You were put to guard a shabby mountain gate, yet all your disciples became Immortal Emperors.

"Master, I...I did it!"

Xiao Fan was still immersed in the joy of having successfully refined the elixir.

Lin Zhou snapped out of his daze, looked at Xiao Fan's face, which was a mix of excitement and silliness, forcibly suppressed his inner elation, and put on a profound and inscrutable expression.

"Hmm, not bad, you have some talent."

He cleared his throat and held the seed of the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame in his palm.

"This is a strange fire that I obtained by chance from the fire veins at the core of the earth during my early travels. It is called the Azure Lotus Earth Core Fire."

"You possess the Chaos Fire Spiritual Root, and are naturally in harmony with this fire. Today, I bestow it upon you to aid you in achieving great success in the Dao of Alchemy!"

Lin Zhou spoke casually, as if he were giving away a cabbage instead of a priceless treasure.

Xiao Fan was completely dumbfounded.

Although the blue flame was only the size of a thumb, the destructive aura it contained made even this Qi Refining stage cultivator feel a chill in his heart!

Is this the strange fire?!

Isn't this a rare and extraordinary object that even Golden Core cultivators would covet?

Master even has such legendary things!

"Disciple, aren't you going to accept it?"

"Yes! Thank you, Master!" Xiao Fan trembled with excitement and knelt down with a thud.

"Alright, alright, stop with the formalities."

Lin Zhou raised his hand and waved it, and the ball of blue flame flew directly towards Xiao Fan's brow.

"Concentrate your mind and calm your spirit, then circulate the 'Heaven-Burning Creation Technique'!"

"yes!"

Xiao Fan dared not be negligent in the slightest, and immediately sat down cross-legged, fully activating his cultivation technique.

As soon as the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame entered the body, a violent and scorching energy exploded out!

Xiao Fan's face instantly turned bright red, and it felt as if all the meridians in his body were about to be burned off!

Just then, the chaotic vortex in his dantian suddenly spun, and a powerful suction force erupted, beginning to frantically devour the energy of the strange fire.

The "Burning Heaven Creation Technique" truly lives up to its reputation as a divine-level technique produced by the system; it is a perfect match for the strange fire.

Under the guidance of the cultivation technique, the violent fire-attribute energy gradually became docile, slowly merging into Xiao Fan's limbs and bones, perfectly combining with his Chaotic Fire Spirit Root.

Xiao Fan's aura began to rise steadily!

boom!

Breakthrough of the initial bottleneck in Qi Refining!

His cultivation level directly surged to the mid-stage of Qi Refining!

Moreover, after fusing with the strange fire, he felt that his control over the flame had increased by more than tenfold!

Become!

Lin Zhou nodded in satisfaction. This investment was a huge success!

However, at that moment, a chilling aura approached from afar.

Lin Zhou's heart skipped a beat.

Damn, I forgot about that!

The emergence of the strange fire caused such a commotion that it attracted the "Steam Princess" again!

Sure enough, the next second, Shen Han's moon-white figure appeared in front of the thatched hut.

Today, she was still dressed in a tight-fitting law enforcement outfit, which outlined her stunning figure.

However, her expression was colder than ever before, and her phoenix eyes were fixed on Xiao Fan, who had just broken through.

She was completely numb.

It's only been a few days?

This kid named Xiao Fan went from a useless Body Tempering Realm cultivator to a mid-stage Qi Refining Realm cultivator like a rocket.

And what was that fleeting burst of intense heat just now?

This is Xiaoqiongshan, this is Linzhou.

How many secrets are hidden?

The more Shen Han thought about it, the more alarmed he became. The "Ice Heart Severing Dust Technique" within his body also became increasingly unstable due to the fluctuations in his emotions.

Coupled with the combined stimulation of the chaotic true energy and the residual aura of the strange fire on Lin Zhou's body, she felt that she was about to lose control!

The cold energy within the body, like a wild dog that has broken free, began to run rampant through the meridians.

"puff--"

A chill ran through him, and Shen Han felt a sweet taste in his throat, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

She swayed, her face turning deathly pale.

"Hall Master Shen?"

Linzhou was also taken aback.

Why is he vomiting blood? That's not how you stage an accident!

"My...my cultivation technique..."

Shen Han gritted his teeth, a fine layer of cold sweat beading on his forehead.

"I'm...about to lose control..."

She felt that she could be frozen into an ice sculpture by the cold energy in her body at any moment, and completely go mad.

Left with no other choice, she had to set aside all her pride and turn to the man before her, whom she could not understand at all, for help.

"Master Lin... I beg you, help me..."

Lin Zhou stroked his chin, revealing a friendly, businessman-like smile.

