Chapter 16: Locking onto the Spirit Flame

Upon receiving Li Ji’an’s confirmation, Xiao Changfeng was overjoyed. If this time he could truly help Li Ji’an obtain a piece of the Heavenly Spirit Flame, it would be a debt repaid for past favors.

However, after calming down slightly, he felt a bit uncertain about his ability to capture it.

“Brother Li, can you estimate what rank this spirit flame might be?” Xiao Changfeng asked.

Li Ji’an shook his head and replied, “It’s impossible to judge from just this trace. But the Heavenly Spirit Flame is the outer shell of the Heavenly Fire Spirit’s transformation. Although this place has some fire spirit energy, it’s far from enough for a true fire spirit. I estimate it’s at most first rank.”

Over the years, ancient texts had revealed that in the primordial times, this world was not ruled solely by humans. There were also the demon tribes from the wild era and the spirit tribes born of heaven and earth.

The demons were not mere beasts as they appear today but truly intelligent beings recognized by heaven and earth, enjoying supremacy over all spirits and naturally able to shapeshift into two forms:

One, their original form as demon tribes acknowledged by the heavenly way during the wild era.

Two, a human form granted by the heavenly way in the immortal ancient era.

As for the spirit tribes, they arose over countless ages from the five elements and myriad spiritual energies of heaven and earth, bestowed with spiritual awareness by the heavenly way, evolving from unconsciousness to become sacred spirits here.

The Spirit Flame is the fire spirit’s gradual transformation after gaining intelligence; each stage of metamorphosis leaves behind a layer of fire energy—that layer is the Spirit Flame.

A first-rank Spirit Flame equals the fire magic power of a human at the Qi Refining stage but is a pure manifestation of heavenly spiritual energy, comparable to the alchemical fire refined by foundation establishment stage fire cultivators.

However, in the six thousand years since the post-ancient era, the demon tribes and sacred spirits have not been seen here. Occasional Spirit Flames are merely solitary flames left from the ancient past.

Though Spirit Flames lack intelligence, they possess the nature to seek benefit and avoid harm; higher-ranked Spirit Flames naturally choose places rich in fire spiritual energy. This place’s fire energy is insufficient to retain a high-level Spirit Flame.

“If it’s only first rank, I will certainly do my utmost!” Xiao Changfeng gained some confidence.

“Thank you, Brother Xiao!” Li Ji’an expressed genuine gratitude but had never really relied on him to capture the Spirit Flame. Guagua and Xiao Qiao were his true assurance.

After speaking, Xiao Changfeng swallowed a Spirit Nourishing Pill and a Concentration Pill. His spiritual awareness fully activated, with earth elemental power surging within, ready to act at any moment.

The two continued to follow the trail.

Three days later, Xiao Changfeng, who had split off with Li Ji’an along the trail, once again was the first to find new traces.

Li Ji’an hurried to regroup with him, and they pressed forward in their search.

Five days later, Xiao Changfeng once again discovered signs first.

“Could this young man really be a child of fate?” Li Ji’an looked at Xiao Changfeng with a strange light in his eyes.

They decided not to split up anymore but to follow Xiao Changfeng closely.

On this day, Xiao Changfeng led the way, sensing with his spiritual awareness and supported by Li Ji’an’s replenishing pills. His earth spiritual sensing technique was fully activated.

“Hotter than fire—that must be it!” Suddenly, Xiao Changfeng’s technique detected intense heat.

“Brother Li, lend me a Spirit Binding Talisman!” Before he finished speaking, Xiao Changfeng’s power surged out, instantly enveloping a hundred yards ahead. The earth beneath him churned.

Without hesitation, Li Ji’an tossed several Spirit Binding Talismans to him.

Xiao Changfeng caught them and immediately burrowed underground, shooting forward.

In the next moment, Li Ji’an sensed a layer of magical power barrier underground, enclosing the area.

Before that, Xiao Qiao tugged at Li Ji’an’s sleeve, whispering that Guagua had already tunneled ahead.

“Uncle Li, it’s a little flame.” Seeing Xiao Changfeng disappear, Xiao Qiao quietly told Li Ji’an.

Hearing this, Li Ji’an’s heart leaped with joy.

This was truly a stroke of luck. Despite Guagua’s tunneling ability and stealth magic and Xiao Qiao’s underground sensing, he hadn’t held much hope. After all, countless cultivators had come searching for the Spirit Flame here in the past two years with no results.

“Brother Xiao deserves the most credit!” Li Ji’an praised silently and linked into Guagua’s vision.

In the dim, scorching underground view, a faint red flame flailed anxiously, colliding against a magical barrier.

