Chapter 70: The Fundamental Method

The flames that had once enveloped Ye Cheng’s body vanished without a trace, and the fire elements that permeated the air faded into nothingness. Within Ye Cheng himself, that scarlet blaze flickered and disappeared as if it had never existed at all, vanishing so swiftly it defied belief. Afterwards, the skin on Ye Cheng’s body became astonishingly delicate—soft as that of a newborn child, the kind of smoothness countless women would envy. This transformation confirmed the reality of all that had just transpired. Yet his skin still showed a faint flush, though even this visible redness faded rapidly before finally returning to normal.

At that moment, Ye Cheng’s eyes opened. In the depths of his jet-black pupils, innumerable fire elements gathered into a burning flame, dancing within his gaze.

“It’s truly not something any ordinary person could endure.”

He exhaled deeply, and recalling the agony of being roasted by fire moments ago, Ye Cheng could not help but shudder in lingering fear. Thankfully, he had persevered and not been reduced to ashes during the gathering of the flames.

His eyelids drooped slightly as he fixed his eyes on his own hands, sensing an unfamiliar force within him. With a thought, he spread his fingers wide, and countless sparks flickered in his palm. To his delight, the lights coalesced into a small flame—a pale red fire, about the size of half a fist, its heart wavering and unstable, as if the slightest breeze could extinguish it.

“So I have finally succeeded…”

A low voice resonated nearby, trembling with emotion. Ye Cheng turned his head to see the refined man suspended in midair, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on the flame in Ye Cheng’s palm, a smile gradually spreading across his lips.

“Little one, you’ve finally done it, finally succeeded! Who would have thought that Ye Wentian would live to see this day? Heaven has not been unkind to me, ha ha…”

The refined man seemed to lose himself in the moment, his lifelong dream at last finding fulfillment; it was impossible for him not to be moved. Laughter—one hundred years’ worth of pent-up joy—echoed through the darkness, reverberating for a long while before gradually fading away.

“Ye Wentian!”

For the first time, Ye Cheng heard the ancient master’s name. He understood, perhaps better than anyone, the other’s feelings at this moment. A century ago, the pursuit of alchemy had been both his aspiration and his downfall. For one hundred years, only a shred of consciousness remained, waiting in solitude and agony, hoping that one day a worthy successor would appear to carry on his life’s pursuit. Now, after a century of lonely waiting, that wish had finally come true. Small wonder he was overcome with emotion.

He saw that the luminous silhouette of the ancient cavern’s master was now so faint it looked as though it might disappear at any moment. Ye Cheng felt a pang of sorrow, but there was nothing he could do.

After his outburst, the refined man’s mood gradually calmed. He looked at Ye Cheng, the golden brilliance in his eyes now gone, his expression gentle. “Little one, you have succeeded in kindling the flame. You have forged the Body of Fire and now possess the qualifications to practice the alchemical arts. But at present, your control is only rudimentary. You must train diligently in the days to come to master it fully. Only then will my efforts not be in vain.”

“Though you harbor many secrets within your body, ones even I cannot fathom, I still hope that in the future you will blaze your own trail along the path of alchemy. And now, I have one more thing to pass on to you.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the refined man flicked his sleeve, and a slender beam of light shot forth, entering Ye Cheng’s crown. A torrent of information flooded Ye Cheng’s mind, causing a brief but intense headache.

“Intermediate Technique: Mysterious Flame Art!”

After the pain subsided, these words flashed clearly in Ye Cheng’s mind. Plainly, this was a precious manual, a classic text related to the control of fire.

“Senior, what is this?” Feeling the sudden influx of knowledge, Ye Cheng looked at the refined man, puzzled.

“This is something I chanced upon in ancient ruins—a fundamental technique for controlling fire in alchemy,” the man replied offhandedly, as if it were nothing of consequence.

But Ye Cheng knew better. Such things were exceedingly rare, rarer even than martial techniques, for alchemists themselves were few and far between. To create an alchemical technique was rarer still. Most alchemical fire control methods were of the lowest grade; only those with true mastery could devise an intermediate-level art. The sheer value of this technique was beyond reckoning.

“This art will allow you to step onto the path of alchemy, but how far you travel upon it will depend on your own efforts.”

“Thank you, Senior. If I achieve anything in the future, I will never forget the kindness you have shown me today.” Ye Cheng dropped to one knee, cupping his fists in salute to the man of light suspended before him. In all his life, he had only ever performed such a gesture to the patriarch of the Ye family and his long-lost father. Yet now, this man had given all he possessed to help him attain the Body of Fire. Though this pursuit was in part the old master’s own obsession, the debt Ye Cheng owed was as heavy as a mountain. It deserved nothing less than this show of respect.

“Heh, my work here is done. Little one, work hard and don’t let me down. Also, that girl who came with you—she’s quite a catch. Don’t let that opportunity slip away.” The refined man smiled at the youth before him, approval shining in his eyes. Then his luminous form faded, scattering into countless motes of light that drifted away in the darkness before Ye Cheng’s gaze.

A master of potions, after a century of waiting, had finally vanished from the world.

Staring at the fading light, Ye Cheng was overcome with a sense of loss. Though their time together had been short, the old master’s generosity was something he would never forget. The final words, however, left Ye Cheng momentarily stunned—he hadn’t expected the ancient cavern’s master to show such humor at the very end.

With the last trace of the ancient master’s spirit gone, the darkness surrounding Ye Cheng also dissipated. Now that the master had departed, the dark realm could not be sustained, and the world of flowers and grass was restored once more.

As the darkness receded, a clear, cool gaze fell upon Ye Cheng. Sensing it, he looked up to meet it.

In that verdant place, their eyes met.