novelraw Chapter 526 - 170: Yuanyuan the Glutton’s Rations!
Chapter 526 - 170: Yuanyuan the Glutton’s Rations!
Ba Country, the land of rugged mountains.
Among the third-class countries, there has always been a saying that describes the terrain of Ba Country—
Ba Dao is hard, harder than ascending to the blue sky!
Ba Country has many mountains, the roads are treacherous, cliffs are everywhere, a single careless step could cost a life, and countless poisonous insects and fierce beasts roam freely.
It’s said to be harder than reaching the heavens, which shows the perilous terrain of Ba Country.
Perhaps, it is precisely because of this that Ba Country has survived among the third-class countries with a special mode of existence.
Between the tribes, the distances are often separated by several mountains and rivers. It’s quite challenging to wage war, and rather than wasting resources and lives, it’s better to rule through enfeoffment.
"Mu Ge, look quickly, the Eight Desolates Ridge is over there." Fu Tianlong pointed to the mountain peaks shrouded in clouds, speaking to Mu Qingge.
Mu Qingge gazed into the distance, seeing only mountains upon mountains, the thick mist veiling the true appearance of the peaks, adding a touch of mystery.
Upon learning of the Eight Desolations Void Flame in Ba Country, Mu Qingge set off for Ba Country.
Before leaving, Xia Tianwu came to see her about the new branch head of the Medicine Tower Branch.
As the saying goes, talent is not shunned, and without hesitation, Mu Qingge recommended Lou Chuanbai to succeed as the branch head of the Medicine Tower Branch.
As for the entry examination she initially wanted to take, Xia Tianwu told her that she was already an elder of the Medicine Tower, and there was no need for an entry examination, saving her a lot of trouble.
When she left, Shang Zisu had recovered a lot and accepted the fact that she was a woman. However, now every time he looked at her, there was more inquiry and curiosity in his eyes, making her feel strange.
This time entering Ba Country, Fu Tianlong volunteered to lead the way, saying it was also a chance to report peace to his family. Shui Ling stayed in the branch to continue learning.
Mu Qingge thought for a while, but did not refuse Fu Tianlong’s goodwill.
Having a local guide would save a lot of time. Besides, Fu Tianlong went to the Medicine Tower Branch to accompany Shui Ling, not to truly study alchemy, so a delay wouldn’t be a problem.
"I really can’t see any difference in the mountains here." Retracting her gaze, Mu Qingge shook her head helplessly.
Fu Tianlong didn’t laugh at her, but understandingly said, "It’s indeed confusing for outsiders entering Ba Country for the first time; it’s hard to tell the difference between the mountains."
"How much longer until we reach the Eight Desolates Ridge?" Mu Qingge got straight to the point.
Fu Tianlong smiled and said, "We can see it from here, but the Eight Desolates Ridge is actually quite far. This is what they call looking at mountains and tiring horses to death; it might take ten days to half a month to get there. Now that we’re in Ba Country, why don’t you first come back with me to the Hu Clan, rest for a few days, and I’ll inquire about the Eight Desolations Void Flame before accompanying you there."
Mu Qingge thought for a moment and nodded, "Alright."
The two followed the rugged path, walking for a while until they finally entered a relatively wide, yet winding, constantly ascending and descending postal road.
"Is the Hu Clan very close from here?" Mu Qingge asked the Hu Clan Young Clan Leader beside her.
Fu Tianlong grinned, showing his neat white teeth. "It’s fairly close, just about three to four days’ journey."
Three to four days indeed isn’t far.
Mu Qingge silently calculated in her mind.
Along the way, with Fu Tianlong leading, Mu Qingge didn’t have to worry about getting lost. The poisonous flowers, plants, and some medicinal materials along the way intrigued her, and she collected a lot to plant in a specially developed space.
By noon on the fourth day, Mu Qingge, following Fu Tianlong, finally caught sight of a tribal shadow.
The Hu Clan, a powerful tribe among the many in Ba Country. The current High Priest of Ba Country also hails from the Hu Clan. Earlier in Li Country, Mu Qingge had even met him once.
Along the way, Mu Qingge and others passed by several tribes, but they were relatively small, akin to villages or towns in other countries.
However, the Hu Clan’s tribe was a vast city.
