Azure Water Flame

Black Rock City was quite a distance from the empire's border. Even at the speed of this flying monster beast, it would take at least three full days to arrive.

Lin Ran sat upright, a sky-blue crystal floating before him. Its interior shimmered with flowing colors, containing an unknown liquid energy.

It was the Azure Blue Crystal Frank had sent him.

This Azure Blue Crystal had a similar effect to the Amethyst Winged Lion King's Companion Amethyst Source, though the latter was rarer and slightly superior in both potency and effect.

Even so, the Azure Blue Crystal was still a fine treasure.

With a casual wave, Lin Ran swallowed the Azure Blue Crystal. Crimson-gold Dou Qi surged from within him like a massive golden millstone, instantly crushing its outer shell.

The energy within the Azure Blue Crystal was sky-blue, like the condensed essence of an azure sea—cool and profound, yet filled with a peculiar scorching sensation.

According to legend, devouring and absorbing the Azure Blue Crystal allowed one to master the Raging Tide Dragon Beast's exclusive beast flame, the Azure Water Flame—a flame where water and fire intertwined!

"Balanced yin and yang. Though it is a flame, it resembles azure seawater. It does carry a hint of the Sea Heart Flame."

Lin Ran murmured with his eyes closed. As he absorbed the energy within the Azure Blue Crystal, an azure flame gradually rose and flickered inside his body. It was like rolling waves, yet also like drifting fire.

But in the next instant, the crimson-gold Dou Qi within Lin Ran's body became like a bloodthirsty Taotie, opening its massive maw and swallowing it whole.

At the same time, Lin Ran abruptly opened his tightly shut eyes. A flash of azure glinted in his pupils, and his already formidable aura seemed to grow a little stronger.

Lin Ran moved his palm, and a wisp of golden flame rose. The golden fire blazed fiercely, but closer inspection revealed that its color was not purely crimson-gold. A trace of blue-violet light ran through it, and as the flame flickered, it seemed to shine with purple-gold radiance, dreamlike and ethereal.

"What a pity. Its effect is still far inferior to the Companion Amethyst Source. It only increased the strength of my Dou Qi and flames; it did not provide much aid to my blood vitality."

Casually dispersing the flame, Lin Ran took out another scarlet material.

This medicinal herb was entirely crimson, as though it had been bathed in blood. Its appearance resembled a chrysanthemum. It was the Dragon Blood Velvet Chrysanthemum!

"The Adamantine Dragon Bone Pill is a seventh-rank pill. Even if I can refine it, its ingredients are simply too scarce. Not only does it require three exceedingly precious medicinal herbs, it also requires the dragon bones and essence blood of a Seventh-tier dragon-type monster beast."

"Dragon-type monster beasts are immensely powerful. With my current strength, obtaining them is far too difficult."

"But if I directly consume this Dragon Blood Velvet Chrysanthemum, that would be too wasteful..."

After hesitating for a long while, Lin Ran ultimately chose to give up.

The decline of his blood vitality and the imbalance of his yin and yang aura were currently Lin Ran's greatest headaches, but through his efforts, he already possessed the essence blood of three types of Sixth-tier monster beasts.

The Amethyst Winged Lion King, the Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor, and the Seventh-tier Netherworld Python.

Though he was still far from the twelve types of Sixth-tier or higher monster beast essence blood required for the Heavenly Spirit Blood Dragon Pill, it was not entirely without hope.

For instance, the Black Corner Region contained many rare treasures, including the essence blood and Magic Cores of high-tier monster beasts!

Before then... at worst, he could harmonize his yin and yang a few more times.

"Hmm?!"

As though sensing something, Lin Ran's eyes suddenly narrowed.

In his perception, two extremely powerful auras had suddenly appeared atop the flying monster beast, and both were approaching and coming into contact with Green Yi.

"They actually came on their own."

The pitch-black Demon Transformation Pill lay quietly in Green Yi's hand, giving off a faint glow. Though it was quite small and inconspicuous, both the woman in green before her and the enormous creature nearly ten zhang long were staring at it with greed in their eyes.

Especially the giant beast. At this moment, he could no longer restrain the greed and desire in his heart!

"The Demon Transformation Pill... Green Yi, I never thought you could truly get a Sixth-Rank Alchemist to refine one for you. So, what price did you pay to invite Gu He?"

"Green Yi, give me the Demon Transformation Pill!"

The enormous creature spoke in a deep voice. A breeze blew past, revealing his figure suspended amid the sea of clouds.

The creature's body was exceptionally long and massive, entirely black, with colorful patterns running across its dark scales, making it appear rather strange.

Eight black wings tinged with purple grew from either side of the giant snake's body. A black, spiraling horn protruded from its head, its tip flickering with a faint purple gleam that clearly concealed deadly poison. Pale colorful patterns vaguely outlined the shape of a crown around its head, while its triangular pupils contained not beastly savagery, but a human-like shrewdness and cunning.

It was the Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor!

"There is no need to be so anxious. It was prepared for you in the first place."

Green Yi gave a soft snort and tossed the Demon Transformation Pill in her hand to the Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor. But when she saw him open his massive maw to catch it, she hastily warned, "Do not consume it here. That lord is still on the flying monster beast."

"That lord?"

"You mean the Sixth-Rank Alchemist who refined this pill?!"

At those words, both Green Man and the Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor froze, their eyes filling with extreme solemnity.

A Sixth-Rank Alchemist was no ordinary figure. Once one was offended, trouble would come without end!

"What are you doing? Refining the pill is one thing, but you even brought that fellow here. Don't you know how troublesome alchemists are?!"

Green Man's expression turned icy as she snapped, "That is a Sixth-Rank Alchemist. If we provoke them, even as three Dou Huang, it will not be easy for us to resolve!"

"Green Man is right. Alchemists are of great importance. How could you bring him here?"

The Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor's expression was equally grave.

Alchemists were like hornets' nests; they could not be provoked. Once one offended an alchemist, one would face an endless stream of retaliation.

The experts known by a Sixth-Rank Alchemist would certainly include quite a few Dou Huang, and they might even be connected to Dou Zong experts. Provoking such a person was undoubtedly an enormous problem for them!

"Of course I understand what you mean, but you also know the current state of the Heavenly Snake Mansion. If we do not make changes now, the Heavenly Snake Mansion will inevitably perish and decline amid internal strife!"

Green Yi shook her head and said softly, "Besides, that person is different."

"Different?"

Green Man and the Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor both frowned. What did that mean?

"He... is very young!"