Fire-Refining Treasure

The azure Lotus Platform had four primary functions, each of which was enough to drive cultivators in the outside world mad:

First, because this Lotus Platform was a companion treasure born from a Heavenly Flame of heaven and earth, it naturally possessed the miraculous ability to soothe the violent aura of flames. Whether it was berserk Beast Fire or even more unruly Heavenly Flames, their auras would be harmonized within the Lotus Platform's range. If the user could enter the center of the platform to refine them, the risk of mental backlash and being burned to ashes would be reduced to an extremely low level. It could be called the finest divine artifact for assisting in the refinement of all flames in the world.

Second, the Lotus Platform was incomparably mysterious and could automatically draw in pure energy from the surrounding heaven and earth, gathering it within itself. Over time, a special cultivation environment with an energy concentration far surpassing that of the outside world would form inside it. Cultivators meditating here would absorb spiritual energy several times faster than outside, achieving twice the result with half the effort, and breaking through bottlenecks would become much easier as well.

Third, the Lotus Platform itself was made of extraordinary material, forged through countless temperings by earthfire and incomparably sturdy. Once activated, it could form a solid barrier capable of withstanding the fierce attacks of powerful enemies. It was a rare top-grade defensive treasure.

Fourth, the Lotus Platform's most growth-oriented function was this: whenever its user successfully refined a type of Beast Fire or Heavenly Flame within it, the platform would automatically absorb a portion of the flame origin that scattered during the refinement process. Just as a martial artist tempered their own body, it would temper and nourish itself. Over time, the Lotus Platform could continuously advance and rise in grade, while its three aforementioned functions—assisting fire refinement, gathering energy, and defensive protection—would likewise improve accordingly and become ever stronger.

(Note: The Lotus Platform's size could be controlled at will by its user. At its smallest, it could be as exquisite as a palm; at its largest, it could become a cultivation platform several zhang wide. It was extraordinarily mystical!)

Any one of the Lotus Platform's four functions—its miraculous ability to greatly reduce risk and assist in refining all flames, its heaven-defying ability to gather energy and accelerate cultivation, its formidable defensive power, or its rare potential for growth—would be enough to cause a bloody storm if found on any treasure in the outside world. Countless powerful cultivators would flock to it and fight to the death for it.

Yet now, these four heaven-defying functions had been gathered into one. This showed just how rare and precious a natural wonder this "Lotus Platform" truly was. Its value was simply impossible to estimate.

Su Baichen stared intently at the Lotus Platform before him, which emitted a faint azure radiance. His eyes were filled with delight and satisfaction.

After pondering for a moment, he gently stroked a lotus petal and declared, "You possess many functions, excel especially at controlling fire, and conceal your azure glow like a gentleman among lotuses. From now on, you shall be called Wanhuo Qinglian!"

Once he had named it, Su Baichen willed it, and Wanhuo Qinglian swiftly shrank into a streak of azure light that he stored in his Storage Ring. Then his figure flickered, and he vanished from the secret chamber in an instant, as though he had never been there.

Meanwhile, in Cao Ying's room.

Cao Ying lay listlessly across an exquisite wooden table. Her lively large eyes had lost their usual sparkle, and her little mouth was pouting so high that it could practically hang an oil bottle.

She lazily traced her fingers over the tabletop, producing a faint rustling sound.

"Big Sister Caidie..." she drawled weakly. "Why hasn't my master come out yet? He's been in there for days! I haven't even caught a glimpse of him."

"Tell me, what earth-shattering thing could he possibly be tinkering with all alone in that airtight secret chamber?"

She abruptly raised her head, her face full of grievance and suspicion. "Could it be... that he's already forgotten that he has the most filial, most talented, and cutest precious disciple in the whole world waiting outside?"

"Ahhh! No, no!" The more Cao Ying spoke, the more likely it seemed to her. She became so frustrated that she directly flew into a panic, wildly rubbing her hair with both little hands until her originally smooth dark locks became a complete mess.