Standing on a mountain top, Mu Qingge looked down at the large city that rose up on the plains at the mountain’s foot, nestled by mountains and water, feeling a bit amazed in her heart.
The city extended from the flat ground to the mountains, layered like a multi-level fortress.
Furthermore, outside the city, scattered residential areas existed, some on the mountains, others below.
"Most of our Hu Clan people live in the city. Some live outside the city; those houses built around the city are partly Hu Clan’s and partly belong to small tribes affiliated with us," Fu Tianlong explained to Mu Qingge.
Mu Qingge looked around, nodding imperceptibly, "The environment here is great, and the scenery is pleasant."
Fu Tianlong led Mu Qingge into the city, saying along the way, "The Hu Clan’s tribe is quite close to Ba Country’s capital, just a day or two’s journey away. If you have time, you should visit. It’s different from the capitals of other countries; it’s a holy place in the hearts of Ba Country people. Priests from all tribes take pride in entering there. Everything there is free—food, drink, living accommodations, it all doesn’t cost anything."
"That good?" Mu Qingge looked at him, somewhat surprised.
Fu Tianlong nodded, "Yes, because all expenses there are donated by the tribes, so it’s basically taking from the people and using for the people."
"Taking from the people, using for the people," Mu Qingge murmured, smiling involuntarily.
It’s a phrase she often heard in her previous life, but it was seldom truly practiced. To her surprise, after crossing time and space, she could hear such a statement again in another world.
Outside the Hu Clan’s city, there were no soldiers guarding; they all seemed familiar with each other, without the need for inspections and inquiries.
"The Young Clan Leader is back!"
"The Young Clan Leader is back!"
People near the city gate became excited upon seeing Fu Tianlong.
They also curiously looked at Mu Qingge but did not rashly inquire.
Returning here, Fu Tianlong seemed to have freed his nature, showing none of the taciturnity and silence he displayed at the Medicine Tower Branch, his face adorned with a radiant smile as he greeted the surrounding people.
"You are quite a people-friendly Young Clan Leader," Mu Qingge teased.
Fu Tianlong rarely scratched his head in embarrassment, "Most of them are elders who watched me grow up, or companions who grew up with me. How can I act lofty as a Young Clan Leader in front of them?"
Mu Qingge nodded in understanding.
At this moment, a Hu Clan girl, like a lark in the mountains, burst towards Fu Tianlong, her face full of joy, "Brother Tianlong, you’re back!"
Fu Tianlong was momentarily dazed, looking at the girl, he smiled, "It’s Bai Cao! Haven’t seen you for a while; you are becoming more beautiful."
The girl named Bai Cao blushed, her fingers twirling her hair tail, awkwardly saying, "Brother Tianlong is teasing me again." As she spoke, her gaze drifted to Mu Qingge, and suddenly she was taken aback, her eyes bursting with amazement, directly asking, "Such a handsome young man! Are you Brother Tianlong’s friend?"
"Bai Cao!" Fu Tianlong glared playfully at Bai Cao before turning to Mu Qingge to explain, "Don’t mind her, our Ba Country girls are passionate and straightforward; they like what they like and dislike what they don’t. Bai Cao means no offense."
Bai Cao playfully stuck out her tongue, her gaze towards Mu Qingge was unabashedly full of enthusiasm.
Mu Qingge smiled and didn’t mind at all.
The ethnic groups in Ba Country are numerous, but they are known for their hospitality towards guests. She was aware of this.
Following Fu Tianlong, the Hu Clan Young Clan Leader, she had already experienced this warmth.
After seeing Bai Cao off, Fu Tianlong directly took Mu Qingge to a wooden structure with raised flooring. "I know you’re eager about the Eight Desolations Void Flame, so I didn’t dare to waste your time. This is the home of our tribe elder, the highest respected person in the entire Hu Clan, who knows many things we don’t. I first heard about the Eight Desolations Void Flame from him."
Mu Qingge’s eyes lit up, and she felt more anticipation for the upcoming meeting.
"Elder, I’m back."
Entering the wooden house, Fu Tianlong respectfully addressed an old man with a frail and hunched figure who had his back to them.
Mu Qingge glanced around, the old man before her exuding an aura of twilight and near-death, his breath faint.
