Chapter 78: Mountain Demon Ghostfire and the Eye for Treasure

Since Cao Chengyu was skilled in the arts of alchemy and artifact forging, his expertise was well matched to the occasion. As the disciple of a fellow sect elder, the Divine Fire Master felt obliged to show some courtesy and grant him a favor. After all, one never knows when one might need to seek help in the future; building goodwill now could make things much smoother later on.

Thus, what was called an exchange of knowledge with Cao Chengyu was in truth more of a personal instruction. With his mid-stage Purple Palace cultivation, the Divine Fire Master was capable of refining nearly all pills and magical artifacts below the fourth grade, yielding eight to ten pills per batch, and his artifacts were all of the highest quality within their grade. This was the source of his reputation as a dual genius of alchemy and artifact forging—a title Cao Chengyu could not yet match. Nevertheless, his exceptional insight often provided inspiration for the Divine Fire Master as well.

Their conversation grew more and more animated, and had they not restrained themselves, they might have sworn brotherhood on the spot. It was only around midnight that they reluctantly parted.

“I finally understand why you seek a different kind of fire,” the Divine Fire Master said. “With your talent in alchemy and artifact forging, if you obtain such a unique flame, you will surely become renowned in the future. It is a shame you are not my own disciple—what a pity…”

“No matter,” Cao Chengyu replied with a smile. “Just witnessing the Heart of Lava Fire today fulfills part of my long-cherished wish. I am deeply grateful.”

“Hah, it’s nothing at all,” the Divine Fire Master said, scratching his head with a trace of awkwardness. “Xiao Yan, see our guest out.”

“There’s no need,” Cao Chengyu interjected, waving his hand. “It’s late; I will take my leave now. You need not trouble yourself, Brother Xiao.”

With those words, he stepped outside and rode the clouds away. His purpose this visit had been to make acquaintances; matters concerning Great Yue could wait for another time.

Inside the stone hall, the Divine Fire Master sighed as he looked at Xiao Yan. “This time, your teacher has not acted honorably. Cao Chengyu’s talent with pills and artifacts is truly extraordinary—during our discussion, even I gained much.”

Xiao Yan was startled. “Even you admit as much, Master? His talent is truly terrifying.”

“Yes… but don’t worry. As my direct disciple, the Ghostly Fire of the Mountain Demon is reserved for you.”

“I understand, Master. Thank you for your generosity.”

“Good. Now go—your teacher wishes to experiment further with the insights just gained.”

After bowing, Xiao Yan left for the living quarters behind the stone hall. From their conversation, it was clear they possessed a rare flame: the Ghostly Fire of the Mountain Demon, a jet-black fire said to be born in the haunted evil mountains, capable of controlling corpses, warding off ghosts, and refining ethereal essences. It did not suit Xiao Yan’s own nature, but that was a minor detail; any flame born of heaven and earth was prized for its fearsome heat.

This particular fire was rumored to exist within the territory of Great Yue, somewhere in the Tianlang Mountains. As for how the Divine Fire Master learned of it, Xiao Yan had not inquired. His sole wish now was to cultivate diligently and break through to the Purple Palace stage as soon as possible.

After that, he would return to Great Yue to wash away the humiliation he had once suffered, and to settle scores with the wicked servants and old dogs within his clan who had bullied him for his weakness. Any who deserved death would be slain, and all debts would be settled.

The weaker the clan, the more rotten it became—these people cared for nothing but their petty dignity and pride, blind to the times. Though Xiao Yan had lost his parents young, his extraordinary talent once caught the attention of a clan uncle. Yet, slanderous words from a petty man claimed he was unfit due to the lack of proper clan upbringing, and that if he were nurtured, he might one day oppose the family, making him a risk.

Moreover, Xiao Yan’s branch of the family was nearly extinct; only he remained. If great resources were spent on cultivating him, the other branches’ children might object, which would undermine the clan’s unity.

Thus, his uncle’s request was denied, and though Xiao Yan was displeased, he said nothing. Instead, he revered the uncle who had cared for him even more.

He thought the matter ended there. But then, the clan leader’s eldest son set his sights on that uncle’s daughter and tried to force himself upon her, even drugging her. Xiao Yan caught him in the act and beat him severely. The eldest son ran home in tears to complain, and the clan leader, accusing Xiao Yan of attacking a fellow clansman and using excessive force, had him seized and crippled in public.

At the time, Xiao Yan’s uncle was away with the family’s merchant caravan. He returned half a month later, only to find Xiao Yan’s cultivation destroyed and his daughter nearly dishonored. In his fury, he denounced the clan leader at his very door, and was promptly arrested for spreading rumors and insulting the leader. He was imprisoned for over half a year.

By the time he was released, he was a broken man. On his deathbed, he gave Xiao Yan a letter, urging him to leave the clan, join the Skymonitoring Pavilion of Great Yue, and to take good care of his daughter, Xiao Xue’er.

Now, Xiao Xue’er was settled in the territory of the Five Elements Sect in Great Yue—the domain of Chen Yuqing, the head of the Water Branch, who had first introduced Xiao Yan to the sect.

Thinking of this, Xiao Yan gave a bitter smile. Had he not possessed a fateful opportunity, the destruction of his cultivation would have ended his path to immortality.

His gaze fell on a black tattoo on his chest, resembling an eye. Half of the pupil was golden, and the liquid gold seemed to rise and accumulate over time.

Xiao Yan knew that whenever the pupil was filled with gold, he would be able to sense the treasure most suitable for him—its location, its distance, and even the way to obtain it.

He called this mark the Treasure-Seeking Eye. It was thanks to this mysterious mark that he had acquired the miraculous herbs to heal his body and begin cultivating anew.

Clenching his fist, Xiao Yan murmured softly, “Soon. Once I break through to the Purple Palace, everything will change. Wait for me, Xue’er.”

With that, his gaze hardened, and he sat cross-legged on his meditation mat, entering into cultivation.

This was Xiao Yan’s story—a textbook protagonist’s template.

It was no mystery why the Xiao clan had declined; under such corrupt traditions, it would not last another decade. Unless, of course, it gained the support of someone truly powerful.

Elsewhere, Cao Chengyu set aside a secret letter. Back in Skymonitoring Pavilion, he had already noticed something unusual about Xiao Yan and had secretly asked Liu Xiong to investigate his past. Unfortunately, Liu Xiong had little influence and could only uncover a few scraps. This secret letter, however, came from one of the many registered disciples under the Daoist of Yin and Yang.

Red Dragon, a scion of the Great Yue imperial family, was the sibling of his former roommate Red Pearl. Both hailed from the directly governed prefecture of Red Province.

As a native of Great Yue wearing the robes of the Daoist of Yin and Yang, Cao Chengyu had attracted the attention of this imperial scion, who reached out to him once word spread. At the time, Cao Chengyu was looking for a way to approach Xiao Yan, so he gave Red Dragon a test—to uncover the truth of Xiao Yan’s past.

Red Dragon’s status was much like Red Pearl’s—noble by birth, but with so many imperial heirs, resources were scarce and, lacking extraordinary talent, he had to find his own way.

Now, knowing Xiao Yan’s story and those dear to him, Cao Chengyu felt much more confident about “persuading” him. He was also convinced that Xiao Yan was destined by heaven itself—a child of fate, and the key to resolving the crisis in Great Yue.

If Cao Chengyu wished to remain in one place and develop his strength, he had to deal with the hidden threat of Great Yue. Ever since learning the name Fengdu, a certain suspicion had grown stronger in his heart. If things were truly as he feared, it would not only be a disaster for Great Yue, but for the entire Hundred Kingdoms Domain.