Lingxu, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Li Guanqi's heart skipped a beat seeing Qi Mobai so excited.

Lin Chuanqing didn't seem to be joking.

If Qi Mobai couldn't become an alchemist, he'd probably be stuck working here for life.

After all, what kind of price Lin Chuanqing paid Zhao Chengyong was entirely up to him.

"Are you really not capable?"

Qi Mobai chugged wine one mouthful after another, the introverted part of his personality gradually disappearing.

His face flushed, he slurred with drunken eyes:

"Capable my ass! If I could become an alchemist, would I be stuck in a small Jade Void City?

Which of the major sects in the entire Floating Jade Land wouldn't I be able to go to?

I'd even dare to venture into the Eight Desolations."

Li Guanqi couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at his boastful demeanor.

He really resembled the men of Northern Liang City right now.

Before drinking, I belong to Floating Jade Land; after drinking, Floating Jade Land belongs to me.

Qi Mobai had that kind of vibe now.

Before drinking, he was clearly an incredibly introverted guy, probably drafting and rehearsing every sentence in his mind before speaking.

After drinking, he was so unrestrained and free-spirited…

Li Guanqi looked at Qi Mobai with a serious expression, feeling a great fondness for this young man.

Even if they weren't related, even if they were.

Few others could withstand the brutal torture of the Sky Pivot Ascension Hall's group.

But this introverted, seemingly weak scholar had a ruthless streak in his bones, stubbornly refusing to speak.

"If… you could possess the power of flame, could you refine pills?"

Qi Mobai's drunken eyes brightened slightly, but then dimmed again.

The young man lowered his head, his eyes filled with despair as he said:

"It's not as simple as you say…"

"If it were really that easy, alchemists in the Immortal Realm wouldn't be so revered."

"Ordinary flames in the world simply can't reach the temperature needed to refine immortal-grade spiritual plants, and neither can the beast flames of high-grade demon beasts; the flames are too impure and uncontrollable."

"It has to be a heaven-born, immortal-grade flame."

"But most flames are rootless fires, unable to last long before dissipating, and even if you find one, there's no way to absorb it."

Qi Mobai knew a lot about this, clearly having been paying attention and researching it all along.

"Moreover…"

The young man paused, his face full of melancholy as he looked up at Li Guanqi, taking a swig of wine.

"Moreover, I have a wood-type spiritual root; trying to forcibly refine a flame is simply a pipe dream…"

Qi Mobai slowly raised his head, his blood-stained robe coupled with his desolate expression, looking incredibly sorrowful.

"I once spent my entire fortune to buy a wisp of flame, but I still failed…"

"I know the Xuan Yuan Pill recipe by heart."

As he spoke, Qi Mobai closed his eyes with a smile, waving his hands in the air.

"I've imagined the pill refining process countless times, the temperature and refining process of each spiritual herb."

Suddenly, Qi Mobai opened his eyes and let his hands fall limply.

"But all of this can only ever be my fantasy."

Li Guanqi could see the despair and sorrow in his eyes.

That longing and helplessness to become an alchemist.

He could use his talent to create pills with effects no less than elixirs, but he still couldn't become a true alchemist…

Li Guanqi took a deep breath and came to his side, gently patting his shoulder.

"Brother Qi."

"We met by chance, why were you still unwilling to betray me when you were being tortured?"

Qi Mobai was slightly stunned, seemingly not having thought about the question, and looked up at Li Guanqi.

"You sell me wine."

"Just that simple?"

Li Guanqi was a little surprised.

But what Qi Mobai said next deeply touched Li Guanqi.

Qi Mobai lowered his head, looking at the wine jar in his arms with a silly grin.

"And… I don't want to… selfishly survive at the cost of killing you."

"It's that simple."

The corners of Li Guanqi's mouth rose, so Qi Mobai was also a kind and upright person!

Boom!!!

Scorching flames suddenly rose from behind Li Guanqi!!!

Immediately afterward, the Flame Spirit transformed into a human form and stood behind Li Guanqi.

Li Guanqi softly said:

"Devourer, are you satisfied with this choice?"

Devourer, wearing black-purple armor, narrowed his eyes as the firelight flickered.

"My Lord, I am willing to give him the only chance I have in this life."

At this moment, Qi Mobai was shocked beyond words, sobering up instantly.

He stared blankly at the Flame Spirit beside Li Guanqi, his fingers unconsciously reaching out to touch the surrounding flames.

Buzz!

His fingers were burned, and Qi Mobai stared blankly at the tiny arcs of lightning still lingering after the burn, lost in thought.

"What… what is this flame?!"

Devourer looked at Qi Mobai and softly said:

"My name is Devourer."

Li Guanqi looked at Qi Mobai, his eyes solemn as he said:

"This is my flame from the Spirit Realm, named Devourer, the strongest Heavenly Fire in my realm!"

"Its main body is brewed within the Chaos Lightning when the Spirit Realm first opened."

"It is also my partner in fighting people all along."

Devourer's eyes clearly flickered when he heard this.

Li Guanqi continued:

"Devourer… has the ability to divide its own flame seed only once."

"That is, a sub-flame."

Qi Mobai seemed to have thought of something and quickly raised his hand to refuse.

"No, no, no… I… I… I'm not worthy."

Li Guanqi smiled and softly said:

"You passed Devourer's test, he thinks you can!"

Although Qi Mobai was very excited, he knew what his shortcomings were.

"I am, after all, a wood-type spiritual root; its power is too strong, I simply cannot refine it…"

Qi Mobai was clearly a little disappointed when he said this; he had never seen such a powerful immortal-grade flame.

Moreover, Li Guanqi hadn't told him that Devourer's power could continuously increase with the host's power!!

Li Guanqi took out a jade slip from his storage ring, squatted down, and handed it to Qi Mobai.

"This method is called Devouring Flame Art, a secret method for forcibly devouring flames."

Qi Mobai's eyes were filled with disbelief when he heard this; he had never heard of such a profound cultivation technique.

Li Guanqi then said:

"This method is a Spirit Realm method, it is definitely not enough for the current Devourer."

"But it's not like there's no way."

"I want you to sign a symbiotic contract with Devourer's flame seed spirit! Are you willing?"

Qi Mobai had been listening silently.

When he heard Li Guanqi mention the symbiotic contract, there was no fluctuation or fear in his eyes.

After only a moment of silence, he nodded solemnly and said in a deep voice:

"I am willing!"

Devourer and Li Guanqi exchanged a glance and nodded slightly.

"Good! Then let's start now, I'll protect you."

Qi Mobai's immortal essence surged within his body, and streams of emerald light surrounded him, dispelling the alcohol fumes.

Standing up, Qi Mobai tied up his hair, faced the Flame Spirit Devourer, bowed respectfully, and was unwilling to get up for a long time.

"Thank you."