Word Count: 3,327 Words
******
Xiao Yan gazed at the Inheritance Crystal of the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change before him, his eyes burning with intense anticipation.
If one didn't count Breaking Through the Heavens, which was completely unusable, then among the Xiao Clan's inheritances, the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change was the only one he could actually use.
The form of transmission, however, caught Xiao Yan by surprise. He had assumed the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change would be presented as a scroll. He had never imagined it would come in the form of an Inheritance Crystal!
This represented the highest level of inheritance method, akin to the legacy of the Gate of Life and Death he had encountered before. When Spiritual Strength entered the crystal, it would access an inheritance space, guided by an imprinted inheritance soul.
It could be described as a hands-on, immersive teaching experience, almost as if one were personally present. Such an inheritance offered the finest quality of instruction possible.
Many talented disciples, after undergoing this form of teaching, emerged having reached the entry level of mastery, with some even achieving the minor level directly.
The God Seal Technique, which Xiao Yan had cultivated from the Gu Clan, also possessed such an Inheritance Crystal for the clan's members to train with. Unfortunately, Xun Er couldn't bring him to the Gu Clan's Dou Technique inheritance grounds, so she had provided it to him in scroll form instead.
Stepping forward slowly, Xiao Yan exhaled a soft breath and gently placed both hands on the fiery red crystal ball. His eyes gradually closed as his Spiritual Strength surged from his palms, flowing into the crystal.
The instant his Spiritual Strength entered the crystal ball, Xiao Yan's body shuddered abruptly. A thunderous roar echoed in his mind as a vast torrent of information, like an unstoppable tide, poured ceaselessly into his head. The sheer volume was so overwhelming that, had his Spiritual Strength not already reached the Soul State, he might have been left dizzy and disoriented.
Yet, as Xiao Yan shut his eyes and submerged his mind into the inheritance space, he remained unaware of the change occurring outside. The moment his Spiritual Strength flowed into the crystal ball, it erupted with an extraordinarily brilliant crimson light. The radiance was so intense that the entire Dou Technique Pavilion faintly shimmered with a fiery red glow.
"What an incredibly powerful inheritance light!" Tang Huo Er's mouth fell open, her eyes wide with astonishment. The sheer intensity of this light was beyond anything she had ever heard of!
Standing beside Xiao Yan, both Tang Zhen and Tang Huo Er were left dumbfounded by this phenomenon. After a moment, they exchanged a glance, each drawing in a sharp breath of awe. This so-called Inheritance Crystal also served as a kind of test during the transmission of secret techniques.
For those with high talent in cultivating the secret technique, the crystal ball would emit a glow. Tang Huo Er had once triggered such a reaction herself, but compared to the light Xiao Yan was eliciting now, hers seemed like a mere firefly next to a radiant full moon.
"Sigh, he truly is a descendant of Xiao Xuan. It appears the ancestor's oral decree was no falsehood—this is indeed the Xiao Clan's secret technique," Tang Zhen murmured, now fully convinced that Xiao Yan was indeed Xiao Xuan's descendant. Such an inheritance light had never manifested in the entire history of Burning Flame Valley.
Even the previous Valley Master, the exceptionally talented Ancestor Huo Yun, could not compare. The light he produced was far inferior to Xiao Yan's.
The astonishment in Tang Zhen's eyes slowly faded, giving way to a tinge of regret.
"Sigh, if only this young man were a disciple of my Burning Flame Valley. Perhaps our valley would once again give rise to a heaven-shaking figure akin to the Burning Flame Ancestor of old."
Tang Huo Er stuck out her tongue, unconvinced. "But Father, isn't it a bit excessive to compare Xiao Yan to our Burning Flame Valley's Ancestor Fen Yan?"
Though Tang Huo Er held a favorable impression of Xiao Yan, she still believed the gap between him and the supreme experts of that era was far too vast.
That was, after all, someone infinitely close to the Dou God realm!
"Hehe, don't underestimate this young man. I have a feeling there's more to Xiao Yan than meets the eye. Even I find it difficult to see through him completely. The abilities he's shown may only be the tip of the iceberg, just a tiny fraction." Tang Zhen turned his gaze to the meditating Xiao Yan, the admiration in his eyes growing even stronger as he sighed.
"To have such a talented youth and yet not have him as a member of Burning Flame Valley... how could one not feel regret?"
Tang Zhen let out a long sigh and spoke no further. With a wave of his sleeve, he brushed away the dust on the ground, sat cross-legged, and resolved to wait for Xiao Yan to awaken, eager to see what further surprises he might bring.
