Absorbing a Heavenly Flame-Success!

Gu He was very obedient. As soon as he heard Xiao Lei's words, he immediately took out the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame and handed it to him.

Xiao Lei took the Heavenly Flame and suspended it before him. Then, using a similar technique, he drew out strands of Blood Flame and swiftly sliced through the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame.

Seeing this, Gu He hurriedly cried out in alarm, "Master Xiao Lei, you can't—"

After witnessing Xiao Lei's alchemy skills, Gu He knew full well that he was no match for him. Calling him "Master" didn't feel out of place.

After all, Gu He had spent his entire fortune to buy the Heavenly Flame. Seeing Xiao Lei handle it so roughly made his heart leap into his throat.

"Don't worry. Heavenly Flames are far tougher than you imagine!"

After explaining, Xiao Lei didn't pause his hands for even an instant, while the Heavenly Flame's might rapidly weakened.

Heavenly Flames were wonders of heaven and earth, and many were born in environments so harsh they beggared belief. How could flames born in such places be delicate hothouse flowers?

Take the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, for example. It had been corroded by Xiang Liu's innate poison for decades, yet the only thing that had happened was that it had stopped growing.

"Xiang Liu, help me!"

Xiao Lei's own efforts weren't enough, so he called Xiang Liu over. By now, Xiang Liu had recovered a little, and even three of its heads had grown back.

At Xiao Lei's command, Xiang Liu opened its jaws and sprayed three streams of viscous liquid straight at the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame.

Sizzle!

The streams, thick with potent poison, splashed onto the Heavenly Flame. It was just like pouring water into a red-hot iron pan.

Gu He could only stare helplessly as Xiao Lei and Xiang Liu worked.

The process continued until late into the night before Xiao Lei finally lowered his hands. Even as a Dou Emperor, he was now so thoroughly drained that he could barely keep going.

Seeing this, Gu He hurriedly asked in a quiet voice, "Master Xiao Lei, is it over?"

Xiao Lei wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a deep breath. "This is as far as I can weaken it. The rest is up to you!"

Xiao Lei had done all he could. If Gu He still couldn't successfully absorb it, then he simply wasn't fated to. After all, Xiao Yan hadn't received anything like this kind of help when he absorbed the Green Lotus Core Flame.

"Take the Blood Lotus Pill. Once the blood scab forms, reach in and pull out the flame's origin!"

Hearing Xiao Lei's instructions, Gu He hurriedly did as told. His arm, now covered in blood scabs, plunged straight into the suspended Myriad Beast Spirit Flame. The flame was incredibly weak, its fire contracted into a tight mass. Gu He felt around briefly and managed to seize the flame's origin.

"I've got it!"

Gu He cried out excitedly. His heart seemed to return to the days of his youth, pounding rapidly in his chest.

At the same time, the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame sensed that it had been caught and erupted without regard for the cost. Its scorching heat was enough to make even Xiao Lei, standing nearby, uncomfortable, while the blood scabs covering Gu He's body rapidly disappeared.

"Drink the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, then swallow the Heavenly Flame whole! Hurry!"

If Gu He waited until the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame had melted all the blood scabs before swallowing it, the damage to his body would undoubtedly be far worse.

Gu He knew he had to swallow the flame, but now that the moment had come, feeling its searing heat in his hand made him hesitate.

"Gu He, what are you waiting for? Hurry up! You traded half a lifetime's savings for this chance. Are you really going to throw it away?"

Thoughts collided in his mind. The next moment, Gu He let out a shout, opened his mouth, and slapped the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame straight into it!

Ah! Ah! Ah!

The full heat of the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame burst inside Gu He's mouth. His face twisted in agony, and his wretched cries rang in Yan Shi and Feng Li's ears.

The usually refined and mild-mannered Gu He seemed like a different person now. His contorted face told of the agony he was enduring.

The two of them were stunned by the sight, too frightened to make a sound.

Meanwhile, Xiao Lei felt ever more fortunate that he had decided not to absorb a Heavenly Flame himself!

Whoever wanted to suffer could suffer!

