The Nether Swamp

"This must be the Nether Swamp..."

Xiao Yi Xian stood at the front of the Wind Riding Boat, staring through its transparent energy barrier at the scene ahead. A look of astonishment crept across her face.

As far as the eye could see, everything was shrouded in a gloomy, deathly green.

The ground below wasn't solid earth. It was a mixture of sticky mud, rotting branches and weeds, and stark white bones half-buried all around. A nauseating, foul stench hung in the air.

Though the region appeared teeming with life, plants grew everywhere she looked.

Yet not a single insect chirped or bird sang. Even the wind seemed oppressed and lifeless, as if they had entered a silent, haunted place forsaken by the world.

"Xian'er, once we enter, don't leave the Wind Riding Boat for even a moment. Keep a firm grip on the Protective Jade Slip I gave you. If you're in danger, crush it immediately."

Ning Chen spoke softly, cautiously scanning the dense gray-green miasma ahead, so thick it seemed almost solid.

"Mm, I'll remember."

Xiao Yi Xian nodded firmly, then couldn't help asking,

"Ning Chen, we've reached our destination. Can you finally tell me what we came here for?"

"Of course."

Ning Chen smiled faintly and steered the Wind Riding Boat around. Its hull blazed with green light as it shot straight toward the dense miasma, which seemed capable of swallowing light.

"Xian'er, have you ever heard of Heavenly Flames?"

"Heavenly Flames?" Xiao Yi Xian paused, thinking back.

"When I was in Qingshan Town, I heard a few well-traveled old mercenaries mention them. They're said to be the most wondrous and powerful flames in the world, priceless treasures. But what does that have to do with why we came here?"

As he carefully piloted the Wind Riding Boat through the increasingly dark swamp, where poisonous miasma filled the air, Ning Chen replied,

"The Nether Poison Fire, ranked twentieth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking."

"The Nether Poison Fire?"

"That's right," Ning Chen said calmly.

"The Nether Poison Fire is a strange flame born in the Ancient Netherworld Poison Marsh. Over countless years, it has swallowed and burned through endless poisonous miasma, until its flames became one with the poison itself."

"Even a spark touching an ordinary person would kill them instantly. That's why it's one of the most difficult Heavenly Flames to devour and fuse with."

At that, Xiao Yi Xian thought of her constitution, which made her the very master of all poisons. Even though she knew little about Heavenly Flames, she understood at once why Ning Chen had brought her here.

"Ning Chen... you came here to find a Heavenly Flame... for me?"

She stared blankly at Ning Chen's chiseled profile. A boulder seemed to plunge into her heart, stirring up immense waves, and for a moment she could barely speak.

"But... why?"

He was actually willing to venture into such a perilous place for her, seeking the legendary flame of ultimate poison?

Could it really be, just as he'd said back then, that he simply "couldn't stand to see people suffer"?

Xiao Yi Xian shook her head without thinking.

Though kind by nature, she wasn't naïve.

Once you truly stepped into this world and sought strength, resources and opportunities often came through bloodshed and fire. A good person in the conventional sense could forget about becoming a Dou Wang; even surviving for long was difficult.

So why was he doing this? Could it be that he...

Xiao Yi Xian unconsciously lowered her head, her gaze passing over her gently rising chest. Then she scolded herself under her breath, her cheeks warming.

Ye Qingxian, Ye Qingxian, what nonsense are you thinking?

Seeing the girl beside him looking adorable as she shifted from understanding to confusion and then inexplicable embarrassment, Ning Chen's smile deepened.

By now, the Wind Riding Boat had fully entered the Nether Swamp.

The poisonous miasma was so thick it seemed impossible to disperse. Even with the barrier protecting them, they could still feel its bone-chilling poison trying to seep through.

Stagnant pools covered the swamp, their water black as ink. Every so often, a few bubbles rose to the surface, each filled with deadly poison.

The twisted branches of grotesque trees clawed at the air like ghostly shadows, utterly chilling.

The Nether Swamp was far larger than Ning Chen had imagined. As far as the eye could see, land and sky blurred into one, and it felt as if they were adrift in an ocean of poisonous miasma.

For nine whole days, Ning Chen and Xiao Yi Xian piloted the Wind Riding Boat across almost every known dangerous area in the vast swamp. Nearly every day, they were pursued by poisonous magical beasts.

