Chapter 143: Yang Fire Seal - First-Seat Disciple

Chapter 143: Yang Fire Seal - First-Seat Disciple

Xiao Chen retrieved his magic artifact and took the two men’s storage bags, also picking up Master Wang’s pair of unusual miniature swords.

“What strange high-grade magic artifacts.”

Indeed, these twin blades were both superior-grade magic artifacts. More importantly, even when held side by side, they appeared nearly identical—their blade patterns and material textures perfectly matching.

When he channeled mana into them, the swords immediately shrank to one-inch lengths. Feeling the latent power within, Xiao Chen grew even more perplexed.

“Could their purpose be to harm through the artifact itself? Then why craft them in the shape of flying swords?”

Xiao Chen had encountered four types of offensive magic artifacts so far.

The first type, like the Green Gourd or Divine Flame Summoning Banner, manifested divine generals or demonic beasts using mana, relying on overwhelming numbers.

The second, such as the Flame Mirror or Treasure Gourd of Hidden Flame, unleashed specialized attack spells through the artifact itself.

The third, like the Radiant Golden Light Pearl or Lotus Jade Ruyi, bypassed a cultivator’s protective aura directly through the artifact’s inherent properties.

The fourth, exemplified by the Wind-Thunder Pair Swords or Golden Melon Thunder Hammer, projected sword beams or hammer shadows to strike enemies.

This was what puzzled him. Master Wang’s swords, though crafted as blades, seemed to function like third-type artifacts.

Recalling their effects, Xiao Chen found them even stranger. The first strike had been blocked by his artifact, but the second pierced his Brocade Handkerchief entirely, injecting corrosive energy into his dantian.

“How was that possible?”

Though immune to such toxins, Xiao Chen recognized the danger. If this foe had used malevolent energy, the next opponent might wield something far worse.

He meticulously searched both storage bags but found no clues—except for one item in Qian Yong’s bag: a thicker version of the Luotian Three True Cultivation Methods.

“Huh? This isn’t the same version as mine.”

Comparing them, he noticed Qian Yong’s manual included advanced cultivation stages for each of the original three spells, elevating first-tier spells to second-tier. This explained how his opponent had summoned a thousand Xuan Fire Ravens earlier.

The Luotian Sect’s cultivation methods were no mere patchwork techniques. These advancement stages transformed spells through layered enhancements.

Flipping to the Xuan Fire Raven section, Xiao Chen found three additional stages beyond Grand Mastery: Break Limit, Add Flame, and Add Feathers. These increased the Ravens’ numbers to a thousand, fused spirit flames for greater lethality, or added fiery feathers for direct attacks.

“Remarkable! What ingenuity.”

These stages functioned almost as auxiliary spells designed specifically for Xuan Fire Ravens, synergizing perfectly with the base technique. The founder had layered multiple spells to elevate the Ravens to second-tier power.

Xiao Chen also discovered the original spell name—Luotian Divine Flame—replacing his self-coined Xuanyang Divine Flame.

More importantly, the manual included a formation diagram for the Luotian Divine Flame and a poignant message from its creator:

“I approach life’s end, regretting my failure to complete the next stage—Break Limit. I leave this formation diagram as a foundation for future cultivators. When ten thousand Ravens gather, the Luotian Divine Flame may ignite.”

“This is perfect!” Xiao Chen’s eyes gleamed. “With the Break Limit method, I can summon ten thousand Ravens. I still have eight taels of Blazing Light Spirit Sand—enough to complete this stage quickly.”

Originally reserved for the Nahuuo Talisman, the sand was now better spent here. While insufficient for mastering all three stages, it would suffice for Break Limit.

“Later, I’ll need to collect another one or two catties,” he noted mentally before continuing his inventory.

The spoils included 1,223 spirit stones, Bigu Pills, fire spirit herbs, and a mid-grade magic robe.

“Ah, the familiar thrill of looting.” Most solitary cultivators hoarded such items, though exceptions like Lu Wuqiang existed.

He also recovered a jade talisman containing the Luotian Devouring-Sea Python spell—one of the Luotian Three True Cultivation Methods. Though water-aligned and unsuitable for him, the enhanced spirit seal ensured its potency wouldn’t fade before New Year.

Another manual, Luotian Sword Sacrifice Secret Technique, detailed methods to accelerate sword-type artifacts—useful for Master Wang’s miniature blades but requiring blood essence, making it impractical for Xiao Chen.

The greatest prize, however, was the Malevolent Qi Receiving Gourd taken from Master Wang.

“After twenty thousand years, it’s nearly full of malevolent energy,” Xiao Chen mused, pleased. “Good timing—I arrived just in time.”

