In a secluded valley, Xiao Yan and Little Healer Immortal lived in peace, each absorbed in their own pursuits. Xiao Yan toiled diligently at honing his Dou Qi, while Little Healer Immortal delved into the arcane arts of poison. They did not disturb each other, and their tranquil days were both leisurely and fulfilling.
The breakthrough to Dou Shi was far more challenging than Xiao Yan had anticipated. After nearly half a month of rigorous training in the valley, though his Dou Qi had grown increasingly robust and concentrated, the feeling of a breakthrough still eluded him. The Pharmacist Elder simply advised him to wait patiently and let things take their course. Faced with the cryptic and enigmatic words of the elder, Xiao Yan could only shrug in resignation. In time, he began to reduce the hours he spent daily on Dou Qi cultivation and occasionally practiced Dou Skills within the valley. When he had more free time, he would, under the guidance of the elder, identify the myriad of strange herbs scattered throughout the valley.
Amidst the abundance of rare medicinal plants, the thought of refining his alchemy skills stirred within Xiao Yan. Thus, he allocated a portion of his daily routine specifically for practicing alchemy. Not wanting to reveal his identity as an alchemist, Xiao Yan chose a small cave six or seven meters above the ground within the valley. Each day, as the sun blazed overhead, he would leap into the cave and quietly refine various basic pills.
During the pill refinement process, Xiao Yan was surprised to find that the faint yellow flame he channeled into the medicine cauldron seemed hotter than before. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the swirling faint yellow flames in the cauldron now contained a subtle hint of purple flame…
Staring at the faintly flickering purple flame, Xiao Yan’s heart raced. “Could this be… the purple fire of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King?”
“How did it end up inside me?” Blinking in confusion, Xiao Yan frowned and murmured, “Could it be because of the companion Purple Crystal Source?”
Considering this, Xiao Yan gradually calmed down. The Purple Crystal Source and the young Purple Crystal Winged Lion King shared the same origin. It wasn’t entirely surprising if the source contained some of their unique flames.
Indeed, Xiao Yan’s deduction was correct. The companion Purple Crystal Source, like the young Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, had resided in the mother’s body for many years. Over time, it naturally absorbed some of the purple fire. By chance, Xiao Yan consumed the Purple Crystal Source, and thus, the flame catalyzed by the cauldron carried a trace of purple fire.
Though the amount of purple fire was small, its quality far surpassed Xiao Yan’s ordinary Dou Qi flame. Gaining such a flame was a significant opportunity. Gradually extending his perception into the cauldron, Xiao Yan slowly enveloped the tiny purple flame, separating it from the mass of faint yellow flames.
Gazing at the solitary, swaying purple flame, Xiao Yan licked his lips in excitement. He continued to increase his soul perception, attempting to control the temperature of the flame. Yet, as he tried to exert control, a primal resistance emanated from the tiny purple flame.
The attempt to control failed, and Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned. He then furrowed his brows, fixing his gaze intently on the purple flame, concentrating his perception. He persistently tested the limits of the purple flame’s resistance.
Though the purple flame was fierce and unyielding, Xiao Yan was not worried. It was, after all, masterless. He was confident he could gradually subdue it.
Within the cauldron, Xiao Yan and the purple flame stood in a stalemate, neither willing to be the first to yield. This standoff lasted nearly ten minutes. Just as Xiao Yan was about to give up, drenched in sweat, the soul power enveloping the purple flame suddenly trembled and surged into the flame, quickly taking control of it.
As his soul power infused the purple flame, Xiao Yan’s entire body quivered. The tremor felt as if it emanated from the depths of his soul, rapidly spreading throughout his body. At that moment, Xiao Yan felt as if his soul was transcending, and every pore on his body seemed to open and close in harmony. The sensation was profoundly mysterious and soothing.
Overwhelmed by intense pleasure, Xiao Yan trembled again. Opening his eyes, he saw a faint purple hue flash across his dark pupils. Redirecting his gaze to the cauldron, he noticed that the faint yellow flames had completely disappeared, leaving only the tiny, quivering purple flame.
Focusing on the purple flame, Xiao Yan’s spirit stirred, and he quickly directed the flame through the cauldron’s mouth, eventually drawing it into his palm. Slowly withdrawing his hand from the cauldron, Xiao Yan exhaled softly. Clenching his right fist, he extended his middle finger and whispered, “Appear!”
