Xiao Feng's smile gradually widened as the final pieces of the puzzle fell into place.
He had no doubts about his discovery anymore.
This seemingly harmless little creature was none other than the spirit of the Life Spirit Flame, ranked fifth on the Heavenly Flames Ranking!
The thought alone made Xiao Feng's heart pound with excitement.
Among the many Heavenly Flames recorded on the ranking, only a handful possessed distinctive colors that could help identify them. In particular, there were only two flames on the list whose characteristic appearance was associated with green.
The first was the Green Lotus Core Flame, ranked nineteenth.
The second was the Life Spirit Flame, ranked fifth.
Although color alone wasn't sufficient to establish a Heavenly Flame's identity, the other clues he had observed made the answer increasingly obvious.
First, there was the extraordinary abundance of medicinal plants throughout the valley.
The herbs here grew at a remarkable rate, and the spiritual energy was considerably denser than in the surrounding regions. Even when Xiao Feng had lived here with Xian'er, he had noticed how suitable the environment was for growing medicinal ingredients.
At the time, he had assumed that the valley possessed some unusual geographical advantage.
Now, however, he understood that the explanation might have been right in front of him all along.
The Life Spirit Flame was renowned for its extraordinary vitality and its affinity with life energy. If its flame spirit had remained here for an extended period, it would hardly be surprising for the surrounding environment to undergo such remarkable changes.
But that wasn't the only reason Xiao Feng had reached his conclusion.
His gaze shifted toward Xiao Long.
The little dragon-phoenix was still hovering nearby, its golden eyes fixed warily on the green cub. Its crimson scales glimmered with golden light, and the flames surrounding its body flickered restlessly.
Xiao Feng couldn't help but recall what had just happened.
Xiao Long's attack had been powerful enough to threaten even a Third-Tier Magical Beast. Yet when that same attack struck the green cub directly, the creature hadn't even attempted to dodge.
Instead, a green flame had appeared around its body and effortlessly reflected the attack.
There hadn't been the slightest sign of injury.
More importantly, Xiao Long's reaction itself provided another important clue.
The Ten Thousand Beast Flame possessed a strong deterrent effect against Magical Beasts. Its spirit had inherited this characteristic, and its intimidating aura could make many Magical Beasts instinctively wary.
Even Zi Yan, despite belonging to the Ancient Void Dragon race, sometimes found Xiao Long's intimidating presence uncomfortable.
The Ancient Void Dragon race was among the very pinnacle of Magical Beast bloodlines. Apart from exceptional existences such as the Dragon-Phoenix and the Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, very few Magical Beasts could stand confidently before such a powerful presence without feeling any pressure.
Yet this little green cub had displayed absolutely no reaction to Xiao Long's intimidating aura.
It hadn't retreated.
It hadn't shown fear.
It hadn't even stopped playing.
And when Xiao Long finally attacked, the cub had effortlessly neutralized the fireball as though the attack had been nothing more than a passing breeze.
There's no way this is an ordinary Magical Beast.
Xiao Feng looked at the creature with renewed astonishment.
The Life Spirit Flame was ranked fifth among the Heavenly Flames. Its position alone indicated just how extraordinary its power and properties were.
Although the little cub's current appearance was adorable and harmless, Xiao Feng had no intention of underestimating it.
After all, Heavenly Flames were among the most precious treasures in the entire Dou Qi Continent.
Even the weakest flame on the ranking could become the object of fierce competition among powerful cultivators, let alone one ranked fifth.
And now, one had practically fallen into his lap.
Xiao Feng rubbed his forehead, momentarily at a loss for words.
What am I supposed to do now?
He had come here to investigate the source of the valley's spiritual energy. He had never expected to discover a Heavenly Flame, much less one with such extraordinary properties.
For a moment, he didn't even know how he should approach the situation.
The Life Spirit Flame was undoubtedly a tremendous opportunity, but Heavenly Flames were not ordinary treasures that could simply be collected and taken away.
They possessed extraordinary power and, in some cases, their own intelligence and will. Obtaining one required far more than merely discovering its location.
Fortunately, Xiao Feng had already established a certain degree of familiarity with the little cub.
He had fed it several medicinal pills, and it had willingly allowed him to stroke its head.
That was at least a promising beginning.
However, as Xiao Feng continued thinking, another possibility suddenly emerged in his mind.
His expression changed.
Xiao Yi Xian!
The moment he thought of her, his excitement took on an entirely different meaning.
Xiao Yi Xian possessed the Woeful Poison Body, a constitution that granted her extraordinary potential but also threatened to consume her life if its poisonous energy could not be properly controlled.
Xiao Feng had been searching for a suitable solution for a long time.
His preferred target was the Ghostly Poison Flame, ranked twenty-first on the Heavenly Flames Ranking.