"Cough... Tianlong is back." The old man’s hoarse voice came, unpleasant yet full of weariness from the years.
"Yes." Fu Tianlong stepped forward, kneeling by his side, carefully smoothing his back.
The Hu Clan’s elder seemed to have rested for a long time before catching his breath and lamenting, "You also brought a young friend, not bad at all. It’s good you came back this time; if you had been any later, I might not have been able to wait for you."
"Elder, what are you talking about?" Fu Tianlong hurriedly asked.
An old and withered hand slowly raised, shaking, "Every fate has its end; not even gods and demons can escape it, let alone us mortals."
Gods and demons!
Mu Qingge’s eyes narrowed sharply, hearing the word ’gods and demons’ from this Hu Clan elder’s mouth again. She wasn’t sure if it was merely a metaphor or if the elder really knew something about the divine and demon clans.
"If the young friend wants to ask something, go ahead." The elder’s voice slowly drifted over, pulling Mu Qingge’s thoughts back.
It seemed that if Mu Qingge didn’t ask now, he might not get another chance to speak.
Mu Qingge blinked and, after thinking for a moment, respectfully bowed towards the elder’s back. Then she said, "Junior is here for the Eight Desolations Void Flame."
"Eight Desolations Void Flame..." the elder softly repeated Mu Qingge’s words, as if falling into distant memories.
Mu Qingge was not impatient, waiting patiently.
However, Fu Tianlong appeared a bit impatient and said to the elder, "Elder, the Eight Desolations Void Flame is very important to Mu Ge. If you know anything, please tell him."
The withered hand slowly landed on Fu Tianlong’s shoulder, patting it twice gently.
Although Mu Qingge couldn’t see the elder’s expression, she could guess that he must be showing kindness at this moment. Of course, his kindness was directed at Fu Tianlong, not her.
After a while, the elder spoke, eloquently recounting memories from deep within. "A long time ago, I don’t remember if it was nine hundred or a thousand years ago. I only remember that I was very, very young then. One day, a strong light fell upon a solitary mountain. That mountain later became the Eight Desolates Ridge. The light lingered for three whole months, and the clan’s warriors went to investigate but never returned. My father was the first warrior of the clan at the time. When he returned from pilgrimage and learned of this, he eagerly volunteered to investigate everything and find the missing warriors. He was gone for more than a month. When he returned, his skin was burned all over, and he was dying. On his deathbed, he only said the words ’Eight Desolations Void Flame’ before passing away. Before the clan’s eyes, he turned to nothing, as if swallowed by the void."
After recounting this history, the elder coughed several times forcefully.
The atmosphere in the room became somewhat oppressive.
Mu Qingge’s expression also grew a bit heavy.
After the elder caught his breath, he asked, "Young friend, do you know how formidable the Eight Desolations Void Flame is?"
Mu Qingge raised her eyes, pursed her lips as she thought, and truthfully replied, "Not very clearly." On Han Caicai’s abnormal fire ranking list, only the top five were briefly described, without much detail.
And previously, she hadn’t thought she would encounter the Eight Desolations Void Flame, so she hadn’t conducted any investigation.
Strictly speaking, this time she came seeking the Eight Desolations Void Flame only to provide an extra meal for Yuanyuan. For Yuanyuan to grow, she needed to continuously consume more abnormal fires to raise her level and abilities.
The elder sighed, seeming to blame Mu Qingge for daring to target the Eight Desolations Void Flame without knowing anything about it.
But still, he shared all he knew, "My father’s last words have been deeply etched in my heart. Later, when the light disappeared, the clan named the place Eight Desolates Ridge to remind the clansmen. After I grew up, I was obsessed with the Eight Desolations Void Flame and made every effort to learn about it. The information I obtained isn’t much, but it’s sufficient."
As he spoke up to this point, the elder paused for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts. After a while, he said, "The Eight Desolations Void Flame, its flame possesses the ability of the void."
When the elder uttered these words, his tone carried a sharpness. Fu Tianlong saw the icy coldness reflected in the elder’s cloudy eyes.
"A flame with the ability of the void?" Mu Qingge frowned slightly, seemingly not understanding the true meaning of this phrase.
