"Now, with Yue Ling seated on the stone stool before him, Langtian’s attention drifted back to the pill she had placed in his palm.
He lifted the scarlet sphere, holding it close to his eyes.
"Wow..." he breathed. "If you hadn’t shown me this yourself, I never would have believed a Mortal-Tier pill could be this powerful."
Yue Ling only smiled.
"But look at it closely—it’s definitely different," Langtian went on. "I can feel the spiritual energy it gives off. Ten times—no, twenty times stronger than the usual version. Even the scent is overwhelming. Not even a High-Grade Profound-Tier pill could match it."
He turned to her, curiosity gleaming in his gaze. "Senior Sister, how did you create it?"
"What do you think?" Yue Ling asked, resting her cheek on her hand, watching him with quiet fondness.
"Hmmm..." Langtian frowned in thought.
He inhaled again, parsing the fragrance with the remnants of his pill-refining knowledge. Years ago he had gathered herbs for Senior Sister Shangguan and watched her refine pills countless times; after her disappearance he had practiced little, yet the fundamentals remained.
"Bloodroot Vine... Scarlet Lotus Petal... Boneflame Resin... all three are present, blended in the perfect ratio," he murmured.
Yue Ling’s eyes narrowed, pleased amusement curling her lips.
Then Langtian straightened, expression shifting.
"Wait a moment. Can those herbs even grow here? The valley’s qi is corrupted, the sunlight is faint, and the soil reeks of demonic energy. It shouldn’t support such refined spiritual plants at all!"
"Oh?" Yue Ling leaned back, interest sparking in her crimson eyes. "Seems you’re getting somewhere. Keep going."
Langtian’s brow tightened as his thoughts raced.
First—Bloodroot Vine. A tenacious herb the color of dried blood, its roots trailing like crimson tendrils. It thrives in damp, shadowed ravines rich in yin energy; of the three ingredients this one might survive here.
Second—Scarlet Lotus Petal. It grows on spiritual ponds saturated with fire-aligned qi and needs strong daylight. Each petal holds intense yang essence, which is why it aids blood circulation and recovery. Back at the Mysterious Sun Sect it had flourished in the medicinal gardens, but in this mist-choked valley? Impossible.
And finally—Boneflame Resin. Drawn from the bark of a Flamebone Tree, it is likewise yang in nature and demands direct sunlight and abundant heat to form its potent sap.
Langtian looked up, realization flickering in his eyes.
"Senior Sister... could it be there is a place around here with abundant yang energy?"
Yue Ling’s lips curved in a pleased smile.
"Well, well. Look at you, junior brother. Pretty sharp."
"But what exactly is it?"
Yue Ling smirked playfully.
"Ahhh, Senior Sister, cannot you just tell me?"
She chuckled, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
"If I tell you right away, where is the fun in that?"
Langtian sighed, crossed his arms, and slipped into thought, tapping his chin.
"Hmm... High concentrations of yang energy... something that could nourish fire-aligned herbs even in a place ... corrupted qi, weak sunlight... what could provide that?"
He paused, then looked up, confidence sparking.
"Could it be there is a lava spring somewhere underground?"
Yue Ling blinked, then slumped like a deflating balloon.
"Wait. How did you figure that out?"
Langtian grinned, clearly proud.
"Haha, so I was right. It really is an underground lava river."
"Yes, yes..." Yue Ling rolled her eyes, half-pouting. "You solved it faster than I expected. I wanted to tease you a bit longer."
"Well, to be fair, there are not many things that emit that much heat and fire qi belowground," Langtian said with a shrug. "Lava was the obvious answer."
"True." Yue Ling nodded. "But there is more to it than just lava."
Langtian blinked. "More?"
She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"There is something even better than a lava spring."
"Huh? Better than a lava spring?" Langtian leaned in, fully intrigued. "What could possibly be better?"
"A fire-element dragon vein?"
"A cave filled with fire-attributed spirit crystals?"
"Good guess, but no."
"A Blazing Spirit Spring packed with fire elementals?"
"Nice try, still no."
Langtian threw up his hands.
"Then what is it? I give up!"
Yue Ling laughed, clearly enjoying herself.
"All right, all right, I will tell you."
Her expression turned serious. She leaned forward, voice low, crimson eyes narrowing.
Langtian straightened, sensing the change.
"I believe there is an Abnormal Flame buried somewhere beneath this valley."
"What?! An Abnormal Flame?" Langtian’s shout echoed through the mist.
"I have not seen it with my own eyes, so I cannot be certain," Yue Ling said with a small shrug. "But judging from everything I have felt... it is very likely."