Searching for the Heavenly Flame

Su Zhao also found time to take Qing Lin out and buy her a whole pile of new clothes.

Qing Lin's old clothes had been far too shabby. Not only were they washed pale, but they were patched all over.

Qing Lin had wanted to refuse, but Su Zhao's single sentence—"How can my maid dress so poorly?"—left her with no reply.

It was still the same ready-made clothing shop as before.

When the old shopkeeper woman saw Qing Lin, a trace of habitual disgust surfaced on her face. The people of Desert City loathed serpentfolk bloodlines as though it were ingrained in their bones.

But Su Zhao merely swept his gaze over her, and the old woman immediately shuddered. She hurriedly put on a smile and eagerly began recommending clothes to Qing Lin.

After a month of recuperation, Qing Lin had changed greatly from before.

To begin with, her skin had become much fairer. Following Su Zhao meant she no longer had to endure the wind and sun, and all she needed to do each day was a little housework at home.

Though she was supposedly caring for them, Su Zhao and Little Doctor had not actually made Qing Lin do much work. More often than not, she found things to do on her own initiative.

Su Zhao would occasionally prepare medicinal liquid for Qing Lin to soak in. Her frail little body needed proper nourishment as well.

After a month, her cheeks had visibly filled out, and there was flesh on her body now. She was no longer skin and bones.

Today, she wore a pale yellow little dress, while Little Doctor had carefully tied her hair with a ribbon. She looked like an exquisite doll.

Standing before the bronze mirror and looking herself over from side to side, she could scarcely believe that the cute little girl in the reflection was herself. The corners of her lips were raised high, yet she still tried to appear calm.

The sunlight was just right in the courtyard.

Su Zhao stood beneath the open sky, his hands clasped behind his back as his gaze fell upon the distant, dusky yellow horizon.

A month was enough. Qing Shuang's injuries had stabilized; she only needed to continue taking medicine and rest. It was time to set out.

He turned to Little Doctor beside him, his tone calm. "It's about time. We should leave."

This time, he did not plan to bring Qing Lin along. She was too young, only ten years old. Though her constitution was special and she possessed the Three-Floral Jade Snake Pupils, she was still too young in the end. It would not be too late to help her awaken the Three-Floral Jade Snake Pupils once she was older and had begun cultivating properly. For now, it was best for her to remain peacefully in the city and keep her mother company.

As for the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Snake in the underground lava, heh, Su You was at Su Zhao's side. Even without Qing Lin's Three-Floral Jade Snake Pupils, they had no reason to fear such a minor fourth-tier magical beast.

The real question was how to endure for so long within the underground magma. Su Zhao's own strength was certainly insufficient, but with Su You protecting him, it should not be much of a problem.

Still, they had to be more cautious when collecting the Green Lotus Core Flame.

In the original story, Queen Medusa had suffered quite a few injuries when collecting the Green Lotus Core Flame. Su You's strength was roughly on par with Queen Medusa's, and Su Zhao did not want Su You to be seriously injured. Fortunately, he knew the Green Lotus Core Flame's weakness. Queen Medusa had suffered because she did not understand the Green Lotus Core Flame. As long as they took the lotus platform with them and did not directly touch the flame at its center, it would be much easier.

That was how the Green Lotus Core Flame worked—the Green Lotus Platform was its greatest nemesis.

Rather than calling it a nemesis, it was more accurate to call it the cradle that had nurtured it. Among all Heavenly Flames, the Green Lotus Core Flame was at least half as difficult to collect because of the Green Lotus Platform.

All Su Zhao needed to do was guide Su You and tell him how to collect it. Taking away the Green Lotus Core Flame should not be a problem.

Su Zhao turned and walked into the courtyard.

Qing Lin was squatting beneath the shade of a tree in the open courtyard, using a little branch she had picked up somewhere to draw on the ground.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up. An innocent, radiant smile hung on her much fuller little face. "Young Master!"

Su Zhao crouched down, his tone gentle. "Little Qing Lin, your young master and your sister will be taking a long trip soon. We have something to do in the desert. Stay home and keep your mother company, and wait obediently for us to return, all right?"

Qing Lin blinked her jade-green eyes. She was stunned for a moment, then nodded vigorously, her voice crisp. "Mm-hm! Don't worry, Young Master. Qing Lin will definitely guard the house properly!"

Su Zhao smiled and rubbed her little head, then rose to his feet. He turned toward Su You, who was leaning against the doorframe some distance away, and gave a slight nod.

He then went to the entrance of the side room and gave Qing Shuang a few instructions regarding her medicine and recovery. Qing Shuang carefully memorized them, then said she would guard the house well.

With everything arranged, Su Zhao turned to Little Doctor at his side.

He held out one hand. Understanding his meaning, Little Doctor placed her hand in his palm.

Su Zhao closed his fingers around her soft, boneless hand.

The Purple Cloud Wings on his back suddenly spread wide. With a light push from the ground, he soared into the air, bringing Little Doctor up with him.

Su You followed closely behind, staying at their side.

The three figures swiftly swept over Desert City's walls and vanished into the boundless expanse of yellow sands.

The wind howled past their ears as dry, scorching currents rushed against their faces. Below them, dunes rose and fell in endless succession.

Su Zhao took out the map he had obtained from Hai Bo Dong and spread it open in the wind for a quick glance.

If he remembered correctly, the Green Lotus Core Flame was located somewhere deep underground outside Desert City. The markers Hai Bo Dong had made after years of investigation indicated only two possible locations beyond the city.

"Let's check the closer one first."

Su Zhao put away the map, briefly identified the direction, and flew with Little Doctor toward the first marked location.

A short while later, the three landed atop an utterly ordinary sand dune.

As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but yellow sand in every direction—not even a blade of grass. Heat waves rose from the ground, warping the distant horizon until it trembled faintly.

Su Zhao crouched down and pressed one hand against the scorching sand, extending his soul power beneath the surface to sense the area carefully.

A moment later, he shook his head and stood up. "There probably isn't the magma lake we're looking for beneath this spot. The fire-attributed energy below is extremely thin, not even as abundant as it is on the surface."

Little Doctor leaned closer with her hands behind her back, tilting her head curiously. "How is it? Is there a Heavenly Flame here?"

"No."

Su Zhao dusted the sand from his hands.

"It's not here. Let's check the next location."

Little Doctor nodded, not disappointed. They had not expected to find it in one try.

The three took to the air once more and flew toward the second marked location.

This time, they flew for longer.

At last, Su Zhao descended onto another sand dune.

He crouched down again, pressing his palm to the sandy surface as his soul power probed downward.

This time, the instant it reached several dozen zhang beneath the ground, his soul perception abruptly encountered a space of extreme heat—a roiling, boiling magma lake.

Joy rose in Su Zhao's heart.

This was the place!