Novel11 Chapter 358 : Mingli Mixed Flame
Chapter 358 : Mingli Mixed Flame
Scarlet Flame Realm, Sky-Patrol Palace.A middle-aged cultivator with a thin frame, dressed in a coarse linen Daoist robe, sat cross-legged with his eyes closed.
“Mm?” True Venerable Tao Yan opened his eyes, a trace of surprise flashing through them.
The Scarlet Flame Realm was merely a Middle-Thousand World. After its dragon vein origin had been stripped away, more than half of it had collapsed; its current territory was not even one-tenth of its former peak.
Relying on his Divine Transformation cultivation, and with the assistance of the Fifth-Tier Origin Formation laid down by the Tianyan Immortal Sect over the years, True Venerable Tao Yan’s divine sense could almost envelop the entire Scarlet Flame Realm.
That also meant that, if he so wished, from ants foraging to heavenly materials and earthly treasures reaching maturity, everything occurring within the Scarlet Flame Realm could be clearly reflected in his mind, as distinct as patterns on his palm.
“The True Monarch prodigy of the Shangqing Immortal Sect is indeed extraordinary. The ownership of the Flame Emperor now has an added variable.” True Venerable Tao Yan muttered.
Heavenly Evolution counts forty-nine, and one escapes.
At his level, True Venerable Tao Yan already understood that the operation of heaven and earth could never remain unchanged. There would always be variables and unforeseen turns. That Zhao Yue could discover the hidden secret of the Scarlet Flame was only reasonable.
Yet True Venerable Tao Yan had no intention of intervening. Instead, his gaze shifted, “looking” toward the direction of the Yuqing Immortal Sect.
Fate was hard to obtain. One step slow, and every step thereafter would be slow.
Before Zhao Yue had uncovered the secret of the Flame Emperor, that opportunity had already set its sights on a prodigy of the Yuqing Immortal Sect.
Clearly, that little fellow had already chosen a target, yet had never truly made up his mind.
Now that Zhao Yue had interfered midway, the ownership of the Flame Emperor had become unpredictable. Most likely, further complications would arise.
…
At the same time.
Thirty thousand zhang beneath the earth, a pair of crimson eyes slowly narrowed.
If a Nascent Soul True Monarch were present, they would not even need to activate divine sense to realize that those eyes were not of flesh and blood, but rather a mass of crimson flame constantly shifting in form, possessing an exceedingly unique aura.
At times it condensed into human eyes; at times it blossomed into a fully opened lotus. Around it, three rings of light perpetually revolved, adhering to the Dao of Three-in-One.
The flame’s core was dark yellow, governing the essence of fire—the fundamental purity of the Fire Palace.
The inner flame was crimson-violet, governing the divine brilliance of fire, circulating endlessly and presiding over form and substance.
The outer flame was scarlet, governing the vitality of fire, manifesting the authority of the Emperor within flames.
Yet though this flame appeared flawless, as if it had reached the realm of “Ten Thousand Fires Returning to One, evolving life and extinction,” in truth it had not fully opened its origin. Soul embraced soul, qi intermingled, but it had yet to completely evolve into true form, lacking a final measure of perfection.
It was precisely this missing perfection that gave birth to a trace of obsession within this special elemental body, driving it ceaselessly to seek the opportunity to complete itself.
“A Fire Radiance Dao Body… truly rare!” The Flame Emperor’s gaze never left Yu Zhaohua.
From her, it could faintly sense a pure and boundless fire-element spiritual resonance and innate Dao rhythm.
The former was manageable—it could refine the spiritual resonance of heaven and earth with a mere shift of intent.
But the latter was born of the fortune of heaven and earth, faintly aligned with a trace of the true meaning of the innate Great Dao’s origin. It was something no postnatal cultivation could achieve; its rarity far surpassed that of a Heavenly Root cultivator.
If it could form a Companion Contract with this human prodigy, the Flame Emperor was confident that, with the power of the Fire Radiance Dao Body, it could evolve and complete its missing perfection.
Unfortunately, this prodigy had already contracted a fire-attribute Companion Beast—and it was the Flintrock Coiled Dragon, the one it detested most.
