The lion stood. Its massive body radiated overwhelming pressure as flames erupted across its mane. A deafening roar echoed throughout the entire valley.
The surrounding lava surged violently in response.
Li Yan calmly drew his sword.
This was his first battle against a Tier-4 Magical Beast.
Instead of nervousness, quiet anticipation appeared in his eyes. The lion lowered its body before launching itself forward like a crimson meteor.
Its enormous claws descended toward Li Yan with terrifying force.
Li Yan stepped sideways.
The attack narrowly missed him before crashing into the stone platform, leaving behind several deep claw marks.
Almost simultaneously, his sword flashed. A sharp streak of darkness cut across the beast's shoulder. The lion roared angrily and turned around with astonishing speed, launching another series of attacks.
The battle continued.
Claw after claw swept across the battlefield.
Each carried tremendous physical strength, yet Li Yan calmly evaded or redirected every strike with minimal movement.
As the exchanges mounted, he gradually came to a conclusion.
The lion possessed formidable physical strength and an exceptionally sturdy body, but its combat experience remained crude. It relied almost entirely upon instinct and brute force.
Compared to the countless opponents Li Yan had fought inside the Hunting Ground, its attacks were straightforward and predictable.
After several dozen exchanges, Li Yan no longer needed to test its abilities.
He stepped forward instead of retreating.
Superior-Level Darkness Qi condensed along his sword.
The lion raised its claws once more.
Li Yan's sword moved first.
The blade slipped cleanly through the beast's defense before piercing directly into its throat. The enormous lion staggered several steps backward.
Its golden eyes gradually dimmed.
Moments later, its massive body crashed heavily onto the stone platform, sending tremors throughout the valley.
Silence returned.
Li Yan withdrew his sword before collecting the Tier-4 Beast Core and storing it, along with the body, inside his Storage Ring.
He wasn't surprised that his first Tier-4 Beast dropped a Beast Core because, according to what he had learned, the drop rate for Tier-4 Magical Beasts is 80%.
His expression remained as calm as before.
Although this had been his first battle against a Tier-4 Magical Beast, it had not proven as difficult as he had expected. After all, strength alone had never determined victory.
Against an opponent that relied almost entirely upon instinct, experience often proved to be the sharper weapon.
Li Yan did not leave the area immediately.
Since a Tier-4 Magical Beast had occupied this place as its territory, there was a high possibility that something valuable had been here.
His gaze slowly swept across the enormous underground valley.
The lava pool continued bubbling, filling the cavern with waves of scorching heat. The surrounding stone walls were covered with crimson mineral veins, while dense Fire Qi drifted through the air like an invisible mist.
Nothing appeared unusual to the naked eye, so Li Yan calmly expanded his Spiritual Sense.
With his Soul Cultivation having reached the Peak Stage of the Spiritual Awakening Realm, his Spiritual Sense extended one hundred and twenty-five meters in every direction.
Almost immediately, he sensed an unusual fluctuation.
His eyes turned toward a cave opening on the other side of the lava pool. There was only a thin path along the mountain to reach the other side.
Using Umbral Step Art, Li Yan crossed the distance in several swift movements before arriving in front of the cave.
The moment he entered, he saw what was there, and surprise flashed across his eyes. At the center of the cave was a crystal sphere roughly the size of a human head.
It was translucent crimson, yet its interior resembled a miniature world of fire.
Countless strands of pure Fire Qi revolved within the crystal like a tiny cyclone, endlessly circulating without ever dispersing.
The surrounding Fire Qi flowed toward it, then was released again, forming a perfect cycle.
The entire Fire Mine seemed to breathe together with it.
Li Yan immediately recognized the object. "A Fire Qi Essence Crystal…"
He had seen its illustration while studying inside the Shadow Knowledge Pavilion.
According to the ancient records, a Qi Essence Crystal was an incomparably precious natural treasure capable of continuously gathering and refining Heaven and Earth Qi of its corresponding attribute.
