The First Venerable of All Paths

"Are you an alchemist?"

Chen Qing looked at Fang Xuan with a scrutinizing and wary gaze.

If the other party is indeed an alchemist, then he/she would pose a threat to me.

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuan nodded.

There's nothing to hide.

His purpose in coming here was to refine pills for Xiao Jinyu.

"How many tripods and how many leaves?"

Seeing Fang Xuan nod, Chen Qing's pupils contracted, and he said in a deep voice, "Can you pass the alchemist assessment?"

The alchemist assessment requires passing the certification of the Alchemist Alliance.

One leaf, one spice.

Chen Qing himself had a cauldron and two leaves embroidered on his chest, signifying that he was a second-grade alchemist.

"no."

Fang Xuan shook his head and added, "No need, as long as it can be used for alchemy."

"Didn't pass the Alchemist Alliance's assessment?"

Chen Qing's suspicious gaze lingered on Fang Xuan once again.

He looked at Xiao Jinyu and said, "Jinyu, could you have been deceived by him? How can someone who hasn't passed the alchemist exam prove he's an alchemist?"

"As long as it can be used for alchemy, that's fine."

Xiao Jinyu used Fang Xuan's words to answer Chen Qing's question.

"Jinyu, I'm just worried you'll be scammed."

Upon hearing Xiao Jinyu's words, Chen Qing immediately became anxious.

"As you know, there are quite a few people these days who use the guise of being alchemists to swindle medicinal herbs and other benefits. I..."

"Senior Brother Chen Qing!"

Xiao Jinyu interrupted Chen Qing, saying with slight displeasure, "You've overstepped your bounds."

Chen Qing's voice faltered.

He then remembered that Xiao Jinyu was the manager of Tianbao Tower.

Both in terms of status and vision, they far surpass ordinary people.

Will she be deceived?

However, the thought of Xiao Jinyu speaking up for that kid made Chen Qing feel very uncomfortable.

Xiao Jinyu ignored Chen Qing and looked at Old Man Jiang instead.

"Thank you for your help, Elder Jiang."

Old Jiang said, "Little Koi, have you thought it through?"

Xiao Jinyu nodded.

Old Jiang pondered for a moment, then looked at Fang Xuan carefully.

"Boy, since Little Koi believes in you, I can give you a chance."

Old Jiang said, "Come with me."

With that, Old Man Jiang turned and walked into Danlu.

Chen Qing glared at Fang Xuan and then followed him.

Fang Xuan and Xiao Jinyu exchanged a glance and silently followed behind.

As soon as he stepped into the alchemy hall, a scorching heat immediately hit him, and the intense heat caused the Yuan energy within Fang Xuan's body to begin to boil.

However, with a gentle rotation of the dantian within the body, these scorching energies were easily refined.

A beam of pure white light emanated from Xiao Jinyu, blocking out all the high temperatures.

"Young man, since you're an alchemist, you should be familiar with this, right?"

Old Jiang stood in front of a uniquely shaped furnace, which looked like an alchemy furnace.

Inside, flames were raging.

It is a fiery vein from the earth's core that has been drawn out.

"Earthfire igniter".

Fang Xuan said, "This item can transform the raging fire veins of the earth's core into controllable flames, making it convenient for alchemy."

Chen Qing pursed his lips and muttered, "Anyone could recognize this."

"but......"

Fang Xuan stepped forward and gently tapped the guide with his fingers, producing a dull sound.

"This is not an ordinary fire conductor."

Fang Xuan looked at Old Man Jiang and said, "If I'm not mistaken, this item is a weapon, isn't it?"

"what?"

Old Jiang looked at Fang Xuan in surprise and said, "You could tell that?"

"What's so difficult about that?"

Fang Xuan said, "This item contains divine soul power, and the method of inscription is the same as the method of weapon forging, so it is definitely a weapon."

"You also know the art of weapon crafting?"

A glint flashed in Old Man Jiang's eyes, and his gaze toward Fang Xuan seemed to hold a hint of anticipation.

"I only have a superficial understanding; I can't be considered an expert."

Fang Xuan said, "This junior never expected that senior would have such a wonderful idea, actually fusing the alchemy cauldron, the guide device, and the weapon into one furnace."

However, this resulted in a mixed quality of the cauldron, which was slightly better than the Heart Refining Cauldron that Fang Xuan used to refine the Spirit Nourishing Heaven Pill.

"Good eye!"

Old Jiang suddenly burst into laughter and said, "You rascal, you're the first person to see through the secrets of my forging furnace."

This statement proves that Fang Xuan's earlier words were entirely correct.

Chen Qing was completely stunned.

The teacher, this crucible, is actually a weapon?

Even he didn't know that.

He simply considered it a guide, also possessing the functions of an alchemical cauldron.

"Now I believe you do know how to refine pills."

Old Jiang stopped laughing and said, "However, as I just said, to refine the Three Fire Mystic Pill, you need three kinds of flames: Heaven, Earth, and Man. I only have Earth and Man flames here. As for Heaven flame, do you have it?"

As he spoke, Old Man Jiang stared intently at Fang Xuan.

There was expectation in those eyes.

But more often than not, there was skepticism.

Little Koi wasn't unaware of this, but since she had brought the other party here to see her, claiming she wanted to refine pills.

Could it be that this kid really possesses heavenly fire?

But after careful observation, Old Man Jiang did not sense any aura of flame on Fang Xuan.

It's either very well concealed, or it's completely absent.

"Teacher, what did you say?"

Before Fang Xuan could speak, Chen Qing sneered, "How could a mere Qi Gathering Realm kid like him possess a treasure as rare as Heavenly Fire?"

His words were full of sarcasm and contempt.