The elder nodded, "Its flames, once touched, are hard to escape. They will burn your skin, devour your flesh and blood, then consume you entirely to ashes, swallowed by the void, becoming the nutrients for its power."
Fu Tianlong felt a chill down his spine, his expression changing slightly as he said to the elder, "Elder, is the Eight Desolations Void Flame really so terrifying?"
The elder chuckled coldly, "What is this? Even more frightening is that its flames have no color, no temperature. You won’t know when it approaches. No matter how careful you are, the flames will catch you."
’Surely a weapon for surprise attacks!’ Mu Qingge admired inwardly.
Such a method is indeed tempting.
Suddenly, the elder’s voice came with a hint of sternness, "Even though it’s that terrifying, will you still seek the Eight Desolations Void Flame?"
Mu Qingge was startled, then curled her lips and said, "Don’t worry, elder, I won’t act recklessly." This was not a perfunctory response. Mengmeng had said before that she could not participate in the battle between abnormal fires.
So, her task is to find the Eight Desolations Void Flame, and whether she can devour it depends on Yuanyuan’s skills.
"Ah—!" Mu Qingge’s response elicited a deep sigh from the Clan Elder.
It seemed that Mu Qingge’s overly confident stubbornness had disappointed him somewhat.
"Clan Elder, whatever more you know, tell Mu Ge. She’s very capable and has great luck, nothing will go wrong," Fu Tianlong spoke on behalf of Mu Qingge.
Mu Qingge heard it but couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her mouth.
Yet, she also had to admit—alright, her luck was indeed pretty good!
The Clan Elder’s head seemed to turn slightly, but ultimately retained its original position. After a long while, he finally said: "The Eight Desolations Void Flame is indeed located within Eight Desolates Ridge, and it seems to have been asleep for nearly a millennium. As for why this is, as per my analysis, perhaps it encountered a major battle in the past and suffered severe injuries, thus it was compelled to sleep for recovery. When it will awaken and how powerful it is, I am not sure."
Injury and sleep?
Mu Qingge’s eyes flickered. She recalled that Han Caicai also mentioned that the Fire Cloud Yang Flame had been injured and asleep due to the conflict between exotic flames.
Could this Eight Desolations Void Flame also be asleep due to injury? Such a coincidence? Could it be that those two exotic flames once clashed, resulting in mutual destruction?
What about the timeline? Does the timeline match?
A thousand years ago, the Sunset Wilderness did not exist...
Mu Qingge’s eyes grew brighter and brighter. The legends Han Caicai previously mentioned about the Sunset Wilderness flashed through her mind, slowly intertwining with the Clan Elder’s words regarding the Eight Desolations Void Flame.
The two exotic flames both appeared a millennium ago, one in the Sunset Wilderness, the other in the Baqi Mountain Range.
Both exotic flames were injured and weakened, sleeping to recuperate.
Such a plethora of coincidences indeed might restore the truth from a thousand years ago. The exotic flame that clashed with the Fire Cloud Yang Flame should be the Eight Desolations Void Flame.
The Eight Desolations Void Flame ranked above the Fire Cloud Yang Flame; one would assume it wouldn’t end in mutual destruction.
But there’s one possibility that could neutralize this discrepancy. The Fire Cloud Yang Flame had entered a decline phase, so a thousand years ago, it should have been in its mature phase. If it could engage in a fierce battle with the Eight Desolations Void Flame with such intensity, resulting in mutual destruction—that can only mean the Eight Desolations Void Flame was still in its growth stage...
A thousand years of slumber, the Eight Desolations Void Flame is likely in its mature phase now.
Mu Qingge’s eyes narrowed with a hint of worry blooming within her heart. Yuanyuan has just entered the growth stage from its newborn phase. If it faces the mature Eight Desolations Void Flame, it’s likely not a match.
...
Upon exiting the Clan Elder’s room, it was already pitch black.
The city of the Hu Clan lay shrouded in the night.
Mu Qingge lifted her gaze to the horizon, where the sky was dotted with stars, as if she could reach out and grab them.
After a short while, Fu Tianlong emerged from within, walked to Mu Qingge’s side, and looked at her profile saying, "The Clan Elder has rested."
Mu Qingge nodded slightly.
After a pause, Fu Tianlong finally said, "I hadn’t thought the Eight Desolations Void Flame would be so terrifying. Are you really going to search for it?"