"I'm willing to help, but I have a principle: I never do anything that doesn't benefit me."

"I need sect contribution points, and I also need detailed information on the outer sect competition, especially all the popular contestants."

"In addition, I need some rare medicinal herbs, such as Ice Spirit Grass and Fire Element Fruit, to help my disciples practice their skills and strengthen their bodies."

"If you help me, all my contribution points are yours!"

Shen Han agreed without hesitation.

As the head of the Enforcement Hall, she has accumulated an astonishing amount of contribution points over the years, which she doesn't need anyway.

"make a deal!"

Linzhou snapped his fingers.

"Sit down first, with your back to me."

Shen Han did as instructed, sitting cross-legged and revealing her smooth and beautiful nape.

Lin Zhou took a deep breath and slowly placed his palm on her back.

hiss--

So soft and bouncy.

Shen Han's body trembled violently as a warm breath emanated from Lin Zhou's palm, instantly spreading throughout his entire body.

That wasn't ordinary spiritual energy, but a chaotic true energy she had never felt before, full of domineering power and vitality.

The rampant cold energy within her body, in the face of this true energy, was like encountering its nemesis; it instantly subsided and was obediently guided back into her meridians.

Shen Han's tense body slowly relaxed.

However, her cheeks were getting hotter and hotter.

Lin Zhou's palm was like a giant furnace, constantly transmitting heat, making her feel like she was about to melt.

She could even clearly feel that Lin Zhou's fingers seemed to be... still moving around restlessly.

Was he taking advantage of me?

But this energy is also genuinely helping me...

Am I being cynical?

Ahhh! My brain is about to explode!

Above Shen Han's head, white steam was puffing out, almost forming a small cloud.

Linzhou was overjoyed.

Hey, this "Steam Girl" constitution is quite fun.

……

The next day, Shen Han arrived early in the morning.

Her complexion regained its rosy hue, but she still looked somewhat unnatural when she looked at Lin Zhou.

She tossed me a storage bag.

Everything you need is inside.

Lin Zhou scanned the area with his divine sense and nodded in satisfaction.

The information about the outer sect competition is very detailed, with even the characteristics of each popular contestant's skills and commonly used moves clearly marked.

The name 【容若月】 was prominently listed.

According to the information, she has already reached the Qi Refining Perfection stage and may break through to the Foundation Establishment stage at any time.

The medicinal herbs requested by Linzhou were also readily available.

"Thank you very much, Hall Master Shen."

"From now on, I will help you regulate your meridians at this time every day until the competition begins," Lin Zhou said.

Shen Han hummed in agreement, then added, "Your second disciple, Shi Yi, doesn't follow the path of Xuanxiu (a type of cultivation practice)."

She pointed to the medicinal herbs in the storage bag.

"These are suitable for his body training. He follows the path of barbarian cultivation, which is prevalent in the Southern Barbarian Region."

"The initial realm of barbarian cultivation is called the Blood Guidance Realm, which involves using secret techniques to draw upon the power of the bloodline within the body. Above that is the Bone Forging Realm, which corresponds to the Qi Refining Realm, where the power of the bloodline is used to temper the bones."

Lin Zhou glanced at her with some surprise, not expecting this ice queen to know so much.

Just then, Shen Han changed the subject, his tone becoming serious.

"There's another piece of information in the intelligence that might not be good news for your second apprentice."

"Shi Hao, the future Holy Son of the Cangyan Sect and the current Chief of the Outer Sect."

"This time, I will participate in the outer sect competition of our Lingxiao Sect as an exchange disciple."

"It is said that his goal is to clean house during the competition."

Lin Zhou raised an eyebrow.

Shi Hao?

Just in time!

He took the intelligence document containing Shi Hao's information and entered Shi Yi's thatched hut.

Shi Yi was meditating cross-legged on the bed, with a faint dragon-shaped aura surrounding his body. That was the prototype of the [Ancestral Dragon Emperor Bone] that had been reshaped in the Dragon Blood Pool, and it had already begun to show its power.

"Master." Shi Yi opened his eyes.

Linzhou handed over the intelligence.

See for yourself.

Shi Yi took the intelligence, and when he saw the name "Shi Hao," his entire demeanor changed instantly!

A chilling, bone-chilling killing intent erupted from his body!

His once calm eyes instantly turned bloodshot!

Click!Click!

His bones crackled and popped, and the newly formed nascent [Ancestral Dragon Emperor Bone] began to operate wildly and uncontrollably due to extreme anger!

Shi Yi slowly raised his head, speaking slowly and deliberately, his voice hoarse yet filled with endless madness.

"Master, regarding the Grand Competition..."

"I want to tear him apart with my own hands!"