Mystic Yellow Azure Flame! The Flame Mantra's abilities built in

"So I really do have the skills of a First-Rank Alchemist now. The reward is... a heavenly flame!"

Chu Zhou's heart gave a sudden leap. He had never expected the Firmament Ledger to give him such a huge surprise.

Heavenly flames were flames born between heaven and earth, hailed as supreme among all flames. There were currently twenty-three known varieties listed on the Dou Qi Continent. Far more powerful than ordinary Dou Qi flames, each possessed special abilities, greatly boosted the strength of fire-attribute cultivators, and improved both the success rate and quality of alchemy. They were supreme treasures that fire-attribute cultivators and alchemists dreamed of obtaining.

The conditions required for heavenly flames to form were demanding, making them extremely precious. Most alchemists could spend their entire lives without ever obtaining one.

With his foreknowledge of the plot, Chu Zhou naturally had plenty of heavenly flames he could seize before anyone else.

Since he did not have the Flame Mantra and had no intention of cultivating it, he only needed a single heavenly flame.

He had not expected the Firmament Ledger to reward him with one directly. That saved him a great deal of effort, along with the risks he would otherwise have had to take.

Refining a heavenly flame was extremely dangerous, requiring one to withstand the impact of violent energy. High-level cultivators could subdue heavenly flames through their cultivation alone, while low-level cultivators needed at least three indispensable treasures to assist in the process. Chu Zhou had originally planned to seek out Xiao Yan for a trade, but now he could spare himself the trouble.

"Hm?"

Chu Zhou sensed a mass of azure-yellow flame appearing in his Dantian. It seemed to have become part of his body directly, requiring no refining whatsoever. Nor did he have to worry about any backlash.

Yet he felt that this flame would struggle to kill even a Dou Zhe. It hardly lived up to the grand reputation of being supreme among all flames, capable of making every other flame submit.

But after thinking it over, he understood. A newly born wisp of heavenly flame would still be utterly overwhelmed by a high-level magical beast's innate beast flame.

The heavenly flame the Firmament Ledger had given him was probably scaled to his strength. After all, it was only a reward for being the first to become a First-Rank Alchemist.

"No, I underestimated this heavenly flame."

Information about the heavenly flame in his Dantian surfaced in Chu Zhou's mind, making his heart race.

[Mystic Yellow Azure Flame]: Born at the dawn of the universe, amid the primordial vastness and the mystic yellow of heaven and earth, this flame scattered throughout the Great Thousand World. Most of it has already been devoured by planes and continents. Each time it advances one rank, it can copy the abilities of any flame in existence once. One of the finest companion flames in existence, it grows alongside its master, its power always matching its master's level.

"That's terrifying."

Had Ya Fei and Gu Ni not been beside him, Chu Zhou would have shouted in excitement.

Setting aside the origins of this Mystic Yellow Azure Flame, both of its traits were downright heaven-defying.

It could copy the abilities of any flame in existence. Though it could only do so once per advancement in rank, that was already outrageous.

Heavenly flames on the Dou Qi Continent could devour one another, but doing so only strengthened their own origins. They could not inherit another heavenly flame's abilities.

Even if the nihility devouring flame swallowed the purifying lotus demon flame, it would merely become a stronger nihility devouring flame, without undergoing any true transformation. It might acquire a trace of purifying power, but nothing comparable to the purifying lotus demon flame.

Throughout history, only the emperor flame had possessed the abilities of every heavenly flame. That, however, was thanks to the Flame Mantra, which fully preserved each ability after merging their heavenly flame origins.

The other trait was its increasing strength, which always remained equal to its master's.

The Heavenly Flame Ranking compiled by the Dou Qi Continent's alchemy community recorded every known heavenly flame.

This ranking was based on each heavenly flame's upper limit—the heights it could reach after growing to its peak under normal circumstances.

The golden emperor burning heaven flame could annihilate a Dou Sheng, which placed it fourth. The nihility devouring flame and purifying lotus demon flame could even take the form of fire spirits and were themselves Dou Sheng.

