Chapter 14

The Golden Feather Knights are the elite guard corps by the side of the Holy Emperor, serving as the most solid support for the imperial power. The thirty thousand Golden Feather Knights are all the cream of the elite, and they are filled with many experts. The more their strength grows, the more secure the Holy Emperor becomes.

The Duke's family of three was still unaware of the Holy Emperor's intentions. They returned to the Duke's mansion in high spirits, still basking in the glory of their victory in the grand hall. For anyone who has endured so much frustration for so long, to suddenly vent it so thoroughly is an incredibly satisfying experience.

Who did they bully? They were all powerful ministers who wielded great influence in the empire, with three powerful princes standing behind them. These princes were the current darlings of the Holy Lion Empire, even the Holy Emperor had to show them some respect. Yet, the Duke's family of three had publicly humiliated them in front of the entire court. The slap was so loud and clear, it would take those people a while to digest it.

After the excitement, Song Xinghai felt a bit worried because he knew that the other party, after suffering such a great humiliation, would not let it go easily. When he expressed this concern, he was scolded by his wife and son. Yun Lin said, "What's there to be afraid of? They still owe us 450 million gold coins. If they want to deal with us, they should pay us back first." Song Li was even more boastful, saying, "Whoever dares to bully my dad and mom, I'll cripple them one by one, and if two come, I'll cripple both!" Song Xinghai groaned, covering his head, "Please, you're only at the sixth level of Body Tempering, are you really a master?"

After the excitement subsided, Song Xinghai and Yun Lin's gazes involuntarily fell on their son. Although they had silenced the ministers, they knew very well that Song Li had not taken any "Supreme Holy Pills." How did he manage to recover from his injuries while also improving his constitution and breaking through his cultivation level? Yun Lin recalled that during the critical moment of alchemy, she had followed her son's advice and successfully refined a high-quality middle-grade alchemy pill, which made the matter even more mysterious. Their son had never been exposed to alchemy knowledge, yet his cultivation level seemed higher than hers, a middle-grade alchemy master.

Seeing his parents staring at him intently, Song Li immediately understood what they were thinking and hurriedly said, "Dad, Mom, I need to go to the bathroom... you continue..." and tried to slip away.

"Stop!" Song Xinghai and Yun Lin shouted simultaneously.

"What for, you're scaring me so much I'm about to pee..." Song Li, with a bitter expression, reluctantly turned around.

"Boy, trying to escape by pretending to go to the bathroom? You grew up in front of me, do you think I wouldn't know if you were up to no good?" Yun Lin said sternly, "Confess and be lenient, resist and be strict. Tell us, what happened to you? Why did you recover from your injuries while also improving your constitution, and most importantly, how do you know about alchemy?"

Song Xinghai was startled; he knew about the breakthrough in cultivation, but he didn't know about the alchemy knowledge.

Seeing Song Xinghai's puzzled look, Yun Lin explained, "Do you remember the twelve 'Mystic Ice Qi Gathering Pills' I offered to the Holy Emperor? I had already failed, but at the critical moment, I followed Li's advice and managed to refine the pills."

"He... gave you advice?" Song Xinghai was speechless, his eyes darting between his son and wife, full of disbelief.

For heaven's sake, he just had an unusual fight, okay? Fine, calling it a fight is a bit too generous; it was mostly him beating others. After being bullied for so many years, he finally got to bully someone else. Why does the whole world seem to have changed, and his good-for-nothing son can now guide his mother in alchemy?

This realization almost made the Duke lose control. Yun Lin was the daughter of a Holy Alchemy Master, with a strong family background and exceptional alchemy talent. Their son had been a good-for-nothing for sixteen years, so how could he suddenly guide a middle-grade alchemy master in alchemy?

Seeing his parents' burning curiosity, Song Li knew he had to explain. He put on a puzzled look and said, "Although my constitution has always been poor, Mom has given me a lot of pills since I was young. Although they didn't fully take effect, some of the medicinal power must have been stored somewhere. I think being severely injured this time was a good opportunity. When Mom gave me the 'Three Transformations Return to Origin Pill,' I felt the stored energy in my body suddenly being activated! This energy was very powerful, not only transforming my body but also instantly boosting my cultivation level. I'm not entirely sure of the specific reason, but I think it must be something like that."

Yun Lin and Song Xinghai exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously. It seemed that must be the case, as there was no other explanation.

"Hehe, it looks like all the good pills I fed you weren't in vain. They finally proved useful." Yun Lin sounded a bit proud, and Song Li quickly flattered her, praising her wisdom and foresight, comparing her to the brightness of the moon.

