Yuan Zichu responded in a low voice, "Fu Peng was chasing a late-stage Golden Core cultivator of Red Flame Pavilion and followed him into the Nether Fire Valley. He never came out. The Nether Fire Valley is a place where the underground Yin Qi and the fire Spiritual Qi of the world converge, creating an environment teeming with Yin Fire Spirits. Once Fu Peng entered, it's highly likely he met his end. We have declared him dead."
Fu Peng had once been a Golden Core cultivator of the Myriad Souls Sect, alongside Bai Jinkun, Zhong Yan, Cao Moren, and Lin Fan, all disciples under Wan Hun's command. After the Mystic Azure War, Fu Peng had joined the Heavenly Infinite Sect along with Wan Hun and his followers. An aging and frail cultivator, Fu Peng had come to Holy Flame Star with a desperate heart, intending to secure enough cultivation resources for his bloodline. Unexpectedly, he perished in such a foreign land.
Chu Xuan stroked his chin, deep in thought. The Yin Qi combined with fire Spiritual Qi... Nether Fire Valley? This place sounded quite intriguing.
"How much do you know about this Nether Fire Valley?" Chu Xuan inquired.
Yuan Zichu respectfully replied, "Sect Master, I have interrogated several Red Flame Pavilion prisoners and gathered intelligence about the valley. The Nether Fire Valley is one of the most dangerous places on Holy Flame Star. Even Nascent Soul cultivators of Red Flame Pavilion rarely venture deep within. They only dare to capture some Yin Fire Spirits from the outskirts for their own use.
I've heard that at the deepest part of the valley, there might reside a powerful Yin Fire Spirit King. Years ago, the Deity Transformation cultivator of Red Flame Pavilion, Blazing Fire True Master, entered the valley with the intention of taming it. He was eventually repelled, and the matter was never pursued further."
Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow. It certainly seemed like a promising place! His own Blood Evil Yin Fire had become ineffective against Nascent Soul cultivators. This fire, derived from the cultivation technique Blood Evil Demon Refining Scripture, had initially been Corpse Refining Blood Fire, which was later refined and enhanced into the Blood Evil Yin Fire.
However, the Blood Evil Demon Refining Scripture only recorded this particular transformation. It didn't mention whether the Blood Evil Yin Fire could evolve further. Perhaps even the creator of the technique hadn't delved into the full potential of this fire.
Yet, Chu Xuan felt that the Blood Evil Yin Fire still had room for improvement. Moreover, this fire was capable of injuring both the body and the soul. To abandon it now would be a great waste. If he could capture a few Yin Fire Spirits and harness their power, he might just discover a way to advance the Blood Evil Yin Fire.
However, that could only happen after they had completely eradicated the remnants of Red Flame Pavilion.
"Well done. You may leave now," Chu Xuan waved his hand.
Yuan Zichu immediately bowed and withdrew.
Chu Xuan's expression darkened, and the feeling of unease remained, an unshakable presence.
"I must quickly refine these magical treasures and make them my own," he murmured to himself.
Chu Xuan sat cross-legged, focusing his mind on cultivation.
Since arriving at Holy Flame Star, he had only taken action twice, killing two early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators. Their storage bags contained a few high-grade magical treasures, which, given the severe depletion of his own treasures, was already quite a fortunate haul.
After all, many of his magical treasures had been lost to that old monster. The Yin Frost Bottle and the Life-Span Ghost had been recovered, but in the rush, he hadn't managed to retrieve the two Icy Sun Crossbows. Coupled with the destruction of the Iron Peak Mountain and the Dragon-Snake Flying Sword, it had truly pained him.
Now, though, he was refining a few magical treasures. While they weren't top-tier, at least they were high-grade, ensuring that he wouldn't be left without treasures to use during combat.
A few days later, the night before the battle.
Chu Xuan, Shang Xingchen, and Wei Ji were cultivating in their respective caves. Meanwhile, Yun Lan, Tian Mu Sen, Zhang Jinzhou, and Shi Jun Tian gathered together in one place.
Shi Jun Tian glanced around, noticing only the four of them, and couldn't help but express confusion. "Senior Sister Yun, why have you only called me here? Shouldn't the three of them—Sect Master Chu and the others—have been invited as well? I'll go fetch them."
Yun Lan smiled slightly. "No, this time I only called you, because the four of us are from the Divine Sect. The three of them are from Heavenly Infinite Sect and are from our subordinate sect."
Shi Jun Tian paused. His years of experience told him that Yun Lan had called him here to discuss something that only the Divine Sect disciples should hear.
"Please, Senior Sister Yun, go ahead," Shi Jun Tian said in a low voice.
Yun Lan smiled gently. "Junior Brother, you should know of the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild, yes?"
Shi Jun Tian nodded. "I know."
