Nether Fire

Xu Xian said, "I'm not leaving."

Chi Ji asked, "Are you tired of living?"

"Aren't you staying too?" Xu Xian countered.

"Are you and I the same?"

"How are we different?"

Chi Ji replied, "I have my father's protection. What do you have?"

Xu Xian smiled slightly. "I have you."

Chi Ji froze, dazed for a long moment before regaining her composure. She spat, "Bah! Who belongs to you?"

Xu Xian blinked, thinking to himself that he hadn't meant it that way.

He clarified, "What I meant was, I have you covering for me."

Chi Ji rubbed her forehead, unsure whether to be happy or upset.

She was pleased by the youth's trust in her, but could she really protect Bai Mang? It seemed unlikely...

"Sigh... You think too highly of me."

Xu Xian's gaze was burning and exceptionally serious. "Woman."

"Hmm?"

"Never say you're not up to the task."

That sounded a bit strange.

Xu Xian comforted her, "Listen, as long as you don't betray me, no one will know I exist, so I won't be in danger. I trust you."

Chi Ji pouted. It seemed true enough; as long as she didn't speak, who could possibly trace anything back to him?

Bai Mang was merely a third-class mortal demon. Even if he walked right in front of them, those of the heavenly demon race wouldn't spare him a second glance.

Furthermore, on some level, she actually wanted Bai Mang to stay.

She extended her small hand and pouted. "Fine, if you won't leave, then give my things back."

Xu Xian tilted his head, looking at Chi Ji with a bewildered expression. "Things? What things?"

Meanwhile, his hand skillfully tucked the storage bag into the Divine Sword Pool.

Chi Ji's eyes widened. "The money I just gave you!"

"What money?"

"The storage bag I just gave you. Give it back!"

Xu Xian shook his head. "No can do. I can't return it."

Chi Ji was stunned. "Why not?"

Xu Xian said lazily, "Where's the logic in asking for money back after you've already given it away?"

"How can you be like this?"

"Like what?"

Chi Ji was fuming. How could someone be so shameless?

She said indignantly, "You won't leave, and yet you're taking my money. You want to have it both ways! Do you have no shame?"

Xu Xian shrugged indifferently, as if it were only natural. "Someone once told me that one can indeed have both the fish and the bear's paw. Shame? What's shame worth?"

Chi Ji's eyes were round with shock. Her mind was filled with a single phrase: utterly brazen!

Xu Xian's eyes darted around, and he suddenly added, "By the way, I took a look inside. There are only a few tens of thousands of shadow soul stones. When do you plan on giving me the rest?"

Chi Ji tilted her head. "Give you what?"

Xu Xian said solemnly, "The reward. We had a deal—I kill those people, and you give me a million shadow soul stones. Surely, you aren't going to go back on your word, are you?"

He really is shameless!

Chi Ji felt numb to it all and didn't bother arguing. She leaned back against the wooden chair and said nonchalantly, "I don't have the money. If you insist on it, I won't deny the debt, but you'll have to go ask my father for it."

Xu Xian scoffed and dropped the subject, somewhat dejected.

Chi Ji had finally gained the upper hand for once. After having her say, the resentment in her eyes faded slightly.

Only fire can fight fire; to deal with a rogue like Bai Mang, one had to be even more of a rogue...

Chi Ji sat idly at the table, her hand fiddling with an orange-yellow flower petal. She asked casually, "What are your plans next? Do you intend to keep living in this inn?"

Xu Xian replied offhandedly, "Where else would I go?"

Chi Ji thought for a moment and said, "Do you need me to find you a job? I have some connections here in Nether Capital."

Xu Xian complained, "Please, don't. It's best if we avoid meeting as much as possible. If people misunderstand our relationship, I won't be able to keep my cover."

Chi Ji gave him a sharp look and said insincerely, "Who'd want you anyway? This place is so dilapidated; this entire Yuelai Inn isn't even as big as a single latrine in my house. I don't even want to be here. It stinks."

Xu Xian's eyes shifted as he seized the opportunity. "If you feel bad about owing me money and want to help, there actually is something I need from you."

Chi Ji rolled her eyes. She was truly impressed; a goddess was sitting right in front of him, yet all he could think about was that million-stone ransom?

Couldn't he think about anything else?

She asked impatiently, "What kind of help?"

Xu Xian got straight to the point. "Have you ever heard of a method to refine shadow soul stones?"

Chi Ji tilted her head, her large eyes filled with confusion.

Fearing she didn't understand, Xu Xian explained further, "I mean, can these shadow soul stones be refined and forged into other things? Like swords or armor?"

Chi Ji knit her brows, curious. "Why are you suddenly asking about this?"

"I have my uses," Xu Xian said.

Chi Ji nodded thoughtfully and uttered a single word. "Yes."

Xu Xian's interest was immediately piqued, his eyes full of intense anticipation. So, it really was possible?

Even the little book spirit tilted its head, listening intently.

Feeling the heat of Xu Xian's gaze, Chi Ji felt somewhat uncomfortable. After composing her thoughts, she spoke slowly, "In the records of the heavenly demon race, there is a type of fire that can melt shadow soul stones. It makes the stone soft without disintegrating it, allowing it to be reshaped."

Xu Xian subconsciously leaned forward.

Chi Ji emphasized each word, "This fire is called the nether fire."

"Nether fire?" Xu Xian repeated softly.

Chi Ji confirmed, "Yes, nether fire. According to the records, it is an azure blue flame. Although it is fire, it is colder than frost and snow. When it burns, the world is covered in frost. Some people call it cold fire or ice fire. It is an extremely rare variant fire."

In the vast world, there were no limits to its wonders.

Black wasn't always black.

White wasn't always white.

It was hardly surprising that fire could be something other than hot.

Shadow soul stones were themselves unusual ores. They were born in the Nether Pool and floated above the Ruoshui without any gravity. Yet, once removed from the Ruoshui, a piece the size of a fist weighed ten kilograms.

Furthermore...

There was another magical aspect: since the moment they were harvested, every shadow soul stone was roughly the size of a fist. Even if the shapes varied slightly, their weight and size were almost identical.

It was as if someone had deliberately carved them that way. If one didn't know better, who would believe these shadow soul stones were formed naturally within the Nether Pool?

Since they were an anomaly among stones, it was only logical to use an anomaly among fires to forge them.

Xu Xian hurriedly followed up, "Where can this nether fire be found?"

Chi Ji didn't understand why Xu Xian was so obsessed with this, but she could see he was more interested in this than in money.

She shook her head blankly. "This fire cannot be found. It's a demonic art—the Nether Fire Secret Art. It is kept within the Demon Dao Tower. I've heard people say that this art was left behind by the Supreme Nether Lord. Records state that only he knew how to use it. Since his time, no one else has been able to manifest this fire."

She paused before adding:

"By the way, the long table in the Demon God Hall was crafted from shadow soul stones. It's massive. They say the Demon Lord forged it using nether fire to refine shadow soul stones back in the day."