A moment later, a tiny flame appeared in Pill Master Gao Shan’s palm. It looked harmless at first glance, no larger than the flame of a candle.

Yet the instant it emerged, the temperature of the entire area rose dramatically. The air itself began to distort and ripple from the terrifying heat.

Even cultivators standing dozens of meters away felt sweat forming on their foreheads. Despite its small size, everyone present could sense the horrifying power contained within that emerald-colored flame.

It was as though the fire possessed the ability to melt mountains, boil oceans, and reduce entire cities to ash.

"Look! That’s the Spiritual Bamboo Emerald Fire!"

Someone cried out in shock.

"The Spiritual Bamboo Emerald Fire? The heavenly flame ranked ninety ninth among the world’s sacred fires?"

"My heavens! Senior Gao Shan is actually using his trump card!"

The crowd erupted into discussion.

For pill masters, a heavenly flame was one of the greatest treasures they could ever possess.

Such flames were invaluable for refining pills, allowing their owners to create medicinal treasures that ordinary alchemists could only dream of producing. However, their value did not end there.

In battle, heavenly flames were terrifying weapons capable of unleashing unimaginable destruction. Countless experts had died after underestimating the power of such flames.

Many cultivators spent their entire lives searching for one and never succeeded. Yet Pill Master Gao Shan possessed one.

The disciples and followers standing behind Gao Shan stared at him with worshipful expressions. In their eyes, he looked no different from a god descending into the mortal world.

Then they turned toward Lin Feng. Their gazes were filled with mockery, pity, and anticipation. In their minds, Lin Feng was already a dead man.

"Bah, the man still looks so calm. I bet he’s already shitting his robes right now."

"Hahaha! I believe so too. He’s probably forcing himself to act brave."

"A pity, really. He brought so many beautiful women with him."

One man licked his lips greedily.

"Once he dies, those beauties won’t have anyone to protect them anymore."

"Hahaha! Exactly! They’ll be ours the moment he dies!"

The group burst into shameless laughter.

Several women nearby frowned in disgust after hearing such words, but none dared to speak up. With Pill Master Gao Shan revealing his heavenly flame, everyone believed victory was already decided.

After all, who could possibly stand against a respected pill master wielding a sacred fire?

Yet while the crowd was convinced of Lin Feng’s impending death, the man at the center of it all remained completely unfazed. Lin Feng simply glanced at the emerald flame dancing in Gao Shan’s palm.

His expression did not change in the slightest. There was no fear. Instead, there was only mild curiosity, as though he were examining an interesting toy.

That calm attitude only made Gao Shan’s face darken further. He felt insulted.

The Spiritual Bamboo Emerald Fire had earned him fame and respect throughout countless cities. Countless experts trembled upon seeing it.

Yet this young man before him looked as though he could not care less.

"Still pretending?" Gao Shan sneered. "Very well. I’ll burn that arrogance away along with your body."

A moment later, Gao Shan thrust his hand forward and commanded the heavenly flame.

"Go, Spiritual Bamboo Emerald Fire, and burn this man alive!" His voice thundered across the marketplace.

"I don’t want him to die too quickly. Make him suffer! Burn him slowly and cook him for at least ten hours. Let everyone witness the fate of those foolish enough to oppose me!"

His eyes gleamed with cruelty.

"Evil people deserve to be punished this way!"

Anyone unaware of the truth might have believed Gao Shan was a righteous hero delivering justice.

In reality, he was the villain responsible for creating and selling miraculous pills that secretly shortened the lives of those who consumed them. The emerald flame erupted forward.

Like a divine serpent made of fire, it tore through the air with terrifying speed.

The surrounding temperature instantly skyrocketed. Stone tiles cracked from the heat, and nearby cultivators retreated in panic.

The Spiritual Bamboo Emerald Fire shot toward Lin Feng, intending to devour him in a single breath. Yet what everyone expected never happened.

Instead of burning Lin Feng alive, the heavenly flame abruptly stopped.

"What?!" A shocked cry rang out. No one knew who had shouted it first. The crowd stared with widened eyes, convinced they were hallucinating. The emerald flame was hovering directly in front of Lin Feng.

It trembled. Then, to everyone’s disbelief, it slowly circled around him. Like a loyal puppy greeting its master after years of separation. Like a child finally reunited with a beloved parent.

The supposedly violent heavenly flame showed not the slightest intention of attacking him. Rather, it danced joyfully around his body. Everyone’s jaws dropped.

Some people even rubbed their eyes repeatedly. Others pinched themselves to make sure they weren’t dreaming.

"This... this is impossible..."

"How can a heavenly flame refuse its master’s command?"

"What kind of monster is this man?"

Even Gao Shan himself stood frozen in place. His face became deathly pale. The blood contract connecting him to the Spiritual Bamboo Emerald Fire felt weaker and weaker with every passing second.

Meanwhile, Lin Feng smiled leisurely.

"Have you still not learned your lesson?" He looked at Gao Shan as though looking at a particularly slow student.

"When you keep throwing treasures at me, you’re not attacking me." Lin Feng reached out and gently tapped the emerald flame with his finger. The heavenly flame immediately spun around him happily.

"You’re simply giving me gifts." The crowd nearly coughed up blood after hearing those words.

Giving him gifts?

That was a heavenly flame! Countless cultivators would slaughter entire clans for a chance to obtain such a treasure. Yet Lin Feng spoke as though Gao Shan had handed him a basket of fruit.

"Still, thank you very much."

Lin Feng smiled brightly.

"Since you’re so generous, it would be uncultured of me not to accept your kindness."