Chapter 338 Another Sudden Change
"Thank you, Senior Brother."
Fang Mu cupped his hands slightly toward Huojiangui, then strode straight to the divine beast egg.
The egg was more than five feet tall, just enough for an adult to encircle with both arms. As he placed his hand upon it, feeling the heat pulsing beneath the shell, he lifted it and carried it to Princess Qinghe's side.
"Senior Sister, I'll entrust this divine beast egg to you."
Her first reaction was instinctive refusal.
"No, I cannot possibly accept such a heavy gift."
Huojiangui, overhearing the two, secretly made a contemptuous hand gesture toward Fang Mu. How could this boy be so dense?
In the Miscellaneous Dao Institute, which one of their generation wasn't winning beauty's favor? Yet this boy couldn't even give a gift properly.
But Fang Mu showed no disappointment at her rejection. He smiled and said, "Senior Sister, is there still need for formality between us?"
At his words, Princess Qinghe's cheeks flushed faintly. Fortunately, in the dim cave, no one noticed her expression.
"But…"
Fang Mu set the divine beast egg before her with serious intent. "Could it be Senior Sister looks down upon your junior's gift?"
"No."
Princess Qinghe had already held affection for him. She had simply not expected such directness from Fang Mu, leaving her unprepared.
"Then I'll accept it. Thank you, Junior Brother Fang."
Saying this, she took the divine beast egg. Her earlier refusal had only been a matter of pride.
"Senior Brother, next I'll trouble you to help me subdue that strange flame."
Fang Mu turned to Huojiangui.
"A small matter. From what I've observed these past days, the strange flame has not yet awakened intelligence. Clearly, it has only just taken shape and is acting on pure instinct, devouring fire essence."
Huojiangui deliberately paused. "But I wonder—do you intend to let your supreme-grade spirit flame devour this strange flame, or replace it altogether?"
Fang Mu's expression grew thoughtful. He had lived alongside Little Spirit Flame for many years, regarding it as a friend. How could he simply discard it?
He quickly reached a decision. "Senior Brother, I want to let Little Spirit Flame devour this strange flame."
At this, Huojiangui's lips curled with satisfaction. "I knew I wasn't mistaken about you. Truly a man of loyalty. But this choice means the new strange flame will start from a weaker grade. You'll need to expend many resources to nourish it."
Fang Mu shrugged. "Senior Brother, don't forget—resources are the one thing Wendao Academy lacks the least."
"You're right."
"Then let's begin."
He soared toward the strange flame. The volcanic Stone Flame, sensing his approach, instinctively tried to flee.
But Huojiangui's rank and strength far surpassed it. How could he allow this little creature to escape from under his nose? That would be utterly shameful.
In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he had stomped down upon the Stone Flame. No matter how it struggled, it could not move.
"Boy, bring out Little Spirit Flame and let it try on a new skin."
"Yes."
Fang Mu took out his fire pouch from his storage ring. Before long, Little Spirit Flame floated out.
After these days of refining, it had advanced, becoming a supreme-grade spirit flame.
Even so, when facing the Stone Flame, Little Spirit Flame instinctively shrank back.
Huojiangui saw this and snapped, "That half-step backward—was that serious? With me here, what is there to fear?"
Little Spirit Flame revered Huojiangui from the bottom of its essence. At once, it froze, staring at him without daring to move.
The next instant, Huojiangui opened his mouth wide and bit down hard on the Stone Flame.
Crackling sparks burst from it as it thrashed violently, desperate to escape.
But Huojiangui gave it no chance. Another bite, then another, and the Stone Flame was already half its size.
Burp…
He gave a small satisfied hiccup, then looked at Fang Mu. "Boy, from here on let Little Spirit Flame take over. Remember, it must devour slowly, bit by bit."
"Go on, Little Flame—this is your chance to change your fate."
Fang Mu turned to his companion.
Sensing its master's intent, Little Spirit Flame gradually overcame its instinctive fear and drifted toward the Stone Flame.
