Chapter 246: First Encounter with the Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven
"Boom~"
Inside the small Pill Tower, five-colored thunderclouds gathered in the sky, thunder booming through the heavens, and overwhelming pressure filled the air. Yet, before the clouds could fully form, a dark golden figure shot upwards, with a violent punch tearing apart the space and completely shredding the dark clouds covering the sky.
"Whoosh~"
The pill cauldron rumbled, and a golden pill shot through the air, but was caught steadily by an invisible hand. The immense Hun force directly shattered the faint spiritual sense emanating from the golden pill.
Yao Yan opened a jade vial, and the golden pill that had not yet escaped was sucked into it. In addition to the jade vial in his hand, two other identical vials were placed in front of him, each containing a golden pill with five-colored pill lightning. These pills' formula was something he had exchanged with Xuan Yi. The pills were called the "Five Qi Returning to Origin Pill," a superior-grade eighth-tier pill that could significantly improve the quality of Dou Qi and increase the chances of breaking through current bottlenecks.
Both Wind Venerable and Iron Sword Venerable had been stuck at their current realm for decades. They lacked only an opportunity, and this pill could help them break through their current level.
As for Fire Venerable, his accumulation was even more terrifying. Thousands of years of refining his Hun body weren't as simple as they sounded. After this period, he had fully adapted to his body, and the next stage would definitely see rapid improvement in his strength.
Yao Yan turned and looked at Wind Venerable and the others, handing over the three vials of pills. He smiled and said, "The three of you, each take one. This pill can help you break through. With your accumulations, breaking through your current level should not be difficult."
Wind Venerable took the pill, and a flash of admiration appeared in his eyes. He felt that Yao Yan's pill refinement skills were nearly on par with that of Medicine Elder. His speed in refining eighth-tier pills could rival even those veteran alchemists. Though he marveled, he didn't forget to tease, "I can finally have eighth-tier pills again, how nostalgic."
Back when Medicine Elder was still around, he could have as many eighth-tier pills as he wanted, as long as the medicinal materials were available, almost without limitation. This allowed his strength to increase rapidly, going from a one-star Dou Zun to a four-star Dou Zun in just over a decade, until Medicine Elder adopted Han Feng, that rebellious child, and everything changed.
Love doesn't disappear; it only shifts.
"Thank you." Iron Sword Venerable's stern face relaxed slightly as he cupped his hands in thanks to Yao Yan, his tone serious. "If you need anything in the future, feel free to ask."
"I won't be polite with you, kid~" Fire Venerable laughed heartily, putting the pill into his spatial ring. He planned to go into seclusion for a while and increase his strength. After all, he couldn't let this kid catch up to him so soon.
Though that day would come eventually, delaying it by even one day was something the old man cared about.
After exchanging pleasantries with the three elders, they each went into seclusion.
As for Medicine Elder… he was still in the transformation phase, and it was uncertain how long it would take. But the increasingly terrifying pressure indicated that things were going well. Perhaps this old man could indeed make a leap, skipping the semi-Saint stage and directly breaking into the Dou Saint realm.
Such things were rare on the Dou Qi continent. Most cultivators had to go through the semi-Saint phase to gradually transform their bodies until they were completely transformed, only then stepping into the one-star Dou Saint level.
Medicine Elder, however, had bypassed that process, and the materials used to refine his body were all of Dou Saint level. The only thing to worry about was the perfect integration of his Hun and body.
If he could control it perfectly, Medicine Elder would naturally take that step!
"Whoosh~"
The space rippled, and Xuan Yi's graceful figure appeared in Yao Yan's line of sight. She looked at Yao Yan and smiled lightly, "The medicinal materials you need have already been prepared, but the qualification to refine the Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven is a bit troublesome. Some of the old geezers in the Pill Tower think you haven't achieved any significant accomplishments, and thus you're not qualified to obtain the Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven… Even if they're willing to give it to you, they'd want to observe you for a few years to ensure you won't just run off after receiving the benefits."
So the Pill Tower has some smart people... Yao Yan muttered in his heart, feeling somewhat helpless, but his expression remained neutral, "What do I need to do?"
