In a courtyard in South City, within the City of Many Stars.

A group of people in black robes had gathered here. Suddenly, the beautiful woman in a black robe at their head stirred, her gaze falling upon an ancient tree in the courtyard.

From the shadows cast by the ancient tree, a dark figure emerged.

"Lord Yin Emperor!"

When the group of black-robed people saw the Yin Emperor emerge from the shadows, they couldn’t help but tremble as they parted to form a path.

The newcomer was none other than Elder Yin Emperor, who was in charge of intelligence gathering for the Demon God Temple in the City of Many Stars.

It was he and the Flower Empress who had uncovered the specific details of the Hidden Dragon Points Competition, allowing the Demon God Temple to formulate a plan to besiege Heaven-Reaching Ridge and cut down the talented participants.

The Yin Emperor’s expression was grim, and his entire body radiated a dark, gloomy aura.

"Well? Have you uncovered any specific intelligence on that newly promoted Fourth Grade Alchemist?"

The Flower Empress’s expression was impassive, but a hint of coldness touched her beautiful face.

A murderous aura filled the courtyard.

The Flower Empress and the Yin Emperor were actually quite unlucky.

They had originally uncovered top-secret information about the All Stars Academy’s Hidden Dragon Points Competition, which should have been a great merit.

Who would have thought the plan would go so horribly wrong?

Because of this, an entire group of the Demon God Temple’s elites was wiped out by Qin Feng alone.

The Demon God Temple had nowhere to vent its anger, so the two responsible for gathering intelligence became its punching bags.

For this operation, not only did the two receive no reward, but they were sent back to the City of Many Stars—a veritable dragon’s den and tiger’s lair.

The Yin Emperor’s expression was dark as he ground his teeth. "It’s Qin Feng. It’s that damned Qin Feng again!"

The Flower Empress’s face changed. "The one who, according to rumor, used a treasure to kill most of our Demon God Temple’s elites in a single strike!"

"Yes, that’s him! That little bastard who ruined both of our futures!"

The Yin Emperor’s voice was hoarse, filled with a hatred so deep that all the waters of the world couldn’t wash it away.

"Perfect. Old grudges and new debts. We were already ordered by the Elders to come and kill this boy. Now he’s just given us another reason why he must die!"

A ripple passed through the Flower Empress’s beautiful eyes, but her expression remained impassive. She was tall and slender, her noble bearing giving her an almost sacred, inviolable air.

However, the coldness in her words formed a stark contrast to this disposition.

From the shadows, the Yin Emperor gazed at the stunningly beautiful woman, a strange glint flashing in his sinister, triangular, green eyes.

"My lady Flower Empress, rest assured, everything is in place. As soon as that Fourth Grade Alchemist appears in the City of Many Stars, we will ensure he dies without a burial place, even if he’s hiding in the All Stars Academy!"

After speaking, the Yin Emperor hesitated slightly before adding, "My lady Flower Empress, while I was investigating just now, I discovered that several other factions seem to be investigating that Qin Feng as well!"

The Flower Empress’s expression shifted, her phoenix-like eyes glinting. "Who else would be interested in this Fourth Grade Alchemist?"

"The Beiling Sect and the Qiankun Sect!"

"It’s them?" The Flower Empress’s eyes lit up.

From what the Flower Empress knew, the Beiling Sect was the hegemon of the Northern Spirit Realm. It had just defeated the Great Sun Divine Hall—the former top sect of the Northern Spirit Realm—to take its place as the new hegemon.

They were also a first-rate Major Sect.

However, compared to the Star Sect, which had dominated the Domain of All Stars for ten thousand years, the Beiling Sect’s foundation was undoubtedly much weaker.

The Flower Empress guessed that the Beiling Sect had likely also sensed the pressure from the Star Sect and was thus preparing to counterbalance them.

Compared to the Beiling Sect, the Qiankun Sect had an even greater background.

The Qiankun Sect was the hegemon of the Eastern Cyan Realm. The Eastern Cyan Realm bordered the Two Realms Mountain, to the east of the Domain of All Stars. The prosperity of the Eastern Cyan Realm was in no way inferior to that of the Domain of All Stars, which was dominated by the Star Sect.

Moreover, the Qiankun Sect was also a ten-thousand-year-old sect.

The Qiankun Sect and the Star Sect had been fighting both openly and secretly for countless years.

