Chapter 95 The Four Young Masters of the East Domain

"Whoosh!"

A flame suddenly leaped up before Tang Yan, deep blue and unfathomable, eerie and mysterious.

Tang Yan studied the Heaven and Earth Creation Flame, a trace of shock flashing through his eyes.

After fusing with the Soul-Refining Fire, his understanding of the Fire Control Art had deepened by another measure. At the same time, he had also figured out its use.

It could temper the soul, strengthen Mental Power, and briefly disturb an enemy's mind.

Although the Soul-Refining Fire had already been refined by Tang Yan, every ability it possessed had actually been absorbed by the Heaven and Earth Creation Flame.

Feeling the pressure the flame brought upon his soul, Tang Yan's heart stirred. Did this not mean that he had not only gained another means to protect his life, but could also temper his own soul in the future?

The stronger one's Soul Power, the stronger one's Mental Power. This was of vital importance to alchemy. As an Alchemist, Tang Yan naturally understood how precious this was. Suppressing the wild joy in his heart, he breathed out a mouthful of turbid air and continued cultivating.

There were still nine days left. He had to grasp every moment to improve himself.

When Tang Yan woke from cultivation again, the sky was already bright.

Though Yun City had never been looked upon favorably over the years, the matter of Tang Yan clearing the sixth floor of Absolute Kill Tower spread as if it had grown wings. In a single day, the entire city knew of it.

The name Tang Yan was also remembered by many people.

Fang City.

For generations, power here had been held by the Fang family. The city's name came from this.

Nearly half of the businesses within the city belonged to the Fang family. Fang City's way of governing was also somewhat different from Yun City's.

Although the City Lord's Manor of each city held a lofty status, many great families were still rooted within them, forming a balance in which one power stood above the rest while several strong clans restrained one another.

Fang City, however, treated the entire city as the Fang family's property. No matter which family a talented person came from, they would all be drawn into the City Lord's Manor and nurtured there, thereby laying the foundation for the Fang family's long-lasting prosperity.

In the southern part of Fang City lay Slender Moon Lake, spanning a thousand mu.

The scenery was beautiful, with towers and pavilions lining both banks. It was a place beloved by Fang City's talented youths and beauties, scholars and poets, and even young couples.

Inside one pavilion, in a private room on the second floor, carved windows faced the thousand-mu lake. A stove burned within the room, making it as warm as spring.

Four young men of extraordinary bearing sat around an eight-immortal table, drinking wine.

If anyone familiar with them had been present, they would certainly have cried out in surprise. Although these four looked young, throughout the entire Eastern Region, aside from Yun City, which had never paid attention to the affairs of the Eastern Region, the other four cities all knew their names well.

Fang Xuan and Cheng Gong of Fang City, Du Shu of Qing City, and Song Ze of Song City. The four were collectively known as the Four Young Masters of the East Domain, publicly acknowledged by the various cities as the most outstanding members of the younger generation.

As for the foremost figures of Yu City and Yun City, they were not worthy of these people's notice, and naturally could not be mentioned in the same breath as the young talents of those three cities.

A young man with sword-like brows and starry eyes set down his wine cup and gave a light cough, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

"Time passes quickly. The Eastern Region Grand Competition, held once every five years, is about to begin again this year. What thoughts do you all have about this competition?"

"Brother Fang Xuan, each person may only take part in the Eastern Region Grand Competition once. Although this is our first time participating, I feel that among the top five of the Eastern Region, we can occupy four seats."

Song Ze tapped his finger lightly against his wine cup a few times. His thick brows and large eyes gave him a rather mature air.

Fang Xuan's starry eyes held a smile as he said, "According to Azure Dragon Academy's usual way of taking in disciples, they will choose anywhere from five to ten people from the Eastern Region. However, what we obtain from the Eastern Region Grand Competition is only the qualification to be selected by Azure Dragon Academy. After that, we must still undergo Azure Dragon Academy's second assessment before it can be decided whether we can enter Azure Dragon Academy.

