Chapter Eighteen: "The Crimson Flame Nine-Infant" (Part Two)

He unleashed his Heavenly Perception, enveloping the entire magma pool. On the surface, only the rumble and churn of molten rock could be heard. The Crimson Fire Nine-Infant remained at the very spot where it was first discovered, its head buried in the magma, exposing only its spine to the air. Clearly, the isolation power of the Heavenly Perception was astonishing, truly warding off detection.

Liu Junhuai crept slowly toward the ashen layer by the pool, crouching low and inching forward toward the Crimson Fire Nine-Infant, not daring to stir a single speck of dust. The creature’s divine sense was immensely powerful and exceedingly vigilant; Liu Junhuai kept his eyes tightly shut, not daring to open them.

The previous time, he had startled the Crimson Fire Nine-Infant by attempting to observe the Fire-Eroding Lotus with his own eyes. This time, utmost caution was necessary—if discovered, the consequences would be dire.

The distance was but a few dozen yards, and soon he was nearly upon the beast. Stopping ten yards away, he slowly withdrew the Shadow Blade from his right hand.

At that moment, Liu Junhuai felt the aura of the Crimson Fire Nine-Infant surge in intensity. Instantly, two of its heads rose from the magma, twisting to peer toward his hiding place. Evidently, it had not detected anything; its gaze shifted from alertness to confusion as all nine heads emerged, scanning the surroundings warily.

Liu Junhuai’s hand, gripping the blade, froze motionless. The Crimson Fire Nine-Infant proved itself cunning—unwilling to trust its own instincts, it submerged its heads once more, save for one, which slyly peered out with a single eye, furtively watching Liu Junhuai’s direction.

This creature was likely still a juvenile, yet its shrewdness was remarkable. Liu Junhuai could not help but curse inwardly.

He dared not wait too long, for the formation plate would not hold for much longer.

The beast, having found nothing amiss, grew impatient. The spying eye slowly withdrew beneath the surface.

Seeing his chance, Liu Junhuai sprang up and leapt back, unleashing Dual Severance with his blade, the arc of energy slicing through the air toward the exposed spine. As it struck, the blade splintered into fragments infused with vital force, tearing open two wounds with a sickening sound.

Almost simultaneously, the Crimson Fire Nine-Infant flew into a rage, bursting from the magma and charging Liu Junhuai, heedless of the magma flowing from its wounds. Its entire body blazed red like a burning sun, and with each beat of its wings, dazzling rays of crimson light swept the area in violent arcs, magma spewing from each of its nine maws.

Liu Junhuai fled at breakneck speed, not daring to look back. Once more he launched Dual Severance behind him, the attack merging with the splintered blade. The Crimson Fire Nine-Infant twisted nimbly aside, its wings beating, and with a serpent-like motion, its tail thrust toward Liu Junhuai.

The formation was within sight. Liu Junhuai, striking out again, dove headlong toward it just as the beast’s triangular, diamond-tipped tail pierced his protective shield and jabbed him sharply from behind.

The pain spurred him on. In desperation, he ignited a burst of vital blood, struggling into the formation.

This time, the Crimson Fire Nine-Infant did not disappoint—it lunged after him, its tail coiling around his neck, the diamond tip swinging before his eyes, trembling as though sentient.

Liu Junhuai was nearly suffocated, his mind blank with terror as he stared at the poised tail tip.

Suddenly, he felt the tail stiffen—the formation was suffused with the biting cold of extreme frost crystals, instantly freezing the beast’s scorching blood.

The creature’s thoughts slowed, and Liu Junhuai, jolted to his senses, tore himself free and staggered away. The Crimson Fire Nine-Infant, now lost in instinctive confusion, collapsed to the ground.

In less than a heartbeat, all the beast’s blood was frozen solid. Its nine heads sprawled limply about its body, eyes wide with bewildered terror as they stared at the invisible formation.

Liu Junhuai knew the formation would not last much longer. Ignoring the pain in his backside, he chanted a spell to leave the formation and hurried toward the Fire-Eroding Lotus.

He reached the magma pool and leapt onto the stalactite where the lotus grew. A mature Fire-Eroding Lotus bore seven leaves; this one had only six, with ripening close at hand.

He carefully unearthed the Fire-Eroding Lotus. Its roots were wrapped in a reddish-brown stone, a crack at the top faintly aglow with red light. Peering inside, Liu Junhuai whispered excitedly, “This must be the Heavenly Lotus Heartfire.”

The Heavenly Lotus Heartfire was a divine flame. Liu Junhuai had long wondered how such a fire could appear in the world of cultivation. In truth, the Crimson Fire Nine-Infant was no ordinary beast—perhaps it should be called a divine beast, and it didn’t belong here either. But fortune had favored him; now, none else would benefit from this treasure.

Securing his prizes, Liu Junhuai returned to the formation. The Crimson Fire Nine-Infant was a gift from the heavens; he was reluctant to kill a divine creature. He resolved to leave it here for now, planning to tame it once his strength was sufficient.

With his decision made, he gathered the formation plate and frost crystals, withdrew from the cave, and returned to Myriad Phenomena Pavilion.

Myriad Phenomena Pavilion.

For the first time, Liu Junhuai entered the storage chambers on the first floor. Most of the dozen rooms were empty; all his spoils from the pool were in his storage ring. Only one room, filled with jade boxes and bottles, contained ordinary herbs he’d collected. The Seven Star Grass he’d gathered in Azure Cloud Ravine lay in one such box.

He placed the Fire-Eroding Lotus inside a jade box, took out the stone containing the Heavenly Lotus Heartfire, and decided to refine it at once.

This Heavenly Lotus Heartfire was naturally formed, unbound by any restrictive seals, so refining it should not be difficult.

First, he had to crack the outer stone shell, but it was unexpectedly hard and much heavier than ordinary rock. After half an hour, he finally managed to pry open a seam.

But in the next instant, his heart leapt in alarm and he cursed inwardly. Without hesitation, he gathered all his vital force to restrain the Heavenly Lotus Heartfire and forcibly began the refining process with his divine sense.

The flame, having developed a rudimentary spirit, tried to escape as soon as it was freed from the stone, unleashing a searing, terrifying heat. At his current cultivation of Qi Condensation Level Seven, Liu Junhuai’s robes and hair were incinerated in moments, and even his skin began to burn.

Panic seized him—if his vital force was exhausted, he would be reduced to ashes in no time. In desperation, he hastily produced a frost crystal; the chamber instantly turned frigid, suppressing the rampant flame.

But relief was short-lived. The frost crystal was melting at an alarming rate, faster even than ordinary ice on a stove. Liu Junhuai quickly piled up more frost crystals, lowering the temperature further. The fire’s power waned, but the melting accelerated.

Distressed by the loss of so many frost crystals, Liu Junhuai surged his divine sense and vital force, enveloping the Heavenly Lotus Heartfire and quickening the refinement.

Though the flame had developed a trace of intelligence, it was still weak. From the moment of its attempted escape, its defeat was inevitable. After consuming half his supply of frost crystals, the Heavenly Lotus Heartfire gradually ceased to struggle under Liu Junhuai’s command. He spat a mouthful of vital blood and swiftly completed the refinement—the flame shrank to the size of a bean and floated serenely above his dantian.

Instantly, a profound connection formed between them. At Liu Junhuai’s mental command, the Heavenly Lotus Heartfire leapt joyfully in response. With another thought, the flame appeared atop his finger, swaying from side to side as if in delight.