STNS: Chapter 367 (Patreon)

Wu Jian did not doubt that Wu Meiying had put Zhe Dāozhe up to this. He didn’t know what she had done to convince the man, but perhaps he hadn’t needed too much convincing.

Joining the Heavenly Sword Sect would yield protection for Wu Jian as the sect was renowned for its martial prowess and ancient lineage. Even with the current trouble from the magical beast invasion that hit multiple nations, they were still the most powerful sect.

As a member, he would be granted shelter of the sect’s formidable influence and martial might, which would deter his--and by consequence, Wu Meiying’s--enemies from recklessly pursuing him. The Heavenly Sword Sect’s reputation alone would act as a deterrent, dissuading potential assailants who would hesitate to incur the sect’s wrath. Additionally, the sect’s vast network and resources could be called upon to provide Wu Jian with strategic advantages and secure havens, ensuring his safety against those who sought to harm him.

She really has thought of everything.

“Ha ha ha! Excellent! I look forward to seeing how much you can improve at my sect!” Zhe Dāozhe wore a friendly grin that seemed at odds with his sharp appearance. He chuckled a bit more as he glanced at Huo Huangdi and stepped back. “My apologies for interrupting the ceremony. I just couldn’t help but want to secure Jian Wu for myself before anyone else tried to snag him.”

Huo Huangdi must have been frustrated by the man’s lack of decorum, especially since he couldn’t actually do anything about it. The Xia Dynasty was the most powerful nation on the Xaio Continent. However, the Three Celestial Sects stood above them, and of them, the Heavenly Sword Sect was the strongest. It was no doubt galling for a man like Huo Huangdi to be forced into showing deference to another.

Yet the man merely nodded as though nothing was wrong. “It is fine. This isn’t quite like you, but I can tell you are excited to add a new member to your ranks.”

“I thank you for your understanding,” Zhe Dāozhe said with a polite martial bow.

Huo Huangdi coughed into his hand and resumed. “You ten are the most powerful elites and the pride of your respective nations. You have earned the right to enter the Realm of Sacred Flames. This is a mystical realm that has existed since before the Xia Dynasty was even founded. It is a place where powerful flames and intense spiritual energy are concentrated, offering opportunities for cultivation and body refinement.”

The Realm of Sacred Flames was actually something Wu Jian had learned about in his history classes with Wu Taohua, though there had been admittedly little information. Most of what he knew was that the Xia Dynasty was founded because of this realm. The Phoenix Clan had waged war and won thanks to the phoenix who had sided with them and given their family its blood to strengthen themselves. That was how the Xia Dynasty was founded.

“There are three layers that form a series of rings within the realm,” Huo Huangdi continued. “The Outer Layer is the least dangerous, but it is not without its dangers. You will come under threat from minor fire-elementals and magical beasts at the Human Limit Realm. As you move closer to the core, you will reach the Inner Layer, where the dangers escalate. It is home to far more powerful elementals and magical beasts. The weakest will be at the Deva Realm, but the strongest may be at Seeker Realm. However, it is the Core you must all be wary of.”

Huo Huangdi surveyed the young cultivators standing before him, his expression stern and uncompromising, as though trying to impart through eye contact how dangerous the Core was.

“Ancient and colossal fire beasts roam the Core. Their power rivals the strongest cultivators. Each one is at least at the Realization Realm. Not only are they more than a match for any one of you, but the intense heat and chaotic flames are powerful enough to put your lives at risk. I cannot recommend you go there.”

A few of the people present like Da Feiyu and Zhuan Lin gulped. Wu Jian thought to himself. Magical beasts and elementals could be salvaged for ingredients and parts to be used in alchemy, the creation of armor and weapons, or enhancing armor and weapons. While he didn’t think it would be possible to acquire parts from a magical beast at the Realization Realm, the idea appealed to him.

“Youmei, are you there?”

“Youmei is still here, Master.”

“Good. Stay inside my shadow for now. I have a feeling I’ll need you soon.”

“Um. Youmei will stay with Master.”

