Chapter 162

Chapter 162: Earthcore Fallen Lotus Flame

In Han Cheng Yun and the others’ eyes, Rong Shu came close to failing several times.

In the end, the wobbling blue Exotic Flame hovering above the lava drifted forward as if drunk, floated right up to Rong Shu, and was promptly snatched by her like a lucky scoop.

Han Cheng Yun’s group were puzzled yet astonished: “Fellow Daoist Lin actually succeeded?” Another murmured: “It seems Fellow Daoist Lin is fated with this flame.” A third clicked his tongue: “Tch.” Someone else only breathed: “…”

Under their watch, Rong Shu began refining the Exotic Flame. With her back to them, she whispered to Little Hamster: “Keep an eye on the surroundings for me. I’m going to refine the Exotic Flame.” Little Hamster nodded, then turned to stare fixedly at Han Cheng Yun’s party.

The moment she started, Rong Shu felt the Exotic Flame struggle. It fought for quite a while, and she still could not make it yield, which surprised her. [This doesn’t feel like a newly born Exotic Flame, the resistance is too fierce. The flame Yan Yan picked… it really is out of the ordinary.]

On the surface it was as weak as a dying candle, looking as if it could gutter out at any time. Anyone at first glance would think this flame was nothing special, yet Rong Shu found it very much to her liking, precisely because it looked so plain and unremarkable.

“Fuse with me. Come on, Fire Consort, show some spirit. Our chance to challenge the wind element’s main wife is right here,” she thought.

She coaxed under her breath: “Little Fire, stop struggling and just yield to me.”

After a long resistance, the Exotic Flame finally submitted to her hands. The instant she succeeded, information about the flame bloomed in her mind, and when she finished reading it she was taken aback: “This is… the Earthcore Fallen Lotus Flame? The alchemical manual left by that great alchemist recorded this kind of Exotic Flame. It is the strongest tier right beneath divine-grade Exotic Flames. Born at the very bottom of a volcano and tempered for over a thousand years, it takes a lotus-like form.”

The Earthcore Fallen Lotus Flame carries both physical and spiritual attacks, striking a broad area. Moreover, it closely resembles the common Blue Nether Exotic Flame. Anyone unfamiliar with the Earthcore Fallen Lotus Flame would usually mistake it for a plain Blue Nether flame. [Good. Very good. Perfect for lying low while pretending to be the pig that eats the tiger.]

Rong Shu slowly opened her eyes and rose to her feet, the shock in her heart undiminished. The alchemical notes had once mentioned that the Secret Realm Master wanted to cultivate an Earthcore Fallen Lotus Flame, but with the passage of a millennium the Secret Realm Master had long returned to dust. Even so, just as he wished, one had indeed been born in Li Rong Mountain.

[A thousand years? Then this secret realm has existed for a very long time.] A single trip to Li Rong Mountain and she had gained a flame this rare. It was profit without loss.

When they saw the flame vanish, Han Cheng Yun and the others more or less guessed the outcome, but could not help asking: “Fellow Daoist Lin, how did it go?” Rong Shu smiled at them: “I’ve already refined it. Thank you, fellow Daoists, for standing guard.” They replied: “It was just lifting a hand.” “Exactly…”

Her smile did not waver as she pretended not to notice the flash of disappointment on the faces of those who lacked a Fire Spiritual Root. Had she failed to refine it, nine times out of ten they would have sold that Exotic Flame for Spirit Stones and split the resources evenly. Now the benefits belonged to Rong Shu alone.

Rong Shu spoke first to divert their attention: “Let’s keep searching for other Exotic Flames. Li Rong Mountain’s environment is harsh, but many unusual spiritual herbs grow here. We can pick some along the way.” They agreed readily: “Fellow Daoist Lin speaks true.” “Let’s not waste time; on to the next Exotic Flame.”

Over the next few days, they encountered two more Exotic Flames. One they managed to capture; the other slipped away. A dispute over the captured flame broke out between Song Xuan and Su Hua, and in the end Song Xuan obtained it.

They had been in Li Rong Mountain for two to three months. After some discussion, they decided to leave the mountain and head for the herb garden. Exotic Flames were precious, but far too hard to find, and even found, not guaranteed to be won. Only Su Hua, who had not obtained a flame, wore a dark expression; the others all agreed. The minority yielded to the majority, and the group set out for the herb garden.

Aboard the flying Leaf Boat, Rong Shu divided the fresh batch of pills into bottles and handed them out one by one to Han Cheng Yun’s party. Zong Wen Shi accepted his share, delight rising on his face: “We may not have gained many Exotic Flames in Li Rong Mountain, but we collected quite a few spiritual herbs. Now part of them have been refined by Fellow Daoist Lin, and the rest we can trade once we exit the secret realm. This trip has been a windfall.” Yun Gao Fei echoed: “It has.” He added with a laugh: “It’s been much easier with an alchemist traveling with us.”

Several days later, they ran into multiple roadside robberies, but each time passed without incident.

At the herb garden. Rong Shu and the others disembarked from the Leaf Boat. Wu Man scratched his head as he looked at the noisy entrance: “Huh? What’s the commotion up there?” “Let’s go take a look,” Zong Wen Shi suggested. The group drew closer, and the clamor grew clear.

“Look, this is already Fu Shao Xuan’s twenty-fourth time being thrown out by the herb garden’s guards.” “The son of the Void Alchemy Sect’s sect master can’t even be considered a first-grade alchemist, no wonder he can’t get in.” Among the onlooking cultivators, some pointed and laughed. People were used to seeing cultivators kicked out daily, but this time the person had a special status.

Fu Shao Xuan pushed himself up from the ground and glared fiercely toward the loudest voices: “What are you looking at? Scram.” At that, the onlookers did not back down, but instead booed: “The herb garden doesn’t belong to your Void Alchemy Sect. We can stand here if we like. Pray tell, Young Master Fu, what right does a trainee alchemist like you have to chase us off?” Another snorted: “Trainee alchemist? You’re flattering him. He might still be just an apprentice who hasn’t even touched the title of alchemist.” Laughter rippled: “Hahaha…” “…”

Han Cheng Yun’s group had just finished enjoying the spectacle. When the words “Void Alchemy Sect” rang out, they all looked back at Rong Shu. “Void Alchemy Sect? Fellow Daoist Lin, isn’t that exactly where you’re headed?” She pressed a finger to her lips and lowered her voice: “Hush. He just lost face in public. Best not to crowd him now.”

In truth, Rong Shu did not want to run into that Young Sect Master Fu at all. [The more one speaks, the more mistakes one makes.] The identity she had used to disguise herself could at best hoodwink outsiders like Zong Wen Shi. Someone like the Young Sect Master might see through her.

“You’re right…” Zong Wen Shi, unaware of her real thoughts, took the hint. “Then… we go around?” Rong Shu nodded: “Mm.” Outwardly calm, inwardly she was: [?===(~~???)~~ hurry up hurry up hurry up hurry up.]