The Snake-People Tribe, in the great hall of the Holy City.
At that moment, everyone present stared at Pill King Gu He in shock.
Whether they belonged to the Snake-People Tribe or Jia Xingtian's party, their faces were filled with astonishment.
Jia Xingtian and his companions were shocked because they naturally knew how terrifying Heavenly Flames were. These wonders of heaven and earth were practically comparable to a Heaven-Rank Dou Technique!
The Snake-People Tribe, meanwhile, was shocked that Gu He had actually learned about the Heavenly Flame.
After discovering the region where the Heavenly Flame lay, they had issued strict restrictions and stationed guards there at all times to prevent anyone else from taking it.
They had never expected that, despite such tight protection, outsiders would still discover it.
"Master Gu He, you certainly are well informed!" Chen Xuan was slightly surprised by Gu He's words. Then he looked at everyone present and slowly said, "That's right. Our Snake-People Tribe did indeed discover a Heavenly Flame deep within the Tagor Desert."
At those words, Jia Xingtian and his companions were utterly stunned.
"There really is one? There really is a Heavenly Flame?!"
Gu He was overjoyed at the confirmation and looked at Chen Xuan excitedly as he spoke.
A Heavenly Flame!
Such things were extraordinarily rare in this world-a wisp of flame carried within the heart of a meteor fallen from the heavens, or Lava Earthfire tempered for a thousand years deep inside a volcano...
These Heavenly Flames were far more powerful than flames produced through Dou Qi, and they could even enhance a pill's medicinal potency during refinement. To an Alchemist, they were treasures beyond measure.
He had never imagined that a Heavenly Flame would actually appear in the Jia Ma Empire.
"Your Majesty, I hope you will be willing to part with this Heavenly Flame!" Looking up at Chen Xuan, Gu He said solemnly, "I am willing to exchange one Transformation Pill and four Emperor's Extreme Pills for it."
"Your Majesty knows that I am an Alchemist, so you surely understand just how irresistible a Heavenly Flame is to us."
One Transformation Pill and four Emperor's Extreme Pills!!!
The moment Gu He finished speaking, everyone present was stunned.
The Transformation Pill was a seventh-grade pill that could allow a magical beast below the Dou Zong level to successfully assume human form, while an Emperor's Extreme Pill could raise any Dou Emperor's strength by one star.
It could increase a Dou Huang expert's strength by an entire star!
Even a single star represented an enormous gap in strength between Dou Huang experts, yet the Emperor's Extreme Pill possessed such a formidable effect.
"A Transformation Pill and Emperor's Extreme Pills?!" Chen Xuan's expression shifted slightly. Those pills were indeed extremely important to the Snake-People Tribe at its current stage.
With four Emperor's Extreme Pills, all four elders could gain a star of strength, greatly strengthening the Snake-People Tribe.
"Hmph! This Pill King Gu He is ridiculous. He actually wants to trade for the Heavenly Flame? Why not just kill him and take the Emperor's Extreme Pills?"
Queen Medusa gave a cold snort, her voice sounding directly within Chen Xuan's mind.
Hearing Her Majesty's voice, Chen Xuan was left utterly speechless.
So you just kill people and seize their treasures at the drop of a hat?!
But perhaps that wasn't entirely out of the question?
A gleam flashed through Chen Xuan's eyes.
"Master Gu He, your offer is indeed very tempting, but I can only apologize. This Heavenly Flame is also extremely important to me."
Chen Xuan raised his head slightly and shook it as he looked at Pill King Gu He.
What?!
Gu He's expression jolted with utter disbelief.
"Your Majesty, although this Heavenly Flame is a rare treasure of heaven and earth, it should be of little use to you or the rest of the Snake-People Tribe." Looking puzzled, Gu He considered for a moment before gritting his teeth. "If Your Majesty feels my offer is insufficient, I am willing to add another Emperor's Extreme Pill."
Another Emperor's Extreme Pill meant five Emperor's Extreme Pills!
This...
Even Jia Xingtian beside him wore an expression of undisguised envy.
Their Imperial Family did have the ingredients needed to refine Emperor's Extreme Pills in storage. However, the Jia Ma Imperial Family had no Dou Huang experts other than him, so those ingredients had remained sealed away and unused all this time.
But that did nothing to stop Jia Xingtian from feeling envious!
If the Snake-People Tribe obtained those five Emperor's Extreme Pills, its strength would rise yet again.
"Master Gu He, one Transformation Pill and five Emperor's Extreme Pills are indeed worth a great deal." Chen Xuan looked at Gu He solemnly. "I also understand how important a Heavenly Flame is to you. But however important it is to you, it is just as important to me."
Huh?!
Everyone present froze at those words, completely unable to understand what Queen Medusa meant.
Bzzzt!
While everyone stood stunned, Chen Xuan slightly raised his right hand. A deep-yellow, tangible flame suddenly appeared in the air, its powerful heat filling the entire Sacred Hall with a scorching wave.
This was a tangible flame...
Seeing the flame above Queen Medusa's palm, Jia Xingtian and his companions froze before their expressions turned incredulous.
Could Queen Medusa actually be an Alchemist?!
"A tangible flame, and such terrifying spiritual power! Your Majesty is actually an Alchemist as well!" Gu He stared at Chen Xuan in disbelief and cried out involuntarily.
As a sixth-grade Alchemy Master, Gu He naturally understood flames extremely well.
The tangible flame Chen Xuan had released was indeed converted from powerful Dou Qi, and it was considerably stronger than the flames of ordinary Alchemists.
Looking at the stunned Gu He, Chen Xuan waved his hand lightly. "I cannot compare to you, Master Gu He. I merely refined a Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill just now!"
With a slight lift of his right hand, a smooth, entirely purple pill appeared before everyone, its medicinal fragrance filling the great hall.
A Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill?! A Peak Fourth-Grade Pill.
"It really is a Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, and it was probably refined today. Its quality even approaches that of a Fifth-grade Pill." Gu He stared in astonishment at the pill floating in the air and giving off its rich fragrance.
"No wonder, no wonder... no wonder Your Majesty refuses to exchange the Heavenly Flame. I never imagined that Your Majesty was actually a peak fourth-grade Alchemist. You will probably become a Fifth-Rank Alchemist within a few years."
Gu He spoke with a defeated expression, disappointment weighing heavily on him.
Heavenly Flames were naturally priceless to Alchemists. For Gu He to try to trade for one from another Alchemist was simply a flight of fancy.
As Gu He's words fell, everyone present was stunned. Queen Medusa really was an Alchemist?
And a peak fourth-grade Alchemist at that?!
Jia Xingtian, the Snake-People Tribe elders, and the leaders present were all shaken.
Jia Xingtian's expression grew grave. A Peak Dou Emperor who would also become a Fifth-Rank Alchemist—the influence she could wield was already frighteningly immense.
Fortunately, the Snake-People Tribe was leaving the Jia Ma Empire. Otherwise, how could the Jia Ma Imperial Family possibly keep it under control?
Jia Ye beside him felt the same, but he also felt that coming here had been absolutely the right decision. The prospects for cooperation with the Snake-People Tribe in the Black-Corner Region now seemed infinitely brighter!
The Snake-People Tribe elders, meanwhile, were overjoyed. Their tribe had produced an Alchemist, and a future Fifth-Rank Alchemist at that?!
This was simply tremendous news!
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