Chapter 1072: Far Escape to Hei Ya (Part 2)

Huo Rulie led Yun Che far away, completely out of the perception range of Yan Wancang and the others.

As soon as they landed, Huo Rulie impatiently gripped Yun Che's shoulders, almost roaring, “What exactly happened? How did you survive? You and your master clearly were already… Could it be some special spatial escape technique? No, no, there wouldn't have been any chance, and definitely no time to use a spatial escape.”

In his impatience, Huo Rulie asked a flurry of questions, then suddenly his eyes widened: “Your profound energy… how… what’s going on?”

He hadn’t noticed before, but now he suddenly realized that the profound energy aura emanating from Yun Che… was actually at the Divine Spirit Realm!?

Yun Che didn't answer. With a wave of his left hand, a massive shadow was released from the Sky Poison Pearl, landing on the dry ground.

A strong, gamy smell immediately assailed them. Huo Rulie took a step back, instantly speechless: “An ancient… Horned Dragon!?”

The corpse of the ancient Horned Dragon was something their Blazing Heaven Realm had coveted for hundreds of thousands of years. Originally, they thought that although the Horned Dragon had died, it had fallen into the God Burying Inferno Prison, making it impossible to obtain. In the past, they could at least hope, but now even that hope had become a shattered illusion.

Yet now, it suddenly appeared before his eyes, within arm’s reach.

Though wounded all over, it was completely intact.

In the past, with Huo Rulie’s temperament, he would have long since roared and pounced on it without restraint. But now, his eyes were wide, and his feet were as if nailed to the ground; he didn’t move an inch for a long time.

Because he felt unworthy to touch it.

“After its death, this Horned Dragon almost fell into the inferno like the first one. This is the result of my master pouring out everything, nearly perishing in the process. I couldn’t let it vanish for nothing, so I managed to retrieve it,” Yun Che said with exceptional calm. To be precise, it was the result of his and Mu Xuanyin’s combined life-or-death struggle.

“According to our original agreement, our Snow Song Realm and your Blazing Heaven Realm… one half each,” Yun Che said.

“Uh…” Huo Rulie stared blankly at Yun Che, speechless for a long time.

If no accident had occurred and Mu Xuanyin had successfully hunted the Horned Dragon, they would have taken their half with peace of mind. After all, even though it relied entirely on Mu Xuanyin’s power, the ancient Horned Dragon was an object of their Blazing Heaven Realm.

However, a huge accident occurred, and they had not heeded Yun Che's advice. To avoid even a “possible minor mishap,” they had ignored his solemn vow and desperate pleas, which resulted in the presumed demise of Mu Xuanyin and Yun Che. That they were still alive was already unbelievable to them.

Now, facing the Horned Dragon’s corpse, how could they possibly have the face to claim half?

Moreover, they had all believed that both Horned Dragons, after their deaths, had sunk into the God Burying Inferno Prison and were incinerated into nothingness. Yun Che, having survived, could justifiably keep the entire Horned Dragon for himself. Even if they knew, they would have nothing to say.

“You… really… giving us half?” Huo Rulie’s voice trembled; he still couldn’t believe it.

“Of course, that was the agreement,” Yun Che replied.

“…” Huo Rulie took a deep breath, pressing his hands heavily on Yun Che’s shoulders. “Yun Che, do you know what this Horned Dragon means to our Blazing Heaven Realm? You… you saved my Ye’er’s life; I already can’t repay that. Now… now you’ve brought such a great favor again; I couldn’t repay it even if I gave you my old life.”

Yun Che smiled. “To be frank, if it were just me, I definitely wouldn’t divide the Horned Dragon with you. But this was the result of my master’s agreement with you. Even if you wronged my master and almost caused her to perish in the inferno, my master and my Snow Song Realm would never go back on their word. My master, when she awakens, would certainly make the same decision… Please convey these words to Sect Master Yan and Sect Master Lie.”

“…” Huo Rulie nodded heavily. “Alright.”

“Then, Sect Master Huo, please temporarily take custody of the Horned Dragon’s body. After keeping half, please trouble yourself to hand over the other half to the Snow Song Realm,” Yun Che continued.

