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The Ocean Heart Flame—ranked fifteenth on the Heavenly Flame list—was a flame whose energy fluctuations, at full strength, were comparable to a half-step Dou Zong.
As a gentle green-blue flame lit in Xiao Yan's hand—the Glazed Lotus Heart Flame—he enclosed the Ocean Heart Flame within its embrace. Studying it closely, he murmured,
"Even if this flame had been refined once, it shouldn't be this weak… there's barely any energy left."
"Could this be the same Ocean Heart Flame that Han Feng had at the beginning? Then this black-robed man must be Teacher's junior, Elder Mu Gu… No wonder Big Brother didn't even spare it a glance."
Just then, Cao Ying walked over, her eyes shimmering as her alluring face softened into a rare, gentle smile.
"Xiao Yan, I know I'm not your match. But you already possess a powerful Heavenly Flame. Would you be willing to part with this Ocean Heart Flame? I can offer a seventh-tier pill recipe in exchange."
Not far away, Song Qing—wounded from their earlier clash—saw the smile on Cao Ying's face, and jealousy ignited like wildfire in his chest. Though she often smiled, her usual expression carried a cold elegance that set her apart. This kind of soft, genuine smile—he had never received it.
The shame of defeat mixed with the envy of seeing the goddess offer goodwill to another—it almost made him cough up blood.
Even Xiao Yan was stunned by Cao Ying's sudden gentleness. And paired with her calling herself "Ying'er"… well, most men would have melted into mush.
Logic told Xiao Yan to keep his distance from this man-eating witch. But considering that her teacher had once had romantic ties with his own, he forced a polite smile and gently declined,
"This flame is important to me as well. My brother may not care about it, but the mysterious powerhouse who killed Elder Mu Gu was his doing. If you truly want the flame, ask him yourself—or defeat me in battle."
"You—!" Cao Ying struggled to maintain her charm. What's with all these sigma males?!
Had her charm really faded to the point that not a single one of them responded to her beauty?
Elsewhere, Qian Renhan had worn out Dan Chen completely. After a full day of "training," she passed out from exhaustion and fell into deep sleep—it would be days before she woke.
"Mid-stage Heaven Realm soul power… Looks like my previous late-stage strength was inflated. Still, with this new foundation, restoring my cultivation will be a breeze."
Qian Renhan swept his gaze over the fallen bodies of over a hundred alchemists. Any alchemist who made it to this core area of the Myriad Medicine Mountain had at least late-stage Mortal Realm soul power—most were near the peak. Elder Mu Gu, who could refine eighth-tier pills with four-colored pill lightning, had soul power at the mid- to late-Spirit Realm level.
As for Xiao Yan, Cao Ying, and Song Qing—after their dispute over the Ocean Heart Flame, they each went to fulfill their individual herb-collection missions assigned by the competition.
By the time Qian Renhan finished his seclusion, his soul power had returned to the late Heaven Realm, and his cultivation was just a step away from the four-star Dou Sheng level.
"Let's go, Zi Yan—we're done here," Qian Renhan said, gesturing for Zi Yan and the bear-like warrior trailing behind her to follow.
Zi Yan blinked in confusion. "Huh? We're leaving already? But there are still several days left before the Pill Realm closes!"
Qian Renhan ruffled her hair and replied,
"Then why stay? Haven't you already collected most of the rare ingredients here?"
Zi Yan chuckled awkwardly and held out her hand, revealing a bright green spatial ring.
Seeing the ring, Bear Battle's face twitched involuntarily.
"Here—hold on to this," she said, offering it to Qian Renhan. "But don't hog everything for yourself."
"Let's go."
With a flick of his sleeve, Qian Renhan surrounded the sleeping Dan Chen in a soul barrier. Then, tearing open space, he brought Zi Yan and Bear Battle with him as they left the Pill Realm.
Seven days later, the Pill Realm closed.
The grand competition to capture the Three Thousand Burning Flame was about to begin.
At the Sky Underworld Sect's camp, Sect Leader Tian Mingzi was in seclusion.
A disciple kneeled outside the chamber and reported,
"Sect Master, Elder Mu Gu did not return from the Pill Realm, nor did he appear at the Alchemist Assembly."
