Just as Zhou Changqing was studying the Ice Spirit Crystal, a figure was already sneaking up to the outside of his room.
Squeak.
The window was gently pushed open, and a large black rat scurried inside.
"Holy crap! I wasn't wrong! The Heavenly Flame really is with you, Old Zhou!"
The shadow was none other than Xiao Yan. The moment he vaulted in, his gaze was locked onto the green flame on the table, and he let out a cry of shock.
Earlier, when his master had told him the Heavenly Flame had moved—and moved into Zhou Changqing's room, no less—he had found it hard to believe.
In his mind, even if Old Zhou's plan went smoothly, it should have taken at least a few days, maybe even half a month, to succeed. It would surely have required a great deal of effort.
Yet now, his master was telling him that after only one day, Old Zhou had already obtained the Heavenly Flame. How could he possibly believe that?
It wasn't until this very moment, staring at the flame nestled within the crystal lotus and casting an emerald-green glow throughout the room, that he was forced to accept it.
Was it really that simple?
"You're here? Come, have a seat."
Zhou Changqing looked up at Xiao Yan and gestured for him to come closer.
Xiao Yan hurried to the table, leaning in to observe the Green Lotus Core Flame. The excitement in his expression was beyond words.
Gulp.
Swallowing hard, Xiao Yan tore his eyes away and looked at Zhou Changqing, his voice trembling slightly. "Old Zhou, how did you do it?"
"Did Queen Medusa already succeed in her evolution?"
"No."
Zhou Changqing shook his head, a thoughtful look brewing in his eyes.
"No?!"
Xiao Yan's eyes widened. "Then how could Queen Medusa possibly give you the Heavenly Flame?" he exclaimed.
"And you shouldn't have anything valuable enough to trade for it, nothing on the level of a Transformation Pill, right?"
"Did you... did you sell your ass? Is that why Queen Medusa was so generous?!"
As he spoke, a look of horror dawned on Xiao Yan's face.
"..."
Zhou Changqing's face darkened. "You're the one who sells his ass!" he shot back.
"Damn it, I bust my ass to get you this Heavenly Flame, and not only are you not grateful, you're slandering my good name?"
"And another thing! Queen Medusa is a woman! What ass would I even sell! If anything, I'd sell my—"
Seeing Zhou Changqing so flustered, Xiao Yan's horrified expression vanished, replaced by a mischievous grin. His ability to switch faces was truly unparalleled.
"Just a joke, lightening the mood. I'm just too excited, you know?"
"Get lost! You can forget about the Heavenly Flame!"
"Hey, hey, hey, don't be like that, Old Zhou~"
"No!"
"Godfather! Godfather!"
"..."
"Seeing as you're so sincere, I'll let it slide. This once, and never again."
After the round of jokes, Xiao Yan's expression turned serious. "Seriously, Old Zhou, how did you get the Heavenly Flame? Queen Medusa can't be that easy to deal with, right? To just hand over something so important?"
Now that the Heavenly Flame was secured, Xiao Yan's urgency had faded, replaced by a burning curiosity about the details.
Zhou Changqing glanced at him and said coolly, "You want to know?"
"Godfather, please tell me!" Xiao Yan instantly understood, his tone becoming fawning.
It wasn't shameful to stoop for a Heavenly Flame. Besides, you might be my godfather now, but once today is over, you'll be my godson again.
Inside the Bone Flame Ring, Yao Lao massaged his temples, a headache forming as he watched his disciple's shameless display. This student of his was really... he had never seen such a shameless person!
If word got out that he, the esteemed Yao Zun-zhe, had taken on such a degenerate as a disciple, where would he ever show his face again?
Zhou Changqing nodded in satisfaction and patted Xiao Yan's shoulder. "Alright, then I'll tell you."
"The main reason I got this Heavenly Flame so easily is that Queen Medusa no longer needs it."
"That's not right. Didn't you just say she hasn't evolved yet?"
"Don't interrupt. Let me finish."
"..."
"Although Queen Medusa hasn't successfully evolved, she truly doesn't need the Heavenly Flame anymore. She's found another method to evolve—one that's completely safe and risk-free."
Zhou Changqing then recounted the story of how he had acquired the Heavenly Flame. Of course, he omitted the part about his lightning energy. That was his golden finger, his ultimate trump card. How could he just tell anyone about it? Not even Xiao Yan, at least not yet. If not for the unexpected situation with Medusa, that secret would have remained hidden for a very long time.
