"Hu..."
As Queen Medusa reverted to the form of a colorful little snake, the burning sensation in Gu Fei's heart finally dissipated completely. He exhaled a breath of hot air, stood up slowly, and stretched.
Then, with practiced ease, he picked up the little snake and placed it into his sleeve.
Through the system's emotional feedback, Gu Fei knew that during his soul's wandering, Queen Medusa had harbored some killing intent towards him. Fortunately, she had made a very wise decision in the end.
"I've been in seclusion for several days now. That little girl, Zi Yan, must be getting impatient!"
Gu Fei muttered softly as he walked out of the stone chamber, intending to head to the medicinal herb square. He was still unaware of Zi Yan's situation.
"Brother Gu Fei, you should go check on Zi Yan. Something seems off with her!"
At that moment, Xiong Zhan approached.
"Zi Yan? What's wrong with her?"
Gu Fei frowned slightly before his figure flashed, disappearing from where he stood. When he reappeared, he was already beside the cocoon of light.
The surface of the cocoon glowed with alternating pulses of purple light, much like the beating of a heart. Gu Fei could sense that every time the cocoon's light shifted, the surrounding energy of heaven and earth was absorbed into it, making the cocoon's glow even brighter.
"There's nothing wrong with her. It's just that this little girl has eaten too many heavenly treasures without digesting them, and now she's advancing!"
A hint of helplessness appeared on Gu Fei's face.
Zi Yan was advancing at this moment, but if she were to complete the process on her own, it would likely take more than half a year.
Without Zi Yan's help, it would be inconvenient for Gu Fei to leave the Pill Realm, and he couldn't simply leave her behind.
"Brother Gu Fei, is Zi Yan okay?"
Not long after, Xiong Zhan arrived, asking Gu Fei with some concern.
"Zi Yan is advancing. During this time, I'll help speed up her advancement, so I might need to use some of your medicinal herbs."
Gu Fei responded directly.
"No problem, Brother Gu Fei, feel free to use whatever you need!" Xiong Zhan waved it off carelessly. Although he had collected many herbs, he couldn't refine them into pills himself. Now, with the chance to build a relationship with an eighth-tier alchemist, how could he be stingy?
"Thanks. I'll be refining some medicinal liquids to help Zi Yan advance faster, so I don't want to be disturbed during this time."
"Don't worry. From today on, no one will enter this hall!"
Xiong Zhan nodded and then retreated.
Once Xiong Zhan left, Gu Fei's soul force swept over the herb square, and then dozens of herbs flew quickly toward him.
Immediately, Gu Fei took out a cauldron, placed it on the ground, and a flame emerged from his palm, entering the cauldron to start refining the herbs.
Under the tempering of the heavenly flame, the herbs quickly transformed into medicinal essence.
Finally, all the essences merged into a potent medicinal liquid.
Gu Fei evenly applied the refined liquid to the surface of the purple cocoon.
The powerful medicinal energy rapidly permeated the cocoon, making its light even brighter.
"At this rate, she should be able to break out of the cocoon in just over a month!"
Gu Fei glanced at the purple cocoon before sitting down cross-legged to cultivate.
A month was not long for a cultivator like him.
It was also a good opportunity for him to calm down and comprehend the Mid-Spirit soul realm he had just broken through.
As for Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin, they were safe in Holy Pill City, under the watchful eyes of the Lion King and Venerable Tianhuo, so there was no need to worry about them.
...
North-Western region of the Continent, Jia Nan Academy.
"Teacher, we're too late again. The heavenly flame has already been taken by Gu Fei!"
In a room within the academy, Xiao Yan communicated anxiously with Yao Lao in the Black Ring.
After a long journey, Xiao Yan had finally arrived at Jia Nan Academy.
Upon arriving, Xiao Yan had naturally heard about the legends surrounding Gu Fei.
"Teacher, didn't you say that ordinary people can only refine one heavenly flame in their lifetime? How is it that Gu Fei can refine so many heavenly flames?"
As Yao Lao remained silent, Xiao Yan continued to ask, his faith in continuing to cultivate the 'Flame Mantra' wavering.
"In theory, there shouldn't be any other way for someone to refine multiple heavenly flames besides the 'Flame Mantra'..."
In the Black Ring, Yao Lao's face was filled with astonishment.
"Unless that person is also cultivating the 'Flame Mantra'!"
After a moment, Yao Lao made a guess.
"Xiao Yan, do you remember what I told you before about your treacherous senior brother?"
Yao Lao spoke slowly, "Back then, he betrayed me and colluded with the Hall of Souls for the sake of a certain cultivation method. However, the version of the method he obtained was incomplete."
"Teacher, are you saying that Gu Fei might have obtained the incomplete 'Flame Mantra' from Han Feng, which is why he can refine multiple heavenly flames?"
A look of realization flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes.
After entering the Black-Corner Region, Xiao Yan had heard about the Medicine Emperor Han Feng and learned of his treacherous deeds from Yao Lao.
"Yes, considering all these factors, that's the only explanation that makes sense!"
Yao Lao nodded firmly.
"Teacher, if that's true, then Gu Fei will continue seeking out heavenly flames..."
Xiao Yan hesitated. At this point, his hopes in the 'Flame Mantra' were nearly dashed, as the gap between him and Gu Fei was simply too vast for him to imagine catching up.
"Xiao Yan, don't be too discouraged. The world is vast, and it's impossible for him to collect all the heavenly flames. You still have a chance..."
Yao Lao didn't want to give up and continued to encourage Xiao Yan, hoping that Xiao Yan would complete the task he had never finished.
Moreover, from what Yao Lao had learned from the 'Flame Mantra', to revive himself, he needed the help of someone who possessed multiple heavenly flames to refine a new body.
"Alright, Teacher. Although this cultivation method is weak now, it's the only one that gives me a chance to surpass ordinary people and reach an unprecedented peak..."
After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Yan finally decided to continue cultivating the 'Flame Mantra'.
"Xiao Yan, it's good that you think this way!"
Yao Lao nodded with satisfaction.
"Teacher, since Jia Nan Academy only has a young flame left, should we stay here any longer?" Xiao Yan asked.
"The Heart Flame within the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower can still emit Heart Flame, which is helpful for your cultivation. Break through to the Dou Spirit realm first, and then we'll consider leaving..."
Yao Lao sighed, his expression heavy.
After all, the heavenly flames they had sought twice had already been taken by others, throwing his original plans into disarray.
(TL/n: Last update for today. We finally hit 100 chapters! We're one-third of the way before we get caught up with the raw. Should I slow down or sth?... Anyways leave a review, let me know your thoughts and have a great day folks!)