69novels 416. Negotiate and make a move
416. Negotiate and make a move
Inside the Burning Flame Valley residence in Saint Dan City.
"Young friend Xiao Yan, you've kept me waiting." Tang Zhen said with a smile as he looked at Xiao Yan, who was sitting upright in the reception room.
Before Tang Zhen arrived, Xiao Yan was sipping the tea prepared by Burning Flame Valley. He had never had a habit of drinking tea and couldn't appreciate its nuances. After Tang Zhen arrived, he politely replied, "I just arrived recently too."
Tang Zhen's gaze towards Xiao Yan grew increasingly satisfied. He had spent a considerable amount of time discussing matters with the patriarch in the backyard, but judging from Xiao Yan's eyes, he seemed completely unconcerned. This kind of composure far surpassed that of many arrogant young geniuses in Central Continent!
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Xiao Yan got straight to the point: "Valley Master Tang, I promised, and I will do my utmost. I just don't know what I need to do?"
Tang Zhen was taken aback upon hearing this, then a hint of unease appeared on his face. He sighed softly, "This is a long story. Young friend Xiao Yan, you may not know this, but the Nine Dragons Thunderfire is a unique fire passed down through generations in the Burning Flame Valley. Their research on it is very thorough. Therefore, once the next Valley Master is chosen, they will select an opportunity to pass on the unique fire."
Xiao Yan nodded in understanding. Most major sects would make the same choice, as good things are passed down from generation to generation. They don't need to travel all over the continent like Xiao Yan to find a different kind of fire.
"Originally, there should have been no accidents during this inheritance process." Tang Zhen's tone changed at this moment: "It's just that the energy in the Nine Dragons Thunderfire is too fierce, and although my daughter's strength has reached the limit of the Dou Zong inheritance, she was still injured by the fire and thunder power of the Nine Dragons Thunderfire."
"The Nine Dragons Thunderfire had long been controlled and separated from her body, but the power of the fire and thunder had not been completely eliminated. Its continued presence within her body will affect Huo'er's future. I understand that the peak seventh-grade pill, the Fire Bodhi Pill, can cure it completely, but I didn't expect a flaw to occur during the pill's refining process. Not only has the power of the fire and thunder within Huo'er not been eradicated, but it has further intensified, reaching a point that threatens her life!"
At this point, a hint of dissatisfaction, unnoticed by Xiao Yan, flashed in Tang Zhen's eyes. This situation was also related to the Pill Tower. The Pill Tower's monopoly on alchemists was terrifying, making it extremely difficult even for Burning Flame Valley to hire an eighth-grade alchemist. His friend Kang Ning was also attempting to break through to a higher soul realm at that time, forcing Tang Zhen to choose a seventh-grade alchemist from the Pill Tower, which led to the flaws in the final refinement of the Fire Bodhi Pill.
However, Xiao Yan naturally didn't notice this thought. He continued, "Afterwards, we immediately took remedial measures, and we had solutions for all the other problems. However, the Nine Dragons Thunderfire is a rare treasure of heaven and earth. Only a different kind of fire can resolve the power of fire and thunder without leaving any hidden dangers!"
"That's why I had no choice but to trouble my young friend Xiao Yan to make this trip."
Xiao Yan nodded and asked, "What I need to do is eliminate the power of fire and lightning, right?"
"Excellent!" Then, as if to reassure Xiao Yan, Tang Zhen explained, "Young friend Xiao Yan, you can rest assured, my good friend Elder Danta Kang will also lend you a hand. You only need to use your strange fire to resolve the fire and lightning power within Huo'er's body!"
Xiao Yan nodded in agreement. For him, this wasn't too troublesome, as it was merely absorbing a residual portion of the Nine Dragons Thunderfire energy. Not to mention that the Crimson Lotus Heart Flame was a fusion of three different flames, the Crimson Lotus Karmic Flame alone ranked significantly higher than the Nine Dragons Thunderfire.
"Yes, I will do my best!"
Having received Xiao Yan's confirmation, Tang Zhen felt a sense of relief and continued, "Of course, Xiao Yan, you don't need to worry about the reward. Regardless of whether we succeed in the end, I will reward you with the price of hiring an eighth-grade alchemist!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. Although there seems to be only one word difference between seventh-grade and eighth-grade, the prices they command are completely different. A seventh-grade alchemist is merely a master alchemist, while only an eighth-grade alchemist can be considered a "grandmaster."
The price of hiring an eighth-grade alchemist once is equivalent to hiring a double-digit number of seventh-grade alchemists at the same time. After all, soul power is a huge mountain that traps all alchemists. If they don't encounter a fortuitous opportunity, countless alchemists will be trapped in the mortal realm of the soul for their entire lives.
This is no different at the Pill Tower. Although the Pill Tower does have methods for breaking through to the eighth-grade alchemist level, the price is beyond the reach of ordinary people. Tang Zhen's willingness to offer a price equivalent to that of an eighth-grade alchemist demonstrates the importance he places on eliminating the power of thunder and fire.
Of course, what Xiao Yan didn't know was that Tang Zhen couldn't afford to fail again. After the Fire Bodhi Pill developed a flaw, causing his beloved daughter's condition to worsen once more, Tang Zhen had blamed himself countless times: Why didn't he wait for Kang Ning from the beginning? With Kang Ning's strength as an eighth-grade alchemist, he would never have allowed the Fire Bodhi Pill to have any problems.
Therefore, he is now willing to pay any price in order to resolve the hidden dangers in his daughter's body safely.
Xiao Yan nodded. He hadn't come to Burning Flame Valley intending to make exorbitant demands. However, since Tang Zhen had offered such a generous reward, he naturally wouldn't refuse outright. Even if he had to refuse because of the Heavenly Phoenix Clan, he wouldn't do it now.
"My old friend is on his way from the Pill Tower and it will take him a while. Please wait a moment, young friend Xiao Yan!" Tang Zhen explained.
"It's alright." Xiao Yan picked up the teacup and took another sip, but still couldn't taste anything special.
Xiao Yan possessed exceptional patience; waiting a while was no big deal. He closed his eyes and began to sense his soul power. While the Heavenly Thunder Body Tempering was effective, he couldn't afford to use it anymore. Lei Jingxiao's attack destroyed an earthen puppet, and he only had one left. Besides the Heavenly Thunder Body Tempering, Xiao Yan hadn't yet figured out how to break through to the Soul Spirit Realm. If all else failed, he would have to absorb that Spirit-Nourishing Powder.
An hour later, two figures arrived outside the residence of Burning Flame Valley. Tang Zhen, who came out to greet them, was very surprised when he saw who they were.
He invited Kang Ning, and he wasn't surprised that someone else came along. However, the person who came was of extraordinary status; even he himself would have to show him respect!
Standing beside Kang Ning was a woman dressed in an elegant cheongsam. Her appearance was similar to that of a woman in her early twenties, the only difference being the serene expression in her eyes, which carried a subtle charm accumulated over the years. Yet, standing beside the white-haired Kang Ning, she gave the impression of being the absolute protagonist.
"President Xuan Yi, what brings you here in person?"