A Golden Crow Flame, and the Goal Is Tanggu

The system's answer instantly brightened Lu Changsheng's eyes.

He had only asked the system on a whim, just to see what it would say.

After all, he really couldn't think of a way to solve this problem himself.

He hadn't expected the system to actually come up with a solution.

The system could do more than treasure hunting, alchemy, and forging. It even had a System Space.

Now it could answer his questions, too. His system was getting more and more useful.

No, wait.

After his brief excitement, Lu Changsheng suddenly realized something.

"Golden Crow Flame?!"

If it was the Golden Crow Flame he was thinking of, didn't only a few Great Golden Crows possess it?

[To be precise, it should be the Golden Crow Flame Origin]

The system offered a more detailed explanation.

Lu Changsheng's mouth twitched.

Thanks for explaining.

The good news was that he could solve the problem of his unstable foundation.

The bad news was that he needed the Golden Crow Flame Origin.

Actually, the more he thought about it, the more he understood.

After all, ordinary flames couldn't possibly compare to Tongtian's Saint Flames.

Understanding that didn't change the problem, though.

How was he supposed to get the Golden Crow Flame Origin?

It wasn't that he didn't know where to find it.

The location was simple enough.

The Two Great Demon Emperors of the Demon Race Heavenly Court: East Emperor Taiyi and Dijun.

But how was he supposed to get it?

Why would they give him a wisp of the Golden Crow Flame Origin?

Because he was a mere Golden Immortal?

He didn't have anything that could attract East Emperor Taiyi or Dijun, either.

Getting the Golden Crow Flame Origin seemed even harder than going to see Tongtian.

Did that mean he still had to go to Tongtian?

But setting aside whether he could even meet Tongtian, what would he say if he did?

That he hadn't used the Sacred Flame Golden Crystal when he was at the Mysterious Immortal Peak, and had only used it after becoming a Golden Immortal, leaving his body tempering incomplete and his foundation still unstable?

That wouldn't work, either.

"Is there another way?"

Lu Changsheng asked again.

[Based on the Host's current needs, the following options are available]

[Seek the aid of Ancestor Witch Zhurong of Fire and obtain the Red Lotus Karmic Fire Origin...]

"All right, all right."

Lu Changsheng couldn't bear to listen any longer.

The system had offered plenty of options, but every one of them was practically impossible for a Golden Immortal.

"Can you come up with a way I can actually manage right now?"

[Based on the Host's current circumstances, the simplest method is the Golden Crow Flame Origin]

Lu Changsheng was speechless. How was the Golden Crow Flame Origin simple?

Whether it was East Emperor Taiyi or Dijun...

Wait!

He suddenly realized something.

Dijun and East Emperor Taiyi weren't the only Golden Crows.

Dijun's ten sons were Golden Crows, too.

And if he remembered correctly, the Ten Great Golden Crows were at Tanggu.

At this point in time, the Ten Great Golden Crows shouldn't be very powerful.

That made obtaining the Golden Crow Flame Origin a lot easier.

"System, can you check the current situation at Tanggu?"

[Searching for the Host. One Golden Crow is currently at Tanggu, with a cultivation level of Early Taiyi Golden Immortal]

After Lu Changsheng broke through to Golden Immortal, the system's Treasure Hunting and Insight Functions had improved considerably.

Lu Changsheng grinned.

He didn't know exactly what Tanggu was like.

But with only one Early Taiyi Golden Immortal Golden Crow there, his chances of obtaining the Golden Crow Flame Origin had improved considerably.

He had to plan this carefully.

It was true that in Honghuang, opportunities belonged to the strong.

But the Golden Crow Flame Origin was very different from the Xuanlinghua and Yin Yang Twin Flood Dragons he had dealt with before.

Things like the Xuanlinghua were ownerless treasures. He could take one from Huanglong Zhenren without a second thought.

But the Golden Crow Flame Origin belonged to a Golden Crow.

Even if he managed to get it at Tanggu, he would have to consider what came afterward.

After all, if Dijun and East Emperor Taiyi learned about this, they would most likely come looking for him.

