Xiao Feng shook his head with a smile.
First, I'll earn your trust. After that, I'll figure out how to establish a proper connection between us.
He wasn't going to rush the process. A genuine Heavenly Flame was too precious, and its spirit was too intelligent, for him to treat the matter carelessly.
If the Life Spirit Flame willingly accepted him, he would welcome it as another companion and seek a way for their powers to coexist.
If not, he would respect its will rather than force it into submission.
For now, he was content to let the little cub sit on his lap and enjoy its medicinal pills.
After all, he had come to this valley searching for treasures.
He had never imagined that he might leave with a new companion—and perhaps the beginning of a path toward controlling three different Heavenly Flames.
Xiao Feng stroked the cub's head once more, his gaze turning toward the distant mountains.
Ancestor Xiao Xuan, you managed to control three Heavenly Flames through your strength alone. Let's see whether I can find my own way to accomplish something similar.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Thinking about his plans, Xiao Feng wasn't particularly worried about the possibility of being betrayed by either of the two flame spirits.
As for Xiao Long, the matter was even simpler.
Xiao Long was the Fire spirit of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame that Xiao Feng had received from his first master, the Beast Venerable. Through his own efforts, Xiao Feng had refined and nurtured the flame, establishing a connection with it and his body.
Their relationship was fundamentally different from the one between the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint and the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame.
He remembered how the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame had eventually turned against its master, despite the latter's extraordinary strength and accomplishments. That incident was a clear reminder that even the most powerful cultivators couldn't always guarantee the loyalty of a sentient Heavenly Flame.
However, Xiao Feng didn't believe the same situation would occur with Xiao Long.
After all, Xiao Long had developed alongside him, sharing a close connection with its master. Their bond wasn't based solely on strength or the threat of suppression. Xiao Feng had nurtured its spirit and treated it as a companion rather than merely a weapon.
Of course, he wouldn't become careless simply because of that connection. But as things stood, he had little reason to suspect Xiao Long would betray him.
As for the Life Spirit Flame, Xiao Feng was even less concerned about its potential threat.
Although it ranked fifth on the Heavenly Flames Ranking, its reputation wasn't built upon overwhelming destructive power.
In fact, among the ranked Heavenly Flames, the Life Spirit Flame was generally regarded as one of the least proficient in direct combat.
Its offensive capabilities couldn't compare with those of the flames renowned for their devastating power. In terms of pure destructive ability, it would probably struggle to match even some of the flames ranked around the fifteenth position, and its offensive strength might not be much greater than that of certain lower-ranked flames. Some exceptionally powerful Beast Flames might even rival it in direct combat.
Naturally, this didn't mean the Life Spirit Flame was weak.
The ranking of a Heavenly Flame reflected far more than its ability to destroy an opponent.
The Life Spirit Flame's extraordinary value lay in its unique properties, particularly its affinity with life energy and its potential benefits for medicinal herbs and alchemy. Those characteristics were precisely what made it so precious despite its comparatively limited offensive capabilities.
For Xiao Feng, who was already a Sixth-Rank Alchemist, such properties could prove more valuable than another flame capable of causing devastating destruction.
Moreover, the little cub had shown no hostility toward him. It had willingly approached him, accepted his medicinal pills, and allowed him to touch its head.
If anything, it seemed far more interested in enjoying his hospitality than fighting anyone.
Xiao Feng glanced down at the green cub, which was now comfortably settled on his lap.
He smiled faintly.
You're ranked fifth among the Heavenly Flames, yet you seem more interested in medicinal pills than in displaying your strength.
The cub raised its head and wagged its tail.
Xiao Feng laughed softly.
"All right, little fellow. I have no intention of forcing you to do anything. If we're going to become companions, we'll take our time."
He gently stroked its head.
As long as we can establish a proper connection, your abilities might be exactly what I need.
His thoughts returned to Xiao Yi Xian.
The Life Spirit Flame's properties offered him another avenue to investigate in his efforts to help her control the Woeful Poison Body. He couldn't yet be certain that it would provide a complete cure, but its unique affinity with life energy made it worth exploring.
And if he could eventually establish a stable connection with the flame, he would gain something far more valuable than an additional source of combat power.