Yun Lan continued, "The Grand Elder of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance, Jin Yaozu, believes that the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild couldn't have disappeared without reason. Since the last place they appeared was Mystic Azure Star, and the strongest cultivator there is Chu Xuan, the disappearance of the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild is likely connected to him. Therefore, he intends to invite Chu Xuan to Exquisite Treasures Alliance to question him about the guild's whereabouts."
Shi Jun Tian's heart sank.
Invite?
It certainly wasn't a simple invitation. If Chu Xuan were to be taken to Exquisite Treasures Alliance, it would undoubtedly end in a soul search.
Shi Jun Tian spoke in a low voice, "This isn't good. No matter what, Chu Xuan is still a Nascent Soul Elder…"
Yun Lan smiled slightly. "Though we're all Nascent Soul Elders, we of Divine Sect were personally trained, while Chu Xuan only achieved this rank after reaching Nascent Soul. Can we really equate the two?"
Shi Jun Tian's expression became one of reluctance. "Senior Sister Yun, are you planning to take action yourself? Chu Xuan is extremely powerful. It may take all four of us together to capture him alive. But if we do that, it may give the remnants of Red Flame Pavilion an opening. That would delay the Sect Master's orders…"
Zhang Jinzhou laughed heartily. "Junior Brother, do you think Senior Sister Yun didn't consider this point? Let me be frank with you. Jin Yaozu has already hired a group of rogue cultivators from the Starshatter Sea. They'll arrive at Holy Flame Star tomorrow. At that time, they'll capture Chu Xuan alive and bring him back to Exquisite Treasures Alliance.
When they leave, they'll also take the opportunity to suppress the remnants of the Red Flame Pavilion. In this way, we will not only avoid delaying the Sect Master's orders but also fulfill Jin Yaozu's commission. A win-win situation! Why not take advantage of it?"
Shi Jun Tian opened his mouth to say something, but Tian Musen interjected, "Jin Yaozu has promised two vials of Soul Nourishing Essence, three hundred large spirit stones, and five vials of True Barrier-Breaking Pills."
True Barrier-Breaking Pills, a top-grade Nascent Soul pill, were an upgraded version of the Barrier-Breaking Pills. Even Nascent Soul cultivators, upon consuming them, could break through some of the more troublesome bottlenecks. As such, they were highly valuable and nearly on par with the best Nascent Soul pills.
As for the Soul Nourishing Essence, its effects needed no elaboration. It was a Deity Transformation-grade spiritual material, a treasure that every Nascent Soul cultivator dreamed of obtaining.
Shi Jun Tian sighed deeply. "Fellow disciples, are you asking me to betray the Sect Master?"
Yun Lan chuckled lightly. "Junior Brother Shi, since we are fellow disciples, your Sect Master has always been our Nan Tianhao, the Sect Master of the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect. You've never defied Sect Master Nan, so where is the question of betrayal?"
Shi Jun Tian sighed once more. "In that case, I am willing to join. But…"
Yun Lan smiled. "Rest assured, Junior Brother, your reward will not be a bit less."
Shi Jun Tian nodded reluctantly. "In that case, it seems we must inconvenience Fellow Daoist Chu and have him make a trip to Exquisite Treasures Alliance."
The next day, Chu Xuan and the others gathered once more.
Nascent Soul cultivators led a large group of Golden Core cultivators, marching across the ocean in a grand procession, heading straight for the last remnants of the Red Flame Pavilion on a distant land.
This land, which hung isolated offshore, was more akin to a large island than a continent. The Red Flame Pavilion had spared no effort in deploying formations across every inch of land. However, with their limited numbers and resources, they could not possibly contend with the Heavenly Infinite Sect's forces, which were plentiful and well-equipped.
Within just five days, the formations surrounding the island were shattered. Heavenly Infinite Sect's cultivators surged forward with mighty enthusiasm!
But at this very moment, Chu Xuan's instinctive warning surged to its peak. He instinctively looked up and was struck by a sudden realization: a fleet of large ships appeared in the sky above Holy Flame Star!
The ships, varying in size and design, looked as though they were cobbled together from various factions, their exteriors patched up with makeshift repairs. Despite their ragged appearance, there was no doubt that these ships, lacking the protection of the Star Protection Array, had been able to enter Holy Flame Star unhindered.
A large group of cultivators, laughing eerily, steered their flying treasures toward the ground! At the front of the group were Nascent Soul late-stage cultivators!
Both the Heavenly Infinite Sect and the remaining Red Flame Pavilion cultivators were stunned at this sight.
Who are you people?!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ships fired spells toward the ground, causing chaos as cultivators scrambled to avoid the onslaught.
Yun Lan pointed at the sky in shock. "Starshatter Sea bandits? How could they be here?!"
