"A battlefield?"
Xiao Yan furrowed his brow, realizing the situation was more complex than it appeared.
According to the records in the Heavenly Flame Ranking, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame was born from the spiritual energy of countless deceased magical beasts combined with their collective wishes. The conditions for its creation indeed required a place where magical beasts had perished in large numbers.
However, having recently absorbed a small portion of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, Xiao Yan sensed that its creation was not that simple.
If a war that claimed countless magical beast lives could produce the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, then it would be too easy for such a flame to be born. Moreover, the conditions listed in the Heavenly Flame Ranking were not just one; it was the condensed wishes of the guardian magical beasts that truly formed the Ten Thousand Beast Flame.
'There's only one answer then—the Ten Thousand Beast Flame in the Beast Tomb is not newly born.' Xiao Yan quickly concluded in his mind.
"The Ten Thousand Beast Flame is the heritage flame of our Magic Beast Mountain Range, controlled by successive generations of Magical Beast Lords. Every decade, we hold a Spirit Flame Body Tempering Convention, where magical beasts of all ranks compete. The victor receives the baptism of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame," the Amethyst Winged Lion King revealed. This secret was unknown to Xiao Yan, and even Little Fairy Doctor, who had lived in Qingshan Town for years, had never heard of it.
It made sense though; if the Magic Beast Mountain Range truly possessed the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, it would undoubtedly belong to the magical beasts. With numerous Beast Emperors and an unbroken mountain range abundant with medicinal herbs and spiritual fruits, the presence of Rank 7 magical beasts was not surprising.
"Did the Lion King obtain the wisp of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame from the Spirit Flame Body Tempering Convention?" Xiao Yan asked curiously.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King shook its head. "The Spirit Flame Body Tempering Convention ended three hundred years ago due to that war."
Xiao Yan finally grasped the whole picture as the Amethyst Winged Lion King continued its narration.
The Ten Thousand Beast Flame had always been in the possession of the magical beasts of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, controlled by the strongest of each generation. It was precisely because of this flame that the magical beasts of the Magic Beast Mountain Range had always been exceptionally powerful.
All surrounding empires and sects, including the Jia Ma Empire, dared not encroach upon their territory.
The possession of something as precious as the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence was testament enough to the impact of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame on magical beasts.
However, three centuries ago, a 7th-tier alchemist discovered the existence of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and sought to seize it. This alchemist ultimately enlisted three elite Dou Ancestors and planned to forcefully take the Ten Thousand Beast Spiritual Flame from the peak Rank 7 magical beast who was the lord of the Magic Beast Mountain Range.
A single 7th-tier alchemist was enough to ignite a war between humans and magical beasts!
Xiao Yan felt a chill run through him as he realized the immense influence wielded by alchemists. Especially the high-tier alchemists, a single high-tier medicinal pill from them could make an entire sect serve at their behest.
It should be noted that even the Misty Cloud Sect did not have an elite Dou Ancestor at present!
Ultimately, the peak Rank 7 lord of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, faced with the onslaught of a 7th-tier alchemist and three Dou Ancestors, fought desperately and dragged the 7th-tier alchemist into the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, resulting in their mutual destruction.
This war also led to the Ten Thousand Beast Flame being tainted by the resentful aura of the battle's vengeful spirits, rendering it unusable for tempering the bodies of magical beasts.
Over the past three centuries, Rank 7 magical beasts had journeyed to the Beast Tomb, intending to inherit the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. However, the contaminated flame, now imbued with the resentment of humans who had perished tragically in the war, could not be refined at all.
Furthermore, the countless vengeful spirits from that war transformed the area into what was now known as the Beast Tomb, a place so perilous that even approaching it was extremely difficult for ordinary magical beasts.
The small wisp of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame that the Amethyst Winged Lion King had obtained was acquired through desperate efforts, with the hope of better nurturing and growing its little lion cub.
After listening to the Amethyst Winged Lion King's account, Xiao Yan leaned back in his chair and slowly closed his eyes, deep in contemplation.
He hadn't anticipated that the Ten Thousand Beast Flame would be contaminated. However, it made sense; if the flame were still pure, how could it be his turn to obtain it? Even a 7th-tier alchemist had ultimately failed to acquire it and died in a foreign land. For him, a mere little Dou Master, attempting to do so would be tantamount to courting death hundreds of times over.