He would gain a companion whose abilities complemented his own.
Xiao Feng looked toward Xiao Long, who was still watching the green cub with lingering suspicion.
"Xiao Long, don't bully the little fellow anymore. It hasn't done anything to you."
Xiao Long let out an aggrieved growl.
"Roar..."
Xiao Feng merely shook his head.
"Don't look at me like that. You attacked first."
The little green cub, apparently unconcerned by their conversation, nudged Xiao Feng's hand again.
He looked down at it and sighed in amusement.
"Another pill? You're certainly making yourself at home."
Despite his words, he took out another medicinal pill and handed it over.
As the cub happily swallowed it, Xiao Feng leaned back and allowed himself a moment of relaxation.
He had no intention of repeating the mistakes of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint. Nor did he need to dominate every flame through brute strength.
If he could establish trust with the Life Spirit Flame and develop a suitable method of harmonizing their energies, that would be enough for now.
After all, the greatest advantage of possessing multiple Heavenly Flames wasn't simply having more destructive power.
It was learning how to use their different properties to complement one another.
And in that regard, the fifth-ranked Life Spirit Flame might prove to be one of the most valuable discoveries of his life.
The Life Spirit Flame's position at fifth place on the Heavenly Flames Ranking was not without reason. Its greatest strength lay not in its destructive power, but in its terrifying vitality and extraordinary ability to nurture life.
According to the knowledge Xiao Feng had remember from the original story, anyone capable of successfully refining the Life Spirit Flame would gain an astonishing advantage in terms of longevity. Although it did not grant absolute immortality, its tremendous life energy could greatly nourish the body and potentially extend one's lifespan.
However, that was only one of its many advantages.
For an Alchemist, the Life Spirit Flame was practically a priceless treasure.
Its most remarkable ability was to stimulate the growth of medicinal plants at an incredible speed without damaging their natural properties. Under its influence, ordinary seeds could grow into mature medicinal herbs in a remarkably short period, and the resulting herbs could retain medicinal efficacy comparable to those cultivated naturally over thousands of years.
In other words, as long as one possessed sufficient seeds and understood how to utilize the flame's power, the shortage of medicinal ingredients would become far less troublesome.
One could hardly imagine a more desirable ability for an Alchemist.
The Life Spirit Flame was therefore universally recognized as one of the most suitable flames for Alchemy among all the Heavenly Flames. For Alchemists who devoted their entire lives to refining pills, its value might even surpass that of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame and the Void Devouring Flame.
After all, destructive power was not everything.
A flame capable of nurturing medicinal herbs, preserving their properties, nourishing its master's vitality, and supporting the refinement of countless pills possessed a value that could not be measured by combat strength alone.
'I've really struck gold this time.'
Xiao Feng glanced at the little green creature beside him, and the corners of his mouth rose uncontrollably.
He had entered this secluded valley hoping to discover some precious medicinal herbs. Instead, he had stumbled upon the spirit of the fifth-ranked Heavenly Flame.
If word of this discovery spread throughout the Dou Qi Continent, countless Alchemists would probably go mad with envy.
'And there's another interesting detail.'
His expression gradually became thoughtful as he released his soul perception once more, carefully examining the surrounding valley.
The rich spiritual energy, the unusually vigorous medicinal plants, and the mysterious energy permeating the environment were already sufficient to demonstrate the Life Spirit Flame's extraordinary influence.
But as Xiao Feng concentrated on his surroundings, he noticed something else.
The speed at which his soul cultivation technique progressed in this valley was astonishing.
Previously, he had needed considerable time and effort to achieve noticeable improvements in his soul strength. Yet, whenever he cultivated his soul technique here, his progress seemed to accelerate dramatically. Compared with his previous cultivation sessions under similar conditions, his efficiency was more than twice as high.
'Is this also the influence of the Life Spirit Flame?'
Xiao Feng rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
The Life Spirit Flame possessed extraordinary life energy, and the valley itself was filled with an abundance of spiritual energy. It was entirely possible that the environment created by the flame was helping him cultivate more efficiently.
He could not yet determine whether the improvement came directly from the Life Spirit Flame, the valley's unique environment, or a combination of both.
Regardless, this was another unexpected benefit.