Zhang Jinzhou growled, "Counterattack immediately! These bandits are clearly trying to take a share of the spoils! We cannot let them succeed!"
Tian Mu Sen sneered, "This isn't the Starshatter Sea. If they want to act up here, they'll have to ask if we agree!"
Chu Xuan's brow furrowed deeply.
Starshatter Sea?
He had never heard of such a place before.
Where had these bandits come from, and what was their purpose?
He swept his gaze across the group and found no particular threat emanating from any of these so-called Starshatter Sea bandits.
Could these be the calamity he had felt coming?
No, that was impossible. They surely had something else up their sleeves.
But regardless of whether they were the calamity he sensed or not, Chu Xuan knew that staying on this battlefield any longer was far too dangerous. Because, aside from the Starshatter Sea bandits, the people around him—Yun Lan, Tian Mu Sen, Zhang Jinzhou—could also very well be enemies.
It was Yun Lan who had stopped Wei Ji from activating the Star Protection Array earlier, which had allowed these Starshatter Sea bandits to enter unimpeded. Even someone who seemed harmless, like Shang Xingchen, could become an enemy when the time was right.
Retreat. He needed to retreat immediately! Find a safe spot and dive into Blue Star, stay hidden for ten or twenty years, and wait for all these threats to pass.
Chu Xuan immediately retreated half a step, doing his best to make the movement as subtle as possible. But since they were all Nascent Soul cultivators, it was impossible to make such a move without anyone noticing.
Boom!
At that moment, a massive Spiritual Qi beam descended from the sky, aimed directly at Chu Xuan and the others.
Chu Xuan's eyes lit up at once.
Bang!
The beam of Spiritual Qi slammed into the ground. In an instant, rocks shattered, earth flew into the air, and dust soared to the heavens, creating a blinding cloud that obscured the group's figures.
When the dust finally settled, Chu Xuan had vanished without a trace. Yun Lan and the others looked around, but couldn't spot his whereabouts.
"Where is he?"
The four exchanged glances and communicated via secret sound transmission.
Zhang Jinzhou furrowed his brow. "It seems he sensed something was wrong and fled."
Tian Mu Sen spoke in a low voice, "Just now, I sensed a surge of Spiritual Qi moving towards the back. He must have fled toward the distant Burning Fire Mountain Range."
Yun Lan nodded and immediately sent a sound transmission to the leader of the Starshatter Sea bandits.
In the blink of an eye, three Nascent Soul bandits shot off toward the distant forest. Their escape techniques were incredibly fast, and they quickly passed overhead, disappearing in an instant.
...
Elsewhere, Chu Xuan glanced over his shoulder at the three figures relentlessly pursuing him. His expression darkened. The three of them were of average strength, but their escape techniques were particularly superb.
This was the hallmark of bandits. As long as their speed was fast enough, they could both kill and plunder, or escape at will. The escape technique was their greatest asset, allowing them to roam freely and without fear.
Chu Xuan's cultivation method, the Mysterious Heavenly Ice Soul Scroll, emphasized Spiritual Qi and combat techniques, but it didn't focus much on speed during an escape. His Ice Crystal Divine Light escape technique was a little slower compared to these three bandits' methods. At this rate, they would certainly catch up.
If he got entangled by these three, more bandits would surely arrive soon, and he'd be surrounded and captured. These three were quite clever. They didn't engage him directly but instead kept him occupied, clearly intending to stall for reinforcements so they could surround and capture him.
Realizing this, Chu Xuan immediately began to feign exhaustion from the use of his Spiritual Qi, gradually slowing down his escape speed. At the same time, he was just in time to be struck by an ice spear shot from one of the bandits. He let out a muffled grunt, coughing up blood.
The short bandit laughed loudly, "Hahaha! I hit him! This guy isn't that strong after all. If we catch him, the credit will be ours!"
The burly female bandit sneered, "It's all thanks to the technique the True Master taught us, or we'd never have caught up to him. If we used your escape technique, we wouldn't even catch a hair off of him."
The tall bandit spoke in a deep voice, "We haven't captured him yet, now is not the time to laugh. Don't forget what the True Master said. This man is strong, and he has at least two Level 4 Corpse Kings with him. Our task is to tie him down, follow him from a distance, and never engage him directly."
The three bandits increased their speed, closing in.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Ice spears, fireballs, and massive boulders rained down from behind.
Chu Xuan dodged most of them, but he couldn't avoid the dense barrage of spells entirely. Moreover, the spells cast by the three bandits had decelerating effects. As a result, the distance between him and the bandits was gradually closing.
"Three of you! Whatever you want, I can give it to you! Let me go, and I'll spare you!"
Chu Xuan turned around, wearing a look of feigned submission.
The female bandit licked her lips. "Look at you, so handsome. You're making me a little tempted, brother."
