Qingguo and Qingcheng

Xiao Yan revealed a bitter smile. He had never expected that Tuoshe Ancient Emperor, after enduring countless hardships to fuse Otherworldly Flames and become a Dou Emperor, would ultimately die in an explosion from the flames' rebellion. As for Qingcheng, Xiao Yan simply could not understand why he had become entangled with her. Still, he owed her a life. Though he did not know why her aura was on him, curiosity was curiosity; since Xiao Yan could not figure it out, he stopped thinking about it. Perhaps one day, he would understand.

"All right, no need to think so much. Being able to come to the World-Creation Continent with Qingcheng's aura is your own fortunate opportunity, so cherish it well. Perhaps one day, when your strength has grown great enough, you can go find Qingguo. Whether she will help you, however, is another matter," Tuoshe Ancient Emperor said.

"Qingguo, second on the Heavenly Water Ranking?" Xiao Yan asked. Anyone who dared rank above Heavenly Fire likely had no such courage except her.

"Yes, the one on the Heavenly Water Ranking who is not the slightest bit inferior to Qingcheng. A hundred thousand years have passed. Qingguo's strength may already have reached Divine Supreme. Unless you possess strength capable of matching hers, you may not even be able to find her," Tuoshe Ancient Emperor said.

Xiao Yan was rather speechless. With strength at the Divine Supreme level, he did not even know how far he himself could go. Perhaps one day, like that Young Master Murong, he would be instantly killed for choosing the wrong side. Yet Xiao Yan still believed that he could carve out a path of his own.

"Can you tell me something about Qingguo and Qingcheng?" Xiao Yan was still interested in the strong, though it could not be called worship. Tuoshe Ancient Emperor did not refuse. Those standing at the peak of the pyramid would not have too great an impact on Xiao Yan's path.

When the World-Creation Continent had first opened, nineteen kinds each of Heavenly Fire and Heavenly Water descended upon the continent. Water and fire were naturally incompatible, and the war between Heavenly Fire and Heavenly Water began.

The second-ranked Heavenly Fire relied on her powerful talent and Emperor-Origin Qi to take human form. Yet though she was flame, she possessed a temperament like water. Gradually, she grew weary of war, choosing to avoid it, and her clashes with Heavenly Water became fewer and fewer.

The second-ranked Heavenly Water also cultivated a human form. Whether in beauty or strength, she was no weaker than Heavenly Fire. Yet what troubled her was that she had actually taken longer than Heavenly Fire to cultivate a human form. With a temper as violent as flames, she kept searching for Heavenly Fire, seeking only a decisive battle.

At last, when she could endure no more, Heavenly Fire fought her. Heavenly Fire won by half a move. Yet Heavenly Water was not discouraged in the slightest, and the two agreed to battle again five thousand years later.

Five thousand years later, Heavenly Fire and Heavenly Water fought to a draw. Left with no choice, Heavenly Fire, gentle as water, could only agree to fight again five thousand years later.

In the final battle, heaven and earth changed color. The two exhausted all their strength, yet still could not determine a victor. However, their battle drew several overlords from the human and Magic Beast realms. It seemed to be the first time they had seen Heavenly Fire and Heavenly Water capable of taking human form. All of them wanted to seize this opportunity to imprison the two as sacred flames for their own clans.

Heavenly Fire and Heavenly Water had not expected anyone to dare reap the fisherman's profit while they fought. This time, they chose to join forces. Yet they had been injured in their earlier contest and had nearly been captured. Fortunately, several others arrived and stopped them. Though they did not know those people's purpose, they were able to escape.

"It seems the Void Ancient Dragon Clan was among those who came to their rescue," Tuoshe Ancient Emperor said, as though recalling something.

Xiao Yan understood somewhat. So this was why Qingcheng had stopped Tuoshe Ancient Emperor from attacking the Dragon Emperor back then. Yet he could not understand whether Qingcheng had truly been on the Battle Qi Continent, or whether her power had been so heaven-reaching that she had spread her aura to the Battle Qi Continent, and he had accidentally become tainted by it.

Qingguo and Qingcheng

After that battle, the two recovered their strength within a few years. In a fit of rage, the fiery-tempered Heavenly Water exterminated a Lineage that had besieged them. When she intended to attack the next Lineage, Heavenly Fire appeared and stopped her.

With Heavenly Fire's interference, Heavenly Water's plan naturally went unfinished. To compensate herself, Heavenly Water forced Heavenly Fire to call her elder sister. At the same time, she named herself Qingguo and named Heavenly Fire Qingcheng. The two ended their long-standing opposition, becoming enemies for life as well as friends for life.

It was precisely because of Qingguo and Qingcheng that the relationship between Heavenly Fire and Heavenly Water gradually eased. Whenever any Heavenly Fire or Heavenly Water sensed Qingguo and Qingcheng's aura, they displayed reverence. That was why Xiao Yan could smoothly fuse the Tuoshe Emperor Flame and Fallen Star Flame, and why he did not need to worry about Heavenly Water harming him on its own territory. But if Xiao Yan took the initiative to provoke them, it would be different. They might not kill Xiao Yan, but they could still give him a thorough tormenting.

With Qingcheng's aura, Xiao Yan could take fewer detours in cultivation, but how high he could ultimately climb depended only on himself.

"All that I should tell you, I have already told you. If you have any other questions, ask them. Consider it my final help to you," Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's voice rang in Xiao Yan's mind. He was only in soul form and could not persist much longer.

"Since Heavenly Fire and Heavenly Water have existed on the World-Creation Continent for tens of thousands of years, perhaps even longer, how am I supposed to defeat them? Or rather, will I not have even the slightest chance?" Xiao Yan asked awkwardly. That mysterious second-ranked Heavenly Water had already reached Divine Supreme, so the other Heavenly Fires and Heavenly Waters must also be extremely powerful. Xiao Yan clearly could not raise his strength by absorbing Heavenly Fire and Heavenly Water. That Young Master Murong's fortunate opportunity truly was extraordinary—he had actually gained the support of one kind of Heavenly Fire and one kind of Heavenly Water. No, his luck was not good at all...

"That is your own business. Threaten them, tempt them with profit, seduce them with beauty—anything works. Sometimes the method is not important; what matters is the result," Tuoshe Ancient Emperor said.

"Oh, one more question. You captured the Void Ancient Dragon Clan's clan leader ten thousand years ago, so why is her daughter still so young? Did you do something to her?" Xiao Yan became even more curious about Zi Yan's identity. Why was it like this? It was even more outrageous than Xun'er and Gu Yuan.

"Yes. Wouldn't it be good if I deliberately left her for you as a little wife, so you could climb up to the Void Ancient Dragon Clan of the World-Creation Continent?" Tuoshe Ancient Emperor teased.

"Pah! Ancient Emperor, have you no shame? You have completely ruined your image."

"Hehe, image is not always important. All right, every most hidden mystery will be revealed. Little fellow, life on the World-Creation Continent is wonderful, but only for those with perseverance and resolve. We shall never meet again..."

Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's voice gradually faded away. His final strand of consciousness vanished as well. From this moment onward, the Battle Qi Continent's most mysterious Dou Emperor became Heavenly Fire fused with Fallen Star Flame.

Xiao Yan drew a deep breath and opened his eyes. He was also deeply saddened by the Ancient Emperor's departure. All he could do was make good use of this Heavenly Fire and carve out a path that belonged to him.

The Ancient Emperor's appearance had unveiled some mysteries, yet brought new ones as well. How would Xiao Yan resolve them?