The twin sisters were shaking in fear while holding hands. However, Cao Yun could see determination and courage in their eyes. They were aware that they couldn't run anywhere. Now, they had to fight or suffer whatever the other Flameborns wanted to inflict upon them. Looking at the twins' eyes, Cao Yun knew that the other Flameborns' intentions were terrible, but he couldn't tell for sure how far they were willing to go. Moreover, Cao Yun really didn't know whether he should intervene or not.
On one hand, he didn't want to see two young girls being hurt. But, on the other hand, he had no idea what was going on. So he wouldn't just attack out of nowhere. Unfortunately, he had no real way of communicating with the Flameborns because they spoke another language. Maybe they also spoke Moshenhua or Antique Sixian. That being said, Cao Yun didn't want to use a demon language as it would link him to Demon God Da Mo and his campaigns. Of course, he could enter their minds and literally extract their language. However, he couldn't be certain that his invasion of their minds wouldn't cripple or even kill them. Right now, Cao Yun didn't want to be aggressive.
Dian Mo was observing as well. He was also listening to the tongue of the Flameborns, but he simply couldn't understand anything. Here and there, he could maybe perceive small influences from Moshenhua, maybe because demons had invaded this world in the past, during Demon God Da Mo's campaigns. Even he couldn't be sure whether they were actual influences or just coincidences because the language was completely foreign. Among all the books read by Cao Yun and Dian Mo, there might be traces of this language since both Demon God Da Mo and Emperor Nuwa had visited it. Unfortunately, this wouldn't help them either if they couldn't read or pronounce it.
The older Flameborn walked forward. He was much taller than the girls, but he wasn't very muscular. In fact, all the Flameborns were quite thin, emaciated even. They were wearing war paints on their bodies. Their faces, arms, and legs were naked, and thus painted with various ashes of different colors. Most likely, they indicated their tribe. Indeed, the twins had nothing while the eleven Flameborns had similar war paints. Their war paints were very red and aggressive. The older Flameborn had very different war paints, showing his status.
As he approached the twins, Cao Yun was shocked. The girls who appeared to be barely sixteen suddenly summoned flames from within. Dozens of daggers materialized around them and took on physical form. In their hands, they had shields and spears as well. All those weapons were made of fire, but they were absolutely material at the same time. Even Cao Yun wouldn't be confident enough to produce such a phenomenon. He could tell that their understanding of the Dao of Fire was completely different and foreign from his. There was simply no way to compare them.
Unfortunately, the older man simply smiled. His face was sinister. His entire body began to vacillate as the heat around him was affecting the air. A large club appeared in his hands, and he struck down. The twins put their shields together, ready to stab him afterward. They had to resist this attack to wound their enemy. But it was not to be. Cao Yun could tell instantly. The older man was much stronger than they were. His club fractured only one shield. In fact, that fractured shield didn't even break apart completely. However, the impact was so violent that the twins let go of their shields and even their spears.
Seeing the strength of the man, Cao Yun was now certain that he could obliterate the entire group if he wanted to. More and more, he felt the desire to intervene, but he couldn't talk to them, and they probably wouldn't humor his attempts to communicate in other ways.
Suddenly, the daggers flew toward the older man. A wall of flames surrounded him. But his smile froze when the daggers resisted his flames. The twins had better control of their flames, even if they were weaker. By focusing the flames within the daggers, they were able to resist the wall of flame long enough to reach the older man. Realizing his mistake, he quickly swung his club around. Most daggers were thrown away, a few exploded completely. But one dagger slashed his cheek, and one dagger pierced his leg. Enraged, the older man grabbed the stabbed dagger and immediately pulled it out. There was actual blood coming out of his wounds.
Although Flameborns were born of the fire, they had flesh and blood. Their anatomy and physiology were just different from humans and demons. First of all, they had no Dantian whatsoever because they didn't even have actual meridians. Within their entire body, fire was present. Just like fire beasts, the fire was mostly present in their hearts, their blood, and their marrow. According to Emperor Nuwa, when they died, their bodies wouldn't rot, they would slowly turn into ashes. Ashes to ashes. Although Cao Yun had read about them from Emperor Nuwa, he was still amazed. He could actually feel faint traces of the Dao of Fire within their blood.
