Chapter 929 - 150: Four Fires Unleashed, All Flames Submit
Chapter 929: Chapter 150: Four Fires Unleashed, All Flames Submit
In the first two rounds of the Alchemy Competition, Jiang Yaoyan did not use his Innate Fire, but no one doubted that Jiang Yaoyan lacked an Innate Fire.
Given his alchemical talent and his status as the Young Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, having an Innate Fire was not difficult for him.
The moment a black flame appeared on Jiang Yaoyan’s fingertips, Elder Zhuang from the Ten Thousand Flames Sect on the viewing platform shrank his pupils: "Black... could it be the Devouring Abyss Flame?"
The black Innate Fire is also an extremely rare type within the entire system of Innate Fires, and when Elder Zhuang mentioned the Devouring Abyss Flame, Zhao Haoyang and the others around him showed puzzled expressions.
"Elder, what is the Devouring Abyss Flame?"
They had never heard of this type of flame before.
"You don’t know because your current Realm is not high enough, and it is extremely rare, so the sect hasn’t informed you."
Zhuang Lie’s eyes gleamed: "The Devouring Abyss Flame is born beneath certain special abysses, and it specifically devours other Innate Fires."
Devour other Innate Fires?
Zhao Haoyang and the others were even more puzzled. All Innate Fires have the characteristic of devouring other Innate Fires; was it even necessary for Elder Zhuang to point this out?
"Other Innate Fires, even if they don’t devour others of their kind, can grow slowly on their own, but for the Devouring Abyss Flame to grow, it must rely on devouring other Innate Fires."
"It can only grow by devouring other Innate Fires?"
This time, Zhao Haoyang and the others were truly shocked, and at that moment, a strange scene suddenly appeared on the field.
As the black flame on Jiang Yaoyan’s fingers appeared, the Innate Fires summoned by the other two contestants seemed to sense a crisis. They began to flicker wildly, and their intensity continued to diminish, as if they feared being discovered by the black flame.
The two alchemists controlling their Innate Fires suddenly looked grim, as they realized they could no longer fully control their Innate Fires.
This was an instinctual fear produced by the Innate Fires.
"If it really is the Devouring Abyss Flame, then it’s going to be tough for the other contestants."
On the high platform, an Alchemy Grandmaster looked at the black flame on Jiang Yaoyan’s fingertips and softly sighed.
Wherever the Devouring Abyss Flame appears, all surrounding Innate Fires will be affected. During such times, using Innate Fire to refine pills might be less stable than using ordinary fire.
"Ladies and gentlemen, you’d better stay away from me; if your Innate Fire is devoured by me, don’t blame me."
Jiang Yaoyan sneered repeatedly, but Lin Chen and the other nine contestants on the field were well aware that as long as they remained in the competition arena, they couldn’t escape the influence.
"Master, does that mean Jiang Yaoyan is certain to win this round of the Alchemy Competition?"
Zhao Haoyang looked at his master. If only Jiang Yaoyan could use Innate Fire while the other contestants couldn’t, the result of this competition was already determined.
"Not necessarily."
Zhuang Lie’s eyes focused on the black flame at Jiang Yaoyan’s fingertips. Because of the array, he couldn’t use his Divine Thought to sense it closely, but he judged from the pattern of the black flame’s flickering.
"Although the Devouring Abyss Flame can devour other Innate Fires, it depends on the situation. Some Innate Fires are more powerful than the Devouring Abyss Flame and can’t be devoured. Jiang Yaoyan’s Devouring Abyss Flame probably hasn’t devoured any other Innate Fire yet; as long as the other contestants have Child Fire, they don’t need to worry about being devoured by the Devouring Abyss Flame."
Hearing his master’s words, Zhao Haoyang pouted.
Child Fire!
His master said it lightly enough.
Child Fire is a new Innate Fire condensed from multiple Mother Fires and Mutant Fires, and sometimes even other Child Fires, so naturally, it is very powerful.
But the key issue is, how could these contestants on the field possibly possess Child Fire!
Child Fire isn’t something that simply two Innate Fires can fuse into; you need to consider the properties of these two Innate Fires, and more importantly, can the refiner control the two Innate Fires or not?
If mishandled, it could lead to self-destruction.
Condensing Child Fire requires powerful Fire Control Techniques, a strong Divine Soul, and selecting two Innate Fires that have the potential to fuse.
Even in our Ten Thousand Flames Sect, to condense Child Fire, we first need to verify if two types of Innate Fire can possibly fuse, then prepare some pills or other treasures to facilitate the fusion, and ensure that the Divine Soul and Cultivation Technique are both up to par, after which elders can then protect the refiner.
Our Ten Thousand Flames Sect is so cautious, let alone these alchemists.
For an alchemist, possessing just one Innate Fire is sufficient; having more is unnecessary, as the risks and rewards are disproportionate.
Instead of expecting Child Fire, it’s better to expect that the refined Innate Fires of these contestants are powerful Mutant Fires or Mother Fires.
On the field, Lin Chen looked at Jiang Yaoyan’s arrogant expression with a peculiar look. The Innate Fires of the two alchemists were afraid of Jiang Yaoyan’s black flame, yet the Innate Fire inside him showed eagerness, as if it had caught the scent of delicious food, already itching for action. If he hadn’t held it in check, it might have already lunged at the black flame by now.
"The Devouring Abyss Flame is indeed strong, but it can’t make all flames submit."
Since the beginning of the competition, the always low-key Wei Yang suddenly spoke, and with a flick of his sleeve, a wisp of ghostly blue flame floated out from within. At the moment the flame appeared, the temperature of the entire competition arena dropped significantly.
