The Marvelous Use of Flint, A Pact of Entry

Underground.

Hardly any customers ever came down here.

Naturally, this was Li Ye's first time here as well, and he looked around curiously.

He discovered that there was actually a light source resembling sunlight here, and the surroundings were exceptionally spacious, as though he were walking down some bright, sunlit street.

There was none of the gloom one would expect underground.

"This is the Four Seasons Pavilion."

Walking ahead, Su Ya introduced it, "Every official market run by our Four Seasons Sect has a Four Seasons Pavilion built in cooperation with the Mo Family.

Inside, mighty cultivators have inscribed formations involving space.

Not only is the Four Seasons Pavilion vast within, but it can also use formations to exchange supplies with the sect itself or other markets.

Otherwise, with the journey stretching so far, those delicate spirit beasts and spirit plants might wither away on the road."

"I see." Li Ye suddenly understood. "This has truly broadened my horizons."

Now this was more like it.

Whenever he had thought of cultivators building secret chambers and mechanisms in gloomy underground places, it had always felt strange to him—rather furtive and sneaky. This was how it ought to be.

With broad terrain and brilliant sunlight, such a thing surely would not be difficult for cultivators, with their incomparably wondrous spells and divine abilities.

"You'll learn these things once you join the Four Seasons Sect in the future."

As he spoke, he had already arrived before a doorway engraved with the words "Su Ya." He placed his palm against it and gave it a light push.

"Creak, creak."

The doorway did not open. Instead, it transformed into blocks that rearranged themselves, accompanied by the sounds of mechanisms operating.

A moment later, the wall vanished entirely.

Within was a room containing an enormous Alchemy Furnace.

"Come quickly!"

Unable to wait any longer, Su Ya pulled Li Ye to the front of the Alchemy Furnace. He extended a finger and pressed it against the trigram representing Li, whereupon the strange patterns on the furnace's surface began to shift at once.

The Alchemy Furnace, which had originally borne an archaic, imposing bronze sheen, slowly turned transparent, revealing the heap of white crystals packed inside.

Why did this suddenly feel a little off? An Alchemy Furnace even had an X-ray function? Didn't alchemy usually rely on Divine Sense?

Seeing his curious expression, Su Ya explained, "Your Divine Sense is probably not strong enough to enter this Alchemy Furnace, so we can only make it a little transparent. In a moment, just inject the Flint Fire in here..."

Seeing that Senior Brother Su Ya was about to enter his alchemy state, Li Ye hurriedly said, "Fellow Daoist Su, I have a seed case here containing Flint Fire Seeds."

He took the seed case from his Storage Pouch and handed it over.

"Ah." Su Ya froze slightly, then accepted the seed case and pressed it lightly. With a whoosh, an exceptionally stable golden-red flame burst forth.

"They really are Flint Fire Seeds?"

Su Ya no longer knew what to say.

Although Flint Crystal Worms had a certain chance of producing fire seeds, the probability was exceedingly small. Yet Li Ye actually had five whole fire seeds. It was truly a miracle.

"Fellow Daoist, you truly are remarkable. Let me test the might of these fire seeds..."

Smiling, he placed the seed case beneath the Alchemy Furnace, then activated a mechanism on the furnace.

"Creak~"

The seed case was immediately swallowed whole by the Alchemy Furnace. Supplied with spiritual power, the five fires merged into one, gathering into an incomparably dazzling golden-red blaze.

The flames scorched that pile of spirit crystals. By all rights, such powerful fire ought to have burned through them swiftly.

Yet in truth, even when the flames enveloped the spirit crystals, they still melted extraordinarily slowly.

But during the melting process, one could visibly see gray-black miasma being seared away, transforming into droplets of white liquid that slowly ran down the inner walls of the furnace before finally entering a small cup at the side.

"Look."

Su Ya picked up the small cup containing the white liquid and handed it to Li Ye. "This is the Pure White Marrow Fluid obtained after refining the Snow Fiend's demonic qi and spirit crystals."

Within the bronze cup was a mass of pure white liquid.

