Chapter 790

Hearing the words of the disciple clad in Fire Spirit Clan robes, Xiao Yan felt as if he had been transported back to the past.

Familiar—too familiar!

At this moment, Xiao Yan's gaze settled on the Fire Spirit Clan members; how could he not understand what they were thinking? The Fire Spirit Clan had always been obsessed with Strange Flames, believing all Strange Flames of the Great Thousand World belonged to them—how could they possibly tolerate one being snatched right before their eyes?

Xiao Yan stared at the group, calm and unruffled, and said: "So what do you intend to do? I've no grudge against your Fire Spirit Clan. Today, I'm in a good mood, and since there's still time, I'll entertain you."

Zhu Luo also glared coldly at Xiao Yan, his eyes flickering with murderous intent—he made no effort to hide it; there was no doubt he wanted Xiao Yan dead. Though others had already refined the Strange Flame and imprinted their spiritual soul upon it, the Fire Spirit Clan possessed methods to extract the Strange Flame from the divine soul.

Xiao Yan smiled faintly and said: "Force is fine too. But let me remind you—one who opposes me walks only the path of death. If you're ready to die, come forward."

Xiao Yan's confidence was far from lacking—he had reached Upper Earth Supreme rank, and he had acquired the Secret Treasure left behind by the Domain Beyond demons. Even if no Earth Supreme Great Perfection existed here, even if he faced a Spirit-grade Earth Supreme or the Western Heaven War Emperor appeared, Xiao Yan could at least escape.

But if he used certain methods, he might truly be unable to clear his name—even if he jumped into the Yellow River, he couldn't wash himself clean.

For a moment, Xiao Yan felt the same awkwardness he once had when hiding his identity from the Soul Sect.

"Hehehe, a fine phrase—'path of death.' No wonder you dared kill disciples of my Heavenly Saint Sect, wantonly poisoning our younger generation with cruelty and tyranny! Do you truly believe reaching Upper Earth Supreme makes you invincible?!" A voice tinged with chilling malice rang out.

As a humming sound filled the air, space twisted, and a vast multitude of Heavenly Saint Sect disciples surged forth like countless flying insects, instantly emerging from Space and surrounding Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian completely.

"Heavenly Saint Sect's Young Sect Master, Cao Zi!" At the chilling voice, many gasped—including numerous Fire Spirit Clan elders.

Though the Heavenly Saint Sect was not a true Heaven Supreme Sect—only having once produced a Heaven Supreme—it was undoubtedly the most troublesome, for due to Young Sect Master Cao Zi, the sect had already half-joined the Ancient Myriad Grassland, becoming an affiliated faction of it.

Now, Cao Zi arrived with countless disciples, yet his robe differed from those of the Heavenly Saint Sect disciples—it was a grass-green long robe, adorned on the chest with a badge of the Ancient Myriad Grassland.

Countless disciples encircled Xiao Yan, while Cao Zi, clad in the Alchemist Long Robe, stood on a higher elevation, beneath the blue sky, holding a folding fan, looking down upon Xiao Yan.

"So, are you Heavenly Saint Sect also going to stick your nose in?" Xiao Yan lazily glanced at Cao Zi, then chuckled: "From what I hear, that Xue Tong finally died. You couldn't even cure such a simple poison?"

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Cao Zi's expression darkened. As Xiao Yan had said, he had failed to cure the poison—Xue Tong ultimately paid for his arrogance with his life.

As an Alchemist of the Ancient Myriad Grassland, Cao Zi had exhausted every technique yet still failed to remove the poison—an unbearable humiliation for him.

"Hmph!" Cao Zi's voice rang loud as thunder, coldly declaring: "Today, you killed a disciple of my Heavenly Saint Sect. Come back with me to the sect to face punishment—you may yet live. Otherwise, today is your death day."

Instantly, powerful spiritual soul fluctuations surged forth, and several elders among them had reached Earth Supreme rank—especially the guards beside Cao Zi, whose strength matched Xiao Yan's, both at Upper Earth Supreme.

The Heavenly Saint Sect, after all, was once a Heaven Supreme Sect. Unlike the Luo Divine Clan, it housed not only Earth Supreme Great Perfections but several Upper Earth Supremes; thus, facing Xiao Yan, who also stood at Upper Earth Supreme, they paid him no mind.

Not to mention the Heavenly Saint Sect's ties to the Ancient Myriad Grassland.

