Icefire Yin Yang Well: Inferno Apricot's Trial

Dusk suffused the entire Sunset Forest, and a molten-gold orange-red sunset spread across the horizon, bathing the woods in warm, gentle light. Towering ancient trees rose from the earth, their thick trunks covered in crisscrossing grooves of varying depths. Vines coiled around the branches like greenish-brown serpents, while broad leaves hung down in layered curtains. When the wind blew, the leaves rustled and churned, scattering fine flecks of gold across the forest floor.

The ground was covered in thick, dark-red moss that felt soft and damp beneath their feet. Rare medicinal herbs grew everywhere; pale-purple Ghost Orchids and gleaming white Dewdrop Grass dotted the undergrowth. A faint herbal fragrance drifted among the branches and leaves, mingled with an elusive trace of soul power. Streams wound through the forest, their waters crystal clear to the bottom. Multicolored pebbles beneath the surface shimmered in the sunset glow, and the babbling water struck the stones, shattering the reflected sunset into rippling fragments.

Traces of all kinds of soul beasts hid among the distant low shrubs. Small rabbit-like soul beasts flashed past, while flocks of birds swept over the treetops, their wings slicing through the lingering sunset radiance. The air was moist and cool, with a thin golden mist of spiritual energy drifting through it. Shafts of evening sunlight streamed clearly through gaps in the leaves, where dust and bits of vegetation floated slowly.

The entire forest was quiet yet vibrant, without the slightest clamor. Only the wind, flowing water, and occasional beast cries intertwined. The sun gradually sank behind the distant mountain forest, deepening the red hues on the horizon as shadows slowly spread between the trees. Yet the spiritual energy of the plants grew ever richer, and everywhere held the primal, tranquil vitality unique to a soul beast forest.

Yet amid this thriving region stood a place that seemed utterly out of place. Poisonous mist and barriers surrounded the forest there, as though protecting something. "It's here. This is where the map ends." Huo Yuhao put away the map before him.

Tang Wulin was startled by the sight before him. "I have no idea how we're supposed to get through this poisonous mist."

"My soul tool can only keep us protected for five seconds at most." Huo Yuhao took out his soul guide shield. "My Golden Dragon Tyrant Body and Golden Dragon Berserk Domain may be able to keep us going longer, but I can't guarantee we'll make it through."

No sooner had he spoken than golden scales gathered over Tang Wulin's body. "Golden Dragon Tyrant Body." An enhanced shield slowly appeared around Tang Wulin, and the Golden Dragon Berserk Domain opened at once. Within the domain, Huo Yuhao felt his blood surge as though his Ice Jade Empress Scorpion martial soul had been elevated.

The two shot forward like arrows as the red shield slowly spread around them. One second, two seconds, three...

Time grew more urgent, and cracks began appearing across the shield. "Hurry!"

Tang Wulin stomped the ground fiercely. "Golden Dragon Shakes the Earth." Three golden dragons burst from the earth, carrying the two of them forward at high speed. At last, in the final second, they broke through the poisonous mist and arrived in a place that seemed like a fairyland.

Layered stone platforms sprawled across the center of the deepest valley in Sunset Forest. An invisible boundary divided the entire area into two halves. One side was bone-chillingly cold, while the other was scorching enough to burn the heart. The utterly opposing auras strangely merged here without clashing in the slightest.

The cold region on the left was covered in translucent ice jade. Thick ten-thousand-year ice coated the ground, and icicles hung upside down from the cliffs, crystal-clear and glowing with a faint blue chill. Wisps of white mist slowly rose from cracks in the ice, and freezing air rushed toward them, coating the surrounding vegetation in white frost. An icy spring rested quietly at the center of an ice platform, its clear waters shining with a cold silver light and emanating biting frost. Cold-type immortal herbs grew in the water, snow-white all over, their petals crystallized with ice. Chill flowed along their branches and leaves, making even the air tremble faintly with cold.

The fire region on the right was filled with lava. Crimson rocks continually gave off a faint glow of molten magma, while waves of heat surged from underground and billowing red clouds of vapor rose into the sky. Scorching currents of air rushed at them, warping the surrounding air. A red hot spring gurgled endlessly, its surface perpetually shrouded in searing steam. Brilliant red, flame-like fire-type spiritual herbs grew densely beside it, their roots buried in warm magma-rich soil, every leaf carrying blazing soul power.

