Chapter 400: Old Acquaintance

The Black Flame Province is located in the southeastern region of the Saint Continent. This province is vast; its area alone is nearly half that of an ordinary continent, which gives a sense of the immense expanse of the Saint Continent.

It's no wonder people say that the destiny of Cangxuan is six-tenths Saint Continent's—such a profound foundation is indeed beyond the reach of other continents.

Thus, by the time Zhou Yuan and his companions arrived in the Black Flame Province from the Cangxuan Sect, almost ten days had passed...

In the boundless sky, a streak of light swiftly darted across. Within the light was a slender flying boat, adorned with numerous source patterns that glowed brightly, propelling it at an incredible speed.

Inside the flying boat's cabin, Zhou Yuan sat with his eyes closed. Before him, ancient trees floated, emitting a faint 'Yi Wood Qi' that he absorbed entirely.

Even while traveling, he was clearly seizing every moment to absorb the Yi Wood Qi, perfecting the "Taiyi Mark" within his body.

After a long while, he opened his eyes. The floating ancient trees before him crumbled into dust and scattered, while a subtle emerald light flickered across his skin before receding.

Sensing that the "Taiyi Mark" within him had been refined a bit further, Zhou Yuan nodded slightly. Cultivating the Taiyi Mark was not something that could be achieved overnight; it required a step-by-step process.

Of course, the most crucial point was that he didn't have many century-old ancient trees left.

"Everyone, we're nearing the Black Flame Mountain Range," Li Qingchan's cool voice echoed from outside.

Zhou Yuan stepped out of the cabin to find everyone already outside. He looked up, gazing into the distance, and saw dark mountain ranges emerging on the horizon.

The land and sky here seemed to emanate a scorching aura.

It was like a fiery mountain range.

"We will make our base in Black Fire City, outside the Black Flame Mountain Range. Representatives from various factions are already there, and our Cangxuan Sect has also dispatched an elder to oversee things and manage interactions with high-ranking members of other forces."

"First, we'll meet with this elder in Black Fire City to get an update on the situation," Li Qingchan said, her cool gaze sweeping over the group.

Hearing this, everyone naturally had no objections and nodded.

Seeing their agreement, Li Qingchan said no more. The flying boat suddenly accelerated, and half an incense stick later, it appeared outside the Black Flame Mountain Range, where the silhouette of a massive city was faintly visible in the distance.

The city was bustling with activity, as streaks of light continuously flew in from all directions, landing within its boundaries.

"Because of the eruption of the Blazebone Volcano, the Black Flame Province has become incredibly lively recently, with many rogue cultivators coming here to try their luck," Li Qingchan explained, retracting the flying boat as she spoke. Then, the group descended into the city, propelling themselves with Genesis Qi.

Black Fire City itself was exceedingly prosperous, with wide, interconnected streets bustling with people and filled with a variety of shops.

Li Qingchan did not linger. She led the group directly to the city center, where a magnificent and luxurious pavilion stood. At its entrance, a wooden sign read: "No Entry Below the Tai Chu Stage."

Zhou Yuan looked at the sign, speechless. This place even had a discriminatory rule...

"This is currently where major factions reside. Those without sufficient strength would only invite trouble by entering," Li Qingchan said, glancing at him before leading the way into the pavilion.

Zhou Yuan and the others followed closely. The pavilion was indeed spacious, but it was currently overflowing with people, and the air was filled with a cacophony of noise.

However, it was evident that every individual there possessed a certain level of power, as Genesis Qi surged around them.

As their group stepped inside, Li Qingchan's aura, beauty, and temperament immediately silenced the noisy pavilion, drawing numerous fervent gazes.

However, when these gazes noticed the Cangxuan Sect tokens hanging from Zhou Yuan and the others' waists, they immediately understood their identity. People instantly recoiled, their gazes no longer daring to be disrespectful, and those who had intended to flirt swallowed their words.

As one of the preeminent sects in Cangxuan Heaven, the Cangxuan Sect's prestige was clearly something few dared to challenge.

Li Qingchan's exquisite face remained icy, completely ignoring the stares as she proceeded upstairs.

"Tsk, isn't that Li Qingchan, the Cangxuan Sect's foremost beauty? Why did they send you out this time?" Just as they ascended, a playful female laugh suddenly drifted over.

Li Qingchan's cool gaze followed the sound, and her eyes narrowed.

On the upper floor of the pavilion, a group of people had gathered. In the center sat a woman in a long floral dress, looking exceptionally charming, who was smiling as she looked their way.

Most of the people around this woman were also women, each one pretty and captivating, drawing countless furtive, wolf-like glances from within the hall. However, no one dared to approach or harass them.

This was because all these women were from the Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace.

The woman in the floral dress leading them was named Feng Ying, also a Saint Child of the Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace, holding a considerably high status.

"Feng Ying? I'm surprised Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace sent you to lead the team this time," Li Qingchan said, a hint of surprise in her tone as she looked at the alluring woman. She knew Feng Ying, having interacted with her during previous sect missions.

"Care to join us?" Feng Ying asked with a half-smile.

Hearing this, Li Qingchan didn't hesitate, walking straight over.

"Heh heh, Brother Zhao Zhu is here too. It's been a long time..." As they drew closer, Feng Ying's eyes swept over Zhao Zhu behind them, and she immediately smiled sweetly.