Mu Qingge did not immediately answer.
Because she was also hesitant. If she were to face the Eight Desolations Void Flame herself, she would undoubtedly nod without hesitation and give it a try. However, the opponent for Eight Desolations Void Flame is Yuanyuan, that chubby little fellow who can barely walk steadily—can it win?
"It’s too dangerous, best not to go. You’re rare to visit Ba Country, how about I take you around, and then we return together to Yu Country?" Fu Tianlong persuaded.
Mu Qingge was about to speak when Yuanyuan’s soft and arrogant voice suddenly rang in her mind: "Humph, what Eight Desolations Void Flame, it’s all just a grand feast for me! Mother leader, don’t go! Yuanyuan finally stumbled upon a grand feast!"
Mu Qingge pressed her lips, her eyes bearing a hint of helplessness. ’Can you win? According to my estimation, the Eight Desolations Void Flame is already in its mature phase, how can you, little one, defeat it? Don’t end up abandoning your life before you even taste the deliciousness.’
"Can win, can win!" Yuanyuan desperately bounced around in the space, seemingly wanting to prove its prowess. "Mother leader, let’s go, let’s go! Let’s go have a look, we can withdraw if it doesn’t work! Let’s go, let’s go... Yuanyuan is hungry..."
An innocent and pitiful voice sounded, and Mu Qingge’s heart softened. She said to Fu Tianlong, "No. Since we have come to the Ba Country, I still want to experience the Eight Desolations Void Flame."
"But that Eight Desolations Void Flame is not easy to handle!" Fu Tianlong said with some concern.
"I have my own plans." With a simple sentence, Mu Qingge ended the discussion.
Fu Tianlong opened his mouth, but helplessly closed it again and nodded.
At this time, a captivating song echoed from afar. Fu Tianlong smiled and invited Mu Qingge, "Mu Ge, over there they have started a bonfire and singing, let’s hurry over."
After resting with the Hu Clan for two days, Mu Qingge planned to set off for the Eight Desolates Ridge.
Seeing her determination, Fu Tianlong had no choice but to give up persuading her.
The two left the Hu Clan and headed towards the Eight Desolates Ridge. A few day-nights later, they finally arrived at the foot of the Eight Desolates Ridge.
"You should go back." Mu Qingge turned to say to Fu Tianlong.
Fu Tianlong was stunned, shook his head, and said, "I’m not going back, I’ll go up the Eight Desolates Ridge with you. In case anything happens, I can help."
Mu Qingge shook her head and refused, "No need, for what happens next, you can’t help. Go back."
Fu Tianlong anxiously said, "Mu Ge, are you looking down on me!"
Mu Qingge explained, "It has nothing to do with that. It’s just that this is something I must do alone. Don’t worry, if things become untenable, I won’t take risks, I will leave."
Fu Tianlong looked at her uneasily for a few more eyes, but seeing her already decided and unable to be swayed, he left reluctantly, looking back every few steps.
After sending off Fu Tianlong, Mu Qingge turned to face the Eight Desolates Ridge, which was not very high.
"Yuanyuan, it will depend on you next." Mu Qingge said to Yuanyuan in the space. There is a connection between abnormal fires; once they are near, they can lock onto each other’s coordinates.
Just like back at Wu Gou Mountain Villa, Yuanyuan was able to sense the presence of the Bone Demon Flame.
"Mother, don’t worry!" Yuanyuan responded confidently.
Nodding slightly, Mu Qingge proceeded deeper into the Eight Desolates Ridge.
On the way, she constantly changed direction based on Yuanyuan’s sensing but still wandered in the Eight Desolates Ridge for several days before finally determining the direction and reaching the final position pointed by Yuanyuan.
"This place is..." Mu Qingge stood on a rocky terrain, her gaze surprised as she looked at a clear lake.
Unexpectedly, within the Eight Desolates Ridge, there was such a valley. In the valley, there was a large inner lake. The lake was long and winding. From afar, it resembled a giant python, or a water dragon.
Most importantly, the water was so clear, the color and shape of the stones at the bottom could be seen clearly.
"This Eight Desolates Ridge is indeed strange." Mu Qingge said to herself, squinting at the lake.
