Half a Month Later, the Misty Cloud Sect Arrived

After Lu Yu and the other left,

the Mo Family was a scene of utter devastation. A middle-aged man in luxurious brocade robes stood before Mo Cheng's ashes, his face as dark as water. He was the current Mo Family Patriarch, Mo Lan.

"Patriarch..." The Guard Captain stepped forward tremblingly. "Before the Grand Elder died, he shouted about the Snake-human Race..."

"I saw it with my own eyes. They used the Snake Seal Curse, a secret art passed down by the Snake-human Race's royal bloodline."

Mo Lan's sinister gaze swept over the charred courtyards. His fingertips brushed against a broken wall that still retained some warmth, and his pupils abruptly contracted. "I'm afraid it wasn't just the Snake Seal Curse..."

"This lingering heat..." His voice tightened. "Could it have been caused by Heavenly Flames?"

The surrounding guards immediately erupted into an uproar.

"I did see scarlet flames..."

"No, they were green!"

"They were clearly a mix of green and scarlet..."

"Enough!" Mo Lan shouted sharply, forcibly suppressing his rage. "Send word to the Misty Cloud Sect at once. Report that the Grand Elder was ambushed and killed by a Snake-human Race expert!"

Seeing everyone hesitate, he sneered. "Our Mo Family makes annual offerings. Would the Misty Cloud Sect truly stand by and do nothing? Besides..."

A glint flashed through his eyes. "Tell them that the Snake-human Race is hiding Heavenly Flames. Hasn't Elder Gu He been searching for Heavenly Flames all this time?"

Once he said that, all the guards wore looks of sudden realization. Indeed, the Misty Cloud Sect might not mobilize over an Outer Sect Steward, but for Heavenly Flames... Pill King Gu He, the Sixth-grade Alchemist, would surely make a move personally.

As long as they found the Heavenly Flames, they would naturally be able to uncover the true culprit behind the Grand Elder's death.

But a Heavenly Treasure like Heavenly Flames—would that murderer really hand it over so easily?

"When two tigers fight..." Mo Lan gazed in the direction of Misty Cloud Mountain in the distance, a cold curve lifting at the corner of his mouth. "One is bound to be injured. Since you blocked the Mo Family's path, even if the Mo Family declines, we'll still tear off a piece of flesh from your Snake-human Race!"

Half a month later,

Stone Desert City.

The Barren Iron Mercenary Group's headquarters.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Piercing sounds tore through the air in succession as dozens of ice spikes as thick as arms shot in from every direction. At the center of the field, Lu Yu's green robe fluttered wildly as he weaved through the rain of ice spikes like a wandering dragon. Scarlet trails streaked through the air, and three scarlet afterimages could faintly be seen flickering behind him.

Suddenly, with a ripping sound, an ice spike grazed past his left arm, tearing a hole in his green robe. Lu Yu's movements faltered slightly, and in that instant of vulnerability—

Bang!

Three ice spikes formed a triangular formation, sealing off every route of retreat. Lu Yu hastily stomped the ground, and an afterimage exploded beneath his feet. The violent shockwave sent his entire body flying, while the residual force tore the clothing off his back to shreds with a sharp rip.

"Cough, cough..."

Not far away, Lu Yu rolled onto the ground in a sorry state. Several parts of his robe had been blown apart, while the flaming afterimage from the explosion slowly dissipated in the air, scorching his black hair into curled, burnt strands.

"Kid, are you alright?"

Hai Bodong promptly dispersed the ice spikes in his hand. He raised a brow, unable to help showing some concern.

"I'm fine. It's just that these Heavenly Fire Dragon Steps are far too difficult to cultivate..."

"I haven't even managed to get started after half a month..." Lu Yu touched his scorched hair and shook his head with a bitter smile.

Hearing this, Hai Bodong rolled his eyes. "Movement technique Dou Skills are already harder to cultivate than ordinary Dou Skills. In my opinion, even among Earth-tier low-grade Dou Skills, this movement technique of yours is top-notch. Naturally, it's far more difficult."

"If you think you can get started in just half a month, you're dreaming!"

Lu Yu gave a bitter smile, but he had no choice but to agree.

The Heavenly Fire Dragon Steps were precisely the Earth-tier low-grade movement technique Dou Skill he had obtained through simulation before. When used, it resembled a fiery wandering dragon, and once mastered, it could create nine afterimages.

Not only could these afterimages explode to block enemies, but he could also use the shockwaves to accelerate instantly. Yet because of this, a single mistake during cultivation could injure the user himself, making it far more difficult than ordinary movement techniques.

"Old Hai, is there really no way to master this Dou Skill quickly?"

Lu Yu rubbed his brow, unwilling to accept it.

"You're quite greedy, kid. You obtained such an exquisite movement technique Dou Skill, yet you're still not satisfied and want to master it quickly..."