“We will now open the way to the Realm of Sacred Flames,” Huo Huangdi announced, snapping Wu Jian out of his thoughts.

Several Phoenix Clan elders moved to stand in position at the four corners of the Flame Sanctum. They moved in perfect synchronization, creating hand seals at a speed that astounded many of those present. As they performed the seals, a massive surge of chi erupted from all around them. Flames swirled up and danced in the sky. Everyone watched in awe as the dancing flames gathered around a single point.

The portal at the pinnacle of the Flame Sanctum stood as a mesmerizing and mystical gateway to the realm beyond. Crafted with a fusion of ancient artistry and fiery images, it exuded an otherworldly power that made Wu Jian feel a sense of caution. This had definitely not been created by the Phoenix Clan. It must have been here since before the clan’s founding.

All the flames dancing in the sky gathered within the portal’s heart, creating a swirling vortex of flames that looked like a liquid inferno. It was as if a piece of the realm it led to had been encapsulated within, casting reflections of molten lava, ember, and intense heat.

“Jian Wu, as you were the victor of the tournament, you may proceed first,” Huo Huangdi said.

Wu Jian nodded and was about to walk up the steps toward the portal when he paused, turned, and looked at Huo Yulie. She cast him a curious glance. He held out his hand.

“Shall we go?”

Huo Yulie’s eyes widened. Then she reached out and snatched his hand. He could not see her smile, but he knew it was there.

“We shall! Let us be off!”

Before the gobsmacked Huo Huangdi could say anything, Wu Jian and Huo Yulie raced up the stairs and leapt through the portal. The last thing they heard before entering was Huo Schuchang’s howling laughter and words.

“I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist my sister’s charms! Didn’t I tell you, Jian Wu?! My sister is the hottest!”

Fucking siscon, Wu Jian thought with a sigh as he and his companion disappeared.

***

Alchemy was the mystical art rooted in the interplay of fire and wood, two elemental forces that were harnessed to shape and refine the essence of matter into potent elixirs known simply as alchemy pills. Those rare few with both affinities were so rare in number that anyone with even a small affinity for each was all but forced to become an alchemist. The fire affinity that symbolized passion and transformation joined hands with the wood affinity that embodied growth and balance, facilitating an alchemist’s journey into the art of pill refinement.

Within the realm of alchemy, tiers were the ladder of ascension. An alchemist’s skil was ranked according to the complexity of the pill they could refine. Advancing to the next tier required not just mastery over their craft but also rigorous examination by the Alchemist Association, a culmination of theoretical knowledge and practical finesse. Those who displayed remarkable talent might even bypass their current tier if they proved their capacity to create pills of superior quality.

Pills, like crafted gems, came in a variety of grades. Low-grade pills wore the markings of their creation process. Their surface contained irregularities and many cloudy hues. Middle-grade pills, though of higher quality, still carried faint signs of their alchemical forging. High-grade pills shone with near perfection, a testament to the alchemist’s artistry. Existing in the realm beyond even that were pills that had acquired veins--an elevation to the mythical grade that propelled their power to unprecedented heights.

Just as pills were ranked, so too were the alchemists who refined them. Their rankings bore the names of noble metals, a tribute to their alchemical legacy. From humble Indium, representing the base, to radiant gold and the pinnacle, Platinum, each tier symbolized not just an alchemist’s skill but their journey of transformation.

Zhou Lihua was an Osmium Rank alchemist, which meant she refined pills that touched on the boundary of the extraordinary. The Nivana Soothing Pill and Low-Grade Regeneration Pills were fifth tier pills and examples of what she could refine. When she achieved Osmium Rank, refining the Nirvana Soothing Pill had been difficult. She could only refine it successfully one out of every ten times. The first time she’d refined it had been when she made it for Hou Jingshu’s father, and she realized after apprenticing under Yun Chi that her success had been pure luck. It took a long time of diligent study to be capable of refining it successfully every five out of ten times.

