Start from Panlong and kill through the heavens

The steps leading to the mountaintop are carved from a single piece of star jade, with star patterns floating on the surface of the steps, which reflect the real starry sky every night.

The Qi Pool on the mountainside is boiling with emerald-colored liquid, and dozens of broken ancient divine weapons lie dormant at the bottom of the pool. The remnants of the weapon spirits form distorted mist totems on the surface of the pool.

The six outermost mountains are connected by black iron chains, from which ancient bronze bells hang.

A muffled rumble came from inside the mountain; it was the Fallen Heart Flame at the core of the earth's veins scorching the sealed stone walls.

Occasionally, a bell tolls on its own, and when the sound waves shatter the clouds, the remains of an ancient dragon coiled in the abyss below are revealed.

Rean's arrival caused a stir among the imperial clans. He was now at the height of his power on the Dou Qi Continent, and no one could ignore his presence, not even the ancient and powerful imperial clans.

"Li Mu of Zhongzhou has come to pay a visit." Li En spoke calmly, but his voice carried like thunder, reaching the entire imperial clan.

One by one, members of the imperial clan flew out of the palace, hovering in mid-air and curiously watching the tall figure outside the floating island.

Princess Di Lingyin of the imperial family followed behind her father, Di Qiyuan, her eyes calmly fixed on the white-robed man opposite her, her expression carrying a hint of scrutiny and doubt.

Di Lingyin was half a head taller than the average woman, and her snow-white silk dress cascaded down like a still pool of water.

She was born with a pair of phoenix eyes, the corners of which slanted upwards towards her temples, her eyelashes were frosty, and her gaze was like the sharp edge of a sword tempered with ice, exuding an unapproachable noble air amidst its coldness.

Her nose was high and straight like carved white jade, her lips were as pale as newly blossomed cherry blossoms, her jawline was as fine as a traditional Chinese painting, and her neck was as long and slender as the shadow of a crane under the moonlight.

Her raven-feather-like long hair was loosely tied up with a nine-pronged golden phoenix hairpin, with a few stray strands hanging down beside her ears, making the blood-red jade pendant on her earlobe even more vibrant.

As she walked slowly behind her father, her dark gold-embroidered shawl trailed across the ground, its fluttering fabric seemingly carrying a faint fragrance, yet reminding one of the lingering snow on plum branches in the depths of winter.

"Is this the legendary ninth-grade alchemist Li Mu? I heard that he has already reached the Dou Sheng level at the young age of forty?" Di Lingyin thought to herself.

At this moment, Di Qiyuan shouted loudly at Li En opposite him:
"I am the current patriarch of the Imperial Clan. Welcome Brother Li Mu to our clan. Please come in and have a chat."

Li En glanced at the Imperial Clan Chief, who possessed the strength of a one-star Dou Sheng, his face revealing neither joy nor sorrow. He shook his head slightly and said:
"I have come here to make a deal with you. If the deal falls through, there is no need to trouble Chief Ghost."

Emperor Qiyuan frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "May I ask what kind of transaction you wish to make?"

In fact, Emperor Qiyuan had already made some guesses, after all, everyone knew that Li En had been searching for strange fires everywhere for more than a year, and had even tried to snatch strange fires on several occasions.

Although no one knows why he likes to collect strange flames, there is no doubt that he has come to the Imperial Clan now, probably for the Imperial Clan's Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame.

As expected, Rean immediately explained his purpose upon speaking.

"I am willing to exchange a Grade 9 Profound Pill for your noble's Strange Flame, the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame. What do you say?"

"A ninth-grade Xuan Dan!" Upon hearing this, the entire audience was shocked.

As members of an imperial family, how could they not know the value of a ninth-grade Xuan Dan?

The nine grades of elixirs can be divided into three categories based on their quality, from lowest to highest: Precious Elixir, Mysterious Elixir, and Golden Elixir.

