Falling Star Flame

A rift tore through space, and Liu Zhengyang brought the group back to Falling Cloud Sect.

Gu Qingzhou's face showed a trace of regret as he looked at the familiar surroundings. "What a shame—running into something like this, I didn't even get a chance to fight, and the tournament just fell through."

"Get used to it..."

Mo Shang shrugged. With two children of fortune on their side, a double debuff stacked on top, it would've been a miracle if everything went smoothly.

The things he'd encountered in one day out with those two were more thrilling than anything he'd experienced in over a decade. Mo Shang could only say that children of fortune were no easy customers—every single one of them.

Their aggro-drawing mechanic was maxed out. Take two steps and they'd run into trouble. Join a tournament and nearly spark a war between two sects...

"I feel like every time we step out, something happens," Gu Qingzhou said, rubbing his chin in thought.

"Don't lump me in with that. I never run into this stuff alone..." Mo Shang corrected him again.

As a Mediocre side character, he didn't get to enjoy the protagonist's treatment. He rarely encountered trouble, and of course, never stumbled upon opportunities either...

"Alright, it's over now. No need to dwell on it. Go back and rest." Liu Zhengyang smiled and shook his head, cutting off their conversation.

Hearing this, the group didn't linger and filed out of the hall.

Leaving the hall, Mo Shang and Jiang Shuyu returned to their small courtyard together.

Spotting the familiar reclining chair, Mo Shang didn't hesitate and flopped down comfortably.

"Nothing beats lying at home," Mo Shang sighed, ready to enjoy a good afternoon nap.

But just then, something occurred to him, and he pulled out the Meteorite Iron he'd bought at the auction.

"Shuyu, you said earlier there was something special about this. What's the deal?" Mo Shang asked, looking at Jiang Shuyu.

"Mm, I sensed a special aura inside it. There should be something hidden in there," Jiang Shuyu nodded.

"How do I open this thing?"

Mo Shang reached out and touched the Meteorite Iron. Instead of the cold feel of metal, it carried a faint warmth.

But just as Mo Shang was pondering how to open it, a soft glow radiated from the Meteorite Iron, followed by an indescribable wave of intense heat.

"What the hell?" Startled by the sudden change, Mo Shang yanked his hand back.

The Meteorite Iron didn't stop there. As the temperature rose, it began to slowly melt, and a flame shimmering with starlight gradually emerged from within.

The flame flickered with dreamlike colors, and inside it, a vast starry sky seemed to flow—dazzling, brilliant, and mysterious...

"A flame?" Mo Shang stared in amazement, never expecting a flame to be hidden inside the Meteorite Iron.

"This is a heavenly treasure, born from the laws of heaven and earth. If Brother Mo can subdue it, your strength will greatly increase," Jiang Shuyu explained, looking at the flame.

"How do I subdue it? Just tell it to acknowledge me as its master?" Mo Shang was at a loss, since this was his first time facing such a heavenly treasure.

But the moment Mo Shang finished speaking, the flame floating in the air suddenly shot straight toward him!

"Damn! No honor!"

Mo Shang's face changed drastically as he hurriedly channeled his star power, forming a barrier in front of him to block the flame.

This flame had easily melted Meteorite Iron into molten metal. Even though he had Death Immunity, getting hit would at least cost him a layer of skin.

The flame reached the barrier in an instant, but the protective shield Mo Shang had condensed didn't slow it down at all.

The next moment, under Mo Shang's shocked gaze, the flame passed straight through the barrier, landed on him, and then sank into his body, vanishing without a trace.

"Huh, doesn't seem to hurt."

Instead of the burning pain he'd expected, the flame brought a lingering warmth that felt oddly comfortable.

At the same time, a star-shaped rune quietly appeared on Mo Shang's forehead.

"A Dao Mark?" Jiang Shuyu stared at the rune on Mo Shang's forehead, her eyes full of surprise.

Mo Shang, however, didn't notice Jiang Shuyu's expression. His entire focus was on the flame inside his body.

As the star flame entered him, a surge of vast star power spread through his body. His Ten Thousand Dao Star Art activated on its own, rapidly refining this immense energy.

The torrent of star power flooded his body, and Mo Shang's cultivation began to skyrocket, breaking through four minor realms in succession before finally settling at the ninth level of the Spirit Gathering Realm.

Not only that, Mo Shang felt an inexplicable connection with this flame. With a single thought, he could control it at will.

Testing it out, Mo Shang raised his hand. With a flicker of intent, a blue star flame rose slowly from his palm.

The terrifying heat within the flame sent the surrounding air temperature soaring, yet Mo Shang's hand remained completely unharmed—a clear sign that the flame had fully acknowledged him as its master.

With the flame's submission, Mo Shang also learned its name—Falling Star Flame!

"What the hell, it really acknowledged me on its own?!"

Mo Shang was completely dumbfounded. He'd only said it as a joke, and the flame had actually willingly submitted.

"Heavenly treasures born from heaven and earth all have spirits. It seems this Falling Star Flame truly recognizes you," Jiang Shuyu said with a smile, explaining again.

Mo Shang stayed silent, at a loss for words.

For others to improve their strength, they either train day and night or go through life-and-death battles. But for him, not only did he gain a powerful Spirit Flame for free, his cultivation base directly skyrocketed by a huge margin—it was utterly ridiculous!

"What happened?"

Just then, Gu Qingzhou, sensing the commotion, hurried over.

When he detected Mo Shang's current cultivation level, Gu Qingzhou froze on the spot, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.

"No way, bro, are you cheating?! Your cultivation shot up this fast—weren't you just at the Spirit Gathering Realm Fifth Layer?!"

He had trained diligently day and night to earn his current cultivation, yet in the blink of an eye, his good brother had directly broken through four minor realms!

It was bad enough that his own training was slow, but his brother's sudden surge made him feel even worse!

"What are you saying? If I didn't turn it on, how could it count as cheating?" Mo Shang shrugged, speaking with a calm expression.

Gu Qingzhou was momentarily speechless. He wanted to argue but couldn't think of a single retort.

Soon, though, his gaze was drawn to the flame in Mo Shang's palm, and he asked curiously, "Is that a Spirit Flame? Where did it come from?"

"Just pulled it out of the Meteorite Iron—still warm," Mo Shang said without hiding anything, pointing at the half-melted Meteorite Iron on the ground.

He had to admit, after spending some time with the Child of Fortune, Mo Shang felt his own luck had improved. Not only could he draw top-tier treasures from lotteries, but he could even pick up such a huge bargain at an auction.

"A wild Spirit Flame? How did you refine it?" Learning it came from the Meteorite Iron, Gu Qingzhou was even more astonished.

"Do I need to refine it specially? Don't they all just voluntarily acknowledge their master?" Mo Shang asked back, looking puzzled.

Hearing this, Gu Qingzhou's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help muttering under his breath, "I suspect you're humble-bragging..."