Chapter 2173 – Dragon Girl Looks For Father
In the Endless Fog, Yun Che was sitting cross-legged atop an abyssal stone. He was surrounded by ceaselessly churning gray abyssal fog and the constant, distant roars of abyssal beasts. However, the terrifying presence of the Abyssal Qilin God always drove them away when they got close.
Yun Che’s eyes were closed. Inside his consciousness, a drop of Vermillion Bird origin blood, red as carnelian, was suspended in the air, unmoving. Inside the bead of blood, what looked like a small divine shadow of the Vermillion Bird was spreading its wings and letting out a cry, stirring up its own blood for a long, long time.
With his Ancestral Holy Body and the Heretic God Profound Veins, he could have refined even the origin blood essence of the Vermillion True God itself in under a month. He could have refined all nine drops perfectly.
Right now, Yun Che only needed to refine one-seventh of a drop… That was enough for him to ignite the Vermillion Bird Flame with some Vermillion Bird divine aura in it.
Buzz—
His consciousness space let out a weak buzz. As his profound energy gently enveloped the Vermillion Bird divine blood, several wisps of crimson light slowly dissipated and flooded into Yun Che’s blood vessels, meridians, and profound veins…
Although it was only a few faint wisps, they exploded inside his body with sky-scorching, sea-boiling power. If he were anyone else, the pain of their bones being scorched and their flesh being cooked would have them writhing in pain. They would have to handle all sorts of risks that could erupt at any moment. But for Yun Che, the power was as mild as a refreshing spring. All he needed to do was absorb the Vermillion Bird’s divine power within the blood.
An indefinite amount of time later, a fiery crimson light suddenly lit up the gloomy world. At the same time, a thin layer of crimson light appeared on Yun Che’s body. Plume-like patterns could be seen circulating slowly in the layer as well. His outer clothing fluttered even though there was no wind, and his hair slowly floated in the air from the heat waves. A Vermillion Bird mark appeared on his forehead and gradually deepened over time as well.
Two hours passed, and a crimson flame suddenly kindled into existence on his palm. It was completely different from every divine fire he had ignited in the past. It was an indescribably silent and gentle flame. It dyed even the gloomy, terrifying space of the Endless Fog in a kind of warmth that shone straight into the heart and soul.
……
At a place near the Endless Fog.
The Thousand Tinkles Realm was masterless, but it had massive traffic because it was close to the Endless Fog. At first, it was just a place for training practitioners to rest and recuperate. Later, it naturally developed into a marketplace for supplies. As time went on, the realm’s scope of trade kept expanding until it grew to become one of the largest trading hubs in the vicinity of the Endless Fog.
Today, even abyssal knights frequently stop by to maintain a basic level of order.
A person clad in long gray robes was walking down a crowded street. Even her head was covered by a thick veil. It made it impossible for anyone to see her actual appearance.
She eventually stopped in front of an old man and asked in a raspy voice, “Have you heard any news regarding the Primal Flame Crystal as of late?”
The old man gave her a look and arched up the corner of his brows. He replied helplessly, “You again. How many times have I told you that my great-grandfather wasn’t even born yet the last time a Primal Flame Crystal showed up? Besides, every mutated crystal like this is basically a miracle bestowed by the heavens themselves. There is just no way it would appear again. You should abandon searching and thinking about it altogether.”
Her veil hat made it impossible to see her expression. Without a word, she turned away and prepared to head toward her next objective. It was at this moment that a leisurely, provocative voice rang, “As expected of the civilians of a remote place. Their ignorance is such that I can laugh my teeth off.”
The old man whipped his head around in anger, but his attitude did a one-eighty when he saw the jeerer’s clothes. He was even wearing a flattering smile on his wizened face as he said, “A distinguished guest from a Kingdom of God! This old man is indeed ignorant and shallow-minded. I apologize for making a fool of myself before you.”
The jeerer was a man with long, narrow eyes and clad in black robes. His head was held high, and the arrogance on his face was bare for all to see. Looking the old man out of the corner of his eye like he was a superior looking down on a humble spirit, he said, “The Primal Flame Crystal reappeared less than a month ago. Tch… then again, you are a humble man from a humble place. It makes sense you wouldn’t know anything.”
The gray-robed person abruptly wheeled around and gave the man in black robes her full attention. Despite her veil hat, the man in black robes felt as if a pair of sharpened blades were stabbing into his eyeballs. She asked, “Where is that Primal Flame Crystal!?”
Her voice sounded calm enough, even though her chest was filled with unbridled excitement.
The sudden look and the stiff tone caused the man in black robes to narrow his eyes slightly. He then let out a cold chuckle and said, “You’re asking me? Who do you think you are!!”
The gray-robed person stepped forward… but the old man grabbed her left sleeve gently.