The tall bandit's eyes glinted as he looked to the others. "If you can offer us something that'll make all three of us interested, sparing you might not be impossible."
As he spoke, he subtly glanced at the other two bandits, then began to slowly approach Chu Xuan. The short bandit and the female bandit exchanged a glance and began to move in from different directions, silently closing in. Their steps were light. If you weren't paying attention, you wouldn't even notice. Clearly, they were accustomed to doing this.
Chu Xuan hurriedly took two top-grade magic treasures from his storage bag.
"These two are top-grade magic treasures for you! As long as you let me go, we'll be good brothers from now on! If any of you ever find yourselves in trouble in the future, I, Chu Xuan, will definitely lend a helping hand!"
The tall bandit gazed at the supreme-grade magic treasures, his eyes flashing with greed. He seemed momentarily tempted. "Alright, since that's the case, then—Make your move!"
The three bandits suddenly sprang into action, attacking from three directions.
Chu Xuan immediately panicked and retreated, instinctively summoning the Heavenly Corpse Tower. Two Corpse Kings appeared, blocking the attacks of the three bandits. However, these two Corpse Kings appeared to be badly injured, likely from previous battles. No wonder Chu Xuan hadn't summoned them earlier.
The tall bandit sneered, "Looks like this guy really has no strength left. Let's take him down together and capture him alive!"
He took a step forward, but then heard a sharp sound by his side. Turning, he saw the female bandit's soul being ripped from her body by a grotesque ghostly hand, which then devoured it with relish.
"Ah!"
A scream came from the left. The short bandit turned, only to see a four-armed Ghost King ripping apart his soul, devouring it in large, hungry bites.
The tall bandit froze in shock.
A Ghost King! Two Ghost Kings!
The intel had only mentioned that Chu Xuan possessed two Corpse Kings, not two Ghost Kings! Without a second thought, the tall bandit turned and ran.
However, the ground suddenly shook violently. A massive figure shot up from the earth. It was the Dryland Earth Dragon that knew earth-based teleportation. With a deafening crash, the immense power sent him flying. The sound of his bones shattering rang out as his internal organs violently shifted.
Before he could even attempt to flee using his Nascent Soul's protective aura, a giant hand pressed down on his head, swiftly snapping his neck, and then tossing his body into the Heavenly Corpse Tower.
"Let's go."
Chu Xuan waved his hand, retracting the two Ghost Kings into the Sky-Shielding Umbrella while sealing the Dryland Earth Dragon Corpse back into the Heavenly Corpse Tower. He then unleashed a Blood Evil Yin Fire to burn away all the traces of the battle. Only after that did he speed away. He could already sense more energy signatures approaching from all directions, closing in on him.
The three bandits had been clever enough at the start, simply trying to delay him to buy time for the others to arrive. Unfortunately, their greed got the better of them, and they completely misjudged his strength.
"Luckily, I still had a trump card," Chu Xuan thought, accelerating his escape, unwilling to waste any time.
A hundred breaths later, several figures arrived at the scene, their expressions grim. The leader was a bald man, tall and muscular, exuding an intimidating aura. The people around him stepped back slightly, their expressions full of awe. This man was the leader of this group of scattered cultivators, Pei Yuankui.
Pei Yuankui looked at the scorched earth and coldly said, "Old Ninth and his two subordinates are dead. I repeatedly told them not to engage with Chu Xuan. Looks like they still went ahead and confronted him."
An icy aura swept out, causing the surrounding bandits to shrink their necks, not daring to speak.
Pei Yuankui gazed toward the towering mountains in the distance.
"Up ahead is the largest Burning Fire Mountain Range on Holy Flame Star. That Chu Xuan will surely hide within it. Immediately seal off the mountain range! Once Chu Xuan's whereabouts are discovered, do not engage him directly, but ensure he is delayed, and immediately send a transmission! The True Master will arrive shortly. Once he appears, even if there were ten Chu Xuans, they would still be captured alive without fail."
He spoke coldly.
"Understood!"
The bandits scattered in all directions, speeding toward the Burning Fire Mountain Range.
After a moment, Pei Yuankui received a report through his communication jade, his expression turning more and more grim.
"Still no sign of capturing Chu Xuan?"
In the blink of an eye, a massive aura descended from the sky, hovering in front of the bald leader.
Pei Yuankui immediately bowed respectfully, "Greetings, True Master Yin!"
The figure before him was tall and thin, draped in black robes, his true face obscured. But the overwhelming aura he emanated unmistakably indicated his cultivation at the Deity Transformation stage!
"Still no capture of Chu Xuan? Blood Wine True Master and Blazing Fire True Master are almost finished with their battle. We cannot delay any longer," True Master Yin spoke coldly. "Do you require my personal intervention?"