Longing and aversion intertwined. These contradictory emotions made the Flame Emperor shift its gaze away, a trace of hesitation flashing in its eyes.
“Eh!”
Suddenly, the Flame Emperor let out a soft exclamation, sensing something amiss. Its eyes locked tightly onto Chen Beiwu.
Aside from Yu Zhaohua, it had no interest in the other cultivators.
Yet just now, as its peripheral vision swept past Chen Beiwu, it had sensed a nearly imperceptible tremor from him.
Coincidentally, Chen Beiwu halted mid-step, lowered his head to glance at the ground—and met the Flame Emperor’s gaze directly.
“He discovered me? How is that possible!”
The Flame Emperor’s mind trembled in shock. Startled, its body instinctively split into two, transforming into two crimson eyes that fled wildly in opposite directions.
Its Profound Insight Divine Ability was silent and traceless—even a Nascent Soul True Monarch at Great Perfection would struggle to perceive it. Only a Divine Transformation True Venerable could pierce through it.
If the other party had detected its observation, could it be that he was a Divine Transformation True Venerable pretending to be weak?
On the other side, Yu Zhaohua frowned slightly and glanced downward along Chen Beiwu’s line of sight. “What is it? Is something wrong?”
“Something is observing us in secret. Stay alert—better safe than sorry.”
Chen Beiwu’s brows knit slightly as he raised his head to warn them.
At first, only Iron Egg had sensed something amiss; he himself had felt nothing.
But while traveling just now, a sudden ominous premonition had risen within him, as if some extremely dangerous existence had locked onto him.
Chen Beiwu trusted his spiritual intuition. Without question, an opponent capable of evading his perception and hiding in the shadows must at least be at the level of a Nascent Soul True Monarch!
Hearing this, Yu Zhaohua and the others’ expressions shifted slightly as their divine senses instinctively spread outward.
Yet aside from scorching winds and boiling lava surging around them, nothing else could be found.
‘Is it a cultivator from the Shangqing Immortal Sect?’
Yu Zhaohua’s expression grew grave as she transmitted through divine sense.
‘Doesn’t feel like it,’ Chen Beiwu replied.
If the Shangqing Immortal Sect had detected them, they would have no need for stealth—they would have launched a direct ambush.
‘Then do we continue the plan, or clear the field first?’
Yu Zhaohua shot a subtle glance at Meng Chengxian.
Having ruled out the Shangqing Immortal Sect, she believed the hidden danger most likely came from this eccentric chief of the Dongxuan Immortal Sect.
‘No need. We’ll increase our speed and head for the nearest Spiritual Vein Node,’ Chen Beiwu said.
Unlike the Innate One Qi Array Eye, occupying a Spiritual Vein Node required a full two hours, making it highly vulnerable to siege—or to other sects reaping the benefits at the last moment.
But greater risk meant greater reward. A sect team that successfully occupied a Spiritual Vein Node would receive a powerful Earth Vein Profound Talisman, covering an extensive range.
This talisman’s power was sufficient to threaten a Nascent Soul True Monarch—provided it struck fully.
Its sole flaw was its activation speed. Any Nascent Soul True Monarch could easily evade it.
However, against Golden Core True Persons, it was an undisputed killing weapon.
Thus, at the beginning of every Assembly of Heroes, the two Spiritual Vein Nodes set by the organizers became fiercely contested grounds among the Immortal Sects.
This year might be an exception, solely because the Shangqing Immortal Sect had produced a Nascent Soul True Monarch—there was a fifty-percent chance of encountering them while contesting the Earth Vein Profound Talisman.
Under such circumstances, most sect cultivators would choose to conceal themselves, lie in ambush along mandatory routes, or hunt other sect teams rather than risk occupying a Spiritual Vein Node.
Chen Beiwu, however, did the opposite. By proactively claiming a Spiritual Vein Node, he was gambling on that fifty-percent chance—to ambush the Shangqing Immortal Sect.
As for the enemy hidden in the shadows, it would likely emerge at that time as well, hoping to profit as the fisherman.
…
By dusk that day, the Spiritual Vein Node slowly vanished.
