The special techniques of Burning Flame Valley

The two of them sat down by the tea table near the window in the hall, through which the clusters of Lava Flowers could be seen swaying gracefully outside.

"Shen Wen... you said just now that you were interested in how I tried to fuse the Heavenly Flame?"

Tang Huo'er took the initiative to start the conversation. As she spoke, she somewhat awkwardly fiddled with the tea set on the table, attempting to brew tea for Shen Wen.

Although her movements weren't exactly clumsy, she was clearly not skilled in this art; the pots and cups clinked together with light, crisp sounds.

One could hardly blame her. As the Valley Master's only daughter, she possessed extraordinary talent but had also suffered a severe blow to her Origin Qi due to the backlash from the Heavenly Flame.

Valley Master Tang Zhen protected her like the apple of his eye; there was no need for her to handle ordinary chores, and her mind was entirely focused on Cultivation and recovery.

Shen Wen watched her slightly frantic yet serious appearance without rushing her, only nodding slightly. "Yes, I am a bit curious."

"After all, the power of a Heavenly Flame is violent; ordinary people avoid it at all costs, yet you have been close to it since childhood and even dared to attempt Fusion. Such talent and courage are rare to see."

Tang Huo'er finally pushed a cup of tea, which was slightly bland in aroma but steaming hot, in front of Shen Wen. She let out a sigh of relief before saying, "Actually... I can't explain the specific reason either."

"It's as if from my earliest memories, I've had an indescribable sense of closeness to that Nine Dragon Lightning Flame in the valley, as if it were an extension of my body, or perhaps... I was meant to be a part of it."

She frowned slightly, appearing to be reminiscing. "Father said this is due to our Bloodline. Although our Burning Flame Valley is a Sect, it is different from powers like the Ice River Valley; the line of the Valley Master has always been held by our Tang Family."

"And the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame... in a sense, can be considered the Bloodline symbol passed down through generations of our Tang Family."

Shen Wen picked up the teacup, his heart stirring at her words.

Using a Heavenly Flame as the core symbol of a Family Legacy?

This couldn't help but make him think of those ancient Emperor Clans, like the Yan Clan, which seemed to share similar characteristics.

His memory regarding the specific origins of the Burning Flame Valley's Legacy was a bit fuzzy.

But to be able to use a Heavenly Flame as a symbol of Bloodline continuation, the Burning Flame Valley's Old Ancestor was likely far from a simple Dou Zun or Dou Sheng.

"To use a Heavenly Flame as the core of the Legacy and remain prosperous through many generations, your valley's Old Ancestor was truly far-sighted and possessed heavenly means," Shen Wen remarked with a hint of inquiry in his tone.

Hearing him say this, Tang Huo'er hesitated for a moment before lowering her voice. "Actually... this isn't an absolute secret."

"Some ancient records within the clan have vaguely mentioned it."

"The founder of our line was known as the 'Burning Flame Ancestor.' A long, long time ago, he supposedly was... one of the five top experts on the continent."

Her voice grew even softer, tinged with uncertainty. "It's just that the later generations were unworthy and could never reach the heights of the Old Ancestor again, gradually leading to how we are today."

One of the five top experts on the continent?

Shen Wen's eyes flickered, immediately seizing upon the key point.

If he was from the same era as Gu Yuan, Hun Tiandi, and Xiao Xuan... then this Burning Flame Ancestor was a terrifying existence at the Peak of Nine-Star Dou Sheng at the very least!

No wonder the foundation of the Burning Flame Valley was so unique.

He remembered that in the original story, the Burning Flame Valley later seemed to join Xiao Yan's Alliance. It appeared that this Burning Flame Ancestor and the Xiao Xuan of back then likely had some interaction, or were even old acquaintances.

At this thought, Shen Wen's gaze couldn't help but fall upon Tang Huo'er again, his eyes becoming somewhat strange.

The descendant of a Peak Nine-Star Dou Sheng expert... was Tang Huo'er's extraordinary fire-attribute talent and unusual affinity with the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame truly just simple Bloodline inheritance?

Could it be... a game of chess laid out by that Burning Flame Ancestor across the long passage of time?

Just as those ancient Emperor Clans relied on the Dou Di Bloodline to pass down power.

Perhaps the Burning Flame Ancestor used his own original Cultivation Technique, combined with the characteristics of the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame, to have it pass through generations of Tang Family disciples for accumulation.

Ultimately hoping that in a certain generation, in a certain junior, it would trigger a special fire-based Physique comparable to or even surpassing an ordinary Dou Di Bloodline?

And Tang Huo'er might be that "fruit" finally welcomed after a thousand-year layout?

Thinking back to how Xiao Xuan gathered the entire clan's Bloodline back then, taking a desperate gamble to charge for the Dou Di rank with such fierce determination.

