Chapter 24

Tianlang Mountain is composed of two peaks.

From a distance, the two peaks resemble two giant wolves crouching face to face, both in the posture of howling to the sky.

Between the two peaks lies a large canyon, with steep cliffs. The fire crystals are embedded in the cliffs on both sides of the canyon. To mine the fire crystals, one must climb these perilous cliffs.

For ordinary people to mine on these cliffs is clearly impractical. Only those martial artists who have practiced for years, with their exceptional physical fitness, can take on the task of mining.

Qin Lie and Ling Yushi's group arrived at Tianlang Mountain in the evening.

They immediately noticed that many vine ropes hung from the rock walls on both sides of the canyon. Martial artists from the Gao and Feng families held these ropes, moving like monkeys on the steep cliffs, using shovels and picks to chip away at the rocks.

Under the glow of the evening sun, faint red flames could be seen flickering on the rock walls.

Where the red flames flickered, small pieces of fire crystals could often be seen. These stones are a deep red, like a turbid crystal, shining under the sunlight.

Qin Lie looked at the flickering red flames on the canyon walls and murmured to himself, "This is fire crystal... "

He had listened to his grandfather's detailed explanation of alchemy and knew that every alchemist must have a source of fire when smelting spiritual materials.

This is easy to understand; even blacksmiths in the mortal world need a hot fire to forge iron, and alchemy naturally cannot bypass this basic step.

Of course, the source of fire for alchemists is different from the flames produced by burning wood in the mortal world.

Alchemists generally have three common methods for their source of fire. The first is to cultivate fire techniques, converting spiritual energy into the fire source for alchemy. This method heavily depends on the alchemist's cultivation level and is the most exhausting in terms of spiritual energy and mental strength.

His grandfather used this fire source to repair spiritual artifacts. Alchemists who cultivate fire techniques can perform alchemy anywhere, making this fire source the most convenient for alchemists, but it is also the most exhausting in terms of spiritual energy and cultivation level.

The second method is to use the flames from the earth's core or volcanoes for alchemy. Many alchemy masters often use this method to refine large spiritual artifacts. Some alchemy sects choose volcanoes as their smelting sites, guiding the volcanic flames into alchemy rooms for their disciples and apprentices to use.

This natural fire source cannot be used anywhere and does not consume the alchemist's spiritual energy, but it requires a fixed location, with both advantages and disadvantages.

The third method is to use fire crystals and other flame spiritual materials as the fire source for alchemy.

This type of fire source does not consume the alchemist's own spiritual energy and can be carried around, making it the most commonly used method by most alchemists.

However, this fire source is a one-time consumable, and each piece used is one less.

All three fire sources can achieve the purpose of smelting spiritual materials, each with its advantages and disadvantages. Alchemists sometimes combine the use of these fire sources to maximize their benefits.

After breaking through to the seventh level of the Body Tempering stage, Qin Lie can now release spiritual energy externally, meaning he can truly use spiritual artifacts and unleash their power.

Recently, he has been memorizing the spirit arrays within the Soul Suppressing Pearl, which has given him some ideas about alchemy...

Although fire crystals are just the most basic fire source for alchemy, obtaining them is not an easy task for him.

He accompanied Ling Yushi to Tianlang Mountain partly because he was worried about her safety and partly because he wanted to get some fire crystals to try his hand at alchemy.

"Ling Family reporting in," Ling Yushi called out.

Below the canyon, a man in a star cloud robe was sitting in a reclining chair.

He was lazily watching the evening sky and then glanced at the Ling Family group, gesturing for them to come over. He said, "I am Liu Yan, assigned to be in charge of this matter. Since it's already late today, starting from tomorrow morning, you will mine alongside the Feng and Gao families. You must hand over the fire crystals you obtain each day to me, and I will record them. After the task is completed, the Star Cloud Pavilion will give you the corresponding spirit stones as compensation."

Liu Yan looked to be in his thirties, slightly overweight, with a beard. His eyes were always half-closed, and he had a carefree attitude.

"Big Brother Liu, this is the Feng Family's harvest for today," a handsome young man nimbly jumped down from above, throwing a cloth bag onto the table in front of Liu Yan. He then smiled at the Ling Family group and said, "Ling Feng, it's been a long time, hasn't it?"

The young man was exceptionally handsome, wearing a white martial robe with a gold border, exuding a noble and extraordinary aura.

He was speaking to Ling Feng, but his eyes were on Ling Yushi, and he walked over with a sunny smile. "Ling Yushi! Haha, it turns out you are leading the Ling Family this time. We haven't seen each other for a while, have we?"

"Yes, it's been two years," Ling Yushi said calmly.

"Who is he?" Ling Ying asked the person beside her.

"Feng Yi, the second son of the Feng Family. He reached the seventh level of the Body Tempering stage two years ago and is now definitely at the eighth level. His older brother, Feng Kai, is already a core disciple of the Star Cloud Pavilion. If there are no surprises, this guy will also break through to the Origin Opening stage before he turns twenty and follow his brother's footsteps into the Star Cloud Pavilion."

