C2 Heaven Fire

Upon reflection, Lee Mo pressed what appeared to be an ocular indentation on the tree. To his surprise, a hidden seam in the wood suddenly split open, revealing its true nature as a compartment. "This is indeed a box. Such Inferno Crates are a rarity, even within the palace walls. I'm curious to see what treasures it conceals." With a smile, Lee Mo effortlessly pried the crate apart.

The interior of the Crimson Lancewood had been hollowed out to house a small red jade box, no larger than the palm of a hand. The jade was translucent and shimmered with an antiquated hue.

Lee Mo gave a slight nod of approval, recognizing the box as a top-grade item. His attention was drawn to an enigmatic pattern etched into the center of the lid.

As he opened the jade box, a gleam sparked in Lee Mo's eyes. Instead of gold or silver, the crate harbored a sphere of white flame! The flame, no bigger than a fist, radiated a mystical starlight. It danced as if alive, independent of any breeze.

"This is Heaven Fire!" Lee Mo exclaimed, his voice tinged with astonishment. Few treasures in the world could stir such excitement in him, and Heaven Fire was certainly among them.

In alchemy, fire is the heart of the craft. Fires of the world are categorized into four levels: Mortal Fire, Mystic Fire, Earth Fire, and Heaven Fire. Mortal Fire is the common flame, born of kindling and easily found. Mystic Fire, Earth Fire, and Heaven Fire, collectively known as Strange Fire, are spiritual treasures capable of existing autonomously.

Lee Mo's past achievements were not only due to his mastery of the Celestial Flame Embodiment Spell but also because he possessed the Purple Earthfire, a supreme grade within the Earth Fire category. He had faced death and endured great trials to acquire it, investing immense effort to refine it to its ninth stage. Yet, with his death, the Purple Earthfire vanished.

Since his rebirth, Lee Mo often lamented the loss of his precious fire. Little did he expect that upon retrieving this box, he would find it contained Heaven Fire.

Possessing Heaven Fire laid the groundwork for ascending to the status of a Heaven Level Alchemist. His previous stagnation at the earth level was due to the absence of this celestial element.

This time, Lee Mo's luck was incredible!

After the initial rush of ecstasy subsided, Lee Mo regained his composure. He intently observed the Heaven Fire before reaching out towards it. Barely six inches away, he expected to feel heat but was met with a surprising chill instead.

Alchemy revolves around the mastery of fire, with the flame as its core. There are four tiers of fire in the world: Mortal Fire, Mystic Fire, Earth Fire, and Heaven Fire. Mortal Fire is the common flame born of kindling, easily found anywhere. Mystic Fire, Earth Fire, and Heaven Fire, however, are known as Strange Fires—spiritual treasures capable of existing independently.

Lee Mo's accomplishments in his previous life were not only due to his mastery of the Celestial Flame Embodiment Spell but also because he possessed the Purple Earthfire, a supreme grade among Earth Fires. He had faced life-threatening challenges to acquire this fire and had expended much effort to refine it to its ninth level. Yet, with his death, the Purple Earthfire vanished.

After his rebirth, Lee Mo often lamented the loss of the Purple Earthfire. He never imagined that upon retrieving this Inferno Crate, he would discover Heaven Fire concealed within. Possessing Heaven Fire is a prerequisite for becoming a Heaven Level Alchemist. His previous inability to advance beyond the earth level was precisely due to the absence of Heaven Fire. This time, his luck was extraordinary!

After his initial elation subsided, Lee Mo calmed down and gazed intently at the Heaven Fire. As he reached out, he felt no warmth from the fire, only a slight chill. Upon closer inspection, Lee Mo noticed a faint mist of cold hovering above the flames. "There are countless Strange Fires. This appears to be a type of fire and ice, where extreme flames give rise to icy cold," Lee Mo deduced.