An Earth Vein Profound Talisman appeared in Chen Beiwu’s hand. He lifted his head to look at Meng Chengxian.
“A fifty-percent chance. It’s normal not to encounter them,” the latter said calmly with a faint smile.
“Aren’t you skilled in divination and deduction, Daoist Friend Meng?” Chen Beiwu raised an eyebrow slightly.
“You overestimate me,” Meng Chengxian said with a bitter smile. “Fairy Moonfirmament is a Nascent Soul True Monarch and carries a Supreme Treasure that obscures heavenly secrets. How could I possibly divine her whereabouts?”
“In that case, it seems our cooperation ends here.” Chen Beiwu let out a soft sigh.
At those words, the Dongxuan Immortal Sect cultivators’ expressions changed drastically as they entered combat stances.
Only Meng Chengxian continued to wave his fan, composed. “No need to be anxious, Brother Chen. I guarantee that my previous promise remains valid.”
Chen Beiwu shook his head slightly and glanced at him. “There is only one chance.”
“Mm?”
Meng Chengxian’s gaze sharpened, not expecting Chen Beiwu to act outside convention.
“Without me setting up formations to isolate her, are you confident in defeating Fairy Moonfirmament?”
“That need not concern you.”
As his words fell, Chen Beiwu made his move.
Since Meng Chengxian was unwilling to cooperate sincerely and had chosen to stall, he might as well seize the five Jade Plaques and secure five more victory points for the Yuqing Immortal Sect—lest the other party betray them at a critical moment.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
After only a few exchanges, Meng Chengxian failed even to see the afterimage of the Three-Phase Profound Flood Dragon before coughing up blood and retreating wildly atop his Mystic Tortoise.
Seeing their chief at a disadvantage, the remaining Dongxuan Immortal Sect cultivators grew anxious—only to be jointly repelled by Yu Zhaohua and the others, who seized their Jade Plaques.
“Fine, I concede!”
Meng Chengxian casually tossed out the token at his waist, his expression helpless.
What a dueling madman!
In his view, even if Chen Beiwu had forged the Yuanshi Golden Core and possessed formidable combat strength, he still could not defeat Zhao Yue, a True Monarch prodigy. Acting alone might even drag the Dongxuan Immortal Sect down with him.
It would be better to avoid the Shangqing Immortal Sect, defeat a few other sect teams, accumulate victory points, and share some to ensure the Dongxuan Immortal Sect’s stable ranking.
‘Humans truly delight in internal strife!’
Deep beneath the earth, the Flame Emperor shook its head.
It was not foolish. Once it realized Chen Beiwu had not immediately pursued it, it knew it had overthought the matter.
He was not a Divine Transformation True Venerable—merely an extraordinary Golden Core True Person!
As for how extraordinary, it would have to test him to be sure.
Forming a Companion Contract with a cultivator of the Immortal Alliance was no trivial matter. It required utmost caution.
If it entrusted itself to the wrong person, it might never reach the Fifth-Realm Beast Venerable and instead remain stranded as a Fourth-Realm Beast King.
With that thought, and mindful of the Assembly of Heroes’ rules, the Flame Emperor’s divine sense shifted. It split off a small cluster of flame—about one-twentieth of its body—and sent it away.
Boom!
The next moment, the ground ahead of Chen Beiwu and the others exploded, and a streak of crimson light shot forth.
“Careful!”
Chen Beiwu sensed it first, instinctively activating his escape light to evade.
Mo Qingshuang felt her vision blur, instantly consumed by endless firelight. A sharp pain pierced her chest; the true qi barrier around her shattered like glass.
Seeing this, the Glazed Sword Soul flew into fury, erupting with full strength and transforming into a descending sword strike.
Clang!
The sound of metal clashing rang out.
Sensing the immense spiritual resonance transmitted through the firelight, the Glazed Sword Soul revealed disbelief—then a sudden pain seized its mind, and it lost consciousness.
Witnessing this, Xue Tianyi and Ye Xinya reacted swiftly, forming seals as their Companion Beasts unleashed innate profound abilities in an attempt to shield them.
But halfway through their hand seals, the firelight flashed again.