Heavenly Flames were inherently a matter of heaven's opportunity and fate; without a certain level of destiny, it was impossible to possess one.
After pondering for a good while, Xiao Yan opened his eyes, a determined gleam in them. He swiftly took out a brush and ink, jotting down a list of over a dozen medicinal ingredients on a piece of white paper.
"Little Fairy Doctor, here are some medicinal ingredients. They can all be found in the small valley. Please help me gather some; I need to refine some pills." Xiao Yan handed the paper with the list of ingredients to Little Fairy Doctor, whose knowledge of medicinal materials rivaled his own.
Little Fairy Doctor heard this and realized Xiao Yan intended to risk venturing to the Beast Tomb to attempt to obtain the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. She wanted to say something but abandoned the idea of dissuading him when she saw the determination in his eyes.
Although they hadn't known each other for long, she understood that once Xiao Yan set his mind on something, he would definitely follow through, and no one could change his mind.
"Alright, I'll search for them in the small valley." Little Fairy Doctor took the ingredient list, picked up a small basket, and headed out.
"Lion King, I need to refine a 4th-tier medicinal pill, but I'm missing three types of precious medicinal ingredients and a Rank 4 Monster Core. I hope the Lion King can help me find them." Xiao Yan wrote down the names of the three precious ingredients and their identifying characteristics on another piece of white paper.
These ingredients were extremely scarce and couldn't even be found in the small valley.
However, the Amethyst Winged Lion King was a Rank 6 magical beast with vast territory in the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Although this small valley was rich in medicinal materials, compared to the Amethyst Winged Lion King's domain, it was like comparing a puddle to an ocean.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King laughed after hearing this, a glint of cunning in its eyes. "Why should I help you find these ingredients?"
Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and also laughed, shaking his head wryly. With a flick of his finger, a pill recipe appeared in his hand.
"The 4th-tier Sunflame Pill, with Sunflame Grass as the main ingredient. It can add a wisp of sunfire to one's fire-attribute Dou Qi. I think it would be very beneficial for the Little Lion King."
Xiao Yan knew his stuff! By appealing to the Little Lion King's needs, he was effectively gaining leverage over the Amethyst Winged Lion King!
The Amethyst Winged Lion King grinned upon hearing this. It was refreshing to converse with an intelligent person! After putting away the pill recipe, the Amethyst Winged Lion King spread its wings and flew out of the small valley with the Little Lion King to gather the ingredients.
"Oh, and Lion King! Please bring the medicinal cauldron from your cave's treasure vault as well. Lend it to me for a while! Mine just happened to break!" Xiao Yan shouted skyward. During his earlier infiltration of the cave, he had spotted a tier 5 alchemy cauldron in the treasure vault and had wanted to steal it, but there hadn't been enough time.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King abruptly halted mid-air upon hearing this. Well, well, even the alchemy cauldron had to be provided by it!
Xiao Yan was only responsible for refining the pill, while the Amethyst Winged Lion King had to gather the ingredients for the Sunflame Pill itself.
A person with the strength of a Dou Master was actually able to command a Rank 6 magical beast. One could imagine how great the magic word 'alchemist' was.
The smile on Xiao Yan's face quickly faded as he watched the Amethyst Winged Lion King fly away. The information brought by the Amethyst Winged Lion King this time was definitely a huge opportunity for him.
However, the slightest misstep could lead to irreversible disaster.
With his palm facing upward, Mao Wu jumped out from the void and stood on his palm. Compared to a few months ago, Mao Wu had grown somewhat, and the black flame fur covering its body had become denser.
"Mao Wu, our success or failure this time depends on you."
Meow~ (=ω｀=)
Possessing the Nihility Devouring Flame, capable of devouring everything, was the source of Xiao Yan's confidence in daring to go to the Beast Tomb.
Mao Wu's ability to devour the beast resentment within the Monster Cores and grow stronger was the most effective means to purify the contaminated Ten Thousand Beast Flame.
It possessed this ability.
The only thing worrying Xiao Yan was that Mao Wu was still too weak. This Seed Flame had come into existence merely half a year ago, and whether it could devour the pollution was still unknown.
"Nihility Devouring Flame, ranked second on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, let me see your true power!"