Heavenly Flame: Nine Nether Flame

"Master..."

"Isn't this your Purple Eagle Flame?"

When Gu He revealed the purple flame, Liu Ling's eyes immediately widened.

Having followed Gu He for many years, he naturally recognized this purple flame as the one Gu He usually used for refining medicine.

The Purple Eagle Flame was a peculiar Beast Fire. Back then, Gu He had gone through great trouble to obtain it.

Could it be that Master intends to reward me with the Purple Eagle Flame too?

Thinking of what Gu He had just said, Liu Ling could no longer hold himself back.

Thud!

"Master, you mustn't!"

"Absolutely not!"

"You first bestowed a Seventh-grade cultivation technique upon your disciple, then passed on your cultivation to me. I can never repay you for those alone."

"The Purple Eagle Flame is the flame Master uses for refining medicine. This disciple absolutely cannot accept it!"

This time, Liu Ling acted completely out of character, kneeling on the ground and refusing to accept it no matter what.

The Purple Eagle Flame had miraculous effects for alchemists. If he accepted it, what would Master use for refining medicine in the future?

With that thought, Liu Ling refused to accept the Purple Eagle Flame even if it killed him.

"Ling'er, get up first." Seeing Liu Ling kneel again, Gu He immediately felt a headache coming on.

This foolish boy was a good person, but his knees were far too weak.

He knelt at the slightest thing. Who could stand that?

"Master, as long as you take back your order, this disciple will rise." Liu Ling shook his head, still refusing to accept it.

"Ling'er, if you don't get up, your master will get angry." Seeing that Liu Ling would not listen, Gu He could only put on the manner of a strict master and pretend to be angry.

"Master!" Though Liu Ling was unwilling, upon hearing Gu He's words, he could only obediently rise.

"Master, this disciple truly cannot accept the Purple Eagle Flame." Liu Ling still refused to take it.

"Ling'er, your master has actually already obtained information about a Heavenly Flame."

Seeing Liu Ling refuse no matter what, Gu He could only play his trump card. "Your master will soon have no use for this Purple Eagle Flame. If you do not want it, then I'll give it to someone else."

With that, Gu He prepared to withdraw the Purple Eagle Flame in his hand.

Liu Ling froze slightly upon hearing this. Once he came to his senses, he hurriedly grabbed Gu He's sleeve.

"Don't... Master..."

"I was wrong, Master!"

The mournful expression on Liu Ling's face immediately turned into a fawning smile.

"Master, since you have no use for it, then please give it to your disciple."

Gu He said sternly, "Weren't you refusing it no matter what?"

Liu Ling hurriedly admitted his mistake. "Master, I was wrong. I want it, I want it..."

"That's more like it." A trace of smugness flashed through Gu He's eyes. He no longer teased Liu Ling and directly handed the Purple Eagle Flame over to him.

At the same time, the system notification slowly sounded in Gu He's mind.

"Ding! Detected that the host has bestowed the Beast Fire Purple Eagle Flame upon his eldest disciple Liu Ling. Congratulations, the host has triggered Ten Thousandfold Return and obtained the Heavenly Flame Nine Nether Flame."

"The Heavenly Flame Nine Nether Flame has been deposited into the System Space. Please check and claim it."

Ten Thousandfold Return!

The Heavenly Flame Nine Nether Flame!

Gu He's right hand, which held the Purple Eagle Flame, trembled slightly.

"Thank you, Master!" Liu Ling carefully accepted the Purple Eagle Flame and bowed in thanks to Gu He.

"Go on, go on. Hurry and refine it."

Having heard the system notification in his mind, Gu He was already impatient to inspect it. He immediately waved Liu Ling away.

"Yes, then this disciple will take his leave."

Like Gu He, Liu Ling was also impatient to refine the Purple Eagle Flame. Hearing Gu He urge him on, he did not linger and hurriedly left Gu He's room.

After Liu Ling left, Gu He eagerly sent his consciousness into the System Space.

