"Regardless, we truly required young friend Xiao Hua's assistance for this matter," Zhu Li said, having regained a bit of composure. "The energy crystal layer formed by the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit is exceedingly dense. Even I am unable to shatter it. To melt this crystal layer and force the energy into Zi Yan's body, we can only depend on the power of a Heavenly Flame."
He shook his head slightly as he explained the reason for summoning Xiao Hua to Ancient Dragon Island.
"Judging from the situation, an ordinary Heavenly Flame won't suffice. Only one ranked among the top ten on the Heavenly Flame Ranking can do the task… Moreover, little friend Xiao Hua not only possesses multiple Heavenly Flames, but you can also harmonize them with remarkable precision. With such mastery, the combined strength of his flames is likely comparable to a top sixth-ranked Heavenly Flame. If anyone can handle this energy crystal, it is you."
"The old me is aware that several experts in the Central Plains wield Heavenly Flames… yet only little friend Xiao Hua—and the Moonlit Chaos Mansion behind you—possess such ability and trustworthiness. Thus, we sent Hei Qing to invite you at once," Zhu Li said with a faint smile.
"…Though I failed to find them directly and had to rely on the communication jade to make contact," Hei Qing muttered from the side, recalling how difficult the search had been.
Ignoring Hei Qing's grumbling complaints, the others quickly came to an understanding upon hearing Zhu Li's explanation. Naturally, none of them were overly surprised. Even if Xiao Hua possessed such flames, it changed little—after all, the five flames he wielded were Primordial Heavenly Flames, not mere Heavenly Flames. In terms of might and destructive power, they far surpassed even the strongest ranked Heavenly Flame.
"Elder Zhu Li, how about letting Brother Wei Jie and Sister Mei Ling assist Xiao Hua as well?" Little Fairy Doctor offered calmly. The two of them also possessed flames that could be considered Heavenly Flames…
However, Zhu Li shook his head. "I have another task for Hall Master Wei Jie and Hall Master Mei Ling. It concerns the internal unrest within the Ancient Void Dragon clan," he said, his tone deepening and his expression turning solemn.
Wei Jie and Mei Ling narrowed their eyes slightly at his words. It was clear—certain factions were bound to interfere with the process.
"Moreover," Zhu Li continued with a weary sigh, "should they join the process, it may place Zi Yan in even greater danger. If she fails to refine the terrifying energy of the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit in time, the result could be catastrophic…"
"If that's the case, we'll take charge of guarding the area." Wei Jie and Mei Ling exchanged a glance before nodding. The former spoke with a grave expression.
"Many thanks," Zhu Li nodded appreciatively at their response. "This matter concerns the very survival of the Ancient Void Dragon tribe. It carries great weight… Thus, I ask that young friend Xiao Hua lend us his full strength in this endeavor."
He then turned toward Xiao Hua and cupped his hands with a solemn expression, his tone deep and respectful. Hei Qing followed suit, bowing with both hands clasped.
"Please rest assured, Elder Zhu Li. Zi Yan is a friend I hold dear. I, Xiao Hua, will do everything in my power to aid her. I will follow Elder's instructions without question—just tell me what must be done." Xiao Hua responded with unwavering seriousness.
Upon hearing Xiao Hua's words, the smile on Zhu Li's face deepened. He nodded in satisfaction, then let out a long, melancholic sigh.
"If Xiao Xuan were still among us, and saw the Xiao Clan produce such an exceptional descendant… he would surely be smiling even in the netherworld."
"Ancestor gave everything for the sake of the Xiao Clan's future. If anything… I believe something must have gone wrong back then that led to his fall." Xiao Hua chuckled softly in response, his tone light yet sincere.
He then shook his head gently and said, "Let us not dwell on the past, Elder Zhu Li. If preparations are complete, we may begin at any time."
"If that's the case, I ask for your patience. Please wait for two more days—this old man still has some final arrangements to make," Zhu Li replied with a smile and a nod.
With that, the gathering dispersed. Under Hei Qing's lead, Xiao Hua and the others were escorted to the resting quarters prepared for them.
…
"Elder Hei Qing, may I ask about the internal conflict within the Ancient Void Dragon tribe?"
Upon arriving at their resting site, Little Fairy Doctor finally voiced the question that had been weighing on her mind. She had long been curious about the turmoil surrounding the Ancient Void Dragon clan. After all, it directly concerned Zi Yan—how could she not be worried?
