The vast land stretched to the horizon, the Ink-Colored Wasteland merging seamlessly with the Lead-Gray Sky. A thick, oppressive feeling hung heavy in the air, almost tangible, causing an inexplicable sense of irritation.
In the dead silence of the wilderness, a black figure broke through the air, moving with ghostly speed. Each landing sent up a muffled thunder-like roar, the sound waves rippling outward before gradually dissipating into the empty expanse.
The rapidly moving figure suddenly raised his gaze, revealing a clear, handsome face etched with weariness.
If Chen Xiao were here, he would surely recognize this person as none other than Xiao Yan, whom he hadn't seen in three years!
Xiao Yan looked back at the empty great plain, a slight frown on his brow. He muttered to himself, "This damned place is enough to drive someone crazy, but why can't I even see a single soul?"
As his voice fell, Yao Chen's extremely weak voice echoed in his sea of consciousness: "Keep going. We need to find a town and buy an accurate map. I know a little about the Black-Corner Region, but not too much."
Xiao Yan nodded helplessly, his feet not stopping.
At this moment, Yao Chen solemnly reminded him again: "Remember, in the Black-Corner Region, kindness is a burden. Being soft-hearted here will only drag you into an abyss of no return. Here, everyone can be killed. Better to kill the wrong person than let one go. Deterrence is more effective than kindness."
Xiao Yan nodded, taking note.
Yao Chen had reminded him of the same thing seven or eight times on the road, so he had to take it seriously.
After rushing for another two or three minutes, a small town finally appeared in Xiao Yan's sight. He gradually slowed his pace and walked slowly towards the town.
Yao Chen was not disappointed. After decisively killing a Dou Shi who blocked his way to collect tolls, Xiao Yan gained a deeper understanding of the Black-Corner Region's customs.
To reduce trouble, Xiao Yan took out a black robe and put it on before walking into the only tavern in the town.
Taverns were places where all sorts of people mixed, from all walks of life. To get familiar with a strange place, frequenting taverns was definitely a good choice.
He ordered a cup of old wine and sat in a corner, his ears perked, listening to the surrounding discussions.
"The Purple Firmament Pavilion is truly soaring in the Black-Corner Region now. Even the Eight Gates Sect is helping them promote their Auction with great fanfare."
"Of course. Ever since the Demon Flame Valley was destroyed, the Purple Firmament Pavilion has become the sole power in the Black-Corner Region. Even the Black Emperor Sect can't compare."
"I heard that last year, the Pavilion Master of the Purple Firmament Pavilion summoned the leaders of all the old forces in the Black-Corner Region, but didn't invite the Black Emperor Sect. At the time, many strong individuals thought the Purple Firmament Pavilion was going to attack them and secretly colluded, wanting to band together for warmth. Who would have thought that the Purple Firmament Pavilion had no interest in them at all? That's why we have the current situation."
"How do you know these things?"
"I have a cousin who is an Elder of the Earth Flame Sect."
"So that's it. I heard that this Auction by the Purple Firmament Pavilion will be the largest one in two years. I wonder what good things will appear."
"There will definitely be plenty. The Purple Firmament Pavilion has been selling information for two years and has never been wrong. They even claim to sell information about Heavenly Flames as long as you can afford the price. One can imagine how many treasures they themselves have acquired."
A middle-aged man wearing a black robe took over the conversation. Under his black robe was an Eight Gates Sect emblem.
Ever since receiving the message from Hai Bo Dong, Yuan Yi had been extremely attentive, sending out hundreds of people within a thousand-mile radius to help spread the news, ensuring that everyone would know about the Auction about to be held in Purple Cloud City.
With such a wide net cast, without any surprise, the news successfully reached the ears of Xiao Yan and his Teacher.
Xiao Yan tightly gripped his wine cup. In his excitement, his breathing became slightly ragged.
"Calm down, leave here first!"
Yao Chen's voice rang out.
Xiao Yan came to his senses, threw two Gold Coins on the table, and quietly left the tavern.
It wasn't until he had bought a map and arrived outside the town that Xiao Yan could no longer restrain himself.
"Teacher, does that Purple Firmament Pavilion really have information about Heavenly Flames?"
"It's hard to say. The preciousness of Heavenly Flames goes without saying. This is something all Alchemists covet. It sounds very strange that the Purple Firmament Pavilion has information about Heavenly Flames but isn't interested in them. But whether it's true or not, it's worth us making the trip!"
Xiao Yan nodded heavily, his desire for Heavenly Flames reaching its peak.
More than a year ago, he had also found clues about a Heavenly Flame in the Jia Ma Empire. However, after much hardship, the Teacher and disciple finally found the location of the Green Lotus Core Flame, only to discover that on the cliff wall deep within the magma, besides a section of root, it was empty.
Clearly, someone had gotten there first!