Since entering, she hadn’t seen any creatures in the Eight Desolates Ridge, whether it was birds and beasts or snakes and insects, nothing was found. And in this clear lake, not even a small fish was seen.
"Although they say ’clear water holds no fish,’ a whole Eight Desolates Ridge completely devoid of life does seem too strange." Mu Qingge whispered softly.
After walking in the Eight Desolates Ridge for several days, her strongest feeling was a deathly stillness.
Is the Eight Desolations Void Flame really here? If it was just her alone, she might have suspected it. However, Yuanyuan was sure the Eight Desolations Void Flame was indeed here, and it was with the sensing between abnormal fires that brought her to this lakeside.
"The Eight Desolations Void Flame, neither has color nor temperature." Mu Qingge murmured the words the Hu Clan’s elder had mentioned before.
"Yuanyuan, where exactly is the Eight Desolations Void Flame?" Mu Qingge asked, and a silver light flashed beside her as Yuanyuan appeared.
The little being lay on all fours on the ground, like an ordinary family’s baby waiting to be fed. The only difference was that this baby was exquisitely cute, the big black eyes seemed to hide two clusters of small flames. Its snow-white skin was flawless, like the snow of a snowfield.
"Mother, I can sense it, that guy is right here, and it’s still asleep." Yuanyuan looked up at Mu Qingge, his eyes filled with reliance on her.
Still asleep!
Mu Qingge’s eyes brightened, that was indeed good news.
"It seems there’s a chance." Mu Qingge bent down, reaching out to lift Yuanyuan from the ground.
Yuanyuan also extended two small arms, hugging Mu Qingge’s neck.
"Yuanyuan, are you ready?" Mu Qingge inquired.
Yuanyuan nodded, those bright, fire-like eyes carried a hint of eagerness, the tongue couldn’t help but lick the corner of its mouth.
"I can’t help you in the upcoming battle, but I’ll do my best to assist with whatever you need." Mu Qingge added.
Yuanyuan nonchalantly replied, "Mother, don’t worry!"
’Master, battles between abnormal fires are something they must experience in their growth stage. Trust in Yuanyuan.’ Mengmeng’s voice echoed in Mu Qingge’s mind.
Mu Qingge slowly nodded and told Yuanyuan, "Go. If it’s invincible, retreat, there’s always a next time."
"Got it..." Yuanyuan eagerly jumped out from Mu Qingge’s embrace, saying something offhandedly to her.
Immediately, the whole being shot like a cannonball towards the transparent, crystal-clear lake surface.
Mu Qingge’s eyes narrowed, an idea sounded in her mind: ’Could this lake water actually be the Eight Desolations Void Flame!’
Roar——!
Bang——!
With Yuanyuan crashing into it, the lake, previously calm and clear, emitted a furious roar.
It was as if disturbed from its slumber...
’Damn it! Yuanyuan, you fool!’ Mu Qingge’s gaze turned sharp, filled with worry. Yuanyuan didn’t seize the opportunity to ambush while the Eight Desolations Void Flame was asleep, but instead awoke it directly. Obviously, a fierce battle was inevitable.
"Master, retreat quickly." Mengmeng’s voice reminded.
Mu Qingge retreated swiftly following the advice, not wanting to affect the upcoming battle.
"Mengmeng, can I assist Yuanyuan?" Mu Qingge asked in a deep voice.
Mengmeng considered and then said to Mu Qingge, "It’s best not to interfere in battles between abnormal fires, but if Yuanyuan faces danger, Master can step in, but be cautious. Once touched by the Eight Desolations Void Flame, it becomes troublesome."
Mu Qingge nodded heavily, pursing her lips into silence, her eyes fixed on the distant battle, not daring to miss a single moment.
The Eight Desolations Void Flame, awoken by Yuanyuan, ascended from the ground in rage. It wasn’t until it rose mid-air that Mu Qingge realized, this long lake really was dragon-shaped, even down to the dragon’s whiskers, horns, and claws.
The awoken Eight Desolations Void Flame came alive in the air. Its body coiled, glaring at Yuanyuan. "Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame!" A deep and violent voice emerged from the transparent giant dragon’s mouth in midair.
