Fire Fruit

He had not realized it earlier, but now that he made the connection, he noticed a few things.

Uncle Flame Carp was Blowing Fire High Person's Spirit Beast, responsible for guarding the Fire Vein, while Jiang Yan was Blowing Fire High Person's newly accepted disciple, coming in to explore the Fire Vein.

And Jiang Yan had just happened to encounter an opportunity during his exploration.

Seen in that light, although Uncle Flame Carp acted indolent, he treated disciples like them quite well.

Having worked this out, Jiang Yan rose from the ground. Just as he was about to continue exploring, he spotted something several hundred meters away.

Several trees, each ten feet tall, stood amid the roaring flames.

The trees were bare, with few branches, yet beneath the scorching flames, they seemed all the more full of life.

"Fire Fruit Trees?"

Jiang Yan had read Dragonflame Daoist's booklet, so he naturally recognized them at a glance.

The Fire Fruit these trees produced was one of the main ingredients used to refine Fire-Resisting Pills.

Jiang Yan walked beneath the trees and looked up. Their sparse branches were laden with crimson Fire Fruit.

Was Uncle Flame Carp not even bothering to put on an act anymore? Had he tossed me straight here?

Though questions filled his mind, Jiang Yan's hands did not slow in the slightest as he swept every fruit from the trees.

After some thought, he spared the Fire Fruit Trees and did not dig them up to take away.

Since Senior Brother Long Yan and the others had never transplanted them, these Fire Fruit Trees were probably difficult to keep alive outside.

Little did he know that Flame Carp, watching from some unknown location, was also surprised by the sight.

"This lad is that lucky? It seems I was right about him after all."

As the actual overseer of the Fire Vein, Flame Carp naturally had to keep a close watch whenever disciples entered to explore.

Those qualified to enter the Fire Vein were all disciples of the sect's higher-ups, with outstanding talent.

It would be far too great a waste if they died here from pushing themselves too hard.

Of course, while making his rounds, it was only natural for Flame Carp to show a little favoritism toward disciples of his own Fire-Breathing Lineage.

But he would never make it too obvious. Sending Jiang Yan near that Yellow Fire Mountain was already enough; how could he toss him right beside it?

Thus, encountering the Fire Fruit Trees this time had actually been Jiang Yan's own good luck.

After putting away all the fruit, Jiang Yan continued wandering nearby.

He had not taken the other Fire-Resisting Pill. As its name suggested, the pill helped him endure fire, rather than shielding him from the flames' scorching heat.

Taking another pill to force himself to stay would be pushing himself too hard.

"All right, out you go, brat. Come see this old fellow."

As Jiang Yan caught another Red Fire Lizard, Flame Carp's voice sounded in his ear again.

Without giving him time to react, Jiang Yan's vision blurred. When it came back into focus, he was already back before the crater.

Dragonflame Daoist seemed not to have left at all. Seeing Jiang Yan return safe and sound, he smiled and nodded without asking what he had gained.

Instead, he led Jiang Yan straight down the mountain.

"Senior Brother, Uncle Flame Carp just told me to go see him."

After some thought, Jiang Yan decided to mention it.

The lake where Flame Carp lived lay directly in front of Blowing Fire High Person's main volcano and was very conspicuous.

If Jiang Yan went to see him, others were certain to notice, and Dragonflame Daoist had always treated him kindly.

Rather than wait for him to discover it, Jiang Yan naturally felt it was better to tell him.

"Oh? It seems you found something good this time, Junior Brother."

Dragonflame Daoist raised his eyebrows and brought Jiang Yan straight to Flame Carp's lake.

Splash!

This time, before anyone could call out, Flame Carp's enormous head emerged from the lake as soon as the two landed.

"Lad, hurry up and take that thing out. Let me have a look."

He paid no attention to Dragonflame Daoist, who had accompanied him, and instead spoke to Jiang Yan with some anticipation.

Since Jiang Yan had come, he naturally would not refuse Flame Carp's request. He also happened to want to know exactly what this thing was.

He drew his hand back into his sleeve, took out the sphere, and displayed it on his open palm.

Flame Carp did not take it. He merely extended a whisker and gently touched it a few times with its finest tip.

"Uncle, could this be...?"

Beside them, Dragonflame Daoist stared at the sphere, seemingly recognizing what it was.

"Indeed. It is a Fire Vein Spirit."

A Fire Vein Spirit? Jiang Yan remembered Long Yan mentioning that Uncle Flame Carp had been born within the Fire Vein.

"Uncle, could this be your offspring?"

Before Jiang Yan could decide how to ask, Dragonflame Daoist had already voiced the question.

Flame Carp shot him a sidelong glance and sent him tumbling with a flick of his whisker.

"This old fellow was born of heaven and nurtured by earth. Where would I get a child?"

True enough. Although Flame Carp called himself an old fellow, he actually had no sex. His carp appearance might merely have been his preference.

After knocking Long Yan over, Flame Carp continued:

"This little fellow counts as one of my kind. I only discovered it recently.

"You got lucky, lad. Had you joined a little later, someone else probably would have taken it."

Jiang Yan silently agreed. Never mind joining a few days later-had he been even half an hour later, Fellow Daoist An Ling would probably already have pocketed this Fire Spirit.

After a brief moment of relief, his heart filled with burning excitement. Uncle Flame Carp was already in the Sixth-Rank Realm.

Did that not mean his own Fire Spirit also possessed extraordinary potential?

"Uncle, how should I nurture this Fire Spirit?"

"You needn't trouble yourself with nurturing it. Just bury the little fellow in that yellow clay you brought back.

"It should be able to take form within a month. I reckon it's nearly fully grown, or I wouldn't have discovered it."

"Oh, there's one more thing you must remember."

As though suddenly remembering something, Daoist Flame Carp actually looked somewhat solemn despite his fish face.

"Please tell me, Uncle."

"When it takes form, if you have an appearance in mind, you must make him assume that shape the very first time.

"We spirits of heaven and earth take the shape of whatever we see after we are born.

"When this old fellow first emerged, I had just leaped out of the Fire Vein. Looking up, I saw a carp in the river beside me, so I took this appearance."

At this point, Flame Carp seemed somewhat dissatisfied with his appearance.

"Though I can transform, nothing is as comfortable as my original carp form. Remember this-do not forget it."

"All right, that's everything. Off you go. Once this little fellow emerges, remember to bring it over for this old fellow to see."

Flame Carp was indeed rather dissatisfied with his appearance, feeling that it simply was not imposing enough. Speaking of it had thoroughly dampened his spirits.

Without saying anything more to Jiang Yan and Dragonflame, he plunged back beneath the lake, and all fell still.

Jiang Yan and Dragonflame exchanged glances. Dragonflame Daoist seemed to know about this matter and showed no particular expression.

He looked at the Fire Spirit in Jiang Yan's hand with a little envy, but had few other thoughts about it.

After all, his own Red Glaze Soul was no ordinary thing either, and its potential was considerable as well.

"Junior Brother, do you have any thoughts on what shape this Fire Spirit should take? You should prepare in advance, since there's no telling when it might take form."

Jiang Yan shook his head. For the moment, he did not know what shape to have it assume.

"I haven't decided yet."

As Jiang Yan pondered, he suddenly remembered something and had Jinbao take out a small pile of Fire Fruit, placing it on the shore.

Dragonflame Daoist glanced over. "So much Fire Fruit? Junior Brother, what are you...?"

"Uncle took good care of me during this trip into the Fire Vein. I'm offering half as a token of respect."

"I see. That is only proper."