Volume Two: Life and Death at High Speed in the Northern Realm - Yan Yi Ming Hua

"That's strange, why haven't A Ye and Givinia returned yet?"

Beside the somewhat deserted Sirius, Ally put down her work and looked curiously into the depths of the cave.

Changing a sanitary napkin should be quick, right? Could it be that A Ye menstrual cramps? she wondered.

"Don't worry, maybe Sister Ye is the type who gets so much pain during her period that she can't walk, and Sister Givinia will have to carry her back."

Ailin quickly chuckled to comfort her sister, and moved even closer to her.

Sister Ye and Sister Givinia, you two are so kind! You worked so hard to create opportunities for me to be alone with you, stalling for time.

"Speaking of Ailin..."

"(⊙v⊙) Hmm?" Ailin immediately leaned closer, blinking her big eyes, looking absolutely adorable.

"Isn't A Ye's special ability to manipulate blood? If so... his combat power should increase significantly during his period, right?"

"..."

"Hmm? What's wrong, Ailin? You look so sullen."

"Nothing..."

Let's not say such unromantic things during this rare time for just the two of us, Baka-neechan!

"Drink it!"

I spun in mid-air, narrowly dodging the crimson fireball, and at the same time swung the Void Greatsword in my hand down with all my might!

Accompanied by the clanging of metal, a large band of crimson crystalline light swept across, even splitting the thick rock wall in two.

"Hiss--"

Many of those things were buried under the crystal light, but most of them were unharmed. They continued to gather in greater numbers, staring at me with their small orange-yellow eyes.

These things before us are less like living beings and more like "living flames." The crimson flames coalesce into the shapes of four-legged animals, which are about knee-high and have outlines somewhat like large rats. The part that should be their heads has two small orange-red eyes that gleam with ferocity. They can breathe fire from a distance and also injure people at close range.

As we approached our destination, these creatures emerged in groups from the crevices in the rocks. Individually they posed little threat, but when they gathered in large numbers, they became quite troublesome.

"Now I finally understand why those two strange spirits were fighting over this cave..."

"Because of these fire beasts?"

"They are living elements, flames with extremely low intelligence; this is the prototype of the alien spirits. I'm afraid the two alien spirits outside want to devour these prototypes once they've grown a bit and use their power for themselves. Although their attributes are different, they are still prototypes and won't pose much danger."

"Good heavens... so that's what they were planning!"

"The problem is, since this place can produce the rudiments of Fire Spirit, it means there's an extremely high concentration, extremely pure, and extremely powerful fire element here. There must be an extremely powerful fire-attribute substance ahead of us, which should be the Yan Yi Ming Hua you mentioned. I'll use the projection to investigate..."

Please!

The Void Greatsword was held horizontally, its dazzling light illuminating the cave. All the fire beasts retreated slightly, seemingly quite wary of the Void Greatsword. After the battle just now, I understood that ordinary physical attacks could only disperse them, not completely destroy them. Only the light of the Void Greatsword could deliver a fatal blow.

"Got it! It's right ahead, go straight!"

"Receive!"

Forcibly suppressing my inner excitement, I plunged my greatsword deep into my ground. Instantly, countless crystalline rays, like sharp swords, shot out from the ground centered on me, annihilating all the fire beasts within a radius of tens of meters!

Set off!

Taking advantage of this opening, Givinia and I sprinted as fast as we could, rushing into the depths of the cave.

"Who... who are you?!"

A giant man, standing two meters tall, held a musket, his face ashen, and retreated step by step. Despite his imposing appearance, he acted like a rabbit seeing a wolf, trembling uncontrollably.

"It would be very difficult if my existence were exposed. I guess I can only blame my bad luck."

With a slight twitch of his slender fingers, the giant let out a scream and turned to flee—but it was too late. A faint silver light flashed by, and no fewer than ten silver lines slashed across his body. Limbs, torso, internal organs, and bones flew through the cold air like blooming flowers.

Wearing a white shirt and a black leather jacket, with her long ponytail flowing behind her, the woman with a cold and beautiful appearance— Sick Spider —adjusted her monocle and retracted the thread she had released.

"... Seriously, this is it, that is it too. Can't these mere ants use their brains?"

