When Shen Shuyun said this, everyone's gaze fell on Zhao Ziqi.
Zhao Ziqi was young, looking no more than eighteen or nineteen. His complexion was slightly dark, but his features were regular, with thick brows, large eyes, and a bright, spirited gaze.
Yet he clearly was not good with words. Since Lu Xuan and the others had entered the hall, he had said nothing beyond returning their courtesies.
But upon hearing Shen Shuyun's request, he immediately brightened. He raised his head and met Shen Shuyun's graceful, slightly upturned phoenix eyes before saying without hesitation:
"Of course I'm willing to help, Senior Sister!"
Naturally, this scene also fell into the eyes of Lu Xuan and the other two.
The three exchanged an almost imperceptible glance, and all gained some understanding of the relationship between Shen Shuyun and Zhao Ziqi.
Zhang Xuange even shook his head lightly and sighed.
But whatever path a person took in life came from their own desires. Lu Xuan and the others naturally would not meddle.
Shen Shuyun gave Zhao Ziqi a radiant smile. "Since that's the case, thank you, Junior Brother."
With that, she turned to Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan understood her meaning. He immediately cupped his hands toward the two of them. "Then I ask Senior Brother Zhao to enlighten me."
The Crimson Cloud Sect followed the usual practice of coming to exchange knowledge of alchemy. Aside from the Foundation Establishment Mystic Master, the accompanying disciples' cultivation levels were not high, generally similar to those of the current Alchemy Office disciples at the Hibernation Academy.
Thus, Zhao Ziqi was also at the Qi Refining First Layer. However, since he had begun Qi Refining earlier, his Qi Sea was already eighty percent full, and he was about to touch the threshold of the Qi Refining Second Layer.
However, a contest of Heartfire had little to do with the cultivation level of one's Qi Sea.
Hearing this, Zhao Ziqi shifted his gaze away from Shen Shuyun and looked at Lu Xuan. Composing himself, he said solemnly, "Junior Brother, feel free to proceed."
Lu Xuan shook his head. "My Heartfire is vast and mighty, while also being sharp. Senior Brother, you must be careful. If you cannot withstand it, I will immediately stop. Do not force yourself."
Zhao Ziqi glanced at Shen Shuyun from the corner of his eye. Seeing that her expression had not changed, he could only say, "Go ahead and release your Heartfire, Junior Brother. I'll be careful."
Lu Xuan nodded, then said, "Be careful, Senior Brother. I will begin by using fifty percent of my strength."
"Fifty percent?"
"Junior Brother Lu, there's no need to worry. I also cultivate Heartfire. What can fifty percent of your strength test? Just proceed. I can defend against it."
Zhao Ziqi laughed when he heard this.
Lu Xuan had emphasized again and again that his Heartfire was powerful, and Zhao Ziqi naturally believed him—after all, he was a disciple of the Heaven-Gazing Sect. But a mere fifty percent of his strength was looking down on him too much.
He had also gathered True Qi and refined it into the Heartfire Dao Art!
"Let's first test it with fifty percent of your strength."
Lu Xuan insisted.
"Fine, fine, fine. Then come at me, Junior Brother!"
Zhao Ziqi did not take it to heart, but he still agreed.
Lu Xuan no longer hesitated. He immediately activated [Burning Heart Sunfire].
"Boom!!"
In an instant, an invisible flame seemed to descend from beyond the heavens, landing in Zhao Ziqi's Consciousness Sea in the blink of an eye.
It was searing and scorching, like the light of the great sun, as though it would burn everything dry.
In that instant, Zhao Ziqi felt his Consciousness Sea grow boiling hot. His thoughts seemed about to ignite, and his entire Consciousness Sea appeared to be on the verge of being burned away.
"How is this possible?!"
"This is fifty percent of your strength?!"
Zhao Ziqi had wanted to show off in front of Shen Shuyun. Thus, when Lu Xuan spoke, he had already activated his own Heartfire Dao Art. Within his Consciousness Sea, a mass of invisible flame was already poised to erupt, waiting only for Lu Xuan.
But when that terrifying Heartfire, as scorching as Heavenly Light, entered his heart, his Heartfire technique seemed like a fledgling swallow returning to its nest, or snow beneath the sun. In an instant, it was "melted" into the other flame.
"How could this be?!"
For a moment, he was utterly stunned, his face drained of color, unable to believe it.
"Rise for me!"
