had haunted those past years. Clearly evident, Xiao Yan’s purging techniques had succeeded in yielding outstanding transformation.
For a time, the surrounding vapor coiled densely amidst the stone room; before long though, it thinned and evaporated gradually away. At that moment, the medicine-infused waters too returned pristine. They had already fully infused within Jin Shi’s flesh and bone.
At a gesture from Xiao Yan’s hand, green emerald fire flickered inwards back into his own body, while the man sighed outward at last in relief; he’d certainly reached an elevation where sustained toxin-purging efforts left him still unfazed by exhaustion, a feat surely impractical back in his earlier days when power lagged short.
Dressed in fresh-robed dignity emerged Jin Shi at that same moment, the surge of life’s essence coursing through limbs and sinew. A gleam of genuine surprise flickered upon his aged features, while his arms lifted respectfully into a traditional bowing gesture before expressing earnestly, “Young Master Xiao Yan, heartfelt gratitude. Your great act of virtue — this aged individual will keep forever cherished in heart.”
In response, Xiao Yan smiled knowingly, drawing out a pair of jade bottles sealed with medicinal substances within from his Spatial Ring, handing them out towards Jin Shi who stood respectfully before declaring calmly, “Tomorrow I depart, these are necessary draughts and alchemical pills. The bulk of your celestial venom has fled. No longer will my flame’s power guide you onwards, you know well now the method of elimination — the remainder may thus be done without me speaking further: in merely two to three short months’ time should all within be restored.”
Hearing thusly, Jin Shi hesitated momentarily surprised yet immediately responded, “Off so soon tomorrow?”
At Xiao Yan’s confirming nod, the matter of an awaited四方阁 (Fanfang閣 – Four Quadrants Pavilion)’s Grand Meeting likely beginning very soon loomed ahead. If he wished encountering Master Feng, then it must be at the Wind-Thundervale Sect, the only viable means of tracing the reclusive elder who otherwise evaded even the sharpest hunts, their comings and goings unpredictable like winds, vanishing like storms in the distance with each passing moon cycle — all with the魂(Heaven’s Foe)殿’s ever watchful eye looming nearby, forbidding any overly bold declarations that might draw forth premature retribution should secrets leak.
Eventually Jin Shi relented despite his hesitation — taking the pair of medicinal vessels handed over silently before declaring solemnly, “Young Master, should adversity rear ahead one day, do seek me freely within the Heaventhread Peaks — even should old Master Feitiant hound forth in wrath, there — none dare trammel my words in such lands.”
Xiao Yan responded this solemn statement with laughter. While an immortal beast at heart, Jin Shi held a sense of righteous fidelity rare in kind. Although, indeed, the Metal Devouring Serpent Clan may stand below those such as the Wind-Thunder Cult sects in strength, Jin Shi’s willingness itself spoke great depths regarding his personal integrity — making him, certainly a most treasurable ally indeed.
Thus concluded Xiao Yan warmly in response, “Then sincere thanks are offered Master Jishi (Jin Shi).”
—
Back within his dim-lit quarters, Xiao Yan sat upright in his lotus posture — bared chest bearing the dreadful sight of the漆black poison scar upon it — its ink-dyed hue darkened deeply as though unending night itself coiled tight therein, faint pungency wafting faintly outward from within. Encircl’ng this horrid blot stood ancient magical characters meticulously inscribed all over and about; each such enchantment once set by the little Immortal healer of yore. Though faded with the long erosion of passing ages’ toll, they yet restrained its corruption — their endurance dwindling as their final hour neared fast, clear to any observ’t.
His eyes fixed long on the ominous stain within flesh, Xiao Yan turned contemplation fully upon devising strategies capable at removing this ever-present threat. Two means lay potentially at hand: one entailed enlisting aid of any Grand Dou Elder — someone capable surpassing even elemental laws themselves; alternatively he might gather two more异火(Flame of Strange Essence)— merging all three for a total transmutation that, effortlessly obliterate this venomous burden entirely.
But alas! Despite such idealistic visions, as of now? neither solution presented feasible path to his hand. Even still though, Xiao Yan gradually perceived a subtle realization brewing within — that he himself, perhaps had begun to gain resistance. The transformation he underwent during his breakthrough, seemed somehow strengthening inner barriers capable resisting its previous unchecked growth.
Furrowing brows momentarily in deep contemplation, Xiao Yan clenched his teeth determinedly summoning his emerald-flame coursing quickly within. It gathered around and upon his scar, wrapping that pitch-black mark tight in a green fire halo swirling.
Judging merely by how greatly faded those bindings were upon close inspection, any lingering delay now threatened catastrophe at any moment; he must act without hesitation, for while his present power yet lacked that ability for a single, clean purge — the alternative — chipping endlessly away gradually through small incremental burnings—might yet relieve the seals from imminent shattering collapse, and through this gradual process eventually reduce that toxin’s hold completely.