Huo Rulie was startled, asking in confusion, “For me to keep? Why don't you take it back to the Snow Song Realm first, and then your Snow Song Realm keeps half before giving us the other half?”

Yun Che’s gaze was complex, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he said, “Sect Master Huo, the reason this junior wished to meet you alone is that I have three requests. Please…”

“Speak your mind!” Huo Rulie waved his hand without hesitation. “Just say the word, and I won’t even frown.”

He was someone who absolutely detested owing favors. Yun Che had previously saved Huo Ye’s life and now proactively offered the long-desired Horned Dragon. These two were the greatest favors he had received in over ten thousand years of his life. Yun Che asking for his help meant he was almost too happy to refuse.

However, he had already sensed that Yun Che was clearly preoccupied.

Yun Che’s gaze turned to the Horned Dragon’s corpse. “My master suddenly mentioned wanting the complete Horned Dragon Heart from this creature, and it was actually for me. This junior’s cultivation is low, so I cannot cut open the Horned Dragon’s body. Therefore, I ask Sect Master Huo to please extract the Horned Dragon Heart.”

“That’s simple!”

Huo Rulie didn't ask another question. He soared up, and a flash of fire later, the dragon’s belly was already sliced open.

Given the might of an ancient Horned Dragon, under normal circumstances, even with all his strength, Huo Rulie would find it impossible to harm it in the slightest. However, in death, without its dragon power protecting it, it wasn't too difficult for Huo Rulie to damage its body.

Potent profound energy sealed the dragon’s blood. Under Huo Rulie’s spiritual perception, he quickly located the dragon heart. With a slight change of hand gesture, he easily extracted it, and the cut-open dragon belly was then sealed with profound energy.

Although the Horned Dragon was massive, its heart was remarkably “small,” less than a meter in size.

“Catch the dragon heart!”

Huo Rulie gently pushed the Horned Dragon Heart he held in his hand.

Yun Che immediately reached out, took the Horned Dragon Heart, and then stored it in the Sky Poison Pearl.

After the Qilin Horn, the Ancient Dragon Heart was also in his possession. Remaining were the Wood Spirit Pearl, Imperial Immortal Grass, and Nine-Star Buddha God Jade.

Although Mu Xuanyin’s incredibly powerful Ice Phoenix Primordial Yin allowed his profound cultivation to break through to the Divine Spirit Realm in one go, there were only two short years left until the Profound God Convention.

The progress in the Divine Spirit Realm would undoubtedly be much slower and more difficult than in the Divine Origin Realm. Based on his progress in the Divine Origin Realm, even if he could stay in the Snow Song Realm and rely on its top-tier resources and the spiritual energy of the Netherfrost Heavenly Lake, it would be almost impossible for him to break through to the Divine Tribulation Realm within two years.

Not to mention that he would be all alone, without reliance or support.

The only hope he could rely on was the “Five-Qiong Heaven and Earth Divine Pill.” Before the Profound God Convention, he could only rely entirely on his own strength to find the remaining three materials.

“Secondly…” Yun Che said, “Sect Master Huo, I’ve heard that over the past millennium, you personally traveled many times to a star realm called the Blackflame Realm to purchase Wood Spirit Pearls for Brother Huo Ye?”

Huo Rulie’s eyebrows twitched violently, then quickly softened. “Poyun told you, didn’t he? Ah, this matter… is indeed difficult to speak of. After all… behind every Wood Spirit Pearl is a cruelly hunted Wood Spirit. This is also the most idiotic thing I’ve done in my life.”

“Sect Master Huo’s eagerness to save his son is understandable,” Yun Che said earnestly. “Sect Master Huo, is the spatial profound formation leading to the Blackflame Realm still active? This junior has an urgent matter and wishes to go to the Blackflame Realm.”

After a slight pause, he truthfully stated his purpose: “This junior wishes to seek a Wood Spirit Pearl!”

“Hm?” Huo Rulie was surprised, but he was, after all, the Golden Crow Sect Master, and he quickly understood, musing, “So, you want to go to the underground black market there to find a Wood Spirit Pearl? Could it be… for your master’s injuries? Oh… no, that can’t be right.”

