Red Flame Crystal

Li Xiaoyu's heart stirred slightly.

He could feel that this crystal contained an incomparably pure and explosive fire-attribute spiritual energy.

More importantly, the moment he saw this crystal, his Immortal-Slaying Gourd transmitted a faint yet incredibly clear sense of longing!

It wanted to devour this thing!

Li Xiaoyu understood instantly.

To him, no external magic treasure was as important as the growth of the Immortal-Slaying Gourd itself.

The gourd was the foundation of his survival!

Thus, amidst the astonished gazes of everyone present, Li Xiaoyu reached out his hand, bypassed the radiant Six Harmonies Mirror, and pointed directly at the seemingly unremarkable Red Flame Crystal.

"Disciple chooses this item."

His voice was clear and firm.

The entire arena erupted into an uproar.

"What? He chose that Red Flame Crystal?"

"Is he crazy? Ignoring the Six Harmonies Mirror to choose a mere crafting material?"

"While this Red Flame Crystal is precious, how can it compare to the Six Harmonies Mirror? What on earth is he thinking?"

No one could understand Li Xiaoyu's choice.

Even Daoist Daoxuan was taken aback, a look of surprise appearing on his face.

"Xiaoyu, have you thought this through?"

He could not help but ask, "The Six Harmonies Mirror is a supreme treasure of our sect, possessing both offensive and defensive capabilities with infinite utility."

"If you choose it, you will hold a significant advantage when facing enemies in the future."

Li Xiaoyu bowed respectfully to Daoist Daoxuan and replied neither humbly nor arrogantly:

"Reporting to the Sect Leader, this disciple has made up his mind."

"This disciple has recently been contemplating a special fire-attribute protective spell and requires such a supreme, pure fire-attribute spiritual object as a catalyst." "To this disciple, this item is more important than any magic treasure."

He had already prepared his excuse.

Although the reason was somewhat far-fetched, it was still logical and reasonable.

Daoist Daoxuan looked at him deeply, a strange light flashing in those eyes that seemed capable of peering into the human heart.

He did not ask further.

Excessive questioning would only be beneath his station.

"Very well."

Daoist Daoxuan nodded, a look of approval appearing on his face.

"Since your mind is made up, This Seat grants it."

With a wave of his hand, the deacon disciple in charge solemnly handed the brocade box containing the Red Flame Crystal to Li Xiaoyu.

Li Xiaoyu took the box, joy rising in his heart.

Downstage, countless disciples watched this scene, their faces still filled with confusion and regret.

They felt that Li Xiaoyu had picked up a sesame seed and lost a watermelon.

As for the runner-up, Qi Hao, he was being revived with medicinal pills by the disciples of Dragon Head Peak in a corner where no one was paying attention.

He slowly regained consciousness, and the first piece of news he heard was that he had luckily obtained the Six Harmonies Mirror because Li Xiaoyu had given it up.

"Pfft!"

He felt a sweetness in his throat, spat out another mouthful of blood, and fainted once more.

To him, this was not an honor, but a massive irony and humiliation!

The award ceremony concluded, and the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament finally came to a true end.

That night, at Morning Sun Peak.

Inside Li Xiaoyu's quiet room.

He closed the door, set up a restriction, and couldn't wait to open the brocade box.

As soon as the Red Flame Crystal appeared, the temperature of the entire room rose instantly.

He could clearly feel the Immortal-Slaying Gourd at his waist trembling violently, emitting a joyful intent.

"Little guy, are you starving?"

Li Xiaoyu smiled, took the Red Flame Crystal in his hand, and activated his techniques to begin guiding the fire-attribute spiritual energy within.

He did not feed the crystal directly to the gourd, but instead carefully guided that vast energy into the gourd, thread by thread.

Hum!

The Immortal-Slaying Gourd shone with brilliant golden light, and a tiny vortex formed at its mouth, beginning to frantically devour the pure fire-attribute spiritual energy.

As energy continuously poured in, Li Xiaoyu could clearly feel the chaotic space inside the gourd undergoing a marvelous transformation.

That golden mist, representing the Geng metal energy, seemed to grow more solid.

Meanwhile, the purple mist transformed from the power of thunder became increasingly vibrant.

What surprised him even more was that after absorbing this fire-attribute spiritual energy, a third cloud began to emerge within the chaotic space—a crimson mist, filled with a scorching and explosive aura!

Gold, thunder, fire!

Three distinct primordial powers reached a marvelous equilibrium within the gourd's internal space.

The ancient, simple patterns on the surface of the gourd also seemed to become more lustrous and profound.

So that's how it is.

A realization dawned on Li Xiaoyu.

This gourd did not seem to merely swallow spiritual energy; it could swallow the primordial power of all things and evolve them within itself!

Its potential was far greater than he had ever imagined!

Li Xiaoyu's heart was filled with endless anticipation.

After the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament, Li Xiaoyu politely declined all celebratory banquets and visits, returning to his reclusive lifestyle.

Every day, aside from meditating to stabilize his newly broken-through sixth level of the Jade Purity Realm, he studied the Red Flame Crystal, constantly using its pure fire-attribute spiritual energy to feed the Immortal-Slaying Gourd.

He could feel that as the gourd continued to grow, the spiritual energy within his own body was becoming increasingly pure and robust.

This feeling of steady improvement in strength left him utterly intoxicated.

One day, while Li Xiaoyu was practicing sword techniques in the courtyard, Shang Zhengliang suddenly arrived at his residence.

"Xiaoyu, come with me to Heaven-Reaching Peak."

Shang Zhengliang's expression appeared somewhat solemn.

Li Xiaoyu's heart stirred; he sheathed his sword and followed his master as they flew toward the main hall of Heaven-Reaching Peak.

He knew that something important must have happened.

Upon arriving at the solemn and majestic Jade Purity Hall, he saw that the Sect Leader, Daoist Daoxuan, and the heads of the other six meridians were already gathered there.

The atmosphere inside the hall felt somewhat heavy.

Li Xiaoyu followed his master and respectfully bowed to Daoist Daoxuan and the various heads seated above.

Daoist Daoxuan looked at him, his gentle gaze filled with approval.

"Nephew Li, there is no need for such formalities."

He signaled for Li Xiaoyu to rise, then spoke slowly: "I have summoned you here today because there is an important mission I must entrust to you."

He paused, his expression turning serious.

"Recently, secret reports from our informants embedded within the Demonic Sect indicate that the Blood Refining Hall, one of the four major factions of the Demonic Sect, has been unusually active around Kongsang Mountain on the coast of the East Sea, and they seem to be plotting something."

"Kongsang Mountain has been the boundary between the righteous and the demonic since ancient times, and beneath it lies the Ancient Bat Cave, the former headquarters of the Blood Refining Hall, which is exceptionally treacherous."

"In order to ascertain the true intentions of the Demonic Sect and to temper the Daoist hearts of our disciples, I have consulted with the various heads and decided to dispatch the four most outstanding disciples from this year's Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament to descend the mountain and investigate the matter at Kongsang Mountain."

Daoist Daoxuan's gaze swept across those present.

"Morning Sun Peak, Li Xiaoyu."

"Small Bamboo Peak, Lu Xueqi."

"Dragon Head Peak, Qi Hao."

"And Big Bamboo Peak, Zhang Xiaofan."

Daoist Daoxuan slowly read out the four names.