Hearing this, Xiao Yan laughed and said: "Go back to your sect to face punishment? Oh, I see—you want the Strange Flame too."

The enhancement Strange Flames grant to Alchemists required no further explanation from Xiao Yan.

Unlike ordinary fire seeds or Beast Fires, Strange Flames are not only immensely powerful and endowed with unique abilities, but they are born of Heaven and Earth, imbued with Heaven and Earth Power—when refining Elixirs, they elevate the Elixir's quality. This is the greatest advantage Strange Flames hold over other flames.

Cao Zi was an Alchemist; naturally, he craved the Strange Flame.

Hearing this, Zhu Luo and the other Fire Spirit Clan disciples frowned, yet none spoke—they merely observed, for Cao Zi was backed by the Ancient Myriad Grassland, a force rivaling the Five Great God Tribes, far stronger than their own Fire Spirit Clan.

"Strange Flames are Supreme Treasures of Heaven and Earth—belonging only to those with the ability to claim them," Cao Zi crossed his arms and sneered. "Moreover, my brother Xue Tong told me before he died that he discovered the Strange Flame. You poisoned him to seize it. Morally and rationally, this Strange Flame belongs to the Heavenly Saint Sect."

Hearing Cao Zi's brazen, unreasonable words, not only Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian, but even other spectators wore expressions of contempt.

Some present had been there that day—they all knew Xue Tong had discovered no Strange Flame at all; he merely sought to claim a Divine Weapon by marking territory, with no connection whatsoever to the Strange Flame.

Hearing Cao Zi's words, Xiao Yan remained utterly unperturbed, indifferent to the slander—for in the Great Thousand World, strength still ruled, not reason, but fists.

Xiao Yan merely smiled, calmly saying: "Strange Flames belong to those with ability—that's reasonable. Then let's make a wager. We'll compete in Spirit Refining—refine the same Elixir and compare quality. If you win, you may kill or maim me as you please."

"If you lose, it's simple: hand over the Pill Refining Method and Pill Formula you obtained from the Ancient Myriad Grassland—both, without reservation."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Xiao Yixian glanced at him, sighing helplessly—she knew he was setting a trap.

Cao Zi sneered: "Challenge me in Pill Refining? Hmph! The Ancient Myriad Grassland's Alchemy is the pinnacle—when refining the same Elixir, its quality is inevitably supreme!"

Xiao Yan said leisurely: "So you're afraid to wager? Of course, if you're too cowardly, forget it. It seems you have no confidence in your Ancient Myriad Grassland Pill Refining Inheritance."

"Shut your filthy mouth!" Cao Zi couldn't help cursing at Xiao Yan's provocation. He sneered: "How dare a gutter Alchemist with some ragged, unknown inheritance compare himself to the Ancient Myriad Grassland? Who the hell do you think you are?!"

"Fine then, if you won't wager, forget it. Seems the Ancient Myriad Grassland isn't so impressive after all." Xiao Yan laughed, shaking his head—his baiting technique was flawless.

"You insolent fool!" Cao Zi sneered. "Fine—I accept!"

Hearing Xiao Yan voluntarily propose the wager, Cao Zi was inwardly tempted. If he used force to seize the Strange Flame, the Fire Spirit Clan might not let the Heavenly Saint Sect have their way.

Though he was indeed a member of the Ancient Myriad Grassland, he was only himself—the Fire Spirit Clan's depth far surpassed the Heavenly Saint Sect's. He had originally come only to seize Xiao Yixian's High-Rank Sacred Object, but now, Xiao Yan's words stirred his desire.

If he could obtain both the High-Rank Sacred Object and the Strange Flame, his Alchemy would surely improve further, elevating his status within the Ancient Myriad Grassland!

"Fine—I accept!" Cao Zi sneered. "Prepare to lose. Today, I'll make you lose utterly! I'll show you that even with a Strange Flame, the Ancient Myriad Grassland's Pill Refining Inheritance is invincible!"

Even as a disciple of the Ancient Myriad Grassland, Cao Zi had no right to wager its Pill Refining Inheritance against outsiders—but he was utterly confident in his own Alchemy. In his view, only the Dan God Clan surpassed the Ancient Myriad Grassland in the Great Thousand World; even Xiao Yan with his Strange Flame could not match it.

This wager left many distant observers exchanging glances—many thought the bet absurd.

"Is this kid insane? To make such a bet? It's a death trap!" muttered one elder.

