Traces of the Strange Fire

"You want to go too? Don't be ridiculous!"

Yun Shan flicked his sleeves and left, leaving Nalan Yanran kneeling at the doorway of his room.

A few years ago, Yun Shan had not been fond of this stubborn grand-disciple; her headstrong nature and the temperament of a pampered noble young lady were not traits he, a man dedicated to quiet cultivation, appreciated.

However, ever since Yun Zimo requested that he mentor Nalan Yanran, he had spent the past year interacting with her and had come to accept this grand-disciple, who had long since shed her immature arrogance, from the bottom of his heart.

Therefore, when Nalan Yanran requested to study at Jia Nan Academy for a year, he refused decisively. It was not merely because she was the Young Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, but more so because, with her current strength, she would only be drifting through the outer academy; she would learn nothing and waste a year for nothing.

But if he were to truly let her test in, study for a few years, and then return, he found himself somewhat reluctant to let her go.

"Once you break through to become a Dou Grandmaster, I will permit you to descend the mountain. Whether you go to Jia Nan Academy or travel the four corners of the world, I will not interfere."

Yun Shan said softly.

"Don't say I am intentionally making things difficult for you; Zimo only descended the mountain after he became a high-level Dou Grandmaster."

Nalan Yanran sighed inwardly. A Dou Grandmaster—by her estimation, she would only be able to reach that level by the time of the Three-Year Agreement.

"How much of my skill have you even learned? Focus on your cultivation and stop thinking about other things."

"Yes, Grandmaster."

"Hall Master! Hall Master!"

Yun Zimo had just finished arranging the trial matters and was patrolling the sect when Gu He found him, his face filled with excitement.

"The flight Dou Technique scroll you gave me—the refining method! I have completely deciphered it!"

"What?!"

Yun Zimo's expression turned solemn. He had not expected Gu He to bring him such a massive surprise.

"Look!"

Gu He unfurled the scroll in his hand and injected his soul power into it, causing a phantom image of a pair of broad, purple wings to manifest.

"These are the wings of a Tier 5 Magical Beast, the Black Flame Purple Cloud Eagle. The person who refined this must have been at least a Master Alchemist. They first shattered the Purple Cloud Eagle's magic core, then forced all the Dou Qi and essence blood from its body into the wings. Using a secret technique, they severed the wings the moment they extracted the soul, then used alchemy to perfectly fuse the two, ultimately smelting them into this pair of eagle wings, only ten inches in size."

"The user only needs to refine these wings and withstand the violent aura within the Purple Cloud Eagle's soul to be able to fly!"

There was no lack of excitement in Gu He's tone. As long as he had this flight Dou Technique, with his alchemy skills, he would certainly be able to refine similar flight Dou Techniques by drawing inferences from this one!

"It is a pity, however, that the Black Flame Purple Cloud Eagle is an extremely ferocious type among fire-attribute magical beasts. Those with an unstable will or whose soul attributes do not match have a high probability of failing the cultivation. Either their soul will be rendered an idiot by the eagle's violent aura, or they will be burned to ashes by the black flames."

Gu He said with some regret, clearly feeling sorry that Yun Zimo had been able to obtain it back then but could not use it himself.

However, Gu He's words of regret sounded quite different to Yun Zimo's ears. No wonder Xiao Yan was able to successfully cultivate the Purple Cloud Wings...

"To decipher the refining method of the Eagle Wings in just over half a year—Master Gu He has worked hard."

Yun Zimo bowed slightly. Ever since he ran back to the Misty Cloud Sect over half a year ago to ask Gu He for help in analyzing it, he had finally received a return on his investment.

"It is nothing."

To Gu He, things related to alchemy held a fatal attraction for him; there was no need to speak of thanks.

"Oh, right, I have also finished organizing that Seven-Colored Poison Scripture you asked me to look at. I have annotated the unreasonable parts. Although it records the methods of a poison doctor, it also has some crossover benefits for alchemy."

"Hall Master, I do not suggest you study these poison doctor methods. After all, it is a path that harms oneself before harming others, and you know the consequences. I also hope your friend can become a proper alchemist, rather than one of those unclassifiable freaks from the Chu Yun Empire."

