Reaching the pinnacle from Doupo

Chapter 593 Consideration, Competition Among Prodigies

"My synthesized Azure Ice Flame is no less powerful than your Bone Spirit Cold Flame, is it?!"

As if to prove his point, Lin Yuan opened his right hand, and then with a thought, a ball of icy blue flame rose in his palm, with strange fluctuations rippling outwards.

The old doctor gave a bitter smile to himself, "It's more than just not inferior!"

The moment he came into contact with the strange fire's fluctuations, the bone spirit cold fire within his body trembled.

"You're being too modest!" The old apothecary stared at the Azure Ice Flame for a moment, then sighed softly, "In terms of power, this flame is probably among the top five on the list of strange flames, isn't it?"

"Just how many Daoist flames did you incorporate into this synthesized strange flame?!"

"Moreover, unlike its previous state where the aura was somewhat mixed and its components could be vaguely sensed, the aura of this fire is now completely unified and perfectly formed. It seems that you have been optimizing the secret method of synthesizing strange fires over the past few years!"

"Senior has a good eye." Lin Yuan nodded slightly and said frankly, "This Azure Ice Flame has been infused with sixteen kinds of fire... It took me quite a bit of effort."

"Ten...sixteen kinds? You're not kidding, are you?"

Upon hearing this answer, Yao Lao was also taken aback... Although it was a child fire rather than a strange fire, the quantity was still too astonishing.

In all his years, he had never seen so many different kinds of strange flames.

Seeing this, Lin Yuan smiled slightly, a hint of anticipation flashing in his heart... He was only missing six different kinds of sub-flames—Void Devouring Flame, Pure Lotus Demon Flame, Flame of Life, Tortoise Spirit Earth Flame, Yin Yang Twin Flames, and Profound Yellow Flame—to condense the Emperor Flame Sub-Flame.

If things go well, we might be able to obtain several more rare types of different fire elements.

Even so, the Azure Ice Flame, which has now fused with sixteen seeds of fire, is no less powerful than ordinary Void Flame at its source, and is comparable to the Golden Emperor's Burning Heaven Flame.

It's not surprising, because the Emperor Flame, after fusing twenty different flames, has the ability to devour the Void Devouring Flame.

Lin Yuan was still quite curious about whether the complete Emperor Flame Sub-Flame could rival the Void Devouring Flame and the Pure Lotus Demon Flame in their original forms.

Gathering his scattered thoughts, Lin Yuan looked at Yao Lao and continued, "Synthesizing a different kind of fire means you can't separate the sub-fires, so it will attract far less covetousness!"

"Moreover, since it is formed by the fusion of multiple flames, the synthetic strange fire has many special characteristics and is a natural fighting fire... If it can be raised to the top ten or even the top eight level, it will also greatly enhance the fighting power of the Dou Sheng."

"If a deal can be struck, I will gift you a synthetic flame, a flame that is no less powerful than the Bone Spirit Cold Flame and has excellent growth potential."

"Compared to the original, natural flame, the secondary flame is much easier to collect!"

"With your senior's status and connections, if you plan carefully, I believe you can collect some different flames and integrate them into a combined different flame to enhance its power."

"Changing your flame will not weaken you, senior; on the contrary, it will strengthen you."

"The pills and formulas to help you break through to the second-star Dou Sheng realm, plus a synthetic strange fire, are my price for the Bone Spirit Cold Fire."

"Furthermore, I can exchange one of my synthesized strange flames for Xiao Yan's Wind Fury Dragon Flame... For him now, whether it's for combat or alchemy, the Wind Fury Dragon Flame, ranked eighteenth, is probably not enough, right?"

"In a battle at the Dou Zun level, the bonus that the eighteenth ranked Strange Flame can provide is barely worth mentioning."

"These are all the bargaining chips I can offer. I believe you can see my sincerity, and I hope you will consider this matter carefully."

After speaking, Lin Yuan said no more and handed the time over to Yao Lao, waiting for his decision.

On the other side, upon hearing the detailed and extremely tempting conditions, a hint of struggle and wavering flashed in Yao Lao's eyes. He gently tapped the stone table with his fingers and fell into deep thought.

In his mind, emotions and reason were constantly clashing.

On a rational level, the conditions Lin Yuan proposed were indeed very sincere, and they were all things that he and the Four Directions Pavilion needed, which could solve his immediate problem; but on an emotional level, Bone Spirit Cold Fire was a companion who had been with him since childhood, and he could not bear to part with it.

In the courtyard, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, and sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating dappled patterns of light and shadow...

Lin Yuan watched as Yao Lao fell into deep thought, but he didn't rush to urge him. He simply sat quietly to the side, his eyes filled with indifference.

The old doctor's choice is not important!
Offering generous terms in exchange was Lin Yuan's attempt to achieve the best of both worlds, and it was also a gesture of goodwill from him as a "friend".

