BTTH : From Humble Beginnings to Dou Di

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Oh, right—just like the Heavenly Flame Ranking, the alchemist world also has its own Heavenly Cauldron Ranking.

As the name suggests, the Cauldron Ranking records those extremely perfect and outstanding medicinal cauldrons.

There are thirteen cauldrons listed in the ranking, and each one possesses a magical allure that countless alchemists pursue feverishly.

If an alchemist had to choose between one of these cauldrons and a Heavenly Flame, quite a few would actually go for the cauldron.

Because just like a Heavenly Flame, a top-tier cauldron can also significantly increase the success rate of pill refining.

However, absorbing a Heavenly Flame carries the risk of death, while cauldrons from the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking require no such danger—no refining, no merging, just pick it up and use it. They’re completely safe and can be passed down for generations.

Given that, cautious alchemists would obviously rather choose a cauldron and give up on a Heavenly Flame.

Ahem, back to the point—Han Feng also possesses the cultivation technique once practiced by the Tou She Ancient Emperor : Flame Mantra!

That technique is something Lin Feng has been coveting hard.

After all, whoever cultivates Flame Mantra can absorb powerful natural flames to upgrade the technique.

And that upgrade doesn’t just raise the technique’s level—it also boosts the user’s Dou Qi level alongside it.

Most importantly, this kind of growth has no side effects!

Even though Han Feng only holds half of it, since Lin Feng can’t currently get the full version from Xiao Yan, he can only settle for half—for now.

As for how to get it—he’d already started making plans for it since advancing to Dou Wang...

While Lin Feng was deep in thought, the Mid-Grade Earth Class Technique on stage had already been bought by a black-robed figure in the VIP seats.

”Hehe, this old man thanks everyone once again for your support. This auction ends here. Those of you who won items can retrieve them at the counters on the left.

As for those who didn’t get what you wanted, don’t be disappointed—there’ll be a Free Trade Fair in the hall to the right of the entrance after the auction. You’re welcome to join the open trading. If you wish to set up a stall, we only charge a 2% transaction fee,”

The elderly host on stage chuckled as he spoke to the crowd.

”Tch, Black Emperor Sect really won’t rest until they’ve milked everyone dry...” Lin Feng muttered, finally understanding what was going on.

There would always be people who didn’t win their target items in an auction—but they likely still had a decent amount of treasure saved up.

The Black Emperor Sect took advantage of this Free Trade Fair to entice these people to spend the rest of their wealth.

”Lin Feng, should we go check it out?”

Beside him, Zi Yan could hardly hold back her curiosity. Her bright eyes sparkled as she looked at him hopefully.

”Alright, let’s go see what this trade fair is all about.”

Seeing the eager glow in her eyes, he gave in.

”Yay! Let’s go!”

She immediately grabbed Lin Feng’s hand and dragged him out excitedly.

”Hey—let’s pick up our stuff first!”

After retrieving the Rank 7 Beast Flame, the Longevity King Pupl, Zi Yan’s gauntlets, and a few herbs, they wandered into the trade area.

The hall they entered was incredibly spacious.

Red carpets covered the ground, and rows of wooden tables were arranged throughout the hall.

Many people were already standing behind the tables, each with some items on display.

Clearly, these were people hoping to sell their goods here.

Since Lin Feng and Zi Yan had arrived a little late, the place was already packed with people—just a sea of heads at a glance.

They strolled casually through the crowd. Lin Feng found the quality of items here quite decent; most vendors were the same people who had attended the auction.

As they passed a few small booths, Lin Feng suddenly noticed a crowd gathered ahead.

Peering through the gaps, he saw that the table in front of the man was completely empty.

Yet the spot was crowded, as people seemed to be eagerly asking him something.

”Come on, let’s go check it out.”

Curious, Lin Feng said to Zi Yan beside him.

”Okay.”

Zi Yan nodded and followed quickly.

Once they reached the booth, Lin Feng saw the bold characters on the table: Information Trade.

That’s when it clicked.

The monkey-thin middle-aged man in front of them was an information broker.

He was just finishing a deal with another buyer—the two of them held their sleeves together, concealing something being passed discreetly.

After the transaction, Lin Feng stepped up and said in a low voice, ”I want detailed information on all the forces in Black-Corner Region that possess Dou Wang-level powerhouses. Do you have it?”

”Yes,”

The scrawny man gave Lin Feng, cloaked entirely in black robes, a quick glance before nodding.

Hearing that, a trace of delight crossed Lin Feng’s face. He asked again, ”The price?”

”300,000 gold coins, or an item of equivalent value.”

Lin Feng tossed a jade bottle onto the table.

The man picked it up, opened it, and saw a fourth-tier pill inside. His eyes lit up with joy and he extended his sleeve.

Lin Feng was slightly startled, but quickly followed suit—both sleeves overlapped, concealing their arms.

Lin Feng felt a scroll being pushed into his hand, which he then immediately secured and stored away.

The information broker also swiftly withdrew.

”Let’s go.”

Having obtained the intel he wanted, Lin Feng turned to Zi Yan.

