Chapter 524 - The Qi Flame Control Test

Lin Mu held onto the jade slip and saw that it was Jiao Fang responding finally.

"I'm at the Herb Peak, the peak master is doing a competition of Qi flame control." Jiao Fang answered.

"Qi flame control? What do you mean?" Lin Mu questioned.

"Just come over, I'll explain it. Besides, the prize for the one that is first is something that would interest you too." Jiao Fang replied before stopping the link.

Lin Mu furrowed his brows, but then decided to go see the man who was acting strangely. Lin Mu sank into the ground and blinked his way to the herb peak. It didn't take him long to find Jiao Fang as he was standing in one of the areas near the warehouse, along with hundreds of other disciples.

He messaged Jiao Fang telling him that he was here, and the man turned around to spot him. Nudging with his eyes, he directed Lin Mu to a more secluded spot.

"So what is it that's exactly happening?" Lin Mu questioned.

"Peak master Shaoyan Qianyu had some progress in her alchemical pill refinement skills and thus she has decided to celebrate it by giving the disciples an opportunity. She is holding a tournament and those who are successful in satisfying her would get rewards.

There are many rewards corresponding to the capability displayed by the disciple. All they need to do is show their proficiency in Qi flame control and they would get ranked. The better it is the higher the rank and the reward." Jiao Fang answered.

"What kind of rewards are there? You mentioned that it would interest me?" Lin Mu asked.

"Indeed. While there are many rewards ranging from spirit herbs to alchemical pills, the reward for the first place is what I think you would like. It is something that you have been looking for all this time… a key to the vault." Jiao Fang answered.

"A key? Why would she give the key to any disciple? Even as a reward that would be too much." Lin Mu said, finding it a bit ridiculous.

"Of course it's not a permanent key. Or rather I should have said it's a temporary access token. The token would allow someone to enter the vault of the herb peak once. Then once they are inside they are allowed to pick any one thing that they want." Jiao Fang explained.

While this did pick Lin Mu's interest, he still wanted more details on this.

"Who will they determine that only one item is taken? And what is the time frame on taking the item from the vault?" Lin Mu questioned.

"The formation array of the vault will be configured such that the person can only take one item from it, no matter what. As for the time frame… there is none. It is similar to the two disciples who got the items from the vaults yesterday." Jiao Fang explained.

"Hmm… so one can go and access the vault anytime, right? Even if no elder is present there?" Lin Mu questioned.

"An elder needs to be there to let you into the compound, of course. But I believe you have no such restriction with your capabilities." Jiao Fang said with a knowing look.

Lin Mu kept a straight face and realized that this was indeed true. If he could really get a token, he would be able to get to the vault when everyone was observing the heavenly tribulation. As for the restriction on the items, he didn't care for that as much. The vault door being opened would already take away a majority of the difficulty that he had.

After the door was opened, Lin Mu was confident that he would be able to resolve the rest of the formations much quickly. This would save him a massive amount of time. If he considered the situation now, he would have free access to two of the four vaults that he needed to rob.

"Tell me more about the tournament. More particularly about how the Qi flame control would be assessed?" Lin Mu asked.

"The assessment is mostly automatic. You would enter the testing hall and the formations that are present in it would record your skills. You will simply need to do actions that the formation instructs you to do. It will measure the time needed for you to do them and also the efficiency." Jiao Fang replied.

Lin Mu liked this method of assessment. At least this way, he would not be noticed by others as much.

"And what kind of skills do you think would be required for one to get the first rank?" Lin Mu questioned.

"At the very least you would need to have Qi flame control that allows one to refine mid grade alchemical pills." Jiao Fang answered.

As soon as Lin Mu heard his words, he knew that this was not a venture he would be able to undertake. While he was indeed capable of igniting his Qi flame, he had no practical experience in refining pills. And there was no way he would be able to learn it in a day. If it were formations, he would have tried it, but even those he had learned over two years.

"Though… there is a way to get the first rank instantly." Jiao Fang added.

Lin Mu raised his eyes and knew that there must be a catch to this.

"If a disciple can ignite an intermediate rank Qi flame. As long as they can do this, they don't even need to do the assessment, the formation will instantly give them the first rank." Jiao Fang explained.

"An intermediate Qi flame… the blue flame," Lin Mu muttered.

"Indeed. But I doubt this method would be possible for you or any disciple here for that matter. That condition is only set by the peak master as a formality. Perhaps only alchemist Bilao would be qualified enough to refine an intermediate ranked Qi flame in addition to the other peak masters." Jiao Fang said, thinking that Lin Mu was disappointed.

While Lin Mu looked calm on the outside, internally he was rejoicing.