"Go away, stop flattering me with such disgusting words. This is fine, but what about the alchemy? How do you explain it?" Yun Lin, being very shrewd, was not swayed by her son's flattery and continued to press the issue.

"When I was a study companion to the Fourth Prince in the palace, I once sneaked into the Imperial Study and read some alchemy books. Today, when I saw Mom refining pills, the knowledge I read back then suddenly came to mind. I think after my constitution was transformed, my mind became more agile." Song Li had to come up with another explanation. The matter of his穿越 and the fire in his body were his biggest secrets in this world, which he could not reveal even to his parents.

Speaking of his past in the palace, Song Li recalled some unhappy memories. The Fourth Prince, that little devil, had framed him, leading to his expulsion from the palace. Although Song Li himself did not like the deep palace, being expelled and leaving on his own were two very different things. This incident cast a shadow over his childhood, and with his character of seeking revenge, the Fourth Prince was already on his blacklist, and he would get his revenge sooner or later.

Alchemy books in the Imperial Study? Yun Lin's eyes darted around. She had already experienced the astonishing effects of the secrets Song Li mentioned. The palace was indeed a treasure trove. If she could obtain such books, her alchemy skills would surely improve dramatically, and she might even reach her father's level in time.

"Li, can you remember the name of the book?" Yun Lin's eyes were full of hope.

"It's been too long, I don't have much of an impression." Song Li pretended to frown and think, finally answering with a puzzled look.

"Oh..." Yun Lin's drawn-out sigh revealed her disappointment.

However, her mind was now active. It didn't matter that Li didn't know; she could sneak into the Imperial Study and steal the book. If Song Li knew what his mother was thinking, he would probably faint. His bold mother was capable of anything, a troublemaker who never feared chaos. The palace was not a place to come and go freely; it was heavily guarded with many experts. An outsider would likely be discovered after just a few steps, let alone stealing from the Imperial Study.

The family of three talked for a while longer and then went to their respective rooms to rest.

Song Li returned to his room and entered the cultivation chamber. In the Holy Lion Empire, from the nobles to the commoners, everyone's room had a cultivation chamber, and Song Li was no exception. Previously, his cultivation was poor, so the cultivation chamber was mostly a decoration. But from now on, it would be the place he visited most frequently.

Song Li sat cross-legged on a cushion, closed his eyes, and a miraculous scene unfolded. He saw the cluster of purple-red flames deep in his abdomen! Although still weak, the flames contained the most pure and vast fire energy in the world! This small flame absorbed the power of the "Three Transformations Return to Origin Pill" and released terrifying energy, not only transforming his body but also breaking through his cultivation level. Song Li thought that this flame might have always been in his body, but he couldn't feel it until it absorbed the medicinal power. Clearly, the energy produced by the flame was very beneficial to his cultivation, but to utilize this energy, he needed to provide it with sufficient medicinal power. Song Li had taken many pills since he was young, and the last time his body was repaired, the small flame absorbed a lot, but there was definitely some left. If he could activate this remaining medicinal power to fuel the small flame, it should continue to release energy.

With this thought, he decided to act. Song Li entered a meditative state and used his mind to activate the residual medicinal power in his meridians, directing it toward the small flame. For a long time, the small flame ignored his commands, flickering arrogantly as if mocking Song Li's weakness.

Just as he was at a loss, a scene flashed through Song Li's mind. The divine figure with two piercing gazes seemed to be right in front of him, and those gazes contained vast information. This information had already been implanted in his mind during the last encounter, now activated by the gazes. Song Li focused intently, digesting these mysterious secrets, and finally understood the origin of the flame in his body.

It turned out that in his last moments in his previous life, when he sought shelter from the rain at the Southern Sea Temple, he was chosen by the Fire God Zhu Rong and inherited his "Imperial Fire Seed"! The energy of the fire lord was extraordinary, and even just the inheritance power was enough to tear through space and time, bringing him to the Star Cloud Continent. The information also contained the method to control this flame. After digesting these secrets, Song Li suddenly felt the flame very familiar, as if he had known it in his previous life.

Following the fire control method passed down by Zhu Rong, Song Li silently recited the incantation and used his mind to activate the residual medicinal power in his body, directing it toward the small flame. This time, the small flame was no longer arrogant. After absorbing sufficient medicinal power, it released a scorching and immense energy into Song Li's meridians. The energy was so powerful and fierce that it surged into Song Li's meridians like a flood, almost overwhelming them.