As for whether you might end up buying fake goods?

That wasn’t something to worry too much about. If someone dared to set up a stall here, it meant the information they were selling was mostly accurate.

Otherwise, in a place like Black-Corner Region, they’d probably end up with their head separated from their body right outside the gates of the Black Emperor Sect’s auction hall.

”Mm.”

Afterward, Lin Feng and Zi Yan left the Black Emperor Sect’s auction after buying some medicinal ingredients.

Sensing the two people tailing them from behind, Lin Feng whispered to Zi Yan, ”Let’s not head back for now. We’ll find an inn and stay there temporarily.”

”Because of those people behind us?”

Zi Yan had also noticed the presence following them and asked softly.

”Yeah.”

Lin Feng nodded and said no more. He turned and walked toward a nearby inn, planning to absorb the Rank 7 beast flame before returning.

With his current Two-Star Dou Wang strength, if he managed to absorb that beast flame, coupled with his terrifying speed, even facing a high-level Dou Wang wouldn’t scare him in the slightest.

Not to mention, he also had two teammates at his side.

Once inside the inn, Lin Feng didn’t immediately look through the intelligence scroll or begin absorbing the beast flame. Instead, he started examining the storage ring of the Dou Ling who had ambushed him earlier.

He had been too busy advancing to Dou Wang and improving his alchemy skills to check it earlier. But now, after seeing that Dou Huang today, the memory resurfaced, and naturally, he wanted to look for any clues.

After searching for a while, Lin Feng found mostly ordinary items inside—not worth his attention anymore.

Only two things caught his interest:

One was a Mid-Grade Black Class dark-element cultivation technique, and the other was a high-tier Xuan-level concealment technique called Silent Breath.

Although the dark-element technique was only Mid-Grade Black Class, dark-element techniques were quite rare.

Scarcity brings value, and its worth could rival that of some high-tier techniques of more common elements.

As for the concealment technique, Lin Feng liked it even more.

With that thing, whether he needed to escape or launch a sneak attack, it would be an excellent helper.

Though non-dark-element cultivators like him couldn’t bring out its full potential, it was still better than having nothing at all.

After checking the storage ring, Lin Feng picked up the intelligence scroll he had purchased earlier and carefully studied it, searching for clues about the dark-element Dou Huang.

Why didn’t he just directly buy all the information on dark-element Dou Huangs in Black-Corner Region?

Because he was worried it might alert the enemy.

After all, he didn’t know if that intelligence broker would leak the news, and that would make his revenge much more difficult.

After searching for a while, Lin Feng’s eyes finally landed on the section about Eight Gates.

Under the description of their Sect Leader, he saw it clearly stated: Element: Darkness.

”So Yuan Yi is also dark-element…”

Truthfully, Lin Feng had already suspected Eight Gates for some time.

When he first arrived in Black-Corner Region, he hadn’t offended any major factions.

Moreover, just before he was ambushed, he had purchased a Rank 5 beast flame at the Black Seal City auction. That made it hard not to draw a connection.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Lin Feng continued reading the scroll.

When he saw that Yuan Yi had used a High-Grade Black Class concealment technique called Silent Breath while he was still a Dou Wang, Lin Feng immediately confirmed the culprit.

After all, a Dou Ling wouldn’t be capable of snatching a Dou Technique from a Dou Huang.

”A Two-Star Dou Huang, huh? But since you chose to come after me... don’t blame me for turning the tables.”

Stroking the scroll in his hand, Lin Feng muttered softly.

”Lin Feng, was it that guy who ambushed you?”

Zi Yan leaned in curiously.

Lin Feng had already told her about the ambush, so she knew what was going on.

”That’s right.”

Lin Feng’s eyes glanced at another dark-element faction listed—Shadow Bone Tomb.

But aside from the dark element, none of the other information matched up.

”When the time comes, bring me with you. I’ll help you beat him up!”

Zi Yan caressed the brand-new pair of gauntlets she had bought earlier and punched the air with her little fists.

”Haha, alright. When we take down Yuan Yi, I’ll refine ten fifth-tier pills for you to snack on.”

Lin Feng chuckled, rubbed her little head, then said, ”I’m going to absorb the Rank 7 beast flame now. Keep an eye out.”

”No problem!”

Thinking of the people who had tailed them earlier, Zi Yan immediately got serious.

Seeing her focused expression, Lin Feng smiled slightly, then took out the Rank 7 beast flame—the flame seed of a Blazing Flame Horned Lizard.

Thanks to his previous experiences absorbing beast flames, this time the process went smoothly and didn’t take long.

After fully absorbing the flame, Lin Feng extended a finger and gave a soft command:

”Manifest!”

Boom—

With a deep, muffled sound, a blazing orange-yellow flame, several times stronger than the Purple Flame, surged up from his fingertip.

”As expected of a flame taken from a rank 7 magical beast… the power far surpasses that of the Purple Flame from the Amethyst Winged Lion King.”

Looking at the flame in his hand, Lin Feng revealed a satisfied smile.

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