The Mystery of the Burning Rage Method

From deep within his brow emerged the Void Fire of his mental world. The flames crossed layer upon layer of boundaries from illusion and manifested in the real world.

He Zhao: "It's burning!"

He wasn't talking about the atmosphere. He was literally on fire.

Gray flames coiled around his body. Skin, flesh, bone, and blood were like gasoline, making the blaze ever more dazzling and resplendent.

In the entire ruined town, only the pitch-black ghostly shadow crouched at its center, staring hollowly at the human-shaped torch.

The pain of blazing flames burning his body was even worse than Pig Woman's Heart Blood.

Torture had descended upon him once again. Ruthless He Zhao wanted to cry, yet no tears came.

My goddamned past lives!

"Whatever. Let it burn however it wants."

At worst, he would waste eleven Simulation Coins. Besides, he wasn't losing out. The Burning Rage Method was operating on its own, and his Spirit Power was rising at an even more violent pace than when he had first entered Qinghe Town: Demon Subjugation Chapter.

"Good lord. Just suffering twice has probably produced more Spirit Power than nearly a hundred deaths in the past." Having resigned himself to the worst, He Zhao twisted his face and mocked himself in a trembling, hoarse voice.

Thud!

Who knew how long had passed? In any case, once his Spirit Power had doubled from before the Void Fire began burning him, his "sentence" finally ended, and he collapsed headfirst onto the ground.

"Huff, huff, huff..."

He Zhao lay on the cold, hard ground, looking up at the dark sky of the Spirit Realm as he gasped for breath. The dripping sweat actually gathered into a small puddle beneath his feet.

Strangely enough, the Void Fire had not burned the ground, nor had it evaporated his sweat, as though it could not affect reality.

"But why the hell did I shrink?!"

That was right. From a two-and-a-half-meter behemoth, he had somehow shrunk to around one meter seventy-five.

"The Burning Fire Method... Something about it feels wrong."

After thinking for half the day without finding any clue, He Zhao climbed to his feet and prepared to return to the Inn.

Cheap Master and the others were probably searching everywhere for him and A'er. Most likely, they were not in his room. Even if it failed, he could just start over.

Thud!

His feet stepped onto the chilly wooden boards. He Zhao casually picked up the bundle from the bed, selected some suitable clothes, and put them on.

Creak!

Hurried footsteps sounded outside the room. Then the Old Man and A'da pushed open the door and entered.

"Zhao'er!"

The cry was brimming with genuine feeling. Anyone unaware of the truth might truly have believed the master and disciple shared deep affection.

Unfortunately, after the Old Man had once fled for his life alone, He Zhao's opinion of him had plummeted. He had labeled him as someone who could be used.

"A'er."

Before the two could finish asking questions, He Zhao slung the bundle over his back, grabbed their wrists, and said anxiously.

"Run!!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he squeezed between them without looking back and bolted out of the Inn.

This move was called striking first to seize the initiative. As for reaching the Hetu Dao?

That could wait. First, he had to muddle through the hurdle before him.

The Old Man and A'da, left behind in the room: "..."

A moment later, the two suddenly came to their senses. Someone surnamed He must have experienced something terrifying, or he would not be running like a rabbit. No, even a rabbit would wipe away tears and call him grandpa if it came here.

"Let's hurry and follow him!"

Without another word, Cheap Master hurried after He Zhao's retreating figure, leaving only A'da standing dumbly where he was.

Soon, he came to his senses as well. Forgetting his brother's whereabouts, even the lesser and greater mystics were this terrified. One could figure it out with one's toes—some great terror had descended.

Thus, beneath the pitch-black night sky, the three formed a straight line and rushed toward Wancheng.

After roughly five hours of mad running, He Zhao successfully reached the city gates just as they opened before dawn.

"Huff, huff, huff..."

Pig Woman's Stamina was truly terrifying. He had set out from Qinghe Town and run at full speed without resting even once. After reaching his destination, he had merely worked up a sweat.

Not using Demon Eater's Heart Blood had truly been a wise choice.

