Chapter 117: Netherworld Ghost Fire

Liang Yan stood on the ground and gestured with a hand incantation.

In mid-air, the Red Pine Needles scattered and swirled, transforming into a sea of deep crimson flames. Then, they surged backward, retreating into a small mahogany box in Liang Yan’s hand.

He put the box away with a look of satisfaction, only to hear Zhao Xunzhen speak from beside him:

"Congratulations, Brother Liang, on obtaining such a supreme treasure. This divine needle possesses the power of the South Ming Li Fire; I fear that anyone below the Foundation Establishment stage would struggle to withstand a single burst of its might!"

"Haha, this is all thanks to your secret techniques, Miss Zhao. However, since I have promised you a favor, I will do my utmost to assist you later, provided it is within the limits of my own capabilities."

"Good!" Zhao Xunzhen looked at him deeply. "I trust that Brother Liang is a person who keeps his word."

Liang Yan smiled slightly, said nothing more, and walked side-by-side with Zhao Xunzhen toward the rear of the stone platform.

The platform was surprisingly vast; it took the two of them half an incense stick’s time to reach the opposite side.

Before them lay yet another bridge made of flaming stone, stretching gloomily into the distance.

However, the flames on either side of this path were peculiar. Instead of the deep red seen previously, they glowed with an eerie blue light. Furthermore, these flames flickered intermittently, wavering on the sides of the stone bridge as if they might be extinguished at any moment.

Liang Yan frowned, staring intently at the strange, ghostly blue flames. Yet, no matter how he observed them, he could not feel a shred of heat or power from the fire; instead, he felt a chilling, sinister aura.

He turned to look at Zhao Xunzhen, only to find her expression calm, as if this were entirely expected.

"Miss Zhao, did you foresee the existence of these blue flames?" Liang Yan asked tentatively.

Zhao Xunzhen did not evade the question, frankly admitting, "Indeed. This fire is known as the Nether Ghost Fire, said to originate from the underworld itself."

"The underworld? Does such a place truly exist in this world?" Liang Yan murmured.

"That is beyond my knowledge, but this Nether Ghost Fire is undeniably real. It is said to strip away a person’s life force. Once it latches onto you, it is as persistent as a maggot in the bone—truly treacherous."

"So dangerous!" Liang Yan nodded, then asked, "Do you have a way to cross this flaming stone bridge, Miss Zhao?"

"There is a way, but it may require the use of your Li Fire Divine Needle!"

"Haha, why not? As long as we can cross safely, feel free to borrow it," Liang Yan said with a faint smile.

"Good!" Zhao Xunzhen did not decline. She nodded and said, "If you sacrifice the needles imbued with the South Ming Li Fire to hover around us, and I use my ghost-path secret arts to insulate our life force, I believe we can pass through unharmed."

Liang Yan nodded and cast a spell with his hand. The Red Pine Needles flew out from the mahogany box once more, silently hovering around the pair to form a crimson ring.

Zhao Xunzhen also performed an incantation; a wisp of black mist rolled from her palm, drawing a circle around them to create a smaller inner ring that shielded them.

"We can set off now," Zhao Xunzhen nodded toward him.

Liang Yan did not hesitate, stepping onto the azure stone bridge first, with Zhao Xunzhen following closely behind.

Before long, the ghostly blue flames surrounding the bridge seemed to sense an intrusion and began to press inward.

However, the moment these flames touched the Red Pine Needles hovering in the air, they erupted into brilliant flashes of light. The blue flames, which had appeared dim and dying, suddenly surged with fury in mid-air.

The surrounding Red Pine Needles also trembled violently, emitting rays of deep red fire that flickered in the darkness, showing no intention of yielding.

As the two forces collided, they clashed fiercely. Yet, the South Ming Li Fire was clearly a level higher, ruthlessly suppressing the Nether Ghost Fire and preventing it from posing any real threat.

The few traces of cold, life-draining energy that managed to penetrate the outer perimeter were gradually neutralized by Zhao Xunzhen’s ghost-path techniques, leaving Liang Yan feeling not the slightest discomfort.

"It seems this method is truly effective!" Liang Yan praised sincerely.

"The South Ming Li Fire is a divine flame used to guide souls to the afterlife; it is naturally incompatible with the Nether Ghost Fire, as they mutually restrain one another. However, what you have obtained is a fire embryo nurtured by the South Ming Li Fire, while the Nether Ghost Fire here is merely scattered flame by the wayside. Naturally, they cannot be spoken of in the same breath."

Liang Yan frowned at this. "If that is the case, once we leave this bridge, will we encounter a fire spirit born from this Nether Ghost Fire, similar to the Vermilion Bird fire spirit we faced before?"

Zhao Xunzhen glanced at him and said indifferently, "Giving birth to a fire spirit is an arduous process. It takes countless years of existence for even a sliver of opportunity to arise. Whether this Nether Ghost Fire has a fire spirit is something I cannot say."

"It seems we shall have to take it one step at a time."

Liang Yan nodded and said no more, continuing to move slowly along the azure stone bridge with Zhao Xunzhen.

Along the way, the pale blue flames on both sides were constantly provoked, launching themselves at the two travelers.

However, with the South Ming Li Fire protecting them, the ghostly blue flames were defeated the moment they touched the crimson light. They were no match for it and scattered in retreat.

The flaming stone bridge was as long as ever. After an unknown amount of time, they suddenly saw an azure stone platform ahead, no more than seven yards in circumference. In the center of the platform stood a circular altar, upon which a cluster of pale blue flame was faintly visible.

"We have arrived!"

Liang Yan and Zhao Xunzhen stopped simultaneously and looked at each other.

"Focus on your spellcasting and channel your spiritual energy into the needles to guard against any surprises," Zhao Xunzhen said.

Liang Yan remained silent, merely nodding. He formed incantations with his hands before his chest, looking focused and alert. Zhao Xunzhen also summoned her Jade Heart Ring, which began to hover above their heads.

Once prepared, the two stepped forward together, finally setting foot on the azure stone platform.

Almost the instant they stood on the platform, the blue flame at the center of the altar flickered noticeably.

Immediately afterward, the blue fire rose into the air and twisted, eventually transforming into a giant blue python that looked down coldly upon Liang Yan and his companion from above.

"It seems the Nether Ghost Fire did indeed give birth to a fire spirit," Liang Yan murmured to himself, watching the apparition.

Unlike the previous Vermilion Bird fire spirit, this blue python’s eyes held a hidden gleam of intelligence; it had clearly attained consciousness.

As it peered down at them, though it lacked the overwhelming, earth-shaking pressure of the Vermilion Bird on the previous platform, it radiated a chilling sense of danger.

The Red Pine Needles around them, as if sensing the threat, spontaneously converged in mid-air, taking the form of a seven-yard-long Vermilion Bird. It stared back at the blue python, fully prepared for a life-or-death struggle.