The Eternal Saint of Alchemy

At the same time, his first-grade Tribulation Realm cultivation was steadily consolidating. On the day he emerged from seclusion, he casually unleashed a Thousand Mountains Fist, which struck the old locust tree without damaging the trunk in the slightest.

However, a charred mark appeared on the bluestone wall several feet behind the tree, indicating that the power of the thunder and fire had reached such a level.

Another half month later, another group of people arrived at Yuncang Mountain.

This time, more people came than ever before. Elder Shen came down the mountain in person, accompanied by only one attendant, without any pomp or circumstance.

After entering the Pill Tower, he immediately found Xiao Fan and said something that surprised everyone.

"In the Dry Bone Ridge outside Lingwu City, there is an ancient cultivator's cave. However, there is a layer of strange fire restriction at the entrance. The local cultivators of Lingwu City tried for more than two months but failed to open it. Instead, they lost seven or eight cultivators and barely managed to save their lives. They found the headquarters, and the headquarters found you."

Xiao Fan put down his teacup: "No fire?"

Elder Shen nodded: "The letter said that the flame is deep purple and extremely hot, but there is no leakage, as if someone deliberately imprisoned it in a restriction."

According to the Lord of Lingwu City's assessment, this seal is at least an innate spiritual fire. Few within a thousand miles can break an innate spiritual fire restriction. As the successor of the Taixu Pill Saint and possessing the Creation Fire, the Alliance wishes to invite you to come over.”

The monk Gu Yuan smacked his lips and said, "Is the Alliance treating this kid like free labor? I haven't even thanked him yet."

Elder Shen looked at him, his expression unchanged, and said calmly, "The people of the Alliance are never given away for free. If there is any harvest in the cave, Xiao Fan can receive 30%."

Furthermore, the Alliance Leader will also create a spiritual vein on the back mountain of Yun Cang Mountain for him to cultivate for ten days. The concentration of spiritual energy in the vein is at least three times higher than outside, which will greatly benefit his consolidation of his Tribulation Realm cultivation.

Xiao Fan put down his teacup, lost in thought.

He had seen the location of Dry Bone Ridge on the map; it was to the west of the Great Qing Empire, opposite to Yan Yuan, and it would take a month to travel there and back.

The strange fire restriction in the ancient cultivator's cave was both a test and a trial for him.

"I accept," he said, standing up. "We'll set off tomorrow."

Elder Shen left behind a letter requesting assistance and a simple map before returning to the sect.

That evening, when Xiao Fan was packing his things, he took the Thunderfire Token with him.

Although the journey is not far, it's best to bring some self-defense items to assess the conditions inside the ancient cultivation cave.

Early the next morning, Han Fei packed everything into the carriage, muttering, "This time, I finally got my revenge. I cultivated the spiritual vein for ten days. Brother Xiao, you must seize this opportunity and strive to break through as soon as possible. Then we can also benefit from it."

Gu Yuan kicked him from behind, signaling him to shut up, then jumped onto the handlebars and sat in the driver's seat.

The carriage traveled westward for two days before finally entering the territory of Lingwu City, where the surrounding scenery became increasingly desolate.

Dry Bone Ridge truly lives up to its name; it's covered in withered, hard weeds, with only occasional glimpses of grayish-white rocks that, from a distance, really do resemble a pile of bones.

The city lord of Lingwu City had made arrangements beforehand, sending people to guard this place. The newcomer was a young man dressed in dark green, who introduced himself as Zhou, a guest elder of the city lord's mansion.

He led Xiao Fan and the others on a journey of more than half an hour through the mountains, until they arrived at a cliff that was almost entirely covered by vines and loose rocks.

There is a crack in the center of the mountain wall, from which a faint purplish-black light shines. The light is deep and mysterious, as if a purple eye is sealed in the stone wall.

Zhou Keqing pointed to the gap.

Two months ago, a herb gatherer accidentally discovered this place and reported it to the city lord's mansion.

The city lord dispatched three teams to investigate. The first two teams retreated before reaching the barrier, and one member of the third team attempted to fight back with spiritual fire but was severely injured by the backlash and is still not fully recovered. We were desperate and had no other choice but to ask the main alliance for help.

Xiao Fan stepped forward and probed it with his divine sense.

The deep purple flames clung tightly to the inner wall, neither expanding nor contracting, as if meticulously calculated.

He carefully sensed it, his brows furrowing slightly. The nature of this flame was somewhat similar to the Black Fire Sect's techniques, possessing both yin and yang qualities with intense heat. Although both were different flames, this one was much purer than the flames of the Black Fire Sect disciples. Clearly, the person who set up the formation was far more skilled than the Black Fire Sect's spies.

"Elder Gu, if I haven't come out within two hours, use the barrier-breaking talisman to force it open." After saying this, Xiao Fan turned around and disappeared into the narrow crevice.

After walking a few more steps, the view suddenly opened up, revealing a stone chamber about two zhang in diameter.

Deep purple flames spread from the walls of the stone chamber, turning the space into a hazy twilight.

In the very center of the stone chamber, there was a tightly closed bronze box. The box was plain, with only a purple crystal the size of an egg embedded in it, which emitted bursts of strange fire as a protective barrier.

Xiao Fan crouched down and slowly released the Creation Flame. Two flames, one red and one purple, stood silently facing each other above the box.

Under the pressure of the Creation Fire, the purple flame first throbbed violently, then slowly contracted, like a wild beast being suppressed, and finally silently retreated back into the crystal.

With a soft "click," the lid of the copper box came off.

Xiao Fan wasn't in a hurry and opened the box directly. He first scanned it with his divine sense to make sure there were no traps inside before carefully lifting the lid.

Inside the box was a yellowed, ancient silk scroll, covered with the intricate depictions of mountains and rivers, more complex than the nine pagodas.

At the very bottom of the painting, there was a line of small characters. By the firelight, Xiao Fan recognized the characters, which resembled the handwriting of the Grandmaster of the Void: "The Purple Fire lineage originates from the Yin. Although the moon has gone out, the flame remains. If you see this silk, you will know that there are still gaps between heaven and earth."

As I gently stroked the sentence with my fingers, a heavy feeling welled up inside me.

The Yin energy has been suppressed by the Nine Towers for hundreds of years, but according to the Taixu Dansheng, the Nine Towers only sealed the great calamity back then, and the "unsealed gap" is still hidden in some unknown place.

The purple flames in the stone chamber had completely died down, and the stone walls had returned to their original color. Xiao Fan rolled up the sheepskin, put it in his pocket, closed the bronze box, and left.

Outside the crack, Zhou Keqing breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing him emerge unharmed. Xiao Fan shook his head and said, "We'll talk again after we return to the city."

The city lord hosted a banquet, but Xiao Fan had no appetite.