Seeing this, Tang Huo Er had no choice but to sit down and join him.
The two of them remained seated for nearly an entire day. Throughout this time, Xiao Yan's body stayed as still as a statue, utterly motionless. If not for his steady breathing, even Tang Zhen might have wondered if something had gone awry during the inheritance.
"This guy is incredibly persistent. Is he still not done? It only took me an hour back then," Tang Huo Er said, standing up slowly and stretching lazily. She had sat cross-legged cultivating for a full day.
While a day of cultivation was trivial for a Dou Ancestor, it remained a tedious affair.
"It's different. Xiao Yan isn't merely learning the circulation routes—he's also comprehending and integrating them. When he emerges, his Skyfire Three Mysterious Change should directly reach the entry level," Tang Zhen murmured, a glint flashing in his eyes.
"Sigh, your talent isn't weak either, but when it comes to enduring the monotony of cultivation, you're far less patient than Xiao Yan. If you applied yourself more diligently, the position of Valley Master would undoubtedly be yours in the future. With enough strength, even those old fogeys you dislike wouldn't dare nag at you anymore." Tang Zhen shook his head, his tone laced with helpless frustration.
"Yes, yes, yes."
Just then, the light emanating from the crystal ball began to dim gradually. Xiao Yan's eyelashes trembled slightly before his eyes slowly opened.
The moment Xiao Yan's eyes opened, a sharp red gleam flashed through them.
"You little brat, you're finally out," Tang Zhen said with a helpless shake of his head.
Xiao Yan heard this and rubbed his nose in embarrassment after regaining his senses. He knew he had lingered inside for quite a while. As an outsider in a place like the Dou Technique Pavilion, he naturally required supervision.
"I've caused trouble for Valley Master Tang." Xiao Yan cupped his hands in gratitude.
Tang Zhen, however, waved his hand casually and smiled. "The complete cultivation method for the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change should now be fully in your mind, right?"
Xiao Yan nodded with a smile. With a mere thought, a profound cultivation method surfaced in his mind. It was the complete version of the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change, encompassing not only the first change but also the cultivation methods for the second and third changes.
'Finally, I've got my hands on it.' Xiao Yan breathed a sigh of relief. The process had been tense, but ultimately, it concluded without incident.
His heart surged with excitement at this moment. With the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change, his combat strength would skyrocket! Xiao Yan felt an eager impatience to test the terrifying might of all three changes combined.
"Although the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change can significantly boost your strength in a short span, the energy it provides is extremely volatile. You must exercise great caution when wielding it," Tang Zhen advised.
Xiao Yan nodded. He had long been aware of this. Having cultivated the first change of the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change for many years, he was already well-versed in controlling such violent energy.
"Since you've obtained the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change, let's leave the pavilion for now," Tang Zhen said with a smile and led the way down the stairs, with Xiao Yan and Tang Huo Er following closely behind.
The fresh air immediately uplifted Xiao Yan's spirits as he stepped out of the Dou Technique Pavilion.
"You can rest in the guest room for a while before departing if you wish. After all, you spent an entire day in the inheritance," Tang Zhen offered with a smile.
"Then I thank Valley Master Tang," Xiao Yan said. He didn't stand on ceremony and returned to the guest room to begin familiarizing himself with the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change.
…
Xiao Yan stepped out of the room after resting for a day and fully mastering the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change. He nodded to himself in approval while observing the patrolling Burning Flame Valley disciples around him.
'Burning Flame Valley is indeed not bad. Sigh, they've treated me so well that it's difficult for me to bring this up.' Venerable Yan felt quite conflicted at this moment. Throughout his cultivation journey, he had always encountered villains—people who would rather fight than talk.
Now, with Tang Zhen showing him such courtesy and the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change smoothly acquired, he found himself hesitant to broach the topic of trading for a Heavenly Flame.
In truth, with Xiao Yan's current status, he certainly had the means to propose a trade for a Heavenly Flame.
Heavenly Flames were precious, no doubt, but the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame was only ranked twelfth. Xiao Yan, now an 8th-tier alchemist with Soul State Spiritual Strength, was confident that by using a Heavenly Flame and the Black Demon Cauldron, he could refine tier 8 medicinal pills, potentially even attracting two-colored or three-colored Pill Lightning.
A tier 8 pill with three-colored Pill Lightning would undoubtedly hold value comparable to a lower-ranked Heavenly Flame.
