"Fallen Heart Flame, ranked fourteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking?" A trace of fiery eagerness flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes.
Between the Earth-class low-level fire-attribute technique provided by Yao Lao and the Huang-class low-level evolutive Flame Mantra, he had chosen the latter.
After refining the Purple Crystal Spirit Fruit, with Yao Lao's help he had refined the child fire of the Amethyst Winged Lion and used the protective medicinal power of the spirit fruit to devour it with the Flame Mantra, successfully verifying that evolution was possible.
Next, if he wanted to become stronger, the most important thing was to find Heavenly Flames to devour.
Xiao Ting's words had just given him excellent news.
"Then it looks like I'll have to apply to Jia Nan Academy too." Xiao Yan made no effort to hide his interest. "The Heavenly Flame Training Tower in the Inner Academy would also be twice as effective for my cultivation."
"Entering the Inner Academy requires passing an assessment. The minimum requirement is high-level Dou Master strength. Big Brother Yan, you still need to work hard." Xiao Ting reminded him.
"Mhm." Xiao Yan nodded seriously. "The three-year agreement still has two years left. Even if it's just to defeat Nalan Yanran, I won't slack off."
Xiao Ting nodded slightly and raised his hand, summoning the Purple Beast Flame. "Senior Yao Lao, after breaking through to Dou Grandmaster, whether because of my cultivation technique or because of swallowing the Purple Crystal Spirit Fruit, a special Heavenly Flame has appeared in my body. It has dual lightning-fire attributes but also possesses vast vitality like wood-attribute energy. Do you think I can become an alchemist?"
Yao Lao's figure materialized. He moved closer to the Purple Beast Flame and examined it carefully. "How strange. Is this a mutation of the Amethyst Winged Lion's beast fire?"
Yao Lao sensed the strength of the Purple Beast Flame—it was only at the 13th-rank level.
Yet his own Bone Chilling Flame was faintly transmitting fear.
It was simply unbelievable.
"It does indeed possess vast vitality, similar to wood-attribute Battle Qi."
"Lightning belongs to wood. If you can control the violence of the lightning attribute well with your soul force, in theory you should be able to use this flame to become an alchemist. However, whether it's actually feasible, this old man cannot be certain."
"When you return from Rock Desert City, you and Xiao Yan can learn alchemy from this old man together. We'll observe then."
Yao Lao was quite curious whether Xiao Ting could refine pills with this peculiar flame and was interested in teaching him. After all, he had already taught him Dou Techniques together.
Originally, he had regretted that Xiao Ting's dual lightning-fire attributes disqualified him from becoming an alchemist. Who would have thought the situation would take such a turn?
"Senior, could you first give me some introductory knowledge on alchemy so I can study ahead?" Xiao Ting struck while the iron was hot.
"An alchemist must first learn to identify medicinal ingredients and memorize pill formulas. This will make actual pill refinement much easier later." Yao Lao did not refuse. He took out a handwritten manual he had organized in the past. "This is a catalog of various medicinal ingredients from first to fourth grade, compiled by this old man himself."
"In addition, there are ten pill formulas each for first to third grade. You can familiarize yourself with them when you have time."
"Thank you, Senior." Xiao Ting did not stand on ceremony with Yao Lao.
In the future, he would definitely reach Dou Ancestor or even Dou Venerate before Xiao Yan. Helping Yao Chen revive his body ahead of time would be easy.
After the serious matters were discussed, Xiao Yan prepared to leave with Xun Er. At this moment, Xun Er looked at Xiao Yan with a puzzled expression and asked, "The rank of the technique you're cultivating seems rather low."
"How do you know?" Xiao Yan asked in confusion, which essentially confirmed it.
"Because you're only at two-star Dou Practitioner." Xun Er furrowed her pretty brows. "The energy in the Purple Crystal Spirit Fruit is very gentle. You had already reached the Dou Practitioner level once. Logically, as long as you cultivated a Xuan-class or higher technique, you should have been able to fully refine the medicinal power and reach four-star Dou Practitioner without issue."
"So you're saying Big Brother Yan is cultivating a Huang-class technique!?" An appropriate look of shock and confusion appeared on Xiao Ting's face.
Given his relationship with Xiao Yan, even if Xiao Yan's technique was below Xuan-class, he would naturally show this reaction.
In his heart, he was cheering loudly for Xun Er's discovery.
He even recorded it in the Journal in a single thought.
…
[Xun Er has deduced that Big Brother Yan's cultivation technique is below Xuan-class.]