"Even I, a second-grade alchemist, haven't even mastered the most basic level of flame..."

"Hey!"

Before Chen Qinggang could finish speaking, a loud cry suddenly resounded throughout the Danlu.

The flames in the ground fire conductor, as if they had encountered a natural enemy, rapidly contracted, huddled limply at the bottom of the furnace, and looked as if they might go out at any moment.

Instead, golden-red flames reflected in their eyes.

"This, this is..."

Chen Qing stared blankly at the golden-red firebird on Fang Xuan's shoulder, completely stunned.

That golden-red firebird, though only the size of a fist, exuded a noble and arrogant aura, carrying an air of disdain for the world.

The flames on his body looked harmless, but they gave Chen Qing a terrifying feeling that they could burn everything in the world.

"Gulp!"

Chen Qing subconsciously swallowed, his muscles tensing, and managed to utter two words with difficulty.

"Heavenly...heavenly fire?"

He was unsure, but he dared not underestimate it.

"Boy, what kind of flames do you possess?"

Old Jiang didn't care about anything else and rushed straight to Fang Xuan, looking at the golden-red firebird as if it were a treasure. His voice trembled with excitement.

"Its shape resembles a divine bird, and its feathers are like those of a celestial phoenix. Could it be related to the Phoenix Clan?"

The phoenix clan's accompanying flames are all called celestial fire.

However, how could the divine fire associated with these legendary divine birds possibly have been passed down?

How could this kid possibly get it?

"Old Jiang has a good eye."

Fang Xuan smiled and said something that neither confirmed nor denied.

"Kid, you're so lucky, so incredibly lucky."

After a long while, Old Man Jiang finally sighed.

His tone was full of envy and sighs.

"The divine fire of heaven and earth will be obtained by those who are destined to receive it."

Old Jiang said, "It may seem like people are subduing the fire, but in reality, the fire is choosing people. It's something you can't ask for or envy."

This time, even Chen Qing couldn't feel the slightest bit of jealousy.

A naturally occurring, unique flame is not something everyone can subdue.

Especially for these heavenly fires, it's not something you can just subdue if you want to.

Instead, it was Heavenly Fire that chose you.

Fang Xuan deeply agreed with this.

The reason he was able to obtain the Undying Phoenix Flame was because that powerful phoenix clan member voluntarily gifted him the essence of the flame.

Even so, Fang Xuan almost died while refining it.

"Elder Jiang, with this fire, can we refine the Three-Fire Mystic Pill?"

Xiao Jinyu spoke at the opportune moment.

"Enough, more than enough."

Old Jiang was still examining the golden-red firebird, but the bird merely glanced at him casually before turning its head away to preen its feathers with unparalleled pride.

"only......"

Old Man Jiang said, "To refine the Three-Fire Profound Pill, it's not enough to just gather the three types of flames; you also need the cooperation of at least two third-grade alchemists."

The meaning is clear: they believe that even if Fang Xuan can produce Heavenly Fire, he cannot possibly be a third-grade alchemist.

"teacher."

At this moment, Chen Qing whispered, "If I use this fire, along with the help of the furnace..."

"Shut up!"

To everyone's surprise, Old Man Jiang gave a rebuke.

"The strange fire is the lifeblood of an alchemist; how can it be entrusted to the control of others?"

Old Jiang said in a serious tone, "Don't try to take the blame for this anymore."

"oh."

Chen Qing felt somewhat aggrieved. He simply wanted to help Xiao Jinyu refine pills; he had no other intentions.

After being reprimanded, he didn't say anything more.

"Mr. Jiang, you don't need to worry about that."

Xiao Jinyu said, "Fang Xuan can refine third-grade pills."

"You're a third-grade alchemist?"

Old Jiang's expression changed as he looked at Fang Xuan and said, "You really can't judge a book by its cover."

"You flatter me, Mr. Jiang."

Fang Xuan said, "Elder Jiang, it's about time. Shall we begin now?"

"Alright."

Old Man Jiang hesitated for a moment, then said, "However, little koi, I must warn you beforehand, the Three-Fire Profound Pill is not easy to refine, and if it fails..."

"It's good that Elder Jiang has done his best. If he fails, Jin Yu has nothing to say."

Xiao Jinyu looked at Fang Xuan and said, "Don't feel pressured."

Fang Xuan thought to himself: What pressure do I have?

If it fails, I won't be held responsible.

"Fang Xuan, I will be in charge from now on. Just follow my orders."

Old Jiang looked at Chen Qing: "Follow the method I taught you, operate the furnace, and assist from the side."

"Yes, teacher."

Chen Qing bowed respectfully.

"Thump!"

With a wave of his hand, Old Man Jiang sent a pill cauldron landing directly in the center of the pill-making workshop.

The alchemical cauldron had a ferocious appearance, like a lone wolf howling at the moon, exuding a chilling aura.

"Wolf King Cauldron, a high-grade fourth-rank alchemy furnace."

Old Man Jiang explained, "This cauldron was made from the remains of a half-step demon emperor, and it has a certain effect on enhancing the formation of pills."

"A fine alchemy furnace."

Fang Xuan's eyes lit up.

This alchemy furnace is of a higher grade than even a traditional fire-refining furnace.

That Heart Refining Cauldron is at most a mid-grade fourth rank.

"If you like, you can exchange it for heavenly fire."

Of course, Old Man Jiang was joking.

"Young man, I wonder how skilled you are at alchemy?"

Old Jiang reminded him, "So, let's start by refining the medicinal herbs to familiarize ourselves with their combinations. Is that alright?"

"no problem."

"Okay then."

Old Jiang made a grasping motion, and a ball of transparent flame appeared in his palm.

That restless feeling reached its peak at this moment.

"Earth Core Flame!"