Zhao Zhu smiled faintly and said, "Sister Feng Ying is getting more beautiful."

Feng Ying chuckled, "With your Cangxuan Sect's most beautiful woman here, I can hardly be called beautiful."

As they spoke, Qin Hai and the others' gazes swept over the group. Then, their eyes couldn't help but fixate on a graceful figure among the charming women.

Among the lovely female disciples of the Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace, there was a girl in a black dress. Her skin was as fair as jade, and her beauty was exquisite, surprisingly not inferior to Li Qingchan's.

What was most striking was her pair of sparkling, peach-blossom eyes, from which emanated an enchanting allure, truly making her an unparalleled temptress.

Such a charming demeanor was most attractive to men's eyes, so before Li Qingchan's arrival, it was likely that most of the gazes in the entire pavilion had been fixed on her.

Qin Hai and the others were also drawn to her, but then they noticed that many male figures surrounded the girl in the black dress. Each appeared to possess a remarkable demeanor, with a smiling young man in white robes being the most prominent.

The young man was handsome, with a gentle smile playing on his lips. However, when Qin Hai and the others saw the token on his waist, their expressions hardened.

It was a token from the Sacred Palace.

"I didn't expect to find someone from the Sacred Palace here," Li Qingchan said blandly, staring at the young man in white robes.

The young man in white robes smiled slightly, cupped his fists, and said, "Yang Xuan of the Sacred Palace."

"Haha, Senior Sister Li Qingchan is a Saint Child. If there are any issues, you can find our Sacred Palace's Wang Li and Cao Jinzhu, who were sent this time. There's no need for Senior Sister Li Qingchan to bother with a minor figure like me."

After speaking gently, he turned his gaze to the girl in the black dress beside him, conversing with a soft laugh. He showed no sign of being intimidated by the attention of Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu, the two Saint Children of the Cangxuan Sect.

Meanwhile, the girl in the black dress consistently maintained a subtle, beautiful smile on her exquisite face. She appeared amiable and polite, yet there was always a slight distance, making her difficult to approach.

Feng Ying shrugged her shoulders at Li Qingchan and said, "Although Junior Brother Yang Xuan isn't a Saint Child, he's quite renowned in the Sacred Palace. But he's not here because I invited him; he's here for our junior sister..."

Li Qingchan's beautiful eyes also glanced at the girl in the black dress. Even she couldn't help but take a second look at her captivating and charming demeanor.

The girl in the black dress also slightly raised her delicate face. Her sparkling gaze swept over the Cangxuan Sect group, flickering, and then paused slightly as she saw Zhou Yuan standing at the very back.

At once, her eyes brightened faintly.

At this moment, Zhou Yuan also smiled. To his surprise, the girl in the black dress was an old acquaintance, Zuoqiu Qingyu.

She had entered the Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace with Qingluo back then. He never expected to run into her here.

Finding an old friend in a foreign land, Zhou Yuan also smiled, raised his hand, and waved at Zuoqiu Qingyu.

His action drew everyone's attention. Qin Hai and the others had initially focused on Zuoqiu Qingyu, and now seeing Zhou Yuan behave so openly, they immediately curled their lips in disdain.

*Kid, do you really think you're endlessly charming? Didn't you see that Sacred Palace guy's efforts to flatter her for ages didn't even get a reaction from this girl?*

Li Qingchan and Feng Ying also glanced at Zhou Yuan.

Feng Ying said playfully, "Your junior brother is quite interesting."

Clearly, she once again took Zhou Yuan for a misguided man trying to attract Zuoqiu Qingyu's attention in such a manner.

Li Qingchan's pretty face looked displeased. She glared at Zhou Yuan, thinking, *This fellow, isn't he afraid of losing face in public?*

Zuoqiu Qingyu naturally saw Zhou Yuan's gesture, but she showed no reaction, merely glancing indifferently before withdrawing her gaze.

Zhou Yuan's hand stiffened, feeling a little awkward.

Qin Hai and the others beside him couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.

Zhou Yuan rubbed his nose sheepishly.

*Pfft.*

But at that moment, the seemingly indifferent Zuoqiu Qingyu suddenly broke into a sweet smile. She turned to look at Zhou Yuan, resting her jade hand on her cheek, her beaming expression lively and charming, incredibly alluring.

She gazed at Zhou Yuan, her eyes crescent-shaped, smiling like a little fox. "Hi, Zhou Yuan, long time no see..."

Observing the lively and beautiful smile on Zuoqiu Qingyu's face, Feng Ying and Li Qingchan were both momentarily stunned.

As women, how could they not see that Zuoqiu Qingyu's current smile was no longer the polite pretense from before, but genuine joy originating from deep within her heart?

Consequently, Qin Hai and the others' expressions slightly stiffened.

And Yang Xuan of the Sacred Palace, too, subtly suppressed the gentle smile on his lips, his gaze turning somewhat profound as he stared at Zhou Yuan, who stood at the very back of the group...

Suddenly becoming the center of attention, Zhou Yuan looked at Zuoqiu Qingyu's cunning, foxy smile, his mouth twitching slightly. How could he not understand that Zuoqiu Qingyu had just played a trick on him again...?

*This little vixen is as infuriating as ever!*

(The past two days were spent conceiving the plot, which slowed down the writing.)