Ling Xin, with a rough appearance, looked at Feng Yi with a hint of admiration and explained to Ling Ying in a low voice, "Two years ago, I, the young miss, and Ling Feng formed a team with them to hunt spiritual beasts in the Extreme Cold Mountains. We had some camaraderie. Feng Yi had a good impression of the young miss back then..."

"Nine fourth-grade fire crystals, not bad. Keep it up tomorrow," Liu Yan counted and smiled, nodding at Feng Yi.

At this moment, the other nine martial artists from the Feng Family also came down from the cliffs.

They stood beside Feng Yi, discussing the techniques of mining fire crystals while looking at the Ling Family group. Their gazes focused on Ling Yushi and Ling Ying, and they occasionally chuckled and exchanged a few words in low voices.

All ten martial artists from the Feng Family were at the Body Tempering stage, mostly at the fifth, sixth, and seventh levels, and they were all male.

They had arrived a bit earlier and, after several days of tedious mining, were suddenly invigorated when they saw the fresh and beautiful Ling Yushi and Ling Ying.

"Brother Liu, this is from the Gao Family," another young man leaped down. This young man was dressed in black martial robes, with long hair hanging over his shoulders, and his expression was sinister, with a cold and evil look in his eyes.

"This is Gao Yu, the young master of the Gao Family. His two sisters have already entered the Star Cloud Pavilion. The Gao Family's patriarch dotes on him greatly. He himself... is a bit strange. He is only sixteen years old, one year younger than Feng Yi, and I heard he recently broke through to the eighth level of the Body Tempering stage."

This time, before Ling Ying could ask, Ling Xin lowered his voice and explained the background of this person.

After a moment's thought, Ling Xin added, "This Gao Yu... be careful. There are rumors that he is a bit perverted and has killed several young girls. Don't provoke him, or you'll have endless trouble."

Hearing this from Ling Xin, Ling Ying, who usually liked to show off in front of Ling Feng, felt a chill run down her spine.

Looking at Gao Yu, whose face was slightly pale and whose cold eyes still carried a hint of evil, Ling Ying involuntarily took a step back, moving closer to Ling Feng, clearly a bit frightened.

"Five fourth-grade, six third-grade, and one fifth-grade. Not bad," Liu Yan sat up straight, counted carefully, and smiled at Gao Yu.

Qin Lie noticed that when Liu Yan dealt with Gao Yu, he did not remain slouched in his chair but sat up straight, seemingly giving more importance to this person.

Gao Yu's slightly cold gaze swept over the Ling Family group, and then he led the Gao Family members away to the other end of the canyon to prepare a fire and cook.

"Ling Feng, Yushi, come join us for a meal," Feng Yi invited warmly.

"No need, we brought our own food and have hunted many small animals on the way. We don't want to trouble you," Ling Yushi politely declined.

"Yushi, you're too polite. We haven't seen each other for two years. Let's have a drink and chat. Can't you give me this face?" Feng Yi said with a bitter smile.

"Alright... then," Ling Yushi, feeling helpless, led the Ling Family group to the Feng Family's campsite.

Several martial artists from the Feng Family quickly started a fire, took out wine jars, and brought out cooked meat, inviting the Ling Family group to sit down.

Ling Feng, Ling Xin, and others, who were familiar with some of the Feng Family members, did not hesitate and sat down, taking out the wild rabbits and mountain chickens they had hunted on the way, roasting them over the fire. They laughed and talked with the Feng Family martial artists while skillfully turning the roasts.

"Qin Lie, come sit here," Ling Yushi pulled Qin Lie without any hesitation, seating him beside her. She then took the roasted meat from Feng Yi and forcefully gave it to Qin Lie, saying softly, "You must be hungry after such a long journey. Have something to eat first. I'll roast some mountain chickens for you soon."

Feng Yi, to please the lady, did not eat the roasted meat himself but offered it to Ling Yushi as a gesture of kindness.

He did not expect her to pass it directly to Qin Lie, which clearly surprised him, and his face turned a bit awkward.

"Who is this young brother?" Feng Yi asked with a smile.

Qin Lie's expression was wooden, and he did not even bother to be polite, just eating the roasted meat. His eating manner was not very elegant.

"My fiancé," Ling Yushi said naturally.

Feng Yi's smile immediately froze, his eyes darkened, and he laughed awkwardly, saying, "When did you get engaged? Why didn't your father inform us Feng Family? I didn't receive any news at all."

The martial artists from the Feng Family were also slightly taken aback and began to scrutinize Qin Lie carefully.

Upon closer inspection, they found Qin Lie's expression to be wooden, which seemed a bit off, making them even more curious.

"It's just an engagement, not a big deal, so my father didn't think it necessary to make a big fuss and didn't inform our neighbors and friends," Ling Yushi smiled, noticing Qin Lie's noisy eating, knowing he was deliberately doing it. She glared at him, feeling both amused and exasperated, thinking to herself: You guy, you must be secretly laughing and deliberately embarrassing me.

"Ling Xin, who is this guy? I've never seen him before. Is he... a bit?"

Ling Xin snorted, saying disdainfully, "He's not one of us. This guy has a problem with his brain. He's just a fool. Who knows why the patriarch agreed to let the young miss get