In the eastern reaches of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, on a mountain peak at the outer fringes, Xiao Yan stood, gazing up at the azure eagle circling in the sky. He waved at the woman in a white dress standing gracefully on the eagle’s back and laughed heartily, “Little Healer Immortal, let us part ways here. May we meet again in the future!”
“Take care, Xiao Yan!” The Little Healer Immortal, looking down at the young man on the slope, smiled faintly, her expression tinged with reluctance. After one final wave, she finally departed, guiding the azure eagle to turn and soar toward the western sky with a loud cry.
Standing on the mountaintop, Xiao Yan watched the light blue figure disappear into the distant horizon before heaving a long sigh. This parting, he did not know when they would meet again. And perhaps, when they did, everything might have changed.
A hint of melancholy appeared on his face, but after a moment, he shook his head and cast it aside. Standing on the peak for a long while, Xiao Yan waited until his emotions had calmed before slinging the massive Heavy Xuan Ruler over his shoulder and turned to walk down the mountain.
Xiao Yan’s current location was not within the range of the Qing Shan Town. Such towns were not uncommon near the Magic Beast Mountain Range. The nearest city to Xiao Yan at this time was a large city located in the eastern province of the Jia Ma Empire. Its scale was even more magnificent than that of Wu Tan City. In terms of overall strength, the city named Black Rock City ranked among the top in all the major cities of the Jia Ma Empire.
Xiao Yan’s immediate goal was to reach Black Rock City, as only such a large city was equipped with civilian air transport teams by the empire. After all, the Magic Beast Mountain Range was too far from the eastern border. If Xiao Yan were to walk, it would take at least four to five months. But now, he did not have the luxury of time. Therefore, he must go to Black Rock City and take the air transport team to the imperial border.
Of course, Xiao Yan could also use the Purple Cloud Wings to fly directly. However, despite his recent promotion to a Dou Shi, attempting to cross half the Jia Ma Empire on his own was still impossible. Moreover, using the Purple Cloud Wings would attract too much attention. There were many hidden experts in the Jia Ma Empire, and he did not want to draw unnecessary trouble. Time, as previously mentioned, was what he lacked the most!
Descending the mountain, Xiao Yan arrived at the nearest town, where he took a brief rest before hiring the fastest rhinoceros carriage in the area. Without delay, he headed straight for Black Rock City at a gallop.
Even though this town was the closest to Black Rock City, it still took the rhinoceros carriage a full half afternoon to catch a glimpse of the city’s massive silhouette. Standing atop the carriage, Xiao Yan gazed at the colossal city, its walls reflecting a pale red luster under the setting sun, and sighed in relief.
As the carriage approached, Xiao Yan noticed that the city walls were entirely constructed from neatly stacked black rocks. The old man driving the carriage explained that these walls had once resisted the combined assault of two Dou Wangs without being breached, testament to their formidable defense.
After paying the entry tax, the carriage was allowed to enter the city. Passing through the somewhat dark city gates, Xiao Yan’s eyes suddenly widened as the bustling noise of the city flooded his ears, causing him to feel slightly dizzy.
With a smile, the old man helped Xiao Yan off the carriage. After settling the fare, Xiao Yan watched the carriage leave, standing in a daze on the street, surrounded by the crowded throng. Accustomed to the tranquility of the remote valley, he suddenly found himself at a loss as to what to do next.
“Find a place to stay for the night. I wonder if there is an Alchemist Guild in Black Rock City. If there is, it would be best to test your skills and see if you can reach the Second Rank,” Pharmacist Elder’s voice suddenly echoed in Xiao Yan’s mind.
“Go to the Alchemist Guild?” Xiao Yan was taken aback. “Wouldn’t that reveal my identity as an alchemist?”
Pharmacist Elder was momentarily speechless, then replied with a mix of laughter and chagrin, “I never asked you to hide your alchemist identity. You’ve always preferred to keep it secret. I understand you like to remain low-key, but you must know that the most terrifying thing about alchemists is not just their ability to refine medicinal pills, but the vast network of connections they possess. This network is built upon their identity as alchemists. Many strong practitioners need medicinal pills, and to obtain them, they must seek the help of alchemists. Once a favor is owed, these strong practitioners become the best protectors if the alchemist ever encounters trouble.”
“Back in my day, I once faced revenge-seekers. They sent a Battle Sect, three Battle Emperors, and five Dou Wangs. Want to know what happened?” Pharmacist Elder’s words trailed off, and he smiled mischievously.