Pei Yuankui's voice became low and urgent, "That Chu Xuan is crafty as an eel. Not only did he kill Old Ninth and his two subordinates, but he also hid deep within the Burning Fire Mountain Range. Old Seventh and the others have also gone silent, likely fallen at Chu Xuan's hands as well. Though I can fight him one-on-one, I am not confident in capturing him alive. If True Master Yin intervenes, we will certainly catch him!"
True Master Yin snorted disdainfully, "A group of useless fools. What have you been eating all these years?"
Pei Yuankui lowered his head deeply, not daring to speak.
True Master Yin stepped into the air, vanishing in the blink of an eye as he charged directly toward the Burning Fire Mountain Range.
Only then did Pei Yuankui breathe a sigh of relief and murmur, "With the True Master personally taking action, capturing this brat should be no problem..."
...
Burning Fire Mountain Range
"These bandits really have an uncanny nose for trouble."
Chu Xuan frowned deeply. He casually twisted the head off a Golden Core bandit, tossing the body into the Heavenly Corpse Tower. After quickly erasing any trace of the battle, he prepared to leave. He had originally planned to find a hidden place and immediately retreat into Blue Star. However, the bandits soon pinpointed his location.
This only reinforced Chu Xuan's belief that these bandits were specifically targeting him.
"Up until now, I haven't encountered anyone stronger than me. One-on-one, they are no match for me. But if they swarm me..."
With a flash, Chu Xuan darted deeper into the mountain range. At the northernmost part of the Burning Fire Mountain Range lay the Nether Fire Valley. If all else failed, he could dive in there. With his Blood Evil Yin Fire for protection, he wouldn't die. But the bandits likely wouldn't dare to follow him into that cursed place.
In that instant, an immense sense of danger surged in Chu Xuan's heart. Without hesitation, he expended more Nascent Soul essence and executed an instantaneous teleportation!
Boom!
The very spot he had stood in was instantly torn apart as a massive hand formed from dense black mist reached down, crushing the surrounding trees and rocks. The ground where he had stood was now a giant crater.
"Well, quick reactions."
A faint voice echoed from the sky.
Chu Xuan's peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a figure cloaked in black robes. In that moment, his scalp tingled with dread. Without a second thought, he immediately teleported again, pouring more Nascent Soul essence into his flight, activating the Ice Crystal Divine Light Escape technique as he sped northward!
Deity Transformation cultivator! This person must be a Deity Transformation cultivator!
No wonder Chu Xuan had felt an overwhelming sense of impending doom, an instinctual fear he could not shake. These Nascent Soul and Golden Core bandits posed no real threat to him. It was only the arrival of this Deity Transformation cultivator that put his life in jeopardy!
Boom!
Just as Chu Xuan had flown less than a hundred zhang, the place he had just occupied was again blasted apart by the black hand.
"You're quite fast."
A cold snort rang out from above as True Master Yin blinked into existence, charging directly toward Chu Xuan.
Chu Xuan's hair stood on end. He had no intention of turning back; instead, he slapped his storage bag, unleashing a torrent of talismans behind him.
Thunderstrike Talismans! Blue Fire Talismans! Ice Spear Talismans! Vine Whip Talismans… and even Demonic Soul Sealing Talismans to trap demonic beasts and cultivator souls. Anything that could slightly slow down the oncoming attack was immediately thrown into the air without a second thought.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The talismans exploded midair, creating violent bursts of energy. True Master Yin's movements immediately slowed, and his expression darkened in irritation.
While a Deity Transformation cultivator possessed overwhelming power over Nascent Soul cultivators, if that Nascent Soul cultivator was bent on escape and constantly hurled talismans without restraint, even True Master Yin's speed would inevitably be delayed slightly.
True Master Yin crushed the souls of the few cultivators with a single palm, preparing to chase after Chu Xuan once again. However, just as he was about to pursue, he saw Chu Xuan hurling three high-grade magic treasures toward him— a hammer, a flying sword, and a fan.
In True Master Yin's eyes, these magic treasures were insignificant, but they were still enough to delay his pursuit for a brief moment. In that fleeting instant, Chu Xuan had already made significant ground and was rapidly flying away.
"Damn little brat..."
True Master Yin coldly snorted and performed a Void Step, immediately following with a teleportation technique. As he chased for a while, he noticed something off. Each time Chu Xuan teleported, the distance was far greater than any Nascent Soul cultivator's limit for such movements.
"Is it possible that I, a Deity Transformation cultivator, have to expend Nascent Soul essence to chase down a mere Nascent Soul cultivator? What kind of joke is this?!"
True Master Yin's expression darkened. As a Deity Transformation cultivator, he treasured his Nascent Soul essence greatly. Each small drop he used took years of hard cultivation to replenish, and wasting it would delay his efforts toward breaking through to a higher realm.
