Lai Li’an’s footsteps paused. Shao Jiao actually hadn’t left. He thought for a moment, then walked unhurriedly toward that corner.

Upon getting closer, he did not question whether the consecutive cauldron explosions at the scene had anything to do with Shao Jiao. Lai Li’an bent over slightly, his gaze falling on that rust-mottled bronze cauldron as if his attention had been drawn by something.

“The patterns on this cauldron…” Lai Li’an spoke slowly, “It’s the craftsmanship of an Ancient Bronze Cauldron, isn’t it?”

Shao Jiao’s shoulders shifted slightly. He looked up and glanced at him, a trace of surprise in his eyes.

Lai Li’an didn’t look at him. He merely crouched down and pointed at the bronze cauldron. “One can see some remnants of the True Fire Sect’s style. This pattern isn’t a normal fire crest; it’s the array seal of the ‘Flame-Heart Communion’. Using bronze as the medium and fire as the core, it allows an Alchemist with a Fire Spiritual Root to immerse their mind directly into the cauldron’s fire and perceive every change inside. It’s a pity it’s so badly worn down. I’m afraid it can no longer be used.”

These words weren’t something he had made up on the spot. The Scripture of the Eternal Alchemy God contained dedicated sections detailing the origins and ultimate techniques of ancient Alchemy Dao Sects, and this was its record concerning the True Fire Sect.

The True Fire Sect had been destroyed three thousand years ago, and their bronze cauldron forging methods were lost along with it. Today, in the entire Cangwu Realm, the number of people who knew the name “Flame-Heart Communion” could probably be counted on one hand.

During the day on the steps, he had personally watched Shao Jiao stand up for a complete stranger, a Rogue Cultivator, publicly exposing a scammer’s fake pill recipe. That kind of thing couldn’t be faked.

A person who could speak out for justice for a stranger definitely wasn’t an unforgivable villain, and his love for the Alchemy Dao was definitely genuine.

Sure enough, Shao Jiao fell silent for a moment, then revealed a self-deprecating smile.

“Senior has good eyes.” He reached out and stroked the rim of the bronze cauldron. “This is indeed a relic of the True Fire Sect, the only thing my master left me. Before he passed away, the old man said that the ‘Flame-Heart Communion’ on this cauldron was the best fire control method in the world. What a pity…” He paused, his voice dropping a few degrees. “The True Fire Sect’s inheritance was broken three thousand years ago, and the mental cultivation method for the Flame-Heart Communion has long been lost. This cauldron is just an old object now; apart from being more heat-resistant than other cauldrons, it is useless.”

Lai Li’an smiled faintly. He didn’t continue the topic, but rather lifted the hem of his robe and sat directly on the ground next to Shao Jiao.

This action stunned Shao Jiao. The person in front of him was from the judges’ seats, an Alchemy Dao Grandmaster, yet at this moment, he was casually sitting shoulder to shoulder with an unknown Rogue Cultivator like him.

Lai Li’an didn’t explain. He just reached out and lightly flicked the wall of the bronze cauldron. “Since you say this cauldron isn’t of much use, then this Venerable will chat with you about something else. The patriarch of the True Fire Sect was named Huo Yuanzi. Do you know what he was most skilled at back in the day?”

“The Flame Tempering Technique,” Shao Jiao blurted out. After speaking, he himself was momentarily stunned, not expecting to chime in so naturally.

“Correct, the Flame Tempering Technique,” Lai Li’an nodded. “Huo Yuanzi used fire to temper medicine, claiming that ‘all things pass through the fire leaving no residue.’ But his Flame Tempering Technique actually had a flaw, did you know that?”

Shao Jiao didn’t speak, but his body subconsciously leaned forward a fraction.