"Hmph! Eight Desolations Void Flame, today I’m going to eat you! Baby wants to grow up!" Yuanyuan stood with his chubby hands on his hips, his plump little face full of confidence.
"Bone Demon Flame." The Eight Desolations Void Flame easily dodged, and chaos descended as Mu Qingge slightly relaxed. She thought to herself: ’So that’s the Bone Demon Flame.’ "You wretched little flame, prepare to be extinguished!" The Eight Desolations Void Flame sneered, fixing its blazing eyes on Yuanyuan as it slowly coiled around him, tightening its grip.
Yuanyuan dodged left and right, occasionally using the Bone Demon Flame to attack, but with minimal effect.
Mu Qingge had a serious look between her brows and said to Mengmeng, "It seems Yuanyuan is not a match for the Eight Desolations Void Flame."
Mengmeng comforted, "Don’t worry, Master. Yuanyuan is very clever and won’t be easily defeated."
"The flames of the Eight Desolations Void Flame..." Mu Qingge murmured.
Mengmeng said, "It’s okay, it’s okay. The flames of the Eight Desolations Void Flame are a threat to other species. But Yuanyuan is inherently mysterious, and its ranking is above the Eight Desolations Void Flame, so these flames can’t harm it."
Mu Qingge nodded slightly, but her eyes were fixed on the increasingly intense battle in mid-air, not daring to miss a moment.
Yuanyuan was still in its infant stage, small and agile, and with the interference of the Bone Cold Flame, the Eight Desolations Void Flame found it hard to catch him for the time being. However, this flea-like dodging strategy greatly annoyed the Eight Desolations Void Flame.
It suddenly roared and coiled its body around Yuanyuan, seemingly intending to trap him and wrap him up with its body.
This time, Yuanyuan didn’t dodge. A gleam of cunning flashed in his bright eyes, letting the dragon body of the Eight Desolations Void Flame coil around him.
"Yuanyuan!" Seeing Yuanyuan struggling as he was entangled by the Eight Desolations Void Flame, Mu Qingge’s gaze tightened, and she called out worriedly.
The Linglong Spear in her hand hummed, as if about to join the battle at any moment.
"Don’t worry, Master, that kid did it on purpose!" Mengmeng hurriedly stopped Mu Qingge.
"On purpose?" Mu Qingge furrowed her brows.
Then, she saw the Eight Desolations Void Flame flying higher with Yuanyuan’s body.
Her gaze followed upwards, and she felt a pinch of anxiety for Yuanyuan in her heart.
This was her first time witnessing a battle between Abnormal Fires. Last time at Wu Gou Mountain Villa, the Bone Demon Flame was on the brink of extinction and was devoured by Yuanyuan with almost no difficulty.
This time’s Abnormal Fire battle filled her eyes with shock.
The flames of the Eight Desolations Void Flame were invisible and colorless; she could only see Yuanyuan’s Bone Demon Flame continuously destroying the trees and ground of the Eight Desolates Ridge...
Bang bang bang——!
The skies echoed with booming sounds, like thunder.
However, compared to thunder, these crashing noises were even more terrifying, as if the sky was about to be torn apart.
"Ah——! You lousy brat!" Suddenly, the Eight Desolations Void Flame cried out in pain.
Mu Qingge’s eyes narrowed, witnessing the transparent dragon body that trapped Yuanyuan suddenly loosening, and Yuanyuan’s small body emerging from it. Something transparent seemed to be hanging from the corner of his mouth, and he licked it with his tongue, showing an expression of savoring the taste.
The Eight Desolations Void Flame was furious, gnashing its teeth as it looked at Yuanyuan.
There was a chunk missing from its body, with clear teeth marks visible. Transparent blood continuously dripped onto the ground.
It was then that Mu Qingge finally witnessed the power of the Eight Desolations Void Flame——
Those transparent liquids that fell to the ground transformed into invisible and colorless flames. In Mu Qingge’s eyes, she could only see a patch of land starting to burn for no reason, with no flames, no temperature, just the scorched remnants on the ground.
Subsequently, that spot seemed as if it had been gouged out, vanishing before her eyes, without a trace.
It was as if it had turned into nothingness.
Mu Qingge stared wide-eyed, slightly shocked in her heart. The Eight Desolations Void Flame’s silent, invisible killing ability was truly enchanting.