It was obvious why Demon God Da Mo had targeted this world. Those beings were living treasures. Everything in them could help someone develop their Dao of Fire. Considering that demons were cultivating through fire, Demon God Da Mo had all the incentives to capture or even enslave them all. Thankfully, he had always failed.
After his wound, the older man was in a rage. Another man from the group tried to reason with him, but the older man simply pushed him violently out of his way. The older man walked toward the twins. One of the girls put herself between her sister and him. The older man had the dagger in hand. He grabbed the neck of the young girl and brought the dagger close to her face. He would slice her face like his cheek had been sliced, using her own dagger. In fact, it was worse because this dagger had been summoned by her sister. Cao Yun could feel the sister trying to dissolve her dagger, but the older man was using his own fire to maintain it anyway.
Dian Mo knew what was going to happen. Cao Yun also knew, but he tried to resist. This was to no avail.
Suddenly, Cao Yun erupted.
All his killing intent spread and fell upon the eleven Flameborns. Most of it was obviously focused on the older man. However, Cao Yun controlled it well enough so that it wouldn't affect the twins at all. Hongyu wanted to go as well, but Cao Yun asked her to stay behind, just in case. There was no need for him to reveal all his cards. In fact, he hoped to resolve the situation without any violence, if possible.
Cao Yun suddenly appeared before the Flameborns. In an instant, their fear dissipated. His killing intent had scared them, but seeing him reassured them. Cao Yun wondered if they were stupid or suicidal. Indeed, the Flameborns began to have menacing expressions. They were screaming words at him that he couldn't understand. However, he perfectly understood their intentions.
On a gamble, Cao Yun decided to try something. Instead of using a demon language, he had two other options that made sense to him at that moment. From Emperor Nuwa's journals, he knew that she had spent a lot of time with a certain tribe. As a matter of fact, this was the tribe that Cao Yun was looking for, and it had to be near this place. Hopefully, they could speak Emperor Nuwa's language. Thus, Cao Yun tried to speak in both Nuhua and Primitive Nuhua. The Flameborns around Cao Yun were confused, but they took a step back, except for the older man. However, the twins reacted with awe, but also apprehension. Clearly, they were having doubts about the origin of Cao Yun, but they were hoping for something.
Cao Yun realized that they reacted to his Primitive Nuhua, so he spoke again in this language, directing his words to the twins in particular, but letting everyone hear him.
"I am Cao Yun. Who are you, and what's going on here?"
With an atrocious accent, the twin who was still on the ground, behind her sister, tried to answer Cao Yun's question.
"I am Jinyang of the Ancient Obsidian tribe. My sister Jinyue and I were attacked by those brutes of the Raging Volcano tribe for no reason whatsoever. They just want to bully our tribe, so they attacked us. They killed our friend and chased us here. Please, run and ask for help from our tribe."
There was absolutely no confidence in Cao Yun's strength in her words. But Dian Mo finally realized why and told Cao Yun.
"They have no concept of Qi or human cultivation. Maybe they somewhat understand demon cultivation, but probably only a little. They're just judging you on your Dao of Fire. Your flame must seem weak to them, so they don't take you seriously."
This made perfect sense. Cao Yun's understanding of the Dao of Fire obviously couldn't compare to Flameborns. Besides, he didn't know how they sensed the Dao of Fire within him. Maybe they were sensing his Solar-Orchid Flame or his Black Heart Flame, he wasn't sure. Anyway, they weren't impressed. Unfortunately for them, Cao Yun wouldn't try to use fire against Flameborns. Moreover, he didn't need fire, he had brute strength.