Another Alchemist prodigy sneered: "Overconfidence is arrogance and ignorance—seeking death. He truly believes a Strange Flame makes him invincible? Yes, Strange Flames do slightly improve Elixir quality—but only slightly. In the Great Thousand World, only the Dan God Clan can match the Ancient Myriad Grassland's Alchemy."

Though many Alchemists coveted the Ancient Myriad Grassland's Pill Refining Method, who wouldn't want to obtain the Great Thousand World's supreme Pill Refining Method and Pill Formula?

But everyone knew the Great Thousand World's Alchemy was monopolized—utterly unmatched by the Ancient Myriad Grassland.

Countless Alchemists had challenged the Ancient Myriad Grassland in vain—no one succeeded. Others? Even less likely.

Zhu Ku grabbed Zhu Luo's arm and shook his head: "Wait and watch. Though our Fire Spirit Clan fears no Heavenly Saint Sect, Cao Zi is an Alchemist of the Ancient Myriad Grassland—if we kill him, even our Ancestors couldn't answer to the Ancient Myriad Grassland."

The Fire Spirit Clan still had Upper Earth Supreme Ancestors—but so did the Heavenly Saint Sect. If a full-scale battle erupted, neither side would gain clear advantage.

"Hehehe, since both of you are so eager, the Wood Spirit Tribe can provide the Medicinal Materials." At this moment, an elder clad in Wood Spirit Tribe attire slowly approached.

"It's Elder Mu Chen of the Wood Spirit Tribe!"

"They say he has no Alchemy talent, yet through relentless effort, he raised his Alchemy to Seven-Rank Pill Refining Grandmaster."

Though the Wood Spirit Tribe's current strength was inferior to the Fire Spirit Clan, due to its nature, it was inherently poor in combat, excelling instead in herb cultivation, with cultivation methods focused on defense and long life force.

Elder Mu Chen wasted no words—he waved his hand, and two prepared sets of Medicinal Materials appeared before everyone. As soon as they were displayed, the very air filled with the scent of herbs!

"These are two sets of Recovery Spirit Sovereign Pill Medicinal Materials, recently obtained from the Wood Realm. I'm sure you both know the Recovery Spirit Sovereign Pill," Elder Mu Chen smiled, stroking his beard. Though he lacked Alchemy talent, he adored Pill Alchemy—seeing a duel of Spirit Refining sparked his interest.

The Recovery Spirit Sovereign Pill is a Second-Rank Spiritual Pill for healing, suitable for Earth Supremes below Third-Rank—it's a common Healing Pill. Moreover, its Pill Formula is public, for during the great war fifty thousand years ago, nearly all Alchemists of the Great Thousand World refined these Elixirs to supply frontline warriors.

Some Pill Formulas were made public to the entire Great Thousand World—and the Recovery Spirit Sovereign Pill was one of them.

Even Xiao Yan, who came from the Lower Plane, knew the Pill Formula for the Recovery Spirit Sovereign Pill.

Seeing these two sets of medicinal materials for the Recovery Spirit Sovereign Pill, countless people could not help but marvel—though the Recovery Spirit Sovereign Pill was not of high rank, refining it well was an extremely difficult task.

"The Wood Spirit Tribe is truly remarkable; no wonder they are the lineage most skilled at cultivating herbs and nurturing medicinal materials," someone exclaimed involuntarily.

A powerful expert familiar with medicinal materials glanced at the age of the two sets of herbs—both were evenly matched, perfectly flawless; no one could gain an advantage in the materials themselves—they would have to rely on true skill.

In the end, Xiao Yan and Cao Zi each selected one set of medicinal materials. After receiving them, Cao Zi was full of confidence, his aura sharp and piercing, brimming with aggression; he fixed his gaze on Xiao Yan and said, "Let us now ignite our furnaces—I will make you lose with complete conviction."

Xiao Yan merely smiled faintly, as confident as ever. Having been in the Great Thousand World for nearly a year, Xiao Yan was no longer the naive fool he had been when he first arrived—he had already mastered many Alchemy Techniques of the Great Thousand World and significantly improved his own Pill Refining skills.

When he first heard Xue Tong say that Cao Zi was an Alchemist from the Ancient Myriad Grassland, Xiao Yan had already made up his mind.

Xiao Yan was not acting blindly—he had one hundred percent confidence he would win.

Recalling when Xiao Yan first met Hun Xu Zi, Hun Xu Zi had also given Xiao Yan a Poison Pill, simply to test the foundation of his Alchemy.

