Above Lake Heart Island.
Cao Ying sat alone, quietly cross-legged beneath the lotus seat where the Green Lotus Core Flame temporarily resided.
After rounds of depletion, the Green Lotus Core Flame was now extremely weak. Even without the restraints, it wouldn't cause trouble if left undisturbed; it would only instinctively absorb energy from the world to replenish itself.
Outside the small island, Chen Xiao and the other two stood by the lake, observing the situation on the island from a distance.
By this point, even Cao Xi, a Dou Zong expert, was starting to feel nervous.
After all, once Cao Ying began refining the Heavenly Flame, others would be powerless to help.
"Fourth Elder, there's no need to worry too much," Chen Xiao said with a smile. "Cao Ying's strength is not bad, and her soul power is even stronger. In contrast, the Heavenly Flame's power is less than one-tenth of what it was. There's no reason for her to fail."
"At this time, it's hard not to be nervous. This girl, Cao Ying, is the most talented person in our Cao Family. It's a pity she's only interested in alchemy. If she put more effort into cultivation, she would at least be a Dou Ling by now, and refining the Heavenly Flame would definitely be easier."
"This time, the family has prepared a lot of Ice Spirit Cold Spring for her, as well as five Frost Spirit Pills. After taking this pill, a layer of spiritual frost will form inside and outside her body, which can resist the Heavenly Flame's damage to her body to the greatest extent. In addition, there is also a Dou Wang Pill. This pill can allow the user to temporarily possess Dou Wang level strength. If things go wrong, taking it should allow her to expel the Heavenly Flame from her body with Dou Wang strength. Although there are significant side effects after taking this pill, it can at least save her life."
Cao Xi listed the preparations the Cao Family had made for Cao Ying one by one. But even with such thorough preparations, in his heart, the success rate of Cao Ying refining the Green Lotus Core Flame was still only around fifty percent. This showed how high the risk of refining a Heavenly Flame was.
Crunch, crunch~
Zi Yan swallowed the pill in her mouth and offered her usual blessing.
"Sister Cao Ying will definitely succeed, just like Sister Medusa. I still need Sister Cao Ying to help me refine pills in the future."
"Then I'll borrow your auspicious words, little friend. It's starting!"
The three of them looked up and saw that Cao Ying, who had been sitting in meditation, had opened her eyes.
She took a deep breath and stared intently at the cluster of green flames, only the size of a baby's fist. Then, without hesitation, she extended her jade hand and reached for the green flames.
At this instant, the Green Lotus Core Flame surged against the wind, spreading rapidly in all directions with Cao Ying at the center, until the entire Lake Heart Island was enveloped in a layer of green fire wall, making it difficult for the naked eye to see inside. Even probing with soul power was blocked outside.
"Next, it's up to her ability."
Cao Xi murmured and waved his hand, setting up a barrier that completely sealed off the space around Lake Heart Island.
At this moment, the three of them, hindered by the fire wall, looked at the island as if seeing flowers through a fog, which was most anxiety-inducing.
Time passed minute by minute. In this anxious wait, a quarter of an hour went by.
Suddenly, the three of them clearly heard a muffled groan mixed with pain coming from within the green fire barrier. Immediately after, the green fire wall slowly receded.
"Did she succeed?" Zi Yan looked on curiously.
"How could it be that fast? She's only just swallowed the origin. The Heavenly Flame body tempering is the real beginning," Chen Xiao rubbed Zi Yan's head.
Looking over now, they could see a thick layer of frost covering Cao Ying's body, protecting her physique. It was precisely because of this layer of frost that her hair, clothes, and other things that were easily burned remained intact.
But after she swallowed the fire seed, the high temperature of the Green Lotus Core Flame emanated from within, causing the frost layer on her body to thin at a visible speed.
At this rate, the classic clothes-bursting scene wasn't far off.
"Fourth Elder, let's leave first. Zi Yan, you stay and help watch. Come tell us if anything happens."
