Inside the Spatial Ship, the atmosphere had been sensual and intimate, only for Fan Tian's offhand remark to shatter it in an instant.
Cao Ying slowly stood up, casually smoothed her slightly disheveled hair, and wiped the glistening moisture from the corner of her mouth. Her previously flushed face was now filled with astonishment.
Her beautiful eyes widened as she stared at Fan Tian. "Fuse Heavenly Flames? Fan Tian, have you done it so many times that you've screwed your brains out? Do you know what you're saying? Heavenly Flames are wonders of heaven and earth. Finding even one is a matter of luck, not something you can seek out at will. Do you know how many famous Alchemists in the Central Plains died full of regret just trying to tame a single Heavenly Flame..."
Dan Chen also stopped massaging his shoulders and leaned over beside him, poking her head forward curiously, her breath fragrant as orchids. "That's right, Fan Tian. Heavenly Flames repel one another. Forcing them to fuse could make your body explode and kill you."
Looking at the two women's worried yet curious expressions, Fan Tian could only spread his hands.
"What are those looks for? Do you really think my little head is controlling my big head, and I've fucked myself stupid and started spouting nonsense?"
Fan Tian drew both women into his arms and patiently explained.
"This cultivation technique really can fuse Heavenly Flames, though there may be some risk involved. It also starts out at only Low Yellow Tier, but after devouring Heavenly Flames, it can advance, even reaching high Heaven Tier."
"High Heaven Tier?!" Cao Ying and Dan Chen sucked in a breath.
The Pill Tower was a sacred land for Alchemists, yet even there, a high Heaven Tier cultivation technique was a treasure that safeguarded the tower. Even their masters, Xuan Kongzi and the others, were not qualified to access it. Could this miraculous cultivation technique that fused Heavenly Flames really reach high Heaven Tier as well?
"However, this cultivation technique has a drawback." Fan Tian abruptly changed tack, his gaze sweeping over Cao Ying's graceful curves as a wicked smile curled his lips. "After fusing Heavenly Flames, there may be some backlash. You have to use dual cultivation to suppress it..."
"Pah! Dual cultivate my ass, you lecher!" The blush that had just faded from Cao Ying's cheeks spread all the way to her ears again. She shot him a coquettish glare, thought for a moment, then murmured, "Let little sister Dan Chen practice this cultivation technique instead. This Demoness is afraid of dying."
"I'm not practicing it! Whoever wants it can have it. I'd already be perfectly happy taming a single Heavenly Flame, and you want me to fuse them? And start at Yellow Tier? Pah!" Dan Chen immediately shook her head, her hair swishing, refusal written all over her face.
Fan Tian was dumbfounded.
Wait, what was going on?
Weren't these two the most gifted Alchemists of the younger generation in the Central Plains?
Shouldn't they be jumping for joy and trembling with excitement at the news that Heavenly Flames could be fused, then begging me to teach them everything right away?
This wasn't following the script!
"Since when were high Heaven Tier cultivation techniques so cheap that even your Pill Tower has them? You're bluffing!" Fan Tian snorted.
"You two are just afraid of accidents and afraid of dying. You don't recognize a treasure when you see one. What I'm talking about is the number-one cultivation technique on the Dou Qi Continent."
Cao Ying curled her lips and raised her chin high. "Hmph. Our Pill Tower may not have a Dou Di, but it once produced a Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint who stood at the summit of this continent. Even among those mysterious ancient clans, few could contend with that expert. They're only a few sets of high-tier Dou Techniques and cultivation techniques. Who are you looking down on?"
"Exactly! Back when our Pill Tower was at its peak, how glorious it was! The Yao Clan, the Medicine Emperor's descendants-all they had was the good fortune to be born into the right family, yet they dared boast about talent. If that ancestor of the Pill Tower had lived in ancient times, they would definitely have become a Dou Di."
"They call theirs the Medicine Emperor, so we'll call ours the Pill Emperor!"