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Seeing this scene, Li Ji’an was both pleased and somewhat disappointed.

The flame was undoubtedly a Spirit Flame, but its color was too faint, not even reaching the recorded power of a first-rank Spirit Flame—probably only early first-rank strength.

Once a Spirit Flame is cast off by the Fire Sacred Spirit, it loses all potential for growth.

If he could obtain this Spirit Flame, Li Ji’an was confident he could refine a first-class alchemical pill, but not a second-rank one, as its power remained insufficient.

“Pop!” Before Guagua could get close, a faint sound was heard; the Spirit Flame had already broken through Xiao Changfeng’s magical barrier and fled like a streak of smoke.

“Chase!” Guagua hurried after it.

Moments later, Xiao Changfeng reappeared, looking disappointed at the barrier with a small hole broken through.

He released his spiritual sensing technique again but had lost all trace.

“Brother Li, it broke the barrier before I could even see its true form, and it struck the weak point of my shield. It seems to be an intelligent demon beast, not a mindless Spirit Flame,” Xiao Changfeng emerged from the earth, reporting truthfully.

Normally, his magical barrier could trap an ordinary late first-rank demon beast for five breaths. Within that time, if the Spirit Binding Talismans isolated the surrounding spiritual energy, a Spirit Flame, which relies on heavenly spiritual energy to move, could be caught easily.

Yet it was broken in two breaths and escaped.

Li Ji’an was now puzzled. He had “seen” the Spirit Flame’s true form and confirmed it was indeed a Spirit Flame of low rank. He still couldn’t fathom how it broke through Xiao Changfeng’s late Qi Refining barrier so quickly.

“A coincidence? Hitting the weak spot exactly?”

“No matter. Brother Xiao, you’ve already helped me greatly. Without you, I might not have even found a trace of the Spirit Flame. I’ll keep searching along the path.” Li Ji’an instructed Guagua to pursue and solemnly bowed to Xiao Changfeng.

Now aware of the Spirit Flame’s whereabouts and with Guagua’s stealth and tunneling talents, it certainly wouldn’t escape.

However, Guagua was his second trump card and a safeguard for his “rejuvenation” technique, so he did not intend to reveal it publicly without a life-threatening situation.

“All right, let’s continue searching separately.” Saying this, Xiao Changfeng returned the Spirit Binding Talismans.

Li Ji’an waved his hand, “No need. Brother Xiao, keep them. If we encounter it again, you can activate them promptly.”

He then moved to follow Guagua’s pursuit direction.

“Fellow cultivator, please wait!”

At that moment, a sharp, clear voice rang out.

Two figures swiftly approached from the south.

“Are those Spirit Binding Talismans in your hand? I’ll buy them all!” The leader wore a red robe, young and radiant, about twenty years old. Though slightly anxious now, her face bore a trace of weathering, her features beautiful and her bearing distinguished.

“Oh? You’re a high disciple from the sect. I am Liu Jiuchan of the Beast Tamer Liu family. May I ask for a moment of your time?” As she neared and saw Xiao Changfeng’s Blue Cloud Sect inner disciple robes, the woman’s expression softened.

Xiao Changfeng looked over and smiled, “Fairy Liu, long time no see.”

“To meet Brother Xiao,” Liu Jiuchan beamed happily.

The Beast Tamer Liu family was one of the five great clans, socially connected with many senior elders of the Blue Cloud Sect. As the most talented direct descendant of her generation, Liu Jiuchan had deep ties with the sect’s true disciples.

By comparison, Xiao Changfeng, an ordinary inner sect disciple, held a slightly lower status. He had met Liu Jiuchan once while on a mission with a true disciple senior brother. At that time, Liu Jiuchan chatted happily with the senior brother while he could only smile alongside.

“Since we are acquainted, Brother Xiao, let’s be frank. I am undergoing a clan trial to independently capture a late-stage demon beast and have searched for months. By chance, I found a late-stage peak Fire Extreme Marten. Capturing it would assure my promotion to clan elder candidate and foundation establishment within a year. I will never forget Brother Xiao’s kindness.”

“But this marten is exceptionally swift, possessing the Gale Spirit Energy. I have been struggling with it for months, almost successful, but I lack Spirit Binding Talismans to trap it. I urgently need some now,” Liu Jiuchan explained her purpose.

Xiao Changfeng was moved. The Beast Tamer Liu family was nearly the top among the five great clans in Cangyun State, second only to the Blue Cloud Sect, due to its exquisite beast taming arts. Though the family’s cultivators weren’t the strongest, their spirit beasts were an undeniable force.

Second-rank spirit beasts within the family were like nuclear weapons that could influence the entire state’s war. Many foundation establishment families begged to buy one to protect their clans.