Within the System Space, besides the black scroll and purple orb of light, there was now another purple flame.

This purple flame was highly spiritual and took the form of a phoenix.

"So this is the Nine Nether Flame?"

Looking at the purple flame before him, excitement filled Gu He's eyes.

Heavenly Flames were what every alchemist dreamed of obtaining, and Gu He, as an alchemist himself, was naturally no exception.

"Ding! Does the host wish to begin refining the Nine Nether Flame?"

Just as Gu He's consciousness approached the Nine Nether Flame, the system's voice sounded in his mind.

Hearing the system's voice, Gu He paused slightly before shaking his head.

He did not know whether rashly merging with a Heavenly Flame would be dangerous. Although he had the system's help, Gu He decided that, to be safe, he should raise his cultivation first.

With that thought, Gu He immediately turned his gaze toward the purple orb of light nearby.

"System, extract nineteen years of cultivation!" After pondering for a moment, Gu He directly issued the command.

The moment Gu He finished speaking, an enormous force suddenly surged wildly from within his body.

"Not good!"

Sensing that energy, Gu He's expression changed. His figure flashed, and he arrived in the Alchemy Room next door.

At that moment, the vast energy had already flooded into every limb and bone in Gu He's body. He forcibly calmed himself, then circulated the Purple Sun Art and began absorbing the tremendous energy.

A moment later, Gu He's cultivation began to rise steadily...

Four-Star Battle King!

Five-star Dou King!

Six-star Dou King!

Within the Alchemy Room, the aura around Gu He rose higher and higher, becoming terrifyingly powerful.

Fortunately, Gu He had moved into the Alchemy Room in time. To prevent furnace explosions, its walls had been built with many precious materials, so the commotion caused by Gu He's successive breakthroughs was not enough to alert outsiders.

Seven-star Dou King!

Eight-star Dou King!

Nine-star Dou King!

As he continued absorbing the energy within his body, Gu He's cultivation continued to rise.

In the end, Gu He's cultivation stopped at the peak of Nine-star Dou King.

He was only one step away from breaking through to the Dou Emperor realm.

At the same time, the energy within Gu He's body was finally completely absorbed.

Slowly opening his eyes, Gu He's eyes flashed with excitement.

Nine-star Dou King!

In only a few moments, he had leaped from a Three-Star Battle King to a peak Nine-star Dou King.

This feeling was simply incredible.

Feeling the powerful force of a Nine-star Dou King within his body, Gu He unconsciously revealed a confident smile.

At this rate, it would not be long before he broke through to the Dou Emperor realm.

Having thoroughly read the original work, he naturally understood this.

Only upon entering the Dou Emperor realm could one be considered to possess even a trace of self-preservation ability in this world filled with powerful experts.

"With my current strength as a Nine-star Dou King, fusing with the Nine Nether Flame with the system's help should be fine now."

After pondering for a moment, Gu He said calmly, "System, extract the Nine Nether Flame!"

As soon as Gu He finished speaking, the purple flame within the System Space turned into a streak of purple light and instantly entered Gu He's body.

As the Nine Nether Flame entered his body, Gu He immediately felt as though he had been struck by lightning. His face turned deathly pale in an instant.

An incomparably scorching sensation immediately surged within his body.

Beads of sweat instantly rolled down Gu He's forehead, and he felt every bit of flesh and blood in his body constantly convulsing.

Amid that heart-rending agony, the Nine Nether Flame was gradually refined by Gu He.

No one knew how long had passed before the pain within Gu He's body slowly faded away.

At that moment, Gu He slowly opened his eyes, and a wisp of purple light flashed through his dark pupils.

Gu He slowly extended his right hand. With a thought, a ball of purple flame instantly rose from his palm.

Looking at the purple Nine Nether Flame in his hand, Gu He revealed a satisfied smile.

"Next, it is time for this Emperor-grade cultivation technique, the Soul Devouring Art."

After his excitement faded, Gu He gradually calmed down and slowly turned his gaze toward the black scroll in the System Space.