Hai Bodong's face showed no surprise when Yun Yun agreed; this was within his expectations, and the result would be the same whether she agreed or not.
Hai Bodong nodded, his battle qi surging from his body and flowing to his fingertips. He was about to point at Yun Yun to break the seal within her body, but then he frowned, pondered for a moment, and decided it was better to leave Yun Yun sealed for now to avoid any unforeseen problems.
Hai Bodong silently withdrew his raised finger, then his battle qi surged forth, enveloping Yun Yun. He used his battle qi to carry Yun Yun into the sky, flying towards Canaan Academy. Yun Yun was the woman targeted by Hun Changqing, and Hai Bodong dared not touch a single finger of hers; he could only use his battle qi to carry the sealed Yun Yun as they flew.
...
Within the Ancient Burning Sect, the main hall, originally destroyed by Gu Xun'er's battle aura in her rage and reduced to ruins, had been rebuilt within several hours by the concerted efforts of numerous Ancient Burning Sect disciples.
Now, the renovated hall was a magnificent, golden palace. Suddenly, the air began to distort, spatial ripples spread, and then a long, narrow, dark spatial rift appeared in the void within the hall.
Gu Xun'er and Gu Ming slowly stepped out of the spatial rift. Gu Xun'er's beautiful eyes seemed filled with frost, utterly indifferent, her face expressionless, her aura steady.
Hun Changqing hadn't used excessive force against Gu Xun'er, only temporarily exhausting her and preventing her from continuing to fight. After the battle, the life force within Gu Xun'er's Sect's Life Flame enveloped her, quickly calming her turbulent blood and healing her injuries.
However, the recovery did not improve Gu Xun'er's mood; a chilling aura emanated from her, as cold as ice.
Seeing Gu Xun'er's expression, Gu Ming felt indignant for her and tentatively asked,
"Miss Xun'er, that brat from the Soul Clan is so arrogant and domineering. Why don't we return to our clan and ask Lady Gu Juan to come and suppress him?" Gu
Xun'er's heart stirred slightly at Gu Ming's words, her eyes flashing with a sharp light as she murmured softly,
"Gu Juan...that's right...you, even a Dou Zun, can't withstand him..."
Gu Xun'er was now somewhat tempted by Gu Ming's suggestion. Hun Changqing's strength had indeed exceeded her expectations. She had seen Dou Zun before, but Hun Changqing's combat power couldn't be measured by ordinary Dou Zun standards. Even with her current possession of several different kinds of strange fire, she couldn't be sure she could defeat him after advancing to Dou Zun.
Moreover, during her battle with Hun Changqing, Gu Xun'er had also discovered that Hun Changqing's strange battle aura seemed to suppress her own, and the water droplets he condensed also crushed her strange fire.
Aside from her physical body, she was completely outmatched by Hun Changqing in every aspect, which caused Gu Xun'er, who had been full of confidence and wanted to suppress Hun Changqing on her own, to feel a sense of defeat.
At this moment, Gu Xun'er's thoughts were like lightning, one idea after another flashing through her mind. After thinking for a moment, she slowly raised her jade hand, staring at the storage ring on her finger, her eyes gleaming.
"I still have two Fallen Heart Flames, the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame, and the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame that I haven't refined yet. I haven't even started cultivating the Five-Wheel Fire Technique of the Radiant Heaven Flame. Once I advance to the Dou Zun level with the help of the strange flames, I can perfectly unleash this fighting technique, and I might still be able to defeat Hun Changqing!"
Gu Xun'er narrowed her eyes and thought to herself.
"However, among these strange flames, only the Fallen Heart Flame ranks higher. The energy levels of the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame and the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame are somewhat low, and they may not be able to help me advance to the Dou Zun level. I still need to find another strange flame with a higher ranking to be on the safe side.
After I advance to the Dou Zun level, I will fight Hun Changqing again. If I am still no match for him, then I will have the Dou Sheng of the clan take action. Although it is a pity that I cannot bring him back personally, this is the only way...
Although this will make you dissatisfied, but... you taught me to be ruthless... Hun Changqing... no matter what the process is, it is not the most important thing... In the end, you are still mine alone... I will not let you escape no matter what!"
Thinking of this, Gu Xun'er fiercely gripped the storage ring on her finger, her eyes flashing with scarlet, and an extremely violent aura surged from her body once again. With a deep exhale, Gu Xun'er calmed her turbulent emotions, slowly gathering her aura and regaining her previous composed demeanor. She shook her head at Gu Ming behind her.
" No need to go back to the clan to find him. For now, leave him alone. I will be in seclusion to refine all the strange flames I obtained last time. Elder Gu Ming, you will protect me outside." "Yes, Miss." Seeing that Gu Xun'er had made up her mind, Gu Ming, though resentful, dared not object. Gu Xun'er nodded, slowly rising. Just as she was about to walk towards the secret chamber, she suddenly paused, as if remembering something, and turned to Gu Ming, asking, "How is Yao Tianhuo's strength recovering?" "Yao Tianhuo's physical body has recovered, and his strength is now stable at the third level of Dou Zun," Gu Ming replied truthfully. "How does Yao Tianhuo's third-level Dou Zun strength compare to the Soul Clan member you just fought?"
