Chapter 519: Terrifying News
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Xiao Yan hugged Lin Tong and patted her on the back. "There’s nothing much else to be said about her. During the ritual to heal the Parasol Tree King, she has benefitted greatly."
"As for me, I don’t think I wasted my time either." Xiao Yan laughed as two milky white flames sparkled in his eyes.
It was the Pure Yang Primordial Fire of the Seven Legendary Primordial Fires. It was touted by legend as the origin of all fires, the original version of fire in the Grand Celestial World. It was the purest and pristine form of fire, and it could integrate with many other kinds of fire to ward of all evil.
The flames of the Pure Yang Primordial Fire flickered continuously. It was not as radiant as the Grand Sun Primordial Fire, and was not violent and ferocious like the Nefarious Spectral Primordial Fire. Still, there was strength in the tranquility and calmness – it looked normal and typical, but was actually extremely deep and profound.
Lin Feng smiled and said, "Now that’s the Pure Yang Primordial Fire. If it was the Heavenly Apocalyptic Blaze, the True Torch of Kshitigarbha or the Red Lotus Fire, then you’ll be in for some trouble."
Xiao Yan began to chuckle as well. With his current level of cultivation at the aurous core advanced stage, the limit to the number of primordial fires he could control was actually only three. If there were any more, the fires would clash like before and maliciously feedback into his body. He would fall sick all over again.
However, as the origin of all fires, the Pure Yang Primordial Fire had the mystical ability to assimilate other fires. This is the reason why it could forcefully coexist harmoniously with the Nefarious Spectral Primordial Fire, the Grand Sun Primordial Fire and the Nanming Primordial Fire.
Lin Feng knew this. This was the reason why he was not worried to let Xiao Yan venture into the Barren Expanses.
"At this point, when you fuse all three different primordial fires, the difficulty to cast the Heaven Fire Lotus will be greatly reduced." Lin Feng continued. Xiao Yan nodded his head continuously and replied, "Yes, master, you are right. This is indeed the case."
When he was still in the aurous core beginner stage and was only fusing two types of primordial fires, he had to be as careful as treading on thin ice. One single mistake and a loss of focus could lead to failure and would directly result in personal harm.
Even if the fusion was a success, the preparation period was still relatively long. Personal mana would be expended at an alarming rate as well, and sometimes it would even draw from his own soul and spirit. After a single stalk of Heaven Fire Lotus was created, he would lose all ability to battle.
After ascending to the aurous core intermediate stage, this circumstance was greatly smoothened, and when he finally reached the aurous core advanced stage he could already invoke the Heaven Fire Lotus that was fused from two primordial fires with extreme ease and comfort.
Whether it was Lin Feng or Xiao Yan himself, the initial estimation was for Xiao Yan to advance to the nascent soul stage before he could channel and control the twin fire lotuses comfortably – yet, he had achieved this feat when he was only in the aurous core advanced stage.
This was because an unforeseen circumstance came into play. Xiao Yan absorbed the Nanming Primordial Fire by accident, and resulted in his body acting against himself.
Yet, it was during this period of silent cultivation when Xiao Yan was smoothening the primordial fires within his body, slowly honing his mana strength and solidifying his foundations that he managed to attain a greater level of control over primordial fires.
Xiao Yan managed to profit from a misfortune. Under his circumstance as an aurous core stage advanced stage cultivator, the level of control at which he wielded the twin fire lotuses was off the charts and highly precocious. It was all a matter of efficiency from preparation for what was to come.
However, the power difference between the twin fire lotus and the tri fire lotus was not as simple as adding two and one together. The difficulty in controlling the former and the latter was also vastly different. To fuse three types of primordial fires together to catalyze the formation of the heaven fire lotus as a nascent soul advanced stage cultivator was still extremely risky.
The difficulty level was great, and the level of consumption was equally so. The chance of failure was no less.
