Earth Fire

"Earth Fire?"

Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. This stuff was truly rare.

Earth Fires came in many varieties. Some formed from magma accumulating underground over countless years, some were the lingering source energy left behind when a fire-attribute Soul Beast died, and some were simply flames naturally nurtured between heaven and earth.

Whatever their origin, they were priceless treasures that could be encountered but not sought by someone cultivating the Flame Mantra.

"Three months ago, the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect's scouts discovered something unusual on the outskirts of the Sunset Forest. The ground temperature in that area had been steadily rising, and some of the vegetation had spontaneously combusted."

Ning Tian lowered her voice and said:

"Based on our assessment, an Earth Fire is likely about to erupt there."

"Isn't the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect planning to send someone to collect it?"

"I told you, Wu Feng isn't interested in fire attributes, and none of the sect's other disciples are suitable." Ning Tian spread her hands. "Rather than let this information go to waste, I'd rather invest it in you, class monitor."

At that, Xiao Yan fell silent for a moment.

At present, the Flame Mantra had only one kind of flame: Little Fire Dragon's mortal fire.

The Dragon Flame exhaled with its Dragon Breath was more like a dragon's breath than a flame, so it couldn't count as a source of fire.

With only one source of fire, the Flame Mantra cultivated very slowly. To put it in numbers, the cultivation speed of the Xiao Clan's technique was 2, while the Flame Mantra's current speed was 1.

He didn't know how fast the Mysterious Heaven Skill was, but it was definitely better than the Xiao Clan's technique.

If Xiao Yan didn't want to fall another step behind, the Flame Mantra had to improve.

"Sure."

Having thought it through, Xiao Yan nodded.

Ning Tian smiled and clasped his hand, then took a scroll of parchment from her Soul Tool and handed it to him.

"Then I wish you a triumphant victory, class monitor. In the Freshman Tournament three months from now, we'll join forces and take first place."

"I'll take your word for it."

After returning to the dormitory, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on his bed and began attempting a breakthrough.

The Soul Power in his body slowly circulated along the Flame Mantra's route, once, twice, three times...

But whenever it reached the eighteenth circuit, it always hit a point in one of his meridians where the flow turned sluggish, like water meeting a clogged pipe. No matter what, it couldn't get through.

Xiao Yan opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of stale air.

As expected, he was stuck.

This wasn't a problem of insufficient Soul Power. His body had reached its limit.

To break through, he either had to slowly grind away at the obstacle or find an outside force to force his way through.

The first would take too long; the second was risky.

But Xiao Yan had no intention of waiting that long.

"Old Xiao, what's wrong?"

Xiao Yulü awoke from his cultivation. Seeing Xiao Yan frown, he looked concerned.

"Did something go wrong with your cultivation? Want me to find someone to take a look?"

"No need." Xiao Yan shook his head. "I've just hit a bottleneck. I'll probably have to go out for a while."

"Are you going to be stuck for another three years?"

Xiao Yulü looked at Xiao Yan, only to see him smile.

"What are you talking about? How could I waste another three years?"

"Besides, even if I have hit a bottleneck, it has nothing to do with you. Focus on your cultivation and try to break through to level 20 soon."

"I can't team up with you for the Freshman Tournament, so you'll have to make it through on your own. It'd be best if you placed in the top three and earned the title of Core Disciple. It'll do you a lot of good in your future cultivation."

After speaking, he pulled a small bundle out from beneath his bed and packed it with several bottles of pills and a few simple tools.

Watching Xiao Yan pack, Xiao Yulü opened his mouth, but in the end, he didn't try to stop him.

Early the next morning, Xiao Yan went to Mu Jin's office.

"You want to take leave? For half a month?"

Mu Jin put down her teacup, rested her cheek on one hand, and tilted her head.

"What's the reason?"

"I've hit a bottleneck in my cultivation, so I need to... go out and get some experience."

Xiao Yan didn't mention that he was going to look for the Earth Fire. He only said he was going out for experience.