As Dan Chen and Cao Ying spoke, they suddenly burst out laughing.
Fan Tian frowned. The Yao Clan and the Pill Tower really were a pair of bitter rivals, each determined to outdo the other. But since that was the case, he would not have to fight over it.
If even these two felt this way, Yao Ling and the Yao Clan's experts would probably be even less willing to let her practice the Flame Mantra. After all, Heavenly Flames really were dangerous. One careless mistake could make your body explode and kill you. Without a protagonist's luck, who would be willing to take that risk?
Fan Tian seemed to have realized something. The less someone had, the more willing they were to take risks. They had to seize every possible opportunity to advance, whereas people like Yao Ling and Cao Ying had no need to do so.
"All right. Since neither of you wants it, pretend I never said anything." Fan Tian smoothly gathered both women into his arms. "The Central Plains are a pot of boiling chaos right now. The Ancient Eight Clans, the Hall of Souls, and the Hun Clan are fighting like dogs tearing at one another. They'll probably be at it for years, so let's stay on the Northwest Continent for a while."
"Having a few more kids wouldn't be bad, either!"
"Shameless!"
"Lecher!"
The two women nestled in Fan Tian's arms. Feeling the warmth and confidence radiating from him, the unease in their hearts gradually faded.
"Are there any Pill Tower experts in the Black-Corner Region?" Fan Tian asked.
"No. The experts at Dou Zong level and above seem to be gathering somewhere in the Central Plains. We're too weak and would only hold them back, so our masters sent us here to gain experience."
"I see!" Fan Tian nodded gently.
Several days later.
Black Seal City, Black-Corner Region.
As one of the most prosperous cities in the Black-Corner Region, this place had always been synonymous with chaos and slaughter. Today, however, an exceedingly luxurious Spatial Ship appeared in the sky above Black Seal City.
The Spatial Ship did not conceal its aura. Its immense pressure blanketed all of Black Seal City like Mount Tai bearing down from above. The mercenaries, assassins, and sect elders who usually swaggered through the city now trembled, not even daring to breathe loudly.
Boom!
The Spatial Ship's cabin doors swung wide open. Dressed in black, Fan Tian stood with his hands behind his back, Cao Ying and Dan Chen following on either side. The three looked like immortals descended to the mortal world, utterly out of place in the foul, smoke-choked Black-Corner Region.
"Fan Tian, the air in this Black-Corner Region really doesn't smell very nice." Dan Chen frowned slightly, covering her nose and mouth.
"No matter. It'll be clean soon." Fan Tian smiled faintly, his gaze falling on the largest faction in Black Seal City below-the Eight Gates.
He slowly raised his right hand. A terrifying surge of dou qi gathered in his palm, and the surrounding natural energy instantly went berserk.
"Hear my command. From this day forward, I call the shots in Black Seal City. Who agrees, and who objects..."
Fan Tian's voice was not loud, but carried by his mighty dou qi, it spread throughout Black Seal City.
"A Dou Zong expert?"
The people of Black Seal City instantly erupted into an uproar.
As his words fell, an enormous energy palm hundreds of zhang across descended from the sky, smashing the Eight Gates' prized sect-protecting formation to pieces and leveling half their entrance grounds along with it.
Yuan Yi, the leader of the Eight Gates, was merely a two-star Dou Emperor. His faction ruled Black Seal City and controlled its underground auction house. Now, sensing Fan Tian's terrifying aura, he lost even the will to resist.
He hastily led the members of the Eight Gates to prostrate themselves on the ground, all but wetting himself in terror.
"I am Yuan Yi, leader of the Eight Gates. I did not know that Your Excellency, a Dou Zong, had arrived in Black Seal City. Please forgive me!"
Yuan Yi cupped his hands and knelt on one knee.
The entire scene fell deathly silent!
The experts of Black Seal City swallowed as they gazed at the godlike young man. Only one thought remained in their minds:
The skies over the Black-Corner Region were about to change!
Before you continue