Inside the 'Southern Dragon's courtyard', Shun Long sat on a meditative cushion inside his room, with Liu Mei, Xingyi, Jiang Chen, and Bai Longtian all sitting around him.

After he took out 5 jars of wine from his spatial ring and handed one to everyone, Shun Long saw Jiang Chen staring at him with a serious look in his eyes, before Jiang Chen said in a solemn voice

''Brother, I don't think that we should trust the Northern Sovereign too much. Even if she doesn't have any bad intentions and really wants to befriend us, since you already refused to join the Tianxuan dynasty, the people behind her may not necessarily take it as well as she did. If they order the Northern Sovereign to kill you, I doubt that she will really refuse... After all, your talents are really too terrifying!''

It wasn't just Jiang Chen who shared this sentiment, as Liu Mei, Xingyi, and Bai Longtian agreed with him as well, as they all stared at Shun Long.

There was no doubt that news about Shun Long's Heavenly Tribulation would have already spread to the Tianxuan dynasty by now. Additionally, it wouldn't be long before other top powers in the central region started to look for information about Shun Long.

Even if the Northern Sovereign wanted to keep the matter of his Heavenly Tribulation a secret, it would be impossible for her to do so.

Sooner or later, countless strong powers would learn about it, and they would definitely do everything they could to recruit Shun Long.

However, just like the Northern Sovereign had said to them before they left the King's Palace, many powers would also try to kill Shun Long since they wouldn't want to see someone that terrifying grow and become a true expert.

Thus, as long as Shun Long decided to leave the 'Northern Sovereign's city', Bai Longtian and the others would all leave with him without any hesitation.

After all, if the Northern Sovereign really had any bad intentions towards Shun Long, even the Grand Elder of the Holy sect wouldn't be able to protect him.

And yet, Shun Long simply stayed silent for a few moments, before he shook his head and said

''For now, there is probably no need for us to hurry and leave. Most likely, even if powers like the Tianxuan dynasty truly decide that they want to kill me, they won't do it right away and they will still try to see if they can get me to join them.

There is no need for them to hurry since, even if I become a Dao Emperor, there is no way that I can possibly threaten them.''

After thinking about it for a moment, Liu Mei and the others realized that Shun Long's words made sense.

Although Shun Long had declined the Northern Sovereign's offer, this didn't mean that there was no chance for him to join the Tianxuan dynasty. Unless the Tianxuan dynasty really felt that they didn't have any chance to recruit Shun Long, it would only be then that they would decide to eliminate him.

With a smile on his face, Shun Long then looked at Jiang Chen and continued

''There is also something else that I should tell you. While I was in Murong city, I met with uncle Jiang who has already found the 'Golden Light flower'. It shouldn't be too long before I can refine a 'Heavenly purity pill' that can heal his injuries either.'

A mixed look of unconcealed shock and excitement covered Jiang Chen's usually calm and collected face when he heard this, as he stared at Shun Long without blinking.

Xingyi and the others were also stunned momentarily when they heard Shun Long's words.

After all, they all knew that aside from the 'Golden light flower' and the recipe for the 'Heavenly purity pill', a star-rank alchemist was also needed, and that alchemist needed to have absorbed an earth flame, or it would be impossible for them to refine a 'Heavenly purity pill'!

After a moment of silence, Bai Longtian asked in a voice that was filled with disbelief, almost as if he was unable to believe his own words

''Brother Shun, does that mean that you are a star-rank alchemist already? Also, won't you need to absorb an earth flame if you want to refine that pill for uncle Jiang?''

Even Liu Mei, Xingyi, and Jiang Chen stared at Shun Long quietly as they waited for his answer.

Putting aside whether it was possible for Shun Long to find an earth flame, becoming a star-rank alchemist was practically inconceivable even for peak-stage Dao Kings, let alone an early-stage Dao King like Shun Long.

After all, to reach the standard of a star-rank alchemist, not only did a person need for their spiritual sense to be at the same level as a peak rank 6 Dao Emperor, but their knowledge of alchemy would need to have already surpassed that of any peak rank 3 gold-grade alchemist's.

Shaking his head, Shun Long looked at Bai Longtian and the others and said calmly

''A star-rank alchemist huh? Although I can't refine star-rank pills just yet, I should be able to, after I become a peak rank 3 Dao King. As for the earth flame...''

As his words trailed off Shun Long waved his right hand, before a purple-colored flame suddenly appeared in front of him, causing the temperature inside the room to rise to a terrifying degree.

Even Jiang Chen and Bai Longtian who were at the peak of the fifth stage in body refinement could feel the terrifying heat coming from this flame affecting their bodies, while Liu Mei and Xingyi both had to circulate their qi to resist it.

Jiang Chen and the others didn't need Shun Long to explain anything, as they all understood what this purple flame in front of them really was. After all, they had all been with Shun Long to the Refinement Hall of the Holy sect in the past, and they all knew that this feeling of terrifying heat that even body refiners couldn't resist could only come from a true earth flame.

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Author's note: 1

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