"Did Master get a new treasure and forget all about his old disciple?"

Ever since her master, Su Baichen, had successfully obtained the Green Lotus Core Flame several days ago, he had only given a few hurried instructions before plunging into his private cultivation chamber. He had even set up restrictions outside the door and strictly forbidden anyone from disturbing him.

This had truly made things difficult for Cao Ying, who was always attached to her master.

Caidie, who had been quietly sitting nearby and regulating her breathing, slowly opened her beautiful eyes. Seeing the little girl before her on the verge of bristling, she could not help but smile. Her cold, beautiful face instantly softened like melting snow.

She rose and walked over to Cao Ying, extending her slender hand to gently stroke the top of Cao Ying's head, which she had just messed up herself. She tried to smooth out her hair while soothing her restless emotions.

"All right, all right, little Cao Ying, don't let your imagination run wild." Caidie's voice held a touch of helpless affection. "How could Young Master possibly forget you? You are the disciple he personally acknowledged and the only one he has formally taken in as his first disciple. Your status is special."

Caidie's hand was soft and carried a faint fragrance, while her movements were especially gentle. Feeling the warmth atop her head, Cao Ying's irritation truly seemed to ease somewhat, but a new question soon emerged.

"Er, all right..." Cao Ying temporarily accepted that explanation. But then she blinked her large eyes, tilted her head toward Caidie, and asked curiously, "But, Big Sister Caidie, why do both you and my master like patting my head so much?"

She thought about it carefully. It was not just Big Sister Caidie—whether Su Baichen was guiding her cultivation or simply idle and bored, he also always liked reaching out to rub her head. Every time, he wore an expression she could not understand then, but now found "very suspicious" upon careful reflection.

"And what kind of expression do you both make whenever you pat my head?" Cao Ying imitated them, scrunching her nose as she tried to form that seemingly calm yet meaningful smile. "Why do I always feel... like there's a bit of teasing in that smile, and also a bit of... hmm... smugness?"

After speaking, Cao Ying raised her own hand and touched the top of her head. It felt utterly ordinary—nothing but hair—and she truly could not understand what was so enjoyable about touching it or why it made them feel so "smug."

Caidie burst into laughter at Cao Ying's quirky question and imitation. After thinking for a moment, a trace of reminiscence flashed through her eyes. She answered in a manner similar to how her elder sister had once answered her: "Well... when you take on disciples yourself someday, or when someone younger than you who needs your care appears by your side, you'll naturally understand that feeling."

As she spoke, Caidie herself sank into a brief memory.

Once upon a time, she had been just like Cao Ying now, looking up and asking her elder sister why she always liked patting her head. Back then, her sister had merely smiled mysteriously and given her a similar answer.

Now that it was her turn, as she looked at this sweet and lively little Cao Ying, who occasionally threw little tantrums, Caidie suddenly understood her sister's feelings back then on a profound level.

Running her fingers through Cao Ying's soft hair—especially when she mischievously tousled the hair she had just neatly arranged—then watching her pout and widen her eyes in displeasure, yet remain adorably helpless, truly made an indescribable sense of joy and satisfaction rise uncontrollably in her heart.

(The little Cao Ying in her heart was already drawing circles: "Hmph! What a bunch of meanies! So you've all been using me to amuse yourselves! Just wait until I have little junior brothers and sisters someday. I'll show you how I 'repay' you!")

However, though Caidie had spoken without much thought, Cao Ying took her words to heart. Caidie's explanation of the "mystery of head-patting" deeply imprinted itself upon Cao Ying's mind.

In the days to come, when disciples younger than Cao Ying and later to join Su Baichen's sect finally appeared, they would often suffer greatly at her hands. This seemingly mature and steady senior sister, who was actually full of ulterior motives, would wear a mysterious smile that said, "Now I understand," and occasionally pat their heads in "concern." She called it "carrying on the fine traditions of the sect," but in truth, she had also found her own share of that "joy."