Heavenly Fire Three Profound, Holy City Imperial Palace!

She had just finished dressing, Xiao Yi Xian smoothing the creases on her skirt.

Her fingers brushed through the strands of hair that someone had tousled. Moonlight filtered through the thin window of the inn.

Scattered specks of light fell across her flushed cheeks:

"Can't you behave for once?"

"All day long, nothing but improper thoughts in your head."

Xiao Yan chuckled as he pinned the Rank 4 Alchemist badge to his chest.

His fingers curled around a lock of the girl's hair:

"What proper person goes wandering the black market in the dead of night?"

He suddenly leaned close to Xiao Yi Xian's ear:

"Why not be more precise—how exactly am I improper?"

"Didn't someone rather enjoy it?"

"Besides, just now, you started it first."

"Shut up!"

Xiao Yi Xian spun around and stomped her foot in embarrassment, her moon-white dress rippling like water.

She grabbed her bamboo hat and pulled it over her head, the tips of her ears still pink with lingering traces:

"Say one more word, and I'll—I'll—"

"You'll what?"

Xiao Yan wrapped an arm around her slender waist, his Four Wings spreading behind him:

"Lock me out?"

"Or maybe, not let me into bed?"

"Xiao! Yan!"

"Hahaha!"

As his crimson Fire Wings tore through the night sky, the girl's scolding scattered into the evening breeze.

At the Alchemist Guild, the black market on the left lay hidden in darkness, yet blazed with light:

Stalls of every kind stretched along the bluestone path, winding and unfurling.

Xiao Yan led Xiao Yi Xian through the crowd, pausing now and then to browse:

"This Purple Jade Hairpin suits your silver hair perfectly."

He tucked the hairpin diagonally into the girl's locks, his fingertips brushing her earlobe as if by accident.

"Too flashy."

Xiao Yi Xian studied her reflection in a crystal mirror, but the corners of her lips couldn't help lifting.

Just as she was about to remove the hairpin, Xiao Yan caught her wrist:

"Keep it on. It looks good."

Warm breath brushed the back of her neck, and the girl's face beneath the hat grew even hotter.

Xiao Yan walked ahead, still holding her hand.

His fiery palm was steeped in a gentle tenderness.

Xiao Yi Xian followed, her gaze never straying from his profile:

She didn't know why—even though she had already given herself to this scoundrel—

She could never get used to his teasing.

What a scoundrel, indeed!

When they turned the third corner, Xiao Yan suddenly stopped.

On a roadside stall, a fragment of pitch-black jade lay quietly.

Xiao Yan couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth:

No mistake—the fluctuation coming from this thing

Was almost exactly the same as the jade fragment he had obtained from the treasury of the Nalan Mansion!

A detail suddenly came to mind—could it be that this fragment contained:

The Heavenly Flame Three Transformations?

Never mind why these big shots in this world of fantasy always used jade to store opportunities—

He had arrived in this holy city a full year or two early!

And he still ran into this!?

But doubts aside, he didn't hesitate.

He crouched down without any intention of hiding his actions and directly picked up the jade piece.

With his strength, there was no need to act like those cautious types—

slowly lowering suspicion, haggling over the price.

Unnecessary. To him, this was nothing but a drop in the bucket!

The withered old man, wrapped in a tattered cloak, his murky eyes—

upon spotting the alchemist badge, suddenly lit up:

"You have a sharp eye, sir!"

"They say this Ancient Jade was found in the ruins of an Ancient Sect!"

"It's indestructible, surely hiding some great mystery within."

"Who knows—maybe a heaven-shaking opportunity lies inside?"

"If this old man could figure it out, I'd never put it up for sale!"

"But you, sir, are different—you're bound to uncover its secrets!"

Without replying to the old man, the moment his Spiritual Power swept over it—

the three types of Strange Fire within him trembled faintly.

His soul fused with his eyes, and he saw clearly:

the surface of the jade piece was covered in dense, tiny runes!

No mistake!

"How much?"

His fingertips rubbed the edge of the jade piece, his voice calm.

The old man raised three fingers:

"Three Rank 4 pills."

Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. Pricing based on my badge rank?

That's bold!

"Slap!"

A badge-like object landed on the stall, face down.

The old man hesitated but said nothing.

Instead, he reached out, picked up the badge, and flipped it over:

The next moment, his hand trembled!

The badge fell back down!

Instantly, his whole body shook, disbelief flooding his eyes:

His voice cracked, hoarse:

"Six... Rank 6!"

Snapping back to reality, he dropped to his knees on the spot—

and kowtowed to Xiao Yan without stopping:

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

The noise drew stares from the crowd, who turned their gazes over—

but they couldn't catch the words exchanged between the two.

"Sir, sir, spare me!"

"This old fool's eyes were blind—this old fool deserves death!"

"This jade piece—no!"

"Everything on this stall—all of it is yours, master!"

"I beg you, master, spare my life!"

Xiao Yan chuckled softly and slowly stood up:

"What's this?"

"Why the reaction? I'm not some thug who bullies the weak."

"Weren't you pricing based on the badge rank?"

"Why not name a price now?"

Pocketing the jade piece, Xiao Yan casually tossed down a pill bottle:

"I'm in a good mood today. A Rank 4 Recovery Pill!"

"No, no, no—this old man wouldn't dare!"

Xiao Yan stopped mid-step and turned around.

"Hmm... you don't want it?"

"I do! I do!"

Hearing Xiao Yan's tone, the old man lunged forward and hugged the medicine bottle, his face a mess of wrinkles as he forced out a stiff smile.

Several stall owners in the distance watched with envious, red-eyed glares.

They had no idea what exactly had happened.

But that old bastard had traded a broken rock for a Rank 4 Pill!

Xiao Yi Xian, tugged along by Xiao Yan, let out a soft laugh and looked at him.

"Having fun teasing an old man?"

"How can you say that?"

"I don't mind giving it away, but offering willingly and being tricked are two different things."

"In this world, there are very few people who can fool me."

Feeling the warmth radiating from the young man's palm, she added, "You're so sharp—who could possibly trick you?"

The moment Xiao Yi Xian finished speaking, Xiao Yan spun around!

He pulled the caught-off-guard girl into his arms.

The black market was bustling with people, and Xiao Yi Xian felt a little shy.

Still, she looped her arms around Xiao Yan's waist.

"What are you doing? We're still out in the street!"

Xiao Yan leaned in close to her ear and whispered softly.

"The one who tricked me—isn't that you?"

"You stole my heart, and now you've stolen me!"

Xiao Yi Xian's cheeks flushed slightly.

"Xiao Yan, can you ever be serious?"

The sky began to pale at the horizon. Xiao Yan suddenly wrapped his arm around the girl's waist.

Transforming into Flowing Fire, he streaked through the fading night.

"I'm being perfectly serious!"

Sacred City, Central Imperial Palace:

Crimson Fire Wings swept over the high walls of the royal city. The guards on duty were about to shout a warning—

But when they spotted the Rank 6 Badge, they dropped to one knee in unison.

"We welcome Master Xiao!"

As the guards' salutes rang out, Xiao Yan landed gracefully with Xiao Yi Xian in his arms.

"A master gracing our imperial palace—it is our honor."

A cool, respectful female voice came from behind the vermilion doors.

Yao Ye stepped out, clad in silver armor that reflected the cold moonlight.

"The Imperial Ancestor has been waiting in the Forbidden Area for some time."

In the morning mist, Yao Ye's eyes beneath her gilded brow guard were sharp.

Her long, waterfall-like hair cascaded behind her, swaying gently in the breeze.

"Master, please!"