After some thought, True Master Yin suppressed the impulse to use Nascent Soul essence. If chasing after a Nascent Soul cultivator required using Nascent Soul essence, it would be a disgrace to his status. A Deity Transformation cultivator like him might as well crash into a stone.
A while later.
Chu Xuan's body bore many wounds, his robes were tattered, and even Bao had been thrown out to obstruct True Master Yin's pursuit. However, it didn't last long before Bao was effortlessly sliced in half by a single palm from True Master Yin.
Chu Xuan wasn't the least bit regretful. Wasn't the corpse puppet meant to be used in situations like this? If one were to hesitate or mourn over the life of a corpse puppet, in the end, it would only be their own life that would be extinguished!
Fortunately, he had reached his destination. The Nether Fire Valley! Looking at the towering purple-black flames rising from the valley, Chu Xuan didn't hesitate for a second. He plunged straight into the inferno!
His body was enveloped in Blood Evil Yin Fire, which provided some protection from the surrounding Nether Fire, but it still didn't make the experience any easier. The sensation of both his flesh and soul being burned simultaneously was agonizing, pushing him to the brink of endurance.
Within the Nether Fire Valley, numerous strange and bizarre creatures roamed. These beings were entirely composed of purple-black flames. Some took the shape of demonic beasts like lions, wolves, tigers, and leopards, while others had human forms. These were Nether Fire Spirits, existing solely within the confines of Nether Fire Valley. If they left this fiery environment, they would gradually disintegrate and die.
Chu Xuan moved with incredible speed, zipping past the Nether Fire Spirits without hesitation. The Nether Fire Spirits, in their chaotic state, barely sensed the strange flame-like figure passing by them. They failed to realize that inside the fire was a living person.
Chu Xuan exhaled in relief. His guess had been correct. The Blood Evil Yin Fire and Nether Fire had many similarities. The Nether Fire Spirits likely mistook him for one of their own.
But the Deity Transformation cultivator chasing him wouldn't be so easily mistaken. That person wouldn't be seen as one of them by the Nether Fire Spirits.
As Chu Xuan continued, his suspicion was proven right. True Master Yin, standing outside Nether Fire Valley, wore a grim expression.
"This brat really dares to plunge into the Nether Fire Valley," he muttered darkly. "If I'm not mistaken, there's a Nether Fire King inside. Even the True Master from the Red Flame Pavilion couldn't handle it. If I go in, I'll certainly provoke its wrath."
After a moment of contemplation, True Master Yin immediately transmitted orders to his subordinates to surround the Nether Fire Valley.
"The Nether Fire harms both the body and the soul. Let's see how long you can survive in there."
He sneered coldly and sat down, not planning to leave just yet. Soon, his underlings arrived, surrounding the valley without hesitation.
The leader of the robbers, Pei Yuankui, lowered his voice and said, "Master, good news from Yun Lan. The Blood Wine True Master and Blazing Fire Master are engaged in battle and have moved far away, so they won't be returning anytime soon. We have plenty of time to trap the valley and force this kid out."
True Master Yin nodded, "Wait! It won't take more than three days for him to come out on his own! Tell your men not to relax their vigilance!"
"Yes!" Pei Yuankui responded firmly.
...
Inside the Nether Fire Valley.
Chu Xuan's expression grew tense. He had originally planned to find a safe spot in the Nether Fire Valley and enter Blue Star directly. However, he was startled to realize that there weren't many safe places inside the valley.
The Nether Fire Spirits wandered aimlessly in groups, and Nether Fire would sporadically erupt from the ground without warning.
The Nether Fire, shooting up into the sky, was as dangerous as the Deity Transformation cultivator chasing him. Its mere presence made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
Clearly, a single encounter with this Nether Fire could easily injure him gravely. If he were struck twice, there was a real chance he would die on the spot. He could return to Blue Star with ease. But he couldn't predict what might happen when he returned. If the Nether Fire kept erupting endlessly, how would he ever return to the immortal cultivation world again?
"I can't return to Blue Star; I must find a way to escape," Chu Xuan thought deeply, his brows furrowed as he moved silently through the valley. He didn't venture deeper into the valley, instead choosing to follow the edges.
But after circling halfway around, his expression darkened further. The exits of the Nether Fire Valley were all heavily guarded by cultivator bandits. Each exit had at least one Nascent Soul cultivator and three Golden Core cultivators. The positions were strategically spread out, clearly designed to prevent him from slaughtering them all in a short time. This formation allowed them the time to send messages and gather reinforcements.
However, the robbers were still unaware of Chu Xuan's full strength. If they knew that he had not only two Ghost Kings but also a Dryland Dragon Corpse, the number of robbers guarding each exit would likely double.
