Beauty and Might: Heavenly Flames

Several minutes passed before Ji Hong slowly closed the final volume.

His hand remained resting atop the books. For a brief moment, he simply stared at them.

Then he looked up. "Li Yan."

His voice was calm. Yet the weight behind those two words was unmistakable. "You have made a significant contribution to the sect."

Li Yan smiled faintly and shook his head. "I merely happened to find them."

His tone remained casual. "The Fire Mine belongs to the sect. Whatever remains inside naturally belongs to the sect as well."

Ji Hong let out a quiet breath.

Then he laughed softly. "No."

He tapped his hand upon the stack of books. "You are severely underestimating what you discovered."

His gaze lowered once more.

"These texts were once recorded as a core part of the Shadow Knowledge Pavilion's Array Collection. But then they were gone, vanished. No one knew how. No one knew where."

Li Yan's eyes narrowed slightly.

Ji Hong continued. "For years, the sect searched for them, both within and beyond our territory, to recover this core portion of the Pavilion's collection."

His fingers lightly brushed the worn cover.

"We found fragments from the outside world. Partial records. But we were never able to find the complete record."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"And now..."

His gaze lifted toward Li Yan.

"They have returned."

The atmosphere inside the room became noticeably lighter.

Li Yan nodded. "Then I'm glad they weren't lost forever."

Ji Hong studied him for a moment before chuckling. Most disciples would already be calculating rewards.

Li Yan seemed genuinely unconcerned.

Eventually, the Sect Leader shifted the conversation forward. "What else did you find?"

Li Yan did not hesitate. "The fifth tunnel appears to have been some kind of operational area rather than a mining section."

Ji Hong listened attentively.

"The first chamber contained mining tools and heat-resistant equipment. Preserved. Almost perfectly."

"The second chamber served as storage."

This time, Ji Hong's attention sharpened slightly. "Storage?"

Li Yan nodded. "Thousands of Fire Qi Stones."

The words caused even Ji Hong to pause briefly.

Li Yan continued calmly. "They were stacked inside a chamber. Untouched."

A faint smile appeared on Ji Hong's face. "It seems the former generations truly left everything behind."

Li Yan added. "I left them where they were."

Ji Hong immediately shook his head. "No need."

His tone was firm. "Those Fire Qi Stones belong to you."

Li Yan looked at him.

Ji Hong continued. "Not only those. Every Fire Qi Stone within the Fire Mine."

"The sect has no use for them. You possess Fire affinity. You use them to cultivate."

His expression relaxed slightly. "Extract them as much as you want and whenever you want."

A faint smile appeared. "Consider them your reward."

Li Yan cupped his hands respectfully. "Thank you, Elder Ji."

Ji Hong waved dismissively.

Compared to the value of the recovered Array texts, the Fire Qi Stones hardly seemed worth mentioning for Ji Hong.

"What about the remaining chambers?"

"The third chamber belonged to the overseer."

Li Yan gestured toward the books. "That is where I found these. Along with the mining logs and accident records."

Ji Hong slowly nodded.

Those records interested him considerably more than the stones. There were still gaps within the Fire Mine's history.

Perhaps the answers had been sitting there all along.

"And the fourth chamber?"

Li Yan's expression was calm as he said, "It appears to have been a gathering hall."

Ji Hong nodded. Reasonable. Miners needed places to rest.

Ji Hong inclined his head thoughtfully. "The logs in the third chamber, I will review them personally. They may clarify parts of the mine's history that I do not fully know."

A brief pause followed. "I will also inspect the fourth chamber myself."

A faint smile appeared on Li Yan's face. "I don't think you'll find anything particularly valuable there."

Ji Hong raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Only old furniture and used items."

Li Yan paused briefly before adding, "Although there were a few other things."

With a casual wave of his hand, thirteen stone vases appeared beside the table. The aged containers landed one after another with soft thuds.

Each remained sealed. Each carried traces of age.

Li Yan calmly gestured toward them. "Perhaps these are what Elder Ji hopes to find in the fourth chamber."