'It seems I'll have to spend more time here and investigate this properly.'
For now, however, he decided not to dwell on the matter.
There was something more important to attend to.
Xiao Feng lowered his gaze toward the little green creature, which was currently watching him with bright, expectant eyes.
The little fellow seemed to have completely forgotten the earlier confrontation with Xiao Long. Its attention was now fixed on Xiao Feng's hands, apparently wondering whether another medicinal pill might appear.
Seeing its innocent expression, Xiao Feng couldn't help but smile.
"You're really fond of medicinal pills, aren't you?"
The little creature immediately wagged its tail.
"All right, all right. I haven't forgotten about you."
Xiao Feng took out a small quantity of a pure wood-attributed resource he had prepared and carefully offered it to the little creature.
The moment it sensed the concentrated wood energy, its eyes lit up.
It hurriedly approached his hand and began absorbing the energy with obvious delight, its little tail swaying from side to side.
Xiao Feng watched it for a while before suddenly realizing something.
'Come to think of it, I can't keep calling it the little green creature or the little cub forever.'
Although it appeared as a small, horse-like creature covered in delicate green scales, its true identity was far more extraordinary.
It deserved a proper name.
Xiao Feng rested his chin on his hand and began thinking.
'What should I call it?'
He considered several possibilities, but none felt quite right. He didn't want something overly complicated, nor did he need a grand name that sounded intimidating.
After a brief moment, an idea suddenly came to him.
"How about Xiao Cai?"
The name was simple, easy to remember, and suited the little creature's green appearance.
"Xiao Cai," he repeated, looking directly at the little fellow. "From now on, that's your name. Xiao Cai."
At first, the little creature merely tilted its head, seemingly trying to understand what he meant.
Xiao Feng patiently repeated the name several times.
"Xiao Cai. Xiao Cai. Remember it?"
Perhaps because it had developed a certain level of intelligence, or perhaps because it could sense the meaning behind Xiao Feng's actions, the little creature gradually seemed to understand that he was giving it a name.
Its eyes suddenly brightened.
The next instant, it jumped into the air and began circling Xiao Feng excitedly, its small body moving about with astonishing agility.
"Xiao Cai! Xiao Cai!"
It seemed to be responding to its new name, repeatedly approaching Xiao Feng whenever he called it.
Seeing this, Xiao Feng laughed.
"Looks like you like it."
He reached out and gently patted its head.
Xiao Cai immediately rubbed its head against his palm, displaying an affection that made it difficult to believe that this adorable creature was actually the spirit of the fifth-ranked Heavenly Flame.
However, Xiao Feng wasn't the only one present.
A certain crimson dragon-phoenix was watching the entire interaction from nearby.
Xiao Long's expression was difficult to describe.
Not long ago, this little green creature had casually ignored its warnings and even repelled its attack. Now, its master was feeding the creature, giving it a name, and treating it as though it were a treasured little companion.
Worse still, Xiao Feng seemed to have completely forgotten that Xiao Long had been the first spirit to accompany him.
Xiao Long let out a low, dissatisfied growl.
Xiao Feng turned his head.
"What is it? Are you unhappy?"
Xiao Long raised its head slightly, its crimson scales shimmering beneath the sunlight.
It didn't answer, of course, but the displeasure in its expression was unmistakable.
Xiao Feng couldn't help but chuckle.
"Don't be jealous. You're still my first companion."
Hearing that, Xiao Long's expression softened a little.
Then Xiao Feng added, "Besides, Xiao Cai is going to be part of our group from now on. You should get along with it."
Xiao Long turned its gaze toward the little green creature.
Xiao Cai, seemingly unaware of the complicated feelings between the two spirits, looked back at Xiao Long with innocent curiosity.
After a moment, it cautiously approached the crimson dragon-phoenix.
Xiao Long remained still, watching it.
The two spirits possessed fundamentally different natures.
Although the Ten Thousand Beast Flame had been Strengthen from beast fires and its essence was closely connected to the power and characteristics of Magical Beasts. Xiao Long had inherited much of that nature, and its temperament was naturally different from that of the Life Spirit Flame.