The cold and hot currents collided in the center of the valley, forming a hazy band of mist that was half blue and half red, spiraling through the air. The mingling of cold and warm spiritual energy gave rise to countless peerless immortal herbs rarely found in the world. Lovesick Heartbroken Red bloomed quietly upon a stone platform at the boundary, half its petals frosted white as snow and half blazing crimson like fire, uniquely absorbing the power of ice and fire from the same source.

The earth beneath their feet was split in two, cool on the left and scorching on the right. As the breeze passed, cold mist and fire clouds intertwined. A strange, gentle life force filled the entire valley, while soul power mist so dense it was nearly tangible blanketed the surroundings. The vitality between heaven and earth was immense and profound; this was the secret realm with the most abundant spiritual energy in all of Sunset Forest.

"Hello, I am the Fragrant Silk Immortal Herb. You may call me Youyou." A large flower appeared before them, emanating waves of fragrance and immortal energy.

Anyone who had read the original knew what came next. Huo Yuhao passed the trial, leaving only Inferno Apricot's trial. A crimson-clad woman stepped out, flames burning around her. "Come on, you two boys. If you want Lovesick Heartbroken Red, defeat me first." In an instant, the entire area was engulfed in a sea of fire.

"Spiritual Sharing, Profound Dance Extreme Ice Domain." Huo Yuhao spread his domain, weakening the surrounding sea of flames somewhat. "Wulin, together. Emperor's Sword, Emperor's Ultimate Unmatched." A massive sword slowly appeared in Huo Yuhao's hand, and ice surged toward Inferno Apricot with sharp, blazing force.

"Just what I was thinking. Golden Dragon Spear!" The Golden Dragon Spear swiftly appeared in his hand and flew out. The spear flashed, and a gigantic golden dragon shot from its tip. "Golden Dragon Ascension!"

"Is that all?" Flames shot from Inferno Apricot's hand, easily blocking Emperor's Sword. "No..." Suddenly, an immense suppression descended. The Golden Dragon King's bloodline suppression arrived in an instant, weakening the flames by a fraction. Emperor's Sword and the golden dragon pierced through her body at once, but failed to inflict a fatal wound.

"Brats, you've really pissed me off." Enormous flames enveloped the two of them. Inferno Apricot was completely enraged, and tongues of fire surged forth in an instant.

A crimson heat wave suddenly swept out from the boiling spring, and the temperature throughout the fire region instantly rose severalfold. The crimson rocks on the ground hissed as steaming white smoke rose from them, while the fire currents churning through the cracks of magma grew wildly restless.

The flowering branches of Inferno Apricot beside the spring trembled violently. Scarlet petals suddenly soared into the sky, rapidly gathering within the scorching currents of air and reforming into a human shape. The woman wore a long dress woven from flames, her hair made of endlessly dancing fire. Her skin shone with a blazing crimson-gold luster like molten lava, and every corner of her eyes and brows brimmed with the savage aura of one who could burn all things to ash. Furious flames danced in her apricot-shaped eyes, while tiny sparks burned at their corners.

She stood barefoot upon scorching magma rock. With every step she took, a ring of flame patterns burst beneath her feet, searing the ground. Billowing crimson fire clouds rose around her, and the heat waves in the air distorted their vision. Even the floating mist of spiritual energy was burned away without a trace. Her slender hand tightened slightly, and foot-long tongues of high-temperature flame leaped from between her fingers. The low fire-type immortal herbs nearby all curled their leaves from the heat leaking off her body.

"Who dares trespass into the Icefire Yin Yang Well and disturb this place's peace?!"

Her clear female voice, carrying scorching heat, resounded through the valley. The moment her words fell, several thick pillars of fire erupted behind her, shooting into the sky and colliding with the white mist of the cold region, exploding into vast clouds of steam. The fire aura around her grew increasingly violent. Her flaming hair roiled wildly, scattering countless blazing sparks around her. Her gaze swept coldly over the intruders, flames churning in her eyes as though she would unleash fire capable of burning mountains and boiling seas the next instant, reducing the trespassers to ashes.

The temperature in half the valley continued to rise, and the rocks glowed faintly red from the heat. Anyone who came within three feet of her could feel a piercing, scorching pain. Extreme fire-attribute soul power pressed down like a raging torrent, making it hard to breathe. That destructive aura born of fury threw the entire fire region into restless turmoil.