Yuan Feng's Invitation: Choose Any Southern Fire Vein to Cultivate in
The outskirts of Southern Heaven.
After the Fire Tide gradually subsided, the mountain peaks that had been shrouded in crimson-gold Fire Clouds finally reappeared. Lava was still slowly flowing in some ravines, but the nearby fire veins had resumed a relatively stable operation. The Pulse-Guarding Elders led the Phoenix Clan experts to re-examine the Restraining Patterns to ensure that the previously damaged rock layers would not cause any more accidents.
Feng Ling stayed near Lu Yuan until she confirmed that the ventral scales had stopped burning. Although she had heard that Lu Yuan had fought against the Beast Emperor Shen Ni, seeing this giant beast block part of the high-temperature Fire Tide was a completely different experience.
"Fellow Daoist Lu Yuan, we are so grateful for your help this time. Otherwise, the passage on the south side might have really been destroyed by the fire wave." Feng Ling said earnestly, her tone tinged with apology as she looked at the burn marks on Lu Yuan's body that had not yet been fully healed.
Lu Yuan slowly moved his giant fins, feeling that the pain on the surface had lessened considerably compared to before, and casually said, "The Fire Tide was coming this way anyway, so I had to protect the trees on my back. Besides, I absorbed some of the fire energy earlier, so it wasn't a complete waste of time."
Upon hearing this, Feng Ling couldn't help but smile. She had gradually become familiar with Lu Yuan's personality; he tended to focus more on actual events, and trying to talk about some great favor would only make the conversation awkward.
However, the Phoenix Clan would not take Lu Yuan's help for granted just because he found it convenient. After inspecting the nearby tributaries, the Pulse-Guarding Elder personally came to Lu Yuan to express his sincere gratitude.
"If that Fire Tide had continued eastward, the nearby fire veins would have needed a lot of time to repair. Fellow Daoist, you have indeed helped my Phoenix Clan a great deal this time." After the Pulse-Guarding Elder finished speaking, his gaze fell on the scales that were gradually cooling down, his expression still showing obvious amazement.
Several young Phoenix Clan around also stepped forward to pay their respects. They had been wary of Lu Yuan because of the chaotic aura on him, but now that they saw the giant beast was willing to take the initiative to control the Fire Tide and protect the nearby habitat, their vigilance had gradually dissipated.
One of the women, dressed in red feathers, couldn't help but say, "Senior, when we saw that wave of fire rushing towards us from behind, we almost thought the outer passage was doomed. Luckily, you shielded the front of the Fire Tide with your body, otherwise we probably would have had to retreat much further!"
Lu Yuan simply nodded after listening. What he was really concerned about now was the changes within his body. Although the Li Fire had caused obvious burns, after gradual transformation, some of the damaged scales had begun to regrow, and his Qi and Blood and qi were more abundant than before.
Especially in those areas that had been subjected to high temperatures, the gray-gold patterns on the surface of the new scales seemed even clearer. Although the improvement was limited in a short period of time, it made Lu Yuan realize that proper tempering in the Li Fire did indeed have a practical effect.
However, this cultivation method still requires intensity control. When the Fire Tide actually hit, some of his flesh and blood experienced obvious burning pain. Continuing to endure it would definitely not be worth it. Lu Yuan had already decided that he would continue to use the method of absorbing small amounts and multiple times when absorbing the Li Fire in the future.
Just as Feng Ling was about to lead everyone back to the outer volcano, the Red-Gold Feather Token in the Pulse-Guarding Elder's hand suddenly lit up, and a wisp of the Phoenix Clan aura from the depths of Southern Heaven slowly emerged, clearly indicating that the message previously reported to Yuan Feng had received a new response.
The Pulse-Guarding Elder carefully sensed for a moment, then raised his head, a clear look of joy gradually appearing in his eyes. He first glanced at Feng Ling, then looked back at Lu Yuan, his tone more solemn than before.
"Her Majesty Yuan Feng is already aware of the Fire Tide. She asked me to tell you, fellow Daoist, that if you are willing to stay in Southern Heaven, the Phoenix Clan can designate an area with abundant fire veins for your cultivation, and you can also use the naturally overflowing essence of the Li Fire within, according to the agreement between both parties."