"This… I understand. Since you'll be involved soon, it's better for you to know the situation within the Ancient Void Dragon tribe." Hei Qing was clearly startled by the question and hesitated to respond. But after a moment of contemplation, he ultimately chose to explain.
Xiao Hua, however, already knew the details and paid little attention to the conversation. Instead, he closed his eyes and silently activated the System. Moments later, a faintly translucent, blue-colored panel materialized before his eyes.
It turned out that he had received the Yearly Sign-In reward—something he had manually claimed earlier but hadn't given much thought to at the time.
"Since a year has passed… is Xiao Yan still in seclusion, refining the Fallen Heart Flame? Or has he already begun building his forces in the Black-Corner Region to take revenge on Han Feng...?" Xiao Hua murmured, lost in thought.
He knew that the threat of Han Feng invading Jia Nan Academy no longer existed. With the current strength of the Academy's elders, attempting such a move would be no different than courting death.
Thus, Xiao Hua speculated that Xiao Yan might now be focusing on gathering strength—preparing to strike Han Feng and avenge his master, especially after obtaining his third Heavenly Flame.
As for Yun Shan and the Misty Cloud Sect, Xiao Hua was certain Xiao Yan wouldn't move against them until he had sufficient forces. After all, he likely understood that the Hall of Souls stood behind them.
"Too bad… Cai'er and Sister Ya Fei won't tell me anything," Xiao Hua muttered softly, his voice tinged with mild frustration. "Once I take the final trial, I'll return to the Jia Ma Empire. Whether I pass or not doesn't matter. I still want to check in on them."
After a moment of quiet contemplation, he shook his head, brushing the thoughts aside and setting them to the back of his mind.
His attention returned to the System, and he decided to continue drawing the Gacha until he felt it was enough.
As the draws went on, Xiao Hua couldn't help but feel a trace of disappointment. Despite the flood of high-grade treasures, extremely rare medicinal ingredients, top-tier medicinal pills, and high-level Dou Techniques and Qi Methods… none of the draws granted him the one thing he truly desired—ACP.
But then, on the final draw, his eyes lit up.
He had received the maximum possible reward from the Gacha—a staggering ten million ACP.
Even so, he wasn't in a rush to spend it. Instead, he glanced at the draw count and noticed he had pulled a total of 140 times. With this, his overall accumulated draws had surpassed 300.
That meant… he had finally earned a Pity Draw.
Without the slightest hesitation, he used it.
The moment he activated the Pity Draw, a translucent panel appeared before him, listing several reward options he could choose from.
[100 Batches of Extremely Rare, High-Grade Medicinal Ingredients.]
[100 Batches of Extremely Rare, High-Grade Medicinal Ingredients.]
[76 Batches of Extremely Rare, High-Grade Medicinal Ingredients.]
[100 Batches of Extremely Rare, High-Grade Medicinal Ingredients.]
"…Is the System messing with me or something?" Xiao Hua's mouth twitched noticeably as he stared at the list of reward options.
Shaking his head, he selected the first option—though it wasn't really a choice. Three options were identical, and the slightly lesser one had no real reason to be picked.
[Congratulations. You have obtained 100 Batches of Pure Silver Coral Herb.]
As soon as he made his selection, a notification popped up before him, revealing the specific medicinal ingredient he had received. At first, Xiao Hua felt a wave of disappointment—the reward list had seemed lackluster. But the moment he saw the name Pure Silver Coral Herb, his eyes widened in disbelief.
It was the exact final ingredient he needed—the missing piece to complete the formula for a pill of his own creation.
This pill was not something he had received from the System. Rather, it was something he had created personally, born from his deep comprehension of alchemical knowledge passed down by Lady Azure. When she reviewed the formula, she had confirmed that, at its peak refinement, the pill would qualify as a Tier 9 Golden Pill.
He had named it the Ancestral Vein Pill.
Previously, he had refined its lesser variant—the Trueblood Essence Pill—but its effects were a far cry from the Ancestral Vein Pill's overwhelming potential.
"With all the Golden-Veined Bloodline Sovereign Fruits I've possessed, and now a hundred batches of Pure Silver Coral Herb, I won't have to worry about failure when I decide to refine the Ancestral Vein Pill in the future."
Xiao Hua chuckled with a pleased smile. Clearly, he saw this as a fortunate reward. After all, he had been unable to obtain the Pure Silver Coral Herb no matter how many times he tried—despite drawing from the Gacha over a thousand times.
To receive a full hundred batches now? He considered it a major win… especially when the rest of the reward options were extremely underwhelming.
