28: Clues to the Strange Fire and the Mysterious Boy

The violent fire-attribute energy hidden within that scrawny figure instantly ignited Xiao Chen's full attention, like a spark in the dark night!

Heavenly Flame! The most violent and mysterious energy in the world! It was the key to Burning Art's evolution, as mentioned by Yao Lao, and also the most coveted treasure for countless Alchemists and fire-attribute powerhouses!

Could it be that this seemingly insignificant, currently being beaten, young man actually harbored a Heavenly Flame within him? Or did he have some connection to a Heavenly Flame?

This thought made Xiao Chen's heart pound! He immediately focused his mind, locking his soul perception onto that scrawny figure, and carefully probed.

[Scan: Unknown life form (human youth)]

[Status]: Severely injured, extremely weak, vital signs faint.

[Energy Response]: Contains extremely weak but fundamentally high-level fire-attribute energy residue (suspected to be contaminated with Heavenly Flame aura), energy core sealed by a powerful seal.

[Soul State]: Chaotic, damaged, with faint soul contract fluctuations.

[System Evaluation]: Extremely dangerous! The target's internal energy is highly unstable, forced contact may cause an energy explosion! Host is advised to maintain distance!]

Indeed! Although he couldn't confirm it was a complete Heavenly Flame, it was definitely the aura of a Heavenly Flame! Moreover, this young man had a powerful seal and a soul contract within him! His background was definitely not simple!

Those burly men were still beating him relentlessly, their blows vicious, and it looked like the young man wouldn't last much longer.

"Stop!"

Xiao Chen didn't have time to think, he stepped forward and shouted in a deep voice. He couldn't just watch this important clue disappear.

The burly men were stunned, stopped their actions, and turned to look at Xiao Chen. The leader, a strong man with a Scarface, sized up Xiao Chen's simple clothes and faint aura (Xiao Chen had deliberately hidden his soul fluctuations), then sneered, "Where did this kid come from? Want to meddle in our business? Get lost! Otherwise, we'll beat you too!"

Xiao Chen's expression was calm. He took out a money bag from his 怀 and weighed it, the crisp sound of gold coins clinking inside. He said lightly, "I'm buying this person. Name your price."

He didn't want to easily make a move in a place like Black Flame City; problems that could be solved with money, he tried to solve with money.

The burly men's eyes lit up, and they exchanged glances. Scarface chuckled, "Buy? Alright! This kid stole something from our Blood Wolf Gang, worth five hundred gold coins! If you pay for him, he's yours!"

Five hundred gold coins? It was clearly extortion! But Xiao Chen wasn't short on money now, and he didn't want to cause further trouble.

"Alright." Xiao Chen didn't hesitate, directly counted out five hundred gold coins from the money bag, and threw them over.

Scarface took the gold coins, paused, seemingly not expecting Xiao Chen to be so straightforward. He weighed the gold coins, confirmed they were correct, and a greedy smile appeared on his face: "Kid's got money, huh! But..." His eyes swept over Xiao Chen's money bag with ill intent, "This kid disturbed our brothers, just paying money isn't enough, you'll have to give us some extra for our troubles!"

The burly men behind him also gathered around, clearly intending to extort more while they had the chance.

Xiao Chen's eyes turned cold. It seemed a peaceful resolution was impossible.

He took a deep breath, and his soul power quietly condensed. Since the other party didn't know how to appreciate his gesture, then he could only speak with strength! Just as well, he also wanted to test how much deterrence his Spirit Movement Late-stage soul power could have in Black Flame City!

Just as the conflict was about to erupt, a cold voice suddenly came from the side:

"You Blood Wolf Gang scum, bullying people again?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, only to see a young man in black combat attire with a stern face walking over. The young man was about twenty years old, with a sharp aura, a long sword at his waist, and his eyes swept over the Blood Wolf Gang thugs like knives.

Seeing this young man, Scarface and the others' faces instantly turned pale, their arrogant demeanor completely gone.

"Mo...Captain Mo Chen!" Scarface's voice trembled, "You...how did you come?"