"Okay, leave it to me!"
Zi Yan nodded in agreement.
Seeing this, Chen Xiao and Cao Xi no longer lingered and left the barrier area first.
Boring waiting was the most tormenting. Chen Xiao had the intention to comfort Cao Xi, but seeing his absent-minded appearance, he was too lazy to say more and just waited for Zi Yan's news.
Another quarter of an hour later, Zi Yan suddenly flashed out, startling the dazed Cao Xi.
"It's not good, Sister Cao Ying is going to be ruined!"
Seeing Chen Xiao and Cao Xi's puzzled expressions, Zi Yan took out a jade bottle from her Storage Ring and gently squeezed it with controlled force, causing dense cracks to appear.
"Sister Cao Ying's face is like this now!"
Hearing this, Chen Xiao and Cao Xi both breathed a sigh of relief.
Heavenly Flame body tempering was torment from the inside out. Even with the assistance of the Frost Spirit Pill and the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, some injuries to the body were unavoidable.
It was like a phoenix undergoing nirvana. If she endured this trial, she would gain a new life with vast skies and seas ahead. If she couldn't, she would turn to ash and vanish.
"As long as she remains in the refining state, everything else is a minor matter. Go and check again."
Chen Xiao waved his hand, sending Zi Yan away.
Witnessing Zi Yan entering and exiting the barrier he had set up with ease, a hint of astonishment flashed across Cao Xi's face.
"This Miss Zi Yan is truly... amazing!"
"It's a racial talent, something to be envied. At Jia Nan Academy, even the Medicinal Herb Management Depot couldn't stop her."
Cao Xi was speechless. Various Magical Beast races flashed rapidly through his mind, finally settling on the four words "Void Ancient Dragon," the head of the three major Magical Beast races.
He hadn't seen one, but he had heard of them.
Legend had it that the Void Ancient Dragon race was born with control over spatial power, able to freely tear space and create spatial barriers.
They could even leisurely stroll through the void turbulence that countless experts dreaded.
This race was extremely mysterious, coming and going without a trace. Although they rarely appeared on the continent, their status as the supreme Magical Beast was universally recognized.
Hiss~
The more he thought about it, the more it seemed true, and Cao Xi couldn't help but gasp.
At the same time, he became even more curious about Chen Xiao.
Ancient races, the Void Ancient Dragon clan, these were existences that could make even the major powers in Central State feel awe, yet he had befriended them simultaneously, and their relationship was so good...
He couldn't figure it out, absolutely couldn't figure it out!
"Little friend, when you arrive in Central State in the future, you must come to the Cao Family as a guest."
"I will definitely visit often."
After sensing Zi Yan's peculiarity, Cao Xi finally had his mind disturbed and no longer worried about Cao Ying.
In this state, in the blink of an eye, three hours quietly passed.
It was at this time that the scout Zi Yan appeared again.
However, seeing her emerge from the barrier unhurriedly, with a look on her small face as if she was about to keep them in suspense, Chen Xiao and Cao Xi could guess the result and both breathed a sigh of relief simultaneously.
Cao Xi was a member of the Cao Family, so his reaction was self-explanatory.
As for Chen Xiao, it was because Cao Ying's successful refinement was greatly beneficial to him.
In the original trajectory, without the enhancement of a Heavenly Flame, Cao Ying could still refine eighth-grade pills at the Central State Pill Gathering. Now with a Heavenly Flame, her path as an Alchemist would only be smoother.
Having such a potential-filled backup Alchemist was naturally something to be happy about.
Although he had guessed the result, seeing Zi Yan's little expression of 'hurry up and ask me', Chen Xiao still indulged her mischievousness.
"How is it?"
"Exactly the same as Sister Medusa, thrilling but without danger. Sister Cao Ying has successfully refined it. You can go in and take a look now," Zi Yan replied with a smile.
