Chapter 1953: Chessboard

Wuxia and Xianxia

***

The Fire Domain.

Here, even the wind had a form—that of flames.

Blazing infernos roared across the surface of the magma, coming and going.

Above and below, no color could be seen except crimson.

Occasionally, ‘splashes’ could be seen in the magma, as strange figures flashed in and out of sight.

This was a pure ocean of magma; no land was visible anywhere. Only fire beasts with special bloodlines and fire spirits nurtured by the blazing flames could survive here indefinitely.

They showed no fear of the environment, moving freely through the magma like fish.

Suddenly, the fiery winds here paused for a moment, and two illusory figures gradually appeared.

These two were Ling Shi and Gui Hou.

Gui Hou had a fire jade centipede coiled around his arm, seemingly communicating with it, then pointed downwards.

“Fellow Daoist Ling, this is the place! Lord Vermilion Bird mentioned before that some Dark Devil Lilies grow beneath this magma. I'm just not sure if their medicinal properties meet your requirements.”

“Dark Devil Lilies prefer to grow in places where the power of blazing flames is most concentrated and violent, absorbing fire toxins as their nourishment. The environment greatly influences their quality. If I were using them for myself, high-grade Dark Devil Lilies would suffice, but this time, I need to refine a potent poison requested by the senior, so supreme-grade quality is essential.”

Ling Shi subtly twitched his nose, using a secret technique to sense the surroundings, and nodded. “This place is good; there’s a chance for supreme-grade Dark Devil Lilies to be nurtured here. Let’s go down and see!”

The two plummeted downwards. The magma parted on its own, then closed up again in the blink of an eye, returning to normal.

The magma was unfathomably deep.

Gui Hou led the way, continuously descending, and asked via spiritual message, “Fellow Daoist Ling, do you mean that at most only a few plants in the entire patch can reach supreme-grade quality? How many are needed to refine the potent poison?”

“The more, the better!” Ling Shi replied.

“Hiss!”

Gui Hou frowned. “In the entire Fire Domain, there likely aren’t many places like this. Moreover, once they reach a certain scale, they’re usually cordoned off. The Three Sects of the Fire Domain are all proficient in fire-attribute Daoist arts, and there are various large and small forces. Even if they don’t cultivate Dark Devil Lilies, they could still turn these areas into medicinal fields.”

“Let’s just do our best. It’s not our only option! Besides, the senior possesses immense divine abilities; he’s bound to have a solution. If he wanted to unify the Fire Domain, wouldn’t it be effortless?” Ling Shi said with a relaxed tone.

After being brought back by Qin Sang, Ling Shi was initially somewhat uneasy, but now he felt completely at ease.

Here, he only needed to focus intently on comprehending the Dao of Poison and developing various potent poisons. Whatever his requirements, Qin Sang would fully support him.

Such treatment was usually reserved for grandmasters of alchemy.

Although it was said that alchemy and poison arts were inseparable, Ling Shi did understand some alchemy techniques. However, his poison cultivation was not entirely focused on refining poisons, and lacking an alchemical heritage, he ultimately couldn't compare to a true grandmaster of alchemy.

The cost was restricted freedom, but he had already been targeted by the Soul-Shattering Abyss, leaving him no choice.

Gui Hou, however, couldn't be as casual as Ling Shi. He shook his head and said, “That may be so, but as subordinates, we should do our best to alleviate our master’s worries.”

As they spoke, the two descended to an extremely deep location.

Here, the temperature not only didn't decrease, but the intense, chaotic aura nurtured by heaven and earth grew even stronger.

Gradually, the magma became indistinguishable to the naked eye, transforming into pure streams of fire flowing towards this place from all directions.

It was hard to imagine what kind of apocalyptic scene these forces would unleash if they erupted.

“Cultivators of the Fire Domain call this place a Blazing Pool. The power of blazing flames transforms here. In a powerful Blazing Pool, we must be cautious. The Dark Devil Lilies are connected to the Blazing Pool’s qi, so be careful when harvesting them to avoid agitating the pool into a rampage.”

Gui Hou warned.

As he spoke, they descended a bit further, deliberately slowing their pace.

The surrounding scenery changed rapidly, and even the two Spirit Transformation cultivators felt an instinctive sense of oppression.

Without any warning, the surroundings suddenly became calm.

Here, not a trace of turbulence could be seen.

Despite the tranquility, there was a profound sense of eeriness, as if immense power was accumulated here, ready to erupt at any moment and destroy everything.

There was fire here too, burning quietly. The flames were a faint blue, gently flickering, surprisingly giving off a delicate feeling.

They cautiously entered this space, avoiding the flames, and before long found a patch of shadow within the blue fire.

The shadow wasn't entirely dark; it emitted a dark blue light.

Within the light, a few scattered flowers, shaped like lilies, had petals that were also dark blue—some deep, some lighter in color.

There was no soil here; they floated, and it was clear to see that countless blue rootlets grew from their bases. These rootlets would extend into the flames, drawing 'nutrients' from the fire.

“One, two… there are actually five supreme-grade Dark Devil Lilies!”

