Tang Hu'er, Dispute

Xiao Ming didn't hear the whispers among the Burning Flame Valley disciples. After following Tang Zhen for a few minutes, he gradually descended and landed in front of a fiery red hall.

Inside the valley, there are numerous buildings, and many disciples of the Burning Flame Valley dressed in red are moving about. Occasionally, shouts of sparring can be heard, bringing a touch of vitality to this vast valley.

Outside this fiery red hall, there were many disciples of the Burning Flame Valley guarding it.

"Valley Master!" Upon seeing Tang Zhen arrive, the disciples all bowed in greeting.

"Yes, go and invite all the elders to the main hall for a meeting."

After giving the order, Tang Zhen led Xiao Ming and the others into the magnificent, fiery red hall.

As the palace doors opened, the magnificent interior was revealed to everyone.

After everyone sat down, a woman in red walked in shortly afterward.

A dark red whip was wrapped around the slender waist of the woman in red, making her waistline even more alluring. The woman's face was also extremely beautiful, but between her delicate willow eyebrows, there was a hint of heroism. Combined with her fiery red outfit, she looked dashing and had a unique charm.

Upon seeing Tang Zhen sitting in the head seat, the woman's eyes lit up, and she immediately ran to his side.

"Father!"

"Hehe, Huo'er's here. Have you been feeling alright these past few days?" Tang Zhenmi asked with a broad smile.

"No!"

"That's good. Come, let me introduce you. This is Elder Xiao Ming of the Pill Tower. Beside him are his friends, Venerable Tian Huo, Venerable Qing, and Venerable Xian Elder Xiao Ming has come to help us refine the Fire Bodhi Pill. You should thank them properly."

Xiao Ming!

Upon hearing this, Tang Huo'er's bright eyes swept over Xiao Ming and the others. She hadn't noticed when she came in, but now that she saw him, he looked exactly like the portrait. It really was Xiao Ming!

Xiao Ming is a name that is likely familiar to the younger generation throughout Central Plains.

However, are all the people around him Venerable Ones...?

Looking at the unusually young faces of the two people beside Xiao Ming, Tang Huo'er could hardly believe it. When did Central Plains produce so many prodigies?

Tang Huo'er only came to her senses after Xiao Ming nodded slightly to her.

Realizing her rudeness, Tang Huo'er's fair and pretty cheeks flushed slightly.

"My name is Tang Huo'er. Thank you very much, Mr. Xiao Ming, for coming."

Xiao Ming had seen quite a few beauties over the years. Tang Huo'er's appearance might not be as enchanting as Medusa's, nor as ethereal as Xiao Yi Xian, but she had her own unique temperament. Her graceful and heroic demeanor gave her a different kind of charm, which left a good impression on Xiao Ming.

"Miss Tang, there's no need for such formalities," Xiao Ming replied with a smile.

Tang Huo'er opened her mouth as if to say something more, but then closed her mouth and looked towards the entrance of the main hall.

Xiao Ming looked over and saw two white-haired, red-robed old men striding in. Their faces were serious, and they exuded an air of authority.

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Following the two white-haired elders were nearly a dozen other elders, all of whom were extremely powerful and were clearly elders of the Burning Flame Valley.

"Valley Master, you were gone for half a month to visit Sound Valley, and you're finally back! How did the alliance with Sound Valley go?" The old man on the left asked loudly as soon as he entered the main hall, clearly very concerned about the matter.

"We'll discuss this later. Elders, please take your seats."

Once everyone was seated, Tang Zhen introduced Xiao Ming to them.

Upon noticing that the handsome man sitting before them was Xiao Ming, the elders forgot all about talking to Tang Zhen, since there were outsiders present.

He then greeted Xiao Ming.

"Haha, seeing is believing. Elder Xiao Ming is indeed as outstanding as the rumors say; his demeanor exudes the air of a grandmaster."

"Elder Xiao Ming has achieved so much at such a young age; his future is immeasurable..."

"..."

Praise poured out of the elders of Burning Flame Valley as if it were free, displaying their extreme enthusiasm.

This is understandable, as Eighth Grade alchemists are very popular in the outside world, and Xiao Ming is no ordinary Tier 8 Alchemist.

He couldn't pretend to be aloof in the face of the elders' warm greetings, so he could only nod repeatedly.

Finally, Tang Zhen interrupted the elders' flattery.

"Alright, elders, now that we've met, let's get down to business."

Seeing Tang Zhen say this, the elders also straightened their postures slightly, signaling Tang Zhen to continue.

"Elder Xiao Ming has agreed to help refine Huo'er's Fire Bodhi Pill. Everyone knows Elder Xiao Ming's strength. As payment, I will give him the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Changes."

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell silent. The elders below exchanged glances, and finally Wu Chen, the Third Elder, stepped forward.

"The Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Changes is Secret Not Passed Down of my Burning Flame Valley. There are rules within the valley that forbid its transmission to outsiders. Can't we change the condition?"

"He refused." Xiao Ming stared at the other person with slightly narrowed eyes, not particularly surprised.

It would be strange if someone could easily hand over the Ultimate Technique of each sect just by a casual remark from Tier 8 Alchemist, since these techniques are related to the inheritance of each sect.

"Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. I am the Valley Master. Do you think I don't even have this much power?" Tang Zhen frowned and said calmly.

"Valley Master, please don't be angry. The Third Elder only spoke those words because of the valley's rules. After all, the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Changes is no ordinary Secret Technique. Now that it's being handed over to an outsider, I'm sure the Great Elder will think it over carefully, right?"

The Second Elder said that although he was willing to befriend Xiao Ming, he was still somewhat reluctant to use a core Secret Technique like the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Changes.

He was even willing to spend a lot of money to hire other Tier 8 Alchemist to assist Tang Zhen in refining pills, rather than let the Secret Technique leak out.

Xiao Ming watched their discussion indifferently, without harboring any ill will towards the elders who held opposing views because of these few words. After all, they were considering the sect's interests, which was understandable.

Besides, Tang Zhen is the Valley Master; wasn't the outcome already predetermined?

"Alright, my mind is made up!"

As Xiao Ming had expected, Tang Zhen, as the Valley Master, ultimately won the dispute, while the Second Elder and Third Elder looked utterly helpless.

During the argument, they didn't involve Xiao Ming. Everyone understood that even if they didn't want to please Xiao Ming, there was no need to deliberately offend him.

After their argument failed, the two elders left with sighs.

"I'm sorry, Second Elder and Third Elder are really a bit too old-fashioned." After all the elders left, Tang Zhen apologized to Xiao Ming with a wry smile, afraid that Xiao Ming would take it to heart.

"Hehe, it's a good thing that the two elders are thinking of your valley." Xiao Ming said, taking a sip of tea.