The Life Spirit Flame, on the other hand, was a genuine Heavenly Flame born naturally between heaven and earth. Its essence was deeply connected to life, growth, and the nurturing of living things.
Their origins and inherent characteristics were simply too different for them to become close immediately.
Xiao Cai appeared to have no difficulty accepting Xiao Feng's intentions. Xiao Long, however, couldn't adjust quite so quickly.
Nevertheless, Xiao Long understood its master's thoughts.
Because of its connection with Xiao Feng, it could sense the meaning behind his words and actions more clearly than an ordinary creature could.
This was no longer an outsider whom they needed to guard against.
From Xiao Feng's perspective, Xiao Cai was going to become one of their own.
And if that was the case, then Xiao Cai would naturally become its junior.
Xiao Long stared at the little green creature for a moment longer.
Perhaps it was because the Ten Thousand Beast Flame represented the culmination of numerous beast fires. Perhaps it had learned something about companionship through its long journey alongside Xiao Feng. Or perhaps its experiences while accompanying Xiao Feng through the Magical Beast Forest had gradually influenced its way of thinking.
Whatever the reason, Xiao Long eventually seemed to reach a decision.
It straightened its body, raised its head proudly, and then turned toward Xiao Feng.
Next, it lifted one of its forelimbs and struck its chest in a gesture that looked remarkably like a declaration of responsibility.
Its expression seemed to say:
Don't worry, Master. Leave the little one to me!
Xiao Feng stared at it.
He blinked once.
Then he blinked again.
'Wait... What are you trying to tell me?'
He understood Xiao Long's intentions well enough through their connection, but seeing the proud little dragon-phoenix puff out its chest and act as though it had suddenly become a responsible senior was still rather amusing.
"You want to look after Xiao Cai?"
Xiao Long immediately nodded, its eyes shining with confidence.
Xiao Feng was momentarily speechless.
He had expected Xiao Long to remain jealous for a while longer. Instead, the little fellow had apparently decided to accept Xiao Cai as one of their own and had even taken the initiative to assume the role of its senior.
'Well, that's certainly a development I didn't expect.'
He looked between the crimson dragon-phoenix and the little green creature.
Xiao Cai was still happily absorbing the pure wood-attributed energy, occasionally glancing toward Xiao Long with curiosity. Xiao Long, meanwhile, stood beside Xiao Feng with its chest puffed out, looking extremely pleased with itself.
Xiao Feng couldn't help but laugh.
"All right, all right. I'll leave Xiao Cai in your care."
He paused, then added with a slightly teasing smile, "But remember, you were the one who attacked it first. Don't bully your junior just because you're stronger."
Xiao Long's confident expression froze.
It let out an aggrieved growl, clearly protesting that it had only attacked because the little green creature had ignored its warnings.
Xiao Feng simply smiled and patted its head.
"Good. Then we're in agreement."
Xiao Long lowered its head slightly, though it still looked somewhat wronged.
Watching the two spirits, Xiao Feng felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
Their origins, personalities, and powers were different, and there was no guarantee that they would become close companions anytime soon.
Still, Xiao Feng was perfectly willing to let things develop naturally.
He had no intention of forcing either spirit to accept the other.
If Xiao Long eventually learned to treat Xiao Cai as a genuine junior, and Xiao Cai came to trust Xiao Long in return, that would be more than enough.
After all, he wasn't merely collecting flames for the sake of increasing his combat strength.
He wanted to understand them, nurture them, and discover how their different powers could complement one another.
And if that process also gave him two little companions who could occasionally surprise him with their unexpected behavior...
Well, that was hardly a bad outcome.
Xiao Feng looked at Xiao Cai, then at Xiao Long, and shook his head with a helpless smile.
"Honestly, the two of you are going to give me plenty of trouble in the future, aren't you?"
Xiao Cai responded by happily jumping around his feet.
Xiao Long, unwilling to be left out, moved closer to Xiao Feng's other side and raised its head proudly.
Seeing their reactions, Xiao Feng laughed again.
For the moment, he was content to let them enjoy themselves.
There would be plenty of time to investigate the mysteries of the Life Spirit Flame later.
And judging by Xiao Long's determined expression, he might also have gained an unexpectedly enthusiastic senior who was already preparing to look after its new junior.