Yet apart from increasingly dense miasma and wave after wave of dangerous beasts, there was no sign of the legendary Nether Poison Fire.

What was more, unlike the Green Lotus Core Flame, the Nether Poison Fire wasn't confined to the place where it had been born. It could wander wherever it pleased.

It was no exaggeration to say that the entire Nether Swamp was its hunting ground.

Their patience slowly wore thin through the day after day of searching and evasion.

At dusk on the ninth day, after evading another group of Poison Scale Crocodiles radiating the aura of Peak Dou Wang, Ning Chen stopped the Wind Riding Boat and furrowed his brow.

"Searching like this won't work."

"Then what should we..." Xiao Yi Xian asked, feeling somewhat discouraged as well.

Ning Chen didn't answer. Instead, he turned his hand over, and a strange compass the size of his fist appeared in his palm. It was translucent like amethyst, with countless tiny silver specks of light flowing within it.

"What's that?" Xiao Yi Xian asked curiously.

"The Heavenly Compass. A one-use trinket."

Ning Chen explained, his eyes brightening.

"Centered on whoever uses it, it can detect any life-form or unusual presence within fifty li that has an energy level at or above Dou Emperor. For example, a Heavenly Flame."

This was the treasure he had exchanged from the system to help him find the Nether Poison Fire.

Before he'd finished speaking, Ning Chen poured a stream of pure Dou Qi into it.

The amethyst compass suddenly blazed with light, and the silver specks within began darting wildly.

A moment later, most of the specks faded. Only a few brighter points flickered near the edge of the compass, in the northwest.

"It's reacting!"

Ning Chen's spirits lifted. The points weren't clustered together, but at least they gave him a clear direction.

Without hesitation, he urged the Wind Riding Boat forward. It transformed into a streak of green light and sped northwest.

"I refuse to believe I can't turn over every inch of this place and drag out that sneaky ghost flame!"

Following the Heavenly Compass's directions, Ning Chen began searching the area methodically.

But the first two points turned out to be six-tier magical beasts, with absolutely nothing to do with Heavenly Flames.

After two false leads in a row, Ning Chen's expression darkened.

Although the Heavenly Compass could detect presences at or above Dou Emperor, it couldn't tell whether they were magical beasts, humans, or Heavenly Flames, much less determine their condition. That made it far less efficient.

Just as he was preparing to head for the third point, the Heavenly Compass in his hand suddenly changed!

A cluster of light several times larger than the others appeared out of nowhere at the northwest edge of the compass.

No! Looking closely, it was actually four closely grouped points of extremely powerful energy.

"Four Dou Emperor-level presences gathered in one place?"

Ning Chen's eyes sharpened, and he brought the Wind Riding Boat to a halt.

Across the Northwest Continent, whether they were Dou Emperors or six-tier magical beasts, each was a regional overlord. Magical beasts aside, even human Dou Emperors rarely gathered together.

When something out of the ordinary happened, there was always a reason!

"Looks like we may have found what we're after. Even if we haven't, there's bound to be something interesting to watch."

A cold smile curved Ning Chen's lips, and his earlier frustration vanished.

"Xian'er, hold on tight. We're going to take a closer look. Remember to conceal your aura."

He spoke in a low voice as he reduced the Wind Riding Boat's speed and energy fluctuations to a minimum. Like a silent fish, it crept cautiously toward the spot where the four lights had gathered.

About the time it takes to burn an incense stick later, an overpowering stench hit them. It was so strong they could smell it clearly even through the barrier.

A vast black mud pit came into view, its thick, syrupy waters churning constantly.

Above the center of the black pool, a shocking scene was unfolding.

A basin-sized mass of eerie green flames flickered and danced, drifting about like a ghost with a mind of its own.

Its opponents were three enormous serpents circling above the pool. Their scales were glossy black, and their auras had all reached the Dou Emperor level. They were Black Scale Snake Kings!

They spat foul venom and black lightning, lunging again and again at the green flames. The flames dodged with uncanny agility, sometimes splitting into several fire snakes that struck back, scorching the serpents' scales with a sizzling hiss and drawing pained shrieks from them.

As the eerie green flames flickered, they gave off a chilling poison that seemed to freeze the soul, mingled with scorching heat.

It was the Nether Poison Fire!