After a brief moment of thought, he decisively extended his finger a mere half inch closer. As if drawn to his fingertip, the fire and ice drifted towards him and, upon contact, the entire flame surged into his finger. Lee Mo braced himself for the onslaught of pain.

To refine pills with Strange Fire, one must first internalize it. The degree to which the Strange Fire harmonizes with the body directly impacts the pill refinement process. Back when he had acquired the Purple Earthfire, already a level four martial artist, he endured the agony of the fire scorching his flesh as he absorbed it. Now, with the acquisition of Heaven Fire and his current level of cultivation, he faced a perilous risk of death.

However, if he could integrate the Heaven Fire into his system sooner, he would be able to synchronize his body with it more quickly, paving the way for even greater future achievements than before. As the fire and ice melded into his body, Lee Mo felt searing heat and intense cold spread through his arm simultaneously. In an instant, he was trapped in an icy abyss, yet also plunging into a fiery chasm.

The fusion of ice and fire caused excruciating pain, as if countless hands were tearing his body apart. His consciousness teetered on the brink of collapse under the relentless agony. Through gritted teeth, Lee Mo persevered, maintaining the lucidity of his Spirit Platform. He simultaneously employed the Fire Refining Spell, guiding the Heaven Fire towards his abdomen.

In that moment, pain washed over him like a tidal wave, with every nerve in his body relaying an endless torrent of torment, as if he were subjected to innumerable tortures. The discomfort Lee Mo experienced from taking the Abyss Pill paled in comparison to what he endured afterward. "No matter the difficulty in taming the Heaven Fire, I must prevail," he resolved, clenching his jaw with determination. He channeled the Heaven Fire into his abdomen and sealed it with sheer willpower.

Once he adjusted to the Heaven Fire's presence, he could harness it to reach new heights of power. However, the Heaven Fire began to grow upon entering his body, feeding off his strength to mature. If the Heaven Fire reached a certain level of growth, it would gain the instinct to lash out. Lee Mo knew he had to enhance his own strength swiftly or risk being overwhelmed and perishing.

After several days, with the aid of three Abyss Pills, Lee Mo successfully strengthened his bone root to a normal level. At daybreak, he set up a wooden stake in the courtyard, grasped his sword, and subtly performed the Celestial Flame Embodiment Spell. His vital energy surged, simmering like a pot on the fire, as if he had been cultivating for months.

Lee Mo revisited the fundamental sword techniques of the Lee family and the Spirit Snake Spell. He executed a swift strike, and despite it being his first attempt, he performed the Spirit Snake Spell with the ease of a seasoned practitioner, thanks to the extensive experience of Nie Yu, a level eight martial warrior. He flawlessly completed the Twelve Forms of the Spirit Snake Spell, but shook his head in dissatisfaction. "This martial art is too basic!"

He had previously traded his pills for ancestral Mystic Manuals, which now lay untouched and collecting dust. If only he had memorized a few, he wouldn't have to rely solely on the Celestial Flame Embodiment Spell, which risked revealing his identity, forcing him to use this rudimentary technique.

After some reflection, Lee Mo executed the sword technique again, and this time, the Spirit Snake Spell transformed in his hands. The once elegant technique now throbbed with formidable power, stirring up a whirlwind, its force striking with the impact of both blade and hammer. In mere moments, Lee Mo had refined the Spirit Snake Spell to a Grandmaster level.

As he sheathed his sword, it sliced through the wooden stake. With the sword's descent, a muffled explosion resounded. The stake, marked with sword slashes, shattered into pieces as if struck by a sledgehammer. Where the blade touched the wood, it turned to dust.

The power behind his strike was so immense that he regarded the average person with indifference. Yet, no hint of satisfaction crossed Lee Mo's face. He murmured to himself, "Despite my enhancements to the sword technique, its effectiveness is merely passable. My training is progressing too slowly. It seems I'll need to concoct some Cultivation Pills."

