Settled

Clinging tightly to the cliff face, Shi Yu threw the Three-Split Curved Fang Hook upward. With a few metallic clangs, the hook lodged firmly between the rock walls. Pushing off with her toes, she flew upward with the momentum, then retrieved the hook and repeated the action.

The fissure was thousands of feet deep—far easier to descend than to climb. By the time Shi Yu finally clambered back onto the surface, the two Fire Spirit Giants were nowhere to be seen.

She looked around, greeted only by a scene of utter desolation.

The earth was fractured, with countless cracks spreading across it like a spiderweb. Crimson dust permeated the entire world, obscuring her vision as though covered by a red veil.

Yet, having obtained a portion of the Yanyang Xuancang Flame's memories, Shi Yu knew this spiritual realm had once been a paradise of singing birds and fragrant flowers. It had become this way entirely due to the malicious thought's destruction and rampage.

“First, I need to find it.”

She sat cross-legged and extended her spiritual sense outward into her surroundings. Having comprehended a portion of the Yanyang Xuancang Flame's origin, the shifts and fluctuations in spiritual Qi within this space—which she previously could not perceive—were now completely clear to her.

A moment later, she opened her eyes and turned her head toward her side. “Over there.”

Following that direction, Shi Yu could clearly sense two spiritual Qi whirlpools—one weak and one strong—entangled and fighting with each other. It was undoubtedly the origin and the malicious thought, the two Fire Spirit Giants.

“During the time I was pulled into the fissure, the struggle between the two Fire Spirit Giants has been endless, continuing all the way until now.”

However, the situation looked grim. The malicious thought fire spirit was even stronger than before, while the origin fire spirit's aura was declining. It likely wouldn't be able to hold out much longer.

Just as Shi Yu was thinking of how to rush over and help the origin fire spirit, her brows twitched, and she murmured softly, “They're coming this way.”

When she had extended her spiritual sense to perceive them just now, they had also caught the aura of shared origin coming from her.

“In that case, I just need to wait.” She took a deep breath, stood up, and looked into the distance.

In just a brief moment, the ground vibrated with low rumbles. The two giants composed of flame fought as they headed in her direction. They grappled one moment and separated the next, fighting with the most primitive punches and kicks. Yet their blows caused spiritual Qi to collapse and space to totter, generating an earth-shattering commotion.

Shi Yu watched the two approaching giants, her mind tranquil as never before.

The two giants also cast their gazes down at her—a presence so small by comparison that she could only be called a tiny speck.

The difference in stature was like a giant elephant against an ant, yet subtly, the aura radiating from the “ant” was something no one dared to ignore.

The malicious thought fire spirit seemed to vaguely sense a threat. Upon reaching the nearby area, it stopped grappling with the other Fire Spirit Giant and accelerated straight toward Shi Yu.

In her vision, countless raging flames surged toward her, the dancing shadows of fire reflecting in her eyes as they rapidly closed in.

Shi Yu closed her eyes, sinking her mind into the origin of the Yanyang Xuancang Flame.

Instantly, she felt a vast and boundless power surging continuously within her. She sank to the ground involuntarily, wrapped in a cloud-like crimson brilliance that gently yet indisputably blocked all incoming flames.

At the same time, behind her back, a massive phantom as tall as a mountain—no smaller than the two giants—rose up.

The phantom was a young girl whose face was blurred, yet faintly revealed peerless beauty. Her eyes were closed, and she wore feather robes, her sleeves fluttering gently as if wings about to spread.

The roaring malicious thought fire spirit glared ferociously at the phantom, its ferocity unabated, yet its footsteps involuntarily slowed, revealing a hint of faint-hearted bravado.

The other Fire Spirit Giant showed a look of joy, swiftly sweeping to Shi Yu's side to protect her.

Shi Yu opened her eyes and looked toward the malicious thought fire spirit once more. The young girl formed by the phantom opened her eyes as well, looking toward the fire spirit.

Where the young girl focused her gaze was as deep as autumn waters, seemingly capable of perceiving all phenomena in the world.

Her slender waist was like a willow strand, her jade-like arms fair and pure. She raised her shoulders slightly and gently beckoned with her hand, causing the boiling flames on the malicious thought fire spirit to flutter uncontrollably.

“Roar!” The malicious thought fire spirit lunged forward in rage.

Shi Yu softly uttered, “Halt.”