However, the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame was more than just a Heavenly Flame. It symbolized Burning Flame Valley, an inheritance passed down through generations of Valley Masters. Its significance far surpassed its mere value.
Venerable Yan, suddenly faced with such kind treatment, felt a bit at a loss.
Xiao Yan considered whether he should just bite the bullet and ask. If it didn't work out, so be it. Didn't Hun Huzi mention that winning the Pill Gathering at the Pill Tower would grant him a chance to enter the Tower's inner sanctum and attempt to refine the Three Thousand Burning Flame?
That was the 9th-ranked Heavenly Flame!!
Just as Xiao Yan stepped out of the courtyard, intending to ask a disciple for Tang Zhen's whereabouts, he noticed a commotion stirring within Burning Flame Valley.
"Brother, may I ask if something has happened? Why does everyone seem so worried and rushed?" Xiao Yan casually stopped a Burning Flame Valley disciple whose face was shadowed with concern.
"Sigh, last night, Miss Huo Er's fire poison flared up," the disciple replied, his voice heavy with worry.
Xiao Yan suddenly recalled that he had indeed heard before that Tang Huo Er, in her eagerness to refine the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame, had suffered a backlash from it.
He rubbed his nose. Was he some kind of ill-fated lone star, bringing misfortune wherever he went?
'But that's not entirely true. I can solve problems as well.' Xiao Yan reassured himself firmly before following the disciple's directions to Tang Huo Er's private chambers.
At that moment, a Burning Flame Valley alchemist stood outside the door, assessing Tang Huo Er's condition.
"Elder An, how is she? Huo Er..." Tang Zhen, stripped of yesterday's calm demeanor, wore only the anxious look of a father desperate for news of his daughter.
The alchemist known as Elder An shook his head and said, "Miss Huo Er's condition hasn't worsened; it simply flared up unexpectedly. I believe she'll be fine after some rest. However, the root issue remains unchanged. Only the Fire Bodhisattva Pill can provide a complete cure. Moreover, in one year, it will fully erupt, and at that point... even gods and immortals would struggle to save her."
Xiao Yan's heart tightened. The Fire Bodhisattva Pill was specifically designed to neutralize fire poison and heal internal injuries caused by flames. It was a high-grade tier 7 medicinal pill. Despite being classified as high-grade tier 7, the refinement of its ingredients demanded exceptional fire control, making it one of the most challenging pills to refine even among its tier.
Tang Zhen sighed upon hearing this. "Although we've paid a steep price to obtain the Fire Bodhisattva Pill's recipe from the Pill Tower, finding an alchemist capable of refining a high-grade tier 7 pill is incredibly difficult."
"If there's truly no other option, we'll have to seek out 7th-tier alchemists for a joint refinement. The greatest challenge with the Fire Bodhisattva Pill lies in fire control. With my own fire control, I might just barely manage it."
"Joint refinement not only requires multiple alchemists to be perfectly in sync, but they must also contend with Valley Master Tang's Nine Dragon Lightning Flame. I'm afraid they could be injured by the Heavenly Flame, making the refinement even more difficult and drastically lowering the success rate," Xiao Yan spoke as he slowly entered the room.
Seeing that it was Xiao Yan who entered, Tang Zhen sighed. "I know. If there's really no other way, we can only resort to this desperate measure."
"Cough, cough." Xiao Yan lightly coughed twice and glanced at Tang Zhen. "Speaking of alchemists who can refine high-grade tier 7 pills... I happen to know one."
!!!?
Both Tang Zhen and Elder An, a high-grade 6th-tier alchemist, were startled by these words. Xiao Yan actually knew such a formidable expert!
Tang Zhen hurriedly grasped Xiao Yan's shoulders, his voice brimming with excitement. "Xiao Yan, can you introduce this alchemist? As long as they can refine the Fire Bodhisattva Pill, I will reward them generously."
Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and chuckled. "There's no need for an introduction." As he spoke, he pointed at his own nose with the hand he used to rub it.
????
For a moment, neither Tang Zhen nor Elder An grasped the meaning of Xiao Yan's gesture. What was this about? Was his nose itchy?
Suddenly, realization struck Tang Zhen like a bolt of lightning. His expression changed dramatically as he asked in astonishment. "Are you saying... the alchemist capable of refining high-grade tier 7 pills... is you?!"
Xiao Yan's face flushed slightly with embarrassment as he nodded, feeling a bit awkward under the stunned gaze of a Dou Venerate.
"H-how old are you?" Tang Zhen didn't know what possessed him, but the first thing he asked was Xiao Yan's age.
