Chapter 339 I'm an Alchemist—Carrying a Furnace with Me Is Reasonable, Right?
"What an arrogant tone. I, Grandpa Turtle, have roamed the Xuantian Continent for so many years. I've seen the elegance of prodigies, sages, and saints, but someone with a tone worse than foot odor—this is my first time. I'll give you the chance to strike first."
Huojiangui's voice was filled with disdain, as if he did not place the opponent in his eyes at all.
"Hiss!!!"
From within the fiery clouds, the Scarlet Flame Python roared, spitting out a torrent of crimson fire.
Huojiangui watched the flame, blazing like a dragon, and did not resist. He stood there, letting the fire engulf him completely.
Moments later, his figure was nowhere to be seen.
Seeing this, the Scarlet Flame Python's eyes flashed with smug satisfaction.
But then, Huojiangui's mocking voice rang out again. "Comfortable… it's been so long since I felt this good. Come on, add more power."
???
The surrounding cultivators were dumbfounded. They weren't ignorant novices; they knew that even heavenly flames were not completely immune to fire attacks.
Yet this one hadn't defended himself at all, and looked as if he was enjoying it.
The Scarlet Flame Python froze, halting its flames. In that instant, Huojiangui reappeared, his body unscathed. Instead, he seemed brimming with vigor.
He flexed his nonexistent neck and laughed. "Got anything else? Use it. Don't show me these low-grade flames and embarrass yourself."
Arrogant—far too arrogant.
The disciples of Yunlan Sect and Wendao Academy were reminded of that man. Inwardly, they couldn't help but sigh:
As expected of the heavenly flame under Head Chu. Just this aura alone was something no ordinary being could imitate.
Such blatant provocation. The Scarlet Flame Python, a well-known Demon General of the Yunxia Mountains and a future candidate for a demon king, was being mocked openly.
Even the cultivators of Yunxia Mountain normally gave way when encountering him. Now, a mere flame dared to taunt him.
Usually, heavenly flames were nothing more than cultivation materials in his eyes.
He etched this insult deep in his heart and bellowed, "You forced me! Today, old and new grudges will be settled together!"
Hiss—
The serpent flicked its tongue. The demon cloud in the sky dispersed.
A python nearly a hundred zhang long, covered in crimson-and-black patterns, coiled in the sky, blotting out the sun.
Behind it appeared an enormous serpent phantom. Even as a shadow, it made the watching cultivators quake with fear.
Within Yunlan Sect's camp, Elder Fang shivered involuntarily at the sight of the phantom. "This… this isn't an ordinary Scarlet Flame Python. It bears an extraordinary bloodline. That phantom reminds me of a terrifying existence."
Beside him, Yun Ye instinctively asked, "Senior, could it be the Teng Snake?"
"Correct. In the Yunxia Mountains dwells a fearsome serpent half-saint skilled in controlling fire. The flames wielded by this Scarlet Flame Python are at the level of heavenly flames. Ordinary Scarlet Flame Pythons could never possess such strength or talent."
At this, Elder Fang could not help but worry for Huojiangui.
"Oh? So you're a variant species. And who are you putting on airs for? You think you're the only rare one here?"
Huojiangui mocked him even further, showing not the slightest fear.
This was like oil poured on fire. The Scarlet Flame Python's eyes burned red, as though flames might burst out at any second.
"I'll see you dead with no grave to rest in!"
With a roar, the Teng Snake phantom behind him descended from the heavens, as if to devour Huojiangui whole.
Even before it touched the ground, heaven and earth changed color.
Clouds turned crimson, trees ignited into ash, and steam rose from the earth.
Even dozens of li away, the watching cultivators broke out in sweat, whether from heat or terror of the Teng Snake's might, they did not know.
Even within the volcanic cave, Fang Mu and Princess Qinghe felt the disturbance.
They instinctively sent out divine sense to probe the situation outside.
Seeing the Teng Snake phantom about to strike, their hearts both trembled.
"This is bad—could Senior Brother Huojiangui be in danger?" Princess Qinghe said worriedly.
