Two days later.
"We've finally arrived at the imperial capital."
Ye Yunfei looked ahead and spoke.
On the distant horizon, a city resembling a giant dragon appeared. Its sprawl stretched endlessly across the miles, coiled upon the distant land.
From afar, it appeared resplendent and magnificent, imposing and grand!
Ye Yunfei, riding his Crimson Flood Dragon Demonic Horse, entered the imperial capital.
Inside the city, he saw palaces and pavilions rising majestically, structures of jade and precious wood connecting the city walls, with streets and bridges intertwining.
There were countless passersby, merchants gathering in crowds, people from all walks of life—nobles, aristocrats, and commoners alike. It was a thriving and bustling scene.
"Master, shall we go directly to eliminate the Li Family?"
Hu Miao emerged from her Inner Core as well and walked alongside Ye Yunfei on the main street.
"No. We'll first find the Third Prince, and then, we'll eliminate the Li Family," Ye Yunfei replied after a moment's thought.
Soon, Ye Yunfei inquired about the location of the Third Prince's residence. He followed the directions and not long after, an expansive estate came into view.
"Brother Ye, you've finally arrived!"
Just as Ye Yunfei was surveying the place, a voice full of pleasant surprise rang out.
It was the Third Prince, accompanied by the green-robed elder, having just stepped out of the palace gates. Their eyes lit up the moment they spotted Ye Yunfei standing before the entrance.
"Brother Ye, I've been longing for your arrival!"
The Third Prince rushed over, his expression excited.
"Since I promised the Third Prince, I was bound to come," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
"Brother Ye, this is my estate. Please, come in!"
The Third Prince personally led the way, welcoming Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao into the palace.
Upon entering, they were greeted by layer upon layer of pavilions, terraces shrouded in mist, rock gardens with ponds, and numerous gazebos. A prince's palace was indeed lavishly extravagant.
"Brother Ye, please rest here for a moment. I will immediately arrange a banquet to welcome you properly."
The Third Prince guided Ye Yunfei to an exquisite three-story building and said with a smile.
"Mmm. There's no need for such formality, Third Prince."
Ye Yunfei nodded. He and Hu Miao entered the building.
The Crimson Flood Dragon Demonic Horse had already been taken by the servants of the Third Prince's estate to be carefully tended to.
Inside the building, Ye Yunfei casually chose a room for himself. Hu Miao occupied the room next to his.
"This trip to the auction in Tianteng City yielded quite a few gains."
Seated cross-legged in the room, Ye Yunfei first took out the Pill Cauldron.
"This cauldron appears to be quite old. While it's far inferior to the top-grade cauldrons I used in the past, for my current self, it's a decent piece."
After examining it for a moment, Ye Yunfei nodded in approval.
During the auction, after obtaining the cauldron, Ye Yunfei had immediately stored it in his spatial ring and hadn't had a chance to study it carefully.
"Oh?
This cauldron actually has a remnant Soul Mark inside it."
Ye Yunfei's spiritual sense suddenly detected a trace of soul energy fluctuation on the cauldron, stirring his interest.
Immediately, Ye Yunfei released his Soul Power, extending it into the interior of the cauldron.
"Get lost!"
A hoarse roar erupted as a frail, aged figure gradually materialized inside the cauldron.
It was a yellow-robed elder whose venomous gaze was fixed on Ye Yunfei.
However, this yellow-robed elder appeared very hazy, flickering in and out of existence—merely a faint shadow.
"So, it was an Eighth-Grade Alchemist. This must have been your cauldron before, now only this incomplete soul remnant remains," Ye Yunfei said indifferently.
"Young man, you are somewhat unusual."
The yellow-robed elder was taken aback. For Ye Yunfei to identify him as a former Eighth-Grade Alchemist at a glance required no simple discerning power.
"You harbor intense resentment; you must have died with great reluctance. However, this cauldron now belongs to me. Your Soul Mark has no reason to exist anymore. If you know what's good for you, leave on your own. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Ye Yunfei's tone remained flat.
As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Yunfei's Soul Power suddenly erupted, roaring like thunder through the interior of the cauldron.
"Impossible! How can one so young possess such formidable Soul Power?!"
The yellow-robed elder retreated in fright, exclaiming in shock.
His already transparent and illusory form grew even weaker under the assault of Ye Yunfei's Soul Power.
"Young man, stop! I have something to say!"
The yellow-robed elder hurriedly cried out.
"Oh? Speak, then."
"You are correct, young man. I indeed died with great reluctance. My name is Huang Shang. In my time, I was the most skilled alchemist in the Eastern Region."
"Later, by a stroke of fortune, I obtained a Heaven and Earth Strange Fire."
"Though I kept it a secret and never told a soul after acquiring it, my three disciples eventually found out."
"All three of them harbored evil intentions, seeking to claim the strange fire for themselves."
"They caught me off guard and attacked me together, shattering my physical body. In the end, only this remnant soul of mine remained, hiding within this cauldron. My death was utterly unjust."
"You obtained a Heaven and Earth Strange Fire? Was it a Heavenly Fire or an Earth Fire?" Ye Yunfei asked, slightly surprised.
Within the heavens and earth, there existed many unique flames born of nature, known as Strange Fires. For alchemists, these fires were priceless treasures. If an alchemist could obtain one, refine it into their own alchemical flame, the benefits for pill refining would be immense. Moreover, some accomplished alchemists could wield Strange Fires as weapons, capable of unleashing terrifying power.
In his previous life, as a Pill Venerable, Ye Yunfei had controlled six Strange Fires himself and deeply understood their wonders.
"It was the Three Crow Dark Fire, ranked second among the Earth Fires."
Huang Shang said.
"Three Crow Dark Fire!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Yunfei's eyes lit up.
Among the world's Strange Fires, there were nine types of Heavenly Fires and eight types of Earth Fires. The higher the ranking, the more wondrous they were.
The Three Crow Dark Fire, ranked second among Earth Fires, was something Ye Yunfei had long yearned for in his previous life but never found.
He never imagined he would now have a clue to its whereabouts!
"Indeed. Young man, it seems you are quite knowledgeable about Strange Fires. At such a young age, your Soul Power is already so formidable. Moreover, it appears you are also an alchemist. Though I don't know who your master is, I am acquainted with every alchemist of any note in the Eastern Region."
Huang Shang spoke, probing for information about Ye Yunfei's background.
"Who my master is, you are not worthy to inquire about," Ye Yunfei replied coolly.
It was a joke—a Heavenly Emperor's master? How could a mere Eighth-Grade Alchemist presume to ask?
"Young man, I wish to make a deal with you. If you agree to help me take revenge, I will bequeath to you my entire lifetime's knowledge of alchemy. I dare say that in the Eastern Region, my alchemical skill is unquestionably the highest."
Huang Shang proposed.
"Hahaha… Old man, you think too highly of yourself. The alchemy skills you pride yourself on are, in my eyes, of little consequence. A mere Eighth-Grade Alchemist, by what virtue or capability, could aspire to be my master?"
"However, I *am* interested in the Three Crow Dark Fire. Tell me its location, and perhaps I might consider helping you seek vengeance."
Ye Yunfei laughed heartily.