The Nine Dragon Thunderfire, ranked twelfth on the Flames List, is a flame whose power virtually no one present is unaware of. Combined with Tang Zhen’s unfathomable strength, an ordinary soul force would be incinerated into nothingness upon contact. Although those gathered here all possess formidable soul forces, such a test was still too daunting. After Tang Zhen spoke, the grand hall quieted down. The alchemy masters who had been full of pride moments before now shrank back, mute and reluctant to speak. Two visiting elders from Pill Tower also fell silent for a moment before slowly replying, “Tang Clan Master, we are all aware of the Nine Dragon Thunderfire’s might. Within this extraordinary flame, the aura of dragons is condensed, thus endowing it with the wondrous power to awe souls. Amongst us, there are few indeed who can wield their soul force to withstand it.” Hearing this, Tang Zhen also smiled, replying, “Master Huan, rest assured. I naturally have my measure. No one will be hurt. As long as one can last ten minutes within the Nine Dragon Thunderfire, they will pass the test. After all, those who wish to assist me must have the ability to withstand the Nine Dragon Thunderfire, or else they shall only hurt themselves.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Zhen’s gaze swept across the great hall, grinning, “Since I’ve invited all of you honored masters, I certainly won’t let you depart empty-handed. Even if one cannot withstand the Nine Dragon Thunderfire, the Burning Flame Valley will still bestow upon everyone a generous gift.” Upon hearing this, some in the great hall were slightly tempted. They held no grudges against Tang Zhen, and given his status, he surely wouldn’t play any tricks on them.
Beside Tang Zhen, a red-robed woman gazed down at the hesitant alchemy masters in the great hall, her lips curling in disdain. These fellows seemed so afraid of the Nine Dragon Thunderfire that they feared being killed underhandedly by her father. Her beautiful eyes shifted, unexpectedly landing on a corner of the hall, where she saw Xiao Yan, sitting calmly with a teacup. The red-clad woman was momentarily stunned; this fellow appeared quite calm, though whether it was a facade or not remained to be seen.
“Since Clan Master Tang has said so, we naturally cannot show cowardice. Alright, let’s commence the test as Clan Master wishes,” declared a white-bearded elder, his eyes sweeping around the great hall before finally nodding and speaking out.
Seeing this, Tang Zhen’s smile grew even warmer. He flicked his fingers, and the silver flame on his palm drifted up, hovering in the air above the grand hall. The silver flame burned gracefully, nine tiny fire dragons darting through it as if possessed of intelligence. A faint dragon aura suffused the flame, making soul forces feel somewhat oppressed.
“Which master would like to go first?” Tang Zhen asked with a smile.
With these words, the great hall fell briefly silent. Then, a white-robed elder stood up, saluting Tang Zhen, and said, “Since no one else wishes to start, then I shall give it a try. I’ve heard of the Burning Flame Valley’s Nine Dragon Thunderfire, and being able to test its power today is quite worthwhile.”
“Ah, it’s Master Hua. Please go ahead,” Tang Zhen said with a chuckle.
“This elder is named Hua Chen, and he is a sixth-grade peak-level alchemist with some renown in the Central Region,” Elder Chifeng, standing beside Xiao Yan, introduced him in a low voice, knowing that Xiao Yan didn’t recognize these people.
Xiao Yan nodded in gratitude to Elder Chifeng, then turned his gaze to the old man named Hua Chen. He was also very curious about the power of the Nine Dragon Thunderfire.
In the great hall, Old Man Hua Chen formed a deep crimson flame in his hand, and a surge of soul force rapidly emerged from his forehead, merging with the flames. The flames immediately began to move, forming a small human figure made of fire. This fiery figure was entirely composed of Hua Chen’s soul force, but he had added a layer of flame protection around it.
“That person’s flame should be a type of beast fire, but it is far weaker than the Nine Dragon Thunderfire. It likely won’t endure,” Xiao Yan muttered to himself, glancing at the crimson flame.
As he murmured, Hua Chen flicked his fingers, and the small fiery figure flashed forward, drawing the attention of everyone as it plunged directly into the silver flame!
*ROAR!*
The moment the fiery figure entered the silver flame, a deep, almost inaudible dragon roar suddenly reverberated through the room! With the roar, the nine fire dragons inside the silver flame instantly surged forth, crashing heavily into the flaming figure. Their gigantic mouths tore open, devouring the outer layer of the crimson flame surrounding the fiery figure.
*HMM!*
As the crimson flames vanished, Hua Chen’s soul force, unable to withstand the terrifying temperature of the Nine Dragon Thunderfire, was extinguished. His body trembled, and he took several unsteady steps backward, his face paling slightly.