Chu Xuan furrowed his brows as he pondered. "With my current strength, I could easily kill these robbers and break through the Nether Fire Valley. But what happens after that? They have a Deity Transformation cultivator to hold the line, and Yun Lan and the other Heaven Shaking Divine Sect cultivators can't be trusted either. Without a Flying Ship, I can't leave Holy Flame Star. As long as I stay on this planet, danger will always be around me."
He thought quietly, images flashing through his mind of what might happen after he broke out of the valley. In most of these visions, he perished. The few times he survived were only by scraping by, living in hiding on Holy Flame Star.
Even if he survived until the next Flying Ship arrived and managed to tell the truth to his sect, no one would stand up for him. After all, he wasn't a Nascent Soul cultivator of the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect, and it was clear they trusted Yun Lan and the others more.
"So, there is only one way," Chu Xuan's eyes turned cold. He would infiltrate the Fragmented Star Sea robbers, use their Flying Ships, and escape Holy Flame Star!
This plan had a solid foundation. He had cultivated the Lotus Escape Technique. With this technique, his aura could be retracted to the extreme, allowing him to evade detection, even avoiding scrying and divination methods. Even if a Deity Transformation cultivator passed right by him, as long as they weren't paying attention to him specifically, they wouldn't recognize him as Chu Xuan.
"But before that, I need to prepare," Chu Xuan thought coldly. "I need to deal with these robbers, make them relax their guard so that I can find my opportunity. Also, there are some Nether Fire Crystals in the Valley, which will be useful for enhancing the Blood Evil Yin Fire. Before I leave, I need to upgrade the Blood Evil Yin Fire to a higher level."
His gaze turned icy with determination. Whoever tried to harm him, he would repay a hundredfold!
Five days later.
Chu Xuan gazed at the black-red flames before him, a satisfied smile on his face. In these past five days, he had endured the searing pain of the Nether Fire while searching the valley for Nether Fire Crystals. By now, he had collected over thirty of these crystals. Some were even as large as a person!
All of them had been absorbed by the Blood Evil Yin Fire, which had now transformed from its original purple-black color into the present black-red hue.
Chu Xuan took out a mid-grade magic treasure and tossed it into the flames. In just ten breaths of time, the treasure was reduced to molten iron! If it had been a high-grade magic treasure, it would have lasted a bit longer—about twenty more breaths—but the result would have been the same.
Even top-grade magic treasures wouldn't survive long against such flames. Though they wouldn't melt immediately, they would still suffer deep cracks, causing their power to diminish considerably. Very few Nascent Soul cultivators would dare to use such treasures to clash with this kind of fire.
"The Blood Evil Yin Fire has grown far more dangerous than before," Chu Xuan mused. "It now possesses the power to harm both the body and the soul, far surpassing its former capabilities. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator in the later stages would tremble before its burning."
He observed the flames and smiled in satisfaction.
"It's no longer just Blood Evil Yin Fire. It deserves a new name. Born from the Nether Fire Valley, capable of devouring flesh and soul alike…"
After a moment of thought, he declared, "From now on, you shall be called Netherfire Devouring Flame."
The flames roared in response as if acknowledging his words.
Chu Xuan couldn't help but smile. He knew very well that this was merely his wishful thinking. Despite its great power, the Netherfire Devouring Flame was still just a fire—it wouldn't develop intelligence.
In other words, a fire that could develop intelligence, one created from the world's essence, would be far beyond the reach of any Nascent Soul cultivator, let alone himself.
"With my preparations complete, it's time to act."
With a thought, the Netherfire Devouring Flame blazed even hotter, and Chu Xuan felt an unusual coolness wash over him.
The Netherfire Devouring Flame, born in the Nether Fire Valley, surpassed even the flames here in intensity. It was this very power that helped to push back the oppressive heat around him. He was about to stride toward the valley's exit when suddenly, a deafening rumble echoed from deep within the valley. It sounded like a long-dormant giant had finally awakened.
"Netherfire King!" Chu Xuan's gaze sharpened.
Immediately, he thought of the information Yuan Zichu had provided. It was said that there was a Netherfire King in the valley, though it had remained dormant for an unknown period.
He hadn't believed it at first, but now, the truth had been revealed. The Netherfire King had awoken after so long. But why now? It could be because the Deity Transformation cultivator had entered the valley. Or perhaps…
Chu Xuan lowered his gaze to the black-red flames in his hand. It was precisely for the Netherfire Devouring Flame that he had come here! After a brief moment of contemplation, a smile crept onto his face. The awakening of the Netherfire King might actually prove to be a huge boon for him! He could seize this opportunity to blend in with the bandit cultivatorss and infiltrate their ranks undetected.
Chu Xuan swiftly flew toward the edge of the valley. He could sense that at the exits outside the valley, three bandit cultivators were currently in a state of panic. Not only them, but the cultivators guarding the other exits were likely in the same state of disarray.
