Shi Yan craned his neck, pressing against the windowsill, looking down at the azure pool water below. Through the hazy mist, the vague shapes of graceful figures were discernible, their delicate forms sinking into the water, indistinct. Numerous handsome young martial artists, richly clad, were also laughing and looking down from the windows like him, occasionally whistling, their expressions utterly relaxed. His position was separated from Gu Linglong and Qu Yanqing by about ten sections; dozens of people stood between them. Furthermore, since he hadn't exchanged a single word, Gu Linglong and Qu Yanqing were mostly focused on the view outside and hadn't noticed he was there either. Inside the pavilion, guards clad in the robes of the Three Deities Cult moved back and forth, bringing up platters of complimentary fruit and distributing them to the various tables. The Sun Island was rarely opened to outsiders. The martial artists currently present had all accompanied their elders and held some standing within their families or sects, essentially making them guests of the Three Deities Cult. Consequently, the bathhouse at the foot of Sacred Light Mountain was free for all, and even many taverns offered free food and fruit. Of course, the truly rare and precious delicacies were not offered freely by the Three Deities Cult; one had to pay the corresponding fee to taste them. Shi Yan wasn't particularly interested in the famously unique cuisine of the Three Deities Cult. The complimentary fruits and pastries were more than enough for him, so after sitting down, he didn't summon a guard to order any extra delicacies.

A strand of soul-thought, almost imperceptible to ordinary perception, quietly emanated from him, originating from Yi Tianmo.

“Master, indeed many people have arrived, claiming they wish to pay their respects and seek an audience with you. Among them are martial artists from the Spirit Treasure Grotto-Heaven, the Dongfang Family, and the Yin-Yang Grotto-Heaven. Those few you disciplined earlier have also come along. Shall I grant them an audience?”

Yi Tianmo’s soul message traveled from tens of miles away, his intent condensed and unwavering, as if whispering directly into Shi Yan’s ear.

After a moment of thought, Shi Yan affixed his consciousness to the lingering thought Yi Tianmo had left behind and sent a reply: “Ignore them. Regardless of who comes, grant an audience to no one.”

“Understood.”

Yi Tianmo quietly withdrew the soul-thought. Clarity returned to Shi Yan’s mind, and his gaze gradually deepened.

“Hmm?” Returning to himself, Shi Yan suddenly let out a soft sound, knitted his brows, and looked at the person sitting opposite him, asking in a deep voice, “Who are you?”

His grasp of the profound mysteries of the soul was inferior to Yi Tianmo's. While conversing with Yi Tianmo, he had to be completely immersed, focusing all his attention on the soul fluctuations in his mind, which is why he overlooked the change beside him.

Only after concluding his communication with Yi Tianmo did he allow his vigilance to sharpen, immediately noticing a nonchalant youth seated directly across from him.

This person wore a garishly flamboyant, five-colored robe, embroidered all over with kaleidoscopic flowers, birds, and beasts—quite eccentric. However, despite the strange attire, the man's appearance was strikingly handsome. His face was like polished jade, his eyes like cold starlight; that face seemed like an exquisite work of art, even more refined and beautiful than that of most women.

Under Shi Yan's scrutiny, the man wore an irritatingly lazy grin, one foot propped up on the edge of the table, casually eating a bunch of grapes, chuckling, “I’ve also come to the Endless Sea for recreation. I am Ye Changfeng. I used to belong to the Spirit Treasure Grotto-Heaven, but I’ve been expelled from the sect now—completely unattached.”

While laughing playfully, Ye Changfeng extended his left hand, paler than a woman’s, and remotely summoned a passing guard, calling out loudly, “Bring four jars of ‘Flame of the Blazing Sun,’ and don’t forget the complimentary side dishes.”

Clatter.

A heavy pouch of crystal coins flicked from his palm, landing precisely in the hand of a smiling guard from the Three Deities Cult.

“We’ll drink and watch the beauties. Hehe, I’m also very interested in women; we can discuss them.”

This man showed no restraint. He casually picked up an apple, took a massive bite, and, with a suggestive smile, pointed toward Gu Linglong and Qu Yanqing a few sections away, lowering his voice conspiratorially, “Those two lasses are top-tier. One is the young mistress of the Gu family, the other is the new Saintess of the Celestial Pond Holy Land. Not only are they stunning, but they are also masters on the Battle Rankings. Especially that Saintess of the Celestial Pond Holy Land—the face beneath her mask truly haunts one’s dreams…”

Ye Changfeng looked utterly intoxicated, licking his lips, his eyes filled with desire, and then he let out another chuckle as he spoke.

While he was talking, the Three Deities Cult guard, having received payment, swiftly brought over the four jars of ‘Flame of the Blazing Sun’ along with several plates of snacks. He lazily stood up, grabbed a jar of ‘Flame of the Blazing Sun,’ threw his head back, and gulped down several large mouthfuls, then wiped the traces of wine from his mouth, exclaiming, “This liquor has kick!”

