Chapter 648 - 642: Furious Feng Miaoke

"What’s going on?" The sudden change shocked everyone present. An alchemist’s flame was like their third hand, but now, this "third hand" was disobeying their commands. The way the flames were behaving was just too bizarre.

Everyone’s gaze followed the direction the flames were kowtowing. In a corner of the stone platform, a young man in black martial attire stood casually. A flame of the deepest black pulsed slowly in his hand, exuding a soul-stirring beauty. The object of the flames’ worship was, incredibly, that pitch-black flame.

"This... This is the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian!" The Medicine Hall Elders watching from above could no longer contain themselves and shot to their feet. Even Yao Wuchen stared at the black flame in Shen Haoran’s hand, his face flushed with excitement and his eyes full of envy. The flame was a crucial part of alchemy. A good Flame Spirit Seed could allow an alchemist to achieve twice the results with half the effort and reduce the failure rate. In the hearts of all alchemists, the ultimate flame was naturally the Master of Ten Thousand Flames, one of the Heaven and Earth Spirits—the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian. This was because the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian was not merely a flame; it was also a life form possessing Spiritual Wisdom. Using the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian for alchemy could greatly enhance an elixir’s quality, making it the perfect choice.

However, as much as alchemists coveted the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian, it was one of the Heaven and Earth Spirits—a treasure that appeared only once in a millennium. Even if someone were to find it, no one would dare attempt its Refinement. The Fire Spirit Black Obsidian’s power was so terrifying that a single spark could instantly incinerate a person, to say nothing of guiding it into one’s fragile body. Yet now, they were seeing it in the possession of a youth from the Human Race. It was a true miracle! No wonder it could make all flames submit; even the Vermilion Bird’s Heaven-Burning Flame had to bow before it!

Of course, it wasn’t just the people from the Medicine Hall who recognized the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian; the Patriarchs of the Four Great Divine Beast Families and the Martial Artists in the crowd identified it as well. At that moment, their gazes upon Shen Haoran were filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred. After all, the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian was even more famous in the Cultivation Realm than in the Alchemy Realm. A Heaven and Earth Spirit—this represented the pinnacle of power!

The person with the most intense reaction was the Patriarch of the Vermilion Bird Race, Feng Qingwu. His gaze was locked onto the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian in Shen Haoran’s hand, his body trembling slightly from agitation. That was the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian—the treasure his Vermilion Bird Race had dreamed of for generations.

It was common knowledge that the current Four Great Divine Beast Families were merely other races flying the banner of the Divine Beasts. They were just Blood Phoenixes who happened to possess the Vermilion Bird Bloodline. To truly evolve into Divine Vermilion Birds, only two paths existed. The first was to find a Vermilion Bird Bloodline purer than their own. But on the entire Xingluo Continent, no race other than the Blood Phoenix Race was known to possess the Vermilion Bird Bloodline. The second path was to find the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian—the legendary flame said to have birthed the Divine Vermilion Bird. They could then use the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian to forge the bloodline within their bodies, purifying it into a true Vermilion Bird Bloodline!

Comparing the two methods, the Vermilion Bird Race had always been more inclined toward the first. After all, the Xingluo Continent was vast and teeming with people; they might just find someone else who possessed the Vermilion Bird Bloodline. As for the second method, the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian wasn’t something one could find simply by searching. Moreover, even if they found it, they had no way to complete its Refinement. So, they had automatically dismissed the second option. But now, the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian was right there, brazenly displayed before him. How could he not be thrilled?

’I have to get it! I must get it!’ Feng Qingwu roared in his heart.

Meanwhile, on the stone platform, Shen Haoran felt the surrounding gazes of envy, jealousy, and hatred, and was at a loss for words. He was completely unprepared for this scene of all flames paying homage and becoming the center of attention. He had originally planned to keep a low profile and quietly finish concocting his elixir. But now, he was the focus of everyone’s gaze. Keeping a low profile was no longer an option.

Shen Haoran glanced down at the "culprit"—the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian. When his gaze landed on it, the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian pulsed cheerfully a few times, as if showing off. In response, Shen Haoran rolled his eyes and tossed it directly into his Pill Furnace.

With the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian inside the Pill Furnace, Shen Haoran completely masked its aura. The flames outside immediately settled down, resting quietly in their masters’ hands. It was a stark contrast to their previous frenzy. The other alchemists could only offer wry smiles. They had all heard of the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian’s reputation, but seeing it in person was truly something else.

Atop the four highest stone platforms, both Long Aotian and Yan Jue stared at Shen Haoran in astonishment. They never imagined Shen Haoran was hiding such a secret. He had refined the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian. That accomplishment alone was enough for any Sect Power or family to welcome him as a guest of honor. With the Talent to refine a Heaven and Earth Spirit, what more needed to be said? Both Long Aotian and Yan Jue felt thoroughly outmatched.

Feng Miaoke’s face, on the other hand, had become utterly grim. ’He stole my spotlight again! The center of attention should have been me! And he actually refined the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian... He’s just some alchemist from the Human Race, someone I wouldn’t even spare a glance for. What right does he have to possess a Heaven and Earth Spirit? It should all be mine!’

Feng Miaoke clenched her fists, her eyes blazing with jealousy. After a long moment, she finally snapped back to reality. ’This is the third round of the battle for Pill Emperor. I’ll use my own alchemy to defeat Shen Haoran right here. I’ll show him that even with the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian, he’s no match for me, Feng Miaoke! As for after the battle... both the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian and the Vermilion Bird Bloodline inside him will be mine!’

At this thought, Feng Miaoke suddenly felt a sense of relief wash over her. She shot a cold glance at Shen Haoran’s back as the Vermilion Bird’s Heaven-Burning Flame flared up in her hand once more. This time, however, the flame appeared much more listless than before, as if it was still terrified of the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian. Feng Miaoke snorted, tossed the flame into her Pill Furnace, and only then did the Vermilion Bird’s Heaven-Burning Flame return to normal.

At this point, everyone on the platforms had entered the preparatory stage of alchemy. The ambient temperature began to climb as they quickly finished the task of warming their Pill Furnaces. One by one, they took out the Spirit Medicines they had gathered. Although they knew this year’s Pill Emperor would certainly be decided among the four prodigies on the highest platforms, they still had to display their greatest skill and concoct the best elixir they possibly could. After all, this was the battle for the title of Pill Emperor, and they were under the watchful gaze of countless Martial Artists.

Somewhere on the platforms, a sinister gaze swept over Shen Haoran’s back, and the corners of an unseen mouth curled into a strange smile.

"Shen Haoran, you say? How interesting. In that case, I’ll have some fun with you all!"