Unlike ordinary flames, the Ghostly Poison Flame possessed peculiar toxic properties. When manifested, it took the form of a butterfly, its delicate wings covered in faint purple flames. It was born from the fusion of unusual toxins and fire energy accumulated between heaven and earth.
Its unique nature made it an exceptionally suitable candidate for Xiao Yi Xian.
If she could successfully refine the Ghostly Poison Flame, its toxic properties might interact with the Woeful Poison Body in a way that would allow her to control her poisonous energy more effectively. The two might even neutralize certain harmful aspects of each other while enhancing her overall strength.
Of course, Xiao Feng couldn't guarantee that the process would completely cure her constitution. The Woeful Poison Body was far too complicated for him to make such a promise without further research.
Nevertheless, he believed the Ghostly Poison Flame offered one of the most promising paths toward helping her.
The problem was that finding a Heavenly Flame was never easy.
The Ghostly Poison Flame was ranked twenty-first, and its whereabouts were uncertain. Even with Xiao Feng's current strength and resources, discovering it could take considerable time.
But now...
His gaze slowly returned to the little green cub.
The Life Spirit Flame was ranked fifth.
Its extraordinary vitality and affinity with life energy might provide him with an alternative method of treating Xiao Yi Xian's condition.
Perhaps it could help suppress the dangerous effects of her constitution. Perhaps, with sufficient research and the right cultivation method, its power could even help her achieve a degree of control that he had previously thought impossible.
It was too early to draw any definite conclusions. The Life Spirit Flame's properties were different from those of the Ghostly Poison Flame, and he still needed to understand how its energy would interact with the Woeful Poison Body.
Even so, the possibility alone was enough to fill Xiao Feng with excitement.
If I can obtain the Life Spirit Flame and understand its properties, I might have another way to help Xian'er.
His heart warmed at the thought.
He had never forgotten the danger she faced, nor had he abandoned his determination to find a way to help her live without constantly worrying about the poisonous energy within her body.
If this discovery could bring him one step closer to that goal, then it was worth investigating with the utmost care.
The more Xiao Feng thought about it, the brighter his eyes became.
Finally, he could no longer contain his excitement.
He turned toward the little green cub and quickly approached it, practically unable to hide the eagerness on his face.
"Little fellow!"
The cub raised its head.
"Wuu?"
Xiao Feng crouched in front of it, his eyes sparkling as he examined its adorable appearance.
"So you're the Life Spirit Flame, huh?"
The little creature blinked.
It stared at Xiao Feng for a moment, then glanced at the medicinal pill still resting between his fingers.
"Wuu!"
Its tail began wagging again.
Xiao Feng's mouth twitched.
Of course. You're not interested in anything except food.
He took a deep breath, trying to restrain his excitement, and gently extended his hand toward the cub.
"Come here. Let me have a proper look at you."
The little creature didn't immediately approach.
Instead, it leaned backward slightly and studied him with an expression that seemed unusually cautious for such an adorable beast.
Its eyes moved from Xiao Feng's face to his outstretched hand, then toward Xiao Long, who was still glaring at it from a short distance away.
The cub's ears twitched.
It took a small step backward.
"Wuu...?"
Xiao Feng froze.
Only then did he realize how strange his own behavior must appear.
A moment ago, he had been calmly feeding the little creature medicinal pills. Now, he had suddenly rushed toward it with sparkling eyes and an expression of barely restrained excitement.
Even without understanding human expressions, the cub could probably sense that something had changed.
Xiao Feng coughed awkwardly.
"Ahem. Don't be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you."
The cub continued watching him suspiciously.
Xiao Feng slowly lowered his hand and forced himself to relax.
"Look, I even have another pill for you."
He held up the medicinal pill.
The cub's gaze immediately shifted toward it.
Its little nose twitched.
For a moment, it seemed to be struggling between its desire for the delicious pill and its suspicion of Xiao Feng's sudden enthusiasm.
Finally, greed won.
The green cub cautiously approached, stretched its head forward, and snatched the pill from his fingers.
It swallowed the pill in one gulp before retreating half a step.
Then it looked up at Xiao Feng again, its tail moving cautiously from side to side.
Xiao Feng couldn't help laughing.
"That's right. Take your time. We have plenty of time to get to know each other."
He gently stroked the cub's head once more.
This time, the little creature allowed him to do so, although it remained slightly wary of his increasingly enthusiastic attention.
Xiao Feng smiled.
The Life Spirit Flame... Who would have thought I'd encounter you here?
His gaze softened as he looked at the green cub.
And if there's even a chance that your power can help Xian'er, I'll do everything I can to understand it.
For now, however, he decided not to rush things.
The little cub clearly trusted him enough to accept his medicinal pills and allow him to touch its head. That trust was worth more than any reckless attempt to seize the Heavenly Flame by force.
