Fire Shrine

To attend the Cat Demon Hunting Convention, Xiao Menglan once again could not help nagging on the way to prepare more things for Cao Xueyan.

You have enough magic tools on you.

As for talisman papers, I will draw you a few more stacks later.

Pills—oh right, do you still have enough pills?

You finished the medicinal liquid I gave you last time, didn’t you?

The pills Peak Master Zhao gave you were all for cultivation, and that won’t do.

You must also keep some life-saving pills with you at all times.

Still on the flying sword, Xiao Menglan began talking endlessly again.

Originally, the master and disciple had no particular place they wanted to go.

But now, the sword turned sharply and headed directly toward Dan Peak.

Where are we going, Master? Cao Xueyan looked around—there were only mountains and clouds.

To the Fire Refining Palace.

Originally, I planned to take you to visit the other peak masters after your Cat Demon Convention ended, so at least you could have a respectable introduction.

But after thinking about it, reputation is empty and not worth anything.

Since that’s the case, we might as well use this opportunity and visit someone now.

After flying above the clouds for almost half an hour, Cao Xueyan finally saw it—
A towering mountain peak—this was Dan Peak.

Dan Peak had many disciples and managed large medicinal fields.

Naturally, it occupied vast land.

Before even reaching the Fire Refining Palace near the peak, Cao Xueyan could already see the sprawling fields halfway up the mountain.

Many inner disciples in blue robes were rolling up their sleeves and trousers, bending their backs to work in the fields.

Some used the Spiritual Rain Technique, guiding a cloud of spiritual rain back and forth until their mana ran dry.

Then they collapsed on the ridges without care for image, swallowed a pill, and meditated on the spot.

Some formed sword gestures with their fingers to remove pests and weeds.

This work was especially exhausting.

Any weed or insect daring to appear in these fields was no ordinary creature—ordinary blades could not harm them, and only spiritual power could.

Compared to the Talisman Peak, this place looked more like farmland.

Outside the Fire Refining Palace, several attendants with strong medicinal scents approached.

They first bowed to Xiao Menglan, and then to Cao Xueyan.

One said: “Peak Master Xiao, Honored Personal Disciple, our Peak Master has already instructed us to welcome you. Please come inside.”

Recently, Cao Xueyan had taken time to learn a basic transmission technique from Xiao Menglan.

She secretly used it now to ask: “Master, you notified Peak Master Zhao beforehand?”

I did, but we didn’t arrange a specific time.

However, Zhao Yunlu… aside from tending his furnace, he likes to dabble in divination.

Although his skill is far inferior to the old monsters at Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, he can still manage to foresee something like this.

So that’s how it is.

Cao Xueyan followed behind Xiao Menglan seriously, not daring to look around too much—
mainly because the gazes of the surrounding disciples made her uncomfortable.

Ahhh, why are there so many people in the Fire Refining Palace!?

Her social anxiety was acting up again.

She quietly swallowed.

If Xiao Menglan’s “Inviting Moon Palace” was like a cold palace in the heavens, matching perfectly with her temperament—
then the Fire Refining Palace was full of literal “smoke and fire.”

As soon as Cao Xueyan passed by a room, a loud explosion came from behind.

The protective array on the door burst open with a wave of heat and fire, followed by rolling black smoke.

Cao Xueyan was startled.

At that critical moment, Xiao Menglan placed a hand lightly on her shoulder, calming her.

From the smoke stumbled a figure, coughing violently on the ground.

Cao Xueyan couldn’t help looking twice.

The attendant leading them explained awkwardly: “Please forgive this. There are many pill rooms here. Furnace explosions happen occasionally.”

Xiao Menglan didn’t react.

Cao Xueyan mimicked her master—expression cold, silent.

Seeing the two remain composed, the attendant secretly sighed in relief.

He had actually understated it—furnace explosions in the Fire Refining Palace didn’t happen occasionally…
they happened almost every day!

There were two major causes:
One—pill refiners lacking skill.
Two—the palace sat atop underground fire veins. When the fire-directing array wore down, even tiny fluctuations could lead to explosion.

Without more incidents, the attendant quickly led them to a small courtyard where Zhao Yunlu resided.

The courtyard was simple and slightly worn.

Pushing the door open, one could see an old man sipping tea beneath a tree.

Oh? So this old one’s calculations were correct.

To have Peak Master Xiao and her cherished disciple visit this humble courtyard today—what an honor.

Zhao Yunlu was old, and his manner gentle.

Unlike Elder Qiu from Artifact Peak, whose temper always seemed to be burning.

I came today unannounced, and so it is rather abrupt.

I’ve brought some talismans as a courtesy.

As Xiao Menglan spoke, several talismans glowing faintly with spiritual light floated out from her sleeve and landed before Zhao Yunlu.

Zhao Yunlu’s expression tightened slightly.

He examined them and said: “There’s no need for such formality… how could I possibly…”

But his hands were very honest.

He immediately collected them into his sleeve.

After all—these were genuine third-grade talismans, not something seen often.

Having accepted the gift, he hesitated—
for to receive means one must also give in return.

You’ve given me quite a difficult problem.

What could I possibly give back?

To refine a third-grade pill was to wrestle with the very laws of nature—not something easy to offer casually.

Yet Xiao Menglan had simply handed over such precious items—
which now made him feel awkward.

A return gift is a small matter.

I brought my disciple mainly to let her meet others.

They are all personal disciples of the sect.

In the future, the sect will be in their hands.

They should not be strangers to one another.

Xiao Menglan smiled—radiant enough to stir hearts.

So that’s how it is—yes, yes, very good!

Zhao Yunlu took out a jade slip and spoke into it.

Soon after, several individuals entered:

A middle-aged man at Foundation Establishment.

Several young disciples—male and female—still at Qi Refinement.

Among them, one face seemed familiar to Cao Xueyan.

After staring for a while, she suddenly remembered—

Wasn’t this the pill junior sister?

Dan Yao had said she lived in the Fire Refining Palace—so it was true.

No wonder she appeared so quickly when Zhao Yunlu sent word.

The group greeted Zhao Yunlu first.

Then, seeing Xiao Menglan, they froze—
the famous Peak Master of Talisman Peak!

Even if equal to Zhao Yunlu in title, her real influence was higher due to her sect lineage.

Why are you all standing stiff?

Call your greetings to Peak Master Xiao and her disciple!

So they did.

Then, greetings to Cao Xueyan—
the Foundation Establishment man calling her Junior Sister,
and the younger ones calling her Personal Disciple Cao.

Cao Xueyan returned the bows politely.

Hierarchy was a serious matter—and she had learned that well.

You young people, get acquainted.

You are of the same generation—
it is good to build connections early.

Cao Xueyan felt her toes curling with embarrassment.

Aside from Xiao Menglan, she had talked to no one recently.

Now she was expected to… socialize?

But she could only brace herself.

After all, the sect valued relationships as much as strength.

Soon, Xiao Menglan and Zhao Yunlu sat together, drinking tea.

Meanwhile, Cao Xueyan was surrounded by several disciples who kindly tried to start conversation.

Except for one—
The girl quietly standing in the corner, looking even more shy than Cao Xueyan.

That was Dan Yao.

She had never imagined that the junior sister she casually chatted with before…
turned out to be the most sought-after new personal disciple of the sect.

And thinking of how casually she had spoken back then—
she wished the ground would open and swallow her whole.