For a year and a half, Li Yan had been constantly searching for a place to refine his natal magical treasure, which really meant searching for a suitable flame.
Once he actually started looking, Li Yan discovered that it was not as easy as he had imagined. Since he had entered the path of immortality, apart from being tricked by Strategist Ji at the very beginning and nearly dying, he had had a smooth journey in the Malevolent Spirit Sect and had never considered the problem of flames for refining magical treasures. Lord Lao Peak had several Earth Fire ore veins of different grades. The best one had been personally moved from a different region by a Spirit Transformation ancestor of the Malevolent Spirit Sect using a magical art. Its grade was even comparable to some of the lower-ranked Exotic Fires of heaven and earth. This was more than enough for Li Yan.
He was not a specialized alchemy or artifact refining grandmaster; he only needed to refine a Foundation Establishment stage natal magical treasure. So, even if he were given an Exotic Fire of heaven and earth, he probably wouldn't be able to control it. The key to refining Li Yan's natal magical treasure was in the forging method and the material itself. It was a growth-type magical treasure, and more importantly, it relied on Li Yan's postnatal nourishment with Spirit Power.
But even so, not just any flame could be used to refine it. The Earth Fire of different grades that Li Yan could use in the Malevolent Spirit Sect by spending a large amount of Spirit Stones and Sect Contribution Points was something he had been searching for in the Demon Realm for a long time without success.
The cultivation world of the Demon Realm had also completely carved up the existing Earth Fire mountain veins. Very few were owned by individuals, because you didn't have the ability to guard such a large resource. And once a sect obtained one, they would often guard it tightly. Although this kind of fire vein of heaven and earth could constantly regenerate, its growth rate was not very fast. If used without restraint, a fire-type ore vein would soon be depleted.
Therefore, after each sect went to great lengths to obtain an Earth Fire ore vein, they would also try their best to supply it only to their own sect and would not lend it out. Even for their own sect's disciples, there would be certain usage restrictions, such as limiting the number of times it could be opened per month, and so on. This was incomparable to the Malevolent Spirit Sect. After all, behemoths like the Four Great Sects of the Desolate Moon Continent had more than just one Earth Fire ore vein; ore veins of different grades could be used in rotation.
In his continuous inquiries, Li Yan even heard about the existence of three Exotic Fire ore veins. One was in the "Sacred Demon Palace," one was firmly controlled by the "Black Demon Clan," and the other was within the powerful Fire Qilin Dragon Lizard Clan. Exotic Fires had already developed their own consciousness; they were the emperors of fire and could burn almost everything. Not to mention that Li Yan couldn't even get close to these three places, even if he could, with his Foundation Establishment cultivation, a single spark from an Exotic Fire touching his body would probably instantly turn him into a puff of flying ash and dissipate.
Li Yan's ultimate goal was to find out about sects that had Earth Fire ore veins. He had to find a way to get into that sect. Although Earth Fire ore veins were also rare, there were still many more compared to Exotic Fire ore veins, and their grades also varied.
The Earth Fire ore vein owned by the "Falling Star Valley" sect was considered to be of a medium-to-high grade. It was said that "Falling Star Valley" could refine Rank 5 medicinal pills, and this Earth Fire ore vein was indispensable for this achievement.
What was particularly crucial was that on the Forsaken Continent, there were not many human cultivation sects. The most important ones were two first-rate sects, the "Heaven-Burning Sect" and the "Unity Sect." They also had good Earth Fire ore veins, but Li Yan didn't dare to go there. The conditions for joining a first-rate sect were extremely strict. Due to the multitude of races on the Forsaken Continent, the "Heaven-Burning Sect" and the "Unity Sect" were very strict about checking the background of their disciples.
First-rate major sects all had Nascent Soul cultivators. Li Yan did not want to expose his origin, and he couldn't explain it clearly. Because he didn't know what a cultivator from the Desolate Moon Continent meant here, whether it would bring him endless trouble, or even a fatal disaster. Although the White Demon Clan seemed to be very nice to human cultivators, Li Yan had had a life-and-death battle with the "Black Demon Clan." In the end, the two races were of the same origin.
Although Li Yan didn't think that his cultivation level would arouse any covetous thoughts from the Demon Clan, Zhao Min was still here, and her identity was rather sensitive. She could directly threaten a Peak Master of the Malevolent Spirit Sect, and also a Wei cultivation family that had a Nascent Soul cultivator. If Zhao Min's identity were exposed because of him, Li Yan couldn't guarantee that nothing would happen. It was possible that Zhao Min would be exchanged by the Black Demon Clan for some conditions, and then used to threaten his master and the others.
In addition, apart from human cultivation sects, it would be even more dangerous for Li Yan to try to get into the cultivation sects of other races. If he were discovered, what awaited him should be immediate execution.
"Falling Star Valley" ultimately became Li Yan's target. He had arrived here more than a year ago. He continuously collected all kinds of information about "Falling Star Valley" and finally formulated a plan to enter the sect.
The disciples of "Falling Star Valley" mainly came from the small sects and cultivation families attached to it. There were also those with cultivation aptitude from among the mortals, and of course, some rogue human cultivators who sought refuge.
Once those mortals tested and found that their children had cultivation aptitude, they would usually take the initiative to send them to "Falling Star Valley." But there were also those who couldn't bear to part with their loved ones and kept them by their side. The human race was not like the Demon Clan; there was no such thing as compulsory cultivation. It was more about the so-called "Immortal Fortune." When the fate arrived, it would happen naturally. Even those mortals who couldn't bear to part, they were different from the mortals of the Desolate Moon Continent; they had seen more. After staying together for some years, when the child grew up, they would usually still send them out. After all, everyone wanted their children to live forever and have great powers.
