The Penglai Discourse on the Dao Assembly concluded successfully.
Tang Xiaoqi's "Green Lotus Way" and personal demeanor left a deep impression on overseas immortals. After exchanging contact information with several like-minded immortals and demon kings, he declined the Alliance's repeated invitations and, bringing the rabbit spirit, embarked on a long expedition to collect materials for reforging the Crimson Flame Sword and flat pan.
The material list from the spirits, impossible to find in ordinary markets. Xiao Qi deeply understood only by venturing into those forbidden places ordinary people couldn't reach, secret realms, or dealing with powerful races controlling special resources would he have even a thread of hope.
His first stop was the "Dragon Clan Ancestral Land" in the depths of Storm Sea.
Storm Sea, as its name suggests, was perpetually shrouded in violent thunder and hurricanes, with fragile space and treacherous currents—one of overseas famous dangerous lands and the traditional habitat of the true dragons. Using his friendship with Ao Qin and his reputation as "World Purification True Lord," Xiao Qi went through much trouble to pass through the outer storms and arrive at that massive transparent barrier-shrouded, crystal palace-like Dragon Ancestral Land.
He was received by an extremely senior dragon elder with an aura comparable to Nascent Soul Great Circle. When Xiao Qi explained his wish to obtain a "True Dragon Inverse Scale," the elder's huge dragon eyes showed hesitation.
"Venerable one, not that this one refuses to help." The elder's voice rumbled. "Dragon scales are vital treasures cultivated by our true dragon clan, containing origin dragon power and dignity, never given away lightly. Even within the clan, only those who achieve great merit or in specific ceremonies receive rewards. Your request... truly makes this one hesitate."
Xiao Qi had anticipated this; he didn't force. Instead he earnestly said: "Elder, I deeply know the scale's preciousness. I dare not ask for it empty-handed. Willing to exchange at equal value, or do three things for your clan that don't violate righteousness, to exchange for one scale."
The elder contemplated briefly, his beard waving: "Your reputation, this one trusts. However... there is indeed something."
It turned out in the Dragon Ancestral Land's depths was an "Elemental Dragon Pool"—the holy ground for dragon clan young ones' baptism and bloodline activation. Recently, the core array "Myriad Flows Converging" at the pool's bottom, used to gather heaven and earth's spiritual energy, somehow malfunctioned, greatly reduced efficiency, affecting the young dragons' baptism effects. The dragon clan excelled at power and water control, yet weren't skilled at such delicate array repairs. Several elders tried many times, unable to thoroughly solve.
"If the Venerable one can help our clan repair this array, this one will decide to give the Venerable one a scale. How about that?" The elder proposed a condition.
Xiao Qi nodded and agreed. Under the elder's guidance, he arrived at the misty, dragon-aura-permeated pool bottom. After carefully inspecting the "Myriad Flows Converging Array," he discovered the array itself wasn't damaged; rather, a hidden earth vein spiritual pivot deep beneath the pool, due to recent crustal movement, was blocked by a rare "Spirit-Cutting Black Stone" that could isolate spiritual energy, causing the spiritual energy input to flow poorly.
Finding the cause, solving it was simple. Xiao Qi used earth escape techniques to go deep underground, and with exquisite spiritual power control, without damaging the earth vein, carefully shattered and removed that "Spirit-Cutting Black Stone." Then, using his profound understanding of energy flow, he slightly optimized several nodes of the array, increasing its efficiency.
When gurgling pure heaven and earth spiritual energy once again smoothly surged into the Elemental Dragon Pool, the pool water shone brilliantly, the elder and all dragons present were both surprised and delighted.
"Venerable one is indeed worthy of the name, remarkable!" The elder praised profusely, promptly fulfilling his promise. From his most concealed neck area, he reluctantly plucked a palm-sized scale, its edges flowing with golden light, hard as diamond yet containing warmth—a dark cyan dragon scale, solemnly handed to Xiao Qi.
"This is this one's ten thousand years of cultivation condensed into a scale, containing this one's trace of origin dragon power and dignity—hope it helps the Venerable one's divine weapon shine anew!"
