Raise a sword!

With Chu Chun'an and Jiang Peng seeing them off, Manager Xiao and Master Feng left the Cangshan Sect.

After leaving the mountain gate, the two did not rush to go far away, but instead settled down in Cangshan Market.

Inside the inn's room, a subordinate delivered the information he had gathered to Manager Xiao.

After examining the item, Manager Xiao's face repeatedly showed surprise.

"Starting from humble beginnings as a rogue cultivator, he taught himself alchemy and caught the eye of a second-level alchemist from the Cangshan Sect, who then took him as a disciple. He even surpassed his master... This Alchemist Jiang is indeed extraordinary."

Shopkeeper Xiao handed the jade slip in his hand to Master Feng.

After reading it, Master Feng exclaimed, "He is cautious by nature. Although he has the talent, he acts steadily and without arrogance or impetuosity. He is a man who will achieve great things."

"His cultivation level is still a bit lacking." Manager Xiao shook his head and said, "Let's wait a bit longer. It's not difficult for someone like him to form his core. After he forms his core, we can invite him to be a guest elder of the Chamber of Commerce and slowly win him over."

"Fellow Daoist Jiang's alchemy skills are outstanding. That Glowing Radiance Pill is only a second-grade low-level pill, yet he was able to use the spiritual essence of heaven and earth to make it into a pill... Such a person will achieve great things no matter where he goes in the future, but he is also ambitious and may not accept being dependent on others or relying on their whims."

"What does it mean to be dependent on others and live at their mercy? Joining the Chamber of Commerce is clearly mutually beneficial. Being able to use one's talents in Zhongzhou is much better than wasting one's years in this Nanshan region."

"Aren't these words all the same?"

"Master Feng..."

"What advice do you have for me, sir?"

Shopkeeper Xiao's expression was complicated, as if he had a thousand words stuck in his throat, but when he really wanted to speak, he didn't know where to start.

In the end, all the words were condensed into just a few short words.

"From now on, talk less and refine more pills."

As he spoke, Manager Xiao seemed to remember something important and asked, "Did Alchemist Jiang really want the 'Spirit Flame Technique'?"

"Um."

"Didn't you try to persuade them?"

"Um."

"Did you try to persuade them or not?"

"Explanate the advantages and disadvantages."

Shopkeeper Xiao glared at Master Feng, then seemed to have thought of something amusing and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Although Senior Chilian's clumsy tricks have long been known throughout the Central Plains, they are rarely heard of in the Southern Mountain Region. Now that I have actually seen a fellow Daoist being deceived by the True Monarch's methods, I can't help but laugh when I think about the future situation."

"Unfortunately, there's no turning back now. Fellow Daoist Jiang will be blessed in the future."

...

A few days later, the Chamber of Commerce sent someone to deliver the "Lingyan Technique" to Jiang Peng.

Along with the cultivation technique came a rather exquisite ring. The ring itself was not particularly magical, but it was a symbol of the Hengtong Chamber of Commerce's VIP status.

With this ring, in addition to discounts when buying and selling with Hengtong Chamber of Commerce and its affiliated chambers, there are many other benefits.

Jiang Peng casually put on the ring, her gaze mainly focused on the cultivation technique she had just acquired.

"After so long in the Foundation Establishment stage, I've finally found a suitable cultivation technique."

Jiang Peng immediately began to go into seclusion to cultivate her martial arts.

The Spirit Flame Technique truly deserves to be called the complete version of the Golden Flame Technique. As soon as Jiang Peng began practicing it, he discovered that the two techniques originated from the same source and had many similarities in the operation and activation of spiritual power.

However, the "Lingyan Technique" is clearly more exquisite.

The transition process went very smoothly. In less than three days, Jiang Peng had completely mastered the "Spirit Flame Technique" and could use it freely.

"In the second stage of the Spirit Flame Technique, there are new changes regarding the transformation of spiritual energy into fire... This is exactly what I urgently need."

After seeing the advanced version, the original method of transforming spiritual energy into fire suddenly seemed incredibly crude to Jiang Peng.

Simply starting a fire out of thin air completely wastes the profoundness of this supernatural power.

In the "Lingyan Technique", spiritual energy transforms into fire in four colors: cyan, blue, red, and white.