Alchemists and Poison Masters have always had a delicate relationship; a skilled Alchemist does not merely refine Pills—he masters many other things. Understand this: an Alchemist is an Alchemist, not merely a Pill Refiner. The strength of an Alchemist lies in Pill Alchemy; Pills are merely one of the more common forms.

So when Xiao Yan fed Xue Tong a Poison Pill, his purpose was to test Cao Zi from afar—and when Cao Zi could not even resolve the Poison Pill, Xiao Yan gained a clear understanding.

Cao Zi himself did not know that his true capabilities had already been exposed by Xiao Yan through Xue Tong's Poison Pill—this was why Xiao Yan dared to gamble on Alchemy with Cao Zi.

Cao Zi probably did not even realize he had already fallen into the trap Xiao Yan had laid!

At this moment, Cao Zi solemnly took out his Alchemy Furnace—this furnace was no weaker than the one Xiao Yan obtained from Fire God Mountain; both were Supreme Grade Divine Artifacts.

Alchemists of the Great Thousand World differ greatly from those of the Dou Qi Continent.

With a hum, as Cao Zi's Alchemy Furnace descended, a waterfall-like Spirit Array cascaded from its surface—the furnace came with a built-in Spirit Array, capable of blocking all surveillance and aiding in gathering Heavenly Earth Spirit Qi.

Within the Spirit Array, the furnace resembled a divine mountain shrouded in mist and clouds, majestic and solemn, radiating a vast, imposing Spiritual Pressure—just this one furnace alone was enough to inspire reverence.

"Tsk tsk tsk—this was once the Alchemy Furnace used by the Thousand Dan Pharmacist, a Pill Refining Grandmaster, the very one he used before becoming a Divine Pill Grandmaster," someone exclaimed, even though it had been used by another.

Cao Zi's Alchemy Furnace was precisely the kind used by a Thousand Dan Pharmacist who had reached the level of Pill Refining Grandmaster; after years of continuous Pill Refining, it had not only remained undamaged, but had absorbed countless herbal essences, enhancing the quality of Pills slightly.

This furnace was enough to make every Alchemy Master in the world drool.

Cao Zi, no doubt a worthy Alchemist of the Ancient Myriad Grassland, instantly entered his state and immediately ignited the furnace and added the herbs—his speed was swift, fluid as flowing water; every motion—from adding herbs, controlling fire, to refining—was seamless and unified.

Moreover, though Cao Zi's fire source was not a Strange Fire, it was still an exceptionally unique flame.

Though the Spirit Array concealed his Alchemy Technique and Fire Control Method, every single movement he made still inspired awe.

Especially among Alchemists who understood Pill Refining, they were utterly entranced by Cao Zi's seamless, fluid motions.

For Alchemists fortunate enough to witness this duel, though they could not observe his techniques or steal the Ancient Myriad Grassland's Pill Refining Secret Art or Fire Control Method, they still learned much from Cao Zi's ordinary actions—adding herbs, controlling fire, and more.

"Truly worthy of being chosen by the Ancient Myriad Grassland."

"Yes, I've heard Cao Zi is already a Grade Nine Spirit Pill Grandmaster, just one step away from becoming a Divine Pill Grandmaster—that's why he came to the Five Elements Spirit Soil, hoping to find an opportunity for breakthrough."

"Sssss! Divine Pill Grandmaster! Even within the Ancient Myriad Grassland, that would qualify him as an Elder!"

Under the watchful eyes of all, Cao Zi remained calm and composed—every motion, every adjustment, every control was confident, orderly, as if he were not refining Pills, but strolling leisurely through a courtyard.

In contrast, Xiao Yan beside him appeared awkward and comical.

"What is this Yan Zunzer doing?"

"He looks like he's never even practiced Alchemy before."

Xiao Yan took out the Alchemy Furnace he had received from Xue Tong, examined it carefully, then let out an "Oh!" as he discovered how to activate the Spirit Array.

"So that's how it works—you inject Spiritual Energy here and ignite the fire source. Got it, got it."

This was Xiao Yan's first time using a Great Thousand World Alchemy Furnace.

First, I'll post one chapter—the Dragon Boat Festival is coming, and today I went to wrap zongzi. Tomorrow I'll help my family pick lychees.

I'll try to make up for more later.

Wishing everyone a happy Dragon Boat Festival in advance.

(End of Chapter)