“Truly, it is a unique flame. I concede!” Steadying himself, Hua Chen shook his head with a rueful smile, letting out a sigh, and sat back with a bitter expression. His once-proud beast flame was completely powerless against the Nine Dragon Thunderfire.
Seeing that Hua Chen couldn’t even last a minute, the faces of the other alchemists blanched. The Nine Dragon Thunderfire was truly formidable!
After Hua Chen, several other disbelieving alchemists attempted the challenge, but without exception, none could withstand the fierce biting of the nine fire dragons. Not a single one lasted the ten minutes, including the old man Master Mo, who had mocked Xiao Yan earlier.
As the alchemists failed one after another, Tang Zhen, despite keeping a neutral expression, inwardly sighed in disappointment. It seemed he could only hope that the two visiting elders from the Pill Tower would meet his requirements.
After another alchemist failed, the only ones who hadn’t attempted the test were the two Pill Tower visiting elders and Xiao Yan. Of course, the latter was largely ignored, with all eyes on the two elders, who were the true seventh-grade alchemists present.
“Nine Dragon Thunderfire, the dragon aura that tames souls. This test is truly not easy,” lamented one of the Pill Tower visiting elders, known as Master Huan. He shared a glance with his companion, then also stood up, summoning a ball of white flame. This flame was somewhat peculiar, as it emitted coldness as it rose.
“Ice Celestial Fire? Master Huan, this fire must have come from the Celestial Bone Python, right? It is said that the Celestial Bone Python only appears where the Bone Spirit Cold Flame is present, and this beast fire shares some similarities with it,” Tang Zhen said, mildly surprised.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan’s eyebrows twitched, looking at the Ice Celestial Fire in Master Huan’s hand with surprise. He hadn’t expected this to have any connection to his teacher’s Bone Spirit Cold Flame.
“Hehe, Bone Spirit Cold Flame, I don’t have that kind of fortune. I just happened to encounter the Celestial Bone Python,” Master Huan chuckled wryly. Soul force expanded from his brow, merging with the flame, which then transformed into a white python, surging into the silver flame.
No sooner had the white-flamed python entered the silver flame than the nine fire dragons attacked. But this time, the white python managed to hold its ground, keeping the fire from being devoured by the dragons.
As the confrontation between the flame snakes and the dragons continued, Master Huan’s expression grew increasingly stern. Although the Ice Celestial Fire was related to the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, it was not an unusual flame and could not truly compete with the Nine Dragon Thunderfire.
Time passed quickly in the silent great hall. Just as the white flame python was about to be completely devoured by the nine fire dragons, the ten minutes arrived. Master Huan quickly signaled, and the flame python retreated, entering his body.
“Truly deserving of its twelfth place on the Flames List, I must admit I’m impressed,” Master Huan sighed in relief after retrieving the flame python.
“Congratulations, Master Huan. You have succeeded,” Tang Zhen smiled, then turned to the other visiting elder, saying, “Master Xiao, it’s your turn.”
Upon hearing this, the old man named Master Xiao hesitated but eventually stood up, summoning a light blue flame and transforming it into a small fire whale, guiding it into the silver flame.
Master Xiao’s flame was not as powerful as his companion’s, and in Xiao Yan’s judgment, it could only be considered a middle-to-high-quality beast flame. Using such a flame to compete with the Nine Dragon Thunderfire, it was unlikely to last the ten minutes.
As Xiao Yan had predicted, when seven minutes had passed, the blue flame whale could no longer resist and was torn apart by the nine fire dragons.
Seeing this, Master Xiao could only sigh, shake his head at Tang Zhen, and return to his seat. This test was less about soul force and more about who had the stronger flame.
Seeing that Master Xiao hadn’t made it, Tang Zhen’s eyes betrayed a hint of disappointment. “I’m troubling everyone. Only Master Mo has passed the test, but I need two…”
“Isn’t there still that ‘Honored Alchemist’ Xiao Yan?” When Tang Zhen finished speaking, Master Mo, who had earlier mocked Xiao Yan, sneered. He felt embarrassed after failing the test, especially seeing Xiao Yan’s constant smile, which only increased his displeasure and made his words sound sarcastic.
At these words, the eyes in the great hall turned to the young man seated in a remote corner. Many of them held a gleeful malice, eager to see what would unfold.
Xiao Yan’s brows furrowed slightly, then he lifted a smirk at the corner of his lips. These fellows truly lacked the dignity of alchemists. But if they wanted a show, he would make sure it was more thrilling than they could handle.
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