Yao Lao

"What... what are these two things?" Too stunned, Xiao Yan did not immediately take them. Instead, he voiced the question in his heart first.

"This is the Green Lotus Earth Heart Fire Lotus Seat. Cultivating while seated on the lotus platform at its center can increase your cultivation speed severalfold..."

Seeing Xiao Yan so shocked, Xiao Kun slowly explained the detailed origins and uses of the two items to him.

As he listened to Xiao Kun's explanation, Xiao Yan gradually learned that the lotus seat and lotus seeds in the former's hands were Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects born alongside the Green Lotus Earth Heart Fire.

"Green Lotus Earth Heart Fire!"

Realizing it belatedly, Xiao Yan suddenly cried out in amazement. Knowing that one of the Heavenly Flames he had longed for day and night should have been within the holes on the lotus platform, he hurriedly asked Xiao Kun about its whereabouts.

"Third Brother, did you obtain the Green Lotus Earth Heart Fire from the lotus platform?"

Faced with Xiao Yan's eager anticipation, Xiao Kun could only shake his head helplessly and take out the Seven-Colored Scales he had obtained from the lotus platform earlier. "I arrived a step too late. Medusa had already taken the Heavenly Flame half a year ago."

"Medusa! The ruler of the Snake-People Race!" Xiao Yan exclaimed upon hearing this.

He had never expected the Heavenly Flame to have been seized by Medusa, whose fearsome reputation resounded throughout the Tagor Desert.

And half a year had already passed. Medusa had surely absorbed the Heavenly Flame by now.

For a moment, Xiao Yan felt utterly disheartened as all sorts of thoughts ran through his mind.

Seeing Xiao Yan's dejected expression, Xiao Kun could roughly guess what he was thinking and smiled. "Don't worry. Although Medusa took the Heavenly Flame, she definitely hasn't refined it."

"Ah! Why do you say that?" Xiao Yan was greatly surprised by Xiao Kun's conclusion.

"Because the Snake-People bloodline is naturally cold. They cannot absorb Heavenly Flames. Forcibly absorbing one would only lead to death," Xiao Kun explained.

Hearing this, hope surged within Xiao Yan's heart. After all, as long as it had not been refined, his chances of obtaining the Heavenly Flame would be much greater.

But when he thought of Medusa's strength—at the peak of the Dou Emperor realm, enough to shake the Jia Ma Empire—his head began to ache. For a while, he had no idea what to do and even began to lose confidence.

After a moment of silence, Xiao Yan thought again of how important the Heavenly Flame was to him and Yao Lao, and a determination to obtain it at all costs rose within him once more.

Considering Xiao Kun's strength, Xiao Yan spoke with a hint of pleading. "Third Brother, this Heavenly Flame is very important to me. Could you lend me a hand? Let's seize it together!"

Xiao Yan did not know that Xiao Kun, like him, cultivated a technique that could evolve by devouring Heavenly Flames.

Although Xiao Yan knew that Xiao Kun was also an alchemist and would surely need Heavenly Flames, he had previously seen Xiao Kun use one—the Fallen Heart Flame, which ranked far higher than the Green Lotus Earth Heart Fire.

And for an ordinary alchemist, possessing one Heavenly Flame was enough.

Thus, needing help, Xiao Yan immediately thought of the powerful Xiao Kun.

Hearing Xiao Yan's request, Xiao Kun was momentarily stunned before smiling. "Since Fourth Brother needs this Heavenly Flame so badly, Third Brother will do everything in his power to find it for you.

"But you needn't go. Your strength is still lacking."

"My... my strength can still be of help," Xiao Yan replied firmly after hesitating for a moment.

Xiao Yan considered how exceedingly rare Heavenly Flames were. If he missed this chance, he had no idea when he would encounter another Heavenly Flame.

Third Brother was also trustworthy. Even if he revealed Yao Lao to him, it would not matter much.

