“Ancestor of Burning Flame?” Tang Huo’er, standing to the side, heard Tang Zhen’s muttering and was slightly startled, her voice tinged with confusion. Tang Zhen smiled gently at Tang Huo’er’s question about the Ancestral Flame, casting a glance at Xiao Yan, who was immersed in the world of inheritance within the crystal sphere. He then placed his hands behind his back, looking up towards the ceiling, his eyes revealing a hint of reverence. “The Ancestor of Burning Flame was also the founder of our Burning Valley. However, the time gap is so vast that many people have almost forgotten this peak expert who once struck fear into the entire continent.”
Upon hearing this, Tang Huo’er couldn’t help but lick her lips, as this was the first time she had heard of the Ancestor of Burning Flame. It seemed that the passage of time truly was significant.
“Was the Ancestor of Burning Flame very strong?” Tang Huo’er asked curiously, showing a great interest in this legendary figure.
“Strong? According to my knowledge, during that era, the Dou Qi Continent had five peak experts. These five represented the ultimate power on the continent, and the Ancestor of Burning Flame was one of them. Each of them was immensely powerful, almost reaching the mythical level of Battle King.”
Tang Zhen spoke slowly, his voice filled with awe for the supreme experts of that era.
“Battle King…” Tang Huo’er’s exquisite face was filled with shock. This title needed no embellishment; it inherently possessed an overwhelming aura, making everyone beneath it seem as insignificant as ants.
“And what about the other four peak experts?” Tang Zhen’s expression became pensive, and after a while, he replied, “Due to the long passage of time, I don’t remember the specific names of the other four. But I know that three of them belonged to three major forces: the Ancient Clan, the Hall of Souls, and the Pill Tower.”
“All of them are top-tier forces now,” Tang Huo’er exclaimed, her face full of amazement. Then, curious, she asked, “And the fourth person? Which force did they belong to? The Flower Sect or the Heavenly Dark Sect?”
Tang Zhen slowly shook his head, a hint of confusion in his eyes. “This person doesn’t seem to belong to any of the current top-tier forces in the Central Plains. However, I remember their name vividly. The Ancestral records state that this peak expert was quite close friends with the Ancestor of Burning Flame. It’s said that the ‘Three Heavenly Fire Transformations’ were created by this person.”
“The ‘Three Heavenly Fire Transformations’ were created by that peak expert?” Tang Huo’er’s small mouth opened in surprise, her face filled with incredulity.
“The Ancestral records state so, but verifying the truth is difficult due to the long passage of time,” Tang Zhen nodded, saying.
“Then what’s the name of this mysterious peak expert?” Tang Huo’er, increasingly curious, asked hastily.
Tang Zhen stroked his beard, pondering for a moment before hesitantly answering, “I think… it was called Xiao Xuan. Ah, I haven’t reviewed those Ancestral records for a long time, and my memory isn’t entirely clear. During that era, the Burning Valley’s power was not inferior to these top-tier forces like the Hall of Souls. Unfortunately, after the Ancestor, the Burning Valley never again produced someone of his caliber, causing our reputation to fall behind others like the Hall of Souls.”
As Tang Zhen finished, he sighed deeply.
“Xiao Xuan…” Tang Huo’er murmured, then secretly glanced at Xiao Yan, who was still closed-eyed, and laughed. “Xiao Yan also has the surname Xiao. Could there be any connection between him and this elder Xiao Xuan?”
Tang Zhen was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled, “There are countless people with the surname Xiao. By your logic, wouldn’t every Xiao share a connection with Xiao Xuan?”
Tang Huo’er stuck out her tongue, realizing her words were just a casual remark. She didn’t really believe it.
“But comparing Xiao Yan to the Ancestor of Burning Flame, isn’t that setting too high expectations for him?” Although Tang Huo’er had a good impression of Xiao Yan, she felt that there was a vast gap between him and the peak experts of that era.
“Hehe, don’t underestimate him. I feel that Xiao Yan is extraordinary. His control over the Different Flames Lotus is praiseworthy, and he’s only around twenty years old. To have such outstanding achievements in alchemy and Dou Qi, his talent far surpasses yours,” Tang Zhen’s gaze returned to Xiao Yan, his eyes filled with admiration.