The phantom girl's lips curved upward slightly. Her originally blurred features gradually became clear, allowing every subtle expression to be seen. Her red lips parted lightly as she took a soft step forward: “Halt.”

The malicious thought fire spirit's figure abruptly froze in place, unable to advance another step.

This was the suppression exerted on it by the origin power of the Yanyang Xuancang Flame.

Shi Yu gazed at the figure, the sharp edge of overwhelming flames revealing between her eyes and brow. She spoke another word: “Attract.”

The girl behind her slowly raised her palm. Continuously accumulating fire spiritual Qi formed a massive flame vortex, enveloping her inside. She exhaled lightly, took another step forward, and pushed her palm forward: “Attract.”

Instantly, the sea of fire churned.

The flames on the malicious thought fire spirit surged toward the girl like water swallowed by a giant whale.

Its aura weakened continuously as its flames drained away, and it let out roars of horror, panic, and unwillingness.

“Roar! No! No!!”

Shi Yu watched this scene with emotionless eyes, speaking the final word: “Condense.”

The girl followed, uttering: “Condense.”

As she spoke this single word, she let out a long breath, as if speaking it had exhausted all her strength.

Beneath the girl's stepping feet, fire lotuses bloomed, blossoming gracefully as she walked. Beyond this scene of lotuses springing up at every step, the pure fire spiritual Qi around her gathered into clusters, condensing into various forms of auspicious beasts as if granted life by the phantom girl.

Red birds fluttering their wings, joyful spirit foxes, and strides-taking deer... all bowed and paid homage to her, bowing repeatedly in immense awe and reverence.

The sea of fire shrank violently. The malicious thought fire spirit, which had been arrogantly invincible and thrown the entire Yanyang Spiritual Realm into chaos, let out a terrified shriek. Its form rapidly contracted; no matter how it struggled, it was to no avail. The irresistible pressure from all sides forced it to shrink from a sky-reaching existence as tall as a mountain, down and down, until it turned into a palm-sized fireball.

Even so, inside the fireball, unwilling roars still raged, and boundless resentment struggled relentlessly. The malicious thought fire spirit let out a shrill howl, a mixture of pain and despair.

The phantom girl reached out, picked up the fireball, and gently squeezed. All unwilling sounds instantly shattered and dissipated.

The world fell silent.

The phantom girl, the fire lotuses blooming beneath her feet, and the auspicious spirit beasts paying homage gradually dispersed.

Shi Yu's eyelashes trembled slightly as a sudden wave of exhaustion washed over her.

“That was truly...”

The phantom girl's sheer majesty had been far too staggering. Without the Yanyang Xuancang Flame's assistance from behind, Shi Yu would never have had the chance to unleash such a technique. Having experienced it once—even if only a single time—it was truly unforgettable.

She lay on the ground, gasping for breath. Looking up, she saw the crimson color slowly receding from the Yanyang Spiritual Realm, centered around her. The spiderweb-like ground fissures gradually closed, and light spots resembling fireflies drifted through the air with a magical glow. Wherever the light spots passed, vegetation, insects, and birds began to sprout and emerge on the once-empty land.

In just a moment, the Yanyang Spiritual Realm was completely refreshed. It was no longer a scene of endless red where no living creatures could be found. Now the sky was bright and the air clear; except for the absence of a sun, moon, and stars, it was little different from the world outside.

Shi Yu took a deep breath. It felt like someone who had lived in a cellar for a long time without coming out suddenly arriving in a lush, green landscape—instantly refreshed and invigorated.

Looking to the side, the Fire Spirit Giant that had once helped her reach the ninth layer of the Qi Refining Realm was nowhere to be seen.

“Senior?” She stood up and called out softly.

There was no response—neither from the Fire Spirit Giant nor the Yanyang Xuancang Flame.

Shi Yu guessed that the Yanyang Xuancang Flame had likely fallen into a deep sleep again, while the Fire Spirit Giant was originally formed from a strand of its origin to hold back the malicious thought. Now that the malicious thought was gone, it had probably returned to the main body.

She held out her palm, and the spark of crimson fire leapt out from it.

Shi Yu could feel that this juvenile version of the Yanyang Xuancang Flame no longer had any shackles and completely belonged to her now. As long as she refined and integrated it into herself, it would become her second natal fire.

Gaining another Heavenly Fire on this trip made it well worth the journey.

A smile broke out on her face as ripples spread around her body. “I've been delayed for so long. President Song and Master Ji must be anxious. I'll talk after going out.”