244: Valley Master Tang, I want to give it a try

Behind the Void Realm portal, there was a winding bluestone staircase, with lush trees on both sides casting large patches of green shade on the steps.

Looking deeper along the staircase, architectural outlines were faintly visible, and faint human voices were carried on the wind.

Lin Xiu stood before the steps.

Beside him, Xin Lan was negotiating with a Disciple dressed in Burning Flame Valley attire.

She held a jade slip, engraved with the words “Pill Domain Ye Family” on it.

“Go on in. Follow this staircase all the way inside, and you’ll eventually see the Guest Reception Hall. Do not wander off along the way.”

After the Burning Flame Valley Disciple instructed her, he took out a jade slip and handed it to Xin Lan.

She thanked him and took the jade slip, hanging it on her waist.

“Elder Lin, it’s settled. Let’s go.”

Xin Lan came to Lin Xiu’s side.

Hearing this, Lin Xiu nodded slightly and smiled, “Thank you for your trouble.”

“You’re too kind, Elder Lin.”

Xin Lan smiled softly.

The two walked side by side along the staircase into the interior.

“Elder Lin, you’ve come all the way to Burning Flame Valley. Is the academy arranging something?”

Along the way, Xin Lan turned her head to glance at him, a curious expression on her face.

In her memory, Elder Lin spent most of his time in seclusion and Cultivation at the academy. One time he went out to deal with forces like the Eight Gates and Han Feng, and the second time he went to the Yunlan Sect.

She heard people say that Elder Lin always reaped rich rewards every time and never returned empty-handed.

“I’m just taking a casual stroll.”

Lin Xiu smiled, “Burning Flame Valley happens to have something I need, and I’d like to try and borrow it.”

He paused, then turned his head to ask, “What about you? Why did you come to Burning Flame Valley?”

“My Family recently encountered trouble and needs to find a powerful Alchemist.”

Xin Lan herself came from the Ye Family of Pill City. In the early days, the Ye Family held a position as an Elder in the Pill Tower, but later lost it due to certain reasons.

Over the years, the Ye Family had been constantly looking for an opportunity to reclaim the Elder position.

The Valley Master of Burning Flame Valley regularly held Alchemist gatherings, inviting many powerful Alchemists.

“Actually, I originally planned to find Xiao Yan, but after he left the academy, he never returned.”

Xin Lan sighed softly, a worried expression creeping onto her face.

After all, inviting a Rank Six or even Rank Seven Alchemist would undoubtedly come at a significant cost.

If she could find a fellow student from the academy, the cost might be a little lower.

“Is your Family near the Pill Tower?”

Hearing her mention Xiao Yan, Lin Xiu suddenly had some impression of her.

It wasn’t from the academy, but from the plot he had read.

“Yes, Elder Lin, how do you know?”

Xin Lan felt surprised.

“I’ve heard a little. It’s said that the Three Thousand Burning Flame is Sealed in the Pill Tower. Is that true?”

Lin Xiu asked.

“Hiss, you know that too?”

Xin Lan’s eyes were filled with surprise. She thought Elder Lin came from a small city in the Gama Empire, but he seemed very familiar with Central Plains as well.

“Is the Three Thousand Burning Flame easy to acquire? I mean, if I wanted to take it, what conditions would be required?”

Lin Xiu believed in his own strength, but there was no harm in understanding it beforehand and making some preparations.

Better safe than sorry; there was no downside.

“Elder Lin, are you interested in the Three Thousand Burning Flame?”

Xin Lan’s expression was a little numb. Seeing Lin Xiu’s serious demeanor, not like he was joking, she thought carefully, “The Pill Tower isn’t particularly concerned about the Heavenly Flame; they just worry it might harm the city, so they Seal it.

The top ten participants in each Pill Gathering will have the opportunity to enter the Star Domain and face it directly. Of course, seeing it is just the beginning; to subdue it, many more things need to be done.”

Top ten?

Lin Xiu murmured in his heart and nodded slightly, “I understand. Thank you for telling me.”

