Chapter 88: Infernal Flames and Weak Waters

“Hell? It seems the one truly underestimated here is me!” The silver-haired elder shook his head and laughed with ease upon hearing the voice from behind him. The young girl in white, however, couldn’t help but glance back at Luo Hao’s departing figure.

The central depths of the Sky Azure Mountains had always been sparsely populated, but because of the Emerald Crystal Lotus, the once tranquil Star Lake was now surrounded by a throng of martial artists, while powerful beasts lay lurking in the gloomy wilds.

“Damn it, are you from the Wildfire Sect looking for a fight?”

“Come on then! Do you even know what your Five Peaks Spirit Academy is? You dare to cross us, the Wildfire Sect?”

“You bastard, just wait and see!”

“I’m waiting for you, boy!”

...

As more forces gathered, friction inevitably arose between them. Fortunately, the Emerald Crystal Lotus had yet to appear, and with beasts watching from the shadows, the various factions maintained a semblance of restraint. Yet everyone could sense the growing tension in the air, like the calm before a storm.

In an ancient grove near Star Lake, Luo Hao sat cross-legged atop an old tree. Since the Emerald Crystal Lotus had not yet bloomed, he seized the opportunity to sort through the surge of power within him. A martial artist must always maintain a clear understanding of their own strength.

His eyes shut tight as he felt the torrent of dragon force within his meridians—each strand like a divine dragon weaving through him. A mighty vitality emanated from his body, and faintly, there seemed to be a sound of thunder.

“How interesting, thunder’s resonance... It seems this boy’s foundation in the Spirit Realm is exceptionally solid. If I brought him back and nurtured him, it would be a fine thing.” Luo Hao was unaware that while he was organizing his internal energy, the silver-haired elder had been secretly observing him.

“Grandfather, why hasn’t the Emerald Crystal Lotus bloomed yet? Did you trick me?” The girl in white was growing impatient. She had promised to return home in time for her mother’s birthday.

The silver-haired elder looked kindly at his granddaughter and smiled, saying nothing, but sighed inwardly, “Youyu’s temperament is still immature—so naïve and gentle. Asking her to carry out that task... Ai…”

As Luo Hao focused on his cultivation, more arrivals gathered around Star Lake—many of whom Luo Hao recognized: the Myriad Beasts Sect, the Western Hills, and even his former sect, the Sea Sky Sect.

“The Sea Sky Sect is here!” The Sea Sky Sect sat adjacent to the Sky Azure Mountains, serving as a barrier against beast tides and was reputedly the most powerful force in the northwest. Their arrival naturally drew much attention.

The leader from the Sea Sky Sect was clad in blue, walking with resolute steps, his stern face exuding solemnity. Behind him followed eight or so disciples, among whom two youths stood out most. One was broad-shouldered with purple hair, radiating explosive strength; the other, handsome and extraordinary, dressed in white, his black hair floating like a celestial exile lost upon the earth.

The exceptional bearing of these two drew envious gazes from many factions, including the Myriad Beasts Sect and Five Peaks Spirit Academy. Zuo Qingfeng of the Wildfire Sect and Duan Yixiao of the Five Peaks Spirit Academy both glanced their way, lamenting the Sea Sky Sect’s extraordinary fortune—these two were undoubtedly first-rate prodigies.

“Look, it’s Sikong Xuan from the Thunder Marsh Hall and Yan Longyuan from the Wu Wei Hall!” Compared to the formidable masters, the independent martial artists cried out in awe, and even disciples from other sects voiced their amazement.

These two had risen with astonishing speed; since the Sea Sky Sect’s newcomer tournament half a year ago, they had swept aside rivals to break into the Blood Gathering Realm, defeating countless senior disciples along the way. Not only that, at a multi-sect disciples’ gathering two months prior, the pair together routed many prodigies from the Wildfire Sect and the Infinite Sword Sect.

Most astonishing of all, a month ago, they jointly hunted a third-tier beast in the Sky Azure Mountains—one comparable to a Master’s Realm—and succeeded in slaying it. Many witnessed this event firsthand, so there was no doubt: together, the two possessed the strength to contend with Master’s Realm martial artists.