He kicked the head off the ground in a fit of pique, then with a flick of his wrist, a flash of silver light appeared, and a large boulder beside him shattered into countless fragments, burying the corpses scattered on the ground.

This is certainly not a burial for the dead; it's simply disposing of the body.

"You've killed so many people again, Sick Spider..."

A voice came from underground, and a stone mound rose from the ground, from which emerged a man nearly three meters tall, resembling a stone statue.

"Stone Strike? You're always so dull. You're nothing but ants, mere specks. What's the harm in crushing a few?"

"Don't underestimate these 'ants' you speak of. Even the smallest creature has 'some possibility,' and we should treat them with respect."

"So you just hate pointless killing, right? That's a disgusting cliché. Just shut up."

"Life is called 'life' precisely because its value lies in 'life' rather than 'death.' Don't you even understand this?"

"... Ha, is this a sarcastic remark directed at me?"

The Sick Spider clasped her hands together and then opened them again. With her movement, countless silver threads appeared between her hands.

However, Stone Strike only glanced at her before turning his head away.

"If you truly wish to spar with me, I would be very happy to oblige, but right now you're merely seeking to vent your boredom and dissatisfaction, so I refuse your challenge."

"..."

"Give up. Now is not the time for infighting. If we really get serious and fight, this tournament is over."

"... cut!"

The Sick Spider angrily reeled in its web, took out a cigarette, and tried to calm itself with the smell of tobacco.

Stone Strike glanced at her again.

Smoking is harmful to your health.

"That's enough!"

"And... you know what? Gustav is coming."

The action of lighting a cigarette froze.

"... This is not something you can joke about."

"I never joke, you know that."

When was this news received?

"Yu He just sent a notification; the Leader seems a bit impatient, so he sent him out."

"Cut!"

The Sick Spider slammed the cigarette to the ground.

"Why now of all times? Of all times!" The second strongest guy has already sent out; what's the point of us coming here?

"Not the second strongest. With the Leader unable to use his powers freely due to certain restrictions, Gustav is actually the strongest member of the organization."

"Of course I know that! So what do we do now?"

"Yu He told us to proceed according to the original plan. The task of destroying the seal point is still ours. Gustav should be responsible for dealing with... the World Crystal Tree!"

"To deal with the World Crystal Tree...?"

The Sick Spider sighed.

"He might accidentally destroy the tree and its fruit along with it..."

Before us was a rather vast circular space.

The annoying fire beast had vanished, leaving only a heavy silence.

Looking at the scene before me, I subconsciously voiced my thoughts.

"What a nice view..."

This is indeed a beautiful sight that is rarely seen in the whole world.

Dark blue stones of unknown material were arranged in layers of circles, shrinking inward around the circular space. At the very center was a wide circular altar, from which the beautiful red light and terrifying heat emanated.

Was it a flower or a flame?

A dozen or so extremely beautiful Yan Yi Ming Hua bloomed quietly in the altar. Their stems and leaves were a deep dark red, and each petal was like a burning crimson flame, swaying and flickering without wind, emitting tiny sparks and red light. This red light was not strong, it could even be described as dim, yet it had a sense of oppression as if it contained all the heat in the world.

But the most eye-catching feature is the very center of the altar.

That too was a Yan Yi Ming Hua.

However, its stems and leaves are just ordinary dark green, and its pale red petals do not have a flame-like texture, do not emit sparks or heat, and do not have the slightest sense of oppression.

Rather than calling it the legendary divine flower Yan Yi Ming Hua, it's more accurate to say it's just an ordinary Lycoris radiata.

That's precisely why it's so special.

If you look closely, this flower is surrounded by bare rocks, with no other Yan Yi Ming Hua growing there. The stems of the other Yan Yi Ming Hua all bend slightly towards the center, as if in worship.

Givinia and I exchanged a glance.

"My target should be the one right in the middle."

"Are you... sure you want to go?"

"Of course, we can't go back empty-handed. Stay away, the farther the better. Who knows what might happen?"

"... Alright, I wish you good luck in your military campaign."

Givinia took a few steps back, while I swallowed hard and plunged headfirst into the maddening heat.

The moment has finally arrived.

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The main character's upgrade gift pack is being sent...

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