Daydreams

When Hun Miesheng heard it wasn't the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, he shook his head. If it was only the Fallen Heart Flame, there was no need to bother with it. In fact, the people of Soul Hall had information about some of the Heavenly Flames on the continent, but a low-ranked flame like the Fallen Heart Flame wasn't worth making a fuss over. Seeing the two return safe and sound, he began to piece things together. According to Gu You, since they hadn't won the fight, the other person's strength was beyond doubt. But they hadn't been injured, which made it clear that the other person knew they were from Soul Hall and hadn't gone all out. Otherwise, how could they have escaped a battle against a Dou Sheng Expert so easily?

However, Gu You's manner and expression as he spoke seemed unusually hurried, even a little too anxious. It was almost as if he wanted Hun Miesheng to believe the flame was the Fallen Heart Flame. Was that because he'd sensed Hun Miesheng's suspicions, or...?

Hun Miesheng glanced at Hun Qing, who stood silently to the side, and asked, "Hun Qing, tell me what happened from beginning to end. Your Dou Qi is unsteady, as if you've been through a great battle, but you don't seem to have any injuries."

"I couldn't gauge that person's strength. During the fight, he treated us like an old man playing with children. But I saw a pair of golden wings on his back. They didn't look like wings formed from Dou Qi; they seemed more like a Flying Dou Technique. They were incredibly fast and made no sound. By rights, I've already reached the Dou Sheng realm, and my control over space and sensitivity to sound are both extremely acute, yet..."

As he spoke, Hun Qing couldn't help recalling the battle. A wave of discomfort washed over him. From start to finish, the other person had only used the flame in his hand and the wings on his back. He hadn't even used a single offensive Dou Technique... and yet the two of them had somehow lost.

"Was he really as powerful as you say?" Hun Miesheng's heart began to pound. According to Hun Qing, the other person was either a powerful figure from a great clan like theirs or someone blessed with extraordinary opportunities. But why had no one ever heard of him? He turned to the two and asked, "Did you find out anything about him?"

"Yes. The locals in the Jia Ma Empire say that when he arrived, he introduced himself as Saint Qinglian." Gu You hurriedly cut in. He was afraid Hun Miesheng might take an interest in the Dou Sheng in the Jia Ma Empire. If more Soul Hall members showed up, the two of them might die on the spot. No, once they got through today, they had to find a way to remove the flame from their bodies as soon as possible.

"If this flame really is the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame... then we can only find a flame ranked relatively high..."

Gu You silently made plans. The flame inside him was only an imprint, after all. Surely there was a way to deal with it using a flame ranked a little higher.

"Saint Qinglian..."

Hun Miesheng searched his memories. As far as he knew, no one by that name had been heard of in the Central Plains in at least the past few decades. Could this so-called Saint Qinglian have come from some hidden clan?

Seeing that the two had divulged everything, Hun Miesheng considered the matter. It wasn't worth making an enemy of a powerful Dou Sheng just for the Fallen Heart Flame. That person hadn't harmed Gu You or Hun Qing, which meant he'd shown Soul Hall plenty of respect. In that case, he would let it go.

That made sense. According to Lord Nihility Devouring Flame, Heavenly Flames were products of heaven and earth, and the higher-ranked flames like him were unique across time. By that logic, the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame was ranked only one place below the Nihility Devouring Flame. Rumor had it that the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame's last owner, the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint, had sealed it away. Everyone had been searching for its location all these years. Dou Sheng Experts could open up their own spaces, so finding it was no easy task—especially when the one who had hidden it was a great expert like the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint.

"Very well. Let's put this matter to rest. Pay attention to the clan's affairs, and assign the soul-capturing tasks as well. Make sure no one notices anything, or the clan leader's plan will be delayed. Everyone will be punished."

With that, Hun Miesheng turned into a cloud of black mist before their eyes and quickly vanished.

"Phew..."

Gu You let out a sigh. The white flame's reaction inside him just now had terrified him. He was sure Hun Qing had sensed it too. He could tell from the look on his face.

"Did you just...?"

"Yes..."

Hun Qing's voice trembled. In that instant, he'd clearly felt a shudder that came from the depths of his soul. If he had to experience that scorching again, he had no doubt he would die on the spot.

"So what do we do now...?"

Gu You had hit the nail on the head. They'd already lied, so telling the truth now would be difficult. Their stories would contradict each other too much, and even if they had a reason, they'd still be branded disloyal for going back on their word. For the sake of their futures, the two of them were now well and truly in the same boat.

"Phew... Though things are settled, I don't want to be at anyone's mercy. Let's find a way to get the flame out of our bodies first. As for what comes after, we'd better get our stories straight."

Hun Qing, too, began putting his clever little brain to work.

Zhang Nian, thousands of miles away, hadn't given it much thought. He had simply warned them when he felt they should be warned. Perhaps it had been the right choice.

He'd merely roused the Nanming Li Fire a little, then returned to his room. First, he checked on Yao Ye in the training room. She was making rapid progress. Perhaps digesting the medicinal effects really did have something to do with one's aptitude. Yao Ye had already reached the Nine-Star Dou Wang level. At this rate, she might wake up before Ya Fei.

Sitting in a wicker chair, he flicked his hand. Space rippled, and two black Storage Rings appeared in his palm. Ever since he'd broken through to Dou Sheng, Zhang Nian had put everything in his personal space, so he no longer had to worry about his belongings disappearing.

With a thought, the interior space of the Storage Ring appeared before Zhang Nian's eyes. It felt like watching a 3D movie; every item looked vivid and three-dimensional.

"Phew, not bad. The treasures of a Half-Saint are pretty substantial. Ten Eighth-Tier Pills and dozens of seventh-tier ones. That old geezer must have hidden plenty more, but whatever."

After casually looking through them, he turned his attention to Hun Qing's Storage Ring. A scarlet pill inside caught his eye. He examined it closely. Well, would you look at that—a Ninth-Grade Treasure Pill?

Zhang Nian grew excited. Based on the multiplier, he believed that even after unlocking intimacy later on and reaching ten-thousandfold returns or more, the pill would only be returned as an Emperor Grade Pill if its original grade was high enough. After all, the gap between ninth-grade and Emperor Grade wasn't a matter of an alchemist's skill. It was that wisp of the Source Qi of the Emperor, which hadn't appeared on the Dou Qi Continent in a thousand years.