When Murong Xiao had A Quan bring Gongsun Qi into the academy, he had already foreseen that they would flee Taiyi Academy in a sorry state, so he had set up a teleportation array on Mechanism Island in advance.
Because the distance was great, it took time to activate.
As soon as Gongsun Qi spoke, A Quan teleported them away. In the blink of an eye, they were back on Mechanism Island.
They were within the Murong Family's territory. Beyond a small hill stretched an endless expanse of sea. Standing on the slope, they saw huge patches of Sea Fire rising from the water and surrounding Sea Qi, while the Mechanism Clan's fleet encircled the flames from farther out.
Gongsun Qi stared at the fire on the water and asked, "What is that?"
"Sea Fire. It's the closest thing to Strange Fire," A Quan explained. "When Shuizhou discovered it, they thought it might unlock the secret of Strange Fire."
"Sea Fire is in a state much like Strange Fire. It can burn everything, especially Five Elements Qi. The difference is that it can't erupt on a large scale or be controlled by people. It can only be born in seawater—or, more precisely, from sea eyes."
After hearing A Quan's explanation, Gongsun Qi's gaze on the Sea Fire deepened.
He remembered a certain year, when he had seen a Yin-Yang Fish in a pond at their mountain residence. He had asked his younger sister what Nine Schools Technique she was practicing lately.
Gongsun Xi had formed hand seals, guiding the Yin-Yang Fish. As she did, a string of flames appeared from nowhere in the clear pond water.
She had joked, "I'm secretly practicing Strange Fire."
So he had answered in the same joking tone, "Strange Fire is black."
Gongsun Xi had