Each of the four types of spiritual fire has a different effect.

Jiang Peng is most familiar with Qingyan, because Qingyan is the fire-transforming technique described in the "Golden Flame Manual," which he has long been able to use skillfully.

Several new variations have emerged.

Blue Flame's ability to suppress the divine soul.

The highest temperature is found in the Crimson Flame, making it easy to melt iron and refine gold.

The white flames, however, are like maggots clinging to the bone, difficult to extinguish.

Each of the four types of spiritual fire has its own use, and when used, it is no longer simply a matter of igniting the spiritual fire, but rather involves many variations, which gave Jiang Peng a refreshing experience.

It wasn't until half a month later that Jiang Peng finally managed to gain a basic understanding of the other three unfamiliar spiritual flames.

After truly discovering the many changes in the fire elemental root, Jiang Peng couldn't help but sigh.

"The senior who created the Spirit Flame Technique truly mastered the use of the fire spirit root... The cultivation method the Chamber of Commerce gave me is only at the third level. I wonder what kind of even more profound changes will occur at the fourth level."

Although she had never met the True Lord who created the "Spirit Flame Technique," Jiang Peng already felt immense respect for him.

...

Just as Jiang Peng was peacefully cultivating in the sect, the great war between Cangshan Sect and Chen Kingdom entered a new phase.

Early morning, on Biwu Peak.

Mei Jinhe was showing off the information she had obtained through her family's channels.

"Feiyan Tower has fallen. Our sect has suffered repeated defeats within the territory of Chen Kingdom, and several strongholds have been captured."

Su Zhi, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but retort, "You said it yourself that it was within the territory of Chen Kingdom, and those strongholds that were captured were originally seized by the sects."

"And you haven't even mentioned that Jade Pavilion Sword Pavilion and Illusionary Sound Sect have also joined the fray."

"And you haven't even mentioned that Jade Pavilion Sword Pavilion and Illusionary Sound Sect have also joined the fray."

Jiang Peng, who was wearing an apron and making dumplings, couldn't help but look at Su Zhi.

"Have the Sword Pavilion and the Illusionary Sound Sect joined the fray?"

"Yes, several Foundation Establishment cultivators from Sword Pavilion and Illusionary Sound Sect have appeared in Chen Kingdom in succession, and they have had mixed results with the Foundation Establishment cultivators from Flying Swallow Tower, so the situation has become deadlocked again."

This battle has been going on for almost two years. After Cangshan Sect gained the upper hand, it has managed to keep the battlefield firmly under control within the territory of Chen State despite several counterattacks from the Chen Clan.

Clearly, the Chen family, who had been at a disadvantage for so long, was starting to get desperate.

Jiang Peng recalled the news he heard at the sect's Foundation Establishment Conference yesterday, which said that the Golden Core cultivator of the Chen family might personally take action.

Once the Golden Core cultivator leaves the arena, it signifies that this great battle has entered a truly crucial stage.

The Cangshan Sect had been preparing for this moment for a long time.

At least a few days ago, when Jiang Peng was chatting with Wei Zhilan, Wei Zhilan revealed some secrets that the sect had never disclosed to the outside world.

For example, Master Shen had long since left the Cangshan Sect and his whereabouts were unknown.

If this person isn't in a sect, then besides hiding in the Chen Kingdom and waiting for an opportunity to act, Jiang Peng really couldn't think of any other possibility.

"Go cook the dumplings." Jiang Peng finished wrapping the last dough wrapper, picked up the plate of dumplings, and stood up.

Mei Jinhe immediately followed like a shadow, her face full of flattery.

"Senior brother, Junior Brother Su and I also want to go to the front lines to fight."

"If you want to die, just say so! Do you think our sect hasn't suffered any losses in the past two years? Two Foundation Establishment elders have already perished!"

"Oh well, like attracts like. We'll definitely take care of those Qi Refining cultivators from the Chen family. Don't worry, there's no danger."

Mei Jinhe took out a letter.

"My father agreed in the letter, you can see for yourself!"

Jiang Peng accepted the letter with some skepticism.

After Qin Yuan left, the relationships he had cultivated fell into Jiang Peng's hands.

This included interactions with the Mei and Su families of Nanlu.