The moment they touched, it felt its own flame being rapidly pulled away.
But at that instant, Huojiangui stomped down, crushing part of the Stone Flame beneath his foot.
Little Spirit Flame quickly caught the fragments of fire essence scattered in the air.
As it bit by bit devoured the shards of Volcanic Stone Flame, its whole body gradually began to resemble the form of that flame.
Just then, a terrifying aura descended from the sky, enveloping everything within a hundred li of Lihuo Gate.
A fiery crimson demon cloud dyed the heavens red.
All the factions stationed around Lihuo Gate instinctively converged toward the camps of Yunlan Sect and Wendao Academy.
Before such a terrifying demon, blind escape would only mean dying far from home. Finding a powerful backer, however, might leave them a sliver of survival.
Within the two sects' encampment, Elder Fang raised his head, his brows tightly furrowed. He muttered, "Such dense demonic qi… how could there be a Demon General of Path Union realm appearing near Lihuo Gate?"
The sect master of Lihuo Gate paled and quickly shook his head. "Senior, this junior truly did not know of such a Demon General near our sect. Had we known, we would have moved our sect long ago."
"Mn."
Elder Fang gave only a faint reply, but inwardly could not help worrying for the two inside the volcanic cave.
Within the cave, Huojiangui sensed the demonic aura immediately. He glanced at the Volcanic Stone Flame beneath his foot and said, "Trouble has come. This fellow has only one breath left. I'll go out and meet that creature first."
Fang Mu nodded slightly. "Be careful, Senior Brother."
"Don't worry. It isn't anything too fearsome."
Huojiangui said no more and flew toward the cave mouth. Before he could emerge, a booming voice echoed across the skies above Lihuo Gate.
"Which damned wretch has ruined this general's arrangement?!"
As the voice rolled down, a massive serpent head thrust out from the demon cloud.
It was a snake with alternating crimson and black markings. Its eyes radiated biting cold.
Wherever its gaze fell, cultivators shuddered with dread.
"Scarlet Flame Python! That terror from the Yunxia Mountains—how could it be connected to a small sect like Lihuo Gate?"
"This is bad… will we be dragged into disaster?"
"…."
As the crowd whispered in alarm, a disdainful voice resounded from within the volcano.
"What little snake dares show off before your Grandpa Turtle!"
With the words came a pillar of fire that turned the entire sky above Lihuo Gate crimson.
All could feel that this blaze carried a pressure not weaker than that of the Scarlet Flame Python.
"There's another expert hidden in the volcano?"
"Why didn't we see such a figure before?"
"…."
Many cultivators who had been on the verge of fleeing stopped in their tracks, eager now to glimpse the Wendao Academy expert's might.
The disciples of Lingdan Sect and Yunlan Sect all turned their eyes toward Yun Ye.
Though none spoke, their gazes clearly asked the question. Yun Ye sighed and shook his head. "I don't know who that person is beside Brother Fang. After all, Brother Fang had no protector. Perhaps Head Chu arranged someone in secret."
At the mention of Head Chu, everyone dropped the matter, instead focusing their eyes once more on Lihuo Gate.
There, in the sky above, a tortoise-shaped strange flame appeared.
"This… this is a strange flame forming shape!"
Elder Yun of Lingdan Sect exclaimed, astonished.
Elder Fang added, "Not only forming shape. I judge it only half a step away from full transformation. Likely only a peerless figure like Head Chu could cultivate such a strange flame."
"Indeed."
Elder Yun nodded slightly, his heart swelling with even more respect for Head Chu.
Above Lihuo Gate, the Scarlet Flame Python stared at the flame, momentarily dumbfounded.
It had considered the one who ruined its plans might be a human, a demon, even a devil cultivator—but never had it expected a strange flame, and one not inferior to itself.
"Hmph!"
The Scarlet Flame Python gave a chilling snort. "No matter what you are, today this general will suppress you to vent my rage!"
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