Lin Feng and his companions enjoyed a lavish spirit cuisine feast, with both host and guests thoroughly satisfied. Afterwards, Dongfang Yuhui and Loong Chengkong took their leave, while Lin Feng returned to the inn with Zhang Fangzhou and his two brothers.
Walking down the street, numerous cultivators pointed discreetly at Lin Feng, whispering amongst themselves with expressions of reverence. Catching snippets of conversation, Lin Feng realized the news of his earlier contest had spread with astonishing speed.
So now, I suppose I have a bit of 'reputation'? He mused inwardly. I won't have to rely solely on the 'master' facade for everything anymore. While I still can't accept commissions for Spirit Artifacts or top-grade Precious Artifacts, it doesn't matter much. I just acquired a Spirit Artifact robe, and I already have a third-grade Spirit Gathering Array disk. I don't actually need many things now. Earning fewer spirit stones is acceptable... Besides, even commissions for high-grade Precious Artifacts and below will still bring in substantial income.
Lin Feng led Zhang Fangzhou and the others through several bustling streets. He made a point of entering a large bookstore specializing in cultivation texts, purchasing numerous jade slips containing knowledge about the cultivation world.
Lately, Lin Feng felt increasingly aware of his shallow knowledge base. Conversations with Golden Core cultivators like Lian Ye often left him grasping at half-understood meanings. He needed to expand his knowledge ambitiously – not just focusing on rare treasures and materials, but delving into many other areas as well.
...
Returning to the inn, Lin Feng instructed Zhang Fangzhou and his brothers to make their own arrangements before retreating to his private room.
Once alone, he couldn't wait any longer. He retrieved the robe he had just 'won' and eagerly put it on...
The robe was predominantly white, its style not overly ornate. Yet, the collar, cuffs, and other edges were delicately adorned with subtle golden patterns. At first glance, they seemed decorative, but closer inspection revealed intricate, arcane runes. Wearing it felt remarkably comfortable, as if tailored specifically for him. This was due to the robe's inherent elasticity, allowing it to adjust its fit to the wearer's physique.
Feeling a bit vain, Lin Feng studied himself in the mirror. Stroking his chin, he murmured, "Well, the saying is true: fine feathers make fine birds. Guess I look somewhat handsome now, huh?"
If his friend Zheng Kai had been present, he would likely have snorted in disdain – You call this handsome? Must be because you haven't seen me in a while!
Wearing the robe made Lin Feng feel invigorated. He settled cross-legged onto his bed. After a moment's thought, he retrieved a plain white jade slip he had purchased earlier.
A label was affixed to the slip, bearing four characters: Unique Flame Hundred Ranking.
This was knowledge Lin Feng urgently sought. Lian Ye's remarks had hinted that Unique Flames were something incredibly special and immensely powerful.
Focusing his spirit sense into the jade slip, streams of textual information began flashing through Lin Feng's mind. This method of absorption was far more efficient and rapid than reading with one's eyes. A vast amount of knowledge poured into his consciousness. Before long, he had completely 'read' all the contents within the slip.
"So that's it... Unique Flames... To think such miraculous things exist..."
Lin Feng's eyes shone with astonishment as he whispered his awe.
Unique Flames, as the name implied, were 'strange fires.' Unlike mundane flames or ordinary spirit fires, they were extraordinary fires birthed by heaven and earth under unique environmental conditions and circumstances, possessing immense power.
Within the cultivation world, the primary use of Unique Flames was as 'Refining Flames' – the fires employed by Artificers or Alchemists during artifact forging or pill concoction.
Using a Unique Flame for alchemy or artificing yielded results far surpassing ordinary flames. Two alchemists of identical skill level: the one possessing a Unique Flame would undoubtedly find the process easier, achieve a higher success rate, and often produce pills of superior quality. The same principle held true for artificers.
It could be said that possessing a Unique Flame was the dream of every alchemist and artificer. Whenever one manifested in the cultivation world, regardless of its rank, it invariably sparked fierce competition.
The Yueyun Continent was vast and boundless, teeming with countless cultivators. While artificers and alchemists might be scarce in specific regions, their total number across the entire cultivation world was considerable. Yet, among this multitude, perhaps only one or two in a hundred practitioners fortunate enough to possess a Unique Flame.
The types of Unique Flames varied immensely due to their differing origins and conditions, each possessing distinct characteristics and levels of power. Over countless years of accumulated experience, the cultivation world had cataloged the one hundred most formidable Unique Flames, known as the 'Unique Flame Hundred Ranking'. The flames listed on this ranking were exceptionally rare and potent. Even the 'Stamen Flame' possessed by Lian Ye, which Lin Feng had recently seen – ranked merely ninety-eighth – held incalculable value.
Furthermore, each Unique Flame itself had grades. Like artifacts, they were classified as 'Low, Medium, High, and Supreme'. A newly formed Unique Flame was only Low-grade. The longer it gestated naturally, the higher its grade and power would become. Besides natural maturation, a cultivator who acquired one could also employ special methods and rare materials to upgrade the flame.
Therefore, the position on the 'Unique Flame Hundred Ranking' didn't dictate absolute superiority. A Supreme-grade flame ranked sixtieth wouldn't necessarily lose to a Low-grade flame ranked fiftieth, for instance.
While primarily used for artificing and alchemy, Unique Flames could also be wielded as formidable offensive weapons. Consequently, it wasn't just artificers and alchemists who coveted them; virtually any cultivator encountering a Unique Flame would strive to seize it. Even those not listed on the ranking could provoke intense, bloody struggles.
...
Lin Feng slowly digested the wealth of information about Unique Flames, his sense of wonder growing exponentially. The hundred flames described in the Unique Flame Hundred Ranking were truly incredible. While the jade slip he purchased didn't contain exhaustive details – some entries were merely a rank and a name – even the brief descriptions of their powers left him profoundly shaken.
Take, for example, the flame ranked third: the 'Years' Azure Flame'. Legends claimed it could burn time itself, accelerating the flow of time within its flames. Such power was utterly, staggeringly heaven-defying.
If the third ranked flame possessed such might, how terrifying must the top two be?
Regrettably, Lin Feng's jade slip lacked detailed information on the top two, listing only their names. Yet, the names alone were enough to evoke a sense of awe that left him speechless...
Unique Flame Hundred Ranking, Second Place: World-Ashing Karmic Flame!
Unique Flame Hundred Ranking, First Place: Samsara Immortal Flame!!
Merely extrapolating from these names sent Lin Feng's heart pounding with exhilaration and a touch of fear...
"While I don't practice artificing or alchemy," he pondered, "when I use my Repair Technique, flames do manifest. I wonder if that qualifies as 'Refining Flame'? And if I could obtain a Unique Flame, what effect might it have on my Repair Technique?"
The thought ignited a fierce curiosity within him. He resolved that if the opportunity ever arose, he must acquire a Unique Flame to test it out!
...
After indulging in these wild fantasies for a while, Lin Feng temporarily shelved the idea of obtaining a Unique Flame – an unrealistic goal for his current self. He returned to the present and prepared for his next task.
With a flick of his right hand, he scattered over a dozen items onto the bed like beans.
These were all spatial rings – storage rings acquired from Li Renyao and the members of the 'Star City Thirteen Tyrants'.
The task at hand was clear: it was time to take stock of the spoils of victory...