He made his way to Lee Gaoyuan's residence. Upon requesting new medicinal ingredients, Lee Gaoyuan immediately led him to Lee's Drugstore. The dawn was fresh, and the store had just opened. The clerk went to notify the owner, and soon Lee Songchi appeared, accompanied by a man in his forties—Lee Gaoyuan's father, Lee Bo.

Lee Bo's face was impassive as he asked, "Did you come this early just to gather medicinal herbs?"

Sensing his father's irritation, Lee Gaoyuan scratched his head and replied with a grin, "Ah, you've heard then. Lee Mo wants to try his hand at alchemy. I think it's a great chance for him."

Before he could continue, Lee Bo gave him a stern look and interrupted, "Great chance? He'd better have the talent to back it up!"

He turned a cold gaze on Lee Mo and said, "I know you and my son are close. But you've taken advantage of that friendship to get our family's herbs. This should be the last time!"

The clerks looked on with detached amusement, snickering to themselves.

They ridiculed Lee Mo for his overconfidence, lacking the skill but still aiming to practice alchemy. In their view, spending valuable herbs worth dozens of taels on him was utter madness.

"Father," Lee Gaoyuan started to say, urgently.

But Lee Bo cut him off with a dismissive gesture, stopping him mid-sentence, and announced loudly, "Our family may have wealth, and a few dozen taels might not seem like much. But money must be spent wisely. I would rather give it to beggars than waste it on you!"

Lee Bo didn't hold back. Using his authority, he scolded Lee Mo in front of all the shop assistants, while onlookers outside the drugstore whispered to each other.

Everyone thought Lee Mo would be humiliated. His plans had been exposed, and he had been publicly reprimanded by Lee Bo. It seemed he had no choice but to slink back home in shame.

However, to those who were more observant, Lee Mo remained unfazed by the ordeal. His expression was unchanged, as if the rebuke was meant for someone else.

After all, he was the preeminent alchemist of the Vruthurenth Empire. What hadn't he witnessed?

When Lee Bo finished his lecture, Lee Mo calmly responded, "What if your money wasn't wasted?"

"My money, wasted?" Lee Bo retorted with a sneer, "Are you saying you've actually managed to refine the Abyss Pill?"

The alchemists in the shop couldn't contain their laughter, looking down on Lee Mo with disdain. They had all heard from Lee Songchi about his attempt to create the notoriously difficult Abyss Pill—a Yellow Level pill that posed a significant challenge to even the most skilled alchemists.

He immediately rushed to Lee Gaoyuan's home. When he mentioned the need for new medicinal herbs, Lee Gaoyuan promptly took him to Lee's Drugstore.

It was still early, and the store had just opened. An employee went inside to inform the owner. Emerging from the store, along with Lee Songchi, was a man in his forties—Lee Bo, Lee Gaoyuan's father.

With an expressionless face, Lee Bo asked, "Did you come this early just to get medicinal herbs?"

Lee Gaoyuan could sense his father's displeasure from his tone. Scratching his head and smiling, he said, "So you've heard. Lee Mo wants to pursue alchemy, and I think it's a great thing."

Before he could finish, Lee Bo glared at him and sharply interrupted, "A great thing? I'll have to see his capabilities for myself!"

He looked coldly at Lee Mo and said, "I know my son is on good terms with you. However, you're using him to get our family's herbs. This will be the only time!"

The employees watched with cold amusement, snickering among themselves.

They mocked Lee Mo for overestimating his abilities, believing him to be talentless and yet aspiring to join the ranks of alchemists. They thought it was a waste to let him use herbs worth dozens of taels.

"Father," Lee Gaoyuan interjected urgently.

Lee Bo dismissively waved his hand to silence him and raised his voice, "Our family has money, and a few dozen taels mean nothing. However, money should be spent where it matters. Even giving it to beggars would be better than wasting it on you!"

Lee Bo was blunt and unreserved in his criticism, leveraging his seniority to scold Lee Mo in front of the employees. Meanwhile, many people who had come to the store for medicine were outside, watching and whispering among themselves.