"The Pill Tower focuses on alchemy. What's considered 'merit' is related to refining pills. With your alchemy skills, you could take on tasks at the Small Pill Tower and refine pills for people outside. These pills will be scored and recorded. Once you reach a certain amount, you can exchange it for the qualification to refine the Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven." Xuan Yi's voice was soft as she explained.
"A certain amount?" Yao Yan frowned slightly and asked.
"Taking three-colored eighth-tier pills as an example, about a hundred pills... If it's seven-colored or above, around ten pills." Xuan Yi said with some helplessness. She couldn't do much about it, as the Pill Tower wasn't just hers. There were many elders in the Small Pill Tower, and fairness was essential for such a large organization to maintain its operation.
They had already given Yao Yan enough preferential treatment, but that treatment couldn't continue indefinitely.
Otherwise, what would others think?
The Pill Tower wasn't a dictatorship... Of course, if a Dou Saint-level elder spoke up, it would be a different matter.
"One hundred..." Yao Yan thought for a moment. With his current strength, if he went all out, there was a good chance he could complete this task in three years. Three years didn't seem too long, and this assessment didn't appear too difficult, but he couldn't afford to waste three years.
He had made a plan for himself: by the end of this year, he must attempt to refine the Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven. After succeeding, he would return to the Hun Clan for a bloodline cleansing and quickly ascend to Dou Saint!
Yao Yan was very clear about the difficulty of advancing beyond the Dou Saint level. In the original story, Xiao Yan had to rely on pills and the Clean Lotus Demon Flame to increase his strength. In the end, he barely reached the Seven-Star Dou Saint level, and it became much harder to improve further.
The Clean Lotus Demon Flame wasn't available yet, and he couldn't keep waiting... The paths left to him were becoming extremely limited.
If possible, he really didn't want to take that path.
"Don't worry, Xuan Yi will help you. Plus, refining high-tier pills isn't a bad thing. Besides the formulas, it also gives you plenty of opportunities to practice. Your future path is long; there's no need to rush." Xuan Yi noticed Yao Yan's hesitation and comforted him gently.
There's no need to rush... But I'm really in a hurry!
Yao Yan thought in his heart, but he calmly responded, "I understand, Xuan Yi. Don't worry, I know what to do."
Xuan Yi nodded and said nothing more. She turned and left, her figure quickly vanishing as the space distorted. Soon, she met Xuan Kong Zi, who had been waiting outside. He immediately approached her, asking, "How did it go? The kid didn't overthink things, did he?"
"Yao Yan didn't say much, but it's inevitable that he's not happy... those old geezers can't refine pills, but they sure are good at making these kinds of decisions." Xuan Yi's eyes flashed coldly as she spoke.
"The more outstanding someone is, the more likely they'll be attacked. He's too talented, whether in alchemy or cultivation... many people are watching his every move. We've all gone through this, so let him settle for a few years. It'll be good for his future growth. Besides, refining the Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven is extremely dangerous. If we wait until Yao Yan exits his seclusion, it might be better." Xuan Kong Zi said slowly.
Xuan Yi thought for a moment but said nothing more.
"To prevent the kid from overthinking, you can take him to see the Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven. He'll understand once he sees it." Xuan Kong Zi added.
After thousands of years of growth, the Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven almost covered the entire sky above Saint Dan City. Its massive size could easily destroy the entire city if there were no array suppressing it. Many people had tried to refine it over the years, but all had failed, even with the array's suppression.
If it were a one-on-one fight, few could handle it below the Dou Saint level. Even a Dou Saint would only be able to suppress it, not refine it completely, showing just how incredibly powerful it had become.
"Alright!" Xuan Yi nodded.
...
On the other side, as Yao Yan was thinking about how to contact Xuan Xu Zi, Xuan Yi's figure appeared again. At the sight of Yao Yan's confused look, she smiled lightly, "Would you like to meet the real Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven?"
Yao Yan's eyes flickered slightly, then he nodded. After refining the Burning Technique, his interest in heavenly flames had grown immensely.
"Then let's go~" Xuan Yi raised her hand, creating a silver spatial portal. She smiled at Yao Yan.
Yao Yan stored the Myriad Beasts Cauldron in his spatial ring, took a deep breath, and followed Xuan Yi through the silver portal. As the space fluctuated, his fusion heavenly flames suddenly became heated, seemingly sensing something, growing wildly agitated.