Feeling satisfied with the outcome of the Pity Draw, he turned his attention back to the System and began another round of Gacha draws—after all, he still had ten million ACP to burn.
Moments later, the draw session came to an end. Though nothing particularly rare or eye-catching had appeared, the sheer number of pulls had once again triggered another Pity Draw.
Naturally, Xiao Hua activated it without hesitation.
This time, the reward offered him a tempting choice, 'Four Tickets of Primordial Heavenly Flame. Without even glancing at the other options, Xiao Hua claimed it without hesitation. No matter how precious the other rewards might be, they were nothing in comparison to free Primordial Heavenly Flames.
With these new tickets added to his collection, he now had a total of ten. He still hadn't used the four he obtained three years ago, nor the one he received while waiting for Saint Tian Huo to fully recover.
"That means I still need seven more tickets to complete the full set of Primordial Heavenly Flames…" Xiao Hua murmured, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "That might be difficult… unless I purposely delay taking the final trial."
Still, that was a matter for the future. For now, he felt quite satisfied with his gains. He glanced at the remaining ACP in his possession—just under 190,000 ACP.
Initially, he had considered upgrading his ACP Rate, only to discover that the cost for the upgrade is 450,000 ACP. That left him somewhat disappointed—but he couldn't complain. When he thought about the sheer number of treasures he'd acquired, his heart remained at ease.
With that, he slowly pulled his consciousness back to the outside world. His eyes opened quietly—only to find that the discussion was still ongoing.
"So, they've already caught wind of Zi Yan's presence…" Wei Jie frowned slightly, his tone darkening. "Does that mean the request Elder Zhu Li spoke of is to stand against them once they invade?"
"Aye," Hei Qing nodded, his expression solemn. However, a cold, murderous gleam flickered in his eyes—undeniable killing intent surging beneath his calm. It was clear he was infuriated by those who still regarded the three dragon kings as the rightful rulers.
Mei Ling narrowed her eyes in thought, then turned toward Xiao Hua—who had just opened his eyes, feigning attentiveness. She asked, "How long do you estimate it will take for the crystal to fully melt?"
"That will depend on Elder Zhu Li's preparations," Xiao Hua replied calmly, his voice steady and low. "But if I push myself, I estimate it will take around four weeks."
Though he hadn't paid much attention to the earlier discussion—since he already knew most of it—he could easily deduce that the three rival dragon islands intended to interfere with the refinement process of the Dragon Phoenix Crystal Layer.
"Elder Hei Qing, How long do you think it will take for the other three dragon islands to make their move?" Little Fairy Doctor turned to Hei Qing and asked.
Hei Qing stroked his beard, pondering for a moment. After a brief silence, he finally responded in a low voice, "According to our sources, they're still in the process of rallying support and seeking alliances from the other islands. Based on our estimates, it'll take them slightly more than two weeks to finalize preparations, and another two weeks to reach this place."
"Just barely enough time, huh…" Wei Jie murmured softly, his brows furrowed.
"Regardless, we will definitely assist Eastern Dragon Island and prevent the other three dragon islands from interfering with Hua'er or disrupting the refinement process," Mei Ling said firmly, her eyes gleaming with unwavering determination.
Everyone nodded in silent agreement. Even if it meant offending the other three dragon islands, they were willing to take that risk—to ensure the Dragon Phoenix Crystal was refined successfully and to free Zi Yan from her strange, half-living slumber within it.
"This old man is truly relieved… and overjoyed… that the little girl has found such loyal and dependable companions." Hei Qing let out a hearty laugh, a deeply gratified smile on his face.
After a brief pause, he cupped his hands and spoke respectfully, "Then, this old man will not disturb your rest any further. If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to call. I will do my utmost to accommodate your requests."
With that, everyone gave a small nod of thanks and watched as Hei Qing took his leave.
Later, after settling into their rooms, Xiao Hua sat by the window, gazing at the clear blue sky above Eastern Dragon Island, his thoughts drifting quietly with the breeze.
A short while later, Little Fairy Doctor returned with a cup of warm tea and gently handed it to Xiao Hua. After passing it to him, she quietly sat down by his side and leaned against his shoulder.
For a moment, she said nothing—her fingers fidgeting lightly in her lap. Then, in a soft voice tinged with concern and a faint tremble, she finally spoke.
"Will Zi Yan… be alright?"
Xiao Hua turned to look at her. Her head was still lowered, and a heavy expression clouded her delicate, beautiful face. He chuckled softly, then wrapped an arm around her slender waist, pulling her closer.