Shi Yan leaned back in his chair, his eyes slightly narrowed, coldly observing Ye Changfeng, remaining silent.

“Aren’t you going to try some?” Ye Changfeng leaned forward, pushing a jar of ‘Flame of the Blazing Sun’ in front of Shi Yan, stating solemnly, “This wine is unique to the Three Deities Cult. The secret formula for the ‘Flame of the Blazing Sun’ was devised by a former Sun God of the Cult. It burns like fire in the belly—mellow yet potent. Absolutely the perfect drink for a true man.”

Shi Yan remained silent, but he picked up the jar of ‘Flame of the Blazing Sun’ before him, and in front of Ye Changfeng, he downed half of it in one go. Then, with a thud, he set the jar down on the table, his cold eyes fixed on Ye Changfeng, saying faintly, “Speak. What do you want with me?”

The smile on Ye Changfeng’s face froze. He ran a hand through his messy, short hair and chuckled awkwardly, “You noticed?”

“Your mastery over the profound mysteries of the soul is inferior to Yi Tianmo’s. When communicating with Yi Tianmo, I had to be completely absorbed, focusing all my attention on the soul ripples in my mind, which is why I overlooked the change beside me. Now that the communication is over, my vigilance has sharpened, and I immediately noticed a brazen youth sitting opposite me.”

“You carry the fourth-ranked Heavenly Fire, the ‘Purgatory True Fire,’ yet you’ve managed to integrate it fully. Your understanding and recognition of your Heavenly Fire are no less profound than Qing Ming, the Cult Master of the Corpse God Cult, concerning his Abyssal Corpse Fire. And yet, you are only at the Status Realm. Given time, you might surpass that Qing Ming.”

Shi Yan gave a cold smile. “Heavenly Fires can sense each other. Since you are sitting before me, you naturally sensed the aura of a Heavenly Fire on my person. I just want to know what your intentions are.”

Most Heavenly Fires can devour and absorb one another. If one Heavenly Fire digests another, it is an incredibly beneficial refinement for both the Fire and its owner. Half an hour ago, when he confronted Qing Ming of the Corpse God Cult, he knew Qing Ming harbored greed for the Heavenly Fire on him. If Yi Tianmo and the other two hadn't been present, and if the Sun God Tang Yuannan hadn't suddenly appeared to warn Qing Ming, Qing Ming would have undoubtedly tried to absorb the Heavenly Fire on him without reservation. Once Qing Ming devoured the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire he possessed, Qing Ming’s divine realm attainment would immediately leap to a new level, and his future potential would become awe-inspiring. Since Ye Changfeng possessed the Purgatory True Fire, his arrival immediately put Shi Yan on high alert.

“The legendary Purgatory True Fire originates from the scorching Purgatory; it is the source flame of Purgatory’s inferno. As the fourth-ranked Heavenly Fire, the Purgatory True Fire is said to be able to melt all metal ores. Therefore, the Purgatory True Fire can not only combat enemies but also serve as the activating flame for refining elixirs and secret treasures. If the wielder of the Purgatory True Fire is also an alchemist or a weaponsmith, they will achieve twice the result with half the effort in those two fields, reaching heights unattainable by ordinary people…”

The thought of the Profound Ice Cold Flame quietly transmitted from the Blood Pattern Ring, granting Shi Yan further insight into the characteristics of the Purgatory True Fire.

“Don’t misunderstand.”

Ye Changfeng laughed dryly and raised his hands, signaling he meant no harm. After seeing Shi Yan make no aggressive move, he returned to his earlier slovenly demeanor, grinning, “I ran into you purely by accident. I came for a drink, sensed the aura of a Heavenly Fire on you, and came over to take a look. I have no other intentions.”

“That is good then.”

Shi Yan nodded, his gaze indifferent. He calmly nibbled on the pastries he had before, shamelessly drinking the fine wine Ye Changfeng had ordered, idly gazing at the hot spring pool below, paying Ye Changfeng no further mind.

“Actually…”

Ye Changfeng hesitated, his words trailing off.

Shi Yan didn't even look at him, as if he hadn't heard, continuing to focus his attention on the bathhouse below.

“Actually, I want to strike a deal with you. I don't know which type of Heavenly Fire you possess, but I think if you assist me, I can temper a Saint-tier secret treasure.” Ye Changfeng was ambitious, his eyes burning with fervor. “Although I possess the Purgatory True Fire, my cultivation is too low for me to exert its full power. However, refining a Saint-tier secret treasure requires sufficient fiery intensity for support, so regrettably, I have never dared to begin…”

“Uninteresting,” Shi Yan said without turning back, refusing outright.

“Don’t you have any thought of seizing the Purgatory True Fire in his body?” The thought of the Profound Ice Cold Flame suddenly transmitted from the Blood Pattern Ring. “Although his cultivation is similar to yours, given your monstrous nature, killing him shouldn’t be difficult. With the strangeness of your demonic ring, absorbing his Purgatory True Fire after his death would be a natural progression. What do you think?”