Mental decision firm, he sent a narrow filament outward — letting flame’s edges trace briefly in delicate circumnavigation across the very limit of those enchantments binding the scar tight before surging forward — crashing with force against those ancient glyphs.
A fierce burst erupted where flame met ward, heat blazing fierce as searing vapor hissed upwards on point-of-contact as the enchantment, though mighty once, already bore fractures now forming in their once unbroken integrity. But Xiao Yan’s flame-wielding mastery kept all strictly contained — only a hairbreadth thin split permitted through in the barrier; just sufficient for leakage without causing eruption into catastrophic collapse — but simultaneously opening just enough passage to extract some manageable portion of toxin without full unleashing.
The scar’s long-latent dormancy broke instantaneously the moment the fissure formed outward: like slumbering shadows stirred awake to wrath! Inky mass within writhed violently before coalescing, finally sending forth one singular jet of poison thread shooting through the crack’s opening with violent speed as if racing through shadow itself.
As that single blackened thread surged out, Xiao Yan’s attention flared — every sense locked tightly. Immediately his flame rose — a roaring forest of green-flickering fire — encircling that region in total fire-locked lockdown — ensuring that the escapee’s path bore no hope of escape through surrounding inferno.
The black line’s exit came, dragging along behind it its telltale aura — thick pungency, corrosive as poison breath upon wind. Yet in an instance the surrounding flame flared; upon touch with Xiao Yan’s flame guardian walls they clashed instantly — unleashing a fierce hiss of alchemical annihilation.
The sight of that black thread’s inky malevolence passing before his eyes ignited a flicker of icy intent within Xiao Yan’s gaze. Indeed, had he not yet transcended to Battle Sect tier during his earlier days, such threads of blackened venom might’ve already laid waste unchallenged amidst insubstantial flesh and bone! Thankfulness blossomed within his thoughts: now he belonged truly among Battle Sect’s elite.
Summoned to command his green emerald’s inferno, Xiao Yan unleashed — fire-serpents surged forth like dragons crying out in unison to war, all targeting that slithering line of darkness. Faced with this overwhelming counterattack now bearing down upon it, panic overcame whatever resistance it once displayed within the poison’s form — for as Xiao Yan himself had grown might’r — likewise did his Flame ascend in equal measure.
Back within his days when this very thread had presented a titant obstacle requiring weeks’ to purge — yet now as he confronted it again — confidence stirred: he could likely shorten purification to mere hours.
Even as the black tendril yet hesitated, fire-serpents struck merciless! The green fire surged forth instantly, consuming, entangling — each tendril twisting and curling around its writhing form, before finally coalescing and folding inwardly into itself — wrapping and surrounding the toxin in total emerald embrace while initiation of purificatory process began swiftly after.
The scar lashed in defiance upon the fire’s encroach’ — black tendrils of dark miasmic essence poured freely like gushing wells — each one racing outward against surrounding infernal boundaries. They slammed relentlessly — seeking weak points in flame’s integrity — but failing utterly to make headway.
A chorus of crackling hissed loudly within the darkened room — a fierce symphony of combustion warfare.
At Xiao Yan’s will, his flame swiftly pulled tighter, the intensity ratcheting. Before long, those inky-black fibers of malice lost their darkness — light faded outward with every flickering ember until, within the hour — nothing remained — all toxins utterly consumed.
As final remnants dissipated, what emerged stood now transformed — a condensed essence, pure and palpably vibrant — a torrential current of raw Qi flowing free within its transformed state now lying bare for perception before Xiao Yan’s soul-seeing.
Motionless, silent the torrent floated within flame’s grasp, neither rebellious nor wild.
Gaze fixed intently, Xiao Yan allowed an approving smile upon lips: although terrifying — the scar still bore treasure within — its core, if completely purged, should surely launch Xiao Yan’s cultivation forward sharply toward reaching Second or even Third-tier Battle Sect — such promise it brought.
So the cycle unfolded within all life: peril stood handfast with reward, two sides eternally entwined.
Summoning will, he guided this essence forward to channel smoothly according prescribed circulation by “Fire焚烧(Purge)” cultivation techniques through meridians until finally integrating fully as his core Qi reserve.
Sense of tangible surge filled limbs — a silent inner confirmation. Eyes narrowing anew at the scar, Xiao Yan re-commenced: carefully siphoning out one additional tiny portion, the cycle beginning again.
He might not be fully able eradicate its full presence in one go — but if done persistently and gradually, over successive cycles and extractions, the scar, eventually deprived entirely of sustentive force, should naturally erode away until, like a ticking time-grenade, it should dissipate harmlessly of its own accord.
A true wonder of benefits, such that even many seven-grade alchemical tonies failed equal,” Xiao Yan mumbled to himself, amused — recalling a long-past foe: Master Sha’by’lan.
“Heh-heh… Old Scorchby sure sent a mighty parting gift indeed!”
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