For those rogue cultivators who joined later, the conditions of "Falling Star Valley" were much stricter. Not only were the requirements for aptitude higher, but there would also be a long-term secret observation. For several years, or even decades, they might not be given the sect's important cultivation methods or resources.
These two methods were either impossible or unwilling for Li Yan to use. So, in the end, he chose the third way. Every year in early summer, there would be an opportunity for the attached small sects and families to recommend elite disciples to join "Falling Star Valley." These small sects and families could recommend their own disciples and side branches to enter "Falling 'Star Valley" to obtain more cultivation resources and to further strengthen their relationship with "Falling Star Valley."
No matter which way one joined "Falling Star Valley," the condition was that the person must have at least a four-lineage Profound Spirit Root. People with Miscellaneous Spirit Roots like Li Yan had no chance of joining at all. The disciples who joined "Falling Star Valley" through the third method were all at the Qi Condensation stage. If one succeeded in Foundation Establishment, that would already be considered a mainstay for a small sect and family, and it would be very difficult for them to leave.
After Li Yan had inquired about everything, on a certain day, he had the Snow Mosquito King transform into a Foundation Establishment cultivator and brought him to a small family he had inquired about beforehand. The Snow Mosquito King came up with an excuse that it had to go out, but it would be a nine-deaths-one-life trip, and needed to leave Li Yan, this "disciple," behind. After spending a considerable amount of Spirit Stones, this small family finally agreed, allowing Li Yan to become a descendant of a side branch who had returned after being away for many years.
It was not uncommon for a cultivator to go out for training and not return for many years. Now, for his descendant to return to the family was also reasonable. After all this was done, the Foundation Establishment cultivator that the Snow Mosquito King had transformed into then "resolutely" floated away, leaving behind Li Yan, who had a cultivation of only the fourth level of Qi Condensation and was going by the alias Zhang Ming.
Of course, this family verbally agreed, but they did not send Li Yan to "Falling Star Valley" last early summer. Instead, they kept Li Yan in the clan for another year of observation before sending him out. With Li Yan's cunning, he was a human, so he was not afraid of any kind of investigation. As for other matters, in fact, if Li Yan had any malicious plans, it would not be visible within a year. What that family was most worried about was him being of a different race.
Li Yan was thinking about his own affairs and had no interest in paying attention to the five people beside him. After perfunctorily replying to the burly youth, he fell silent again. These five people came from different small sects and families and were all the pride of the younger generation in their respective sects. Their cultivation levels ranged from the second to the sixth level of the Qi Condensation stage. In contrast, Li Yan's age and cultivation aptitude were very ordinary.
However, Li Yan had done this on purpose. He didn't make himself younger. He just needed to be as inconspicuous as possible, with all conditions barely meeting the requirements to join "Falling Star Valley." The less attention he attracted, the more beneficial it would be for his future actions.
Before, the cultivators from various families who had sent them here were stopped outside the outer valley of "Falling Star Valley" and were required to enter the valley alone. Li Yan thought of the indifferent face of the family cultivator who had sent him, and couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. The other party had ignored him the whole way and only said something when he was about to enter the valley.
"If you ultimately can't get into 'Falling Star Valley,' then please do as you please in the future."
This was telling Li Yan that their transaction ended here. If he couldn't join "Falling Star Valley," then he should go back where he came from.
Among the six, the burly youth and the sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girl had the highest cultivation, both at the fifth level of Qi Condensation. Next was Li Yan, and the remaining three were at the second to third level of Qi Condensation. It was just that the remaining few were all only twelve or thirteen years old, looking much younger than Li Yan.
After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they finally arrived at a mountain gate. The mountain gate was towering and imposing, with three simple, ancient seal script characters on it: "Falling Star Valley."
At this time, beads of sweat were already forming on the foreheads of several of them. Of course, Li Yan had deliberately forced it out. He still silently fell to the back of the group.
At this time, a young man in a green robe was standing in front of the mountain gate, smiling at the six people before him. Li Yan didn't even need to deliberately release his Divine Sense to sense the other party's cultivation: ninth level of Qi Condensation. This was already considered a powerhouse among Qi Condensation stage cultivators.
"For all of you to arrive here within the time of an incense stick, your foundations are all very solid. I am Feng Qiyuan, and I may be your senior brother in the future. I believe your families have already explained everything clearly before you came, but you still have to follow the rules here. Hehe, please first show me something that can prove your identity, and then undergo a spirit root test. My part will basically be considered passed."
Although Feng Qiyuan's words were peaceful and his face was extremely gentle, the aura on his body was not restrained. Instead, he released the aura of the ninth level of Qi Condensation. As soon as this powerful aura came out, it made it difficult for the six people below to breathe. Their faces were all pale. The youngest girl even had a glistening light in her eyes. But one by one, they had been instructed before they came, and still, under the fear in their hearts, they took out their tokens or other keepsakes one by one.
Li Yan also silently, while "breathing heavily," took out a small piece of green jade. They all held up their hands. But Feng Qiyuan did not take them. He just swept his Divine Sense over them, and the pressure on his body instantly subsided a lot. Then he nodded at them.
"Hmm, there is no discrepancy with the families reported a few days ago. Then the next part will be much simpler. You will come forward one by one, place your palm on this item, and then activate the Spirit Power in your body."