If there was any mistake in catalyzing the formation of the heaven fire lotus, the person that would be hurt first would be Xiao Yan himself. The more primordial fires fused, the greater the power, but at the same time the toxic feedback would also more severe.
If he used the Pure Yang Primordial Fire to fuse with the other two to form the Tri Fire Lotus, then the level of difficulty would be greatly reduced. It would be safer and much more stable, and there would also be a much higher chance of success.
"Xiao Yan, you need to be wary and know what you can and cannot do." Lin Feng pointed out a few reminders. "The Pure Yang Primordial Fire simply increased your chances of success at fusing the three primordial fires together. Fusing three primordial fires into the heaven fire lotus would still consume a lot of your energy."
"The fusion of three primordial fires may land you in the same situation like back on Xingyun Peak – you can possibly end up in a state of complete weakness after just one strike."
Xiao Yan nodded his head solemnly. "Do not worry, master. I understand perfectly."
Afterwards, he rubbed his mouth and an expression of pity and regret came across his face. "What waste. I have four primordial fires now – if I can fuse four primordial fires together, what kind of power will I have?"
Xiao Yan knew that this was only a fantasy in his head and was a highly unrealistic target.
With his current level of cultivation at the aurous core advanced stage, all he could do was prevent the four types of primordial fires from clashing with each other within his body. That was already the limit. Fusing three primordial fires together was already extremely challenging, so fusing four was pretty much an impossibility. If he dared to attempt the latter, it was as good as seeking his own demise.
Lin Feng looked at Xiao Yan with a faint smile. "You little shit. You’re greedier than Shi Tianhao. Your appetite is so big – if you’re not afraid of bursting your stomach, I actually have a fifth type of primordial fire with me."
Lin Feng flipped his palm and a transparent prism of layers over layers of crystal appeared. The prism enveloped a sphere of black flame, which had all kinds of evil and frightening aspects to it. It felt as if it could swallow and consume the entire world and bring about an apocalypse.
Xiao Yan’s eyes sparkled. "This… This is the Heavenly Apocalyptic Blaze?"
Lin Feng laughed and answered, "That is correct. This is the Heavenly Apocalyptic Blaze. What do you think, you want some?"
Xiao Yan’s mouth gaped open, and laughed sheepishly after a long while. "Next time, next time."
Lin Feng shook his head and pulled a serious face. "Not too long. You’ll need it for your ascension to the nascent soul stage."
Xiao Yan was stunned at his master’s words. "I don’t quite understand, master."
Lin Feng smiled faintly. "No matter. You will naturally understand when the time comes. Don’t worry too much as I have made plans for you. But before that, you need to study the Four Appearances Heaven Cleaving Script."
Xiao Yan seemed to mull over what was said. He nodded and replied, "Yes, master. I shall take special care to study that mantra."
After their discussion, Xiao Yan thought of something that he should have asked previously. "Oh yes. Now that we have the Heavenly Apocalyptic Blaze, what happened to Hu Yanyan?"
Lin Feng turned and glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. "Why, you like her?"
Xiao Yan pouted a little. "Oh come on… I was just a curious. If she has successfully assimilated the Heavenly Apocalyptic Blaze, then she must be close to the Undying Demonic Soul."
"That is indeed true. Still, whether or not she will be successful is entirely dependent on herself," Lin Feng replied plainly, "She is not on her way back to the Barren Expanses with the Heavenly Fox Grand Sage."
Xiao Yan seemed to pull a face of relief. It was apparent that his days of emotional rollercoasters with Hu Yanyan were over.
Lin Feng laughed as he asked, "I cut off our connection the moment you and your company set off towards the Barren Expanses. Do tell me the story of what happened during your trip to the Parasol Tree Forest."
Even though he left his own mana prints and Physical Spell Body on Zhu Yi and Xiao Yan, the purpose was purely for his disciples’ safety. Only when they were in trouble did Lin Feng separate a strand of his consciousness to check out the situation.
