manynovel 290. Showing Identity
290. Showing Identity
Mu Que and Chen Wei's explanations already indicated that this task was not simple, since it used to require a different kind of fire to complete.
Surprisingly, the five members of the White Patrol were also filled with confidence. All five were alchemists of the seventh rank or higher. Flames, soul power, and medicine cauldrons were the foundation of an alchemist's livelihood. The flames they possessed were not ordinary beast fires, and most importantly, they had come prepared.
Bai Xun confidently replied, "If it's just a test of the quality of the flame, I believe it won't disappoint Clan Chief Mu. I just wonder if there are any other requirements."
Mu Que shook his head and said, "There are no other requirements. All thirty volcanic crystals are connected by an array. As long as one of them is charged, the energy can be transmitted to the entire array."
Then Chen Wei raised his hand, and all the volcanic crystals rose from the ground, floating in mid-air. The centers of all the volcanic crystals were connected by a pale white energy thread, one of the effects of this formation. The energy threads eventually converged above the spiritual spring, where a white sphere appeared to be the core of the formation.
Chen Wei then addressed the group, saying, "Masters, the core bead changes color according to the energy within the array, changing into five colors: white, yellow, light red, bright red, and dark red. The deeper the color, the more abundant the energy within the array."
Mu Que smiled and said, "This great formation is charged every three years. In previous years, Valley Master Tang Zhen of Burning Flame Valley used the Nine Dragons Thunderfire to make the great formation reach a bright red color."
Mu Que's seemingly unintentional remark was actually putting some pressure on the group. The importance of this great formation to the Tianluan Clan was self-evident. If the group did not charge the formation to a certain level, they would not be able to leave with the Tianluan Clan's generous rewards without any qualms.
Bai Xun smiled calmly, seemingly unaffected by Tang Zhen's performance: "Clan Chief Mu, please relax."
The group prepared to attack, but Xiao Yan remained completely unhurried. Since the quality of flames had been mentioned, even the five people before him combined couldn't possibly be his match. Tang Zhen's Nine Dragons Thunderfire ranked twelfth, already quite formidable, while Xiao Yan's Fire Lotus Heart Flame had fused three great different flames. In terms of quality alone, Xiao Yan believed that even the top five different flames might not all be of higher quality than his own.
However, Xiao Yan wasn't in a hurry, but Mu Xinyuan was anxious for him. Mu Xinyuan didn't know that Xiao Yan possessed a strange fire. He was just thinking that if Xiao Yan didn't join the group of five now, once they finished charging the formation, Xiao Yan would never have the chance to get the demon core he craved.
"Master Bai, having Xiao Yan join us will surely be a great help to you," Mu Xinyuan said at this moment.
Mu Xinyuan repeatedly recommended that Bai Xun and Huang Tu not only become impatient, but the remaining three also looked unpleasant. The team of five seventh-grade alchemists was confident that they did not need Xiao Yan's help at all.
"Elder Xinyuan, the five of us are all seventh-grade alchemists. We really don't know what we need Xiao Yan for. Could he possibly be of any help to us?"
After saying this, the five of them looked at each other and burst into laughter. Even a seventh-grade alchemist has his own pride! Just as they were laughing, Xiao Yan took out something that made their laughter stop abruptly. Huang Tu's small eyes widened suddenly, staring intently at the badge in Xiao Yan's hand.
Dan Tower Certification: Rank 7 Intermediate Alchemist Badge!
"Could a mid-level seventh-grade alchemist be of any help?" Xiao Yan said calmly.
At this moment, everyone in the Tianluan Clan couldn't help but gasp in astonishment. They found it hard to believe that Xiao Yan was so unassuming. Mu Qingluan looked at Xiao Yan's badge with undisguised admiration in her eyes. She had known for a long time that Xiao Yan was an alchemist, but she hadn't expected him to be of such a high level.
Mu Que looked at Mu Xinyuan with a hint of reproach. Since Xiao Yan was an alchemist of such a high level, he should rightfully receive the respect and attention of the Tianluan Clan. However, Mu Xinyuan had not informed Mu Que. Mu Xinyuan himself looked helpless at this moment.
A seventh-grade intermediate alchemist—even Bai Xun was only at that level. Huang Tu looked at Bai Xun with astonishment, while Bai Xun frowned, asking, "Why have I never heard of you before?"
Huang Tu, as if he had just realized something, immediately pointed at Xiao Yan and said, "Master Bai is from the Bai family of the Pill Tower, and I've never heard of you. Where did you get your badge?"
Huang Tu couldn't imagine that Xiao Yan could surpass him in alchemy at such a young age. He couldn't believe that the Pill Tower's badge was illegitimate, and he immediately suspected that Xiao Yan's origins were questionable.
Looking at the bouncing yellow picture, Xiao Yan took out a jade pendant from his storage ring. In the middle of the jade pendant was a "Dan" character written in a flamboyant style.
"This should prove the origin of my badge."
At this moment, everyone in the stone chamber was knowledgeable and recognized the jade pendant that Xiao Yan had taken out. This thing belonged to the Dan family, the number one family in the Pill Tower! Xiao Yan was actually a member of the Dan family! Huang Tu was also shocked and fell silent. He couldn't afford to offend the Dan family.
"How is that possible? Why wasn't there a single word leaked out? Why don't you have the surname Dan?" Bai Xun asked incredulously.
Xiao Yan replied calmly, "I'm not a member of the Dan family. I just want to verify the origin of the badge. I wonder if I can be of any help to you?"
Bai Xun, however, became hostile towards Xiao Yan because of the jade pendant. Even if Xiao Yan was not a member of the Dan family, the fact that he possessed the jade pendant indicated that he had a close relationship with the Dan family. The five major families of the Pill Tower were in a competitive relationship, and Bai Xun was unwilling to let Xiao Yan obtain even a single demon core.
"So what if you're a mid-level seventh-grade alchemist? You still can't help this time?" Bai Xun said coldly. Although Xiao Yan didn't want to cooperate with the five of them, he was still somewhat surprised, not expecting Bai Xun to be so stubborn.
Mu Que then kindly advised, "Master Bai Xun, as long as you all cooperate to perfectly charge the great formation, the reward is negotiable." Mu Que's implication was that Xiao Yan would not take away their share of the reward if he cooperated with the five of them.
Bai Xun said, "The five of us have already prepared a method to improve the quality of the flames. Even if Xiao Yan is a mid-level seventh-grade alchemist, he can't interfere."
"What method is so harsh?"
"Hmph, this is a technique of concentrated fire personally created by my master. It has been buried for many years, but it will reappear in the Tianluan Clan and will soon shock the continent!" Bai Xun was also extremely confident at this moment.
Mu Que hadn't expected Bai Xun to have such an extraordinary teacher, and judging from his tone, he wasn't a member of the Bai family of the Pill Tower. So he asked, "Which master of the Pill Tower is your esteemed teacher?"
Bai Xun glanced around at the crowd. He had been waiting for this opportunity to reveal his lineage, and Mu Que had clearly cooperated well with him.
"My mentor was once the most renowned alchemist on the continent!" Bai Xun's eyes seemed to gleam with confidence: "The Medicine Venerable, Yao Chen!"