Hai Bodong snorted coldly. Even so, a trace of envy flashed through the old man's eyes.

After a pause, he narrowed his eyes. "However... it's not entirely impossible."

"Please guide me, Old Hai!" Lu Yu immediately perked up.

"In my view, the main difficulties in cultivating this movement technique lie in two areas."

Hai Bodong extended a withered finger and slowly said, "First, creating afterimages consumes too much Dou Qi. At your current level, you'll be exhausted after cultivating for just an hour. Second, the afterimages are difficult to control precisely. One careless mistake, and they can easily injure you instead."

The old man stroked his beard slightly and pondered. "If you can find a place rich in fire-attributed energy, it could reduce the consumption of Dou Qi. Then, if you had a high-tier Magical Beast inner armor or some similar protective treasure to guard against the backlash... you might achieve twice the result with half the effort."

"A place rich in fire-attributed energy?" Lu Yu stroked his chin thoughtfully. "A protective treasure?"

His eyes suddenly lit up. "Right! Isn't the Magma Lake where we found the Green Lotus Core Flame before the perfect place?"

"As for armor..."

He silently calculated in his heart. The one-month period has arrived. I don't lack offensive methods, so it's time to use the simulation to get a decent defensive spiritual artifact.

"Old Hai, how about we go cultivate at the Magma Lake where we found the Green Lotus Platform?"

Coming back to his senses, Lu Yu turned to Hai Bodong with a smile.

Hai Bodong curled his lips. "I have no problem with that. But remember this—one favor for the Fragment Map, one for finding the Heavenly Flames, one for the Mo Family matter, and now one more for accompanying you in training. You only have six favors left to order me around with."

"Mm, bring Qing Lin along this time too."

Lu Yu nodded and said after some thought.

"That Snake-controlling Girl you've been training recently?"

Hai Bodong frowned, then seemed to think of something. "You want her to control the Magical Beast in the Magma Lake?"

When Lu Yu nodded, the old man shook his head. "The gap is too great. That's a Fourth-tier Magical Beast. Can she do it?"

"There's no harm in trying." Lu Yu smiled, a meaningful glint flashing through his eyes.

"Then pack up, rest for the night, and leave tomorrow."

Meanwhile, at the Mo Family.

Several black-robed figures stood in the air, every one of them an expert capable of Dou Qi Manifestation Wings.

"I, Mo Lan, greet Sect Master Yun and Elder Gu He..." Mo Lan, the Mo Family Patriarch, respectfully cupped his hands. Behind him, the Mo Family experts all bowed in unison, their manner exceedingly humble.

Opposite them, Yun Yun stood against the wind in a plain white dress, pale green whirlwinds circling around her. Beside her, Gu He stood with his hands behind his back. His sharply defined face still retained some of the handsomeness of his youth, while the years had added a calm and steady bearing.

Behind him, Wind Walker Feng Li and Lion King Yan Shi stood on either side.

"Patriarch Mo, there is no need for such formality." Yun Yun nodded slightly, her cool gaze sweeping over the Mo Family below. "Your message said that the Snake-human Race possesses Heavenly Flames. Is that true?"

Mo Lan immediately presented a Jade Box and said ingratiatingly, "These are the Grand Elder's ashes. They still carry the aura of Heavenly Flames..."

Yun Yun frowned slightly.

The disgust in Yan Shi's eyes was undisguised as he mocked, "You even brought out your own Grand Elder's ashes as a treasure offering. Patriarch Mo, you truly are... remarkably loyal."

Gu He smiled and waved a hand, cutting him off. Looking at the ashes, a strange gleam appeared in his eyes. "This aura carries the scent of magma. It is either the Green Lotus Core Flame or the Volcanic Stone Flame..."

"I never expected the Snake-human Race to truly possess a secret art capable of utilizing Heavenly Flames..."

"It seems Sect Master Yun was right..."

"Patriarch Mo, you've done well..."

As he spoke, he took an exquisite jade bottle from his Storage Ring and casually tossed it to Mo Lan. "I said that whoever provided information about Heavenly Flames would be rewarded with a Fifth-grade Pill. This Fifth-grade Dragon Strength Pill can temporarily enhance the strength of the body. Take it."

The jade bottle traced a graceful arc through the air. Mo Lan hurriedly caught it with both hands, his face instantly breaking into a fawning smile as he bent even lower. "Many thanks to Master Gu He for this generous reward! The entire Mo Family..."

"It is merely a transaction. There is no need to thank me."

Gu He interrupted indifferently, his gaze already turning toward the depths of the desert. At the side, Yan Shi let out an undisguised cold snort, his eyes full of contempt.

Yun Yun, however, gazed at Mo Lan thoughtfully, a trace of doubt flashing through her beautiful eyes.

"Why did the Snake-human Race kill Mo Cheng?" she murmured inwardly. There may be more to the Mo Family than meets the eye...