Yun Yun vs. Yun Shan, the Stunned Cloud Heavenly Emperor

"I... caught it."

Just as Yun Shan and Yun Yun flashed over.

Ji Changqing had just withdrawn his arm, his palm still clutching a miraculous thing that resembled azure magma.

"Good!"

A sharp gleam burst from Yun Shan's eyes at the sight.

"The most difficult step has already been completed."

"Changqing, quickly swallow this wisp of Origin Fire!"

"Then circulate your cultivation technique, let it travel through your meridians, and refine away its wild nature!"

"Mm..."

Ji Changqing answered softly.

He looked rather terrifying at that moment.

His entire body had been scorched until his skin and flesh split open, dry blood scabs crisscrossing his body.

Especially the hand clutching the Origin Fire—even the flesh and tendons had been burned away.

Only dark-red finger bones remained, stubbornly gripping the flame.

"Changqing..."

Yun Yun's clear eyes brimmed with heartache.

From the look of it, she even wanted to stop Ji Changqing from continuing to refine the flame.

"Yun'er, don't be softhearted!"

"This may be the greatest opportunity of Changqing's life!"

"Once he passes this trial, the sky will be the limit!"

Yun Shan sternly shouted at Yun Yun.

Then he continued to Ji Changqing:

"Changqing, no one can help you refine the Origin Fire!"

"Remember this: hold fast to your true heart and carry an unwavering conviction!"

"Yun'er, let's go. Staying here will only affect Changqing's state of mind."

Yun Yun followed Yun Shan out of the stone chamber, but could not help turning back to tell Ji Changqing:

"Changqing, if you truly can't refine it, don't force yourself!"

Boom—!

The stone chamber door slammed shut.

Ji Changqing was once again alone in the stone chamber.

He sat cross-legged on the ground. The Meditation Mat beneath him had long since burned into a pile of ashes.

"Pretending to be in pain and weak is actually pretty hard."

Ji Changqing let out a breath.

He casually raised his hand and flicked the Origin Fire, which resembled azure magma.

This wisp of Origin Fire had formed from the Earth Core Flame after millions upon millions of years of tempering and had long since gained sentience.

When it sensed the aura of fused Heavenly Flames on Ji Changqing's body.

The little azure fire spirit trembled in Ji Changqing's hand.

"Alright, let's get this over with."

Ji Changqing opened his mouth and swallowed the Origin Fire.

"Urgh, ahhh—!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Along with his feigned pained howls, boundless azure flames erupted from his body.

The moment they touched the stone walls, the walls were burned until cracks spread across them inch by inch.

Outside the stone chamber.

Hearing Ji Changqing's cries and seeing the cracks spread outside.

Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran's expressions changed drastically.

"This is bad!"

Yun Yun moved to rush into the stone chamber and interrupt Ji Changqing's refinement of the Heavenly Flame.

"Stop!"

Yun Shan swept his sleeve.

A Dou Qi barrier immediately rose before Yun Yun, blocking her path.

"Master, move aside! Changqing can't hold on any longer!"

Yun Yun cried anxiously.

At the same time, she struck out with her palm. Under Yun Shan's suddenly contracted gaze, vast Dou Qi gathered in Yun Yun's palm and shattered the Dou Qi barrier with a single blow.

"She's almost a Nine-star Dou Huang already?!"

"Yun'er's Dou Qi is growing far too quickly. I must find out what is going on!"

The thought flashed through his mind.

Yun Shan simply flashed forward and personally blocked the stone chamber entrance, shouting sternly:

"Stop!"

"With a master like you, no wonder Changqing has such a timid personality!"

"Fortunately, today I saw a trace of a cultivator's fighting spirit in him!"

"Once Changqing successfully refines the Heavenly Flame, not only will it greatly benefit his Alchemy Skill, but his character will surely be tempered as well!"

"How can you, as his master, obstruct your disciple's progress?!"

Upon hearing Yun Shan's words, Yun Yun first lowered her head in shame.

She truly had spoiled Ji Changqing too much.

She knew all of this herself.

For instance, Ji Changqing had insisted on living in the Bamboo House. Normally, he should have gone down the mountain once a month for training.

But at the time, she simply could not bear to let him go.

Listening to the increasingly agonized howls from within the stone chamber.

Yun Yun suddenly lifted her head. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at Yun Shan, while Nalan Yanran was just as teary-eyed beside her.

"But Master, Changqing is about to reach his limit."

"He... he is only a Dou Master. How could he possibly refine a Heavenly Flame that even Queen Medusa could not endure?"

A trace of hesitation flashed through Yun Shan's azure eyes.

But it immediately turned firm again.

He swept his sleeve and said coldly:

"If Changqing dies, then he simply failed to grasp such an opportunity. He was not fated for it."

"To hear the Dao in the morning and die that evening would be enough. Perhaps that is the best ending for a cultivator."

Yun Yun had still been able to endure it.

But when she heard Yun Shan say, "If Changqing dies."

Her delicate body trembled, and wind and water howled around her.

Under Yun Shan's disbelieving gaze, Yun Yun's body rose several yards into the air, transforming into a slender dragon maiden with a terrifying aura.

Her voice was cold and clear. As her lips moved, the entire world seemed to grow moist.

"I'm sorry, Master, but I will not allow anything to happen to Changqing."

"If you refuse to move aside, then I will have no choice but to force my way in."

The already stunned Nalan Yanran was swept hundreds of meters away by a gust from Yun Yun, lest she be caught in the aftermath.

"You... you..."

Looking up at the dragon maiden formed from wind and water.

Even with Yun Shan's temperament, he could not help taking a step back, unparalleled shock flashing through his eyes.

This... was this really a Misty Cloud Sect Dou Technique?!

How did he, the former Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, not know about it?!

"Yun'er, you dare attack me."

Yun Shan's slightly angry words vanished amid the howling wind.

"Master, afterward, Yun Yun will apologize to you."

Hearing the howls within the cave seemingly grow weaker.

Yun Yun no longer hesitated. She raised her hand and clenched it in the air. Wind and water slowly condensed into a longsword, which she gripped in a delicate hand covered with dragon scales.

Crash—

Crash—

Beneath the dragon maiden Yun Yun had transformed into, waves surged without cease.

She swung her sword, carrying overwhelming wind and water energy as it crashed down toward Yun Shan.

She had not revealed the sword's edge with this strike. She only intended to force Yun Shan back.

"Hmph, Yun Yun, you've really grown bold, daring to raise your sword against me!"

"Fine. Today, I will let you know the gulf between a Dou Huang and a Dou Zong!"

Great Sorrow Wind Tear Hand!

Yun Shan placed his left hand behind his back.

He extended his right hand toward the incoming sword and directly struck down with his palm.

An enormous azure palm print over a dozen yards wide smashed fiercely into the sword of wind and water.

Boom! Boom—

Boom! Boom—

Wind and rain swept through the area.

The azure palm was severed at the middle, while the sword continued onward with a surging tsunami, crashing down toward Yun Shan.

"What?!"

Yun Shan shouted in shock.

He no longer dared keep his right hand behind his back.

He hurriedly formed two more azure palms, only barely managing to cancel out Yun Yun's strike.

"Such... such a terrifying Dou Technique..."

Yun Shan's breathing grew slightly hurried.

His hands, hidden within his sleeves, trembled without stopping.

Yun Yun swung her sword once more, intending to strike again.

Yun Shan's expression could not help changing slightly.

Just then.

Boom—!

The stone chamber collapsed.

A figure slowly walked out, looking weak...