Gu Xun'er looked at Gu Ming with a strange light in her eyes. She knew that Hun Changqing was very strong now, but she was defeated in a single move when she fought Hun Changqing, who had advanced to the Dou Zun level. It was a complete crushing defeat. She couldn't sense Hun Changqing's true strength at all. So she compared Yao Tianhuo's strength with Hun Changqing's and wanted Gu Ming to give a conclusion.
Gu Ming was taken aback at first, then pondered for a moment before replying,
"Yao Tianhuo's current strength is quite good, and with that five-flame fusion fighting technique, even without the strange fire, the power of gathering the five beast fires should be considerable. However, that Soul Clan brat's aura upon entering the Dou Zun realm is already comparable to Yao Tianhuo's. Moreover, his strange fighting aura combined with that bizarre water-wood attribute fighting technique makes his combat power terrifying, even stronger than Yao Tianhuo."
Gu Ming's insight was incredibly sharp. Although he had never seen Yao Tianhuo fight, he could roughly deduce Yao Tianhuo's strength from the aura emanating from him and his knowledge of Yao Tianhuo's Five-Wheel Fire Technique.
Gu Ming compared this to the strength of Hun Changqing, whom he had personally experienced before, and gave a relatively objective assessment.
Although Gu Ming was extremely displeased with Hun Changqing's arrogant and domineering attitude, he could not deny that Hun Changqing's talent and strength were extremely rare in this world.
Gu Xun'er's pupils contracted after hearing Gu Ming's analysis. Although she hadn't yet cultivated the Five-Round Fire Technique, she had already studied it carefully. Even when combined with beast fire, it possessed immense power. Even the founder of the Yaotian Fire, a three-star Dou Zun, was weaker than Hun Changqing, a new Dou Zun. Just how strong was Hun Changqing?
Gu Xun'er nodded absentmindedly to Gu Ming, then walked heavily to the door of the secret chamber, reached out, and pushed open the heavy iron door with a loud rumble.
Seeing his young mistress intending to enter, Gu Ming tactfully withdrew. Gu Xun'er had specifically instructed that no one was allowed to enter this secret chamber, not even to peek inside. Gu Ming naturally wouldn't be foolish enough to violate Gu Xun'er's taboo. Hearing the familiar,
heavy sound of the door opening, Gu Xun'er's heavy mood eased slightly. She closed the door and entered the secret chamber.
As Gu Xun'er entered, the dark and cold atmosphere of the secret room enveloped her, the familiar ambiance bringing her a sense of security.
Reaching a luxurious, soft bed, Gu Xun'er slowly lay down, curling up and burying herself completely in its soft, supple fabric, savoring the lingering scent of Hun Changqing, which she had preserved through special means.
This scent was like an irresistible hallucinogenic drug, intoxicating her, making her lose herself, unable to extricate herself.
At this moment, scenes of her time with Hun Changqing on the soft bed flashed through Gu Xun'er's mind, filling her eyes with a hazy, dreamlike quality, her gaze overflowing with tears, a striking crimson flush rising on her fair, smooth cheeks, her body trembling slightly beneath the soft blankets.
...
After an unknown amount of time, Gu Xun'er gradually recovered from her trance-like state, her eyes regaining their clarity.
Gu Xun'er slowly rose, leaving the soft bed. She went to the edge of the bed, changed into clean clothes, and burned the slightly stained garments she had just removed.
Then, she extended her smooth, white hand and gently waved it in the air. As she did so, her battle qi erupted, instantly dispelling the unpleasant odor that had filled the secret room.
At this moment, Gu Xun'er's heart was completely calm, without the slightest ripple. Her face was expressionless, and her eyes revealed a cold indifference, devoid of any warmth.
Gu Xun'er walked to her usual cultivation spot, sat cross-legged, and slowly opened her palm. After a faint flash of light, a delicate spirit-absorbing charm appeared in her palm.
"Then… let's begin…"
Gu Xun'er murmured, staring at the spirit-absorbing charm in her palm. Then, she clenched her fist tightly, her battle qi surging forth, gripping the charm firmly.
With a crackling sound, the energy storage shattered, and a scorching, violent aura surged forth. A terrifying, emerald-green flame erupted menacingly from between the two crevices of Gu Xun'er's clenched fist.
The intense, dazzling emerald flame instantly illuminated the dark chamber, dispelling the eerie chill within, and the temperature continued to rise rapidly.
Gu Xun'er stared at the emerald sea of fire spreading within the chamber, a glint of light flashing in her cold, beautiful eyes.
"So this is the energy of the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame... This energy is nothing special... It seems quite easy to control..."
Gu Xun'er sensed the energy of the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame, a faint smile appearing on her lips, letting out a nonchalant murmur. Then, her lips parted slightly, and a terrifying suction force erupted from her small mouth.
The azure flames within the secret chamber were instantly and frantically drawn in by the suction force, transforming into strands of energy resembling azure serpents, all of which surged into Gu Xun'er's mouth.
As the Azure Lotus Core Flame fully entered her body, Gu Xun'er's Burning Technique began to circulate, her battle qi gathering within her body to suppress the panicked Azure Lotus Core Flame. Gu Xun'er slowly closed her eyes, completely immersing her mind in her body, and began to concentrate on refining the Azure Lotus Core Flame…