Yun Che: “…”

“Look at me, I’m being nosy.” Huo Rulie lightly patted his mouth. Without further questions, he directly said, “Don’t worry, that profound formation is not only still there, but its remaining energy should be just enough for one more teleportation.”

“That’s excellent.” Yun Che secretly sighed in relief. “Then, Sect Master Huo, please grant me the… sound transmission jade of that underground merchant association.”

“This…” Huo Rulie looked troubled, then said, “It’s not that I don’t want to give it to you, but those underground merchant associations operate with extreme secrecy. They only regularly and secretly receive guests they completely trust. As for sound transmission, even if an outsider obtains their sound transmission jade, they wouldn’t be able to transmit messages to them at all.”

The hunting of Wood Spirits is strictly prohibited by the Heaven’s Mystery God Realm. If the Heaven’s Mystery God Realm were to find out, the consequences would be dire. Therefore, these underground merchant associations that sell Wood Spirit Pearls are extremely cautious… Moreover, besides Wood Spirit Pearls, they also deal in even more forbidden items.

“Then… what about their location?” Yun Che frowned.

“No matter which underground merchant association, none of them have a fixed location…” Halfway through, Huo Rulie suddenly slapped his forehead. “Oh, right!”

With that, he searched in his spatial ring for a long time, then simultaneously pulled out a black round jade and a crimson token.

“Over the years, I’ve traveled back and forth to the Blackflame Realm, buying over a dozen Wood Spirit Pearls. Because Wood Spirits are becoming scarcer, and hunting them is an act against the Heavenly Way, the risks are extremely high, causing the price of Wood Spirit Pearls to become increasingly expensive. To buy these dozen or so Wood Spirit Pearls, I paid a huge price, but in exchange, I gained enough trust from that underground merchant association that they gave me this black jade.”

“This black jade is useless and shows no peculiarities elsewhere, but once you reach Blackflame City in the Blackflame Realm, it will automatically react and guide you to someone from the underground merchant association. However, each black jade corresponds to a fixed owner, so even if you use it to find someone from the association, they definitely won’t take you to their location… But, if you also have my Sect Master’s token, which proves my identity, there should be no problem.”

With that, Huo Rulie placed the black jade and the Sect Master’s token into Yun Che’s hand. “Those underground merchant associations have survived for so many years, naturally possessing extremely strong methods of survival. This is all I can do. If it still doesn’t work, you can always come back to me, and I’ll personally get a Wood Spirit Pearl for you.”

“Thank you for your generosity, Sect Master Huo, but this junior believes it’s better to go by myself.” Yun Che put away the black jade and the Golden Crow Sect Master token.

“Haha, good.” Huo Rulie laughed. “I thought these were major issues, but they’re merely trifles. What’s the third matter? This third one must be more substantial, right?”

“The third matter… will surely be quite difficult for Sect Master Huo,” Yun Che said.

Huo Rulie grandly waved his hand. “Just say the word. If I hesitate, I’ll be your grandson. Speak freely.”

Yun Che sighed softly, his expression becoming quite complex. “This junior’s last request of Sect Master Huo… is to ask Sect Master Huo to lie for this junior in front of my master.”

“Lie…?” Huo Rulie was instantly dumbfounded.

“Due to an unavoidable reason, this junior must temporarily leave the Snow Song Realm. My upcoming trip to the Blackflame Realm cannot be known by anyone, especially my master… Therefore, Sect Master Huo, please do not tell my master or the others my whereabouts. Just say… just say I left northward and my whereabouts are unknown.”

“This junior knows that Sect Master Huo has an upright character and would never stoop to lying… But for this matter, I earnestly ask Sect Master Huo to agree.”

Huo Rulie remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, “I was just wondering why you would hand over the Horned Dragon to me first instead of taking it back to the sect, and even more so, why you would want to personally go to a dangerous place like the Blackflame Realm. If you needed a Wood Spirit Pearl, sending anyone competent from the sect would be much more suitable and safer than you… So, it turns out you are preparing to leave the Snow Song Realm.”

Yun Che: “…”

“Why?” Huo Rulie frowned deeply, completely perplexed.

“Because of an unavoidable reason and something I must do. Please, Sect Master Huo, do not press for further details.” He absolutely could not reveal the true reason, as it concerned Mu Xuanyin’s reputation.

