Chapter 525

In the first two rounds of the alchemy contest, Jiang Yaoyan never used primordial fire, but no one doubted he possessed it.

Whether due to his alchemical talent or his status as the young master of the Medicinal King Valley, primordial fire was no great challenge for him.

The moment black flame appeared at Jiang Yaoyan’s fingertip, Zhuang Laozhang of Wan Huozong’s eyes narrowed sharply: “Black… could it be the Devouring Ash Abyss Flame?”

Black primordial fire is among the rarest types in the entire primordial fire system; when Zhuang Laozhang uttered “Devouring Ash Abyss Flame,” those around him—Zhao Haoyang and others—frowned in confusion.

“Master, what is the Devouring Ash Abyss Flame?”

None of them had ever heard of such a flame.

“You’ve never heard of it because your current realm is insufficient, and such flames are exceedingly rare—our sect never informed you.”

Zhuang Lie’s eyes gleamed: “The Devouring Ash Abyss Flame is born beneath certain special abysses; it devours other primordial fires.”

Devours other primordial fires?

Zhao Haoyang and the others were even more puzzled—all primordial fires have some capacity to devour similar flames, so why was Zhuang Laozhang making a special point of this?

“Other primordial fires, even without devouring similar flames, can grow slowly—but the Devouring Ash Abyss Flame can grow only by devouring other primordial fires.”

“It grows solely by devouring other primordial fires?”

This time Zhao Haoyang and the others were truly stunned—and at that moment, an eerie scene unfolded on the arena.

As the black flame appeared on Jiang Yaoyan’s finger, the primordial fires summoned by the other two contestants trembled violently, as if sensing danger, their flames shrinking rapidly, as if terrified of being noticed by the black flame.

The two alchemists controlling those fires turned pale—they realized they could no longer fully control their primordial flames.

This was the primordial fire’s instinctive fear.

“It’s the Devouring Ash Abyss Flame—now the other contestants are in trouble.”

On the high platform, an alchemy master gazed at the black flame at Jiang Yaoyan’s fingertip and murmured softly.

Wherever the Devouring Ash Abyss Flame exists, all surrounding primordial fires are affected; at this point, using primordial fire to refine pills is less stable than ordinary flame.

“Everyone, keep your distance—if your primordial fire gets devoured, don’t blame me.”

Jiang Yaoyan sneered repeatedly, but Lin Chen and the other nine contestants knew that as long as they remained on the arena, they couldn’t avoid its influence.

“Master, does that mean Jiang Yaoyan has already won this alchemy contest?”

Zhao Haoyang looked at his master—if only Jiang Yaoyan could use primordial fire while the others couldn’t, the outcome of this contest was already sealed.

“Not… necessarily.”

Zhuang Lie stared at the black flame at Jiang Yaoyan’s fingertip; due to the formation, he couldn’t probe it with his spiritual sense, but from the way the black flame flickered, he reached a conclusion.

“The Devouring Ash Abyss Flame can devour other primordial fires—but only under certain conditions. Some primordial fires are stronger than it and cannot be devoured. Jiang Yaoyan’s Devouring Ash Abyss Flame hasn’t devoured any other primordial fire yet; as long as the other contestants have offspring flames, they needn’t fear being devoured.”

Hearing his master’s words, Zhao Haoyang snorted.

Offspring flame!

His master made it sound easy.

An offspring flame is formed by fusing multiple mother flames and variant flames—even other offspring flames—and its power is naturally immense.

But the key point is: how could any of these contestants possibly possess an offspring flame?

An offspring flame isn’t formed simply by fusing two primordial fires—it requires matching their properties, and more importantly, whether the alchemist can control both flames.

One misstep could mean instant explosion and death.

To forge an offspring flame, one needs a powerful fire-controlling technique, a strong spiritual soul, and the two primordial flames must have the potential to fuse.

Even in our Wan Huozong, forging an offspring flame requires first verifying whether fusion is possible, then preparing elixirs or other treasures to aid fusion, and only after confirming the alchemist’s spiritual soul and technique meet the standard do the Elders provide protection.

Even Wan Huozong takes such extreme caution—how much more so these alchemists?

For alchemists, one primordial fire is sufficient; more is unnecessary, as the risks far outweigh the benefits.

It’s better to hope one of these contestants has a powerful variant flame or mother flame than to expect an offspring flame.

On the arena, Lin Chen watched Jiang Yaoyan’s haughty expression with a strange look—while the other two alchemists’ primordial fires trembled in fear of Jiang Yaoyan’s black flame, his own internal primordial fire pulsed with longing, as if sensing a delicious meal, restless and eager to surge forth; had he not restrained it, it would have already leapt out to devour the black flame.

“The Devouring Ash Abyss Flame is indeed powerful—but it cannot make all primordial fires submit.”

Wei Yang, who had remained low-key since the contest began, suddenly spoke, sweeping his sleeve—within it, a wisp of deep blue flame floated out; the moment it appeared, the arena’s temperature dropped sharply.

More than a flame, its flickering shape resembled a blooming ice flower from the deepest Nine Heavens.

“Supreme Yin Void Fire!”

On the platform, Gu Yunfeng and the others narrowed their eyes, exchanging glances; in the stands, Zhuang Lie frowned, as if deep in thought.