NOVEL NEXT Chapter 16 - "The Third on the Heavenly Flame List: Purifying Lotus Demon Fire"
Chapter 16: “The Third on the Heavenly Flame List: Purifying Lotus Demon Fire”
“The Pure Yang Immortal Sword!”
An uncontainable joy spread across Xiao Yu’s face as he examined the golden sword before him.
The sword measured roughly three feet, its weight indiscernible yet perfectly balanced. Its body gleamed with a faint golden light, exuding an aura of ancient majesty. A golden tassel hung from the hilt, swaying gracefully with every slight movement.
“Thank you, Elder Ziyin!” Xiao Yu’s voice trembled with gratitude.
As his fingers wrapped around the hilt, a sense of warmth spread from his palm, as if he were holding a piece of living jade. He couldn’t help but swing the sword a few times—each movement felt as natural as breathing.
“What a treasure this is…” he whispered in awe.
“An upper-grade artefact is priceless, even for Golden Core cultivators,” Ziyin Zhenren’s voice intoned gravely. “You have only just entered the Golden Core stage. Do not flaunt it carelessly, lest you invite disaster.”
Xiao Yu nodded earnestly. “Rest assured, Elder. I will act with caution.”
He understood well the saying ‘A tall tree catches the wind.’ If news of such a treasure spread, it would attract unwanted greed and danger.
[This idiom metaphorically means: Prominence invites trouble. A person or thing that stands out tends to draw attention, often in a negative way.]
“Good. Remember this well.”
With those parting words, Ziyin Zhenren’s projection wavered like ripples in water before vanishing completely.
“Disciple will remember Elder’s teachings,” Xiao Yu said respectfully to the empty air.
No sooner had Xiao Yu stowed the Pure Yang Sword into his storage pouch than a mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
Ding!
Host has fulfilled a special location condition: Tianyong City. Would you like to check in?”
“Check in!” Xiao Yu replied decisively.
He had nearly forgotten about the system’s check-in function, which rewarded him handsomely at key locations.
“Ding! Check-in successful. Host has received the reward: Purifying Lotus Demon Fire.”
[Purifying Lotus Demon Fire]: Originating from the World of the Firmament, this flame ranks third on the Heavenly Flame List. Appearing as a milk-white lotus, it possesses the power to purify all things. Even a Golden Core cultivator, if touched by this flame, would be reduced to nothingness.
The flame’s power grows in tandem with the host’s cultivation. Additionally, it can exploit emotional vulnerabilities, entering a person’s body to induce hallucinations, hypnosis, or complete annihilation.
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“The check-in function is incredible!” Xiao Yu exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement. “First the Mountain and River Seal, and now the Purifying Lotus Demon Fire?”
A follow-up notification chimed in his mind:
System can assist Host in refining the Purifying Lotus Demon Fire into your Natal Flame. Proceed with refinement?
“Refine it immediately!” Xiao Yu ordered without hesitation.
Ding! Refining Purifying Lotus Demon Fire… 1%… 99%… 100%! Refinement complete. Host may now freely manipulate the flame.
Satisfied, Xiao Yu extended a finger. With a mere thought, a gentle flame bloomed at its tip—a milk-white lotus, pure and ethereal.
This… is the Purifying Lotus Demon Fire!
Curious to test its strength, Xiao Yu flicked the flame toward the stone statue—the same one he had scorched earlier with his Golden Core Dan Fire.
The moment the Purifying Lotus Demon Fire touched the statue, the entire figure disintegrated into nothingness, leaving not even dust behind.
“Hiss!”
Xiao Yu sucked in a breath of shock.
The difference in power was staggering. With his Dan Fire, he had merely burned a few pits into the statue. The Purifying Lotus Demon Fire, however, had wiped it from existence as though it had never been.
“Unbelievable…” Xiao Yu muttered, staring at the delicate flame on his fingertip.
Its strength was only one facet of its power. It could also manipulate emotions, inducing hallucinations or directly eliminating its victim—abilities both terrifying and versatile.
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Bang! Bang! Bang!
Sudden knocking at the door broke Xiao Yu’s awe-struck contemplation.
Accompanying the knocking was a bright, melodic voice:
“Master Xiao Yu, are you home? It’s me— Fu Qu! Can you hear me? Open up, Master Xiao Yu!”
Xiao Yu shook his head with a wry smile. “That girl…”
With a casual wave of his hand, the Purifying Lotus Demon Fire extinguished. He tapped his storage pouch, summoning the formation flag, and swiftly deactivated the protective array guarding his courtyard.
The moment the array was lifted, the sound of the door opening rang out.
Without even looking, Xiao Yu knew who had barged in—Fuqiu.