Without waiting for Xiao Lei to remind him, Gu He hurriedly poured two bottles of Ice Spirit Cold Spring into his mouth. He finally felt a little better, then quickly circulated his Dou Qi, driving the Heavenly Flame through the meridians in his body.

This step was also called Heavenly Flame body tempering. It was the most painful part of the entire absorption process!

Gu He's muffled groans never stopped, while bottle after bottle of Ice Spirit Cold Spring vanished beside him.

The Heavenly Flame moved at a snail's pace. It took several hours just to complete its third circuit. Gu He hadn't endured such agony in years, and the pain battered his consciousness until it grew hazy.

In a daze, his thoughts returned to his childhood. Back then, he had been a wandering cultivator without a faction or powerful backing. After inheriting an alchemist's legacy, he had traveled across the empire, cultivating as he went.

Back then, when he fought magical beasts, he could grit his teeth and endure even after they tore great chunks of flesh from him. When poison ravaged his body, he could still overcome it through sheer will.

"When did my will become so fragile?"

Perhaps it had been the day he won the alchemist tournament in the Jia Ma Empire and accepted the Misty Cloud Sect's invitation.

Perhaps it had been the day he laid down his sword and swore he would never fight on his own again.

Xiao Lei didn't care what was going through his mind. He simply opened a bottle of Ice Spirit Cold Spring and splashed it right in Gu He's face.

The bone-chilling cold instantly brought Gu He back to his senses.

"Quick! Drive the Heavenly Flame into the Spirit Gathering. This is the final step!"

Xiao Lei shouted, afraid Gu He might collapse at the very last moment.

Gu He came to himself and steadied his mind. His gaze had never been more resolute, and it held a sharper edge.

The next moment, Gu He urged all his Dou Qi into action. After so long spent erupting, the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame could no longer withstand his assault. Gu He pressed it into the Spirit Gathering in one decisive push.

With the combined efforts of Gu He and Xiao Lei, the Heavenly Flame was successfully absorbed!

Exhausted, Gu He passed out as soon as the absorption was complete.

"Master Xiao Lei, may I ask what's happened to Pill King Gu He?"

Feng Li looked at the scene, then at Xiao Lei's expression, and only then asked cautiously.

Xiao Lei waved his hand to show that everything was fine. "He successfully absorbed the Heavenly Flame. He merely passed out from exhaustion; there's no danger. You can leave for now. I'll keep watch here."

After getting Xiao Lei's assurance, Feng Li exchanged a glance with Yan Shi, and the two of them left one after the other.

Once they were gone, Xiao Lei rubbed his hands together excitedly and opened the system.

[Target: The renowned Pill King of the Jia Ma Empire.]

[Cultivation: Eight-Star Dou Wang.]

[Heavenly Flame: Myriad Beast Spirit Flame.]

[Constitution: None.]

[Copying time: Ten minutes.]

[Copy?]

"Looks like the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame isn't powerful enough! It's only ranked twenty-second among the Heavenly Flames, and I weakened it so much on top of that."

Xiao Lei didn't rush to copy it. First, he gave Gu He several healing pills, just in case the effects of the copying process became the last straw that broke the camel's back.

Meanwhile, after putting some distance between themselves and the others, Feng Li and Yan Shi had stopped to wait.

After all, Gu He still hadn't paid them the balance!

"Feng Li, do you think Xiao Lei might take the chance to hurt Lao He? Wasn't it a bad idea for us to leave just like that?"

Feng Li was speechless. As soon as Yan Shi was away from Xiao Lei, he couldn't keep his mouth shut again. "If you want to go back, go by yourself. Didn't you see the look he gave us earlier? You still haven't learned your lesson?"

Yan Shi was about to retort when he suddenly sensed a faint presence beside him. He immediately threw a punch.

"Who's there? Come out!"

Boom!

The attack struck the ground, kicking up a cloud of sand. Seeing Yan Shi's reaction, Feng Li hurriedly went on guard as well.

But even after a long while, nobody appeared, and no one attacked them.

"Old Lion, could you stop being so jumpy and just wait quietly?"

Yan Shi said nothing. He simply stared fixedly at the spot where he had attacked.