For a moment, Ji Hong stared.

Then he laughed. A genuine laugh. "Hahaha..."

The sound echoed through the chamber. "You truly know how to read other people's thoughts too well, Li Yan."

His gaze moved between the vases and the young disciple sitting across from him. "And you brought them all back?"

Li Yan nodded. "It seemed wasteful to leave them there. Some things deserve better than being forgotten."

Ji Hong shook his head helplessly. The answer sounded reasonable. Unfortunately, it also involved liquor.

His eyes lingered on the stone vases. "How much did you find?"

This time, Li Yan smiled. Not enough to answer directly. But enough to provide one.

Ji Hong immediately understood.

The quantity was obviously substantial.

Li Yan spoke calmly. "I found quite a few. While I have no intention of drinking them now, preserving them for the future holds its own value. Opportunities like this… do not come often."

His gaze shifted toward the vases. "Of course," he added, "I am not keeping everything for myself. These represent the different varieties I discovered. You can see if any suit your taste."

Ji Hong studied him for a moment before nodding. "Planning. A good habit."

There was no greed in Li Yan's actions. Nor was there any intention of hiding his discoveries. The balance pleased Ji Hong.

The young man had kept what he found. But he had also chosen to share. That was enough.

"Then let me see." Ji Hong reached toward the nearest vase.

The seal broke with a soft pop. Immediately, a rich fragrance spread through the room. Aroma layered upon aroma.

Subtle. Refined.

The scent alone revealed years of aging.

Ji Hong poured a small amount into a cup. Just enough to taste. He raised it, inhaled once, and took a measured sip.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Then a smile appeared. "This one is excellent."

The process continued.

One vase after another.

Ji Hong sampled each with deliberate patience.

No hurry. No waste.

The room gradually filled with the fragrances of ancient wines and liquors, each carrying its own distinct character.

Some were bold. Some elegant. Some carried traces of elemental energy. Others possessed a smooth neutrality that only long aging could create.

Li Yan remained silent throughout.

Observing. Waiting.

Even though Li Yan had already planned to give the thirteen wooden drums he had sorted by type to Ji Hong, he still wanted to see which Ji Hong considered best.

He also couldn't stop thinking about the expression on Ji Hong's face when he handed over those thirteen wooden drums. After all, in front of them, these stone vases looked like ants.

Occasionally, Ji Hong would nod. Occasionally, he would pause longer over a particular selection. As the examination continued, several vases gradually found their way to one side of the table.

Not because the others were lacking. Simply because these few stood out slightly more.

Eventually, Ji Hong set down the final stone vase. His gaze settled upon five stone vases.

Two wines.

Three liquors.

He tapped them lightly. "These." A faint smile appeared on his face. "I prefer these."

Then he looked at Li Yan and added, "I've already exercised considerable restraint."

His fingers rested atop the selected vases. "But these five…" The smile widened slightly. "…these five I refuse to let go."

A faint smile appeared on Li Yan's face. "How much would Elder Ji like?"

Ji Hong leaned back slightly. "That depends on how much you want to share, because I don't know how much you found."

Li Yan nodded. Without another word, he waved his hand. The space within the chamber rippled. Five large wooden drums appeared in the free area of the chamber.

Each was reinforced with metal bands and sealed carefully despite the passing years. Even through the thick wood, traces of rich fragrance lingered faintly in the air.

The room fell silent.

Ji Hong's gaze moved from the stone vases to the massive drums.

For the first time since Li Yan entered the chamber, the Sect Leader's composure visibly faltered.

His expression froze.

Then he slowly looked toward Li Yan. "These…"

His voice paused briefly. "…were also inside the Fire Mine?"

Li Yan nodded. "They were hidden inside a concealed warehouse."

Ji Hong stared at the drums for several moments before releasing a long breath.

A trace of regret appeared on his face. "I have been Sect Leader for years…" He shook his head. "And I never once thought to explore the Fire Mine."

