Chapter Five: The Lively Village of Blazing Flames, Part Two

Elder Huoyun spoke: “Honored One, please accept him as your disciple. I know that you truly wish the best for our village, and I am willing to set aside my pride and beg you—please, I beseech you, agree to this.”

Yang Zilin replied, “You wish for him to become my apprentice? No, no, no. I haven't taken on a student in years. Now I’m but a carefree drunkard, hardly fit to be anyone’s teacher. However…”

The village head pressed, “However what, Honored One? No matter the condition, I will do all in my power to fulfill it.”

What Yang Zilin asked was simple: Fire Qilin was to set out alone to seek out and pay respects to his final disciple, Dugu Xiang. Yet the risk was self-evident. He would journey alone through vast cities and territories, facing beasts and the treachery of men. This was to be his trial, his test. Only a disciple who could survive such a path was worthy of being Yang Zilin’s grand-disciple. If he failed—devoured by beasts or felled by cunning hands—then he had no need to seek Dugu Xiang. Death would be the end, and what more could be said of the Great Dao?

Then Huomiao led Fire Qilin aside, and together with the village head, discussed what was to be done. Whether to go or not was their decision alone. Yang Zilin would not intervene; this was his standard for choosing disciples. If they could not bear it, they were free to seek another master—he was not the only teacher in the world.

After much deliberation, Huomiao agreed, her heart heavy with reluctance, but for the sake of her child’s future, she steeled herself and gave her consent, honoring Fire Qilin’s own wish.

Yet Fire Qilin insisted on bringing Xiaoqing along, wishing her to accompany him on this journey to seek a master and wisdom. The village head agreed readily. Everyone knew the two had grown up together, their bond plain for all to see in the village, but ultimately it depended on the Honored One’s approval.

Surprisingly, Yang Zilin acquiesced without much persuasion. “One more won’t make a flower bloom, one less won’t make a piece of flesh disappear. I am no longer the master of the Carefree Pavilion—my last disciple is. Whether or not the two of them will gain Dugu Xiang’s recognition depends on their own fortune. I merely point out the path.”

Soon, another group arrived, temporarily interrupting the conversation between the headman and Yang Zilin.

To their surprise, the newcomers were familiar to the village head and elders—they were two of those who had previously vied for the Flame Dao. One rode a great sword, the other soared on wings; together, they approached amicably.

They, too, inquired of the headman and, upon learning it was the Flame Dao, grew interested and headed toward the rear mountain, bantering as they went.

It turned out that after their departure, another Flame Dao had emerged. Had they lingered, they might have seized more opportunities. Now, another contest was to begin, but this time, both were better prepared. They had come at the right time, convinced the Flame Dao would fall to one of them.

After their departure, an elder arrived—older than even the head of Flamefire Village, appearing to have passed eighty years, yet not to be underestimated. Though aged, his strength was formidable, a touch above Bulo’s, and only a small step from breaking through to the Inscription realm. Yet, should it come to a fight, there was no certainty he’d defeat Bulo, for Bulo possessed the Dragon Dao—an advantage not to be taken lightly.

However, upon hearing it was the Flame Dao, this elder also chose to turn back without hesitation. He had no interest in such a path, his cultivation lying elsewhere. Thus, he did not seek this particular Dao.

The headman resumed his conversation with Yang Zilin. But soon, a thunderous noise from the rear mountain interrupted their talk.

Yang Zilin remarked, “Ah, looks like there’s excitement afoot. I’ll step away for now, headman, do as you please.”

Truth be told, Yang Zilin had long seen through things—the headman had only told half the truth, withholding the rest out of fear or caution, wishing to protect his people. Yang Zilin did not press him, but simply chatted amiably. For the sake of the village, he had even pointed them toward a promising future, hoping that such a hidden paradise would not be erased from the world.

At that moment, in the rear mountains of Flamefire Village, a fierce battle was about to begin.