He slowly shook his head at her and said in a quiet voice, “He’s a member of the Owl Butterfly Kingdom of God. You shouldn’t provoke him.”
The gray-robed person stopped talking and turned to leave. Her back quickly disappeared into the crowd. She paid no attention to the “tsk” from the Owl Butterfly profound practitioner at all.
Two hours later, the Owl Butterfly profound practitioner left the Thousand Tinkles Realm and entered the periphery of the Endless Fog. He had just passed through a short forest of black stones when suddenly, his back turned cold, and a heavy pressure flew straight toward the back of his heart. He spun around at high speed, but a terrible, explosive strength forced his dark, profound energy down before he could even unleash it. The next moment, the gigantic shadow of a claw slammed him into a black stone pillar, pinning him in place and immobilizing him no matter how hard he struggled.
“Divine Extinction Realm…” His pupils contracted slightly, and a cry of surprise escaped his lips.
It was only then that he saw that his attacker was the gray-robed person.
“It’s you…”
The Owl Butterfly profound practitioner’s eyes were dark and brooding, yet he showed no fear whatsoever. In fact, he cracked a cold, sinister smile and said, “My name is Pan Yexun. I am a Shadow Guard serving the ninth prince of the Owl Butterfly Kingdom of God. I am currently carrying out the order of the Pray Eternal Divine Regent and accompanying my prince in search of our former Owl Butterfly Divine Son, Pan Buwang. If you dare harm a member of the Owl Butterfly Kingdom of God…”
“Kingdom of God”
These three words could have scared most profound practitioners not of a Kingdom of God into submission, but the gray-robed person wasn’t moved in the slightest. She ordered in a cold voice, “Where is that Primal Flame Crystal?”
Pan Yexun sneered again, “Fool. You still don’t understand your situation, it seems. So what if you’re Divine Extinction Realm? If you dare—ARGH!!”
A bloodcurdling cry abruptly exploded across the sky of the periphery of the Endless Fog. The pale white claw had pierced right through Pan Yexun’s flesh, internal organs, and even his life vein, dealing irreversible and permanent damage.
Once more, the gray-robed person’s icy voice entered his ears. “You have one last chance… where is that Primal Flame Crystal?”
Unprecedented, bone-deep fear slithered throughout Pan Yexun’s body. His pupils dilated to the point of breaking before his earlier surety and arrogance gave way to absolute fear. He never dreamed that revealing the name of his Kingdom of God would not only fail to intimidate his attacker in the slightest, but also drive him to the cliff edge of death.
Not daring to proclaim his background or even beg for mercy, he answered through chattering teeth, “It’s… It’s the Pure Land. Divine Son Yuan of the Dreamweaver Kingdom of God… gave a Primal Flame Crystal to High Priest Ling Xian as a gift…”
The gray-robed man had been acting indifferent and even emotionless this whole time. When she heard of the name “Divine Son Yuan,” though, she abruptly lost control of her aura and moved closer. Even the claw she was using to suppress Pan Yexun was flickering slightly out of control and causing the man to let out another bloodcurdling scream. “Are you talking about Divine Son Yuan of the Dreamweaver Kingdom of God, the one they call… Yun Che!?”
“Yes! Yes!”
Pan Yexun hurriedly replied, “Divine Son Yuan’s true name is Meng Jianyuan, but he calls himself Yun Che. My prince learned about this while participating in the Pure Land Meet. This news is known to everyone attending the gathering at the time… it is one hundred percent the truth! I promise I did not conceal anything!!”
The gray-robed person suddenly froze in place. She would not move or speak for a very, very long time.
“I… I’ve told you everything, so… can you let me go now? I promise… I promise I won’t tell anyone about this… I don’t even know what you look like…”
Pan Yexun cracked a strained smile, trying to look meek and harmless, but the next instant…
Bang! The claw shadow exploded, and an actual draconic claw appeared. There was neither hesitation nor pity. The merciless power of the Divine Extinction Realm instantly ripped Pan Yexun’s body to pieces. He never even managed to let out a death scream.
She did not give the remains a second glance. She turned around and quickly disappeared into the abyssal fog alone.
The direction she was headed was where the Dreamweaver Kingdom of God lay.
……
In the middle section of the Endless Fog, Yun Che was waving his hand. Crimson flame was flowing in his palm as gently as flowing iridescence.
Guided by his profound energy and soul, the flame shook slightly and hummed, sometimes deep and resonant, sometimes high-pitched and fragmented. Crimson sound waves slowly rippled outward from within the flames.
At the beginning, the melody was low and distant like ancient winds sweeping across a still land, carrying a hint of desolation.
