However, since Gu Fei was already here, he decided he might as well give it a try.
Qiu Ling noticed the expression on Gu Fei's face and shook his head slightly, not optimistic about his chances. The entire Pill Tower was filled with powerful individuals, yet even the Association Heads had failed to refine the Three Thousand Burning Flame. Gu Fei's chances seemed equally slim.
"Young friend Gu Fei, you can try sending a wisp of your soul force into that spot to see if you can pacify the Three Thousand Burning Flame. But remember, do not damage the seal," Qiu Ling instructed, pointing to a special scale on the dragon's body.
"Pacify it?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Fei couldn't help but silently ridicule the idea. No wonder no one in the Pill Tower had managed to refine the Three Thousand Burning Flame after all these years. This thing had already developed human-like intelligence- how could it be pacified? There was no such thing as a true Buddhist path in this world! The Three Thousand Burning Flame had been imprisoned in the Star Realm for so long, its hatred for humans ran deep. Given the chance, it would certainly go on a rampage. To refine it, one couldn't rely on the vague notion of "pacifying" it. The only way was to directly destroy its consciousness, revert it to a chaotic state, and then suppress and refine its source flame.
"Understood!" Gu Fei thought to himself, temporarily complying with the suggestion. He stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the imposing dragon engulfed in flames before finding the human-sized scale.
Indeed, that particular scale was free of flames.
As Gu Fei's gaze moved across the scale, he noticed it was covered in thread-like black lines. These lines were intertwined, forming strange runes that clung tightly to the scale, like a vast black net that enveloped the Three Thousand Burning Flame, keeping it trapped.
Gu Fei understood that this was the seal jointly placed by the Pill Tower leaders, the very reason the Three Thousand Burning Flame remained confined in the Star Domain.
He stepped closer, sensing the faint aura of intimidation emanating from the scale.
"Let's see just how fierce this guy really is!"
With a probing mindset, Gu Fei reached out, touching the special scale without hesitation. Surprisingly, the scale wasn't hot at all; instead, it carried a faint chill.
But Gu Fei had no time to ponder this anomaly. Closing his eyes, he cautiously channeled his soul force through his arm, allowing it to slowly infiltrate the scale.
"Boom!"
As soon as Gu Fei's soul force penetrated the scale, a faint, low sound echoed, and his soul seemed to break through something, emerging in a strange void.
This void was filled with purple-black flames, and at its center, Gu Fei spotted a miniature dragon. This small fire dragon, though tiny compared to the massive dragon in the Star Realm, exuded an even more terrifying aura. However, the dragon was curled up with its eyes closed, as if in slumber.
Seeing the dragon's closed eyes, Gu Fei realized that this creature was the true source flame of the Three Thousand Burning Flame.
Gu Fei knew that the flame wasn't actually asleep—it had noticed him the moment he entered.
"Three Thousand Burning Flame, I know you want to escape. If you submit to me, I can help you leave this place!" Gu Fei's soul force swept over the small fire dragon as he spoke openly about his intentions.
In the next instant, the small fire dragon's eyes abruptly opened. Its purple-black eyes, filled with coldness, locked onto Gu Fei's soul.
Three Thousand Burning Flame feels mockery. Emotion value +30
"Human, do you think I would believe such nonsense?"
"Submit to you? How would that be any different from death?"
The fire dragon suddenly spoke in cold, mocking tones. No matter how strong it was, it had suffered countless betrayals at the hands of humans. Ever since it was sealed in the Star Realm, countless humans had attempted to refine it. From then on, the Three Thousand Burning Flame understood that all humans coveted its source fire. But their words were laughably hypocritical—they all claimed they would set it free. How ridiculous! Refining the source fire required erasing its consciousness, leaving only an empty shell—what difference would that make from death? Even if another consciousness eventually emerged, it would no longer be the same.
"So, you're not foolish after all!"
Gu Fei wasn't surprised by the Three Thousand Burning Flame's reaction. This type of Heavenly Flame had already developed a level of intelligence no different from a human's.
Three Thousand Burning Flame feels anger. Emotion value +30
"Get out!"
The Three Thousand Burning Flame roared in fury, its eyes burning with purple-black flames. The fire erupted violently from the fire dragon's body, surging toward Gu Fei's wisp of soul force.
If Gu Fei's actual body had been present, he might have been able to resist, considering the Heavenly Flames within him weren't to be underestimated. But this was merely a wisp of his soul force, unable to withstand the flame's onslaught. The flames scorched his soul, engulfing Gu Fei's figure in a sea of purple-black fire.
Back in the Star Realm, Gu Fei, whose hand was still touching the scale, suddenly opened his eyes, his face showing a trace of anger. He had pulled back just in time to avoid being burned.
Seeing this, Elder Qiu Ling understood that Gu Fei had failed. "Young friend Gu Fei, many have tried to pacify the Three Thousand Burning Flame over the years without success. It seems your fate with it is insufficient!"
Hearing Qiuling's words, Gu Fei frowned.
"Elder Qiu Ling, the Three Thousand Burning Flame has developed a consciousness as intelligent as a human's. The idea of 'fate' is meaningless!" Gu Fei retorted, unafraid of offending anyone.
If the Pill Tower continued with this ludicrous, pseudo-compassionate approach of trying to pacify it, no one would ever manage to subdue the Three Thousand Burning Flame. Dealing with a sentient being so filled with hatred for humanity required a far more direct approach.
"Then, young master Gu Fei, what do you propose? Can you suppress it directly?"
Qiu Ling feels displeasure. Emotion value +30
Qiu Ling's expression stiffened as he spoke. He was clearly annoyed, but knowing that Gu Fei's background was likely extraordinary, he kept his tone somewhat restrained.
Qiuling believed that although Gu Fei was gifted, he was still too young to have the power to subdue the Three Thousand Burning Flame directly.
"Suppress it directly..."
Gu Fei remained silent for a moment, considering his options. So far, he had not asked for any help from his clan during this training journey.
Since he couldn't defeat it alone, why not call for reinforcements?
"While I may not be able to subdue it myself, if one of my elders were to assist, suppressing the Three Thousand Burning Flame would be a simple task!"
Having made up his mind, Gu Fei crushed a spatial jade slip. As it shattered, an immensely powerful spatial force surged forth, warping a section of space nearby into a rift.
As the rift formed, a white figure slowly emerged from within.