Ling Shi's face lit up with joy; he had initially thought there would be at most two or three plants.

He flashed beside one supreme-grade Dark Devil Lily, extending his right hand towards its root ball.

His fingers gently flickered, emitting strange ripples that enveloped the root ball.

Ling Shi was fully focused, his movements gentle yet decisive. He carefully cupped the root ball, then patiently picked out the rootlets from the flames, one by one.

Harvesting a single Dark Devil Lily took about ten days.

Gui Hou watched him extract a complete plant, then also offered to help.

Just as the two were engrossed in harvesting the spiritual flowers, they suddenly sensed something, stopped their actions, and exchanged glances.

“Someone has entered!” Gui Hou said in a deep voice.

Innumerable fire beasts and spirits lived within this magma, making it inherently chaotic.

While harvesting medicine in the Blazing Pool, it was impossible for them to perceive every subtle external fluctuation. If someone merely passed nearby, they wouldn't have been alerted.

However, the newcomer was unusual, seeming to be frantically fleeing from a pursuit, having plunged headfirst into this area.

Gui Hou and Ling Shi both had sufficient composure and did not act rashly. They deduced the direction of the uninvited guest’s movement by the source of the disturbance.

“They’re not heading here,” Gui Hou’s expression softened slightly.

No sooner had he spoken than they sensed another aura, following close behind.

Ling Shi murmured, “Just as I thought,” then added in surprise, “It’s actually two Spirit Transformation cultivators!”

In the Fire Domain, Spirit Transformation cultivators were not abundant, yet they encountered two at once, and they were engaged in a chase.

“It might be someone from the Three Sects of the Fire Domain, but it’s not our concern. Our main task is more important,” Gui Hou shook his head, but then saw Ling Shi’s unusual expression.

“The one behind is a Corpse Devil from the Soul-Shattering Abyss!”

Ling Shi’s eyes glinted coldly, and he sneered, “These abominable creatures, neither human nor ghost, their stench of corpses—I can smell it even through the magma!”

***

Upper layer.

A crimson streak of light swiftly traversed the magma.

Within the escaping light was a burly man. If Qin Sang were here, he would recognize him: this was Fu Xiao from the Six-Harmonies Gate. When Qin Sang’s avatar destroyed the sand bandits, he had once drawn Fu Xiao to that location.

At this moment, Fu Xiao’s robust and sturdy body was hunched, his face ashen, clearly having sustained significant injuries.

A bloody hole was glaringly present on his chest, and his cultivation robe had been torn through.

The wound almost went through to his back, and his internal organs had inevitably suffered severe damage.

The most troublesome issue wasn't the wound itself, but a layer of green flames on its surface.

This green fire was like a maggot in the bone, clinging to his flesh, preventing the wound from healing, and devouring the host’s vitality. Even consuming numerous healing elixirs was futile.

`Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!`

As he sped along, Fu Xiao conjured a hand seal and spat out a ball of spiritual fire.

The spiritual fire landed on his chest, intertwined with the green flames, but couldn't extinguish them.

He spat out several more bursts in succession, only managing to temporarily suppress the green flames.

Moreover, he discovered an even more terrifying phenomenon: the green flames were silently invading his internal organs.

Under normal circumstances, he would have several ways to extinguish the green flames, but now he was severely injured and pursued, his situation precarious, rendering any method useless.

He silently calculated the distance to his sect, growing even more anxious. If this continued, he would perish at the hands of the demon before reaching his sect.

He had accidentally stumbled upon the Corpse Devil’s whereabouts but hadn't anticipated another hidden ambush. One moment of carelessness led to a sneak attack, and the magical artifact he used to contact his sect was also destroyed. It was a truly desperate situation, with no help from heaven or earth.

Behind him, that sinister aura relentlessly pursued, rapidly closing in.

What pursued him was a streak of green flames, strikingly conspicuous within the magma.

Fu Xiao cultivated the Six-Harmonies Gate’s true legacy technique, moving through the magma like a fish in water, his escape speed like lightning. Yet, these green flames were surprisingly not inferior!

Within the green flames was also a tall figure, appearing even more robust than Fu Xiao. This was one of the individuals disturbed when Qin Sang activated the bronze pillar.

The whereabouts of the others were unknown; only the tall man was left pursuing Fu Xiao alone.

“Hmph! If Lord Feiluo hadn’t returned to report and Rou Ji hadn’t been injured, how could you have escaped alive! Stay right there!”

The tall man let out a cold shout. His cultivation robe flared, and streams of green flames suddenly erupted from his entire body, instantly transforming him into a man of fire.

The green flames spread, instantly dyeing the surrounding magma green. The green magma immediately transformed from scorching hot to chillingly cold.

The green flames spread at an astonishing speed. No sooner had Fu Xiao sensed something amiss than he was surrounded by the green magma, and an instinctive warning flared within him.

Without any warning, a ghostly white claw extended from within the green flames. Its five fingers, like sharp swords, clawed at his back.

If that claw had landed squarely, Fu Xiao would surely have faced a grim fate.

Fortunately, he had prepared in advance. A fiery red pattern, composed of flames, appeared on his back. It resembled a Bagua symbol but had subtle differences.

