Crack!
The golden seal became filled with fractures as the blue light tried to make its way inside it.
The seal was already at the end of its span, so it didn't take too long, and it crumbled like a glass.
After this, the blue light rushed behind the seal with a bright illuminance, blocking Ye Chen's view.
Even his divine eye failed to see through it.
However, it didn't take too long, and after a few seconds, the illumination receded, revealing a small wisp of icy blue flame floating at the bottom of the cauldron.
The flame was only two inches tall; however, it emitted a massive amount of heat, which caused the old cauldron to become red within just a few seconds.
If it kept going on like this, then the cauldron was bound to melt. However, a sudden cold temperature prevented the cauldron from melting.
Watching this, Ye Chen's eyes narrowed once again.
"An Earth-grade natural flame; moreover, an ice flame on top of that! Looks like I am in some serious trouble here," he muttered with a surprised look.
However, there was no fear in his eyes but a hint of anticipation.
"The earth-grade flame is dangerous for a low-level cultivator like me, but it doesn't mean that it can kill me; moreover, the flame is in its weakest state now, so I can try refining it," he pondered, recalling the words from myriad book.
A natural flame was something born by heaven and earth and was divided into grades from Yellow, Profound, Earth, and Heaven.
The higher the grade, the more powerful the flame would be, but it also meant that the danger would be greater; most of the time costing the lives.
However, if one refined the natural flame, they could use it in battles to suppress any enemy in their realms. Also, these flames made alchemy easier as they gave alchemists more control over the fire and also raised the quality of pills.
Because of this, the natural flames were treasures; even the profound grade would be fought with life and death by foundation establishment stage cultivators.
Moreover, the natural flames were very rare, as their conditions of forming were very harsh.
Ye Chen didn't know why such a flame was sealed inside the cauldron, but he didn't care and looked at the icy blue flame, which had grown by an inch.
If it's kept like this, the ice flame would recover to its prime, and there was no way he would be able to refine it for himself.
Watching this, Ye Chen didn't hesitate and made some hand seals trapping the flame.
This was the refining method from the divine art of alchemy, and in front of it an earth-grade natural flame was nothing.
Because of this, the ice flame became trapped. The flame tried to resist; however, it knew this was useless, so it's waited for Ye Chen to start the refining.
Although the word refining was simple, it was a complicated and dangerous process where many cultivators have turned into ashes as they had to let the flame enter their meridians and dantian.
Ye Chen also needed to do the same, and there was no worry in his eyes as he made more seals before letting the Ice Flame inside his meridians.
The ice flame knew its chance to retaliate had come, so it started to blaze intensely, enveloping Ye Chen's body in the hot flames.
Sizzle!
Ye Chen's clothes started to burn as the flame went on rampage; even the floor was burning with black smoke.
However, his body remained unharmed, and he only felt a tingling sensitisation.
The reason was his divine alchemy technique, which he was circulating to refine the flame; also, the flame was in a weak state.
If not for this, he would be the black smoke here.
'This flame is pretty aggressive,' he remarked with a smile as he felt intense heat and his skin started to run red.
He didn't waste time anymore and started to use his divine alchemy art to refine.
The ice flame sensed the danger and got angered as it tried to devour Ye Chen and even the things around him.
Soon the everything here was lit with blue fire, and the black smoke filled the room.
Li Mei, who was still hiding her face in the pillow, felt the temperature rising above normal and became alarmed.
"This heat is coming from the senior brother room!" She exclaimed with a shocked expression and hurriedly ran towards his room with concern.
Zhen Yunqi, who was in her adobe reading some books, also sensed the heat; however, her expression was grave as she felt this was the doing of a natural flame.
There was no hesitation in her eyes, and she directly teleported inside Ye Chen's room, which was filled with smoke and fire.
However, she didn't care about this and looked at Ye Chen, whose body was engulfed by a flame that tried to roast him.
However, the flame clearly failed to do so.
'Is he refining the natural flame?' She thought while hesitating whether or not she should intervene.
It was when the door of the room opened with a bang and Li Mei came running inside with an anxious look.
"Senior Brother!" She yelled with a shock after seeing Ye Chen situation.
Without hesitation, she sprinted forward.
"Li Mei, that's a natural flame! Stay away!" Zhen Yunqi shouted with a stunned look as she saw her actions.
She knew how dangerous these flames were, and even if Ye Chen could hold on, it didn't mean Li Mei too. So, in her eyes, this was just throwing her life away.
Just as she was about to act, Li Mei waved her hand and suppressed the blue flame by herself.
After this, she didn't care about anything and hugged Ye Chen tightly.
"Senior brother, are you all right?" She enquired concern while her body emitted an extremely cold aura, forcing the ice flame out of his body.
Her special yin physique was after all a supreme grade, so there was no way a weak earth-grade flame would be able to handle this; hence, the flame was forced out by her.
Ye Chen knew what happened, and he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Xiao Mei I was refining this little thing; if you force it out of my body, then how will I do this?" he asked with an amused expression while gazing into her concerned eyes.