"Twenty-five," Xiao Yan answered honestly.
"Twenty-five?!" At that moment, Elder An and Tang Zhen exchanged looks of sheer disbelief, each seeing the words 'seeing a ghost' reflected in the other's eyes.
"To refine high-grade tier 7 pills at twenty-five? That's already on par with the two prodigies from the Pill Region!" Elder An muttered, struggling to believe it. This was the stuff of legends!
Those two were the leading contenders for this year's Pill Gathering. It was widely believed that the champion would be one of them.
And now, a dark horse had suddenly appeared!
"Are... are you truly a high-grade 7th-tier alchemist?" Elder An asked, still half-skeptical.
But what left him even more speechless was that Xiao Yan actually shook his head!
Just as Elder An was about to lecture this ignorant young fellow…
A wave of Spiritual Strength that shook everyone's soul suddenly erupted from Xiao Yan's body.
"I barely qualify as tier 8."
Plop!
Elder An's legs buckled, and he dropped to his knees! Just like that, he knelt!
"Soul Realm Spiritual Strength!!!" Tang Zhen also completely lost the composure befitting the Master of Burning Flame Valley. His expression was one of utter shock as he took half a step back!
It was no wonder he reacted with such alarm. Even as the Valley Master of one of the three great valleys and a 5-star Dou Venerate, he had to tread carefully and respectfully when dealing with an 8th-tier alchemist.
This was an 8th-tier alchemist! Their influence extended directly to the Dou Venerate level!
Moreover, an 8th-tier alchemist at twenty-five! What kind of monstrous talent was this!
At that moment, Tang Zhen suddenly recalled a passage from an ancient text in Burning Flame Valley: Xiao Xuan of the Xiao Clan was once known as the number one expert on the continent.
This person was a descendant of Xiao Xuan!
Seeing Tang Zhen's astonishment, Xiao Yan coughed lightly, as if offering courtesy before getting to the point. "Valley Master Tang, I have a request to make."
Only then did Tang Zhen snap back to reality. Of course, this person wasn't offering his services for free!
And the cost of enlisting an 8th-tier alchemist... even for Burning Flame Valley, it would be a price that cut to the bone!
After all, Burning Flame Valley had no real connection with Xiao Yan. If anything, they were indebted to Xiao Xuan for granting them such a precious secret technique.
"Naturally, naturally! Speak your mind. As long as you can save my daughter's life, I, Tang Zhen, will brave mountains of blades and seas of fire for you!" Tang Zhen even uttered such words, underscoring just how much Tang Huo Er meant to him.
"Valley Master Tang is too serious. I don't need you to act on my behalf. It's just that... Xiao Yan wishes to borrow a flame," Xiao Yan said, feeling that he was being a bit too greedy, leveraging a favor to ask for more.
"Borrow a flame? You want the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame?!"
At Xiao Yan's words, both Tang Zhen and Elder An were stunned for a moment, then their brows furrowed slightly.
The Nine Dragon Lightning Flame was one of the treasures guarding Burning Flame Valley. Moreover, it was different from the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change. The Nine Dragon Lightning Flame was a true treasure of the valley, not something specifically designated by the ancestor for a specific purpose.
Furthermore, the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame was an inheritance passed down through generations of Valley Masters. Only by possessing the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame could one be recognized as the true Valley Master of Burning Flame Valley!
How could it possibly be lent to someone else?
"Xiao Yan, I'm afraid I cannot give you the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame. This Heavenly Flame holds immense significance for my Burning Flame Valley," Tang Zhen ultimately shook his head.
If it truly came to it, he could seek assistance from the Pill Tower, though those individuals would undoubtedly demand an exorbitant price as well.
Xiao Yan spoke slowly. "I understand this is asking too much, but I, Xiao Yan, am not seeking to keep the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame. I only wish to borrow the flame for ten years. After ten years, I will return the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame to Burning Flame Valley."
"Borrow... for ten years?"
"Only for ten years. And regardless of whether I ultimately succeed in refining the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame, I, Xiao Yan, will still assist Valley Master Tang in refining the medicinal pill," Xiao Yan stated with a serious expression.
"Valley Master Tang, the Heavenly Flame is of great importance to me. I need immense strength to venture to a certain place," Xiao Yan persisted.
"You're already an 8th-tier alchemist. The Dou Qi Continent is vast; you should be able to go wherever you please. Just what kind of place requires such caution from you?" Tang Zhen asked.
"The Gu Clan."