After all, if he wanted to obtain the fifth-ranked Heavenly Flame, he would first have to understand its spirit.
And judging by the way the green cub was now eyeing his medicinal pills, Xiao Feng suspected that earning its favor might require considerably more than a few kind words.
He glanced at the remaining pills in his storage ring and let out a quiet sigh.
Well... there goes another portion of my medicinal pill collection.
Still, when he looked at the adorable little creature beside him, Xiao Feng couldn't bring himself to regret it.
If his luck had truly brought the Life Spirit Flame directly to him, then perhaps this was simply the price he had to pay.
And for Xiao Yi Xian's sake, he was more than willing to pay it.
As Xiao Feng watched the little green cub happily chewing on another medicinal pill, a new thought suddenly crossed his mind.
He had been so excited about identifying the Life Spirit Flame that he had almost overlooked another important detail.
Heavenly Flames could develop sentience and intelligence.
Generally speaking, the higher a Heavenly Flame ranked, the greater its potential to develop intelligence comparable to that of a living creature. However, this did not mean that lower-ranked flames were incapable of gaining sentience. They simply required more time, opportunities, and suitable conditions to develop their intelligence.
Xiao Feng knew this quite well.
After all, he was familiar with the original story.
In the Dou Qi Continent, there were several Heavenly Flames that had developed extraordinary intelligence, allowing them to think, react, and make decisions much like humans.
The first example that came to his mind was the Fallen Heart Flame, which was sealed within the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower at Canaan Academy.
That flame possessed remarkable intelligence and the ability to act according to its own instincts. It could even influence its surroundings in unusual ways, making it one of the most dangerous Heavenly Flames to deal with.
Then there was the Three Thousand Burning Flame, sealed within the Pill Tower's Star Region.
Unlike ordinary flames, it possessed an exceptionally strong will and had survived for countless years. Its intelligence was sufficiently developed that it could communicate and interact with others rather than merely behave like a mindless source of fire.
And, of course, there was the terrifying Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame.
Created—or rather, sealed by the arrangements left behind by the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint—the Demonic Flame Realm served as the prison for this extraordinarily powerful Heavenly Flame. Its intelligence and terrifying abilities made it one of the most dangerous existences in the entire Dou Qi Continent.
Yet, among all these examples, there was one particular Heavenly Flame that stood apart from the rest.
The Void Devouring Flame, ranked second on the Heavenly Flames Ranking.
Unlike the other flames whose movements were restricted by seals or whose power had been brought under someone else's control, the Void Devouring Flame possessed extraordinary intelligence and considerable freedom. It could think, scheme, and act independently, making it a truly formidable existence.
Of course, Xiao Feng knew that not every Heavenly Flame had developed intelligence to the same degree. Some possessed only rudimentary instincts, while others could think and behave almost like intelligent beings.
But the important point was that Heavenly Flames were not necessarily lifeless treasures waiting for someone to refine them.
Given sufficient time and the right conditions, they could become something much more.
And now...
Xiao Feng slowly lowered his gaze.
Sitting comfortably on his lap was a small creature covered in light-green scales, happily enjoying the medicinal pills he had given it.
The little cub raised its head, noticed him staring, and immediately wagged its tail.
"Wuu!"
It nudged his hand with its nose, clearly asking for another pill.
Xiao Feng stared at it for several seconds.
Then he looked toward Xiao Long, who was still hovering nearby with an expression that seemed deeply dissatisfied with the newcomer.
A strange feeling suddenly welled up in Xiao Feng's heart.
Just how absurd is my luck?
He already possessed a fire spirit, Xiao Long, which belonged to the Ten Thousand Beast Flame he had received from his master, the Beast Venerable.
Xiao Long had developed considerable intelligence and could express emotions and react to the world around him.
Yet the little creature currently resting on Xiao Feng's lap was an entirely different matter.
This was the spirit of the genuine Life Spirit Flame, ranked fifth on the Heavenly Flames Ranking!
Unlike the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, the Life Spirit Flame was a naturally occurring Heavenly Flame born from the energy of heaven and earth. It had developed its own sentience and intelligence over an unknown period, eventually manifesting itself in the form of an adorable, light-green cub.
Xiao Feng had never expected to encounter such a precious treasure in this secluded valley, let alone find its spirit willingly approaching him.
Now, the little cub was comfortably resting on his lap, wagging its tail and asking for more medicinal pills as though it were an ordinary Magical Beast.
Looking at the creature, Xiao Feng couldn't help but marvel at his extraordinary luck.
He had come to the valley searching for medicinal herbs and hidden treasures, yet he had unexpectedly discovered a genuine Heavenly Flame ranked fifth on the list.
And the most astonishing part was that its spirit seemed to have taken a liking to him.
Thinking about all this, Xiao Feng gradually developed a plan.
