Tang Huo'er

A clear, slightly husky female voice came from outside the door, carrying a hint of uncertain testing: "Is it... Grandmaster Shen?"

Shen Wen withdrew his gaze from the window, turned to the door, and reached out to pull it open.

Standing outside was an exceptionally tall woman.

She appeared to be about eighteen or nineteen years old. Her fiery red hair was not overly styled, simply tied back with a simple hairband, with a few strands falling casually, making her skin look even fairer.

She wore a red and black leather short skirt, a sleek and efficient design.

The upper part fit her body closely, outlining graceful curves, while the short skirt on the bottom reached just to her knees, revealing a pair of straight, slender legs with amazingly smooth lines.

Under the slightly dim light of the corridor, those legs seemed to have their own halo, symmetrical and full of power; they were indeed something that could firmly catch one's eye at first glance.

Different from Cao Ying's enchanting charm or Cai Lin's cold elegance, the woman before him displayed a kind of burning vitality and heroic spirit.

Her features were very well-formed, with a high bridge to her nose and lips of a natural crimson. At this moment, those bright eyes were looking at Shen Wen with a bit of curiosity and inquiry.

What made Shen Wen's heart stir slightly was that the aura faintly emanating from this woman was actually at the Peak Dou Huang level, and her Foundation was quite solid, not showing signs of being hollow or unstable.

At such an age, having such a level of cultivation was rare even in a power like the Burning Flame Valley, which was famous for fire control but did not specialize in accelerated Dou Qi cultivation.

Without a special Physique or an amazing Opportunity, it would be extremely difficult to achieve.

The key was that when he saw Tang Huo'er appear, the Flame Ancestral Symbol shook for a moment. This was the first time he had seen the Flame Ancestral Symbol react like this.

This Tang Huo'er must have a Physique that hasn't been discovered yet, at least for now.

At the same time, Tang Huo'er outside the door was also stunned.

Her father, Valley Master Tang Zhen, had only vaguely mentioned inviting a Grade 8 Alchemist Grandmaster from the Pill Tower.

He would arrive soon to refine the fire bodhi pill for her to resolve her backlash, and she was told to be respectful and simply call him "Grandmaster Shen."

In her mind, anyone who could become a Grade 8 Alchemist must be an elder who had immersed themselves in the Dao of medicine for decades or even centuries.

They would either be a white-haired, serious, and rigid old man, or a middle-aged man with a deep temperament who rarely smiled.

But the person before her... wore black robes, had a tall and straight posture, and his face was excessively young, even... dazzlingly handsome.

His complexion was healthy and clear, his eyes were bright, his nose was straight, and the corners of his mouth seemed naturally curved into a faint, half-smile.

Standing there, he didn't have a hint of old age about him.

This is a Grade 8 Alchemist?

Could it be some old monster who is good at maintaining a youthful appearance?

But the light in those eyes was clearly the clarity of a young man.

While Tang Huo'er was filled with doubt and muttering to herself, Shen Wen spoke first, his voice calm: "It's me. There's no need to call me Grandmaster, just call me Shen Wen."

He paused, his gaze lingering on Tang Huo'er's face for a moment, as if he had seen through her confusion.

He added a sentence, his tone as casual as if he were saying the weather was nice today: "My age should be similar to yours."

Tang Huo'er's bright eyes instantly widened a bit.

Similar?

Meaning... he's only about twenty?

A twenty-year-old... Grade 8 Alchemist?!

Even if her understanding of Alchemy was not deep, she knew exactly what this rank meant.

A giant of the Pill Tower, an existence the Burning Flame Valley needed to earnestly request help from... was actually a peer about the same age as her?

A sense of absurdity mixed with uncontrollable curiosity surged into her heart.

The respectful etiquette she had been forcing herself to maintain because of her injuries and her father's instructions could no longer be sustained at this moment.

She subconsciously leaned half a step forward, staring intently at Shen Wen's face as if trying to find some trace of an "old monster," and couldn't help but mutter: "Really... the same age? You... how did you refine it?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized it was inappropriate. Her cheeks warmed slightly, and she coughed lightly, retreating half a step to regain some of the poise a Young Lord should have, though the shock and inquiry in her eyes did not diminish at all.

Shen Wen took in her reaction and found it quite interesting.

This Young Lord of the Burning Flame Valley was much more straightforward and lively than her father, Valley Master Tang Zhen.

"A coincidence of opportunities, plus being somewhat hardworking," Shen Wen gave a universal answer, stepping aside from the doorway. "Shall we go in and talk? Or did Young Lord Tang just come to say hello?"

Tang Huo'er did indeed feel a moment of embarrassment.

If she were facing a highly respected Senior...

She could naturally maintain a very respectful posture, but the person before her was too young, and her habitual frankness made her unsure of how to behave.

However, this embarrassment came and went quickly.

She was naturally open-minded and soon became natural again. Remembering her father's instructions, she said: "Father asked me to take Shen... Shen Wen, you, for a tour around our Burning Flame Valley to get familiar with the environment. I wonder if you are free?"

Shen Wen had no reason to refuse and nodded: "That's fine, I was just about to see the sights of Burning Flame Valley."

The two then walked side by side out of the Yan Xin Courtyard, strolling along a stone path carved into the mountain.

The buildings in the core area of Burning Flame Valley were mostly embedded in the mountainside or built on relatively flat volcanic plateaus. Dark red igneous rock was the main material, creating a rugged and heavy style that blended with the scorching environment.

Along the way, many Disciples could be seen, either practicing Fire-attribute Dou Techniques in the open-air martial arts arena, stirring up waves of scorching air;

Or meditating in specific areas, absorbing the rich Fire-attribute energy in the air.

Many Disciples, upon seeing Tang Huo'er, would stop their actions or look over, respectfully calling out "Young Lord."

However.

When they noticed a stranger of similar age and extraordinary temperament following beside Tang Huo'er...

And that the two were walking calmly and seemed to be talking, their expressions became somewhat subtle.

Tang Huo'er was the recognized Genius of Burning Flame Valley, with exceptional talent and an outstanding appearance and figure. Coupled with her bright and fiery personality, she held a very high status in the hearts of the valley's Disciples, with no shortage of admirers.

It was just that Valley Master Tang Zhen was very protective of his daughter, and it was difficult for ordinary male Disciples to have the chance to be alone with Tang Huo'er.

Seeing this scene now, surprise, curiosity, envy, and even imperceptible jealousy flowed in the eyes of those young Disciples. The "attention" directed at Shen Wen was quite significant.

How sharp was Shen Wen? He naturally noticed these gazes.

He turned his head and gave a light laugh to Tang Huo'er, who was unconsciously looking at him more than usual, and said half-jokingly: "Miss Tang, it seems that after today, I'm afraid I'll become a thorn in the side of many young talents in your valley."

Tang Huo'er was a bit distracted.

For some reason, walking beside Shen Wen, she always had a strange, faint feeling of being attracted. It wasn't as straightforward as romantic feelings, but more like a subtle pull originating from the level of energy or Physique.

She initially thought it was the attraction of the Heavenly Flame aura, since Shen Wen possessed the Fallen Heart Flame.

But sensing carefully, it didn't seem right. Her father, Valley Master Tang Zhen, also controlled the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame, and she herself had come into contact with the Heavenly Flame Origin, but neither had ever given her such an... indescribable sense of compatibility.