Rather than a flame, its flickering shape more closely resembled a blooming ice flower from the depths of the Nine Netherworld.
"Taiyin Nether Fire!"
On the stage, Gu Yunfeng and several others fixed their gaze, exchanging looks with each other, while in the stands, Zhuang Lie furrowed his brow, seemingly contemplating something.
"Master, are you saying that what Wei Yang holds is the Taiyin Nether Fire?"
Zhao Haoyang and others were shocked when they heard Zhuang Lie blurt out the words "Taiyin Nether Fire".
In the Ten Thousand Flames Chart they saw after entering the sect, the first page records the two types of Innate Fire, which are the True Sun Fire and the Taiyin Nether Fire.
The True Sun Fire is the most vigorous and dominant fire under the heavens, unmatched by any other Innate Fire.
The Taiyin Nether Fire is the coldest and most profound fire in the world, the complete opposite of the True Sun Fire, and the two are extremes.
These two flames have never existed in the Ten Thousand Flames Sect.
They never have, whereas the Devouring Abyss Flame was at least refined by a predecessor in the history of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect.
Zhuang Lie’s eyes were fixed on Wei Yang, his expression somewhat complicated. His disciples only know of the Taiyin Nether Fire, but they don’t know that in the entire Flame Dynasty, there’s only one place that possesses both the True Sun Fire and the Taiyin Nether Fire.
One yang and one yin, this is the way of heaven.
These two flames have always existed in the Central State and have always been in the hands of the Central State Royal Family.
And once these two flames manifest, they cannot be nurtured elsewhere again. Their presence in the Central State Royal Family also holds symbolic meaning, representing legitimate authority.
Ordinary people simply have no chance to come into contact with them, unless they have connections with the Central State Royal Family.
Such matters need not be disclosed to the younger generation.
"The flame in Wei Yang’s hand is indeed the Taiyin Nether Fire, but Wei Yang hasn’t refined the Taiyin Nether Fire; he has only absorbed a wisp of it."
Merely subdued, not refined.
Zhuang Lie gave his judgment, but even subduing it was enough.
The wisp of flame just floated quietly in front of Wei Yang, unaffected by the Devouring Abyss Flame in the slightest.
"Since you both have revealed your Innate Fires, then I too shall put on a humble display."
Jiang Chen also had a smile on his face, maintaining his usual elegance. Yet, he formed a hand seal, and between his palms, a cyan flame flickered into being, dancing like a sprite, as if a playful child.
"Azure Fall Spirit Fire."
Upon seeing this dancing cyan Innate Fire, Lin Chen was also somewhat surprised.
This flame is recorded in the Ten Thousand Flames Chart as a Mutant Fire, born amidst the forests. According to the predictions of Ten Thousand Flames Sect’s predecessors, this fire is formed from the essence of flowers in the forest, with extremely harsh conditions for formation.
Azure Fall Spirit Fire is strong with a "spirit" character; the flame possesses extraordinary spiritual essence like a sprite. If the Devouring Abyss Flame attempts to consume the Azure Fall Spirit Fire, it’s likely to fail and weaken itself instead.
"No wonder Jiang Chen chose the Glazed Purity Pill; the Azure Fall Spirit Fire is too fit for refining this pill."
Lin Chen now understood that whether it was Jiang Yaoyan, Wei Yang, or Jiang Chen, the pills they chose were related to the Innate Fire they mastered.
Wei Yang, possessing the Taiyin Nether Fire, chose to refine the Yin Yang Pill.
Jiang Yaoyan, with the Devouring Abyss Flame, chose to refine the Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Essence Pill.
Jiang Chen, having the Azure Fall Spirit Fire, opted to refine the Glazed Purity Pill.
No one was holding anything back!
Meanwhile, the faces of other alchemists present turned extremely grim. Innate Fires vary in strength; Jiang Yaoyan’s Devouring Abyss Flame alone terrified their Innate Fires, and now with these two it’s even worse... they didn’t dare to summon their Innate Fires anymore.
"Since Brother Xiao dares to choose to refine the Five Elements Creation Pill, you must have your unique Innate Fire too. Why not summon it and let us witness it?"
Usually low-key in the first two rounds, Wei Yang was uncharacteristically different this time, gazing at Lin Chen without malice.
In Wei Yang’s heart, among the ten on site, although he couldn’t guarantee victory against Jiang Yaoyan and Jiang Chen, he could at least see through them and roughly gauge their alchemy skills. But this Xiao Yan... he felt mysterious, unknowable to Wei Yang.
"My Innate Fire might not compare with yours; it doesn’t have such a reputation."
Lin Chen smiled slightly, making no apparent motion, yet in his palm, a tiny flame quietly floated.
"What is this?"
In the stands, upon seeing the flame in Lin Chen’s hand, a gleam of light shot from Zhuang Lie’s old eyes, staring intently.
On the high stage, Gu Yunfeng and others’ eyes slightly narrowed, and the City Lord of Thousand Hammers City, Yang Rongtian, even leaned forward slightly.
Jiang Yaoyan, seeing the flame in Lin Chen’s hand, had a look of disdain. When Jiang Chen and Wei Yang’s Innate Fires appeared, the Devouring Abyss Flame at his fingertip reacted, yet when Xiao Yan’s Innate Fire appeared, the Devouring Abyss Flame showed no response, indicating it didn’t consider Xiao Yan’s fire as a threat at all.
"Be quiet!"
Lin Chen softly whispered to the flame in his palm, raised his right hand, and the flame floated upwards. The tiny flame, originally only nail-sized, suddenly expanded upon leaving his hand, and on the entire competition field, all the Innate Fires went out of control at that moment.