Cultivating Immortality Begins with Rejuvenation.

Chapter 114 Locking the Spirit Flame
Xiao Changfeng was overjoyed when he got Li Ji'an's confirmation.

If I can really help Li Jianan obtain a Heavenly and Earthly Spirit Flame this time, it would be considered as repaying the favor I did back then.

However, after he calmed down a little, he felt a little unconfident about his ability to catch it.

"Brother Li, can you tell what level this spiritual flame is?"

Li Ji'an shook his head and said, "Although it's impossible to tell based on this trace alone, the Heaven and Earth Spirit Flame is the transformed shell of the Holy Spirit of Heaven and Earth—the Fire Spirit. Although there is the spiritual power of fire here, it is far from enough for a true Fire Spirit. I estimate it is at most the first level."

In recent years, we have learned from ancient books that in ancient times, this world was not ruled only by humans.

There are demons from the wild ages, and there are spirits born and raised by nature.

Among them, the demon race is not the demon beasts we see today, but a race that is truly born with intelligence, recognized by heaven and earth, enjoys the best of all spirits, and is born with the ability to transform.

It is different from today's monsters not only in bloodline and intelligence, but also has the natural ability to transform, and has two forms.

One is the true form of the demon race recognized by the Heaven in the wild era.

The second is the physical appearance of the human race, which was given the highest of all spirits by the way of heaven in the ancient times of immortals.

As for the spirit race, they are the five elements of heaven and earth, with all kinds of spiritual power. Over the long years, they were endowed with spiritual powers by the way of heaven, and spiritual consciousness was born. They went from being unconscious and unintentional to becoming the holy spirits here.

The spiritual flame is the transformation of the Holy Spirit of Fire after its spiritual intelligence is born. Each transformation will reduce the spiritual power of fire by a layer, and that layer of spiritual power is the spiritual flame.

The first-level spiritual flame is equivalent to the fire magic power of the human race in the Qi training stage, but it is a pure spiritual power of heaven and earth, comparable to the elixir fire condensed by the fire cultivators in the foundation-building stage.

However, six thousand years after the ancient times, there has been no trace of the demon clan and the holy spirit clan in this world. The occasional spiritual flames of heaven and earth are just solitary flames left over from ancient times.

Although spiritual flames have no intelligence, they have the nature of seeking benefits and avoiding harm. High-level spiritual flames will naturally choose places where the spiritual energy of fire is more concentrated. Naturally, the level of the spiritual energy of fire here is such that it is impossible to retain high-level spiritual flames.

"If it's just the first level, I will definitely try my best!" Xiao Changfeng gained a little more confidence.

"Thank you, Brother Xiao!" Li Ji'an thanked him sincerely, but he never thought of relying on him to capture the spiritual flame. Gua Gua and Xiao Qiao were his confidence.

After saying this, Xiao Changfeng swallowed a soul-replenishing pill and a mind-concentrating pill. His spiritual awareness was fully awakened, his earth-based magic power surged, and he was ready to take action at any time.

The two began to continue exploring along the direction of the traces.

Three days later, Xiao Changfeng, who had split into two groups along the direction of the trace, was the first to discover the trace again.

Li Ji'an hurriedly reunited with him and continued searching forward.

Five days later, Xiao Changfeng was the first to discover the traces.

"Could this boy really be the son of destiny?" Li Ji'an looked at Xiao Changfeng with a strange look in his eyes.

They simply stopped splitting up and just followed Xiao Changfeng obediently.

This day.

Xiao Changfeng walked in front, sensing with his spiritual sense, and with the support of Li Ji'an's replenishing spiritual pill, his earth-based spiritual technique was also fully activated.

"It's hotter than fire, this must be it!" Suddenly, Xiao Changfeng's magic sent out a fiery sensation.

"Brother Li, can you lend me your Soul-Trapping Talisman?" Before he finished speaking, Xiao Changfeng's magic power gushed out, instantly covering the area a hundred feet in front of him, and then the ground beneath his feet surged.