However, if Yao Lao, this "friend," rejects this kindness, then the "friendship" will be diminished, and the other party will then have to face the methods of Yuan Tianzun.

Lin Yuan acts with a results-oriented approach, and will stop at nothing to get what he needs. He will not really give the other party the power of choice. However, if he can achieve his goal, he does not mind "taking a loss" and getting what he needs in a mutually beneficial way.

With a calm smile, Lin Yuan picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and the aroma of the tea spread in his mouth, making him feel unconsciously more relaxed.

After a moment, the old apothecary slowly withdrew his gaze and looked at Lin Yuan again.

“Young Lin, the conditions you have offered are indeed very tempting and sincere, but the Bone Spirit Cold Flame has been with me for many years, and I find it difficult to make a decision for the time being… Wait a few days, and I will give you a definite answer after the Pill Gathering ends.”

"I will also relay this matter to Xiao Yanzi in detail, and give you a reply at that time."

“Okay!” Lin Yuan nodded, then reminded him, “But as a friend, I still have to remind Senior Yao not to let momentary emotions cloud your judgment.”

"If you can't even protect yourself, then whatever you cherish most may fall into the hands of your enemies."

If, as he suspected, Yao Ziyouguo harbored ambitions to seize Xiao Yan's Wind Fury Dragon Flame, then the Yao Clan's actions at the Pill Gathering should shatter Yao Lao's wishful thinking.

For this reason, Lin Yuan didn't care about the other party's delaying tactics.

On the other side, when Yao Lao heard Lin Yuan's reminder, he was also slightly taken aback. "This..." In his mind, the scene of the Soul Palace obtaining the Bone Spirit Cold Flame and Yao Wan Gui using the Bone Spirit Cold Flame flashed subconsciously.

In an instant, his face turned ugly at a speed visible to the naked eye.

After a moment, the old doctor shook his head heavily, shaking off the unpleasant image from his mind, and said solemnly, "I understand, thank you for the reminder!"

Lin Yuan waved his hand, then slowly stood up.

"That's good. I'll go take a look at the 'Gathering of Prodigies' and won't disturb your peace any longer." After a brief farewell, he moved and transformed into a streak of light, flying out and cutting through the sky towards the northwest of Saint Pill City.

Watching the light disappear into the distant sky, Elder Yao let out a long sigh, his brows furrowed, and slowly rose to his feet, pacing back and forth in the courtyard.

"Bone Spirit Cold Flame... a deal... sigh..."

A soft sigh echoed in the tranquil courtyard.
-
The venue for the Heavenly Pride Competition is a huge plaza in the northern part of the inner region, called Saint Pill Plaza.

Half a month later, this place will also be the venue for the Dan Conference.

Not only are the rewards extremely generous, but the fact that the Pill Tower even used the Pill Gathering arena demonstrates the importance it attaches to the Heavenly Pride Competition!
No wonder, this meeting was part of the Danta's higher-ups' plan to control the discourse on the continent.

For this reason, Saint Dan Square had been exceptionally bustling recently, already packed with people several days prior. When Lin Yuan arrived, all he saw was a dense, seemingly endless sea of ​​heads, and a deafening clamor rose into the sky, spreading out in terrifying waves of sound that could be clearly heard for miles around…

Above the plaza, a massive spatial passage stretched across the sky, faintly reflecting a hazy world.

After several years of preparation, the rules of the Tianjiao Competition have become extremely detailed.

Following the rules of the Chu Lei Dian Yi competition, the Tianjiao Jingfeng competition will proceed through the following stages: preliminary rounds – top 32 – top 16 – top 8 – top 4 – semi-finals – finals.

All events will be completed within seven days.

Anyone under the age of thirty who has reached the Dou Zong level of cultivation can enter and participate in the preliminary rounds!

The first 32 people to emerge are the 32 finalists for the main competition.

The spatial passage in mid-air leads to an alternate dimension, which is the venue for the preliminary rounds in the Pill Realm—a specially created secret realm with many checkpoints to accurately select those with relatively strong abilities.

Turning his gaze away from the spatial passage, Lin Yuan looked around, searching for familiar figures.

Soon, his gaze settled on an excellent vantage point where the Canaan Academy group was located, along with Xiao Yan and other members of the Four Directions Pavilion.

"As soon as Yao Lao was untied, he stopped hiding it?" Lin Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the black-robed youth catching up with Wu Hao, Hu Jia, and others. He thought to himself, "It seems that Xiao Yan has long since given up on using a fake name!"

"That's not surprising. He's always been a passionate young man, so naturally he longs to become famous throughout the continent..."

In a grand, high-profile setting, after a hard-won victory, one becomes famous under a false name—this kind of "sophisticated" pleasure is something most people simply cannot accept.

"Boom-"

As I pondered, a clear, crisp chime suddenly resounded throughout the land.

The resounding chimes spread far and wide, suppressing even the deafening clamor, and the world became much quieter.