[It aligns perfectly with my wishes. Best if she can smoothly bring the Flame Mantra into the open.]
[I have no interest in helping Big Brother Yan collect Heavenly Flames. The Green Lotus Core Flame was just incidental.]
[But I can gradually share all the Heavenly Flame information I know and point him in the right direction.]
[Xun Er and I really are in perfect sync.]
…
Xun Er: "..."
…
"Tsk."
In the Snake-People Holy City, Medusa's expression was strange. "How could you not be in sync? In front of your dear little sister Xun Er, you have no secrets at all."
…
At Misty Cloud Mountain in the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Yun—who was handling sect affairs—had a strange look in her eyes. "Suddenly I'm curious what Xiao Ting's expression will be when he finds out the Journal exists."
"Xun Er's expression will definitely be quite spectacular too."
…
In Holy Pill City on the Central Plains.
"Hahaha." Cao Ying laughed so hard she slapped her fair thigh. "Perfect sync? She knows you inside and out."
"Still, sharing all the Heavenly Flame information openly is good. Point me in the right direction too."
…
Xiao Ting had no idea about the women's reactions.
At this moment, his acting skills kicked into high gear. After the shock, he suddenly turned to Yao Lao with eyes full of deep confusion and seriousness.
He did not speak, but both Xiao Yan and Yao Lao understood his meaning: "Give me an explanation."
"This…" Yao Lao and Xiao Yan exchanged glances.
Xiao Yan: Teacher, what should I say?
Yao Lao: How would I know? We can't expose the Flame Mantra.
Xiao Yan: But my little brother Xiao Ting has never been easy to fool. If we don't give him a satisfactory answer, he won't let it go.
Yao Lao: If neither of us speaks, what can he do to us?
Xiao Yan: He can't, but Xun Er can.
Yao Lao: Troublesome.
Xiao Yan: It's all because Little Brother Xiao Ting values family too much and cares about me too much.
They completed the exchange with their eyes in an instant. Yao Lao could only speak with some reservation: "The technique Xiao Yan is currently cultivating is only for laying his foundation. Once his strength improves, he will cultivate a higher-ranked technique."
"This is the first time I've heard that laying a foundation uses a Huang-class technique. It's not like there are no Earth-class low-level ones. Even Xuan-class would work." Xun Er immediately raised an objection.
"Senior, let me take a look at the technique." Xiao Ting was even more direct. "I need to know what's going on. Big Brother Yan is somewhat obsessed with the three-year agreement. I can't just watch him mess around."
Ah, this…
Xiao Yan thought this was truly a sweet burden.
Family—who could understand? His younger brother cared about him too much, making it hard to brush him off.
"I have an Earth-class fire-attribute technique that is very suitable for laying foundations." Xun Er immediately pressed forward step by step. "For Brother Xiao Ting's sake, I can let Cousin Xiao Yan cultivate it."
The situation had arisen suddenly, and both Xiao Ting and Xun Er's attitudes were too righteous and stubborn.
For a moment, Yao Lao and Xiao Yan did not know how to deflect.
"Actually, I am cultivating a technique that can be upgraded. It was previously Huang-class low-level, but after obtaining the purple fire from the Purple Crystal Spirit Fruit, it upgraded to Huang-class mid-level."
Xiao Yan pinched his nose. "So it can be confirmed that this technique is real. Although it's at a disadvantage in the early stages, it will become very strong later. Little Brother Xiao Ting, please don't ask any more."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ting frowned deeply. "An upgradable technique?"
"Xun Er, have you ever heard of such a thing before?"
"No." Xun Er shook her head and analyzed seriously, "The purple fire within the Purple Crystal Spirit Fruit is 5th rank quality, allowing this technique to advance from Huang-class low-level to mid-level."
"Then advancing from mid-level to high-level would probably require sixth-rank quality."
"Advancing from Huang-class to Xuan-class would likely require a Heavenly Flame."
"Could this be a technique that can only upgrade by devouring Heavenly Flames?"
Yao Lao: !
Xiao Yan: !!
Xiao Ting: Holy crap!
Xun Er had just brilliantly deduced the Flame Mantra?
Amazing!
"Big Brother Yan, is that the case?" Xiao Ting's expression had never been more grave. "You're cultivating a technique that can only grow stronger by devouring Heavenly Flames?"
"Those are Heavenly Flames! Even ordinary alchemists find it difficult to obtain even one. And you want to obtain many to upgrade the technique!?"
…