"Experience?" Mu Jin frowned. "It hasn't even been a week since school started, and you're already going out for experience?"

"I can't help it. Staying at the academy to cultivate would just be a waste of time. I might as well go out and try my luck."

Xiao Yan spread his hands and spoke bluntly.

Mu Jin stared at Xiao Yan for a long while, then finally sighed.

"Be careful. Don't push yourself."

Xiao Yan thanked her and turned to leave the office.

At the door, he suddenly stopped and looked back.

"Oh, right, teacher. If I haven't returned after half a month, please go find Xiao Yulü. He has something that can help you find me."

Mu Jin was taken aback. Before she could say anything, Xiao Yan had already opened the door and left.

Back at the dormitory, Xiao Yan gave Xiao Yulü the Earth Fire intelligence.

"What's this?"

"Information."

Xiao Yan replied coolly:

"If I haven't come back in half a month, take this to Teacher Mu Jin."

Xiao Yulü's face immediately darkened.

"What exactly are you going to do?"

He opened the scroll, wanting to read it carefully, but Xiao Yan closed it.

"Hey, hey, hey! I got this information by selling my body. You're not allowed to look!"

Xiao Yulü eyed Xiao Yan suspiciously. What did he mean, selling his body?

Xiao Yan also realized how that had come out, and coughed awkwardly, his face reddening.

"Ahem. I sold my body to Ning Tian by working for her to get this information."

Xiao Yulü looked even more suspicious.

How the hell had that made things worse?

Xiao Yan was drenched in sweat. He waved his hand, cutting the conversation short.

"Anyway, I'm going to find my opportunity. If I haven't returned in half a month, remember to find someone to collect my body."

The Sunset Forest might not be as terrifying as the Star Dou Forest, but it was no simple place. One wrong move, and he could still end up dead there.

What's more, absorbing a Heavenly Flame was inherently dangerous. He had nothing that could contain one. Otherwise, he could have brought the Earth Fire back to Shrek Academy and absorbed it somewhere safe, without so many worries.

Unfortunately, he couldn't.

Xiao Yan slung the pack he'd prepared the day before over his shoulder and left the dormitory. Xiao Yulü stood where he was, staring at the parchment scroll in his hands, speechless for a long time.

Eighty li southwest of Shrek City, at the edge of the Sunset Forest.

Xiao Yan stood before a patch of charred woodland, narrowing his eyes.

The air was thick with the smell of sulfur. Spiderweb-like cracks covered the ground, and a dim red glow flickered deep within them.

The vegetation around him had long since withered. The tree trunks were covered in black scorch marks, and wisps of smoke still rose from some spots.

"This is the place."

Xiao Yan summoned Little Fire Dragon, intending to rely on its sensitivity to fire attributes to locate the Earth Fire.

Little Fire Dragon had been cooped up in his dantian for ages. The moment it came out, it excitedly frolicked on the ground.

Xiao Yan didn't rush it. Knowing he'd kept Little Fire Dragon cooped up for too long, he let it stretch its limbs.

Only after it had played until it was a little tired did Little Fire Dragon remember its master's orders. It began sensing where the fire elements around them were most concentrated.

A long while later, Little Fire Dragon excitedly circled one particular direction several times. It made a "glug-glug" sound, its tail wagging furiously.

"Found it?"

Xiao Yan followed Little Fire Dragon's lead. The farther in he went, the hotter the ground became.

The soil beneath his feet had been baked dry. As he stepped on it, it cracked and crumbled with a series of crisp snaps.

Just as Xiao Yan was about to go deeper, the ground suddenly shook violently.

Rumble—

A wave of scorching air burst from underground. The surrounding scorched earth was instantly blasted away, and countless shards of rock and sparks flew in every direction.

Xiao Yan quickly retreated several steps and raised a hand to shield his face.

When the dust settled, a deep pit about three meters across had appeared before him. Dark red magma surged at its bottom, radiating an astonishing heat.

"Heh, interesting."

Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, the corner of his mouth curling up.

"Looks like something got here first."