He had chosen these three in particular because he had previously noticed that the Nascent Soul cultivator stationed at this exit had a similar build and height to his own. The others guarding the exits were either too tall, too short, too fat, or too thin to match his physique.
The ground rumbled ominously. The Netherfire King was clearly getting closer.
Wait… just wait a bit longer.
Chu Xuan held his breath and focused intently. As the rumbling noise grew louder, approaching rapidly from a distance and nearly reaching within a hundred zhang of him, Chu Xuan suddenly charged out of the valley! Four figures shot from his body, racing toward the three bandit cultivators.
Before the two Golden Core cultivators could react, Hu and Long had already crushed their skulls, exploding their heads into pulp. As for the Nascent Soul cultivator, the moment he saw Chu Xuan, his pupils suddenly contracted. He instinctively reached for his communication jade.
But Two Arms and Four Arms, with their faster speed, reached him in the blink of an eye. One to the left, the other to the right, they ruthlessly tore his soul from his body!
Chu Xuan immediately used Soul Search on the cultivator's memories, scanning them with lightning speed. Then, with a sudden slap to the cultivator's face, he used his transformation technique. In the blink of an eye, his appearance changed to match that of the cultivator, a perfect disguise.
He then stomped his foot hard, subtly altering the shape of his muscles and tendons, causing his body to grow slightly larger and assume the exact proportions of the Nascent Soul cultivator.
Boom!
The massive claw of the Netherfire King slammed down with terrifying force. The valley's exit was instantly obliterated into stone shards, and torrents of Netherfire surged out.
Chu Xuan immediately evaded, darting toward the distance in a rapid flight. The Netherfire King, enraged, roared a few times, as if wanting to chase after him. But it seemed to hesitate, unwilling to leave the valley.
It howled with fury and slammed the ground with its claws, shaking the very earth. However, after a few moments of impotent rage, it grudgingly retreated back into the depths of the valley. It was like an angry middle-aged man, awakened from his sleep, who wanted to beat up the mischievous child but found that the child had already disappeared in a flash.
Chu Xuan let out a breath of relief. As expected, the Netherfire King could not leave the Nether Fire Valley. He took a moment to calm himself before carefully scanning the memories of the unfortunate cultivator whose identity he had just assumed.
"Now I understand. The Starshatter Sea is located in the northern part of the Storm Star Region, while the Reincarnation Sect, Heaven Shaking Sect, and Exquisite Treasures Alliance are all in the southern part of the Storm Star Region. No wonder I've never heard of the Starshatter Sea—it's just too far away."
These bandit cultivators are from a faction called Nine Yin Island in the Starshatter Sea. Nine Yin Island has a total of nine leaders, all cultivators above the Nascent Soul middle stage. The Big Boss, Pei Yuankui; the Second Boss, Sima Zhen; the Third Boss... I am the Eighth Boss, Chen Jin.
As for the Old Ninth and Old Seventh... hmm, they've died. Above these bandit cultivator leaders, there is one Deity Transformation cultivator, True Master Yin. I believe this True Master Yin is the one who chased me that day."
Chu Xuan's eyes grew cold as he processed the information. Not long after, several figures appeared beside him.
"Old Eight, what's going on? Where are your two subordinates?"
The leader, Pei Yuankui, spoke first, his gaze sharp as he saw Chu Xuan alone. He immediately reprimanded him. Having just used Soul Search to explore this man's memories, Chu Xuan couldn't help but feel a pang of unease as he answered, "Boss, a huge monster charged out of the valley, over ten zhang tall! It slammed down with a punch, and it felt like the very earth was splitting apart! My two subordinates... they're dead!"
Pei Yuankui looked at the shattered rocks and the remnants of Netherfire nearby, his expression grave.
"Did that kid, Chu Xuan, use the chaos to escape?" He suddenly asked.
Chu Xuan shook his head quickly. "No way! Any normal person wouldn't try to escape when such a monster showed up, right? If he dared to run from this exit, he wouldn't even need us to act. That giant monster could just swat him like an ant!"
Pei Yuankui nodded in agreement.
"Since even True Master Yin didn't dare to enter the Netherfire Valley personally, it shows that the Netherfire King is incredibly powerful—definitely a Deity Transformation demonic beast. A Deity Transformation demonic beast is more than enough to crush a Nascent Soul cultivator. And with the Netherfire Valley as its domain, crushing him would be a trivial matter. This Chu Xuan, five days have passed, and he hasn't come out yet, plus the Netherfire King has gone berserk... He's probably already on the brink of death. Could it be that this time we'll return empty-handed?"
Pei Yuankui fell into thought for a moment before taking out a communication jade and transmitting a report to True Master Yin.