Within Heaven-Covering Hall.
True fire raged, waves of heat billowed, and the nearby Eight Trigrams Pill Furnace glowed red from the scorching heat. The Flint Tree's branches crisscrossed the vaulted ceiling, red cicadas perched upon them, humming softly.
Jingying's face was hidden within a haze of true fire. She spread the beast hide flat and laid it in the hall.
The black scroll unfurled. Within it, a red bear had been sketched with rather crude strokes, its outlines blurred and its artistic conception ancient, yet an inexplicable spiritual essence flowed through it.
A single gold-patterned horn grew from the beast's head, perfectly straight and centered. Its eyes burned like torches, and it stood as tall as a pagoda, its coat of scarlet-flame fur making it look all the more imposing.
Ancient artifact refining was difficult to grade, and its classifications were imprecise.
With a brief examination, Liu Xiaowen sensed that this spirit artifact was undoubtedly a rare Bing Fire artifact. In his hands, it could unleash every last measure of its power.
When choosing an artifact, a higher grade was not necessarily better. Suitability mattered most.
"Do you know how Bing Fire beasts should be classified?"
Jingying spoke leisurely and shook out the scroll. The red bear upon it stepped down as though alive and settled peacefully beside them, almost as tall as the Pill Furnace.
"According to our lineage's records, Bing Fire beasts are mostly furred creatures of the Tiger-Bear kind: [Radiant Bear] and [Cruel Tiger]."
Liu Xiaowen felt certain his answer was correct. Although the Constant Light Flame-Renewal Book only offered a broad account of such Bing Fire beasts, their divine ability manifestations alone were enough to deduce this.
"That classification dates from after Chu. If we trace it back to high antiquity, it should be [Radiant Tiger].