Even in his excitement, Gu He did not forget to remind Yun Zimo. He still remembered how Yun Zimo had looked in the Mo Clan's secret room, and he would take any opportunity to offer a reminder as he handed over the items.

Yun Zimo felt a slight warmth in his heart and could not help but marvel at Gu He's efficiency. After taking the Eagle Wings and the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture, he suddenly said, "Master Gu He, you are still searching for a Heavenly Flame, aren't you?"

Gu He's excited expression froze, and his eyes dimmed. He had spent more than half his life searching for a Heavenly Flame; he had even accepted Yun Shan's invitation to become a guest elder of the Misty Cloud Sect to leverage the sect's power to search for one. Yet, after all these years, there was not even a trace of one.

"I heard that there is a Heavenly Flame in the Chu Yun Empire."

Yun Zimo said softly.

Gu He's aura jumped violently, a flash of wild joy appearing in his eyes, followed by doubt and suspicion. As a Tier 6 Alchemist, he had never heard any news of a Heavenly Flame in the Chu Yun Empire after all these years. Was this kid just trying to fool him?

"Sixteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, the Fire Cloud Water Flame. It is born between the fusion of clouds and water. Its form is ethereal like a cloud, and its flame is as gentle as water. It is the gentlest flame on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, second only to the Flame of Life."

Yun Zimo calmly recited the basic information about the sixteenth-ranked Fire Cloud Water Flame. He believed Gu He knew even more than he did.

Gu He's handsome face grew more solemn. He had heard rumors over twenty years ago that a Heavenly Flame had appeared in the Chu Yun Empire, but back then, he was only a small Tier 2 Alchemist and had no delusions about such a miraculous treasure of heaven and earth. He had only heard people mention something called the Fire Cloud Water Flame, but later, he did not know how it had all ended.

Now that Yun Zimo mentioned the Fire Cloud Water Flame, Gu He's sealed memories surfaced.

"I heard that someone carrying a peculiar flame has been appearing near the medicinal herb merchant stations in the Chu Yun Empire recently."

Yun Zimo said as if it were a casual remark. Seeing the ruthlessness flash in Gu He's eyes, Yun Zimo said no more.

"Master Gu He has been tired for over half a year; why not descend the mountain to clear your mind? I saw the old Sect Leader last time, and he seems to have thoughts of traveling to the Chu Yun Empire recently..."

Hearing Yun Zimo's words, Gu He, who was still hesitating, felt a gleam in his eyes. He bowed solemnly and turned to leave, heading who knew where.

Yun Zimo shook the scroll in his hand and sighed inwardly once more that his decision back then had been correct.

Thirteen years ago, when Yun Shan was still the Sect Leader, he had descended the mountain to invite the renowned Gu He to serve as a guest elder of the Misty Cloud Sect. That year, Yun Zimo was eight years old and had already begun to set his sights on Gu He, intentionally getting close to him under the guise of studying classics to gain his trust and secure resources to help Gu He break through to a Tier 6 Alchemist...

As for that Heavenly Flame, the informants he had planted in the Chu Yun Empire, both openly and secretly for so many years, had long since uncovered that person's background.

More than twenty years ago, that person had indeed been lucky enough to obtain the Chu Yun Water Flame, but as a result, he had been forced to hide and flee, never daring to show his face, until Yun Zimo finally tracked him down after much searching.

Now that Gu He had been firmly bound to the Misty Cloud Sect's front, coupled with the favor of the Heavenly Flame, Yun Zimo believed that Gu He would become a loyal member of the Misty Cloud Sect. After all, Gu He was a gentleman...

"I recall that Gu He's brother, Gu Te, is a treasure merchant, right? He must have quite a collection of rare items in his hands!"

Thinking of Gu Te, Yun Zimo couldn't help but covet his vast collection, briefly contemplating whether he should go and "rob the rich to aid the poor," but he abandoned this terrifying thought almost as soon as it crossed his mind.

"I am simply too kind; I am truly not cut out to be a mastermind behind the scenes!"

With a sigh of self-reflection, Yun Zimo rose to his feet, preparing to head toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range to pick someone up.

Someone he had made a promise to six years ago...