This was simply an invaluable trump card.
If the Abnormal Fires of the Linchuan Realm were this powerful, then what about larger realms? For instance, the Middle Ancient Realm... What kind of Abnormal Fires existed there? How powerful were they?
Mu Qingge’s thoughts like these occurred in a flash.
Meanwhile, the battle in the sky also changed.
Yuanyuan abandoned the defensive position, taking the initiative to attack the Eight Desolations Void Flame.
The fight, until now, saw Yuanyuan exhibit extreme wildness, with a manner that was completely life-forgetting. It was all about ruthlessness, to see who was tougher.
Mu Qingge was watching intently.
Suddenly, she heard Mengmeng whisper, "Really, like master, like fire. Yuanyuan’s reckless fighting style perfectly inherits the master’s spirit!"
Mu Qingge turned black-faced, muttering in her heart: Am I really like that? When she fights, she generally has it all planned out.
As if hearing Mu Qingge’s discontent, Mengmeng added, "Although there’s always a plan, when facing opponents stronger than the master, she would still fight recklessly."
"Really?" Mu Qingge recalled her previous battles.
Indeed, when she first started cultivating and encountered opponents way stronger than herself, her outcomes were often very tragic. However, her opponents were even more tragic, as all of them ended up dead.
"Not being afraid allows one to go forward without hesitation. It’s not necessarily a bad thing." Mu Qingge raised her eyebrows and said.
"Roar——! Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame, you and I have no grudge or enmity; do you really intend to devour me?" The Eight Desolations Void Flame distanced itself from Yuanyuan, speaking with a fierce tone.
Its wounds were still not healed, and although Yuanyuan was small, its large physique made it akin to a giant fighting a little dwarf. Though the little dwarf couldn’t do much to it, it was equally hard for it to inflict a fatal strike on the flea-like little dwarf. Against Yuanyuan’s agility, its actions seemed increasingly clumsy.
If this fight continued, it might just wear itself out first.
Out of helplessness, the Eight Desolations Void Flame sought to have a good talk with Yuanyuan.
But how could Yuanyuan have a good talk with it? No matter how powerful the Eight Desolations Void Flame, in his eyes, it was just a delicious meal. Would you reason with food?
"Hah!" Yuanyuan let out a child’s shrill shout, spitting endless Bone Demon Flame to envelop the Eight Desolations Void Flame.
The white flame moved in on the transparent dragon eyes of the Eight Desolations Void Flame.
In an instant, it was enveloped by the Bone Demon Flame.
"Ah——!" The Eight Desolations Void Flame let out a furious howl. A transparent flame instantly rose, colliding with the Bone Demon Flame. The collision of two forces sent waves of Spiritual Power rippling through the Eight Desolates Ridge, destroying the surrounding trees and grass.
"You want to die! I’ll send you on your way!" The Eight Desolations Void Flame was truly infuriated.
Its body grew larger, yet more ethereal.
"What’s it planning?" Mu Qingge squinted her eyes and said.
Deep in her heart, a sense of oppression arose, making the surrounding air feel suddenly cramped and altogether suffocating.
"Master, the Eight Desolations Void Flame is about to transform into its true form!" Mengmeng said.
What!
Mu Qingge’s eyes sharp, gazed at Yuanyuan in the center of the Eight Desolations Void Flame.
Although she didn’t understand what transforming into its true form meant, she still sensed the gravity of the situation from Mengmeng’s tone.
Mengmeng’s voice came again, this time faster, "In all things in the world, the true form is the most powerful. The true form of an Abnormal Fire is the boundless and formless fire; the Eight Desolations Void Flame transforms into its true flame, its strength will increase several fold. That kid Yuanyuan is in trouble now."
Mu Qingge’s gaze darkened, and she asked, "How can we help him?"
"This... battles between Abnormal Fires..." Mengmeng hesitated. After a pause, she finally said, "Unless Master uses yourself as bait, to draw the attention of the Eight Desolations Void Flame from the front, while Yuanyuan can sneak attack and devour it from behind, only then would this battle be over."
"Alright!" Mu Qingge’s eyes sharp, showed no hesitation.
Answering Mengmeng, she lifted the Linglong Spear, leaping into the air, rushing toward the Eight Desolations Void Flame...