novelhk 997. Not achieved.
997. Not achieved.
"I wouldn't call myself a senior. I am Xiao Yan of the Starfall Pavilion, and I was once a student of Canaan Academy."
Upon hearing this, Mang Tianchi suddenly looked up and carefully examined Xiao Yan's face, confirming that he was indeed the Xiao Yan who had stirred up the Central Plains and made even the major Dou Di families take him seriously.
Mang Tianchi also smiled sincerely: "I didn't expect to meet Young Master Xiao Yan here. I have heard a lot about you."
Mang Tianchi was naturally well aware of Xiao Yan's identity, and his background was not even a secret among the descendants of Dou Di.
Although the other party claimed to have been his student, Mang Tianchi dared not presume to call himself the dean. Xiao Yan's past experience was also quite legendary. Although he applied to Canaan Academy, he was absent for more than two years. By the time he arrived at Canaan Academy, he already possessed the strength of a Dou Huang. In the end, he only stayed at Canaan Academy for a month, and could not be considered a formal student of Canaan Academy.
"We are somewhat destined to meet. Seeing that you were advancing in the competition, I lent a helping hand."
Mang Tianchi was a shrewd man. Everyone knew Xiao Yan's reputation as a master alchemist and champion of the Pill Refining Competition. Now that he had advanced to the Dou Sheng realm, his alchemy skills must have reached an even higher level. For him to lend a hand must be a great favor.
Mang Tianchi didn't recall ever meeting Xiao Yan before, and he couldn't even mention the favor he owed to Canaan Academy. Since Xiao Yan wanted to help him, it was probably because something about him had caught Xiao Yan's attention.
"I have received a favor from Young Master Xiao Yan. Is there anything I can do to help you with? If it is within my ability, please feel free to ask."
A smile appeared on Xiao Yan's face. He did indeed have something he needed the help of the person in front of him.
"Canaan Academy does possess a unique flame, right? Such a flame is extremely important to my cultivation. If it's unclaimed, I'd like to make a deal with Dean Mang. Rest assured, the price I offer will definitely satisfy you."
Xiao Yan was well aware of his current level; he had most likely already officially reached the ninth-grade alchemist level, but lacked certification.
If Mang Tianchi has any request, he can most likely afford it. The strange flame possessed by Canaan Academy is called the Fallen Heart Flame. Although its ranking on the Strange Flame Ranking isn't very high, it will still be helpful to Xiao Yan in his current state. Pills are easy for Xiao Yan to refine as long as he has the materials, but strange flames are much harder to find. Right now, Xiao Yan only knows of one that is unclaimed.
Upon hearing Xiao Yan's request, Mang Tianchi could only manage a helpless smile. He immediately bowed to Xiao Yan and apologized, saying, "Since Young Master Xiao Yan has made such a request, I should not refuse. However, it is a pity that the strange fire does not belong to me and is no longer at Canaan Academy."
"How could that be? I saw that strange fire from Canaan Academy with my own eyes."
Xiao Yan had already learned about the strange fire, and had even seen it with his own eyes when he went to Canaan Academy. However, the timing wasn't right at the time, and he was in a hurry to get to the Northwest Region, so he missed it. Later, he simply didn't have the time and couldn't find the opportunity.
"Dean Mang can rest assured that Xiao Yan is not an overbearing person. Once a deal is made, he will never force you to buy or sell, and he will definitely not let you suffer a loss."
Hearing Xiao Yan say this, Mang Tianchi's wry smile deepened, and he quickly waved his hand to explain, "Young Master Xiao Yan, please don't misunderstand. If I could make a deal with the champion of the Pill Gathering, I would naturally be more than happy to do so."
"However, the strange fire of Canaan Academy is indeed not my own possession. It was entrusted to Canaan Academy by Fairy Jiang Yunyan of the Thunder Clan. Not long ago, I was ordered by her to retrieve it and return it. So, although I am tempted by this deal, I really cannot do it."
"The Thunder Clan, and it's owned by Fairy Jiang Yunyan?"
Mang Tianchi nodded quickly, then explained, "This fire was found by Fairy Yunyan many years ago when she traveled across the continent, but she herself is not of the fire attribute, so she could not absorb it."
"I came to work under Fairy Yunyan a hundred years ago. After she obtained the Strange Flame, she gave it to me and told me to stay in Canaan Academy and take it back when the time was right."
As Jiang Yunyan's subordinate, Mang Tianchi was naturally aware of the extraordinary relationship between Xiao Yan and Lei Jingxiao, Jiang Yunyan's most valued nephew. Now, upon hearing Jiang Yunyan's name, Xiao Yan's attitude had noticeably changed, and his previously tense heart relaxed.
Even if he knew Xiao Yan really wanted it, he wouldn't dare give it to him. After all, the Thunder Token he used to advance was given to him by Jiang Yunyan after he returned the Strange Fire to her, and she was grateful for his hard work.
"No wonder, no wonder..."
Xiao Yan hadn't quite understood it before. After all, strange flames were rare and precious treasures, especially beneficial to alchemists. Almost every alchemist of a high enough rank would seek out some strange flames. It was common knowledge that Canaan Academy possessed strange flames, lacking a powerful expert to oversee them. It was indeed quite strange that they had never encountered anyone trying to steal or forcibly take them over the years.
Now that we know Jiang Yunyan, and even the Lei Clan, are behind it, everything makes sense. Those of average strength naturally wouldn't dare covet the Strange Flame. Alchemists with sufficient strength and powerful backgrounds might want it, but they would be even more afraid of the Lei Clan's power, so they could only let the Strange Flame remain at Canaan Academy, not daring to touch it. After all, no one could bear the thought of a Cloud Smoke Sword falling from the sky while they were diligently refining pills at home.
Moreover, Xiao Yan immediately understood. Jiang Yunyan herself wasn't of the fire attribute, so at this point in time, if she retrieved the strange fire, it naturally wouldn't be for her own use. Among the Lei Clan, the only one who could use this strange fire and was qualified for Jiang Yunyan to make sacrifices for it was his good brother, Lei Jingxiao.
Although Xiao Yan wanted the strange fire, he also knew that everyone needed it, including his teacher, junior sister, and friends, so he would no longer covet it.
"Since that's the case, then we might as well get rid of this strange fire."
Xiao Yan stood still, extended his right hand, and released the wisp of power he had previously sensed around Mang Tianchi. He asked Mang Tianchi, "There's something else. I've noticed that this energy is rather peculiar, and I'd like to ask Dean Mang to enlighten me. What is this?"
Seeing the power released by Xiao Yan, Mang Tianchi's expression finally changed from a bitter smile to a smile: "Young Master Xiao Yan should also know that there is an extremely vast magma beneath Canaan Academy, and within the magma lives a kind of naturally growing lizard fire monster."
"The lizard fire monster wasn't very strong. After I killed it, I obtained this item, which I named the Magma Fire Orb. It's somewhat similar to a magical beast's core; it was the lizard fire monster's core. However, unlike the lizard fire monster, this fire orb can be directly absorbed to enhance one's cultivation."