Gradually, the tune grew gentler, like warm sunlight melting ice and snow. Wherever the sound waves reached, the abyssal fog seemed to shed its chill and gain a hue of warmth instead.
When Yun Che flipped his palm, the tone of the melody abruptly shifted. A clear phoenix cry merged into the melody and lifted its pitch sharply. However, it neither sounded shrill nor pierced the soul at all. Instead, it carried a compassion that embraced all things. It felt like it could transform every pain and resentment in the world into harmless wisps of smoke and carry them away in a warm breeze.
Li Suo let out a soft murmur, “Heavenly Plume Compassionate Voyage Melody… in my memory, the sacred melody played by the Vermillion Bird’s voice and ignited by its sacred flames could be used to burn all evil and filth into ash, or soothe one’s pains and sorrows completely.”
After that, she listened to the music in silence, feeling a rare sense of peace in her soul. Vaguely, those vanished, blank, or blurry memory fragments began to ripple minutely amid the warm, gentle voice of the Vermillion Bird.
Right now, Yun Che’s mind was wholly absorbed in the Vermillion Bird music he was playing. The Vermillion Bird Flame on his fingertips was fluctuating based on the tune and taking the shapes of countless plumes. Before he knew it, the surrounding space was covered in them.
The fiery plumes then transformed into many small and delicate-looking birds. Sound waves and fire merged to weave a dream so warm it felt like a fantasy.
Countless thoughts were echoing inside his soul sea, but the Vermillion Bird’s melody gradually soothed every ripple of hesitation, heaviness, and malevolence.
When he opened his eyes again, the surrounding world was filled with plumes and dancing birds.
He extinguished the Vermillion Bird Flame in his palm and wore a slight smile on his face. “Nine drops of Vermilion Bird origin blood. If I refine them all, the richness of my Vermillion Bird bloodline will far surpass my Phoenix blood and Golden Crow blood. However, the Vermillion Bird Flame’s dependence on bloodline is actually the weakest of them all. What it most needs is a powerful and merciful soul.”
“I could consider merging it with my light profound energy.”
Li Suo said, “The Vermillion Bird Flame and light profound energy definitely share many similarities. For example, they are both the bane of dark, profound energy. You, however, are capable of igniting the Vermillion Bird Flame despite bearing the Eternal Calamity of Darkness… the Ancestral Holy Body bestowed by the Ancestral God truly is extraordinary.”
“If you have the time, I implore you to play the Vermilion Bird’s Spirit Soothing Hymn for me.”
“Hmm?”
Yun Che looked surprised. It was extremely rare for Li Suo to make any sort of request of her own accord.
“The Vermillion Bird’s melody seems to aid in awakening my slumbering memories… or maybe its soothing effects are deluding me into thinking so.”
“I see…”
Yun Che’s heart stirred a little. Li Suo was the former Creation Goddess of Life. If she could regain her memories, the help she could offer him would be immeasurable.
By now, he had resided in the Endless Fog for one and a half months. By ordinary standards, this was enough time for the initial refinement of the Vermillion Bird’s divine blood. So, he stepped back into the World Formation Core. A crimson flash later, he had left the Endless Fog and returned to the Dreamweaver Kingdom of God.
He had just stepped out of his cultivation space barrier when Meng Zhiyuan’s overjoyed yet urgent voice hit him, “You’re finally out, young master. A lot of people were looking to meet you while you were gone.”
“Hmm? Looking to meet me?” Yun Che looked astonished. Meng Kongchan and Meng Jianxi knew he was refining the Vermillion Bird divine blood. Logically speaking, no one should bother him at all.
Meng Zhiyuan replied, “There are three. The first visitor is the Boundless Divine Son, Dian Jiuzhi.”
Yun Che: “Hmm??”
“The second visitor is a strange man covering his face. He called himself your big brother. He appeared like a phantom and disappeared like one after learning that you are in secluded cultivation… even stranger, not a single guard noticed his presence, including Meng Shouyuan.”
Yun Che: “Hmm… Hmm!?”
“The third visitor is even more special.”
Watching Yun Che’s face curiously, Meng Zhiyuan continued, “Originally, she wasn’t able to enter the Dreamweaver Kingdom of God. However, she refused to leave despite being kicked out again and again. Even now, she’s standing at the border gate and refusing to leave. She kept requesting to meet you.”
“The border gate guards would have detained her, but Divine Son Xi happened to be passing through the area and saw this. He seemed to realize that her identity was special, so he dispatched someone to carry a message. He wanted me to notify you about this as soon as you emerge from your secluded cultivation.”
Yun Che frowned deeply while swiftly sorting out his thoughts, “And who is this person?”
“Divine Son Xi said that she calls herself Long Jiang.”
“……!”
Yun Che abruptly looked up, the light in his eyes shaking violently.