C10 Spirit Flame Master!

Armed with these two items, Qiao Mao could forge the Spirit Flame Kindling and ascend to the rank of a true Spirit Flame Master.

Having secured his treasures, Qiao Mao swiftly descended the mountain and, under cover of night, made his way to the Zhang family estate.

Upon seeing Qiao Mao's ragged attire and the bloodstains, Zhang Tianbei was momentarily taken aback. He then chuckled with a hint of mischief, "Qiao Mao, you've got some nerve showing up. The major forces in Martial Sun City are all on the lookout for you."

"Really?" Qiao Mao replied with a slight smile, his tone nonchalant. "Patriarch Zhang, are you planning to turn me over to the Qin family for the bounty?"

"Nonsense. The Zhang family fears no one, least of all the Qin family," Zhang Tianbei retorted, slamming his fist on the table in a show of defiance. His expression then turned serious, "We may not fear the Qin family, but if you fail to deliver the Jade Spirit Pill, I'll have no choice but to deal with you myself. And then, those searching for you will be none the wiser."

"Rest assured, you won't have to resort to that. I'll have the Jade Spirit Pill ready within three days," Qiao Mao stated calmly. Now in possession of the Spirit Flame Kindling, the Fire Storage Bead, and the Ice Purity Pill, he had all he needed to become a Spirit Flame Master whenever he chose.

Zhang Tianbei's grip on his teacup was so intense that it shattered, spilling blood. Yet he paid no mind to his injury, his face etched with gravity. His breathing grew labored as he asked, "You're serious?"

Qiao Mao nodded earnestly. He was well aware of Zhang Tianbei's deep affection for Zhang Yu. It was Zhang Tianbei's unwavering support that had ensured Zhang Yu's position as the Young Lord of the Zhang family remained unchallenged over the years.

The chronic ailment that plagued Zhang Yu's leg had tormented both him and Zhang Tianbei for many years. Now, faced with a glimmer of hope, Zhang Tianbei was visibly moved, speechless, tears streaming down his face.

It took some time for Zhang Tianbei to regain his composure. He turned away, discreetly wiping the tears from his eyes before bursting into a hearty laugh. "Impressive as always. Have no fear. Cure Binn's leg, and you'll have my full support in whatever you need."

When Qiao Mao heard Patriarch Zhang's words, he felt a momentary softening in his heart. His father had ventured into Fallen Cloud Valley, and his fate was uncertain. Qiao Mao had no clue about his father's current condition.

Nevertheless, Qiao Mao swiftly regained his composure. He knew that he needed to grow stronger quickly if he was to have any hope of rescuing his father.

"Patriarch Zhang, please prepare all the ingredients for the Jade Spirit Pill and provide me with a secret chamber," Qiao Mao requested.

"Alright," Zhang Tianbei readily consented. "Use my cultivation chamber. It's a restricted area of the Zhang family. For many years, aside from Binn, you're the first to be granted access."

Without a word, Qiao Mao followed Zhang Tianbei into the secret chamber. Although small, the chamber was filled with Spiritual Energy that was tenfold more potent than the outside world, making it incredibly rich.

"Is this a Spirit Gathering Array? The Zhang family possesses such a hidden treasure?" Qiao Mao exclaimed, slightly taken aback. He now understood how the Zhang family had managed to maintain their standing in Martial Sun City without any powerful allies. This revelation solidified the Qin family's status as one of the Three Great Overlords, on par with the Qiao and Qin families.

"If the Zhang family lacked a solid foundation, we would have perished long ago," Zhang Tianbei stated with pride, clearly pleased with his secret chamber. The cultivation results here were ten times more effective than those achieved outside.

Qiao Mao nodded in approval; this was the perfect place for him to merge with the Spirit Flame Kindling. "Patriarch Zhang, while I am in seclusion, I ask that you look after my mother and uncle," he said.

"Rest assured. They will not be harmed," Zhang Tianbei replied with a solemn nod. He had, in fact, already arranged for protection for Zhen Gui and the others when the Qin family had issued a city-wide search for Qiao Mao.

As the secret chamber's door slowly closed, Zhang Tianbei's expression turned somewhat enigmatic. At that moment, a young man in a wheelchair appeared behind him.

"Father, Qiao Mao is shrouded in mystery. I can't quite figure him out," said Zhang Yu, furrowing his brow. He had been covertly observing Qiao Mao during the exchange with Patriarch Zhang but had gleaned nothing.

Zhang Tianbei gazed at the imposing, black door of the secret chamber, his expression growing solemn. "It's not just you who can't see through him; I can't either," he said. "This individual is not only a Spirit Flame Master but also has the ability to unravel the formation protecting this chamber. He's truly enigmatic."

Zhang Tianbei had suspected Qiao Mao was a Spirit Flame Master when he requested the herbs and access to the secret room. What he hadn't anticipated was the breadth of Qiao Mao's experience. His insights into formations were notable. He seemed less like a fifteen-year-old boy and more like an ancient sage who had lived for eons.

Moreover, Zhang Tianbei felt that Qiao Mao was shrouded in secrets. Despite his efforts to uncover the truth, Qiao Mao's real identity remained elusive.

"Should we look into the forces backing this Qiao Mao?" Zhang Yu pondered aloud.

Zhang Tianbei, however, shook his head and advised with gravity, "Binn, there are things we're better off not knowing. If we uncover them, it could spell grave danger for us—we could end up dead."

Upon entering the secret room, Qiao Mao quickly surveyed his surroundings before settling at the heart of the Spirit Gathering Array to commence the refinement of the Spirit Flame Kindling.

Releasing the Spirit Flame Kindling, a fearsome flame burst forth, consuming the Spiritual Energy around it. With minimal effort, Qiao Mao subdued the flame, restoring it to a stable state.

Next, Qiao Mao retrieved the Fire Storage Bead and the Ice Purity Pill. He fine-tuned his condition to its pinnacle, ready for the task at hand.

The initial step in refining the Spirit Flame Kindling was to process the Fire Storage Bead, a task Qiao Mao found trivial. He accomplished it with ease.

Then, he ingested the Ice Purity Pill. Instantly, a refreshing chill spread through him, rapidly lowering his body temperature. The coolness emanating from him caused the secret room's temperature to plummet.

Having refined both the Fire Storage Bead and the Ice Purity Pill, Qiao Mao's demeanor turned grave. He eyed the thumb-sized Spirit Flame Kindling in his hand, furrowed his brow slightly, and swallowed it whole.

The moment the Spirit Flame Kindling entered his system, Qiao Mao felt an intense burning sensation within. The pain was excruciating. Had he not taken the Ice Purity Pill beforehand, his internal organs might have been incinerated.

Despite the intensity of the pain, Qiao Mao rapidly channeled Spiritual Energy to envelop his organs, swiftly refining the Spirit Flame Kindling.

Enduring the excruciating process was essential for Qiao Mao; failing to become a Spirit Flame Master would leave him with no way to justify himself to Zhang Tianbei.

Qiao Mao spent the entire day engulfed in searing heat. His past life's experience proved invaluable, enabling him to eventually succeed in the refinement.

Upon successful refinement, Qiao Mao was visibly drained, yet his eyes sparkled with irrepressible excitement.

"Becoming a Spirit Flame Master is the key to my rapid ascent. Qiao Guang, and all of the Qin family, brace yourselves for my wrath."