Had he delayed two months, the basin’s energy would’ve vanished entirely. The Luotian disciples had unwittingly saved him effort by collecting most of the toxins.

Using his secret technique to sense residual energy, he entered the cave to absorb the remaining Fentian Malevolent Qi via the Xuan Tian Ingestion Secret Technique.

Absorption and collection speeds differed greatly, but his refined methods made him three to four times more efficient than the previous pair.

Malevolent Qi posed two primary dangers: corroding a cultivator’s mana and igniting inner turmoil, causing recklessness. Initially, he suppressed these effects with his secret technique but later found his Divine Veil provided immunity, allowing unrestricted absorption.

Within seven days, he cleared the basin, then spent another seven refining the gourd’s contents. As the Qi entered his dantian, he felt surrounding fire mana growing increasingly volatile—a beneficial side effect.

According to the Xuan Tian Fushí Secret Technique, Five Elements Malevolent Qi enhanced either mana compatibility (Yin) or spell potency (Yang). Fentian Malevolent Qi, being Yang-Fire, amplified fire-based spells.

Finally, a Yang Fire Seal solidified in his dantian.

“Phew! I almost worried the Qi wouldn’t suffice.”

Twenty thousand years of accumulation had barely filled one gourd. Finding another source would be nearly impossible—such conditions were rare, and regeneration required millennia.

“No wonder the Xuantian Immortal Palace’s master left only one disciple,” Xiao Chen mused. “Not from lack of will, but necessity. Multiple disciples would deplete resources too quickly.”

He turned his spiritual sense inward, focusing on his dantian. The newly formed Yang Fire Seal immediately pulsed with faint light. Testing its power, he gently nudged it with his mana and instantly felt a surge of fiery energy erupting within him, desperate to break free.

"Yan Xia Mantian!"

Xiao Chen had been eager to test the Yang Fire Seal's potency. Without restraint, he channeled the energy outward, hurling a single crimson Yan Xia toward the cavern walls.

"Boom!"

The molten flames erupted, causing the entire lava cave to collapse instantly.

An hour later, a hand emerged from the rubble atop the collapsed hill. Brushing away dirt, Xiao Chen pulled himself free. Though he'd intentionally limited Yan Xia Mantian to just one Yan Xia, the explosion had far exceeded expectations. A single Yan Xia had reduced the entire cave to ruins, burying him beneath the mountain. This power equaled ten of his previous blasts combined.

"Damn! No wonder it's called the Tongtian Method - it truly has unique strengths. If just the Fentian Malevolent Qi produces this effect, imagine what true mastery of all five elemental shas could achieve."

Brushing off dust, he began contemplating other malevolent energies. "If I could obtain another Yin Fire Sha, that would be perfect."

The Five Elemental Shas had another crucial function - enhancing cultivators' chances of successfully forming a golden core. While the Xuantian Immortal Palace's master might value their direct effects most, Xiao Chen prioritized their secondary benefit: each Sha could increase core formation success rates by 10%.

Having formed the Yang Fire Seal, his success rate had risen from 0.5% to 1.5% - a threefold improvement. More importantly, collecting paired Shas with complementary properties could grant 30% increases. According to the Xuantian Consumption Secret Method, this technique worked synergistically with other core formation methods.

"With the Yin Fire Seal, I could gain another 30% success rate", he calculated. "Combined with refining a false core for 30%, plus the Three Great Sects' secret technique providing 20%, that totals 80%!"

Even better, obtaining a breakthrough spirit pill like the Purple Fire Marrow Pill could add another 20%. Such rare treasures occasionally surfaced, offering cultivators like himself precious opportunities.

"Ultimately, the path may be winding, but the future remains bright."

By the time Xiao Chen returned to Lihuo Sect in mid-June, news of the recent Sect Competition had spread. Overhearing disciples debate, he learned Su Wanning had won - surprising given her usually clueless demeanor. Becoming first-seat disciple, she presented him with a Foundation Building Pill as competition reward.

"You should've seen my ten consecutive victories!" she beamed while watering flowers in Cuiwei Valley. "Can you attend September's Three Sects Competition?"

"Congratulations", he replied, handing her a Water Spirit Pearl. "This should complement your water spirit root cultivation."

Though he searched Scripture Pavilion thoroughly for Yin Fire Sha clues without success, Lin Ping An soon offered hope: "If you hear of any forbidden realms, let me know - their unique environments might harbor what we need."

Before he could ponder further, urgent sect hall summons arrived. Rumors about Hezhou's worsening situation had spread, drawing nearly all sect managers and elders to an emergency meeting.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end