Falling Star Flame

The air tore open, and Liu Zhengyang led several people back to the Falling Cloud Sect.

Looking at the familiar surroundings, Gu Qingzhou wore a trace of regret. "What a shame. With something like this happening, I didn't even get to take the field before the tournament was called off."

"You'll get used to it..."

Mo Shang shrugged. With two Children of Fortune on their side, and both carrying double debuffs, it would've been a miracle if everything had gone smoothly.

The things he'd encountered in just one day out with those two were more thrilling than anything he'd experienced in over a decade. All Mo Shang could say was, as expected of Children of Fortune—not one of them was easy to deal with.

Their aggro-attracting ability was off the charts. They couldn't take two steps without running into trouble, and even entering a tournament nearly started a war between two sects...

"Why do I feel like trouble always finds us whenever we leave home?" Gu Qingzhou rubbed his chin, pondering.

"Don't lump me in with you. I'd never run into something like this on my own..." Mo Shang corrected him.

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

"All right, it's over now. Don't dwell on it. Go back and get some rest," Liu Zhengyang said with a smile, cutting off their conversation.

At that, no one lingered. They all left the main hall.

After leaving the main hall, Mo Shang and Jiang Shuyu returned to the small courtyard together.

Seeing the familiar recliner, Mo Shang didn't hesitate. He promptly stretched out on it in blissful comfort.

"It's still more comfortable to lounge at home." Mo Shang sighed, ready to take a nice afternoon nap.

But just then, Mo Shang suddenly remembered something and took out the piece of Meteorite Iron he'd bought at the auction.

"Shuyu, you said there was something special about this thing. What did you mean?" Mo Shang asked, looking at Jiang Shuyu.

"Mm. I sensed a special aura inside it. I think something else is hidden within," Jiang Shuyu replied with a nod.

"How do we open this thing?"

Mo Shang ran a hand over the Meteorite Iron. It didn't feel cold like metal; instead, it carried a faint warmth.

But as Mo Shang pondered how to open it, a gentle light began to emanate from the Meteorite Iron. Then an indescribably intense heat suddenly swept over them.

"What the—what's going on?" Startled by the sudden change, Mo Shang hurriedly pulled his hand back.

The Meteorite Iron's transformation didn't stop. As the temperature continued to rise, it slowly melted, revealing a flame that glimmered with starlight.

The flame shimmered with dreamlike colors. Within it, a vast starry sky seemed to swirl, dazzling yet unfathomably mysterious...

"A flame?" Mo Shang stared in amazement. He'd never imagined that a flame could be hidden inside the Meteorite Iron.

"This is a spiritual treasure of heaven and earth, born from the laws of nature. If you can subdue it, Mo Shang, your strength will increase tremendously," Jiang Shuyu explained, gazing at the flame.

"How do I subdue it? Ask it to willingly accept me as its master?" Mo Shang was at a loss. This was his first time dealing with a spiritual treasure of heaven and earth.

But the instant Mo Shang finished speaking, the flame hovering in the air suddenly darted toward him!

"Holy crap! That's not playing fair!"

Mo Shang's expression changed. He hurriedly circulated his Star Power, forming a barrier in front of himself to block the flame.

The flame could melt Meteorite Iron into molten metal with ease. He had Death Immunity, sure, but if it touched him, he'd still lose a layer of skin at the very least.

In an instant, the flame reached the barrier. Yet the protective barrier Mo Shang had formed didn't hinder it in the slightest.

The next moment, to Mo Shang's utter shock, the flame passed straight through the barrier and landed on him. Then it sank into his body and vanished without a trace.

"Huh. I seem fine."

The flame entering his body didn't bring the searing pain he'd expected. Instead, it left behind a faint warmth that felt strangely soothing.

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

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

Mo Shang didn't notice her expression. All his attention was fixed on the flame inside him.

As the Starfire entered his body, a vast surge of Star Power instantly spread through him. The Ten Thousand Dao Star Art he cultivated began operating on its own, rapidly refining the boundless energy.

The tremendous Star Power flooded into him, and Mo Shang's cultivation began to rise at a breakneck pace. He broke through four minor realms in succession, only slowing when he reached the Spirit Gathering Realm Ninth Layer.

Not only that, Mo Shang felt a strange connection form between him and the flame. With a mere thought, he could control it as he pleased.

Wanting to give it a try, Mo Shang raised his hand. At a flicker of his mind, blue Starfire slowly rose from his palm.

The terrifying heat within the flame sent the surrounding air's temperature soaring, but Mo Shang's palm remained completely unharmed. It had clearly accepted him as its master.

Once the flame recognized him as its master, Mo Shang also learned its name—Falling Star Flame!

"Holy crap, it really accepted me as its master on its own?!"

Mo Shang was completely dumbfounded. He'd only said it offhandedly, never expecting the flame to actually submit to him willingly.

"All spiritual treasures born from heaven and earth have a spirit. It seems this Falling Star Flame truly recognizes you," Jiang Shuyu explained with a smile.

Mo Shang fell silent, unsure what to say.

Other people had to cultivate day and night or fight for their lives to grow stronger. He'd not only gotten a powerful Spirit Flame for free, but his cultivation had surged by a whole tier. It was absurd!

"What happened?"

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

When he sensed Mo Shang's cultivation, Gu Qingzhou froze in place and rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

"No way, bro, did you cheat? How'd your cultivation rise so fast? Weren't you at the Spirit Gathering Realm Fifth Layer just now?!"

He'd cultivated diligently day and night to reach his current level, yet in the time it took to look away, his good friend had broken through four minor realms!

His own slow progress was bad enough. Seeing his friend advance by leaps and bounds made him feel even worse!

"What are you talking about? If I didn't cheat, how can you call it cheating?" Mo Shang shrugged, speaking with complete composure.

Gu Qingzhou was speechless. He wanted to argue, but couldn't think of a single thing to say.

Soon, however, his gaze was drawn to the flame in Mo Shang's palm. "Is that a Spirit Flame? Where'd you get it?"

"I just cracked it out of the Meteorite Iron. It's still hot," Mo Shang said without hiding anything, pointing to the half-melted Meteorite Iron on the ground.

He had to admit, after spending time with a Child of Fortune, he felt his own luck improving. Not only could he pull top-tier treasures in a lottery, he'd even found a bargain like this at an auction.

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

"Did I need to refine it specially? Don't they all accept you as their master on their own?" Mo Shang asked, looking confused.

At that, Gu Qingzhou's mouth twitched. He couldn't help muttering, "I suspect you're just showing off..."