The Mystic Yellow Azure Flame's strength matched its master's exactly. In other words, its master's upper limit was its own upper limit. In theory, it had no ceiling.

If Chu Zhou became a Dou Di, the Mystic Yellow Azure Flame would rival the emperor flame.

If Chu Zhou could ascend to Heavenly Sovereign, the Mystic Yellow Azure Flame would reach that level as well.

"In other words, if I reach the late stage of Nine-Star Dou Saint, the Mystic Yellow Azure Flame will too. I could take on Hun Tiandi alone and beat the nihility devouring flame into the ground." Excitement surged through Chu Zhou.

Meanwhile, Ya Fei and Gu Ni had also recovered from their shock.

They exchanged a glance, each understanding what the other meant.

Go all in. Stake all the authority and resources at their disposal on Chu Zhou.

Their future achievements would depend on what Chu Zhou accomplished and how generously he repaid them.

"Little brother Chu Zhou, you really have given me a surprise." Ya Fei moved close to him, her eyes smiling and her breath fragrant, her tone intimate. "You already have the skills of a First-Rank Alchemist. I'm afraid you'll only need to study a little longer before you're on par with Uncle Gu Ni."

"I owe all of this to the care you and Uncle Gu Ni have shown me, Sister Ya Fei." Chu Zhou stood and said earnestly, "I've always remembered that the Mittel Merchant Guild's caravan saved me, and that you and Uncle Gu Ni gave me everything I enjoy now, allowing me to achieve what I have. Otherwise, I'd still be a poor scholar in some remote little village."

"Don't say that. You're outstanding. You've come this far through your own talent." Ya Fei reached out to straighten Chu Zhou's collar, moving closer than a proper distance allowed. It was a signal of sorts.

"Even someone talented needs help and resources. It's not as though I've gotten here through my own efforts alone." Chu Zhou disagreed.

"Must you insist on being so formal with me?" Ya Fei said in feigned annoyance, her willow-leaf brows drawing together with a charm all their own.

"I just want you and Uncle Gu Ni to know that I've taken it all to heart." Chu Zhou patted his chest.

"All right, I understand." Ya Fei's lips curved slightly, a glimmer of amusement flashing through her eyes. "Then you can't refuse a gift from me, can you?"

"What are you giving me?" Chu Zhou asked.

"A sword." Ya Fei took a sword from her Storage Ring. "Since you're cultivating the Azure Slashing Sword Aura, you'll need a sword that suits you. I had this brought in overnight for you."

The sword was set with a wood-attribute magic core from a fourth-order magical beast. It was quite valuable, worth several hundred thousand gold coins.

Ya Fei was truly sparing no expense on Chu Zhou.

Chu Zhou made a show of refusing, but ultimately accepted, unable to turn down her generosity.

Afterward, Ya Fei found an excuse to leave, giving Gu Ni and Chu Zhou the alchemy room to themselves.

Gu Ni treated Chu Zhou with great kindness, holding nothing back as he taught him Alchemy. He also demonstrated how to refine ten kinds of first-rank pills.

Chu Zhou thought, Uncle Gu Ni has treated me so well. I'll repay him a hundredfold.

Sister Ya Fei has been good to me too. I must repay her kindness many times over!

While Chu Zhou continued diligently studying Alchemy, the netizens had... gotten used to it.

[Someone got a reward from the Firmament Ledger. Oh, it's God Chu. Never mind, then.]

[God Chu actually became a First-Rank Alchemist. That's even crazier than becoming a Dou Zhe.]

[Chu Zhou became a First-Rank Alchemist just one day after becoming a Dou Zhe. What kind of monster is he?]

[I spawned in a small city with three clans whose leaders are Da Dou Shi. The youngest son of one of those clan leaders is also a First-Rank Alchemist. He's single-handedly squeezed the other two clans' room to survive. Alchemists really do have ridiculous influence and clout.]

[Does that mean God Chu can refine pills to sell now?]