Chapter 476 - 350: A Familiar Scent
The Cloud-Clawed Lizard was furious. It had been living a quiet life in Moyun Valley, minding its own business—sleeping when it had nothing to do, waking up to snack on a few beasts. It hadn’t bothered a soul. ’And this is a crime?’
Two ferocious, hairless female monkeys had pinned it down and beat it senseless. Luckily, a one-handed male monkey showed up, and the three of them started fighting amongst themselves. For the moment, no one was paying it any mind.
Seizing the opportunity, the Cloud-Clawed Lizard decided to flee. ’If not now, when?’
The Cloud-Clawed Lizard shrank its form and cautiously burrowed into the earth. It then charged blindly, deeper into the Barbaric Wilderness. It didn’t dare stay in this place a moment longer.
’I’ll spend a few years recovering underground,’ it thought. ’Once my injuries are healed, I’ll see what the situation is. If my territory is still here, I’ll come back. If not, I’ll lay low, find another mountain to claim, and in a hundred years, I’ll be living a peaceful life again.’
That was the Cloud-Clawed Lizard’s plan, and it was putting it into action. But as it tunneled onward, it found the earth ahead had suddenly solidified into a massive, hard rock stratum, making its passage extremely difficult.
Before the Cloud-Clawed Lizard could figure out what was happening, a Bear Beast with two laughably small wings on its back appeared before it. The creature grinned, brandished its claws, and pounced.
’You big brute, kicking me while I’m down!’
.....
’Nameless Heart Fire? What kind of Divine Technique is this?’
The One-armed Nascent Soul’s true name was Tu Ling, a Cultivator from Black Wind Valley. For many years, Black Wind Valley had been in constant conflict with Confucian Sects like the Celestial Justice Sect, Mingyang Mountain, and Jixia City.
They also fought life-and-death battles with the Cyan Lotus Sword Sect. Every few years, Nascent Soul Level Cultivators would die on the front lines of these clashes. In terms of combat experience, Tu Ling was far superior to Chu Hongshang.
As for Yuan Duo, the Nascent Soul from the Beast Taming Sect, Tu Ling paid her no mind. For one, she wasn’t his target. For another, Black Wind Valley and the Beast Taming Sect were practically allies, so he would not deal a fatal blow to her.
Although Yuan Duo wielded her Magical Artifact with magnificent flair, the threat she posed to Tu Ling was nothing compared to Chu Hongshang.
’This Nameless Heart Fire seems like a Divine Technique of the Buddhist Family. But Chu Hongshang comes from the Xuan Sect, and her foundation in its arts is unshakably solid. It’s impossible that she would switch her allegiance. That leaves only one possibility: this heart fire is a Divine Technique she comprehended on her own.’
Tu Ling multitasked, dividing his attention to battle Chu Hongshang and Yuan Duo while simultaneously trying to extinguish the heart fire.
He sensed the heart fire burning throughout his soul. When it was first planted, it was completely undetectable. Then, bit by bit, it stoked the killing intent and fury he had accumulated over the years. Finally, when these negative emotions in his soul built up to a certain point—much like drilling wood to make a fire—the temperature would cross a threshold, and they would spontaneously ignite.
’Using negative emotions as fuel for the fire... In a way, this is a good thing. If I can endure this trial by fire, my mental fortitude will definitely reach a new level. In the future, whether I’m facing a Demon Tribulation or a tribulation of the heart, it would be immensely beneficial.’
’However, Chu Hongshang is definitely not this benevolent. Her scheme must be far grander.’
’What exactly is she plotting?’
Tu Ling felt his mind growing ever clearer. He was hit by a burst of inspiration, his thoughts surging one after another. Matters he couldn’t comprehend in the past now revealed their underlying connections with just a moment’s thought. If he wished, he could pull on a single thread and, like unraveling a cocoon, understand the whole picture.
’Is this a good thing?’
Tu Ling shook his head inwardly. ’This state seems wonderful, but the cost is my Innate Primordial Qi. This Nameless Heart Fire isn’t just burning away my negative emotions—it’s burning away my very lifespan!’
’And Chu Hongshang is definitely gaining some immense benefit from this. Is she siphoning off my Innate Primordial Qi?’
’My lifespan was already limited. If I let her keep burning it away like this, even if I win, how many years will I have left to live?’
At this thought, a chill ran through Tu Ling. He realized that Chu Hongshang’s technique was even more diabolical than his own Blood Soul Ban.
’I have to kill her, and fast.’ As this thought crossed his mind, the nameless fire in his heart blazed even hotter, but he could no longer afford to care.
As the Nameless Heart Fire blazed within Tu Ling, Chu Hongshang shed her previous passivity and began to clash head-on with him. The exchange was so fierce that Yuan Duo, standing to the side, felt completely redundant.
After all, Yuan Duo lacked any real coordination with Chu Hongshang. Seeing that Chu Hongshang was in a good state, she prudently withdrew from the fight and rushed toward Fang Qingyuan.
Right now, Fang Qingyuan, fighting in the distance, needed her support more.
Fang Qingyuan wasn’t faring well either. Although he possessed various Divine Techniques, his cultivation level was what it was. The gap between an Early-stage Golden Core Cultivator and an Early-stage Nascent Soul spanned two minor stages and one nearly insurmountable major realm.
The four star aspects had already receded. Only a single Qilin Star Aspect remained by Fang Qingyuan’s side, connected to the stars of the Celestial Domain above, firmly shielding him.
The Qilin Star Aspect’s power was now equivalent to that of an Early-stage Nascent Soul Level demonic beast. This was the result of Fang Qingyuan gathering all the Heavenly Domain Star Power from the four directions and channeling it into the Three Circles.
However, this Qilin Star Aspect possessed the Magical Power of a Nascent Soul Level being but lacked the corresponding True Meaning of the Great Dao to give it substance. It was like a creature of flesh and blood without a skeleton—an empty frame. It could hold out for a short time, but it was bound to be defeated if the fight dragged on.
But this short amount of time was exactly what Fang Qingyuan needed. As long as he could stall the Bow-holding Nascent Soul for just a little while, Chu Hongshang’s chances of victory would be that much greater.