Fang Mu smiled. "Don't worry. Senior Brother Huojiangui is no ordinary heavenly flame. Besides, he hasn't even revealed his true trump card yet."
Before Fang Mu and Princess Qinghe could react, they saw Huojiangui open his mouth and shout, "Go!"
Before everyone's eyes, a radiant divine pill furnace flew out from within his maw.
The lid flipped open, and the Teng Snake phantom crashed directly inside.
Boom!!!
The deafening sound reverberated for dozens of li, shaking loose clouds of dust.
Many cultivators staggered from dizziness, their heads spinning. Even Fang Mu and Princess Qinghe, within the cave, instinctively sealed their senses. Yet even so, their bodies swayed involuntarily from the force.
When the echo finally died, silence fell over the land.
All gazes locked upon the pill furnace floating in midair, eyes filled with mixed emotions—envy, shock, and above all, confusion.
"You… how do you have such a treasure in your hands?"
The Scarlet Flame Python's voice was laced with disbelief.
The other cultivators bore the same doubt. Even Princess Qinghe turned curious eyes toward Fang Mu.
She was not inexperienced, but a heavenly flame wielding a pill furnace? The sight was utterly bizarre.
Huojiangui grinned. "I'm an alchemist carrying a furnace on me—what's unreasonable about that?"
???
Aside from Fang Mu, everyone wore dumbfounded expressions. It was the most absurd statement they had ever heard. Truly, absurdity given flesh.
Fang Mu, however, smiled at the incredulous Princess Qinghe. "It's true. What Senior Brother says isn't wrong. I've even learned alchemy from him."
Princess Qinghe: "…"
She felt that all the absurdities she had encountered in her life didn't compare to today. Shock alone could not capture her state of mind.
But the one most unsettled was still the Scarlet Flame Python. That a heavenly flame had ruined his scheme was outrageous enough—yet now it revealed a divine-grade pill furnace.
How could a mere heavenly flame possibly possess such a thing?!
As the python reeled in confusion, Huojiangui spoke again. "Boy, you've already spent your trump cards. Now it's my turn to enjoy myself."
The words snapped the python back to his senses, but the will to fight was gone.
Moments earlier, he had unleashed every card he held and still gained nothing. To continue would only court death.
"Daoist friend, my words were harsh before. Please don't take offense. I'll leave at once."
"Heh."
Huojiangui sneered. "You think you can swagger and then run? Do you take me for clay? Since I haven't shown my true might, you've mistaken me for soft. Become my alchemy material instead—rise!"
The furnace opened again, divine light surging toward the Scarlet Flame Python.
"No!"
The serpent instinctively tried to flee, but it was too late. The instant the light touched him, he felt his body shrink uncontrollably.
From nearly a hundred zhang, his form dwindled hundreds of times over, until he was only a snake a few dozen feet long, dropping helplessly toward the furnace.
Struggling furiously, he thrashed, desperate to resist the pull.
But no matter how he writhed, the outcome did not change.
Huojiangui chuckled. "Don't waste your strength. This divine furnace was obtained by my master—it even refined the other shore's divine flower. What hope does a little snake like you have?"
"Don't… don't kill me! If you do, my clan's ancestor will never let you go!"
The Scarlet Flame Python, facing despair, could only invoke his backing.
But Huojiangui's eyes only grew colder. "You're already at death's door and still trying to scare me? Call your ancestor if you can. Otherwise, obediently let me refine you."
The divine light drew the python fully into the furnace.
Boom!
The lid sealed shut.
Huojiangui circled the furnace cheerfully, then spat out a surge of heavenly flame. Within moments, clanging sounds echoed from inside.
Rather than being disturbed, Huojiangui's eyes sparkled with delight.
"Little snake, don't worry. My alchemy skills aren't something ordinary pill masters can compare to. I won't let you die too quickly—take your time and savor it."
Hiss—
The surrounding cultivators all sucked in sharp breaths, their gazes toward Huojiangui now filled with awe and fear.
Thank the heavens we hadn't provoked this one earlier… otherwise, we might have ended up refined into human pills ourselves.
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