Moments later, a desolate land appeared before them, filled with a shallow purple mist-like energy. These energies gathered from all directions, exuding an indescribable heat. Even just touching the air felt like the Dou Qi was burning.
"This place is the Starry Universe, and the Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven is sealed ahead. These are the powers of the stars. Although there's a spatial seal around here, it can't stop the star power. They'll keep being drawn to the Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven..." Xuan Yi explained softly.
She led Yao Yan through the void, and they soon arrived at the location where the Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven was sealed. There lay a massive purple-black dragon, sprawling on the ground, its body stretching far into the distance, seemingly endless.
Occasionally, purple-black flames would rise around it, flashing and vanishing. These flames made the surrounding air incredibly hot, distorting the space around them.
At the same time, an indescribable pressure surged toward them, creating a suffocating feeling.
"This is the Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven..." Yao Yan pursed his lips, suppressing the restlessness in his heavenly flames. His eyes were slightly heated, and he had a feeling that if he could completely devour and refine the Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven, his strength would skyrocket.
The accumulation of the flame over thousands of years was terrifying, and its growth was nourished by the nearly endless star power.
"Would you like to try?" Xuan Yi looked at Yao Yan, her voice gentle.
"?" Yao Yan looked at Xuan Yi in confusion, not understanding her meaning.
"Try to see if you can gain its approval. That's the only way to refine the Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven. As you can see, it has grown to an extraordinary level. Trying to forcefully refine it would be extremely difficult, with a very slim chance of success." Xuan Yi's voice was serious as she looked at the massive dragon before them.
After a pause, she continued, "If you can gain its approval, it would save you a lot of effort. If you can't, you'll have to forcefully refine it. But such an opportunity will only come once. So, Xuan Yi hopes you will be cautious!"
There were things she didn't say: If Yao Yan failed to refine it, they would have to bear the consequences of the Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven's violent reaction. This was also why Yao Yan was refining pills to earn points.
"I understand Xuan Yi's meaning!" Yao Yan nodded, his voice serious.
"Let's go try." Xuan Yi led Yao Yan toward the Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven. Soon, the two arrived at the dragon's head. There, between its brows, a piece of purple-black dragon scale was uncovered by the purple flames, completely different from the rest of its body.
"Place your hand there~"
Yao Yan didn't hesitate. He placed his palm on the scale, then closed his eyes and extended his Hun force. Immediately, a sea of purple-black flames appeared before him, and a tiny dragon was coiled within. It seemed to sense someone probing it and immediately opened its cold dragon eyes, filled with purple flames, staring indifferently at Yao Yan's soul.
"You foolish human!" Without speaking, a voice echoed in Yao Yan's mind, full of sarcasm.
Over the years of being sealed, many humans had come, and their goal was always the same: to refine it. Did they really think this heavenly flame lacked intelligence?
"It actually grew to the point where it can speak? That's truly rare." Yao Yan watched the fire dragon with interest, chuckling softly. If Ling'er could do this, he would be very happy. But unfortunately, the little one was currently just a lazy glutton. To grow to the level of the Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven would probably take many more years.
The Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven's gaze turned colder, and without speaking, a scorching wave of purple-black flames surged toward him. The terrifying heat caused the surrounding space to twist and collapse.
"Boom~"
Yao Yan's Hun force exploded outward, isolating the incoming sea of flames. The sting from the Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven, his Hun had long become accustomed to. Moreover, with the enhancement of the Dou Emperor bloodline from the Flame Clan, it had been greatly weakened and was now something he could ignore.
"It's normal to be irritable after being sealed for so long, but don't you think it's lonely here?" Yao Yan looked calmly at the Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven, speaking slowly.
"…Lonely? It's better than being refined by you humans!" The Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven's cold eyes grew colder as it spoke.
"Not without reason. But in the end, the weak must submit to the strong. What do you think?" Yao Yan nodded, agreeing with the words of the Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven, while expressing his own view.
"You human, you are the foolish weak!"
The Three Thousand Flame of Burning Heaven growled, its flames bursting out. The scorching black-purple flames instantly obliterated a portion of Yao Yan's Hun force.
(END CHAPTER)
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