It was also the heart of every natural Qi Mine.
No wonder the Fire Mine had remained active and filled with Fire Qi for hundreds of years. No wonder new Fire Qi Stones continued forming throughout the underground caverns.
The source had never disappeared.
However, what truly attracted Li Yan's attention was not the Fire Qi Essence Crystal itself.
Surrounding the crystal floated around thirty smaller crimson crystals.
Each was shaped like a delicate leaf, thick and translucent, with intricate natural patterns flowing through its interior.
They revolved around the Fire Qi Essence Crystal like petals surrounding the heart of a blooming flower.
Li Yan frowned slightly. "I've never seen these before…"
The books within the Shadow Knowledge Pavilion had mentioned only the Qi Essence Crystal.
There had been no description of these leaf-shaped crystals.
Li Yan quietly observed them for several moments.
Although he did not recognize their origin, one thing was certain.
Since they existed together with the Fire Qi Essence Crystal at the heart of the Fire Mine, they were undoubtedly extraordinary treasures.
Even so, Li Yan did not attempt to collect them.
Instead, he slowly shook his head. "If this truly is the heart of the Fire Mine…"
"Taking it away would destroy everything here."
The countless Fire Qi Veins would gradually wither. The Fire Qi Stones would eventually stop forming.
The Fire Mine itself would slowly die.
Li Yan had no intention of doing such a thing.
He memorized the appearance of both the Fire Qi Essence Crystal and the thirty mysterious crystals before leaving the cave.
Over the next two days, he thoroughly explored every remaining section of the Fire Mine. No hidden passages escaped his inspection. No Magical Beast survived his search.
When he finally confirmed that the entire Fire Mine had been cleared, Li Yan left through the ancient stone passage and returned to the Shadow Haven Sect.
*****
The following morning, Li Yan made his way toward the Core Hall to meet Ji Hong.
After exchanging greetings, Li Yan described everything he had discovered behind the closed door in the Fire Mine.
From the abandoned tunnel…
To the hidden Fire Mine…
To the countless Fire-type Magical Beasts…
And finally, to the enormous underground valley guarded by the Tier-4 Magical Beast.
Only after hearing about the crimson crystal did Ji Hong's expression become serious. "You cleared the whole Fire Mine of beasts and found a Fire Qi Essence Crystal?"
Li Yan nodded. "And around it were thirty leaf-shaped crimson crystals revolving like flower petals."
Li Yan immediately noticed the change in his expression. "Elder Ji, do you know what those crystals are?"
Ji Hong nodded slowly. "I do."
He remained silent for several breaths before continuing. "The Qi Essence Crystal alone is an incomplete foundation of any Mine."
Li Yan listened attentively.
Ji Hong continued, "The leaf-shaped crystals you saw are called Fire Qi Vein Fragments. They are born naturally from the Fire Qi Essence Crystal over countless years."
"The longer the Essence Crystal exists, the more Vein Fragments it gradually produces."
Li Yan's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
Ji Hong pointed gently with his finger as he explained, "The Essence Crystal continuously gathers and refines Heaven and Earth energy. The Vein Fragments then distribute that refined Qi throughout the surrounding underground region."
"As the years pass, Qi Veins gradually form. Those veins, in turn, slowly condense into Qi Stones."
Everything immediately became clear.
Li Yan finally understood why the Fire Mine remained active despite having been abandoned for centuries.
Its foundation had never been damaged.
Ji Hong smiled faintly. "The greater the number of Qi Vein Fragments, the larger the Qi Mine eventually becomes. A newly born Essence Crystal may possess no Vein Fragments at all. It must nurture them naturally over many years."
He paused briefly before adding another piece of information. "Although these treasures are born naturally, they can also be relocated."
Li Yan looked at him with interest.
Ji Hong continued, "If someone possesses both the Essence Crystal and its Qi Vein Fragments, they can create an entirely new Mine. They need only bury them deep underground."
