Chapter 76: Rank 1 Supreme Technique: Yan Jin Fire Refinement!

【True Ultimate Flame (Rank 1): 1. Refine the Dao Flame; 2. Increase cultivation speed of fire-based techniques (abilities)】

……

Lin Mo looked at the flame that spontaneously appeared in his palm without effort, a smile of delight crossing his face.

After seven days of sleepless nights, he had finally successfully refined the True Ultimate Flame.

He gazed at the True Ultimate Flame before him; its size had grown from a tiny flame no larger than a fingertip to a fist-sized blaze.

Its color had also become more vivid, divided into three distinct layers.

The bottom layer remained red, the middle layer blue, and the top layer a gradient of greenish-blue, resembling the spinning neon sign of a barber shop.

In the dimly lit courtyard, the flame shimmered brightly.

“This ‘barber shop’ doesn’t look very legitimate…” Lin Mo muttered.

Zhuang Weiwan, watching the strange flame in his palm, her dark circles glowing in the darkness, said:

“Lin Mo, your strange flame is fully refined—truly a double blessing!”

Lin Mo nodded with a smile; it truly was a double blessing. Now that the strange flame was refined, he had no reason to stay here.

Though he hadn’t yet grown tired of Zhuang’s herbal scent, the all-night alchemy sessions drained too much energy, especially after he’d already endured over half a month of sleepless nights in the Immortal Exam Realm.

“Ding!”

A clear chime echoed through the courtyard.

The jade vial floating before Zhuang Weiwan was flicked by her slender finger, gliding smoothly toward Lin Mo and landing precisely in his palm.

Warmth from the pill lingered in his hand; before he could speak, Zhuang Weiwan’s gentle voice reached him:

“Lin Mo, you’ve worked hard. This is just a small token of appreciation.”

Lin Mo was slightly stunned, looking down at the pill in his palm:

【Taiqing Pill (Mid-Grade): When consumed, slightly increases cultivation base and clears the mind and sharpens insight.】

【Tip: Best effect for Rank 2 cultivators.】

A mid-grade Taiqing Pill!

Lin Mo had never expected her to be so generous.

He had already researched the value of Taiqing Pills; ordinary Rank 2 pills were called 【Peiyuan Pills】.

One low-grade Peiyuan Pill was worth half a low-grade spirit stone, while one low-grade Taiqing Pill equaled ten low-grade Peiyuan Pills.

A mid-grade Taiqing Pill was worth roughly five times that of a low-grade Taiqing Pill.

Thus, its market price should be around twenty-five low-grade spirit stones.

But the reality was different.

Because Taiqing Pills had the special effect of calming the mind, they were the optimal pill to take while meditating.

Within the Qingshan Sect, they were among the resources fiercely contested by Rank 2 disciples.

Therefore, the market price of a mid-grade Taiqing Pill ranged between thirty and thirty-five low-grade spirit stones.

If converted into mundane currency…

“Whoa—ten million!”

Lin Mo sucked in a breath internally, yet outwardly he politely said, “Zhuang Sister, you’re too kind. As a junior, helping you is my duty. This is far too valuable—I can’t accept it.”

He spoke those words, yet his grip on the jade vial tightened, not loosening even slightly.

Zhuang Weiwan smiled and said:

“Equal exchange—that’s what a senior alchemist three hundred years ago said, and it remains our guiding principle.”

“Without your strange flame, this superior Taiqing Pill would never have been produced. This is what you deserve.”

Lin Mo still waved his hand. “Sister, you’re too generous.”

Before she could respond, he swiftly tucked the jade vial into his robe.

“If there’s nothing else, then I’ll…”

“Lin Mo, I still have several alchemy formula tasks left this term. Could you stay and help me?”

Before he could finish speaking, he saw Zhuang Weiwan watching him with a hint of hopeful expectation.

Although…

Zhuang Sister, you’re going for the gentle widow vibe—this isn’t the time for coquettish pleading!

Lin Mo did want to return and rest for two days; the arena matches weren’t urgent anyway.

According to Long A, the earliest they’d begin was at month’s end.

He was about to refuse when Zhuang Weiwan added:

“If you agree, I can give you this technique as payment for the alchemy work.”

She handed him the ancient book, explaining as she did:

“This is a technique I obtained in the Immortal Exam Realm. Its rank is decent, but unfortunately… it’s a Rank 1 technique.”

Lin Mo looked at the technique in his hand—【Yan Jin Fire Refinement (Supreme)】

A supreme Rank 1 technique!?

His gaze froze.

First Long A casually gifted him a technique, now Zhuang Sister pays with supreme and superior techniques…

How are you all so rich?!

Zhuang Weiwan looked at him and said:

“Lin Mo, the team leader group has discussed it—this year’s first round of arena matches will likely come earlier than usual.”

Lin Mo was startled: “Why?”

She explained:

“Mainly because no one expected Chu Wange’s deep awakening to come so quickly—and not just her; over half of those on the Ninth Level Awakening Platform have entered awakening, far surpassing previous years, so…”

She didn’t finish, but Lin Mo understood.

The faster disciples entered awakening, the sooner they awoke, accelerating the entire hundred-day awakening cycle.

Once the first group of awakened newcomers—led by Chu Wange—regained consciousness, the first round of arena matches could naturally begin.

“Though most of the top ten newcomers on the Immortal List won’t be challenged in the first round, Lin Mo, you…”

Zhuang Weiwan added, fearing he wouldn’t understand, “might find it harder than the others.”

Even gentle Zhuang Sister said that—so it wouldn’t just be a little hard.

Lin Mo grew even more cautious about the upcoming arena matches; the difficulty was clearly greater than he’d imagined.

Zhuang Weiwan said: “If you combine your strange flame with practicing this technique, your chances of victory will improve. Also…”

She paused, her gaze burning as she looked at the heavenly-grade strange flame in his hand:

“Continuing to cultivate your strange flame not only accelerates technique cultivation but also enhances technique power—this is an excellent way to rapidly strengthen yourself!”

“So, Lin Mo, staying with me to continue alchemy might be your best option.”

Her words sounded like a pervert tempting a child with a lollipop.

But then again, Lin Mo had no real reason to refuse—he slapped the ancient book onto his panel:

【Ding! You have learned Rank 1 Supreme Technique: Yan Jin Fire Refinement.】

Then he said to Zhuang Weiwan:

“Zhuang Sister, you’re too kind. I’ve gained so much from alchemy lately—even without these so-called rewards, I planned to keep working with you.”

Whether she’s a rich woman doesn’t matter—I just want a stable career.

Zhuang Weiwan’s face lit up with a smile. “Then I’ll rely on you, junior brother.”

Lin Mo nodded. “No problem, Sister. Feel free to ask me for anything. But since we’ll be working together for a while, could I ask you one favor?”

“Lin Mo, go ahead—whatever you need, I’ll try my best to fulfill it.”

“It’s nothing much—just don’t take baths.”

“Hm?”

“…”