Jinyang's words seemed to be absolutely true. On the other hand, Cao Yun couldn't check with the Raging Volcano tribe at the moment. However, Jinyang's words impressed the human. Indeed, the Ancient Obsidian tribe was precisely the tribe he wanted to meet. Now, there was no way he would let these girls be brutalized in any way. Still, he would prefer to solve the situation without being too violent. As such, he turned toward the Flameborns of the Raging Volcano tribe. But it was clear that they didn't understand his words at all. They seemed to recognize the general sound. Apparently, Emperor Nuwa's legends still had some effect on them, but only a little.
The human simply put his foot down with some strength. The ground shook and cracks spread everywhere. The twins were shocked, and so were the Flameborns. This time, they took several steps back. Although Cao Yun's flame was weak, his body was incredible. Compared to Flameborns, he was a monster. Besides, Cao Yun could tell that those Flameborns were no older than twenty, even for the older man. He could tell through their demeanor. Even old monsters who looked twenty didn't behave like that.
Unfortunately, the older man was stubborn and stood his ground. In fact, his pride was wounded, and he wanted to prove himself before the other Flameborns. Cao Yun could tell that he wouldn't budge easily. This was a bummer...
Although Cao Yun didn't want violence, he was ready to use it. Still, he asked the twins.
"Who's this man?"
"It's Jin'ao of the Raging Volcano tribe. He's the one who killed our friend. He's a monster who deserves nothing but to be reduced to ashes."
The very next instant, Cao Yun disappeared. The twins were shocked because they saw his body vanish. Jin'ao smiled and even laughed as his enemy had run. But everyone else was dead silent. Unlike Jin'ao, they could see what was behind him. Yes, Cao Yun had moved so fast that he had appeared behind Jin'ao. Without using any weapon, Cao Yun struck Jin'ao's spine with his elbow. They all heard his bones crack and his spine snap. In an instant, Jin'ao was on the ground as if his legs had been cut off from his body.
In his panic, Jin'ao swung his club toward the origin of the pain. Cao Yun simply punched the weapon that exploded into tongues of fire. In the same movement, his hand grabbed Jin'ao's neck and squeezed. His entire neck was pulverized as his bones got crushed. Although the Flameborns had different anatomies, there were wounds even they couldn't survive. This was such a wound. Jin'ao was dead before his body hit the ground.
Then, Cao Yun turned toward the other Flameborns. They were all shaking in fear. When they met Cao Yun's gaze, they were paralyzed. His 'Weeping Asura' assaulted their minds and souls. With the fear he had just caused them, they were unable to resist. Unless Cao Yun wanted them to leave, they couldn't. Now, Cao Yun could talk with the Flameborns.
Without waiting, Cao Yun entered Jin'ao's mind and grabbed what he wanted from his sea of consciousness. Although he was dead, Cao Yun was able to grab all his memories. It would still take him a few weeks, but he could learn their languages easily now. For now, he would use the twins to translate, hoping that Jinyang could speak well enough for him.
Jinyang and Jinyue were terrified. Jinyue screamed as her sister seemed to apologize. Then, Jinyang talked to Cao Yun.
"You shouldn't have killed him."
"Didn't he deserve it?"
"Yes, he did. But he's the son of the Raging Volcano tribe's chieftain."
"Well, he was his son. Now, he's dead."
Honestly, from Emperor Nuwa's journals, Raging Volcano didn't even enter Cao Yun's eyes. Now that he had killed Jin'ao, there was no coming back, so he had no reason to regret it. If Jin'ao's dad didn't want him to die, he should have educated him better than that. Cao Yun's children, despite their flaws, would never kill innocent people for the fun of it, or enjoy slicing a girl's face. Anyway, there was no point in crying over it.
That being said, Cao Yun had to deal with the other Flameborns. If he could avoid killing them and even avoid conflict between the Ancient Obsidian tribe and the Raging Volcano tribe, it would be good. But, apparently, such a conflict was already present. Anyway, there was no reason not to try to talk it out. Using Jinyang as his interpret, Cao Yun began to talk to the ten Flameborns, who were fearing for their lives.