Upon hearing this, Tian Mingzi opened his eyes, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"So… he died in the Pill Realm. Elder Mu Gu was still a five-star Dou Zun. The stubborn old fools from the Pill Tower may have identified him, but given their fear of the Soul Hall, they wouldn't have dared kill him. That means only one possibility..."
"Any news from the Blood Soul Seal?"
This was a special secret technique of the Sky Underworld Sect. Anyone who killed one of their members would be marked by it, making them impossible to escape detection within a hundred miles.
The disciple trembled. "None, Sect Master..."
A surge of murderous aura burst from the chamber, sending the disciple flying into the wall with a spray of blood.
"Useless trash… no matter. Contact the Soul Hall. Inform them of Elder Mu Gu's death."
"Yes, Sect Master! Thank you for sparing me!"
Inside the chamber, the red gleam in Tian Mingzi's eyes slowly faded.
"Those three old men from the Pill Tower may not let me disrupt the Alchemist Assembly—but once the competition for the Three Thousand Burning Flame begins, the one who killed Yi Chen and Mu Gu will surely show up. With the Soul Hall leading the charge, this star region shall become his grave."
After the conclusion of the Pill Refining Assembly, Xiao Yan claimed the championship effortlessly. Two days passed in the blink of an eye amidst the anticipation of countless spectators.
On the second morning, as the first rays of dawn spilled across the horizon, the Sacred Pill City—having enjoyed a brief two-day calm—once again erupted into fervent activity. Masses of people surged toward the direction of the Pill Tower. Today was the day—the top ten alchemists of the assembly would enter the Star Region to subdue the Three Thousand Burning Flame.
The legendary flame, sealed away by the Pill Tower for countless years… Could it really be conquered this time?
Outside the Pill Tower, the crowd had gathered early. The streets and alleys were packed with a dense sea of people. Among them stood Qian Renhan, accompanied by Zi Yan.
Zi Yan wore a pout of dissatisfaction.
"Qian Renhan, what are we doing crammed in here with the rest of them?"
Qian Renhan ruffled her hair with a faint smile, his expression calm, but a flicker of gravity passed through his eyes.
"We're here to draw attention. After all, some fresh snacks are about to walk right into our hands."
"Stay close to me this time, don't run off, got it?"
His voice was steady, but inwardly, his soul perception had already picked up several sharp and hidden gazes locked onto him within Sacred Pill City. One of them, in particular, was so deeply concealed that its strength… was actually no weaker than his own.
On the grand plaza, which should have been packed tight, a large open space had been vacated. There stood the members of the Sky Underworld Sect, exuding an aura that clearly warned others to keep their distance.
In the shadows, a Sky Underworld disciple held a blood-colored seal. The seal glowed a crimson hue, and at its top was a lifelike dragon's head—its mouth agape and pointed precisely in Qian Renhan's direction.
Facing the cold, watchful gazes of the three great elders of the Pill Tower, Tian Mingzi's face twitched slightly. Yet he showed no fear. He knew well: in broad daylight and under the scrutiny of the public, Xuan Kongzi and his peers wouldn't dare attack him outright. But he couldn't act recklessly either—assassinating Qian Renhan here would be out of the question.
Withdrawing their gazes, the three elders exchanged a brief glance. Suddenly, their hands blurred into motion, forming complex seals with lightning speed. Vast soul pressure rippled from their bodies, and in the next moment, the sky above began to distort violently.
Then—under the eyes of tens of thousands—a pale silver spatial gate slowly emerged from the void.
"Those entering the Star Region, prepare yourselves."
Xuan Kongzi hovered high above, his gaze sweeping down coldly upon the assembly. His deep voice thundered through the heavens.
"The Grand Elder will accompany you into the Star Region. He will explain the rules once you arrive."
Casting a sharp glance at the silver gate, Xuan Kongzi's eyes suddenly gleamed with a sharp edge.
"Now—enter."
Qian Renhan lifted his gaze toward the gate, murmuring,
"Those old geezers from the Little Pill Tower would never allow a chaotic battle to damage Sacred Pill City. Since that's the case, let's move the war… to the Star Region."
(End of Chapter)