A faint smile appeared on Li Yan's lips. "I doubt anyone expected a forgotten mine to contain a wine cellar."

Ji Hong laughed softly. "Apparently not."

Li Yan spoke calmly. "I hope this will suffice."

Ji Hong's gaze lingered on the drums.

Even after becoming Sect Leader, opportunities to encounter liquor of this quality were rare.

Very rare. Also free of cost.

Eventually, he shook his head. "These are more than enough. Even if I drank regularly, these five drums would last me years."

Li Yan smiled. "Elder Ji may drink as much as he wishes."

Then he paused briefly before adding, "Just don't tell Elder Cao where they came from."

Ji Hong immediately laughed.

The image alone was enough.

If Cao Lian discovered that such a large amount of liquor had come into his possession from Li Yan, she would certainly scold Li Yan for giving it to him.

Unfortunately for him, Li Yan was not finished. With another wave of his hand, eight additional wooden drums appeared beside the first five.

The chamber suddenly felt much smaller.

Ji Hong stared.

Again.

This time, he shook his head. "What exactly did you find down there?"

Li Yan's smile widened slightly. "The complete collection."

Then he added calmly, "Since Elder Ji liked all thirteen varieties, it seemed appropriate to leave one drum of each."

For a moment, Ji Hong simply looked at him.

Then he laughed. A genuine, helpless laugh. "You little brat..."

He shook his head. "You truly know how to surprise people."

The thirteen drums occupied nearly an entire section of the chamber. Compared to the stone vases beside them, the difference was almost comical.

Yet Li Yan appeared completely unconcerned.

To him, the gift was simply appropriate.

Nothing more.

Eventually, he rose to his feet. "There is nothing else to report."

Ji Hong nodded.

The Fire Mine had already yielded far more information than he had expected. The recovered books alone were a major contribution.

The rest was simply an unexpected bonus.

Li Yan cupped his hands respectfully. "Then I will take my leave."

Before he reached the door, Ji Hong suddenly spoke. "Li Yan."

He stopped and turned.

Ji Hong's expression carried a trace of amusement. "If Xin'er ends up facing you during competition…" His gaze narrowed slightly. "…go easy on her."

Li Yan blinked. Then he laughed. "Elder Ji."

His tone remained respectful, but his smile deepened slightly. "Senior Ji Xin's cultivation is much higher than mine. Shouldn't you be giving that advice to her instead?"

Ji Hong snorted. "Others might believe that."

"I don't."

Li Yan remained silent.

Ji Hong sighed helplessly.

Over the past year, he had watched enough to understand one simple truth. Cultivation level meant very little to Li Yan; the reason was his rigorous training in the Hunting Grounds.

After a brief pause, Li Yan finally nodded. "I will avoid causing unnecessary injuries."

Only then did Ji Hong appear satisfied. "Good."

Li Yan smiled faintly. "And Elder Ji…"

Ji Hong raised an eyebrow.

"Once again, regarding those drums." A trace of amusement appeared in Li Yan's eyes. "Please keep my name away from Elder Cao, because I don't want to get scolded by her."

This time, Ji Hong burst into laughter. "Hahaha!"

He waved dismissively. "I try my best to keep your name out of it. So, don't worry."

With that, he left the chamber.

The laughter behind him lingered for several moments before gradually fading.

After leaving the Core Hall, Li Yan headed directly toward the Alchemy Hall.

The Annual Competition would begin the following day.

Although he possessed a considerable supply of Tier-3 pills refined personally, his current cultivation had already reached the point where higher-grade medicinal effects offered greater efficiency.

Healing pills. Qi recovery pills. Emergency reserves.

He purchased everything he considered necessary before leaving.

Only then did he return to his residence.

The remainder of the day passed quietly. Li Yan neither cultivated nor entered the Sword Tower. Instead, he allowed his body and mind to settle into their optimal state.

Tomorrow will mark the beginning of the Annual Competition.

And this year, he intended to enter the Ancient Techniques Hall once again.