Upon hearing this, Li Ji'an threw several soul-trapping talismans to him without hesitation.

Xiao Changfeng took the soul-trapping talisman and immediately dived into the ground and shot away.

The next moment, Li Ji'an sensed that a magical barrier had appeared underground, covering the area.

Before that, Xiao Qiao had already tugged at Li Ji'an's sleeve.

Guagua had already escaped underground.

"Uncle Li, it's a small flame." Seeing that Xiao Changfeng had disappeared, Xiao Qiao whispered to Li Ji'an.

Hearing this, Li Ji'an was delighted.

This time he was really trying his luck. Although he had the ability to escape underground and hide, as well as Xiao Qiao's underground sensing ability, he actually didn't hold out much hope. After all, after the news of the spiritual flame spread here two years ago, countless cultivators had come here to search for it, but found nothing.

"Brother Xiao should take the first credit!" Li Ji'an praised in his heart and connected the dots of his vision.

In the dim and hot underground in the field of vision, a light red flame panicked and hit a magic barrier in front of it.

Seeing this scene, Li Ji'an was happy but also a little disappointed.

This flame is undoubtedly a spiritual flame, but its color is too pale, not even as bright as the first-level spiritual flame recorded in history. It is likely that it only has the power of an early first-level spiritual flame.

Once the spiritual flame is shed by the Holy Spirit of Fire, it will no longer be able to grow.

If he could obtain this spiritual flame, Li Ji'an was confident that he could refine a first-grade top-grade elixir, but if it was a second-grade elixir, the power would still not be enough.

"Pop~" Before Gua Gua got close to the effective distance, there was a slight sound, and the spiritual flame had actually broken through Xiao Changfeng's magic barrier and escaped in a flash.

"Chase!" Guagua hurriedly chased after him.

The next moment, Xiao Changfeng appeared there, looking at the barrier with a small hole in it with a look of disappointment.

When he used the spiritual magic again, it had already disappeared.

"Brother Li, the barrier was broken before we even saw its true appearance, and it chose the weak point of my shield. It looks like an intelligent monster, not an dumb spirit flame." Xiao Changfeng escaped from the earth and said truthfully.

Normally speaking, his magic barrier, unless it has a weak spot, can trap an ordinary first-stage late-stage monster for five breaths.

If one can use the soul-trapping talisman to isolate the surrounding spiritual energy within five breaths, then things like spiritual flames that rely on the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to roam can be easily captured.

But just now it was broken by two breaths and escaped.

Li Ji'an was also shocked and suspicious at this moment. He had just seen the true appearance of the spiritual flame "with his own eyes" and was sure that it was a spiritual flame without a doubt, and its level was not high. He still couldn't figure out why it could break through Xiao Changfeng's magic barrier in the late stage of Qi training so quickly.

"Coincidence? It just happened to hit the weak point of the barrier?"

"It's okay, Brother Xiao, you have helped me a lot. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid I wouldn't even be able to find any trace of the spiritual flame. I'll look for it along the way." While Li Ji'an ordered Gua Gua to chase, he saluted solemnly to Xiao Changfeng.

Now that his movements have been discovered, with Gua Gua's ability to hide and escape underground, he will definitely not be able to escape.

However, as Gua Gua was his second trump card, he had no intention of making it public until he encountered a life-or-death crisis.

"Okay, let's continue searching separately." As he said that, Xiao Changfeng handed the soul-trapping talisman back.

Li Ji'an waved his hand: "No need, Brother Xiao, take it first. If you encounter it again, you can use it in time."

After saying this, he was about to follow in the direction that Guagua was chasing. "Fellow Daoist, please stay."

At this moment, a quick and clear shout was heard.

Then two figures were seen flying from the south.

"You have the soul-trapping talisman in your hand, fellow Daoist. I'll buy them all!" The leader was dressed in red, looking young and beautiful. She was in her twenties. Except for being a little anxious at the moment and having a layer of frost on her face, she had a beautiful appearance and outstanding temperament.