Countless eyes turned sharply and landed on a towering stone platform.

In an instant, the tranquil space on the stone platform suddenly distorted, and eleven figures, centered around the three giants, slowly emerged from that distorted space...

The moment the three appeared, the world fell completely silent.

In the seemingly endless sea of ​​people, countless gazes filled with various emotions were all focused on the three leaders.

The three giants of the Dan Tower are renowned figures even on the entire Dou Qi Continent. They usually exist only in legends, so their sudden appearance has left many people feeling incredulous.

The Second Heavenly Pride Competition actually allowed these individuals to appear in public? In the past, this would have been a privilege reserved for alchemy masters!

Does the Danta really value this meeting that much?!
Everyone, especially the many young powerhouses, felt a surge of excitement—this majesty that could silence heaven and earth was something countless people would pursue for a lifetime.

Xuan Kongzi, standing in the center of the crowd, glanced across the entire venue, then smiled slightly and took a step forward.

His gentle voice, accompanied by the powerful aura of a semi-saint, echoed throughout the entire venue: "I am Xuan Kongzi, and the Pill Tower welcomes all the geniuses who have arrived. In the next few days, this will be your stage to showcase your talents..."

Under the influence of this powerful aura, the entire place fell silent. Even the most unruly and fierce individuals restrained their ferocity and dared not make the slightest move.

Behind Xuan Kongzi, Xuan Yi and Tian Leizi exchanged a glance, a hint of helplessness flashing in their eyes.

My old friend's desire to show off his cultivation level couldn't be clearer!
"Since you have all traveled a long way to come, I will not waste any more of your time here. This conference..."

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Xuan Kongzi explained in detail the main rules of the upcoming competition for geniuses and the rewards at various levels.

As he recounted his story, the eyes of many young geniuses reddened.

Xuan Kongzi smiled slightly as he looked at those burning gazes. He then quickly waved his sleeve, and an invisible wave spread out, striking the void and producing a long, resonant chime.

"The time has come. All participants, please enter the preliminary round space. Only the first thirty-two to emerge will be eligible to participate in the main competition."

"I hereby declare the Heavenly Pride Competition... open!"

Xuan Kongzi's expression turned slightly solemn. He pointed to the silver passage in mid-air and announced loudly to the crowd.

As soon as the words were spoken, from the seemingly endless sea of ​​people, countless figures suddenly flashed out, then swept across the sky like locusts, before disappearing into that distorted space...

Only then did everyone realize that there was no shortage of Dou Zong under the age of thirty in Zhongzhou!
Below, on the viewing platform of Canaan Academy, Xiao Yan, Mu Qingluan, Lin Yan, Wu Hao, Hu Jia, and others also took to the air.

At the same time, Lin Yuan, who was standing in the void, had a thought, and a wisp of soul power flew out from between his eyebrows, covering the huge spatial passage.

The moment each participant passed through the passage, their aura and cultivation level were clearly detected by Lin Yuan without their knowledge.

"Are six out of ten low-level Dou Zong cultivators, ranging from one to three stars?"

"Wang Chen, Tang Ying... not bad. It seems they've benefited a lot since the Four Directions Pavilion merged. They've both reached the Four Star Dou Zong level in just over a year?!"

"This aura... is that Tang Huo'er? She inherited the Nine Dragons Thunderfire... Peak Dou Zong cultivation, very impressive!"

"Mu Qingluan is also at the peak of the Dou Zong realm..."

"The aura of the Heavenly Nether Sect's 'Blood Evil Technique' belongs to their newly established young sect leader... an eight-star Dou Zong, not bad."

"Nalan Yanran has already reached the Seven-Star Dou Zong realm? Her progress is incredibly rapid, reaching the Six-Star realm in just one year. Could it be that she used the Flower Sect's empowerment method? Judging from her appearance, it seems she has been appointed as the Flower Sect's Young Master... Did Xiao Yan and Yao Lao help her?"

"Xiao Yan's cultivation level hasn't changed... it's the same as a few days ago, a two-star Dou Zun."

"Oh? Another Dou Zun, a one-star Dou Zun... Not bad, a genius from the semi-saint sect, Mingjian Sect?"

"Dou Zong, Dou Zong, Dou Zong... isn't there a Dou Zun?"

"Got it, another one-star Dou Zun. This attire, this aura... she's the current Holy Maiden of the semi-saint sect, Purple Cloud Valley. Her name seems to be... Zi Ling?"

"Battle Master, Battle Master, Battle Master..."

"Finally, another one. He's a two-star Dou Zun, from the Dou Sheng sect, Luo Yun Sect."

"Huh? A three-star Dou Zun has arrived. He looks a bit old, but his cultivation is indeed impressive... He can even fight Xiao Yan. He looks somewhat familiar..."

As if remembering something, a strange look flashed in Lin Yuan's eyes.

(End of this chapter)