It gave off a peculiar fragrance that made one feel immensely cool and clear-headed upon smelling it. Its effect was simply a little too strong, as though someone had directly scattered a handful of icy snow water into one's brain.

At any rate, Li Ye was so stimulated that he shuddered.

"Haha."

"This thing is interesting in just this way. It can be used to make certain pills that stimulate Divine Sense. If one falls into some sort of bewildering barrier or ghostly technique, taking a Snow Marrow Pill will absolutely bring a turning point."

After speaking, Su Ya fell silent for a moment. "Flint Fire Seeds are rather special as far as fire seeds go.

These seeds of yours are first-rank and have not been fed or cultivated. Ordinarily, their monthly rental price would only be one hundred Spirit Stones..."

"Ah!" Li Ye waved a hand. "If Fellow Daoist Su has need of them, just take them and use them."

When I no longer need it, just help me find someone to rent it to. I'd already be deeply grateful.

After all, I don't know many people. I'll need your guidance on this—consider it the fee for your advice."

He spoke plainly, laying out his intentions outright. That forthrightness made Su Ya laugh.

"Brother Li, you really are direct. This late spring cold snap will likely last ten days or so, so I'll need the Flint Fire Seed for around fifteen days.

Once it's over, I'll help you find a few trustworthy people who need it.

By the way, do you know... the Flint Fire isn't merely exceptionally effective at driving away evil spirits and heretical forces. It also has certain marvelous uses in preparing delicacies and Grain-Refraining Pills."

"Oh? Please enlighten me, Brother." Li Ye truly hadn't known that. The Flint Fire Seed Spirit Vine had given him hadn't said anything about it.

Su Ya glanced at the Alchemy Furnace. Only after confirming that there was no problem did he slowly explain, "Flint Fire was originally a special flame used by ancient gods to drive away wild beasts and prepare food.

On a grander scale, the existence of Flint Fire brought an end to the age of eating raw flesh and drinking blood.

You know how vast this world is, and how many fine dishes are cooked with fire. Compared with warding off evil and repelling beasts, that is actually even more important.

It's just that modern Flint Fire Seeds are somewhat volatile, nowhere near as stable as true Flint Fire, so naturally they cannot be used for cooking.

But the seed you have, Brother, is remarkably stable. I imagine it should be feasible to use it to make delicious food.

Once I'm done here, I'll invite a fellow cultivator over to take a look. If it works, I'll have her rent it long-term.

You can probably earn three to five hundred Spirit Stones a month at the very least. Later, Brother Li, buy some cultivation techniques for raising fire seeds, study them carefully, and continue nurturing it. That'll be a cornucopia that never runs dry!"

Clearly, Brother Su Ya was already treating him as a junior brother from the same sect. Naturally, Li Ye would not refuse. He cupped his hands and said, "Then I'll have to trouble Brother Su."

"Think nothing of it."

"Your Flint Fire Seed has saved me quite a bit of trouble."

He stretched, and his expression abruptly turned plaintive.

"Ah, Brother, you seem quite gifted in the path of spirit herbs. I only hope that after entering the sect, you won't be fought over by the senior and junior brothers and forget all about me!"

Those words, coupled with Su Ya's rather subtle expression, left Li Ye speechless at once. Last time, he had heard Su Ya mention that the relationship between Spirit Herbalists and alchemists in the Four Seasons Sect was delicate.

He had not expected it to be delicate enough for him to hint at it to a cultivator who had not even entered the sect yet.

Since that was the case, Li Ye was no ungrateful man. Besides, the other party had truly treated him very well. Rather than be troubled over this in the future, he might as well settle the matter now.

He said directly, "Brother Su has helped me greatly.

If I am fortunate enough to enter the sect, I naturally won't forget you. Speaking of which, I have gained some spirit plants and spirit beasts. Take a look, Brother Su, and see whether you have any need for them..."

He took out a pile of materials.

There were gourds from the Spirit Water Phoenix-Eye Lotus, as well as lotus petals, lotus seeds, lotus roots, and lotus leaves, along with Crimson-Gold Dragon Carp scales. Though scattered and miscellaneous, they still amounted to quite a large heap.