Missing out on a Heavenly Flame had almost caused Xiao Yan's state of mind to collapse.
After all, the Burning Flame Art he cultivated had to rely on Heavenly Flames to evolve.
Heaven knows how much effort the Teacher and disciple had put in over the past three years to raise the grade of the Burning Flame Art. Yet, even so, his Burning Flame Art had only reached the level of Mystic Low-Rank.
It was precisely because the grade of the Burning Flame Art was too low that his cultivation speed was also affected. To win the Three-Year Agreement, he had suffered more hardships in these past few years than in the original trajectory. Only then was he barely able to reach One Star Da Dou Shi.
"Teacher is right. There must also be Alchemists in the Black-Corner Region. If that Purple Firmament Pavilion really has information about a Heavenly Flame, even if it's true, it probably won't be that simple. Along the way, we'll inquire more about the Purple Firmament Pavilion."
Having made up his mind, Xiao Yan immediately determined the direction and headed towards Purple Cloud City.
Along the way, the Teacher and disciple stopped and went, constantly inquiring indirectly.
However, as they learned more and more information, Xiao Yan keenly noticed that Yao Chen had suddenly fallen silent, his reaction being very strange.
He thought back carefully, and this change in Yao Chen seemed to have started when he learned that the Purple Firmament Pavilion had replaced Han Feng's Maple City.
"Teacher, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Let's speed up and go to Purple Cloud City."
After a long while, Yao Chen's voice finally sounded, hoarse.
That already weak voice, invisibly, seemed to have aged dozens of years and weakened a hundredfold.
Xiao Yan didn't understand the reason, but Yao Chen's state was clearly not right. He immediately dared not delay any longer and sped towards Purple Cloud City.
...
Purple Firmament Pavilion.
Chen Xiao sat cross-legged on the bed, watching the three portions of Magical Beast Essence Blood before him vanish into thin air, his expression unchanging.
After seeing it so many times, he had grown used to it.
His consciousness sank into his mind, and as expected, the pre-payment information had refreshed.
"Xiao Yan is almost here, and the Burning Flame Art can also be pre-paid."
[Burning Flame Art: Yellow Low-Rank Cultivation Technique, can be pre-paid.]
[Pre-payment Follow-up: Complete any of the following options.
① Kill Yao Chen and seize it.
② Find a way to exchange for it.
③...]
Different from the pre-payment follow-ups years ago, this time, several follow-ups were listed.
But summarized, it was one sentence: whether through force and plunder or trickery and deception, as long as he could obtain the Burning Flame Art from Xiao Yan and his Teacher, the follow-up could be completed.
[Pre-pay?]
Without hesitation, Chen Xiao nodded and confirmed.
He had never thought of letting Cao Ying follow Xiao Yan's path. Devouring a Heavenly Flame was a near-death experience; without the protagonist's luck, walking by the river often would eventually lead to wet shoes.
Previously, letting Cao Ying cultivate the Burning Flame Art was essentially just to solve Little Fairy Doctor's poison body problem and incidentally raise the demon girl's potential.
But now, the demon girl was his own person, and helping her solve the hidden danger of her cultivation technique was only right.
After all, in the Jia Ma Empire, it wasn't easy for Chen Xiao to get the Burning Flame Art. At that time, he only had Hai Bo Dong, a Dou Huang expert, available. If Yao Chen was pushed too hard, no one would benefit.
Now, this Black-Corner Region had basically become his territory. As long as Xiao Yan and his Teacher entered, they couldn't escape. Whether through peaceful means or martial force, obtaining it would be infinitely simpler.
Reaching into his embrace, Chen Xiao took out a black scroll.
Opening it and scanning through, Chen Xiao again took out the incomplete scroll he had obtained from Han Feng, spread it out, and compared them.
This incomplete scroll had been returned to him after Cao Ying finished cultivating it, and Chen Xiao had kept it ever since.
With the two scrolls laid out together, Chen Xiao carefully compared them, the difference immediately apparent.
The so-called incomplete scroll contained less than two-thirds of the complete cultivation technique. It was no wonder that as Han Feng's strength grew, the aftereffects became more and more obvious.
After observing for a long time and carefully considering how to approach Xiao Yan and his Teacher, Chen Xiao put away the two scrolls and got up, heading towards Little Fairy Doctor's room.
Unlike a year and a half ago, Little Fairy Doctor no longer lived next to everyone but had built a small building alone in the city center, next to the original location of the Bamboo Building.
As her strength continued to increase, although she could still suppress her poison body and temporarily prevent it from erupting, inevitably, Little Fairy Doctor's influence on the surrounding people and objects also grew.
The most intuitive manifestation was that within several hundred feet around this small building, greenery was sparse, and being inside felt somewhat oppressive.
Chen Xiao entered the small building and came to Little Fairy Doctor's room.
