Qing Yiyun stood with his hands behind his back, arrogance etched on his face. Demanding an arm as punishment seemed trivial in his eyes. As an alchemist of high status in the Star Academy—where even instructors treated him with deference—his superiority complex had long blinded him to others.
"What did you say?" Qing Yiyun's eyes widened in disbelief.
"He said you're hilarious," the Red Flame Spirit Bird cackled. "You really are! Do you think you're a god reborn?"
Qing Yiyun's expression turned ice-cold. The golden beast fire hovering above his head surged, the beast shadow roaring as it pounced.
"Kill him!" Qing Yiyun howled, eyes bloodshot with rage.
The golden beast shadow spewed scorching flames, its maw wide enough to swallow and refine a man whole. Dao Ling extended his slender palm, summoning a wisp of Glazed Elixir Flame that rose 袅袅 (curling), emanating profound waves.
"You're an alchemist too!" Qing Yiyun exclaimed, both enraged and excited. Sensing the flame's potency, he roared, "Perfect! My Beast Fire will devour this Elixir Flame and grow stronger, letting me finally subdue the Star Flame Origin!"
He could hardly contain his glee. The Star Flame Origin was immensely powerful; he'd exhausted countless methods to wound it, yet subjugation remained elusive. Now, someone had "gifted" him a flame—what luck!
Dao Ling's eyes lit up as the Glazed Elixir Flame showed greedy consciousness. Watching the golden beast shadow gape to swallow him, he tossed the flame inside.
"Oh no, oh no!" The Red Flame Spirit Bird squawked, but soon relaxed. This demon wouldn't do something stupid—besides, the Glazed Flame had made it shiver, hinting at its 非凡 (extraordinary) nature.
Qing Yiyun nearly wept with joy. "Hahaha! You fool! Your flame dares challenge mine?" He disdained Dao Ling, sealing the Glazed Flame in a golden furnace shaped like the beast, channeling heaven-earth essence to refine it.
"Ancient Elixir Scripture, Golden Elixir Art!" Dao Ling sat cross-legged, closing his eyes. As his mind entered the furnace, the Glazed Flame transformed into a Glazed Golden Elixir!
A nascent Golden Elixir could seize heaven-earth good fortune, absorb the essence of the five elements, and draw in sun-moon starlight, often triggering heavenly visions like elixir lotus blooms—marking a peerless elixir. When such 逆天 (heaven-defying) elixirs appeared, heavenly signs spread far, and powerhouses from all clans would honor the alchemist.
The Glazed Elixir Flame mimicked a nascent Golden Elixir's vision, 蒙蔽天机 (obscuring heavenly secrets). It absorbed all incoming flames like a sea embracing rivers, growing its origin within the furnace. This was a miraculous technique from the Ancient Elixir Scripture.
"Refine!" Qing Yiyun spewed pure heaven-earth essence from his 天灵盖 (top of the head), pouring it into the furnace. "Don't blame me for bullying you—you asked for this. I'll take this flame!"
"Consider it a gift. Refine it well," Dao Ling grinned.
The Red Flame Spirit Bird eyed the calm youth uneasily, sensing a storm brewing.
Qing Yiyun seethed. Though victory seemed near, Dao Ling's composure enraged him. He longed to see the youth kneel and beg for his flame back.
As time passed, the furnace's energy weakened while the Golden Elixir within absorbed good fortune, growing rapidly.
"What's happening?" Qing Yiyun grew anxious, his face paling from the massive energy drain. The Elixir absorbed flames at a terrifying pace, even pulling in floating Star Flames.
"Damn it, stop stealing mine!" The Red Flame Spirit Bird panicked, frantically gulping down Star Flames for itself.
Qing Yiyun's expression shifted from shock to 狂喜 (ecstasy). "Hahaha! My flame is ascending! This is the legendary 'Myriad Flames Worship' vision! My flame is evolving into a Mystic Flame!"
Ancient records stated: Mystic Flames trigger Myriad Flames Worship; Heavenly Flames cause heaven-earth upheaval; Divine Flames incinerate the sky. Mystic Flames were extremely rare, and evolving one hinted at potential for Heavenly Flames.
Though the Star Flame Origin was a Heavenly Flame, it lacked full strength—yet with cultivation, it would surely become one.
The Red Flame Spirit Bird nearly collapsed. As an ancient ferocious beast, it knew Golden Beast Fire wasn't worthy of Myriad Flames Worship. Only absorbing the Star Flame Origin could boost its potential to Mystic Flame level.
Watching Star Flames flock to the furnace, Qing Yiyun cried out: "The ancients didn't lie! Wonderful!" He looked at Dao Ling magnanimously. "I'm in a good mood. You'll be rewarded later."
Dao Ling rolled his eyes. His mind marveled as the Glazed Golden Elixir absorbed Star Flames like a sea, refining them within the furnace.
The Star Flame Origin, floating high and radiant, now flew toward the furnace. Qing Yiyun trembled with joy. "Amazing! My flame will surely become a Divine Flame!"
The Red Flame Spirit Bird clicked its beak. Even if Qing Yiyun had this flame, it would likely be stolen the next day.
As the Star Flame Origin entered, the Glazed Golden Elixir blazed, releasing terrifying waves. It hummed, absorbing flames faster than ever, causing a Star Flame riot that sent the Red Flame Spirit Bird and Qing Yiyun flying.
"I see! The flame's power is too great—it's rioting! I need to suppress it," Qing Yiyun said, though soon he winced, spitting blood as his origin energy plummeted. "This is tricky... The riot is too violent."
"Idiot. Your origin's been stolen, and you're still talking about suppressing," the Red Flame Spirit Bird scoffed, mourning the lost flames.
Once all flames were absorbed, the golden furnace 扭曲 (distorted) and vanished into the Golden Elixir.
"Strange... How has my flame changed?" Qing Yiyun wondered. Before he could examine it, Dao Ling beckoned, and the flame flew to his palm.
Qing Yiyun exploded. "You dare! Give it back!" He charged, face contorted. "I'll kill you!"
The Glazed Elixir Flame shot out, incinerating the air like a glass sword.
"Impossible!" Qing Yiyun shrieked. Why did his own flame obey Dao Ling and attack him? The flame pierced his abdomen, nearly evaporating his blood qi.
"Leave him to me!" The Red Flame Spirit Bird swooped down, pinning Qing Yiyun and clawing for his forehead. But as its claws neared, it shuddered—terrible aura lurked beneath Qing Yiyun's skull!