Tang Huo’er pouted, although she was slightly unconvinced, she had seen his abilities firsthand. Therefore, she could only grumble, knowing that if they hadn’t witnessed the Lotus, she would have been confident in a fight. But now, she knew that facing the Lotus meant certain death for her.
“A young man with such talent, yet not one of our Burning Valley, how can one not feel regret?” Tang Zhen sighed, then waved his sleeve to sweep away the dust and sat down, waiting for Xiao Yan to awaken. Seeing this, Tang Huo’er also seated herself, and together they waited nearly a day. During this time, Xiao Yan remained motionless, like a statue. If not for his normal breath, Tang Zhen might have thought something had gone wrong during the inheritance.
In the empty chamber, the crimson crystal ball emitted a resplendent glow, illuminating the room as if it were daylight. Beside the crystal ball, Xiao Yan maintained his extended hands, with a faint red light flowing through his skin, creating a mystical appearance.
“Why hasn’t he finished yet? When I received the inheritance, it only took me an hour…” Tang Huo’er, holding her chin, looked at the motionless Xiao Yan and finally couldn’t help but speak.
“You were lazy and didn’t fully absorb the experiences and improvements from the crystal ball, while Xiao Yan chose to accept everything,” Tang Zhen replied calmly.
“When I finish absorbing the stored experiences, I can continue absorbing more…” Tang Huo’er stuck out her tongue and grinned.
“Ah, I really can’t do anything with you. Your talent is not weak either. If you take it more seriously, the position of valley master will definitely be yours, and with enough strength, even those old guys won’t dare to nag at you anymore,” Tang Zhen shook his head, extremely helpless.
“Um-hm…” Tang Huo’er quickly nodded, fearing Tang Zhen would start nagging.
Seeing this, Tang Zhen sighed and turned to the crystal ball. He noticed the red glow inside rapidly fading, while Xiao Yan’s body was now enveloped in a red aura. Moments later, his eyes fluttered open.
“Awake?” Tang Zhen stood up with a smile, seeing Xiao Yan open his eyes.
Xiao Yan stood still, still sorting through the vast amount of new information in his mind. After a while, he shivered, and life returned to his previously dull eyes. He turned to Tang Zhen, smiling and nodding, then bowed respectfully, “Thank you, Master Tang, for your generous gift!”
Xiao Yan knew that receiving this inheritance would greatly benefit him, and though he and Tang Zhen were not particularly close, Tang Zhen’s actions warranted his sincere gratitude.
Tang Zhen waved dismissively, smiling, “The complete cultivation method of the ‘Three Heavenly Fire Transformations’ should be in your mind now, right?”
Xiao Yan nodded, and a profound cultivation method appeared in his mind—indeed, the complete version of the ‘Three Heavenly Fire Transformations,’ including the first, second, and third transformations.
“Finally, I have it…” Xiao Yan’s heart was excited, knowing his combat power would dramatically increase with these.
“Though the ‘Three Heavenly Fire Transformations’ can significantly boost your strength in a short time, the energy it unleashes is extremely violent. You must be extra cautious when using it,” Tang Zhen reminded.
Xiao Yan nodded, well aware of this since he had been practicing the first transformation for many years and was already adept at controlling this violent energy.
“Since you have the ‘Three Heavenly Fire Transformations,’ let’s leave the tower,” Tang Zhen said, leading the way. Xiao Yan and Tang Huo’er followed closely.
Exiting the skill tower, the fresh air revived Xiao Yan’s spirits. “Master Tang, I’ve troubled you for many days. Today, I may need to leave. If there is anything I can help with in the future, please reach out to me.”
With the ‘Three Heavenly Fire Transformations’ in hand, staying at the Burning Valley no longer served a purpose. Xiao Yan cupped his hands in respect.
“Leaving, huh…” Tang Zhen wanted to persuade him to stay, but ultimately sighed and nodded, “I understand you have important matters. Just remember, do not spread the ‘Three Heavenly Fire Transformations.'”
“Haha, rest assured, Master Tang. I’m not one to be imprudent,” Xiao Yan smiled, understanding the importance of the rule.
Tang Zhen patted Xiao Yan’s shoulder, “Visit us anytime. As long as I’m the Valley Master of Burning Valley, you’ll always be a esteemed guest.”
Smiling, Xiao Yan cupped his hands to the two of them, then soared into the sky, heading swiftly towards the exit of the Burning Valley.
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