"The Flame Mantra, it truly is here!"
Opening the Bone Flame Ring of Yao Chen, Gu Changqing’s first priority was to find the Flame Mantra, the technique capable of evolving by devouring Heavenly Flame. Very quickly, from deep within a pile of techniques and Dou Techniques, he found a black scroll. Opening it, it indeed contained the Flame Mantra, the very technique that could evolve through the consumption of Heavenly Flame.
"Excellent. Finally, I have found a decent gift to give to Sister Xun'er. However, before that, I must perfect this technique."
Given Gu Changqing’s profound knowledge—having cultivated from the Era of Gods and Demons, through the age where immortals, gods, and demons coexisted, and finally into the Age of Dharma Decline—his expertise in cultivation methods far surpassed that of common immortals and gods. Improving a specialized technique with flaws was, naturally, no difficult task for him. Gu Changqing remained where he was, refining the slightly flawed Flame Mantra.
Time passed in silence, but the Xiao Family was in an uproar.
"What? Xiao Yan actually jumped off a cliff?"
"This guy—how can his psychological fortitude be so weak? Just because a woman came to his home to demand an annulment, he couldn't handle the blow and went to jump off a cliff?"
"How embarrassing! From now on, everyone in Wutan City will look at our Xiao Family as a joke!"
"How is Xiao Yan? Did he fall to his death?"
"No, he only broke a leg and over a dozen ribs. The Clan Head is currently heading to the Miteer Auction House to invite Master Guni, a second-tier Alchemist, to treat him."
"He really knows how to cause trouble for the family. Why didn't he just fall to his death?"
The members of the Xiao Family were furious. It was bad enough that they had lost face by shouting helplessly in front of outsiders, but now, this cliff-jumping stunt had made the entire Wutan City aware of the situation. The Xiao Family wasn't just a joke anymore; they were well on their way to becoming a laughingstock.
"Xiao Yan... jumped off a cliff?"
Nalan Yanran and her group, who had not yet left Wutan City, were shocked to hear the news. Hadn't Xiao Yan been blustering quite fiercely this morning? How did he turn around and decide to throw his life away? This was utterly absurd!
"This... Yanran, did we say anything particularly excessive when we went to the Xiao Family this morning?" Ge Ye was also bewildered, repeatedly questioning himself whether his manners had been lacking, causing a junior to commit suicide.
"Humph, a piece of trash, destined for nothing!" the handsome young man who had accompanied Nalan Yanran and Ge Ye remarked with a disdainful snort.
"Mo Li, stop talking nonsense. Do not let people think my Misty Cloud Sect lacks decorum," Ge Ye gently reprimanded the youth.
"Yes," Mo Li replied obediently, though his gaze never strayed from Nalan Yanran.
At that moment, however, Nalan Yanran’s thoughts were already drifting elsewhere. "I wonder what origin that youth, Gu Changqing, comes from? He doesn't seem to be from the Xiao Family, and he mentioned he would be traveling soon. Perhaps..." Nalan Yanran’s beautiful eyes brightened; she seemed to have hit upon a brilliant idea.
Seeing Nalan Yanran return in a distracted state and now watching her expressions change as she became lost in her own thoughts, Mo Li lowered his head slightly, a sliver of murderous intent flashing imperceptibly in his eyes. "Gu Changqing, you brought this upon yourself. Since you have already captured Yanran's attention, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Gu Changqing was naturally unaware that Mo Li had developed murderous intent toward him, but even if he knew, he wouldn't care. A mere Dou Zhe ant—what could he possibly do to him?
By the time Gu Changqing returned to the Xiao Family, it was already night. He slipped into his bedroom, careful not to wake Xiao Xun'er next door. However, the moment he entered, his expression stiffened. In the darkness, a delicate and beautiful figure slowly walked toward him, stopped in front of him, and asked calmly, "Where have you been?"
"Uh, Sister Xun'er, you aren't asleep yet?" Gu Changqing asked, feeling awkward.
"Where have you been?" Xiao Xun'er stared intently at Gu Changqing, waiting for an answer.
"I went treasure hunting. Sister Xun'er, this is a gift I prepared for you." Gu Changqing hurriedly pulled the Flame Mantra from his storage ring and handed it to her.
In the darkness, Xiao Xun'er’s icy expression softened considerably. As she took the black scroll from his hand, she said, "What treasure hunt requires so much time?"
"You'll see once you look, Sister Xun'er. I guarantee you'll be satisfied," Gu Changqing said confidently, taking a moonstone out of his ring to provide light.
"Is that so?" Xiao Xun'er’s curiosity was piqued, though she was already feeling happy. Any gift from her younger brother, no matter what it was, she would cherish.
She unfolded the scroll. Two ordinary characters greeted her eyes: *Flame Mantra*.
"Is this some powerful fire-attribute technique?" Xiao Xun'er thought with anticipation, her eyes scanning downward. The next second, her beautiful eyes widened.
"Huang... Huang-tier low-grade?!"
"Gu Changqing, it's one thing to come home late, but how dare you use a Huang-tier low-grade technique to tease me!" Xiao Xun'er snapped the *Flame Mantra* shut and rushed forward, intending to punish him.
"Sister Xun'er, it's a misunderstanding! Just look again; this technique is very special!" Gu Changqing didn't want to experience her little claws—though they were fair and delicate, they still pinched hard.
"Special?" Xiao Xun'er glanced at him, and seeing his firm gaze, she hesitantly reopened the black scroll. Soon, her expression became solemn.
"Devouring Heavenly Flame to evolve? Such a technique actually exists? Brother Qing, where did you get this?" Xiao Xun'er asked, her tone serious.
Gu Changqing pulled Xiao Xun'er over to sit on a nearby stool. "Have you ever heard of the Honored Warrior Yao?"
"The continent's former top Alchemist, the master of the Starfall Pavilion, Yao Chen?" Xiao Xun'er was clearly well-versed in the history and figures of the Douqi Continent.
"Yes. This technique was obtained by Yao Chen in an ancient secret realm. Later, because of this very technique, he was betrayed by his own disciple, Han Feng, who conspired with outsiders. I have inherited Yao Chen's legacy, and this technique was part of it. Look, Sister Xun'er, this is Yao Chen's Bone Flame Ring."
Gu Changqing handed her the black ring, granting her access to its interior so she could investigate its contents.
"This ring... why does it look so familiar?" Xiao Xun'er asked, puzzled as she looked at the black ring in his hand.
"It is the very one Xiao Yan usually wears on his finger," Gu Changqing replied without concealing anything.