Sensing the surging of the world's energy gradually subside, Little Fairy Doctor stopped cultivating, and only then did he knock on the door.
After getting permission, Chen Xiao pushed the door open and immediately saw Little Fairy Doctor sitting quietly cross-legged on the bed.
In a year and a half, Little Fairy Doctor's strength had made a qualitative leap. Her appearance was more exquisite, her figure more slender, and the color of her thousands of silver-white strands of hair had deepened.
Only her gentle and virtuous temperament remained consistent.
"How do you feel today?"
Hearing Chen Xiao's question, Little Fairy Doctor smiled lightly, "Same as usual, no signs of eruption for now. Within a year, there shouldn't be any problems."
Since she broke through to the Dou Zong realm, they had repeated this conversation countless times.
Chen Xiao would ask every time he came, and Little Fairy Doctor would repeat the same answer again and again, without the slightest impatience.
Chen Xiao nodded slightly and smiled, "That reassures me. After I get in touch with Xiao Yan, we can set off for the Central State. If all goes well, within three months, you'll be able to condense the Poison Pill!"
The only material left to condense the Poison Pill was a Seventh-Order Heavenly Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast Magic Core, which he hadn't obtained yet.
But this wasn't important anymore. Chen Xiao's current pre-payment cycles were very short; he could pre-pay it at any time.
Even if there was an accident along the way, after reaching the Central State, he could call upon others to hunt the Heavenly Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast.
So, the time until Little Fairy Doctor condensed the Poison Pill was truly very near.
A glimmer of anticipation flashed in Little Fairy Doctor's eyes. The Woeful Poison Body was like a great mountain pressing down on her head, day in and day out for ten years, leaving her no room for slack.
Finally, these days of heavy pressure were about to end.
Only by solving the problem of the Woeful Poison Body could she live as freely and casually as an ordinary person, and be able to laugh and play like Zi Yan and Cai Lin...
After chatting with Little Fairy Doctor for a while, Chen Xiao got up and went to find Cai Lin.
In the original plan, Cai Lin was supposed to go to the Central State with them.
Unfortunately, plans couldn't keep up with changes. Due to some special reasons, this idea could only be temporarily put aside.
...
The next day.
Just as dawn was breaking, a dust-covered figure in a black robe arrived below Purple Cloud City.
Looking at the tall, upright young guards at the city gate, Chen Xiao instantly noticed something unusual.
"Teacher, this Purple Cloud City seems a bit different from Black Seal City and the other small towns we passed on the way. These guards are clearly stronger, but that... ruthlessness they have doesn't seem as intense."
"To be the leading power in the Black-Corner Region, this Purple Firmament Pavilion must have some special qualities, and this might be one of them," Yao Chen's voice sounded.
What they didn't know was that some of these guards were graduates from the Inner Academy of Jia Nan Academy, while others were personnel sent by the Mitre Family to assist. Their demeanor was naturally different from those who eked out a living in the Black-Corner Region.
Without dwelling on it, Chen Xiao honestly paid the entry fee and then headed towards the towering, majestic building in the city.
At the same time, his aura subtly changed.
The Heaven Rank Dou Technique, Possession, had already been activated!
They had already inquired thoroughly and knew that Purple Firmament Pavilion only sold information to experts above the Dou Wang level. Without Dou Wang level strength, one simply wasn't qualified to be received.
And Chen Xiao's current strength clearly didn't meet the requirements.
Because it was still very early, Purple Firmament Pavilion was sparsely populated at this time. Besides the reception staff, there were hardly any guests.
After a brief inquiry, Yao Chen quickly controlled Chen Xiao's body and approached the window specifically for selling information.
A wave of soul power swept over Chen Xiao's body, seemingly sensing his strength.
Then, an old voice, without any fluctuation, came from inside the window.
"Don't look around, don't think randomly, state your purpose clearly."
As the voice fell, a blank piece of paper was handed out from the window.
Hearing this somewhat familiar voice, Yao Chen's heart immediately stirred.
"It's him?!"
"Teacher, you know this person?" Chen Xiao asked in his heart, somewhat puzzled.
"You've seen him too. Three years ago, at the Mitre Auction House, the Ice Emperor, Hai Bo Dong! I didn't expect him to come to the Black-Corner Region. His strength has even reached Eight Star Dou Huang, and the feeling he gives me is only stronger, not weaker, than that guardian of the Jia Ma Imperial Family!"
Hearing this, Chen Xiao suddenly understood.
He had indeed seen Hai Bo Dong in Wu Tan City back then.
He had even seen him once at the Xiao Family on the night Yao Chen appeared.
Without thinking further, 'Yao Chen' picked up the ink brush placed nearby and brought the white paper in front of him.
After a moment of deliberation, finally, under Chen Xiao's somewhat surprised gaze, he wrote the four large characters: 'Han Feng's Life and Death'.
