"This old man doesn't need you to help me execute Han Feng, that traitorous disciple, or bring me back to life. I only hope you'll protect my disciple. Of course, you don't need to watch over him constantly. I just hope you'll help him if he ever faces danger. How does that sound?"
Yao Lao told Gu Shenge what he wanted. He had placed all his hopes in Xiao Yan, and he'd worried himself sick over this disciple.
When Xiao Yan heard that his teacher was giving up revenge and resurrection just to find someone to protect him, he was deeply moved. His eyes reddened, but he shook his head, wanting to refuse Yao Lao's decision.
"Teacher, I can manage on my own. Besides, with you here, I don't need anyone else to protect me. I think you should just accept Juan Shoutian's first two conditions."
Yao Lao looked down at Xiao Yan with affection and gently patted his head, trying to reassure him.
"You foolish boy. My Soul Power is limited, and I can't help you forever. If I can find you a guardian, I'll be able to rest easy. As for that traitorous disciple, Han Feng, I'll deal with him myself. I'll decide what to do about resurrection, too, so don't worry."
Despite his teacher's reassurances, Xiao Yan still wanted to insist. But Yao Lao shook his head and told him not to act like a little girl. He'd already made his decision and wouldn't change it.
"Young friend, are you willing to accept this condition?"
Gu Shenge smiled and nodded. Protecting Xiao Yan wasn't difficult.
"Of course. To be honest, Venerable Yao, Han Feng has already been one of my targets. He has something I want."
"Oh? What does that traitorous disciple have that you want?"
Yao Lao was quite curious. He'd been dead for decades and had no idea what was happening in the outside world. What valuable thing had his traitorous disciple obtained to catch Juan Shoutian's eye?
Gu Shenge said, "The Sea Heart Flame, ranked fifteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking."
Yao Lao's heart skipped a beat. The other man wanted the Bone Spirit Cold Flame and was also after the Sea Heart Flame. Could he be cultivating that same technique?
He asked tentatively, "Could it be that you're cultivating the Flame Mantra, too?"
Xiao Yan looked at Gu Shenge in confusion as well. Gu Shenge had immediately recognized that he was cultivating the Flame Mantra. Could it be because he cultivated it himself?
Gu Shenge shook his head. "I'm not cultivating the Flame Mantra. My technique is simply similar in some ways. It can also refine multiple Heavenly Flames, but its grade is fixed, so it can't evolve like the Flame Mantra."
Yao Lao and Xiao Yan understood. Yao Lao continued questioning Gu Shenge.
"I see. From what you've said, it sounds as if you know a great deal about the Flame Mantra."
Gu Shenge took a sip of tea and looked at Xiao Yan with a sigh. "I wouldn't say I know a great deal. I just know a few things about the Flame Mantra and its previous cultivator. I have to say, little brother Xiao Yan, you're very lucky. Having cultivated the Flame Mantra, you may well become a Dou Di one day."
"A Dou Di!"
At that assessment, both Xiao Yan and Yao Lao's expressions changed. They were shocked and startled, but above all, curious about the Flame Mantra's origins and its previous cultivator.
Yao Lao hurriedly said, "Please explain, young friend."
Xiao Yan pricked up his ears, too. This concerned his future, after all.
Seeing that he'd piqued the pair's curiosity, Gu Shenge didn't keep them in suspense. He began explaining the Flame Mantra's origins.
"The previous cultivator of the Flame Mantra was none other than the last Dou Di on the Dou Qi Continent, Tou She Ancient God. Tou She Ancient God wasn't human. He was a Heavenly Flame that had gained sentience. By chance, he obtained the Flame Mantra and began the path of evolution through devouring Heavenly Flames. As far as I know, he became a Dou Di after devouring every Heavenly Flame on the Heavenly Flame Ranking."
"So, little brother Xiao Yan, if you can refine every Heavenly Flame on the ranking, just as Tou She Ancient God did, you might become a Dou Di as well. Or perhaps you'll have the chance to obtain his legacy, since you're both cultivating the same technique."
"As for the origins of the Flame Mantra, I'm not entirely sure. Some say it was a technique born naturally on the Dou Qi Continent; others say it was brought to the Dou Qi Continent from the Great Thousand World."
Of the two possibilities, Gu Shenge was more inclined to believe the first: the Flame Mantra was a technique born of nature, a divine treasure of the world.
After hearing his explanation, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao were both stunned. Their eyes filled with shock.
They'd never imagined the Flame Mantra had such an extraordinary origin. It was actually Tou She Ancient God's cultivation technique.
"Young friend, you're certainly well-informed. You even know such ancient secrets."
Yao Lao came back to his senses. A strange look entered his eyes as he regarded Gu Shenge. Someone who knew such ancient secrets must have a far greater background than he'd imagined. Even those ancient clans probably didn't know that Tou She Ancient God had been a transformed Heavenly Flame, let alone what technique he'd cultivated.
Gu Shenge smiled faintly and replied humbly, "You flatter me, Venerable Yao. I just happen to know a little."
Yao Lao asked no more. Sometimes, knowing too much did more harm than good. Instead, he asked Gu Shenge if he could wait a while before taking the Bone Spirit Cold Flame—until Xiao Yan had completed the Three-Year Agreement.
"Of course. It would hardly be fair for me to take your Bone Spirit Cold Flame before I've done anything for you."
Gu Shenge nodded. He'd already decided which nine Heavenly Flames to use to create the Burning World Divine Sun:
Green Lotus Core Flame, Sea Heart Flame, Bone Spirit Cold Flame, Fallen Heart Flame, Nine Dragon Lightning Flame, Three Thousand Burning Flame, Life Spirit Flame, Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, and Nihility Devouring Flame.
As for which Heavenly Flames Xiao Yan would use to evolve the Flame Mantra in the future, that wasn't his concern. As the chosen one of the Dou Qi Continent, things would naturally fall into place.
Gu Shenge then took a bottle from the System Space. A cluster of blue-violet flames was sealed inside. He placed it on the table.
"This is the Beast Flame of a fifth-tier Ghost Scale Flame Lion. It's no use to me. Your Flame Mantra needs unusual flames to evolve, and this Beast Flame should just about qualify. I'll give it to you."
Gu Shenge had obtained this Fifth-tier Beast Fire in a Yellow-tier lottery. Rather than leave it gathering dust in the System Space, he'd give it to Xiao Yan as an early investment.
Xiao Yan gazed at the Ghost Scale Beast Flame, its blue-violet light reflected in his eyes, then looked to his teacher. Yao Lao nodded, telling him to accept it. A free gift was a free gift; there was no reason to refuse.
"Thank you, Brother Juan." Xiao Yan thanked Gu Shenge as he put away the Ghost Scale Beast Flame.
Gu Shenge said, "You're welcome."
Afterward, Yao Lao and Gu Shenge talked about alchemy. When Yao Lao learned that Gu Shenge was a sixth-tier alchemist, he was quite surprised. He readily shared his insights on breaking through from the sixth tier to the seventh, and Gu Shenge benefited greatly.
Two hours later, Gu Shenge and Xiao Yan left the tavern and headed for the Miteer Auction House.
Meanwhile, Qing Lin had begun to feel restless at the Xiao Clan's side compound and decided to go out. The three Xiao Clan disciples followed behind her like bodyguards.
Before you continue