With the most crucial part cut off, Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly. “What happened?”
“Later, I used a soul communication, which you will understand later. Then… three Battle Sects, eight Battle Emperors, twelve Dou Wangs, eighteen Dou Ling, and others I can’t remember, came to my aid. You can imagine the outcome,” Pharmacist Elder said with a smile.
Xiao Yan stopped in his tracks, slowly lifting his head and taking a deep breath. Three Battle Sects, eight Battle Emperors, twelve Dou Wangs… Such a terrifying lineup could easily destroy an empire. Do alchemists really possess such immense power?
“Yes, so sometimes, revealing your identity as an alchemist has no harm.”
“It seems reasonable. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the Alchemist Guild and try to advance to the Second Rank.”
Still somewhat lost, Xiao Yan nodded in agreement. He wasn’t one to force things. If there was a chance to gain the favor of a strong practitioner, he would seize it, but if not, he wouldn’t be overly anxious.
“Also, if you have the time, check out the local auction. If there’s a Tier 3 Magic Core, try to buy it,” Pharmacist Elder mused. “Although we haven’t found any Heavenly Flame yet, we must prepare everything in advance. Otherwise, if we happen to encounter one, we might miss this rare opportunity.”
“A Tier 3 Magic Core? Is it the last ingredient needed to refine the Blood Lotus Pill?”
Xiao Yan walked slowly along the street, glancing at the shops around him. “To absorb a Heavenly Flame, at least three essential items are needed for support, and the Blood Lotus Pill is one of them.”
“The Blood Lotus Pill is necessary to get close to a ‘Heavenly Flame.’ Without its protection, even a Battle Emperor wouldn’t dare touch it, let alone a small Dou Shi like you.”
“The Ice Spirit Cold Spring protects the inside of your body. It ensures that during the refinement of the ‘Heavenly Flame,’ you won’t be incinerated by the destructive temperature.”
“The last one is called Nalan. It creates a special small space within your body to store the Heavenly Flame. Given the destructive nature of the Heavenly Flame, if you don’t completely refine it, anything else will be instantly incinerated, including your qi vortex and body.”
“Nalan is quite rare. It’s related to the Nalan Stone, but only the highest-grade Nalan Stone at the center might contain it. High-grade Nalan Stones are necessary materials for high-grade storage rings, so their scarcity is evident. The probability of finding Nalan within a high-grade Nalan Stone is not high. Now, you should understand how rare Nalan is.”
Xiao Yan opened his mouth, his face blank, and after a moment, he shook his head with a wry smile. “I’ve never heard of the Ice Spirit Cold Spring or Nalan. Where am I supposed to find them?”
“Don’t worry too much about Nalan. I had a little extra when I was searching for a Heavenly Flame. So, what you need now is the Ice Spirit Cold Spring and a Tier 3 Magic Core,” Pharmacist Elder smiled.
“Where can I get the Ice Spirit Cold Spring?” Xiao Yan asked dryly.
“Extremely cold or extremely hot places…” Pharmacist Elder smiled.
“Extremely hot places can have it too? Opposites attract?”
“That’s right,” Pharmacist Elder nodded, smiling. “Of course, if you’re lucky, you might get it from someone else or at an auction, but the chances are slim. Anyone who knows its value wouldn’t easily part with it.”
“If we can’t gather these items… but we manage to find a Heavenly Flame, what then?”
“In that case, we must withdraw and give up the opportunity. No matter how rare, without these three essential items, contact with the Heavenly Flame means death!” Pharmacist Elder said calmly, without a hint of hesitation.
“Is there no alternative?” Xiao Yan asked, somewhat unwilling.
“There are, but these three items are the result of countless experiments, chosen specifically for refining the Heavenly Flame. If you had a material that could significantly increase the success rate of refining the Heavenly Flame, many alchemists would offer you astonishing prices to trade for it!” Pharmacist Elder’s voice carried a hint of pride, having invested a great deal of effort into these materials.
Shaking his head with a wry smile, Xiao Yan stopped in front of a spacious and luxurious inn, sighing, “Alright, I’ll try to get the Tier 3 Magic Core and the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, but I can’t guarantee success.”
“For now, let’s rest for the night. Tomorrow, after visiting the Alchemist Guild, we’ll go to the auction. I hope it won’t disappoint.”
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