Chapter 70

Zhuang Weiwan’s eyes lit up instantly, like tiny stars ignited in the night.

Then Lin Mo saw her, from the mat beside the ancient cauldron, launch herself at him like a hungry tiger pouncing on prey, amid the dim glow of the furnace.

Waves surged beneath her robe, nearly snuffing out the tiny flame at his fingertip, as her warm breath brushed lightly against him:

“Lin Shidi, you have a Heaven-grade anomaly flame!”

Lin Mo could feel Zhuang Weiwan’s “heat” up close—especially since she’d just been refining pills, her body damp with fragrant sweat, giving off a wet-body allure.

He glanced down and nearly choked—her robe was even bigger than Chu Wange’s!

Lin Mo silently shuffled forward and gently placed the flame before her: “Sister, is this considered an anomaly flame?”

Zhuang Weiwan didn’t notice his small movement; she stared intently at the tiny flame and nodded sharply.

“Yes, of course it is! This isn’t just any anomaly flame—it’s among the highest tier. Lin Shidi, did you obtain this from the Immortal Exam Secret Realm?”

Lin Mo hummed in affirmation, and she sighed with envy: “Lucky you. I’ve cleared countless mission realms and never got anything higher than a Yellow-grade anomaly flame.”

“Sister, you also have an anomaly flame? May I see it?”

He looked at her curiously.

Zhuang Weiwan didn’t refuse. After shifting her hands through two or three gestures, a sudden “whoosh” erupted as a searing flame sprang from her palm.

The flame wasn’t the usual orange-yellow—it glowed with a milky white light, yet its temperature was terrifyingly high.

The proximity burned Lin Mo’s face, making him exclaim in surprise:

“So hot! What kind of anomaly flame is this?”

Zhuang Weiwan answered: “It’s called White Crane Pill Flame. I cleared a thousand Xuanfei Demon Cranes to obtain it. Its quality is mediocre—only Yellow-grade—pale next to your Heaven-grade.”

Cleared a thousand demon beasts…

Lin Mo looked at the gentle, ever-accommodating Sister Zhuang and suddenly recalled her terrifying second-place ranking on the Immortal List. He silently stepped back a pace.

Can't provoke...

Zhuang Weiwan’s pale, sweat-dappled neck made a slight swallowing motion, her gaze still fixed on Lin Mo’s fingertip as if it held some cooling nectar:

“Heaven-grade anomaly flames are the highest known tier. Qingshan Sect likely owns no more than eleven.”

So my flame is the twelfth?

Lin Mo was surprised—now he saw how rare Heaven-grade anomaly flames truly were.

Though he still didn’t know what anomaly flames actually did…

Zhuang Weiwan seemed to sense his confusion and began explaining their effects.

“Generally, anomaly flames have two basic uses: one, enhancing fire-based spell damage in battle; two, serving as pill-refining flames to assist in alchemy.”

“But anomaly flames are rare natural spirits—each has unique properties…”

After her explanation, Lin Mo finally grasped just how rare his [True Ultimate Flame] truly was.

This thing is that precious!?

Now he understood Yan Nanfeng’s reaction that day.

Heaven-grade anomaly flames are the holy grail of pill cultivators—once assimilated, they amplify the fire spiritual root’s properties.

Beyond battle and alchemy, they can also help fire-spirit-root cultivators break through talent bottlenecks.

“Our Alchemy Academy’s senior brother has a fire-wood dual spiritual root—his wood root is exceptionally high, even reaching Heaven-grade. But his fire root is stuck at 79%.”

Here, Zhuang Weiwan glanced at Lin Mo’s [True Ultimate Flame]:

“If he could obtain a Heaven-grade anomaly flame seed, he might become Qingshan Sect’s first alchemist with a dual Heaven-grade fire-wood spiritual root!”

Lin Mo suddenly recalled Yan Nanfeng’s reaction when he first emerged from the secret realm, upon learning Lin Mo possessed a Heaven-grade anomaly flame.

Could that “friend’s disciple” have been this senior brother?

A single Heaven-grade spiritual root is already extraordinary.

In past generations, such talent would have been enough to contend for the Immortal List’s Top Graduate.

What would a dual Heaven-grade root be like?

Especially, as Zhuang Weiwan said, fire and wood complement each other perfectly for alchemy.

If he achieved a dual fire-wood Heaven-grade root, he might truly leave all others far behind in the alchemy path.

“But Heaven-grade anomaly flames are rare beyond chance. Even within Qingshan Sect, among the Nine Great Academies, or across all Jiuyuan Continent, cultivators who control anomaly flames are exceedingly few.”

Zhuang Weiwan shook her head, her tone tinged with regret.

Good thing I swallowed it fast… Lin Mo glanced at her expression and thought inwardly.

Yan Nanfeng naturally wouldn’t forcibly seize his flame—otherwise, he’d have had the chance back then.

But trusting Yan Nanfeng’s character didn’t mean trusting every disciple of Qingshan Sect.

Lin Mo thought for a moment, then asked:

“Sister Zhuang, how can I assimilate a Heaven-grade anomaly flame seed faster?”

The more he understood [True Ultimate Flame]’s rarity, the more impatient he grew with his slow assimilation progress—he felt unsafe.

Zhuang Weiwan nodded immediately:

“Yes, there are many ways: refining pills, meditating, standing Zhuang … all work.”

Meditating and standing Zhuang were too slow. As for refining pills…

Lin Mo frowned slightly, about to speak, when she added:

“Lin Shidi, if you truly use your anomaly flame for refining, it will enhance results beyond ordinary Dao-fire—especially a Heaven-grade flame. Even a single flicker is useful.”

As she spoke, her eyes shimmered with envy again.

Lin Mo said, surprised: “This tiny flame can refine pills?”

Zhuang Weiwan affirmed: “Not alone, of course. But as auxiliary support, it’s perfectly fine.”

Hearing this, Lin Mo’s eyes lit up. He looked at her and said:

“Sister Zhuang, let me help you refine pills!”

Zhuang Weiwan hesitated: “This… isn’t quite right.”

“Why not? Is my little flame not good enough, or do you not need assistance?”

“No, that’s not it,” Zhuang Weiwan shook her head. “But the Hundred-Day Enlightenment period is limited—helping me refine pills would delay your cultivation progress.”

No problem—I’ll just Kou 1 with my other hand… Lin Mo thought inwardly.

Then he put on a look of solemn determination, gazing steadfastly at Zhuang Weiwan:

“Sister Zhuang has always been so kind to me. Now that your studies are heavy, I naturally should help.”

“Besides, it won’t take much time—I can come after each session under the Enlightenment Mist to assist you, and I can also ask you about alchemy.”

Zhuang Weiwan’s cheeks flushed slightly as she said:

“How did you know my studies are so heavy?”

Refining pills deep into the night? If you can’t tell that, you’re either blind or heart-dead… Lin Mo thought inwardly.

Zhuang Weiwan clearly struggled.

After a moment, she finally couldn’t resist the lure of a Heaven-grade anomaly flame: “Then… I’ll trouble you.”

She turned back to the tiny flame, her eyes filled with anticipation.

Lin Mo’s lips curled into a smile as he said:

“No, it’s ‘I’ll trouble’ Sister Zhuang!”

…

After a little more conversation, they agreed on a time for tomorrow evening’s pill refining. Lin Mo then bowed and took his leave.

As he stepped just beyond the courtyard gate, a sharp “crack” sounded beneath his foot.

He looked down—and froze.

“Again… did I just level up?”