As the Bagua Fire Diagram appeared, a muffled thunderous sound immediately echoed.

Struck by the ghostly claw, the fire diagram violently vibrated and cracked but successfully blocked the claw for an instant.

Fu Xiao seized the opportunity to dash forward, expecting to distance himself from his pursuer, but unexpectedly felt a gust of chilling wind.

The ghostly claw appeared and disappeared unpredictably, suddenly materializing before him and striking directly at his face.

Fu Xiao was greatly alarmed, but amidst his panic, a hint of ruthlessness was hidden. He opened his mouth wide and spat out not flames, but a bead.

This bead shone with extraordinary brilliance. Named the Scarlet Seal Pearl, it was a treasure Fu Xiao relied heavily on. Now, to escape, he could only regrettably destroy it!

`Whoosh!`

The Scarlet Seal Pearl shot towards the ghostly claw. The claw immediately sensed something amiss, retracted its five fingers, and attempted to retreat into the green magma.

However, the ghostly claw was too close to Fu Xiao, and Fu Xiao had planned this for a long time, his timing extremely precise.

`Boom!` The Scarlet Seal Pearl exploded, and a fire serpent, carrying all its fragments, lunged out menacingly.

A roar erupted from within the magma. The ghostly claw had no time to retreat, so it simply didn't withdraw. Its five fingers suddenly spread open, revealing a black eye embedded in its palm, which rotated left and right like a living creature, appearing extremely bizarre.

With a blink of the eye, a black ray shot from its pupil, meeting the fire serpent formed by the Scarlet Seal Pearl.

At the moment the two forces collided, a shadowy figure faintly appeared behind the ghostly claw, retreating rapidly.

The Scarlet Seal Pearl possessed immense power, instantly destroying the black ray.

The tall man appeared quite disheveled but hadn't sustained any severe injuries; he had managed to evade almost all of them.

However, this patch of green fire that had permeated the magma could not be sustained.

Fu Xiao seized the opportunity to escape. He flicked his sleeve, sending several streaks of light shooting towards his enemy, then, without looking at the result, he pinpointed a direction and fled with all his might.

He recalled a Six-Harmonies Gate ruin from several millennia ago.

The brief confrontation suddenly worsened Fu Xiao’s injuries. He knew that with his own strength alone, it would be almost impossible to escape the demon’s clutches.

He hoped the ruin was still there; it would be his only hope!

***

Meanwhile.

Gui Hou and Ling Shi temporarily stopped harvesting herbs and quietly left the Blazing Pool.

They didn't get too close to the battle, but from the fluctuations emanating from it, they could deduce a fairly accurate picture.

“It’s the Six-Harmonies Gate’s Azure Peak Art!” Gui Hou didn't often venture out, but he had knowledge of the surrounding forces, especially the Three Sects of the Fire Domain.

“A Corpse Devil from the Soul-Shattering Abyss chasing a Six-Harmonies Gate master here—don’t you find that strange, Fellow Daoist?”

Ling Shi was eager to act. “The Soul-Shattering Abyss is extending its demonic reach into the Fire Domain again; there must be a major conspiracy! We should investigate thoroughly to be prepared, lest we disturb the Daoist site and disrupt the senior’s cultivation when the time comes!”

Gui Hou glanced at Ling Shi, knowing that Ling Shi had a grudge against the Soul-Shattering Abyss and likely wanted to seize this opportunity to vent his frustration.

Ling Shi’s words did hold some truth.

However, Gui Hou also had to consider whether, if they acted rashly, they might provoke the Soul-Shattering Abyss Patriarch when there was originally no issue.

Gui Hou had followed Qin Sang from the Talisman World to the Great Thousand World. He knew that Qin Sang certainly hadn’t broken through to the Void Refinement stage through normal means, and might not gain an advantage against true Void Refinement cultivators. He should stabilize his foundation, and the later he interacted with them, the better.

“Don’t worry, Fellow Daoist. This fellow isn’t a very important figure in the Soul-Shattering Abyss, and he’s certainly not the only one who has infiltrated the Fire Domain. The old demon has several late-stage Spirit Transformation devils under his command. Losing one Corpse Devil wouldn’t even make the old demon bat an eyelid,” Ling Shi asserted confidently.

Just as they were debating, they suddenly heard a voice.

They immediately stopped, showing respectful expressions, listened intently for a moment, and then simultaneously bowed towards the void.

“As you command!”

Only after the voice faded did they straighten up.

Ling Shi laughed heartily, “As expected, the senior already saw through everything!”

Gui Hou offered no comment, looked ahead, and hurried away. “Fellow Daoist Ling, we need to thoroughly discuss our plan. The master requires him to be captured alive, so it must be foolproof. From now on, we’ll have to rely on your poison arts.”

“No problem! Corpse Devils from the Soul-Shattering Abyss constantly temper their corpse poison, so ordinary toxins are ineffective against them. However, my poison arts are an exception; I’ll ensure he never returns alive!”

***

Inside the Daoist site.

Qin Sang’s main body sat cross-legged on a stone bed, surrounded by twinkling stars.