A cool breeze swept across the sky, snapping Nalan Yanran out of her daze. After regaining her composure, Nalan Yanran waved her hand, almost instinctively trying to recall the light sword that was shooting down. However, with her current strength, it was already quite a stretch to summon the Wind Extreme, and to command it as if it were an extension of her arm was simply impossible. Thus, she could only watch helplessly as the longsword, imbued with an overwhelming force, like a blazing sun, fiercely crashed down toward Xiao Yan on the square!
Her pretty face slightly pale, Nalan Yanran gazed at the descending sword, her heart in utter turmoil. She knew deep down that she had some affection for the young man named Yan Xiao, despite his ordinary appearance, due to his impressive abilities. This complex mix of feelings made her drop her usual cold demeanor and adopt a gentler tone when conversing with him, something she hadn’t done for years with anyone other than elders or relatives.
Although her interactions with “Yan Xiao” had not been extensive, Xiao Yan’s use of this identity had been marked by a reckless display of his astounding abilities. Wielding a strange fire, curing the Poison Seal that even the Alchemist King Gu He couldn’t treat, participating in the Alchemist Conference and standing out among the nation’s best, and finally, with his own strength, turning the tide and creating a miracle, saving the honor of the Empire’s Alchemist Guild…
These heroic deeds had set many young maidens’ hearts aflutter. Even someone as outstanding as Nalan Yanran couldn’t help but be dazzled. Every woman has fantasies of their beloved being celebrated by the masses. Heroes love beauties, but beauties also love heroes. “Yan Xiao’s” actions to preserve the reputation of the Gama Empire’s Alchemist Guild, though perhaps unintentional, were indeed worthy of the title ‘hero’ in the eyes of the Gama people.
Nalan Yanran, no matter how composed and proud, was still a woman. The moment when that young man basked in the cheers of the crowd was undeniably the most captivating. In her tangled emotions, she even had the impulse to recall the sword. But after failing, she fell silent, biting her red lips and staring at Xiao Yan below, her emotions as complex and intertwined as thousands of fine threads.
Looking up at the blinding light growing larger in her vision, Xiao Yan noticed the reactions of those around him but didn’t pay much attention. It was only a matter of time before he would be exposed, and he never intended to hide indefinitely. Blue and purple flames slowly rose from his hands, the pressure from the sky pressing his clothes tightly against his skin. The purple flame flickered, while the blue one swayed in the wind, unfazed.
Raising his hands, he brought them closer, sensing the impending collision. The two flames suddenly began to fluctuate wildly, the flames dancing madly, the temperature rising rapidly.
“What is he trying to do?” Watching Xiao Yan’s peculiar behavior, Fa Ma, Gu He, and the others on the giant tree were stunned, their faces full of confusion.
“Is he actually trying to fuse two different flames together?” Gu He, as a sixth-grade alchemist, quickly understood Xiao Yan’s intent, his face filled with shock: “Is he mad? To think of fusing different flames… Doesn’t he fear the backlash?”
As a sixth-grade alchemist, Gu He was well aware of the resistance and incompatibility between different flames. Fusing two flames successfully was unimaginably difficult, and even Gu He himself was unsure if he could manage it. After all, not everyone had Xiao Yan’s reckless determination. Flame backlash was a terrifying thing for alchemists.
Fa Ma and Jia Xingtian exchanged a glance, their eyebrows furrowed in confusion, but remembering the miracles Xiao Yan had created at the Alchemist Conference, they knew better than to underestimate this young man. For this unique youth, miracles seemed abundant.
“Is he going to use that…?” Watching Xiao Yan, Hai Bodong’s brow twitched, his feet growing restless. Although he knew such a fusion posed little threat, the massive explosion from the previous attempt, which nearly killed several people, left him with a lingering fear. Thus, he felt an irresistible urge to back away whenever Xiao Yan attempted to fuse flames.
Thankfully, Hai Bodong managed to keep his composure this time, suppressing his quickened breath and focusing intently on the scene.
As the blue and purple flames drew closer, fierce energy ripples surged from both, occasionally causing a loud boom akin to thunder, startling everyone on the square.
Watching the changes in the flames, Xiao Yan paused for a moment before slamming his hands together forcefully. The two flames collided, muffled thunder resounding from his palms. Ignoring the noise, he rubbed his hands, his soul force spreading out and enveloping the two flames, controlling them with practiced ease.
As Xiao Yan’s hands moved faster, a faint light spread from his palms, and the muffled thunder abruptly stopped. Exhaling, he gradually separated his hands, revealing a brilliant blue and purple glow emanating from his palms.
The brilliant light dimmed, and everyone’s gaze darted to the floating, slowly rotating, blue and purple fire lotus above Xiao Yan’s palm.
“This is…”
Gu He, eyes wide, watched the two-colored fire lotus, his mouth agape. His soul force swept over the lotus, and his pupils shrank. “Such immense, volatile energy… The fusion of different flames, with their opposing natures, creates an explosive power. This guy has managed to achieve this… As a sixth-grade alchemist, I know that fusing two flames can unleash tremendous energy. But to control them and make them explode on command, maintaining a delicate balance, is extremely difficult. If the balance is lost, the flames will explode prematurely, injuring the user. This young man, however, seems to have managed it effortlessly. You really did not lose to him unjustly…” Gu He sighed, turning to Liu Ling.
Liu Ling nodded, his expression grave. Though his perception wasn’t as keen as Gu He’s, he could still sense the immense energy in the small, two-colored fire lotus.
“The outcome of this match is truly unpredictable…” Gu He muttered, shaking his head.
“What is that thing he created?” On the stone platform, Yun Leng, frowning, looked at the floating blue and purple fire lotus in Xiao Yan’s hand.
“I don’t know…” The elders around him exchanged bewildered glances.
Frowning, Yun Leng stroked his beard, a sense of unease rising in his heart.
All eyes were on Xiao Yan’s hand, though they didn’t understand the power of the blue and purple fire lotus. Some Yunlan Sect disciples, sensing something, reinforced their protective shields.
“Very powerful energy. This guy is becoming more and more unfathomable, with endless tricks.” Fa Ma, his gaze shifting from the fire lotus, exchanged a look with Jia Xingtian, both sighing. Since meeting Xiao Yan, they had felt countless times of astonishment.
Xiao Yan moved his hand up and down, and the floating fire lotus followed, rising and falling. Looking up, the intense, hot sword qi pressed down, tilting his body slightly.
Shifting his feet, he redirected the force into the ground, taking a deep breath. After a moment, he snapped his fingers on the fire lotus, muttering, “Go, Buddha’s Wrath… Fire Lotus!”
The blue and purple fire lotus shot out, transforming into a streak of light, like a meteor, racing toward the approaching blazing sword.
Under the tense gazes of the countless spectators, the two streaks of light met mid-air, colliding with a deafening boom, shaking the entire Yunlan Mountain!
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage