That night. He Luo and his daughter, He Qingman, remained seated in the hall after Shi Yan and Mo Duanhun departed.

"Qingman, what exactly is that boy's background? Why does Lord Mo value him so highly..."

"He is the orphaned heir of the Yang family. He lived in a remote area until Emperor Yang Qing emerged from seclusion. It seems the Emperor used a grand divine art to calculate his whereabouts, which is why someone was dispatched to bring him back to the Boundless Sea..." He Qingman paused, then added, "This person is utterly devoid of empathy or righteousness. Sister Xinyan took a soul attack meant for her from Demon Lord Mo Qidun because of him, yet he didn't mourn; instead, he actually smiled. He is incredibly faithless and heartless!" "How did the Xia girl come to know him?" "The dispatch from that region mentioned the appearance of a fragmented map of the Heavenly Gate. Sister Xinyan was ordered to investigate matters concerning the Heavenly Gate and happened to meet him there. For some unknown reason, Sister Xinyan seemed quite concerned about him. I could tell that Sister Xinyan harbored some affection for him..."

He Qingman detailed everything she knew about Shi Yan to He Luo.

"The boy should be twenty-one now, cultivating at the Second Heaven of the Hundred Tribulations realm. That's not weak," He Luo mused for a moment, frowning. "However, within the Yang family, there should be quite a few youths who could reach that level. Why is Emperor Yang Qing so fixated on him?"

"I heard Sister Xinyan say he only began martial cultivation at seventeen, and before that, he possessed no essence whatsoever. This means he reached the Second Heaven of the Hundred Tribulations realm in just four years. I find it hard to believe myself; I suspect Sister Xinyan might have exaggerated."

"What?" He Luo's expression shifted drastically. "How is that possible? No one in the Boundless Sea can advance to such a high realm in such a short time! This—how can this be?" "I don't believe it either." "It probably isn't true." He Luo fell silent for a moment, then shook his head. "No one can cultivate to such a profound realm so quickly. No faction in the Boundless Sea can manage it, let alone some obscure, remote place." "Mhm, I also think Sister Xinyan might have been deceived by him," He Qingman nodded in agreement.

"Qingman, that bet this time... it really, really shouldn't have happened...," He Luo sighed.

"What's wrong with it?" He Qingman’s delicate eyebrows shot up, and she scoffed sweetly, "He insisted on giving us Demonic Crystals! If it’s offered, why refuse? I don't believe he can actually solve a problem that even the three great powers couldn't handle!" "I know he can't do it..." He Luo nodded, naturally assuming Shi Yan was incapable. "It’s just that taking seven Level Seven Demonic Crystals from him so easily doesn't seem quite right. Lord Mo was watching, too. Afterward, will he think we father and daughter deliberately extorted him?" "Hmph!" He Qingman’s lovely face flushed with anger. "That pervert! He deserves whatever bad luck comes his way for daring to harbor such thoughts about me!" "I'm worried the Yang family will be displeased if they learn of this," He Luo sighed. "It wasn't easy for our He family to reach this stage, and you know the Yang family's influence in the Galuo Sea Region. If we make the Yang family uncomfortable, Father will have to tread carefully in everything he does. If the Yang family finds leverage against us, our He family will be ruined beyond recovery!"

"Father, you worry too much. The Yang family, despite their arrogance, aren't entirely unreasonable," He Qingman comforted him. "Besides, our He family is now affiliated with the Heavenly Evil Grotto-Heaven. Even if the Yang family doesn't show us face, they must show respect to the Heavenly Evil Grotto-Heaven and won't act rashly." "I hope so." He Luo was still worried. After a moment of thought, he said, "Afterward, we'll just take the three Wind and Water attribute Demonic Crystals. The remaining four, while equally precious, aren't what we strictly need. If we take four fewer, even if the Yang family finds out later, they probably won't truly be enraged..."

"That depends on how he performs next," He Qingman tilted her head back, pouting indignantly. "This man is too detestable, daring to propose such an insolent wager! If I don't teach him a lesson, he'll truly think we are easy targets. Hmph, I'm also doing this to stand up for Sister Xinyan, letting this ungrateful dog know that women are not to be trifled with!"

He Luo shook his head with a bitter smile. "You truly are something, taking a bet like this. Luckily only the four of us know; otherwise, if this got out, it would seriously damage your reputation."

"If Father doesn't speak of it, I certainly won't. Lord Mo isn't that kind of person either. The boy is certain to lose, so he naturally won't spread such a humiliating incident. Nothing to worry about," He Qingman dismissed his concerns. "Since no one knows, there won't be any rumors. Father can rest assured." Upon hearing this, He Luo thought it over and felt slightly relieved, nodding. "That's true. If no one knows, it won't affect you. Well, I hope that boy is also discreet and doesn't start spouting nonsense when he's drunk sometime; that would sound terrible."

"He wouldn't dare!" He Qingman gritted her teeth and said coldly, "If I find out he has, I'll make him pay!"

In a side chamber within the He family's backyard.

Mo Duanhun frowned, uncharacteristically initiating conversation. "Back in the day, someone in the Xia family suffered from the same affliction as the Xia girl—a malfunctioning Reincarnation Martial Soul, causing memory dislocation. That person had extraordinary talent. To save him, the Xia family approached the Heavenly Evil Grotto-Heaven and us. The three great powers devised a solution together, attempting to awaken him, but they ultimately failed, and the person nearly died in the attempt..."

Mo Duanhun looked up at Shi Yan. "The three great powers couldn't solve this problem, Young Master Yan. Why are you so confident?"

"You don't believe I can solve it either?" Shi Yan smiled faintly.

Mo Duanhun frowned. "It’s not disbelief. It's uncertainty—I don't know what method could possibly resolve this matter."

"Heh, I know you don't believe me..." Shi Yan chuckled, unconcerned. "But rest assured, I dared to wager seven Level Seven Demonic Crystals, so I must have some confidence. I wouldn't agree so readily to something I wasn't sure about. Don't worry, I won't be the one losing."

"The He family girl is extremely close to the Xia girl. Even if you win, are you truly going to make the He girl strip naked for you to look at for one minute?" Mo Duanhun's gaze was extremely peculiar.

"Depends on my mood," Shi Yan chuckled lightly. "Maybe I will, maybe I won't—we'll see then..."

Mo Duanhun blinked, then shook his head.

After a while, Mo Duanhun seemed to recall something suddenly. "Young Master Yan... you really intend to enter the Ten Thousand Year Volcano..."

"Mhm..."

"The core of the Ten Thousand Year Volcano holds flames too intense even for me to accompany you down. If you truly intend to go, you must be extremely cautious." "I know..."

"The core fire of the Ten Thousand Year Volcano is a type of Earth Fire, one of the nine supreme treasures that are the most Yang and hottest in heaven and earth. If you can see the Core Fire, it would be best to collect it if the opportunity arises. However, the Core Fire is scorching hot and requires a special vessel for containment. The materials needed for that vessel are not rare, nor is the forging difficult. Our Yang family has a few, but I don't have one on me. Tomorrow, I can ask the He family to see if they possess such a container..."

Shi Yan's eyes lit up with surprise. "Core Fire! If the vessel to contain the Core Fire is not difficult to forge, perhaps the He family, having stayed on Fire Cloud Island for so many years, has collected some Core Fire?"

"Impossible," Mo Duanhun shook his head. "The vessel to contain the Core Fire isn't excessively precious, but the Core Fire itself is incredibly valuable. Even if someone possessed the vessel, obtaining the Core Fire requires descending into the heart of the Ten Thousand Year Volcano. Even I dare not enter the core; the He family certainly lacks the capability." "I see..."

"Young Master Yan possesses the Profound Ice Cold Flame, so you do have a chance to enter the volcano's core, but others lack that ability," Mo Duanhun nodded. "Tomorrow, I will ask He Luo. If he doesn't have one, I will send a message to the Yang family to have one sent over, though it might take some effort..."

"Mhm..."

The next morning, bright and early.

He Luo personally came to visit Mo Duanhun. Mo Duanhun nodded straightforwardly and immediately asked, "Does your He family possess a Purifying Bottle..."

A Purifying Bottle is a flask forged by fusing eight types of Yin-cold metallic ores, used specifically to store the Core Fire.

The Purifying Bottle is not considered overly precious, but most people do not forge them because, once made, they are only useful for storing Core Fire, having no other function. Only powerful individuals intent on collecting the Core Fire would forge one in advance; general artifact refiners wouldn't bother.

"A Purifying Bottle?" He Luo was momentarily surprised. "The kind used to contain Core Fire?"

Mo Duanhun nodded.

"I'll go ask my useless younger son. That boy ignores the righteous path and enjoys tinkering with these small gadgets. For a time, I heard he wanted to forge a Purifying Bottle, hoping one day he might be lucky enough to collect Core Fire. I don't know if he succeeded," He Luo hesitated before saying, "Lord Mo, please wait a moment; I'll have someone summon him immediately."

"Mhm..."

"Someone!" He Luo called out sharply.

A withered, haggard old man appeared shortly after and stood respectfully before He Luo. "Your subordinate is here..."

"Summon that brat He Lai. If he has a Purifying Bottle, have him bring it directly," He Luo commanded.

"As you command." A quarter of an hour later.

The languid He Qingman, her bright eyes shining, entered accompanied by a chubby boy of about eighteen or nineteen.

Bathing in the morning sunlight, He Qingman was radiant, her graceful figure and slender, beautiful legs displaying enchanting allure with every step, captivating to the eye.

Shi Yan glanced at her, inwardly praising her beauty. He had to admit, this woman was truly stunning; her seductive and charming demeanor could undoubtedly make any man's heart race.

The chubby boy behind He Qingman bore a faint resemblance to He Luo in appearance, but his excessive weight, slightly lewd eyes, and hunched posture made him truly unsightly standing next to He Qingman.

Mo Duanhun was also momentarily stunned, looking at He Lai, and asked He Luo strangely, "This is your youngest son?" "Ahem." He Luo looked embarrassed, forcing a dry laugh. "This is the child born to me and my wife's maid. His aptitude is indeed lacking, and his nature is perverse. He is obsessed with becoming an artifact refiner, tinkering with all sorts of random things day and night. But because he lacks a flame martial soul within his body, no genuine artifact refiner is willing to take him as an apprentice. This boy often uses the flames within this volcano to create small novelties. While they might not be masterpieces, he can sometimes manage to produce something." "Father, what do you need me for?" He Lai asked cheerfully upon arrival. "Sister asked me to prepare the auxiliary materials for absorbing the Wind and Water Demonic Crystals. I'm busy; I don't have time for nonsense." "Shut up!" He Qingman glared at the boy.

He Luo also looked rather awkward, chuckling nervously.

Shi Yan’s expression remained unchanged, but he scoffed internally.

It appeared that He Luo and He Qingman, father and daughter, were already convinced he would lose, even starting to prepare the auxiliary materials for absorbing the Wind and Water Demonic Crystals. They clearly weren't taking him seriously at all.