Meanwhile, inside the Bone Flame Ring, Yao Lao, who had been listening to their conversation, wore a thoughtful expression. He had never heard that the Snake-People Tribe had an alternative method for evolution.
"If it's related to this little fellow, then everything makes sense. But it's also possible the Snake-People Tribe really does have another way, and I just never knew about it."
Yao Lao didn't dwell on it. It had nothing to do with him. Getting the Heavenly Flame was all that mattered.
"I see."
After hearing the whole story, Xiao Yan nodded. "Then I really lucked out!"
Looking at the Heavenly Flame before him, Xiao Yan felt like a pie had just fallen from the sky.
At the same time, he patted his chest and made a promise to Zhou Changqing. "Don't worry. If you ever need me, just say the word. I'll help you no matter what. I won't let you be put in a difficult position."
If Queen Medusa's other method failed, he would absolutely not stand by and watch. This wasn't because of Medusa's generosity in giving away the flame for free. Her generosity was toward Old Zhou, not him. The one giving him the flame was Old Zhou.
Xiao Yan simply didn't want Zhou Changqing to be implicated if the worst-case scenario came to pass.
"That's all I needed to hear. I was honestly worried that if her evolution failed, she'd be furious with me for giving away the Heavenly Flame. My small frame can't handle her wrath."
Zhou Changqing nodded. In truth, he wasn't too worried. He knew Xiao Yan's character and had confidence in his own lightning energy. This was just a precaution, just in case.
"Find a time to refine the Heavenly Flame soon. The longer you wait, the more can go wrong." Zhou Changqing pushed the crystal lotus toward Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan stared at the flame within, silent for a moment. He didn't stand on ceremony with Zhou Changqing and simply nodded.
"I'll take it, then."
"Right. Oh, and remember to return this crystal lotus. I still have a use for it."
"Got it."
Taking the Heavenly Flame, Xiao Yan waved goodbye to Zhou Changqing and slipped out the window, disappearing into the night.
Watching Xiao Yan leave in such a hurry, Zhou Changqing shook his head and was about to get on his bed to cultivate. But as he stood up, he noticed something new on the table.
It was a scroll made of silver jade, its surface carved with patterns resembling lightning.
"This thing is... hss!"
Picking up the scroll and inspecting its contents, Zhou Changqing couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.
There was only one reason: the scroll opened with a line of large, bold characters!
Radiant Thunder Finger—a Mid Earth-Rank Dou Technique!
How could he not be shocked by the words "Mid Earth-Rank"?
A Low Earth-Rank Dou Technique was considered a top-tier treasure in the entire Jia Ma Empire, even across the whole Northwestern Continent. Very few factions possessed one, let alone a Mid Earth-Rank technique!
Across the entire Northwestern Continent, you could probably count the number of such techniques on one hand! Even at Jia Nan Academy, they were a rare sight!
Looking at the scroll, Zhou Changqing quickly understood what had happened. Xiao Yan must have gotten it from Yao Lao to give to him.
Or perhaps it was Yao Lao's idea.
Given Yao Lao's status, it wasn't impossible for him to have a Mid Earth-Rank lightning-attribute Dou Technique in his collection. After all, Zhou Changqing had just given Xiao Yan a Heavenly Flame. Even if he hadn't expected anything in return for such a massive gift, Xiao Yan couldn't just accept it with a clear conscience.
Brothers were brothers, but if you were generous, I couldn't be stingy!
"A pleasant surprise, indeed."
A smile spread across Zhou Changqing's face.
Putting everything else aside, trading a Heavenly Flame he didn't need for a Mid Earth-Rank Dou Technique that suited him perfectly... no matter how he looked at it, he had come out ahead.
After all, the Green Lotus Core Flame was only ranked nineteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. For anyone besides an alchemist or a fire-attribute cultivator, its value was probably less than that of a Mid Earth-Rank Dou Technique. Even for a fire-attribute cultivator, its value was at best comparable to a High Earth-Rank Dou Technique or cultivation method.
His heart pounding with excitement, Zhou Changqing quickly climbed onto his bed, sat cross-legged, and used his Spiritual Perception to probe the contents of the scroll.