Even the lowest level of the precious pills possesses intelligence comparable to humans, capable of transforming into human or beast form. As for the immortal pills, they are no different from real humans.

It is said that the Ancestor of the Pill Tower was transformed from a mutated Mystic Pill.

The Medicine Fairy is formed from the highest-level Golden Core. When refining a Grade Nine Precious Pill, Black Demon Lightning will appear, with power surpassing that of the Nine-Colored Pill Lightning; refining a Grade Nine Profound Pill requires gathering the power of heaven and earth, and pill rain will appear when the pill takes shape; refining a Grade Nine Golden Pill will summon Nine Profound Golden Lightning.

In the entire world, even the most ordinary grade nine precious pills are extremely rare, and the number of people who can refine grade nine precious pills is no more than a handful.

As for the Ninth-Rank Profound Pill, any one of them that still exists has become a super strong person.

The highest-level ninth-grade golden elixir has never appeared in the human world.

The fact that Li En was willing to offer a ninth-grade Xuan Dan so readily shocked everyone.

Despite their shock, Di Qiyuan and the others remained quite rational, since what Li En wanted to exchange was the very foundation of their imperial clan—the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame.

"I'm sorry, Your Excellency, but this Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame is the foundation of my imperial clan, and I'm afraid it cannot be as you wish," Emperor Qiyuan said truthfully.

Rean frowned. He had guessed that the Imperial Clan would refuse, but he hadn't expected their tone to be so firm.

As far as he knew, the reason why the imperial clan valued the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame so much was simply because it could strengthen the imperial clan's bloodline, making it easier for the imperial clan to produce cultivation geniuses.

However, a single Grade 9 Profound Pill can almost directly allow a peak Dou Zong to break through to Dou Sheng, or even grow to the mid-stage of Dou Sheng. Isn't such a temptation even greater than the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame?

Rean thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll add another condition. As long as your imperial clan provides the materials, I can refine pills for you three times for free in the future, of any grade."

hiss! !

Upon hearing this, even Emperor Qiyuan couldn't help but gasp.

He knew that ninth-grade alchemists held an extremely prestigious status on the Dou Qi Continent, and that an alchemist like Li Mu, who had refined multiple ninth-grade pills with a 100% success rate after becoming a ninth-grade alchemist, must have an unimaginable status.

And now he's actually willing to refine pills for the imperial clan three times for free—this offer is far too tempting, and he can't help but treat it with utmost care.

At this moment, before Di Qiyuan could speak, Di Lingyin behind him spoke up.

"I have a question, and I wonder if Your Excellency Li Mu could answer it for me?"

Rean's gaze shifted and landed on the tall, aloof woman. He asked calmly, "Who are you?"

Di Lingyin was surprised by Li En's cold attitude, which made her, who had been adored since childhood, feel a little embarrassed and annoyed. However, she still spoke rationally:
“My name is Di Lingyin, the Holy Maiden of the current Imperial Clan. The Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame you desire is right here with me.”

"Oh?" Rean showed a hint of interest. "In that case, I'll add another condition: I'll refine four pills for your imperial clan, and in return, I'll give you, Di Lingyin, to be my concubine. How about that?"

"You... how dare you!" Di Lingyin was instantly enraged, leaping into the air and striking Li En with a palm.

"Lingyin, you mustn't!" Di Qiyuan cried out inwardly, but he was too late to stop her, because Di Lingyin possessed the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, and her strength was no less than his.

Seeing Di Lingyin, who was flying towards him with a powerful aura, Rean smiled slightly and unleashed his Dragon-Capturing Hand, creating a giant, sky-covering hand in the sky.

The giant hand slammed down, enveloping Di Lingyin instantly and grabbing her in its grasp. It then pulled her in front of Rean, like grabbing a chick.

Her supple waist fell directly into Rean's hands; it felt nice, and Rean couldn't help but gently knead and caress it. (End of Chapter)