How could he obtain the Golden Crow Flame Origin without revealing his identity? That was the question.

[The Host need not worry. Protected by the system, no one in Honghuang can divine anything about the Host]

The system's prompt suddenly sounded.

"Then how did the Sect Leader find out about Huanglong Zhenren?"

Lu Changsheng asked, puzzled.

[This system can protect the Host from being divined, but it cannot stop the Host from being seen]

Lu Changsheng understood.

If Tongtian wanted to, there was no way anything that happened over the East Sea could escape his notice.

In that case, as long as he didn't reveal his identity, the Demon Race Heavenly Court wouldn't be able to trace this back to him.

No, wait.

That still carried some risk.

They might not be able to trace him, but if the Golden Crow saw him again one day, wouldn't it recognize him?

At that thought, Lu Changsheng suddenly had an idea.

Thousand Spirits Illusory Form!

Wasn't this Magic Treasure perfect for the job?

He wouldn't just avoid revealing his identity—he would reveal a false one on purpose!

A perfect plan!

Without another moment's hesitation, he set off for Tanggu!

Tanggu.

A Three-Legged Golden Crow perched with its eyes closed on a branch, its body radiating an indescribably sacred aura.

The next moment, the Three-Legged Golden Crow opened its eyes. Discontent filled its pale golden gaze.

An angry cry shook the heavens.

As it spread its wings, blazing Golden Flames swept through all of Tanggu like a storm.

In an instant, the heat warped the very space around it.

A moment later, the Golden Flames drew back, and the Three-Legged Golden Crow disappeared. A figure with golden hair and eyes, clad in golden armor, appeared in its place.

It was the Ninth Golden Crow.

He was clearly in a foul mood.

That was understandable.

Back when he had been in seclusion, trying to break through to Taiyi Golden Immortal, Dijun and East Emperor Taiyi had summoned the Ten Great Demon Commanders and several Great Golden Crows to instruct them in their cultivation.

After he successfully broke through to Taiyi Golden Immortal, he'd immediately gone to the Demon Race Heavenly Court, hoping to join the group's cultivation sessions.

But Dijun had refused him.

There were two reasons.

First, the Ninth Golden Crow had only just broken through to Taiyi Golden Immortal, so what he needed was to consolidate his cultivation.

Second, since the Witch and Demon Races ruled over the land and the sky respectively, the Demon Race needed the Golden Crows to patrol the skies.

If the Ninth Golden Crow joined them, there would be no Golden Crow left to patrol.

The first reason wasn't so bad. But the second was something the Ninth Golden Crow simply couldn't accept.

Originally, the Ten Great Golden Crows had taken turns patrolling for a day at a time.

Now the other nine Great Golden Crows had gone off to cultivate, leaving him to patrol every single day by himself.

Was he any worse than his brothers?

Thinking about how he'd have to go on patrol again later, the Ninth Golden Crow's anger flared.

Why did everyone else get special training while he had to do the work of ten people all by himself?

And who knew how long he'd have to put up with this?

Every day felt like a year to him.

Just then, the Ninth Golden Crow seemed to sense something. His pale golden eyes turned toward the entrance to Tanggu.

Someone was coming?!

As he watched, a man dressed in a Daoist robe and holding a whisk walked in through the entrance to Tanggu.

The Ninth Golden Crow's pupils narrowed.

A Human Race cultivator?

"Who dares trespass in my Tanggu?!"

The Ninth Golden Crow's voice was cold.

"I am Guangchengzi of Taoyuan Cave on Nine Immortal Mountain."

The cultivator spoke calmly.

Of course, he wasn't really Guangchengzi.

He was Lu Changsheng, disguised with the Thousand Spirits Illusory Form.

The Ninth Golden Crow froze.

Guangchengzi? Wasn't he a Chan Sect Disciple?

Why did he remember that the Demon Race Heavenly Court's competition wasn't for another five hundred years?

What was Guangchengzi doing at Tanggu now?

"What have you come to Tanggu for?"

Lu Changsheng's lips lifted slightly.

"I've come for an item."

"What item?"

The Ninth Golden Crow asked.

"I want a wisp of the Golden Crow Flame Origin."