Assassinating each other’s elites had long been the norm for the two sects.

It seemed that this time, the Qiankun Sect had also taken note of the threat posed by Qin Feng, a fifteen-year-old Fourth Grade Alchemist, and decided to assassinate this future menace.

’The Beiling Sect has always had contact with the Star Sect. I once tried to contact them, but their attitude was ambiguous. I suspect they’re just looking for an opportunity to poach from the Star Sect!’

’The people from the Qiankun Sect, however, might be open to an alliance!’

The Flower Empress said, "In that case, find a way to contact the people from the Qiankun Sect and see if an alliance is possible!"

"The All Stars Academy has produced far too many geniuses these past years. Their rise is unstoppable. For hundreds of years, our Holy Temple has been struggling more and more, suffering one defeat after another! We have even lost many Spirit Mountain Blessed Lands."

"The Qiankun Sect is a natural ally. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. If our Holy Temple can ally with the Qiankun Sect, we might be able to achieve a remarkable feat for the Temple!" A wise light shone in the Flower Empress’s eyes. As she strategized, her stunning face was filled with a charm that naturally inspired admiration and obedience.

Many of the black-robed people couldn’t help but assume a submissive posture.

"Alright, I’ll go contact the Qiankun Sect right away and see if we can cooperate to kill that boy, Qin Feng!" With a flash, the Yin Emperor’s figure vanished into the shadows.

...

On Heavenly Red Mountain.

Qin Feng sat cross-legged on the Celestial Pool Lakefront, three Fire Attribute Spiritual Veins swirling around his body. He activated the Mixed Element Star Technique, absorbing the abundant Spiritual Qi from his surroundings to refine the three Spirit Veins within him. The three Fire Attribute Spiritual Veins resembled three soaring Spiritual Serpents.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

In mid-air, three Spiritual Serpents formed of flame soared. One was the Sun Spirit Vein, one was the Heaven-Burning Spirit Vein, and one was the Suihuang Spiritual Vein.

The three types of Spirit Veins gradually harmonized. Occasionally, two of the veins would intertwine, no longer repelling and colliding as violently as they did at the beginning.

Suddenly, the three-colored Spiritual Serpents turned and plunged back into Qin Feng’s body with a ROAR.

Qin Feng opened his eyes and muttered to himself. ’It’s about time. The three Spirit Veins have been completely subdued, and I’ve fully comprehended the Mystical Meaning of flame contained within them. All that’s left is a bit more refinement!’

’However, this won’t affect the condensation of the fourth type of Spirit Fire!’

A hint of joy appeared in Qin Feng’s eyes.

The condensed Heavenly Dao Level True Power within Qin Feng’s body was indeed incomparably tyrannical.

Generally speaking, it would take several months for an expert in the Condensing Vein Realm to bring a condensed Spirit Vein to Perfection.

The more tyrannical the Spirit Vein, the more difficult it was to subdue.

Some Martial Arts Strongmen in the Condensing Vein Realm even needed to use precious Spirit Pills to truly subdue a Spirit Vein.

If it were anyone else attempting to condense a Spirit Fire Vein, even with outstanding talent and aptitude, it would take at least half a year to succeed.

Yet, in less than half a month, Qin Feng had already subdued these three Spirit Veins condensed from Spirit Fires.

If word of this speed got out, it would probably scare many people to death.

With a flip of his palm, a Spirit Pearl flew out from the Chaos Heaven.

Qin Feng’s gaze fell on his palm, where a bead glowed with a brilliant red light.

A Xuan-grade High-level Spiritual Object: the Ten-Thousand-Year Earth Evil Fire Essence Pearl.

This pearl contained a Top-Spirit Fire, the Red Lotus Earth Fiend Fire. It was a Spiritual Object nurtured within the Earth Veins of a Fire Attribute Spirit Mountain Blessed Land, formed from the accumulation of Earth Fire over more than ten thousand years.

Qin Feng had spent a full two thousand Points to purchase it.

The Red Lotus Earth Fiend Fire did not rank very high among the many Spirit Fires. It was a type of Earth Evil Spirit Fire, but it possessed a unique ability.

This ability was called Fire Escape.

It could silently and seamlessly penetrate any flame.

If Qin Feng refined it into a Red Evil Spirit Vein, he would also gain this ability.