"Azure Dragon Academy's second selection will be even more intense. At that time, we people of the Eastern Region must unite as one. Only then will we have a greater chance of entering Azure Dragon Academy.

"Who do you think might become our fellow companions?"

"If they only take five people, Zhao Yuqian and Wan Fei of Fang City both have great Potential," Cheng Gong immediately said.

"In our Song City, Song Qing also has the strength to contend," Song Ze said in a clear voice.

"In Qing City, Sun Long's strength is quite good," Du Shu said, recommending someone from Qing City.

Hearing this, Fang Xuan nodded. A faint smile appeared on his face. The confidence revealed in his every gesture was enough to make others admire him from the heart.

He took a leisurely sip of wine and said, "Su Wei of Yu City is not bad either. I heard that his strength has already reached the peak of Third Grade. Unfortunately, he has not reached Fourth Grade. Otherwise, with his status as Yu City's foremost person, I could have invited him over for a cup of wine."

"I heard that yesterday, someone cleared the sixth floor of Absolute Kill Tower," Song Ze reminded him.

Fang Xuan nodded. "I have also heard of it. Yesterday, Yun City and Yu City made a wager, and in the end, Yu City lost. This is also another reason I did not invite Su Wei. Have any of you found out Tang Yan's background?"

Du Shu frowned and said, "I asked around. Five months ago, Tang Yan's reputation in Yun City was poor. He was idle, ignorant, and indulged in wine and pleasure. Yet now, he has displayed decent strength. Still, his cultivation does not seem very high. I only heard that he has reached Yellow Rank Ninth Grade and has not even stepped into Black Rank."

"I also investigated Yun City recently. Yun City's foremost person has always been Liu Zhi, but his current strength is only Black Rank First Grade. Yesterday, he could not even receive one move from Yao Yuan of Yu City, and was slapped several times in a row. As for Tang Yan, who is not even Yun City's foremost person, Absolute Kill Tower must have had some problem that allowed him to pass by luck," Cheng Gong added.

Fang Xuan pondered for a while. Only after a long moment did he say, "The latest news shows that the highest strength that boy has displayed before outsiders is Yellow Rank Ninth Grade. His clearing of Absolute Kill Tower may truly have been due to luck. Yellow Rank Ninth Grade is still too weak. There is no need for us to consider him."

Tang Yan knew nothing of the conversation between the Four Young Masters of the East Domain.

He had simply hung a sign reading "in cultivation" on the courtyard gate, then stayed within the small courtyard without taking a single step outside, devoting himself wholly to refining the Soul-Refining Fire.

With such focused cultivation, Tang Yan's progress advanced by leaps and bounds.

The Soul-Refining Fire had endless wondrous uses for a person's soul. After these days of tempering, Tang Yan could clearly feel that his Soul Power had increased by quite a bit.

He believed that when he refined pills in the future, it would become much easier.

Counting the days, tomorrow would be the day of the Eastern Region Grand Competition. Tang Yan had also completely fused with the Soul-Refining Fire.

Within the originally deep-blue flame, as long as Tang Yan wished it, he could separate out the bone-white Soul-Refining Fire. It was truly wondrous beyond compare.

After bathing and changing into a white robe, Tang Yan opened the courtyard gate, just in time to see Lin Xiao walking over with Lin Dongxue.

"Hmph, so you still remember to come out!"

Seeing Tang Yan open the door, Lin Dongxue pursed her lips in dissatisfaction.

Back on Cangyun Mountain, when Liu Jing had tried to assassinate the two of them, Tang Yan had stopped Liu Jing and let her escape. From that moment, Lin Dongxue had accepted Tang Yan as a friend in her heart.

Afterward, Tang Yan had taught her many lessons in combat as well. She had originally intended to use these ten days to discuss fighting with him a little more, but this fellow had gone straight into Secluded Cultivation. For eight whole days, she had not even seen his shadow.

"I felt that my strength had not been fully steadied, so since I happened to be here, I took the chance to properly digest what I'd gained. Who knew so many days would pass in the blink of an eye?"

Tang Yan quickly apologized, then asked curiously, "Did you come looking for me?"

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