"Hey, it turns out to be a top disciple of our sect. I'm Liu Jiuchan from the Liu family who tames beasts. Please give me a favor, fellow Daoist." When she got closer and saw Xiao Changfeng's attire as an inner disciple of the Biyun Sect, the woman's expression relaxed a little.

Xiao Changfeng turned his head and looked at her, his face also relaxed: "Fairy Liu, how are you?"

"It's actually Fellow Daoist Xiao." Liu Jiuchan smiled.

As one of the five major families, the Liu family of beast control has many interactions with some high-level elders of the Biyun Sect. As the most talented direct descendant of the Liu family of beast control in this generation, Liu Jiuchan has a close relationship with the true disciples of the Biyun Sect.

In comparison, Xiao Changfeng, as an ordinary inner disciple, has a slightly lower status and position. He also met Liu Jiuchan when he was on a mission with a true senior brother.

At that time, Liu Jiuchan was having a great chat with his true senior brother, and he could only smile along.

"Since we're acquaintances, Fellow Daoist Xiao, let's be frank. I'm currently undergoing a trial within my clan, hoping to capture a late-stage demonic beast independently. After searching for months, I unexpectedly found a late-stage, peak-level Fire Marten. Once I capture this marten, I'll definitely be promoted to a reserve position among the clan elders, and within a year, I'll definitely reach Foundation Establishment. When that happens, I'll definitely remember Fellow Daoist Xiao's kindness."

"However, this marten is extremely fast in flight and possesses the spirit of swift wind. I have been battling it for months and am about to succeed, but I don't have the spirit-trapping talisman to imprison it, so I'm in urgent need of it."

Liu Jiuchan informed his intention.

Xiao Changfeng was somewhat moved when he heard this. The Liu family, a beast tamer, was almost at the top of the five major families in Cangyun Province, second only to the Biyun Sect, because of the superb beast taming skills within the family. Although the strength of the family members was not the strongest, the spirit beasts within the family were a force that could not be ignored.

The second-level spirit beast in the clan is a nuclear weapon that can influence the war situation in the entire Cangyun State. Many foundation-building families want to purchase a spirit beast to protect the clan.

It is said that his ancestors also bred a third-level spiritual beast whose combat power is comparable to that of a human Jindan Zhenren.

If he could obtain the favor of Liu Jiuchan, who would at least be the elder or even the patriarch of the Liu family in the future, he might not be able to have a second-level spirit beast to accompany him in the future. By then, his overall combat power would have a qualitative leap.

However, with a slight sigh, Xiao Changfeng still said truthfully: "Fairy Liu, please forgive me. This talisman belongs to Brother Li. I am here to help Brother Li capture the spiritual flame."

"Oh? Fellow Daoist Li is an alchemist?" Upon hearing this, Liu Jiuchan turned to look at Li Ji'an.

"Yes, Brother Li is a well-known alchemist in Xiancheng." Xiao Changfeng introduced and whispered to Li Ji'an, informing the woman of her identity and status.

Liu Jiuchan frowned slightly: "Immortal City Alchemist? Casual Cultivator?"

Combined with what Xiao Changfeng said, he quickly understood: In order to capture the spiritual flame, the independent alchemist in the fairy city hired the disciples of the sect who had saved up resources for foundation building to help.

As the core of the Liu family, she often deals with the true disciples in the sect. She is more aware of the difficulties among the disciples in the sect. Compared with her, who has been prepared with all the resources for foundation building by the clan early on, the situation of the non-true disciples in the sect is not as good as her.

When there are not enough tasks within the sect, it is common for disciples to take on external tasks to earn extra resources.

After knowing Li Ji'an's identity, his expression did not show any arrogance or condescension.

Instead, she looked at Li Ji'an with a smile, even a bit of flattery: "Friend Li, nice to meet you. I am Liu Jiuchan."