Three masters stood within an enigmatic formation, while one man outside smiled broadly.

Bulo greeted them, “Well met, fellow Daoists. We meet again! Hahaha!” He laughed heartily, certain that the two entrapped had no means of escape.

The formation Bulo had laid was a formidable one, perfect for ensnaring foes. When activated, it formed a vast circular barrier around the volcanic region, within which a beast of matching cultivation to the domain realm would spawn.

This was the preparation Bulo had made today, his proudest creation since the dragon bones themselves. The formation blueprint, called the Essence Beast Spirit Diagram, was a treasure he’d found in an underground palace—an adventure that nearly cost him his life. Only with the power granted by the dragon bones had he dared to brave that place. Without them, he’d have perished countless times, let alone stood here today to vie for others’ treasures.

The Essence Beast Spirit Diagram conjures a beast formed from the blood essence of its creator, matching his cultivation. Its greatest power, however, is that no matter how many times the beast is slain by those trapped inside, it will always resurrect—over and over without end.

Thus, the two inside—Joan Yu and Xu Dong—were doomed to exhaustion, and their treasures would ultimately fall to Bulo, it was only a matter of time.

“You are despicable,” Joan Yu spat.

Xu Dong demanded, “Who are you, and why do you act in such a manner?”

Bulo sneered, “You have time for conversation? Better think about handling this domain-level beast! Hahaha!”

In the next instant, the beast charged without hesitation. There was no need for finesse—only raw force. Its only tactic: ram!

It was a beast with curling horns atop its head, taller and more imposing than a man, its fur a dense brown that even hung from its belly, shrouding its very claws.

In a flash, it bore down upon the two masters. But Joan Yu and Xu Dong would not yield. They leapt back, exchanging a glance and instantly reaching a silent accord. Their only hope lay in joining forces; the fate of the Flame Dao would have to wait until their escape.

Xu Dong unleashed a beam of light, conjuring a sword of flame in his hand. On the other side, Joan Yu summoned two sabers, one in each hand, exuding a dominating aura. They struck as one, three arcs of fire clashing against the beast’s horns.

It must be said—an extra realm’s cultivation made all the difference. With a single stomp, the beast shattered their combined assault with its horns.

In the next heartbeat, it accelerated, leaping to gore the two masters with deadly force.

But they were not so easily slain. At the critical moment, both assumed defensive postures—one raising his arms, protected by bracers that had once saved him from death at a beast’s hand.

The other did something more daring—he met the beast head-on, his brow protected by a strange circlet. Without it, he would never have dared, for this was a beast of a higher realm; a single misstep meant certain death.

Man and beast collided, neither yielding an inch. Truly, armor forged from refined iron was extraordinary, standing up even to a domain beast’s power—an indispensable tool for any true master.

Such protective gear was crafted from rare materials: crystals, Manglang stone, refined iron, black iron, gilding, and celestial gold. Refined iron already ranked fourth among them, a testament to its hardness. Of course, their gear was not pure refined iron—merely a sliver, the rest Manglang stone. The price was simply too high; both had only managed to obtain enough refined iron to cover a fingernail, blending it with Manglang stone for their armor.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. After a fierce contest, beast and men broke apart, and Joan Yu and Xu Dong withdrew several steps, choosing to seize the initiative. They could no longer afford to remain passive; they had to finish the beast quickly and find the formation’s core to break free.

This time, both summoned their treasures, for only such relics could turn the tide. Even one of low cultivation, if wielding a true treasure, might slay a mighty foe in an instant. Such is the power of a treasure—it does not depend on the user’s abilities, only on whether he has the spiritual energy to activate it. With it, one stands invincible—if, that is, the enemy survives the first strike, the tables turn.

Treasures consumed vast amounts of spiritual energy, and unless desperate, neither would use them lightly.

Now, each held a disc in hand—the Reincarnation Disc and the Ghostslayer Array, weapons they had prepared against Bulo.

The true battle had begun.