“Elder Lin, are you also an Alchemist?”

Xin Lan was puzzled.

It was well known in the academy that Elder Lin was young.

And being young meant less time. Cultivation would take up a lot of time, so he shouldn’t have much time to learn alchemy.

“Yes.”

Lin Xiu did not deny it.

Xin Lan did not press further, because if Elder Lin’s alchemy skills were sufficient, he would not have been stopped outside Burning Flame Valley.

The Valley Master was constantly looking for Alchemists. Was a Disciple blocking a high-rank Alchemist from entering trying to leave Burning Flame Valley?

Following the staircase to its end, they arrived at the heart of a mountain valley, where a fiery red grand hall first entered their line of sight.

Many red-clad guards stood at the entrance of the hall, their gazes constantly sweeping the surroundings.

“Elder Lin, follow me.”

Xin Lan beckoned and led Lin Xiu towards a side door.

The main entrance of the grand hall was closed; only Alchemists participating in the refining were qualified to enter from there.

Xin Lan, however, was there to observe, using her Family’s status.

Passing through a corridor, Lin Xiu stood behind a window. From here, he could take in the entire scene inside the grand hall.

Inside the magnificent and grand hall, firelight illuminated everything, and the lighting was clear.

The seats were now filled with figures dressed in Alchemist robes.

Most of these people were not young, which was evident from their appearances.

Their expressions remained indifferent; they did not converse with those around them, seemingly influenced by their surroundings.

“That thin old man, don’t let his kind smile fool you; he is Tang Zhen, the Valley Master of Burning Flame Valley.”

Following Lin Xiu’s gaze, Xin Lan saw an old man with red hair and plain linen clothes. She proactively introduced him to Lin Xiu.

Immediately after, she looked at the red-clad woman beside the old man, “She is Tang Zhen’s daughter, named Tang Huo’er.”

Lin Xiu nodded gently.

Perhaps sensing his lack of interest, Xin Lan did not continue with introductions but instead let her gaze wander among the Alchemists, seemingly pondering which of them was worth her considerable expense to invite.

Inside the grand hall.

Tang Zhen must have stated the rules earlier, so he directly opened his palm, revealing a wisp of flame.

Silver flames rose, and nine silver fire Dragons could faintly be seen moving within them.

The first to step forward was an old man, whom the crowd addressed as Great Master Hua.

The flame he controlled was a Beast Flame. He stepped forward to contend but was defeated within a few seconds.

“What a pity. This Great Master Hua Chen is also a good Alchemist. If his flame quality could be improved further, refining Rank Seven Medicinal Pills wouldn’t be impossible.”

Xin Lan sighed, her gaze no longer on him.

Someone who couldn’t even withstand Tang Zhen’s flame was clearly insufficient to help her Family contend for an Elder position at the Pill Gathering.

Several more Alchemists stepped forward consecutively, but all failed the test.

This included the Alchemist surnamed Zeng, whom Chi Huo had invited.

The Nine Dragon Lightning Flame, as a Heavenly Flame, was inherently overbearing, and the Dragon Soul within it also had a deterrent effect. To resist it, one not only needed their own flame but also sufficiently strong Soul Power to support it.

“Why are these people so disappointing? That Great Master Mo is a Guest Elder of the Pill Tower. If we ask him for help, we’ll definitely be extorted.”

Xin Lan stamped her foot in frustration.

In the grand hall, Valley Master Tang Zhen’s expression was also somewhat displeased, a hint of disappointment flashing across his face.

He sighed, “Thank you all for your trouble. Now only Master Huan has passed the test, but what this old man needs are two people…”

He looked at the old man, “Master Huan, I’ve made you come for nothing.”

The Medicinal Pill to be refined this time involved precious Materials and concerned his daughter’s safety, so there could be absolutely no oversight.

Tang Zhen was preparing to dismiss these Alchemists. This time wasn’t entirely without Harvest; next time, he would just find another person and invite Great Master Mo.

“Valley Master Tang, I’d like to give it a try.”

Suddenly, a faint voice sounded in the grand hall.