Then the Burning Flame Ancestor, who also stood at the Peak of the continent, choosing another more gentle yet similarly millennium-spanning way to pave the road for his descendants, seemed completely plausible.

Thoughts whirled in Shen Wen's mind, but he didn't show much on his face. He simply picked up the teacup, took a light sip of the plain-tasting tea, and a hint of realization and profound meaning appeared deep in his gaze as he looked at Tang Huo'er.

As Shen Wen listened to Tang Huo'er speak of the Burning Flame Valley's ancestral origins, although a desire to investigate that special Cultivation Technique—which likely originated from a Peak Dou Sheng expert—rose in his heart, his expression remained calm.

After all, asking for the "Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Transformations" earlier had already caused some friction between the two sides. To ask to see the core Legacy now would be pushing his luck. This matter would require another opportunity; for now, the most important thing was to first refine the fire bodhi pill.

Over the next two or three days, Valley Master Tang Zhen was busy gathering several rare main ingredients needed to refine the original eighth-grade pill. Shen Wen remained in the "Yan Xin Courtyard" to quietly deduce the details of the Pill Formula.

Tang Huo'er, on the other hand, would occasionally ask Shen Wen about news from the Pill Tower.

Sometimes she would simply drag him into a couple of sparring rounds.

Claiming it was to "stretch the muscles, lest Grandmaster Shen gets bored to death."

Shen Wen went along with her.

In their few simple exchanges, he did not use his true strength, only responding with Dou Qi at the level of an ordinary Dou Zong.

Yet it was enough to clearly perceive the exceptionally pure and majestic fire-attribute Dou Qi within Tang Huo'er's body, as well as her near-instinctive affinity and efficiency in mobilizing the fire-attribute energy in the surrounding world.

This was definitely not something that could be explained by simple talent or a special Cultivation Technique; it further confirmed his previous guess.

This girl's Physique was likely the fruit of the Burning Flame Valley's thousand-year layout, with deep-seated potential.

At noon that day, just as the two had finished a half-move in the courtyard, Valley Master Tang Zhen personally came looking for them, a look of relieved joy on his face. "Grandmaster Shen, the medicinal ingredients have all been prepared—three sets, all of the highest quality."

"The location for Alchemy has also been arranged and is ready for use at any time."

Shen Wen withdrew his stance and nodded. "Thank you, Valley Master Tang. Let's head over then."

Valley Master Tang Zhen led the way, with Shen Wen and Tang Huo'er following, as they walked toward the depths of the valley.

Passing through several layers of heavily guarded Formation gates, they arrived at an open platform located inside the belly of a massive dormant volcano.

The platform was polished from a single piece of dark red fire-resistant rock, and complex fire-gathering and stabilization Formations were engraved on the ground.

Besides the three of them, three Elders dressed in crimson Elder robes stood at the edge of the platform. Their hair and beards were all white, their breathing long and steady, and all were at the Peak Dou Zong level of cultivation.

Seeing Shen Wen's arrival, the three of them cupped their hands in unison, calling him "Grandmaster Shen." Their etiquette was considered polite, but their expressions carried a hint of scrutiny and a faint sense of detachment, without much warmth.

Shen Wen's gaze swept over them, and he understood the situation.

Tang Huo'er had mentioned in their previous chats that although the Tang Family had held the position of Valley Master for generations, an "Council of Elders" was established within the valley. This originated hundreds of years ago when a Tang Family Valley Master was headstrong and insisted on venturing deep into the Ice River Valley for revenge, ultimately meeting his end, which led to a temporary lack of successors in the valley.

At that time, several Guest Elders and Protectors with the most seniority and highest cultivation had temporarily deliberated on major valley affairs together, stabilizing the situation.

Over time, this formed the current Council of Elders, which acted as a slight check on the Valley Master's power, though it couldn't be called a major constraint; it was more of a continued tradition and oversight.

These three before him were likely figures with significant influence within the Council of Elders.

The previous obstruction regarding the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Transformations was likely the work of the Council of Elders, but it probably wouldn't have much effect as long as Tang Zhen insisted.

Shen Wen didn't mind this. He nodded slightly in return and said to Tang Zhen, "This place is excellent. During the Alchemy period, I must trouble Valley Master Tang to restrain the personnel; do not let anyone step into the range of the Formation to avoid interference."

Tang Zhen responded solemnly, "Rest assured, Grandmaster. This area has been designated a forbidden zone; without permission, not even a fly can enter."

Having said that, he looked at the three Elders. "Elders, let us withdraw to the perimeter and wait, so as not to affect Grandmaster Shen's concentration."

The three Elders looked at each other and said no more. They followed Tang Zhen and Tang Huo'er off the central platform and sat on stone chairs at the edge, yet their gazes still fell in unison upon the young figure who was about to open the furnace.