“One is a naturally awakened Thunder Body, already beginning to merge with the Dao of Thunder. Excellent, excellent—if nurtured properly, he might walk the path of the supreme. The other, the youth in white, seems to have inherited a mysterious legacy; from his demeanor, he’s already seeking a way to break free from its constraints and forge his own martial path. Remarkable!” The crowd’s admiration reached the silver-haired elder’s ears, and he instinctively glanced at Yan Longyuan and Sikong Xuan, his eyes reflecting his own appreciation.

“So it’s Elder Qingyang from the Sea Sky Sect—my respects!” Though Duan Yixiao was corpulent, his speed was extraordinary. In an instant, he appeared before Elder Qingyang with a beaming smile. Zuo Qingfeng of the Myriad Beasts Sect narrowed his eyes, thinking that the fat man’s strength was indeed unfathomable, even more so than a decade ago.

Elder Qingyang nodded in response to Duan Yixiao’s greeting, barely perceptibly sweeping his gaze across a certain direction before leading his disciples to a secluded spot, waiting for the Emerald Crystal Lotus to bloom.

“Aha, discovered! No wonder they’re the foremost force in the northwest—there are indeed some noteworthy figures.” The silver-haired elder beside the girl in white took a sip of wine, his expression relaxed as he spoke.

In the ancient grove, a pair of eyes filled with faint sorrow watched the Sea Sky Sect’s party in the distance—among them his brothers and the elder he had met upon first joining the sect. “Brothers, forgive me for not coming out to greet you.”

“Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish...” As the silver moon hung high, the tranquil Star Lake suddenly erupted with a thunderous flow of water. Someone cried out, “The water level of Star Lake is dropping!”

The crowd was instantly stirred, and countless figures appeared along the crescent-shaped lake’s edge. On the other side, innumerable beastly roars echoed, clearly marking territory claimed by the monsters.

Under astonished gazes, the water continued to recede. When it reached a critical point, it stopped. At the heart of Star Lake, a verdant green light shot skyward, piercing the clouds above.

In that moment, a refreshing fragrance wafted through the air, invigorating the spirit and soothing the mind. All around Star Lake, whether martial artists or beasts, everyone was entranced.

“The Emerald Crystal Lotus!”

“The Emerald Crystal Lotus, seen only once every five hundred years!” At the heart of the lake, a lotus platform emerged, upon which a green lotus took root. Two leaves and five petals, its entire form transparent jade-green, as if jade marrow flowed through its stem like blood through veins.

“Go!”

Almost without hesitation, many factions shouted and charged toward the lake’s heart, determined to claim the Emerald Crystal Lotus. Only the Myriad Beasts Sect, Sea Sky Sect, Five Peaks Spirit Academy, and a handful of others remained onshore, watching silently. Luo Hao, too, did not act immediately; his gaze was intense as he watched the rushing martial artists. Could the Emerald Crystal Lotus be obtained so easily? Did they not notice the beasts lurking on the far side of Star Lake, still motionless?

“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!” Sure enough, as the martial artists crossed the lake, blazing flames suddenly erupted—an eerie blue fire, deep and mysterious, as if it could incinerate all things, yet chilling to the bone despite its appearance as flame.

“Aah! What’s happening? Why won’t this fire go out?” Those crossing the lake screamed in agony; the blue flames clung to their clothes, impossible to extinguish, consuming everything in an instant.

The decisive martial artists, when the blue fire touched their arms, severed them without hesitation. Blood spilled into Star Lake, but none noticed the droplets converging toward a certain place within the water.

Bang!

With a sudden flash, Star Lake was swept by a violent gale and towering waves, the blue flames still raging atop the surging waters.

“Help, help!” Those who had rushed forward cried for aid, but their voices were abruptly silenced. Struck by the waves, they became ice statues; the blue flames touched them, and all was annihilated, leaving only a pool of blood. Few managed to escape back to shore, and when they looked toward the lake’s center again, their eyes were filled with terror.

“Fire and ice, two extremes—so this is Nether Flame and Weak Water. The blue Nether Flame possesses supreme yang energy, while the seemingly ordinary lake water is rare Weak Water, holding the ninefold yin power of the world.”

Luo Hao, too, grew solemn. Nether Flame and Weak Water were not unfamiliar to him; in ancient Chinese legends, King Yu’s greatest challenge in taming floods was Weak Water.

Weak Water holds the ninefold yin power second only to the lunar force, the coldest and most extreme yin energy in the world.