"I wonder how far my strength, burst power, and defense have been Amplified. Once I get through this, I'll study it carefully."

Following his memories, as well as his experience from the last time he returned to the Hetu Dao to swindle gold powder and the Jade Dagger, he arrived ten minutes later before an enormous courtyard.

Two lifelike Stone Lions carved from Bluestone sat majestically on either side of the Vermilion Gate.

He Zhao stepped forward and knocked on the beast-shaped door knocker.

"Coming!"

The gate opened from within, and the Old Servant was startled upon seeing He Zhao.

"Young Master, why have you returned so quickly? Could it be that you and your master have already resolved the matter in Qinghe Town?" This man was responsible for communication between the Hetu Dao and Great Xuan's Bureau of Peculiar Individuals. Outwardly, he claimed to be the courtyard's Old Servant in order to conceal his identity.

"Huh! Why isn't Old Huang here? Did that shameless old bastard go to the pleasure quarters to listen to music again?"

He Zhao did not explain his doubts. He merely put on a terrified, helpless expression and ran into the courtyard.

"Hiss..."

Seeing He Zhao like this, the Old Servant sucked in a cold breath. What kind of stimulation had he suffered to become this deranged?

That was right. Someone surnamed He intended to play dumb, looking utterly terrified and unwilling to recall what had happened.

When the time came, no matter who questioned him, he would pretend to recall it for a moment, then immediately turn into a "madman."

Then the matter would simply fade away.

"Hehehe, this should be foolproof now."

By noon, Secret Blood Warrior A'da supported Cheap Master as they appeared before the Hetu Dao, both panting heavily.

Old Servant: "..."

Looking at you two like your kidneys have failed, what exactly did you experience in Qinghe Town?

"Zhao... Zhao... Zhao..."

"Your disciple came back, but he's a little deranged. Whenever we mention Qinghe Town, he runs everywhere like a madman. Either he hides beneath the bed, or he buries himself in the kitchen's slop."

When the Old Servant mentioned He Zhao, lingering fear filled his heart.

Upon hearing this, both men wore expressions of survivors of a great calamity.

As for A'er?

He was definitely dead.

Couldn't they see He Zhao had been frightened mad?

"Old Mystic, I must return at once and report this to the Gym Master."

With that, A'da left the Hetu Dao.

"Tell me, Old Huang, what exactly did the four of you encounter in Qinghe? How did you scare the child into that state?" The Old Servant stepped forward and asked with an inquisitive expression.

Cheap Master wore a bitter face at those words.

If I knew, would I have exhausted my Spirit Power to keep boosting both our speeds as we fled for our lives?

Sigh. I won't recover without three months of rest.

This trip to Qinghe was a disastrous loss!

A few days later, Cheap Master accompanied the Dao Master, who had just emerged from seclusion, to examine He Zhao's condition.

The Hetu Dao Master's body flickered from time to time with a pale white glow of Spirit Power, brimming with Spiritual Essence like the bright moon.

"Dao Master."

"Let's speak outside."

He Zhao lay on the bed. After the two left the room and the sound of the door closing rang out, he opened one eye to a slit.

I hope I pass this smoothly and get more bonus points.

Outside, the two talked as they walked.

"Dao Master, I truly don't know what he went through. Around noon, he and the Secret Blood Warrior from Hengshan Boxing Gym disappeared. Zhao'er did not reappear in the Inn until nighttime. Then he left behind one sentence—run—and fled like a madman."

Old Huang explained with a miserable expression. He feared the Dao Master would think he was hiding vital information and casually cut him down.

"No matter. I smelled a familiar aura. Those two things must have awakened and taken him inside. The fact that he did not go completely mad shows that his mind is still resilient."

The Hetu Dao Master said no more. He merely gazed at the blazing midday sun and continued murmuring to himself.

"The Flying Scenery Realm... Fifteen years will pass in the blink of an eye. I am already growing impatient."

Inside the room, He Zhao suddenly shuddered.

He sensed dense deathly energy gathering around him. A terrifying calamity was brewing.