Although the outside world hyped up Purple Firmament Pavilion as incredibly mysterious, Yao Chen still had doubts about it and wouldn't rashly inquire about the Heavenly Flame.
Furthermore, he genuinely wanted to know if Han Feng had truly perished.
Regarding Han Feng, Yao Chen's emotions were now incredibly complex deep down.
He had poured countless efforts into Han Feng, raising him like his own son, but the outcome had left him utterly disappointed.
It was precisely because of this incident that Yao Chen had developed deeper suspicions about human nature. Before taking Chen Xiao as a disciple, he had secretly tested him for a full three years...
In the room, Hai Bo Dong retrieved the paper. Looking at the four large characters on it, a hint of surprise immediately appeared on his face.
"Please wait a moment, I cannot make a decision on this matter."
Leaving the words behind, and without caring what the person outside thought, Hai Bo Dong quickly got up and headed to Chen Xiao's room.
These past few days, Chen Xiao had already informed them in advance that if anyone inquired about Han Feng or the Heavenly Flame, he would personally receive them.
Hearing Hai Bo Dong's reply, Yao Chen already had his answer.
The entire Black-Corner Region knew that Han Feng had perished over two years ago. The fact that Hai Bo Dong didn't answer directly clearly indicated that there was something fishy going on.
Yao Chen took a deep breath, his heart filled with complexity.
"Teacher, about that Han Feng..."
"I'll tell you later."
Yao Chen shook his head slightly, quietly releasing his soul power.
Soon, his heart trembled, and he quickly withdrew his soul power.
He sensed that within this Purple Firmament Pavilion, besides Hai Bo Dong whom he had already interacted with, there were actually four other experts with considerable strength.
Among them, two were Dou Zong level experts.
One was a Five Star, and one was a Two Star!
Two were Dou Huang level experts, one at Peak Dou Huang, and the other's state was somewhat strange. Even with his soul power, he couldn't determine what star level that person was at.
And among these people, the Peak Dou Huang expert's soul power had already reached Mortal Realm Peak. He had almost discovered his probing just now.
One must know that Yao Chen was the number one Alchemist in Central State. Even though his current state was extremely poor, less than a tenth of his peak, it wasn't something ordinary people could detect if he wanted to probe secretly. Anyone who could sense the anomaly would at least need soul power at the Mortal Realm Peak level.
Just as Yao Chen was sighing in his heart, a light footsteps sounded in the room inside the window.
Soon, a young man dressed in a golden robe came and sat down in front of the window.
He flipped his hand, and a jade bottle appeared in his palm.
Through the seal on the bottle's opening, one could see a transparent soul body contained within.
It seemed it hadn't seen sunlight in a long time, as the soul body's face showed an expression of discomfort, and the worry in its eyes was clearly visible.
Looking at the Jade Bottle pushed in front of him, 'Xiao Yan's' body trembled slightly, uncontrollably.
Yao Chen's reaction like this made Xiao Yan feel utterly unfamiliar with him.
All this time, the impression Yao Chen gave him was that he was omniscient and omnipotent, as if everything in the world was within his grasp.
It was the first time he had seen him lose composure like this.
"Welcome to the Purple Firmament Pavilion. Han Feng has fallen, only his soul body survives. This is the answer you seek. A Fifth-Order Magic Core, or a Fifth-Grade Pill Recipe, or perhaps, a Mystic High-Rank Dou Skill. This is the reward for answering your question."
A clear voice that sounded somewhat familiar to Xiao Yan came from inside the window.
But soon, his attention was diverted by the price.
To answer just one question required such a high reward?
Wasn't this appetite a bit too large?
However, Yao Chen's reaction once again exceeded his expectations.
Yao Chen didn't haggle at all, merely nodded slightly, took out a pill recipe from his Storage Ring, and handed it over.
He didn't have a Fifth-Order Magic Core on him at the moment.
As for Mystic High-Rank Dou Skills, those that Yao Chen would keep were the kind that had praiseworthy advantages, like the Eight Extremes Collapse.
Compared to those, although a Fifth-Grade Pill Recipe was also precious, it was the one thing he was least lacking. In fact, he could even create a batch if he just spent some time.
"I would like to exchange for this soul body with the Pavilion Master. What price do I need to pay?" Yao Chen asked in a low voice, glancing at the Jade Bottle right in front of him.
If he could, he would have liked to just take it directly.
Unfortunately, the person behind the window dared to place the Jade Bottle in front of him so confidently, clearly unafraid of him trying to snatch it.
And from what Yao Chen could sense, the Purple Firmament Pavilion indeed had the confidence to be so bold.
With two Dou Zong powerhouses stationed there, even if he hadn't experienced the huge consumption from the Yun Lan Sect Three-Year Agreement, he would still need to be cautious, let alone now.
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