*Whoosh!*

A flame leapt up before Tang Yan, its deep blue hue both mesmerizing and mysterious.

Tang Yan studied the Heaven and Earth Creation Flame, a flash of awe in his eyes.

Fusing it with the Soul-Refining Flame had deepened his mastery of the fire-control technique and revealed its full potential.

It could temper the soul, enhance mental strength, and even briefly disrupt an enemy’s focus.

Though fully refined by Tang Yan, the Creation Flame had absorbed all the Soul-Refining Flame’s abilities.

Feeling the soul-crushing pressure it exuded, Tang Yan’s mind stirred. Didn’t this mean he’d gained not just a life-saving skill but also a way to refine his soul on his own?

The stronger the soul, the greater the mental fortitude—crucial for alchemy. As an alchemist, Tang Yan knew its value well. Suppressing his wild joy, he exhaled a murky breath and resumed cultivating.

With nine days left, he had to seize every moment to improve.

When Tang Yan emerged from cultivation again, daylight streamed through the window.

Though Yun City had long been dismissed as a contender, news of Tang Yan clearing the sixth floor of the Deathstrike Tower had spread like wildfire, reaching every corner within a day.

His name was now etched in many minds.

Fang City.

Named after the Fang family, who had ruled it for generations, nearly half the city’s industries fell under their control. Unlike Yun City, Fang City’s governance was distinct.

While each city’s lord mansion held supreme authority, numerous powerful families often coexisted, forming a delicate balance of one dominant power checked by several strong players.

Fang City, however, treated the entire city as the Fang family’s domain—recruiting talent from any clan into the lord’s mansion for training, ensuring the family’s enduring dominance.

In southern Fang City lay Slender Moon Lake, a sprawling thousand-acre expanse.

Its scenic beauty, framed by pavilions and towers along both shores, drew poets, scholars, lovers, and young elites alike.

Inside one such pavilion’s second-floor private room, carved windows overlooked the vast lake. A fire crackled within, warming the space like spring.

Four youths of extraordinary bearing sat around an eight-sided table, sipping wine.

Anyone familiar with them would gasp. Though young, these four were renowned across the Eastern Domain—except in insular Yun City. Their names echoed through the other four cities.

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Fang Xuan and Cheng Gong of Fang City, Du Shu of Qing City, and Song Ze of Song City—collectively dubbed the Four Young Masters of the Eastern Domain, the undisputed cream of their generation.

As for the top youths of Yu City and Yun City, they barely registered in the eyes of the elite, unworthy of comparison.

A youth with sword-like brows and starry eyes set down his cup, clearing his throat to draw attention. “Time flies. The Eastern Domain Tournament, held every five years, is upon us again. What are your thoughts on this year’s event?”

“Brother Fang Xuan, each person gets only one shot at the tournament. Though it’s our first time, I’d wager we four will claim four of the top five spots,” Song Ze said, tapping his cup lightly. His thick brows and broad eyes lent him a mature air.

Fang Xuan’s starry eyes twinkled with a smile. “Per the Azure Dragon Academy’s usual recruitment, they’ll take five to ten from the Eastern Domain. But the tournament only earns us a chance at entry—we’ll still face their secondary trials to secure a spot.

“The Academy’s retest is far tougher. We Eastern Domain folks will need to band together for a better shot at getting in.

“Who do you think could join us as allies?”

“If they only take five, Zhao Yuqian and Wan Fei from Fang City have strong potential,” Cheng Gong replied promptly.

“Song Qing from our Song City can hold her own,” Song Ze added boldly.

“Qing City’s Sun Long isn’t bad either,” Du Shu chimed in, nominating one from his city.

Fang Xuan nodded, a confident smile playing on his lips. His every gesture radiated charisma as he sipped his wine and mused, “Yu City’s Su Wei isn’t terrible—rumor has it he’s peaked at Grade Three. If he’d hit Grade Four, he might’ve earned a seat here as their top youth.”

“I heard someone cleared the sixth floor of the Deathstrike Tower yesterday,” Song Ze noted.

Fang Xuan nodded again. “I caught wind of that too. Yun City and Yu City had a bet—Yu City lost. That’s another reason I didn’t invite Su Wei. Have any of you dug into this Tang Yan’s background?”

Du Shu frowned. “I looked into it. Five months ago, Tang Yan was a notorious wastrel in Yun City—ignorant and indulgent. Now he’s showing some skill, but he’s supposedly only at Yellow Rank, Grade Nine—not even Mysterious Rank.”

“I’ve checked Yun City recently too,” Cheng Gong interjected. “Their top youth has always been Liu Zhi, now at Mysterious Rank, Grade One. Yesterday, he couldn’t even take a single move from Yu City’s Yao Yuan—got slapped around instead. If Tang Yan isn’t even their best, the Deathstrike Tower must’ve glitched, letting him slip through.”

Fang Xuan mulled it over before saying, “Latest reports peg his displayed strength at Yellow Rank, Grade Nine. Clearing the tower might’ve been sheer luck. That level’s too weak to bother with.”

Unbeknownst to Tang Yan, the Four Young Masters were discussing him.

He’d hung a “Cultivating” sign on his courtyard gate and holed up inside, relentlessly refining the Soul-Refining Flame.

Such dedication brought rapid progress.

The Soul-Refining Flame held endless benefits for the soul. After days of tempering, Tang Yan could feel his soul strength surging.

He was sure it’d make pill-refining smoother down the line.

Counting the days, tomorrow was the Eastern Domain Tournament. By now, he’d fully fused the Soul-Refining Flame.

The once deep-blue Creation Flame could now, at his will, separate out the bone-white Soul-Refining Flame—a marvel to behold.

After a bath and a fresh white robe, Tang Yan opened his gate just as Lin Xiao approached with Lin Dongxue.

“Hmph, so you finally show your face!” Lin Dongxue pouted不满ly upon seeing him.

Back in Cangyun Mountain, when Liu Jing tried to assassinate them and Tang Yan held him off so she could escape, Lin Dongxue had accepted him as a friend.

Later, he’d taught her plenty about combat. She’d hoped to spend these ten days discussing fighting techniques with him, only for him to vanish into seclusion for eight whole days.

“I felt my strength wasn’t solid yet, so I took the chance to consolidate it here. Didn’t realize so much time slipped by,” Tang Yan apologized hastily, then asked curiously, “Are you here for me?”