“He loved fire too much,” Lai Li’an said slowly. “When Huo Yuanzi was young, he was refining a Seventh-Grade Pill. The cauldron fire went out of control and burned for six full hours. Others advised him to extinguish the fire and start over, but he refused, forcibly snatching that pill back from the raging flames. Later, when that pill went to the auction house, someone said it had too much fiery energy, that its medicinal properties were overly fierce but lacking in lingering endurance, and it couldn’t be considered top-grade. But Huo Yuanzi himself said that while the pill’s appearance might be poor, he was most proud of it, because it was exactly the pill he wanted.”

He turned his head and looked at Shao Jiao. “When you were refining pills during the day, your fire control was very steady, but you had something on your mind.”

Shao Jiao felt as if he had been lightly pricked by something, and his fingers subconsciously gripped the rim of the cauldron tightly.

Lai Li’an did not press him about what was on his mind, merely shifting his gaze away from Shao Jiao’s face.

“This Venerable has seen many people practice alchemy. There are many with steady hands, but very few whose hearts are as steady as their hands. Your hands are steady, but your heart is not in the cauldron.”

Shao Jiao lowered his head, remaining silent for a long time. Lai Li’an did not rush him; he just sat quietly to the side, acting like a truly patient Senior.

After a long while, Shao Jiao finally spoke, “Senior… I don’t know.”

He raised his head and looked at Lai Li’an.

Lai Li’an stood up, reached out, and patted Shao Jiao lightly on the shoulder twice.

“For those who practice alchemy, the most terrifying thing is not a cauldron explosion, but not knowing why they practice alchemy.”

“When you helped that Rogue Cultivator expose the scammer during the day, you looked much more like an Alchemist than you do right now.”

Having said that, he turned and walked toward the outside of the plaza. His pace was neither fast nor slow, his robes fluttering gently in the wind.

Shao Jiao sat alone on the ground, watching that retreating figure grow further and further away. The embers in the cauldron flickered, casting shifting light and shadows across his face.

His mouth moved as he murmured something, but his voice was too soft, scattering as soon as it was swept up by the breeze.

But if anyone else had been present, they probably could have read the meaning of those few words from the bitter curve of his lips.

I’m sorry.

After leaving Shao Jiao, Lai Li’an wandered outside the plaza for a while.

He tucked his hands into his sleeves, staring at the long flight of winding stairs leading down, silently cursing the organizers’ ancestors to the eighteenth generation.

Why did they have to hold the conference so high up? As a Golden Core Master, he actually had to hike down the mountain on foot. No one would believe it if he told them.

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure walking down from the direction of the judges’ seats.

Wearing a moon-white brocade robe with cyan trims, walking with brisk steps, and humming an unknown tune, who else could it be but Meng Qiuran?

Lai Li’an’s eyes instantly lit up. His accommodation had arrived.

He straightened his robes, put on an aloof expression, and walked toward Meng Qiuran.

His pace was neither fast nor slow, timed perfectly to “coincidentally encounter” the other on his inevitable path down the stairs.

“Senior Lai!” Meng Qiuran spotted him first, his eyes lighting up as he quickly hurried over to greet him. “You haven’t left yet? I didn’t see you just now, so this junior thought you had already headed back to your residence.”

Lai Li’an gave a slight nod. “This Venerable was just taking a casual walk outside the venue to get some fresh air.”

Meng Qiuran nodded. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly noticed that Lai Li’an was standing in place without any intention of leaving. His mind spun, and he suddenly seemed to realize something.

He slapped his hands together, respectfully stepping aside to make an inviting gesture. “If Senior does not mind, this junior will arrange accommodations for you. Elder Pei has a private residence in the district, right on the mountainside and not far from the venue. He is busy at the judges’ panel these few days, so the house is sitting empty anyway. This junior only needs to say the word to Elder Pei.”

Lai Li’an glanced at him and gave a slight nod. “That is fine.”

Meng Qiuran immediately led the way. As he walked, he fished a Sound Transmission Talisman from his sleeve, whispered a few words into it, and the talisman transformed into a streak of flowing light that flew off.