Xue Tianyi’s hand seals shifted rapidly, yet he could not block the searing firelight that pierced through all. His protective true qi shattered; even his Companion Beast was struck down, falling like a broken kite.
The Heavenly-Gang Mystic Beast before Ye Xinya also suffered a collapsed chest, vomiting blood as it was sent flying. Her pupils contracted, a chill rising in her heart.
Mo Qingshuang, capable of defeating enemies across realms at the late-stage Golden Core, could not withstand a single strike—let alone her!
At this critical moment, Chen Beiwu tore through the air and pointed a finger.
Dongzhen Calamity Heaven Finger!
In an instant, winds and clouds shifted. An incomparably condensed colossal finger manifested, striking after yet arriving first, pressing heavily upon the crimson firelight.
Crack!
Crack!
Crack!
After a brief stalemate, the giant finger shattered, unleashing a world-shaking shockwave.
Taking advantage of the force, Chen Beiwu shielded Ye Xinya and retreated.
Feeling the warmth of the hand grasping her sleeve, Ye Xinya’s heart stirred, and she could not help glancing at Chen Beiwu’s profile.
“Stay alert.”
Chen Beiwu did not look back. His gaze remained fixed on the crimson firelight, which now revealed its true form.
It was a blazing crimson elemental body. Beneath its flame-light floated exactly fifty Immortal Sect Jade Plaques, each radiating a gentle luster.
Yet more than those, what most alarmed Chen Beiwu was the faint strands of purple qi surrounding it—neither cloud nor mist, indescribable in words.
‘Is this a once-in-a-millennium Fifth-Tier Origin Beast? Or a Fifth-Realm Beast Venerable surpassing a Nascent Soul True Monarch?’
Chen Beiwu’s thoughts raced, but he did not act rashly, instead confronting it in silence.
If he was correct, the earlier sense of crisis likely stemmed from this very flame.
Could this be a special trial?
Yu Zhaohua’s eyes narrowed slightly, unable to conceal her shock.
Carrying fifty Jade Plaques—what did that signify?
In the eyes of the Tianyan Immortal Sect’s higher-ups, this mysterious flame’s combat value equaled the combined strength of ten Immortal Sect teams—if not far beyond.
Fortunately, such powerful special Mystic Beasts, due to rules, could not eliminate Immortal Sect cultivators. They only needed to earn its recognition to receive a certain number of Special Jade Plaques based on evaluation.
These Special Jade Plaques could not be seized by other sects and would lock in victory points without decay.
“You three possess decent aptitude. Combat evaluation—unqualified!”
As the words fell, three hair-thin strands of flame descended.
Mo Qingshuang and Xue Tianyi, who had been unconscious, along with their Companion Beasts, slowly awoke—their injuries fully restored.
“Many thanks, Senior.”
Realizing they had failed the test, the two bowed in unison.
There was one thing they found strange. According to previous conventions, shouldn’t special trials in the Assembly of Heroes be announced in advance?
Who simply attacked without warning!
Ignoring them, the crimson firelight flickered slightly and “looked” toward Chen Beiwu.
“Outstanding aptitude. Combat evaluation—excellent. You may receive ten Special Jade Plaques and one strand of Mingli Mixed Flame.”
In the next instant, eleven streams of light shot forth and landed in Chen Beiwu’s palm.
“Mingli Mixed Flame is a strand of fire-seed differentiated from my origin. Incorporate it into your dantian and nurture it with your Golden Core to refine its form. It can cleanse turbid yin, elevate pure clarity, and replace Heavenly-Gang Clear Qi to wash away the heaviness of Earthly Sha True Qi. It will greatly aid you in attaining the Nascent Soul,” the Flame Emperor’s incarnation explained.
“Many thanks for Senior’s generous gift.” Chen Beiwu cupped his fists in salute, suppressing the doubts in his heart.
Something was not right.
His intuition told him this Fifth-Tier Origin Beast had other intentions. This was not an arrangement of the Tianyan Immortal Sect—could it be the vaguely described opportunity mentioned in sect intelligence?
But that opportunity concerned Divine Transformation—far beyond a mere strand of Mingli Mixed Flame!
Had he overthought it?