Xiao Qi solemnly received it, feeling the scale's weight and dignity, bowed in thanks.
First key material—True Dragon Inverse Scale—obtained!
Departing the Dragon Ancestral Land, Xiao Qi's next target was the Phoenix clan's habitat in the Southern Ever-Burning Volcano Range, seeking "Phoenix Divine Gold."
The Ever-Burning Volcano Range burned with eternal fire all year round, with extreme temperatures and harsh environment. The Phoenix clan was famous for pride and exclusivity. Xiao Qi arrived at the outskirts, feeling powerful and scorching divine sense warnings. He didn't force entry; instead, he took residence in a city built by the Phoenix subsidiary race "Fire Crows" at the volcano range's outskirts.
He didn't directly reveal his purpose, instead transforming into a wandering artificer, setting up a temporary stall in the city, refining tools for passing cultivators. His refining skills were superb, especially his mastery of flame control (thanks to Lotus Heart Fire and Green Lotus source). He quickly became famous. Even some Phoenix clan collateral descendants came, asking him to help temper their life feathers or repair inherited artifacts.
Xiao Qi accepted all, charging low fees, and sometimes even helping for free, saying he was merely making friends during his wandering. His superb skills and sincere attitude gradually earned the affection of many Phoenix collateral clan members. Through them, he learned the Phoenix clan's internal disagreements, with disputes about whether to have excessive contact with the outside world.
Finally, a Phoenix elder with status in the clan who had received Xiao Qi's help was moved by his sincerity and ability, willing to recommend him to a more open-minded elder who managed mines.
Meeting that Phoenix elder, Xiao Qi explained his purpose, hoping to obtain "Phoenix Divine Gold." The elder initially refused—Phoenix Divine Gold was a clan treasure, containing Nirvana divine power, not easily given!
Xiao Qi didn't lose heart. He displayed his understanding of flame dao, especially "Nirvana rebirth" imagery (partially thanks to father Xu Zhan's final sacrifice and his own Green Lotus's creation power), and sat with the elder discussing fire law's subtleties. His insights deeply moved the elder. Especially when Xiao Qi mentioned the sword he wanted to reforge was also for "protection" and "rebirth," it touched the Phoenix clan's essence.
Finally, that elder was moved by his dao heart and sincerity, specially allowing Xiao Qi to enter the clan holy ground "Nirvana Fire Sea" edge, to try obtaining a naturally formed "Phoenix Divine Gold" by his own ability, but declaring no force allowed—he must gain the gold's recognition.
Xiao Qi entered the Nirvana Fire Sea, didn't forcibly collect. Instead he sat cross-legged at the sea's edge, using his Green Lotus source's creation and protection thoughts to gently communicate with the divine gold floating in the flames. After three days of sensing, a fist-sized, pure gold, internally containing seven-colored flowing light, as if phoenix shadows danced divine gold actually flew into his hand!
Second key material—Phoenix Divine Gold—smoothly obtained in this unexpected way!
Over subsequent years, Xiao Qi's material collection journey continued. To find "Chaos Stone," he ventured to the "Void Rift" edge, enduring spatial storms, finally finding a small piece in a floating meteor core; to collect materials the flat pan needed—"Stellar Core Gold," "Supreme Unity" and such—he visited overseas immortal mountains, sometimes bartering, sometimes helping solve problems in exchange.
During this process, he, through powerful strength, fair dealings, and his "World Purification" reputation, resolved many overseas forces' disputes, rescued many stranded cultivators and beings. "World Purification True Lord" Tang Xiaoqi's name, accompanying his material-collecting travels, truly rang throughout the overseas cultivation world, becoming a symbol of credibility, strength, and virtue.
When he finally collected most needed materials, only lacking the final, also most difficult "Source Root of Mother Qi of All Things," he had traveled for over a year. And this last item was rumored to only possibly exist deep within the mysterious, dangerous "Chaotic Realm."
Facing this final, also possibly most dangerous challenge, Xiao Qi showed no fear. He bid farewell to new overseas friends, carrying full harvests, once again embarked on his journey—this time, heading for the Chaotic Realm.