"Rest assured, Xian'er," he said with a warm smile. "I will definitely bring Zi Yan back from that living dead state."
"Then I'll make sure no one disturbs you while you do." Little Fairy Doctor lifted her head, her eyes glimmering as she smiled sweetly.
With those words, she nestled closer, resting her head against his shoulder once again. Her body leaned into his, and she slowly closed her eyes—a serene smile forming on her lips as she quietly savored the warmth between them.
Xiao Hua gazed at Little Fairy Doctor's peaceful expression and let out a quiet sigh. He felt relieved that she had calmed down. Turning his gaze back toward the window, he continued to watch the clear blue sky, patiently awaiting the day the Dragon Phoenix Crystal Layer refinement would begin.
…
The next two days passed peacefully on Eastern Dragon Island. Xiao Hua and the others remained undisturbed, enjoying a rare moment of quiet.
During that time, Elder Zhu Li was fully occupied with the complex preparations needed to refine the energy crystal surrounding Zi Yan. Fortunately, he had asked Hei Qing to attend to the guests in his stead, ensuring that the days passed in relative ease.
By the morning of the third day, Elder Zhu Li finally appeared before Xiao Hua and the group, his expression solemn. Seeing this, Xiao Hua and the others immediately understood—today was the day the refinement would begin. And it also meant the threat of the other three dragon islands drew ever closer.
"Young friends, thank you for your patience. The preparations are complete. Please follow this old man," Zhu Li said calmly as he turned and began walking ahead.
Without hesitation, Xiao Hua and the others rose and followed behind him in silence, their expressions composed yet resolute.
Xiao Hua's group followed closely behind Zhu Li as they flew toward the deepest part of Eastern Dragon Island. The atmosphere across the island felt far more solemn than usual. The once quiet skies now had the occasional silhouette passing by—figures patrolling with sharp, watchful eyes, scanning the surroundings beyond the island's borders.
It was clear they were on high alert—ready to intercept any attempted invasion from the other three dragon islands. Not even a fly would be allowed to disturb the Dragon Phoenix Crystal refinement.
As they continued their flight, Xiao Hua and the others gradually sensed a distinct change in the surrounding energy. The air grew hotter, heavier—filled with an invisible pressure that made their skin tingle slightly.
"…This place… actually has a volcano."
Surprise flickered in the eyes of everyone—except Xiao Hua—as they realized the source of the rising heat. A volcano had been built into the very heart of the island, and it wasn't a simple imitation. The Ancient Void Dragon Clan had constructed a true, living volcano—grand, fierce, and pulsing with natural fire essence.
After flying for about ten minutes, Elder Zhu Li gradually began to slow down. Xiao Hua and the others followed his lead and looked ahead. A large mountain soon came into view—its peak was concave, and wisps of white-hot smoke curled upward into the sky.
Moments later, the group came to a halt, hovering above the volcanic mountain. A towering pillar of smoke rose steadily from the crater below. As they looked down, they were met with a striking sight—an enormous emerald-green cauldron was suspended directly above the volcano's mouth, and within it, a small, delicate figure could be seen floating silently.
It was Zi Yan.
"The natural fire energy here is incredibly rich. Even a Heavenly Flame would be enhanced by drawing power from this place…" Wei Jie muttered, his eyes scanning the surroundings. Just by breathing in the ambient heat, he felt his body invigorated.
For someone who cultivated a fire-attributed method, this place was nothing short of a cultivation paradise.
"That's right," Elder Zhu Li nodded, then turned to Xiao Hua. "However, the Heavenly Flame is extremely overbearing. To refine the energy crystal without harming Zi Yan, one must possess exceptional control. With little friend Xiao Hua's current ability… I believe you should be capable of handling it, yes?"
"Aye."
Xiao Hua nodded calmly. When it came to flame control, there might be those who could match him—but none could surpass him. Thus, this task was well within his capabilities.
Seeing Xiao Hua's confident expression, Elder Zhu Li sighed in quiet relief. He then gestured toward the surrounding mountains and spoke in a deep voice, "During the refinement, the experts of the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe—along with myself—will remain stationed nearby. We will ensure that no one disturbs you."
Xiao Hua offered a silent nod in response. With his keen spiritual perception, he had already sensed the presence of numerous formidable auras hidden among the surrounding peaks—each one terrifying in its own right.
It was clear that Eastern Dragon Island was taking Zi Yan's situation with the utmost seriousness. Not a single mistake would be tolerated—not even for a moment.
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