"Within a few months, Qi Veins will begin to spread. Not long afterward, Qi Stones will gradually start forming."
Li Yan's eyes brightened. "So the true core of a Qi Mine… isn't just the Essence Crystal."
Ji Hong nodded. "Correct. The true core consists of both the Essence Crystal and its Qi Vein Fragments. Without the Essence Crystal, the Qi Vein Fragments cannot survive underground."
"Without the Qi Vein Fragments, the Essence Crystal can only gather Fire Qi but cannot create a true Qi Mine until it creates Qi Vein Fragments by itself, which takes a long time to do."
Li Yan silently absorbed every word.
He was even more convinced that leaving everything untouched had been the correct decision. Destroying such a naturally formed treasure would have been an immeasurable loss.
Ji Hong looked at Li Yan with approval. "You handled the matter well. If word of an active Fire Mine with a Fire Qi Essence Crystal and thirty Fire Qi Vein Fragments spreads, countless forces would fight to the death to obtain it."
"For now, only the two of us should know of its existence. Also, I have to visit there by myself to see the Core of the mine. When you have time, lead me there."
Li Yan nodded. "I understand, Elder Ji. But didn't you say a year ago that you had visited there to clear the higher-tier beasts? I thought you knew about the Fire Qi Essence Crystal and Fire Qi Vein Fragments."
Ji Hong smiled as he said, "I did visit there, but only to capture Tier-3 and higher Magical Beasts from there and leave them in the Hunting Ground. But I didn't explore the mine thoroughly."
Li Yan understood Ji Hong's explanation and said, "Then I will go with Elder Ji to the Fire Mine in a few days."
The conversation gradually shifted to other matters, but the image of the Fire Qi Essence Crystal and the thirty Fire Qi Vein Fragments remained firmly engraved within Li Yan's mind.
He had entered the closed door of the Fire Mine expecting only a place to hunt.
Instead, he had uncovered one of nature's greatest treasures.
After leaving Ji Hong's chamber, Li Yan returned directly to his residence.
For the rest of the day, he allowed both his body and mind to recover completely. Although his physical condition remained excellent, continuous battles and days spent exploring the Fire Mine had kept him in a constant state of concentration.
Now that the Annual Competition and Fire Mine exploration had settled down, it was time to resume his planned schedule.
*****
Early the next morning, Li Yan entered the Alchemy Room, sat down before the furnace, and took out a scroll.
Tier-4 Low-Level Pill Recipe.
This was the first of the twelve Tier-4 Low-Level pill recipes he had brought.
He did not immediately begin refining.
Instead, he carefully studied every line of the recipe, memorizing the order of the ingredients, the required flame intensity, and every subtle change throughout the refining process.
Only after confirming everything did he wave his hand.
Dozens of medicinal herbs appeared beside the furnace.
Li Yan ignited his Golden Feather Peacock Flame.
The first refining session officially began.
****
The following six days passed. Li Yan remained inside the Alchemy Room. Again and again, he repeated the same process.
Purifying medicinal herbs. Controlling the flame. Balancing medicinal properties. Condensing the medicinal essence. Forming the pill.
Each process gradually revealed his mistakes. Every refinement with poor purity became another lesson. His control over the furnace became increasingly precise. His understanding of Tier-4 medicinal properties steadily deepened.
Gradually, the purity rate increased. On the morning of the third day, a rich medicinal fragrance slowly spread throughout the Alchemy Room.
Li Yan opened the furnace. The perfectly round pill rested within. He placed it inside the pill tester, and the number reached 94%.
The acceptable purity was achieved.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
He did not celebrate.
Instead, he calmly stored it in the pill bottle nearby before beginning another batch.
By the afternoon of the sixth day, the third Tier-4 Low-Level pill recipe had also reached complete mastery.
Li Yan looked toward the twelve scrolls arranged beside him. Three had already been set aside.
Nine remained.
"There is no need to rush. Steady progress is faster than reckless advancement."
The day's alchemy practice had come to an end.