Chapter Four: The Masked Flame

Yun Zhihao stood before an old, cracked mirror in his servant quarters. He ran his fingers across his face thoughtfully.

If he wanted to sell pills, he couldn't do it as "Yun Zhihao" the trash son, the abandoned heir, the mocked servant.

No. He needed a new identity.

He tore apart a piece of black rag cloth, wrapped it tightly around his lower face, and tied up his long hair. Then, using ash and a hint of herbal powder, he darkened his eyes and drew a faint scar across one cheek.

In the mirror now stood someone else entirely.

A wandering alchemist. Unknown. Mysterious. Dangerous.

He smiled beneath the mask.

"You can call me… Master Flame."

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Dragon Market – Yun City

The next day, Zhihao made his way to the Dragon Market, the busiest and most prestigious trade market in all of Yun City. It was said that you could buy anything there—spirit herbs, pills, cultivation techniques, and anything that could be sold if you knew where to look.

At the heart of the market stood a luxurious pavilion called the Jade Cauldron Hall, a high-end alchemy trading center run by the influential Qin Family.

It was said that the one in charge was a young master named Qin Mo, an arrogant but business-savvy cultivator with a sharp eye for talent. He was said to be in his early twenties and had the talent of his father. He also had sharp mouth and his mouth terrorize people more than his talent for business.

Zhihao approached the outer counter.

A bored-looking attendant who just woke up and the sound of his footsteps glanced up at him with disinterest. "You here to buy or waste my time?"

"I'm here to sell," Zhihao replied, voice muffled behind the mask sounding like a man in his twenties. He placed a small pouch on the table. "Five Body Refinement Pills. Handcrafted by me."

The attendant laughed in ridicule. "Everyone thinks they can mix herbs and call it alchemy. Do you have a license?"

"No." Zhihao's tone turned sharp. "But test the pill. If it's fake, I'll leave. If it's real, I want an audience with someone who understands quality."

The attendant sneered, but curiosity won. He opened the pouch, pulled out a dull red pill and blinked.

Moments later, he rushed inside.

A few minutes passed.

Then a well-dressed youth stepped out from the inner hall. His robe was embroidered with golden clouds, and he wore a jade ring that shimmered faintly with spiritual energy. He was tall and able bodied.

Qin Mo. The servant walked slowly behind him.

"So," Qin Mo said, inspecting the masked man, "you're the mysterious rogue alchemist who caused a stir at my gates."

He took a pill, studied it, then crushed it slightly and inhaled the scent. His round eyes shifted from curiosity to disbelief.

"This is... real alchemy. Small, yes but effective. Mixed with special and tricky ingredients, but perfectly balanced. You're either a lucky madman or…"

He leaned in looking at Yun Zhihao, his entire face intrigued.

"A genius in hiding."

Zhihao remained silent. He did not want any other interaction apart from selling his pills. That was his priority at the moment.

"How much for the batch?"

"Thirty silver taels per pill."

Qin Mo raised an eyebrow at the price. " Quite Expensive."

"It'll sell for fifty in the inner city. I'm giving you profit," Yun Zhihao said with confidence. He knew the worth of the pills and with his mysterious identity as a master alchemist, every other alchemist in the lower realm and even the upper realm will rush to buy the pills to get in his good books.

Qin Mo grinned. "Fair enough. I like you, masked one."

He snapped his fingers. "Give him one gold tael and a voucher for the inner herb market."

Zhihao took the pouch without a word and turned to leave.

Qin Mo called after him. "If you make more, come back. But next time… bring higher-grade pills. Body Refinement pills are common. I want something that shakes the crowd."

Zhihao paused in his steps and turned to face Qin Mo. "Next time, I'll bring something better."

---

Back at the Servant Shed

Zhihao emptied the pouch onto the mat. One gold tael. A fortune for any servant.

But to him, it was only the beginning. He would take charge in the lower realm and beyond.

He would use the voucher to enter the Inner Market, a place restricted to outer disciples and merchants. There, he would purchase high-quality Fireroot and Spirit Lotus, A beginner's pill furnace, iron-cored and fire-insulated that would further facilitate his pill production and a recipe scroll for a Low-Grade Qi Recovery Pill that he would sell in an auction house to make more money.

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In the inner market, a young man was seen purchasing goods. After he had finished paying with the voucher, he hurried back to his shed. Nobody had been to his shed. It was as if he had been isolated from others.

Back in his shed, he removed the furnace from its wrapping and set it gently on the floor.

It was basic, but a hundred times better than the old cooking pot he had been using.

He poured the herbs into the furnace and ignited a small Qi flame from his palm. The Qi flame was small due to his low spiritual power but it could suffice. The temperature rose. The herbs dissolved in the furnace.

This was real alchemy.

He guided the mixture with spiritual control, using the memories of his past life. He suppressed the impurities and guided the impurities out of the furnace using his spiritual power, condensed the essence, and shaped the spiritual core.

Hours later, five Qi Recovery Pills sat cooling on a piece of cloth. The pills glowed faintly with energy.

"These will sell for at least 80 silver each," Zhihao murmured,his breath heavy.

He looked at his side reflection in the furnace's polished side.

"From this moment on… I forge my path in fire and gold."