“Mm…” Huo Rulie didn’t press further, but seemed to understand, nodding slowly. He put away the ancient Horned Dragon, then pulled Yun Che along. “Alright, let’s go!”

Without greeting Yan Wancang or Mu Bingyun, he deliberately avoided their spiritual perceptions and headed directly south.

Blazing Heaven Realm, Golden Crow Sect.

As Huo Rulie blasted out a flame, a miniature dimensional profound formation slowly lit up before them.

“The remaining energy is indeed enough for one more activation,” Huo Rulie said, retracting his palm. “After you enter, you’ll be teleported to a random location above Blackflame City. This is a one-way teleportation profound formation. If you want to return, you’ll need to find another teleportation array point that leads to the Blazing Heaven Realm or the Snow Song Realm, and it will cost a large amount of purple stones and purple crystals.”

“…Unless my master finds me, I probably won’t be back anytime soon,” Yun Che muttered to himself. Then, he walked directly into the teleportation array.

“Wait!” Huo Rulie called out to him, then pulled out a jade stone emitting a dazzling golden light.

“Nine-Yang Jade,” Yun Che instantly called out its name. It was identical to the one the Golden Crow soul spirit had given him in the Illusory Demon Realm.

“Oh? You actually know its name.” Huo Rulie placed it in Yun Che’s hand. “Nine-Yang Jade is its ancient name; nowadays, it’s generally called Golden Crow Jade. It’s on the same level as the Vermillion Bird Jade you possess and is also our Blazing Heaven Realm’s highest-grade energy jade. Your profound ark is very… peculiar, so perhaps you’ll find use for this.”

Yun Che didn’t decline, accepting it gratefully.

“Yun Che, there’s a question you must answer for me.” Huo Rulie’s gaze suddenly became extremely solemn.

“Please speak, Sect Master Huo,” Yun Che said.

“You… truly submerged yourself to the bottom of the God Burying Inferno Prison?”

As he asked this, Huo Rulie’s eyes were fixed on Yun Che’s, glimmering with a strange light that Yun Che couldn’t comprehend.

“…” Yun Che turned around and walked toward the dimensional profound formation. “I’d like to say that it was just me speaking carelessly out of concern for my master’s safety, but… I don’t want to deceive Sect Master Huo. Please forget about this matter.”

As his voice faded, he had already entered the profound formation, and a dimensional profound light enveloped him.

Yun Che’s words were undoubtedly an admission. Huo Rulie’s mind buzzed lightly, and after a moment of stunned silence, he suddenly lunged forward, roaring, “Yun Che, wait…”

A flash!

With a dimensional shift, Yun Che’s figure, along with the dissipating profound light, vanished from his sight.

Huo Rulie stood rooted to the spot, his expression and gaze constantly shifting. After a long while, he slowly calmed down.

If he truly submerged himself to the bottom of the God Burying Inferno Prison, then wouldn't that mean…

Phew… it would likely be a problem for him. However, if he could one day return to the Blazing Heaven Realm…

“In his early twenties, with elemental talent far surpassing Poyun, the ability to heal even Ye’er in just three days, and reaching the Divine Spirit Realm within merely half a year of arriving in the God Realm… This young man, who rescued Mu Xuanyin from the claws of an ancient Horned Dragon that even I couldn’t approach…” Huo Rulie sighed deeply. “His future is unimaginable.”

Yun Che left the Blazing Heaven Realm and, at the same time, the Snow Song Realm, where he had developed deep feelings… heading to a completely unknown star realm called the Blackflame Realm.

As someone who had been in the God Realm for less than a year after arriving from the lower realms, he had immediately gained opportunities and protection that even profound practitioners of the God Realm dared not hope for. In the Snow Song Realm, he could enjoy the realm’s finest resources and rely on its most powerful backing. All he needed to do was cultivate, without needing to guard against or fear any storms.

However, after causing a monumental disaster, he was forced to leave this haven forged of ice and snow.

Having left the Snow Song Realm, he was like a lone boat, drifting towards the boundless ocean of the God Realm. In the future, he could only face the unknown turbulent waves ahead by himself.