He roared inwardly. His Heartfire technique activated again as he unleashed his full strength. Invisible flames rose from his thoughts and collided with Lu Xuan's [Burning Heart Sunfire].
"Boom!"
An invisible tremor resounded within Zhao Ziqi's thoughts.
"Ah!"
But in the next instant, he suddenly raised his hand and violently slapped his own face and hair.
It was as though some terrifying flame were burning him there.
Yet in the eyes of Shen Shuyun and the others, Zhao Ziqi's face was perfectly normal, and there was not even a spark of fire on him.
At that moment, Lu Xuan had already withdrawn [Burning Heart Sunfire].
"Senior Brother Zhao, are you all right?" Lu Xuan asked with concern.
This was his first time using [Burning Heart Sunfire] against an opponent. However, he knew that this flame had gained the augmentation of ancient characters and was already extraordinary, which was why he had only tested it with fifty percent of his strength.
He had not expected it to be so fierce regardless. Fortunately, he had withdrawn it in time, so Zhao Ziqi had not been injured.
"Whew!"
Zhao Ziqi could not help continuing to slap his own face. Only after confirming that there was no fire did he finally let out a long sigh of relief.
That intense scorching sensation just now had not been an illusion. His thoughts had been unable to withstand the Heartfire and had begun to burn, making him believe that he had truly caught fire.
Fortunately, Lu Xuan had stopped in time.
"It's fine, it's fine. Junior Brother, what kind of Heartfire have you cultivated? How is it so fierce and overbearing?" Zhao Ziqi could not help asking.
"Heartfire is meant for slaughter. Naturally, it is somewhat fierce. It is good as long as you're unharmed, Senior Brother."
Lu Xuan smiled and did not explain further.
The others nearby were all slightly startled as well.
They had thought there would be an intense clash of Heartfire, but unexpectedly, it had ended in the blink of an eye, like a withered tree crushed before a gale.
Yet the scorching sensation in the void, which made their thoughts burn, told them that it had all been real.
Shen Shuyun's eyes lit up.
If Lu Xuan and Zhao Ziqi had reached an impasse, then even if Lu Xuan won, he would never have been able to help her refine the Suspended Heart Millet Pearl Pill.
To refine this pill, one needed Heartfire this surging and fierce to melt the [Unburnt Wood].
But she still had to confirm it.
"Junior Brother Zhao, can this flame melt Unburnt Wood?" she asked urgently.
Zhao Ziqi had only just recovered from that terrifying burning sensation. But upon hearing Shen Shuyun's voice, he immediately answered:
"Junior Brother Lu's Heartfire comes from the great sun. It belongs to the Dao of [Burning]—fierce and domineering. It can refine wood of the Unburnt Wood kind."
Unburnt Wood was an exotic species. Its literal meaning was wood that could not be burned to nothing.
To put it plainly, it could not be ignited and thus could not be reduced to ash.
All the world's various flames were like trying to grasp the moon's reflection in water when they landed on this wood. The wood would even become invisible to the eye. Only by closing one's eyes and using invisible thought could one sense its existence. It was extraordinarily mysterious.
Thus, only Heartfire could make this wood burn.
Now that she had received Zhao Ziqi's answer, a smile finally appeared on Shen Shuyun's face. She immediately turned to Lu Xuan and said:
"Junior Brother, your Heartfire is domineering. Shuyun admires it. Since today is as good as any other day, why don't we study alchemy together today? Once we've mastered the principles of alchemy, we'll open the furnace directly. What do you think?"
She had obtained these few pill recipes long ago and had long since become thoroughly familiar with the various methods of controlling fire and refining materials within them. But Lu Xuan did not know them, so she would have to explain the key points before he could lend her a hand.
Lu Xuan naturally had no objection. He immediately nodded in agreement.
Zhao Ziqi, standing nearby, spoke up. "Senior Sister, I can help as well."
Under ordinary circumstances, Shen Shuyun would naturally have agreed. But this pill was precious, and she did not want too many people to learn of it.
Naturally, she would not say so directly. She immediately smiled like a flower in bloom and said gently to Zhao Ziqi:
"Junior Brother Zhao, you were just injured by Junior Brother Lu's Heartfire. Your urgent priority is to rest and recover properly. As for this pill, Junior Brother Lu and I will be enough. We won't trouble you."
"Next time I refine pills, I'll ask for your help again, Junior Brother."
Before you continue