He lowered his gaze toward the little green cub resting on his lap. The creature was still licking the small wound on his finger, seemingly fascinated by the taste of his blood. Even after finishing, it continued nudging his hand, as though hoping to get another taste.
Xiao Feng raised an eyebrow.
"You really seem to like my blood, don't you, little fellow?"
"Wuu!"
The cub lifted its head and wagged its tail enthusiastically.
Seeing this reaction, Xiao Feng fell into thought.
Since you've already taken a liking to me, perhaps I can use this opportunity to establish a deeper connection with you.
He had no intention of harming the little creature. On the contrary, he wanted to take it under his wing and gradually build a relationship with it, just as he had with Xiao Long.
Of course, the situation was somewhat different.
Xiao Long was the spirit of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, which Xiao Feng had received from his first master, the Beast Venerable. Through his own efforts and the unique methods he had developed, had nurtured to its spirit to form.
The Life Spirit Flame, however, was a genuine Heavenly Flame with its own will and intelligence.
It wasn't something he could simply claim as his own.
If he wanted to establish a connection with it, he would first have to earn its trust and find a way to harmonize their energies without suppressing its intelligence.
Xiao Feng wasn't interested in turning the little creature into a mindless tool. He wanted a companion whose power could grow alongside his own.
If possible, I'd like to establish a connection between the Life Spirit Flame and my body, similar to the connection I have with Xiao Long.
His eyes gleamed thoughtfully.
If he could accomplish that, the Life Spirit Flame might become another source of power that he could draw upon when necessary. Its unique properties could also prove invaluable in his future research into medicinal pills, especially those involving life energy and the treatment of unusual constitutions.
However, he would have to proceed carefully.
The Life Spirit Flame was a genuine Heavenly Flame ranked fifth on the list. Its potential was extraordinary, and he couldn't afford to underestimate the risks involved in establishing such a connection.
Still, the idea of possessing another Heavenly Flame was undeniably tempting.
Xiao Feng couldn't help recalling Xiao Xuan, the legendary ancestor of the Xiao Clan.
n the original story, Xiao Xuan had controlled three different Heavenly Flames through his overwhelming strength. He had demonstrated that a sufficiently powerful cultivator could wield multiple flames, even without relying entirely on the special methods used by alchemists to refine and control them.
That memory had always fascinated Xiao Feng.
Xiao Xuan could control three Heavenly Flames through his strength alone. If I can develop my own method, perhaps I can achieve something similar one day.
He didn't expect to reproduce Xiao Xuan's feat immediately. After all, Xiao Xuan had stood at the pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent, and Xiao Feng's current strength was nowhere near that level.
But he could prepare for the future.
At present, he already possessed the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and its spirit, Xiao Long. If he could establish a suitable connection with the Life Spirit Flame, that would give him access to another genuine Heavenly Flame.
And if he eventually discovered a third flame that suited his needs, he might have the opportunity to control three different flames of his own.
Of course, there was an important distinction between wanting something and taking it.
Xiao Feng had no intention of pursuing every Heavenly Flame he encountered.
Several of the flames in the original story were deeply connected to Xiao Yan's cultivation path and his eventual pursuit of the Dou Di realm. They were not merely powerful treasures; they were essential parts of his growth and the opportunities that shaped his future.
Xiao Feng had no desire to interfere with those opportunities unnecessarily.
He had his own path to follow, his own people to protect, and his own goals to accomplish.
There were plenty of other opportunities throughout the Dou Qi Continent. He didn't need to take away the flames that were meant to play crucial roles in Xiao Yan's development.
Besides, his interest in acquiring additional Heavenly Flames wasn't solely about competing with Xiao Yan or imitating Xiao Xuan.
Each Heavenly Flame possessed unique properties. Some were particularly suited to refining medicinal pills, others excelled in combat, and some possessed characteristics that could be useful for studying life energy, toxins, or unusual constitutions.
For Xiao Feng, who was both a cultivator and a Sixth-Rank Alchemist, the benefits extended far beyond simply increasing his combat strength.
The Life Spirit Flame, in particular, might provide an alternative approach to helping Xiao Yi Xian control her Woeful Poison Body. Although he couldn't yet be certain that its life energy would offer a complete solution, discovering its properties could open up possibilities that he hadn't previously considered.
And that alone made it worth pursuing.
Xiao Feng looked down at the cub, which was now attempting to lick his finger again.
He gently tapped its forehead.
"All right, little fellow. Since you've taken such a liking to me, let's see whether we can become companions."
The cub blinked at him.
Then, apparently deciding that his finger was more interesting than his words, it nudged his hand again.
Xiao Feng couldn't help laughing.
"You're really something else. You don't understand a word I'm saying, do you?"
"Wuu!"
The cub wagged its tail.