As Xiao Yan’s voice fell, his middle finger trembled, and a tiny purple flame emerged from his fingertip, fluttering gently.
Real fire! Substantial flame!
With his current Alchemist rank, Xiao Yan had successfully summoned a substantial flame, which typically required at least a Fourth Rank Alchemist to achieve. Below the Fourth Rank, alchemists generally needed the peculiar transformation of a cauldron to convert their internal fire-attribute Dou Qi into a substantial flame. However, once they reached the Fourth Rank, they could bypass the cauldron and directly summon substantial flames.
Many alchemists at this level would summon substantial flames in combat. Due to their innate fire-wood attribute, the flames they summoned were far hotter and more powerful than those of their peers. Therefore, the ability to summon substantial flames without external aid was a key indicator of advancing to the Fourth Rank.
Of course, exceptions existed. If someone managed to refine a “Flame of Alien Fire,” they could summon substantial flames even below the Fourth Rank. These flames, however, were far more potent and destructive, embodying the most devastating forces of nature. Thus, the “Flame of Alien Fire” remained the ultimate aspiration of every alchemist.
Yet, the overwhelming destructive power of the “Flame of Alien Fire” claimed the lives of countless alchemists, like moths to a flame.
Still awestruck by the faint purple flame on his fingertip, Xiao Yan took a deep breath and stammered, “Teacher, come and see this!”
“Hmm?” From within the ring, the Pharmacist Elder’s puzzled voice echoed. After a brief pause, a beam of light shot out from the ring, hovering before Xiao Yan, its eyes fixated on the purple flame.
“Flame of Alien Fire? No, it’s much weaker… Is this… Ah, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King’s purple fire?”
With a mix of confusion and astonishment, the Pharmacist Elder remarked, “It turns out the Purple Crystal Source has this effect, capable of forming the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King’s primordial flame within the human body.”
“Can this be considered a Flame of Alien Fire?”
Staring intently at the seemingly fragile purple flame, Xiao Yan asked urgently.
“Well… not quite,” the Pharmacist Elder replied, shaking his head. “While it is a unique flame, it pales in comparison to the Flame of Alien Fire. Perhaps calling it a Beast Flame would be more accurate.”
Xiao Yan shook his head in exasperation. “Regardless of whether it’s a Flame of Alien Fire or a Beast Flame, I just want to know if it’s stronger than the Dou Qi flame I summon with the cauldron?”
“Indeed, it is,” the Pharmacist Elder affirmed.
“Then, can I consider myself its master? Will it not turn against me?”
“The purple flame is too weak to rebel against you.”
“If I devour it… will my Incineration Technique evolve?”
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yan pressed on.
“Hmm…” The Pharmacist Elder hesitated, frowning. “Perhaps, but even if it does, it won’t evolve to a high rank. This purple flame is still far inferior to a true Flame of Alien Fire. Moreover, it’s currently too small. Even if you devour it, I doubt it will have any effect.”
Xiao Yan nodded, his face clouded with frustration. While the Incineration Technique was remarkable, its starting point was too rudimentary. Its ability to generate and store Dou Qi was insufficient for his current needs. Most of the Dou Skills he mastered were Mystic Rank, and he often had to rely on Recovery Pills to replenish his Dou Qi. If the Incineration Technique could evolve to the Mystic Rank, he could have easily dealt with the Wolf Head Mercenary Company without Little Healer Immortal’s help.
This was the stark difference between Mystic and Yellow Rank techniques. Xiao Yan was desperate for his technique to evolve, but the Flame of Alien Fire was rare and dangerous. The appearance of the purple flame was like a well in the desert, a source of immense joy for Xiao Yan.
“If you truly wish to devour the purple flame and evolve your Incineration Technique, there is a way,” the Pharmacist Elder mused.
“What way?” Xiao Yan asked eagerly, his spirits lifting.
Fixing his gaze on the tiny purple flame, the Pharmacist Elder smiled. “Refine it into a primordial fire seed and nurture it. Once it reaches a certain level, use the Incineration Technique to devour it, achieving the desired evolution!”
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