309: The Vanishing Fire

"That night, cold winds howled, and the chill cut to the bone."

"Suddenly—"

""Help, help me—!!""

""It's a Bizarre Spirit Body, it's a Bizarre Spirit Body...""

"Piercing screams rang out one after another from the other city districts."

"You knew that the Immortal Palace... was about to manifest."

"Everything that followed happened exactly as you knew it would: the floating city trembled, the ground cracked, Bizarre Spirit Bodies rampaged out, and the Immortal Palace manifested from beneath the earth..."

"The Three Great Factions joined forces to suppress the Bizarre Spirit Bodies, then forced the Loose Cultivators to carve out a path."

"In the end, Hu Yanfeng, Chen Yongxiu, and Huangfu Fenghua worked together to open the palace gates."

"You watched all of this with cold detachment."

"When the Three Great Factions drove tens of thousands of Cultivators inside to scout the path, you did not resist."

"Without even waiting for them to threaten you, you were the first to step into the Immortal Palace."

"Behind you, tens of thousands of Cultivators crowded in, trembling with fear as they followed."

"Hu Yanfeng looked at your back and nodded with satisfaction: "Not bad, you know how to read the situation.""

"Princess Huangfu Yu, however, frowned slightly and leaned toward Crown Prince Huangfu Hong, whispering: "Brother, do you feel... that person's back looks a bit familiar?""

""Does it? It just looks a bit punchable." Crown Prince Huangfu Hong replied earnestly."

"You walked in front, your gait casual and your posture composed, exuding an arrogant aura that screamed 'I own this road' and 'I don't care about anyone'—"

"It was indeed a bit punchable."

"After entering the main hall, everyone was stunned by the resplendent, intricately carved sight before them."

"You, however, acted as if you hadn't seen it, your figure flickering as you quietly darted toward a side passage."

"Regarding your actions, Hu Yanfeng and the others merely frowned without stopping you—among tens of thousands of low-level Loose Cultivators, the loss of one Nascent Soul Cultivator was insignificant."

"As you disappeared, hushed discussions drifted from behind: "That Senior just now... how did he act like he was returning to his own home?""

""Yeah, and the Three Great Factions didn't even stop him?""

""He is a Nascent Soul Cultivator, after all. It's normal for him to be a bit arrogant...""

"Meanwhile, you had long since passed through winding corridors and gone by palace after palace."

"When you saw the 'Array Hall', you didn't stop and continued deeper."

"It wasn't until the words 'Alchemy Hall' came into view that your heart couldn't help but leap with joy."

"You suppressed your surging excitement and walked quickly into the hall."

"The moment your gaze landed on the 'Ziyang Bagua Furnace' in the center—you suddenly stiffened."

"A chill shot up your spine, straight to your crown."

"The furnace was completely empty; there was no sign of the spirit of true fire you had expected."

"You used your Divine Sense to check repeatedly, but the inside of the furnace was truly empty."

""How could this be?""

"You had used your full movement technique all the way here, arriving first; logically, it was impossible for anyone to be faster than you."

"No... even if someone had gotten here first, they shouldn't have been able to take it."

"Otherwise, where did the spirit of true fire come from last time?"

"You clenched your teeth and confirmed it again and again—it really wasn't there."

"You quickly retreated out of the hall and looked up at the 'Alchemy Hall' plaque."

"A strong sense of unease washed over you like a tide."

""What on earth... is going on?""

"A thought suddenly flashed through your mind."

"No wonder there were no Restrictions around the 'spirit of true fire' back then."

"The only logical explanation was—that thing had been placed there by someone later."

"Thinking of this, the back of your neck turned cold, and your heart rate suddenly accelerated."

"You immediately used your movement technique, quietly leaving the Alchemy Hall and heading toward the direction of the Array Hall."

"At this moment, in front of the Array Hall, a group of people led by Ji Yunfeng was walking out with disappointed expressions."

"You cast a casual glance at Ji Yunfeng and the white-haired elder beside him: Liu Xuanyin."

"In the dark, you could almost conclude: the spirit of true fire must be related to him."

"Thus, you feigned frustration, shaking your head and sighing: "Sigh, there are Restrictions everywhere. It's infuriating.""

"When everyone saw you like this, their initial dejection and dissatisfaction eased slightly."

"Ji Yunfeng smiled at you: "Fellow Daoist, you left in such a hurry just now; I thought you had caught the scent of some treasure.""

""You flatter me," you said, waving your hand, "I can't even find where the herb garden is. This Immortal Palace... seems like it was built just to toy with people.""

"Ji Yunfeng just smiled, not paying you any further mind, and led the group to continue exploring forward."

"This time, you did not walk at the front, but fell to the inconspicuous back of the group."

"Meaty, in the crowd, glanced at you from time to time, then gently tugged on Nangong Xueyu's sleeve, whispering: "Sister Xueyu, look at that Nascent Soul Cultivator Senior. Does he seem a bit familiar?""

"Nangong Xueyu pulled Meaty back and said sternly: "Don't talk nonsense. Don't stare at Seniors.""

""Oh!" Meaty nodded, but still glanced at you from time to time."

"You shifted your gaze, not making eye contact with her."

"Could it be that Meaty recognized you?"

"You understood in your heart that after mastering the Illusionary Form Technique, only your appearance and voice changed, but it could not alter your gaze or behavioral habits."

"You wondered if you had some inadvertent habit that had been noticed by this sharp little one."

"But what you didn't know was—you were a Spotless Sword Body, and she was also a Spotless Sword Body."

"Therefore, she would vaguely feel a special resonance and familiarity with you."

"Because she had not used the Illusionary Form Technique and you already knew it was her, you didn't pay attention to this subtle feeling."

"Although Meaty had her suspicions and guesses, she didn't say anything more, only occasionally grinning foolishly at you."

"You had no choice but to look around, deliberately feigning the appearance of someone who had never seen the world."

"But your eyes would occasionally sweep over the group at the very front, especially that—white-haired elder."

"Soon, your group arrived at the Alchemy Hall."

"This time, you keenly noticed that the first person to step into the Alchemy Hall was actually that white-haired elder, Liu Xuanyin."

"You suppressed your inner excitement and followed the crowd into the hall without changing your expression."

"When you saw that wisp of purple flame in the 'Ziyang Bagua Furnace', you immediately understood everything."

"Sure enough—it was Liu Xuanyin who had deliberately placed it there."

"The people in the hall began to clamor, all looking at the Bagua Furnace and that wisp of the spirit of true fire with greedy gazes."

"You also pretended to reveal a greedy gaze, staring straight at that wisp of the spirit of true fire."

"But this time you did not intend to act rashly, because you hadn't figured out what Liu Xuanyin's purpose was in doing this."

"You quietly observed the drama that followed—Ji Yunfeng had Fairy Zhiyun test whether there were any Restrictions around the flame."

"Subsequently, Ji Yunfeng personally snatched the spirit of true fire over."

"The next second, Ji Yunfeng opened his palm, and the flame burned quietly in his palm."

"He looked at the greedy crowd in the hall and said indifferently: "Unexpectedly, there is actually a wisp of the spirit of true fire here.""

""Everyone, this old man is not skilled in Alchemy, nor am I skilled in Artifact Refining. If anyone here can afford the price for this spirit of true fire, I am willing to cede it.""