“He is only at the Status Realm yet manages to truly integrate the Purgatory True Fire. Do you really think he is easy to deal with?” Shi Yan scoffed inwardly. “As far as I know, only Divine Realm martial artists are generally qualified to truly integrate a Heavenly Fire. I’ve met Qing Ming, and I observed that even Qing Ming’s degree of fusion with his Heavenly Fire doesn't match this fellow’s level, let alone my own.”

“That does make some sense; this fellow is indeed a bit strange.” The Profound Ice Cold Flame agreed with his assessment and ceased offering its poor advice.

“Actually… I’m more interested in that Qing Ming…”

“Ah, are you serious? Qing Ming is a Divine Realm expert! His Abyssal Corpse Fire is also monstrous. While his fusion level with the Abyssal Corpse Fire isn't as high as this fellow’s, his cultivation realm is too high; the power he can wield from the Abyssal Corpse Fire far exceeds this lad’s. Have you gone mad?”

“Perhaps. I suspect Qing Ming is very interested in me as well. Let’s observe the situation quietly and find an opportunity to strike.”

“…While he was secretly communicating with the Profound Ice Cold Flame, Ye Changfeng awkwardly rubbed his messy hair, anxiously weighing something in his mind. After a while, Ye Changfeng suddenly gritted his teeth and said with fierce determination, “As long as you help me, once that Saint-tier secret treasure is successfully refined, it will belong directly to you!”

Shi Yan’s eyes lit up, and he suddenly turned back, looking at him as if he were an idiot. “Are you insane?”

“Close to it,” Ye Changfeng’s smile was extremely strained. “You know the value of a Saint-tier secret treasure. In the Endless Sea, every single Saint-tier secret treasure is a foundational object for its faction. I am willing to cede it to you just for your assistance.”

“What do you gain from it?” Shi Yan asked, surprised and puzzled.

“The cultivation method I practice is special. Breakthroughs in my realm must be achieved through refining secret treasures. If I can successfully refine a Saint-tier secret treasure, I might be able to advance directly from the Status Realm to the peak of the Nirvana Realm, or even potentially step into the Celestial Realm,” Ye Changfeng mused for a moment before his eyes burned with ardor.

Shi Yan’s body trembled, and he said solemnly, “It seems you stand to gain quite a lot.”

“If I gained nothing, would I risk so much?”

Ye Changfeng gave a wry smile. “To refine such a treasure, I must find someone who possesses a Heavenly Fire to assist. That… although I know Qing Ming, the Cult Master of the Corpse God Cult, possesses a Heavenly Fire, I dare not cooperate with him. You know that Heavenly Fires can usually devour each other. The gap in our realms is too vast, and I have lost the protection of the Spirit Treasure Grotto-Heaven, so I dare not…”

Shi Yan remained silent, frowning as he carefully weighed the pros and cons. He couldn’t help but feel as if a pie had magically fallen from the sky: he only needed to offer the assistance of his Heavenly Fire to acquire a Saint-tier secret treasure. What was the difference between that and simply picking it up for free?

“Kid, are you sure you have a grasp on this?” After pondering, this question suddenly occurred to him. Shi Yan asked, “Don’t tell me you don’t know anything and are just using this to test things out, wanting me to waste time following you around to no end. Let me make it clear, I’m busy; I don’t have time to fritter away with you.”

“Don't worry. I’ve tried countless times before this,” Ye Changfeng laughed proudly, full of confidence. “As long as you help me, I guarantee you’ll receive a Saint-tier secret treasure afterward. Trust me!”

“I’ll trust you this once.” Shi Yan grinned. “I agree.”

“Very well, let’s discuss the details.” Ye Changfeng stepped forward and lowered his voice. “I have almost gathered all the materials, but I’m still short a little bit. This Spirit-tier treasure is a bit peculiar; it’s like this…”

Thump-thump.

Just then, urgent footsteps sounded from the top of the stairs, and a voice, soft enough to pierce the bone, drifted lightly from that direction: “Ye Changfeng, get out here.”

Ye Changfeng froze, then his face instantly contorted in embarrassment. He hurriedly turned his back to the staircase, pretending to be seriously engrossed in watching the hot spring pool.

Under Shi Yan’s gaze, that incomparably handsome face of his suddenly twisted. His skeletal structure subtly shifted, his skin stretched open… In just three breaths, he had transformed his face into that of a sickly, pale scholar, his complexion sallow and his eyes dull and lifeless. His entire charisma plummeted from the heavens to the earth; he instantly became countless times uglier.

“When wandering the martial world, one must know a few tricks for self-preservation, hehe.”

Ye Changfeng suddenly relaxed, casually propped his two legs up again, resumed eating and drinking, and stopped worrying about the approaching crisis.

PS First update. Thank you all for your monthly ticket support. It seems you haven't forgotten me. Thank you! Three updates today! Still begging for monthly tickets and recommendation votes for support! Give me motivation, and I will work twice as hard!