The stern young man called Mo Chen snorted coldly, "Black Flame City's rules, no private fighting or killing within the city! Are you Blood Wolf Gang trying to challenge the City Lord's Mansion's authority?"

"No, no!" Scarface waved his hands frantically in fear, "We're leaving now! We're leaving now!" After speaking, he led his subordinates and fled in a hurry without looking back, not even bothering to pick up the gold coins on the ground.

Mo Chen ignored them, his gaze turned to Xiao Chen, then he looked at the dying young man on the ground, frowning slightly: "Are you new here? Black Flame City is not a kind place, minding your own business will help you live longer."

His tone was cold, but there was no malice, more like a warning.

Xiao Chen cupped his hands: "Thank you for your help. I am Xiao Chen, new here and unfamiliar with the rules, please forgive me."

"Xiao Chen?" A hint of surprise flashed in Mo Chen's eyes, he seemed to have some impression of this name, but he didn't ask further. He nodded: "Take care of yourself." After speaking, he turned and left, his figure quickly disappearing into the crowd.

Xiao Chen watched Mo Chen leave, lost in thought. Someone from the City Lord's Mansion? It seemed Black Flame City wasn't completely lawless; at least on the surface, there was still some order.

He didn't delay any longer, quickly squatted down, and checked the young man's injuries. The young man was covered in wounds, his breath weak, but above his tightly closed eyes, between his brows, there was a faint reddish flame mark, appearing and disappearing.

Xiao Chen took out healing medicine from his 怀, carefully fed it to the young man, and then used his soul power to briefly probe the seal within him. That seal was extremely complex and powerful; with his current soul realm, he couldn't budge it in the slightest, only feeling the violent energy confined at the center of the seal.

"I must take him away!" Xiao Chen made up his mind. The secrets on this young man might be related to his future Heavenly Flame plan!

He carried the young man on his back (the young man was surprisingly light), and quickly left the bustling market, returning to the Mittel Auction House.

Back in the guest room, Xiao Chen carefully placed the young man on the bed and re-examined him. The young man's injuries were severe, but more troublesome were the seal within him and his chaotic soul state. Ordinary healing medicine would have limited effect.

"It seems I'll have to use some extraordinary measures." Xiao Chen pondered for a moment, then took out a qi recovery powder, the best quality he had synthesized before, from his system item bar. Although qi recovery powder's main function was to restore 鬥氣, the pure energy it contained also had some auxiliary effect in nourishing the body and stabilizing injuries.

He dissolved the qi recovery powder in water and carefully fed it to the young man. At the same time, he circulated the Spirit Nurturing Art, releasing a gentle wisp of soul power, slowly guiding it into the young man's body, attempting to soothe his chaotic soul fluctuations.

This process was extremely taxing on his mind; Xiao Chen had to be extremely careful to avoid touching that powerful seal.

After a full hour, the young man's breathing gradually stabilized, and his complexion regained a hint of color. But he remained unconscious, and the flame mark between his eyebrows also dimmed.

Xiao Chen let out a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from his forehead. Although it was quite a consumption, he had at least temporarily stabilized the young man's injuries.

He looked at the mysterious young man on the bed, his heart full of questions. Who was he? Where did he come from? What was the deal with the Heavenly Flame aura and the powerful seal within him? Why did he end up in Black Flame City, being bullied by small-time thugs like the Blood Wolf Gang?

All of this, he probably wouldn't know until the young man woke up.

"No matter what, I'll take care of him first. Perhaps he could be the key to my search for a Heavenly Flame." A glimmer of anticipation flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes.

He covered the young man with a blanket, then sat beside him, beginning to meditate and recover. At the same time, he also released a wisp of soul perception, maintaining vigilance of his surroundings. Saving this young man might have already offended the Blood Wolf Gang, so he had to be careful.

The first day in Black Flame City was full of surprises and challenges. But Xiao Chen believed that within crises, the greatest opportunities often lay hidden. The appearance of this mysterious young man might be his first opportunity to gain a foothold in this chaotic land!

As night deepened, the clamor of Black Flame City did not cease. Inside the guest room, the young man's even breathing and Xiao Chen's steady meditation aura intertwined, signaling the beginning of a new story.