It was said their ancestors even bred a third-rank spirit beast with power comparable to a human Foundation Establishment master.

Gaining favor from Liu Jiuchan, destined to become at least a clan elder or even clan chief, could one day grant him a second-rank spirit beast companion, greatly enhancing his overall power.

Yet Xiao Changfeng sighed slightly and said honestly, “Fairy Liu, please forgive me. These talismans belong to Brother Li. I am only assisting him in capturing a Spirit Flame.”

“Oh? Brother Li is an alchemist?” Liu Jiuchan turned to look at Li Ji’an.

“Yes, Brother Li is a renowned alchemist in the Immortal City,” Xiao Changfeng introduced, then quietly informed Li Ji’an of her identity and status.

Liu Jiuchan frowned slightly. “An alchemist from the Immortal City? A solitary cultivator?”

Combining this with Xiao Changfeng’s words, she quickly understood: a solitary alchemist from Immortal City had hired a sect disciple with foundation establishment resources to help capture a Spirit Flame.

As a core member of the Liu family, frequently interacting with true disciples in the sect, she knew well the hardships non-true disciples faced within the sect. Compared to her, who had all foundation establishment resources prepared early by her clan, such disciples were less fortunate.

It was common for sect disciples to take external tasks to earn extra resources when sect missions were insufficient.

Knowing Li Ji’an’s true identity, she showed no arrogance or superiority but smiled warmly and even showed a hint of flattery: “Brother Li, pleased to meet you. I am Liu Jiuchan.”

If dealing with a sect disciple, she could have traded normally relying on her ties with true disciples. But with a solitary cultivator, she needed to be more considerate.

Solitary cultivators had no backing, often ungrateful or biased. If confronted by those from powerful families who hated resource monopolies, they might not show her respect.

That would not only damage her face but also be difficult to impose authority openly before sect disciples without ruining her family’s reputation.

She saw no reason to lower herself to quarrel with such solitary cultivators.

“Greetings, Fairy Liu,” Li Ji’an responded with a smile.

Xiao Changfeng had already briefed him on her identity and suggested making friends.

Meanwhile, Guagua, his second trump card and “rejuvenation” safeguard, was on the cusp of advancing to second rank and required a Blood Pill.

Even ignoring the pill’s value, it would be difficult to buy one without special connections, as a single Blood Pill could produce a second-rank spirit beast rivaling a foundation establishment cultivator.

The Liu family of Cangyun State excelled in beast pill refining and held decisive power in this regard.

“Brother Li, no need to be polite. Since these Spirit Binding Talismans belong to you, I shamelessly ask you to sell me some. This will count as a favor you owe me, which you can call upon in times of trouble,” Liu Jiuchan nodded sincerely.

“A favor?” Li Ji’an secretly chuckled. He had just told Xiao Changfeng that she owed him a debt.

“Rest assured, I will pay thirty percent over the market price!” Liu Jiuchan observed his hesitation and quickly added.

Li Ji’an pondered. He had plenty of Spirit Binding Talismans. Before Xiao Changfeng arrived at Immortal City, he had crafted nine mid-level talismans and, confident after learning of Xiao Qiao’s abilities, had prepared three top-grade late-stage talismans.

Now knowing the Spirit Flame’s rank, three mid-level talismans should suffice to catch it.

Still, he hesitated and said, “Fairy Liu, you may not know, I came here to improve my alchemy skills by capturing Spirit Flames, so I don’t have many talismans prepared.”

Liu Jiuchan’s pupils constricted slightly. She forced a smile but earnestly advised, “Brother Li, don’t believe such nonsense. I’ve been here long enough, with many elders from my clan waiting years to catch fire elemental demon cubs. There is no Spirit Flame. It’s all trickery from those with ulterior motives. Don’t be fooled.”

Li Ji’an’s eyelids twitched. Had he not already located the small Spirit Flame, he might have believed her.

He realized her scheming nature—her talent for brazen lies seemed innate.

He made up his mind.

“Since Fairy Liu is so candid, I’ll be straightforward too. I can sell you the Spirit Binding Talismans, but I need a promise from you.”

Compared to vague favors, a concrete promise was more reliable.

Without equal status, long-term reciprocal relationships, or potential the other party values, hoping simply to curry favor with the powerful is unrealistic.

Through many lifetimes, he understood that many elites exploit these desires for gain, and even some tricksters prey on this mindset.

She was in urgent need of these talismans, hence her friendly tone now.

Otherwise, she probably wouldn’t even spare him a glance.

Most importantly, her first impression was not of a noble or grateful person.

His principle of broad friendships was not about flattery or bootlicking but mutual value exchange.