If he was a disciple of the sect, she could rely on her relationship with the true disciples of the sect and conduct normal transactions.

But for independent cultivators, she has to pay more attention to them.

After all, independent cultivators have no one to rely on, and many of them are ungrateful and biased. If they encounter those from aristocratic families who already hate to monopolize resources, they may not give them face.

Not only would he lose face, but he would also have to use force in front of the sect disciples, otherwise he would ruin the reputation of the clan.

There was no need for her to lower herself to argue with such a casual cultivator.

"Hello, Fellow Daoist Liu." Li Ji'an responded with a smile.

Xiao Changfeng had already sent a message to introduce the woman's identity and background, and his words seemed to be trying to persuade her to make friends.

Coincidentally, Guagua, his second trump card and the guarantee of "returning to childhood", has already faced the key to promotion to the second level, which requires a blood pill.

But, not to mention the value of the blood pill, even if he could collect enough spirit stones now, it would be difficult to buy a blood pill without special connections.

After all, one blood pill means that this state may have an additional second-level monster comparable to the foundation-building stage.

The Liu family, who are the best at refining beast pills in Cangyun Province, have the final say in this matter.

"Fellow Daoist Li, you are too polite. Since these soul-trapping talismans belong to you, I shamelessly ask you to sell them to me. I, Liu Jiuchan, owe you a favor. If you encounter difficulties in the future, you can mention my name." Liu Jiuchan nodded slightly, appearing quite sincere.

"Favor?" Li Ji'an laughed secretly in his heart. What he had just said to Xiao Changfeng was that he owed him a favor.

"Don't worry, I will buy it at a price 30% higher than the market price!" Liu Jiuchan observed Li Ji'an's expression and saw that he was a little hesitant, so he hurriedly added.

Li Ji'an thought to himself that he had plenty of soul-trapping talismans on him. Before Xiao Changfeng arrived at the Immortal City, he had already drawn a batch of nine mid-stage soul-trapping talismans. Then, while waiting for Xiao Changfeng to carry out the task, he gained confidence because he knew Xiao Qiao's magical powers, and decisively compensated with three late-stage high-quality soul-trapping talismans.

Now that we know the level of the spiritual flame here, we should be able to take it down with at most three mid-stage spirit-trapping talismans.

However, he said with a hint of embarrassment: "Fellow Daoist Liu, you may not know that I came here specifically to capture the Spirit Flame in order to improve my alchemy skills. I haven't prepared many Spirit-Trapping Talismans."

Liu Jiuchan's pupils shrank slightly, but she still forced a smile and said sincerely, "Fellow Daoist Li, how can you believe such nonsense? I have been here for quite some time, and many elders in my clan have been here year-round to capture young fire monsters. There is no such thing as spiritual flame. These are all tricks used by those with ulterior motives to deceive you. Don't be fooled."

Li Ji'an's eyelids twitched slightly. If he had not already locked onto the small spiritual flame, he would have probably believed it.

He realized that this woman was not a simple person, at least she was born with the ability to lie with her eyes open.

I made a decision immediately.

"Since Fellow Daoist Liu is so frank, I will be more straightforward. I can sell you the Soul-Trapping Talisman, but I need a promise from you."

Compared to some illusory favors, actual promises are more reliable.

Without equal status, a long-term value exchange relationship, and potential that the other party is optimistic about, it is unrealistic to simply want to please and make friends with the upper class.

After living for several lifetimes, he has long understood that many people in power take advantage of the mentality of the lower class to get something for nothing, and even some swindlers take advantage of this mentality.

The other party was in urgent need of the soul-trapping talisman at the moment, which was why he spoke to him so kindly.

If it were an ordinary day, the other party probably wouldn't even look at him.

Of course, the most important thing is that the first impression this woman gave him was not that of a person of noble character who knew how to be grateful.

The way he always adhered to was to make friends with all kinds of people, not to please or curry favor with others, but to exchange values.

(End of this chapter)