She had not given up, however, and continued to work hard at refining her craft. She had goals to meet. Zhou Lihua wanted to be useful to her friends and man. She wanted them to rely on her. That was one of the reasons she had decided to go on the path of alchemy instead of cultivation. Wu Jian, Wu Meiying, and Hou Jingshu were all talented cultivators. She had realized not long after she became a cultivator herself that they would eventually overtake her, such was their talent, and thus made the decision to become something none of them could. She had a talent for alchemy anyway. It had not been a difficult choice.

Zhou Lihua’s days in the Southern Tang Dynasty were suffused with an ambience that blended scholarly diligence with the vibrant energy of a lush, tropical landscape. This country was a haven for those who sought refinement in mind and spirit, exuding an air of tranquility and deep intellectual pursuit. This was a land where the rustle of ancient scrolls was as melodious as the songs of birds.

The only thing Zhou Lihua couldn’t deal with was the weather.

“It’s stifling again today…”

The Southern Tang Dynasty’s climate was much hotter than the Shang Kingdom, which had mild climate all year round, and its location in the south near the coast meant the humidity levels were so absurd that special libraries had been created to prevent books and scrolls from being damaged by moisture.

Most buildings in this nation reflected a style that harmoniously blended tradition, refinement, and practicality. Elaborate designs adorned the edifices, capturing the essence of a bygone era’s grandeur. Intricate carvings depicted scenes of mythical creatures, serene landscapes, and figures in contemplation. Many of the structures were elevated and had excellent ventilation. Stilted buildings with sloping and wide eaves could be seen from beyond her window, interspersed across a landscape covered in tropical plants and trees.

“Quit complaining,” someone else groaned. “I’ve been suffering here far longer than you.”

Zhou Lihua smiled at her companion. “My apologies.”

Lili Ling sat on the window sill opposite her, leaning back as she fanned herself, drops of sweat running down her face, neck, and collarbone. This woman was striking. Her alabaster white hair cascaded like a silken waterfall, a sigh as rare as a moonlit snowfall in this world. Eyes of vibrant crimson, reminiscent of precious rubies, were currently half-lidded in lackadaisical refinement. Her skin was as fair as the petals of a lily, an alabaster canvas that caught the light in a soft glow. Like Zhou Lihua, she wore the same apprentice robes.

“Haaaaah. Whatever. Are you ready for your test tomorrow?”

“I believe so, though I confess, I am a little nervous.”

“What’s there to be nervous about? You’ve already surpassed me as an alchemist and I achieved Iridium Rank easily.”

“I appreciate the vote of confidence.”

Her relationship with Lili Ling was strange. The woman had originally been a rival and taunted her constantly because of Cì Chuān’s unwanted advances on her. She at first thought the woman was jealous, but it had actually been her way of protecting Zhou Lihua. She had known about Cì Chuān’s foibles and sought to protect her the only way she could. Fortunately, that man was dead. He had died by Zhou Lihua’s very own hands. Now they were more like friendly rivals, constantly pushing each other to do better.

A young servant soon entered the room bearing a tray of tea and snacks. Food and drink in the Southern Tang Dynasty were always refreshing and lightly flavored to combat the heat. They consisted of fresh fruits, rice dishes, salads, and jellies made from local ingredients. The sweets being served called mango sticky rice, a delicate treat that combined the sweetness of ripe mangoes with the creamy richness of sticky rice enhanced with a hint of coconut milk. Accompanying it was lemongrass tea, which served to reset the palette.

“Thank you,” said Zhou Lihua.

The servant smiled, bowed, and left.

“You’re always so polite to the servants. Why is that?”

“Do I need a reason to be polite?”

“I guess not.”

Lili Ling dug into her bowl of mango sticky rice with gusto. Meanwhile, Zhou Lihua reached out for the tea, and yet, just as her fingers touched the handle, a cracking echoed around them. She pursed her lips and retracted her hand as a crack ran down from the bottom of the cup to the bottom.

“Dammit. Was this an old tea set?” complained Lili Ling. “Hang on, I’ll call the servant back up and replace it.”

“Thank you,” Zhou Lihua murmured as the woman stood up and left, her eyes never leaving the cup.

A bad premonition had etched itself inside of her heart.