Therefore, after repeatedly hesitating in the face of Xiao Kun's refusal, Xiao Yan decided to reveal Yao Lao to Xiao Kun and prove that he had the strength to join the operation.

After saying that, Xiao Yan raised his right hand, which wore a simple black Storage Ring, just as he was about to introduce...

Xiao Kun directly waved a hand to interrupt him. "I know what you want to say, but that is external help after all. Besides, he hasn't recovered very well yet. Forget it. I alone am enough!"

Xiao Kun had grounds for saying that Yao Lao had not recovered well. After all, not long afterward, Yao Lao would fall into a deep sleep while protecting Xiao Yan during a battle against a Dou Emperor from the Heavenly Snake Mansion.

It could be said that Yao Lao at this point could not even defeat a top-tier Dou Emperor.

Only later, relying on the Seven Illusions Green Spirit Saliva, which was exceptionally effective at restoring the soul, did he recover to the Dou Sect Early Stage and engage in a fierce battle with Yun Shan, who had just broken through to the Dou Sect realm.

Hearing Xiao Kun's words, Xiao Yan's body stiffened.

At first, an uncontrollable fear of being seen through surged in his heart. But when he thought of the identity of the person before him, that fear gradually faded.

It was replaced by curiosity about Xiao Kun's current strength, because he knew that Third Brother would not harm him.

As Xiao Kun exposed Yao Lao's existence, a somewhat transparent elderly figure gradually emerged from Xiao Yan's simple black ring.

When Xiao Yan saw Yao Lao appear, he hurriedly stood up and bowed slightly. "Teacher!"

Xiao Kun was not so particular. He remained seated in his chair, cupped his hands, and said, "Venerable Yao."

Yao Lao did not mind Xiao Kun's greeting. He was even somewhat surprised that Xiao Kun had directly identified him by name. Smiling, he nodded and said, "Little Friend Xiao Kun, you know me?"

As Venerable Yao, once renowned across the continent, Yao Lao had actually always been very curious about Xiao Kun.

For instance, Xiao Kun had been able to produce the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid that Yao Lao himself had created. Because of that, Yao Lao had once suspected whether Xiao Kun was connected to his former traitorous disciple, Han Feng.

But while he was secretly observing, Xiao Kun produced a series of pills that enhanced cultivation, the likes of which Yao Lao had never seen before, such as the King Breaking Pill, Emperor Breaking Pill, King Augmenting Pill, and Emperor Augmenting Pill.

Their effects were also far better than any cultivation-enhancing pills he had seen before. Thus, his suspicion that Xiao Kun was connected to Han Feng was dispelled.

Because Yao Lao understood Han Feng. He did not possess such ability.

Afterward, Yao Lao could only follow Xiao Kun's explanation and assume that Xiao Kun, too, had taken an extraordinary teacher.

Even later, when Xiao Kun brought out the Fallen Heart Flame, after his initial astonishment, Yao Lao could only conclude that the teacher behind Xiao Kun was remarkable.

But there was one thing that still left him somewhat vexed. Xiao Kun had already revealed Yao Lao's identity, yet Yao Lao had not even seen Xiao Kun's teacher once.

More exaggeratedly, let alone seeing him, Yao Lao had never even sensed his aura.

So he still harbored some doubts about Xiao Kun's claim of having a teacher, and he was both shocked and curious about how Xiao Kun had achieved such tremendous accomplishments.

However, whatever Yao Lao had thought before, Xiao Kun's mystery and strength were beneficial to him now. Naturally, Yao Lao had no need to pursue the matter further.

"Of course I know you. Back then, your attainments in the Alchemy Skill were among the very best even in the Central Plains.

As a junior Alchemist myself, I naturally saw your portrait in the materials my master gave me and committed it deeply to memory.

Moreover, the records stated that your disciple Han Feng later spread word that you had suffered a backlash while refining pills and perished, which shocked everyone for quite some time.

Now that I see you are unharmed, it can be considered a joyous occasion for the alchemy world." Xiao Kun explained.