Hearing this, Cao Xi was completely relieved and let out a long breath. He immediately greeted Chen Xiao, removed the barrier, and quickly headed towards Lake Heart Island.
Chen Xiao was dragged far behind by Zi Yan, listening to her low murmur.
"That's not right, I just said something wrong. Sister Cao Ying isn't as big as Sister Medusa."
Chen Xiao's steps paused, and he looked down at Zi Yan.
This was nonsense. Cao Ying was less than thirteen years old, while that Medusa Queen, multiplied by ten times, was still not enough. Her age was definitely younger than the Medusa Queen's. Anyone could see that.
Soon, the two arrived on Lake Heart Island.
At this time, Cao Ying had finished refining. Her beautiful cheeks still had the redness left after the high temperature. She had changed into a brand new dress, different from the previous style, but still black.
This Cao Family demoness seemed to love black.
At this moment, she extended her palm, showing the newly refined Heavenly Flame to Cao Xi. A cluster of green flames rose gently in her palm, as if being controlled by her arm.
However, when Chen Xiao approached, his Dou Qi merely circulated on the surface, and the green flame in Cao Ying's palm involuntarily contracted, like an oil lamp whose kerosene was about to run out, looking as if it could be extinguished at any moment.
Seeing this, Cao Ying's red lips slightly parted, a little bewildered.
Chen Xiao nodded with satisfaction in his heart and retracted the Dou Qi circulating on his body.
Through experimentation, it was verified that ordinary Heavenly Flames indeed did not restrain him. On the contrary, he had the advantage.
However, this was also within expectations. After all, even the Fallen Heart Flame, ranked fourteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, would be severely injured by Heavenly Cold Qi. There was even less to say about the Green Lotus Core Flame.
"Congratulations."
"Thank you. Now that I have a Heavenly Flame, I finally have two or three tenths of a chance to refine fifth-grade pills. If you need any fifth-grade pills during this time and aren't afraid of me ruining the medicinal herbs, I can give it a try."
Having successfully refined the Heavenly Flame, Cao Ying was in a very good mood.
With her personality, she wouldn't say anything about luck; that would be a denial of her own ability.
Now that she had just mastered the Heavenly Flame, she was eager to try refining fifth-grade pills, showing her level of confidence.
"Then I'll trouble you to help me refine some Qing Yuan Pills."
Chen Xiao chuckled and took out a pile of medicinal herbs from his Storage Ring, handing them to Cao Ying.
Each level had corresponding pills used to aid cultivation, and there might be more than one type. The grade would also differ depending on the medicinal effect.
And the Qing Yuan Pill was a fifth-grade pill that could increase the cultivation speed of the Dou Huang level.
"Qing Yuan Pill? I heard Fourth Uncle say you're only a seven-star Dou Wang. Are you already preparing pills for the Dou Huang level?" Cao Ying took the medicinal herbs and replied with some surprise.
"Don't you want to practice? I'll let you try. Also, it won't be long. Before reaching the Black-Corner Region, I will definitely reach nine-star Dou Wang!"
"Fourth Elder, Cao Ying, you two prepare first today. Zi Yan and I will go say goodbye to a friend. We'll set off tomorrow morning!"
After saying goodbye to the two, Chen Xiao didn't delay. He spread his Dou Qi wings, took Zi Yan, and headed out of the city.
Watching the two disappear from sight, Cao Xi slowly withdrew his gaze and looked at Cao Ying beside him.
"What do you think of Chen Xiao?"
"His talent goes without saying. His personality is not difficult to get along with. From his interactions with Zi Yan, he's quite good to those around him, and he's also good-looking. That's about it. I don't know about other aspects. Does Fourth Uncle have anything else he wants to ask? If not, I'm going to refine pills."
Not knowing exactly what aspect Cao Xi was asking about, Cao Ying simply answered everything she could think of.
Cao Xi opened his mouth, speechless.
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