Upon hearing this, Feng Ling also smiled. Yuan Feng's willingness to specially provide a suitable fire vein area for cultivation was enough to show that the Phoenix Clan had truly recognized Lu Yuan's value. In particular, his ability to absorb ordinary evil spirits and control a portion of the Li Fire was indeed very useful to the Phoenix Clan, who had long guarded the Southern Heaven Volcano.
After listening, Lu Yuan did not immediately agree.
He knew, of course, that the invitation was quite sincere. The Southern Heaven Primordial Fire Vein was of good quality, and if he stayed here for a long time, he could indeed continuously obtain high-temperature energy that could temper his body. However, the weak creature on his back would have difficulty adapting to the long-term scorching environment.
Moreover, he still has a considerable amount of Chaos Demon God flesh and blood stored up. What he really needs is to steadily absorb energy of different natures. If he stays near a volcano for a long time in order to obtain the Li Fire, it will actually affect his ability to find other suitable resources in the future.
"I am of course very grateful that Fellow Yuan Feng is willing to offer such conditions, but it's not advisable for me to stay in Southern Heaven long-term," Lu Yuan said slowly, then added seriously, "I also plan to visit other places in the Primordial World, and these little fellows on me are not suitable to stay in the Fire Domain indefinitely."
Upon hearing this answer, Feng Ling couldn't help but feel a hint of regret. However, she already knew that Lu Yuan hadn't formally accepted the recruitment offers from Ancestral Dragon and Shen Ni, so naturally he wouldn't easily change his mind just because the Phoenix Clan had proposed a fire vein.
The Pulse-Guarding Elder did not insist. After careful consideration, he asked Lu Yuan if he was willing to maintain cooperation in the manner previously adopted by the Dragon Clan. If the Phoenix Clan encountered any malevolent forces or excess fire vein resources that needed to be cleared, the two sides could discuss it in advance and then offer suitable Cultivation Resources as compensation.
"That's fine. If I happen to be nearby and there's suitable fire energy to absorb, I'd naturally be willing to come and take a look." Lu Yuan nodded in agreement, while also explaining that he wouldn't be bound to the command of any particular race just because he obtained resources.
After listening, Feng Ling's expression finally relaxed again. It was already good that a normal cooperative relationship could be established, especially since Lu Yuan's physical body was still growing. If they encountered higher quality Li Fire resources in the future, the two sides could naturally continue to try.
The Pulse-Guarding Elder quickly relayed Lu Yuan's reply back to the depths of Southern Heaven through the Feather Token. After receiving the message, Yuan Feng did not continue to ask him to stay for an extended period. She only instructed Feng Ling to maintain contact and discuss resource exchanges when a suitable opportunity arose in the future.
After everything was arranged, Lu Yuan finally began to truly rest.
He hovered slowly in the Sea of Clouds Li Fire vein, allowing the light barrier on his back to maintain a relatively cool environment. He then mobilized some water elemental energy to nourish his damaged scales, and the shallow burn marks left by the previous Fire Tide began to heal little by little.
The Little White Beasts living on the backs gradually emerged from the tree holes, and the spirit herbs that had been somewhat wilted due to the high temperature began to unfurl their leaves again. Several blue unicorn spirit beasts came to the stream to drink water, and the entire forest finally returned to its usual tranquility.
Looking at the mountains and rivers, Lu Yuan had already made his next plan. The Southern Heaven Fire Vein was indeed good, but his body was still in the stage of digesting the Demon God Origin. Going to the more temperate inland areas would obviously be more suitable for long-term recuperation.
After learning that Lu Yuan was preparing to leave the Fire Domain, Feng Ling took the initiative to lead him northwest along the mountain range where the temperature was lower. The area was gradually approaching the eastern inland of the Primordial World, where the innate Earth Spirit Qi was more concentrated than that deep in the volcano.
A few days later, the crimson Fire Clouds in the sky finally began to fade, and large patches of green gradually appeared on the mountains below. Lu Yuan took a deep breath and felt the forest on his back return to comfort, and his mood immediately relaxed a lot.
Just as the two were about to leave the edge of the Fire Domain, Lu Yuan suddenly sensed a heavy aura coming from the depths of the mountains below. That aura was clearly different from that of the Dragon Clan's Water Spirit and the Phoenix Clan's Li Fire, as if the entire earth was breathing slowly.
Feng Ling also sensed something amiss. She looked down at the mountains ahead, a hint of familiarity appearing in her eyes, and then whispered, "This aura... it must be the Qilin Clan arriving."