Lin Feng did not bother about what they did from day to day.
Xiao Yan immediately began to recount the happenings from the moment the Marquis of Jinghuan left and he departed to the Barren Expanses with Lin Tong and Fei Hua.
There was nothing too special about what happened. The phoenix tribe and the parasol tree tribe were prideful people, and they would find a way to repay Lin Feng for the favors he bestowed upon them.
Even though the Pure Yang Primordial Fire was precious, Xiao Yan did not put in much effort to obtain what he wanted.
The Parasol Tree King was waiting for Lin Tong’s arrival from the start. Once Lin Tong showed up, the ritual was initiated. Through the ritual, the Parasol Tree King efficiently remedied his ancient and stubborn malady, and Lin Tong received a cleansing something like a baptism and was on the receiving end of great benefits.
"However, the Parasol Tree King’s injuries were not entirely cured and was only temporarily suppressed," Xiao Yan continued to explain. "According to the words of the phoenix and parasol tree tribes, after a period of time they have to reinitiate the ritual. However, this period is extremely long and the spell power of each episode can last thousands of years."
Lin Tong was the Parasol Tree Wood Essence that was lost within the Secret Treasure of Kun Peng. The Parasol Tree King sustained thousands of years of torturous pain by relying on his level of cultivation.
After the storytelling, Lin Feng remained silent for a while as he pondered about something. "In the most recent thousand years, the Parasol Tree King should have been resting and nursing his wounds. He could have only sustained for thousands of years if he did not engage in combat with anybody…"
If he engaged in combat with adversaries of the same level of cultivation, nobody could say how much longer he could sustain himself.
Lin Feng asked, "Do you know what cause the Parasol Tree King’s injuries?"
Xiao Yan shook his head and looked a little flustered. "I am curious as well. However, the people there were hard nuts to crack and I couldn’t get any information out of them."
"However, judging by the reactions of the phoenix tribe and the parasol tree tribe, they were a little awkward and somewhat embarrassed when the issue of his injury was brought up. Therefore, I think his injuries were man-made rather than by something natural!"
Lin Feng nodded his head slowly. "Man-made" pretty much meant that somebody beat him into that state.
But who could be so fearsome and ferocious? The Parasol Tree King’s level of mastery had to be measured by the millennia. He was already at the third level of the Undying Demonic Soul, also known as the Syncretic Star Soul. He was patient and had a nice temper, but he was extremely powerful.
Even if he suffered his injuries to overcome and eliminate his adversary for good, the power of this adversary would still be highly formidable.
If he sustained greater losses than his adversary, then that would indeed be frightening.
Lin Feng was chatting idly with Xiao Yan until he felt a tingling in his mind. He turned his head and looked the other way as a gap appeared in the void and Kang Nanhua stepped out.
"Nanhua, what’s wrong?" Lin Feng could tell that Kang Nanhua’s expression was solemn and gloomy and asked immediately.
Kang Nanhua replied, "Sir, I have just received news that the Shi Family and Yu Family previously sent out powerful cultivators to assassinate Shi Tianhao’s parents!’
Lin Feng’s eyes closed into slits. "Tianhao’s parents have emerged from the Void Battleground?"
Kang Nanhua nodded his head. "They have come out from the Void Battleground. They contacted people they are close to within the family and tried to inquire about Shi Tianhao. In the end, they exposed themselves, and the people they are close to in the family are now being imprisoned."
"Afterwards, the Shi Family and the Yu Family sent out troupes of nascent soul stage grandmasters to try and capture and eliminate Tianhao’s parents."
Kang Nanhua took in a deep breath and said quickly, "The two of them are vastly outnumbered. They were forced to return to the Void Battleground to seek refuge – but now that they are back inside, coming out would be even harder."
"Furthermore, rumor has it that Tianhao’s mother is severely injured and nobody knows if she can make it…"